Ida is back

Ida is back home. She came back to attend a conference actually. It's her RCOG Annual International Scientific Conference 2012 held in Kuching from 4-9 Jun. She came home on 2 Jun and will leave for London on 13 Jun.

Last night Sunday 10 Jun, we had Japanese dinner as a family at The Shang. But two of her siblings were not there -- Nani is in Dubai and Fahd in Wanganui New Zealand. A family friend, Edward Kadar Shah and his girlfriend, also came.

Skyping with Fahd

	We did some skyping with Fahd in New Zealand to day.  He was sick a few days ago with cold and had been missing class.  New Zealand is having winter now, the temerature being around 9-10 deg C.
Anyway we are pleased to see him looking better and being quite chatty as well.  He also asked about Faritz winning a bicycle race and an iPad 2 as the first prize.  During his last semester break, Fahd went to South Island for a holiday and he promised to email some photos to us.  So Fahd, please concentrate on your assignments now and come home later this month with a good report.

AN ITALIAN HOLIDAY

I've just returned from Italy. My wife Raja Azma, her sister Raja Zabedah and husband (Raja Aziz) and I went on a trip to Positano (near Naples), Florence and Rome for two weeks from 14 Apr 2012. While at Positano, we were able to visit Amalfi, Ravello, Isle of Capri and Pompeii.

At Florence, Raja Azma had a wonderful time dragging me along to the Academia and Uffizi to see the works of Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and others. I wasn't too keen on the sculptures; you see one you see them all. So I reached my "boredom level" pretty fast and opted to sit it out while she wandered to all the showrooms. We also visited Tuscany where I did some shopping; and had a look at a factory making terracota statues and gate/garden adornments. Shopping at Florence wasn't that interesting but eating was, especially around the tourist area of the Doumo.

At Pompeii we went to the ruins of the old Pompeii that was overun by laha when Mt Vesuvius erupted almost 2,000 years ago. It was tiring walking on the cobble streets, but it did make me feel the sense of history.

We had three nights at Rome, one on the way up north to Florence and two on the way back from Florence. The hotel where we stayed at was at the best location near the Spanish steps. The branded shops were just below the steps and further on there were the various buildings and monuments of interest.  Here again Raja Azma dragged me to the Vatican Museum to see Michaelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.  Fortunately, I didn't reach my boredom level here and toured the place with some enthusiasm, taking many photos with my new Olympus Pen PM1 despite the "No Photography" warnings (their law enforcement was rather poor).  Our Italian friends, Gianni and his wife Sandra also took us for a walking tour of the city before dinner and ice cream on the night we arrived at Rome.

All in all, it was an interesting and memorable holiday. A valuable lesson learnt is not to self-drive. One can always hire a car-and-driver to anywhere, or use public transport.  Both Florence and Rome being old cities, have very narrow roads, a legacy of the horse carriage.  Likewise roads to Positano and the Amalfi coast are cut on the side of mountains; hence very narrow and winding all the way.  Thus the Hertz Mercedes that we hired, had quite a few bumps and scratches and spent most of the time being parked in a garage at Positano and Florence. Secondly, do travel light.

Fahd going to NZ

My no. 3 son, Fahd will be going to Wanganui, New Zealand, to take up a degree course in Animation. He was allowed a 2-year stint on account of him already having a Diploma in Animation. He will leave for Wanganui on 4 Feb 2012. Afternote: 15:00 hrs Sun 5 Feb. Fahd called to say he has arrived safely in Wanganui.

Mat Jemi had an accident

	Ham's nephew, Mustapha bin Omar aka Mat Jemi passed away at Ipoh hospital on Monday 19 Dec 2011.  He had a motorcycle accident around 7:00 am on his way back to his house from the mosque, when another motorcyclist hit him from the back.
Apparently the motorcyclist that hit him is in a bad condition also.  Mat Jemi, however, succumb to his head injuries and died at 12:15 pm at the hospital. He was buried at the Tambun cemetery after Asar prayers, same day.

Odah bertunang

My grand-niece Siti Saudah or Odah as she is popularly known, had her bertunang or engagement ceremony at her parent's home in Mersing, Johor on Sunday 18 Dec 2011. Regrettably, I was not able to attend; but for sure will try to make it when the wedding ceremony comes around. InsyaAllah.

Afternote
Just got Odah's invitation card yesterday, Monday 21 May 2012. The wedding will be on Saturday 16 Jun 2012 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at her parent's house in Mersing.


The Wedding
Ham, Zaki and I went to Mersing on Friday 15 Jun 2012 for Odah's Akad Nikah and Wedding. It was quite a big do at Tache's house starting with the Khatam Quran and Berzanji in the morning and the Akad Nikah at 3:00 pm on the 15th, followed by Merenjis in the evening after a Sate and Soto dinner. The next day, Saturday 16 Jun, the guests - family and friends from far and near - came as from 11:00 am. We were there at 11 and stayed until 1:00 pm when we had to make our way back to KL. We missed the bride and groom who came with their entourage at 2:30 pm.  I like such family occasions because of the opportunity for me to meet long lost friends and relatives, grand nephews and grand nieces most of whom I scarcely know by name.

Nani just got married

Nani got married three days ago to Scott David Shuey @ Kareem Abdul Jabbar (his Muslim name) on Friday 23 Sep 2011 with the Akad Nikah solemnized by her dad (namely me) at the Masjid Saidina Umar al Khatab in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.  It was attended by some 60 family members and friends. Zaki captured the unique event on video to be shown at the Wedding Reception on the 24 Sep evening. Why unique? Because it was all done in English, on stage and sitting down on comfortable lounge chairs.
The next evening we had a Wedding Reception at the Grand Ballroom Flamingo Hotel Ampang. Some 430 family members from far and near, friends and colleagues attended the function which started at 8:30 pm and ended around 11:00 pm.  It was a simple ceremony without the traditional Malay kompang, bersanding or merenjis.  No live band either; just soft piped music to enable the guests to converse easily without having to raise their voices. 
It was a good evening without any rain but quite a few traffic jams due to several Hari Raya "open houses" around the city.  Nevertheless, the guests made it on time for the function to commence at 8:30 pm as planned.  And almost everybody sat at their designated seats with relatives or friends.  Feedbacks from many guests were that the food was excellent, the telor pindang delicious, and the Nikah video was something memorable as the ceremony was conducted in English. Most of the guests had never experienced such thing, because Malay weddings would normally be in the Malay language and people sitting cross-legged on the floor.  All in all it was a great occasion for all.

To all the guests we thank you for your kind attendance and generosity with gifts in cash and kind. We are most grateful to God that everything went well and everyone had a good time.