BELATED BIRTHDAY - JALAN-JALAN TENGOK TEMPAT BARU

JALAN-JALAN

Assalam...jumpa lagi disini, sebenarnya planning untuk ke Cameron Highland memang setiap tahun 13hb Februari tapi atas sesuatu sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan tepaksalah ditangguhkan seminggu selepas, so bertolaklah saya ke Cameron Highland pada 20hb Februari 2016 bersama husband, saya cuba untuk membawa anak saya, tapi dia tak dapat pergi bersama biarpun keinginan itu ada, lebih2 lagi dia nak bersama saya, takpelah..biasalah bila dah jadi milik orang, harapan ibu sendiri pun terpaksa tolak ketepi, saya redha, takpe...dah biasa berdua bersama husband kemana2.  Kami menginap ditempat biasa di Country Lodge di Brincang, tempat istimewa bagi saya, tempat meyenangkan hati, penuh cerita, memori, bila datang disinilah saya menginap sejak bertahun, kalau datang lebih berdua saya menyewa apartment dan kalau berdua saje, cukuplah bilik, itupun sudah selesa sangat. Kami bermalam dua malam, tiga hari. Cukuplah untuk aturcara saya sepanjang tiga hari disini.  Sebenarnya tiada kemana sangat pun, ialah dah tiap2 tahun, cuma mencari dan mengintai tempat2 baru, dan kebetulan saya mencari benih2 bunga, juga pasu2 untuk aktiviti dan hobi saya nanti.

(bila berdua  selfe setakat inilah saje)

Bila di Brincang saya tak pernah lupa tempat zaman kanak-kanak saya.  Balai Bomba, setiap tahun saya akan berposing disini...wajib Insyaalah selagi usia terdaya. banyak memori disini, suka duka (yg banyak tentulah duka, apapun zaman itu amat terkesan dihati saya, Saya akan menghabiskan masa sejam dua disini, setiap tempat, sudut ada ceritanya..biarpun tempat itu telah banyak berubah, makin cantik, kemas dan luas, kenangan dan detik itu amat terpahat dihati saya..hmmm ketika itu usia sekitar 9 - 10 tahun tapi ingatan saya masih kuat...pot pet pot pet saya asyik bercerita tanpa jemu pada husband saya,. Alhamdulillah dia amat memahaminya, itu saje permintaan saya setiap kali Februari menjelma.  Terima kasih kerana menunaikannya, biarpun terlewat tak mengapa. Saya puas hati.

(Tahun lepas saya berposing disini dengan emak dan husband, tahun ini saya sendirian)

Seperti orang lain juga jika ke Cameron Hihgland pasti merayau kepasar2, tidak ketingalan saya, segalanya seperti dulu2 juga, biarpun tidak sesak kerana baru lepas cuti sekolah, cuti raya china, so Kg Raja, Brincang tidaklah asyik jem...begitu juga pasar malam juga bandar Brincang, semoga satu hari nanti Bandar Brincang bersih, pembangunannya biarlah teratur (ooopss nak komen sikit, sekarang ini pembangunannya berserabut, ditambah dengan bangunan tinggi2, didirikan macam ikut sempat je, dekat antara satu sama lain, tak teratur langsung) kesian bandar Brincang, sepatutnya bandar sejuk, ciri-ciri luar negara itu ada, sekurang2nya boleh berangan macam kat luar negara, tapi semua itu takde...kesian Cameron Highland...nama je macam tempat mat saleh, tapi yang ramainya disini bukan mat saleh hahaha....Dalam pusing2 melihat dan mencari tempat baru, yang sempurna saya ternampak iklan banyak terpasang ditiang2 lampu, dan akhirnya saya sampai disini...menarik, orang melayu, kawasan melayu, biarpun kawasan agak padat dengan bisnes yang sama, tapi saya tertarik yang satu ini....200 Seeds..katanya orang kita melayu, anak muda, yang memang orang Cameron Hihgland..baguslah tu, mungkin tempat baru, nampak cantik, yang pasti tiada bayaran dikenakan untuk masuk, boleh tengok2 tanaman buah strawberry, (hmm mungkin boleh petik gak, tak perasan saya) boleh makan2 dengan selesa, halal, juga sedap...yang melayan budak2 muda, peramah...Kg Sedia...cantik namanya...

