Lawatan Penanda Arasan ke Johor Bahru.

Pada 14 Julai 2008, Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan PKPSM Kebangsaan telah ditunda pada 28 Julai 2008, kami seramai 17 orang Pengetua Kelantan, yang telah menempah tiket penerbangan tambang murah(nak jimatkan wang kerajaan le) tarikh tidak dapat diubah, berpakat mengadakan lawatan di atas. Kami melawat Sekolah Tun Fatimah dan SMK Sultan Ismail. Saya selaku ketua rombongan mengucapkan berbanyak-banyak terima kasih kepada berikut:

1. Pengetua SMK Sultan Ismail kerana sudi menerima kunjungan kami.
2. Puan Hjh Junaidi bt. Santano, Pengetua Kanan JUSA C Sekolah Tun Fatimah kerana menerima kunjungan kami, menyediakan pengangkutan sepanjang lawatan kami dan belanja kami makan malam.
3. YDP PKPSM Kelantan kerana membiayai penginapan kami di hotel Sri Malaysia, JB.
4. Puan Hjh Maznah bt. Mohamed, Pengetua SMK Kadok di atas usahanya.
5. Puan Hjh Fauziah Ab. Rahman Bendahari PKPSM.
6. Semua anggota rombongan kerana menjayakan lawatan ini.
Selain itu kami mengambil kesempatan ke Ayer Hitam dan Pulau Batam(Indonesia) sambil membeli belah di sana. Ada hikmah di sebalik penundaan itu.

Gambar bawah: Rombongan bersama Pn. Hjh Junaidi Pengetua STF, pakaian kuning no. 4 dari kiri.
Aku paling kanan macam pak pacak dalam filem zaman dulu.
Gambar atas: Rombongan bersama-sama guru-guru SMK Sultan Ismail
(Sila klik untuk besarkan gambar.
Terima kasih.

The Nature: The Might of Allah(Keagongan Allah)

Saprophyte.
Location: Agro Tani Setiu, Terengganu

A six foot ant hill(busut or pusu in Kelantan dialect)

There goes a Malay saying "Sedikit sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit"

Location: Jalan Taman Sabariah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Lilly
Location: SMK Pak Badol, Malaysia

Sandy beach, boulder rocks, crystalized clear sea water in a bay and vegetated cliff.
Location: Pantai Telok Chempedak, Kuantan, Pahang

Myself holding an eroded boulder rock, washed and being left on a larger rock.
Photo taken during my family jungle trekking activity at La Hotspring, Besut, Terengganu.

As an introduction: The Kaabah the Qiblah of Muslims and Syiar Islam. It was built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail in obeying the order of Allah.
Location: Makkah(Mecca), Saudi Arabia.

The lagoon, sandy beach, palm trees and casuarinas.
The lagoon is unsuitable for a dip.
Location: Pantai Irama, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.

The clear sea water, sandy beach and casuarinas.
Taken during hopping the islands off the shore of Sabah.

The crystal clear water, a mountain range in the background
and the Batak settlement in between.
Taken during my excursion to Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

The waterfall. Flows a million liter of water. It disappears into the unseen cavern, can hear glup! glup! sound. According to our guide, until at present nobody could not find it. Taken during our family jungle trekking activities in La Hotspring Besut, Terengganu Malaysia.
Myself wearing white shirt, on my right is my daughter Nadiah
followed by my spouse, Hjh Zaimas.

The twining plant, "batang beluru" coiling a fallen tree, like a python coiling its victim.
Taken in La Hotspring, Besut, Trengganu Malaysia, the same as activity above.

The limestone exposed in "The Stone Forest"
extremely unique, taken during my excursion to Yunnan, China.

"Periok Kera" or Monkey's Pitcher is a wonderful plant. In each pitcher contains liquid use to trap insects and digests it as food for the plant.
The water can be drank during emergency but watch out it cleanliness.
Location:The Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The plant is abundant in our forest.

I will post more of this later. Any contributions please send in. Thank you.

LAND OF THE BATAKS

Hey amigos, how much you purchased your hat? Pretty sure the answer will not be the same. The purchased price depends on how you bargain, not only hats, in fact, all things, so do not afraid to bargain. Anyhow better check it out, if bargaining unreasonably some abusive words will knock your eardrums or be chased by the retailer. From the left: Saiful of SMS Machang(Rp20,000), followed by Ramdan of SMKA Lati(Rp 18,000), what had happened to him wearing two hats at a time and myself got the cheapest Rp 14,000.
The rate: Rp 10,000 is equivalent to RM4.00.

Samosir Island. This island is mainly dominated by The Bataks, one of the main ethnics in Northern Sumatra. The carvings behind us exhibiting women's breasts and lizards. Batak people believe that women's breasts are symbol of fortune. Women possessing larger breasts are more to be respected and costlier. The reptile symbolizes misfortune. From right, Hj. Man of K.Krai Technical Sch., Mek Dah from Sultan Yahya Petra (2) Sec, Sch., K.Krai,
myself and Azmi of Bachok Technical Sch.

