One more from my "Bucket List"

Graffitis on the rock etched by half or three quarter evolved visitors

One item in Yours sincerely's "Bucket List" is to visit or to revisit historic, geographic or touristic nooks and corners in Malaysia. It is paradoxical that his better half and him have gone jetting to other continents when he misses out places so close to home. As for the revisiting, it brings sweet memory of the days the children were younger and how they enjoyed the trips.

Saturdays have been designated for day trips because for the past 28 donkey years, yours sincerely had been fully occupied to the hilt on Saturdays, teaching classes after classes. It is with an unforgiveable vengeance that Saturdays have been picked out to day trip around.

Saturday 21st was for Gua Kelam in Perlis. This time around, with time on our hand, we took a real slow drive, savouring the scenery and detouring into any small towns and villages on the signboards that ever aroused our curiosity. So, we turned into the small fishing village of Kuala Sanglang and gazed at the fishing folks who also gazed back at us. We also detoured into Kuala Perlis which was quite deserted at this time of the year.

The one thing which I try hard to understand is why people like to scribble and leave graffiti of their names or initials on plants and rock surface like this. It is through Yours sincerely's observation of his Pincher ( a small dog) that he has come to this conclusion : these people have not been fully evolved as homo sapiens. Like dogs which urinate on things and at nooks and corners to leave their markings and demarcate their territories, these vandals, having not been fully evolved, have to do the same. Lucky thing, graffitis and not their urine.

This is the most presentable stall which I had meticulously picked to stop for a break along the way to Kaki Bukit. The proprietor was too glad to post for me before his delicatessens. Anyway, his "Cendul n Pulut" in scrapped ice was thirst quenching on hot February days. In the background is Yours sincerely's better half slurping her "Cendul n Pulut." Two bowls for RM 5.00. Inflation has reached the kampongs.

So, along the road leading to the cave and by the side of the man- made pools you get stalls enticing your children with toys, t-shirts and floats of all types. Well, we have no more young children to be enticed. Looking forward eagerly to pamper grandchildren!

This is the entrance to the limestone cave. No change after all these years only that the metal railings have badly corroded. We walked through the cave and observed the limestone stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes. The centre lump of limestone which was better formed used to be glistering wet those days, fifteen years ago, is now dry and dull, perhaps due to the dry weather. I hope so. And not due to environmental degradation.

I like to observe old Chinese new villages. This is one long row of Chinese homes which are shop like, some are half opened , you can see at Kaki Bukit, a stone's throw from Gua kelam. They still have rusty corrugated zinc roof. The houses seem to be forgotten by time but trying to stand proud, testimony to the good old days. Really good? Peering into a doorway, yours sincerely saw an old grey haired "Ah Pek" sitting on an equally old rattan chair with a palm hand fan cooling himself vigouriously and staring into the thin air. He did not even realise that he was being observed.


There are several pools like this, enough for a waist deep dip for both children and non-swimmer adults. The area is shaded by the trees, suitable for children to wade, splash and swim.

Viva life. Live on. Life is for the living.