Double Hill

I've gotten my pre-valentine treat at Cameron Highlands, a place where flowers bloom and strawberry business thrive. 'Strawberry business' in my dictionary is not limited to strawberries growing in soil, but it also refers to merchandises that LOOK like strawberries, e.g. strawberry-shaped pillows, magnets, pencils that has strawberry prints, strawberry fondue, strawberry clothings, tea-infused strawberries, etc... Travesty! Gosh, they are everywhere in the whole of Camerons. Urrrgghhh....!

Don't let this 'beautiful' fruit trick you

I hate strawberries and I am not kidding. The Malaysian breeds are rarely sweet, in fact they are super sour. This fruit is only beautiful skin-deep. Before you know it, they are grown with white-fluffy fungus, Rhizopus nigricans, with post-harvest 'leak' (I learnt this in my Ph.D. years of fungal res.). The only piece of strawberries I can consume are processed strawberries - in the form of jams and ice-cream. Nahhh, not even whip-cream on strawberry can change my mind abt this fruit.

What made my impression of strawberries worse - the hideous English:

Haiyoor...England so worse!

The main objective (omg, too much of scientific research makes me so skema lately) of this trip was to hike up two hills (thus, Double hill) where lies the most amazing stretches of tea plantation: Sg. Palas BOH tea plantation and HABU tea plantation. The former is at Brinchang, while the latter is after Ringlet. And of course, to spend time with Fong away from the buzzling city :). If you didn't know, I have been very stressful at work lately. I need some kinda time-out.

Flowers, yes, flowers are more my type

These are definitely not lavender, but they are so pretty!

Bharat tea plantation, off-Brinchang.

After checking in to Equatorial, we headed to Tanah Rata for lunch. During my Ph.D. years, I spent 5 days living in Tanah Rata to study the pesticide levels of produces here, hence I thought I was pretty familiar of Tanah Rata. But that was 2007. There wasn't Starbucks then; I was surprised to see the coffee outlet being out-of-place in a tea-dominant area and teh tarik stalls! Hah, I spot only kwai lows and backpackers patronizing Starbucks at that time...See!

I do not know, but I feel that this Starbucks is kinda out-of-place

Wasting no time, we head to Lord's Cafe to filled up our stomachs before the hike. Back then, this place was called T-cafe. infamously known for their classic scones & jam and creamy (strawberry?!) cakes. Pies here is a must-try too. I ordered scones, while Fong shared his strawberry mousse cake with me. It was disappointing to know that they do not serve main entrees anymore here. Wonder why.

Lord's cafe lived up to its name as it does have a Christian feel in here. Loads of posters and encouraging verses from the Bible hung on the four walls of the cafe. Books/magazines are ample, contributed by backpackers stopping for a meal.

At Lord's cafe

Finished scones.

After that quick brunch, we make the foothill of Sg. Palas BOH plantation, Brinchang. The primary reason we don't want to drive up was because I've experience a literal heart attack the last time I came up here with my Kelisa with my ex-classmates. Was driving up to Sg. Palas with my Kelisa, and yet, I was pressured to passed those huge busses and other vehicles coming down. The gap between me and the edge of the ridge were mere inches!! I remembered I was being honked and honked and honked and was compelled to brave through the horrendous traffic flow. And that was with a tiny weany Kelisa we're talking about; imagine going up with a Honda City! Historically I doubt there were any car that fell over the edge before, but it takes a heart of a lion to get up there. I was a squishy insect that time. 

Nevertheless, a hike is lots better cause:

1. It's mere 2 km

2. It's cooling!

3. The view was fantastic

4. We both love exercising, Fong's from Menglembu. A tar-road hike-up = Kledang hill.

This is why we didn't want to drive up to Sg. Palas. Traffic in standstill for a moment. The road up/down fits 1 car and 1 car only.  Don't fall off the edge!

Rest for a while

Check point no.1 - white roses decorating the guard post 

He doesn't mind a pose. Plantation worker harvesting tea

Ethical spraying: Good agricultural practices by BOH. FYI, you'll need  7 days after spraying pesticides before you harvest your produce.

An old smoke house bellowing ...well, smoke. Well, it's a rare sight (my first), cause in Malaysia  you don't see fireplaces working on a sunny afternoon!

