Thursday 11 June 2009

Of meetings with Pak Zawi, Tunku Halim and Anak Si Hamid

The longer I procrastinate the harder it becomes to start writing again. I have not been far away from the blog world; I’d look in and read some of my favourite blogs and see what they are up to and then retreat to a safe distance where I can concentrate on some other work. Since the trip to Europe, I haven’t been too well either. It is summer and summer’s never kind to me.

Anyway, suffice to say, I am quite busy this time of the year and I am trying my level best to finish off some work so that I can then find a ticket to go home. I need to go home.

Wokay, let me sum up what I’ve been up to recently. I’ve been meeting a lot of blogger friends, actually. London is full of Malaysians; coachloads and coachloads of Malaysians in and around London, helping to prop up the British economy! And I am not complaining as the sterling is getting stronger.

With Pak Zawi and Wife
Last week, we had the pleasant company of Pak Zawi and his wife. They were among the coachloads of Malaysians who were touring Europe. We met up at Malaysia Hall and Pak Zawi is kind enough to give me some pictures that we took together. My camera and my phone gave up on me and I had to rely on Pak Zawi’s camera.
Read about his tour here.

Just before Pak Zawi and co, we met up with Tunku Halim who came all the way from Tasmania with his family. He brought with him his new book: History of Malaysia, A Children’s Encyclopedia. This is one book I had been looking for to give my children. It is beautifully done too and with this encyclopedia, Tunku is now a publisher! He very kindly paid for our dinner and after that I took the opportunity to interview him. And this is the result of the interview. I have been experimenting with podcasting and I had always wanted to bring a new dimension to this blog. This is Kak Teh in conversation with Tunku Halim – do excuse the very nasal sound – I am still all bunged up with hayfever.
I've got my podbean blog here: Kak Teh's Talk Show
or click here: Kak Teh in Conversation with Tunku Halim



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(L)Kak Teh in Conversation with Tunku Halim and (R)History of Malaysia,: A Children's Encyclopedia
By the way, Tunku Halim is on the way back to Malaysia this very minute and he will be talking about his new book and about self publishing on 14th June – 2-3 pm at MPH Midvalley and 4-5 pm at The Curve. Catch up with him there!

And oh, oh, oh, guess who else I met last week? I was so excited when I received an email from a blogger that she and her husband were coming to London. We agreed to meet up as we needed to exchange a few things. They turned up early and we were fashionably late!

But all was well in the end and when we fell into each other’s arms, it was as if we had known each other for a long time. Yes, Anak SiOthman finally met up with Anak SiHamid! And Awang Goneng got on famously with Iain Buchanan who wrote and beautifully illustrated Fatimah’s Kampung. My next radio programme will certainly be Kak Teh in Conversation with Iain Buchanan! I just love Iain's drawings, but more about that later!

(L)Anak SiHamid and Anak SiOthman and (R)When Awang Meets Iain Buchanan

It was just a short meeting but we managed rice with asam pedas and masak lemak ayam and teh tarik and cucur badak and Early Grey tea in two sittings, before they went off to catch the coach back to Leicester. We promise that the next meeting would be in Leceister and thanks Rocky Bru for bringing us together.

So, that’s it – and I hope it wont be too long before I write again. As I am writing this, my other half is making treks to meet up with blogger Mat Salo, who is also in town. This is the second day of the tube strike and I decided to stay at home and wait for my sayang mama to come back and tell me about his History paper.

So, there and phew!

ps. a few months earlier, met up with blogger Dr Bubbles and Kenny Mah and Sharon Bakar, and next month, there are more bloggers heading this way!

52 comments:

mamasita said...

Aww..so nice..Pak Zawi dapat jugak jumpa KT..isn't that wonderful?? Pak Zawi!! Jealouslah we all!!
KT..you balik cuti nanti you mesti bagi kitaorang jumpa you jugak!
Otherwise, tak acii! Not fair! hehehe

Kak Teh said...

Mamasita, dapat jumpa sekejap saja sebab Pak Zawi and wife pun nampak penat sangat. I also had some friends yang baru juga datang dari malaysia. so terpaksa jadi tuan rumah di sini. But it was nice - it was our second meeting - the first was when we went back to Malaysia two years ago. Insyaallah I do hope to go back next month.

Kak Elle said...

oh KT busy berjumpa kekawan nampak bila agak kita ada peluang berjumpa lagi di London ye?

Kak Teh said...

kak elle, you kenalah datang ke sini. Your last visit was too short, jumpa dalam bilik saja.

Zendra-Maria said...

Kak Teh, Beli autograph book besar-besar bila balik nanti. The "celebrities" want to sign in there!

Kak Teh said...

Zendra, awat tak cerita pun about your trip to Paris? I pun nak baca jugak. Otograf book? la, i thought that was a thing of the past.

