I went for my 6 months once check up last week at UH. As I was there very early, I was the first few to see Prof Yip. Usually I will have this sense of trepidation while waiting for my turn but this time around my thoughts were elsewhere. As I was waiting to see Prof Yip, I meet a breast cancer survivor of 30 years! Wow I was really impressed. Although in in her early 60’s, she looked good and ver stylish.
Prof Yip said everything is fine and my next check up February next year. I will also have a mammography done.I went home in a cheerful mood.
Here is an article i wrote about the Pink Unity trip to Cameroon which was not published.
PINK UNITY CAMEROON HIGHLANDS TRIP
BONDING AND SHARING “TOUCHING HEARTS PROGRAMME”
The Pink Unity organized a trip to Cameron Highlands between 17-19 July 2009, the first project of its bonding and sharing programme for a couple of days. It was a fantastic cool treat for about 33 lady survivors and one still undergoing treatment. It is amazing as 4 ladies from Melaka joined us and we picked after 2 more ladies Ipoh at Simpang Pulai.
Before checking in to Rosa Pasedanan Hotel we were accompanied by a district officer to visit the Diado Hana Chrysanthemum Farm. We were greeted with sweet fragrance from the flowers and it was really soothing to see so many colourful and beautiful types of chrysanthemum. The farm is a producer as well as manufacture for fresh cut chrysanthemum. The ladies wished their husbands and boyfriends who give them a bouquet of beautiful flowers like this..ha..ha!
On our way, we stopped at the Cameroon Bharat Tea Farm along the road. To take a group photo. The scenery was fantastic, the tea plants covering the valleys and very way was so serene.
Before checking in to the hotel, we also visit the Orang Asli of Sg Ruil. The officers from the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Organg Asli and the Tok Batin (orang asli community head) was there to greet us. We then had a sharing session with the community. What really took us by surprise was that the ladies and young girls of the community was not really aware of cancer. Luckily one of fellow survivors hails from orang asli community was able to speak in the language and touch base with them. The ladies and some young mothers were briefed on how to do breast self examination. It was an eye opener for us on the tour on the ways of living of the local community and was breathtaking was we were all able to smelt such fresh and crisp cool mountain air on the settlement.
The next day we enjoyed the famous red, juicy, succulent, a bit sour strawberries of Cameron. We visited KHM Strawberry farm in Tanah Rata and was briefed by the owner on strawberry farming. While listening to him we feasted to delicious strawberry ice with strawberry topping, it cold, yummy and refreshing. Many of us bought authentic strawberry jam mad from freshly squeezed strawberries.
We continue our journey to the Cactus Gardens. We walked around the gardens to view a variety of cactus of different shapes, colour and sizes. So many photos were taking by the ladies amidst of very strange looking cactus plants. In the afternoon we had another quick sharing session at the Mardi Agrotechnology Park with representatives of Puspanitha and enjoyed tea with them cool serenity environment.
At night we had a grand nite called the Idol Night… a night of letting our hair down. All the ladies we beautifully dressed looking forward for a night of fun and laughter. The night start off by a short speech by the President of Pink Unity Datin Azura and then followed by performance. Some ladies sang Karaoke and there were 3 belly dancers that night. The glamorous performance came from the Dikir Puteri group. Everyone was enthralled with each other performance and everyone was having a jolly good time, with bonding and camaraderie. Everyone was either dancing or singing at their places or on the floor. Prizes were given away but the best prize was that everyone felt a sense of happiness… like being on top of the world. The night ended celebrating our remarkable journey in life.
Third day before leaving home we went to Mardi again but this time to see the botanical gardens which include the herbs, roses, orchids, and the research centers. We were also brief on the latest development by a Mardi Official.
As we headed home, it was a wonderful trip to remember. For some the 3 days were relaxing, for some it was a first time experienced such gaiety among fellow survivor and for all us it is a awesome experience on top of the mountain.
