Soul Gone Home (Al-Fatihah)

It’s been more than 20 days since the demise of my late grandmother. It is just now that I have the will to write something about her.

Nevertheless, I pray for Allah SWT for He is All Merciful and bless her soul.

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My late grandma, Toyot binti Kelas, or Nek Wan as she was affectionately known, was the last of my grandparents. She succumbed to stomach tumour at the age of 76 on May 4, 2011 at Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching.

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I was her first grandson. She gave me the best of what any grandma in this world gives for their grandsons. I admit that when I grew up, I used to bully her like, playfully. There were also times that I argued with her over adolescent stuff… that was bitter. But all was forgiven soon after.  We became closer, and whenever we moved she would be there with us. She followed us for most of our trips, and every Aidilfitri, she would always be swarmed by a legion of her grandchildren. How we love Hari Raya with her with us. We would make preparations together. I would help her getting stuff and at the end, she would entertain us with stories and occasional jokes. Since I live in KL, I only see her once or twice whenever I return home. And now it would be no more.

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Prior to her demise, my mom commuted from Melaka to Kuching to visit and taking care of my ailing grandma for three consecutive weekends. On her first trip, grandma fell at home and broke her hip. She was hospitalized and in stable condition, after an operation.

On my mom’s second trip, there was this feeling that made me feel something is definitely not right. Grandma was admitted to the emergency care earlier. After sending my mom to the airport during the wee hours in the morning, I talked to my youngest brother, who also skipped Friday classes to stay with me in KL, about the possibilities of losing grandma.

“Iwan, I have this feeling that we will not see Nek Wan this Raya.”

“Me too, mom said her condition worsened.”

“Then we should return home someday to see her, even if it means to see her grave.”

Grandma was admitted to ICU a few days’ later following haemorrhage and her tumour worsened. My mom was forced to return to Melaka for a while, and when grandma gave no response to medication and begun to depend on life support machine, the whole family flew to Kuching. I flew home two days afterwards.

When I reached Kuching, I immediately went to the hospital to visit her. When I first saw her, I was speechless. Although I was well informed of her condition, seeing her first-hand was quite devastating. Machines and wires were all over grandma’s motionless body. She was breathing with her mouth occasionally gasping a little and her body was cold. The readings on the machines didn’t help much; I talked with the nurse and assessed her condition. She was technically critical. I went out from the ward and met other relatives who thronged to visit her. Some were carrying Surah Yasin, giving a clear indication that the worst would be soon.

I visited and took care of her a few times. I talked to her, recited Surah Yasin and told her everything that I want to tell. Until my last day at home, I visited her for the last time, stroking and bade her farewell as I knew it would be the very last time I see her in flesh. My family return to Melaka the next day and we all kept in touch with others at Kuching.

It was indeed the last time.

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It was May 4, 2011, 1110 hours. I just arrived home from work and meeting with friends. I was quite spent and wanted to rest when my brother-in-law called.

“Den, did you know that Nek Wan have an operation today? She’s been there for six hours and the doctors are giving another 10 minutes on attempting to resuscitate her. After that, you know what-lah.”

As mentioned, we all were well informed of her condition and whereabouts. So news of her undergone an operation was known, but with another 10 minutes to spare, she would be gone if all else fails. I gulped a few drinks, got changed and waited for the next call.

Then the worst came to my ears. The call was answered.

“Den, be patient. Nenek has gone.”

I paused and recited innalillah wa inna ilaihi raji’un (From Him we come, to Him we return) afterwards. I asked of her passing and the situation over there. My sister was in shock and couldn’t hold back her tears. I told her that all we all do is to pray for her soul. I was requested to call my mom to deliver the news, but I called my dad instead as I have no courage and idea how to tell my mom.

“No problem, I’ll tell mom,” my dad said.

“In the meantime, get ready and go to Melaka. I will arrange for mom’s flight to Kuching at the earliest flight possible. Go forth.”

I packed and didn’t even bathe. I drove off to Melaka to fetch my mom and brother at 0000 hours. I reached Melaka at 0230 hours and rested for a while. I got my brother to massage me and off we went to the airport at 0430 hours. Mom’s flight was at 0715 hours and after checking her in, me and brother went back to my place where we got stuck in traffic jam near Puchong and several slow drives. At home, I rested and took a 30-minute nap and prepared for work. I dressed myself in black as I mourned the passing of grandma. I was sleepy like hell and depended on overdosed caffeine to put myself up to par.

The funeral ceremony was conducted without any hindrance and shortcomings. Throngs of relatives, grandchildren and family members visited her for the last time. Mom was fine as well. I wasn’t crying because I have told myself that grandma wouldn’t make it when I last saw her few days earlier. I saw her day was nearing. I knew that she would be gone. Now that I have taken the reality of grandma’s demise, I smile in reminisce our good old days and every time I remember her, I’ll recite some ayahs for her soul.

This Hari Raya would be different without her. I will visit her grave.

Nek Wan, I miss you. We would see each other again in the Hereafter. Al-Fatihah.

