Time fly

Fuhhh..time fly so fast. I had been busy with work. The worst thing is that my computer "kong". I just collect them from the "hospital". Both computer and laptop course me RM350. Actually my laptop cost me that much, changed the hard disk. Well, it's time... because it almost 3 years old. According to the technician, 3 years is the common life span for the hard disk. After that, you need to replace it.
Anyway, sorry to my friend...because I didn't update my blog for quite sometimes. Bear with me….and I will disappear again next week. I will be away for a week starting 12-17 April. I will travel to KL for work and then Kota Bahru for Cuti Cuti Malaysia. It’s ashamed because there are a lot of places in Malaysia I have not been to. Well, my excuse is that while still young, we better travel far to other countries in other continent. When we are getting old, have no energy to travel far, then we can visit a short distance places in Malaysia itself..hehehe..

Talking about times, I remember that al ustaz did mention about this during the kenduri arwah that I attended last nite.

Ibn Abbas (ra) said:

The Prophet (salalahu alahi wa salam) was giving an exhortation or advice to a man, so he said to him

"Take benefit from five before five: your life before your death, your health before your illness, your spare time before you get busy, your youth before your old age and your wealth before your times of poverty."

Kitchen

There is a clichéd expression, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But how to go about woman? I guess it should be the same...let go back to basics....its all about food and you never been wrong. Some people say it should be roses or presents, but some people believe it not always that way.

According to my counsellor sister, what woman need at this age of equality is understanding and also a man who's willing to share the household chores with his wife. My sister said that she's feel flatted when she saw her man in the kitchen (pssst sis, sushi ring the bell?).

I used to be a skillful man in the kitchen. But unfortunately my skill in the kitchen is deteriorating. Being away from home, teached me how to be independent in the kitchen. This is also what we call survival. About 5 years abroad, I need to prepare Malaysian diet for myself. Day to day experience make me good in the kitchen. But now, I was pampered by a woman call mum. Hehehhehe...my beloved mum! Her food is always the best! I can not resist it. That’s her secret to tie my dad for more than 30 years in the marriage I guess. My dad is a conservative but yet very helpful with other thing. He doesn't know how to cook at all. But he will help for example grind the coconut if my mum needs it.

But it's a healthy phenomenon where lots of man knows how to cook. The new age guys have gone the length of pampering their spouse with breakfast on bed (yuck...common on...ladies need to brush their teeth in the morning before breakfast..heheheh). As a matter of fact, work together is always a good thing.

Wishes

Thanks to my family (parents, sisters n bro) and also my friends for your best wishes. I know some of you really remember my birthday with heart. In fact I received sms 12 am on the dot! And also wishes from friends whom I never remember their birthdays. I feel bad actually for being ignorant, forgetful about my friends’ birthdays.

This is a few sms that I received…..

#Hepi besday! Bila nak kawin?

#A’kum. ..selamat hari lahir ke 29. Semoga dpanjangkn umur dlm iman n taqwa…mg cpt jodoh…hehe.murah rezki…dpt buat phd dgn segera…moga brjaya dunia n akhirat. J

#Hi happy 29th birthday

#Happy Bday to u!

#A’kum, happy birthday.semoga pjg umur dimurahkan rezeki, dipermudahkan segala urusan dunia akhirat, hidup sentiasa diberkati Allah s.w.t. Enjoy ur day..

Thanks to all and may ALLAH bless all of us..ameen!

"It is not how old you are, but how you are old. "

Tomorrow I will be 29. Thinking about my age, sometimes make me going berserk. Next year I will be 30…oh my God. Am I that old….uwaaaa. At this age I’m consider a mature old man. But it is contradict with my personality which sometimes childish. I still remember, my colleague whom I can call mother told me that I will only become mature when I get married. Well..it’s ok for me….I took it as compliment. Childish means still young…. young at heart.

I’m expecting not only birthday wishes but soalan cepu emas, "when are you getting married". I think I will answer it with a big grinning and no further comment. To be honest, I have no answer for that. I don’t even have a girlfriend and I’m not prepared to be a husband. I’m still enjoying my bachelor life in fact. There is a lot of thing I need to do before that. Maybe at the age 30 will be the right age…but who knows. It’s all faith. What I really care at the moment is trying very hard to get scholarship to further my study.

