McNair Meet-ups...

It is always nice to see old friends. I managed to see some ex-URIs when they came to Singapore on Christmas weekend. Bukan main sakan orang Malaysia shopping :D. Besides chatting and socializing, I had a delicious and fulfilling dinner there. So grateful indeed..Unfortunately my rusty mind now cannot recall any of the names they mentioned when I was in Rhode Island 10 years ago. Kinda embarrasing!

DHL Balloon..

We took Aaqil up there last week and withnessed unforgettable view of cityscape Singapore. This DHL balloon is located at Bugis Junction and it's just 2 stops from our place. Unfortunately, the ticket price is 23 SGD. or else Aaqil and myself will be on board every week. It was nice to be up there and watched Aaqil's priceless expressions. However, I believe that ONLY DO IT if u are not afraid of heights.

Babies Proms 2006-Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Imagine a world without music? Not only would it be too dull and uninspiring, we would miss out greatly on the many positive, long term influences on the IQ and EQ development of growing children. We were lucky to be invited to attend Babies Prom Orchestra at Victoria Concert Hall. It was a great exposure for Aaqil and we all had fun like we were in La La Land he he...

Sebana Cove

Last weekend, we tagged Omar for his work trip. Yeah, Sebana Cove again. This time we took a ferry from Tanah Merah. It was much more convenient and less taxing as compared to driving all the way thru Kota Tinggi. We spent most of our time at the Marina in John & Nina's yatch. Nina made us nice pancakes and we did enjoyed ourselves there. Before we left for Singapore, I attended Sofi's wedding at Felda Adela. The food was so unforgettable for the taste buds.

Introducing the 2 of many new miracles of LIFE..!

Stacie Marie-she is an Indian-Philipines mix

Stacy Marie and YiHun has arrived naturally via their mother's womb both about a month ago. They are 2 healthy babies welcomed to the world by their currently breast-feeding mothers and supportive fathers. Again, a Happy 'Birth'day and enjoy parenthood while it lasts...

Yi-Hun-my neighbor's son

At Stacy's House..

A day in Suntec City.

For the pass weeks, I have received several email criticizing and comparing the lives of Singaporeans and Malaysians. Well, it can be an interesting read but at the end of the day, an advise from a foreigner to a country myself... if you believed in your religion well, it is not the country which will decide your life, its YOU yourself and with the help of GOD, you will 'live' and 'be happy' anywhere you are on the globe, be the country rich or poor, modern or not... the earth too belongs too GOD remember? To me 'luxurious life' is not the only recipe towards happiness... the sustenance given by GOD is better and far more abiding... anyway, read on when I got involved in another Malaysia-Singapore trade fair...

Last weekend, I was at Suntec City attending the 'Discover Malaysia Tourism Fair 2006', not as a customer but Omar was doing his additional piggy-bank-filling duties as a soundman for the exhibition. Music has always been his passion. At first, I was a bit hesitated to go because I was sure I would be tempted with all good holiday offers but the time is not right yet. But again Omar texted me saying that, girls liked to get to know soundman or 'DJ/EmCee', is that true? He said he just turned down 3 offers from ladies asking to have coffee with him. So I took a train down to meet him, well I hope it was not because of jealousy though but because I wanted to see how good he was managing the sound, music and stuffs. The best moment was when I was invited to dance during the Sarawak culture performances. Sarawak has always been a state that fascinates me. So, basically Aaqil and myself had a great time there and made new friends too in case we will be in Sarawak again one fine day, God willing!

Listening to 'Bapak' collection of music....

'Beheading moment' - Actually I was afraid but acted cool

We all had fun.. Sarawakians are very warm people..Lucky for those who can marry one of them haha

Eid 2006 - Post Report

(Somehow or rather, at certain times, the blogspot people didn't allow me to upload pictures with several errors, stay tune dear visitors....)

