My Brother's Charges

These pictures were taken many years ago at various locations. 

Nostalgia Series #5

Dec 1974: Ipoh
Image1: Pak Andak Ghafar with Ebby

Image2: Mak Andak 

Munah with Ebby

Image3: Mak Lang Shadah (comel and slim) 

Munah with Ebby and Sabariah

Dec 1974: K.Pilah
Image1: Adura and Amri at Grandma's
(the house now in ruins)

Dec 1975: Ipoh
Image1 : Adura with Ebby

 Image2: Amri playing downstairs

June1978: PJ
Image1: Pak Teh Razak,Hafee,

Dayang,Ebby and Amri
in Section 14 PJ

 Image2: Adura,Dayang,Ebby and Amri

 Image3: Dayang found something on Pak Teh's car

 Image4: Amri,Ebby and Dayang

                                                         
June 1979 PJ
Image1:Mak Lang Shadah,

Hafee,Adura and Ebby

June1981 TTDI                                                      
Image1: Hafee,Alifi,Dayang and Adura
Back Row: Alizi,Amri and Ebby

Oct 1982 TTDI
Image1: Amri,Alizi,Faiz,Adura and Dayang

Image2: Azlan all by himself

Apr 1985 Ampang Park

(even A. Park is no more now)
Image1: Nana and Azlan

Image2: The 2 again

Image3: Ebby and someone

Image4: Amri and Azlan

Image5: Amri and Dayang

Image6: Azlan and Nana 

(with green puting at her mouth)

Image7: The 2 again still 

with the green puting

Merdeka Day

Image1: Our first Prime Minister YAM Tengku Abdul Rahman being received upon arrival in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee of Merdeka in 1982
(Photo Credit: Courtesy of Utusan Malaysia)

Image2: FDC of the Silver Jubilee 1957-1982

Image3: Souvernir Sheet of the 4 stamps

FDC Series # 01/11 – Silver Jubilee of Merdeka 1957-1982

Merdeka Day ( Aug 31^st) and Malaysia Day (Sept 16^th )

For this year, 2011,we’re celebrating both the 2 auspicious days jointly on Sept 16, 2011 ie  The 54^th Anniversary of Independence, Merdeka Day and the 48^th Anniversary of the formation of Malaysia, Malaysia Day.

I do not wish to dwell on the details relating to both these important days. It could be dealt with at other forums that are available. One can google for Wikipedia to get a fair picture.

What triggered off the idea for this posting was a pictorial report in a local daily of our first Prime Minister, YAM Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj who was shown  on the occasion of the 25^th Merdeka  Anniversary in 1982 (see above) it being the Silver Jubilee 1957-82 of Merdeka.

 I thought it would be meaningful for me to rummage through my collections of FDCs (First Day Covers) to see if there is one. True enough, I have it. In fact not just one but a few, 25 pieces altogether.  I have given some away during the recent Hari Raya which fell on Aug 30^th ( in appreciation of those who came visiting ) Each of these FDCs issued on Aug 31^st 1982 is ‘29 years old’. I wonder how much is the value now. Not much I think but there is a difference from what I had paid definitely.  

There were a 10,15,50 and 80cts stamps affixed and cancelled at the Philatelic Bureau at Dayabumi  ( a special cancellation unlike at other Post Offices) There was also a special issue of all the 4 stamps in a Souvenir sheet at RM1.55 per set. Altogether I would have spent RM 1.55 for the Souvenir Sheet and RM1.65 for the FDC ( including 10ct for the envelope) making a total of RM3.20cts per set.

A Lizard

Image1: A Leopard Gecko
(Photo Credit, courtesy of Google)

Image2: A Leopard Gecko being handled by a pet owner

(Photo Credit, courtesy of Google)

Image3: I found this little creature in the backyard one morning. It is just a common lizard in the bush called cengkarung (of no monetary value)

The Elusive Cure

I happened to run smack into a little creature on the stalk of my papaya tree. I took some snapshots at different times but mostly for two mornings

It’s been variously described as an animal holding out. Its ancestors were dated to the dinosaurs' era. It’s distant cousins are the alligators , fresh water crocodiles,monitor lizards, the desert dhab and the Komodo dragon.

Interestingly enough, all these ‘cousins’ were known to us before. They  were either to be avoided (alligators and crocodiles) treated with respect or considered a nuisance (house lizards) or even as barbecued offerings for those adventurous enough and not squeamish about having them for dinner.

What was surprising was that in recent times one of these geckos have been adopted as pets . They came in different colours and texture and traded and exchanged among pet owners. Not enough with that a report recently had them as a cure for AIDS and priced accordingly at close to USD1000 or even double that in the Philippines.

What people will pay for the elusive cure!

Azhar Growing Up!

A Recent Snapshot: Azhar with his office colleague Syam

Nostalgia Series #4
These are selected snapshots of Azhar. I have a lot of coloured slides gathering dust in one corner. I decided to post some selected ones here (which otherwise Azhar himself might not even have seen , especially the earlier ones)

1988 TTDI K. Lumpur
Very modest 1st birthday cake-cutting
From Left: Hank, Azhar cutting the cake and Hafidz

1988 Subang Airport
Azhar snugly in his pram awaiting embarkation to the USA

At the airport lounge
1988 Japan
Transit in a Tokyo hotel awaiting connecting flight in the evening. 

Azhar with his mama, Shadah

1988 Chicago's O'Hare Airport, USA
Awaiting connecting flight to Orlando, Florida with brother Hafidz.  

Azhar gleefully holding his boarding pass

1988 At the Epcot Centre, Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Saying 'Hello' to Pinnoccio upon arrival at Disney World

Disney Main Street
Disney Main Street
From Left: Shadah, Azlin and Hafidz. and Little Azhar in the pram

The Dome in the background at the Epcot Centre

1988 Florida
Visiting the Crocodile sanctuary on the outskirts of Tampa, Florida
with sis Azlin
1988 Kissimmee , Florida
Window shopping at a Mall
1990 TTDI K. Lumpur
Azhar with his 1st vehicle before his MyV

1995 Los Angeles Disneyland
Azhar with his Mama Shadah

At the Shark and Dolphin Enclosures

Patting the dolphin
In front of the famous Walt Disney castle with sis Azlin

In front of Dumbo the Baby Elephant ride

1995 Los Angeles Universal Studios
Waiting to see the various attractions
From Left: Hafidz, Hank, Azlin, Mama Shadah and Azhar

Meeting cowboy Woody of Toy Story fame

1996: Pulau Tioman
By the rocks after a swim
1997: Singapore
Jurong Bird-Park with  Mama Shadah

Underwater World
A swim at Sentosa Island, Singapore

1997: Bali, Indonesia
1998: Sacramento, USA
The gentleman joined us as he was playing alone. 

He played only 1 nine with us.

1998: Lake Tahoe/ Reno USA
Azhar experiencing snow for the first time

Azhar waiting his turn for the snow scooter. Actually the scooter rink 

was a part of the local golf course converted such during winter.

Azhar on board with Azlin

A snapshot before having lunch at Lake Tahoe together with 

Azlin's housemates in Sacramento

1998: Marine World, Vellajo (located south near San Francisco)
Azhar, Azlin, Bonda Mariam (Shadah's Mom) and Shadah

Azhar enjoying his favourite, his ice cream. In the back-ground 

the twisting roller-coaster.