Roem's Airmata Emas

The unloved (2nd installment)

2012-01-24T11:08:00.003+08:00

Some time ago I wrote about the same subject and got quite a reaction!

How does one really reconcile being unloved. Love comes in many forms and the need to be loved is quite overwhelming, probably more than the need to love. It's a sense of security to know that you are loved. Each person will have his/her priority whose love is most important to him/her. We can choose who we want to love but we cannot demand any particular person to love us. Love must come naturally, and sometimes love grows from knowing a person (love at first sight? Mmmm, am not so sure about that!).

Someone very close to me is still sometimes struggling with the knowledge that he was not loved as a child, and now as an adult, his mother at a ripe old age still openly shows preference to his other siblings. Coming from a big family, at a early age he was packed off to live with an elder brother, whose wife became a surrogate mother of sort. But when his father was old and sick, it was he who took care of him until the old man died - the very person who frequently proclaimed that he could not stand the sight of this son!

My young friend has now a family of his own, a beautiful wife and three lovely daughters. The way he and his daughters interact is "love personified". His children must at all time feel and have the love he never had as a child. He still tries to get close to his elderly mother but all efforts are rather in vain. He feels odd and disheartened when he calls her on the phone and and the response is akin to "what do you want?".

His mother has never been to his house and recently, knowing she was in town he organized a family gathering in her honour only to be shattered by the fact that his mother chose to visit another brother who had not made any arrangement at all. And when it comes to property matters, his siblings had been designated their share while he has not been given anything so far.

I kept advising my young friend to be patient, life is sometimes unfair and patience has its rewards. Just count other blessings. His love for his family and their love for him in return are already a reward. Parental love is something one can never demand. And I know of a few people who just do not have it from their parents, and it's hard and painful. But in Islam, filial piety is total, especially to a mother even if she is the most difficult mother you can possibly have. "Syurga di bawah tapak kaki ibu - the door to paradise depends on your relationship with your mother" - no two way about it!

Which made me forever grateful that my parents, in their lifetime had showered me with all the love and support a son could possible want. Though in my younger days I was perhaps sometimes naive, stubborn or rebellious to know or accept it, though to other it was so obvious how much they loved me. Alhamdullilah, I was able to reciprocate their love in their lifetime. May Allah always bless their souls, amin.

'Kurniakan lah rahmat, bahagia ibu bapa ku,
Berikan hidayah pada hati yang tertutup...'
http://youtu.be/e_soESI12Dg

1st January 2012 - post Canberra sojourn

2012-01-01T10:43:00.001+08:00

Good morning world! And a happy new year 2012!May the new year bring lots of good tidings to all of us, and the world at large.

I was up early this morning, having gone to bed at 11pm and awakened at midnight with all the loud fireworks announcing the start of 2012. I was supposed to be at an official event ushering the new year but opted out at the 11th hour. I was just too tired and didn't think I could cope with the crowd and NOISE at the event. Just as well, and it was not the first time I spent new year eve alone and in bed!

I came home late Wednesday night after a 10-day most pleasant, quiet and food-laden holiday in Canberra, Australia. The quiet holiday was indeed a balm for my rather frenzied working life. I left Canberra 15 years ago after a two and half year posting and clearly it had not changed that much today. Excellent quality of life and services still prevailed and you get value-for-money on whatever you spent. Outsiders may find Canberra deathly boring but at this stage of my life I could live in Canberra if I had all the necessary personal infrastructures.Glad to catch up with friends Willie, Don, Mac, Tony, Nora and Halim, Zuraidah, Salman, Molly and Richard, etc. Regretfully, many had also gone away for Christmas and New Year holiday. Thanks Willie (my dear old schoolmate from English College Johor Bahru who has lived in Canberra for 40 years) for your generous hospitality.

My rather fast-paced life started again upon my return home and I am glad I won't have to go to work until Tuesday 3rd January ( followed immediately by a working visit to Jogjakarta 5-8 January). Thursday was spent in my Putrajaya house which I had not gone to for nearly a month! I had phoned up Mehboob to clean up the garden and it was nice when I got there. The rainy season had ensured the plants were doing well. I had ordered a bedroom set which was delivered in my absence and having looked at it I realised I could have spent a little more for quality! Cest la vie!

Leisurely morning on Friday followed by some site visits with my charge and then Friday prayers. Late afternoon my brother Long and wife from JB arrived to spend the night at my house. Later brother Wes and wife too arrived and after Maghrib prayers we all trooped down to SUBAK Restaurant at Sungai Pencala for our niece Nur Annanina's (brother Ngah's daughter) wedding reception. She married American Michael (?) in the US last year and they have now settled down in Las Vegas. It was a most pleasant evening with good company, nice food and music. The best comment heard was the warm reunion of the four brothers. Alhamdullilah!

Long and Sis left at noon next day for their much-needed private holiday (destination Ipoh and Pangkor) amidst a hive of activity in my house with Ayu doing the internal cleaning and Irfan doing up the garden. I took Anna and Michael, and nephew Andreas for a Japanese lunch and they came home with me for coffee. Ayu and Irfan only left after five and I was really tired by then and still had to go to that new year event. Well that didn't happen thankfully.

2011 was a wonderful and great year for me though there were times when I felt so stressed out and pressured with my work responsibilities. They are all just memories now and in fact were the essential spices for my life. The private travels I undertook, though I would always include some official element in them (Jogjakarta, Perth, Surabaya, Bandung, New Delhi and Canberra), in between these busy schedules, were the balm for my frenzied working life.

I am looking forward to a great 2012. Once again, happy new year everyone and God bless.

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-31T22:29:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year 2012 everyone. May you all have a great and fulfilling year ahead.

Penang-Johor Bahru-Singapore whirlwind

2011-12-17T12:49:00.003+08:00

Whirlwind of a week! Early Wednesday morning flew to Penang for a meeting with the 'maestro'. Was home at 8.30pm!

Next day in the afternoon flew to JB and had a couple of hours walk in the old town, plus of course the compulsory visit to my tailor Mun Onn where I had another order of six batiks shirts to be made. Evening dinner and a meeting with the MB in 'Saujana' where I snapped the photos of our four past Sultans posted here. The MB was most cordial and pleasant, made me feel good to be a Johorean.

Next day after breakfast, was driven to Singapore, my very first entry into Singapore via the new CIQ (haven't entered Singapore by the Causeway in years - I simply dread it). Not all that efficient I must say and on the Singapore side the queue was long and very slow and tedious. And the young Malay woman at the immigration booth took like 20 minutes to clear some 7 passports of the car in front of mine and when it was our turn clearly showed she was trying to be overly-efficient and not in the least bit friendly (worst still the Malay women at the Changi airport immigration who cleared my passport and was totally impersonal and indifferent as she could possibly be- what's wrong with all the Singaporean Malays!!! Superiority complex or what? Big deal being immigration officers!). It took me 40 minutes to get through the Singapore immigration and customs! Talk about being welcomed and efficiency!!

A two-hour visit to the Singapore National Museum to see the "Dreams and Reality" exhibition brought all the way from Musee D'Orsay Paris (and a thorough briefing by American volunteer Helen who really knew her stuff). Then a rushed visit to our High Comm to say hello to my friend and colleague Hussein and I was off in a heavy downpour to the airport. Again home at 8.30 pm.

At last a free day to do my packing for my travel tomorrow night for 10-day holiday(finally) to Australia. Canberra here I come!

Nostalgia Johor Bahru

2011-11-15T21:47:00.090+08:00

I have just returned from a 24-hour visit to my old hometown Johor Bahru (JB) where I was born and bred. I left for University in KL in 1971 and had since never actually lived in JB again except the trips home during term breaks and the regular visits to my parents after I started working. Mother passed away in September 2006 and after my return to Malaysia in January last, I made one trip to JB for the annual family reunion and had never again ventured there till yesterday.

Short, very short as it was the visit was full of nostalgia. JB had grown so much but the old town still retains its charm, messy as it still is today! But it seems more compact and somewhat tidier. Lots of development going on, hopefully things will get better.

I visited my parent's graves. Regretfully they are quite far apart and I had to drive from one to another. My father's grave had undergone a make-over and was newer and neater (he died in 1996). One of the marble tombstones of mother's grave (she passed on 1n 2006) was uprooted and I could not do much but leaned it against the box. I wish the Religious Department would do more for the upkeep of the cemetery. It is always terribly overgrown with weeds and the soil erosion is bad, and there was always heaps of rubbish here and there around the cemetery. Shame with all the financial resources they have they could not even make the effort to look after the place and upheld the dignity of the departeds' resting place.

I drove around to the neighbourhood where I lived with my parents in two different houses (Nong Chik government quarters) from the age of 6 to 20. They have all been razed to the ground to make way for newer development. And the family land in Air Molek is now used as a paid parking lot and some food stalls and gradually being squeezed by other development. My eldest brother Long is adamant about not selling it and making some arrangement for a joint-venture development. Well I hope the day will not come when the government will just make a compulsory acquisition of the land and we will all be under compensated of the land's actual value.

I also stopped briefly at my 'almer mather' Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (English College) where I studied from 1965-68 and took some photos and spoke to one of the teachers who promised to invite me to give a "motivational talk" to the students one day.

Then there was the compulsory visit to my tailor "Mun On" at Jalan Trus. I had been patronizing that tailor since 1967 and nothing had changed about it, except those days I would pay RM3.50 to have a shirt made with my own material and today it is RM70! I still could not find another tailor who will do my short-sleeved batik shirt according to my liking as they do, that's why I kept going back to them all these forty years plus!!! Amazing isn't it! Anyway this time I deposited four batiks materials to be tailored and as a goodwill gesture they charged me only RM 60 per shirt! Hoong Po or Wan J will have to collect them and bring to KL once ready.

JB, oh JB! So nice to have a place to go back to and reminisce about all its goodness!

Goin' Back

2011-11-02T23:07:00.011+08:00

I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well
In my youth

I think I'm returning to

Those days when I was young enough

To know the truth

Now there are no games

To only pass the time

No more colouring books
No Christmas bells to chime

But thinking young
And growing older is no sin
And I can play
The game of life to win

I can recall the time

When I wasn't ashamed
To reach out to a friend
And now I think I've got
A lot more than a skipping rope to lend

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
And everyday can be

My magic carpet ride

And I can play hide and seek with my fears
And live my days
Instead of counting my years

Let everyone debate the true reality
I'd rather see the world
The way it used to be

A little bit of freedom

Is all we lack

So catch me if you can

I'm goin' back.....

http://youtu.be/gV1bnDqhMws

I first heard this song in 1967 sung by Dusty Springfield. I was all of 16 years old then and the song touched me so profoundly with its beautiful lyrics by Gerry Goffin (melody by Carole King) about the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood along with an attempt, on the part of the singer to recapture that youthful innocence. Since then the song has always remained one of my eternal favourites and it has been recorded by scores of other singers over the years, the latest being by Paul McGrath, ex-Ireland football legend. And now 45 years since I first heard that iconic Dusty Springfield version I heard a new version which touches me even so much more. A month ago, my friend Hoong Po gave me a new compilation CD of Diana Ross, and surprise, surprise track 21 was "Goin' Back" and it was such a beautiful rendition. I even found a video of Miss Ross's version on YouTube. Surprising, the recording was made in 2001 and I had not heard of it. Thanks dear HP, Miss Ross, Carole King and Gerry Goffin. "Goin' Back" is forever....

Eid Mubarak Aidil Adha

2011-11-01T08:39:00.004+08:00

Salaam and greetings! Been so busy to write anything of late! Just back from a 5-day Deepavali break in New Delhi and was sick all the time there! The air was so horribly polluted there but had a great albeit quiet time with Seng Sung and Julia all the same. Home with a bagful of goodies as well! India is so fascinating and colourful, dirt and dusts and all....

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha all.
(Foto is of a batik "Segala puji hanya pada Mu" I made a few months back - all praise to Him!)

Latest artwork

2011-10-08T14:06:00.001+08:00

Voila, my latest artwork, pastel and acrylic on canvas, just completed - it took some thirty minutes and very dirty fingers and hand, and stained kitchen table and towels and all! Don't know if it will even qualify for Pak Yusof Ghani's KALAM exhibition next month!

Big and small mercies!

2011-10-08T12:01:00.004+08:00

Saturday again, free at last! No appointment whatsoever. I really should be working on a painting I have been invited to exhibit next month! The days and weeks have gone so fast and there have been some trying periods for me, which led to the ever-ongoing internal debate within me whether I want to continue working. Patience, patience my man - it will have its rewards, if not already there.

Tonight three of my 'better' staff go overseas. One of them for an 18-months masters degree programme in the UK, for which we went through endless hassle getting the approval and the funds. But it is a good investment for the institution though we will sorely miss his expertise for some time. The other two, ladies, I dispatch to Frankfurt and Berlin for a week to do some homework and research on book fairs, museums and galleries. Steady now ladies, get the most of your trip! My own proposed trip to Melbourne last week was overturned by the powers-that-be, which is just as well. I am in no mood for travels at the moment. Anyway I will be spending Deepavali in New Delhi with dear friend Seng Sung and Julia and Christmas in Canberra with friends there.

I had a good Hari Raya Open House two Saturdays ago at my Club house. Could not invite as many people as I would like but it was a warm cozy number, mix of friends and relatives.

Over the Malaysia Day long weekend I made a trip to my favourite East Coast, a two night stay at the ever busy and crowded Hyatt Kuantan (with the oh so noisy air con system!) and a day outing to Cukai/Kemaman where I had lunch at my nephew's brand new expanded house. I discovered some new nurseries near the hotel and went home with a car full of plants. As usual I made a stop at Lanchang to visit my darling cucu Kuca and had a nice lunch with the family. Kuca is such a doll, and such a bundle of joy! Frantically learning to speak and can relate well to her 'atok'.

The budget announcement yesterday was somewhat predictable! From what I gather I will get my RM500 pensioner's bonus and half month's salary bonus in December. And my pension will be increased by 2% yearly. Retirement age has been moved up to 60, the second time since I went on retirement at 56! But I shouldn't complain. I was given a tree year extension of service on contract when I retired, and five months after that was over I was offered this present job. I have now passed 60 years of age and am still working, what's there to complain about about (haha - so why the ever ongoing debate whether I should continue working?). Anyway, Alhamdullilah for big and small mercies.

This month four of my friends, Mushlim, Rezal, Fauzi and Amin embark separately on the haj pilgrimage. May you all be blessed with a good pilgrimage and may Allah SWT facilitate all your rituals and grant all your prayers my friends, amin.

Have a nice weekend all, God bless.

Dawn from my bedroom balcony some days back.

Of Bandung, Hari Raya season and painting with the maestro

2011-09-10T22:01:00.004+08:00

It's the 12th day of raya and being a weekend there are open houses everywhere, including right at my front neighbour's house (a single mother with three young kids). But I was not invited, understandably as we hardly know each other except for the early introduction when I first moved in and the occasional hi and waving from our cars or driveways. But isn't open house meant for everyone! Anyway just as well I was not invited; I would not have tolerated the food with the current state of my stomach. I had food poisoning last Sunday night at Bandung and it had taken so long for my stomach to settle back. I also skipped a wedding luncheon invitation today at my (again) front neighbour of my Putrajaya house. I had even loaned them my garden compound for the occasion and had ensured Mehbob cut the grass and cleaned up the garden yesterday. Well my brother Wes and his wife did attend the luncheon, in a way representing me as well. I hope my absence did not offend them.

Last Friday, the fourth day of raya I flew to Bandung with my loyal travel companion Hoong Po for what was supposed to be a 6 days holiday. I really should have trusted my first judgement, that Bandung was not a great place to visit. My first visit there was in 2004 only for 2 days and I did not like it at all. Against all odds, I decided to give it another go and it proved to be AGAIN, disappointing and rather a disaster with the food poisoning! So instead of coming back on Wednesday I flew back on Monday, forgoing two night paid hotel accommodation and having to pay penalty on my airfare! Hoong Po stayed on and was in Cirebon that disastrous Sunday. I did not want to join him on that long drive to that hot, sweaty place and just as well as it took him a marathon 9 hours to get back to Bandung the next day! And there wasn't much for him to do to pass the days till Wednesday either.

On the positive side, today spent a few hours with maestro artist Yusof Ghani who invited me to jointly paint with him at his studio in Shah Alam. Wow, what an experience that was. The results are the two paintings here. The green/brown one is his though I started with the base and outline. The other one is mine with some instruction from him. The subject/theme is mine - for me always the same subject - ALLAH! I look forward to more painting sessions with the maestro.

My darling cucu Kuca who turned two years old two weeks go had her birthday party at her kampung in Lancang, Pahang today (I'll visit her next weekend when things are quieter). As a present I gave her a painting of flowers by an autistic female artist which I bought at the MCAT (Malaysian Contemporary Art) art exhibition of autistic artists at MATIC in July. Although it is still early, hope this will inspite her to love art like her atok.

Aidilfitri 2011

2011-08-31T09:21:00.002+08:00

What a blessed and happy day yesterday, the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2011. I went to the mosque, made my rounds and was informed that my relatives wanted to visit me in the late afternoon. Luckily Hoong Po was staying with me, was worried if I could cope, though my nieces would always help out.
Well at 4.00 pm 10 families and their brood descended on me simultaneously! It was such a warm, feel- good gathering and I am touched that my family decided to make my house the venue for our gathering.

Selamat Hari Raya and maaf zahir batin everyone!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

2011-08-29T08:19:00.000+08:00

Treats in Surabaya and Malang and farewell SAJ

2011-07-31T20:52:00.003+08:00

It's the eve of Ramadhan and there is a great sense of calm around me, alhamdullilah. I finally feel rested and there is still much of the evening left yet.

It had been quite hectic since I came home very late on Friday night (you could say it was already early Saturday morning) after a week's very pleasant holiday in Surabaya and Malang. Neither were 'happening' places and were not really tourist destinations, but I had a good time nevertheless. The real treats were the two hotels I stayed at in both places - The Majapahit in Surabaya and The Tugu Malang in Malang. These heritage hotels were a world class of their own - beautiful, excellent ambiance and service. It was a real privilege staying in both, four nights at The Majapahit and two at Tugu Malang. Both Surabaya and Malang were so traffic-infested and noisy (like most Indonesian cities), but both hotels were a heavenly oasis of calm and serenity.

