我就读初中四的儿子靖捷那天问我，为何好久没有去看电影啦？
其实并不是不喜欢看电影，而是年过五十的我，去电影院看戏的兴致已经没有年轻时那么浓厚了！现在网际网络这么普及，不用上电影院都能舒舒服服的在家里的平板电脑观赏心怡的影片，无需费时驾车到电影院，排队领取预订的戏票，也不用因为买不到好座位而懊恼！犹有胜者，可以随心所欲掌握影片的进度，暂停（去喝杯水，小解），倒退（重温所漏掉的片段）或加速前进（因节奏太慢而捉狂时）。另外总觉得戏票似乎越来越贵了！当然，经过了几十年的岁月，也无需从电影情节来体会人生啦。
念中学时，曾经有过每星期看一部电影的记录。到新加坡读高中时，因为所住的宿舍离开市区又一段距离，功课也蛮繁重，看电影的次数稍微减少，不过也几乎每一、俩个月都会往戏院逛。上了大学后，偶尔还会到离宿舍不远的金文泰市镇的那几间戏院光顾。毕业后，孤家寡人时，也会常常往戏院打发时间。
年幼时，是发梦的时期。小时很喜欢武打片，后来也迷上琼瑶式的文艺爱情片，后来比较迷恋于好莱坞大型制作的灾难、科幻片，以及徐克式的武侠奇幻惊险片、成龙的警匪片。有一阵子，僵尸先生系列电影也蛮精彩！
通常我都是独来独往，看我喜欢的电影。直到结交异性朋友时，才有人陪着看戏。当然，陪我看戏最多的要归我的老婆。不过后来才发现，她是醉翁之意不在酒，所看过的戏或戏里的某些情节，她多数都忘记了！或许真该向她要回以前的戏票钱！
Friday, 25 April 2014
Monday, 14 April 2014
渐渐销声匿迹的情书
随着通讯科技的发展，人与人之间的联络方式跟二、三十年前相比，显然有天壤之别。
互联网还没有发达之前，要同远地的朋友沟通，除了打电话，便只有书信。虽然有电报，但它不止收费高，还需要特地赶到指定场所才能发送那短短的几行字z出去，运用它的人可想而知寥寥无几。
以往书信可说是互通消息及表达情感的最佳途径之一。小时候曾经结交笔友，发信后等待回信的那种渴望的心情，及接到信件后那种兴奋，我想只有亲历者才能深深的体会到。
犹记得在90年初与女友（亦即现任老婆）拍拖的那段时期，除了褒电话粥外，还写了不少情书。那一年的六月长假，她随同事到北京去进修关于中国文学的课程；在那短短的几个星期，我几乎每个星期都会寄上一封信，聊表牵过之情。我觉得情书对于木呐、不善言语的人相当管用，可以在白纸上任意的表达深藏内心里的情怀。
随着无线宽频网络的普及，几乎每人都拥有智能手机，人与人的距离无形中被拉近了很多。只要手机一按，便能与远在国外的友人联络上并闲聊，或在荧幕上见面。只需用手指轻轻的按下几句的留言，眨眼间对方便能接收到；在短短的几分钟一来一往的讯息传送，一切皆一览无余。用情书传送爱意的过程太缓慢。。。看来情书真的要步上恐龙的后尘啦！
互联网还没有发达之前，要同远地的朋友沟通，除了打电话，便只有书信。虽然有电报，但它不止收费高，还需要特地赶到指定场所才能发送那短短的几行字z出去，运用它的人可想而知寥寥无几。
以往书信可说是互通消息及表达情感的最佳途径之一。小时候曾经结交笔友，发信后等待回信的那种渴望的心情，及接到信件后那种兴奋，我想只有亲历者才能深深的体会到。
犹记得在90年初与女友（亦即现任老婆）拍拖的那段时期，除了褒电话粥外，还写了不少情书。那一年的六月长假，她随同事到北京去进修关于中国文学的课程；在那短短的几个星期，我几乎每个星期都会寄上一封信，聊表牵过之情。我觉得情书对于木呐、不善言语的人相当管用，可以在白纸上任意的表达深藏内心里的情怀。
随着无线宽频网络的普及，几乎每人都拥有智能手机，人与人的距离无形中被拉近了很多。只要手机一按，便能与远在国外的友人联络上并闲聊，或在荧幕上见面。只需用手指轻轻的按下几句的留言，眨眼间对方便能接收到；在短短的几分钟一来一往的讯息传送，一切皆一览无余。用情书传送爱意的过程太缓慢。。。看来情书真的要步上恐龙的后尘啦！
Friday, 11 April 2014
人生无常
最近所发生的马航飞机失联事故（乘客们应该是沉没于南印度洋深海里，凶多吉少），以及前天报章报道某电单车骑士被夹毙于停顿前面的巴士和从后面因刹车器失灵飞驰而来的大卡车之间的车祸，令我感触良多。人类的生命，看来真的很脆弱，冥冥中似乎有所主宰，就是这么巧在某一个时候出现在某个地方，这么不幸的纠缠于种种的环节里，莫名其妙的遭受到祸害。
是因果吗？抑或是上天的安排？
往往遭受最大打击的不是往生者，而是被遗留下来的亲人。生离死别的痛苦煎熬，尤其是英年早逝，白头人送黑头人这种情况，最为难受！
因为我的职责所在，有好几次遇到了年幼儿童因突发性疾病（脑炎，脑溢血，急性肺炎，败血症）的恶化，病入膏肓，无法挽救。父母亲目睹已经毫无意识的幼儿在死亡边沿徘徊，最终撒手离去，那种无助，无奈的悲愤表情，那种震撼人心的哭泣呐喊，是多么的凄凉！常常我的眼眶也不期然的泛滥起来！
世事难料，人各有天命。我们能做的，也只有好好把握此刻及珍惜周围的亲朋戚友，别虚度了这一生！
是因果吗？抑或是上天的安排？
往往遭受最大打击的不是往生者，而是被遗留下来的亲人。生离死别的痛苦煎熬，尤其是英年早逝，白头人送黑头人这种情况，最为难受！
因为我的职责所在，有好几次遇到了年幼儿童因突发性疾病（脑炎，脑溢血，急性肺炎，败血症）的恶化，病入膏肓，无法挽救。父母亲目睹已经毫无意识的幼儿在死亡边沿徘徊，最终撒手离去，那种无助，无奈的悲愤表情，那种震撼人心的哭泣呐喊，是多么的凄凉！常常我的眼眶也不期然的泛滥起来！
世事难料，人各有天命。我们能做的，也只有好好把握此刻及珍惜周围的亲朋戚友，别虚度了这一生！
Monday, 24 March 2014
梦见爸爸
