After post hajj - I do change a little bit, altough not all:). I began to frequently visit the Mosque. I also quite closed my best friend from the same village (Kg. Makam) back then, Muhammad Imran (may God bless him). He was the graduate from UTM majoring in Computer Science. Last time I saw him 2 years ago during Aidilfitri, we hugged each other. At the age of 36 he had already become the village Imam & able to read the sermon after Aidilfitri prayers. Back in the late 80's & early 90's, every Sunday evening we would travel together to Gelanggang Budaya in Batu Uban to hear weekly ceramah from Ustaz Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin - the well known religious speaker in Penang. We travel by Penang Yellow Bus (No. 66 - Route Balik Pulau).
One week, in the evening we found it is very difficult to get the bus for our journey home. And we saw all the traffices are quite havocs & quite a number of army helicopters flyin' in the air. We later learned that wooden platform of ferry terminal (the jetty) in Butterworth had crashed & klling around 400 peoples during the crowded Sunday. It was a major disaster back then.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The 80's Concludes - The Ballads of Youth
1987 - The Pligrimage.
July 1987 - at the age of 18 years old I had the oppurtunity to travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj & accompany my mom as well. I was still pretending to enjoy my youth at that time. Still listening to the rock musics with Search - Fantasia Bulan Madu & so on. Duting that time the hajj only cost RM5K per person with basic amenities unlike the hotels stays like now. We took penerbangan (flight) DC-10 that MAS leased from World Airways to be used during the Hajj season KT2 - KT stands for kapal terbang I guess (one of the first flight in that season) from Penang to King Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah.From Jeddah we travel to Madinah by air-conditioned bus. The journey took us around 8 hours. During the journey, the first time in my life I saw a lot of hills with no trees! I just imagine how the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) travels from Mecca to Madinah by walking & using camels during the Hijrah.!
I still remember when we arrived in Madinah at night; the first time I saw the green dome of the Prophet's mosques, my heart become so sad & felt like crying.We stayed in Madinah for around 8 days. One day I was so stubborn & disobeyed my mum & against tabung haji advice - I when to perform solat Zohor at the mosque although it is only advisable for us to perform the prayers at night time only in the mosque as the weather there during day time is extremely hot. After the Zohor prayer, I felt so dizzy & vomit. Well, believe me I vomitted on the expansive carpet in the holy mosque! I felt so regret about it, though for not following the advices. That costs me to admit in Tabung Haji ward for one day.
One day, after the Friday prayers, Yazid (the Madinah Islamic University student - who temp volunteer for Tabung Haji) who I befriended there & the person thatwe hired to perform the hajj for "arwah ayah", wants to bring me to see "Hukum Pancung" in front of Babuus Salam of the prophet mosque - but I declined the offer, I don't have the guts I guess to see the execution. Well in that country, they really mean business. I also had a chance to visits Jabal Uhud & maqam Saidina Hamzah. My heart so sad & touching - felt for the braves who get the syahid in fighting for Islam. We had also visited the first mosque - Masjid Quba' & Masjid Qiblatain (the mosque with 2 qiblat's).
After 8 days in Madinah, we travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj. We arrived late at night. We stayed in Level 7 on one of the buidings near the Holy Mosque. I can see The Yemen Arabs were very strong, who carried all of our bags by using stairs. They were damned fast. But they usually requests "bakhsis" (tips) as well form us.
The next morning, after dawn I had my first visit to the holy mosque. Only God knows how I felt when the first time I saw the holy Kaaba'. We performed the "tawaf selamat datang" & saie'. Right after that I had to chance to go underground to the place that we can get the "zam-zam" water. Felt so cold & so comfortable in that place.
During the 1997 Pilgrimage - one important events happened when Iranians pilgrims want to march into the holy mosque but meet with resistance with the Saudis Armed Forces. The center of events happened right in front of my eye during that fateful evening. The force imposed curvew on all of us, resulting we are unable to go the mosque that night.
The time has come - for the main event. After stayed 1 day in the Arafah, we traveled to Mina on the eve of Aidil Adha. After we arrived, I do something terribly wrong. I lose my temper on my mum. After that I went to Jamrah Aqabah through the Muassim' tunnel alone for "melontar" event. Right after that, I am totally lost (sesat). I am unable to see any jemaah from Malaysia or any Malaysia flags at all altough it is quite a lot before that. I guessed it is a lesson God gave me for my sins. Only right after dawn I managed to find my way back. It's quite strange, as it's actually got Malaysian flags near the place that I lost but I can't see it at all earlier.
