Murud 2015 - During - Day 4

Saturday, 18th July.

Yesterday during the morning service, they had announced that there will be a service up at the peak of the mountain for those who are interested.  However, because they plan to start the service by 9am, the committee had asked only the fit, strong and able ones to go.  They did mention that even if your heart really wants to go, but your body is not able to, then better not go as they will be walking in a fast pace and the trail isn't an easy one.  One of the reason I wanted to go back to the mountain was to go to the peak; I did not go in 2013 and I don't know when I will ever climb up again.  But, even if I had really wanted to go, I knew that I would be slowing people down as I am not the ones in the "fit" category.  It takes about 3 - 4 hours (fit time) to climb up. So, even with a sad heart, I was at peace to let it go.  I decided not to do the climb.  Perhaps, another time, God willing. 

The mountain peak from afar

Lyd and Barb of course were all geared up to go.  Lis too wanted to go.  Rome was still thinking if she should go because she's got a sinus problem.  The night before, as we prayed, she received confirmation that yes, she should go.  Yeay! Praise the Lord.  Our super amazing "aunty" Mdm Maria of 55 years old too wanted to go.  I didn't have any doubt that she could, she's so fit even for her age!  So that's it, 5 from the team will go and the rest will stay on for service at the church site.

The group were scheduled to leave at 6am so Pastor Sabiyah and Ina' Martina got up really early to cook breakfast - Mihun nonetheless!!  The 5 had their breakfast, packed their lunches and left the house at about 5.30am.  We were supposed to have prayer together at 5.30am with the rest of the team, but because everyone had already started to go to the meeting point, the 5 were also kanchiong (excited?) to go.

After they left, the rest of us had our morning devotions at 6am and then had breakfast.  Once again we were at the hall by 7.30am.  Since there were not many people, Judith and the rest said they wanted to sit in the middle, but I was comfortable at the usual place so we split.  Soon after Aunty Sipai, Aunty Rangai and the rest joined me.  Never alone eh? :)

As we started the service, Cikgu Sang - the worship leader for that morning requested us to pray together to ask for 2 things - 1)  The manifested presence of the Lord and 2)  The orchestra of heavens to join us as we worship the Lord.  The first song we sang was "We bow down".  

I remember this song clearly because even as we just started to sing the song, everyone started to bow down and the manifested presence of the Lord came and filled the hall.  There were cries, wails, and total adoration of the great big God.  No one cared what others would think of them and everyone just worshiped, some even lay prostate in front of the Lord.  It was such an amazing time, I had not entered into that kind of worship for the longest time.  It was good to be back.

Spiritual feeding

The speaker for this session was Guru's Pudun Tadem.  He started of by saying that each of us need to know our "divine purpose" in our lives.  Many people don't know their divine purpose and are just wasting their life away.  Examples of people who knew their divine purpose:

Sarah - Her divine purpose was to give birth to Isaac, though she had to wait 100yrs but because she knew her divine purpose, she waited.  At one point, she even laughed at it. She laughed, but she believed.

Rahab - She was a prostitute.  But when she met the spies, she met her divine purpose.  She then became the linage of Jesus.  Men things she is purposeless but God had a bigger divine purpose for her.

Ruth - had a broken life, but met her divine purpose as she became the great grandmother of our Lord.

So, if we don't know what our divine purpose is, we need to ask God.  We need to know our divine purpose so that we can serve our generation by fulfilling the divine purpose.  We need to forget about how broken we are, how lousy we are and we need to believe that God is giving you His divine purpose.  We might need to wait for some time.  But God is more interested in our character than in our success.

Guru's Pudun then mentioned Jeremiah 47: 1 - 12.  He connected the many images of "water" or bodies of water to God.  To deep for me to jot here.  But one thing I caught is that to be in the river, means to be in God,  To release the rive means to release God.  The river that flows from the temple of heaven is flowing into the temple of our bodies (ref:  1 Cor 3:16) and will give life to anywhere that the river flows.  When the river flows into us, when we go into the world (ref: convention theme), we bring life to all who crosses our path.

He ended by saying that we need to choose our response well.  When Joseph faced all the trials, tribulations, sufferings, he choose to respond well.  He could have been bitter about his experiences but he chose to say "The Lord meant well and meant to prepare me".  Whatever we face in our lives, choose well. Choose right.  Choose the right responds.

