malaysia on stamps (4)

Pole-Dance, Mauy Thai, Over Lunch and Three Strangers

Pole Dance

at the nite-market.

Friend 1: Let's watch pole dance tonite!

Me: ehemm... (looking at her while the devils and angels in my head started fighting over my final say) ...well, I am not sure...

Friend 1: Come-on! it's JUST watching...that is what this place is all about!

Me: ehem... (gazing back and forth between goods and strangers in the nite market) ...let's get your things first! (I was still not sure and the angels and devils in my head were still fighting)

we combed every row in the nite market looking for the lucky-prizes she was supposed to get until she started haggling prices of bedroom table lamps at one particular shop. I was sitting on a stool admiring her haggling skill and carefree spirit when I heard...

Stranger 1: السلام عليكم

Me: وعليكم السلام (turned my head and saw this stranger (an arab judging by his look and voice) who shifted his gaze elsewhere the moment my eyes met his...the angels in my head were showering the passing stranger with salam while the devil gawking)

my friend got the things she wanted and we headed for the hotel. i told her i was done for the night and needed to rest for tomorrow events.


Mauy Thai

over breakfast table,

Friend 2: Have you watched Mauy Thai?

Me: What is Mauy Thai?

Friend 2: Men fighting...like kick-boxing and kung-fu!

Friend 3: Must be fun, they told me the entry fee is 500 baht

Me: What fun is that! you watch men fighting and have to pay to watch!

Friend 2: This is not any kind of fight....it is a special art!

Me: Ooo ok! (and wondered how fighting aka violence can be associated with art!)

in between breakfast and boarding the bus,in the lobby,

Friend 1: We plan to watch Mauy-Thai tonite...you wanna join?

Me: Ehem...I ll tell you later... (the devils and angel in my head started fighting again)...i am in a hurry, have to go back to my room to fetch something, the others are waiting in the bus, i see you tonite...

on my way down in the elevator,

Stranger 2: السلام عليكم

Me: وعليكم السلام (there were only two persons in the elevator, an old man and I (also an old lady..LOL!). he did not look like an arab, he was definitely caucasian...in less than 12 hours for the second time, the devils in my head were gawking but this time at the smiling old man, and the angels were showering him with love-felt salam) ...where are you from?

Stranger 2: Australia. and you?

Me: Malaysia

Stranger 2: Kuala Lumpur?

Me: Ya, Kuala Lumpur

Stranger 2: have been there....bla, bla, bla... (i was looking at him but his voice was fading and the image of elephants painting i had seen the day before kept flashing in my head)

he was still talking when the elevator door opened and i have to leave...

Me: Have a nice holiday

Stranger 2: Thank you. You too...

I made up my mind - the elephants were better and more interesting artists than any 'Muayer'...

Over Lunch

At the LCCT in the over-crowded McD, while eating and browsing the internet via my new handphone (love the arabic keypad!) a caucasian lady came and sat at the same table. I was alone and the seat infront of me which was next to her was empty.

Me: Are you alone?

Stranger 3: Ya...

Me: Where are you from? Waiting for connecting flight or visiting here?

Stranger 3: from Australia, going to Cambodia....

We talked and it was a long conversation. The important part of the conversation is - she (and a group of people) had started a program to help a group of people in Cambodia. The group had provided fund and learning necessities (building, bicycle, books, etc) for these unfortunate people. After seven months leaving Cambodia she was returning to see her friends whom she had left. She referred to the locals whom she had assisted through the program as her friends. I was moved with the intensity of her passion and love for others.

Me: You are very kind-hearted. They must love you very much and eager to see you.

She looked at me and her eyes suddenly glistened with held-back tears. I immediately shifted my eyes elsewhere feeling tears were pooling in my eyes too.

At the end of the trip, i thank God for letting me crossed path with the three strangers.

The Paintings/Drawings - The Artists - The Camp

these are some of the drawings/paintings photographed and framed seen in one of the stores before the show:

this is one of the artists photographed in sequence while drawing/painting during the show:

impressed? the prices of these drawings/paintings range from 1000 baht to 10000 baht. want to watch yourself, visit the maesa elephant camp in thailand! these elephants made my days in thailand memorable.

malaysia on stamps - (3)

Invocations of Abraham (pbuh)

V.14:35 to 41

• And (remember) when Ibrahim(Abraham) said 'O my Lord! make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.


• 'O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful'


• 'O my Lord! I have made some of my offsprings to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Kaabah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). So, fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.'


• 'O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.'


• 'All praise and thanks are Allah's Who has given me in old age Ismail (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac). Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations'


• 'O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.'


• 'Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be establish.'

LEADER

3rd to 17th day of Eid

the price of life

1. a private hospital had to transfer a patient who had been brought to the hospital after a near-fatal road accident to a government hospital knowing that the patient needed immediate treatment.


2. transfering the road accident patient to a more affordable government hospital had to be carried out after the insurance company failed to respond to enquiry made on the patient's insurance policy.

if only one knew what tomorrow would be like

1. a husband and a father of six rode a motorbike to and from work every day without a license.


2. a home-maker and a mother of six did not know the pin number of her husband ATM card and did not even have a bank account .

underestimated legal terms

1. legally a bank cannot allow withdrawals of a customer's money without his or her consent. one cannot claim eligibility for his or her spouse's saving or pin number of ATM card even his or her spouse is in a coma.


