Takim took me to his hometown in Kedah. A very remote (p/s: not to be misunderstood as uncivilized but more to exquisite and serene) place called Rantau Panjang. After all these years, I only knew that Rantau Panjang is only in Kelantan. Silly me! We spent our nites at Pantai Merdeka Beach Resort. A very big resort with only 3 rooms booked. Creepy~butta nothing bad happened because our room was just a room away from the employees' cabin.
I've got the chance to meet his old best buddy ever; Mat Chop (Mohd Yusof actually) and wifey Fiza,(if I'm not mistaken) for 2 consecutive days. Yeah, they spent their time reminiscing all the childhood memories, all the x-girlfriends they had, how 'macho' they were with their sling shots, yada yada yada. Me? I was so happy and laughed all the while. He was a "kampong boy" after all.
Takim brought me to every single inch of his so-called territory and told me soooo many times how he missed all these. I guess being a grown up really is depressing, huh? He has shown me:
1) his former house, the house where he grew up.
2) his "tempat mengaji."
3) the river that locates his secret hideout
4) the best place in Kota Kuala Muda to eat laksa.
5) his kindergarten
And along the way, I've met so many nice and warmhearted relatives and family friends. I felt so homey and welcomed. I didn't feel like a stranger at all. One thing about his kampung is that, it is surrounded with paddy fields. So refreshing and so so so so green. I love it. Feel like coming back to this place again, anytime.
p/s : and Sayang (my dear darling baby Takim), I thought I knew everything about you from the moment we met. I was wrong. Merci beaucoup for letting me "cruised" back to one of your joyful and memorable times of your life, your childhood. I felt like, I was there too. So vivid!
The eye-catching entrance lights.
Our room's view.
So freakin' cool.