Day Trip To Kuala Kangsar

I needed a trip and after checking the calendar, bought return train ticket to Kuala Kangsar for last Friday, 11 August 2023. I left micasa and hurriedly made my way to KL Sentral. The train departed on time and we arrived at Kuala Kangsar bang on time too.

I exited the station and headed for Jalan Tun Razak. I walked past the residence of the last Raja Bendahara until his death in 1953, a stately old mansion which still looked good and sturdy. Next was the sprawling campus of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar which was established in 1905 and sometimes referred to as the Eton of the East. Nearby is the Pavilion which dates from around 1920 and Ridzwaniah Mosque which was built in 1980 and replaced an earlier version which dated from 1915. At the end of the road at the corner with Jalan Raja Chulan is the rubber tree which is the first one planted in the country although it looked pretty young to me.

Pavilion

I turned into Jalan Raja Chulan and saw the Idris Club across the road. During the colonial times, it was the main watering hole for British administrators and planters and the hub of the town’s social life. The District and Land Office which was built in the late 19th century and contains the offices of the Deputy Public Prosecutor is opposite the Club. I walked on and turn left and walked down the hill to the Post Office. There’s a roundabout here and a clock tower with a golden dome stands on the roundabout island. From this spot, you could also see the Malaysian Airforce McDonnel Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane standing guard over the town.

District and Land Office

Old shophouses

I took Jalan Istana and walked up Jalan Bukit Kerajaan to what used to be the King’s Pavilion, a mansion acquired by the British in 1878 to become the official residency of Hugh Low, the Resident of Perak. It was used for this purpose until 1905. In 1954, it became the Government English Girls’ School and is part of the Raja Perempuan Kelsom Secondary School today.

I walked back down to Jalan Istana and on, passing Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah, a museum housed in a former royal palace built in 1903 originally known as Istana Hulu and later renamed Istana Kota. I continued on until I reached the Ubudiah Mosque which was completed in 1917. The mosque was designed by Arthur Hubback who also designed the old KL railway station and many other famous landmarks. There is a traditional wooden house near the mosque which from the sign outside appears to be called Baitul Noor. Across the road from the mosque is Madrasah Idrisiah which was built around the same time as the mosque to provide education for the poor. I walked on a bit more under the blazing merciless sun until I reached Baitul Rahmah, another fine wooden mansion which was built in 1911.

Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah

Baitul Noor

Madrasah Idrisiah

Baitul Rahmah

I turned back and walked until I reached the Recreation Park. I was looking if there were earlier trains back to KL – there were two trains leaving before mine but the only seats available were for the less abled. I was about to send a message to a mate when someone came up and asked if I could spare some change for him to buy a needle for him to administer insulin. I dug out and produced enough change for him.

My mate wanted to come down so I waited for him. While waiting, I wandered to the red phone box, the McDonnel Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane and up to the Anglican Church (consecrated in 1908) and the Clifford School across the road from the church. It is one of the oldest schools in the country and older than its near neighbour MCKK. Across Jalan Taiping from Clifford School is the town’s first hospital built in 1890.

Anglican Church

First Hospital

I met up with my mate about half an hour later and he drove me to the Laksa and Cendol Food Court. We then met up again after Friday prayers and drove to Laksa Pak Ngah. I didn’t enjoy my laksa though. After lunch, my mate stopped to buy some mangosteens for me and then at Ridzwaniah Mosque for me to perform prayers. We headed for the train station after that and I then sat to wait for the 16:13 train back to KL.

Arrived in KL and started feeling different. Had a fever and gastritis so I went to bed early that evening. Kuala Kangsar, I would love to return but you’re just too hot for me.

Memories

Here’s to the ones that we got

Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we’ve been through

Toast to the ones here today

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

There’s a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain

When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same

Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name

‘Cause I can't reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah

Everybody hurts sometimes

Everybody hurts someday, ayy-ayy

But everything gon’ be alright

Go and raise a glass and say, ayy

Here’s to the ones that we got

Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we’ve been through

Toast to the ones here today

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Memories bring back, memories bring back you

There’s a time that I remember when I never felt so lost

When I felt all of the hatred was too powerful to stop (ooh, yeah)

Now my heart feel like an ember and it's lighting up the dark

I’ll carry these torches for ya and you know I'll never drop, yeah

Everybody hurts sometimes

Everybody hurts someday, ayy-ayy

But everything gon’ be alright

Go and raise a glass and say, ayy

Here’s to the ones that we got (oh-oh)

Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we've been through (no, no)

Toast to the ones here today (ayy)

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories (ayy)

And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Memories bring back, memories bring back you

Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo (ooh, yeah)

Memories bring back, memories bring back you

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

Memories bring back, memories bring back you

Gone Too Soon

I went out briefly and was home by 13:40 on Saturday. Woke dad up for lunch and attended to him. I had a quick lunch too and performed prayers before tidying up the dining table. Only after all that was over, I checked my phone and found two missed calls. I checked my contacts but the number was not in my phone so I didn’t call back. Then I checked my WhatsApp messages and was shocked and horrified when I read that a very dear mate had just passed. ‘What! This couldn’t be true! Maybe my boss mistook the name.’ But alas, as I read further, my fears were realised. My mate had left us all. Needless to say, I was in a state of disbelief throughout that day. I slept poorly that night and was awake after 2 a.m.

