We are now in Bintulu. I have completed my commitments in the east coast of the Peninsular and I have a new commitment in Bintulu. The grandchildren being in Bintulu add on to the pleasure of being in Bintulu. My commitment will be for the next six months, which means that we will continue to be away from PeeJay for an extended period again.
What's my commitment in Bintulu? Technical training coordination for a batch of young recruits in the oil and gas industry. An interesting job, not too heavy for a retiree, while at the same time rejuvenating the mind and body! I was doing the same thing the last six months and this new commitment is a continuation of the previous one. Being close to the three grandchildren is an added bonus.
I hope to find more time to post something here in the future and just letting this short one be a start for 2009.........
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Bintulu
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Wedding in A Neighbours House
It is a season of weddings, this period being end of year school holiday period. There is a wedding today, two doors away up the street from our house. Being close neighbours we thought we should pop over and render any help in the wedding preparations. We did pop over yesterday to help but found that they were doing more than ok as there were many of their close relatives in the house doing various chores to get the preparations going. We would only be in their way disrupting them rather than helping!!
The main event is today. I was told they had sent out about one thousand invitations and to cater to the expected large crowd a series of 10m x 10m tent was erected on the road in front of the house (they had obtained approval from the proper local authorities to do this) thus closing part of the road. There are alternatives for the neighbours to get in and out of their houses though. However, in order not to disrupt life of immediate neighbour(s)the number of tents had to be reduced to occupy only the road section immediately in front of the house and not blocking entrance to the other house(s). This is so as not to block the ins and outs of the neighbour(s). It was just too bad that my house is two doors away. I would have gladly offered and volunteered the portion in front of my house for them to erect more tents, including taking up my driveway. Even if I had to park my cars away from the house I would. Anyway, I left my gate wide open throughout the occassion to help ease traffic movements at my end of the road.
We were at the wedding early and noticed that there was a big crowd during lunchtime and people just had to quickly eat and vacate to allow others to take over the vacated seats. If there had been more tents, more seats could be set and how more conducive it would have been for all the guests...... We had the opportunity to meet up with other neighbours and friends and moved around to chat here and there, standing of course. It was a pleasant afternoon nevertheless.
All was over by 4.00 in the evening. The table and chairs were cleared and the road reopened for small traffic to go through. The tents I assume will be removed tomorrow. We hope we had been good neighbours amongst other good neighbours who were helpful, in whatever small way we could support to this particular wedding neighbour of ours. In the end I could not see or understand what the fuss on being able to move in and out of the house was all about. Good neighbours would not fret over little things like that. Good and friendly neighbours would be more accommodating and more symphatetic, the norm being this is my day and tomorrow may be yours. Ah well........ living in society have its norm and non-norm occasion or situation and this situation in my neighbourhood triggers questionable thoughts over human behaviours...... Maybe some think they are more human than others ..... superior human perhaps?
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
The main event is today. I was told they had sent out about one thousand invitations and to cater to the expected large crowd a series of 10m x 10m tent was erected on the road in front of the house (they had obtained approval from the proper local authorities to do this) thus closing part of the road. There are alternatives for the neighbours to get in and out of their houses though. However, in order not to disrupt life of immediate neighbour(s)the number of tents had to be reduced to occupy only the road section immediately in front of the house and not blocking entrance to the other house(s). This is so as not to block the ins and outs of the neighbour(s). It was just too bad that my house is two doors away. I would have gladly offered and volunteered the portion in front of my house for them to erect more tents, including taking up my driveway. Even if I had to park my cars away from the house I would. Anyway, I left my gate wide open throughout the occassion to help ease traffic movements at my end of the road.
We were at the wedding early and noticed that there was a big crowd during lunchtime and people just had to quickly eat and vacate to allow others to take over the vacated seats. If there had been more tents, more seats could be set and how more conducive it would have been for all the guests...... We had the opportunity to meet up with other neighbours and friends and moved around to chat here and there, standing of course. It was a pleasant afternoon nevertheless.
