Just about every muscle and bones in my body right now is aching - as a result of over-working them. What an irony, although given the fact that I have been sleeping less (coz of Ramadhan), but more deeply. I couldn't hear my alarm, couldn't here my sister knock on my door, couldn't recall myself walking downstairs with my blanket and sleeping on the couch with tissue in my hand. When I sleep, I really sleep.
Mostly during the Ramadhan, after solat tarawikh, I'd be having supper and then make myself hot Milo and be sipping it in front of the TV while I lie down. Haha, absolutely a terrible habit since it's never a good idea to drink hot drinks while lying down (but I find comfort in that), and somewhere along the way I'll fall asleep. Yep, in between sips of Milo. And Grey's Anatomy.
So the over-working part is, I did more things while fasting than when I'm not. For example, I walked to and from between the LRT station and my house. It usually took me 15-20mins tops on non-fasting days, but during Ramadhan it took me a freaking 45minutes!! By the time I got home, I was panting and on my knees in front of the door, unable to even put the key in the hole and turn the knob.
I also strained my endorphines aka the happy hormones. I got easily agitated and moody especially when it comes to issues pertaining food. But the straining part is not that, it's when I try to cover up this agitation and act all cool and calm - coz it's the Ramadhan after all. I needed to be the best I could be.
I got into more things than I should have. I signed up for things that could be done during other times of the year and instead had to do them during Ramadhan. I was involved in a theater, entered a contest (that I was in the running to win for?), help move stuff from one house to another, took over my mom's gym membership and a heck of a lot more things.
I was insanely running from one point to another, all flustered and sometimes barely making it for break fast in time. I once broke fast while I was walking from the LRT to my house. I felt like crying, but thought of it as if it was any other day.
When it was finally bed time, I totally zonked out. Then we had to wake up every 5am to magically come up with some dish and eat our sahur. Then prayers etc. Sometimes we also wake up in the wee hours before sahur to pray. So you get how enormously tired our bodies would be. My sleeping patterns was really messed up, that I accidentally woke up at 10am and was really late for work.
If you think I'm complaining, well, I'm not. I'm just saying that now, I hope things would go back to normal, I can eat at normal hours, and not have to wake up at odd times or do things differently.
So on this eve of Hari Raya, I'd like to wish you all a good one (improperly first, I'll do a proper one later) and I think I'm gonna get that long, dreamful rest I've been longing for. Thank God, we've prepared food, did spring cleaning, put kuih in the jars, and even ironed our clothes already. Hence, this rest will be well-deserved.
Selamat Hari Raya everyone; and emphasize the 'selamat' in that phrase please :) Love you all!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Malaysia, My Home
This was the promo video. After 20 days or so, he got a lot of video responses. And I think this video he compiled (from all the responses) speaks a lot of my point of view on Malaysia and Malaysians..SPOT ON!
Watch the video below. I feel so patriotic right now, I'm gonna go hang the Jalur Gemilang flag in my porch.
I heart MALAYSIA
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Spotlight: Yuna
Somehow, I can't wait for this:
I feel like she has come a long way to get to where she is right now, and it's only fair if we Malaysians give her the support and credit she deserves. And for that, I will be there Yuna! :D
To be honest, it was more of a love-at-first-listen with me and Bunkface rather than with Yuna. I didn't like Dan Sebenarnya and I thought that was a bad single to make a debut in the music scene. But I guess, my opinion was rather unpopular, as apparently she received a lot of rave from that song. Only logical, as the local music industry made up of mostly Malay-speaking listeners. And so I was quick to judge. I ignored her great voice and the raw talent she has just based on that one song. I turned to Wani Ardy and compared them; thinking Wani makes better music.
See that's the thing with music and musicians - their music may sound the same, but they're all completely different. Especially for singer/songwriters. You can't really tell the experiences they base from for their songs. So the best singers usually are able to project these experiences and emotions unto their songs - which Yuna successfully did.
It was when my dad decided to commission her for the song Cinta Sempurna for the series on Astro by the same title that I started to take notice.
I then got to listen to After Midnight (which I thought was brilliant; I had goosebumps within the first 5 seconds - but it reminded me of a certain goth band) and then I listened to Backpacking Around Europe, and thought wow this girl is really versatile. I think it was her album, Decorate that changed my mind. Permission has light vocals and heavy rhythm; and I love heavy. What swept me off my feet was the lyrics. Man, were the lyrics heart-breaking! "Empty..is what you'll find here" .. or something like that (hehe, sorry bad memory). Her songs follow a plot; progressive, that you can't really fall asleep or feel bored in between. And the ending, abrupt. Just like how life normally ends.
A classic favorite would be Penakut. I find that most people can express better in their local languages. And this song epitomizes that. Simple words, stark meaning. It unfolds the true story like a conversation with another person. But it was her and the music talking. The song was around 4mins plus, but I just didn't feel it was long!
And in case you're wondering, yes, I have the original album :) I've started to tell myself to support good artistes by getting their albums whenever I can.
Have you listened to her exclusive-for-USA songs? Coffee and Fears and Frustrations. Not bad. Although I didn't really like the intro to the latter. Cliche. However, the cover of Nirvana's Come As You Are I featured here the other day can make up for that :) I guess she is able to get more inspiration by stepping out of her comfort zone.
