2nd Time in Kedah

5-8th Jan 2007

My first experience in Kedah last year was nice but was too short to leave much memory in my mind. Thankfully, this second trip could.

Location : Alor Star (not Setar), Kedah.

Host : Ang Nooi Hoay

Co-host : Koay Jun Hong

Participants : Tan Sze Ching and Yeam Shin Yau

Places visited : 1a.m. Curry Mee Stall, Light & Easy, Keat Hwa Secondary School,
Alor Star Mall, City Plaza, Star Parade, Alor Star Tower, Paddy
Museum, Keriang Hill.

Nat was supposed to join us. Unfortunately, he has to stay back in Seremban to meet his sister in NS camp for the last time, which left only Sze Ching and I in this trip. But hey, it didn’t mean that this trip wasn’t meant to be. Sze Ching and I still had fun in Ipoh back in December 2005 even though the participants only consisted of both of us. Hence, there was no reason for us not to have fun in Alor Star even if it was just the two of us. As Nooi Hoay was cruel and didn’t want to accommodate us, we had to stay in a nearby Inn called Traders Inn in Taman Pelangi. Haha, of course the first part isn’t true. The real reason was that her house was full. Including herself, there were five family members in her house. Therefore, Sze Ching and I paid RM15 each per night for three consecutive nights which was considered really cheap. Plus, it was super clean.

Nooi Hoay told me something I forgot/didn’t know about Kedah. It follows Kelantan and Terengganu system in which Friday is a weekend while Sunday is a weekday. I wonder how long it took for Nooi Hoay, other Kedah-ans, Kelantan-ans, and Terengganu-ans to adapt to the change in system when they were first in INTEC. Throughout the trip, Nooi Hoay did 90% of the driving. Jun Hong did drive as well but only for a while and only Sze Ching sat in his car. Guess what car she drives. Nope, not kancil. No, it ain’t a Proton. Yes, it is a Toyota and a giant one indeed – Innova. Her driving was alright but she has problem remembering directions. Thank God Jun Hong was around. Haha..but really, for a small gal driving a big car, she is not bad.

There was only one incident in which she accidentally knocked a short tree trunk which resulted to a small dent at the left corner of the Innova while reversing. Couldn’t blame everything on her la actually. First of all, the tree trunk was super super short (It has been chopped off). Secondly, car’s reverse alarm tends to give false signals usually even though there are still lots of space behind. Thirdly, Sze Ching, Jun Hong, and I have winded down the window and looked behind. We saw nothing. Hence, we happily asked her to “Go, go, go”. The next thing we knew- “Bang!!”. Ok lah, we did learn something from this. Didn’t sight anything doesn’t mean there is nothing behind. Imagine a kid is squatting down, picking his teddy bear behind your car and we did the same thing. Habis, man! So er, lesson to learn everyone! Nooi Hoay, don’t feel bad! Cause three of us (the guys) are also to be blamed. Well, at least your parents are sporting and didn’t scold us =D

The deepest impact of this trip comes from Nooi Hoay’s family. Her family is such a joy. Being with them made both Sze Ching and I super happy and it is one of the main reasons we enjoyed this trip so much. Personally, her family is the ideal kind of family which everyone wishes to have. They are so close to each other and live harmoniously under a stable financial condition. Her youngest sister, Siao Hui is super cute. I miss her unique voice so much!!! Oh, by the way, Sze Ching loves her mum’s soup. Hen kou wei tau (very enough taste =p) Haha. On the our last day in Alor Star, Siao Hui and her elder brother, Wen Bin gave Sze Ching and I each a chocolate which they bought from Singapore. So nice of them!!! To Nooi Hoay and family, thank you so much for your hospitality. Sze Ching and I enjoyed this trip so much. No tension at all. Given a chance, we will surely make our third trip there. And this time, must stay in you house =p And not forgetting Jun Hong, thanks a lot for joining us as well. I’ve seen a different side of you during this trip which is of course, something good. All the while in AUSMAT, I’ve never got to see you cracking jokes and making tricks. I still remember you made us laughed so much during one dinner we had in Alor Star Parade (forgotten the specific name for the herb shop).

As usual, I end this entry with many many pictures =)

Thank you for reading!!!

Sze Ching's and my bed in Traders' Inn

At 1am Curry Mee Stall

In Front of a uniquely-decorated house nearby Jun Hong's house (Taman Golf)


Jun Hong's house

Met up with Wannard(far right) in Light & Easy

In Nooi Hoay's, Jun Hong's, Ling Sing's, Shea Chuen's, Zhi Han's, and Chin Chiew's school

Dunno what's the name of this Fort but it surely is beautiful.

In between fallen brick walls

Still at the Fort

A food called puree. Something I've never tried before. Not bad but it gets cold very fast. So got to eat quickly.

Back in Traders' Inn, Sze Ching and I saw something which reminded us of Yee Hong- The Blue pair of Crocs!! =D

Sze Ching washing clothes in Nooi Hoay's house.

Met up with Jhuen Ri(KYUEM) in Alor Star Parade

Bumped into Chean Ying and her parent also in Alor Star Parade

In Alor Star Tower. Its shape kinda resembles KL tower. It's just that it's shorter.

Is it very obvious that Sze Ching is posing? =p Haha, the wind was blowing really strongly at the top of the tower.

At Paddy Museum. Sze Ching looks like a Kung Fu Master =p Thanks to Nooi Hoay for enduring our craziness and snapping our pictures =)

Sarang Semut. We wondered how they learn to form the shape of a circle.

At the top floor of Paddy Museum. How nice of our lecture hall is like that.

Painting on the wall. Nooi Hoay said that guy who puts his hands in his pocket resembles me =p

Spotted this tool called Kucing Bodoh, used to trap rats. hm, why not name is Tikus Bodoh instead?

The female version of Sze Ching. Haha

With Siao Hui. Ok lah she might not look that cute here. You have to see her and talk to her in person to discover the cuteness =)