China - Xian You

8 April 2017 - 11 April 2017

Just came back from China, can't believe it's been almost a year since I last updated the blog. I got to start updating more diligently. Hopefully once I get my tab, I will be able the blog from anywhere.. NAH.. I think I will just end up for getting again. 

I went back to China this time together with mom, 1ku and wife, 3ku, 2yi and uncle, Yee Wei, Chin Yee and Kar Hoei - Total 11 of us! 

China was dirty and the noise pollution was crazy, I had such a hard time having to listen to all the honking and aunties gossiping, passing small little comments, and uncles trying to belittle me by talking down to me like I'm some kid. It's really extremely very annoying. On top of that the extremely unpleasant experience with Malaysia Airlines really got me reconsidering whether or not I would ever want to take Malaysia Airlines ever again, well technically it was Kar Hoei fault for being so late and of course also that the flight retimed. But the lady should have been a lot nicer and try lo, instead of spending all the time lecturing. 

Even though the external environment sucks, the trip was good. The warmth welcome extended by our China relatives really brought me to tears. I think the last time I went there was about 10 years ago? I can't really remember but it was not that great back then. I had almost zero memory of my last trip but once I see those familiar faces again, I could remember them. 

DAY 1 

It took us almost 3 hours to get from the airport to their house, and a few of them went all the way to the airport to fetch us. There were delays due to Kar Hoei and 1Ku luggages went missing and we had to lodge a report.

By the time we were arrive in Xian You, it was already almost 6pm. We were hungry and tired after travelling all day. Our lovely Chinese relatives greeted us, and took us out for Dinner. Altogether there were three tables and it was nice to see all of them. A few of them took days off work and came back all the way from the City. 

The dinner was heavy, they ordered over 10-12 dishes and we couldn't finish most of the dishes. It was part of their culture to overstuffed us I think. 

We head back and was allocated to a very lovely room upstairs which is Kevin's wedding room, he's still single for now and it has already been renovated for that purpose. It was a very lovely room WITH AIRCON! Thank god! 

Day 2

The important day where we all went to Cheng Beng our ancestors. We woke up and had breakfast before leaving to Cheng Beng. So touched to know that our Chinese relatives have already Cheng Beng the week before but they went all the way to prepare all the prayer items from the food to the papers for burning to fireworks, all that for us who came from Malaysia. They hiked up under the sun together with us and we went half a day there visiting two graveyards. 

We head home for lunch after the prayers and we all took a rest at home. In the evening we went to the walking street for a walk, had some overpriced expensive Coffee and went back home for dinner again. Me and my mom slept early while the rest still went out at night for a walk. 

Oh yes, today was also the day I discovered the toilet in Block 3 is the nice toilet. 

Day 3

We decided to go to "Jiu Li Hu" (Nine Fish Lake) which turns out to be a very intense hiking trip. We had breakfast at home and left at about 8.30am, after all the turns and rounds we reached the destination around 9.45am, hiked all the way, took multiple breaks and lunch to finally being able to climb back into the Van at about 4pm. It was such a tiring hike and together with my uncle and aunty who had diabetes, the hike was definitely very challenging for them. 

Luckily we completed the hike and stopped by the red wood furniture shop on the way home. How I wish dad was with us again on this trip, he would have enjoyed it a lot. 

Once we got home, the aunties and uncles went for massage while I stayed at home with Chin yee and Kar Hoei. We did a little shopping down at the convenient store owned by our eldest Chinese cousin, they refuse to take money but luckily Chin Yee insisted. The pork flavoured potato chips was amazing!

While waiting for those who went massage, I was offer "You Fan" - oily rice and when they all got back everyone had the oily rice instead of going out for dinner like we had planned. We went to the Chinese dried food shop to get some souvenirs like mushrooms and scallops and the night market which looked really really sad. 

Day 4

Time to head home, I'm happy! 

The people were amazing but it's really time to go home as I miss my bed SO SO much. I can't believe they can sleep on such hard bed, might as well just sleep on the floor. What's the purpose of the mattress anyway? 

We left at 9am in the morning after our "SU GONG" - he's the closest person I ever have to a grandfather, blessed all of us with his ang gong hu. I swear, old people really are going to be wizards in the future, how come he knows how to pray and bless ppl one? Gave him a really tight hug and small presents to all the aunts, and we head home. It was really hard to say Good Bye and I really wish there was more I could do for them in return for their warm and over the top hospitality. 

My mom was right, no one could do what they could do. They went all their way to make sure we were comfortable and not hungry not thirsty and happy there. Seeing them putting the cups with hot water out for us to make coffee after seeing us going everywhere looking for cups to make coffee on the first day really touched my heart. It's all the little small things they do that made the trip so memorable. 

Hopefully I will go back again someday to meet these amazing people again.