I wish her all the luck in the world.
p/s: She has a Wiki, do you know that? Waiting for the time I have my own :p
from Malaysian Philharmonic Petronas
I feel like she has come a long way to get to where she is right now, and it's only fair if we Malaysians give her the support and credit she deserves. And for that, I will be there Yuna! :D
To be honest, it was more of a love-at-first-listen with me and Bunkface rather than with Yuna. I didn't like Dan Sebenarnya and I thought that was a bad single to make a debut in the music scene. But I guess, my opinion was rather unpopular, as apparently she received a lot of rave from that song. Only logical, as the local music industry made up of mostly Malay-speaking listeners. And so I was quick to judge. I ignored her great voice and the raw talent she has just based on that one song. I turned to Wani Ardy and compared them; thinking Wani makes better music.
See that's the thing with music and musicians - their music may sound the same, but they're all completely different. Especially for singer/songwriters. You can't really tell the experiences they base from for their songs. So the best singers usually are able to project these experiences and emotions unto their songs - which Yuna successfully did.
It was when my dad decided to commission her for the song Cinta Sempurna for the series on Astro by the same title that I started to take notice.
I then got to listen to After Midnight (which I thought was brilliant; I had goosebumps within the first 5 seconds - but it reminded me of a certain goth band) and then I listened to Backpacking Around Europe, and thought wow this girl is really versatile. I think it was her album, Decorate that changed my mind. Permission has light vocals and heavy rhythm; and I love heavy. What swept me off my feet was the lyrics. Man, were the lyrics heart-breaking! "Empty..is what you'll find here" .. or something like that (hehe, sorry bad memory). Her songs follow a plot; progressive, that you can't really fall asleep or feel bored in between. And the ending, abrupt. Just like how life normally ends.
A classic favorite would be Penakut. I find that most people can express better in their local languages. And this song epitomizes that. Simple words, stark meaning. It unfolds the true story like a conversation with another person. But it was her and the music talking. The song was around 4mins plus, but I just didn't feel it was long!
Penakut by Yuna
And in case you're wondering, yes, I have the original album :) I've started to tell myself to support good artistes by getting their albums whenever I can.
Have you listened to her exclusive-for-USA songs? Coffee and Fears and Frustrations. Not bad. Although I didn't really like the intro to the latter. Cliche. However, the cover of Nirvana's Come As You Are I featured here the other day can make up for that :) I guess she is able to get more inspiration by stepping out of her comfort zone.
I wish her all the luck in the world.
p/s: She has a Wiki, do you know that? Waiting for the time I have my own :p
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Kau Ni Kenapa?
by Tramizi Hussin
dalam titis-titis hujan yang turun ada kau,
rintik yang jatuh di mata ialah bundar matamu,
titis yang lepas ke tengkuk ialah manis bibirmu,
rambut basah di usik tanganmu; dada lencun ditindih gebu dadamu,
kuyup tubuh dimamah tubuhmu,
dan aku berteleku menikmati segalanya,
dalam hujan aku temu kau; dan antara rintik aku hancur merindui.
I must tell you, I effing love this piece of poetry. I haven't read/heard a good one for quite some time, and just coming across this, made me breathe a sigh of relief. Good poetry still exist. Especially in Malay - my mother tongue that I would not ever take for granted.
It's hard to write a poem without having to sound like you're trying too hard, what more to write it in Malay. Poets writing in Malay tend to be 'simplistic' with their ermm, presentation (?), eventhough they pile on the big words. To me, it's not the bombastic vocabulary you use, but rather how you use simple words that can mean many things.
The poem was included in the Pinggir Malam Yang Mati book of trio writers - Tramizi Hussin, Shafiq Halim and Zulwaqar Akram. It was published by Jargon Books, which I bought at one of those flea markets/bazaar thingamajigga I went to recently. I also met the famed (underground, sort of) maestro, Aloy Paradoks, in person and was kind of starstruck :p
dalam titis-titis hujan yang turun ada kau,
rintik yang jatuh di mata ialah bundar matamu,
titis yang lepas ke tengkuk ialah manis bibirmu,
rambut basah di usik tanganmu; dada lencun ditindih gebu dadamu,
kuyup tubuh dimamah tubuhmu,
dan aku berteleku menikmati segalanya,
dalam hujan aku temu kau; dan antara rintik aku hancur merindui.
I must tell you, I effing love this piece of poetry. I haven't read/heard a good one for quite some time, and just coming across this, made me breathe a sigh of relief. Good poetry still exist. Especially in Malay - my mother tongue that I would not ever take for granted.
It's hard to write a poem without having to sound like you're trying too hard, what more to write it in Malay. Poets writing in Malay tend to be 'simplistic' with their ermm, presentation (?), eventhough they pile on the big words. To me, it's not the bombastic vocabulary you use, but rather how you use simple words that can mean many things.
The poem was included in the Pinggir Malam Yang Mati book of trio writers - Tramizi Hussin, Shafiq Halim and Zulwaqar Akram. It was published by Jargon Books, which I bought at one of those flea markets/bazaar thingamajigga I went to recently. I also met the famed (underground, sort of) maestro, Aloy Paradoks, in person and was kind of starstruck :p
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Confessions of a Hairdresser
It was a normal visit to the salon - after the photoshoot I had the other day, my hair was just abnormal; it was like tali rafia knotted together and I was walking around with a rug on my head like that was what it literally looked like. It's almost semi-afro and semi-dreads.
I shampooed, and it got worst. The amount of hairspray they piled on my hair was just insane. So I made a visit to the salon - a place I haven't been a long time (hello black roots and split-ends), to get my hair fixed.
Little did I know, I was about to get more than just hair treatment - a spiritual talk, a penny for the thought, by none other than the hairdresser. A note though, this is not your normal salon; it's one of those dodgy ones that noone goes to (yeah I needed something fast and wallet-friendly).
