there are so many things left unsaid. sometimes couldn't find the courage. sometimes couldn't find the words. sometimes self-esteem gets in the way. and sometimes the brain is busy, or the heart is heavy... and needs to let off some steam. ha!
Salam & Good day to all... I hope you'll have fun reading and probably collect something useful here. I welcome all comments & commends. Be kind and please don't be anonymous. I'd like to know my visitors :)
"La Tahzan, InnaAllaha ma'ana" (Al- Quran: Surah At- Taubah- Verse 40) Translation: "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us." "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." ~Edmund Burke~
It's written by Hannah, an American exchange student, now in Ipoh. I love reading her blog because she reminds me of how wonderful my country is. Plus, I got to see my country in different perspectives through a young foreigner's eyes. The way I read it, to Hannah everyday in Malaysia is an adventure. I smiled everytime I read her blog entries... my favorite would be the listings of her likes & dislikes in Malaysia.
You guys should go & read her blog... It's amusing :)
****
Another one is a photoblog of a well known photographer. You'll be amazed by the photos he captured.
Assalamualaikum y'alls! Apa khabar semua? Sihat ke? Semoga kita semua didalam sihat & sejahteralah hendaknya ye. Dah lama rasanya Miss Speechless tak menulis ni... sibuk sangat agaknya sampai idea- idea yang ada semuanya terperosok dalam kepala... tak dapat nak keluarkan...
Bosan sungguh sibuk ni kan... I tak suker :P
Apa- apa pun... tajuk tajuk yang nak ditulis dah saved in draft, supaya tak lupa semua idea- idea tu... Mudah- mudahan weekend ni ada masa nak pulun tulis semua sekali. Excited ni...
Been so long since Miss Speechless in writing stance :P *skipping*
p/s: syok dapat luahkan perasaan dalam bahasa ibunda ni... heheheee... tapi, mesej tak dapat disampaikan secara global. takpelah... entry yang ni tak penting pun :)
I passed by this building on my way home last night. This building is always beautiful at night. It's always lighted with colours. Some nights, it's lighted with different colours, but tonight, only purple. I usually don't stop to admire its view. But last night I did... and I can share the view with you guys :)
There were a few other cars parked by the roadside. All of them, were also taking photographs of this building with their DSLR...
I was only armed with my phone camera :p
Nevertheless, the pictures are still good & I want to share it here.
Enjoy!
Note: Samsung galaxy Note 10.1 camera does not produce a good picture quality.
I got a chance to watch tennis Malaysian Open finals on Sunday, thanks to Miss A. Salleh. I'm not a tennis fan, but I went coz Miss A. Salleh asked me to, it was a free ticket & I've never watched tennis match before. I know nothing about tennis, except the fact that the players are rich & some of them are very hot :p
As I told Miss A.Salleh, my knowledge of tennis players stopped at Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf...
and of course her jaw dropped... hihihiiii...
For someone like me, who is not a tennis fan, watching tennis is tiring. Although there were some exciting parts. I did enjoy my time during the games. Sometimes, I was more excited than the tennis fan beside me :) But to be honest, there were quite a few times during the games where I asked myself... when is this going to end??? The games seemed to go on forever...
And my lower back already hurting from sitting too long... (such a weak lower back :p)
But, that is also the part where tennis players impressed me most. They can play for so long... The singles final match lasted for almost 3 hours. Such stamina!
... and they served at >120km/h everytime! Such strength!
Such an impressive sport!
To tennis players, I salute you for your strength & stamina (not to forget how hot Rafael Nadal is :p).
To tennis fan, I salute your endurance for watching the game :)
I'll go to the game again... if I got free tickets of course. Plus, it is always enjoyable being around sports fans.
... are three must watch movies.
... all three movies involved animals...
... salmons, gray whales & a tasmanian tiger.
... all three are touching, motivating & full of values.
... my favorite is 'Salmon Fishing in The Yemen'... it's original, intriguing, sweet, touching, smart, funny etc... it's just wonderful. I didn't fast forward at all. Haven't watched a movie like this in a long time. I love it!
... 'Big Miracle' is based on a very inspiring true story that happened back in 1988. 'There is always something that we can do'. That is so true!
... 'The Hunter' is based on a novel set in Tasmania, Australia. Wonderful landscapes... A movie that sparked my curiosity. But, a little sad.
... movie trailers below, for your preview :)
I'm glad I found the time during my surprisingly productive three days weekend to watch these movies.
Enjoy! I hope you'll love these movies as much as I did :)
But tonight, there is an entry there :) A silver entry by Dato' Lee Chong Wei from the Badminton arena.
All of us were hoping for a gold. Malaysians are disappointed when Lin Dan snatched the gold medal from all of us. But, watching the way Dato' Lee Chong Wei played tonight, the disappointment doesn't feel that heavy. He has tried his best. He is the best to us.
We'll get that gold next time :)
I just hope the newspapers won't write anything negative tomorrow. If they do, I would say it's just so typical of them... and maybe we should send them to compete in the Olympics & see how they performed... Urrghhh...
Dato' Lee Chong Wei, CONGRATULATIONS! We love you!
Sedap jugak lagu ni. Catchy... Rasa macam nak 'shake my body' bila dengar... hihihiii... Beat dia best. Suka!
Tapi, bab lirik ni... adui la haiii... Especially part 'Kini masa balas budi' tu...