Myself and the Batak traditional houses in the background

Cruising the greenish clear crystal water of Lake Toba, Samosir Island in the background. Next to me is Pi Ramli, The Principal of Putri Saadong Sec. School. In any interactive activity he was the main attraction because he liked uttering unreasonable suggestions and some funny complaints.

At the jetty on Samosir Island after an amusing cruise. Through out the cruising we were entertained by the Batak boys with various songs.

On the 13th of June 2008, The National Conference of Principals of Malaysian Secondary Schools, Kelantan Branch (PKPSM Cawangan Kelantan) held its 33rd Annual General Meeting at the Asian Best International Hotel, Medan, Indonesia. 120 principals attended. It was officially opened by the Director of Kelantan State Educational Department Hj. Ismail Mohd. Nor. Also present was Head of School Management Sector, Hj. Zahari b. Daud.
A day before the meeting we visited the Batak settlement around Lake Toba. We stayed overnight at Parapat, a small town by the lake. We cruised the greenish crystal water of Lake Toba to Samosir Island, the traditional Batak settlement. It took a quarter to an hour to reach the island. During the cruising Hj. Yusof Yaacob of SMK Jelawat told the untrue story of the formation of the lake. It happened that once upon a time, Hanuman a warrior with human body and monkey head from the Epic Ramayana, crossed from Sri Lanka to the East in searching for maid. He stopped in the area for excretion. The area filled with urine is the lake and hardened dropping happened to be the island. Don't believe it. Actually, it is a crater lake and Samosir Island in the midst of the lake is the hardened volcanic rock. We visited historical places of the Bataks and opened our ears to the story narrated by our guide. The public court trial and punishment of criminals attracted us. The criminals were once tortured, got rid of evil from their bodies and then slaughtered in the public.

We bought some Batak handicrafts product to bring home as souvenirs. One of us had bought 3 bags, same size, design and material but different price because bought at different shops.

Something I could not forget. It happened that on my way back to the ferry, I felt somebody grabbed my hand. I managed to get free from it, ran and jumped on to the ferry. Everybody got stunned, a Batak woman was chasing after me only to persuade me to buy her groundnut. You know how much? 3000 lah, What? 3000 just for a few fistful of nuts! Hah, 3000 Indonesian Rp. equivalent to only RM1.20. I felt so sorry and bought it. At that time I remembered when I was a child, my grandma's bedtime tale about the batak liked to chase people and feed on human flesh.

After lunch we continued our journey and had reached Medan just before nightfall. Our Annual General Meeting went on successfully. Thank you

Kunming's School Children

Myself and Yiliang primary school children. Their school are having a Parent and Teacher's Society Annual General Meeting. They are so disciplined and line up to greet guests and a local VIP to the ceremony.They love to meet foreigners and are willing to take photograph!
Yiliang is a small town, situated about 50km south east of Kunming to the Stone Forest.

Kunming: Ashima, Che Mat and The Tea

We stopped at a tea processing plant, a compulsory place to visit. After being briefed the origin, types and wonders of tea by a charming "Ashima"- exclusively refers to a lass, we were persuaded to purchase it. How much it cost? A package costs 500 yuen(appr RM 250.) My friend, Che Mat(in black suit) earlier refused to buy. After being persuaded and astonished by the beauty of the Ashima, at last he surrendered and unwillingly emptied his wallet and grief. "Ah! Comel weh budak ni takleh tehe kawe weh!." Hai Che Mat tak tehe jugok mu dengan orang comel dih. The "Ashima" is on my right with tea containers in her left arm. Is she pretty? She reveals that she is from the Sani Nationality of the Stone Forest. Sani girls and young women are known for their beauty, hard working and intelligent.
A fortnight later I met Che Mat and asked about the tea. "Still in the container, just waste my money, tak apa lah budak comel punya fasal," he replied.

Kunming Excursion: The Contrast

Last April in the year 2008 PKPSM Kelantan organized an excursion to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province, China. The local temperature is cool and soothing throughout the day but don't forget to use lipstick gloss or your lips might crack, so irritating. The photo
shows myself in the middle. On my right is Hjh Normah and on my left is Hjh Hanipah wearing a traditional costumes of a Sani tribe. The Sani dominates the area, the famous Stone Forest. The costume suits Hjh Normah but not Hjh Hanipah because of their facial feature and complexion.

A journey from Kunming to Stone Forest was so exhausted and bored. I kept the journey alive by making a strange offer. Anyone who could find pregnant women will be rewarded 10 yuen(appr RM5.00) for each because after few days I did not come across even a single pregnant woman. So they kept on eying for it. At last, I had to keep my words, withdrawing 20 yuen for exactly pointing 2 pregnant women. 10 yuen for Hjh Hanipah and another 10 for Hjh Kamaliah but they keep on demanding for more. Just for fun! Heeee.

