PERAK - I Support You.

Perak Darulridzuzn, my birth state was hijack by UMNO led Government and there was a forum held in Klang at Dewan Hamzah on 17th. February 2009. The Forum was to let Selangoreans know the exact story leading to the hijack and its aftermath. How it was hijack was something very peculiar, the second time happened in the history of Malaysia. Both were UMNO orchestra. Even though I had followed the hijack news vide the internet and blogs I decided to attend the Forum as a citizen of Perak. I pledge my support and sympathy to the outset legal Government of Pakatan Rakyat in Perak led by Menteri Besar, Ir Nizar Jamaluddin.

I expected the crowd would be big and there would be traffic jam. So I took a hitch ride on a motorcycle as a pillion rider. It’s a long time since I rode pillion on a motorbike and I had this phobia about motorcycle.

I arrived at the Dewan about 2030 hours and the Hall was nearly full capacity. The Usher had to take on several extra chairs to accommodate us. There were several prominent Speakers at the Forum. To name a few: Charles Santiago MP of Klang, Ronnie Liu ADUN Pandamara, Harris Ibrahim a Blogger, Khalid Samad MP for Shah Alam, Doctor Zulkifli ADUN Selangor and Senior Exco of Perak Datuk Ngeh. I estimated the crowd in total was 2000 people attended because the crowd were coming and leaving. It seems there were a lot hanging around outside the Hall. I remained steadfast in the Hall to avoid unnecessary problem if it might arise. Without doubt, among the crowd there were several SBs.

Left the Dewan at about 2330 hours and the tummy need to be replenished. I had not yet taken my dinner.

For Perak sake, I took my dinner at midnite.

Master Fixer.

Damn it! The clothes hanger bar in the closet collapsed, due to overweight and old age. The bar got to be replaced; the wooden bar broke apart so as the supporting angle. I called Jaafar the kampong carpenter but he was busy elsewhere renovating a roof somewhere in Pulau Indah. Never mind, I would fix it myself.

I drove to the nearest hardware store and got the following: a 38 inches long chrome bar and a pair of metal angle support. It cost me only Eleven Malaysian Ringgit. Cheap, I said to myself. Reaching home, I ransacked my tool box and got out the necessary screwdrivers.

I opened the closet and the Master Fixer starting to address the problem and installing the newly bought accessories. I took a plastic stool to assist me to get to the right height and soon I stepped on it, the plastic stool broke. Either I was too heavy or the stool was too flimsy. My wife laughed but I never gave up. I summoned for a strong wooden stool and I completed the screwing. Screwed the angle supports to both end of the closet and snugly placed the 38 inches chrome bar. Wallah! Job completed and the new bar is much stronger than before.

If I got someone to do it, it would surely cost me more than Eleven Malaysian Ringgit. The material and workmanship inclusive would cost more than that

Man Tomyam.

I received a short message from the Ketua Kampong that Man Tomyam passed away in Kedah. I was rather shocked because Man Tomyam that I know was a healthy and a very reserved man. He used to keep to himself minding his own business, never got involved in serious conversation either casual or political. I used to patronize his Restaurant and I did like the tomyam.

Man Tomyam real name was Wan Osman, a Patanni descendant came to Kampong Raja Uda Port Klang about 15 years ago and operated a Tomyam Restaurant. Recently he moved to Kedah because his business at the kampong was not doing well and moreover the land where he operated the Restaurant was up for sale by the Landowner. He had seven children, two girls and five boys. The eldest daughter is studying in an Islamic College in Takbai, Thailand and the youngest boy is less than a year old. Man Tomyam was so reserved that not many kampong people knew that he had a stroke recently. Man Tomyam was a regular face at the Mosque so as four of his young sons.

