Hong Kong & Shenzen

Our dearest Lyana & Aneesa,

Abah's writing this down so that you can view this years later knowing that this was your first ever overseas trip and first plane ride - we went to Hong Kong and Shenzen, China. Obviously both of you were very excited, especially Lyana, who can't wait to ride the plane. :)


Your first plane ride.

On the 20th of December, we took the 6.45pm flight from KLIA and reached Hong Kong at about 11.00pm. We then rode a bus from the airport and settled into the Royal Pacific Hotel, in the KowLoon district. Hong Kong's timing was no different than Malaysia but the sun rises by 5.30am and sets about 6pm.

Day 1 : Hong Kong/Shenzen
The next morning, in typical Malaysian fashion, we had breakfast in the hotel room - there were nasi lemak, serunding, nasi himpit and roti Gardenia. Thanks to nenek. After breakfast, it was roaming the shopping grounds of Hong Kong for us. But things were very expensive compared to Malaysia.

At about 2pm, the tour bus picked us for lunch in a Muslim shop ran by a Singaporean - the cafe's name was "Shadowman".

Lunch in Shadowman cafe.

After that, we rode a train to cross into mainland China and to Shenzen, the city at the border. We took a long time to be cleared at the border and Aneesa became very agitated. By the time we reached the hotel in Shenzen, it was already dark. Our tour guide, Jessica, brought us to a Muslim restaurant and the food was suprisingly good. We then went shopping that night. We bought some table cloth for Tok Tan and Tok Yan. Lepas tu tidur.

Day 2 : Shenzen
We woke up late that morning. Abah & Mama was scrambling to get you ready. We then had breakfast at level 23 but was only able to eat eggs and bread. Lain semua tak halal. After that, we were brought to some government shopping centers where they sell silk, jade and chinese tea. We then proceeded to Windows of the World where many small and large size replicas of famous spots in the world were displayed. I guess this is China's way to educate their people who can't afford to leave China. Poverty is still major in Shenzen, we saw many beggars on the streets.


Taj Murah - hehe... smaller and cheaper from the original.


Niagara Falls.

Day 3: Shenzen
This time, we woke up early. Tapi kesian kat Lyana and Aneesa - both of you were shivering after the morning shower.

After your morning shower. Cute!

After breakfast, we were brought to more government shopping centers. After that we were brought to a cultural village where we watched 2 shows. Both shows were fabulous, with acrobatic moves, beautiful dresses, dances and fireworks. Puas hati!

Day 4: Shenzen/Hong Kong Disneyland
We woke up really early at about 5am and left the hotel by 6am to beat the crowd at the border immigration and rode a train back into Hong Kong. Upon reaching Hong Kong train station after the hour-long train ride, which Abah had to stand all the way, we rode a bus back to the hotel to leave our luggage there and headed back out to Disneyland. Spent the whole day there until 9.30pm after the closing Fantasyland fireworks show. Both of you were ecstatic and loved all the rides, games and shows.

Lyana, you liked the Mad Hatter's tea Party spinning cup so much, you rode it 4 times! I remembered all our rides, games and shows:
1. Train ride
2. Merry Go Round
3. Mad Hatter's spinning tea cup
4. Disneyland Parade
5. Space Mountain roller-coaster ride
6. Buzz Lightyear adventure
7. Boat ride in Adventure Land
8. Raft ride to Tarzan's tree house
9. Lion King Show
10. Disney Golden Globe show
11. Fireworks

Floats during the parade.


Lyana's favourite.

Aneesa with Mama on the merry-go-round.


Roller-coaster fun.





The closing fireworks at the FantasyLand castle.

We all had fun but Hong Kong Disneyland is quite small - only comparable to Genting Highlands theme park. Then, it was tidur time.

Day 5: Hong Kong/Kuala Lumpur
It was our last day so we went around shopping. We didn't buy much things but Abah bought both of you Disneyland sweaters and dolls. Mama got a special gift too. Abah didn't get anything for myself. Pastu balik KL.


Hong Kong backdrop.

Next time we will go somewhere else, okay darlings?

Love,
Mama & Abah

MBSA Family Day

Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam decided to do its Family Day in Shah Alam Wet World - again. But I'm not complaining, Lyana and Aneesa surely were not complaining as well. We love the water!