KUNJUNGAN KE SMK SANZAC, K.KINABALU

Pada 22 Nov. 2008 saya bersama AJK PKPSM Kelantan membuat lawatan 'bench marking' ke SMK SANZAC, KK. SANZAC ialah singkatan bagi Sabah, Australia dan New Zealand Army Corporation. Ia mengambil sempena tapak sekolah berkenaan yang pernah digunakan sebagai markas tentera Australia dan New Zealand semasa perang dunia kedua. Gambar kenangan bersama Pengetua dan beberapa orang guru sekolah tersebut. Pengetuanya berpakaian kebangsaan manakala saya no. 4 dari kanan. Please double click to enlarge.

LAWATAN KE SMK PULAU GAYA, SABAH

Dari KK ke Pulau Gaya kami menaikki bot laju selama hampir 10 minit.
Gambar menunjukkan antara bot yang kami naiki bersama beberapa ahli rombongan ke sekolah berkenaan. Bot ini kepunyaan sekolah berkenaan menggantikan van bagi sekolah di tanah besar. Di belakang kelihatan masjid dan perkampungan Pulau Gaya. 100% penduduk membina rumah di atas permukaan laut. Etnik majoritinya terdiri dari Bajau dan Sulug.

On the way to Pulau Gaya. It took 10 minutes crossing the clear sea water. In the foreground approaching a jetty to the school, SMK Pulau Gaya. The village, houses on stilts dominated by the Bajaus and Suluqs. The island with extremely limited lowland and mostly steep hill is unsuitable for erecting buildings. 99.5% of the buildings including school and houses are on the water surface.

SMK Pulau Gaya. Notice a stretch of net and its floaters(pelampung). According to the principal, that stretch of net is to hinder litters from entering "the school compound". What a wrong guess! We thought that it is for netting fish for lauk. Ha! Ha! Good information and indeed a unique one. The buildings are classrooms and made of wood.

A visit to SMK Pulau Gaya

A visit to SMK Pulau Gaya was so interesting, sekolah di atas air, the school on the sea surface.
The photo shows myself in the middle, sandwiched by Hj. Fauzi, the principal of SMK Mulong on my right and Hjh Hamidah, the principal of SMK Hamzah 2, Machang on my left.
The open hall 100% made of wood.

After visiting the school, our next destination was the Handicraft Centre or better known as "Pasar Filipin" by the locals. Most of the products were from the Southern Philipines such as beads, crystals, dried seafoods and handicraft products.
After nightfall, we feasted over roasted fish and squids.

A TRIP TO "THE LAND BELOW THE BREEZE"

A brief stop at a nursery. Photo portrays my spouse and daughters, from left Izzati(Jaja), my wife, Nadiah Tasnim(Daiah) and Siti Norjannah(Jannah). Like 4 sisters, agree?

Imagine as a chieftain. Which tribe am I suitable to be in?

My spouse posing at the entrance of Sabah Museum. In this museum we admired a skeleton of a whale. The whale died in Sabah waters recently. It is so enormous, measuring more than 80 feet in length from head to tail. Cameras are prohibited inside the museum.

Last December I joined a trip to "The Land Below The Breeze ". So amusing. Thanked to the organizer, The Staff Club of SMK Ab. Samad, Pulai Chondong Kelantan. The photo portrays myself and my spouse at the Kinabalu National Park, the foot of Mt. Kinabalu. Thanks.

Sabah

Pada 21 hingga 24 November 2008 saya mengikuti rombongan seramai 20 orang Pengetua Kelantan ke Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Sekolah-sekolah yang kami lawati ialah SMK ANZAC, SMK Datuk Peter Monjuntin
dan SMK Pulau Gaya.
Semua sekolah ini ada keistimewaan dan kekuatan masing-masing. Gambar di atas menunjukkan satu kawasan hijau di SMK Dato' Peter Monjuntin yang terkenal dengan "Taman Dalam Sekolah". Gambar di sebelah menunjukkan satu laluan di SMK Pulau Gaya.

Saya telah dilantik sebagai Pengetua mulai 1 Jan. 2000 di SMK Tengku Panglima Raja, Pasir Mas, Kelantan sehingga 28 Feb. 2002. Pada 1 Mac 2002 ditukarkan ke SMK Abdul Samad, Pulau Chondong, Kelantan sehingga 15 Nov. 2008. Mulai 16 Nov. 2008 ditugaskan memimpin pula di SMK Pak Badol, Bachok, Kelantan. Saya sedang berada di sebuah laluan di SMK Pulau Gaya, sebuah sekolah di permukaan laut.