Categories
Tourism Malaysia

To The Top of Mulu Summit (Part 2)

KK1

Words by Ariel Chew, photos by Zainal Abidin Othman


Enter if you dare!

 

The next morning dawned bright and we woke up feeling chirpy after a good night’s rest.  But to my horror, I discovered my pillow stained with blood.  

The view was pretty – fallen leaves and lovely trees as far as the eye can see.  And when we pause to look further between the trees, we can see the tops of neighbouring mountains – bluish green from a distance. 


Calm surroundings

To Give Up or Not – That Was the Question!

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who entertained the thought of giving up.  Our boss upon seeing our tired faces as we rested at Camp 2 asked us if we would like to turn back to Camp 1.  One by one, we shook our heads.  If we proceed to Camp 3 at this late hour, it would mean trekking in the dark when the night fell.  The clouds were ominously dark and it might rain at any time.

And so, we slowly got up to our feet, every sore muscle protesting, hoisted our backpacks and went on to one of the hardest journeys we’ve ever known. The rain came strong and heavy.  We hurriedly donned our ponchos, mainly to protect our backpacks even though they were already protected by their rain covers. Although the rain made the slopes slippery, it had a cooling and rejuvenating effect on our tired bodies and strangely enough, made the journey easier. 

There was another group who stayed overnight at Camp 3 after descending from the summit.  They left early in the morning, descending to Camp 1 and then back to Park HQ.  To my relief, they looked none the worse for wear after conquering the summit.  After my harrowing and slow performance getting to Camp 3, I was having serious doubts whether I could actually make it to the summit.  

If you stop to listen, you can hear the slow dripping of water from the rock formations as part of the process of forming a new stalagmite.  Of course, this process is painstakingly long with only about one centimetre growing every hundred years.  Looking at the rock formations in the cave, we guessed that the cave must have been around the block for a long, long while.  The pebbles and rocks on the cave floor resembled those typically found on river beds.  This was evidence that the cave systems were formed by strong gushing underground rivers once upon a time. 

I decided to cross the bridge when I get to it.  At any rate, by reaching Camp 3, I managed to do what 20 soldiers purportedly couldn’t.  With that uplifting thought, I cheerfully packed up, don my wet trekking clothes and together with the others, left for Camp 4 after breakfast.

Camp 3 was cold at night, making it difficult for me to sleep much despite my warm sleeping bag and jacket (perhaps I should have gotten better gloves for my hands were freezing).   

Similar to Camp 1, both camps have basic flush toilets and fire places to cook food but unlike Camp 1, their only source of water was the rainfall collected in several big tanks.  We were thankful for the heavy rainfall on our journey;  for the water tanks were filled to the brim, giving us enough water for cooking and cleaning ourselves.  We used the water to fill our water containers but after applying one water purification tablet into every one litre, of course.   

Day 5 ~ Hie Ho, Hie Ho, It’s off to the Summit We Go!

Waking up before dawn (3.30am to be exact) and getting ourselves out in the freezing cold to climb a steep summit was hardly my idea of fun.  But that was exactly what we did the next morning.  The only consolation was we got to leave our backpacks behind at Camp 4 and just bring necessities to the summit. 

As we climbed guided by our torch lights, we got warmer. As Zainal said earlier, there were two false peaks to go through before we could reach the true peak.  Which meant a series of steep ascends and descends that took the wind out of my sail.Still, that did not deter me from pausing to admire the soft golden glow of sunlight illuminating the lovely trees and stunted vegetation along the way.  The air was crisp and utterly fresh.  There were times when I found myself trudging all alone and I embraced those moments of quietness in the midst of such beauty. 

On the flipside, never had I felt so helpless and terrified either.  At one point, I found myself dangling on both hands with my feet trying in vain to find a firm foothold to pull myself up the 90 degree ledge.  I felt the strength in my arms giving out and I tried to grip the tree roots tighter.  If I were to let go, it would be one steep and long drop.   

