Family Day @ Putrajaya Lake Recreation Centre

Our office held an enjoyable Family Day in Putrajaya last Saturday.

The venue was the Putrajaya Lake Recreation Centre in Precinct 13.

Nothing elaborate. There were some games for the kids but for the rest of the time people were free to do their own activities. Some did a spot of fishing, others took to the paddle boats while others went on a motorised boat ride.

The climax of the day was when food was served. Lots of ikan bakar, and lots more kambing golek (grilled lamb).

Surat dari Apak: 24hb Sept. 1979

In this posting, I will reproduce Apak's letter written to me 32 years ago.

As Apak grew older and frail, he could not engage in lengthy conversations as a result of a minor stroke he'd suffered. In fact, even before that, Apak was a man of a few words.

I have chosen to share this letter so that my siblings and I could be reminded of our dearly departed father. It is also to let my children know better the man they fondly call Atok. 

Through this letter, and perhaps the few more to come, we can get to know his thoughts, his joys and his concerns in his very own words. 

Hopefully, this will make us understand him better, and be ever more grateful to the man who was our pillar of strength and sole provider for our little family.

This letter is the very first one from Apak to me after I had first set foot in England at the age of 18 years old. It was posted from Teluk Anson on 25 Sept. 1979. I received it eight days later on 3rd Oct. 1979. It was type-written on a 30₵ Pos Malaysia aerogramme.

24hb. Sept. 1979

Anakenda yang dikasihi,

Surat anakenda yang bertarikh 16/9 telah sampai di pejabat ayahenda pada 22/9 tetapi oleh kerana pada 22/9 ayahenda telah pergi ke Tapah dan tidak pergi ke pejabat, hari ini baru ayahenda dan bonda dapat membacanya.

Anakenda, bonda dan adinda semuanya sangat berasa gembira mendapat berita dari anakenda dan ayahenda dan bonda bersyukur ke hadrat Allah kerana anakenda telah selamat sampai ke tempat yang dituju dan sudahpun mula merasa susah senangnya tinggal di negeri asing. Walau bagaimanapun ayahenda dan bonda senantiasa berdoa moga-moga anakenda senantiasa sihat sejahtera dan bergembira di sini di samping mengejar ilmu pengetahuan yang berguna demi untuk kebaikan dan keselesaan hidup anakenda pada masa hadapan.

Ayahenda, bonda dan adinda semua sihat-sihat sahaja. Bonda Zauyah masih belum bersalin lagi. Dia, Pak Ngah dan adinda Aida juga sihat semuanya.

Pada malam 9/9 yang lalu  selepas kapalterbang anakenda bertolak, kami semua tidur di rumah ninda Haji Umar. Pagi esoknya bondanya membeli-belah sedikit di K.L. dan pada lebihkurang jam 11.30 pagi kami bertolak dari K.L. ke T.A. singgah makan tengahari di T.M. dan selamat sampai di rumah jam 2.45 petang pada 10/9. Ninda berdua tidur semalam lagi di T.A. dan balik ke Ipoh pada pagi 11/9. Pah Itahnya ayahenda hantar sehingga ke feri Kampong Gajah sahaja pada petang 11/9 dan dari situ dia ke Bota menaiki bas.

Pada masa di Lapangan Terbang, masa menunggu penerbangan kapalterbang anakenda itu, bondanya menangis sahaja sehinggakan dia tertarikkan selindang seorang perempuan lain yang berdiri dekatnya untuk mengesat air matanya.

Azizul pula terpesorok duduk di hadapan orang ramai di tepi railing, berpeluh-peluh tidak bergerak hinggalah orang ramai mula beransur turun. Di belakang ayahenda pula rupanya terdiri Cikgu Mansor, bapa Yazid, kawan anakenda di K.K. dulu. Tentulah anakenda ada berjumpa dengan Yazid dalam kapalterbang itu. Kami juga nampak menteri Tan Sri Manikavasagam dan DYMM Raja Perlis juga sama terbang ke England dalam k/terbang yang anakenda naiki itu.

Baju, kain dan kain selimut yang kali akhir anakenda pakai di rumah ayahenda Zabidi di K.L. dulu masih belum dibasuh oleh bondanya lagi. Sekali sekala, apakala perasaan rindunya terhadap anakenda mendatang, baju dan kain itu dipeluk dan diciumnya puas-puas. Tidur malam dia berselimut dengan kain selimut anakenda. 

