Grandmas & Grandpas Reunion @ The Summit

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late…” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

It all started in April 2009 when I received a comment in my blog from a long lost friend who has created a link and triggered the chain of events. A classmate I have not heard of or met after I left form 5 and KB for good! After a few calls and emails we decided to get connected through the facebook and planned for a re-union. And on the planned date, we met our long lost friends, some we have not met for almost 40 years. 20 of us met at the Summit Hotel and the presence of YB Ubai from KB, Wan Nor from Penang and our musicians Lokman@Lord and Ishak Haji Muda were bonus surprises!
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We have become grandmamas and grandpapas. Externally, we have changed a lot. Internally we are still our old selves…
'

Standing from left: Dr. Wan Yunus, Adilah Hassan, Hasni Hassan, Noriah Abdullah, Dr. Mohd Helmi, Capt. Wan Aziz, Harun Muhamed, Lokman@Lord

Sitting from left: Nasidah Ahmad, Nik Aminah Abdullah, YB Wan Ubaidah, Rohani Yusoff, Habsah Hassan, Nong
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Thank You Allah

'

thank you Allah

for creating this path in cyber

thank you Allah

for showing the route

'

ending my decades of searches

to a heart i wish to mend

the heart that i cracked

amidst mine that was shattering

'

thank you Allah

for taking away my bed of thorns

'

~TokNgah~

April 15, 2009

SMKB Girls Re-union @ Secret Recipe

"Maybe some secret should just stay secret..."

The SMKB girls re-union was also graced by Col. Abdul Waley the thorn among the roses and he brought his 2 daughters and youngest son as bodyguards. We were all excited and when we met everyone was so engrossed trying to tell their stories and so much to off load in so little time. Anyhow, we managed to snap some pictures to capture the precious moments.
'
Meeting old schoolmates after 37 years separation: " macam jejak kasih je!!!.." said the Colonel. And there will be another gathering with the rest of the guys on 25 July 2009...

The Crossroads

(by Tara Simms)

There were promises made in childhood,

In the days of our innocence

We laughed, we played, we cried.

Throughout high school dramas,

Broken hearts and adolescence,

But our special friendship thrived...

Rejuvenate body and soul...

"The heaviest baggage for a traveler is an empty purse..." - German proverb

(Reflecting on life adventure)

After 2 days of struggling to clear the in-trays, reply to e-mails and return some calls, only this morning I disabled the ‘out-of-office’ message and had time to sit back to reflect on my journey.

Friends started calling and e-mails filled up my in-box again. Friends questioned on how I managed to drop everything and go off for a long holiday without having guilt feelings to leave work and family. I had fun listening and reading their comments and I responded – what work? What family?

I told them, so very often when we are engrossed in work and daily matters, we forget how important relaxation is. It’s true. Ever since I first stepped in this organization, I have been a workaholic. I never went home before the day was dark and be in office before the sky was bright. Since the children were small, I seldom take leave, even when they were down with fever. I leave it to the nursery to take care of them. I only see them when they were already in bed and many times I missed kissing them good nights. The same thing goes to my hubby, full time job and no-slow-down.

Too often we are so busy building our wealth that we neglect our health. But now we are making an effort to have a work-life balance. While hubby had slowed down significantly when he left his corporate job, I am still high in adrenaline into my work for I just do not know how to sit still, yet.

My advice to friends… Don’t wait till you retire. Take that vacations and rejuvenate!

Your body will thank you a lot.

Home sweet home...

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things...” - Henry Miller'

Baloney Again

We don't eat in no white restaurant
We're eatin' in the car

We don't sleep in no white hotel bed
We're sleepin' in the car
'Baloney again…

You don't strut around in these country towns
You best stay in the car

Look on ahead don't stare around
You best stay where you are

You're a long way from home
Don't push your luck too far

Baloney again…

Down a long dirt road
We're a long way from home

Go under the willow
Park her up beside the stream

Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream
'Baloney again…

(Mark Knopfler)

Travel Australia...

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life...” – Jack Kerouac

This 2-week journey is full of captivating experiences that take us to the most spectacular scenery starting from Brisbane to Port Campbell and back again to Brisbane through different routes...

13 June 2009 - Brisbane, Beginning of the journey
14 June 2009 - Moonee Beach, The ocean tide
15 June 2009 - Coffs Harbour, The Big Banana
16 June 2009 - Forster, The Great Lake lonely pelican
17 June 2009 - Benalla, Passing through the outback
18 June 2009 - Port Campbell, The Twelve Apostles
19 June 2009 - Traralgon, A glimpse of Melbourne
20 June 2009 - Batemans Bay, Lakes, valleys and parks
21 June 2009 - Sydney Hills, The Grand Pacific Drive
22 June 2009 - Port Stephens, Hop-on Hop-off Sydney sightseeing
23 June 2009 - Mermaid Beach, No vacancy at all caravan parks
24 June 2009 - Gold Coast, Surfer's Paradise whale watching
25 June 2009 - Sunshine Coast, Home of the crocodile hunter
26 June 2009 - Green Mountain, The tin man of Mt. Tamborine
27 June 2009 - Brisbane, Attractions and Botanical Parks

Our journey is coming to an end. It was a good exciting holiday and we plan to come back soon to venture further in the land down under.

G’day Mate…

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Next Trip: China 2009: Beijing - The Forbidden City...