Untuk semua yang merindu dan di rindu/ bilik air penuh!

Senja...berulang rindu
dan ku sebut namamu
dalam suara yang bisu
engkau kah itu?

Dan ku ulang kembali
sewaktu dalam sunyi
nyanyian kata hati
rindu kah itu?

Biarkan kemesraan berlalu
bersama kesunyian yang padu
akan ku sebut nama mu selalu
namun ada rindu yang lebih dari itu

Kasih...di mana janji
dan kau terus kah lari?
dari ku yang menanti
engkau kah itu?

Suddenly I remembered this song and the singer.

The year was 1979 and the place was the lecture hall 1 at then IPT ( Institut Pengajian Tinggi) where we Asasians were having our lectures while some other lecture hall were occupied by the Law Faculty. After so many years, the building now houses the Faculty of Business and Accountancy.

(It was a big hall and we almost fill up the hall even then)

While waiting for the next lecture to begin, Kelly (f) and I made a trip to the rest room. The corridor was quite narrow and it was a tight squeeze to pass by the undergraduates all waiting to enter the lecture halls. Finally we made it and did what we went to do.

Suddenly the door flung open and a male student entered the female rest room. Our initial reaction of irritation made way for gigglish recognition when we realised who the `bugger' was...none other than the singer himself!

.

(Male, female or alien?)

`Ye,betul lah tu, saya Sudir, sorrylah dik, tak tahan dah, bilik air lelaki penuh!' accompanied by the naughtiest of chuckle.

Although at that time he was already doing nationwide tours, we quickly made our exit for fear of getting a free show!

Well...he did show signs of bursting his seams!

(Al Fatihah)

Friday thoughts

Watch your thoughts ; they become words. Watch your words ; they become actions. Watch your actions ; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character . Watch your character; it becomes your destiny .

My friend Lee

Commenting on my last post, Lee (Jurassic Lee) wrote we...

QUOTE: sometimes have to take things and life with a pinch of salt and maybe add sprinkling of lemon grass .... UNQUOTE

Just taking Lee's advise to take life non too seriously...

(From the same source).......

Title:	Man posing in front of St. Andrew's Cathedral : front view
Subject:	Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings Ethnic Communities Cathedrals--Singapore--Photographs Men--Singapore--Photographs Chinese--Clothing--Photographs Arts>>Architecture>>Religious buildings People and communities
Digital Publisher:	National Library Board Singapore, [194-?]
Description:	This photograph shows a Chinese man dressed in a long-sleeved jacket and long white pants standing in front of St. Andrew's Cathedral.
All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2008.

Haiya! Lee ah!....I'm sure you don't look like this ma? Surely more handsome and probably shod in no less than a pair of Bruno Magli's


Hahaha...I had a good laugh, maybe there was just too much salt and lemon grass making my head spin...


Lee,

Barefoot or not, clothed or loin-clothed, dark-skinned or fair, we are all human.
(No offense intended , just tickling your funny bone, hope you are laughing too.)

Some cheeky neighbor!

Being next door neighbors, we practically enjoy the same food, breathe the same air, smell the same sea breeze. Like it or not, proximity wise, you cannot help but see some going-on in your neighbor's house and vice -versa. Would it it be taking it too far if I say, next door neighbors would be able to recognise each other across a darkened room? Well, you probably would be able to (recognise each other) if you have been neighbors your whole life long.

Do our neighbors really think this is how we look like?

This text accompanied the photo:

Title:	[A Malay man in traditional clothing : single]
Subject:	Ethnic Communities Malays--Malaysia--Malaya--Photographs Malays (Asian people)--Singapore--Photographs Malays--Clothing--Photographs People and communities>>Social groups and communities
Digital Publisher:	National Library Board Singapore, [19--?]
Description:	This photonegative shows a Malay man, bare-bodied and barefoot, standing with his right arm akimbo and his left resting on the trunk of a palm tree. He wears a headcloth and a white cloth with its two ends dangling down in the front and rear of the lower part of his body. Title devised by Library staff.
All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2008.

Dear neighbors,

Stop being cheeky and update yourself. The Malays , in your country or here, have not looked like that for many, many, many years. In fact that photo was that of an Orang Asli (no offence intended) also many, many, years ago.
The only reference to time is at the Digital Publisher (19--)

Be kind and neighborly, isn't that how you want us to be?

Can't we be friends?

Tengku Shuib and his successors!

He looked resplendent in his ivory Baju Melayu, complete with black kain sampin songket with gold threaded motif. As he caught my eyes from across the room, there was a twinkle in his eyes and he gave me a meaningful wink. Yes, that was the day, we were to be united as man and wife, and the wink was a signal of a secret and hope we both shared for our life ahead.

As he lowered himself onto the tikar sila, he looked so handsome I had to pinch myself to convince myself that I was not dreaming. This guy, who had won my heart after the many who tried and failed. My prayers were that God in HIS Grace would allow this love welling inside my heart to go on till the end of time.