2. legally an employer cannot transfer an employee's salary to his or her spouse's or any other person's account without the employee's consent.

Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it "Be!" - and it is! (V 36:82)

1. the road-accident patient was a staff member in my workplace and the accident happened on the third day of eid.


2. he sustained broken rib bones(second to the seventh), injured lung and liver (caused by the broken rib bones), broken-into-three thigh bone and fractured right temple skull.


3. his fractured skull was first treated followed by the broken rib bones. after the rib bones operation he got into a coma.


4. his wife was left with six kids to feed and bills to pay while he was in a coma. bank and employer were strictly on business terms.

good people still exist

• to all of you friends who have helped his wife and kids in one way or another, may Allah reward your good deeds.


• to the management team that has helped on different term, may Allah reward us all.

to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return

• he passed away today in the icu room while his wife was repeating 'lailahaillallah' to his ear and one of us was reading the 'yasin'.


• may Allah forgive him and forgive us

Third Interview

We, he (my good friend), his wife (my good friend too) and I, were waiting for the storeowner to pack goods my couple-friends had selected outside a grocery store. I had somehow fallen oblivious (was not abnormal at all, my attention span is short that I always fall oblivious) in between listening to other customers exchanging words with the storeowner and my couple-friends grocery-talk. Suddenly he turned to me and said 'what kind of man is this guy?!!!'. I snapped out of my oblivousness and turned to look at a man walking towards us trailed by a woman who was holding a baby with her right hand and a grocery bag with her left hand. A physically healthy looking man with nothing in hands walking so fast forcing a woman (apparently his wife) with one precious life in one hand and whatever load in the other trudging in keeping pace with him was a degradation-to-man-dignity scene to me...that man was definitely mentally sick.

That is my introduction of my third interviewee who is also the first manfriend I chose for my interview. He and his wife have been my good friends for many years. The truth is I was kind of losing words in trying to describe him. I always believe only two women know a man better than any other he comes across in his lifetime. The two women are the mother and wife, which makes me an unqualified judge of character for any man. But the above story (true story) is not my only encounter of him showing his concerns of women - their safety, their need for protection, their tender heart, their fragile nature, their sensitivity - and he has not only shown his concerns with words but with actions as well.

All I could say is his mother and wife are blessed to have him.(side note: I also believe a good man is for a good mother and a good wife!)

Here is his first part of the interview...

Part 1

1. Question: Let us know a bit of your background…
   
   
   • name (you can be anonymous)
   
   Answer: anonymous
   
   
   • city of origin
   
   Answer: Kuala Terengganu
   
   
   • age
   
   Answer: 43
   
   
   • marital status
   
   Answer: married
   
   
   • occupation
   
   Answer: engineer
   
   
   • parents occupations
   
   Answer: farmers
   
   
   • the number of siblings you have
   
   Answer: 5
   
   
   • age of your siblings
   
   Answer: 60, 55, 49, 43, 34
   
   
   • age of your spouse
   
   Answer: 43
   
   
   • occupation of your spouse
   
   Answer: homemaker (since 8 years ago – she was an engineer prior to that)
   
   
   • the number of children you have
   
   Answer: 3
   
   
   • ages of your children
   
   Answer: 15, 14, 8
   
   
   
2. Question:Which school, primary and secondary, did you go to?


Answer:

• Primary - Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Payong, Kuala Terengganu
• Secondary – Sekolah Menengah Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu



3. Question: How do you describe, being a student, in these schools, in terms of orientation – academic, social, religious and moral?


Answer:


• Academically - all exam-oriented, they taught me to study, memorize to pass exams.


• Socially – I was kind of reserved. Lacked self confidence feeling inadequate in every way as my mind was constantly preoccupied with the fact that i came from a poor family.


• Religiously/morally – when i was small i always followed what my parents taught me to do (frankly, i was indeed a good son then, obedient to my parents, and always respected the elderly). I completed reading the Quran at the age of ten and started praying seriously at the age of six. I have tried my level best and succeeded to a certain extent practicing these religious and moral values during my school days.



4. Question: How do you describe your achievement - social, academic, religious and moral, which you believe you had gained for being;
   
   • in school more than being at home, and
   • at home more than being in school?

Answer: I attributed my achievement to my being at home more than being in school (my answer to Question 3 tells). I thank Allah for directing my parents to nurture me with strong religious/moral values during my childhood – which was at home. I later on behaved well at school carrying the strong foundation of moral values such as to have respect for teachers and the elderly, to be neat and clean, to be considerate to friends and others,etc.
In conclusion my achievement in school were academic, social and religious (during my time in boarding school) and at home were religious and moral.


5. Question:How do you describe the role of your parents in your upbringing?


Answer: My parents had momentous role in my upbringing. Everything starts from home. One would carry the habit he or she has developed at home to the surrounding, no matter where he or she lands. Yes, my parents were 95% responsible for my upbringing while other surrounding factors such as school have 5% impact...(worth referring to my answers to question 2, 3, and 4).


6. Question:What are the things about school,from your school years to now, that you think:



1. have improved,

Answer: infrastructure, new/modern building, good labs, teachers to students ratio (now has gotten smaller with more teachers)


2. have not improved, and

Answer: classroom set-up, furniture, toilet cleanliness/general conditions


3. have gotten worse?

