A Long Holiday & A Family Vacation

It was a long holiday and I went for our family vacation. Last year Langkawi was our destination but this year we went to Malacca. We headed to Malacca at 8.30 a.m from my house and arrived there at about 10.30 a.m. We stayed in Bidara Puteri Beach Resort. It is a little further from the town but near to Hang Tuah graveyard. This is a resort cum service apartment and so beautiful with the sea view of the straits of Malacca. I was acknowledged this resort was once the four star Mutiara Melaka Beach Resort and it was under management of one of the leading institution in Malaysia. We got 30% off as my sister is a member of that institution. Even though, it was a beautiful resort apartment that we rented but I think it was slightly not well managed. One of the workers there told me it was due to the high overhead cost of maintaining the resort ( not sure whether it is true or not) when I asked why there was only one lift operated. However, the lift issue was not a big issue as the scenery was beautiful and suitable for our vacation since my father was not fully recovered. Despite, the minor problem of the service in the resort, I should say it was a nice place to sit and relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the morning and evening. I enjoyed watching the activities and walking along the beach.

We were so lucky to get that place to stay as it was fully booked during the long holiday and in conjunction with the Christmas Open House in Portuguese Town. We didn’t realize that Malacca held an event for Christmas until we tried to book the hotel and most of the hotels were fully booked. It seemed a lot of Singaporeans went here for a long holidays.

Not much activity was done during this holiday as our movement was restricted with my father’s condition. My father enjoying reminiscing good old days when he was in Malacca. However, I think this was truly a vacation, as I always argued about the definition of vacation with my siblings. As for me a vacation means having a good time sleeping or waking up a bit late from the usual days, relaxing, enjoying and indulging yourself in the hotel/resort, do a few activities or sightseeing that you can if the time permit. As for my brother a vacation means sightseeing and visiting places and go back late at night to the hotel and sleep. Whatever, definition it is, I enjoyed our family vacation this year.

Salam Maal Hijrah

Cost Benefit Analysis, Economics Theory & Advertisement Sector

See, how Economics Theory works in advertisement. A cost benefit analysis, simple yet effective message conveys in the billboard advertisement.

Boring Tahap Gaban & The Kite Runner

Sorry Is for borrowing your words. Yes, boring tahap gaban. Not because I have a lot of works to do or don’t have any works to do at all. I have few works to be done especially preparing the progress report to the sponsorship and the university, and studying my comprehensive exam but the productivity it is at a very low level. Really low. Sometimes, I miss the time during my exam which I felt 24 hours was not enough for me, which I felt like heartedly wanted to watch the television but I couldn’t do that or I really wanted to sleep but I was afraid I might not finish the work. At that moment my brain worked very well or sometimes can be overloaded with information and I got stuck. (That was the reason while I rambled in the blog). However, I felt really productive and using my 24 hours effectively. Felt really occupied for being busy.

As I was so bored, my friend suggested to read the novel by Khaled Hosseini. She said it was interesting, touching and full of emotions. She cried while reading the story. I couldn’t remember when was the last time I read a novel. Maybe it was eight years ago. Since I was really awe listening to the story from her I drove 35 km to get this RM35+ novel. However, people see things differently, I think I beg to differ a bit from my friend especially in assuming Amir was a hero in the novel. There are also few things that I'm totally disagree with the writer.

The Kite Runner, I must admit is very well written. The expressiveness of the characters and the vocabulary produced a book that was easy to read and not at all dull. Most of the story happens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Parts of it before the Soviet invasion when Afghanistan was a secular independent state. It gave the pictures of Afghanistan from the writer’s eyes. He portrayed Taliban as cruel and gave the expressions of very bad Muslims in a very wrong Islamic faiths

The story didn't made me cry like the person who sugested it (he3x) but I felt pity for the characters in the novel and for everyone;

I’m pity for Hassan for being Hazara. He has been lied for his entire life about who he was, his lineage, his heritance. He died for not knowing his real father, without realizing his master was his blood brother. I’m pity for his sacrificial love.

I’m pity for Amir for being such a coward. I'm pity for his betrayal to Hassan and anything he would do to win his father’s heart. I’m pity for the guilt he had to suffer in his life after betraying Hassan. I’m pity for following his Baba to have secular minded and didn’t really understand what against the Islamic faith.