All was over by 4.00 in the evening. The table and chairs were cleared and the road reopened for small traffic to go through. The tents I assume will be removed tomorrow. We hope we had been good neighbours amongst other good neighbours who were helpful, in whatever small way we could support to this particular wedding neighbour of ours. In the end I could not see or understand what the fuss on being able to move in and out of the house was all about. Good neighbours would not fret over little things like that. Good and friendly neighbours would be more accommodating and more symphatetic, the norm being this is my day and tomorrow may be yours. Ah well........ living in society have its norm and non-norm occasion or situation and this situation in my neighbourhood triggers questionable thoughts over human behaviours...... Maybe some think they are more human than others ..... superior human perhaps?
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
Friday, December 19, 2008
A New Mall In Midst Of A Mixed Society
Some thirty years ago a small fishing village in the east coast of the peninsular, with only about five thousand people most of whom living from hand to mouth, began to be transformed into a large industrial complex stretching over miles and miles of the landscape. New manufacturing plants were built one after another and over these years more than thirty large oil and gas installations were built. The population increased in tandem with these development.
I was indirectly part of these development and I was able to see the transformation of this and other areas of the oil and gas development. Most of all I was happy to see the direct and indirect gains and advantages derived by the community and the people around. From fishermen they became shopkeepers, industrial workers, engineering contractors, material suppliers and a varied vocation that can be gained with the development of the oil and gas industry.
My youngest, Sita and her husband, Fahrul, subsequently became part of this transformation when they worked and lived amongst the community in this east coast area (until recently when they moved to the UK). I could see, during my many visits to this part of the east coast the extensive transformation of the area. The increase in population demanded increased services and those wise enough to venture gained from the many opportunities available. However I was quite surprised that the service development was inadequate for the demand. Purchasing power in the area had been high and yet the services provided were inadequate such that there were heavy outflow of people from the area to the next big town during weekends and off days. Only very recently a shopping mall was built, funded by the oil & gas giant, to serve the community in the area, and began business operations a couple of weeks ago.
A few days ago I was to be in the area overnight for some work. I went alone as Ram had a doctors' appointment and had to stay back. My work commitment was only for half a day and in the morning that ended at just before lunch. I thought this was an opportunity for me to check out this new shopping mall that many had hyped up for so long and perhaps have lunch at the same place if they have food outlets as expected for shopping malls of this type.
It was still lunch time when I was at the mall and there were many families there, this being school holiday period. The parking lot was about three quarter full and the people patronising the mall appear to be those of the middle income earner types. I checked out the food court first and true enough, just like any other shopping mall in other parts of the country the food court was with varied food outlets serving different types and varieties of food. I checked out the pricing of food and true to the practice of other shopping malls the prices were somewhat higher than other local outlets. It was, as usual, a little difficult for me to decide what to eat given the wide variety of food available at the many outlets and I finally decided on nasi kukus or 'steamed rice' set, a popular food serving in the east coast comprising of steamed rice, deep fried chicken, anchovies and tofu cubes fried in chili paste with peanuts and onions, some pickled cucumber and onions and other condiments. I decided on this set as it looked very inviting. So my expectation was quite high or was it because I was already hungry then?
I sat at one of the corner seats available, most seats were taken up by families and people with little children, many running around and noisy, that a corner seat was more conducive for quiet dining. It was also a conducive corner to observe the going ons around me. I dug into the food and ppphhhhtttttt! it was a disappointment... or was my standard too high? But then I was not comparing the food with similar food from my favourite outlet in another town in the east coast which I regularly patronise and which is always crowded with patrons. I was just trying its taste which was rather flat or tasteless. I had to pay something like a 30% premium over the price I used to pay at this favourite outlet and yet the food was nowhere near my favourite. Anyway, I just happened to choose the wrong outlet I thought and the other outlets would serve better tasting food perhaps. No capacity to try any of them this time around. Perhaps there will be other occasions for it.
