What we did last summer!!!

For me it was filled with meeting people while racing from one end to the other; for the kids it was a time to meet cousins and old friends, whilst enjoying the carefree Malaysian life...

I was treated to lunch by ex-colleagues at Khadijah's Kitchen. Of course, we just had to snap a photo with the Khadijah Ibrahim!
A glimpse of some of the Kaypo Klub gals. We spent hours looking back at pictures of yesteryears and ended up with a great longing to turn back time. Yes, I would definitely like that!!
Port Dickson - just posing... (that's what Princess does well)

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding, Perak - a great adventure we enjoyed with family members. Activities included going into the jungle to see/observe the biggest flower in the world (Rafflesia), tilapia breeding, Orang Asli settlement, and elephant tracks.

At an Orang Asli (aboriginal) settlement - listening attentively to the old man's story.
Heading towards the waterfall for a good spot for lunch.
Little D with his favourite cousin brother who spoilt him like mad! In the background is a kubang gajah, or elephant clinic (I'd say) - where the elephants would come as a retreat to heal themselves from any injury or ailment. They'd scrape off the walls, which are somehow of high nutritional value, and eat them.

Under the wooden house on stilts back in Rembau, grandad's hometown.
The boys had a bash while I had mine with the Edinburgh clan - 2 years of separation yet the friendship still blooms. It's touching to see how loyal these boys are. From Left: Ashraf, Yusuf, Imran Omar, Abang Z, Muzaffar, Azuar, Zikri, Abang H and Rashad (this fellow was just tagging along his uncle, who's my friend, and he had a big surprise to see all his friends together! Perfect coincidence, innit?).

Giving moral support to Baim at his school sports event- imagine 9 children (Little D snapping photo with my assistance), 1 big bro, 1 big sis + 1 Mak Su cheering for ONE beaming boy!

So it has been approximately 20 years... but who says we've grown apart? School chummies: Kak Nash, Ain, Asma', Dr Sham, Ayeen, Huda and Kak Shidah. Simply cool!
Yes, we won't get to celebrate Eidul Fitr back home but we can have some fireworks a little bit early, can't we??

Bloggers whom I met:

• mamasarah + Mynn (sorry, no photos taken)



Meeting these two (plus Sara and Amar) was definitely not the first time for us. We started out as blogger friends, turned out to be neighbours, later developed into extremely close friends. It was good meeting them again - probably met up with mamasarah 5 or 6 times altogether. They're both doing well in their chosen careers but I don't think they'll be back blogging like those days. Life is just too hectic for them!

Thank you guys! (if by chance you read this, though I really doubt it)

• Azzah8

  



I was quite nervous meeting the 'Flower Lady' (as I labelled her on my blog previously) because she was the first blogger I was to meet upon coming home - excluding mamasarah of course. However, the warmth of her personality was certainly very comforting, especially when served with delicious spaghetti (which Little D had several helpings of!).

Thank you Kak Azzah - for the friendship and also book you loaned to my sis. May our ukhuwwah bloom like the flowers in your garden!

• Raden Galoh (no pictures either - always too engrossed with tales to tell!
  We met several times, Alhamdulillah... The first time round, I went to her Sunday Market stall at Amcorp Mall where we chatted and got to know each other. I had brought her a souvenir from England (which other blogger friends similarly got too) and was surprised that she also had a little something for me! Definitely didn't expect that! Anyway, managed to later visit her twice while she was admitted in the hospital. The last time we met was a week before I left. She had gone back to work for half-day sessions, and thus I agreed to pick her up from work and bring her to the hospital where my sister was - Kak Long had just had her third chemo. Raden Galoh is definitely an example we should all look up to because she reminds me that Allah, our Lord, loves us to no end. Definitely, my sister appreciated meeting Raden Galoh because it gave her a sense of strength that only an experienced person with such strong faith like her could do.

Sis Raden Galoh, may Allah bless you and ease your path. You are always, and always in my prayers and thoughts! (I'll continue sending you text messages from time to time, okay?!)

• nana, daddy (Bimmer 553) and family
  
  
  

  
  Nana is a young, ambitious and strong-willed medical student (she follows after both parents) who is extremely friendly and easy-going. The first time I met her was some time in February when she came over from Russia to the UK with her friend for a real holiday.
  When I decided to go home for summer, I informed Nana and we agreed to meet up later in KL. So, not long after, we were invited for lunch with her family at their warm and beautiful house. We thought of doing tea before the summer was over but unfortunately, time was not on our side.