Eve of Eid

Omar knocked off from work early that day, a privilege given by most companies to Muslims in Singapore to prepare for Eid the following day. We planned to have our final breaking-fast session at Al-Falah mosque in Orchard Road. Of course I have to go my separate way in the mosque as they separated the breaking-fast area between men and women. Aaqil decided to tag along with his Bapak at the mens' section. Lontong and fried chicken with fruits as appetizers/desserts were the menu, tempting but the chilli in it reminded me of the toilet so I practised moderation whilst enjoying the meal.

Aaqil after breaking-fast, while volunteers in background clearing leftover foods making way for maghrib prayers...

Like most countries, the mosques in Singapore will provide free meals for breaking-fast and its open to anybody, rich or poor, and some even extended the invitations to non-Muslims to share our religious cultures during that special month. Why we chose Al-Falah? No special reasons exactly, only that since we need to grab some last minute stuff in Orchard area and that was the closest mosque in vincinity and at the same time exposing Aaqil to such an environment where Muslims gather to break-fast and have their prayers together. It was an awesome sight to me as the ladies filled the cordoned section too, joining everybody that marked the final day of Ramadhan. The twice-yearly 'takbir' was heard after our dawn prayers and that marked the end of the soulful Ramdhan.

Eid

It's Morning of Eid and we were preparing ourselves to the airport to catch a late morning flight to Penang. Courtesy of our neighbours, Mr & Mrs Oh and their baby daughter, they joined us at the airport to have a roam around too since it was a public holiday for everybody as well. A 2-family breakfast an McDonalds started our day at the airport upon checking in our lugagges and we still had a little more time at the viewing gallery (where Aaqil enjoyed most) before we were on our way boarding. Perhaps it was a little too early for Aaqil as he dosed off again even before the plane took off waking up just in time when meals were served. He was behaving well until the plane descend, of course, the cabin pressure will affect everybody's ears including his little ones, but the suckling and swallowing action while he breastfed soothed him a lot, leaving the adults with blocked-nose-blowing actions to equalise the ear pressures.

Arriving in Penang 90mins later where dad and my younger siblings awaited and we headed straight for my paternal-grandmother's house visit followed by another one before heading back towards Kulim, my earlier home sweet home. All of us were busy enjoying our own things for most of that 5-day trip. Aaqil with his motor-cycle rides, me with my 'trying to visit as much friends as possible' project while Omar following through without jeopardising his cravings for local festive dishes with additional suppers and unnecessary add-on meals, I believe he brought himself back an additional 2 kgs as well.

Itinenaries weren't planned well this time and we did missed a lot to-do things and added to the KIV list instead. But the rest were well covered. The pictures below will proof the several bike-rides Aaqil had, the friends I got to visit (you know who they are) and the amount of food Omar consumed on every location with the best evening spent with siblings Farid & Najwa at Penang Island and again not forgetting the food.










































































































































picture paints a thousand words...
so less words...

do I miss anything?

point me out...

Eid Mubarak

I would like to wish friends and relatives whereever you are ... Eid Mubarak!!

If you happen to be in Kulim/Penang on the 24th - 28th October 2006, feel free to call me at 04-4844470 or 02-90030207 or SMS to +6590030207, who knows we can arrange something.

To my brother, Firdaus and the unforgettable friends abroad, I miss you guys..Elin,syaf, atah,chelat..etc etc

To my in laws in Singapore & ...

Last but not least to Ayah, Farid and Najwa, my only nephew and sis-in law, can't wait to see you guys!

Sincerely yours,

TheOmarFamily

Aminah Azirah

Omar A Bakar

Kadin Aaqil Omar

Southern-most tip Johor weekend getaway

Omar got some work errands to run in Sebana Cove while both Aaqil and me managed to hitch his ride for a short getaway. Driving a company sponsored vehicle, we left Singapore via the causeway at 1600hrs. Besides the Hong Leong ATM service nationwide breakdown, the rest of the journey was smooth despite the shortage of cash. It was a smooth and scenic drive passing Kota Tinggi and other small towns and villages. Since it was Ramadhan, we broke our fast whilst passing Desaru in the vehicle itself arriving in Sungai Rengit town around 1930hrs checking in a backpackers-like Tai Hoe Hotel. Aaqil was immediately busy making phone calls to his imaginary on'line' friends.



