Vacation: Half of the cousins in Turkey

 Istanbul Airport: At check-in counter before boarding to Kapadokia. "Kapadokia, we are coming".

THE COUSINS IN TURKEY

We were so happy when the Emirates safely landed in Turkey ( The State of Two Continents), at Istanbul airport. It was in late December 2014. That was historic to both of us, my wife and I because at the age of 60's we still could make it. What a beautiful coincidence!

It was a coincidence. 
We never had a plan to tour Turkey or part of Turkey because  not only it was beyond our means but also both of us are air phobia. Meaning, if possible we would like to avoid traveling by air. We  once had a bad experience during our flight from KL to Kota Kinabalu. The plane suddenly dropped , I am not sure how many feet down, but it was a nightmare. 
 Nightmare or otherwise, travel by air between KL and KK  and vice versa is the only practical mood of transportation  that I have to make use in performing my duty. So I have to endure the air travel misery.

But again air incidents for example the MH 370  tragedy and the shooting down of MH 70 in Ukraine air space revived our believe that air travel is not safe. So we both decided no more air travel in future.

One of our friends asked one challenging question:What about going to Mekah for example to perform umrah?

Hahahaha.... what a good question. We have no quick answer for that.
No, we can't take taxi . Travelling by land crossing more than one country to reach our destination is possible but not advisable. It's too far a distance.
What about  by sea? No, it also takes longer time. So the choice is by air.

After a very hard pondering, we both have the same answer..... we live it to Allah. Life  and death is beyond our scheme. Ultimately it is in the knowledge of Allah the Almighty.

Yes, this answer gives us strength , that  overrides the air phobia. No more to worry about travelling by air. 

February 2015 , our daughter was scheduled to receive her scroll after successfully completed her degree in medicine from the University of Mansoura, Egypt.  It was a grand occasion for all of us especially to my daughter who had sacrifices a lot of things....missing a comfortable life, struggling like mad, enduring very strange and unfriendly environment. 

So my wife and I have no excuse at all to say that we do not have enough saving when she put to us her request: "Mama and Papa  must attend the convocation".
"Yes", the only word she wanted to hear. And heard.

Coincidentally Turkey was the itinerary of Naqib's parents for their vacation in late December 2014 which was close to the convocation day. So it was fit in nicely.

Istanbul was our meeting point. That was agreed upon by the three group. 
My wife and I took the Emirates from KL to Istanbul a few hours earlier than Naqib parents by Qatar Airways and my daughter from Cairo by Egypt Air.   
  
Alhamdulillah, every thing went smooth. No air pocket and other air turbulence whatsoever.

Hold on...where the other half of the cousins.....Yousef Imran and Mohamad Rafael? It seems both are missing.

Yes they were not in this trip. They opted for Australia meeting their best friend Kangaroo.

Ahmad Naqib and family: Patches of snow but it was still cold in Kapadokia .  

Ahmad Naqib with his special posing somewhere in Kapadokia on our way for lunch break

Fish Market in Istanbul. The market was so crowded with people especially during lunch time. There is a fish-based restaurant. Everything is 'fishy'. We had a nice lunch, so delicious beyond imagination.  

We were on board cruising the Straits of Bosphorus. What a nice cruise accompanying by birds left and right of the cruiser. 

The Blue Mosque but it is not actually blue in colour. Naqib and Fateh together with dad take a rest in the mosque after heavy walk about in the city.

Underground City.
Fateh and nenek has to be left behind.
To go underground one has to be fit physically  and mentally strong . The tunnel to the underground city is too small, narrow and hard  to negotiate. It is too much for them to go into the tunnel. But why not posing!


THE MOMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MANSOURA

Detected! Who is crying in this serene moment...of course the mother.....and who is looking so happy....of course the one who had sacrifices a lot of  things......missing  a comfortable life, struggling  like mad and enduring very strange and unfriendly environment.

Family photo to remember. A new found friend from Kelantan.

THE COUSINS ARE HERE

WE THE COUSINS

I am Yousef Imran , the BIG BROTHER of The COUSINS. Age, coming to six. Hobby, anything and everything as long as there is no negative effect. Frankly I must say I am the all rounder. You just name it, I am in it.

