This year marks de 1st Raya of not having Mak around.
It's Raya eve today. I just want to say Happy Eid to all Muslims, and end this message with a little poem from Pakcik (Uncle) Turtle. You can see the photo of Pakcik Turtle at my Flickr page here.
Pakcik Turtle looks at his clock,
It's time for de Eid prayer,
Pakcik Turtle puts on a 'songkok',
And wish u Selamat Hari Raya...
P/S: 'songkok' is a typical head covering worn by Muslim men in Malaysia, as shown in the photo.
First of all, wishing all Muslims a Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir dan Batin. May we all have a barakah Ramadhan this year and years to come, Insha' Allah.
During the 4-day off, a massive exodus of people are leaving the cities, whether to go back hometown or simply, to take advantage of the holidays by going travelling. Due to the large no. of vehicles on the roads, accidents are prone to happen. Other than that, the slow-moving traffic may also cause some of us to make stops at rest areas. This had prompted me to share an experience that I encoutered, to some friends and families. Now to the rest of you, here it is...
"We all have heard this before: how someone's car was stolen after the driver stepped out of the car to open the house gate; or while the driver was taking a leak at a gas station. Such unfortunate events usually occurred when people left their cars with the engines still running. Even more unfortunate if the thugs took the cars with people (usually women and children) still inside.
Sometimes when we hear something like this happen to other people, we might think that it can never happen to us, OR we will always take necessary precautions to avoid such mishaps from ever happening to us.
Now a sensible lesson to learn from all this would be never to leave your car with the engine on and always to lock the car before you leave right?
But for those with families, they may encounter a situation where the children are sleeping inside the car when they need to leave the car for a short while. In such a case, as long as the spouse stays behind to lock from the inside, the engines and air condition will remain on.
So you thought by doing it this way, your family is spared from harm, until an honest mistake almost changed it all.
I could never forget the night when my family and I were heading back to KL from hometown. The traffic was heavy and slow. After reaching a main rest area, I had to stop for a break.
We parked at a well lit area and with people around. Since it was cool inside the car, I decided to turn off the engine and lock it. But just after walking a few metres away, the car alarm went off. Baffled, coupled with the urgent need for me to go to the loo, I turned the engine back on and asked my wife to lock from the inside.
Our little angel was sleeping soundly at the back seat with wife sitting next to him. After I left, she received a phone call. While on the phone, a man came, stood facing the driver's side of the car and tried to open the door.
Thinking it was me, she unlocked the door. Luckily, since she was sitting behind the front passenger's seat and with the phone tucked between her ear and her shoulder, it took her a while to unlock the door, and the man already left just as she managed to.
Realising it could not have been me, she locked it back again. Had she unlocked it a second sooner or the man returned upon hearing her at the door...?
After that incident, my wife and I had agreed on a system. Whoever has to leave, the other needs to lock immediately if the other stays inside the car. The one who leaves also needs to show the face first to get back inside.
Perhaps you could use this system too, if necessary. Show your smiley or cheeky face at the window all you want, if it can ensure your family's safety, then why not. These days, people with bad intentions can be anyone and they will act whenever an opportunity presents itself, where ever that may be.
We ought to protect our loved ones at whatever cost. It is our family who matters the most. Don’t you agree that we may meet different people every day, but it is our own family whom we always go back to. People may throw all sorts of nasty remarks and assumptions about us, but at the end of the day, we know who we are and our family are the ones who will never turn their backs on us.
May you and your family have safe journeys and great health, always..."
I submitted the 'article' to a major daily and it was published 10th September 2009 (see above). Only the gist of the story was featured, and as expected, the babbling parts were removed :-)
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When I had a 'berbuka puasa' (break fast) with my wife at this one restaurant the other day, the bill came with a short survey, asking for customers' feedback. The survey stated that a gift would be mail delivered to those who completed and returned the survey. I remembered answering the survey the first time we ate there, some months back. I also remembered we never received any gift whatsoever.
