Aug 26th -- Last Day in Taiping

Strangely, I wasn't sad leaving my folks for Kajang, and then US..

Woke up with a headache. Wrong day for it! So after solat at 6:30, I got a Motren pill. Adah was ready to leave for Tronoh, so we salam and she was sad for a sec. But that's about it..


Mak and Ayah were around. I got the bags down one by one, drank some tea and downed a nasi lemak bungkus. Rusa was started -- I told ayah I was transporting the luggage to Aat's house to place them in the yellow car, and that I would be back.
I saw my house, and took a pic of it. Strange -- my house and I've never stayed a day in it, or see money come off it.
Told Aat to get me at 8:30. Gave the kids some money and salam with them before leaving. Went back to Ayah and Mak. They were waiting outside. Gave ayah the keys to the Rusa and wrote down what to do for the 146,000 service. I actually drove the van for a total of 6,000 kilometers, crossing all the state borders of West Malaysia. What a drive!

Salam with ayah, and Mak. Tears in their eyes. I told them I'll see them next year.


Aat was late -- he later said he wanted me to have a few more minutes with them. Nice fella. Wished they would treat him nicer.


The trip -- good trip. We stopped by Bukit Gantang R&R to get gas, water and pulasan..rm18 worth for three kilos. Worth every bit...

We talked about our situations, and reflected on them, and diecovered a common bond -- that we are two brothers trying our best to survive. So I told him to not give anyone a reason for any legalities...

We reached Sungai Buloh Jejantas at 12:00. Good time for Samuri's famed Satay Kajang.
By 12:40, we were back on the raod. But some jams and closed hiways forced us to reach Kajang at 2:40. Aat was telling me all the time that it was a mistake taking the Old Kucai rd.. but I told him, we're okay. Well, that's because he was driving..not me.

So after all the bags were stowed in Idah's living room, I bade aat goodbye, my thanks and hopefully enough money to last him a lifetime.. haha!


He later called when I was at TESCO that he'd just reached home. The time was 10:30 pm. That was a slower drive than the five we did going to Kajang. I owe him big time for the drive...

Anyway, I was mostly in Zakwan's cool room, until six when I got up to solat. I was really sleepy! Zak was back, and we had tea and cucoq. I then went back upstairs to blog until about nine. Idah msg me to say that I should dine with Zak. She was going to a kenduri with her kids; we will later meet up at TESCO.


The Thai food dinner was late and tough! Tough meat, extra salty tomyam. Forgettable! But Zak paid for the dinner, and I thank him. We talked about next year and how the kids would love coming here.


So at 10:10, we were ready to leave for TESCO.


Tesco was crazy. Too many people at one time, even at 10:30 pm. I felt that it was just too loud, too packed and too late. At 11:330, we were out with rm75.26 worth of groceries. Worried about the space that I might not have.

Anyway, as it were, here I was, blogging the night away....

Muhsin's Birthday and the Penang Airport Trip

It's Muhsin's birthday today. Happy fifth birthday, Muhsin!

I woke up at 7:30 to leave at 8:30, but Amin needed extra shut eye time. Sham and Pak Lid had already arrived by then. I took the van into the driveway and started putting in the bags. Sham them took time to clear his car or any debris belonging to Amin. At 9:00, I knocked on Amin's door. Both of them got busy, and by 9:20, were ready to leave SP. Took some pictures, and bad farewell to all. At 10:30, we were already at the Airport. So I need not have worried. Got some teh tarik at the Limo depot across. We were going to have breakfast but were put off by the filthy state of the place. So breakfast was cancelled. Sent them to Departures, and left for Kamunting. Reached Aat's place at 12:30, and guess what.. he had kerang! So I spend the next 20 minutes gorging on really fresh and delicious kerang and Root beer before heading home at 1:10. Salam to Ayah and Mak, and got ready for Jumaat. Sat at Aat's aisle..and left with them after the solat...

Tok Ayah had eaten earlier, so I was the only one left for lunch. Ikan terubok kukus. By the time I'd eaten, ayah was ready to leave to get the sawit. I had to leave for JPN (no MyKad yet!), and Taiping's Tbg Haji myself. Then I went to Pian's old place but th eshop was no longer his. Never mind that -- I still got 4 XL kelawar nighties for my CCAC buddies and one small one for Pah. Good price at rm 66.00 for all..

No cam with me, so I missed out on getting Kok Leong's pic and Ansari's Cendol pix as well. Never mind, I was glad I stopped by both.

Back home at 4:20, and ayah still not home. I told mak I have to see Prof Hassan at Bukit Merah. She wanted to follow but I told her that Ayah will want her home, and not to call ayah anyway, since he won't be able to be home. But she did, anyway. Typical.

Azan, I left for Bkt Merah. Dr Hassan and Farah were both getting work done, working with an Educ prof from USM, Kamarul. He hails from SP, too...

