One of those Fridays.

It's the 2nd failed attempt to watch the current blockbuster movie "Indiana Jones 4" last Friday. I guess, those babies born from 60's to 80's might have more interest to watch IJ, as these the eras where Indy rocks!

Anyway, back to this failed attempt, when we arrived at the cineplex much too late, what we saw was also a mile long Q to the ticket counters. That was already enough to stir us away.

So, never mind, we thought, there's always another one fine day.

We went down on the escalator, and being a bit hiao, I just put my head on my hubby's shoulder, arm around his. Then, suddenly, we heard a voice from behind, almost yelling "EXCUSE ME!!". Almost jumped out from our skin, we turned round and thought this bitch wanted to pass, but she shook her head and said no. What the...

When is it that the woman's head resting on hubby's shoulder while on the escalator had became obscene? Or is this woman purely jealous she has no man's shoulder to let her put her head on? Or she thought old couple like us should be pulling each other's hair and not acting lovey dovey in public like that? Really made me amused and pissed at the same time.

Anywayz..

We went home like good papa and mommy, after being nagged by my eldest son on why we come home so late, so very often go shopping or pak-tohing without them.

Later during the night, hubby kept pestering me to watch DVD with him. I was very tired, to say the least. Usually I would fall asleep halfway, and most of the movies of DVDs we have at home, I knew the beginning but no ending. But still, I would accompany him, as it's Friday, Fridays somehow have the magic to get people in the mood for a little bit of fun.

But this time round, it was very different. He put on "I AM LEGEND". I heard this movie a long time ago, strongly recommended. But I did not know what the story was about, only knew it was one pathetic solo man throughout.

The beginning was rather boring, I was nearly falling asleep there. However, it was getting interesting as the plot slowly unfold. Answers beginning to reveal, why he needs to close all his doors and windows heavily at night if he were the only survivor on earth...

Only thing I still can't figure out there, will there still be electricity and water supply if he's the only human alive on earth? well...

Surprisingly, there were really some touching moments in the show. Like the part where his sole company died, oh dear.. I am not any dog lover, but oh no, my heart ached so much at that scene where he hugged his dog to her death. Then, of course, the butterfly image which reminded him of his daughter.

Those who haven't watch it, surely you confused already what I'm talking about. But, really, go and do so. It's really a good one. I was wide awake till the end of the show, and at night, I was still trembling from the thriller and images of those ugly "stuffs" haunting me. So, I manja manja asked my hubby to hug me to sleep, and must be tight tight one. Ahh... good hoh?

Change lifestyle again

Fuel rise to RM2.70 from yesterday, it's time to change our lifestyle again, says the PM.

(When is he coming up with a new motto? So sien to hear the same message over and over again, huh?)

So, everyone, here's the new lifetsyle we all should be considering, to adjust to the new price in fuel.

Have you heard about the secret?

Last weekend, we bought the DVD from MPH "The Secret"....


The DVD can be only be taken from the counter, under high surveillance, and it costs RM149.90!!

She told us this wasn't even available for sale before, can only be ordered through its website here. Only much recently, MPH has managed to succeed in applying for it through Kementerian something something (I think!) and selling it, even that with limited copies!

We are now watching it every night and absorbing the secrets...

Cave Tempurung, Perak

Have you heard or watched the movie "Cave"? That was a story about 4 adventurous, death-defying women who seek for thrills exploring difficult caves. Very, very difficult caves. Watching it gives me the creeps, dungeons, pitch darkness, mutated humans, it wasn't really a fun watch, but some might think it can be kinda entertaining.

Now, what has it got to do with Cave Tempurung, huh? Basically, nothing.

Might be informative to know about this..

"Gua Tempurung stretches 1.9km, is the largest and magnificient limestones cave in SM. Made up of 5 huge domes, each of them has different formations of stalagmites and stalactites made from different temperatures, water level, content of limestones, and marble. Concealed within this limestone massive is an intricate system of caves honeycombed inside the limestone hills.

These caves are actually breathtaking gallery of stalagmites and stalactites and other amazing rock formations which super geological wonders found only in this part of the world."

I knew of this "wonder of Perak" (some say could be Malaysia too), a long time ago, since I hail from the nearby city, but never really been there before. The closest I had been was passing the great waterfall on the way back to Ipoh from KL, which you can spot from the PLUS highway. That waterfall looks kind of majestic, especially after a heavy rain. But never explored nearby.

Then, one year ago, to be precise, She made me realized what I have missed. How embarrassing. Ipoh mali pulak.

So, I said to myself and to hubby that we take the children there one fine day, ok? He agreed.

