Raya oh Raya

Ramadhan is now gone and insyaAllah, long life, would be meeting it again. Raya, for the kampong folks is long gone!For the urban guys, every day is an open day now. The number of open house per day increases as the month of syawal is approaching the end.

Surrounded by the angels

Colors of Malaysia!

memoirs of a kampong boy #3

Now that I am back to work, I am really starving for time.TIME FLIES. I am trying hard to blog since that is my raya resolution to have these memoirs uploaded in stages. SMPS...SEKOLAH MENENGAH POKOK SENA .This was where I got my lower tertiary education. Where goes my friends like Amoi (Tan Mei Lee), Towkey (Khor Ah Check), Balaguru, Nazir, Sharifuddin, Faridah Ali and the rest.

To Wan Roslan and Norma Rose, if you happen to be reading my blog, my very best to you both. Sapa sangka hampa dua ni akan menikah one day!

Wan! Aku ingat lagi sapa goppren hang dulu...Noraini Ismail!

perjalanan jauh tak ku rasa

kerna hati ku melonjak tiba

bertemu sanak kaum keluarga

yang selalu bermain di mata

hey hey hey balik kampong

hey hey hey balik kamponghati riang.....

Me? Is this me? Is this me preparing the lemang?Kidding! Yezza...of coz this is me but purely

posing for the shot! Man behind the scene?...my lovely bro in law, abang Baharom who was really camera shy!

Memoirs of a kampong boy # 2

Dik Nur di Makam Tok Wan. Al Fatehah. When I am gone , I wish all my beautiful daughters would be reciting their doa for me...insya Allah

This is the place where I first learn ABC, 123! No preschool, no tution. The school went through vast transformation but the main block, which was also the classroom of my dad, my sister, brother and the rest was still in tact! To my almarhum dad, getting first in class was mandatory, being second was unacceptable and third on wards ...needless to say! Fierce though! Any way this naughty boy has never regret at all

With blessing from Allah SWT, my late mum and dad moulded me to be a human being, being me today, me as I am now.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Jabi..I remember few names of my old classmates and wonder where they are now..Mashitah Ramli (teacher), Azizah (teacher), Dali (kg guy), Razak (kg guy), Wahab and many others I cant remember now . The teachers Cikgu Ya (HM) Cikgu Shuaib (class teacher), Mr Yaakob (English teacher who forced us to speak no other but English during his period) and many more I couldnt recalled.

One of my classmate, Lt Azman Salleh passed away few years back. Alfatehah!

Padang Kubor was "old trafford" of mine. It gains the name by virtue of its close proximity to the kampong grave yard. This was where, my buddies and me sweat ourselves almost every afternoon for foot ball games. It is over grown by lalang now. Wonder where goes the nowadays kids, have they lost their passion to this game? BTW since I was really kaki bangku, most of the time i was relegated to a position of a goal keeper (nasib baik bukan ball picker!). Mind you...Those days, the goal post were made of bambo!

Memoirs of a kampong boy # 1

I am always proud of my root-as a kampong boy. That was where I not only saw first light of life but was also where I was born and grew up! I drove home recently for the raya celebration. Driving through many places which were so remarkable and memorable to me.Masjid Tanjong Musang, a place where the old imam pronounce morphine as mofayan and heroine as heroyan!






The late Imam Lebai Talib: "belia2 mestilah menjauhkan diri dari heroyan dan morfayan'' .....and half of the people listening to the friday sermon burst into laughter! Photo below is Sungai Muda@ Singai Sentab which is a stone throw from my family house. Of course those days it doesnt look like this. The water was clearer then. It was here I picked the swimming skills, self taught. After sekolah ugama, this was the place where each of us showed the individual skills...sommersault, hide and seek, water polo etc. At no cost, no training, no fee, we kampong boys pick up swimming!


Below is Kedai Tok Chop, the only grocery in my Kampong. It has gone a bit of transformation now. For a mere 20 sen, I could buy cookies and a bottled drink...

BIG TNBF IFTAR

It surely took big effort to gather about 160 people for an IFTAR. My buddies did that. Honoured to be part of the crowd that wonderful evening. Bravo folks!

