Facebook, Miza and KB (Yes, In That Order...)


Anybody can read the al-Quran whether one is a Muslim or a non-Muslim and the al-Quran is not owned by the Malays or the Arabs. ~ Nik Aziz (Chief Minister of Kelantan)

I don’t know what to make of Facebook nowadays. There are days I regard it with disdain. I mean, who cares if you just bought a Coach bag. There are days however, I regard it with such esteem. I mean, meeting an old buddy after losing contact for 15 years because of Facebook is downright amazing isn’t it? And I’m not talking about those old school or childhood friends who didn’t waste time adding you as a friend but never made any effort to say hi or reply your message.

Recently I was invited by an old buddy to come over to Kelantan. She is none other than Miza, my housemate back when I was doing my matriculation. We got along well, I think. After all, she was the one who introduced me to nasi kerabu. Hehe. After graduation we went separate ways but that image of a petite, tan, long-haired girl in baju kurong never slips my mind.

I think we became friends on Facebook sometime this year. As the norm in Facebook, we were friends but never said hi or anything like that. I looked at her profile and pics but it was kinda difficult to guess what kind of person she has become after all these years. I could see that she’s teaching somewhere in Kelantan and is wearing a tudong but that was it. So when she asked me to come over to her place, I didn’t know what to make of it at first. Is she bloody serious? But my doubts quickly disappeared when I thought of the happy-go-lucky and unassuming girl that I once knew. Oh, and I’d never forgotten her contagious laugh. Miza, I hope you’re still the same person that I knew, I prayed.

I didn’t hesitate to buy plane tix to KB. In fact I bought it weeks before the day I was supposed to depart. But as fate would have it, she had to attend a meeting in Putrajaya a few days before I was supposed to fly to KB. So we met in Putrajaya. I did the honour of picking her up. It was then that I found out she’s actually a lecturer – teaching linguistics, for that matter! OMG! Linguistics??? And she still loves to see movies! Hehe.

So to cut it short, I went to KB and had a blast! Her bedroom is awesome. It has a balcony!!! I’ve always had a fetish for balconies. Hehe. I don’t know what is it about her room but it is always temperate. No aircond is needed. Perfect for a mid-afternoon slump. Hehe.

Food in KB was awesome! I’ll never forget that keli percik. Oh, did I tell you that I was so besotted with that brass kuali Chef Wan had used on his TV shows? Miza drove me all the way to Rantau Panjang to look for it! But since the price is ridiculous, 270 is the cheapest, I decided not to buy it. My flight tix to KB didn’t even cost that much!

I could see a lot of development projects going on in KB. Miza told me some wonderful stories about politics in Kelantan. Yup, about Nik Aziz and the Sultan of Kelantan and what not. You know, the kind of stories that are never covered by mainstream press.  If what she told me is true, then long live Kelantan! God bless Kelantan! There’s something about Kelantan that simply exudes simple life. I like that. KB is quite laid back. I like that, too.

Miza is still the same person. Cool. Funny. But I think she’s more spiritual now. (I prefer the word spiritual rather than religious.) Which is good. She’s spiritual but still unassuming. That’s wonderful! Til we meet again, buddy. I just realized that I’d forgotten to take any pics whilst I was in KB. But that’s okay. I don’t need pics to remind me of the wonderful time and company that I had :).

Comments

Iman Hayat said…
awesome! now i feel like visiting kelantan... :D
January 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One Kiddo's Opinion

Image
Sometimes the last thing learners need is for their preferred learning style to be affirmed. Agreeing to let people learn only in a way that feels comfortable and familiar can restrict seriously their chance for development. ~ Steven Brookfield Mork Mindy, do you know that you’re frowning a lot nowadays? Mindy Uh, really? You’re so observant, Mork. Mork Well, I have to be, don’t I? I’m your supposedly alter ego . Your animus , as Carl Jung put it. You wouldn’t be having those frowns if you’re not affected by something. Mindy Well, yeah. I am affected. By words. Mork (Chuckle) Don’t we all? Mindy Yeah, but if it’s by someone you least expect, how do you deal with it? Mork Okay, this is getting somewhere. What happened, dear? Mindy You know how I love my kids. And my teaching. In fact, I got my kids to thank for for lifting me up this New Year. Seeing them sitting in class, apprehensive yet cheerful really helped me to get out of my moroseness. Mork Okay. So, what is the problem, dear?
Read more

Genealogy 101

Image
Heirlooms we don't have in our family. But stories we've got. ~ Rose Cherin. I have always been interested in the genealogy of my family but since this has never been divulged by my immediate antecedents, I kept quiet and sort of forgot about it until recently, when my kids and I discussed a Malaysian play. In the past, occassionally, I would hear my Dad telling guests who came to our house that my GrandDad was originally from Bandung. Occassionally, too, I heard my Dad telling people that my GrandDad came from Surabaya. Well, to put it simply, let's just say my GrandDad came from Indonesia. I am not sure whether I heard wrongly or my Dad heard wrongly. I am also not sure whether he's a Javanese or Sundanese. My Dad's family said that he was a Javanese but then this cannot be ascertained since the Malaysian concept of a Javanese has been: anyone who comes from Indonesia. Whereas to Indonesians, a Javanese is anyone who comes from the Java Island. Indonesia does n
Read more

Driving Home

Image
Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce Everytime I drive home from my place (Bangi) to Johor (Mom’s place), my mom or sis would be calling, asking where I'd reached. This ritual would start even when I’m still at home and if I were, they’d be asking me when I’d leave. When I said I’d leave in the morning, my mom would take it to literally mean around 8. But being the relax-and-no-need-to-rush person that I am, morning could be anytime between 8 -12. 10-12, to be more exact. Hehe. I’ve gotten used to this ritual for years. Those calls mean quite a number of things to me. One, I feel like they really miss me. Two, they can’t wait to see me. Three, I feel like I’m really wanted. And four, I feel like I’m important to them. Clearly, I enjoy this ritual and look forward to it every time I drive home. I’d be somersaulting inside when I get calls from my mom or sis. Hehe. This ritual stopped, however, the second last time I dr
Read more