100808 - Pertemuan di Kerteh!

Gambar2 di atas di pantai Kelulut, on the way to KT after a stop over at Maklang's house.
1. Luqman made a cheeky appearance.
2. Amirul n I spreading our wings
3 & 4. Salted fish being sun-dried.
5. the boys checking out the fishermen's boats
6.Luqman left his 'love' behind.

Below was our destination - maklang's residence!

Gambar2 di atas telah di ambil olih haziq di perhentian karak!
1. a jantung pisang can look so beautiful!
2. raindrops!

100808 - Pertemuan!

Left KL at 8.30am: Luqman, Amirual & Haziq excitedly took their seats in the rented Serena. It is the first time I drove this SUV which seems a bit small, and when I tried to overtake a lorry along the Karak highway I became acquinted with its small capacity engine - grossly under-powered for overtaking we were nearly stuck between a lorry and an on-coming bus. What gave me a chill in my tummy was the manner the bus approaching us with its headlight flashing but at the same time picking up speed. The lorry I was overtaking was more considerate - the driver applied brake and slowed down for me to pass safely. It was a close call - Scarry~~!!



(cenderahati dari sahabat2 dari T'Gannu - Maklang, sarina dan Mulan - Terimakasih !!!)
1. handbag fr maklang's handi-craft.
2. saving bank for luqman fr sarina
3. kain batik n kaftan for LiL fr sarina
4. kain sembahyang for LiL fr mulan.


Alhamdullillah we were safe.


After that incident, I became cautious and over took only at very safe stretches. As a result we were late, arriving only at maklang's residence at 1.30pm. We were warmly and affectionately welcomed by the most gracious 'Paklang', the Tuan rumah and maklang the Puan rumah. Maklang was already busy entertaining other guests. Sarina and her family were already there. Then I saw the famous dining table which I have so often seen in blog maklang was filled to the brim with food - MasyaAllah, murah rezki!!"Up till now I have only seen pictures of this dining table, now I am here - Alhamdullillah, we are so honoured!" I mumbled words of such effect to Paklang. Paklang and maklang made sure we ate, and ate some more.


Mulan arrived soon after I finished my 'mee rebus'. Although I met maklang, sarina and mulan for the first time - I felt like I a re-union of old friends. Friendship flow as freely with exchanges of stories about our 'real' lives......of children, of living abroad, of foods. Maklang's also invited two other friends of hers whom I felft such an honour to get to know. Puan Liza, Lil and I will be looking up your so many recipes.


Both Maklang and Paklang were so endearing. Their PR and hospitality was second to none. I felt totally at home and comfortable. Paklang even took me and sarina's daughters for a home tour, stopping long enough at his cascading pools for me to admire and enjoyed their calming effect.
Maklang and family; Thank You so much!! Your hospitality will stay as one memorable viisit for me and my family.
Sarina and Mulan, thank you for being there.....it was a pleasure and honour meeting you and your children. Sarina dan Mulan, sungguh peramah dan baik hati sekali. Senang berkawan....


By the time we left Maklang's abode, it was nearly 4pm. We drove slowly up along the coastal road. At Pantai Kelulut, I took a diversion towards the coast, and was pleasantly surprised to see fishermen's boats and 'salted fish' being sun-dried.


That night we stopped over in Kuala Terengganu - at a 'homestay' which was located not far from the Mesjid Terapung and more importantly not far from a 'foodcourt' which spoiled us with a wide variety of choices for yet another one 'over-indulge' dinner.

Dah mood cuti cuti Malaysia...

I am ready for cuti-cuti Malaysia. I am counting the hours to be with that young man pictured above. My bags are not yet packed, but I am ready to go. In my mind I breath Malaysian air, listen to raindrops, the aroma of Malaysian bakeries tempts me. I eagerly await the announcement, "Kepada warganegara Malaysia kami mengucapkan selamat pulang!" I want to go home....

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Except for make belief moments when we live on foreign soil, Malaysia is home! As they say, home is where one's heart is. For me - my heart has never left Malaysia. To be more precise, my heart has never left my birth place in one kampung in Kelantan. The sight and sound of a kampung life remains in a kampung boy's heart forever. I will travel a thousand mile to revisit and re-live scenes of golden padi stalks dancing to the evening breeze, sound of birds chirping and chicken clucking and be able to drink cool water from a well....

I have adjusted very well to foreign soils whenever I am, living the life to the full while at the same time always learning about life itself. I have been disturbed and dissappointed with some news I read about home. Despite and maybe even because of all that are happening - I yearn to be home even more.

My kampung, like most kampung wakes up to morning sun with simple hope and pure enthusiasm. As the sunset brings amber hue on the horizon, a sense of peace and tranqulity sets in. Adzan from nearby mosques can be heard and everyone find their way to a prayer place. In a kampung home, it is still very common to see a father leading his whole family in prayers.

In my excitement about going home, I called a few friends. While driving to work yesterday, I called pakzawi. And he made this announcement here.

Since my vacation time is short, only eighteen days, I have to maximize how I use the time. Planning is important. Therefore, being clear with big items I want to accomplish is key. Alhamdullilah, after a few phone calls and some pondering, I think I have a plan. Lil has also endorsed the plan!

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First two days: In KL. Priorities during these two days, to visit sites of my property investment under construction. Also to show real estate agents and potential buyers the cendana condo for which I will be getting the keys on the day of my arrival. I will be stopping over in Shah Alam from the airport to visit the Bukit Jelutong project site, and will be calling2 PB and nurazzah8 too ( if she is free ) for a quick teh tarik dan roti telur!

If there are friends who would like to meet me, I can be found at the Cendana Condo ( attached to the Rennaisance Hotel by a bridge ) on 9th August from 10am to 4pm. You may call 013-3603099.

