A downright disgrace

A disgrace. That's what it is. What happened in Shah Alam shouldn't have happened at all. Islam does not condone such act. It is contrary to what Islam is all about. Just don't understand how it could have happened!

The end of a chapter

Recently I attended a friend's farewell. He was retiring after more than 30 years of working. In his farewell speech, he reminiscence about his working life, from the day he started till his last day. Reminded me of myself.
I have also clocked 30 years. I started work on 1/9/79. Today is 27/8/09. That's 30 years minus a few days. Come to think of it, 30 years come and go like the blink of an eye. So fast. The mind boggles when I think about it. 30 years, it is a really long long time but it has passed! Wow! Is it really 30 years? I find it hard to believe.
Soon, this chapter of my life will end. How will the next one be?

Breaking the fast

Breaking of fast has become an event by itself. Every Ramadhan, almost all the hotels and eating places have special food promotions for the event. Last night I was at one hotel. I thought the price was quite steep but surprisingly, comparing with the food and all its variety, it certainly was worth it. You're spoilt for choice. I thought I only tried a small portion of the food available and I had too much already. The stomach was giving signals and I had to stop.

The rain and Ramadhan

It has been raining consistently the last few days. Eversince the beginning of Ramadhan, the rain has been coming almost everyday. By 2 pm, the sky gets dark and cloudy. It has been this way the last few years so much so that I predicted this year it will be the same. What a great prediction it turned out to be. If I was a betting man, I would have made a lot of money!

A miserable morning

Going to work this morning was a drag. With the rain pounding away, the morning was wet and cold and miserable. All I wanted to do was to continue sleeping underneath my blanket, warm and cosy, dreaming sweet dreams but what can I do? A man has got to earn his living. Rain or shine, life has to go on. Like it or not, I drag myself to the office and made it safely by 7.30 am.

The special month of Ramadhan

Ramadhan is when the time seems terribly short. Although the day starts earlier than usual because of the morning meal (5 am for me), after that, its one rush after another. Have the morning bath, put on the office attire, say the morning prayer and then off to work by 6.30 am.
After work, its rushing home time. Late by a few minutes and you'll be caught in a massive traffic jam. Don't know why but the roads seem to be jam packed everwhere. On reaching home, usually about 6pm for me, there's not much time left before the breaking of fast. Straight away after that, its the maghrib prayers and almost immediately after, off to the mosque for Isya and Tarawih. By the time everything is over, its almost 10.30 pm.
That's the only time I have for some relaxation before going to bed, sleep and build up the energy to start yet another day, Insha Allah.
Nevertheless, Ramadhan is different. It has an effect on you like no other month can. That's why its special.

Keeping to the straight path

The mosque deserted......

because people are concentrating on their prayers

Our mosque decided to do something different this Ramadhan. Instead of just the Tarawih prayers, there's a 20 minutes break in between where there will be a sermon. Quite good as the sermon serves as a good reminder especially in this holy month. Like normal human being, we tend to get complacent, even forget sometimes as we get on with our daily lives. Reminders every now and then is just the right tonic to keep us on the right path.

Happy days of Ramadhan

Ramadhan brings many happy memories. The happiest time is off course during the breaking of fast. Poor we may be but the food on the table will always be more than usual. My mother would make sure of that. A few minutes before breaking time, I would already have my plate filled to the brim.
Ramadhan is also the time when the mosques would take on a festival like atmosphere. There would be more people than usual and the mosques would have many activities that go on till late at night. I used to stay till late, praying, enjoy the food (Murai) afterwards followed by Tadarus (reading the quran in groups)
Come the 27th of Ramadhan, like everybody else, my father will lit extra lights around the house. The house would be bright and this add to the air of festivities. By then, the sound of fire crackers can be heard loud and clear, even at the mosque sometime.
As Ramadhan reached its last few days and Aidil Fitri gets nearer and nearer, happy anticipation fills the air. Wearing the news clothes, new shoes, pocket money, meeting relatives, long lost friends, visiting the neighbours, ...... they all add to the carnival like atmosphere.