昨天做了个很奇怪的梦。
梦中迷迷糊糊的来到父亲工作的小贩摊位，看到爸爸如往常般面对着墙壁，起劲的在煮炒。我叫了几声爸爸，但都没得到回应。
我潜意识中还明瞭这只是梦境，不可能是真的，因为爸爸已经去世好几年了。为了求证，我伸手试图拍了拍爸爸的肩膀；原以为应该好像电影情节，我的手会透过爸爸的肩膀，摸不着。出乎意料的，我居然摸到了爸爸硬硬的肩膀，但他还是没有回过头来看我！
我顿时慌了！真的是爸爸回来了吗？为什么他不回头来看我呢？生气了吗？为什么生气呢？。。。接下来犹如电影场景突然换画，一切影像都消失得无影无踪。而我又仿佛掉进另外一个梦境去了！
已经好久没有梦见爸爸。
上一次梦见爸爸时，又是另外一种意境。在梦境中，我出现在一个寂静的小村落。青绿的草地铺盖着黄泥，稀疏的茅草屋分布在整个村落的几个角落，淡淡的轻烟弥漫整个空间。突然间发现爸爸独自朝村落的某一个方向走去。我匆忙的跟上去，问爸爸要往那里去；他只是看着我，没有回答我的问题。我再问他，需要我陪他一起步行过去吗，他只是嘴唇稍微掂开，发出无声的微笑，转过身子，继续向前走，渐渐消失在我眼前。。。（也就在这时候，我从梦中醒来！）
对于爸爸，总觉得有很多亏欠。很怀念陪他去吃夜宵的那段日子：中学时，先是他用摩托车载我；直到我考上驾车执照，家里拥有车后（已经是念大学的时候），便轮到我载他去夜宵。往往父亲都是在晚上11点后才回家。而我也会特地熬夜，等到他骑着摩多车回家，再询问他要不要去夜宵。其实我们彼此也没有多说什么话，只是为彼此添饭盛茶，而时间也慢慢的在彼此无形的关怀中流逝。
梦中迷迷糊糊的来到父亲工作的小贩摊位，看到爸爸如往常般面对着墙壁，起劲的在煮炒。我叫了几声爸爸，但都没得到回应。
我潜意识中还明瞭这只是梦境，不可能是真的，因为爸爸已经去世好几年了。为了求证，我伸手试图拍了拍爸爸的肩膀；原以为应该好像电影情节，我的手会透过爸爸的肩膀，摸不着。出乎意料的，我居然摸到了爸爸硬硬的肩膀，但他还是没有回过头来看我！
我顿时慌了！真的是爸爸回来了吗？为什么他不回头来看我呢？生气了吗？为什么生气呢？。。。接下来犹如电影场景突然换画，一切影像都消失得无影无踪。而我又仿佛掉进另外一个梦境去了！
已经好久没有梦见爸爸。
上一次梦见爸爸时，又是另外一种意境。在梦境中，我出现在一个寂静的小村落。青绿的草地铺盖着黄泥，稀疏的茅草屋分布在整个村落的几个角落，淡淡的轻烟弥漫整个空间。突然间发现爸爸独自朝村落的某一个方向走去。我匆忙的跟上去，问爸爸要往那里去；他只是看着我，没有回答我的问题。我再问他，需要我陪他一起步行过去吗，他只是嘴唇稍微掂开，发出无声的微笑，转过身子，继续向前走，渐渐消失在我眼前。。。（也就在这时候，我从梦中醒来！）
对于爸爸，总觉得有很多亏欠。很怀念陪他去吃夜宵的那段日子：中学时，先是他用摩托车载我；直到我考上驾车执照，家里拥有车后（已经是念大学的时候），便轮到我载他去夜宵。往往父亲都是在晚上11点后才回家。而我也会特地熬夜，等到他骑着摩多车回家，再询问他要不要去夜宵。其实我们彼此也没有多说什么话，只是为彼此添饭盛茶，而时间也慢慢的在彼此无形的关怀中流逝。
Monday, 17 March 2014
First camera
In my early childhood days, my family never owned any camera. The only photos that were captured were those of family or wedding photos. I still remember the old black and white family photo hanging on the wall in my parents bedroom, with my siblings and I crowding around my parents, wearing new dresses/clothes with hair meticulously combed. The photo was taken in a photo shop in town. The other occasions for photo taking was during prize presentation for being the top three students in classes during primary school years. All the students would line up in front of the camera, with headmaster on the extreme end, for the shot. Those photos were again in black and white only.
The first time I had a hands-on experience with camera was during Primary 5. For some unknown reason, my sister and I decided to rent a camera from a camera-cum-photography shop in town to try out photography (snapping pictures of ourselves). Needless to say, all of us (the siblings) were very excited. We had to learn how to operate the camera - "always remember to wind the handle after every shot"- reminded the shop owner. Of course, he loaded the roll of film into the camera for us. We took 24 photos (as we only bought one roll of film) on that day. We took some photos at home, and cycled to a bungalow nearby for shots in the garden.
