Sounds like it … feels like it … looks like it but it is not IT.

I go into the forest almost every week … normally I will be at the trailhead at about 6.15am ... I start very early to avoid most trekkers that will arrive when the sky lights up.

I like to trek alone … yes there are some cautions to trekking alone so I have to be extra careful.

Last week, like before, I trekked into the forest but when I reached my first resting point, there was already a trekker there. Quite unusual, I was always the first one there for as long as I remember.

We greeted each other. As soon as I sat down, he walked over and started a conversation. The first few exchanges were quite general … “where are you from” … “how often do you come here" and blah, blah, blah.

Then he asked me … what shoes are you wearing? "Trekking shoes" ... I said.

“What brand is that? I have not seen this before” … he asked.

And before I could put down my water bottle to reply him … he started talking about his shoes.

“This is Salomon” … he told me while lifting up his leg.

I looked at his shoes and nodded … gave him a 👍. He talked about the design … I cannot remember what about … something on the fitting and shape. Then he went on to tell me about the trekking shoes he has at home … if I remember it correctly, he said he has eight pairs of them and mentioned several brands names … all “canggih canggih” brands.

From what I can see … he must have invested quite a fair amount on his trekking gears … the backpack I saw was one of those I cannot afford.

I listened … told myself give him a few more minutes and then I will continue with my journey into the forest. Then he asked again (very curiously) … “what shoes you are wearing?”

And again, before I could reply him, he said …”you know, I don’t wear this kind of shoes, it bad for my trekking … you better change your shoes also”.

OK, that was it … I have to make a move before he start talking about the singlet I was wearing and loose old khaki shorts that was hanging from my waist. So I made an excuse and left … I speed up a bit to make sure that I will lose him if he is behind.

Look, albeit his boastful tone and manner … maybe his intention was good. Maybe to him, good trekking shoes and gears must be from Salomon or Karrimor or some famous brands.

But what he must understand is … not all trekkers can afford expensive brands like him … so, maybe things that are not good enough for him … is good enough for others.

Let me tell you what I wear into the jungle. First, an old singlet … that I have accidently stained while washing. It is still wearable, so might as well use it for trekking before I turn it into table cloth. After that, I will look for another old singlet and the process repeats.

My trekking pants? It is an old pair of discolored khaki shorts with loose rubber waist band, got a big hole in one pocket (have to remind myself constantly not to put car keys into that pocket) and weathered with permanent stains due to frequent contacts with mud, soils and dirt from the many treks into waterfalls and forest reserves.

What about my trekking stick? Well, it is just a long straight branch that I picked up during one of my trips to Gunung Angsi many years ago. It is also my phone/camera holder … just use a long rubber band to tie the phone onto the stick and poke it into the ground and bingo!!! … an instant tripod.

I don’t use those retractable aluminium trekking pole … you know the ones with a little compass at the top? Why? A very experienced trekker once told me … those metal poles, they attract lightning. Yes, seriously … during thunderstorms, if a lightning hits a tree and you are standing near the tree with that kind of metal pole … well, very likely you will be fried.

OK, the most important question … what shoes do I wear? I did not get to tell the guy last week … so let me tell him now (if he gets to read this one day).

Is it a Salomon?

Well, it sounds like it, feels like it, looks like it … but it is not IT.

My pair of 傻老文

I call it "傻老文". Pronounced “sor low mun” in Cantonese. A cheap pair of imitate I bought online at just under 40 bucks and some more wait until the 11.11 sales on Lazada to get another 5 bucks off.

Tak bolih pakai meh?

You see … people boast about their possessions … that is absolutely OK. Of course everyone like to show that they are successful and they deserve to enjoy their successes

But don’t tell those who have less than you that what they have is not good enough.

I know a guy with a title in front of his name … one time he boasted about the luxury cars he has in his garage. He said to me and a few others at a gathering … “anything that is less than 500k is not a car” … now, to him a car have to be 500k or more.

Yes, some people think I am driving this

Then I want to ask … what are most of us driving then? Buffaloes and camels?