Thank you to the Muin family for such warmth in the friendship! (Received our first Eidul Fitri card this year - via snail mail of course - and it's from the Muins!)

• myheartbleeds (no photos - talked and talked non-stop!)

This woman and I have a few things in common - we're the same age and we have both lost our husbands. It's wonderful to talk to someone who's in a similar situation as I am. With her two beautiful children, she had came over for lunch one Sunday afternoon bringing goodies for each of us. Ever since the meeting, we have unofficially appointed each other as confidantes to share our emotional roller-coaster rides. *wink *wink. Amazing what ONE meeting can do to build on a friendship so pure, eh? Subhanallah...

Thank you myheartbleeds. Hopefully soon the bleeding will stop and you will change your name to something more lively too!

• Simah



Meeting this particular woman who had come all the way from Istanbul with her charming children was a little tricky as she did not stay in the Klang Valley. Nonetheless, we were meant to meet after communication via blog, text messages, emails and one phonecall. Her devotion and commitment to her family is evident through her sacrifice to live away from home, in a different culture altogether. Isn't she such an admirable person? Simah, will start saving up to visit you there, eh? (if not, just in our dreams, maybe?)

• Ruby Ahmad



Sylish, confident and composed. Ruby Ahmad is filled with life and energy that 2 hours with her was definitely NOT ENOUGH! She had wonderful tales to tell - all insightful, with each leading to an underlying moral or value. We shared our experiences and at the end of the meet, I felt more confident and inspired to charge on with life. Anyone in need of a boost of confidence (and good company) should definitely spare some time with dear Ruby.

Excellent! Parfait! Thanks Ruby!


• Darling (no picture)

We had planned to meet since the very beginning but my weekends were always booked and packed. So, 3 days prior to my departure, I was rushing around from one side of the Klang Valley to the other: Shah Alam - Midvalley (lunch with ex-colleagues) - Setiawangsa (farewell to the boss) - PJ. That was when one of the twins made an annoyingly pathetic request to stop by KLCC 'one last time before we leave.' My body was already exhausted but the traffic report indicated that it wasn't a good idea to head home. Hence, I decided to kill two birds with a stone, so to speak. Darling and I met over coffee, but couldn't take our own sweet time as my Fantastic Four were demanding my attention. Still, Alhamdulillah, I managed to meet the mysterious young lady whose voice I had heard through the phone a few times already.

Thanks for making it on short notice, Darl!

******

Then of course there were those I only managed to speak to or text via mobile:

1. Mak Lang - hope you got the English souvenirs you never seem to tire from!


2. Anggerik Merah - maybe we can set a date in 'ol Edinburgh one day, eh? *wink


3. mama22beas - so close yet so far! Although you live just a holler away, it just wasn't possible, was it? Another trip to the UK soon perhaps? Put Coventry on the list, eh?!
   
4. mki - a very distinguished and respectable person whom I owe gratitudes to: jazakallah Prof!



5. Silversarina - sorry I couldn't make it to your daughter's wedding. It was too far for us. Make sure you claim your gifts from Mak Lang, or she might just keep them. LOL! (next time kita jumpa ya kak!)
   
   

   (not forgetting, I also met friends who have come a loooooong way but are kept connected via the blogging world: Bluewonder, restless, faszt, zabrina, jooli and aida)
   
   I am glad we went home because it created a sense of closure for me. I managed to do things which I knew I wouldn't be able to do from afar. It was apt. Now, He has opened new doors for us and we venture into the future with a little light from Him - I can see our path, I can!

*****
Optimism - by Jane Hirshfield

More and more I have come to admire resilience.

Not the simple resistance of a pillow, whose foam returns over and over to the same shape, but the sinuous tenacity of a tree:

finding the light newly blocked on one side,

it turns in another. A blind intelligence, true.

But out of such persistence arose turtles, rivers, mitochondria, figs--all this resinous, unretractable earth.

*****

(PS: HOORAH - although this entry is not exactly what I had initially put together, I managed to F.I.N.A.L.L.Y get something here! Alhamdulillah...)