I’m pity for Amir’s father (Baba), who was a secular, who exercises the opposite of what Islam teaches as he thought the faith of Islam couldn’t save Afghanistan. I’m pity for him as he taught his son (even it was indirectly) went against Islamic faith. (e.g he taught Amir to drink to celebrate the graduation day or went against the words from Mullah (some sort of Ustaz if I’m not mistaken). I’m pity for people who has dad like Amir’s. I’m pity for his strong principles, for his pride and honour but eventually he doesn’t have any guts to stand for his mistakes, and admit it. I’m pity that he stole other people's happiness and pride for his own pride and honour.

I’m pity for the poor Afghans which could not escape from the war and had to protect the families by themselves. I’m pity, they had to suffer in their homeland. I’m skeptical for the rich (people like Amir’s father) who always ran away and leave the country behind to save their lives and belongings.

My friend asked me to watch the movie as she said it will capture our heart than the novel. The trailer seems interesting but couldn't find the CD. I was informed the movie was banned in Afganistan due to the social reasons. If I found the CD I think I might watch it if I'm in the state of boring tahap Ultraman Taro.

Human Capital & How Effectively Our Ages?

If we familiar with "Human Capital" as a topic in labor economics, we will know how to measure our leisure hours effectively. One of them is time we spend for shalah (praying).

Let's say we have been praying since we were 10 years old. We sleep 8 hours a day (=1/3 of 24 hours). If we were 70 years old, then the time we spend sleeping would be 70*1/3 = 23 years

If the prayer time we spend is 5 minutes, then 5 minutes x 5 prayers = 25 minutes (let say 30 minutes/day); and within a year, 30 minutes x 365 days = 10,950.00 minutes = 182.50 hours = 7.6 (let say 8 days of prayer time in a year) ……. What a shocking fact!!! Suppose we just realize that we have so short a prayer time (8 days in a year) to remind ourselves of remembering ALLAH.

Let's calculate how much we spend effectively out of our supposed age (70 years). The formula will be the supposed age minus the time for sleeping minus the age when we start praying (70 - 23 - 10 = 37). It means, out of 70 years, we effectively spend only 37 years, but mind you, that is not the time we spend for shalah, because for that we just need 8 days in a year. Thus, within 37 effective years, we spend only 296 days (roughly 10 months), i.e. 37 x 8 = 296.

Therefore, assuming we always perform the five obligatory prayers, within 70 years old, we spend only 10 months for prayer time; what about the rest of our age, the 36 years and 2 months?

My Brother & Bukit Antarabangsa

Allah, the Exalted, says:"O you who believe! Endure and be more patient..". (3:200)

"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient)". (2:155)

Went to visit my brother’s house at Riverdale Park in Bukit Antarabangsa. That area is in yellow area which is safe but still under caution. The scenery looked pathetic, which part of the parking lots had been taken due to the plan (which plan yang tak menjadi) of a bridge construction. The canopies of policemen, volunteers, PAS, UMNO and PKR were still there in front of the Riverdale Park. No more beautiful scenery, harmony, tranquility and feeling of security living in that place. My sister said it is just temporary and I hope so.

My brother chose to live there since it is near to my sister’s house. Due to his job’s nature which needs him to leave her wife alone that was the best option to live in. Now it seems not the best option anymore, when he started to doubt the level of safety of living there. As an affected resident of Bukit Antarabangsa, whatever result that will come out regarding the safety level in that area, I know my brother will still be in the state of worry of leaving his wife alone again.

My Sister, My Brother & Bukit Antarabangsa

In the middle of the chaos of people commenting and finger-pointing blame on the tragedy of landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa, I don’t feel like adding another bitter or more blaming on any sides. Placing the blame is all good and well to make people feel better but it’s not going to make things any better. Truly, I’m sad about the families who lost loved ones to the landslide.

Me and Bukit Antarabangsa, there is only one connection. That is the place where I spent my weekend during free time. My siblings are staying there. My sister and her family have been staying there for ten years. While my brother and his wife staying in Riverdale just few meters from the disaster area. The landslide tragedy may change a lot of things including the tranquility in the area and their neighborhoods but I hope it won’t change my regular visit to their houses (if they don't move lah).

