JB trip - A harrowing experience.

On Saturday ,12th.July 2008 morning , accompanied by my wife , daughters Eileen and Farin we left Klang in Farin's Kembara for Johor Bahru . It was for the purpose of sending Farin back to her campus at UTM Skudai for her to complete her final year degree course . It was a smooth journey despite for the fact that it was a 7 year old car . We reached JB at about 2.00 pm. We came to Skudai town to buy our bus tickets back to Klang for the next day .After much haggling finally we had to accept bus tickets which were sold to us at a much higher price than the usual .( The usual tickets were normally sold at RM. 24/- but were sold to us at RM. 35/- each ,even this it was only for a journey to KL Pudu station ). In other words we had to find another means of transport from KL to Klang .We had no other choice because we need to come back the next day. Before proceeding to our hotel we stopped over at the Angsana shopping complex to have my favourite 'mee rebus' . We then checked into Hotel Sri Malaysia in Larkin ,JB .

After a short rest in our rooms we then went to my mother in-law's house at Melodies Garden . The frail looking lady was happy to receive us although she was already almost wheel chair bound in her room . She was forever a very kind lady even right when I first knew her . Unlike other old ladies she was not a fussy woman .It was a pity that she could not follow us to Klang especially now that we are living in our new home . As far as I could remember she has not been out of her house for almost 10 years now .

In the evening we had our dinner at Larkin Food Corner where we had a sumptious meal . After the meal we also bought some food for my mother in-law . The rest of the evening were spent at my brother in-law's house at Majidee Park . We came back to our hotel room after midnight .

The next morning we stopped at my sister in-law's houses in JB and in Bandar Baru Uda before proceeding to UTM .After sending Farin to her room Farin then sent us to Skudai Bus Terminal for us to get back to Klang by bus . We left Skudai at about 5.20 pm. and we reached KL at about 10.00 pm. From here it was a harrowing experience which we will not forget because we had to walk quite a distance from the bus terminal to the LRT station and then to the commuter station .We were soaking wet of sweats and were almost exhausted . We reached Klang at about 11.00 pm. where we were picked up by my son Azman .

I am 61 today.

Today it is my birthday ( 10th.of July ) . Sadly no one cared to wish me except for my daughter Farin and son Azman ( even this I received in the evening ) .The rest must have forgotten about this old man , perhaps because they thought that I am of not much use to them any more .Inspite of the fact that I am quite well off and do not depend on them to sustain my daily life ,I am still being ignored . What more if I have nothing ? That is why I used to remind my wife and myself that we should not expect anything from our children . We must be able to stand tall even when we are retired .

I am 61 years old . Those days when I was a kid I used to figure out 61 years old as a very old man . Some one who was already very sickly , some one who was good for nothing and some one who was about to die . Today whether I like it or not I am in that situation . However , contrary to my earlier perception , I do not feel that old , I do not feel useless to others and I do not feel that I am dying . My feelings are the same as when I was 40 or 50 years old . I am as healthy as before except for my slight hypertension and a little knee problem .Otherwise I am as young and as energetic as any other men . I am looking forward to many more years of life , if God permits . Amin .