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.

My first hike up Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut)1976.

Second hike - 1980.

It was in 1976, when I made my first hike up the Maxwell Hills. It was after our LCE examinations and we had a long school break. A few friends and I planned to make the trip which was to be on a Saturday.

 

When the actual day came, there was only two of us who were to make the hike. It was me and a close friend from Aulong, Khairuddin Mat Isa. After we safely parked our bicycles, we began our hike at 8.30 AM. Being 15 years old, we were young and eager to make the hike. We followed the normal road up, not daring to use any short-cuts through the jungle. There had been several people who had gotten lost while using those short-cuts.

We were not alone, though. There were many people who hike up the hill that Saturday morning. Other than many students or young people, there were also the elderly. Khairuddin and I walked slowly. Being our first time, our legs hurt but we took many rest, then, continue. As for drinking water, each of us had a container but we would consume the water quite fast (those days, there was no bottled drinking water other than fizzy drinks).

 

View of Taiping from Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)

We reached the 12 KM station after three hours walk. The first thing we did was to refill our water containers from the Rest House toilet tap. Then, we look for a spot to rest. For lunch, I brought bread with sardines while Khairuddin brought instant noodles. We tried to light a fire but failed to do so. So, we ate the instant noodles raw and dry. Hah!

By 3.00 PM, we began our journey down. It was cloudy but it did not rain. The walk down was faster but we felt hurt in the knees. We rested several times and continue. Somewhere along the way, we spotted a scorpion by the side of the road. It was about 6 inches long and looked very menacing. After we passed Tea Gardens, a Land Rover came by us and stopped. Since it was not full, the driver offered us a ride down. We gladly took the offer. The driver asked us to get off just before arriving the Base Station because he did not want his supervisor to notice us taking the free ride.

 

From left - Rajisvaran (hidden), Karunamurthy, Roslan and me(1982).

At Tea Gardens with friends - 1982.

 

I remember I hiked up at least two more times in the 1980s. After that, I took the Land Rover because I usually I visit the Hills alone. On a few occasions, I tried to walk up but only up to the 1 KM milestone. Even that was very tiring.

(old pictures obtained from FB posts).

Old Edwardians KL Reunion Dinner 5 December 2015

The Old Boys (KL Chapter) reunion dinner was held at Darul Ehsan Club, near Ampang. I went together with Razif and Sanuddin. We rode in my car this time.We arrived at about 8.30 PM, just in time for the opening speech by the President of OEA-KL. Sanuddin joined a table with his group while Razif and I joined the table booked by Ramli. The MCE 1978 batch who came were - Ramli, Razif, ZamZam, Abu Zarin, Hariri, Huzir, Hamid, Hasmi and Aziz Hamdan. In attendance were represetantives from OEA Malaysia and the School's Principal. They came all the way from Taiping.

We were glad that the speech was over and it was announced that "dinner is served". Entertainment was by a two-man band. As usual they played the golden oldies of the 1970s hits. Between the food and the entertainment, the diners took the opportunity to chat of old times and catch up with updates.

There was a tribute to the former players of the school rugby team of 1978. The former Team Captain, Jalil, called upon these Old Boys to put their signature on a t-shirt. That t-shirt was put up as an auction item for the night. The proceeds would go to the OEAKL Tigers Den.

The 1978 Rugby Boys

The winner of the T-shirt

With the President of OEA Malaysia (middle, standing)

The function ended quite early this time because by 10.30 PM a number of people began to leave the hall. Some were travelling back to Taiping or Ipoh. Some of us gathered at a mamak restaurant to continue the chit-chat until 1.00 AM.