My friends’ Story

Story 1

She is my old friend during my childhood time. We were neighborhood and live together in a small village in Temerloh. However I left kampong and went to boarding school as early as 13 years old, then to university and got job right I finished my study. I spent less time in kampong and since then we were not so close. However she stayed in Kampong together with her mum and other siblings. What we have in common is both of us still single. I have my new life out of kampong and enjoying my time with new friends. I admitted that I did not put an effort to contact her even though once a while I went back to my hometown to visit my father/relatives.

During last Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, my ‘wan’ told me that my friend cannot walk. She had complication with her knee.. may be the non-medical word is ‘cramp’. I first I thought it was only a normal things. I said to my ‘wan’ later on she should be ok.

However before Hari Raya Haji, my sister informed me that she totally cannot walk and depends so much on her brother/sister to help her to move around. Her situation got worst ( sorry…mind my words ). She just stayed in the house and alhamdulillah she has somebody to take care of her. I shocked. I did not know that she has a serious problem.

On Hari Raya Haji, I decided to pay her a visit. So myself, my other 2 sisters and my auntie went to her house. I looked at her with mix feeling sad, worry, felt sorry etc etc etc. She was unable to move her body from waist to below. I am not sure whether my word is correct or not; paralyze. Most of the time, she just sat down and according to her, she felt her feet getting smaller. I presumed because of the feet got stiffed.

I knew that every problem always coupled with solution. Allah had promised and I truly believe in this. She is still young and she has lots of things to accomplish in her life. All that she needs is support from the loved ones and non-stop findings the solution.

Then I realize the being healthy is the most grateful gift from God. I enjoyed my personal and professional life, traveling here and there, having circle of good friends and family. Am I not grateful enough with what I have right now? I almost shed my tears and hope that Allah guides me always. Show me the way when I am lost, be with me wherever I go. Close to me forever and ever.

Story 2

He is my friend in University. I left university time about 12 years, and since then I never met him. I knew he got married after we graduated. He was the only one who had big motorbike during our university time. So it was quite easy to re-call who he was when people mentioned his name.

Recently we got connected again. All this began when our university wanted to have a reunion program. The invitation goes to all of us. Then we started talk to each other. And we noticed that we did not hear from him. Then the ‘lost and found’ started.

According to my friend who co-incidentally met him, he is now having 5 kids and his wife is pregnant now. In addition to that they stayed in Bukit Antarabangsa and involved with the land slide tragedy. Apart from that half of his body stiffed or ‘paralyze’ ( I am sorry…mind my words ).

Then, I did not know what to say. All this happen to someone that we knew and someone who is still young. Someone who just started life.. and when the unfortunate came all at once, we question ourselves, can we go through all these if it is happen to us?

Then I realize no matter whether I am young or I am old, the unfortunate may come to me at any time and am I ready to face any circumstances. The truth is, I am not sure that I can be as strong as him. May Allah always by his side and guide him forever. Amiin…

Story 3

He was my working colleague. Due to nature of our work, we worked together hand in hand to accomplish task assigned to us. If I could re-call, he was the one with no complaint if I ask or request. Very soft spoken and able to complete our task with less hassle. There is no word that I can describe about him except I felt very comfortable working with him.

I still remember 3 or 4 years ago when we had to complete a task which I consider quite dangerous. I worked in petrochemical company as a technical staff. We had to remove a safety equioment on hydrocarbon tank because there was leak. No isolation can be done. Before that I had a tough discussion with process safety personnel guy ( this ‘Santa Claus’ is good but very annoying ), I almost fed-up and wanted to let it be. In this male-dominated industry sometimes man still look down to woman.. sorry.. this is what happen last time. But now everything change. I hope so..

Alhamdulillah I had very good support from my friends including him. They convinced me that everything should be ok and safe. Most of the time, he just keep quiet and tried his hard and promised me to complete the task within day. We worked extended hours and managed to complete the task; safely. The experience of opening the pressure vessel with pressure still in there, puihh… if I have given a choice, I will not do it again!!

Since then, I always remember him as a person who will not complaint but complete his task without asking too much. 3 weeks ago I met him in one of my meeting.

