Go Gopeng I: Riding the Rapids

Birthdays are always marked by meals with family and friends. Simple food as I wasn't feeling very well. Been incubating some germs for a week. Gratitude to SK, CK, Lifebook, Bless, Lifebook, Jaded Jeremy, Bunny, and SimonLover for celebrating with me. Goes without saying that KH is highest on my thank you list. And it also goes without saying that SimonLover added more sexy gear to my collection. 

About a week after my birthday, I headed to Gopeng for a company team-building trip. A total of two buses made the trip north. Our first stop was at Nasi Bamboo Sungai Klah for lunch. The food wasn't extraordinary, but it gave me the chance to try Ikan Pekasam, a pungent fermented fish that repulses many of my Malay colleagues. At Gopeng, we ditched the buses because the MyGopeng Resort is not easily accessible. We boarded two lorries like how you see pigs being transported to the market. The ride was uncomfortable and bumpy. I was so tired of standing, that I ended up sitting down on the dirty floor. 

MyGopeng Resort is like a village dotted with traditional wooden houses. Very serene and green. Upon arrival, the organizers settled our room arrangements. And from that exercise, I finally realized that a colleague of mine is a butch. Never before had I suspected until I saw that he was staying with the girls. Massive fail on the part of my gaydar. 

First activity of the day was water rafting. Four persons per raft with one guide onboard to make sure we don't run into trouble. During the briefing, we were taught how to row, and respond to the oral cues of the guide. Basically just need to remember two important cues: BUM-BUM and JUMP-JUMP. The former requires you to sit low in the raft, keep your oars, and hold on for dear life (if you don't, you might find yourself flung into the river), while the latter requires bouncing on the raft the get it unstuck (yes, getting stuck happens pretty frequently). Equipped with helmets, life jackets, and oars (and the four-eyes got rubber bands to secure their spectacles). 

Once again we boarded the lorries, and reached the riverside in no time. Took some time for us to get used to the river, and as long as we listened to guide, we were good. My raft didn't flip, and no one fell out. Halfway through the rapids, the soles of my New Balance shoes just decided to detach. At the last leg, we floated single file downriver in our life jackets. Luckily I wasn't the guy in front! Just needed to keep my ass up to avoid it scraping on the river pebbles. Drained after the activity, but it was really fun. The unluckiest person was my boss not because he was thrown into the river, but because he lost his Apple watch! 

Back at the resort, I took a nice shower and enjoyed the dinner. Alcohol was provided, and some of my colleagues started playing cards. Although I was in Gopeng, I couldn't escape having to attend to a migration activity during the graveyard hours. Total bummer that there was an application issue, but eventually the root cause was identified and I finally could get some rest. I woke up late and skipped the CSR activity that was planned. No tree-planting for me. :D.