Cameron trip...

*Update:
(1) I know alot of people couldn't load all the pictures on this blog, that is because photobucket.com is not very happy with the fact I have 738 pictures uploaded on to their site.
(2) So I got a proper webspace by a proper server to host my pictures. So now everyone will be able to load all my pictures in a much shorter time. And all this is thanks to Eric Cheong. You've no idea how much I appreciate this!! =))

-----
This is one of the worst weekend getaway/retreat/holiday ever in my whole 19 years on this earth! It is as though I have walked under a ladder just before I start my journey up to Cameron on Saturday evening! Since then, nothing seems right and I've never been so unlucky and jinxed before.

A day before the trip I suddenly lost all interest to go because I found out some things from someone which is personal and I shall not talk about it here. But at the end I decided to go mainly for 4 reasons:
1) Driving up Cameron road at night
2) For the cold air
3) Pancake, Apple pie and jambu (Tapah)
4) Photography

At the end I really regretted going, ok maybe not really regret that much, but it would be alot better and I could have saved alot of hassle, time and money if I chose not to go. Here's a summary of my sad story:

1) It was pouring all the way as I drove from DJ to Cameron.
2) Almost got chase by police in Perdana, "lucky" I was going too fast.
3) About 3km before reaching Tanah Rata, suddenly noticed that there's a very weird smell, but we ignored it and thought it was the surrounding smell.
4) Then noticed loud and sharp scratching noises from the front left of my car, but we ignored it again and thought is the sound of my tires running over water (sounds exactly the same).
5) When we're 1km away from Tanah Rata, rain became too heavy, so I put up my windows and turn back on my air cond and noticed the smell became worst, and my air cond wasn't cold at all. I suspect something wrong, so turn it back off.
6) When finally reached Tanah Rata and park my car at the steamboat where everyone else is, only then we realised the loud scratching noise is from my engine, and my car smell like one huge charcoal!
7) Turned off my engine, and then tried starting it again, but engine couldn't cranked. Panic!
8) Ben ask me to chill first and sit down and rest first, let my engine cool off first then try later.
9) After awhile, pop my hood to check my engine and found the problem. The ball bearing of my air cond compressor moved out from it's original position and it scratching against the side wall of my engine chasis. Can see melted metal shavings everywhere. Realised I can't do much then. Prayed that I could start my car again and drive back to the hotel and only find a mechanic the next day.
10) After makan, surprisingly my car managed to start and made it back to the hotel.
11) Next day, found a mechanic in Tanah Rata, and later he tells me that he only can fix tomorrow (Monday) because he doesn't have the parts. So I got Henry and Ben Yue to teman me stay another night.
12) Got a room in Pines resort. Room is nice but I feel really cheated, for the price I'm paying, is not even close to a average 4 star hotel service. Don't even have Astro or WiFi compared to the RM300 pent-house apartment we stayed in the night before.
13) On Monday, the mechanic only got the parts at 1.30pm, said he only need half an hour to install, but knowing mechanics, I gave him more time and only go at 3pm. As expected, haven't fixed finish so have to wait there.
14) Waited for another 2 hours there, having alot of complications. At the end he couldn't fixed for me, because only realised that the whole compressor is spoiled. So he just removed the ball bearing coil for me, so at least the belt can spin through it without running the compressor. Means, no air cond all the way back to KL! (you've NO idea how suffering it is until u tried it, especially when u're sleepy! There are a few times I couldn't even wind down my window cause it was raining heavily!!)
15) Start my journey back to KL around 5pm+, and...yes, it started to rain!
16) Finally reached home 2 hour 45 minutes later, so slow cause I couldn't really speed and I've to put my window down.
17) When I thought it was all over, the moment I reached home and enter my house...poof..electricity went off! Hallelujah!

So that's my wonderful weekend. Seriously I felt like I was being jinxed, through out the 3 days other smaller things also happened to really irritate me. Kept stepping into pool of water and mud and my stupid slippers with holes didn't help much as I walk around when it's raining!

But despite all this, I also have many things to thank God for...

1) I thank God that my car didn't die half way when I'm coming up Cameron. Or else things will be much worst if I got stranded on the hill, with the rain and fog.
2) I thank God that my car managed to start again and was able to drive to the hotel and to a mechanic.
3) I thank God there was a mechanic in Cameron, even though he charged me abit too expensive, but at least I could drive back safely.
4) I thank God that it only rained when I have my car and it didn't rain when we've to walk around Tanah Rata for food and etc.
5) I thank God I was secure financially in Cameron and my dad managed to transfer money to me even on a Sunday.
6) I thank God I found a comfortable place to stay the extra night even though it is expensive.
7) I thank God for Henry and Ben Yue for teman-ing me for the extra night.

And also I did experience all the things I wanted that I came up for. I did have a very fun time driving up Cameron on Saturday night. It was one of the best driving experience ever! With the rain, dark road and foggy weather, made every turning so much more challenging! I also really enjoy the cold weather there. I managed to eat pancake and the Apple pie ice cream thanks to the extra night and I also bought 3kg of jambu on the way home! And lastly, I did have fun with photography and I've a few satisfying shots which ALMOST make the trip worthwhile. =)

And so..here are the pictures I want to share with everyone..

-----
p/s: There are 62 pictures, so please be patient for it to load. If some pictures doesn't show, just right click on that empty slot and click on "Show picture".
p/p/s: Some pictures (not all, only pics like group photo or landscape pics) can be enlarged to 640x426. Just click on the image.








This dood spend a long time on his hair!






18 of us excluding me.


Husband and wife enjoying the scenery.






















This is what happened when you let a real amateur use a SLR camera with a large aperture lens. Poor Ben is totally out of focus. I shall spare the embarassment and shall not announce who took this pic. (Please, not me!)












Who's that woman??




Our rock star!






Wern Eik, amazed with my lens blower!










You won't get a prize if you can guess who's car is this.


Range rover!










Henry's dream.


A classic mini cooper's engine.


Poser.


And more poser.


Oh man..


Oh mann..





-----
And now for my favourite shots..
p/s: There are 3 pictures of cats (the real animal cat, not Catherine), so for those who are afraid of cats like Melissa, scroll down at your own risk.



Sungei Pilas in Berinchang.














Ben Yue took this pic on the way back. Cropped already.









-----
This is the stupid ball bearing coil that caused all the problem.


This is a brand new coil.


And this was mine!


Thanks for viewing. Please leave your comments, would really appreciate tips, critism, or anything that can help me improve =)