Thursday, January 24, 2013

Checklist...barang keperluan asrama


Ramai yang bertanya apa yang perlu dibawa bila anak dapat tawaran belajar di sekolah berasrama. Biasanya sekolah akan menyediakan senarai barang2 yang perlu  dibawa dan barang2 yang dilarang sama sekali untuk dibawa ke asrama. Oleh kerana kami berdua pernah duduk di asrama lebih kurang 30 tahun dahulu dan ketiga2 anak kami tinggal di asrama, sedikit sebanyak ada pengalaman apa yang perlu dibawa.

Biasanya baju uniform ditetapkan oleh pihak sekolah sekiranya berbeza dari uniform sekolah2 kerajaan. Oleh kerana ketiga2 anak kami bersekolah di sekolah tahfiz swasta atau tahfiz kerajaan negeri, uniform mereka biasanya jubah. Kakak dengan jubah berwarna purple gelap dan setelah bergelar hafizah perlu memakai jubah biru turquoise, Abang pula jubah kelabu dan kopiah tahfiz manakala Adik dengan jubah putih, serban putih dan kain rida hijau. Seronok melihat mereka ke sekolah berjubah.

Berbalik kepada senarai barang2 yang perlu dibawa, mengikut pengalaman kami dengan tiga sekolah yang berlainan. Mungkin di SBP, MRSM atau sekolah2 lain sebahagian daripada barang2 yang tersenarai tidak diperlukan. Terpulanglah kepada kebijaksanaan masing2 membuat keputusan semasa membeli belah. Senarai ini pun dibuat atas permintaan sepupu yang anaknya menerima tawaran ke MRSM Parit dan ada yang meminta dikongsi untuk rujukan masa akan datang.

1.    Quran, buku solat sunat, buku solat yg ada zikir lepas solat, mathurat
2.      Telekung (untukperempuan), baju solat yang sesuai (untuk lelaki) and Sejadah
3.       Penyapu and sodok sampah
4.    Tong sampah and plastic biru
      5.       Kain buruk dan axion (nak cuci almari and tingkap etc)
6.       Mop and ubat lantai (kalau bilik kotor masa mendaftar)
7.       Plastik sampah hitam, kalau2 banyak sampah yang ditinggalkan pelajar2 senior 
8.       Feather duster
9.       Alas kaki
10.   Spray nyamuk
11.   Kertas lapik almari
12.   Alarm clock
13.   Torch light
14.   Cermin muka
15.   Air Freshener untuk almari
16.   Ubat gegat
17.   Tempat sangkut yang boleh lekat tu kalau nak sangkut apa2 dlm almari ker
18.   Padlock
19.   Key chain nak letak kunci –satu kunci untuk anak simpan, satu lagi lekat di bawah katil atau tempat tersembunyi dengan selotep, kalau kunci hilang ada spare, satu kita simpan dalam wallet. Kadang2 bila kunci hilang, kita tak perlu ke sekolah sebab ada kunci spare bawah katil :-) 
20.   Engsel – ikut alamari jenis macamana, kalau kayu boleh gunakan engsel, kalau besi biasanya dah tersedia
21.   Hammer and paku (paku biasa and paku dinding) atau tool box nak pasang engsel kalau takde 
22.   Ubat2 – ambik kat klinik yang kita dah biasa bawak anak untuk dapatkan rawatan. (ubat demam, selsema, batuk, sakit perut/cirit, lozenges ) – letak dlm satu bag or bekas
23.   Lain2 ubat – plaster, kapas, minyak mestika, minyak gamat, vicks, minyak kapak ker apa2lah yang dia biasa pakai (kalau budak lelaki elok bawak deep heat takut terseliuh masa riadah)
24.   Kain batik / kain pelekat
25.   Baju biasa untuk pegi prep, baju sukan, baju tidur. Kalau lelaki elok beli beberapa helai pagoda, lebih selesa kalau bilik panas dan perempuan tudung yang bersesuaian
26.   Pad, panty liner untuk perempuan
27.   Tisu paket kecik (selalunya minggu pertama masih homesick :-)
28.   Barang Katil – Cadar, Bantal and Selimut 2 set
29.   Towel 2 helai
30.   Toiletries (berus gigi, ubat gigi, sabun, shampoo, facial wash etc) and baldi kecik untuk letak perkakas mandi
31.   Barang basuh kain – Baldi, sabun basuh, sepit and hanger
32.   Bekas Plastik nak letak barang2 make up (bedak, deodorant, perfume, sikat etc) dalam almari kalau tidak bersepah
33.   Kepit kuku, cotton bud, sewing kit
34.   Beg sekolah and stationeries (calculator and oxford pencil box for maths)
35.   Kasut sekolah, kasut sukan, kasut pegi prep,sliper asadi dan slipper toilet
36.    Mug, sudu garpu, bekas tupperware utnuk simpan makanan atau biskut
37.   Makanan– mineral water elok beli mungkin sekolah tak ada water cooler
38.   Wallet, Photostat IC and syilings/phone card seperti italk untuk buat panggilan talian hayat!
39.   Boleh lah nak bawak satu family photo kalau2 rindu pada keluarga
      40. Kalau nak buat stiker nama pun boleh utnuk dilekat pada barang2 tertentu untuk mengelakkan dari tertukar

