Arif 6th Birthday...

"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death..." - A Einstein

(A big boy. a loving brother)

Happy Birthday dear Arif. As you turn another year older, remember to hold onto your light hearted spirit and sense of fun! May today and every day be filled with love and laughter. May you always be courageous and true. May you stay brave and kind.

(Showing off his presents)

Breakfast at Chamek Kopitiam in Senai, Johor

"Let go of what's gone, be grateful of what remains, and look forward to what is coming next..."

(Chamek Kopitiam in Senai)

Chamek Kopitiam got their name from Chamek, a small village in Kluang District, Johor. The name originated from the Chinese variation of the word Jambi, which is rather hard to pronounce.

The village is a multiracial village, having all Chinese, Malays and Indians. Mostly, the Malays are of the Javanese descendants, and they practiced the Javanese culture in their everyday life. The populations mainly work in rubber plantation, palm plantation, and a few opened grocery stores.

The village is located nearer to a small town of Paloh.

(An old photo on the wall)

This morning we had lontong for breakfast at Chamek Kopitiam in Senai. We are sending Sara to the Airport. She is flying off to Langkawi for a workshop session over the weekend and will be back on Monday.

We are in JB for the week to look after the three grandchildren, Alia, Arif and Aira while their mom is away.

(Opened with strict adherence to the SOP)

(Variety of breakfast dishes to choose from)

(Lontong and Chamek tea)

YAG laser for cloudy eyes...

"Let's stop rushing through our days in the hopes of being happy sometime in the future..."

(Waiting for his turn)

This morning we were at Pantai Hospital again.

Dear hubby is undergoing the YAG laser capsulotomy procedure on one of his eyes. He had done this simple procedure on the other eye a month ago.

The YAG laser capsulotomy is a type of laser eye surgery that uses a Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet (YAG) laser to improve cloudy vision. During a YAG procedure, a topical anaesthetic eye drops is applied. The doctor will use a YAG laser beam to cut a hole in the lens capsule's clouded back lining and clean the lens. Normally this painless procedure only takes less than 10 minutes.

It will take a day or two to have a clearer vision.

(Having breakfast at the foodcourt)

(Hospital Pantai Specialist lists)

Kompleks As-Saadah, Seremban...

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader..." - John Quincy Adams

(Kompleks As-Saadah, in the rain)

It was raining heavily when we visited Al-Saadah Complex.

Al-Saadah Complex functions as an Activity Center for new brothers/sisters. It was established in March 2011 and operating on a waqaf land. The building of the complex was funded by the Zakat and Hajj fund. The design and architecture of the Al-Saadah Complex in Seremban is inspired by the Great Mosque of Xian in the Shaanxi region in China.

This beautiful building provides facilities for teaching and learning for new converts in Negeri Sembilan. It also focused on taking care of their needs. NGO da'wah bodies such as the Negeri Sembilan’s branch of Muslim China Association (MACMA) and the Muslim Revert Association (MRA), are taking active roles in the management of new brothers/sisters.

Mubaligh of Chinese descendance were brought in to assist in the da'wah activities.

(A drive to Seremban after breakfast)

(The complex is closed during PKP)

(Residential blocks)

(Pagoda minaret of the mosque)

Warung Pak Man Cendol KKB, Selangor

"In order to succeed your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure..."

(A small stall by the roadside)

On the way back home from Kuala Selangor we took the Sungai Panjang rural road and exited at the Kuala Kubu Baru interchange. It was already late afternoon when we stopped for a bowl of cendol at Warung Pak Man Cendol which is located on the roadside on Federal Route 1 between Kuala Kubu Bharu and Rasa. When we arrived, it was already near closing time but we were lucky to be served.

The stall is located at the junction to Madrasah Darul Atiq. The madrasah is specifically for male students, while Madrasah Raudathul Ulum is for female students. The madrasah was established by a famous pendakwah, Allahyarham Ustaz Ghazali Hasbullah in 1980s. Presently his third child, Ustaz Ahmad Rizam, is the Mudir of the madrasah.

A few years ago, we visited Madrasah Raudathul Ulum to handover some donations from our Muslimah group.

(A bowl of cendol each)

(Already closing time)

Ladang Tebu in Sungai Besar, Selangor

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way... " - John C Maxwell

(A beautiful mosque in the paddy field)

Laman Tebu Aidil is located in Parit 3 Sungai Haji Dorani, Sungai Besar, Selangor which is not far from Pasar Jerami.

Small scale sugarcane farms could be seen along the water canals in Sungai Besar. One particular unique farm is Laman Tebu Aidil which serves freshly pressed sugarcane juice from the farm. There is also a modest eatery serving simple but delicious menu, including honey chicken wings and tongkeng goreng, laksa, nasi lemak, nasi impit and fresh fruits. You can have your meals amid the sugarcane trees while enjoying the scenery against the backdrop of paddy fields. 

We could see visitors capturing Instagram worthy photos among the neat rows of sugarcane trees.

(Masjid An-Nur in the background, a beautiful serene scenery)

(Clear clean water canals, criss-crossing the paddy fields)

(Eatery in the sugarcane farm)

(Sugarcane farms along the canals)

(Canals dividing the paddy fields)

(Nice sunny weather for a leisure drive)

Mee Udang Banjir Kuala Selangor...

"A successful business does not require a management degree. It just requires an innovative thought..."

(Big portions of mee udang banjir)

Restoran Mee Udang Banjir Udang Galah is situated on the main road of Kuala Selangor.

