About Me

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I am married to my loving husband for more than 40 years now. I am a mother to 3 beautiful children, until years ago when I lost my youngest son. Since then my life is forever altered but yet unbroken....

Friday 27 April 2007

Katmandu, Katmandu...

"Don't miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come..."


Kathmandu

I think I'm going to Kathmandu,
that's really, really where I'm going to.
If I ever get out of here,
that's what I'm gonna do.

I'm tired of looking at the TV news.
I'm tired of driving hard and paying dues.
I figure, I've got nothing to lose,
I'm tired of being blue.

That's why I'm going to Kathmandu,
up to the mountains where I'm going to.
If I ever get out of here,
that's what I'm gonna do.

(Bob Seger)

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Wednesday 25 April 2007

Into a high gear...

"We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them..."


I thought I’ll do my errands later. Tomorrow is a public holiday, I thought I would have ample time to do my packing and change some foreign currencies. But when I saw the urgent message from Apau in the e-mail, I knew that I am in deep trouble. The Royal Nepal Airlines cancelled the flight on 28th and brought forward our flight to the 27th. I’m forced to take leave on Friday despite my packed schedule on that day.

I’ll be very busy today. Linda needs to apply for my leave, postpone Friday’s meetings and cancel my lunch appointment with the gang. I need Linda to run other errands too. Order walnut carrot cakes from Suanson for Iwan’s MIL and SIL, call the money changer to change some currencies and look for someone to replace me in the disciplinary panel.

The TPEC meeting finished very late. I stayed back to prepare some briefing notes for the boss. By the time I had completed and e-mailed the documents, it was almost 10 o’clock. Hubby was already at home and waiting for me to have dinner together.

I was tired and hubby was too. He almost, always fall sound asleep, while talking and reflecting. Sometimes, even when I wasn’t asleep I pretended to be, just to feel his arms around me.

Tonight I dreamt of us, walking hand-in-hand along the hippie trail, a guitar slung over his shoulder and flowers in our hair…

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Saturday 21 April 2007

One dream is enough...

"Something that you do in an instant, can give you heartache for life..."


Of wishes and dreams
.
Lost in confusion and total self bliss
I've found the relation between dream and wish
A dream is a fantasy lived only while asleep
But a wish has a compass vast, far and deep..

A dream can bring true the wish never thought
As the mind wanders aimlessly and feelings are sought.
But a wish is a simple, momentous undertaking
A grasping of things while still in the making..

Now my understanding of wish and of dreams
Have broadened my scope - or so it would seem
But still I'm confused and nothing is clear
Because the future is a wish, yet a dream so dear..

Sadly enough my dreams cause confusion
For all their purpose are meager illusion…
.
(Author unknown)
.
Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky

Tuesday 17 April 2007

Summons to a witness...

“Keep in mind that people change, but the past doesn't…” - Becca Fitzpatrick

'

In the mid-eighties, when I was still a junior officer in my old department, I was often called to the court to be the expert witness on exchange rates. I was frequented by officers from the police department and sometimes, from the Jabatan Kastam to get a statement from me by virtue of my position as the officer in-charge. My boss then, being quite a man of the nation now, in his own manner and candor would pass all cases to me.

‘ you’re the expert in foreign exchange, mesti boleh jawab soalan2 lawyer tu. Kalau tak boleh jawab, kelentong je… he he…’

The first time I stood in the ‘kandang saksi’ I was shivering from head to toes and couldn’t comprehend what had been asked. I mumbled my answers and all I heard towards the end of my testimonial was, ‘Puan telah dibebaskan dari menjadi saksi….’ I was overladen with gratitude, as if I was the accused being freed of all charges, and muttering expression of thanks in at least several languages to the judge.

The story did not just end there. In my present department I was often subpoenaed as an expert witness – incidentally, nothing to do with exchange rates any more. The past two weeks in a row, I have been traveling up and down the hi-way, sometimes to Bentong and at times to Kuala Kubu Baru to attend the court cases. And just now my officer handed me the familiar blue slip of paper and cheekily said:

‘Puan telah disaman supaya hadir di hadapan Mahkamah Majistret di Tapah pada sekian-sekian haribulan he he…’

Such is the not so straightforward nature of the physical and psychological make-up of my job.

Saturday 14 April 2007

Old and fragile…

"My best friend and I, can do anything or nothing and still have a good time..."


After we kissed goodbye, I drove back to Melaka alone as hubby need to go to office for a meeting with his project team. The kids didn’t follow me as they have made plans earlier. Sara is joining her goonies to cheer for her friend Ninie, one of the participants in the Nescafe Kick-Start competition. Iwan and Ella are going to the PC fair.

Earlier this morning, I had a missed call from my mak’s handphone. I thought I would call her later but when my sister called, I know something is not right.

