The Malaysian Bar - Fun in the Sun at Cherating, Kuantan (30 Sept to 2 Oct 2011)

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Fun in the Sun at Cherating, Kuantan (30 Sept to 2 Oct 2011)

Thursday, 22 December 2011 11:16am

by Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna and photos by Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna and Brenden Anthony

The Bar Council staff trip to Cherating, Kuantan was easily voted as one of the best staff events organised as it attracted the most number of staff and family members — 91 individuals in all! The trip was most welcomed as the Bar Council Secretariat staff members had been busy at work including assisting in the numerous conferences organised by Bar Council since the start of the term.

Two buses ferried us to Cherating from the congregating point at the Bar Council building on 30 Sept 2011 (Friday) for a three-hour journey along the East-West Highway. The slight drizzle did nothing to dampen our spirit as we chatted and partied in the busses and refused to catch 40-winks lest we miss the fun!

We sighted village settings in the final 30-minute drive on a rural road. Quaint restaurants outlined with colourful light bulbs and shops selling the famous keropok lekor were in abundance. As we turned the corner into Impiana Cherating Resort, the road led us through a 100-metre driveway lined with rows of yellow Allamanda leading to the porch of the resort, which displayed a welcome banner for us.

We trudged with our bags up two flights of steps to the lobby where the registration team greeted us with welcome drinks and door gifts. Straw hats encrusted with sea shells were distributed to the women while the men were given straw cowboy Malboro hats. Children were treated to squeaky toy ducks, swimming floats and soft toys. Everyone also received silver lidded-mugs and soft toy keychains. Later, we feasted on a scrumptious dinner. While some retired to bed after the meal, others enjoyed the music churned out by the live band at the resort’s Fun Pub.

It was only at daybreak that we realised the beautiful surroundings of the four-star resort set on 35 acres of land. The resort was built to capture the finest traditional Malay architecture. Our rooms were tastefully decorated with views of the sea, complete with comfortable conventional four-posted wooden beds, flat screen televisions and mini bars. We were also close to nature with an unspoiled mini jungle on one side and the seashell-strewn beach fringing the vast sea on another. We were woken up in the morning by the peaceful lapping of the waves.

On Day 2 after breakfast, we assembled near the pool for a 10-minute poco-poco dance choreographed by our games instructor. We were then divided in four groups and played six games. The most difficult game was the tug-of-war as we could barely keep ourselves from falling on the sandy beach. We rested during intervals quenching our thirst with grape cordial.

The following winners took home cash prizes.

Bravo: 1st prize

Anne Andrew

Francis Xavier Lechiah

Jeevanathan Angappan (LAC)

Kumar Punusamay

Mazillah Azwin Kamal Azmi (DB)

Nahdhatusyima Osman (DB)

Roslina Razak

Rosmawati Deraman (DB)

Saiful Rizal Mohd Karim

Satha Selvan Subramaniam

Siti Namirah Johari

Su See Mun

Charlie: 2nd prize

Abd Samat Mohd Kassim (LAC)

Chandramalar K Muhtu

Chin Oy Sim

Mohd Esman Basri

Farah Diana Musa (DB)

Hemalatha Subramaniam

Manimaran Sinnakanoo (LAC)

Nur Atiqah Mohammad Mahfol

Siti Rokiah Morshid

Sree Gayathiri Maruthuvellu

Suvitha Marimuthu

Taneshkumar Nagarajan

Delta: 3rd prize

Navaneethan Balakrishnan

Mazni Ibrahim

Hussein Thajudeen

Ezane Mansor Obaid

Vanimalar Moneyselvam

Florence Laway

Chuah Ying Ying

Edna P Sta Ana

Letchumi Thamboo

John Cheah Weng Onn (DB)

Nor’Aliza Ilyasa

Noor Aida Mohamed (DB)

Alpha: 4th prize

Anpanadan Kathavarayan

Anuradha M Andiappan

Brenden Anthony

Cheryl Foo Chooi Guan

Chiam Ter Ping

Christina Adele Gomez

Geraldine Chye Min Li

Mohd Syah Zainudin

Nur Aisyah Ahmad Afandi

Parameswary Balakrishnan

Sangheeta Kuppusamy

Tony Haryadi Irman

The intense teamwork and fun made us ravenous and we made a beeline for the lunch buffet at the coffee house. While some retired to the rooms for a siesta, others took a short tour to the turtle sanctuary nearby the resort. The sanctuary was housed in a Malay-styled house on stilts with its backyard turned into a hatchery for breeding and rearing turtles, where we were enlightened on the protection of the endangered species especially the leatherback turtle and viewed an exhibition on the different types of turtles, their habitats and locations, alongside exotic seashells on display. We also made a pit stop at a row of stalls selling various keropoks before heading back to the resort.

During the dinner, Suriati Dalilan from the Finance Department entertained us as the master of ceremony and rendered several songs. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chin Oy Sim gave a short speech and handed out lucky draw prizes. Senior staff members were also called upon to distribute lucky draw prizes to the winners. As the live band belted out songs from several generations, many took to the floor and enjoyed themselves well past midnight.

We left Cherating after having breakfast and checking out at about noon. The trip back was less noisy as many slept in the bus having had a wonderful trip.

The staff trip was organised by the Fun Club of Bar Council Secretariat comprising Cheryl Foo (Chairperson), Saliha Hassan, Ezane Mansor, Anne Andrew, Siti Rokiah Morshid, Geraldine Chye and Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna.

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