Happy Eid Mubaraq

Ikhlas....

Needy

Recently, I joined my parents for a visit and donation program at one of the kampung. From the visit, it makes me realized how fortunate am I as compared to this poor people. They really live in bad condition. I met this old man, very sick and have nobody to help him. He hardly can move and the house condition is very bad... You can see how happy he is when we gave donation to him...at least he knows that he still can eat the next day. We went to a few other houses and you can see all different scenarios. Looking at their condition make me cried. Sometimes, its make me wonder, there are still a lot of poor people out there. Thank to God, I still can live in comfort even though I’m not rich. I have all my basic necessity, and the most important thing is that I'm happy.

Poem

Ungkapan rindu
terpahat di hati ini
entah pada siapa
ingin ku ceritakan
rahsia di hati ini

Ungkapan rindu
padamu pertiwi
entah sampai bila
berakhirnya sebuah kisah
anak muda di perantauan

Ungkapan rindu
hanya buatmu
ayah bonda tercinta
usah ditangisi di kejauhan
demi cita-cita tulusku

Ungkapan rindu
akan terlerai jua
di kedatangan syawal mendatang
mungkin ada waktu buat kita
sempurnakan bersama

This poem i would like to dedicate to my friends and bloggers. Have a blessing Ramadahan and syawal especially to those who are going to celebrate Raya abroad.

"infant-mother bonding"

Yesterday, was the first day my sister went to work after 60 days maternity leave. My brother in law only entitle for 7 days paternity leaves right after the baby was born. Actually this is their second child but the first one, passed away after about 18 hours see this world. So it is understood how precious this second baby is. It is not only for them but also for us. My sister is the only one whom already married, the rest of us still single mingle… so this is the first grandchild for my parents. The baby is so cute; all of us missed him a lot. Yesterday, my sister sends him to her in laws with her maid. The week after next will be our turn. And my sister cried after send him. She missed him only after a few minutes. So, my sister went back early yesterday.Her office is not far from mine and both of us have no lectures, so I drove him to her in laws to see her baby. This is what is called "infant-mother bonding." When a mother and a child are bonded, the child prefers the mother over all other human beings, constantly seeks contact with her, experiences significant joy in her company, and distress when even momentarily separated from her.

Happy Ramadhan

I'm so excited about Ramadhan. It different and make me more productive. Just like previous year, Ramadhan make me always come early to the office and I always have longer hours to spend. My common practice is that I usually wouldn't sleep after Sahur. So, I can drive early to the office without traffic jam. Anyway, I would like to wish all my friends Happy Ramadhan and may Allah bless all.

She is my mum

Everyday before I go to work I will kiss my mum hand and her cheek. Emm...a few days ago, when I kiss her cheek, I felt its no longer firm. I just realized it and while driving to work my brain actively thinking about her. Its make me sad suddenly. The fact is that she's ageing. She's getting older. Sometimes I really hope I can stop her from ageing, I want her maintained young and healthy. And I want her to be around forever and ever. But, when I think again and again, I know I have to accept the fact that all of us will die one day. As times goes by, we will getting older. Some are very luck can live for longer time and some people just leave this world at very young age, even a few hours after labour. I don't know, its kind of sad, when I look at my mum, she's the best mum in the world. I owed her everything, and I know I can not repay her. But the only thing I can do and what I’m doing right now is trying to be a good son. At least I can make her proud and happy of having me as a son.

Tosei

Homemade tosei

Ingredients

3 cups rice
1 cup urad dal (a type of bean/lentil you can get an Indian grocers)
Salt to taste
Oil/margarine/ghee

To prepare the batter

Cooking the dosei itself may take a short time, but the preparations require at least two days.
1. Soak the rice and urad dal in separate containers for at least eight hours.
2. Finely grind the soaked rice and urad seperately until it reaches the consistency of pancake batter. Add some water if needed.
3. Combine the rice and urad dal pastes and let the mixture ferment at room temperature for 16 hours after which the batter will double in size.
4. Add salt to taste and mix well.

To cook tosei, you will require:
1. A flat skillet or large shallow pan placed over a medium fire.
2. A flat bottomed cup to scoop and spread the batter.