At the Mosque I gathered further details about the demise of Man Tomyam. He was supposed to start his new business venture in Jitra Kedah on Friday 13th February 2009. I understand he passed away after a body massage and he was panting short of breath. Taken to Jitra Hospital and he passed away on arrival. His body was put to rest at 2000 hours on 12th. February 2009. My sincere condolence to the family and I wish his wife and his children can accept the fate that Allah bestowed upon them.

May Allah bless his soul.

Alfatihah.

Thank You Guthrie.

During the tenure of my service at Kumpulan Guthrie, I was fortunate that I could travel on long service leave after every ten years I served the Company. This exceptional perk was inherited from Guthrie Corporation Ltd, the Mat Salehs who once owned Guthrie. When Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) took over the Company in 1981, vide the famous “Dawn Raid”, fortunately the perk remained. The amount equivalent was two first class plane tickets, two ways from Kuala Lumpur to London. However, we could convert to go elsewhere with the equivalent amount. Flying on economy class, I could pack my two children as well. Since I served 23 + years I was eligible twice.

(Very much regret, Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd is now a history. The company together with another plantation giant, Golden Hope had merged with Sime Darby Bhd and the biggest plantation company in the world is now called Sime Darby Bhd).

1988 – The First Long Service Leave.

My two kids were still young and they were eager to go to Disneyland in California. We arrived in Los Angeles after thirteen hour flight from Kuala Lumpur with an hour stopover at Narita Airport in Japan. During that time the Malaysian Consulate General in Los Angeles was a friend of mine and he gladly dispatched his Driver to the Airport for our arrival. Unfortunately a box of various Malaysian fruits that I took along intended as gift pack was confiscated by the Airport Custom. I was naïve that all agricultural products are totally ban from entering California State.

We took shelter at the Consulate General official residence for a couple of days. At Los Angeles we went to the various attractions, the Observatory Centre, Universal Studio, Hollywood and the famous Chinese Temple where all the famous film stars left their foot and hand print on the wet pavement. We spent one solid day at Universal Studio. All day long we would be out somewhere sightseeing the City of Angels. I was fortunate, my friend the Consulate General had already planned and mapping the rest of our stay in US. In the first instance he recommended to rent a car and my wife to read the map. I kindly rejected because I was not familiar with left hand driving.

On the fourth day we went back to LA Airport and took the shuttle from the Airport to Anaheim. At Disneyland we stayed at the Magic Carpet Motel, just across the perimeter fencing of Disneyland. The children enjoyed two full days at Disneyland Amusement Park. I let them loose and meeting me at appointed time and place. We also took the trip down south to the famous San Diego Zoo and Strawberry Park Fun Land. I remember, I befriended an old American man at Strawberry Park and he asked for my itinerary. With a sigh, he said I am going to see America more than him. We went to Long Beach and had the pleasure of boarding the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose. It is now a museum piece.

From Anaheim we took a luxury coach to Las Vegas. We checked in at Dunes, the famous Casino Hotel along the Straight. While in Las Vegas we toured Lake Mead and Hoover Dam one of the five wonder of Civil Engineering. On top of the Dam I could stand between two states, one leg in Nevada State and the other in Arizona. The Hoover Dam is situated between two inter states. When I turned my head either way, the time varied by an hour. We enjoyed the bright neon light of Las Vegas and for leisure we hang around at the Circus Hotel & Casino. There was a circus performing non stop round the clock. The children were enjoying the circus and I sometimes sneaked to the slot machines. I did try the Black Jack and I found out, I could not make a living out of it. Just for record purposes, yours truly had gambled in Las Vegas.

The next plan was to purchase a 15 day Greyhound Bus Pass and I got it from Las Vegas Bus Terminal. The Pass enable us to ride on the Greyhound bus to anywhere during the fifteen day period. We boarded the bus crossed the Mojave Desert and our first stop was Reno, and stayed over night. The following day we headed west to Lake Tahoe. We booked into a chalet with a kitchenette by the Lake. We sat by the balcony, strolled by the lake, went on the lake cruise and enjoyed the beautiful sceneries especially the awesome sunset. We cooked our own food getting our supplies from the nearest Supermarket. The weather was very cooling and the appetite was good. The place was peace and quiet and we really had a good rest.

