Pak Idrus's Post-2...

Back to my former Blog...

2011-03-08T17:47:00.000+08:00

Sorry folks for the inconvenience. I found it rather difficult to managed two blogs at a time so I have decided to return to my former Blog here. I have rename it as Pak Idrus's Post. The former name was 'In Passing - Malaysian'. Apreciate if you could just click on the link and bookmarked it for easy future reference. Again the former blog is here .

Thanks folks and do have a nice day.

SHOULD I REALLY JOIN FACE BOOK - PRICELESS AND SO TRUE...

2011-03-03T22:29:00.000+08:00

Folks, I got this in my email and since this is so relevant to the lives of folks in their golden age, I am sharing it here. Read on...

A good laugh for people in the over 50 group !!! Also for those who know people like us.

When I bought my Blackberry I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter.I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space..

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it,and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot."

P.S.I know some of you are not over 50. I sent it to you to allow you to forward it to those who are.

Have a nice day.

Of Tomatoes...

2011-02-27T21:11:00.000+08:00

We love gardening and with the little space that we got at the back of our house we have created a little garden. In this little garden we grow a little bit of herbs and vegetables. Among the vegetables is the tomato plant and it has since started to bear fruits. It was really nice to see this plant grow from a small seedling growing big and taller by days; then its flowers and eventually bear fruits. Actually I was delighted to see this plant grows and decided to take the image of it at is grows. Indeed it is amazing to see nature in action. About is an image of that tomato on the Kitchen tables.

On the left are images of the same tomato as it grows. We have planted Egg Plant, Long Bean, Chilly as well as herbs that we would normally use in our traditional cooking and making cakes. The small garden at the back of our house kept us busy in the morning, where we would tend and weed the plants as well as watering it. It is more of a hobby and it does keep us busy and we did enjoy it.

Have a nice day.

Waffle@ tea...

2011-02-22T18:29:00.000+08:00

Making Waffle is not in our culture but then it is always good to add to the already many cakes and pastry that one take to enjoy life. The other day our youngest daughter Lin came back from Singapore and she baked some waffles using the latest Waffle making appliance that she brought back from Singapore. This appliance has interchangeable hot plates which could be use for making Waffle, Sandwich and Grilling. So folks above is the waffle that came out great using that new electrical appliance. Not only it looks great but it taste great as well. Have a nice day.

Revolution in Egypt @ February 11, 2011...

2011-02-12T10:48:00.009+08:00

We Malaysian have been following the happening in North Africa, first Tunisia and now Egypt. The news of the revolution from Egypt came in via the New Media like Twitter, Facebook, and Blog with Aljazeera leading the news of the revolution whereas the other news media was rather quiet in the beginning. Then the Egyptian authority closed the New Media and the Cellphone networks but People Power took over, with Aljazeera TV despite had its license been withdrawn continue with telecasting the event that unfolded before our eyes. And at midnight here we heard the announcement that Hosni Mubarak has resigned. Then the millions of Egyptians in Tahir Square and the other parts of the country were jubilant with the announcement. Indeed History was made in front of our eyes.

Congratulation to the rakyaat [people] of Egypt and hope that there would continue to enjoy peace. Only with peace would there be prosperity for all.

I hope that all governments take notes that in Democracy the rakyaat [people] is the Boss and give due respect to them.

Images in this posting were taken from Aljazeera TV. Thanks to Aljazeera for these images and the other TV news for making it possible for us to watch this historic event unfolded in front of our eyes. Thanks too to all the Twitter, Facebook, Blog and the other medias for covering the event.

Have a nice day.

Of color @ fruits...

2011-02-06T13:09:00.004+08:00

The other day while on a walk around my neighborhood, I snap this photo of fruits. The whole tree is covered with the fruits. No one seems to care about picking or eating it; perhaps it is just an in-eatable ornamental fruit trees to color the area, I just do not know. It looks nice and I am sharing it here with all to see and enjoy. Have a nice day.

[Below the tree]-[Image taken using cellphone camera]

My other Blog...

2011-02-05T13:16:00.000+08:00

Just a gentle reminder; folks this is my other Blog.

Have a nice day. [Click on Blog to get there]

Belimbing buloh...

2011-02-03T11:02:00.000+08:00

The Belimbing Buloh is special in the Malay culture especially in its traditional cuisine. Because of that unique uses of the fruit, this fruit tree although it is not use often is planted in most Malay kampong or in places where the Malay live. The Belimbing Buloh is special in that it is a fruit though sour would give some traditional Malay dish a unique taste. This sour fruit is use in some cooking to get the zests out of the dish.