After lunch I decided to spend some time browsing around. There were designer outlets and varied product outlets within the mall. Outlets for the 'yuppies' are also available. The main anchor tenant, a hypermarket was not open that day or perhaps not ready to open yet and I assume once this outlet opens the crowd will be much bigger. Well and good for the community. They need not, now onwards, travel all the way into the next town, some 200 kilometers away, for the weekends.
So, this part of the east coast is slowly transforming into a modern area. A little too slow though, but slowly making life more interesting for the local inhabitants and increasing the quality of life of the people. A far cry from the fishing village origin. Going around the area one can definitely see who and how some has ridden on the opportunities spread infront of them and who had missed out on these opportunities. One have just to look around........
MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Petaling Jaya
I was indirectly part of these development and I was able to see the transformation of this and other areas of the oil and gas development. Most of all I was happy to see the direct and indirect gains and advantages derived by the community and the people around. From fishermen they became shopkeepers, industrial workers, engineering contractors, material suppliers and a varied vocation that can be gained with the development of the oil and gas industry.
My youngest, Sita and her husband, Fahrul, subsequently became part of this transformation when they worked and lived amongst the community in this east coast area (until recently when they moved to the UK). I could see, during my many visits to this part of the east coast the extensive transformation of the area. The increase in population demanded increased services and those wise enough to venture gained from the many opportunities available. However I was quite surprised that the service development was inadequate for the demand. Purchasing power in the area had been high and yet the services provided were inadequate such that there were heavy outflow of people from the area to the next big town during weekends and off days. Only very recently a shopping mall was built, funded by the oil & gas giant, to serve the community in the area, and began business operations a couple of weeks ago.
A few days ago I was to be in the area overnight for some work. I went alone as Ram had a doctors' appointment and had to stay back. My work commitment was only for half a day and in the morning that ended at just before lunch. I thought this was an opportunity for me to check out this new shopping mall that many had hyped up for so long and perhaps have lunch at the same place if they have food outlets as expected for shopping malls of this type.
It was still lunch time when I was at the mall and there were many families there, this being school holiday period. The parking lot was about three quarter full and the people patronising the mall appear to be those of the middle income earner types. I checked out the food court first and true enough, just like any other shopping mall in other parts of the country the food court was with varied food outlets serving different types and varieties of food. I checked out the pricing of food and true to the practice of other shopping malls the prices were somewhat higher than other local outlets. It was, as usual, a little difficult for me to decide what to eat given the wide variety of food available at the many outlets and I finally decided on nasi kukus or 'steamed rice' set, a popular food serving in the east coast comprising of steamed rice, deep fried chicken, anchovies and tofu cubes fried in chili paste with peanuts and onions, some pickled cucumber and onions and other condiments. I decided on this set as it looked very inviting. So my expectation was quite high or was it because I was already hungry then?
I sat at one of the corner seats available, most seats were taken up by families and people with little children, many running around and noisy, that a corner seat was more conducive for quiet dining. It was also a conducive corner to observe the going ons around me. I dug into the food and ppphhhhtttttt! it was a disappointment... or was my standard too high? But then I was not comparing the food with similar food from my favourite outlet in another town in the east coast which I regularly patronise and which is always crowded with patrons. I was just trying its taste which was rather flat or tasteless. I had to pay something like a 30% premium over the price I used to pay at this favourite outlet and yet the food was nowhere near my favourite. Anyway, I just happened to choose the wrong outlet I thought and the other outlets would serve better tasting food perhaps. No capacity to try any of them this time around. Perhaps there will be other occasions for it.
After lunch I decided to spend some time browsing around. There were designer outlets and varied product outlets within the mall. Outlets for the 'yuppies' are also available. The main anchor tenant, a hypermarket was not open that day or perhaps not ready to open yet and I assume once this outlet opens the crowd will be much bigger. Well and good for the community. They need not, now onwards, travel all the way into the next town, some 200 kilometers away, for the weekends.
So, this part of the east coast is slowly transforming into a modern area. A little too slow though, but slowly making life more interesting for the local inhabitants and increasing the quality of life of the people. A far cry from the fishing village origin. Going around the area one can definitely see who and how some has ridden on the opportunities spread infront of them and who had missed out on these opportunities. One have just to look around........
MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Petaling Jaya
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
On the blink
We are now in Bintulu and have been here for almost a week. The day after we arrived my laptop went on the blink. Windows started dumping and refused to log on and said that one of the system files was not functioning. I had to send it for rehab...
Got the rehabilitated laptop back from the shop yesterday and fired it up.... started ok and I began configuring the programmes that I ausually apply. However midway it started to dump what I was doing and I had to restart. Looks like the problem is not completely solved. So for important stuff that I do on the computer I use the home computer that Shaffik has in the house. It is a little slow compared to the laptop but better than nothing and better than losing my work half way when it starts to dump. I will have to send the laptop back for another rehab...
Using the home computer has its downside because the kids use them too, hence its on shared time usage. I get to use it in the mornings though when the two boys are in school but the little girl is beginning to intrude too. All of us used to say that she is still too small to use the computer and she relented. The brothers keep saying, "Wait until you are big enough, then you can use the computer!!"
Yesterday, I switched on the computer and while waiting for it to log on etc etc. (It's slow remember) I went to the toilet. When I came out I saw the little girl on the computer and she said, "See, I told you Tok Bah..... I am big already" Somehow she managed to open up the picture files and was viewing her brother's school 'Ikhtifal" function (end of year certificate presentation) photographs. I asked where is your brother's picture and she could scroll to show them. So, she proved that she is big enough to use the computer. Imagine the rush to use it when the brothers come home from school.... and further limiting time for me to use it in the mornings.....
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Bintulu
Got the rehabilitated laptop back from the shop yesterday and fired it up.... started ok and I began configuring the programmes that I ausually apply. However midway it started to dump what I was doing and I had to restart. Looks like the problem is not completely solved. So for important stuff that I do on the computer I use the home computer that Shaffik has in the house. It is a little slow compared to the laptop but better than nothing and better than losing my work half way when it starts to dump. I will have to send the laptop back for another rehab...
Using the home computer has its downside because the kids use them too, hence its on shared time usage. I get to use it in the mornings though when the two boys are in school but the little girl is beginning to intrude too. All of us used to say that she is still too small to use the computer and she relented. The brothers keep saying, "Wait until you are big enough, then you can use the computer!!"
Yesterday, I switched on the computer and while waiting for it to log on etc etc. (It's slow remember) I went to the toilet. When I came out I saw the little girl on the computer and she said, "See, I told you Tok Bah..... I am big already" Somehow she managed to open up the picture files and was viewing her brother's school 'Ikhtifal" function (end of year certificate presentation) photographs. I asked where is your brother's picture and she could scroll to show them. So, she proved that she is big enough to use the computer. Imagine the rush to use it when the brothers come home from school.... and further limiting time for me to use it in the mornings.....
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Bintulu
Saturday, November 01, 2008
My Watch Went Kaboom
Not too long ago Ram and Sita bought me a watch, not a wrist-watch but the one that you hold in your palm and flip open the cover to see the watch face/time and has an attached chain that you can anchor the other end to your clothing. I usually flop the watch into my shirt pocket and anchor the chain to one of the shirt button holes. Originally it was quite a bother for me to see the time as I have to pull the watch out of the pocket, sometimes it gets stuck or entangled with my cell-phone which I normally place in the same pocket and had almost given up using it. It was much easier to see the time using a wrist-watch. However, over time, I got the knack of doing it and was quite easy really. So, I use the watch often now.
I brought the watch with me on my recent trip to Bintulu and Kuching. The three kids were of course all over me, each trying to hold and touch the watch as soon as I arrived in the house in Bintulu. Haadieya was the first one to it as usual and tugged on the attached chain but gave up when she did not get to detach it from my shirt. That was the end. She did not pursue with the watch after that. Babang and Dedek however continued being fascinated by the watch, especially Dedek who relentlessly asked questions after questions on the watch. I wondered why he continued to be fascinated and I found out why a few days later when we were in Kuching.
