Malaysia Uncovered: Day 3 - The football field that aspired to be just like Kenyir when it grew up.

right before we left kenyir, the heavens decided to piss on our adventure once more. at one point while we were trying to while the time (and rain) away by playing cards, we contemplated on skipping Kota Bharu because the headlines of the morning's Star newspaper screamed '4 states awashed!'. neither of us wanted to be caught in a situation whereby our car was half consumed by water. calls were made eventually and it was confirmed that kota bharu town itself was relatively unaffected by floods so it was onward, ho.



and yet again, i am glad that we didn't miss kota bharu BECAUSE IT WAS SO NICE LAA!! (ok i'm not trying to make it out as though my trip was super nice and exciting because some times it wasn't due to constant rain). the rains stopped right after we left kenyir and it was bright sunshine all the way.

right now, the folks living in the northern east coast states get 100 points from me, whilst people from selangor get a big fat zero. all the makcik-makcik and pak-pak that i spoke to in kelantan were so nice and kind and helpful AND FRIENDLY. there was a night where we got lost in kota baru town (yes, i know. it wasn't my fault though) and i stopped to ask this malay uncle for directions. he was so nice, the directions he gave were so clear. and when we were walking down the road, he continued to keep watch and kept shouting at us the directions. where can you find such people in kl? NOWHERE, that's where.




anyway, we decided to drive to pantai cahaya bulan the evening we arrived and along the way, we passed some major flood zones. it's quite incredible, really, because never have i ever witnessed flooding to such devastating proportions. there was a football field that literally turned into a lake; the entire field was flooded all the way up to the top of the goal posts. houses became islands. little drains became rivers. there were boats where cars would usually pass.



the football field cum lake.

yet through it all, life for the kelantanese seemed to go on as though nothing had happened. kids were laughing and swimming in the flood waters evidently having the grandest time of their lives. a malay storekeeper selling dried keropok could still laugh and haggle with us while simultaneously telling us that the water level in Tumpat where she lived was rising and so she had to go home quickly SO PLEASE JUST BUY HER KEROPOK. after hearing that, we paid her the sum she wanted.



anyway, my verdict is this: kota baru is definitely worth another visit! so yun and evie, please invite me over next time ya?