To Elsa and Damian, I give you my best.

May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet. Enough trials to keep you strong. Enough hope to keep you happy. Enough friends to give you comfort. Enough determination to make, each day a better day, then yesterday. – From ‘The Wedding Planner’, the movie.

It’s good to be patriotic from young.

The polluted layer is still there, but at least the blue sky is now out.

Maybe we can resume swimming soon…

We’re putting swim lessons on hold for now.

Meanwhile, check out the new page on this blog…

Most medical personnel we’ve talked to more or less provide the same information – that there really isn’t much we can humanly do as the H1N1 Flu Outbreak runs its course. At best, we can only try very hard to remain healthy. Regular hand-washing is strongly encouraged, as is adequate intake of fluids and rest.

The Girls’ school have issued an instruction to all Parents to keep sick Children away from school and to seek immediate medical treatment. The school will not hold anymore school assemblies for the time being, and Physical Education lessons are put on hold. After-school activities are also stopped for now.

But then, there’s also the haze…

Kindergarten Children on the way to school in a school bus.

My Kids have not been blessed by such joy.

But then again I’m a Mama Bear when it comes to my Kids’ goings and comings. They plead and cry and huff and puff to try to get me to let them ride in a school bus, and I calmly tell them they’re riding with me. End of story.

And off they go!

Can you tell it’s a cloudy and about to rain 7:30am? We should be sleeping in.

Now normally I’d be taking a picture of everything I could, even around the lobby area. However, at this point, Hubsters nudged me to get on along with paying for our entrance fees.

So, we were three adults and four kids. The lady at the counter then asked for a breakdown of the ages of our little entourage. Okay. So that’s three adults, two school-going children and two pre-schoolers. Then the lady asked whether we had a senior citizen in the group. One of us was.

We got the Family Package, priced at RM28.

And Hubsters didn’t take any photos around the lobby.

“What? YOU had the camera!” said he.

Men.

Here’s where I’d like to tell everyone that please believe the information brochures and leaflets when they tell you to try and arrive at the Park in the morning, when the flowers and plants are fresh and dewy. With such a vast expanse of flora and vegetation, it was scorching hot when we arrived there at 1:30pm!

But the smell of Jasmine lightly scented the air. It was lovely!

We were told that we could catch the 2:30pm train ride to tour the Orchid Garden. Here’s our would-be ride.

But since it wasn’t time yet for our little tour, we walked around the place a bit, and my Mother-in-law and I kept telling each other about the loveliness of the scent of Jasmine in the air. Sigh.

And this caught my attention.

It’s the stretch that leads to Persiaran Perdana.

Beautiful stretch isn’t it?

And suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw this.

Aik?! Di sini pun ada tempat main bola?! (Football field?!)

Hey, have you ever seen PINK pineapples?

I haven’t! It was such a treat.

And sorry for the photo orientation. I was trying to keep a steady stance between holding my camera and an umbrella.

If you’re wondering where the Kids are at this point, they’re there. Running around wild and free. Glad to have such an extensive play area. Screaming “Daddy, I’m hottt. Where’s MY umbrella???”

We then moved on to this corner.

But first…

Well okay then.

And I’m falling a little behind here.

But I really wanted to read these first.

“Mommy! Are you coming?? You could get lost in here!”

It wasn’t from any of my Kids.

“Coming!” And I quickened my steps, catching this scene along the way.

I ran to catch up with my troop. Whenceforth I chanced upon my weary Husband.

In typical chinaman fashion of stating the obvious I called out, “Hot huh Darling?”

*no response*

These Chipmunks didn’t look weary…

Or maybe Spunky was.

This sent shudders down the Children’s backs, especially when my Darling Hubby explained to them that Carnivorous Plant meant the giant flower ate meat. “Wow, one of you could fit in there.” he said. And they ran far, far away.

I’m glad there are these amenities available in this woodland.

Oh hey, guess what. I think it’s about time we get on the train ride for our Orchid Garden tour.

But first, one more shot.

And look Mr Train Driver tells us we’re ready to go.

All aboard?

Let’s go!

And long.

And straight.

Flat. Long. Straight.

See for yourself.

Flat.

Long.

Straight.

No monsters mountain in here. (Channel Sully of Monsters Inc.)

My Chief Executive Chauffeur that is my Husband couldn’t keep his eyes open on such a flat, long, straight, hot and humid drive. So we made a stop by the Keningau township and I found this adorable little package.

She just begs to be the object of my camera’s affection. She’s a Native and I could be wrong, but I’m guessing she’s Murut. Isn’t she just adorable?!

Ok. Now that we’ve had cold drinks and some Nescafe, time to move along people. It’s a long drive to smell Jasmine in the air.

Cross the Pegalan River.

Somewhere along the way this connects with the famous Padas. But I don’t know where. Hey, I’m doing this simultaneously with doing the laundry!

At this point, I will spare you the details of the long, but this time, winding road. At least what monotony we felt on the way here quickly disappeared as we neared the Station.

First there’s lots and lots of cultivation.

And what have you.

And look, we’re here!

Almost…

There it is!

Let’s go in.

Tomorrow.

Translated: Gold Mountain Highlands Resort. I don’t know why it’s called ‘Gold Mountain’.

I have to say though this used to be a highlight for me way back when, (during my single, foot-loose and fancy-free, travel to anywhere days) especially for its cold, cold mountain air and beautiful flora and fauna.

BUT I’m almost ashamed to see the state of this place now. Did something of catastrophic measure happen here? Someone should rectify it. Quick.

And I suppose all of us humanfolk are to be blamed for the thinning ozone layer which may be why this place is no longer THAT cold.

Sigh.

Then My Hubs said, “Let’s check out them ‘friends’ and see if they’re still here.”

And they were.

Hello old Friends!

Wassup?

Umm.. Watchu guys doing?

OOkaay… I see you missed a spot there huh?

Yeaaa.. You’re enjoying this aren’t you?

Here’s some of the family. The rest are jumping and scurrying around over at back eating ticks or something.

“Mommeee…! Looo…k!” Just a minute Baby, lemme take a picture of you and Nenek Po Po first.

Baby Bulou: “Hey Mama. Look at all these people. It’s like they haven’t seen a Bulou in their life or something!”

Mama Bulou: “They haven’t Hon.”

Kids! They just can’t keep still now can they? They HAVE to join the fun.

Bulou: “Got it! Woohoo!” (look closely at the guy furthest away to your right – that skinny little hand reaching for a piece of corn cob the kids just threw at him. he got it alright!)

Okay Baby, time to go.

“Waiii…t! I wanna take a thousand rocks down to Tambunan!”

Aiyaiyaiyaiyai….

Yes, and she came as well.

Where would we be without her in our lives?

Next – the long, long Keningau stretch. Stay tuned!