Adventures of mum and dad (and me)

It's been far, far too long since I wrote anything here. But I just want to let you all know what's been going on since M + P got here for the 3rd time. (when I say all, that refers to anybody who might still have an RSS feed from this thing).

Well, this trip has certainly been a different one. What with hiring a car and leaving dad to sort out all the hotels, it's turned out to be quite fresh. The road trip started with a collossal fuckup however, when Dad and I went to collect the car. There we were, we took the monorail to the correct stop, and got out on the opposite side of the road to the hotel with the Avis office. Jalan Raja Chulan is a busy road, with 3 lanes on each side. So we went to cross the street. A car was coming on the middle lane of our side, so I held up my hand and stared at the guy as we crossed, so he would slow down. He slowed down, so I looked back in front, only to discover that dad had opted to break into a spint to the central reservation, for reasons I cannot explain and neither can he.
So in slow motion, I saw him run, shouted "Daaaaad", just in time to see his leg braced right foot twist, and he legged himself up, pitching forwards onto both knees and landed on his bad shoulder. He made a right pigs ear of himself this time, and yet refused to go to the hospital to get it checked out.

I'm a bit concerned about this shoulder business, as he can barely lift his arm up now, and is struggling to drive, but being stubborn (and of course flat refuses to listen to me at any point in time, opting for going "No no no no, I'm fine" as he uses his left arm to lift the right.

So, with an even more crippled dad, we set off on our road trip.

The journey to Ipoh was mostly uneventful, (exept I opened myself up to ridicule by not knowing how to get out of KL. Hey, who does? The worst thing you can do is follow a signboard in this city, which we did, and went slightly circular until I called for backup). Hong was brilliant, as always, and the 3 of us had a great time eating, drinking and being merry. We went for a swim in the mountain river near Papan, which was beautifully cold on a savagely hot day. Then later on that evening we had a real brainwave, "hey, it's been 37 degrees C all day, let go to the hot springs!!!". It was brilliant, but, at over 40 C, rather more than a little warm. But at least we got the novelty value of escaping hot air for cold water, then escaping hot water for (slightly) cooler air, in the same day. The hot springs nearly killed me, and I could literally feel my flesh coming off the bone.

After Ipoh was a nice relaxing couple of days in the Cameron Highlands, and the wonderful, blessed cool mountain air. We met an old friend of mine (when I say 'old friend' I don't mean that I've known him for ages, but the guy is almost 85, hence). I went for a walk through the Boh tea plantations, and the parentals followed by later in the car.
Ate nice food (expensive, but nice) in Ye Olde Smokehouse, and enjoyed a drive on the winding mountain roads.

Today we're in Kota Bahru, the furthest northern city in Malaysia, which has proven to be a disappointment. It's the most Islamic city in the country, which has done such a good job of removing sinful actuvity from the streets that there is absolutely bugger all to do in town. No clubs, no bars, no pubs, virtually nothing is open after the evening prayers, you can't even hear any music in the town. A much more heinious crime however is this, the food is shit. How this has been achieved in a food paridise nation, I cannot figure out. But, the Kelantanese have managed it. It's a good job we're leaving tomorrow.

Also, Dad managed to screw his arm up even more tonight. Mum had a bug in her hair, so she started going "eeeek eeeeekk, get it out", before I could react Dad had swatted it from her hair full pelt with his bad arm. Brilliant reflex, but overall, f****** stupid, cos now he's in even more pain. Tomorrow, Kuala Terrenganu, I'm making Mum drive, I'll tell him at breakfast.