“Aiyah, just buy some carrot and stick them in the ground then ask your kids to pull lor.”

“Veges from the market don’t want to buy. Come and pluck veges and do all the farmer’s work. He must be laughing his way to the bank!”

Thanks to BIL & Daddy. That is such an encouragement. Not!

Lots of pictures of Kharsyn & Carlgene as he enjoy getting himself dirty. Kharlette is ‘allergic’ (*rolling eye) to mud and has been staying at the cemented floor most of the time.

The first one we attack is the carrot patch!

This is the only proper picture of Kharlette at the vegetable farm

My Nephew, Jonathan looks like a dwarf holding a bunch of mini carrots.  Cute!

Raddish

Unearth the potatoes

Beetroot

One can tell that the cabbage is really heavy by looking at Kharsyn’s facial expression!

Cherry tomatoes.  They are so sweet!

Fresh carrot, anyone?

I’m loving this place.  Will be back again next time and many times more!

By the way, here is some ‘Bees’ photographs that I took in Bees Farm in Cameron Highlands.  The purple flower is lavendar and they have heaps in the farm!

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Before we continue our journey up the winding road, Daddy can’t resist buying some golden yellow looking bananas.

My suaku kids is so used to seeing barcode scanner in Hypermarkets.  They was pretending weighing banana on the weighing machine used in pasar malam.

More post on Cameron Highlands after this

Pictures on the way to Mutianyu Great Wall:

Able to see Great Wall from far!

We are not quite there yet.

At the carpark.

Scene near the toilet.

There are several side of Great Wall that is accessible to tourist like Simatai, Jinshanling, Gubeikou, Badaling and Mutianyu.  We was advised to visit Mutianyu Great Wall as there are less tourist.  I think Badaling is having the most tourist of all.

We took the trip up by cable car (RMB35.00 = RM17.50).  The Mutianyu Scenic spot is hugged by mountains with beautiful natural sceneries.

This is where the tracking started.

The experience at this section of the wall is breathtaking. Thankfully the touristy crowds are not here. However,  climbing up the very very steep steps occasionally made me wonder if I was in shape enough to make the climb. Then awe struck me that this wall that goes on as far as the eye can see was built with hand tools so long ago.

Making our way to the watch tower.

Up at the watch tower.

The sky is awesome, isn’t it?  It is now Hubby’s duty to carry my camera bag as my shoulder is aching, feet is getting heavier and the heart pound faster.

Random pictures

The wall presents different aspects of beauty in the four seasons. Flowers bloom all over the mountains in spring. Grasses dress the hillside green in summer. Trees are laden with sweet fruits in autumn, and especially in October, leaves are turning red or yellow, touching the mountain tops with gold. In winter, the wall is covered by snow, making it seem more magnificent.

We don’t feel a thing coming down.  Now to hike back up is really killing us!

A sled named ‘Speed Chute’ will give you an opportunity to experience thrills by taking you swoop down from the high mountains.  They are almost similar to Luge in Sentosa Singapore.  Instead of wider sledding lane, the single luge skidway was made from aluminum and does not require much maneuver  except to shift some body weight while maneuvring the curve.  Those are arenaline rush ride down hil.  Ticket priced at RMB55 (RM27.50).  For the faint hearted, you may take the cable car ride down.

We have fulfilled one of our wish to step foot on The Great Wall of China.  Check out more photos in my Facebook.

The Hubby came home back at 3pm and it is so kind of him to run (yes he ran!) to a Chinese Medical Hall about 10mins away from our hotel to get me medicines. The Chinese sinseh told him, “This one very powerful wan. I guarantee you no more purging after taking this.” Bull shit la. Still purging wat. The other guys was planning to go for foot massage and some shopping. I was so weak and yet the thought of confining in the hotel room during vacation is such a waste. So I die-die also join them. Fuah, the temperate was at 6C but one minute I was perspiring and another minute I was so nausea I want to lay down on the street. But kena tahan la cos I did not want to spoilt other people’s vacation.

First stop was to Silk Market and they thought we should go get a cup of coffee or tea, whatever and I was like running to the toilet every minute. Wah, so much shit talk here. I better cut long story short.

