Nazhif first backpacker trip in UK & Ireland

A week has gone by since Nazhif left to continue his student life in Glasgow. And few days ago, the university that I'm currently pursuing my law degree had sent the 2016/2017 scheduler through email. It means my study break is almost over. Classes to resume very soon. Time running very fast, yet I'm still at the point where I am now, dreaming as if I'm having a peaceful lifetime vacation without any heavy commitment to pick up a book. Sigh, I become too lazy. My blog has not even move to any next level too though I keep on reminding myself that reading and writing are 2 main things to do after the exam had ended in late August month. So I thought, Nazhif's first travelogue that I planned during his winter break is going to be the motivation blog entry. It was a 10 days traveling as backpacker in 9 cities within England and Ireland.

The itineraries were as follows for those who wishes to follow the same route and who is on budget. For the record, he merely spent 250 Pounds for the whole trip.

London – 31^st Dec 2014 till 2^nd Jan 2016

Day 1 – 31^st Dec

·                Check-in Malaysian Hall

·                Hyde Park/Kensington Garden (within walking distance as it seated only across the road)

·                London Eye – preferably at night masa new year countdown @ 31^st Dec

Day 2 – 1^st Jan

·                Palace of Westminster

·                Buckingham Palace

·                St. Paul’s Cathedral

·                Tower of London – the bridge & the royal palace and fortress, seated side by side

Day 3 – 2^nd Jan

·                Bus to Bristol

Bristol – 2^nd Jan till 4^th Jan

Day 1

·                Clifton Suspension Bridge

·                SS Great Britain – Passenger ship Museum

·                St Mary Redcliff, Anglican church

·                Bristol Harbour

Day 2 – 3^rd Jan

·                Day trip vide local bus to Bath *34minutes drive, so wisely plan your departure time

·                Bath – Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent & Roman Bath if you have time

·                Bath to Stonehenge *1 hour drive to reach. Spend only 1 hour & return to Bristol

Day 3 – 4^th Jan

·                Bus to Sheffield
Remarks: we argued on whatsapp messenger at this point as I insisted for him to tour in Birmingham city since he was already there! Finally, he did though we ended pissing each other off!

Sheffield – 4^th till 5^th Jan

·                Sheffield university

·                Winter garden

·                Sheffield Cathedral

·                Town Hall

Manchester – 5^th till 7^th Jan

Day 1 – 5^th Jan

·                John Ryland’s Library

·                Manchester Cathedral

·                Manchester Museum or Arena where concert was held

Day 2 – 6^th Jan

·                Bus ride to Liverpool *1 hour drive

·                Anfield *A MUST VISIT

·                The Beatles story

·                World Museum (old building) or Museum of Liverpool (modern building)

·                Bus ride back to Manchester

Day 3 – 7^th Jan

·                Old Traford/Stretfod

·                Manchester Town Hall *a must

·                Flight to Dublin

Dublin – 7^th till 9^th Jan

Day 1 – Night city view after dinner

Day 2 – 8^th Jan

·                Cliffs of Moher *3 hours drive from Dublin, spend 1.5 hours there, entrance fee=6pound

·                Full day trip *Harry Porter filming area

Day 3 – 9^th Jan

·                Dublin Castle

·                St Patrick’s Cathedral

·                Kilmainham Gaol

·                Malahide Castle

·                Flight back to Glasgow

After he finished the whole tour, I was deeply touched when he posted in his Instagram as to summarise his so called wonderful trip on 11th January 2016. He thanked me by saying "my trip could not be perfect without the help of my mom. Although she is in Malaysia but she planned my last minute trip, and I just went for it, always a phone call away when I'm stuck"... and I've been awarded in a hashtag #Igotacoolmum.

The highlight of the 2015 trip - celebrating new year at London Eye, with this view is definitely priceless!

You know how touch I was, being appreciated? It mean a world to receive a sincere appreciation for a little thing that I did. 

At Buckingham Palace with all 3 GMI (German Malaysia Institute) ex-colleques who are pursuing Master Degree in UK

In summary, from 31/12/2015 till 09/01/2016, his solo trip takes him from Glasgow - London - Bristol - Bath - Stonehenge - Birmingham - Sheffield - Manchester - Liverpool - Dublin - Glasgow. 9 cities in 10 days where he missed 3 buses schedule, crashed at his friends house in Bristol, Sheffiled, Manchester and Dublin. Though I have given him a budget of 500 Pound, he actually spent only half of it. Mainly due to a huge savings from accommodation cost.

With a former primary school classmate at Clifton Suspension Bridge

At Bath Abbey *Am missing this pure, genuine smile

Despite his unwillingness to visit Stonehenge because to him it's just a stone but to me it's not an ordinary stone, this stonehenge. So in the end he reflected to my request. And he sent this photo with a message "This is for you Ma!"