I'm Out Of Idea

اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أستَخيرك بعلمكَ، و أستقدرك بقُدرتك، و أسْألك مِن فضلك العظيم،

فإنّك تَقْدر و لا أقْدِر، و تعلم و لا أعلم، و أنت علاَّمُ الغُيوب
اللَّهمَّ إنْ كنتَ تعلم أنَّ هذا الأمْرِ خيرٌ لي في ديْني و معَاشي و عاقِبة أمري
– او قال عاجِل أمري و آجِله –
فاقْدِرْهُ لي و يسِّرْه لي ثمَّ بارِك لي فِيه،
و إن كنتَ تعلم أنَّ هذا الأمرِ شرٌّ لي في دِيني و معآشِي و عاقبةِ أمْرِي
– او قال في عاجِل أمرِي و آجِله –
فاصْرِفْه عَنِّي، و اصْرفْنِي عَنه، و اقْدِر لِيَ الخيْرَ حَيْثُ كان ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِه
اللَّهمَّ إنْ كنتَ تعلم أنَّ هذا الأمْرِ خيرٌ لي في ديْني و معَاشي و عاقِبة أمري
– او قال عاجِل أمري و آجِله –
فاقْدِرْهُ لي و يسِّرْه لي ثمَّ بارِك لي فِيه،
و إن كنتَ تعلم أنَّ هذا الأمرِ شرٌّ لي في دِيني و معآشِي و عاقبةِ أمْرِي
– او قال في عاجِل أمرِي و آجِله –
فاصْرِفْه عَنِّي، و اصْرفْنِي عَنه، و اقْدِر لِيَ الخيْرَ حَيْثُ كان ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِه.

Oh Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things.

Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.

10 Hadiths & 8 Messages

I'm in the middle of memorizing 10 hadiths that should be recited tomorrow as a part of my exam ( You better believe it ! and I repeat it is a part of my exam, 10% to be exact). I know, K. Sya will laugh at me and as I'm struggling to memorize and pronounce word by word. I find it is easier to memorize the verses of Quran rather than a line of Hadith. Without a background in Arabic language or religious school, it seems a bit struggle for me but I still believe I can do it. Believe me!

Today, I also found & learned 8 messages from Umar Al Khattab R.A and as usual I think it is worth sharing these messages

1. leave nonsense and wasteful talking and you'll be granted wisdom (hikmah)

2. avoid wasteful sights and you'll be granted with concentration (in solah)

3. avoid excessive eating and you'll be granted with the sweetness in performing ibadah

4. avoid excessive laughter and you'll be granted with superiority

5. avoid excessive joking around and you'll be granted with benevolence

6. leave your mortal love for the world and you'll be granted with immortal love of the hereafter

7. avoid gossiping about others' mistakes and you'll be granted with opportunity to correct your own

8. leave the details about the existence of Allah and you'll be relieved from nifak.

GREAT.....JUST GREAT!

I sat for TDM exam this morning. Great, my lecturer gave the scope of what we suppose to read but the coverage of the reading materials for this paper is unlimited. There are no specific books/ articles/notes we can refer to. I read the topics based on what have given by my lecturer.

Great, there were only three questions in the exam paper but I couldn’t answer all the questions. None of us could answer those questions. All of us could only look at those questions. 5 out 5 members in the class could only stare at each other.

Great, the questions were in Bahasa Melayu and I have no problem with my Bahasa Melayu but we learnt it in English and to converse all the technical words were not as easy as ABC. I kept translating words in my head but somehow it sounded inappropriate.

Great, the bahasa problem is not really a problem. The main problem was none of the topics given came out in the exam paper.

Great, we were given only two hours to answer the questions, so we didn’t have to suffer much glancing the paper with the echo sound in our head saying “what is this?”

After the answer sheet was submitted, Prof A asked us whether we managed to answer the questions and of course the answer was as expected. Great, we were given another chance to answer those questions. This time, it will be a take home exam. Great… just great… I have another chance… Now I have to rewrite and reread more and it means all nighter again, no sleep. Great… and jussst great because I have another paper to sit on the same day of our take home exam submission date.

P/S : Prof A is a very nice lecturer (don’t get wrong with what have been written) but sometimes he does have a wicked sense of humour

Right vs Left (A Proof)

This is a picture of our brain. There are only two sides; left and right. Well... Nurr, I answered your question with a picture as a proof. Btw, just to inform you that I passed my Biology with credit.

