Hari Sukan

When I was young, I loved sports day. 

As far as I remember, sports day during primary was held at the tiny field in our school's frontyard with some telematch games only. The group I always belonged to, never won anything before, so it was very sad.

But when we reach secondary school, sports day was a different affair altogether.

We will walk from our school all the way to YMCA field each week for training session. Each house members have their own specified day for training. I belonged to the red house.

Walking all the way there was already an exercise by itself. I used to loathe the walk, coz it was hot and the distance was so far. But come to think of it, it was also fun in a way, as we would walk in a group and hell,  did we have fun. 

The 2 hours training in the field consisted of sprint run, up and down a slope, 400m run, long jump, high jump, javelin, discus and shot putt. Wahseh, do we still have these now? It sounds like we were in some military training! But again, looking back, it was really good exercise. If it were not for these weekly trainings, I wouldn't have been able to try my hand on these athletic games.

Near to the actual sports day, everyone in the house were encouraged to participate in the events, as we would score points for the house and all these would accumulate up to the total score. I usually was able to contribute about 3-4 points in 400m run, javelin, and high jump. I always loved javelin and high jump more as the rest seemed to have too many rules and I was more aware of not breaking the rules than to perform good in them.

The actual sports day would be held in a stadium and those not participating in the events would be called to join in the cheer for our respective houses. Every year, we just enjoyed ourselves yelling our lungs out with the chant "GO RED GO!".... Those were the good old days. I wonder how sports day is run these days in my old alma mater.

This year, we attended the kids' school's sports day for the first time. For the past few years, they were not selected into any events as participants so they had an option to attend. For some lame excuses, we always choose to let it slip. 

But this year, lo and behold, all 3 of them were involved in some ways or other.

Meimei was qualified to run in a relay. Her gym school team was also asked to perform before the events start as well. Hubs also itchy butts went to put his name down for the parent-child's events for both didi and meimei. Korkor was asked to help out as kuli, to move things around the field. And I was tasked to take pictures of them. 

The day was burning hot! I would have preferred staying home in bed anytime!

We were also forced to go into the field and do the silly 1Malaysia 1Sukan aerobics exercise. Yikes! It wasn't fun at all under the hot sun, ok!

Meimei in her event on the pic above. It was so far away because I was busy fanning myself under the shade far away from where the action was.

Didi and papa in their "terompah gergasi" match. it was also a relay so 2 pairs of parent and child were in 1 team. They didn't win because hubs claimed that the pair who partnered with them were slow! *roll eyes*

Around 11am when we confirmed that they didn't win anything from those 3 matches, we decided to head home and have our cold shower. It was sooo comfortable back home in the aircon room, man!

Cycling to school is an adventure in itself

One fine day, korkor asked me why is that in our country, school children can't cycle to school.

Maybe he thinks it's so cool to be doing that. 

Seriously, I thought that it was cool too once upon a time, before I really HAD to.

In my secondary school years, during that time when I moved in to stay with my 3rd Aunt, I had no other choice but to cycle to school everyday. Thinking about that, I just remembered I hadn't continue on from the first post on my life story... somewhere. *yawn*

I never knew how far the distance my cycling route to school was, and I googled map to find it out, after about 25 years or so now. The distance from home to school that time is 13km, crossing maybe about 5-6 traffic lights junctions, and the biggest junction would be the one from Jln Pasir Puteh to Jln Yang Kalsom. That one is HUGE! I remember I need to peddle very quickly so that I would reach the other side before the lights turned red and in the meantime, avoid the cars zooming past me. I used that junction so very often, that I know exactly if I was at a certain distance from the lights while it was green, I knew I should just slow down for I won't be able to cross it before the lights turn. 

Actually, this method of going to school is not really that bad. At that time, safety was much better and cars were definitely lesser. I remember, in fact, I love it early in the mornings when the air was cool and the day seemed to be such a good day! Most times, it was just lovely in the mornings. 

But come afternoon time, after school? It was *bawl* SO BAD! The burning hot sun and the exhaustiveness from the school day's activities basically took the joy of cycling totally away. Can you imagine me with schoolbag, dodging passing cars, zooming traffic lights WHILE CARRYING AN UMBRELLA??? My goodness, I thank GOD that I am still alive today, miraculously!

There was a time I had a gargantuan big lump behind my back which was hurting me like hell and I couldn't turn my head. But still need to cycle to school that day. It was so painful I went to any of the clinics after school and the nurse basically did an operation on me to dig out all the pus and whatever it was inside that thing. I looked at the mirror after it was over and a big hole the size of maybe a 5 cents coin and depth of 1cm was visible. Never able to find out what caused that but it was a huge relief.

So, I told my kiddo, perhaps you think cycling to school is such a cool thing to do now, but when you had to  do it, you would really understand how damn lucky you are to be chauffeured around in an air conditioned car instead. 

If only the safety in our country is much more better (no abductions at all!), bicycle lanes all over the city and covered lanes from the sun and the rain, I would surely am agreeable to you cycling to school yourself. Will we ever see that day? I doubt so.

Come to think of it, was I ever caught in the rain last time? Maybe yes, but not so eventful as I can recall. Most likely would be hanging around under some shade just like those motorcyclist or having a shower in the rain on the bike. Might as well, right?

I do remember there was a time I came home from school to find the house empty and I had to wait for about 1 to 2 hours right outside the gate for my aunt to come home. That was the only time I felt really sorry for myself.

Preparing stage of a photobook

Last Aug, I bought my first groupon voucher for a photobook and it's going to expire in March! Talk about procrastination!

I had been busy, as we all know, but still, it's all convenient excuses. The company sent me a reminder email and oh-shiats! I have less than a month to complete it now. Gah!

Having no idea what theme to put into the book at first, so I started looking at my archives of photos, right from the time korkor was born. There wasn't much digital prints that time, since digital cameras weren't so in yet. As I was reminiscing those old times, I find myself smiling from ear to ear.

There are some shots of myself where I think "eh, I looked quite sock also wor" (special angles la, some of them I looked so haggard and downright mm-kin-tuck-yan) and some "look at my forearm! soooo skinny meh??!!) . And then, of course, the cute faces when they were toddlers, oh yeah, I have so beautiful and cutesy kids, where did those genes come from??!! Some videos of little meimei babbling, how I wish I could go back to that time! Priceless! And then I regretted not taking more videos of the 3 of them.

I wonder, if I had been a happier person before, cause the photos looked like I really was. It shone in my glowing face. Or is it because I had selectively forgotten the sad and bitter part of the yesterdays?

Better get back to my project now, time is running out!

My miscarriage in 2001

The other night, I recounted the ordeal I had before in 2001 to korkor.