He was stranded for few hours at Birmingham Bus Station due to misunderstanding on platform/buses schedule and ended touring Birmingham city with these 2 friends who came to take him around. Behind is the St Martin Church located at Bullring, Birmingham city centre.

Posing at the fountain of Sheffield Town Hall

University of Manchester where he originally wanted to enroll

Liverpool Anfield Stadium

When in Liverpool, must visit The Beatles Story

His 1st visit to Manchester United Stadium, the famous Old Trafford

At Manchester City, Etihad Stadium with a friend who he stayed at for 2 nights

The famous Cliff of Moher

Galway Bay Island waiting for Dolphins to surface

At the Dublin Castle with his friend who provided him him a 2 nights accommodation

Nasrul and his photography adventures

Nasrul my baby boy is going to be 19 soon. He is in his 2nd year in MSU and for this short semester he is taking photography class as one of the subject in Graphic Design studies. Both hubby and I are sharing the same fondness and had so much loves for whatever he achieved, no matter how small it is. He is our pride and joy, being the youngest, being our apple boy. No matter how tough is our problems, but whenever we saw him, our heart flutter like seeing the person that you are longing to see. We loves him unconditionally despite anything.

So today, when he sent me below 10 photos collection that he snapped during Malaysia independence day on 31st August 2016, I had to share them in my blog. His short message that came with the photos was rather short "Mama, look what I captured using your camera". Yes, he's been using my Nikon D80 DSLR camera since starting off his photography classes few months ago. I handed over everything, all lenses (long distance, tiger eyes etc) and the tripod which I hardly use. He was more than happy to accept them though he kept on resenting me last year when I wanted to pass on. The whole camera bag was almost missing in Langkawi airport when no one was bothered to pick up at immigration scanning table (hey hey a reminder for me to blog about Langkawi trip too). We only discovered it was missing when 1 of the immigration officer approached us asking whether or not we misplaced the camera bag pack. Everything inside was more than RM10 thousand, pity that it was not treasured by anyone. So, I wrote a thank you compliments to all immigration officers working there at that time.

But now, while writing this, I felt so much contentment that the investment is not wasted. Somebody in the family are sharing my passion in photography. Hopefully, he could make a career out of it although he still clueless of what occupation will he ended up at. As of now, both hubby and I are enjoying all his interest in playing piano, painting and photography. Hubby was even willing to buy him a new piano if he is really serious about playing. I was like .... "SERIOUSLY HUBS!!!". Nasrul is really being spoilt by not being a spoil brat.

Yes, it's true. Out of 4 children's, he is the only one who never ask for anything. When he was 17, an age to get a driving licence, he never bothered to apply for licence and ask for a car unlike the rest of his sibling. He never bothered too to buy a new clothes or asking for a branded shoes. He never ask for a birthday gift. In fact he never asked. I was the one who was busy buying thinking that he want s them, including the expensive iMac. He is fine with what Naim has chosen for him, including anything that Naim no longer wants, he takes it.  

The steel bridge

Cooking Mode

Date: 4th September 2016

Ever since I shifted to this place, my kitchen has become alive with cooking activities. This advancement I hope, would be a new beginning to my cooking adventures. It is very important to stock lots of food in the fridge for those who are living in a condominium. It's a lot of hassle to go out buying foods as it takes all effort to take a lift down to a carpark, started a car and find a restaurant. Hence, cooking is much more convenience I guessed.

I wanted to buy a small waste bin to put next to the sink and 1 for my bedroom. At the same time, I was in desperate need for a wok, a frying fan. So, Nazhif accompanied me to Ikea Cheras yesterday after Zohor prayer. We first dropped Fidzril, his childhood friend who came to sleep over after their late regular hang out at Fatima Restaurant, or rather a "mamaks" in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn. We spent nearly 2 and a half hours shopping inside Ikea. We had late lunch there too. You may see that both the wok and the waste bin are in the above photo. Notice the flower pot too? Yeah, was falling so deeply in love when I firs laid my eyes on them. It made Nazhif instantly said "just take it ma...", and I'm so happy that I did. It was a great buy. We bought a nice clothes hanger for Naim too though it's a bit pricey. But it doesn't matter as long as Naim would want to shift in too, as soon as possible I hope. 

Breakfast I made yesterday morning for Nazhif and his friend, Fidzril. It's been a very long years since I last made the french toast! Sigh, bad mother alert ... hehe

This grilled drumstick was for last week's lunch that le Hubs and Nazhif enjoyed much

Since Ikea Cheras is very close by to IJN (National Heart Institute), where a close relative of mine was warded in ICU for almost a month already, I decided to pay her a visit. It was bad of me for not visiting when everyone was worried sick about her recovery. My excuses was the exam. She was admitted earlier on in another private hospital for 2 weeks, i.e. on 16th July before being transferred to IJN for a tube  replacement. The tube was there when she first undergone a heart operation in 2000. It was time to replace, sadly was very late when they discovered it needed replacement.