After completing the tasyrigs days in Mina we traveled back to Mecca to perform the tawaf & saie' to complete the Hajj ritual. The mosques was very pack then. After completing the Saie', on the end of the Saie' path (from Bukit Safa to Marwah), I was been performed the "bercukur" event that means that I was finally become a Hajj at the age of 18 years old. Unlike others, I didn't use the Haji title at the front of my name. This resulting only a few persons known that I had already perform the Hajj.
After completing all the rituals, we had more relaxing days ahead before going back to Malaysia. Mom performed all the shoppings buying dates (buah kurma), carpets & all the souvenirs stuffs; and I do the exploring around the holy city. I managed to found a long tunnel right in front of the holy Mosque that actually connnects Mecca straights to Mina! I still remember the imams recite of Al-Fatihah during the prayers in the holy mosques, it's the most "merdu" & the best I've ever heard. I also ate my best ever ice-cream in Mecca. After each night, after performing the Isya' prayer at holy Mosque' during the journey back to our flats, I will stop over at 1 kebab stall right in front of Masjid "Kucing". It's the best kebab ever that I've ever taste. Nothing beats that in this wide wide world......
July 1987 - at the age of 18 years old I had the oppurtunity to travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj & accompany my mom as well. I was still pretending to enjoy my youth at that time. Still listening to the rock musics with Search - Fantasia Bulan Madu & so on. Duting that time the hajj only cost RM5K per person with basic amenities unlike the hotels stays like now. We took penerbangan (flight) DC-10 that MAS leased from World Airways to be used during the Hajj season KT2 - KT stands for kapal terbang I guess (one of the first flight in that season) from Penang to King Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah.From Jeddah we travel to Madinah by air-conditioned bus. The journey took us around 8 hours. During the journey, the first time in my life I saw a lot of hills with no trees! I just imagine how the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) travels from Mecca to Madinah by walking & using camels during the Hijrah.!
I still remember when we arrived in Madinah at night; the first time I saw the green dome of the Prophet's mosques, my heart become so sad & felt like crying.We stayed in Madinah for around 8 days. One day I was so stubborn & disobeyed my mum & against tabung haji advice - I when to perform solat Zohor at the mosque although it is only advisable for us to perform the prayers at night time only in the mosque as the weather there during day time is extremely hot. After the Zohor prayer, I felt so dizzy & vomit. Well, believe me I vomitted on the expansive carpet in the holy mosque! I felt so regret about it, though for not following the advices. That costs me to admit in Tabung Haji ward for one day.
One day, after the Friday prayers, Yazid (the Madinah Islamic University student - who temp volunteer for Tabung Haji) who I befriended there & the person thatwe hired to perform the hajj for "arwah ayah", wants to bring me to see "Hukum Pancung" in front of Babuus Salam of the prophet mosque - but I declined the offer, I don't have the guts I guess to see the execution. Well in that country, they really mean business. I also had a chance to visits Jabal Uhud & maqam Saidina Hamzah. My heart so sad & touching - felt for the braves who get the syahid in fighting for Islam. We had also visited the first mosque - Masjid Quba' & Masjid Qiblatain (the mosque with 2 qiblat's).
After 8 days in Madinah, we travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj. We arrived late at night. We stayed in Level 7 on one of the buidings near the Holy Mosque. I can see The Yemen Arabs were very strong, who carried all of our bags by using stairs. They were damned fast. But they usually requests "bakhsis" (tips) as well form us.
The next morning, after dawn I had my first visit to the holy mosque. Only God knows how I felt when the first time I saw the holy Kaaba'. We performed the "tawaf selamat datang" & saie'. Right after that I had to chance to go underground to the place that we can get the "zam-zam" water. Felt so cold & so comfortable in that place.
During the 1997 Pilgrimage - one important events happened when Iranians pilgrims want to march into the holy mosque but meet with resistance with the Saudis Armed Forces. The center of events happened right in front of my eye during that fateful evening. The force imposed curvew on all of us, resulting we are unable to go the mosque that night.
The time has come - for the main event. After stayed 1 day in the Arafah, we traveled to Mina on the eve of Aidil Adha. After we arrived, I do something terribly wrong. I lose my temper on my mum. After that I went to Jamrah Aqabah through the Muassim' tunnel alone for "melontar" event. Right after that, I am totally lost (sesat). I am unable to see any jemaah from Malaysia or any Malaysia flags at all altough it is quite a lot before that. I guessed it is a lesson God gave me for my sins. Only right after dawn I managed to find my way back. It's quite strange, as it's actually got Malaysian flags near the place that I lost but I can't see it at all earlier.
