A video #3 asked to be made because he wanted to show Gong Gong he can swim.

As you know Father was hiding from the sun. Sitting under a pavilion where he can enjoy the peace and quiet with his papers.


Where as Mother took a nap beside the pool. Sh...... a secret, OK

H too. (^_^)



Amidst all the shouting and screaming of the children in the pool.

Teluk Dalam Resort, Pangkor

The ride to Pangkor was not long. The ferry berth at the Pangkor Island Resort jetty not the one in Pangkor town. Once we disembarked we were transferred to a mini bus from the resort waiting for us. It was just a short ride to the the resort.
The resort's lobby in the evening. We chose this resort as it had been recommended to us by my friend CL. She said this place is different in the sense that we get to stay in chalets and pay a fraction less than if we had stayed at Pangkor Island Resort (used to be the Pan Pacific Resort).
The family chalet we stayed in. There were 2 bedrooms, a hall and a small kitchenette. It is just too bad that the family chalets are not near the beach. We had to make a short walk past some other chalets to reach the beach. On the other hand we have quite a good view of the hill and forest behind our chalet.

The rest of the chalets. The whole resort is occupied by individual chalets. See here for more info - pangkorresorts.

The kiddy pool. The whole resort is a bit run down. I think most tourist goes over to the other big resort - Pangkor Island Resort. Seems that way as most of the occupants of the ferry seems to be heading to that resort. But there were quite a lot of guest around too. Guess there are some who still prefer staying in chalets then in the usual hotel rooms.

View of Teluk Dalam from the resort's highest point. This look out point is closed to public as the wood looks unstable. I stood a distance away (I do value my life, you know)and tried as much as possible to get a good shot.

The beach. The beach here is clean but slightly murky mainly because Teluk Dalam faces Malaysia and not the Straits of Malacca.

On our first night there was a thunderstorm. The next morning as we were walking about we saw a tree had uprooted and resting on a chalet next to it. We wondered if there were any guest in there when it happened. It must be a very frightening experience for them.

Some of the wild monkeys hanging around the resort. A female monkey with its' baby. They only seems to be out about in the early morning. The rest of the day there were no signs of them.
That is a real bird. A hornbill. The resort's staff were seen placing some bread crust on the tray. Once the bird had their fill the monkeys came and followed by the smaller birds.

Back in Ipoh other than eating not stop, in my spare time I searched through my parents old albums and came across this. Looking for some pictures to blog about.

Yup, This pale looking old lady is a relative of ours. Our Great Grand Mother. There maybe another one or two Great in front of it. Our parents can't remember as they did not note it down behind the picture they took. A pity.

This scroll managed to escape the bonfire during the trouble times in China. It was shown to our parents when they paid a visit to Father's village. It seems the family who are privilege or if they have someone in the family who is an official in those days will have their family portrait drawn up like that. How true is that, since no one can really vouch for it. Even though my Mother told me when we were young we have an ancestor who is a 'koon' official/magistrate. I took it with a pinch of salt. She would always remind us this tale every time year. Only families with ancestors who are 'koon' are allowed to make offerings to the Kitchen God a day earlier than the res.. Never really did believe it. When I was young China seems so far away. And any relatives we have there seems so far and remote. An ancestor who is a 'koon'. Nah....... I thought she was just reciting some mambo jumbo stuff again.

When our parents made their way to Father's village they were told that the 'koon' ancestor was the Governor of Fujian and the island of Taiwan. Wah so 'wai',what a grand story.

So, what if it is the truth. I happened so long ago.
To tell you the truth I don't really believe them. Not my parents but the tales they were told. There are no written proof only words from the surviving relatives staying in the ancestors house. Guess I am just skeptical.

But I guess it will make a good story for next generation. And so the story continues....

Lumut

The trip to Pangkor was not planned. One day H just mentioned to me that he want to bring the boys to the beach. As you know Ipoh is in a valley. The nearest beach is miles away. So I went to the Internet cafe and checked out that area which so happens I have not visited for a while.