Arriving at destination. Sg Palas BOH plantation

A short break and hydrate before we hike down before night comes.

Early in the morning, even after finding out that Whitney Houston has passed (was shocked!), we were still enthusiastic and getting ready to do the next hike at Habu. But first, I can't help but to play a game of pool after spotting four(!) pool tables at the hotel's lobby.

When you see pool, you play pool.

Alright, so we reached Ringlet and just after Ringlet, is another older BOH plantation - Habu. Habu is a little complicated and roads towards Habu is kinda hidden amongst the intensive agriculture. You have to drive up to Habu....and the hike starts from Habu tea house to Malaysian Nature Society (MNS: check point 1).  I've done this before in May 2011, so this route is pretty familiar. Probably 1.5 km. You can go another 4km to the peak of Habu, but time does not permit.

At Habu tea house.

Habu plantation as backdrop.

Was wondering what the white spots were. Zooming in showed hardworking plantation workers doing their tea-thing. Harvesting?

MNS check point 1. This place is filled with tall trees forming a shadowy canopy, giving the divine sunlight a slight penetration.

On the way back from MNS, we spot two millipede doing their thing. They were bergolek-golek in proximity with each other. My take was that they were having sex. Ohh, I mean, mating.

Huge millipede. There were a pair (but not another was not photographed). Yes, mating.

We arrived at KL in the evening and were blessed to have each other, sharing the same passion. Bought like tonnes of vege and flowers, til today also still cannot finish. As my boss would say: Objectives were met.

EMG Family Day - Damai Laut, Perak

Welcome to my second family. My colleagues and I are so close, I consider them my second family. In fact, I spend most my time (working life) for the pass 1.5 years with them. We are all such a great team that I am greatly saddened by the current restructuring that will see most of us going to other groups/projects. So, this is also a farewell trip for our close-knitted group.

If you must know, we are bonded mostly by food. Well, who's not, if you're in Malaysia. Everyone is such a great cook; I envy them being able to juggle between taking care of 5 kids(!) and coming to work with breakfast prepared (<8.00am!) enough for everyone to savour. They always cook lebih-lebih. I come to work every morning with home-made breakfast for sure at the pantry. (And I will be latest to wake up every morning and come in office empty-handed for the pass year - the luxury of being single and having no kids, husband to cook for).

As anticipated, our department's family day was a food-filled time. The trip to Damai Laut was a breeze and plus, the weather was kind to us. I packed my parents, god-sister and swim suit (as I was designated swim teacher for family day) into the Alza, sped to resort, and soon found out we are all staying at this awesome huge bungalow. Well, to cut the story short - we swam, BBQ-ed at night, karaoke-d whole night, played pool, relaxed at the beach, acara sukaneka involving balloons (my phobia!) for adults and kids, bitten by hundreds of mozzies, and the highlight for me (personally!) was - sharing ghost stories in the night. I spooked myself out, but was too tired to not sleep.

More importantly, my dad and mum enjoyed themselves and no-doubt fitted quite well with my colleagues, bosses and their family members. My mum is the most sporting mum in the world, which put me at total ease 'cause I was worried they wouldn't fit in easily (esp. dad). They were really really happy with the trip. I was happy that they are too.

I love my current boss. She's the greatest. She will be retiring end of this year and I am really sad that I'm about to lose a great mentor, a great problem-solver, and the one who hired me into a great company! *mata duitan*

Some random pics of the Family day:

BBQ

Afternoon at the beach

Damai Laut Resort - overlooking the golf course.

Mum

Newly-wed Fellie and hubby; others ain't my colleagues :P

Mum, Dad, Ying2

Death of this blog imminent

Blek, celebrating the impending death of this blog....

I have not been updating as frequently as previous years due to work (part time teaching swimming and full time work) and a series of events that led to me to abandon my blog this year. Not on purpose. Cause, mind you, I love blogging and writing. And I love this blog. It's been My Space (pun intended) since 2005.