From Lake Tahoe we moved on to San Francisco. The city had just suffered an earthquake and the Oakland Bridge was still dormant. We got into the city via the Golden Gate. I had seen pictures of the famous Golden Gate umpteen times and this time I was crossing it. We rode on the tram; we roamed the Pier and the Fisherman wharf. To commemorate my visit to Pier 41, I bought a Canon EOS camera. We took a boat ride on the San Francisco Bay at Pier 39 passing by the Alcatraz Prison where Al Capone used to stay and cruised under the Golden Gate Bridge and the Oakland Bridge. We also took a trip to Muir Woods National Monument 12 miles north of the Golden Gate. The oldest Redwood here is at least 1000 years old.

Next destination, we decided to go up north. We took on the bus and final destination was Vancouver Canada. At the Immigration Checkpoint, the Officer cheekily asked for our visa and I proudly told him we were Malaysian, a member of the Commonwealth country and we don’t need visa to enter Canada. He smiled and welcomed me and family to Canada. We love the Canadian weather. We went to the Science Centre, took the seabus and we hop on to the sky train to Grouse Mountain. The weather was hazy and the mountain top was covered with snow. We stayed in Vancouver for a couple of days.

We finally decided to go back to base and we took the Greyhound Bus back to Los Angeles. We passed several cities, Seattle, Oregon and Sacramento to name a few. It was at Sacramento Bus Terminal Café over breakfast that I bought a homeless lady a cup of coffee and some bread. My children were surprised of my generosity to a complete stranger. As we rode on the bus, we were enjoying the landscape and sceneries of Western USA.

We arrived in Los Angeles two days before Thanks Giving day and we checked into LAX Hotel, very convenient Hotel only half a mile from the Airport. When I checked in at the Hotel, the Receptionist asked whether I was AAA (American Automobile Association) member for a discount. Out of the blue the Cab Driver, a complete stranger whipped out his AAA card and I got the discount. I turned to my two small children and told them that if we help someone sincerely, someone will eventually help you. Almighty GOD is always watching. The next day, I contacted Sam Soh Nga my Malaysian Chinese friend residing in Los Angeles picked us up and took us to the downtown Shopping Mall. My family would be heading for home soon and my wife especially got to pick up some things. The Mall was crowded as people were buying presents for their love one for Thanks Giving day. In the evening Sam picked us up and went for dinner. The next day was Thanks Giving day and most Americans stayed home. We wanted to do some sightseeing and not to trouble Sam Soh Nga, we took the Cab instead and headed to Santa Monica Pier just to enjoy the Pacific.

The next day, I sent the family to the Airport and they flew back to Kuala Lumpur. I stayed back as from now I was on official business tour.

The write out on the second Long Service Leave will follow suit at a later date. Recollecting my memories.

Fed Up.

I am not buying newspapers or watching news bulletin in the television nowadays. It all began from the Kuala Trengganu bye election and followed by the Gaza onslaught. From the local TV news bulletin, there is too much dirty and one sided political news. From the foreign news, I hate the Israelis incursion at Gaza. I could overcome both present politcal fiasco and the attack in Gaza if I am these two persons: The Sultan of Perak or Barrack Hussein Obama. I am neither both, so I cannot do anything and so, what will be, will be. We can discuss, argue and debate about it until the cows come home, we can never come to a solution because we are not the authority to have the final say. I just don’t care a damn. Plain fed up.

So…….

I would turn to my personal computer, facing the idiot for hours. I can get to see and learn a lot of things but not on Perak and Gaza. I surf the google earth and I go to places where I haven’t been, Timbuktu, for example. I retuned to my kampong and try to locate where my grandparent’s house or to the spot where I used to swim naked at the kampong river. I can also access to beautiful sceneries elsewhere and also beautiful shapes and structures. When bored, I steal a minute or two to the censored sites. I can see several sizes, big one, small one and medium one. After all I am paying RM 75 a month and my fingers are not censored to do the walking. Great!! Before I get nut, it’s better for me to release the tension.

