KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA - BANDUNG (PART II)

We arrived Grand Preanger at about 8.30 p.m. After we dumped our shopiing bag, we went out again. Destination - Paris van Java. Yes, at nite the place are different with lights! More lively. Live band. We sat down for a drink. Cheap. Talking talking talking until 11 each before we hail a cab to go back. We need to re-pack our bag. Scary thought. I don't know how it will fit the van to Jakarta tomorrow. may the force be with us. Total - 8 bags! Too late to worry or regret. Cuma boleh mengucap panjang aje lah tengok semua beg yang "gemok-gemok" tu.



Dona : Mamiiii, I bought something for you. Hope you like it....

Mami : Eh, thank you girl. Why trouble yourselves? Aminah you see your daughter so nice la. She bought me material. Wah, so nice. I have been looking for this kind of stripe for my jubah la Aminah. She so clever and......
She start unfolding the "material" only to realise it is a pants - size 43! She frowned and in a very sad tone and teary eyes she start saying :

Mami : Aminah, you see your daughter bought me this oversize pants. Am I that big Aminah? I so sad. I think I want to go home lah. Can you please call me a cab, please Aminah.......

Aminah : No lah Ann. She meant well. Frankly, for your age, your size is just nice. Don't go back lah. If you really want to go back wait for dinner first la...

Mami : You see, you see, you also the same. Still want to feed me with food. You want to make me grow bigger? How to grow thinner like that? You should stop me from eating. Mother - daughter same same...I more sad....

Aminah : Aiyo, I sakit perut lah Ann. You wait I go toilet.
Aminah ran off to the toilet and............

Dona is no where to be seen since she handed over the size 43 pants. I think sakit perut also..........

Now, Ann left alone in the living leaning by the wall looking sadly at her newly "acquired" size 43 pants....



Kah kah kah. I am serious about meeting Mami to ask for her forgiveness for making fun of her but Dona has to kiss her feet cause she laugh more than me (like a devil) when I start talking about Mami....CekPakaran pun sama! Bukan nak bagi nasihat pun mak si Tanggang nie.



Day 3 - Bandung - Jakarta. We woke up early to get ready for breakfast. Arrange for all our luggages to be sent to the lower lobby. Before our trip to the Cipaganti office, I went to the bakery shop to buy some tiramisu but no more! Habis. Geram aku. I knew it I should have bought it last nite. Our bag almost failed to fit the taxi but we still managed. Four of us squeeze at the back seat. Who says we are fat? Lucky short journey otherwise sure we arrived "lumpuh separuh badan". Fun because we can still laugh about it!

Arrive at Cipaganti centre. The van will be departing at 10.45 a.m. We have about 90 minutes to be "wasted". Me and CekPaKaran decide to walk and look for the Amanda Brownie. Managed to find but at a higher price - Rp25,000.00! Damn! Dona paid Rp8,000.00 cheaper. We return to the centre. Still about 1 hour to departing time. I sleep on the chair. Tired.

10.25 a.m. It is time to board our van. Guess what....We have 8 bags and the space for baggages is too small to accomodate our bags. Luckily, 2 seats are not taken but we were force to buy one extra seat. Reasonable. KK says that this is the first time he sees such thing. We sit in between of bags! Kah kah kah. Macam mat dan minah indon.

During the journey, CekPaKaran open one of her kerepek pisang. She offered us. I hungry so for sure took the offer. Surprisingly, the so called "I tak makan benda-benda macam ni" namely Dona, also grab a piece. Wow. So nice lah. Eh Eh CekPa, Dona says, sedap la. I regret tak beli la CekPa, I said. CekPaKaran terus la sindir both of us. Pedas pedas, but we dont care, we still makan and makan. Tak kecik hati pun. kecik-kecik hati, lapar la jawabnya...

After 2.5 hours we arrived Novotel, ManggaDua Square. Check-in and the room - fantastic for the price we paid. Facing swimming pool.

To be continued - again.



e

KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA - BANDUNG - BMW, BOEING 747, KIA PREGIO

Hello there! I am not been posting any stories lately. I have many reason. The passing of Asnah, the arrival of Ramadhan is just to mention few of my many reasons.

Actually, today while lying in my couch to wait for breaking fast at my dear Mummy Hagerah's house, I thought I should start to write and post something. Infact, I even have the topic to write. The long overdue Bandung/Jakarta trip (August 29 - September 2, 2007) with CekPaKaran, Dona and KK.

