Finally! We are all one family again!

After waiting for 4 years plus / 2 years of marriage / 3 months of single mother's life, Ummi finally got her transfer to KL! Alhamdulillah!

So, Ayah went to Labuan to help Ummi and Adi packing up stuff. And Ayah wasn't going alone, he was with Mok & Tok Ayah. Mok had long expressed her interest to go to Brunei, and Tok Ayah said, why not go there while Ummi and Adi was still in Labuan?

Friday 26th, Ayah, Mok & Tok Ayah, arrived in Labuan, to be greeted by Ummi and Adi at the airport. We drove down to the rented chalet in front of the beaches at Panchur Hitam. Mok & Tok Ayah couldn't help comparing Labuan to Bachok, a beach side town back home in Kelantan, mostly because the long beaches and serene and calm surroundings. Ayah & Tok Ayah went to the nearest masjid for Friday prayers, and all of us take a rest before heading to town after Asar.

After Asar is pretty much spent in the town. A simple drive-around the town and trips to shoplots to buy some souvenirs, like the pearls and clothing shop. Most of the stuff has to be bought today, since tomorrow, we'll be in Brunei for the whole day. We stopped at Pohon Batu, to treat Mok & Tok Ayah some chicken wings (what Labuan is well known of), and headed back to the chalet after Maghrib.

Night time, the place that is a must for anybody's coming to Labuan - Anjung Ketam. It so happened that Anjung Ketam is full of diners, first time this full, Ummi said. Anyhow, we still managed to get some seats. After waiting for quite a while, we started cracking open the crabs, and Adi is so kind to fell asleep the whole night and let Ayah and Ummi enjoy the whole dinner. Thanks a lot Adi!

Saturday 27th, our ferry to Brunei is 9 am. The plan is to have breakfast at "The Choice", the air-conditioned mamak joint in Labuan. But the place wasn't open till 8.30, so we have to settle down for another mamak joint across the street. Nevertheless, that shop also serves "Teh Tarik Madras", which Ayah and Ummi intends to order for Mok & Tok Ayah.

After breakfast, we all made our way to the ferry terminal. Ayah had to run quickly to the nearest money changer, as the money changer at the terminal wasn't open yet. Luckily, there's a close one nearby, for Ayah to get some Brunei dollars.

The ferry is kinda packed. And most of the passengers, looking at the separate queues at the immigrations, are foreigners from Indonesia and Filipina. The trip is kinda hectic at start, for Ayah had to fill up all the papers for declaration, H1N1, etcetc for the whole families. But, its all well after Ayah finished filling them and still have some time to enjoy the scenery outside.

When we arrived at Brunei, our first and foremost to-do-list is to purchase the 4.40 pm ticket to go back to Labuan a.s.a.p (the tickets are not sold in Labuan). To our amazement, the counter that sells those Brunei - Labuan ticket is only opened at 3 pm above. Thank God, there's a counter lady nearby that arranges with us for a tour van to drive us to the travel agent in the town to buy the tickets, and take us around the town for a fee.

Noted that, this is the first time for all of us, except Ummi, to be in Brunei. It's also the first time Adi to be outside of Malaysia. Consider it as a gift for your 7-month birthday, haha!

Our destinations including:
- Masjid Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, famous for its golden domes and minarets, being a landmark of Bandar Seri Begawan. Photography is only allowed outside of the prayer halls.

- Royal Regalia Museum, the museum where the theme is about the royal coronation of the current Sultan. It also displays wide ranges of gifts to Sultan, received from dignitaries and civilians around the world. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed here as well.

- Masjid Jame' Asri Hassanal Bolkiah, a masjid with golden domes and minarets that resembles the former mosque. We stopped for our Zuhur prayer here.