I bought my first camera (probably the first for the family too, I think) when I came to Singapore with my fellow classmates for the Asean Scholarship interview (after completing Form 5). I bought a simple / compact point and shoot Yashica camera then - nothing fanciful, but I was nevertheless thrill by the thoughts of owning a camera finally. But of course, I didn't make much use of it because the cost of purchasing rolls of films and developing the photos was quite daunting for penniless students. After I graduated and started to work, I bought a Fuji compact camera (took some snapshots of houseman canteen and houseman quarters), and subsequently a Canon DSLR camera (just in time for courtship and subsequently honeymoon). When the kids came along, I found that carrying the Canon DSLR camera with its lens was rather cumbersome, particularly when you had to attend to the kids and their belongings. I eventually settled for another compact Fuji Camera when I was studying in United States. The old Canon camera had been left rusting away in the store room since 1997.
Digital camera begins to rule the world in year 2000. I bought a compact Canon digital camera in year 2000. It worked for about 2-3 years, then the sliding cover for the lens started to cause problem (unable to close and open smoothly, despite replacement). I bought another Canon camera (which is still working to date), followed by a Sony cybershot (for my daughter Chengyee, but it was damaged by sand particles during our trip to Kangaroo Island, Australia), a Fuji Prosumer camera (given to Cheng Yee) and a Sony Prosumer Camera (used by yours truly). For all intent and purposes, my current Sony camera has served its function very well. It can zoom up to 30x, and does not require any changes in lens. The thoughts of buying a higher end mirrorless camera flash through my minds several times; but ultimately I feel that I don't need a flashy camera to take good photos, but rather the energies to overcome the inertia of venturing outdoors for photography!
