School trip to Perak - Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Kuala Sepetang

姐姐 and I join her one-day school trip to Perak's Taiping, Kuala Kangsar and Kuala Sepetang. She was so excited from beginning of the year when she heard the Year 1, 2 and 3 students get to go on school trip. Last year, only Year 2 and 3 get to go Penang Hill.

When she bring back the memo, it's all in Mandarin, so I'm not even sure where some of the places are. Itinerary is: Take ferry to Butterworth, from there take train to Taiping. Then go to Taiping Museum and Taiping Zoo. After that visit Kuala Kangsar. Then 太平瓜拉十八丁 - we don't even know where is that place? Then off to Bukit Tambun for seafood dinner and back. Anyway it will be a good educational trip for children.

We have to gather at the school canteen at 5:45AM. What luck, it rained! Boarded bus around 6:15am. When we reach the Penang ferry terminal, it's still quite dark. The children get to take the ferry for free (this is what our tour guide told us later)!

姐姐 and her friends on the ferry

When we reach Butterworth, it was still raining. We had to use an umbrella as there are uncovered sections walking to the train station. The most difficult part is avoiding puddles - big and small, the uneven sections of the walk to train terminal turn into puddles with the rain. It's about 2.5 hours train ride to Taiping. Yesterday, 姐姐 was telling us the train is air-conditioned (as 爸爸 scared her that he rode on train cabin without air-condition).

On the train

 At Taiping, the first stop is Perak Museum. There's a display of antique fighter jet, railway carriage, vehicles, cannons etc outside. Inside they have display of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural things like food, wedding ceremony things on ground floor. Mostly the display are Malay traditional games like congkak, wau, gasing, Malay traditional music instruments, traditional tenunan and anyaman, Orang Asli traditional tools, tembikar, labu etc.

Sliding across the smooth plank floor. They were scolded by teacher for playing the fool haha

After that, it's a visit to the Taiping Zoo. It must be good day for school field trip, as we're not the only school group there. Our group queued quite long to board the tram, which brings us around the zoo grounds. We saw orang utans, chimpanzees, camels, otters, owls, bats, crocodiles, sun bears, tigers, lions, black panther, giraffes, zebras, ostrich, swans, flamingos, flying foxes, wild boars, deers, seladang, rhinos, hippo, elephants etc. As it's near noon, it's very hot there. But do visit in the morning or near noon, as Taiping is prone to rain showers in the afternoon and evening. After all it is known also as 雨城 (rain town). Lots of kids went to buy ice-cream during the 30 minutes free time we have there. 姐姐 and I went around looking for the porcupine she missed seeing on the tram (but couldn't find them). It's too hot to be walking around and we're getting tired, so we just went back to the waiting area before departing with the group.

Next is lunch around 1pm! Everyone is super hungry by now as we were up since about 5am. We had lunch at a restaurant called BBQ something near Taiping Lake. We had fried chicken in orange sauce, something that looked like fried tofu skin with ham, tofu with 蛋花 sauce, 芙蓉蛋, sweet and sour pork with tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and longan dessert. Kids love the longan dessert best :) After that, the adults and kids went shopping for local products a few shops away. Everyone must have bought a lorry-load of local products and earned the tour guides good commissions as the tour guide even distributed peanut sweets to all the children later.

After Taiping, we visited Kuala Kangsar. First we go to see the oldest rubber tree planted which is from Brazil (南美). Just see-see look-look from the bus. The area near the istana is very clean, spick-and-span as it's Royal Residence of Sultan Perak. The Istana Kenangan is closed for visiting by public (indefinitely until maintenance is completed) and we only took one photo outside. Istana Kenangan is the previous royal residence which is build without a single nail. We passed by Masjid Ubudiah and Istana Iskandariah (also see-see look-look, this is the usual way of touring by bus) before visiting Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery. The grounds at Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery is very picturesque, and the building is colonial style. It housed display of many "cenderamata" from various countries and organizations, the Sultan's barrister-at-law and chancellor robes, His Royal Highness' keris and many other collections. Children were going "ooohh.... aaaahhhh" over the jewels, crystals and precious stones on the momentos. There is a public toilet outside which collects 30 sen for each use and we rushed there upon reaching as many children need to go to toilet. The teachers really go beyond their call of duty and responsibility as they rushed the children there and even helped to pay for them. Oh I love this school's teachers, they are so kind.

Unfortunately some of the photos taken outside Perak Museum, at Taiping Zoo (only one), Istana Kenangan (also known as Perak Royal Museum) and Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery were lost. Our photos were somehow lost after the camera dial was shifted during power on. Beats me why it is the cause. So sad.. :(  as the Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery is really pretty with the fountains outside, even though we cannot take any photo inside. Hope to plan a visit to Kuala Kangsar again on our own as I can't bear that photos are lost :(

Late afternoon, it's off to Kuala Sepetang (previously known as Port Weld). Seems like the first railway track is build at Taiping linking Port Weld according to this website. This is where we will see the Kuala Sepetang Mangrove Park 红树林保护区。The children are shown the oldest bakau tree in the area, which is 65 years old as of 2012~ grandfather of a tree. There are wooden walkways along the way, so it's bearable. However we were warned not to touch the rope as there are insects and 毛毛虫 hiding there, haha. That kept the children's hands off!

