They say that when you study abroad, you don’t just bring back a degree; you bring back a piece of the world. For my sister, Prof. Dr. Maznah, the second of our seven siblings – half her life was spent navigating the academic halls of prestigious institutions, with North Carolina State University being a significant chapter of her journey. But for Maznah, those years weren’t just about the PhD; they were about building a global family.
We remember them all: the late Dr. Carter in Tennessee, who was like a grandfather to our children, and the late Rosemary and Ed at Ithaca. Rosemary wasn’t just a friend from Cornell; she and Maznah shared a vision that birthed KanWork, a cancer support NGO, 21 years ago. As a cancer survivor and a true warrior herself, Maznah still leads KanWork as President today.
While that legacy of strength continues here at home, this week was about celebrating a living bond from those Raleigh days: Lily, Maznah’s friend for over 30 years, who traveled from Atlanta to immerse herself in our Kelantanese roots.
The ‘Food Coma’ Mission
If there was a “Malaysian Foodie Exam,” Lily aced it. We spent the trip ticking off every one of her cravings, though we did have a few “misses” because nature didn’t quite cooperate – Lily wanted nangka (jackfruit), which we couldn’t find, and mangosteen, which sadly wasn’t in season.
But we more than made up for it:
• The Lunch: We took her for a feast of grilled and fried cencaru and gelama bekok near Pantai Sri Tujuh. Then, we headed to the beach for photos against the South China Sea.
• Seaside Snacks: You can’t visit the beach without lokching. Watching those fish skewers sizzle on the grill is part of the experience! 🍡😋
• The Fruit & Durian Fix: The market runs were all for buah mata kucing. And because Lily specifically asked for durian, we delivered Cendol Pulut Durian at lunch and even durian ice cream later in Kg Laut.
• The Brave Eats: Lily even braved the etok (smoked shells) in KB and masak lemak siput sedut once back in KL!
Returning to the Source: Pengkalan Kubor & Kg Laut
Our trip to Pengkalan Kubor was a walk through our family history. This is where my eldest sister Ramlah, Maznah, my brother Zol, and Norma were born (Nazri, Norita, and I are the “KL-born” batch).
It was a day of mixed emotions. We stopped by the duty-free shops where Lily picked up some beautiful tudungs and wore them immediately. We arrived at just the right time – one of the establishments at the bebas cukai was having their Raya Open House and invited us in!
The hospitality was incredible. Lily got to try Colek Buah, that perfect mix of mango, pineapple, and other fruits. We even joined in for some Raya karaoke right there near the shops. The festive spirit was everywhere!
But we also fulfilled our family duties, visiting our bedridden Aunty and spending time with my cousin who just lost her husband last week. We took Lily to Kampung Laut, the birthplace of our late grandfather, to visit the historic oldest masjid. Seeing her there felt like the circle was complete.
A Global Reunion in KL
Once back in KL, the food marathon reached its heartwarming peak… Maznah doesn’t really cook, but for Lily, she made a special exception.
Lily had fallen in love with Nasi Kerabu in KB, and knowing she prefers it over Nasi Dagang, Maznah got into the kitchen to prepare another round for her. I wasn’t there to watch the rare sight of her in the kitchen 😜, but I know she prepared that full Nasi Kerabu spread from scratch – a testament to a bond that spans decades and continents.
We capped it all off with a final dinner with the children. Adelin and Sarah hadn’t seen Aunty Lily since they visited her in Atlanta back in 2015, and it was Nina’s first time finally meeting her. We even managed to bridge the gap to Denmark, bringing Uncle Claus into the room via video call.
Thirty years ago, two young women met as students in Raleigh. Today, one returned to Kelantan not as a visitor, but as family. Some friendships aren’t measured in miles or years, but in the places and people they eventually call home.
Bon Voyage, Nur Lily.
18 April 2026
