The Raya Story in Alor Star (with pics!)

Selamat Hari Ra--ryeeee!!!

No space in dulang to susun properly but its supposed to spell "Selamat Hari Raya! :)!"
Smiley face got eaten early.

I still received duit ra---ryeeeee...okla very very small amount but who cares really! It was like getting a busload of sugar on my wedding day!!! "oh-so-excited"

The night before. "Eat, not make! eh salah! MAKE, not eat!"

The designs were "interesting"

...but it turned out good the next day. That's MakMak serving cupcakes on the first day of raya because EVERYONE forgot to bring home kuih raya. So we had only cupcakes and MakMak's own kuih makmur that she makes every year for raya. yummy!

Let me tell you the story of my first raya as a wife.

It started blissfully, with a travel time back to Alor Star in 4 hours from KL on the eve of raya. Blissfully because, we went back to Alor Star. MY kampung. not his! MINE! ....muahahaha *evil*. I'm still trying to hold a discussion to maintain this balik kampung contract for a longer period of time but since Raya Haji will definitely be celebrate at Ketereh, Kelantan every year (Insyaallah), there might be hope the justification of beraya first in Alor Star and then to Kelantan will stand strong.

Zul and I on the outside staircase of MakMak's house on the first day of raya.
Our first raya photo together. We matched the house! i forgot MakMak's house is painted orange outside.

Arrived at my grandmama's house, we had the honour of having my mom's old bedroom all to ourself! Considering there are only 2 big proper rooms that could fit a family of 5 in each and a smaller room for 2 downstairs, it is a big honour. And did i mention, a bed with new mattress too? ....and yet MakMak, my grandmama suggested to my mother,

"maybe Zul would be more comfortable staying at a hotel."
"Segan, rumah kampung" she said.

Gee, wheres the fun in raya if there's no queue in front of the one and only bathroom at Makmak's place? Seriously! It wont be the same without seeing someone straying with a towel and a toothbrush in the mouth in the kitchen, pacing back and forth. and a row of uncles with towels wrapped around their waist or over their shoulder at the breakfast porch facing the river, and a row of sleepy cousins with towels wraps around their heads in the living room watching the morning tv,

Like this, but imagine sleepier versions (except Mak Teh, she 's already asleep), and with towels. and bigger hairs.

....and a couple more on the stairs with half awake and with one eye on the bathroom door.

Ok fine. Best example of towel wrapped around shoulder while waiting for bathroom to be free. la di di da. Except i wasnt pacing in the kitchen, i was making breakfast.

And as soon as the bathroom door open, or the loo's door. There would be a mad scramble of

"I'm next!" "my turn" "lelaki dulu!!! nak semayang!!!" "emergency!" "OI QUEUE!!!!" etc.

All in loudspeaker mode of course. Sitting on stairs is the best spot to outrun and outmanoeuvre anyone queuing ahead as you would have the first view of the bathroom door. Everyone else usually move when someone, either the person exiting the precious room or someone in the kitchen to announce

"NEXT! SAPA NYER TURN!" as per the government servants at public offices.

Ah, Zul had to learn that, he missed his turn couple of times because he didn't declare his turn and then was bamboozled by my little cousin. He was lead to believe that my cousin was in queue before him, ...my cousin wasn't but in the minute of confusion, my little cousin went in the bathroom. There, lesson learned, know your number in the queue and declare it! ye shall be notified of your turn.

What we look after everyone have showered.

Plus at hotel we need alarm to wake us up. At rumah MakMak, the volume is on maximum, you will KNOW when its time to wake up even without anyone waking you up.

And they were playing mercun in the morning.

Though i think this one is after salam2 coz Alif have a raya packet in his pocket.

Then on the day of raya, we bersalam-salaman. Like this...really...very like the artist-artist malaya on raya programmes on tv.

Amongst the things requested this raya, wedding photos, courtesy of my father's laptop.

MakMak, my grandmama, cried as per usual during the salam-salam session. We took photos. Though there were only 3 sets of families out of MakMak's 11 children and *i lost track of numbers* cucus and cicits, we had to squeeze for the photo.

