No to racism.

The most awaited GE13 did happen, and everyone knows who the winner is. By a simple majority BN re-governed themselves once again, denying the PR to verify their capability. Fine. Best man win. Best party in. Unfortunately, one mistake most of us do now (post-GE13) is blaming each other for our own satisfaction. We chant racial statements; we spread detestation and fitnaa; we claim hatred from people around us. Without we realize, we are no longer Malaysians, but divided into our own racial classes (Malay, Chinese, Indian, others).

I believe most of you are educated enough to know the blame game will not get us anywhere. Being racist in your own sphere means one thing – you’re still in limbo, unclear about yourself and others.

DS Najib was not happy, everybody can tell. He claimed the ‘chinese tsunami’ has arrived on the Fifth May. Really? Maybe. The UMNO-supporters are using the winning-seats from DAP, tuning it into racial sentiments. I got it. Definitely. But it left me with one difficulty, why, if it is true? What caused this situation to be happening, regardless all the efforts and hard work to win the Chinese and other non-Malays?

The answer could be within us, the Malays. We accused them on being racist and we are doing the same thing, at the same time, too. From the beginning, we live in fear. We heard things and we live our days by believing ‘those’ things. We fail to learn that our roots and cultures are different. We fail to enjoy our differences. We fail to celebrate our dissimilarities; if we choose to still chanting on racial sentiments. Guys, we live in this country as ONE. So be it.

Stop the blame game. Stop being racist.
It’s sickening.

***

Dear DS Najib;

I hope you are clearly understood, 505 was not an easy win. With a simple majority; worst election performance – nothing to be proud of. But already, people have made their choices. BN has been re-elected once again, and it means one thing. Deliver your promises. I know you will face the hard time re-structuring the cabinet since many names have gone down the dream. I certainly wish the lines will meet the people’s need. Just a gentle reminder, the opposition is stronger than before. Anwar could not be defeated; Nurul Izzah stays; Rafizi is in. The seats increased. Well, you do the math.

Dear PR supporters;

If you think you are fighting for a better Malaysia, do not stop. NEVER.
Remember, Rome was not built in a day.

Law of Love

You have within you more love than you could never understand.
I have found mine.

A New Space.

I have moved to a new space, officially.
A new space to learn, to live, to love, and to laugh.
A new space, for a great start, inshaallah.

* * *

I was caught in between two great places to re-living my dream; and after a few long discussions with my husband, we are firm on grabbing the opportunity in USM. Even  though UUM seemed to be way too cheaper and closer to my home (more economical), but we both knew that we just made a right decision by not going. Who else shall I be thanking if it is not my husband. Thank you for the morale support, for assisting all paper and online matters. Thank you for everything.

* * *

You might be wondering, whether the baby is already out for good; but it isn’t the time yet. I wouldn’t say “anytime soon” as I do hope we can have some more time together, just the two of us. It is an uncertain feelings you would have, as you’re closer to the dateline. Half of you would urge for a quicker reality to set in, but the remaining half (especially your heart) – asking for nothing to change. Let the bun in the oven, for a year more.

But, that’s not what going to happen.

At 36 weeks, and still speeding across the Penang bridge 4 times weekly to attend classes in USM – quite a tough routine to be held onto, but alhamdulillah, I have survived for a month; and inshaallah, will keep the survival spirit until the baby is giving a sign to attend into a labor room, instead of going to public policy and economic room.

One year; a step closer.

Once i asked a married friend, “How is married life?”
She only replied, “Let you discover for yourself”.

Not because of that single curiosity have made me married my man.  The reason (we accepted each other) is beyond everything one could offer – we are fated to be together. It happens sometimes that you (will) accidentally star in little performance, yet it resounded every details of your involvement. It finally happened to me, once and for all.

People told me the first year of marriage is the hardest. We found it absolutely fine, we got along famously. Alhamdulillah. But always remember, all relationships are meant to be tested to some point. Sometimes infertility issues come afloat; sometimes the long-distance seems to be a never ending story; and even sometimes differences and habits once viewed as endearing can grate your nerves as time goes by. See, marriage is not an occasion where any couple could enter without understanding its “hidden” meaning. It takes work and commitment to carry you and your spouse when something is not right. It takes your whole life.

The most important point that I have learned throughout our first year is : No one was designed to meet your needs all the time. Absolutely, marriage is like a bank account. You cannot constantly making a withdrawal when you have not made enough deposits. You should not be a taker all the time. You had to give. Easy?

