Heading West

Saturday 19.8. (112km/741hm)

After a lazy day, we set off on Saturday towards Kluang. As always, the way consists only of plantations. So when we arrive in Ayer Hitam around 6 p.m., we consider taking a hotel room, but then decide to ask the people if we can camp somewhere.

Right from the first time, we receive an approval, we can set up our tent behind the house and also use the toilets.

When the young woman, with the baby in her arms, came back to us after about 3 minutes, she said that we could even spend the night in the guest room.

Utterly overwhelmed by the hospitality, we thank her, freshen up, and go for dinner.

Back again, there's a knock on the door:

She: 'You are invited to dinner'

Me: 'Oh thank you, but we just ate'

She: 'Yes, but we really want to invite you! Today is my uncle's funeral ceremony'

Of course, I agreed then. The only condition was that we had to wear traditional attire.

NO PROBLEM

Patrick was greeted by the men with a handshake and was allowed to sit on a chair, while I was asked to sit on the ground by the girls.

As soon as we arrived, everyone wanted to take a photo with us....more and more people gathered around us.

So funny.

Afterwards, we were "bombarded" with food - as soon as the plate was empty, we already had a new one in our hands.

It was a great evening with many warm-hearted people.

In the end, Hawa revealed that this was the last of a total of 7 evenings. And that today only the closest family was invited.

What an honor it was for us to be part of it.