Holiday with Pak Su to the East Coast and Down South - Part 1

This two weeks school holidays in June 2011, we have promised Pak Su (my Down syndrome brother) to bring him for a tour with the family since he did not follow the umrah trip together with Tok Abah and Tok Mama. He succumbed to the idea and didn’t give much problem when we sent off the entourage at the KLIA.

Faiz joined the umrah group while Kakak and Adik enjoyed their holidays at home. So the car would be nice to fit everyone comfortably. Although Kakak suffered from chicken pox, it was not so severe and the doctor has given her medication to stop it from spreading. Of course the doctor advised her not to travel but the decision was ours.

Pak Su has never gone on a holiday with us and this opportunity should be a very interesting chapter for us in getting to know him better. All these while, we spent only a few days with him whenever we ‘balik kampung’ or when he came over to our place in the presence of Tok Mama and Tok Abah. We didn’t know what to expect but we tried our best to make sure that everything went on smoothly and everyone could enjoy the trip. We arranged it in such a way that Pak Su gets to do what he likes and he gets to see unfamiliar beautiful places.

The plan was to travel from KL to Kuantan to Pekan to Mersing and to Desaru from Wednesday 1st June and return to KL on Sunday 5th June, which is the World Environment Day. A total of 5 days and 4 nights, covering about 1,000 km from west to east to south and back north of Peninsular Malaysia….sweeping through unfamiliar places, small towns, nice unspoilt beaches and water parks.

Our preparations include research on the best routes, destinations, the costs, the accommodations, good food, and the activities including the condition of the car. These are necessary things we normally do before we take on a very long journey like this. Ibu will normally prepare detail itinerary and make on-line reservations and come up with the estimated budget for the whole trip. When Dini showed her holiday itinerary to her friends, they had a shocked because their parents have never done such a thing when they go on holidays!

On Monday 30th May, we sent the umrah entourage at the airport and later that day we just rest at home after going through a very hectic weekend. We brought Pak Su for naan and tandoori dinner that night (his favourite) before we ended the day. The next day, we entertained him for a 1.5 hours badminton game at Ampang Sports Planet(he can play basic badminton) and later went to watch ‘Kungfu Panda 2’ (very nice movie) at Wangsawalk, although Pak Su prefers to watch movies like‘Karak’!! Ibu had to work that day and could not join us.

Pak Su was already excited about the trip and was ready to take on the tour with us. The kids have also cooperated well and were prepared to entertain their ‘special uncle’. I did not expect anything silly to happen when he is with us and I’m counting on everyone to give their full cooperation. We prayed that Allah will protect and help us all the way and grant us patience of the highest order.

We started our journey early morning Wednesday 1st June 2011, travelling from KL to Gambang via the old road. It was a nice and lazy drive before we stopped at Bukit Angin rest area for lunch. We always eat at Gerai No. 9 although all the stalls there serve almost the same thing. It was a superb lunch with ikan patin masak tempoyak (everyone's favourite except for me!)…Temerloh is famous for that and it is known as Bandar Ikan Patin.







After lunch, we continued our journey on the old road to Gambang, heading towards Gambang Water Park (if we used ECE, we will have to drive back towards KL to reach the place). We arrived at the hotel and it looks good although it is located far from anything else except the jungle and the water park. We checked in at about 4pm and the facilities at the resort and the room are very basic. Our view from the balcony are construction of more apartments…but it was enough for us for just one night.







After settling down, we toured the resort, took the tram to the water park (just getting info as the park closes at 6pm) and then off we went to Kuantan for dinner. Traffic was bad as we approached the new flyover at Pekan junction before we reached Tanjung Lumpur for seafood dinner at the seaside. This time we were lucky since there were empty tables at Ana Ikan Bakar Petai, the biggest and the famous restaurant there. We had Siakap Goreng Tiga Rasa, Sotong and Pari Bakar and Lala Masak Pedas. The food was nice and enough to give us the needed energy. Everybody was already tired and I was the only one awake while we drove back to Gambang.

Upon arriving, Pak Su and Adik wanted to play video games at the in house arcade so I had to entertain them for a further one hour. When it was time to go back to the room, they stopped again to watch movie until the end. When we finally lay our heads on the pillow, it was well after midnight and it didn’t take long before everybody snoozed off….resting and recharging for another hectic day.

Umrah Trip of Haji Ma'arof Family

As a Muslim, we have to visit Makkah and Madinah, if we have the capabilities (time, financial, health, safety), in order to learn, see and appreciate more of the Islamic history and practices in these holy lands. These are the places where Prophet Muhammad saw was born, lived and died. Furthermore, during Haji or Umrah, we could meet thousands of other Muslims and we can learn different styles and cultures of Muslim coming from all over the globe….Muslim is more than just Malay or Arab.

It has been a while since Ma'arof s family members’ visit Tanah Haram except for our recent Hajj and Umrah and Ayah Su’s umrah performed last 2 years (with arwah Asri Rabbani), other than that, the Hajj or umrah have been hard to come by. Anyway, Haji Ma'aroff died in Makkah in the late 1940s and was buried at Perkuburan Maa’la in Makkah.

Tok Abah had been contemplating to go on umrah after being there the last time in a few years back. He also plans to bring Pak Teh, who has never been to Makkah, although he has travelled near and far. Tok Mama wanted to follow as she last went to Tanah Haram some 10 years back, and many things have changed since then. But she was worried of Pak Su, so we offered to look after him while they are gone so then she decided to follow the Group. We have planned for a holiday trip with Pak Su and that could be an interesting training session for us brothers.