I will celebrate my birthday with my dad, we share the same date of birth. When I was a kid…I hate the fact of sharing with my dad, shared the birthday cake or even a present. (Terrible me!!!). But now, I am very proud and happy to celebrate with my dad. I share my happy moment with my dad. Maybe I will bring my dad out for lunch or dinner tomorrow …see first what is the arrangement. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BELOVED DAD. MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU! This also goes to Lang @ Zamani Ahmad, SEMOGA DI RAHMATI ALLAH! Pssttt Lang, maybe we can celebrate birthday together in the future..hehehe.

"Age ain't nothin' but a number. But age is other things too. It is wisdom, if one has lived one's life properly. It is experience and knowledge. And it is getting to know all the ways the world turns, so that if you cannot turn the world the way you want, you can at least get out of the way so you won't get run over. " Miriam Makeba

Temporary

After quite sometimes my blog was facing error with the photos, its only today I had spare time to reorganise my blog. Nothing is permanent. It's the same thing with the fotopage. Out of sudden, I faced some problem with the photo, which I don't expect to happen. I had to upload my photos to the new host. I hope I wouldn’t encounter any problem after this or at least not so soon.

When you relate this with life, we are here also on the temporary basis. The present life is our training ground. The present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. Hereafter is our destination.

And they say: “What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but Time can destroy us.” But of that they have no knowledge: they merely conjecture: And when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, their argument is nothing but this: they say, “Bring (back) our forefathers, if what ye say is true!”
(Qur'an 45 : 24-25)

Mengkarung

Last week, when I want to check letter in the mailbox, I was surprised with a welcome greet of a green creature! Uhhh..it’s a species of lizard which we call “Mengkarung” here. So, I rushed back to take my camera and take a few shoots. We had no chemistry, I even feel scared to get close to it. People always said that it could cause the hair loss if this creature jumps off to your hair. It is also believe that this creature also can cause blindness if it urine splash into your eyes. Maybe because of this believe since kid, its makes me not friendly to it..hehhehh…



Anyway, if anyone know the scientific name of this creature, let me know…its not iguana..right?

Al Fatihah

Last night, my aunty passed away after 2 weeks in coma. As believer, we let her go and let her rest in peace. ALLAH loves her more than anything.

"Verily, with ALLAH alone is the knowledge of the Hour. And HE sends down the rain, and HE knows what is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Surely, ALLAH is All-Knowing, All-Aware. " 31:34

Sadaqah Al Fatihah to Arwah.

Al Fatihah.......

Seeking Knowledge

Life seems pretty occupied lately. But I cherished every moment that I had.

I met my uncle last night. He's talking about his plan to do his doctorate in September. I salute him for his ‘go-getting’ attitude. But at the age of 53, I just wonder what he has in mind. Even I know that study is just like forever and age doesn't matter at all, but he doesn't have to go through all the hassle and crack his head which full of white hair. He has everything in his life. But when I keep thinking about it, I made my own conclusion. It is all about satisfaction. Peoples will do whatever that makes them happy. Happiness is kind of great motivation that forces them to achieve their dreams.

When I was in UK, I saw lots of old generation back to university. I still remember, I talked to a retired man who decided to go back to university. I asked him, what is the reason for doing the PhD at his age and he told me it just for fun, to kill the boredom. He mentioned that his kids whom are all grown up and away. It leaves only him and his wife at home. So, instead of doing nothing, he decided to study.

Umm…I’m very keen to further my study but its just all about time and opportunity. InsyaAllah, its always the first priority in my life at the moment.


Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.
- El-Malik el-Shabbaz (M

Knowledge

Knowledge is not what is memorised.
Knowledge is what benefits.
-Iman Shafi'

This is a good quote. In my profession, I always remind my students about knowledge. The right way to study is not by memorizing but it all about understands. Once you understand, the knowledge will be beneficial to you and stay longer in your memory box. But if you just memorize without really understand what's going on, it can just slip away easily from you.

Bamboo Clam

Imagine the white juicy worm….what do you think about it? But don’t judge a book by its cover!!! Don’t let your imagination put you off because what are you looking at is actually ambal, or known as Bamboo Clam or Sea Needle. It is a distant relative of the mussel; almost fish-like flavor, which is one of Sarawak’s finest seafood delicacies. This humble creature can be found all over South-East Asia but best in mud flats of Sarawak River Estuary. Their long, tubular shells (which look like bamboo) can be anything between three and fifteen cm long, and they are able to stretch their flexible bodies much further out of the shell to suck in food particles.

