The Three Sisters and Their Idol

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me have the honour to present you the Three Sisters - from left to right : Norazlina aka Nina, Dona Adura, and Sharifah Nor Hasimah (CekPaKaran).

The top photo were taken during lunch at Secret Recipe. Dona and me. Obviously, CekPaKaran not featured as she were given the photographer role (two is a company, three is a crowd). Kah kah kah. Dona and me had a bowl of mushroom soup each and shared 3 buns while CekPaKaran ate TomYumKong with Spaghetti Noodles.

The other photo were snapped at DELIcious, Bangsar Village, during one of our longer lunch outing. 1 hour 5 minutes only! The lunch were hosted by our ever slim CekPaKaran (pasal dia yang belanja, kena lah puji). She dapat bonos la. Manyak hoh!

I still remember what we ordered.

Dona Adura : Duck Confit Speghetinni (Mee Itek)

CekPaKaran: Baked Assam Fish (Ikan Panggang Asam Pedas)

Me: Nyonya Laksa Lemak (Laksa Nyonya - Tersangat Lemak)

Nina : "I diet okay ironically she ordered 3 things - 1. Cup Cakes (Kek Cawan) 2. French Fries (Kentang Goreng) 3. Calamari (Sotong Goreng Tepong)

(If Wan Kamaruddin (formerly NTV7) doing his news coverage there he would say : Diet apa jadah nie? Ini bukan makan, ini mentekedarah namanya!)

Still not enough, Dona managed to convince us to share a glass of "Death by Iced Chocolate" but I noticed she drank the most and repeating "sedap, sedap, kau orang minum jugak la"! What a cheap trick! But later she accused CekPaKaran drank more that her. Ye la tu! Malas nak gadoh dengan pompuan.

To make our lunch more interesting, we decided that we should share each other food. So, the plate and bowl keep on going around from one another just like the game of poison box!

I noticed the people around us were observing (or rather staring) at us. Two main reasons

1. Our strange behaviour (for passing food around our table)

2. sound pollution we contributed to the already polluted environment (our very loud conversations, giglings and laughter). We were high even by drinking water!

But we couldn't care less. Malaysia kan democracy country.

The name befits the restaurant - Delicious. Yes, delicious food. We finished all except 1 cup cake. Memang kita gagah. Macam Hang dan Tun Kebun! We "tapao" that very small cup cake but I really don't know what happen to it later. But I suspected Dona has quietly swallowed the cup cake under her desk. She is a firm believer of "JANGAN BAZIRKAN MAKANAN, BERDOSA". Next time if you have no space to keep your foor, you may ask her favour to keep it. She has the best ever place - her stomach (Betol tak?).

As we were walking out from the restaurant we saw The Handsome Hans Isaac, The Sumo Wrestler To-Be Afdlin Shauki and Shining Head Harith Iskandar having their meals. Then Dona said, kesian Hans yang handsome tu. I responded, ye lah, but itu memang perkara biasa lah bagi artis. Yang tak artis pun buat macam tu.....

Our stomach are full and our eye lids are heavy. But we still have to go back to office to serve our respective bosses.

The question is : When will it be the next time me and the three masterpiece go out for lunch together again? I wonder....

"GET OUT OF HERE"

"Merendah diri dengan orang (Humble), tahan aje kalau orang buat atau cakap apa-apa yang menyakitkan hati (Patient), cakap dengan orang mesti elok-elok (Polite), ikut aje ape org suka walau pun kita tak suka (Accomodate). Kita ni orang miskin. Jangan kata harta, nak makan pun susah. Orang tengok tak de mata. Jangan bagi orang benci. Orang kalau benci, orang racunkan nanti. Mak bapak walau macam mana benci pun tetap mak bapak"

I always hear this when I was young. The famous nagging line when my dear beloved mother upset with me or with my other three siblings, Rasid, Ogy and Non. She will even canned us. I lost count how many time I got cane from her. Some time, during the "in-house canning" I will run out to my neighbour house for help.

Believe it or not, it works. So, we grew up trying to cultivate and practise all the "must have value" stated in the first paragraph.


In fact, I often caught my mother weeping silently when she get bullied with sarcastic / insulting remarks uttered by people who is much more fortunate than us. They are not rich (but not poor lah). That's why they have the upper hand. They have the advantage.

Even at that tender age, I can understand and know how it feels when people direct such a remark to my mother. Sometime to me also. She never tells my father. She chose to keep it herself but believe me, he knows. My father is a quiet type of person but observance and smart! Look at me! I am the product of my father.


