Kal El

This was actually our first time trying out this famous kopitiam. We were at Jusco Wangsa Maju recently to get something for a friend's new born and ended up here by accident. We wanted to break fast at Secret Recipe but most of the restaurants were full house that day, including Old Town White Coffee, but lucky us (and pity this guy on wheelchair hehehe) a Chinese elderly couple who had just finished their meal hurriedly gave us their seats. Thank you folks for your kindess. May God bless you.

Just imagine not meeting bukan seorang but a group of people for the last 21 years. Thank you to Facebook technology I was able to gather some really old friends from Primary School whom most I haven't met since Standard Six in 1987. Perhaps it's impossible to gather everyone but at least some very prominent people in the batch could be found; those yang memand takkan dilupakan, yang stood out among the crowd for being the creme and of course those same people who made it successfully in their lives and careers.

I didn't go to a popular town school, indeed the school was near town but students there were mostly children of Army Officers (like myself) and Police Personnel - Yep Jalan Padang Tembak or known as Jalan Semarak now. Since I left the school after Standard Six I had lost touch with most of them. Some went to RMC, some went to MRSM, other daily schools even my ex girl moved to Kuantan (and have not met her till now tsk!)

This alumni was set up at FB a couple of months before Ramadhan and the number grew from day to day until very recently we decided to meet after 21 years. Everybody was excited (pity those who are overseas) Of course there were unfamiliar faces, A fat one came in macho and married with a kid, a tomboy then now a mother of 2 and many other interesting people turned out for the buka puasa get together. Unfortunately I, the initiator of the alumni couldn't make it to the get together for my current health condition. Tapi yiu know, these old friends memang true friends as the moment they got to know I was unwell, they decided to come give me a visit at home.

So a couple of nights back kecoh la my house with unexpected guests - my old friends from Primary school. I felt so happy and honored to have people who cared and would go to the extend of coming to me when I couldn't go to them. These are real friends that everyone deserves. To these people, yes you've made my day and I felt alive that night to have you over at my place. There are too much to catch up but God's willing, InsyaAllah we'll meet again soon when I feel better.

The beauty of friendship touches only those who appreciate their friends.

We were at Puti Bungsu Batam once again for buka puasa this year - it was on a rainy day and the road was heavily jammed so we decided to stop at this fabulous nasi padang eatery for buka puasa. Unlike last year, this years buka puasa at this restaurant witnessed dozn more people - it was fullhouse. Perhaps last year they had just opened their doors and not many people know the place tapi tahun ni siap ada satu bas lagi datang, I suppose it was an office buka puasa get together. a long table was occupied by children which I suppose was an orphanage buka puasa treat - well not bad a crowd - syabas Puti Bungsu!

Especially for those wearing glasses.

Again, before I fell sick hari tu sempat la KN and I pi this place we've never tried before. It was indeed the last buka puasa we had at a restaurant before I had to have my food served in the room. It was actually a surprise from KN (for no apparent occassion, just for the sake of surprising me - remember when I had that sudden crave for Bubba Gump's Mama's Southern Fried Chicken? It was that same day and as we were heading to the Ikea/Curve/Cineleisure area KN told me we were trying Tony Roma's) As a matter of factly a reservation was made earlier for the two of us. We had our buka puasa outdoors, in the cold showers of the dusk.

I hope I won't be caught under ISA for this piece of opinion.

Just a friendly reminder to all my Muslim friends, jangan lupa tunaikan kewajipan membayar Zakat Fitrah. Setahun sekali dan hanya RM5.20 bagi penduduk Selangor. Untuk negeri-negeri lain boleh la refer to the rates in Cahya's latest Blog Post on the same.

Before falling sick hari tu, on the 3rd day of Ramadhan, we managed to visit our favourite dining place - Chili's! Actually masa kat Jeddah lagi on the way back to KL dah teringat Chili's just because we saw an outlet there. So, dengan nafsu bulan posa ni, we went to Chili's untuk memuaskannya... (huhuhu).

First of all please accept my apologies for suddenly disappearing for over 2 weeks. Like Kembara Musafir said in his earlier comment - penat celebrity Chef Zaidah senyum kat last entry tu, nasib baik senyumnya manis, maka manis la wajah blog ni hehehehe (mengampu tu sebenarnya Chef!)

