Sunday, 26 June 2016
This morning we drove to Chuping where according to my friend, there used to be fields and fields of sugar cane. But it was all gone now, replaced with rubber and oil palm. Although the sugar factory was still there and as far as I could tell, still functioning. I wonder where they're getting their sugar from.
Then we went to Padang Besar - it's like a market place between the borders of Perlis and Thailand. It was supposed to be open at 9 am but it looked deserted. I think it's because of the Ramadhan month. Generally people become a lot slower throughout this month. We therefore had breakfast somewhere nearby and returned a little after 10 am.
There's a lot of cheap stuff here. I bought 2 football jerseys for Philip (Chelsea and Italy) and lots of tidbits. The nuts here are really cheap but also fresh. I bought cashews and almonds and other tidbits for home. As if there are not enough 'nuts' in my life.
As it was already nearing 12, it was decided that there was not enough time to visit Gua Kelam as we had a long journey back. Quite disappointing to have come all the way and miss the cave. But then it is a reason for me to come back.
A long drive back. We stopped in Ipoh for dinner. I bought some cookies from a shop called Guan Heong - cookies with crispy crusts with pork filling and another with chicken floss and salted egg yolk filling. Delicious.
Most of the time I read through the drive. Some exciting stuff that I discovered from the book I was reading on Lembah Bujang - that Indians are adventurous travellers from those days, from these ancient sayings:
In the ancient Hindu scripture the Puranas, written in Sanskrit:
"Charaiveti" - Go on and on... explore
"Kruvsnto Viswam Aryan" - civilize the people
"Wasudhaiva-Kutubakam" - the whole world is one family
And an ancient Tamil saying:
"Thiraikadal Odium Thiravium Thedu" - brave the waves and cross the seas to seek your fortune.
So my conclusion is that all this restlessness and the need to travel and see the world is really not my fault; it's in my blood!
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