This had prompted me to write to the local daily again, and on 18th September 2009, it came out (see above). Many portions had been chopped off, mainly due to make space, instead of for clarity purpose. Personally, I think, the original article serves the meaning better, don't you think? :-)
"The public has been warned not to fall into the trap of some get-rich-quick schemes or dubious lucky draws, since such illegitimate methods are organised by unscrupulous parties in order for them to trick us into parting with our money.
But how about those other presumably 'legal' contests and product surveys which promise gifts and prizes to customers, sometimes by just entering/submitting entries? These companies gain extra profits and sales at the expense of customers' time and money (regardless how small the latter may be).
I remember when a well known brand for baby milk formula had a promotion of giving away free small packs to those who sent in a certain number of the brand's milk spoons. Till date, no free packs ever received by us. The company had called me once to ask for my wife's name and to confirm our address, but only to send an unrelated mail from their partner. How else would they know my phone no. and house address if the spoons hadn't reached them in the first place?
In a parenting magazine, our baby's photo was selected to be among the lucky few to receive product hampers. Two months had passed and still nothing (YES! I'm referring to the Pa&Ma magazine. See previous entry). The mag did not indicate that we have to pick up the hamper ourselves or we need to call them up to arrange for a delivery. If the latter is the case, why is that so? Why should customers care more instead of them?
A couple of surveys that I foolishly volunteered to answer (one to a music distribution company, the other a food outlet), after getting hooked by the promise 'A Mystery Gift Awaits You'. Again, still no gifts - quite a mystery.The public should have proper channels to lodge complaints when incidents such as these happen. Writing a letter directly to those organisers/companies would almost definitely fall on their deaf ears. It is one thing to have bad customer service, and another to trick customers with empty promises."
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Now here's the latest one. I had just sent this 'little' article to a few local papers. I made it as brief and straight to the point as possible and hopefully, it too will be published without under too much scrutiny of the editors' scissors :-)
"Whenever a major festival approaches, departmental stores would greet shoppers with festival decorations. Such decorations attract tourists and locals of all races alike.
Hari Raya may have been given double-standard treatment in the past with flimsy decorations in certain malls. But this year is a different picture. Despite the current economic uncertainty, there were more choices of places that offered Ramadhan buffets and the spirit of Hari Raya can be felt everywhere. Thank you to all shopping malls, departmental stores, specialty shops, hotels and restaurants who have given it all out to decorate their premises. Suria KLCC deserves a special mention for its unique kampong theme with Lat’s cartoons drawn on hard woods, shaped into individual cartoon characters, a kampong house, fences, trees etc.
However, although Hari Raya lasts for a month, the ambience within the malls does not usually last that long. Decorations are taken down, sometimes barely a week into Hari Raya. Can't they wait for at least two weeks?"
This year, Aidilfitri (Raya) fell in the middle of the week, which was on Wednesday and Thursday (1st and 2nd October). For most Muslims (and those who want to take advantage of the holidays), Friday was the last day of working, so the whole week that followed was a 'festive' week for them.
The timing was right. When my wife started her first day at the new workplace (a bigger and better-manned district hospital), it was already half way through the Ramadhan. So, the duty roaster for Raya was already out and the names of hospital staff needed to be working during those days were already up. After all, my wife was still tagging, so her superior willingly allowed her to take the whole week off too - no questions asked!
We already had the house 'decorated' a week before the festive week. We had a cleaner dropped by to do the difficult cleaning jobs. Once that done, we decided to rearrange the furniture and the stuffs that we displayed on the racks.
Here are photos showing what we did, together with description of them, written in interior-design-magazine style :)
This cabinet was a surprise that I got for my wife who went back hometown during her 1-month confinement period (after giving birth to Ikhwan). The family photo frame was taken during last year's Raya. The green flowers were part of the 'bunga hantaran' for our wedding.
The furniture arrangement is new, the mat is new, the curtains are new (courtesy of my mother in law) and the Raya lamps are new (hung outside the sliding door, by the grill).