These days I like spending my holidays in Indonesia. The country has such a strong identity of its own and people were just so polite, considerate and friendly. I never once felt alone or ignored the whole seven days I was there though I knew no one in either places. On arrival in KLIA Friday evening what did I see, a man repeatedly shouting and lecturing a lady sales assistant at the Duty Free shop (even after she had apologised). Why can't Malaysians be civil and considerate to each other, we are sometimes so righteous and so full of our selves!

Of course I came home with some two dozens batiks; most will be given away anyway (sedekah Ramadan la)! The only negative occurrence of my holiday was leaving behind my personal hand phone at Surabaya airport. Granted the phone was old but I lost all contacts and contents! Fortunately I had my business hand phone with me. I have to now start building my contact list again!

This morning I went to the funeral of our Seniman Negara/National Laureate Datuk Syed Ahnmad Jamal who passed away last night at the age of 83 after a rather long illness. May he rest in peace. The artistic legacy he left behind will be treasured and inspirational for generations to come. I went to visit him the day before departing for Surabaya but he was just too ill to receive visitors. I did speak to him on the phone a couple of times and visited him in hospital some months back.

We will miss you Datuk. May you be placed among the chosen people. Amin!

A Friday lament - changes and life goes on

2011-07-15T08:51:00.004+08:00

A Friday salam and greeting to all.

Isn't it expected that things change, people change and WE change! Sometimes we are prepared for it, sometimes not - and that's when it takes a toll. I know I have changed, and I accept it. But some things about me that I wish would change never do! Such is life.

Some changes are for the better and some for the worse. It's funny that despite all the rhetoric about changes, when they do happen, they can cause many of things - sometimes happy and sometimes not. And alas, some things/people just never change!

I wholly accept the changes in me, they are inevitable as long as I am living. So why is it sometimes difficult for me to accept the changes in other people. I should know that nothing is permanent. People come into your life for a purpose and when they slip away it is also for a reason. No big deal. Even family members and close friends can change, love can turn into hate, support into envy, admiration into jealousy, a smile into a smirk, friendship into animosity, etc etc. It's all part of life's cycle.

Of course I wonder why some people drop off from my life. At the same time, I involuntarily drop off from some other people's lives too for some reason or another. It's all about choice. Just that when I made my choice to drop off from other people's life I know for what reason it was, but when other people drop off from my life I wonder over and over what had I done wrong to deserve such a fate! Phew!

Anyway, I strongly believe that in life things are destined. Nothing but God is permanent...

" Life goes on and we pass through
Days of sunlight days of tears
Live the way life comes to you
Foolish wasting precious years.

Here today, tomorrow gone
Say goodbye
And life goes on....."

Have a blessed Friday everyone, God bless.

Buah delima

2011-07-09T11:05:00.001+08:00

Ambilkan saya buah delima

Masak sebiji dibalik daun

Budi mu tuan saya terima

Tidak ku lupa bertahun tahun....

Of art auction and another painting

2011-06-25T11:00:00.002+08:00

Another bright Saturday morning, a simple breakfast in my cool, airy gazebo. The only colour lighting up my garden is a big flaming red hibiscus, and the garden shrew is happily fleeting all over looking for food. The little boy above is at it again, screaming his head of while 2 Indon maids and a cook try to pacify him! Welcome to the neighbourhood!

A quiet Saturday (hopefully) except for the KL Fest launch late this afternoon and an appointment with my masseur. Last night I attended a launch of new art gallery and an exhibition in a RM5 million bungalow in an affluent neighbourhood in Shah Alam. Intoxicated by the atmosphere I guess, I booked a painting! God knows where I'll hang it and why I need another one when many of my paintings are still all over the house unhung! Anyway, the artist Yusof Ghani is one of Malaysia's top and his work sought after. He has not done a show in Malaysia for three years and collectors were just snapping up his paintings last night. My colleagues told me, if anything, it is a good investment. OK lah! Got some money coming from the sale of my one year old, only 6000 km underused car (why I kept it till now is also a mystery to me when I have my older imported car and the office car as well!)

Anyway, judging from last Sunday's Henry Butcher Art Auction at Publika, Solaris Dutamas, art (paintings) is really big. 90% of the 104 local paintings on offer were sold, netting RM3.1 million. Latif Mohidin's 1968 PAGO PAGO Forms was the star seller fetching RM572,000. I don't own any Latif Mohidin, Ibrahim Hussein, Syed Ahmad Jamal or the likes but I do have some good works by the younger established artists. I guess in time my collection will also become priceless as well. I did not buy them for investment and I enjoy having them, but how long can I have them...

Tomorrow to Kuantan, and on my way will visit my cucu, Kuca, who has become very attached to her atok as much as I am to her. A charmer at just under two years old. I don't get to see her often due to the distance but I do pamper her all the same.

The last month or so had seen me travelling quite a bit to network with my institution's clients - Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, and tomorrow to Kuantan and next stop Johor Bahru. I do enjoy the travels but they deprive me of a domestic weekends. No harm.

Have a good weekend all!

Pancho's Untypical Day

2011-06-15T19:00:00.004+08:00

Another grey day and there are too many people in the garden! I can't even walk across to the other side to claim my cucumber. Old Don Gregorio is cleaning the walls, roofs and pool area of bird droppings, equally old Don Demetrio is doing his garden things and Hacinta is frantically mopping the terrace floor. But there are several other men putting up tents and tables. Well in all that commotion even my friend Toby the cat hasn't come out into the garden. And for once those pesky birds are not hogging the trees cooing up a din as they do everyday.

I want my cucumber, but how I can I walk to the other side where my master always put them out for me outside his private sitting room door. And in this busy time he's not going to search for me and bring me to the other side as he would sometimes do, gently caressing me as he ferries me .

It's my master's farewell reception tonight and I hope the weather will be kind for him. We haven't seen the sun for weeks and it's mostly damp, wet and miserable. I am sad my master is leaving to return to his country. And he won't be taking me along with him . I understand I will be put in the garden of the new Chancery the office is moving to next month. His assistant Walter said I'd be good Feng-shui for the new office! I shall miss my friend Toby who often comes sniffing at me. He is going home with my master, his PAPA, as he would often proudly claim!

The bouquet of flowers have been steadily arriving from well-wishers, even one from the Mayor of San Isidro. The first one came last night from my master's landlords, with whom he'd had a rather tempestuous relationship. But they are parting company as friends now and my master has even agreed for them to bring the wife of the Minister of Defence to look at the home on Wednesday with a view to renting it when my master leaves next month. In today's turbulent politics, wonder if her husband will still be Minister of Defence next month! And talk about defence, I understand there are 21 policemen guarding my master's Residence tonight. Gee !!!

The Residence and garden now look resplendent for the party. The tents are in colours reflecting the Malaysian flag. There is even a crystal chandelier in the centre. The three buffet tables look good . They used a mountain of cabbages, salads and green to create a backdrop for the generous cold seafood buffet (now why didn't anyone toss me a morsel of tasty lettuce!!) There are heaps of roast beef, grilled lamb and turkey and other hot foods and salads. Then there's the sweets table with chocolates and little cakes and finally the luxurious cheese, nuts and fruits table which is always a favourite with my master's guests. Earlier on my master had a small fit when on this last table were ham, saausages and prosciutto when he had specifically omitted them from his order. Poor Mr. Huamanjali was so upset at his staff's oversight and quickly scurried the unwelcome stuffs off into his van!

In the end the weather wasn't kind after all, the garua came down in full force and trickled through the tent. But it didn't stop my masters' 160 guests from enjoying themselves. The cheese and nuts table was cleared in no time! The Imam's wife said the unusual rain was a blessing, and the women around him echoed agreement !

My master had never hugged and kissed so many people in one night. The first guests arrived sharp at 7 pm and the last ones left at 11.00 when invitation stated till 9.00 pm!! Everyone seemed to have a good time and the no-show was quite insignificant which pleased my master very much. The Foreign Minister sent two representatives as he had at the last minute had to host a reception for a visiting Thai delegation. But he had yesterday resigned his post so how does this work? And who will now host my master's official farewell at the Torre Tagle on 18 July since the invitation is in his name and he is no longer is Foreign Minister now? Turbulent politics, there we go !

The usually sombre Nuncio, the Dean of the Corp came and stayed two full hours and complimented my master of his painting collection. Anna-Maria Pardo and her husband-hunting sister made the usual nuiscances of themselves wanting to be photographed with everyone! I could see how tired my master was but he was also pleased with the warmth and affection he received from his friends and colleaques all night long. And he has yet a long string of farewell lunches and dinners in his honour to attend as well as the packing to see to. His departure has now been slightly delayed now as he has recently received instruction to attend the inauguration of the new Colombian President in Bogota on 7 August. I am just happy to have him around longer!

My master's staff stayed behind past midnight and when they left he gave each of them a bouquet of flowers from the many he'd received. The lights finally went at one am. I now have the now rather messy garden to myself again. Let's hope my cucumber are there at the other side of the garden !

Pancho, Rumah Malaysia's Garden Tortoise
585 Antero Aspillaga , El Oliver,
San Isidro
Lima, Peru.

9 July 2002

Of quiet night, Dee Dee B and Yemeni antique window

2011-05-26T22:11:00.008+08:00

A quiet night at home at last. Been running around at a dizzying pace these last weeks since my return from Perth. Caught a flu and cold a few days after that which took forever to heal since I had no time to rest (plus three extremely hot days in Langkawi to meet 'clients'). I finally got over it last Sunday after spending an entire day at home, and that was made possible only by cancelling all my appointments on that day and telling the temporary maid not to come for the weekly cleaning job (when are you coming back Ayu??)! A full day programme this coming weekend followed by a trip to Kota Bharu which I am trying to get out off! Aiyo, gimme a break!

Had a bit of relief on Tuesday night at the

Petronas Filharmonic concert hall watching Dee Dee Bridgewater's very animated performances of Billie Holiday celebrated songs. I am not exactly a jazz and blues fan but I was really entertained and felt so relaxed by that evening's performance. Bridgewater provided lots of humour as well.

A full day today, with our board meeting which took forever to end and me having to explain some tiresome things! Just let us do our job lah! A pile of letters await me in my office and a line up of staff wanting to get my counsel and a dash to another institute to close a 'letter-writing' workshop for twenty of my staff (a result of my endless nagging and sometimes tantrum about their letter writing skill) and to give away certificates. Then a dash to University Hospital to visit my dear brother in law who had been admitted for fatique! I had been nagging him to eat but he kept saying he had no appetite! His wife too had fallen sick and had to go and stay with family in Bangi! In her case I think it's too much food! Oops!

Got an ugent sms from my friend Samad in Sana'a, Yemen asking me to make up my mind which antique wooden door/window I wanted him to buy for me as he is packing up to return home as the situation in Yemen is getting worse. Safe trip home brother! I hope things improve in that country where against all odds I had a most fabolous holiday back in 2009, thanks to Samad and his Yemeni friends.

.And for that matter my 10 day visit to Algeria scheduled from 31 May has also been cancelled! There must be some good in that I guess! I suppose my trip to Kota Bharu and Kota Kinabalu the weekend after next is some sort of compensation. Big deal but Yong told me 'count your blessings lah!'

Yes dear, am counting my blessing for this quiet, tranquil evening too....

A pleasant week in Perth

2011-05-11T21:09:00.004+08:00

I was having a very quiet simple dinner under my gazebo, and texting a message to my niece Marina when the children from the opposite back house started a game of screaming and yelling (why didn't their maid or mother tell them to quieten down?). So much for a 'romantic' outdoor dinner! I closed all doors and windows and turned on the aircon and here I am in front of the pc instead.

I had just spent a very pleasant and relaxing week in Perth, a much-needed break from my hectic schedule. It was my second visit to that city, the first being in 1996. What can I say about Perth, pretty and tidy, orderly, good services and friendly people, most pleasant weather (this time of year), many variety of food, and reasonable prices of goods (I indulged mostly in supermarket stuffs, and finally got my Sheridan quilt cover and bed set I had been eyeing at KLCC's Parkson Grand for a fraction of the KL price!). On the last day just before leaving for the airport my host took me to an antique shop and I ended up buying a nice and ornate Victorian dressing table, from the 1890s! It will be 'parked' at her house till she is posted back here!

I stayed with my dear friend Hamidah and her family (and was invited to rearrange her living and dining rooms! haha) and caught up with my dear 85-year old aunt (bless you Teh), her daughter my cousin, also Hamidah though we called her Nim and her two sons and their family. Nim and her brood has lived in Perth some 30 years since marrying an Australian. So good catching up with them and I was treated with food, food, food on three occasions!

Also met many Malaysians and was invited out for dinner on four out of the seven nights I was there. For some reason my digestion was slower when I am in a temperate country and I was constantly feeling bloated! That aside I really felt great and so rested in Perth. Thanks Mid and everyone else.

Unrequited....

2011-04-26T22:21:00.001+08:00

Awan bergulung puan di hari senja
Nampak berbalam biru warnanya
Puan di gunung paya hamba di paya
Dalam jambangan temu ingin bersama

Terbang serindit puan dengan kedidi
Singgah di kayu di rumpun kayu
Kasih menitis puan basah tak jadi
Walau bertahun rindu menanggung rindu

Hatiku yang resah ku bawa berdendang
Memujuk diri di jeling tidak
Sepantun berdendang dendanglah asmara
Cuma igauwan dalam igauwan

Berdendang hamba puan bertepuk puan
Senyum dibibir hati berduka
Kasih diberi orang di jeling orang
Terasa hiba tidak terhingga

Ku sulam kasih emas berbenang emas
Orang bertaruh baiknya rupa
Walau pun kasih balas tidak berbalas
Tidak ku kesal itu jadinya....

Good morning world....

2011-04-09T10:29:00.007+08:00

A beautiful bright sunny, blue-sky morning, Broery's rich voice filling the air, my week's soiled clothes in the washing machine and I am in a very good mood even if the first sms I read was of Fadzil cancelling our tea appointment today, no excuse offered! Typical lah you brother! Hopefully it's the start of a lovely weekend. My heat-challenged Mat Salleh neighbours decided to honour the world with their two minutes presence in their garden and after some twangy pronouncements promptly reentered their Alaskan cold comfort zone from the kitchen door closing it with a bang. Not trying to be a busybody, but I can't help noticing that they are into their 3rd maid now! I guess the previous maids couldn't stand the totally shut, 24-hour air conditioned ambiance!!!

Had a simple breakfast of an orange, a banana, a raisin scone with olive oil spread, a piece of left-over naan with acar buah and a mug of white coffee, big deal ah! But I had it in my almost completed traditional Trengganu wooden gazebo attached to my kitchen which my young charge has painfully been constructing these last three weeks, and that made it special. He uses hardy chengal wood, Malay carvings and the roof is of fish scale-like earthen tiles which are almost a hundred years old that he found in some kampung and bought for 55 sen a piece and painstakingly scrubbed and cleaned. Am looking forward to its completion so I can throw a garden dinner party, laksa Johor and all, haha! Meanwhile, my elevated back neighbour's half a dozen or so pet cats have been amusing themselves with regular inspection visits of my gazebo's roof. Wish I can have a cat of my own!! Miss my Toby.

My garden is coming up nicely and my frangipani are already blooming. The rest of the plants I put in are really competing with each other who will grow faster. I get much satisfaction to see them grow. I had originally asked for a quotation from a professional landscaper who quoted RM8100 to fill up my garden. Well, I went on several trips to the nurseries in Sungai Buloh and Sri Hartamas and had spent just over RM1200 and I feel more satisfied with my own choice of plants, and efforts and the anticipation of the garden growing into its full glory.Yesterday's late downpour was a bonus for the garden even if it deprived me of my cardio walk up the peak near my house.

After the rain I took my brother and brother-in-law and their spouses for dinner at Sungai Pencala and we had a really sumptuous meal, a Chinese-Muslim fare at Muhibbah, absolutely delicious (out of this world kerabu pucuk paku to boot). This was capped with dessert at a very beautiful restaurant Subak (http://www.subak.com.my)/ a hill amidst matured natural greens and traditional Malay wooden canopies tucked in some unsuspecting wooded part of Sungai Pencala. A really special ambiance, and the trio musicians sang three kroncong pieces at my request (Kartina Dahari might squirm at the way they delivered her famous songs, but I was entertained all the same!)

I had an easy good week at work for a change though on Wednesday, for the first time in my working life I thumped my fist on the table two hours into a meeting with some 25 of my staff, which went off track. But the meeting ended with me and my staff fostering a better understanding and goodwill after I put things, or rather 'them' into perspective. My message was clear - built your expertise and credibility, and prove your worthiness to the institution, then you can make demands or negotiate what you want! I had four separate delegations afterwards, all trying to explain the 'rebellion'. It was clear that they rebelled without realising that the cause of their 'rebel' was no issue at all since I had never agreed to the issue at hand in the first place. One thing I realised after that incident was that they were actually worried if I would leave my job, and them!! Haha!

A worker is coming shortly to fill some cracks on my wooden floor. My weekly acupressure massage session is in the afternoon (has done me a world of good lately, felt my stresses completely dissipated by Mr Ng's magic hands) and a choir concert in Shah Alam tonight (for Norliza's sake! She promised to seat me next to Syafinaz, hehe!). Tomorrow breakfast with YAL and the gang (to test his new Sulawasi cook's culinary ability I bet! Sulawesi got nasi lemak ke?) and an appointment with the pest control people at my Putrajaya house, and Mehboob to mow the grass. Abed has asked me to join him for an afternoon matinee at Actor's Studio. Ayu has gone back to Malang for two months to see her son whom she had not seen for over two years and has put Endang to cover her and I should rightfully be home while she works, being only her second week! How to juggle all these lah. And God knows what else will fill my weekend. But I feel great, Alhamdullilah....

Happy weekend all, God bless!

PS: Guess who proffered me a salam/handshake after the Friday prayer at the Angkasapuri mosque yesterday? Papa rock himself - Ramli Sarip!

