What A Celebration!

Ibu celebrated her 45th birthday two weeks back. Another 5 years to half century, how fast time flies. With social network, facebook, twitter and all kinds of apps to remind you of one's birthday, wishes kept pouring in into Ibu's mailbox via sms,watsapp, fb and e-mails. That's how advance the technology that we have nowadays. Unlike ten twenty years back, people struggle to remember birthdays of their loved ones and when you received birthday cards, messages and gifts, you know that you are genuinely remembered and treasured by that person. Well, regardless of the apps that keep sending reminders to you of your family and friends birthdays every other day, the thoughts of someone remembering and making the effort to send greetings and wish you is all that matters. It just mean that they think about you.

This year, Ibu had wonderful birthday celebrations. Three days in a row! It started a day earlier as her birthday falls on Saturday. Her colleagues treated her to a buffet Japanese at Suki-Ya and Shabu Shabu located at the Tokyo Street, Pavillion on Friday. It's a japanese steam boat with a choice of two types of soups out of three offered, Shabu Shabu, Kimchi and Sukiyaki. You are given unlimited slices of lamb, beef and chicken and a whole range of vegetables. They also have sushi and ice cream to supplement the steam boat. It was quite good actually and worth the price of RM29.80 for lunch and RM33.80 for dinner. Thanks Su Yean, Amanda and Shanna for the lunch treat.

After work, it was her BFFs turned. This time it is at the Redbox Pavillion for Karaoke and Dinner. Pavillion again! The last time we celebrated birthdays in Redbox was in 2009 and it's been four years now. We celebrated Ibu and Along birthdays this time as Rynne could not make it at the last minute. Our birthdays are close to one another and it's worth to combine the celebration. We were there from 6pm to 10pm and had great time testing our vocals and showing off our talents with the oldies and the eighties. We even suggested Along to go for the Kilauan Emas audition since she is the best among us and used to be one of the school singers those days. Thanks to my BFF for the lovely purple swatch...they even created a watsapp group to discuss the gift they wanted to get for Ibu, how sweet. Thanks gals for such wonderful time and fabulous gift.

The next day, the actual birthday we were busy with the kids as usual, fetching them from schools and did their laundry. Adik called Ibu right after his subuh prayers to wish Ibu, Abang called much later in the morning and Kakak sent a video message via watsapp. In the evening, Ibu received a bouquet of flowers, of course purple in colour from the family in Hartamas. How thoughtful of them, was touched by their thoughts.

That night, we had another celebration, this time with the Gombakclanners who celebrated their birthdays in February and March, Tok Nani, Tok Onn, Tok Wan, Zarith, Qistina and Ibu. As usual, Tok Mami was the one that organised everything and she grabbed the 50% off for buffet dinner at Taming Sari, Istana Hotel. Smart move and great savings by Tok Mami as always. Both Abang and Adik managed to get off for the weekend to join the celebration, Alhamdulillah. The place was quite packed and the food was not that bad. After the cake cutting, it was time to exchange presents. This time, Ibu gets four recipe books, Jamie Oliver, Nigella from her dearest cousin and a special cupcake tools from the Royal Carribean from Tok Mami and a nice telekung from Tok Nani. Thanks so much for the wonderful gifts. Now, Ibu has no excuse not to cook for the rest of the year!

The celebration did not end there. The next day, Sunday Ibu had another surprise from TLG. They prepared a little cake and as usual sang the birthday song plus a special gift Channel No 5. Alhamdulillah, that was so thoughtful of them. It was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by people that you love and care and you know that they feel the same way towards you. Thank you to all that made me feel special on my birthday and I am thankful that Allah swt has bless me with such amazing people in my life. Abah and the kids, although this year no cards or presents from them like always, but they are the best gift Allah swt has given me, they are always there for me. Alhamdulillah.

Ambo Maghi Doh Kelate...Day 3

Hari terakhir kami di Kelantan. Masih banyak lagi yang belum selesai dan yang paling utama agenda untuk bershopping batik di Pasar Siti Khadijah dan Bazar Buluh Kubu. Pagi2 lagi kami sudah bersiap untuk breakfast di Kopitiam Kita. Satu lagi destinasi popular untuk makan pagi di mana semua makanan Kelantan tersohor ada dijual disini. Kami sendiri belum pernah sampai ke sini dan hanya berpandukan google map. Puas juga kami mencari lokasi Kopitiam Kita dan hampir setengah jam sesat di Jalan Pengkalan Chepa. Akhirnya kami tiba di Kopitiam Kita yang terletak di Taman Desa Jaya berhadapan dengan Hotel Pacific. Lokasinya agak tersorok dan landmarknya signboard Villa Inn. Ramai yang menunggu meja kosong kerana terlalu ramai pengunjung. Maklumlah, semua makanan tersohor ada di sini, Nasi Berlauk Air Dingin Tumpat, Nasi Tumpang, Nasi Berlauk Tanah Merah, Nasi Kerabu dan yang paling best, Roti Kitab. Kami sempat berjumpa Reha, rakan Srikandi yang kebetulan balik kampung. Alhamdulillah, memang puas hati.

Setelah kenyang perut, kami terus ke Pasar Siti Khadijah dan memulakan agenda bershopping. Kami menghabiskan masa di tingkat tiga selama dua jam, dari satu kedai ke satu kedai sampai sesat kerana terlalu banyak kedai dan lorong. Boleh tahan juga kami memborong. Walaupun belum puas window shopping, dan masa yang tidak mengizinkan, kami meneruskan agenda shopping di Bazar Buluh Kubu. Kami hanya sempat membuat satu pusingan di tingkat satu. Abah sudah gelisah menunggu kerana kami perlu kembali ke hotel untuk check out dan menghantar rakan2 Ibu ke airport pada jam 3 petang. Kami sempat kembali ke hotel, packing, freshen up dan solat sebelum check out. Sebelum ke airport, kami singgah di Yati Ayam Percik untuk makan tengahari. Seperti biasa kami menikmati Nasi Kerabu Daging Bakar, Ayam Percik, Solok, Bawang Putih Jeruk dan Telur Masin, makanan kelantan terakhir sebelum kembali ke KL. Alhamdulillah, memang best. Setelah selesai, kami terus ke airport yangterletak tidak jauh dari situ, lebih kurang 15 minit perjalanan.

