Tuesday 19 May 2009

A trip to Sabak Bernam...

Last monday I went back to Sabak Bernam with my kids. What did we do during the 2 days?!! Well, I brought them around to see my relatives, lest they forget that they have roots in Sabak Bernam too... And not to forget that their mother's a shopoholic, I brought them around the shops too, especially in Sg. Besar where there's clear growth in the economy. Shops mushroomed everywhere, especially textile shops. My favourite store would be Arked Man where I bought several tudungs...hehehe

The trip without my husband was more relaxed! We're not in a hurry to explore  a few of my favourite places. I showed the kids my late father's favourite restaurant, the mahjuriah shop in Sabak. I had my mee rebus (too sweet!) and the kids had fried mee, but it was too spicy for them. I went there because I remembered that my father used to buy the fried chicken from there on every pay day, without fail! 

I came from a poor family, we only ate meat during festivals like raya and such! My father used to work with the JKR as the 'penebas rumput' and later on until he retired, he was the 'stemroll' driver. He never owned a motorised vehicle, not even a motorcycle! He used a bicycle until the day he died! And I'm so proud of him because in my life I never lack of love, never! 

I managed to get out of the poverty cycle because of education. Even though I didn't go to any kindergarten, I managed to excel in school. I got 5As in the Penilaian exam, the first ever in SRK Sekendi's history! Later, I was offered a place in Sekolah Seri Puteri and there I stayed until the end of SPM. After that, I was lucky enough to further my studies in the UK for six years, until I graduated in 1997. My father managed to see me worked and get married but he passed away in July 1998. Al-Fatihah... Insyaallah, I'll never forget my roots and I hope that my children would also remember that they have numerous relatives in Sabak Bernam.

On Tuesday, I brought them to one of my childhood haunts... Laut Sekendi... where I used to play during school holidays, well not always because my parents would kill me if they knew...hehehe. There's a big change in the layout of the sea. The sea have reclaimed most of the place where the beach used to be...sigh...

At first I wanted to go further, but the road was too narrow and I had to manoeuvre the car to turn back. The kids were laughing because they said I drove like 'mater in cars' a.k.a backwards...They didn't know that I was so scared because I pretended that we're having an adventure...hehehe. I was glad that I brought them along. Enjoy the pictures...

There's no beach left...

The sea...

The kids in the car...

Cantik jugak kampung aku ni, yek...hehehe

6 comments:

Sizuka said...

ina, sedih aku baca cerita engkau about ur late father.

Fasri said...

More relaxed is it? Apsal tak borong satu kedai...

just me said...

Terharu and tersentuhnya hati reading your post. I just don't know what to say, but surely, you feel glad you have been a good daughter. I like the way you try to instill the sense of 'rooting' to your kids. Hopefully, that helps them to appreciate what they have, be sensitive with their surrounding, and have more empathy.

Tang shopping tu...keh!keh! true kak ina. Kalu hubby ada, jeling-jeling je. Kalu shopping sendiri, yes! rembat! Relax le... Ayong.He..he..he..duit banyak2 pun bkn bawa mati..he..he..he..

Anonymous said...

Do you know why I keep coming back to your blog? Because the author writes with profound honesty that comes straight from a cheerful heart. A sentimental soul who loves life as it is presented to her even when it's not on a silver platter. Ina, I am compelled to drop you a note here because you have touched a soft chord in me. My late father worked at JKR too!

Ina said...

Dear all,

Thank you for your kind words...

Jo, we have more things in common than we realised. Tq.

rozana said...

Ina,
Aku terlambat nak comment He3x.. Biasa ler aku..But it's great to have you as one of my best buddy.. Tang father's love tu you're lucky than me.. Sob3x Everybody ada dugaannya kan? The 5I blogs including mine betul2 menceriakan hidup aku. I'm trying to ignore all the sadness...