After completing the tasyrigs days in Mina we traveled back to Mecca to perform the tawaf & saie' to complete the Hajj ritual. The mosques was very pack then. After completing the Saie', on the end of the Saie' path (from Bukit Safa to Marwah), I was been performed the "bercukur" event that means that I was finally become a Hajj at the age of 18 years old. Unlike others, I didn't use the Haji title at the front of my name. This resulting only a few persons known that I had already perform the Hajj.
After completing all the rituals, we had more relaxing days ahead before going back to Malaysia. Mom performed all the shoppings buying dates (buah kurma), carpets & all the souvenirs stuffs; and I do the exploring around the holy city. I managed to found a long tunnel right in front of the holy Mosque that actually connnects Mecca straights to Mina! I still remember the imams recite of Al-Fatihah during the prayers in the holy mosques, it's the most "merdu" & the best I've ever heard. I also ate my best ever ice-cream in Mecca. After each night, after performing the Isya' prayer at holy Mosque' during the journey back to our flats, I will stop over at 1 kebab stall right in front of Masjid "Kucing". It's the best kebab ever that I've ever taste. Nothing beats that in this wide wide world......
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Enigma of the 80's
1981 - I went for a trial for the school soccer team. Of course I was not choosen for that team as in my school the competion was very stiff - there were so many young Pele's & young Maradona's then.The teacher that were in-carge of our soccer team is Mr. Gun. He was a non-nonsense person & was so "garang". He was also our displinary teacher as well. During our BM lesson, I once got punished by him for spelling "ayur-ayuran" instead of "sayur-sayuran". Don't mess with him, or you will get to paid for it. Hahahaha.
I went to Langkawi for the first time with my family. This would be the last time we travel with dad around. We travel with a small Cessna plane, that will flop down when it hits the clouds. When we approaching Langkawi, the scenery was so beautiful with a lot of groups of small islands. The airport was so small then, with only a field like a soccer field & a small tent for passengers to wait for a plane just like the bus stop. W e stayed in the Langkawi Holiday Resort - now known as Sheraton Langkawi near the Kuah jetty. The places in Langkawi was a lot more original then. We went to Tanjung Rhu during that time, it was one othe beautiful places I've ever seen.
This is also the year that I first completed my full month fasting of Ramadhan. On the raya eve, all of my family member able to gather together for the very first time including my estranged brother. That raya also we are able to decorates our house a lot including hanging the hari raya greeting cards. Of course now is the moments of e-mails, e-cards etc etc & the original hari raya greeting cards are nowhere to be seen. My mum also able to make & sells a lot of Hari Raya biscuits then in resulting we have quite a lot of money to spends then. That is my best Hari Raya ever. One of the defining moments in my life.
The following year - moments of sadness....
1982 - I first enter secondary school - Penang Free School. Traditional trend of my family indeed. During my time there, the school is very good in Hockey, Soccer & Rugby. For rugby we are even 3rd in the whole country. My best friend, Izham Che Amat is the captain of the rugby team. I heard he is once the best student in ALAM (Akademi Laut Malaysia) & worked in Japan. But he is arwah now, may ALLAH bless him. He is the pure example of a poor kid from small fishing village in Kuala Muda, Seberang Perai, Penang who make it big. Masya-ALLAH times do fly so fast. For hockey, my class mate, Musthapa Ariffin once played for the country in the 90's.
My sports house in the Penang Free is Cheeseman - the offical colour is red.
The annual cross country event (merentas desa) needs us to runs across the chinese cemetry in Batu Lanchang. Luckily I don't have bad dreams at night after that:).
On the 4th.day of Ramadhan this year, my father passed away due to asthma. He was 73 years old then. He was ill a few days before. But on the morning on the day he died he was so healthy & even performed the oil change on the car. But after breaking fast, he complaining of pain. Mum try to convince him to go to hospital. He refused to go maybe he knowed the time has come. It's not really the same you know, when you growing up - your father is not around. My sincere advice - to all that still has his dad, just valued & earn your life. Life is just not the same without them.
1983 - during the fasting month, I fell down when running & broke my right hands that needs to be cemented with plaster of Paris.That is the time that I need to sit for my form 2 mid-year exam. Luckily I write with my left hand but I fair badly in that exam. Finished among the last in my class. But my defining moments came during the final year exam - I just don't know why. But sometimes miracle do happens. Everything was right for me. I was in the right frame of mind. I studied so hard. It's quite strange as usually I am the lazy type.The result shows immediately - I managed to be among the top in my class. I jumped from No.28 to No.5. It is a record during that time!The thing that I cannot forget up until this day is when my form 2 class teacher Miss Anna Tan called the pupils who excel in the exam in front of the class. I was called last, I guess the best is saved for last.The word that she says about me later, flourishing in my mind forever -that my achievement was so special, unbelievable & urged others to set me as a role example. It was so special to me - coz' I rarely tastes success again in my life, ever.
