TERATAK MINANG

Having explored the original land of the Minangs not just once, but twice, the musical theatre "TERATAK MINANG" is a show not to be missed. Istana Budaya, designed for performing arts is just the place to showcase this latest musical.

Somehow, I do feel a little bit out of place as my wife and I queue up to enter the theatre. There are obviously a lot of the Minang descendants in the queue. Some  proudly branding their Minang lingo. Well, pure Kelantanese as I am, I consoled myself that my wife is of Bugis descendant. Kira orang dari seberang juga lah! I bump into a friend's wife who had an entourage of her Minang sisters with her. Everybody is proud of their origins.

The casts are a mix of veterans and up and coming artistes, all displaying great professionalism.

Who would not remember the evergreen Ely Kassim. Her rendition of "Ayam den Lopeh" at the beginning of the show is just crispy, as crispy as the chicken fried ala-Padang. Ah...nostalgia untuk seorang yang bakal menjangkau 60!

And there is also Eddy Silitonga rendering songs made popular by Tiar Ramon. Tiar Ramon is a pure Minang but he has passed away many years ago. I am sure if Tiar Ramon is alive, he would be here with Ely Kassim. But Edy is a great replacement.

There is another local guest artiste Aishah Wahid. I must admit I do not know the younger singers but she too had a very sweet voice.

Music director is none other than Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain, better known as Pak Ngah. An ensemble of gamelans and other classical musical instruments blend very well with the modern musical instruments. 

The story-line is simple. A kampong scene, two young men, one planning to merantau. Ujang, played by our very own Ebby Yus about to journey to seek a better life, to cross the straits to where the Minangs abound - Nogori Sombilan in Tanah Melayu.

Bidding farewell to Ujang is Buyung, the main cast. Buyung is played by Hengky Zubir, an original from Padang.

And there is Siti Nurba'yah played by a Minang lass Nadia Putri Rosadi. Siti Nurba'yah is Buyung's sweetheart. She too appears into the scene carrying some "bekalan" and to bid farewell to Ujang.

More kampong scenes and more renditions of Minang songs by both Elly Kassim and Eddy Silitonga, supported by dancers from Istana Budaya and Sofyani Dance Group from Padang.

The call to "merantau" is also strong in the blood of Buyung. He too must "merantau" to seek a better fortune for he later wants to ask for the hands of Siti Nurba'yah. So off he goes following the footstep of his friend Ujang. Siti Nurba'yah is very sad to let Buyung go, but go he must! Eddy Silitonga rendered "Bapisah bukan barcarai" as the goodbye scene is acted out.

The prop is great. An actual Ojek, the passenger van found in Padang is driven in to the stage to pick up Buyung. The famous Jam Gadang of Bukit Tinggi is also featured. Hats off to the prop crews!

So Buyung too landed in Nogori Sombilan, precisely in Seremban. A busy scene in a market place and Buyung was seeking directions to meet his uncle Pak Wahab, who had "merantaued" earlier and found his small fortune as a clothes merchant.

Pak Wahab is played by Ally Noor and his wife Mas is played by Mastura. Both of them Ally Noor (Pak Wahab) and Mastura (Mas) are famous for their songs "Apo Kono Eh Jang", "Alahai Anak Omak", "Apo Nak Buek Jang" and many others. If you think they both hailed from Negeri Sembilan, you are wrong! I too thought they are pure Minangs. They were both born in Pahang and Ally Noor is a cousin brother of Mastura.



So Buyung also met Ujang who is now married to Yong.  Buyung thinks Yong is also a Minang lass but the bubbly Yong says she is from Perak. And in her Perak slang, jests that she thought abang Ujang is a Bangla, emphasising his dark skin and is a little "disappointed" that he is a Minang. The audience had a great laugh with the bantering and Ujang was quick to act that "sobonar nyo, Yong ingat sayo ni Shah Rukh Khan". Again a good laugh.

Yong is played by Siti Rokhaida, better known as "Rock Terjah". And Rock Terjah certainly "rocks".

Another scene have Buyung reading a letter from Siti Nurba'yah who misses Buyung. But not long after, Buyung received a shocker. Siti Nurba'yah's father has matched-make her to another lad in the village. So there we see Buyung "frust menunggeng" as his sweetheart is taken away from him. Several sad Minang songs follow as Buyung wonders aimlessly in the kampong.