It felt like we’ll never reach the elusive summit.  The false twin peaks fed us a lot of false hopes that we have arrived.  But we eventually got there.  Up there, the vegetation resembled adorable bonsai plants and the wind was strong and chilly.  There was also an abandoned battery recharging station/shack, a tall pole that beckoned us to climb it and three poles tied together with a metal pail on top to signal the summit.  

 

Strange, but intriguing

 

 

Night crawler

 

Black wonder 

Sticking grasshooper 

 

Back to Camp 3

All that goes up must come down.  And it’s the same for mountain climbers. Our success not only lies in conquering the summit but to return safely to our point of origin.  

The descent from the summit to Camp 4 took as long as the ascent earlier that morning.  

We reached Camp 3 just as it started getting dark. Was it a coincidence that I always reached Camp 3 after an immensely tiring trek at nightfall? Whatever it was, Camp 3 (not the Summit) to me is the symbol of being the most difficult goal to attain. 

Day 6 – Back to Royal Mulu Resort

Our final day on the Mulu Summit trail dawned upon us bright and cheery.  Silly grins were firmly plastered upon our faces as we fantasized about finally getting back to civilisation. 

 

We were delighted to see the beautiful leaf-covered paths that greeted us as we continued our descent.  This must be the fantastic view we missed when we struggled to Camp 3 in the rain and dark. 

 

Lunch was at Camp 1, and after trekking uphill and downhill for many days, it was sheer bliss to walk on flat terrain.  We passed several rivers where some of us took the time to swim in them, enjoying one last river bath before going back to the urban jungle.   

When time has erased all scratches, wounds and heart-stopping memories of the Mulu Summit Trail, we know that we will be back for more.    

You can take an adventurer out of the rainforest, but you can’t take the love for the rainforest out of the adventurer.  


 

 

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Mulu Pinnacles: Nature`s Work of Art

KK1

Words by Nur Hajar Mohamed, photos by Zainal Abidin Othman

Pinnacles
Worth the hike, just to see this!

 

Each year, the amazing Pinnacles lure many avid climbers, excitement seekers and curious visitors to conquer its steep slopes and view its famous razor-sharp limestone formations.

Standing magnificently midway up Gunung Api (Mount Api), The Pinnacles, one of Mulu’s proud possession, marks as an astounding example of natural art sculptured by Mother Nature through the centuries.

Although at times partially covered by passing clouds, you can see the limestone spikes towering over the lush vegetation at a height of 45m, exuding a spectacular presence. Claimed to be four times tougher than scaling Mount Kinabalu (4093m) in Sabah, many who have victoriously completed the track to the viewpoint situated at an altitude of 1175m, would agree that the hardest challenge is not the journey up but rather the walk down. 

Pinnacles
The Pinnacles

Race Against Time

Among others, it is a race against time as the rule is to get to the vertical first ladder section, situated 2km from the starting point, by 11am.

“If we don’t get there by 11am, most people will be asked to head back to camp. This is because the walk down will take longer than the climb up and we do not want people to be caught by nightfall during descent,” explains our guide, Roy.

Flipping through the logbook at Camp 5, a stop-off point for those who wish to do the Pinnacles climb, the comments scribbled indicates the difficulty of the climb.

“Knocked my knee five times and I cried five times but after all that, being able to see the Pinnacles has made it all worth while.” Another writes, “I thought it was hard but actually its worst. But the result – the view of the spectacular Pinnacles is amazing!”

While many may suggest that the climb to reach the viewpoint requires physical strength to conquer its heights, in actual fact, mental fitness and alertness is what it truly demands.

The adventure to the viewpoint kicks off at 6.30am, after a night’s stay at Camp 5. Climbers, followed by their guides, start their ascent to the lower part of Gunung Api to the view point. Those who are still unsure of the climb can test their stamina and strength by doing the first level of the climb, which is up to the Mini Pinnacles, located at 900m. Depending on one’s fitness, the walk can take between one to one and a half hours.

