Faizi's Birthday

Photos taken during my brother-in-law's recent birthday. The birthday party was extremely well organised by his wife, Along (being in the catering business, it better be!). It was the first time I've ever had "steam boat" - and the food was delicious and plentiful:) Particularly funny was Amar's very tune deaf version of "happy birthday" and him trying to put out the candles by licking them!

The date (22/1/2007) turned out to be a very significant one for Mama Sarah's birthday as it was also the date of her grandmother's birthday (pictured below), and the date when her grandfather (Terengganu side) and grandmother (Johore side) passed away.

















Happy birthday Faizi, many happy returns!

Port Dickson!!!

I was in the middle of updating my previous post (it was scheduled for the weekend), when Mama Sarah reminded me of a prior engagement. Rewind a few weeks back - Mama Sarah and I had plans with Izani & Kak Pa, our long, long, long time friends back when we were in Cardiff (Izani and I became friends when I was still a bachelor, and when I got married Kak Pa and Mama Sarah naturally became friends - anyway, that's for another story [that may not be told here]).

The "plan" was for our two families to enjoy the weekend in Port Dickson!! Mama Sarah and I have always dreamed of going to P.D, what with seeing all the lovely pictures of other families on their respective blogs.

Izani managed to get us accommodation provided by his company and what an accommodation it is: a three bedroom apartment, two toilets, a living room, air conditioning, and fully furnished with a TV, Astro, DVD (complete with DivX capabilities;)) microwave oven, toaster, fridge, pots and pans, silverware - everything including the kitchen sink! Did I mention the apartment was only a few steps away from a swimming pool and it's also near the beach. The word "perfection" comes to mind...

We spent the weekend catching up with Izani and Kak Pa (afterall, it has been around 4-5 years since we last had a proper meet up) and getting to know Izani and Kak Pa's two lovely daughters; both whom we had met when they were only toddlers. Sarah liked the two almost instantly - and soon they were inseparable.

The time we didn't spend catching up, we spent catching the sun - in the pool, by the beach :) Sarah and Izani's two daughters LOVED the water, but it took Amar awhile of spluttering and shivering before he too joined in the fun.

Aside from the pool we also spent some time at the beach. I noted how the beaches here are so different from the ones in Terengganu. The beaches here have more features (rocks, mud, etc2, instead of just sand) but more importantly, it is less deep and (the one we went to was) cleaner, making it more "swim-friendly". One other important thing for someone who likes photography like me, is that the sun sets over the sea here - apparently it has something to do with P.D being on the West coast and all...

Speaking of photography, I'll shut up now and let the photographs do the rest of the talking:

















ps. Thank you Izani and Kak Pa for inviting us to P.D for the weekend. It was wonderful getting to know your family - especially your two very cute daughters - and the weekend was enjoyed by every single one of us.

pps. *cough*Lets go to Langkawi next *cough*cough*

The past few months

So, just to include a much needed update to this blog. Please pardon the dust and cobwebs around the site! It may take me a few days to finish this post, so please bear with me.

I've been up to quite a lot in just the few weeks or months since my last update. It has been a fantastic past few weeks where; both Mama Sarah and I have each found jobs, Sarah is learning to read and write, I have been spending quality bonding time with Amar and Sarah, and it has been a time of reunions. On with the story!

So what have I been doing for the past few weeks? Read on;

1. Now that we are in Malaysia, I have been spending time to reacquaint myself with my family - especially the ones on the Sarawak side. It has been a shocking experience: members who I had last seen as babies are now in school and have become sophisticated complete with their own unique personalities. A cousin I last saw when she was cheerful, shyless at 10 years of age is now complex, layered and a teenager. I am meeting ten year old family members I had never before met. It feels to me as if I have traveled 12 years in the future and everything has changed with the times. It's shocking, yet a satisfying experience to meet them and for me to try and carve a niche for myself in their lives.

So far so good; there has been numerous outings, meet ups, photos, lunches, teas, movies and Facebook notifications with my cousins, aunties & uncles, and grandparents and even as I write, I am planning for more in the future.


Above: my cousins Zachary and Zee, who are both less than 10 years old. Sarah is quite enamored with Zee , I guess because Zee has really good interpersonal skills (i.e she's very friendly) and Sarah just looks up to someone who slightly more matured and graceful than her.

Below is a picture of my Nenek, who I see more often now that she's staying close.


2. Attending an old friend's wedding (by "old" I meant I've known her for a long time, not referring to her age in any way) & a reunion with my A-Level buddies:

Nik Shizalia looking elegant and matured and her wedding day.


I've never before seen an illuminated cake. Consider me -ehem- enlightened.


My old friends!!!!

3. Seeing Afar's newborn; Nur Aliyyah (name to be confirmed with Afar, sorry). A bit more pictures than the rest to show various angles of Aliyyah.










Above is the updated picture of the whole family - the latest member included.

4. Congratulating my brother Adan for his graduation and awards in Geomatic Sciences. Adan is now a working man and lives by himself. I'm proud to see how reliable and, dare I say it, matured he has become.




5. Fighting for the Nintendo DS with Sarah


6. Sunway Lagoon












7. Celebrating Nisa's 23 Birthday again, again. Twice!! (Once with Nisa's family, once with mine)


Mama Sarah's birthday cake - from my family


Birthday present

Amar happily singing happy birthday and clapping with everyone else.

The children were trying to stop Amar from blowing out his Mom's birthday candles.

Kagoshima, Japan

I've been silent on the blog for a while because I was ...








