Aqiqah for baby Amir...

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams..." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Majlis Aqiqah for baby Amir was held at my besan's house in Sri Iskandar Perak. The blessed occasion was celebrated with family members, neighbors and friends. The majlis started with the reciting of doa selamat and later followed by a simple buffet feast.

(Reciting of doa selamat)

(Roasted lamb for the main dish)

(Door gifts of sweets and chocolates) 

(Staying a night at the homestay)

A stroke of luck...

"You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted..." - Ruth E. Renkl

(Intensive Care Unit for the heart)

We were in Betong, Thailand when we heard about the news.

Shah, my brother-in-law had a minor stroke and was being hospitalized in Damansara Medical Center. Shah is hubby’s eldest brother, only a year older.

Despite its name, a minor stroke is a major cause of alarm. The symptoms for a stroke regardless whether it’s a major or a minor are the same and both require immediate hospitalization. According to the diagnosis, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing a variety of symptoms.

When we visited him, despite being sedated after the MRI procedure, he was all energetic and excited to narrate his experience which caused his vital readings to go haywire.

We left him to rest, we’ll pray and hope that he will be his own self again in no time...

(A quiet corridor to the CICU)

Thailand: Betong ride, a brief escapade...

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart..."

(It was raining at the border)

What does weekend mean to you? is it sleeping in till the sun is high in the sky, or watching a marathon of movies on Astro tv channels? or just lying on the sofa re-reading old story books?

When someone suggested to ride to Betong, Thailand on Saturday and back on Sunday, the idea seems odd at first. But an escape away from the hustle bustle of the city and a chance to be away from the mundane routine daily chores attracted quite a number of takers.

Betong, a small border town a few kilometers from Pengkalan Hulu offers no major tourist attractions but bikers find it to be a good destination for a short break.

As for us, from day-break to day end we seek for a peace of mind and find solace in each others company, that's all...

(Betong Immigration Complex)

Date: 23 -24 Nov 2013

Route taken: KL - Pengkalan Hulu - Betong - KL

Total mileage: 900 km

Bikers gang: Mus/Mun, Munawar/Rose, Aman/Rohayah, Hayami/Siti, Kong/Wife, Shawal, Taufik, Zali, Rozlan, Nawi and 4 others

My Overseas Travel blog: munmus.blogspot.com

A weekly affair...

"If you can see the positive sides of everything, you'll be able to live a much richer life than others..." - Celestine Chua

(Hubby is having his massage too...)

Lately I have been experiencing burning sensation in my feet.

I can’t remember when I started to feel the pain but it was sudden and rapidly worsening especially very early in the morning. But at times, the discomfort disappears without warning and I feel alright again.

I have not seen the doctor about this. I am doing my own diagnosis. And most probably at my age now, I may be having osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis or any other medical conditions that cause the tingling burning sensation.

For now, almost every week I will indulge in foot reflexology and hopefully the hard painful massage will not further damage the nerves in my feet.

Johor: Sara's new house...

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach..." - Benjamin Mays

(Taman Nongchik Height)

This morning we decided to ride to JB and spend the weekend there.

We started late in the morning. By noon we reached Ayer Keroh R&R and had asam pedas lunch at one of the restaurants. When we stopped for refueling at R&R Pagoh, we put on our rain coats as it was starting to rain.

It was raining heavily all the way and the rain only stopped once we reached JB. This weekend we’ll be spending time helping Sara and Fitri moving to their new house in Taman Nongchik Height.

(A beautiful full moon...)

(The KTM getting ready to ride back...)

My 58th birthday...

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections..."

Today is my birthday and I am celebrating it at my parents house in Melaka. My two sisters, nephews and nieces came over and bought KFC and a birthday cake to share the moment with me.

Today I am a year older and hopefully a little wiser.

Today I am giving a little thought to years gone by.

Reminiscing the time we spent together

A moment, though long vanished, last forever...

Our new ride...

"All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers..." - Orison Swett Marden

(Our KTM1190...)

Alone

From childhood’s hour I have not been

As others were; I have not seen

As others saw; I could not bring

My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow; I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone;

And all I loved, I loved alone.

Then- in my childhood, in the dawn

Of a most stormy life- was drawn

From every depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still:

From the torrent, or the fountain,

From the red cliff of the mountain,

From the sun that round me rolled

In its autumn tint of gold,

From the lightning in the sky

As it passed me flying by,

From the thunder and the storm,

And the cloud that took the form

When the rest of sky was blue

Of a demon in my view.

(Edgar Allan Poe)

Dinner for two...

"Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands and then eat just one of those pieces..."

(Hubby's, medium well done...)

My birthday is just around the corner but I couldn't wait to indulge in sumptuous dinner for two.

The queue was long at Tony Roma’s but we didn't need to wait for long to be seated and ordered our juicy ribs meals.

(Mine, over well done...)

Meeting old friends...

"Beauty is about living your life and being happy with yourself inside out and not worrying about what people think of you..."

(With Khatijah, Kamal and Abu Othman)

This was a great weekend.

On Saturday we went to Ramlah's wedding reception for her second daughter in Kajang. We were a little late but managed to meet with some old friends from Vet Science Class of '74. The last time we met was a few years ago during our big reunion at Hotel Singgahsana. 

(Happy moments with Ramlah and Khatijah)

On Sunday, we went to a wedding reception in Gombak. Halimaton, the groom's mother was my dorm-mate during my first year in ITM. She quit after her second year and I have not met her since, till now. 

Meeting up with long lost friends is so nostalgic. In a good way they make me feel like seventeen again... 

TTS with the gang...

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people..." - Eleanor Roosevelt

(The KKB Gang)

This is the first time we had a Teh Tarik Session since we came back from our Kembara Qurban. Almost all of the gang were present at Restaurant Ajimal at Desa Petaling.

Tonight we exchanged thumb-drives containing pictures and videos taken during our 14-day trip. We will distribute to everyone the compiled version once collated.

There is nothing like enjoying a late supper, while reminiscing about our recent adventures. And we couldn't contain the excitement when we started to plan and discuss tentative destinations for our future rides.

A nephew's engagement...

"Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at both ends..."

(Engagement between Taufik and Sakinah)

Congrats from Mak Uda and Pak Uda...