So this hairdresser is 35 years old (she told me), and let's call her Kak Nor. So Kak Nor is an Indonesian who has been working and living here in Malaysia with her husband for many years. She dresses like any normal "urban" woman would dress - purple blouse (with a little bit of cleavage just enough to tease the mature-men's imagination), black leggings, 4-inch flip-flops and large loop earrings. Her hair was..never mind.
So she had that dozy look on her when I got in, asked me what I wanted and quickly attempted to
kill me with the water-proof robe she choked at my neck.
"Sit", she said.
Noone else was in the salon. Great, I thought. I'm gonna perish in her hands.
Then she started massaging my head with shampoo. The lather tipples down my forehead and nearly got in my eye. I didn't dare move to wipe it off.
I looked at her through the mirror and she looked at me.
"Puasa tak adik?", she asked. I nodded.
"Kakak ni, dulu jahil - puasa kadang-kadang je. Tarawikh, lagi tak pernah!" she said, sounding almost surprised with herself.
I didn't react anything, as I don't want to either encourage or insult her. So I just nodded, to indicate that I'm listening. At intervals, I would look down at the Hello! Magazine she handed me earlier from a year ago.
She continued with her life story.
"Tapi Ramadhan kali ni, akak terasa sangat-sangat. Rasa mukjizat dia. Akak puasa, lepas tu akak pergi tarawikh. Semalam, buat pertama kali dalam hidup akak, akak buat Solat Tasbih. Ya Allah dik, rasa macam magic tau nggak!"
She speaks Malay fluently, but sometimes her Indonesian accent surface.
"Entah lah nak cakap macam mana dik, akak rasa jahil sangat sebelum ni, baru aku tau tinggi rendah langit tuh!"
And then she continues. She told me she hadn't sleep for the past few nights, as she joined the group around her house to 'submit' themselves in prayer in the wee hours. I've always been told that this is the best time to pray - when everyone else is asleep.
She said during the day, she spent more time than she used to to think about Islam. Submitting to God has been the best thing that's ever happened to her, she said. Now she truly understood how people can sacrifice anything and/or everything in the name of God. She felt small, and I saw her shed a tear as she spoke the words to me. I thought shampoo got into her eyes.
"Dik, kalau lah ada satu nasihat yang akak boleh bagi, nanti kau keluar dari kedai ni akak nak kau masih ingat nasihat ni; apa yang kita pakai kat luar ni hanyalah hiasan, benda zahir, tapi kalau hati kau bersih dik, Tuhan pasti sayang kau..
Akak nak tanya, bila kau puasa, kau lapar tak? Lapar kan? Jadi supaya tak lapar kita kena makan kan? Kita kena makan nasi, sayuran, minum air supaya badan sihat. Itu semua untuk badan..untuk jasad kita. Roh kau, kau bagi makan tak?"
Err, tak pasti lah kak, I answered almost quizzically. I wanted to know where she's getting at.
"Roh kita pun kita kena bagi makan tau..tau apa makanan roh? Zikir lah! Zikir tu adalah makanan roh kita. Bila akhirat nanti, amalan zikir kita lah yang jadi bekalan makanan kita.. Badan kita akan sakit dan mati. Roh kita hanya sakit, kalau kita tak bagi dia khasiat, tapi dia tak akan mati. Roh kita kekal sampai bila-bila. Jadi dik, kau kena bagi bekal secukupnya dekat roh kau.."
Wow. That really got to me. Have I got enough "food" for my soul? By the time she finished blow-drying my hair, I just got goosebumps all over me. I felt scared. She told me I shouldn't be scared, but to be grateful that I still have time to make a change.
One final thing she told me:
"Kau tau dik, orang yang sembahyang tunggang-terbalik pun belum tentu masuk syurga. Inikan lagi orang macam akak ni. Dalam berbilion-bilion orang dalam dunia ni, cuma 88,000 orang saja yang akan masuk syurga Ustaz tu kata. Kau fikir dik, berapa ramai orang ada dalam duni ni sekarang? Tak kira lagi orang dari zaman-zaman dulu! Wallahu'alam lah dik, mungkin yang lain tu akan terima hukuman dulu baru masuk syurga..apa pun kita cubalah yang terbaik.."
Sigh. Too much information from a hairdresser. As I step out from the salon, my head got heavier, my mind thinking and I felt almost numb. But in a good way, you know? Like an eye-opener.
However heavy I felt after, I still think that I'll definitely make another visit there; not only my hair looks wayyyy better, but she also gave me a discount, a free sample of hair tonic, and one really good lecture.
Funny how random people can affect you.
I shampooed, and it got worst. The amount of hairspray they piled on my hair was just insane. So I made a visit to the salon - a place I haven't been a long time (hello black roots and split-ends), to get my hair fixed.
Little did I know, I was about to get more than just hair treatment - a spiritual talk, a penny for the thought, by none other than the hairdresser. A note though, this is not your normal salon; it's one of those dodgy ones that noone goes to (yeah I needed something fast and wallet-friendly).
So this hairdresser is 35 years old (she told me), and let's call her Kak Nor. So Kak Nor is an Indonesian who has been working and living here in Malaysia with her husband for many years. She dresses like any normal "urban" woman would dress - purple blouse (with a little bit of cleavage just enough to tease the mature-men's imagination), black leggings, 4-inch flip-flops and large loop earrings. Her hair was..never mind.
So she had that dozy look on her when I got in, asked me what I wanted and quickly attempted to
kill me with the water-proof robe she choked at my neck.
"Sit", she said.
Noone else was in the salon. Great, I thought. I'm gonna perish in her hands.
Then she started massaging my head with shampoo. The lather tipples down my forehead and nearly got in my eye. I didn't dare move to wipe it off.
I looked at her through the mirror and she looked at me.
"Puasa tak adik?", she asked. I nodded.