One funny thing about marriage – actually you don’t have to take years to know your spouse-to-be. There was no such thing as ‘mengenali hati budi’ if the relationship takes you up to 4-5 years of going out, dating, shopping, travelling etc. If you want to know him/her, get married – and the informations you require, shall come in presence eventually.

I am glad that I married a man who is totally different from myself. Taking the fact I have known him for 10 years, including those years we have lost each other – nonetheless he is still a stranger to me. We got married without knowing everything, and now we are exposing every single thing. We must always remember – we’re not attracted to our spouse by accident – because there must be reasons for opposite attracts. Think about it.

In conclusion, life has been a wonderful journey. Long-distance marriage has successfully ended and the main concern is building a family – a real family. Inshaallah with His blessings, we are welcoming the 3rd member of the family in few months. I am halfway through the journey, alhamdulillah. There will never be enough words to name the moment, once you know there is another life ‘living’ with you.

Let me tell you the secret – the Nine Months seems like a very long time, but before you know it the baby will be just here. Of course, Dainal and I can’t wait to feel the mixture of anxiety, excitement and expectation.

What else could be more rewarding than helping create and welcome a new servant of Allah?
May Allah ease of our journeys and affairs.

Little Things

Garden of Malaya – I suppose this would be my last writing in GoM (Garden of Malaya). It was hard for me for the past one month, but alhamdulillah after two weeks of ‘kerja amal’, things (and emotion) are getting better. Looking at the new bright side of life, helps me a lot to re-adjust the fact I am no longer belong to UM.  This fact indeed, has this bleak sadness about it and I just can’t figure it out. I’m sad, for I had just to leave this earlier.

Suddenly I remember this entry which I posted two years ago.
If you are brave to say “goodbye”, life will reward you with a new “hello”.

And the verse from Baqarah:216
“But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not. ” (Yusuf Ali)

Does it sound ‘enough’ to you? It is for me, at least. I do believe there must be something more to this happening. I believe in my taqdeer, our taqdeers. I hold onto my faith, knowing everything will turn great in future. I am convinced, inshaallah, ten years from now,  when I started to look back – this was the best thing ever happened to me.

* * *

Where else the best place for me other than being next to my other half? We were living in incompleteness all these while, and it would be my honour to put everything back together in it’s place. My Husband has played a major role in these ten (10) months. He got my back eversince we are married, being patient in our long distance marriage, keeps me uplifted during my gloomy times, and many more.

Should I say this time is the best for me to start practicing solehah to him, and get some sound of muslim personality :- strong religious beliefs and practice, intelligence, and good behaviour. May Allah bestow His Mercy and Guidance on me, and to all the wives out there.

* * *

Perhaps more than anything else, these three (3) years have taught me values of life – through my immediate professor, cluster deans, research officers, subordinate staffs, librarians, cleaners as well. A week ago, I had written a few of thank you notes but unfortunately they appeared only in mind, and got faded away by times. No one to blame, they just came, and went.

Here I am, strong-willed to get on a new track.

Menunggu April

05 Februari - Hari ini, cukup setahun simpulan janji saya pada bakal suami – sebuah janji untuk menjaga hati dan peribadi; juga untuk bersedia nurani dan jasmani, sebelum saya bergelar seorang isteri kepada si dia, yang kini sudah menjadi pendamping setia di sisi (alhamdulillah).  Pada asalnya, saya memilih untuk tidak mengadakan majlis pertunangan, tetapi menghormati permintaan Mama, kami langsungkan.

Apabila dikhabarkan majlis pernikahan akan berlangsung dalam masa dua bulan, ramai bagaikan tidak percaya. Cukupkah untuk persediaan majlis perkahwinan? Sedangkan setahun pun bagaikan tidak, inikan pula dua bulan (sahaja). Teman-teman rapat yang hadir di majlis, semuanya ketawa. Tak percaya. Tetapi bagi diri sendiri, menunggu April adalah satu tempoh yang sangat lama.

Saya percaya,  tujuan utama ikatan pertunangan ini bukanlah untuk kami berdua berpacaran, bertemu siang atau malam untuk membuat persediaan, tetapi lebih kepada memberi peluang kepada kedua-dua belah pihak (keluarga) untuk saling mengenali. Perkahwinan bukanlah di antara dua jiwa semata-mata, tetapi seluruh jiwa-jiwa yang berterbangan di antara mereka.