 I am Mohamad Rafael, 2 plus year old. Hobby, playing tennis, the future tennis champion of the world. Do you a friend of Rafael Nadal?  I am.

I am Ahmad Fateh, standing firmly guarding my big brother Ahmad Naqib against boboboi attack.  Age, just recently had big birthday party to celebrate my third. "Oii Fateh, abang's turn to talk". I am Ahmad Naqib, big brother of Fateh. I am going to celebrate my sixth birthday, coming March the 23. Coincidentally, it is the date for My Tokpa and Nenek anniversary. So we will be having grand occasion. 

I am Darin Amani , the only flower among the five of us, cousins. But do not be mistaken, I am no push over.........any one dare to challenge me in singing, dancing, and whatever.....you name it, I will be there, ever ready. 

What a surprise......

Once again My Cousin and Cousin of Mine aka The Cousins or MCaCoM is on the line . It is a breaking news for this year, the year of the Rooster according to Chinese Calendar. 

It will bring fortunes to the cousins? No, definitely not. Good luck or bad luck or for that matter our future is in the knowledge of Allah. No one can claim for that. We do not believe in fortune telling.  It is 'shirk' (syirik), a cardinal sin if one does believe in it. Allah no partner(s). 

So why out of the blue the MCaCoM is making havoc as though the doomsday is in a few second?

Doomsday? 

Yes, we believe in it as one of our pillars  of faith. But we do not know when it will happen. And that is not the reason why we are on line again.

The reason is simply, we  The Cousins longing you all. We care and love you all . We would like to share our stories and concerns and at the same time would like to hear  from you, your stories and your concerns. Please put them on line, we would appreciate them dearly. 

Presently our grandpa, dearly addressed as Tokpa is in the midst of learning something about computer technology. But nothing to be excited about. It is not  a technology per se. It is about how to insert in pictures and videos in his blog writings. He is a very slow old man, using two fingers on the key board.

We always making fun of him. It takes one whole day for him to complete  a one page writing. 

Hahahahahaha......understood. He is already 68 and come August will be 69. So what do you expect a 69 old man to master the technology. 

His command is practically zero in this computer technology. Pity him.

But we dearly love him and feel proud of his enthusiasm  to learn new things. 

And the fact that he is our brains doing the thinking and imaginations , authoring stories about all of us, his grandchildren, in this blog My Cousin and Cousin of Mine without any doubt is the greatest and priceless gift to all of us.Without him our stories, pictures and videos will never go on line.

Thanks Tokpa. 

We feel obliged to reintroduce ourselves as per our pictures above for we have been missing quite sometime, and because there is an addition to our line up. What a beautiful and cutie girl, she is.

And proudly we would like to forewarn you that come   June and September, this year, another two are coming  to form a new make up in the Cousins group. In sya Allah

A girl or a boy?  Or both girls? Or both boys?

No, we don't have the answer. Our guess as good as yours. Of course we pray for the best. May Allah bless all of us.

Photos below are about us, our big family weekend activities  in Johor. We had family sport at one of the beaches in eastern Johor and swimming time in a hotel.

FAMILY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

Family Sport

      

Martial Art Competition

Ahmad Fateh on the far left vs Mohamad Rafael on the near right using plastic sword. Winners are Ahmad Fateh and Mahomad Rafael. They both received presents given away by Tokpa.

15 Meters Track Competition

All five of us took part ie Yousef Imran, Ahmad Naqib, Ahmad Fateh, Mohamad Rafel and Darin Amani, and won by Yousef Imran our big brother. Of course he won the race because he is the big brother. Anyway no complain because everybody got presents a piece given away by Nenek.

Ahmad Fateh to touch the finishing line encouraging by spectators, including his rival Mohamad Rafael who withdrew from the competition.

SWIMMING TIME

Darin Amani with her life jacket

"Hello every body let's join me in the pool. See who can float longer  ", Ahmad Naqib make an open challenge. 

The water phobias

Darin and daddy. "Why dad, there are people who scared of water, like Acu , Mama Teh and abang Fateh?", Asked Darin.

Yousef Imran, the big brother on the back of his dad swimming from one end to the other of the pool.

"See no one can beat me. I can float longer", boasting Ahmad Naqib

Time for rest, to collect new stamina

"Very cold. Are we in winter Ummi?" This is Malaysia not Greenland lah Fael

" We are also feeling cold", Darin and Mummy, both shivering.

