Fourth trip

Went to Syabas yesterday to follow up on my water application. They say it will take about two to three weeks to process. Mine has been about a month already but still no news. This is my fourth visit to Syabas since this saga started. Met the officer in charge hoping for good news but the moment she told me there is a little bit of problem with the application, my heart sank. Apparently, my meter stand is too low! Therefore her boss refused to sign the approval letter although she as the officer in charge has said it is ok. Sigh....... I said to my self, this is Murphy's law at its best. If things can go wrong, it will! What it means is that there will be more delay. Why is it so difficult to get water? Its been months. It all started with the incompetent contractor who didn't do his work. As a result, I am still without water although the house has been ready for so long. Hmm..... the good news is my contractor has made a fresh application. Now the letter is going to the boss again for signature. Hopefully everything will be okay by this week in sha Allah.

Together again

Wife and the kids came on Saturday. As the house is still without water, we had to find another place to stay. Not very difficult actually as there are many hotels and home stays available in Kuala Selangor, Puncak Alam and other areas within a few kilometres of Danau Merbau. As long as you are willing to pay, there are many to choose from. We finally decided on a condo in Puncak Alam. I would say good in terms of cleanliness, location and price. Near the mosque, Tesco, petrol station and other amenities. A hotel is not within our consideration because for the same amount, you will get only one room. That's a bit too much when you have three very active kids with you.

A few days

They will be staying for a few days before going back to KL. Will come back for good once the water issue is settled, which I hope is imminent. After all, its been almost a month since we made a fresh application to the authorities. Meantime, we have to live this way. Me in Danau Merbau while the rest are in KL. Its not the best of arrangement but its the best we can do at the moment. Once they can join me in Danau Merbau, then it will be back to normal. We will begin our new life in a new house, a new place and with lots of positive anticipation. In sha Allah

Hot, hot weather

Its been hot these days. No rain for the past one month. Only the hot sun and dry days. From what I read in the papers, the situation will remain till October. Wah! Such a long time. Just over a month ago, it was the rainy season. The rain was heavy and consistent such that some places in the kampong experienced flooding. Then the rain stopped and it ha been dry ever since. Need to drink plenty of water. I have also stopped riding the motorbike too much now because of the weather. Only to the mosque and back. Going to other places, I drive the car. Once the weather becomes a bit cooler, I will start riding my bike once again.

Not as expected

Since living in Bukit Cerakah, I have been to four mosques which are around the vicinity. Only the one in Puncak Alam is a bit further. To my surprised, only the mosque in Puncak Alam have professional 'imam'. They are hafiz meaning they have the whole quran in their head. Even the muazzin are hafiz. However, at the other three mosques, the imam are just ordinary. Their capacity to recite the quran is limited. Only what we would call the 'ayat ayat lazim'. Even then only the short and simple ones. I would have thought they are capable of a bit more but no. Very very limited. Jeram, for as long as I can remember, is a place where there are many tahfiz schools. Therefore, the situation as it is is a surprised to me. It is not what I expected.

Cracked heels

One thing I can't do is to walk on cement floor without shoes or slippers. My heels will crack badly. That's what is happening now. A result of walking too much on cement floor. For example, the mosque in Puncak Alam is big. To reach the main prayer hall where it is carpeted, I have to walk across a large area that is not carpeted, only tiles. Before that I have to  take ablution also walking on cement floor. These activities have taken a toll on my heels. They are badly cracked. It can be painful when the crack gets large and deep. I bought a gel to stop the crack from getting worse. It has its effect. The cracks are slowly reducing but not totally. I need to try some other gel but most of all, I need to avoid walking on cement floor barefooted.

Daily activities

I have developed a routine in my daily activities now. Early morning, its to the Bukit Cerakah mosque for the morning prayer after waking up. After that, its to Puncak Alam for breakfast, empty my stomach and have my bath at the mosque. Afternoon its again to the Bukit Cerakah mosque for the afternoon prayer. I will have my lunch at a stall by the roadside near my house after that. Ten sleep, watch TV or do household chores. Later in the afternoon its back to the mosque for Asar prayer. As night falls, its back to the mosque for the maghrib prayer. Then have my dinner at yet another stall near my house. My last visit to the mosque will be after dinner for the Isya prayer. Then its back to the house, watch TV until its time to sleep. Tomorrow it will be the same routine. That's the routine these days.