- Istana Nurul Iman, the residential palace, touted to have 3000 rooms! Of course, the palace is off visits, so we just snap some pictures outside the gate compound.
- Kampung Air, from far, as we decided the time is not enough to board those water taxis. Ayah made it up for Mok & Tok Ayah, by bringing them along the walkaway around Kampung Air in Labuan instead, the next day before the flight.
- The Mall, near the Rizqun Hotel, to buy some souvenirs

Other than that, it just a drive-around, looking for significant buildings and amused at the billboards around the city. Mind you, the ferry terminal is quite a distance from Bandar Seri Begawan, so, we are lucky to have the tour guide to drive us around. He's also kind enough to bring us to a restaurant, where the food and the pleasant atmosphere come at such a bargain price. We headed back to Labuan with our 4.40 pm ferry.

That night, Tok Ayah treated us for the dinner. We dined at the Island Tomyam, near the airport. Not like the night at the Anjung Ketam, Adi is quite active that night. Ummi and Ayah had to do our regular routine, taking turns to eat while taking care of Adi. We made our way and Adi & Ummi said goodbye to the waiters there.

We decided to stop at Nenek Sakinah's house that night at Durian Tunjung, since Ayah promised her to bring his folks around when they come for Labuan. We have a nice chat and some coffee before heading back to chalet.

Sunday 28th, is the day where Tok Ayah & Mok will go back to KB. We took some pictures at the beaches in front of our chalets, and to surprise Tok Ayah & Mok, we stopped by at Kg. Air to show them around. There's a plenty time for the flight, we even stop for breakfast at McDonald's airport while Tok Ayah & Mok are checking their luggages in.

The next 2 days are just days where Ummi packed everything up at her office, arranged for packers to pack the stuff at home, sent the car to cargo, and take a drive around Labuan for the last time, taking pictures with Adi at places like the Chimney and the Teleport. 4 years will most probably leave such a deep memory to us all, especially Ummi.

So long, Labuan. It's been a nice time knowing you!

6 months old Adi

27 Feb 2010. Sehari sebelum tamatnya bulan Februari. Sehari selepas Maulidur Rasul. Sehari sebelum Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan datang ke Labuan. Ayah went to Labuan. Adi is 6 months old!

Adi dah pandai bergambar. Bila hala kamera, kadang- kadang confuse, tapi lepas tu akan senyum. Gambar pasport pun OK.

Senyuman Adi memang priceless, terutamanya untuk orang- orang yang berjauhan.

Lepas tu, selalu sibuk nak berdiri. Merangkak pun belum boleh lagi.

Dr. Ho dah cadang boleh bagi Adi belajar- belajar makan bubur ke, buah- buah lecek ke. Untuk membiasakan diri, sebab selalunya bayi- bayi akan luahkan balik. Tapi, tidak untuk Adi. Bubur yang disuap selalu perfect score. Takde satu pun luah balik. Tapi, baru bubur je la, kepak ayam Labuan tak boleh. Tu untuk perut Ayah.

Badan Adi pulak panas- panas. Sapa- sapa yang pegang, mesti terasa. Tapi Adi nampak happy je, kita pulak yang risau takut- takut demam. Bila check termometer, 36++, tak pernah lebih 37. Nak sejukkan sikit, tampal la Kool Fever tu.

Mac ni, insya Allah Adi nak pergi tengok - tengok Brunei, dengan Mok dan Tok Ayah sekali. Tu yang kena buat pasport tu. Ayah dengan Ummi, penat cari jadual feri Labuan ni, tak pernah- pernah jumpa yang latest dalam Internet. Yang ada, website yang entah zaman bila 'updated' entah. Ni Ayah upload kat sini, jadual latest. Ferry schedules from Brunei to Labuan. Ferry schedules from Labuan to Brunei. Ferry schedules from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, Limbang, dan Lawas. Ambik ko Google, biar senang sikit web-crawler Google jumpa jadual ni.

Hopefully, the next 10 days will pass quickly. Look forward for Adi and Ummi.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

*** Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ***

Being a proponent of wipe-then-wash, Ayah uses quite a sum of tissue in daily life. One at the toilet, one at the car, one at the cube, one in the luggage, etc. And being a frugal shopper, Ayah would try to find the cheapest ever tissues on the aisle - it's going to "that" place anyway, doesn't matter whether T*sco Value tissues or IK*A colourful napkins.

