From My Hut to Your Heart: The Kancil Chronicles
Sometime in 2012, I left George Town, Penang, in my little Perodua Kancil and headed north for a place called Belantik in the district of Sik, Kedah. I was setting out on what I would later call my "spiritual adventure." My trusted Kancil, one of Malaysia's most iconic compact cars, had already taken me to and from Kuala Terengganu twelve times without so much as a hiccup.
The decision to choose Belantik and Sik was an interesting twist of fate that involved a Kedah KWSP state officer and my friend Ah Huat, the air-conditioner mechanic. This chance meeting took place at Huat Huat Aircond Services in Sungai Dua, Penang, near JPJ. If you ever find yourself in that area and your car's AC needs a fix, look him up. While Ah Huat upgraded my Kancil, the KWSP officer and I were busy plotting my cross-country journey.
The Master Mechanic: Ah Huat
Ah Huat, whom I affectionately call "Jackie Chan," is a master at his trade. He wasn't just a mechanic, but a friend and teacher. I often helped out at his shop, and in return, I left a few pieces of my artwork on his office walls. These were my gifts to him, tributes to the camaraderie and mutual respect we shared. It reminded me of how some of my art pieces were once displayed at Pok Pi's Kopitiam Restaurant in Kuala Terengganu. I wanted Ah Huat to have them as a token of how much we tolerated, appreciated, and supported each other.
The Journey Begins
The Kancil was upgraded for safety and comfort. Ah Huat installed accessories including a new radio (for safety, he claimed) and a ceiling lined with LED lights that turned the car into a mini-Christmas tree at night. A safety kit, breakdown cones, a battery charger, and even a two-man tent were all packed in. I felt safe with my Kancil. It wasn’t just a car—it was an extension of myself. We crossed the Titiwangsa range on the East-West Highway twelve times, or maybe twenty-four. It was nothing short of a miracle.
Arrival at SRI LOVELY
I had initially intended to stay at the SRI LOVELY Organic Farm for just two days. I ended up living there in a hut for two months. Something about the place held me, as though the land itself had called me home. It was 2012, and my life was in a season of change. The solitude and nature healed parts of me I didn’t know needed healing.
Imagine falling asleep to a symphony of frogs and waking to the high-pitched calls of gibbons playing in the canopy of pokok petai and tualang trees. Was I afraid? Yes, but only of fear itself. I ventured into the unknown to confront that fear, guided by the spirit of the mousedeer—the Kancil. A small but clever forest dweller, the trickster who outsmarted even the fearsome Belang, the tiger. There is even a book, I believe, called The Wise Witty Ways of the Kancil.
Life on the Farm
I became the caretaker, gardener, and storyteller for a motley crew of 5 to 10 characters—mostly tough young Malay lads, and of course, the Captain and his young son. The farm was struggling, and I threw myself into helping transform it. I encouraged the Captain to keep going, reminding him of a line from the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams: “Build it, and they will come.”
Captain Zakaria Amantasha, once a Major in the Armed Forces and UN Commander in Kosovo, preferred to be called simply Captain. When I asked for permission to stay two nights at the farm, he agreed, and our conversations often went long into the night. He shared the backstory of the farm, and I committed myself to help.
I helped revitalize the place with sweeping energy. What was once a neglected farm became a center of international attention. Young people from all over the world came to learn how to grow organic rice and live close to nature. SRI LOVELY was even mentioned in the Malaysian Parliament for its contributions to sustainable agriculture.
The Dream Grows
Eventually, chalets were built. The place transitioned into a recognized Homestay destination. The vision had taken root.
I remember my friend Ham Milton, an Australian chef who fell in love with the farm and kept returning. They came from South America, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand. They learned to eat with their fingers, laughed with the locals, and shared meals like family.
Healing happened—for guests, for locals, for me. The farm, the people, the gibbons, the frogs, and the spirit of the land all played their part. Food, storytelling, and mutual respect bound us together.
A Retrospective
It all started with the Kancil. In one picture, my son Timo stands comparing my beloved Kancil with a Mercedes Benz that belonged to my twin brother. A symbolic reflection of our divergent paths in life. One small, humble, and grounded. The other, sleek and prestigious. Yet both vehicles, like our lives, carry meaning.
What is wealth? What is success? I don’t know. But I do know this: I am rich with memories. And for a while, I had a hut, a heart, and a field of dreams.
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