But, today I totally forgotten about being polite, patient, humble and accomodating.


I tell you what happened today.


My friend own a unit of quite a luxury apartment in the city. He requested my assistance to look for a tenant of which I appointed an agent to source for any potential clients. For the last few months, she has brought few expatriates (mostly from India or Indian with USA Passport) to view the place but so far nothing materialised. The place is still unoccupied.


Few days ago she rang me up as she has another potential (expat from India working for MISC). We fixed the appointment at 1.00 p.m. today.


To cut story short, during the viewing, the couple started to drive me up the wall. I am fasting. Hungry and thirsty. He and his wife start touring the 3000 square feet unit. Then we started our conversation. It went like this :

He:Are you going to repaint the house and repair the damaged?
Me:The place has not been occupied by anyone since the day we took possesion of the vacant unit. No one live here before. Not even the owner. The unit went through an extensive renovation. The paint is near perfect. No repaint job needed. Also, I don't see any damage, so what is there to repair?
He:Are you going to clean and polish the marble floor?
Me:Clean yes, polish no. The floor is only dusty.Cleaning is good enough.
He:Who live here before?
Me:The place has yet to be occupied by anyone since day one.Always empty.No one live here before.
He:Some of the furniture and wooden fixture need to be re-varnished.
Me:Re-varnished?
He:(Pointing at the wardrobe and in-built wooden shelves).
Me:May I repeat that this place has been empty and nobody ever stayed here before.The wardrobes, beds, wooden shelves has not been used by anyone at all. In fact you may see the all the matress are still in the plastic. All furnitures are new but only dusty (I used my hand to wipe the dust to prove to him the real condition of the wardrobe and the mattress).
He:No, it need to be polished and re-varnished.
Me:I am sorry, I don't share the same with you.
He:I really think and feel somebody has stayed here before. The place look liked there are people live here before.
Me:(Boiling already but still try to be cool)I guarantee you this place has been empty since day one.
He:No. To me it doesn't look new. People stay here before.
Me:(I had enough. My two unseen horns grow)If I am not mistaken, I didn't lock the door. I believe you can find your way out. I want you to leave the house now. This appointment is over.Good bye!. I look at the Agent and said this : You better bring them out now!

Three of them walked out. I was left alone. B@*&^$* F$#*&$@ I@#^*!

The question is : Am I arrogant? Am I rude? Am I impatient? In short am I too much? Where are the values my mother thought me before?

But I got the answer, hell they deserved it. I should have kick their black asses too!

MuCh aDO AboUT noThing

I have news and correction to make. I would like to apologize to my blog reader for posting a wrong information on akekah.

Frankly, while writing my article “aKeKah n KK” last night, l suddenly have doubt about the whole thing – whether non-muslim can consume the akekah meat, in this case KK. I wanted to telephone my brother but it was late at night and I really thought (hope) I was right about it.

Today, I managed to speak to Rasid and requested him to put a comment in my blog. He did. Short comment but more than enough to answer my question.

It is clear now that akekah meat can be consumed by anyone whether they are Muslim or not. Simple to explain - Akekah is a religious ceremony to celebrate a newly born baby. It is like a party.

Qurban is also religious ritual but is is more important and sacred to Allah S.W.T. Unlike akekah, qurban can only be performed during Hari Raya Haji (10 Zulhijjah) and Hari-Hari Tashrik (11, 12 and 13 Zulhijjah). This 4 day is very meaningful and special to Muslim. Allah even forbid fasting during these 4 days. If you are in Holy Land to perform Hajj, 11, 12, 13 Zulhijjah is the Stoning The Devil Days.

The qurban meat only to be STRICTLY given away or consumed by fellow Muslim. No doubt and no excuses about it. The same should be practised in every part of the world, regardless you are in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei or even THE AMAZING SINGAPORE (by the way, I am half Singaporean).

I hope by now we are clear about the Qurban and Akekah.

So, I shall re-name the Makcik and KK snatching the plate chapter in Melaka last Saturday is “Much Ado About Nothing”……..

aKeKah n KK

I have 3 reasons to re-visit my home town on Saturday, July 14, 2007. 1. To attend Najah n Azlan's son akekah ceremony. 2. To visit my family at my Kelebang house. 3. To return to Jalan Durian Daun to snap some photos for my blog. In fact I have not been posting anyhing the whole of last week. Not lazy but I have no time, no mood and most of all I have so much on my mind that I am not able to share it out.

