Everything

These are some of what I intend to do next year. Hehe. Colorful macaroons Chocolate pecan pie bars Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake (sounds rich ey) Sticky-sweet cinnamon rolls Red velvet cupcakes with cheese cream frosting Now, tell me you're salivating. Hehe. *All images are from Google.com

I was lying on bed this morning, drifting about in that rather uncomfortable zone between sleeping and waking, when I remembered a promise to Mama to help her mopping today. We had quite an interesting conversation about doomsday, the fuss about the end of the world, the Mayan prediction etc etc which sure enough they gave me necessary stamina to do the chores. I'd read somewhere about this prediction a couple of weeks ago with what is said was a 'trending' in 2010, but curiously has grown silent during 2012? I wasn't informative in 2010 compared to myself today, I guess. One of my friends put it on Facebook, how very disappointing that the prediction was wrong, the most terrible thing that happened yesterday was a male penguin ate it's own newly-hatched chick at a zoo in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. This expression my friend is having, in turn may have given rise to the 'how arse you can be' - a vital exclamation protesting ungrateful pe...

"When you revisit a place you love after many years, does not your heart beat with anxiety as well as eagerness?" Adibah Amin, As I Was Passing II, 1976 The above scenes taken from my Opah's house at  Kampung Dusun Hilir, Layang-layang Kiri, Parit, Perak Darul Ridzuan. Parit has not changed as much as I feared. I feared for not being able to see the green, the old traditional and classical house. For me, they set rather than a timeless piece of architecture. There are all those new buildings, of course - the factories and shops and hotels sprouting everywhere yet not discriminating the rural beauty. I have three rules about holiday. One, an obligation to mooch around all by myself along the beach. If one is impossible to do, here's number two, go somewhere quiet, pack your stuffs and go to the Kampung. But number three is a mandatory, the place must be a food heaven for my big gob! About Parit, apart from the beauty and fresh air, the DURIANs a...

I am only twenty-three years old, in fact just turned twenty-three, but feel much older due to vague fear and disillusionment that happened to come with leaving the safety net of works and problems after problems chased after me restlessly. I don't have any idea what's this post gonna tell you. But, here's an advice: "And everyone has a goal to which he turns his whole attention. Then vie with one another in good works. Wherever you be, Allah will bring you all together. Surely, Allah has the power to do all that He wills." - Al-Quran, 2:148 Live a virtuous life and do good to others. Assalamualaikum.

Nothing besides work and rain dared happen for the next couple of weeks (after my last blog post). Ke ada? This was just as well, since life schedules and travelling (a small amount of miles yet being considered for it involved money and lotsa sacrifices) took over my waking hours, and missed deadlines and errant appointments haunted my nights. To recap the one and half fortnight's big and small events: 1. It rained heavy and long for almost a week, forcing folks in my neighborhood hanged their clothes anywhere that rain-free area. And that included my room for my mom. And some worked for clogged drains and water jams, ran amok especially those who live in low-lying areas. It seems that the authority needs to do something fleet of foot regarding this matter. But anyways, I enjoyed playing with rain. Teheee#1 2. Friends came to my house and threw a party celebrating my birthday. And that made me gobsmacked cause to be very honest I didn't expect it to be so vibrant...

It all began with a ringtone I heard from Along's phone. "Wahai janji setia sudah diucapkan. Aduh, kata bersumpah telah ku padukan..." "What song is this? Sounds like Yuna singing this song." "Yuna buat cover. An old song by Rokiah Wanda, bulan ditutup awan." "The lyric is so rich." "Kan?" Which made me think of what me and Abah have in common, the taste in arts, and that started a series of images, posters, catchy dialogues from our favorite movies, melodious rhythm and beautiful lyrics, falling like dominoes. Once Abah had his Radio Klasik f.m in car, my siblings got hopping mad trying to change the channel, considered Abah as one good old boy they didn't even listen to the music first. It was an unsettling and gloomy atmosphere to him, heating was playing up. Instead of listening to an outraged phone-in, I turned back to his Radio Klasik f.m. We were just about to enjoy the sound of furious engine when the ...