Setengah2 sekolah membenarkan pelajar membawa seterika dan kettle tetapi ada sekolah yang menyediakan bilik gosok dan pantry. Biasanya setelah mendaftar barulah pelajar dimaklumkan samada mereka boleh membawa barangan elektrik ke sekolah. Barang2 larangan termasuklah smartphone, MP3, MP4 dan barang2 tajam seperti pisau. Di MRSM, pelajar dibenarkan membawa handphone yang basic. 

Barang2 yang siap dikemas
Barang2 Adik ke SBI
Ada sekolah yang menyediakan bilik asrama dan bukan dometri seperti MTS, satu bilik 8 orang (4 katil double decker) dan SBI juga 8 orang (4 katil single dan 2 double decker). IQKL   boleh memuatkan 12 orang sebilik dengan katil single. Ada ibubapa yang bermurah hati menyediakan tikar getah atau tikar buluh agar anak2 lebih selesa. Ada yang membawa meja jepun pelbagai guna, untuk makan, buat kerja sekolah etc dan ada yang membawa rak buku, rak tuala, rak kasut dan sebagainya. Terpulanglah kepada pengurusan sekolah dan keadaan sekolah yang mengizinkan barang2 tersebut dibawa. Apa yang penting, apa yang kita bekalkan pada anak2 biarlah menjadi manfaat kepada semua rakan2 dibiliknya dan bukan untuk anak kita seorang. Bawalah barang yang anak kita rasakan perlu dan bincang dengan mereka apa yang perlu dibeli. Sebaik2nya jangan bawa barangan berjenama walaupun kita mampu menyediakan untuk mereka kerana kita tidak mahu ada perbezaan di antara anak kita dengan anak2 yang ibubapa mereka kurang berkemampuan. Sekiranya kita mampu, tiada salah membantu rakan2 anak kita yang kekurangan. In sha Allah, segala sedekah yang kita buat untuk anak2 yang mencari ilmu Allah swt akan menjadi amal jariah untuk bekalan kita di akhirat nanti.

Monday, January 21, 2013

No more primary school goers...

2  January 2013, first day at school for primary school students, standard 1 to standard 6 ..... and it suddenly struck us that we have no one going to that primary school anymore. It felt weird and awkward passing by the school, busy with cars and parents... and we are not part of that chapter anymore. Ever since Thaqif checks into secondary school, the primary school period is now over.

We missed those hectic December month.... going to the school bookshop to get the list of books and items to prepare for the new school year, buying the white, peach and blue shirts, blue long pants, white baju melayu and green or red samping...and those first day registration, meeting the class teachers and paying the fees...sometimes on the 3rd floor, and sometimes the 4th floor!!

