Future: A Winding Road

Assalamualaikum and greetings, young hearts!

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

Milkshake and Smoothie

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

MISI Broga Expedition

Assalam and greetings people.

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.

Thanks!

Post Counseling

Assalamualaikum and greetings.

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! 

Bismillah and Ameen.

So, pray for me? *wink wink* :D

A Temporal 'Micheal Bay' Effect in Manifesto and its Aftereffects in IIUM SRC Election

Assalamualaikum and greetings.

IIUM Student Representative Council is going to take place soon within these few days. So, here is my piece for them.

Pre-read notice: Be open-minded!

Title: A Temporal 'Micheal Bay' Effect in Manifesto and its Aftereffects

A candidate can simply states that he/she is fighting for the people. 'From people to people', has been propagandised through vast social medias, and also printed black and white. Propaganda or sincerity? We never know, or at least, we have faith in them.

Take that away, now we look how far can their words last. Students evaluate through experiences by their conscious mind. When candidates fill in the loop holes with hopes and efforts, students will eventually vote them. Now, the real question for this part, are those manifestos meant for the students or just to win their hearts? To candidates, don't take it personal. This part is between you and your heart.

Successful candidates will now uphold the wisdom of their own words and represent themselves as a team under one of the most notable high-level students' society - Student Representative Council, with one mission and vision. However, manifestos need to be manifested, by hook or by crook. We live in democratic society, and in university, students will be judges, even if fellow representatives refuse to acknowledge it. At the end of the tenure, students will urge the representatives to make a self-audit of their own manifestos.

This culture is practiced in most universities and there are pros and cons of it. Through self-audit, students get to know which manifestos have been implemented, preventing future candidates to use the same manifestos, and which one is written on a paper for two long semesters and one short semester as manifesto just for 'Micheal Bay' effect, or a wow factor. The downside, which most representatives tend to take it in a positive manner is proving that they have successfully win the game. Is it a competition between winner and loser? A coward for not taking up the challenge to self-audit? A hero for keeping up his/her words until the end? Is it a final stage for defending oneself after receiving supporting or ruthless comments for a tiring one-year tenure? Take these questions as your personal self-audit.

Last piece of words, ask yourself again and again, in daylights and in nights, on your knees, gracing your palms for His guidances,

"Am I in this for selfish reasons or sincere to help my fellow friends?"

Intention triumphs manifesto.

AmirullahZul

7.30pm, Sunday, Nov 16 2014

p/s: Happy voting, students! ‪#‎IIUM‬