Dua Ribu Enam

One day more and it will be a global celebration with people gathering at homes, hotspots and special events. Those who are well fed and financially secured enjoy themselves and wishing next year will be much more prosperous for them. The poor on the other hand might stay in their humble homes yet celebrate with what god has provided for them.

I’m not being rude or sarcastic whatsoever but it just that sometimes you have to think for others and not only yourself. Honestly one of my weaknesses is that I have a high empathy level which is quite good and bad at different situations. Yet living in the world with hidden sins and vendettas somehow felt like I’m part of a certain minority group that might not even exist.

Hahaha…. why am I being so negative suddenly when a new year is coming with new hopes and dreams. Dad would say, “Always think positive and something good will happen in your life” and indeed it does happen sometimes. I apologize for my negative mindset but as always those who know me, know me well.

Being the eldest sibling and the sole breadwinner (maybe), freedom is not endless but limit in certain ways. Dad and mom have ask how am I going to celebrate my new year and my answer as usual was “I’m not sure but I’ll tell you later”. They’re answer to my statement will be normal advices given to a child who has protective parents. This culture is actually a norm in my family even since college days. Just going out with friends and coming back late (after 2 a.m.) with me being 26 years old sometimes makes them worried too much. Guess this is what being a good parent is all about and I totally agree with it. Gee…. I do sound like an ‘anak manja’ which I certainly hope not. Yet I appreciate their concerns even with all the annoying moments I have been through with them. Life can’t be normal unless you have someone to praise or irritate.

To my relatives and friends, far and near, good and evil, alive and dead, rich and poor, wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

*Mental note to self, need to get a digital camera and take good shots

Death On The Hospital Floor

Last night during dinner with my parents, mom informed us that our uncle (son of my grand aunt who is my grandma’s elder sister) from Johor Bahru (JB) passed away that afternoon. She got the news from my grandma and we ask how did it happen. This is how the explanation goes….

My uncle from JB came to Putrajaya with his wife to celebrate Raya at their friends/relative place. It happened after lunch hour when the whole left part of his upper body (fingers, hand, arm & etc.) was numb. Not knowing what has happened to himself he quickly drove to the Putrajaya Hospital for medical attention.

According to my grandma, no one was available to attend to his needs. This part got me thinking whether most of the staff was still on Raya holiday or the service was insufficient.

While sitting and waiting (for a long time) to be attended, he started to feel a minor pain on his back. Feeling that his condition is not that critical, told my aunt that he wants to perform the Asar prayers. She forbids him to go and ask to sit for a while more while someone come and check on him. Being a person who does not miss his prayers insisted that he leaves the waiting area and go for prayers. My aunt accompanied him to take air sembahyang when suddenly he fell to the ground. She was shocked and disbelieved at what happened.

She was told that her husband had a sudden major stroke and died on the spot....

May Allah forgive his sins, widens his resting place like the gardens in Heaven and be placed among those who are piety in the eyes of Allah when akhirat comes. Amin.

Sometimes it makes me wonder.

1. Where there actually no one attended to his needs?
2. Did he already know the sickness he had but did not want the wife to know?
3. Did he die because of the hospital’s inefficiency?

Sigh, I just have to let it go and get on my life with the living.

"Death recognizes your soul but not the deeds you have done"…..stvamp

Sehari Sebelum Deepavali (31 Oct 05)

Morning

Woke up late due to the fact that I returned home after Subuh from Ghufran Mosque and slept at 7.30 am. I was doing the iktikaf the day before as certain Muslims will do during the fasting month. Still with my Bermuda shorts and white pagoda t-shirt, switched on the PS2 and play Resident Evil 4. The game play is kind of stiff but its storyline makes it worthwhile for those avid fans of Resident Evil series.

Planned to do some certain stuff after lunch before going back to Mom’s hometown in Johor Bahru (JB) on Deepavali day.

After Lunch

Feeling to give angpau money during Raya day, went to The Curve to check the ATM machines but it was packed. Since I’m already at The Curve, might as well visit MPH Bookstore to get myself a Dean Koontz (DK) book as I usually do once in three months or less. Recently I’ve just finished reading DK’s second book on the title Dean Koontz: Frankenstein and can’t wait for the next one to be published.

Browsing through the books and only found two DK’s title which I’ve ready own and read like a year ago. Alternatively decided to get myself two Japanese graphic novels/manga for my reading pleasure during my holiday week in JB.