Hot days but cold morning

The days have been very hot but in the morning I am having bad sneezing. Must be because when I go to the mosque for the morning prayer, I ride the bike. In Gombak I can walk but here, I have to use the bike because it is a bit far. Two minutes on the bike but it is the coldest two minutes I can ever get in Malaysia. With the wind blowing against my face, my nose especially takes the brunt. By the time I get to the mosque, the nose can't take it anymore. It will begin to sneeze. Don't know how to solve this. Maybe I put some cover over my nose when riding in the morning. That will put a stop to the sneezing I hope.

Missing them

Monkeys!

One problem I faced is the monkeys coming to the house looking for food. Not that they come very often but when they do, they are a nuisance. . Lucky thing they did not manage to get into the house but my backyard was quite a mess. The white paint of my house was left with dirty marks all over, especially around the windows. Must be they were looking in to see if there are people around. I was actually sound asleep in the main hall with the door opened but the grilled was locked. Lucky! Then I heard loud sound like things were being tossed around. Then the television gave way. No signal! Must be the work of the monkeys playing with the dish. That was last Saturday. Till this morning, I am still without the television. As for the dirty marks, I repainted the windows all over again. This is actually the first time they raided my house although I see them everywhere around the kampong all the time.

Wedding at Parit Mahang

Last week somebody placed a wedding invitation card at the verandah of my house. As I was leaving the house to go to the mosque, I noticed it. Its a wedding in the kampong at Parit Mahang. It was last Sunday actually. Thus, after the afternoon prayer at the Bukit Cerakah mosque, I went straight to the wedding held at the Sek Kebangsaan Parit Mahang. Wow! I was in for a surprised. It was grand, if I can say so. Of course not like the weddings held at hotels but there was a Kuda Kupang dance, a silat gayong show and the crowd was fairly large. Could be the whole kampong folks were invited. After all, I received one when I don't even know the host. I am also a newbie.

Cheaper

Since living in the new house here in Bukit Ceraka, Puncak Alam is one of the the place where I go for my needs, be it for food, groceries, petrol, mosques, hardware items, furniture etc. However, a few days ago I went to the Kuala Selangor looking for a Celcom office. Not quite K.Selangor but the suburbs. Although I couldn't find one, I discovered one very interesting thing. There's a hardware shop that sells at a very reasonable price. Much cheaper that what I have been paying, for the same items in Puncak Alam and even in the kampong itself. I also found a furniture shop that I can say belong to the same category, that is selling their goods cheaper than others. Looks like from now on, I will be frequenting K.Selangor more often. There's a bargain to be made.

Harmless creatures

Living in the kampong, I get all kind of insects entering the house. They are just everywhere. From the smallest to the semi 'big' beetles, they are everywhere. Harmless little creatures actually. How or when they get into the house I do not know but when I sweep the floor, I can see that there all kinds of them. Most are already dead by then while those that are alive, if I can get hold of them, I will toss them out of the house. Some I can do that but some manage to escape especially those that can fly. The moment I get near them, they fly away. I guess its part and parcel of living in a kampong. I remember when I was small, living in Selama, Perak, every now and then I can see one or two fireflies, natural lights glowing in the dark. Similarly when I was living in Sungai Buloh but so far not here in Bukit Ceraka.

Its great

Almost two weeks since I was left alone in the new house. Its a situation I don't fancy but there is no choice. The first week was quite okay but by the second week boredom began to set in. Getting tired as well riding everyday to Puncak Alam for my water needs. Since I started buying water from the supermarkets, I have managed to reduce the trips. Sometimes its only once a day or even not at all. I have my bath with the little water that I have stored. No need to go to the Puncak Alam mosque anymore. Only when I need a good bath, where I can use the water to my hearts content, then I go there. Otherwise, its at home, for good or for worse. One thing about living alone though is my movement is now build around the prayer times. Five times a day, I do my prayers at the mosques. It can be at Puncak Alam, at Parit Mahang, at Bukit Ceraka or at Bukit Hijau. I am free to go where I want to go. If before I was tied up at the surau because I was the imam, now I go where I like. Its great.

Iced mango

Was surfing the area surrounding my house using google map. Noticed a cafe called iced mango situated about three minutes away. With the weather being so hot these days, that was a real temptation. I even rode my motorcycle to the place but on second thoughts, decided against it. I am already coughing every now and then from drinking too much iced cold drinks. Yesterday I had 'cendol' also near my house. Before that I took a few iced drinks which I seldom do actually but the weather as it is, just can't help it. However, this morning I woke up with a resolved not to have anymore iced drinks until the cough cleared. The iced mango almost make me break my resolve .......hmm....