Answer: Education quality, grading mechanism (in general), moral values (of students and teachers alike), teachers' devotion, students' discipline....what else?


7. Question:How do you describe yourself;



1. before you met your wife,

Answer: reserved , timid, anti-social, and when girls were involved had low self-esteem.


2. while you were courting (if you were),

Answer: not so much different, maybe more confident and open to share ideas with girls (in general)


3. while you were engaged (if you were),

Answer: was worried –how i would perform my responsibilties as a head of a family to-be. I was doubtful whether my in-laws would accept me as I was ( a ‘kampung’ boy from a poor family, etc) and was uncertain whether my parents would get along with my in-laws with so many barriers in between (language, status, etc....)


4. first five years of marriage, and

Answer: it was very challenging – financially – as we were building the family basic needs from scratch. Housing, food, cars, kids need, etc...


5. from then (d) to now?

Answer: Wiser and more secure, stronger husband-wife relationship, better understanding and more appreciative of each other through ‘family-first’ attitude and parents/parents-in law sensitivity approach.


8. Question:What are the things you wish you had known and you think would have made your life easier knowing ahead than to discover them later?


Answer:

• People (the ones whom I put my trust in) who were two-faced and took advantage of my good-will attitude and trusting nature.



• Business environment which is full of corruption, bad practices, etc. Had I known, I would have not ventured into business. I did try to change the system but could not, was not accepted and eventually could not survive.


9. Question:How much have your siblings helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate.


Answer: My siblings have no influence over my making important decision in my life, e.g. getting married, choosing my spouse, quitting good jobs, etc – all i chose and decided myself without consulting them.


10. Question:How much have your friends helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate.


Answer: My friends have nothing to do with my making important decision in my life. It has always been my choices through my ‘istikharah’ with Allah (supplication asking for guidance from Allah).’

Iftar Log - Weight Change - My Heart

IFTAR LOG

Day 1
Mom’s home-cooked dishes at my parents’ place (no one beats my mom when it comes to making me eat like a super-active-girl-in-need-of-energy i was once )

Day 2
Eat-out snack-plate from KFC

Day 3
Ramadhan buffet at Mutiara Hotel

Day 4
Eat-in snack-plate at KFC

Day 5
Eat-out snack-plate from KFC

Day 6
Eat-out GCB meal from McD

Day 7
My favourite dishes at Asam Pedas (Hot Tangerine Soup) Restaurant

Day 8
Dishes from Iftar Stalls

Day 9
Eat-in ramadhan special meal at Pizza Hut

Day 10
Dishes from Iftar Stalls

Day 11
Eat-out GCB meal from McD

Day12
Dishes from Iftar Stall

Day 13
Dishes from a local eatery center (excuse me Mister! please be confirmed that i am to the root a very shy person (ignore what your eyes may tell you) ... trust me iftar-date or any kind of date for that matter does not work with me...the third person was your victim because i had threatened him with all kind of possible threats so that he was whole-heartedly forced to be my chaperone...(another story worth a post by itself)

Day 14
Ramadhan buffet at Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort

Day 15
Ramadhan buffet at Persada

Day 16
Ramadhan buffet at Thistle Hotel

Day 17
Ramadhan buffet at Pendarosa Golf Resort

Day 18
Arabic dishes from Iftar Stalls

Day 19
Eat-in value meal (chicken) at McD

Day 20
Ramadhan buffet at Prime City Hotel

Day 21
Eat-in value meal(double cheese burger)at McD

Day 22
Ramadhan buffet at Mutiara Hotel

Day 23
Ramadhan buffet at Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort

Day 24
Dishes from Iftar Stalls at my sister’s place

Day 25
Mom’s home-cooked dishes at my grandparent’s place

Day 26
Mom’s home-cooked dishes at my grandparent’s place

Day 27
Ramadhan buffet at Thistle Hotel

Day 28
Eat-out value-meal (double cheese burger) from McD

Day 29
Eat-out value-meal (double cheese burger) from McD

Day 30
Eat-out value-meal (double beef burger) from McD


WEIGHT CHANGE

so, being in constant fear of putting on unnecessary weight, how much weight change i eventually recorded at the end of this log? i LOST 2.5 kg...i guess what i had eaten not with my heart did not get registered on the scales...


MY HEART

to you two who were (and still are) twelve hours away, having iftar when i had my suhoor and had suhoor when i was having my iftar..my heart has been with you...only Allah has the means, make dua and hang on to it...my dua is for you...(you know who you are)...

malaysia on stamps - (2)

note: these cars are no longer in production.

V.2:286

لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها
Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear.

لها ما كسبت وعليها ما آكتسبت
In its favor shall be whatever good it does, and against it whatever evil it does.

ربنا لا تؤاخذنا إن نسينا أو أخطأنا
Our Lord, punish us not if we forget or fall (into error)

ربنا ولا تحمل علينآ إصرا كما حملته على الذين من قبلنا
Our Lord, do not lay on us a burden such as that You laid on those before us.

ربنا ولا تحملنا مالا طاقة لنابه
Our Lord, do not burden us with what we do not have the strength to bear.

واعف عنا وغفر لنا وارحمنا
Pardon us, and forgive us our sins, and bestow Your mercy on us.