"Kakak ni, dulu jahil - puasa kadang-kadang je. Tarawikh, lagi tak pernah!" she said, sounding almost surprised with herself.
I didn't react anything, as I don't want to either encourage or insult her. So I just nodded, to indicate that I'm listening. At intervals, I would look down at the Hello! Magazine she handed me earlier from a year ago.
She continued with her life story.
"Tapi Ramadhan kali ni, akak terasa sangat-sangat. Rasa mukjizat dia. Akak puasa, lepas tu akak pergi tarawikh. Semalam, buat pertama kali dalam hidup akak, akak buat Solat Tasbih. Ya Allah dik, rasa macam magic tau nggak!"
She speaks Malay fluently, but sometimes her Indonesian accent surface.
"Entah lah nak cakap macam mana dik, akak rasa jahil sangat sebelum ni, baru aku tau tinggi rendah langit tuh!"
And then she continues. She told me she hadn't sleep for the past few nights, as she joined the group around her house to 'submit' themselves in prayer in the wee hours. I've always been told that this is the best time to pray - when everyone else is asleep.
She said during the day, she spent more time than she used to to think about Islam. Submitting to God has been the best thing that's ever happened to her, she said. Now she truly understood how people can sacrifice anything and/or everything in the name of God. She felt small, and I saw her shed a tear as she spoke the words to me. I thought shampoo got into her eyes.
"Dik, kalau lah ada satu nasihat yang akak boleh bagi, nanti kau keluar dari kedai ni akak nak kau masih ingat nasihat ni; apa yang kita pakai kat luar ni hanyalah hiasan, benda zahir, tapi kalau hati kau bersih dik, Tuhan pasti sayang kau..
Akak nak tanya, bila kau puasa, kau lapar tak? Lapar kan? Jadi supaya tak lapar kita kena makan kan? Kita kena makan nasi, sayuran, minum air supaya badan sihat. Itu semua untuk badan..untuk jasad kita. Roh kau, kau bagi makan tak?"
Err, tak pasti lah kak, I answered almost quizzically. I wanted to know where she's getting at.
"Roh kita pun kita kena bagi makan tau..tau apa makanan roh? Zikir lah! Zikir tu adalah makanan roh kita. Bila akhirat nanti, amalan zikir kita lah yang jadi bekalan makanan kita.. Badan kita akan sakit dan mati. Roh kita hanya sakit, kalau kita tak bagi dia khasiat, tapi dia tak akan mati. Roh kita kekal sampai bila-bila. Jadi dik, kau kena bagi bekal secukupnya dekat roh kau.."
Wow. That really got to me. Have I got enough "food" for my soul? By the time she finished blow-drying my hair, I just got goosebumps all over me. I felt scared. She told me I shouldn't be scared, but to be grateful that I still have time to make a change.
One final thing she told me:
"Kau tau dik, orang yang sembahyang tunggang-terbalik pun belum tentu masuk syurga. Inikan lagi orang macam akak ni. Dalam berbilion-bilion orang dalam dunia ni, cuma 88,000 orang saja yang akan masuk syurga Ustaz tu kata. Kau fikir dik, berapa ramai orang ada dalam duni ni sekarang? Tak kira lagi orang dari zaman-zaman dulu! Wallahu'alam lah dik, mungkin yang lain tu akan terima hukuman dulu baru masuk syurga..apa pun kita cubalah yang terbaik.."
Sigh. Too much information from a hairdresser. As I step out from the salon, my head got heavier, my mind thinking and I felt almost numb. But in a good way, you know? Like an eye-opener.
However heavy I felt after, I still think that I'll definitely make another visit there; not only my hair looks wayyyy better, but she also gave me a discount, a free sample of hair tonic, and one really good lecture.
Funny how random people can affect you.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Chosen One
The Chosen One by Maher Zain
Some may think he is overrated, pergi rumah orang kahwin lagu Maher Zain, pergi masjid lagu Maher Zain, but the truth is, his songs are good.
I think his other songs are pretty average - standard spiritual songs but with a little bit of pop.
But this one particular song of his is just so..soothing. I saw the video first on Astro in the wee hours when I couldn't sleep, and after watching it, I just felt so calm. The song so comforting and the video so compelling.
It made me believe that out of all the evil in the world, there are still kindness out there.
So in conjunction with Bulan Ramadhan, I dedicate this song to you all. In fact, there are truly many things we can learn from the Prophet.
For me, the most important lesson would be Patience.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Puppy Love
My sister came to me and said "Kak, is this normal? He hasn't texted me in two days.."
Oh well, wait till it's at least 3 days then come back to me with this question
"But..I have this weird feeling in my chest.."
I looked at her. What feeling?
"I don't know, you're the expert!"
Crap, I'm the last person on Earth people should come to for advice on love and relationship.
"It's like I can't do anything else but think of him.."
Are you, missing him?
"Yeah, I guess that's it.."
Then silence.
"Maybe he doesn't like me anymore.."
Shit, this is serious! Noone is allowed to make my sister feel such a way!
Nah, how can he not like you! Look at you, you're awesome! He's just stupid. But don't call people that. That was a bad word
"Is this how love is? Is this what people in a relationship would go through?"
Sigh, she could've gone to my mom to get advice and would have felt better by now. I'm a bad sister.
Uhm, yeah, I suppose. Actually yes, you know what, it is normal. Just calm down, chillax; things will get better and he'll text you. Ok?
She didn't seem convinced.
A badminton game was on.
"I miss Thomas Cup (where she met the boy). Can't believe it was a year ago.."
Why don't you text him. Tell him you miss Thomas Cup. And that you miss him.
"Okay"
3minutes later..
