I'm back in JB again!!!

Early in the Friday morning, I was woken up by my mom. My cousin was supposed to be fetching me from my home at around 9++ AM. We're together going to Tanjung Pinang again!

We parked at the DutyFree Zone building and walked into the immigration counter at the Stulang Laut Ferry Jetty. I bought myself a return ticket at RM130.00 to the Tanjung Pinang. Cleared with the immigration, I walked further to the ferry and ride on! It was the 11.00 AM departure.

It took longer this time as the new regulation to prohibit any boat cruising fast within the Pasir Gudang and Singapore area. Once it passed those areas, the boat started to speed up and we reach there at around 12.30 PM which around 1.30PM Malaysian time. Even though Tg. Pinang and Malaysia are both in the same World Time line, Malaysian are actually an hour faster than them.

Once we reach there, my cousin who actually knows a lot of people there managed to get a free taxi ride. U know what, he didn't even pay for the ferry fee. I went there for a reason, one of the relative's daughter in Tg. Pinang is getting married. We were taken to the first house where we were served with Bakso Becer, which the main ingredient of the soup is the chicken feet. That was my first time but it was so delicious! I was full when we were taken to the next house, when the actual lunch was served!

Then we went to Tg. Unggat, where the marriage is going to be held. I was surprised as the house became so coulourful, just like the chinese festive in Malaysia. It was so hot, and was tired, I asked them to send me to a hotel so that I can check in and relax. I first went to a money changer, who offered me RM100.00 <-> Rp2,609,000. Then I checked in to the Melia Hotel, with the charge of around Rp.300,000 and went to buy Kerepek my Father had asked me before. Then get back to the Hotel, I contacted my worker in Malaysia, who is an immigrant from Indonesia, Suroto.

As I reached the Hotel, we took rest while waiting for Suroto to come. He came with his friend Firman. It was a stressful moment for me to hear that he just ate rice + salt and sometimes, if he lucky to get fried fish, then he gets fish. I was so sad to hear all that so I offered them to have dinner outside.

We went to a Nasi Padang restaurant and enjoyed our dinner. In the morning, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the wedding place after the breakfast. So, here are some of the moments i've put into digitized moments!

All the important people gathered outside and chit-chating

Can u check the seating arrangement? In Malaysia, people are not invited during nikah, and the guests are seated by the tables. I'm telling you, the wedding are wonderful. They started with Pantun, and these people are just like rappers, every single end of the sentences are rhymed. If i'm gonna another chance to attend wedding in Tg. Pinang again, I'm not gonna miss it. It's really a must!

The family of the bride, front row: Nani, Nina, and Rani.

Second row: The mother, the groom, the bride, and the father - Pak Kasim


Then we headed back to the jetty and took a ferry back to Stulang Laut, JB. Then headed to Pontian, took my cousin's wife and kids and drove all the way from Pontian to Seremban. Reached Seremban, took my car and drive back to my Kampung in Melaka.


My sister's engagement

It was really tiring. From KL->JB, then JB->Tg.Pinang, then Tg.Pinang->Seremban, then Seremban->Melaka. In just 3 days!

But i really have to. I've promised people in Tg.Pinang to attend the wedding in 24th of September but for some reason, they decided to make it a lil bit earlier and clashed with my sister's engagement. Lucky it's just an engagement, so I can go there and not only attending it for myself but as to represent my family as well.

So, I slept in the new chalet that was just completed for the first time. The dream chalet of my father. The coldness was like a sleeping pill! It's really like staying in the kampung house just like those days.

As usual, the problem with having feast at the kampung was the flies. So our first priority is to fight the flies. My father went out and bought the Dettol and the insecticides. Then we get everything prepared.

My granma was a lil bit worried if the kampung people cannot make it as there's also a funeral at the same day. But we're really surprised by the number of the visiting guest brought by my sister's boyfriend.

There were more than 30 cars coming! If per car is 4 person, then it's already 120 people coming. But I checked out there are about 7-8 Naza Ria which can take basically 8-10 person so the number must be more than that. To be frank, I'm so worried if we cannot cater such a number!

I was in charge in everything. From fighting the flies, preparing things to be cooked, preparing the tables, preparing the food, then when the guests arrived, I took bath and got to sit inside, together with the negotiator to discuss about the engagement. Luckily there's no such thing as 'Berpantun' so the negotiating is no more than just a set of pre-discussed mutual matters agreement.

