Kasut oh Kasut Part 2

Acik has been bothering me for weeks now to get his new pair of sport shoes. It was during our venture to find his new pair of sport shoes that tumble the pair Alain Delon shoes which I bought for myself. Yes he has been pestering me almost everyday to go to a shoe store named J.J. Chain at Wangsa Maju. We did go to the store before the Chinese New Year but it was closed. Acik was very disappointed. Especially when I got mine but he didn't get his. What a pity.

So today, not sure whether out of pity or out of love I took him and Angah to the shop. Angah pulak sibuk kata yang kasut sport shoes dia pun dah tak elok. So I bundle the 2 of them into the cars and went to the shoe store. Luckily it is open. Acik hurriedly went into the shop grinning. His mission is half achieved.

There was sale of 10% ~50% of certain shoes. Acik has been aiming a pair of Adidas shoes that was used by one of his football star "Massie". I'm not a great fan of football and Massie doesn't ring me a bell at all. But Acik has been pestering me for weeks to get him a pair of what Massie is wearing. He even surfed the net and even showed me the pictures (see below).

Someone used to tell me "You should visualised things you want to have or things you want to become ". And I guess he has been doing that. And today he got what he has been visualising all this while. Tapi kopak jugak lah poket bapak dia.


The picture Acik download from the net.
Model Adidas F5.8 In.


And the shoes he got today. That's visualisation.

It's the original Adidas shoes that cost me RM134.90 after
less 10%.




Massie oh Massie. Pasal kau kopak aku seratus lebih.

By the way, Angah yang menyibuk ikut tadi pun sibuk nak one pair of shoes himself. A pair for him to play futsal or basketball. The one that he has already worn out. So rather that hearing another pestering by him for many other weeks, I just bought him a pair. He chosen Nike brand.

Nike Court Shuttle II.


Also cost me another RM143.90 after les 10%.

Now both of them grinning coming out from the sport shoe store thanking me for buying them the shoes. Acik dream of having the Adidas shoes that his favorite Massie comes true.

Amr Diab

At times I do listen to music. Somehow Amr Diab songs kept coming into my mind recently. So I googled in www.imeem.com and got some of his songs. Truly I can say that Amr Diab is one of my favorite Arab singer. Before this I can never appreciate modern Arabic songs until I listen to him. I guess he is one of the top singer in the Arab world.

Listen to his songs flies my mind else where. I'm into other world. Forget all the things that sometimes bothering my mind.

Enjoy.....

Happy Chinese New Year

We have not been going for dinner for quite sometimes now. The last trip out was at "Kopitiam Kawan" in Bangi. And since this is a long weekend, I took the opportunity to bring the kids out for dinner.

Not only that, I had some money for the kids since they got paid for some things they had done something for me earlier. So I told them we could go out for dinner somewhere to spend the money.

There were a couple of choices the kids can go. 1. Go to eat Satay Kajang Hj Samuri or 2. Go to "Cheng Ho' that serves a Chinese Muslim food. Well because it happened to be the eve of Chinese New Year, I said why not try Chinese Food.

Anyway it was drizzling after Maghrib when we wanted to go out. So I thought instead why not we go to eat satay at Hj Samuri in Melati Utama, which is nearby to our place. However when we arrived, the place was packed with people. Luckily Melati Utama offers lots of eating place. There is Old Town White Coffee , Kelfood (Kelantanese cusine), Thai House, The Templer (Chinese Muslim Food), and a few other.

The kids suggested that we go to Memory Corner - a kopitiam-type of restaurant. Well why not? After all it's their money they are going to spend.

The kids waiting for their order.



Coke with Choc Ice Cream, Mango juice, Chocolate Blended,
Sour Soup & Guava and Blended Sour Sop.





Mine: Tauhu Pok Bakar -- sedap jugak


Mimi's: Chicken Sizzling Yee Mee.



Acik's : Penang Kuey Teow Soup


Angah's : Chicken Chop with Flavoured Rice - macam Nasi Ayam lah tu.


Along's Chicken Chop.

Overall the food was nothing brag about. Well it might fills up your tummy but if I got a choice, I'll take the kids else where later.

Rating :
Ambiance : 3 stars.
Service : 3 stars.
Food : 3 stars
Drinks : 2 stars.

Kasut oh Kasut

Do you agree with me that men only need a pair of dressed shoes for work, one for sport or casual and a slipper. That's all. Not only that but they will only change it when its either worn off or get stolen. But women needs 10 pairs for each occasions. And they will buy more but only wear it once or twice. I always wonder why, why and why?

