Say it with flowers

The armchair sportsfan

Although I love sports and keep up with all the latest news, it is mostly from the comfort of home. I am the classic armchair sports fan. I can count on my fingers the number of times I see a sporting event live. Five years in England and I only saw two live football matches and a cricket test match once. Back home, its much the same. Never seen the national football team play live. I even rejected an FI ticket when people were clamouring for one. But talk to me about most sports and I have them on my fingertips.

Its a never ending story

Try as I might, my dream of being debt free is still far, far away. As a matter of fact, the debts are getting bigger. I thought as I get on in life and my salary gets higher and higher, the debts will move in the opposite way. Unfortunately, it did not. It is at best, parallel and at worse, the growth is even higher than the salary increase. As a result, it's a constant struggle of juggling with what's at hand. Thirty years already........

Its a tight race to the finish

While Man U and Chelsea were scoring freely last night, Arsenal faltered, letting in a freak injury time goal that caused them to lose valuable points. However, don't count them out yet while the mathematics is still possible.
Meanwhile, they need to get Gallas and Vermaleen back for the Champion League or Messi will run rings around their backline.

Money is the root of all .........

Money making schemes, mostly illegal, are flourishing it seems. After the 'Pak Man Telo' debacle many many years ago, people are still vulnerable enough to get tricked into putting hard earned money in such dubious schemes. Have you heard of this latest scheme that is getting everyone in a frenzy? I have! It was really tough persuading myself not to get involved.
But the biggest of all happened in the US. At its peak, it hit US 50 billion dollars! Wow!

Camera enthusiast

While doing some exercise after completing my jog, I noticed a group of photographers about 50 metres away. Their very impressive cameras with big, long lens were pointing upward towards the sky. Curiosity got the better of me and I approached them. Turned out they were Taiwanese and were taking photographs of a flight of stork perched high up on a tree!

Another silver

Just heard the news. Azizul Husni Awang has done it again. A silver in the Keirin at the World Cycling Championship in Denmark. What a performance! Keep up the good work and stay focus. Come the Olympic, the Gold can be yours.

Kota Bahru

Over the years, I have been to Kota Bahru a number of times. Sometimes its because of work while at other times, its just for holidays with the family. Kota Bahru has grown so much from the time when I first visited it. It is a city with all the trappings of the modern era and yet it still retain the charm and innocence of its beginning. Its like the old and the new blending together and yet separated. Kota Bahru continues to fascinates me, like it only can.

To Kota Bahru again

This morning, had to leave the house earlier than usual in order to catch the 7.50 am flight from KLIA to Kota Bahru. Reached the airport well before flight time and was quite pleased with myself as I had ample time to say my morning prayer, have a light breakfast and even had time for a quick glance through the papers. Then I heard the announcement......Flight MH ____ to Kota Bahru is delayed and is now scheduled to leave KLIA at 8.40 am.
A damper to my otherwise perfect morning........sigh.

The Tiger is coming back

When he decided to stay away from Golf for a while to settle his 'birdie' problem, I always had this feeling that he will make his comeback during the Masters. The lure of the 'Major' is too strong for him to stay away unless he is injured off course. Now that he has made his decision, it will be interesting to see how he will fare.

God knows better

After what happened the last time I went to see the doctor, I made sure this time I had ample time, took a nice leisurely walked to the clinic and was there a good hour before my appointment. And the result was positive. My heartbeat was normal and so was the rest. When the check up was over, I was allowed to go home. Not like before when I was held up in the ICU and as a result, had to cancel my trip to Penang although all had been prearranged i.e. appointments, hotels etc.
I'm beginning to think that for some reason, God didn't want me to go to Penang that day. A classic case of, I plan but God decides.

What a great day!

Early this the morning while on the way to work, I stopped at a fuel station to fill up the tank in my car. After that, I drove to PJ New Town, parked my car and walked to a bank to pay my car loan. On finishing that, I walked to another bank nearby to deposit a cheque into my account. Then a short walked to another bank to put in some cash into my son's account followed by another short walked to buy newspaper from a vendor by the roadside. After that, walked back to the car and drove on to the office. I looked at my watch and it was only 7.10 am. What a great day! All my errands for the day were completed and the sun was still nowhere to be seen.

5 Hours in Kota Bahru

Street scene in the heart of Kota Bahru

The famous Pasar Siti Khatijah

Didn't realise its the school holidays until I saw so many cars with W_ _ and B_ _ registration. Usually, the traffic is not so bad but during school holidays, its terrible, the taxi driver lamented.

Messi -rizing!

What a performance! Three fantastic goals, similar but different! Can you fathom that? Only with the silky skills of Lionel Messi can it happen. Similar because it was typical of Messi's goal, weaving the ball through the legs of defenders, leaving them for dead before putting the ball into the net. Different because the first was scored on the left side of the keeper, the second on the right side of the keeper while the third went right between the legs of the keeper, in the centre of the net.
With Messi in tantalising form, it will be difficult to not count Argentina as one of the favourites in the World Cup.

