A journey of hundreds miles start and end at Mi Casa

So it has been two years since I last come for a visit. Originally I planned to go and stay at Danum Valley Field Centre; DVFC for short, then visit Erlinna’s grave after that but there were last-minute changes that force me to change my plan. So yesterday I spend my whole day driving for about 12 hours; surprisingly I wasn’t that tired and don’t even have to switch drivers, accompanied by my old friend Jolivia. We started at about 6 in the morning, after taking our breakfast at McDonald. A journey of hundreds of miles starts with a good McBreakfast I say. I was thinking to go earlier but I keep snoozing my alarm clock and when I have already packed, I went and try to fix my car headlamp before going. I know, that’s a very stylish way of saying, “I’m late foo!”

I tried not to drive fast like last time; it’s not like Erlinna has an appointment or anything. I mean she’s resting, in peace, under 6 feet of dirt, she has all eternity to wait, but this time I have a better ride, and I didn’t feel that I’m driving fast. Also, the fact that Jolivia and I were talking all the way that we didn’t notice we were driving for 5 hours reaching her aunt’s house at Kg. Cocos, Lahad Datu. Reaching there, Aunty Rainah greeted us with a nice Chicken Rice lunch. Nice!

I left Jolivia and Aunty Rainah to catch up while I went to Erlinna’s grave. After this while, I still remember where her grave is. I remember her parents told me that her grave have had a facelift, courtesy from her grandmother on her mom side who came down to KK from Canada end of last year. I recite to her Al-Yassin and Al-Fatihah, spend a little of my time talking to her. It was a very fulfilling talk, well at least to me. I do miss her, but not as much as I used to. I remember her occasionally, but there was a time that I unintentionally forgot her name. Yeah, I did! I’m sorry for that, my bad. I’m also thanking her because if it was not for her, I would probably be one of Banggi Tragedy victims. I have actually applied for a leave a week after the date of the tragedy to attend her 1000 days kenduri, held at Kunak, not on the day my family went to Banggi. The fact that she appeared in a friends dream saying that I’d forgotten her also made me want to go there. It is true that I’ve somehow forgotten about her. I wonder who prompt me to forget her?

After that visit, Jolivia, Aunty Rainah and I went to have the famous Sup Tulang Kg. Cocos, was so famous, even a friend over at Kuantan knows about it. Yeah, it is so good that the place is full on weekdays. After tasting it, it tastes almost the same as the one served at Anani’s, near Open University at Kepayan. Well, no surprise there because the cook is also from Lahad Datu. We head home after that, not before sending Aunty Rainah back of course.

During our time driving back home, something really weird happened. Jolivia somehow “meet” Erlinna and convey to her a message, something like she’s giving her blessing to me. Well, that’s what Jolivia told me. I’m not really surprised at all, she likes to convey her message through my friends. Anyway, a journey of hundreds of miles end at about 11:30 pm, where I reached home safely, right after dropping Jolivia at her place. It was not a very tiring but fulfilling day for me.

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