FELICITAZIONE, MILAN!

Congratulations to A.C.  Milan, my supported football team for winning the Italian Serie A TIM league for the 18^th time. Their win made them level with its inter-city rival, Internazionale Milan.

 

With just one point needed to secure the top flight finish, Milan played well against A.S. Roma at the Olympic Stadium, Rome which produced a goalless draw, thus sending coach Massimiliano Allegri’s boys to heaven.

The last time Milan won the scudetto was in 2004. The trophy celebration is expected to be sometime in next week.

The jubilant team and their fans back in Milan are celebrating the triumph in style.

 

Here’s what coach Allegri has to say:

“Today is calmer and with a cold head you can think better... the huge flow of adrenaline from yesterday is gone now. The lads did everything perfectly, they were diligent in the first half and played even better after the break.

Credit for this Scudetto goes to everyone who’s worked around the team, but most of all to the President, who provided the resources to assemble an excellent squad.

My relationship with Adriano Galliani is great, we spend a lot of time together. He’s been fantastic. At the beginning, when I needed to get to know the club quickly, he was there to help me.

After the game against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, despite the loss, I was convinced that this team was still in the making and that we could do great things. The draw against Bari was another unexpected setback, which came at the beginning of the period where we came close to deciding the championship. But I didn’t worry, because I knew that the lads were working hard. I had no doubts we would go into the derby with the right approach and, indeed, we did, even though in my opinion the toughest match, besides the derby, was the away game in Florence. This team has demonstrated that it didn’t win by chance.

I consider myself a Milanista. I may be a bit reticent, but last night I got very moved.

It’s too early to say if Pirlo and Gattuso will leave. Together with the club we’ll evaluate the situation, taking into account the players’ demands. The 'old guard' has helped me a lot this season. Pirlo had quite an unlucky year, but he’s an important player with exceptional skills.

Ambrosini, Gattuso and Nesta, in a word the Rossoneri 'old guard', didn’t stop at helping me settle in, but they also gave a hand to the newcomers by making them understand that we’re Milan and therefore we must work hard every day to win game after game.

I thank all the fans for what they’ve done for the team and for me. We want them to join us at the San Siro Saturday night to celebrate this success that we all deserved”.

 

Forza Milan, campioni d’Italia 2011!

Rejuvenasi Perhentian

 

Terkenal dengan keindahan taman lautnya, Pulau Perhentian menjanjikan pengalaman baru buat penggemar aktiviti laut serta ketenangannya menggamit suasana santai sesuai untuk istirahat, lapor RS Iskandar.

OK, tajuk ini mungkin agak klise seakan-akan tajuk artikel dalam akhbar (mentang-mentang aku kerja kat newspaper company) tapi peduli apa aku, cerita aku.

Baru kali ni aku upload entri tentang eskapisme (ada ke?) ke Pulau Perhentian bersama beberapa rakan setelah beberapa kali ditunda atas sebab-sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan (kepenatan, kebuntuan idea, kematian rakan karib serta pilihanraya umum negeri). Aku pecahkan entri ini mengikut hari-hari kejadian. Enjoy!

A day before (31 March)

Siangnya aku bekerja dengan beg kembara siap sedia untuk bergerak. The City Motorboat 3200 aku pinjamkan kat ex-wife aku sebab dia nak pindah rumah. So after six, aku menapak ke The Mall untuk bertemu rakan-rakan lain sambil menambah stok keperluan penting macam pills, sunblock, munchies, 'air sihat,' etc.

By 1930 hrs, everyone dah ada: Aidura, Azam, Faizal, Dayang, serta kenalan baru, Faris dan Maya berkumpul di McDonald's The Mall. We had dinner there and off to Hentian Putra afterwards. Bas kitorang dijadualkan bertolak pada jam 2130, harapnya takdelah delay. Aku agak teruja nak naik bas untuk a long trip sebab selama ini aku asyik terbang, sesekali nak merasa adventure tengah malam.

Bas kami merupakan bas double-decker Scania milik Sani Express dengan plat number MKN 2050 bound to Kota Bharu, kalau tak silap. Our journey will end at Kuala Besut, Terengganu dan perjalanan dijangka memakan masa selama lapan jam. Kami semua duduk di dek atas dan aku teruja dengan kerusinya yang amat selesa, eksklusif nan eksekutif persis kerusi business class MH. Dengan suasana yang amat selesa, sambil diiringi lagu-lagu noir porno jazz oleh Bohren und der Club of Gore, perjalanan membelah malam bermula.