All the 3 kids went to Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Setia (SKTS) in the morning and Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) Madrasah Al-Ittihad in the afternoon where both the schools are nearby the house, 300 meters away, within walking distance and is safe for riding bicycle. Dini started in 2001, Faiz in 2004 and Thaqif in 2007, or since 2001 until 2012, a total of 11 years engaged in the primary school world as parents and the challenges and experiences have certainly been valuable and full of colours, alhamdulillah.

We thought Sekolah Kebangsaan is still the best primary education available in the country although being still exam centric and equally important for Muslim students is the Sekolah Agama, which only 30% of Malaysian parents bothered to send their kids to... due to various reasons. Unfortunately, SAR does not get equal resources and emphasis from the Government and normally becoming the victims of politics. However, we have different views when it comes to secondary education, based on our personal exposures, experiences and aspirations. It is interesting to note that although Selangor has Sekolah Agama Rakyat for primary students by JAIS, Kelantan does not have similar system for primary but the emphasis was rather for secondary.

What is more important is what we can do to help both the national and religious schools to deliver the objectives of providing education to the kids and that is where active involvement in PIBG, as much as you can, is very-very important. I believe this is a key difference between Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Cina; poor attendance to PIBG meetings and poor participation from parents can be a hindrance for progress and excellence. There must also be enough positive and balance collaboration between the teachers and parents. It depends on how the people and the leaders navigate the tricky course but the key thing is to take part in the process and we salute those who volunteer to be AJK PIBG for an honest and noble reason. It’s not the magnitude of your contribution that is most important but the readiness to contribute is what matters.

We will certainly miss the PIBG meetings and all the activities like the sports day, hari kantin, solat hajat, hari ihitifal, hari anugerah kecemerlangan and hari report card...and of course the night tuitions twice a week and mengaji twice a week....gonna have to do something else now to occupy the time.

Hari Ihtifal Dini in 2007
Abah and Dini at one of the school's ceremony
We made a point in the past that we will arrange for a trip for the kids before they leave school and we would normally made the arrangements with the class teacher plus selected parents whom we think can help, early in the school term. Kakak’s class went to Eagle Ranch in PD, Faiz’s class went to Ricardo Camp also in PD and Adik’s class went to Gambang Waterpark in Kuantan... a trip for them to remember and cherish their friendship for the past 6 years. I hope this activity will still be continued with participation from more parents.
Equally satisfying is the episode when we collaborated with the community to implement a one way traffic system around the school in 2010, which is still in operation until today. Alhamdulillah, at least something can continue to benefit the schools and the community for as long as the system is suitable.

Dini's trip to Eagle Ranch in 2006
Dini's friends
Faiz's trip to Riccardo Camp in PD in 2009
Water confidence
Flying Fox
6 Geliga 2009

We met many beautiful people, students, parents and teachers. We would like to thank all the teachers, both in Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Agama plus the tuition teachers and the guru Quran, who have been involved in educating and teaching our children.....and we pray that Allah the Al Mighty will reward you and your family your all the efforts, patience, honesty, dedication and commitment.
We have to move on into a new episode in life and there will be new challenges waiting for us just around the corner. We pray that Allah will continue to guide and protect us throughout this uncharted journey, in sha Allah.








Saturday, January 19, 2013

Thaqif First Challenging Week @SBI (Sekolah Bina Insan)

It's been almost 10 days now since Thaqif left home to embark on his new journey of life. The first week seems quite a challenge for a boy who has been at home the last two months of the school holidays and been treated like a King! After going through such comfortable life, the drastic switch took a toll on him! All of a sudden, the strict rules of getting up as early as 4.30am , having to make your bed every morning, queue for the bathroom, walking at least one km to and fro between the mosque and the hostel 4 times a day and washing your own clothes are just too much for him to swallow! He called and cried barely 2 hours after we left him on his first day (day 1). Ibu was shocked to receive a call from Adik since she knew all the public phones at the hostel use italk and we did not get for him the italk card. We only spare him some coins for the public phones. He told Ibu that he called from the mosque and we thought that he was smart enough to find a public phone take takes coins to contact us!