You know the sensation when you bite down with an amalgam filling against tinfoil? That's how I feel right now, only from inside my chest, a poisonous, sick fizzling of nerves below my rib cage. Nothing went in from the movie I watched just now and the novel I read, just as distractions for me without having tried it too hard. I am tired. I am sick of this situation. Allah, Ya Allah. :'(

Five funfacts you would waste your time reading. Funfact number 1: I made myself clear that I will NEVER EVER believe in supplements and slimming products and 'their peers' and whatever, though I haven't experienced any. Which suddenly it makes me wonder why I hate it so much without ever having tried it before. Mama's friend came in a timely manner recommending me to have a try on this green tea which she said it's good to remove the bad toxic (is there good toxic in our body?) and to improve blood circulation and other benefits that I deliberately forgot. A snap decision and I've been using it for 2 weeks now and thank Allah I feel strong and powerful and vigorously healthy. Hahaha Funfact number 2: After abandoning Facebook world for ages, I decided to make a comeback and kinda campy that me myself feel annoyed with prolonged updates and status incessantly every few hours. Hahaha But to be fair with myself, they weren't goofy like telling the wor...

Enche Johnny telah menyiapkan kerja-kerja membikin reban ayam dan berhempas pulas memasak untuk seratus orang tetamu. Maka Enche Johnny berhak untuk tidur selama 14 jam tanpa apa-apa gangguan. Silakan beradu Enche Johnny.

Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin. Open house comes in two styles. One is open open. 24 hours a day and all 30 days of the month of Syawal. The other is open on a specific day. Mine belongs to the open open type. Aha! You can always come at any time. It is a great news right? The other type is still in discussion since plenty of stuffs to handle and everyone is playing busy. So, I'll tell you when 'kalau jadi'. Assalamualaikum :)

I had recently moved from my favorite flatland to this cozy terrace house in Taman Tun. Well, that's the first thing to update. My mind was rebelling during the first month in here. There were so many things to begin with; neighbors, surroundings and all conditions at every inch of this house. It seemed that everything wasn't right at all. Actually, due to certain complications Abah had to bear, the Head Officer asked us to move here. In cases of urgency, it's easier for Abah to deal with them since it only takes fifty feet distance from our house to the police station. The irony is that, the Head Officer presumes this to be pleasure for him. He's no longer coming up on time and Abah got to do most of his works. Complains shall not be made for he is an officer and Abah is just an assistant of him. Even worse, the previous people who lived in here were driven out and it was asked by that fool. Total ashamed of what had happened, it was on our shoulder to redeem the affa...

PASTRY 2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour 1/3 rice flour 1/4 icing sugar 120 g chilled unsalted butter,cubed 1 egg yolk 1/4 iced water 1 egg white, lightly beaten FILLING 3 egg yolks 2 TB caster (superfine) sugar 2 TB cornflour (cornstarch) 1 cup milk (I used skim milk, it contains less fat than whole milk, so it's healthier :)) 1 ts natural vanilla extract 1 cup strawberries, halved 1 cup blueberries 1. Sift the flour and icing sugar into large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub into the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center and add the egg yolk and almost all the water. Mix with a flat-bladed knife, using a cutting action, until the mixture comes together in small beads. Add more water if the dough is too dry. Gather together and roll out between two sheets of baking paper. Divide the dough into twelve equal portions and roll each portion out to fit the base and side of the tray/pastry tin. Line the tray wit...

Assalamualaikum :) I am not an adrenaline junkie but on that date, I gave my best shot, trying one giant thrill ride (only after being forced) and that seven minutes almost took my life. I closed my eyes throughout the duration. Yes, I know quite a waste of time, and definitely money. Aku tahu tu. I couldn't open my eyes, rumbling heart, feeling of curiosity a bit. Poorer, Si Kamu didn't help at all, "Angah buka lah mata! Cantik gila view dia. Jangan lah jadi penakut!" And which I did for less than 3 seconds, without cease, "Ya Allah, selamatkanlah aku!" Heh! Here I am, still alive. :) The first time I went to funfair, hem, I cannot remember when was it. But count them on my fingers, they must be less than five and the obligation not to have a go those bloodcurdling amusements, even though that sluggish big wheel which seemed less hazardous. I don't have enough bravery. Here, after so long without posting any picture, I bring you to see the sigh...

Assalamualaikum :) I can’t comprehend when friends I used to loaf with suddenly pass me up and the smile I give got an awkward reply. I don’t understand why and totally puzzled. And, usually it happens abruptly with different people but those who are connected to each other. So, I suspect there’s must be something. Perhaps the blameworthiness is on my part, spot it or not. But as I am just a human being like you, I suppose you to come and meet me personally, telling me the harm I caused you and the wound I could heal. But, nothing and no one ever has the guts to brazen it out. So, which part should I know how to apologize and make things better? Please tell me that. Or is it any rumor scatters all over the place that the reactions you give you think justified enough on my part? Still, you have no right to do so since I have my own right to be heard. Somehow the old maxim, “Kalau tiada angin masakan pokok bergoyang” is not a positive testimony, you know. That uncertainty of hearsa...