At ground zero, the path up to 900m may very well appear intimidating to some. Jagged limestone formations, algae and moss-covered stones, dead tree trunks and protruding roots, are only but a few of the obstacles that await trekkers. As the path is steep, from here, climbers can gauge whether the climb, which only gets harder, is something they want to proceed doing. Come rain or shine, we have to abide by the 11am rule to the first ladder or turn back and head for camp.

In this trip, out of seven, six of us trod on. The next level is up to the 2,000m mark, which leads to the first vertical aluminium ladder that takes climbers to the last leg of the climb, before descent.
 
The climb from 900m to 2,000m poses new obstacles, soft ground and loose rocks. Exercise extreme caution on this path as one fall on these jagged rocks can cause quite an injury. People have been known to be sent back to camp on stretchers.
 
As the path gets steeper, use your hands and if must, pull yourself up by holding on tree roots or rocks. Wear a reliable and comfortable pair of gloves to assist with your climb.

The last 400m, the final leg of the climb to the viewpoint, 12 aluminium vertical ladders are fixed to rocks and trees to make the climb possible. Extra ropes are also attached at the sides of the rocks and walls for one to hold on to when going up. There is sparse vegetation at this point, with various gaps between rocks, so extreme caution is also needed here.
 
Once at the top, climbers are advised to soak in the spectacular sight of the Pinnacles, rest a few minutes and then make their descent. This is because the walk down usually takes longer. Take note that if it rains, the climb down will only be harder and require a longer period to finish. While the walk up will take three to four hours, the trip down can take up to five or six hours or more, depending on weather conditions. So it is a good idea to allow plenty of time for the return trip, as climbers have been caught by nightfall during their descent.
 
Apart from nightfall, rain also poses a problem. Unlucky for us, the clouds gave way as we headed down the last three ladders making the rocks slippery, and the ground and the ladders wet.
 
The wind slices through our drenched clothes, sending chills down our spines. Even a raincoat can’t save us from the weather onslaught. As warned, the descent was the hardest part of the whole journey. With the rain to worry about, we literally had to slide down some parts of the path. This resulted in torn pants, scraped knees and hands. Needless to say, it was painful.
 
As it gets darker, we switched on our headlights and stopped only when necessary for drinks, our knees, we could feel, were turning into jello. The stops were beginning to be a problem as each time we re-start after resting, the stabbing pain on our knees worsen.
 
At some parts, we had to lift our legs with our hands to go over high roots. Other parts, we had to crouch, extend our foot down and descend the jagged rocks in Sloth-motion. At this point, We decided to hum our favourite song to keep the team’s spirits up. Aptly I went for Blame It On The Rain by the infamous duo, Milli Vanilli.
 
The sign reads 600m. Suddenly I could see lights emerging from the slopes below. Two men in t-shirts and shorts are heading our way. It was the guides from Camp 5, who decided to come and look for us as darkness envelopes the mountain.
 
We felt relieved as they assisted us with our bags and guided us down the path. The stream that was once dry when we were climbing up now has water flowing through it because of the rain. I stopped in my tracks when I saw a water snake gliding by. When it was safe, the guide told me to continue until we reached the bottom.
 
At the camp, worried colleagues headed to the steps to check on us. Everything was fine. As we catch our breath and as our body heat evaporates through our clothes, a sign that we needed to re-hydrate ourselves and to have a shower, we just could not help but smile. Despite the gruelling and painful journey, we all knew, as it said in the book – it was all worth it.

 

Pinnacles

 

The journey

 

Pinnacles

 

Bridge across the river

 

Pinnacles

Amazing plantation

Pinnacles

In the middle of the mist

 

Camp 5

From the Mulu National Park, Camp 5 is accessible by longboat up the Melinau river to Long Litut. During dry spell when the river is shallow, it is a norm that passengers are required to alight and assist in pushing the boat through the rapids. The boat ride may take from 45 minutes up to three hours depending on the water level.

