The miracle that is Quran

I first finished reading the Quran when I was in standard three, at 9 years old. My parents made sure of that. Almost every night, after the maghrib prayers, I would read the Quran first before doing anything else. Unfortunately, those days and even now, reading the Quran and finishing it was the only thing that was necessary. It was like you have graduated, and that's it. Great! Now you can go on to other things! No matter that you don't understand a word of what you read!
It was many years later and Pak Hamka before I can say that I have really read the Quran. Since then, I have learnt a lot more about the Quran and still learning. And so is the world. There's a lot more in the Quran that man has not discovered! You'll be amazed!

Enjoy it while you can

Driving to work in the morning has been a breeze the past few days. Its the same when driving back from work in the evening. Most Klang Valley folks are still on holiday, taking the whole week off. Then the coming Monday is another public holiday for KL cause Wilayah day is on a Sunday which translate into a Monday holiday. If only it is like this everyday. That would be a dream come true. Driving would be a pleasure. Anyway, most things have an ending. This traffic free situation will also end. Come Tuesday next week, the usual jam will be back. So while you can, enjoy the traffic as much as possible.

At the event

Hanafi, Fatihah and Hakimi

Fatihah was there as one of the support staff for the event.

Seminar Usahawan Islam

One of the popular booth where the eyes get cleaned
Milling around the booths
People taking advantage of the holidays to visit the seminar

Spent a short time at this seminar held at Mid Valley. Quite a big number of usahawan exhibiting their products

Back to the grind

The four days break is over as soon as it started. I had plenty in mind of what I wanted to do during the break. Unfortunately, time passed like a blink of the eye. Tomorrow its back to work and I had done almost next to nothing. The master bedroom is still one bulb short and so is the master bathroom. The front lamp on the right side of my car still needs to be changed. My daughter's computer is still kaput and I haven't found the time to send it for repair. My small pond is ...... and so on and so on and so on. So many things I wanted to do over the holidays but nothing gets done. Anyway, that's life.

Getting from bad to worse

Looks like the economic downturn is still very much with us. Its relentless. No country is spared! I thought we have seen the worse but now I'm not so sure. Perhaps the worse is yet to come. For Malaysia, the government continues to play the denying game. Our fundamentals are strong, don't worry they say but can we believe it? When countries all around the world are feeling it, could it be possible that we are spared! Unless we are an island, isolated from the rest of the world, living on our own without any contact with the outside world, then its possible!

Its the same old story

Once again, Malaysia got whipped, this time 5 goals to nothing by UAE. And we were playing at home! What in the world is happening to Malaysian football? Are we that bad? Its terrible! I have already given up hope of ever seeing Malaysia playing in the world cup finals, at least not in my lifetime. If we can't even match the strides of UAE, just cannot imagine what will happen to us when playing the likes of Brazil, Germany and the rest of the elite of world football. What ever happened to the days when we were equals to South Korea and Japan while Thailand was a step behind. Now even Thailand is consistently beating us!

Lastly .....

WISH YOU WERE HERE

My 2 cents worth of thoughts ... on KT by elections

Short time though it was, I observed a few things while there. First of all, on entering KT, you will notice the flags and posters war immediately. My first impression was that Pas (Pakatan) had more flags and posters than BN. Maybe I'm wrong but that's the first impression I got on entering KT. Next, the vehicles carrying party banners, flags, pictures or whatever. This war was definitely won by Pas. On polling day, I dare say they outnumber BN almost 5 to 1. Then the supporters themselves. The supporters of Pas (Pakatan) includes many of the young voters. I noticed this during the celebrations after the result was announced. Many of the people that were celebrating were youngsters. Call them Mat Rempit or whatever but they sure were having fun.

The day after

The Crystal Mosque

Before leaving KT, we decided to do some sight seeing at the Pusat Tamadun Islam. Checked out of the hotel at 9.30 am and after spending some time at the Pusat Tamadun Islam, we left for KL at about 11.30 am.

