My Small Railway Model Layout

 

Reconstruction of my railway model

 It has been decades that I have been keeping my model railway in boxes. Now approaching retirement, I have decided to rebuild my model railway. I have just installed a new work station as a base. The plan track layout will be End to End Shunting. Recently, I have also purchased a few new buildings, model trees and a new grass mat by Bachman.  Will keep you posted of how it goes. 

Visit the Elephant Memorial near Teluk Intan November 2019

In the Taiping Museum, there is an elephant skull on exhibit. I first saw it when I visited the museum when I was a little boy. I came to know of the origin of the skull in the Form One English Language book in my secondary school in 1974.

The story was like this. In 1884, a train was chugging along the rail tracks from Tapah Road to Teluk Anson (the old name for Teluk Intan town). A few miles before reaching the Bidor River bridge, there was a small herd of elephants crossing the track. The lead elephant must have perceived the train as a threat to the herd. It went to charge against the small steam locomotive. The collision caused the locomotive to derail. Nobody was injured but the elephant was killed. The dead elephant was buried near the spot where the accident occurred. The authorities decided to keep the elephant skull in Taiping Museum. A memorial sign was built to mark the location of the incident.

The original photo of the incident in 1884.

The original photograph of the sign board.

In November 2019, I decided to make a visit to this site. I read in the news papers that the local community and Teluk Intan Municipal Council had rehabilitate the site.

The sign board indicating the path to the site.

The sign board, direction towards Tapah Road.

The sign board, direction towards Teluk Intan (Telok Anson).

What was forest in 1884 is now a housing estate. By the small road, opposite a row of houses, one could see the sign board leading to the site. I parked my car by the roadside. I walked along the trail to the site which is not very far. The rail tracks are all gone now. However, the original memorial sign board still stands. The grass and lalang have started to grow although it was just a few months after the area was recently cleared. In that moment of solitude, I could imagine of the sad incident that happened many years ago.

After I took several pictures, I left the site and headed to Teluk Intan town. I wanted to go to the famous restaurant by the Perak River that sells the famed Fried Prawn Noodles.

Twelve years has passed since my heart attack in 2007

While driving to work today this Thursday morning, brought my mind back on the day I had my heart attack 12 years ago.

It was a Thursday morning during the Chinese New Year week, just like today.

I survived that day. I regard every year and every day that I wake up to as a valuable gift from Allah, the God Almighty.

I cannot tell how many more years that I can still have to live.

I hope I get to live my life to the fullest as Allah has given me.

To my wife, my children and my family, I love you all.

Every day I got to see your smile and hear your laughter brings me joy.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Ahmad Zharif's Graduation Day 8 December 2018

My son, Zharif, Graduation Day was held on the 8 December 2018. We reached the hall early by 10:30 to get the best available car park space. While waiting for the ceremony to start, we sat at the college cafeteria. Students were to report in their graduation attire at 12.00 noon. Parents were allowed into the hall at 1.30 PM. My brother, Mahathir and wife, were kind enough to attend too.

The ceremony started at 2.15 PM with all the guests, college Board of Directors, lecturers and students walked into the hall in turns. Proud parents were busy taking pictures, within the allowed space in the hall.

Zharif, entering the hall with other students.

Ahmad Zharif was number twelve in the queue to receive his Diploma from the College Director.

The ceremony ended after 5.00 PM. Students and parents went busily about taking memorable pictures of the day.

Well done, my son. You have earned your Diploma. Time to seek your fortunes. I pray for your success.

Zharif with his uncle, Mahathir and Mardina.

14 May 2018 - Zharif Pass His Diploma Finals

Alhamdulillah.
My son Zharif informed me of this good news. He has pass his Finals for his Diploma.

Good to see that Zharif is also very happy of his achievement.

My wife and I are very happy for him.

With the coming month of Ramadhan, I pray to Allah, for  my son's well being, good health and prosperity.

 

Taiping - I miss so much

Reading and seeing several posts and pictures in Facebook of Taiping brings me a feeling of longing to go back to my hometown. It has been several months now, since I went back to Taiping and Ipoh in January 2018.
A few posts if the street foods just bring the ringling sense of tastes to tongue and memory.

Oh! How I miss the scenery of Taiping Lake Gardens and Ipoh so very much.

Zharif's Internship - A new step in his life

My son had achieved good results in his final exams last year. All of us were happy and proud of his achievement. He is now performing his internship.

Hopefully and I pray, he will get through with his internship very well.

Next step, will be the real adventure of his life, whatever he chooses to be.

My prayers to Allah goes to you, my son. I hope you will begin your new life successfully.

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.