But, not anymore. Ayah now digs a certain brand of tissue box.

It's compact, travel- packed, nice to see, small for your car. But, that's not the only reasons. Thanks to Ummi who pointed it out, when Ayah done with the tissues, the box's images can be cut into flash cards for Adi. So it goes, that the first series are fruits and flowers. Now, the second series are Looney Tunes.

Saves money (on flash cards, not the *ahem*tissues*ahem*) and it's kinda like recycling too! Woohoo! Talk about being green, huh?

*Pic is taken with, guess what, the laptop's webcam. Quick and easy.

Overnighter

Married PJJ (Perkahwinan Jarak Jauh) is no small feat, although its becoming more common nowadays. Notwithstanding that, when Ayah was working in Penang, it's kinda routine for Ayah to fly to Labuan (baru kawin la, katakan hehe..) And with Ai*asia around, why pay more? KL - Labuan used to have 2 flights per day for Ai*asia - one in the morning, and one in the evening. Until it is reduced to one flight per day, at 7.35 am! Now everybody can fly, except that it's damn early in the morning!

With not many choices left, Ayah usually takes Penang - KL flight at night, and then catch the Labuan's flight tomorrow morning. So, where to stay that night? First time Ayah pulled an overnighter, it was at L*CT. Remember, this is way before L*CT is expanded. Sardine-packed. The chairs that are flat enough to sleep is made of steel, so it's chilly to the bones at night. The chairs that are of fabrics and plastics are curvy to sit, but not comfortable to sleep. (Nice combinations, right?) Scenes of families and backpackers lying down mattresses are aplenty. And picture this, imagine only 3 restrooms serving those huge masses.

Yet, what can they do? It's supposed to be a cargo terminal, after all. Why would they throw money into a temporary place, when they have a new one in construction? To overnight at LCCT, to me, was really a horrible choice.

Then, the following trips, Ayah explored other options. What if Ayah go sleep in K*IA airport? Better, perhaps? So, Ayah asked around and got to know that there's a bus running to and fro LC*T to K*IA (buses folks call it MTB for Main Terminal Building. L*CT is a part of K*IA.) So, Ayah took the bus to MTB and there you go, flat fabrics long benches at every floors, waiting for people to sleep on them. The toilets are also much much cleaner. The only disadvantage of K*IA over LCCT is that the frequent announcements of flights, not like LC*T where there's no flight at midnights till mornings, but Ayah is OK with that.

So, the RM3 for the buses (now it's RM4) in exchange of nice overnighter at K*IA, is definitely worth it. If Ayah feels like it, Ayah brings a laptop, open and Wi-Fi around for a while before sleep.

Wi-Fi limited to 2 hours only = Cost- saving measurement?

Anyhow, Ayah has shares of memories of being an overnighter. One time, when Ayah was at B*rger King, enjoying late dinner, a long line of foreigners appeared in queue. It's really really a long line, towards the exit door. Guarding them, are R*LA officers and police. Oh, it's a line of illegal immigrants that were going to be sent to the PATI depoh rupanya. Wow, with these many, I wonder how many moolah has our Government spends to feed them at the depoh.

There was one time, a group of Indians that went for dakwah in Tawau, boarded the same bus with Ayah from LC*T to KLIA, to catch their flights back to India the next morning. Ayah ushered them to the nearest benches in front of surau while practising the teeny weeny bits of Urdu vocabs with them. It made them happy and talked back to Ayah like Ayah was a native speaker, until they realize that Ayah's command in Urdu is very very poor. Asking them to make doa for Ayah, we parted our ways.

Talking about poor command, there was an incident when Ayah was using the laptop in LCCT, that a Vietn*mese guy came asking politely, if he can 'borrow' the power outlet for awhile to charge his cellphone. Behind him, were 2 Vietn*mese girls, probably 'tumpang sekaki' since they were shy to ask. Idle times when they were charging their phones, made Ayah struck a small conversation in English, like "where you're from", "who are these ladies", "cuti ke?"etc. Realizing that his Malay and English were not that good, Ayah has to play guessing games on what he's trying to say. Better than being quiet, at least.