The next day (day 2) after maghrib he called again and Ibu immediately recognised the number! Again, the same story being repeated. Adik wanted to come back home, he did not like hostel lifestyle, too strict and too many rules you have to follow. The orientation week was just too hectic that he did not have the time to rest and freshen up! The distance from the hostel to the mosque is just too far and too much for him to take. But we managed to calm him down, gave words of encouragement and asked him to take things easy and remain compose. We told him that it is normal for ta'aruf week (orientation) to feel tired and exhausted. After all, it was only for a week and his nightmare will end soon. After listening to all his woes, Ibu could not contain herself and finally we decided to make the trip to Bukit Seri Putra that very night, and it was only his second day in SBI!


When we arrived, they have just finished solat isya'. Abah parked the car outside the mosque and waited for him to come out. As usual, Adik was among the last to come out and he had a shock of his life to see us. When we saw him, he looked just fine with his friends around, no crybaby face or drama queen attitude.  Since they have to attend a briefing at the hall, we only talked to him for couple of minutes. Abah told him to be brave and stop complaining. After all, he gets the best of everything compare to Kakak and Abang and should be thankful. He should understand how tough it was for us to find the right school for him since he was practically involved in the process. I think he knows that and doesn't have any intention to quit from SBI. He is just feeling homesick after being in his comfortzone for so long.

The next day (day 3) after solat asar, we received an sms "Bu Adik sakit demam". It was from the same phone number that he called the last two days and Ibu started wondering how advance public phones nowadays. So, Ibu out of curiousity responded to the text message "Adik kat mana?" and the replied received "Kat mesjid". Ibu immediately called the number and somebody answered the call. It was Budin, a second year student in KUIS. Budin is the son of YB Manik Urai who happened to be Tok Abah's friend and we met him during registration day. So, Adik has been using Abang Budin's handphone to make calls when he met Budin at the mosque during prayers. Well, Adik is smarter than we thought he is :-) We asked Budin to check on Adik and let us know if the fever got worse. That night he called again and told us that he felt better after taking panadols. He sounded excited when he told us that Ustaz Don conducted a session in the morning as part of the ta'aruf programme.  Since Budin was leaving for Kelantan the next day, Adik told us that he won't be calling us until we meet on saturday. So no updates for day 4 and day 5.


Iman Muda Thaqif :-)
Parents outside the hostels
Visting time
On Saturday #KL112, Hari Kebangkitan Rakyat (day 6), we left home early, had breakfast at the rest area Serdang and reached KUIS around 10.30am. Many cars already parked outside the hostels. Adik was waiting for us at the balcony and the moment he saw us, he ran down the stairs to meet us. He looked happy and jovial with his "serban" on and started telling us his experience after a week at SBI. He wanted to spend time at home and since we have until 6pm, we decided to take him back home. An action we regretted later as he was reluctant to return back to school and started reciting the same old story again! . We had difficulties convincing him that life will be much better next week since he will start with his daily routine, attending classes, prep with more free time to rest and do all the errands. He finally succumbed to our request to return him back to school.

The next day (day 7), after picking Faiz and his friends from IQKL for a short break at home, we went to SBI again, just to be sure that Thaqif is ok. He was happy to see us and we went out for a while to get him some pizzas for his roomates and italk. We stayed with him for about two hours before we left. This time he was in high spirit knowing that he can call us anytime with the italk. We hope that he will soon find his way around, get to know more friends and get used to the routine in SBI.

Looking forward to Thaqif second week in SBI, hoping for a better story as he continues his journey....