An afternoon with Michelle Yeoh

2011-03-25T23:00:00.003+08:00

For over two hours this afternoon I was in the company of Michelle Yeoh, briefly spoke to her and shook hands with her twice (her handshake was firm and affirmative and the smile was of course dazzling). She came across as genuinely charming and friendly and really put people at ease. I was too shy to ask to be photographed with her though many of my colleagues did! She came to the event with her mother and a young relative and you could clearly see that beauty runs in the family!

Michelle Yeoh has been appointed as Malaysia's reading icon. The event this afternoon was for her to meet up with young people to tell them about her life-long passion for reading and to inspire them to read (a corner in our National Library will now be dedicated to her book collection). She spoke to them, clapped to their song, read with them and told them about herself. She apologised for her lack of proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia but still spoke a good smattering of it and read a whole paragraph of a book in Bahasa Malaysia by Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (the first Malaysian to go into space) with the kids. It was nice listening to her speak about her reading habit, and a bit about her movie career and how reading helped her master the many roles she had played in films. She had just finished a 4-month shoot of the film 'The Lady' where she plays Mynmar's Aung San Suu Kyi. I am quite sure she had put her greatest effort in that role and the world will be anxiously waiting for the film's release.

For me the event pleasantly capped a busy week and I was really pleased to meet Michelle Yeoh in person and know that despite her international celebrity status, she is still very much a Malaysian - warm, friendly, gracious and generous. Viva Michelle, Malaysia is proud of you.

Is this art?

2011-03-15T19:07:00.001+08:00

I just came back from attending the Singapore Art Biennale and this is one of the 'installation art' on display at the Kallang exhibition venue! Figure it out lah.....

Bentan Telani

2011-03-11T22:05:00.004+08:00

Bentan Telani bernama pula
Tempat berlabuh perahu Acheh
Niat yang baik mestilah dijaga
Itulah adat kita berkasih

Bentan Telani bernama pula

Tempat kediaman alim pendita

Jikalah ada syarat petua

Ilmu berkasih mestilah setia....

The little girl of Ta Prohm Temple, Cambodia

2011-03-07T21:49:00.000+08:00

This little girl was happily swinging on some external roots of a tree outside Ta Prohm temple in Siem Riep. I took some photos of her and gave her a dollar which she happily accepted. Indeed, what bliss innocence is!

Musings on a blessed Friday

2011-02-25T12:21:00.049+08:00

Dressing up for work, a line from a song by Aishah on my cd player caught my attention,
" Hasad dengki usah di hiraukan, bersabar lah menempuhi..." (Don't be bothered by jealousy and treachery, be patient and face them). Mmm, easier sung than done, especially when such uncalled for attention came from the least expected source! Anyway, it's a blessed Friday, God bless us all.

Got a forwarded sms from an old friend thanking everyone for the good wishes and prayers for her recent major surgery. For some time now she is not allowed any direct contact with me. For heaven's sake, we are both in our 60s now and I grew up admiring her like a sister due to her great command in English and very broad unconventional outlook, which inspired me to master the language as well and seek beyond the confine of our small town. My prayer for a speedy recovery my dear friend and sister.

I brought home yesterday, from my office, a large framed photo of my beloved parents since the silver frame has gone all stained and dark and I have silver polish at home. During my sleep I dreamt of both of them separately, mother seeing me packing for a trip and a phone call from father telling me it was OK to be myself and not to worry about what others think. May Allah SWT bless them, amin. And Al Fatihah...

A long phone call from Marion in Zurich complaining about the snowy cold weather and announcing that she had already booked her three weeks stay in the Cherating for July. Ah Yong, also in Switzerland and I were also 'sms ing' back and forth all night! Ah, the comfort of friendship. And today HP will arrive from JB to spend the weekend with me. It was also good to catch up with Wen and Mariam yesterday, and also Syed who I have been trying to see for some time. He alternates living in Florence, Italy and in KL and we finally met up and will have lunch together next week.

It's been such a busy week and thank God a scheduled weekend workshop at Genting had been cancelled. I can now attend the Committee Meeting of house owners of our community of 46 houses tomorrow. And I am going to raise among other things, dog owners letting their dogs' barking disturb our serenely peaceful community. I think half of the currently occupied houses are tenanted by foreigners and many of them have dogs! My Mat Salleh neighbour who moved in two days after I did on 31 Dec has not once switched off their half a dozen or more aircons (wish they'd give me a break when I am working in my garden - all that eternal buzz and humming of the aircons!) and they hardly ever come out of their house when they are home! Aiyo, why live here if you can't live a normal life like the rest of us la!

So much for my musing, have a blessed Friday all.

2.35pm - Just came back from Friday prayers at a very modest nearby neighbourhood mosque and for the second time in a few months DYMM Agong (His Majesty the King) himself came to perform the prayers too, without the pomp and ceremony, arriving with with his small retinue of staff and with no special treatment. Daulat Tuanku!

Of 'mujopahit' the fruit, Yogyakarta etc

2011-02-04T18:36:00.001+08:00

Just got back from a most pleasant 6-day break in Jogjakarta. Last time I was there was in 1978 and God it has grown so much, and so has Solo. And Borobodur and Prambanan are so well restored and facilitated for visitors, though unfortunately there were hardly any the days I was at each places (perhaps 20 at Borobudor and a few more in Prambanan, also a small handful of visitors at the kraton in Solo). When I visited them in '78 they were undergoing restoration by UNESCO and visitors were only allowed to see designated parts of the monuments. Now I saw them in their full glory. The Merapi volcano eruption has all but driven tourists away though there was no danger whatsoever.

The hotel I stayed in at Jogja had but a handful of guests. A pity but perfectly agreeable with me. I had an absolutely fabulous time and really pampered myself. Had to buy another suitcase for all the batiks and stuffs I bought. People were so kind, friendly, polite and service orientated. Now why can't spoilt, over privileged Malaysians be a bit like that! I shall henceforth try not to get too annoyed with the Indonesian workers here as they are only to eke a living given the situation back home!

Anyway more about Borobodur, Prambanan and Solo later (sorry Evert I gave Imogiri a skip this time, I am sure I look better in that rented batik sarong bare-chested in '78 than I would today!). I just want to share photos of some fruits I took in Nasirun's garden. I am sure I had seen them in Malaysia but they don't grow on trunks like these. Nasirun said they are called 'mujopahit' because they are bitter though not edible. Anyway, really fascinating as you can see! Anyone has further info about these fruits?

The Big 60

2011-01-25T22:53:00.003+08:00

After nearly a month without, I finally got my Internet connection back today. It's only one 'power' compared to the four I had in the previous house as I am in a new zone but it seem to be fast enough.

What do one write about on the eve of one's 60th birthday? The party's over really (last Saturday night at the pool/clubhouse combined as a house-warming and with over a hundred friends and family members turning up) and here I am alone in my big new house, strongly smelling of the pink lily in the vase and the good wishes still coming via sms, facebook and emails. What else can I ask for?

Seriously though, how do I begin to justifiably manifest my gratitude for the great life I have had till now. How little and insignificant they seem now the little troubles and inconveniences I had faced during this life compared to all the good and great things I have been bestowed with. What a wonderful, rich life and blessed life. Thank you God and please let me do some good in my life. Thank you for the family and friends, and people I have met that have enriched my life too.

Am I now at the sunset of my life! Hopefully not, especially not while I am still working. That really is sometimes quite stressful but all too soon I am already 8 months into the job with another 16 to go. The additional income to my pension is good and I put it to good use to help others and that's a good enough reason to get up in the morning, so I'll bear with it. Besides, I do love the core subject of the business.

So, a quiet coming of age tomorrow. Harriet and the gang has arranged a 10-course Chinese dinner, which Monica my dietitian must not know of or she will scream at me through her sms. I am so tired of my diet regime though I have in fact lost weight and had recently altered 7 pair of trousers (her aim is fat loss and not so much weight loss though), and she's gone to China for the New Year anyway!

What a blessed life! Thank you God, thank you, thank you, thank you! Syukur Alhamdullilah!

A Belated Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-11T18:25:00.003+08:00

Happy new year everyone, still not too late to convey my good wishes I am sure. I have been so busy with my move to a new house and till today I still have no phone line and as such no Internet connection. Taking a breather at work to post this, and it has also been a whirlwind at the office since I returned to work on 3 January after a week's leave. Only one week's leave, five days spent on the house moving. Can't even attach a photo of the house from this office pc!

Anyway I now can claim to finally have my not-quite dream house of my own, probably too big for my need but nicely located on top of a hill looking over parts of KL in a gated community of only 46 houses and with 24-hour security. I can now leave my doors open as I like. It is also good to finally be able to unpack all my stuffs that had been in their boxes for too long, some as far back as 2003 when I moved back from Peru! The packers finally left at 7 pm on Saturday 31 December 2010 after 3 days of packing and moving and I finally slept in the new house after midnight, after a hearty new years's eve dinner with Alya and her gang, ushering 2011 in a brand new house. House-warming will be on 22 January but I will do it at the pool/clubhouse and celebrate my BIG birthday in advance on the occasion.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone, may you have a great 2011. God bless.

Mushlim's House - Desa Paku

2010-12-28T23:50:00.005+08:00

I had a chance to catch up with my friend Mush in Malacca yesterday. We spent two pleasant hours together and had a lot to talk about. The last time I visited his house with the lush tropical garden must have been six years ago. It is still lush and fascinating though rather overgrown. I had been privileged to see the house and its garden when it was first created in 1985 and had watched how Mush lovingly turned it into a tropical paradise and along the way made it a heliconia haven; he had one of the largest variety of heliconias in the world ! He is still today an active member of the international heliconia society having hosted some members from around the world to lunch a few weeks back. The place had also been visited by countless dignitaries international and local. It was also the set for the entire Rahim Razali film ABANG 92 which starred Deanna Yusof.

These days Mush is more spiritual and does not tend to the garden with the same energy he did before. He told me he had in fact given the property away and upon his demise the property will automatically belong to his beneficiary according to the Muslim 'hibah' tradition.

Mush gave me five young trees and palms for my new house when I left. It was indeed good and warm to see him again. God bless and keep you Mush.

The little boy from Angkor Wat

2010-12-16T21:57:00.005+08:00

After a tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia recently, I was browsing at a nearby souvenir/food market when I came across a really cute and handsome little boy happily playing with his sister. I stopped to observe and interact and took some photos of them. Nearby their mother was calling out, "One dollar, one dollar, only one dollar sir!"

So I scooped up the little boy and said to her, "Okay, I'll take him for one dollar!"

That's when she reacted, " No, he one million dollar sir!" She was obviously offering her souvenirs for one dollar!

What a miss! Such a beautiful and happy little thing. I hope he grows up fortunate and successful (maybe as fortunate as Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Angelina and Brad's adopted Cambodian son). It was obvious that he was much loved by the sister, and mother of course.

"You are a lucky man..." and U-Wei's HANYUT

2010-12-09T21:45:00.003+08:00

Today I had over an hour of interesting and stimulating conversation with U-wei Haji Shaari, the famous film director (Perempuan, Isteri dan Jalang, Jogho, Kaki Bakar etc) the only Malaysian film director whose movies, two of them, had been screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Some weeks back U-wei gave me the honour of previewing his latest film HANYUT (adrift), based on Joseph's Conrad novel 'Almayer's Folly' on dvd. And what a film it was, so beautifully crafted and with an international cast and crew and an epic feel. Beautiful Sofia Jane was so engagingly menacing in her rather mad role!
U-wei said the film was still not completed though he had already spent RM11 million on it! He still needed some RM5 million to complete it, including a specially written music score by an international (Japanese) composer. And I thought the film was already good! I am really honoured to be one of the rare people to whom he showed his 'unfinished' film.

We talked about many things, mainly the Malaysian art scene and of our art collections. He said something which I thought was very nice and significant, which in fact never occurred to me. He said that I was 'a lucky man', in response to me saying that I was no longer tied down or obsessed with my art collection and other material things, that I was no longer worried, or afraid to loose anything or worried or upset if my things got damaged or accidentally lost. Yes in fact it was so liberating to feel that way without me realising it. Thank you for making me realise it U-wei.

Reminds me again of the lyrics in Kris Kristofferson's 'Me and Bobby McGee' - freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose!

I look forward to U-wei 'finished' HANYUT, which he told me he planned to submit to Cannes! Anyone wants to foot the RM5 million?

Deepavali Open House in Sungai Patani

2010-11-15T22:21:00.011+08:00

What an overwhelming turnout of over 10.000 people at our agency's Deepavali Open House in Sungai Patani. Indeed 1Malaysia at it's best!

I combined the occasion with two night's most pleasant stay at the Golden Sands at Batu Ferringhi in Penang. While East Malaysia was bracing for rain and floods and the upper northern part of West had just had it awful share of rain and flood, Penang was all sunny and HUMID!

Lots of western tourists and surprisingly Arabs too when one thought the invasin from the Middle East would have ended by October. All well for our tourism industry! The hotel was full that we were reminded ever so politely to check out on time!!! Must return again and spend a more leisurely time there. Penang is so traffic-infested these days!

The enchanting Malaysian East Coast

2010-11-07T10:42:00.011+08:00

Just back from a week's most pleasant holiday in the Malaysian East Coast with my loyal travelling companion HP. Set off with no agenda and hotel bookings and made three stops, first at the pleasant Impiana beach hotel in Chendor, then onwards to Kuala Trengganu staying two nights at the Pantai Primula. I always liked Kuala Trengganu and it has developed so well and pretty and there are lots of eating places serving food freshly cooked upon order and so cheap too. Visited the majestic State Museum on a very rainy afternoon and went into countless batik shops, as well as stalls at the scenic Pasar Payang. Left Kuala Trengganu with some 35 pieces of batik sarong (a most under-appreciated piece of craft in Malaysia), 20 0f which will be shipped to Switzerland! Kuala Trengganu seemed such a safe place and though people did not seem friendly at first, would always warm up if you chat them up.

We had a sneak at the rustically opulent Tanjung Jara Beach Resort where I had stayed twice before (before it became so horrendously expensive today). Must take up Dato Yeoh's invitation for a weekend stay sometime!

Our last stop at the Hyatt Kuantan (I always liked the place since my first stay there in 1976 and it has expanded and improved into a fine total holiday complex it is today). Arrived on Thursday afternoon to a relatively empty hotel and the next day it was full house with the Deepavali long-weekend holiday makers' arrival. Stayed two nights and had a most pleasant and relaxed time. Weather was mild throughout and just as well it was downright downcast on the day of my departure. Can't imagine all that flood in the West coast....

Drove from Kuantan to Temerloh by the old country road (which by the way had better road surface than the present highways!). Passed through some of the most beautiful, pristine and lush tropical greens to the soothing accompaniment of of beautiful music by Rossini and Donizetti from my car cd player. Heavenly divine!

At a small village near Lanchang stopped to visit my dear cucu Kuca. She is so adorable at just over a year and it was a nice and warm feeling watching her run around the garden wearing that cute pair of squeaking shoes and the sweet pretty dress I bought her in Shanghai. And when she smiles for her atok....

Back to the office grind tomorrow....

Here's a video I made from photos of this trip.
http://youtu.be/thXhnLtwGWk

Wan Zaharah Ahmad in memory

2010-10-26T20:30:00.007+08:00

Wan Zaharah binti Ahmad passed away last night and was buried at the Kota Damansara Muslim cemetery after Zohor prayer today. She underwent four surgeries over a period of one month and succumbed to the last one. During my last visit in her hospital she was in a state of panic as one of her surgical wounds had apparently burst and she kept asking me to get the doctor to attend to her and that I should not leave until the doctor came. Alas it was the last time I was to see her alive.

Wan was a relative by virtue of of her being married to my cousin Wan Talib. But more than that she was a dear friend, someone who had always been caring, supportive and very kind and generous to me. She was a warm, generous, happy person - always with a friendly smile and laughter and a positive outlook. Wan was an exceptionally good cook and cake-maker and with her husband had built a very successful and lucrative cake-making cottage industry supplying good quality cakes to a wide range of clients, from royalties, to five-star hotels and a huge stable of regular clients. She has now left a legacy of that and it is left to be seen whether the family can maintain that legacy.

I remember the glittering wedding of Wan Zaharah and Wan Talib (which the MC dubbed the Wan and Wan event) in Klang way back in 1975 when my uncle, Wan Talib's father was serving as grand chamberlain to the late Almarhum Sultan Selangor. Wan Zaharah was thereafter 'groomed' by her mother-in-law in the finer aspects of domestic matters which I believed made her the great cook she was till her expiry.

I introduced Wan's cakes and other food to many of my friends and colleaques, many of whom remained her loyal clients till today and who would take her cakes to as far as the US and Japan. We shall all miss her delicious fare and her ever smiling welcome.

Wan came to visit me in Switzerland in Summer of 2008 and together with my brother Wes and sister in law Anis who were visiting me as well we travelled around Switzerland and went as far as Florence, Rome and Venice in Italy. Wan loved to shop and was generously buying presents for her family everywhere we went. She bought so much that she had to leave some behind when she left onwards for England. She taught my cook Hafiz to make her famous nasi dagang, having brought the cooking utensils all the way from KL. The four of us really had a wonderful time in Switzerland and I remember the the pleasant, cheerful and warm conversations we would have everyday at mealtimes. Wan never ever missed her prayers throughout her stay in Switzerland.

Wan Talib gave me the honour to sprinkle the last petals of flowers a pour the last drops of rose water over her grave today. I will not forget the sight of their son Yus clinging to the tombstone reciting a prayer while tears streamed down his cheeks.

Wan Zaharah was a truly wonderful human being, an devoted wife, a loving mother, a good relative and a most dear and loyal friend to many. I will always pray that Allah SWT will bestow upon her all His blessings and place her among the chosen and blessed people, amin.

Bali Revisited

2010-09-30T09:48:00.006+08:00

My lovely accommodation! Sheer luxury. Just spent four pleasant days in Bali. It's my fourth visit since 1979 and Bali has changed and grown a lot. Sadly all the wealth do not go down to the people of this charming island who still have to struggle a lot to make a living. And things are not exactly cheap in Bali!

