Paul Arden | Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Today is my weekly supplies run to the local metropolis, Gerik. I try to avoid these high-paced hives of human-activity. A few of my Zoom casting students have asked me how far I live from civilisation, and I would definitely call Grik civilised. Particularly since it has two legitimate spellings, both used on road signs as you approach the sprawling mass of two story buildings. Gerik and Grik — which are both correctly pronounced “Grik”. If you check out Wikipedia’s entry on Gerik, it says that one of the town’s notable locations is the bus stop.
So to get there from here, depends on where here is. Today here means a 45 minute ride by “speed” boat to Belum Rainforest Resort, a couple of nimble climbs up the Staircase of Death and then a 45 minute drive along arguably the most dangerous road in Malaysia. If it wasn’t for my fighter pilot fly fishing reactions I would be dead twice this year already.
Apart from the bus stop, Grik has a couple of other prime attractions. There is the miniature airfield, around which I run laps. Today the plan is 21km, which is 12 sweaty laps (I lose about 2 kg on this run, despite drinking 1600ml of water/electrolytes, which is staggering).
And then there is Lung Gi, which is my favourite Chinese restaurant, where I order the same three dishes every time. In fact they know me so well now, that they bring me beer as soon as I arrive. And they don’t give me the thimble sized glasses from which the Chinese drink beer, but instead a proper pint-sized mug, with a handle no less!
And sometimes I see my wife too.
Last week I had a quick trip into Sungai Tiang. The State Park are making a promotional video and they needed someone to nip in and quickly catch a fish. The last time I nipped in to catch a fish for filming, it took me three days. At least three days for an appropriate TV sized fish.
But I do like a challenge and of course as I’ve pointed out to my “On The Fly” film crew many times, Mr Sexyloops always catches his fish. That we sometimes have to go back to do this a second time, which we did for the Sailfish, and that the Gourami was caught when the film crew wasn’t even present, doesn’t diminish from this statement. Mr Sexyloops always catches his fish, just not always at the right time.
Fortunately however, in this case I did catch a fish and at the right time. Two in fact, and then we had to go. And no it wasn’t from under my hat. It’s interesting how catching fish results in different emotions. Fish caught on camera for me always results in “relief”.
Today we have the follow-up video for the Triangle Method. I’ve been wanting to put this one up for a while. Ever since “Bloodstock” where Lee played “Autumn Leaves” to a live concert audience.
Have a great week!
Cheers, Paul