أنت مولنا فانصرنا على القوم آلكفرين
You are our Lord Supreme; grant us victory against the unbelievers.

bone marrow transplant

in the office some one month back, one of my colleagues confessed:

'thuraya, just now you asked me about the check-up...i lied to you when i answered. i didn't feel good lying to you and after praying the 'dhuha prayer' i knew i must tell you that i had lied!. i am sorry'

he then detailed me about his illness, the follow-up check-up and his options of treatment as had been explained by the specialist treating him. in summary, his bone marrow is no longer capable of producing blood cells and he either goes for bone marrow transplant or for the rest of his life frequents blood bank for blood transfusion. the later option may lead to leukimia or the sorts. i am not sure how bone marrow could suddenly stop functioning. if i recalled correctly, he had been given some 6 pints of blood since he first got hospitalized for being lethargic and experiencing short of breath about three weeks before. the irony is this guy had been without failure donating his blood twice a year for more than 10 years before he was involved in a road accident which long term effects include not being able to donate blood. and after some years not donating he is in needs of blood.

and within one or two weeks after i heard this confession, bone marrow transplant suddenly became the most significant medical term to me...

some one month back my best friend's eight-year old daughter had been hospitalized. i knew she had been on fungal-infections-of-the-mouth treatment since she was born that when told she was in the hospital i did not ask any further detail though was a bit concerned about the four-or-more-month period of treatment . about two weeks back i was confused when my best friend told me that she was undergoing bone marrow transfer treatment. i could not make out what bone marrow transfer has got to do with fungal-infections-of-the-mouth. i further did some browsing on the internet ... was enlightened of the could-be reason ... and learned another hard fact ... the treatment may involve chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy ... 'chemo' and 'radio' are cruel theraphies and the thought of an eight-year-old going through them just hurts me badly...

i have a weak heart. i block out many parts of my past; schools, exams, socializing pains, emotional inadequacy, separation, hospital, oncology, chemotheraphy, radiotheraphy - and God knows what else. my defense mechanism against difficult-to-accept reality of life is block-it-out...and through the difficult-to-accept reality of life again, i learn my defense mechanism is as weak as my weak heart...i love my best friend and whatever hurts my best friend hurts me...i cannot simply block it out...

only Allah has the means. only Allah has the means. only Allah has the means.

it is He

فإنهم عد ولى إلا رب العلمين ٧٧
Verily, they are enemies to me, except the lord of the ‘Alamin’

الذى خلقنى فهو يهدين ٧٨
Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me

والذى هو يطعمنى ويسقين ٧٩
And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink

وإذا مرضت فهو يشفين ٨٠
And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me


سورة الشعراء
Ash-Shu'ara'

malaysia on stamps - (1)

feeling scared or bad

Any time u feel scared or feel bad, say:

أستغفر الله
I ask forgiveness from Allah


and say:


لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله
There is no power except of Allah

source of strength

it was drizzling and i was on my way to work driving. i saw the old couple again! have seen them many times since i moved here (almost two years now...TIME FLIES!!!). depending on the time i have pushed off from my house (still haven't felt 'at home'), i have spotted them at different locations along the 3-km stretch of road.

• most of the time i saw the two of them walking one behind the other or side by side - my heart was heavy for reason i tried not to 'entertain' too long.
• at times i saw only one of them trudging along the side of the road - my heart was heavy 'locating' the other one.
• at times they were walking in the opposite direction i was heading - i knew they were late, my heart was heavy, my mind rolling over what could have had happened that morning or the night before.
• at times they walked fast, at times slow - my heart was heavy, i thought of what they were in a hurry for when they were fast and the meal they could have had missed when they were slow.
• at times the loads were heavy, at times light - my heart was heavy 'feeling' every bit of load, heavy or light.

every time i saw them, i wondered...

• if collecting recycleable materials from trash-bins, house to house, was an option to them or the only-option they had to live with.
• if they were the only members of their family.
• how far they walked each day.
• how many hours they worked a day.
• what they did when they were at home.
• what regular meal they had to stay fit for the work they did.

...until i reached my office where so-called 'mind-over-matters' matters and feelings never matter.

on that particular day when i decided to stop my car and took a shot of them, i wondered a little longer...

....my heart was heavier than any other day before at the thought of them being each other source of strength...

thuraya - thurayya - thoraya - thorayya - soraya - sorayya - suraya - surayya

was bored ... killing-me bored ... out of boredom, i googled the word 'thuraya'... these are what i got:

• meaning - ثريّة, ثريّا,الثريا means "the Pleiades" in Arabic.
  
  
  The Pleiades are a group of seven stars in the constellation Taurus - source.


• name - the name was borrowed into Turkish as a female name, and is in use in both Turkey (as Surayya) and Arab countries (for example Thoraya Obaid)- source.


• proverb - أبعد من الثريا which literally means farther than pleiades - source.


• telecommunications satellite (thuraya 1, thuraya 2 and thuraya 3) of UAE - source.


• satellite-telecommunication UAE-based company - source.


• a town in sudan - but not much info or pictures i could get from the internet about this town. source and source.
  