Ayahenda sendiri  juga kadangkala terjaga malam dan terkenangkan anakenda. Tetapi apa yang hendak dikatakan. Selepas ayahenda mengingat kembali pengalaman ayahenda di masa ayahenda di Maktab dulu, dan selepas ayahenda berdoa ke hadrat Allah agar anakenda selamat sejahtera dan berjaya dalam segala cita-cita anakenda, barulah fikiran ayahenda berasa tenang dan dapat tidur semula. Ayahenda percaya anakenda juga berperasaan demikian, terkenangkan adik-adik di rumah dan sebagainya. Ayahenda cuma dapat menasihatkan supaya anakenda bersabar dan berserah kepada Allah yang Maha Pengasih dan Maha Penyayang.

Setelah membaca surat anakenda itu, bondanya berasa seronok mendengar cerita anakenda dan kawan-kawan masak lauk ayam. Bondanya teringin pula hendak merasanya. "Mestilah sedap" katanya. Tetapi bondanya berasa risau pula tentang sewa rumah yang anakenda duduki itu begitu mahal setelah ayahenda taksirkan dengan wang Malaysia. Adakah sewa sebanyak £28 itu bahagian anakenda seorang sahaja ataupun berkongsi dengan kawan-kawan lain? Jika berkongsi, berapa £ bahagian yang akaenda kena bayar? Jika dikira perbelanjaan sebulan, adakah elaun yang diberi oleh JPA itu mencukupi?  

Sudahkah anakenda mula belajar di kolej? Jika sudah mula, pukul berapa pergi dan pukul berapa balik? Sudahkah anakenda membeli pakaian sejuk yang mustahak dipakai di sini? Kami ingin tahu semua yang tersebut di atas oleh itu, sila ceritakan dalam surat anakenda yang akan datang ini.

Sekian dahulu dari kami di sini. Salam peluk cium dari kami dan adik-adik semua.



Ayahenda

Delightful Lumut

Last week I headed to Damai Laut, near Lumut, for a workshop on Structure Plan preparation. Yeah, it's work related...nothing much to do with recreation, unfortunately.

But a short trip to downtown Lumut allowed me to enjoy the delightful little town and helped to clear my mind of work for a bit.

Lumut is a coastal town with a population 31,000 located in the District of Manjung, Perak.

It is fairly famous in its own right, Lumut. It is the home base of the Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia and houses the  Naval Dockyard. And of course, it is the gateway to the well-known Pangkor Island.

It is not that big a town. The main shopping area comprises two streets both running parallel to the beachfront. But it oozes some class and has a dignified air about it. It is not only clean and pleasant, but its waterfront is a surprising attraction that one would not normally associate with a small seaside towns in Malaysia (think Kuala Kedah, or Kuala Perlis).

The Lumut Waterfront is a great place to have a walkabout. It is not as big and elaborate as the Kuching Waterfront, but yet it is simple, functional and very presentable as in being aesthetically-pleasing. A plus point is that it was cleverly designed to capitalize on the views towards the water. Supporting facilities are great, too. The toilet is clean and airy - definitely an A+ !

I remember when I was small, Apak would regularly take us to Lumut for its annual Pesta Laut Lumut. Thousands of visitors would throng this small town during this festival. In the days well before Jom Heboh! was created, I guess that was the only means for ordinary folks to have a dose of entertainment and recreation.

The District of Manjung in those days was still called Dindings District. Even much earlier, I mean like in the 1870s, Dindings was part of the Federated Malays States of Penang.

How come! you might ask?

Well it is a result of the infamous Pangkor Declaration in 1874. The Declaration had widespread impact on the history of the Malay Peninsula. It marked the beginning of British intervention in administration of Malay States.

But that is another story for another day.

For now, enjoy some pics of the Lumut waterfront.

Clean, pleasant walkway

Cleverly-designed public toilet complete with a small retail outlet where the shopkeeper doubles as the "gatekeeper" who collects 50 sen form each person who uses the toilet

Plenty of shades and seating areas along the walkway

Korean urbanscape

The Land of the Morning Calm. That's what they call Korea. 

It is a name befitting a nation with a history and culture dating back thousands of years. And when one visits this proud nation, one is sure to be reminded of the rich history and culture of Korea.