Stayed in a beautiful resort in Kuta and made day a tour of Sanur and Ubud. The 'macet' (traffic jam) was bad in many parts with more vehicles plying the narrow streets which could never be widened for eternity! I was happy to visit Bali again but there was nothing there that excited me anymore. I went around looking for batiks but they were all very expensive and the majority were machine printed. The few traditional hand-drawn ones that I came across were so expensive that I could buy a return economy air ticket to Europe with the price! I did buy two overpriced wax printed shirts though just for the heck! Maybe Bali was not a place to buy batiks.

I came back a day ahead of schedule due to the demands of work back home. But I will always remember the kindness and gentle hospitality of the Balinese people. Now that's something Malaysians cal learn or emulate!

The Original 1Malaysia

2010-09-22T21:30:00.002+08:00

Johore Bahru 1966 - Hoong Po (still in JB), Roem (all over the world, now finally back in KL), Willie (Canberra, Australia since 1969), Ranthir (UK, now Melbourne) - still best friends today and forever. Nothing new about 1Malaysia!

Shanghai sojourn

2010-09-22T21:04:00.006+08:00

I recently spent six days in Shanghai, flying there on the 2nd day of Raya. I visited the Malaysian Pavilion at the World Expo (I won't comment about it except that everything else asides, we do get lots and lots of visitors, and perpetual long queues just to get inside the pavilion).It rained the first three days I was there and getting to and from the Expo was quite a hassle that I was just not bothered to visit many pavilions. Was glad I had a privileged tour of the Chinese Pavilion though. That was something else!

A day's outing to the heritage town of Zhouzhang with its ancient canals was most pleasant. Then onwards to Suzhou with its many lovely gardens.Shanghai was very impressive - clean and orderly despite the overwhelming crowd (17 millions inhabitants) but the haze of polluted air crowning the city and miles to the next cities around it was just too much. And upon my return home I finally succumbed to the exposure to the millions of people at the Expo and am now down with flu and cold! What misery!

Of Merdeka celebration, 1957 Hati Malaya and Shumi/Ami

2010-08-31T12:22:00.009+08:00

Early this morning I attended the Merdeka celebration (celebrating the 53rd anniversary of Malaysia's independence from Britain) at Stadium Putra. Wow, what a lavish and colourful (and very loud) display of national pride. I couldn't help but get choked a little during the pledging led by a robust young Malaysian man, accompanied by representatives from various sectors of the population. Then on I had no problem waving the Malaysian flag which was supplied to us.
Yes indeed, Malaysians have a lot to be grateful for and proud of. And this coming from a very critical but steadfastly loyal Malaysian who had spent over a third of his life abroad, having seen and lived in many and visited countless countries around the world. Malaysia has its weaknesses and setbacks, but the positives really outweigh them all. I have been back in Malaysia only seven months and though the first few were difficult period of adjustments, I am now very settled into life in my own country again and WHAT A GREAT COUNTRY WE LIVE IN! We have built a peaceful and prosperous nation in merely 53 years when others take ages to achieve perhaps half what we have today. So, wake up Malaysians and be grateful you are born in a Malaysian and live in this country, the envy of many (otherwise why do we have 3 million foreign workers and millions of tourists annually!). I once asked a European who had lived here over 25 years what made her want to stay on here and she said that it was so easy to live here, we have everything and you can always easily get things done, one way or another. And the food, the food, the food lah! There you have it (Malaysia boleh ma!) On Sunday night, I finally got to watch the movie 1957 HATI MALAYA on TV2, advertisements and all! It was a moderate expose' of how we got our independence, and the story of our two national heroes, Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman. Let's face it, we are no Hollywood, and for what little budget they had, the movie was good, one of Shuhaimi Baba's best! Congratulations Ami, and for the awards and accolades too.

Shuhaimi Baba and I were classmates in Dr Vijaya Samarawickrama's 'Theatre Practice' course at the English Department of University Malaya way back in the 70s. We also took part in some drama productions under the baton of Joy Zinoman and Othman Hafsham. Those were really fun days, yeah! The media and others refer to her as Shumi but she's still Ami to me. Upon graduation we both joined RTM as assistant producers, me briefly and she for a longer period. I remember one day being yelled at by Ami (to please bloody make up my mind) from across her table when I announced I was not sure if working for RTM was something I wanted!

Well, I went to pursue another career (no regrets whatsoever!) and Ami went on to become a famous and respected movie director. I did bump into her from time to time.

A few weeks ago I attended a meeting in my new capacity, and she was also present, sitting opposite me on the other side of the table. I had not seen her in years and she looked good and with a youthful radiance. We exchanged news across the table (no yelling this time, haha!). I look forward to her next movie.

Meanwhile, MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!

Thank God for being a Malaysian!

Salam Ramadhan

2010-08-15T15:47:00.005+08:00

Assalammulaikum! Already five days into Ramadhan and I finally get to spend my weekend at home for a change after two consecutive weekends travelling. Quite blissful actually to just be home and not do much except reading and sleeping in between pottering in the garden and empytying and hanging up the washing - how deliciously mundane.

The first two days of fasting I could not find any Ramadhan bazaars (which is really absurd) coming back from work and ended up the first day buying cold lunch food from the traditional Indian-Muslim restaurant and on the second, pies and cakes from Secret Recipe! Quite pathetic really in terms of berbuka fare but how much could I eat anyway! The fourth night an abundance of food at my dear brother-in-law Long's house and last night even more food at brother Wes's house. He had a full house with his four children and their children and this lone uncle and it was such a merry, boisterous feel-good occasion plus the congregational Maghrib (where he recited a most beautiful and touching doa at the end of the prayer), Isyak and later terawikh prayers. What a truly happy and united family, bless them.

And bless everyone too, happy Ramadhan! May His multiple blessings be upon us.

Of stress, black tie, Fini and Penang!

2010-08-03T22:09:00.007+08:00

What a day! I thought I was really work stressed-out. But at six pm my young charge called and said he was so stressed-out with his work he wished he could run to me for assurance! See how when you think you have it so bad, someone else have it worse!

A long, slow traffic crawl to the Swiss residence for their National Day reception and I stayed like 20 minutes and I left after gulping down some raw salads and apple juice. Sorry Urs, I prefer a quieter dinner with you some time!

At home, I spent some time searching for my black bow ties for tomorrow night's black tie dinner (why can't we just wear batik lah!). Called up Din and he agreed to loan me his, thank God for that. Now I can rest my mind with a a bit of blogging.

******************************

My Swiss friend from Zurich, Marion, with daughter Fini who are here for their annual visit for summer vacation came to my office and we had lunch at the cafe. They wanted everything on the buffet table and loved everything. Fini didn't like the tapai ubi though! She had blossomed into one amazing beauty and would I am sure sweep the crown at any beauty pageant and give a very tough competition with Scarlett Johannson. Her father is Balinese and with Marion's chiseled features, gave her a distinct exotic beauty.

They brought me six bars of my favourite Swiss chocolates - yummy!

*************************************

Over the weekend I had a very pleasant one day stay in Penang. Haven't been there like in ten years and upon entering my hotel room in Batu Ferringhi with the stunning view I realised just how long it had been since I saw the sea. Must have been last in Eastbourne, England on new year's day this year.

Despite its rapid development, Penang still had plenty of charm. I love the shady drive along the majestic tree-lined roads passing many magnificent old mansions and buildings. The older town centre were charmingly quaint and I found some beautiful traditional block-printed batiks and walked away with five shirts!!

The next day a short visit to Sungai Pattani where I had lunch in an old-fashioned colonial club. Lovely fish curry! Then onwards to Alor Star where I checked into a rather non-descript Holiday Villa. Did not have much chance to see the town and by six pm I was on the road again to Kangar for an official function. It was a very loud affair (why does everything have to be so deafening load in Malaysia?) that gave my heart palpitations despite stuffing my ears with tissue papers. I left after two hours and made my way back to Alor Star to catch the early morning flight back to KL.

It was my very first vist to Alor Star and Kangar and may probably be my last too.

Coming weekend to Kuching. Alas not my favourite town either!

Family Day, and no more weekends

2010-07-18T12:45:00.011+08:00

I joined my staff for a family day at a water park. It was a shady morning and they were enjoying themselves when I finally left after 2 and half hours. It was just too humid for me! Hardly two months into my new job I got to meet family members of my staff. I used to have 13 staff in Switzerland, and now it's 149! So far they have been very responsive and welcoming. I had warned them that my working style would be something they might not be used to, so it would be a question of adjustment and accommodation from both sides. Let's see how it works, so far so good.

I don't seem to have any more weekend to myself these days, always occupied with work engagement or otherwise. Last Saturday along trip to a village in Pahang to launch a restoration project of an ancient surau (small mosque) followed by one of the best lunch I've had in a long time, of simple kampung food (with patin fish fresh from the river no less, sambal tumis ikan bilis and petai from the jungle and the best durian I have had though I am really no fan of durian).

Then a short trip to an elephant reserve where I was appalled to see that all visitors including busloads of foreign visitors made to take off their shoes just to get passes to enter the sanctuary at the ticket/information centre. What on earth for, imposing such inconvenience, we were not entering a house for heaven's sake. I found it totally stupid and unnecessary to impose such a rule!

After that a long drive back to Putrajaya for "Floria" the annual flower show where our outfit had a stand too. It was to run for ten days, and I wondered how the flowers were going to last!

The next day I attended my good friend's first granddaughter 'cukur jambul' ceremony (when a baby's hair/head is completely shaved - God knows why, I can never understand it!) followed by lunch. My dear friend HP who was visiting me from JB joined us and it was sweet and in a way touching to see a Chinese sitting on the floor among the rest of us while we were performing the marhaban and tahlil (spiritual recitations and prayers), but he said he was least uncomfortable about it. Late afternoon I had to launch an exhibition in a gallery in Ampang. On the way home a stop at the pasar malam to get my week's supply of fresh fruits, and my Sunday was gone!

Yesterday four events in a day, a wedding luncheon reception near my house, a birthday lunch at Cafe Lui in Ulu Langat, a cultural launch at Batu Caves (I asked my deputy to attend, no way I could squeeze that in) and an award dinner ceremony at a hotel in KL, you see some really glamourous, dolled-up people there! I left before dessert! I must be getting old as I found it all so tedious!

Home at last now and I have a good rest of the afternoon and evening to myself! Thank God.

A house with a view, the old and the new

2010-07-11T19:05:00.006+08:00

My Sunday morning Plumeria

2010-07-04T09:25:00.004+08:00

I woke up rather late today having gone to bed late too watching a soppy Ida Nerina telemovie. She was really good next to a rather stiff and deadpan Eman Manan - and the story had an unconvincing ending. And not a single female cast wore a tudung!!

Anyway it had been weeks or months since I watched tv, and when I switched it on last night caught myself with minister Ng Yen Yen at the Contemporary Malaysian Art and Tourism launch yesterday in the news. Gosh my hair has turned even more silvery (as opposed to grey, hehe)!

Breakfast of the most delicious naturally-ripened mangoes from my Putrajaya house (bless the previous tenant who planted the trees and my brother Wes who lovingly tended to the fruits) and wonderful pure Nespresso coffee (eat your heart out George Clooney!). The coffee can only be made with its own special machine and coffee pellets and both are not yet available in Malaysia. It's big thing in Europe these days with Nespresso coffee 'boutiques' sprouting everywhere, and Mr Clooney giving his most dazzling smile as its spokesperson. I was presented with the machine by Nestle's Vice-Chairman who is a huge fan of Malaysia, before I left Switzerland. And for a long time it had been lying in my kitchen as I was simply too lazy to read the instruction how to work it (and endlessly waiting for Nina and Ayob to teach me how). It was a month ago when dear Hoong Po visited from JB and figured out the whole thing for me. God knows how long before my stock of 400 pellets will run out and then I'll have to order them from overseas.

Since working I had hardly ventured into my garden, and especially since I will be moving out anyway, and Ayu had kept it immaculately tidy. I took a peak today before breakfast and lo, my crimson frangipani (I prefer the Hawaiian name PLUMERIA)had bloomed beautifully again. When I moved back into the house five months ago, all that was left of the once blossoming tree I planted some 7 years back was a dead-looking stump overwhelmed by zealous bamboo ferns. I tended it back and now the beautiful results.

While admiring the plumeria I heard loud banging and I looked down below at the two houses being renovated for endless months now - one is putting up a swimming pool and the other another floor blocking all views from my two guests rooms and saw a worker banging away with a hammer. A sharp rebuke that it was Sunday got him walking away head down! Thank God I no longer have to put up with the noise during week days since working again, except Saturday. And thank God I am moving house anyway, and you can be sure I will dig up my plumeria tree and plant it in my new house.

Have a nice Sunday all, God bless.

Kuca

2010-06-24T20:56:00.005+08:00

The new door

2010-06-21T18:53:00.003+08:00

My new door has finally opened, and what a long, multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and multi-challenges paths it leads to. Can't help wondering what I got myself into! It's all very exciting, quite promising but somehow frightening all the same. We fear the unknown, but we fear the known even more. There are high expectations from me from all quarters and I must work hard to live up to them. Gone are my leisurely, independent, care free days of the last few months! God, please help me get through these challenges. Amin.

Well, everything happens for a reason. Let's see eventually where lies the reason.

And amidst all these I have just three months to uproot myself from my present house to move to a new house, a better one. Insha Allah!

God bless.

Cranky Saturday morning

2010-06-05T08:39:00.010+08:00

How do you like woken up on a Saturday morning by the neighbour's dogs incessant barking? Thereafter a continuous series of noise - someone mowing the lawn, banging and hammering of a nearby house renovation work, a car alarm going off, followed by a house alarm somewhere and for some reason this constant droning of helicopters in the sky, and flying so low too (is it to do with the Agong's birthday today?)!! And then there's the endless motorcycles sounds of newspaper, bread etc delivery and the neighbourhood security patrols.What a Saturday morning, and it's so grey as well! God knows what else lay ahead .

I came home late last night after a whole day spent in my hobby house in Putrajaya. Got caught in a horrendous traffic jam in Bricksfield trying to collect a PosLaju parcel delivered to my house just at a time I wasn't there. I gave up and made a detour and ran smack into another traffic jam heading towards Jalan Duta! Where was everybody going? I knew it's Friday night but it was past 9pm already!! Almost reaching home I saw another massive traffic jam crawling up towards Bangsar Shopping Centre into Bangsar - the happening place! God, I just wanted to get home! Of course when I did get home I was greeted by that stupid dog again. Ayu had a parcel from UKM waiting for me (thanks Shamsul). She had cleaned up my garden nice and tidy. Some messages on my email, smss from Chicago, London and New York (Beep and Yam wishing I was there with them - thank you thalings, my travelling days are over lah!). HP rang from JB to say he would stay with me next weekend and join my friends' joint-birthday bash at Cafe Lui in Ulu Langat (http://www.luifarm.com/).

I guess it was and will continue to be one of those days when things will be rather testy for me. At times like this I appreciate having a place to run to, my house in Putrajaya with its 6500 sq feet of land. Yesterday I planted a jambu air, a mata kucing, two limau kasturi, crimson frangipani (I like the Hawaiian name for it - plumeria), some palms and flowering plants. All the other trees and plants I have planted in the last month are growing well but the hibiscus leaves were all eaten up, must get an insecticide! I got rid of the messy dragon fruit plant and removed all the banana clusters (left behind by my last tenant) and put them in one straight row at the very back of the garden. Same thing with all the lengkuas (galangal) and bunga kantan shrubs! I didn't actually do them myself but with the help of this strapping young Bangladeshi, Mehboob. My brother Wes and his wife Anis came with a sumptuous lunch, they were the custodians of the two profusely fruiting mango trees and did more wrapping of the fruits to protect them from insects. They harvested quite a bit of the fruits last Tuesday, which are still to ripen till today.
Mehbob worked from 11 am to 4 pm, and had the perfect excuse not to go for Friday prayers as he was dirty all over, so he said. I especially liked yesterday's sermon in that small cozy mosque near my house. The subject was 'loans' and 'overspending' with the imam lamenting about the incredible debts incurred by people these days, mostly unpaid, and the incredible amount of credit card usage! What is one to say!

Cousin Wan J came to borrow my Baju Melayu with cekak musang as he would be attending the Agong's birthday reception at the palace today. Last year he wore the Johor teluk belanga to the occasion and was reminded it was not the dress code for the occasion. While he is sweating it off under the tent in the palace ground today, I will be having tea with my niece Idah and her family in Seremban. Have to dash back to KL in time for Abed's birthday dinner! What do you give as a present to someone who has everything....?

I stopped at Alamanda for a quick dinner and some grocery shopping at posh but absolutely empty and overpriced Cold Storage. The rest of the Mall is crowded by Malay youngsters and family which made me feel like a dinosaur. Must avoid the place on Friday nights!!

I pray for a pleasant weekend and that I will not be too cranky. Next week a new door opens - I'll stat working again. Insha Allah....
Time now to get some breakfast! God bless.
And Alhamdullilah, finally all those noises have stopped!

A letter from Fiorella

2010-05-25T12:00:00.006+08:00

A few years ago while in Switzerland I received a rather soiled and and crumpled envelope in my mail. The chop indicated it was posted many months before from Italy. It must have gone astray and finally found its destination (I won't comment on the infamous Italian mail!).

The letter was from a young lady named Fiorella de Natale. She was the only child of Antonio, whom I recruited as our office guard in Rome in 1982. Fiorella wrote that she had finished her studies and was understudying to be a lawyer, and that her mother often spoke about me and that I was kind to her family and often visited and had meals with them.

I then remembered that some years earlier I had received a letter from her mother Maria-Antonietta, sadly announcing Antonio's death and enclosing a black and white portrait photo of Antonio and a prayer.

I was touched to be remembered out of the blues by this young lady who I only knew as a child. She left a phone number and I called but only managed to speak to her mother. We had a good, long chat (my rusty Italian came flurrying back and I knew I made a million grammar mistakes!) and it was such a warm feeling to reconnect with Maria-Antonietta.

