Raya Haji in Kota Bharu with lots of eating!

For the recent Hari Raya Aidil Adha, we celebrated it in Kota Bharu with my mum, my sister, Chik, and my brother, Ayis. My sister, Lin, decided to celebrate this raya in Kuala Lumpur instead. My brother, Azan, couldn’t get away from college as he had exams to prepare for right after the raya.

For the trip back to Kota Bharu this time around, we flew Air Asia. I had bought the tickets some two months ago in order to get the cheaper fare. The flight was at 7.30am, and since we have not flown Air Asia for a very long time, we were a little bit anxious for a number of reasons.

One, the distance to travel to LCCT was further than the main terminal at KLIA. We weren’t sure whether to take the cab or drive and park there. I was worried that the taxi might be late picking us up (I had that happening to me once, and I ended up having to drive to the airport at the last minute in panic!) since it would have to pick us up at the wee hours of the morning in order for us to be in time to catch the flight. In the end, we decided to drive and park.

Two, we were concerned as to how early we needed to be at the airport to check in on time knowing how long the queues were at LCCT. That concern, however,  was solved for us by Air Asia themselves when they introduced web check-in in November. Though I was nervous, I checked-in online without much of a hassle two days before the trip. Now I needed to find out how we were going to check-in our baggage as nothing was mentioned at the Air Asia site as to how to go about checking-in your baggage once you have checked-in online.

Luckily a friend, Sabariah, who travels on Air Asia almost every other month, told me that there is a drop baggage counter to check-in the baggage for those who have checked-in online. True enough, at the airport, the drop baggage counter was shorter and faster than the check-in counter, and things went through smoothly, but we did get to the airport very early as we just did not want to take any risks as we weren’t familiar with the new system.

We got into the departure lounge with enough time to have breakfast, a very expensive breakfast, I might add, even though it was just two packets of Nasi Lemak, 2 pieces of muffins, 2 cups of very strong black coffee and one cup of milo.

Air Asia is really charging us left and right for every single thing possible! I bet if they can charge us for the stools we sat on by the minute, they would! LOL!

When we arrived in Kota Bharu, my mum took us for another round of breakfast at this Hover Restaurant for Nasi Dagang and Nasi Berlauk.

It was nice, but I still prefer my mum’s Nasi Berlauk anytime!

Anyway, thanks, Ma, for the breakfast!

Before heading back to my mum’s place, we dropped by KENARI VILLA, my mum’s guest house.

It’s all so nicely done up.

She even sewed some of the curtains herself, and there were these two comforters that had a fleece blanket for a backing to give the comforters more cosiness.

I just love the motifs for both the comforters. They make the room look so comfy and welcoming.

While we were there, we helped her get the bed ready for one of the rooms as my mum was expecting a guest to come in on the 18th of November.

As soon as we got to my mum’s house, with the exception of my son who had a cousin to play PSP with, my hubby and I immediately hit the pillows as we were really sleepy from getting up in the wee hours of the morning, and not sleeping well the night before for fear that we might oversleep! LOL!

For lunch, my mum brought us to this tourist place which serves food kampong style complete with ulam-ulam and budu.

It was yummy, but it still can’t beat my mum’s cooking, even the simplest ones!

The evening was spent helping my mum preparing some raya food to serve for the next day.

For dinner, we went to a restaurant just below my mum’s condo.

I don’t know if I had made a wrong choice in the food, but my order of Mee Bandung looked nothing like the Mee Bandung I am familiar with. Instead of the gravy being thick and kind of curry like in colour and texture, this particular Mee Bandung had light pink gravy which can easily be mistaken for plain water with some pink colouring.

I know I like pink, but pink gravy? This is simply ridiculous!

The taste was, err.....definitely nothing Mee Bandung like. But, as I was hungry, I just dived in, and tried to enjoy the meal. But, when I accidentally bit on a Cili Api, that did it for me! I simply lost my appetite to eat further, not that I had an appetite to begin with when I saw the pink gravy. LOL! Never before in my life have I eaten Mee Bandung with Cili Api! Where in the world did this chef learn his cooking from! LOL!

Even my hubby’s order of Cantonese Fried Mee was nothing like the usual Cantonese Mee we were used to.

It was more like Mee Hailam instead. Did the chef got all his recipes mixed up? LOL!

The next day, for Raya, my mum served Satay, Nasi Impit, Kuah Kacang, Gulai Ayam, Roti Jala, and Ketupat. Yummy!

My contribution was a Carrot Cake flown all the way from Kuala Lumpur.

We had this meal all day that day. *grin*

My sister came over with her family and we had a great time talking about the future of our kids!

The next day, my brother, Ayis, left for early for his drive back to Kuala Lumpur.

We, in turn, went over for a morning tea/late breakfast (we had our breakfast at my mum’s place already) at my sister’s house.

She served us English breakfast of oatmeal scones which was really nice, especially since they were freshly taken out of the oven. Yummy!

We came back to my mum’s place to have lunch of Gulai Ayam, Fried Kangkong, Ikan Singgang, Jeruk Mame’, beef rendang, ulam-ulam and Budu! Yummier!

Soon, before we know it, it was time for us to start packing our bags for our trip back to Kuala Lumpur.

We had a great time celebrating raya with my mum, sister, brother, nieces and nephews. We just love the food and just can’t seem to have enough of my mum’s cooking.

Thanks, Ma, for everything! Hugs!

HARI RAYA 2010 (Day Two) - A Wedding and more visiting!