Errr... bukan tak bersyukur, bukan tak mengenang budi...
Cuma... bukankah semua yang dilakukan itu adalah atas sebab itulah sebenarnya tanggungjawab?
Budi yang ditabur, minta dibalas?
Hmmm...
Kita masih belum menguasai ilmu ikhlas...
Hari Kebangsaan... Hari yang sepatutnya menjadi nadi kekuatan & untuk mengingatkan kita kembali kepada betapa sukarnya tanahair kita mencapai kemerdekaan seolah- olah dipolitikkan.
Ini boleh memudarkan warna biru pada Jalur Gemilang.
This is a posting on FB today by Groupon Malaysia. I cried after I finished reading this post. Especially after I saw his picture, wiping his sweat, while cycling his tricycle.
In his on way, he helped to make this world a better place for some people. He touched, changed & helped to improve the lives of so many.
Bai Fang Li taught us that we can all make a difference, for the better... no matter who we are...
Semalam, di stesen LRT, mata saya hampir terkeluar apabila melihat seorang lelaki memakai seluar pendek yang teramatlah pendeknya.
Ini bukan kali pertama saya melihat lelaki tersebut. Sudah beberapa kali...
Adui ai... Sakit mata acik.
Selalunya, 'imej' tersebut akan cepat hilang... Tetapi minggu lepas, saya melalui pengalaman yang sama sekali lagi, untuk satu jangkamasa yang agak lama. Seorang lelaki yang memakai seluar pendek yang teramatlah pendeknya, di dalam LRT & berdiri di hadapan saya.
Menggunakan ayat yang sedikit sastera untuk membayangkan perasaan saya pada ketika itu...
'Kemanakah harus kuhalakan pandangan ini?'
Disebabkan hal tersebut, saya menghabiskan masa dengan memerhati kasut penumpang- penumpang LRT disepanjang perjalanan.
Maka, demi menegakkan keadilan sesama 'gender', saya ingin menekankan disini:
Bukan wanita aje yang kena tutup aurat cik abang oiiii...
Kalau bercerita tentang menutup aurat, kita lebih banyak bercakap tentang aurat perempuan. Tentang perempuan yang tidak menutup aurat, atau menutup aurat tetapi tidak sempurna. *peringatan ini buat diri saya terutamanya*
Tetapi lelaki, auratnya jauh lebih sedikit daripada orang perempuan. Cuma antara pusat & lutut. Masih ada lelaki yang tidak mampu melakukannya.
Memandangkan saya sendiri mempunyai banyak kekhilafan, maka rasanya tidak begitu layak untuk bersyarah dalam hal ini... maka saya tampilkan video Ustaz Azhar Idrus untuk menerangkan hal ini dengan lebih lanjut.
Apa- apa pun... saya berharap tidak akan berjumpa lagi dengan lelaki- lelaki yang memakai seluar pendek yang teramatlah pendeknya.
Warning: For those who haven't read this book, this entry contains spoilers. Read at your own risk :P
Whose face is that? Arghhh... it's messing with my imagination!
*****
Ok... I bought this book on Saturday's evening. I finished reading it in one night :P
I loved it! Mostly because it has a happy ending. Laksamana Sunan & Sang Ratu finally got their happily ever after! *Skipping, skipping*
And to think that Saifuddin is still so cool, tough & macho even though he has aged made me love him even more.
What I love about this final book?
It prologs with a romantic scene. I click 'Like' like a hundred times :P
I love that it provides all the answers & conclusions. I don't think there is a story that has been left hanging. Is there? I don't think so.
I'm so happy for Saifuddin & Ratna. After all the challenges, they finally got together. And to think that both of them joined forces to kick the demons' a**... wow! They are made for each other. Can't find a better match for Laksamana Sunan. Ratna is such a good wife. She's always wise, supportive & strong. No wonder Saifuddin would do anything for her.
Happy for Luna & Yedee, but sad for Indera. Such love... so touching.
What I don't love about this final book?
My eyes almost popped out when I read Haryani's name towards the ending. Why bring her back into the story??? Arrrgghhh... She is the only character in Laksamana Sunan's series that I don't like. Unlike unlike unlike! If I'm a writer of a drama series, Haryani would be the character I would kill off at the end of season 1... or if I'm nice, maybe on first episode of season 2.
Above all, I love the writing style. All the flashbacks & flash forwards spun my brain high & low. Trying to remember all the characters & connect all the stories, was what made reading this novel fun. It's like solving a jigsaw puzzle. You get a piece & put it in a place here & there. Bit by bit until you get the complete picture. It's satisfying :)
However, I felt quite tired towards the end. Too many stories to digest. Too cramped. All the stories of current, past & futures compiled together... it's tight.
I'm actually quite sad to know that this is Laksamana Sunan's last book. I wish to have more adventures with him. Indirectly, Sunan did influence his readers' lives, in so many little ways. That's why we'll miss him dearly.
I'm sure going to miss my Abang Sunan... huhuhuuuu... but he gets to rest now. Happy for him :)
'Sunan Musafir' might be the end of Laksamana Sunan's stories, but I got a feeling that it is a beginning of another.
Can't wait for a new adventure by Ramlee Awang Murshid :)
Have to start to see with 'mata hati' for a better profiling & speak with 'suara naluri' for a better communication. Ahaks!