Then, he said the River of Heavens is now ready to flow.  He called everyone who is ready to come to the altar.  He must have had visions to literally see this "river" flowing down.  As we prayed, sang and worshiped, one by one were slain in the Spirit.  No one laying their hands on anyone.  No "catchers", nothing.  One by one, Spirit filled, slain.  Once again, it's been a long time since I experienced anything like this.  Perhaps my heart has been harden, perhaps I have been too self conscious.  But that morning, I felt the Lords refreshing rivers flowing and I found peace in Him once again.

After the service ended, we went back to the house and we told Ina' Martina about it.  She then told us that it always happens that way when Guru' Pudun preaches because he preaches from his brokenness.  His son was found committing suicide (which in itself was questionable) and he took a long break to recover.  In this brokenness, he spoke that day.  Praise God for what He was, is, and will continue to do.

After lunch that day, the 5 of us (Judith, Mee Ting, Ps. Sabiyah, Jane and myself) went back to the church hall to pray.  A group of intercessors were taking a cruise down the Sarawak River in Kuching to pray for the state and the nation, so we too were going to pray to support from the mountain.  As we were going to the hall, we met those who were already coming down from the peak!  I was so excited to wait and welcome Barb and Lyd but we had to go pray first.  Hehe.  As we prayed, we could hear music (gongs, drums etc) from Rev. Pengiran's house as many gathered to welcome the ones from the peak.  Such a beautiful sound of rejoicing!

We prayed for 2.5 hours and then returned to the house.  The 5 who went were already there.  Praise the Lord for His coverage upon them.  They were all sunburnt though.  It was funny because as we had our morning devotions, only then Judith remembered that she was sunburnt when she went and yet she forgot to tell them that it was going to be hot up there.  Haha.

Them at the peak.  Good job guys!  Photo credit to Rome

We had dinner together and then proceeded to the hall for night service.  I bet those 5 were really tired as it was a really long service.  Eh, so weird, I can't remember to content of the sermon yet again! Haha.  They announce the head count that night.  It was 2084 pax!! Wow!!!! That is soooooooo amazing!! God is indeed great!

That night, I noticed this boy whom we noticed in 2013, because he had big camera on him and he was still a small boy then.  During the final night in 2013, he had brought some cans, had arranged them on the floor in the arrangement of a drum set and was drumming away!  He looked so familiar from 2013 and that night we sat next to each other. 

Lennon from 2013 - it was easy to recognize him as he had the same jacket.

Before long I was talking to his grandmother and after connecting the dots, I found out that his father is a friend from my dad's kampung!  Anthony Sia.  Such a small world.  He's about the same age as my brother and he was very good looking then. I was so excited to meet him again after almost 30 years but that night he was sick and did not come for the service.  Anyways, his 3 kids were such angels and it was a joy to be able to play with them.

Princess (I-girl) 8 y/o, Diantess (I-Honey) 7 y/o and Lennon (i-abang) 10 y/o.  Picture courtesy Rome.

Then we went back, had our hot drinks and devotions and we all settled down for the night.  Tomorrow is going to be our final convention day.  How the day seemed to fly by ever so quickly.

Murud 2015 - During - Day 3

Friday, 17th July.

Once again we woke up early to have morning devotions at 6am and then had breakfast together.  I think we had fried rice.  Lost memory of what we ate because we kept on eating!  But today, everyone will be fasting together - to pray for the whole convention as was requested by the Vice chairman of the Prayer Mountain Committee - Guru' Pudun Tadem.

It was 7.30am when we decided to go to the church hall (Gedung Haleluyah) to book a place.  2 years ago, we were just as kiasu and we had a favorite place in the hall, so Lyd and I wanted to sit at the same spot again.  Mind you, the service was to start at 9am, and yet half of the hall was already full when we got there at 7.40am!  Talk about being kiasu and punctual!

The 3 of us infront of the church hall

By 8.30am, there was basically no more space to move.  9am, literally shoulder to shoulder.  Never before has there been such a crowd.  Then they called out the folks from BKM central to give seats to the sakai (guests) as still many others were waiting outside the door.

This was 8am - yes, we were very kiasu

We were all nicely layered in thick clothes when we first arrived.  But as soon as the worship started it got really hot and stuffy in the hall.  The mats on the floor stopped the wind from blowing in and the windows of the hall were not designed to be opened.  It was like being in a oven for around 3.5hours.  In the end, I couldn't take it anymore, so I went to sit outside the hall together with the locals. Ahhh... much better :)

Spiritual feeding

As the service started, Cikgu (teacher) Sang said that as the intercessors where praying in preparation for this year's convention, God had revealed to them that these year's participants has been "hand-picked" by God to come.  As much as this is a privilege (to be hand-picked by God!), I find myself telling God, thanks, but really? All this pains and aches to come up here??!! Haha... I thank God that He is someone I can joke with even if He is the Creator of heaven and earth!