Thinking of where to cut my hair, Man (my lil bro) suggested that I go to his favourite barbershop located near the TTDI mosque. Asked him why must it be that place and he answered because of their excellent service (yeah right!?). Just to try something new, I went to the barbershop and got myself a decent haircut. Instructed the person the kind of haircut I wanted and also asked for a shave on my facial hair. There was this row of pictures with headshots of men with different hairstyles and one of it actually looks like Andy’s (Dino’s lil bro) hairstyle. If I was Andy’s fan, I’ll be saying “Andy cuts his hair here ??? I too want that hairstyle. He looks so dashing and cute !!!”. Hahaha…

Paid the guy for my haircut and went out to buy some drinks next door (kedai runcit) for berbuka puasa tonight. My gaming friends and me plan to berbuka at a new place in Subang Jaya. Knowing today was a working day and expecting the normal KL jam, it could be that we will have a pre-berbuka in the car before the main dinner course.

Upon reaching home, feeling a minor itch at my jaw skin area, realized that the barber did not done a good job in sense of shaving. Due to his could be blunt blade, unskillful method or just plain lazy, not only my skin turned red but it was not clean shaved. I should have check before I left the place yet I was too blur to understand that.

After 5.30 PM

After Nazri and me picked up Anri, we had a change of plans and decided to berbuka at the famous satay Kajang restaurant near Uptown. We ordered some ala carte dish and a few satay sticks. Thinking of enjoying a fine dinner with friends, something went wrong. At first when the satay arrives at our table, there was no kuah included so I thought maybe they would send it later. Then we notice tables with no patrons (booked table) were served satay and kuah (in a big bowl of course..) on top of them. Called the waiter and ask about our kuah and said that it will be given shortly.

After a few minutes, we still did not get our kuah and Anri starts to stare at the waiters (walking around serving people but not us..) with his anger look. While he keeps on staring at them, Nazri and me told him to eat his rice but he insists the kuah to arrive first before he can enjoy his meal. The table behind Nazri was enjoying their satay meal and asked for another bowl of kuah and yes they got it like 2 minutes after that. Patrons of the booked table as I mentioned earlier still has not arrived yet. Anri gave a remark that if in certain minutes we did not get our kuah, his going to that booked table and take their bowl (his dead serious). Finally the kuah came and everything starts to cool down for Anri of course.

After Dinner

We went to a newly renovated cyber café behind Anri’s house and enjoyed ourselves an international battle net gaming experience. I thought Anri was the only one got mad that night when suddenly I heard Nazri cursing on something. I don’t know why but every time Nazri plays WC3:DoTA, other players intend to target him most of the time. Could it be he was using Kel-Thu-Zad (Ice Nuker) ???? Maybe ……

Later on Anri went back home alone as me and Nazri met up with Rozaimi at Medan Selera Idaman restaurant near my housing area for a quick drink and supper. My mom called and asked when I’ll be back (the staying with parents effect) as the whole family might be leaving to JB after sahur. We salamz and greeted Selamat Hari Raya to each other before we ended our conversation.

After Supper

Reach home and go to sleep lar !!!

Cozens

Last week me, my brothers (man & riff) with the cozens (inaz, jwa, dia & mar) went out for a late night supper/drink at Hartamas Square and invited a Brazilian girl to come along with us. She had a very unique name that I myself can’t even pronounce it properly due to my non-sophisticated tongue. Dia who introduced her to us said that we should just call her Esah for short.

On that night before yumchar at Hartamas, the Kushairi Clan had a Berbuka Puasa potluck family gathering, which consists of local and foreign foods. I only ate the pizzas and hotdogs while at the same time missing out the tasty lauk pauks. Our stomach was so full that we had to wait a little longer for the prayers to start. With my uncle from Ipoh as bilal and my dad as the imam, the prayer starts and ended with the salamz.

As usual we cozens will find a good spot and have our usual talks, gossips and latest updates. That’s where Esah comes in and tells us that she is a fan of Mawi (hmmm…) and likes to stay in Ipoh a lot (ahhh...). Our conversation was a mix of English and Malay language yet Esah was able to understand gradually on what were saying. We talked about skin complexion (hahaha…), martial art classes (posers?), transvestites (dear gawd!), chinese looks (yunan genes?), holidays (islands…) and shisha (fruity smoke..). Esah suggested we go somewhere for shisha since she has never tried it before and that’s how we ended up in Hartamas Square.

