The Great Adventure of the Terrific Ten

8-12^th Jan 2007

I like Jing Guo’s suggestion. Hence, there is a new title for this picture. =p Hehe.

Location: Ipoh

Places visited: Gunung Lang, Perak Tong, Kek Lok Tong, Jia Huei’s Uncle’s Pottery Factory, Kinta City, Ipoh Parade, Polo Ground, Lost World of Tambun, Taman Dr. Seenivasagam, Kedai Kopi Nam Chau, Kedai Kopi Kong Heng, Kellie’s Castle, Tea Break Kopitiam, and some other coffee shops.

Hosts: Kok Jia Huei, Christine Tan Hui Wen, Wong Jing Guo

Co-host: Dyan Tai Yee Hong

Participants: Ang Nooi Hoay, Toe Wen Jun, Ng Chau Wang, Tan Sze Ching, Nathaniel Alagan (it means handsome) s/o Kovalan, Yeam Shin Yau.

This trip was the last one before the ten of us fly. Thank God, it was a memorable one. Nevertheless, it could’ve been better if IDP’s briefing were to be held later. The fact that its briefing was on the 13^th has caused a premature end to the trip for Sze Ching, Nooi Hoay, Nat, and I (the trip was initially scheduled to end on 15^th). It kinda ruined our plan. But, huh (punch), sad stories aside. Lets flash back those happy moments =)

This is Sze Ching (Dec 21^st) and Nat (Dec 17^th) with some of their birthday presents. The little piggy Sze Ching was holding and the cute little turtle on Nat’s hand were from me =D The pink cell phone holder was given from Sze Ching to Nat.

SC: I’ve searched the whole place for the best pink item that I could find.

Don’t misinterpret. It’s not that Nat likes pink. Erm, Sze Ching just wants his present to be ‘memorable’. =p Right, Sze Ching?

Oh, and of course the cell phone on the pink holder is not a present =p The rest of the gang bought Sze Ching and Nat presents as well and not forgetting Wen Jun whose birthday is today, 22^nd Jan. Hehe, but we had an early celebration for him. On the last night, we gathered everyone in the living room and three of them received their birthday gifts. Nat got a white cap, Sze Ching was given a penguin soft toy while Wen Jun received the biggest present of all – a green dog-bone-shaped pillow. You should’ve seen Sze Ching’s expression when he discovered the penguin.

“OMG, Happy Feet!!!” (Eyes opened wide, mouth opened big big). Sze Ching has soft spot for Happy Feet =D

This gathering session was the only time we really sat down and talked. Most of the time, we were busy getting ready and doing our own stuffs. Hence, Nooi Hoay finds this gathering the most special moment during the trip =) Haha, for me, the funny part was waiting for Chau Wang to finish bathing =) Everyone was already sitting down in the living room and he was the only one upstairs, bathing. Couldn’t blame him though. The tap sot sot tei (gila gila in Cantonese) d. Sometimes, no water one.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we stayed in a house owned by The Pings. They (Christine’s church friends) were generous enough to lend us their house free of charge. And it was complete with furniture, toiletries, washing machine, air-cond and even detergent =) There was possibly nothing else we could ask for. If you are reading this (if…..) Mr. and Mrs. Ping, we would like to thank you all so much. Wasted we didn’t get a chance to meet.

Also, congratulations to Nat as he managed to book the masterbed room for himself, Sze Ching, and I despite the strong protest by the gals (and yes, I mean strong!) although it might not seem obvious. But it might be a blessing in disguise for the gals you know. The bed was quite hard so if you all were to sleep on it for a few nights, you all might complain about backbone pain (although I do remember that one of you drink anlene). See, three of us were actually doing you all a favour. =)

Three cute dolls (each bought from different places) in Jia Huei’s house.

Sze Ching, Nat, and I during our first breakfast in Ipoh.

We went to Lost World of Tambun on Tues (as planned) only to find that this water park closes on Tues, which explains the number of cars there at that time. But hehe, since we were already there, the guys decided to snap a picture together. =D

Gunung Lang. This area was only assessable by boat. A two way ride cost us RM 3.

Wen Jun didn’t bring his camera while we were in Gunung Lang. Hence, I borrowed him mine to snap a few shots. He was attracted to this particular flower as there was a grasshopper on it.

Wen Jun trying to kill himself for not bringing his camera.

Haha..no lah, he was actually climbing up to one of the display house like some of those in Cultural Village, Sawarak.

The one behind this camera was er..not an ordinary person. See, there was initially no one in the house so Chau Wang and I were setting timer to snap a group picture. Then, there came this man with two other people into the house. In a well-mannered way, I asked his help to snap this picture.

Coincidently, we saw him again in Lost World of Tambun. He was walking with two men behind him which made him look like a Very Important Person. During our conversation in Gunung Lang, he once referred Lost World of Tambun as “my place” so we assumed that he must be one of the owners.

Oh, did I mention that we played hide and seek in Gunung Lang? =p

In the boat.

In Perak Tong. We climbed up so so many strairs. Nooi Hoay counted as she climbed. It was about 400 steps. No wonder she didn’t chai (respond in hokkien) me when I talked to her =(

Climbed up so high enabled us to enjoy the magnificent view of Ipoh.

The one at most right looks like a little gal.

On the way down from the top.

