The flood in Pahang
I started 2018 by experiencing first hand the flood situation in the east coast of Malaysia. I mean... I've read and heard about it, about schools being closed down and flood victims being evacuated to a nearby safe zone for temporary shelter but it has never resonated with me. After all, it never affected me.
There's actually plenty to do around Sungai Lembing, such as hiking Bukit Panaroma for some breathtaking sunrise views or enjoy some apparently really good tofu and noodles made using the mountain water. Note that I used the word "apparently" because we didn't get the chance to give it a taste, bummer! But of course, the to-do's we had planned was all in vain when the rain doesn't stop pouring.
Around 11pm, 4 residents started packing and they're not going for a midnight hike. Turns out, one of the fellas was getting worried that the long lasting rain throughout the entire day will cause a bit of a havoc, ie. flood. We weren't made aware until then that another thing that Sungai Lembing is famous for, is the flood situation. Water level around the township recedes pretty rapidly but the routes in and out of Sungai Lembing will be inaccessible for prolonged period of time, sometimes up to 10 days.
We were assured everything was ok and we took comfort in that.
Chapter 1: How it all started
January 2018. We decided to go on a road trip down to Pahang, not giving much thought on the possibility of a bad strike due to the monsoon season. We made plans to stay a night at Sungai Lembing, followed by a two nights stay at Cherating Beach. lt was all rainbows and butterflies as we sang along with the songs playing on the radio stations, until it started raining (definitely not due to our singing). We brushed it off, thinking as long as we're in the car, we'd be safe and most importantly, dry. At the same time, naively thinking, it will most definitely stop raining in a bit.Chapter 2: The first saga
As we approached Sungai Lembing, we heard a beeping sound from the car, only to realise we were running low on petrol. The situation worsened as we soon learnt that the township of Sungai Lembing has no petrol station and the nearest one is approximately 20 minutes drive away, at least according to Google. Anxious, we called up the retreat and asked for help, wishfully thinking that perhaps Google was wrong. Well, Google was not. We were told that the only way you can get petrol in town is either at a motorbike workshop or a local grocery store where they sold petrol by the typical 1.5 litres mineral water bottles. Being spoilt rotten with easy access to petrol stations, such discovery was a slight reality check on the different lifestyle, even within the same country. The owner at the retreat told us to make our way to the accommodation first and they will help us get that sorted out the next day before we leave for our next destination. However as dinner time approaches, we started feeling slightly "trapped". Don't get me wrong, the owner of the retreat actually offered to cook us some simple dinner since it was raining and we weren't exactly in the luxury of having ample amount of petrol to be able to roam and drive around the town to seek for food. But being the typical millennials, we wanted to have that option at least. So we brave the rain and went back down to the town to look for the 2 aforementioned shops for petrol. Managed to buy 2 bottles of petrol because that was what they have left.Chapter 3. Warning sign
Petrol issue aside, it was actually quite a relaxing experience, sitting by the open air common area, listening to the sound of rain (not sound of music), playing Monopoly Deal whilst sipping on a hot cuppa Milo. Had some good conversation with the other residents and the owner of the retreat where he shared with us his business plans and ideas to expand the place.There's actually plenty to do around Sungai Lembing, such as hiking Bukit Panaroma for some breathtaking sunrise views or enjoy some apparently really good tofu and noodles made using the mountain water. Note that I used the word "apparently" because we didn't get the chance to give it a taste, bummer! But of course, the to-do's we had planned was all in vain when the rain doesn't stop pouring.
Around 11pm, 4 residents started packing and they're not going for a midnight hike. Turns out, one of the fellas was getting worried that the long lasting rain throughout the entire day will cause a bit of a havoc, ie. flood. We weren't made aware until then that another thing that Sungai Lembing is famous for, is the flood situation. Water level around the township recedes pretty rapidly but the routes in and out of Sungai Lembing will be inaccessible for prolonged period of time, sometimes up to 10 days.
We were assured everything was ok and we took comfort in that.
