The Daily Temptations (for Malaysians)

Are the temptations  too strong dear Malaysians? Why can't we be more civilized? Why are we so indifferent?

Pantang dicabar!

Even the authorities

Can't Resist!

Leadership Camp

You know what, I just realized that I should stop fussing what to write, how silly of me, I know. I'll write whatever I want to share. Muahaha! Power-hungry-tyrannian-despot mode. So people, I just came back from a leadership camp. Funny that it's called 'Pemurnian Budi' beCause no, I don't think that it had much to do with etiquette cleansing or whatever you call it. Even so, I had such a great time. Sorry, can't come up with a better adjective.

 There was just so much to do there. Jungle trekking for the world! Oh, and never forget to bring along your first aid kit to you activity spot because things can happen. Guess what, it did. One of the juniors got stung by some scorpion species which sent her jumping up and down and screaming at the same time. Honestly, I thought it was some bug, so I was thinking 'Is this necessary?'. And then I saw the creature, which one of the instructors later crushed with her mighty shoe. I'm so bad. Poor girl, she was sent to the hospital.

 Wow, I get so easily distracted. Actually I was gonna tell you about what we did this morning.See yesterday, our counselor told got us into groups and we were given a task to create a new invention but we had to make do with whatever there was in the area. As expected, the group that I was in came up with a really weird idea called 'Botol Inspirasi'. What we did was folded strips of Alia's PMR exercise papers into stars and put them into a bottle. And basically we just hentam and said that it was symbolic for our lives. The stars represented our talents. Supposedly. And when we presented it today I couldn't stop but laugh hysterically infront of everyone because I felt so daft. The counselor even had to instruct me to take deep breaths. I said something like ' In order to unleash you talent, you have to *laugh* you have to *opens the bottle cap and poured some stars out*'. Well, I admit our team didn't put that much effort into making our project. Sighs. Sorry to those who were present, I was just embarrassed. Still, go team Wacky ! Thanks to everyone in the group. Thanks to Ome who took over when I guffawed suddenly.

 Moving on, we got fourth out of five teams. Which was a pleasant surprise. Really, it was. And Putri's team got first! Then, cikgu Latifah did the weirdest thing, she actually crushed the top three projects. And again, I was like, 'Is this really necessary?'. Looking at the other teams' projects, I could tell that they put a lot of effort into making their masterpieces. I didn't exactly feel any sad emotion at first but when someone cried and shared the philosophy behind all that, I started feeling sorry. The teacher started explaining that her act was symbolic to how leaders are treated at times. Other people are just interested seeing the product of our work. No one saw or care how much effort that we put in. And we get hurt, after all of that, our work is not acknowledged. I had a minor feeling of deja vu. Just a little.

 Still I feel contented that I went there.After all, it was the jungle. I don't know if I'll become a better person. Maybe. Maybe not. But I sure did enjoy the camp so much! And the people were great. I love my roommates Syifa,Nazihah and Azreena. I'm glad that we got to know each other better. Thanks to Putri who did such a great job on being the penghuluwati, I feel so bad because you did so much. I'm glad that we all kamcing. So people, I reccommend Dusun Minda Resort, Kuala Nerang to you guys. Okay, I better get some rest. My hands ache so much from attempting a Tarzan stunt yesterday. Twice.

Gimme Something to Write On!

I admit that so far, blogging/writing has been quite fun. I guess the reason why I never really did enjoy it was because I had only been writing for exam essays. And the essay topics are so ....rigid? No, not that. Umm probably just plain. And not just that, they keep on reusing the same old topics. If you have taken or are taking PMR/UPSR/SPM then you should know what I mean. Come on, we've been writing about school excursions and visiting orphanage for years already! How can the people who set the papers never get bored? I am.

Well, I am aware that they have to consider those who are living in the rural ares where their English command is very weak. But why not make more versatile topics that are doable for every student? I'm not saying that my writing style is The Writing Style. This blog can speak for itself. No, I'm not putting myself down, just keeping me on my toes. But gimme something fun to write on!