Right vs Left

Sometimes we do tooo much thinking until 'there's nothing left in our left brain and nothing right in our right brain'

Thank you Is for the quote but will life be easier if we don't think too much? As at this moment I've been in front of my computer for 5 hours and not a single word has been added/written on my paper project that should be presented on this coming Saturday in Economic Colloquium. I type, delete, retype and again delete all the words that I wrote. I'm really out of idea. Zero. Nil. Concurrently, I'm in the middle of my final exam and half of my brain (I'm not sure, whether it is right or left brain) is thinking that I haven't touch my books. Another half tells me that I should shut my eyes and go to sleep. I wish I have a middle brain so that I have more space to think and tell me stop rambling and finish your work.

A Blessed Jumaat, A Neighbour & A Motivation

Yesterday was Jumaat (Friday) and it was a blessed Friday as my neighbour was on her way to Madinah to perform her hajj this year. I am truly happy for her as she looked so excited and told me that she couldn't believe that she was going to Makkah. Looking at her excited face and preparation, I really wish that I will bless with another opportunity to go for hajj and this time with a really good preparation. In my last year entry , Hajj: A journey of a lifetime which I wrote there is an old proverb said—before you visit Makkah, it beckons you. When you leave it behind, it calls you forever. Yes, it calls me and the excitement of my neighbour to go there has made the call stronger and I think it will be more when she come back from Makkah.

Another blessed thing happen during this Friday was when I found this hadith that can motives me and you to seek for knowledge.

Menuntut ilmu adalah taqwa,

menyampaikan ilmu adalah ibadah,

mengulang2 ilmu adalah zikir,

mencari ilmu adalah jihad,

(Al-Ghazali)

"Sesiapa menempuh satu perjalanan untuk mencari suatu ilmu,
Allah akan memudahkan untuknya jalan ke syurga"

(Hadis riwayat Imam Muslim dari Abu Hurairah r.a.)

A Procrastinator

Lately, I’m really good procrastinator (or I’m trying to avoid of doing my homework, paper project and etc) and this quote has made me laugh;

A Quote : There's enough literature on curing procrastination; it's time for a new emphasis on how best to enjoy it.

Here are 10 tips to procrastinate like a pro (from 2009 Planner by Mark Asher)

1. If something spills on your desk, clean the whole desk and shelves too.
2. Never let a a critical task get in the way of going to the store to replenish something you're almost out of.
3. Make sure everything is in proper working order before you begin working.
4. Always take your lunch break on time and allow plenty of time for digestion before returning to work.
5. Analyze a task multiple times before leaping into action.
6. Never take on more than you think you can possibly handle.
7. Never go for long periods without checking your email
8. If you're shopping for one thing, look for other you might need or your parents might need or your neighbors might need.
9. Keep up with technology by changing the ring tone on your cell phone every day.
10. Never fear leaving your work - it'll be there when you get back.

After reading few times of this "sarcastic" tips given above I realized that I’m wasting a lot of my time and abundance of my work is still waiting in line. Then, this Surah has reminded me…

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful

(1) By the time of the afternoon! (2) Surely, the human is in a (state of) loss, (3) except those who believe and do good works and charge one another with the truth and charge one another with patience.

Ya Allah! I stand before you humbled

The 90/10 Principle

Got this from email and straight to my conclusion and moral of this story BE OPTIMISTIC!

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened. What happens when the next will be determined by how you react.You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.She breaks down in tears.

After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is " D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off.

Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. It CAN change your life!!!

- Steven Covey

BC & EC

As I was having doing my data simulation on private capital inflows yesterday, I got an email from a friend with a title/ subject of And the global economic has crashed….

The big blow in the stock market on previous Monday created Wall Street to a mess* and $700 billion bailout failed to pass in the Congress worsened the situation. And the market crashed…..