Dr Hassan and I spent some time by the lakeside; he was fishing broken rods and no fish. Then it rained a bit, so we went in. At seven, I knew I had to leave, but not before I gave him custody of my fishing things, and almost left my hand set. bUt I got it back, and by Azan marghrib, was pulling into 784.

That was the end of the day. Oh, not yet. Adah gave me another XL t-shirt. I told her this time that I am an M. To prove it, I showed her my kutiak shirt. That also probably meant that I'll never get another shirt from her, ever..

Ah, well...

Aug 24th 3rd Wedding Reception SP Style

Amin and Aishah sure was one lucky couple. They are having their third reception in two weeks. Wow..

I wasn't able to join the fun. I left early, at 7:30 to get to Kmgt at 9:10 am, but somehow my parents were not there. They's gone to Kpg Rahmat, it seemed. So I left for Aat's place, breakfasted at Rahman's, got out some mucho buckos from Maybank, and went back to Kpg Pinang.

Called home at 10:00, they're backm so I left Aat's for 784. Alang, wife and kid were waiting, but I had to do an errand I was happy to; a ticket for parking needed paying, so I left again. Told Aat to step it up; I'll take care of the rest. He was laughing already! Cantek, cantek!

OK, so I'm part of the whole scheme. Suddenly I needed to bathe, uh uh, eat and change. When we left, it was abt 11:30, and there were other chores, too, like getting smokes for alang, water for me and gas for good ol' rusa. Tok Ayah paid for the gas at rm49.05.

We were slowpokes at 90 miles per hour. Stopped at the Sg. Muda Rest Area, called the man and found out that they were already at Tesco. Mission accomplished. MY van suddenly found its power and we reached SP at 2:10, in time for the tail end of the hidangan pengantin...

Aug 23rd Uneventful Wednesday

Apart from not being in Kamunting today, nothing else was significant. I slept without a kelambu for the third time and some skeeters did bite but I slept thru...

Breakfast of nasi goreng by Kak Na, and then of bihun by idah, and then, used the Internet for a few hrs...

Wrote my blog down, first on line and then off line for the rest of the day. When I wasn't blogging, I was resting or sitting in the living room.

Amin took me to the koaytiow place, and I noted all that the cook did. Here's the recipe:

Resipi Koaytiow Bakar Kapor Taman Intan
Mula2 minyak 3 kali sendok
Lepas tu put chopped garlic dan bawang
3 or 4 kepal koay tiow
3 sendok kicap
3 telor
kerang 3 sudu
1 sudu sambal (pasty)
toge 2-3 kepal
satu kepal chives
liberal dashes of white vinegar
serve within a minit
if not more oil and more vinegar

I also told Amin that I caught the cook recylcling some kerang from a plate. Amin was horrified...

We then went to get Hafiz, get the printed pics, and then bought ice and cempedak, and them back to Maktok's. It was marghrib when we got home, but in time to shake Pak Wa's hand...

Azan marghrib chased Pak Wa and wife away, and we went to to solat ourselves. Then it was Pak Tam, Pak Andak, Edy, Pak Lid, me, Zak having some time together outside, on the landing. I played the BP wedding pics out for them using the iPhoto slideshow... The talk was on anything else but the wedding...

Sleepy in SP

The Rusa reached SP by 4:00, about two hours after leaving Taiping. Hot, hot day, and the ac was barely felt. But maktok's living room was cool.... I was greeted by Hafiz and Aishah at the gate. Abg Azhari, Kak Na, Naim, Muaz and Syam and his kids were there. I got my spot in the 3rd bedroom..and rested. Felt sleepy, and very sleepy all day long. Was it the fatigue, or the sweet stuff I drank today?

Pak Long, one month retired, was with his youngest. Noone else.

Salmina, Idah arrived within 1/2 hr of each other. Suddenly it's a full house...

Aug 22nd GOLF and my flight to SP

At 6:30, I was up for my solat. And then, got ready for the Golf.

Breakfast at the capati place new the market with Aat and son Faiz; and yes, they could play golf!







Got all the shots I'd needed to get, and by 9:30, we were heading back. After a few minutes at Aat's abode, I left for Opah's place. That was when I got the vibes...

I hate being left alone! So when I found out that Mak and Ayah were attending a funeral, and Adah was getting on the bus to the Ipoh Airport, I knew I had to leave, too. The news caught them unawares, but Mak said to leave after lunch. fair enough, but I wanted to settle my asb ac once and for all, and I might leave for Taiping. They said it was okay if I did.

Pah called at 11:15, after I'd just come out of the restroom, and we talked for about 30 minutes. Mak and Ayah returned midway the phonecall. I told them about Pah calling aftyerwards, and I rested until 12:30. Lunch was at 1:00, and by 1:30 I had packed the van. Waited for Ayah to return, and then waved them goodbye at 2:00.

It was a hot day; I needed cold drinks so I stopped for air kelapa and air tebu. Big mistake -- too sweet, and too much sweet water...With the ac on, the rusa seemed to be guzzling more gas than usual. But I needed every comfort I could lay my hands on. And yes, I was sleepy, even after reaching SP.. low sugar?