Then i took pictures, and help preparing the food for the buffet outside and served food in the inside. I was just smiling when I heard my name being called from every single corner of the house. People even asked me where to get the toothpaste, when I was busy doing this and that.

I don't know, I just cannot sit there and relax, like some other people, because I know if I don't do things, the whole thing will spoilt. Thanx to my fellow brother Izzat, and cousins, Hafiz, Hafiq and especially Aliazak who came together with his fiance to help. I really appreciate those help. And I also did this for the love of my sister and my family.

So here are the moments! Digitized!

My sister with the Hantaran(the gift that is to be exchanged with the groom side)

From left: The father of the groom, uncle of the groom, another uncle of the groom as the negotiator, and my uncle who is the negotiator of my side. Together with their Hantaran.

The mother of the groom put the ring into my sister's finger.

Picture of the kenduri (feast). All the tables are full!

Another picture of the kenduri. The whole 3 rows are full. Look just like a wedding feast already! Imagine 30 cars coming. Luckily there was a funeral so less people from kampung coming so we can cater the guests first!

The end of the ceremony. The groom side are about to make their move back to KL. They told us that they are actually rushing to watch Nona as one of their family's wedding which happened a few weeks back is to be highlighted in that program.

I've got so many things to tell but i'm just so tired. Now I'm back in JB! I don't miss JB. I miss KL, or maybe Tg. Pinang. Or maybe my next destination is Bandung :p

Back in JB

It's really good to be back in JB today, after a rushback from Klang, through Subang, NPE, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Sungai Besi till Senawang.

I'm just coming back from KL, attending a 3-day-course in SS14 PJ. It was all about will-writing (something that i might consider as a profession as it is really interesting), to know everything about the will writing, especially the preparations and distribution of the wealth and properties on the way to the afterlife.

My car is a little bit monstrous then, I don't know, it has to be driven really fast to economize on the petrol then. Sounds terribly weird but that's what happening. The petrol gauge was not even moving a lil inch when i was driving 180 al the way from Sungai Besi to Senawang.

So i reached KL on the Monday morning, reaching SS14 and being surprised as I've to be paying more than RM700, not as initially known as RM500 only, but then they've agreed to be paid partially. Then, it really up to my surprise when I was informed that an exam will be conducted at the end of the course.

It was an interesting course. For the first time of my life I've heard about Hibah and Living Trust. I guest, most of us know about the Wasiat (the will) and Wakaf (a gift for the name of Allah), but at this course, I was get to know about the Harta Sepencarian (shared income of husband & wife declaration).

The second day went as usual, except that I woke up a lil bit late, plus there were no parking bay available anywhere in that place so I parked my car in a Park, where a lot of other cars were also parking their cars there. Next to may car was the local council's lorry so I assume there's nothing wrong with parking my car there.

In the afternoon, I realized that I left my vitamins at home so I decided to get home and get the vitamin. When I was walking to my car, my car was already being clamped by the council. I was a lil bit mad. They are around. They scolded me for parking my car there by showing the sign written "CLAMPING ZONE".

Oh shit. I didn't see the sign as it was actually being blocked by the local council's lorry I saw in the morning. I paid the RM50 to unclamp and drove away. Later at night, I followed my friends to their futsal game while studying at the resting area provided. The exam is just the next day.

So, the big day, the exam day was on Wednesday. I slept late at 3 and woke up again at 5.30 to comtinue studying. Come on, i've been paying a lot for this thing and I should do my best. There were two papers, Questions on the first paper, and they give a situation, and fill in he form as the second paper.

After the exam, I went out with Romdzi and talked about a lotsa things! Miss him so much.

At the end of the day, i've got 96% for both papers. AMAZING! After schooling, I've got a 100% just once and my scores were never more than 90% after that.

Happily, I went to Klang and met Nana. We've spent about an hour talking and chatting about what we're gonna be doing for the next 5 years.

Drove to Seremban, took a cab to the bus station and get on the bus at 8PM. I get myself a lil sleep, till in the middle of the hourney I woke up and saw a girl sitting next to me was like uncomfortable.