Three days ago an amateur Economists discussion was done in the class whether we will have another recession. Yup, the crisis may give impact to Malaysia's economy. It didn’t surprise me much as it is a normal business cycle. I remembered went to Prof J’s seminar class during my second degree ( Prof. J is a famous professor in Economics and now working with National University of Singapore). He told that the cycle pattern of the recession in Malaysia is about 10 to 12 years (1972/73, 1985, 1997/98). The last recession was in 1997/98 and now it is 2008. +- 10 years cycle is not a really important matter as it can be predictable but the cause and effect of the crisis will be much concern. Now we have to talk about a Global Crisis here. It was highlighted as worse as great depression in 1920. 1997/98 Asian Crisis seems to be a picnic compared to the current situation and it is said that even good companies will fail. Zero liquidity.

Everyone may caught up with the financial turmoil especially those with the international companies and wondering how its going to impact them. I hope none of us will badly affected with this. Personally, I just want the economy to be back to normal ( so that I can study in peace and my friends who study overseas won’t worry very much whether the government have enough money to pay for their scholarships) but that $700 billion bailout in US is also very big...

What you could do with $700,000,000,000 (This is taken from TIME magazine)

1. Give every person in the U.S $2300 or give every household $6200

2. Pay the income taxes of every American who makes $500,000 or less a year

3. Fully fund the Defense Treasury, Education, State veterans Affairs and interior department next year

4. Buy gasoline for every car in US for 16 months

5. Buy every NFL, NBA and Major league Baseball team and build each one a new stadium and pay your players $191 million a piece for a year

6. Create the 17^th largest economy in the world – roughly equal to that of the Netherlands

*BC - Business Cycle

EC - Economic crisis

Momentum & Procrastination

Maybe it's the ketupat and lemang (alasan!alasan!alasan!). After 3 weeks of putting aside my books and laptop, I don’t have enough momentum to start back doing my work (assignment and etc…). I am so darn lazy and become procrastinator to finish up my assignment and paper project. Looks like I will have another all-nighter then. Even worse I had to literally drag my feet to the class.
If laziness is a punishable crime under the law, then I’m totally a criminal and now I do feel like one coz I’m violating commitment towards my study.

.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

It comes to the end of Ramadhan. It seems this Ramdhan I'm extremely busy and full of tests in life. In the first half of Ramadhan I was busy with my mid term exam and another half my father got stroke attack I went back to my home town to look after him.

Whatever tests i have gone through, in the spirit of this holy Ramadhan and coming Syawal, I would like to ask for apologies to all friends and visitors who have been reading my ramblings here. I hope any mistakes or errors I have made would be forgiven.

I also hope we have all benefited a lot from this holy month.

Before I end this, I would also like to make a wish of SeLaMaT HaRi RaYa and MaaF ZaHiR BaTiN

I'm Too Busy...

At this moment I'm really busy with my mid term exam and my study commitment, so just to share with you this poem as a reminder to myself and all of you

I’M TOO BUSY…..

Everyday as I wake up at dawn

My mind starts working the moment I yawn

There were many things to do, o dear!

That’s why I hastily did my Subuh prayer

I didn’t have time to sit longer to praise the Lord

To me rushing out after prayer is nothing odd….

Since school, I had been busy every minute

Completing my tutorials and handing it in

My ECAs took up most of my time always

No time did I have to Allah to pray

Too many things to do and zikir is rare

For Allah, I really had no time to spare…

When I grew up and started my career

Working all day to secure my future

When I reached home, I preferred to have fun

I chatted on the phone but I didn’t read the Quran

I spent too much time surfing the internet

Sad to say, my faith was falling flat…

The only time I have left is weekends

During which I prefer window shopping with friends

I couldn’t spare time to go to the mosque

I’m too busy, that’s the BIG EXCUSE…

I did my five prayers but did so quickly

After prayer, I didn’t sit longer to reflect quietly

I didn’t have time to help the needy ones

I was loaded with work as my precious time runs

No time at all to visit a sick Muslim friend

To orphans and elderly, I hardly lent a hand

I’m too busy to do community service

When there were gatherings, I helped the least

My life is already full of stress

So I didn’t counsel a Muslim in distress

I didn’t spend much time with my family

Because I thought, doing so is a waste of time…

No time to share with non-muslim about Islam

Even though I know, inviting causes no harm

No time to do Sunnah prayers at all

All these contribute to my imaan’s fall

I’m busy here and busy there

I’ve no time at all, that’s all I care

I went for religious lessons, just once in a while

‘Coz I’m too busy making a pile…

I worked all day and I slept all night

Too tired for Tahajjud and it seemed not right

To me, earning a living was already tough

So I only did basic deeds but that’s not enough…

No time at all to admire God’s creation

No time to praise Allah and seek His Compassion

Although I know how short is my life

For Islam I really didn’t strive…

Finally the day comes, when the Lord calls for me

And I stood before Him with my Life’s History

I feel so guilty because I could have prayed more

Isn’t that what a Muslim lives for?

