Monday 5 April 2010

back to the hills..and a little beyond...

..sometimes, I give vent to this innate desire to travel..load the family in the car, fill up the tank, and simply point the car onto an open road, and just go..I need to smell and feel the petrol and rubber burning...but being no longer young, and no more the impulsive, devil-may-care youth of before, I have to plan a bit..but the hills beacon again..and the children who are still with me, Akram and Auji, needs some cajoling..Tuesday and Wednesday being public holidays, as it were..should be a good time to leave the state, while they ponder between the two palaces,  Kota Bharu or Kubang Kerian..

..and so it was that we decided to retreat again to Camerons, whilst checking out preparations for the wedding of niece scheduled for the 1st of May this year...but looking a the number of cars making a bee-line for the hills, it looks like we were not the only one taking the opportunity to leave the state..
..grilled cobs, souvenirs galore, and breakfast of roti canai at Pak Wan and Mak Wan's restaurant, Tanah Rata..two unassuming millionaires who would occasionally holidayed in Europe... 

..Camerons-Simpang Pulai Road..

..old men are like old cars..once in a while, they need to go on long journeys..to clear up their systems and cylinders of carbon build-up..after such journeys, old cars feel preppy..and pakmat feels happy, zesty even..
..but there were too many cars in Tanah Rata..fighting for limited space on the road with no alternative access..polluting the air and bringing up the temperature..

..after a quick discussion, we left for Lumut the next morning..taking the Simpang Pulai-Batu Gajah-Pusing-Lumut Road, as advised by Google Maps..a journey of 169 Kilometers, which we did in 3 hours..but we were in no hurry..evening was spent checking out Lumut and its water front..but the next day was at a lagoon..Teluk Batik..I was here before, twenty years ago with this wife and two children..and found the wooden chalets were still standing..but the rates have trebled..from RM60.00 to RM180.00 per night..

..daughter Auji with her aunt, cousins...


..we skipped Pangkor as the wife was not feeling well..until the next time, perhaps...

11 comments:

hazeleyed lady said...

Ass-salam pakmat
lama kita ni tak ziarah rumah pakamat...
so...
looks like you had a great... fun time with your beloved ones...
Cheerio.

Justiffa said...

Kalau la bole just up & leave..straight for the horizon, without a care in the world - thats what dreams are made of :D

Tapi ntah la pakmat dah pencen baru dapat merasa kot.. but till then i'll just dream on lol.

Glad u & family had such a fun time :D

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Abe Mat,
Those corn cobs...yummm.....I could see myself joining those swimmers in the last pix. Teluk Batik, eh? interesting.... purrr...meow!

Pat said...

I wish the travel bug would bite my husband once in a while! His idea of a good way to spend two a two-days' holiday? More of the same: memancing lagi lah!

Maybe I'll show him your post, and see if he's inspired to do the same, eh? ;)

I remember being in Teluk Batik years and years ago. A beautiful place!

rizal hashim said...

ah, what a life...

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Way to go Pakmat, no plans just go with the flow. When you don’t plan, u don’t get disappointed as there’s no expectation; come what may & improvise along the way.

I say the price trebled in 20 years from RM60 to RM180 is not that bad. I still recall the days when my folks were going on & on about what u can get with 1 sen, 2 sen & 1 dollar….hehehe, I’m sure it’s the same story with your folk too, banana currency / King George V currency??

Anyway, it’s all good u get to spend quality time with family, yes the simple pleasures in life that need not be expensive but do give u some meaningful satisfaction.

Cheers,
Tommy

anneaziz said...

Salam Pakmat,

Glad to read your engine's feeling preppy!

Camerons is not what it used to be. Over commercialised, over cultivated, over priced...lalala..but anywhere you go to spend precious time with your family is well worth the money.

Good day Pakmat!

Unknown said...

..salam hazel..you';r welcome anytime, hazel..:)just dont forget to close the door behind you if there's no one around..:) take care..

..salam justi..but you've been moving around, lady..:)..cuma bila pencen, rentaknya lain..:)

..my dear cat..cats taking to water..?

..hi..pat..dia belum pencen lagi..I mean from fishing..I was a hantu, too, but there comes a time when a man will put his fishing rod to rest..and think about family and travel..just you wait, pat..:)

salam, lc..from someone who has been around the world..? on a private jet carrying the World Cup, even?? but you must come to Bachok..to Pantai Irama..

hi, tommy.,.what do you mean, my folks..? I am the folks..for I recalled going to school with 20 cents pocket money and able to buy a plate of rice, a glass of syrupy drink and still have 5 cents left..when I started to fend for myself in KL in early sixties, a pair of Clark shoes was only RM40.00 and an Arrow long sleeved shirt, RM20.00..I can take a girl out for RM15.00..I missed those times..

Unknown said...

..salam Anne..touche on Camerons..but I have a Sister-IL there..and their home is at the foot of a hillock where Masjid Abu Bakar, Tanah Rata is..something about the mosque that appeals to pakmat..have a good day youself, anne..and take care..cheers

rizal hashim said...

PakMat, Cameron Highlands is close to my heart. Intan used to teach up there and I proposed to her dekat atas tu. hehehehe. All the places that I've been to, therefore, pale in comparison to Cameron...hehe

Unknown said...

and this 1st of May, a fav niece will bel married there..making her memories as you hve your memories, lc.. and one day, you will looked back and tell your cucu's about...but if you r up there this 1st of May..fb me..I will be at the police officers mess..and there's room for you, too..