Cherish both our Nature+Heritage+Friends

In the beginning of the year, mom travelled back to her hometown, Merbok Kedah to meet up with her primary school friends. So there was this friend of her, who known as Steven, owned a private waterfall! Yes, she said "private" and my eyes almost popped out when I heard that! I was like, who is this guy? Billionaire tycoon or something?


And every now and then she was like, repeating to me how great was that place and blah blah blah..So I decided to plan for a trip to see this place with my own eyes.


Thus, along with our Malaysian Day holiday weekend, while the government trying their best to promote the celebration of this suppose to be patriotic day (which I honestly no idea why, since it is just 2 weeks from our National Day - but a free holiday is what we - employees LOVE most :P ) Also, it was suppose to be an anniversary with Frog Prince, and as usual, I had a pouting face because he was too busy at work. Grrrrrrrr...Let me come back to this later!


So after few invitations and arrangement done, the only travel mate that goes along with this plan is my best buddy, Ah Chew. Thus, the trip is only mom, me and chew. What an extraordinary combination that is!


Day 1 - Mom being super excited, keep bugging me to be ready so that Chew won't be kept waiting at the lobby. So end up, I was almost an hour earlier than the planned time. Mom brought hell lotsa stuffs! She even bring along the coffee maker. So, conclusion, she is really excited to meet her friends again.


We headed to a small hawker stall for breakfast which serves best Hainan Coffee in that small town. Due to overwhelm number of patrons to this place, we were left with limited choices of food. Missing the Kopi Ice I had... 

Then, Chew recommend we take a peek at her factory to see the orchard/farm by her father. Not sure if that was a smart choice..seriously not. Mom still bugging me about the Chicken/Fruits over at the orchard/farm! Her dad did a pretty good job with orchard/farm too..the fruits look amazingly sweet...and the chicken..healthy and FAT! yum yum...So every now and then, when I am with Chew, mom will ask these questions: 


"Any fruits? The chicken how? Doesn't really matter how many, as long as they have extra fruits/chicken, ask her dad to sell to mom."


Hilarious and ANNOYING!!

Chickens that my mom EYE-ing on

Fresh fruits that make my mom saliva drippy

That my mom was spoiled by Chew. She was eye-ing at that one papaya tree which only has ONE papaya. It was round and huge. And because it is 'home-made (confirm ORGANIC), she starts lashing out the papaya quality..And Chew, too good enough to pluck it from the tree and let us have it for our trip.

Ah Chew, you spoiling my mom wei..Please entertain her when she ask for more fresh fruits next time! I beh tahan!!!

We had this papaya on our 3rd day. Sweet and juicy. Mm Mmmm

After 'heh' around her factory, we finally had enough (mostly due to the STRONG ray of sunlight!) We were back on the road again. Was too busy chomping on fruits (nicely cut and prepared by mom) and nuts. We talked and talked and talked. Until we finally had enough. Most probably was they had ENOUGH of me. So without bothering the driver and passenger at the back, I started snapping pictures. The green of the paddy field and blue sky, just ease my stress away..(not work stress though..I hardly have one now..stress over my farking car repair of course!) 

As we stride along the highway, we were welcomed by more secluded road full  with trees and more blue sky above us. It's been awhile since we last seen really green and blue stuff. Daily work is stressful enough and with our vision only fills with concrete wall and crazy traffic. After long drive and a night stop in Sg Petani, we continue our road trip to our ultimate destination, that is Merbok waterfall. But before that, just a lil comment on locals in staying in North. People up North is just plain simple and healthy. I am not sure it is just me or everyone else in KL has the same thinking. The food taste is kinda plain and portion is really small. Or just me being big eater??? HaHa. OK. Stop crapping. We were then welcome by this old town of Merbok. Small and really heritage.

Our ranger car all the way from KL town to up north Merbok.

While we lazying in the car, our super driver had to go through gruesome road to the waterfall. Thus, it is a great honour to enjoy the road trip.

Our super geng driver!

After much anticipation and long hour drive, we finally HERE!!!!! The scenery view is awesome and my mommy comments after her first visit is really true. Ahhh...we were like in heaven. And a private waterfall! You kidding me?

Private waterfall

Open view toilet

Open view room

I am always nervous with bugs and cricket sounds. They do send chill down my spine. But the comfortable surrounding makes me forget EVERY fear and stress. Ohhh..how I miss this place!

During the night, one of mommy's friend birthday but no cake prepared. So these aunties with their wild creativity grab our Chinese Ipoh famous "chicken cookie" aka "gai jai beng" and put on a candle. But mommy is more creative. She grab a mooncake instead! We sang Happy Birthday song for her. And it was really touchy moment to see these aunties and uncles, who already at their 56s, and they reunite together and celebrate each other birthday. All their laughter and jokes make my stress and problems  as small as nuts now. Nothing compares to a healthy life which is fill with good friends and laughter. Hope my best friends will still be there for me and celebrating our 50s birthday. We gonna make it BIG! 


Friends are simple people around you that tells you the truth, share your laughter and tears. Looking at my mom with her friends, they live their life 40 years apart from each other and when they reunite together again, the best memories of their childhood filled their days. I heard them talking bout their teachers and their past. A really wonderful experience and I truly enjoyed. 40 years apart, and everyone had their ups and downs. Some family issues, some financial stress, some just had to spend their life alone because they sacrifice their youth chasing dreams. Yet, when they get together, all they talk about was their wonderful childhood time. Their laughter is just pure happiness.

The next day, mommy's friends left and only the crazy aunty and we left around the resthouse. But weather was crappy to us. We couldn't enjoy the waterfall despite hours spent a day before. So we had to stay in. Took couple of pictures during the rain fall. A different view..

When the sun comes out, we went out and venture the small town. Gotta grab some food though. Mom happily showing me her junior school and happily telling me about her school days. Surprisingly school still there and with some modern changes. But the picture below is worth more than money can buy. The primary school friends taking picture in front of their school after 40 years later!!!

Then we move on to some Jetty place where we can enjoy the view opposite Pantai Merdeka, another tourist and local hot spot for weekend getaway or picnic. 


As usual, I'm trying to be a pro photographer, capturing the view while my super driver driving us there.

There Pantai Merdeka! Say Harlo!!!

One last shot before we say goodbye~~~~

Steven, friend of my mom, owner of the wonderful waterfall and rest house, and great host had a thing with nature and history. His brother was one of the MP working for the government but unfortunately passed away due to heart attack some years back. But before his brother departure, the whole family went in search for their origin back in China. His dad did some write up on the origin during his migration from China back then, so with this little information, they spent months searching and reading and finally, they get to know the origin, their ancestors and their history. For me, this can only be done with passion and patience. Steven, refurbish his dad old house and it became a memoir place for his brother for his hard work for the people of Malaysia and also the history of his family. The Lee Family. 


And their ancestors back then was the Emperor?!

Memoir tribute to his brother

A book of the origin of Lee Family

The calligraphy was the write up from Steven's father 

Out of surprise, Steven show us a picture of on the wall and we spotted mom! She won the table tennis match when she was 9. Amazing that you can see your mom when she was a child. Cos you always know your mom, being your mom. The woman who nag you just about everything. And to most of you, your parents may come from rich/well done family that your parents able to treasure and keep their childhood memories. My mom complete opposite. She fought hard and worked hard when she was brought into this world. I never really see pictures of her when she was a child. So when I saw this, I wept. *Sob*Sob*. 

Mom, the one holding the table tennis bat

So the whole trip was wonderful. Enjoyed the breeze and cooling from the waterfall, laughter with mommy and her friends, and remembering your roots on where you came from...