Ok, this is getting too long, and it's 1.30 already. Guess Ayah should pack up and look for empty benches to sleep now, and catch the flight tomorrow morning. Good night!

Gaya yang kuries dan hepi...

** Gaya Adi **


Gaya Ninja?















Tukar cara sikat sekali- sekala...














Serupa ke?










Kopiah ayah yang over-sized...gaya Smurfie...
















** Curious Adi **


"Mak ayah aku ni, asyik makan je kerjanye..."











"Ni pun nak makan jugak?"

(Jangan tak tau, ini la belangkas, yang selalu orang sebut dalam pepatah tu.)








** Happy Adi **


Happy moments with my Tok Ma!










Happy moments with my toy!










Happy moments with my Ayah!

Kalau nak dilayan perasaan...

Pagi tadi, hantar Ummi dengan Adi pergi airport. Flight Labuan pukul 7.35 pagi. Kena keluar rumah pukul 4.30 - 4.45 pagi. Ayah bawak kereta tak laju, kena la keluar awal. Nak subuh, nak sarapan lagi.

Ada la beberapa kawan, yang kira 'respek' la "wife hang keja jauh- jauh, boleh bawak anak lagi", "hang dok 'bujang' sengsorang makan sendiri, basuh baju sendiri", "sanggup hang noo, tiap- tiap bulan pi Labuan naik flight" dan macam- macam lagi.

Tipu sangat la, kalau Ayah kata, Ayah tak terasa-hati/pilu/sedih bila membaca blog- blog keluarga yang lain. Weekend, boleh bawak anak isteri jalan- jalan kat taman bunga la, shopping complex la. Maknya pulak, ada yang buat projek masak ni la, projek jahit tu la, untuk anak masing- masing. Cuti umum, satu famili naik kereta, boleh pergi pantai la, balik kampung la, cuba kedai fast food yang baru bukak la. Dan seterusnya.

Balik dari opis, Ayah bukak TV. Pasang kuat- kuat nak bagi rumah bising, walhal pada hakikatnya tetap sunyi sebab takde gelak ketawa dan tangisan Adi. Malam- malam pulak, kalau disuruh pilih, sama ada tidur yang kadang- kala terganggu dengan tangisan Adi diselang-seli pujukan Ummi kepada Adi, dengan tidur yang senang tapi sunyi sepi diselangi bunyi kipas di bilik, Ayah tak perlu fikir dua kali. Ayah pilih tidur yang pertama.

Itulah dunia, adatnya kalau nak dilayan perasaan, sampai bila pun kita takkan belajar bersyukur dengan apa yang ada. Resamnya, tengoklah orang- orang yang lagi 'terkebawah' dari kita. Baru kita sedar dengan apa yang kita dah ada, instead of wishy- washy dengan apa yang kita belum ada.

Ada kawan seorang, cikgu sekolah. Kerja di Seri Kembangan. Isterinya cikgu jugak, di Sabah.
"Habis tu, anak demo dok mano?"
"Anok dok Kelate, mak mertua jago. Ana di KL, isteri di Sabah, anak di Kelate. Cinto Tigo Segi."

Sepupu Ayah, kawin dulu dari Ayah, dapat anak pun, awal dari Ayah. Kerja di Kelantan. Isteri, ustazah J-Qaf di Jerantut. Anak dibawa sekali dengan isteri ke Jerantut.
"Menantu dan cucu tak cuba pindah Kelantan?" Saja Ayah bertanya bapak saudara.
"Baru 3 tahun. Cikgu- cikgu J-Qaf ni kontrak 6 tahun. Kalau apply sekarang pun, tak guna. Memang confirm takkan dapat tukar selagi tak habis 6 tahun tu. Lepas 6 tahun, baru boleh mintak. Tu pun, tengok rezeki lah."

Tu, belum masuk cerita kawan- kawan yang belum ada rezeki mendapat anak lagi.