Age is catching up with me. Lately I am not feeling very well. I still feel lethargic especially after my 3 days of high fever which "came to re-visit me" 2 weekends ago. I was on MC for 3 day (not including Sunday!).

But the thought of sitting down to postall those sweetest memories that took place during hhe entire trip (from the beginning to the end of the trip), make me feel high. Keep on reading till the end. However, I have decided to make it a short stories (I meant my standard of short - normally not that short after all).

The day we all have been counting down more than 3 months ago finally arrived. August 29, 2007. To make long story short, we reached KLIA in Dan's BMW. After checked the bag in, we decided to past time at McD. Faizal came to join us later and also to send his beloved wife - away! Time to board. With hand shake, kisses and bye-bye, we make our way to the Immigration and then to the departure lounge for our Jakarta flight. We settled down almost immediately. The flight took off. We are on our way to Jakarta. Smooth flight. We arrived Jakarta on time 5.00 p.m. Went thru all the arrival procedure and we immediately looked for the Cipaganti counter for our trip by road to Bandung. Waited for about 1 hour and then we are on our way. Bad jam and we stuck in the traffic for nearly 1.5 hour before we manage to hit the highway to Bandung. I dont know it is fortunate or otherwise, the driver drove like Michael Schumaker! But believe me, he knows the road at the back of his hand! We stopped along the highway for Nasi Padang dinner - SO SO SO The Sedap Giler. Terangkat Bontot Beb!

We arrived the Grand Preanger, Bandung. Checked-in but I don't like the room. Old and it remind me of Dark Water! We make some noise and got 1 newly renovated and refurbished room. I gave the room to the ladies. We immediately plan to check out tommorow for a better hotel but most of the hotel are fully booked! Gosh! But we still utilise our welcome drink coupon the very same night. We hit back to our room at about 12.30 p.m. for ZZZZZzzzzz......... Good nite.

Day 2. Woke up at about 7.00 a.m. Went down for breakfast. Nothing to shout about but is is ok to fill our stomach. We chat and laugh, laugh and laugh and re-confirm our itineray for the 1st day in Bandung. What else other than SHOPPING!!!!!

We hit the road at about 9.00 a.m. Took Angkut-Angkut to Pasar Baru. We stopped nearby our destination to buy the SIMPATI – local phone card. So cheap and we are so stingy to buy the minimum – Rp10,000.00 (RM3.75). Dirt cheap but it is enough to find each other should anybody got missing, kidnapped, raped and being dumped into one of those big and smelly garbage bin (it didn’t happened after all otherwise my story would be much more interesting)…

We walked to Pasar Baru. On the way we stopped at the DVD "C" Center. C stand for ciplak. Bought some DVD and continue our journey to the Pasar. Still early as most of the shop is still not opened yet. But is is good enough as CekPaKaran managed to buy telekong (I pun tak mau kalah jugak, beli lah), Dona bought corset (ada size pulak tu) and that weirdo KK bought something which I don’t know or bother to know. Immediately we went back to the hotel to drop our very first shopping bag and make our way to Jalan Dago for another shopping trip. All of us bought something and knowing Dona for her big appetite – she bought Amanda Brownie. I have been to Bandung 5 times but I never thought of buying it! It is very popular in Bandung. Sold in lorries or van by the road side. It is known as Brownie Jalanan to the local. Cheap Rp17,000.00 (RM6.35). She declared that will be our snack later but the problem is we don’t have knife to cut the brownie into smaller size. Not too worry, with Dona around, she will tackle it later (when food is concerned).

We are done with Jalan Dago. Our self elected Tourguide, KK suggested we go to Bandung Indah Plaza (BIP). No objection and all we know we are outside BIP. As we are still not hungry, I suggested we go for dessert - Esteler 77. Best nyerrrr! Strange as the dessert work out our appetite. We went to the top floor and found this clean and nice kept restaurant and the rest are history. We makan! Sedap la makanan Indon nie. Baju tambah ketat lah. Kah kah kah.

Next - we walked through the back lane of BIP to Jalan Riau. Shopping again - never seems to finish la. Our hand are full of shopping bag. As a big brother I took the responsibility to help the two ladies to carry some of their shopping goods but in between they offer to help me to carry it. I rejected it la. Tak macho la beb tapi tangan I macam nak putus la jugak. On the way back to the hotel, we stop at the supermarket - shop again for drinks and take away Nasi padang for our dinner in the room. It was about 9.00 p.m. and I bought whatever left in the tray. The girl like me and give me a good discount la!

