Melaka - Happy New Year!

"Forget what you wanted to do, forget what you meant to do, and look at what you did..."

(On the beach of Pulau Besar)

This year we spent the Aidil-Adha together with our kids, Sara, Iwan and Ella. We were joined by Iwan’s mother-in-law, Normah and Ella’s sister Kak Nini and hubby, Azmi and their cute son, Anwar Aliff. The last day of year 2006 was spent at Kampung Sri Minyak Melaka.

On Saturday, Iwan and Ella in one car and Abang Azmi and family in another, drove to A’ Farmosa and spent the day at the Water World. From KL we drove to Melaka late afternoon and met the rest at Mahkota Parade and headed to my Mak’s place. Earlier we called to invite all in the family to ikan bakar’s treat at the Anjung Batu restaurant. We managed to gather almost all of my siblings, nephews and nieces. The ikan bakar and small nasi lemak bungkus were really finger-licking good.

(Staying in Gerbang chalets)

Tonight we decided not to stay at my parents place as there are many of us and there is not enough room for every family, takut tak cukup oxygen!. Mak was a little kecil hati when we told her that we already booked 4 chalets at the Gerbang Sri Minyak Resort, only a 5-minutes walk from Mak’s house.

(Visiting Ja's grave and reciting the doa)

Next morning, we solat Aidil-Adha at Mesjid Sri Minyak and had breakfast of nasi empit, rendang and kuah lodeh at Mak’s place.

(On the boat to Pulau Besar)

The men went to the masjid to assist with the Qurban, The ladies stayed at home to eat and gossip. Later we packed our bags and checked out of the chalets and went to visit kubur Ja and sedekah al-fatihah for him.

(Sara and Alif at the beach)

Next, we headed to Umbai’s Jetty to rent a boat to Pulau Besar. The 10- minute boat ride was comfortable. We walked along the pretty sandy beach and played in the clear blue water.

(Taking the ferry around the island)

There are 2 resorts on the island. Pulau Besar is the burial ground of early traders and missionaries from the Middle East. Used as a base by the Japanese during World War II, the legacy of its history is evidenced by several ancient graves, a few wells in the jungle, a dynamite store and a bunker. We cruised around the island before we headed back to the mainland.

Drove back to KL and we had a sumptuous dinner at the Absolute Thai at Ikano. There was a big crowd at The Curve as they were having a concert before the countdown to the New Year. After dinner we went back to the Apartment. Iwan and the rest stayed back to join the count down and watch the fireworks. We went back to our apartment and watched the fireworks from the 22nd floor.

(Another resort on the other side of the island)

Happy New Year!