Assalamualaikum :) I’m writing this in library, alone. It is the hour most of friends in class and the view in here is ‘splendid’. Splendid enough to see the contentment of married couple facing me with the cheeky smile from the wife at the same time as the husband keeps teasing her. The newlyweds I think. Semoga bahagia ke anak cucu . :) Well, that’s not the precise story I want to convey. It is about being single-handedly, alone and unaccompanied. Vaguely I wonder why this moment seems so special. I feel truly calm though the library has small construction outside so it produces noise which supposed to get on my nerves. I don’t feel the heat, though. Besides, the vista and such noise help me enjoying my moment, feeling wedged among these people, especially they who sit in crowd for I feel more relief by sitting on my own. I am sure you know what I mean. We all need the compassion of human companionship but somehow we want to escape and be entirely by ourselves, through differen...

Assalamualaikum :) "In God's name shall be its course and it's berthing." - Hood:41 Bersabarlah bagi yang menerima bencana. Insya Allah kesabaranmu dicatit dengan sebanyak-banyak catitan di bahu kanan. Allah itu sifatnya bukanlah kejam dan tidak adil kerana Dia pernah berfirman kepada Nuh di sebalik kejadian bah yang dasyat satu masa dahulu. Apabila usai kejadian bah, Allah telah mengarahkan Nuh untuk membuat pinggan-pinggan dari tanah liat dan Nuh menghabiskan bertahun-tahun lamanya. Tetapi kemudiannya Allah mengarahkan Nuh untuk menghancurkan pula hasil-hasil tanah liat tersebut. Maka, bertanyalah Nuh akan Allah Yang Esa: "Why did You have me build up this huge pile if You were only intending for me to break them up again? Why did You make me take much trouble with this work which has been all in vain?" Dan Allah menjawab: "I did this to show you, oh Nuh, how it feels to a creator to destroy his own creation. You give so much value of these ...

Assalamualaikum :) When people sigh about having a boring time at home, Mama sighs too, all the more sorrowfully because she never feels bored at home. Which to be fair with us, she would never let us do things more than what she told us to do. I look at this as it's a full and concise schedule of her: 6.00 a.m - she's already up. 7.00 a.m - watches her favorite Halaqah, Tanyalah Ustaz etc (the only leisure time between her and the telly 8.00 a.m - prepares the breakfast, all the delectable foodies served with compassion and fondness, then later, the other chores get the attention 1.00 p.m - it's lunchy time, obviously she's in the kitchen 3.00 p.m - attends her Al-Quran lesson 5.00 p.m - does her sweepings and dumping at the back, feeds the rabbits and has this 'chat over the fences'. Well, at night we sit all together having our dinner, talk about surroundings. Someone may cause our ears to pus, free lecture on serious stuffs shaking our normal mental state on...

Assalamualaikum :) She is Zara Nik Faiz.

Assalamualaikum :) "I have compiled quite a good collection of things people say about our country. Let me summarize the salient remarks to: 1. Climate - dull but pleasant 2. Internal politics - debatable 3. External politics - true mousedeer wisdom 4. Economy - good 5. Culture - fascinating hotchpotch 6. People - wonderfully warm 7. Men - gentle and stylish 8. Girls - charming but jinak-jinak merpati, much harder to get than they seem 9. Tourist attraction 10. Unspoilt natural beauty plus modern amenities that actually work, bar a few toilets and telephones." - Adibah Amin, As I was Passing, 1970's These kind of matters actually bother a lot in my spare time to stimulate my mind how good perceptions other people had thought about...

Assalamualaikum :) These, people, are faithful pictures of mine in which I have been concerned a lot to put them in public since my skill isn't as great as other photographers. If you do not absolutely reject their faithfulness, henceforth I'll be showing you the beauty of Allah's creations. Hopefully, Insya Allah. Green is not only should be seen as color. It's beyond that idea. Green is what I interpret as healthy, picturesque and has it's own power for undulating rhythm. Seeing green, even if surrounded by different strains of any other colors, somehow it stands for itself alone and capable to dim my heart. And it has been giving many of me the mind stimulation to produce more artworks using nature. :) Presenting to you, The Green Drama: Okay, thank you. :)