A friend of both my hubby and I got married on the 2nd day of Hari Raya, and she being a very close and dear friend, we decided to make the trip to Batu Pahat, a 2 ½ hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, for the wedding. We would say that this a wedding much awaited by many of our friends and colleagues at work. *smile* This is her first wedding, and she herself had rightly said, her life is only just about to begin .... at 40++ *grin* Kalau dah jodoh, akan bertemu jua..... (it was fated for you to marry, you will surely meet...).

We started out at about 9.30am, and only arrived in Batu Pahat (it usually takes only 2 ½ to 3 hours to get to Batu Pahat on normal days) at about 1.30pm due to heavy traffic along the trunk roads leading to Batu Pahat town.

When we got there, the bride and groom had already arrived, and was just done with the Makan Berhidang.

Our friend, Rosila, looks different as she was attired in a head scarf, as before this, she wasn’t wearing a head scarf. But, she looked very happy and cheerful, and was smiling from ear to ear, as any bride would, but her wedding is extra special. *smile*

After the wedding, we headed on my mother-in-law’s kampong (home town), Muar, an hour’s drive from Batu Pahat. There we visited my MIL’s eldest and only brother, Ayah Long, and most of his children. It’s been some time since we made a viist to Muar, and so, we spent quite some time there, chatting with my hubby’s cousin and aunt. Aiman was happily playing with Teh, their favourite pet cat.

Before heading back to Kuala Lumpur, my hubby took us around Muar.

He also showed us the government quarters where he used to live when my FIL was still serving the government many years ago.

The house looks abandoned, which is a pity since most government quarters those days are really huge with a huge garden for you to run around outside instead of being cooped up in the house in front of the TV or computer all day like kids nowadays do.

 

Aiman was actually smitten by the house that he wanted us to buy it! LOL!

Wa started our journey back to Kuala Lumpur at about 6.00pm, and made a stop over at the Restoran Jejantas Air Keroh located along the highway for dinner and maghrib prayers.

My son had Mee Goreng Mamak for dinner.

Sup Ekor with rice for hubby

Asam Laksa for me.

I didn't like it. The gravy was too thin, and it was so hot and spicy that I had to look for potato chips to take away the heaty traste from my mouth.

We safely arrived back in Kuala Lumpur at 10.00pm due to heavy traffic on the highway.
 

To Rosila and Kamarudin, CONGRATULATIONS!

May your marriage be blessed and may you both always remain faithful to one another and be together till death do you part. Amin.

And here are the embroidered towels I made for them. I hope they like them!

For orders, do drop me an email! *wink*

HARI RAYA 2010 (Day One)

For raya this year, we celebrated it in Kuala Lumpur. As usual, in the morning, we would go for our raya prayers before we head on to my in-laws’ house.

We were the first of my hubby’s siblings to arrive at my in-laws. When we got there, the table was already laden with the usual Johor raya food – Nasi Briyani.

When I first got married some 18 years ago, it took me some time to get used to having Nasi Briyani as a raya food because I grew up with satay and nasi impit being served as the usual raya food. *grin* But, I love my father-in-law’s Nasi Briyani!

I am no fan of Nasi Briyani. In fact, I am no fan of any mamak food. I simply cannot stand the thick briyani taste of the gravy, and would only eat it if it was the last food on earth, or, it was the only food available and I am too lazy to cook! LOL! Ask my hubby, and he will nod in agreement! *grin*

But, my father-in-law’s Nasi Briyani is the only briyani where I would really enjoy very much and would actually take seconds! LOL!  And I love my FIL's Harissa!

My yearly raya contribution is a Carrot Cake. Usually I would just frost the cake with plain Cream Cheese frosting, but, this year, I decided to decorate it a bit, but I took the short cut way – I bought the sugar flowers. *grin*

Doesn’t the cake look nice? *wink*

All my nieces and nephew, my hubby and my son, even my hubby’s aunts look forward to my Carrot Cake. I feel so honoured! *blush* My niece in the US would not eat any other Carrot Cake. That is so sweet. I am touched!

Anyway, back to the raya celebration, after my in-laws’ house, we headed on to my hubby’s aunt’s house, Mak Zai. I love her Lontong, and would have taken seconds had I not be so full with Nasi Briyani.

Seen here is Mak Zai deep in conversation with my hubby. She must be talking business! *wink*

She is one business lady I admire and would love to take some time to get some business tips from her. *grin*

In this photo, seated are Aiman, Lydia, Mak Zai's granddaughter, Mak Zai, and standing behind is my hubby and Ayah Yim, Mak Zai's hubby. 

Aiman with cousin, Lydia.

After Mak Zai's house, we went back to my in-laws'house to meet up with my SILs and brother in-law.

Seen here, starting clockwise, seated next to me on the left is my niece, Rinnie, my SIL, Adeque or Azlin, my niece, Alyssa, my niece, Hilda, and my SIL, Eina.

In this photo, my hubby with all his siblings.

Aiman with his cousin and cousin's cousin.

And more food prepared by my SIL, Azlin.

After Friday prayers, we headed on to another one of my hubby’s aunt, Mak Jah. Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos while I was there. *sigh*

In the mean time, at my MIL's house, she was also receiving some friends from her PD (Parkinson Desease) club which she frequents for activities. 

Our last stop on the first day of raya was to my SIL’s house, Eina, my hubby’s youngest sister. No photos there either as we spent a lot of time talking. *grin* Love the Nasi Dagang Terengganu there though. It was something different after eating Lontong twice at both my hubby’s aunties houses. *smile*

We got home only at 8.00pm that day.

Here’s wishing all my friends, readers of my blog, my mum, my in-laws, my siblings and all my relatives, SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI! Maaf Zahir Batin!

END OF RAYA DAY ONE. Next – RAYA DAY TWO - A Wedding and more visiting!