Last Show with Dewangga Sakti

I never imagined this day will arrive. Last Saturday was my last performance with Dewangga Sakti. My feeling?...I was very sad to leave behind Dewangga Sakti life for Dubai. Even when my bandmates asked for my last speech during Iftar, I just said "I will come back !". I just don't want to say goodbye, in fact so far I have never said goodbye to any of my friends because I like to think I will see them around again. It is not because I do not want to accept the fact or what, but I have long held this view that in this century no matter where you go, you are just a phone call away, a blog away or a YM or facebook away...hehehe if you get what I mean. That is the wonder of the world wide web which is to me the greatest wonder ever in this world. So you never really go far away from your friends except you just cannot hang around in person.

Pic: After a show in MHI in July 2008. Wahyun was absent.

But Dewangga Sakti life is all about engaging music passion together in person. We always do it the old style way. We hang out, we talk, we jam and we create music. So by being far away, I will no longer be able to do all that. Some people suggest I can compose music or jam online but that is not the way we do it in Dewangga Sakti. Most of the times we need to talk, argue and crack joke before we can get the mood to create music. It is a slow and inefficient process but very human process.

I wish I could have everything but that is not the reality. I chose to move out from my comfort zone so this is what it entails. I hope I will get something meaningful and worthwhile out of this experience.

Yesterday I also joined Iftar by IIUM Adventure & Recreational Club ("ARC"). I was invited as the ARC club alumni and as a member of Latepackers club. I passionately call these two clubs as "kelab budak-budak gunung", because that is the main activity of the clubs, mountain climbing. Mountain climbing is one of my past time hobbies besides music. I have climbed Mount Yong Belar, Mount Chamah, Mount Ulu Sepat, Mount Korbu and Mount Gayong. These mountains are in the group of 7 mountains above 7000 feet in West Malaysia. The other 2 mountains are Mount Yong Yap and Mount Tahan which I have not hiked yet. I have also climbed other small mountains like Mount Datuk, Mount Bunga Buah, Bukit Taboh and Mount Nuang. So in ARC those who managed to climb all the 7 mountains will be certified by the club as Achiever. I got 2 mountains more which I plan to climb in the future. Of course the ultimate mountain is Mount Kinabalu. In ARC we like to climb the 7 mountains first because they are the toughest compared to Mount Kinabalu (my American friend hiked Kinabalu during weekend and came to work on Monday ! sounds easy?). But with my departure that plan has to be postponed infinitely.

I have been upholding the club's motto all this while..yeah !

I managed to see some old friends during the ARC Iftar. It was good to see them happy with wives and cute kids. Some of them have started facebooking and blogging, so I will definitely see them a lot after this in my Facebook and blog.

Pic:
Lanun, Enche', Joko, Atuk, Kak Bad, Kak Mie, Nyamoque and a few seniors whose names escape me..

Kalau ada sumur di ladang
Boleh hamba menumpang mandi
Kalau ada umur yang panjang
Boleh kita berjumpa lagi

Malay pantun

My Triplet Brothers

Picture by IIUM

I just got back from IIUM 24th Convocation Ceremony and witnessed 2 of my triplet younger brothers receiving their scrolls. I am proud and very happy for them. One of them even graduated with a first class honours degree in Bachelor of Biomedical Science. The other one graduated with honours in Bachelor of Engineering in Manufacturing. The third one has already graduated from UKM last year and now working with a Petronas subsidiary.

The Graduands

This 24th IIUM Convocation also features for the first time the new design for convocation attire. The obvious difference is the mortarboard which replaces the songkok. They have also changed the design of the robe i.e new fabric material, motifs and a hood at the back. At first when my brothers told me that IIUM graduands no longer wear songkok for convocation, I thought that was an unnecessary change. What is wrong with songkok as convocation headgear? It is unique and showcase a traditional element of Malay costume. Perhaps because songkok carries an identity of Malay ethnic, so it does not quite blend with the aspiration of an international university? When I read IIUM News Bulletin, it says that in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee of IIUM this year, IIUM has decided to come up with a new design for the convocation attire and they chose mortar board and beefeater as head gear to be consistent with other Malaysian universities. The decision was also based on survey at historical records of Muslim scholars' attire. My father told me the mortar board was first introduced by Imam Al Ghazali in Baghdad.

I have not had the chance to visit the convocation fiesta at convo hill. So I don't know how big and happening the fiesta is. I managed to look at posters advertising the important programmes during the fiesta but could not find anything interesting. In fact I wondered why did they have a marriage course as one of the major programmes during convocation fiesta. Is marriage an immediate agenda after graduation guys?

I was standing in front of the C.A.C main entrance when peoples suddenly gathered to see a VVIP of the day. I thought it should be the Sultan of Pahang. But to my surprise it was Mursyidul Am Ustaz Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz. Apparently one of his children graduated today. Congratulation Datuk Seri !

Takbir !

To both my brothers Nain & Ooi, congratulation ! I could see the joy and satisfaction in your faces. Today's occasion is just the beginning of the reward for all your efforts for the past 6 years. More rewards will come but more hard works are required. Let me be the first to welcome you to the world of reality, where fair play is not required and dream may not come true.

Oh yea..I had anticipated today that my father would bring up a topic on when I will start my Phd course after he looked at the list of Phd graduands today. But I guess he was so busy with my son Adrin and the topic didn't come up at all. Fuhh lega... But don't worry Ayah...it is in the pipeline (and the pipe is taking a detour to a desert soon..hehe)

Adrin and his 10 cents face !

Last but not least, to my brothers, thank you very much for making this day to be another happiest day for Ayah and Emak.

"To support mother and father, to cherish wife and child
and to have a simple livelihood,
this is the good luck"

Prince Gautama Siddharta