KT in joyous mood

The road was jam packed with people celebrating
Carnival like atmosphere after the result was announced

The closed door stadium where they did the final counting was within walking distance from our hotel. After the dinner at Marang, we drove back to our hotel, parked the car and walked to the road in front of the hotel. That was where all the joyous celebrations could be seen.

As night descends, had dinner at a restaurant by the beach in Marang
Flags everywhere near a polling station
Batu Burok beach

KT

Taking a break by the Batu Burok beach
Entering China Town
This was what greeted us on entering KT

Soaking in the atmosphere

KT town is crowded with vehicles. Everywhere you go, you will be caught in a jam. Cars are everywhere. Some are locals judging from the number plate but a good many are from outside town. Most are party campaigners I suppose. Then there are the reporters, the police who number in the thousands, the bloggers and the observers like me who just want to atmosphere the excitement. At the polling stations, party workers can be seen under their tents waving their party flags. We drove through China town, Batu Burok and the roads going to Kota Bahru and the airport. Everywhere, enthusiastic party supporters can be seen doing their bit to help their party win. After a while, we thought we had enough and headed to the Batu Burok beach for a rest by the sea.

First Impression

Judging from what the eyes can see, the colours of green and white certainly dominate. From Marang onwards, its a sea of green and white with the occasional blue in between. The number of vehicles carrying the green and white flag also far outnumber the vehicles carrying the blue flag. Maybe I'm seeing things, I don't know but could it be an omen of things to come.
Thought we would have difficulty in getting a room in KT what with the whole country descending upon it but at the first time of asking, we found one. What a pleasant surprise! We immediately checked in, put in the bags and off we go for a drive about in KT. Need to have a look see at the excitement. Don't want to be left out.

On we go.....

Early in the morning, checked out of the hotel in Kuantan. While getting into the car, I noticed deep scratches on the driver's side of the car at the front door, back door plus a little bit near the bonnet. Somebody hooligan(s) must have done it last night while we were sleeping. Not much I can do except report back to the hotel. Decided also to make a police report. The scratches will definitely set us back a thousand or more. Nevertheless, we decided to press on to KT having come this far. Reached KT at about 12 noon and immediately, we were caught up in a jam, especially when we passed through a polling station.

Kuantan as I remember it

It is almost two years ago since I last set foot in Kuantan. Was here then for a function and a meeting. Years before, I used to come to Kuantan quite often. Mostly, I stopped over in Kuantan while on my way to Paka for meetings or for some jobs. If I fly, I will fly to Kuantan from KL early in the morning. From there I'II make my way to Paka, about one and a half hours drive away. Business done in Paka, I will head back to Kuantan to catch the evening flight to KL. If I drive, I would normally make Kuantan my overnight stay. These days, Kuantan is not in my itenary thus I seldom come here anymore.

Finally I'm on my way!

Tomorrow is D day in KT. After almost two weeks of campaigning, polling day is less than 20 hours away. And after almost two weeks of reading about it from the newspapers and the blogs, I am finally on my way to KT. Might be a wee bit too late but then, it's better than never. Left the house at 3.30 pm and headed for Kuantan. Planned to spend the night there before going on to KT. The drive was pleasant enough with the new highway. Along the way, stopped at the Gambang stopover for the Asar prayers and hot coffee before finally reaching Kuantan at about 6.30 pm.
I'm writing this piece from my hotel room at the De Rhu Beach Resort, Kuantan. Tomorrow early in the morning will plod on towards KT.

Alhamdulillah

I have been working since 1979. That's 29 years ago. That's how long I have been working. How time flies. It seems just yesterday when I was a young and eager employee reporting for my first day of work. Today I'm already 52 going on 53. In three years time I'II be retiring. Wow! It is so hard to believe. I use to look at my bosses who were in their fifties, and thought, so old! Now that I'm in my fifties, I wonder how my younger friends view me! All I can say is God is great! He has given me a good life. I have my ups and my downs but then life is like that. You take the good as well as the bad. One thing for sure, life is never boring!