My entourage to Najah's mum in-law's house consist of Kiff - The Journalist, KK - The Traveller and my cousin, Iskandar - SIA Poster Boy. We arrived on time - lunch just about to be served. Yahoo! Nasi Beriani Gam, Kambing, Ayam, Dalca, Acar Buah, Kueh-Mueh and Syrup. Yum Yum!

Once the host announced "boleh makan", three hungry and greedy guys namely Iskandar, Kiff and Razak rush to the buffet counter to get their food. KK says he wants to go for dessert prior to eating rice. As we were happily enjoying lunch KK came back with a plate of rice. Ironically, he looks upset. Strange. Then I saw his plate. Only rice and ayam masak merah. The kambing dish is missing. I ask him why he did not take the dish. He kept quiet.

Then, he relate us the event at the buffet counter. Apparently while he is about to walk away from the buffet counter, one makcik appeared from no where and snatched his plate of rice. He was shocked! The makcik just say "awak tak boleh makan kambing ni". She removed the dish from the plate and return it back to KK. Huh?! "Since when I am allergy to mutton?" "If I am, how does this stranger makcik knows about it?" He felt awkward and embarrassed but doesn't know how to react. He just hope everyone is busy eating and did not see what happen between him and the makcik. He returned to us with the plate of colourful beriani, ayam masak merah and black face. Actually, Azlan happen to see the incident but he can't do anything at that moment as not to create any scene.

I immediately offered him an explanation. He is not able to enjoy the dish not because he is not good looking or not popular but because he is not a Muslim yet. Later, the same makcik came over with and offered him a bowl of mutton dish. She says "ni awak bole makan la, ini tak semayang punyerr". I guess he is still upset as he politely rejected the offer. I told him the makcik meant no harm and Melaka people speak with high volume (maybe they were born with big and powerful in-built speaker). Only then, he did take up the offer. Honestly, the mutton is delicious but I know for KK, it is tasteless already.

Azlan came over to our table and apologise personally to KK (and to me too, for what and why?) But I concluded that I am respected guy!!Kah kah kah). He did not expect it to happened at all. I believe apology accepted as KK start to smile again. Later at midnight while we were at our latest, favourite and cheaper port, Old Town Coffee, Azlan sent another sms to thank us.

He repeated his apology to KK over the incident. For KK it was an experience of a life time. He has learn something that afternoon. Now he know what is aKeKah. Kah Kah Kah, aKeKah! Familiar? Ok jerrr....

I still have other story to write about my visit to Jalan Durian Daun but I have to do it tomorrow. Too tired and sleepy (maybe due to fasting today or because of my trip to send Dona to Penglayat!).

Lesson : In life, it is alright to say no but we have to be very diplomatically in doing so as not to offend or embarass anybody.

My Childhood Story - The Nasi Lemak of Jalan Durian Daun

I went out last nite with my friend Pang, Eng Leong and KK. Eng Leong is a Baba from Malacca. In fact, not until few outings that I found out he lives in Jalan Depoh where Jalan Durian Daun ends. In fact his father still lives there and this fillial son make a point to come home at least once a month. His mother passed away few years ago.

So, you can imagine when "two orang kampung" meet, they would dominate the conversations. Almost immediately, Pang and KK reduced to "extras". We reminisced about the old grocery shop that use abacus (klik klak klik klak klik klak and he tell you the damage!), the coffee shop (quite dark inside, maybe to save electricity), the Kg. Kaman (behind his house) where a lot of Indian stay but the main topic is the nasi lemak stall at the corner of the coffee shop operated by husband and wife team known as Pak Seman and Mak Kering. Strange, Eng Leong and me grew up eating their nasi lemak but we never met. We both agreed that was the best nasi lemak we have ever tasted. The aroma of hot nasi lemak on banana leaf, topped with a spoon of very thick sambal tumis, few pieces of fried ikan bilis, cucumber and 2 or 3 strands of fried kangkung. "Sedap giler". Yes, simple but delicicious. Unlike nowadays, chicken rendang or curry, paru and ayam goreng, ikan goreng, etc. to compliment the nasi lemak. Their nasi lemak will beat the so called best nasi lemak in town (Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa in Kg Baru, Nasi Lemak Cikgu in Kelana Jaya, Nasi Lemak Station at Taman Kosas, just to name few) flat.