The theme for this year is "Gereja yang bergerak dalam kuasa Roh Kudus di akhir zaman" The church that moves in the power of the Holy Spirit in the end times.  The scripture text is from Genesis 41:38 - 39 and Matthew 21:2.  Every year in May, a group of intercessors from BKM central will go up to the mountain to wait upon the Lord and to ask Him of several things - The theme, the scripture text, the speaker, the worship leaders, the musicians and even the translator.  For the past few years, Aunty Sipai have been the one to receive these words as the intercessors pray together.  As I spend some time talking with her, she said that God even revealed that this year, the turn out will be like never before - even the smallest child to the oldest men and women will come to seek God.  In their limited human understanding, they didn't know how that would come to pass.  But indeed it did.  The oldest people came in their body limitation, children of all ages came with their parents as well - I bet we could have started a few sunday school classes!  It was certainly amazing.

When we got back to the house in the afternoon, while being lazy and lying down comfortably in our corner, Lyd and I discussed the sermon and the connection between the 2 passages from the bible.  So this is what I got:

Genesis 41:38-39

We are all like Joseph, chosen (hand-picked) to be in a "foreign land" (i.e. end times land).  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we then will be like Joseph:

- One in whom is the Spirit of the Lord

- God made known all "this things"

- Discerning

-Wise

Matthew 21:2

We need to humble ourselves, even as lowly as the donkey and colt, to bring Jesus into "Jerusalem" i.e. into the foreign land (end-times land).  But first, we need to be released of all the ties that binds us.  Even when we are hand-picked like Joseph, we need to humble ourselves like the colt.

That afternoon, since we were not having lunch, we spent some time to pray together as we fasted and each went to do their own meditation.  Lyd and I promptly meditated in our nap after our afore mentioned discussion!!  Haha. We didn't even bother that there were people coming in and out of the kitchen to visit and talk.  Oh I love that corner!

Night session was to start at 7.30pm.  So we all decided to break fast at 5pm to get ready.  Once again, we were at the hall early and it was full by 6.30pm.  If only this was the culture of our churches in the city!  Here in my church, service starts at 10.30am, people only start coming in by 10.45am!  Forgive us dear Lord!  I can't recall what was being preached that night.  Will update when I do.  That night, they did however gave a headcount - which was to a total of 1,500 people!  Hallelujah Praise the Lord!  Aunty Sipai said, in the history of the past 30 years, the most they have ever seen had only been 800pax.  This is already almost double!

Service ended at about 10pm, we head back to the house for some hot drinks and night devotions and everyone snuggled back into their sleeping bag.

Murud 2015 - During - Day 2

Thursday, 16th July

We woke up at 6am to have morning devotions together as a group.  Pastor Sabiyah was already up way earlier than us to prepare breakfast.  I am thankful to have her along with us in this trip.  The rest of us had only needed to help her in preparing the food or cleaning up or washing up after our meals.  Oh the smell of firewood!

Pastor Sabiyah at "work" :)

What did we do the whole day?  I can't recall now, but we must have lazed around a lot while nursing our aching bodies!  Barb and some other ladies went out to stroll and went to check my bag at the porter's station.  It had spent the night there as the porter didn't know where to take it to.  He then took it to the house.  Thank you Lord!

Edit 30th July - I recall now that in the afternoon, some in our group went for afternoon prayer under the leading of Guru' Pudun Tadem.  He is called Guru', which is either used for teachers or pastors - both are addressed as Guru'.  In this case, he is a retired headmaster of Ba' Kelalan school.  Lyd and I didn't bother to go for this prayer.  We had an afternoon nap :)

Later on in the evening, there was a trail of people who sang and danced throughout the wooden pathway.  This must have been a "must-have" event, I recall this was done when we were here in 2013 as well.  Our friend Maria joined them as soon as she heard them from the middle of her nap!  She just jumped out of her sleeping bag, down the steps and join the line (or was it lead the line??) Haha... such a spontaneous spirit is she!

Singing and dancing on the wooden pathway throughout the site.