We were in Taiwan before he turned 1, and during the last few weeks, I discovered I was pregnant. I saw some spotting later and a visit to the doctor told me the devastating news that the baby had no heartbeat anymore. I held my tears in front of the doctor and couldn't help breaking down right after I stepped out of the clinic.

I cried till my eyes were numbed while hubs went back to work. I never felt so much sorrow before, and there were noone to help ease my feelings apart from korkor who was surprisingly better behaved that afternoon. I always thought he sensed I felt sad and didn't make any fuss before his sleeping time (for the first time!)

We then started packing our bags and stuffs and I was busy moving around till the day we flew home.

We celebrated korkor's 1st birthday together with family on that Sat afternoon and took 2 other kids to jalan-jalan at Jusco. Halfway walking around, I felt some sensational pain in the tummy area and urged hubs to go home, leave the kids to our moms and go see doctor. Can't wait till Monday.

The pain was getting more intense as we went around, but the bleeding couldn't wait till we reach the hospital. I felt the sudden outburst of big lumps of blood gushing out from my you-know-where while in the car, and hubs didn't know where ISC was! I panicked but still managed to compose myself to direct him the way anyway. I dared not look at the car's cushion.

Eventually, I was lying down on the bed in emergency room, the 2nd time after a year plus ago, at the same A&E. I asked for the doctor I know from that 1st time, and very soon, she was right in front of me. She asked me if I knew her, I think she was surprised that I asked for her as she didn't recognize me as one of her patients.

I told her about the story of my life (which was cut rather short) and she asked if I felt dizzy. I told her no and she replied, good.

As the doctor and nurses went about doing their "stuffs", I took a look (for the first time) on the blood I was in. What I saw really shocked me. The level almost covering half of me! Awhile later, I felt dizzy and I quickly told the doctor who was beside me all the time. When she heard that, she sounded anxious and barked at the nurses to STAY with her and assist her urgently. She said she needed to do the D&C right there instead of the operation room, without the anesthetic.

It was a very uncomfortable experience as I felt like someone using a high suction power vacuum to suck the placenta out of my private part, but it was a huge relief when it was out. She told me to hang on as she did it a 2nd time and finally I was relieved of the ordeal.

I still needed to be anesthetized for the doctor to "clean" me up. While I was still conscious, I cried and asked the doctor why this happened, if it's because I did something wrong, or ate something not right. She warmly consoled me that this wasn't my fault and these things do happen.

When I was unconscious, I remember I had this feeling of lying down in a water tunnel sliding backwards, facing up. I then saw a light at the end of the tunnel and felt a very vague glimpse of my unborn child, bidding farewell. It was probably my imagination, but that was what I remembered in my state of unconsciousness. When I was conscious again, I saw hubs in front of me. The first thing I asked him? Did I receive any blood? I did not want to have Aids! Crazy thoughts running in my mind!

Then I asked him why he was inside the operation room. He said the doctor allowed him to go in and see me, and she said I was feeling very bad about the miscarriage, that he might like to console me. How thoughtful of her.

I stayed in hospital for 1 night, and that night, I felt very thankful I am still alive and still around to take care of korkor. That experience had scared the shit skin out of me, so I am more wary from then on.

Taking care of myself at 16

My life took quite a drastic turn one fine day when I came home from school to find my mother sprawled still on the floor. I remembered that day as I was so worried, but relieved to find she was still breathing, thank God, only with swollen eyes from too much crying and looked very very sad.

I was still very worried and asked her what was wrong and please tell me, then I was told that our dad had left. My mind was racing with thousands of questions what she meant by "left", anyway, to cut a long long story short, apparently, that was the day my dad left Ipoh secretly to find a job elsewhere in Sabah as we were pretty hit hard by the 80s recession. He had left secretly because he knew that my mom wouldn't approve if he asked her to discuss about it.

My brothers were going on to tertiary education and my dad hadn't been receiving any salary for months. Both of them turned to pretty bad habits eventually as they had too much free time in their hands and the pressure was building up. I really have to give it to my dad for being our hero, the responsible father to face it up and find a job elsewhere to feed his family of 5.

It was also the day I suddenly had to mature overnight and took it in my stride to take care of my mom myself. Mom eventually stood back up and said since my dad was so responsible, she would also do her part.

And she went on a hunt to look for a stay-in domestic helper job in Ipoh, with the criteria that she could bring me along to stay with her. Mother and daughter, just the 2 of us to help take care of each other.

The first job she took up, was a babysitting job. The pay was good, unbelievably very good, and the employer agreed to have us both in. We wondered where the catch was. Apparently, we soon were to find out.

On our first day (not even a night!), as we lug our luggage into our room, the new young mother to the little infant stayed with us in the room. We were NOT encouraged to go outside of the room and we wondered why. All those questions in our heads, can you imagine? Pretty drama, if you would allow me to say.

I can only vividly remember the 4 of us stayed in the room for like hours, which seemed like eternity and were not told of WHY we can't go out of the room! Soon after, we heard loud banging noises coming from right OUTSIDE our door! and a guy shouting, vulgar or not, I can't recall but that definitely scared the shit out of both my mom and I!

The young mother started to shiver and held on to her baby and my mom and I looked at each other wondering what the shit was happening and NO WONDER why noone wanted this scary shit job! Soon after, we got an explanation alright.

Apparently, this guy shouting outside was the young girl's brother and he didn't like his sister giving pre-marriage birth (I think) and he was threatening to kill her and the baby (or am I dramatizing it a bit? aiyah.. it's something like that la, ok?)

Then this young girl with baby asked us to stay, trying to convince us that this only happens at that time of the day as he comes home back from school and he would be alright when his fierce dad is back. MY GAWD! Of course, we fled right away! And that was our very dramatic episode of our first adventure in the once employed as "STAY IN DOMESTIC MAID WITH HAWT YOUNG DOTTER (that's me, btw)" in the late 80s.

She found another job very soon after and I followed her again. This time no crying babies, banging doors and crazy guy shouting.

The bungalow is a very big and cozy home with a vast garden outside. It was a very beautiful home and I can remember myself amazed at such nice big houses there are! Our room was, sad to say, not at the upper floor, but at the little room at the back of the house, next to the kitchen. What do I expect, we were live-in maids. Well, I didn't expect anything actually, in fact I didn't feel any regrets or remorse for that experience I had when I was 16.

The bungalow was quite near to my high school, and it was only logical I cycled to school at that time. And so that started our life differently a bit. I would go to school in the morning while my mom worked at the employer's home, cleaning, washing, cooking. I come home from school, helped my mom to sweep and mop the floor and prepare dinner.