Chapter 4. The very next day
Very pleasant sleep with water droplets playing on repeat except the fact that we woke up with a partially wet floor because the rubber seals obviously required some upgrades. Still all calm and composed, we walked back to the open air common area for a hot cuppa milo (again) and toast.
Slowly but eventually, the news fell upon us. We were told that we were in the midst of the infamous Sungai Lembing flood. Did a quick search on Google and found out that the flood occurred around 3am whilst we were fast asleep. Up to 11 schools in Pahang had to be shut down and students meant to return to classes had extra days-off. If only that works the same way with work. Anyways, unsure if we were stupid or just naive, we were hopeful that if the rain stops in the afternoon, the water level will recede and we will still be able to exit the town. We eventually did but not the same way we came in.
Slowly but eventually, the news fell upon us. We were told that we were in the midst of the infamous Sungai Lembing flood. Did a quick search on Google and found out that the flood occurred around 3am whilst we were fast asleep. Up to 11 schools in Pahang had to be shut down and students meant to return to classes had extra days-off. If only that works the same way with work. Anyways, unsure if we were stupid or just naive, we were hopeful that if the rain stops in the afternoon, the water level will recede and we will still be able to exit the town. We eventually did but not the same way we came in.
Chapter 5. Faith in humanity restored
As we were lying on the cottage floor and our reading books as our pillows, poking each other in the face, trying to wait out the rain, we saw a commotion between the owner and some other residents. We then found out that a few of them will be heading out of town in an army truck and if we were to join them, it was a matter of making that decision within seconds. Took our valuables and the most basic necessities required, we lugged along our belongings and hopped in to the owner's 4WD. We got to where the armies were waiting and after loading the all of 8 of us, with no time to spare as it was a race against the rising water level, we started driving out towards the roads now turned into a rather rapidly flowing stream. It was a very nerve wrecking experience, not knowing the area and not knowing where they were dropping us off, basically not knowing anything. At least we spoke the same language (Bahasa Malaysia is useful after all) so communication was not an issue. Once we got off the army truck, a few 4WDs was waiting. The locals were all out to help, doesn't matter race or religion. I was touched and words cannot express my gratitude. It is also at times like this, I truly experience the true meaning of 1Malaysia. *faith in humanity restored*. One of the locals offered us a ride to a nearby destination we had in mind. We were basically hitch hiking, trusting a stranger and placing our fate in his hands. He ended up dropping us at Kampung Panching where the owner of the retreat has arranged for his friend to pick us up and drove us to the Kuantan main bus terminal.
Chapter 6. Drive through it
Sitting in the 4WD, we thought the worst was over but we didn't know the danger we were going to face. The river water level has risen so much that it had spilled over to the roads and if we didn't know any better, we wouldn't even realise there was a road before this. Cars were gathering at the edge of the road before it meets the river, mainly because they were stuck, not being able to move forth. Even the 4WD barely made it through. Sitting in the car, it felt almost like a river cruise. From my view, more than half of the bus stop stand has already been swallowed by the water. Worrying thoughts ran through my mind. What if the car died halfway through, and the current swept us away, do we swim out of the car? Oh no, my laptop is in my bag and it's obviously not waterproof, not even water resistant. It was a mountainous terrain and we had to drive through not 1 but 3 "river roads". Thankfully, we drove through it safe and sound, and dry.
Despite all of that, what really caught my attention is how some people can find joy in what may be one of their bad days. We saw a few local teenagers, wading through the waters with one of them holding a bunch of fishes by the rope. As we passed by the teens, we could see them hollering and skipping over the trailing waves created by our 4WD.
Despite all of that, what really caught my attention is how some people can find joy in what may be one of their bad days. We saw a few local teenagers, wading through the waters with one of them holding a bunch of fishes by the rope. As we passed by the teens, we could see them hollering and skipping over the trailing waves created by our 4WD.