I remember the very thin Pak Seman is friendly and pleasant man unlike Mak Kering. She is the opposite. She look stern day and nite. I always picture her as a woman monster breathing fire with a small bun on her head (due to her very little hair left). My imagination always run wild when I look at her (I am still very much like that now, in fact better). I always picture her spraying me with fire that comes out from her mouth and with just one gulp I am inside her stomach (at 5 - 6 years old, I am very small in size). Even if I see her during any 'kenduri' or wedding in my kampung she always look the same (if you are wondering, yes, she is our neighbour).

I can remember whenever my mother have an extra 1 ringgit to spare in her pocket, she will get me to buy Mak Kering's nasi lemak. I always have problem with this chore. Firstly, I have to deal with my fear to face her and to make matter worse, I have to communicate with her. (Dare I say no to my mother, unless I am fed-up of living!) . So, whether I like it or not, I have to accomplish my mission. Every time I visited her stall, I have to relay my mother message to her : "Mak Kering, mak nak nasi lemak 3 bungkus, tak nak telur tapi nasi lebih tau" (little note : No egg because to my mother understanding the egg is to replace with extra nasi with no extra cost). She will give me a frown but never respond. She will prepare my order, I snatch, pay, say "terima kasih" and run home. Few minutes later, the nasi lemak will be in our empty stomach. KK ask me, so little money only you bring and you managed to get 3 packets? I told him 1 ringgit in 70s is hard to come by and big in value (at least for my family). By the way, we did not buy the nasi lemak every day! No money lor! Most of the time I would be walking to my primary school with empty stomach. Kindly bear in mind, I am not complaining about how hard my childhood was but just to relate a little bit of my experience. Some time during the morning assembly, there are student collapse (it seems due to no breakfast). The teacher that act as the speaker of the day will remind us to take our breakfast prior to attending school. Deep in my heart, I have nothing to eat at home. So, eat what? Sands or grass or may I should bite and chew my own fingers?

Actually, while I driving through Jalan Durian Daun last Saturday with Kiff and KK, I passed by the grocery and the old coffee shop that I am talking about. Both of the shops has ceased operation but it is still standing there only looked older. The wooden foldable doors are also tighly closed. The missing scene is the old couple and their stall. The Pak Seman and Mak Kering Nasi Lemak. If I am not mistaken they passed away more than 20 years ago.

How I wish that Saturday they are still there and selling their nasi lemak. For sure I will stop to buy some and with the money I have now, (I am not trying to be arrogant, please) I might buy all or whats left for the day! This time I don't have to use my 1970s line. She will no longer be the 'hair bun monster' breathing fire but just another old lady selling nasi lemak. I would look directly into her eyes, smile and talk to her politely. I will give her more respect which I did not give her last time. But too bad, I have no more chance...

Note : I start to realise that in life, if I ever have a chance to do good, I should not wait. No more dilly dally. I might miss the chance. I will live to regret it. A little help from me could be huge to some other people.

Well, it is only my own experience and opinion. It is up to you whether to agree or otherwise...

SANGKURIANG, DAYANG SUMBI AND DAYANG SUMBU (DAYANG SUMBI'S HALF SISTER)

Lets lighten up a bit. Today I want to write about travelling. My friends like to post me this question - why I like to go abroad for holiday? Isn't it expensive? How about food? Halal or not? Sometime I feel guilty for not supporting tourism in my own country but don't blame me as many time I find that it is not worth spending money to travel in Malaysia.

Then, I thought I should give it a try once and for all. So, during the last school holidays, I brought my whole family member consists of 17 peoples - my parents, Ogy and her 2 daughters, Rasid & Ana and their 7 childrens and 2 childrens of my youngest sister, Non to Langkawi, Pulau Lagenda. Non and her husband, Fadhil is in Holy Land to perform their Umrah. Chaos, havoc but fun as most of the children in my family are below 10 years old and the youngest is 10 months.

This is my 4th trip to Langkawi. My first was in 1996 and my last was 2000. I only can say 1 thing about this so called Legend Island of Langkawi - the island is not worth visiting. The trip cost me about 6.5K (air fare - Air Asia, Accomodation, Car Rental and Food). I find the place I visited during my last 3 trips to the Island in a very deporable state. The water at the Air Panas hot spring is dirty and not even warm. Even my nephew and nieces refused to wash their feet with the "cure almost all skin desease" water. The waterfall at the Telaga Tujuh is murky and dirty. In fact, a lot of places of interest is runned down. The only new attraction is the cable car in Gunung Mat Cincang. But looking around the complexes at the mountain hill, it is a matter of time before the "virus" spread. The deadly virus that transform the "places of interest" into the "places of no interest. You may mark my word.