From Long Litut the boat ride is then followed by a three to four hour walk covering 8km through secondary and primary lowland rainforest. The trail is basically a simple walk on flat ground. A good portion of it being pebbled laden paths. The area near the riverine can get muddy during rainy season and may require a longer period to complete.

Aside from acting as a warm-up to the following day trip up the Pinnacle viewpoint, the walk to Camp also allows visitors to experience and enjoy the ancient yet beautiful nature that surrounds the area.

During rainy season, be aware of leeches. If one has found its way into your shoe or pants, salt water will be the best and fastest remedy to make it loosen its grip from you and fall off.
 
Camp 5 itself is situated next to the clear Melinau River that flows between Gunung Api (Mount Api) and Gunung Benarat (Mount Benarat). It has wooden shelters with raised sleeping floors that acts as dorms for visitors planning to stay overnight. The camp also provides facilities such as a kitchen, showers and toilets.

Across the river, feast your eyes on the majestic view of the 400m high vertical limestone cliff, which is the southwest face of Gunung Benarat. The entrance to the Tiger Cave can be viewed from the camp.
 
Stretching across the Melinau river from the camp is a suspension bridge that marks the starting point for the 11.7km Headhunter’s Trail.

What to Bring
3 litres of Water
Gloves
Non-Slip Shoes
Headlights/ Torch Light
First Aid
Power Bars
Power Endurance Drinks
Whistle
Raincoat

 

  
 

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Malaysian Made Mozzarella at Langkawi

 

Words and photos by Ariel Chew, Pizza photo credits: sxc.hu

Many know Langkawi as a land of legends, duty-free shopping and idyllic beach resorts.  But few realise that it is the only place in the country that produces mozzarella cheese from fresh buffalo milk.

That’s right, cheese lovers.  You no longer have to have to travel all the way to Italy to enjoy rich and creamy fresh mozzarella.  You can have it right here at Buffalo Park Langkawi located just a stone’s throw away from the Langkawi International Airport.

The Melting Goodness of Mozzarella

Mozzarella originated from the southern Italian regions of Sicily and Campania.  The word probably originated from the Italian word ‘mozzare’, meaning to cut off, referring to the process of cutting the milk solids after the milk has curdled.  

You can eat it with French baguette and tomatoes sprinkled with pepper and salt.  Or you can have it as a pizza topping the way Malaysians love it.  It transforms the plainest pizza into a yummy gooey and stretchy culinary experience.  To put it simply, a pizza is not really a pizza unless it has mozzarella.

To purists, mozzarella is curd cheese made from buffalo milk.  Buffalo milk is higher in butterfat content, lower in cholesterol and creamier compared to cow’s milk.  Fresh mozzarella is white, soft, moist, and rather bland in taste.  It tastes sour if it is no longer fresh.  Fior di Latte (cow’s milk mozzarella) is almost as white as buffalo’s milk mozzarella, but it is more rubbery in texture.

Because it has a very short short-life, fresh mozzarella can seldom be found the southern region of Italy where it is made.  Even with the advancement of cheese making, refrigeration and transportation technologies, the effort and cost are just too prohibitive to export fresh mozzarella outside Europe.  That is, until Buffalo Park Langkawi came about.

High Milk Yielding Bovines

Buffaloes are synonymous to Langkawi.   With the advent of modern machinery, they have been released from their role as beasts of burden and field ploughing ‘machines’.  But still they thrive on and can be commonly seen grazing in the sprawling green paddy fields of the island, cooling down in muddy watering holes or taking their own sweet time to cross the roads.  These animals fetch a princely sum of RM3,000 to RM5,000 each and are highly valued by their owners.

Still, buffalo milk is quite a novelty in the country.  The water buffaloes commonly seen in the paddy fields of Malaysia are swamp buffaloes which mainly serve as draft animals and a meat source.  They produce only enough milk to feed their young and thus, are unsuitable for milk and cheese production. 