One thing I remember us doing on that day though - we made Yu Cha Kueh!  Well, Pastor Sabiyah did.  We all just watch and help her by eating!  She mixed it in the evening and that night we had it for supper.  Yum!  It rained again that night :(

Yummeh Yu Cha Kueh

We all retired for the night after night devotion.  It was much better for me that night as I had my sleeping bag, my thick sweater and my magic silk sleeping bag lining.  Better sleep that night as we prepared our hearts for the next morning service.

While we were preparing for sleep, Uncle Salutan came to ask Ama's Paran permission to open up one of the unused houses as there were no more place for guests to stay.  Wow.  Were there that many I thought?  Yet, even as it continued to rain we could see lights upon lights of torches coming down the hill.  There were still many on their way.  Protect them dear Lord.

Murud 2015 - During - Day 1

This year I did not bother to take out my camera / phone to take photos as it's my second time climbing.  I knew I could get photos especially from the first timers *wink, wink*

Wednesday, 15th July 
We arrived at BKM at 10.35 as schedule.  We then proceeded to Apple Lodge to change our clothes.  Pastor Sabiyah took care of our boxes of ration from the airport to the 4WD as they had arrived earlier and were already in their hiking gear.  We finally met the rest of the team members - Rome, Liserd, Pastor Sabiyah (TMC BM), Jane (Good News), Cathy and her sister Sharon (Sibu), Mee Ting, Judith, myself (TMC English), Lydia, Maria (BEM) and Barbara (Latter Rain)

The 4WD was already waiting.  Off we went at 11am.  I didn't get to say hi to Grandma as her house was in the kampung area and we did not want to waste our time.  In 2013, it took us 2 hours drive up to Lepo Bunga, but this year, as the roads were good (it's cemented some parts) and dry (it did not rain for weeks except that morning), it only took us 1 hour.

Arrived Lepo Bunga, off to porter station to weigh our things, had a quick lunch standing by the lepo (hut) and off we went at 12.15 noon.  I personally aimed to arrive before night fall.

The first part of the hike seems easier to me this time... I guess all those last minute hours of up and down at the staircase and park really did help a lot.  Of course, I wasn't as fast as the fitter ones like Barb and Lyd, but oh well, who cares.  They can run up the hill if they wanted to, I thought to myself :D  I didn't mind hiking alone, as that would mean some time to be alone with God.  My dad of course would kill me if he knew I was alone or if I had left anyone to hike alone.  

Along the way up to Jambatan Sukacita, Sharon who was a first timer had much difficulties.  She had not taken lunch as she was not hungry and we could really see how she was struggling.  Her legs were shaking (her whole body was actually).  She also did not have isotonic drinks (note:  MUST have 100plus - it's actually the only drink you need - note to self, next time - 2 small bottles for going up, 2 small bottles for going down).  This was Cathy's 2nd hike and it was easier for her, so, she, Pastor Sabiyah and myself hiked slowly with Sharon.  At one point, she broke down and wept.  We prayed.  After 2 crazy hours, we reached Jambatan Sukacita.  Praise the Lord.

Jambatan Sukacita Metal Netting trail - thanks Barb for the pix

There, I literally forced Sharon to eat the rice we had taken along with us with lots and lots of salted fish.  The salt will help restore the electrolites (I think) and I know it will help her not to get cramps.  2 things my dad warned me about the hike is 1)  Not to get a cramp - small steps and lots of isotonic and 2)  Don't walk in the dark.

So in order not to be caught in the dark, after a quick break, we continued our journey.  In 2013, there were metal nettings along the way but because it was rainy season and there was a political disagreement between the kampung folks, they could not repair the old bridge with the new one.  This year, praise the Lord, they had done so. One of the reason I wanted to go back was to see if they had done anything to the pathway with the amount of money offered in 2013 and I am glad they had. But my joy was short lived.  It soon ended and we were back on the jungle trail.  I found out later that there weren't enough supply of the netting.  During this walk, Sharon was still struggling so we walked in a really slow pace.  We were joined by strong and pretty Edit - Pastor Sabiyah's first cousin.  We talked, sang, joked, and tried to make the journey a happy one for Sharon.  After another 2 hours, we reached the bottom of Batu Linanit.  I shared my ration of snickers with everyone as a reward :)