After quick shower, we wnt to the girls room for dinner - actually supper! I must admit that was the best Nasi Padang I have tasted - not so much of the food but more on the enjoyment of arranging the food on the small table, talking with our mouth full, laughing, trying to chew the food and gulp the food down out throat and laugh again.... Yes, all of us are not only hungry but greedy especially Dona la (I small eater la)....

How not to grow fat - after mencecek - we hit the bed. ZZZZzzzzZZZZ.........

Day 3 - The most happening and the last day for shopping. Breakfast (the same food again la)After breakfast we have to find out where the hell is this leather good shop called Rias. We been asking around but always no good or right answer. We barged into the business centre at the hotel lobby and Dona asked the girl manning the centre. It went like this :

Dona:Kamu tau tak di mana kedai yang jual barangan kulit namanya Rias?

Pompuan:Rias? O kedai tu dekat aje. Kamu keluar pusing kanan, pusing kiri, jalan sedikit dah sampai.

Razak:Hah? Mabuk ke pompuan nie!

Dona:Kedai apa tu? Kedai kulit?

Pompuan:Ya kedai rias. Rias muka. Solek.

Razak:Ya Aula, Dona dia suroh kau berhias dan bersolek la pulak! Tak cukup lawa ke? Apa ke bangang nye c pompuan nie.

Dona:Bukan la. Kedai jual barang kulit!

Razak:I terus amek dia punye Yellow Pages tanpa pengetahuan dia. Punishment!

We both walked out from the business center. Frustrated, angry and funny at the same time. We don't know to laugh or to strangle her neck but we are on holiday. We chose to laugh and make fun of people stupidity.

We hailed a cab and KK simply ask whether the driver know where is Rias. He says yes. Diaz di Jalan Sederhana! Kah kah kah we laugh again. Diaz la bodoh, bukan Rias. Kah kah kah. Don't ever underestimate the taxi driver ok!

We arrived safely. Not far actually. Amazing! The shop carries wide range of hand bags. I managed to find the hand bag for Hain, my neighbour. Dona terus hilang akal - beli dua. CekPaKaran pulak kalau tak makan pil penenang pikiran mesti beli tiga. Tapi pasal dah tenang beli satu. Lepas tu masa balik cakap - I sesal la bang tak beli beg macam yang you beli tu. Cantek. My answer standard la - kau ni memang gatal la, 10 kali abg tanya tapi asik geleng sapi aje. Sekarang menyesal pulak. Gatal.....

After Diaz, KK brought us to Paris van Java. New shopping complex. Nice and so Paris. Good weather pulak tu. We shop some more. Buy CD. Macam2. Lagu Indon, lagu Jazz, ghost movie etc. We decided to come back at nite because we know it look much more lively and beautiful at nite.-

Next - Jalan Setiabudi. Our target is Rumah Mode but we stopped right in front of a factory outlet with this catch line - FOREVER SALE. Yes....Shopping again walau pun beg dah tak cukup tangan nak bawak nie. I tak mau jadi hero sangat lah hari ni. Tolong bawak sikit2 aje. Tangan I dah panjang macam tangan orang utan! In this shop I saw Dona were holding a blue color pants that make me laugh immediately - so big. Macam cadar katil. I asked her for who? So big lah. She says yes, size 43! For my mother in-law. Kah kah kah kah kah. I laughed but Dona laugh are longer, louder and more cunning than me. We looked at each other and we laugh again. I started to create all kind of joke about the pants and Dona being so antu (bukan menantu) also add some spice to the joke. The next two day the "Mummy, I bought something for you" is the keep on repeating line among us. Laugh la apa lagi. Kah kah kah....

On the way out to Rumah Mode, CekPaKaran saw the kerepek pisang she been looking for since arriving Bandung. She bought 5 packets. She asked me and Dona whether we want to buy or not. My reply "don't want la, for what". Dona reply lagi teruk dan dengan gaya Indon kaya dan sombong "Oh, I tak makan benda-benda macam nie". CekPaKaran sedih but nak cover line dia blame budak2 kat opis yang kirim beli. Kemaluan kot! I told CekPaKaran she reminds me of this character - Mak Si Tanggang yang bawak macam2 benda kampung masa nak jumpa anak dia - bezanya CikPaKaran muda dan lawa aje.