Tatkala ramai anak muda memilih untuk bercinta dan mengenali budi pekerti terlebih dahulu, saya memilih untuk menikmatinya selepas berkahwin. Keyakinan untuk mendirikan rumahtangga bersama seorang kenalan lama; yang juga cinta pertama saya di usia remaja, hadir setelah kembalinya Abah & Mama dari Makkah al Mukarramah. Saya mengerti, Allah merahmati setiap langkah mereka mendaki Jabal Rahmah; dan setiap titik peluh mereka yang terbit di panah matahari ketika di sana.

Pertama kali bertemu selepas sepuluh tahun, saya yakin Allah telah memelihara saya untuk dirinya. Saya tidak mengambil masa yang lama untuk menyatakan persetujuan untuk menjadi suri di dalam hidupnya; isi di dalam gembiranya. Allah tidak menyampaikan dirinya kepada saya tanpa alasan untuk kali kedua – setelah sepuluh tahun kami terpisah. Jika dulu saya tidak berkesempatan untuk menyatakan perasaan saya, kini saya mendapat peluang itu setiap masa, dan paling utama, diiringi doa dan pahala.

Menunggu April, adalah tempoh yang sangat indah…

Review: 1kg of Fun

We didn’t have any experience on visiting any Universal Studio before and it was our first visit to one in Singapore (USS). The idea just popped-out few weeks behind, since both of us were reluctant to get involved in the awaiting massive traffic congestion, up to north during Chinese New Year. Since my Uncle decided to bring his two kids to USS, we got tagged in it as well.

Well, I wasn’t too sure what is in store for me. The first thought that came up was it’s kinda Disneyland thingy – Mickey & Minnie, cartoon characters etc. Yupp, what a lame thought… The only thing I knew, there are roller coasters; and I haven’t had my first ride in my entire life!

The Entrance

If you’re going, please be there as earlier as you could. Try to ensure you have plenty time to walk around the entrance. It’s the best time to photograph moments because once you’re inside, the roller coasters are far more important (ahems); and get your hearty morning meal as food will be the last thing on your mind, in hours time.

The Attractions

Honestly, we didn’t complete all the zones and attractions, but luckily we got almost all of the big shows during our time. We got delayed for some time, due to the long queues. I have waited for fifty (50) minutes just for a 40 seconds ride. I’m impressed!

• Madagascar

Our first ride. It was a ‘comel’ experience. A light one, welcoming you with 1001 imaginations of what USS has in store for you. I miss Alex!

• Far Far Away

We had our Shrek 4-D Adventure in this zone and I’m still lingering after the huge, fairy taled castle built in the courtyard.

• Waterworld

Three (3) words – too much explosions. It is a live water-show; full of stunts, gunshots and explosions. I think my husband loved the show!

• Ancient Egypt

It has the Mummy Ride, which I highly recommend to the go-ers. It is done in total darkness, and you won’t have any clue what will you get in second. Sharp bends and sudden reverse in darkness, greeted by scary mummies will drive you crazy throughout the ride. Don’t forget to buy the captured photo for $18. You’ll laugh!

• Sci-Fi City

This is the best amongst the best! Battlestar Galactica (Human & Cylon) are both jet-coasters which favor my own definition of what roller-coaster is. If you’re brave enough to pump your adrenaline to the maximum level, just take your seat.

One of the magnificent attractions in USS, is the recently opened Transformers the Ride. The 40 minutes waiting time is nothing compared to what will you get during the ride. We rode the transforming robots twice. And we were still screaming our lungs out!

Others

• Restrooms/Musolla

The Restroom facilities is located throughout the theme park. There is one in every zone, always in the best condition. Don’t forget to bring small bottle of water (if you’re not a tissue-type). What I love about the restrooms – they’re all featured according to their own zones!

For Muslims, the prayer room is located somewhere at the entrance (Guest Service). There is no signboard, you have to ask for the direction. What if you couldn’t find the place? No worries, there is a lot of quiet and hidden places that you could use to pray. All you need is a small mat (sejadah) and a compass.

• Restaurants

There are many courts where you could find your meals, according to your preference. To a couple like us, food is the last thing on our mind. We didn’t bother to take our lunch, we just had nuggets and wedges (considering the Halal status, too). My Uncle had Briyani Rice for $36!

• Souvenirs

It’s EVERYWHERE!
To ease the findings, just walk-through the Universal Studio Store, located right at the entrace/exit.

USS at Night

These are some shots taken during night at USS. For some reasons, this place looked more welcoming and happening during the night time. There were fireworks, dances, all in glitters!