Fast forward …. as we was leaving, I puke because the guys was smoking. I felt better than before after that puking! God Bless me! I managed to shop in Silk Market for 1 hr without yelling for the toilet. Talking about toilet, I used to read horror remarks that toilet in China is very….. awful. But hey, they are not that bad you know. At least their toilets floor is dry not like the Malaysian toilets. The only thing you have to tolerate is the smell. The are really horrible!

The bargaining in Silk Market is horrible too! But I still managed to lug back lots of stuff. wakakaka….. they are so cheap, ok! I know this is going to happened and make sure my luggage was half empty when I came to Beijing.

We only shop for one hour cos the other guys wanted to go for foot massage. And to cut the long story short again….. While checking on their available services…..

We couldn’t stop laughing!

I think it has something to do with exfoliating the dead skin. Sorry about that cos I don’t read Chinese. The masseur said that I have cold feet and ask if I am unwell. Wah, she so smart leh.

After that we balik to the hotel and Day 4 onwards, Hubby’s work had finished and we already book the private driver to Great Wall of China. Can’t wait to see the world heritage, eh?

Hutong Village is considered one of the very popular tourist attraction in Beijing. This is where you are able to catch a glimpse of the local daily lifestyle. It is impossible to cover Hutong on foot even thought some houses have been demolished to make way for modernized development. However, some have been conserved and is possible to take an organized tour on a pedicab or rent a bicycle. Or maybe a tour guide if you have the budget.

Hutong in Mandarin is “residential alley” and Beijing was once over-run with neighborhoods of them, boasting the true flavors of the Chinese and the city.

However, over the last decade, Beijing has been modernizing, and Hutongs have been disappearing in favor for ring roads, high rises and stadiums catering to the Olympic games.

A city once crowded with streams of bicycles, is now characterized by swarms of traffic at all hours of the day and a thick, haze!

However, that day the sky was super clear. No haze at all!

We stop by a chinese tea house for the tea ceremony. This is another new that I’ve learnt during my trip. In some part of brewing chinese tea, brewed tea was poured into the thimble-shaped fragrance cup (see picture below). Place the small teacup over the thimble and then turn them upside down very quickly. This is how the tea was served to us.

Gently remove the fragrance cup and allow the tea to inhabit the small cup. Put the fragrance cup between your palm and roll them. Now, appreciate the fragrant by sniffing the fragrance cup. You’ll be surprised at how strong the aroma is from this tiny cup. Interesting isn’t it?

Moving on after getting outselves warm in the tea house as the weather outside is about 6 Celsius.

Emperor/Empress costumes on rental for studio photography

From across the road, I spotted ‘tang (sweets) hulu’. When I was a child, I used to see this sweets in Chinese drama and told myself that one day, if I ever see this, no matter how much or in what situation, I must savor this once. And lo and behold, I yelled, “STOP!!!!” I rush down from my pedicab and get myself one at RMB4 (RM2).

The fruits is actually cored fresh red dates coated with harden sugar syrup. Traditionally Tang Hulu used to be Hawthorn (shan zha) but nowadays fresh fruits has been used. I’ve tried the hawthorn version. They doesn’t taste as good as red dates.

And if you think RMB4 is cheap, the next day a street vendor sold it at RMB1 per stick and another vendor out beat him by shouting RMB1 for 2 sticks!!! And I go, “sucks!”

The gate building is the only thing that we can see along the Hutongs. Chinese people used to try to protect their privacy from being intruded by strangers. You don’t simply go inside their courtyard.

The Hutong tour guide telling us that we are going to visit this particular family…. and a reminder to be respectful and behave after all, this is their home.

According to the tour guide, during season month, they grew vegetables and fruits like grapes, tomatoes, loofah, etc. I’m sure it will be a beautiful sight.

Another part of their house. They are the 5th generation staying in this house. It may look quite run down but over the years, they did some renovation on the interior like using gas stove (with cooker hob somemore!), cement flooring, etc… and I go, “chehhhhh”.

The house owner showed us a few skills like Chinese calligraphy writing using water and written on the floor with a very huge Chinese brush. The toy that I am holding is called ‘cher ling’ or Chinese Yo-Yo. Sorry for the bad picture. It was taken under low lighting.

