From Blog to Book

When I first read Growing Up in Terengganu, written by Awang Goneng or the man behind the pseudonym, Wan Hulaimi, I felt a sting in my throat. Sure, there were times when the book managed to make me laugh out loud especially when he mentioned how Cik Wook Payong Loccoh got her name, but when I arrived at the last page, I found myself asking the question “Wasn’t I supposed to do something after reading this book?”

Well, there are several things I could do. First I can shut the book and forget about it. After all, it is just a book, a recollection of someone else’s childhood memory. Second, I could go on a raging mad protest, standing under the hot sun in front of the once there old buildings along Jalan Banggol that were demolished to give way to newer, modern skyscrapers in Kuala Terengganu, but I’ll burn my skin and in the quiet, almost uneventful Kuala Terengganu, it would be too much.

Or, my other option, I could start writing about my own experience of living in Kuala Terengganu. I could write about things I love, what my family members do, what my mom cooks, what the folks in the kampong street in front of my house talks about when they are out on the gerre [pangkin in standard Malay] during one of the many hot nights in Seberang Takir, and since I tend to be forgetful of things [blame the journals I’m reading for my thesis], this might be a good way of making sure that someday I can look back at what I wrote and rekindle those memories.

This post was started about a month ago but it stays as a draft as I find it difficult to sit down and sit, unlike few years back where I would just sit and think of a topic and bam! – I’ve got a new post in my blog.

I went back to my hometown a few days ago, and upon arriving at the KT Bus Terminal, I had this strange, elated feeling of taking the pencil out from my backpack and start to write. I will post what I feel that morning in another entry. For now, here are the photos taken at Awang Goneng’s book signing event of his second book, A Map of Trengganu which happens about zillions of years ago (see the point of exaggeration? That’s how much I feel glad of being able to write again) at Borders, The Gardens, Midvalley. I met many interesting people at that event.

 Awang Goneng in his own element.

 Almost a full house!

 Pak Usman Awang, who said that the turnovers for the event is considered quite big for a Malaysian writer.

 Tea break provided by Wau Penyu, in which the owners are Kelantanese wife and Terengganu husband, hence the name "Wau Penyu". Nice "akok".

 I think many people had fun talking to each other in a relaxing manner, and despite Mr Wan Hulaimi being so busy that he didn't even get to sit and finish his keropok, everyone else had a good time.

 Awang Goneng and his plate of unfinished keropok.

 Adik Ahmad Ali Karim, a very very young blog writer. You can find his blog here.

 Uncle Lee reminiscing his younger years in London when he studied Law and met Awang Goneng at Malaysia Hall. Next to him is Pakcik Bustamann the owner of the blog "Di bawah rang ikang kering"

 People talking, eating, standing, having fun.

 More people.

I had a great day. I feel that it is quite joyous to see people coming, giving support to this writer who wrote in detail about his happy childhood memory. I too, would like to be able to do that someday, to write about my own memory of living in Terengganu, as Awang Goneng did when he lived in Trengganu.