Antonio married Maria-Antonietta, his childhood sweetheart a few months after I recruited him. I was invited to the very elegant wedding in one of Rome's oldest churches in Nomentana quite close to our office. They were a very handsome couple and despite our stations we became close and I was often invited to Maria-Antonietta's family home in Mentana, outside Rome for long summer lunches and dinners. These occasions in their villa overlooking a beautiful valley of vineyards were always pleasant and wonderful. Her parents were warm and generous, father Signor Neri was very handsome and aristocratic and Signora Neri cheerful and motherly and an excellent cook, (ooo all those home-made egg pastas drooling with mushroom or artichoke sauce...and she would also proudly show me the hand-sewn dresses she was making for the Laura Biagiotti fashion house!).

Later Antonio and Maria-Antonietta built their own house across the road from her father's and they had a child they named Fiorella (little flower). I was invited to meet the new-born and I watched the child grew, a precious gem for the doting grandparents.

I left that wonderful eternal city of Rome in Summer 1985 after a 52 months of incredibly wonderful and dizzy stay (I USED to say it was the best place I ever lived in and the happiest time of my life BUT I am more philosophical about it now). But I would return to it at least once a year for a holiday for several years after that. Antonio left our office after I left and got a job in a government ministry. He somehow did not fit in as a guard and the other guards and Italian staff would refer to him as 'Il signor' (the gentleman) because of his elegant look and demeanour.

During these annual visits of mine Antonio would always ensure I visited their family and have a meal at the family villa. I think it was while I was in Peru that I received Maria-Antonietta's announcement of Antonio's sadly early departure. May he rest in peace.

I wonder when I'll get another surprise letter from the 'Little Flower'.....

A new door opens

2010-05-23T18:25:00.006+08:00

The days have breezed by and all too soon I am almost four months home. The dusts have settled again and I have put most things in order, my house, my finances and other things all in place. It had been a very busy time but as things slowed down I sometimes entertain thoughts if I would become bored or useless. But like I wrote in my "Farewell Switzerland" entry, when one door closed another one always opens. Well, Alhamdullilah another wonderful door is about to open for me very soon!

InshaAllah.

Stay tuned!

Remembering mother

2010-05-08T09:31:00.007+08:00

Beloved mother passed away some three and half years ago while I was still in Switzerland. I came home a day after the funeral and only managed to see her still-fresh grave and partake in the tahlils (recitation of prayers) the next few nights. I don't think a day ever passed without me thinking of mother and saying a prayer for her thereafter....

Mother died at the age of eighty six, in her own home, bedridden for some six years but still very much in command of her home and destiny, with the assistance and care of ever-loyal, patient and efficient Marti. I would go home and visit her once a month for a few days. I would sit by her bed and talk to her, tell her about things happening in the family, gently massage her forehead and the side of her head which she liked, or just sat there reading my books or papers, or texting my messages. She was happy to just have me around for that short period. She did not say much but would sometimes surprise me with remarks or questions about things from like twenty five years ago! I always made sure I bring her a gift, however small and insignificant and this pleased her very much and she showed it. And when it was time for me to leave she would insist that Mar prop her up on her bed so she could sit and watch me driving away from her bedroom window..... Always with a prayer for my well-being and safe delivery.

I miss mother very much but I am content with the belief that I had been a good son to her and had received her love and blessings till her very last day. In my young days I was rebellious and must have been difficult and tiresome as only a youngster could be. I was the last among my siblings to leave home at age 20 when I entered University as I was not allowed to go to boarding school (pampered last child everyone must have concluded!). I remember a rather difficult period when mother would find every fault with me and I would feel miserable, hurt and unloved and found solace only by pouring it all out in my diary! Years later I finally understood that it must have been a menopausal period for her and I was a sort of punching bag for all the anger and frustrations at things she did not understand happening to her then.

Mother was a strong person and was very much in command. It could not have been easy bringing up six children and being conveyor to father for all his siblings and relatives as father was the eldest remaining member of his family and he was not a man of many words. But mother handled it all well, and she was well-respected by father's relatives - they come to her for everything, and she would always make sure father settle whatever issue that was at hand! She was also financially savvy, we were never short of anything and our house was constantly filled with stay-in visiting relatives and there were plentiful food all the time. She was always doing some small businesses which augmented the family income, like making her famous 'halwa maskat' (which took four hours of laborious stirring over slow charcoal fire), and huge earthen pots of 'acar buah' (fruit chutney). I was often sent to deliver the orders to her customers and would get a tip for my errand! She taught me well - at the age of 11 when I was in Standard 5, she gave me a monthly allowance of RM5 and told me to manage it, no more daily pocket money henceforth. And I did, rather well too (to this day I must say), also thanks to the generosity of more independent elder siblings.

My beloved, dear mother was not necessarily easy, she had a strong mind of her own. She was extremely generous, always giving, and considerate and so perceptive, and very loving in ways I could not understand then as a youngster. It was thus such a sad development when at the later stage of her life she stopped being the active, commanding person that she was and became so totally dependent on others. I could write a book about mother, but the memories best remain in my thought.

Some years back, my three brothers and I visited an ustaz to get his advice what we could do to help lessen mother's suffering in her bed-ridden condition. At the end of of the consultation I asked the ustaz about a regular recurring dream I had. I often dreamt that mother hated me and would do things to hurt me and make me cry. The ustaz only smiled rather knowingly without saying anything, while two of my brothers rather in a fondly snickering tone said something to the effect that it was precisely because I was mother's favourite son, and that the meaning of dreams was always in the reverse. Only Allah knows!

May the Almighty Allah always bestows his blessings on my beloved mother and father. Amin.
I love you both always.....

For Mother's Day - IBU

2010-05-03T16:16:00.006+08:00

Ibu,
Kasihmu indah berseri bagaikan pelangi
Sayangmu sesuci embun di pagi hari
Dakapan eratmu hangat bak mentari yang menyinari bumi
Sejati pengorbananmu seharum ambar kasturi
Yang menusuk kedalam sanubari

Ibu,
Semangat wajamu kami kagumi
Sehebat halilintar membelah bumi
Penat, letih, bosan dan jemu
Tiada terukir dalam dirimu
Tak pernah mengalah walau seinci
Tujuanmu hanya kesatu destinasi

Ayah pergi meyahut seruan Illahi
Meninggalkan ibu bersendiri....

Tapi ibu,
Kau bertekad menterai janji
Membesarkan anak anak mu yang kecil lagi
Demi masa depan kami
Kau memeras sepenuh kudrat, urat dan sendi
Sehingga kelihatan percikan keringat di dahi
Kau hanya merendam sebak di hati

Ibu,
Walau seribu badai dan taufan melanda
Kau tempuhi gelora dengan hati rela
Kau gigih berusaha
Kau pendam duka nestapa
Dibibirmu mengukir senyum tawa
Kau tak pedulikan sesiapa
Tak menoleh kebelakang
Siang malam kau terus berjuang

Pada saat raut wajahmu dimamah usia
Kau tersenyum merasa lega
Kerana di ketika itu kesemua anak anakmu sudah berkeluarga
Sudah boleh berpijak sendiri di bumi nyata

Ibu,
Perjuanganmu kami sanjungi
Pemergianmu kami ratapi
Doa buat mu sentiasa mengiringi
Semoga roh mu sentiasa di rahmati
Dan di tempatkan bersama sama insan insan suci

Kenangan bersamamu dihati kami kekal abadi
Semoga Allah mengampuni segala dosa ibu bapa kami
Dan sesungguh nya ibu,
Kaulah serikandi kebahagian kami

By,
Ridzwani Abdul Samad
for Allahyarhamah cousin NENG ABDUL RAHMAN

Khadijah Ibrahim- A Lifetime Achievement Award

2010-04-08T12:11:00.006+08:00

Khadijah Ibrahim was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Berita Harian and TV3 at their recent annual award event. Congratulations Datuk! Wow, after only over 30 years in the business! I wonder what Sharifah Aini think of this - she's been in the industry much longer than that and had received many awards and accolades but I do not remember her ever getting a 'lifetime achievement' award. Khadijah is probably the first recipient of such an award.

Anyway, all praises to where they are due. Khadijah Ibrahim is in fact a great singer and entertainer with a very pleasant personality and a very acute business acumen. She had always been consistent and she's one lady with brains. And she really can cook!

I first heard Khadijah's voice in 1978 at the then Jaya Puri Hotel (today the PJ Hilton) when she was at a very tender age performing at a dinner show, after the release of her first album. I was straightaway impressed by her singing and her voice.

I got to personally know Khadijah in 2003 when she was invited to sing the NAM theme song at the opening of the Conference. I was asked to oversee the rehearsal of that event and I made a few suggestions to her and the choir accompanying her. She later approached me when I was heading the OIC Conference Secretariat for some form of participation but there was nothing relevant for her.

She once invited me to dinner at her apartment at Setiawangsa, and my God what a dinner it was! I swear there were more than 20 dishes lined up in two rows on her dining table - all cooked by her. And there was only me and Harris, our staff from the New York office who was on home leave (she and Harris used to duet at shows in New York and apparently they wanted to set up a restaurant there but could not find a premise). She shrugged off my incredulity at the number of dishes and said she merely wanted me to sample her cooking! And I can vouch what a great cook she is! She even packed me a variety of cookies she made to take with me for my trip to Morocco and Tunisia the next day (I gave them to my colleague in Rabat and he was thrilled to know that they were made by the great singer!). While we were having dinner she received a phonecall and it was from her great singing partner Ramli Sarip. Their 1989 duet number ' Ku Miliki Bayanganmu' is my all-time favourite.

The last time I met Khadijah was in January 2007 when she led a powerful singing quartet consisting of herself, Ning Baizura, Syafinaz and Esther Khoo at the Gala Night of the 2007 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland which Malaysia hosted. It was such a great performance by the foursome and Khadijah was in her elements interacting with the appreciative strong international crowd. Indeed they made Malaysia proud.

Once again, congratulations Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim! May you continue to shine in your illustrious career.

Meniti Pelangi Mencari Mimpi

2010-02-24T13:30:00.007+08:00

Sepanjang perjalanan meniti kehidupan
Kucari mimpi mimpi
Tak pernah ku temui
Umpama pengembara
Ku hadapi segalanya
Walau sering terkecewa

Sekali ku melangkah
Aku kan terus melangkah
Biar pun ku sedari
Ku meniti pelangi
Kerana keindahan warnanya mempesona
Kelabu pandangan mata

Lingkungan warna warna indah
Biar seketika
Pelangi di langit yang muram
Menasyikkan
Sejenak ku biarkan diri melayani hati
Mencari mimpi mimpi indah
Sia sia,
Seumpama pengembara
Terpedaya

Kerana mimpi
Hanya mimpi..... Driving home as it was getting dark a few days ago I heard this song from the 80s hauntingly sung by Azlina Aziz. I had always liked the song and the way Azlina sang it. And I had in the past thought the lyric beautiful and meaningful. But today on reflection, I think the message of the song is rather negative - threading on a rainbow seeking meaningless dreams which will never come true just as the rainbow will surely disappear.

Well I beg to disagree. A dream, however frivolous is the start of everything. I have fulfilled my dreams, not all but most. And I will still dreams on (or have ambition and entertain hope) and strive to achieve them. What is life without dreams and hopes . And after all, God is so great, you need to only ask Him, pray for it and work towards it and always be grateful for what you get, Insha Allah.

Homecoming Prologue

2010-02-22T14:32:00.008+08:00

Salam and greetings!
Thank you to those who urge me to continue blogging. I will do my best, it's difficult with no pc yet at home.

Twenty four days today since my final homecoming. I feel generally well though I am still trying to get used to the heat and humidity, the noise, the crowd and traffic. The last one week had been a pleasant respite from some of that due to the Chinese New Year holidays, though the weather had been exceptionally hot!

At this point I will say that I don't like Kuala Lumpur anymore! The far distances between places is such a bother for me. I hate all the disproportionate tall buildings, haphazardly popping out at every turn of your head. I hate the bumpy roads with bad, worn out surfacing and holes you find everywhere, even around so-called 5-star buildings and zones! I hate the disorderly state of things, rubbish by roadsides and buildings. And all those illegal advertisements being hung and posted everywhere, on lamp posts, walls, on street corners, on trees and even on road signs, everywhere! What are you doing about this Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur!!! And yet things seem to be normal by every one's standards but mine!

After the tranquil silence of Switzerland, the constant noise in KL is something I find hard to get used to. Fortunately where I live it is quiet except there is a renovation work of a house behind mine, and when the neighbour's dogs bark and when there are deliveries to houses around me. Then there are these 'migratory' birds that are currently on a long 'stopover' in this region that make this awful noise for long spells especially early in the morning and during some part of the day.

Alas, I am home. This is my country, my home where I belong. I must just get used to it all, Insha Allah.

On the plus side, I have been extremely well-received by family and friends, with non-stop series of dinners and lunches. And there are many still I have yet to contact and meet. And I must say that all the services I have availed myself to so far had been good, exceptionally good, better than I remember them to be. Must be the KPI thing the government is pushing so hard. Well done Malaysia!

Yet on the other hand it is hard to grasp the fact that most everywhere I went I was always served by a foreigner - Indonesian, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Mynmarese, Cambodian, Pakistani, Filipino, mainland Chinese, etc etc and the list goes on. Where do we go from here and where does it all end eventually!!! Are Malaysians are so spoiled, they can't do anything themselves anymore!

Yes I am home again in my beloved, somewhat extraordinary, rather overboard of a country where everything 'CAN' - Malaysia Boleh ma! I do wish that some things are 'TAK BOLEH' and Malaysians learn more from what are beyond our country's borders and our own mindsets.What a fortunate lot we Malaysians are to have so many good things that some other countries can only wish for. And that's the problem. We take things so for granted and along the way we lose some essential and important things.

Yes indeed, I am home and I will make the very best of my life here, syukur Alhamdullilah.

Goodbye Switzerland...

2010-01-26T15:14:00.006+08:00

Almost exactly four years ago (in two days) I arrived in this wonderful country on a cold, dark morning to a completely snow-covered ambiance. After over an hour’s drive we arrived at the capital city and checked into what is until today the city’s only 5-star Hotel. I did not like the cold, old-world ambiance of the extremely formal hotel and only after two nights (I was booked for five) moved out and into the house which was in fact ready and waiting for me. The house was very modest by most standard but it was a reflection of Swiss modesty, subtlety and lack of ostentation. It was, however, in the best part of the city, and had an enormous mature garden and a small pool (more for splashing in than for swimming). I remember my domestic staff happily taking photographs standing on that frozen water in the middle of the pool.

As it turned out, the small modest house hosted scores of formal and informal dinners and lunches, and garden parties and a practically endless succession of house guests throughout my four years in it. Indeed, wise people say it is the 'berkat' (blessing) of the house.

Well the scene today is just as it was four years ago - snow, frozen pool and all.The cycle is now complete, and in two days I will leave Switzerland for good. Today I celebrate my departure (and my birthday) with my loyal staff and close friends of 'The Firm'.

I leave with a happy and content feeling that I have had a good, if not excellent four years here. I have done my job to the best of my ability and the fact that I stayed on for four years speak for itself. And there is nothing more wanting on my part from Switzerland. I had partaken all the best I could possibly from this small incredible country of practically the best of everything (and, oh yes, I did finally buy the newest model Rolex Oyster Perpetual as a farewell gift to myself – my last souvenir from Switzerland, indulgent as it may be). And as if to indeed close the circle I was officially honoured to a farewell luncheon yesterday at the very hotel where I began my life here.

Will I miss Switzerland? Not really, I do not really miss anything I leave behind and I always look back to the happy memories of the place I leave. But I will never hesitate to tell people what a great place to live in Switzerland is. Indeed it has the best of everything and the people work hard for it. And they are modest, polite, friendly, hospitable and very correct in everything they do. And I especially like the egalitarian way of life they religiously adhere to. I will most probably miss the cheerful excellent service the shops, restaurants and any other establishment provide here and how people always almost unfailingly greet me everywhere.

Now I go home to Malaysia for good, and my overseas assignment days are finally over after over 21 years living abroad in eight countries. I still look forward to travelling, though I tell myself not longer than 5 hours flight one-way! Switzerland and all the other seven countries I have lived in and the countless countries I have travelled to and visited in the last 35 years will provide me with ample good memories for the rest of my life. What a fortunate and blessed life to have had these opportunities! Alhamdullilah, Alhamdullilah, Alhamdullilah! About this time too, four years ago in a crowded tent in Mina at the end of our pilgrimage ritual, just before we headed back to Mecca after our two weeks of performing one of the compulsory tenets of Islam, our ustaz made his farewell speech and doa (prayer) to our group of some fifty pilgrims. He also made a point to mention that I would be taking up an assignment in Switzerland immediately after returning to Malaysia and that he and the other pilgrims prayed for my success and well-being. Thank you ustaz, and my fellow pilgrims - I believe Allah had graciously answered your prayers for me! Alhamdullilah!

When one door closes, another one opens. I look forward to a new chapter in my life. Perhaps a calmer and modest, or an even more exciting and challenging one, who knows. I am ever ready for anything.

This will probably be my last entry in this blog. I have enjoyed indulging in it and Switzerland provided me with much time, occasion and facility to write. But I have very little patience for the notoriously slow Internet service in Malaysia. But then perhaps even that could improve in time – after all life is full of surprises.

Thank you for reading my blog. Good bless.

The "Swiss" Firm

2010-01-25T17:20:00.005+08:00

Members: Rus, Rosli, Mas, Mira, Eva, Kamaruddin, Ramli, Gunawan, Yocki, Nordin, Hafiz, Meor.
Acknowledgement: Thank you all for your warm unwavering and efficient service and support. God bless.

Sunday Outing - Geneva, Evian & Montreux - and of representing Johor.

