The Mat Salleh vs the Cina-wannabe

Yes, i'm back again.
This time from Lumut.
Friday to Sunday i was there, attending the Sg. Nibong/Sg. Ara Family Retreat. Sadly, in saying yes to this one, i said no to my home church cause they were having their camp at Frasers Hill.
Why did i choose it?
Simply because while i'm gonna be in Penang for the most of the next 2 years, i would like to feel like i truely belong to the church, and not just an face that pops in and out. And i think it was a good decision.

I like the fact that its a smaller church than what i'm used to. I love it. All my life i've been a little dot in the midst of 350people. Although i do belong there, i sometimes i feel as if i dont. Its embarrassing when after so many years i still dont know most of the people...the aunties and uncles, and who is related to who, etc. But its not my fault...? Like, how would i know if X is Y's cousin and P is Q's sister-in-law. How would i know that? HOW ?!? And lets face it, its difficult as it is for me to remember names, let alone try and learn all the stuff that i should already know by now. Bah.
Getting back to Lumut- it was a good camp. Very informal, simple and laid back. As a family camp should be.

I promised to help out with the Childrens Program (jaga anak) so i actually missed 3 outta 5 of the talks. Taking care of 5-9 year olds make me feel like not having kids...ever! Hehehe.. Ups and downs la. On the one hand, there are the polite, well behaved ones *angels!* and on the other hand, there's the rude,disruptive ones *opposite of angels*. After 2hours with them, i was drained! I felt like i went through an intensive excercise program. Its just non stop action with them. But i can see how mean kids can be...And there's really nothing much i can do about it. One boy was always alone and said "I've got no friends here." Sure enough, the other boys didnt wanna play with him. =(

Lumut has nothing much, but for free time we could go to Pangkor in a van tour for a coupla hours, laze in the resort or follow a small group up a nearby hill. I chose option number three, and i'm glad. Twas an hour's hike up, but it was well worth it. Of the 17 that went, 8were children, and i do mean children (<10yrs) but they were the ones leading the way! As agile as monkeys and with amazing stamina, they reached the top first, with me just moments behind of course... =p Great to see their parents encouraging and giving them the confidence to not be afraid.


Sadly, we couldn't join the group for the final lunch as we bought 2pm bus tickets. 5 HOURS to get home okay! Ish! Why parents so good and took their kids for a holiday...making the highway jammed up. Let them rot at home watching t.v and playing computer games...



What i'll remember of Lumut:
1. Freakin hot
2. Makan places there very expensive
3. The town has an overall fishy smell
4. Orient Star hotel rears a chicken the size of a peacock