Up to Batu Linanit we went.  Honestly, I did not remember this part.  I don't remember how steep it was.  How small and slippery the steps were.  How FAR it was to reach up there.  It was INSANE.  But in order not to discourage Sharon, I kept my mouth shut and keep on.  Yes, here, it was beyond funny.  Up, up, up we went and we finally got to the "false" peak - Batu Linanit.  We rested for a while, Edit took out her phone, put on some music and down, down, down we went toward the church site.  2 years ago, I remembered the path being wide but this year, it seems that the bushes has overgrown the area and the path were really small (or was I getting bigger? :D)  It was a struggle to go down with my heavy body.  Most of the time I sat on the stone.  At times, I had to lift my leg because I was already so tired.  But continue I must.  At this stage, Edit and I had already took turns to carry Sharon's backpack so she can descend with ease.  At long last.... we arrived at the church site at 6.15pm!  HURRAHHHHH!!!!! Rome, Lis, Barb and Lyd - all nice, warm, clean and changed welcomed us at the pool.  Such joy!  Half and hour later the last of our group, Mee Ting, Judith and Jane arrived. Jane had some difficulties at the start up.  After Jambatan Sukacita she was all okay. Praise the Lord for He is our strength.

Up to Batu Linanit - Pix courtesy of Barb

We "bath" (more like just splashed ourselves) in the ice-cold water, changed to the clean pair we had in our carry on backpack and we had our "dinner" with what we had in our bags.  Our ration, as expected had not arrived.  Then, it rained so heavily - on one part, I was thankful for the rain, which means there will be water in the pond for everyone, but on the other part, I cried thinking of those still on the way (hiking) in the jungle, and I worry thinking about the road condition that will enable people to come up to Lepo Bunga and if the jungle trail would become muddy - a disaster especially for first timers and city dwellers.

After dinner, hot drinks, fellowship, our bags started to come in one by one.  I am thankful for the STP students who served as porters as well.  Alas, mine did not arrive that night.  I was so thankful that we were at Uncle Paran's house, did not have holes on our walls, had double mats on our floor and even had think comfy blanket in store!  True to Lun Bawang "stubbornly-nice" hospitality, they gave up their mattresses and blankets for others.  I got one blanket too :) They both just shared one sleeping bag to cover themselves up that night with their leg near the fire.  Still, it was freezing cold that night.  I doubt any of us got any sleep.  9 of us slept in the room (sardine for warming effect) and Lyd, Pastor Sabiyah and myself slept in the kitchen with Ama' Paran and Ina' Martina.
  

Us, and our host.  Pix courtesy don't know who in group whatapps :)

Murud 2015 - Expenses

Here's a summary of expenses for easy future reference

Ticket Kuching - Miri - Kuching (AirAsia):  RM177 including 15kgs baggage allowance to and fro

Ticket Miri - Ba' Kelalan - Miri (MAS):  RM211

Ba' Kelalan - Lepo Bunga 4WD ride:  RM30 / way = RM60

Porter up - RM4/kgs - we had 44 kgs between the 3 of us = RM176/3 = RM59/pax

Porter down - RM10/kgs - from top to Buduk Nur house (we sent things down earlier for fear of no porter) - 9kgs - RM90/3 = RM30/pax

Porter down - RM4/kgs - 27kgs = RM108/3 = RM36/pax

Hotel in Miri - RM125/3 = RM42

Excess baggage to BKM RM1/kg - RM20/3 = RM7

Love token for house in Murud = RM300/3 = RM100

Agent fees for BKM boarding = RM10/pax

Excess baggage = RM1/kgs = RM7/3 = RM3

Ration = RM385/3 = RM129

Total expenditure per pax is about RM865

The 3 of us bought our tickets separately and put in RM450 each into our "pool" account to cover for the expenditure of the whole trip.  Thanks Barb for being the accountant :)

Murud 2015 - before

Wow... it has been such a long time since I posted anything here. Nothing much going on in life apart from the norm, plus now I don't have the luxury of sitting infront of the computer with free fast internet access as I did when I was working in Sanmina-SCI last time, makes me so lazy to log in and post any entry.

But... this is special case ;) in addition to the excitement shown by Barbara in her blog From Notes to Diary made me excited to share my journey this year too.  I am babysitting my niece today and she is taking her afternoon nap, so I will share what I can until she wakes up.