At time this fruits are difficult to get since it is not that often sold in the marketplace, perhaps because folks do not buy it often. As such when one need it to use to make a special dish like the Nasi Dagang curry one had to look high and low for it and at time just could not get a single fruit. If one really needs it one have to get to the neighbor house and ask for it but even that it’s only when there are many fruits on the tree otherwise one had to forego using it. Although this plant fruits all the years round, sometime the fruits are not seen at all or just still a bud. So to get a ready supply of this fruits I planted a tree in front of our house. It is now became our source of that fruit that we call Belimbing Buloh. I have ‘wakaf’ the tree and those folks who pass by and want to have that fruits are free for their taking. It is sort of my way of giving to the society fruits that they could enjoy too.

Have a nice day.

Nature in harmony...

2011-01-30T00:01:00.001+08:00

It was a beautiful day. The weather was cool with the sun just rising at the back of the house providing just the right lighting for good photography. I took the camera and with the Macro Lens took images of the flowers that grow outside the house, just near the front gate. At these hours of the morning the insects were busy having it morning meals hopping from flower to flower careless of its surrounding. I did not want to disturb it so I let it enjoy itself and I believe the insect somehow knew that I am not going to hurt it, just goes on enjoying it meal. It continues to suck the nectar from the tiny yellow flowers. This flying insect is tiny too and I believe that is the reason this tiny insect choose this tiny flower to gather its foods. I took my time and snap as many pictures of the insect and that tiny yellow flower. The Macro Lens works wonder in capturing this scene of the insect and that flower. I was mesmerized with the way this little creature glides itself on that tiny flowers while pollinating it. If one looks closer at the legs of this flying insect one would be able to see pollen stuck to its leg, thus it made pollination possible as it hops from flower to flower.

I love flowers and one reason I kept planting flowers is that I love to see nature in action. At the same time it creates an environment of freshness. Its colors and beauty create a vibrant and colorful atmosphere to the whole area.

The image on the left shows the Flower with a Matchstick. I have purposely done this to show the relative size of the insect and the flower. It is very tiny indeed and yet so elegant in doing it morning chore in and on this particular yellow flowers. I really enjoy snapping these images and hope that my visitors do enjoy it as well.

Have a nice day. [Click on image to enlarge]

Happy Chinese New Year...

2011-01-28T16:19:00.001+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year folks; may we continue to enjoy peace and with that prosperity together. Have a nice day. [CNY fall on February 3 this year]

The wonder of nature...

2011-01-25T09:34:00.003+08:00

As usual just around five in the afternoon I would take a walk around the neighborhood for some light exercise. It is my way of relaxing and at the same time enjoy the surrounding. At time I would meet friends at their front yards and we would chat for awhile and then I would just move on enjoying my walk. It is one of my pastimes that allow me to wild my thoughts away while walking alone in the neighborhood.

A few days ago I decided to take my camera along. So armed with the Marco Lens I took a few snaps of the flowers that grows at the neighbor's yards or just on the roadsides. One of the advantages of the Macro Lens is that one get to look at the flower in depth and enjoy the beauty of nature at its best. In normal circumstances one would just watch the flowers and would not take a second look but when one look through the Macro Lens one would see a different world altogether. It is indeed an amazing sight to watch and wonder the beauty of nature; in Flowers. Here are some shots that I had taken while on that walk. Enjoy it folks as much as I had enjoyed taking that images.

Have a nice day and take care. [To experience the Macro Image please click on the image to enlarge]

Elena; Rest in Peace...

2011-01-21T11:10:00.001+08:00

At this age getting news of the death of a friend is quite normal but this piece of e-mail from Louis from Seattle, US shock me; Sad indeed. I read the e-mail thrice to make sure what I read is right. Indeed it was still a shock and sad although we have only met a few times while we were holidaying in Seattle in the summer of 2008. She was always around whenever Louis took us around Seattle to sightseeing. That chat we have had with her in her home was so enlightening and I could still remember that wonderful moment in time. To Asmah and Me although the meeting with her was a short one, it was to us a short and sweet one. It was as thought we have been friends for a long times already.

"The e-mail from Louis:-
Dear Marc and Lise, Family and Friends,

Elena passed away unexpectedly but very peacefully and in the manner she wished, on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 January, 2011. As she was administered the anesthetic for her planned surgery she was asked to think up a nice dream. It was while dreaming that dream she slipped into the sleep from which she would not be awakened.

