A hunting we will go......

Mama and I along with two other members will be competing in the Sun Motor Hunt this Sunday 2nd November 2008. We are a little bit rusty since this will be our first Open hunt of the year. Yikes. Really really rusty.

Wish us luck...hope to perform better this year than how we did last year.

What's with the sorrow?

I have been lazing around this hari raya.... mostly glued to the idiot box and radio. There is something that has been bothering me for years now. Have you ever realized that majority of the raya songs being played on the radio or sung on TV are all sad songs. They are filled with sorrow? Classic example is Dendang Perantau... dont get me wrong, it is a classic song, its a great song with wonderful melody and fine lyrics with evergreen tune but... why must we fill Hari Raya with sorrow?

Look at the malay drama fare on tv... especially directed or produced by Rashid Sibir. It will usually go like this... Parents/single mother sacrifices for the son/daughter's happiness. They end up sad, missing their 'kacang lupakan kulit' son/daughter. The story then ends up with a death in the family, with the ending at the graveyard with the sound of Takbir in the background, with tears flowing, regrets and redemption. Why?

Hari Raya is a time for celebration for the success of Ramadhan. Why must we bring sorrow in the celebration of 1st of Syawal? Granted we need to rember the passing of loved ones, but it can be done throughout the year, not just on Hari Raya.

I have missed kissing my parents' hands on Hari Raya for a few years now, but then again I miss them not only on Hari Raya but throughout the year. Life goes on, and I have to assume that they are in a better place by God's side.

I miss the TV programs in the good old days.. remember Rasa Sayang Hari Raya bersama Pakcik Jamal? If you remember that you must be a veteran..just like me.

Somehow I pity my kids, they dont have the kampung environment like I use to have, tolong bakar lemang, running away when it was time to help kacau dodol... kejar tangkap ayam utk buat rendang tok...sigh

My kids now dont even have a place to call kampung. The old kampung is now no longer a kampung, It is now a town or a city. It is not the same calling it 'balik bandar' isn't it?


So.. my message is, make Hari Raya a happy time, with Happy endings and a happy storyline

Coming to The End and the new beginning and everything in between

It is now coming to the end of Ramadhan. It is sad to have gone through the month realising, that I could have done a lot more, much much more. Insyallah, I will wait for Ramadhan to come along again next year.

On a lighter note, wanted to update on some going ons in the past couple of weeks. I have been getting invitation for Buka Puasa from my suppliers and vendors. Usually I would politely decline the invitation since I prefer to buka puasa with Mama and the kids in the comfort of my home. However, I accepted one buka puasa invitation from one of my biggest supplier, since I can bring Mama and the kids along. Mama upon hearing the name of the hotel that we are going to, is quite excited since the hotal has quite a reputation for its buffet (Its coffehouse buffet is one of the best that we have had before) However, I will not name the hotel since takut nanti kena saman lak...

When we got to the place, apparently due to the overwhelming demand, they have opened up their grand ballroom into one big Buka Puasa Buffet spread. Everything is heavily commercialized nowadays, that the spirit of Iftar is lost. Coming back to the place, there were nearly 100 tables in the ballroom. My suppliers booked 4 tables for my compnay, and we managed to get our seats which was quite near to the buffet spread.

There were long buffet lines, and somehow we got there late, and the queue has actually subsided. People already took their plateful and were already seated. I got the kids with me and we took our time taking the desserts for the 1st round and only after breaking of fast would we go for the main course.

All in all it was quite a dissapointment (I got to know later that the Buka Puasa buffet in the coffee house was RM10 more than the buffet at the ballroom and there were limited seating)

- in the sense that, the food could have been better for the price.
- The service sucks, there were too little waiter around (I guess the place stretched themselves too thin with their service in trying to maximize the number of patrons)
- -it was too crowded

I dont know, maybe I had a different expectations for these things. Probably I was comparing to our BUka Puasa outing last year, which was enjoyable, not too hectic and a nice dining experience.


Finally, I want to express my good wishes to anyone reading this, anyone that knows, anyone who doesnt know me,

have a safe journey





cheers

Pasar Ramadhan

Which Pasar Ramadhan do you frequent? Everyone would have a favourite. Me? Not really my favourite, more of convenince. I frequent the nearest Pasar Ramadhan at USJ4. To tell you the truth, I always go there early, on my off days between 4.00-4.30. On my working days between 5.00 to 5.30. (I finish work at 4.30 during Ramadhan) I never go after those times. There would be too many people after that.

My favourite or usual haunts?