After being on Murud in 2013 (and after facing all the "hardship" during the climb) I thought I would not have the strength to go back.  Yes, I believe that God gave and will continue to give me the strength should I decide to go, and my heart truly yearns to go back but as the bible say "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak".  One day mid 2014 I was talking to Barbara about the experience and she said she wanted to go.  I said okay, gave her the dates but in the back of my mind, I was telling myself that I was crazy to attempt the climb again.  True to her excitement, Barb got us tickets in December (MYY-BKM MAS Ticket:  RM211).  Being a coward to go up "alone", I contacted Lydia and Alie (my climb gang in 2013) to see if they too wanted to go.  Lyd said yes.  Alie said she didn't feel called to it this year.  So it became the 3 of us.  [Note:  Barbara is my junior from high school.  Never were friends / close during high school but got reunited during one of those school gatherings and clicked - perhaps because of our faith]

The 3 of us - Barb, me (what's up with my face?) and Lydia

By January 2015, I knew that I had to loose weight if I wanted to climb Murud.  In 2013, I was 75kgs then and now I was 90kgs - that's 15 kgs extra!  As usual, I spread out the kgs and said if I could loose 2kgs / month, I will be fine by July.  At that time, I met Lyd for coffee and we both made a pact to start training early and shed our extra kgs (mine more than hers).  Did it happen?  Of course NOT! :D  Come mid June, 1 more month to the climb, I met Lyd and was sooooo happy when she said that she don't think that she can climb as she have not been training and she would be happy to just stay at the kampung.  I danced in my heart and said great! I will stay in the kampung too.  I will connect Barb with those I knew was going up and leave her to be taken cared of by them.  Easy peasy - so I thought.  18th June - got my KCH - MYY tickets - AirAsia - RM 177.00 inclusive 15kgs baggage to and fro.

2 weeks before the trip, I started to worry about getting ration (food), about how to cook, about places to stay and I started bugging Lyd to help me think as Barb didn't have the experience yet.  In addition to that, our experience in 2013 thought us that it would not be an easy thing.  After discussing about the ration we will need, the logistic etc for a few days, Lydia whatappsed me saying, "Today, I think, I can naik. Haha!".  Done deal.  We were going up.  I was so worried, that I went on a "diet" that says I can loose 10kgs in 15 days.  Just enough time I thought.  Nope, I didn't loose 15kgs but only 5kg.  Haha. So I was now 10kgs heavier than 2013.  I started going to church more often - not to pray but to climb up and down the steps in church (church has 4 levels of staircases).  I went for walks at the Amphitheater as well at Reservoir park every morning for at least 1.5 hours.  But at the end of the 2 weeks, I knew that I my success in the climb will be only because of God, for I have neglected to prepare myself well for this trip.

Do or die - Murud, here I come.

Food:

What we prepared for the trip - I wish I can just post up screenshots of our whatapps here, but that will not be fun right?

Food for mountain:

We were going to be going to the Mountain on Wednesday afternoon so counting from Wednesday dinner till Monday breakfast, we were to have 15 meals there.  So 15 cans of tin stuff, one for each meal divided between the 3 of us.  Lyd and I knew instant noodle would taste great up there in the cold - fast to cook, fast to eat too, so budgetting 2 meals/day with 2 packs noodle/meal between the 3 of us, we decided 20packs will be enough.  2 kgs rice (1 kg rice = 7 cups.  1 cup/meal 15 meals = 15 cups = 2 kgs).  Milo and cereal drinks too would taste great in the cold - so 20 of each.  Because Lyd and I had spent the night at Lepo bunga with Ibu Bulan in 2013, we wanted to also have fried chicken and fried pork in our list because it tasted sooooo nice when Ibu Bulan shared it with us at that time.

Summary (shared between the 3 of us)

Instant noodle - 20 packs

Tin stuff - 15 cans

3 in 1 Milo - 20 packets

cereal drink - 20 packets

Rice - 2 kgs

Biscuits - Osborne, Munchy, Peanut butter

Fried Chicken cubes - 1 kgs - RM10

Fried Pork cubes = 1 kgs - RM18

Salted fish - a few sticks - can't remember how much

Snickers - 3 packs - 1 to go up, 1 during the stay up there, 1 to go down

Dates - 1 box Yusoff Taiyoh Yuta dates) - can't remember how much

Lyd brought fried anchovies, fried peanut, tea bags and coffee.

I got all the stuff and packed them into 2 separate boxes, making sure we had a balance of everything in both boxes just incase the box went MIA.  Each box weight about 7kgs.  We ended up not taking any rice with us as we then had a better arrangement for accommodation where the host will prepare rice for us.

