Back from Perak

Hey! I've just returned from Kampar, Perak where I attended a cousin by the name of Chung Ern (which I didn't know until I reached Kampar) who was going to wed. He's 22. Anyway, I'm gonna tell you what I did there. We left Klang at 8.30am and headed for Subang to pick up my uncle, aunt and two cousins who were following us to Perak.

We stopped for breakfast at those R 'n' R stations... to be specific, the Sungai Buloh one. Our breakfast was at Burger King, but Anthea, one of my cousins had Dunkin' Donuts. After that, we continued our journey and arrived in Perak at 11.30am. First, we stopped at Kam Ling Restaurant and bought some mooncakes and a regular-sized loh tee kai (chicken bread), a specialty of Perak's. And I've never tried it before. Another shop was visited by us, and we bought more kai chai pheng (chicken biscuits), also another specialty.

It was lunch time and we proceeded to eat at my tai ku's house, but I didn't because, well, the food didn't look that appetizing :P Straightaway after that, we left to check into Hillcity Hotel & Condo in Ipoh where Uncle Chooi Ming had booked a four-bedroom apartment at the condominium.

The whole afternoon was spent lazing around (and buying pomelos) until 6.30pm when we got ready and than headed to Kampar for the night's highlight, the wedding dinner. As we weren't exactly familiar with Kampar's lefts and rights, we ended up at Yau Kee Restaurant (the old one) and this is its description (sorry, didn't take a picture):
An old, downtrodden, antique, nearly caving in building. It's signboard shows "air-cond" but I think otherwise. The interior is dirty and unwelcoming with dusty tables and chairs. Upstairs, it is dark with broken windows and who knows where the stairs is.

In desperation and disbelief, Uncle Chooi Ming contacts tai ku and she says it is Yau Kee Restaurant. We ask the restaurant lady and she tells us that the new one is just around the corner. We heave in relief and get to Yau Kee Restaurant (the new one). We are shuffled to our table, where pak pak and pak leong, my uncle and aunt as I'm to call them are waiting.

My stomach is grumbling and I'm all ready to dig in... but wait right there! The food does not come... at least it does, after an HOUR. The first is the conventional Four Seasons Platter, followed by Braised Shark's Fin Soup, Steamed Fish in Soy Sauce, Steamed Chicken in Soy Sauce, Chilli Prawns, Glutinous Rice with Mixed Nuts and Assorted Fruits. Pretty normal fare. Than, we return home after meeting Chung Ern and his bride.

The next day, it's rise and shine as we head for Foh San Restaurant, home of Ipoh's favourite dim sum fare. The place is packed, as expected, and me, my brother and cousins are stationed at all potential tables to attack the target when clear :D After nearly a 45 minute wait, a table is free and we sit ourselves down, happy to be back on our butts again.

We start choosing food and dig in. Conventional items such as chi ma cho, siu mai, chee cheong fun and wu kok are ordered, but there is no porridge or har gow as they most probably have all been sold out. When finished, we drive around Ipoh town, than retreat back to Hillcity. After some rest, we check out and head to our last destination: Kampar for the cham cha ceremony at the groom's house. My parents and my aunt and uncle are served tea by Chung Ern and his bride, than after that, me, my brother and my cousins shake hands with Chung Ern and his bride, and in return, gain ang paus. Woohoo! Boohoo... it's only RM2, we find out.

Than, we leave Perak for Klang. And here I am, finishing this blog...

Happy Birthday, Puan Jamuna!

Warnings and hushed whispers are the order of the day! Lavenya has repeatedly threatened the class not to tell a single soul that today we'll be holding a party for our form teacher, Puan Jamuna. But, alas, the secret leaked out. Sonu of 1 Kreatif had asked Puan Jamuna about today's party, and Puan Jamuna was... clueless.

Anyway, we went on with the party. Sharon and Chew Yong had headed for the staff room to ask teacher to come to the kantin lama as we were holding the surprise party there. Puan Jamuna was like, "You all are up to something."

When she arrived, we all welcomed her with a bang, in the form of those small, smoke-filled, popping stuff. Than she made a wish and cut the cake (which was, um, okay). All the teachers who taught 1 Harmoni soon arrived, and Puan Jamuna was, "You invited the teachers? Oh, so you all knew!"

They took pictures and all... actually, to be exact, they took two. I wasn't in both... why? Because it won't make any difference if I'm in or not :D Besides, my jaw is aching from pretending to smile :O... just kidding! But I'm sure seeing me in the picture is worse than seeing me in it... or is it? ;} What am I saying?

The best part was when we were cleaning the place up after break time was over. We took 3 wacky pictures:
i) Me, Lin Kee, Puvanaeswary, Seah Yih and Chew Yong are pointing at Rathnna [who knows why?]
ii) Me, Lin Kee, Puvanaeswary and Seah Yih are caught jumping in mid-air.
iii) Me, Yan Teng, Seah Yih and Chew Yong are posing hip-hop style [freakin' posers :D]... mind you, I don't pose like that, so it's rare that I do that... {yes, yes, I'm polluting my blog - again}

After that, when Puan Jamuna went back to our class for English lesson after break time, she said: "Thanks very much for the party. Never in the last 20 years have anyone celebrated my birthday, since I don't tell anyone when it is."

Puan Jamuna is... ahem, this might be confidential... 43.