Under Sunan's 'spells' again & this is going to last for a while now :P
* In Malay --> you can skip this part & go straight to the analogy story :)
Di kelas mengaji, Ustaz Nazri mengingatkan kami semua supaya sentiasa membaca Al-Quran, meskipun kita tidak begitu pandai membaca, tidak begitu pandai tajwid, tidak begitu betul sebutan dan langsung tidak memahami maksud Al-Quran. Jangan disebabkan kita pandai dalam semua atau salah satu perkara tersebut, kita terus meninggalkan amalan membaca Al-Quran.
Pesan ustaz, bacalah setiap hari. Satu hari, 3 baris ayat pun sudah memadai.
Pesan ustaz lagi, sentiasalah berusaha untuk mempelajari ilmu Al-Quran. Cara- cara bacaan, sebutan- sebutan serta makhraj huruf, tajwid, makna & tafsir Al-Quran. Ini menjadi kewajipan kita semua sebagai umat Islam.
Pengalaman saya belajar mengaji di Masjid Negara, semakin banyak saya belajar, semakin perlahan bacaan saya kerana banyak yang perlu dijaga.
Ada pendapat mengatakan yang tidak guna membaca Al-Quran jika kita tidak memahami maksudnya. Ustaz Nazri mengingatkan bahawa ini pendapat yang tidak betul kerana pahala membaca Al-Quran & pahala memahami maksudnya adalah dua perkara yang berasingan.
Ini mengingatkan saya tentang satu kisah analogi tentang membaca Al-Quran yang pernah dikirimkan oleh seorang sahabat saya. Email itu sudah tiada didalam simpanan saya. Mujurnya, saya dapat menjumpai cerita tersebut dihttp://www.paranorms.org/t242-why-we-must-read-al-quran#3831
*****
Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word? This is beautiful story, please read till end and forward to all you knows...
An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked,
"Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied,
"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.
The grandfather laughed and said,
"You'll have to move a little faster next time,"
He sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said,
"I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,"
He went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said,
"See Grandpa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?"
The old man said,
"Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and outside. That is the work of Allah in our lives."
Moral of the story : Read Al-Quran frequently as it will purify our heart. When we have pure heart, it is easy to do righteous and leave jahiliyah and badness in ourselves.
Al-Haramain... dua kota suci. Akhirnya, saya dapat memenuhi undangan menjadi tetamu Allah, menjejakkan kaki ke kota Mekkah & Madinah. Sebelum saya benar- benar tiba di sana, sebelum Kaabah belum betul- betul di hadapan mata, doa saya kepada Allah, undangan yang telah diutuskan kepada saya, janganlah ditarik balik. Saya benar- benar ingin menjadi tetamu Yang Esa.
Bukit-bukit berbatu di padang pasir...
Syukur, Alhamdulillah. Ibadah umrah telah saya laksanakan. Doa saya, semoga ibadah umrah yang telah saya tunaikan hampir sebulan lalu diterima oleh Allah s.w.t. Walaupun rasanya ada kekurangan dalam ibadah umrah saya, saya tetap berdoa semoga saya mendapat umrah yang maqbul dan semoga ibadah saya di 2 kota suci itu akan memberi kesan dalam kehidupan saya sehari- hari, di dalam segala segi. Saya berharap untuk menjadi seorang insan yang lebih berkualiti :) Insan yang berusaha bersungguh- sungguh untuk menjadi hamba Allah yang dirahmati.
Gambar lama Kaabah di Muzium Mekkah
Pengalaman ke 2 kota suci adalah satu pengalaman manis yang tak mungkin dapat dilupakan. Bahkan, ia membuahkan satu kerinduan yang tidak dapat ditafsirkan. Patutlah setiap orang yang pernah menjejakkan kaki ke Mekkah & Madinah, sering berharap akan dapat kembali ke sana. Gambaran Masjid Nabawi & kubah hijaunya, gambaran Kaabah & Masjidil Haram masih segar diruang ingatan. Terasa rindu kepada suasana beribadah di sana. Walaupun ada cabaran- cabarannya, tetapi yang terpahat di hati & ingatan hanyalah yang indah- indah sahaja :)
Kali ini, saya akan kongsikan pengalaman mengerjakan umrah saya & juga beberapa tip- tip yang saya rasakan penting & berguna kepada semua yang bakal menunaikan Umrah.
Persediaan sebelum menunaikan Umrah:
1. Dari segi Ibadah, akhlak & kerohanian:
Pintu Abdul Aziz pada waktu Subuh
Saya mengikut nasihat Emak & beberapa orang sahabat yang pernah sampai ke dua kota suci, serta teman- teman yang bakal menunaikan umrah dalam jangkawaktu yang sama.
Nasihat Emak, banyakkan solat- solat sunat, terutamanya Tahajud & Taubat. 3-4 bulan sebelum tarikh umrah saya, Emak sering mengingatkan supaya rajin bangun malam untuk berqiyamullail.
Teman- teman pula menasihatkan supaya rajin- rajinlah berpuasa sunat & jika ada puasa wajib yang masih belum diganti, gantilah sebelum menjejakkan kaki ke tanah suci.
Mereka juga menasihatkan supaya saya mula melatih diri supaya banyak bersabar & mengurangkan marah :) Secara kesimpulannya, proses penyucian diri sepatutnya bermula lama sebelum kita sampai ke Mekah & Madinah.