I was told by a senior Malaysian Embassy official that the Koreans are on a deliberate campaign to promote all things Korea: from food to music, and from fashion to sports. It is a way of making Korea forever relevant and on the world  map of major international events. Yes, now you know why the K-pop groups and Korean dramas are seemingly invading the local entertainment scenes?

My few visits to Korea has afforded me to observe another aspect of Korean culture - the town planning and its urbanscapes.

An arerial view of a Korean city would not offer much in terms of a feast for the eyes of the architects and planners. The buildings look boxy and whitish all around as far as the eyes can see. It is only when one walks the streets that a Korean city like Seoul would reveal its gems.

Urban pocket parks, city-centre streams, miles and miles of cycling and walking tracks along river banks, and trees lining the steets which would turn all red or yellow when the autumn season comes. These are some of the offerings of the Korean urbanscape that you can expect.

Potted plants in front of a convention centre near Incheon

Man-made water body complements a park in Songdo City

Public art sculputre in front pf convention centre in Sonngdo City

Pavement directional signage in Nam Daemun, a traditional shopping area in Seoul

A new park in Songdo City near Incheon

A city centre urban park in Seoul. This one is located in between two three-laned highways. It has lawns, flower plants, and water features

The same urban park in Seoul. You can see how popular it is with visitors

Cycle path and shrubs bordering a four-laned urban highway in New Songdo City near Incheon

Yummy ikan terubuk

 

What's your favourite fish? For me, the shad, or ikan terubuk, would be amongst the top of the list.

The terubuk is an estuarine fish. It is full of bones no doubt, but its white flesh is soft and tastes quite unlike any other fish you'd find at the market. I don't know how to describe it (i just know how to eat) but its kinda lemak and ohhh...

But because of its bones, some people would never even take a second look at terubuk. They find it too difficult to eat! Which is just fine by me. I'll just have them all to myself, thank you very much :)

My love for terubuk started a very early age. I remember when we were staying in Bota Kanan, Apak used to bring fresh terubuk home for Emak to grill. The smell of the fish oil as it drips off in the grilling process was enough to make me drool in anticipation of a fine feast. We used to take the terubuk with some air asam. Mmmm..I'm starting to salivate now just thinking about it.

Sarawak terubuk is very famous for being amongst the tastiest in Malaysia. Their salted terubok is also much sought-after by visitors and tourists to the state. Where to get them? Just head to Pasar Satok and take your pick.

The photo above shows salted Sarawak terubuk at a market in Miri.

Quaint little Behrang

Pekan Behrang? Behrang Stesen? I'm not quite sure what's the official name of this little  town. But you can't really blame me for not knowing. This town is located off the way main transport routes.

My experience with Behrang is by way of the fact that Sakinah used to study at the Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah which is located close by. Even then I didn't get to discover the town until she was well into her second year of her three year stay at the polytechnic. And that was also only after being alerted to its existance by Pak Non.

Behrang is a rustic, quaint little town located about 2km off the Federal Highway Route 1. As a general reference, it is somewhere in between Tanjung Malim and Slim River. If you pass by it, you'd hardly notice anything special about it really. But once you decide to take the right-turn and drive into it, Behrang will turn its charm on you.

For one, Behrang has a cute little rail station serving the trains of Keretapi Tanah Melayu. Thus, the name Behrang Stesen, I guess. But what really strikes me is the atmosphere and its general ambiance which harks back to the little towns of the 1960s and 70s.

The shops are all of wooden structures. And they all have bamboo blinds on their front exteriors. The pace of life and activities are decidedly S-L-O-W and steady. Old gentlemen while their time away in kopitiams and there are definitely no traffic jams, of course.

Some attractions include the fishing shop which is well-stocked with fishing paraphernalia, the apam balik stall, and the Orang Asli-owned stall which sells petai and durian.

First convocation for the family: Tahniah Sakinah

My eldest, Sakinah - or Keenat, as her friends would call her - had her convocation at the Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah last Monday.

Three years of toil and hard work has paid dividends and brought her a diploma in accountancy. On top of that, she was also awarded the Pingat Ketua Jabatan for her excellent result. That's my girl.

My heart pounded heavily as I got excited and mighty proud at the sight of my first baby striding forward to receive her scroll.

Tahniah my dear Keenat!!