"Kak!! He replied! Waaaaa I'm so happy!!" She was more than happy, actually. Jumping up and down, humming to herself, looking at herself smile in the mirror. Lovesick.
I continued with minding my own lame business. Ignoring her, when suddenly..
"Kak, you know, you should take your own advice sometimes..I'm just saying!"
Sigh. How do kids get to be so smart?
Oh well, wait till it's at least 3 days then come back to me with this question
"But..I have this weird feeling in my chest.."
I looked at her. What feeling?
"I don't know, you're the expert!"
Crap, I'm the last person on Earth people should come to for advice on love and relationship.
"It's like I can't do anything else but think of him.."
Are you, missing him?
"Yeah, I guess that's it.."
Then silence.
"Maybe he doesn't like me anymore.."
Shit, this is serious! Noone is allowed to make my sister feel such a way!
Nah, how can he not like you! Look at you, you're awesome! He's just stupid. But don't call people that. That was a bad word
"Is this how love is? Is this what people in a relationship would go through?"
Sigh, she could've gone to my mom to get advice and would have felt better by now. I'm a bad sister.
Uhm, yeah, I suppose. Actually yes, you know what, it is normal. Just calm down, chillax; things will get better and he'll text you. Ok?
She didn't seem convinced.
A badminton game was on.
"I miss Thomas Cup (where she met the boy). Can't believe it was a year ago.."
Why don't you text him. Tell him you miss Thomas Cup. And that you miss him.
"Okay"
3minutes later..
"Kak!! He replied! Waaaaa I'm so happy!!" She was more than happy, actually. Jumping up and down, humming to herself, looking at herself smile in the mirror. Lovesick.
I continued with minding my own lame business. Ignoring her, when suddenly..
"Kak, you know, you should take your own advice sometimes..I'm just saying!"
Sigh. How do kids get to be so smart?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Talk Show #2: Bulan Ramadhan
Salam 1Malaysia, Salam Ramadhon.
Kota Kuala Lumpur.
Di bulan yang mulia ini, semua syaitan dan iblis akan diikat di dalam api neraka. Oleh kerana itu, kebanyakkan filem-filem berkisarkan hantu dan thriller banyak menerima sambutan, malah ada yang box office kerana orang tidak takutkan hantu pada bulan ini. Lantas mereka akan menonton semua cerita hantu yang telah di'download' tapi tak berani untuk tengok pada waktu ini.
Bila emak bertanya: "Romzi! Kau tak pergi solat tarawikh ke?!"
Romzi menjawab: "Kejap mak, tak leh nak pause ni, pontianak tu tengah nak gigit leher dia ni!"
Ramai yang menggelengkan kepala.
Ya, memang benar. Isu hedonisme melampau sudah lama menjengah abad-21 ini. Malah, kita telah terlalu taksub dengan keghairahan dunia dan fantasinya.
Jejaka usia 20-an bertanya pada teman wanitanya: "B, kita nak buka kat mana harini?"
Teman wanita lepasan SPM menjawab: "Hmm, Pizza Hut? Eh tak nak lah, KFC lah? Oh tak tak, Flaming Steambot kat Subang tu lah nak?"
Jejaka membalas: "Ish you ni, gelojoh tau!" Sambil mencubit manja lengan teman wanitanya.
Kita menggeleng kepala. Tapi adakah kerana kita juga melakukannya?
Tepat jam 7 malam, semua meja dia restoran-restoran terkemuka di kota dihuni pengunjung-pengunjung lahap yang sudah bersiap sedia untuk membaham makanan di depan mereka.
Para pengunjung bukan Islam yang baru tiba terkejut kerana bukan sahaja meja dipenuhi orang yang sekadar melihat saja makanan (ya lah, belum waktu berbuka), tetapi masih ramai lagi yang sedang beratur membeli makanan.
"Sudahlah di pasar juadah sesak dengan orang, di sini juga tak kurang penuhnya"
Itulah hakikatnya.
Yang di atas jalan, cuba memotong sana sini agar sampai ke destinasi sebelum berbuka. Ya, tiada siapa yang suka berbuka di dalam kereta.
Tepat waktu berbuka, serentak bagai di army boot camp, semua insan yang berpuasa, tak kira di mana jua, mengangkat tangan membaca doa dan terus menyelamkan muka di dalam timbunan nasi (bagi yang makan nasi lah).
Selesai makan, semua tersandar di kerusi.
Anak muda A bertanya rakannya: "Weh, hari ni nak tarawikh tak?"
Anak muda B: "Aduhh, senak pula perut ni. Aku selang-seli makan sambil minum tadi. Nasi belah kanan, air belah kiri. Esok jelah. Tak apa, Ramadhan kan sebulan.."
Dan bila melakukan solat tarawikh..
Gadis A: "Kita buat lapan je tau. Hari ni moreh sedap. Bubur kacang hijau!"
Gadis B: "Ok! Nanti lepas witir tunggu kat luar cepat-cepat. Sebab kena rebut dengan jemaah lelaki..Diorang selalu habiskan makanan.."
Inilah dia beberapa situasi biasa di bulan Ramadhan. Fikir-fikirkanlah yang mana amalan yang kita patut jadikan teladan, dan yang mana tidak. Saya juga selalu terjebak, dan cuba sering mengingatkan diri sendiri.
Jadilah diri anda yang terbaik bulan ini, kerana kita belum pasti jika kita boleh meraikan Ramadhan tahun hadapan..
Semoga berjumpa lagi di lain kali. Saya, melaporkan.
Kota Kuala Lumpur.
