Last weekend activities

My weekend started on Thursday night, since the following day was a holiday. With the Ramadhan still the month, no lunch cooking, no outings, no gathering, but going to/fro Perak is still on. Nadia had been waiting since Thursday morning. As usual, my hubby and I did abide by her calling. We targeted to reach KL right before the fast breaking time.

As for me, I went straight to the restaurant where I’ve set an appointment with an old friend, Azzah, or widely known as Wahti Mahidin, the ex-journalist of NST. We met up as planned. It was quite a rush, but we did it on time.She appeared with her 2 cute little boys and her 2 maids. The boys enjoyed their outing so much that they turned their white shirt to yellowish by rolling down, cleaning Giza’s floor all night.

We had a long and pleasant chat, for old time sake, that I cancelled my plan to workout at the gym that night.
          

On the next day (Friday), I felt like cooking vegetable. I missed eating mixed veggies. I am the only vegetable lover in the house. So, I send half portion of my cooking to my parents inlaw. Cooked by a fasting-cook, it was salt-less, but nice and crispy. Adding a little salt  could turn to just perfect for me and my mom-inlaw's liking.
 
Sweet peas, Green and Yellow Zucchinis, Broccoli, Bell pepper uh….. my kinda food. but it wasn't a right time to eat them, as we have planned to eat outside , celebrating Nadia’s Birthday on that particular day. She turned 18th. My big girl. We just had it at a simple place, Madam Lim’s at Sunway Giza, (Its a Nyonya & Thai Fussion) since my hubby and I had to go up to the gym for our prearranged workout session after dinner.

Happy birthday sweetheart mama..!!!
      
Nadia’s father granted her a gift she requested on the eve of her birthday. She wanted her Papa to enrol as a member at the gym. So, with half heartedly dragging his moves, I accompanied him up to the gym, where I later happily watched him being guided by a his personal trainer, Fauzi, a nice guy.
   
Then on Saturday, while everyone were supposed to be helping on the ‘Raya’ cookies baking, Nadia and I decided that its was time to treat Grandma and Grandpa. Much much earlier planned but never happened, Nadia and I decided at last, that, that was the day.

We took our foot scrub equipment and went to my inlaws’. We offered our service, the mother-daughters’ hidden talent, “FOOT SCRUB” and reflexology, to both my parents-inlaw. I did it on my mom-inlaw’s, while Nadia did on her GrandPa's. It was fun and satisfying to see their happy faces, being pampered by daughter inlaw and grand daughter.

Instruction:
Soaked both feet into a basin of salt-added warm water for a few minutes. Meanwhile, caress them with TLC (tender loving care).
Next, towel dry and spread a foot scrub cream onto the feet. Softly, scrub every corner of the toes, heel and all emphasizing the rough area.
Next, rinse and use lotion while you move to the next service in line, reflexology. That put them to doze-off.
Try this to someone you love. The gift might not be expensive, but it surely will be remembered.

Then ARGGHH…!!!!….SUNDAY ALLREADY. 
We spent more time at home. I cooked  Tomato Rice, and Prawn Soup Noodle. They turned out simple but acceptable.

At 9pm, almost forgotten that I had a gym training session scheduled by my sweet looking trainer,Imie, who sent me text message to remind me. I went.
After the training session, I was glad to know that I’ve lost some portion of my fat.
Yahoo….!!!!!! but I wonder which part..??

After 2 weeks off

I am dumped with a long list of Things-To-Do lists. I cant afford to get sick. At the same time I have to deal with my sleeping disorder. I'm not sure why it is taking too long for me to re adjust to my Malaysian sleeping time even though I’ve been back home for more than a week.

At night I could not sleep until about 3 am. Now that its Ramadhan, when I had to get up at around 4:30 or 5am to prepare for our ‘Sahur’, its worsen the condition. I could not sleep at night and get pretty sleepy at day light.

I did not intend to workout at the gym during this fasting months. However, I forced myself to go, upon coming back from my trip. Let me re-word… my trainer forced me to come and continued the training session. I did as asked.

I didn't enjoy my very first Ramadhan work out, but after the work out, on the next day, I felt good and energetic. Then I went again without trainer on the next night and the next, and the next.