Fahamkan dengan jelas cara- cara serta bacaan untuk solat Jama' Qasar, solat Jenazah serta solat- solat sunat.
Lancarkan bacaan semasa tawaf & sai'. Memang benar kita tidak perlu menghafal doa- doa untuk tawaf & sai' seperti yang ditulis didalam buku panduan umrah. Tetapi, jika kita hayati doa- doa tersebut, ia adalah doa- doa yang baik. Jika dapat dibaca, rasanya lebih baik. Lancarkan doa- doa itu supaya kita tidak tergagap- gagap membacanya sewaktu tawaf & sai'. Tetapi, sekadar membaca maksud doa- doa tersebut juga boleh. Mengikut pengalaman saya, membaca maksud doa, lebih terkesan di hati. Kita juga boleh berzikir (tahlil/tasbih/tahmid/takbir) sewaktu menunaikan ibadah tawaf & sai'.
Fahamkan dengan jelas cara- cara menunaikan umrah, niatnya, larangan- larangan sewaktu di dalam ihram, cara- cara tawaf, cara- cara sai', cara- cara bertahallul supaya kita tidak ragu- ragu dalam beribadah dan supaya kita tidak hanya mengikut- ikut atau terikut- ikut apa yang orang lain lakukan.
Bacalah buku 'Travelog Haji' oleh Muhammad Kamil Ibrahim. Buku ini sarat dengan panduan dan peringatan buat bakal- bakal tetamu Allah s.w.t.
2. Dari segi kesihatan & kecergasan:
Mulalah bersenam. Berjalan perlahan- lahan ditaman sudah cukup. Sekadar untuk membiasakan diri dengan aktiviti berjalan kerana kita akan banyak berjalan sewaktu di Mekah & Madinah. Berulang- alik ke masjid, tawaf & sai'.
3. Pakaian yang hendak dibawa:
Ramai yang menasihatkan saya supaya tidak perlu membawa banyak pakaian kerana kita boleh membeli pakaian dengan harga murah sewaktu di Mekkah & Madinah. Tetapi bagi saya, lebih baik kita membawa pakaian yang cukup. Kita ke tanah suci adalah untuk fokus kepada beribadah, bukannya membeli belah. Bukan tidak boleh untuk membeli- belah, tetapi itu bukanlah keperluan utama :) Jadi, nasihat saya bawalah pakaian yang cukup. Cuaca disana menyebabkan badan tidak berpeluh atau berbau. Pakaian boleh dipakai lebih daripada sehari. Tetapi, demi menjaga kebersihan, cukuplah dipakai untuk dua hari, janganlah sampai berhari- hari :) Kalau memilih untuk menghantar pakaian ke kedai dobi juga boleh. Harganya juga tidak mahal.
Buat jemaah wanita, bagi saya berjubah & berseluar panjang adalah lebih praktikal. Seluar yang hujungnya kuncup adalah lebih baik kerana ia tidak mudah terselak. Sekiranya memakai seluar yang hujungnya lebar, pakailah stokin yang panjang :)
Stokin pula, pakailah stokin yang tebal. Mengikut pengalaman saya, stokin yang panjang hingga ke pergelangan kaki lebih praktikal. Kadangkala, sewaktu di Masjidil Haram, kita hanya mengambil wudhu di paip air zam- zam kerana bilik air jauh di luar masjid. Di kawasan paip air zam- zam pula, terdapat jemaah lelaki lalu- lalang di situ. Agak sukar untuk memakai semula stokin yang panjang dengan adanya jemaah lelaki kerana stokin panjang perlu ditarik lebih tinggi :)
Tudung, pastikan labuh menutup dada & tidak jarang. Tidak perlulah terlalu berfesyen. Sederhana sudah cukup.
Bawalah pakaian- pakaian yang menutup aurat dengan sempurna & 'syariah compliant', bak kata Miss N :)
Di Masjid Nabawi:
Suasana redup yang menenangkan :)
Masjid Nabawi adalah sebuah masjid yang menenangkan, luas & cantik. Ada payung- payung automatik yang akan dibuka ketika cuaca panas. Menunggu payung- payung tersebut terbuka sudah cukup mengasyikkan :) Apatah lagi apabila ia sudah terbuka sepenuhnya. Cantik!
Di Masjid Nabawi, kawasan solat lelaki & wanita diasingkan dengan jelas dan ada polis- polis yang menjaga supaya tidak ada jemaah lelaki yang dapat masuk ke kawasan solat wanita. Selepas pintu masuk utama menuju ke ruang solat, tong air zam-zam ada dikiri & kanan.
Dewan solatnya luas, tetapi masih tidak cukup menampung jumlah jemaah yang ramai. Sesiapa yang terlambat, terpaksalah bersolat diluar. Pengajarannya, datanglah awal ye :)
Berkunjung ke Makam Rasullullah s.a.w, Saidina Abu Bakar r.a, Saidina Umar r.a & Raudhah adalah satu pengalaman yang mencabar dan tidak dapat dilupakan. Waktu untuk jemaah wanita berkunjung ke tempat- tempat ini yang letaknya didalam Masjid Nabawi adalah selepas waktu Subuh, Zuhur & Isya'. Sekiranya mahu, tunggulah didalam masjid setelah tamat tiga waktu solat ini. Polis- polis akan memberikan arahan & menentukan giliran masuk. Ikutlah arahan mereka, jangan berebut, banyakkan bersabar, tolak- ansur & hormat menghormati. Apabila mendapat peluang untuk bersolat & berdoa di Raudhah, janganlah lama- lama kerana masih ramai lagi yang menunggu.
