Essay 6 - Plans and Reminders on Travelling to Your Foreign Friend (Letter)

 

No 8, Jalan Damai Indah 3, 

Setia Indah, Cheras, 

56000,

Kuala Lumpur.

6 March 2020

Dear Sharmaine,

How are you? I hope you are doing great there in California. I already received your letter the other day. I was so delighted and thrilled since you decided to stay with me in my hometown during your visit in Malaysia. My family welcomed you with open arms. So, for your information, my hometown is in Tanjung Karang, Selangor. The place is full with activities that we can do and places that we can visit. I can assure you that your vacation is full of wonderful experiences and memories. So in this letter, I am going to tell you about my plans briefly during your stay in Malaysia. 

First of all, I would love to give you a tour around my lovely village which is called Kampung Sungai Sireh. When you enter my hometown, you will immediately notice a hamlet of about 1000 acres of nature. You will be amazed by the green wetlands forest reserve and a carpet of ripening paddy crops. I do not want to spoil more detail but it will surely make all your problems slowly fade away once you lay your eyes to the aesthetic landscape of my hometown. Plus, you are going to live in a wooden house of a genuine traditional village of mine which is way different from the house in the urban areas. There are a lot of hands-on activities that we can try since rural people are more engaged with nature and their surrounding environment. You will get the feeling of farming, fishing, cooking local dishes, carpentry, playing Malaysian traditional folks games and making handcrafts. I can ensure you will become a true ‘budak kampung’ once you try those activities. 

My next plan is going fishing at the nearby river. This time, you will try another method of catching fish with the help of ‘bubu’ which is a fishing gear that looks like a basket but has a trap in it to block the fish from going out. There are many types of fish that you can get but the most common is grouper fish. Along the way, I will take you out to the wetlands area and explore the river in a kayak to observe the unique flora and fauna and the wildlife in this area.  After that, my grandmother and I will teach you how to cook some of the most famous local dishes while you are here. For example, by using the fish that we catch, you can cook ‘Asam Pedas Ikan Kerapu’. Not only that, other dishes such as Stir Fried Water Spinach with Salted Egg, Fried Rice, Chicken Rendang, and some other traditional desserts like Karipap, Kuih Seri Muka, Kuih Talam and many more mouthwatering foods. It is a must for a tourist like you to experience a new taste when visiting another country. It looks simple but not until you try it. 

Since you are going to stay in Malaysia until our national day passes, I thought it will be great to take you to witness our National Day celebration yourself. The special ceremony will take place in Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. On this day, you will see Malaysian from all backgrounds, race and religion get together here to celebrate the special day. This is a big opportunity for you to experience being among the multiracial community. The event usually kick off with the The Royal Inspection and followed by the recitation of Rukun Negara and seven chants of Merdeka. The highlight of the ceremony would be the National Day Parade and the performance of various races and ethnic groups of the country. I do not know what exactly is going to happen because different themes are applied each year but just be prepared to watch jaw dropping performances. While we are in Kuala Lumpur, I thought it would be nice to wait until the night comes to stop by the famous night market that is located here. Food hunting seems like a good idea after a tiring day. Plus, this is a place where all  your desire will be fulfilled since there are a lot of things for sale. You can also purchase some souvenirs to take it home as a memory visiting Malaysia. 

By the time you receive this letter, I am sure that you are in the middle of packing all of your necessities, so sort out your priorities carefully. Remember to bring your passport and change your money to Malaysian currency. Please put all your money in a wallet and do not forget to bring your camera to capture all your wonderful memories while you are here. Make sure you bring an adequate amount of suitable clothing. I am sure that you are well aware about Malaysian typical weather which is hot and windy sometimes, so a thin and light t-shirt will be much recommended. Bring any necessary medicine for an emergency. With that being said, I need to  remind you to not put all eggs in one basket. Put your passport, phone and wallet in different places so that you will not lose everything. Also be careful wherever you go. 

I think I need to stop here. I am praying for your smooth journey and I hope that your visit to Malaysia this time will be a life changer for you. Also, I hope you enjoy the little things that my family and I prepare for you. Bye ! 

Yours faithfully, 

Nur Suhaila