Our Whirlwind Balik Kampung Trip

Food court, Ipoh Garden, Ipoh – Dunno the official name of this place. We used to call it Toungku Thing (Mushroom Stand) as it used to be an open-air area filled with tables that had large umbrella stands that resembled huge mushrooms. Now we just call it Woolley, which is actually the name of the indoor food court next door. …Who cares about the name? As long as there’s great hawker food haha!

What a trip? We just came back from a very quick trip back home – 1 day in KL, 2 days in Ipoh, and 4 days in Butterworth & Penang. (7 days in total …plus 2 days in the airports & 4 days in Bali actually, ahem). The Bali trip was supposed to be with my dad and mom, planned ages ago, but due to mom’s unexpected cancer development, we had to go ourselves.

The main purpose of our trip was to see the family, and yes, we saw a lot of the family. Here’s a brief photo post of our whirlwind trip back home. (My writer’s block is still there and will still be there for some time to come, judging from my ‘who cares?’ writing attitude nowadays. So, bear with it, OK? Besides, a picture speaks a thousand words, so here’s fifteen thousand words and more. Enjoy!)

First Stop KL: Was with Cousin Jack and Aunt Helen for the whole day. Visited Helen’s new home in Taman Desa (yup she finally moved out of the old one). Cousin brother Joey (Helen’s son) bought the new apartment and sold his old one off.


A surprise! Justin met his school classmate, fellow Malaysian Varshana in KLIA! Varshana and her mom were on the same flight as ours, but we didn’t meet until we were at the baggage carousel waiting for our bags to arrive. Talk about a small world!


With Jack and Aunt Helen at the new apartment, Abadi Villa, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur


A view from Helen’s new home, Abadi Villa

Next Stop Bali: We spent only one day in KL, and then we were off to Bali (…and that is for another day to tell hehe).

Third Stop Penang: Coming back from Bali, we flew straight to Penang, transiting KLIA. Jason and family were in Butterworth but they were due to fly back to Singapore in slightly more than a day’s time. So there’s precious little time to bond. But still, a little is better than none at all.


Justin and Stacey Ong, in Butterworth. The last time we saw Stacey was in Singapore when she was about umm 8 months old!


Dinner with Jason, Fang and Stacey, and the Butterworth side of the family. With the recent passing away of grandma and grandpa, mom’s parents, there’re considerably less family members now in Butterworth


2 aunts, an uncle and a cousin, Butterworth – don’t ask me what this restaurant’s name is. I have completely no idea. (And no, I wouldn’t be able to find it with Google map, …coz I wasn’t paying attention when Dad drove us there!)

Fourth Stop Ipoh: Right after Jason and family left for Singapore, we drove back to Ipoh. Decided to spend the weekend in Ipoh as I wanted to be back in Butterworth & Penang on the working weekdays to attend to a few important things.


Jayden and his great grandmother, my mother’s mother - 91 years old, at her home in Taman Merdeka, Ipoh


Jipek, at Taman Merdeka – We picked Jipek up from the old folk’s home and went straight to granny’s house


Breakfast with Ajit – the only friend we managed to meet this trip round, at Keng Nam coffee shop, with his daughter Ravini. The coffee shops (where most Malaysians eat their meals) in Ipoh are bustling with business! Every place is packed. Are people that well off? Or was it because of the Ching Ming festival that was on, that particular weekend?


Picking Helen up from the Ipoh Railway Station


Helen and Big Aunt (Tuako) at our Canning Garden House, Ipoh

Back in Butterworth: Headed back to Butterworth after the weekend. Got some errands to do at the banks and wanted to do a medical check-up. And most importantly, to have some family bonding time with the parents. Helen and Auntie Choo, our neighbour from Ipoh followed us back to Butterworth. We roped the aunts in to help Kim out in Auckland during the birth of her second child. (She's gonna have a baby girl!!!) Keeping our fingers crossed that all will go smoothly.


Anu, the kids and the aunts near Dad's house in Butterworth


Some shop-houses in Jalan Nagor, Penang - Dad stopped here to pick some bread up from a bakery called Continental. Malaysians are that crazy. Buying bread from a specific bakery on the island across the sea from your home? Can't you get bread in your local grocer down the street??


Family dinner in Teksen Restaurant, Penang, on the penultimate day of our trip – with Penang cousin Kar Yee and her husband

There! Our trip in 15 photos.

Mom’s down with Stage 4 lung cancer. She’s undergoing treatment and looks fine except for her hair loss. We know there’s little hope for a cure scientifically, but we’re praying and depending on divine help. If you’re reading this, please do us a small favour and pray for her. Thanks!