Quality time with dad

Ladies, what’s your favorite father-daughter bonding activity?

My dad and I are both ambiverts, curious learners, and adventurers. So, one of my favorite activities with my dad is no doubt, exploring new places with him.

This time, we made an impromptu trip to one of the less exploited caves in Ipoh. It is called 龙头岩, which literally translated as ‘Stone of Dragon’s Head’.

Caves in Ipoh are usually associated with Taoist temples, and this one is no exception. The connection between caves and temples can be traced way back to before Independence. 

During British ruling period, a lot of Chinese immigrants were brought into Ipoh to work in the mining business. They eventually settled down here and those that practice Taoism built a lot of temples at the caves.

Taoists build temples to worship their ancestors and Taoist idols. They picked caves because caves have good fengshui. Caves promise fresh water source and steady air flow, which are two important features in good fengshui. Besides that, temperature in caves is kept constant at around 23^oC, which is perfect to preserve the color pigments on the idols and Chinese memorial tablets.

Anyway, enough with the cave talk. Let’s look at some pictures!

The temple looks pretty nice don’t you think? :D

But no! That’s not why I am here! My dad promised me some adventures! I want something more exciting than this!

(DISCLAIMER: EVERYTHING THAT I AM ABOUT TO SHOW YOU BELOW IS OUT OF REACH FOR VISITORS AT THE MOMENT. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO VISIT WITHOUT OWNER'S PERMISSION. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.)

Then my dad leads me upstairs to this.

Ooo……look at this entrance! 

It looks exactly like those entrances in the martial arts novels, which the grand master forbids the young innocent ones to enter!  

Now let’s peek and see what’s behind the door.

Look at the stone wall above again. 

Can you see an old man holding a cane and a peach (寿星公)?

Did you see an image that resemblances the picture below?

If your answer is still no, let me outline the image for you.

My unnecessary outlining totally ruins your imagination didn’t I? :p

Let’s move on and look at the roof top shall we?

I think the picture above looks like a scene from science fiction.

Can you guess what the function of the equipment around the rock is? 

(Hint: think of stalactites and stalagmites formation)

After strolling around for a while, we went back to the temple again.

Just when I thought our adventures ended here, my dad said he wants to show me a cave that has a square entrance.

Let’s go!

Erm……dad……where are we going exactly?

Nobody mentioned anything about cave deep in the bushes but that’s fine.

Finally, we reached the entrance! The entrance of the cave looks like this. \0.0/

My dad asked me whether my smart phone has torchlight. /o.0\ Yes it does, but it’s a little too late to confirm now don’t you think?!

Upon entering the cave, we could still get some natural light from above.

Then it’s pitch black ahead.

Honestly, the torchlight from my phone didn’t help much. -__-

Thankfully, my dad would tell me where to put my foot on: this patch of soil is too soft to step on, that rock is steady to step on, time to switch side……I made sure I followed my dad closely, right behind him, and took the paths that he has taken.

There you have it, the square entrance.

The picture above and some of the cave pictures below were taken with the camera flash function on.

Dad, you didn’t mention anything about roots either. And the constant sound of bat squeaking!

Oh, my dad did mention something about a creek! Look at the water, it looks so fresh!

Now, here is where I refused to move forward anymore.  

What you see in the picture above is a nice picture of the cave wall and its amazing rock formation (perhaps); what you do not see are fruit bats hanging over the cave top, and a huge broken ceramic vessel laying on the ground.

My dad said the British might have used this cave as a winery. I looked at the obviously man-made square entrance and creek. I am not too sure about your conjecture dad!

Now, out of the cave! Out of the cave!

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Let’s look at some beautiful creations of God to calm ourselves down shall we?

Dear readers, I hope you have a good time reading this. I personally had a lot of fun.

Was I angry at my dad for signing me up for something peculiar like this? 

No, of course not. I knew he has scouted the place prior to our visit. 

More importantly, I know he will protect me if anything arises.

This experience with my dad reminds me a lot about my relationship with God, my heavenly father. Even the road ahead is unclear for my naked eyes to see, I know He is always there, guiding me, walking before and along with me, leading me by the way I should go. 

Thank you God, for your love, your guidance, and the amazing parents that you have given me.

Ladies, when was the last time you did something enjoyable with your dad?