Eid Family Get Together...

“Eid is a time for joy, a time for togetherness, a time to remember Allah’s blessings. May Allah bless us and our loved ones. Eid Mubarak!”

(Eid get together for AliSom family)

Eid is a time to spread happiness and for family to get together and celebrate.

It is the family tradition for one of the siblings to host an open house on the first day of Eid. Unfortunately, this year none has offered to arrange for one because of other commitments. It was then decided for the siblings to just meet for lunch at Memang Meow Restaurant in Melawati Mall on the second day of Eidul-Adha.

We later went to Zin's place to visit Ita who is recovering from a broken femur after a bad fall. 

(A heavy lunch at Memang Meow Restaurant)

(Having assorted cakes for dessert)

Brunch with the SMKB/SIC sisters...

“When faced with illness, remember that your true strength lies in your ability to maintain a positive mindset.”

(Brunch at Shah Alam Club)

The seniors and juniors of SMKB/SIC had a small get together for brunch at Shah Alam Club. It was an opportunity to meet with the SIC hostelite seniors, Kak Sar, Datin Jon and Datin Sri Dah and my former SMKB schoolmates YB Ubai, Sidah and Datin Ma. I have not met with the seniors for a long time since Kak Sar was diagnosed with Colon cancer. Kak Sar has undergone a few operations and chemo sessions and is recovering quite well.

Amidst the challenges of illness, Kak Sar perseverance becomes a beacon of inspiration for all of us.

(The juniors, Nong, Sidah and YB Ubai)

(YB Ubai and Kak Sar)

Through this journey of healing, may Allah give Kak Sar inner strength and embrace the power of self-care to get well soonest, InsyaAllah...

Migratory birds in Taman Metropolitan...

"The migratory bird's life, a sight to behold,

A journey of freedom, forever told..."

(Burung Botak Kecil)

I saw a photographer deligently taking pictures of birds and this triggered my curiousity. I tried snapping a few but most flew away.

The Lesser Adjutants (Leptoptilos javanicus), also known as burung botak kecil because of their bare heads and necks.They are wading birds in the stork family found in wetlands in Malaysia. They are migratory birds.

They face the storms, and winds so bold,

Their tales untold, a story to hold.

A message whispered, on the breeze,

Of resilience, and nature's decrees.

Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang - 2024

"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold, but an inch of gold may not buy an inch of time..." - Chinese proverb

(Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang)

After our lunch at Restoran Mohd Chan we drove to Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim located in Bandar Botanik, Klang.

(The signage from the main road)

(The gate into the mosque's compound)

This mosque is the only mosque characterized by Chinese architecture in Selangor. Loaded with traditional Chinese elements, the Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim was built based on the architecture of the Xi'an Great Mosque in Shaanxi province, China. The mosque can accommodate up to 1,000 worshipers. The mosque was opened to public in August 2024 and inaugerated in December 2024 by DYMM Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

 

(A unique Chinese architecture minaret)

(The main courtyard leading to the prayer hall)

(Beautiful garden in the courtyard)

(Partitions dividing the different courtyards)

The concept of this mosque is based on a central axis with a clear division of spaces with the use of a 'courtyard'. It has a unique mosque tower characterized by Chinese architecture and there is a prayer hall where the roof is made of traditional Chinese tiles. The garden can be used as an additional prayer area during eid or Jumaat prayers. Wooden elements are used in the main prayer room and Chinese-style calligraphy adorns the mihrab space. There are library facilities, lecture rooms, management offices, imam rooms, lounge rooms, talaqi corners, souvenir shops and restaurants.

(The use of wooden elements in the main prayer hall)

(Calligraphy writing of Asmaul Husna)

(The external ablution area for men)

(One of the cozy corners for religious classes)

There are several architectural similarities between this mosque and the Great Mosque of Xi’an, including the position of the main entrance to the open space facing the main prayer hall. The design of the handrails made of natural granite in the Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim is also almost the same as the Xi’an Great Mosque. Even the furniture there also adopts traditional Chinese designs.

(Menara Cahaya Bulan)

(I was in Xi'an in 2013 during the China Silk Road trip)

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

A Murder of Crows...

 "Crows are the keepers of mysteries that only the brave dare to unravel..."

(Taman Metropolitan Kepong)

This morning we were late for our brisk walk and the sun was already high in the sky. After the long hiatus, we had started our twice weekly short brisk walks, hopefully help burn some calories and build up our waning stamina.

(Massive development around the Metropolitan lake)

(Smart pretty ladies ready to zumba)

The weather was beautiful this morning. I kept my pace brisk but manageable, avoiding exertion that leaves me breathless. My legs muscles are hurting slightly. I only managed to walk 4.5 km and had to take a rest in between before I could continue walking.

(The mischievous crows)

Lately I saw a lot of crows in Taman Metropolitan. The overflow dustbins attract the crows and they scattered the litters all over the place. Wondered why a group of crows earned the rather dark title of 'a murder of crows'?

(Buying our stock of Karipap King Kong)

(Lunch at Restoran Mohd Chan in Klang Sentral)

Ceramah Perdana Khas

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm..." - Willa Cather

The Muslimah At-Taiyibbin were invited to a ceramah by Ustaz Ahmad Rizam in Bandar Baru Selayang.

Ustaz Ahmad Rizam Ghazali is the Principal of Madrasah Raudatul Ulum. His father Tuan Guru Ustaz Ghazali Hasbullah, was a well known religious teacher in Malaysia and has written many religious books and Kitab-kitab Adab Suluk Al Murid.