(abang strawberry...memang abang2 semuanya disini, dari pelayan, tukang masak sampai kekedai cenderhati juga abang (hmmm bagi saya semua anak2 muda)

Siapa saje ke Cameron Highland akan mencari sayur-sayuran, memang murah, setakat 7 jenis RM10- boleh penuh bonet kereta, tapi kerana tujuan dan target saya nak mencari pasu dan benih bunga murah-murah, so dapatlah saya angkut 35 biji pasu gantung dan beberapa anak2 pokok bunga yang dikatakan boleh ditanam ditempat panas...tengoklah nanti berapa lama boleh hidup. Sebaik balik rumah, siap saya dan husband mengantungnya...Alhamdulillah niat dan hajat saya, untuk pondok bunga dirumah, tempat saya merelekkan diri, menghijaukan pandangan mata...Insyaalah akan diperbaiki lagi, masih mencari lagi anak2 pokok bunga dan harapnya tak le sampai jadi macam nesery pulak....aduiii orang kata kalau tangan sejuk menanam semua menjadi, pada saya tengoklah, berbunga atau tidak, jangan lebat daun, bunganya tidak menjadi, biarpun dibelai, dijaga dan dibaja.

I WHO HAVE NOTHING...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I WHO HAVE NOTHING...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Assalam....hari ini hari ulang tahun saya yang ke 62 tahun, tiada sambutan, tiada perayaan, tiada makan angin atau jalan2 cari makan, saya terperap dirumah bersama suami tercinta, tiada anak2 mengunjungi, malah tiada apa2 pun...malah saya tak punya harta yang melimpah ruah untuk dibanggakan kecuali saya bersyukur padaNya kerana diusia begini sayal diberi kesihatan yang baik, malah bertambah baik dari sebelumnya...Alhamdulillah syukur....mungkin itulah yang terbaik untuk saya untuk lebih mendekatiNya...mungkin nasib dan takdir ini tidak  pada orang lain, apa pun saya redha.

Hari ini juga bunga ros putih ini sudah berusia setahun dibawah jagaan saya, dibeli ketika saya bercuti sempena ulangtahun saya yang lepas bersama emak, saya tanam dan menjaga hinga dia berbunga kembang, sepanjang untuk sampai setahun bertukar musim bunga ros ni sentiasa berbunga, hinggalah sesuatu "malang tidak berbau" saya tidak lagi bersama emak, tidak lagi menjaganya, dan tidak lagi tinggal bersamanya, saya kembali semula kerumah dan meninggal pasu bunga ros putih ini tanpa dijaga, dan akhirnya hidupnya mati segan tak mau, nasib baik saya sempat mengambilnya kembali, biarpun harapan untuk dia segar tak mungkin pulih, puas dibaja, dibelai, ternyata ros putih ini terus kurus mengering. Saya  tak putus asa, terus menanti, dan akhirnya tanpa disangka, dia masih berbunga biarpun sekuntum hari ini , terima kasih cik bunga ros, seolah satu pemberian hadiah untuk saya pengemar bunga ros (hmmm masa muda2 dulu yg memikat rajin sangat hantar bunga ros, bila dah tua2 ni nampak gaya tanam sendirilah)

Terima kasih ros putih, biar pun kecil ianya masih memberi harapan, semoga kembang mekar dan terus hidup.  Saya sabar menanti.

Cerita ini sebenarnya membayangkan kehidupan saya, bagi yang faham, bagi yang tidak anggap sajelah cerita basi, atau apa saja...saya tetap saya, dengan kehidupan saya, cara hidup saya.  Saya percaya padaNya, dia yang menentukan apa terbaik, apa pembalasan dan apa saja dalam kehidupan ini. Syukur padaNya kerana saya tetap saya, pendirian saya.  Sempena ulangtahun saya, saya pohon ribuan ampun maaf, pada keluarga saya, kerana yang buruk dan tak baik itu datang dari saya, yang baik-baik itu untuk anda semua.  Pada anak2 saya (hmm macam ramai sangat) walhal saya mempunyai dua orang anak perempuan yang sudah punya keluarga mereka sendiri..Tak mengapa, semoga kamu berdua bahagia menjalani kehidupan sendiri. Hidup ini terlalu keras dan sukar, ada turun naiknya,  semoga kamu berjaya mengharunginya....Mama doakan yang terbaik untuk semua biarpun bagi kamu mama bukan ibu terbiak untuk kamu. Terima kasih semua....happy birthday to me :-)

HOBI BARU

Assalam...dah lama tak menjenguk kat sini, mode dah kelaut, sebenarnya teringin gak nak menulis kat blog ni, tapi dek sebabkan masalah teknikal komputer dan handphone yg terlampau canggih sampai tak reti nak menggunakan...apapun kita buat diakan....

So ari ni nak membebel bab hobi lak..hobi baru selain masak memasak...sebenarnya hobi ni dah lama ada cuma masa tak kena, dah bersara ni Alhamdulillah...kita mengabiskan duit dengan membeli bunga..memang minat sangat dengan bunga2 ros ni, tapi bunga ros biasa memang susah dijagakan, ada beberapa pasu semua dah mati, yg masih selamat tinggal sepasu je lagi, beli masa ke CH tahun lepas...itupun macam tak lama je nyawanya...its ok beralih ke ros jugak tapi ros jepun...benih beli kat online..,Alhamdulillah, masih dalam persemaian.....

