Hectic Weekend.

Started early morning of 30 August 2014 (Friday), I had to send the car for washing. At 1200 hrs my wife and I left for KLGCC (Kuala Lumpur Golf Country Club) Banquet Hall at Jalan Bukit Kiara to attend the “akad nikah” ceremony followed by luncheon hosted by ex Guthrie buddy, Tuan Haji Nageeb Wahab and his wife Hajjah Zaiton Zain. Their daughter,  Nadzirah was to be married to Wan Shahinur Izmir bin Dato Seri Dr. Salleh Ismail.  I bumped into only three (3) ex Guthrien buddies at the function and I was one of the four (4) singled out by Nageeb Wahab as his honored Guest. I was looking for Puan Shamem Jalil who was from the groom side, somehow I missed her. Perhaps she was very busy among the crowd as the bridegroom is her nephew or she recognizes me no more donning a white beard. The ex Women Welfare Cabinet Minister was also around as the bridegroom is her son.

Nadzirah flanked by her parents (Nageeb & Zaiton)..

The Akad Nikah.

The Guests.

The Gifts.

We left the function at 1500 hrs and rushed back to Port Klang for another outstation errand. We got smacked into a long queue traffic snarl as there was a nasty accident along the North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE). The motionless body was still lying on the outer lane of the highway as I passed by. Few bystanders were cordoning the body and some were directing the traffic flow.

Arrived at Port Klang, we fetched Shasha from her house and the poor girl was waiting for our return since noon. She was excited that we were taking her along to Lumut. After a quick shower and solat zohor, we quickly stuffed the luggage into the car boot and off again on the Highway heading for Lumut. It was already 1600 hrs and hope the unpredictable tropical weather was to our advantage. Not to be, heavy rain started pouring from Tanjong Malim right up to Sungkai and I was on the wheel. Not worried at all about the old faithful Perdana as it was recently overhauled and four (4) brand new tires were recently changed. The mission to Lumut was to attend another wedding invitation by Tuan Haji Wahab on Sunday - the Merdeka day. It was his son’s wedding. We could not find an excuse to abscond the wedding as Tuan Haji Wahab had made a reservation for our accommodation at the Star Orient Resort Hotel in Lumut. Tuan Haji Wahab is another good buddy, being together for umrah and early 2014 joined me to Palestine.

At Sungkai we exit the PLUS Highway and took a shorter route to Lumut via Bikam, Kampog Ayer Itam, Changkat Jong, Teluk Intan, Lekir and finally Lumut. It was around Maghreb that we reached Teluk Intan. Wahab is base at Lekir and over the hand phone he insisted that we stopped for dinner along the way at his residence. It was getting dark and I had problem locating his residence along the Lekir/ Lumut road. The area is alien to me and I am not use to dark country road.

Somehow, I managed to locate his residence and the family was glad to greet our safe arrival. We had simple dinner specially prepared by the Caretaker, nasi lemak with sambal udang. We chatted about the next day function – the dishes, the reception and the number of invitees. The desert would be “ayer kelapa pandan” and “apam baik”. The bride and the bridegroom were still at Sungai Petani, arriving the following morning. Since I would be having another free day in Lumut, I told Haji Wahab that we would be a bit late for the reception so that we could stay on late after the invitees had dispersed. We had all the time in the world.

Shasha at the Pelamin.

Finally we checked into the Hotel in Lumut at 2200 hrs. At the stroke of midnight there was some firework seen from the Naval Base nearby. MERDEKA. I slept tight immediately after midnight, fully exhausted after the long drive and the delicious nasi lemak dinner.

Orient Star Resort - LUMUT.

Merdeka Day 31 August 2014 (Sunday). The morning was very quiet in Lumut and I don’t even bother to watch the celebration happening in Dataran Merdeka in KL vide TV. We had our breakfast and Shasha was eagerly excited to jump into the pool. Shasha is like duck to the water when she sees a swimming pool. I had to chaperone her and got myself wet too in the pool for nearly two (2) hours.

Breakfast.

Shasha splashing in the Pool.

At 1230 hrs, we back tracked to Lekir to Haji Wahab’s residence for the wedding. The dishes were only mutton and chicken – truly 1 Malaysia to cater for all races. Haji Wahab was busy attending to his Guests and we were enjoying ourselves with the kurma mutton, instant deep fried chicken, the apam balik and the ayer kelapa pandan. It was typical kampong wedding where all the kampong folks and its surroundings were invited. There was the traditional silat and kompang.  It was completely different than the wedding we attended at KLGCC Banquet Hall. 

The Bridegroom and his Bride.

Silat.

Shasha and her Nenek.

The Kampong Buffet.

The Apam Balik Man.

Back to the Hotel at 1600 hrs, Shasha was restless to dip into the pool again. There was a Church like wedding by the poolside and I told Shasha to hold on till late evening. Finally we got into the pool again at 1800 hrs and I gave her an hour to splash around.

Shasha was damn exhausted, tired after the wedding and the splashing and hit the sack very early at 2000 hrs, missed even her dinner. She really enjoyed herself. My wife and I had room service dinner.

The following day 01 September 2014 (Monday) after breakfast, Shasha insisted for a final dip in the pool again. I gave in and escorted her up to 1100 hrs as at 1130 hrs we had to check out.

