Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

Ramadhan is here again! This year is a very challenging year for my department. The Ramadhan and Eid falls right smack in the middle of the budgeting cycle. Somehow the head office budget datelines were brought forward thus it clashes with the Partners' and Host Govts' budget. Time of great stress at work this month. This may be my last blog entry for now. Hopefully not. Happy Ramadhan to all. May you have a good month ahead. Wassalam.

SMCS Reunion

My school actually had a reunion last Sunday. It was the first such a thing was held. It was great meeting up with some friends. Though the turn out for my batch was not that great. It would have been better if more of the Malay Girls in my class had turned up. Maybe next time. They actually had us sang the school song at the end. It brought back such memories... Excuse my voice here, didn't know it would be so clear. And it has been so long.

Our School Song

Alyn, Intan and Rapidah

Alyn, Beryl, Harmeet, Karen.

Maha, Sharlini, Alyn, Avy and Me.

Merdeka Weekend

Happy Birthday Malaysia!!! For Merdeka this year we finally managed to go to the Merdeka Parade. Thank goodness it was held at the Dataran Merdeka this year. So, it wasn't too far from home, plus we could get there by LRT. Easy peasy!!! Nayli has been singing Jalur Gemilang for a couple of weeks leading to the big day itself and I guess the teachers in her school has been feeding her a whole load of information about the country, the Prime Minister, the flags in Malaysia etc etc. So it was good that we took her to the parade, though of course the parade wasn't everything about Merdeka but for a 6 year old, ok lah tu kan?

To the parade everyone!! Including S-I-L and family

What's a Merdeka Parade without our Jalur Gemilang!

The compulsory float.


The aliens have descended?

Part of the crowd

Another float.

Soldiers! not, the Swamp Thing!

Merdeka Parade? At this hour??

Going home. Same time next year ... perhaps!

That was Friday the 31st. I had 2 invitations lined up for the rest of the weekend, both in Perak. On Saturday was an engagement in Simpang Pulai and on Sunday a wedding in Bota. I actually took the time to study the map of Perak to find out where these two places were to find a reason to stay overnight somewhere interesting in Perak, so that we did not need to make the trip back and forth KL that weekend. The truth was that I would be willing to put up in any descent hotel in Perak, I just wanted to be away from KL even just for an overnight. I had a terrible hectic 2 weeks at work before this Merdeka that I wanted a quick short break. I heard about the new route to Cameron Highlands [C.H] via Simpang Pulai, and suggested to hubby that we should stay overnight at C.H. He agreed so off we went that Saturday morning to his cousin's engagement in Simpang Pulai and then straight to C.H. Stayed at Equatorial Hotel. Hmm!! So so hotel, maintenance not so good I must say. Still got the yuckie feeling but no too bad. Weather was a nice change from KL though it did rained the next day. Managed to do the touristy things. Kids had fun, and the stressed mommy forgot about work for 48 hours, good enuff!

The hotel driveway.

Yummy strawberries.

Strawberry fondue, so cheap!

One satisfied boy.

More strawberry concoction.

Lovely blooms at the Butterfly Farm.

Cacti too!

You got to smell the roses.

The only place where you can find the choc fondue fountain at the Pasar Malam.

Strawberries at the Pasar Malam.

Sungai Palas - Boh Tea plantation. A must see.

"Natural Bush Walk" to the Boh Tea Centre way up there.

At the centre.

Tea Factory Tour

The Boh Tea Centre - walking towards the factory.

What you can see at the far end is the tea shop.

Tea & scones time.

The BOH coffee is not too bad either.

The tea plantation. Breathtaking.

Kellie's Castle - no where near Cameron H.

On the way back from the wedding at Bota.