You can watch Thaqif aka "budak comel" on video during Minggu Taaruf at Sekolah Bina Insan KUIS facebook page! 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Hari Pertama Thaqif di Sekolah Bina Insan

Hari ini genap seminggu Thaqif berada di SBI. Minggu lepas 7 Januari 2013 kami ke SBI untuk mendaftar dan merupakan hari pertama Adik akan bermalam jauh dari rumah. Kami tiba di Pusat Konvensyen KUIS lebih kurang jam 9 pagi dan sewaktu kami tiba, sudah banyak kereta dan ramai ibubapa sibuk mengisi borang. Proses pendaftaran berjalan lancar, hanya dua orang sahaja dibenarkan masuk ke dalam dewan supaya keadaan terkawal. Maklumlah ada lebih kurang 400 lebih pelajar yang mendaftar termasuk pelajar tingkatan 4 dan 5. Jadi ibu dan adik saja yang masuk dan Abah dan Nenek menunggu di luar bersama Tok Abah dan Pak Ngah. Setelah mengisi borang2 yang diperlukan, kami terus masuk ke dewan. Terdapat tiga seksyen yang perlu kami lalui, mula2 kami perlu membuat bayaran yuran sebanyak RM1,500, kemudian menyerahkan dokumen kepada guru kelas dan akhir sekali mendaftar asrama. Yuran di SBI hanya RM300 sebulan walaupun kos makanan sudah melebihi RM400. Kami dimaklumkan SBI menjana pendapatan melalui yayasan dan dana yang diperolehi dari situ digunakan untuk menampung kos pembelajaran dan gaji guru2 dan kakitangan SBI. Sebuah institusi yang hebat. Thaqif mendapat bilik nombor 203 di Blok C, Qaryah Tok Kenali. Alhamdulillah dia tidak perlu menapak hingga ke tingkat 4 kerana biliknya terletak di tingkat satu.

Setelah selesai urusan pendaftaran, ibubapa diminta ke dewan untuk mendengar taklimat mengenai SBI dan diperkenalkan kepada mudirah, Ustazah Khairunisa dan ahli lembaga pengarah. Kami teruja mendengar penerangan dari salah seorang pengarah SBI, Ustaz Imran Kamal Basah, Timbalan Rektor (Pembangunan Mahasiswa dan Alumni) KUIS yang menerangkan dengan panjang lebar beserta powerpoint slides mengenai   misi dan visi SBI dalam megubah lanskap pendidikan kontemporari yang ada di Malaysia sekarang kepada pendidikan islam sebenar yang melahirkan insan ta'dibi dan menjadikan masjid sebagai pusat pembelajaran. Semoga usaha murni Kerajaan Negeri Selangor dan JAIS melalui KUIS dalam melahirkan insan berilmu dan berakhlak berteraskan Al-Quran dan Sunnah dapat direalisasi melalui SBI. Kami juga dimaklumkan mengenai peraturan2 sekolah terutamanya mengenai "outing" dan "overnight". Seperti sekolah2 asrama yang lain, kami hanya dibenarkan membawa anak2 keluar outing pada minggu kedua dan overnight pada hujung bulan. Minggu pertama dan ketiga kami hanya dibenarkan datang melawat pada waktu2 yang ditetapkan.

Kami hanya dibenarkan masuk ke asrama pada pukul 2 petang.  Jadi Thaqif dan Abah sempat ke kedai mamak di Bandar Seri Putra untuk makan tengahari dan ibu serta Tok, Tok Wan dan Nenek makan di food court KUIS. Boleh tahan juga makanan yang dijual di KUIS. Sementara menunggu waktu zohor, kami ke asrama Thaqif dan mula mengemas barang2 Thaqif sambil Nenek membersihkan almari dan mengemop lantai. Ramai juga ibubapa yang mengemas barang anak2 mereka jadi kami kira tiada masalah sekiranya kami berbuat demikian kerana bilik asrama sudah ditentukan semasa pendaftaran. Lebih kurang jam 2 petang, beberapa petugas datang dan menegur kami kerana kami tidak dibenarkan masuk ke asrama sebelum barang2 yang dibawa diperiksa. Pada mulanya, ibubapa tidak dibenarkan naik ke asrama, hanya pelajar dibenarkan berbuat demikian. Tapi setelah mendapat maklumbalas dari ramai ibubapa yang ingin melihat bilik dan membantu mengemas barang2 anak masing2, kami dibenarkan naik. Mana mungkin budak tingkatan satu yang tidak pernah meninggalkan rumah tahu apa yang perlu dibuat. Tambahan pula anak2 lelaki yang kebanyakkannya tidak pernah membuat kerja2 rumah tetapi menghabiskan 2 bulan cuti sekolah selepas UPSR bermain PS3, PSP, Computer, Handphone dan macam2 gadjet lain.