Fahrul and Sita called us when we were in Kuching and we had the conversation over the speaker-phone of my cellular, so that we can all chat with them all at the same time. Najla talked with us for just a while as, according to Sita, she was eating then (that’s code for being uninterested and crappy!!). They were getting ready to go to a Raya gathering in one of their colleagues house in Milford Haven. Apparently the wife of PETRONAS’ President and her two children were in Milford Haven for two days and they decided to hold the impromptu pot-luck gathering.
The conversation between Dedek and Sita went this way:
Dedek: Tante Ta, where did you buy Tok Bah’s watch?
Tante Ta: Yes Dedek, Tante Ta buy what?
Dedek: Tok Bah’s watch, the one that has got a chain on it and you can open the cover…..
(Ah-ha I thought, he is up to something here!!)
Tante Ta: Oh that white watch. I bought it in UKay. Why?
Dedek: I like it.
Tante Ta: Oh Okay…. It’s nice isn’t it?
Dedek: Yes very nice. I don’t have a watch Tante Ta! (Ahhh here it comes!!)
Tante Ta: Oh! What happened to your watch?
Dedek: It is broken already….
Tante Ta: Why? What happened to it?
Dedek: It was Babang. He said that the watch was waterproof but it went kaboom with water!!
Tante Ta: Oh oh! Ok we will see what we can do about it later…
Dedek: Thank you Tante Ta
Ha! Knowing this little guy he will claim the watch later….
Tok Bah: Dedek, Babang said that the watch was waterproof, so you have to test it in water?
Dedek: Giving me that cheeky smile, “but it’s waterproof!!” Interpret: not my fault but wrong information on the watch and of course Babang should know better!! Ha ha!
Babang was not around in our room then so he did not hear this conversation, other wise there would be pandemonium again ha ha!
Children children, never a dull moment with them and you never know what’s to come he he he!
I brought the watch with me on my recent trip to Bintulu and Kuching. The three kids were of course all over me, each trying to hold and touch the watch as soon as I arrived in the house in Bintulu. Haadieya was the first one to it as usual and tugged on the attached chain but gave up when she did not get to detach it from my shirt. That was the end. She did not pursue with the watch after that. Babang and Dedek however continued being fascinated by the watch, especially Dedek who relentlessly asked questions after questions on the watch. I wondered why he continued to be fascinated and I found out why a few days later when we were in Kuching.
Fahrul and Sita called us when we were in Kuching and we had the conversation over the speaker-phone of my cellular, so that we can all chat with them all at the same time. Najla talked with us for just a while as, according to Sita, she was eating then (that’s code for being uninterested and crappy!!). They were getting ready to go to a Raya gathering in one of their colleagues house in Milford Haven. Apparently the wife of PETRONAS’ President and her two children were in Milford Haven for two days and they decided to hold the impromptu pot-luck gathering.
The conversation between Dedek and Sita went this way:
Dedek: Tante Ta, where did you buy Tok Bah’s watch?
Tante Ta: Yes Dedek, Tante Ta buy what?
Dedek: Tok Bah’s watch, the one that has got a chain on it and you can open the cover…..
(Ah-ha I thought, he is up to something here!!)
Tante Ta: Oh that white watch. I bought it in UKay. Why?
Dedek: I like it.
Tante Ta: Oh Okay…. It’s nice isn’t it?
Dedek: Yes very nice. I don’t have a watch Tante Ta! (Ahhh here it comes!!)
Tante Ta: Oh! What happened to your watch?
Dedek: It is broken already….
Tante Ta: Why? What happened to it?
Dedek: It was Babang. He said that the watch was waterproof but it went kaboom with water!!
Tante Ta: Oh oh! Ok we will see what we can do about it later…
Dedek: Thank you Tante Ta
Ha! Knowing this little guy he will claim the watch later….
Tok Bah: Dedek, Babang said that the watch was waterproof, so you have to test it in water?
Dedek: Giving me that cheeky smile, “but it’s waterproof!!” Interpret: not my fault but wrong information on the watch and of course Babang should know better!! Ha ha!
