OE 1978 Teh Tarik Session 25July2015

It was a week after Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, someone suggested that we meet up over tea. Saturday 25 July 2015 was the agreed date. The venue was to be Restoran Al-Fairos near Sunway Kayangan, Shah Alam at 8.30 AM.

Razif offered to pick me up, so we headed together to the destination in his company car.

When we arrived, Aziz had just arrived too. We met up with Ramli who had reached there first.

We picked our table while we waited for the others. After a while, Asri, Rohaizat and Azman Azuar arrived. We ordered some food and drinks chatted away that whole morning.

Until the next time, we bid our farewells and hope more of our group will be able to join up.

2015 Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

This year's Hari Raya Aidil Fitri became more solemn due to my mother-in-law had passed away in May. My wife was sad and still missing her mother. I knew how she felt since my own mother had passed away in 2009.

Anyway, life has to go on and this year we celebrate with a new member to the family for the first time. Yes, my daughter and son-in-law were back home with us on the eve and the first day of Aidil Fitri. That brought some cheer to my wife and me.

Peace and Happiness to All.

Fatherhood At Age 24 - 1987.

My daughter's wedding recently, prompted me to reflect upon my experience of my being a father.

I became a young father at age 24 when my daughter, Nur Amalina was born in 1987. By Allah most graciousness, she was born on the same date as me, 8th of November. On that evening before her birth, I had fever and headache. I rested at the couch outside the labour room until the nurse called me in when it was due. I held my wife's hand and I was excited to experience the birth of my child.

From her birth, to her childhood and her growing up years, I have the most joyful time as a father.


My son, was born on 23 March 1994. Once again, I was by my wife's side during the birth process. I am glad that I was able to witness the birth of my kids. The experience was really hard to describe.

My two kids presented different set of challenges but overall, they are both wonderful kids. I have lots of fun memories of them while they were growing up.

Daughter Nur Amalina's Wedding Reception (kenduri) 16 May 2015

Bride and Groom.

We arrived at the banquet hall at the Keramat Mall by 9.00 AM. The Caterer cum Event Manager, Siti Hazza, was already there waiting for us. She asked the bride and groom and their mothers to get into the changing room to be prepared by the make-up artist, Linda.

Part of the Welcome Commitee.

I surveyed the decorations inside the hall and found them all to be looking splendid. The two buffet tables were being prepared while we set up our tables to arrange all the door gifts for our guests. For readers note, our reception was a joint function with the groom’s family. Therefore, there were two greeting entrance and two tables for the door gifts. My niece, Elaini, prepared the allotted table for the Candy Corner. The Candy Corner is usually a hit with the kids. My brother, Mahathir, provided the lovely cream puffs and brownies.

By 10.30 AM, the Caterer invited all family members to eat first, before our guest begin arriving at 11.30 AM. In fact, a few of our guest started arriving by 11.00 AM. The arrival of guests were a slow, steady flow at first but began to pick-up pace by 1.30 PM.  By 2.00 PM, many guests were arriving in droves. This situation continued right up to 3.00 PM.

 Meanwhile, the wedding program proceeded very well, coordinated by Siti with support from the MC who was also the DJ. There was a Perak Rebana performance with music played by the DJ. The grand entrance by the bride and groom was led by three flower girls and escorted by the Rebana group. The Bersanding ceremony was followed by the “Salam Restu”, blessings of the parents and elders from both families. Then, the bride and groom proceeded to the High Table for lunch. This was the cue for the special slide-show to be played, portraying images of both bride and groom from their childhood to their “Akad Nikah”.

All these went on with the flow of incoming and out-going guests. The time came for the cake cutting ceremony and there was a surprise announcement by the MC. My wife was invited to join the cake cutting because today was also her birthday. Asmah was reluctant to go but I held her hand to the stage.

It was 3.00 PM and guests were still coming and going at a steady pace. Two of my schoolmates arrived past 3.30 PM but still in time for some food. By 4.00 PM, visitors had stopped arriving. Those who were present were beginning to leave.

We had our group photograph with the bride and groom taken. I really felt tired afterwards, with aching back and legs. All who still remained were the members of the family a few close friends. We chatted for a while and by 5.00 PM began to clear-up and leave the hall.

It was a beautiful, glorious day and I was glad everything went very smoothly. Despite feeling tired, I was happy. To all my family, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and guests, a big Thank You for your support and attendance.

15 May 2015 - The Day I Gave Away My Daughter's Hand In Marriage (Akad Nikah)

After all the months with the preparations, came the day that I have to pass my lovely daughter's hand in marriage. The "Akad Nikah" ceremony was scheduled to be held after the Friday prayers at the Al-Muttaqin Mosque, which is near to our house.

Family and close friends were gathered at 2.50 PM, waited for the arrival of the bride-groom's entourage. The boy's family arrived at 3.05 PM. Gifts from the both sides were laid out beautifully on the carpet of the main prayer hall. An old friend, Sanuddin, acted as the spokes-person for the ceremony, started the opening greetings.

By 3.15 PM, the Imam began the "Akad Nikah" ceremony with advise to the male and female of their  duties and responsibilities as husband and wife, the proper conduct of handling disputes and other matters under the Syariah Law of Marriage.The groom, myself and my daughter were asked to put our signatures on two sets of forms.