Fresh Bamboo Clam

Catching the bamboo clam need skill and is an art in itself. Clam feed at high tide and hide during the low tide deep under the sand and mud. It is also to prevent the dehydration. So the bamboo clam hunter will squirt the limejuice down the hole left by the clams. When they experience the change in acidity of water, they will slowly expose themselves at the surface and they will be collected, transfer to the bucket.
.
http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/thu/feb17h26.htm

I don’t really a fan of this bamboo clam. But I did eat and I prefer curry-fried ambal.

Curry-fried Bamboo Clam

Chicken

Emm..just now I had a clashed of interest with my sis. We had a friendly argument about how to fry the chicken. She’s very lazy (hehehe…pssttt not that lazy because every time she’s on semester break, she did all the housework. I will only miss her when she’s back to uni…what a cruel brother!!!), and just to cut short, she just want to marinate chickens with ready-made spice powder. But I don’t like it, I prefer the traditional way of doing it. So, I offered to prepare the ingredient.

Its very simple actually; red onion, garlic, ginger, black pepper and white paper. Pound all of those. Then marinate the small-cut pieces of chicken with the ingredient. Don't forget to add the turmeric powder (to make it golden yellow when you fry it). Left it a side for marinating process. About half an hour it is ready to fry….wallaaa!!!!

Blurpppp…..so full and enjoyed my dinner with fried chickens…

COW

I still remember, that day, my sister and I went for lunch together. She was talking about her research on women issues. And in the middle of conversation, she asked me if i ever heard the term, COW. I said yeah...cow is the animal with four compartment stomach...hehehhe. I still remember the animal biology subjects that I had learn many years ago. My sis laughed out of her heart...she said it got nothing to do with that animal. But for second thought she said...it is related, if you read between the lines. Cow is the term used among the western people towards their female enemy. Its not a good word to be used anyway.

Well, my sister explain to me, COW actually is the abbreviation, which stand for Cunning Other Women. It is the term used for the women who are trying to seduce other women's husband. According to my sister, there are many cases happened nowadays which involved "COW". So, women out there, don't be one of the "COW" geng....hehehhe..

Hajj

I'm so happy to see my friend online again. A very far away friend from Brazil just returned from his pilgrim. I'm so happy for him. I know him more than a year before him journey to Islam. I still remember, that old good day, when he told me about his interest to Islam and then the day when he decided to become Muslim. He makes me comprehend, how lucky am I, born as a Muslim. But sometimes I take thing for granted, which I regret. I hope I will become a better muslim.

L-Bro Abdulla

Stress

Yesterday was really a stressful day for me. Actually I'm busy with the paper that I’m supposed to prepare by Monday next week. And what make it worst, today I had meeting with my boss regarding that paper. So, last night, I had to crack my head tried very hard to come out with the main points and issues. Since I'm in the state of stress, my brain didn't work out. So, I just jotted down whatever I can and went to bed. This morning, I just informed my boss about it. He said I had unnecessary stress, because actually the information is available already, we just need to sit down and discuss. Argggghhh…but…Alhamdulilah.....what a relief!!!!. The meeting just takes about two hours. Then my boss will get it ready on Monday. This is what people said, two head better than one… hehehhe.

Well, as a muslim, I always belief the best way to overcome stress is by practicing Islamic way of life. In relation to the problems we face in life and the stresses we have to overcome, Allah has said “You will face calamities (distress/grief) as trial and not as punishment or torment. These trials aim at showing mankind as to who is the true believer, dedicated to the will of Allah”.

I still remember, when I was in the university, I always read Surah Al-Insyirah to reduce my stress during the exam fever. I always read the surah before I enter the exam hall and even before I start answer the exam question. Its really help!

[Inshirah 94:5] So indeed with hardship is ease.
[Inshirah 94:6] Indeed with hardship is ease.

Hylocereus undatus

I went to Semenggok Agriculture Research Centre few weeks ago. I managed to take some photo on Dragon fruit plants. The scientific name of Dragon fruit is Hylocereus undatus. This tropical fruit is also known as strawberry pear or pitaya/pitahaya. When I first see this plant, I guess it is a cactus. But when I read about it, it is actually a species of cactus. No wonder they look like sisters! The dragon fruits don’t have a sweet smell like other fruits. Its taste is very simple, a bit like the Kiwi fruit. Both dragon fruit and kiwi contains many seeds, which look like black sesame seeds. I still remember, about two years ago, during my sister wedding ceremony, she gave a bucket of fruits with one big dragon fruit to her fiancé as wedding gift (hantaran).