Our grief is consoled by knowing that her last evening with us was spent in that world around which her life revolved: in the company of me, our son Marc and our daughter Lise and talking about their spouses, Mona and Geoff and our four granddaughters Morgen, Maya, Catalina and Harleigh all of whom she adored. As we did at the close of every day, Elena and I chatted amiably about that world in our final minutes together, with not the slightest foreboding or regret.

We often reviewed our life, always with the same conclusion: she would always sum it up by emphasizing that she was completely contented with her life, happy and proud of Marc and Lise and the way they are raising their families. That, she would say, was true satisfaction and contentment, her view of a life fulfilled. I would echo that.

"I am content" was the last thing she often said as she fell asleep next to me. No doubt that was her thought this time too.

As Elena wished, we said our goodbyes as a family and privately.

Also, as she wished, no flowers, but your remembrance and your love.

Louis"

Both Louis and Elena were always in our minds and just a few days ago while on Skype I tried to get connected with Louis but was not successful. And when I told Asmah about this news, her first word was that did you get to speak to Louis that day. I told her that I did not. Well folks that is life; we came and we go. So from Asmah and Me condolence to Louis and the family on the demise of his loving spouse Elena. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Louis takes care.

That Purple Banana....

2011-01-17T14:18:00.000+08:00

The above images was taken over a period of two weeks. The banana seen in the last image is about 4mm in length only. Enjoy it folks.

Have a nice day.

Of the weather...

2011-01-14T13:20:00.004+08:00

It was a beautiful morning; the weather was cool with soft light blue sky. The sun too seems to emit soft light, adding to the coolness of the morning. It was nice to sit here at the patio listening to music from the radio and writing this. Everything seems to have move fast-forward. Remember we waited anxiously for the new millennium, the twenty first century to arrive and worried whether our digital clock would works and the computer would not revert to the year zero zero. But when it arrived on January 1, 2000 everything works as usual and now folks it has been a decade with the arrival of January 2011. So it looks like everything are going alright.

One things is not right though is that the weather has changed, the winter with heavy snowfall in the northern hemisphere and the devastated flood in down-under Queensland, Australia. I believe all these happening are because of global warming. It is we that have created this climatic situation on this blue planet of ours and if we do not find ways and means of cooling the planet we would be hit by more natural disaster like floods, heavy snow and fire.

Ours is a beautiful planet full of color so let us keep it that way by doing our bits like planting trees, bushes and other plants that flowers. It not only would add color to our environment but it would cool the planet as well, making living beautiful as usual.

The images of the ornamental banana in this posting are that of the banana plant that I grow in my little garden. Gorgeous purple isn't it.

And this is the Kenanga flowers that blooms all throughout the years; releasing a soothing fragrant all the times.

Have a nice day.

Of Rita and Aida...

2011-01-10T00:01:00.001+08:00

How should I tell this story? It is story of the happening in real live, the story of beautiful people with beautiful names and beautiful hearts. This one is a colorful story indeed. It is a story of real people in cyberspace who came to mother earth and shakes hands and completes those friendships. So how do I begin; so as not to lose my train of thoughts I am writing it here as I think. To me it is an interesting story that touches our lives as we walk the path on our journey of life. It is a story of how the Internet has changed the way we communicate and in the process makes friends with strangers’ .It a story of Blogging, of Facebook and of friendship in the ever-changing worlds of ours. It is a story of how the Internet has made our lives more interesting and colorful. Since we homo sapient is a spiritual being that communicate by other means as well, that till now we have yet to understand. We must have touches each other in that plane too, thus it explains at time why it became so easy for us to make friends even thought we have never met physically before. It is also a story of how our species interact in a way that we have yet to understand.

To me image of a person is very important in making that first contact sincere. That is why in Blogging and in Facebook the Personal profile image is very important. It is this profile image that made us to understand that stranger in cyberspace at firsthand. Without that profile image of oneself in Blog or Facebook, it became impossible for us to understand one another, thus making any progress in friendship difficult. To me those people who refused to put on their personal profile image are insincere folks and I would not entertain their call to be my friend. Sincerity; that is how these friendships made in cyberspace develops over times. Asmah and I are in our golden age whereas Rita and Aida are still much younger to both of us, sort of from our children's generations. Let me begin this way. It was through Blogging that I got to know Rita Ho. Some years ago Rita would leave comments on my Blog posting and eventually we would e-mail each other to communicate on other subjects. I soon found that she is a Malaysian married to an American and live in Seattle, WA.