Its been about 5 days of working out during the fasting period and I believe I’ve lost a little weight. I have no intention to keep track of my weight until the end of the fasting months. Let it be a surprise to myself. 

In the office, I have no mood to set any appointment with any of the clients. I’ve got to stay in to complete all the pending tasks. My resting time would be for my prayers and logging in to Facebook.

Training, meeting or seminar were pending due to the fasting month.I don't want to live in denial, but here’s the fact… Ramadhan seems to be a slow month in Malaysia,which its not suppose to be.

Oh.. I miss lunch with my colleagues.. I miss ice-cream..I miss shopping… I miss quenching my thirst with Kickapoo in the hot afternoon…

Feeling younger

My excitement of being able to get hold of a few of my primary school classmates is still warm. I am starting to remember more people and able to imagine how they looked, although I dont remember how I looked that I had to dig for an old photograph.

Pick a guess.

 

(I’m the one sitting next to my mom)

I gave a call to few of them, just to initiate the connection. First call never been easy, but one just need to do it if one needs to stay connected. I did.

Recalling back to the good old days, I feel much younger.

Once, she dominated my life

One morning, she woke me up very early. She said she would teach me how to catch  live crab. I was only 17 years old then. We both attended the same Sabah College and both addressed each other as foster sister. She used to bring me home to her parents’ during the school holiday when the boarding school was not allowing stay-in student.

As for her, my family accepted her as much as how she wanted to be accepted. A few times, she spent Eid with us in Lahad Datu.

That morning, she took me to a place called Sembulan, not too far from Kota Kinabalu town area. The water was still clean and crystal clear, that I could see a crab burying part of its body under the mud. She then stepped on it and knelt down to pick it up, holding it on a specific position to avoid the claw. She showed me the technique several times, but I still could not get myself accustomed to the act of stepping on any creature. So, I didn't pick up the skill and Never did.

For a period of time, we both spent every weekend at Tanjung Aru Beach, selling drinks at the hawker stall, licensed to her mom then. We enjoyed the money earned and satisfied ourselves with our favourite food.

Then, another period of time, she would pick me up from school to be her van conductor. She herself drove the passengers van. Again, every earnings were spent on food and enjoyment. Once, we took a trip to Labuan to shop on electronic good, a few times we walked in to a disco/night club to enjoy the music and dance, although she knew, as a student I wasn't suppose to be in such a place, then we would hung around with ladies of hockey players and ladies of football players whenever there was tournament going on. She was a hockey player for the state, while I was a player for my school.

I was still in school, but had learned a lot about life from her. I never let my parents know about all those activities that I went through with her though. Student was suppose to stay in school and study, remember? Somehow, I had managed to keep my study level at par. Thank God, I passed every exam.
Other than real life, she also taught me about self respect. I owe her on this.

With her arrangement, we attended the same university, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. I started to feel like an adult and wanted to be treated as an adult, while she was still acting like a big sister towards me. I started to feel uneasy being ordered and told. Do this , dont do that, dont befriend this person, befriend that person, take this course, dont take that course. Ok..Ok..thats enough. I decided to break away from her, upon my graduation.

I really did. After graduation, we went separately ways. We lost contact for more than 15 years. I never even want to think about all the things that we did together.

Then one day in 2004, she gave me a call. She wanted to meet up. We did so,in KL. We were like two strangers, not knowing what to say and what to ask. Then, gradually, our meeting were getting often. She told me then that she had reached her target to become a millionaire lady. I said I was happy for her. However, to avoid closeness, I kept putting a gap to our relationship. I didn't want to know too much about her, so I kept our meetings short.

I only accepted her offer to spend a night at her mansion, twice. In my every visit to Kota Kinabalu, while on the job, I preferred to stay in the hotel instead, as I need my privacy. She understood and respected my view. At dinner, we would meet up for a seafood, or for a karaoke session at her house, which has a karaoke room with full set of karaoke system. She would pick me up from the airport or would get her driver to fetch me. She would take me out for dinner and enjoyed music. She knew how I love music. She had always treated me as special, regardless who were around us. But for me, I still kept the gap not too close. I had enough of being a little sister to her.

