it's all about food and friendship

The Music Ministry Retreat in Cameron Highlands marked the end of 2008 SFX Lifeline Music Ministry Caroling Project. It is a weekend of pure enjoyment, relaxation, friendship renewals and bonding. I must say that this might be one of the best Cameron trip I've been to thus far! Apart from the absence of Joan and the driving fatigue most drivers faced, the trip had been nothing but perfect!

I must say this trip was the core motivator for me to chalk an early finish in the annoyingly huge model which due yesterday. Besides, I must thank my churchmates for being the BEST 'cheerleaders', giving me words of wisdom, faith and strength and for being such great companions, inspirations and motivators when I was struggling with my bigass assignment. I LOPHE YOU GUYS!

The whole fun started on Friday afternoon. With only 15 minutes of packing and getting ready, I brought extra unnecessary load of clothes and looked quite haggard. Ipoh was a humble town with many hidden treasures I would say. We headed down town and rushed to get the famous Ipoh Salted Chicken. It was drizzling all the time when we were in Ipoh but the rain wasn't a turnoff! After getting the Salted Chicken, we headed to a nearby street for the celebrated Ipoh Nga Choy Chicken Rice/Hor Fun. The taugeh was fantastic! Short and stout and sweet! My mouth is itching again! Soon after, we went back to Henry's place to unload our luggage and we went out dinner with his parents and brother, Alex. It was delicious and yet another hearty meal! I went back feeling bloated.

The next morning, we got up at about 5.45am and got ready for early morning Dim Sum in Foh San. I like the texture of the dumplings and fishballs. The green vege was awesome too! After breakfast, we went to Henry's best buddy's wedding. We were to follow them fetch the bride. It was a long fashionable wait but I could see the exurberance flashing on Henry's face. It was my first-time experience fetching the bride. After the whole traditional-rites-infused ceremony was over, we headed to Cameron Highlands to meet up with the rest.

p/s : 'We' here refers to Henry, Me, Jacqueline and Cani

First pitstop was the chapel. Beautiful beautiful chapel. We went there to say a little prayer! The first day in Cameron was quite free-going. We went to the night market for some greenies shopping, yummy creamy icecream I had rum and raisins!!, strawberries and honey! After that, it's Dinner time in one of the steamboat restaurants in Brinchang! Hot soup and cold weather are the perfect couple! :) So Day 1 ended with an exciting game by Becky Bong and Abang Jagung and Cani's dance class which lasted until 4am! I learnt Cha Cha! LOL! :D

Day 2 started with most of the members hiking in a nearby greensite. I was happily hiking on the bed. Had a great night sleep all alone on the bed! Sorry Henry for taking so much space away from you *doelike eyes* Patrick made me tom yum noodles. My breakfast continued with another bowl of cereal with strawberries and fresh milk! Checked out, and we are free and easy. So Henry, Usop and Jagung's cars went off to Sungei Palas Boh Plantation for sight-seeing and a sip of tea. It was really mesmerizing and we shouted to the top of our lungs at the railing while climbing up to the Boh Center.

After the wonderful tea sipping, we took pictures and headed of to get flowers and went up hill to Raju's Strawberry Farm for the BEST, yes I mean the BEST fresh strawberries with honey and fresh cream with drizzles of icing sugar and ice cream served with fresh strawberries topped with cream and strawberry milk shake like the best strawberry drink I have ever tasted with good companions and breezy drizzling.... WAH! Okay, I'm being OTT! :) I can't wait to go there again.


After the strawberrilysensationicious moment, we went down to Ipoh for mass in St. Michael's Church. It is one of the most beautiful church I'd ever visited. It's so pretty! We did took some pictures too! yes! In the church~ As mass adjourned, the rain was pouring so heavily, we canceled the dinner plans near Sam Tet School. Instead, we went for Dim Sum again at some place in Ipoh town. It's so de-dimsum-licious! I love everything! And the Big Pau is bigger than my head! A sumptuous Dim Sum dinner summed up to a sumptuous bill too! After dinner, we headed back to concrete, metal, cement, urbanized city of Kay-EL. No more cool weather with snow-like-rain-bouncing-on-your-face moments.

This time around, I missed the Tau Fu Fah, Hor Hee Fun and other Ipoh hidden foodstalls. Must ask Henry for another Ipoh food hunting again! It's so fun~ Everything masuk buku 555 okay? :P Sigh.. It's all about food isn't it Gabby?

*I LOVE MY FRIENDS and I MISS THEM ALREADY*