Dinner with KC friends

Heard the news that Ain and Kak Safiah are in KL for a short vacation. Those who had been reading my blog may remember that Ain is a friend who is staying in Chicago. Kak Safiah on the other hand is staying in Kansas City ( I miss KC!!! :P ). I knew both of them would be having a very tight schedule while they are here...  and I myself am super busy these few weeks. But when KA messaged me to ask if I could join her with those 2 US ladies for dinner in KLCC, I just could not say no. After all, it's not easy to meet these 2 friends of mine! And alhamdulillah, dipermudahkan, my testing finished earlier than expected that day. Green light was given by Mr Hubby... So off to Madame Kwan KLCC after work yesterday...

KA, Kak Safiah, Ain and yours truly ;)

It was really nice catching up with the ex UMKCians! Terasa lagi rindu dgn Kansas City... Huhu. 

Lunch date with Fid and Mieza

A few days ago, my junior during UMKC days, Fid messaged me to tell that she is in Malaysia. Fid and her family are currently based in UAE. A few years back, they were in Doha and I got the chance to visit them on my way to Russia. I was so excited to meet her again. So we planned to meet today at Restoran Bandariya (Fid said she missed the ayam kampung here! This used to be her fav restaurant when she was working in KL). I was so excited to meet her again.... rindu kot lama tak jumpa haha!

This morning, I decided not take heavy breakfast and ate this instead...

Overnight oat (or rather muesli) with yogurt, milk, strawberry and blue berry...yummey!!

Gigih prepare malam tadi... haha!

Am so into this nowadays... healthy and quite delicious ;)

With Saf (ex Iowa States), Mieza and Fid 

Mieza and Fid wanna meet Saf first at Gloria Janes, BSKL. Saf works here.

At Restoran Ayam Kampung Bandariya.

Muka kekenyangan - ayam kampung sorang dua ketul okay... lol!

It was really nice meeting you guys again. 

You look good Fid! Dah kurus!

Jom Mieza... let's start exercising or zumba! :D

InsyaAllah, we'll meet again one day... take care Fid ❤️

Chuk is hitched! :)

When my good friend, Chukria told me that she is getting married, I was so excited for her and asked hubby to book a flight to Kota Bharu to attend the wedding. Mana boleh miss babe Chuk kawin!!! Wajib pergi tau!!

So excited to be in Kota Bharu! Dah lama tak sampai sini... haha!!

Teruja tenguk tulisan2 jawi kat sini.... kelasss!!! I think ALL signboards ada tulisan jawi!! Hebat!

Sempat singgah sini sattt... sebelum ke kenduri...


Beli batik jubah se... sempat tu.. lol!

We arrived at the kenduri early. Chuk tengah bersiap mekap... was excited to meet these 2 old friends outside Chuk's room! :D

Miza - my junior during University years.


Jija... my virtual IRC friend once-upon-a-time and later my housemate and good friend during my early working years.. zaman bujang la :)

Chuk was finally ready

Pengantin cun!!! I likkeeeeeee :)))
Congratulations Chuk! Am so happy for you!! *muah!*

Food was delicious! Nasi kukus, ayam masak rempah, daging gulai kawah... terbaekkk!!!


Got to meet these 2 sisters...

K.A - my junior during university year...

And her sister, Kak Lina, my super senior in TKC


The bride and groom...


Beautiful bride! :)
Tahniah Chuk!
Semoga bahagia hingga ke jannah.
May Allah bless you always.

Talk about accommodation in Kota Bharu. I would like to recommend Rayyan Guest House which is located in Jalan Hulu Pasar, KB. It's a studio appartment. New place, clean, comfortable and definitely strategic location.

Rayyan Guest House was full, so we were showed to this apartment.

x-UMKCian Raya Gathering ;)

Among the best years of my life was during my years studying in the States. I had sooo much fun (too much fun probably haha!) and gained lots of experience staying abroad. Being far away from home, my Malaysian friends were my family. We stick together like brothers and sisters. They were always there for me - during my ups or down. We shared lots of memories together. We walked to classes together, did groceries together, travelled during semester break together, ect, ect. I was lucky indeed to have such amazing friends!! ❤️

One thing about growing up, you have less time for friends :( Yes, we are still keeping in touch via Facebook, wassap, ect. But it's so difficult to find time that suit everyone for a small gathering or reunion. 

When I was in Hong Kong recently, Kak Nor (my favourite senior when I was in the States!), informed that she'll be organizing a mini gathering for the ex UMKCians on Saturday eve. Told her that I would still be in Hong Kong and could not make it... and she changed it to Sunday eve instead! She told me that I MUST COME no matter what... huhu!

