Last Syaaban Weekend...

Today is the last Saturday in Syaaban.

The plan is going out for a stroll outside...maybe window shopping or getting a bite to eat or maybe a muvee. "Kapten Mareka" is playing now at the theater. I'ld rush out after finishing last week laundry. So while waiting lepak-lepak la depan TV...OMG a SRK muvee is on.

Just remembered. Yesterday I told a friend of mine, I am planning to stay up late, watch some KBS drama marathon on my lappy. Wake up late on Saturday, get ready and go out for a muvee but if SRK was on tv tomorrow I will cancel my plan. And to my suprise today, as I was lepaking and strolling down the channel on TV the he was SRK & Kajol in दिलवाले दुल्हनिया ले जाएँगे -DDJL.
OMG my 2 fave hindi star. Guess I will have to cancel my plans for today but am kinda hungry. Think just have to reconsider. Well GTG now, need to concentrate on the muvee (eventhough have watch it so many times)

So, आप बाद में देखने के लिए, अब के लिए अलविदा

DimSum Treats Sebelum Ramadan

Salam to all,

Ramadan is 2 days away. Time to buckle up and get ready. Preparing ourselves - mentally and spiritually.

Fasting is not just about starving yourself from dawn till dusk. It's all about how you control yourself. How you control your mind, your appetite, your hearing, your mouth, you eyes, your heart, your steps and especially your lust. It's also about getting ourselves closer to ALLAH. This is also the time "to gain extra points." Hopefully to received the blessing from HIM, Insyaallah. And because of the coming Ramadan, me and a couple of friends treat ourselves to a "All You Can Eat Buffet" using the Groupon voucher worth about RM 23. Which is really worth buying.

Venue was at China Treasure Restaurant@Sime Darby Convention Centre. Unfortunately, the all you can eat buffet ends up to be "the all you cannot finish Dimsum." Hahahah! Finally surrendering after about 15types of dimsum. Napkins up! Can't even finish that last piece of Carrot Cake.

Well, enjoy the drooling pics below. At last - wishing all muslims "Ramadan al-Mubarak" -barakallah!!!

Tidurlah Dalam Senyuman

SETIAP orang berhak untuk bahagia! Ingin tahu bagaimana menjadikan hidup anda lebih ceria?Ikuti beberapa tip di bawah. Mungkin ia dapat membantu anda menjalani kehidupan dengan lebih baik.

Buka hari anda dengan sebuah senyuman! Senyumlah, anda akan berasa lebih segar. Sebaik anda buka mata, senyumlah pada yang tersayang. Mungkin dia juga menunggu untuk senyum kepada anda. Atau, bukalah tingkap dan pandanglah pada mentari yang sedang menanti anda. Ukirlah senyuman manis di bibir anda apabila melihat sinarannya.

Pastikan hari anda lebih indah daripada sebelumnya. Anda berkuasa sepenuhnya bagaimana untuk mencorakkan hari anda. Jadi, pilihlah untuk mulakan hari anda dengan sedikit gerakan pada bahagian bibir. Biasanya, sesuatu yang bermula dengan baik akan berakhir dengan lebih baik!

• Hadapi semua masalah dengan hati terbuka. Kemudian, barulah bertindak. Mungkin hari ini anda sedang menghadapi detik-detik sukar dalam hidup anda. Sekalipun kita tidak mampu mengelak daripada masalah tersebut, kita mesti berjaya berdepan dengannya. Yakinilah, jika anda telah berusaha keras untuk menanganinya, hasilnya juga pasti berbaloi. Anda hanya perlu bersabar sahaja menunggu ganjaran itu datang kepada anda. Ia tetap datang. Cepat atau lambat sahaja. Hidup ini memang begitu! Dan sebenarnya, kehidupan kita pada hari ini hasil daripada apa yang telah kita lakukan pada hari sebelumnya.