As we were leaving the place about 5.30pm, the sun started to set. This is the most beautiful sun that I’ve captured so far. The amazing thing is, I saw this type of sun every evening while I was in Beijing.

Night life had begun in Hutong. There are lots of pub that catered for kwai low tourist.

We settled for dinner nearby. I was already not feeling like myself during dinner and thought that I was merely tired and at the same time my tummy felt like having gastric. The next morning, I woke up with a series of diarrhoea. Was purging every 5 minutes and was bed ridden for the whole day. There goes my Day 3 in Beijing. No photo of Day 3 then and we shall proceed to Day 4.

More photos in my Facebook.

We stayed at The Westin Chaoyang. The Liangmahe station is right outside our Hotel. And I mean they are really right outside. So convenient can die! Each trip cost RMB2 (RM1) no matter where you go. This is the most affordable public transport ever. Trains arrive every 3 minutes interval. However, be prepared with the horrendous passengers even during mid day working hours. Sometimes I wonder if they don’t have to work.

Our first stop is to visit the Forbidden City. We get down from Tian’anmen. We didn’t quite expect to see the crowd like this . Inside the Forbidden City is worst!

My 4 year old after seeing Chairman Mao’s picture and she said, “Mummy! I know this place.”

“How did you know?”

“Yes, this one is pai-pai (prayer) wan.”

LOL! She could either mean that the picture is someone who has deceased or the place is a temple. But dem crappy la. I don’t understand why or what purpose does it serve to have the picture doing there.

It is impossible to stop and take a good photo cos these people kept on walking and they will just bump you from the back. Very irritating thing would be people walking past through your camera cos they just couldn’t care less. These are the two that that I have to bear throughout my stay in Beijing. The common sight would be people spitting and also blowing their nose on the floor. *sigh…. Sometimes I saw young boy doing that too. *double sigh….

We was at Forbidden City for less than an hour before turning back.

This is the entrance and exit to Forbidden City. Opposite is Tian’anmen Square. We decided to give it a miss cos it is just a square with lots and lots of people (don’t know what they do/see there).

We was told that during summer, local will flock to the square to fly some kite there. Should be a very beautiful sight. Note the long queue that is forming out there making a bee line to the entrance?

You know what, most local kids have rosy cheek but I doubt that is frost bite. Still, they look super cute! We took the train back to the hotel and decided to look for food. We just walk blindly and came to this frozen river.

Finally we found a row of eateries and decided to try the most uncommon food. Something that we don’t get to eat back home.

These are handmade oven bake bread equivalent to our Foochow kompiang minus the crunchy texture. Make a slit on the centre and you can choose between pork or duck breast meat. The pork belly was cook in lots of herbs that tasted like bak kut teh, diced together with fresh green chilies. I prefer the duck breast meat version. The meat was so tender and they basically melt in your mouth! They was so good, we had 4 pcs of the bread. Very satisfying lunch!

Dinner was at some unknown place organized by Daddy’s company.

Cold dish – Fresh turnip with blueberry jam

Purely vegetarian dish. They are fried tofu and the top is seaweed that makes them looks like fish fingers. Gravy was pumpkin cream. Very ho chiak lor!

I’m a Flexitarian so I kinda skip this dish. Beef is not my liking.

The restaurant provide some shows too like Chinese acrobats, magic show, etc… the one that caught my attention was Changing Mask. This is my first time watching it. I have heard a lot about Changing Mask and finally had the chance to see one.

Very entertaining as that man is able to change mask in a quick 2 seconds. Must be some trick la.

After dinner, we went to the Bird’s Nest.

The weather at night was about -2C and the strong wind does not spare us any mercy. I was well clothe but the other guys was yelling at me asking me to be quick. Pe.lea.se.la!

The Water Cube at night.

I go about snapping and chatting and when I turn around, the Water Cube is gone! Awesome isn’t it? They switched off the lights and now I have both pictures taken with and without lights.

Shot this pix while walking back to the car park. The reflection on the lamp post looks like fireworks in the river.

That wrapped up for Day 1.  Time to sit back and relax while enjoying my favourite Korean drama on the 48″ flatscreen and what’s more?  It was mounted on plasma mount!   Cool yea? Watch out this space for Day 2.

p/s:  There are more photos in my Facebook or even more more photos in my laptop.  Who’s interested to see la?