The 65 year-old bakau tree

After the nature trail, it's off to nearby charcoal factory. What a sunset industry, and a uncomfortable working condition for me who spent 12 years of sitting in air-conditioned factory/office :) 姐姐 asked to go out ASAP, as it's mighty hot and stuffy inside with some of the furnaces working. The guide shared with us it took ~40 days for the wood to be turned to good quality charcoal.

It was so hot near furnace, I asked her to quickly move and that's why the photo turned out blurry

It's already late evening by then, and we turn back to Taiping for the ones who ordered mee koo. Not sure what's special about Taiping mee koo, since everyone ordered I also ordered one of each flavour :) We were taken to a stall at a market complex. It costs RM3 for each mee koo. There are so many people huddling around from our group that I immediately slink back to the tour bus after getting mine.

This caused our dinner to be late, and lots of growling tummies to Bukit Tambun for seafood dinner. Dinner consists of fried egg, tofu, mayonnaise prawn, sweet and sour fish, steamed and spicy lala, spicy veggie, fried squid. Other than fried egg, tofu and mayonnaise prawn, most children didn't take the rest. Oh too bad I didn't have enough time to eat my dinner peacefully as I was busy helping the children at my table, and also bringing some of the girls to the toilet. Some brave kids actually came on their own with friends only and their parents didn't accompany them.

Our bus reached the school only around 10:15pm, and many parents were already outside waiting for their kids. Traffic jam outside the school when the bus reached. Anyway it's not our fault that we're late, if they could just speed up or skip the buying mee koo and buying local products part, then we will have dinner on time. So tired! But 姐姐 still want to go for school trip and wants me there too, as she said she feel safer. Ok la..... after all the manja'ing, I probably will go with her or 弟弟 again even though it's very tiring.
One final photo of the mee koo from Taiping :) 姐姐 and 弟弟 say it's quite delicious.

Fragrant pandan smell, and with red bean or kaya filling. Taste like mee koo, and like swiss roll inside.

Finally accompany 姐姐 to her computer class during school holidays and manage to see the group photo on their notice board.

The beautiful Sultan Azlan Shah Museum. Both 姐姐 and I were blocked by others in the photo.

姐姐 and I are in the back row

弟弟's Sports Day 2012

This year 姐姐 and I didn't join 弟弟's Sports Day as we went for school trip. Photos taken with 爸爸's phone. Not bad ya.... I think he takes very good photos. Of course this being my own 吹水区, I have to say my boy looks cute :)

Getting his green Thinking Cap from teacher

With his friend Chun Yang

Children gathering at the Northsports Center. 爸爸 actually taking all the photos here from this netting.

Queue up with his class for singing

Waiting for his game

Snack before game as his game is last. Younger children get their turn first.

Finally his game starts. It's called "Chillex Boys and Girls are PK to win", whatever it means :) The waiting time is longer this year as the new branch also join for Sports Day. Nice green lawn ya, but remember it's fake grass? LOL!

Looks big boy here, compared to his first and second Sports Day

He's very happy to get his participation trophy and goodie bag.

Probably concert also going to have both branches together. Another long wait! Luckily it's his last year at kindy already. It's nice to see him growing up and learning so many things.

Maybe he has a green thumb?

A few weeks ago, 爸爸 brought back some longan given by Ah Kong and Ah Mah's neighbour. They were small in size but quite sweet. After eating, the children wanted to plant the longan seeds. 爸爸 agreed just for the experience of it :) 姐姐 has a proper plant pot and 弟弟 only get to use his old lantern from last year's Mid-Autumn Festival as we do not have any more plant pots.

姐姐 dug a little hole to plant her seeds and watered hers carefully. But 弟弟 just threw his seeds in the pot and flooded his seeds with water. We go, oh ooh... but just see what nature would do to the seeds.

Little do we know, out of the blue, 弟弟 shouted to us one fine day to say his plant grew leaves! What a surprise. It's probably luck, or maybe he has a green thumb?

Never had disaster felt so near

Today is a public holiday for the King's Installation ceremony, and the children and I are at home. 爸爸 is away on business trip since Tuesday. Both children are taking their afternoon nap as 姐姐 had tuition replacement early in the morning.

First time I felt the tremors was when I was waking up 姐姐 around 4:30pm as she need to get ready for ballet class. I felt the bed shaking and asked 姐姐 not to shake her legs, to which she denied of doing. Then my head began to get dizzy and spinning, and the blinds in the bathroom was shaking. It feels a little like being in the water too long and "floating". The spinning is definitely not a pleasant feeling at all! I quickly changed out of my house clothes and also asked 姐姐 to change out of her pajamas. 弟弟 is still sleeping in the next bedroom. I asked 姐姐, did she feel the house shaking or spinning? She said, no. I thought it might be due to my lack of sleep, but the feeling did not go away.