Insyaallah akan digantung pasunya sedikit hari lagi

hahaha yg ni bagi saya unik...idea dari satu blog, dia tanam bawang, kita tanam bunga ros jepun :-)

tak cukup semai kat pasu, kita semai je kat tepi2 rumah yg kawasannya sekangkang kera ni..oklah kot :-)...tunggu jelah dengan sabar "musim berbunga"nya nanti...

Yang ni pokok pudina...dah hampir setahun usianya, beli kat CH, ingatkan tak panjang usianya..ternyata senang je hidupnya, dari pasu kecil dia membiak, lebih2 lagi memang gunapun daunnya untuk masak, untuk buat detox, tak payah beli dah... :-)

SEKADAR MENGISI MASA LAPANG

Assalamualaikum, lama tidak menulis blog, yang ada pun orang lain yang buatkan, sekarang baru ada kekuatan diri untuk menulis, cerita biasa, cerita jalan2 ditempat yang banyak memori manis. Tahun ini sebenarnya ada juga jalan2, bermula pada bulan Februari di Cameron Highland, sungguh bertuah dan terharu kerana dapat bawak emak (membawa kembali memori emak ketika menetap disana sekitar tahun 1962).   Bersama emak juga saya dapat membawanya ke Kuala Lipis Pahang, juga ke Ipoh Perak. Yang terbaru saya sempat jalan2 cari makan ke Melaka, biarpun semalam tapi cukuplah, kudrat sudah berkurangan. Kali terakhir sekitar tahun 2010 (membawa hati yang lara).

Bila tidak kemana2 saya banyak menghabiskn masa dirumah, di Teapot Corner, main masak2, masak ikut cita rasa dan gaya saya, jika orang lain tak berminat dengan masakan saya, saya tak kisah, saya ada "customer" tetap saya sendiri (husband saya hehehe) yang tidak pernah komplen apa yang saya masak, baginya semuanya menyelerakan.

Salam November...lamaya tak update...kematian idea...hmmm tak gak..cuma dulu orang lain tolong uruskan..now kita ambil alih semula....nanti kita jumpa lagi

NOSTALGIC KUALA LIPIS, PAHANG.

During one weekend, my wife and I decided to go to Kuala Lipis, Pahang. This town was formerly the State Capital of Pahang since 1898, until it was moved to Kuantan on 27^th August 1955. The town is situated between two (2) rivers, the Sungai Jelai and Sungai Lipis, of which the estuary of Sungai Lipis flows into Sungai Jelai, and thus the name of the town, Kuala Lipis was named after.

We travelled from our home in Kuala Lumpur towards Bentong, Raub and later to Kuala Lipis, followed by heavy showers along the way. We reached Kuala Lipis and stayed in the pre-booked Centrepoint Hotel.

After completing my secondary school in the 60’s, I went to Kuala Lipis with my younger brother. My elder brother was the Chief Officer of the District Fire Station and he stayed on top of the station itself. We went there by train and when we reached the Kuala Lipis railway station, we walked along the corridor of the shop and at the end was the Fire Station.

Currently, this fire station has moved to a new place and the building is now occupied by the Kuala Lipis Municipal Council to collect parking charges.

Photo of the former Fire Station Kuala Lipis

My wife was born in Kuala Lipis, and her late father was a Fire officer at the same station. She had a lot of memories during her 8 years living in Kuala Lipis. She is the eldest daughter and third among her siblings. 

The Hospital where my wife was born

As she grew older and reached the age of schooling, she was sent to the primary Malay school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Wan Ibrahim. This was her first school learning the A, B and C and she also attended the Quran class held at the Mosque nearby the Fire Station. She was just beginning to enjoy her schooling days in the second year when her father was then transferred to Raub.

The school (above) and the mosque (below), where learning starts

Kuala Lipis was formerly a small remotely situated and undeveloped but a busy town as a State Capital, where all state administration were centred here. When the State Capital moved to Kuantan, all the state administrative offices also follow suit, and thus it became a quiet town.

The route from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu now passes by this town with the new bridge built across the river. New road system in the town, a new pedestrian bridge to cross the railway lines, new housing estates are among the new developments. The old narrow road in the old town area is now a one-way street to accommodate the many vehicles. The three rows of the pioneer shop houses in this town is still the pride of Kuala Lipis, which include the market which is now known as “Medan Tangga”

Medan Tangga

The Post Office is still at the same area with the milestone marked as zero (0) which was built to mark the beginning of the mileage from Kuala Lipis to other towns in Pahang.