Sebelum meninggalkan Madinah, jangan lupa mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada Rasullullah s.a.w walaupun sekadar mengucapkannya dari luar masjid, menghadap ke kubah hijau, tempat letaknya makam baginda & dua sahabatnya.
Cantik kan?
Di Masjidil Haram:
Pemandangan Masjidil Haram & persekitarannya.
Masjidil Haram sangat besar & bertingkat- tingkat. Tawaf & sai' boleh dilaksanakan di setiap tingkat. Ruang solat wanita diasingkan dengan ruang solat lelaki oleh rak- rak Al-Quran. Walau bagaimanapun, kadangkala terdapat juga jemaah lelaki berehat bersama isteri di ruang solat wanita. Sesuatu yang tidak patut dilakukan dan seperti tidak menghormati hak orang lain.
Tandas hanya terdapat diluar masjid. Tetapi jika terbatal wudhu' kita dibenarkan berwudhu' di paip- paip air zam- zam. Cuma kena lebih berhati- hati hal aurat.
Datanglah awal sekiranya mahu duduk di saf depan atau pun dikedudukan yang strategik. Jangan sampai mengganggu keselesaan jemaah yang ada disitu, sekiranya masih ada ruang, berilah laluan kepada jemaah yang sedang mencari tempat.
Tempat- tempat lawatan di Madinah:
Masjid Quba', Gunung Uhud, Bukit Pemanah, Ladang Kurma, Perkuburan Baqi'.
Untung rasanya dapat menjejakkan kaki ke tempat- tempat bersejarah dalam Islam. Kalau dapat membaca sedikit sebanyak tentang sejarah tempat- tempat ini sebelum pergi, lebih mendalamlah penghayatan kita. Mata mutawwif yang merupakan pelajar Malaysia di Madinah seperti bergenang dengan airmata sewaktu menceritakan tentang kisah Perang Uhud & bagaimana syahidnya Saidina Hamzah r.a serta syahidin- syahidin yang lain menyebabkan saya sendiri terasa seperti hendak menangis.
Hebatnya iman para sahabat... dapat tercapaikah oleh kita tahap iman seperti mereka?
Pemandangan Jabal Uhud & makam para syuhada dari atas Bukit Pemanah.
Tempat- tempat lawatan di Mekkah:
Gua Tsur, Jabal Nur, Ladang Unta, Masjid Hudaibiyah, Muzium Mekkah
Kisah tentang hijrah Rasullullah s.a.w dan Saidina Abu Bakar ketika memanjat dan bersembunyi di Gua Tsur amat menyentuh hati. Pengorbanan Saidina Abu Bakar r.a, Saidina Ali r.a serta Saidatina Asma' dalam memastikan keselamatan & kejayaan hijrah Rasullullah s.a.w membuatkan saya tertanya- tanya setebal itukah keimanan saya?
Betapa Rasullullah s.a.w., ahli keluarganya dan seluruh para sahabat berkorban nyawa & harta benda demi menegak & mengembangkan syiar Islam.
Di puncak tinggi itulah Gua Tsur...
Makan malam di kaki Jabal Nur, yang dipuncaknya terletak Gua Hira adalah satu pengalaman yang menarik. Kedinginan padang pasir pada waktu malam sangat menyamankan. Dipanaskan pula dengan nasi Arab berlauk kambing serta buah- buahan & manis- manisan... hmmm...
Sayangnya, kami tidak berpeluang untuk ke Gua Hira'.
Jabal Rahmah
Excited dapat bermesra dengan unta :P
Makanan di Mekkah & Madinah:
Kurma Ajwa (Kurma Nabi), kurma yan kecil dan berwarna hitam. Kurma kegemaran Rasullullah dan dapat menjadi penawar racun.
Air Zam Zam - bekalan yang tidak pernah kurang, boleh dipilih antara sejuk atau tidak. Jangan lupa sertakan dengan doa sewaktu minum air zam- zam kerana kesannya adalah bergantung kepada doa kita.
Nasi Arab - Nasi Arab yang dihidangkan dalam perjalanan menuju Mekah begitu lazat sekali! Tidak begitu berminyak & sangat menyelerakan!
Tengok gambar je dah kecurrrr air liur... nyum nyum...
Buah- buahan terutamanya buah 'plum' di Mekah & Madinah, sangat manis! Saya sangat suka!
Teh jenama 'Golden leaf''... dihidangkan panas &pekat. Rasanya amat menyamankan. Teman saya Miss T mengatakan masalahnya seperti hilang apabila minum teh tersebut. Hihihiii...
Jus buah- buahan, terutamanya jus mangga... mesti cuba! Tapi, boleh menyebabkan demam. So, jangan minum banyak- banyak :)
Aiskrim... mesti cuba! Lazat!
Sarapan pagi ala Arab... agak kering... tapi, sedap jugak :)
Jus yang sangat lazat. Mesti cuba!