To make the tosei

1. Heat the skillet until hot. Sprinkle some water on top.
2. Scoop some batter and pour it onto the skillet. Use the flat bottom of the cup to quickly spread the dosei over the skillet in a circular motion. Tosei cooks fairly quickly, so watch carefully so as not to burn the pancake.
3. Place a dab of butter/ghee on top of dosei and spread.
4. If needed, flip dosei over to cook for a few seconds. Before frying another piece of dosei, wipe the top of the skillet with a piece of kitchen tissue.

Serve while hot with dhal and coconut chutney or chicken curry.
- from : http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:TVEP17qrlhUJ:www.tourismpenang.gov.my/page.cfm%3Fname%3Dlc09p+recipe+tosei&hl=en

I love Tosei, personally i think tosei is very healthy food. Its not that oily as roti canai. I ate that tosei at one of mamak restaurant in Malacca. Uitt..its make hungry thinking about foood!!!

Cat fish @ Ikan keli

Cat fish belong to Clariidae family have different species such as clarias batu, clarias macrocephalus and etc. I never try freshwater fish, because since kids my mum never served us with freshwater fish. My mum said freshwater fish taste too fishy unlike saltwater fish. But a few months ago, when I was in northern peninsular of Malaysia, I saw lots of fried catfish with sambal served in the food outlets at the highway or even in the town. I was influenced by my colleagues from West Malaysia to try catfish or know as ikan lele in Indonesia. So, out of my curiosity, I tried. Emm...it tasted just like other fish and delicious.

In fact, catfish was claimed to have medicinal benefits. Fresh Omega-3 can be derived from the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in catfish. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to many health benefits including cardiovascular, brain, and visual improvement. Another freshwater fish, Ikan haruan (ophiocehalus striatus) or knows as snakehead fish is also good to heal cuts. I still remember after I had undergone major surgery before, my mum forced me to take Pati Ikan Haruan….it tasted yuck, but I have no choice. It’s good to heal internal incision.

Beloved mum

Emm...this morning I'm a bit emotional...sad. I told my mum I want to fast last night. Last year I couldn't complete my fasting because of medical reason. My mum always being herself...a very concern and caring mother. She woke up at 4 am today just to prepare me for my sahur. I don't ask her to do so. Actually I'm not surprise, because that what she always did. Her concerned is more than anything. It’s make me think, am I able to do the same to my mum when she's getting older....as the eldest son, my responsibilities towards my parents is very big. I promised myself to be a good son and fulfill my duty towards my parents. Thank you mum!!

Time flies

Sorry no updates for a while. My life seems very busy but I hope whatever I did in the past few weeks at least benefit me in one way or another. But, do believe that I had learned something new. Actually every second in our life is considered as learning process, whatever we experience in our day life, will contribute to knowledge.

"Love, work, and knowledge are the wellsprings of our lives, they should also govern it."

Pause

"Each one of us has something that we must do, whatever happens, have faith and accept". (Laila & Qaisy)

Yea...its make me think...I have things to do in my life, as son to my parents, as brother to my siblings, as believer to ALLAH, as individual to society, as lecturer to students and bla bla....the list will go on and on. However our existence in this world comes with millions of responsibility. And all of this will distinguish us from others. In fact which way we opt, bad or good...it all depends on us, our environments, family and etc. Once in a while, we must pause, sit and look back. What had we done and are we on the right track? If we are divert from straight path, do something and back to the right path. If we ignore it, from day to day we will adapt easily to faulty things, and it become more difficult to disengage as times fly. That’s why early improvement better than ignoring it. People said, actually good deeds is difficult to perform as compared to bad deeds. But what ever it is, the most important thing is that we must ensure, yesterday is better than today and tomorrow will be better than today...

Jealousy

Jealousy....who is more jealous, man or woman? For me, both are if they can not control their emotion and minds. I read somewhere saying, jealousy is the heart diseases. In fact jealousy is claimed to be the first sin that was committed. Its happened when ALLAH said to Iblis to bow down to Adam, but Iblis refused to bow because he was jealous of the honor that Allah gave to Adam. This is followed by the first crime on earth due to jealousy among Habil and Qabil, the son of Adam. Qabil killed his brother because of jealousy. They fight for one woman. So it is proven that jealousy can caused a major trouble if it is not control. I believe jealousy is the inner thing, where all of us have the sense of jealousy but at different level. We can manipulate jealousy for a good cause. For example we can create the sense of competition but not by betraying people. It must be healthy competition.

This is the beautiful supplication or du’a to protect us from evil – jealousy;

“I seek the protection by the most perfect words of Allah, from the evil of every devil or creature and from every evil look.”