We arrived our ultimate destination - Rumah Mode. I am too tired to shop. I vounteer to sit at one bench and take care all the shopping bag. I sit and sit and sit and wait and wai and wait but they are all missing. Never appear after more than one hour. My eyelids are so so so heavy (as heavy as the owner of the 43 waist line pants) how to sleep. I am the Guardian of approximately Rp10 Millions of shopping goods! Suddenly, I got an idea. I rearranged the shooping bag - the expensive one at the bottom and the cheap one including the size 43 pants on top of it (who wants to steal size 43 pants other than Shanee!). Once I am done with it, what else - tidur macam Bai Jaga Kedai Emas kat Petaling Street! When I opened my eyes, CekPaKaran was in front of me and her big eyes staring at my beautiful face and body. I don't know what else she did to me. She caught me sleeping on the job! Then she says, "kesian Abg!" but I notice she has that kind of funny look...... Adakah aku telah di molest? Oh tidak!!!!

More shopping bags. Macam orang gila yang kutip beg plastik dari dalam tong sampah tu la! Now, we have to get taxi back to the hotel but from the situation of the traffic outside Rumah Mode is chaos. We know it is quite impossible. So, the next best thing is Angkut-Angkut la. We managed to arrive the hotel safely (with 1001 plastic bag).

To be continued.......stay with me.

ANOTHER FUNERAL, ANOTHER SOBBING, ANOTHER GATHERING - PART II

Alhamdulillah, Asnah transformed herself. I don't remember which year but she really transformed like the Transformer. Better in every sense of the word.

It was Monday. All of us were shocked when she turned up to work in baju kurong and mini telekong. A new Asnah is born. Alhamdulillah. "Nur Iman" has entered her heart. Asnah achieved what she wants to be.

In fact many year before that she always told me that she wants to improve herself. She wants to change to be a better Asnah. As far as I can remember, I supported her 100% eventhough I missed a bit of the old Asnah.

Asnah is closer to my Singapore family especially Makcik Tom and her huband, my Pakcik Selamat. In fact, during one of their family holiday in Kuala Lumpur, Asnah offered her house to be their "hotel". She said why waste money to stay in the hotels? They accepted the offer. I still remember that was one memorable holiday for my Singapore family. They went marketing, cook, eat, talk, laugh, teasing each other, etc. To reciprocate, when I went down to Singapore to lead my bowling team during one Kuala Lumpur-Singapore Sports Meet, we did not stay in the hotel. Asnah, Datin Noorsiah, Nellie stayed in their HDB flat. Another happy reunion.

I must confess that actually I grow fond of her. If that time I am a little older and she is a little younger, I would have marry her. As a man I could feel that she also likes me. But, she is not meant for me.

Not much later after her transformation, she married Ustaz Munawir for few years before her husband died (vehicle accident in Holy Land Medina). She became widow and never re-marry. She carries the title to her grave on Sept 5, 2007.

When I left the bank in 1997. She still working there until her resignation few years later quoting she wants to help her husband running his Umrah package business. After her husband died, she thought of leave Kuala Lumpur for good and to settle down in Johore Bharu. What Allah is the Greatest Planner. She came back few years ago.

Asnah really repented (taubat) since her transformation day. As far as I could remember never at any point of time she goes against her husband’s order. At times, I thought she just follow his order blindly but whom am I to protest? Her husband is her main door to Heaven. It is logical for her to listen to him.

I would like to mention here that for women, you are guaranteed heaven if you follow this three simple things – “tutup dan jaga aurat, buat semua suruhan Allah S.W.T. dan tinggalkan apa yang dilarang (seperti yang dituliskan dalam Al-Quran dan Hadis Nabi Muhammad SAW) dan taat pada suami jika berkahwin atau pada ibu jika tidak bersuami”. That is what Asnah been practising since then and until she left us on September 5, 2007.

She is a beloved sister to 8 of her siblings. She make sure that there are not for behind her. She would do whatever possible to help them whenever the need arises. I would'nt mind to have her as my sister too....

End of May 2007, she went for a medical check-up. She is being diagnosed with Cervical Cancer at a very advance stage. She need to go for an operation. She went through the very risky operation in early August 2007. She did not do well. One week before her passing her health seem to be improving. She manage to talk a little, as for forgiveness, to whoever came to see her. Sadly, I did not have the chance to speak to her during her last one week. Fated not to. I was in Jakarta.