Raya Do 2009

Farah, Ano and me put up at Seri Malaysia Astar last two nites. Another nite to go. As expected, the room reflected the cost. Cant expect much for RM 160/pax for a family room. What was really a pleasant surprise was the marvelous, tasty varieties of food available for the breakfast during this festive season. Bravo SM AOR!
This morning, I was really spoilt for the food. My best pick was of coz "pulut ikan keghin goi nyok!" which was glutinous rice, salted fish and coconut flesh! Dua pinggan balun sampai naik mengah! There went my diet for the day, there went the Food control enthusiasm that I have been careful of all this FASTING MONTH!!!!

Ho ho Balik kampung

We started our journey home today rather early, anticipating the heavy traffic along the highway. Left at about 630 am and was pleasantly surprised to reached Astar by 1230 pm. In fact I performed Solat Jumaat at AlBukhary. The journey was leasantly smooth, copiloted by Along. The raya songs made the journey more enjoyable. Occasionally we were disturbed by the mild snooring of Angah, seated right behind the driver's seat! Ish....kalau dah kaki tidoq...mana mana pun tidoq
Already did last minute shopping at Pekan Rabu and visited mum's grave with Farah

ALLAH HUALBAR ALLAH HU AKBAR

All the best Syahir

Last Saturday 11 July I attended a small gathering with buddies and mrs- to celebrate Syahir's migration from current company to another GLC. In the photo, he is seated second from left. He was my former assistant, for more than 3 years. Seeking greener pasture, he is migrating to MIRI Sarawak. One of The best assistant, I ever had. Fast learner, religous and above all, cool....It was indeed nice to work with him. We ventured to most islands and org asli's settlements in our quest to supply diesel for the rural electrification. He joined me for badminton games but last for only two weeks. He joined me for cycling, also last for two sessions! I hope, he he he , your tenure with the new GLC and your stay in MIRI are long lasting though.

Syahir, all the best to you. Hope you are able to take up and face the challenges in the new environment. Wherever and what ever you do, do remember always- dont forget Allah SWT. Seek guidance and protection from HIM. Good luck and all the best!

Home Sweet Home

It has been a week I am resting at home after being discharged from the hospital. Alhamdulillah, I am recuperating well. The follow up, two days ago with the surgeon, showed great improvement. I am looking forward to get back to work next week. This rest at home is so meaningful to me. Iam enjoying this stressless situation. It gives me the opportunity to be with the family all day, watch the kids going to and returning fro school, mengaji sikit sebanyak, watch movies, read the books which have piled up and of cozzz TIDRON (tidur!).ZZZZZ ... Any way I still lost to Angah (who is in her semester break) who could do it 18/24 hrs!

1) When hospitalized, then only I realized how grateful I was when there were visitors. Hospital life was so bored. Confined to the bed and bath room when hooked to the drip. Though the hospital came with an international lounge, wifi etc, it wasstill damned bored!

2) Greatest lesson: Sihat sebelum sakit. Heard this, uttered this many times before. Now, I internalized it. I am extra careful with the food in take now. I have to e fair to my body system. All this while, I just tucked in what ever that came across, as long as it was HALAL! Sup ekor, sup tulang, steak, you name it!

3) The surgeon watched the video with me on the lapcoly surgery and took me through the whole process. Banyak lemak though! Bye bye...saturated fats!

4) Lost 3 kilos through out the whole period. Unexpected though. With the continous drips and controlled diet, I shed off 3 kilos easily. No exercise, tennis, cycling etc. I hope /want to shed more. Now reverting to purely mask singgang and sayur .

5) To all fellow buddies, take care ....sihat sebelum sakit.

Jumpa lagi

What an experience II

Hi there. Its me again, this time still blogging from the international lounge of the private hospital. Syukur alhamdulillah. Yesterday I went through a successful procedure, lapcoly, to remove my stoned gallblader. I am now recuperating and doing fine in the hospital. Would be discharged in a day or two.

My earlier composition about hospital experience, if you realized, ended abruptly. I was blogging then, to kill my time when the nurse called me back to the ward for a discussion with the surgeon. Hence the abrupt end.

The fact that you guys out there are now reading my part ii, it simply prove that I survived the surgery, very much alive and still kicking!

Honestly, this admission to the hospital and all the processes and procedures that I went through, gave me lessons about life. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to my wife, children, friends, subordiates, peers, bosses, neighbours and all who had given me their strong support. Their doa and payers give me the determination and strenght.

