Pak Idrus's Blog

We are now at the beginning of Ramadan. It is a spiritual journey that Muslim all over the world take during the month of Ramadan of the Islamic calendar. During this whole month Muslim would fast during the day and break the fast at Sunset. That moment is call Iftar or Buka Puasa in Malay. Iftar [the breaking of the fast] is done at one's house or at the local mosque. Where families members live nearby like ours the whole families would Buka Puasa at our house. Remember after fasting for the whole day everyone is not in the mood to go out, thus the buffets at the hotel is out of question. So, the best place is at one's house where the atmosphere is relaxing. We really need a relaxing atmosphere to buka puasa and there should be no rush in doing it. The ritual is always the same; when the Azan is heard we break the fast by taking some hot or cold sweet drink and Dates. Then go and perform the Maghrib prayer. Only after that one start to enjoy the first meal of the day. Then af

Last week I went back to Kuantan and stayed there for three night at my home away from home, the Vistana Hotel. While there I relived my childhood memories, as well visit places like Sungei Lembing, In Sungei lembing was the largest load Tin Mine in the world during the colonial era. There is a museum there now, housed in the once bungalow of the top British administrator of that place. the local call the Tuan Besar. The next day went to Pekan and visit the newly refurbished museum there, the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum. It houses priceless artifact of an era gone by. I like the way the museum is managed and may visit it again in the near future. As usual I went to the Teluk Cempedak beach, a beach that I called my own. I grew up here and always never far away from the beach and the sea. Thus, it has become part of me; I love the salty smell of the sea air as well the sound of the sea bashing the shore endlessly all days and nights. It kept the golden sandy beach clean just like before.

I always take a walk in the afternoon around the neighborhood just to keep me fit. It just a walk and at time I would stop at a friend's house and chat on the roadside or in the house. After a while I would continue my walk. Then would sit a while on the bench at the park nearby before going home. One day while taking a walk around the neighborhood I met a friend Ramlee who always ride a bike. He stops by me on the roadside and we chat. He told me that he just heard that Cikgu Razak of Jalan 2 had passed away. I was shock since the last time I met him was at the Friday Prayer, he looks cheerful. Then he says another of our friend Taib of Jalan 4 is in hospital and another a Dato who at one time head a bank has totally lost his memory. The last time I met the Dato was at a Supermarket nearby. He looks sick with his dear wife holding his hand. He could not really remember me. I wished him well. Some time later at KLCC I met a friend Lokman whose wife  died a year ago.  Over coffee