Before leaving Lumut we stopped at the Bazaar and my wife filled the shopping basket with anchovies, dried fish, dried shrimp and Pangkor belacan.

Lumut Sea Product Bazaar.

Our next break was Teluk Intan to get some local pineapples. Final stop was Ulu Bernam PLUS R & R for refreshment and wash room. I took the similar route back home and the only stretch where traffic slowed down was from Sungkai to Slim River. Once I hit Slim River it was plain sailing to Port Klang due to the three (3) lanes PLUS Highway. 

 

We hit home base at about 1730 hrs. Gosh!!! What a weekend.   

Taking shape.

There is no rush to complete the renovation. Major work like plaster ceilings, painting, lightings and wiring had completed. Air conditions unit installed. Renovating only restricted during weekdays and during office hours only. The peace of the neighbors will not be disturbed. That’s the work ruling.

My prediction is mid September then the sofa, TV and dining will move in as well as the kitchenette equipped.

TV console.

Reading Room.

Master Bedroom Cabinet.

Master Bedroom.

Shower.

Wet Kitchen.

We will check status, weekend of first week September. Predictably ready for occupation by late September. A shopping Complex is under construction across the road.

Syawal 2014.

It had been three (3) weeks since I was back from Saudi Arabia and I could not find time to update my blog. Time fully occupied with plenty of events in Syawal that took me away from sitting in front of the computer blogging.

The weekend after I landed at KLIA, the family took the Highway up north to Ipoh to visit my mother. It was pre planned that we would not smack into the traffic snarl along the Highway. It’s traditional that during Syawal, a journey to meet the parent is a must unless distances keep you apart. During the short span, I squeezed sometimes accompanied by my mother to return to my ancestral hometown at Padang Tenggala in Bota. We visited the kampong Graveyard to pay homage to my late father who was laid in state there. It was thirty six (36) years ago, precisely on 8 April 1978 that I laid my father at that particular spot. I still remember, my late Grand Aunty, Hajjah Zubaidah specially pointed to the spot for the convenience of her grand nieces and nephews. I was pleased to see that the Graveyard now look better, the big tree had been fell and the environment is not that eerie as before. I always make a point that every Hari Raya I would make the journey to visit my late father. I don’t know about the rest of my late father’s siblings and I don’t even care and bother whether they all make the journey or otherwise.

Back home, in between we entertained visitors but this year there is no open house. We welcomed walk in visitors. As usual, on the first day of Syawal I was not home, celebrated mine alone in the Holy Land of Mekah.

 

At one of the weekend I attended a wedding of Ustaz Mazlan in Alor Star Kedah. I promised him in Mekah that I would make the trip up north to attend the wedding kenduri. Along with Haji Wan Azraai and Haji Israqy we boarded Malindo Air vide KLIA2 bound for Penang. It was my first experience as a passenger at the new KLIA2. We had a smooth flight cruising at 23000 feet riding above the cloud. The problem arises when the plane had to break the rain cloud to land at Bayan Lepas Airport. It was wobbling like crazy as the rain water gushed through the jet engine and the only consolation, Penang Channel was below. If any mishap it would fall into the sea. I was holding tight to my headrest and hoping for the best.

 

A car was waiting at Penang Airport and we drove to Alor Star. We stayed a night in Alor Star and another in Penang Island on the way home to KLIA2. In Alor Star, we went to Kuala Kedah and the famous Pekan Rabu. Penang is entirely different than it was when I studied there in 1962 – 1965. There is a place call Queensbay opposite Pulau Jerejak and we had fantastic sea view from Floor 9 of Eastin Hotel. We even drove to Balik Pulau looking for durian but it was not the season. We did not miss the Penang nasi kandar and we chose “Line Clear Restaurant”. We took the nostalgic ferry ride to the mainland. Memories flew back fifty (50) years in history and thankful that I am still breathing the Penang Channel air.

  

Many things happening in my home state during the month of Syawal, the Menteri Besar wanted to be replaced. Politically, the episode is getting haywire and messy. I get my sources of latest updated information from the various blogs and television. Politic is not dirty only Politicians does. The current Menteri Besar was my former CEO when I was with Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd. He was sacked from his Political Party but administratively, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor insisted that he remain in Office until a decision had been made after the Royal Highness return from overseas.

The current Menteri Besar,

To be replace by the woman above.

On 22 August 2014, the nation mourned when twenty (20) Malaysian jenazah given a Royal welcome when landed at KLIA. They were the victim of MH 17 shot downed somewhere at the Ukrainian/ Russian border in the Month of Ramadan. Nobody claim responsibility but 298 passengers of various nations perished. Sadly, Malaysia Airline got into another fiasco when MH 370 mysteriously missing still remains unsolved. On 24 August 2014, another three (3) jenazah returned to home soil. My deepest condolence to all the families involved. Al Fatihah to the Muslim victim.

Ceremonial welcome to MH 17 victim.

The honor given to the victim was a controversial subject from the Islamic and social liberal opposition political Parties. Some said that it was not Islamic, imitating the western Christians and culture. The point here, nothing that the Government does is right to them. When they do it, it’s practically all right.

Muslims holding candles to honor a Chinese death.

26 August 2014 the Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor will decide the fate of Tan Sri Khalid and Selangor in general. Would His Highness pick a lady to lead Selangor state? Que sera sera.......