After the formalities were done with, the imam who was to solemnise the marriage vows came and asked me if I agreed to this union. And what is a girl to say, in this instance? To say, YES! seemed so unbecoming of how a bashful Malay bride should behave. To say, NO! is completely opposite to the joyful thumping of my heart. So, I did what I have heard from some old wives, `Kalau diam, tu tanda setuju' (Loosely translated, to keep quiet is to give consent), I smiled, lowered my head and said nothing. That seemed to be enough for the kindly Imam and he took his seat infront of my groom.

With one utterance of Aku terima nikah nya, Anneaziz dengan maskahwinnya sebanyak ...I was bound to him in law and religion as his wife. The warm, fuzzy feeling welled in my heart and for the first time in my life, I knew and felt what deliriously happy meant. Tengku Shuib and I were free to chart our life together and that day was the first day of the rest of our life.

(This is not Tengku Shuib but the happiness on the bride's face mirrored her happiness. Courtesy to LOCOPhotography)

I would wake up every morning thereafter for the next few days with the same warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. Nothing could rile me and nothing made me cross, the weather was always sunny and beautiful and there was a smile always playing on my lips.

How could a dream give me so much joy? The feeling of loving someone and being loved in return warms the heart, even though it was just a dream. Many years have passed since that day, but I could recall distinctly how he looked that night we wed. In fact I can remember his name with certainty and his face is etched in my mind.

Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all~ so said Tennyson.

Thank you GOD for that experience of being in LOVE.

The second time I got married in my dream was to a face so familiar, it tickled my heart to this day. The groom is a singer cum actor and I must have watched him sing or act in a movie that evening before I plonked down for the night. Beatman, Yiko! WAKAKA! I still roll over laughing! The chances of such union is so remote that it is downright unthinkable. He would have to be blind and mute and dumb...

The third time was to a man with an old Malay name. It was just a dream that came and went and I cannot remember much of him or ` our marriage'. Except his kiss....


Dreams and its significance. Am I starved for love? Sometimes I ask myself...

Nostalgia 2nd part

Ok cat, I know I promised no more sad, nostalgic stuff, but this one is one for the road.

We'll have a meooooow of a time after this.

Nostalgia

Lagu lama, perasaan tetap sama
Lirik yang menyentuh hati nurani

Not quite 20!

Can't resist posting this pic to immortalise the girl who says and thinks she's not quite 20!

Dalam Ingatan

Hari Juma`at lepas, selepas kelas di PAKSI*, aku berlari-lari anak mengejar dia. Sebabnya? Hendak ambil buku catatan percuma yang diedarkan oleh PAKSI. Tujuan pemberian buku ini ialah untuk menarik minat sesiapa yang belum mengikuti kelas agama percuma setiap hari Juma`at untuk turut serta berilmu dan beramal.

Setelah memberi dan menjawab salam, bukupun bertukar tangan. Aku dan makngah bergegas ke restoran sebelah Menara Zakat untuk menjamu selera. Selalunya, kalau berdua, memang inilah rutin kami. Ikan keli goreng , ikan keli bakar, cecah air asam memang scavorite (aka favorite). Di selang seli dengan ulam-ulaman dan juga gado-gado, hmmm....memang sedap!

Di situ, aku sekali lagi terserempak dengan dia. Aku tegur lagi,`La, makan kat sini jugak ka?' Tersengih-sengih sambil mengangguk. Berseorangan dia hari ini aku fikir, selalunya isterinya ikut serta.

Pagi Ahad, aku menerjah kelas Ustaz Zainal Asri. Tauhid bukanlah kelas yang aku suka miss, sebab Tauhid perlu dipelajari dari GURU secara berdepan, dan Ustaz Zainal Asri adalah ustaz scavorite.

Pada penghujung kelas, kami diberitahu, bahawa dia telah dimasukkan ke WAD HD di Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah kerana stroke, pada masa itu tengah koma dan disyaki terdapat blood clot di otak.

Aku berkira-kira, bila nak melawat. Tapi pesanan coklat ku belum terisi, menyebabkan sehingga pagi semalam aku masih belum menziarah.

Akhirnya pada pukul 10 pagi semalam, aku mendapat berita bahawa Ust Rahman Putra telah menghembuskan nafas yang terakhir malam sebelumnya.

Rasa terkilan , rasa sedih, rasa marah pada diri tidak mendengar suara hati yang berbisik menyuruh menziarah orang yang sakit.

Dalam sekelip mata, tiada lagi antara orang yang bertungkus lumus di dalam kegiatan PAKSI. Paling ku ingati ialah kerana dia lah yang selalu menyelenggara urusan pembesar suara ketika kelas dijalankan.

Al Fatihah kepada aruah, juga seluruh muslimin muslimat yang telah meninggalkan kita. Semoga roh mereka ditempatkan di kalangan orang yang diredhoi oleh ALLAH.

Rasulullah s.a.w pernah bersabda bahawa apabila matinya anak Adam maka terputus amal ibadatnya kecuali tiga perkara, pertama : ilmu yang bermanfaat, kedua : sedekah jariah dan ketiga : doa anak-anak yang soleh.



