CAMPING was never something I imagined myself getting into in my 30s although it was not the first time I had taken an interest in it.
The first time I became interested in camping was when I stumbled upon a Korean YouTube content creator named Ryucamp, who, together with his poodle, embarks on camping trips across South Korea.
They camp in all kinds of places — cities, forests and even beaches. I remember watching a video where Ryu was setting up his luxurious camping tent while his dog became the star of the show.
I was fascinated by how he managed to do everything by himself, including setting up the tent and camping equipment, without having any friends accompanying him.
However, that interest was not fully realised at first because I did not take it seriously.
It was only earlier this year, when I became close to some of my media friends — Lydia Aman, Hafizah Abdul Hamid and Desiree David, who are all hardcore campers — coupled with a few strained relationships, that I decided to fully explore this interest.
All of them started this hobby long before I did and, along the way, they shared tips on what camping equipment I should buy.
Buying the tent and equipment
Although I did not go camping until after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, I bought my first camping tent during the month of Ramadan.
I remember purchasing it from Pro Outdoor Gear, one of the wellknown camping stores in Kuching.
Lydia accompanied me at the time and helped me choose a tent that best suited my height and needs.
I decided to buy a Stoic Cabin 9 camping tent, and a large one at that. If I recall correctly, it cost around RM569.
It can accommodate up to five people, including myself. It weighs 12.4kg, which is quite heavy but understandable given its size.
It is an automatic camping tent, meaning it does not need to be set up manually, making the process much easier for a first-time camper like me.
For anyone new to camping, the first essential item to purchase is, of course, the tent.
I also bought a ground sheet.
The reason was simple — my tent did not come with one.
Without a ground sheet, the bottom of the tent could easily get scratched, and I wanted to avoid that.
When buying a ground sheet, it is important to ensure that it matches the dimensions of the tent.
The footprint of my tent is roughly around 20 x 10 feet, if I remember correctly.
The next items I bought were two camping lights, a chair and a table.
Altogether, I spent between RM600 and RM700 on camping equipment.
However, that amount will likely increase as I am planning to buy more gear soon.
Redbee camping site, Lundu
About a week before April 25, Lydia told me that she, Hafizah and Hafizah’s friend, Nurul Hafizah, were planning a camping trip to Redbee Camping Site in Lundu.
The campsite is located near the beachfront.
The moment she mentioned it, I was immediately on board and began preparing additional equipment for the trip.
Lydia had already prepared most of the cooking equipment and ingredients that we would need.
We went camping from April 25 to 26.
We first gathered at my office at around 1 pm on April 25 and discussed the route we would take, as well as any last-minute items that needed to be purchased.
It took us around 40 to 50 minutes to reach the campsite. Instead of using the Pan Borneo Highway, we opted for the Sampadi ferry route, which was much closer.
We arrived at the campsite at approximately 4 pm.
At the time, the sky was cloudy, but it had not started raining.
The first thing we did was decide on the best spot to pitch our tents.
After that, we worked together to set up the two tents, lay out the ground sheets, install the camping lights and prepare the cooking area.
It took us about an hour to complete the setup of both tents and the cooking site.
Nurul Hafizah handled most of the cooking, while Lydia, Hafizah and I helped with preparing ingredients, washing dishes and other tasks.
One thing I was particularly grateful for was that Lydia had prepared many of the ingredients beforehand, which saved us a lot of time.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner while relaxing by the beach, listening to music and talking about our lives.
I woke up quite early the next morning, around 6.30 am, because I did not sleep particularly well the night before.
The weather was still cloudy in the early hours.
The rest of the group woke up at around 7 am and seemed refreshed despite going to bed late.
Nurul Hafizah cooked noodles for breakfast while Lydia prepared coffee.
We initially thought it was going to rain that morning, so we quickly packed up our tents and equipment.
As it turned out, it was a false alarm.
Since the weather held up, we decided to relax a little longer and stayed until at around 11.30 am.
After leaving the campsite, we had lunch in the Metrocity Matang area before heading home separately.
A tiring yet interesting experience
Unlike a staycation, where accommodation such as a hotel, resort or chalet is readily available, camping requires you to prepare everything yourself.
For me, that was the most tiring part.
I will not deny that setting up the tents and preparing the cooking area, even with help from friends, was physically exhausting.
However, it was also a fun and rewarding experience because it gave me a better understanding of what a camping trip is truly like.
Would I do it again in the future? Absolutely.
However, it probably will not be a frequent activity.
I would prefer to go camping perhaps once every three months, depending on the weather.
Would I recommend camping to someone who has never tried it before?
Definitely. It is a fun and memorable experience.
Just make sure you have all the necessary equipment before heading out.
As for me, I still have a few more items to purchase before my next camping trip, which will most likely take place sometime in July, possibly at a riverside location.