... only joking, I didn't go to Japan, but by god did I want to (and thinking about it, probably I should have).

The Beach Again and Eating Out

2007 Monsoon Cup Eyes On

From Shah Alam to Kuala Terengganu

Part 1: Introduction
We have been quite occupied the past few weeks - as we have been ever since arriving back to Malaysia. As some of you know, we have been residing in Shah Alam most of the time we are in Malaysia - but what I doubt any of you know is that, slowly, everyone in the family seems to be drifting towards Shah Alam too. My brother Adan has only recently finished his degree in UITM, and will next week start working with a survey company. My sister Nurul had only 2 weeks ago started studying Food Science at another university in Shah Alam too. Soon - early December - my third brother, Afar, will be moving from Penang to a company in Ampang (okay, not Shah Alam, but still much nearer than Penang). My brother Azim will finish his current dentistry rotation and I wouldn't be surprised if we find him somewhere near here once they'd figured out where he'll continue his rotations.


Picture: Adan, introducing his significant other to the family

Now that most of us are here, I had begun to notice my parents are making more and more visits to KL, at times even weekly visits that I would only be half surprised if they would decide to reside in Shah Alam once they retire, instead of Kuala Terengganu. Who knows?

Predictions of the future aside, I am definitely happy that my brothers and sister are all within a short drive away.

Part 2: KLCC

Picture: Deepavali at KLCC

Now that my brothers and sister are nearby, we have been trying to meet up whenever everyone is free. One such time was our trip to KLCC on Deepavali. It was my first time after around 7 years visiting KLCC and I was extremely surprised how different KLCC is compared to 7 years ago; especially how there are more buildings around the twin towers now, and discovering that they had made a playground & a water park nearby.

Inside the shopping mall, I gravitated towards Kinokuniya - a Japanese bookstore, and was shocked to see the volume (and gamut) of the books they had in store. I was torn between buying several books - Neil Gaiman's American Gods (recommended by OK), Howl's moving castle, Howl's flying castle and the whole five volumes of The Dark is Rising. It would have costed me RM 200 to buy them, but instead I settled for only American Gods by telling myself even if I buy all the books it's not like I could read them all at once.

Despite being quite disturbing and weird, I enjoyed reading American Gods - and Neil Gaiman could now be listed as one of my favourite authors. My next book will definitely be Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence, but only after I finish my current subsistence of John Grisham's books.




Part 3: Gus' Visit

I have known Gus for quite a long time since my first year at the University of Wales medical school. Gus was a Computer Science student but we shared a University flat - a placed called Senghennydd Court. During summer of that year Gus traveled back to Malaysia with me, and together we toured Malaysia from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Johor, KL & Selangor and even the whole of Singapore. Then, the KL twin towers were not even completed yet. We had kept in touch over 11 years - Gus was there the first time ever I had met Mama Sarah, became the host when I visited Cornwall, met my parents when they visited us in London, and even helped us move from Wales to Coventry. He's planning to meet up with my parents in Australia mid December next month.

A few weeks ago, 11 years after his first visit, Gus had returned for another visit with his girlfriend from Klang. We could meet for only a few hours over coffee, as his plans were so packed but it was great seeing Gus, and I just have a feeling he'll return - even if it may be in another 10 years!


Picture: Enjoying ABC, banana fritters and coffee






Part 5: Returning to Terengganu

Picture: Where is the Monsoon Cup??? Taken at Seberang Takir

Mama Sarah and I had been busy the past few weeks - especially with job applications, and job interviews. I've (probably almost) finished applying for jobs, and currently await my Malaysian Medical Certificate before I could start working. Last I heard my MMC certificate would be discussed on the 14th of December (this year I hope). I am almost itching to start - I miss my old job so much - but at the same time I am quite anxious thinking what the job over here will throw at me. Whatever, I hope I will be more than up for the challenge.


Picture: Bargaining for Oranges at Pasar Payang

After all the malarkey with the applications and interviews, we had always planned for a brief stay in Terengganu. My father is off to Japan soon alone, then to Australia with my mother. While he's in Japan, I had planned to keep my mom company - otherwise it would only be her, by herself.

Mama Sarah and I were ruminating on ways to get to Terengganu. Although we could spare the money to travel by air - money is money, and traveling by air is expensive. The other alternative was to travel by bus, also not appealing due to the number of bus related accidents and incidents we have been hearing lately. Factor in the fact that we have two little children, and thoughts of two children crying ALL night waking up all the other passengers come to mind. Despite the imminent nightmare, and for the sake of conserving our savings we decided to travel by bus and we shared this with Mama Sarah's parents.

Imagine my shock when, the very next day, Mama Sarah's parents offered to drive us back to Terengganu. In fact, their bags were already packed and the van was already filled with fuel. Mama Sarah's mom added that anyway, she has some matters to attend to back in Terengganu.

And that was how Mama Sarah, the two kids and I made it back to Terengganu. My conclusion? No matter how old the child, parents will still want the very BEST for their children and grand-children. How obvious was that as a testament of love? And my lesson is that, as a son-in-law my responsibility is to do the same.


Picture: Sarah, getting Nanny's pampering


Pictures: Four generations - Sarah, her mother, grand mother and great-grandmother.


And oh boy, am I enjoying our stay in Terengganu. For one, I have full use of broadband internet again hence these updates and the TLC towards my blog, Facebook, Gmail and Fotopages. I have been satisfying my thirst for American TV - including Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, House, Desperate Housewives and Journeyman. I have also been taking pictures of the Monsoon Cup.

But that's for another blog update.