The reality of a house.

We do have a house in Seri Iskandar Perak which we never stay even for a day. It has been rented out for years.  Before we can really stay in a house we can call our own, we do have to hop around, renting houses again and again. For three years we have been calling that nice semi detached bungalow in Putrajaya as home, now  is a cute 4 bed room single storey little house in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. The house is new. I am thinking whether buying is the better option than just renting....

 front view, more on left side

 front view, more on right side

 the left side of the house

 the left side, closer.

at the back of the house

I have to wait for a week or so for water and electricity to be in, so in the meantime I have to put up with temporary accommodation, thanks to Wan Azlan for his kindness. Kakdah and the rest will stay in Bangi until the boys finish their studies or when the two think they are alright to be on their own. Abang Long, Abang Din and Abang Man had been checking on me, if I am alright here. Honestly I am not here to die but to continue living with some decent legacy to leave behind, at least on my gardening adventure. Government has been yelling about agrotech, I may just grab and see it through. Haha.. I am already eying on a six acre oil palm plot not far away.

The space around the house is quite a handful for another gardening adventure. I am aware of Kelantan unique weather, very much closer to Thailand and having the large South China Sea as it's waterfront. For Kakdah, going to Kelantan is like coming home, looking for the long lost roots. She is a third generation Kelantanese. Her grandfather and grandmother moved down to Sitiawan years ago from Pintu Geng area. She still has some relatives around here. For me, the root is Kedah as Wan Mat Saman fourth generation. Venturing out of one's cocoon has been the trademark on both sides, for better or for worse. But the whole big place called Earth is for everyone to go about and settle down, to learn and to live.

I did some mental sketches, on the eventual look of my little vegetable garden in Tanah Merah. I hope it will develop into something unique, rich and memorable. First, I have to tame the soil of kelantan and the weather too , before I get too complacent. The other day I saw an elderly digging nearby which tickled my gardening passion. He will soon be my gardening associate... or friend... or pal.

To those who may wonder if the flood here has any of my tears, rest assured that everything is perfectly alright. I am coming home and my little vegetable will stay. Tasya and her family can drive up here and bring along the eldest, which I hear a lot but never see and hold. Yanti being a Kelantanese too, may want to drop by and check if Tanah Merah is really that red. Ustaz, Zaki, Wan Zainudin and many others are true sons of Kelantan and I may need them for protection against thugs or gedebe !... haha

The benchmark of Putrajaya has been set, 

now Tanah Merah knows exactly where to hit and dig!

Cheers, there will be more...

bangchik

Where is Kelantan?

Kelantan, which translates as the "Land of Lightning" is a  treasure of  great delights - rustic fishing villages, verdant padi fields and languid, palm-fringed beaches.

Tucked away in the north-eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia, the people of Kelantan have managed to keep alive age-old customs and traditions, thus earning the state a reputation as the Cradle of Malay Culture.

Introduction Kelantan, which translates as the "Land of Lightning" is a veritable treasure throve of delights - rustic fishing villages, verdant padi fields and languid, palm-fringed beaches. Tucked away in the north-eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia, the people of Kelantan have managed to keep alive age-old customs and traditions, thus earning the state a reputation as the Cradle of Malay Culture. Here, colourful kites soar upwards defying gravity and giant drums reverberate. Shadow puppets mesmerise audiences and giant tops provide hours of endless fun.

Kelantan has a population of about 1.4 million ; 95% is Malay with Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli making up the rest. Kelantanese are renowned for their warmth and friendliness. Kelantan Darul Naim is a world of gracious beauty, retaining an old-world charm that few can resist. Come, let her natural attributes work their magic on you!  [reference: Cuti Malaysia - Kelantan]

These are photos I took on the way towards Kelantan. Most are roadside views.

 Raintrees, as I parked somewhere in Raub

  raintree

 raintree

 fern and road somewhere at Merapoh

 fern on hill slope at Merapoh 

 fern and a tree at Merapoh

The road is rolling nicely  at Merapoh

 a normal roadside view

 a tree with large leaves

 grass-like plants. 
i think they are called sendayan 
(from old memories, growing padi in Matang Acheh with Dad)

bangchik

I am moving on.

I am busy lately, to finish off outstanding work, and get myself and the whole family ready to move on. The next destination will be Kelantan. I have been there twenty years ago, when life was different, kids were toddlers. Now everyone seem to really grow up, and both of us, me and kakdah getting a lot older... haha. First of November will be the beginning of a new journey to Kelantan. Do I like Kelantan to work and stay.. Yes!, Do I like Putrajaya to work, garden and stay?.. Yes!!.

Places are tiny dots on the big globe Earth. I am moving 450 km to the north east of Putrajaya. I heard jungle along the way up there is still pretty and virgin. People of Kelantan are known to be very industrious and enterprising. I am sure, there are ready materials to fill up this blog. There will be gardening activity of course where ever I go..., but the scope, concept and content will surely be different., adapting to what is available.  So in the meantime for the next few days, I will display some components of my little vegetable garden to the very end. I know, it is not easy to let go.....

no pictures today, just memories..

bangchik