You just don't know what it's like. It's so hard to be me, so hard....
George Lucas released the 3rd installment of the Star Wars franchise - The Return of The Jedi. With my father no more to accompany me, I watched the movie alone in the Cathay Cinema, Penang Road (the place now occupied by Mydin Wholesales). I have just no idea, what are the things that I will face through out my life. It's never the same when you're alone.
In the music scene, Alleycats still managed the chart with M.Nasir's compose Sekuntum Mawar Merah & Setahun Sudah Berlalu so on...
I went to Langkawi for the first time with my family. This would be the last time we travel with dad around. We travel with a small Cessna plane, that will flop down when it hits the clouds. When we approaching Langkawi, the scenery was so beautiful with a lot of groups of small islands. The airport was so small then, with only a field like a soccer field & a small tent for passengers to wait for a plane just like the bus stop. W e stayed in the Langkawi Holiday Resort - now known as Sheraton Langkawi near the Kuah jetty. The places in Langkawi was a lot more original then. We went to Tanjung Rhu during that time, it was one othe beautiful places I've ever seen.
This is also the year that I first completed my full month fasting of Ramadhan. On the raya eve, all of my family member able to gather together for the very first time including my estranged brother. That raya also we are able to decorates our house a lot including hanging the hari raya greeting cards. Of course now is the moments of e-mails, e-cards etc etc & the original hari raya greeting cards are nowhere to be seen. My mum also able to make & sells a lot of Hari Raya biscuits then in resulting we have quite a lot of money to spends then. That is my best Hari Raya ever. One of the defining moments in my life.
The following year - moments of sadness....
1982 - I first enter secondary school - Penang Free School. Traditional trend of my family indeed. During my time there, the school is very good in Hockey, Soccer & Rugby. For rugby we are even 3rd in the whole country. My best friend, Izham Che Amat is the captain of the rugby team. I heard he is once the best student in ALAM (Akademi Laut Malaysia) & worked in Japan. But he is arwah now, may ALLAH bless him. He is the pure example of a poor kid from small fishing village in Kuala Muda, Seberang Perai, Penang who make it big. Masya-ALLAH times do fly so fast. For hockey, my class mate, Musthapa Ariffin once played for the country in the 90's.
My sports house in the Penang Free is Cheeseman - the offical colour is red.
The annual cross country event (merentas desa) needs us to runs across the chinese cemetry in Batu Lanchang. Luckily I don't have bad dreams at night after that:).
On the 4th.day of Ramadhan this year, my father passed away due to asthma. He was 73 years old then. He was ill a few days before. But on the morning on the day he died he was so healthy & even performed the oil change on the car. But after breaking fast, he complaining of pain. Mum try to convince him to go to hospital. He refused to go maybe he knowed the time has come. It's not really the same you know, when you growing up - your father is not around. My sincere advice - to all that still has his dad, just valued & earn your life. Life is just not the same without them.
1983 - during the fasting month, I fell down when running & broke my right hands that needs to be cemented with plaster of Paris.That is the time that I need to sit for my form 2 mid-year exam. Luckily I write with my left hand but I fair badly in that exam. Finished among the last in my class. But my defining moments came during the final year exam - I just don't know why. But sometimes miracle do happens. Everything was right for me. I was in the right frame of mind. I studied so hard. It's quite strange as usually I am the lazy type.The result shows immediately - I managed to be among the top in my class. I jumped from No.28 to No.5. It is a record during that time!The thing that I cannot forget up until this day is when my form 2 class teacher Miss Anna Tan called the pupils who excel in the exam in front of the class. I was called last, I guess the best is saved for last.The word that she says about me later, flourishing in my mind forever -that my achievement was so special, unbelievable & urged others to set me as a role example. It was so special to me - coz' I rarely tastes success again in my life, ever.
You just don't know what it's like. It's so hard to be me, so hard....
George Lucas released the 3rd installment of the Star Wars franchise - The Return of The Jedi. With my father no more to accompany me, I watched the movie alone in the Cathay Cinema, Penang Road (the place now occupied by Mydin Wholesales). I have just no idea, what are the things that I will face through out my life. It's never the same when you're alone.
