Once, there was a woman, standing on top of a hill every day. She had a beautiful white flower she picked daily on her way there through the valley. On a windy evening, the flower she held blown away by a strong wind. Luckily, a man grabbed it and returned it to her. He confessed that he liked her. She liked the man too. Since that day, they enjoyed the view together. Days passed, and the man had to go as he spoke his cries to the woman. The woman gave him the flower and told him to take it as a gift. A gift that would suffice his longing when they're apart. The man had nothing to give. So, he told the woman,"Stand still and feel the wind blowing. That means I'm missing you from afar." and they bid farewell. Months passed, the man came back. The woman, however, had married with another. She told her, the wind stopped blowing somehow and afraid he wouldn't miss her anymore. She was unsure, but she had to make choices. The man was sad, leaving as soon as he gave her back the flower that had wilted and turned gray.
Here's a story our community service project to Kampung Rudan.
From 10th to 16th June 2015, a total of 22 students; 16 from MISI Club, 5 from Secretariat of English Language Linguistics and Literature (ELITS) and 1 Journalism student have embarked a journey to Kampung Rudan in Padawan district of Sarawak. First initiated by MISI Club, the outreach-based project is one of the annual community service programme to Sarawak besides Sabah.
Well, that's the gist of it. Sounds heavy but I promise you, your reading experience on this one travelogue will be your next best imaginary travelling experience.
*Terms and conditions apply. Don't forget to visualize. Lol*
Let's start with the village itself. Away from the honking cars, the busy traffic jam, smoky air, busy lifestyle, at least 27 families happily lived in a village between green hills and trees. It's not gonna be a village you've seen in Malay dramas, where the village is somehow structurally accommodated with great facilities. Kampung Rudan was not that kinda village, so many downs on that level. But hey, is that what we should seek in a village? Of course not. Allow me exaggeratedly describe the beauty of this village then.
On the way to the village, the view is magnificent! It's near 15 minutes roller-coaster and hellish ride but do not sleep or puke yet! Again, the view is magnificent at one point. So, don't miss it.
Lovely!
Wait, here's another view from the SK. St. James school.
Back to the village. It is wiser to expect the least of this village but why not expect the best? Because the village has its own river beside, behind or in front the houses, you name it where it is! Because I'm lost with the positioning. The river is awesomely nice, cold as always. If you're there, take a chance to be alone at 10 in the morning and sit on a big stone whilst having the water of the river runs on your skin. You'll love it! Take a deep breath, hold and release. It's a pressure relief session, free-of charge!
Behind Pak Tok's house. Oh, who is he?
As I mentioned before, the village is situated in the middle of a jungle. But fear not lads, they're not literally living in the jungle. If I were to draw the village plan, I'll draw a circle. Inside the circle is the village, outside is the jungle. Now, what's with this jungle? Most of the villagers lived surviving with what they have in the jungle. The crops; corns, sugar cane, paddy, and more, are their bread and butter. All fresh and good, you'll love it. I tasted the corns and it's good, but that's not all of the village's tricky treats. The village very own nasi bungkus is delicious. With few dishes, you'll be like Almaz. She loved the nasi bungkus. Other than that, nasi buluh, lemang, sayur rebung, ayam pansoh - all the dishes that can make your stomach wants some more as you eat like a horse.
We all couldn't taste it without the help of the villagers. Oh, they're all good people. You'll love them. When we did the big-scale cooking a.k.a rewang, the villagers came down to the home stay and give us helping hands; from preparing the onions to setting up the big pot and whatnot. We all did it together and we have our chill time even though we're strangers.
Oh, meet the most active uncle - Cikgu Jamali (retired) or also known as Pak Tok. Perhaps without him, the project would be a bit off the chart. I mean, he was really cool and we enjoyed the whole time of funny moments he has given us as we find ourselves among the people we just knew.
Me, and Pak Tok in front. Behind us, Rasyidun.
