Thursday, December 24, 2009

Cameron Highlands (18 – 22 Dec)

Click here for more photos.
Day 1: Cameron Highlands was totally different from how I imagined it to be. I had this image of an idyllic farmland with miles and miles of greenery and fresh air. How wrong I was. As I alighted from the coach after more than 9 hours on the road, I noticed that Brinchang Town Central was choked with tour coaches and cars. The air was cold and heavy with the smell of petrol.
The white and yellow hybrid sweet corn is a must try. It is the sweetest maize that I have ever had. The Bird of paradise flower can last for 7 weeks! There are 7 flowers in one bud. After the first flower wither, remove it so that the next one can come out. Each flower is good for a week.

Day 2: Along the mossy trail near the highest peak in Cameron Highlands, I noticed a rope along a metal railing. Why would you need a rope and a railing at the same time, one of them would suffice. But very quickly, I realized the answer – the metal railing is very cold and uncomfortable to use when the weather is cold and wet. The rope is not so cold but the grip is not so firm.
When we rested to replenish ourselves, we had a good laugh at the inflated biscuit packs. My children loved lemon biscuit and we would bring these biscuit with us wherever we go. Due to the pressure difference (we were 2000 meter above sea level), the air pressure inside the biscuit plastic cover caused it to blow up like a puffer fish.

Day 3: From Brinchang to Tanah Rata via Jungle trail number 2, 3 and 4.
Trail number 2 was quite challenging, many a time, we needed to use all fours to get ourselves moving forward. While struggling, the children recalled their Bintang and OBS experience, I felt encouraged by them. My youngest son, in his free spirit manner, picked up a broken branch and used it as a magic wand and started ordering nature to bend over for his family.
Along the way, I came across a step that was higher than normal with a root in front of it. With one foot on the root, I balanced myself gingerly and then leapt across the step. Thinking that I used considerable skill and dexterity to clear this obstacle, I turned around to help my family. Just as I was about to stretch out my hand to my eldest son, he walked across the ‘obstacle’ like a flat ground. I was stunned. I saw it as a problem but apparently it was nothing to someone much taller. Conversely, he may not see any potential problem because it was a breeze to him.

Day 4: Day trip versus night trip
We went to Cameron Highlands by night and returned by day via coaches. I felt more comfortable travelling by day. The most irritating part about travelling by night was the flashes of light that swept past us as the coach sped on, making sleep very challenging.

Before going for holiday, it is wise to check if it is a public holiday in the foreign land. We were caught in endless traffic/human jam at Cameron Highlands.

I had always wished that Singapore could be cooler but my experience with Cameron Highlands proved me wrong. I would rather not sleep on a cold bed, brush my teeth in freezing water, lugged wind breaker wherever I go and have my sleep interrupted by howling wind

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Sibu Kelong, 12 – 13 Dec: They should know.

Click here for more pictures. At the Ah You Kelong, we slept on rows of double deckers like in an army barracks. On photograph, it looked more like a refugee camp. I was trying to ease myself to sleep on an upper deck reading the papers. My elder son was sleeping on a bed diagonally across me. As I was about to sleep, I noticed his cousin moving stealthily towards him. From the way he behaved, I could tell he was up to mischief, I tried to stop him and I said in a no uncertain voice not to disturb my son. Unbelievably, he continued. My son startled and shoved him off, asking him to go away in a stern voice.
On another occasion, a young boy dropped his slipper into the sea and unbelievably tried to retrieve it. That got the adults hopping mad as he might be swept off by the waves or bitten by sea snakes which are plentiful underneath the kelong. When I told my daughter about it, she responded, “He did it because he was only a child.”
I was not so convinced until at a casual talk. A colleague asked, “What would you do if you reel in a sea snake?” I was momentarily stunned. I would probably try to shake it off. My colleague was more insistence: What if it clings onto your rod and won’t let go?” Another colleague came to my rescue, “I will cut off the line.”
Well, what is second nature to some may not be common sense to others. Throughout our lives, we accumulate much wisdom and even take them for granted as if others should also know. At the risk of repeating myself, I would make it a point to say my piece to my charge in case they are not aware of it.

Sibu Kelong, 12 – 13 Dec: Green and White Baits

The sea is unpredictable: December is in the middle of the monsoon season and it is supposed to be very choppy. One would imagine a lot of fish taking refuge at the kelong waiting for us to catch. However, this time round, it was very calm. There wasn’t much fish or at least they are not biting. In our last trip, the white artificial bait worked very well, bringing in a lot of Selar. But this time the green bait seemed to work better. To even the odds, I will get those that have alternate white and green baits.