In the music scene, Alleycats still managed the chart with M.Nasir's compose Sekuntum Mawar Merah & Setahun Sudah Berlalu so on...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The 70's Rolls On
1977 - This year I read my first Gila-Gila (the popular humor magazine) that resembles the globally known Mad magazine. I becamed a loyalty fan of the magazine ever since. I most liked the cartoons by Imuda, Rejabhad, Long Jaafar & Ujang ( to name a few) Yeah, I supposed we needs some sense of humor for us to navigate in this so many tough events in this cruel life:).
Finally, I got my first chicken-pox. I didn't went to school for about 1 month. I went to the clinic of Dr. Morgan in Beach Street, Penang. Quite strange, areas around all that banking place got 1 old pre-war building that housed the clinic was nestled there. The doctor is an old Mat Salleh doctor. I guess, he is well on his retirement now or had already went back to see his Maker. Sometimes on few occasion, my parents got to call the doctor to attend to us at home. My parents were much of ifluential then.
Even when our dad want to belanja us the famed Hameediyah's Nasi Beriyani - he justs gave a call to the restaurant, got one of the mamaks to send the foods all the way by using bicycle from the restaurant in Campbell Street off Penang Road to our home in Dato Keramat. Got 1 mamak who doesn't know how to rode the bicycle so he took the bus instead - just to send us the foods. May God bless all of them. Fuhhh, full of memories..... Like Metallica song - The Memory Remains.
The first SEA Games that I remember, happened right here in KL. With track queen, Marina Chin & foootball legend Mokhtar Dahari fills the headline. Our football team are so strong then, that we can whipped Thailand so easily. Who can forget the ing-swinger corner kick from Abdullah Ali that often went straight into goal, the cool of Soh Chin Aun in the heart of defence & deadly touch of 'Super Mokh' in the penalty area.
The first song that I remember, frequently played on our radio waves - Musliha by Othman Hamzah & Rindu Bayangan by Carefree. The Carefree lead singer - Jay Jay was so young then but looks young now as well, what is his secret hahaha? Other great songs by them is the melodic vocals from Simon on "Belaian Jiwa" This powerful ballad was remake by Innuendo in the 90's. Another notable phenomenon on the music scene is from the Swedish pop group, ABBA - with their evergreen hits Dancing Queen, SOS & The Name of the Game. I'm still remember, I goes to the cinema to watch the ABBA movie - although I am having fever during that time. Other unforgetabble movies in the 70's was Jaws, King Kong, Earthquake & who can forget the Star Wars. I still can recall well - first time I watched the Star Wars movie. It was phenomenon then - with the final sequence of spaceship fights of the x-wings fighter go through the narrow curve of the Emperor command space ship (the scene that I will really feel it a few years later in the Disneyland) & light saber duel between Obi-Wan & Darth Vader. Wow, the latter name is very much famous until today especially in my current workplace. Sure, has it's own reasons hahaha.....
1978 - we had our first color TV. Delivered at night to our home. My father can request from the shop for us to test a few famous brands then first likes Toshiba, NEC, GEC & Setron without paying a single cents before decided to buy - hahaha very powerful indeed! We can watched The Roots (for me still the best TV series ever - the story of African slave being forced to America, sad to see that they originaly of Muslim faith; Starsky & Hutch and others. S.W.A.T & Hawaii Five 'O' have a very nice music theme.
I also remember watching my first World Cup on TV - Argentina '78. Still I can recall the final with the long legs of Mario Kempes dribbles past the hapless Dutch defends.
One of the VIPs (the deputy misnister of Federal Territorry) comes to our village (Kampong Makam) in Penang to open Dewan Orang Ramai (Multi Purpose Hall). I was asked to pegang bunga manggar (jadi pak pacak). I don't have the oppurtunity to salam that VIP then.... fyi that VIP is the current Malaysian Prime Minister.
1979 - Sweet Charity (The Legend of Rock Band) released their hit single - Teratai. I still plays the song until up to these days.
"Ohhh Teratai Bunga Indah
Kaulah Pujaan Hatiku
"Ohhh Tuhan Lindungilah ia
Agar aku dapat bersamanya lagi
Telah Lama ku Rindukan"
"Wahai Teratai Bunga Indah.........."
One of the great song ever. Nothing can beats that.
My eldest sister got her first job in the one of the MNC in the Bayan Lepas FTZ, after finishing her study in the UK. She gots to belanja the whole family every weekends especially in the famous Dawoood Restaurant in Queen Street. Nasi Tomato + the legendary Ayam Kari Kapitan fuhhhhhh yum yum
This also the year that I was transition to a real man - my "berkhatan" session hahaha. During "my big day" my mum cooked Pulut Kuning (in Penang we called that Nasi Kunyit) with Kari Daging + Ubi Kentang cooked in periuk tanah liat. We also have the bunga telur + all the stuffs. So grand back then for a small kid like me. The best ever.....I still missed that a lots. Thanks a lot to mum & dad. I missed the two of you.....
