Mid Autumn Festival Performance 18 September 2010

Saturday

It was just an ordinary chinese dance but the talented little children brought cheers and joy to the audiences. :) My enhui enjoyed watching performances of all sort.

1st Malaysia Day Celebration @Jalan Bangkung 16 September 2010

Thursday 530pm

I was indecisive on whether to attend the Malaysia Day celebration. The last performance, "wayang kulit" at 9pm, is what En has been longing for. The show time falls on Enhui's bedtime, which means they will be extremely exhausted.

And you know what, I am thankful, I made it there. Thanks a million, aunty S Ming for the invitation. Thank you. Enhui enjoyed it tremendously and it was a valuable experience for her.

This is the first performance we watched when we arrived. boom boom

Sarawakian Traditional Dance and MyCats Kids Performance.

Suddenly, there was a tiger roaring sound and the DJ shouted "Freeze Tiger Trade". We turned around to find many people lying still on the floor, with placards displaying 'Freeze Tiger Trade'. What a suprise! And what an unique way to pass on the message. Wildlife Crime Hotline 019 356 4194 or email to report@malayantiger.net

I enjoyed this one which led to the dance below..

A humurous sketch by MyConstitution and traditional chinese lion dance.

During the Sabahan performance, Hui was taken to join the dance.. :)

Traditional Indian Dance and Malaysian singers. So many performances!

The long awaited 'Wayang Kulit' by a renowned Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Baju Merah from Machang, Kelantan, led by Kelantan most popular tok dalang, Saupi Bin Isa. 

Puppets.

We were invited to watch the setting part as well.

To capture the essence of wayang kulit, many believes we should not watch it from the front. You are encouraged to move about and watch the performance of the tok dalang and his crews from behind the screen.

 

Hari Raya Open House 16 September 2010

Thursday 12pm

Uncle Khairul 's open house ! Yummy home-cooked food. I love the ketupat & serunding. Enhui didn't get to savor much - as mostly are spicy food. En is so much braver than I, when I was 6. She hang around with the adults, whom she met for the first time and we saw her trying to make conversation couple of times.  :)   

It's a connector. 14 September 2010

Tuesday pm
Dad & En dismantled our malfunctioning camera, with Hui nearby. So I sneaked away for a quiet break. :)

The next day, En showed me the motherboard. While pointing to a small part, she asked "You know what is this?" Without any knowledge on mechanical stuff, I replied "Chip". En said " It's a connector ". Bleargghh..

Fun @swimming pool 15 September 2010

Tuesday am.  En swam few strokes without float and submerged her head in the water.  She was laughing all the way, seeing legs of other swimmers for the first time. It was so fun that she swam with her head in the water again and again. Hui who didn't like armbands beforehand, was spotted swimming with armbands in the pool. Before she went to the pool, she complaint to  me " I can't swim with armbands". I told her, "you and fish are ONE. you can swim just like a fish."  Maybe this statement did work! :)

Wednesday am.

When we were walking to the pool, En asked "Is there any adult float ?" After much thought, I remember the huge float for water slide at water park. After telling her, she commented "When I have the money, I buy you one, so you can float in the pool too" ! Oh my, so shameful ! LOL. (* I am not a swimmer).  

*This morning, Hui deflated her armbands out of curiosity and I wasn't able to blow one up for her.

We are TWINS! 14 September 2010

En got two exact same T-shirts from aunty wah ! :) She got Hui to wear one, (though it is big for Hui) as she said " We are twins ".

The twins went on to put on the same hairclip and bangles.

A disagreement came up after Hui chose an extra butterfly clip (from aunty Joyce) to put on her hair. En voiced up "We must look the SAME". Hui protested "But I LIKE the butterfly clip". Looking at the intense situation, I was about to interfere.. but somehow this statement,  " Children is able to solve a conflict and come out with an agreement " popped up.  I should step back as I wasn't being asked for an opinion or help.