Korean Ramyeon that I made for lunch last weekend

Seen her situation sicken me most. I couldn't control my tears. Lucky that her husband managed to cover the situation. I was alright only after her in-laws and her mother/siblings started to came in. They have been visiting her twice daily without fail. I promised her numerously that we will hang out just like our sons did after she has been discharged from the hospital. Indeed, a very positive persons like her deserves to be out from ICU as soon as possible. This lady has started asking for foods, which is great, showing her strong determination of recovering very fast.

The durian that hubby brought back from Karak was heavenly taste

Chicken soup with simple ingredients that I taught Nazhif 2 weeks ago

Well my apology as I got carried away a bit. The truth is, I have a lot to catch-up after a month of focusing or rather torturing myself into the laws examination. National Security Act 2016 is much more important than visiting a person on a high probability of dying on the operation table. In addition, I've skipped weddings invitation and eid gatherings just because sitting for my law paper matters more than anything else. To all my friends and relatives who might be reading this post, please understand my situation ya! Peace!

Recycle Starbucks bottled coffee drink that I use as Salt bottle. Bought another one for cumin powder and many more for spices collection 

For a time being the cooking that I started on is rather a simple dishes, using a simple and easiest to get ingredients mainly to teach Nazhif who will be flying back to Glasgow in a weeks time. I hope he would be able to enjoy cooking too as he said he would not be coming home for 2 years, at least until he obtain his Degree. After 16th September (a day he flew back), I would be concentrating on serious cooking for "FOOD" title category that I've created in this blog. Maybe I should include baking too. 

Foods from outside 

Well, there's so much recipe that I can try on so long that I put all my hearts into it. But, at the onset I must also pick-up a work backlog at the office. We have been awarded too many projects ever since we have done with licenses re-activation. You see, Allah has blessed me with so much and so many good things around me. Coming home to this beautiful condo has enlighten so much motivation and spirit to decorate. Finally, I wish to share some more photos that I snapped around the house as evidence of how much that I have move on in decorating. 

Favorite hang out place these days

That was another flower plant that I bought in Ikea, only RM7.90 excluding the pink pot holder

The rope for hanging clothes was purchased at Village Grocer, only RM3.50. The joy that this rope brought me into is even more priceless

Sigh, so happy now that this dining table where I used to study in the month of August is free from books. As of now, law books are forbidden from this area

My siblings

I have just created a whatsapp group for my siblings. It was on 17th August, a day after my 50th birthday while my head was still cranky due to exam fever. Sigh. The exam .... well, 3 days has passed since I sat for the last paper on 30th August. Thereafter, 3 nights in a row I managed to sleep peacefully and a lot too and twice I woke up late for work. Sleep was hard since a month ago, but not anymore. Back to my siblings story. My younger brother that we called "Abe" means brother started sharing the old photos in the whatsapp group that he is still very fond of and we are all feeling so thankful for his sincere effort.

I think I was 12 or 11 in this photo snapped on Kak Nor's engagement day and Tie was still so very small

With our beloved Kak Rose who passed away on 12th February this year. This was snapped at Batu 26, along Jeli-Grik Highway where our late father was working on the road construction under JKR. 40 years ago, the Public Works Department were still delivering the job on their own, diligently, no privatisation. Batu 26, is located very far away in the jungle where our late parent were operating a canteen for JKR staffs as well as for the army who has been station somewhere near the road. 

My late mother, late Kak rose, late sister Nuraida, Tie, Abe and our neighbor were in this photo snapped in Base Camp where we resided for a long very time. Our father was the last group to leave the project highway team. In fact he was there until his retirement. He was involved in the highway maintenance and few other state road construction under JKR, including Jeli-Dabong road. While passing his retirement age time there, he managed to apply and obtain few plot of state land titles that 4 of us are enjoying now. Oh dear, my siblings and I had so much memories there.

2 families in a photo, i.e. with our neighbor next door. My late mother was younger than I am now at that time. Abe, who is number 8 in the family was still a baby when the photo was taken. Our late sister Eda, was born few years later and the last is Kime, our youngest brother. Both are not yet born at that time. Whenever I look at this photo, I've been reminded how much my parents love each other. The same kind of love that I have with hubby. 

With late Kak Rose in her school uniform. The last 2 siblings where still not born yet.

We really likes to take photos those days I guessed.. This was me and sister, Tie before school time.

