'Balik kampung' joy rising ...

With the 'balik kampung' joy creeping in as Aidil Fitri draws closer, I reckon there are many urban dwellers who are magnetized to the excitement but don’t have a ‘kampung’ to go back to for the Hari Raya. The thoughts of the simple lifestyle of a picturesque ‘kampung’ get feverish as evergreen Raya songs fill the air almost everywhere you go.
"Balik kampung, wo, wo, wo, balik kampung…wo, wo, wo, balik kampung, hati girang", goes a long-time favourite tune.
For those wanting to experience the kampung way of life, one option is the homestay programme. The good thing is that it’s an all-year round opportunity, not just during the festive time.

"I used to wonder why some people would want to come and stay with poor kampung folk. We live a simple life. There is not much luxury and comfort in our homes, yet people are attracted to that," says fisherman Ramli Ibrahim who rents out one of the three rooms in his house in Kelantan.
"After talking to our guests, I realised they are attracted to the quiet and slow pace of life in our kampung. They want to live with us and eat what we eat and take part in our activities.
"Surprisingly, I get many Malaysians who just want to get away from the city and try out the simple kampung life."
He would never have dreamt of making a living by opening his home to total strangers and allowing them to share in his family life, according to a report in the New Straits Times today.
But two years ago, he and a group of villagers living in one of the many small islets along Sungai Kelantan in Tumpat, learnt about the concept behind the homestay programme.
Since then, the 49-year-old father of six and 19 other villagers on Pulau Suri have been taking in visitors who are eager to experience their simple kampung lifestyle.
Apart from curious and adventurous foreigners who want to learn about local culture, the villagers also get people from big cities like Kuala Lumpur who want to sample the rustic kampung lifestyle.
Kelantan Homestay Association president Mohd Nasir Mustapha says the organisation hopes to attract more people like Ramli to take part in the homestay programme as it is a good way to boost tourism.
Since it was set up in May, the association has recruited 1,200 members mostly from remote areas like Jeli and Gua Musang.

"Di hari raya
Terkenang daku kepada si dia
Kampungku indah nun jauh di sana
Ayah serta bondaku..."
(Dendang Perantau)