Raya Pix Part 1

Our Favourite Pix

This pix was taken after we have completed our shopping at The Mall, KL. Both of us love to observe the face of Kak Long, 4 1/2, gladly sharing her drink with her brother, Munif, 1 1/2.

Trip To Tioman Island

As a birthday present to my wife, Azarina, I had planned a 3D/2N holiday package for 2 to Tioman Island. After making baby sitting arrangements for our children, Kak Long, 8 and Munif, 5, with my parent-in-laws and having a tough time explaining to Kak Long and Munif why they were not included in the trip, we rushed off to Sultan Abdul Halim Airport to catch a flight to KLIA. Then, a taxi trip from KLIA to Subang Airport to catch Pelangi Air flight to Tioman Island.

Having received the take-off clearance from the Control Tower, the Fairchild Dornier 228 aircraft screaming it's heart out trying to take off. I looked at my wife, seated at seat No. 2, with "Can this aircraft actually takes off?" look on my face. Of course it can, with both of us heaving up our bodies the moment the aircraft wheels lifted off the runaway surface. Well, that was the least bit of help that we could contribute. Throughout the flight, my wife sat silently in her seat. I thought she was enjoying the view outside the aircraft window until I saw her pale looking face. I was in a fix when I tried to comfort her since we have got another return trip to go through.

Next came the time for landing. From seat No. 1, I could see through the aircraft windscreen. It looked as if we were heading towards a hill. The moment I felt that the aircraft was too close to the hill, suddenly, it made a sharp right turn, similar to a rally driver making the turn after receiving "Hard Right!" instruction from his navigator. The runaway and the terminal building of Tioman Island Airstrip popped up in my view. What a relief!

Berjaya Tioman Island Resort is a chalet-typed resort. Checking-in was plain sailing for us. We had a good time beach walking, jet-skiing and took a glass bottomed boat trip to view the coral reef oceanic life.

Then, came the time to leave the island. Having to endure another flight experience in the space of two days, we felt very reluctant. However, what made us willingly to carry on with the return journey was the fact that both of us were going back to Perlis, where Kak Long and Munif were waiting for us.

Deqda's Manglish or Englay?

There is a Teak Furniture Shop in the vacinity of Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Setar, Kedah. One day after attending our friend's wedding feast at the nearby Hutan Kampung, we decided to stop by at the shop to check out the new arrivals.

Our children, Kak Long, 12, Munif, 9 and Deqda, 3 decided to stay in the comfort of Nippon Denso air-conditioner as originally installed inside our family car. They intelligently declined our invitation to follow us inside the shop as the shop is naturally ventilated. It made matters worst with the Global Warming!

What happenned inside the shop was irrelevant. However, when we returned to our car, Aida, enthusiatically, reported that, "Abah! Mama! I saw a CATERFLY!". Kak Long quickly explained that what her sister saw was an aeroplane. Although it was funny in the first instant, however, we really admire Deqda's courage to speak in English.

Munif's Hospital Encounter

It was two o'clock in the morning sometime in 1992. I was awakened by my wife. She was worried about the condition of our two years old son, Munif. His face was pale and slightly bluish in color. For several days before, Munif had the tendency to vomit out foods and drinks that was given to him although there were no signs of fever, cough, dehydration or stomach-ache.

We decided to bring Munif to the Emergency Ward of Mentakab Hospital. Without disturbing Munif's older sister, Aimi, who was still sleeping, we called on our neighbour's help (Thank you Mak Lang and Pak Lang for being there for us in time of our needs) to baby sits her while we took care of Munif. The observation made by the Medical Officer was that Munif had extra large tonsilitis. This causes Munif to vomit out foods and drinks. The doctor recommended that the tonsils be removed, either in Kuantan Hospital or GHKL. We chose GHKL for the fact that it has better facilities and we have relatives living in and around KL.

Munif successfully recovered from the operation. It was ICE CREAM that made Munif gladly cooperated to undergo the operation. Why? When he was checked-in into the ENT Ward of GHKL, he saw every patients, coming out from post-tonsillectomy, was treated with a cup of sundae ice-cream (his favourite food). While in the Recovery Room, I burst into laughter when the first question blurted through Munif's mouth immediately after he was conscious enough to speak was, "Abah, where's my ice cream?". At that moment, all my fears, tensions and scepticism disappeared.

Kak Long's First Walk

It was lunch break after a busy morning session meeting at Merlin Inn, Telok Cempedak, way back in 1988. I decided to check up on my family members that I left behind since 7.00 am that day.

At the door, I was greeted by my ever smiling wife. Slightly obscured from my view was my (less than 1 year old, at that time) daughter, Kak Long, sitting on the carpetted floor of the hotel room, playing with her toys. Suddenly, upon seeing me at the door, she struggled a bit, steadied her small framed body and stood up. To our surprise, Kak Long took her first set of footsteps and walked towards me with her hands reaching out as if she is going to give me a big hug. Without wasting any time, I reached out and hugged her. This is one of those moments in my life that I will never forget - Kak Long's first footsteps. No wonder I felt a sudden urge to check up on my wife and my child during the lunch break.

Our Morning Walk Venue

Perlis River Jogging Track is a track along side a river. It is maintained by the Department of Irrigation & Drainage, Perlis Branch. The track's surface is tarmac with concrete kerbs. Throughout the track, the department has planted shady trees. If you happen to be there early in the morning, you might encounter a few wild life such as monkeys, king fisher birds, white sea gulls, monitor lizards (swimming in the river), etc. There are 2 river crossings, one hanging cable bridge and the other is steel framed bridge (resembling the Penang Bridge). The distance between the two crossings is approximately 1.5km. No vehicles (not even bicycles) are allowed to enter the track areas, therefore, there is no interruption for the joggers. For the young ones, there are a few playground spots along the track. Those who love reflexology can even try the reflexology track on both sides of the river. There are amenities such as toilets, surau and homestay.

Morning Walk

During the fasting month of Ramadhan in 2008, I was able to continue my "morning walk". However, during the Hari Raya, it was interupted for three straight days (most probably, due to lack of self-dicipline). As it happened, the fourth day was my routine check-up appointment with my cardiologist (now I realised why he chose that date for the appointment!). My BP went from NORMAL to BORDERLINE. It took me one week of "morning walk" to return my BP to NORMAL. From that moment I won't let myself from skipping my "morning walk" ever again.