Babang was not around in our room then so he did not hear this conversation, other wise there would be pandemonium again ha ha!
Children children, never a dull moment with them and you never know what’s to come he he he!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Kuching Revisited
We are now in Kuching. We have been staying at the Hilton over the weekend together with Shaffik and his family. We took Air Asia from Bintulu on Friday and will be flying out back to Bintulu this evening.
I am writing this blog at the study table in my hotel room, which faces the famous river that cuts the city into the northern and the southern halves. There is a huge, multi-pillared, circular building, with umbrella-like roof in final stages of construction coming up across the river from the Hilton. It has now blocked a major view of the distant horizon. I was told that this will be the new court house. It stands next to the old Fort which has now been dwarfed and look quite insignificant, as though it has seen its glorious days as a historical landmark of sorts. Little boats ferrying pedestrians across the river still ply from various points along the esplanade and the residential areas across. Other large buildings in Kuching North (the hotel stands in Kuching South) mostly government administrative buildings can still be seen. Most significant of them are the dome and main pillar of a mosque standing magnificently amongst the other buildings and the luscious greens surrounding them. A beautiful view indeed if not for this humongous court house! There is another mosque in the south standing by the river. This was the original town mosque which was a landmark for the old Kuching city.
It is still Shawal and we made several Hari Raya visits to relatives and friends in Kuching. We visited Ram's niece and family and also Mini's cousin and family. Ram's niece and husband have retired and their children have all grown up and are on their own. Mini's cousin are still bringing up young children. It had been quite a while since we last met them and it was pleasant to have met them again.
One friend we visited was a former colleague of mine during my working days in Bintulu. He has since risen up the corporate ladder to be the Chairman of the states economic development corporation, while at the same time being an elected representative to the state legislative council. I took a chance and sent him a sms message on his handphone that I was in Kuching with the family. He immediately called me and asked how long I would be in Kuching and then allocated time for me to visit him in his house. It was a very pleasant meeting for us indeed. He has not changed much even though it had been more than twenty years since we were together, still lively and sprightly and full of jokes as before. He lives in a big house, gated and with security personnel guarding it. He came out to the gate to receive us when we arrived and appeared excited to see both of us (in all the excitement I noticed that he was barefooted!). He remembered Shaffik too. We talked about old times, about how others amongst us then are getting on now and of course interspersed with current local political and world economic scenarios. He, being in the government sector and privy to some of the latest info gave us some insights into the current scenarios, some of which were quite surprising and eyebrow raising to me, a laymen and without access to the real information. It was a short visit as it was slotted in between his tight schedule but we promised to get together again in the near future and I hope it will be in my house in PJ then.
Kuching city used to be limited to the water front and near the river with the commercial centre on the south side and the residential areas on the north side. Now it has two mayors, one for the north and one for the south. Shopping activities used to be centred along the water front but now, as one drives out of the city centre one should be able to see tall buildings coming up, large shopping complexes, commercial buildings, office buildings, apartment and condominiums sprouting up everywhere. We visited one of the shopping complexes yesterday. It was large, much like the ones one see in big cities and the day being a Sunday just as crowded with people.
The weather now looks good, and from the window the esplanade at the water front beckons to me for a walk. So, I shall walk the pavement for a while, to as far as my leg can withstand it supported by my walking stick of course. I shall write again, by the grace of the Almighty.....
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Kuching, sarawak
I am writing this blog at the study table in my hotel room, which faces the famous river that cuts the city into the northern and the southern halves. There is a huge, multi-pillared, circular building, with umbrella-like roof in final stages of construction coming up across the river from the Hilton. It has now blocked a major view of the distant horizon. I was told that this will be the new court house. It stands next to the old Fort which has now been dwarfed and look quite insignificant, as though it has seen its glorious days as a historical landmark of sorts. Little boats ferrying pedestrians across the river still ply from various points along the esplanade and the residential areas across. Other large buildings in Kuching North (the hotel stands in Kuching South) mostly government administrative buildings can still be seen. Most significant of them are the dome and main pillar of a mosque standing magnificently amongst the other buildings and the luscious greens surrounding them. A beautiful view indeed if not for this humongous court house! There is another mosque in the south standing by the river. This was the original town mosque which was a landmark for the old Kuching city.