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| Family photo |
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| Taken in Primary One |
I bought my first camera (probably the first for the family too, I think) when I came to Singapore with my fellow classmates for the Asean Scholarship interview (after completing Form 5). I bought a simple / compact point and shoot Yashica camera then - nothing fanciful, but I was nevertheless thrill by the thoughts of owning a camera finally. But of course, I didn't make much use of it because the cost of purchasing rolls of films and developing the photos was quite daunting for penniless students. After I graduated and started to work, I bought a Fuji compact camera (took some snapshots of houseman canteen and houseman quarters), and subsequently a Canon DSLR camera (just in time for courtship and subsequently honeymoon). When the kids came along, I found that carrying the Canon DSLR camera with its lens was rather cumbersome, particularly when you had to attend to the kids and their belongings. I eventually settled for another compact Fuji Camera when I was studying in United States. The old Canon camera had been left rusting away in the store room since 1997.
Digital camera begins to rule the world in year 2000. I bought a compact Canon digital camera in year 2000. It worked for about 2-3 years, then the sliding cover for the lens started to cause problem (unable to close and open smoothly, despite replacement). I bought another Canon camera (which is still working to date), followed by a Sony cybershot (for my daughter Chengyee, but it was damaged by sand particles during our trip to Kangaroo Island, Australia), a Fuji Prosumer camera (given to Cheng Yee) and a Sony Prosumer Camera (used by yours truly). For all intent and purposes, my current Sony camera has served its function very well. It can zoom up to 30x, and does not require any changes in lens. The thoughts of buying a higher end mirrorless camera flash through my minds several times; but ultimately I feel that I don't need a flashy camera to take good photos, but rather the energies to overcome the inertia of venturing outdoors for photography!
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Glimpses of my neighbourhood
I have been staying in my new home for over 6 months. The surrounding of my new neighbourhood is rather tranquil and refreshing. The housing estate has been there for over 50 years (if I am not mistaken), but I am pleasantly surprised by how well the place is maintained. It even has bonsai-like plants decorating one corner of the estate!
The condominium that I am staying is located along Geylang River. Jogging trails have been built along both sides of the river, for the convenience of the residents nearby.
The view from my balcony is a panacea for stressful mind...
The walkway leading to our condominium is rather picturesque.
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| The old housing estate |
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| The condominium I am staying in |
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| My unit is facing the river; the jogging trail along the river bank |
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| Seats along the jogging trail |
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| Boat park along the river bank - for rangers to inspect/clear the river |
The walkway leading to our condominium is rather picturesque.
Best of all, the famous hawker centre which serves sumptous and delicious foods and two Circle Line MRT stations are within walking distance from my place of residence.
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| Walking towards hawker centre |
Enough said. What else can I complain?
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Sightseeing with mom
I flew back to my hometown, Nibong Tebal, for Lunar New Year celebration last week. No, it wasn't the week of New Year's eve / first day of Lunar New Year, but the second week of Lunar New Year. Yes, it is kind of belated but better than none.
Not that I purposely avoided the eve/first days of Lunar New Year because of fear of being caught in massive jam/human traffic (I was caught in a massive traffic jam, and ended up reaching home approaching midnight of New Year' eve once). I would love to sit around "round table", enjoying the sumptuous reunion dinner in the company of my mother and siblings during New Year's eve. The last reunion dinner was the year before my dad passed away in year 2005 (if I am not mistaken). What is holding me up then? There is this seemingly insurmountable invisible emotional hurdle making such a trip impossible at this moment. And, I am not ready to divulge it openly at this juncture.
Among my siblings, my elder sister (Lai Sim) and younger brother (Hon Seng) are still staying with my mother in our old family home in Nibong Tebal. My other sisters (Lay Fong, Nai Kam and Lay Wuan) have moved out to stay with their own families (in Nibong Tebal, Penang Island and Shen Zheng respectively). My maternal grandmother (in her 90s) has moved to stay with us over the past few years; she is quite fragile and non-ambulatory, but remains healthy, and is taken care of by a domestic helper.