(The ladies of Masjid At-Taiyibbin)

(Tuan Guru Ustaz Ahmad Rizam)

A few years back, a group of the Muslimah At-Taiyibbin visited the Madrasah Raudatul Ulum branch to hand over some donations and had lunch with the students in the madrasah. Madrasah Raudhatul Ulum or better known as Darul Atiq is a modern boarding school for girls founded in 1998 by Ustaz Ahmad Rizam Ghazali. This madrasah is located in the Ulu Rening Branch, Batang Kali, Ulu Selangor.

(The ladies with Ustaz after the ceramah)

(A late dinner at Mira Maju)

2025 Thailand Route 12 Trip

 “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success...” – Alexander Graham Bell

(The 16-day journey)

We will be on a 16-day road trip. The main part of the trip is to cover the whole length of the 710 km newly extended Route 12.

Route 12 or Asean Highway 12 is a part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a route which links four mainland Southeast Asian countries, from Myanmar in the West to Vietnam in the East. The final phase of the expansion of Highway 12 which links Thailand with Myanmar and Laos in Tak and Mukdahan, respectively has been completed.

We will enter Thailand via Bukit Kayu Hitam and will exit via Sungai Golok, visiting the major towns along the routing.

Route 12 itinerary:

(18 April - 5 May 2025)

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai

Day 02: Hat Yai - Tha Sae

Day 03: Tha Sae - Kanchanaburi

Day 04: Kanchanaburi

Day 05: Kanchanaburi - Tak

Day 06: Tak - Phitsanulok

Day 07: Phitsanulok - Khon Kaen

Day 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan

Day 09: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima

Day 10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin

Day 11: Hua Hin - Chumphon

Day 12: Chumphon - Hat Yai

Day 13: Hat Yai - Narathiwat

Day 14: Narathiwat - Kota Bharu

Day 15: Kota Bharu

Day 16: Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur

Next Trip: Summer in Central America

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Epul's Wedding Reception in Kota Bharu...

"A happy man marries the girl he loves, but a happier man loves the girl he marries..." - Nigerian Proverb

(Saifullah & Rosaini)

On the way back from our Thailand Route 12 Trip, we detoured and entered Malaysia via Sungai Kolok/Rantau Panjang border crossing and stayed in Kota Bharu for two days to attend Saiful's wedding reception in Kg Padang Bongor. Saiful is YB Ubai's youngest son.

(A pit stop in Kota Bharu before we headed home)

(Big 5 minus the groom's mom)

(A small reunion of the SMKB gang)

Opah Beraya at Restoran Beedara...

“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” – Pam Brown

(Writing raya wishes on the whiteboard)

There isn't anything that can prepare you for the way your life changes when you first become a grandma.

This year's Eidil-fitri celebration, muslimah At-Taiyyibin were invited to the Hari Raya gathering held at Restoran Beedara. As the theme was 'Opah Beraya', muslimah adorned their best opah's attire. There were presents for the best dressed opahs!

Food was aplenty. Main dishes were prepared by the restaurant, the rest were potlucks from the self-proclaimed MasterChefs. All were delicious and tasty. We had so much fun watching the younger ones in their opah's dresses. It’s funny to be a grandmother before your time to be one. You start to act all eccentric and do things you never thought you’d do.

We had an enjoyable time, all fun and no stress!  

(The veterans in their 70's)

(Muslimah in their 60's)

(The ones in their 50's)

(The younger ones in their 40's and 30's)

A gathering of the veteran Veterinarians

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans..." -James Herriot

(A small gathering for the veteran Veterinarians)

Believe it or not, I was once a qualified veterinarian.

Today we attended a Hari Raya open house at Dr. Natrah's house in Shah Alam. Dr. Natrah is a Veterinary Surgeon and the founder/CEO of I-Vetworks Sdn Bhd. Her father, Dr. Abd Razak and I were classmates in ITM during our 74/78 Animal Health and Production, School of Applied Science. 

We met some old friends of DAHP, most were practicing veterinarians till they retired. Some like me, continued our studies and chose different career paths. Whatever careers or positions we had, we are still close buddies and remain connected.

La Salle Brickfields brunch @ Chef Wan's

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked...” - Bernard Meltzer

(The La Salle Brickfields guys with their spouses)

Today we had brunch at Restoran Che Wan, with hubby's La Salle Brickfields' schoolmates from the early 70's. Lately they have been meeting quite regularly to touch base.

Chef Wan's offers a diverse selections of main dishes of International and Asian influences with house-made French pastries and bakery delights. These are authentic international fare inspired by Chef Wan’s personal travels around the world. Besides, there is an array of Malaysian traditional mouth-watering desserts too.

(Restoran Che Wan at IOI City Mall Putrajaya)

(The comradeship of La Salle Brickfields old boys)

(The spouses at Chef Wan Restaurant)

Years passed us by swiftly, and we will always be friends until we’re old and senile...

Eid Mubarak...

"May this Eid bring along much joy and success. May only the best things pave our way..."

(The two of us @ Bidara House

Eid is about cherishing the precious moments spent with our loved ones. Let’s appreciate the blessings in our lives. May Allah shower his mercy and blessings on our family. Eid Mubarak...

(1st day Raya at Ros house in Klang)

(2nd day Raya at Zin house in Ulu Klang)

(All in the family)