In the summer of 2008 Asmah and I went to Boston to attend the Commencement of our youngest daughter at Harvard University and then went holidaying to the other parts of US. Since we have not been to Seattle before which is out-of-the-way whenever we get to the US, we decided to make our first visit to this famous city in the Pacific Northwest of the US. I had also come into contact with another blogger Louis so I decided to kill two birds with a stone; visit Seattle and at the same time get to meet the blogger that I had only met in cyberspace. While staying in Seattle we not only met both of them and their spouses but taken for dinners as well. Louis and Elena even took their time to takes us around to touring Seattle. Folks that is how I met Rita Ho and her spouse David Gonsalves. We leave Seattle with a promise to meet again. So where does Aida Marie comes into the picture. She did not blog but follow my blog from time to time but did not leave any trace of her visits. And then she appears on Facebook and we got connected. It was in FB that she told me that she follows my blog and then read a piece I wrote about meeting Rita Ho while on holiday in Seattle. They had been close friends during their hay-days working in KL. She eventually contact Rita and voila! They got connected again after they had parted many years ago. It is quite normal to find friends parted living no trace and because of their past bonding they would eventually get connected again. I am indeed glad that she got connected back with her friend because of that piece of my posting. Indeed cyberspace especially blogsphere had made that possible.

Then Rita and David decided to return to Malaysia for a holiday and with that I thought that it would be great if these two friends could meet again in the real world. I had invited Rita and David to tea or dinner at our house whenever they could find the time. With that I thought that it would be wonderful if Aida could also come for that get-together. So I contact Aida and told her that it would be nice if she could come over and to bring her little princess too. I have not met Aida in person, so the get-together would be give Asmah and I to meet Aida as well. Thus when Rita confirmed her coming over to our house for lunch, I invited Aida too. So on January 6, 2011 at the lunch we got to meet Aida for the first time and Rita again [David was not around for he has gone home early]. It was the hugging at our front door of two old friends Rita and Aida that renewed their contact that they had lost for the last 10 years. It was indeed a happy reunion of friends; a beautiful happening indeed that happens at our home. After the initial introduction and getting to know everyone sat down to chats and then without much ado we went to the dining area and enjoy the lunch that Asmah had prepared. Over lunch we chat and yarn of things that just come to our minds, interjected with laughter and smile, perhaps both Rita and Aida remembers their hays day while at works or play in KL during their younger days. Asmah and I from time to time did put some input of the days when we were at their age enjoying life in the vibrant city of KL. Their stories sound familiar since both Asmah and I had been on that path before enjoying life as was the culture then.

Have a nice day. [click on image to enlarge]

Of memories...

2011-01-03T08:01:00.001+08:00

It was late afternoon, the day look gloomy and it looks like it going to rain. At this time of the year when the east coast is lambasted by the Northeast Monsoon, it brings cool weather to this part of the country. And from time to time we get rain with thunderstorm and lightning. I love the rain and it always remind me of my childhood growing up on the east coast where the annual monsoons became sort of a changing weather that at time bring floods and strong winds along the coastal area. To me at that time it was fun to play in the rain and getting soaked in the rain. Well that was then and now it is different, it just became a beautiful memories. And today I sat here at the patio read a book on Malaya; a novel written by Frederick lee. Reading it I found that it must be the author experiences while serving in Malaya before independence. This book too brought back memories but of the hard time we have had during the Emergency. When the country sank into guerrilla warfare with the communist terrorists that wanted to take over the country and turn it in a Communist Republic. I was in my youth then and often saw soldiers and the Special Police or SC going out to the jungle to fight the communist terrorists at their own turf. The soldiers were from the British Commonwealth and together with the local eventually managed to put the enemy at bay. The communist insurgent were eventually defeated in 1963, a few years after Malaya gain independence on August 31, 1957.

In front of me is my little garden and I could hear dripping water from the small fishpond and fountain. Recently I had built a fountain from two pots which I had placed on the top of one another. With a pump I had turned the top pot into an overflowing sort of water vase. On the surface of it I placed a coconut shell and with that running water the coconut shell kept moving round and round nonstop, creating a pleasant sight to watch and whiled the time away.

As I set whiling the evening away the rain stop and the sun shows itself up and began to set slowly on the southwest making a long sun-ray on the Serambi as seen in the image above. It creates yellow sun rays turning the whole of the patio bright. At other times of the year the sun ray would fall at different angle. With the rather cool atmosphere I continue to sit and enjoy the book and seeping tea. I turn on the light on as in a moment time the sun would play its disappearing act as usual with the last ember glow. And then it would be dark again, another day ending; a ritual that I kept watching day after day from my patio. Well folks that is our world and indeed it is a beautiful world.