KN and I were invited to the opening of Celebrity Chef Zaidah's (the chef with the sweetest looking mole on her face) new eatery at Oakleaf Club Bukit Antarabangsa on the 4th day of Ramadhan. The restaurant called Djeumpa has just opened its doors after the lot was vacant for quite sometime. InsyaAllah staying just opposite the club, we'll be going there again - fabulous food (of course lah what do you expect when it's chef owned?) plus the usual airy Bukit Antarabangsa surrounding greets you while you dine in at this nice place.

Among others served for bebuka (which will usually cost patrons RM38++ per head during Ramadhan - free last night heheheh) were Nasi Minyak and Nasi Putih with lauk pauk like Paceri Nenas, Dalcha Sayur, Daging, Ayam Kerutub, Ikan Bakar as well as other dishes like Mee Rebus, Sup Tulang, delicious line up of sweet desserts, fruits and choices of cold and hot drinks. The menu would change daily and we were told they're serving seafood on Friday 5th Ramadhan.

It was a short and sweet event with celebrities like Jaafar Onn and a couple others present. Jaafar Onn presented guests with three traditional songs and there were also traditional music being played live as guests enjoyed their meal.

Kal El would like to congratulate Chef Zaidah and her family on the opening of Djeumpa Restaurant and wishing the business a success. Thank you for having us on your memorable day. Pepatah Melayu berkata 'Orang Berbudi, Kita Berbahasa, Orang Memberi, Kita Merasa" - chewah, 'Terima Kasih Daun Keladi, ahahaha Future Event Nanti Jemputlah Lagi" - tu pepatah Kal El punya ek.

Here's a the map and contact number to DJEUMPA RESTAURANT. Djeumpa Di sana!

Jemaah Andalusia diberi pilihan samada untuk menyertai tour tambahan di Madinah dengan bayaran extra yang mampu. Tour pilihan ini akan dirancang oleh mutawif di sana dan jemaah akan diberitahu tarikh dan masa keberangkatan. Antara tempat-tenpat lawatan bagi tour extra ini adalah ke Lapangan Magnet dan juga ke Gua Uhud.


Dilapangan magnet jemaah akan didemonstrasikan dengan keupayaan bas atau kenderaan yang dinaiki bergerak sendiri tanpa pemandu di dalamnya atas kuasa tarikan magnet, katanya. Yang pasti jalannya rata tapi yang menghairankan mengapa tarikan itu hanya ke satu arah (dan bukan ke satu arah tertentu) sedangkan tarikan magnet sepatutnya dari berbagai arah. Entah la since penerangan tour guide tak begitu komprehensive kami hanya mampu membuat kesimpulan sendiri dan meyakinkan diri itu adalah kuasa Tuhan yang Esa.


Tour ke Gua Uhud lebih menarik (bagi yang kuat kaki mereka la) sebab perlu mendaki. Jemaah yang tua dan berpenyakit macam aku ni tunggu je la dalam bas tapi KN sempat naik bersama jemaah lain dan snap-snap gambar di gua tersebut. Gua ini hanya muat untuk tiga orang dewasa duduk dan yang pasti kalau aku berjaya naik pun ahahahah hanya sampai kat pintu gua je la sebab huhuhu nipis amat nak mencelah masuk dalam gua tu (paham-paham je la ek, kalau tak fpaham buat-buat paham, hanya yang mengalami maha mengetahui).


Tour ke Lapangan Magnet dan Gua Uhud ni dilakukan selepas solat Asar dan akan berlanjutan sehingga selepas Maghrib. Maka jemaah yang mengikut tour ni akan terlepas la satu solat fardhu di Masjid Nabawi tapi seperti kata Mutawif kami, pahala ganjaran bukan hanya dengan bersolat di dalam Masjid Nabawi sahaja tapi termaksuklah dengan melawat kesan-kesan peninggalan Rasulullah di sekitar kota Madinah. Wallahualam. InsyaAllah.

Di bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini, I am suddenly craving for Bubba Gump's Mama's Southern Fried Chicken from browsing my old photos and entry on the same and the Peach, Love and Rock n 'Roll drink I saw on Lucy Diamond's blog.

