All Souls Day 2023

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 the style of a black and white cottage located in a quiet area around Persiaran Anderson. As the name suggests, the interior is also very British, very colonial, with loads of paintings, wooden furniture, and even suits of armour. 

For dinner, we had bean sprout chicken at a local eatery called Demoon Cafe. Nothing to shout about, just wanted to be away from the touristy places. Kinta Riverwalk seems to be a new tourist attraction. Basically a stretch pedestrian walkways along the river which is dotted with some cafes. And if you don't feel like walking, you can rent a powerboard or an electrical scooter. Kids have the option of those garish LED-lit mini cars or motorcycles which blare music as they move. 

The adults would rather hole up in a cafe, sipping coffee while enjoying the air-conditioning. Coffee Camp 612 is another one of those camping themed cafes, but with a twist-- reptile petting zoo. The owner got us acquainted with BD, Pikachu, and Simba, the in-house snake, stumpy-tailed lizard, and gecko.