  

note to ponder: my parents agreed to name me suriya...my father changed his mind on his way to the birth registration office. somehow the distance (as far as the plaeides and as near as sudan...LOL) does get reflected when i am in a crowd or social gathering...am never good at mingling...

depression, anxiety, panic disorder, sleeplessness

i read the labels and texted shrh asking what the drugs were for. immediately i got her reply text asking who was seeing a shrink.

the drugs and what they are for:

stilnox (zolpidem) - to solve sleeping problem

lexapro (escitalopram) - for treating depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

propanolol - for thyroid or to control blood pressure

lexapro (escitalopram) - for treating depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

xanax (alprazolam) - to treat anxiety and panic disorder.

fluanxol (flupentixol) - for depression, with or without anxiety

notes:

• these drugs have been prescribed in stages for someone i know


• he suddenly changed...from a positive, confident and enthusiastic person to someone totally opposite.


• these are what have happened....on regular basis he wakes up after one or two hour sleep at two or three in the morning, feels cold but sweats, heart beats at faster rate, mentally and emotionally out of focus, obsessively worries about work and life (have become a burden he cannot handle yet cannot ignore), loses appetite tremendously, thinks about death and is extremely afraid (has not done enough for life at the other side and has not much to leave behind for the people under his care), is easily annoyed and fed up with noises (people asking him of his condition), etc....


• it has been more than one month and he has shown no sign of improvement.


• we have been trying to accomodate him in this poor physical, mental and emotional condition wherever possible.


• ...O Allah! please help him as only You have the means.

architecture - maintenance team

• ...these buildings (two of mirror-image) which are refreshing to the eyes are in the new state government administrative centre - nusajaya. had a meeting with one of the government agencies some weeks back and took the pictures while waiting...













• 'the maintenance team is going to suffer!'...how bad my job has turned me into that whatever man-made structures/ installations i like looking at i can no longer fully enjoy looking at this thought.

Who Does

'yes, you have done, and no one has done as you have done. but people don't do, it's Allah who does'

words of Umar ibn Al-Khattab(raa)

An Ir.(Intelligence-Retard)

CONTENT WARNING: below explosion-of-anger post is solely intended for the person mentioned in it. it contains words that are not suitable for some readers (you know yourself better). the writer broke her first-time record list for the choice of words she picked but she would like to assure she has no intention to continue using the same words to other creatures she may come across in the future....God-willing, amen!
___________________________________

was so killing-me angry...

we were talking...some friends and i...the subject was this particular idiot:

last year this idiot had a heated argument with me in a meeting armed with his single digit IQ...and now he devalued the single digit IQ with his known idiocy retaliating when his physically weak but much more brainy and fearless opponent (the best way to describe myself after what he had done...LOL) was not around refering to me as 'that lady' in a meeting...i almost puked at the thought of his chicken and thick-skin face trying to sound smart uttering 'that lady' ...WTF...I felt like calling his boss telling him that during appraisal session with this a*sh*le he needed glasses not only for his eyes ...but after thinking it over ...he proved his idiocy and i have no reservation of saying what i had when telling him in his face he was evil for trying to take credit of others hard-work and make others sincere efforts assisting the team go unnoticed. His dirty self-promoting approach was definitely routed from so much incompetency...

'AN Ir. LIKE HIM IS NOT WORTH A SINGLE CENT!!!!!'...that thought makes him history to me!!!

but his story is worth a post in my blog as one of the many examples of how questionable one-with-title's credential is many times...and i personally feel an idiot is an idiot no matter what titles he carries...

___________________________________

also, I express myself better when I am angry...LOL...LOL...LOL...my sense of humor and levity is at its peak!!!

Fisherman Village - Tanjung Langsat & Perigi Acheh

Last two days I went to this industrial area inspecting (I hate my job...another story I still cannot put into words!!!) a new installed company facility with two of my colleagues.

One colleague told us the area was originally some fisherman villages. Out of curiosity the other drove us to two of the remnant villages, Kampung Tanjung Langsat and Kampung Perigi Acheh.

Weather has been a bit unpredictable lately and for some months we have rainy season here. I just love the sights of nature and the gloomy rainy season made the random sight-seeing all the more heart-felt.

When we reached the beach few ships were cruising on international water. Singapore was visible and as I said before Singapore is near. Malaysia and Singapore are bound by the past, which I think enforces the point of some nationalists that history should be made a mandatory and a must-pass subject to the new generation.

An innocent boy biking alone...I could not but contemplated where this boy will be in twenty years time. I have no issue with the development of the neighboring industrial area but the surrounding locals's standard of living which have much to do with the new generation standard of education must be in tandem with the development. For the boy, taking the baton of life from his ancestor is no longer economically possible at any angle of discussion. I pray for him...