Laluan yang aku kenal pasti ialah melalui Bentong-Raub-Kuala Lipis-Merapoh-Gua Musang-Kuala Krai-Machang-Jerteh-Kuala Besut. Panjang pulak nak taip, kalau aviation aku pakai kependekan waypoint je. Dari KL ke kawasan Merapoh, aku on and off tidur. Jalan yang gelap, sempit dan agak keras. Maybe di luar tu sejuk kot. Aku gambarkan perjalanan kami pada malam seakan perjalanan Jonathan Harker dalam novel Dracula karya Bram Stoker. Bayangkan, dalam kesunyian, kegelapan dan rasa seram, beliau mengikuti karej ke Bukovina dari Bistritz sebelum dijemput oleh Count Dracula sendiri di Borgo Pass. Gila ah seram! Apa-apa pun, pada jam 0130 bas kami berhenti di Hentian Sani dalam kawasan Merapoh untuk berhenti rehat 45 minit. Bolehlah kami semua lepak makan, minum, puffy dan macam-macam. Nasib bukan berhenti di Borgo Pass!

Day 1 (1 April)

Kami tiba di Kuala Besut sekitar jam 0530 dalam kegelapan. Faizal dan Faris, our trip experts bawa kami untuk breakfast di warung bersebelahan jeti. Nampak macam warung, tapi dia punya menu sarapan memang lengkap! Seperti kebiasaan, aku prefer American breakfast. Ada beberapa foreign tourists breakfast bersama sambil menunggu bot yang akan membawa kami ke Pulau Perhentian pada jam 0830 nanti.

 

Deruman bot dari jeti ke sana mengambil masa selama 32 minit dengan keadaan laut yang tenang. Aku tak sure berapa knots dan tinggi ombak sebab ilmu kelautan aku agak cetek, yang penting semuanya enjoy. Ada empat penuntut berbangsa Cina menyertai kami dalam bot itu. Angin pagi dan deburan air laut cukup menyegarkan.

Akhirnya we all tiba di Flora Bay Resort, Teluk Dalam, Pulau Perhentian Besar (5°55′0″N 102°44′0″E). Inilah first time aku ke sana dan the scenery is breathtaking! Aku merayau dekat-dekat situ je. Liputan talian telekomunikasi agak sukar dicapai. Dapat pun paling kuat tiga bar je, itupun kena berdiri dalam air separas lutut. Kalau angin tiup, takde line langsung. Lepas check-in, we all berehat kejap, had a quick snack at the cafe and off we go for snorkelling. Trip kami ini disertai another friend of Faizal's iaitu Khalil yang agak gila-gila jugak.

Keadaan air laut yang belum berapa nak warm serta kekeruhan dasar menyukarkan peluang untuk scuba diving tetapi at least snorkelling cukup menyeronokkan. Aku belum ada lesen menyelam lagi (insya-Allah bulan Jun nanti) tetapi sudah teruja dengan keindahan dunia dasar laut. Kami bersnorkel di empat point, antara yang aku ingat Shark Point, Turtle Cove ke apa, lagi dua aku lupa. Seperti biasa, ritual aku untuk memulakan snorkelling ialah menaiki dek bot dan terjun umpama Michael Phelps, tanpa life jacket dan peralatan lain. Terjunan yang tak berapa perfect tetapi kalau dirakam secara time warp dengan sound effect bionic jump *shettatatatatatatata* memang kaw la. Memang gila! Siap snorkel set aku tenggelam ke dasar sampai aku kena dive down ambik siap luka kena reef lagi. Aku nampak penyu, flounder dan jumpa beberapa ekor Nemo yang comel. Faris ada bawa underwater camera, so memang best sebab dapat merakam banyak gambar bawah laut.

Kepenatan disebabkan seronok snorkelling ditambah dengan kekurangan tidur pada hari-hari sebelumnya memaksa aku dan Azam pulang ke bilik untuk berhibernasi selama 12 jam setelah minum petang. Tak sempat nak puffy pun. Makan malam, sesi bermain poker pun jangan haraplah. Sangat mengantuk dan letih, okay.

Day 2 (2 April)

Hibernasi selama lebih 12 jam pada petang sebelumnya membuatkan aku dan Azam agak bertenaga dan cukup rehat. Sedar-sedar dah jam 0730. Usai semua, kami pun bersarapan sambil menanti geng lain bangkit dari deep slumber diorang. Lepas breakfast, kami ke bilik mereka to wake them up. Memasing terpisat-pisat nak bangun, yelah badan penat tu. Semua dah breakfast (aku dan Azam join sekali lagi), dan sedia, kami bertolak untuk aktiviti laut, snorkelling dan sightseeing for the day.

Destinasi hari ini ialah ke Pulau Redang dan Pulau Lang Tengah. Sejam menaiki bot ke sana. The sea was quite rough, making our ride a bumpy one. Aku duduk di haluan memang layan je the ride. Rasa macam ke shooting siri Magnum, P.I. pulak. Bila sampai sana, matahari dah terik. Sapu sunblock, turun ke pulau untuk minum-minum di Pelangi Resort. Memang cantik Redang ni, macam yang aku baca. Line Maxis sangat clear kat sini, sempat reply email kerja lagi. Kami menapak sampai ke Laguna Redang, posing, main air dan beli souvenirs. Lunch kat Pelangi dengan hidangan lazat especially itik masak kicap memang layan! Lepas tu, aku dan Dayang melepak di tepi pantai borak-borak, sempat berfoto buat the James Bond pose (macam dalam scene Casino Royale) seperti yang aku buat di Phi Phi Island, Phuket dulu.