Will Ramadhan pass me by.......

So fast the first day of Ramadhan is almost over. As I write this piece, the time is about 6.30pm. On TV, Ramadhan stories abound. In less than an hour, we will be breaking our fast. Its the first day but have I done enough to take full advantage of the opportunities that God has given us in this holy month. Or will it be just like any other month, the time pass by just like that? No change, no imrovement, no nothing. The prophet says today must be better than yesterday while tomorrow must be better than today. Is it true for me?

Memories of Ramadhan

I always remember Ramadhan as the month where my normal daily routine would change significantly. I started fasting when I was seven years old. In the early hours of the morning at 4.30 am, mother would wake us up from our sleep to have our food (sahur) because after that, as soon as dawn break, there'll be no more eating till sunset. That means no breakfast and no lunch. When the sun sets at about 7 pm, father would signal its time to break the fast and that would be our dinner which on normal days, would at about 8.30pm. Anyway, we don't mind as mother would make sure that the food on the table would always be more than usuall.

At the nearby mosque, the crowd would be bigger than normal come the evening prayers. It would be like a festival going on for the whole month. Father would take us there every night for the whole month. We do the Tarawih prayers, enjoy the food prepared by the mosque and after that, we read the Quran in small groups before going home. It would be almost 11pm before we reached home. It may be tiring but it was fun.

Nowadays, come Ramadhan, the daily routine still changed. Only my parents are not around anymore. Now my wife and I are the parents. We wake the children up for the morning meal, break the fast together and go to the mosque with them for the Tarawih prayers at night.
Now its our turn. One day, it will be their turn.

Down memory lane

The tranquility, its unexplainable.


Taking time off from the event for a photoshot

Almost thirty years ago in September1979, I reported for work in Gerik, Perak. That was my first posting after completing my degree in England. I stayed for about two years before being transfered to P Dickson in 1981. Since then, I went back to Gerik only once, in 1997 for some work. Yesterday, I was back there once again for an event. Memories of yesteryears came flooding back.

A scare on the way back

Balancing the tyres

The tyres were not of normal size. As such, it was not in stock and I had to wait a few hours while they fetch them from a shop in Tasek, some 25 kilometres away.

Driving on the way back just after Sg Siput, I suddenly heard a loud knocking sound coming from the front tyre. I stopped, fearing the worst. Luckilly it was only the tyre, which had peeled off a bit. I drove on, albeit very very slowly until I found a tyre shop near Chemor. Had no choice but to change, not one but the two front tyres as the other tyre was also in bad shape. It cost me a fortune.

Pictures to remind of old

Gerik town has grown a lot since I left. Even KFC has found a place

The Store in a new part of the town. The town has expanded a bit. Instead of two main rows of shops, its three now or even four.

The junction just as you arrived from the direction of K Kangsar. When I was there, I don't remember this tall building. Maybe I'm wrong. Its such a long time ago

Another view of the town from the bus terminal, another addition since I left

Slowly but surely!

France, Germany, Hong Kong and now Japan, they all has one thing in common! They have beaten the recession. How did they do it when the US of A is still not out of it yet? Domestic consumption? Perhaps demand within Asia and Europe is more than we think. Slowly but surely, we are emerging from the slump. Housing data from the USA is also showing signs of positive life. It won't be long now............

The Tiger is undone!

Yang the Tiger slayer! Wow! Unbelievable! Watching on TV, the South Korean seems to be enjoying himself. He was nerveless. Perhaps knowing that he has got nothing to lose make it all the more easier. But whatever it was, it certainly was a great achivement, a sporting history cause no Asian has won a grand slam before. Hopefully, the doors are now wide open!

Amazing!

9.71s and still ending up second! Unbelievable! When Bolt is around, you better believed it. A new world record! 9.58s. How fast can he go? 9.4s don't seem too far fetched now. Maybe by the time London Olympic comes around, we'll be looking at just the time.