1.  The domain: Blogspot has limited the number of pictures (which is linked to Picasa) that I can post on my current blog. Max photos in Picasa is 1GB, which I surpassed long ago because I had uploaded pictures to Picasa since 2005. Well, unless I delete my old photos which is big no-no. I am altogether pissed with, not my blog, but with Picasa. I am definitely not paying for extending my 1GB space of my current Picasa account. What I did was to set up another Picasa account: cchivy81@gmail.com where I get yet again another brand new lousy 1GB. Whatever it is, this factor alone has compelled me to wanna quit blogging for real. 

2. Indeed, the word 'microblogging' rather than blogging per se have taken over me. I've been twittering more, and concurrently updating my life in Linked-in, FB, Buzz via TweetDeck. While I still will upload photos to my new Picasa account (sure boh?), I am definitely looking forward to my FB account in terms of uploading new photo albums as FB is not limiting my album space (sure boh!?). Will they limit in the future? Well, let's just hope not for the time being. Microblogging is the way to go, but where little bits and parts of my mind goes bewildered and lost in some 'book' that I have a hard time recovering back. That's what I don't like abt microblogging and where microblogging is lacking.

3. Setting a new blog, probably: cchivy81.blogspot.com. Will this work? No eye-deer. I am contemplating on doing this though I am pretty sure it is repeating the cycle/wheel with blogspot again; I foresee the same damn problem cropping up in the future. And soon, I will copy-paste from this rant again for y'all :P 

I don't need readers for this blog is not for ppl to see (though I do appreciate comments), just that I would love to have a so-called online diary...you get what I mean? I enjoy writing and looking back at the past posts and smile at my sillyness (and smartness also lah).

4. Set up my own website/domain such as: ilovecchivy.com.my :P No?

5. Apa dia Tumblr ni? Put water punya bekas? Accelerated death of blog due to microblogging: http://www.goreng.my/spark/article/tumblring-up

Any suggestions in solving my issue above? I am a clueless person on the web. I know very well, but I have little idea how to exploit the vast opportunities that exist in the internet. Please, please, a big part of me don't want to quit blogging altogether.

*Apologies if I did not get my facts right on those issues above. Errata appreciated.

Feverish pace...

For regular readers, it's not like you didn't notice...but I've changed my blog design just few days back. The new design has a glass of wine as the background in replacement of my fav beverage (it still is!): Coffee. The glass of wine represents...errr...pretty much nothing. Don't ask me why Wine instead of Coffee. No reason. Me and my idiosyncratic way of writing remained.


This year, I've been much quieter. There's a lot happening around me and my life but there's doesn't seem to be any correct time to write it. My Twitter and Facebook have been the main podcast of my life; however it's good to generally update you with my going-ons:

1. Scuba Diving at Perhentian Islands Kecil and Besar (27-30 May 2010):

I am pretty glad with the trip that we've planned. I've clocked in 8 amazing and very very challenging dives!! I just gotten my diving license in Jan 2010, so compared the rest of my diving buddies (Kenny, Chin Yee, Ling2), I'm still novice when it comes to open water dives, which btw cost you guys a wreckage dive :(

Perhentian was a very very pleasant place to dive and with an awesome Dive Master from a We-Will-Do-Everything-For-You-Including-Washing-Your-BCD Dive Centre @Watercolours, I could not ask for more!

Highlights of the 8 open-water dives:
1. 3-legged turtle eating weeds very gelojoh-ly!
2. A scary looking Moray eel,
3. Chin Yee (and sometime I do too) trying to spot a nudibranch w/o help of divemaster. Futile.
4. A giant i.e. 1.5m sting ray!
5. Cleaner-shrimp giving all of us a manicure.
6. Very strong undercurrent and low visibility at dive spots: at Batu Nisan & Lighthouse. Challenging!
7. An annoying Digi Yellowman who lost his dive-buddy and bumping on us all over *benci*.

We stayed at Watercolours' Impiani resort/chalet. Our chalets is very high on top of the hill with a great great view fr the balcony. The food is pretty good and the services by the staffs were very friendly. But a lot of mosquitoes and biawak, gecko!!!







