oryza sativa

Hi, just want to share the photos that I took on the way back from uni. The road is pretty ease, no vehicles as usually because it Sunday. Noon time people usually at home enjoy lunch with family. I’m pretty late for lunch by the way, its 2 pm.

I dropped on the shoulder of the road and took a few shot of paddy field. It catches my eyes with all those plastic bags hanging cross over the field. Looks lively though.

Paddy or the scientific name, oryza sativa is the oldest agriculture activity in our country. One of the common pests that attack padi when it is in reproductive stage is sparrow, or what is knows as burung pipit. That’s the reason why the farmers put all those colouful plastic bags in order to scared the birds. The traditional method is using scarecrow but the birds seem so clever and not scared of a limited number of scarecrow. By putting all this plastic bags, which moving left and right, it will chase the birds away. But still it won’t stop the birds to steal the paddy, its only can reduce the attack. Ohh…bye the way, I forget to mention that paddy field usually have been attacked both from the air and on the land as well. Birds from the air, and rats will be on the land.

My late grandpa used to tell me, just let the birds eat, because that’s their food. They won’t eat all. It is kind of sadaqah to God creation, makhluk Allah.

Responsibility

Fuhh, what a busy week. I won’t have my weekend this week..uwaawaaa. Since we are going to organize Seminar and Exhibition on 31 January, being in the committee will keep myself busy all the way till the event. So tomorrow and Sunday I will be in the university to run the errand.

This is all about responsibility and being responsible. I guess each and every one of us should accomplish whatever task given and agreed on. Infact in Islam, responsibility for both men and women is a well-developed theme in the Quran.

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit…. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.
Peter Drucker

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
Abraham Lincoln

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.
Jim Rohn

Wing

Yummy....roasted chicken wing always my favourite...top 5 in the chart. Even my mum said, one day i might be able to fly coz wing lunatic. I do fly...flying with MAS...heheh. Emm..speaking of witch, chicken....remind me of few proverb..

"The turtle lays thousands of eggs without anyone knowing, but when the hen lays an egg, the whole country is informed."
- Malaysian Proverb

"Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow."
- Italian Proverb

"If you were born lucky, even your rooster will lay eggs."
- Russian Proverb


p/s Don't chicken out...heheh

Manner

National campaign to promote courtesy and good values…wow a pretty hot issue right now. Well, I’m the number one supporter to this campaign coz it’s a good idea indeed. Not to say other people, but me myself sometimes forget how to be civilized towards my same species that so call homo sapiens. Imagine when people serve you with sincere smile and get atrocious face in return…or when they greet you a very good morning and you just let them talked to unresponsive statue… ergghh…..I regret it all…

Personally I think all of us should work hand in hand to re- imposed the courtesy and good values in each of individuals…which seem tarnishing from time too time. I always remind my students as well to be proud of being polite and civilized people on earth…so at the same times the reminder goes to me as well. We don’t want that the new generations to perpetuate these rude, obnoxious and vile manners and, if left unchecked, will soon be the new norm.

In fact, as Muslim we should realized that Islamic teachings required us to observe the manners (adab) of Islam such as courtesy, politeness, friendliness, helpfulness and the likes when we carry out our day to day life. Something to ponder!!!

"to cut is to cure"

The latest book that I had read was Flashback by Michael Palmer. I just finished a few hours ago. Micheal Palmer is one of my favourite author. I enjoyed reading his novels such as The Patient, Extreme Measure, Natural Causes, Silent Treatment etc.

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This is the review

http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/info_8765.asp?BSID=12139460

Toby Nelms is a innocent, average eight-year-old boy. He has to have a operation, but it was routine. He's gone home, to terror. He has nightmares of the operation, while he's awake, recalling every horrifying detail. Slowly, he retreats into his own world, not eating or speaking. Dr. Zack Iverson has come home to work at his older brother's hospital. One of his first cases is Toby. Zack is intrigued by the boy, and becomes convinced that he is reliving the operation, that he wasn't properly anesthetized. But as Toby gets worse, Zack knows he has to find out what is happening. Before Toby, or someone else dies. Megan, Resident Scholar

Colourful lights

I’m back! The Eid ul Adha celebration was good. I had the joyous festive this time….feel like Eid ul Fitri. In Sarawak, Eid ul Fitri always the real one as compared to Eid ul Adha.
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Umm, I would like to talk about the light. It might be different scenario in Semenanjung. The colourful lights will flashed from the muslim house in Sarawak. It is kind of a must for Muslim society in Sarawak to have the colourful lights on as the signed of celebrating the festive. Personally I think it is quite stimulating and give you better raya spirit…hehehe. Even this is the third day, our house still keep the colourful lights flashing. My dad will switch off before going to bed. Emmm, just wait for the electricity bill end of the month…

Eid ul Adha

HAPPY EID UL ADHA

-maaf zahir batin-

Have a blessing Eid with your family.

May ALLAH bless us!!

