Graduation Trip

Graduation Trip-9 April - 12 April 2010

9 April 2010

Before started the journey to Taiping to my lovely Miss Chuah@burung's house, went Meriendita El Fin de Semestre organised by Dr. Noni at C24. It was a final gathering for us the 3rd year seniors, before we leave this uni. I went around asking for 'autograph' from my fellow course mates with my laminated group photo. It was great fun to do this, as this will be my last chance to speak to them and get to know what is their planning after this. Through this meriendita too, I had a chance to taste the all the way come from Finland's Salmiakki, a salty liquorice, courtesy of Miss Chuah. It was a weird flavour, and felt very geli the moment my tongue make contact with the salty candy. But afterwards, I felt okey, but is not delicious. Spent around 1.5 hours there, went around getting signature and photographing with Dr. Noni and others.

Then went to Chia Min's room to pack her stuff, before starting our journey to Taiping.

Reached Taiping at 8.3opm, had dinner at Taiping Lake foodcourt. After dinner, went to Taiping Zoo. Took a train to round the zoo, and then we walked for about 30 minutes before we left. A typical zoo, but the nocturnal animals are not as much as the Singapore's Night Safari. A place that will never ever 100% attract me cos I don't personally like animals, but Night Safari at Taiping Zoo is famous here in Malaysia. So went for it as I was here at Taiping. =)

After zoo, we went for supper before heading off to Miss Chuah's mansion and called it a day. Had pillow talk until 3a.m. before we finally dozed off.

10 April 2010

Reached Maxwell Hill at 8.30am. Had breakfast there while waiting for the jeep to fetch us up to the hill. Like FRIM, this place is full of trees. There were a lot of ah peks and youngsters walking up and down the hills. Like Cameron Highlands, the weather gets cooler whenever we moved higher up the hill. Thus, it's like a combination of Cameron Highlands and FRIM. The only way up the hill by jeep is a narrow road, and there are schedule to go up and down the hill by jeep. The top of the hill is verry cool, and the view is full of mist, which I like it so much. Somehow, it rains cats and dogs, and then stop, and rains again. On top of the hill, there were 2 cafes at different spots, chalets and a place where they planted the tulips. It's pity that it was not the period when the tulips blossom. Otherwise, we might have seen the beautiful tulips. Oh, the flowers here are all beautiful, like those we seen in Cameron. I can feel the freshness and aliveness in it.

Next destination: the charcoal factory at Kuala Sepetang. From the information that Miss Chuah gave, I roughly knew how a charcoal is made. And only now that I know that there should be a canal to make a charcoal! It was totally a new information for me, to see on my own and to get to know the details of making charcoal. By the way, it was totally hot there, as it needed a very high temperature in the furnace to heat the wood. And we all smelled charcoal and become blackie when we get out from there!! Well, too exaggerate!

Then went Hutan Paya Laut Matang to see the tress before becoming charcoal. There is a path throughout the mangrove for visitors to move around to see the different types of tress and creatures in it.

Next was lunch at Restoran Tepi Sungai at Kuala Speetang too. Before that, went to Port Weld, the very first railway station in Malaysia, but is now dismantled. And first time met Tauke Chuah@Miss Chuah's dad. Hello, uncle. The lunch was a table full of seafood, cos this place is famous for its seafood-fresh and delicious, because it is right above the place where fisherman collect all their catches of the day. I ate heart fully, especially fishes, as I've not ate seafood for a long time, since I did not go back home after Chinese New Year.

After lunch, went to Miss Chuah's relative's house, to see the sea right behind the house. There were a few boats behind the house where her uncle used to catch fishes long time ago. If I'm not mistaken. Had experience in seeing these before, so I'm not too surprise to see this. Just that I felt great to be with mother nature again after a long period in the concrete bounded city. It doesn't matter whether it's a sea full of salty smell or hill with hilly road, as long as it's mother nature, I'm grateful.

Went back to Miss Chuah's house to bath before went to the famous Taiping Lake Garden. Except that it is much bigger than Shah Alam's Lake, they are almost alike in the other parts. People jogging and walking around and it's a lake with a fountain. Walked almost an hour, and then went to a kuil to see wild boars. Rumours said that touching these boars will bring good wealth. There were even a bus of tourist all the way from Singapore came to touch the boars!

After that, went to a shop to buy the famous hiong pia, and then straight away went back home. Had barbecue, and a little birthday surprised. It was a joint birthday celebration for me and Chia Min. I thought it was a belated celebration for Chia Min, but never thought that they will celebrate my birthday 15 days in advanced here in Taiping. Thank you very much, my dear friends!! =)

11 April 2010

Started our journey to the north at 11.30am. Stopped at Butterworth for lunch. Then went to Ah Mi's house at Sungai Petani. Lepak for a while at her house, then continue our journey to Alor Setar at 4pm. Went to Menara Alor Setar and stay there for an hour. Then we went to Ah Han's house at Jitra. Had steamboat as dinner. We rest and chat and watched TV before we headed to Changlun, to a friend's house, and clean ourselves before a pillow talk.

12 April 2010

Went Universiti Utara Malaysia before going to Padang Besar. UUM is really big, and it's very ulu. I'm not sure whether it was a lecture day that day, because there were not many students around. It feels like USM's weekend, less people moving around. After driving around the campus, we started journey to Padang Besar. After an hour ride through the sugarcane farm and endless road, finally we reached Padang Besar, Perlis, border of Malaysia and Thailand. The place is actually famous for it's cheap price, on shirts and shoes, not in the very original brand. There are also food like cashew nuts, dodol, all these, but I didn't buy any of it. One thing for sure, the weather is very hot. I think last time when I went to Hatyai, the weather was the same too. I wonder is it the weather up to the north is getting hotter.

After lunch, went to Gua Kelam Recreational Park. Spend about an hour there, before leaving tiredly back to Changlun to take bath and going back Jitra. At Jitra, had dinner at Rung Reang Thai Seafood Restaurant. Head back to Penang after a short stop at Ah Han's house, and said goodbye to Ah Han who lead the way to highway. Ah Han is officially 'graduated' from USM, cos she's not going back there in a short time.

4 days 3 nights trips to 3 different states and many places make me experienced different things. It's totally a trip, where we go here and there, taking photos, talk more, sleep less and gain new experience at new place. It's tiring-sitting in the car and walk around under the different weather at different places. But what's more important is that it will be one of the few memories we will have as a gang of the 8 of us from Universiti Sains Malaysia. I personally will cherish the moments from this trip, and others that we had before!