The end of my vacation in Malaysia - Entry #5

My holiday has come to the end – sad. What a holiday! If there is one word for me to describe it, it has to be, well, - satisfied. I am satisfied with many aspects of the holidays, be it the ones I planned or even certain circumstances that have taken place, which turned to be great in the end. There is no need for me to go into the details, but to some close friends - you know what I mean. To certain extent; it has somewhat improved me to be a calmer person. I managed to eat what I wanted to eat (so much so I gained weight)

I am catapulting the time now to share with you that I am at Doha International Airport (at least at the time this entry is composed), 8 hours after I said good by to mak, abah and all. I am not that impressed by this airport (how could they beat KL in hosting the Asian Games 2006 when the infrastructures are not as good). Matthias called me (about work, yes, work has started… *sigh*) and he said, “Kill your time by going shopping.” Yeah as if there are a lot to do here – to be duty free shopping is over-rated, the idea of believing that there’s so much value for money for every single items displayed there, would drive you to at least own something only to realize that you don’t really need it. As for Doha Airport, the shops - I can count the number of shops worth going for. All I thought about was to get some postcards since Itamar collects them. Anyway, I am not in the mood really. I think, I am better off killing the time surfing the net.

Yesterday, 30/03/2008 was the last day of my holiday and also the last day of me being in kampung. As always, I would put packing to the very last minute. The weather was really hot yesterday, I could not remember how many times I went to the bathroom to shower. For whatever reason, the rain didn't seem to be hitting the grounds. Finally, I borrowed by sister's car and off I went to get my hair cut. While I was in Kuala Pilah, it was like I was transported into teenage years and I recorded some photos – while I was in the barber shop for my haircut, some photos of the Kuala Pilah town itself, made way back back - detoured to Seri Menanti to check out the palace etc.

+ Pekan Kuala Pilah

+ I have always noticed this very old façade for ages. It was so apparently to me this time around when they had enhanced the colors. For whatever reason, my brains cannot really process the old motifs having been repainted boldly as above.

+ Kuala Pilah Bus Station – we have seen this in the other entry. It used to be old, it got a new facelift a few years ago and now, it looks quite dashing for a small town. On monthly basis we’d see army STJ students crowding the stand to hop on buses to Seremban for their monthly break away from the madness at the hostel – including me.

+ One piece of memory really – the shop called Abdul Hamid charts a good memory. I worked here right after SPM. I washed dishes. I am not certain how much I made at that time – a couple of hundreds a month I think.

+ The signage back to my place from Kuala Pilah – Tanjung Ipoh. Apparently, it is named after the Ipoh trees which are known to produce poisonous latex that is typically used when going hunting.

+ Masjid Sri Mungkal – the masjid located at the T-junction on the way to Seri Menanti. This is the masjid I normally frequent with my abah. Every year, the whole family will solat Aidilfitri here as well.

+ Upwell – a new shopping centre so to speak. I stopped here to get a few things to bring back to Ireland – mainly the instant Aik Cheong coffee and some instant teh-tarik!

+ This is me – visiting the same old mamak shop whenever I am back in kampong. It is really value for money – RM6.00 for the haircut. If that is not value for money, I don’t know what is!

+ Masjid Kuala Pilah – normally when we go to for our rounds of visits to relatives’ during Hari Raya, we’d stop at this masjid when we are sure we can’t make it home for Magrhib.

+ Check out the amount of rending cooked by mak. It’s a lot and it’s delicious. :) I felt bad when she noticed I did not pack enough! And she went ahead to double the amount I was taking away with me.

+ Istana Seri Menanti – this is the main attraction of my kampong actually. Tanjung Ipoh is my “new” kampong as I hailed from Kampong Talang (hence the name of the blog). This is famous palace and still being used by Negeri Sembilan royal families for functions etc. It is specially known for it was built using absolutely no nails at all!

+ I once climbed the palace to the top deck – breathtaking view from high above. I felt a bit strange in the palace, there is something eerie about the place I think, especially when you entered the huge kamar beradu (or bedrooms, it was more like a chamber to me). Rumour has it, there used to be a bottle there (it’d better be a small one), that is full of hair – interestingly, there is only one strand of hair that makes up the whole volume in the bottle. I did not see that when I was there.

+ Before I left he palace I noticed a nice old house with an interesting name.

Finally, I am so ever grateful to be able to spend some quality time with family and friends. I spent great quality time with mak & abah in kampung. Not to mention to engage in business talks with my sisters and Abg Jeff - insya'Allah I pray that whatever you have in your mind will come to fruition eventually. Mak & abah - thanks for taking the trouble to ensure that I got everything that I wanted to eat, from the very night I arrived home till yesterday.

Faiz, Carlos, Agoy, Mak Wan, Kodek, Rozai - that was simply great time we had, no matter what we did. But a couple of things that are stuck in my mind - karaoke at E-Box and Tg Malim trip for the pau! Those were just beyond madness. And also, thanks for the Kancil :) Kodek, THANKS a lot - I can't thank you enough. You were there when I needed a friend most. Only the best of things I wish upon you! You deserve that. Not to forget - Shidah, Naz and Nazran or Nazritz (new nick based on the stuff that happened to him at Parkson KLCC!) *ops; I am sure we will meet again. We planned to do many things, insya'Allah some of those will be materialized. I can't wait to mechanise that lecture Shidah :) Also to Rozita, my dear friend, how very apt to have you at a point when I needed someone so bad. You always give me the best perspective of things - you would always be the best friend one could ever ask for. Azmi/Kak G, Rafi and family - it was great to have that mini reunion after those years.

OK now, I am back to killing these few hours before boarding my next flight from Doha. Arghh... I can predict the days ahead of me now - rather hectic. I will try my best to succumb to the requirement or hard work and to perform beyond expectation for the next few days so that I can be back in Dublin soon. I simply feel that I need to be back in Dublin.

God, grant me that wish.

** Continuation **

I arrived in Khartoum at 5:00 pm, local time. I called the driver and he said “Mr Matthias told me it is 6:40 pm” You know what. I could picture that Matthias had written 1640 hrs and he mistook it for 6:40 pm. Sometimes there was no use to argue and feel frustrated anymore. I felt numb. I was impressed, I could control myself, after 17 hrs of travelling and the driver made me wait for close to 2 hrs. But thank god there was Faris who called me and we talked about a few business ventures! I mean potential business ventures. He sounded serious. So was I.

I arrived at the apartment at quarter to 7:00 pm. I quickly changed and went jogging for 1/2 hr. That felt good. I want to shed off the extra kilograms (if there is any), but I feel that I need to pick up exercising again – to feel healthy. I jogged for 1/2, I guess that is a good start. Well it was not a good idea to jog. When I got home, I felt as if tonnes of sands are stuck in my throat. I think I inhaled them as I jogged. It was just dusty everywhere, and the temperature of 40C doesn't help!

Now it is quarter to 10 pm. I want to retire for the night already. I have not ironed my shirt for tomorrow. I will do it tomorrow morning. All I need now is to get some sleep. Enough sleep!