Di bulan yang mulia ini, semua syaitan dan iblis akan diikat di dalam api neraka. Oleh kerana itu, kebanyakkan filem-filem berkisarkan hantu dan thriller banyak menerima sambutan, malah ada yang box office kerana orang tidak takutkan hantu pada bulan ini. Lantas mereka akan menonton semua cerita hantu yang telah di'download' tapi tak berani untuk tengok pada waktu ini.
Bila emak bertanya: "Romzi! Kau tak pergi solat tarawikh ke?!"
Romzi menjawab: "Kejap mak, tak leh nak pause ni, pontianak tu tengah nak gigit leher dia ni!"
Ramai yang menggelengkan kepala.
Ya, memang benar. Isu hedonisme melampau sudah lama menjengah abad-21 ini. Malah, kita telah terlalu taksub dengan keghairahan dunia dan fantasinya.
Jejaka usia 20-an bertanya pada teman wanitanya: "B, kita nak buka kat mana harini?"
Teman wanita lepasan SPM menjawab: "Hmm, Pizza Hut? Eh tak nak lah, KFC lah? Oh tak tak, Flaming Steambot kat Subang tu lah nak?"
Jejaka membalas: "Ish you ni, gelojoh tau!" Sambil mencubit manja lengan teman wanitanya.
Kita menggeleng kepala. Tapi adakah kerana kita juga melakukannya?
Tepat jam 7 malam, semua meja dia restoran-restoran terkemuka di kota dihuni pengunjung-pengunjung lahap yang sudah bersiap sedia untuk membaham makanan di depan mereka.
Para pengunjung bukan Islam yang baru tiba terkejut kerana bukan sahaja meja dipenuhi orang yang sekadar melihat saja makanan (ya lah, belum waktu berbuka), tetapi masih ramai lagi yang sedang beratur membeli makanan.
"Sudahlah di pasar juadah sesak dengan orang, di sini juga tak kurang penuhnya"
Itulah hakikatnya.
Yang di atas jalan, cuba memotong sana sini agar sampai ke destinasi sebelum berbuka. Ya, tiada siapa yang suka berbuka di dalam kereta.
Tepat waktu berbuka, serentak bagai di army boot camp, semua insan yang berpuasa, tak kira di mana jua, mengangkat tangan membaca doa dan terus menyelamkan muka di dalam timbunan nasi (bagi yang makan nasi lah).
Selesai makan, semua tersandar di kerusi.
Anak muda A bertanya rakannya: "Weh, hari ni nak tarawikh tak?"
Anak muda B: "Aduhh, senak pula perut ni. Aku selang-seli makan sambil minum tadi. Nasi belah kanan, air belah kiri. Esok jelah. Tak apa, Ramadhan kan sebulan.."
Dan bila melakukan solat tarawikh..
Gadis A: "Kita buat lapan je tau. Hari ni moreh sedap. Bubur kacang hijau!"
Gadis B: "Ok! Nanti lepas witir tunggu kat luar cepat-cepat. Sebab kena rebut dengan jemaah lelaki..Diorang selalu habiskan makanan.."
Inilah dia beberapa situasi biasa di bulan Ramadhan. Fikir-fikirkanlah yang mana amalan yang kita patut jadikan teladan, dan yang mana tidak. Saya juga selalu terjebak, dan cuba sering mengingatkan diri sendiri.
Jadilah diri anda yang terbaik bulan ini, kerana kita belum pasti jika kita boleh meraikan Ramadhan tahun hadapan..
Semoga berjumpa lagi di lain kali. Saya, melaporkan.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Come as you are
Come as you are (Nirvana cover) by Yuna
Another one of Yuna's music goodness. With Pharrell Williams from N.E.R.D. as producer. You can see him briefly in the video, towards the end.
People can love or hate her, but they can only love her music. Malay girl making it big in the Big Apple city.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Lupakan Semalam
Lupakan Semalam by Salam
I got attracted to Salam (musically, of course) since I first heard him in Cerita Kedai Kopi featuring the Malaysian hip-hop megastar, Malique from TooPhat and DJ Fuzz.
I thought not just the song is rhythmically awesome (ska! ska!), but the lyrics touched more than just human feelings - they speak of status quo, issues people are too afraid to mention in a song, simply because they are the truth.
What more, he rocks the 'locks! Malay guy 'lost' in Amsterdam, advocating peace and love in all true reggaeness.
What's not to love?
His songs remind me of Gerard et les Stars, my all-time fave French ska band, except of course, Salam is a one-man band.
Rasta Love.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Hello, welcome to my new talk show.
Salam 1 Malaysia.
Darsa-warsa ini, terlalu ramai orang yang ingin menjadi seorang yang unik, dan berbeda antara satu dengan lain. Mengapa? Kerana ini adalah perlu.
Malah, 'perlu' itu adalah satu understatement; kata yang lebih tepat adalah wajib. Imperative. Compulsory. Salient.
Lantas, apa akan terjadi tatkala setiap orang di muka bumi ini menjadi unik? Jawapannya, semua orang akan jadi normal. Anda ikut? ("Are you following?")
Huh? Apa ni? Cakap berbelit ar! Panggil Bik Syoliha lah, dia pandai sikit explain benda-benda falsafah ni!
Maaf para hadirin, bawa bertenang. Bik Syoliha kini sedang bercuti di kampung halamannya, di Jawa Tengah, Indonesia (iklan: untuk kiriman salam buat Bik Syoliha sempena bulan Romadhon ini, sila dial 1-800-44-tekan-tekan-tak-dapat)<-- argh lame!
Jadi, saya akan mengambil alih tanggungjawab berat untuk terangkan ini pada anda semua. Harap bertenang.
Baiklah, berbalik pada hujah kompleks tadi. Bila seseorang itu lain dari yang lain, dia unik. Bila semua orang unik, mereka adalah normal.
