Good Morning Vietnam

When our feet stepped onto the land where it used to be the battlefield between the Vietcongs and the Americans GIs, we instantly knew why Vietnam has become one of the largest importers of motorcycles in Asia. There are 4 million motorcycles in Saigon alone. I considered myself lucky for being part of the motorcyclists population in Saigon; Zaidah, the baju kurung retailer made her husband fetched us on his motorcycle to her home in Kampung Champa on our 2nd last day in Saigon. The breeze that ran through my tudung displayed a sense of utmost enjoyment of my visit in Saigon.






Aliah, Ayna and I went to Ho Chin Minh city last Friday. It was meant to be a sight seeing + (little) shopping vacation. I wanted to see for myself the land which is famous of the Vietnam war, those that I read in the books as well as that I saw in movies like Deer Hunter or Good Morning Vietnam. The visit to the War Remnants Museum really described it all. Gory, brutal and inhumane.


We stayed in Au Lac Hotel 2, a 3 star hotel, which is a reasonable walking distance to Ben Thanh the famous market in Saigon, and Halal@Saigon, the Moslem restaurant where most Malaysians eat when in Saigon. The area surrounding Au Lac seemed dodgy but once you are in the hotel, everything is transformed. The room is spacious, clean, the receptionists and bell boys are friendly and most importantly the TV aired Star Movie, Star World, HBO and AXN other than CNN.







We only shopped on the arrival day and first half of the second day. Ben Thanh was definitely a good area to shop. However we did find it difficult to bargain because even after we have managed to get the price which we wanted, in satisfaction, there was always the tinge of regret that “..aaah.. should have asked for lower!!”. Fortunately for us there is not much to shop because other than the bed spread or table cloth, I did not fancy them much. I find that the cotton material in Bandung or Jakarta is far better. We didn’t shop for other clothes because we thought we could find the same in Petaling street. We bought Ali’s teeshirt and slacks because he will be going to boarding school soon and I don’t really have time to shop later later.


The highlights of the vacation were our visit to the War Remnants Museum where it showcased weapons used during the war and pictures of the horror Vietnam war story, and Chu Chi tunnel, an approximtely 200 miles of multi level tunnels which was the hideout of the guerrillas which passes below the American base connecting one village to another.

The War Remnants Museum







Chu Chi Tunnel









It would not be complete if we didn’t go sightseeing around Saigon and cruise along the Saigon river.











It was my ignorance; I didn’t know the Vietnamese celebrated the lunar year. The shops were already closed by 3 pm on the last day of the Rat year to usher the new year of the Dragon. Not knowing what other productive thing to do, we joined the Saigon people hanging out around Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue, the two famous main streets in Saigon.









Alhamdulillah, our rezki ... that although the baju kurung retailers like Hong Ann and Minh were closed since the Saturday, we met a couple from Malaysia who knew Zaidah who sells beaded baju kurungs. We were not sure of her place, she sells them from her home. What we knew that the land mark was the Buddhist temple on the way to the airport. So when we arrived at the temple, Zaidah's hubby came to fetch all 5 of us on a motorbike. He transported us one by one to their home in Kg Champa and that was when I got to breathe that air of excitement on the kapchai. Luckily the house is just about 1 km away from the drop point. The baju kurungs sold were beautiful. One would cost about RM60. I didn't buy that many, just reasonable pairs reserved for raya. Zaidah also opens a restaurant and do catering. I like the soup she made, pedas manis!

Saigon has become a popular tourists attraction. I am certain that one day, it will be developed like Bangkok or KL. Hong Leong Bank and Maybank have set their brand there. And so has Petronas :) Hopefully the government will take heed of the potential development especially how the locals treat the tourists. For tourists, my advice is be careful of those who like to take the opportunity to earn fast bucks in particular the cab drivers or the cyclo (trishaw) riders. Guess that is part of the costs of developing a country and opening it up to the foreigners.






By the way I think Saigon has bigger LV, Gucci and Chanel outlets relative to KL, thus if that is the yardstick of "a developed country", there you go!

A Humble Recognition

When the alarm rang that morning of 14th Jan 2012, I woke up in panic and remembered that I fell asleep without realizing. Came back from Kuantan the night before feeling feverish. It could have been the rain the day before. Kuantan was raining the whole day and although in most times I hate walking in the rain albeit with an umbrella, I could not resist it this time. Datin S enticed me with the gulai ikan patin and sambal tempoyak at Akob’s. Other than these 2 yummeh food, there were also gulai tempoyak daun kayu and goreng tempe and ikan bilis served there. Catching up with Datin S was something that was much awaited. What a pity I had to leave for office especially when I was already tugged into lots of coziness at Datin S’s bungalow.

After the panic, I realized that the camera battery had only one bar. Worse, I forgot to switch on the charger of my blackberry and the bb’s battery was draining out. Today is the big day and with my state of unreadiness, I foresee that there would only be a few shots to be taken at the palace later.

I was clad in blue kebaya labuh and sedondon with beloved husband’s blue baju melayu complete with destar, bengkung and sampin. He looked very handsome and reminded me of him 20 years ago when we got married. Even our temporary helper was pleasantly shocked to see him that morning and asked Alina “Bapak nak kahwin lagi?”