Welcome to Langkawi Buffalo Park

Over 45 acres, it houses over 100 buffaloes

Activities offered at the Buffalo Park Langkawi

During hot weather, the buffaloes get a bath to cool them down before pulling the cart

The milking process – the buffalo is fed to keep it occupied

A close-up look at the milking device

River buffaloes (sapi in Malay) of the Murrah breed from India, however, are premier milking buffaloes (high milk yield with top grade quality milk).  They are jet black in colour with crescent-shaped horns and have a lifespan of up to 17 years.  An adult bull weights 550kg and a cow weights 450kg.  Each costs about RM26,000.

Buffalo Park Langkawi imports the Murrah breed from India as well as local river buffaloes cross-bred with other high milk-yielding breeds.  Established in 4 January 2007, the RM1.25 million agro-tourism project is a brainchild of the then-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  Sprawling over 45 acres, it currently houses over 100 Murrah and Swamp buffaloes which are primarily used for milk production.   Milking is done a week after the cow gives birth and the milking continues for the next 7 months. 

The Making of Mozzarella

“Anyone can make their own mozzarella!” says Johari Saad, Liaison Officer of Buffalo Park Langkawi.  The steps look simple enough – provided you have fresh buffalo milk and rennet pellets (for the coagulation of milk) on hand. 

The fresh buffalo milk is first pasteurised at temperatures between 72 to 90 C and then cooled to 32 C.  Rennet enzymes are then added to curdle the milk – 5ml of rennet enzymes is added to every 1 litre of milk.  After 45 minutes of being soaked in the enzymes, the curd is cut and allowed to rest for a while in the whey (water that is separated from the curd) so that the acids can break down the calcium and phosphorus molecules to soften the curd.  This process causes the cheese to melt when exposed to temperatures above 85 C.  Next, the whey is drained from the curd to reduce the water content to below 60%.

Nothing goes to waste for the whey, which is a fantastic form of protein, is then used to make a different type of cheese called Ricotta. 

The curd is put into boiling water and then stretched to achieve a stretchy elastic texture before it is moulded by hand into balls shaped into bocconcini, Ciliegine, Nodini, Pizzaiola or Ovaline.  The fresh mozzarella balls are then cooled and packed in water for sale.

Cutting the mozzarella into blocks

Since Buffalo Park Langkawi is a cheese production facility, specialised machines are used for milking, pasteurisation and cooling the milk.  Apart from that, everything else is manually done.

“We maintain a strict standard of hygiene in our facility,” assures Johari.  While no visitors are allowed into the cheese processing section, they can still view the process behind clear glass windows.

According to Johari, a lot of research had gone into the production of halal (kosher) rennet enzymes sourced from the buffaloes at the Buffalo Park.  Prior to this discovery, the only halal rennet enzymes were sourced from vegetables and fungus.  Unfortunately, these do not produce flavourful cheese compared to animal based enzymes.  To date, Buffalo Park Langkawi is the only facility producing kosher animal-based rennet enzymes.

Their Malaysian made creamy, soft and appetising mozzarella certainly speaks for itself.

Valley Farm Dairy Products

Buffalo Park Langkawi produces a range of dairy products under the brand Valley Farm including the signature Fresh Mozzarella 100g (RM12), Ricotta (RM6) – a white, creamy and mild whey cheese used in lasagnas and as bread spread, fresh buffalo milk (RM3), yogurt (RM3), flavoured curd (RM2), ice cream and buffalo meat.  The products are sold at the Buffalo Park itself and also distributed to local hotels, resorts and restaurants.

Presenting Malaysia’s one and only authentic fresh mozzarella

Children love the delicious buffalo milk ice-cream!

Valley Farm’s yummy range of buffalo products

Other Activities

The river buffaloes are the main stars at the Buffalo Park.  Their docile nature and gentle eyes seem to beckon to the shyest child to pet and feed them.   Adventurous visitors can go bareback riding on top of a bull or be pulled by a cart or anok (Traditional cart).

Visitors can also stave their hunger pangs with the dairy products, buffalo steaks and salads at the airy and sunny cafeteria.