Walaupun masih kepenatan after coming back from Hong Kong, digagahkan juga diri ini driving to Bangi (hubby went outstation to PD the same eve) to attend this mini gathering :D Takut kecik pula hati kakak ku sorang ni kalau tak dapat hadir... huhu! Lagi pun... I do not want to miss the opportunity to meet my sisters and brothers again! :)

Was among the last to arrive but alhamdulillah... sangat  berbaloi datang!! Hilang rinduku pada mereka2 ini.... hehe... :D

The UMKCians who attended the mini gathering.

I didn't get the chance to meet some of the juniors in the pic during my life in the States... but it's really nice meeting them!

Sitting from left : Shima, Sury, Yours Truly, Zarina, Kak Nik (another fave senior! hehe), Marina, Kak Jorah and Sukma

Standing from left : Prof Dr Rahmat (Kak Nik's hubby), Min and son, Zai, Bob, Duan, Ronjo, Rohaizad, Kak Nor and Dato Sufian (Abg Pian you ROCK!!! Sgt awek muda!! :D Apakah rahsia?)

Missing in this pic is Abg Nan (Kak Nor's hubby who went to the nearby shop to buy something and Shahrom who came a bit late).

Us and family.

Ragam kami bergambar... LOVE this pic! :D

Food was awesome!! Lots of them! Min bawa delicious nasi kerabu... yum! yum! We had a blast, definitely!! Peluk2 Kak Nik and Kak Nor tak mau lepas... hahaha! These 2 sisters are so dear to my heart! ❤️

The host of the event. Kak Nor Aisyah.

You're still my favourite senior tau! ❤️

Thank you for organizing the event! Sorry ya datang lambat... but I did come, didn't I ;) 

Love you sis! Stay awesome! ❤️

Too bad many of them could not make it. I miss you KA, Chuk, Zurina, Mieda, Shila, Zit, Sikin, Kak Ayu, Pejoy, Aid, ect, ect!! Kena buat lagi gathering lah cenggini! :D

Monday lunch date ;)

Had lunch with my fellow ex-UMKCians today.

With Pejoy, Kak Ayu and K.A.

These people were one of my sisters and brothers during my life in the States back in the early 90s.

When was the last time we met?? 

Pfftt... can't remember! Been ages kot!? -.-

You guys never change!! Masih awesome as eva!! 

It was really nice meeting you guys again! ;)

 Really made my day! :)

Stay awesome okay! ;)

A beautiful wedding ❤

I have always love kids... ;) When I was studying in the USA... I loved playing with or babysitting the kids of my seniors. I was probably a kid myself then... Har har!! Anyway, believe it or not, I can still remember the names of the kids I babysitted ;)) They might not remember me now... But I will never forget them as they were part of the beautiful memories I had in my life in Kansas City, Missouri ;)

Among the kids I babysitted were a twin sisters... Shila(kakak) and Dilla(adik), daughter of Kak Nik & Abg Rahmat and Ain, Hana and Qayyum... Children of Kak Saadiah & Abg Zainul. How I loved being around them then!! ❤

Qayyum, yours truly, Hana, Shila and Qurratul Ain.

Playing snow with Ain, Hanna, Qayyum and their maid

This pic was taken at my small apartment in Tradeway Hall, Kansas City during Shila's wedding doa-selamat gathering for the ladies. In front of me are the twins whom I adored so much! My friends Asni is hugging Hana in this pic. 

And guess what...  Last Saturday... I was invited to attend a wedding of one of those children I mentioned above ;) Oh yeah... Terasa diriku begitu tua... Haha!! 

Hana dearie, hearty congratulations on your wedding! May Allah bless you with a wonderful life together ❤ You may not remember this old kakak who used to babysit you once upon a time...  but I sure do remember you as the sweet little girl who loved to smile at my camera ;)) 

The entrance at Dewan Sivik MBPJ and door gift :)

The bride and groom... And yes, Hana is still as sweet as I remember her... Even more beautiful now ❤

The groom big sis and yonger bro - Qurratul Ain (oh wow... she's even prettier now.. She looks so like her mom!) and Qayyum (more handsome now of course ;)) 

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to take pics together with their parents -Kak Saadiah and Abg Zainul who were too busy welcoming their guests... 

Bride and groom stepping down from the stage getting ready for makan beradab...

There was a video clip they shared during the wedding and some of their pics in UMKC were in it. Abg Zainul even mentioned UMKC in his speech!! So sweet of him... sangat2 nostalgia ok... Huhu! ❤

The UMKC table... Yezzerrr!!! I like!!! 

From left: Nadirah(Kak Nor & Abg Nan's daughter), Kak Nor, Abg Nan, Abg Rahmat, Kak Nik and yours truly. Had a blast meeting them again!! ❤

Another x-UMKCian who came - Shahrom, the one and only Malaysian I remember majoring in Political Science in UMKC during our years there. Been a looong time since I last met him!! Good to see you again bro!