2010-01-25T04:58:00.006+08:00

I woke up to a bright sunny day. However, just after a few minutes drive from my house it was misty and grey most of the two-hours drive to Geneva where my friend and colleague honoured with a farewell lunch. His entire staff was there with their families.It was a very pleasant occasion with good food and a warm and cordial atmosphere. The dozen plus children were oblivious to the cold and had a rousing time playing on the veranda overlooking Lake Geneva. For the ride home I decided to have a final drive through France, whose nearest border was just a short distance from the house. It was a pleasant drive through quaint villages and finally through the beautiful city of Evian facing the lake. I saw some people queuing to collect water from an old fountain. If they only knew how much Evian water costs in Malaysia. It was already dark when we reentered Switzerland near Montreux and drove through the well-lit, glittering beautiful lakeside city. I always like Montreux especially in Summer when the lakeside promenade is so beautifully coloured by masses of many variety of flowers, and the clear blue water of Lake Le Man framed the view of France on its other side. I had many smses throughout my drive. Idah called from London to bid me a good journey home and a promise to meet up in JB in April. She and hubby Alam alternate living with their daughters in UK and Holland, and after April hopes to follow the family in Holland to Saudi Arabia where son-in-law is being assigned. Little Aidan will have to get used to the heat!

And of heat, Hoong Po smsd from Canberra also to bid me a good trip home, complaining it was 36 degrees Centigrade there. A similar farewell message from Fawzia in Copenhagen. Ah Yong smsd to thank me for a book I bought her and to remind me of the two Raphael Scott Ahbeng's paintings she had asked me to acquire.

Nephews Amat and Chen both smsd that their father (my dearest departed sister's husband) was not well and was admitted in hospital in Kemaman. Another fried smsd that his mother is finally out of hospital and asked me to say a prayer for her. Surely!

My young charge smsd me my new mobile number he had registered for me in Malaysia. Also to informed that he and my brother Wes and wife had cleaned up and spruced my house in KL (which had been vacant for six months), now all ready for me to reoccupy.

Cousin Wan J smsd that our family's 'Family Day' (in honour of our long-departed grandparents)in JB scheduled for 15 February would now be postponed due to the recent demise of Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (may Allah SWT bestows all blessings upon his soul). I will never forget what Almarhum told me when I paid my courtesy on him (mengadap) before my last two overseas assignments - that I was not to just be representing Malaysia, BUT also Johor!

Another four days and I am in motherland, Insha Allah!

Luncheon Farewell, 23/1

2010-01-23T22:44:00.008+08:00

Menu: Flavoured Rice, Beef Rendang, Chili Fish Fillet, Curried Almond Chicken, Mamak Fried Noodles, Braised Broccoli in Oyster-Soya Sauce, Spicy Bean Sprouts and Dried Prawns Salad, Potato and Meat Patties, Sweet Wheat Porriage, Bread & Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce, Spanish Clementines, Coffe & Tea .

Guests: Marion, Fini, Stephane, Peter & Aggi, Peter & Susham, Peter & Christine, Claude & Caroline, Heinz & Olga, Jorg & Petra, Marin & Nawena, Urs & Anne, Karl & Nawena, Reto, Guna & Ursi, Petr, Rod, Patrick & Anne, Mr & Mrs Diem, Rus, Fadz, Marina, Marisa, Maria & Nawena.

A lovely farewell luncheon with my Swiss friends. Nice food, warm and intimate atmosphere, and touching tributes all around. A nice feeling throughout.

Prelude to a farewell....genau!

2010-01-21T04:32:00.016+08:00

One of the first Swiss-German words I registered and thereafter frequently heard expressed by the Swiss is 'genau'. Not knowing what it meant I was sometimes amused to hear it being expressed at every turn of a conversation. Actually it is an expression of agreement - exactly, true, correct, of course etc etc. I am still somewhat tickled by the word, or probably the way and frequency it is said. Ja genau! Genau, genau!!

Well I won't be hearing much of 'genau' after a week's time. At 1.30 pm today my houseful of belongings left in a container for home, after two days of super-efficient and hassle-free packing. Again Swiss efficiency at its best! A team made up of a Swiss, a Czech, a Bosnian and a Lebanese worked from 9 am to 2.30 pm with half hour lunch break on the first day and packed over 80% of my things. Yesterday they finished the rest from 9 to 11.30 am and today they loaded the 398 items into the container from 11 am to 1 pm! Tomorrow my car goes into another container and both are expected to arrive in Malaysia on 25 Feb, Insha Allah.

In a week I will leave this almost perfect country for good. Still some farewell obligations to fulfill but I am glad somehow that I was given short notice for my departure. The perfect excuse to regret the out pour of invitations to farewell lunches and dinners. On Saturday I will host a luncheon for 30 of my close Swiss friends, and Tuesday another luncheon for my staff and closer members of the Malaysian community.

The two boys, my domestic pillars, will go their separate ways thereafter. Meor will remain in Switzerland and get married to his fiancee this Summer. Hafiz has thankfully secured a job at our UN office in Geneva. He will accompany me home first and sort out his papers for his new now Swiss job. I am very happy for him, a most deserving 'reward' after his four years of diligent service to me.

The remaining days will no doubt breeze by. It snowed again early this evening. From my now empty bedroom I see my garden in pristine whiteness. God, how am I going to drive my car to the container station with all that snow on the road! Well, that's Yocki's (my most cool and efficient transport pillar) job. Meor will have to first clear the path for the car to even get out of the garage.

While having lunch I saw my garden's lone black squirrel fleeting about on the snow covered lawn and hopping on trees, probably looking for food (I wrote about it in my 14 Nov 2008 entry entitled 'My Ginkgo Tree'). I had been watching this very squirrel in my garden from the day I moved into this house four years ago.

What a marvellous, happy, independent creature! May you always remain happy and content in this beautiful garden that had also given me so much joy at every seasons - GENAU!

Yemen oh Yemen!

2010-01-10T22:45:00.008+08:00

My recent holiday in Yemen was indeed timely. Yemen is now constantly in the news for all the wrong reasons! I my 8 days there I came across less than 10 foreign tourists. Now probably no one will go there! It is really a pity for a country so hospitable, beautiful and natural and with the friendliest, generous people you will ever meet.

I can now fully understand why I was constantly being escorted by 5 fully armed policemen/soldiers though my hosts never requested for them. It was annoying during the first few days as more than anything our presence anywhere became so conspicuous. Apparently it was the standard practice to provide foreign visitors protection. On one occasion the hotel in which we were staying at would not even open the gate of the hotel's parking lot to let our vehicle leave until the police escorts arrived! In the end we got used it.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to visit this fascinating country and I pray it will come out of its troubles and let the world see all the beauty and charm it has to offer.

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-03T05:34:00.009+08:00

I have just returned from a two night's stay at Eastbourne, England to visit a very ailing friend. During my one and half hours drive home from Geneva airport I saw the most incredible sight of an almost full moon, so huge, bright and orange like another planet hovering just above us!

The picture below is of the moon this morning at around 8.00 am which I captured from my cozy hotel bedroom in Eastbourne.

I was glad to have spent some time with my friend. His health had deteriorated at an incredibly fast pace in the last few months. I especially wanted to see him before I leave this country for good, which is now certain and at a rather inconsiderate short notice (but I am not complaining, it had been four wonderful and rewarding years and I want to leave with grace and no sour notes whatsoever)!

Whether I'll ever see my friend again in the future is difficult to tell, with his condition going from one extreme to another in between easier/calmer periods. I am quite certain that once I go home to Malaysia, it is most unlikely I will travel so far to England or Europe ever again. So meeting him this time was a rather poignant occasion. I can, however, look back fondly with happy memories of a friendship that had spanned over 35 years, during which time I received endless generous hospitality from him especially as his houseguest everytime I come home for holidays from my many years of overseas assignment. Other friends and I were surprised and disappointed that he chose to return to England after his retirement, after having lived in Malaysia some 40 years! Perhaps realising things would have been better in Malaysia after four years back in England he made plans to return to Malaysia in October and had secured an apartment in Penang. Sadly, that is now not to be! May you be as comfortable as you possibly can my dear friend.

And so we enter a new year, and for me especially a fresh new beginning as I soon will start a new life back home. I am not sorry to leave Switzerland; I have a huge reservoir of very pleasant and happy memories to avail to from these fours years here. And I am confident a new door to other good things is about to open for me. Insha Allah!

Happy New Year all, God bless!

Mythical magical Yemen

2009-12-23T02:54:00.015+08:00

There is so much I could write about my recent 8-day holiday in Yemen. But I think the article below described it best!
Thank you Samad, Zaiton, Hisham, Humaid, Yahia, Omar, Sheikh Abdullah, Hamoud and Nasser (and the five omnipresent armed police/soldier escorts!) for making my visit to Yemen a most memorable and happy experience.

"There can’t be many places left in the world that could make God smile, but Yemen is one of them. Inhabited almost forever Yemen is, in many ways, the birthplace of all our lives. In days past, the sons of Noah knew it as the land of milk and honey, Gilgamesh came here to search for the secret of eternal life, wise men gathered frankincense and myrrh from its mountains and, most famously, a woman known simply as Sheba said Yemen was her home.

Yet since the book of mythology was closed, Yemen has remained largely locked away in a forgotten corner, oblivious to the world that was oblivious to it. Today, like a spring tortoise emerging from hibernation, Yemen is awaking from its slumber and slowly revealing its face. And what a face it is. Sitting at the crossroads of two continents, this country has a little of everything.

Its capital, San'a, is not only incredibly romantic and intriguing, but holds the distinction of being the world's oldest city. Meanwhile, the extraordinary island of Suqutra (off the coast of Eastern Yemen) is reputed to hold the secret of eternal life somewhere amongst its unique flora and fauna. The fortified mountain village of Shaharah is tough to get to (probably why it remained unconquered for centuries) but worth making the effort for; if you prefer your travel safer and easier - but equally rewarding - try the lush region of Southern Yemen. Then there's the Wadi Hadramawt oasis where you can't help but get caught up in the mythical magic of it all, and Zabid - Unesco World Heritage site andthe hottest city on earth. Need we go on?

With its shades of Afghanistan, reflections of Morocco, flavours of Africa and reminders of Arabia, Yemen is utterly unique and deeply romantic. To travel in this most traditional of Islamic countries, surrounded by a people whom the Prophet once described as ‘the most gentle-hearted of men’, is a privilege you will not quickly forget. But never mind what we have to say about it, let’s leave the last word to the man who made it.

Legend tells how one day God decided to check out how his creation was fairing: London, he decided, had changed a lot, Egypt was nothing like he remembered it, but Yemen, ‘Well’, he smiled, ‘that hasn’t changed since the day I created it’.

The Faces of Yemen

2009-12-22T13:56:00.008+08:00

I just spent eight most interesting and fascinating days in Yemen. The country is mostly poor and besieged by security problems but its people are big-and-warm-hearted, friendly, generous and hospitable. It has the most spectacularly stunning landscape and scenery and unique villages and settlement, and of course a very long history. I was advised against going to some parts of the country but what I had covered will leave a lasting impression, especially the Wadi Do'an in Hadramawt. I took 500 photos but the most interesting ones were the faces of people I took (only men - women strictly a no-no and they were veiled in any case). Here are a few from the dozens I took of all the eager and willing subject!

Christmassy...

2009-12-10T05:14:00.004+08:00

"Like the Moon and the Sun" - 10 Days in Spain

2009-12-04T21:42:00.016+08:00

I spent ten pleasant days in Spain recently. It was my fourth visit to that country, the first in 1983 to Madrid and Barcelona, 2008 to Granada, Cordoba and Seville (Andalusia), February this year to Alicante, Torraviajo and Cartagena. This time around I covered quite a range within that ten days. Spain had developed by leaps and bounds since joining the EU and the prosperity was very apparent (though recently affected by the current economic downturn). Its diverse attractions drew some 60 million visitors in 2007.

On the second day, as I was walking the scenic streets of Toledo, I heard beautiful music from an instrument I could not make out. Walking on I came across the source, a beautiful lady playing an unfamiliar musical instrument. I stopped to listen to her and was enthralled enough to buy a CD of her music which she was also selling. The beautiful musician was Ana Alcaide and her music was Sephardic-inspired. And the instrument she was playing was the viola de techlas or ‘nyckelharpa’ which originated from Sweden.

My ten days in Spain is briefly complied in the video I have made below from photographs I took, and using Ana Alcaide’s lovely music which I feel had captured the mood of the places I visited! The title of this post 'Like the Moon and the Sun' is a translation of the name of her CD I bought -'Como la Luna y el Sol'.
http://youtu.be/YnMySFpZRTQ

First snowfall

2009-12-01T17:39:00.003+08:00

I came back from a very pleasant 10-day trip to Spain for the Hari Raya Haji break on Sunday to a dry, grey winter day. It was unlike last year when I returned from Lebanon after a week of similar break to a whole country covered with snow. But I woke up to snow yesterday morning and it persisted all day long interspersed with rain which melted most of the snow. I was up early this morning and lo, everything was white and snow-covered, and huge branches of two trees in my garden had fallen to the grown! Winter's definitely here.....

The unloved....

2009-11-17T20:36:00.009+08:00

At my breakfast table this morning with my two guests, our conversation somehow meandered towards the subject of 'love'! And I flippantly quoted something I heard in some melodramatic Malay film that "the most difficult person to love is the person you love most!". Well, that had a sudden impact on one of my guests; did I hit a nail? Maaf la!

But worst than that must surely be to be trapped in love, to love someone and not be loved in return. Or to be in a loveless marriage. What can be more painful than to be in a marriage, to have children together, needy of your love, and yet not to love each other - or one is not in love with the other! I believe there are couples who go through this, worst still if the husband is the philandering sort and the wife just cannot get out of the marriage for the sake of the children or for fear of the stigma of being divorced etc. How sad and painful that must be!

A man is lucky if he is the first love of a woman,
A woman is lucky if she is the last love of a man…

Another quotation on love I like very much is:
"Give your heart to another person and he/she will break it.
Give your broken heart to God and He will heal it!"

Alhamdullilah, always grateful for all the love (whatever) surrounding me!

PS: To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think they stop falling in love when they grow old, without realising that they grow old when they stop falling in love...
Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Of wrist-slitting days and art auctions

2009-11-14T18:32:00.006+08:00

After many days of what a friend described as 'wrist-slitting' weather (dark and grey, cold, wet and oh so depressive), the sun is finally out albeit it is so cold! It's mid November and there are still red and golden leaves in some trees in my garden. And my rose bush is still green, with many huge buds which will not open into full blooms as the weather is just too cold. Alain came yesterday and swept all the fallen leaves from the lawn. I actually like them on the ground though! He also put in hundred of tulip bulbs in the ground and they will come out in April. The boys are out - one for his 'bharata natyam' Indian classical dance class, and the other window-shopping or with his friends (I am never privy!). I will join Diana latter for an art auction - there are three paintings I want to bid for. Yesterday one of my paintings I put up for auction made 70% of the maximum price estimate! Not bad - I can now buy that gold Omega De Ville! I have had that painting for 21 years and there is no way I can hang it in my house when I am back in Malaysia due to its subject! Gunawan was with me at the auction and he could not get over that a small 14th century painting was sold at CH57,ooo (about RM175,000). I kept reminding him that it was from the 14th century and the maximum estimate price was actually CH90,000. So it was not such a good sale after all (not as good as my 70% at least)!

I invited four Malaysian officials attending a meeting here to dinner in my house last night and two did not show up and did not even have the courtesy to inform me! What is happening to manners among Malaysians? One of the guests who showed up, pleasant as he was, dressed so badly - in a short-sleeved collared t-shirt, wearing a 'kopiah' (white skull cap) on his head! And he was attending an international meeting! What signal/impression was he trying to make?

A friend from Holland arrives tomorrow for a short visit until I leave for Spain on Friday for a week's holiday to spend Hari Raya Haji with my friend there, and also to celebrate his birthday. He has lined up a good programme for me with visits to Salamanca, Toledo, Segovia and Valencia and I am looking forward to be away from future possible 'wrist-slitting' weather here!

My days in this wonderful country are numbered I guess. Soon it will be time to head home. So while I can I am going to travel as much as I can. December to Yemen with Fadzil, as I had promised him when he was badly recovering from his heart operation in February.

I hope I get those three paintings at the auction today!

Kartina Dahari again

2009-11-11T23:41:00.015+08:00

Exactly a year ago I posted a write up on Kartina Dahari and it seems to be one of the most read postings in this blog. I also had a few days before that uploaded on YouTube a video I made for her song 'Seruling Senja' recorded in 1976, using photos I took of the scenes of early autumn around the river behind my house. That video was for a long time the most viewed of Kartina Dahari's videos on Youtube, having reached almost half a million (495,0130) hits to date (17/07//2011)!

Kartina Dahari's Facebook indicates that her birthday is on 12 November (today) - so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Biduanita Kartina Dahari! God bless and thank you for the songs!

http://youtu.be/m14xWc3mqig

17 July 2011 - Kartina 's videos on YouTube have reached almost half a million hits (495,013) and the figure keeps climbing. Her most popular video today is ' Budi Setahun Segunung Intan' with over 113,147 hits, having so quickly overtaken over 'Seruling Senja' which has now reached 36,809 hits.

Autumn Sunday morning - of Prokofiev & Beethoven

2009-11-08T21:54:00.004+08:00

I woke up very early yesterday fully-sated by only just over six hours of sleep (must be the age). My two boys were still fast asleep so I would not be getting my breakfast for sometime yet. The autumn sun was just peeking out and I decided to go for a walk by the river behind my house. I took my camera along and was happily shooting dozens of pictures in that amazing light and colours until the sun suddenly disappeared behind the clouds. My hands were freezing from the cold morning air but I got some beautiful pictures nevertheless.

Sunday morning now and it's wet and the sun is playing hide and seek. I went for a short walk after breakfast and took a few more pictures (must get another camera!) and returned home as it was just too cold and I was rather under dressed.

A friend is taking the boys out to a matinee of the Prokofiev's ballet 'Romeo and Juliet'. I thought for a second if I should join them. But I have seen the very same ballet at the London Convent Garden many years ago with Rudolf Nureyev no less in it, and I did not want to spoil my memory by what would certainly be an amateurish local production -I sat through 90 minutes of a wishy-washy performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis on Thursday in the same concert hall, and that was enough for now!

Tom Jones in Zurich

2009-11-05T04:36:00.014+08:00

I had the pleasure of watching the legendary Tom Jones at a concert in Zurich last night. And what a treat that was, worthy of that almost two hour drive in the pouring rain.

For a 69-year old Mr Jones was still full of energy, charisma and sex-appeal, and had the very same voice I used to listen to in my school days some 40 years ago! Not once did he lose a beat or forgot his lyric during the 90 minutes non-stop concert and the 12 minutes encore. How phenomenal!