Ration part 1 - for mountain

Mixed Snickers on promo

Food for the kampung:

We were also going to stay at my grandma's house in Buduk Nur, Bakelalan for a few days.  We would be coming down from the mountain on Monday morning and our flight was to be on Wednedsay - that will be 2 nights.  It being Grandma's house, board was free and I knew there would be at least another person there with her (Uncle Pudun).  We might have to take care of our own food if there was no aunties around.  So, I packed another box of 7kgs - instant noodles, tin stuff, biscuits etc.  I forgot to buy beverages.  It might seem a lot / too much to some, but really, when you go back to kampung and stay with "family", wouldn't you buy lots?  If there is one thing I regret is that I didn't buy much more!  The weight limit did not allow us to do so.  On our last morning there, grandma had asked who bought the groceries.  I told her we did.  She then said, if it's you, then it's good, I can eat it as much as I want.  If it was your uncle / aunty-in-law, then I don't want to eat much as I am shy and afraid to eat it.  My heart broke.

Ration part 2 - for kampung

Accommodation

In 2013, we had to stay with the bible school students where it was bare, the walls had HUGE holes where wind would blow into your skull and you can hardly sleep.  We had to seek their help to cook our rice using firewood as well as we lacked the utensil and know-how :D  So this time, I was very much ready to lug up things (well, taking for granted there will be porters to help lug them up!) to make the stay easier.  I was ready to bring a portable burner + stove, pots and pans as well as plates etc.  I also knew we needed a tent to be able to sleep.  Barbara had a tent that she could borrow from her sister so that was taken care off.  I went for a search of all the other stuff, trying to find the smallest yet most reliable gadget to survive. Dad even wanted to give me tuition on how to cook army style! I think he was more worried that I was.

3 days before the trip, I met my cousin-in-law Pastor Sabiyah and lamented to her about the preparation.  Then she asked, why don't you stay with us at Pak Paran and Ibu Martina's place.  Hearing that, I was ecstatic!! I have been to their house on the mountain for a visit in 2013 so I knew that it was well equip and comfy.  That would solve every worry that I have!  Praise the Lord!  I quickly asked Lyd and when she said OK, I whatappsed Barb as well.  We had only to give a love token of RM25/night.  So it was decided.

Transport

I have asked my uncle Pudun to arrange for transport to take us to Lepo Bunga when we arrived, but had gotten no updates from him.  During the same conversation with Pastor Sabiyah, I asked if there was still room for the 3 of us to hitch a ride with them.  She said she will arrange it, to consider it done.  Wow.  Praise the Lord for this providence.

The most worrying thing for me is to be caught still hiking in the jungle at night.  I quickly did my maths, arrive BKM 10.30, change, go up Lepo Bunga at 11, reach at 1 (it used to take 2 hours) start the climb - 1pm - 7pm (6 hours from previous experience).  Guaranteed to be dark.  Oh no!  I asked Lydia if it was a wise plan.  She replied me  "Don't worry much.  God has taken care of our accommodation, transport.  We just need to get there".

Bah... iya lah... Be at rest dear heart, God will take care of everything.

Cake Galore

It's great when people entrust you to bake for their special day.... been having fun with these...

Deldrie's cake for school celebration.  Choc Cake with buttercream and edible images

Rainbow cake for cousin and cousin in law joined birthday celebration

Became a butterfly cake.  My cousin in law asked me:  we're 12 yrs old kah Che? :D

Purple ombre cake for Aunty's birthday.  Used a 6 1/2 mold to get a high cake.

The inside.  Soalan bonus:  Yam cake ka?  Kek Lapis keladi ka? Nah... just coloured butter cake.

Choc cake (again) for nephew's birthday.  The family was surprised to see the deco i.e. edible image with his photo on it.  The little one loved the cake... keep on looking at it so we cut his face out for him to bring home :)

Simple oreo cheese cake for cousin's birthday.  I especially love the chocolate alphabets!

Mickey mouse themed cake.  Mickey mouse head shaped, mickey mouse edible print, mickey mouse sugar deco....

The inside of the mickey cake.  Was trying to give rainbow checkered a go, but the colours too dark.  Should try lighter colours next time.  The mickey's ears were choc cake instead.

A party pack project.  Choc cookies + butter cookies + choc chip lollipop cookies + banana muffins

Cuppies with edible image

Loved this project!!! Baby Ultraman.  Order from ex-boss.  Choc cake with buttercream.