MakMak in the middle surrounded by her 2 sons, 2 daughters, 2 son-in laws, 1 daughter in-law, 9 granchildren and 1 Tok Teh Nah, MakMak's sister. Out of those 4 children of MakMak's, Pak Ngah came home alone without Mak Ngah and 5 children, 1 son in-law and 3(?) granchildren, Pak Tam have all his 5 children in there, Mak Teh Puyah without 2 sons (1 was there but pegi beraya), 1 daughter, 1 son in law, 1 daughter in law and 3 grandchildren. and my family was without my brother. AND YET IT TOOK AGES TO GET EVERYONE IN THIS PHOTO!

Yet to arrive: a mere 5 mins after this, Mak Chak's lot came pouring in the house from her house nearby. Then i lost count. Pak Cik family came later in the day. and Mak Teh's daughter and plus 3 inc hubby came soon after.

Boys will be boys. In this case, Pak Tam acting out his younger brother role with Pak Ngah

Then we brought Zul to beraya-raya with my other grandma and grandpa who lives separately, far far away. ....

With Tok, my father's real mother at Bukit Tinggi. She is tiny.

My far-tha with his far-tha. Tok Wan, my father's real father. God bless him, for him in his state of total blindness remembers only me, Dayang out of my father's other children. :P

And here is the part where a few people that is reading this will slap their forehead, shake their head and say "dayang.....dayang....apa nak jadi ni?"

Somewhere along the journey to one point or another. in the car..i was thinking...no..i realised....

I HAVEN'T BERSALAM WITH ZUL! MY HUSBAND! OMG! .....so i immediately turned to him and whispered,

"I haven't beraya with you! my husband! OMG! i forgot"...and he just looked at me and gave me this stupid smile that he does when he realise his wife can be a real bimbo and said

"I know, i was waiting for you to realise that"...
"why didn't you reminded me or something?!" ...
"sajer nak tengok sampai bila you sedar"....hah! for that i replied
"hmm ok, nantila.......*pause*........*quietly* i'm sorry. but we do it at home properly nanti k?" .....well it was kinda awkward for me to suddenly knell in front of him in the car right?! .....and for forgetting, tak dapat duit raya from him that day :(

Just shows how forgetful i can be and that i kept forgetting he's my husband. Thought its my boyfriend i brought home to kampung with me and sleep in the same bed every night :P

The "look" he gave me. Ok, it's not but i just needed a reason to put this photo here.

When everyone bersalam-salaman. We amik gambar. That why la! forgot.

So there you go, my first raya with my husband, and i forgot to beraya with him on the morning of Aidilfitri. *doh!slap own forehead*

Three days later, off we went to Ketereh, Kelantan through the windy windy road of Grik. Of course la kena balik Kelantan, this husband of mine sebak, eyes were red and teary at my uncle house during the 2nd night of raya karaoke session while singing the first, FIRST verse of Dendang Perantau. Haiyah, macam dok kat Long-dong tu heh. Jaoh sangat!.

Karaoke session in the middle of nowhere. Literally. Total darkness outside. No other houses except 1 for several kilometres away. My uncle, Pak Man (with grey hairs) is working with RISDA or something, hence posted at places with no people except plants. His officers have homes nearby but not many lives there...wonder why.....? hmm? More fireworks. See the darkness engulfing them. thats at Pak Man's place

Then we went to Kelantan, and that is not the story today.

Drive Safely for Raya

"So Dayang, why do you look so tired this perfect Monday morning?...and you were late to work. You ok?"

"You see, I got news that several of my friends, but not really friends but its like i've known them all my life and we've gone through many many ups and downs together and they are somewhat involved in this terrriiiibble car crash that might or might not means death to some"

"OMG! Seriously? seriously? what happened?"

"Ermm car crash. So i really stayed up all night to find out what happened to them or else my soul would not be at ease. I really couldnt sleep not knowing what would happen to them or how their doctors might save their lives."

"Oh no, i understand! So what happened? when? last night? where? how? where they on the way back for raya?"

"I found out last night..."

"you see..their limo driver lost control of the car they were in....coz...it was snowing and all. And then they went to Seattle Grace Hospital....and i really need to get updates from and ON the doctors themselves!!!! or else i cant sleep!"