Setelah selesai hal asrama, kami ke rumah Pak Ngah untuk berehat dan menghantar Tok Abah balik. Dapatlah Thaqif berehat setelah penat seharian di SBI. Lebih kurang jam 4.30 petang, kami kembali ke SBI untuk solat asar dan terus ke Pusat Konvensyen untuk menyerahkan anak2 kepada SBI. Waktu ini kelihatan ramai ibubapa dan anak2 yang mengalirkan airmata termasuklah kami semasa bersalaman dengan Thaqif. Pada awalnya kami agak yakin Thaqif tidak akan menangis kerana dia sememangnya tidak sabar untuk memulakan kehidupan baru di SBI. Thaqif memang look forward semasa kami mula mencari sekolah untuknya sebab hendak duduk asrama macam abang dan kakak danbelajar tahfiz. Semasa kami membeli barang2 keperluan Thaqif di asrama, dia yang banyak membuat pilihannya sendiri dan tidak pernah merungut. Harapan kami agar Thaqif cekal dan tabah menghadapi segala ujian dan cabaran di SBI. Maklumlah peraturan di sekolah semestinya lebih ketat dan teratur tidak seperti di rumah, senang dan bebas.

Setelah memberi kata2 akhir dan semangat pada Thaqif, kami beredar untuk pulang. Setelah kami melepasi tol Putra Mahkota, Ibu sedar buku peraturan asrama ada di dalam begnya dan nak tak nak Abah terpaksa berpatah balik ke SBI dan membuat u turn di Bangi. Oleh kerana tidak mahu menggangu taklimat yang sedang berlangsung, kami meninggalkan buku tersebut di biliknya dengan sekeping nota di atas katil. Kami tiba di rumah lebih kurang jam 8 malam dan sejurus kemudian, Ibu mendapat panggilan telefon dari Thaqif. Dengan suara yang tersekat2 sambil menangis teresak2, Thaqif memberitahu kami yang dia tidak mahu tinggal di SBI kerana peraturan yang ketat. Belum pun sampai 2 jam Thaqif di SBI. Tiada apa yang dapat kami lakukan selain memberi kata2 perangsang dan semangat agar dia tabah menjalani kehidupan baru di SBI.

Apa pula cerita Thaqif di SBI setelah seminggu berada di sana? Nantikan posting seterusnya...
Adik dan Abah
Adik dan barang-barang asrama
Adik dan nenek
Adik dan Ibu
Adik mendapat kelas Ibnu Haihtam
Borang Pendaftaran
Taklimat Ibubapa
Adik dan kawan2 baru
Pusat Konvensyen tempat mendaftar
Selesai mendaftar, minum di food court KUIS
Tok Wan, Pak Ngah, Tok, Tok Abah
Bilik 203, Blok C
Study Room
Bilik air
Toilet
Corridoor
Abah dan Tok Abah 
Washing room
Mengemas time
Locker Adik ready
Katil dan locker Thaqif

Asrama Thaqif, Qaryah Tok Kenali
Sebelum berpisah
Saat-saat terakhir dengan Abah
Kelas Thaqif Ibnu Haitham
Majlis Penyerahan

Friday, January 11, 2013

The Krai Family Holiday @ Fraser's Hill...coming to an end!