From there, I offered her to sit by the window and start chatting, She's a siamese and her name is NID. She's pretty, married with a son but left by her husband when her pregnancy was just 4 months old. She was on a t-shirt printing and curtain sewing business, and her business is from Bangkok down to singapore. That's AMAZING! Got her number and I got off the bus when I reached UDA.

On thursday morning, I went out with the hope to be getting my check but eventually it was not being signed yet. Shit. I have only RM900 in the bank and how am I suppose to be surviving for the next few days? I'll be going to Indonesia tomorrow, and back to Seremban/Melaka on saturday and might be going to Perak on Monday. Oh I'm getting busier. Tiring -sigh-

At night, I went out to Pelangi and shopped at the Cold Storage. Wow! What I would say is it's the heaven of food! I've shopped there but I never noticed the varietes of food that I would never found in other places like giant, tesco, carrefour, or any other supermarkets except for Jaya Jusco.

They even sell Baskin Robbins & Haagen Dasz. Got the white onion, purple onion.. I might sound so kampung but really I haven't ever see such things before. You know what, two of the purple onion already cost me RM8++. 2 of the white onion cost me RM5++. Expensive!!!

Malu bertanya sesat jalan...

Last nite? I was finding my way to Pasir Gudang Race Circuit for the first time. All those mechanics asked me to go there by myself, and yes, I lost my way but, as a Malay Proverb said,

"Malu Bertanya Sesat Jalan"

which means, if u're shy to ask people, then u'll lost your way. I asked a pump attendant at the Projet Petrol Station and actually I lost again by I found the place by accident. Good then.

And the team that I went together with won the 2nd place in their category. Congratulations, as they won just RM300. The car was too powerful till the car won't get moving even with the 2nd gear. And they lost in the final as the result of the car was not moving even an inch for the first 1.7 seconds when they were launched!

Interesting! I don't know but I really feel like I want to take over and do the car launching myself. I know i can do it.. yeah, based on my past experiences in Batu 3 circuit.

Well, it's just history now.

Last thursday, i went up to KL for some urgent matters. My father was having a discussion with someone from Kelantan at Cititel hotel, and I volunteerily offered myself to become his driver. Actually he wanted to drive my car but I don't think it would be a great idea for him to drive my car all by himself because if my car gor problems, I'm the one who knows how to fix it, not him.

In the morning, I woke up and sent my car for servicing the engine lubricants and check for anything that might have gone wrong. I even fix the dropping bumper by myself. Then there we goes to KL. There were me, my father and my sister. We dropped by senawang to drop my sister and to fix anything that might have gone wrong in the house.

Then we proceed with our journey to KL and we reached Mid Valley at around 5 something, went straight the hotel room of my father's friend, went out to Shah Alam and see the friend's daughter, and to take her out together with us.

Yeah I do remember her name, Anis, but I don't remember how does she look. So we went to Alam Sentral and PKNS. The father's friend was fasting, and he was like longing for Curry Dishes, so I remembered the Syed Bistro in Alam Sentral. We were quite in a rush then as it was already 6++ o'clock.

Well then, after sending 'em back to the hotel, I went back and had a nice sleep.

On the Friday Morning, I went off to Klang and met someone there. Then get another person to join Network 21 again. Then my father asked me to come to SS14, then SS2 then sent the father's friend to KLSentral. Then we went straight back to JB as to try to reach in time before the Network 21's business preview that will be starting at 8PM.

That night, after the preview, we went for a drink meeting till late night. My father was mad.

On the saturday morning, I went out to sent my invoice to the sawmills, and then so housechores, sent my to the workshop to change the absorbers. It's the adjustable and now I can drive my car without worries. But it took so long till i only can get back home at 8PM. Then I went to ART Racing workshop and see them preparing the car for the Drag Race.

Then to the drag race. Here's the engine setup, which I believe is a lil bit awkward but it's powerful bro!!

Look at the picture. It has 2 turbines, the HKS radiator CAP with 1.3 psi pressure, err.. and that's all i notice. There's a lot more. It's actually a 2.2 litre engine of a pajero. It was running on a 1.6 BAR boost. No wonder even on the 2nd gear, the wheels were still spinning like mad!

And today, I've actually managed to help my brother Izzat to publish his own blog entitle, THINK ON YOUR OWN . Take a look and help him with his English!