Everytime I sweep its floor, I would look at the details of its rooms, the curtains, the decors, the antiques. I wondered if I can ever stay as a master of a house like this one day. I knew that my life at that phase, shall past, it wouldn't stay like that forever and one day, one fine day, our family would be reunited again.

Surprisingly, the employer wanted us to have dinner with them and so, we would all be eating together every evenings. Once, my mom told me not to take my sweet time to enjoy the food there as it wasn't very polite since we were only the workers there. From there on, I gobbled my food and excused myself to do my homework while they continue eating. When they were done, I would help to clean up so my mom could rest for the day already.

After 3 months or so, I could tell, mom wasn't feeling very happy and she was also mentioning that her finger nails had been getting pretty bad from the harsh washing detergents. I encouraged my mom to quit this job and join dad, while I would be able to take care of myself. After this talk, she did just that and I moved back to our own home's back room while the other 2 rooms rented out to 2 couples.

I was alone to fend for myself.

Where I go to do my revisions last time

When I was young, I was crazy enough to join the crazy teens in Ipoh to wake up bright and early on weekend mornings, take the public bus to the main station in Medan Kidd and walk all the way from there to Tun Razak Library just so to be one of those early birds before it opens. That happened for like, 2 years? I think?

The walk was so blardy far! And most times I would be carrying almost all my text books, that would be, say, 9 subjects for SRP exam? And I didn't see myself doing any better in that exam either. Shucks! Really dumb, I would say!

BUT, I have to admit, of course there were other agenda.

One of them was just so to enjoy the aircond. Free aircon wor! Where to get? Most of all just plop our heads on the desks to snooze, especially after lunch.

Secondly, I have to admit, I was there to ogle at a Leung-Chiu-Wai-lookalike. He really was almost 80-90% similar, no kidding! He was so so handsome, and studying the boring subjects seemed so much more... inspiring!

Of course he didn't know that I secretly admire him from afar. But he did know my brother. I was too timid to approach him. When he was nearby, I would have butterflies fluttering wildly in my tummy. Once I even followed him when he went out for lunch. It was so exciting. I dared myself to join him at his table when I saw him alone eating his lunch but I chickened out. In the end, when I did, he finished his lunch and gave me a smile as I went near. Awww.. that totally melted my knees already. And I kicked myself in the butt for not having the balls to just do it earlier.

And usually, most of us, these studious and cheap bookworms, would spend the whole day from 8am, before the the library even opens its doors till it closes, I am not sure at what time. I usually call it a day before night falls. Isn't that crazy? Now that I think about it, I think it's insanity!

Wonder if anyone still does that in that popular public library of Ipoh anymore? Memories....

Valentine's Day 2011 and after.

1 bad thing for me about having a public holiday is staying up late the night before, like seriously very very late.

I was up till 2am on Mon morning, after an extremely enjoyable dinner at a close friend's home with meimei playing happily and quietly with her similarly aged dotter. We came back about 12 and after everyone settled down in their sweet slumber, the night was peaceful and quiet, except for the sound that came from the tv which hub was watching his drama series.

I browsed on the internet, looking for pre-loved songs to download (still!) and was really happy to find more of those 80s and 90s songs. It's obvious, though it didn't quite occur to me that obviously before, that those 80s are more cantonese while the 90s are more mandarin.

Coming to those 90s mandarin songs, I listened a lot of them during those varsity days and learned a lot of chinese words by leaps and bounds. I couldn't write, but I could speak and recognize quite a number of them. Those days, I would ask my friends (who are mainly chinese educated) for the lyrics and ask my dad when I was back home then, to read the words to me and explain what it means. It was a good bonding time with my dad as well, I would say.

When I finally stumble across an album which I listened to quite a LOT those times, I was overwhelmed with ecstasy and happiness. How magical it is listening to songs can transport you back to a certain time, or flooded with certain memories, is really beyond me.

Now, this album. It has a story.

During my first year in USM, before the 2nd semester ended, I moved out of the hostel (not kicked out) to stay with a bunch of 15 crazy insane friends in a semidee, just a few steps away from the side gate's guardpost. (I was the only sane one)

Came our first christmas, we had a little party and we did some gift exchange. Earlier, we drew names from a ballot box, girls drawing from a boy's and vice versa, so we know who to buy a gift for and everyone would have a gift during the party.

I received this tape and it accompanied me lots when I was walking, studying and idling all around campus and home. So, those songs just got drilled into my head. Never know then that my friend, didn't just give me a tape for that christmas all of us housemates of 26 Lengkuk Sg Dua had, it was so much more.

So, back to that night. It was Valentine's night. I got nothing, which is expected. Hub said to treat the night before's dinner at Chillis as valentine celebration. *roll eyes*

And we climbed back into bed at 2am and he gave me a massage. After an hour, he was sleeping soundly while I desperately wanted to sleep but can't because something was itching. It wasn't sex. It was very annoying! I finally drift into sleep around 5am. And got up at 9+. I was very cranky the next day! That was why public holidays are not good for me.

That first day I met him.

It should be in May 1994.

He walked in the QA room and I was standing at the opposite end of the room, turning round to observe him while he shook hands with his colleagues after coming back from a business trip to the US of A.

He was short and chubby and cute. Cute as in having a babyface look, not that kind of HAWT cute. Just the way his colleagues described him, the youngest and cutest engineer in Motorola Penang. Not as cute as I thought though, but well, yeah, passable cute.

And that was the very first time I met my hub.

7 years ago on this day...

.. I was heavily pregnant and the tummy was about to burst anytime. We were in Ipoh, having just simply renovated my inlaw's old house and moved in. Papa came back from Brunei to lend a helping hand during my labor (for me to bite!) and celebrate CNY together.

That night, we *jeng jeng jeng* after been separated for a few months. Then early next morning, we went to my gynae's for our weekly check up. I was so heavily pregnant that the people there kept asking me "joong mei sang tuck ah?"... and the nurse also said "If by tomorrow still not in labor, she (my gynae) would be on leave already and your case will be handled by someone else"...woah~ I kept praying that that day's better be the day.

When I went in, I was immediately told to lie down and checked by her. Lo and behold! She said I was already in labor, my cervix already opened up 5 cm! My hub and I looked at each other and then he asked her "err??? means what ah? When is she going into labor leh?" Duh! We looked really darn bodoh! She asked me if I wanted epidural or not, we looked at each other again with a big ? on top of our heads. I asked for her advice and she told me, looking at my "sihat dan kuat"-ness, I can try to do without it. So, ok! Here we go!

She told me to be admitted right away! Not even giving me the chance to go home and pack my stuffs. I pled with her to let me go home and take my things, it's not very far away jek. So, she said ok, but have to be quick!