Anyway I have been wanting to buy a new pair of shoe since ages. I wanted it for a change and replace my old one which I bought easily 4 or 5 years ago. The pair that I have wearing is actually "weared off". I realized that there is a small hole at the bottom. The side had also "torn a bit". Well it was supposed to be a leather shoe but then again I realized that it was not 100% leather. Some part of it "looks like leather".

Anyway since I realized I need a pair (since many moons ago) but I just couldn't find either the right size, right pattern, right price or the right time to go for shopping.

The idea of getting a new pair of shoe was put off for a while until today. I was taking my 3 kids to Alpha Angle in Wanga Maju and in Jaya Jusco there was a sale. However not many men shoes were on sale. But there were a couple of shoes that caught my eyes.

Alain Delon ...boleh lah tahan brand dia.

They placed the shoes just right beside the exit escalator . I saw them when we wanted to go out. Well one thing with me is that, when I saw a nice good pair I would instantly decide to buy. What more if it give a 50% off. My oh my! That would be good deal.

Cool shoes for RM360 with a 50% discount.

From RM360 and with 50% discount, it would only cost me RM180. That a cool deal for me. So without hesistant, I request the sales person to give me a size 6 for a try. Walla.. it fit and there goes my credit card.

My new pair that would last me for the next 4 years hehehe....

So I guess I would be walking high with my new shoes this wednesday.

In Rememberance of My Beloved Sayang, Wife, Mother and Friend.

It was Saturday 4.15 pm. 5 January 2008. It was the time and date that have changed my life and the life of my 4 kids for ever. Today is exactly one year my dearest Sayang have left us. It was the day she had succumbed to Breast Cancer after 4 years 7 months of endurance. And today is exactly one year of her passing.

I still vividly remember that very moments she left us. I was besides her. So were the kids and our siblings. We gathered around her bed in anticipation of last breathe. She had shown all the signs that she was leaving us. I was hesitant to let her go but deep inside me, I had too. She had suffered so much in my very own eyes.

Whilst taking care of her, I saw her squirming of pain she had to endure but without any verbal communication. She can't speak then. Even if she speaks I can hardly hear or understand what she was saying. I had to inject her with painkiller and drugs as instructed by the nurse, just to keep her calm from the intense pain. I pity her. I cared for her.

Ky is the most positive person that I had ever known in my life. She is a very outgoing and independent person. Also the happy go lucky kind of person. She is loved by so many people around her. She had touched so many souls. And her passing was missed by so many people.

I remembered telling her that she and I will go thru this ordeal together. - for better or for worst. That was my promise that I made to her the day Dr Kamal, the Oncologist and Dr Anis, the surgeon, broke the news in the hospital room in SJMC sometimes in May 2004. I vividly remembered that she didn't cry hearing the new. She was a tough lady. I didn't know what to do or what to think then. I felt the world had gone upside down. Everything seems to go against us. But she stayed cool. But I believe Allah loves her more than we do. So that's why He took away her from us.

So this morning, after sending Mimi for her 1st day of school this year, I got my silent moment at her resting place. No one was at the graveyard except me.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Sayang,

Yes it has been one year you left us. Even though we were reluctant to let you leave us, but Allah loves you more. Allah has found you a better place to rest while you wait for us.

As for the kids, I have taken care for them as I have promised you. Don't worry about them as I will take care of them. After all they are my kids too remember! They are growing up but I never forget to remind them to think of you. I always reminded them to see you at your pusara and also to read at Al Fatihah for you whenever they remember you. I always reminded them your advise whenever they did something wrong.

I never forget to praise Allah and request Him to forgive you and me. As He is the only one who can Forgive what we have done.

And today is 5 January 2009. Exactly a year you left us. You might not be with us anymore Sayang but surely you will be in my heart forever and ever. And no one can get you away from me. Till we meet in Jannah - my prayers and doa will always be for you.

May you be in a place amongst the chosen one by Allah.

Missed you so much.

Abang.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day 4 - Destination Sg Petani & Taiping & Kuala Sepetang

It's our fourth day of the trip. After checking out from Seri Malaysia, we headed to Kuala Kedah. Azlee mentioned to go to Mee Abas as he said they serve good noodle there. Unfortunately it was closed when we arrived.

From Kuala Kedah we head off for Sg Petani thru' Yan. The route was free from traffic and the scenery was amazing with lots more Sawah Padi. A sight to behold.

Sawah padi - sejauh mata memandang.


A sight to behold - green, green and green...

Our next destination is Tanjung Dawai. A colleage told me that there's a lot of ikan masin and ikan bilis sold there. As I'm a fan of this ikan masin and ikan bilis, and with the exploration mission in mind, we went there.

Arriving Tg Dawai, it was not much to see and visit. It's just a very small town near the seaside. Since we got there, we brought some ikan masin and some keropok. The prices of ikan bilis and ikan masin is not that cheap either.

