Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Khaifahalukum Riyadh?
Assalamu ‘Alaikum,
Khaifahalukum Riyadh?
It has been a hectic fortnight since we landed on our blessed land Malaysiaku on Thursday 2nd April. In between bouts of jet lag slumber got a call from a sister that we have not yet missed the groom reception of my niece’s recent wedding. Her wedding was on 19th March which we had to miss because we had to sit out in Riyadh till 1st April the date of our final exit from KSA. She was only our bridesmaid at our own wedding reception on September 11 2001.
Note the date? But that’s another story. Anyway she was quite upset when informed Uncle Zahid and Auntie Niera could not make it for her big day in KL. So when we learn we could still make it to her groom reception in Bukit Merah Perak, we picked ourselves up, dust away the jetlagged slumber and made the 4 wheeler trip to Perak on Friday night. The reception was noon Saturday, so late Friday night we transited at Auntie Esah’s Mountain View Resort in Lenggong Perak, our hometown. Actually Auntie Esah is my Dad’s cousin and her house is not called Mountain View Resort, but the view from our bedroom include misty blue hills of the Lenggong Valley we called it such. Auntie Esah’s lives alone since her husband and also our favourite Pakcik passed away a number of years back. Before he died Pakcik Roleb made sure the house he’s going to leave will have many rooms to house my siblings as we return to our kampong. Bless the man , Auntie Esah’s house has been our favourite transit Inn on our way to my wife’s hometown, Kota Baru or just for visits to my own kampong. Anyway I digressed, we mealed at Sungei Buluh Restoran Jejantas and Tapah R&R before reaching Lenggong. My thoughts were if I could wave a magic wand and transfer these R&R to the Saudi Highways I’m sure my Malaysian friends over there will be eternally grateful. A mischievous thought really, I’m certain the Saudi Authorities are already working on it.
Anyway the next morning Rombongan Cik Kiah, the Lenggong delegation comprising my family, my sis and hubby and a couple of other Aunties and relatives made the trip to Bukit Merah to join the Bride’s delegation at the Bukit Merah Resort. Shasha was radiant when she saw us, we quietly hope it will make up for missing her reception in KL. Resplendant in baju kenduri kahwin and sampin we were a trifle warm as the Mat Salleh might say. Mama took some face book pics which I’m sure are now already posted for all to view.
We decided to spend another night in Lenggong before returning to KL Sunday afternoon because Papa has to teach on Monday and Tuesday. Tired is not the correct word to describe the situation as I begin class on Monday morning, zombied is probably closer to the point. Thank goodness I enjoy teaching so the course proceeded smoothly. This time we had an Australian participant, Ron who heard about the Course from his KL lawyer friend. Ron has just begun a fascination with Islamic Financing and I do believe I’ll hear a lot more from him in the days to come. Whilst I was busy teaching Mama was busy with her specialty i.e. packing and unpacking. Whilst unpacking from Riyadh she had to pack for Lenggong. In the midst of packing for Penang which we shall leave for on Wednesday morning, the air cargo boxes arrived. It worried me no end how to solve the collection of the boxes from KLIA, quite apart from the storage charges since I can’t do much on Monday and Tuesday. So when this Freight Company offered to do everything and deliver to my home the 18 or so boxes for RM550 I quickly agreed. Alhamdulillah everything arrived safe and sound though we’re still too busy to check the TV and Khat picture frames. They looked okay, hopefully they are ok. The house lounge is not unlike a tongkang pecah with air cargo boxes occupying centre stage.
Yes we left for Penang on Wednesday noon. I had a Sukuk talk to deliver at Universiti Sains Malaysia followed by interviews and discussions with the Academic staff as to how to bring my practical Islamic Finance knowledge to the Academic world. The Head of the Business School is an old pal from school whilst not a few of the University’s top management are also from my old school mafia. I look forward to see how it will work out although being greeted as Professor Muhammad Zahid at the reception of Equatorial Hotel is not an unnice feeling.
After USM we headed to Batu Ferringhi for a much needed rest. Famous last words because rest is not in the vocabulary of three beach hungry and swimming pool starved kids. They digged at the sands and dived into adult section of the pool, floating wings and all like there’s no tomorrow. Only the horse rides and beach buggy rides could tear them away from the pool. The eldest girl nodded when I jokingly asked her whether she wanted to try the parasailing. Mama sulked when the kids wanted to defer Penang Hill until after the swimming is done. Eventually we went up Penang hill zombie eyed and all. For Mama and me it was a trip down memory lane. We did the hill train trip as a honeymoon couple eight years ago, now we are retracing the steps as a family of five. She did not agree however to a candle light dinner for five at the hotel later that night. After that Penang really is about food from Penang laksa to pesembor to mee udang and nasi kandar. Three years craving was settled over three days.
We left for home Sunday afternoon. Monday was kids schooling registration day. In between we managed a KTM commuter ride from Batu Tiga to KL Sentral to buy train tickets for Kota Baru on Thursday. Papa has talked so much about a train ride to Kota Baru, at last insyaAllah it will become a reality. Schooling in Kuala Kangsar, Papa really missed the KL-KK cowboy train rides which was regular fare during boarding school days. We booked a First Class Cabin to arrive in Wakaf Baru Kelantan at 10 am Friday morning insyaAllah. Return on Sunday will be by Air Asia. Papa is just too knackered to drive. Await our next report. Our salam to all.
