MAKING NEWS ...ADORING THE EVENINGS

 TT GAJAH - AT TWILIGHT TIME , CAUGHT THIS PICTURE JUST AFTER THE RAIN SHOWER HAD COOLED DOWN THE TEMPERATURE AND RELIEVED THE SOIL 17 FEB 2013

RESTORAN TTGAJAH WELCOMED ITS GUESTS 1 FEB 2013

      7 FEB 2013 6.47 am IN THE MORNING WOKE UP MUCH EARLIER THAN THE BIRDS

THAT CHOSE TO FIND THEIR SAFE SANCTUARY ON THE WIRES NEAR MAYBANK GRIK PERAK

 WE WERE AT A COOKING ACADEMY IN KUALA LUMPUR AND SAT DOWN FOR BRUCH WITH AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR AND HER HUSBAND. SEEN MY WIFE AND HER MOTHER -17 FEB 2013

 NO, I AM NOT LEARNING THE FINERY OF COOKING BUT GETTING THE CHANCE TO BE ON CAMERA WITH A MASTER CHEF AND HER STUDENTS. 17 FEB 2013

 15 FEB 2013 UNEXPECTEDLY WE WERE AT JELUBU NEGERI SEMBILAN AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING TWO NEW HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION. REALLY MARVELOUS THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE FOUND IT FITTING TO ENVISAGE  THE BUILDING AND RESTORATION OF WOODEN MALAY HOMES.

THE OWNER BOUGHT AN OLD HOUSE FROM PANTAI SALAK PERAK AND MOVED IT TO JELEBU AND HERE IT IS STANDING RIGHTEOUSLY AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN A HECTIC WEEK NO DOUBT BUT FILLED WITH MOMENTS OF ADORATION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE

ON NATURE'S TRAIL - FRAMEWORKS FOR THE FUTURE

 Just after noon we left the jetty at Tasik Banding Perak by boat to the northern part of the lake. We headed for Sungai Kejar close to the border of Perak Malaysia / Thailand. The speed boat carrying 10 passengers was churning its blades at maximum speed to take us there. Meantime exposing natures richness and splendour all along the way. A 115H Power engine took no less than an hour to reach the site with no other craft on the water except for light boats used by the orang asli. This is still a restricted area and only visitors with permits would be allowed to visit.

This is one occasion when I accompanied the team that look and advise on the project that is on going under the contractor awarded the contract. Dispersed at three separate sites all situated at different corners of the lake, it is no simple order of transportation or mobility. Water level of the lake and weather wise added to the factors that contribute to the construction and accomplishment. An ordinary visitor would of course view the visit as extra ordinary, having the one time opportunity to discover the virgin forest, the orang asli homes, their activities and foremost realized the future facilities offered for visitors that will visit Royal Belum in the not too soon future that promised a natural paradise of sort . Surely the magnificent trees, the lakes and the wild animals in the area would render a wonderful vista very near to home. Facilities as planned in the project currently undertaken would allow for visitors to camp on sites as well as be  tempted to feel close to nature and desiring to explore the vast tracks of wilderness and nature's reserve. It is hard to imagine the depth of the lake nor what lies hidden underneath since the valleys had been flooded and thus the huge expanse of man-make lake. Tall tree stumps protruding out of the water at several parts of the lake do give clues to what lies underneath. Thus maneuvering the boat is only left to the experienced less you would run into hidden tree trunks.   

 

Along the route to Sungai Kejar we moved passed such nature sights, straining our eyes at the magnificent growth while hoping to find birds especially hovering in the sky or perched on the tall trees. Of course we were assured fishes are abandon in the lakes. For lovers of drift woods, they would be clamouring to acquire them if given the chance.   Several islands too dotted the lake. If you have been a visitor to Langkawi you would recognize the scene as familiar and identical excepting the former is an island and the water a different tint of colour. A good binoculars would surely help you to see more.

 

An hour and twenty minutes later, we approached the construction site at Sungai Kejar, with proposed buildings already taking shapes and positioned where they should have been. Workers were busy at work , grateful to be in the shades of the giant trees that provided shelter from the hot noonday sun above. Earlier on the way we passed a barge carrying materials for the site here. No it did not arrive in an hour but had taken no less than five hours and unloading the materials was another task.

The construction site at Sungai Kejar .

Floats or jetty that allowed the boats to anchor had to be provided by the contractor, less it would be cumbersome when the water level rises without warning.

How would you like to be working here amidst giant trees that gave you protection from the sun while all along presenting vistas of greenery? It is an opportunity one would not like to miss. Maybe that was the reason why I noticed the happy faces of workers here, forming a good mix of locals as well as foreigners the likes of Bangladeshi, Nepalise and Burmese. 

At one corner I noticed this piles of wood, obviously collected and placed where they are for a purpose. Curiosity had the better part of me and I started to have a closer look, examining the features and shapes.Ended with taking two pieces home to turn into a 'masterpiece' if possible.