 

Family fun on the bullock cart

Bareback riding on the bull is fun!

The river buffaloes are gentle by nature.  Go ahead, feed and pet them!

 

Enjoy a satisfying meal or snack at the Buffalo Park’s outdoor cafeteria

 

 

Getting There

Buffalo Park Langkawi (Jalan Nyior Chabang, Kampung Nyior Chabang, Mukim Bohor, Tel: +604-966 7226) is located 10 minutes from the Langkawi International Airport and 30 minutes from Kuah town by car. 

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (daily except Fridays).  Entrance fee is RM3 for locals with MyKad and RM5 for foreigners.  Additional charges apply for buffalo riding (RM20), cart riding (RM35) and anok riding (RM25).  For more information visit http://buffaloparklangkawi.com

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

The Journey of a `Kampung` Boy

Words and photos by Nazreen Tajul Arif

If they say that laughter is the best medicine, then I was certainly cured of my fever after watching LAT: Kampung Boy The Musical (Sebuah Muzikal) recently.

From the use of animation of the famous Lat cartoon of himself (it’s so well-known that no introduction is needed of who it was), the endearing representations of the cartoonist from a little ‘kampung’ boy to a famous towner, down to the haunting yet melodious live orchestra behind the curtains – the musical has certainly surpassed my expectations.

Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, fondly known as Lat, has become a household name, synonymous with his no-nonsense, often whimsical cartoon depiction of the way Malaysians live.

Little Daniel Shazique Eezkandar, who played the young Lat, a cute and cheeky yet sweet character, who often seeks solace in his cartoons and drawings.  

He found his hero in his father (Jalil Hamid) – a John Wayne fanatic – who often told him in the Perak slang that “bughuk ghupa kalau lelaki nangis” (it’s hideous if a guy cries). To put it simply, he wanted Lat to persevere and toughen himself up, even though people criticised him over his penchant for cartoons.

The jokes were at times hillarious, punch lines were delivered on time albeit a few hiccups – Awie, as adult Lat even sneezed and commented on the extras’ inter frame while he was delivering his lines.  But it all made Lat: Kampung Boy the Musical amusing. My friend, Nurul Izatuleffa, who was a first-time theatre/musical attendee, found that she could relate to Mrs Hew (Sandra Sodhy), Lat’s English teacher the most.

And no, not because of the beehive hair-do that the character sports, which by the way has become an icon of some sort as the audience identified with the style; but it was because of her LWYD and DWYL philosophy.

Short for ‘Love What You Do’ and ‘Do What You Love’.

Lat was played superbly by Awie, who channelled him down to the T; even the curly wig seemed to suit him perfectly well. Being a rock star, there were no complaints in the voice department.  The songs were flawlessly delivered by the orchestra directed by local jazz legend Michael Veerapan. Even when he was attached with the crime desk at the NST, under the glare and watchful eyes of Pak Samad (Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail, played by Omar Abdullah), Lat just couldn’t get his knack of scrawlings and doodlings off of him; he is and always will be a cartoonist at heart.   

Atilia Raja Harun was cast as Faezah, or Fae’, the groovy chick who played hard to get in the beginning of their courtship – only to fall for Lat after realising he was from the same ‘kampung’ as she was. As fun as it was to see the talented singer becomes an actress, her character could do with a bit more ‘flavour’, not just as a stay-at-home, neglected wife of Lat after he became famous. 

After all, women have became empowered even in those days – just look at Mrs Hew.

The comic relief (well, sort of), came in the form of Douglas Lim, who played Frankie, Lat’s school friend whom he met time and again – even in the cold, snowy London and then back while queing for cendol in Kuala Lumpur. A once ‘kacang lupakan kulit’ (one who forgets one’s roots and background) guy, Frankie came back to the country to live his life like a true Malaysian.

Even forging his way out of paying for his meals.

Lat: Budak Kampung The Musical certainly reminded me of my own ‘kampung’ – I’ll make sure I’ll pay a visit to it more often now.