• Hulurlah tangan kepada sesiapa yang memerlukan. Meringankan penderitaan seseorang akan dapat meringankan hati anda. Andainya anda terlihat seekor rama-rama terkapai-kapai di permukaan air dengan badannya yang terbalik ke atas, ambillah sedikit masa untuk menyelamatkannya. Jika tergerak naluri anda untuk menyelamatkan seekor rama-rama yang hampir kelemasan, tentulah anda tidak sampai hati membiarkan seorang manusia seperti anda menanggung kesusahannya seorang diri.

Paling tidak, berilah sokongan kepadanya sekalipun anda tidak mampu menghulurkan bantuan yang lebih dari itu. Hari ini seseorang memerlukan anda, tapi pada hari esok anda pasti memerlukan seseorang. Oleh itu, patuhilah fitrah alam bahawa kita saling memerlukan.

• Belajarlah untuk berkata benar. Kebenaran itu indah. Tapi harus berpada-pada. Pastikan kebenaran itu tidak melukai sesiapa. Mungkin kebenaran itu bermakna bagi satu pihak, tapi menyakitkan bagi satu pihak yang lain. Letakkan diri anda di tempat pihak tersebut dan cubalah fahami situasinya jika berdepan dengan kebenaran yang bakal anda bentangkan. Tidak salah berkata benar, malah memang anda dituntut untuk berbuat demikian. Tapi, nyatakannya dengan berhemah agar tidak melukai hati sesiapa.

• Cuba hadkan keinginan harian anda. Keinginan yang terlampau banyak dan tinggi hanya akan menambahkan tekanan dan kerisauan. Janganlah dalam sehari itu anda mengerah segala tumpuan dan usaha untuk memiliki rumah besar, kereta mewah dan wang berjuta. Semua ini boleh menyebabkan anda tidak senang duduk.

Jangan sesekali membebankan hidup dengan memikirkan bagaimana caranya untuk mendapatkan semua itu serentak, pada hari itu juga. Penuhi keperluan asas anda dan keluarga terlebih dahulu. Kemudian, barulah fokus kepada kehendak tersebut satu per satu.

• Hargai dan fahamilah bahawa Tuhan merupakan pemilik yang agung. Anda perlu menerima hakikat bahawa apa yang menjadi milik anda pada hari ini hanyalah milikan sementara. Tiada yang kekal. Hari ini anda disayangi keluarga, rakan-rakan, teman sepejabat, tidak mustahil suatu hari nanti situasi akan berubah. Mungkin hari ini anda mempunyai kereta yang cantik atau rumah yang besar tapi belum tentu anda akan memiliki benda yang sama pada hari esok.
Anggap saja ia sebagai amanat yang dipertanggungjawabkan oleh Tuhan kepada anda. Dan suatu hari nanti, anda akan memulangkannya kepada yang hak iaitu Tuhan. Hargai dan syukuri apa yang ada dalam genggaman anda hari ini dan biarkan ia pergi jika memang itu yang telah dilakdirkan.

• Sekiranya anda berjumpa seseorang yang lebih baik daripada anda, jangan sesekali biarkan perasaan dengki menyelubungi diri anda. Kagumi kejayaannya. Dalam masa yang sama, fikirkan orang lain yang jauh lebih teruk berbanding anda. Anda sebenarnya bernasib baik jika dibandingkan dengan sesetengah orang yang terpaksa hidup, dalam penderitaan dan kesengsaraan. Jika anda fikirkan anda manusia malang, ketahuilah bahawa di luar sana ramai lagi yang lebih malang.

• Berani mengakui kesalahan sendiri. Ketepikan sejenak ego yang ada dalam diri, hati anda akan lebih tenang. Tiada sesiapa yang dapat lari daripada membuat kesilapan. Itulah fitrah manusia seperti kita.

• Sebelum melelapkan mata, insafilah semua rahmat yang telah dianugerahkan-Nya kepada anda sepanjang hari itu. Ingatlah semua yang telah anda lakukan pada hari ini. Bermohonlah kepada Yang Maha Kuasa supaya anda akan kekal dalam rahmatnya untuk menempuh hari-hari yang mendatang. Jangan lupa mengucapkan syukur kepada Tuhan kerana menjadikan diri anda seperti anda pada hari ini. Setelah itu, pejamkan mata dengan bibir yang tersenyum serta hati yang bersih dan ceria.