The drive to Seri Menanti lasted about a little more than an hour. Seri Menanti is the royal town for the Negeri royalties. My paternal grandfather hailed from Tanjung Ipoh which is the kampong next to Seri Menanti. I suspected that my ancestors may have lived here too long time ago.




The royals are mostly from suku Biduanda. As some of you may know, there are 12 sukus in Negeri. In adat pepatih, one follow his/her mother’s suku which makes me a Tanah Datar. (Note to self * I swear that I will not delete the names of the Penghulu, Lembaga and Buapak of Ulu Muar Tanah Datar from my Notes for fear of being quizzed again like during the rehearsal).





I feel very proud the fact that I am bequeathed the pingat Ahli Setia Negeri Sembilan by the Yam Tuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tunku Muhriz on his 64th birthday at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. It is the recognition which my birth state had granted on me and the feeling is almost beyond honourable. The fact that I am a company secretary and a senior lawyer in one of the reputable companies in the country must have some elements for the palace to consider. I feel thankful. As a matter of fact, the last three years I instructed the payroll to deduct a hefty part from my pay and channel it to PPZ NS would probably indicated that Allah is rewarding me in return. We never know cos’ He works wonders!

I don’t know that many recipients. There was my ex officemate who got the Dato’ship, there was my Srikandi friend’s father who was the Dato Pengiring, Edi my classmate who was there as invitee and Tunku A, SIL's uncle whom Datin S nicely referred him as Lord Chamberlain. It was such a moderate affair. The Yam Tuan and the Tunku Ampuan are two charming faces which make you feel at ease. I think the Undang yang Empat and the Tunku Besar Tampin look more fierce. I shook hands with the MB who is another friendly face. He came to where I was seated twice and I just didn’t feel good if I didn’t shake hands with him. He probably has some say to me receiving the pingat one way or the other.

When I went up to receive the pingat from Yam Tuan, I carefully counted my steps whilst ensuring the right time to mengangkat sembah. The sembah should not be too low or too high. Someone corrected my sembah during the rehearsal and I was determined not to repeat the same mistake. There were sounds of sigh from the audience when they noticed any of the recipients made mistakes. Blunders like immediately turn the back when Yam Tuan has given the kurniaan or forgetting to angkat sembah were pretty common. The Yam Tuan is indeed a forgiving king and I think he must have tried to hide his giggles when such silly blunders occured. Anyway he was like one of us before he was throned and he surely does not look like one who harp on trivial matters.




When the ceremony was over we proceeded to lunch. The lunch was fun. Guests was entertained by the singer Aishah, who is also a Nogori born. The king cut the 5 storey birthday cake with a sword (wow! I thought only Samurais do that) and everyone got their share.





All in all it was such a sweet affair; particularly sweeter because it happened 3 days after my birthday. What a good start for the year, Alhamdulillah. Of course it is not like I receive a grand bintang carrying the title Dato’ship, nonetheless it is a humble but huge recognition for me. The funny part is, resulting from this honour, my close colleagues at office are now calling me Datin!

Aliah's New Phase

Aliah went back to the campus today. That would be the end of the service of the Aces' reliable driver, at least for now, until she comes home again for the next semester break.

Everyone in the family sent her to Mahallah Maryam in my alma mater. She was at the Centre of Foundation Studies in Nilai last semester. The landlord of the facilities didn't want to renew the lease, resulting in the matrics students being moved to the main campus in Gombak. I prefer Aliah to be in Nilai because it is a lot closer to our home. Of course, main campus is more spacious and learning in the main campus has its advantages.

I have only been to the main campus once, when Shamilah, my little sister graduated. I was the product of the 3rd batch of IIU students. At that time, the main campus was only a blue print. The university in Gombak is probably like 7 times bigger than what used to be the PJ main campus.





Everyone was excited to accompany Aliah to her new study place. The hostel is quite cool. Four in a room and she has her own cubicle; the cubicle is a double deck, study table at the level below and the bed on top. It is like the individual room which we see at Ikea, only that Ikea's is much classy.





The view from her room.



There are tennis courts and hockey pitch next to the Mahallah.



I truly hope she will enjoy this new phase of her life in IIU. There will be ups and downs, happiness and sorrow. She was happy to meet the friends again just now. The twinkle in her eyes reminded me when I was enthusiastic and excited some 25 years ago when I commenced studies in IIU : )

Having said that, we encountered a bad experience when sending her back to the hostel the night, an anticlimax over the whole excitement. The last call to enter the Mahallah is 9 pm and after dinner et all, we sent Aliah back at 9.30 pm. The mak guard seemed to be exercising double standard when allowing people to enter the Mahallah after the curfew. Well, I guess that happens when a tired makcik be given the absolute power, particularly so when she has to do the night shift.

We will definitely miss Aliah. So used to her being at home since Nov last year. For the time being, no more kakak to boss Alim around to do kumon, to take his bath or to stop playing computer. Hopefully Ayna can take over Aliah's responsibility as the kak Long. Praying that all will be fine for Aliah and may she succeed passing her exams in flying colours.