Berakhirlah percutian rakan2 Ibu di Kelantan selama 3 hari 2 malam. Walaupun masih banyak tempat yang belum sempat dilawati dan masih banyak lagi makanan tersohor yang belum dicuba, kami berharap agar perjalanan singkat mereka di bumi berakah ini dapat memberi gambaran mengenai cara hidup dan budaya orang Kelantan di bawah pimpinan seorang ulama selama lebih 20 tahun. Sekurang2nya mereka sudah boleh  bertutur beberapa perkataan dengan loghat Kelantan seperti "Ambo Maghi Doh Kelate".

Ambo Maghi Doh Kelate...Day 2

Keesokkan harinya kami meneruskan jelajah kami di bumi barakah ini. Destinasi pertama ialah ke Pengkalan Kubor. Oleh kerana kami bertolak awal, kami sempat meninjau Pantai Seri Tujuh di Tumpat dan MRSM Tumpat yang canggih berbanding sekolah Kakak di Tanah Merah yang serba kekurangan. Kami banyak menghabiskan masa di kedai menjual jersi. Thaqif sememangnya arif dengan kedai2 jersi di sini dan menjadi konsultan untuk Aunty Intan yang membeli 14 helai jersi untuk anak2nya. Jersi yang dijual di sini memang murah, berkualiti dan terdapat banyak pilihan. hampir semua jersi pasukan luar negara dan kelab2 ternama ada di sini. Kita juga boleh membuat nama dan nombor dengan harga yang tersangat murah berbanding di KL.

Abah memang telah merancang untuk membawa kawan2 Ibu pulang ke kampungnya di Dewan Besar Labok untuk menghadiri majlis perkahwinan saudaranya atau di Kelantan dipanggil "Bekwoh" atau kenduri. Dalam perjalanan ke sana, kami singgah membeli "Etok", sejenis makanan yang hanya boleh didapati di Kelantan. Ia seperti lala yang kecil yang disalai, memang sedap. Tidak semua yang sanggup mencuba tapi rasa sekali pasti nak lagi. Kami kemudian berhenti di Tunjung untuk menikmati air kelapa muda dan pulut mangga bagi menghilangkan dahaga dan mengalas perut. Apabila tiba di kampung, kami singgah di rumah Pok Mae untuk berehat sambil menunggu Tok Abah dan Tok Mama yang datang dari Kuala Krai. Setelah mereka sampai, kami pun terus ke rumah pengantin untuk menjamu selera. Bagi rakan2 Ibu, inilah pengalaman pertama mereka menghadiri bekwoh di Kelantan. Majlis yang sungguh sederhana tetapi meriah dan disajikan dengan lauk-pauk yang sedap. Setelah pengantin tiba, kami beransur pulang kerana masih banyak lagi tempat yang perlu kami cover. Kami singgah di Masjid Kampung Laut untuk solat dan menziarah masjid tertua di Malaysia.

Kami seterusnya ke Nordin Batik sebelum ke Pantai Cahaya Bulan. Sudah lama kami tidak ke sini dan keadaan pantai sudah banyak berubah. Seronok melihat ramai pengunjung yand datang membawa anak2 bermain layang2 dan menikmati colek di gerai2 di tepi pantai. Kami tidak melepaskan peluang merasa colek yang terdiri dari berbagai makanan laut yang digoreng dengan tepung. Bila matahari mula terbenam kami beredar dan singgah di kedai2 di sepanjang jalan yang menjual kaftan. Setelah selesai bershopping, kami berhenti di D'Syaz Cafe untuk menikmati Maggi Ketam tersohor di sini. Sememangnya Kelantan terkenal dengan bermacam2 makanan yang enak2 sehingga kami tidak berhenti makan semenjak tiba di sini. Maggi Ketam di D'Syaz cafe memang awesome, walaupun kami masih agak kenyang, tapi semangkuk besar maggi ketam licin dalam sekelip mata. Kami kemudian singgah di Ajhis Nasi Lemak, atas permintaan Thaqif kerana dia teringin nak merasa nasi lemak Piya, the TRW. Sempat juga dia membeli sehelai T-shirt di gerai Piya. Apabila kami tiba di hotel, Abah ternampak pemain impot baru TRW, Petratos di lobi GRV. Apa lagi, kami pun kelam kabut mengejar Petratos kerana Adik tidak mahu melepaskan peluang bergambar dengannya.  Adik pun apa lagi terus menyarung jersi TRW yang baru dibeli di Pengkalan Kubor dan bergambar bersama Petratos. Sememangnya, hari ini adalah hari Thaqif, dapat jersi baru TRW, dapat ke kedai Piya dan dapat bergambar dengan Petratos.

Jalan2 di Pengkalan Kubor

Masjid Kampung Laut

Pekena air kelapa dan mangga pulut

Kampung Dewan Besar

Ronda kampung

Rumah Pok Mae

Pengantin tiba

Bekwoh

Nordin Batik

@ PCB

Colek Seafood

Tiga Dara Pingitan

Makan Lagi!!!

D'Syaz Cafe...

Maggi Ketam

Lokasi berhadapan Kem Kijal, PCB

Clear...

Kedai souvenir Piya

Ajihs Nasi Lemak 80sen

Adik and Petratos