Then we lengang-lengang kaki, went to eat dimsum with my mil, go back home to take a shower (as I was advised by friends I had better do!) and take my already prepacked luggage to go to hospital again. I even wanted to take a nap first!

When we were there, it was about 1pm, after coming out from the clinic at about 10+ that morning. Everything that followed was so new to me, being shaven, poked at the ass to "clear the usus besar", and changed and lying down to rest. There wasn't any pain at all, and we were just waiting.

The doctor came on and off to check my cervix, and it was opening up, albeit a bit slowly. She said when it reached 9cm, we can start "hoi kung". Hub was getting restless, checking out the machines here and there and I had to keep an eye on him like a kid, telling him not to play with this or with that!

By late afternoon, still nothing! I slept a bit. Doctor came and asked how I was. I said "nothing!". She then gave me some "boost" by injection, I think, to start off some contractions. By 6+ to 7, I start to have some "feelings". Hub told me he was thinking of going out for awhile to grab a bite first, I machar him and firmly told him he is NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

From 7pm, the feelings came strongly and rapidly, and then suddenly the whole labor room was abuzz with actions finally. The doctor was called, and work began. Honestly, I didn't know when to do what. The nurses guided me, told me not to yell out, saving my breath to push. It did help actually. Then by each contraction, and what is shown on the screen, all of them told me to push hard. The first wave came and gone, only the head was seen.

The doctor said "If you can't do it by the 2nd time, I would have to cut you up!" I shivered upon hearing that and was determined to do it the 2nd round. She used vacuum to help me suck his head out too and with a mighty push, he was born, slightly over 8pm. What a huge relief!

This guy weighed 3.8kg when born. Quite a big sized baby, apparently, with a big head somemore.

I remembered hub looking at the bb with a "disgusted" face, then at me dearingly, it's very rare he looked at me like that. Then he planted a kiss on my forehead and said thank you & "sanfu sai nei". The baby was plonked on my chest and I saw him for the first time. My first impression was "why the face like tai kau meen geh?". Anyhow, I was so happy to see him.

1 hour later, I was wheeled out from the labor room, and I saw HL and my mil outside. HL asked me "sang jor la?". I replied "haiyah..", she said "you don't look like it!". That was a good one!

I called my mom to tell her the good news too, and upon hearing my voice, she also said "sang jor la? you don't sound like it". Fuyoh! I am so amazed with myself. Still looked and sounded so energetic, kononnya.

He was such an easy baby to take care, he gave me so many feel good moments of being a new mommy again. Breastfeeding came so easily this time and everything else is not much fuss with him either. He would just play on his own when he's awake, then go back to sleep when he's tired and wailed awhile for milk when hungry.

But once in awhile, he would go "BAWLLLLLL" loudly out of a sudden, without any warnings. Kinda showed his peculiar character even at that very young age.





And he's turning 7 tomorrow. My little boy. This weekend will be a birthday party for him. Come la, don't be late, ok?

Pangkor Island Beach Resort

We started our journey about 9am, after dropping off my parents at the KTM station for their train to Ipoh. Our target was to catch the 1.30pm boat to the island and having no time to stop for breakfast, we bought some buns and snacks for that to be munched in the car. It was quite a leisure drive all the way, I even managed to steal some catnaps while the kids snoozed at the back as well.

We reached Sitiawan 12.30pm meeting their grandma and grandpa for lunch together. Then we scurried off to the pier at Lumut. The check-in was pretty straight forward, I was happy we need not lug our bags up onto the boat and just wait to board it.

The boat was quite comfortable, it has 2 levels and the upper deck has an open area like this below.


I was happy snapping pictures away of the kids and around me. Very soon, we arrived at the pier and everyone unboarded to an awaiting bus, which took us into the hotel. It was very closeby and less than about 3 mins or so, these singers greeted us with a welcoming song. I imagine them to be the little one and his boss in Fantasy Island. (the plane! the plane! - playing in my mind)

Waited to check in and finally got the keys for the grandparents. They stayed in Garden Wing while we were booked in to Ocean Wing. The difference in price is RM80 per night, seeing the 2 rooms, I think the difference was really justified. It was such a big contrast staying in Ocean Wing compared to Garden Wing.

Next! Time to hit the beach and sand, what else! Hub was suggesting to go to town, but really, noone was so interested except maybe the grandpa. But I didn't care, I said they can go if they want to but I'm staying put.

We changed and went to a nice spot on the beach and the korkor headed straight right in, after applying sunblock lotion. The other 2 stayed on to play sand while I did some yoga. Ooh.. sheer pleasure.

We just stayed there till almost sunset, and I joined the kids in the sea for awhile when it wasn't so hot. But meimei didn't quite fancy the waves and I took her and didi to the pool to play instead. Went back up to the room and showered.

We had dinner by the poolside, the food we brought from Ipoh and KL. If you ever go there, either you pack your food along or pay for the buffet dinner. The town was too far away and it would be even more pricey to go out and eat.

At night, we walked around and stopped on one of those lazy chairs to laze around. Didi played games with the waves for a very long time while I look over him. The rest sat at the chairs over the far back. Some couples were holding hands walking on the beach, and it was quite a romantic sight indeed.

There are many hornbills there, and feeding times are observed to ensure these birds are well nourished.


This the view outside our hotel room. A sticker was on the door to the balcony saying "Please dont' feed the monkeys. Please lock your door". Those monkeys know how to open the doors and totally ransack your things. We learnt the lesson from Berjaya Langkawi.





The next day, after breakfast, we went cycling and I thought the pictures of the kids' smiles on those bikes were priceless. Really cute and happy pillion riding.

Korkor was the only one struggling to conquer the bike. But he failed as it was much too big for him. The only right size was taken up by someone else just a moment before him.

The grandparents went back at noon that day, and we spent the rest of the day doing pretty much the same thing as the earlier one. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing to blog about.

We had steamboat dinner that night and meimei almost fell asleep before it was over. We head back straight to the room after that, saw the "Superhero Movie" on TV and went to sleep.

*yawn*

(More pictures on FB. Lazy to upload them here. FB easier)

Pangkor used to be our favorite destination for a holiday get-together with our friends when we were young. I remember much clearly of these few incidents.

1. The first time, it was to follow my brother, CY, and his friends. We explored a bit and discovered an empty beach, so we played on the sea for sometime. Soon, I saw 2 guys among the few of us who weren't in the water, whom doesn't belong. I soon came ashore and realised they were buggers who were about to rob our cash or whatever we had.

The scary thing was not that but when one of the stupid idiot who didn't know how to count, was trying to count how many of us there, and was irritated by the towel which were on us, the 3-4 girls in the group. I was practically shaking when he barked at me to take my towel off! Lucky they didn't harm any of us, and took our cash and someone's sunglasses away. We quickly rushed back to our chalets and soon happily laughing away again. I suppose nothing much can dampen teenagers' holiday mood, when noone was really hurt.