En : " Ok, you could wear this in the car only ". Hui : " I want to wear it, to the lift too".
En : Pausing, "Hey, you can just wear it and let them spot the difference between us. Mommy, can you spot the different ?"
Me :  Huh, spot the difference ? ehm.. I can't.
Both : pointing to the clip, "See ! Here.  And the skirt ! " laughing..
Me: Oh ! yes. Identical twins.

Walking hand in hand to the lift lobby, En told Hui " Twins can argue and can be good too ".

Broga Hill, Semenyih 14 September 2010

Tuesday 7am

It was quite hard to get up @ 530am after having just 3.5 hour sleep.  That's Broga Hill. Many people got up earlier than me, just to catch the sunrise at the top of the hill.

It took about 35 mins from LDP sunway to the foot of Broga Hill, using SKVE Highway, exited Jalan Semenyih.

This is the trail condition, the terrain is mostly gravel and slightly rocky. We passed by oil palm and rubber tree plantation before arriving at the beginning of the trail, marked by the signboard.   At this hour, there weren't any mosquitoes.

A tiny brown shell snail with pitch black body is commonly seen over here. Some were smashed by the hikers (sheesh).  Hui hike at a slower rate at the back with dad. She fell couple of times due to her flat sole sandal. (my mistake)

A broken swing greeted us on an even spread out landing. It was so breezy ! The wind swept the long tall grass back and forth, such lovely sight.

To this point, it was relatively quite a managable hike for En, Zhen(a 6 year old) and me.  From here on, the slope is pretty steep, with some parts consists of shallow steps and some are smooth slope (Right).

En hiking among other teenagers, independently. Poor dad carried Hui up the slope without assistance. I think if dad wasn't here, I would have been down with asthma. *thank you, dear hubby. 

Left- We reached the first peak, among the four. Right- From the first peak, overlooking to the second one.  I enjoyed the hike, somehow it made me felt great and also made me wonder if this is how avid hikers feel.

Left- What a wonderful sight, despite the fog. And shortly after we arrived, the sky was surrounded by rain clouds (Right)! With no second thought, we bade farewell to Broga Hill. I am glad we came, thanks to Fern & Yu ling. :) 

Energy Month@ Pusat Sains Negara 13 Sept 2010

Monday 9am
It was an usual library trip to PSN but it turned out to be more than that.

H2O2 + detergent + salt 

The auditorium @3rd floor is much better looking than the lobby stage.  When I saw the opened door auditorium with two staffs inside, I asked if they could put up some experiments.You know what, they are so kind to oblige and gave us a 30minutes shows at an odd hour, 1035am. I thanked them profusely ! 

 Before it started, I said "Hot air rises up ...." and before I could finish the sentence, En flapped her arms, pretending to fly like a bird while saying "yeah, like raptor flaps its wing and hot air pushes it up." wowo

A simple rocket launcher. Pumping a 1/4 water filled bottle with a bicycle pump and sent it flying up and away.   Right- a whispering dish just outside the parabolic dome.

Camping @Hutan Lipur Sg Congkak, Hulu Langat 10 September 2010

Friday 9am
Our second camping trip, and today, Hui was better with living in the outdoor. I remember our first camping night, last October, she wailed whenever I put her down in the tent to sleep. The same thing occurred when I lie her down after she was sound asleep. As a result, I basically carried her in my arms till morning.

This time around, before I booked the campsite, I asked Hui if she wish to sleep in the chalet with me. Without a doubt, she said " I am ready! "  I rephrased my question,  " Would you like to sleep in the tent ? "  With no ifs and no buts, she affirmed "I am READY". :)
And yes, she slept like a baby at night, inside the tent, on the floor. (* Hui, I am so proud of you)

En looked forward to camp with her friend, Abby and her family. Thereon, upon hearing, Teng, her buddy is coming along too, she jumped gaily. But the very next second, she paused and said "But Teng doesn't know Abby !".   I grinned and added " You introduce the both of them " :)


We (our group of 6 adults and 6 girls, aged 2 to 6) camped at Zone 1, which is the nearest to the main entrance (guard house! ), approximately 300m away.  Being a novice, I simply thought, nearest is the safest. After taking a stroll at this area, I felt that Zone 4 is the best of all, where the campsites are well raised up on a cemented platform and neatly tucked right next to the river in a row, with a barbeque pit on a stand. :)  On the flip side, campsite is located by the road side and not surrounded by trees as in Zone 1. Zone 1, being nearest to the entrance, is a stopover for most day- picnicker. Campers at Zone 4 are permitted to drive their car in whereas at Zone 1, we parked our cars at the entrance.