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Allah is great, Allah is great,
Allah is great
There is no God save Allah,
To him belongs all praise,
Allah is the greatest,
All praise is due to him,
And glory to Allah
Eventide and in the morning,
There is no God save Allah the unique,
He has fulfilled His promise,
And made victorious His servant,
Made mighty His soldiers,
And defeated the confederates,
There is no God save Allah,
He alone we worship,
With sincere and exclusive devotion,
Even though the idolaters hate it,
Our Lord please have mercy on our Prophet Muhammad,
And on the family of our Prophet Muhammad,
And on the companions of our Prophet Muhammad,
And on the helpers of our Prophet Muhammad,
And on the wives of our Prophet Muhammad,
And on the progeny of our prophet Muhammad,
And bestow upon them much peace.

With this saying, Muslims start their festive day, the festive day of Sacrifice (Eidul adha) glorifying Allah, praising him of his blessing on Muslims.

Winter melon

Emm.....do you know winter melon? This oriental fruit is famous among Chinese with the name of Tong Qwa. Even some people call it with the name of Chinese Winter Melon. It’s a crawling plant, fruiting on vine just like pumpkin. The scientific name of winter melon is Benincasa Hispida. You know, even though my mum always prepared Chinese meal, but we never have winter melon. For Chinese people, winter melon is good for soup and often served at Chinese banquet

Winter Melon Soup
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup winter melon (1/2 pound)*+
2 cups chicken broth
4 Chinese dried black mushrooms
2 - 3 slices ginger
Salt and pepper to taste
1 green onion, sliced diagonally into three pieces
Water to boil winter melon

Wash the winter melon, remove the green skin, seeds, and the pulp. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Place the winter melon in a pot of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until the winter melon is tender.Add the chicken broth, mushrooms, ginger, green onions, Add seasonings as desired. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Add green onion for garnish. Serve hot.


Ohh…by the way, you can find a drink with winter melon flavour, a pack drink or even a can drink. It is not bad..I mean the drink itself, you can try it at home!!! The end of last year, when I went to Sabah for paper presentation, I took the opportunity to go for holiday as well (just a matter of extend a few days stay !!).... together with my parents, my aunty and two younger sisters. This is what people said as " killing two birds with one stone" <*wink>. When we were in Kundasang ( Highland), I saw the farmer sold the winter melons. It was the first time ever I saw the real winter melon or "Buah Kundur" and my Kedahan friend pronounced it as "Buah Kunduq"....hahahh.

There was lots of pumpkin (cucurbita pepo) too. I saw different kind of pumpkin before. In the Western countries (especially when approaching Halloween night), you can find it easily in food store. But the pumpkin over there is different as compared to Malaysian pumpkin. The shape and even the colour are different.

Ananas comosus

Last week my research assistant took a weird photo of pineapple at the farm nearby. Out of one pineapple, there are many pineapples branch out at the crown and also at the bottom.

The owner calls it Ghost Pineapple or Nanas Hantu. According to him, some people offer good price for that fruit/s. I see it as a beautiful plant…..hehehe! But on second thought, what if it is really Ghost Pineapple….eeeeeeeee!!!!
Anyway, there should be an explanation from Horticulturist.

Bereavement

It’s raining again…early Sunday morning. After subuh, I just chat with some friends. Around 8.15 am, I received a phone call from my close friend. He informed me about his dad, passed away at 8 am. Innalilah….!!!!! He was attacked by stroke for the second time and what worst is he got hemorrhaged in his brain.

I didn’t know what to say to him, and he just refused to talk further. So, what can I think of is saying condolence to him and asked him to be patience. From ALLAH we come and to him we return….

I know him since we were in secondary school and we also went to same university abroad. It just when he got married last year, we don’t really go out anymore. He’s busy with his family life which I envy most …..But sure we do still keep in touch.

The last time I met his dad about a year ago, during his wedding. His condition is considered ok after the first attack even he was paralyzed half of his body.

Emm…Its reminds me of what people said, “life is InsyaAllah and dead is definite”. So, we pray that he will be placed among the believers!

-AL FATIHAH -

Custard Apple?

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I'm not sure what fruit is this, it might be custard apple (Annona reticulata) or known as buah nona. But it taste a bit like soursop (Annona muricata). Is it a hybrid of Custard apple and soursop?

Anyway...its my favourite..creamy taste!!!

A murky day

Since last night, it’s raining. I think some area; low land area might be flooding. In fact went I drove home this afternoon, the road is clogging with water. It seems the drainage system can not managed the large volume of rainwater. Well, thinking of it I feel bless, as compared to some countries draught all year long. So, who are we to complain?

But I still don’t prefer rainy day because it makes me sad…gloomy somehow. Here is the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow :-

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

I should hide myself under the blanket…..hibernation during the rainy day..heheheh

Sleeping beauty?

It was raining cats and dogs this morning. Yeyeye.. that means I don't have to supervise the students. No way to do the practical on the field at this weather. Lazy me aaa.....but the students like it very much coz they can crawl back to bed. I don't know why it is so good to be on bed, under the blanket when it is morning rain. Just makes you lazy like a full python.