It had to take the rain to chase us out of there. We had loads of fun in the water!


I was being bullied by my daugthers - they rode on my back and asked me to be their 'ship'.


And you thought only Lyana and Aneesa knew how to swim. ;)

passport pictures

We were going to make passports for Lyana and Aneesa and obviously needed to have their passport-sized pictures taken. I never thought such a simple thing, which would take us adults about a minute would take more than 15 minutes of coaxing, making faces, 'bribery' and promises to eat KFC after that.

After feverishly trying to get Lyana to stop whinning and sit on the stool, and then have Aneesa to sit still without crying to have their picture taken, we and the camera girl gave up.

Yanti then had to buy Lyana a bracelet and necklace to 'bribe' her into getting her picture taken. That did get Lyana to slowly give in but was not enough. Suddenly I saw the KFC restaurant in Tesco Shah Alam and promised Lyana she can have anything she wants if she cooperates. Hearing that, she happily posed for this picture below but I had to use my camera because the shop's camera was too slow which didn't capture the moment. Plus, Lyana didn't like the girl anyway. Heh.

Here's Lyana beaming, knowing she can have her KFC after that. Look at her new bracelet on her right hand.

Next, was Aneesa's turn. She would fidget and put her hand out to me asking me to carry her when we put her on the stool. Me and Yanti had to make faces, call her name many times, sing the Elmo song, you name it and we would have done it, to get her attention.

Here are some of the unsuccessful pictures, apart from the many more - can't put everything here, eh.


(Click) Naaa.. can't use this one.


(Click) This is slightly better.


(Click) Okay la..

We then settled for this one, eventhough Aneesa wasn't really looking into the camera.

splashing fun

Lyana was pestering me about wanting to 'mandi laut'. Since going to Port Dickson was not on my list of wants at the moment knowing that it was school holidays - the humongous beach crowd and the traffic jam getting there. So we decided to go to Sunway Lagoon instead.

The last time I went there was like ages ago, I can't remember which year, with Nur and Kak Anne. But then, we went to the Wild West only, not the wet park. This time, we were going to get wet. :)

And got wet we did! We tried everything except for the slides since the crowd was huge too. We didn't get a proper seat but luckily we brought a mat and just laid our mat at an empty area under a shade.

We had loads of fun until the heavy downpour stopped it. Initially, the lifeguards let the public swim in the rain but we had to be called out by them because the lightning and thunder was booming above us.


By the pool.


The girls didn't want to get out.


We rode this big blue bouy. Fun!

two-wheeled dating

Last Saturday, I decided to take my beloved wife for a two-wheeled dating trip to Genting Highlands - just the two of us. We started early in the morning at 7am before the kids woke up.

Since it rained the night earlier, it was a cool ride all the way. We stopped at McD on the NKVE Damansara exit to have breakfast. Then we sped to Awana and reached there about half hour later and another round of light breakfast.


Fwaaah! Yanti's the one piloting the bike while we were at Awana. Pheewiit!

After Awana, we then continued the trip yonder and took some pictures at Genting Highlands.


Posing baik punya!

We then proceeded to KL to collect some processed pictures at Ampang Park for Abah and Mama who was coming in the evening. We then reached home before noon.

It was a good ride, kan Sayang? Nak pergi mana pulak lepas ni?

Alor Gajah ride

My odometer showed 760km when I decided to head to Alor Gajah last Saturday for the z750's first long distance ride. It's going to be 140km one-way to my kampung.

I left at 6.45am that morning and reached Kg. Paku at 8.15am. Stopped once to refuel, and twice to leak. Hehe. Mama & Abah was happy to see me. We proceeded to have breakfast together.

After that, I visited the remaining family members of Puan Zainab, who passed away on 14 Nov 06 at age 81. Then I visited Mak Long and Kak Kiah. After that it was Mama's glorious nasi tomato and kurma daging for lunch before chit-chatting with my Abah and Mama before I headed home to Shah Alam.


Abah trying out the z750.


Mama & Abah with my bike at Kg. Paku.

On the way home, I saw an accident unfolded before my eyes when a Waja on the fast lane hit an Iswara from the back. I was behind the Iswara in the center lane and was less than 10 metres away from the accident. When it happened I emergency braked from about 100km/h on the wet road. Whoa!! I had to make some evasive maneuvers to avoid the shattered glass from the accident and at the same time opened the throttle again to escape from being hit from the back by a lorry. It was scary!