Pak Tok is quite participative in most of our activities and which is why most of us loved him so much. Al-Baghdadi quranic class, prayer camp, gotong-royong, rewang and cultural night, he'll be the first to attend. The kids were the same! We managed to conduct sukaneka with them. It was fun!
I should've joined them and play along gahhh.
The kids performed a lot of local dances during the cultural night. It is an honour to see few beautiful Bidayuh dances such as Tarian Ngajat, Tarian Ngajat Tampi, Tarian Langgi, Tarian Buluh, and Tarian Lantong, and to dance Tarian Langgi on-the-spot by following Pak Tok is a whole new experience to me! I don't have the picture, but I promise I'll upload one. Anyway, check out this video I recorded on Tarian Ngajat Tampi.
There are more wonderful memories that I can share, but I wish to stop before I pack my bags and drive to Kampung Rudan right now out of excitement. Perhaps I'm missing the village too much already. Ask the other members, the must've said the same.
Therefore, this is another journey that I will remember for the rest of my life. So much to learn from, full tummy, and great sights. I promise I'll come again with an empty stomach.
On the 1st of April, 2015, Good and Services Tax (GST) has been officially implemented in Malaysia. All registered businesses may charge 6% GST on their services/goods/products.
Of course, there was no guarantee that GST implementation will receive local supports. It's natural that people do not want to pay extra money for tax. Paying less would be better. As for me, I say, taxes are important. Although, for this one, the implementation was a little bit not okay. The system has yet to find its place in this country.
However, worst comes to worst, we have to deal with it for now. Though, I found few have given up in Malaysia due to this. Frankly speaking, this is not
Assalamualaikum and greetings handsome and gorgeous people.
In a sunny Friday after Friday Congregational Prayer, about a week ago from this date, me and my two roommates were waiting for our Oreo Milkshake at mosque compound in IIUM. God, the day was scorching hot, there were many people lining up to buy the milkshake. There were two - Coconut Milkshake and Oreo Milkshake. Well, I chose the latter. Come on people, oreo!
Anyway, while waiting, I was wondering if we(me and my roommates) could have a blender of our own in our room and make some milkshake. Ehem, of course, I was just saying. Fahmi, who is happened to be very creative, thought that it would be a very good idea too! The next thing I know, when we have a week of midterm holiday, he sent us a picture of unused working blender in his home. Welp, looks like milkshake all the way this semester to me.
And that's how we managed to make milkshake and smoothie, and fear not, we men are brilliant chefs!
I've shared few photos on my Twitter and Instagram. Few people asked for the recipes and I know it's obligatory for me to share it. Before that, there are no unique ingredients used because we got the recipes from the Internet. We did make some changes, a little.
So,
With the love of banana and apple, today, I will share my recipe of healthy fatty yummy milkshake and smoothie.
First, choose either one, Milkshake or Smoothie. Obviously, the milkshake needs milk while the other doesn't.
Secondly, choose your fruits. Banana, orange, apple, pineapple, and more! Be creative, baby!
Third, ice or no ice. If smoothie, I like it without ice. Milkshake with ice. Anyway, depends on you.
Fourth, to go nuts or just simply blend. Add anything. Add honey, chestnut, ice cream, and etc. Just don't go abroad. No chili sauce, mayonnaise, flour- just no.
Fifth, satisfied? Then blend. One thing I learned from my mom, you don't blend everything in one go. What I mean is, switch on and off for few times, and you can save your blender for generations. That's just additional tips.
Anyway, here's some lovely photos.
Oreo Milkshake
Banana Apple Smoothie (Healthier version, not so sweet)
Yummy delicious Banana Apple Smoothie. Sweet taste and lip-smacking one.
All of these steps are just guidelines. My theory, you can make anything as long as it's acceptable to the people you want to serve. Of course, taste and presentation are two important qualities. But love comes first in cooking. Just like how mothers cook for their children. :D
Not normal for me to update my blog after months, days and nights of unattended blogging quests. Which means, today I'll tell a tale of me and my club-mates, ditching our morning kiss of comfy bed and set a journey full of chemistry and physics. Just kidding bout those science subjects. But we were in a great chemistry!
