Learning the local language helps in planning trips!
I was having dinner with my friends from NUS Rovers (I was in the executive committee during my first year in university), and as usual, we chatted about planning trekking trips to everywhere, diving, white water rafting, etc. I really love the group of people - so fun loving and so easy going.
We were talking about our own adventures in trekking after we have left the committee, going to places that we have never been before during our time in the committee and stuff like that… and Zaid told us about his recent trip to Selangor doing rapid shooting and white water rafting! Woo! Sounds so fun! Unfortunately I was not able to make it the other time… I really respect and envy his planning and organizing skills for treks, bringing groups of friends to new places. I want to do that too!
So, on the way back home, I was still discussing with him. How did he do it? Well, actually it is really a matter of liaising with a contact at the destination to get the activities going for you. There are a lot of places for such fun in West Malaysia itself! But then again, Zaid was able to do a recce of the trip, and he did it himself. Personally, I think I will have a hard time doing it, especially when the venue is in the northern states, like Kelantan and Terengganu, because without the ability to speak in their language - it would be like what they say “the chicken talking to a duck!” We won’t understand each other! Well, I’ll probably still get things done… maybe I will manage to get train tickets after the train leaves! haha…
Anyway, the point is… Learning the local language really helps in planning trips, and in Singapore’s case, or at least for me, most of my treks currently are in Malaysia or Indonesia, where Malay is the primary language.
So, I need to learn Malay! I have already bought a program (books with audio tapes) teaching colloquial Malay, but I haven’t started much on it!
Yesterday I also surfed on to a very interesting blog site, which aims to teach people Malay! Its a great site to follow! Check it out here.
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