Overcoming his remorse, Buyung soon took over the business of Pak Wahab and concentrate on working hard. Another busy scene in the market. In come a new lass, Siti Nurhalisa with her mom on a shopping spree. A little commotion when she forbids her mum from buying cheap perfumes from a group of young men. One of them has a heart for Siti Nurhalisa and when Siti gets a free gift from Buyung, Buyung is challenged to a fight. Buyung, known as a gentleman shows his true color, true to his Minang blood!

The story obviously ends on a happy note. The musical ends with the merisek and Buyung finally marries Siti Nurhalisa

and they lived happily ever after

THE TRINKLET

He showed the peace sign as I captured him on my mobile phone. He was perhaps telling me that he was at peace with himself despite his challenges. His right hand hanged lifeless and he has limited use of his legs. He told me he can walk, albeit slowly, with the aid of a walking stick. I was at KL Sentral, waiting for the Komuter to return home. I missed the earlier train by a minute and had a 20mins wait. I looked for a bookstore and was browsing through the headlines of the days' newspapers. Then I noticed him, and he noticed me. He smiled. I returned his smile. With his left hand, he was making effort to open his zipped bag. I was observing him and he knew I was observing him. Inside his bag I could see little trinklets wrapped in plastic. He quickly offered me one, perhaps afraid that I would make a quick exit. "Berapa?". "5 ringgit encik". I did not hesitate. I took out a red note and he understood my gesture.

His next move was a surprise. He grabbed my hand and asked me to come close to him. His "only" left hand was strong. "Encik, tolong letak muka encik dekat dengan muka saya. Saya mahu cium encik". He kissed my cheek. I was sure the crowd was looking but I did not care. Here was a man, probably dying to give love to someone. Here was a man also dying to talk someone.

His next move suprised me even more. "Encik, tolong cium pipi saya". I did. The first time I ever kissed a man....on the cheek. Here is someone dying for some closeness with another human.

His name is Kim Wai. Born in Teluk Intan 40 years ago. At age 11, he was knocked down by a car, his right side now semi-paralysed. 4 in the family, parents still living in Teluk Intan.

Kim Wai lived alone in a rented place in Bandar Sg Long. His address 23A, Jalan 6/2.

BILA AL-QURAN MULA BERBICARA

Waktu engkau masih kanak-kanak. ......... ...

kau laksana kawan sejatiku

Dengan wudu', Aku kau sentuh

Dalam keadaan suci, Aku kau pegang

Aku kau junjung dan kau pelajari

Aku engkau baca dengan suara lirih atau pun keras setiap hari

Setelah selesai engkau menciumku mesra

Sekarang engkau telah dewasa...... ........

Nampaknya kau sudah tak berminat lagi padaku...

Apakah Aku bahan bacaan usang yang tinggal sejarah...?

Menurutmu, mungkin aku bahan bacaan yang tidak menambah pengetahuanmu

Atau, menurutmu aku hanya untuk anak kecil yang belajar mengaji..... 

Sekarang, Aku tersimpan rapi sekali

Kadang kala Aku dijadikan mas kawin agar engkau dianggap bertaqwa

Atau Aku kau buat penangkal untuk menakuti iblis dan syaitan

Kini Aku lebih banyak tersingkir, dibiarkan dalam kesendirian

Kesepian di dalam almari, di dalam laci, aku engkau pendamkan.

Dulu...pagi- pagi..
surah- surah yang ada padaku engkau baca beberapa halaman.

Di waktupetang, Aku kau baca beramai-ramai bersama temanmu di surau.....

Sekarang...seawal pagi sambil minum kopi...
Engkau baca surat khabar dahulu

Waktu lapang engkau membaca buku karangan manusia

Sedangkan Aku yang berisi ayat-ayat yang datang dari Allah Azzawajalla

 Engkau abaikan dan engkau lupakan...

Waktu berangkat kerja pun kadang2 engkau lupa baca pembuka

surah2ku (Bismillah) .

Di dalam perjalanan engkau lebih asyik menikmati musik duniawi

Tidak ada kaset yang berisi ayat Allah yang terdapat di dalam keretamu

Sepanjang perjalanan, radiomu selalu tertuju ke stesyen radio kesukaanmu

Mengasyikkan.

Di meja kerjamu tidak ada Aku untuk kau baca sebelum kau mulai kerja

Di Komputermu pun kau putar musik favoritmu

Jarang sekali engkau putar ayat-ayatku ........