Finale

Emm...so busy this week. Up to one stage, I feel I couldn't breath. Every single things seem against me. I reached home after 11 pm from Monday to Friday. Yesterday was the finale....so I work more than 12 hours per day. Even today, I have to go to office but I just leave the office at 1 pm. I need rest and got headache already. I will try to forget about work till tomorrow. Monday I will start to rock and roll again....seems that heavy workload never end....

"Work as though you would live forever, and live as though you would die today".

"Work is love made visible".

"Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating".

Postcard

I wrote about cancer in the previous posting. And today, after a visit to my sis and play with baby Farhan, we all (my parents and me) went to shop at the nearby supermarket. I saw a collection of postcards for free. So, I took all different kind of postcard. But one special postcard reminds me of my friend as I mentioned in my previous posting.

Liver Cancer

Sorry, it had been long time…it takes me about “sepurnama” to update my blog. I am too busy with work. Actually lots of thing I want to share.

Well I just received bad news. A friend of mine is very ill at the moment. He’s a good virtual friend that I have. I still remember, I met him in the Islamic chat room and he’s the first person respond to me. I am kind of lost in the virtual room since it was my first time. Those day, he’s healthy till after sometimes, he informed me that he had been diagnosed having Cirrhosis of the liver. All the symptoms showed from time to time. He suffered from this disease and in and out from hospital. He experienced Jaundice, lost appetite, lost weight, pain etc. One time he disappeared with no news. When he online again, he told me that he was admitted. I read about cirrhosis and I’m aware of all the stages. When he told his condition from time to time, I know that he’s not doing well. His condition getting worst. But I just keep it to myself and I told him to be strong. But sometimes he told me that he wouldn’t last longer. I felt hopeless too and I just don’t know how to respond. The only think I told him, just pray to ALLAH the Almighty.

He always on off, till a few months ago, he disappeared. I am so worried and asked around but other friends also have no news about him. Till 2 days ago I got news that he had been in the hospital all this while. He had been diagnosed liver cancer. Now he’s at home, very ill. Wish I can talk to him, ask him to fight. I performed my solat hajat for him and wish he will be fined and ease from pain.



What is Liver Cancer?
There are two main kinds of liver cancer. Heptoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Heptoma is cancer of the hepatocytes. (The main functioning liver cell). Hepatoma is primary liver cancer. Hepatoma usually grows in the liver as a ball-like tumor, invading the normal tissue surrounding it. A history of infection with the hepatitis B virus puts individuals at risk of developing heptoma.
Cancer of the bile duct cells is called cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in the bile ducts and is often caused by infestation with the liver fluke Clonorchis (a parasite). The cancer grows along the bile ducts in sheets or lines,and is hard to find on X-ray studies.
Most cases of liver cancer are actually cancers that started in another organ. This is called metastases. Because of its very high blood flow and many biological functions, the liver is one of the most common places for metastases to grow. Tumors that originally arise in the colon, pancreas, stomach, lung or breast can spread to the liver.
Liver cancer is much more prevalent in many of the developing countries than in the industrialized world. Its incidence is highest in subSaharan Africa, China, southern Asia, and Japan. Japan is the exception of the industrialized countries. China accounts for about 45% of the world's cases.
What Causes or Increases Risk for Liver Cancer?
Once cause of liver cancer is exposure to vinyl chloride. Other causes of liver cancer are unknown. However certain risk factors have been identified. The risk factors are: Chronic Hepatitis, Cirrhosis of the liver and liver flukes (parasites).
http://www.mamashealth.com/cancer/livercancer.asp

Umar

Emm...through my friend’s blog, I always listen to nasyid. He has good collection of nasyid in his radio blog. One of my favourite is "Aku Hanya Umar". When you read and digest the lyric, it’s all about the famous Caliph Umar. Caliph Umar is the successor of Caliph Abu Bakar.

AKU HANYA UMAR

Sebelum disapa sinar iman,
kau bagaikan singa yang mengganas,
membunuh anak perempuanmu,
tanpa rasa belas dan kasihan,
dipandu hati sekeras batu,
jahiliah yang menyesatkan.

Bila nur al-quran menusuk ke jiwa,
lunturlah segala keangkuhanmu,
berubah dan beralih arah mu,
terbentur segala kekejaman,
menjadi wira miskin nestapa,
membela yang tak berupaya.