Kredit kepada : ymsagasama

A Dream Within A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

A light exists in spring by Emily Dickinson

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human naturefeels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

Driving Dreams : Maid’s Dream Comes True

http://www.oum.edu.my/oum/index.php?c=oum&v=art_view&domid=1&parent_id=44&cat_id=45&art_id=1040&lang=eng

She came to Malaysia seven years ago to seek a better life for her family but SARMINI MUHYADI, 28, got more than she bargained for. After three years of working as a maid, she told her employer that she was going home to continue her studies.

Instead, her employer agreed to partially finance her studies provided she did it locally. Sarmini, from Semarang in Central Jawa, says her decision to study at OUM was life-changing and has turned her into a whole new person.

"I am eternally grateful to my employers because without their support, I would still be the old me. The last four years were truly an enlightening journey of self discovery; it taught me the virtues of hard work and the joy of success. Also, studying has enriched my English language and computer skills, which were quite alien to me before."

Sarmini, who is graduating with a Diploma in Management, says her graduation will be perfect if she can share her happiness with her parents. “I told them the good news but, unfortunately, they will not be joining the celebration because they cannot afford the airfare.”

However, she will not be alone as her employers, Tan Choo Tang, and his wife Wee Phooi Khuan, will be at the graduation to cheer her on. “This is the moment she has been waiting for. I guess weneed to be there to give her moral support since her parents are not coming,” says Tan, who is a lecturer at a private college.

As an educationist, Tan understands the value of education and fully supports Sarmini’s intention to study. “She wanted a better life for herself and family, but I felt that her chance of succeeding was better if she did it locally. OUM answered her prayers. It was the best solution because she could study and still work.”

Sarmini (front, left) with the family who supported her in her quest for higher education

With Sarmini studying, adjustments had to be made to Tan’s family routine. Sarmini was freed of household chores after 9pm so that she could focus on her studies. When Sarmini needed to attend tutorials, Tan and his wife would take turns sending her to the University’s Shah Alam Learning Centre from their home in Damansara Utama. Their children chipped in by teaching Sarmini the ropes of using the computer as well as brushing up on her English.

Sarmini says she felt guilty at times, because there were instances when her employers had to take leave from work to take her to class. They also assisted her with assignments by contacting companies for surveys or feedback. The sacrifices of her employers were not in vain as Sarmini put in extra effort to ensure that she consistently achieved a CGPA of above 3.0 every semester throughout her studies.

Tan says two years after Sarmini enrolled in her studies, he decided to hit the books and enrolled in the Master of Business Administration with OUM. He graduated during the Ninth Convocation in November last year. “I think open and distance learning is a wonderful concept because people like me get to study without having to leave our jobs.”

He says his eldest daughter, who used to coach Sarmini with her English, is now in her first year of study in Vancouver, Canada, while his three other children are still schooling. His youngest daughter, who was five when Sarmini started working with the family, is now in Year Six.

Now that she has achieved her ambition, what is next? “It was a heart-wrenching decision but I have decided to go home to Semarang after my graduation. My flight is on 3 July.”

Sarmini says she has been away from home for seven long years and now she is going back for good. “I have received an offer to teach at a private school and I plan to take up the offer. Teaching has always been my vocation. Before coming to Malaysia, I applied for a teaching job but due to the delay in getting the results of my posting, I came here instead.”

As for the Tans, Sarmini’s decision is inevitable. Says Tan, “We will definitely miss having a reliable helper but this is an opportunity for Sarmini to achieve something for herself. That was why we encouraged her to study because with a diploma, it can open doors to a stable career. With Sarmini working and contributing to her family, they would have a better future. But if she plans to come back to Malaysia in the near future, we welcome her with open arms,” Tan adds.