I wonder

……everything the Barisan Government does is all correct and nothing is good what the Pakatan Rakyat do. I am not stupid so does most Malaysians. Please give some credit where it is due. I am only looking for justice. If my television set is sponsored by the Government, I would gladly return to them.

I still keeping my old shoes, one day I would throw it away.

Tenkerah Melaka.

Sunday, February 08, 2009 we decided to visit a friend in Melaka. Haji Adenan called on Saturday that we would commence journey at 0930 hours. The entourage made of Haji Adenan, his wife, little Fitrishah, me and my wife. It was Sunday and the traffic to the south, vide the South PLUS Highway was exceptionally smooth. It was vice versa when most people were heading north to Kuala Lumpur Batu Caves for Thaipusam. Our journey was cheered by the antics of little Fitrishah who keep on moving from back to front. We took the Alor Gajah exit to enter Melaka.

Haji Bakir and all family members were present to meet us. Our mission was to catch up with the family, particularly Haji Bakir, himself. Haji Bakir is our umrah mate for the past two consecutive years and we just heard he had a new grandson. We wanted to meet the new addition as well as calling on Haji Bakir and wife. We informed him of our arrival and he made us promised to stay for lunch. We of course agreed as we know both Haji Bakir and his wife are good cook. They operate a cafeteria at Terendak camp.

Hajjah Ani prepared for us a good lunch inclusive of sambal belacan tempoyak. She prepared a special ox tail soup and the table was full of several sea food varieties. We enjoyed the banquet and the hospitality. At the same time we discussed and make plan for the forthcoming Ramadhan umrah. Haji Bakir is now keen to be back before Hari Raya but after the 27 Ramadhan. Anyway, we will decide when the time comes.

We left Tenkerah and took the coastal road home, passing Kuala Sungai Baru, Port Dickson and Sepang. The weather was fine, throughout the journey, not a drop of rain. Little Fitrishah was very excited when she sighted the sea and wanted to have a dip. Since it was still sunny, we coaxed her that we would come again to Port Dickson some other times. I had to bribe her with “vitagen” and “mentos chocalates”.

Aiman Ashraf.

Early morning, got a short message from Aiman’s father that Aiman Ashraf admitted to Pantai Medical Hospital at 0300 hours due to breathing problem. Aiman is a six year old boy in Primary one. Aiman is my favorite kid since he was six months old. His father used to take him to my house and he is very close to me. He loves to meddle with my miniature motorcycles and he is the only kid that I allow to do so.

I rushed to Pantai Medical Hospital and visited Aiman at Room 25A at the Children’s ward. He was sleeping when I arrived and his mother was in attendance. Aiman is having an infection to his lungs. At every hour he was given an antibiotic respirator to eliminate the virus infections to his lung. He was glad to see me when he woke up and he was telling me that he would leave the Ward at 1600 hours. I cheer him up that Aiman got to stay in the Hospital until the Doctor said so. I told him that he is to refrain from drinking ice water and running wild in school. Failing which, he would come back to this Hospital. He agreed. Boys being boys, it’s difficult to control beyond our eye sights.

Aiman refused to allow me to go home and he asked me to wait until 1600 hours where we could go home together. I told him nicely that I have not taken my lunch and I have to perform my zohor prayers too. He then allowed me to go home and he asked me on my way out please tell the Nurse to bring a video game into his room. That’s Aiman who always cheer my days and I always have soft spot on him. His father used to tell me that I spoilt his son.

At 1700 hours I called Aiman’s father and he was at the payment counter settling all payment for Aiman discharged. I was relieved.

Two Towkays.

