Two More Kenduris Near Taiping - 23 December 2017

This Christmas Weekend, there were two wedding kenduri invitations that I needed to attend. Both invites were from my schoolmates - Rozi and Rahman. Both venues were near Taiping. One at Bukit Gantang and the other at Kamunting.

View of mountains faraway, from my hotel window.

I began my journey on Friday with the purpose to avoid the expected heavy traffic on that Saturday. I left KL at 11.10 AM. The North-bound traffic was not that heavy and the flow was smooth. However, upon reaching Slim River interchange, I saw the illuminated signage that said the traffic was slow moving until Bidor. So, exited the Expressway via Slim River and drove along the country road instead. There was little traffic along the way. I continued using the country road until Tapah. Here, I resumed my journey via the PLUS Expressway until I reached Ipoh by 4.00 PM.

At Ipoh, I checked in at the Excelsior Hotel. I was quite hungry and I saw the hi-tea being promoted at the hotel's restaurant. The price was very reasonable at RM29.90. So, I had my makan there. There was fried rice and noodles, chicken satay, gado-gado (indonesian style salad) and various cakes and local kuih. After the meal, I went to my room to rest.

Tunch (or hi tea) at Excelsior's restaurant.

5.00 PM, I got a call from old schoolmate, Dzulhanan. He said he will come over to pick me up by 6.00 PM to go for dinner. Dzul arrived slight past 6.00 PM. We headed to the famous Nasi Lemak Ayam Kampung located near Jalan Yang Kalsom. Several customers were already there when we arrived. We sat down and made our orders. The fried chicken was still hot when served. It was quite crispy too. By 7.00 PM, Dzul sent me back to the hotel and he went home to Chemor.

Nice nasi lemak with hot, crispy fried chicken.

Wow! I was stuffed. So, after taking my medicines I fell asleep.

Saturday morning, I left the hotel after breakfast. The plan was to reach Bukit Gantang by 12.00 noon. The PLUS Expressway was heavy with traffic, I decided to use the country road from Chemor to Taiping. I enjoyed the view via the country road. Because of the speed limits passing through the small towns, I reached Bukit Gantang past 1.00 PM.

Rozi with his band.

Rimos 1978 with Rozi.

 At the venue of Rozi's son's wedding, Shaheri, Hanafiah, Dzul and Asri were already there. We were joined by several other Rimos afterwards - Ramli Baie, Ramli Yusof, Mas Kamarulzaman, Karunamurthy, Roslan Aris, Ishak and Mohamad Akhir. Apart from the lovely local dishes for lunch, we were entertained by the live band, which Rozi was one of the lead singers. By 3.00 PM we bade our farewell to head to another wedding. A few of us made a stop at Asri's orhard along the way.

At Asri's orchard near Changkat Jering.

Asri's orchard was near Kampung Paya, Changkat Jering. We had to drive very carefully via a narrow grassy road to the orchard. We were treated with several durians by Asri. By 3.45PM, we left the orchard and headed to Kamunting.

We arrived at Rahman's daughter's wedding venue by 4.30PM. We were the among the last group to arrive. There was still some food, kuih and tea but that was not important. It was our presence that count. Several of our Rimo friends were still there - Hanafiah, Dzulhanan, Mas Kamarulzaman and Ramli Yusof. We joined their table and continued our chit-chat. By 5.15 PM, we bade our farewells.

Rimo 1978 with Rahman (white baju Melayu).

Some of us were to head back to their homes. A few of us were to stay overnight in Taiping. We agreed to meet up for tea later that night.

At Taiping Railway Station for tea. From Left- Ramli Baie, Jamaee, Hanafiah, myself and Dr Noor Azmi.

Sunday morning, after breakfast, I headed back to KL.

Wedding Kenduri Changkat Jering, Taiping 16 December 2017.

Tiger  Haji Jamaee has invited us to his son's kenduri to be held on 16 December 2017. I planned to leave KL early morning so as to arrive by 12.00 noon at the venue. AN old classmate, Teck Boo, asked whether he could join me for the trip. Since, I was to make the journey alone, I welcomed him to join me.

Teck Boo arrived at my house with his motor-cycle just before 7.00 AM. He parked his ride at my house porch. We started our journey by 7.10 AM. After the Duta toll plaza, north bound traffic was heavy but smooth.Along the way, we stopped twice for toilet and coffee break. Once at Behrang Rest Area Shell station. The other was at Simpang Pulai Rest Area. We arrived at Changkat Jering by 11.10 AM. Since it was still early, we headed to the KFC outlet at Simpang to rest and wait until 12.00 noon.

Megat Azman telephoned asking where was I. I informed him that Teck Boo and I were at Simpang. He said he will arrive shortly. This was the first time I met Megat Azman since we left school in 1978. Megat came and joined Teck Boo and me. We chatted to catch up of our old times. We headed to the kenduri by 12.15 PM.

From left, Asri, Md Shah, Duzlhanan.

From left, Megat Azman, Teck Boo, Karunamurthy.