His warm friendly banters with the audience were well-received. The strong crowd, clapped, cheered and danced especially to the familiar songs. He interspersed his repertoire with songs from his new album '24 Hours' with his well-known hits like Delilah, Thunderball, I'll Never Fall In Love Again (which was as powerful and dramatic as when I saw him perform it in 'The Dusty Springfield Show' some forty years ago) and others.

My favourite segment was the 'country and western' one when he sang a soulful rendition of Jim Reeves' 'He'll Have To Go', his evergreen 'The Green, Green, Grass of Home' and my favourite 'Save The Last Dance For Me' in a most catchy and danceable tempo with only stand-up musical accompaniment.

Yes Mr Jones, do save your last dance for us.

Bravo, bravo, bravissimmo!

Autumn again....

2009-10-27T23:18:00.007+08:00

I went for a walk today at lunchtime by the river behind my house. It was a bright sunny day but very cold. The sun gave a special glow to the rich autumn colours. Here are some pictures I captured with my camera.

New Orleans August 2001 - before 9/11 and Katrina

2009-10-26T18:58:00.016+08:00

Am home again and it has been a restful Saturday so far after yesterday's hectic rush culminating in a buffet dinner with my staff and their families. A pleasant affair with nice food. I attempted my sister-in-laws Anis' ROJAK TAHU with very hot garlicky sauce and it was the first item cleared up! What a grand success.

Woke up rather early despite last night's late end. A marathon four-hour plus of Sharifah Aini, Cristian Castro, Luis Miguel and Russell Watson -The VOICE (listen to him sing Saylon Dola or Panis Angelicus - it'll make the hair on your back stand - O RES MIRABILIS! For someone so young he's giving the Three Tenors a good run for their money!! Look out Roberto Alagna, and Andrea Bocelli, eat your heart out ...), while I had my breakfast, flipped through my morning papers (more Fujimori witch hunt, what else ) and my new acquisitions of Architectural Digest, National Geographic, Deepak Chopra's latest book AND an updated English translation of the Koraan (all of which acquired at Houston George Bush Airport); did the rest of my unpacking, inspected the new growths in my garden, and just pottered around with darling Toby at my heel. Isn't that what being home is all about ?

I flew back Friday night after a most pleasant break in New Orleans. Just what I needed after months of awful weather here. Over there it was just like in Malaysia - hot, humid and it rained buckets most afternoons. I never knew I would welcome a change to such weather when in KL I would hate it. See what Lima can do to you!

I walked so much and did most things expected of visitors to New Orleans - did the swamp (bayou) tour and fed the alligators marshmallows and chicken meat. Visited an old plantation and felt like Rhett Butler strutting around in one of them grand ole wooden villas. Ate okra and chicken gumbos and seafood jambalaya and various Creole dishes, drowned with non-alcoholic daiquiris. Cruised down the Mississippi in a grand old paddled steam boat. Stayed up late and listened to endless jazz bands while I had my meals. Visited awesome, rather kitch cemeteries. Toured the posh old residential with them grand houses. Stayed in an elegant french-style courtyard hotel (the Maison Dupuy) in the French Quarters (that seved the most wonderful breakfast). Saw a contemporary French movie (with Gerard Depredieu no less!). Scoured the French and the flea market, real humid and hot there. Watched a jazzy funeral procession. Took pictures of the many live human sculptures everywhere (what an occupation pretending to be a statue!). And many more things including shopping of course! I even went to a dinner concert by one Danny O'Flaherty in an Irish pub and enjoyed it thoroughly and got an autographed CD at that. I really had a wonderful time in New Orleans, tired feet, rain and all. People were friendly and the mood was always festive .

I began my holiday with a one-night and full-day stay in Houston and that was most pleasant as well (but neither George Bush Senior nor the President was there to greet me on arrival! Their loss !!!). Houston was such a huge, modern cosmopolitan city not for walking so I was driven around by a Vietnamese who had spent time in the refugee camp in Pulau Bidong, an economic refugee from Ghana who ran off with my US$5 change, a bearded and 'fezzed' Pakistani 'brother' in full jelabah (!!) who insisted on driving me pass the local mosque, an Irish and finally an Italian-Croat.

During the one hour fight from Houston to New Orleans, our plane hit an air pocket and we took a huge dip. Passangers' drinks including my non-alcoholic Bloody Mary (Virgin Mary lah) landed everywhere including on the ceiling. My young and very, very vain Amish neighbour just could not get over his slightly soiled crisp cotton pants and mean haircut!! O VANITY THOU! Aero Continental was profusely apologetic (not their fault what) and offered everyone dry cleaning vouchers. Now that's what I call service .

I must have brought the sun back from Louisiana and Texas because yesterday was a brilliant sunny day and today looks like the same. I could have had a garden party yesterday. No plans for the weekend, there are plenty of food left from last night. Only a massage appointment and I should take my car out for a spin to warm the underused engine. Tomorrow I may scour the antique shops and look for an old Spanish wooden chest or a European commode that my new Architectural Digest had inspired me .

Nice weekend everyone, and please write soon.

I wrote this to my friends on 1st September 2001 while I was living in Peru, after coming home from a week's holiday in New Orleans, USA. Ten days later terrorists blew up the Twin Towers in New York. The world, and visiting the US have never been the same again since then..... And New Orleans had since then been totally devastated by KATRINA! Wonder what it is like today!

Video: Ancient Roman ruins & temples in Baalbek (Heliopolis) - Lebanon

2009-10-15T20:42:00.010+08:00

I spent a week's holiday in Lebanon in December 2008 and one of the highlights was a visit to the ancient Roman ruins and temples in Baalbek, which is one of the most beautiful and probably under visited ancient Roman ruins anywhere.

Here's a video made from the photos I took, with accompanying music by Beethoven.

Sarajevo Soujourn

2009-10-07T02:34:00.011+08:00

I just spent a most pleasant six-day break in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina. What a charming city, with many places to see and visit within and around it as well as in other parts of the country. The weather was excellent except for an afternoon rain during my outing in Mostar, which did not dampen my visit to the place, especially the famous bombed bridge now newly rebuilt. The country had had a tragic recent history and is now consolidating itself with a myriad of problems. Let us hope it will succeed in becoming a successful developed nation. There are so many attraction in the country, not least the recent discovery the Bosnian Pyramids of the Sun which is now struggling to get international and UNESCO recognition. The ultimate recognition of these monuments will surely change world archaeological history as they are believed to be even older than the Egyptian and other pyramids in other parts of the world. I had the privilege of being guided personally around some of the pyramid sites by its hard-working and determined founder Dr. Sam Semir Osmanagih who is zealously working towards the excavation and recognition of these enormous moments.

I love the atmosphere of Sarajevo with its street cafes and quaint shops and Ottoman mosques and a very mixed of Islamic and Christian architecture. The Bosnians are an extremely good-looking lot of people, reserved and friendly at the same time. Once identified as Malaysian I often get a barrage of compliments what a great country Malaysia was, our people, our soldiers and of course our very dear Tun Mahathir. They truly acknowledged us as a country that came to their unconditional assistance during the difficult times. During Friday prayer at a mosque near Mostar I heard the imam mentioned 'Malaysia' in his sermon which was in Bosnian. My guide and driver Dennis later told me that the imam was quoting Malaysia's tough, unflinching stand on drugs possession/smuggling to the congregation! I was also glad to visit a mosque we built in Sarajevo.
Art were in abundance in Bosnia and I came home with six paintings including one by Bosnia’s most famous artist Mersad Berber, whose revered paintings I would be very hesitant to buy outside of the country because of their high prices. I also received a Chinese ink-brush painting said to cost USD1500 from a Malaysian businessman based in Sarajevo introduced to me by my host. Alhamdullilah! He must have been impressed by my zest for (and hopefully knowledge of) paintings and art!

My charming and generous host and hostess Zul and Hawa really took good care of me, providing a very wide-raging and interesting programme. I was happy to also catch up with my dear ex-colleague Jasmina with whom I had dinner twice in two charming retaurants

Sarajevo (and Bosnia) is really worth a visit. It took me a while to decide to visit because of the limited flight connection; it is only recently available directly from Zurich. Sadly, there were only 26 passengers out of Zurich in the 64-seat BH carrier, 16 got of at Banja Luka and only 10 including myself flew on to Sarajevo. My flight out of Sarajevo had 18 passengers and it picked up another 13 in Banja Luka making a final total of 31 passengers. No wonder the fare was comparatively high. I was told that in summer there are more visitors and in fact Sarajevo is a fast growing tourist destination and has been listed by Lonely Planet as the 43rd greatest city on Earth.
I really wish the country well.

An afternoon with Roger Federer

2009-09-30T01:35:00.008+08:00

A Swiss company with an operation in Penang, of which Roger Federer is its ambassador, invited me to an afternoon with the world tennis champion today. Federer arrived in a white Rolls Royce and spent an hour talking to some 200 specially-selected fans about himself and his career. He spoke in Swiss-German and I only got glimpses of his story through my friend Heinz.

I declined to stay on for the photo, autograph-signing and mingling session though. The General Manager's wife promised to get me a personal autograph from Federer. Heinz stayed back to get autographs for the many people who had asked him to.

Federer came across as very friendly, modest and charming; probably rare qualities in world-class personalities of his stature. I may yet meet him up-front one day - I have a bet with my colleague in Madrid who gets to personally meet the current tennis champions, Fedrerer and Spanish Rafael Nadal, first. At the moment I am leading I think...

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House 2009

2009-09-27T00:05:00.014+08:00

Some 150 people turned up for my Hari Raya Open House today. Hafiz made the perfect Laksa Johor, and Nasi Briyani with three complimentary dishes, all of which were greatly appreciated by my guests. Meor made cheesecakes and chocolate cakes for dessert complemented by Hari Raya cookies received from Malaysia (and Wan's famous kek lapis) and fresh fruits. Some of my Malaysian lady guests (Hazizah, Maya, Shidah, Sharifah, Nab & others) brought more cakes which really filled-up my dessert table! My Swiss guests broughts flowers and chocolates!
It was a pleasant, feel-good and heart-warming occasion blessed by the perfect weather. I could not have wished for a better Hari Raya get-together. Alhamdullilah.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri/Eid Mubarak

2009-09-16T16:35:00.012+08:00

The Night of Lailatul Qadr

2009-09-12T17:37:00.011+08:00

In the name of God, the Benevolent, the Merciful.

1 Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.

2 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!

3 The Night of Power has more blessings than a thousand months.

4 The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.

5 (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.

The verses above regard the Night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Qur'an, remembering God, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, or seventh).

There are some signs reported that Muslims should look for. It is not known whether these signs have been reported by individual astronomic observations, however Muslims have reported that these signs are present. These signs also help determine the date of the night as there are no reported hadith that mention the exact date of the night. There are different hadith describing when to look for the night. For example:
The Night of Al-Qadr is not specified to one fixed night throughout all the years. Rather, it constantly changes. So one year it could occur on the twenty-seventh night for example and on another year it could occur on the twenty-fifth night, according to Allah's Will and Wisdom. What directs us to this is the Prophet's :saw: saying: "Look for it (i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) when there remain nine nights, when there remains seven nights, or when there remains five nights (i.e. 21st, 23 rd, 25th, 27th and 29th)."
According to a book, the following signs are evident

1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.
2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.
4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.
5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.

May Allah SWT grant all our doas and prayers. Amin!

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, most Merciful

Undoubtedly, We sent it down in the blessed and valuable night,
And what you know, what the blessed night is?
The blessed and valuable night is better than a thousand nights,
Therein descend angels and Jibrail by the command of their Lord for every affair,
That is all peace till the rising of dawn.

Salam Ramadhan

2009-08-29T03:27:00.008+08:00

Today we completed one week of fasting. Alhamdullilah it had not been difficult at all for me despite some 16 hours of fasting each day. A friend complained that the older he gets the more difficult fasting is for him. On the contrary, the older I get the easier it is for me to get through Ramadhan. And I always feel so peaceful and more blessed during this holy month. So unlike during my younger days when it would be terribly easy to loose my cool when fasting.

The easiest Ramadhan I ever had was in New York in 2000 and in Hawaii in 2004. I was in New York for a 4-month assignment and fasted almost a whole month before flying home for raya. Ramadhan was in December, and imsak would be about 6 am and breakfasting just before 4 pm! It was so easy - I would leave my meeting to break fast and then join in again. And I had the whole evening ahead of me like any normal night. In Hawaii Ramadhan was in October/November, and imsak was just before 6 am and breakfasting also before 6 pm! Also plain sailing. I remember even going to the gym every other night after Isyak during the whole month of ramadhan. And when I went home after that three months stint in Honolulu, my doctor said my medical tests produced the best results he ever recorded, and that Hawaii must have been really agreeable for me! Indeed!

Next week my American colleague has invited me with other Muslim colleagues for iftar at his residence. This has become tradition with the Americans as a sign of respect and solidarity with Muslim colleagues during the holy month. A prayer room is provided for those who wish to perform the prayer. I hope I will not be caught again like last year, when without notice and least expected I ended up as the imam leading the Maghrib prayer!

A VERY BLESSED RAMADHAN TO ONE AND ALL!

Art Exhibition - TAMPANNYA BUDI/The Beauty of the Malay Intellect

2009-08-21T18:02:00.009+08:00

Our former Prime Minister The Honourable Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had just awhile ago officiated an art exhibition in the Balai Seni Lukis Negara/National Art Gallery entitled TAMPANNYA BUDI/The Beauty of the Malay Intellect. I am extremely honoured that my painting below was selected to be exhibited as well, together with works of well-established Malaysian artists.

I was requested to accompany my painting with a traditional Malay pantun, which I had some difficulty with as my painting was abstract. Anyway, with the help of a friend I came up with the pantuns. But I have to confess that that the pantuns do not really reflect what I feel for my painting. What is a true reflection of the painting is poetry below which my dear friend Randhir in Melbourne composed after seeing the painting, with some editing by me. Thanks Randy, I absolutely love it!Heaven opens its door but for a moment
Lo a swirling of colours
blending in a spectrum,
of vividness beyond imagination
It is my gift,
from whence you know not where,
and for now you know not why...
In this brief moment,
a gift descends for all mankind
Here are your colours,
transform them if you can....
In the east, the sun is rising,
the clouds rise in a thinner mist,
and seem to touch the very sun,
that dominates over all my creation,
moving across your domain,
painting your world in forms beyond comprehension...
I am the Maker!
I gave you the palette a million years before.
I gave you the blues of the oceans,
the greens of your forests,
and textured your landscapes in ways
you can never dream of
I gave regal roses for manicured gardens,
that stand proud and adored,
Clusters of lavenders that cover your valleys in purple haze
Golden marigolds and simple daisies of the meadows
I brighten the end of your Winter
with the splendour of a daffodil show
I give you mystical orchids that hide in forests shadows,
in forms elusive, that sprays your senses with perfumes wild.
Here from my heavens,
a gift!
A myriad burst of colours...
See what you can form or find
Do with them what you can,
but never will they be like mine!

Liechtenstein luncheon, Winterthur dinner

2009-08-16T17:46:00.009+08:00

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a tiny, landlocked country tucked away between Switzerland and Austria and with mountain slopes rising above the Rhine valley. It is the smallest German-speaking country in the world with a population of 36,000. Much of its wealth is based on its status as a low tax haven. Around 75,000 companies have their nominal "letter box" offices in Liechtenstein, where business tax rates are very favourable. With an area of 160 sq. km/61.8 sq miles, Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest state in Europe. Despite its size, the country can look back on a very eventful history of rapid development, from an agrarian country to a highly industrialized state.

Yesterday 15 August was Liechtenstein's National Day. I was invited to a traditional buffet luncheon in its capital Vaduz at a beautiful rustic restaurant atop an abundantly fruiting hillside vineyard with a lovely view of the landmark castle.Our hostess whispered to me that she has just spent a week's holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu and she was aesthetic about it.

It was a hot sweltering day and we enjoyed the generous buffet and good company in the restaurant covered patio surrounded by rows of vines. I asked a young lady opposite me what she wrote as her nationality on embarkation cards during her travels and she gleefully said ' Liechtensteiner!' Quite a mouthful and there had been occasions when she was asked where and what country that was!!

The event lasted nearly 3 hours and I made my way back to Winterthur in that sweltering heat - some two hours drive. I was there the night before for dinner with Guna, a very successful Malaysian who had lived there some 30 years. Guna, his Swiss wife and two teenage sons (he had another son living in KL and one in Norway) lived in a nice house with a beautiful garden at Winterthur's highest residential; his house had on one side a sweeping view of the city and the other a beautiful hilly meadow leading to a forest. His charming wife Ursula loved white roses and the garden was full of them, as well as white hibiscus. I told Guna I could only dream of living in a place like that!

Guna took me to an excellent Indian restaurant, with Ismail who had come all the way from Denmark to cook Malay food for Guna's 50th birthday party the following night. Ismail had lived in Copenhagen for forty years, even after his Danish wife passed away eleven years ago.

Guna insisted I come back for his birthday dinner after my lunch in Vaduz. I had promised to join Patrick and Alfie for an early dinner in Zurich. And it would be a bit too much of travelling; I had a hotel room in Schaffhausen some 48 kilometres away, and would have to drive to Vaduz about two hours away next day and then return to Winterthur, another two hours drive! But I enjoyed Guna and Ismail's company and agreed to come for the dinner. I was also curious about Ismail's cooking!

It turned out to be a most pleasant event. There were were some 60 people, plenty of food (rather pedas for my taste though) and drinks, live music courtesy of another long-residing Malaysian, Edmund. And above all plenty of goodwill from the many Malaysian friends of Guna - those who had been living in this country for many years (and their family and friends). When it got dark Guna and Ursula led their guests to dance in the street. It was a first for me!

I was glad to spend almost four hours at the party. And then it was another two hours drive home. Thank God for Yocki's cool, steady driving and 70 minutes of Kris Kristofferson songs. I arrived almost midnight and one of my two boys was not even home yet from his outing in Luzern!