Actions and Intentions

'Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have but that which he intended. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His messenger, his migration was for Allah and His messenger. And he whose migration was to achive some wordly benefits or to take some women in marriages, his migration was for that for which he migrated'

words of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

قارئة فنجان - The Coffee-cup Reader

جَلَسَت
Galesat
She sat

جَلَسَت والخوفُ بعينيها
Galesat wel khouf be enaiha
She sat with a fearful look on her face

تتأمَّلُ فنجاني المقلوب
Tate-amalo fingaan el makloub
Examined the overturned tea cup

قالت
Kalit
She said

يا ولدي.. لا تَحزَن
ya walady la tahzaan
my son, don't grieve

فالحُبُّ عَليكَ هوَ المكتوب
Fal houb alaika houal maktoob
For love is written for you

الحُبُّ عَليكَ هوَ المكتوب
Al houb alaika houal maktoob
love is written for you

ياولدي ، قد ماتَ شهيداً
Ya walady, kutmata shaheedan
My son, you will die a martyr

من ماتَ على دينِ المحبوب
Man mata feda-an lel mahboob
But death is worth it for the one you love

بصَّرتُ
Basartoo
I interpreted it

بصرت ونجمت كثيرا
Basartoo we nagamtoo kathiraan
I interpreted it but thought it was a mistake

لكني لم أعرف ابدا
Lakinee lam akrak abadan
Because I never read

فنجانك يشبه فنجانا
Finganan yoshbihoo finganak
A cup that resembles your cup

بصَّرتُ
Basartoo
I interpreted it

بصرت ونجمت كثيرا
Basartoo we nagamtoo kathiraan
I interpreted it but thought it was a mistake

لكني لم أعرف ابدا
Lakinee lam arif abadan
Because I never witnessed

أحزاناً تشبهُ أحزانك
Ahzanan toshbihoo ahzanaak
Grief that resembles your grief

مقدورك ان تمضي أبدا
Makdooroka antamdy abadaan
You're doomed to never settle

فى بحر الحب بغير قلوع
Fee bahr el houb be ghair kelou
In the ocean of love, constantly changing paths

و تكون حياتك طول العمر
We takounoo hayatooka tool al omry
And your life, all your life

طول العمر كتاب دموع
Tool al omry ketaba demou
Your whole life will be a story of tears

مقدورك ان تبقى مسجونا
Makdooroka anta taabka masgoonan
You're doomed to always be imprisoned

بين الماء وبين النار
Bainal ma-ee we bainal naar
Between water and fire

فبرغم جميع حرائقه
Fa be raghm gameia hara-ikiny
Despite all that burns you

و برغم جميع سوابقه
Wa be raghm gameia sawabikihy
And despite all that saddens you

و برغم الحزن الساكن فينا ليل.. نهار
Wa be raghm el hozn elle sakeny feena layla.. nahaar
And despite the grief that lives within you day.. and night

و برغم الريح
Wa de raghm el reeh
And despite the wind

وبرغم الجو الماطر والاعصار
Wa be raghm el gaw el matary wal asaar
And despite the rainy and stormy weather

الحب سيبقى يا ولدى
El hob sayabka ya walady
Love has left you, my son

أحلى الاقدار.. أحلى الاقدار
Ahla al akdar... Ahla al akdar
The greatest of things... the greatest of things

يا ولدي
Ya walady
My son

بحياتك يا ولدي امرأةٌ
Be hayateeka ya walady, emrakatoon
I swear to you, my son, this woman

عيناها سبحان المعبود
Einahaa, sobhanaal maabood
Her eyes are beyond belief

فمُها مرسومٌ كالعنقود
Famooha marsoomon kalaankood
Her face looks like a painting

ضحكتها انغام و ورود
Dehkatoha anghamoon wa awrood
Her laugh is as beautiful as a song or roses

و الشعر الغجري المجنون
Wal shaar el ghagaree wel magnoon
And her wild and crazy hair

يسافر في كل الدنيا
Yo safiroo fe kol al donia
Travels all around the world

قد تغدو امرأة يا ولدي
Kad taghidoo amrakiton, ya walady
One day, this woman, my son

يهواها القلب
Ahwaha alkalb
The love of your heart

هي الدنيا
Heyal donia
Becomes your whole world

لكن سماءك ممطرة
Lakina sama-ika momtiratoon
But your sky becomes cloudy and torn

و طريقك مسدود .. مسدود
We tari-koka masdoodon masdood
And your path is blocked

فحبيبة قلبك يا ولدي
Fa habibaty kalbika, ya walady
For the love of your heart, my son

نائمة فى قصر مرصود
Na-imatoon fekasr el marsood
Sleeps in a large, gated castle

من يدخُلُ حُجرتها.. مفقود
Man yadkhoolo hogratiha..mafkoodon
He who enters its gates..vanish

من يطلبُ.. يَدَها
Man yatloboo yadiha
He who asks for her hand

من يَدنو من سورِ حديقتها.. مفقود
Man yabnoo men soory hadikatiha...Mafkoodon
He who enters her cell...vanish

من حاول فك ضفائرها
Man howal faak dafa-iriha
He who tries to break her chains

يا ولدي.. مفقود.. مفقود.. مفقود
Ya walady, ..Mafkoodon.. Mafkoodon.. Mafkoodon
My son, ..vanish..vanish..vanish

ستفتش عنها يا ولدي
Satifatishoo anha ya walady
You will try to search for her, my son

فى كل .. مكان
Fee kol makaan
Everywhere

و ستسأل عنها موج البحر
Wa satasaalo anhaa maug el bahr
And you will try to ask the waves of the sea

و تسأل فيروز الشطان
We tasaalo fairouz el shitaan
And everyone you meet about her

و تجوب بحارآ وبحارآ
Wa tagoobo biharaan wa bihara
And you'll travel ocean after ocean

و تفيض دموعك انهارا
Wa tafidoo dimoo-oka anhara
And your tears will flow like rivers