Tidurmu dirimbunan tamar,
tenangmu tiada tercalar,
berbantal lengan tanpa pengawal,
berselimut embun keimanan.

Di malam yang hening,
meratap menyesali diri,
pada dosa kealpaan,
dibasuh dengan air mata,
memohon keampunan tuhan.

Engkau khalifah berjiwa hamba,
mentadbir tanpa singgahsana,
menghina diri dihadapan Allah,
kemuliaan diri manusia.

Mulia hidup bersulam taqwa,
mulia mati mu kau syuhada,
pergi rohmu ke alam tinggi,
terbang menuju ke syurgawi.

Aku hanya seorang umar,
kemuliaanku kerna islam,
semua ke syurga kecuali dia,
ku bimbangi dialah diriku.

Hati sekeras batu,
berubah menjadi selembut air,
jadi teman kebenaran,
jadi musuh kepada kebatilan.

Kelengkan - keringkam

When I was in Kota bahru, me and my parents went to Istana Jahar, which houses the Museum of Royal Traditions and Ceremonies. This unique palace was built in 1887 by the then Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Ahmad (1886 - 1889) for his son, Long Kudin who succeeded him as sultan. The name Jahar was taken from the tree that stands at the entrance, also known as 'Flame of the Forest'.

But what attracted me most were the fine display of songket from Malaya as well as Bali, India and Sumatra. There are selendang known as kelengkan. It’s quite a surprise looking at this selendang kelengkan. Kelengkan reminds me of keringkam, the traditional selendang of malays in Sarawak. It’s almost the same as what we have in Sarawak. It’s also from gold thread. In fact the name sound alike. I took a photo of selendang from my mum collection. Red in color is belong to my mum, she wore it during her wedding and the dark brown belong to my late grandma. Sarawakian call this selendang as tudung keringkam.

Touching

It was Sunday. I watched a movie called Christmas Shoes aired by TV3. It is a good movie but yet very touching. I just couldn't stop myself from being so involved with the storyline. I feel kind of stupid for being emotional after all it’s just a movie. It is a good movie indeed, great movie with all good family values.

Here is the synopsis;
He didn't know he needed a miracle, until one happened.
Robert Layton (Rob Lowe), a successful attorney, is on the brink of losing his marriage. Nathan Andrews (Max Morrow), an eight-year-old boy, is about to lose his young working-class mother (Kimberly Williams), to illness. When Robert crosses paths with Nathan on Christmas Eve, Robert's life is changed forever. Something as simple as a pair of shoes was going to make all the difference in the young boy's life. And by helping Nathan, Robert realizes the true importance of family, faith and love.
http://www.cbs.com/specials/christmas_shoes/story.shtml

Actually this movie was adapted from a novel wrote by Donna VanLiere,the New York Times best-selling author.

Prunus armeniaca

A few months ago, Safuan, a friend of mine sends me herbal medicine from Cairo. He also send fresh apricot or known as Al- Barquq in Arabic through his friend whom returned to Sarawak. Actually I don’t even know how the fresh apricot looks like because what I am familiar with is dried apricot. The scientific name of Apricot is Prunus armeniaca under the family name of Rosaceae.

This fruit is believed have originated in China, where it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. It was introduced in Europe during the time of Alexander the Great. In Middle East, apricots were very popular for their taste as well as for their invigorating perfume.

The best thing about this fruit, it is classified as food of heal. There are lots of medicinal values can be found from this fruit. It is beneficial in the treatment of Constipation due to high of cellulose and pectin contents. Besides that it helps people suffer from anemia in account of high content of iron in this fruit. It is also good cooling drink when the juice mixed with honey.

Busy-eventful-occupied

Assalamualikum friends…. Sorry for no updates for long time. At first I thought I will enjoy this 3 months semester break. Free myself from busy life dealing with lectures and students. But it’s totally out of picture. I hardly find times for myself, works seem endless. New semester begin soon but my notes have not ready yet. There is a lot of administrative works to deal with.

You may have heard the saying,

"If you climb to the top of the mountain but haven't enjoyed the journey, then it wasn't a successful climb."

Am I so busy climbing to achieve my goals that I was missing out on the views along the way? I guess I am. Maybe I should pause for a moment to reflect on my busyness; not only about what I am busy doing but also how I could be doing things differently – with less effort and stress, and with more ease and fun.
I hope after this, I’m moving forward, rather than away from, a more enriching and enjoyable life.