Part 6 – Day 3 (Sunday 23 December 2012)
Aaryz woke up early in the morning, around 3am....”Papa! Papa! You are snoring Papa”, a 4 year old nephew having difficulty to sleep with his dad!!! I was awaked to have caught that funny moment.

When we woke up for Suboh, it was very cold...much colder than the last 2 days and decided not to continue sleep after that. Went outside and it was still dark but you could see it was cloudy, misty and wet .... the thermometer was reading 16C!! No wonder it was cold and it is December.

Those early birds would be in the kitchen preparing food for breakfast and we decided to use whatever we have left for the breakfast, as there were too much food yesterday (a lesson learnt!). In one instance, the hot pot used to heat up the food was mistakenly put on the carpet!!!!!! So you guess it... it left a round burnt mark on it.... and we thought we’ re going to be in trouble as we have been warned not to do any cooking in the house. But you can’t let this small mistakes, which normally happens, to ruin your holiday. So we thought damage is done so the only sensible thing to do is to inform the management that there was this accident and we will take up the cost for repair. Done deal!
Breakfast, whatever leftovers...
The pot and the stove
At 8:30am, it was still cold, misty and windy and what a perfect day to experience the outdoor on top of an unspoilt highland. Almost everyone left for the Paddock after breakfast for some final fun activities before we leave later in the afternoon. They had great fun showing their skills in the archery and blowpipe contest and later to horse riding session. Pak Su was given an additional round by the horseman...we salute and thank you for that kindness.















While they were having fun, Abah and the ladies had to do cleaning up of the house, packing the bags, sending all the food containers to their owners and thanking Uncle Lim for his cooperation and understanding.

When everyone returned at about 11:30,am we  had a simple closing ceremony. After prizes were given out to the winners (Pak Su gave out medals to the FH Cup winners and Tok Abah for the Photo Scavenger Hunt challenge), Jae gave a closing speech while Naif recited the doa. Giving this kind of opportunities to these boys surely build up their confidence and maturity. As expected, Pak Teh and Faiz won the challenge with Pak Ngah's Abu Suradi Troopers came second. It was a close fight and the Pak Teh team won by just one mark. The third placing went to Pak Lang's team the Qlantano Kindersley Explorer and Tok Jae's Gangnam family came last. Pak Teh won because he presented the photos captured in a powerpoint slide and Pak Ngah came second because of they managed to capture photo of a snake and a bird in close range. It was a good challenge and at the same time provide the opportunity for them to experience Fraser's Hill. For the FH Cup Faiz emerged Champion and Naif was the runner up. Before we left, we finished up all the leftovers, the satay, the bbq meat and cut the cake for the December babies. The cake was courtesy of Ira and Opung who could not join us for the trip.














We finally said goodbye to Raub bungalow which have been a perfect gathering place for us this time round. We went to the registration office to send the keys and the arrogant lady was not there and we informed them of the damage done and our readiness to take up the cost. No issue and it was nice and smooth.

Everyone wanted to drive around and buy some souvenirs before we drive down and it was many people in Fraser’s Hill that day. The food court area near Jalan Pine Tree was packed with cars and police had to come by to control the traffic. The area was also jam due to the construction of the new hang out place or a cafe with an awesome view....a new edition to Fraser’s Hill and looks nice too.

After some small shopping and souvenirs  we decided it was time to go and we convoyed slowly down to Gap. Reaching Gap, we stopped, some went to toilet and Adik vomitted again, we gathered for the last time before saying goodbye.

Everyone reached home safely later that afternoon, following the same route that we came up. Alhamdulillah, the family gathering this time round was successful as planned and I’m sure everyone was very satisfied with the outcome.

Parents drove the green Proton home the next day (24 December 2012) and a few days after they had arrived in Kelantan, the monsoon season flood happened.

On the overall, we would highly recommend a similar family gathering to anyone who is interested. Fraser’s Hill is very nice for that but we need to build up some activities, otherwise it can be a bit boring if you have many people and not knowing what to do. We hope our stories will inspire many more to do the same or even better.

Like TLG facebook @That Little Gerai in AU5