E-mail temanmu yang ada ayat-ayatku pun kau abaikan

Engkau terlalu sibuk dengan urusan dunia mu

Benarlah dugaanku
Bahawa engkau kini sudah benar-benar hampir melupaiku

Bila malam tiba engkau tahan bersekang mata berjam-jam di depan TV

Di depan komputer berjam-jam engkau betah duduk

Hanya sekedar membaca berita murahan dan gambar sampah

Waktupun cepat berlalu..... ....

Aku semakin kusam dalam laci-laci mu

Mengumpul debu atau mungkin dimakan hama

Seingatku, hanya awal Ramadhan engkau membacaku kembali

Itupun hanya beberapa lembar dariku

Dengan suara dan lafadz yang tidak semerdu dulu

Engkaupun kini terangkak-rangkak ketika membacaku

Atau waktu kematian saudara atau taulan mu

Bila engkau di kubur sendirian menunggu sampai kiamat tiba

Engkau akan diperiksa oleh para malaikat suruhanNya

Apakah TV, radio, hiburan atau komputer dapat menolong kamu?

Yang pasti ayat-ayat Allah s.w.t yang ada padaku menolong mu

Itu janji Tuhanmu, Allah s.w.t

Sekarang engkau begitu enteng membuang waktumu...

Setiap saat berlalu...

Dan akhirnya.... .

kubur yang setia menunggu mu..........

Engkau pasti kembali, kembali kepada Tuhanmu

Jika Aku engkau baca selalu dan engkau hayati...

Di kuburmu nanti....

Aku akan datang sebagai pemuda gagah nan tampan

Yang akan membantu engkau membela diri

Dalam perjalanan ke alam akhirat

Dan Akulah "Al-Qur'an", kitab sucimu

Yang senantiasa setia menemani dan melindungimu.

Peganglah Aku kembali.. .. bacalah aku kembali aku setiap hari

Karena ayat-ayat yang ada padaku adalah ayat-ayat suci

Yang berasal dari Allah Azzawajalla

Tuhan Yang Maha Pengasih dan Maha Pemurah

Yang disampaikan oleh Jibril melalui Rasulmu

Keluarkanlah segera Aku dari almari, lacimu...... 

Letakkan aku selalu di depan meja kerjamu

Agar engkau senantiasa mengingat Tuhanmu

Sentuhilah Aku kembali...

Baca dan pelajari lagi Aku....

Setiap datangnya pagi, petang dan malam hari walau secebis ayat

Seperti dulu.... Waktu engkau masih kecil

Di surau kecil kampungmu yang damai

Jangan aku engkau biarkan aku sendiri...

Dalam bisu dan sepi....

MISTAKES

Never makes the same mistake

TWICE

There are so many new ones,

try a different one each day

Life Lessons - Attitude

A good way to change someone's attitude is to change our own.

Because, the same sun that melts butter,

also hardens clay

Life is as we think, so think beautifully.

THE EGG

IF AN EGG IS BROKEN BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE

A LIFE ENDS

IF AN EGG IS BROKEN FROM WITHIN

....LIFE BEGINS

GREAT THINGS ALWAYS BEGIN FROM WITHIN

DAY 3 - TASEK BERA BACK TO TEMERLOH

DAY 3 (3rd Jan 2010)

Day 3, was the final day of our ride and we woke up to an unhurried morning It promised a short and easy ride back to the hotel in Temerloh where we parked our cars. Roll out was planned for 10am and waking up early as usual, I took the opportunity to capture some parts of this facility.

This is the chalet that we stayed in. The rooms are either triple or double sharing @ RM30 per pax with air-conditioning. It is a good bargain.

This view of the lake is from the chalet's balcony. The canoes are available for rent for those wishing to venture into the lake. A few of the riders did canoe the lake upon arrival yesterday.

Tall and matured trees loomed within the complex itself and offered camouflage to the hot weather.

After our late breakfast we bade farewell to the staff and cycled out 4kms to the main road, some posing at the welcome sign to Tasek Bera.

By noon we arrived Bera town and had lunch. Just as we finished lunch, the clouds turned dark grey and we were ready for a very wet ride back to Temerloh. It was a very wet ride but everyone got back safely to the hotel in Temerloh, and back to the comfort of home.

Thanks Alauddin for planning the trip. You are funny :-)