2. Then some years later, I went with my own friends but I only remembered vividly I was taking care of a guy who had a deep crush on me, having fever. And he was such a baby when taking medicine, I had to basically "tham" him to eat. (If you are reading this, can I slap you now, albeit some 20+ years delay?)

3. Ahh.. the most memorable, I suppose was the farewell break, after we know we were going to start our separate ways soon. I knew I was to go to Penang, Hui Ling to KL, Kok Lan to Spore and Wai Leng... somewhere. 4 of us went to Pangkor, had so much fun chatting, playing, dancing on the sunset beach, toasting each other good luck and many more weird and funny wishes for our undertakings. One of the best night I ever had with my girlfriends as I remembered we laughed till our sides ached.

OK, no more boring stories to share. That's all. Have a good weekend and Happy Mid Autumn Festival, you people.

Memories in the hospital

Wonder why I can't sleep well these days, even when I feel really tired and sleepy. The other night, while I was staring at the ceiling of my bedroom,I recalled my experience staying in GH before I gave birth to my eldest son.

It was the first time I ever remembered going to hospital, being rushed to the A&E in the middle of the night. My heart seems to jump out from me while I left a trace of blood on the floor all the way to the emergency room. I can't bear to turn round to see the sight. Seeing my huge belly, the nurses naturally called a gynae on duty that night to attend to me. And that was the gynae I met and help to deliver didi 3 years later. I told her I wasn't supposed to deliver yet, that should be another 2 months' down the road.

To cut the long story short, I had placenta praevia type 2, and if the bleeding didn't stop, the baby had to be taken out from c-section or both of us, mother and child, would be in grave danger. Good thing she told me baby was fine, everything seems to be ok, and the bleeding stopped after a day. I was warded for 3 days in that private hospital and the bill came to Rm1k+.

I moved to GH and for the first few days, I was very tormented to stay in that "rundown" maternity ward. It was such a big contrast to the private one, but I couldn't wait to get out of it. The doctor advised me to stay in hospital till delivery and because of the huge fees involved, it would be better to move to GH. Furthermore, if in the case of premature birth, my baby would have a better chance of getting an incubator. The last point totally made me decide to move to GH, no second thoughts were necessary.

I still remember, that first night in GH, it was hot, the ceiling fan was in the middle of the room of 3 bunks and I was weeping feeling so lonely and scared. My hub was in Taiwan, and we kept talking on the phone that night. I asked him to treat me to a vacation, somewhere exotic and faraway after all this was over. He promised instantly without thinking, just like eating "sang-choi" only. Then again, I felt better after "manja"ing him and he just let me. I imagined I was already in a paradise island that night.

Very soon, I get used to life in there. No TV, no internet, no handphones (though I curi-curi kept mine in the cupboard). I took the chance to really relax myself and do some reading. And it felt good. I was reading papers and books everytime of the day when I wasn't sleeping, even squinting my eyes in the darkness in the middle of the nights when I can't sleep.

The order of the day was fairly routine. The nurses would switch on the lights at 7am sharp, even if you have just dozed off a minute ago. They don't tolerate anyone sleeping after 7am. Even if you are, they would push and shove you until you get your butts up. The cleaners would change the bedsheets, tuck the blankets in nicely and made the bed up, ready for the day's work.

So, everyone would be washing up, eating breakfasts, served at 8am, and wait for the doctors to go their morning rounds at 9am. When they do, the whole bunch of them, with 1 or 2 specialists of consultants, senior doctor(s), a few doing their housemanship and some nurses would be making a lot of noise, looking at records, discussing what to do with each of the case study. It was interesting to watch them work, then again, with no other entertainment in my condition at that time, anything would be interesting. That also includes kehpoh-ing on other patients, what their problem is lah, what they are going to do with them lah, how to read the records lah.. suddenly I was learning new things!

Most of the time, the "commotion" comes from the "head" of the pack, and then the nurses would be scrambling around or answering his queries or questions. He does talk to the patients too at times. The rest of the doctors would listen attentively, write notes (or draw turtles) on their notebook etc. When they come around to me, initially he was angry with no past record on on my gestation before I was admitted, and later, they would just came by, chat a little, and told me to just wait. Everything was just running along fine with me, and I would have to wait till the due date. The nurseswould go round to check our bp and baby's heartbeat about 4 to 5 times a day, round the clock, even if you are sleeping. That's their job.

After the rounds, soon the visitors were allowed in and my mom or mil would be dropping by, taking home cooked food for me, the morning's papers, birds' nest and hang around to keep me company for awhile. I was so pampered, as I was the only one who had home cooked food for lunch instead of the hospital's food, and since that was my first child, I need not worry about family at home. Life was getting good.

I get to know one woman in there, particularly, because there weren't many chinese there and we hails from the same hometown. She has 4 kids already and poor thing, she just worries about them endlessly. Lucky all of them are much older kids, like ranging from 4 to 12. And they can't visit her everyday, for the dad needs to work. So it was really happy and heartwarming to see her smiling during weekends when all of them came over and call "mammy, mammy....". For me, weekends were boring because my mom and mil would take a break. Some of the times, I had friends over for a visit instead.

The afternoons would be spent either sleeping or reading with no major events. Teatime served at about 3pm and dinner about 7pm. I guess when evening came, somehow, boredom would sweeps over me. You know? Those kind of time when you seemed to be stoned, not knowing what to do and the mind stares blankly into space. That hours between late afternoon and 10pm would drag like years. After supper was served, normally it would be just 1 or 2 biscuits, or fruits, (can't remember) and milo, then we would wash ourselves up and get ready to sleep. By 10, lights would be off and I would be tossing and turning around.

By the 33rd week of gestation or so, the time was coming nearer and I was becoming excited. Finally when the doctors came to my bed, I was summoned for a final check before deciding on the mode of delivery. I heard the story of someone pushed to the operation room and after a final scan, the doctor said the placenta moved upwards and she can go home to wait for normal delivery.

That day was very important to me (because I get to walk out of the ward). I was instructed to hold my bladder for 1 hour before the appointed time with the doctor on my scan. Not only that, I had to drink a few cups of water, to ensure the bladder is full for the scan to be of high accuracy. And that was the problem.