90% of young people wants to be rich

What is the meaning of being rich? Does having billions of dollars in your bank account means you are rich? Does owning luxury cars, palace like bungalows, personal aeroplanes and what have you means you are rich? To most intent and purposes, yes. Rich means all of the above but is it so?
What if I were to say that the true meaning of being rich is being in a state of not needing anything. That's why God is Super Rich (Maha Kaya) because God has not a need for anything!
By the way, if you want to be rich, the secret is to give... yes.....give...in the way of God! (AL Baqarah 261)

Two months to go. Who will win?

Inter Milan commanding lead at the top of the Italian league has been reduced to just four points. From a seemingly impossible position just weeks ago, the chasing pack lead by AC Milan are now very much back in the race. AC Milan to win.
In Spain, Real Madrid should now be the favourite. With nothing else to fight for, they can fully concentrate on the league. Real Madrid to win.
In England, it is still very tight. Arsenal, written off twice already, are in the thick of things again. Forget Chelsea or Man U, I think this is going to be the year for Arsenal. Arsenal to win.
In Germany, Bayern Munich may look to be struggling at times but they are still there or thereabout. With Arjen Robben in top form, there can be only one winner. Bayern Munich to win.
In France, Lyon can just about surprised everybody at the tape. Buoyant by their win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, their confident mood will definitely spill over in the league. Lyon to win.

Go for it!

With Lin Dan out of the way, can Chong Wei finally win the All England title? Last night he knocked out Peter Gade to reach the final. There is now just one more hurdle to clear and with a bonus to boot. Lin Dan won't be on the opposite side of the net.

Very intresting

The minaret of a mosque

Some things I don't understand

Why is it when the market is just beginning to show real signs of recovery, the doomsayers will immediately pour cold water and predict negatively for the immediate future? Why not just let it be! Let it loose. Let it find its own footing and see how far it can go!

There's always a first time

The moat around the Forbidden city. First time in my life seeing a frozen river.

You can do it if you want

I just couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw the eventual winner of the Asia Biggest Loser last night on TV. How different he was (or how thin) when compared to just six months ago. Then he was fat and moved like one. Last night he was so different. It just goes to show what determination and will power can do to you! If you want something so bad, nothing can stop you, God willing.

World Cup is just three months away

After what seems like an eternity, its now just three months away to the World Cup in South Africa. Things are getting more and more exciting by the day. As usual, Brazil has already been installed as the favourite but I would like to think there are other teams just as strong.
Meanwhile I read yesterday about an Indonesian Soccer club that played in freezing temperatures in China and yes, your guess is right, the team froze. They got beaten 0-9.

There's always two sides to a coin

When I went to Iraq some years back, I took the opportunity to visit the historic city of Karbala. For many of us, Karbala is Islamic history we don't know. What happened in Karbala on the 10th of Muharam 61AH (680) and its significance is lost amidst the Ashura celebration that we have annually come the 10th of Muharram. It will take a curious mind and a keen desire to know to discover the other side of the coin.

My old faithful

Came across my former MPV, a Hyundai Trajet recently. Still going strong from the look of it. Had it for almost seven years before I sold it about two years ago. It served me well during those time. Never gave me much problem. When I bought it, MPV was the 'in thing'. Furthermore, for my family of six, it was just the right vehicle. The price at that time was also quite steep. Nowadays, MPVs can be had for a lot less.

An impossible dream?

I have been following the ongoing Malaysian Golf Open championship. Sadly, the local players, as always, failed to make any impact. All are struggling to make the cut let alone win it. The day a local win it will be the day Malaysia host the Olympic games or play in the World cup.

Home sweet home

Plane touched down at 11.20 pm. By the time we got home, it was almost 1 am in the morning. Glad to be back. No matter how much I enjoyed the trip, home is still where the heart lies. However, the next trip is already very much on the mind.

Beijing memories

The snow has disappeared and the sun shines brightly but make no mistake. It is still cold.

More Beijing memories

Rickshaw ride around Hutong, the old Beijing

Restaurant Islam

Eating is not a problem for Muslims in Beijing. There are many Islamic restaurants as shown above. If you know where to find them, you will enjoy your stay in Beijing.

A Mosque that's more than 1000 years old

Haji Yusuf, who is 88 yrs old

At the entrance to the Nuijie Mosque

The mosque is the oldest in Beijing. Built in 966, in the fourteenth year of the Tonghe reign in the Liao Dynasty.

Exploring Beijing

Tianamen Square

While the fire crackers were firing away, the snow continued to fall throughout the night and we woke up to a white Beijing. Visited the famous Tianamen Square as well as the Forbidden City.