Do you think that excuse will hold up with the boss? it is a live and death situation.

Grey's Anatomy season 5 is on. And i'm waiting for the very slow download to be done before i can see what happened.

FAQ from the Mr and MRS!

The Official Greetings from
Mr Mohd Zulhelmy and Mrs Dayang Rosli!

Frequently asked question no.1:

"So how does it feel being married?"

A: Hmmm....same ol? same ol? Getting married does not mean i've gotten a lobotomy that would effect suddenly turns me into Betty Crocker or some other person totally different.

I rather be asked "how does it feel getting married" before...because it was different everyday. some days i'd be having panic attacks over something not done. some days i felt normal, as normal as i could be anyway. some days i was a complete bridezilla! some days i felt i rather elope. some days i just want to kill everyone.

but...being married? to say i am a lot calmer than i was before, not really..calmer then pre-wedding post-engagement, yes. but no more than how i was before. the only real difference in being married are that i have less money in the bank, i wake up with this dude beside me every morning and having to share my bathroom with him! I'M LIVING WITH A GUY! all those hollywood cliches are no longer just cliche, they are real.

Emotion wise, i am the same as before. maybe a bit more secure in my place in this world by 2% and happier by 5%. Ask me again in 7 years then maybe there would actually be a lot different being married.

Frequently asked question no.2:
(frequently asked "statement")

"So you guys still in the honeymoon period?
I'm sure you guys still in honeymoon period, baru kahwin apa"

A: We had a good fight with tears and all on the 3rd day of marriage. So what honeymoon period? And i am not being sarcastic. We just like that there is no honeymoon period, for us.

With us, there is no

"i love you no matter what, i love you because you are perfect and i will ignore any perfectness that exist (if any) but im sure it wont be a problem because you are my perfect huneybunny, i love you i love you i love you, you're my world, my ocean, my mountain, my river, my sky, my stars my perfect underwear to wear with my fav low rider jeans mushymushymushysmackmyheadiwanttodiefrommushiness"

....we had a good fight on the 3rd day of our marriage, on Kelantan reception, on our honeymoon and on any other days. we are realistic there are things that requires a little getting used to but if one or another really have a problem about something, it will not be swept under the carpet.

Honeymoon period does not exist because...we love each other too much to fall under the unrealistic romantic notion that women does not fart and men does not watch golf at 5am and then try to accept it or ignore it in the first 3 months or so and then let it eats inside. and one fine day it will explode! Rest assure, that the explosion was early on, Dayang is still Dayang, and when the toilet seat remains up, there was drama and there will be more drama. ...but we like it that way.

Frequently asked question no.3:

"So are you pregnant yet?"

A: No and don't count on the baby steps anytime soon.

Zul and I were only friends for the longest time. When we finally got together, or rather when I finally realise we are suppose to be together, it only took 11 months for us to be husband and wife. Most of that time was spent planning for the wedding. which wasnt really about us, really. So we want to enjoy being just the 2 of us for a bit more time....imagine if i have a baby, he would be less likely to start a fight with me kan? coz he would feel guilty hence, no drama. boring.

and Zul need to build up his savings again :P

There is a plan, and we want to follow the plan. Insyaallah. but if God have other plans for us, i let you know. :)

Anyway, you guys lost in the race to give me my first baby present. Iza beat you all to that and its hidden from my mom before she gets any ideas.

So please stop asking. Its getting ackward to answer all those questions.

Perez Made Me Blog Again!

How do you know your government is screwed up? When Its politics gets on Perez Hilton.

And that tidbit amused me so much that it motivated me to just blogging again!

Immediately i said, "I must share this!!!!" while ROFL-ing (thats "rolling on the floor laughing" btw fyi jic).

Please note that the previous post is titled "Martha Steward Likes Big Weiners" ...I'm skipping over the fact that the next post is "A Worthwhile Cost"...but among Perez Hilton's other posting are "Pink Likes Penis, Hates Palin" and "Guess That Camel Toe". You can guess what kind of blog it is can't you? ;)

Just show what a joke our world has become. And by world...i meant in the most microscopic way possible without being too specific. Get me?

So, Hurrah to Perez and that particular piece of political "development"! I'm back. :)

The Night

I have been missing for nearly a month. my bad.