However 2 weeks ago, I heard that he hospitalized. He had complication with his respiratory system, coma and in ICU. I was speechless. I said to my working mate, he did not show that he is sick. The last time I saw him, he looked healthy. Unfortunately I did not give my self a try to visit him in hospital.

Early this week, somebody informed me that he passed away. I almost shed my tears. He just 36 years old, leaving a wife and 3 small kids. Most importantly, he was a good man.

Then I asked my self, is it true that a good person will not live longer? Then I asked again myself, am I ready if my time comes. What do I leave for people that I love.

Above all, do I have enough good deeds to bring together with me. Life could not be treated as short neither long. Life is for me to prepare myself for my hereafter. Ya Allah, please accept all my worship. Amiin..

To my good friend. Thanks for letting me to know you. May your soul rest in peace. Al-Fatihah.

Citratus at Hanoi ( Day 4 )

I was unable to find time to publish this posting. Our final day I received full of information about Vietnam history. This is how the story began…

On our last night in Hanoi, Ms Ngoc called us. She informed that they will provide us free tour around Hanoi city. This is because of the tourist agent picked us late to Halong Bay, day before. Then I said OK la because we did not really know how to go to those places and we still had plenty of time before catch our flight back to KL.

As early as 7:00 AM, our new tourist agent Mr Toung, 25 years old, waited us at lobby.
First he brought us to Ho Chih Min Complex Mausoleum. At first I thought Ho Chih Min is a name for place ( South Vietnam ), then he explained the city was name after Ho Chih Min as to remember the first president of Vietnam, before that it was known as Saigon.

On the way to Mausoleum, Toung informed us that we should behave ourselves when entering the Mausoleum. We can not speak loud and cannot carry handback, handphone or camera. Toung was so kind, he carried my handbag and he said he will wait for us at the exit door. So we just trust him.

Hoh Chih Min Mausolouem

At first I wonder why they so strict. I also cannot put my hand into my jacket pocket. Then we had to queue to enter the mausoleum. Everybody walked quietly into a dark and cold room. Then I saw a body and 4 soldiers at each corner. Static. I looked at body; it was the Mr President Hoh Chih Min sleeping soundly. His body was preserved for 39 years!! I whispered to my friend ‘hey, look at him.. they preserve the body laa.. How they do that.. Look at him he looks like a sleeping man and not like a dead man’. But my friend just keeps quiet and not even looked at the body.

We can only passed thru the body and came-out thru the exit door. Then my friend said ‘I recited Qursi, al-fatihah non-stop and I afraid to looked at the body and wishing to get-out from the room quickly… scary!!’. I replied ‘no wonder you keep quiet when I talked to you just now hehehe…’. Toung waited us at the exit door and asked about our opinion. I said puihh… I am surprise, the body is well-preserved. According to Toung, first preservation was done by Russian and after that Vietnam people learn how to do it and able to protect the body from damages.

Then Toung started his explanation about Vietnam history. Well, part of his job and I think he is smart. Part of his job is being our photographer. Look at our photos. It reminded me of Monash Tower in Jakarta city.

Then he brought us to another attraction at Hanoi city, Presidential building and House of Stilts. There were many people local and outsider visited that place on that day. Most probably it was a weekend, Sunday.

President Palace

The President Palace was built from 1901 - 1905 ( 4 years ). It was used as residential of Indo-China leader at that time. However Hoh Chih Min reluctant to stay there because for him, he is just an ordinary human who serves for Vietnam people. Then it reminded me to Tuan Guru Nik Aziz and some other opposition party leader in Malaysia. We knew that being a leader is not necessary stays in a big house but rather having simple life with big heart to contribute for nation well being.
Hoh Chih Min House

House of Stilts was built in 1958 it was a sentimental value for him which the house reminds him on his hometown ( mid Vietnam ). He stayed there from 1958 - 1969. There was a big pond in front of his house. According to Toung, this was a place Hoh Chih Min spent his free time. The fish will came-out if we clap our hand. Hoh Chih Min started all these and the tradition continue.

Then he Toung brought us to single pillar pagoda. Another attraction at Hanoi city is Temple of Literature. I paste some pictures of these places. During our visit, there were many students and they were having entertainment program with local artists. This temple started in 1070 and there was an extension in 1079 and 2002.