Chapter 7. The journey continues
We made it to the Kuantan main bus terminal and bade farewell with the rest as they bought their bus tickets to head back Kuala Lumpur. We already paid for the accommodation at Cherating Beach and the resort did not allow any form of cancellation and postpone of dates. We checked and made sure it was still safe to head down to Cherating Beach. Thankfully the manager at the resort was not a blind follower to the standard operating procedures and insisted that pick up arrangement is to be done 1 week in advance. We hung around Kuantan main bus terminal as we waited for the driver from the resort to arrive. While waiting, we grabbed a quick bite and had some Nasi Lemak. It was so delicious, either that or the hungers were real.
Chapter 8. No mobility
We didn't do much at Cherating Beach except bumming around at our villa since we didn't have our car with us and Grab was extremely scarce. The only time we step foot outside was to grab dinner on the second night. Grab had to come from another state* to come pick us up! It was scary af. Dark at night, having dinner at some random warung (all the shops were distantly spaced between one another), being feasted by the mosquitoes. We were imagining some crazy shit happening. What if someone mugs us; what if someone kidnaps us! Nobody will be able to save us because they will most likely be from the same troop and we wouldn't even be able to run away quick enough because we didn't had our car! Thank goodness we're still alive and in one piece.
*Grab drivers were mostly found around the Kemaman area which is a district in Terengganu whereas Cherating beach is located in Kuantan. It takes about 15-30 minutes to reach one point to another depending on the exact location.
Chapter 9. Lucky enough
Not knowing when the water level will recede and looking at how it was raining the whole time we were at Cherating Beach, we decided to book another night at Kuantan. Maybe, just maybe we will wait long enough for a successful retrieve-car-at-Sungai-Lembing mission.
The next day, as the Grab driver was driving us down from Cherating Beach to our next hotel in Kuantan, I made a quick call to the police station at Sungai Lembing and asked if the area is finally accessible. God/Allah/Buddha answered our prayer! We were advised to take the longer route via Kem10 as that particular path has cleared. We quickly negotiated a deal with our Grab driver to do a massive re-route. That is, instead of dropping us off at Kuantan, drive us to Sungai Lembing instead. In Chapter 2, I have mentioned that our car was running low on petrol. So we asked our Grab driver to take us to a petrol station along the way and waited as we got ourself some supply. We bought another two 1.5 litres mineral water in which we emptied it out and filled it with petrol.
I was extremely anxious during the entire ride. What if in the midst of retrieving our car, it starts raining? What if the flood happens again before we're able to leave the place? I kept myself focused by studying the map, making sure I remember the route we used to avoid the inaccessible areas. After much struggle, WE FINALLY GOT TO OUR CAR. That joy; that relief.
The next day, as the Grab driver was driving us down from Cherating Beach to our next hotel in Kuantan, I made a quick call to the police station at Sungai Lembing and asked if the area is finally accessible. God/Allah/Buddha answered our prayer! We were advised to take the longer route via Kem10 as that particular path has cleared. We quickly negotiated a deal with our Grab driver to do a massive re-route. That is, instead of dropping us off at Kuantan, drive us to Sungai Lembing instead. In Chapter 2, I have mentioned that our car was running low on petrol. So we asked our Grab driver to take us to a petrol station along the way and waited as we got ourself some supply. We bought another two 1.5 litres mineral water in which we emptied it out and filled it with petrol.
I was extremely anxious during the entire ride. What if in the midst of retrieving our car, it starts raining? What if the flood happens again before we're able to leave the place? I kept myself focused by studying the map, making sure I remember the route we used to avoid the inaccessible areas. After much struggle, WE FINALLY GOT TO OUR CAR. That joy; that relief.
Chapter 10. It wasn't too bad after all
Reunited with the car, we no longer felt paralysed. With the assistance of the Grab driver, we emptied the 2 petrol filled mineral water bottles into our car. We were relieved as we finally had a decent amount of petrol to get ourselves to the next petrol station. Finally, we had the freedom of driving around again. We ended our trip with another night in Kuantan with some solid food hunt and then headed back home.
First and last time heading for a holiday in the East coast during monsoon season, kthxbai.
First and last time heading for a holiday in the East coast during monsoon season, kthxbai.