We decided to stay over night in Pangkor. Made reservations and we drove down in Father's car. Yup, all 7 of us in his car.


The journey down to the beach was pleasant as the roads has much improve.


But the changes in Lumut.......

Shops with all the souvenirs and assorted seafood snacks

Now this looks more like the Lumut I know.

Following the signs, we parked our car at a multi storey car park behind that row of shop houses. Now that is a big change. Since the last time I came here, one needs to park their car in the open opposite the jetty. Plus this car park is bright and airy. For 3 days we only paid $21 - made payment on our return. Anyway we parked the car, brought our luggage out and walked to the jetty which was quite near by.

Lumut's jetty

Another view of Lumut's jetty

Waiting area inside the jetty.

Check-in counters for our resort inside the jetty.

While waiting for our ferry we walked along Lumut's beach, just beside the jetty. The picture above is the road beside the beach area.Most of the big trees that use to line the small beach are gone and are replaced with concrete.
Another view of the jetty

The ferry

Wow ! Big changes in Lumut. We can hardly recognise the town as we entered it. Since we were early, after checking in our luggage we walked around town, took our lunch and snapped pictures.
We heard a siren and saw an ambulance stopping outside a hotel opposite the beach area. Now don't be mistaken. I am kaypoh (busy body) but not that kaypoh. H is the one who went to the side of the road and waited for the ambulance attendances to wheel out their patient. I wanted to walked on but he persisted.

Mean while I waited around this area and tried out different angles of the same view.

H and I on the quarter mess of the ferry to Pangkor Island.

Does It Work ?

What is that ?

A broom prop against the back door of our parents house. Because it won't stay in place, the broom is place in a pail.

Why ?????

To deter the thief from coming into the house.

Eh....... (scratching your head ?)

I am not pulling your leg. It is suppose to work as a charm to stop the thief from entering the house when no one is around.

Does it work ?

Their house had been broken in a couple of times they are trying any method. From superstitious things like that prop broom against the back door to good old just not leaving any valuables in the house at any time. Of course making sure all doors are securely lock.

But since they have been practicing that superstitious, mambo jumbo there have been no break in.
So, I will leave it to you guys to decide if you believe it or not.
As Mother said "no harm trying".

Kek Lok Toong

On the 3rd of Dec we gorged ourselves not with food but temples. Temples in limestone caves.
After we have our fill with the last temple Sam Poh Toong we stopped over at another one. This one here is Kek Look Toong in Gunung Rapat area, very near to the earlier temple we visited.

This temple is more spacious, very well maintained and dripping with water. Well, it is a limestone cave and the caretakers have taken great pains to keep it as natural as possible. So, there were patches of water here and there .

We went up those stairs. It was dark but enough of natural light to guide us along. This spot where this picture was taken is super breezy. The breeze is constant and a huge relieve to the hot weather outside the cave.
There are some limestone formation.

At the other side of the cave is open to a huge garden. Notice the wet floor, they built a pond to catch the dripping water but looks like one can't control nature . On the left side of the picture are a few rows of benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the view and breeze.

Super hot day, as you can see (11 am). Those who are brave enough to face the heat venture out into the garden. Needless to say Mother did not.

The view is not bad eh ? All together there were 3 ponds, surrounded by hills. Too bad the picture perfect view is marred by the power tower.

And this mammoth structure quarrying the lime stones hill.
H posing - like those Bollywood movies, dancing round a tree. Actually it is not that hot in the garden as the trees along the pathway helps.

View of the cave from the garden.

#3 and I. See the fan he is holding. He got it away from his grandmother. Fanning himself as we walked.


P.S. - Entrance to this temple is free too but the care takers had done a better job here.

