Homecoming

Earlier this month we went back to Kedah to visit Tokwan and Maktok.  We're supposed to leave late at night but after about 1 hour the car broke down in the middle of a very dark and quiet highway.  Luckily we're able to turn back and Papa drove slowly and finally we reached home.  The next morning Papa sent the car to the workshop and around 11am we started the journey again. Phew!  Late that night we arrived at Maktok's house. 

The next morning we went out for breakfast.

 We love the food there.

After that Papa and I had some errands to do in Jitra.

The first stop, to pay the quit rent.

 The second stop, to pay the land tax.

That afternoon we went to Tok Ngah's house for lunch.

Budgerigars - my cousin's pet

They're cute!

Much to Zoey's delight.

Then we saw this snakehead fish. :)

My cousin's wife was cleaning them to make dried fish.

The I ventured inside to where the men were.

L to R: Papa, Tok Wan, my cousin (Shahidan)

Tok Ngah and Papa.

Hmm... Tok Ngah looks like chinese.

It was gloomy all day long that day.

The next day was better!

Which allowed Zoey to enjoy the paddy field.

She really enjoyed herself, running here and there.

Simple-life fun.

The sky was cloudy again - Nina was pointing towards the field.

Then we ventured the back road and found this old palace in ruins.

Then we went to Pekan Rabu - a friend of mine asked me to buy something for her.  And a lot of things for us! PEkan Rabu is famous for selling traditional food and for so many other things - like a one-stop center.

I didn't always go here when we lived in Kedah and this was my first time going there after living away.

I miss these! Yummy to my tummy.

This is also yummy! Made Chicken Pie yesterday.

Oh so heavenly and cheezy and chewey and sinful!

Maybe we'll go back to Kedah again in February - during the Chinese New Year Holiday because that's the earliest holiday for me.  Meanwhile we only have the weekends to go places.  No more leisure activities everywhere this time around.  And I suddenly feel tired!

Visiting Maktok and Tokwan

It was early June and I took 2 days off from work to go back to Kedah.  Tokwan and Maktok were not doing fine.  Both were always gloomy nowadays.  So, I hoped our visit helped to make their day.

This was on our last day.  A picture (a few actually) with them both is a must before we leave.  Tareeq didn't join us this time because he's in PSDC now.

Tokwan is on crutches.  He has knee problems since 1996 and can't stand up straight.  The problem started during the days I was in labour for Tareeq (between 23-25 May 1996). He's still able to drive his car and always go out on a date with Maktok - by 'always' I mean every day, morning and evening.  They have their favourite cafes and food courts that they frequent and the hawkers seem to already know them.

'Girls only' session.

The mattresses were ready to be kept back in storage.  Maktok is wheelchair bound because her right leg was amputated in 2010 due to diabetes.   She wears a prosthetic leg from time to time but she's mostly uncomfortable in it.  She uses a quad cane when she walks - very slowly.

Mami, my elder sister, lives with them (and her family - a husband and a son).  She's more infirmed than Tokwan and Maktok.  She has ghout, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney problem and some other sickness that she keeps hidden from me.  But I know she's not well too.

She works in a school.  Despite her condition, she's able to drive her car to go everywhere she likes.  She just can't walk by herself.  She also has to use a quad cane to help her move around.  Whenever she's at home, she prefers to stay in her room where everything is within reach.  She's a good cook - like Maktok.  She sits on the floor while cooking.  She always puts on a happy face for us. Thank you Mami!

The only problem is that her husband, Pak Ngah, can't drive.  I hope they're doing okay.

Us in Mami's room.

Oh! There's so much I want to tell about the people I love.  I'm just tongue-tied at the moment.  So much has happened since then and so many emotions involved.