Two views of the construction site with the planned locations of building that would be standing there later after completion.

Wow! Great to see them growing and touching the sky.

                This is an 'orang asli village' by the fringe of the lake. One thing for sure they are not short of supply of fishes from the lakes.

The above three pictures show the typical cabins designed for accommodation of trippers to the lake who would be immersed in the surrounding vegetation and foliage. This is situated at Sungai Papan another site for the project under construction.

     

Looking back as the boat left its wash, we are sure it would not be that peaceful and quint anymore once visitors start moving into the Belum Valley once it is opened to visitors and tourists. Still we have the beauty and serenity to show and with control, planning and management hopefully we could assure its existence. Looking back, hopefully it would not be like many other projects that were executed with great expectations but fall short of good maintenance and management when completed.

Majlis Khenduri di Kampong

MAJLIS KHENDURI PERKAHWINAN nampaknya tidak lagi menunggu musim cuti sekolah. Asalkan ada hari-hari kelapangan, majlis seperti itu terus dilangsungkan. Bulan Januari dan Februari 2013 ini dengan cuti-cuti hujung minggu pula menjadi pilihan. Kami tidak tertinggal dari menyertai majlis-majlis itu dan sangat menarik sekali bila di serikan dengan persembahan seperti silat. Raja Sehari pun wajar di sambut dengan satu persembahan ala budaya tua kita. Lihat sahaja langkah-langkah pesilat kita.  

Kadang-kadang teringat juga untuk mempelajari tetapi usia tentu tidak boleh menerima segala cabaran. Masa muda dahulu gelanggang silat hanya di kawasan pendalaman jauh dari bandar dan jesteru anak-anak kampong sahaja yang terdedah kepada seni itu. Kini usaha telah diambil untuk membawa seni mempertahankan diri ini ke kawasan bandar. Baik sekali kalau anak-anak muda kita mempelajarinya agar bersedia dan terus mewarisi  budaya kita tersendiri.  

WOW! HOW WE LOVE COCONUTS

Fresh coconut drinks are  great hits especially in hot weather. No surprise therefore coconuts in their shelves are sold in super markets and served to you direct from the freezers. Mind you they are imported from our neighboring countries. At the local levels, coconut kiosks grow like mushrooms during the 'puasa' month tempting people to go for cool coconut drinks. Then only we will see stacks of young coconuts by the roadsides at  kiosks.They were plucked from trees and transported for sale. Daily of course coconuts are bought by housewives, hotels and restaurants clients for the specialized Malaysian cuisines where coconut milk (santan) is a must.

That is a preview to what that comes with the picture attached. It was taken several years back and hardly can we come across such situation now for reasons that are not hard to fathom. 

I am sure many would stop even if driving on the road should they come across such an exposure. Especially if you happened to have a camera at hand. Sadly we may not easily come across such situation. For one there are no persons ready to go into such venture and the animal for such occupation are hardly found now let alone be trained. 
(Anyone who knows about motorcycles would be able to detect the year from the make and brand of the motorcycles used.)  

Tall coconut trees growing in clusters are hard to be felled but the brave ones will do the service of cutting down the tree, pieces by pieces and the whole trunk would come down without 'harming' whatever is around. I had the opportunity to photograph such an 'adventure' or service and marveled at the man's ability, strength and especially bravery. It is therefore recognizable that dwarf coconut trees do take over as replacement. 

By the way when in Bali recently we were told that the by-laws do specify that tall buildings cannot be taller than the coconut trees. Appreciate if this is valid. If this so than it is a plus point for Bali especially. If so they would adhere to taller coconut trees on the island.

By the way, do you still have coconut trees growing in your backyards or foreyards?

SATU RENUNGAN " APA PULA KEESOKAN HARINYA?"

"Apa Pula Keesokan Harinya?" merupakan satu renungan hasil bacaan khutbah pada hari Jumaat pertama pada tahun 2013 ini. Kebiasaannya kita lebih mengetahui sausana dan reaksi para jumaah pada solat Jumaat setiap minggu.Pada 4 Januari 2013 bersamaan 21 Safar 1434 jumaah di Masjid Tuan Hussein Titi Gajah Alor Setar Kedah rasanya tergerak atau tertarik dengan apa yang disampaikan oleh Tuan Imam atau Katib .Mari kita ikuti.

