To Taiping and Ipoh 13-15 May 2016

It has been 3 months since my last visit to Taiping. I decided to make a trip to my old hometown and to visit my parents and grand-mothers graves. I also took this opportunity to meet an old friend whom I have not met since we left school in 1978. He is Mohamad Noor who now lives in Sungai Bayor, Selama. Mat Noor said that he would be at a private dialysis center at Kamunting from 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM that Friday.

I arrived at the Perdana Hotel, Taiping by 6.00 PM. After rest and shower, I made my way to Kamunting. When I arrived there, it began to rain rather heavily. It took me sometime to locate that dialysis center exact location. After I parked my car, I walked into the center and there was Mat Noor. We talked while he was still under-going his dialysis. I asked how would he travel back home to Sungai Bayor? He replied that he came with his daughter who drove his car. I saw his beautiful daughter seated at the Visitor Area. By 9.00 PM, we bade our farewell since Mat Noor had quite a long trip home.

I returned to the Hotel for dinner. Fortunate for me, the restaurant would close by 10.30 PM. I ordered salad for starters and a mixed grill for main course. I messaged to my two other friends - Ban Heng and Karunamurthy whether they could be able to meet up for tea later. Since both were not available I went back to my room after dinner.

Saturday morning was a wet one since it continued to rain the whole of last night. I checked-out from the Hotel and visited my grand-mother's grave near the old Taiping Mosque. Afterwards, I visited both my parents graves at Asamkumbang (near the aerodrome). Funny that, I find a certain feeling of solace in the quiet serenity of cemetery grounds. It also made me reflect of my own mortality.

I managed to meet Ban Heng, whom I picked up at Taiping New Club. First, we went to Yut Sun, where I had beef steak for lunch. Afterwards, we went to Ansari Cendol where we also met another old friend, Meng Yew. I sent Ban Heng to his home, then, I went to Ipoh.

At Ipoh, only Dzulhanan was able to meet me for dinner that Saturday night. Dzul suggested that we go a bit further out of Ipoh this time. He took me for a night tour through Jalan Tambun to Ulu Kinta. We had dinner of "char koay teow" with satay at Tanjong Rambutan. After dinner, we drove through Bercham back to Syuen Hotel via Silibin. Thank you, Dzulhanan for your hospitality.

Sunday - Checked out from Syuen Hotel and made my way to the Muslim Cemetery along Kuala Kangsar Road. My grand-mother (my father's mother) was buried there. However, my dad never showed me the exact spot of her grave. I could only managed to stand outside to offer my prayers to her. Then, I left Ipoh for Kuala Lumpur.