Hazizah's garden

2009-08-10T16:56:00.012+08:00

Yesterday, my staff and I were treated to a very lovely lunch by Hazizah and Peter (and son Andrian,another son Johannes was unwell) in their beautiful garden. It was so pleasant we stayed more than five hours! Hazizah had a way with her garden, tending to it lovingly and getting masses of flowers and fruits - apples, pears, grapes and all sorts of berries - from it each summer. She planted flowers everywhere, on balconies, window sills, on the ground and in pots. When we left all us were given a bag of pears from her abundant fruiting trees; and soon the apples would be ready too. Last month she gave my cook kilos of raspberries which he made into jams. I really enjoyed the occasion. Hazizah and Peter are really wonderful people. Retired Peter wants them live in Malaysia for good from next year and Hazizah would be sad to leave her Swiss garden! I remember at last year's similar lunch, in the course of out conversation Hazizah said to Peter (jokingly I presume) should she die first he was welcome to marry another woman, to which Peter replied (rather sweetly and touching I thought) that the woman must be another Malaysian!

A Swiss brunch and fireworks on a lake

2009-08-06T15:06:00.013+08:00

Saturday 1 August was the Swiss National Day. I was invited to a brunch at a farm. It was a beautiful sunny day and our hosts provided the typical Swiss fare of rosti, cold cuts, cheeses and breads, coffee, tea and juices. A band played typical Swiss music and a horse cart was on hand to take us around the beautiful farm.

In the early evening, while the sun was at it's blazing peak I drove to Payerne and joined my friend Stephane at his beautiful golf club which used to be his family farm. We drove to Cheyres, one of the many scenic towns on Lake Neuchatel. There were so many people enjoying the lake and the exceptional warm weather and waiting for the evening's festivities. Stephane had his personal boat anchored at the marina there, supposedly one of the biggest lake marinas in Europe.

From there we sailed to Neuchatel. And I had never seen so many people in that lovely small town, enjoying outdoor meals. We managed to get a table too and had our dinner. By the time our dinner was over the crowd had really swelled especially all along the lakefront and we had some difficulty getting to the boat. We then joined the many boats floating on the lake to wait for the big moment when the fireworks would start. In the meanwhile we could see other fireworks from the other lakeside towns like Estavayer-le-Luc, Yverdon and Cheyres. And when the Nuechatel fireworks went off it was really something! Stephane said it was the biggest fireworks in the region.

Back in Cheyres, the party was still on with food and music under tents and under open sky! Stephane decided to sleep in his boat and I made my one hour's drive back home through the villages before joining the highway.

It was probably the warmest, sunniest day we have had for a long time and just as well as the following two days it was grey, rainy and cold all over again....

Farewell to thee Yasmin Ahmad (1958-2009)

2009-07-27T13:57:00.011+08:00

Yasmin Ahmad passed away on 25 July 2009 after suffering a stroke. Al-Fatihah …….

What a loss for Malaysians and for the Malaysian film industry particular.

Yasmin’s sudden departure at 51, when she had so much to live for and so much more to give, was a renewed jolt for me of how brittle life can be...

I first met Yasmin in 2003 at a launch of one of Mercy Malaysia’s new project by Datuk Dr. Jamilah Mahmood (now Tan Sri ). We sat at the same table and I remember her introducing herself when I joined the table.

I had known of Yasmin through my dear friend and former housemate Ali Mohammed. They were both working at Leo Burnett, and Ali used to tell me about their antics at work. And of course I had seen and enjoyed Yasmin’s creative works through her famous commercials for Petronas etc, especially for the Hari Raya and other festive occasions.

When her first feature film ‘Rabun’ had its premiere at the Dewan Bahasa Auditorium I attended it. Yasmin was there too and made an opening remark.

When she won the Grand Prix for Best Feature Film and Special Mention of the Generation Award at The Berlin Film Festival 2007 for ‘Mukhsin’, and a string of awards for the precious ‘Tan Hong Ming in love’ commercial, I smsd her my congratulations and asked if she could send me the vcd of ‘Tan Hong Ming’ to be shown at my reception which she obligingly did.

‘Mukhsin’ was also chosen as the closing film for the Fribourg Film Festival. I attended the showing with a large group of Malaysians including students who had come all the way from Stuttgart and Munich. It was a full-house and many people were turned away as they were no more tickets left. I smsd Yasmin that there was a rapturous applause at the end of the film and she was pleased.

Last year “Muallaf” was invited to the Locarno Film Festival and I was invited to its premiere . Unfortunately on the same day I had an official engagement in Liechtenstein and it was just too much effort to dash off from Vaduz to Locarno (some 3 hours drive) to catch the showing. Yasmin had earlier on smsd me (jokingly) if I could find sponsors for the two young actors of the film to attend the Festival. She could not as she was shooting Talentime at that time

Later, in October when I went back to Kuala Lumpur for a short holiday I stayed at a friend’s apartment in the same building where Yasmin lived. I met her one day at the guard house and we had a chat. She was philosophical about ‘Muallaf’ not being able to be screened in Malaysia. I asked her if I could have a dvd copy of the film and she said she did not own the right to it anymore. She invited me to a private preview of ‘Talentime’ the following week but I was going home in a few days time already.

I am grateful to have this small rapport with this beautiful and talented person, Yasmin Ahmad. She loved our country and its diversity so much and wanted to give as much back. But to quote a line from one of her movies, ' how do you love something so much that does not love you back...'.

By all means she was a very friendly and modest person with no airs. I have yet to see ‘Muallaf’ and ‘Talentime’ but I think ‘Sepet’ will always remain my favourite film of hers, and all those funny and heart-warming/wrenching commercials of hers.

Yasmin Ahmad, rest-assured you will be much-missed and long-remembered.
May Allah S.W.T. bestow His abundant blessings upon you. Amin

Note: Mercy Malaysia will soon be launching 'The Mercy Malaysia-Yasmin Ahmad Children Fund', an initiative of the outgoing head of Mercy Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood who was Yasmin's best friend in memory of Yasmin's love for children.

The solitary violin player

2009-07-20T01:23:00.006+08:00

After a grey cold Saturday, the sun came out full force today though temperature was only in the low 20s. Still blinding bright at 7.30 pm! The rock concert revellers in the Gurten hill nearby must be having a field time today, the last day of the local annual rock music festival. They had a very wet, rainy start Friday night and yesterday it drizzled off and on. I woke up at 2 am this morning to go to the bathroom and the music was still blasting away. How unusually sporting of the neighbourhood to allow this!

In the late afternoon I visited the annual 2-day Asian Fair and left after 15 minutes - it was the same old thing I had seen in the last three years, dominated by Thai food stalls (extremely popular I have to admit). And next week a 2-day annual Thai Food Festival, and Chaiyong has invited me for a buffet lunch. The Thais have really stamped their mark here.

I went to the old town for an hour's walk in the pleasantly uncrowded ambiance, which was far from the usual. Almost at the end of the hour I heard beautiful haunting violin music in the air of Schubert's 'Ave Maria', a favourite of mine. The music led me to a solitary young violin player, standing in the empty passage of the Zytglogge tower, where the city's landmark clock was. I dropped a coin in his violin box and took some photos.

When he finished playing I walked on, and that's when he started playing another one of my favourite piece , Cesar Frank's 'Panis Angelicus'.

Barely half a minute later I was engulfed in a large group of some 50 elderly and rather animated Japanese tourists! Well, was I glad they were not around when the young man was playing 'Ave Maria'....

Vincent van Gogh in Basel

2009-07-16T23:23:00.016+08:00

Vincent van Gogh : Between Earth and Heaven: The Landscapes
April 26 – September 27, 2009

In a spectacular, comprehensive exhibition taking place from April to September 2009, the Kunstmuseum Basel is staging the first showing worldwide of the landscape paintings by the legendary artist Vincent van Gogh. Seventy paintings – both world-famous key works as well as paintings barely seen previously by the general public – will give a completely new insight into van Gogh’s body of work.

In addition, forty masterpieces by contemporaries, from Kunstmuseum Basel’s world-famous collection, will place van Gogh’s groundbreaking approach to nature in a broader context. A multimedia introduction to the life and work of van Gogh will open up the exhibition to the general public. This makes the exhibition the most important European art event in 2009.

I finally went to the above exhibition today. It was a perfect occasion to view the paintings being an unusually hot and sunny day which gave a different ambiance to a usually cold museum. And the crowd did not deter my enjoyment of the exhibition.

I have always been fascinated with and loved Van Gogh's works. A couple of times the tragic painter had even solicited tears from me - once while shaving in the morning, the tears just came out as I listened to Josh Groban's rendition of Don McLeann's 'Vincent/Starry, starry night' - a beautiful song about Van Gogh's sad and misunderstood life.

Another time, Summer 2005 , in the Musee D'Orsay in Paris, standing in a room full of Van Gogh's marvellous paintings, I had tears in my eyes looking at the marvellous works by the artist who in his lifetime could not sell but only one painting, and today his works are so priceless that even countries would not be able to afford one!

Next year the biggest exhibition of Van Gogh's work in 40 years is to be staged in the Royal Academy of Arts London from 23 January 2010 to 18 April.Over 90 paintings and drawings plus the artist's personal letters will go on show at the exhibition entitled ' The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters'. I hope I will still be here next year to be able to make it to London for the show!

Starry, starry night

Portraits hung in empty halls,

Frameless head on nameless walls,

With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,

How you suffered for your sanity,

How you tried to set them free.

They would not listen, they did not know how.

Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you,

But still your love was true.

And when no hope was left in sight

On that starry, starry night,

You took your life, as lovers often do.

But I could have told you, Vincent,

This world was never meant for one

As beautiful as you...

http://youtu.be/nkvLq0TYiwI

Sunflowers

2009-07-13T21:37:00.004+08:00

It was a grey rather cold summer day yesterday. I took a long drive to nowhere and passed this field of sunflowers. Notice how they all faced one direction. Must be towards the sun. Reminded me of my days in Poland when during summer it was a common sight to see people walking around holding a whole head or a portion of a huge sunflower while munching the raw seeds from it.

Back in 1970 there was a poignant and touching film called SUNFLOWER with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni about a desperate woman's search for her missing husband who never returned from the Russian front during World War II. La Loren was simply brilliant in it. I loved that film and always remember it when I see sunflowers.

Singapore Revisited

2009-07-06T21:36:00.012+08:00

Over the recent weekend I made a one and a half day stopover in Singapore after two hectic but fulfilling weeks in Malaysia. I have not been Singapore in maybe a dozen years and it was nice to be there again.

Singapore overwhelms you - the shops, the restaurants and food outlets, the crowd (very young), the greenery and manicured landscapes, the orderliness and tidiness, the polite and friendly services, and how absolutely everything works!

My dear old friend Sze Tho came all the way from JB to join me and together we went to Bugis Street (which was nothing of what it used to be in the 60s and 70s) and Arab Street, our favourite haunt of those years gone by, where I bought a dozen beautiful Indonesian batiks (they were probably cheaper there than in Indonesia!).

Growing up in JB in the 60s, I found Singapore an escape from the monotony of a limited and stifling small town and in some ways it inspired me to reach out to the rest of the world. I would save up my pocket money and once a month would take that one hour bus ride to Singapore and really enjoy the then already big city. Well it's even bigger, glossier and grander today. But I do not think I would now stand more than a few days' stay. But I was really very glad I made the visit to Singapore.....

Sunny Saturday Luncheon

2009-06-18T02:46:00.006+08:00

Last Saturday had to be the most beautiful day so far this Spring with temperature soaring up to 26 degrees Centigrade. A perfect day to host a garden luncheon for my one hundred plus guests. A truly wonderful occasion.

Randhir's Poem

2009-06-10T15:40:00.000+08:00

FIGURES IN THE DARK

We are your shadow-puppets of the dark
We wear the cloak of the night
Projected by paper lantern lights,
cast on screen for your play tonight.

If by chance a moment free,
from a trap within this frame we are in,
escaping from this tiny screen,
our images shall thus scatter,
to avoid this puppet film .

For now, we move at the puppeteer’s will,
shackled to his strings,
cut-out figures in a puppeteer dream,
seamless figures, for it seems,
to perform in this twilight scene.

Stuck between day and night,
caught in between the dim and the bright
Some form of life the puppet master brings,
when he moves us with his strings.

As we be blind to what is wrong or right
All be caught and strung upright
As the puppet master indulges in his game,
he leaves us dangling on his frame.

How then can we ever free ourselves,
trapped between his heaven and his hell.
But this show, as all shows must at some time end,
then we lie still, lifeless on his stage.....A poem written by my ancient classmate and friend Randhir in Melbourne. Well done Randy, do keep on composing.

Michelle Van Besian

2009-06-07T16:59:00.000+08:00

It was wonderful to meet up with my friend Michelle Van Besian in Warsaw recently after 17 years. Michelle is French but had lived most of her life in Poland after marrying Polish nuclear physicist Jerzy Jastrzebski (pronounced Yeshtempski!). I am a great admirer of Michelle's paintings and got to know her personally after persuading a gallery assistant where her works were being sold to give me her contact number. Michelle and I got on very well from our very first meeting and I introduced her works to many friends and colleagues. I acquired more than a dozen of her paintings which travelled with me from country to country and they give me much pleasure.

Michelle was her same bubbly self and had since eight years ago moved to a new modern apartment which she had impeccable furnished and decorated in her own distinct style. But ALAS, much to my regret Michelle had stopped painting. There was no room for a studio in the new apartment, she had some problem with her heart which made painting uncomfortable and the smell of paint unbearable. And finally according to her the market for paintings in today's Poland was not as good as during the Communist era when she supported herself by the sales of her painting. Today apart from the small market, she also had to pay the gallery a 50% commission on each sale.

So today she's a lady of leisure, attending to her beautiful apartment and her big hobby garden in the country which gave her much joy besides the flowers and vegetables, and taking long walking and camping holidays with Jerzy, who should also be retired but whose service was still much needed by the Polish government.

I was sorry I did not acquire a new painting by Michelle, but she did give me a landscape pencil sketch. Thanks Michelle, God bless and keep you.

Warsaw Revisited

2009-06-03T20:51:00.000+08:00

“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable”

A sign in the antique elevator of the Bristol Meridian Hotel in Warsaw where I stayed recently. I just spent a wonderful long weekend in Warsaw. I had not been there for 17 years since I left it in summer 1992 after a 53-month very memorable and sometimes difficult stay in that city. Perhaps that was why it took me 17 years to revisit it.

Much to my delight, Warsaw received me with wide, open arms. It was one of the best short holidays I have had in a long time. I caught up with my dear friends Karol, Ziutek, Mariusz, Michelle and Jurek, and Elizabeth (who had the most perfect complexion of any woman I knew who is more than 50 years old!!). I dared not call my other friends for fear I would be overwhelmed due to my limited time there.

The not-so-great weather (it rained everyday) aside, I thoroughly savoured Warsaw again – I roamed the Stare Miasto (the reconstructed old city), the now fashionable Nowy-Swiat, and of course the Sunday antique market in Wola and left with two beautiful old paintings (which will look like museum/gallery pieces when I am through restoring and framing them) and a beautiful pre-war bronze sculpture of two horses.

I again had the pleasure to go to the wonderful Warsaw Opera and enjoyed a spectacular performance of the ballet “La Bayadere” which reaffirmed my personal view that the Warsaw Opera offered some of the most beautiful and spectacular performances which the rest of the opera-loving would sadly miss out on.

There was festive mood in the city as exhibitions and manifestations took place in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Poland’s shift towards democracy.On Sunday morning, from my beautiful hotel room, ( in a heritage hotel built more than one hundred years ago, the venue of many important historical events and which accommodated many luminaries, but largely left abandoned during the later communist era and now beautifully restored and refurbished under the Meridian management) I saw a parade commemorating the event and it was touching that the heavy downpour did not deter a single person in the parade from walking on. I joined a luncheon hosted by my colleague on the occasion of the upcoming official birthday of His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong and it was pleasant to see some 60 Malaysian students there; they are the first group of Malaysians to study medicine in Poland.

I had a chance to drive by my former residence on Ulica Smiala in Zoliborz and was pleasantly surprised how beautiful the house now look, slightly renovated and shaded by generous canopies of birch trees. I wonder if the owner Mrs Hetman lives there now. Driving away I passed a couple pushing a child on wheel and the man reminded me of Konrad, Mrs Hetman's son... ( see my posting Mrs Hetman's House)
So much had been said about the tremendous charges that had taken place in Warsaw since I left 17 years ago but I was pleased to register that the city still retained its old-world charm. Sure, prices had gone up tremendously but there were much more things available now and there was so much life and activities. My friends lamented that the current economic situation was badly affecting the Polish economy and their livelihood. But the people of Poland had always been survivors and I am convinced that they would continue to strive to make the courtly one of the most successful former Eastern European country - a label which had already been given to them a while back.

I regretted time did not allow me to make trips to my favourite places outside Warsaw – Kazimirz, Puttusk and Zela-zowa-wola (Chopin’s village) but perhaps this was the perfect excuse for me to return to Warsaw again in the near future.

Video - Roem's Colours in Motion (Plaisir D'Amour - Giovanni Battista Martini)

2009-05-27T03:46:00.002+08:00

P. Ramlee in Memory (Abadi Dalam Kenangan)

2009-05-19T20:48:00.000+08:00

This coming 29th of May will be the 36th anniversary of the demise of Malaysia's legendary maestro of film and music Allahyarham P. Ramlee. Gone forever but never ever forgotten, he left behind a legacy of artistic wealth for generations to avail to. So much had been written about Allahyarham that there is really no need for me further add on to.

Here is my video tribute to him - GETARAN JIWA , probably his greatest and most popular composition. This version by Ismail Haron is for me personally one of the best two ever interpreted and recorded, the other by Singapore's Biduanita Negara Kartina Dahari (wonderfully transformed into kroncong). Recorded in the mid 70s they are still fresh and contemporary after almost four decades.

Composed for and featured in his 1960 film ANTARA DUA DARJAT, Getaran Jiwa has become an evergreen, everlasting classic sung and recorded by countless singers (including American singer Lobo who recorded it in English as 'Whispers in the Wind' which I personally feel is a desecration of the song).

Al fatihah for Allahyarham....