It is still Shawal and we made several Hari Raya visits to relatives and friends in Kuching. We visited Ram's niece and family and also Mini's cousin and family. Ram's niece and husband have retired and their children have all grown up and are on their own. Mini's cousin are still bringing up young children. It had been quite a while since we last met them and it was pleasant to have met them again.
One friend we visited was a former colleague of mine during my working days in Bintulu. He has since risen up the corporate ladder to be the Chairman of the states economic development corporation, while at the same time being an elected representative to the state legislative council. I took a chance and sent him a sms message on his handphone that I was in Kuching with the family. He immediately called me and asked how long I would be in Kuching and then allocated time for me to visit him in his house. It was a very pleasant meeting for us indeed. He has not changed much even though it had been more than twenty years since we were together, still lively and sprightly and full of jokes as before. He lives in a big house, gated and with security personnel guarding it. He came out to the gate to receive us when we arrived and appeared excited to see both of us (in all the excitement I noticed that he was barefooted!). He remembered Shaffik too. We talked about old times, about how others amongst us then are getting on now and of course interspersed with current local political and world economic scenarios. He, being in the government sector and privy to some of the latest info gave us some insights into the current scenarios, some of which were quite surprising and eyebrow raising to me, a laymen and without access to the real information. It was a short visit as it was slotted in between his tight schedule but we promised to get together again in the near future and I hope it will be in my house in PJ then.
Kuching city used to be limited to the water front and near the river with the commercial centre on the south side and the residential areas on the north side. Now it has two mayors, one for the north and one for the south. Shopping activities used to be centred along the water front but now, as one drives out of the city centre one should be able to see tall buildings coming up, large shopping complexes, commercial buildings, office buildings, apartment and condominiums sprouting up everywhere. We visited one of the shopping complexes yesterday. It was large, much like the ones one see in big cities and the day being a Sunday just as crowded with people.
The weather now looks good, and from the window the esplanade at the water front beckons to me for a walk. So, I shall walk the pavement for a while, to as far as my leg can withstand it supported by my walking stick of course. I shall write again, by the grace of the Almighty.....
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Kuching, sarawak
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Oh oh .... It has been 3 weeks?
It has been 3 weeks since my last posting. Alot have happened in the three weeks with the significant ones being the family gathering on the third Shawal, and the passing of son Shaffik's father-in-law, who succumbed to the big 'C'. He had a mild stroke and was taken to hospital. Once one is in hospital all kinds of tests will be conducted and one of the tests done on him indicated that he had the big C of his lungs. It was very fast indeed. Only 10 days and he succumbed. It was mentioned that he went peacefully though and not before he had moved his bowels and emptied his bladder, had a light meal, a few spoonful, and then all realised that he had 'gone'. So, he had cleansed himself before answering 'the call to return' they said.
I was in the East Coast, in Kuala Terengganu, attending to my commitments at my former place of work when I received the sad news from son Shaffik. Ram and I managed to get a flight out to Bintulu but could not be in time for the funeral. Anyway, our presence are usually required for the family that's left behind since the one that is gone is gone. So it was never too late then.
Our presence in Bintulu was, I think, most looked forward to by our three grand children, especially the little one, the 3 year old Haadieya who was most excited of all when we arrived. From then on it had been Tok Bah this and Tok Bah that and Tok Mi this and Tok Mi that.... demanding our attention always. She is especially fascinated by my mustache and beard, playing with them while seated on my lap!! We will be over each other, all four of us, i.e 3 genuine kids and one much overgrown and overaged kid in bed when waking up in the mornings, throwing the bed and beddings a mess, all to the annoyance of Tok Mi ha ha, but leaving me without a care in the world for that precious, cherishable moments.