We just love this section at the corner of the wall, flanked by the sofa sets. We try to make it simple - a big frame with four photos of our beloved Ikhwan on the top shelve; a glass gift that my father-in-law bought when he attended a fish show (yes, fish!) in Germany together with another glass gift that I bought in Switzerland on the second shelve; the bottom shelve has the 'fruit holder' that we bought in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Next to the rack are vases with flowers and a small magazine/paper rack (not shown).
We want to limit putting too many stuffs on the larger dining table. So, all those jars containing Raya cookies are placed on the S-shaped coffee table. As you can see from the photo here, Ikhwan also did not want to be left out from being photographed - 'talking' his way through to be captured by his dad's camera :)He is indeed the love of our lives - seeing him growing up really takes our worries away. He's the main attraction in the house, really...
This photo was taken from the entrance door. Funny, we never thought of doing it this way - the hall sure looks more spacious.
Despite the preparations, this year's Raya was in sombre mood due to the recent death in the families (she was related to both my side and my wife's side). My wife already got her a Raya gift. As for me, the usual Raya cookies for her and her husband.
The first few weeks after her death and after Raya began, were extremely difficult for her husband. Actually, I don't think he has fully recovered from the loss till now....
P/S: Although it's already the third week of Raya, think it's not too late for me (heck! we celebrate it for a month right?) to wish Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslim readers. To everyone (regardless of faiths) - I seek forgiveness from you, should after reading my blog, your feelings are hurt in any way (directly or indirectly). Although the 'hurting' may sometimes be intentional, hehee... but let's bygones be bygones, shall we...? Up next! The 'little' things about me....
The Oxford Dictionary says "boulevard" means wide city street, often with trees on each side. As for me, "boulevard" is the path that I thread my way through in life. At times, the trees give me protection from the hot sun above. While at other times, no amount of trees can comfort me when it pours. Come rain or shine, the road continues to provide me with the journey of life until it reaches its destination.
People say I'm sweet, kind, a gentleman, caring, romantic and observant (let's just concentrate on the good attributes). I love those who matter to me, and care about things that count. I'm a Malay Muslim and proud to be one. I DON'T think Islam should be judged by those nasty followers. Islam should be judged by the religion itself; its teachings and the purpose behind them. I mean, humans will still behave like humans right? Usually, regardless of religions that they embrace. It is also in my nature to please, since I believe that TO PLEASE EVERYONE IS AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT, BUT NOT TRYING TO PLEASE ANYONE OTHER THAN ONESELF IS A POSSIBLE DEFEAT (own quote). Apart from sharing the things I read, watch and listen to, I'd also share my thoughts and feelings, and express my views on certain issues. Last by no means least, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE OF YOU OUT THERE ABOUT ANYTHING! If we knew each other 'in the previous life' and had lost contact, or we hardly contact each other nowadays, do email me or comment on my entries. Feel free to explore my blog & website (http://members.fortunecity.com/abdunmy/). Cheerio & Wassalam.
Sometimes, to boldly go (where no one has gone before) at warp speed may cause you unnecessary troubles.
Own quote, based on Star Trek
Lesson from the quote: Rushing to reach your destinations or goals may get you there fast, but may not always be the smartest thing to do!
"Note The Quote (Malay translation)"
Kadang kala, perjalanan (ke tempat yang tidak pernah ditujui) pada kelajuan maksimum boleh menyebabkan kesusahan pada diri sendiri.
Rekaan sendiri, berdasarkan dari Star Trek
Pengajaran: Terburu-buru untuk sampai ke destinasi atau matlamat hidup mungkin boleh membawa kita ke sana dengan cepat, tetapi langkah itu tidak semestinya yang terbaik!
You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don't have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you'll stop at the first giant hurdle.
George Lucas (Film Director and Producer)
"Favourite Note The Quote 2"
A sign in a mosque on the need to switch off handphones:
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Penguin Rush