Almost half day and we were hungry. Toung brought us to another Indian restaurant. He joined us and continued his story on Vietnam culture and about Vietnam opened his door for foreign investment. Toung and me enjoying our lunch

There 2 things I remember about Hoh Chin Min. He said this to one of his speech to his people. There are 2 things that you should not follow him. One – Smoking. Two- Not married. S and me saying goodbye to Toung

Thanks Vietnam for your warm welcome. Hep Gap Lai!!!

'Sepi'

Last night I watched ‘Sepi’ a malay movie on my laptop. The CD was given by my working mate. According to him, his wife cried after watching this movie and he likes the movie cinematography. So I said, let me have a copy and see whether I will cry too.

To be frank, I did not watched malay movie or any movie. In my life, I never had been to any cinema complex. Sometimes people laugh at me because for them it is an odd. Most of people love movie and watching in cinema is a hobby. I knew some people who go to cinema alone every weekend; some people go with family or friend.

Well, nothing wrong with me right. My life and how I had up brought by my family makes me feel uncomfortable. Some people may think that I am too conservative but I love being conservative as muslim and malay woman. I should thank my parent and family who raise me to what I am now. Being conservative but yet able to be at par with others; education wise and religion wise.

I still remember when my late mother got angry me when I bought a URTV magazine while waiting for my SPM results. Not because of the money that I spent for the magazine but rather the content which does not give any value to me. But if I bought other magazine; an informative one, she agreed and sometimes had flip through to see the pictures inside it. She can read but not as fast as others. Al Fatihah…

Back to ‘Sepi’, for me there were no strong messages that I can extract from the movie. The story goes around people who are trying to find what they want in their relationship. Who is he or she? To what extend they can sacrifice for someone they want to have in life. How hard they work for it. However if I compare with the actual life, it is too far way from reality.. I am sorry. Probably it is just my opinion.

By the way I still remember the dialog between Imaan and Ean. She said “ thanks for saving me” and Ean replied “ thanks for letting me to save you”. Then I conclude that we need strength to let go the past and we should know there is someone who want to help. The only thing that we can do is to allow he/she be part of our new life.

By the way I did not cry..

Citratus at Hanoi ( Day 3 )

Now I am writing from the Sun Hotel Hanoi again. Waiting for another trip around Hanoi city. I will explain more later.

Yesterday, we spent most of our time in Halong Bay. Free and easy. We had our breakfast specially served in our room. I just wonder why. But the food was so good. Very healthy and fresh. I love fresh bread with tomato/garlic.

In our plan, the tourist guide will pick us up around 11:15 PM back to Hanoi. Then we decided to get a taxi and look around Halong Bay because we still had lots of time. The hotel staff made an arrangement for us and we took taxi to Halong market. I really really had a big problem. He totally cannot speak English.

At first he brought us to one of the Halong Market. It was like little 'Padang Besar' or little 'Rantau Panjang'. Most of the stalls sell garmets especially coats. Probably because of the cold weather. Colourful!! The rest are souveniours such as hair band, earing, bracelet and handicraft. I bought a coat, white colour.. emm.. suitable for special event such as annual dinner. Voque habis nanti..

We had difficulty in communication. They cannot speak English at all. Can you imagine we were like 'ayam and itik' and finally I just speak malay to them. Otherwise just waste my energy to make them understand what I said. Puas hati. Hahaha...

Then the taxi driver brought us to another Halong Bay market. Slightly bigger than the first one. One the way to the market we passed thru beautiful beaches and brigde. However we did not stop by because the taxi driver just did not bother our request. Again communication problem...


In the Halong Bay market is a building with full of stalls that sell cloth, handicraft and some other special items which represent Vietnam.. paintings. And smaller if we compared to Tanah Abang in Jakarta.

Then we rushed back to hotel because we run out of time. We had to wait for tourist agent for our trip back to Hanoi. We paid dong 300,000 to the taxi driver. I think the taxi driver likes me.. because he keep look at me thru back mirror and he asked my telephone number. I just ignored...