I mean, here on my right, two cars crashed and still moving from the inertia which could've whipped lashed and hit me. AT the same time, in my rear view mirror I could see this large white truck getting closer and closer. Apalagi, calibut! Alhamdulillah, I escaped the horror but my heart was beating as fast as my bikes engine rpm. I was traumatised by that incident that it gave me a nightmare about me experiencing Doomsday that night.

Alhamdulillah, I was home by 4.00pm and I summed it as a successful maiden long distance ride even after that scary experience.

my No. 1 and No. 2

"Abang?"

"Yang?"

"Abang kalau nak beli motor 10 pun takpe, asalkan abang tak kahwin lain, okay?"

Aaah, those words were bliss to me. Being a man who gets the green light from his wife to have his number 2, 3, 4 and even up to 10 is like getting the blessing to marry more than 1 for many people, albeit the 2-wheeled version on my part. :)

Thank you, Sayang, for understanding my passion.

Last Saturday I brought Yanti on a 'pecah dara' ride on my No.2. We went to TTDI to see Kak Anne and show-off (a bit only) my bike because we had to rush home since it was already starting to rain.


Yanti's first ride on the z750.

Yanti loves my No.2. There will definitely be more rides in future. But I've to tell you guys - Nothing beats riding (I mean, r-i-d-i-n-g). ;) Hehe.

Allah Selamatkan Aneesa

Happy Birthday, Aneesa Farzana! Big girl dah baby Abah ni.

Abah & Mama doakan Aneesa jadi :
1. Anak solehah
2. Sayang Allah, sayang nabi, sayang Mama, Abah, Kak Lyana, Atok, Nen, Tok Nal, Tok Tan
3. Rajin solat, rajin baca Quran
4. Rajin belajar.

We love you. Mmmuaah!

WPP 1996

My new ride has arrived! Alhamdulillah.

Went to work with Ruslan yesterday morning and left office together to go to Wai Kong Motors at about 6.45pm. After all the required paperwork, I'm the proud owner of a spanking new Kawasaki Z750.

I can't explain the exhiliration of owning a new bike, to me it's more satisfying that owning a new car. I was super-elated. However, I kept my excitement under extreme control by riding very slow since the road was wet after a downpour and was still drizling when I left - besides the traffic jam in KL won't allow me to go faster than 50km/h anyway. In addition, the bike's tyres are still new and need time to 'peel off' the rubber protection coating. Don't want to drop my new bike, do I? No, sireee.

Only after I entered the highway after the Duta toll I got an inkling how powerful the bike is. With 102bhp in store, I only need to turn the throttle a wee bit to attain 100km/h. Unfortunately, I had to restrict myself and the bike's speed since it's still breaking-in time. I'm limited to only 4000rpm for the next 500km and then 6000rpm until the odometer shows 1500km. After that and 2 service sessions, will only I be able to unleash the full potential of this black beast. I can't wait! [grin]

In the meantime, I'll wash down my ego with soybean when I see kapcai and scooters overtake me and giving me the 'look' as if I don't know how to ride a bike. Takpe, takpe... sabar.


This morning before I left for work.

I want to name my bike something... Bat Bike? Black Stallion? Beast? Dark? Nightwolf? Knight Rider (haha). Any suggestions?

Fitness Report #4

Weight = 93kg
Height = 1.69cm
BMI = 32.6 = (still) Morbid Obesity

Dear Mr. Blog,

During the Ramadhan month I've managed to get some headway. The lowest I've been was 92kg from 97kg. After the raya celebrations, I've gained another 1kg, so the nett effect is 4kg.

Ever since, I've been bitten by the fitness bug partly from reading Men's Fitness and Telal's invitation to make me his partner in upcoming adventure races. I'm fired up to exercise and have revamped the room downstairs which was initially a visitors' prayer room cum store to become my home gym cum visitors' prayer room for visitors. ;) Hehe

To date I've exercised twice already with weights. The first was exceptionally painful and my body ached for a week. I trained again a week later. I've also managed to lower my blood pressure to hover around 120-ish systolic and 90-ish dystolic.