And it took 1+ year that we kept our promise. That's because we are so bankrupt now we have no cash to go overseas. Holidays come, we balik kampung, visit the wonders of Malaysia, sounds not too bad, yeah?

Look at the serenity of the environment around the lake. It is really beautiful. Err, not the one below I meant, browse up, the pics above I'm talking about.

When we arrived, we were surprised that the place was packed! Mostly students, girls and boys in their teenage years. Oh, that made me really felt old. How we used to go around places with boys when at their age.

Everyone of them was drenched, from top to toe. Some of the members in our entourage were worried sick, they kept saying, "look at them, wet la, how to go with children, and it's raining, nanti where we find dry clothes to change..."

I was thinking, "Eh, cave woh.. even if it's raining outside, inside also rain meh?"

Well, some of them, remembering how they wade in the water to explore the cave decades ago, probably meant the stream water level will rise from the rain. I do not know how dangerous the this trip was, but trusting my friend's words, she couldn't be pointing a danger zone for me, as she had been there with her little boys too and gave very good reviews.

So, we went to ask the woman behind the counter and the guide. The friendly guide happily told us not to worry, it's as safe as Afghanistan, and we won't get wet, not until we go for tour package 3 and 4.

No wonder la, we see all the teenage girls and boys there splashing around in the river like that, how not to get wet from top to toe?
There are 4 package tours, 1 being the shortest route, just go in and out of the big dome (Imagine you are eating banana and you were only tasting it at the tip, the banana sure don't feel shiok la, right? Hehe.. what a good analogy! I have a better analogy, but that would be kinda x-rated, and I have a good reputation to keep here, so I better put up the banana story. I know you can imagine the other one yourself.)

The 2nd package is the "Top of the World" tour, whereby there would be 600 steps to and 600 steps back. It'll be an all-dry entourage. The following tour 3 and 4 are categorized "Dry and Wet" for the more adventurous types of people.

No doubt, we went for Top of the World, together with a few other families with similarly young children like ours. It was a guided tour, the same friendly guy who told us that it's very safe.

Time to enter, and I was eager to see for myself what the cave is going to be like.

Safe pathway like in the picture from the beginning till the stop point. Some of the paths are in steps, ascending and descending steeply. I was only more worried for the children, but fortunate for me, the auntie and her daughters who joined us were very helpful in taking care of them.

Meanwhile, I could enjoy a bit more myself looking around more, and taking pictures on the way too. Later I realized I myself was feeling my legs and knees wobbling when climbing up and down the steepness pathway. No easy feat that would be if I would be to hold my kids in both my hands. Glad we invited our guests along.


Light still coming in from the entrance. About the only place where the light would be shining in. It would be total "eclipse" if not for the lamps and lights the gomen put in to develop that place into a tourist spot.

It was really a spectacular sight. My camera wasn't doing it justice enough.

If not for the whole gang was so far in front and I was afraid to be the only one left behind, I quickly took a few shots, admired for a few more glances and quickly moved on to join them before I was suddenly alone by myself.

The guide has a lot of stories to tell. He will point to some sections of the cave hovering above our heads and say this part looks like a monster, a car, a pregnant woman, an old man, hantu and the secret hiding place of Communists last time.

The cave does really look like a huge dome inside, with amazing structures. It was said that most of it was made from thousand of years from the movement of the air inside the whole cave.

Someone in our group was complaining non-stop about the stillness and stuffiness inside, particularly when panting for breath walking up the staircase. I wonder other than me, if there are anyone else thinking inside she should just U-turn and go back to the starting point?

Then, surprisingly out of nowhere, there was a spot where it was like an air-con was blasting in full! It was amazing. The guide explained about something the hot air from outside, pushing the air inside, the cool air then don't know how pushed to small and tiny holes, then retracted and pushed back out in force... OK, I don't really get the idea, maybe they hid an aircon somewhere la.. try to con us only.

That was almost to the End point for us, what a relief when all of us heard it. haha.. The guide told us tour package 3 and 4 would continue and descend down from that point until they touch the stream which runs in the cave. And some canoeing and boating would be in store for us if we had taken that route. How exciting! Ok, we come back next time and we'll be more prepared for that adventure, can? Yeah, so, we shall take a short break and U-turn to go back to where we started.

The children were totally worn out from the whole exercise of walking and climbing. Not only ours, the rest of them in the group was worse. One of them was carried by her superduper daddy and she was sleeping soundly on his shoulder, what a big-hearted dad that was.

Lucky for us, I had, thank God, put some sweets inside my bag the day before and let them have one each. That was really a source of energy for them. That's the good thing about sweets when you don't use it too often on them. It was like precious stones to them and they will do anything to get their hands on it.