A note to Natasha, actually I wanted to go to Uncle Don for shisha but the cozens preferred the Square furthermore it was packed and so if you’re reading this, don’t be merajuk yea. Next time I’ll invite them to your place but could you sms me your new number for future usage. Thanks…

Anyway after finding a good spot to sit, we ordered for two shisha (peach & strawberry), drinks and food. Looking at Esah sucking up the smoke and then exhaling it with a certain facial expression reminds me of college days. The difference here is that my friends were getting high on weed and everyone at that time had different facial expressions. Hahaha…it was damn funny.

For me the peach flavored shisha tasted like minyak kapak but gradually it tasted so good that I suck it continuously without any long breaks (maybe a minute or less). I felt kind of blur as my head gently sways left and right. Knowing that I’ve already in such a state, stopped and told myself that’s enough for today.

Mar looking at a table nearby us commented why certain adorable KL girls’ ends up with guys who look like tongkang pecah. I think since his from Ipoh maybe majority of couples there all have the ngam-ngam looks (babe with hunk) or not. Well everyone deserves their own opinions but for me it could be their personalities or wealth that attract the girls.

Time to go back and we salam as usual like relatives do with Esah staring at us with one kind. She felt awkward looking at our traditional salam and insisted to join in. We waved goodbye and will be seeing again for Hari Raya.

"If you marry me, would you bury me? Would you carry me to the end?"…….Chemical Romance

First Day Berpuasa

Is lunch now and I’m supposed to do my work but instead occupying myself posting in this blog. Shhhh…

Actually every ‘puasa’ month, those who work during lunchtime gets to go back home an hour earlier than the actual time. Currently listening to ‘Chemical Romance’ as I type thinking which mosque should I go for ‘Terawih’ tonight.

During my wonder years in Damansara Jaya, I’ll surely be going to the Mujahideen Mosque (hope the spelling is right) at Damansara Utama. Nowadays with me living near Ikano, Ghufran Mosque would likely be my prayer spot till the new mosque near my housing area is fully ‘usable’. Hopefully tonight Ghufran Mosque will provide ice cream and black coffee after prayers. (Got to get the ice cream first before the kiddies do!..grrr)

‘Puasa’ month comes once a year and it has a deep meaning to certain Muslims in the whole wide world. As for me, besides the religious reasons, ‘puasa’ month is the time to understand people’s hardships, meet old school friends, strengthen the relative bond, lose certain weight and lastly preparing my money for Hari Raya. (Ahem…cozens, state the number of siblings you have in a precise manner…exclude those who are married please..)

A little bit of hunger resides in my stomach but that is a small part of what ‘puasa’ is all about. Till then is back to work for me now….

“Sabar itu adalah separuh daripada iman”….certainly not by stvamp

Must See Movie !!!

Hahaha...mira is going to kill me for this. Anyway credits goes to miracle child (may) for the excellent artwork.

Table Talk 001

I know it has been long but work have been tough on me this few months. The title 'Table Talk' is meant for any post that relates to a 'mamak' or 'brother/sister' eatery place session that took place for more than 2 to 4 hours. With continuous flow of orders (food/drinks) plus the laughter's of different personalities.

On 5th of Sep 2005, went out with the 'Creative' gang for a table talk session at a place next to the Pasar Besar TTDI. This creative gang mostly consists of 3 guys and 2 gurls also known as the 'Nimrods'. I'll tell you about this gang on some other post later.

Anyway that night we invited some old friends of ours to join in the session that was Greg, Tim and JonnyLow. Mira who is part of the Nimrods brought along her boyfriend Johnny.

Usually within the nimrods group, we mostly talk about work, close friends, ex bf/gf and the days during our college years. On that night it was more towards updates on old friends of another friend of a friend which is not my friend.. (confusing isn't it), bitching on somebody and the 'DVD and Ice Cream' party.

The discussion was quite interesting and people around us DO notice our LOUD laughs but who cares as long we're having a great time. Actually I can write the whole detail of the 3 and a half hours discussion but it might be to long for this post (got work to do). At the end of it all with me having a stomach ache (indomie goreng+roti bakar+barli ais+nescafe ais), it is decided that the party will be held at a hotel where the fridge might not fit the whole load of ice cream. Some even offered to bring Vodka and Orange Juice (mix both please) for the party.

I know certain of my Muslim friends are gonna 'bang' me on this but if they knew my behavior well, no 'sins' will happen. You can trust me on this and even the Nimrods understands my social life style (hehehe...I think).

"Having friends of both worlds, creates a wonderful balance but true friends are the one that keeps you alive" .... stvamp