Kebun @ Karak with Homeschoolers

It was a lovely morning as we departed PD. We gave ourselves 2 hours to reach Karak using the Kuala Pilah - Karak way. A route that we had never used before.

We had underestimated the road. It was a very picturesque journey but the hairpin bends along the Temelong stretch was hazardous. However, we were just in time to see durians being collected in Temelong and had a good time sniffing the wonderful aroma...aaaaaah!

We were late by and hour and a half.

Luckily, homeschooling father who had been into the farm a few years back was there to do a headcount.

Pohpoh and Kongkong led the group into their farm.

We were famished when we arrived at Karak and had a bit of kaya toast and butter with good, strong coffee. Thick slabs of Tatura butter between freshly toasted bread with a dollop of kaya. Just heavenly!

Another hs mom, her girls and her father arrived about the same time and followed us in.

We were in time to see a wheelbarrow being pushed out. The other families were already in the thick of the action.

This mangosteen tree just didn't want to grow up and has remained 3feet high for years.
To look for mangosteens, you would have to lift up its leaves and peer underneath. A good tree for the kids to experience harvesting firsthand, as they are the ones who can crawl under and look for ripe purple fruits.

There's nothing like freshly harvested fruits.

Looking for more mangosteens

Durians.

Durians that had fallen and not picked were eaten by wild boars. Lots of empty husks were spotted under the trees.

While waiting for lunch, the kids played together. We had a sumptuous meal. A big thank you to all.

Washing up after a hearty meal.

Durians waiting to be eaten.

Durian time!

Tom wanted his share too.

Ean got to feed the tilapia.

Pomelo

The nature table with pickings from around the farm.

Looking for rambutans

Using a cutter on a pole is hard work. Spot Fai on the tree.

Lots of teamwork was required.

I, on the other hand, was busy enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Fai still on the tree.
Fai missed Kebun and the moment he alighted from the car, he was all over the dogs and then feeding the fish by the pond, and going around the farm looking for fruits. It looks like I need to spend more time here.

Kebun has been sadly neglected lately, as my parents starting helping out in my brother's banana/watermelon/pumpkin farm. Most of the fruit trees went on strike and didn't fruit. Not a single langsat and yellow rambutan was to be seen. Obviously, the fruit trees feel neglected and need some pampering if we want them to fruit next season.

Picking rambutans that fell to the ground

Singing session. Han and Ean enjoyed it very much. Han and Ean didn't want to step foot outside the house and was happy to stay indoors. Most of the younger kids didn't like the hot sun, the poky grass and curious dogs.

Han looking on as the girls played a hand game

Lost and Found. Bottles washed and air dried. Shirt washed, dried and folded.

Now the tricky part of meeting up with their owners.

Starting anew 2011

First my eldest brother from DJaya to SAlam then my sister to DDamai then me to PD and now....the biggest surprise....my parents from their dream retirement farm aka Kebun in Karak to....Raub.

Kebun was my parents' dream.
Get a plot of land, build a wooden kampung house, plant a few fruit trees, dig a few fish ponds, rear a couple of chickens then live an iddylic life away from the hustle bustle of the city.
Create a place where their kids and grandkids can 'balik kampung'.
That was more than 10 years ago, now with the Karak Highway at their footsteps and bogged down with the upkeep of the farm, my mom had been contemplating getting an apartment.....Horrors!
Then the unexpected happened...all in one day, a swift decision was made.... after a few phone calls they have decided to give up their land for another piece of land next to a forest reserve in Raub. Hilly terrain with a clear water stream running through it. Accessible only by 4WD.
Once again they will have their Kebun of yesteryears back. Back when gibbons and hornbills could be seen from their verendah in the early mornings and evenings. Instead of the constant zooming of trucks and lorries on the highway.

Now mom plans to build a small stone cottage. No wood, too much termites says dad.
2 rooms only for 1 staying guest and a big deck for anyone else to pitch their tents.
No fruits trees or fish ponds to look after.
Age is catching up they say.

My parents seemed rejuvenated after their decision.

My mom went through my home library and got out a stack of books on decks, lawns, vacation homes and the like.

She said that there is nothing like a fresh start.
Starting on a clean slate.
To be able to dream and create once again.

My sentiments exactly.

I love moving. I have been nomadic all my live, more so after getting married and working in Singapore.
Never stayed in one place for more than 5 years.
It is just so refreshing, getting rid of the old, packing only the essentials and starting all over.
Letting go might be an issue for the boys. Sure it is hard to leave a place that holds treasured memories but a new day beckons, new challenges to conquer, new adventures, the excitement of not knowing what to expect....c'mon let's go!

Trip to Kebun

The trip was unplanned.
I was planning to take the kids to IKEA and drop JY off for her clay class.
But K called and asked if I wanted to go to Triang.
I was planning a trip to Tasek Bera the day before, so I jumped at the chance to have a preview of the place.
The flexibility of unschooling my kids.
Triang: Along the Pahang river, there are numerous stalls selling live tilapia and patin.

Pahang river looked muddy, big and treacherous. I don't think I am all that keen to go to Tasek Bera anymore.

My kids love going to Kebun. They love playing with the dogs, cats, plucking fruits, feeding the fishes and I guess the moment they are most fond of is when the generator is switched off. This is when everyone congregates on the verendah to enjoy the night. Most of the time there will be lots of talk of the good old days. This time around it was about back when there were lots of hornbills and gibbons before the forest was cleared for the development of the Karak Highway.

I don't usually like yellow rambutans but this tree gave lovely sweet rambutans with flesh that did not stick to the seeds.

I didn't realise that I was stepping on a nest of cobras as I took this photo.

I was too busy running to take a photo of the black baby cobra.