Boatman sudah panggil dan we all head straight to Taman Marin Redang. As the boat weighed down the anchor, kejernihan air dan terumbu memanggil-manggil. Memang indah, sukar digambarkan. Yang lain mula bertempiaran ke laut sedang aku seperti biasa melakukan Mebius Jump aku tu sampai puas. More marine life and deeper plunge I went to swim with the fishes and feel the corals. Rasa macam terbang pulak. Lepas tu, we all ke beberapa tempat lagi. Apabila kami singgah di Pulau Lang Tengah, aku dan Maya seronok bergambar di tepi bot. Siap posing macam pelaut la, gadis kesepian di pulau la, kawe nelaye la… macam-macam sampailah we all singgah untuk snorkel lagi sebelum balik ke Perhentian to end our exciting day.

 

Seperti hari sebelumnya, kami berkumpul di chalet Faizal untuk mencuci kelengkapan dan mandi. The girls biasanya akan cuci gear dan lepak kejap sebelah kitorang. Perangai bebudak boys ni bila mandi kalah budak kecil. Mandi air paip depan chalet dengan pelbagai gaya dan persembahan sampai tak hiraukan keadaan sekeliling. Mandi dengan penuh ghairah, penuh stim, penuh ritual; ada yang duduk atas kerusi mandi, jirus sampai tujuh kali la sampaikan aku pun terjebak sekali. Haha. Lepas tu, we all minum petang dan tengok foto. Sementara menunggu BBQ dinner malam tu, aku dan Azam balik bilik untuk tidur sebentar, barang sejam pun jadilah.

 

BBQ dinner malam tu boleh tahanlah. Dah kat tepi laut, perut lapar semua sedap belaka. We dined like kids and snap photos. Lepas tu, kami layan bola kejap, kebetulan match ManUre lawan West Ham. Menang pulak ManUre ni (to Maya's delight). Boring dengan siaran Astro disertai hujan, kami berkelompok ke bilik Faizal untuk sesi bersosial. Bilik diorang dah jadi macam fusion rumah pelacuran, rumah urut, kasino dan bar lengkap dengan live singer, poker gamers, mama-san and boozers. We engaged in fun activities, gelak guling-guling, nyanyi macam kat Red Box Karaoke, main terup macam kat Las Vegas, among others. Aidura jadi mama-san mengurut kitorang kat bilik dia (ehem!). Tangan dia lembut dan ada aura pengurut. Kena selalu praktis tu Dura. Bila memasing dah mula slow, berat dan kepala ding dong, that means a night retirement call la. Masa untuk tidur!

Day 3 (3 April)

Inilah hari terakhir percutian eskapisme kami. Tiada sebarang perancangan untuk beraktiviti laut sebab malas nak angkut pakaian basah. Jadinya, kami banyak melepak makan dan merayau di sekitar. Aku dan Azam merayap sampai ke Arwana Resort lepas breakfast. Seketika di pantai, aku membuat sand writing as a promise to the Yuna girl yang aku cerita dalam entri terdahulu (klik sini untuk entri itu). Aku membuatnya dengan penuh kasih sayang. Later on, kami semua buat aktiviti bosan dalam bilik dan packing untuk pulang. Agak berat dan malas rasanya untuk pulang ke rumah. Bot yang dijadualkan pada jam 1400 dinantikan dengan sabar sambil menikmati makan tengah hari.

Perjalanan pulang ke jeti Kuala Besut agak biasa. Laut tidak bergelora, angin dan cuaca pun baik. Sampai jeti, kami minum lagi dan merayau mencari barangan. Seperti biasa aku mencari fridge magnet. Tak lama pastu, kami semua bertolak ke Kota Bharu menaiki van yang memakan masa selama hampir sejam, yang melalui Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Tok Bali hinggalah kami sampai di daerah Panji, Kota Bharu untuk makan di Yati's Corner. Nasi kerabu, ayam percik, keropok, daging bakar memang sangat menyelerakan! Kena pulak dengan jus pegaga… menyegarkan minda, badan dan jiwa. Pilihan makanan di Kelantan ni memang banyak dan murah, sebab tu aku sukakan Pantai Timur ni. Tapi sebelum tu, aku dan Maya layan tidur di seat belakang dalam kepanasan dan kesempitan. Takpelah janji seronok ramai-ramai ada.

Agenda kami sebelum berlepas pulang ke ibu negara ialah melepak di KB Mall. Agak panas jugak cuaca dan suhu di Kota Bharu ni. Aku dan Dayang terpisah dari yang lain, maka kitorang bersiar-siar sekejap. Jumpa balik dengan yang lain kat Secret Recipe, kami minum santai dan bersiap untuk ke bazar malam berdekatan Kota Bharu Trade Centre tu. Pergh! The sea of Red Warriors je aku tengok. Hajat di hati macam nak angkat jersi Umbro Red Warriors Kelantan ni buat koleksi tapi tak jadi. Merasa makanan jalanan Kota Bharu sambil bergembira berfoto dan cuci mata tengok mek Kelate come lote untuk membuang masa.