Shopping di Mekkah & Madinah:
Telekung, sejadah, tudung, minyak wangi, tasbih, inai, celak, pelbagai jenis jubah, pelbagai corak abaya... Macam- macam adaaaaa... cuma berhati- hatilah... jangan lupa tujuan utama kita ke tanah suci :)
Pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan:
Pada satu waktu solat Subuh di Masjid Nabawi, Imam menangis teresak- esak ketika membaca satu surah yang saya tidak pasti surah apa. Esakan beliau amat menyentuh hati, menyebabkan kami para jemaah turut menangis teresak- esak. Bacaan 'Amin' selepas Al-Fatihah didalam rakaat ke-2 selalunya bergema kuat di Masjid Nabawi tetapi bukan di Subuh itu. Kami semua masih berusaha untuk menahan esakan yang berterusan.
Saya berpeluang untuk berkenalan dengan 44 orang jemaah lain didalam kumpulan umrah. Semuanya baik- baik & peramah belaka. Setelah hampir 2 minggu bersama, kami sudah seperti sahabat lama terutamanya dengan sahabat- sahabat kecil saya, Miss Wawa & Miss NH.
Mutawwif- mutawwif kami, sama ada yang mengiringi kami dari Malaysia, ataupun yang menunggu di Mekkah amat menyenangkan. Mereka berusaha bersungguh- sungguh bagi memastikan perjalanan kami selesa & selamat dan membantu memastikan kami melaksanakan ibadah dengan betul & sempurna. Terima kasih menggunung kepada Ustaz Hassan, Ustaz Ab. Razak, Ustaz Muhammad & Hj. Fatah dan kepada semua pekerja- pekerja hotel yang baik hati.
Si comels bermain pasir di pantai Laut Merah
Akhirnya, selesai juga entri ini setelah sebulan berlalu. Semoga pengalaman yang saya kongsikan disini sedikit sebanyak dapat memberikan gambaran tentang apa yang akan ditempuhi di Mekah & Madinah. Jagalah akhlak sewaktu disana dan gunakanlah sepenuhnya setiap waktu yang terluang untuk beribadat.
Sebelum saya menutup entri ini, saya ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih teman saya Miss T yang banyak bersabar dengan kerenah saya selama 2 minggu perjalanan umrah kami. Mohon maaf ye Miss T apa- apa yang tersilap kata, tersalah laku, terkasar bahasa, termakan & terminum :) Semoga persahabatan kita semakin utuh selepas ini. Amin.
Semoga saya dan semua jemaah- jemaah yang telah atau akan menunaikan umrah akan dikurniakan umrah yang maqbul oleh Allah s.w.t.
Huh? What's up with this entry? What's the relationship between these two?
Aceh is so far away from the LYNAS project. Aceh is on the tip of Sumatera Island in Indonesia. The LYNAS Project is on the east side of Peninsular Malaysia. These two are separated by the Straits of Malacca & the mighty Titiwangsa range, house of the inactive volcano system.
Aceh has experienced massive earthquakes. Once a 9.1 on Richter scale in 2004, which caused a tsunami that took 220,000 lives. Another one, 8.7 on Richter scale happened just recently.
The coast where the LYNAS plant is safe... calm & steady or so they said.
Yet, the recent earthquake that hit Aceh recently, can also be felt by the east of Peninsular Malaysia... a place that we think is so far away from the earthquake centre.
The people who supports LYNAS Project, a 'rare earth' processing plant say that it is safe. There will be no radiation, no contamination... etc etc... It will be responsibly, carefully & systematically managed. There is no reason for us to be worry.
But, that's what Japan thought of their nuclear plant as well... until the tsunami hit them on the fateful 11-March-2011.
We think, we are safe from natural disaster. We are not in the active volcano range, far from the danger of the tectonic plates. No earthquake, no volcanic activity, minimal possibility of tsunami.
Has this made us cocky? Nature has been kind to us, therefore we want to push it so just we can see how much kinder it can be?
The tremor felt by east of Peninsular Malaysia could become stronger. When it does, is the LYNAS plant prepared for it? Have we not learned from what happened to Japan?
And we are not Japan... I truly admire the courage, strength, discipline, responsibility of the Japanese when faced with adversity. They are like the Phoenix... they can rise from the ashes, stronger.
I do not want to imagine the worst case scenario, but I do hope people who agreed to go forward with the LYNAS project have a plan & a few back up plans when the worst case scenario happened. If not, all of us, the citizens of Malaysia, citizens of the neighbouring countries & citizens of the world will blame the government of Malaysia for not stopping this project, for not listening when Malaysians said we do not want to have a radioactive plant in our country... for being stubborn and for blending this ingredient for disaster into our lives.
You will be owing us so much when the worst case scenario happened because we have told you so!
Update on 02-July-2012:
Anastasia gave 2 names for this dish:
The Rainbow Connection
Chicken Chasing The Rainbow Dish --> the image is playing in my mind & it's so funny!
I'm going with the 2nd one. So much fun!
So, please read on how I come about the recipe of this 'Chicken Chasing The Rainbow Dish' :)
*****
I don't know why, but suddenly I keep on thinking about this one dish that I ate a few times during my visit to China.
Coincidentally, my Mom is too tired too cook.
Fortunately, I was at the supermarket & super hungry when the taste of this dish hit my brain.
I haven't cooked for quite some time... I swear I saw my Mom almost jumped from happiness when I told her I was going to cook Chinese food.