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Next six days: Going 'home' to my kampung. We have chosen to drive via the East Coastal route. Maklang has kindly invited us to stop over for lunch. Thank you maklang! I am hoping to also meet up with Silversarina dan Mulan while passing through Kemaman and Kerteh.

We will be spending one night in KT - adakah blogger yang sudi bertemu di sana?

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Five days following that we will be in KL. I want to visit dear sister Dalilah, InsyAAllah. There will be many appointments to settle numerous official businesses. These five days will be hectic for me. I will try to make time to meet up with friends old and new. One of new friends I wish to meet is ummuasiah, to listen to her perjuangan yang belum selesai. Mamarock, ummie365, the Queen, if you are free let us have a cuppa too....Dah dekat tu dengan KLCC! Dan kawan2 lama yang pernah bertemu tahun lalu di DIO, onde-onde, pinat, rad.....di mana kamu? Saya semestinya akan cuba untuk bertemu ummi ( kak yong dan family ), dan dinda ku ctz jika dia sanggup ke KL. hehehehe. Maaf di pinta kepada cikmilah, kerana program ke utagha telah dibatalkan. Dan....sahabat saya, anggerik merah - jommmmm pekena satey samuri seperti tahun lepas! Setiap tahun sebelum ini saya pasti bertemu minum kopi bersama rubyahmad, namun beliau telah lama menyepikan diri...ermmm, ke mana ya??!

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The next three days will be quiet and quality time enjoying one of the Malaysian resorts. Luqman has been waiting for the time we can build sand castle, splash sea water, and enjoy some water sports.

It will a short vacation, but InsyAAllah it will be one which will renew old relationships and start new ones. It will one where some pending business issues will be settled. I pray that it will be one which will be blessed by Him. InsyAAllah....

PS: Jokontan, GAB, please calling2 - hopefully we can meet. Maybe you can come to my 'condo open viewing' on 9th Aug tu.....Mummy Rizq & Syana have confirmed they will make an effort to be there and Dr Bubbles said he will try to come.

Isra' Mi'Raj - Di Dubai

gambar dari sdr zuhairi.

Alhamdullillah, selamat semuanya. Majlis Isra Mi'raj bermula dengan Solat Maghrib berjemaah - lebih kurang 70 orang tetamu. Ustaz Hasan yang di jemput khas hadir sejerus tamat upacara ringkas para hadirin memperkenalkan diri masing. Agak istimewa majlis malam tadi dengan kehadiran ramai tetamu dari Dubai, Abu Dhabi dan ada juga wakil tunggal dari Ras Al Khaimah.

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Isra Mi'raj - aku masih ingat cerita yang pertama kali aku dengar di Surau di kampung. Bagaimana aku pernah begitu kagum dengan 'perjalanan malam' Rasullullah ( swt ), dan selepas itu menghujani pertanyaan demi pertanyaan kepada ibu (arwah) bagaimanakah mungkin Rasullullah naik kelangit!!

Semasa itu usia aku sebaya Luqman sekarang - tujuh tahun.

Malam tadi, Ustaz Hasan menjawap soalan itu dengan cara beliau sendiri, yang membuat para hadirin tertawa namun cukup berkesan untuk Luqman memahaminya sekiranya Luqman berada bersama. Diantara ilustrasi yang digunakan, Ustaz Hassan menceritakan bagaimana seorang kerani menghantar 'Fax' beratus kali......hanya kerana kertas fax itu masih berada di mesin fax lalu difikirnya fax tidak berjaya dihantar.

Isra Mi'raj, peristiwa di mana Rasullullah telah diperlihatkan a complete vision of the beginning, the present, the whole journey, and the end of all creations. Isra' Mi'raj, di mana Rasullullah menerima 'hadiah istimewa dari Allah' untuk umat beliau - ia itu Solat, yang telah diringankan ke lima waktu sehari.

Solat, kita telah di ingatkan sekali lagi oleh Ustaz Hasan, adalah amalan pertama yang di kira di akhirat kelak. Jika 'negatif' amalan ini - maka amalan2 lain tidak bermakna. Solat itu tiang kepada amalan2 lain. Lalu di sini, saya mengingatkan diri saya sendiri dan sebagai pemimpin keluarga, memberi ingatan kepada isteri dan anak2 saya - wajib kita solat lima waktu sehari!!
Wajib!!! Must!!! .

Banyak lagi inti pati tazkirah dari Ustaz Hasan - yang telah pun di rumuskan dengan baik olih saudara Zuhairi di sini.

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Majlis pengisian rohani dengan mengingati kembali salah satu mukjizat penting yang dikurniakan kepada Rassullullah, juga dimeriahkan oleh juadah2 yang di bawa olih para hadirin untuk dikongsi bersama2.

gambar2 di atas dari sdr zuhairi

Pertemuan kami malam tadi, semoga tetap di hati kita dengan niat bertemu dengan kerana Allah dan mencari keredhaan Allah. Semoga pertemuan itu mendapat berkat di dunia dan di akhirat.

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Sebagai tuan rumah, saya mohon maaf jika ada yang kurang dan tidak sempurna. Juga ribuan terimakasih kerana sudi datang. Kepada yang membawa sumbangan juadah, ribuan terimakasih dan semoga Allah juga yang membalasnya.

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Gambar2 di bawah ini dari lensa Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman.

Di atas: Zeti(baju purple tudung hitam) bersama kakak2 berposing setelah terjumpa sebiji mangkuk untuk di isi anggur ( gambar bawah ).

Di atas: di antara hadirin lelaki dan di bawah, ustaz Hasan sedang menyampaikan ceramah. Cara beliau menarik tumpuan semua yang hadir.