Kami tiba di Madinah pada jam satu pagi dan menginap di hotel Jawharat Fayrouz yang terletak 75m dari Masjid Nabawi. Dari jauh lagi setibanya di kota Madinah yang suci sudah kelihatan minaret Masjid Nabawi yang tersergam indah. Madinah adalah sebuah kota besar yang pesat membangun. Dari pandangan Kal El, masyarakat Arab di Madinah adalah lebih lemah lembut peribadi mereka jika dibandingkan dengan masyarakat Arab di Mekah yang agak kasar. Mengikut Mutawif kami, ini adalah kerana latarbelakang dan sejarah keturunan mereka. Mungkin begitulah kelembutan peribadi Baginda Rasulullah semasa hayatnya yang kini jasadnya di makamkan di Masjid Nabawi di Madinah yang berkat ini.

Setelah kami check in ke bilik yang dikongsi bersama 3 orang lain (seorang guru agama dari Cheras dalam awal 40an, seorang remaja berumur 16 tahun dan seorang lagi dalam lingkungan umur Kal El) kami terus melelapkan mata kerana tak sabar menanti Subuh dan mendirikan Solat di Masjid Baginda Rasuullah SAW. Memang sepanjang dibawah jagaan Andalusia kebajikan kami terjaga, makan minum kami cukup enak dan sentiasa membangkitkan selera. Macam rasa masakan kat Malaysia ni ditambah dengan sambal belacan wajib yang disediakan semangkuk terak untuk para jemaah.

Kawasan hotel kami di Madinah adalah dalam lingkungan segi tiga emas Madinah - commercial district; shopping, fast food dan sebagainya. Maka mudahlah bagi kami setelah selesai menunaikan solat singgah dibazar-bazar berdekatan. Terdapat KFC dan Hardees (Carl's Jr.) dibawah hotel Hilton yang terletak betul-betul dihadapan Masjid Nabawi dan bersebelahan dengan hotel kami. Setiap kali lepas solat juga akan terdapat banyak gerai-gerai tepi jalan menjual pelbagai barangan seperti kayu sugi, jubah, tasbih, kurma dan buah-buahan. Yang pastinya buah-buahan di Tanah Suci ini semuanya besar-besar dan manis-manis belaka.


Selalunya jemaah akan membeli kurma dan pelbagai barangan lain di Madinah. (Kalau di Mekah kurmanya agak limited dan lebih mahal). Kurma di Madinah juga lebih segar kerana dipetik terus dari pokoknya. Kami juga tuut dibawa ke ladang kurma bagi memberi peluang jemaah membeli seberapa banyak kurma yang diinginkan (tapi kalau berat sangat excess baggage, bayar sendiri la) disamping turut disajikan dengan kurma dan teh arab yang ada dicampur pudina. memang menyegarkan. Jemaah juga akan dibawa melawat ke kawasan bersejarah seperti Bukit Uhud dan Masjid Kiblatain (Dua Kiblat) semasa di Madinah.

Bagi yang merancang ke Tanah Suci Kal El ingin mencadangkan agar membuka akaun dengan Al Rajihi Bank yang banyak beroperasi di Saudi bagi kemudahan pengeluaran wang. Tak perlu bawa cash banyak-banyak kerana transaksi dia ATM AlRajihi adalah percuma dan tak perlu membayar apa-apa kos tambahan berbanding menggunakan ATM dengan Visa atau Cirrus card (Which may cost you up to RM25 per transaction at certain overseas bank) Lagipun kad ATM Al Rajihi ni berfungsi juga sebagai debit card. Lebih mudah di Mekah sebab ada satu Al Rajihi betul-betul di pintu masuk ke Masjidi Haram.


Berbalik pada Kota Madinah, kalau anda ke sana dalam bulan Sya'ban bersedialah untuk cuaca yang amat panas (Begitu juga dengan di Mekah). Semasa Kal El di sana cuaca mencecah 40 darjah - terik dan menyakitkan kulit. Tapi jangan bimbang, jarang kita berpeluh di sana kerana cuacanya yang kering. Bagi yang bercadang hendak berpuasa di sana, bulan Ramadhan akan lebih panas cuacanya. Waktu subuh pun begitu terasa bahang dan suhunya seumpama tengahari di Kuala Lumpur ni. Jangan lupa bawa sunglasses kalau mata tak tahan silau sebab lantai Masjid Nabawi dan Masjidil Haram berwarna putih maka faham-faham sajalah bila dah panas terik memancar tu kan.

To be continued...