Our next destination is Lembah Bujang. An office colleage told me that there is an Archeology Museum which is rarely found in Malaysia. It is a site of olden Hindu temple or Chandi. It was building hundred of years ago by the imigrants I supposed.

Anway, we arrived there about 11.00am. The place was quite hilly and it took some effort for us to climb the hill. After taking some pictures just to signifies that we had been there, we took off.

The kids at some of the ancient stones craving.


Mimi infront of one of the Chandi (temple).


The biggest Chandi there.

The next destination is Taiping but we have to fill up our tummy first. Thus our next plan was to have lunch at R&R on the way to Taiping. We stopped at Juru R&R and had lunch and did our Zuhur prayers. Arrived Taiping about 3.00pm. The first place to visit is the Taiping Zoo. I never been to Taiping Zoo but from what I heard it is a good place to bring the kids. Except for the entrace fees which I think is a bit expensive, the place is worth to go. Comparing to the Hulu Klang Zoo, Taiping zoo is a bit smaller but more compact with animals. We took the train ride throughout the zoo. I guess when you are too tired to walk, a train ride is a complement to it.

The zoo is well kept and the animals (eventhough not as many as Hulu Klang Zoo) are well taken care off. I did took some pictures of these animals.

The Ostrichs.


The Zebras.


The Seladangs.


The Giraffes.

At the exit of the Zoo, there was a place where you take pictures with a hugh python. Mimi was so excited to see it and immediately told me that she wanted to take a pic with the python. I was not a fan of snakes. Geli brother... eeeee....

Anyway she pursuade me to get her picture taken with the snake. I asked Along, Angah and Acik and even Bibik if they want to take picture with the python and none of them want it. Semua takut. I pun...

Look at Mimi smiling and excited taking picture with the hugh python.


I tumpang saja lah ambil gambar tapi takut nak pegang ular eeee...

We exited Taiping Zoo about 4 pm something. Next we drove around to see what Taiping has to offer. Nothing much indeed. Except for the Taiping Lake Garden which was quite nice, nothing much to see.

So we headed off to Kuala Sepetang. I had never in my life been to Kuala Sepetang although I had heard of the name. Azlee, my travel advisor told me that I should not miss the Mee Udang at Kuala Sepetang. He even gave me the phone number of Mee Udang Mak Teh. He told me to call the place first to book a table and order what we want to eat. I called and make a reservation - macam reservation kat hotel pulak...

Kuala Sepetang is about half an hour drive from Taiping. We just follow the sign board to the place. Since the road is quite remote, I called Azlee to find out whether I was in the right direction. Truely enough we were on the right track. We got the right stall. I didnlt expect much but it was just a kampung stall. But wait till they serve us.

I was greeted by a lady and I told her that I was the one who called. She told me to sit and they will serve in a short while.

What truely amaze me is their serving of the prawn. Really tempting and full with prawns. I ordered 4 mee udang and 2 mee goreng. When the ordered arrived, Acik counted teh prawns in his plate. He had 13 pieces of udangs.

Of course as usual Mimi and Acik instructed me and Bibik to peels the shell skin. The kids really enjoyed the mee udang and mee goreng with full of udang. I guess this is the first time ever we had mee udang full of udang. Azlee did mentioned to me that "kena selak udang baru jumpa mee dia". True enough.

I have gout, but looking at the udang serving, I balun jer lah.. lepas tu makan ubat later.

The arrival of the mee udang. Best nyer.


13 pieces of prawns in each plate.


Best nyer makan mee udang.


The peeled shell skin itself filled up 2 big plates.

After Kuala Sepetang, it was time for us to leave for KL. Mimi insisted that we stay in Taiping but I told her there's nothing much to see there. We might as well go back home and rest the next day. We arrived home about 9.00 pm. Had a nice trip.

My comments about the whole trip:

1. I guess this is the best ever trip that we've been as a family. No rushing for time as I took quite a long leave.
2. I truely enjoyed the places that we visited.
3. The kids didn't quarrelled in the car - that's a bonus.Well there's a few instances but was under control.
4. I went to places I haven't been before.
5. Quite an experience for the kids. I guess they enjoyed it too.
6. No major disappoinment.
7. It didn't ripped off my pocket as well.
   

Acik & Mimi : "Ayah nanti kita pergi Sarawak dan Sabah pulak ya?????"
Ayah : Hmmmm... ok lah awak semua kumpul duit kita nak kapalterbang pulak ok.

Day 3 - Destination Alor Star

It's the third day of our family trip. After 2 days in Perlis, it's now time to proceed to Kedah. A few people told me that there's nothing much to see in Kedah. But the thing is, if you don't explore you won't see things, right? And our trip is the exploration trip. So we will explore then we know which is the places that interest us.