Anyway, the journey to Broga Hill *ba dumm tss*
There were 10 of us; 9 in a car, 1 on a motorcycle. On a blissful Friday morning at 4.30 am, we went to Broga Hill at Semenyih from IIUM Gombak. I drove big car for the first time in forever. *play Anna's song here* It was a heart attack for me. I don't like big car.
Anyway, we used GPS since none of us know the exact route to Broga Hills even there were 2 among us, have been there before. As expected, I blamed the GPS for creating confusion, thus leaded me to a strange path. We're lost. But there's no giving up yaw, and of course, there's no other choice. We have to follow the GPS.
Alhamdulillah, after quite hell of bumpy ride, we've arrived at Broga Hill around 5.10 am. All safe and sound! After du'a, we set our quest to retrieve the ring of Sauron.
Like a romance story, there are no story without a hiccup. One of our mate felt like she need a rest. Apparently, this young lady didn't have enough sleep beforehand, plus not having his meal too. Ouch. We were a bit in dilemma, either to pursue the dream of 'My Precious' or to return and come again later. One of our mate gave her the motivation she needs, and also a bun to give her an energy kick.
This was made as her motivation. A better view if she keeps on moving forward.
Around 6.30 am, we stopped and performed our Subuh prayer together. Yeay! Who says you can't have a journey full of bless and tranquil?
Not sure bout the timing. After Subuh picture. A view from our pit stop.
The pit stop was not a checkpoint, rather a spacious place for us to rest and pray. Anyway, inside joke. After the girl performed her prayer, she said, she felt a little bit more relaxed. Then someone replied, sujud more! And I laughed. I don't know, it was a simple joke but not so joking. Well, a bit lah. Okay fine, I was the only one who take that as a joke hahahaha.
The first checkpoint was quite near to the pit stop. Just a few step ahead, we're there! 1st checkpoint, accomplished. 3 of us needed some rest, so they stayed. Another 7 continued to conquer the 2nd checkpoint, which was also the last one!
Journey to 1st checkpoint.
Huzza! 2nd checkpoint conquered. Alhamdulillah. After those struggles, really, we made it! The views were MashaAllah. Really beautiful, much awesomeness, felt like I wanna flip hairs, but I don't have long hairs.
6 of us, another one enslaved as photographer. Lol.
From the highest checkpoint.
I guess they found a monkey, which is me.
Here's a selfie for you.
We all need peer support.
9 of us w/o Teha.
There you go. A journey made possible. Anyway, remember the ring of Sauron? We didn't manage to get it. It was the sunrise that we wanted to see the most. But the sunrise we built among us are far much brighter and beautiful than that. :D Much kisses from me.
Before I begin my short and long writings, may I take this brief chance to wish you readers Happy New Year 2015. Year 2014 has passed and a new chapter begins, waiting to be designed by creative and innovative architect, modeled by young minds of engineer, write by hands of writers, and of course, you and me!
Now, let's continue from there.
For the past few days, I have been in depression and developed high level of anxiety due to a recurring event that was not intended. I missed my examination paper. It was frustrating, as I have it written down, alarm set and yet I overslept.
Because I don't want depression to eat my emotion from the inside, I went to get myself a counseling. I have it prepared but something happened, and I accepted that it was my fault. Something in this world is beyond our control. It was written, fated in another way, it teaches us. Allah has put us in a jumpy ride and feed us with tests, and I was reminded by Him. Sometimes, we need an alarm to wake us up.
Nevertheless, I love this subject very much. It's Expository Writing subject and definitely, I don't want to fail it. In advance, I have written an appeal letter and sent it to the deputy dean. I'm waiting for a response; perhaps in the beginning of next semester. I need your prayers, hoping that my appeal is accepted.
With this, I assure you, either results - yes and no from the deputy dean, I will be Superman. A no won't make me feel sad. Well, of course, a bit but I'll be strong. I'll phoenix my way up and burn a grade A for that paper!