Aug 21st Monday -- A Sorry Day After

Early morning, and everyone's relieved that the whole thing's over...

Amin and Aishah were supposed to visit Along at 9:30 am, but we only left at 11:00. Aishah was still not used to late nights, and last night'd bedtime was pretty late at 2:00 am. At along's place, aishah was again feeling the heat and the haedache, so she took a long rest on the sofa after the roti jala..

I had wanted to thank Adah personally for hosting Amin-Aishah's reception with a koaytiow outing. She declined, saying she's not into that, and that she maleh lah, and left. That broke my heart, so I left for those who'd bear my company. Aaat was the ideal choice. When I was having my kaoytiow at the terminal, Adah called asking where I was. So that she could decide what to do with the gate. The gate! I told her she's welcome to join us having koaytiow, but she said no, but should she lock the gate? Yes, I said, since I was putting at Aat's. That's all she wanted; to lock the gates. What a (younger) sister.

And yes, I survived the nite at Aat's hideway; a surprisingly clean place with no skeeters..






OK, so I had left out a few things, and I included a few, too. But hey, this is my bloggy...

Amin-Aishah Kamunting Wedding Reception

D Day. Up by seven, things to do, things to do.. again the cooks came in early.

I was assigned a few chores already. One was to send Aishah to Laketown at about 9:00 am for a headstart into her prep and makeup. Amin will be sent by Paksu at 10:30. Knowing that I will be gone for sometime, I took my two VIP bags down to Aat's house, accompanied by Poji, for safekeeping. I have to be sure about things, and Aat provided that security.

Before that, Poji and I were supposed to line the tables with the green plastic. We repositioned some of the tables to make them serving stations; one for the ladies' and another for the men's section. That done, the chairs were next, but Aishah was already ready, and my van was waiting by the gates.

Her dad was waiting at the Toll PLaza to hand in the keys. Aishah's sister entered the van, too -- to be with her for the makeup session. We took the 10% gradient road off the PLUS exit to reach the Lakefront apts. After dropping them off, I turned back to return to Kamunting. I parked at the lot and voila! saw the sorry white elephant of a car in the driveway, blocking everyone . So yeah, my hunch was true to the mark and I heaved a sigh of relief that I'd anticipated the move...

The marhaban was sounding through the karaoke placed on the balcony for the whole block to hear. I always thought that wasn't necessary but since I was not the host, my thoughts don't count. I did say it out to Ayah that we didn't need any PA system; he promptly came back with one unit earlier that morning.

Anyway, Paksu was getting Amin to Laketown, too, and I wasn't fast enough to ask him about the videocam. And the second floor was jampacked with the karaoking LADY marhabaners, and I wasn't about to bring the house down by going upstairs. What to do...

Anyway, what I also noticed that at 10:00, the time I saw that vehicle, the chairs were already in place and ready for action. Wondered who did them. And I didn't get changed; I just kept my clothes on.

People started coming in at about 12:00, and lunch was served buffet style. Tok Ayah was ready with his money pockets; I was a poor co-host, getting only 4 packets.

I won't attempt to list all who came; suffice to say that those I expected to come mostly were present.

Spent time with Bir -- first to come. Then it was Lid, and later on, Kak Ha. Met up with Abg Duan, Aman, Im and Kak Siah, later with Kak Emah and Along.



Along didn't eat or drink -- his heart bypass scares him enough -- but his presence meant millions. Aaa became the egg guy, making sure people leaving get theirs.
I was the camera man, always with Aaa and Tok Ayah, just in case they needed help.

By 12:45, the tables were full and some guests needed to wait before they get their chance at the food. The sweltering heat persisted so I made sure I and Ayah had plenty to drink. When the lovebirds from Bukit Merah finally arrived, the Jelai-based kompangers got ready by Rani's Motor shop. Bir and Kak Ros got the royal yellow brolly out to them who were waiting at Badri's gates four houses away. Finally the brigade marched to 784. I was by MakCik Kiah's -- ready with the .mov mode on the Olympus. There they came...and there they went, into the house. I went in, too, because I know I will be called to renjis the mempelai.

My name was called, I did the deed. First, the beras, then the flowers, and finally the liquid. Pix taken in various poses, and then, down to the Santapan Pengantin -- I was one of them, sitting in front of Kak Yan, Ber, Kak Ros...

Later, Azral and Kah Hock called to say they were coming. Yeah, good ol Indiana fishing buddies. They haven't aged, and still best of friends...That's good!

The night was capped by the royal couple getting some flower eggs packed, and ready to go, for Aat and his kids. I told Amin so; he must take Aishah to see them. We spent some time there; I hope they were happy. Ashah later said that she was sad to see their condition. I couldn't agree more.



Even though it was already past Aisha's bedtime, me, poji and the two newlyweds still went to Bukit Merah for Aishah to get her bag of goodies -- we were home late; and to bed, even later...