Back Home Once Again!: Waterfalls Revisited

Last year we made our way to the waterfalls in Taiping. This year Melissa, Kelvin and I decided to return to the falls. After pitching this idea to everyone in the kitchen, all those that participated last year decided to return to the waterfalls again this year.

Reaching our destination

How was this trip any different from the one we had last year? Firstly, we had a new addition to the group. She happened to be Aunt Anne (finally, one of the moms that decided to join the active ones in the family). Secondly, after some persuasion from us my dad finally joined us by going INTO the waterfalls instead of merely sitting on the rocks watching out for us. YEA!!!!!!

Like last year, Kelvin is the first one to get into the water. Judging from his facial expression, we knew the water was extremely cold. The cold water did not deter us but our reaction to the chill was classic; shivers, screams, squeals and sounds from teeth chattering.

Reaction to the cold

Aunt Anne after seeing our reaction to the cold waters decided to sit on the rock and not get into the water. We foiled her plan by continuously splashing her with the cold water from the falls. The screams coming from Aunt Anne was not noise but music to the ears. From experience, we all knew that the only remedy to the cold waters was to submerge and get all wet. Without much alternative, she had to join us…heheh

Kelvin splashing water at Aunt Anne

Laughing at Aunt Anne

After a while, all of us migrated to another area of the waterfalls. The migration was undertaken with caution as the rocks were slippery and there were two young kids with us. We convoyed a little upstream where the water was cascading. The descending water was fairly strong hence taking care of the two little rascals was priority.

Migrating upstream

The Group

Kelvin, the creative one when it comes to having fun pitched the idea of using the current to sweep the kids away. We were however responsible adults and would not want anyone to get hurt. Hence, we decided to have J and Aunt Anne babysit the kids while Kelvin and I experimented with the currents. Melissa on the other hand took videos of our crazy activities.

Experimenting with the current

Using our butts, Kelvin and I managed to generate a sizeable current. Melissa and I switched places only to find that the current created was more superior. Rachael and Michelle were swept away so much so J and Aunt Anne had to hold on to them. Clearly, my butt was not big enough and Melissa’s huge butt won hands down…heheheheheh.

Producing stronger currents

Melissa's butt won hands down

From the corner, Kelvin and my dad realized that we can create a more powerful current by using J’s mass to further trap and indirectly ‘guide’ the flow downstream. The idea was brilliant. Thereafter, J was known as the ‘Stone’…hehehe

J the Stone

Throughout the trip, Melissa kept asking all of us to say something to her newly bought ripped off overpriced waterproof video camera . The common response was ‘I have nothing to say’. Nonetheless, I took this opportunity to make a candid video to submit as an application for the best job in the world (http://www.islandreefjob.com). I was not short listed but was happy I tried (clearly, there were many better video submissions).

Approximately 3 hours later, we took a family photo, made our way home wet clothes and all.

Family Photo: clockwise from left - J, Dad, Aunt Anne, Me, Kelvin, Melissa, Michelle, Rachael

Splashing one last time

Note: My thanks to Melissa's digital camera, ripped off overpriced waterproof video camera and tripod that we managed to obtain these photos and more for great memories. ;)

To be continued.....

Back Home Once Again!: To My Hometown (Part 2)

I woke up early on the eve of Chinese New Year (CNY) only to find no one else has woken up except J. After washing up, I rummaged through the refrigerator and pantry for food. I was famished! Munching away at my breakfast, 3rd aunt woke up to get breakfast ready and I had a smile plastered on my face the entire morning. I just ate and I was going to eat again that morning.

As the clock ticked away, one by one in the family got out of bed. The remaining ones is Aunt Anne and Melissa a.k.a PIGS. Rachael and I decided to wake Melissa up. We kept knocking on the door of their bedroom like there was no tomorrow. Aunt Anne finally opened the door out of irritation. However, the real pig was unfazed and was eminent about staying in bed. Rachael and I did all we could to wake her up from pushing to poking and sitting on her. The one thing that I did not do this year was grab Vicks and medicated ointment and apply it on her nose to wake her up. There is ALWAYS next year.