‘Kak, mak sakit. Dah seminggu dia terbaring. Makan pun tak lalu.Dia asyik sebut nama kau je. Balik lah kak…’

I drove very fast in the hot Saturday afternoon. I miss my mak. It’s been a while since I visited her. When I reached our kampung house, it was deserted and the door was ajar. I shouted my salam but no one answered. I walked in and went straight to my mak’s room. For almost 5 minutes I stood at the door and watched my mak slept, wrapped in the blanket up to her chin with my abah sleeping next to her, his hand holding my mak from behind.

I shed some tears watching them like this….

Sunday 8 April 2007

Kedah - 4x4 to Tasek Pedu & Lembah Bujang

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine

Earlier this week, while we were recalling the places we have been, we named a few lakes that we have visited such as Tasek Kenyir, Tasek Temenggor, Tasek Chini, Tasek Bera and Batang Ai in Serawak, among others and decided that this weekend we’ll want to explore Tasek Pedu and other interesting sites in Kedah.

Our journey started right after noon, direct to Alor Star with a fewpit stops at the R&R. The drive was relaxing, with the oldies entertaining us along the way. It was dark when we reached Alor Star and checked-in Hotel Sri Malaysia which is situated next to the football stadium. There was a match and we could hear from our room, the supporters for the home team roared, either celebrating the scores or cursing the near misses. Amidst the noise, we slept like babies till late morning.

Tasek Pedu

(View of Tasik Pedu from the highway)

After breakfast we headed to Tasek Pedu through the Pokok Sena and Kuala Nerang state road. The road is winding and some parts are hilly and steep. Located around 90 km from Alor Star, Tasek Pedu is approximately 5 km from the Malaysian-Thai border.

(Beautiful chalets on the island)

We stopped at a few places along the way for photo shots of the scenic view from the hill top. We were hungry and were planning of having lunch at the resort restaurant overlooking the lake.

(A disappoint closure signage)

But we were disappointed to find out that the Mutiara Pedu Lake Resort, once a premier holiday resort, has closed for business since early of the year! The entrance to the resort was blocked and we were not allowed to enter the resort area.

(A serene tranquil ambiance of the lake)

From far, we took photos of the Kedahan-Thai structured chalets surrounded by the tranquil waters of the man-made Lake. The backdrop is provided by the Pakir Terbang mountain range. Even deserted, nestled between the flora and fauna of the forest and the shoreline of the placid lake, the resort built on two connecting islands is really a magnificent view.

(The closed entrance to the lake resort)

According to the list of attractions on the notice board at the abandoned guard house, Mutiara Pedu Lake Resort was a self-contained resort complete with an 18-hole golf course and an ideal place to retreat into nature. During its prime time, the resort offered special activities such as jungle-trekking, bird watching, camping and nature walks.

Lembah Bujang

(Historical archaeological findings)

From Tasek Pedu, we drove through Sik and exited at Gurun. We detoured to the famous Bujang Valley located at the foothills of Gunung Jerai. In this area here lies the cradle of Kedah’s pre-Islamic civilization. Relics of the richly-cultured Hindu-Buddhist era were found here. We visited the Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum and later visited the ancient temples which are also called candi.

(Visiting the Archaeological Museum)

The area consists of ruins that may date more than 1,500 years old. More than fifty ancient tomb temples, have been unearthed are located in Pengkalan Bayang Merbok. There have been rumors that most of the items from the dig are place in vaults elsewhere because of the importance of the finds.


(The historical remains)

There are indications that many rare and magical items such as the giant throne chair of Raja Bersiung was also found and located somewhere. There were stories of giant Hindu temples, golden chariots and vast cave systems protected by the supernatural.

(The chandi restored and displayed)

After visiting the historical archeological site of Lembah Bujang, we drove towards Yan through the coastal road absorbing the spectacular view of rolling paddy fields and stopped at Air Terjun Titi Hayun, Tangga Kenari and Air Terjun Batu Hampar, out of the many waterfalls at the foot of Gunung Jerai.

Friday 6 April 2007

I'm pretty unfit...

"A healthy person is someone who expresses not represses what they feel..."


Yesterday I went for my annual medical check-up at PMC. When I arrived I was immediately ushered to the lab for urine and blood samples. Then to the Audio Room to test my hearing and later to Dr. P room for the pap-smear. The mammogram came next, followed by chest x-ray and ultra-sound of the abdomen.

I met hubby at the Executive room and we had breakfast together. I was made to fast since 10 o’clock last night and by this time I was famished. My medical check-up continued with the stress-test which I dread to do. The fright of last year’s Angiogram procedure still lingers in my mind. I cautiously walked on the treadmill. It took me less than 7 minutes before I felt painful pressure in my breathing that I thought my chest would explode. It took me an instant to realize that my fitness level is deteriorating…

Next week, I have an appointment with Dr. Ng for the full results of my medical check-up.