Have a nice day.

Happy New Year 2011 from Kuala Lumpur...

2011-01-01T16:30:00.000+08:00

This time I did not drive to KLCC to take the image of the happening there but instead stood with my camera on the road new our house. It is on a hill thus I could see clearly the Petronas Twin Towers and the other parts of KL. From that vantage point I just snap these images and sharing it here with all to see and enjoy the Kuala Lumpur Fireworks shows as it welcome the New Year 2011.

Happy New Year folks; may we all continue to enjoy peace and with that prosperity for all.

Have a nice day.

An image to ponder...

2010-12-30T20:47:00.000+08:00

Above is a scene of my little garden. I enjoy landscaping the garden and it does give me great sanctification when I finally did it to my liking and it look great to see. Enjoy it folks.

Have a nice day.

Stairway to...

2010-12-26T05:02:00.000+08:00

The image above shows the stairway to the front of my house that lead to the Serambi [Patio]. For the love of anything wood I got the steps done in wood. Some of the woodwork at the patio I did it myself. It was a project that took me two months to complete. This Serambi give the house a Kampong look and it always remind me of my growing up period in the Kampong in Kuantan. It is the first thing that one would notice when coming for a visit to my humble abode in Ampang Jaya.

Have a nice day.

Merry Christmas...

2010-12-19T19:43:00.000+08:00

It was another beautiful Sunday. We decided to take it easy and drove to KLCC for lunch. On arrival we found the place was full of folks doing their business. The concourse was packed to capacity with folks taking picture with the backdrop of the Christmas decoration that dawn the center as usual at this time of the year, welcoming Christmas. Since it was lunch time we decided to head strait to the Little Penang restaurant at level 4 of the complex. On arrival we saw the place was full of folks having their lunch and many more waiting for tables queuing up at the entrance. We decided to queue as well and since we are just a couple we were give table much easier than those who comes in a group. We took our seats and then make the order; Asmah select Nasi Lemak and I the Special Chow Kwey Teow, a favorite of mine. After awhile the orders came and we sat to enjoy our lunch. Meanwhile the crowd kept swelling up and after we had finished our lunch we decided not to stay long so that others may use our table for their lunch. I paid the bill and went out to do some shopping and then drove home happy that we did have a wonderful lunch.

In a week time folks would be celebrating Christmas; with that I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year 2011.

Have a nice day.

Of Books and Knowledge...

2010-12-13T10:49:00.000+08:00

It was 6PM and the sun was still burning bright up-front, leaving a long ray on the roads. At this time of the year the sun set late, after past seven in the evening. I sat at my patio reading a book ' A world without Islam by Graham E. Fuller' a well-researched book on the way religions played its part in our long history. I first saw this book at Kino two months ago while browsing for books at the store. I thought that after lunch I would go back to the store and get that book but when I went back the book has been sold out. So I ask the reception and was told that I could get it when the next batch comes in. I gave my detail and they say that they would call back when the book has arrived. In the past the service at Kino was good and I often get my books without delay. I waited and after two week I decided to go to Kino to find out whether the book has arrived. I was told that it has indeed arrived but was held up the KDN [the agency that responsible for censorship of books] and they say that if it is released I would be inform. And last week the folks at Kino call and told me that the book has been released and that I could come and collect it. I was sick then and ask my neighbor Mr. Chan whether he was going out to KLCC. He say that he was going that way and with that I hand him a note and the money for him to collect the book for me.

So folks here I am reading this book that discusses and argue about the role of religions in the conflict that happens in the world as we speak. According to the author even without Islam the conflict would still be there. I am almost at the end of the book now and glad that I bought it and found this book is full of historical fact about the raised of religions, from Judaism to Orthodoxy Christian and Catholicism to the contribution of Islam to the world, of the influence of Islam in China and Islam and Hinduism in India. It was not a narrative but rather an analytical argument of the events that happens over times.

As usual I would be reading two or three books a time. This time with my Kindle I am reading two e books, a Paperback 'A Company of Planters by John Dodd' about the Planters in Malaya and this book. What a way to read now. With the Kindle I could get access to e books without leaving my home. It is so easy and it just takes less than sixty seconds to download an e book. What a way to enjoy reading.

Have a nice day.

Of green and yellow...

2010-12-12T11:41:00.000+08:00

A glorious flower that grace my garden... Enjoy it and do have a nice day.