I purposely took the trunk road instead of the highway. I wanted the kids to see the kampungs, padi fields, jungle, sea and whatever can be seen throughout our journey. It's supposed to be an adventurous trip. So be it.

From Kangar, we went to Kuala Perlis thru' Kuala Sanglang to Alor Star. I wanted to go to the Muzium Padi in Gunung Keriang. It may takes us about an hour or so. Along the way, we saw beautiful that my my kids had never seen. Vast area of padi fields... miles and miles of it. Believe me it's the greens that makes me feel so calm and relax. And more amazing was that from Kuala Perlis to Kuala Sanglang, we could see padi fields on the of the road and sea on the right. To me that's amazing.

I did called my Travel Advisor, Azlee if we are on the right track to Gunung Keriang where the Muzium Padi is. Azlee recommended me to go. Finally with Azlee's direction and the tricky sign boards, we managed to get there.

Obviously Muzium padi is in the middle of the kampung with vast area of padi fields. It was about 10.00 am when we arrived.

What interest me in the Muzium was the wall was painted 360 degrees in the building. Believe me, it was an amazing painting of the surrounding area of Gunung Keriang. Picture it as if you are standing on top of Gunung Keriang. I

f I were to describe it in word it will be "Magnificent and Amazing". I took the opportunity to speak to the guy attending the muzium. He mentioned that it took 46 Korean painters to paint the scenery in 6 months. But these people were there for a total of 2 years to experience and observe the changes of padi season and the kampung activities throughout the 2 years. And as a result, you can see some of the pictures that I took down here. The painting looks so real and I can just sit there for hours to appreciate it.

Musim menanam padi.


Suasana Kampung.


Keramaian di kampung.



Jual menjual Padi.

The painting looks so real.


Mimi & Acik appreciating the kampung and padi fields scenery.


Peladang Jaya tahun 2008 - Acik & Mimi







Kerbau bajak - the kids never seen what a kerbau & bajuk meant before.

After Muzium Padi, we headed nearby to Gunung Keriang Park. Azlee told me that if I want to buy some crystal stones, I should go there. So here we go. IAfterall it's very nearby to the Muzium.

Well there are some interesting crystal stone but not something that I would not want to buy to accumulate dust in my house.

Some a white, some are reddish brown and a few a green.

We left Gunung Keriang about 12.00 noon and wanted to find somewhere to eat. Since we are already nearby to Alor Star, I planned to take the kids for lunch at the Alor Star Tower's Revolving Restaurant.

From what I read Alor Star Tower is the second highest Ccmmunication tower after KL Tower. And I think the kids would had their first experience having lunch in the Revolving Restaurant on top of Alor Star. What an experience.

The kids in front of Alor Star Tower.






Acik appreciating Alor Star view from the Tower.


The kids first experience having lunch in the Revolving Restaurant
on top of Alor Star Tower.

We finished our lunch by about 2.oopm and left for Pasar Rabu. That was one of the itenirary in Alor Star. Angah was very curious and kept asking me why it is called Pasar Rabu. I mean he really asked me like 5 times ok. It's hari Ahad and it supposed to be called Pasar Ahad. Or why not just call it just Pasar Seni like the one in KL. Why must it be called Pasar Rabu????? Susah lak nak explain to him. I told him may be it the Pasar started every hari Rabu but since it is so popular it continue to have it everyday until today. So that's why they name it Pasar rabu. You readers have any suggestion how to answer this?

Anyway Pasar Rabu only filled up with food stuffs like dodol, kuih-kuih kering, all types of kacang, tudung, baju melayu and all the malay stuff. Bought some dodol and also freshly baked kuih bahulu. The still hot kuih bahulu was great and the kids finished it in no time.

Then we left Pasar Rabu to check in the hotel at Seri Malaysia. I really need the rest and sleep. Told the kids to rest until Magrhib for dinner.

Farita, my office colleage to me that there lots of stalls near the Stadium besides our hotel. And we did just that. We had our dinner there. The prices were reasonable. Everybody ordered whatever they want to eat. Acik ordered watermelon juice - size L. I wonder how big it is. It's hugh for him - see below.

Acik with the L size watermelon juice.

Early next morning, I decided to leave Alor Star - since there is nothing much to see there. I decided to take the kids to Lembah Bujang near Sg Petani again using the truck road from Kuala Kedah to Sg Petani. Now you might aske why Lembah Bujang, Then you need to read our next destination.

Having breakfast at Seri Malaysia before leaving for Lembah Bujang.


Took a shot infront of the Alor Star old Mosque.


Infront of the Alor Star Balai Nobat.