We chanced upon a well prepared reception for Friday prayers in Kuala Kangsar, attended by His Royal Highness, Sultan of Perak.
We were with two relatives from KL on a visit and about to show them the Royal Gallery and the Museum but they were about to close for Friday prayers. But we noticed policemen at every roundabout and junctions on duty while awaiting the arrival of the Sultan. We were at a roundabout when the Royal motorcade arrived. Yes, it was the Sultan in his Bentley arriving, preceded by police outriders and cars, followed by some VIPs' cars and police cars.
Well, Friday lunchtime is normally extended to 2.45 pm, so we went to the next place on our itinerary, which is Ayer Kala to have fresh water fish for lunch! Shaun expressed feigned surprise, 'We came all this way just to have lunch?' Well, the Chinese are noted for that. There is also the common advice for anyone new to a place, looking for decent food: go to where there are many people... the food is likely to be good. But we have been to this place a few times, so we knew our way.
On our way back, we went through the town of Lenggong, hometown of former MCA President, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting. For the information of those uninformed about Chinese surnames, his 'Ong' which is spelt the same as mine, is different in Chinese. Similarly, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's 'Ong' is also different from his and mine! But, if not mistaken, YB Senator Heng Seai Kie's 'Heng' is likely to be Teochew for that of my surname! I was told this by my late father, but I have yet to check this out before I post this! Incidentally, one of our house purchasers, Ms Ong, happens to be OKT's sister's daughter but her Ong is the same as mine! In other words, her mother with a surname Ong, married another Ong, but in fact, they were of different surnames in Chinese. Confused?
We came out of the town to join the highway, looking for the Archaelogical Museum which houses the famous 'Perak Man', the oldest relic of a man in this part of the world. The fact that he had scoliosis often makes us wonder about this medical condition.
The museum is located in the middle of some oil palm estates, away from the highway and the towns and villages. It has all the audio visual equipment and the necessary maintenance and security personnel, but obviously under visited. When we arrived, there was a flurry of activities of opening the doors and switching on the internal air-conditioning. That there was a lack of visitors would be an under-statement. It is educational yet for some reasons, there is insufficient publicity and initiatives to ensure visits by more students from out of town, though I have noticed two schools listed as coming on certain dates.
Kuala Kangsar was again the next stop to complete the original intent of the tour. But our expectation of a nice cup of coffee and cheesecake at the kopitiam was substituted with tea and no cheesecake because of power failure!
The journey back was in the midst of a heavy thunderstorm where visibility was greatly reduced. My wife's claim that it takes only '20 minutes' from BB Sri Klebang to Kuala Kangsar has never been further from the truth!
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