While waiting for tourists agent, I managed to update my blog. The tourist agent arrived late. almost 12:15 PM. Then he rushed to a vegetarian restaurant for our lunch. Together with us there were 2 singaporean ladies and an english young couple.

The lunch I considered as okay. Vegetarian.. afterall I was so hungry. According to my friend there was a bunch of snakes in big bowl displayed at the counter. Probably this restaurant also served snake cruisine. I just forget about it..

We reached Hanoi around 5:15 PM. The traffic was so bad. Lorries, motobike, cars ignored traffic lights. According to them, it is normal in Vietnam. Puihh... another nightmare. Drive safely please...

We checked in at Sun hotel again. Same room. The friendly receptionist made us felt welcome..

The had a dinner at Kazanna restaurant. An indian restaurant. The owner approached and convinced us the the food is halal. Ya.. halal but they also sell wine. Of course we had no choice and just enjoyed our dinner. There were many tourists there and we were treated very very well.

Since we still did not have chance to really shoppingggg... we asked the tourist agent to bring us to any place that we can shop. I still had lots of dong and dollars in my pocket. I just did not want to bring it home..

He brought us to shopping area near the puppet show that we went a day before. We did not have plenty of time because the driver had to wait in car. So I shopped very quickly and finished up all my USD...emm.... not bad..

Citratus at Hanoi ( Day 2 )

Now I am writing from Golden Halong Bay Hotel. Waiting for our tourist guide to pick us up back to Hanoi.

Yesterday, the tourist guide Mr Nghe arrived at 7:30 AM. He picked us up first. Then he picked other tourist from other hotel as well to join us. So we went around the Hanoi city. About 20 people in the group and we travelled by a mini bus.

The distance from Hanoi to Halong bay is about 180 km. We arrived at Halong Bay at 11:45 AM. The the group were divided into 2. We joined the small group only 6 of us and our tourist guide was Mr Bac. They were an Australian, Ireland, Korean, Japanese and 2 lovely girls from Malaysia ( me and my friend la ).

We spent almost 4 hours boating in Halong Bay. The view of Halong Bay very similar to geopark in Langkawi except the temperature windy and cold. The boat or I should called a slow boat, brought us first to fishing village. Almost similar to what I saw in Langkawi. But not so many type of fish there. That was not what I looked at. I more interested to the living style of vietnam people in this village. An old lady and an active boy and some other family members live happily in a very limited place to move around. Like a rumah rakit in my home town Temerloh. Just that...

Then we had a lunch on the boat. All seafoods. My friend at first quite 'was-was' whether the food is ok or not to eat. But I said, you want to follow fekah or tassawuf. If fekah, should be ok. Afterall we were so hungry. To be frank, the food was so good. Look at me, I can handle chopstick very well. Thanks to Chu Yee, my friend in University who teach me how to use chopstick.

After that they brought us to Thien Cung Cake ( Palace Cave ). Like any other caves that I had been before, the object that created by years of water dripping on limestones or we called as stallagtite and stallagmide resembles many objects or animals. Example dragons, lions, snake and many more. Actually I could not really see all those objects. Only until Mr Bac told me so. Hahaha.. sometimes we have to pretend that we see it. Or else it is an offended to them. Always be good to others.

It was almost 4 PM and I was really worried if we could not check in to hotel. We wanted to perform solat zohor/asar jamak. We really in hurry. Here the maghrib is 5:15PM. Alhamdulillah we managed to reach early than that. So we took a rest before had our dinner in this hotel.

We had dinner at 7:00PM. Seafood. However there were so many food for us. All type of seafood, crab, fish, prawn etc etc etc. To my surprise the food was so good and delicious. I think the way they cook it, makes the food is so healthy. The vegetables were so fresh and they only steam it. I love so much!! No wonder people in Vietnam especially women are slim and very hard to find woman with big size.

We met a family from Malaysia as well. A Chinese family from Subang Jaya. The lady was so friendly. Hahaha... she told us about her mother ( 70's ) went to shorkelling at Langkawi. I almost shed tears laughing at her. I cannot imahine asking my 'wan' to snorkel but she did and her mother enjoyed it so much.

By the way I managed to finish my book " 9 Things You Simply Must Do To Succeed in Love and Life" by Dr Henry Claud, 2007. I would like to quote his statement ' I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is try to please everybody'.

