First Ever Tomb Sweeping

Haha what a title for this post. But this whole trip to Malaysia was indeed to do some tomb sweeping for my grandma, great-grandparents and grand-uncle. First time doing such stuff. Yeah I'm a free-thinker but have no choice cos my father, being the eldest son, have to go back and perform his "duty", and so me, being the eldest grandson (the only grandson in fact), have to go back as well. Ok I guess, cos it's an eye-opener for me too.

On Saturday, 19th March, we drove all the way to KL, to my mother's younger brother's home. His wife and son went to fetch us somewhere at KL cos father did not know how to get to their place. We had lunch before going to their house, which was quite a distance up a hill of sorts. My auntie reared tortoises. All of them roaming around the house freely.

We left grandma (maternal) there to stay with them. She stayed with us for around two months already and so now she's going to stay with my auntie in KL. So poor thing being kicked around like a ball. No sons of hers wanna keep her by their side. Why have so many sons in the first place?

Well we continued our journey to Mentakab, Pahang. Took about two hours or so. Then we checked into Bukit Bendera Resort (a hotel) as usual to put our stuff. Then we reached my grandpa's house. We then had dinner with him and the uncles and aunties around at the nearby town centre, as usual.

The next morning, we woke up at 5am to get ready to go to my grandpa's house! When was the last time I woke up at 5am? We went to this graveyard with tombs all over. Visited all four graves belonging to grand-uncle, great-grandfather, great-grandmother and grandmother. Took about two hours to finish everything. Luckily the weather was great with clouds above our heads. There were plenty of other families doing the same rituals.

Taken in March 2011

Taken in January 2010

In the evening, we had dinner outside again. Then we went to the night market as usual to walk around and get some foodstuff. Next morning, we visited grandpa for the last time before we headed to Genting. Nah not really Genting, but at the midway point, at the cable car station, to meet mother's younger brother, who always provided us with honey. Yes he's a honey hunter (is that what you call them?). We had lunch at the area before bidding farewell, and after getting lotsa honey from them.

A small waterfall around the cable car station at the midpoint of Genting Highlands

Then it's a long drive back to JB. I only drove for two hours out of the five hours journey. Got stopped by the TP and pulled to one side. Several cars were told to pull to one side like us. Father got out of the car to speak to the policeman, telling him we've been going at 110 kph only. So the guy then told us to continue. Beware drivers! Don't tell them you've exceeded the speed limit even if you did. They most probably don't have evidence and merely wanted to scare you into owning up.

We reached JB at around 6pm and we had dinner there before coming back to Singapore. What a long ride it has been. Never liked going back to Malaysia lol.