FRIDAY IS MEET-MY-OLD-FRIENDS DAY

Two small reunions were done today with old friends from college. The first one was with Mr. Samad Yahya, a friend whose room was on the same level with mine during college days. The last time we met was before I graduated and then we lost contact and was in touch on Facebook. The meeting was over dinner at LC Catering and for once, the conversation had a new topic which had something to do with the life of a police officer.

Another shorter reunion was done in the afternoon, with an ex-coursemate from UPM in Plaza Larkin, Puan Suriana Ali was here to send her daughter back to IPTI for the second half of the school term. The last time we saw each other was also before graduation and we managed to see each other again finally despite the fact she had been here in Johor Bahru a few times already.

There are still people whom I wonder of their whereabouts. I should perhaps try my luck searching for them on the internet.

BIDDING FAREWELL TO THE MESMERIZING LOMBOK ISLAND

It was time to bid farewell to Lombok Island which stores endless surprises to its visitors. I was there from the 16th until the 19th of March during the one week school holiday and had to chance to see some of its attractions. There are still a lot of things to do and discover and I would not mind going back again some other time.

To those planning for a vacation, you should consider Lombok now, before the island gets too famous and turns to be like Bali and Krabi, where there are more foreigners than locals on the streets. If you love nature and really good (halal) food, this is the place to be. I must say, the food is something to die for.

By the way, I need to thank Mr. Haiqal Johari, for the motivation and encouragement given to visit Lombok, as well his mother, who originates from there, and his uncle, Mr. Agus, for the company throughout my stay there.

video: on the top of a hill somewhere near Seger Beach

the last photo in Lombok

Too bad one one kidnapped me while I was there so I will have to go back to school next week and before that, finish marking the test papers.(A well-known story of Lombok is that the males have to first kidnap their brides-to-be before asking the permission from the parents).

Please make sure you come back for more stories and picturesque photos from the short visit while I was there.

[MY LOMBOK TRIP MAIN PAGE]

BLOGGING FROM LOMBOK, INDONESIA

I arrived in Lombok, Indonesia, on Monday, 16th March 2015 and was greeted and welcomed by my student, Mr. Muhammad Haiqal Johari and his family members at the airport.

After two days here, I have already seen some exciting places in Lombok and only have one more day tomorrow.

Will update more once I return home. Don't forget to come back for more.

[MY LOMBOK TRIP MAIN PAGE]

PRESENT AND REPRESENTING IN ANOTHER FORMAL EVENT

14th March 2015 ~ Once in a while, if I am lucky/unlucky, I would be asked to represent the Principal to a certain event. Today, I had to represent the Principal to the closing ceremony of a course for the form six students from 3 schools in Gelang Patah parliamentary area. There were the Secretary of the Johor State Minister and officers from the State and District Education Office. The course was held at Kolej Tun Razak, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Lucky enough the VIP could not stay for long as he had another event to attend so everything ended quite early.

a flash mob

the view from the stage - it felt lonely up there

students singing

prize-giving ceremony

with the participants

ex-students from SMKTUN

I just hate formal event.*sigh*

A SMALL TREAT FOR THE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

13th March 2015 ~ Finally, I managed to gather for a small treat for these people who had helped me lock the school's grills every evening before going back every day without fail. For what they had done, their willingness and kindness, only Allah will repay.

We spent about 2 hours at Skudai McDonald's and sadly, had to part ways right that. Perhaps we should do this more often in the future. Thanks again, Wan Muhammad Faiz, Zaqrul Ieman, Adlan and Aiman.

I have two more groups of students to whom I owe similar treats. It is not easy to get people together at the same time. *sigh*

VISITING THE FAMOUS CHIROPRACTOR IN JOHOR BAHRU

I had been working too hard during the Chinese New Year break, lifting big flower pots and heavy soil for the plants. Consequently, my right hand was injured and I was living in pain for the past 2 weeks. Today, as the mid term school break had just started, I made my way to Kampung Ungku Mohsin to meet the famous chiropractor in Johor Bahru. I could not go during weekdays as the traditional practitioner could not issue medical certificates. I had been here many times before. Back in 1994, when I met with an accident and broke my collar bone, I had sought help from Uncle Chong.

I arrived at the house by 8:30 a.m. There was already a big crowd there, people from all walks of life, regardless of races and religious beliefs were eagerly waiting for their turns. I managed to secure number 53. So I went back home first (lucky my house is near) to get breakfast and returned later. I wonder how early did all these people come here to get their numbers?

the crowd at 8:30 a.m.

the crowd at 10:30 a.m.

You would know how well-known this place is just by looking at the crowd. People were telling even the Sultan (or the royal family) came here for treatment. Uncle Chong had also made appearance on national television.

the chiropractor at work in the open

When I arrived there at 10:30 a.m., my number was called after 10 minutes. For most cases which do not require the patients to take off their shirts, the twisting, pulling, tugging, massaging and relocating activities are done in the open and other people are free to watch but not for the faint-hearted. In contrast, there are also rooms for treatment for other cases and for ladies where privacy is needed.

This time, the person who treated me was not the usual Uncle Chong but Mr. Chong junior, I supposed. Everything lasted for about 5 minutes. The usual question would be: was it painful? It was painful alright but better to suffer for just a few minutes and get a speedy recovery rather than suffering the pain for a longer period of time.

the herbs on my shoulder

Pray that I will recover soon so I could enjoy the one week school break to the fullest.

AL-FATIHAH FOR MUHAMMAD FITRI ABDUL RAHMAN

I went back home and not expecting a very sad news that I read on my Facebook page. An ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Muhammad Fitri Abdul Rahman, passed away at 4:00 this morning. He was from SPM batch 2003 and I got to know him when he was in the school's Handball Team. The last time I met him with his brother was a week before Chinese New Year at McDonald's in Skudai and he looked just alright. Too bad I got to know the news quite late and I could not go to pay him the last respect.

June 2014

He was too young to leave us but God must have loved him more. May his soul be placed among the pious and faithful ones. ALFATIHAH...