Thursday, December 18, 2008

Cameron Highland Trip

Egg boiling, hot spring style!

Rainbow touching anyone?

Last weekend, 12th December to be precise, I went to Cameron Highland for a mountain getaway with my family. It was planned a few weeks earlier when we had dinner and talked about a simple holiday with the kids since it's school holiday.
So, we gathered at our house early morning, 8:00a.m and sets off in two vans. Our first destination before heading to Cameron was the Sungkai Hot Spring. It is operated by Felda which to me did a decent job in turning a palm oil estate into a resort.
Once we reached there (after a two hours drive from KL), we booked 2 private jacuzzi pools. The usage is free if you opt for a Aryuvedic massage therapy. Debbie, Yvonne, Eddie and myself went for a hour-long massage each while the children played in the pool. The massage was good. Our masseurs came from India and I must say my first "Indian-styled' Aryuvedic massage is quite nice albeit oily. Maybe I'm not used to being oiled all over my body..... Nearly slept during the course!
While we're enjoying our dip in the hot spring and massages, the kids thrill themselves with boiling eggs in the hot spring. Got to say the eggs is tastier and more springy! Nice and yummy!
By the time we depart from this place, it's already lunch hour. So we stop by Tapah for a simple lunch. Nothing special.....
We reached Cameron Highlands about 5p.m. On the way, we seen something special. There was a rainbow, well, nothing special here but the rainbow was at our eye level! My son was asking if he can slide down it or not! Truly breath taking view!
It was chilly and the 1st place we stopped by is at a road-side market. Buying vegetables? Not really. We just stop by to collect the keys to our rest house that we rented from our friend. It was his childhood place, old and a bit run-down but it's still ok.
Dinner is steam-boat. Nice and it complements the chilly air perfectly. Then, basically it's chit-chat and went to bed early. Our next morning starts with a visit to the most well-known tourist spot in CH; BOH factory. A simply must go for any visitor especially the factory visit. Then we went for tea-break. The view is just amazing. Sipping tea, looking over the tea bushes and enjoying your piece of cake or scone is just perfect!
Another place highly recommended is the Smoke House. So English, and the scones is just the BEST! Expensive though.
The highlight of our tour is a cabbage plantation visit. The farm is operated by Debbie's friend, Moon. He took us through the rough terrain in his 4 X 4 and I must say this is by far the most exciting ride I've ever experienced! The kids simple loved it. Moon showed us his farm and some explanation on the art of seeing money grow on soil! It's really hard work being a farmer. By the way, Moon is a certified Chartered Accountant.
It was a nice trip for all. I really enjoyed the trip and looking forward for another trip with my family.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Another "I did not say that" politician

A loadful of dung!


Well well well.... what a truly wonderful country this is. As a politician in Bolehland, you can basically spew racial slur, going against the constitution or even utter vulgar words to your fellow MP and yet nothing can happen to you. Why? Because in Bolehland, even if there are recorders, TV or net broadcast and even mainstream media reported exactly what you said, you can still deny it with a straight face. Better still, later you can organise a press conference and tell the whole wide world that the media 'twisted' and 'misquoted' you!

The latest 'drama' that have grip the country is the call for vernacular schools to be closed and for Bolehland to have a single school system. Mukhriz made that call; saying it'll unite the country. Based on what he made that deduction is beyond me. Maybe his dad knows better.

After this gaffe, politicians from PR and even member sendiri from MCA and MIC have criticized his comment. Kit Siang even made a point that this comment is seditious and Mukhriz might even lose his MP if convicted. So, having shot himself on the foot, what can he do? Issue a denial statement la!

I think deep down inside, he knew he made a major blunder. Scoring a few cheap points for his UMNO Youth race is not worth the wrath he incurred from fellow Malaysians. So, today, it was reported that he has clarified that he didn't made calls for vernacular schools to be closed. What we wanted is the schools to be remain physically but the system be changed!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! IT'S SO STUPID! It's like asking a Bak Kut Teh seller to stop selling this favourite Chinese dish while later said it was not a ban, just don't put pork in BKT! A school is just four sides of walls. You can even teach under a tree or pondok for all I care. But the medium must be protected by all cost. Extremist views like these must be stopped. Even Najib has defended this long established education system that makes us unique in Asia or probably the world.

Blaming our education system for a polarised society is so narrow in thinking. Why not he got the balls to questions the unfair policies instead! Oh, I forgot.... he'll stand to lose even his undies if he even dare to raise this up.

DAP has made a police report on this seditious comment. It's a waste of time and money because nothing will happen. After today, everything will be forgotten...and he has scored some cheap points for his election cause. Not to mention free publicity in the media!


Good job! Carry on with this and BN will lose more in the next election!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Single System School for Unity?

Mukhriz Mahathir

Mukhriz has call on the Government to abolish the current education system in the country and introduce a single school system to foster racial harmony. According to him, it's the only way to check racial polarisation. I don't think so.....

I think Mukhriz is just talking an 'Election Talk'. With UMNO's election round the corner, it's easy to see that these type of statements are whipped out to garner a few supporters vote. It's so narrow thinking and self contradicting.

He's been quoted to say that quarters who rejects his views should say why. One can't have equal rights with different type of school systems. As he put it, "You cannot have the cake and eat it too". So, in a different way, Mukhriz is all for unity, fairness to all, rejects the much talked about 'Ketuanan Melayu' and opt for Bangsa Malaysia? He's willing to stick his head out and go against the UMNO hierarchy?

I do think a single school system can work and most probably the way forward but only if our education system is separated from politics. Right now it's not possible, because our education is so much entwined with politics. A slight move and you'll see politicians from all over the country voicing out their opinions and score some cheap points.

The proposal can work if we are ready to discard our racial baggage. Do away with racial-based political parties as a start. Then, are we ready to accept that all Malaysians are equal? Do away with whatever policies that favours only certain races. The Government must help out the poor and the needy; from all races. Poverty affects everybody and is colour blind. Let the nation stand on its own two feet rather that certain quarters needing tongkat to help them walk. If our Government can take these important and significant steps and our people are mature enough, I'm sure, in no time, we'll be a 'Super Power' in SEA region. If we are ready, then a single school system with mother tongue being taught will be a great idea. As of now, the divide and rule tactics employed (thanks to the Brits) is a major obstacle in achieving a true unity in this country. Too much agenda, too many self-interest at stakes for all.

This statement will create some buzz among politicians and the public. At least will put him in the limelight for awhile. A cunning publicity move? Got him some paper space!

So, to me, it's just an 'Election Talk' by a Youth Chief aspirant. Good luck to you.