Mama Huptihup said...

kak teh, kat sungai petani ni i tak jumpa pun buku awang goneng :((...mph publish kan?

about this history of malaysia ni...i nak belilah for my kids..penting ni...aritu i beli buku cerita rakyat malaysia..pasal mahsuri, pasal hg tuah...byk pulak aksi tikam menikam ni, i kena sensor bila bacakan they all the stories....

Kak Teh said...

Lyana, buku my husband was published by Monsoon Books but available in MPH. I dont know abt sungai patani. Yes, I suggest that you get Tunku Halim's book on History of Malaysia for Children as well as History of Malaysia, a children's encyclopaedia. That will help them to catch up fast.

DrSam said...

salam Kak Teh. Quite agree with Zendra. You should get one big autograph book asap. The book will be easily filled up when you come back to Malaysia next month.

With thant kind of warm hospitality shown by you and abang AG, now Malaysians know where to 'lepak' whenever they are in London ;)

Great meetings!

Kak Teh said...

Dr Sam, what i need is a visitors'book for them to sign when they visit me, bukan? Tak pa lah for now we play the role of penghulu di sini. When we go back, the hospitality is indescribable..honestly, we are touched.

Pi Bani said...

Aiseh, bila pulaklah I nak sampai London ni ek?

Kak Teh said...

Pi Bani, you mai sini, kecik tapak tangan, talam dan apa saja kak teh tadahkan. Akan kak teh tunggu di airport..hehe, bukannya selalu kak teh tunggu kat airport.

Fadhil said...

Wow, Kak Teh jadi penghulu bloggers Malaysia yg ke London. Ini satu usaha yg sangat baik... mengeratkan tali silaturrahim.

I do hope to be able to make that trip to UK soon. Dapat jumpa Kak Teh dan Awang Goneng, boleh jadi femes kejap, heheheh :-)

Kak Teh said...

Oldstock, nak jadi ambassador or high commissioner tak boleh sebab dah ada, jadi penghulu cukuplah! Tak dapat gaji pun and kak teh cuma mampu belanja di Malaysia hall, hehe! Jemputlah!

Zendra-Maria said...

Kak Teh, Buku Pelawat macam formal-lah, ada tarikh dan waktu masuk, waktu keluar. Kalau otograf, boleh buat pesanan kelakar ke, romentik ke, sketching sikit2, sain besar2 - macam dulu2lah. Lepas tu boleh simpan, dah tua nanti boleh belek2 dan senyum sendirian, ketawa kekekeke.

Thanks Doc for your support hehe.

Nak cerita pasal Paris tu macam susahlah Kak Teh, tapi insya Allah akan diusahakan.

Kama At-Tarawis said...

OOOOOOOO... patutla dia dok sengap..dok pi jumpa dan intebiu orang sana sini rupanya.. amboi amboi! Bilalah Kama dengan pak abu nak pi london nih.. rancangan dok tinggal rancangan so far.. kaka teringin sesangat nak experience autumn once again.. I love autumn..

MrsNordin said...

You are now the official Bloggers' Liason Chief in London!! Alright!

I'm not surprised if many bloggers want to make the trip to London just to meet you (besides meeting The Queen at Mdm Tussaud, of course). With your friendly disposition and kind personality, you are a must in every Malaysian blogger's agenda in London.

I hope I'll be able to make that trip soon.

tireless mom said...

You have to have an organiser to key in your meeting dates with the bloggers lah kak Teh. If one person/family bawa satu bungkus maggi mee frm Msia for you, ha... dah cukup one month stock tu!

Kak Teh said...

Zendra, I believe the week you were in Paris, Tunku halim and family were there too. OK, tak pa nanti kak teh beli buku besark2 buat buku otograf. Roses are read, violets are blue...

Puteri, lamanya tak dengark the word sengap! Tak lah sengap juga sebab dok bersin and batuk kuat2. My hayfever is so annoying! Mai lah in autumn, but that will be ramadan pulak. come after raya..and we raya together-gether.

Kak Teh said...

Mrs N, you know who is heading this way next month, right? I am so looking forward to meet her. Insyaallah, we will.

TM, so far I can manage without an organiser. It'll be good if everyone comes at the same time and we can have a bloggers meet in London. OOOhhh, maggi mee is not something the other half will agree to, I am afraid. I'll settle for jam tarts, boleh?

Salt N Turmeric said...

Wah Kak Teh. Macam berjanji2 aje semua bloggers tetiba ada kat London. Ke semua ambik kesempatan cheap offers from Air Asia and MAS? Have fun with all of them ya?

Kak Teh said...

Farina, London is becoming cheaper compared to other cities, kut. Everyone's comng here and I want to go homeeeeeee!!!!

kay_leeda said...

