#41 - CNY 2010

18.02.2010

This CNY year seemed to be extra busy and chaotic.

First of all, this is the first time my whole family (with exception of my brother) went to Cameron during CNY. Usually we stay at hometown to visit friends or invite friends and relatives to home. It was supposed to be on the 1st and 2nd CNY day, but somehow got adjourned to the 2nd and 3rd CNY day, which in turn caused all my plans to be in chaos. Arranged for friends reunion on 3rd day but in the end I myself can’t make it. But after few rounds of negotiations and rescheduling, I went off to Cameron, expecting it to be fun. First time outing as a whole family wo.

Reached Cameron without stopping by at Ipoh. We came from Simpang Pulai direction and the road was jammed starting from Kg Raja itself. And it was not chilly at all up in Cameron. Too many cars and people and the usual hot weather during CNY didn’t help much either. Nevertheless, it is still better than in hometown where it was scorching hot. Went to Rose Valley, Butterfly Farm, Brinchang night market, Cactus Point, Tanah Rata to see the hotel resembling French design (forgot the name). We stayed at a holiday bungalow jz next to the JKR quarters and ate steamboat at ‘The Only One’ restaurant. Surprisingly, the room rental and steamboat was not as expensive as we thought it will be (due to CNY?). But the only drawback to the room we rented was that the water heater didn’t work. Freezing cold when bathing.

Bought key chains, fresh strawberries, dried strawberries, maizes, cassavas, fresh veggies and mushrooms home. Mom wanna give some to grandma and uncle in Penang for steamboat. Overall, the trip was fun but I wonder what will it be like without the kids. A big question mark there. Luckily, my aunt and her daughter joined us, can take turn to take care of the kids. If not, very tiring and frustrating at times! Overall, I won’t say the kids behaved well throughout but enough to say that they were decent enough not to wail all the time.

On the 2nd day, after checking out, we had breakfast in Tanah Rata again. Went to one of the Cameron Valley cafes (by Bharat plantation) to enjoy the scenic tea plantation and the tea. Erm, seriously speaking, I still prefer Boh Tea. The Cameron Valley tasted weird. All of us don’t like it. But I wonder why there were so many cafes by Cameron Valley along the way and even in the Brinchang night market, most of the hawkers were selling those of Cameron Valley instead of Boh Tea. Too bad we didn’t go to BoH Tea plantation. I had been there once and I liked it there!

We turned back towards the Kg Raja direction in hope to eat Ipoh delicacy. Jz after passing Brinchang and before reaching Cactus Point, the van broke down. We waited there while my brother-in-law and sis made numerous calls to the foremen, friends etc. In the end, some of us (lucky got 2 vehicles) went to Cactus Point and the boss there was kind enough to call his foreman friend. We cancelled the plan to go to Ipoh (for its delicacy) and Penang (to visit grandma) as everyone was tired. But seriously, I bet no one can argue with me when I said that the plants in Cactus Point were so pretty and well taken care of. You will really enjoy it jz by being there, even if you are not a plant lover.

I think I got stuck there for too long while waiting in the van when they tried to call here and there. Dare not drink too much water for fear of always going to the toilet. Somewhere, we were stranded halfway down the hill leh. Where got water to drink? In the end got dehydrated, felt feverish and lethargic. When reached home, I quickly help mom to kao tim the kids (diapers full, faces dirty from tears, mucus etc), took a bath, wore a jacket and threw a thick blanket over myself and retired to bed without even switching on the fan. Purposely did that to force myself to sweat. And it works everytime. If can’t work, then try soaking pieces of ginger in the hot water with brown sugar added into it. It was nice to drink (cos sweet) and it works in sweating u out.

I don’t know whether you know about this theory or not but I strongly believed that during fever, you can’t sweat. So once you managed to get urself sweating, then you will be fine already. That’s exactly what I did and I recover the next day, to discover that someone switched on the fan halfway through my sleep. Lucky I got sweat. I only ended up with sore throat. At least better than fever, if you ask me…

All the friends seemed to be busy and many friends ‘leave aeroplane’ on the 11th hour. Disappointed cos can’t meet many friends and relatives this time. However, I still manage to meet up with Chin, Pan, Hao and Kelvin. Will meet up with Kee and Chong tonight, if no one leave aeroplane la. I missed the major gathering which was on the 3rd CNY day.

In short, it’s a different CNY to me this year and I heard my aunt said, next yr CNY wanna go to Hatyai pula. Alamak, why mz purposely choose CNY leh? Hatyai not as cold as Cameron la, in fact much hotter than M’sia from I heard this yr. Pray hard no la, if not sure will get sick. Anyhow, just wait to see what will happen in the next CNY la. No use speculating now when it is still a year ahead.

Happy CNY everyone!