Citratus at Hanoi ( Day 1 )

Now I am writing from Hanoi, Sun Hotel while waiting for the tourist guide pick us up to Halong bay.

We started our journey 6:50 AM from Kuantan to KLIA. Then we took breakfast at KLIA. I was so excited when I met Bapak Ari Ginagar the ESQ founder. But I was so shy to approach him. He had an 'aura' that if we look at him, we can see how honest him to others. I sat in front of him and I could not get my eyes out of him. I think he knew it hahaha...
Then he left, and I was so frustrated.

We continued our breakfast. Sooo expensive!! We ate noddles and teh tarik and cost us about RM 27.80. But what to do..lifestyles at KLIA.

Then we went for boarding. We met a little vietmese girl. So cute, active and lovely. I will post our pic later. We left KLIA around 10:40AM. The flight took about 31/2 hours.

Look at her!! So adorable. Eventhough she cannot speak English and she spoke an unknown language to me...non-stop.

We reached at Noi Bai airport around 1:05 PM local time. The weather so good and calm. It was a transition from autumn to winter. The temperature around 20degC.

Our tourist guide Ms Ngoc waited for us. Then they took us on Altis to the Sun hotel. We felt like a special guest with wonderful treatment from both the driver and Ms Ngoc. However I was so scared on how vietnam people behave on road. It was like a nightmare.. I just wondering that could be Malaysia drivers behaviour much better... sorry, it just my personal observation. Probably this is what we interpret the culture of asian people in term our the way we act and also the way we manage our daily life.

Ms Ngoc and S at Sun Hotel

Sun Hotel is a 3 star hotel. Clean and fresh. We took a rest for 1.5 hour before we start to explore Hanoi.

Ms Ngoc brought us to water puppet show theatre located in front of Hoan Kiem lake. We joined with the others tourists. Most of them were western people. Only 2 of us wear head scarf. The show was very entertaining. It is more like a wayang kulit in Malaysia but they use puppets. The show describes the culture of vietnam and I think they are quite creative in doing that.

Before the show began

Then we shopped around that area. As usual I bought my 'must buy' souvenier, magnetic fridge hahaha..

We had a dinner at Malaysia restaurant Nisa Restaurant at Nguyen Huu Huan street. The restaurant is owned by Malaysian. We did not met the owner but we met the manager who is Malaysia. There were photo of Malaysian Ministers including Tun Mahathir who had visited this restaurant. My friend got crush with the restaurant manager hahaha...Many Malaysian there and lot choice of food. White rice, beef curry, sambal udang, sup tulang and sayur campur. Ok lah... it is not same if we have all these in Malaysia. But the teh tarik was good..

Our dinner at Nisa

Oh..ohh... the tourist guide not yet here. He is suppose to pick us up at 7:00AM local time but now 7:07 AM.

Why I Never Ask

I was never realized that there are people care who about me other than my immediate family. Early this week my boss asked me, about my position and his plan to move me to the other level or promotion. He asked whether I knew my current position level which is then translate into my salary grade. I said I don’t know. Then he asked how I can do not know. I said I never bother about my pay or position.

I had been worked here for more than 7 ears, each years when comes to appraisal I never say a word to my immediate leader on my rating as well as my increment. The only things that I know, I always and asked myself to enjoy my work and able to make a contribution to place that I work for.

Then he said, if that is the case, it seems that he has to do it for me. Just because that I never asked. Then he did promised me something that will make myself happier staying here and expect me to contribute more.

After the conversation, I noticed that I am a person who will not simply ask for anything from anyone. I do not know, probably, I feel that I am so independent or I am a shy person or I just don’t allow myself asking too much.

I think, there is word which can explain about this. But I am not so sure whether it is correct or not. ‘Redha’. When Allah and His Prophet said each of us has to be work very hard and then leave the remaining to Allah. After that ‘Redha’ for whatever happen next. It could be good or bad. But whatever it is, there always a reason why it happens. I truly believe this and that is why I will not simply asking too much because I feel my contribution is not as much as what I am suppose to ask for. Then the other word comes to my mind ‘Qanaah’. I will write about this later.