A day in history today, 6th.February 2009 (Friday) at about 1600 hours a new towkay was sworn in Perak within eleven months. The existing towkay refused to step down as he think he need a vote of no confidence from the coffee shop before he can vacate the seat as Menteri Besar.

I am getting confused, who is right who is wrong. My only stupid solution which I think the best is let the rakyat decide. If they allow frogs jumping from one party to the other and the party form a new Government, what’s the point of me exercising my voting right? If I vote for Lim Ah Kow from Party Tupperware and a few months later Yang Berhormat Lim Ah Kow jumped to Party Mangkok Ayun. Then what happen? I want Party Tupperware to run the Government, not Party Mangkok Ayun. All my time crossing my vote for Lim Ah Kow would be wasted. The best thing when YB Lim Ah Kow jumped out from Party Tupperware, somebody upstairs should declare YB Lim Ah Kow seat is vacant and hold a reelection. Very simple, isn’t it?

Anyway today incident would be recorded in the history book and one fine day I will explain in details to my grandchildren the episodes leading to the fiasco and the parties responsible to their grandfather’s home state having two towkays simultaneously. I hope my memory would not fade by then.

I am not throwing away my old shoes.

050209 (Thursday) - History created.

I had the full confidence with my Sultan that he would dissolve the State Assembly and a fresh election would be held. It was because three goons had jumped ship to Independent and one frog jumped back to the original BN pond. This particular frog broke all the frog political record in Malaysia. He jumped back within ten days unlike the other frogs who jumped before at every General Election. Anyway my Sultan is the learned of all Sultans in Malaysian history and once the Chief of the judicial system of Malaysia. I left it in the Royal Highness good hands and I don’t bother what the outcome would be. I was very confident that His Royal Highness would declare the State Assembly to be dissolved and therefore I don’t bother. I decided to make a trip to Janda Baik instead and when I am back in the evening, all well would end well. To my astonishment the outcome least that I expected and the Menteri Besar had to vacate his seat. I was just shocked but I just had to abide to His Royal Highness decision otherwise I can be charged for treason. He Master the Law of Malaysia and the Royal Highness knows best.

Case closed.


JANDA BAIK – Good widow or nice widow.

It’s a place perch somewhere in the mountain on the right side of the old Kuala Lumpur Bentong old road. From Kuala Lumpur at the Karak Highway, turn right after the tunnel. It’s just the opposite side of Genting Highland. It’s been a long time since I wanted to step foot at Janda Baik and today on 050209 was my first trip. I have heard so much about the place, the cool tranquility of its environment. The name of the place attracts me.

I went up to Janda Baik with my friend Haji Zaaba to deliver a Laptop Computer, Printer and a Projector to the Kampong Head of Janda Baik, Tuan Haji Zahri Arop. We arrived on time at noon and Haji Zahri was waiting for our arrival. We sat down for coffee and I dig history from him and his Secretary, Encik Azmin.

The population of Janda Baik is around 3500. The first settler was way back in 1932. After the major flood in 1929 surrounding Bentong hinterland, the people were looking for higher ground and they open up this mountainous region. The name Janda Baik derived from two versions. It was about an orang asli couple who divorced and reconciled. The other version was about several widows helping injured Pahang warriors coming back to Pahang through the mountain after helping Selangor in the civil war. Haji Zahri testified that the track still exists today from Janda Baik to Gombak in Selangor and it takes a day trekking. Janda Baik has a Primary school, Klinik Desa, a Mosque, telephone line, electricity and water. Good roads all round and they have several resorts for weekend retreat or hideout. To my surprise, they even have an electronic factory up there. At the end of the road a newly constructed UMNO Training Camp is in progress. The Sultan of Pahang used to visit Janda Baik once a while.