Kak Teh,

Hope you are feeling better. Thanks for the info on Tenku Halim's book. Must go get a copy.

Wahhh ramai nyer visitors Kak Teh :) you must be enjoying yourself meeting each one of them.

Cepat lah balik Kak Teh...boleh jumpaaaaaa.. :)

Naz in Norway said...

Aaaah! syoknya dengar your interview with TH.
Thanks also for all the pictures. Now we can see the faces of all the wonderful writers/bloggers :)

Kak Teh said...

Kay, yes go and get the encyclopedia for the children! and I would also suggest Iain Buchanan's Fatmah's Kampung! Ni dok pulun buat kerja sebab nak balik!!!! nak balik sangat-sangat!

Naz, dengar dak sora hidung tersumbat? anyway, I think your children will enjoy Tunku Halim's book AND Iain's Fatimah's Kampung. Highly recommended.

mekyam said...

wow, that podcast very de canggih, kt. congratters! :D

lovely interview. the sengau just add a sexy appeal to yr sweet voice.

btw, i've yet to read a tg halim book. need to remedy that asap.

p.s. hope yr allergy is under control.

Jill O. Miles said...

As a blogger at historyforchildren.blogspot.com I was especially interested in learning about History of Malaysia, A Children's Encyclopedia. I have an idea for a world history book for children and really enjoyed your podcast with the author. Thanks for giving it a go. I will also be sure to read A Child's History of England by Dicken's. I was unaware of this title...but then, I am an American.

Wan Nordin Wan Hussin said...

Kak Teh,
Is Sayang Mama taking his June/summer A-Levels exams? I bayangkan Mama pun rancak mengulangkaji bersama-sama T. Ah, A-Levels in KL (not Kuala Lumpur!), one of my proudest and defining moments. All the best to you all.

ummisara said...

Kak Teh...

Syoknya ... u pun dah jumpa Pak Zawi n Wife...i yang balik ke kampung inlaws yang dekat ngan umah Pak Zawi pun tak bersekesmpatan jumpa lagi...hehehe

Bila pulak u nak balik mai sini???

Hazia said...

Bestnya... well, seems like everybody I know is heading or has headed to London these few weeks...:)

Kak Teh said...

mekyam, I've had this allergy for almost 15 years. None of the anti histamines work. But I have a live in sinseh who concocts all sorts of herbal drinks for me.

Jill, thanks for the visit and I am sure you will find the History of Malaysia interesting. Been to your blog. How interesting. Have you heard of the Horrible History series for children? My children were hooked on that - Horrible Henry, Vicious Victorians etc - History was made fun for children and that is how it should be.

Kak Teh said...

GUiKP, Sayang mama is taking A Levels and concentrating on History. So far he says the papers were manageable, mama wants to hear more than manageable. It is Daddy who is doing the revision with him, they discuss all sorts of things. Bless him, so patient!

edelweiss, kak teh dok ingat nak balik next month tapi tiket tak cari lagi. It is a chicken and egg situation - i need to finish off some work first.

Hazia, when are you heading for london? Just let me know, okay?

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

Kakteh,

Hehehe...I dah craft a nice title for you: Tukang Jumpa Blogger Malaysia.

By the way, Kak Nisah ada dah transfer duit untuk library project.Thanks!

Kirim salam saya pada Pak AG.

Kak Teh said...

Dr Bubbles aka Is, Tukang Jumpa Blogger and Tukang Bawa Jalan-jalan...memang sesuai title tu. Alhamdulillah, dah dapat. Kak teh takut terlupa sebab niat dah ada.
Your libraries could do with Tunku Halim's book as well as Iain Buchanan's book. Let me see what I can do with your next library project. Insyaallah.

Pak Zawi said...

Kak Teh,
Salam dan pohon maaf kerana lambat sampai.
Terima kasih seribu (pinjam dari U Lee) kerana sudi bertemu dengan kami. Bertemu pula dalam keadaan keletihan, bercakap pun dan mula slur, malunya.
Saya belum boleh blog lagi pasal London kerana perlu buat blog mengenai Lucerne, Paris, Amsterdam dan Brussels. Lepastu baru London. Panjang lawatan ke Eropah ni. Tiap tempat adalah menarik.
Above all I want to thank you both for the dinner at Malaysia Hall. You dah potong Suhaimi yang nak belanja makan. Thanks again.
Tak koner ke KB ke bila balik KT nanti?

KG said...

Kak Teh,

I baru cakap dgn husband I...kalau kita pi London, kita mesti jumpa Kak Teh!!!!!

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Kak Teh said...

Pak Zawi, no apologies needed. You must be tired and cathing up with loads of thingsto do. and the london trip must be the last one on your list, as it was indeed, the last, kan? Anyway, AG went to meet Mat Salo yesterday. I couldnt go because there was transport strike and I didnt want to be stuck in crowded buses and traffic getting there and home. Hopefully we will meet up during the nxt few days.

