Roughing It: Questions Asked

Now, some very important questions that need to be asked every time a trip is made (especially when it involves staying in places where only the barest of basic amenities are provided).

"You got bring entertainment?"
Friends meant music. Our iPod. Because it's gonna be a long stretch of highway to cover and radio reception will be virtually nil. From slow songs to serenade the passangers to sleep (but not so slow as to knock out the driver!), to regular pop songs, ballads and songs from the ninties that everyone can identify and sing along with, to Disney tracks that identified all of us as belonging to the Disney generations (circa Beauty and the Beast) - Lil' Y freaked out when 'Nic, Webchitect and us started singing Belle each taking different parts and in different voices for each characters.

"Anyone got toilet paper?"
A VIQ (Very Important Question) that we often forget to ask until we arrive at our destination, far away from any shops that would sell toilet rolls. Our initial inspection showed that none was provided - and that lead to Lil' Y's and our decisions to 'keep it all in' until we head back to civilization, and thus avoiding the bunch of bananas Ivan brought which he claimed was for 'avoiding cramps'. Yes, well, considering that the whitewater rafting trip was only for one day and we would all be heading back to civilization the next day, we figure we can tahan lah.

It was only on the following morning that we found out that Ivan had a roll of toilet paper after all! Bugger placed it on top of the wall between the two toilet stalls 'to prevent it getting wet'! Explained how Ivan and NJH could go around reenacting the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the rest of us have showered (well at least they were considerate in that sense)!

"So who's going to sleep where?"
Usually not so important a question - until we ran into the Nighttime Chainsaw. A nasty combination of being an early sleeper and having a nasal orchestra that woke us up, wonder in amazement that such things actually exist, have a bit of a good laugh and then make futile attempts to go back to sleep. We never realised that Nighttime Chainsaw sawed logs (snore SUPER loud for them who haven't understood so far) at night before because in past trips he slept in a different room or was in another bed far far away from us or because we were high on alcohol before passing out.

After that first night sleeping beside Nighttime Chainsaw we made sure to have at least a bit of a buffer distance when sleeping in the same room with him. 'Nic had a simpler solution - he was plugged into his Creative MuVo. Pity Nighttime Chainsaw's girlfriend only.

"Wearing slippers kah?"
During the main event of the trip - the tubing/whitewater rafting bit of it, anyways - the gang was wondering if they ought to keep their footgear on or not. As most of them wore slippers instead of sandals with straps, they opted to go barefoot in case the slippers get lost in the currents. We had decided to give our Off-Roads a run for their money (while trying to console ourselves that if they didn't make it we'll have a reason to get new ones).

In our opinion, you're better off wearing sandals (or Off-Road Crocs!) as the feet are protected from slippery sharp rocks, hot pavement and the likes. Although ironically it was our guide who lost one of his rubber shoes in the rapids.

"Anyone got aloe vera lotion?"
This question shouldn't be asked. A more proper question would have been, "Anyone got sunblock lotion?" Anyways we are too kiamsiap to consider forking out cash to buy a bottle of sunscreen that we would only use at the most once a year - and we have a couple of bottles of aloe vera lotion at home. Peeling sunburnt skin can be quite interesting as well.

"So, where do you want to makan dinner?"
This one is during our return back home. In our previous trips: Camland Getaway - E&W, Tapah R&R; Camland New Year - Nando's, Atria Damansara.

This time, dinner was at Farmland Porridge Steamboat Pudu. Good stuff.