Gong Xi Fa Cai

I have been woefully useless at updating this blog recently, bad Fattipuff!  Particularly when I was getting so much enjoyment from reading the various Janathon efforts – well done to you all

 

Anyway, the last month has flown by.  We returned from Cambodia and launched straight into term with the usual hectic chaos that engenders and before I knew it I was at the airport waiting for my parents to appear.  This time of year is rather rich in public holidays (I’m not sure how that distinguishes it from any other time of year here, but we have had 2 4 day weekends in the last 4 weeks.  Really can’t complain!) and they could plan a trip that would span two long weekends.  The first was Chinese New Year which we spent in Penang.

Chinese New Year has been a revelation.  I have learnt that I am a horse, I have learnt some of the customs and traditions, and I have also learnt that nothing happens over a two week period!  Pretty much everything grinds to a halt – particularly the traffic.  Anyway, we hit the streets and went sight-seeing – walked the heritage trail in George town, went to the Botannic gardens, went to the biggest Buddhist Temple in Penang (Kek Lok Si) to see the lanterns…  Unfortunately a lot of stuff was closed and the traffic was completely mental but we saw some funky things:

The lanterns are really quite astonishingly beautiful, and this particular temple, Kek Lok Si, looked even more stunning at night time.  Sadly the ridiculously large amount of traffic meant that I only ever saw it from the road, but it was impressive nonetheless.

The next weekend I went with Emily and her folks to the nearby orang-utan sanctuary and Taiping Zoo.  Both were good, although not perhaps as impressive as some other institutions.  Always fun to look at our big organge ancestors though

The next long weekend was mercifully not far away and after a full week at work (ooo that hurt!) I jumped on a plane for the short flight to Langkawi our local tropical island.  Mum and Dad had booked us into a rather lovely hotel and I can honestly say that activity was kept to an absolute minumum whilst away.  The daily routine consisted of bagsy a sun lounger, eat breakfast, sun bathe, drink iced water brought by nice waiter, eat fruit from same source, refresh with iced towel, eat lunch, return to sun lounger, have mini ice cream, more fruit, wait for sun to go down, shower, eat dinner, repeat.  In there were occasional dips in the pool and sea to cool off, and on one day I did manage a little walk along the beach.  All in all a properly relaxing weekend!

Unfortunately I’m having a bit of a technological falling out with my phone so I don’t have the photographs of that particular idyl.  Perhaps for the best.

Life now returns to normal with a full 4 weeks before we get another break.  Blimey – it’ll almost be like having a proper job!