It's still everyones guess at ground zero!

Read the daily papers and you get the impression that BN will win the by election. Read the blogs and the stories are totally different. The papers said 30,000 people accompanied the BN candidate on nomination day. The blogs put the figure at no more than 4,000. The Chinese voters are a shoe in for BN, so say the papers. The blogs say hey, not so fast. The tide has turn in favour of PR.
So, who do you want to believe? The papers or the blogs? Lu pikir la sendiri!

Mother of all bailout

In this time of economic and financial trouble, not one industry is spared. We all have heard of how the US automakers are asking for bailouts from their government or they'll go bust. The same goes with the bankers like Citibank. But this must be the mother of it all. The porn industry is also asking for government bailout! It seems that they have not been spared either! The economic downturn is giving them financial woes. So, in times of trouble, if others can turn to the government for help, why not them!

Getting on in age

I first noticed it when I was in my thirties. The tiredness took a longer time to go away after a game of football. It will be a few days before I will feel fully recovered and ready to play again. Before, I can play football day after day after day and still able to give my best every time without feeling tired. There was no need for a recovery period. Immediately after a game, all I needed was a good bath, a good night sleep and I'm ready again. Now, in my early fifties, its even longer! I marvel at people in their fifties, sixties and even seventies and yet, can still finish a marathon. They must be really fit.

Learn to be grateful

Sometimes I wish I'm at the other end of the road, wherever it may be. The grass is always greener on the other side. But is it so? Islam teaches us to be grateful always. Be happy with what you have. Be satisfied. More importantly, be grateful and God will reward you with more.

An exciting battle looms in KT

Just when we thought the politics have slowed down to a trickle, overtaken by the financial tsunami, Kuala Trengganu comes to the fore. And what a battle it will be! Unlike Permatang Pauh, where the likely winner was known right from the beginning, KT is another story altogether. There's no clear favourite. Both has equal chance, discounting the independent candidate off course. So, 17th January is going to be an exciting day indeed! In between, there'll be a lot of excitement for the supporters of both sides as well as for keen observers like me!

Its a massacre any which way you call it

Massacre....massacre......massacre....and more massacre. That's what is happening in Gaza. And the world just stood by and watch. Yes, there are demonstrations all over the world but beyond that? Yes, the world leaders condemn the act but beyond that? Yes, the United Nations gets itself busy with resolutions after resolutions but beyond that? No! They can't even come out with a resolution for these latest atrocities. Meanwhile, 1.5 million people are suffering. How long is this going to continue! Can we even hope for a solution! Stop this massacre!

We are finally seeing the back of 2008

2008 will surely go down in history as the year of the great financial meltdown. Trillions of dollars were wiped off the world stock markets. From USA to Europe to China to The Middle East to Australia and everywhere, there's no escape from the financial tsunami. It's a crushing meltdown the scale of which is not seen before. It's history happening right before my eyes but its not something to be proud of. I'd rather it is not happening. I just hope 2009 will bring with it a wave of new optimism that will propell the world to a resounding comeback!

A picture paints a thousand words - I have four

At the wedding reception

Another view

Padi fields a week away from picking

Stayed at this homestay near Kangar town

Going North

Padi fields as far as the eye can see - somewhere in Kedah

Stopover in Sg Petani for the Friday prayer

On Friday 31st Dec, I went to Kangar, Perlis for my niece wedding reception. Left the house at 9 in the morning. Decided to take a nice leisurely drive while enjoying the sceanary. Didn't reached Kangar till about 5 pm. 8 hours altogether it took me to get to Kangar but I didn't feel tired at all. Maybe that's the secret. Don't try to get to the destination as soon as possible. Just enjoy the drive and you'll be amazed at what a difference it will make!