Finally, I got my first chicken-pox. I didn't went to school for about 1 month. I went to the clinic of Dr. Morgan in Beach Street, Penang. Quite strange, areas around all that banking place got 1 old pre-war building that housed the clinic was nestled there. The doctor is an old Mat Salleh doctor. I guess, he is well on his retirement now or had already went back to see his Maker. Sometimes on few occasion, my parents got to call the doctor to attend to us at home. My parents were much of ifluential then.
Even when our dad want to belanja us the famed Hameediyah's Nasi Beriyani - he justs gave a call to the restaurant, got one of the mamaks to send the foods all the way by using bicycle from the restaurant in Campbell Street off Penang Road to our home in Dato Keramat. Got 1 mamak who doesn't know how to rode the bicycle so he took the bus instead - just to send us the foods. May God bless all of them. Fuhhh, full of memories..... Like Metallica song - The Memory Remains.
The first SEA Games that I remember, happened right here in KL. With track queen, Marina Chin & foootball legend Mokhtar Dahari fills the headline. Our football team are so strong then, that we can whipped Thailand so easily. Who can forget the ing-swinger corner kick from Abdullah Ali that often went straight into goal, the cool of Soh Chin Aun in the heart of defence & deadly touch of 'Super Mokh' in the penalty area.
The first song that I remember, frequently played on our radio waves - Musliha by Othman Hamzah & Rindu Bayangan by Carefree. The Carefree lead singer - Jay Jay was so young then but looks young now as well, what is his secret hahaha? Other great songs by them is the melodic vocals from Simon on "Belaian Jiwa" This powerful ballad was remake by Innuendo in the 90's. Another notable phenomenon on the music scene is from the Swedish pop group, ABBA - with their evergreen hits Dancing Queen, SOS & The Name of the Game. I'm still remember, I goes to the cinema to watch the ABBA movie - although I am having fever during that time. Other unforgetabble movies in the 70's was Jaws, King Kong, Earthquake & who can forget the Star Wars. I still can recall well - first time I watched the Star Wars movie. It was phenomenon then - with the final sequence of spaceship fights of the x-wings fighter go through the narrow curve of the Emperor command space ship (the scene that I will really feel it a few years later in the Disneyland) & light saber duel between Obi-Wan & Darth Vader. Wow, the latter name is very much famous until today especially in my current workplace. Sure, has it's own reasons hahaha.....
1978 - we had our first color TV. Delivered at night to our home. My father can request from the shop for us to test a few famous brands then first likes Toshiba, NEC, GEC & Setron without paying a single cents before decided to buy - hahaha very powerful indeed! We can watched The Roots (for me still the best TV series ever - the story of African slave being forced to America, sad to see that they originaly of Muslim faith; Starsky & Hutch and others. S.W.A.T & Hawaii Five 'O' have a very nice music theme.
I also remember watching my first World Cup on TV - Argentina '78. Still I can recall the final with the long legs of Mario Kempes dribbles past the hapless Dutch defends.
One of the VIPs (the deputy misnister of Federal Territorry) comes to our village (Kampong Makam) in Penang to open Dewan Orang Ramai (Multi Purpose Hall). I was asked to pegang bunga manggar (jadi pak pacak). I don't have the oppurtunity to salam that VIP then.... fyi that VIP is the current Malaysian Prime Minister.
1979 - Sweet Charity (The Legend of Rock Band) released their hit single - Teratai. I still plays the song until up to these days.
"Ohhh Teratai Bunga Indah
Kaulah Pujaan Hatiku
"Ohhh Tuhan Lindungilah ia
Agar aku dapat bersamanya lagi
Telah Lama ku Rindukan"
"Wahai Teratai Bunga Indah.........."
One of the great song ever. Nothing can beats that.
My eldest sister got her first job in the one of the MNC in the Bayan Lepas FTZ, after finishing her study in the UK. She gots to belanja the whole family every weekends especially in the famous Dawoood Restaurant in Queen Street. Nasi Tomato + the legendary Ayam Kari Kapitan fuhhhhhh yum yum
This also the year that I was transition to a real man - my "berkhatan" session hahaha. During "my big day" my mum cooked Pulut Kuning (in Penang we called that Nasi Kunyit) with Kari Daging + Ubi Kentang cooked in periuk tanah liat. We also have the bunga telur + all the stuffs. So grand back then for a small kid like me. The best ever.....I still missed that a lots. Thanks a lot to mum & dad. I missed the two of you.....