Khaifahalukum Riyadh?
It has been a hectic fortnight since we landed on our blessed land Malaysiaku on Thursday 2nd April. In between bouts of jet lag slumber got a call from a sister that we have not yet missed the groom reception of my niece’s recent wedding. Her wedding was on 19th March which we had to miss because we had to sit out in Riyadh till 1st April the date of our final exit from KSA. She was only our bridesmaid at our own wedding reception on September 11 2001.
Note the date? But that’s another story. Anyway she was quite upset when informed Uncle Zahid and Auntie Niera could not make it for her big day in KL. So when we learn we could still make it to her groom reception in Bukit Merah Perak, we picked ourselves up, dust away the jetlagged slumber and made the 4 wheeler trip to Perak on Friday night. The reception was noon Saturday, so late Friday night we transited at Auntie Esah’s Mountain View Resort in Lenggong Perak, our hometown. Actually Auntie Esah is my Dad’s cousin and her house is not called Mountain View Resort, but the view from our bedroom include misty blue hills of the Lenggong Valley we called it such. Auntie Esah’s lives alone since her husband and also our favourite Pakcik passed away a number of years back. Before he died Pakcik Roleb made sure the house he’s going to leave will have many rooms to house my siblings as we return to our kampong. Bless the man , Auntie Esah’s house has been our favourite transit Inn on our way to my wife’s hometown, Kota Baru or just for visits to my own kampong. Anyway I digressed, we mealed at Sungei Buluh Restoran Jejantas and Tapah R&R before reaching Lenggong. My thoughts were if I could wave a magic wand and transfer these R&R to the Saudi Highways I’m sure my Malaysian friends over there will be eternally grateful. A mischievous thought really, I’m certain the Saudi Authorities are already working on it.
Anyway the next morning Rombongan Cik Kiah, the Lenggong delegation comprising my family, my sis and hubby and a couple of other Aunties and relatives made the trip to Bukit Merah to join the Bride’s delegation at the Bukit Merah Resort. Shasha was radiant when she saw us, we quietly hope it will make up for missing her reception in KL. Resplendant in baju kenduri kahwin and sampin we were a trifle warm as the Mat Salleh might say. Mama took some face book pics which I’m sure are now already posted for all to view.
We decided to spend another night in Lenggong before returning to KL Sunday afternoon because Papa has to teach on Monday and Tuesday. Tired is not the correct word to describe the situation as I begin class on Monday morning, zombied is probably closer to the point. Thank goodness I enjoy teaching so the course proceeded smoothly. This time we had an Australian participant, Ron who heard about the Course from his KL lawyer friend. Ron has just begun a fascination with Islamic Financing and I do believe I’ll hear a lot more from him in the days to come. Whilst I was busy teaching Mama was busy with her specialty i.e. packing and unpacking. Whilst unpacking from Riyadh she had to pack for Lenggong. In the midst of packing for Penang which we shall leave for on Wednesday morning, the air cargo boxes arrived. It worried me no end how to solve the collection of the boxes from KLIA, quite apart from the storage charges since I can’t do much on Monday and Tuesday. So when this Freight Company offered to do everything and deliver to my home the 18 or so boxes for RM550 I quickly agreed. Alhamdulillah everything arrived safe and sound though we’re still too busy to check the TV and Khat picture frames. They looked okay, hopefully they are ok. The house lounge is not unlike a tongkang pecah with air cargo boxes occupying centre stage.
Yes we left for Penang on Wednesday noon. I had a Sukuk talk to deliver at Universiti Sains Malaysia followed by interviews and discussions with the Academic staff as to how to bring my practical Islamic Finance knowledge to the Academic world. The Head of the Business School is an old pal from school whilst not a few of the University’s top management are also from my old school mafia. I look forward to see how it will work out although being greeted as Professor Muhammad Zahid at the reception of Equatorial Hotel is not an unnice feeling.
After USM we headed to Batu Ferringhi for a much needed rest. Famous last words because rest is not in the vocabulary of three beach hungry and swimming pool starved kids. They digged at the sands and dived into adult section of the pool, floating wings and all like there’s no tomorrow. Only the horse rides and beach buggy rides could tear them away from the pool. The eldest girl nodded when I jokingly asked her whether she wanted to try the parasailing. Mama sulked when the kids wanted to defer Penang Hill until after the swimming is done. Eventually we went up Penang hill zombie eyed and all. For Mama and me it was a trip down memory lane. We did the hill train trip as a honeymoon couple eight years ago, now we are retracing the steps as a family of five. She did not agree however to a candle light dinner for five at the hotel later that night. After that Penang really is about food from Penang laksa to pesembor to mee udang and nasi kandar. Three years craving was settled over three days.
We left for home Sunday afternoon. Monday was kids schooling registration day. In between we managed a KTM commuter ride from Batu Tiga to KL Sentral to buy train tickets for Kota Baru on Thursday. Papa has talked so much about a train ride to Kota Baru, at last insyaAllah it will become a reality. Schooling in Kuala Kangsar, Papa really missed the KL-KK cowboy train rides which was regular fare during boarding school days. We booked a First Class Cabin to arrive in Wakaf Baru Kelantan at 10 am Friday morning insyaAllah. Return on Sunday will be by Air Asia. Papa is just too knackered to drive. Await our next report. Our salam to all.
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