John Lennon- Give Peace A Chance

This song is dedicated to all you people thats trying to perform rallies in KL.be it you Bersih or Patriot or what so ever you are. What we actually want in Malaysia our beloved country is only to leave in Peace & Harmony & Love throughout all the people in Malaysia...So Please stop whatever you are doing......



Two, one two three four
Everybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Come on
Everybody's talking about Ministers
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes
And bye bye, bye byes

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Everybody's talking about
Revolution, evolution, mastication
Flagellation, regulation, integrations
Meditations, United Nations
Congratulations

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Everybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer
Allen Ginsberg, Hare Krishna
Hare, Hare Krishna

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Sugar and Sugar and everything Sugar.

Malaysia...the many colors of people. The many variaties of food. Eastern, western, fusion and etc. Be it, you name it we got it. Introduce whatever here, malaysians, they take it in and easily adapt to it and start craving for it. Me no excluded, I like food. I like to eat. That's why I am like I am right now. A "bit" overweight. hahahaha!

This last few month, the madness and craving is for Indonesian food. If it's not Nasi Padang, Masak Lemak Pucuk Ubi plus Gulai Urat Keting Lembu.... It will be Nasi Ayam Penyet with it's fiery sambal...perghhh!!! feels like you're flying :P hehehehe...

Before that will be everything japanese...Sushi & sushi & sushi & sushii. But going back to Penang the food heaven of malaysia, will be all the time South Indian food, Nasi kandar, Capati, Tosei... and chinese char kuey teow, hokkien mee, kuey teow sup and more and more and more...

Uurgghh! Am getting hungry now from talking about all those food on a fasting day of Syaaban.

Ok,back to business...uu..I am actually writing about this sweet-sweet seasonal snacks (can we call it snacks..well apa pun xpala) that's popping up one after the other. I still remember during my younger years when I came down to KL every end of the year, the only famous sweet snacks was Dunkin Donuts.

The only place I know at that time selling those were at Pudu Station and the Mall KL. So everytime when we came down to KL we would pack a large box of those sweet donuts to take home and by the time we reach Penang, those donuts would turn out to be as hard as a rock hahaha..those were the days. Nowadays, the dunk your donuts days are gone. There are now lighter and colorful donuts....Crave is different..Donuts store are like starbucks or coffeebean (oh! im a coffee addict any kind of coffee hehehe). First there's Big Apple ,

and there's J'co,

there's also Krispy Kreme.

Sugar, sugar and more sugar...I went crazy for a while. Every week must have a Donut & Coffee day until one I saw white particles flying in my eyes from excess sugar...dushhh!!!! so I slow down....but than the sugars keeps coming and coming...

The seasons kinda got updated with more..cupcakes...all events cupcakes..birthdays, weddings, anniversary, engagement.....anything, everything is cupcakes....goodgod...!!!!

See? How can you resist those "beeeaaautiful" colors and SUGAR. But, I am not that into cupcakes. Now just recently, everybody is talking about this new thing. Adding more to the "sugar diets". "Macaroons, macaroons...first I thought what the hell is this macaroon..then I saw it at one of the stores in Empire...Owh that's Macaroon..Googled it and owh!! it's French Connection...and a whole few other version of it...

Colorful, pretty, various flavor. So I bought a pack of this macaroon just because of the variation of colors. My god! They're expensive. Those 12 piece 50cents size macaroons cost me about RM 25 ringgit and my god the taste, it's sooo crazy sweet. Think if I finish it I would end up hospitalised. Dont this people realise what they're doing to the

body.

Ok, why am I posting all this Sugar, Sugar and sugar thing?

Actually it's just to remind myself. My SIL was hospitalised and had an operation becos her gum was swollen and its the effect from her diabetes. The day she was hospitalised, her blood sugar rose to 34mols and she could died from strokes the effects from excessive sugar. All this are to remind myself what could happen if I have an uncontrolled amount of sugar brought in to my body. Nowadays I am trying to not have sugar in my drinks and try avoiding sweet-sweet food.

Prevention is better than Cure...cus there wont be anybody to help us except ourselves.

