A weekend at Cheefoo

Jimbo and family spent the last weekend on Cameron Highlands together with about 90 other people from my church. We were there for the annual church family camp and this year’s theme was “Live Faith…Share Life”. While the drive up was filled with unpleasant events, the drive down after the camp was long and tedious (it took us 7 hours to reach home as opposed to only 5 hours on the way up ~ the delay was due to the heavy traffic including irresponsible people high up on the mountain having a sort of festivity celebration and blocking almost the entire road!)

We stayed at the Cheefoo Methodist Centre, located in Brinchang, Cameron Highlands. It’s a serene piece of property tucked away in a quiet corner of the town. The Methodist movement in Malaysia bought over the property in 2002 from the previous owner. The place used to serve as a missionary school for the children of missionaries. It has a number of chalets and dormitories.

The place is quiet and the air is crisp. On any given afternoon, all you can hear are the chirping of birds and the sound of insects, as well as the furious pounding for hours on the piano by some one who stays there. He/she was probably practising for a piano exam or presentation. Still, the music coming from the piano was not unpleasant.

The facilities at the place are mainly this basketball court, a ping-pong table, a tennis court, a football field and the playground below.

If my son (you can see the tiny bit of him on the playground apparatus) had a choice, he would probably spend his entire day (and night) at the playground! Playing on it was all he could think of. My daughter was too sick throughout the camp to notice this piece of children paradise.

That’s the chalet we stayed in. It’s the furthest from the dining hall and the hall where we gathered for activities. It may look rustic and nice but in reality, it’s not that comfy as the rooms were dank and musty and the bathroom had a temperamental hot shower (at times, freezing cold water would come out instead of hot water and at best, only a slow steady stream comes out, as if it was having a ‘prostate’ problem). The drainage pipe in the bathroom was almost totally blocked and so water would overun and accumulate in a puddle at one corner. Not pleasant at all.

The dorms are located on the right in this picture.

I like this part of the place best. It’s a ’secret’ pathway, running just next to a small stream.

The small stream rushes down a gentle slope towards the other end of the place.

Hardly anyone ventures into this place but I loved it! It’s quiet and I could just sit and enjoy the clean air and peace here.

This was where I had my ’spider web and wet arse’ moments! Those who went for the camp would understand what I am talking about.

The place was surrounded by these magnificent pine trees.

I took this picture at the cacti farm nearby.

Another type of cactus. It feels nice running one’s hands across these soft prickly cactus.

What I have long desired but have not purchased for myself! I guess what is holding me back is the (irrational) fear that the moment I buy these lovely pitcher plants, it would instantly die on me!

Below are some macro shots I would like to share with you.

I think this plant inspired the invention of the toilet brush!

Initially I thought these were tiny flowers but on closer look, they were bugs!!! Thousands of them, hidden beneath the flowers and sucking the sap from the stems.

I had a good time there. It was a great time of sharing and learning, of quietness and resting, and of laughter and tears. I’m glad we went.

I was given the opportunity to share with the others what is it that I actually do in my line of work. I seldom talk about what I actually do, mainly because I didn’t think anyone would be interested and even if they were, they might actually get turned off once they know! I mean, dealing with HIV and AIDS isn’t exactly glamourous! Some one even asked me at the camp, “Are these people violent?!!”. Good Heavens! No!

Anyway, the gist of my sharing can be read in one of my previous entry.

However, I would seriously think twice about going if any future family camps involve traveling across 4 states with a sick child in tow!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures, as much as I enjoyed the real thing up there!

Thurs, 210508 @ 0700