Okay, so I've decided that I still am not making this my life journal. No, that's like too intimate. And I appreciate my life being untold. A little privacy please.But what Mich said is true. After years of rambling about your life and you then you read  those moments again, you feel a surge of happiness and longing. I honestly do regret tearing my diary apart when I was in primary school because I was feeling sort of paranoid if my possibly treacherous sisters would read it. Sighs. And I wish to avoid blogging anything pathetic and upsetting because I really don't appreciate of being reminded of the sad things in my life. That's how I survive. Minus Blackey.

But then, what on earth am i going to write about, if not my life? Maybe politics now that ISA will be abolished. Ahem. Okay, this sounds like the end of my blogging career.  So maybe I will write about my life but just not in too deep. Nay, I would regret it. This is probably getting dull so ciao!

What do people look forward to read from me anyway?

Blackey

I know I said that I didn't want to post so much about my life.  But I want Blackey to be remembered.

Nabilah, I don't know but Blackey actually sounds a tad bit racist. Haha. Well, you named it because it had black fur. But at one glance, it actually looked grey. Nonetheless, Blackey is an adorable name.  And along with its adorable name, Blackey had an adorable attitude. And not to mention, it was lazy as Garfield.

We sometimes found it hiding under the chair, at the patio. Sighs, the last time I played with it was when Aisyah and I kidnapped Blackey and his lil bro, Suey into the house. And I remember them ramming into our clear-glass door  (sorry Nabilah ) when they tried to escape after having enough of playing in the house.

Two days ago, Blackey fell sick. And from what I understand, Nabilah was gonna bring him to the vet today since it wasn't open yesterday. But God had His plans set up already. Blackey was found dead last night. He died of meningitis. He died at the age of nine.

And I speak behalf of my family that we feel sorrowful of his demise. And we know it must be way tougher for his owner.

Blackey XD

The Revert

Asslamualaikum (peace be upon you) .


I don't know how some people can claim that they don't feel regretful of things of the past. It's almost unbelievable. I regret too much. But I remember there was a moment that I really regret. Feeling regretful for not helping.


There was one time, about a couple of years ago, that I waited for my sisters and mother in one of the rooms in Dublin Mosque as they prayed in the common prayer area for women. Well, I couldn't pray at that time. But apparently there were other women who prayed at the same room I was staying.


And just suddenly, a Caucasian lady entered the room. I noticed that she had a pink shawl just draped on her head, but her hair was still apparent. And something else just looked off, if I remember correctly, she looked quite anxious. And then she approached me and told me that she was a newly revert. And that she needed some guidance. I felt so flustered. How am I to teach a convert?, I thought. I've never endured such a situation. I was fourteen and my Islamic knowledge wasn't (still isn't) very impressive. Plus, I was an extreme introvert.


It wasn't that I didn't want to advocate Islam, it was just that I felt I was so inadequate to teach.So what I did was I managed to refuse to help.Well, in a way I did. I actually asked the lady sitting beside me if she could help the revert. (I'm now using the term 'revert' because I was taught that muslims believe that everyone was born a muslim, it's just that when they grow older, some start choosing other faiths.But it's not really a compulsory term or anything, no worries). I don't exactly recall what happened but I remembered the lady leaving for the washroom.


And so there I was, possibly cursing myself for leaving a poor confused revert like that, I even declined to help her. It was wrong. I knew it was. And after quite a while of convincing myself, I went for the loo and found that an African lady in black with her charming male toddler by her side, talking to the revert.  Somehow rather, I managed to butt into the conversation. The African lady was continuously praising Allah. "Masyallah", she had said. She expressed her delight in helping the revert. She looked so welcoming and so spirited that I wish I could be more like her.


And then the revert started to don on her  hijab properly. She seemed really happy as she told me that she was actually an American who had reverted months before that day. But she been messing up after reverting. And that was why she was at the mosque, seeking for guidance. I don't remember her name and I never did meet her after that, not even the pleasant lady with her toddler. But these two ladies taught me valuable things. I don;t know exactly what but I felt really inspired when I left the mosque. They may not remember me, but I appreciate that they somehow gave me this experience.