There are several Café and Restaurants at Janda Baik and we had lunch at one called Jungle Café. The food was home cooked, not too bad as they were not expecting many customers due to weekday. We toured the Kobaik Resort and I was impressed by the serene environment and the surrounding greens. A cool mountain stream running nearby and they have several chalets for rent. It cost RM 100 per night and I think it’s quite exorbitant for its size. I may try it one day and I want to dip myself in the mountain stream. On weekend, Janda Baik is busy and most chalets are occupied and the Restaurants would remain operational till late at night. Haji Zahri laughed when I suggested to him to operate a karaoke at the Restaurant nearby his house.

We descended to Genting Sempah at about 1500 hours and stop by at the Surau for our zohor prayer.

Moment I reached home, I was at my computer to follow the latest of the Perak highjack.

Today 050209, I got my janda baik and the BN captured four janda takbaik to form a new Government in my home state, Perak. All the best to my fellow citizens in Perak.

I am not throwing away my old shoes.

Beg to Differ.

In my entry, Up North to the Border dated 4th February 2009, I mentioned that I was proud that the BOTA Assemblyman had joined Pakatan Rakyaat. I wish to correct my statement because at 1700 hours on 4th.February 2009 he jumped back to UMNO. To me he is like a frog, jumping here and jumping there to his whim and fancy. He announced his defection to an audience of about 15,000 of my own countrymen in Bota Stadium. How dare he cheat my kampong folks? I wonder how he is going to face the same people who witnessed his declaration to join Pakatan Rakyaat? This Politician has no back bone or he has been promised million by Najib. Surely both parties would deny. As a Malay proverb goes, no body admitted he shit on the road. Maybe Najib had grabbed him by the balls. Remember….all these while he is an UMNO man, once the Chairman of Felcra. He either jump back or they open his file with the newly form SPRM. If someone is clean, there is nothing to worry of. I would stick to my gun if I am right.

Nasaruddin….you have showed your true color and whatever you do and your decision is, may Allah bless you or otherwise. As anak Bota, I think you don’t deserve to be address as Yang Berhormat. Yang Melompat Lompat is more appropriate.

From UMNO jumped to Keadilan,
From Keadilan jumped back to UMNO,
Don’t be happy with your stunt,
PRU 13, Bota people say we don’t want frog anymore.

Make hay while the sunshine and make more money while you can. Malaysia Boleh, and Wakil Bota Boleh.

PS: Nasaruddin…..please ensure the Padang Tenggala Mosque Toilet is always clean. Whenever I visit my father’s grave and prayed at the Mosque, I could hardly enter the Toilet. As Wakil Rakyaat Bota, it’s your responsibility to educate the Mosque Committee about cleanliness.

Up North to the Border.

As I was having my normal black coffee at the usual stall, my friend, Haji Zaaba called me that he was somewhere in the vicinity. I invited him to join me and we were chatting about the latest addition in Pakatan Rakyat by an Assemblyman from my paternal kampong, the constituency of BOTA. I told him how brave he was to do such a stunt and I am proud of the right decision he had made. I am also proud that my ancestors were from Bota, Padang Tenggala to be exact.

Haji Zaaba told me he had to collect some document from his daughter in Kulim Kedah and also to deliver some household goods to his friend in Kodiang Kedah on 1st February 2009. He invited me to accompany him and I gladly accepted. The plan was, we were to put up a night at Danok Thailand, the border town up north and reminded me to bring along my passport.

We left Port Klang at about 0900 hours with two other friends, Nasir and Pak Long Tapa. The old Pajero was very comfortable for four of us but at times for those seated at the rear seats was a bit bumpy. Our first hit was Kulim at around 1330 hours to rendezvous with Haji Zaaba’s daughter. We had lunch at Penanti and stopped for our zohor prayer at the R&R surau. Pak Long was brought up in Perlis and his northern slang is still very thick. We were laughing when he said “kita pi, patah balik mai”. We arrived at Kodiang town at around 1600 hours to drop and left Pak Long Tapa with his relatives. The three of us adjourned to Cikgu Norbi’s house to deliver the goods. We had tea and the famous “pesembul kodiang” for snack. I was fascinated with his house, a beautiful set up bungalow right in a middle of a paddy field and a limestone caves at his backyard. I stood at the patio and was enjoying the beautiful breeze from the open paddy field. Few young guys were playing with the kites, typical paddy field scenery. I love paddy field because at the kampong where I was brought up, I was surrounded with rumbia and rubber trees. Cikgu Norbi invited me to visit him in a couple of month’s time during the mango season and insyaalah I would come.