To thank Allah and do more good deeds

And the Quran is for us all to read…

Now at Judgement Day, I’m starting to fret

I’ve wasted my life but it’s too late to regret

My entry to Paradise depends on my good behaviour

But I’ve not done enough nor did proper prayer

My “good deed book” is given from my right

An angel opened my “book” and read out my plight

Then the angel chided me…

“ O You Muslim servant, you are the one,

Who is given enough time, yet not much is done

Do you know that your faith is loose?

Saying “no time” is only an excuse

Your “good deed book” should be filled up more

With all the good work you stood up for…

Hence, I only recorded those little good deeds

As I say this, I know your eyes will mist…

I was about to write some more, you see

But I did not have, THE TIME to list……

Just A Break

Reasons why I never visit my rich friend

Once while visiting a very rich friend, the maid approached me and.....

Question : 'What would you like to have..Fruit juice, Soda, Tea,
Chocolate, Capuccino, Frapuccino,or Coffee?'
Answer: ' Tea please'
Question : ' Ceylon tea, Indian tea, Herbal tea,Bush tea, Honey bush tea, Iced tea or green tea ?'
Answer : ' Ceylon tea '
Question : 'How would you like it ? black or white ?
Answer: 'white'
Question: 'Milk, or fresh cream?
Answer: 'With milk '
Question: 'Goat's milk, or cow's milk'
Answer: 'With cow's milk please.
Question: ' Freezeland cow or Afrikaner cow?'
Answer: ' Um, I'll just take it black. '
Question: ' Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey?'
Answer: 'With sugar'
Question: ' Beet sugar or cane sugar?'
Answer: 'Cane sugar '
Question:' White, brown or yellow sugar?'
Answer: 'Forget about the tea, just give me a glass of water instead.'
Question: 'Mineral water, tap water or distilled water? '
Answer: 'Mineral water'
Question: 'Flavored or non-flavored ?'
Answer: 'I think I'll just die of thirst

SLOW LEARNER vs NOT THAT CLEVER

Regarding to my previous entry a colleague of mine (K.Rusnah) asked me a question what did I do if I didn’t get what I read. So I answered, I read it again and again (it is simple to say/ advice rather than to be done). The truth is for the last few weeks to get the idea of what I read, I don’t know how many times I read the books or how many times I felt dizzy and how many times I fall asleep while reading my books. The things I read didn’t go smoothly to my head. However, I believe sooner or later I will comprehend the ideas or the theories in the books. It will take times but I will be in tense because I’m racing against time. If I plot the graph time against achievement I don’t think I dare to analyze the graph. After 9 months of studying I started to doubt whether I am slow leaner?

Sometimes when I didn’t get what I read I started to think I’m being punished for what I said to my ex students. “How come you cannot get the simple theory like this?’ There was few times this sentence slipped out from my mouth. I couldn’t put myself in their shoes. I thought the theories I taught was really a cinch. Now I know the feeling when you cannot get something easily. I always I think I’m good in academic and I didn’t have many problems in my previous degrees. Thus, sometimes I forgot all the knowledge and the ability I have was bestowed by God Al-Mighty. It all belongs to Al Mighty and I shouldn’t be proud of myself. Insaf.!

In the barakah of Ramadhan I also want to make this public apology to all of you;

Saya memohon kemaafan jika ada kesalahan dan kesilapan kerana dibimbangi mungkin telah menghijabkan ilmu daripada difahami selama ini.

Momentum & Motivation

For the last couple of weeks I'm not a productive student. I'm not doing anything worthwhile and I'm indulging myself (procrastinating a lot, day dreaming a lot, sleeping a lot, eating a lot (kononnya stress). I know my academic obligation doesn't allow to indulge myself too much but the momentum to study is not there for me.