This is our third attempts to try the viral Mee Udang Banjir in Kuala Selangor. Around this area, there are a few famous Mee Udang Banjir restaurants to choose from. The last few times we visited Kuala Selangor there were large crowds in almost all eateries everywhere as people were beginning to travel when the cross-district restriction was lifted.

Not to be disappointed, today we arrived a little early and the first few customers to be served. There are various seafood dishes on the menu but the only choice available today is mee udang banjir and mee udang galah banjir. We ordered one of each which came in quite a big serving which is too much for me. The dish was tasty but if only it was a little bit more spicy then it would be better.

After lunch we drove towards Sekinchan to explore a few attractions around the area.

(Driving to Kuala Selangor again)

(One of the famous mee udang banjir)

(The crowd is building up)

(Too much for the two of us)

(Tapai pulut for dessert)

Kelas Talaqqi Muslimah...

"Nobody is too busy, it's just a matter of priorities..."

(Kelas Talaqqi Muslimah Masjid At-Tayyibin)

The latest MCO SOP for Selangor has allowed those who have been fully vaccinated to attend prayers and activities at the mosques.

Started from beginning of October, hubby and I have been attending Maghrib/Isya and Subuh prayers. The Muslimah Masjid At-Tayyibin has also started to organise religious activities, classes and kuliyah. It was good to see our cheerful friends face to face again, although some are still quite nervous to be in a crowd. All those attending activities in the masjid has to adhere to strict SOP set to curb the spread of Covid-19, which is still on the lurk. 

Don't be surprised if the Coronavirus is here to stay...

Blissful Foot Reflexology...

"Anyone who stops learning is old. Anyone who keeps learning stays young..." - Henry Ford

(An hour of blissful moment)

Some said that foot reflexology is not an effective treatment for any medical condition.

But I believe that it may act as a complementary therapy to help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, much like body massages. The ancient Chinese art of foot reflexology applies to areas of the foot that correspond to the energy of specific organs and body parts to promote healing and release energy blockages. Foot reflexology can boost the immune system, increase circulation, cleanse toxins from the body and balance energy.

Before the pandemic, we used to go for our weekly foot reflexology and enjoyed an hour of relaxing moment listening to our favourite music while our feet were being massaged.

Tanjung Karang paddy fields...

"Successful people always have two things on their lips, silence and a smile. Smile to solve problems and silence to avoid problems..."

(Lush greenery of sawah bendang)

The name Tanjung Karang is loosely translated into English as the "Cape of Corals".

Tanjong Karang is a district in Kuala Selangor.  Tanjong Karang town is divided by the Sungai Tengi at the middle but connected with a bridge. The local Chinese minority lives in the urban and seaside area, while most Malays live in rural areas and perform agricultural activities, particularly rice cultivation.

There is a large canal that starts from Tanjong Karang which crossed but merged using watergate to Sungai Tengi. The canal ends in the district of Sabak Bernam. It was first built during the colonial era and is often called by the locals as Bangkenal. Its function is to provide enough water to irrigate the rice crops and is also used by a water supply company to provide treated water and as a place for freshwater fish farming. In the past, this canal is used to transport timber.

There are myths about a giant snake found during the construction of this canal.

(Karipap Gergasi for snacks)

(The second largest rice field in Malaysia)

(Pasar Jerami in the middle of paddy fields)

(One of the tourist attractions)

(Beautiful scenery worth a visit)

(A wall mural of a paddy planter)

(A unique triangle chalets)

Restoran Bunga Cengkih selera Negeri Sembilan...

"After every difficulty, ask yourself two questions: what did I do right and what would I do differently?..." - Brian Tracy

(Restoran Bunga Cengkih in Dengkil)

We came across this restaurant by chance while meandering through the old trunk road.

Restoran Bunga Cengkih in Dengkil serves Negeri Sembilan dishes of masak lemak cili padi. You have a choice of daging salai, keli salai or telur itik. Besides masak lemak cili padi you can have asam pedas with selections of fishes. Those who like spicy food, masak lemak cili padi dishes are something to die for. A set of dish comes together with a drink, ulam and sambal belacan. 

The price per set is quite reasonable.

(Negeri Sembilan specialty)

(Clay-pot style lemak cili padi and asam pedas)

(Asam pedas ikan pari and Lemak keli salai)

Bamboo-inspired Tadom Hill Resort...

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see..." - Mark Twain

Tadom Hill Resorts is located in Kampong Labohan Dagang near Dengkil in Selangor.

The 45 acres resort is once a sand mining area and limestone hills surrounded by palm oil plantations. The area has been transformed into an attractive eco-friendly resort next to a lake and provide a range of fun activities for day visitors and resort guests.

(Surrounded by Palm Oil plantation)

(The beach at the man-made lake)

(Picnic and fishing huts around the lake)

(A quick getaway from the hustle bustle)

(Exploring the surrounding rough terrain)

(A little off-roading to the resort)

(Stone steps to the top of the hill)

Tadom Hill Resorts offers a unique blend of splendid experience and serenity of bamboo-inspired architectures and warm hospitality by a team of staff, majority are the aborigines of the Temuan Orang Asli origin.

Nearly all the structures in the resort are made from bamboo, giving a relaxed beach style feel to the place even though it is far from the ocean.

p.s. ‘Tadom’ is an Orang Asli word and many of the employees come from the local Orang Asli community.

(Serene, rustic, tropical experience)

(Lush greenery and lakes)

(Offers numerous on-site facilities)

(Cute bamboo chalets)

(Another chalet type in the Bamboo Village)

(A day pass)

(A day activities)