Kosa kata:
Different = unique
Unique = different
Ekuisinya (equation) di sini adalah:
1 person being different = unique
10 people being unique = trend
1 billion people being unique = normal
Sementelahan itu, ada juga populasi yang merasakan mereka makhluk unik, namun tidak dipersetujui masyarakat sejagat. Kumpulan ini digelar dengan nama saintifik, Wannabes. Namun tidak salah untuk mencuba.
Rentetan itu, nasihat saya pada anda di luar sana yang ingin menjadi unik, hanyalah satu: jadilah normal. Kerana normal itu unik di era pembangunan kini yang dipenuhi dengan manusia "unik".
Sekian, semoga berjumpa lagi di hari dan waktu yang sama. Salam 1Malaysia.
Darsa-warsa ini, terlalu ramai orang yang ingin menjadi seorang yang unik, dan berbeda antara satu dengan lain. Mengapa? Kerana ini adalah perlu.
Malah, 'perlu' itu adalah satu understatement; kata yang lebih tepat adalah wajib. Imperative. Compulsory. Salient.
Lantas, apa akan terjadi tatkala setiap orang di muka bumi ini menjadi unik? Jawapannya, semua orang akan jadi normal. Anda ikut? ("Are you following?")
Huh? Apa ni? Cakap berbelit ar! Panggil Bik Syoliha lah, dia pandai sikit explain benda-benda falsafah ni!
Maaf para hadirin, bawa bertenang. Bik Syoliha kini sedang bercuti di kampung halamannya, di Jawa Tengah, Indonesia (iklan: untuk kiriman salam buat Bik Syoliha sempena bulan Romadhon ini, sila dial 1-800-44-tekan-tekan-tak-dapat)<-- argh lame!
Jadi, saya akan mengambil alih tanggungjawab berat untuk terangkan ini pada anda semua. Harap bertenang.
Baiklah, berbalik pada hujah kompleks tadi. Bila seseorang itu lain dari yang lain, dia unik. Bila semua orang unik, mereka adalah normal.
Kosa kata:
Different = unique
Unique = different
Ekuisinya (equation) di sini adalah:
1 person being different = unique
10 people being unique = trend
1 billion people being unique = normal
Sementelahan itu, ada juga populasi yang merasakan mereka makhluk unik, namun tidak dipersetujui masyarakat sejagat. Kumpulan ini digelar dengan nama saintifik, Wannabes. Namun tidak salah untuk mencuba.
Rentetan itu, nasihat saya pada anda di luar sana yang ingin menjadi unik, hanyalah satu: jadilah normal. Kerana normal itu unik di era pembangunan kini yang dipenuhi dengan manusia "unik".
Sekian, semoga berjumpa lagi di hari dan waktu yang sama. Salam 1Malaysia.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Blessed with a curse
Blessed with a curse by Bring Me the Horizon
Recognize this song? Hehe. A small dice of my heart has long been sacrificed to hardcore metal/screamo. Such a sweet face, that Oliver boy, can't believe he peed on a fan before. Pfft, rockstars and their antics.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Ex Beach Wedding Virgin
I was pretty happy for I spent half of the weekdays last week in a private beach in Langkawi - I couldn't ask for a better timing.
Firstly, they readily make a beautiful couple. Hence, their wedding looked extra beautiful - when especially armed with an army of people who made it the event that it was.
I pride myself with one tiny thing: I suggested them the videographer for the wedding. They already had photographers (from Kidchan), and were still looking for videographers to capture moments in motion - only logical especially with couples that boast amazing personalities. Their style, is very avant-garde with pastel shadowings and very fairytale like. Often times, their layout is like a plot - from the beginning of the wedding day, to the end, capturing moments instead of just "things" or "people".
So I showed Aina this blog that I've been stalking since last year - Kudegraphy (especially when I'm in need to get sappy - don't ask me why) and at first Tats was a bit reluctant to "act" for a video. But finally, they opted for it.
They also shot videos and stills for the beach wedding - only make sense as their style is very wistful and matches the "beach" theme and also coz I guess Aina thought they did a pretty good job with the pre-wed video.
I met the Kudegraphy team (Ili, Kude & friend) during the wedding - in fact, we took the same flights to and fro (I was starstruck!) and told them I'm booking them for my wedding! So one thing checked off the list. Now, for the groom...
Anyways, just to share; recently (April), they explored with fashion video on Natasha Hudson and I thought it's really awesome I shared it with my sister. We watched it over and over again! Can't get enough!
And these guys are versatile and professional; they would sneak behind you or hide in the bushes to get natural and perceptive shots without you even noticing. This is a plus point for me, as I really dislike photographers at events who literally place their hugeass lenses in your face and snap away whilst making hustles and giving all sorts of comments and instructions (i.e. "adik muka tunduk sikit, tapi pandang kiri then kepala condong ke kanan sikit je.." -- are you kidding me?!), and then murder people with their hugeass camera bags smashing away in the process.
They only take few commissions per year, just to give more focus and undivided attention to the event/wedding - I guess inclusive of the post-editing etc. (I dated a photographer once and my mom used to be a photographer too, so trust me on this, it will take as long as it will take) So if you want to book them, find them earlier, like maybe a year before! Hah kidding (but seriously).
I'm going to stop pulling their plug here, so just head on to their website for more info or just to daydream and get inspiration for your own wedding and stuff. When I have the time I will share some interesting bits about the entire wedding.
Meantime, take care guys.
p/s: can't believe Amy Winehouse just passed. She was just 27. Long live great musicians.