Everytime I open the book I just give an empty look without passion to read. There are many times I try to read but it doesn't go straight to my heart or my head. Sigh! I couldn't muster all the strength to read even a page of a book. All the sentences seem to make me puke and I need extra extra extra strong momentum & motivation to make me going on reading. I can't even force my brain to accept or swallow what I read. Again SIGH!

Am I up to my maximum utility in reading or am I getting old where I am not energetic or my brain is not so sharp anymore to absorb what I read? Done with excuses but where is my momentum and motivation? I badly need it now. Again & again sigh.

Time flies....

To realize the value of ONE YEAR
Ask the student who has failed a class
To realize the value of ONE MONTH
Ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby
To realize the value of ONE WEEK
Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper
To realize the value of ONE HOUR
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE
Ask a person who missed the train
To realize the value of ONE SECOND
Ask a person who just avoided an accident
To realize the value of ONE MILISECOND
Ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics

Time flies… If time flies where does it go? Tup tap tup tap I can’t believe how fast time has gone and it’s August already. It means that I already started my study for 8 months. As the clock ticks off minutes, hours and days, there are many things that have not finished but the clock keeps ticking leaving me with less time. In a few short days it will be September. That puts me only two + one years from the duration of my scholarship will be lasted. To be frank, there is not much progress in my study. I still have to attend few classes to accomplish my course work and next semester is scheduled that I have to sit for my comprehensive exam and if only I pass the papers I can proceed to the thesis writing. There are still few hurdles to go through.

Time goes by so fast and the older I get the faster time goes. I always feel I am getting older and older (of course lah because I just add another year on my age).

I remembered vividly last year at this exact time I was so busy handling the problem of my scholarship and I wrote an entry of Nisfu Syaaban (August 28, 2007). Last night, it was Nisfu syabaan night again. Can’t believe it, it has been a year since I posted that entry. Time has flown so fast until but I wonder whether I have used the time wisely or did I accomplish everything that was meant for me to do? I can't go back and get back the time that passed me by but one thing I know life has to go on.

Chess and Life

The below story was not written by me. I plagiarized it from my lost friend's blog. Sorry N, it was written beautifully and I couldn't resist to put in my blog. I found my friend again in the internet and she is in UK. Actually I met her only twice. The first time when I played against her in Kelantan and after two years I met her again in Perlis for the second time but this time we played together in a team.

However, even we met only twice I learnt a lot of things from her. She was a good player that taught me how to be cool while playing, how to control the emotions, how to enjoy ourself in the tournament and sometimes be childish and have fun. Yes, we did a lot of childish things together but that was how we released our stress.

I must agree with her, chess imitates real life. How you want to play your game is really depending on you. Robust? Defensive? Different players will play differently but the objective is to win no matter which moves or tactics they used. There are values in life that can be learnt from chess for example the need of determination, passion, hardwork and perseverance. The need to prepare and face the pressure, the challenges, the changes in the direction of the game, the struggle that has its joy and failure that is not without its uses.

Sometimes the pressure will lead us to a wise decisions and moves but sometimes it ruins our game. However, the fear really kills us and hinder us to think wisely. We will be afraid of the consequences of our move and take along time to move our pieces. Then, suddenly the clock stops and we realize it was too late to make any moves. We regret it and constantly get caught replaying the same message in our head — “What if I move. . .?” — and wonder what could have happened if we had done something differently. Would it have changed the game, or would it have not affected the game at all? However at the end of the day we have to accept and learn any mistakes in our games and accept it as good lesson to improve ourself and be a better player.

So, this is what had been written by N in her blog

Saya rindukan chess. Abah selalu sahaja bermain chess dengan kami semasa kecil. Antara adik beradik saya, cuma Cod sahaja yang tidak pandai bermain chess. Dan tentunya pabila kami bermain chess, kami bermain mati-matian. Walaupun pisang goreng sepinggan disebelah, bercicahkan susu, akan dilupakan sejenak. Dan selalunya, Abah is unbeatable. Walaupun kami adik-beradik bersatu tenaga mahu mengalahkah Abah, even victory is nearly in our hands, he will suddenly makes a move that will totally change the rhythm of our game, and BOOM, he wins. We will stare at him, speechless, how could he change the direction of the game?

We are so sure of our winning, even smiling and laughing smugly. And when we lose, he will merely smile and make a move to surau. And leave us wonder, and ponder, how could he possibly overcomes the difficult, if not impossible, situations? Clearly, we are the novices compare to him.