Lying on the couch watching the ‘Arowana’ swimming in the enormous fish tank, I was planning to climb Maxwell Hill that evening only to be disappointed when it started to rain. When it rains, the hills get slippery and leeches come out to play. There goes my plan for the evening. Right then, Kelvin my cousin brother invited me to pay respects to his late wife at Prestavest Crematorium and Memorial Park. Kelvin has always been close to me despite our geographical distance. He is like my younger brother as he did at one time stayed with me and my parents from the moment he was born until the age of six. In summary, Kelvin, Melissa and I are inseparable.

Nonetheless, we were welcomed by the wave of incense and smoke when we reached the crematorium.

Warning: Please be advised that the following pictures at the crematorium may be offensive to some. View at your own discretion.

Kelvin igniting the candle

Kelvin and kids i.e. Ivan and Clarice paying their respects

Offerings

While waiting for Kelvin to complete the ritual, we came across some hell bank notes with outrageously large denominations. Hell bank notes are afterlife monetary paper offering used in traditional Chinese ancestor veneration. Majority of the bills feature the image of the Jade Emperor the presiding monarch heaven in Taoism.

Hell Bank Notes

To the uninformed, hell bank notes may look like toys and superstitious items. There is however considerations concerning the use of hell bank notes. It is not advisable to give hell bank note to a living person as gift even if it is meant as a joke. This action translates to wishing the person’s death.

Avoid being the uninformed like my crazy cousins here….sigh (shaking head in embarrassment)



Hell bank notes are usually kept away in proper places as leaving these notes in the house is considered bad luck. Hell bank notes are treated as real money thus, are not casually tossed into the fire but respectfully placed in the fire. In some customs, each note is folded in a specific way before placing it in the fire; an extension of the belief that burning real money brings severe bad luck.


(Melissa - now you know the reason why your friends were giving you a hard time when you posted those pictures on your blog.)


On a lighter note, we made a quick stop to obtain the following.

TESCO: Food for hotpot on the 4th day of Chinese New Year

Fireworks! There were more secretly stashed away in case of a police raid

Illegal? Yes, it is illegal to sell or obtain fireworks. Then again, this is a small town hence the probability of being arrested for playing with them is rather minute. Can they be obtained openly? No. We got our loot from a friend of Kelvin’s. The quick stop was a residential home in some remote village in my hometown...heheh.

To be continued.....

Back Home Once Again!: To My Hometown

It felt like yesterday when I wrote about my last Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration at home. Yet this is another new year, the year of the Ox. This year CNY falls on January 26th. Like every year when I return to Malaysia, I would go through the same ritual. The moment I arrive home , I will drop off my luggage, have breakfast with my family ('chee cheong fun' will always be the first thing I eat in Malaysia) and then go for a much needed haircut. By the time I am done with a theraupetic session at the hair salon, it was time for dinner. My mom could not comprehend what would take me close to 4 hours in the salon. In short, I have my hair cut, highlighted, washed, steam treated and blown dry.

The outcome?

I went from this in 2008.........

to this.................. (short red hair)

The following day, we were off to Taiping, Perak as usual. Once there, the fun, the noise, the laughter, the jokes, the food and the family pretty much come together. Instead of elaborating on what happens year after year during this festive occasion, I will let the photos speak for themselves. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words.

My cousin Melissa called me a Pig on her blog. If I am a pig, she is one too coz we are a family....hehehe

Family preparing food: Chinese spring rolls
clockwise from left: Dad, 3rd aunt, 2nd aunt, Aunt Anne, Mom

Family having dinner
clockwise from left: 3rd aunt, Mom, Aunt Anne, Dad, 2nd aunt, J, moi
ooppssss.....Rachael popping out from nowhere :)

Grandma, the duck leg and drink!

After dinner: Kids, Melissa & Me
clockwise from left: Me, Rachael, Michelle, Melissa, Clarice, Ivan

Clarice and Me: I look terrible here and still half asleep..eeekkk

That was the first day in Taiping, a day before the eve of CNY 2009. I slept the entire afternoon and turned in very early that night. Adjustment to a different time zone proved difficult.

To be continued......