I'm thankful for my wife's continuous support too. She simply says "No, abang" when I reach over to grab a second helping of rice/chicken/whatever during dinner. Though a little frustrated at first, I certainly appreciate her gesture because 9 out of 10 times, the second helping I'm taking will almost always make me overeat. She also said that I don't chew my food enough (even counting the number of times I chew), that's why I don't feel full soon enough. She's also concerned that my gym will become a store room for my weights.. hehe.. I'm hoping that won't happen too.

aaaww...

My princesses before I left for work today. PRECIOUS!

gullible

Life is about making decisions and we make them all the time. This is a story of a decision made with a pinch of guilt after that.

Lately my Nokia 6610i has been 'out-of-power' frequently. I guess, the lifetime for a mobile phone battery is about 2 years. The phone has been serving me well since 12 January 2005 when my darling wife gave it to me as a present. Nevertheless, the phone is still working well and serves my needs to talk, sms and listen to radio. So, there is no need to buy a new one.

Yesterday, when I went to Ampang Park, all I intended to do was look for a replacement battery. But being the gullible 'tech-geek', I somewhat succumbed to the 'marketing effort' of the salesman.

Instead of showing me replacement batteries, the blonde-haired-chinese-guy marketed new phones. "Haiya, abang punya phone banyak lama wooo. Sekalang balu punya phone mulah-mulah. Haa, ini abang tengok ada offer punya - Nokia N70".

After showing me all its capabilities, I was sold. This is the most expensive phone I ever bought in my life - I somewhat have a slight regret for spending so much money for a phone. RM1,260 for a mobile phone? Ouch!

Besides, technology moves at a very rapid rate that this new phone will be 'obsolete' in no time. My old phone only managed a measly RM150 trade-in value after 2 years.

When I got home after fukuls last night, I just realised that all the manual were in French and German. No English version. Apa raaa..

Aidilfitri with family

decided!

Maintaining the 15-year ol' Zephyr proved too taxing for me. I had to sell it to stop spending more money on it. Alhamdulillah, I managed to sell it at RM14k, after buying it at RM11.5k. But its still a loss making deal - I had spent more than RM9k on it already since it was bought in September last year.

Before the Zephyr, my previous ZZR500 never needed so much money even after the unfortunate accident I had with it. I even made some money selling it after the accident.

This time I'm buying new. On raya Aidilfitri eve I made the decision. The result was a brand new Kawasaki Z750...


Lyana accompanying me to buy my new bike.

After reading through my old bike magazines, I decided to buy this bike. All the reviews and shootouts have lauded and graded this bike highly. I initially wanted the Z1000 but at RM74k it was too expensive for me - skipped that.

Insya Allah, after the loan is cleared and registration with JPJ completed, I should be able to collect the bike by end-November.

Sayang, we ride to Awana together when we get the bike ok?

salam Aidilfitri untuk semua

(click the picture)

nose job

It all started late August when I had fever for a throat infection. After a visit to Klinik Rosli, a month later, I was still coughing and it got worst. Again, I went to Klinik Rosli Friday last week for fever and cough. Saturday & Friday I was flat at home coughing my lungs outs. I also have no appetite and already loss 4 kg.

On Monday, I went to Darul Ehsan Medical Center (DEMC) and was diagnosed having bronchitis. On Tuesday, was still coughing but no more fever. Yesterday (Wednesday), when I was in a training course in Renaissance hotel, I was experiencing this major throbbing headache in the left side of my face from the checkbone upwards. I also have problems equalizing my ear so it effected my hearing as well. Went to sleep for 2 hours in the surau but still no improvement.

Informed Ruslan about this and he asked me to go home. Yanti said this is a symptom that I have problems with my sinus. To confirm, I went back to DEMC and was referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist. He put a scope camera through my nose and confirmed with an x-ray of my face that indeed what Yanti said was true. I have a sinus infection - a major one.

There were lots of puss in my nose and sinus and a surgery is needed to clear those puss out since it has caused blockages in my nose. Dr Razak, the ENT Consultant will have to cut some holes within my nose.

Surgery will be today, 5 Oct 2006, at around 9am onwards. Dr.Razak said that if everything goes fine, I will be discharged in the evening, otherwise I will have to be admitted overnight.