We managed to settle the kids when they came home from school at 7pm before rushing off to the airport. Prince is as usual, purring at Daddy while Daddy was showering him. One word that cracked us up was when Prince said, “…. but Daddy, you must buy me surprise from Beijing, ok?” Mengada betul budak tu. The one I really have difficulty leaving behind is Baby Princess. She has been down with food poisoning 2 days ago – vomiting, dirrhoea and now catching a fever. Really felt bad to leave her with my Parents. That is why I was so mad at MAS cos we have to waste our time with all those transit in Singapore.

“Yi Lu Suen Fong” – Have A Safe Journey

Before we left home, my Dad gave us an angpow each. Really touch my heart. Initally, he refused to accept the allowance I gave to him but I insisted and shoved them in his pocket. In return, he gave us a blessing. What’s more can I ask for *snif*

Hubby was driving at 160km/h as we was running really late (1.5hr before check in time) and we took only 20mins to arrived KLIA. I know this is nothing to be proud off. He kept on saying, “It’s not me la, it’s the car!” Asif!

I have to tolerate Daddy’s numorous phone calls as this is his working trip actually. Took this in KLIA while waiting for the Aerotrain to arrive.

Upon reaching Changi Airport for our transit to Beijing:

You think he is still alive?

Flight was good. I wish it was a longer flight as 6 hours journey is too short for a nap.

Sunrise in Beijing Airport the moment we touch down. Typical China man get up from their seat while the plane was still taxing.

Coming to this best part where the hotel was supposed to send a Limo to pick up Daddy. There wasn’t anyone seen at the airport so Daddy called the hotel and was told they wasn’t informed of our reschedule flight. (Now you know why I kept on badmouth MAS!) Partly was because of some miscommunication somewhere between the hotel & his Sexi Secretary too. But we was told there are someone at the airport picking up some hotel guest and ask us to look out for placard 39 Dragon. No one insight. We was at a total lost and finally when there was fewer passenger in the airport, we spotted a guy holding this:

39 Zhong = centre. So Daddy just tried his luck and bingo! He is picking up guests to The Westin Hotel. We are still puzzle with the placard. What is 39 Zhong? He checked his notes again and our name is not in his list as he is here to pick up 14 passagers that is arriving in another 20mins. How can that be? Since he is heading to the same hotel, we might as well wait for him to hitch a hike. That was a good one hour before Daddy’s handphone rang and was told the Hotel Limo has arrived to pick him up. Woot! You see la, he always complain of work but to me, he is treated like a King whenever he travels for business. Limo wor. This is my first time sitting in a LIMO! And Woot….

What a pampers! Free thing wor, take la. I took the 2 mineral water as I like the unique bottles and also the Evian face spray for my hydrated skin. I’m not fond of mints and I’m so kind to leave them some granny smiths apple. kekeke…. In my heart I keep on thinking, “Dang, he get pampered on his working trip and I have to suffer at home. Life is so unfair!” Not only that, the driver was accompanied by a hotel staff that kept on apologizing to us and they was so sorry to make us waited for an hour in the airport. They moment she said they are upgrading our room to Executive Suit, I have to tahan not to smile so cunningly. Hence why I get to blog for free now and even dine at their Executive Lounge. *cough* Don’t even get me started on their bathroom fixtures. Sparkle like a diamond and they had a big shower head called ‘Rainforest’ shower. Go imagine that!

You think this is the ending? Not yet. Read on. At about 3pm, the event manager, Alice came to our room to deliver personally some meeting stuff to Daddy and once again she apologize to us. She asked me to choose anywhere that I’d like to go and the hotel Limo will chauffeured me around during Daddy’s absence (meeting la). NO WAY! First of all, I am too shy with strangers and secondly they have given us such a warm hospitality that I am too shy to accept. Since she insisted, I told her that I’ll like to go to The Great Wall of China. That is the only place that we have to hook up with the hotel tour as the journey is about 1 hour from the place we was staying and cost us about RMB800 (RM400) per person. Now I managed to get them for free. Why not right? I think The Westin Beijing, Chaoyang deserved a mentioned here. This hotel is also where George Bush was staying during the 2008 Olympic Game.