و سيكبر حزنك
Wa siyakboro houznoka
And your grief will grow

حتى يصبح اشجارا
Hatta yosbiha ashgaraan
So great as to resemble trees

وسترجع يوما يا ولدي
Wa sitarga yawmaan, ya walady
And you will return one day, my son

مهزوما مكسور الوجدان
Mahzooman, maksooran wigdaan
Defeated, broken and wounded

و ستعرف بعد رحيل العمر
Wa sataarifu baady rahil el omr
And you will realize after your life is lost

بانك كنت تطارد خيط دخان
Bi-inaaka konty totarido khaita dokh-aan
That you where running after an illusion

فحبيبة قلبك
Fa habibato kalbika
Because the love of your life

ليس لها أرض
Laysalaha ardoon
Has neither a land

أو وطن أو عنوان
Aw wataanoon aw onwan
Nor country, nor address

ما اصعبأن تهوى امرأة
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan
It's impossible to love a woman

يا ولدي ليس لها عنوان
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan
My son, who has no home

ليس لها عنوان
Laysalaha onwaan
Who has no home

عنوان
Onwaan
No home

note:

• ...translation of earlier post (the earlier Arabic version is not complete)...
• ...once upon a time read and translated to me by my best friend...

Second Interview

She was the friend who thought I would end up as a politician. We were born on the same day and month (30th December) but one year apart. According to her, deliberate circumstances had led to our official birth day and month to be different (30th December and 1st January) but of the same year. Our life crossed as a result of this circumstances as in the year we officially turned sixteen we ended up being in the same batch of girls leaving the comfort of our different schools in the capital city of the country to the unfamiliarity of culture of the same school (and the LOCALS) in the eastern part of the peninsula.

She was and has always been dear to my heart as when she had the option to choose between me or another friend who was trying to win her close-friendship she chose me despite my social shortcomings. When telling me her reason for keeping a distance with 'this friend', she might have not realised 'this friend' was trying to sideline me (she made me her choice most probably accidently!!!). Her keeping a distance with 'this friend' had nothing to do with me but much to do with her sense of loyalty and sincerity in friendship, which made her very special to me.

She is still the same sweet, simple and to-the-point girl I knew back then, proven by the way she answers the first part of the interview (though I would appreciate some clearer answers!!!). I truly hope my introduction of her would not discourage her to participate in the second part of the interview (she is a very private person in so many ways!!!). Here is her first part of the interview;

Part 1

1. Question: Let us know a bit of your background…



• name (you can be anonymous)

Answer: do not disclose


• city of origin

Answer: kelantan


• marital status

Answer: married


• age

Answer: 40+


• occupation

Answer: banker


• parents occupations

Answer: academicians


• the number of siblings you have

Answer: 7


• age of your siblings

Answer: 20+ to 40+

and also, if you are married


• age of your spouse

Answer: 40+


• occupation of your spouse

Answer: banker


• the number of children you have

Answer: 3


• ages of your children

Answer: 7 to 16


2. Question: Which school, primary and secondary, did you go to?

Answer: Primary-day school, Secondary-boarding school


3. Question: How do you describe, being a student, in these schools, in terms of orientation – academic, social, religious and moral

Answer: normal standard


4. Question: How do you describe your achievement - social, academic, religious and moral, which you believe you had gained for being;




1. in school more than being at home, and

Answer: above normal


2. at home more than being in school

Answer: normal standard


5. Question: How do you describe the role of your parents on your upbringing

Answer: build and guide


6. Question: What are the things about school, from your school years to now, that you think



1. have improved

Answer: standard of achievement


2. have not improved, and

Answer: community relationship


3. have gotten worse?

Answer: moral and communication skill


7. Question: How do you describe yourself;



1. before you initially met your husband
2. when you were courting (if you were)
3. when you were engaged (if you were)
4. in the first five years of marriage, and
5. from then(d)to now?

Answer: from a to e – n/a


8. Question: What are the things you wish you had known and you think would have made your life easier knowing ahead than to discover them later?

Answer: Life expectancy


9. Question:How much have your siblings helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate.

Answer: No


10. Question: How much have your friends helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate

Answer: No

Mr. B, Mr. A and Me

recent email exchange
____________________

Salam Mr.B,

My boss email add.:

mrA@companyG.com

Regards
____________________

Thuraya, if you do not mind can I’ve your mobile no. Apparently I don’t have it.

Regards

MR. B, COMPANY P
____________________

Salam Mr.B,

XXX-XXX XXXX

regards

____________________

Thanks.

Any feedback on our response about K issue? Forgot to inform Mr. N that all those changes has been discussed at working level between company P and company G regional office. You may add those info to him if necessary.

Regards

MR B, COMPANY P

____________________

Salam Mr. B,

Not-surprisingly, not-to-get a credit note at all is a disappointment to all. Anyhow, the management will be informed of company P’s decision next week (most probably Monday). We (the task force committee and regional office) are waiting for our management directive on how to move from company P's decision. Will let you know once the management has decided.

BTW, my boss’s name is Mr. A, not Mr. N.

Regards.

____________________

'the sister of your mother is your mother'

by the title of this post i am a mother to five sons and seven daughters...

by the words of the prophet (pbuh) I am ...