I wonder if I am working for Tourism Development Corporation, how on earth I am going to promote Langkawi. I hope it is not too much if I say the Ministry and its staff involve in promoting tourism in our country are not doing a good job. Is it too much to do or just being lazy? 2007 is Visit Malaysia Year but I doubt we are really a country to visit. Many time I discourage my relatives and friends from visiting me in Kuala Lumpur or even shoot down their idea to visit any other states in Malaysia. It sounded so unpatriotic but that is my only choice. I would rather spend money and visit them in their country. Sincerely, I feel sorry to talk bad about my own country but it is me. I want to practise "without fear or favour". Hope they "repent" and buck up.

It is really a waste of money. I thought it was my worst investment ever. I should have brought them to some neighbouring country like Indonesia or Thailand. With the same amount of money, my family would be able to experience an overseas holiday. They would have more new things to see, more fun, more things to talk about when they come home. In short, more memorable.

Now we leave Langkawi and her 99 islands behind. Frustrated, I plan a holiday trip to Bandung in August. I managed to "conned" 2 pretty but not so young secretaries to join me. I keep on painting nice perfect picture about Bandung. The wheater, the mountains, the volcanoes, the fairer and better looking Indonesian and most importantly, THE SHOPPING! Yes, Bandung is 'D' place for factory outlets shopping. Being Malaysian and being Malaysian women, shopping is a sacred ritual. Shopping is also therapy. Shopping is like paracetemol for headache (any dosage is good!). So, in principal they have agreed to join me. At the same breath they ask how much money should they bring. I told them to wait for their bonus payment this Friday. In a meanwhile, they have applied for "leaving husband and children at home to go with other man visa" from their respective husbands. Only 5 days 4 nites visa granted (but I am confident the 2 husbands glad I am taking their wife away from them for that period of time, what a relief! Any possibility of extending stay? Miss the flight home?).

In fact, one of them has also done her packing. We plan to shop, eat, shop, eat, shop, eat and sleep (not to forget shower and toilet).

So, we start the count down...

LOVE IS CINTA (BUT NOT THE MOVIE)

After 2 days of sad entry, today I decided to touch on one interesting topic. Love. Allow me to say something about love. To me love is the next best to miracle. Love has no limit, no boundary. Love make you do the unbelievable, sometimes, even the imposible. True love will not make you any poorer but will at least enrich you in many ways.

But one thing for sure, love make me happy. A good example, I realised my love for few of my female collegues in the office grow stronger. I feel I am responsible to make them happy, laugh and even share their problem. Eventhough I can't solve it but by listening I believe it would help. Ahah!, don't get me wrong. It is not that kind of love you are thinking about. Stop straying. I love them just like my little sister. I only have 2 little sister in my family, so I think it is no harm to have few more, right?

I also have 2 caring neighbours and lovely friends (married with family as well as single, both male and female) which I love and care for. I regards their childrens like my own nephew and nieces. I regards their parents like my own too. And yet, I never feel I have given enough love. I still have abundance of it.

As I grow older, I have soft spot for animals, any animal. I have 5 cats at home. At the same time, I still take care of about 10 stray cats outside my door step. At my balcony, I always have rice and 1 loaf of bread which I cut into pieces to feed "burung pipit (about 30 ekor), 2 pairs of very fat burung merpati and one type of medium size black bird with a very loud voice (not crow) which I dont what species (about 20 ekor). I am happy to see them when they stop by my balcony to have breakfast, lunch and dinner before the fly back to their home. They always pay me by singing and chirping happily. After maghrib, I will cut at least 15 banana and place it at the same balcony for the "musang" family (5 ekor). Over the time, they become more friendly to me. They will come out from the roof and observing me preparing their meal before they dine. Cute. It is tedious but I am happy. When I am away from home, I make sure I assigned my friend to feed all my pet (in and outside the house). It is my responsibility. They are animal but they still have life. Some of my friend and neighbour says I am "crazy". I responded happily by saying it is love...

Now, I would like to post some questions. How much will you do for love? How far will you go? To what extend are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to give and then, how much do you want to take? If you are married, would you love your spouse more than you love your own children? My question about love will go on and on and on..