It was almost the tail end of my cousin's wedding celebration that evening. Most of the important event to be photographed were already taken including the akad nikah ceremony which was done the previous night. I was taking mugshots of family members to be placed in my Genie Tree, a free to programme from Yahoo where you can place the profile of a family member showing your relationship with every individual in the tree.
When I heard the whirring sound of the lens trying to lock the focus on the object, I know it is the end of the photo shoot with the camera. I had sensed the trouble earlier when I noticed that going into manual focus mode from auto focus was a problem. To overcome the problem I had used only auto focus as the mode of taking the pictures with the hope that the lens will focus on the object that I wanted to shoot rather than any other object behind or in front of it. With bigger apertures, the camera may sense the objects in front of the object more than the object itself.
The last straw broke when the camera just refused to open the shutter to take a picture when the lens couldn't focus on anything. I can hear the loud whirring of the lens with the gears not meshing in. I sent the camera over the next day hoping that they could fix it up if it was just a minor fault. It was not to be. The camera had to be sent to the service center in Kota Bharu or should they fail to reair it here, it will be sent to Kuala Lumpur. Oh dear. I will be without a camera for at least another week at the least or even for a month! After using it for a couple of months, going back to using the point and shoot camera isn't fun anymore.
When I called up the supplier about the problem, he asked me to bring the camera over with the warranty card. Hey remember to keep the warranty card until the expiry date of the warranty period is over.
While I was at the shop, the wife of the staff there was loking at a new set of a Nikon D60 that her husband had just purchased. The set came with a standard lens of 18 - 55 mm f3.5 - 6.5 or something like that, a flash (not really a top of the range but definitely better than the built in flash) and a camera bag which could hold the camera as well as a few extra lens. Looking at my misery, he offered to sell me the whole lot at RM2200 cash. Wow! That was a fantastic offer. Immediately after, I cancelled my order of the new 18-200 mm f3.5 -6.5 lens which I have ordered earlier which they couldn't deliver. I don't want the new lens as I don't want to be caught with an equipment which I may not be able to use should I change to a new camera. With the cost of the new lens short of the new camera set by RM450, I might as well get a new camera. One of my children will get my old camera.
Of all the time when the camera should get damaged, this is the worst time as today 11th August 98 I will be playing guests to Puteri and her husband who came all the way from the US after reading my blogs about Kota Bharu. Captain Yusof Ahmad would be arriving too and Pakpayne Bakpo would be here on the 12 th of August.
The moral of the story is, when you wan't to buy something like a camera, don't go too far from what others are using. Being adventurous is not in.
Just to keep us in a happy mood, here are some of the pictures taken at the wedding itself.
The father advising the daughter before giving her away in marriage
" Bermula saat ini telah tamat lah tanggungjawab bapa yang di tuntut oleh Islam. Selepas ini tanggung jawab ini akan berpindah kepada suami Syuhada. Ayah pohon maaf diatas sebarang kesilapan ayah sebagai seorang bapa kepada kamu. Disamping itu ayah redhakan segala makan minum yang telah ayah berikan kepada kamu.
Tunaikan tanggung jawab kamu sebagai seorang isteri mengikut lunas-lunas Islam. Setialah kepada suami selagi beliau mengajar kamu mengikut syariat Islam. Selalulah taat kepada suami dan pohonlah maaf setiap hari daripadanya diatas sebarang kesilapan dan kelemahan.
Redha dengan hidup ini dan amalkan sikap tolak ansur antara suami isteridan laksanakan tanggung jawab kepada Allah"
I doubt that there was a single dry eyes among the crowd and the bride was seen wiping tears from her eyes. Luckily the make up was not spoilt.
A similar advice was given to the bridegroom before the father himself s0lemnise the wedding
" Irwan Nasir, Ayah redha diatas pernikahan ini. Bermula dari saat ini Irwan akan memikul tugas berat sebagai suami yang bakal menjadi seorang bapa. Peliharalah isteri sebaik mungkin mengikut lunas-lunas Islam. Amalkan sikap bertolak ansur dan sentiasa memaafkan.
Sekiranya menghadapi masalah rumahtangga, datanglah kepada penasihat yang pakar dan ikutilah nasihatnya.
Amalkan kehidupan mengikut lunas Islam dan jangan tinggalkan solat jemaah bersama isteri.
Ayah doakan semoga rumahtangga Irwan kekal ke anak cucu".
Speaking from two earlier broken marriages himself, Kamal was speaking from his heart.
The gloomy look on those present.
Tuan Haji Ismadi (Kamal's Cousin reciting the doa)
Now it is time for some merriment
Food was prepared for the feast the next day.
The ladies chip in too.
The father hanging the banner to welcome the guests.
Here comes the bridegroom.
The silat was performed for the couple.
"Ouch, don't touch it there"
He ain't heavy, he is my brother.
The newly wed enjoying the silat performance.
The couple was on the dais waiting for the merenjis ceremony.
Monday, August 11, 2008
My Camera Failed Me
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Kelantan Bloggers, Let Us Meet In KB.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
It is now confirmed that the gathering will be moved to the folowing venue and date:
Date: 13th August 2008 (Wednesday)
Venue: Yati Ayam Percik, Jalan Long Yunus, Kota Bharu.
This is the new venue.
The new venue will allow our guests to sample authentic Kelantan dish instead of Thai dish as available at the other eatery.
To see what food is available there here are some pictures. Of course rice is the main dish be it white rice or the blue nasi kerabu.
The above is the gulai kawah. It is curry beef in a very large wok.
This is of course is the ayam percik. You can choose to have the chicken legs or the breasts.
Since you are familiar with chicken wings, I will let you see the percik kaki ayam (chicken feet).