More houses

Yesterday a contractor came to my house. Said he is the contractor for the house to be build on one of the plot of land behind my house. He will start moving things today. As such he will need to use water and electricity. He wanted to tap from my house, paying me a certain amount for doing that. I said no problem except I can't give you water as I still don't have it. He wanted to pay me straight away but I said wait till I get the water. For now, I have no problem if he wants to take the electricity. My sister will be building her house soon. Her plot of land is right in front of my house. I think this week they will start the work. Wow! Great. By the end of the year, neighbours will be a plenty. Its going to be a lively place.

RM1.50 for breakfast

If I thought my breakfast on Saturday was cheap at RM1.70 for 'meehoon' and a cup of coffee, well, I thought wrong because on Sunday, it was even cheaper at RM1.50. Been so long since I experienced such prices before. It really is great living in the kampong. Some things are still cheap. At these prices, my money can stretch longer than I thought. Even dinner for fried rice and a cup of tea 'kosong' costs me only RM5.50. The village is still relatively empty for now. There are people but not so many. However, I dread to think in ten years time. Then the place will be crowded. At the rate people are selling their land and people are buying and building houses, it might not even be ten years.

Within sight

Don't know when the water is coming. Hope it will be soon as everything has been done. Its up to the water authorities (Syabas) now. Meanwhile the wife and children are already a week away. They are at the in law house in Gombak. Small house but there's nothing that can be done. It is better that way as without water, its impossible for them to be here. Me alone here just about managing it although sometime, I am tired of it all. Very difficult but I do the best I can. In sha Allah, the light at the end of the tunnel is within sight. My problem is nothing to shout about. There are others with more critical problem.

Fatihah came

Fatihah and family came to the house yesterday. Was at the house for quite a while finding some time in between to look for durian. As I am still quite new to the place, I took her to the only place I know that sells durian. Its by the side of the road that leads to Puncak Alam about a few minutes from the house. I travel the road every day, sometime twice a day on my way to the mosque in Puncak Alam. That's how I know the place. Alhamdulillah, she said the fruits were okay although I didn't try them myself. They left the house at almost seven in the evening. I think my 'cucus' had a good time. Later that night, I found a few other places in the village that sell durians as well. Next time we can try them.

New water strategy

Tired of having to go to Puncak Alam mosque for my bath and to empty the stomach or for that matter, the other mosques as well for even to piss, I thought hard on what else can I do to change the situation? Finally I decided upon a strategy of buying water from the shops. I found out shops are selling 18 litres (12 big bottles at 1.5 litre per bottle) of water at different prices. The cheapest is at RM6.50. If everyday I buy 36 litres, it will cost me only RM13. If I am careful with my usage, 18 litres should be enough for my daily needs. I use even less sometime. So, that is my strategy now. I buy the water and use them sparingly. That way I can spend more time at home instead of having to go out every so often when the need arises. That will save a lot of wasted time. I can also do more work at home, what more in a new house where there's still many things to do.

A relief

I gave my last 'Khutbah' during the last Eidul Fitri prayer about a month ago. Two days later, I lead the prayers for the last time. Can't remember now but I think it was the 'subuh' prayer. After that I was busy managing the move from Gombak to Danau Merbau in Bukit Cerakah, Jeram. With the move completed, a chapter of my life is over as well. Almost four years I was the 'imam' at the local surau, something I never ever expected to happen. Now I am just one of the 'ahli qariah'. I come and go as I please. There are three mosques that are nearby and one a bit further away. I have the liberty to choose which I want to go. So far I have been frequenting three of them. Now I just get myself ready and go. No need to worry about the 'surah' I am going to read. No need to worry about the stomach. No need to worry about anything. It is indeed a relief. 

Great

I have missed much of the world cup but now that Astro is back on, I will get to see the semi finals at least. Even then I might not be watching them cause its at two in the morning. Anyway, Wimbledon is ongoing so I get to watch it having missed the first week. Then the British open golf will start soon this week if I am not mistaken. That will be interesting to watch. Wow! I am getting my sporting lfe back on track. Great!

Travel to KL

After the move to the new house ten days ago, yesterday was the first time I ventured out of the kampong. Went to Bangsar KL to get my regular supply of medicine at the TNB cllinic. After that to Sri Gombak to settle some issues with Celcom. Then met the wife at Setapak Central before finally riding back home. Its been okay so far. In fact I am loving it living at this new place. At the moment, there are still many things to do in order to get the house in order. I think it will take a few more weeks before everything gets back to normal and become routine. I am beginning to discover little things here and there at the new place. Its been interesting so far. I have no complain apart from the water problem. In sha Allah that will be over soon.