I don't know the name of this dish. All I know is that it tasted good & fulfilling :) If you know what is the name of this dish, do tell me please :)
By the way, I think some of the ingredients that I add is not in the original dish... So, it is not really the same as the one I had in China... Similar, but not the same... ngeee...
I also think that, this recipe is healthy & good for us who wants to be on diet.
The ingredients:
1. Onions
2. Garlics
3. Cucumber
4. Capsicums- red & yellow
5. Pineapple cubes
6. Tomatoes
7. Chicken slices
8. Eggs
9. Dried chilli --> because at home, if it's not hot, it doesn't taste good :)
10. Cooking oil --> not too much
11. Salt
12. Water
Don't ask me about the measurement, because I don't know how to tell you. I cook using instinct (Wow, I sound like 'God of Cookery' the movie :P)
If I just give you the pictures of the result, without giving you the instructions on how to cook it, can you imagine how it's done? I hope you can... coz I don't know how to tell you the instructions as well.
All I can tell you is it tasted so goooooddd... even my mom said so.
I got through this flash flood experience with mixed feelings.
Worry, nervous, cautious, alert and... excitement (somehow... hihihiiii...) But after it was all over, the one thing that I was definitely feeling was tiredness.
Cleaning the thick, stubborn, slippery mud was not an easy job even for a few people.
It was raining very heavily that day. The water rose so fast to knee deep in about 5 minutes. It was scary... seriously. It was like a small tsunami.
The river must have risen about 10 feet.
The day after... compare the river level.
An interesting 'friend' I found once the flood decreased.
My home was quite badly affected by this flash flood. But some others experienced worst.
I pray that this will not happen again. As much as I love the rain, I get nervous if there is no sign of the heavy rain slowing down after an hour.
Nature is something that we do not want to mess with.
I love this song... I first heard it while switching through the TV channels during my lazy times at my hotel room in Hong Kong. For about 10 minutes, the TV channels hopping stopped at the Deutsch channel. There was another band that I loved, but I couldn't remember the band or the song's name.
Luckily I remember this song. It sounds so romantic... :)
I need to really understand German to appreciate the lyrics. Direct translation not really helping... hihihiiii...
Hope you'll love this song as much as I do.
P/s: The other Tim Bendzko's songs are quite good. You should go check it out. Enjoy!
Bercerita dengan seorang sahabat tentang cabaran dalam kehidupan & kerjaya sehari- hari. Dalam begitu banyak cabaran, hasad dengki tentulah salah satu daripadanya... kan?
Kadang- kadang, kita yang tak ada apa- apa pun didengki orang. Tak faham kan? Mungkin kita ada keistimewaan yang kita sendiri tidak perasan. Cuma dapat dilihat oleh orang lain. Mungkin juga ianya ujian daripada Allah. Apa- apa pun, redhalah. Keistimewaan atau ujian, kedua- duanya kelebihan buat kita. Peluang untuk kita menjadi insan yang lebih baik.
Kita ni semuanya manusia biasakan? Soal hati & perasaan ni, bukan terhad kepada perasaan cinta aje kan? Hasad dengki pun, soal hati & perasaan juga. Macam cinta, hasad dengki juga bukan dipaksa- paksa. Ia juga sukar diteka. Betul ke? Hmmm... Inilah dia penangan penyakit hati.
Tapi, semua penyakit ada ubatnya. Macam cinta, hasad dengki juga boleh dikawal... Boleh diubati.
Soalnya, mahukah kita mengawal desakan hati itu? Mahukah kita mengubatinya?
Takkan tak mahu? Ih ih ih... tak baik tau dengki- dengki.
Hasad dengki ni, bukan sekadar menyakitkan orang yang didengki, malah menyusahkan diri sendiri. Apabila hasad dengki meluap- luap, senanglah syaitan nak cucuk jarum kerana lubangnya sudah ada. Sudah tentu kita semua tak mahu syaitan menguasai diri kita kan?
Siapa yang tak pernah berhasad dengki atau didengki orang, untungnya mereka. Saya belum termasuk dalam golongan yang beruntung itu. Belum lagi :) Syukurnya, penyakit ini, hanya 'mild' buat saya (rasanya laaa... eikkksss). Syukur sangat. Sekiranya kita didengki orang, berdoalah kepada Allah semoga perasaan hasad orang itu akan beransur- ansur pulih dan janganlah mencurahkan minyak keatas hati yang memang sedang berbara :) Jangan cari penyakit... *wink* Kasihanilah orang itu kerana dia juga sedang menghadapi kesukaran melawan perasaan hasad dengkinya (peringatan untuk diri sendiri...).
Apa pula yang dapat kita lakukan kalau kita sendiri yang berhasad dengki terhadap orang? Susah ni... kan? Tapi, seboleh- bolehnya. kawallah. Hasad dengki itu, simpan aje didalam hati. Tak perlulah menyakiti orang yang didengki tu. Gunakan semua tenaga & sumber yang terkumpul dengan perasaan hasad dengki itu untuk memperbaiki diri. Lebih berfaedah begitu. 'Inspiring rivalry' ... (peringatan untuk diri sendiri lagi...).
Disini saya sertakan senjata doa untuk melindungi diri daripada didengki orang, dan juga supaya kita sendiri tidak berdengki dengan orang :) Semoga kita semua mendapat kebaikan. Amin...