"No nenek, I won't go in. It's very cold", Nenek tried to persuade Fateh to have a feel in the pool.

Talking to grandchild

Darin Amani (3 months) Email address: darinamani@pasirgudang.yahoo.com

"Good morning, dear. How are you this morning...look so happy...smiling 'sokmo' ( always). Where's  your dad?....pardon, something block tokpa's hearing. Say it again. Oh no...but you still manage to smile, good girl".

Part of my morning talk to little Darin. Both her parents are not at home. Dad is in the dock yard, doing testing on some materials whether they are good or defective. Mummy is in the school teaching English. So somebody got to be nearer to Darin to be her close friend. My wife is ever ready to do that. And I, no exception.

No problem. Both of us like to take that job. And this is not the first time. We did it twice. First in Ampang and followed by Putra Jaya stint. And we are happy to see our grandchildren grow, grow and growing whilst we are maturing.....and we realise that one day we , my grandchild, my son and daughters , in-laws , wife and myself  will part away. So while we are still here,   why not take the most of our time to be close and together.

"Thank you Darin for your smile", nenek and tokpa love you.

Ahmad Naqib and Ahmad Fatih. Email address ahmadnaqibfatih@putrajaya.yahoo.com

Hahahahahaha....are these two siblings so focused on something? Watching tv...Upin and Ipin? Watching tv....yes but not Upin and Ipin. No,definitely not. They look so sad.....and sort of asking why did the bully big man did to his child...dragging his child into a dark room..for what? No, no that is too much of a father. I don't like to be in the dark room....so scary, said Naqib. What about you adik, Fatih? I am not scared but hate darkness. Ok change other channel....which one you prefer, Fatih? Asked Naqib. I would prefer Upin and Ipin but I forgot the channel number. So do I, said Naqib.

In that case let's call tokpa....what is his number? 

0123456789.

Are you sure Fatih?

Ring  ring,, ring..tokpa calling. let me talk first.

Assalamualaikum tokpa, Naqib here. Would you tell us Upin and Ipin number, I mean channel number.

Channel 811? No that is for sport. Please tokpa, we are watching very boring program now, scary.Fatih does not like it..Tut ..tut... tut .. line cut off. Oh no no no. let's switch off tv....better go to sleep.

Yousef  Imran and Muhammad Rafael. Email adress yousefimranmuhammadrafael@Ampangsouthview.yahoo.com

How are you little boy, fael.......Good? Ok.  How about you big bro yousef?.....So, so?
Never mind....
Tokpa have a story and nenek also has one. Tonight, at bed time one of us will tell you that story but only one story per night. So both of you got to choose...tokpa's story or nenek's. Nenek's story is about the big bad ugly monster fighting against the fiercest lion. The story is so frightening one....only brave kids like both of you like it. Tokpa's is different...so special. It is about a boy....10 months boy like fael who is so timid but intelligent, who has the habit of looking down when some body, especially old man like tokpa look straight at him, he refuses to meet the eyes.....and the rest tokpa will tell you during bed time,
The phone off.....no line.

I am Darin Amani, a new addition to the line up

Assalamulaikum, Hi there! Don't be mistaken...I am not crying....so don't judge a book by its cover. By the way I humbly  must introduce myself as the Malay saying says: Tak kenal tak cinta ( you know me you love me). My name is Darin Amani, a girl...but my parents politely insist (you should'nt forget that) that I am not only a girl but a very beautiful  pretty new born girl, a precious gem in their hearts. Born on the 22 May 2015 at about 12.20 noon, Friday the 4th  of Syaaban 1436h,  at Annisa' Hospital in Kota Baru Kelantan. Don't ask me waht Darin Amani meant for. You have got to ask my parents. But, hold on, I have a secret to share with you all ,of course with a promise not to tell to my mom and dad, not because I am scared of OSA (I believe you all are familiar with this draconian Act)..for my mom and dad are both a loving parents, humane, in their actions and feelings.  I tell you what....I heard my mom whisper to my dad,"Darling  I love a bouquet of flower", my dad replied instantly, "Here you are". Yes Darin is a flora ....one of the species of flowers which I believe with appealing aroma pursued by many. Then I heard my dad whisper to my mom, " Darin (flower)  is a symbol of love ....a symbol which carries peace, calm, happy, passion, patience, loving and care.....a peaceful mind" So, add my dad, "Amani is the word to enforce that symbol". Thus my name is Darin Amani. My dad is Lukman Hakim and my mom is Sarah Hanis.. To know more please read what my grandpa has to say . Before that I must say hello to my four cousins, "May I join you?"