The rocket in front of Jia Huei’s house. Took this picture while Chau Wang was heading into her house to get a good rest as he was getting sick.

We proceed to Kek Lok Tong despite the rain and Chau Wang’s absence. On the way, we passed by Ampang Baru and Sze Ching had a strange kind of feeling. Most probably because he’s from Ampang. Same name ma…

Oh, as it was raining and both Sze Ching and I had been there before, we’ve decided to stay in the cave and chit chat while the rest meredah hujan and go kai kai around Kek Lok Tong. I didn’t regret staying behind as I found out some facts that I didn’t know before this during my conversation with Sze Ching.

Room 204 in Kinta City.

Played badminton the next day.

Sze Ching holding a cute soft toy in Ipoh Parade. This picture curi-curi take one, which reminds me of Christine’s which I illegally snapped at the Crocodile farm in Sarawak.

My shop opposite Ipoh Parade. =)

Dinner in Assam House. Wang Lee Hom has been here before!!! Wow..and prepared to be shocked by the price. Thank God Jing Guo has a discount card which enabled us to evade the 5% government tax =p Oh, and the food was not bad.

Nat emitting his aura in Polo Ground. It’s a spooky place at night…..

Next morning, in the playground,

SC: Wah, playing swing is so fun!!! Especially when you’re standing =)
WJ: (Interested) Really?? I also wanna swing…

And so..

Both of them swing together.

The one responsible for influencing them was Jia Huei. Haha, she taught them how to swing while standing =)

In Lost World (again) At the end of the day, I got sun burnt which is a rare occasion for me. =( so geli!!! And not to mention, painful as well. It was like a changing skin process and i took more than a week to recover. I should seriously consider using sun block.

Chau Wang and Sze Ching having fun.

This picture is so unique!!!

I was shock to learn that there were tigers in Lost World. We were able to catch both the feeding times and had an experience which is hundred times better than going to zoo. Mr. Zul was kind to show us a baby tiger which turned out to be very very active. Hence, if you’re interested in tigers, pay Lost World a visit! You’ll get to see how intelligent tigers are.

In Taman Dr. Seenivasagam. Another of my favourite pictures. Sze Ching found this place familiar as he has seen it before in a Mandarin text book many years back when his mum taught him Mandarin. Talk about Déjà vu!

Posed under an ‘ancient’ traffic light.

Sze Ching’s new Nike shoes made him suddenly wanna dance. Wow….

The place where we had nice curry mee.

The coffee shop in which Sze Ching drank three glasses of While Coffee. He wasn’t satisfied with the first two glasses. “No, this is still not the real while coffee that I’m looking for.” He, then walked to another coffee shop, Seng Fatt and bought another White Coffee. Finally, he was satisfied!

Kellie’s Castle. Seriously, this place was a bit disappointing. We paid RM3 each to see this place but I personally felt kinda cheated as there wasn't that much to see. The magnificent view from the front was super deceiving. It gives you the impression that there are many ancient things to discover behind/in this building. Perhaps it is famous because of the story behind it, kinda like the Taj Mahal story. It was built by William Kellie Smith for his wife, Agnes. Sadly, the contruction was have way done as Kellie succumbed to pneumonia in Lisbon (1926). It would've been lovely if the contruction was completed.

One thing though, it was in this place where I found out who Jaishree likes.

See what I mean? =D

This is the part of the castle which I like the most. Imagine if it's a tennis court.

Like this picture too =)

When we were about to leave, Wen Jun and Christine refused to follow and ran away from us. Reminded me of Hindi movie in which there are many scenes in grassy areas where they lari-lari here and golek-golek there.

If wasn’t long before they realised how important friends are in life and they came back to us. =D

Note the word Gerenti....pinjam bahasa again. My dad once joked, if information is informasi, why not nation becomes nasi?

Oh, Jing Guo is a very brave and skillful driver. This black Sentra was driven by him. Of course, Jia Huei was not a bad driver as well but as her Nissan Sunny is a manual car, it’s pretty hard to catch up with the fast-paced JG. Haha, but seriously, kudos to both of you for enduring so many days of driving. It wasn’t easy. Driving can be super tiring. And you could’t sleep in the car when everyone was. =p

A mini tower built using the menus in Tea Break Kopitiam. We hanged out there for a while after sending Nat off. A while later, Nooi Hoay, Sze Ching and I headed to KL for IDP briefing the next day.

In the bus, Nooi Hoay suddenly asked me to look at this particular bus. No plate: WJG 5555

NH: Tell me what so special about this bus.
Me: Oh, it must be the four fives loh.
NH: Wrong!!
Me: Could there be anything else?
NH: WJG = Wong Jing Guo

Haha…Nooi Hoay, salute you!!!

Before I end this post, I would once again thank everyone involved in making this trip a success especially to Jia Huei, Christine and Jing Guo. All of us appreciate your hospitality and your effort taken to plan our activities during the whole trip. Thanks for spending time with us despite your personal commitments. Ok, there were some kelam-kabut moments but hey, we had fun and untimately, that matters the most. =) Time really flew and without us realizing, it was already the end of the trip. Also, a special thanks to someone who gave me a call and sincerely talked to me for a long time at one of the nights in Ipoh. I didn’t expect that call but I’m so happy to have received it and know that you care. Thanks again!!!

Readers, thank you for reading!

P/s: To the participants, hope I didn't disappoint you all with this entry =)