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.

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.