Campsite - RM10 per night/tent. Tents are priced from RM15 for a 4-man-tent. Toilet charges is 50cent per day for adult only. Entrance fee of RM1 (12 years old and above) is waived for campers. Tel - 03- 5513 2000.

Left- Our tent. The first chosen campsite was abandoned as it was filled with red ants. Right- En packed her pink rope as clothes line, eagerly tied it around the tree when she arrived. It was moved higher by uncle So  Chau.

Left- Zone 2 is just a stone throw away from Zone 1. Zone 3 is opposite, up the slope.

Right - The part of the river next to Zone 1.

Left- The nearest changing room, just right across Zone 1 but we never use it. The toilets further up which is nearer to the chalets are cleaner. The one across Zone 1 is in an abandoned state. The kids didn't seem to be bothered by it. :) 

Left- The icy cold river water became the fridge. Right- I put a garbage bag on the ground and En made a stand with twigs. Pretty impressive.  

Left- Dad soaked in the cooling clear river..ooh aah and bathed with a bar of soap. En followed suit! I didn't bathe (yeah, smelly, dirty. No way, I am going to bathe in the river) and the moment I got a warm shower at home, waah, I was on a bed of roses!

Dad did a coke-polo volcano experiment & the liquid shoot up in an instance! En was so dissapointed that Hui and uncle Kevin didn't get to see it.

Right- The fat leech that had sucked Hui's blood.

 Right- A huge spider beside the plant with lots of spiderlings (left) .. ehm.. the mommy-spider?

A leaf with lots of green dots on it - bit eerie looking.  Beautiful funghi sprouted by a tree stump.

 

Dad showed us how the "meranti" seed could spinned downward graciously.

Left- Ginger plant. Right- The leaves creeped up the trunk and it looks as if it has been glued on it.  I could not spot a single bird but there were variety of dazzling butterflies, which I have not seen before.

  

Dad built a small fire with a solid fuel. That attacted Hui, who kept picking up stick and leaves to throw in it.

 The kids couldn't get their hands off the pack of marshmallow, barbeque it with a skewer. 

En impatiently waited for the water to boil, before she could throw in the instant noodle. The heat was too much to enjoy, she gave up cooking and ran off. Dad cooked the noodles with egg and it was Enhui's FIRST instant noodle meal ! I was trying to overcome my guilt of feeding them instant noodle but hey, this is camping, isn't it ? ;p  The taste of food cooked with charcoal-wood fire was simply irresistible. I indulged in some sweet potatoes and corns. It is such a merriment, to feast under the trees, by the stream.

Dad helped, lighting up the lanterns. The lanterns created a splendid sight.  At night, Abby spent the night at our 6-man-tent. Both En and Abby chatted and giggled under the sleeping bag. Hui was in between them. Finally, Hui rolled over to my side and dozed off. It was awesome, hearing En and Abby talked like old buddy and they were just 6 years old! Eventually, it was all quiet and En rolled over to my side and fell asleep. Abby was at the corner, snoozing away. The night was cooling and the sound of the stream and chirping insect took over. It calmed me down instantly and living outdoor wasn't so bad after all.

It made me wanna sing, "Beauty in the world " by Macy Gray,

When I look around I see blue skies

 I see butterflies for us

Listen to the sound and lose it
Its sweet music and dance with me
There is beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world
Always beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world

This is the morning eggs, over easy by uncle So chau and scramble, by dad. :) Delicious.    

Direction to Sg Congkak. - Cheras-Kajang highway, go through first toll. Take first left exit 702 - Persimpangan Hulu Langat. Follow the sign "Hutan Rekreasi Sg Congkak, Hutan Rekreasi Gunung Nuang, Air Terjun Sungai Gabai, Air Terjun Tekala"