I was among the first to know when she received her Datukship. She proudly called me one day and said “Hello, this is Datuk Hamidah”. And on her every new purchase of big bike (she was a big bike lover) or every new property she bought, I would be among the first to know too. I could tell that she still trusted me as she used to. I treasured it.

Deep in my mind though, I wondered why she decided to contact me after those years and why she still treated me so special. But it didnt really bother me  and of course I do appreciated her too.

On my recent visit to Kota Kinabalu, she took me out again. It was in April. We spent time with her children at Shusi King Restaurant and at karaoke. When she answered a call from her doctor, I overheard the conversation, which made my heart pounded harder than usual. I asked if she was keeping a secret about her health problem from me. She said no, and said nothing wrong with her. I kept silent, waited for her to say more. She didnt. I respected her decision.

Not too long after that, she called  telling that she just came back from her Umrah. She called to tell me that she prayed for me during her visit to the holy land. She prayed that I would reach the holy land soon. I thank her for that.

2 days before my departure to my ‘umrah’ I gave her a call, but she did not answer. I wanted to tell her that God answered her ‘Du’a’ and I would be leaving to the holy land.

On the 3rd August, 2010, while I was preparing to leave for the airport to go on my Umrah (visit to holy land, Mecca), I received a call from another friend, who informed that my dear friend ‘Vicky’, who I addressed ‘Kak Vic’, and who was proudly wanted to be called Datuk Hamidah, passed away of cancer. Its was devastating news for me. I could not attend her funeral as I was catching a flight.

Later I learned that she could not answer that call of mine, because she was already admitted into the ICU when I called. That was my last call to her mobile phone.

I came back from my Umrah on the 16th Aug 2010, and still having her in mind. Good bye sis.

Al-Fatihah

Oh Allah, I’ve learned

While on my visit to the holy land doing my ‘Umrah’ last couple of weeks, I’ve learned that Malaysian are good people. Respectful, clean and with great discipline.
Malaysia is beautiful, clean the people are friendly.
For those reasons Malaysian are liked by most local people in Madinah and Mecca.
That was what I’ve been told by those Arabs, whom I came across.

I could feel the advantages being a Malaysian, when I was there. No matter how crowded the mosque, I never had much difficulties searching for a seat to do my prayers. Someone or two were always kind enough to squeeze me in between their seating place. All I did was smiled to those ladies, shook their hands and praised 'Assalamu'alaikum', which phrase is understood by all Muslims.

Oh Allah, I've learned that you are always there to answer my prayers. Oh God, I've prayed for you to keep me away from difficulties throughout my journey and I've learned that you listened to my prayers.
 
Once or twice, my requests were rejected, but I was not hurt at all because I knew that somebody would be willing to take me. In my mind, I only had one goal. I was there to pray to God and with God’s willing, I shall get a place. And all the time, I got it.

Having been to Pakistan also an advantage for me, and earned me a welcoming gestures from many Pakistani ladies seating next to me.

While doing my ‘zikir’, I looked around, amazed with such number of people. Maybe hundreds of thousand, maybe million of them, not knowing where everyone came from, we were all there to pray for one God, the Almighty Allah.

I’ve seated next to the old, the young, the black and the white. They were all nice to me. Again, God answered my prayers. Thank you, Allah.

Arab's children are so cute to my eyes..they are.....indeed.
   
 
During Ramadhan, I didnt bother to think of what shall I have for breaking my fast, because I knew someone would offer me ‘Kurma’ (dates), at least. And they always did.

On my last day in Mecca, I decided to contribute food at the mosque. I bought 10 loafs of bread. The moment I took them out one by one to the crowd, I was almost suffocated by the number of hands appeared and almost covering my face. I saw a lady holding the piece of bread and lifted her hands, thanking God for what she had gotten for the day. I was so touched. I could not continue the task. I handed over the bread distribution job to my hubby and my son. The 10 loafs of bread disappeared within seconds. I wished I’ve bought more.

I’m now back in Malaysia with full of appreciation to Allah, for the precious life that I have, for what I am and for giving me this beautiful country, Malaysia.