We proceeded to Bukit Kayu Hitam and parked the Pajero at the Duty Free Shopping Complex. We traveled light and we walked to the Thailand Immigration checkpoint. Being Sunday, there was no crowd entering Thailand and it was the other way round that the cars were queuing to reenter Malaysia. We checked into Grand River Palace Hotel, a walking distance, only about 100 meters from the checkpoint. We were now in Danok Thailand. The room rate was only RM 65, well equip with TV, mini fridge and hot water.

Danok…..to be honest is a sin city. However not all the people who come to Danok are sinners? It’s a heaven for men who are looking for fun, dirty or clean. They have women for a night stand; they have karaoke with young beautiful GRO, discos aplenty, massage parlors everywhere and Tiger shows if you have the correct connections. Danok once a very quiet town had transformed into the bright neon light after the Thai Malaysian border extended the closing time to midnight Thailand time and 0100 hours Malaysian. It gave the fun seekers enough time to sneak back to Malaysia without staying overnight. The town is normally alive from Thursday to Sunday. For those who spend their holidays further north in Hatnyai would make a stopover in Danok before reentering Malaysia. Malaysians are the major contributor to the economic well being of Danok. It is not recommended for a family with children to stay in Danok. There is a special channel at the room television which is adult rating. Left unsupervised you get red-faced.

I was watching the TV3 news bulletin at 2000 hrs Malaysian Time and was surprised that the Perak Assembly Speaker had declared that two Perak Parti Keadilan Assemblymen had tendered their resignation. That was sensational news because Perak Government under Pakatan Rakyaat was in a shaky position and there would be a bye election. Perak is my birth home state and I was equally concerned. Never mind, I would get the latest news at TV3 Nightline Bulletin at midnight and decided to adjourn for seafood dinner. We went to the best Muslim Seafood Restaurant in town and for RM 43 we really had a good dinner for three of us. It was pretty cheap for the varieties of dishes.

Back in the Hotel room, we tuned TV3 Nightline for the latest development in Perak. Then we quickly switched to the ESPN Sports channel for the Liverpool Chelsea game at Anfield Stadium. This game interests me and I was hoping the score would be a draw, an advantage to my favorite Manchester United. The result was disappointing where Liverpool won by two goals to nil. However I felt that the Referee was utter rubbish when he red carded Frank Lampard, the Chelsea midfielder.

We had breakfast at 0900 hours and I like the “roti canai telor” prepared by the Thais. Unlike at our Malaysian Mamak shop, the Thais evenly spread the egg at the roti canai. Haji Zaaba had glutinous rice with fried fish which I totally avoided. Both ingredients are not good for my blood pressure, too strong compared with roti canai. As I was packing, Pak Long called and I told him to meet us at Changloon Coffee Shop as agreed earlier at about an hour’s time.

We walked back to the Thai Immigration checkpoint and it was a very smooth crossing, only three of us at the Immigration booth. We collected the Pajero, paid the parking fees and proceeded to the Malaysian Immigration and Custom checkpoint. There was no hassle too. We stopped for a few minutes at Bukit kayu Hitam Bazzar as I wanted to get some tamarind. Next stop was Changloon for coffee break and picked up Pak Long Tapa.

We hit the PLUS Highway and broke journey for lunch, refueling and zohor prayer at Simpang Pulai R&R. The journey home was smooth except for a stretch of heavy downpour. We reached Port Klang at 1730 hours.