His passing really hit me bad as I was close to him. Besides discussing work, we used to chat about football, tennis and Federer. I always consulted him on supplements because despite being a smoker, he ate healthily – salads, fruits - proper meals in short and hardly any junk food unlike moi - and took supplements and vitamins. I really enjoyed our chats because he was an intelligent and funny and had his own perspective and ideas. He was a sporty person, he would go to the gym to work out, he played volleyball locally and even abroad, and he would go for jogs.

He was one who kept to himself and didn’t join in gossips. He was a true gentleman, he never slammed the door and instead would ensure the door close gently behind him, he would hold the door open for everyone. He was respectful to everyone from the cleaners to the secretaries to the big bosses. His parents certainly raised him well. He was always cheerful, jovial and smiling, never a bad word against anyone. If he was ever unhappy, he hid it well. He was one of the very few who would participate actively in discussions and meetings – the others would be mute and play dumb but not he. He was a great team member. He was never shy from speaking out, from expressing his opinions, from seeking clarification. He was, in short, a very rare breed and I’m not just saying this because he has passed and I’m supposed to say only good things about those who have left us.

Oh sure, he had his shortcomings too like doing things at the last minute. But I can tell you honestly that the work he produced would always be satisfactory and I didn’t need to amend his work much. And as I told my peers, I much prefer that than working with people who submit their work quickly but the work lack quality or the content is wanting.

Alhamdulillah, my sister and brother-in-law came over on Saturday and overnighted which enabled me to go and pay my last respects to him. I met the wife and she said she was trying to call me (it only struck me much later that the missed calls were from her to inform of my mate’s passing) and she asked me to forgive arwah and deem whatever food he partook to be halal. Crying, I told her that arwah had no sins with me – it is I who had sinned against him – and he had nothing owing to me.

Oh my dear mate, how are we going to go about the rest of our working lives without you to grace us with your presence and company? He asked me at least twice when I would be retiring and indicated he wanted to retire together with me. Later, other colleagues told me he kept mentioning taking early retirement. Oh my dear mate, I went to work on Monday and cried a few times talking and thinking about you. I didn’t know it’s possible to miss a work colleague this much but he was not just another colleague, he was my mate.

Dear mate, I miss you very much. I miss your friendship, your laughter, your humour. I can only offer Al Fatihah to you now. I hope I didn’t cause you undue stress, I hope I didn’t stress you out or put you under pressure. I hope you’re peaceful there. I’m thankful that our paths crossed and I shall value and treasure our friendship and your kindness. My life is richer for having known you. You were one of a kind, a rare gem indeed. Thank you for teaching me the value of friendship, patience, and being respectful to others. I only wish I had told you all of this before. May Allah reward and grant you Jannatul Firdaus.

Like they say: the good die young.

Compleanno 2023: Short Trip To Jesselton

 I had bought ticket to KK as early as six months before my birthday. It was to be a short trip and I decided to book to stay at different hotels for each night. Rooms were secured in May and it was just a matter of counting the days and praying that dad would not require medical attention (he was warded for five nights in June and was discharged on the Day of Arafah).

I flew out on my birthday on the mid-morning flight. There were a lot of clouds as we neared Borneo that there was one or two turbulence. I saw rain drops outside my window as we descended into KK. The city was under a dark layer of angry black menacing clouds. I attended to my emails before ordering a Maxim car. My last trip to KK was back in November 2019 (just months before the pandemic) and even though it was dark and grey and raining heavily outside, I could see many new buildings in the city on the way to Hyatt Regency.

We arrived at Hyatt Regency and was making my way to my room at 11th floor within minutes. The hotel gave me a choice of hot beverage or gelato at Mosaic Café and another choice (which was alcoholic) so after depositing my bags in the room, I went down and had strawberry gelato. Yes, on a rainy day, but I figured I could always make my own cuppa in my room anyway. After that, I returned to my room to perform prayers and rest. Oh and my room! It was superb! My friend upgraded me to a Seaview room – bless her heart! – so I enjoyed a rain streaked view of the waterfront. The day cleared finally and I enjoyed a beautiful evening view. Alhamdulillah.

My mates arrived at 8 for dinner and we had dinner at Tanjung Ria Kitchen. We probably should’ve just ordered ala carte because there was no way we could’ve sampled everything on the buffet menu and the buffet was generous, unlike in KL where some hotels have cut down on the menu.