I think I never would quite forget that time. For I had down lots of water in and held my bladder like for 2 to 3 hours. I was left waiting outside of his clinic for the longest time, and that was made worse with a huge baby pressing down on my almost about to burst bladder. It was such agony that I was seen gritting my teeth and hanging on desperately to keep myself from "leakage embarassment". So much so that a nurse came over to my side and asked me if I had labor pain and if I'm going to deliver soon. I thought it was really funny that I answered her "oh, no!! liew kap jek". And I asked for her help to ask the doctor check me asap. She was my saviour and I was assisted to the "bed" very soon.

The doctor scanned, and said "well, seems like placenta is still there, downwards, and you need to be operated". I hastily replied him "Fine. Now can I go?" And I quickly rushed as fast as I possibly could to the nearest toilet and released myself. Aitelyiu hoh, that immense feeling relief I felt that time, made me not to take for granted of this thing called "small business" anymore. Appreciate that you can pass urine normally everyday now.

There was a time I had some friends over from KL for a visit, and I felt so happy to see them. They came all the way to visit me. Once, 3 friends from my high school came over and we sat outside on the pavement chatting. I worked out a plan to sneak out from the hospital where Hui Ling would just take some gaigai clothes for me to change and Patrick gets ready with the car to drive me away without anyone noticing and we would go out to eat all my favorite food like curry laifun with cham ping. Told them the plan and dammit, we talked as if I was a prisoner, just that the prison clothes are all in pink instead of the striped black and white.

Thank God everything went well and it's 9 years now, with my son healthy and fine.

The odd jobs I did not too long ago.

When I was 17, just finished off SPM exam, I flew to Melbourne for a holiday alone, stayed with my elder brother who was studying in Monash Uni in his final year.

At that time, to me, flying to a land so far away was a big deal. It was my very first time on an aeroplane and I was doing it alone, all by myself! Happy and excited, I indeed was.

I spent close to 2 months of the holiday there, going to camping trips, knowing my brother's friends, meeting with relatives, and also worked there in an ice-cream factory for 6 weeks.

It was the evening shifts I was posted to, from 3pm to 11pm, after which my brother would be there at the gate to take me home. He bought an old car to commute to and fro his 2 jobs during his vacations, and a part-time job when studying.

The job was pretty easy, just putting cones into the cups, those cornetto icecreams. After some hands-on training for a week or so, I could pick 16 cones in 2 hands from the conveyor belt and throw 'em into the cups, which are already pre-arranged neatly on a tray, in about 3 secs. That was quite fun in the beginning but standing there doing the same thing for hours can really wear out the legs.

There were about 7-8 ladies there and we took turns to have our tea breaks and dinner. The job was so easy that the time dragged like hell. But payday on every Thursdays make it bearable. I was paid about AUD300+ a week. I had some free ice-creams on some *special* days too, and it all tasted soooo good. Those 6 weeks opened my eyes on how a life as a factory worker is like. *shivers*

The other paid job I had was during the months after the next big exam, i.e. STPM. I went to Spore with a good friend of mine, landed in OCBC as a bank teller for 2 months. We were given 2 weeks training in the headquarters office, which was rather fun. But life changed after the training. The real job wasn't quite so fun. It's killing my nerves going to work everyday. Once I "short"ed, couldn't find where the missing 150 bucks went and I cried! *sob* I was so happy to be back to kampung after that.

Among them and the rest of the jobs I had after graduation, I still loved the one I'm now in best. 'Coz I believe the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. *ahem!*

When I was young, I'd listen to the radio.

The last trip home, I took some photos of my kampung where I grew up in. Ahhh.. those memories when passing by these places. How different everything now. If digital cameras were available then, I would have been able to capture how things were at that time. Alas, all those scenes can only be enacted in my mind only.

Now, this post would be a bit boring, but at least, you would get to know some glimpses of my childhood and my "carerful" life.. yesterday once more.

This is or used to be, Super Kinta, the "IN" place at that time. It's actually a big wet market in the center of the town, with a supermarket at the 3rd floor. When it was opened for business, I heard someone telling us that it's so big that they can't cover the whole area in 1 day! What a big joke compared to the malls we have now. Of course, I'm not talking even about KL malls. I know other cities have much bigger malls than what we have.

BUT. That's about one of the only place we shop or hang around in. And it had gave us many delightful moments. Like the time my friends and I chat at the eatery for hours with just an order of drinks. Or the "lau di fang" Yu Kim and I used to meet up at. And the pretty things SK had to offer. At least we had a place to call "home" and no need to meet up at sidewalks.


This used to be "Cafe Le Rendezvous". Iit's this place where I knew the word rendezvous. I always have the fantasy to be meeting up with some mysterious lover in that place, by how the name goes. Now it's called OLD TIMES pulak. So, I suppose we can only bring old friends for old times sake. The boss must be smart enough to know business is better that way, huh? Not sure if the owner changed hands or just a name change. But I think the last one, it was selling western cuisine too.

This place is one of the most memorable spots for me in Ipoh. Where Lido and Cathay located in, it's about the only entertainment we ever have, for a movie retreat, then to A&W. Our bus from Menglembu comes direct to this bus stop, only 50 cents a ride.

When I was less than 12 years old, I tagged along my brothers to watch movies, travelling in the buses, alone, by ourselves. My brothers do treat me very well, always holding my hand to make sure I'm safe. We just love the A&W rootbeer floats. It was about the only thing I was looking forward to everytime we went on a movie trip like this. Among all the movies we watched, I remembered only "Kramer vs. Kramer", which I had absolutely no idea what the storyline was.

When I reached the age to choose either bas sekolah or public bus, I happily chose the latter and walked to school everyday from here. God knows how far it is to MC, can someone tell me? I think it's easily more than 1km. And the buses come so infrequently, sometimes I had to wait 1 hour for the bus to arrive. I began to regret my decision to switch to public bus but it had seemed so "adult" and "cool" then, and I want to save my face so, I hang in there.. sigh..

Speaking about public buses, there were some incidents which are now forever etched in my memory. Being so young and vulnerable and attractive and innocent, I was never really worried about the pintai hamsup loes. But yes, they were lurking around all the time. My encounters include once who had flashed his thing to me, he was sitting beside me. Funny thing was, I didn't even know it was that thing. I thought why his thumb looked so k-shaped, must be sick man!

Then these pintai lo seemed to innocently sit beside me, and after awhile I could feel his hand going near to my thigh and using his fugly little finger to molest me. That was so nauseous. This fingers also some of the times come from the back seat from the side! I used to fall asleep riding on these buses after a long day at school, and once I wondered why my armpit felt so ticklish. When I checked it out, I could see the finger liu-lei-liu-hui, like a leech! I think I was so irritated that I turned around and scolded that bugger! Sickening!

After these experiences, I learned to choose the aisle seats whenever I'm alone. Better still sitting next to a woman. Then again, you know with aisle seats, sometimes those standing people comes so close that the physical contact wasn't very pleasant either. Sigh.. I'm so fortunate I need not sweat it out at public buses anymore.


