RIP Mr Jackson

It was in 1983 I think. My friends (I can't really recall but it must be Azmy, Baha, Amran and Zamri waiting for a movie to start at 3pm at the nearby Cathay) and I were having lunch at one of the stalls in Padang Kanak-Kanak in Ipoh, when I saw a Jukebox. I decided that the place could do with some music and so I made my way to the machine. I was browsing through the selections of music when I chanced upon a song that I've read in the newspapers which apparently was already huge hit in the US. Unfortunately, in ancient time Malaysia (unlike today), such hit songs would take their own sweet time to come to Malaysian airwaves. So naturally I chose the song.

Listening it for the first time then, I remembered vividly my friends asking me then: "Lagu apa ko pilih ni Mior???" But I was hook, line and sinker. The beat was simply infectious. And thus began my fascination with the singer's beautiful music and to a certain extent, his eccentricities. Oh yes, the song was Beat It by Michael Jackson.

And today the music dies. RIP Michael. And Al-Fatihah. (he converted to Islam last year)

Sometimes a movie can be ridiculously crazy.. like this one!

Movie reviewers in the States are basically up in arms against Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen saying that it is empty, hollow, an assault on the senseless, and brainless. Sheesh, what's with these people!!!!!

I only have one word - FREAKING AWESOME! (oooh okay its two words). Now I'm too pumped up to sleep. Gotta have another go at the movie, I guess.

When Aidil Met Zara

Aidil, the handsome active guy, finally met Zara, the ohhh so beautiful and graceful girl and they hit it off together. Kami yang tua-tua riuh-rendah seronok ... as usual. Aaaaah ....babies...
(Both pix were taken last weekend at my bro-in law home in Cheras using my old battered phone ... hence the quality.)

The sound of .... my animated Arissa

Arissa, my youngest, is pretty creative, I believe. And resourceful too. During last
December long holiday she took it upon herself to learn anime-related graphics
and some easy video editing stuff.
She has created quite a few and this one is the latest. Of course as a Bapak,
I'm mighty proud. Now if only she listens to me more....

One hot Saturday... ada tetamu and ada orang kahwin

It was really hot and humid yesterday. And by 5 pm I was already floored... exhausted giler. I still can't think clearly and decided to go Yanged (Kakak, see you are a noun!!!) with this entry. So here goes a rather detailed happenings for the day...

6.45am: Wife woke me up ... in time for Subuh prayer.

7.03am: Refrigerator visit.. minum ayor sejuk. And then say hi to Yan's cousin Kak Encik and her husband Abang Din in the living room. They were watching TV. They came on Thursday nite and it was fun having them over, as usual.

7.05am: Decided not to watch the TV3 Motivasi Pagi with them, went back to my bedroom and switched on the Internet. Blog hopping! And of course, Facebooking!!!

7.16am: Yan came in and asked me to google pancake recipe. Okay, our breakfast would be pancake, obviously.

7.33am: Breakfast. Ooh got nasi goreng too. Yipee!!!

7.33am - 8.20am: Eating and chit chatting away with my tetamu. Can't recalled what we were talking about though. Hmm, getting old.

8.21am: Asked Hadim (Kak Encik's youngest son) to join me watching Diversity on youtube. I should be getting money for promoting Diversity, no? Then his brother Afiq also joined us. Last-last semua dah ada depan PC.

9.15am: Kak Encik's family left for Bangi to visit her second son Wan. (Hmm I don't even know his full name. Note: must ask Yan later).

9.30am: Back in front of a PC. Yan was dozing off in front of a TV. The kids were having breakfast.

10.a00am - 10.30am: All were getting ready to go to Kuala Pilah for Yone and Azri's wedding reception.

10.33am: Left home. Figured will be in time to join the rest in Kuala Pilah by 12 something. Took the KLIA highway (or is it the PLUS highway?)

1040am: The drive was smooth. Should be on time....

11.07am: Approaching the Nilai exit at the KL-Seremban highway and oooo oooo traffic jam. Damn!

11.40am: Traffic was RIDICULOUS. We were inching away. Just passed the Nilai exit.

12.38 noon: Reached Seremban. God. More than an hour from Nilai to Seremban.

12.50 noon: Exited via Senawang. Oh no.... so many traffic lights.

12.53 noon: Swung into Petronas Mesra. Beli roti... sudah lapor.

1.07 pm: Reached Bukit Putus. (for the record: this is our first time to Kuala Pilah) and it felt like we were going to Cameron Highlands instead.

1.18pm: Thank God, that stretch didn't drag on. Before long, after Ulu Bendul, it was ... urm .. normal route again.

1.30 pm: Noticed there're stalls selling daging salai, ayam salai among others along the way. Interesting. Made mental note to buy those on our way back nanti.

1.45pm: Reached outskirt of Kuala Pilah town. Received call from Anom enquiring where we were. They were eating already.

1.46pm: Asked Yan to read the map on the invitation card. She asked Asma instead sebab takut bagi salah direction and thus incurring the wrath of the driver..

1.50pm: Got confused after the junction.

1.52pm: Stopped at one kampung house. Asked for direction.

1.53pm: Got direction.. drove off and alhamdulillah found the rumah kenduri.

2.04pm: The rombongan were almost done with the makan-makan... so we took our turn. Lapar. And the food was heavenly... bayangkan daging masak lomak, among others.

2.10pm: As I was eating away happily, suddenly my aunt Achik promised that she'll give a baju batik (size S lagik) if I'm successful with my Biggest Loser effort. I just blinked and said to myself, "What Biggest Loser? I'm eating now!!!!"

2.30pm: Then took photos here and there. But it was hot.. really really hot. Imagine the pengantin in their songket berlapis bagai.

3.05pm: Left Azri's home.

3.18pm: Reached Kuala Pilah town. Yan snapped some photos for the benefit of her niece .. Nurul... who would soon become a full-fledged Kuala Pilah resident.

3.35pm: Stopped to buy the daging salai... also some dodol.

4.15pm: Reached the PKLUS highway via Senawang. Traffic was not as bad as in the morning. But it was still hot... no its hotter... even with air-cond in full blast.

5.03pm: Reached home. Exhausted. The heat was rather unbearable. Mandi, solat and then zzzzzzzzzzz........

9pm: Alia and Asma woke me up... they were hungry, apparently.

9.20pm: Left home with family in search of food.

10.35pm: Back home. Switched on Internet. And air cond!!!! aaaah lega!!!

All in all, the day went rather well. It was great having Kak Encik and family as usual. It was good to be able to join the rest in Kuala Pilah, despite the heat and the horrendous traffic. Here are some photos from Kuala Pilah:

Kak and abang ipar pengantin... Anom and Nasir. Kat Penang hari tu lupa nak amik gambarq.

Arissa, Asma, Yone and Alia

The anak-anak gadis and seorang teruna with the pengantin

The bride's family

Hari ni lupa nak amik gambar dua orang... so tuan-puan will have to make do with this one... hehehe