True flying stories

Over the years, I have flown many a times, both locally and oversea. One that I remember particularly well was when I took a 7.30am flight to Penang from KLIA. On reaching Penang, I rented a car and went about my business. By 11 am I was done. Not knowing where to go or what to do, I drove back to the airport, hoping there's an immediate flight to KLIA . I was in luck as there was one at 1 pm and what a surprised. It was the same plane that I took earlier in the morning and need I say, the same crew! They were as surprised as me!
Another time I was flying to Pekan Baru in Indonesia for a business meeting. I was supposed to go with a friend but unfortunately at the airport, this friend was stopped from going because his passport had less than 6 months before expiring. I ended up going alone. The problem was this friend was the contact person for our Indonesian counterpart! Nevertheless, I plodded on.
That was almost a repeat of what happened to me one year earlier. This time, a friend got his bag stolen at the airport. As a result, his passport and money were gone and off course, he couldn't go. We were going to Manila for a sale presentation and he was the technical expert. Nevertheless, I plodded on.
In Paka, Trengganu, I was late leaving for the airport in K.Trengganu, more than 100 miles away. Throwing caution to the wind,I drove at breakneck speed, not wanting to miss the only available flight to KL for the day. I made it just in time only to be told that the flight has been delayed a few hours. If only I had known, I wouldn't have risked my life driving so fast.

Tilawah al Quran

The reciter from Iran was judged the best in the recently concluded Tilawah al Quran in the man's category. Not really surprising as Iran has produced some of the best reciters in recent years. I have always love listening to them. A few years ago I went to Iran and while there, had the opportunity to listen to some of their reciters on TV. I know some basic but still couldn't tell wether it was sikah or nahwan or hijjaz or ras or ...... That's how good they are. They improvise!
The Tilawah was also intresting as we get to listen to a few other Qiraats other than the Qiraat of Hafs an Asim which we are used to.

A sudden loss!

Ustaz Asri Ibrahim, the front man for the nasyid group Rabbani, passed away today due to a heart attack. Though I don't listen much to Rabbani, prefering the music of Hajjaz more, he's passing away is still a loss to all lovers of nasyid. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.

Its no laughing matter

The death toll just keeps on increasing by the day. Today the paper reported another seven deaths making it fifty one in total. To say its causing worry and anxiety is to state the obvious. More important is what we can do to avoid it. Really need to be careful and take precautions. Just for the record, somebody a few floors above mine at the office has been confirmed as a H1N1 case.

Some photographs

Shah Alam lake
Another view

After a jog around the lake, I decided to take these photographs just for the fun of it before going home.

Its the new season allright!

Manchester United and Chelsea kicked off the new season in England with the curtain raiser in the form of the community shield while in Germany, reigning champion Wolfsburg got off to a winning start. Elsewhere, Lyon only managed a draw in France. The season in Spain and Italy will take off soon. Everywhere, the football is buzzing once again and Saturdays will be greatly anticipated. Can't wait to see all the action. Should be another great season!

Driving home today

At the traffic light just before entering Guthrie Corridor

At the Batu Tiga Toll Plaza

Traffic was smooth though there was a slight drizzle all the way home. Made it in 40 minutes.

12:34:56 pm on the 7th of August 09 or 123456789

The day passed by quietly without much fanfare. Not many noticed it I supposed. I heard about it a few months back but never really bothered. On the day it happened, I totally forgot about it. Only after I read about it in the papers a day after it happened did I recalled the conversation I had. What a missed!

With friends like that, who needs enemies!

I'm talking about the happenings in one Pakatan state. Looks like they are on a self destruction mode, or at least some of them are. If this continues, we don't need a genius to tell us what will happen come the next general election. Its a no brainer.

Its Ramadhan Karim once again

Ramadhan is but two weeks away. A very special month for Muslims worldwide. Reminds me of the time when I was in secondary school in Taiping. The SRP (those days it was called LCE) exam was right in the middle of the fasting month. After the exam, we still had to go to school as the school holidays were still a few weeks away. To keep us occupied, the teachers organised inter class games. Fasting month or no, I played our heart out. Football, hockey, takraw, badminton and even rugby. Amazingly, I still managed to fast and never a thought of breaking it. Come night time I will be at the mosque for the usual prayers.
Off course I was young then. Being young has its advantage, sometime.