From the Impiani's chalet balcony. Other pics from this trip: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cchivy/DivingAtPerhentianIsland2730May2010?feat=directlink

2. My birthday 8 June 2010:

My besties organized a pre-bday dinner for me at The Apartment, The Curve sempena my 2*th bday. I do feel older. Even some pictures do show. I browsed through all my bday photos throughout the years and did noticed the changes in myself through the years: I looked less cute, but mature, wiser, and prettier...no? :P

On my bday itself, I was FFK-ed by my own family for a bday celebration. I was dissappointed but nevertheless someone special was there to cheer me up. Japanese food for me! YUMMS for the unagi I ordered. Huge portion some more. I totally recommend this place to our AsiaCafe-no-more-gang. Go to: Kissaten @ IOI Boulevard.

1. Run Run Run and what comes with it:

An all new Ipod Nano as a b'day gift. It will make a good accessory for my running. Next run will be at SCKL21km, and there's no better running companion than this amazing mp3 player.

But more importantly is an earphone that doesn't dislodge from your ears when u run + sweat. I suffered during the 15km run during Pacesetters in May because I kept pressing the earphones to my ears the whole run. Doesn't work. Maybe my ear-hole is not 'standard' size. Too big.

So I've gotten a new pair of earphones also from the Apple Store. A very good buy, sumbatan yang baik, boleh memendekkan the tali, and more importantly good bass.

  Then I forgot: Remind me to return the Ipod Shuffle to Cal girl!!!

3. Fever: Makan bola, Tidur bola, Pakai bola...

I wished it didn't happen so soon. But it is June 2010 and it's imminent. I will definitely lose some huge amount of sleep. Plus, I always am a big football fan, I can't help it. In English premier league, I support ManUtd, but in World Cup, I support the footballer. No wayne, no lionel; Yes to Kaka.

There are 3 places in my house where you won't miss the WC schedule: I put one above my headrest of my bed at the wardrobe; one huge fourfourtwo piece at the kitchen wall; one more at my kitchen table.

Sorry Bun, but you're right...I have gotten myself a FourFourTwo magazine plus a Time edition of the world cup.  I am trying to get hold of every information of the WC as I can. Once every four years marrr...










But what folly!!!!!! I don't even subscribe to the Astro's Sports Package!!!

I thought I'd just depend on my RTM...but alamak...found out only 35 Perlawanan terpilih je.....

Dear all,

I've never asked for too much. I'm often quite contented with life. Also quite modest in my wantings. But this year, I want all of you to pls continue to support me and everything I pursue: my career, my r/ships, my travels, and my adventures.

Thank You to all of u for giving me a great year. This is year will be another good one.

Luv, Ivy

The January Bag's Full

Before even January had set in, I knew this month will not spare me even a breath. The new year began with a red-carpet of high priority tasks at work and at home (play!). I anticipated all the busy-ness and the frenzy, but the stress level hit me like a bolt of lightning.

*sweat**sweat**stress* If January can be this 'crazy', I can certainly tell how amusing the rest of the year would turn out to be.

Not that I hate being busy. If you know me, I love being busy. I get excited. The adrenaline. As a dumb person, yes, I say "YES" to everything. I still go for events, make it for parties after parties, makan lunch with my foodie colleagues, teach swimming, diving, and have yet to cancel any yum cha appointments.

Albeit the tensiometer ringing high, when I accomplished many, I smile many too. Then ppl asked me how I find time to do soo many things and agree to almost everything, cause I just say: YES to almost everything.....almost...except Sleep.

**Sleep hates me and I hate Mr. Sleep. We are the worst of friends. Today is replacement holiday for Thaipusam, so it's also a day of replacement of all my missed-sleep.

In my January Bag:

1. YP and Bun's said YES at Chin Woo Assoc., Ipoh:

2. The next day, Mindy and Mathew Dass' both said YES. The sweet, purple-theme, amazingly geogeous wedding reception @ Gunung Lang, Ipoh:

3. Great time at Richard's NY's party @ his pad at Seksyen 14 (sorry, no pics) :(

4. Visited 3 amazingly beautiful caves and becoming emcee @ company's Environment trip to Felda Ladang Tekam, Pahang

5. Taking SSI Diving license at Pulau Payar, Langkawi from Cikgu Mansor:

6. And last but not least for busy JANUARY is: my new short fringe and straightened hair:

That's all for January 2010! Thaipusam tomorrow. Which could only mean: CNY Shopping til drop...

...but that's, of course, reserved for February...