ok.. this is my third attempt at updating this blog in awhile. and i got a feeling that i'd probably publish this one later (we'll see). anyways, i wanted to write about my short trip to the uk during the thanksgiving weekend (that's about two weeks ago.. talking about procastinating.. heh!). so, yeah, i was in plymouth during that weekend and managed to 'achieve' the two goals that i'd set out to do.. 1) met my dear sis, and 2) went to the stonehenge.
i didn't realise how much i miss mcwu until i saw her at the bus station in plymouth. she seemed to have lost some weight, but i still could tell that it's her from afar in that unmistakable walking style of hers. couldn't help but smile. plymouth and the rest of the southwest of the uk and wales had just been hit by a snowstorm, the first snow fall in those regions in the last 4-5 years. and obviously it was a big deal to some people, especially these malaysians (mcwu and her friends), well most of them at least, who hadn't seen the real snow before. kinda amused by all this really, but i was perhaps as ecstatic (read jakun), if not more, when i first experienced a snow fall during my adult life (that was during my college days in arkansas). so, i was cheering them on when we were at dartmoor that same night, in the pitch of darkness, doing snow angels on 2-3 inches of snow and trying to figure out how to 'roll' snow into our own snowman (which impressively they did), while i was freezing my butt off, hungry, jetlagged and wishing that i was someplace else. in the end, everybody had a blast and that was the best part of all. kids.. hehe.
had a long chat with mcwu, in between great meals and trying to finish reading memoirs of a geisha. i think i'd got to know my sister a little bit better as a person. she's opinionated and strong and smart and funny and independent. a bit on the manja-side though.. after all she is the baby in the family, but not in the traditional sense. the more i look at her, the more she reminds me of my other siblings who just don't like to be told what to do. and in some unconscious ways, we are always there for each other. she's alright.
oh yeah, the stonehenge (or whatever's left there).. hmm.. imagine big, bulky slab of stones that were positioned in a circular arrangement in the middle of an open field. according to legends (or the guide commentary), the geometrical arrangement of these stones had, have, significant spiritual impact on locals (i think this much is obvious). while the true reason(s) why these stones were erected in such a manner in the first place has not yet been explained, many speculations have been made, including a kind of alien 'science project' and something about merlin's doing (sorry, forgot). it remains one of the most intriguing historical sites in the world. i just couldn't really concentrate on the commentary since it was so windy and freakin freezing. the 'gang' seemed to be in high spirits though.. or they were more interested in the sheeps grazing an adjacent field.. i just could tell. kids.. hehe.
all in all, it was a pretty relaxing trip for me (ok, i could've missed the flight back, but that's another story). enjoyed the time i spent with my sister, and glad that she's coping well with everything that's been going on. she'll be alright. enjoyed the company and hospitality of everybody - leli, sophie, mcqin, mcsal, lex, azeem, shuk, adik shuk, zul, dr. fariza. we should do this more often. love you all! so, there.. my trip report. hope you're in good health as always. stay warm, and stay safe. later!