Alhamdulilah, thank to Allah Almighty , on the 22 May 2015 a baby girl was born to Lukman Hakim and Sarah Hanis. This new addition has changed the status quo ....the line up of our grandchildren. Now we have five in the line up - four boys and one girl...what a beautiful team.

Last year we had two additional...both are boys. Ahmad Fateh born on the 19 February 2014 to our daughter Hazlin Azzamiza and husband Ahmad Sanihi, and Mohamed Rafael born on the 16 May 2014 to first daughter Hazlin Azmira and husband Azrul Aswad.

As I said before I am their minds. I tell stories as though they come from their minds. I have to be abundantly rich with fantasies and imaginations. Their fantasies, imaginations and world views that I have to tell in writings. So what  a job for a pensioner, a grandpa. And I am happy to do that.

To refresh below are photos of my other grandchildren.

 

Mohammed Rafael 4th in line, born on the 16 October 2014 at Prnce Court Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He will be the future world no 1 in tennis. (my dream , hope and imagination)

 

This is Ahmad Fateh, no 3 in the line up. Born on the 19th of February 2014 at Putra Jaya Hospital in Putra Jaya. He is a committed determined personality, dare to take risks, certainly calculated risks in whatever endeavour he chooses. 

These are no one and no two. On the left is Yousef Imran, the no 1. Next to him is Ahmad Naqib, the no 2. Both are five and four, respectively. They are now leaders in the team of five.

 

What are these two siblings doing? Hide and seek?

A lot of excuses

Ahmad Fateh in the good hands of his teacher

Revisit, Tuesday, 5 November, 2013. Today Sunday, 12 October 2014. Almost coming to one year, this blog, My Cousin and Cousin of Mine without updating. I feel bad, dismayed. I broke my promise, the very least I must confess.

The last appearance was on the 5 November, 2013. Since then no news from this blog.But don't be mistaken for my health. I am still on the 'going' mood, never let anything blocking my path. I am looking old though, the enthusiasm in blogging still pushing me through.

So why missing for about one year?

There is no real answer for that simple question. I need the hard one.

Are or were you lazy?

That's too hard. No I was and am not lazy.

So what are the reasons?

This blog, my cousin and cousin of  mine as appeared on the wall clearly stated that it is dedicated to my grandchild, present and future. I started with two grandchildren, Yousef Imran (putting on cowboy hat) and Ahmad Naqib (with a kopiah). So everything that appear in this blog is about these two handsome grandchild of mind. I am their minds. I tell stories as though they come from the two of them.

The last time I shared with viewers with the thought of Virtue of Sharing. Since then no more story appearing.

Dedication is the key word. I dedicate not only to my present grandchild, the future grandchild also included. During that non-appearance period, my daughter (Naqib's mother) was expecting a child. Confirmed a boy, through ultrasound technology, we were all celebrating happily, though my wife and I hoping for a girl. Not to say, two boys are too many, but a girl would be a plus sign. By the way, we are thankful to Allah almighty.

Waiting mood was the order of the day. Another  photo is in the queue to be added onto the wall.

I received a call from Putra Jaya at midnight. We quickly packed up for Putra Jaya. A few minutes later another call coming. Sani (son in law) conveyed a message that a boy is now lying with the mother in the hospital ward bed.

Wednesday, 19 February, 2014, our family number grew by one. And I have to fine a space for another photo to be added onto the wall of this blog. But I have got to wait for the name. Then few days after, the boy was given the name Ahmad Fateh, (literally means the praised victorious one-my own arbitrary/amateur translation). .

Was that the real reason for disappearing?

No, because the boy is already 8 months old but the story is still not coming. Not even his photo as promised, to be pasted on the wall.

So what is the problem?

The problem is I always find excuses for not doing.

Anyway, let bygones be bygones. Start a fresh and energetic mood.