A lucky day

Just as I was leaving the office and walking towards the Kerinchi LRT station about 150 metres away, a car drove passed and suddenly stopped. Turned out to be a friend of mine. He asked me where I was going and I told him Amcorp Mall. As it happened, he was going the same way and offered me a ride. I accepted without much persuasion. Saved me walking in the hot sun!
On reaching the outskirts of the mall, he dropped me and went on his way. I walked towards the mall and as I reached it, immediately bumped into another friend. He was buying lunch at Subway and before I could say anything, offered to buy me lunch as well. I accepted without much persuasion. A free lunch!
After exchanging stories about our work, children and what to do come retirement while enjoying the lunch, we went our separate ways. I went to the nearby bank and paid my car installment (the purpose for going to Amcorp Mall) and walked towards the Jaya LRT station to take the LRT back to Kerinchi.
I had hardly walked a few steps when another car stopped right in front of me. And what have you but another friend who was just leaving the mall and heading back to the office. He offered me a ride. I accepted without much persuasion. Saved me from walking in the hot sun ...again!
Safely back in my office... I thought to myself. Must be my lucky day!

Senseless!

Four people were found guilty and jailed up to eight years for their part in the death of a suspected thief. Apparently after they caught him, they beat him so bad that he died. It may be difficult to believe that such a thing could happened but I saw something similar last year.
I was at a shopping complex in Johor Baru when suddenly I saw a teenage boy running and being chased by a few people. Don't know what his crime was but when they finally caught up with him, they punched and kicked him until he fell. That didn't stopped them. Instead they beat him even more. I could see blood on his face. Here was this defenceless boy lying on the ground and all these people were trying to be macho... kicking him with so much venom ..... senseless.
Felt pity on the boy but couldn't do anything. Luckilly after a while they stopped and the boy was taken away by the security from the shopping complex.

Payments and more payments and more ........

Its the beginning of the month and the monthly ritual starts yet again. Yes, it has been that way since I first started work. 30 years. That's how long it has been. The only difference is, now, the numbers have increased. If before, it was only a few and I could count them on one hand, these days there are just too many that sometimes I lose track of them.
If you are wondering what I'm talking about, wonder no more. Its the monthly payments off course. For the cars, the house, the computers, the cards, the bills and whatever have you. The list goes on and on and on .............. I longed for the day when I'II be free from all that. Hopefully when I retire!

A busy Saturday

What a busy Saturday.
In the morning, had to rush to the bank in Sungai Buloh to deposit some money. This is to pay for the caddies in a golf game that we've arranged. I had forgotten to do that yesterday. Then, the wife and me attended a function in PJ where her nephew got engaged. After the do and the food, my wife headed for home after sending me to the Digital Mall in PJ. Wanted to buy a notebook for my daughter. Her present notebook has gone kaput. After a few hours of waiting, I was joined by my sons and daughter. Spent a few hours looking at all the computers on offer but ended up not buying any.
Later at night after the Maghrib prayers, went to Shah Alam Sentral and finally bought one notebook. All in all, it was a tiring Saturday. I even had to miss my usual Saturday afternoon nap.

Another defeat

Another defeat at the hands of the Springboks. What an awful display of Rugby by the All Blacks! Handling errors into double figures, atrocious passing of the ball, giving away too many unnecessary penalties, too much running with the ball inside the 25 etc etc ...... looks like it is back to the drawing board for Graham Henry, the coach.

Deadly killer

H1N1 is deadly. In Malaysia or anywhere else. Make no mistake about it. We may think it is not dangerous because many had been infected but none had died but that was before. Now five have passed away because of the disease. One father took it lightly and lived to regret it. If not taken seriously, the epidemic could reach catastrophic proportions. So, never take it lightly cause it can be deadly.