Initially, we wanted to join the umrah trip too but since we had just returned from Hajj end of last year, we decided to send Faiz as this will provide him with the exposure and experience of doing umrah with the grandparents and uncles and more importantly in the absence of his parents. He was happy to have had the opportunity.

The Group just got larger when Mak Ngah decided to join in. She has never been on a long haul flight or travelled out of the country….so this is her break and this could be her new experience and exposure. Later Isnariah (Ibu’s office mate) decided to join too as she had initially planned to performed Umrah on her own. Futher on, Kak Long, Tok Abah’s cousin and neighbour) and her husband decided to join in, similar stories to above but at least she had experienced flying when she was a teacher in Sabah, but never had a long haul flight. A few weeks later, Tok Jae (Kak Long’s younger brother) also decided to join the Group. They were driven by the fact that their mother had gone for Haji last year and their late father never had the opportunity to visit the Holy Lands during his lifetime.

So in total there were 9 people in the Group and many of them were first timers to the Holy Lands, some first timers on long haul flight, some first timers on flying and some first timers for visiting other countries.

We were tasked to coordinate the trip in KL and after reviewing the umrah packages of several travel agencies, we decided that the Group will visit the Holy Lands from 30 Mei 2011 until 12 Jun 2011 / 26 Jamadil Akhir – 10 Rejab 1432H, with YHA Travels & Tours (based in Ampang Point). The selection was based on suitable travel dates, overall costs, track records, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, air carrier (Malaysia Airlines) and direct flights to either Makkah / Madinah (MAS only to Jeddah).

So when the actual day came, Tok Abah, Tok Mama and Pak Su flew into Subang via Fireflyz from KB on Saturday 28 May 2011. Hibatullah sent them to KB airport while Pak Teh fetched them from Subang airport. The same morning, we had to attend IQKL’s Hari Ihtifal at UIA, where Faiz took part in the drama. We organized a small majlis solat hajat and dinner that night at our house in Gombak, attended by all the 8 "bakal tetamu Allah swt" (except Isnariah who had her own doa selamat at her kampung in Kuala Lipis).












On Monday 30th May 2011, we gathered at KLIA to send them off. Dini had flown into KLIA that morning via MAS since she had just completed her school program earlier that morning. Pak Su didn’t create any problem and we finally said goodbyes to the Group when they checked into the departure hall at about 1 PM.

Alhamdulillah, all went well and they arrived safely in Jeddah on time, didn’t have to wait long for immigration clearance and then on to Madinah. We hope everyone will benefit from the trip and we also hope that more trips to the Holy Lands will be made by Hj Ma'aroff's family members. Semoga perjalanan mereka dipermudahkan dan amal ibadah mereka diterima dan dikurniakan umrah yang mabrur.

Majlis Ihtifal IQKL 2010

On 28 May 2011/24 Jamadil Akhir 1432H we attended the IQKL "Majlis Ihtifal". Last year we missed the opportunity to attend this event due to our trip to the Universal Studio. So, we did not want to miss the chance again this year. This time it was held at the Main Auditorium, IIUM. We were told that this year the event was more grand than last year since it was held at Masjid Negara.

Alhamdulilah, the auditorium was packed with parents and families of the students. It was officiated by Dato' Wan Mohamad bin Dato' Sheikh Abdul Aziz, ex head of JAKIM. Both Dato' Dr Hassan Ali and Dato' Hj Mohamad Hassan Muktar, the Founder and the Chairman of IQKL respectively attended the event and gave us a very enlightening speeches. Of course the event started with recitation of doa by Syeikh Said Abdel Latif Karawia from Al-Azhar and Quran recitation by a form 1 student. Syeikh Said was invited by IQKL to teach all the students talaqi and sanad for selected students and teachers in a 5 year programme. It's a great opportunity for the students to have Syeikh at the school for 5 years, they surely will make the most of his experience, knowledge and skill in teaching Al-Quran.

We were informed by the Chairman in his speech that IQKL has put in a system whereby each parent will be given a user ID and a password to access their children progress in academic, hafazan and other activities through their website. We thought that this is a great effort by Mudir and the IQKL teachers to ensure that parents can monitor the progress and development of their children constantly. As parents, we truly appreciate everything that the team at IQKL has done for our children. We know that it is not an easy task and we are grateful. May Allah swt blessed them.

After all the formalities, speeches and launching of website (http://www.iqkl.com.my/), the performance by the students started. A group of about 30 banat performed choral speaking about great muslim women while banin performed nasyid/qasidah. Faiz participated in the drama taken from a novel "Nyawa di Hujung Pedang". In between the performance, there were prize giving ceremony for students who excel in their exams, sports and hafazan. But the touching moments were the recognition given to those who have completed their hafazan of 30 juzuk Al-Quran. There were 10 of them and their parents were invited to present the token to their children. Congratulations to them and their parents.

We are quite impressed with the way IQKL has organised the event. They managed to get the alumnis to help them on the corporate videos, the website and the slides show during the event. It was great to see the children showed their hidden talents since we always see them wondering about in the school compound or playing futsal. Some of them are really talented in acting, singing or playing musical instruments. All in all, we enjoyed their performance and were glad to be part of the IQKL's family. Well done to the students and the teachers of IQKL.

Speech given by Dato' Wan Mohamad

Recitation of Doa by Sheikh Said

Majlis Khatam 30 Juzuk Hafazan

Quran Recitation with Qiraat Nafi' by IQKL student

Choral Speaking by Banat

Faiz as "orang kampung"

Drama "Nyawa di Hujung Pedang"

Nasyid/Qasidah by Banin