MARDI Agro Technology Park Cameron Highlands

Perhaps because it was a public holiday thus the park was left unattended. There were no staff around thus the crowd did what they wanted to do. The garden was not attended to as it should so it had overgrown vegetables and flowers which needed replanting and tendered to ... enjoy the photos as much I have enjoyed taking a stroll among them ...

The hanging overgrown orchids at the entrance into the garden 

The rows of strawberry out of season or maybe too many visitors had plucked them

Rows and rows of blooming colourful blooming daises

A section of the garden dedicated to various types of cactus plants

Another type of hanging potted flowers

The brinjals where the leaves are much bigger than the vegetables

The 2 types of lettuces 

The overgrown rosemary bush

Asparagus ... too matured .

Extra large celery and matured too ...

Rows and rows of tomato plants ...

Something new - lavender flowers .

I have always loved this view of MARDI's office - a dream house of a simple cottage with a lovely variety of flower garden in front of it .... one day .. :-))

Up On The Hill ....

The view from Kak Hajar's backyard of her apartment on top of a hill ...

During the Chinese New Year long weekend found my family and I at Kak Hajar's place at Cameron Highlands after more than seven years. It was so cold at this time of the year. It rained. It shone. The holiday crowd came in full force creating traffic jams. But since her apartment was in Tanah Rata opposite MARDI on top of the hill, it was quiet and scenic. A soothing balm for the tired and weathered soul. She fed us, made sure we were comfortable, listened and was the perfect hostess. I appreciated Abang Zul for tolerating our presence for the 3 days we were there. We ate home-cooked food as the crowd would be all over the food stalls.

Kak Hajar was not only a sister but also a friend albeit the seven years gap between us. We had heart-to heart talks, we took long walks together in the cold morning and just talked the days away. We even had time for a hair cut. Maybe all I needed was a little pampering with love. The guys entertained themselves. Kak Hajar and I had a sister-friend session.

We did not do any shopping or sight-seeing as Camerons was so familiar to us. We only went trekking up Parit Falls and went around MARDI since we could just walk to these places from her apartment. Thus, we avoided the holiday crowd.

I have always loved MARDI agro technology park. Especially a gazebo where they grew roses. Once when Nadia was still single and we went there for a walk, she had always dreamed of an English garden wedding. Well, she had one albeit in a hall ... full of fresh roses all over the stage ... hmmm ... that was seven years ago. The last time I came up to Camerons....

It was a good break but tiring. My heart is still tired of human nature .... :-{

Face Off - WIth The Slimy Kind !!!

The incidents that had been occurring the whole of last week were confounding and mystifying. This made me recalled almost the same incidents a few years back - refer to my past post dated 10 OCTOBER 2011 - "What Do You Make Of This?". What with all the challenging and depressing incidents happening to me , I did not see any significance in them. Well ... let's try to recall ...

Last week when I came home and tried to pull the gate closed, I saw a large shining black snake slithering fast into the drain in front of the house. I only saw the tail part. It was large and black. It slithered off under and all I could do was stared at it. I guess the noise from the gate surprised it. When Ikram poked out his head from the front door, I told him about the snake but he did not see it. Ok, another snake incident to be brushed off.

A few days later, I was printing my work in my bedroom. After a few prints, suddenly, out poked a pretty yellowish-greenish head from under the printer. It was "face-off" time. Both of us got a shock! I screamed and it quickly ducked itself under the printer again. I was shivering with fright and the only weapon I had was the mosquito insecticide. I sprayed under the printer and it slithered behind the book rack !!! I ran outside and closed the door. I HATE snakes ...... ;-((  When Ikram and Noor came back, they tried to look for the snake but it was already gone. I refused to enter the room and slept on the sofa instead. I kept seeing the snake whenever I closed my eyes....  It took a few days for me to be confident that it was no longer under the bed or behind the books or back to under the printer .... Akmal reassured me that when a snake had been chased away, it would not come back. Easy for him to say as he was in Sabah and I was home alone most of the time ... hu..hu..hu... ;-((  

Next day, Ikram and I went to a road side hawker to eat "char kueh teow". We were waiting for our orders when suddenly I saw a long greenish snake slithering along the road to one of the tables. I could only screamed wordlessly and pointed at the snake to the group of guys sitting at the table. Ikram shouted "Ular! Ular!" but it took them some time to register what it was. A girl at the next table screamed out loud which made the guys jumped out of their chairs. The long snake slithered into one of the manholes into the drain. It was right in the centre of town near a busy main road !! Snakes did not suddenly materialise in the middle of the town !!! ;-{0} Later, Ikram and I had a good laugh recalling the  guys pushing and jumping from their chairs!! Their late reaction could be because Ikram did not pronounce the word "ular" in their dialect. Thus, it took time to comprehend what was being said. I guess so !!!!. Why another snake ??????