To Ustaz FM, million thanks for the endless tazkirah that I got every time you drop by. May Allah bless you. As I said there were so much that I learnt from this episode of life. Among others, if not all:

1) Allah is the most mercyful, loving and caring. The root cause of my sickness was detected at earlier stage. In fact, very early. It could have been worst if gone undetected
2) All this happening, is actually a blessing from Allah SWT. He gave me the opportunity to recall and refresh about life. The Hikmah that He gave, to me, through this incident is taken positively.
3)As what ustaz FM said, the happening reflects Allah love us and through this incident it open up my mind to ponder about my health, my work life balance etc
4) True to the saying, please treasure health. Senang sebelum sakit, said Raihan. After going through this, I could really internalize the deep meaning of the saying.
5) It is extremely important to show concern and pay visit to some one not well. I had the bad habit of delaying the visits, under the excuse that I am always busy.Having gone through a hospital life, I could not say in words how boring it was. Bed ridden, immobilised due to the drips into the veins, disturbances from nurses who keep checking my temp and BP despite me being normal, seeing the hospital staff leaving home after office are all part of the invaluable experience. I promise, whenever there is any one who is sick after this I will make sure I will pay them a visit. The 3 star hotel like room could not take away the loneliness from me
6) From, the window, I could see my office and I just couldnt not stand the urge to get back to work. I missed the office environment, my peers, bosses and subordinates
7) It also reminded me how strong is, the love of my other half to me. She endlessly keep me accompanied at the hospital . So are my kids, who visited me every day and even blogged out in their blogs about my admission.

All in all, I am grateful to Allah that I am now coming to the end of this episode . Syukur alhamdulillah all went perfectly all right yesterday. I was put to sleep for three hours plus, only to wake up at 5, drowsy and sleepy, only to know that the gall stones were nicely packed for me and my gall bladder was gone.

It was an experience. To Allah, to you I surrender my soul and to you I seek forgiveness.

InsyaAllah, I shall be a better person, hereafter. Amin

What an experience!

Today, I am blogging from the international lounge of one of the private hospital! Was admitted here, last week, discharged over the week end, readmitted again this week for the surgery and to be discharged today, without the surgery!

Sound weird? Not really. Last week after many series of different test, I was diagnosed with galstone and the physician recommended for the gallbladder surgery as the means of treatment. Friends, relatives and subordinates suggested alternative treatment without surgery. Came in test week for the said surgery but one of the presurgery procedure, known as ERCP was done without success. The after effect was unbearable and the whole week of this hospital stay was only to treat the after effect! Surgery postponed to 22nd June!

This is my first ever hospital experience. Never been admitted before. On the first week stream of visitors flow in. There were time when I was drowsy on medication and couldnt recalled who they are!

HELLO ! I am Back!

Today, I had lunch with Lyn,Fir, RR and super shy Su. Nasi KUKUS Jalan Gasing, is one of the best hide out. Later VP and Ajizu joined. While having lunch, Lyn mentioned about how touching it was, one of my composition...HOMELESS AM I. She began to ponder about her own self, about her own family, about her own kids. All that I could say is this: Well, it might not exactly be the same for every one but the cycle is similar. I remember the time, the young days, I sent Along to Kindergarten, attended her sport day, her graduation day etc. Then, visiting her at the school hostel, universities etc. The questions below truly reflect the stages in life.

1) Anak hang dah Tadika?
2) Anak dah sekolah?
3) Anak asrama mana?
4) How is her SPM? How many As?
5) Anak buat course apa?
6)Dah graduate?
5) Bila dapat menantu.. and so on...

I remember driving back home to Alor Star, arriving in the wee hours in the morning, to be greeted by my late almarhum bonda who faithfully waited for us.
Now those are gone and what left behind is just memories, fond memories of the sweet days with my beloved mum and dad.

To Lyn, and those out there, while your mum and dad are still around, do care, love and give everything to them. Visit them regularly. You never know, you may delay your trip home coz you are busy, only to realize that tomorrow they are gone...
alfatihah to almarhum ayahanda and almarhumah bonda.

BANDUNG HERE I COME!

BANDUNG PART 1

Thanks to all HRD activists who made this trip a reality. 7th Feb 2009, all 15 of us landed at Husein Sasteranegara Airport Bandung. This was my first trip to Bandung though not my first to Indonesia.






The airport immigration clearance was fast but the luggage collection was real slow. The very limited collection area was overcrowded with passengers and the poor air port staffs kept shouting to keep the curious and anxious passengers away.
“Ayuh Pak! Ayuh Buk! Mundur Pak! Mundur Buk!....”






