September
7, 2002
trip much needed (vacation part one)
Listening to: the lobby crowd
Reading: nothing at the moment
10:45 pm
I’m curled up in one of the sofas at the resort lobby of The Equatorial. That’s 4000+ ft up and in a state I've never been before (Cameron Highlands, Pahang). I know it isn’t as fabulous as other vacationing possibilities in Malaysia, but there were certain elements of the non-descript trip that just made it entirely worthwhile for me. I had no idea how badly I needed to get out of the city, because I couldn’t stay away from it. But now, here, I’m only just beginning to appreciate the time-out. It didn’t even have to be a gorgeous, expensive vacation.
The lobby has long stretching ceilings with
flags and tapestries, stone walls, and sofas and armchairs of all kinds. There’s even
a big fireplace, and even that doesn’t seem out of place. Back in KL a fireplace
would be laughably unnecessary. I don’t need it as badly as most people here, because
I’m somewhat adjusted to cold temperatures
(my bedroom).
On the other end of the lobby, families shriek
playing foosball, pool, watching TV.
On my end there are only four people here (reading newspapers and financial magazines, or
waiting for someone), and given the number of sofas and space, we are few and far between.
Someone else has the fireplace, I have my novel (terrific so far) and the occasional urge
to write.
Earlier today we found a beautiful view. It took poking through a map, and a dangerous drive up a curling thin road but after all the profuse profanity to the air (Mum for having to drive and my sister and I for the damned drive), we got – well actually, fell – out of the RV and immediately discovered that the near-death experience was worth it.
There were rows and rows of green. Tea plantations that just seemed to go on forever, sweeping the hillsides. From where we were, we saw the tea stretch downhill and away from us, then from there more tea combed hills further away, upwards and higher, majestic. I felt humbled. This is a view that the city could only dream of, if the city dreams of nature at all. There I was, the reluctant city girl, my eyes quite possibly twinkling in awe; reluctant no longer.