Has anyone heard of Tasik Bera? I'm sure most of you will be going ... "Huh, tasik what?" TASIK BERA - well it's situated in Pahang. Just some geography class for some of you, there are two natrual lakes in Pahang; Tasik Bera being the larger of the two and is Malaysia's largest natural lake.
Honestly, I myself have not heard of this place until sometime last year when I attended a friend's wedding where a common friend was telling me about her trip to this lake. Sounded very interesting - PLUS the best part was it she said it only cost RM180 per person for 3day 2night: accomodation and food, plus some free activities such as kayaking, fishing, etc.
WOW, I thought! Thats amazing. So I got the guy's contact : Mr Aziz - 013 623 1199 and gave him a call a few days later to book a room for myself. :)
On the first day of our trip, we left in the morning after breakfast. I think the drive there took about 3 hours or so. I was feeling a lil sceptical about this place as it was so cheap. Perhaps it will be run down, I thought. Or the food might be crap. But when I reached Tasik Bera, to my surprise I was so wrong!
The room was clean with air-con, hot water and most importantly clean toilets. I was so pleased. We had lunch right after we set all our stuff down in the rooms. Lunch was white rice with one veg, one meat and omellete. Yum!
After lunch we walked around to check out the place. Tasik Bera Resort, the only accomodation available in Tasik Bera is pretty small, with probably around 10 rooms and one main dining area. We walked towards the lake (of course with my camera in hand) to find a wooden pier. We sat there enjoying the quietness and fresh air. Just want I need to calm my nerves - far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The second day, we got a free boat ride around the lake by Mr Aziz himself. He tells us about how big the lake it and how DEEP it is. The lake feels like a huge maze - one could easily get lost among the water plants, but I'm glad to know that Mr Aziz knows his way around.
Are there crocodiles around here? Sometimes he says. *cringe* He continues to tell us about the lake people and their ways, about the biggest fish they've caught and how he runs Tasik Bera Resort by mostly himself.
After the 1 hour ride, we thank him and enquire more about fishing. "Oh fishing...sure sure" He takes out two thin bamboo rods, tied with fishing line at one end...takes out his cangkul and starts 'cangkul-ing' the ground, looking for earthworms. He puts the earthworms into a paper cup and passes it to me. I look it. Eww, I thought. *giggle*
"You can take that white sampan down there and paddle yourselves out to the lake and start fishing" Mr Aziz told us. Well, looks and sounds easy enough, I thought. No prob!
I was so wrong. We took such a long time just trying to get into the sampan and to get the sampan out into the water without getting ourselves wet or falling into the water. Finally, we managed to get out into the water and started paddling to the other side of the lake. We found a place among the water plants with some shade to dock ourselves.
Excitedly, I took out my bamboo fishing rod...and now come the hard part (well, for me at least)...to hook the bait. I tried my hardest not to touch those icky earthworms and omgosh, it was sssoooo tough, but I finally managed to hook the bait on. I plunked the bait into the water and waited.
I waited and waited and waited....
Oh, I felt a tug! I quickly pulled my line and there is was - my first fish! :) I was so pleased although the fish was like about 4 inches long. Muahahah! But it was nonetheless, my first fish. And if you were wondering what I did with my fish - well, I let it go back in the water. Didn't want to kill the poor fish.
The sun was setting and it was time to head back to land. We paddled our tired selves back to the bank and headed back to get a shower and dinner after.
The next morning, we packed up and said our goodbyes and headed back to KL. I would say that it was quite an experience - my first time catching a fish (with a bamboo rod), paddling myself out the onto the lake in a tiny sampan, but most of all, it was a good retreat from the busy city. Should start planning another trip there in the next few months to come....
Ok, so till my next travel story....muaks!
Trez
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