Semenggok Agriculture Research Centre

(http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/pages/la-woman.htm)

Here is the legend about dragon fruit;
The sensation surrounding this fabulous fruit can be attributed to a legend created by ingenious Asian marketers. According to the legend the fruit was created thousands of years ago by fire breathing dragons. During a battle when the dragon would breathe fire the last thing to come out would be the fruit. After the dragon is slain the fruit is collected and presented to the Emperor as a coveted treasure and indication of victory. The soldiers would then butcher the dragon and eat the flesh. It was believed that those who feasted on the flesh would be endowed with the strength and ferocity of the dragon and that they too would be coveted by the Emperor.
Quoted from (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm)

Risotto vs Paella

Recently, a friend asked me about Risotto as a result of reading my blog on oryza sativa. But as far as I know, it is not a type of paddy or rice but a cooking style. I checked on the web the meaning of risotto as below;

(rih-SAW-toh) - Risotto is actually an Italian cooking technique used for native Italian rice, Arborio. This old world method involves stirring hot liquid little by little into the rice for about 20 minutes, which will create a dish unlike any other rice recipe you have tried. Risotto is prepared this way and served immediately to preserve the unique, gourmet texture of a very creamy sauce around al dente, pasta-like rice kernels. The center of rice cooking is in the Po Valley in the Northeastern corner of Italy. It is where the arborio rice is grown. It is considered the classic rice dish of Piedmont, Lombardy, and Veneto regions of Northern Italy.

I did tried Vegetarian Risotto when I was in Italy. But it’s different with our cooking style. It’s creamy and taste of olive oil. It’s a bit frustrated because at that time we are craving for rice, especially my mum. We have no time to cook, so it had been quiet sometimes for us not eating rice at that time. So, when we saw risotto served at the hotel, all of us very excited. But once we tasted it…we end up with one spoon only. It’s just not our food.

Talking about Risotto, its remind me also with a Spanish dish call Paella. It’s rice as well. When I was in Madrid, I went to eat Seafood Paella at Grand Via. Its better as compared to Risotto.

Firewood

Firewood warms you twice, once when you cut it, and once when you burn it!

I captured this phrase in one of the movie. Then i did my homework, and figure it out. I guess this phrase suits people in 4 seasons countries.

http://cambria.extension.psu.edu/nresources/heatingwood.htm
"The old saying that "firewood warms you twice" has once again been proven true by many this year. If you heat your home with wood, you know the work involved throughout the year and how "warm" you get while cutting, splitting and stacking firewood. You also know about the cozy warmth burning wood provides for your home all winter long."

Maal Hijrah

Happy Maal Hijrah to all! I hope its not to late to wish all my dear friends Happy New Year. Well, for me Hjrah is the new begining for me to start all over again whatever aims or goals that I had not been achieve so far. Well it pretty sad for not getting what you want but I think its normal for everyone. You won't always get what you want. Unless when I was a little boy, I can just scream out of loud asking for whatever toys or games that I want. Sometimes my parents won't buy my tactics if they think what I want is not reasoanable or right for me. But somehow I almost get it all.....heeheh what a terrible kid I was.

Well, as a new start, I will plan ahead what I'm suppose to do to realise my dream. What I wanted so badly is to further my study abroad. I had been trying since last year but its not on my side yet. But I guess, there's always blessing in disguise. Maybe I had more time to prepare myself for a challanging course or whatso call "Permanent head Damage".

I did ask one of my friends if he got any new resolution. He told me that he never had one.... emm is it possible?????. I don't know, what he meant by that but what I can say he might be just take life as it is. If there is any good opportunity, he just grab it. No need to set any goal or target...Yea..when I think about it, thats not a bad idea at all. Sometimes by setting target, its not a question it give you momentum or driving force to work on your target, but the beauty for not having one is that you won't get hurt. I mean, for sure you will feel dissapointed if you did't achieve your target. If you don't set any, you won't feel that bad.

Well, I guess..it merely up to you and you just know who you are. So, its not an issue for not having any new resolution or its not a must to have one.

Happy Maal Hijrah!!!!

Ethics

Today, I went to visit my aunty at Normah Medical Centre. She was admitted for the past few days. Being an old woman, her health is deteriorated especially after she broke her shoulder. She’s depressed when she become immobile. According to doctor, when she is in her depressing state, somehow her brain produce more chemical and the ageing process had been speed up. (any doctor?…help me with this!!!!)

