will i am's delayed diary

We were a lot more prepared for All Soul's Day for 2023 ( yes, I know that I have been slacking a lot! ). By 8:30 AM ( the ground was wet and muddy but the sun was shining brightly ) we were already at dad's grave and had decked out all our offerings. BIL brought a foldable stool for Little Monster who was now my go-to candidate for reciting the rosary. Wrapped things up, and by 10 AM we were having a dim sum breakfast at Teck Kee . The place has a weird self-service system. Generally not to my liking with the exception of the lohmaikai and kopi . The boss seems to have a landscaping hobby judging by the entrance that's decorated with all sorts of animal statues, Chinese proverbs, clumps of bamboo.  Then it was off to visit my aunt and cousin, before buying some Liew Kee CCF, and stopping for some cold desserts at Hawaii . So shocked to find a stray hard-boiled quail egg in my cendol . Next stop, Ipoh! Accommodations were booked by my sister at The Tudor , a bungalow in ...

Did you know that for every paid Basic Life Saving course that St. John's Ambulance Malaysia (SJAM) charges for, they provide free CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defribillator) training for the community. I joined one such course after my Gopeng trip and found it really useful. When someone stops breathing, there's only a golden period of a few minutes before brain cells start dying due to lack of oxygen. By the time an ambulance arrives, its already too late. Definitely very different from what one sees on TV. Ever since COVID, procedures have changed where blowing a breath is no longer needed, and we are even instructed to cover the mouth of the unconscious person. And the training made me realize that delivering quality CPR is quite a tiring process. And the chances of survival are enhanced using an AED. Basically it jump starts your heart automatically by delivering an electric shock. The device comes with sound cues and safety mechanisms wh...

On our last day in Gopeng, we had another adventure-- spelunking at Gua Tempurung! We were herded there via the lorries again. Equipped with helmets and headlamps, we headed into the limestone cave. The first part was a walk in the park, with flood lights, proper walkways, and stairs. A great way to admire the numerous natural rock formations, and the huge caverns. Ironically, the large caverns felt stifling, whereas the small caverns were cooling. Think its because the air flows near the cave walls. The next section was more treacherous and required guides. Some of the sections required us to slide down from a height of nearly two-storeys high, and also crawl into holes to drop to lower floors. Not something one can do safely without assistance. At one point, we had to do a claustrophobic crawl through a cave filled with water only to emerge into a pitch dark cave. Really quite an experience. When we came out, we were actually below the walkways of the first part of the cave. We were ...

Enjoyed a long, quiet breakfast at the mess hall all by myself. Before long, my colleagues had returned from their tree-planting activity. Next up was some light team-building activities at one of the halls. The usual ice breakers, some IQ questions, a team dance-off, and finally a kind of treasure hunt that had us roaming across the whole compound. The highlight of the day was a barbecue dinner, and a birthday celebration for the October babies ( that's me! ). Some colleagues also lit Kong Ming lanterns, but I stayed back. As the night drew on, we started snacking, drinking, and gossiping. The hottest topic was the supernatural event that happened the night before. The owner of the resort actually organized a night jungle walk. Strangely, after the group had left, one Malay colleague returned. Turns out that the resort owner strongly advised her not to join. According to the story, the resort owner sensed a spiritual presence around her that would not have been compatible with th...

Birthdays are always marked by meals with family and friends. Simple food as I wasn't feeling very well. Been incubating some germs for a week. Gratitude to SK, CK, Lifebook, Bless, Lifebook, Jaded Jeremy, Bunny, and SimonLover for celebrating with me. Goes without saying that KH is highest on my thank you list. And it also goes without saying that SimonLover added more sexy gear to my collection.  About a week after my birthday, I headed to Gopeng for a company team-building trip. A total of two buses made the trip north. Our first stop was at Nasi Bamboo Sungai Klah for lunch. The food wasn't extraordinary, but it gave me the chance to try Ikan Pekasam, a pungent fermented fish that repulses many of my Malay colleagues. At Gopeng, we ditched the buses because the MyGopeng Resort is not easily accessible. We boarded two lorries like how you see pigs being transported to the market. The ride was uncomfortable and bumpy. I was so tired of standing, that I ended up sitting down ...

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