Chrismast Eve @ Plaza Singapura

This morning opened my eyes to a real gloomy Christmas eve. It rained and rained. Even if it is not raining it remained gloooooooomyyyyyyyyyy
I had promised the boys a dinner out in town. Took the train down town. Ended up at Plaza Singapura instead as it was raining cats and dogs outside. So, took the opportunity (for me that is) to window shop. Every where 'Sales' were there to attract customers. It is the same in our neighbourhood malls too.
Er... I saw a top which I can't resist and made a small dent on my wallet. There I admit it. (Since H reads my blog).
:)

Luckily the rain did stop and we venture out of the mall.

Below are some pictures we took before it rained again .

X'mas tree outside the mall.

#3 with the 3 Wise Man

The 3 boys along Orchard Road with it's street decorations.

H and I.
Boys drying their feet as we happened to walk pass it as we re-enter the mall.

Wishing everyone,

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!

Sam Poh Toong, Ipoh

Sam Poh Toong is a temple located in a natural limestone cave. It has been around - it seems like forever. As far back as I can remember it has been around. Our parents will bring us here usually after dropping by at the other nunnery, down the road. A good landmark as we need to drive past it on the federal road to go south. The temple has changed a lot from a small, dull looking temple to a ......how to put it. There have been new structures build since my last visit (can't remember how many years ago) and the land scape around it has been beautified. In fact the arches you see from the above and below pictures are new because it surely was not here when I came as a child.

There was not much visitors on that day we visited, although it is noted as one of the tourist spot in Ipoh.

The interior of the temple which is dark. Well duh, it is in a cave. The highlight here is not the shrines - for me that is. As a child and even now I remember my grandmother admonishing us as we run past the shrines to reach the back of the cave and enter a dark tunnel.
Here is known as the dragon's throat.

It use to be a very dark tunnel. Still is even though they have place some lights around. The tunnel leads to an opening at the other side of the hill.

As you exit from the tunnel one is greeted by this view. It is surrounded by the hill. A tortoise pond at the far right. It is a very quiet cooling and serene spot. I was told by my Mother that here use to be a mediation spot.

Now the only interesting spot is the tortoise pond that do not seem as interesting as before. Don't see any water ? Yeah we were asking ourselves that question too. The whole enclosure used to be a pond. It was still a full pond the last time I came.

So, that got me raking my grey matter trying to remember when I last paid a visit here. After much pondering and calculating came up with the figure - at least 10 years !

Now they have filled up 3/4 of the pond and the poor tortoise has to make do with a smaller home and more concrete around them. Looks like not only humans are surrounded by concrete - animals too. #1 said, "Welcome to the 21st century tortoise".

They sure seems hungry as my boys fed them with leaves and dried bread bought from some vendors as we entered the temple earlier.

Opposite the pond is a new building. Built over the spot where travelling nuns or priest used to stay and mediate. Looks nice doesn't it. But as you walk closer you can see that it is run down and not well maintain.

Back in the tunnel there are a couple of water colour paintings depicting the 18 levels of hell. The various tortures in hell sure fascinate my boys.

Next up the dark staircase to the upper levels of the cave. Another disappointment here. The climb seems not as exciting as before. It does not looks that way with my boys as they ran up and down the stairs with us trailing behind them. Reminds me the time my grandmother and mother slowly climbing up those stairs behind us as we ran up them. The cycle of life.
The shrines and the caves that held them don't seem as fascinating as before. Mother said the whole place looks so sad. I guess she has memories of this temple during it glory days. Example - there use to be a table and chairs here. Various pictures of Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment still hangs there but they have lost their bright colours and missing a few frames too.

Most of the stairs leading to further up the hill are closed to public and looking by it it had not been stepped on by any one. Various plants had over grown on it.

Lastly here are 2 pictures taken at the same spot but different time. Mother had mentioned that there used to be paintings around the seats.

This is a old picture of my mother and her family in the 50's. Look closely and you can still make out the paintings even though it is in black and white.

Btw the way entrance to the temple is free. Which explains why there are not enough funds to up keep the whole place.