After 6 weeks in University Hospital, Allah S.W.T. took what He created and own. Asnah left us at 4.15 a.m. on September 5, 2007.

Now Asnah Abu add a title to her name. Allahyarhamah Asnah Abu. I used to teased her that she is only double AA (means not good enough la) but now she is AAA. Triple A. What is better than triple A?

Allahyarhamah Asnah Abu will forever be remembered, by all her friend and for sure, me. She will be missed. My doa I would be seeing her later - after the Greatest Judgement Day.

"Ya Allah, jika saudaraku Asnah Abu ada melakukan kesalahan pada Mu, aku mohon Kau ampunkanlah kesalahannya, Kau rahmatilah rohnya, Kau lapangkan dan terangkan lah kuburnya dan kumpulkan rohnya bersama orang-orang yang Soleh dan Solehah". Amin.

This is my final part of of my dearest friend, Allahyarhamah Asnah Abu.

Al-Fatehah. Amin.

ANOTHER FUNERAL, ANOTHER SOBBING, ANOTHER GATHERING

This morning suddenly I opened my eyes. I thought it was too early to wake up. I reached my handphone to see the time. I was right. The digital clock on my phone showed 4.20 a.m. That means the time was 4.15 a.m. (it is my habit to give adjust my clock to 5 minutes faster).

Strange but I just don't know why I woke up. My 6 lovable cat namely Bhumipol, Sirikit, Chulaborn, ChomChom, ChromChrom and Tata no where to be seen. What else other than sleeping.

I went to the kitchen to drink and then jump into my bed to continue sleeping.

While I was in the office at about 7.45 a.m. one sms came in. It is from my ex-colleague Datin Noorsiah. Very brief - our beloved friend Asnah Abu has left us. Cervical Cancer. She breathed her last at 4.15 a.m. I repeat 4.15 a.m.

I don't believe it. So, I called Noorsiah to verify the news she just sms me. She says "yes, it is true". We both broke down. I have to accept it. Asnah Abu now is no longer belong to this world. Her cold body now lies in University Hospital. We have a task to complete. The 4 rituals - "mandikan, kafankan, sembahyangkan dan kebumikan".

Then I realised the time I woke up this morning is the time she left us. Maha Suci Allah that give me a clue but I was too ignorant to see or rather to understand it. That shows how small I am!

I am among the first few to know about this. I need to make few phone call to some people that know her during her life time. I called my aunty - Makcik Tom. I called Rasid, my brother. I called Joyce. I called Haslina. Actually, I was crying and talkong at the same time. My eyes "bengkak" and red. I am losing my voice. I could not make any more calls but I need to call my superior to inform her that I need to leave office for the day.

I called and spoke to her but due to my sobbing she could not understand what am I saying but she still say I can go out immediately, no problem. When I was about to leave, my phone rang. It was Hidaya. He ask me "Jak, what happened?" I was blank and ask him back "what happen"? He says Puan Halwah called him and requested him to check on me as I was crying and talking at the same time. She could not really hear, let alone understand me but she knows I was crying. I need to record here that I am always blessed to be working with a good boss! I informed Hidaya briefly. I had a short but very meaningful conversation with him. I feel much better. Thank you, Puan Halwah and you too, Hidaya.

I make my way to the car park with my head down. Too shy to show people my red eyes. While waiting for the elevator, another ex-colleague of mine, Nellie called. Both of us break down again. I still have a lot tears! As I was talking and approaching my car, I saw a very familiar figure approaching the lift lobby in 4th floor. I tought it was CekPaKaran. Yes, I was right again, it is CekPaKaran. She always parked her car next to mine or nearby. Ask her why. She were shocked to see me crying like a baby and ask me "abg, why, what happened, are you okay?". I could not answer her properly but just mumble the word "my friend passed away". I feel like hugging her but how can I do it in the car park? Imagine if people see. Another gossip. We have enough of that in my office. I better hurry to my car. But still managed to say I call her later.

You must be curious who Asnah Abu is to me. It is improper to say Asnah is my ex-colleague. Actually, Asnah is my friend. I know her before I became her colleague. She is not only close to me but to my family. We came a long way. I have known Asnah as a very daring young girl until the day she turn to be a girl in "jubah and mini telekong". In fact, Dona reminded me so much of her in her younger days. The way she speak, dress, etc. Few years ago, she transfromed herself to be "CekPaKaran". Alhamdulillah.

I am still too sad. To be continued....