Percik kerang (cockles)
This sea shells called lala will be everybodys favourite
This looks like sotar but since the banana wrapping isn't burn't at all it gives me the doubt.
After you have had sumptious meal it is customary to have some kuihs as dessert.
Hera are some of them:
Sira pisang (banana in thick sugar syrup). Skip this one if you are diabetic.
Pudding.
Lompat tikam.
The above alone could be a food adventure. Let me not torture you with more.
Since the place is much smaller, the number of attendees will be capped at 35 in total based on first come first served basis. An email or sms will be sent to confirm acceptance. Payment will be collected after the event after the actual cost is determined. Those who have paid into my account, a refund will be made after the event.
Semoga mendapat sambutan.
Captain Yusof, hope you can juggle up your schedule a bit since the date has been changed. Please bring your other friends along as we may need the crowd hahahaha.
I would like to mention a word of thanks to syana of memories for some reasons which I will mention in the post about the event, after the event is held. Thank you syana.
The following banner by Akmal will be used as decoration only. Please ignore the content.
What better time to meet than when we have bloggers from as far away USA, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur in Kota Bharu? Puteri and her family (Puteri's Musings), Pakpayne and family (Bakpo and A Clear Blue Sky) and Captain Yusof Ahmad (The Ancient Mariner) will be in town.
The intended gathering will be on Tuesday 13th August 08 at 8.00 PM at Restoran Tati Ayam Percik, Jalan Pekeliling, Kota Bharu.
We will not be collecting any more before hand as payment can be made after the event. Please apply to join by SMS to my number 019 9125647 or email me at mohdzawi@gmail.com to confirm participation.
Those who have read this announcement please tell your fellow bloggers about it.
Every blogger, reader of blogs and friends of a blogger can attend the function as long as you are able to bring yourself here on the night and of course pay the dues hehehehe.You don't even have to be a Kelantanese blogger.
Please help me to spread the word around.
The show will still go on even if there is just a few of us around so worry not that it will not happen.
Suggestions from Pakpayne
We all bring a piece of batik lepas each to be signed by one another to be taken home as souvenirs. I will be bringing some extra kain batik lepas for those of you who don't know where to find it.
Even people in Dubai wears the kain batik lepas as semutaBook Donations
Please bring along books to donate to schools to be decided by the council of elders from Kelantan. Any books be it in BM or English are welcomed.
Thank you Pakpayne for the suggestions.
Happy gathering and let us give a good welcome to our guests while doing some charitable work.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Of Gatherings and Weddings.
EX SERDANG'S GATHERING.
We had a small gathering of Ex students of Serdang College Malaya who are residing in Kelantan. Most were from the batch of 71,72 and 73. It was Wan Yusoff bin Mohd. Nor who started the idea of the mini gathering. He called me to start calling all Ex Serdangs and propose the gathering to be held at 11.oo AM at Syam Restoran Jalan Hospital, Kota Bharu. The time of 11.00 AM is definitely too early for lunch but we thought it would be better as we could talk before the crowd come should there be a crowd at the place which is more popular for dinner than lunch.
The new look of Syam Restoran from the front.
The main room can be set for 20 tables
The smaller room.Syam restoran have more seating places upstair but I didn't check it out.
The reason for the gathering was simply because we had not had such gathering for sometimes. So we started calling those that we have on our phonebook and request the next person to do the same. Over a period of 4 days we managed to inform about 14 people who agreed to attend. Good enough for a start.
A few of those who attended were mates that I have not met since we parted ways after graduation in 1972. Wow that long huh? Most others we did meet on and off. Since most are above 56 by now, we have all reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 years. Some still carry on some business just to keep themselves busy.
The followings are the people who attended:1. Tuan Haji Muhamad Omar
2. Tuan Haji Adzmin Ismail
3. Tuan Haji Che Kob Ab. Ghafar Ab. Rahman
4. Tuan Haji Kob Ab. Ghafar Abu Bakar
5. Tuan Haji Mohamad B. Salleh
6. Tuan Haji Abdullah Hj. awang
7. Tuan Haji Nik Hassan b. NikMukhtar
8. Tuan Haji Nik Aziz Nik Yaakub
9. YM Tengku Ahmad B. Tengku Salleh
10. YM Raja Abdullah Yaacob
11. Tuan Haji Mohd. Nasir @Azman Wan Ismail.
12. Tuan Haji Nawi Che Yusoff.
13. Soh Joo Liang
14. Tuan Haji Ab. Malik Hj. Ahmad
15. Tuan Haji Mohd. Nor bin Haron
16. Tuan Haji Mohd. Isa H. Bakar.
17. Tuan Haji Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad.
The following pictures shows how much fun we had even though it was just a small gathering.
For my friend sj, Mohd Nor Harun is second from right
Should you know any of those persons in the list and need their contact numbers or address, please do not hesitate to email or SMS me for it at mohdzawi@gmail.com or 019 9125647.
After a good meal Tuan Haji Wan Yusoff, Tuan Haji Nik Hassan and Tuan Haji Nasir gave short speeches exhorting on the need to have regular meets to maintain the silaturrahim.
WEDDING INVITATIONS
Recently I received two invitations from two very dear friends to attend their daughter's wedding. Both are from KL as I still consider Taman Tun t0 be still part of KL.
Both invitations came via beautiful cards which I can never dream of using for my own children because of the sheer cost of it. Take a look at them.
The first one on the left was slated for 19th July which was impossible as I was then in Labuan taking care of my granddaugther Balqis. This one came from my classmate Hajjah Zamariah Ismail. I couldn't do much about it.
The invitation replete with a map to show the location of the hall
