Can't beleive Ramadan came and went so quickly. The company gave an extended weekend, starting Saturday and ending on Tuesday. Thought I'd try my luck at asking for the company Ford Ranger truck instead of renting one for RM200 (US$50 ) a day. I called the HR and was given the keys to the truck with two simple conditions: Fill in the log book and return by Tuesday morning.

After parking the bike in the factory, I drove back to the house and plotted the plan for the next day. I could either go to the Malaysian East Coast town of Terrenganu for some spectacular lakes and waterfalls OR down south to the hill station of Taiping where I had friends. In the end, Taiping it was. Terrenganu was too far to drive to and then spend just overnight at.

For pictures, go to my flickr. Too many to load here .

SATURDAY: First day of Eid. After Fajr, went for the Eid prayers at the local mosque. Met Johari there and followed him for some last minute Eid shopping and then had breakfast at his place. Drove to Junjong to visit the Pakistani friends at around 11am. Stopped at Carrefour to pick up something to eat for the Bangladeshi and Nepali workers I would visit next. Met them at their hostel and then went back to my house for a quick R&R. Budiman called at around 3 so went to his house at Sungai Dua, about 30 minutes drive. Thought of driving down to Alor Setar to meet Ann and her family but couldn't get through to her phone . After more food at Budiman's place, went to Penang to search for the place I had invited Sean and Melinda to for their farewell dinner . The place was called 'Best Tandoori' and I had Google Earthed it so it was quite easy to find. Only one problem. It was closed because the staff was Muslim and they were on holiday for Eid. Almost all other Muslim restaurants were closed. Called Sean and he recommended that we meet up at Cili's in Gurney Drive. Bought a new camera while waiting for Sean and Mel to show up. The food was great but couldn't eat much since it was right after Ramadan when the body is trained to eat at certain times. Had a good time though. Sean and Mel are always good company. Their kids, a girl and baby boy are adorable Mashallah and the two Thai usherers were oogling at 10 week old baby Jaswan through the glass screen. After a memorable dinner, I went back to pick up Budiman and we went to Sunway Carnival mall for the dumbest movie I've seen in a LOOOONG time - "The Seeker - The Dark is Rising" . I've NEVER fallen asleep during a movie but this one did its job pretty quick. After coffee, I dropped off Budiman at 3am and went back to Kulim to catch some sleep.

SUNDAY: Woke up at 10am and called Hasrul to inform him that I was inviting myself over for Eid to his place. It was 12pm by the time I left the house and 1:10 when I reached Taiping. He came by after a short while and I followed him to his grandma's house. I'm family to Hasrul's family and go there atleast once a year. His grandma knows me since I first came to Malaysia in 2002. She asked me in Malay how long I had been here and I replied more than five years. She then asked if I had learnt the Malay language well and I said "" and she said "". Then she asked if I had married and I said "" and she said "". Stayed there until 5pm and then went to his in-laws place. Stopped by at Taiping Lake Garden for a photo-op along the way. Finally left Taiping at 8pm for the drive back to Kulim.

MONDAY: Budiman had said that he wanted to go to Ipoh to visit his friends today. He called and said that he had to cancel because his friend had gone to another town. I decided to go on my own anyway. Called Idzham and asked him if there was anything interesting to see in Ipoh and he directed me to the caves and a water theme park - 'The Lost World of Tambun'. Traffic was pretty heavy and it took 3 hrs to get there. After another photo-op and some lunch at the park, I decided to get back. The view along the highway is beautiful Mashallah. The drive itself was 90% of the trip. Before you cross the toll plaza, you can see the magnificent mountains and the rain clouds crashing into them and dissipating into a dense mist. I imagined what it would be like to actually be there then. After crossing the toll, the road started climbing into the moutain, higher and higher until I was at the same level as the clouds and at one point, the clouds were below me. Too bad I couldn't stop anywhere to take pictures. Next time Inshallah. The sun set halfway through my drive back so you couldn't see anything other than the oncoming traffic headlights or the tail lights of those in front. Music blaring, I reached back in MY state at around 8pm. I pass by Budiman's house on my way to Kulim and called to check if he wanted to join up for coffee. Never one to refuse, I picked him up and we headed to Penang Island once again. After stopping by for dinner, we went to a tourist shopping area called Batu Ferringhi. Picked out two movies - "Fracture" and "The Invisible" that Shanu recommended and headed back to Budiman's house to watch them. It was almost 4am by the time both movies were done. I had to return the truck that morning so stoppped to top up the diesel, had breakfast, prayed Fajr, dropped off all my stuff from the truck at the house and went to the factory to return the truck. Came into the office, logged in, met whoever was online and went back to sleep at 8am.

TUESDAY: Woke up at 10:30am and left for Penang Island at around 12pm. The agenda was to visit all the places I haven't been to yet - The Botanical Garden, the Fruit Farm, the Dam and the forest road to the rear of the island. I went deep into the residential areas of Penang until I reached a fishing village. Sat there for a long time watching the fishermen haul their day's catch. The weather was great and the traffic was light. Took lots of pictures for memories. This might be my last year in Malaysia .

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

EID MUBARAK

KULLU 'AAM WAS ANTUM BI KHAIR

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A BEAUTIFUL EID

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint" [2:183]

"Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. Allah wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify Allah for guiding you, and to express your appreciation."[2:185]

The training programme for the body, mind and soul is here again Alhamdulillah. Here is a month's oppurtunity to:

• strive to be pious
• try to quit smoking
• soften our hearts
• mend relations
• look back on the past year and question yourself if you've been a good Muslim
• understand what it feels to be hungry
• understand what it means to give up food for God's sake purely because He orders it so, in complete submission to Him and His will
• learn to control our basic human needs
• learn self-restraint over our lowly human desires
• learn tolerance
• develop the habit of charity
• read the Qur'an with understanding and bring it closer to our hearts

May Allah bless us all during this month and give us the strength and faith to practice what we learn in Ramadan for the rest of the year.

Ameen.

As salam alaikum.

I think its time to say goodbye to 360 land for me friends. Should've done this earlier but better late than never.

I haven't been active on 360 for some time now and its not fair to all those who come by to say hello and do not get a response.

I WILL be coming back once in a while, say once every month or so to see what's happening Inshallah.

There are too many here to name so I won't name any. You are all included. Friends, friends of friends, friends who are active and those who have left. You will always be in my thoughts.

If you'd like to message or email sometime, my email is wolverine_unreal@yahoo.com.sg

Take care everyone.

Aziz