Petrol from grocery shops

I discovered that here I can get petrol for my motorcycle from the grocery shop. Just ask any grocery shop and chances are, they have it. Therefore, not necessary to go to the petrol station which can be few kilometres away. The nearest is I think the Petronas station in Sg Buloh. There's another two Petronas station in Puncak Alam and there are two or three petrol stations in Ijok. Two days ago, the petrol in my motorcycle tank was so low I worried if I can get to one of the petrol stations. I heard before that some of the shops in the kampong sell petrol but I was not sure which. Stopped by a motorcycle workshop to ask. That's when I was told the secret.

Little by little

Little by little, I am getting my life back to normal. Getting the house in order is slowly but surely being done. Yesterday I fixed the air cond. Today, the astro guy will come to get the astro going. I have missed a lot, especially the ongoing World Cup in Russia. Three days ago, we did the backyard, putting in extra power points, piping for the washing machine and heater plus putting up the kitchen sink and others. The water heater for the bathroom were fixed a few days ago. The additional awning and the grill for the backyard will come in a weeks's time. I managed to complete the six days of fasting in Shawal last Friday despite all the upheaval. am also finding the time to go to the mosque. However, my memorising of the Quran is still not back on track. I need to start soonest possible. Once the water problem is solved, then I think everything else will fall into place. Life will once again be normal.

Faster internet

The problem with the slow internet was solved by taking my computer to the verandah of the house. I discovered the trick this morning after getting frustrated in trying to transfer some money through the internet to my wife. The internet availability was intermittent it was impossible to get the job done. Then I remembered that many times previously, I found the phone connection to be much better outside of the house at the front verandah. Decided to try with computer. Much to my delight, the internet is much faster too. Really great!

Adjusting

Phew! Been too busy the past one week can't even find the time to update my blog. Adjusting to the new routine in the new house in a new place took up most of my time. Coupled with the internet being so so, it caused me to neglect the computer for quite some time. With water still elusive, I have to make the best I can using mostly the mosque in Puncak Alam for my daily needs. It takes about 15 min from the house to get there. The rest of the family have left. My wife gone back to KL to her mother's house together with the kids. I sympathise with her. Difficult living without water. What more with the kids around but there's not much I can do. I hope the water problem will be solved as soon as possible. Today I will go to Syabas to get an update on the matter.

Daily routine

Every morning for my morning prayers, I go to the mosque in Parit Mahang having done the needy like brushing my teeth first at the toilet in the mosque. After doing my prayer, my stomach will start giving me the signals. For that, I will go to the mosque in Puncak Alam. There the mosque is big. The toilets and showers are many, big and clean too. You can do what you want to do as nobody will notice you. That's where I will empty my stomach, have my bath and later have breakfast at one of the many restaurants in Puncak Alam. By eight or half past eight, I will be back at the house. Morning and afternoon I will mostly be at the house unless I have something on. Then just before the evening prayer, I will again go again to Puncak Alam for my bath and prayer. After that, have my dinner and go to the mosque in Bukit Cerakah for the Isya' prayers before my finally heading home to retire for the night.

Visitors come a calling

Atak, Da, Duan and Mak Limah came to the house yesterday. Atak by the way, will soon be neighbours. Perhaps before the end of the year. Her house will be right in front of ours. At the moment, another neighbour is busy building three blocks of houses for rent. That will be completed in a two or three months time. Heard prospective tenants have already booked all three of the houses. So, the place will be a lively soon. Looking forward very much to it.

So damn slow

The internet is so damn slow its frustrating. I would have thought that the internet coverage is good nationwide, no matter where you are. Even in far away places like the kampong. However, things are not like what it seem. Here in Bkt Ceraka, Jeram, its available but intermittent. Its also slow when its available. I remember when I was in Johor about two years back. I was staying in Bkt Indah in the Iskandar area. The internet was also slow there. No, not slow. It was unavailable. Mind you, its the Iskandar area, the place touted to be the new growth area of Johor. 

Today, if I can find the time, I will make a visit to TM to fix the internet for the house. Maybe once that's done, it will be much faster.

So many to be done

Finally we made the move after the Friday prayer. Two trips with the Alza were needed to move all our things. One was in the morning while the other one was in the afternoon. That afternoon trip was the last, the end of the operation that started on 21st June beginning with the lorry. I felt relieved that the move was at last done. No more Gombak. Bt Ceraka, here we come. Since then, I have been busy in the new house. So many things to be done. Astro, internet, the door hinges, a few lightings, additional awning, additional plug points and piping etc. What with no water, it made things doubly hard. Still we endured till now. Its been three nights already.