Lido and Cathay served us the longest among the few cinemas we had, and now even both of them succumbed to the pressure of competition from TGV and GSC. Lido is now a restaurant while Cathay, no idea.
This lane wasn't quite popular at that time, I just thought Memory Lane sounds very appropriate but should be located somewhere else.
Ahh.. my school. The field is the venue of Sports Day for primary students, mainly telematches. As far as I recall, there wasn't an event my team won anything. What a sad thing it was. Apart from this front gate, there was a side gate where the lane is next to a nursery (one which sells flowers and plants). And a backgate which was an empty land of sands only at that time. Now it's the MBI and next to the school is Parkson. How nice if Parkson were there during our time. We would jam there everyday after school. Who cares if the bas sekolah didn't turn up, huh?


The roundabout near our school. Always pass by it after the road in front of our school was turned into a 1 way road. And I had thought it was the prettiest roundabout ever in the whole of Ipoh. It still looked the same after all these years, no changes at all, amazing.

Well, that's about so much I can remember, not so colorful, huh? One day I will story you about my stint as a maid helper. That one indeed was some brief experience I would never forget in my life.

Images from my old home.

No, this picture below is not from the childhood years. I think I have seen a couple or more people putting pictures from MVM's Xmas decorations on their blogs now. The place is such a hit.

Made me have second thoughts about putting the same thing on mine. But I suppose 1 or 2 won't hurt la, hoh?

No wonder. It is really a huge crowd during weekends. I was there for 2 days berturut-turut last weekend. Crazy. I guess some of the times, you can't help joining in the fun pushing and shoveling around.

We have GSC vouchers and took the kids to watch Madagascar 2. And, there was a Modern Home and Property Fair. We bought some home appliances and some properties as well to make our parking fee worthwhile. (wishful thinking!)

But wait, yes, we did buy something. The water taps to replace the fountain-making taps in our homes, and the juicer/blender/chopper after watching the demonstration. It is redundant, but the part where I can make it handy to make soyabean milk so conveniently sealed their deal with us. Sigh.. poor flers like us, got conned into parting with our money so easily.

This is my home where I grew up in. My parents told me we moved in when I was 3 months old and from then, I slept with my brothers in 1 room already, leaving my mom alone to be in a world of her own with my dad at nights. So young I was so well-behaved! :)

The colors of our first family portrait had gone like this. What a pity. See my left hand in the picture? I remembered nothing except that I kept putting my left hand on my mom's hands, and she kept putting it away and the result, I seemed to have lost my left limb. What kind of trash I keep in my memory, I have no idea.

This is our 2nd family portrait, and we took it before my elder brother depart overseas for his high school education. I had practised smiling in front of the mirrors for the hundredth time and during the photo shoot, the photographer told me to be natural, and this the end result. Like a pakchi-mui indeed, I agree.

The first addition of family member. I remember nothing in this picture except I felt my legs dem cold. Oh, and the white frock was specially chosen by my sis-in-law and my brother, wanting to get me something nice and special for their wedding day. I am still keeping it, in the years to come, I wonder if my dotter would like it? Regrettable hairstyle, made me looked 10 years older.

Of all family portraits, I think I looked best in this one, unfortunately the background really sucks big time. Can see until tau-fah-ngan-luen, right? The 2 little babies in there are so grown up now. When I was wedded, the tai-kam-jea said we shouldn't take family portrait with the bride's family as I'm considered the "thrown-away water". 4-8-poh!

Thus, that wasn't anymore studio family portraits which is enlarged and displayed proudly on the wall in our living room other than those above. Right now, there are 16 of us, I really do wish we can take one for remembrance, but I am not too confident if we can have it before someone say byebye. *sob*


Dinner. We are a bunch of carnivores today, deboning the roast pork like hungry lions in the afternoon and tearing off the grilled chicken like sap-yun-9-sau. I bought the roast pork home from my hometown, supposedly as a treat for my banker. See see he told me he's not coming home for dinner, and we have no choice but to finish it off for him. So full until I can't eat anymore now.

Eh, the story for today jumped up and down, with no flow or relation to each other one? Aiks. who cares, as if anyone reads this.

Sometime ago in 1999..

This post is strictly to induce some jealousy and hatred from you guys. Leave now if you still want to love me.. MUAHAHA...

There we were.. so young, so happy, so free, so poor, so wild, so everything..

Right after our official beginning of our togetherness as ONE, we headed to LA on the 17th May 1999 for honeymooning aka sex holiday. Once we disembarked, we drove 5 hours to LV, stayed for 2 nights, went to Grand Canyon for a day trip, came back to LA, drove to SF the next day and then flew to Seattle. Crazy schedule, wanted to cover as many cities as we could in the shortest time possible. So, I actually hardly see the cities that we went to.


Postcards sceneries, it might be possible I cut and paste our faces onto the postcards, for all you know.


From Seattle, it was few days straight of long hours drive, over the border to Canada, to the Rocky Mountains in Banff and Jasper. But the drive was worth it, as the sceneries were absolutely awesome.


Lake Louise.. sighhhhh.. how I miss that place, how I wish to go there again.


One day up onto the Iceland Glacier and back to Vancouver, and home again from some city in US, after 17 days of pure relaxation and happiness...


Now after 9 years, our biggest sau-wok is these 3 and tied us down for don't-know-how-many years to come...

Cantik tak those honey-flavored-loverbirds pictures? More pics on facebook.

Parties in the 80's

When I was a little girl with 2 ponytails on each side of the head, I was 12 when I went to a party, my very first. It was a birthday party and there weren't any boys or games. Just some food, but I was very happy.

Then shortly after, I was invited to another friend's birthday party again, and that time, it was very crowded, old and young all gathered for the special girl of the day. I remembered it was the first time I watched "Sound of Music" at her house, and it also opened my eyes as how some homes could be so different.

It was such a beautiful home, from the sky, I think it it shaped like a C, only not so rounded. One side was the living hall with the bedrooms while the other side holds the kitchen, dining and the maids' quarters, both sides connected by a long corridor, all aircon-ed up.

Right in the middle beside the corridor, is the beautiful garden with landscapes and shaded trees, and a gazebo to sip afternoon tea. I couldn't describe the beautiful picture I saw in better context, but it was so awesome that it remains inked in my memory all these years.

Some years later, into the sweet sixteens, the first parties of those with boys around. They were usually held in a friend's home (Pei Pei), her parents are really cool with that!

That brought me to remember my fond memories of my very first slow dance. It was such an awkward time but hilarious thinking about it right now.

