Border Crossing, Golok River
Final Night in Kampung Jeruju
We spent our last memorable nights at the homestay in Kampung
Jeruju, where the locals make their living by the coastline fishery
and rice farming. Here, on the path that leads to the beach, both
sides are taken up by beautiful paddy fields. Nothing can change
the mindset of the locals, as they still live their life simply, even
though there are a handful of tourists in their village. At the
morning market, most people tend to gather around and wait for
fresh fish, while local coffee stalls supply the morning wake up
drinks, and roti vendors happily show off to clients their skill in
flour kneading. The house I stayed in here featured a raised space
under the house which provided for good ventilation. Inside the
house, my bedroom had clear wooden-blind windows, and I could
see the paddy field at the back of the house as the first light of
the day shone through.
When we arrive back over the border into Thailand, our team also
had an opportunity to visit the homestay located in Baan Saikhao,
in the Khogbodhi district in Pattani. The homestay here features
a number of awesome activities, such as an excursion on a WWIIstyle jeep to see the viewpoint situating inside Saikhao (waterfall)
National Park. A jeep is used as the route through the summit
of the mountain is quite steep, but it’s definitely worth visiting
as the viewpoint boasts such beautiful scenic vistas. From here
I reflected on how much I enjoyed seeing the beautiful nature
of the mountainous terrains that line the border of Thailand
and Malaysia, as well as how much I enjoyed experiencing the
simple lifestyle of the Malay people at the homestays. It gave me
a little hope that there is always peace out there, amongst these
neighborhoods, if you know where to look.
28
Deke Barat Performance
GETTING THERE
Tourists can purchase tour packages, consisting of a 3-day and 2-night homestay,
at the price of 140 RM (about US $44) per person. Another way to get to the village
of Kampung Beng is by taking the train from Kuala Lumpur, and getting off at the
nearby Kuala Kangza train station. It’s a 3-hour trip, and a popular choice for tourists.
For further information about how you can partake in the Malaysian Homestays
program, please inquire at Tourism Malaysia: www.tourism.gov.my
Special Thanks: The Office of Tourism & Sport Satun Province