The return journey always seem to be shorter and easier, no matter what trips I am talking about. Do you feel the same?


And we quickly hurried back home to solve our hunger pangs. It was 4+ and we only had breakfast so far. Mealtimes were turned topsy turvy for that day, by dinner time, we were still full, the children were exhausted, so we let them have something light, tuck them to bed, and we later went to have supper in Lou Wong that night with my dad. It was a great day indeed!

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.

Flowers for you.

Brought these roses home from Camerons, now sitting beautifully in my dining table, brightening the house and the day. Though flowers of whatever kinds are truly beautiful in their own ways, roses still remain my favorite one, especially the dark red colored.


Such pretty intricate weavings of petals, I could gaze in it for a long time.

One must have thought my hubby proposed to me even without any rings or half on knee, he would at least had a bouquet of red roses, popping out the big question...

No such luck. He never did. He just invited his parents and my parents to a dinner on my birthday and we talked about the wedding preparations, that was all! How truly un-romantic, un-memorable, un-unforgettable, un-sweet.... He would say "Still complaining about that meh?"
I say "Of course!! I would remember that for the rest of my life, and talking about it too!"

Of course, that is only used when I wanted something badly and he is giving me all sorts of objections...

And I normally have my way! *grins*

What's your favorite flower? What's the color? What does the stars say about my personality for a red rose lover like me, do you know?

Start of school holidays.

Hooray! Probably my kids wouldn't have any hints that I am actually the one who's the happiest when the school holidays are here! It feels sooooo good to turn the alarm clock on my handphone to OFF.

To start the hols, we went back kampung to visit the grandparents and took them to 1 day tours around. Sat to Gua Tempurung and Sun to Camerons. It was surely enjoyable. Came back today taking half day off. My poor baby, when she was jostled from her sleep, she blurrily saw the familiar surroundings again and started crying... poor girl, must be traumatized that the holidays are over.

Well, good times sure whizzed by when you are having fun, don't they?

That night before, I made a date with my dad who just came home from work happily when he knew that we would be home last weekend. You just can't miss the joy in his voice over the phone. It was about 11.30pm when we finally made it for supper at Lou Wong for Nga Choy Kei, poor fella, I can imagine how sleepy and tired he was, considering he normally sleeps at 8pm! But he was still beaming happily like a child when we were having supper. And for that, I always feel happy to be spending time just doing simple things like this with him.

He was sure overjoyed too when he knew we were going to Camerons. And to Camerons it was. Though when he knew we went to Gua Tempurung, he was visibly upset that we didn't wait for him. Anyway, he didn't complain for he can join us up to strawberry land.

While we were there, I received a call from my aunt, who told me an uncle of mine (my dad's cousin brother, with the same surname) has passed away. I was so sorry and sad to hear that piece of news. We had earlier visited him in the hospital sometime after CNY, and I had the feeling it would probably be the last time I ever see him again.

Yeah, so it seemed to be the case. His family travelled over to accompany him back to his home in Melbourne and what we heard was he was in and out of hospital since. Well, he had lived a good life, I suppose, being 80+, died peacefully with his family at his side. I wasn't considered to be really close to him, but somehow, I have a high respect for him all my life, remembering all those memories when we would go to his big home during CNY.

While we were in Melbourne for holiday in 2003, he was among those friendly relatives who insisted to treat us a meal and gave us a warm welcome.

I feel so sad. When my mom called my brother to tell him about this news, he asked what they are doing to pay "pak-kum", and how he can chipped in too. At that point of time, I wondered, what's exactly the point of doing anything when the person is dead? I surely hope he would take more trouble to come home more often to visit our parents too before this happens to anyone of them. All those "reasons" of can't be home... I really am speechless. Anyway, I'm not washing dirty linens in public here, it's not good of me. But I need a place to vent it out of my system, really.

Having said that, I am trying my best too to let my husband and children spend time with his parents, however distasteful and not-up-to-standard-and-not-up-to-expectations a daughter in law I am. That was why I suggested to my hubby to take some time off to balik kampung, and instead of staying at our own room in a different house, I agreed to stay put with my inlaw's house this time. I suppose my intentions had gone un-noticed and un-appreciated, but seeing them happy and my hubby's satisfied, never mind la. Just fast fast gulp away all the "unpleasant" things or rant it out to my good friends' ears, which they are happy to hear all about it also.. haha..

And that's why it's so important to have close girl friends, who share the same problems I am facing and after ranting and bitching, supported by them, I feel much lighter and happier already.

Now, just let me enjoy the rest of the school holidays...