*PAKSI ~ Pergerakan Kebajikan dan Sosial Islam, sebuah NGO Islam yang sedang bertungkus lumus mengumpul dana untuk mendirikan Darul Hadis di Tok Keling ASTAR)


How fragile life is...when it passes, it seems like it was a dream.

The one that nearly got away (updated)

It had been 4 frustrating months. The wait was fraught with anticipation and hope. Then, it finally happened.

It started with a fluttering sensation in the tummy area, something like being touched by butterfly wings. Then, it started to get uncomfortable, felt like gas, but it was not. Perhaps it was hunger, still it was not.

After a full day at work, I stole some time to visit him, my handsome OBGYN. From Paramount Garden in Sea Park to his clinic at Taman Tun took all of 20 min. That was when your existence was confirmed and another long wait started, i.e for you to make an appearance!

4 weeks after that, there was still no sign of a heartbeat . The kind doctor wanted to terminate, `Try again', he said, `you're still young'. And I thought, `No way!' I said,` We'll wait another week. Or two.' If I had listened to him that day, we would never have gotten to know one another!

As if on cue, there goes the racing heartbeat almost popping out of the scan monitor during the next visit!

At the end of the first trimester, because of you, I was given a long bed rest, threatening to drop out way, way before time! Injections and visits to Dr Idris put that threat to rest.

I hardly had trouble once you got settled in. Save for the intense kicking I got whenever I stood by the sink (I got away from washing a lot of dirty dishes because of that!), everything was smooth sailing, no morning sickness, no blues, fit as a fiddle! I never forget the old wives advise Veronica, my office mate gave, she said `You must drink orange juice and soya bean to give her fair skin, carrot juice to give her good eyes and good skin, papaya if you don't want to constipate' Looking at you now, I guess she knew what she was talking about! (Thank you Veron!, wherever you are, may God bless you)

So that was my daily menu for nine months! Two oranges squeezed fresh, 1 glass of soya bean, 1 glass of milky carrot drink and one slice of papaya daily! Boy, could I eat and drink! Not forgetting one McD sundae from the drive in at Ampang Park at about 11.30pm everynight!

At 34 weeks, my BP started to escalate. Despite a doctor's appointment every two days and a series of sick leave which I failed to take up (remember, I was fit as a fiddle!), it shot up uncontrollably. Dr Idris threatened to have me arrested for endangering your life. (Did you know that Doctors are allowed to do that? Yes, they can! Serious!)

At 38 weeks, 2 weeks ahead of schedule I was asked to check in. The Doctor was worried that I had failed to respond to medication.

`13 January, bright and early', the Doctor said, `we'll have to get her out'. Once he left for the night, I had my dinner and talked to my room-mate, a policewoman who was humongous with twins! At just about midnight 12 January, my water bag broke, still no pain, in fact there wasn't any until about 4.30am. And by 6.25 am, I became a mother and you, kiddo! became my sunshine!

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine,
You make me happy,
When skies are grey.

You never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away

Your `favoritest' song when you were a baby. Actually it was the only song with notes my voice could reach. Didn't matter to you then. Now when I sing, you tell me , MUM, pls don't murder the song....

My first question to the attending nurse was, How many fingers and toes does she have? (I should have asked, how many mouths!)

(Sorry, Ma malas nak cari pic, so I had to use one walaupun kakak enter frame, lagipun you told me, you don't like pic yang lawa-lawa!)

The venue : Klinik OBGYN Dr Idris, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
The date : 13 January 1990
The baby : YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AYANG! LOVE YOU LOTS!

Taiping

The hill is 1036m above sea level, but the distance by road from the foot of the hill to the peak is 10.2km. Did you know that there are 92 hairpin turns up the hill? If my arithmetic is not too rusty, that averages 9 sharp turns for every km, which was a nerve wrecking experience. Imagine negotiating a hairpin turn while climbing a slope of 45 degrees! And all this is done in a jeep which has seen better days! Salute to the jeep drivers!

Feast your eyes on the view:

A majestic view

God is Great! The palm fronds must have been about 200 metres away

Taiping from the hilltop

THE FLORA:

Calms and soothes the soul!
A walk to remember..the canopy walk


View from the look out tower framed by the arc


(On the way down, proof that it was no limousine ride! I salute the 88 year old Singaporean grandma who took the jeep ride down with us without so much as batting an eyelid)

Taiping Zoo and Night Safari.

Although the Night Safari is the only one of its kind in Malaysia, we did not make that trip cos many remarked that you don't get to see much in the night light. If you get to Taiping, don't miss a trip to the zoo.. Missed a lot of animals cos the digicam battery ran out!

The FAUNA:

The beautiful panther

(Spot the mountain goat)

Macaws

Magnificent seladang

The orang utan taking a break, c'est la vie!

Flamingoes on the pond

Didn't know that white rhinos existed!

The shy hippopotamus

Time was running out so the trip to the Perak Museum was short and sweet with just pics taken in the vicinity of the museum. Too bad cos Taiping Museum is the oldest in Malaysia.

Kamalodge where we stayed during our Taiping break

The lodge reflected in the swimming pool

The teeny bops couldn't resist a close-to-midnight dip!