Malam yang baik. Kami tiba di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, Pengkalan Chepa (KBR/WMKC) untuk keberangkatan pulang ke Kuala Lumpur. Sekali lagi aku menaiki Firefly (FY) pesawat ATR 72-500 dengan tailcode Yankee-Echo. Snek FY ni macam biasa, tapi instead of Kunang2, majalah Going Places pulak yang mengisi poket tempat duduk. Kali ini malas aku nak merujuk pada flight chart AIP, aku tidur di sepanjang flight selama 1 jam 10 minit. Aku biarkan deruman enjin Pratt & Whitney PW127M dan alunan Hamilton Sundstrand propeller blades mendodoiku sampailah pesawat selamat mendarat di Runway 15 di Subang Skypark (SZB/WMSA). Setelah itu, kami semua berpisah untuk kembali ke kehidupan sedia kala.

 

Eskapisme Perhentian mungkin merupakan penutup buat separuh pertama tahun ini. Tetapi apa yang kami berlapan telah alami sepanjang percutian ini mengeratkan persahabatan kami. Aku hargai apa yang telah kami alami dan kongsi bersama sepanjang trip. Dan ia juga merupakan satu terapi buat diri aku, rejuvenating my body and reenergize myself to focus on my life even more than before.

Kepada Aidura, Azam, Dayang, Faizal, Faris, Maya dan Khalil, terima kasih aku ucapkan. I had fun and you all shall not be forgotten. Bila nak berjimba lagi ni?

Khallas.

Our World Without Our Captain Marvel (Al-Fatihah)

Note: This entry concerns none of the real Captain Marvel, or Shazam, a DC Comics character.

These few days were the darkest hours hovering the skies of former BENL (Bachelor of English Language & Literature) students of IIUM (International Islamic University Malaysia), matriculation batch 1999/2000 for the sudden departure of our leader, colleague, friend, comrade and brother, Allahyarham Mohammad Arif bin Azman in Melbourne, Australia.

Rumours about him warded under life support machine reached us at 4.30 pm on Tuesday, 5 April 2011. Me and Pyan were seeking confirmation of the rumours through our contacts… we were really busy with calls. And when Pyan and arwah's working colleague confirmed the news… I was speechless. I immediately posted a notification on FB and informed friends with streams of SMSes.

Gripped with uncertain hope, I received Farhanaz's contact (arwah's wife),  and immediately called her. With much courage, I spoke with her and upon hanging up, I cried.

"Isz, Arif is basically… gone. Doctors declared him brain dead, and they are still trying to pump his heart. If by 10.00 am takde apa-apa…" ah, tak sanggup aku nak tulis.

That night, me and Pyan were discussing over mugs of A&W Rootbeer. We were still hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst as well. A tahlil ceremony is planned, should the worst comes.

I can't sleep much that night. I could only sleep for about three hours and woke up upon receiving a text message.

It was a text from Pyan, conveying the exact text from arwah's wife:

"Al-Fatihah buat arwah suami, Mohammad Arif bin Azman."

I was stumbled, speechless for a few minutes and wept silently. I turned on my Mac E.M.E.L.I.A and begun designing arwah's condolence display. Surge of calls and SMSes from friends came in, and all were in tears. I posted the news, display and created a tahlil event at FB, gathering support from close friends to come for the planned tahlil ceremony at Pyan's place.

It was April 6, 2011. The day of silence and sombre for all of us.

For the next hours and days afterwards, I made calls with a few friends at KUL/WMKK and MASkargo of a possible arrangement for the jenazah. Mine and Pyan's cells were heavy with calls and SMSes, so did our FBs.

Beliau telah selamat disemadikan bersebelahan pusara ayahandanya di tanah perkuburan Islam Bangi, berdekatan Stesen Komuter UKM sekitar jam 10.30 pagi, Sabtu, 9 April 2011. Aku dan beberapa rakan rapat arwah yang lain tidak sempat menatap arwah buat kali terakhir dan menyembahyangkan jenazahnya, hanya keranda dan kenangan saja yang kami ada. We consoled his mother and the bereaved family, and got to know his actual cause of death... meningitis. We, the brethren were cramming into The City Motorboat 3200 heading to the tanah perkuburan. Menziarahi pusara arwah dengan membacakan surah Yassin dan tahlil ringkas, kami khusyuk dalam kesebakan dalam hati. Menyirami pusara dan meninggalkan perkuburan, kami berkumpul bersama mengenang kembali saat-saat bersama arwah yang malar segar sehinggakan makan tengah hari kami adalah sempena memperingati arwah.