Btw, Mafiz - no can do with the loan for now. My maid dropped the bomb that she didn't want to continue her contract, which will end next Jan07 - she wants to work in a restaurant, obviously influenced by her many boyfriends. I actually wanted to get rid of her too but since she has requested it, at least I don't feel guilty 'cutting off her income'. I will have to use the money to pay for her flight back to Indon and pay for a new incoming maid. :(

junction

I've reached a junction to consider what I should do with the money I obtained from selling my Zephyr.

My dilemma is to consider the various options that's running through my head:
1. Save the money for future unplanned/unforseen events;
2. Invest the money - fixed deposit;
3. Invest the money - Amanah Saham;
4. Invest the money - stock market;
5. Invest the money - open a food outlet in KL;
6. Develop the land in Alor Gajah for plantation (maybe mango, sugarcane and coconuts)
7. Use as down-payment for the Honda Civic 1.8;
8. Use as down-payment for the Kawasaki Z1000 or Yamaha Fazer 1000.
9. Give them to my friends (Yeah, right. Dream on babeh.)

Hmm..??

sold!

I guess this is goodbye for good, Zephyr. Your new owner is Mr. Anthony @ Johari Abdullah. My last ride with you was when I sent you to Johari's house in Batang Kali last Saturday, 23 September 2006.

I'm sure he will take good care of you. Bye.

bye-bye Zephyr

[solemn tone]

Dear Zephyr,

Thank you for being my bike. You have been a reliable and wonderful companion. Though I might ride you like a crazy cowboy sometimes just to keep with other bigger bikes, you have been understanding and have not let me down. I will always remember the times we carved corners and sped on the highway together.

Unfortunately, my craving for a faster and more powerful bike overcame me. I have to let you go. Yes, I'm selling you. (What?! You think I never will, ah? You must be kidding la...) And I won't regret it because I'm going for a better bike.

[solemn tone again] Soon you will have a new owner. I hope your new owner will take good care of you, put fully-syntethic oil in you, wash you and polish you.

Adios, my Zephyr. Bye-bye.

profile pic

updates...

Busy... busy... busy... that's my buzzword now. Nevertheless, I want to make time to update my blog so that in years to come, I can recall back what has happened.

These are some of the events since my last blog (not in chronological order):

1. Watched Puteri Gunung Ledand the Musical. Guess who I met that night? Who cares about Sultan Perak... it's Wan Edrin & wife. :) The show was really good, so I'm echoing the reviews saying that it's world-class. Agree!

2. Advertised my Zephyr 750 in Motortrader and got a potential buyer already. Hope to close the sale soon. Eyeing the new Kawasaki Z1000, model year 2007! Jangan jealous ye, Ruslan. ;)


Fuiyoo! Banyak cantek woo. [salivating]

3. Late Delivery Payment case with housing developer Seribu Baiduri proceeded with a Letter of Demand. They responded and agreed to pay 80% of the total amount owed and to write-off the interest we owe them because Affin Bank was late in disbursement of payments. Good!

4. Registered for my final semester and to complete my thesis entitled "Profiling the Malaysian Human Resource Professional - A Study of Knowledge, Skills and Competencies to Perform Effectively and Efficiently".

5. Aneesa has 4 teeths now and can walk really fast unaided. She can also climb the stairs on her own. Aneesa can also call me "Abah" and Yanti "Mama". Super!

6. Did a Health Screening at Darul Ehsan Medical Center and was found to be hyper-tensive. Blood pressure hovers around 130 - 150 Systolic/ 75 - 95 Dystolic. Not good! I'm on Zocor, Novasc and Xenical pills for 2 weeks from yesterday. :(

7. Got promoted to Team Leader, Human Resource Services, effective 1st September. Alhamdulillah.

That's all I can recall for now.

passive? me?

Excerp from an article I read today...

Have you ever said "yes" when you meant "no"? Agreed to do something you really didn't want to do? Given in to someone's demands because you didn't want to make them angry or hurt their feelings?

If so, then you have used a passive communication style. The Passive Personality - Path of Least Resistance.

Indeed, there are some times when you will decide it is not worth the hassle, anguish, frustration, time or energy to deal assertively with a person or situation. Instead, you choose to ignore or avoid the problem, often hoping it will just go away. These are your passive times.