I took an evening flight this time round. As usual, one of my siblings (this time it was Nai Kam) picked me up from the airport and drove me home. Lay Wuan was back last week, but had flown back to ShenZheng a few days back. After dumping my hand carried luggage, Sim, Fong and Kam and I went for supper at nearby food stall - catching up on recent happenings to our lives. We had Dim Sum (the food was quite a disappointment - rather bland), followed by lunch in a restaurant in town (food was quite palatable and yet cheap) the next day.
Excluding evening on the first day, and early morning departure back to Singapore on last days, I had three full days in Nibong Tebal. It dawned on me perhaps I should bring my mom out for sightseeing!
My mom is 24 years my senior. She has difficulty in moving around by foot because of her secondary Parkinsonism (possibly from underlying vascular disease). She has been troubled by frozen and shuffling gait for quite a while. It was quite incapacitating at one stage. Fortunately, the combination of Requip and Amantadine helped to ameliorate some of her symptoms - she still shuffled a lot, and immobilized by frozen gait quite frequently - but she could manage some independent walking with walking aid. When her gait is disabling, she may use wheelchair to move around the house. Because of her gait disorder, she hardly go outside the house, except to visit doctor and for acupuncture treatment. She was literally "trapped" at home most of the time.
I am not entirely sure how handicapped friendly the tourist spots in Penang are. I was also quite worry of how to help my mother to attend to her toilet needs during the journey. But what the hack, I will tackle all nuances when they occur! I enlisted my brother's help, asking him to be the driver (as he is most familiar with places in Penang). He was quite obliging.
We started off on Monday morning, and reached our first stop at Kek Lok Si Temple @ Air Itam. As I feared, the Kek Lok Si temple itself was not wheelchair accessible. We then drove up to another carpark (located a higher level) within the Kek Lok Si parking compound, walked up to a souvenir shop and was told that we could take a tram from there to visit the Guangyin statue up on the slope above (it was wheelchair accessible). Yes, the tram was wheelchair accessible; but the narrow walkway at the exit of the tram was just spacious enough to let our wheelchair scraping through. Certain segments of the walkway was made more narrow by protruding pillars from the wall - my mother had to disembark from her wheelchair and walk briefly to clear the narrow hurdles). The Guangyin statue was quite majestic, but was housed in a higher platform - again need to be negotiated through several flights of steps. No, there was no elevator/lift for handicapped persons! Hence, my mom could only admire the statue from the car park lot adjacent to the statue.
Our next stop was Penang Hill. Fortunately, the newly renovated Penang Hill station was wheelchair accessible. We had our lunch at the food court , then took a 1-km stroll up in the hill before leaving the place. Even though the temperature was cooler up in the hill, the blistering and glaring sun still made it quite scorching to the body. And yes, there is a wheelchair accessible/friendly toilet near the tram station entrance.
We then took a driving tour around Georgetown (Unesco Heritage Site), passing by Guangyin templeand Fort Cornwallis (old Gurney Drive). Then, HonSeng drove us to new Gurney Drive, where we stopped over for short tea break - my mom and I ordered Laksa). We went to Botanic Garden thereafter.
We reached Botanic Garden at 3 pm. The weather was quite hot then, hence not many visitors at all. Surprisingly, there was no monkey around at all - definitely not the "花果山" that I used to remember from my childhood days. There used to be many monkeys loitering around, sometimes snatching food from the unsuspecting visitors.
We wanted to visit an old temple in Butterworth (but my brother does not know the way) and Mengkuang Dam (but discovered on arrival that it was not opened for public for time being because of some maintenance issues). We finally reached home around 6 pm.
It was quite a worthwhile trip. I learnt that my mom has not been visiting these tourist spots for over 20 if not 30 years. I could sense that it brings back some fond memories to her. We talked about the old days when I was lost in the Penang Carnival (PESTA Carnival) -I was walking with my elder sister, and somehow wandered off and got lost. My parents eventually managed to locate me in the police post at the carnival. I was crying and refused to acknowledge my father my he approached me in the police post - and the police was wondering whether I was truly their lost child at one stage!
Not that I purposely avoided the eve/first days of Lunar New Year because of fear of being caught in massive jam/human traffic (I was caught in a massive traffic jam, and ended up reaching home approaching midnight of New Year' eve once). I would love to sit around "round table", enjoying the sumptuous reunion dinner in the company of my mother and siblings during New Year's eve. The last reunion dinner was the year before my dad passed away in year 2005 (if I am not mistaken). What is holding me up then? There is this seemingly insurmountable invisible emotional hurdle making such a trip impossible at this moment. And, I am not ready to divulge it openly at this juncture.