Some Random Pictures Of Us

#3
Game time

The poor car.
H
#2
Father
#3
The lady refuse to have her photo taken.
Lazing around in Ipoh
#1
H and I
A sneak shot of Mother.

2 in 1

"Putt kow yen" The Cantonese term for this back scratchier. Putt kow yen means - do not depend on others. It comes in real handy when there is this itchy spot at your back and you just can't give a good scratch it is itching for.

Although this back scratchier comes with a mallet like structure at the other end of it. To lightly massage any aching part of one's body.

This 2 in 1 is a gift from my brother to my parents. He sent it over from Sarawak.
Or play with it like what my boys did.

One of my favourite place to chow in Ipoh. I mentioned it before in one of my previous post - A stall with no name but it is widely known as Under the Big Tree in Pasir Pinji. As usual the whole area was busy with hungry folks.

But with big improvement - the ground has been paved with cement. Maybe the next time I visit they would have put up a permanent roof.

Waiting for our orders to arrive.
Fish balls and stuffed tofu......

Yum, yum

Hi ! I am back from my long sabbatical.

What have I been up to other than my trip up to Ipoh.....er...... nothing much really. Can't think of any major significant events that had happened since I came back from my trip. But I will still bore you with some details.


First, needless to say my trip back home was good. As usual we ate and ate, met up with friends and stuffed ourselves some more.

Went round the state of Perak in Father's not so new car. It is only about 6 months old but it has scratches everywhere on it's body. See the red patch near the rear wheel, there was once a big and deep scratch there.

The best thing was there were 7 of us, squeezed into that car cruising the country side. Visited some of the tourist sights. I will post them later on.

Btw Sis, can you recognise where I took this shot?

Next, I caught a nasty bug during the last few days of my stay in Ipoh. My whole body was aching, a slight temperature. Once those were over, I was coughing non stop. So much so that I lost my voice. After hacking through this really bad cough which had been passed to my #1 and #3 boys. I am now well but the cough still lingers although not as serious as before.

Due to my uncontrollable coughing I did not even have the pleasure of registering my #2 boy to his secondary school. He is accepted into the same school as his elder brother. Except he is in the technical stream. H took leave that day to settle his registration, books and uniforms.

So another round of textbooks wrapping. Every where in my house there seems to be endless textbooks or uniforms lying around.

The three of us hacking away like TB patients was why we did not attend my usual year end gathering with my friends last weekend. "Chee toong" the Cantonese will say. Feel bad going there with the three us coughing away.
It was a potluck party and I had promised them a fruit cake. I did baked the cake and it was delivered by H and #2 who enjoyed the rest of the delicious food brought by our friends. Of course, once H returned home I quizzed him, who came and who brought what. :)

Lastly, today happen to be Toong Zhi - Winter Solstice Festival. Roped in my boys to helped me form the tang yuan. Tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) served with syrup, symbolise family unity and harmony.
Happy Toong Zhi !

Hello

To make it straight, she pulls it.

To make it stand, she rubs it.

To make it stiff, she licks it.

To put it in, she pushes it.

It is a hell of a job threading a needle!!!

*******************

Hello, I am now in Ipoh, enjoying ourselves with my parents. The boys are the real ones who are enjoying themselves as they get to enjoy their favourite foods and candies from their Grandfather.
As usual I am now in the Internet cafe updating my blog which I had not touched for a while.
The boys with their games. Other than that we had made reservations today for our side trip to Pangkor Island.

That will be fun as I had not step foot on to the island for ages....since I was a teenager ! promise to take some pictures and post them here - once I return to Singapore. :)

The weather here had been really hot. Not a single drop of rain since we arrived. Hopefully it will hold until our trip to Pangkor is over.

My Sis asked what I had been doing here. Nothing much. Eat, sleep and eat.
Yes, that is what I call a holiday.

I am sorry if I had not been around my other friends blog. Can't seem to find the time. Sorry about that.

Wishing all my friends Happy Holidays !!!