My Facebook account is abuzz with a group of old friends reminiscing about 'the good old days.' Sigh, I think most of us are facing some kind of mid-life crisis, realising that our best memories are the ones made when we were just about the same age as our children are nowadays. Until today, I guess it is still hard for my children to imagine their Mama ever being young.
This is for the group of kids who are going on an upcoming trip to Taman Negara. I hope you will have as much fun as I did.
After the final year in NUS, Abah finally allowed me to go on a hiking trip with my group of friends from campus. Granted, the group that went was helmed by pretty serious and well-grounded people (haha..Isa, Darwis, Mus...)I had half-expected his jaw to drop when I told him that there were only 3 girls in the group of 10. Yet he did not even blink an eyelid. (Hey guys...that's how much he trusted you people!!!)
Anyway, it was nothing short of a great adventure. We decided that it would really be a trip on a shoestring budget. We would only spend $200 for a week ...and that would include the transportation costs. (Wow Abdullah...you'll make a great finance minister). ...and when I say shoestring..., it was really a belt-tightening affair.
Part I: The Night Mail Train
If you think the KTM rail services leave much to be desired, try taking the mail train...3rd class. Ya..for the life of me, I cannot understand why all the seats had to go against the flow of traffic, and that the seats were designed for aneroxics. It was 'naturally ventilated', and mind you, as we chugged through the various parts of Johor, our various odiferous encounters is something I will not likely forget.
I thought I would only see scenes of packed trains in movies of India or Indonesia...here...we had our fair share of people boarding with crates of live chickens, or laden with durians. Nasarruddin had people putting babies on to him twice, for apparently, we were the only ones with labelled seats. The Malaysians used the train like the way we use the bus.
Oh we were thoroughly 'entertained'. In the days of the pre-ipod-mp3 era, people actually carried the big radios. Never mind if it was past midnight, you'll never be able to sleep. And because our haversacks were neatly laid in a row, they were the 'seats' to those people who just needed to rest their behinds...(oh...we stopped at all 17 smaller stations along the slow winding route.
Part II. Termerloh Station (Pahang)
It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived at our station at about 5.00am. I guess we were so used to associating the word 'station' with a decent building where we could take shelter. We were already wet even before disembarking...for we could not close the windows of the carriage.
At 5.00am, in a rural area, let me tell you that the place can get so dark that you cannot even see your hand in front of you. Wet, tired and grouchy, we just wanted to be able to set foot on solid ground.
Temerloh Station was...er...a little wooden hut(?)no bigger than our bus stop. There was no sign of a station master, and no lights.
The rain felt like pallets pounding on us, and it was indeed an ominous sign. We were drowned rats...and in the darkness, we knew it was impossible to make the hike to the next checkpoint, the jetty.
But that was not the highlight of our arrival. When a flash of lightning struck, and the place was momentarily lit, we saw 'her!'...Hehehe...no, this is not a ghost story (at least not yet).
In the muddy, water-logged post, was this cow...about to deliver her calf...The smell of cow dung, wet mud and the slight of all that blood made the stomachs churn. How could we take shelter with the cow in there?
Mind you, if I was a movie director, I will try to recreate this classic scene. The full glory of thunder and lightning,..the torrential rain...and 10 young people undecided whether to move in or remain where they were. (oh...the banana trees had a nice effect...you know...banana trees=....cik pon...hehehehe)
Suddenly Isa screamed bloody murder...and that set off the whole group screaming incessantly. (Why were we all screaming like this?)I don't care if my faith forbids the touching of the other gender who are not my 'muhrim', but I must have clung on to one of the guys in terror.
We calmed down soon enough. Apparently, the one who had suddenly materialised before us was indeed the station master himself....He was also the owner of the cow.
Something was not quite right about the cow. It was making funny moaning sounds..., and when a streak of lightning lit the sky again, we saw a pair of hind legs coming out...
"Oh no...The calf is breeched.." That came from Az...yup, the final-year medical student(Dr Azhar now, mind you..hehehe). The cow tried to stand up, but fell back with a loud thump.
"Guys...we got to help...we need to turn the calf around."
Huh? What was Az saying? That he intended to play mid-wife in the middle of a god-forsaken place? He dropped his backpack and moved towards the creature. The station master followed, and soon he was joined by Isa and Darwis.
I think my respect (nd crush then?...hehehe) for Az went up more than a few notches. Dollah too, who was crooning (ya...singing softly) to the frightened cow while the rest ensured that it did not move.
Very calmly, Az pushed the little legs up the cervix (I think)...and physically manipulated the little calf in the womb in the best position for birthing.
Suddenly the rain and thunderstorm no longer mattered. We were soaked to the skin, and I guess, I did throw up once or twice watching the drama that was unfolding before our eyes. We were watching a miracle...
I think after more than half an hour or so, the head of the calf emerged. It slid out easily, on to the dirty floor...but the calf did not move. The cow was already up, and ready to move despite her ordeal.
I choked back a sob...Were our effort in vain?
Again, Az was quick-witted. He fished out the penknife he had carried, and methodogically, cut the thin layer of goo and grime of the afterbirth. And to our surprise, he bent down, and blew gently a few puffs. He was performing CPR on a that little creature.
If you asked me if I have witnessed any miracles, this would be one of them. There was a gurgling sound, and Az suddenly spat a lot of yucky mucus from his mouth. And believe you me, there was never a wonderous sight, when the little lifeless creature started to kick its legs. The eyes opened slowly, and it finally breathed on its on. (Sigh Az...you are a hero in my eyes)
Well...as you can see, I am very long-winded. That's all for today. Stay tuned for more adventures I had at Endau Rompin...that many, many years ago. (Ya Zafran, do you think that Mama is such a princess again who cannot take the challenges of camp?)
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