Among my siblings, my elder sister (Lai Sim) and younger brother (Hon Seng) are still staying with my mother in our old family home in Nibong Tebal. My other sisters (Lay Fong, Nai Kam and Lay Wuan) have moved out to stay with their own families (in Nibong Tebal, Penang Island and Shen Zheng respectively). My maternal grandmother (in her 90s) has moved to stay with us over the past few years; she is quite fragile and non-ambulatory, but remains healthy, and is taken care of by a domestic helper.
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| Entrance to our home |
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| The swing @ the porch |
Excluding evening on the first day, and early morning departure back to Singapore on last days, I had three full days in Nibong Tebal. It dawned on me perhaps I should bring my mom out for sightseeing!
My mom is 24 years my senior. She has difficulty in moving around by foot because of her secondary Parkinsonism (possibly from underlying vascular disease). She has been troubled by frozen and shuffling gait for quite a while. It was quite incapacitating at one stage. Fortunately, the combination of Requip and Amantadine helped to ameliorate some of her symptoms - she still shuffled a lot, and immobilized by frozen gait quite frequently - but she could manage some independent walking with walking aid. When her gait is disabling, she may use wheelchair to move around the house. Because of her gait disorder, she hardly go outside the house, except to visit doctor and for acupuncture treatment. She was literally "trapped" at home most of the time.
I am not entirely sure how handicapped friendly the tourist spots in Penang are. I was also quite worry of how to help my mother to attend to her toilet needs during the journey. But what the hack, I will tackle all nuances when they occur! I enlisted my brother's help, asking him to be the driver (as he is most familiar with places in Penang). He was quite obliging.
We started off on Monday morning, and reached our first stop at Kek Lok Si Temple @ Air Itam. As I feared, the Kek Lok Si temple itself was not wheelchair accessible. We then drove up to another carpark (located a higher level) within the Kek Lok Si parking compound, walked up to a souvenir shop and was told that we could take a tram from there to visit the Guangyin statue up on the slope above (it was wheelchair accessible). Yes, the tram was wheelchair accessible; but the narrow walkway at the exit of the tram was just spacious enough to let our wheelchair scraping through. Certain segments of the walkway was made more narrow by protruding pillars from the wall - my mother had to disembark from her wheelchair and walk briefly to clear the narrow hurdles). The Guangyin statue was quite majestic, but was housed in a higher platform - again need to be negotiated through several flights of steps. No, there was no elevator/lift for handicapped persons! Hence, my mom could only admire the statue from the car park lot adjacent to the statue.
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| With my mom, in front of the Guangying statue |
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| Standing at the car park in front of the Guangying Statue |
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| The roof and pillars housing the Guangying statue |
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| Penang Hill |
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| Waiting for the tram |
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| Up on the hill |
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| Fried koay teow for lunch; ice kacang for desert |
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| city view |
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| Mom and HonSeng |
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| Mail box - haven't seen this for a while |
We then took a driving tour around Georgetown (Unesco Heritage Site), passing by Guangyin templeand Fort Cornwallis (old Gurney Drive). Then, HonSeng drove us to new Gurney Drive, where we stopped over for short tea break - my mom and I ordered Laksa). We went to Botanic Garden thereafter.
We reached Botanic Garden at 3 pm. The weather was quite hot then, hence not many visitors at all. Surprisingly, there was no monkey around at all - definitely not the "花果山" that I used to remember from my childhood days. There used to be many monkeys loitering around, sometimes snatching food from the unsuspecting visitors.
We wanted to visit an old temple in Butterworth (but my brother does not know the way) and Mengkuang Dam (but discovered on arrival that it was not opened for public for time being because of some maintenance issues). We finally reached home around 6 pm.
It was quite a worthwhile trip. I learnt that my mom has not been visiting these tourist spots for over 20 if not 30 years. I could sense that it brings back some fond memories to her. We talked about the old days when I was lost in the Penang Carnival (PESTA Carnival) -I was walking with my elder sister, and somehow wandered off and got lost. My parents eventually managed to locate me in the police post at the carnival. I was crying and refused to acknowledge my father my he approached me in the police post - and the police was wondering whether I was truly their lost child at one stage!
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