Betong: fun, food and fellowship

Klang Convent OGA members in Betong, Thailand

Have you been to Betong? Many of us have never heard of this place. It is a city in Yala Province, Thailand, near the border of the Perak state of Malaysia. Betong, surrounded by mountains, has beautiful scenes of lake, forest and rubber plantations. It is a popular place for Malaysian tourists.
 
A few years ago (July 2011) my husband and I joined members of Klang Convent Old Girls Association (OGA) on a 3D/1N holiday in Betong. The response from members of OGA for this trip was so good that the organizers had to charter a double-decker bus to take all of us there. The total number of passengers was 38 (members plus spouse/friend).

Our comfortable double-decker bus

We started the journey from Klang at night and reached Betong early next morning. After a long wait for the town to wake up, we had our passports cleared at the Betong immigration. We headed straight to a restaurant for a hearty breakfast.

In the early morning, the city was quiet, with some eating shops opened for business. I saw some unique features of the city: a tower-like structure with plants growing around it in a small roundabout and a large red postbox in the middle of the road in front of the shops.

A unique roundabout

A large postbox in the middle of the road

First on the list of our itinerary was Winter Flower Garden. We boarded a mini bus, which was a stark contrast from our big air-conditioned comfortable bus. It had two rows of wooden seats on both sides and we were crammed inside, facing one another. However, the beautiful garden with rainbow-coloured flowers in a cool climate, made up for the discomfort.

Mini bus from the rear

Smiling faces in spite of the crammed spaces  Photo: Mee Lee

Lovely Winter Flower Garden

Scenic shot

Group photo with tour guide (front row, second from left)

Cheerful faces in a lovely environment    Photo: Mee Lee

 After many memorable photographs amidst the beautiful blooms, we  took a long walk up the road and viewed some chalets made of bamboo. They looked so cool and well-built, ideal accommodation for tourists especially newly-weds.

 

A bamboo chalet

Next, we visited the Piyamit Tunnel. This tunnel was the Malaya Communists base, for bombshells and storage of food supplies. Built in 1977, it was 1 km long and 5 to 6  feet wide, with 9 entrance and exit paths. 

Entrance to Piyamit Tunnel

Description of Piyamit Tunnel

  
After walking through the cool jungle paths in the lush tropical forest, we entered the narrow tunnel and arrived at a clearing. A woman in a blue tee-shirt gave a brief explanation of exhibits displayed in the tunnel.

Long path through the lush tropical forest

The narrow path of the tunnel

Woman in blue tee shirt 

Cooking utensils

Container for clothes

Exit from the tunnel

We next visited the museum which showed some of the things used during that time: radios, musical instruments, grinding beans machine etc.

Musical instruments

Radios and video cassette tapes

After the Piramit Tunnel visit, we were pretty tired. Next stop was Betong Hot Spring. Most of us headed straight for the public hot spring. We rolled up our long pants and dipped our feet into the hot water. Ahh! What a wonderful feeling! 

Hot relaxing therapy    Photo: Mee Lee

A foot soak soothes muscles, hydrates skin as well as relieves aches and pains. What a relaxing and therapeutic feeling - just the right remedy for fatigue feet. 

A foot soak:  soothes muscles, relieves aches and pains

What a feeling! We could hear Irene Cara singing in the background.

The relaxing dip built up a good appetite. Relishing food is one of the best part of holidays. Our next itinerary was a durian feast. For a fee, we could eat as much as we liked: the sweet, creamy, buttery, fragrant, finger-licking "king of fruits". As soon as the boss and his workers opened the thorny fruit and passed its shells around, the pulp was quickly savoured and safely tucked in our stomachs. 

Members enjoying the durian feast

I was fascinated by the metal durian fruit opener. The thorny fruit was placed below the metal bars and with a quick press of the bars, the fruit was opened. The worker then priced it open with her hands to expose the delicious seeded pulp inside.

