Random Last Day of Vacation Notes

1st note: I rediscovered my smartcar..

Hello smartcar!!

2nd note: I lost a few pounds after the trip, which wasn't what I thought was happening. When I left for Malaysia a month ago, I was counting 157 pounds. So even with all that teh tarik, ABC, rambutans, dokongs and langsat, I didn't gain. I scaled at 152 pounds this morning. OK, maybe by end of Ramadhan, I can breach sub-150 pounds.. That would be a great cause for a celebration!!

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Merdeka Monday

Historic day, Merdeka, also Pah's an IUP student now. In fact, we live almost on IUP's campus. Here's the view from the front of our house. You will notice Sutton Hall's bell tower, the Crown of IUP!
Picking up Pah from her Topology class, her first ever at IUP..
Pah went here to deposit Amin's textbook rebate check.. TQ Amin!
Waiting for Pah to come out of the bank. The Sixth Street Subway beckons.. only prob, it's Ramadhan!
Decided on some corn for today's berbuka..My turn next!
Hehe, these are the prized Butter and Sugar variety...
Also bought some honey for my honey.. hehe..

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Mowed the Lawn

Long grass waiting for me, so I decided to get it done yesterday, being Sunday and all..
Puasa or no puasa, I did it for an hour after two..
Sunny but cool, helps a lot...
Looking good now!
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Parcel for Amin and Cah and Other Stories..

Saturday's Chores... The rental return, Pah's orientation and KC-bound package...

I dropped Pah off for her Orientation at the HUB...The rental bus. Seats 15 @ 16 mpg...
My two kiddies having a fun ride to McGill's car world for the rental return...
Shipping Batu Pahat's bundle to KC....

Tok Ayah's Favorite plant, the peach tree at the Indiana PO..
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Assignments

I was going to pick up Sami and family Friday when I got an SOS from Dr. Mansur. He was leaving for good and needed help transporting his wares to Dulles Airport in DC..
Too many things for Dr Mansur to carry in his own van...First Destination in DCAfter the deed was done, I waited for Sami to call. He finally did at about 5:20 pm... so off I went.. It was a slow ride home with three accidents along the way. They slowed me down an hour. Reached Indiana sleepy and tired at 11 pm. A full day...

The next morning...
I parked this bus like I drove the smartcar!!Too close!!

Flip Flop

Pak A'at's gift... flip flop... hehe...Come on guys, flip and flop!!
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PIT-Indiana Conclusion...

(This post was done after the fact)

Dateline 26th Aug..

After all the bags were in Russ's Prelude, we took off for home. Here are UPITT's dorms, smack in the middle of the Oakland area..
I was hungry (tak posa) and so asked if Russ was, and he was, so we went for that famous Salem Halal Rice, lamb and Chicken..huhu..Southtowne Plaza intersection in Indiana..
Hana was the first one to greet me. Hello Hana!!
Hamzah ran out next! My Home!! Hello Home! Hello Hamzah!!
This was Luqman, the slowpoke (so that's how I got his pic!). He was third. Hello Luqman!!Hana took this off the security cam. Then Pah came out. Hello Pah! (hug!)

Going home was nice, but coming Home was nicer!! Thanks everyone for making my visit home so memorable and at most times, enjoyable. I connected with many I haven't for so long. I said what I wanted, did what I wanted, and went where I wanted. IT was my holiday, and I had fun!

(Pah noted that my trip was about 36 hours. I'd left Kak Na's place in KD at 11:05 am on Aug 25th, and reached Indiana at 4:15 pm Aug 26th)


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Back in Familiar Territory

(This post was done after the fact)

Dateline 26th Aug..

Uneventful last leg flight. Cloudy all day. I actually saw Keystone Lake, but no pic..
Bags coming out of the plane's belly...
Touchdown Pittsburgh!! Franco I know, but the other guy in funny hat I don't..Waiting for the red hotrod
Hey Russ!! That's him at 1:15 pm...Thanks for coming!! Really!!!

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DFW-PIT

(This post was done after the fact)

Dateline 26th Aug..

Me, at 5:15 am, Texas time, boarding off the itsy-bitsy jet....
My immediate neighbor, Sung Bao, a chinese coming to the US for the first time, joining her auntie.
Dallas, Texas in the AM. That's an even smaller plane going to Pittsburgh!!
Long, round about way to my gate...DFW Airport was too big for its relative un-business
Waiting game at Gate B6..
Glad to be on my way, at 7:15 am...
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On to LAX..

(This entry was compiled after I reached Indiana PA)..

Dateline....25th-26th August.

The flight to LAX was a hugely tiring affair, mainly due to the 12 hour haul. I watched a pretty good movie, "My Life in Ruins", funny and entertaining. Notice the passengers behind me. They were a couple who had spent 3 weeks in Bali. They had also taken some pills just before the plane took off and guess what, they slept the whole 12 hours... huhu. Must be some pills!!
Touchdown!!! But then, arrival at LAX, and towards the Immig counters for the VISIT procedure. Called Pah (at abt 12 tgh mlm) to say that I'd landed (that's actually not allowed at this section). Took too long IMHO. But the officer welcomed me back into the country. That felt good.

My bags were not inspected. I'd declared nothing (negative) on all counts, which is the truth anyway. I then asked around on how to reenter the bags into the flight plan. That done, I went to look for my gate, and again, those checks. I passed this one with flying colors (no beeps, finally) and moved to find Gate 43. Once I knew its location, I went for food at a Burger King, took out the meal to a seat at the gate, and stayed there until they called us in to board the DFW-bound flight.
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Taipei StopOver

(This entry was compiled after I reached Indiana PA)..

Dateline still 25th August..

9:00 mlm arrival at Taipei's Int Airport, similar plane on next gate...

The shops open all night... I heard about a surau available at this airport, and sure enough, I found it!
Can't miss the signpost!!
Various religious doors. Leftmost is the surau...
I'd taken my wudhu' earlier, so I was ready to pray. This is the guy's side of the screen. Very clean, spotless room. The airport should be commended for having this facility..
Somehow, I felt pretty good at this airport..

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Bye Bye Malaysia!!

(This entry was compiled after I reached Indiana PA)..

Dateline still 25th August..


I was over three hours early!! So there I stood..waiting for EVA to open its counter.. I was the first e-ticket customer there...
Bags weight identical at 23-plus kg.. good job packing!!
Riding the KLIA tube.. rough ride!!
The big bird from EWA air..
Finally in. Dig the widebody jumbo..
I purposely picked this window seat.

Hilltop development over Pahang... huge bald spot! My last shot over Malaysian air before entering international airspace..

Approaching aerial sundown...

My window seat view part two, recording the evening somewhere over the south china seas..

That's it, holiday is done, now to get home to my own little world..

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