Putu Piring.
This Makcik is quite famous. She even appeared in Star Metro. Her putu piring is simply delicious (sorry I dont excel as a food critic as my vocabulary on adjectives are quite limited). But be prepared for a long queue. RM 0.50 per piece

Murtabak
There are only about 5 murtabak stalls. Look for Murtabak Langkawi. Its easy to spot. It has the longest queue. Well it does taste better than the rest. RM2.50 per piece (Chicken or meat)

Talam
This uncle sells a variety of Talam and similar kuihs. He sells one big block in the polestyrene pack. There Talam Gula Melaka, Talam Pandan, Seri Muka, Kasui, Kuih Lapis, Bingka Ubi, Bingka Beras.. etc etc..
RM 4 per piece

Johor delicacies
This lady sells Laksa Johor, Mee bandung Muar and Mee rebus Johor. The best in that row. RM 5 per set

The others that we usually buy are quite run of the mill kind of food, delicious and good enough to eat but nothing outstanding. My AFs would usually ask for roti John, Tau Foo Fah, Otak Otak, Caramel, tepung pelita, kebab, popia goreng and a few more that I cant remember at the moment.

Thats about it I guess....but I do miss the popia at Section 14 PJ, and my weekend mee mamak at USJ 20

See you at berbuka....

Ramblings without any purpose

I havent been diligently updating my journey and experience lately. Too many things going on that have been keeping me procrastinating from updates.

UPSR have passed. My AF1 went through it with good spirits. Mama and me to..... Anyway, she did her best and we will just wait for the results to come out. Anyone know when the results will be out.

My AF2 has successfully lasted her fasting (up till time of writing). This is her first attempt at fasting for the whole month without any breaks.I am really proud of her.

AF1 got her first taste of Tarawikh prayers a few nights ago. Mama and me dragged her along for the Tarawikh prayers at the nearby Surau.

Breaking of fast outside? So far not this year unlike last year where we had our outing. Have declined invitations for Buka Puasa by my vendors and suppliers so far. Dont feel like eating out. Rather have the comfort and daily routine at home. Ever get that feeling of contentment and bliss where you would rather repeat your routine instead of doing something else for a change? I am in that rut and would rather stick to that for now..:)

It is here....

I have been really busy since Ramadhan started. No updates and not even any attempts of updates. My working hours ends a 4.30, and usually I get to leave at about 4.40 or so after wrapping up the days work. Work has been piling up last week, lots of meetings and deadlines. Meetings during puasa? oouch, need to talk a lot till your throat dries up......

Tomorrow is D-Day. UPSR starts tomorrow. I will be on leave for the next 3 days... err providing moral support for my AF1. I think I am more nervous than she is. But the again inside I am a bundle of nerves, on the exterior I am as cool as a cucumber.

I will start thinking about all the kids baju Raya next week after the exams and AF2 already have a special request, this year she wants a Baju Kebaya insead of Baju Kurung... oh well kids, they know more about fashion than I do.

My Doa are with AF1, may she be successful in her exams. Insyallah

Around the corner....

Ramadhan is around the corner. Another blissful month. Somehow I feel calmer during the month of Ramadhan. I feel more patience in me and people around me, more tolerance more giving and less hatred, less anger and less rush. Cant wait for it to come.


on another note... of something else around the corner

Have you ever get the feeling of helplessness? My AF1 is going to sit for her UPSR soon. I have the feeling of guilt and all the what if's.... Have I done enough to help her? Have I provided enough for her to get through her exams? Have I given enough support to her? If I could sit in the exam for her... maybe I would. But that would be irresponsible and illogical. She has to go through this on her own and for her own good.

I am not good in coaching her for the exams. The best I can do is to provide her with all the moral support and encouragement. I send her for tuition, in the hope she can get in enough practice for her exams. I try to help her out in her work. I try to point her in the right direction. I try not to show my anxiety. I try not to pressure her although I am the one feeling the pressure. What is it with me? Is it just me or do all parents feel that way? I pray for her success, I doa every day for her success. Insyallah, I hope she will do well.


On another note altogether... remeber the spelling bee (RHB NST SIR) that AF1 entered a while back. Well the Selangor leg was shown on TV last week, and we sat down eagerly in front of the TV hoping she would appear on TV. I know this may sound trivial to some but hey its not every day that I can brag my daughter appeared on TV.

The show started and voila! Mama and AF2 was seen in the crowd. Moi was nowhere to be seen.. probably I was on my toilet break at that time. And AF1? They didnt show her spelling the words, just caught a glimpse of half of her face when it was somebody else's turn. Oh well. Got it on vidoe tape anyway :)

And we had a good laugh that evening.......