Looking forward.

Three (3) more days and I am off to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and straight to the Holy Land of Mecca to perform the umrah rituals. It would be the first time ever I put on the ihram from KL International Airport. The previous trips, I normally came from Medina to Mecca. Once I was in ihram from Istanbul Turkey to Jeddah and straight to Mecca for umrah.

Thank you to the Mudir, Ustaz Hj Mokhdzar entrusting me the sole responsibility heading the delegation as “Mutawif” of forty one (41) Jemaah. It is a no joke assignment and I sincerely believe that I can do it and would perform my utmost best.

Last Sunday we had conducted the briefing to the local potential Jemaah together with the get to know you session.

      

Would be back on 18 December 2014. Story of my journey will follow.

Closed and Open.

Haj season for 2014 had closed and all Haj Pilgrims safely back to their home base. Now the Umrah season is about to open starting from December 2014 and will last till Ramadan 2015.

Had been very busy lately assisting my friend in the Umrah Travel Office and had no time even to blog. By the time I am home, I am dead tired.

The first flight of sixty five (65) Umrah Pilgrims tentatively on 05 December 2014 vide Kuwait Airline destined for Jeddah and final destination to Medina by road.

The following day on 06 December, insyaalah I will lead forty one (41) Pilgrims vide Saudi Airline to Jeddah and straight on to the Holy Land, Mecca to perform the umrah. On this journey, the pilgrimage to Medina would be last and headed home to KLIA via Medina on 17 December 2014, the very day I would be touching fifty nine (59). Insyaallah, Allah with His kind blessings will bestow me with good health to successfully lead the delegation.

Kaabah....here I come.

Masjid Nabawi - the most beautiful place in the world.

Understand, Masjidilharam in Mekah is under massive extensive renovation and extension. The feedback obtained, King Abdul Aziz Gate is currently close. 

There are few more flights going straight to Mekah or Medina and if coincide with my presence at either places, I have to render assistance.

The Office original plan was for me lead a delegation of Palestine and Umrah Pilgrims starting from 17 December 2014 but the turmoil currently in Jerusalem between the Israelites and the West Bank Palestinians scares off potential Pilgrims. We had to abandon the program. We postpone to March 2015 if the condition in Jerusalem back to norm. We hope so and I pray to Allah, all parties come to their senses.

Two (2) weeks from now, I am on my way back to the Holy Land, insyaalah (Allah permits). The last time I was there was Ramadan 2014.      

Operated.

Yusuf Firdaus (Shasha’s cousin brother) was admitted to University Hospital and successfully underwent an operation of his right fingers on 28 October 2014. Being so active, he accidently touched a heated rice cooker and got his fingers burnt.

Alhamdullillah everything went fine and he is recuperating in bed.

Before the operation

The cheeky Yusof.

After the operation.

  

Yusof at my house last Aidilfitri.

Yusof sat on my lap at a wedding.

  Sooner he will be up and about. 

Old Buddy.

Harchan Mohd Reza, exactly two (2) months senior than me, retired and now residing in Rasah Kemayan, Seremban 2. An old buddy, during Kumpulan Guthrie days.

We heard that HMR is not doing that good health wise, so Farid Mohd and I decided to pay him a visit on 22 October 2014. HMR had been in and out of the Hospital with thirteen (13) kilogram lesser and Yul Branner.

During the good old Guthrie days, HMR was the Production Controller Rubber Product, Farid Mohd was Rubber Marketing Manager and yours truly was Senior Manager (Distribution). We worked in tandem, HMR produced, FM sold and MUS distributed. We fought, quarreled, argued with each but at the end of the day, the Buyer was happy.

It was a happy reunion and Zakaria Othman, the Retired Admin Manager came all the way from Paroi Jaya also to visit HMR. I was glad to see HMR up and about as initially I was expecting he was bed ridden from his voice tone over the hand phone. Recalling the good old days we went through, HMR was smiling, laughing and cheerful.

I pray to Allah that HMR would recover soonest, insyallah. He had in mind to perform an umrah and I would be glad to assist and guide this humble soul to have his dream fulfilled.

HMR and his wife, Hjh Saedah.

       

HMR.

HMR - you let me finish first.

HMR with MUS.

HMR with FM.

Get well soon, buddy.

The Second Phase.

The first phase was renovation and confirmed certified completion.

The second phase was to start moving in the basic furniture and was done within these couple of days. The fridge, TV, washing machine etc would be the third phase and the final phase is officially moving in. Mama had been very busy getting things organized.

The concept chosen is “modern contemporary” living contrast to mine which is “antique” setting. I love wood carving furniture and chandeliers and at this particular condominium apartment, I simply sit quietly in the passenger’s seat. Provide assistance and rescue only when there is a traffic jam. Have to break the Bank.

Recalling my younger days in the isolated rural kampong, I jumped into the river and slept on “kekabu” (kapok) mattress laid on the floor.

The River was my Playground.

Kekabu Matress.

Time has changed of course for once upon a time human lived in caves.

It's completed.

The renovation work had all completed. We inspected and fully satisfactory with the work. However few more had to be done.  Matter of time, no hurry until all settled down.

The furniture expected to be moved in on 23 September 2014 and occupation by month end. Everything got to be brand new, fitting with the new apartment.

Latest: We have now set the date: 23 September 2014, we will move in the furniture. 


Shasha is very please as she had tested  the swimming pool.

I learn to swim in the river or when the kampong had it's yearly flood and I grew up in a simple kampong stilt house. The children of today are damn lucky.

EUPHORIA MALAIENSE.

Last week, at one of the free day on the week day, I travelled down to Masjid Tanah, Melaka to say farewell to someone who would be performing the Haj. We were requested by Encik Ahmad, another acquaintance to drop by at his country home somewhere at Tanjong Kling as his “mata kucing” was fruiting ripe.

It was the first time in my life seeing a well ripen “mata kucing” fruits and was enjoying the juicy sweet fruits under its tree. I gathered the trees had been grown since fifteen (15) years ago. When I was a small kid in the kampong, I vividly remember there was one wild “mata kucing” tree in my grandfather’s dusun but it hardly fruiting and sour.

I had been eating the “mata kucing” fruits bought from the fruit stall ever since and only from the Melaka experience; I bothered to Google the scientific name: EUPHORIA MALAIENSE.

The Euphoria Malaiense is the smaller version of Longan.

Zafran Aizat.

Zafran with his two Nenek. The new kid on the left side of the block.