Babang or Hifzhan, the eldest, is always serious and disciplined but would lighten up in my presence. Dedek or Haziq on the other hand is ever the playful one and come up with surprising statements and comments now and then. The little one of course is the attention grabber. One day we were in the car and Dedek was playing with the car air-cond rear blower fan control switch, turning it up and down successively:
Tok Bah: Dedek what are you doing?
Dedek: I am testing the aircond?
Tok bah: No no no, you will only spoil the blower playing with the switch that way
dedek: But babang asked me to do it
Babang: Noooooo
Tok bah: So dedek, if babang ask you to jump out of the car will you jump out?
Dedek: No! But when I ask Babang to pee in his pants he did!!
Babang: Dedekkkkk (on top of his voice) and they were on each other with Dedek giggling away.....
Another occassion we were on the road again and the three kids were in the car. We played the spelling game, and naturally the two boys tried to outdo each other. But the little girl, not being able to spell, wanted to get into the act as well. So Dedek gave the little sister words to spell:
Dedek: OK Haadieya, spell hand
Haadieya: C T U.....
Babang: Wrongggggg
Haadieya: Yes C T M.... hand
Dedek: Correct Haadieya. See babang, Haadieya has not gone to school yet and she already can spell.....
See, you will not have a dull moment with the kids around. I forget everything else in this world with them around....
The family gathering on the third day of Shawal saw a whole day event that catered for all ages in the family. Details and pictures can be found at the following site www.warisantcc.blogspot.com. You are welcomed to visit.... Happy reading...
MKI ramblings unlimited
Petaling jaya
I was in the East Coast, in Kuala Terengganu, attending to my commitments at my former place of work when I received the sad news from son Shaffik. Ram and I managed to get a flight out to Bintulu but could not be in time for the funeral. Anyway, our presence are usually required for the family that's left behind since the one that is gone is gone. So it was never too late then.
Our presence in Bintulu was, I think, most looked forward to by our three grand children, especially the little one, the 3 year old Haadieya who was most excited of all when we arrived. From then on it had been Tok Bah this and Tok Bah that and Tok Mi this and Tok Mi that.... demanding our attention always. She is especially fascinated by my mustache and beard, playing with them while seated on my lap!! We will be over each other, all four of us, i.e 3 genuine kids and one much overgrown and overaged kid in bed when waking up in the mornings, throwing the bed and beddings a mess, all to the annoyance of Tok Mi ha ha, but leaving me without a care in the world for that precious, cherishable moments.
Babang or Hifzhan, the eldest, is always serious and disciplined but would lighten up in my presence. Dedek or Haziq on the other hand is ever the playful one and come up with surprising statements and comments now and then. The little one of course is the attention grabber. One day we were in the car and Dedek was playing with the car air-cond rear blower fan control switch, turning it up and down successively:
Tok Bah: Dedek what are you doing?
Dedek: I am testing the aircond?
Tok bah: No no no, you will only spoil the blower playing with the switch that way
dedek: But babang asked me to do it
Babang: Noooooo
Tok bah: So dedek, if babang ask you to jump out of the car will you jump out?
Dedek: No! But when I ask Babang to pee in his pants he did!!
Babang: Dedekkkkk (on top of his voice) and they were on each other with Dedek giggling away.....
Another occassion we were on the road again and the three kids were in the car. We played the spelling game, and naturally the two boys tried to outdo each other. But the little girl, not being able to spell, wanted to get into the act as well. So Dedek gave the little sister words to spell:
Dedek: OK Haadieya, spell hand
Haadieya: C T U.....
Babang: Wrongggggg
Haadieya: Yes C T M.... hand
Dedek: Correct Haadieya. See babang, Haadieya has not gone to school yet and she already can spell.....
See, you will not have a dull moment with the kids around. I forget everything else in this world with them around....
The family gathering on the third day of Shawal saw a whole day event that catered for all ages in the family. Details and pictures can be found at the following site www.warisantcc.blogspot.com. You are welcomed to visit.... Happy reading...
MKI ramblings unlimited
Petaling jaya
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