The worker held the two bars and pressed down on the thorny durian fruit

She priced open the durian

                                   

Yummy durian pulp

Besides durian, we had delicious meals during the trip. We had birdnest, spicy and tangy Thai, and authentic Chinese food - everyone’s favourite.  

Bird-nest dessert

Cereal prawn

Fish maw

Seaweed soup

Steam chicken

Steam spring roll

Thai-styled Fried fish

Yin tai: trotter

Steam fish

Our last visit was Wat Phuttathiwat, the largest Buddhist temple in Betong, This temple was located on a hilltop. It was impressive, from the exterior and interior views, with intricate and well-designed architecture.

Impressive front view of Temple Phuttathiwat

Inside the temple: intricate architecture

Inside the temple: Sitting Buddha

Outside:Looking down from the temple

Outside: White dragon at the front of the temple

Accommodation was good. We stayed in Sri Betong Hotel, a hotel that satisfied all our needs.  

Shopping is a common feature in OGA tours. At various stops, members shopped for household items, food, herbs etc.

 At one of the shopping places, I was enthralled by a worker's handicraft. She was folding expertly tiny rosettes with the Pandan (Pandanus) leaves. 

At a herbal shop, with Diana, president of Convent OGA

 

Household items: lots of choices

Rosettes from Pandan leaves

                                             

On our way back, we stopped in Ipoh to buy the signature biscuits (hiong piah) and salt-baked chicken.
                                                

Travelling with members of the OGA is always fun and enjoyable. As we come from the same alma mater (Convent Klang), we got along well with one another and moved as a harmonious group. It was a good opportunity for members to have fellowship with one another, the young with the senior members. 

Betong is a pleasant place for a relaxing holiday. Everyone had great fun, delicious food and strong fellowship.

The Lady: My first film premiere

 

Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh

THE limousine swept in. A star stepped out. It was none other than Malaysia’s international film-star: Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh!  

The Star stepped out from her limousine

 On a cool Saturday evening on 8^th October 2011, I was a among the buzzing crowd waiting for the celebrated star, at the Smith Rafael Film Centre in San Rafael, California. I was invited as a guest to attend the screening of The Lady, Michelle Yeoh’s most recent film.  The Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) organized the event.

Smith Rafael Film Centre, San Rafael

 

Smith Rafael Film Centre, San Rafael

 

The crowd of Americans was made up of men and women of all ages. Many were dressed in casual long-sleeved shirts and pants with muffler in hand because of the cold, but some ladies were in pretty glittery dresses. They were talking enthusiastically outside the theatre, but when word got round that the star was approaching, the patiently waiting audience formed an orderly line on both sides of the red carpet, to welcome the star.   

The patiently-waiting audience formed an orderly line

Dressed in a shimmering black shift and a grey overcoat, Michelle Yeoh was a picture of elegance. The Malaysian celebrity was joined by The Lady’s dashing and dapper director, Luc Besson. Cameras flashed all around me and fans surged forward. I tried, in vain, to get a good picture of the pair as they greeted fans, signed autographs and obligingly posed for photographers.

Michelle Yeoh posing for photographs

Luc Besson greeting fans

Michelle Yeoh signing autographs

As this was my first film premiere, I was quivering with excitement. What a delightful experience to cherish! There I was, and standing right in front of me was a superstar and her director. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming!

Soon after, I was led to the VIP waiting room with the renowned actress and her director. After some snacks and drinks with the stars, I managed to get some personal shots of Michelle Yeoh, before we were ushered into the theatre to view the movie. 

 

At the VIP waiting room: the stars mingle with the guests

A personal shot with Michelle Yeoh

Guests with a memorable photo with Michelle Yeoh

The Lady, an insightful epic love story, is set against Burma’s (now Myanmar’s) political upheaval. It is about the lives of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi (portrayed exquisitely by Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, British academic Michael Aris (competently played by actor, David Thewlis).