Dan banyak lagi kisah suami- isteri PJJ (Perkahwinan Jarak Jauh) di luar sana, yang Ayah rasa, jauh lagi mencabar dan bermacam- macam. Dunia globalisasi, orang Malaysia bekerja di mana- mana. Dari seorang jurutera di Siberia, ke jururawat di Dubai, hinggalah penyapu sampah di Perth.

Syukur la, walaupun sekarang ni Ummi dan Adi duduk jauh- jauh dari Ayah, Ayah ada rezeki yang insya Allah cukup nak pergi Labuan 2 kali sebulan. Bayangkan, cikgu- cikgu kita di pedalaman yang dah berkahwin, setahun entah berapa kali jumpa anak.

Sekurang- kurangnya syarikat Ummi kerja, biasa dengan pertukaran staff- staff, dan insya Allah tak perlu menunggu tempoh yang begitu lama, sekurang- kurangnya tidak di atas kertas.

Adi ada dengan Ummi, buat temankan Ummi di Labuan. Dan dengan teknologi sekarang, boleh temankan Ayah dengan telefon ke, dengan webcam ke.

Kalau kita berterima kasih dengan apa yang kita dah ada, insya Allah, Allah akan tambahkan apa yang kita belum ada.

Oh well, insya Allah lagi 10 hari, Ummi dan Adi balik Raya Cina pulak.

Adi and Ummi @ Labuan

It has been a month since Ummi started working and live with Adi in Labuan. Fuuhh...mmg cabaran. Ummi tabik la semua single mother. Mmg hebat. Ummi yg baru experience sebulan jadi single mother pun rasa mcm kelam kabut. Hopefully this is only temporary. Please pray that we could live together (Adi, Ayah & Ummi) again ASAP.

Alhamdulillah, kat Labuan, we live with our landlord. So, ada la jugak org nak tlg jenguk2kan Adi if Ummi nak pegi tandas. And kadang2 tuan rumah ajak skali makan ngan family dia. But most of the time during weekdays, lepas isyak ummi dah keletihan dan hanya akan lepak dlm bilik melayan adi main sampai la adi nak tido. Hihi....Adi sekarang makin suka nak main. Sampai dah menguap byk kali and mata dah layu pun nak main gak. Tu yang kadang2 Adi sampai jadi cranky sbb keletihan.

Babysitter plak, it took Adi 2 weeks to get use to her. Every morning, he will immediately scream when he was handed over to the babysitter. Ada jugak beberapa kali, bila kereta berenti je depan rumah babysitter, Adi dah nampak resah and mcm nak nangis. Jeritannya mcm kene dera. Sayu Ummi dengar, rasa mcm tak nak pegi keje. Biarla Ummi yang jaga. Tp skrg alhamdulillah Adi dah ok. Jumpe makcik pun dah senyum2. But still, Ummi rasa sayu and meleleh air mata everytime tinggalkan Adi.

Skrg Ummi balik kerja pun on time. Selalu tak sabar nak balik jumpa Adi. Everyday jugak, to make us feel at home, we will call Ayah and the rest of the family. Sampai dah puas bercakap, baru letak telefon.

In terms of daily schedule, everyday Ummi will wake up around 3am - 4am to wash Adi's diapers and bottles. Tp ada gak beberapa kali terbabas bila dah letih sgt. Kalo sempat tido balik before subuh, dpt la Ummi tido jap. Kalo terlambat siap keje and Adi bangun awal, tak dpt la Ummi nak take nap before pegi keje. Mmg memenatkan. That's why Ummi mmg tabik la mak2 yang kene jaga anak sorang2. Ye la, time baby berjaga, kene jaga baby. Time baby tido, blom tentu bole tido. Kene buat keje yang tertangguh.

Ayah Adi, being so understanding and helpful, sgt membantu Ummi masa Ayah dtg Labuan jenguk Adi and Ummi. Dpt la Ummi rehat sket. Makan pun ayah tak bagi Ummi masak. *thanks a lot Ayah.

Apa2pun, it is not easy to raise a child on your own. Ya Allah, bantulah kami agar kami dpt tinggal bersama semula sebagai satu keluarga. Amin.

Doakan kami ye.