This wrap up some rambling before the tour kicks off. And today I learn a new word. Winter clothes is ‘tong tien yi’ and not ‘lern yi’. You don’t ask for cold clothes right? *sigh… so embarassing can die!

Today is Day Three -
4pm – Ship reach SG (Can you imagine the ship sail for 28 hours!!!)
4pm – Passenger is allowed to disembark in SG.
7pm – Ship sail back to Port Klang

We have been sailing since the day before at 12noon and today when we woke up, the ship is still sailing to our destination i.e. Singapore. Morning breakfast as usual then it is free at leisure. Actually, everyday is free at leisure. LOL. Since today is our last day on the Cruise, we make sure we camwhore kau-kau. Pictures during breakfast with my Youngest Sister.

We called ourself the ‘Lone Ranger’. She is 7 years my junior, single and still available . We have each other’s company through out the whole journey. We eat together. Loitering together. Sleep together. Share the same interest in photography. Own the same dSLR model. It was a great experience all together. The first time we went for a holiday together about 2 years ago, (to Siem Reap) I already knew we can get along and has been looking forward to more photography outing together.

I recalled an incident that happened last night during dinner. You know those guy that goes round with a camera taking pictures of you and then put them up for sales? We was tempted to buy a few photographs taken during our boarding with their Cruise mascot that cost us a whopping S$10 (RM24.00). And when the guy came up to us again during dinner in the pretext to take our photographs, we pakat that we should make goofy faces so that the pictures will turned out ugly and that will put us off from buying. And guess what?

The pictures turned out to be so cute! Aiyah. Did we buy that print? No, we did not. They was cute but doesn’t show any sentimental value for remembrance. Nothing like the mascot. You know, at one glance people is able to tell that the pics was taken on a Cruise. We still laugh over the incident.

After breakfast, we joined the crew for games. Remember I mentioned earlier in Day 1 post? You will bored yourself to death if you do not want to participate in any of their program that is meant to kill time catered specially for us. Most important thing is we all have fun. Winning is secondary.

We stayed on for Bingo. No one win the jackpot. The couple that won the consolation of S$400 bought a total of 15 pcs Bingo luck (S$12.50 for 3 pcs of Bingo luck). BIL bought 9 pcs Bingo altogether. On the first night, he left only one digit before striking the bingo. This is pure luck!

More camwhore coming up:

One of the foreigner voluntered to help us took this shot. I mean he really opened his mouth to volunteer. We don’t see any harm to it so we just agreed. You know, harm? Something like “once you pass him the camera, he will run away with it”? That harm?

As usual, my camera was set on multiple shots. Altogether, we had 5 same sequel of this pose and the last one is of us cracking up!

I know, the shuttle sound sometimes is quite therapeutic. I love to hear them too. lol.

My knight and me *ahem*

Some scene that we saw from deck 10th.

Not sure what they are doing but we saw the man leap over to our moving cruise. Dem keng cau like some scene we saw on teevee.

Wanted to switch my camera mode to try some panning shot. And if I do that, they might be gone by the time I press all those buttons. Next time maybe.

We really are killing time on Day 3.

The cruise dock at 4pm in Harbour Front Singapore. Not much shopping can be done since my 6 months old Niece had a high fever and I have to help to look for pharmacy -.-’

I left my own kids at home and thought I can have fun shopping. Manatau, kena jaga anak orang lain pulak. They have Doctor on board for a fee of S$26 but my Sis was too stingy to pay for it. Now you know why travel medical insurance comes in handy. While for my Parents, they met up with my Uncle and Aunty in Starbucks for a chat. I am so glad about that as they will sure get bored following me running around the mall. I didn’t managed to find a pharmacy but got some Cool Pad gel instead for the baby. I really want to get my stuff but all this running around in the big mall is hampering me. We have to get back to the ship again at 7pm again. Time really flies when come to shopping.

After dinner, we watched some show again called the Singing Bees. Really cracked us up big time. Too much to elaborate here. Since this is the final night, they have program running till late like a disco party or the Wild Wild West party thingy. We won something at last. We took home 3 medals courtesy of Star Cruises souvenir item. All thanks to my Sisters hardship while I just sit there watching and laugh my ass off. That’s all for the night after supper at 12am ish.