With my late sister, Nuraida. I was already a teenager, fat and ugly when she's a toddler... hehe

At this time, late father has been enjoying his retirement age thus we permanently shifted to Bachok, a family house which was officially transferred to Kime, our youngest brother. The plot of land was a family resident's of our late mother side since generations. It was passed to her being a youngest in the family and she has been telling everyone when she was still alive that the house must be given to Kime, her beloved youngest boy. I guessed I've been looking up at my mother's all my life. I takes after her, I followed what she said and I also want to pass my house to my beloved youngest son, Nasrul. I had water in my eyes while writing this as I miss her so much ... It's enlightening knowing that there's not many more years for me to reunite with her in after life. She died when she was 62, which means another 12 more years if it was the same fate written on my life leaf at Lauf Mahfuz..

Well the 2 photos are the most recent that we snapped during Fatin's engagement day on 23rd July 2016. Fatin is my brother (no. 3 in the family) eldest children, the only girl in her family. Our 6 siblings reunited that day sharing our brother's joy of about to receive a foreign member into his family. As I'm writing this, I'm still waiting for Syahirah to introduce someone as her other half. This feeling of waiting, right know must be the same feeling how my late mother's felt when she was anxiously waiting for me to do the same, 26 years ago. So it's true, what comes round goes around.  

Only Kime was not on the photo, all 6 of us with the couple who got engaged on 23rd July

So I shift..

A property agent has been calling me last week about a short term tenant who wishes to rent my condo. Thinking about how much I would get, my heart started to flutter at the thought of money. Those feeling about wanting more money has dissipated through my fingers, for an uncounted months, years, I guess. It was all because of this condo. Admittedly, paying a monthly installment of nearly RM6 thousand a month has taken away a lot of happiness. Theoretically I'm at a point of despair until God has enlightened me with his word "detachment". I've paid the loan installment for 22 months as of now and I remember smiling a bit when the balance loan figure has reduce to below 1,000,000.00. Seeing a small bank's remarks that I owned about 20% of it has further added some joy. But, yet still a long way to go... 13 years 2 months. 

A friend said I'm fat and yes, I do feel heavy.. Selfie before gym time

A proper meal for lunch

Hubby sounded upset when I informed him about the offer. The tenant wanted to move in, in September and will move out by end November. The timing is not right. We, on the other hand had to move out from the house that we stayed for nearly 22 years since the full reimbursement will be made by early September. We had plan to temporarily shift at this condo before our new permanent house completed, targeted by end of the year. It's a blessing, a lot of problems has been settled. The buyer wanted to renovate before shifting to our old place. She engaged hubby for the renovation, hence allowed us to use 1 bedroom to store our furniture. We will not be worrying much about double handling of the furniture to the new house. Respecting hubby feeling, I decline the offer.

Those sofa and 2 paintings that I can't detached with, so I took it here

There is still forest in this part of Kuala Lumpur.

Let's shift I told hubby. If we did not take the courage now, we would still has so much detachment to the house that we have sold. Nazhif has been staying here since few weeks back. In fact I told Naim to shift too but he was too busy finding his own source of income after completing his diploma. When I came in yesterday, he hung only 1 shirt in the cabinet. I brought a check-in luggage with me and a rice cooker. I brought some food as this place are a bit inconvenience to find restaurant. Staying in a very tight security condo has limited my movement because I became more lazy. This place has created a vacation mood feeling, just like when you check-in to the hotel.

Suffice entertainment

Naim who has an access card with him was waiting to take me up when I arrived yesterday. He spent a night with Amir and Nazhif. When the 2 of them left, I discovered how messy was the 2 bedrooms (see below 2 photos). Nazhif was sleeping in another room. The boys never fails to made me feel so much like a maid. That's my job too since our last maid quit in 2008. Everybody are happy without a maid and maybe by turning me as their maid. Looking back, I'm proud that I have so much patience in me to tolerate what I use to have in all these years, I mean after 2008. Alhamdulillah, blessed Him for my ability to detach my desire for this worldly life. I felt so much contentment after cleaning up the 1,808 sqft condo and enjoying my time in the neat, tidy and clean place. 

The iron was "on"!!

Untidy bed

After lunch and prayers, I was enjoying the sunset from the living room while studying. You may notice there's a tower crane blocking my view. True, IJM is building another condominium at that site. Lucky it does not blocking the sunset view now and in future. And the UCSI University construction also does not block both KLCC and KL Tower view from my balcony. It is so peaceful staying here, trust me. Later at night, when I walked towards the gym, I did not see many neighbors at the common area. No one swim and only 1 lady exercising at the treadmill when I arrived.

The sunset has given a purple color effect to the curtain

Isn't it lovely? I can't get enough taking photos even at the common area.... Ops, got to stop writing now. I came here to study. The first exam paper, constitutional law is on 16th August. Wish me luck guys!

A tiny KL Tower and KLCC from the BBQ area

Those colorful water splash

Not many people shifted after almost 2 years

After completing 30 minutes on treadmill

Lovely view while exercising

Yes, I really sweat a lot last night..