Terlalu banyak yang aku mahu kongsikan sepanjang 13 tahun persahabatan kami. Ini antara koleksi peringatan kami tentang arwah yang disusun oleh salah seorang rakan kami, Yuzaimie Yusof (Pajai or The Hoff):

• Sekurang-kurangnya seorang (a BENL sister) confused aku dan Arif (dua kali lak tu).
• Walaupun sokong, tapi dia tak suka tengok match MUFC, pasal badi… bila dia tengok je MUFC kalah selalunya.
• Trademark gelak hi-pitchnya yang tersendiri.
• A better driver than me (I admit that, although it’s a close one), tapi aku ada kelebihan dari segi navigational skills.
• Digelar ‘Captain Marvel’ masa berkecimpung dalam arena futsal tengah malam.
• Menyebabkan sorang teammate futsal cedera akibat rempuhan keras beliau.
• Selalu menjaringkan gol-gol yang superb masa main futsal.
• Tak takut main game seram (Fatal Frame, Silent Hill, Resident Evil).
• Fanatik Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• Pernah berkecimpung dalam arena bina badan.
• Siap bawa mesin basuh sendiri ke UIA.
• Masa MUFC turun KL (2001): Siap jalan kaki kat highway nak ke Stadium Bukit Jalil, dan dari Terminal Putra ke UIA tengah malam buta (pasal takde teksi)
• Ada masalah pendengaran yang…agak kronik… (Aku: Ada lima sen? Arip: Aa mesej?) banyak koleksi bende nie…
• Kuat makan (boleh habiskan set pizza untuk 4 orang…nasib baik aku ‘masuk campur’ sekali,hehe…
• Makan bersungguh-sungguh (sampai berpeluh-peluh).
• Tak lokek belanja kawan makan (sampai sekarang aku still tak faham kenapa aku just minta roti canai je…padahal ko nak offer belanja aku kaw-kaw kat Pelita SS2).
• Rajin beli barangan dapur kat OTK…then kena balik naik teksi pasal banyak sangat belinya.

… and of course, everybody has a piece of memory with arwah.

Sesungguhnya, daripadaNya kita datang, kepadaNya kita kembali. A dedicated student and lecturer he was, there will be no other Arif than him.

Al-Fatihah, Arif. You will always be cherished and remembered.

Sumazau si Adira di Kota Kinabalu

Hello.

I'm not putting entries on how I met Adira of Akademi Fantasia 8 fame (darn, how I hate that show, but she's cute nonetheless) but being a Sabahan she is, I just want to spice up this entry on my recent trip to the Land Below The Wind (Negeri Di Bawah Bayu), Sabah. The last of all 14 states in Malaysia is finally conquered, thus completing my 1Malaysia tour.

As March 2011 is dedicated for excursion, the latest escapade tells a different story, this time with some photos, charts, maps, etc.

So, Kota Kinabalu or Jesselton. Situated at 5°59'0"N 116°4'0" E, the capital city of Sabah offers a unique experience than other Malaysian cities. All that glitzy stories about its seafood, Filipino market, islands and majestic sceneries are impatiently waving at me to come down.

Sebenarnya plan nak ke KK (henceforth the city is called) dah lama, cuma takde kesempatan dan geng. Kebetulan, group adik aku dan cousin dia iaitu PetiAis (yes, the fridge!) memang gila-gila dan aktif. Last year PetiAis trip was Pangkor, which I didn't join, so this time diorang nak ke KK. Planning dah dirangka time raya 2010 dan presented a month after. Percutian lapan hari tujuh malam diorang ni merangkumi lima hotel di beberapa lokasi sekitar KK yang boleh kata luaslah. Aku hanya akan join the trip for the last three days, meaning I didn't have to pay for the accommodation.

 

It wasn't until late February that I booked the flight tickets. Dapat murah pulak tu. Memang tak fikir panjang. Kita ni kalau nak bercuti, jangan fikir panjang sangat. Duit boleh cari. Kalau niat tu baik, memang rezeki tu datang dari mana-mana.

Even a day before the trip pun aku macam takde rasa apa-apa. Maybe sebab busy kot. Projek sana sini, semuanyalah. Ikut plan, aku akan drive ke office, park there and naik ERL. Balik dari KK nanti aku ke office ambil kereta dan balik.

Day One (Thursday, March 17)

I didn't pack much sebab nak bercuti tiga hari je. Lagipun, bukannya nak pergi business trip, cukuplah bawa dalam dua helai baju dan seluar. Flip flops dan lotion memang kena ada. Hajat di hati nak bawa anak buaya aku sekali tapi takut berat sangat. Even my Mac EMELIA pun tak dibawa. You gotta travel light, bro. Around pukul 10 pagi, aku gerak ke office. Sampai sana, aku park dan terus menapak ke LRT Bangsar. Dari sana, aku ke KL Sentral dan board ERL to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK).

Alongside my inaugural Sabah trip, this trip also marked my inaugural flight with Firefly (FY) Boeing 737-800 aircraft (9M-FFA). Will the in-flight service better than AirAsia (AK)? I have to mention that the service throughout the flight needs improvement. Maybe sebab aku prefer Airbus aircraft jadi aku rasa seating dalam FY ni macam outdated sikit.

"Lumpur Tower, waiting for permission to take off at Runway 32R."

“­You are clear for take off."