For tickets:

Produced by Tall Order Production, collaborating with the Malaysian National Institute of Translation and the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry, Lat: Budak Kampung The Musical is on at Istana Budaya until 5 April 2011, with shows at 8.30pm (weekdays) and 3.00pm and 8.30pm (weekends).

For tickets, call 03-41498600 or go online at www.ticket2u.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

The Journey of a `Kampung` Boy

Words and photos by Nazreen Tajul Arif

If they say that laughter is the best medicine, then I was certainly cured of my fever after watching LAT: Kampung Boy The Musical (Sebuah Muzikal) recently.

From the use of animation of the famous Lat cartoon of himself (it’s so well-known that no introduction is needed of who it was), the endearing representations of the cartoonist from a little ‘kampung’ boy to a famous towner, down to the haunting yet melodious live orchestra behind the curtains – the musical has certainly surpassed my expectations.

Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, fondly known as Lat, has become a household name, synonymous with his no-nonsense, often whimsical cartoon depiction of the way Malaysians live.

Little Daniel Shazique Eezkandar, who played the young Lat, a cute and cheeky yet sweet character, who often seeks solace in his cartoons and drawings.  

He found his hero in his father (Jalil Hamid) – a John Wayne fanatic – who often told him in the Perak slang that “bughuk ghupa kalau lelaki nangis” (it’s hideous if a guy cries). To put it simply, he wanted Lat to persevere and toughen himself up, even though people criticised him over his penchant for cartoons.

The jokes were at times hillarious, punch lines were delivered on time albeit a few hiccups – Awie, as adult Lat even sneezed and commented on the extras’ inter frame while he was delivering his lines.  But it all made Lat: Kampung Boy the Musical amusing. My friend, Nurul Izatuleffa, who was a first-time theatre/musical attendee, found that she could relate to Mrs Hew (Sandra Sodhy), Lat’s English teacher the most.

And no, not because of the beehive hair-do that the character sports, which by the way has become an icon of some sort as the audience identified with the style; but it was because of her LWYD and DWYL philosophy.

Short for ‘Love What You Do’ and ‘Do What You Love’.

Lat was played superbly by Awie, who channelled him down to the T; even the curly wig seemed to suit him perfectly well. Being a rock star, there were no complaints in the voice department.  The songs were flawlessly delivered by the orchestra directed by local jazz legend Michael Veerapan. Even when he was attached with the crime desk at the NST, under the glare and watchful eyes of Pak Samad (Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail, played by Omar Abdullah), Lat just couldn’t get his knack of scrawlings and doodlings off of him; he is and always will be a cartoonist at heart.   

Atilia Raja Harun was cast as Faezah, or Fae’, the groovy chick who played hard to get in the beginning of their courtship – only to fall for Lat after realising he was from the same ‘kampung’ as she was. As fun as it was to see the talented singer becomes an actress, her character could do with a bit more ‘flavour’, not just as a stay-at-home, neglected wife of Lat after he became famous. 

After all, women have became empowered even in those days – just look at Mrs Hew.

The comic relief (well, sort of), came in the form of Douglas Lim, who played Frankie, Lat’s school friend whom he met time and again – even in the cold, snowy London and then back while queing for cendol in Kuala Lumpur. A once ‘kacang lupakan kulit’ (one who forgets one’s roots and background) guy, Frankie came back to the country to live his life like a true Malaysian.

Even forging his way out of paying for his meals.

Lat: Budak Kampung The Musical certainly reminded me of my own ‘kampung’ – I’ll make sure I’ll pay a visit to it more often now.

For tickets:

Produced by Tall Order Production, collaborating with the Malaysian National Institute of Translation and the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry, Lat: Budak Kampung The Musical is on at Istana Budaya until 5 April 2011, with shows at 8.30pm (weekdays) and 3.00pm and 8.30pm (weekends).

For tickets, call 03-41498600 or go online at www.ticket2u.