I have a love-hate relationship with the chess tournaments. The tensions are never greater than being in the best team, and sitting and playing with enormous pressure to win. If I am to have a blood pressure test, I have no doubt that I am the worst patient.

Scary. Because I’m not a gifted players like the others. Who have thousands tactical moves. Who can beat me within 5 minutes, or even within 10 moves.

But I do know, when I play for fun, I could win.

Pressure ruins everything. Including your life.

Chess imitates real life. Play safely, play dangerously. Play nicely, play terribly. Play kindly, play mischievously. Play for fun, play seriously. Play lightheartedly, play treacherously. Play humbly, play deceitfully. Play sincerely, play wickedly. Play honestly, play awfully. Play genuinely, play riskily. Play respectably, play cruelly. Play maliciously, play fairly. Play nastily, play elegantly. Play classily.

But unlike chess, when you are stumbling, it doesn’t mean you are falling. Play it beautifully then.

A "Break" in Hong Kong

I was just arrived from Hong Kong last night. Not a planned journey but rather a journey of “doing without thinking”. My sister asked whether I want to accompany her to Hong Kong two days before the departure. So, I said OK and took my return flight ticket at KL Sentral. To be frank I was a bit afraid to tell my father about the trip because I promised him to go back home and I will miss few classes ( I never ponteng classlah). A day before I went to Hong Kong I called my father but surprisingly he said “enjoy your journey and don’t forget to buy me a t shirt”. Ha3X. It is a break for me since I will only have my term break during this coming Hari Raya.

When I arrived in Hong Kong my first expression was the city is just like a “big brother” to Singapore but Hong Kong is more densely populated city. The tall gigantic buildings, people walking and rushing everywhere are the normal scene in Hong Kong. Sometimes I think the people here live in tense and their objective of life is only to get money, money and money. However, it is not so surprising since the price of the real assets here are very high and that is one of the reason why the Honkers are working hard to earn money. I met with a couple of Malaysian student who rent two bedrooms apartment that cost them RM3000. They told me that only rich people will drive a car in Hong Kong because the price of petrol is RM20 per liter. (I felt like org kaya in Hong Kong because I drive and own a car).

I stayed in the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hotel in front of Victoria Harbour located in the shopping, business and entertainment districts of Tsim Sha Tsui East, in Kowloon. A really nice hotel and a walking distance from Nathan Road which is famous for gaudy stores and the biggest mosque in Hong Kong, Kowloon Mosque. When I went out from my hotel, and walked in the street I saw endless hi-rise office and apartment buildings. The interesting thing here is that most places we could get from building to building using the pedestrian bridges. So much of the time, the view of traffic can been seen from overhead and the traffic are always busy and noisy.

The best part of visiting Hong Kong was observing the survival of the Muslim community here. Alhamdulillah, I found two out five mosques in Hong Kong. Four mosques are in Hong Kong Island and another one in Kowloon. The first mosque I found was the Masjid and Islamic Centre at Oi Kwan Road in Wan Chai in Hong Kong island on the second day of my arrival. It was opened in September 1981. The majority in Wan Chai are Hui people (Chinese Muslim) and Indonesian. The Hui people cook very delicious and variety with big portion of fried rice (penat nak habiskan 1 pinggan). On that night, we took MTR back to Kowloon and we were lost but it was a bless in disguise since I found the second mosque. It was the Kowloon Mosque that beautifully located in the middle of shopping lots and the hustle and bustle of Nathan Road. I was surprised and impressed with the mosque and location. The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre opened in 1984. The Muslims here are mainly from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, the middle eastern and African countries. The Pakistanian halal food can be found easily here. So, the halal food was not a problem for us when we were in Hong Kong.

It was an enjoyable trip with a few lessons I learnt. One of the lessons is that I should be grateful with what I have now and what I have gone through in my life. I was brought up with seven siblings in a house with five bedrooms, we have a big compound that enough for us to play rounder, badminton or riding bicycles. Contrarily, since only the millionares own a house and from the economic wise most of the Honkers only have a small unit of family living in small highly rented apartments. They don’t have the big family, big compound or car garage like me. Shouldn’t I be grateful for that?