So let me give you something to read about. Its one of my favourite 'poem', that i would try to read ever so often. And i hope it would be a new discovery for you, through me.

The Night

By the Night as it conceals the light;

By the Day as it appears in glory;

By the mystery of the creation of male and female;-

Verily, the ends you strive for are diverse.

So he who gives in charity and fears God,

And in all sincerity testifies to the best,

We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss.

But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient,

And gives the lie to the best,

We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery;

Nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong into the Pit.

Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide,

And verily unto Us belong the End and the Beginning.

Therefore do I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely;

None shall reach it but those most unfortunate ones,

Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs to Faith.

But those most devoted to God shall be removed far from it,

Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification,

And have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,

But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High;

And soon will they attain complete satisfaction.

From The Holy Quran
Surah 92- Al Lail (The Night)
Translation by Yusuf Ali

I dont preach. I just think its one of the beautiful surah there is in the Quran.

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. By the Night as it conceals (the light);

---

2. By the Day as it appears in glory;

---

3. By (the mystery of) the creation of male and female;-

---

4. Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse.

---

5. So he who gives (in charity) and fears ((Allah)),

---

6. And (in all sincerity) testifies to the best,-

---

7. We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss.

---

8. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient,

---

9. And gives the lie to the best,-

---

10. We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery;

---

11. Nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong (into the Pit).

---

12. Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide,

---

13. And verily unto Us (belong) the End and the Beginning.

---

14. Therefore do I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely;

---

15. None shall reach it but those most unfortunate ones

---

16. Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs.

---

17. But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it,-

---

18. Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification,

---

19. And have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,

---

20. But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High;

---

21. And soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction.

an obituary

Over a period of 5 days, they slowly gathered. Sometimes only one would arrive in two hours, sometimes a group of 50 would show in seconds, but after that 5 days, there were thousands of them. Some were sad, some were funny, few were crazy, uncountable were beautiful, most were memorable but all were irreplaceable.

Then 2/3 of them went missing and presumed dead simultaneously at an unknown place, at an unknown time. Let us mourn and say our prayers for those that died. Prayers of peace to Dayang's Cambodia photographs that were saved in her external harddisk but never to be seen again. May their memories be preserved by those that survived the heartbreaking event and by Dayang's deteriorating brain cells and memory.

May their souls rest in peace.

Amin.

:'(

it's a sad period of my life. i rather not talk about this for awhile. thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Obat Herba Cap Ayam, BERKESAN!

Belilah Obat Herba Cap Ayam sesuai untuk mereka yang berumur dan inginkan rambut hitam pekat melekat ikal mayang berseluar yankee berkaki ayam. Belilah ini obat. Dijamin berkesan! Kalau tak jadi melompat!

You all know my dad, but now...see this!
The new spokesperson for Obat Herba Cap Ayam.

Yesterday once more

Instant hair in one day! The new Samy Vellu? or Lim Kok Wing? atau Donald Trump?

Anda menjadi saksi!


Belilah Obat Herba Cap Ayam untuk lambut lebat hitam pekat melekat seperti yesterday once more.

Dapatkan segera sebelum terlambaaattt!!!



hubungi 012-34567890 (Ahmad Albab) untuk menjadi stokis

A word

A word,
can bring forth magic,
but devoid of music,
gives birth to pain.

A shortie to sort my thoughts.

There's a new baby in the house

not like there are no news.

not like there are no interesting news.
not like i will die not typing them.
and not like you will die not reading them.
...ive been...busy doing everything else. everything else but this.

but i have a phoootoooo!

hup hup rah rah to the new member of the family, the baby that makes zul very very afraid for some strange reason, MILO!


Milo was a stray cat that followed us home one night. we tried to look for his mama but no traces of her were left. it was just him by the elevator. he followed us into the elevator and exited when we did, followed zul as he walk to the door. and so we let him in. he was mewing and mewing but we had nothing to feed him with except plain water. his housemate woke up from his slumber to look at the little noise maker and remarked he saw a full grown cat with the same markings as Milo. But we wasnt sure what to do yet.