Ayat Penggerak:
Boleh baca kelebihan doa ini diwebsite Darussyifa' ye.
Sumber: Koleksi Doa Terpilih oleh Dato' Dr. Haron Din
Lagi satu doa yang berfaedah buat kita semua dalam usaha memajukan diri.
Sumber: Koleksi Doa Terpilih oleh Dato' Dr. Haron Din
Segala kebaikan & kelebihan itu datangnya daripada Allah, segala kekurangan adalah daripada diri saya sendiri. Semoga entri saya pada hari ini menjadi sumber yang berguna kepada kita semua.
Can't shake this off... a good read is a good read. I spoke about this series so passionately that a few of my friends & I have become a member of ASFC --> Abang Sunan FanClub. Kekekeee...
I managed to spread the Laksamana Sunan fever... ngeeeeee...
Since my last entry, Ramlee Awang Murshid have added 2 more books in this series... Cinta Sufi & Sutera Bidadari. Of all the 5 books, my favourite ones are Cinta Sang Ratu & Sutera Bidadari.
These 5 books are such an enjoyable & entertaining read... full of adventures!
I'm sure there is a 6th book coming... Can't wait!
If you haven't read these books, you better! Go get them! Go go goooo...
Seperti yang telah saya war- warkan kepada beberapa orang sahabat saya, maka saya, The Sometimes Speechless akan mencuba pada tahun 2012 ini, dengan sepenuh sedaya upaya saya untuk meningkatkan tahap kesopanan & kesusilaan saya. Saya juga menyeru kepada rakan- rakan pembaca, seluruh rakyat Malaysia & warga dunia supaya sama- sama menyahut seruan yang murni ini.
Ngeee...
Usia dah semakinnnn meningkat... Masa untuk memperbaiki diri... Walaupun sepatutnya dah mula sejak dulu lagi, tapi rasanya sekarang masih belum terlambat.
Terbaca sketsa dibawah sewaktu menghabiskan masa di Facebook...
I love Amsterdam. Not for the wrong reasons... no no noooo... Surprisingly, it's a cool place to visit. I enjoyed my time here...
Probably because it was less crowded and I got to spend half a day with nature *skipping*
2 days were not enough! Not enough! *sigh*
Amsterdam has trams... so convenient. I love trams... Amsterdam has trams, Melbourne has trams... Why KL doesn't have trams?
We took a Thalys train (First class!) from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Centraal. The ride was smooth, the 3.5 hours journey was comfortable. The trip from Paris to Amsterdam took us across Belgium. If you take this kind of trip you can immediately know that we were not in France anymore because the architecture is different. So much difference for neighbouring countries :)
Foods served on Thalys's first class :)
When we arrived at Amsterdam Centraal, the Dr.; Ph.D was already waiting for us. 7 years didn't make a difference at all. It felt as if we were still in university time, when were still young adults. Still so young now :P
Amsterdam Centraal
First thing first when we arrived in Amsterdam, dinner! Our stomachs were already drumming and I kept on thinking of 'nasi briyani'. Hahahahaaa... So, the Dr.; Ph.D brought us to an Indian restaurant where the chicken briyani & mango lassi were so yummy! Over the roof yummy! I want!
After dinner, we went to the famous 'red light district' where I was fully prepared to experience a culture shock! But eh, not too shocking... Unfortunately, I have seen it all on tv. I'm not going to tell you about this district, you can Google it. Mr. Goog has everything *wink*
I didn't take a picture of the district... I was busy experiencing the area... kikikiii... Anyway, I borrow a photo from Mr. Wiki, just for you guys :)
The next day, we're off for a fun day. The Dr. didn't come with us. He has to prepare for his thesis defense. So, it were Anastasia & I again... having fun in the winter!
Amsterdam city
Amsterdam river cruise... niceeeee... loving it...don't miss it!
Then we're off to 'Zaanse Schans' to go and see windmills! OMG, I loved this village. I wish I have a getaway cottage there... the place was beautiful, the air was cold & fresh, the wind was strong... it was just beautiful.
So cold!
Hmmm... I love it!
I wish to have a cottage here...
Tasted them all... all good!
...
Imagine living here... so beautiful...
Then we went to see a traditional Holland's clog making. The lady who gives the explanation to us was funny... we truly enjoyed her presentation... hihihiiii...
Last destination was Volendam, a local fisherman village... it was already dark & bitingly cold... brrrr... I loved it!
Once we got back to the city, it's off to dinner time. Ribs... I love ribs... *drool*
No picture... sorry! :) Was busy enjoying the food... no time for picture :P
The next day, which was our last day, we're off to buying souvenirs... before that we stopped to pose with 'I Amsterdam' :) It's near the Van Gogh Museum. That time, there are people constructing an ice skating ring there... *sigh* we came to Amsterdam to early in December. Otherwise, we'll get a chance to show off our skating skill :P Yeah right! Hahahaaa...
I love winter morning... so peaceful...
After we were done with our souvenir shopping, we hurried to Vrije University to support The Dr. during his thesis defense. So much support from us :P We arrived 45 minutes late! But his other friends were there & looked like he was so cool & so sure with his answers... so, no worries.
He was smiling so big later when posing with his Ph.D. Congratulations!
That's the end of our short trip to Amsterdam. Too short. I loved the country. Must go back again.
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