Story of a Trailing Spouse

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Nostalgia...Amman (1998 - 1999)

our Embassy staff and families

Salaam,

Our next diplomatic adventure took us to a rather least expected of all destinations...much further away from home than the previous two assignments.

I still remember when we landed in Amman in early March 1998, it was already late winter day but we could still felt the cold and chilling breeze of that early morning hours. And true enough, two days after that, Amman was all white, awashed in snow, a rarity for the capital which had only last seen the heavy downfall some ten years before that. And we were caught unprepared, with barely a few pieces of winter clothing in our baggages.

Jordan or officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a land steeped in history. It has been blessed with a rich religious history and hence has played a central role in the history of the ahl al-Kitab or People of the Book.

Jordan is a modern country yet its very name retains the unique baptismal aura of a holy river and a blessed land...a spiritual panorama of prophets, miracles, and human faith. It is also host to the tombs of many of the Prophet Muhammad SAW's companions, who were martyred and buried there. Indeed, Jordan has a special place in Islamic history, as the first territory to which Islam spread outside of the Arabian peninsula.

Amman, a sprawling city of around 1.5 million spreading over nineteen hills or 'jebels' in Arabic, is indeed an enchanting and picturesque capital from which most tourists and visitors like us, begins their exploration of the country. This ancient city, famed for its springs and citadel, itself offers numerous touristic attractions, from the Roman Theatre, Temple of Hercules, the Omayyad Palace, to the various souqs and old markets, art galleries and museums.

Despite hubby's relatively short (22 months) tour of duty in the country, it had nevertheless provided us excellent opportunity to explore and visit quite a number of historical places and holy sites...the southern Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea plains, tombs of the Prophet's companions, ancient cities of Petra, Madaba, Jerash and Umm Qais, to name but a few.

The numerous trips and excursions to the land and river that have inspired prophets and formed the geographic and spiritual backdrop for God's covenants with mankind had indeed helped to rekindle our faith and commitment to the God Almighty.

Jordan is indeed a blessed land...an extension of the holy land by virtue of its geographical proximity to the Arabian Peninsula and Jerusalem, and its numerous holy sites . Should there be another similar opportunity to return to this beautiful country and people ever again, I for one would not hesitate to volunteer...to do so, as a trailing spouse, of course.

Wassalam.

greeting the royal guest of honor, HRH Princess Basma,

at an International Women Charity Bazaar in Amman

one of the two Brunei booths at the bazaar

Amman int'l ladies coffee morning

on our way to the lowest point on earth...the Dead Sea

'Cave of the Seven Sleepers' on the outskirts of Amman

Umm Qais (Gadara), a Greco-Roman town on a hillside of northern Jordan,

with a sweeping view of Lake Tiberias and the Golan Heights...

a family visit from Brunei ...

entertaining our Jordanian guests at our Eid Adha 'open house'...

and an occasional excursion to Damascus...at souk al hamidieh

on our bus ride from Syria to Jordan...

Monday, January 4, 2010

Nostalgia...Bangkok (1990 - 1995)

HM the King's birthday reception

Salaam,

After KL, our next destination was Bangkok, with a brief two and a half year's break at home. The flight from Brunei to the Thai capital takes only approximately about two hours. So a second time lucky for hubby to be stationed at another close and friendly Asean neighbour.

Indeed it was one of the most memorable, most outstanding and best posting we've ever had since our KL days. The fact that we had somehow exceeded our normal tenure of three years in this beautiful country attests to that.

Suffice for me to summarize here that during our more than five years of living in Bangkok, except for its infamous traffic congestion, everything else were just perfect...the Thai softness and hospitality, the friendship, the shops and the bazaars, the beautiful islands, beaches and countryside, and most of all, the authentic Thai cuisines, excellent seafood and the bountiful fruits of all kinds all year round (not to mention the more than hundred of golf courses that hubby had frequented over the years).

Nonetheless, we were also witness to a very brief period of political turbulance and instability of the early 90s, which otherwise had generally been a very peaceful, pleasant, dynamic and progressive nation.

This is a country worth visiting time and again, even as a second home, away from home.

Wassalam.

celebrating our Sultan's 45th birthday anniversary in Bangkok

and HM King Bhumipol's birthday in Dec...

Eid open house in Bangkok...our 6th

entertaining our guest of honor's spouse

at a wedding reception of one of our Thai local staff...

bidding farewell to our outgoing beloved ambassador and wife...

farewell dinner for our long serving and friendly Philippine's envoy...

our much awaited annual 'ASEAN nite' gala

joining in to celebrate 'Loy Krathong' at Oriental hotel...