Kak Teh said...

KG, ahaaa, bila agaknya you akan datang? And when is the big day? I guess tak lama lagi, kan? All the best.

ray said...

Komen Pak Malim, kucing ray yg alim.

Seronoknya kalau dapat jumpa Kak Teh, kata Pak Malim sambil meminum secawan teh. Tumpang tanya, kata Singa Narnia. Ada nampak tak, moyang saya, di Istana Ratu England, kata Pak Malim sambil memeluk beruang Poland. Dulu, moyang ada naik kapal, pergi London, tapi sampai sekarang, tak balik-balik, kata Pak Malim sambil tergolek.

Kak Teh said...

Pak Malim, kak teh dengar orang dok cakap, ada seekor kucing yang suka merayap, dia pakai boots dengan ketayap, apakah itu moyang Pak Malim?
Ada juga dengar cerita, seekor kucing nak jumpa Queen yang duduk bertakhta, apakah itu moyang Pak Malim kita?

Anonymous said...

Hah! no wonder lah Kak Teh has been so quiet in blogsphere. Rupanya jadi seorang penghulu eh? NYY should appoint you and AG as Tourism Ambassadors in UK -- like Jean Todt. Am currently undecided whether to go to UK this summer or to go to somewhere different for a change, like China... am quite game to follow my FIL & MIL to find my FIL's roots in China. I guess it all depends on how bad this H1N1 worry is going to be.

Memorable trails... said...

Take good care of yourself Kak Teh and dont work too hard..
Bila rasa tak sihat, semua kerja malas nak buat...
It s nice to meet fellow bloggers isnt it..so far I havent got the chance to meet any of my blogger friends.

anak si-hamid said...

Blogger Ash, Blogger Ash where have you been/
I've been to London to meet the Queen.
Blogger Ash, Blogger Ash what'd you do there?
I met Blogger Kak Teh, so fine and fair.

There was good food, good conversation and good company and so......

"We only part to meet again
Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee" (John Gay)

Hmmm, too pompous I think. Better still...

In the middle of the ocean,
There lies a rock,
On it was written,
'Forget me not'

It's wonderful that my SOG (Silly Ole Git) and your GOG (Gentle (?), Gorgeous (?), Gallant (?) Ole Git) got on well.

Do hope you're feeling better and we can catch up in KL sometime?

Yang-May Ooi said...

Congrats on your first podcast, kak teh! You have such a lovely soothing voice - you're made for podcasting and radio.

Kak Teh said...

Andrea, ayo, as ambassador where got time. Jean Todt tak apalah ada ferari lari sana sini.. I jadi duta pelancongan kena naik tube! hehe!

Madam Gold, aaah, summer is indeed a busy time for me, tak boleh nak tolak rezki.Alhamdulillah, but as i am writing this, I am really suffering from Hayfever. the sun is out again.

Kak Teh said...

Ms Hamid, so good to see you here. You must be busy tidying up the house before you fly off again. I am hoping, yes , to go home but as yet, i have not found any cheap tickets. Will seriously do so once my markings are nearly finished. Then we will be in touch. Yes, am so glad our gorgeous gits got on well. I knew they would.

YMO,
Thanks for kind words, but i need more tips from you. At the moment my voice is so nasal(ly!) have yet to recover from hayfever.
have a good summer.

Kenny Mah said...

"The longer I procrastinate the harder it becomes to start writing again."

So true. I was trying to blog about London for a good while but only managed it today, a whole month after I returned from the UK! :P

What I did in the meantime was try to pen shorter posts that helped fill the gap but also exercise some braincells so I don't fade away, haha.

P.S. It was great meeting you and Awang Goneng at Holiday Villa last month! I know I'm repeating myself here but since I finished writing about our trip, I've been thinking of the two of you muchly. Hope to meet you both soon! :)

P.P.S. Thanks for linking me, but my website is actually http://lifeforbeginners.com --- the kennymah.com is not mine but someone else's. :P

anedra said...

mak tehhh!! So when are you coming back? Can jumpa the bloggers kat sini pulak. At my area je you'd have enough bloggers wo have a party!

Kak Teh said...

Kenny dear, thanks for pointing out the link. I have remedied that. Love your pix of us in London.
I am in a lazy mood, so much to write about but no mood to write.

anedra,ya we can do a meet at yr place laa..that is if/when I go back.. doakan.

Tunku Halim said...

Kak Teh - Thanks for meeting me and doing the interview. It was a pity we couldn't meet up again as there really was so much to talk about. Next time jumpa lagi, okay?

Kak Teh said...

Tunku, of course we must and the treat will be on us, ok? Hope you like the interview.