Ramli Yusof, shaking hands with Dzulhanan.

Nest t Teck Boo, Azman and Rozi.

Jamaee was at the doorway greeting guests. He told us that there were a few others who had arrived already. As we walked in the hall, I saw Dzulhanan, Asri and Mohamad Shah. Then, Azman, Karunamurthy and Ramli Yusof arrived. Afterwards, followed by arrival of Rozi, Basir, Mas Kamarulzaman and Rosli. While having our makan, we were joined by Ishak and Dr Noor Azmi. Ishak was also another guy that I have not met since 1978.

A few guys began to leave due to other appointments. The rest of us remained until 3.00 PM. Then, I saw my cousin, Yusof Darus, entered the hall. I went to meet him. We have not met for many years.

My cousin, Yusof Darus.

By 3.30 PM, we left the hall to visit our ailing friend, Abdul Rahim. When we arrived at his house, Rahim's wife greeted us at the gates. Rahim was already waiting for our arrival. It was good to learn that Rahim health is improving slightly. We chatted for about an hour or so.

From left-KAru, me, Teck Boo, Ishak and Dr Noor Azmi. Rahim in wheelchair.

 By 5.00 PM, we bade our farewells. I dropped Teck Boo at his brother's house at Pokok Assam. I agreed to pick him up at 11.00 AM the next day for our journey back to KL.

Lunch at Nasi Bamboo Sungai Klah 4 December 2017

I have wanted to try to have lunch at this restaurant since the last year. However, I did not have the opportunity for reasons being it was always very crowded on weekends. Other times, I was always in a hurry to reach my destination.

This time, on my journey back to KL from Ipoh, I decided to give it a try. Since the day was a Monday, I hope to be able to park my car safely and to get a seat at the table at the restaurant.

Traffic on the North-South Expressway had begun to slow down after Gua Tempurung. The very slow moving of traffic was until Tapah Interchange. I continued on and exited via Bidor Interchange. I needed a toilet break and also to re-fuel. I stopped at a Petronas station at Sungkai town. After re-fuel completed, I continued to drive along the country road until I reach the restaurant. I was glad that there was ample car park space. After I parked my car, I walked towards the restaurant. There was already a large number of customers but still many available seats at the long tables. This was my first time ever to this place. So, I asked some guidance from the staff how to make my order.

First, go to the rice counter to order how many sets of rice do you require. A rice set contains a bamboo of rice with ulam (vegetables), sambal, chilli soy sauce and curry. Then, go to the dishes counters for your selection of dishes. One side is the grilled items while the other are the dishes with gravy (such as curries or yellowish masak lemak). There are many choices of dishes, whether fish, chicken, lamb or beef. I chose a piece of grilled honey chicken and grill ikan cencaru. Ah! Remember to pay first before you eat. After placing my food on my table, I went to buy my drinks at the drinks counter.

On Monday and so many customers here.

My choice of ikan cencaru and grilled honey chicken.

The specialty of the rice is it is wrapped in leaves, stuffed in bamboo and steamed until cooked. The rice has a special taste and fragrance. Other than Malaysians, tourists from Thailand and Singapore also are frequent customers here.

Satisfied with my lunch, I continued my journey to KL. Already thinking of when to come and makan here again.

To Ipoh For Wedding Kenduri 3 December 2017

There are several invitations of wedding kenduris this month of December. One was in KL at the hall at FELDA head quarters on Friday 1 December 2017. My senior Old Edwardian Kamaluddin's daughter wedding dinner reception was held there. Met several other senior OEs there - Captain (R) Bakri, Jagjeet Singh, Lt Col(R) Sanuddin, Hilal, Hamdan and Tan.

With Kamal (right) with his little grandson.

WIth Hamdan, Hilal and Amiruddin. Forgotten the name of the guy in green.

On Sunday 3 December 2017, I drove to Ipoh to attend another kenduri. Schoolmate Basir's son was getting married that day. The kenduri was held at his house at Selasar Rokam, Ipoh.

Ishak had reached there earlier but he had to leave for another kenduri at Lumut. I arrived at the venue by 1.00 PM. Hanafiah also arrived about the same time. Basir welcomed us and invited us to a table. Lunch was already ready for us. So, we ate. As Basir was busy attending to other guests, Hanafiah and I chatted away while eating. Khairul Anwar arrived later and joined us at the table.

WIth Hanafiah and Khairul Anwar.

WIth our host, Basir (middle)

Cucur bawang and teh tarik.

From left, Basir, me, Hanafiah and Jamaee.

Other than the sumptuous lunch, there was also laksa, cucur bawang and local kuih with hot teh tarik.

Khairul Anwar had to leave first. Hanafiah and I waited for another schoolmate to arrive. Jamaee was caught in a traffic jam at the Menora Tunnel and would arrive late. By 4.00 PM, Jamaee and wife finally arrived. We continued to chat away over kuih and tea.

By 5.00 PM, all of us bade farewell and thanked Basir and family for their hospitality. I headed to the Excelsior Hotel, Ipoh to stay for the night.