Passive personalities are intimidated when faced with manipulative anger and feel guilty when faced with manipulative hurt. Passives may avoid a confrontation, but in so doing they create a great deal of unhappiness for themselves. Most stress is caused by avoiding problems and people rather than dealing with them.

No more excuses, please.

walk the walk

Aneesa cute Abah...

Abah want you to know that you have now started walking unassisted. Though still wobbly, you manage to make small tiny steps.. some lasting to 4 steps. :)

Focused on walking.

Only last week you have just started standing and this week you're already walking. Mama is very proud of you.

Mama, look at me! Tadaaa!


Oops, nak jatuh.

And your other teeth have grown longer too. See...

Cute as always.

We love you, Aneesa.
Abah & Mama

blast to Awana

There were numerous invitations from Hj Rujhan and Idzham to join the biking group in Talisman and Petronas to ride up to Awana. So far, I have managed 'not' to join them due to many commitments... and not forgetting that my bike is far too old and totally in a different class from the supersport bikes they have.

However, on July 15, I finally succumbed to the offer. Of course, Ruslan was the main factor because he kept coaxing me to join the group.

We gathered at 8.15am at Projet Taman Melati and had a 'get-to-know' session with everyone in the group. It turned out to be a big group with 13 bikes - 9 of them supersport bikes, 3 naked bikes (including mine) plus 1 cruiser. In my heart, "nasib baik ada cruiser tu", so at least my bike is not the slowest in the group. ;)

Most of them wore race leathers, racing glove and boots, so me and Ruslan looked out of place with our riding jackets and jeans.


The group and the bikes.

The ride started about 8.45am The ride was through the winding roads of Ulu Yam and the non-highway road up to Genting. The ride was very fast but controlled. Many of them are skilled riders and they took corners like the ones you see on the grand prix (GP) racing. Whoa!

It was a taxing ride for me and I was totally focused on riding. My adrenalin was high and the rush was tremendous. I was totally overwhelmed by my adrenalin and tried to keep up with the front group - the fast ones. Yes, I got carried away. Alhamdulillah nothing happened to me but when I reflected back at home, I shouldn't be doing this, especially on a 15-year old bike with a wobbly front end because my fork springs have already past its optimum service years.

Imagine riding through at P1, P2 and P3 (Ulu Yam) at 160km/h and suddenly a Fireblade 900CBRR overtook me in a zip. Idzham who was riding it must've been doing at least 180km/h. What if there had been a kid who suddenly crossed the road? I bet we will never have stopped in time.

My tyres shown that it was used up almost to the top side of the wall, which never happens when I ride to work. This means that I also leaned my bike like those riders on the GP races. Again, Alhamdulillah nothing happened. I think I will not join the ride again for safety reasons... unless I ride in the rear group or get a supersport bike myself. ;)


At Awana by 10.15am.


Breakfast was on King R1 (the guy on the left and closest to camera, with his back to the camera.) Thanks, King R1.

anak sapa ni e-eh?

Anak sapa ni e-eh?

Guess the TV program name don't make sense to those who recognize the baby Yanti is holding. Yes, it is none other than future-future-future football prodigy, Dzaeffran. Ahem, provided the father teaches him how to kick some balls (I meant football).

Anyway, here is a 'trick' question...Where do parents look for baby stuff? Answer is eracrehtoM, of course. Somehow when I was looking for the baby gate to block Aneesa from climbing up the stairs at home in the Curve, my sixth sense told me that we will meet Telal and Haniza. And guess who we met? Du-uh.

I finally got the gate in Anakku because the one in Mothercare was out of stock. We then had lunch together. See that Vivo restaurant at the back of Yanti? The food is all good and tasty but I lost myself abit there. Two employees got some verbal bashing from me for slow and lousy service. Anyway, that was done now.

Prior to getting to the Curve, we brought around one of my collegues from Talisman's corporate office, Bev Walker, to Jalan Masjid India. She loves fabric. There she bought some songket, silk and scarves.

Lyana with Bev.

Hope you enjoyed the trip, Bev. :)

present for Lyana

Lyana... Abah have made a present for you. These pictures were taken during your 2nd birthday party. Abah hope you like it.



I love you, Lyana Fareeha.