I believe that most of us decided on a place to stay somehow by browsing through those edited and photoshop-ed pretty photos of that place, and end up being disappointed or even worst- felt cheated upon arrival of that place. That one word called- expectation, sad to say, always ruined the fun without fail. But not now. Now in front of me lie the beauty of not expecting. A complex of pure naturalness dotted with tall coconut trees sitting beside a patch of banana plantation, a mellow paddy field and a humble jungle. After I got my backpack out from the Malaysian-Ferrari-with-Kryptonite-suspension, Howard took me for a tour inside the complex he humbly named Tampat Do Aman Eco Resort. The largest building in that complex was the longhouse where I suppose to be sleeping tonight, nested just behind a banana patch. It was traditionally wooden made with coconut planks as floorboard, walled up with bamboo, atap (dried palm leafs) roofing and animals name for all the room (I got the room named black tail squirrels drey if you want to know). All buildings in the complex are made out of wood harvested from the jungle, this includes the common room, the shower quarters, the toilets, a viewing hut and the camping shelters, all beautifully camouflage in the jungle surroundings beside a man-made canal and pond. As natural as it gets, not a five start hotel, just slightly better, at least for me.
After settling myself in my room and a quick change of attire, I am so ready for the beach, but I got Toby instead. hahaha. Toby was the second westerner I met on that day (I went on meeting a lot of westerner after that.), hailed from England, at that time volunteering at Howard's place for 3 months, barely 20 years old, 6 foot 3 high, holding a cigarette on his hand and proudly talks about how neatly the roofing job was done by him on the new Rungus cultural centre Howard was setting up. After the brief introduction, the beach! But my fun was cut short when I realised it was almost dark, how I wish to be in West Malaysia now, which happens to have an hour more before. sunsets. The worst part was, the typhoon ruined any sunset that would possibly be there at that time. But thankfully, there was still that menu I can choose from to filled my stomach after all those travelling in one of the best restaurant around Tip Of Borneo- Tip Top Restaurant, apparently owned and managed by Howard himself. Well this man, Howard Stanton, truly got a lot of stories to tell, which I am surely eager to hear.
There, ordered my dinner, a fish dish. Is my thought that the first dish when you come to somewhere near the sea, needs to be a fish dish. 'It must be fresh!' We thought, which often turns out wrong. Anyway, while waiting for my meal to be serve, Howard came over and sat opposite of me, offering me one of his famous english tea. We started our conversation by him asking what are my interest. He was surprised that none of my interest relates directly to what have I studied in University. Again like I usually does, I blame the Malaysian educational system, while hiding the fact that it was my own fault that I did not go fight for what I really wanted. I go on saying that, 'Those four years at University do me good, at least it let me know what I really wanted in life.' I assured myself that I was right. Then I explained to him the purpose of my journey and how I lead myself to be in Kudat. He is again surprised by how I faced so much challenges just to get in contact with him as well as the wrong phone number that my guide book provides. 'There must be some reason that allows you to finally got my phone number, and eventually end up here.' said Howard which makes me glad that I made the choice to come to Kudat at the first place. 'I hope you find what you are looking for here.' He said. Deep down in my heart, I do really hope I could find out what I want to do with my life, hopefully here, at this wonderful place. To my surprised, he explained to me that he was engaged with a local Rungus. I asked who. Just then my dinner was served to me by a girl, which I think she was in her mid-20s, energetic, pretty and always with a contagious smile on her face. I thanked her for my meal, and I got struck with another surprise. 'Here she is, my fiance.' Said Howard while holding the hand of the girl who just serve me dinner. 'Her name is Lorraina, ain't she beautiful.' Said Howard while looking at the Lorraina. A look of love, simple and deep. I am not surprised anymore. We go on talking mostly about him, how he had a dream, a dream to build and own his own resort establishment and how those stories in my guide book was real as well as how much more of him was not written in it! More about the great man later.
We talk and we talk until I finished my satisfying meal. 'Do you want to be a volunteer here?' Howard asked me. I am stunned. Yes I do not know how I going to spend my long 2 months or how much money I need for that and even where I am suppose to go. Volunteering seems to be the right move to make now. Honestly, the thought of volunteering at his place do crossed my mind while riding on his car from Kudat town to the Tip, given that I had no plans at all. But I never expect it was to be him that ask me, I expected to do the other way round, I suppose to ask him for it. Perhaps It was really fate that brings me here, and it wanted me to stay here as well. I do not always believe in fate, perhaps this time I should. I am thrilled and I said yes, 'I would definitely love to.' I said to reaffirm my decision. The grateful smile in his face reassured me that I made the right choice. I feel glad, really glad.
That day, from end to end, was one of the best day of my life. Everything just go so right. From the early indecisive me, to me being grateful and glad sleeping in a wooden bed, inside a bamboo walled room, in a longhouse made entirely out of wood, being in the middle of the jungle, in a village, a village near to the Tip Of Borneo, and in Kudat. I truly realised that how choices could turns our right once you believe in it. How one bold move or one risky step would change everything, and how everything would be well with the help of some luck and of course some fate. How asking would always get you what you want, once you have the right attitude and you ask the right way. And how one small step, in this early of my journey, turn out to be the best step ever. I can tell you now, that this stop, truly truly was a worthy stop.
To Be Continue...
Stay tuned to find out what I did, what I experience, what I saw, and who I met during my time volunteering on the next post. It would only get interesting given that I spent almost a month there in the humble Tampat Do Aman Eco Resort volunteering for Howard. Although initially I said that I would volunteer for only 2 weeks. hahahhahahahahah!
 |
| In between the coconut trees! |
 |
| The captivating Kalampuan Beach!!! Preview of the good pictures here to come in the next post! |
 |
| The only photo of me with Howard! This was taken in front of Tampat Do Aman Eco Resort, right before I end my volunteer stint there. I was hella dark after that (seeing the contrast between my neck and my chest). |
Live Well People
Have a Happy New Year
Shian
No comments:
Post a Comment