Good news are coming. Another boy is coming soon, Yousef Imran sibling. God willing the expected day according to Dr's. calculation is on the 20th of this month. Another boy? Why not .    

And God willing,another one is also coming next year. Boy or girl? Either one is my grandchild. Why asked question?

So the wall has to be updated.

Is it the reason why I am unable to update with news and stories?

Another excuse.   

 

Virtue of sharing

   

Hi everybody......this is our first appearance since the last time we were on cyberspace on the 10th June 2013.  Five months had gone by .....not a word heard from us or news written about both of us as though we were hiding somewhere ......somewhere no one could not locate to. The last time you saw us, we were just 'small boys'. Please refresh your memory by revisit previous entries of this blog -my cousin blog or cousin of mine blog, then you would grasp what we meant 'small  boys'. You can see the difference  of us today and the last time. "No holding hand, please".

We are already 'big' now.  We can stand alone, no more helping hands. We can cycle to school ourselves. The picture above affirms what we believe, and at the same time we do hope that you believe what you see. Is it worth a thousand words?

Oh , yes we must tell you about our new bicycles. Our dear grandma (nenek) bought for us as a birthday gifts -to celebrate one of us. Whose birthday?  My cousin? or cousin of mine? Guess if you like to. But what we would like to impress upon you all is that , our dear grandma was and still is a great grandma who has a clear vision towards her beloved grandchild : A Vision of Sharing.  We share the feeling of being felt even though the occasion or celebration is not ours per se. It was one of us birthday but both of us were given the same presents -one bicycle each. One bicycle each is not individualistic. It is a symbol of sharing the occasion between us and a symbol of fairness , the legacy of our grandma.

You see, we have one bicycle each but  we are on the same bicycle each time we play .  

Look at the picture above. Do we individualistic? The answer is spontaneously the big 'NO'. We always share things. We share occasions. In music , we share. We play organ together. We sings together. Thanks grandma for instilling that virtue -virtue of sharing.  

Look at my pictures and guess whats.....

To guess whats, one has to scan my wall picture per above. Which one? Ok, I'll tell you.. Picture on the right is not me. That's my cousin Naqib, the curly boy, a cousin of mine. You got it. Good.
Yesterday, I believed you had seen Naqib's pictures. Today is my turn. Yesterday Naqib invited you to create stories out of the pictures. I want you all to play the guessing game, to read my heart and mind out of my pictures. And my grandpa starts the ball rolling.....

It's so delicious......plein comme un oeuf.....  it is mouth salivating. Yes, your eyes said so.....it's so tempting that you could not open your eyes.

showing off your two teeth for the purpose of influencing some one from the tooth paste industry to take you for their adverts. Yes , you are so nervous waiting for the occasion

You are rebranding yourself. New image, I supposed. No smiling face anymore. Your eyes wide open, your spectacles crystal clear, your mouth tightly closed, your ears, oh yes, ever ready to receive signals, and together your dress are signatures of a future leader.

the pillar is so big......ummi please help me, I want to climb up

one step two step, ah so gruelling.....no I must not give up, be patient and strong

Hello friends out there, see you in future

troublesome....

How do I look.....any hope to be a future leader?

Nothing wrong with this machine? Who to verify? Oh yes my father is a mechanical engineer. 

ha ha ha guess who is this gentleman and the lady at the back. Malaysians or Koreans?

Look at these pictures of mine and create your own strories

 Ha ha ha ha ha what's so interesting that tickled my heart.

 eemmmm I wish I could ..........

 "Slow down Naqib, traffic police". No I did not see one. Only AES (automatic enforcement summon) camera.

 ......this soap does not smell good, please mama, get me other brand

 Dear Tokpa, I am relating to you one funny story that I believe will make your heart beat run fast like .....

 ha ha ha ....the new model in the making

 wherever you go you must not forget to say your prayer even if you are in the industry of modelling. You see and you do like me.

 Today I am off from school, I mean children school. I prefer to call it children school and not nursery 'cause ........

 yak...the taste is so funny eeeeee.....serve me another time, please

What am I doing? There is something that motivate me. What is it?

There are 10 pictures of me. Look at these pictures and create your own stories. My granpa has given some narrations/clues. Be creative and of course be happy.