As a family, we have been practising breaking-fast with a light and easy meal for the tummy and having an actual dinner much later after the prayers. Thus, upon settling down at Tai Hoe, we proceeded to an authentic open-air seafood restaurant to fulfil our years of seafood cravings. Yes we did have a cute little lobster in butter just enough for 2 plus some other side dishes. That was a helluva seafood, though not much. Surprisingly, life in Sg Rengit was a little on the quiet side for most muslim food stalls during Ramadhan, and we did not have as much choices on food as compared to our previous visits to this town, which was accesible by boat then a 17km bicyle ride from the jetty, which we did 3 years ago. But that didn't dampen our spirits and we walked thru every possible roads in the small little but self sufficient town. There's even a Marrybrown now in town for those fast food lovers, but the sight of Burger Ramly always overwrites the former. Activity back in Tai Hoe was just a warming down, though the free wireless access did do some damage to the supposedly non-distracted night, ended with an early 'sahur'.

We needed to leave by 1200hrs the next day our Tai Hoe would forfeit our MYR10.00 deposit and we did adhere to their rules as we were checking in to Sebana Cove next, a well-developed integrated resort some 15km down the road. The 2km drive in from the main road was a serene drive through the golf course, wild monkeys encounters and nature and nature and nature to Omar's liking. The first room given to us was rejected by Omar as it was facing the swimming pool and the second was facing the marina and river and some distant mangroves and that was what he wanted. Swimming pool was next to fulfil Aaqil's request even though we never allow him to dip in longer than 30mins. Full of fun and laughter for him though and we retired back to our room, lazed around waiting for break-fast time. The view from our balcony was almost enough to soothe our eyes.

Sebana Cove, located at the southern-most tip of Johor, was designed to be a quiet stay, although there were some pricy activities like boating through the mangroves for MYR80.00 per person or fireflies tour for MYR30.00 per person. So we decided to head back to Sg Rengit town for dinner which was more favourable for budget constraints travellers like us. Luxurious travellers please stay away from reading our blog as you will find the informations here not useful ;-) A satisfying thai style cheap and delicious dinner and we headed back to Sebana where Aaqil and myself made new friends with families of Sebana staff and we were even invited for coffee to their resident lodgings, the gateway to a cheaper and discounted future stay at Sebana ... hehe ... while Omar did establish some future businesses with the technologically inclined Sebana staff.

From there on, then we learnt of several other nearby towns which were unknown to travellers like us like Sening town, which we managed to locate without getting lost on our way the next day. There, a heaven for food, food bazaars everywhere and we had such a wondeful time window shopping for breaking-fast later on, which led to packing back barbeque quail, malay kueh and specially made drinks you will never see other than during Ramadhan and Aaqil has his first unfair share of chicken rice before break-fast while we watched drooling...

Conclusion... for you reaching Sebana Cove from Singapore, and if you want to avoid the roads, there is a ferry service from Tanah Merah Terminal straight into the rivers of Sebana and someone will pick you up. The other alternative was history, they used to run a ferry service to carry vehicles from Changi Ferry Terminal to Tg Belungkor but that service are now meant for passengers with bicycles only. Maybe the cost of ferrying your vehicle across is too pricy as compared to driving through JB and Kota Tinggi though it will take about 2hours on the road.
Alternatively, you may take a cheap bumboat ride from Changi Point and it will ferry you to Tg Pengelih and you can find lots of taxis waiting to send you anywhere with the options to bargain before boarding.

That's all for now, more updates after Eid in Kedah, for more informations on Sebana Cove and Sg Rengit, just google them!!

other snapshots