After that, the bees came. Small, grey and black bees came swarming around the lamp in the house. Oh no !!! Now what???? I thought bees came out in the morning to look for honey. Of course, I had my most trusted weapon - the insecticide. I switched off the lights and left only the kitchen and dining area lights on. By morning, they had bashed themselves against the lamp and died. Akmal, the "wise" one said that they were the "look-out" bees who went off to survey the best places to build a new hive. Oh dear ... why our house ???? !!!!

These incidents happened when I was bogged down with the accusations and malicious slander against my integrity and reputation. I had no encounter with the slimy kind since the 2011 incident. What is Allah trying to show me? Is there something I should learn from this ? I honestly do not like the slimy snakes, the buzzing bees and any creatures that can do me harm.... May I always be protected from them since I am always alone and on my own. As Ikram commented that only I could see these creatures and had a personal encounter with them. Hmmm ... the chosen one !

I Shall Do Nothing ...

"What are you going to do?" ... "What are your plans?" ..... "Do you intend to do anything?" ....

The questions that I got after colleagues found out that I had applied to opt out before my actual retirement date. Why did I do it?..... What finally made me decided to go for it?.... What about my long term plans? ....  Why should I answer any of them??????

I had studied for almost 19 years - 13 years in school, 3 years in college and 3 years in university. I had worked, including this year, for 31 years. I had taught and educated thousands of students. I had taught in 4 states. I had met numerous colleagues and staff. I had gone through experiences that only came through living them. I had matured beyond my years. I had been wiser due to these exposures, heartaches, hard life, little amenities and facilities. I had met lovely people whom I would always treasure, simple people who taught me life is actually what you made of it, people who were spiteful and vengeful, people who went out of their way to help and made life a lot easier, people who trusted you with their secrets, people who made your life miserable and a heart ache ..... people of such diversity and characters .... people whom you loved and embraced into your life .... and people whom you loathed and loved to hate ... but life is too short to hate and be bitter. Just let it go, smile and move one. Leave the miseries behind ....

Thus, my answer to those well-meaning questions are - I want to do nothing. I may not have another 31 years. So much I want to do and explore. My health is much at stake now. I am financially sufficient. My needs are few and my wants are minimal. Hence, if my application is approved, insyaAllah, I want to take one day at a time. Make everyday a meaningful day of doing nothing and everything. Take life easy after years of pressure and stress. Not rush through anything. My prayer is simply for a slow, relaxed life doing more for my Creator and less for my human counterparts and worldly goals. May my simple wish be granted with your prayers for me, too. Aamiin.

Justified Break ... ;-)

Kak Haj called that she would be in Ipoh for Abang Zul's check-up and the children, Shaun and Nadia, had taken leave to be with them. They had booked an apartment near the hospital until Friday. She invited me over to spend the night there. The invitation could not have come at a much needed time. We last met during Hari Raya Puasa break. I needed a break from whatever was suffocating me here. I went with Ikram as Noor was busy. We also called up Izwan and his family for dinner. Thus, we had a mini northern zone gathering. It was just the therapy I needed. To be among people whom I trusted, loved and listened to my predicament without being judgmental. Alhamdulillah for such blessings ...

The most interesting part of our gathering was discovering the River Walk which was just opposite the apartment - Kinta RiverFront Hotel and Suites. We took a walk after dinner at the bistro next to the hotel. Alothough Izwan lived in Tanjong Rambutan and Kak Hajar was a frequent visitor to Ipoh, they did not realise the existence of this tourist jaunt. It was a surprise find to visit the tin museum at night and free plus the art gallery where incredibly highly talented drawings were displayed. Just enjoy the photos below....

The River Walk view from the balcony of the apartment in the morning

And how it illuminates and light up at night .... spectacular

The plaque at the foot of the bridge to cross over the river - declaring the place open - it was very dark so it was not so clear

A view from the side of the river walk

The entrance into the tin museum - it was free of charge

The art gallery - we enjoyed and appreciated the talents of the artists ... 

Where we had dinner together - okay laahh ... 

It was a much needed break after almost four months of not going anywhere since I had to take over supervising the shop. Kak Hajar and I talked the night away and I poured my miseries to her. I knew she would just listen, console me, give her wise perspective to my predicament and assure me that somehow things would come out fine. InsyaAllah ... A tight hug and a willing ear were good antidotes. Thank you Allah ... such a short overnight visit but made me return whole and somehow much at peace with myself. Alhamdulillah ....

Everything Happens For A Reason ...;-((

SILENCE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS .... :-((