Damneun Saduak...the famed Thai floating market

Tigerwood in the making...at Soi Sukumvit 26 driving range...

Mini Siam, Bangkok

our son's primary school...at ISB Thailand

and an impersonator in his full regalia at a Chatuchak market

foto session...!!

New York, New York...1983

Salaam,

When hubby was assigned to New York for a three month attachment with the Malaysian delegation to the 38th UNGA in September 1983, I thought at that time it was indeed an occasion not to be missed out. It was in fact my first stint abroad (before our KL posting) to be far away from home for months.

Well, I didn't regret it at all, after all I have not been able to revisit the awesome and beautiful city eversince. Three months of stay in the 'big apple' was such a fulfilling and worthwhile moment to savour...to experience life in the big metroplis, the Empire State Building, the WTC, Statue of Liberty, Macy, SFA and Bloomingdales, the thanksgiving and not least the chilly winter and seeing the snow for the first time in NY and visiting other similarly beautiful cities of America.

Indeed it was also my first exposure and an eye-opener, then as an inexperienced trailing spouse, to attend various formal and informal diplomatic functions, and rubbing shoulders with more senior and seasoned diplomatic spouses, and being entertained at lunches and dinners throughout our stay with our host.

An invaluable 'hands-on' training and experience for me, which had greatly help to shape my/our diplomatic life and adventures eversince.

Wassalam.

with members of the 38th UNGA Malaysian delegation

and their spouses at the UN building

our hotel apartment on 51st St...

xmas decorations at Rockefeller Centre...

cruising along the Hudson river...

'protesting' or just posing in front of then Pres. Reagan's White House...

an evening in L.A.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Nostalgia...Kuala Lumpur (1984 - 1987)

Salaam,

Those were the days...hubby's first diplomatic assignment, luckily happened to be so close to home. Reporting for duty at our mission in Kuala Lumpur in August 1984, I could not join him then until after the birth of our first child in November that year. We waited until early January 1985 to join him and thereon began my first life as a trailing spouse.

Kuala Lumpur or KL was our second home for the next three years until mid 1987. It was my very first exposure to life on a move, and an adventure as a trailing spouse. Sharing many cultural similarities, tradition and background, we did not face any difficulties whatsoever in settling down and adapting to Malaysian way of life.

Life as a trailing spouse in KL in the 80s has indeed been an interesting and fulfilling one for me, in particular, besides providing us with invaluable experiences, hindsight and direction for our next diplomatic adventures.

Wassalam.

' Tugu Peringatan'...symbol of Malaysian patriotism and independence

our trailing son on his first overseas adventure...

our very first Eid Fitr away from home...

exploring the beauty of Malaysia's east coast, at Kuala Trengganu local bazaar n market

our residence at Tmn Hillview, Jln Ulu Klang

our second Eid Fitr in KL...

Kuantan hotel, Pahang

celebrating our third National Day in KL

Friday, January 1, 2010

Our new year day in Tehran...

Salaam,

Yes, its new year day today...falling on one of the most blessed and auspicious of days.

New Year is one such occasion that is celebrated all over the world with great enthusiasm. But when we talk about New Year, one should remember that different countries celebrate the day on different dates. And New Year celebrations vary from country to country and from culture to culture.

For the Iranians, their new year is known as Nowruuz or the Persian New Year. It is celebrated on every twenty first day of March, marking the beginning of the first day of Spring. Hence Nowruuz is the central holiday in the Persian calendar, held in high esteem as one of the most important days of their lives.

After having gone through five lunar new years in this country, I could simply say that at least in Tehran the occasion is not as enthusiatically anticipated, let alone celebrated in such a way as in other parts of the world. The day simply come and go, and there is no big and sparkling fireworks to be seen in the sky either (The Persian version of a new year eve is known here as Chahar Shanbeh Souri, which is the last Wednesday of the old year, when families gather and jump over a bonfire, a ancient ritual believed to purify and cleanse the soul and body for the coming new year).

So, as in previous years, for us this year's new year eve and day were merely like any other days. Outside it was chilling cold and raining since last night. Called it cheerless, sombre, gloomy, or dreary...just couldn't describe exactly how it was...when only the three of us, and barfi around, to welcome the new year...

Nonetheless, happy new year 2010 to all and everyone. Indeed we should always be grateful to the Almighty for everythings in life.

Wassalam.