On Earth Day this year, I took a nature hike.
Let me set expectations immediately: I’m not exactly a rugged, wilderness adventurer. My idea of “roughing it” involves air-conditioned chalets, glamping tents with hot showers and jungle dorms that still somehow have Wi-Fi. I’m basically Bear Grylls– if Bear Grylls demanded 24/7 air-conditioning and room service.
I do love nature… preferably from behind a pane of glass. I adore the concept of the great outdoors. It’s just the heat and humidity I object to. Cheryl, in her affectionate disdain, likes to call me Putera Lilin— a “prince of wax” who would melt under the tropical sun.
So when the chance came up to do a guided nature walk in the cool climes of Genting Highlands on Earth Day, I was immediately intrigued.
Our little adventure began at Awana Resort, inside a sleek steel-and-glass building that housed Genting Nature Adventures. Our group was a motley crew of middle-aged techies. Meanwhile, my most strenuous hiking experience involved navigating from shop to shop at Sunway Pyramid.
We were welcomed by Eddie Chin (the boss), his team, and Arthur– a pink-nosed mountain tortoise who had somehow wandered into their office and looked just as confused to see us. Eddie then led us onto the Clearwater Trail, one of several open to the public.
Now, calling what we did a “hike” might be a little generous. We strolled leisurely to a spot with buggies, zipped halfway up a mountain in blissful, electric-powered comfort and only then engaged in upward walking to a water fall.
Every couple hundred meters, Eddie would stop to drop some eco-wisdom. “See this leaf?” he said, holding up what– to my untrained eye– looked like every other leaf. “It’s mountain pepper. Chew it, and you’ll get a nasty sore throat.” I just wished to be told earlier before I did just that (don’t worry, I survived).
To my surprise, these educational pit stops actually worked. By the end, I had absorbed some impressive trivia: Genting gets more annual visitors than Singapore’s total tourist count (who knew?); monkeys get drunk on fermented wild figs; and Genting’s water comes straight from the mountains.
I genuinely enjoyed our trek through the misty highland air. The refreshing climate made “hiking” — or whatever approximation of hiking we were doing– a pleasure. When we returned to our starting point, I found myself wishing we had time to explore more trails.
Who knew nature could be this enjoyable when it wasn’t trying to melt you?
Maybe next Earth Day, I’ll even graduate to a trail without buggies.
Maybe.
Air-conditioning at the finish line, however, remains non-negotiable.