The weather was good with full load factor. Penerbangan selama 2 jam 10 minit dengan ketinggian 38,000 kaki pada kelajuan 480 knots membosankan. Sesekali aku terjaga dan merujuk pada flight chart yang aku print untuk catatan. Reporting from Lumpur Tower, the flight reports to several waypoints across the sea (ISTAN-VPK-IDSEL-URIGO-VISAT-MABAL-ELGOR-LUSMO-TERIX-OLKIT-DOGOG-VIDIP). When the flight makes a descent approach into KK airspace, kelihatan Pulau Labuan dan mukim Muara, Brunei Darussalam indah dari langit. Besar gak Labuan ni rupanya.

The weather at KK didn't look good, as I noticed vapours at the mirror. Hujan renyai barangkali. Aku tried to locate the mighty Gunung Kinabalu tapi tak kelihatan, diselaputi awan mungkin. Looking at the airspeed and wind direction, the flight would touch down northeastward at Runway 20. At 2,500 feet, the aircraft made a right turn at 247 degrees into the path, setting the VOR/DME at VJN 113.1. Gear down, flaps lowered to 25 degrees to reduce speed while getting the CFM56-3C1 engines running top. A bumpy land was expected.

So at last, around 1500 hours, FY 516 landed safely at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI/WBKK) and parked at Terminal 1. Sampai sana, kena lalu imigresen dan makan dulu sebab kelaparan yang amat. Siap make several business calls and charging my cell lagi. Pekerja berdedikasi laa kan. Then, aku naik airport taxi terus ke Nexus Resort Karambunai to meet the rest of PetiAis gang. The taxi ride cost me RM 75 but the driver was attentive enough to answer my queries about the city. KK taklah sebesar Kuching tapi lebih banyak kelebihan sebab terletak di tepi laut. Tanjung Aru, Sepanggar, Karamunsing, Kepayan, Luyang, Likas semua itu dalam KK bah. For nearly an hour aku hampir tertidur sebab traffic jam KK ni boleh tahan juga. Sampai di Karambunai yang terletak 35 km dari KK mengubah mood aku.

Bliss! Cantiknya resort dan pemandangan laut luas! Bayu petang memanggil untuk aku ke pantai. Sampai ke tepi pantai aku bertemu dengan geng PetiAis yang baru lepas mandi laut. Adik aku siap bengkok hidung sebab tried to menggulung diri dalam ombak, bak kata dia, akibat melawan kuasa Tuhan. Sempat main giant chess dan mandi kolam. Aku pun change kat tepi tu jugak, terus masuk kolam mandi-manda. Siap snapping photos dengan beautiful amois (using myself as a travel columnist as the pretext) and then bila sudah petang, terus saja ke bilik.

Bilik berkembar yang bertaraf lima bintang amat menggembirakan. Lagi best aku cuma menumpang saja, but I have to pay for my dinner and breakfast. Tidak apa bah itu. Lengkap dengan segala amenities dengan bebudak ni siap main badminton lagi. Boleh pulak bawa shuttle sets! The Yonex and Li-Ning sets. Gila. Sabar jelah bebudak ni. For dinner, kitorang decided to go for a la carte, as planned earlier. Sempat we all bersiar-siar sekitar resort dan main pool kat games room, in which I found a framed signed player issue SS Adidas AC Milan Away 2003/4 jersey! Belissimo!

 

Dinner was great, and delicious. My brother gave good recommendations for our selection: steaks, rice and pasta. He tasted everything, and the steaks got 9 out of 10. He’s a chef trainee, so he knew well. Sempat pulak we all pergi ke Darlin' Darlin' Bar for a few drinks and babe watching later on. Mata sudah merah, kepala sudah ding dong... it's time to slumber.

Day Two (Friday, March 18)

The morning breeze was so refreshing, and I woke up finding others did just the same. We have to pack up and move on to another hotel later, but not before we get soaked into water-filled fun activities. So, a hearty breakfast and later we checked out where the friendly receptionist named Kizzy attending to us (I know, my brother's friend suka gila kat dia).

The second day of my KK trip was the most memorable, hectic, wacky and fun ever. At nearby Karambunai lagoon, kitorang main air sakan sepanjang tiga jam... kayaking macam orang gila, buat-buat terbalik, lemas olok-olok, langgar-melanggar, pukul member dengan kayak stick, main jet ski macam merempit di jalan (merempit atas air lagi gila dan fun, kena try lagi), buat aksi akrobatik gila atas jet ski, main extreme ride yang lagi gila dari the usual banana boat, menjerit kalahkan girls and bimbos, dan mewarna batik! Aku tak join sesi mewarna batik, cuma jadi videographer dan pengulas. Adik aku mewarna batik yang dinamakannya sebagai Finding Nemo, cousin dia mewarna batik bertemakan Honolulu, lagi dua orang geng (Pusek & Boy) mewarna batik yang digelar Batik Cuti-cuti Malaysia dan Rafflesia Kulat Aneka Warna. Filled with fun and hilarious moments sampai nak shower pun macam kanak-kanak, termasuk aku. Seronok bercuti sakan dengan geng sekepala ni sebenarnya.