Intro - The Early Days
Assalamualaikum & My Best Wishes to all,
Altough I know nobody will read this, I would like to thank you for anyone who happens to visit this blogspot either purposely or accidentaly:). My greatest appreciation just for u.
Allow me to asscociate & theme this blogspot as Hikayat Penuh Ranjau - the title of one of my favorite songs from my favorite band - Wings. My full name is Azizul Bin Abdul Wahab - from Penang, Malaysia. I was born in 13 Sept 1969 exactly 4 months after the riot, in Rumah Bersalin Pulau Pinang.
My aim for this life is hoping that I am able to cross path with extra ordinary person (insan luar biasa) & extra ordinary events (perkara luar biasa). I believe all wants to be a successful person & envy the everlasting happiness that we are hoping for. Below are my chronology of events in my life that I gone through so far that I want to share. Some are good times & but some are mostly bad times. Hope you will enjoy the pleasure of reading & got the oppurtunity to learn something. Please feel free to shared your thoughts & comments.Thanks.
1969 - the year of the Apollo. The first moon walk with quotable quotes "A Small Step for Man, A Giant Leap for Mankind". I guess Michael Jackson is still in his kindergarten years then & doesn't perform his own version of moonwalk yet haha.This is the year , with the likes of Beatles, Jimi Hendrix & The Mamas & The Papas (California Dreamin') still rules the chart. On local scenes we have P.Ramlee (my fellow Penangtites & Old Frees - I am very proud of it though) & The Pop Yeh-Yehs terrorizing the local music industry.
1972 - the year that I first can visualize in my memory. The year that I was so "nakal" that I remember that I was fallen & badly injured in Padang Kota - presently known as Gurney Drive.The year that we have 17 year old beautiful female student from the US - Melody Munn staying in our home as part of students exchange programme. We bring her to stay in weekend escapade - Bungalow in Teluk Bahang Beach, besides the more famed Batu Ferringhi Beach. Well, that time the beach was so deserted thats the roads leading to it is resembles as a ghost road at night.While we sleeps at night in The Bungalow we can barely hear the thundering sounds of the waves very clearly.
1973 - the year that my heroes Bruce Lee dies. I guess everyone has it's own version of heroes huh? My brother keeps telling me that Bruce Lee dies because of terkena "pukulan maut" Dicky Zulkarnain - what a plain lie hahaha.
1975 - the year that I first go to KL to followed my family to send my eldest siter to study in the ITM Shah Alam. This is the year that I ate my first KFC in Thrifty Supermarket in Jalan Barat in front of PJ Hilton (the hotel then known as Hotel Jayapuri). The supermarket & The KFC of course are nowhere to be seen. (now occupies by Court Mammoth & Coffee Bean respectively). Well I still remember my first KFC - the tastes is out of this world. Unlike now of course.
Well, believe it or not this is the year we are able to see World Boxing title fight featuring The Greatest Muhammad Ali right here in KL, before his infamous fight with Smokin' Joe Frazier in Thrilla in Manila. My interest for boxing has grown ever since. Now I have a full collection of great boxing movies like The Rocky, Raging Bull & Cindarella Man.
This is the year that I first attended kindergarten - Buddhist Asscociation Kindergarten, in Jalan Perak, Penang. The building resembles a small atap house then. Well, I guess there is no PASTI or KEMAS tadika during that time yet. I still believe that we should minced with others regardless of races/religions for us to live in peace & harmony. Hahaha, for the record I am still a Muslim.
1976 - the year with many events; sad & happiness. The year that I first enter Standard 1 in Francis Light 1. My standard 1 teacher is Cikgu Zainab. I still remember the old fashioned spectacle that she wore. The spectacle that we can always seen in the black & white P.Ramlee movie.
At the end of that year, I got a chance to travel to London. The plane that we travel was delayed more than 3 hours upon departure due to they have difficulties to load an elephant to the plane to be send to the London Zoo. I travel with an elephant on board! I also remember well, when the plane approaching Heathrow right after dawn, I can see the London city below with it's famous classic red double decker. The moment that can't be bought back forever. During my stay there I had a chance to visit Trafalgar's Square on christmas eve & go to House of Toys with 6 storeys building full of toys alone. Imagine 1 storey occupied entirely by miniature train dazzling accross artificial mountains, town center & so on. It's my heaven on earth.
This is the year that my beloved sister - Julinah passed away. The most beautiful girl in this wide wide world. I still can recall well the final moment I saw her, she was crying from the hospital window as we are in the car park before we left. I never saw her again. She died when we are in London. She was 17 years old then. I still miss her a lot. Please forgive me, my dearly loved sister.