 Hah! Somewhere during the Imam's speech, little tears flowed in my eyes. Images played in my mind of my "little girl" and how fast she has grown up.

The Imam asked me, whether I will perform the "Lafaz Akad" by myself or to allow him to be my representative. I replied that I would like to perform it myself since Nur Amalina is my only daughter. The Imam allowed the groom and I to have a practice run. The practice went well.

The moment of truth, the real "Lafaz Akad" was pledged between myself (father of the bride) and the groom, my daughter's husband. The two male witnesses agreed that the pledge was true and clear. I have passed my daughter to the man of her choosing to be her husband.

Mohamad Fazree and Nur Amalina proceeded to put on the wedding rings on each other's finger.


My dear daughter has now become someone's wife. May Allah bless their marriage and may they live happily ever after.

Preparations for daughter's wedding 14 May 2015

We are now almost in the final stages of preparations for Nur Amalina's wedding. Her Akad Nikah will be on tomorrow afternoon. The  trays of gifts for the bride-groom side were being added their final touches.

My wife's cousin, Azura, came to help us today. The decorations for all the trays were done by my sister, Eliza, much earlier. All that was needed were to finally arrange the gift items. Azura helped my wife to pick the fruits for the fruit-tray.

All that is left is the cake and "sireh junjung".

 

 

 

Visit Taiping - What to do (or eat and see)?

An office colleague of mine asked me about the hotel near the Lake Gardens. She and a group of friends are planning to visit Taiping and ask about places to eat and visit. So, I prepared the following write-up.

Brief History

Taiping was born out of several wars in Larut that began in 1861 and ended in 1874 with the signing of the Pangkor Treaty. The wars were fought over mining rights between two feuding groups of miners – the Ghee Hin’s and the Hai San’s. The Pangkor Treaty brought peace to the area with a heavy presence of a police force manned by Sikhs and lead by British Officers. An area near what was known as Klian Pauh, was chosen for the new town called “Tai-ping” which means “forever peace” in Hokkien.

While the town was being built, early British administrators were located in Matang, where the local chieftain appointed by the Perak Sultan, Ngah Ibrahim, was also based. The house of Captain Speedy, the first Assistant-Resident, has been restored and can be seen at Matang. Visitors can also visit the Kota Ngah Ibrahim nearby.

When the town of Taiping was built in 1875, the British administration moved from Matang. The first to be built were the Land Office (which also function as a court house), the police station, the central market and shop buildings along the Main Road and the Kota Road. The rich communities contributed to building of temples, mosque and schools. The Christian Missionaries introduced the English Schools in the 1880’s – Treacher Methodist, Convent, St. George. The first government English School of Perak was started as the Central School in 1883. This school was later renamed as the King Edward VII School in 1903. All these Schools still stand to this day.

The old disused tin mines of Klian Pauh were gazetted as a park in 1880 by the British - Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker and Charles Compton Reade. The land of 64 hectares (160 acres) was donated by tin-miner Chung Thye Pin. Thus, the first public garden in Malaya was born. The unique sight of the Lake Gardens is the Raintrees that lined along the road. Many TV commercials have used this part of the Gardens in their advertisements.

At the Lake Gardens, is also the first zoo in Malaya, the Taiping Zoo. It is open daily and also has a Night Safari.

There is also a hill station at Bukit Larut (formerly known as Maxwell Hill). The trip up and down can only be travelled by the Government Land Rovers. There are only basic facilities like bungalows, a small cafeteria and a Government Rest House.

There is the Perak Museum, located opposite the Taiping Prison. Taiping also has one of the large Commonwealth War Graves Memorial located near the foot of Bukit Larut. The natural spring water swimming pool, the Coronation Pool is located just a few hundred meters away.

Do you know that Taiping was the first state capital of Perak? Yes, Taiping was the state capital of Perak until 1937, when Ipoh had grown to be a bigger and more prominent town.

Food (Where to eat)

A visit to Taiping would not be complete without sampling some of its local food. There are many food courts, stalls and restaurants to choose from. Food courts are located at the Casual Market or Larut Matang Food Court (near Bangunan Sri Larut), Bomba Padang and near the Lake Gardens (Chinese Hawker stalls only). Also recommended to try – Ansari Cendol and Pasembor located at Jalan Chung Thye Pin. Just one caution – you might have to park your car and walk a bit to these places.

Restoran Yut Sun, well known for its Hainanese style chicken and beef chops, is located near Jalan Pasar, Taiping. Muslims frequent this restaurant as long as I can remember because it serves pork-free food. Operating hours 8.00 AM to 7.00 PM daily, except Sunday.

Matang is famous for its seafood and Mee Udang restaurants. Just head towards Kuala Sepatang (Port Weld). There are several Mee Udang outlets along the road, facing the Matang Mangrove Forest. The Mangrove Forest also has a Visitors Center that opens during the Day Hours. Check its webpage for the Opening Hours.

Other Attractions

If you have time to spare, visit the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary. It is located several kilometers from Taiping – Bagan Serai road. 

The district of Taiping (or Larut & Matang) has a load of history, of which I mentioned only a few here. You are Welcome to visit my beloved hometown.