Weekend in Janda Baik, Pahang

Janda Baik... I don't know where the hell is this place the first time I heard about it. The name itself sound funny... 'good widow'.

The first time I step my feet in this village was in March '08 - a trip with my college mates for our Ko-K program. This is a real typical village with small road, full of greens (jungle), river and the people make a living with odd job, kerja kampung and the like.

But to my surprise, there are visitors / tourists come to this village for camping, relaxing and to film a movie as well (wow!). There are a number of accommodations here and most of them cater for team building, company training and the like. There is one or two that cater for high end kind of weekend outing as well. One of it is Sailor Rest - the place where we gonna stay. They have 2 kind of accommodations - boathouse and house. Price range from RM 250 (boathouse) to RM 280 (house). They do cater food as well. My advice.... opt for the food they cater as it will be easier for those who just want to relax, afterall not much choice outside there.

During one of the weekend, me and my other 2 friends went for our weekend outing in Janda Baik and have booked a place at the boathouse. Arrived there around 11 am. We were being greet by the owner itself, Dato' Hashim and Datin Zana (we didn't know they have the title until my last visit to Janda Baik for my Ko-K program). That time we just call them auntie and uncle.

The place is further deep inside of the tribe/aborigine village. Though its quite deep inside but the minute you reach there... wow, fantastic! The house is just next to the river and the boathouse was built in a manmade lake (the water is piped in from the river). The view is superb and the air is fresh. Uncle and Auntie show us around the house, their fish pond, their kitten... We had a very warm welcome.

After our fruit punch, we walk to our boathouse. The minute we step into the boathouse, I was stunt with the decorations. It is so luxury, no doubt that it can't compete the five star hotel in town, but for that kind of place... RM 250 is worth the money.

Having looked around the boathouse, we get change and ready to go for our 'mandi sungai'. God... the water is so cold... This remind us of the Sungai Congkak we went few years back - but here is even better. Almost an hour and a half we were in the water. Get out of the river, we shower and ready to go for our food. Had our late lunch at one of the makan place there (drive out for 5 to 10 minutes).

After our late lunch.... here the incident started. I don't feel comfortable. Ask the makan place owner if there is a clinic I can head to - he shown us the direction. Drive there and its not a clinic but just a 'clinic desa'. Worst part... the doctor was not there.

We left the place and drive further down, in case there is clinic down there. By that time I couldn't stand the pain. I couldn't sit, stand, bend and everything.... I just couldn't.

My friend drive back to the 'clinic desa' try to see if the doctor is there... still no sign of him/her. I feel like vomiting and after sometime, manage to vomit everything out. Passers by were asking my another friend about me... My stomach is getting worst.

My another friend manage to get the doctor (fr the 'clinic desa'). They take me to the clinic. Myself that point of time.... I feel like I'm going to die. The lady who we thought is a doctor is just a nurse there... gosh! Asked her if she has gastric medicine and to my surprise, they don't keep other medicine than panadol, cough syrup and the usual medicine. That time I feel like yelling at her (sick like half dead, still want to yell at people...) but I have the energy to do so. Take the panadol and still no sign of cooling down. My friends decided to drive me to Bentong but they changed the plan. They instead pack our thing and drive back to KL.

They arrived Boathouse, make payment and tell Uncle and Auntie that we want to check out. They were surprised and by the time my friends want to leave the place, they say they want to come along and want to give me 'antibiotic'. My friends were hesitated but then, they agreed. There are another two person following them.

When they arrive, according to my friends, I wasn't look myself. Was jokingly tell them, why didnt they take a picture of me that point of time...

The person who followed Uncle and Auntie recites verses from the Quran. They ask me to drink the water and the one Auntie brought. In less than 20-minutes, I am back to normal, I start to laugh, can talk and .... no more pain! Its terrific!

Uncle and Auntie welcome us to overnight there but we've decided to go back to KL. Thank all of them there and Auntie hug me - I am touched!

We take a slow drive back to KL. In the car, my friend want to say something but dare not to until we are out of that place. Arrived KL, went to clinic to take medicine and back home. My friends overnight at my place and there we recall and chat how it started until we back to KL.

On the way home (almost reach my home), Uncle call to check if we arrived home - so kind of him. He advise me to finish the water they've given, this and that.... so concern....

To my surprise, on Tuesday the following week, he and auntie text me to find out if I am ok. I've called and talked to him... They are so very kind, and as a gesture of respect and thankful I'll visit him again (probably during my Uni programme in June '08).

Below are some pictures taken when we were there.... enjoy!!!!!

Newly born kittens...

The House

The Boathouse


Interior of the boathouse

The Garden (close to boathouse)


Myself... infront of the boathouse

The River... (next to the house)


The River


Nav... in the river...

Mok... testing the water (it is so cold...)

The three of us... (in the river)

p/s regrettably, we didn't take picture with Uncle Hashim & Auntie Zana. (Recently went to Janda Baik for my Uni program.. the village head told me that they are Dato' and Datin... I was surprised and even respect them more as they are very kind person).