The whole hall was packed to full capacity. The well-behaved audience watched in silence, but at certain poignant moments, I heard sobs and sniffs. As a mother of two sons, I could relate to the character and at the scene where the heroine collapsed on the floor on receiving news of her husband’s illness, I was dabbing my eyes too.

After the movie, the audience stood up to give a standing ovation. As Michelle Yeoh and Luc Besson went up on stage, the applause became more thunderous. An absorbing interview and a Question and Answer (Q&A) session ensued.

Question and Answer session on stage

During the interview, Michelle Yeoh responded to questions candidly and confidently, in flawless English. She said that when she first read the script by British writer, Rebecca Frayn, she was inspired by Aung San Suu Kyi. “Her struggle for independence for the oppressed people of Burma won my admiration and respect. I felt that her story must be told,” she revealed. “I feel like it was made for me. This is the role of a lifetime!” 

Although the movie was filmed in Thailand, the amazingly creative Luc Besson said that he tried to make it as historically accurate as possible. “We recreated the house Aung San Suu Kyi occupied by visiting her and then googled  the details. Aung San Suu Kyi’s son’s speech when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, on her behalf, was reproduced on film, word for word!” disclosed Luc Besson.

 

Luc Besson and Michelle Yeoh at the lively question-answer session

During the Q & A, there were many questions on Burma as well as on the actress and director. The audience heaped praise on the movie, showing their admiration and appreciation. 

  

Next, most of us adjourned to Frantoio Ristorante for dinner. What a privilege it was to dine with the stars of The Lady and at the same table too. Over dinner, I had a little chat with Michelle Yeoh, the former James Bond girl.

 

Dining with Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is a humble and down-to-earth lady. She is open-minded, warm and friendly, without any airs, in spite of her celebrity status. She spoke about her busy schedule (with a Malaysian accent) and how she missed Ipoh, her hometown, and her family. She tries to go home whenever she can.

Her favourite food? “Malaysian, of course. Whenever I’m back, I will definitely go for curry laksa, cendol, bak kut teh, chicken rice and hakka mee.” A true-blue Malaysian at heart!

 

How does Michelle Yeoh keep her slim and slender figure? “It’s exercise,” she disclosed. “I eat moderately but exercise frequently.” She dances and does aerobic exercises whenever she can. As I savoured generous portions of the delicious French-American cuisine, I noticed that our celebrated actress ate sparingly - like a lady - delicately choosing little morsels of food and chewing well with each mouthful.

 

Michelle Yeoh loved all the movies that she starred in, just like a mother would love all her children, equally. But she found her latest film - playing a living icon - The Lady, most challenging. Her eyes lit up and she talked ardently about her latest movie.

 “The journey to making the movie took more than four years,” she elaborated. “I did a lot of research on Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma and the Burmese people. I also spent long hours learning Burmese, and sometimes dream in Burmese too,” she laughingly told me. She even lost 5 kg for the role!

This former Miss Malaysia (1983) described Aung San Suu Kyi as a lady with great dignity and elegance. She felt a sense of responsibility in portraying the correct version of the freedom fighter. Besides speaking like her and mimicking her mannerisms, she wanted to show her as a woman with strong convictions. That was why she found the role so challenging.

Michelle Yeoh is very inspired by the love between Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband. “It shows that when you love someone, you can enable them to be a better person. You support each other and do not try to change him or her. You let them be who they truly are.”

Michelle Yeoh believes in human rights. She hopes that The Lady will create awareness of the struggles of Aung San Suu Kyi and her people. Initially, this movie is shown in film festivals in different parts of the world. Later, when it is shown in theatres all over the world, the plight of the Burmese people will be highlighted. Hopefully it will also put Malaysia on the world stage, as the main actress is from Malaysia.

Make sure you watch this movie. See how our lady extraordinaire fight her battles, not with swords as in many of her films, but by peaceful means.                   

                            

The movie: The Lady