"Nok gi kuano tuh!" (Where are u heading to?"

"Nok gi kuano tuh?" ("Where are you heading to?")
Whether out of concern or curiousity, the question is asked nine out ten times when a villager meets another while on the move in our little village back then when I was a child.
It is a way of acknowledging the presence of the other person. And it is a way information networking works in a village in time of no mobile or house phones. Later on when someone else were to ask, "Ado nampok Pp ko?" ("Have you seen Pp?") Then the answer is readily available! When there is a need to locate Pp due to an urgent situation, Pp can be traced through this informal information networking. So a casual "Nok gi kuano tuh?" is always taken seriously and will always receive a considered reply.

At home tonight, all our bags are packed and we are ready to go! Eight Passports and Eight Air tickets are safely tucked into LiL's handbag. Pp and family are going somewhere. Neighbours have been informed of our absence so that they can keep an eye on our property. Local community watch men have updated so that they can be alerted by any extraordinary activities around our house. The timer for the auto water sprinklers have been set so that our lawn and plants will continue to survive. The fridge has been rid of items expiring while we are away. And, not to forget, waste bins have been emptied! To avoid stale smell when we returns, we are leaving the upper floor bathroom windows partially ajar and their doors opened to enable air to flow through the house.

"Nok gi kuano tuh?" our English neighbour asked when I asked him to collect and keep daily newspapers from our garage. Of course in his language but the meaning remains the same. It is a socially acceptable thing to do to show some concern and even some curiousity. Not asking can be construed as not caring.

"Demo kato demo nok gi kuano?" ("Where did you say you were going again?") asked my friends who came over for lunch at our house today. It was a great feeling to spend time with friends one day before our travel, all of them and including a long lost friend from STAR whom I met by chance at a dinner reception the night before. Yes, Dr Rosli Azad Khan with his family and friends came over too, and it was a pleasure to have them.

The answer my friends is, "We are going to Istanbul for a family vacation and we will be leaving in the wee hours tomorrow morning. And lucky us, a friend even volunteered to drive us to the airport!"

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Adha to all our relatives in Malaysia, and all our friends wherever you may be! To people who are performing their Haj ~ May you be rewarded with Haj Mabrur and may all of your prayers be answered!

God bless!