Of driving, travelling and holidays:

I once had a habit of writing about my trips. I would try to remember the details of my trip: what did i do? where did i go? what was the name of the place? funny anedotes? But this time i was consciously trying not to register any of these. Even though it was the National Day weekend, it did not feel like much of a holiday.

It was a family affair. Cousins, aunts, nephews, nieces, maid all packed into two cars along the trip to Serembem and KL. I was the designated driver (obligatory since i had the car). The trip there was uneventful and i thought about my friends in Singapore. We reached our destination on time.
Most memorable sight: road block
No of accident witness: 0
Amount of time to get there: 5 hours (inclusive of traffic jam at woodlands checkpoint)

We stayed with my aunt. It was the first time i have been to her house after a long while. Finally as a tourist and not a rehab detainee. She knows what i liked to eat and the best thing about this trip is revisiting all my favourite food. The kids were over the moon as they have never been on a road trip and infected us with their excitement. I have never seen them so talkative. We spent quite alot of time watching cable tv.

I vaguely remembered going to a tourist beach that had passed its expiry date: yellow sands with empty food stalls. We packed a picnic and gotten lost thrice before finding the place. It used to be THE place for family outings back in the early 80s. I remembered going there when i was 6. It looked different now.

There was also an outing to a nearby hill where there was a mountain stream and a waterfall. The kids paddled and the adults watched. We did not see the waterfall as it was a 3 hours climb up. The toilet was surprisingly clean. I don't remember the name of the place but there was a pile of rubbish near the sign.

We did not drive into KL during the day as planned. I refused to drive there after all the horror stories i have heard: traffic jams, messy roads, maniac drivers being the least frightening ones. We did however managed to go into KL one of the night in my cousins' car. We went to the night market. It wasn't very exciting perhaps because i did not want to shop for 1) fake watches 2) handphone accessories 3) t-shirts 4)sunglasses. We stayed for 2 hours and got lost on the way back. It was not as dreary as it sounded, actually it was rather exciting. I wouldnt drive into KL but i don't mind someone driving me there.
Most memorable sight : a headless cat on the road still kicking its leg after being crushed by a bus.
No of accidents witnessed: 3
Amount of time took to get there: 1 hour
Amount of time took to get back: 2 hours

The macdonald in Serembem opens at 10am and does not serve breakfast.

The last night we had steamboat at a uncle's. It was his birthday. We bought a pandan layered cake as present.

Petrol was RM1.16 per litre as compared to S$1.33 per litre in Singapore. I wish i could bring home a few barrels.

I enjoyed over-taking singaporean cars along the expressway on the way back.
"The epitome of kiasu-ism is to start queueing before you even get there."
It worked. There wasnt a traffic jam at the Tuas checkpoint.
Though i cant be sure that was where those cars were heading in the first place.
Most memorable sight: My cousins' sideview mirror flying off and cartwheeling on the expressway.
No of accidents witness: 0
Amount of time took to get home: 4 hours.

Home-coming is always nice.