Milo would climb on anyones lap to get a little warmth and a cuddle. seeing he was a bit smelly cat, we covered him in zul's old kain pelikat and only then place him on our lap alternately, so that our proximity and body warmth would make him relax and basically, force him to sleep! and after a while, he did slept Thats when we decided if we can find the mom, we will leave him with her, but if we cant..then we take him home, as in MY home. but by then, i knew i cant part from this skinny rat even if we found the mom, i was secretly hoping we wont find her. a skinny little kitten that is affectionate to human beings, is not easy to find.

...we didnt find the mom (honestly, we didnt look very hard). so he was ours. we threw a bunch of names to him. from Rat to Dog, from Busuk to Mengada, from Mahathir to Micheal, and finally my little brother said...lets call him Milo and make my maid go crazy whenever we call him because she gets confused...

are we calling Milo or asking for a cup of Milo?

....we get confused too...but just wait till next month...when we get another kitten, going to be called...Coffee.

Milo and Coffee. the two favourite words in the house :)

ps: milo is no longer a skinny little rat after a week in the house. he is now a fat buncit little rat.

pps: second day Milo was in the house and still in confinement in my room, my dad knocked on my door at 7 am and asked "where's milo?" i was wondering whhhyyyyyy and answered "under my bed probably", he looked for milo and said "bye bye milo" and stroked his head for a bit "nanti papa jumpa balik". and my dad put milo back in his Ikea bed and left the room. ... ...that was it.

i later found out my dad left for Labuan that morning. he said goodbye to Milo but not his daughter. :o

ppps: my mom is now calling for milo. MY MOTHER THE ANTI-CAT IS CALLING FOR MILO TO COME TO HER!!! ....do you know how shocking this is?! ....oh wait...shes talking to him. "Milo sleep! sleep milo!"....and now shes ....dodoi-ing milo! ..."doidoidoi....doidoidoi...." my.mother.the.devil.to.all.my.previous.cats.the.voice.my.previous.cats.would.run.away.from.
even.if.they.hear.it.from.the.outside. is calling for milo and dodoi-ing him! .........

...

i am quite in shock and will investigate this strange phenomenon. maybe the name Mengada is suitable for him after all.

Engagement Photusss

Haaaaa finally Shafiq Akmal of Candid Syndrome posted the photos from my engagement.

Unfortunately, Lingling and i kinda forgotten to bug him about setting an appointment to select photos for the album. Lambat lagi la nak dapat gambere dalam album nampaknye. But my family and my mom's friends are placated by the photos from my unofficial photogs, the delicious threesome, Shahran, Hendra and Kjell, and the fact that i've printed their (the fam and frens) photos is even better because they wanted something tactile to hold, to prove their photo were taken. Somehow, a photo in their inbox and in a slideshow wasnt enough to satisfy their hunger.

Shafiq Akmal of Candid Syndrome
The official photographer
(ie: the PAID photographer)

The Delicious Threesome
Hendra, Kjell and Shahran Ali
The pro bono photographers


The Delicious Threesome selected photos are available here (Engagement album I)
and here (Engagement album II)
(i need to add new photos with more family members faces in album II since i just figured out how to let non facebook users have access to album. hehe.)

Having four (five if we were to include the assistant) photographers at my engagement was definitely something i am extremely grateful for as they all had their own personal eye and style to photography and they covered the event from every possible aspect. My family have always been particular about wedding photos. One of the criteria for a job well done is, their faces are in the photos. Very very important. And having had 5 photogs! that was well covered. If one didnt catch Mak Teh arranging the hantaran, someone else will, and did.

A hint to give to relatives that hardly ever get their photos taken at important events, ask them to wear sunnies (sunglasses) indoor and outdoor. Confirm there would be at least one photo focused on him/her and they will be happy and they will not criticise your choice of photographer(s) ever again. Case in point in wearing sunnies in door makes you popular to photographer, my uncle who just had his eyes lasered, Pak E.

Every one of my photographers have him focused at least once. If your relative feels silly wearing sunnies indoor, ask them to stand or sit next to someone who doesnt feel silly doing so, or had valid reason not to feel silly. Or ask them to wear sunnies still and if anyone ask them why, tell them to answer "i just had them lasered, dahling!", so it wont be silly. Lying but not silly.