Day 4 – Cruise was sailing the day before at 4pm and reached Port Klang at 10am the next morning. Back to the ground where I stepped. Called Daddy at 10am ish and he goes, “What! Reach home so early ah?”

The itinerary was like this:

Day One -
12 to 2pm – Gate open for boarding.
4pm – Ship sail to Langkawi

Toay is Day Two -
4am – Ship reach Langkawi (Can you imagine the ship sail for 12 hours?)
8am – Passenger is allowed to disembark in Langkawi
12noon – Ship sail again to SG

Day Three -
4pm – Ship reach SG (Can you imagine the ship sail for 28 hours!!!)
4pm – Passenger is allowed to disembark in SG.
7pm – Ship sail back to Port Klang

Day Four -
10am – Ship reach Port Klang

So where were we? Ok, day 2 and my leg was numb. I tried to continue my sleep but can’t cos the air conditioning compressor is humming. Since my MOM was so excited to disembark from the ship, I woke my other Sisters. They took ages to get ready so I told them I make my way first to meet my Mom who was already waiting at the restaurant. It was like 7am? While on my way, I spotted the sunrise!

I am not a morning person. This is probably my 2nd time taking shots of sunrise (1st time was Angkor Wat’s trip). The beauty of sunrise is the soft blue effect they created in the morning compare. I walk about the ship and ended at the bow (front of the ship).

They are so beautiful. It’s a restricted area so I just stood at where I was allowed, took few more shots then proceed to meet my parents for breakfast before we disembark from the ship. The rest of the people was wondering how come I left the room first but last to reach the restaurant. *hehe…During disembarkment, you can either pay a large small sum of money to join some tours organized by the Cruise or you can DIY yourself or just stay on board. Activities on board still carry on like usual. We just walk about Awana Morto Malai Hotel just across the jetty to kill time. What else can we do?

Lots of camwhoring of course! This is the only photo I shot of my Parents together.

Youngest Sis (6th) and Nephew (5th Sis’s Son)

2nd Sister with her 6mths old Daughter. The last time I saw the Baby when she was only 1mth old. Time flies.

Ahem, ah then hor… I ended up buying a straw hat from Awana Porto Malai’s souvenir shop at RM33.90 and we was having so much fun and lots of crazy moments again.

Jonathan, the floor dirty or not???

Advertising for Magnolia ice-cream

5th Sis idea to go in the rubbish bin. Yes, it’s a bin!

The worker came out yelling at us from the cafe. So hillarious we almost die laughing.

Too much gila-gila liao. I have whole lots of camwhoring pics in my hard drive. Too paiseh to show all. Let’s tone down a bit. Some serious shot.

Yoga Pose – Inverted prayer.

We spent about 2 hours out under the hot sun and later decided to go back to the cruise. Mom was holding a magazine over her head as a shield from the blazing sun and said, “Look at my hat. I don’t have to pay a single cent for it.” O.o don’t la char me like this, Ma.

While walking back to the jetty, this two is the last photo of the day cos after which…..

…after this shot….

… my niece hat flew away and in a nick of time, I stretched out my hand to grab it only to realized I was holding my spectacle with that same hand. Now that I’ve grabbed hold of her hat but dropped my RM200.00 spectacle into the sea! Can you imagine how I felt that time? I really want to cry! I really want to turn back the clock! I really regretted my act! I walk silently back to the cruise, back to my cabin and buried my head under the pillow. And for the whole day, I was not in a mood for photography. Heck, I’ve forgotten what I did on the 2nd day. Now you know why photographs is so important.

Night life on board is quite fixed. After dinner, we catched a show at 9pm, there after adjouned to the open deck at deck 10th. Just lazying around, crack some jokes, admire the full moon, on our way back to the cabin, we dropped by the casinos, inhale some nicotine cos we are the tech savvy people we only play at the best casino online. *cough* The next day we will repeat the same thing all over again. I can say that life is slow and stress free on board. Love that. The most amazing thing is today, we are going to sail across the ocean for 28 hours before reaching our destination and still we felt like we are not sitting on a moving ship at all. Amazing isn’t it?

More camwhore in Day 3. Stay tune!