According to doctor, the visitors also contribute to her stress. The visitor tend to chit chat something which is not positive. For e.g, “my neighbour also broke her shoulder, after few days she passed away”. You imagine, being sick and someone tell you this type of story…for sure you will be more stressed. Furthermore, old people are very sensitive. So that’s why in Islam, we have the ethics to be observed when visiting patients.

http://www.brunet.bn/news/pelita/25ogos/khutbah.htm
Ketika menziarahi orang sakit, terdapat beberapa adab-adab yang dianjurkan oleh Islam antaranya:

Pertama: Apabila kita menziarahi orang sakit, janganlah duduk terlalu lama kerana dikhuatiri boleh mengganggunya dan menghalang pergerakannya. Tetapi jika dengan ziarah itu boleh menenteramkan hatinya maka tidaklah makruh duduk lama di sisinya.

Kedua: Adalah elok bagi orang yang menziarahi orang sakit itu bertanya keadaannya sambil meletakkan tangannya di atas dahi atau tangan pesakit tersebut asalkan dilakukan tidak bertentangan dengan hukum syarak.

Ketiga: Jika orang yang sakit itu dalam keadaan tenat dan tidak boleh bercakap apa-apa, maka disunatkan bagi orang yang berziarah itu bertanya kepada ahli keluarga tentang keadaannya.

Keempat: Apabila berada di sisi orang sakit, maka disunatkan menyuruhnya bersabar dan hendaklah menyenangkan serta menenteramkan hatinya.

Kelima: Ketika menziarahi orang sakit atau-pun semasa berada di tempat lain pada bila-bila masa maka disunatkan mendoakan pesakit tersebut supaya lekas sembuh.

Keenam: Andai kata orang yang sakit itu dalam keadaan tenat, tiada harapan untuk sembuh atau dalam keadaan nazak (muhtadar), maka sunat bagi orang yang menziarahinya lebih-lebih lagi orang yang akrab dengan pesakit, mengajarkan atau mentalkinkan (membacakan) di telinganya kalimah 'Lailahaillallah' sekali sahaja. Kemudian diperhatikan keadaan pesakit itu, jika didapati ia di dalam keadaan tenat (mendengar apa yang diucapkan) maka dibiarkan dia iaitu tidak ditalkinkan lagi kalimah 'Lailahaillallah' itu. Walau bagaimanapun jika pesakit itu nampak menggelisah atau masih bercakap-cakap atau menuturkan perkara-perkara lain selain daripada kalimah tauhid maka diulangi lagi talkin tersebut sekali lagi, mudah-mudahan matinya nanti diakhiri dengan menyebut kalimah 'Lailahaillallah' sebagaimana hadis Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam yang maksudnya:

"Dari Muaz bin Jabal ia berkata, sabda Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam: Barangsiapa yang akhir kalamnya 'Lailahaillallah' maka ia kana dimasukkan ke dalam Syurga.'' (Riwayat Al-Imam Abu Daud).

Ketujuh: Sunat dibacakan di sisi orang yang hampir meninggal dunia itu Surah Yaasiin sebagaimana juga disunatkan membaca Surah Ar-Ra'd.

One more think that I learn today is how to be a good son. When I saw my cousin entertain their mum nicely, it makes me INSAF. I hope that I will be able to handle my parents with full of caring when they are getting old (it is not easy to deal with old people, need to be patience). They always sacrifice for their kids but we as kids sometimes take them for granted.

tenualosa toil

Emm…today is Tuesday; just follow the normal rhythm ( for this semester)…finished lecture at 6 pm. So just got back and now try to relax for a while by writing my blog. Emm, smell good from the kitchen, my mum prepared for dinner and I’m busy in front of the computer. What a good son…!!!! (guy should be at the kitchen as well…huhuhhhu).

Whoa, my mum fried my favourite clupeid fish, Ikan terubuk (the very Sarawak fish ..hehehe). Ikan terubok is a very famous here in Sarawak. In fact last night at the dinner with the guests from Semanjung, they told me that they had arranged a trip to Satok to buy Ikan terubok masin. Thats the best thing to be brought back.


Anyway, Ikan terubuk or known as tenualosa toil is considered as the economic and cultured fish in Sarawak. Before, this species can be found in a large number in Sarawak estuaries. But the concern is that the scenario had changed because it is currently undergone a dramatic decline. I cannot imagine that I wouldn’t find any ikan terubuk in the market one day!!!!