After chitchatting and dinner, suddenly two staff came out with a mango cake to my great surprise and they even sang me Happy Birthday. Oh my! Bless my two mates for making my birthday so special and memorable ;’)

We then went for a short night drive before returning to the hotel to take photos. I was concerned because they had to work the following day.

On Friday, I woke up early to shower, perform prayers and finish packing. I went down at 06:20 to check out then head for Tanjung Ria Kitchen for breakfast. I had another tummy upset though and had to use the facilities which made me run slightly late. It slipped my mind to pre-arrange a Maxim car and the car I ordered would take ten minutes to reach the hotel. I had planned to catch the 07:45 train to Beaufort from Tanjung Aru station...

Well, we made it somehow despite the traffic lights determinedly turning red for us. We arrived at the station at 07:43 (I was too afraid to check my watch at this point) and I practically leaped out of the car, ran to the ticket counter, paid for the ticket and grabbed the change and ticket and made my way around the rain puddles into the train. The doors closed seconds later. I huffed and puffed as I sat down.

We arrived at Beaufort after 10:00 (ETA was 09:45) and I hopped out, bladder bursting. I had sighted two petrol stations near the train station and swiftly made my way over. I then returned to the station to buy the ticket for the return trip at 11:01 – had to wait at least ten minutes before the counter opened – before I walked out again to explore the town. I visited the Starcevich Memorial Monument and then walked to the Tamu for a quick browse, the District Mosque before making my way back to the station.

The train left on time but stopped less than five minutes into the journey for at least 15 minutes. I’m not sure what was wrong and I didn’t feel like asking so I just continued reading my thick book. It stopped at many stations and more and more people got on. Well, there are only two services in a day and if you miss the train, you’d have to take the bus or something to KK.

We finally reached Sembulan, the terminus station (strange why the train didn’t depart from Sembulan but terminated there) and walked to Sabah State Museum. it had started raining then. I spotted a bridge and a gate opened partly and decided to cross the bridge and walk through the gate and yes, it did lead me up the stairs to the museum. My mate had brought me to the museum the evening before and I knew it was atop a hill. I paid RM2 for the ticket and went in. It showcased the history of the state and when it joined Malaysia, the local culture, the native animals, the items recovered from shipwrecks and the most impressive of all, the largest Bryde’s whale skeleton. I spent an hour there. Really, rainy days are especially perfect for spending time in a museum. After that, I walked to the nearby Islamic Civilisation Museum. You can use the same ticket to enter this museum. RM2 for two museums! What a bargain! All those trips to KK before and this was my first time of trying out the train and visiting the museums! Well, better late than never, eh.

I tried ordering Maxim car and after a while, I decided to perform prayers first. I tried ordering Maxim car again after prayers but after some time, decided to walk down to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, figuring I stood a better chance of getting an e-hailing vehicle there. Well, I forgot it was a working day and a Friday too. The traffic had built up and it’d take too long to wait for a car and then endure the traffic. I checked Google Maps again and saw it’d take 31 minutes to walk to Hyatt so I decided, ‘Let’s Do Dis!’ and set off.

It started raining again as I was nearing my hotel and to avoid getting too wet, I took Jalan Sugut and walked along the shops. Suddenly, a big rodent appeared and I shrieked out. I don’t know who was more surprised, me or the rodent. I reached the hotel a bit wet and retrieved my bag and set off for Le Meridien. Well, what do you know, I came across another big fat rodent – probably the same one as I saw earlier but I didn’t stop to make acquaintance as I was too shaken up by the sight. I reached Le Meridien within ten minutes and checked in.

After depositing my bags – just like at Hyatt Regency, I was allocated a room at the 11th floor and the room was so huge it could comfortably fit a family of four – I went out to get dinner. There was a night market across from the hotel which I was told operated every evening. I had some soto and bought fried rice and fish sausages to go. I returned to my room smelling of smoke and grill – ugh! Good thing I decided to shower only after getting dinner. I stayed in for the rest of the evening.

On Saturday, I woke up early. After showering and performing prayers, I packed before making my way down. After breakfast, I walked to the dried seafood market and bought anchovies, shrimps and some local food before returning to the hotel. I checked out soon after and waited for Maxim car to the airport.

The flight took off on time and we landed at KLIA Terminal 1 at 14:10. I was the first one out of the plane and hurried as fast as my legs could take me and made my way to KLIA Transit station where I boarded the train with less than five seconds to spare. Alhamdulillah! I would have hated missing it and having to wait another 30 minutes for the next train. And thank God, I remembered to buy a return ticket on Friday. I got down at Putrajaya and performed prayers before taking the MRT to Ampang Park.

And just like that, my long-awaited trip was over... and it was back to real life.