A TRIP TO TEMBILAHAN, RIAU

My wife was supposed to take Mandala airlines from Jambi to Batam on 29.8.2007, ETD 1510WIB and the ticket was purchased on 28th and confirmed. However, something unbelievable and unexpected happened. On 29th morning @ 0900WIB we were told that the flight was cancelled and there would be no flight to Batam till 12th September. Accordingly, the plane was grounded for thorough checking and repair. The flight has not been resumed at time of publishing. As told, it has been postponed to 25th September.

My ticketing staff after checking with the travel agent told us that my wife could take Batavia flight to Batam via Jakarta but seats were only available on 1.9.2007. Since I was going to Pekanbaru to meet up my VA on 3.9.2007, it was decided for her to take a flight from Pekanbaru to Batam taking the opportunity to visit her cousin sister who was married and settled down in Tembilahan. It is a costal town in Riau Province about 88km from Rengat, mid way to Pekanbaru.

My wife and her cousin sister grew up in Sumpat of Pulau Bintan. Their grandfathers were brothers. In the 70s, her cousin sister was working in Tanjung Pinang and my wife went to work in Batam, where we met and fell in love. We were married in June 1975 and settled down in Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. Her cousin sister was married the same year and settled down in Tembilahan. Since then, both of them have not met each other for the past 30 years.

The trip to Tembilahan was, indeed, meaningful and quite emotional for my wife. She was very excited for making the trip though the journey took about 8 long hours of traveling. The road to Rengat from Jambi was winding and our vehicle was slowed down by trailing behind big trucks and buses. The road from Rengat to Tembilahan was narrow and houses were built so close to roadside that our driver had to drive very cautiously with extra carefulness and alertness. To our astonishment, we had to cross for not less than 100 bridges before we could enter Kota Tembilahan.

With the address given to us, it was not difficult to locate their shop house along Jalan Jendela Sudirman. Nevertheless, we had to call her several times to make the right turn as we came into Kota Tembilahan. We left Jambi @0730WIB and arriving Tembilahan @1630WIB. We stopped for lunch at Rengat @1400WIB for about an hour.

When they met for the first time after not seeing each other for the past 30 years, there was so much excitement and joy with tears. They talked for hours, full of happiness, all about their good old days until we had to make move to check into the hotel @1900WIB. The conversation resumed when we went for dinner @2000WIB until we went back to hotel @2230WIB.

I wish our children after reading this amazing incidence will remind them that somehow “blood is always thicker than water”. They must value their brotherhood and sisterhood as they get married and having their own families later on. Always get in touch with each other. Whenever there is an opportunity to meet, don’t call. Call only if cannot meet but don’t just sms to save cost. It is much closer to hear each other voice than to read short messages. I used to call my late mother every night. I call my wife without fail whenever we are not together. I also call my 2 younger brothers and my only sister quite often when they don’t call me after some time. Life is full of joy and happiness when we always love and care about our dear ones. Indeed, this is God’s blessings on every family. Praise the Lord.