As I will tell you, timing is only the beginning of it all - the entire course of the wedding (four separate ceremonies altogether) was spectacular. I can take credit for my parents as they helped out with the planning of the wedding. One of the four ceremonies was their beach wedding. I've never been to a beach wedding before, so this was my first! I'm no longer a beach wedding virgin!
The wedding was of Aina Elias and Tatsuro Miller. Here is a pre-wedding video of the couple:
Firstly, they readily make a beautiful couple. Hence, their wedding looked extra beautiful - when especially armed with an army of people who made it the event that it was.
I pride myself with one tiny thing: I suggested them the videographer for the wedding. They already had photographers (from Kidchan), and were still looking for videographers to capture moments in motion - only logical especially with couples that boast amazing personalities. Their style, is very avant-garde with pastel shadowings and very fairytale like. Often times, their layout is like a plot - from the beginning of the wedding day, to the end, capturing moments instead of just "things" or "people".
So I showed Aina this blog that I've been stalking since last year - Kudegraphy (especially when I'm in need to get sappy - don't ask me why) and at first Tats was a bit reluctant to "act" for a video. But finally, they opted for it.
They also shot videos and stills for the beach wedding - only make sense as their style is very wistful and matches the "beach" theme and also coz I guess Aina thought they did a pretty good job with the pre-wed video.
I met the Kudegraphy team (Ili, Kude & friend) during the wedding - in fact, we took the same flights to and fro (I was starstruck!) and told them I'm booking them for my wedding! So one thing checked off the list. Now, for the groom...
Anyways, just to share; recently (April), they explored with fashion video on Natasha Hudson and I thought it's really awesome I shared it with my sister. We watched it over and over again! Can't get enough!
And these guys are versatile and professional; they would sneak behind you or hide in the bushes to get natural and perceptive shots without you even noticing. This is a plus point for me, as I really dislike photographers at events who literally place their hugeass lenses in your face and snap away whilst making hustles and giving all sorts of comments and instructions (i.e. "adik muka tunduk sikit, tapi pandang kiri then kepala condong ke kanan sikit je.." -- are you kidding me?!), and then murder people with their hugeass camera bags smashing away in the process.
They only take few commissions per year, just to give more focus and undivided attention to the event/wedding - I guess inclusive of the post-editing etc. (I dated a photographer once and my mom used to be a photographer too, so trust me on this, it will take as long as it will take) So if you want to book them, find them earlier, like maybe a year before! Hah kidding (but seriously).
I'm going to stop pulling their plug here, so just head on to their website for more info or just to daydream and get inspiration for your own wedding and stuff. When I have the time I will share some interesting bits about the entire wedding.
Meantime, take care guys.
p/s: can't believe Amy Winehouse just passed. She was just 27. Long live great musicians.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
For Future Reference
Hello Izza,
I hope one day you will scour through this blog again and read this post.
I am proud of you today. You have overcome one fear; a very old fear, and although it may look trivial to others but I understood how huge this is to you.
That's why I think (and I know) that you deserve the best. Because you have believed in yourself for once.
That was no easy feat - in fact, I thought you would have chickened out as you will always do when it comes to this, but no. You swallowed all that nerves and put on a pleasant front.
Better days are yet to come, and when the day comes, do not chicken out or think that it is a scheme - coz most of the time, good things are genuinely just good things. Do not presume otherwise until proven to be so.
Again, I am proud of you.
I hope one day you will scour through this blog again and read this post.
I am proud of you today. You have overcome one fear; a very old fear, and although it may look trivial to others but I understood how huge this is to you.
That's why I think (and I know) that you deserve the best. Because you have believed in yourself for once.
That was no easy feat - in fact, I thought you would have chickened out as you will always do when it comes to this, but no. You swallowed all that nerves and put on a pleasant front.
Better days are yet to come, and when the day comes, do not chicken out or think that it is a scheme - coz most of the time, good things are genuinely just good things. Do not presume otherwise until proven to be so.
Again, I am proud of you.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Nothing Glorious
Nothing Glorious by Musée Mécanique
Had a chat with my colleague about love (yea, we are paid to figure out what love is lol) and this really wise person told me:
"..really, love comes in many forms; and often times you are too oblivious to it because you think it will come in an extravagant form - fireworks, sparks, confetti, all that shit - but really, sometimes it comes as something you see everyday..maybe in the form of a person you already knew.."
How can a person my age be so smart? Haha. Well, it's probably coz I'm nowhere close to being affluent at this. And oblivious too.
So love can be something ordinary, something common. It can be nothing glorious.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Who was I in the past life?
My sister showed me this website: Past Life Analysis (click to go) and it will diagnose you to who you were in the past life.
So, who was I? A jeweller or a watch-maker apparently. Sounds good.
Your past life diagnosis:
I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Portugal around the year 400. Your profession was that of a jeweler or watch-maker.
Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Inquisitive, inventive, you liked to get to the very bottom of things and to rummage in books. Talent for drama, natural born actor.
The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
The world is full of ill and lonely people. You should help those, who are less fortunate than you are.
Do you remember now?
So, who was I? A jeweller or a watch-maker apparently. Sounds good.
Your past life diagnosis:
I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Portugal around the year 400. Your profession was that of a jeweler or watch-maker.
Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Inquisitive, inventive, you liked to get to the very bottom of things and to rummage in books. Talent for drama, natural born actor.
The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
The world is full of ill and lonely people. You should help those, who are less fortunate than you are.
Do you remember now?
So find out yours now!! *Excited*
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
#bersih
There are two types of people in this world:
1. Those who conform
2. Those who conform blindly
Be the first all you want, but don't be the latter.
1. Those who conform
2. Those who conform blindly
Be the first all you want, but don't be the latter.
Monday, July 11, 2011
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