The other side of personality while on ‘Umrah’

Its different. Its amazing how million of people are able to be occupied in a single place . some able to understand each other while none Arabic speaker like me, uses sign language to get a seat for prayers. Something that proven though, that a smile and a handshake most of the time helps to get 2 persons moved aside and allowed you to sit in between them.

Camera is not allowed to be taken into the mosque though. Anyway, the number of people praying outside of the mosque pictured the crowd.

 

That was the daily situation at the holy land, Mecca. I didn't think that I would turn 180 degree away of my personality at the holy land. The only thing I could think of was for God to listen to my prayers, to be close to Him, to be forgiven for all the sins I’ve gathered unintentionally or intentionally before. I didn't want to think about other matters. I didn't even bother to check on my email and text messages. I only realized that my mobile phone batteries ran out of  power when my cousin needed to use it.

For 12 days there, I’ve learned to focus on my prayers despite the heavy nuisance with the loud orchestraeic (if there is such a word) children cries, people arguing over seat, people crossing over my head, and walking across me, even pushing me aside, while I was in a midst of my prayers.

I’ve set my mind to be patient. I’ve set the level of my strive according to the situation, which I overheard from other who had been there. I did it well, with God’s willing.

While there, I prayed for everyone. Yes, I mean..EVERYONE I KNOW, including their children, those who are still around and those  who were no longer around, like my millionaire friend, the late Datuk Hamidah, who passed away unexpectedly on the day I was leaving for my ‘Umrah’ trip. That was quite a devastating news for me. Especially when I grew up with her and gone through a lot with her during our school and university time.

Beside feeling closer to the Almighty, I am still who I am. Sense of humor is still essential to my life. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w  himself was a friendly individual with full of humor. In term of dressing appearance, as of now, I decided not to make a 180 degree switch. My acquaintances would still recognize me immediately. The time will come, InsyaAllah.

 

Turning back time, on the 3rdAugust 2010, a group of us boarded the plane without much to say as we were from all over the places and were not introduced to each other then.

 

Also on the 3rd of August, I was having a mixed feelings between happiness, eagerness and sadness.

I was happy to be together with my parents throughout my journey.

I was eager to pay for my visit to be closer to Allah.

But I was vary sad that my grew-up-together friend passed away on the same day and I could not attend to her funeral.

Talking about the journey, we reached Madinah at midnight. My husband, Zul, Adri(my son) and I spent the whole night at the beautiful mosque ‘Mesjid Nabawi’ until the morning prayer, ‘Subuh’, were called.

Everyone were so amazed with the beauty of the great mosque. I couldn't say more. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt closer to God, the Almighty Allah and the Prophet Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him). I never felt so close. Too bad, camera and mobile phone are not allowed inside the mosque.

Shopping is still part of life. On the way back to the hotel, we could not hold ourselves from stopping by those stores along the way. They were so tempting. Guess what…the store keepers majority speaks Malay. They like Malaysian, Indonesia and Bruneian. They said we are very disciplined people. I was proud to hear that.

  

3 days later, we took a 6 hours bus ride to Mecca. The main soul cleansing place.

The feeling I was experiencing as I saw the great mosque right in front of me was inexpressible. I could not describe the beauty of the wonderful islamic structure building, including those towers surrounding the mosque. The tall clock tower stood proud next to the mosque.

The crowd at the Masjidil Haram swelled tremendously, as Ramadhan was approaching. It was as good as the Haj time. Going for prayers was like going to the war zone. People rush and fight for a seat.

One thing I noticed, Malaysian are among the most liked group due to their patience and good behaviour. Way to go! Malaysian. Malaysia Boleh!!

 

15 August 2010. Getting together at last…!!!! through my camera.

As when we were just started to know each other, it was time to pack.

Everyone were tired but excited to go back. It was such a long journey to Jeddah airport although it only took not more than 2 hours including a stop at ‘Mesjid terapung’ (translated as Floating Mosque) located at Red Sea. Among the factors that causing such feeling…its fasting month. We all went through a great test from God. We made it, Thank God.

After breaking fast at Jeddah Airport, I could see happy faces.

 

I wished we had more time to get to know each other.

16th August 2010. Home sweet home. A slight flu welcomed me, while a slight fever decided on Adri.

(more pictures should come later)