If any of the above statement doesn't make any sense, thousand apologies...Got to say 작별 인사..time for Solah..bye-bye for now all видеть вас снова (the power of google translation)

Kekecewaan Melanda :(

Dari hari Isnin aku cuba book online muvee nih penuh aje. Mula nak tengok premier...yang ada 1-2 seat tu pun kat depan sekali. Apa kelas! Xpa tunggu weekend kot-kot la ada. Lagi la malang. Dari hari jumaat sampai Ahad penuh gilers...dari Summit USJ ke Sunway Pyramid, Midvalley hingga ke Signature Gold Class...sampai senin depan , penuh jugak. Huhhh! kecewa aku xdapat jumpa Prime di hari pertama. Nampak gayanya kenala tunggu hujung minggu depan. Sedih gilers nih..isk isk isk! Chow la..nak gi tido untuk mengubat duka lara kecewa xdapat jumpa Prime.. 좋은 밤 모두

Amalan-amalan Sunat Di Bulan Syaaban

Hadith :

Dari Aisyah r.a katanya:”Rasulullah SAW sering berpuasa sehingga kami mengira bahawa baginda akan berpuasa seterusnya. Dan baginda sering berbuka sehingga kami mengira beliau akan berbuka terus. Dan aku tidak pernah melihat baginda berpuasa terus sebulan penuh kecuali pada bulan Ramadhan. Dan aku juga tidak pernah melihat baginda berpuasa sunat dalam sebulan yang lebih banyak daripada puasanya di bulan syaaban.”

Huraian

1. syaaban ertinya berpecah atau bercerai-berai. Ia dinamakan demikian kerana orang-orang Arab pada bulan tersebut akan berhijrah ke mana-mana tempat untuk mencari air sehingga ke gua-gua dan sebagainya. Pendapat lain pula mengatakan, sebab diertikan demikian adalah sebagai tanda pemisah iaitu memisahkan di antara bulan Rejab dan Ramadhan.
2. Dari berbagai keterangan ini, yang dapat disimpulkan bagi pengertian bulan syaaban itu ialah bulan syaaban adalah masa untuk manusia berebut-rebut mengejar kebajikan sebanyak mungkin sebagai latihan dan persediaan untuk memasuki bulan Ramadhan
3. Sebahagian ahli hikmah menyatakan bahawa sesungguhnya bulan Rejab adalah kesempatan untuk meminta ampun dari segala dosa, bulan syaaban adalah kesempatan untuk memperbaiki diri dari segala macam celaan dan pada bulan Ramadhan adalah masa untuk menerangkan hati dan jiwa.
4. Di antara amalan-amalan yang digalakkan pada bulan syaaban adalah :
i. Memperbanyakkan puasa sunat. Di dalam kitab Durratun Nasihin ada menyebut sebuah hadis yang menyatakan bahawa Rasulullah SAW bersabda yang maksudnya : "Sesiapa yang berpuasa tiga hari pada permulaan syaaban dan tiga hari pada pertengahan syaaban dan tiga hari pada akhir syaaban, maka Allah mencatat untuknya pahala seperti pahala tujuh puluh nabi dan seperti orang-orang yang beribadat kepada Allah Taala selama tujuh puluh tahun dan apabila dia mati pada tahun itu maka dia seperti orang yang mati syahid."
ii. Memperbanyak doa, zikir dan membaca selawat kepada Rasulullah SAW. Sabda Rasulullah SAW : "Sesiapa yang mengagungkan bulan syaaban, bertaqwa kepada Allah, taat kepada-Nya serta menahan diri dari perbuatan maksiat, maka Allah Taala mengampuni semua dosanya dan menyelamatkannya di dalam tahun itu dari segala macam bencana dan penyakit." (Dipetik dari kitab Zubdatul Wa'izhin)
iii. Bertaubat
iv. Meraikan malam 15 syaaban atau lebih dikenali sebagai malam Nisfu syaaban di mana sunat ia dihidupkan dengan membaca zikir dan Al Quran kerana malam tersebut adalah malam yang amat mustajab dan penuh rahmat.