Later on, our next destination is to check in at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. Dubbed as one of the best in the city, the resort offers lush accommodation with spectacular scenery, especially at sunset and exquisite dining. Penat main air semua membuatkan we all malas nak lunch, and after checking in we all just melepak dalam bilik dengan menikmati semua jenis amenities yang ada. Bila dah petang, semua teringin nak main banana boat di Tanjung Aru tapi sayangnya sudah tutup kerana jam sudah pukul 5.30 petang bah. Sana keadaan gelap 45 minit awal daripada waktu di Semenanjung. Sudahnya kami bersiar-siar sekitar hotel mengambil foto dan disinilah juga aku menguji skil fotografi dan keserasian bersama kamera Canon G12 yang aku namakan as Kyoko. Bermain shutter speed... tau-taulah jelah hasilnya. 

The sunset at Tanjung Aru was so majestic. It’s hard to get the same sunset colours at Semenanjung. Without much graphic modification pun memang sunsetnya cantik dan mendamaikan. No wonder ramai yang cakap sunset di Sabah memang indah.

Our last night in KK was celebrated with a feast at Shangri-La's TATU Café. Though the dinner buffet costs RM 100 per pax (and I was the only one paying), the dinner was hearty. Loads of beef, seafood, chicken, snacks and drinks sampai terduduk tiga jam makan semata-mata. Angin malam pulak sedap, alangkah bestnya kalau ada teman disisi. Kekenyangan sampai tak boleh nak berparti di lounge bar, kalau ikut plan. Sudahnya we all melayan video recordings of PetiAis at my room. Seronok tengok diorang punya adventure ke Ranau, Lok Kawi, Pulau Manukan dan aksi makan lobster yang mahal gila… how I wish I could join them earlier.

Day Three (Saturday, March 19)

It’s our last day in KK and nothing much to do around the city. Aku punya quest was to explore the Filipino market, haven for souvenirs and local products. Taklah besar sangat tapi macam-macam ada sampai rambang mata aku tengok. Banyak jugak aku beli. Lepas tu mencuci mata di sekitar malls along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. Aku perasan gegadis Sabah, particularly KK girls are shorter but pretty. They could be Kadazan, Bajau or other indigenous races. Dan pemalu. Aku suka. Hahaha!

After a few hours of shopping and sightseeing, it’s time to fly home. Disebabkan aku naik AirAsia (AK), so aku kena pergi ke Terminal 2 di Tanjung Aru, while the rest of PetiAis would depart from Terminal 1 at Kepayan onboard MASwings (MH). Diorang menghantar aku ke T2 where I bade them farewell and lotsa thanks for great moments. Aku berpisah dengan adik aku dan after that, diorang bertolak ke rumah kawan mereka untuk menghantar kereta sebelum boarding their flight home to Kuching, which is at 7.30 pm.

Aku saja masuk departure hall awal sebab malas nak hangout kat luar. Aku tak tahu pulak yang duty-free cigarettes and liquors cannot be purchased for domestic passengers, like me, for customs declaration purposes. Tak jadi pulak aku nak beli (which in turn, kept my greens intact). Dan yang ni membuatku a bit disappointed with the airport management. Dah tau aircraft lambat, which caused delay to my flight, kenapa tak info kat passengers? Banyak passengers dah gelisah aku tengok, especially yang bawa children. Aku dapat info yang the delayed aircraft is flying from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Manila (CRK/RPLC). Bila aircraft sampai, it was 30 minutes later from my scheduled departure.

The aircraft, Airbus A320-200 with registration 9M-AHF was full. While taxiing, I got to see another spectacular sunset with Pulau Manukan at the foreground. Memang cantik. Dah senja dan lampu kabin dimalapkan, I’’m ready to take off.

“AXM 5109, you are clear for take off at Runway 20.”

All is set, and the aircraft took off peacefully towards the western skies. The seat was comfy, and the meal (Bukhara Briyani) was marvellous, as acclaimed by many. I got mine as I pre-booked the meal and I enjoyed my dinner over the sea. I tried to sleep but can’t sleep well. This month’s Travel 3Sixty pun tak berapa best sangat. And the usual flight ambience didn’t help either.

Sabah was great, and can’t wait to repeat. Three days wasn’t enough. I even didn’t see the mighty Gunung Kinabalu. I’ll might get to see it later and explore the islands, as well as experiencing local cultures. Mind you, although a Sarawakian I am, Sabahan culture is quite different. There’s much more than meets the eye. 

Didn’t waste much time upon touch down at KUL/WMKK. Sebab aku tak bawak any extra baggage, so aku terus keluar naik SkyBus ke KL Sentral where I managed to get some sleep for at least 40 minutes. Sampai office later on to get my car was quite chilly, and was quite late to go up to the 19^th floor. I had some spooky experiences but this time, I didn’t think match and heed all the way up. 

Entering home, I said to myself:

“Well, I’m back.”