Life in Lahad Datu

America, where I spent 4 years of my university years....Kuala Lumpur where I live and work for almost 20 years, not counting the number of years during my late primary and early secondary school......Penang where I spent a short off-days with my inlaws .....then back to basic, Lahad Datu, my home town. Although not much memories I could gather, but there, where I was born and spent my early childhood, attending religious school, roaming thru to the wilderness of forestland collecting rubber seeds for a traditional game, experienced selling ice-cream, walked 1.5 miles away to St Dominic Primary school(when the driver was not well), helped taking care of my younger siblings, while my parents were most of the time busy with politics, leaving 13 of us with dearly grand mother and 3 servants. There, where I spent most of the late afternoon playing house under the tree with my cousins, young uncles and sister, playing 'batu seremban', learned swimming by jumping into the nearby river and self-struggling to float, without worries of possible reptiles. All the adventures stopped when I left for KL at the 5th grade. The rest of my visits to LD were during school holidays and Eids. I was shocked! to see a baby crocodile in that river 2 years ago. The crocs probably afraid of little Faida then. Lahad Datu, where a red durian exists, is dear to me. Spent 3 days over the weekend, driving around places, trying to find anyone I hoped to recognize, but none. Hey! Traffic jam exists. Took a few snaps of familiar places. New buildings and the old ones are side by side. Activities downtown are as 30 years ago. Good news! all houses are equipped with flushed toilet. Better drainage and utilities are in placed. Internet is available but I have no patience to wait. Very slow. The airport is upgraded from the level of 'Kedai Kopi-like' without aircon to Cafe-like with aircon. Anyway, that doesnt matter to me. Who serves inflight ,does. Lately, I always bumped onto European tourists at LD airport. They seem to know more about places of nature within LD compared to me. They told me about Tabin Wildlife, where Sumatran Rhino was sighted. I read brochures of beautiful Sipadan and Mabul Island, the under water paradise, I heard about Danum Valley, pictured as almost paradise. I know about the Bird's Nest harvesting at Madai Caves, which according to the old folks, owned by my ancestors, 7th generations ago. All these are reachable within 2-3 hours drive from the tiny town. Okie dokie...!More about LD when I hear more from the tourists.