little miss may

This is where it has to end.

All good things don’t last forever.

A chapter closes, a new one begins.

Sometimes a fresh chapter starts with a continuation from the previous.

Some chapters, like this one, has some relation to the old one, but mostly it has a new story to tell. Very little strings attached, or not at all. It aspires to commence as such, in the least.

Bridges aren’t burnt, but rather preserved for another time and place to be reused again like old roads that lead you home.

Voids and gaps would have to be left empty… for now… until another day when these could be filled with meaningful moments.

The most difficult part would be leaving behind the good things along with the bad. Nevertheless, some good things just aren’t meant to be carried forward, but to live in memories and in reminiscences. Oh, the heavy-heartedness of finally putting them down and not pick them up ever again.

Ever?

Perhaps.
Perhaps not.

Maybe even better things would come about with the release of the good old times. No guarantees that the tears and bad times will disappear forever, because without them, how would we learn to appreciate the sweet and the laughter? Everything positive has a negative to balance it out. What they are, whether it’s history repeating itself or a fresh new batch of cookies from the oven, is an unknown.

Still unwritten.
And that is the beauty of it.

Come write in this new chapter with me.
Stay if you like, leave if you must.
I’d still welcome you with open arms.

To you…
Hope you had a good journey, see you soon.

To you…
I’m impressed and have a lot of respect for you.

To you…
Thank you for your long-distance support.

To you…
I miss the fun times we used to share.

To you…
I’m sure you had a whale of a time.

To you…
I know I’ve been distant lately. I have my reasons.

To you…
I hope I could make amends someday.

To you…
Your wife’s a lucky woman to have you by her side.

To you…
You have my envy.

To you…
I wish you love.

To you…
I love you.

Ipoh, the land of eats…

Travelling along the NKVE, blue skies all the way.

Ngap thui meen at Bidor, where we bought some chicken biscuits for Helen and Samm, and stocked ourselves with heong peng and sak keh mah. Good stuff!

Satay, popiah, chee cheong fun, sotong with kangkung and more for lunch at Thean Chun. Hot weather but worth the sweat. Fried ice cream too, at a shop near by.

Starbucks is a must-stop…

Famous Ipoh ngar choy kai (chicken and bean sprouts) with pork balls at Lou Wong. Across the street, there were little lotus seed “biscuits” in cute animal shapes.

More plates of grub at a place which signboard indicated it was a seafood restaurant, but served very delicious pork.

Chee chap chuk at some stalls near Robin. The fried intestines were crunchy and had the taste of deep fried pork fat, or what’s commonly known as chee yau char among the Chinese. And some green grassy drink which didn’t sit too well with AhTak.

Grand finale breakfast the next morning at Foh San, with Helen, John and Samm. The char siew pau, har kau and egg tarts were absolutely to drool for!

Pit stop at Sun Yuen Long for ice-cold Ipoh white coffee.

Isn’t baby Malcolm adorable?

* * *

Thanks very much, Helen, John and Samm, for your great company! Truly wonderful to have met up with you. Call us whenever you’re down in KL, we’ll take you makan-makan, yes?

Greetings from Ipoh-pohtamus!!

08:00 a.m. pickup and departure from Damansara Jaya

09:45 a.m. brunch of ngap thui meen at Bidor

11:00 a.m. check-in at Hotel Ipoh City

01:00 p.m. lunch of bola-bola, satay, chee cheong fun, etc at Thean Chun, New Town

03:00 p.m. Stabak-ing at Ipoh Parade

…and more porgy adventures to come…

Going on a road trip is always sexciting! This weekend we’re off to see Helen of Ipoh while gorging ourselves with slippery sah hor fun, ngar choy kai, chee chap chuk, Foh San dimsum and lots more goodies, while drowning all of it in authentic Ipoh white coffee.

I’ve yet to pack but, anal as I always am, I made a list of what to bring along with me. Yes, even for an overnight trip! It seems incomplete without a list, somehow. What to do, I think it’s one of my many mini OCDs.

What do you pack on for an overnighter? I can’t seem to cut down on many wee bits which I’m sure, if I forget, I would’ve been able to replace it by simply going to a convenience store or supermarket if I’m staying at some town. For a jungle camp, that’s an entirely different story. Forget your toothbrush and maybe you’ll be cleaning your teeth by rubbing your finger over it.

Back to my list.

I tend to over-pack rather than survive with just the right amount of items. Like that extra t-shirt for that slim chance of getting caught in the rain or splattering of curry on the wrong spot. Ah, better to be safe with an additional change of undies than to be sorry, just in case.

My list for an overnighter goes a little like this, including what I’d wear on that trip and the journey home…

The outer skins:
3 tops (iron-free tees are best)
2 bottoms (jeans are practical, skirts are cute, whatever’s good)
… ok, maybe a pair of shorts to go with it…
2 changes of undergarments (bra & undies lah!)
1 towel (the lightweight travel ones)
1 pair of footwear

Travel-size items:
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion
Facial cleanser, toner, moisturiser
Contact lens solution, lens case
Toothbrush, toothpaste
Facial cotton, cotton buds

Girly stuff:
Lip gloss, blush, etc
Wide-toothed comb
Hair clips

Essential gadgets:
Nail clipper (very useful when you least expect it!)
Watch
Camera, extra battery, cable
PDA (maybe, maybe not)
Phone (fully charged; no charger required)
… and on this trip, my Mackie

Oh, and my purse with cash to spend and cards to charge, of course!

Hmmm… did I forget anything?