Another x-UMKCian who attended the wedding - Marina Jailani (with her cute youngest daughter)

Last pic of the day... With my favourite senior, Kak Nor :)

Kak Nor and her hubby, Abg Nan were first seniors that I met in UMKC whom fetched me at the hotel on my first day in KC and let me stay at their place for a while until I found a roomate! They were the coolest senior ever!! ❤

What a wonderful evening! And a memorable one too! Next event that all of us are looking forward to is... Adik's (one of Kak Nik's twin) wedding in March next year... Yeay!!  Can't wait!! ❤

Another lunch gathering :)

I tell you.... For 3 days in a row... I had the pleasure of having lunch with old friends :))

Had lunch with my ITM friends on Wednesday...

Then on Thursday with a TKCian friend, Nani (well.., it wasn't lunch... More like a tea break. Nani was in Menara Maybank for a business meeting... so we met up for a short 'tea break' as both of us were in a rush!).

And last Friday, I had lunch with my UMKC friends! Oh wow... I can't remember when I last met KA and Chuk... But masyaAllah... It was such a bless to be able to meet them again!! ❤

Location : Ampang Park Manhattan Fish Market :)

These 2 ladies - KA and Chuk were like my sisters when I was studying in the States! ❤

It's good to see you guys again after all these years!! :) Love you all sisters!! ❤

With Jija. Well... She didn't go to UMKC... but she used to be my 'IRC' friend during my UMKC life :)) Hahaha... giler lama tak sebut word "IRC" tu! :D In case you guys don't know.. IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat... it's like yahoo chat tu laaa.... but IRC was the old version! No emoticons or kaler2 screen... just the stupid black and white screen... hahaha! :D Jija studied in the UK... and I was in the States... Got to know her through the IRC... We ended up being good friends! I visited her in Lancaster when I was in the UK for a short visit before going home to Malaysia for good after my graduation... We explored London together - my 1st London experience! We even became housemates when we first started our career ;)) Siapa sangka kan... from just being virtual friends.... we became real good friends.... ❤

The food that we shared together... 

Okay sisters... hope there are more lunch dates in the future ya... insyaAllah :)

Kansas City roomies reunion :)

I went to Selayang yesterday to meet Ain, my ex ITM-mate and also my ex UMKC-mate! :)) Ain is now working with Abbot Laboratory based in Chicago, USA. She is currently in Malaysia with her beautiful daughters - Sarah and Nana. Her hubby, Isham (also known as 'Amoi' to close friends and happened to be my ITM-mate as well but later further study in Iowa States University, Ames) was with them but had to go back to their home in Chicago earlier last week.

Bukan senang nak jumpa Ain nih! Last we met was back in 2009 (read here). Sury & Mieda, another UMKC-mates were there too :)) Memang sengaja pakat to meet up on that day :)) We were house-mates when we were studying in UMKC you see :) So kira mini reunion la ni... :) Sukerrrrr sangat dapat jumpa diorang!!! :))

The happy times in KC during early 90s:)

The housemates - from left : Sikin, yours truly, Sury, Ain and Mieda during 'Malaysia Day' at University of Missouri - Kansas City :)

Having a ball during winter 1993 - Ain, yours truly and Sikin :)

 Infront of our house in Grand Avenue, KCMO :) We rented the ground floor level jer... our landlord stayed on the top floor and another tenant stayed at basement. The house got different entrances for each level... so okay laa.. :)

 Now, back in Malaysia in millennium year...

'Us' now :)) From left - yours truly, Mieda, Sury and Ain :) Too bad Sikin can't make it :(

 

Me, Mieda and Mieda's hubby, Mr Lat. Mr Lat happened to be my ex-schoolmate when I was at SK Batu Kikir... what a small wordl!! :) 

 So happy to be together again! I can't remember when was the last time we gathered like this! :)

When I knew Ain is coming back to Malaysia, I emailed her to order 'some' items :)) Alaaa... kalau dah dari US tu... sure lah nak order Coach products kan? :))

These are for me!! :)

Alaaa... cheap, cheap ones only.... bukan la LV... huhu! :P

It was really nice meeting the girls again after all these years! We have gone through good and bad time together during our stays in Kansas City. Seronok bercerita kisah2 lama bila berjumpa again... haha! :D Ain is going back to Johor Bharu today to visit her family and later going back to Chicago from Singapore next week. Have a safe journey my dear friend! We'll definitely be missing you again.... huhu! Till we meet again.... *bila la agaknya... huhu!*

P/S : I really, really miss those happy times in KC.... terrringiiiiinnn sangat nak visit KC again! Agak2 tercapai tak hajat ni?? Hmm.....