قارئة الفنجان

عبد الحليم حافظ - قارئة الفنجان

جَلَسَت والخوفُ بعينيها
تتأمَّلُ فنجاني المقلوب

قالت:
يا ولدي.. لا تَحزَن
فالحُبُّ عَليكَ هوَ المكتوب
يا ولدي،
قد ماتَ شهيداً
من ماتَ على دينِ المحبوب
فنجانك دنيا مرعبةٌ
وحياتُكَ أسفارٌ وحروب..
ستُحِبُّ كثيراً يا ولدي..
وتموتُ كثيراً يا ولدي
وستعشقُ كُلَّ نساءِ الأرض..
وتَرجِعُ كالملكِ المغلوب

بحياتك يا ولدي امرأةٌ
عيناها، سبحانَ المعبود
فمُها مرسومٌ كالعنقود
ضحكتُها موسيقى و ورود
لكنَّ سماءكَ ممطرةٌ..
وطريقكَ مسدودٌ.. مسدود
فحبيبةُ قلبكَ.. يا ولدي
نائمةٌ في قصرٍ مرصود
والقصرُ كبيرٌ يا ولدي
وكلابٌ تحرسُهُ.. وجنود
وأميرةُ قلبكَ نائمةٌ..
من يدخُلُ حُجرتها مفقود..
من يطلبُ يَدَها..
من يَدنو من سورِ حديقتها.. مفقود
من حاولَ فكَّ ضفائرها..
يا ولدي..
مفقودٌ.. مفقود

بصَّرتُ.. ونجَّمت كثيرا
لكنّي.. لم أقرأ أبداً
فنجاناً يشبهُ فنجانك
لم أعرف أبداً يا ولدي..
أحزاناً تشبهُ أحزانك
مقدُورُكَ.. أن تمشي أبداً
في الحُبِّ .. على حدِّ الخنجر
وتَظلَّ وحيداً كالأصداف
وتظلَّ حزيناً كالصفصاف
مقدوركَ أن تمضي أبداً..
في بحرِ الحُبِّ بغيرِ قُلوع
وتُحبُّ ملايينَ المَرَّاتِ...
وترجعُ كالملكِ المخلوع

• ...no, i don't understand all...
• ...yes, it's a tragic love song...
• ...singer is the late abdul halim hafez of egypt...

First Interview

The friend I chose to be my first interviewee is...

Sadly, I cannot reveal her name as she has chosen to be known as ‘anonymous’. She was my ‘twin-train’ back in school where we first met but were never in the same class for almost two years. We have never been at the same place thereafter unless in a planned get-together over breakfast, lunch or dinner.

In like twenty one years of friendship, I can only recall one time, and only one time, that she was really pissed of me. She just could not take my levity (that makes her normal as no one can). I hope that one moment of my purposely-pushing-her-to-the-edge of her patience has been rewritten by more (I know for sure many) important and beautiful moments in her life.

will tell more about her in the Second Part of the interview. For now, here is how she answers the First Part:

Part 1

1. Question: Let us know a bit of your background…



• name (you can be anonymous)

Answer: anonymous


• city of origin

Answer:kuala lumpur


• age

Answer: stone aged


• marital status

Answer: tied up with the ring


• occupation

Answer: healthcare


• parents occupations

Answer: gov servants


• the number of siblings you have

Answer: not too many and not too little


• age of your siblings

Answer: close ranks

and also, if you are married


• age of your spouse

Answer: still enough to ensure he’s my hub and not my son


• occupation of your spouse

Answer: the sharing of responsibilities is more important than the salary


• the number of children you have

Answer: not too many and not too little


• ages of your children

Answer: as long as they are the children , they are still the babies tho they are all growing up


2. Question: Which school, primary and secondary, did you go to?

Answer: What really matter is my years in boarding school , the years before that – lost in space


3. Question: How do you describe, being a student, in these schools, in terms of orientation – academic, social, religious and moral?
Answer: all in all – I thank Allah for always reminding me when my path started to divert – didn’t matter which school


4. Question: How do you describe your achievement - social, academic, religious and moral, which you believe you had gained for being;


1. in school more than being at home, and
2. at home more than being in school?

Answer: Any achievement – all from Allah swt


5. Question: How do you describe the role of your parents on your upbringing?
Answer: No one is perfect . But Abah and Mak had done their part well in my upbringing


6. Question: What are the things about school, from your school years to now, that you think;


1. have improved,

Answer:Nothing (specifically refers to my 'alter alma' school in KL, for the boarding school I cannot comment)


2. have not improved, and

Answer: TOILETS and surrounding cleanliness


3. have gotten worse?

Answer: discipline


7. Question: How do you describe yourself;


1. before you initially met your husband,
2. when you were courting (if you were),
3. when you were engaged (if you were),
4. in the first five years of marriage, and
5. from then (d) to now?

Answer: From a) to e) – always trying to be a better muslim than I had been the day before


8. Question: What are the things you wish you had known and you think would have made your life easier knowing ahead than to discover them later?

Answer: Then life will not be as interesting as it is now….


9. Question: How much have your siblings helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate.

Answer: A lot – they give their views but I am free to decide


10. Question: How much have your friends helped you in making important decisions in your life? Please elaborate.

Answer: Only 1 friend and had managed to help a lot in the last 10 years of my life , but then again – the decisions in my life are based on my faith in Allah swt.When important decisions were made – failed due to my own weaknesses .