" Alhamdulillah, marilah kita sama-sama panjatkan setinggi-tinggi kesyukuran kepada Allah SWT kerana dengan limpah hidayatNYA maka kita boleh menarik nafas lega sebaik sahaja kita bangun pagi tadi. Kita masih dapat melihat alam sekeliling kita. Kita boleh mengatur langkah ke mana sahaja yang kita suka keserata pulusuk bumi ini. Kita masih dapat merasa nikmat kenyang, nikmat mendengar, nikmat melihat, nikmat bau dengan mencium pelbagai wangi-wangian dan sebagainya.Pedek kata jasad dan roh kita masih bersatu. Kita masih diberi kesempatan hidup seperti hari-hari sebelumnya. Kita boleh mengangkat tangan dan kaki, boleh berkahwin, berseronok gembira bersama anak-anak isteri dan sebagainya. Sesungguhnya semua itu adalah nikmat kurnian Allah kepada kita yang tidak ternilai tingginya. Kita seharusnya bersyukur ke hadrat Allah SWT atas kurnian nikmat yang melimpah riuh begitu"

Begitulah saranan dari Tuan Imam/Khatib yang berkhutbah pada Jumaat pertama 2013 ( 4 Januari 2013 bersamaan 21 Safar 1434). Ramai jumaah di masjid-masjid lain di negeri Kedah menatap kandungan khutbah yang sama. Saya percaya ramai yang tersentak serta terus memberi perhatian khusus kepada apa yang diperkatakan dan susulan seterusnya.

" Apakah kita tidak terfikir tanpa kita sangka pada satu pagi sebaik sahaja terbangun dari tidur tiba-tiba sebelah tangan kita tidak boleh diangkat, tidak terasa apa-apa apabila memegang sesuatu. Atau tiba-tiba sahaja kita tidak boleh berjalan, terasa macam kedua-dua belah kaki sudah ditiadakan"

" Dan apabila sudah berkeadaan demikian apakah tindakan kita? Apakah baharu kita hendak mengeluh? Barulah kita teringat hendak melakukan amal ibadat, membuat seberapa banyak amal kebajikan: barulah kita mahu mencari mereka yang pernah kita tipu, kita zalimi, kita inayani untuk meminta maaf? Barulah kita berlumba-lumba mahu kemasjid, mahu mendirikan sembahyang berjumaah, mahu menunaikan zakat, tertekad mahu berpuasa penuh sebulan? Baru mengaku mahu patuh akan perintah Allah. Baru teringat mahu memperdalamkan ilmu-ilmu agama. Barulah hendak memperbanyakkan selawat dan salam keatas junjungan. Barulah hendak beristigfar, berwirid, bertasbih dan sebagainya."  Sekian petekan awalnya.

Terima kasih kepada penulis Ustaz Abdul Latiff dengan tajuknya "Mari Bersyukur" serta Jabatan Agama Islam Kedah. Sama-sama kita melangkah ke tahun baru dengan mendapat teguran  membina demi kemajuan dan keselamatan diri.

Mungkin ditanya adakah saya mencatat segalanya itu dan hasilnya membuat catatan ini. Selalu juga terfikir untuk bawa bersama nota dan pen semasa berjumaah pada  hari Jumaat agar apa yang disampaikan boleh menjadi panduan. Lebih mudah jika dengan kebenaran Tuan Imam dapat kita pinjamkan naskahnya. Dengan itu saranan juga boleh diteleti oleh mereka di rumah juga. Sekian dengan harapan kita mendapat manfaat dari apa yang tercatat dan tahun Hijrah 1434 dan Masihi 2013 membawa kebahagian. 

Masjid Zahir di bandar Alor Setar yang dibuka pada pemerintahan Sultan Sir Abdul Hamid Halim Shah Ibni Al Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukaram Shah (1882 -1942) pada tahun 1912

REALIZING THE CREATION OF BEAUTY AND A BUSINESS VENTURE....

Often it has been seeing other people's  creation and works of art, never stopping to realize that we too can produce and give as much. Maybe we have been planning and doing things for others that we never stop to look at our own productions. Nevertheless in the last few months we have begun to create one of our own and proud that it has started to mature and beginning to stand on its own, giving satisfaction to others as well as ourselves. 

My wife's resources, skills and challenging aspirations has seen a new business venture taking shape and being welcomed by the community and the patrons. Many ventures, industries and business challenges have been taken up by the Malaysian communities; each geared to meet the pursuit of the country's growth and needs. Being close to home and a site fitting for a building or buildings of its own , a restaurant and and vintage home come to occupy a site along the main road and in the mukim of Titi Gajah.  Being now a stone's throw to the Alor Setar airport and other growth centres in the area, it is a venture like any others that hovers on the wings of success with planning, grits and stead-fastness. That we hope and pray for.With its youthful management and esprit we look for a growing future in the business. Meantime it is a service venture that needs constant updating and surveillance since the patrons and customers want the best of both worlds. This is Restoran Citarasa TT Gajah which saw its beginning 8 November 2012.

Welcome. Selamat Datang.

 

 A garden landscape gives an ambiance to the site

       It's an open concept, refreshing and inviting.     

 

Six mature Royal Palm trees protrude through the roof top and with orchid plants on their trunks

The two rain-forests in front and by the side of the main road is flood lighted at night.

 Guests at one of the earlier function held at Restoran TT Gajah

with dishes of choice served