JUST TO SHARE (Lau Tai Onn): A Brief Account Of 2019 CNY Celebration 5D4N In Rantau Panjang, Perak

A pose with main road of Rantau Panjang, Perak

On the eve of Chinese New Year (CNY) 2019, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, Soh Ai, Wai Yu, Jia-mei, Wai Kei and I left home at about 10.00am and took our breakfast at Bdr. Mahkota Cheas before leaving KL at 10.30am.

Wai Kit had taken a bus to Bkt Mertajam on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, while Wai Jen would take a bus to Taiping on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019 to join our celebration of CNY in their grandma’s house in Rantau Panjang, Perak..

We found the traffic along the N-S highway very smooth. We stopped at R&R Tapah for a light lunch break at about 1.00pm. But we missed the junction to Kubu Gajah and took the longer route passing by Batu Kurau and arrived at Rantau Panjang at about 4.30pm, repeating the same mistake as our journey in last year's CNY.

Sitting room of Ah Ma's house

Backyard of Ah Ma's house

Ground floor bedroom of Ah Ma's house

On the 1st day of CNY, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, we went to Selama town in the morning to look for noodle breakfast but were let down by all Chinese coffee shops being closed for business. We had no choicebut to buy nasi lemak packets to bring back for breakfast.

At about 2.40pm, Soh Ai and I left Rantau Panjang to go to Kamunting Raya bus terminal to fetch Wai Jen. It took us about 1 hour each way. I bought one set of 9-piece fried chicken celebration bucket (RM54) from Restaurant KFC Kamunting before returning to Rantau.

Front view of Ah Ma's house

Queuing up for nasi lemak

Express bus terminal at Kamunting Raya

Wai Jen arrived from KL

Waiting for takeaway at Restoran KFC Kamunting

腊鸭腿(bought by me RM7.50 per piece) and 腊肠, as prepared by Kitty Wan

On the 2nd day of CNY, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, we were once again disappointed that the Chinese coffee shops in Selama town were closed, very unusual as compared to previous years. Not sure if the economy is bad or fewer outstation people return to this small town for CNY celebration?.Again, we had to settle with nasi lemak packets for breakfast.

At 10.45am, Wai Yu, Jia-mei and I drove Wai Kei to Taiping as he had to return to KL and start work the next day. It was quite difficult for us to find the express bus stop at Medan Simpang, Taiping as the Waze does not provide its location. The first Waze’s setting led us to a no-man land! A second setting brought us to a place opposite Medan Simpang at 12.15pm. We had cendol at a nearby coffee shop and saw Wai Kei boarded the bus at 1.05pm before leaving. Wai Yu drove to Taiping while I drove back to Rantau Panjang, reaching at about 2.30pm.

In the evening, we had a grand steamboat reunion dinner of 5 families, namely my mother-in-law or Ah Ma, b-i-l Sze Hean & his family of 5 plus 2 more kids (cousins of their children), b-i-l Sze Teong & wife Kitty Wan, s-i-l Sock Kim & her hubby Chooi Kon Heng, 2 daughters Ji-Ni and Ji-An & their respective boy-friends i.e. South African caucasian Allan and Ruben, me & my family of 6 (incl. d-i-l Jia-Mei, but excl. Wai Kei who had earlier just gone back to KL).

The dinner was done in self-service style, seating or standing, amid pretty high room temperature with a sudden downpour mid-way.

A quiet morning in Rantau Panjang on CNY 2nd day

Jia-mei in front of landmark of Selama bus terminal and market

Medan Simpang, Taiping, the express bus company that Wai Kei booked his ticket to KL

A so-called bus terminal at Taiping which is actually a bus stop in front of the express bus companies

Wai Kei leaving for home

Ji-ni (pic left) and her South African fiance Allan

Pasar Petang at Rantau Panjang

LeYi and Jia-mei

Preparation of steamboat dinner

Jia-wei (pic right) with his cousin Jackson

On the 3rd day of CNY, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, Wai Jen left with Sze Teong and Kitty in the morning to return to KL, while Sock Kim, KH Chooi, Ji-Ni and Allan left shortly after lunch to return to Penang.

At 3.30pm, Soh Ai's 4th uncle 世美 (i.e. elder brother of my m-i-l from JB, now 83 years old) came visiting us with his wife, son and 2 grandsons. I haven't met him for 10 years after we went together in a tour to Macau/Guangzhou/Shenzhen in 2008. I was indeed delighted to see him and we had a good chat.

After our visitor left, we went to Country Restaurant at Selama town in the evening for dinner with Ah Ma. The total cost of 4 dishes comprising fish (RM65), meat (RM48), vege (RM15) and tauhu (RM15) was RM154.60.

Wai Jen leaving for home following Teong & Kitty's car

Ji-ni and Allan with Ah Ma before departure

Ji-ni with parents and fiance before leaving Rantau Panjang

Uncle 世美 and I

Uncle 世美and his wife and son visiting Ah Ma

Our dinner at Selama Country Restaurant, 荷叶闷排骨 (RM48)

砂煲豆腐 (RM15)

芥兰花炒杂 (RM15)

潮州蒸红鱼 (RM65)

4 dishes costing RM154.60, more expensive than usual

On the 4th day of CNY, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, we (i.e.Soh Ai, WaKit, Wai Yu, Jia-mei and I) left Rantau Panjang at 9.00am, had wantan mee breakfast at Lum Kee Restaurant, Selama at 9.30am.

The traffic along N-S highway was initially smooth this morning. We stopped for a coffee break at R&R Bkt. Gantang, Perak at 10.45am. We resumed our journey at 11.10am with Wai Kit taking the wheel from me. The traffic was getting heavy before and after Ipoh.

We stopped at Restaurant Jin Chen (金城餐馆), Tapah for lunch from 1.15pm till 2.00pm. The total cost of 4 dishes comprising fish (RM28), pork-ribs (RM28), deer meat (RM15) and vege (RM12) was RM102.00. Wai Yu drove from Tapah till Sg. Buluh amid heavy traffic. After topping up petrol at Sg. Buluh, I drove and returned home at 4.50pm.

A pose of Soh Ai and Ah Ma before our departure

Our car ready to leave for home

Wai Yu and Jia-mei with Ah Ma before departure

Noodle breakfast at Selama town, once again the breakfast bill was foot by Soh Ai's relatives who happened to take their breakfast at the same coffee house