Kenduri at Kampong Gajah, near Teluk Intan 4 May 2016

Abu Bakar, my son-in-law's dad, had invited me to his youngest brother's wedding kenduri. It was to be held at Kampong Gajah, near the town of Teluk Intan. I have not been to that area since 2010 and I received the invitation gladly.

I went by PLUS Highway and exited at Tapah. From Tapah, I headed towards Tapah Road until I reached a place called Chenderong Balai. From here, I drove towards Kampong Gajah. I reached the venue by 3.00 PM. Abu Bakar was glad to see my arrival. I was introduced to the members of the family. The food, prepared by the local caterer, was good.

Bridge to Chenderong Balai.

I love the view as I drove through the route, passing by villages with fruit orchards, oil palm estates and paddy fields.

Abu Bakar(on my right) and his family.

Fazree, with his uncle (the bridegroom)

That night, Abu Bakar, took me out for a drive into the town of Teluk Intan. I was surprised to see the town was full with people. It was unlike those many years ago, when the town was quiet after 9.00 or 10.00 PM. There was a big night market near and around the town center. I was told that the night market would open until Sunday morning. Even the leaning tower as decorated with colourful lights. I regret I did not take a picture. Anyway, it was hard to park our car, so we proceeded to Restoran Gulam Rasul at the sub-urb.

I departed Kampong Gajah for KL that Sunday morning by 10.00 AM. I miss the kampong life already.

OE1978 Teh Tarik Session 4 May 2016

A bunch of us decided to meet up for breakfast on a fine Saturday morning. The venue selected was Restoran Al Fairos, Sunway Kayangan.

The ones who came - Hariri, Ramli, Aziz, Dr Noor Azmi, Zulkifli Razif, Hanafiah and myself.

I have not met Aziz since his Hajj trip last year. For Zulkifli, this is the first time we met since 1978. Dr Noor Azmi came all the way from Taiping that day just to meet us.

As usual, we spent the time to update each other's progress and talked of our good old days.

We bade our farewell by 11.00 AM. Noor Azmi would be going back to Taiping. A few of us have kenduri to attend.

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.

25 March 2016, 11:55 PM - The Birth of My First Grandchild

My daughter's husband, Fazree, called up my wife at 10.30 PM that Nur Amalina had entered the operation theater. The gynecologist had decided to perform a caesarian since the infant's heart-beat was growing weak.

My wife and I arrived at the HKL Maternity Ward by 12.30 AM. We were not allowed to enter the ward, so, we waited at the Visitors Waiting Room at Ground Floor. Fazree came down afterwards to inform us that all was well and showed us a few pictures of the new born baby. Yes, our grandson was born and I became a grand-father. Only two visitors were allowed, therefore, my wife followed Fazree into the Ward at Level 3. I remained at the Waiting Room.

Some thirty minutes later, Fazree and my wife came down. Since it was almost 2.00 AM, my wife and I decided to go back home. Fazree would stay at the Ward.

Fazree and Amalina had chosen a name for our grand-son. The name is Muhammad Zafeer Ayden.

OE1978 Teh Tarik Session Ipoh 27 February 2016

The proposed date to meet up over tea at Ipoh came. I drove from to KL to Ipoh excitedly that Saturday morning. This was my first visit to the Casuarina@Meru Hotel. I was told the Cucur Udang and Mee Goreng are really good.

The scheduled time to meet was 4.00 PM. I arrived at the hotel by 4.15 PM. The parking lot was almost filled up. Turned out there was a function at the convention center and the Perak FC football team was also there.

I made my way to the restaurant and found some of the guys were already there. A few others have not arrive yet. Two guys informed they could not come. The latest to arrive was Ishak Sulaiman from Taiping.

The ones who were there for the The Tarik (other than myself) were: Shaheri, Dr Noor Azmi, Dzulhanan, Mohamad Shah, Syed Sharifuddin, Ramli, Khairul Anuar, Nazari, Hanafiah, Basir, Azman Hussein, Ishak Sulaiman.

As usual, we spent the afternoon talking of stories of old friends, the good, old school days and some new developments around Ipoh.

Since a few of the guys had to drive back home to Kuala Kangsar, Taiping and Bandar Baru(near Parit Buntar), we bade our farewells by 7.00 PM. Until the next time.

Brother-in-Law Yeop Ishak Passed Away 1 Feb 2016

Thursday, 28 January 2016 - Received messages from my nephew, Shaiful Ishar, that his father is in critical condition. He urged that all relatives and siblings to come over to visit his father. I had just returned from Johore Bahru that evening when I got the message. My sister Eliza and brother Mahathir would go first the next morning. I informed Shaiful that I will make the trip to Sungai Petani on Saturday.

Saturday 30 January 2016 - My wife and I left KL to Sungai Petani, Kedah that morning. We stopped at Kampar to attend a kenduri of a son of my wife's cousin. We continued our journey after the kenduri.

We arrived Sungai Petani about 5.30 PM. I had lost my way looking for my niece's house. Even the mobile phone map could not locate it. By 6.30 PM, we check-in into a the first hotel that we found. I received a message from my niece that Yeop Ishak was to return to his own house with my sister.

After bath, we went to the house at Jalan Sungai Layar. Yeop Ishak was happy to see me and my wife. Sister Eliza said that he had been asking for me since yesterday. My old sister El-Aisha looked sad and tired. Old Yeop was really in a bad condition. We stayed for a while, everyone took turns to chat with old Yeop and offered our prayers. My wife and I returned to our hotel by 10.30 PM.

Sunday 31 January 2016 - After breakfast, we check-out from the hotel and went visit Yeop Ishak again. His condition did not improve. By 11.00 AM, sister Eliza, brother Mahathir and I bade our final farewell to Yeop. All of us had to return to KL.

In the early hours (2.00 AM) on 1 February 2016, Shaiful sent a message to inform that his father had passed away. The burial would take place in the morning. Yeop Ishak had colon cancer when he died.
He was 82 years old.
May Allah grant my eldest sister El-Aisha the strength and the will to survive. Blessed with the presence of her adult children and grand children.

OE1978 Classmates Gathering, Taiping 23 January 2016

It was suggested that we organised a gathering at Taiping on the 23 January 2016. The proposed venue was the Flemington Hotel and we were to meet there for dinner.

I arrived at the Hotel by 6.00 PM. After I got into my room, I took a short rest and a shower. Ban Heng was kind enough to made the dinner reservations. There were 14 of us who could make it for this gathering. Our former School Senior Assistant, Mr Thong was also present (Mr Thong is the father of our mate, Thong Chee Meng).

The guys who attended (other than myself) were - Teo Teck Boo, Azhar Hamid, Hasmi, Lim Meng Yew, Karunamurthy, Leong Kok Wai, Heng Gaul,Thong Chee Meng, Teik Eng, Ooi Ban Heng, Ong Seong Hock, Chin Chee Seong, Quah Tee Ho.

Someone suggested that each of us were to introduced ourselves and to tell what everyone had gone through since we left school. Teck Boo took the honour to start first. Then, one by one, stood up to share his individual story.

Mr Thong was happy to see us all. He appreciated very much that we still remember him. He reminded us to help support the School in any whichever way we can.

After dinner, we went up to the roof-top bar by the pool, to continue our chit-chat over drinks. By 12.45 AM, we decided to adjourn. Until the next gathering.