Talking about sleep, I used the sleep like baby, all 9 hours long…..heheheh. So usually I go to bed early. But it is no longer my routine. I try to reduce to 6-7 hours, its quality not quantity matters. Try to act like normal adult.hehehe! But it just my habit, I didn't stay up at night when I was in university. I'm a morning person, wake up early and start my day early. For me it’s the same thing or much better as compared if stay up at night and couldn't attend the lecture in the morning.

I had read that “sleep is a physiological state characterised by the loss of consciousness and a very marked slowing of the various functions of the mind and body”. When u sleep, you will experience 3 phases of sleep; falling to sleep, deep sleep and dreaming. The most productive sleep is during the deep sleep cycle. These 3 phases is repeated every 8 hours. So sleep for just about 3 hours has better restorative benefits

Domestic violence

Last week I was helping my sister with her paper for the conference at UTM Skudai. It is on domestic violence. What captured my attention was the case study on one of her respondent. What a poor victim. When I first read the case, I just couldn't believe it’s really happen. Well, its not that appropriate to go on detail here. What I can highlight is that the respondent used to beaten up by her crazy husband and emotionally torched for almost 14 years. From time to time her husband’s tantrum getting worst. At last she decided to make a report and end the meaningless marriage. The trigger is after her husband keep threaten to rape their daughter.

According to my sister, "the silent culture" among Malaysian women makes them prone to be a victim. But it is ashamed for men to lay a hand to women. It is clearly stated in Koran and hadith.

Allah (swt) instructs us in the Qur'an:

"...Live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you dislike them it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed a great deal of good" (Qur'an 4:19).

This is reinforced in the following sayings of Prophet Mohammed

Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: I went to Allah's Apostle and asked him: "What do you say (command) about our wives?" He replied: "Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them." (Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 11, Number 2139).


Pray to ALLAH that I will be a good husband if I have my own family. Emmm…don’t asked further question…don’t know when will I get married ok! Heheheheh

Last Breath

Check this out!!!! One of my favourite nasyeed, Last breath by Ahmed Bukhatir
http://www.sparklywater.com/files/flash/lastbreath.swf

Here's the lyrics;

From those around I hear a Cry,
A muffled sob, a Hopeless sigh,
I hear their footsteps leaving slow,
And then I know my soul must Fly!
A chilly wind begins to blow,
within my soul, from Head to Toe,
And then, Last Breath escapes my lips,
It's Time to leave. And I must Go!
So, it is True (But it's too Late)
They said: Each soul has its Given Date,
When it must leave its body's core,
And meet with its Eternal Fate.
Oh mark the words that I do say,
Who knows? Tomorrow could be your Day,
At last, it comes to Heaven or Hell
Decide which now, Do NOT delay !
Come on my brothers let's pray
Decide which now, Do NOT delay !
Oh God! Oh God! I cannot see !
My eyes are Blind! Am I still Me
Or has my soul been led astray,
And forced to pay a Priceless Fee
Alas to Dust we all return,
Some shall rejoice, while others burn,
If only I knew that before
The line grew short, and came my Turn!
And now, as beneath the sod
They lay me (with my record flawed),
They cry, not knowing I cry worse,
For, they go home, I face my God!
Oh mark the words that I do say,
Who knows, Tomorrow could be your Day,
At last, it comes to Heaven or Hell
Decide which now, Do NOT delay !
Come on my brothers let's pray
Decide which now, do not delay ....

This link is given by my friend. When I first listened to this song, personally i think it is different from other nasyheed coz it some how creates a mix feeling. ( sedih & takut ??)

When I start digest the lyric, I found its a good reminder to me as a Muslim. One big question lingering in my mind.... if I’m going to face ALLAH at this moment am I ready. Will my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds? When I think about death, it makes me scared. Even I know that as a Muslim, death is not something to be feared, although it is obviously makes people sad. As what Ruqaiyyah Masqsood quoted in her book, World Faiths: ISLAM....life is God's Gift, and the length of one's life is His grant.

Pray to Allah that all of us will return to HIM in the best state of Iman. Ameen

Can I call myself a blogger?

Assalamualikum....jus feel wan to have a blog. Maybe to cure my boredom.....as what had been said "the cure of boredom is curiosity". Umm...so let me explore..... what is d beauty of having one. I guess it kind of one having something to turn to if u have nothing to do. So u can write and share with anonymous whatever u feel to write. Thats what i think so far..let u know if i can think of something else!

Uhh...better stop here. 10.47 pm..time to sleep >>>>>"sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite"...."Eat hearty, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you"....."Sleep tight and wake bright"....ok, dun forget to wash ur feet and say the prayer before u sleep. Eeerrr..check the steps below...it might be good for u. It did work for me...seldom have a nightmare.


=read the last three Surahs of the Qu’ran (Qul-Huwallah, Qul-A’udhu Bi Rabbil Falaq, Qul-A’udhu Bi Rabbin Nas) then blow on both hands and wipe the hands all over the body (starting from the face and front of the body). This should be done thrice. (Bukhari)
=Ayatul Kusri should also be read. (Bukhari)

=Then Recite:
Allâhumma bismika amütu wa ahya.

O Allah, with Your name I die and live. (Bukhari)