Thursday 17 September 2009

I got no kampong to balik to

Ever since both sets of our grandparents passed on, we've spent Hari Raya in the Klang Valley with our parents. Even that, there's only my Mum left now and arwah Dad's brother, Alhamdulillah.

The nice thing about having no faraway kampong is we that we get to go home at night to our own beds.

No need to put up with communal makeshift ones or the first-to-arrive-gets-the-guest-bedroom kind of deal.

And at this time the valley is at it's most serene, no cars, no lorries, no motor-bikes, in short NO JAMS.

You almost get to hear silence on the roads.

You get to see emptiness in the commercial centres.

And you get to see bands of migrant workers out enjoying the holidays, smiles etched on their faces as they greet their countrymen.

And apart from the occasional fire-cracker, you might even get to hear yourself breathe.





Well for those making the journey, drive safely, exercise lots of patience and do have a pleasant trip.



























EID MUBARAQ TO ALL MUSLIMS EVERYWHERE

19 comments:

Kak Teh said...

Zendra, my first raya in kampong was after 17 years here (London) . It was a shock to the system - the last minute shopping at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, the jam, the heat - etc. But the children, they were still small then, thoroughly enjoyed it. But in KL, we couldnt understand the concept of open house where you hardly get to speak to the host. Balik kampong in Alor star - we had a wonderful time.

Once day, Insyaallah, we will do that again.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA DAN MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN.

Saya... said...

Ah yesss...me own bed!

Zendra-Maria said...

Kak Teh, Open Houses are so KL haha. We just get everyone to the house to do their ziarahs at a pre-set time and day and get it over with. Seems impersonal but efficient lah so people can plan their ziarahs round the open houses.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA DAN MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN kepada Kak Teh sekeluarga.

Zendra-Maria said...

Saya: regular bed, regular nightie, regular "bolster"..... blisssssss

Al-Manar said...

Zandra
You are being selfish or you may forget that there are old folks like us looking forwards to those city kids returning to break the silence and tranquility of our mundane kampong life - not much, just once a year if they care and if they can.
Selamat hari raya
Pakcik

Zendra-Maria said...

Ouccchhh Pak Cik, but of course city kids whose parents are back at the kampong MUST and ABSOLUTELY MUST make the trip home.

In my case Mum is only 10km away down the New Pantai Expressway, and as for hubby his oldest brother is 10km down the Kesas Highway...

Jari disusun, maaf dipinta, Pakcik Al-Manar yang mulia.

Capt's Longhouse said...

haha !...this year my kids have to swim across to Kapas to be with their daddy !
...Raya will never be the same again since my mother passed away 5years back, our kpg Manjoi Ipoh family home is empty without her...and poor old dad lying bed ridden in my sister's home in the city. We will however drive up to empty K.L. to be with our ayah and hold his hands for forgiveness and prayers.
,,,,SELAMAT HARI RAYA and maaf zahir batin to all yaa !

Tok Uban

Unknown said...

Dear Kak Zendra,

Years ago, I had the opportunity to share the joy of Hari Raya celebrations in the home of a student located in a quaint village of Penang. I will never forget the warmth and the hospitality of her family and the other kampung folks. This is the real Malaysian spirit.

Sadly, I lost touch with her when she went to university and the kampung is no longer there thanks to development.

Anyway, I hope that you and your family will have a wonderful time celebrating Hari Raya.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

Salam,
Paula

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hello Makcik, lu takdah itu kampong to balik to ka, aiyo itu camne takdah syiok lah.U know the thrill of the family road trip; ‘We all going on a Summer Holiday’..ner..ner…ner…

So bolih, gua pi pekena kat lu punya open house kah? Pastu, we play mah-jong…oops wrong occasion…hahaha.

Hey jokes aside, Tommy would like to wish u & the family & all my cronies (SAYA & CAPT especially) that grace your magnificent blog;

‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’, cium tangan & all, have a great one & eat less ketupats.

Salam,
Tommy

P/S – oh my present for u & the Capt for this Raya; ‘A win for the All Blacks v Wallabies 2moro!’
Oso hor, Tomee spellcheck says it shud be ‘regular BOOSTER’ not ‘bolster’…..hahaha.

Naz in Norway said...

Selamat Hari Raya, Zendra.
My open house next weekend, you datang tak? ;D

Zendra-Maria said...

Capt: We are finding there are less of the elders to visit and pay respects to this year. I guess now we are replacing them as the elders. Time catches up Tok Uban hehe

My best wishes for Hari Raya to you too.

Zendra-Maria said...

It is quite sad how things seem to be going now, so much superficiality (any such word mastersmithee?) if not downright suspicion. At least we had experienced the way it once was. Thank you so much Paula for the wishes and do enjoy the holidays.

Zendra-Maria said...

Oiii Apek Tua, mana boleh main mahjong, rugi saya punya puasa satu bulan! itu makyong pun susah mau main lagi tau hahahah

Tommy, you kalau mau cium tangan, cium Captain punya cukup OK? Dia tu macam raja di Pulau Kapas, layak di beri kehormatan macam tu....

Oso the word "booster" does not compute in my database. Care to elucidate?

Zendra-Maria said...

BTW Tommy, thanks so much for your wishes. How about you, tak balik kampung kah?

Zendra-Maria said...

Naz, Open house in Norway next weekend? Alamak mine too lah. So no way for both of us nampak gaya.
:D

Pak Zawi said...

Zendra,
Pak Zawi juga dah tak boleh enjoy balik kampung bab sudah dok di kampong.
Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir, batin. Harap halalkan apa yang terlebih beri.

Zendra-Maria said...

Salam Pak Zawi,

Tapi lagi best Pak Zawi boleh enjoy kepulangan anak cucu yang dirindui.

Salam Aidilfitri dari saya dan hubby.

Saya... said...

Ynag paling bes, NO REBUT TOILET! Muahahaha...

Eid Mubarak, dear sis!

Zendra-Maria said...

Saya, AND can hog it too hehe.

Eid Mubarak to you too Sis from me and AlfaRomeo.