The mileage started off from Kuala Lipis (Left), and the distance to Kuantan – in miles, not kilometres (Right)

During the British occupancy, they built buildings that stand proud and that have been the landmark to the town itself until today. These buildings were built for the British Residence and the other staffs of the British Administrative. An engineer told me that these building stands without concrete pillars compared to the modern day buildings.  They are now occupied by the Government Offices, the Clifford Secondary School, as a rest house, among others.

The building now as a Government Office – Historic Architecture

The rainy season has prevented us to drive or walk around the town. We left Kuala Lipis for Kuala Lumpur after staying here for two days. It was a memorable visit after so many years we haven’t been there to see the development of this small but historic town.

Date: 31 May 2014 !

VISITING AN-AILING WET-NURSE* MOTHER

(Malay: *Ibu-Susuan)

It was sometime in August 2013 that my brother, who lives in Kuantan, sent me a message saying that my “wet-nurse” mother whom I used to call “Mak Gayah”, is ailing and wheel-chaired bound, and that she was asking for me. I felt sorry and I planned to go to Kuantan to visit her.

I remembered my late mother told me that when I was a baby I was frequently left with Mak Gayah whenever she went to wash clothes at the nearby stream. Mak Gayah lived nearby with her baby girl. One of those days, returning from her wash, my mother was surprised when she saw Mak Gayah was nursing me. When my mother asked her, she said it’s alright as she was ready to have me as her own son along with her baby girl. That incident continued and there was no way that it stopped.

That incident happened about more than 60 years ago and when we moved to our current home my Mak Gayah stayed around the same neighbourhood. As I grow up, my mother told me that my Mak Gayah is also my “mother” and her daughter is my younger sister. I used to go to her house and I am close to her daughter as my sister or “milk-sibling”. We went to school and grew up together as a brother and a sister would do. Beside this daughter, Mak Gayah later has two other younger children, who are then my younger brothers too. This is in accordance with the Islamic law that specifies a permanent family-like relationship between children nursed by the same woman, and that they grew together as youngsters. They and various specific relatives may not marry as they are deemed as mahram.

There was one occasion when I return home to visit my mother, I passed my Mak Gayah’s home and there was a crowd coming in and out of her house. I was shocked, stopped my car and rush to ask what happened. To my surprise, my Mak Gayah came to me and said that she was still in good health and that I might have thought she have passed away. She then took me to the kitchen area, introduced me to the others as her son, and later prepared drinks and some cakes for me as she used to do whenever I visited her.

Lately when I returned to my hometown, I did not see my Mak Gayah at her home and that her house seemed empty. When this news came to me only I realized that Mak Gayah is not well and she is staying with her children in Kuantan, about 250 km from Kuala Lumpur.

On Saturday, 23^rd November 2013, along with my wife, we traveled to Kuantan by the East-Coast Highway, a new road linking Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan in the east coast of Peninsula. It was a pleasant journey as we haven’t traveled for quite a while. We drove along the highway, taking our time while enjoying the sceneries.

The drive took about 3 hours, and we did stops at a few rest areas along the route to have some snacks and to see whatever new sold there. We reached Kuantan and registered ourselves at a hotel, took our lunch and have a short rest.

We went to her house at the address given by my brother, but there is no one at home. I thought of giving my Mak Gayah a surprise visit, but since no one was at home, I have to call around to get news on where my mother is. Later her son who is also my younger brother called to inform me that our mother was warded at the Kuantan Specialist Center, located at Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan. I arrived at the hospital at about 3:00 pm, and when I entered the room, my Mak Gayah was still asleep, and no other persons were in the room. I was surprised to see her in that condition, and later when she woke up, she looked surprise to see me at her bedside. I was also wondering whether she still remember me, but when I told her that I am her “Atan”, my nickname that she is used to, she kept nodding and firmly hold my hand and stared at me as she haven’t seen me for quite sometime. I wiped her tears and I knew she took care of me when I was young. I have nothing else to offer to her except by reading some verses of the Quran, with hope that Allah blesses her with good health.

From Left: First glance at a very sick mother; Centre: My 83-years old Mak Gayah;
Right: Reading verses from the Quran, with hopes that Allah relieves her from her sickness.

Later in the evening, I left her with her daughter in-law and told her that I will visit her the next day before leaving for home. She seemed to understand what I told her and she looked happy to see me.

The next day before noon, I went to the hospital again to see Mak Gayah. She was attended by a doctor who then told me about my mother’s sickness and problems. I sympathized with her and I hope she would recover soonest.

Before leaving her I told her to take her pills and let the maid help her in whatever she needs. I talked and comfort her and hope she would be able to understand the need for her to rest and follow the doctor’s advice. She nodded to show that she understood what I have told her while holding my hand as if she does not want to let it go. Sadly, I have to leave her as my wife will be working the next day. At least I was happy to have visited her and hope that I would be able to visit her again, Allah willing.

Dated: 30 November 2013