It’s the school holiday and this time, santai-santai was in Perak Darul Ridzuan! We started off with AROCKV's Anniversary/Family Day/Grand Tour to Taiping. It was a bit different for us this time- we didn't go in our Alfa!! Though we have two of them, both had to stay home due to their 'unfortunate' conditions: one can’t seem to get into gear and the other is like a mobile heat sauna! So, there was the Camry, apprehensively volunteered itself to become the 'sweeper' of the convoy- behind the official sweeper!.... But the uneasy feeling quickly vaporized when we then realized the privileges of being an Alfa driver with a Camry skin- we can overtake the lead marshal!! Hence, made us a self-elected 'media car' who's free to move anywhere in between the convoy... apart from having a great photo collection of those sturdy Italian bodies on the road...
Taiping is a beautiful town with visible considerations for heritage and conservations of historic buildings. Our lodging was at Taiping Golf Resort in Kamunting, a tranquil little town adjacent to Taiping, surrounded by hills of greens... serene, indeed...
That night, after the anniversary dinner, speech & cake cutting ceremony, we treated the kids a tour of the Night Safari. Seems rather scarry to take a walk in the dark, with background sounds of wild animals (especially the lions!), but the train ride appeared to solve it all...
More pictures here.
Sunday 17th
The whole of the following morning was dedicated for time at the swimming pool, a necessity on almost every holiday now! From Taiping, the convoy moved on to Kuala Kangsar to savour gulai tempoyak ikan patin near the riverside. Fresh terubuk bakar with air asam was also a favourite, along with a bowl of cendol.... what a divine afternoon meal... if only this tummy have more space for laksa kuale....
After lunch, the convoy made their way back to KL, but off we were to Lumut, as the fun is yet to begin.... The trunk road from Kuala Kangsar to Lumut via Manong offered refreshing views of traditional Malay kampungs, with lots of fruit trees alongside the route. The road blends with the topography of the place, thus travel is less boring. Should be a good stretch to show off what Alfa’s can do, but, hey, Camry’s not bad after all....
More pictures here.
Monday 18th
This day really reminded me of UK.... gloomy, dull, downpour and we’re stuck in the air-conditioned hotel room for the whole day!! Lunch was at the hotel as well. We stayed at the Orient Star Resort Lumut. Nothing much to do but TV, newspaper, a Sudoku puzzle & a doze in the late afternoon... The kids finished up the hotel room’s memo pads and were about to grumble over boredom when suddenly.... out came the sun!! Woo-hoo.... off to Teluk Batik for a splash in the waves... Everyone had fun, except for my youngest 4 year old boy- he never liked sands in his slippers!!
Dinner was splendid- not only we enjoyed the seafood steamboat, it was with the company of a long-lost school friend (and his family) whom I haven’t met in 20 years!!
Tuesday 19th
Well, so much of Lumut, Teluk Batik, Sitiawan & Sri Manjung.... as usual, there was a swimming pool slot before checking out. By half past 12, we were off to KL, with a drive-thru lunch....
The drive back had everyone smiling, a sign they enjoyed their break. Again, except for one- the 4 year old. He remembered my promise in Taiping, and demanded for the reward of being a good boy! Something I almost forgot, as there was change of plans in Taiping- instead of going to the zoo in the day time, we went to the night safari instead, so he missed his elephant ride!!
He’s not going to be quiet about his mum’s promise, so after reaching home, getting ample rest & freshened up, off we went, in search of “the elephant with a seat on his back” as he described it...
Fortunate enough, there was MAHA2008 nearby, a place we were sure there will be some kind of animal ride, hoping that any animal would do, to compensate with the elephant. Should have seen the excitement on his face when he spotted the elephant “with a seat on his back” as he had imagined! So the boy got his elephant ride (though a bit nervous when the elephant started walking), and so did his 2 sisters. Not only that, they each had a pony ride and some fun time in the “do-what-u-like-with-the-rabbits” den...Putting all the 4 days holidays together, the kids said they enjoyed the last two hours the most...
So, for those who haven't been there, you only have until this weekend to go on animal rides, savour some great snacks and food (fruits, especially). And of course for plant lovers, I saw some beautiful species of orchids there... Ha'ahh...
More pictures in My Fotopage...
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