K M Cheng-Travel Journal: Malaysia (Covid-19 National Recovery Phase 4 - My Staycation No 29 Chinese New Year Day 13 to Sungeiway & Cempaka, Petaling Jaya & My ex-colleague's Birthday Lunch) Sunday Feb 13 & 20 2022

Chinese New Year Lion Dance Costume

Sungei Way History & Cultural Museum,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Cempaka Buddhist Lodge,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

" Small steps in the right direction can turn out to be the biggest step of your LIFE "

" My Staycation & Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) free & easy solo visit (09.30>11.30) to Sungei Way & Cempaka, Petaling Jaya, Selangor on New Year Day 13, Sunday Feb 13 2022, travelling by my own vehicle (self drive) from SS17, Subang Jaya > Sungei Way > Cempaka, Petaling Jaya, Selangor & return, my 29th outdoor trip after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 6 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases; a National Vaccination campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021), as at Feb 5 2022 a total of 22.9 million individuals or 97.9% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations, Selangor (my home state) is now under National Recovery Phase 4 (NRP4) starting from Monday Oct 11 2021 hence the Malaysian Government has eased restrictions allowing individuals with vaccination certificate or card for inter-state travels, dine-in restaurants, hotel accommodations & homestays, outdoor sport & activities etc "

Sungei Way History & Cultural Museum,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Total expenses incurred: Rm5 (petrol) + Rm10 (donation) = Rm15 (US$3.50)

Travel Itinerary: SS15, Subang Jaya > Sungei Way > Cempaka > Subang Jaya (total mileage 24km)

This Sunday visit to Sungei Way & Cempaka was done in a spur of moment but with 2 "noble" missions in my mind ie making my first visit to the newly opened Sungei Way History / Cultural Museum & Cempaka Buddhist Lodge which was opened to the public during the Chinese New Year !

Both these places are near Subang Jaya, a short drive (15 to 20 mins) from my home place.

Today is Day 13 of the Chinese New Year & in 2 days time ie Tuesday Feb 15 2022 is the Lantern Festival or more widely known as Chap Goh Meh (the 15th Night in Hokkien) or Yuan Xiao Jie (in Mandarin) that marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration. This is also the day members of the family may visit the temples to pray for good fortune & blessings ! Chap Goh Meh is also regarded as a Chinese Valentine's Day !

Travel Highlights:

1) Sungei Way New Village, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - it was discovery of tin that led to the birth of this village in 1870 ! I lived in this village from 1977-1979 during my early working years before moved to my new home in Subang Jaya in 1980 ! My visit was just to get a feel of the festive atmosphere in villages in Klang Valley in the midst of a Covid-19 pandemic; in Day 3 of the Chinese New Year, I visited the Serdang New Village (near Rainbow Bridge) after paying a visit to my elder sister's house in Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan; my next visit will be Kampung Bagan Hainam (now with a new look after some recent beautification works), Port Klang; my last visit to this new Hainam village was probably 20 to 30 years ago !

2) Sungei Way History & Cultural Museum (Koridor Sejarah), Petaling Jaya, Selangor - this mini museum was officially opened in Dec 12 2021, the latest tourist attraction in Sungei Way, open only in Saturday & Sunday, weekday by appointment only, an excellent display of artefacts from the new village's early days as a mining community & old records documenting the achievements of its pioneers !

3) Pasar Seri Setia (Wet Market & Food Court), SS9A, Sungei Way New Village, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - busy at the time of my morning visit at around 10.30 !

4) Sungei Way New Village & the surrounding, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - difficult to find a proper parking lot for my car near the main street of SS9A ! I was lucky to find a parking by a side alley opposite the Leng Eng Tian Kiew Ong Tai Tay Temple !

5) Leng Eng Tian Khiew Ong Tai Tay Temple, SS 9A, Sungei Way New Village, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - closed at the time of my visit ! Built in the 1980, my last visit to this temple was in Jan 2020 also during the Chinese New Year period !

6) Toh Guan Seng Temple, SS9A, Sungei Way New Village, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - a Taoist Temple, established in 1950, the year I was born !

7) Sungei Way Chinese Primary School, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

8) Cempaka Buddhist Lodge, SS23/25, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - established since 1985, this center is managed by Buddhists serving as a religious destination in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, provides a contemplative place for devotees to study, absorb & practises the Buddhist teachings, also carries out Buddhist activities & ceremonies; I enjoyed my time & taking pictures of the Tiger-theme Chinese New Year decor found on the ground floor up to the 3rd floor of the Lodge !

Makan Makan (Eating) Day 13 Chinese New Year - my Sunday lunch ie home cooked steamed pork sausages & fried anchovies rice + stir fried green vegetables - yummy yummy taste ! Another beautiful Sunday morning outing & a delicious home meal during the Chinese New Year festive period !

Tuesday Feb 15 2022 (Chap Goh Meh, last day of the Chinese New Year) - my 1st meet up with William Lee (an ex Sabahan now living in Klang, both of us have a common interest in travelling, acquainted with William at the Nov 2021 MATTA Fair in Putra World Trade Centre) over a Bak Kut Teh (a pork rib dish cooked in broth) breakfast Rm32=US$7.50 (a treat from KM) in Teluk Pulai (Pottery) Ba Kut Teh Restoran, Jalan Batai, Laut 5, Taman Intan, Klang, Selangor, this restaurant purported to serve the best Bak Kut Teh in town !

A hot pot of Bak Kut Teh
+ Rice Rm16 (US$3.80)

Wednesday Feb 16 2022 (08.45>13.00) - meet up over a lunch with my travel buddies, KF Wong & Thompson Tham in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor after the Chinese New Year which ended yesterday ie Tuesday, Feb 15 2022 & a brief visit to Sunway Giza Mall, Sunway Nexis & Tropical Gardens Mall.

Surian MRT Station, Kota Damansara
Kota Damansara Town
Sunway Giza Mall, Kota Damansara
Sunway Nexis Mall, Kota Damansara
Tropical Gardens Mall, Kota Damansara
Lunch in Restoran Ten Noodle
Kota Damansara
Pork Mi Suan Soup Rm9.50 (US$2.25)

Saturday Feb 19 2022 - my morning breakfast (after a short morning walk to the SS15 Subang Jaya Wet Market) & tao bao (takeaway) from a wet market food stall, one packet each of the Chinese style Nasi Lemak (rice cooked with coconut milk), steamed glutinous rice & yam cakes Rm3.50 (US$0.82) per packet for my family members.

Nasi Lemak (rice with coconut milk)
Rm3.50 (US$0.82)

Yam cakes Rm3.50

Steamed glutinous rice - Rm3.50

Sunday Feb 20 2022 - attended my ex-colleague, Philip Eu's birthday lunch in Copper Mansion, Jalan 51A, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (12.00>15.00); 12 of my ex-colleagues (the "Young Ones" who attended were Philip Eu, Rosemary, Carol, Eddie Kok, KM Cheng, Randall Liew, Nellie, Lolly, Linda, Irene, Parminder, Kumar & Letchumi) together with Philip's beloved wife, son & daughter attended this birthday lunch. Last 2 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, my ex-colleague group was not able to meet up for our annual reunion lunch (this normally held on the Day 7 of the Chinese New Year). Friendship is not a big thing, it's a million little things ... For this special Sunday occasion, what we enjoyed were good food & great company ! A big thank you to Philip for hosting this lunch & Rosemary for organising it. For those who were not able to attend, let's look forward to seeing them in another occasion in a not too distant future ! I could like to take this opportunity to wish all of them always in good health & take care !