Altough I know nobody will read this, I would like to thank you for anyone who happens to visit this blogspot either purposely or accidentaly:). My greatest appreciation just for u.
Allow me to asscociate & theme this blogspot as Hikayat Penuh Ranjau - the title of one of my favorite songs from my favorite band - Wings. My full name is Azizul Bin Abdul Wahab - from Penang, Malaysia. I was born in 13 Sept 1969 exactly 4 months after the riot, in Rumah Bersalin Pulau Pinang.
My aim for this life is hoping that I am able to cross path with extra ordinary person (insan luar biasa) & extra ordinary events (perkara luar biasa). I believe all wants to be a successful person & envy the everlasting happiness that we are hoping for. Below are my chronology of events in my life that I gone through so far that I want to share. Some are good times & but some are mostly bad times. Hope you will enjoy the pleasure of reading & got the oppurtunity to learn something. Please feel free to shared your thoughts & comments.Thanks.
1969 - the year of the Apollo. The first moon walk with quotable quotes "A Small Step for Man, A Giant Leap for Mankind". I guess Michael Jackson is still in his kindergarten years then & doesn't perform his own version of moonwalk yet haha.This is the year , with the likes of Beatles, Jimi Hendrix & The Mamas & The Papas (California Dreamin') still rules the chart. On local scenes we have P.Ramlee (my fellow Penangtites & Old Frees - I am very proud of it though) & The Pop Yeh-Yehs terrorizing the local music industry.
1972 - the year that I first can visualize in my memory. The year that I was so "nakal" that I remember that I was fallen & badly injured in Padang Kota - presently known as Gurney Drive.The year that we have 17 year old beautiful female student from the US - Melody Munn staying in our home as part of students exchange programme. We bring her to stay in weekend escapade - Bungalow in Teluk Bahang Beach, besides the more famed Batu Ferringhi Beach. Well, that time the beach was so deserted thats the roads leading to it is resembles as a ghost road at night.While we sleeps at night in The Bungalow we can barely hear the thundering sounds of the waves very clearly.
1973 - the year that my heroes Bruce Lee dies. I guess everyone has it's own version of heroes huh? My brother keeps telling me that Bruce Lee dies because of terkena "pukulan maut" Dicky Zulkarnain - what a plain lie hahaha.
1975 - the year that I first go to KL to followed my family to send my eldest siter to study in the ITM Shah Alam. This is the year that I ate my first KFC in Thrifty Supermarket in Jalan Barat in front of PJ Hilton (the hotel then known as Hotel Jayapuri). The supermarket & The KFC of course are nowhere to be seen. (now occupies by Court Mammoth & Coffee Bean respectively). Well I still remember my first KFC - the tastes is out of this world. Unlike now of course.
Well, believe it or not this is the year we are able to see World Boxing title fight featuring The Greatest Muhammad Ali right here in KL, before his infamous fight with Smokin' Joe Frazier in Thrilla in Manila. My interest for boxing has grown ever since. Now I have a full collection of great boxing movies like The Rocky, Raging Bull & Cindarella Man.
This is the year that I first attended kindergarten - Buddhist Asscociation Kindergarten, in Jalan Perak, Penang. The building resembles a small atap house then. Well, I guess there is no PASTI or KEMAS tadika during that time yet. I still believe that we should minced with others regardless of races/religions for us to live in peace & harmony. Hahaha, for the record I am still a Muslim.
1976 - the year with many events; sad & happiness. The year that I first enter Standard 1 in Francis Light 1. My standard 1 teacher is Cikgu Zainab. I still remember the old fashioned spectacle that she wore. The spectacle that we can always seen in the black & white P.Ramlee movie.
At the end of that year, I got a chance to travel to London. The plane that we travel was delayed more than 3 hours upon departure due to they have difficulties to load an elephant to the plane to be send to the London Zoo. I travel with an elephant on board! I also remember well, when the plane approaching Heathrow right after dawn, I can see the London city below with it's famous classic red double decker. The moment that can't be bought back forever. During my stay there I had a chance to visit Trafalgar's Square on christmas eve & go to House of Toys with 6 storeys building full of toys alone. Imagine 1 storey occupied entirely by miniature train dazzling accross artificial mountains, town center & so on. It's my heaven on earth.
This is the year that my beloved sister - Julinah passed away. The most beautiful girl in this wide wide world. I still can recall well the final moment I saw her, she was crying from the hospital window as we are in the car park before we left. I never saw her again. She died when we are in London. She was 17 years old then. I still miss her a lot. Please forgive me, my dearly loved sister.
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