Unsure why, up until this day, it's very natural that females would somehow stick together like glue at one side and the males on the other side. Then of course, the girls would feel lansi shy to ask the boy to dance, all waiting for the other to make the first move. Some friendly and good looking ones sure went for the prettier and safer bets to avoid being turned down. I, was one of those, left behind (mai jing jie or buy 1 free 1 that sort), but still lansi shy to ask.

Eventually this 4-eyed geek walked over to me and asked me for a dance. While he was walking over.. I was thinking "oh no, please not let it be me.. please please please..." Ish! See see I was really the chosen one. So, afraid of being seen as super duper lansi and not invited for any more dances in future, I relented.

And what happened was.. I put my hands on his shoulder, his on my waist, both our hands straight like a bamboo stick. After sometime, I could feel his hands were like putting fire on my waist (like X-men!) and it was the most awkward swaying of our hips! The people around started to notice our virgin dance and poke fun at us, pretending to be bees, flies, mosquitoes and aeroplanes that can fly between us. Why didn't we just stop, I can't fathom why, but wasn't that hilarious?

*sweats* That virgin dance ended when the music stopped and I was soooo relieved. Now, I can only laugh non-stop looking back at that time.

I guess the reward for that stupid dance came next. Seeing I wasn't very good in it, one of those handsome ones decided to give me some "tutorials" and asked me for the 2nd dance. (I vividly remembered thinking, wtf! I just went through one and now another so soon??) It wasn't clear why it was like an unwritten rule that we should not turn down invitations. I suppose if we kapsi have reached the level of lansiness high popularity, we shouldn't spoil our reputations yet.

And so, this 2nd dance happens to be the best I ever had.

Some of those parties, were those sleep-overs and we fought hard not to fall asleep. Into the night after the disco and slow dances, we would talk sumsi or play some card games, or cerita some creepy stories (guys who do that to make the girls put their arms around them, I suppose). Once, all of us went out for a walk in the ungodly hours, 2 by 2, 1 line of guys, the other of girls. Amazing how these youngsters thought of such ideas! (Not me, wokay?) But I had butterflies in my stomach when one of those I was eyeing came over and walked beside me.

So, these are some of the fond memories I had when I was 16-17. After which, I felt those parties were so boring and didn't bother to turn up much, but that part of my life remains a very special time of it.

Old schoolgirls meet

Last Friday I met up with some of the people I have not seen in years. There were Debbie (met her about 10 years ago during the last reunion), Susan Beh (some 20 years ago, I think), Mandy (haven't really talked to her even during the school years), Kan Siew Fun (omigosh! she looks EXACTLY the same girl over 20 years ago and we were so close that time, completely lost touch after Form 5) and the rest whom I do meet on and off, Caroline, Beatrice and Mei Chui.

Weirdly enough, though we haven't really kept in touch for those long 20, that's TWENTY = 240 months, which is equivalent to about 7200 days, we had so much fun and non-stop chatter throughout the night like these long lapse of time didn't even take place at all. Like back to giggling schoolgirls, except our topics ranged more to children, hubbies, inlaws, sex...

Still, it's rather amazing. At least to me. There are people whom you might see on a day to day basis, there's this "wall" and you just can't come close together. And magically, there seems to be "no barrier" with these people who played a part somehow in the childhood years.

While we were reminiscing on some of those memories, Susan commented who and who were in the same class from kindy. Yeah, I am one of them. So, that made up 30 years when our paths started to cross. Not a big deal to you, but a mega-big one for me. Well, I'm just emotional, I know. But really, how rare is that to know someone since you were 6?


Skip this boring part...
People on the photo whom I know:
Grace Chen, Foo Pei Pei, Foong Siew Mun, Lyndy Yee, Sharmini, Tan Li Ming, Lam Sook Peng, Marion Chan, Karen, Kok Pik San, Winnie Boey...

For those boys.. really no idea who they are.

This picture is priceless, I tell ya!

Revisiting Cameron Highlands after 14 years!

I suppose just the mention of this place, many people would start to rekindle all their memories they had in this place. Everyone has some story to tell with no connections whatsoever to the hill, but it just happened right there. Me too. And now, I'm going to tell my story here.

The last I was there was in the year 1994, and it holds many special memories for me especially for
1. the Board of Librarians trip in Form 6, it was like staying in Tanjung Rambutan! Happy and stress-free.

2. falling in love with my now hubby, we jungle trek in a group of 19 for 2 days/1 night from Gopeng to the hilltop, spending a night in the dark jungles in an Orang Asli stilts home. Yeah, that was how it happened.


I was among the 6 "babes" in the group, and the only one without a torchlight. He promised me I would be alright before, but wasn't even aware I fell and cut a bruise on my knee. Feeling terribly guilty, he stayed at my front all the time and helped me to get through the various streams and unbelievable slopes.

By 7pm as the sun was setting, we still hadn't find the Orang Asli area, and darkness was beginning to creep in. Bloody leaches were all over our shoes too, and I would jumped up and down like a madwoman yelling his name to pull them off my shoes. One of the girls in the group even told us her panties were soaked in blood when she went to shower, the next day after we arrived our destination. Ewww... gross! Imagine the leach go inside and start to build its home sweet home there!

As it became pitch darkness, though dark and damn tired and damn hungry, I felt safe and peace with his hand firmly holding mine. I suppose he too was "electrocuted" by me. Too dark mah, so I became his light of his life loh.. :D (Your bulu roma stand up mei?)

Yes, that was the beginning of our love story, everything else is history.

See the 2 grandpas? It's such a cute combination of trip members. I like it. We were sharing one miserable piece of waffle. Theoretically, we were teaching the young ones to SHARE, the fact is, we are too kiamsiap. That waffle, though yummy, costs a bomb!

Well, apart from that, it might also teach the young to fight for their lives for opportunities! Good, huh? But must also tell them not to be too greedy and selfish, have to save the best for their loved ones.

Divine concentrated pure strawberry juice. It was pure enjoyment taking a sip of that drink on the rooftop with that scenery and fresh air.


Red rose which would make my knees weak...

This one for you, U. Lee (Your story of 19 chapters kept me up till 3am last nite, dammit!) and others who has some fond memories of Smokehouse Hotel. No, we didn't spend the night there, can't afford that. But it's such a grandeur of am English tudor styled colonial architecture, I would have loved to go and spend at least one night there in my lifetime.

We made a U-turn and headed for home after about half a day there, with the journey lasted only about 1 hour with the new access road from Simpang Pulai. It wasn't as winding as the old route and I didn't throw up or felt nauseous, which is certainly good. It was unfortunate we can't see the Lata Tinggi waterfalls though, as that is in the path of the old route.

Will be back to take the children to see the tea plantations.