Then panic starts to strike, and I was looking outside if we should make a dash for it? This was playing in my head - run, or don't run? Run, or don't run? But no one was running out of their houses in our apartment block! Those who are at home seem to be keep looking outside like me, and not taking much action yet. Then it hit me, if it's God's will that we go, at least the children will be with me. Gosh, it's not a good feeling. We want to live!

Still in order not to be late, I started waking up 弟弟 and prepared our simple dinner. 姐姐 was still dazed from being woken from her nap. Life goes on and pray for everyone's safety. We saw from 6pm news that there was an earthquake off Aceh on the west coast of northern Sumatra.

At night when ballet class ended, we were stuck in a jam along Green Lane or now known as Jalan Masjid Negeri. Later just realized that a lot of people were at shopping malls and they had to go back early due to tsunami alert. It was later lifted. Phew!

From this experience, I found we are so unprepared for disaster. Lots of work to be mentally prepared so we know what to do in the future. It's different from the 2004 incident as that lasted only a short while, and this one which I felt long minutes ticking by and still feel the aftershock.

Friso Growing Up Together Days at Queensbay Mall

The children had been looking forward to this Friso Growing Up Together event as they saw the ads and it's their milk. The children are given a "passport" each upon registration. However they are only allowed to play 2 games and 1 craft session for each passport. Probably the organizer have limited sets of the craft to go around. The Friso team will stamp on the passport after each game/craft session.

Doodle Badge craft session

Doesn’t this monkey look familiar? Yes, it’s the monkey on 姐姐’s Doodle Badge J

Playing "Lilypad Hop" and "Mad Monkeys"

After the games is "Virtual Painting", but we split into 2 teams so didn't take any photo there. Should've taken family photo :P but 爸爸 and 弟弟 went off for bio break just as we got our turn.

Photos from "virtual painting"

While waiting to register for next craft session, we drop by Aeon for the free rides in conjuction with Aeon Carnival. Registration for each craft is only 15 minutes before it begins and on first-come-first-serve basis, so we have some time in between.


Right before the "Glove Toy" craft session, the MC was making jokes as warm-up and asked for a child who drinks Friso. 弟弟 put up hand and he was happily chatting with the guy. Only got a portion of it on video :)

Making a Glove Toy craft session

The other toys joined the photo too :)

In case anyone's wondering, we got one Friso Agent toy for each child as we brought two Friso tin foil, one for each child. And we got another two toys because we purchased 2 tins of milk at the promotion venue. A mom bought 6 or 7 tins, so she got a bagful of Friso Agent toys.

Luckily 爸爸 is back this weekend to bring us as each child need to be accompanied by a parent for the games and craft. Thank you for the fun!

JMC Book 2 Class Party

Another milestone for 弟弟! He completed JMC Book 2 and performed three songs at his JMC Book 2 class party. The children also sing Sky Games and did a cute dance Drumming Cat.

With 姐姐 before the party starts

Drawing number for performance.

Before singing Sky Games

For his solo performance, he played Hush A Bye, Party In The Sky and The Frenchfry Bandit. Here's the video I uploaded.

Getting ready to perform Drumming Cat

Gift exchange, 弟弟 got the present prepared by Elysia sitting at the back

Distribute goodies for the class

This post is dedicated to 爸爸 as he was on business trip and missed it. That's why 姐姐 came with us directly after school and is still in her school uniform. I forgot to bring a change of clothes for her since it's always hectic picking  her up with 弟弟 in tow. If you do school pickup for primary school children, you will know what I mean :)

Just because of Hello Kitty

I signed up for the Hello Kitty debit card just because 姐姐 wanted the Hello Kitty souvenir. Ok, so I like Hello Kitty too, otherwise I wouldn't have brought them to the meet and greet session to take photo. And remember the Hello Kitty McDonald's Happy Meal Collectible watches? :)  

Luckily we went to open the account on Wednesday, as it is cuti peristiwa for 姐姐's school. I heard from the bank staff that many people came on Monday and Tuesday until they ran out of the souvenir. There weren't many people at the branch we went and the transaction was done quickly. At first we were told we had to come back to collect the gift. After taking some time to setup the online banking stuff, the customer service lady was chatting with us and just so happened she received the additional souvenir a moment ago. So our happy little girl came back with it. Just a little document folder but she was on cloud nine the whole day :)

Drowning in pink. On her hair is Hello Kitty clip, gift from 婆婆

Sakae Children's Day

We just manage to try Sakae Children's Day promotion which is on the 1st Sunday of every month. Children get a plate of free sushi when they accompany adults dining in. This week we just noticed they have a new menu, the set meal had been modified, there are new kids' sushi and new parfait in their dessert menu.

The complimentary children meal

Tried the Puppy Love, just fried potato decorated to look like a puppy. Served very late though.