KUALA LIPIS MISADVENTURE - FINAL

After Kuala Lipis, we decided to take another route to Penang ( instead of going back via Karak Highway). The girl at the hotel assured us " The road is hardly used - no jams and it's very safe. " "OK, Adventure is my middle name" - dad was game to try the 'road not often taken'. So with Miss Garmin as our navigator, began the next leg of our journey. We were on the look out for more durians - instead we passed by acres and acres of oil palm plantation. " A bit dull and monotonous," I thought to myself. Then we saw some stalls set up by some enterprising Bangaldeshi (maybe?) selling plastic wares. We stopped and further up, some orang asli / malays selling fruits. Very, very cheap - and we bought some.

The road was good, excellent indeed and the ride was uneventful. We drove over bridges spanning deep ravines.

Dad was most impressed by the bridges. There were altogether 10 of such bridges. Impressive engineering feat.

Along the way, we hardly passed any vehicle -only an odd motorcyle here and there. We all dozed a little. A bit further on, the road was a bit bumpier and I saw a sign "Di larang masuk - pembinaan jalan raya". No big deal - and we continued our drive. By then, the road was rougher ......... and then we came to mud tracks - road end. "How interesting" Alicia said, "This is like a safari." We were unperturbed by the lack of road.Then we came upon some orang asli settlements. "How interesting! Look at those houses!" Squeels of excitement from Alicia. Alan was more interested in the chicken. "Are they jungle fowls?"

As we drove further, our excitement turned to apprehension as we almost plunged down the steep slope. Our car lunged dangerously as dad steered it over slippery and treacherous terrain

Huge boulders on the sides of the mud track. At time, I thought we almost ran into those boulders as they loomed suddenly in front of us as we navigate a steep bend. My heart was literally at my throat. Auntie YK was slightly hysterical (to put it mildly). Alicia was strangely silent now. Finally we reached a spot where the road literally ended. We got down to inspect the place and take stock of what to do next.

I was thinking to myself : "We may have to turn back or to put one night here. perhaps find the orang asli to help us. Fortunately we had some water and we just bought some fruits at the stall. There was a small stream at the right down the mud track - we could wash ourselves there." Meanwhile dad was contemplating of turning back to Kuala Lipis. There seemed no where else to move forward. Auntie YK later confided to me that she was worried that we might be trapped in the place ... " we'll die without food or water". Alicia and Alan did not utter a word.... what were they thinking?

Don't let the picture above fool you. We all were putting up a brave front. After this stretch, the road was almost undrivable.

Dad smiling and reassuring us that everything is under control. Finally we saw some orang asli back from fishing and we asked them for directions. They told us the mud road would end not far ahead and then we will reach tarred road again. Some assurance that was !! Their ' sedikit lagi' was more than 30 minutes later.

How glad we were to see some signs of civilization. We came to some flower farms

Rows and rows of plastic sheets greeted us. We've finally reached Cameroon Highlands!!

Now we could enjoy the scenery and continued on our culinary tour.

What a misadventure that turned out to be. On looking back, we were glad we took this route and experienced the terrain and landscape not usually seen or experienced by many. Alas no photos taken as at that time - such heart-stopping moments, taking photos was the last thing on our minds. But don't worry, it's all in our heads. The experience will always be a memory in our hearts.