The local guide, soft spoken, handsome PAK AGUS, picked us and soon all of us were on the PARAWISATA BUS heading for the TANGKUBAN PRAHU, about 1.5 hour ride out of the city. It didnt’t take long for us to realize the poor living conditions for some of the people here as it was pretty obvious in the journey 5 minute from the airport.




Stopped for lunch at Sunda Restaurant BALIBU, a short form for BAWAH LIMA BULAN . Served with appetizing meals of IKAN KALOI GORENG. The irony part was, the KALOI was served standing! Hj Kam, Lin’s dad surrended to the appeal of a street trader and parted his Rp 100,000 for the Angklung.



Tangkuban Prahu (Inverted Sampan) was the main tourist attraction in bandung. The weather was cool , and the strong breeze chilled us further. The KAWAH RATU was still smoky while the smell of sulphur was pretty strong. The beautiful place was however marred by hundreds of streets traders who sold almost everything you could think off. I know that have to do that to earn a living but their presence, in large numbers, coupled with their endless and continuous persistence , was really a nuisance. Regardless, I surrended to one of them for the Angklung at Rp 50,000


Descending, we stopped at the SARI ATER HOT SPRING for s short break. Almost every one stepped into the hot water, the hottest spot at 40 ‘C. This place was one of the week end destination for people from Jakarta. The ice cream tiga rasa was delicious though.


Back to Bandung city, the first FACTORY OUTLET was the batik centre. Can’t remember the name but Angah and Umi shopped till drop here. The ladies batik was real good and cheap. However design for men wasn’t that good. I always fancied Malaysian Batik. Those at Buluh Kubu were far attractive. Anyway, grabbed a pair of Batik Shirt for me since Aji Zu said “alang alang udah sampe..beli aja pak!” I was poorer by Rp 2.5 million here! Lin chided on the bus by saying “waduh waduh Pak Sob....bare pit stop pertama, enjin belum panas, tapi udah berbelanja besar!


Second factory out let was GRANDE, the long awaited spot, famous since TNB KOOP first promoted this. I was quite anxious as I always thought that these textiles were like those from Thailand or China, IMITATION. Back home, I was telling Zana, I don’t go for imitation product. Better go for unbranded, rather imitation branded. Walked into GRANDE and posh!!!!!! it was full of Arrow, POLO, CK (bukan my big boss aaaa...) and what ever. Everyone was so crazy. Grabbed a pair of HUGO jeans here ...Was looking for Levis but Pak Agus said it would be elsewhere.



The iterinary for the day ended with the delicious dinner at PADANG RESTAURANT. Superb meal. Was sharing table with bachelor boy Dhar. Warned him but surprised to see him biting, chewing and swallowing the “rendang daging sapi” . Innocently told him that it was beef and he smilingly said “yeah I know...why complicate life???” Mmmm.... a lesson learnt!Photos


By the way every time we were off or about to get on the bus, not a single minute we were spared of the street traders. Some of us, by now, already beginning to get the feel of the value of the Rp against RM were already parting away their money for the street traders.
I thought the day was over when each of us was checked in at PERDANA WISATA HOTEL. The body was weak and the eyes were heavy and ready to land when Umi, Angah and me discovered that the triple room allocated to us was actually a standard double room! Went down to the reception and was told that triple room was more expensive and I need to top up! Adrenalin began to flow. Called the IBU KEPALA , Lin who came down and spoke to the receptionist and Pak Agus (who was in different hotel). Finally we were given room 621, a triple room. Angah ,Lin and me proceeded to the room only to find the key not working! Hah! By now I was already the SARI ATER HOT SPRING!!! Lin called the reception again and I rang the room door bell. All of a sudden the door sprang open and out came Pak Dhar in his kain sarung, with Pak Hani his roommate grinning on the bed! How could we be given an occupied room? By now SARI ATER already turned into the volcano of KAWAH RATU TANGKUBAN PRAHU. I would have erupted if not for Lin to pacify me“ Bapak...sabar ya Bapak....kita ini kan di negeri orang ya Bapak.....”
Down at the counter, I let Angah and Lin did the talking. I just hold my breath. Apparently the poor receptionist gave us the right key with the wrong label. It was meant for ROOM 631 but was labelled as ROOM 621 , which was Pak Dhar’s. Luckily , Pak Dhar and Pak Hani were not involved in any activities when we disturbed them. Walked past Aji Zu’s room and heard nothing unusual though on my way to ROOM 631. That ends my day one in this highland BANDUNG