True, I am not pious but nonetheless, I should have voluntarily tried to help anyway. It is in the teachings of Islam. I should have encouraged more. And I'm glad that the lady in black somehow showed me a bit how to be more welcoming to reverts. All I can say is that, I'm just glad that I changed my mind and walked into the washroom that day.

Dear Anum,

Dear Anum, I know this can't be as awesome as Diyani's video or a wish from Ahem but I still wanna wish you an awesome birthday! Don't mind me, I'm not Mich, so I can't give you a five star rating production of words. And this is my first post dedicated for a friend. So, you should be flattered (but at the same time, be forgiving of the flaws okay?). Can you believe it, you're sixteen already? No need for the countdown at 11.59 pm. You are old already.

 How many years have we been friends? Almost a decade already. I remember when we were still in our alma mater. You were always the clown of the class. Well, other other than Fauzan. At least with the girls, you were.And always one with style. I remember how you made paper dolls and coloured them. You coloured well didn't you? And you made your own play with the paper dolls. I don't recall the plot but I remember it being so hillarious. And there was the day that you didn't go to school. We were looking forward to see your masterpiece again. So, another friend of ours did it. She did the same plot, used the same papers but it wasn't the same. It just wasn't as funny like how you did it. Do you remember it? I do.

 See, you always have been special. I mean it well. Even know, I appreciate the way you always appear enthusiastic during projects. It makes things so much easier and so much fun. I love the way you'd always finish them. And you always give a creative touch to them. I appreciate these things about you. I really do.

 Segarang-garang gangster Anak Bukit, hati tetap cute.

Happy Birthday Farra Hanum.

The Perks of Being Inadequate

I am a proud person. I know I am. If you don't think so, maybe it's because I hide this trait well. Or maybe you just don't know me enough. But of course, I'm not proud being proud. Well you know the drill, it's just not a very nice thing isn't it? And of course being riya' can cause your downfall in the hereafter. . Sighs. Allah help me.
 Well, back to my topic. Inadequacy. See, we always wonder why we suck at a certain subject, like add math. Ahem. Or why can't we play a sport well or why we don't have the confidence to speak in public. For me, I've always wanted to be an all-rounder. I'd like to be good at everything. But of course I'm not. I'd really love to but God has his plans for me. Nevertheless, I'm still human. I get envious of people who simply just excell at everything they do. And I'd probably fret, why am I so inadequate?
Today, I can give you two probable reasons of why we weren't born perfect. First of all, it teaches you to be humble. Imagine if I am actually an all-rounder. Look at the possible effects. It would be like feeding my pride a bunch of good old marshmallows, allowing it to grow and nurture and become ripe. Wow, that sounded wrong in all possible ways. I don't even like marshmallows but you get what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying that I've become humble now. No, this ordeal always has the potential to teach me to become modest. Potentially, it does have. See, maybe it's not that bad if you're not naturally capable of a certain subject. Maybe God is teaching you to earn it by hard work. 
 The other reason would probably sound petty to those who know what they aspire to be in the future.Yes, inadequacy helps you to decide on your future job. For instance, you suck at science subjects and obviously you know you don't enjoy them. Dropping them sounds easy but we're in Malaysia. For some reason, we have the perception that 'if you're good, then you shoud go into science stream' or 'you're only good if you're in science stream'. So, many students feel obliged to enter science stream. But then, if we're obviously are just not cut out for it, then at least it helps in your decision-making for your future career. In your head, you can cross out options medicine, engineering and etc. It helps, it really does. I see many of my friends who don't know what in to be in the future. Some of them are probably just good at every subject, causing them unable to choose which path to take. The rest, possibly purely clueless.
 So peeps, remember these things when you fail at something in life. They are what I call perks.

Behold, the Garbage Enzyme!

Don't think I'm lame just because I pretty am much excited after using garbage enzyme for the first time in my life! Okay, I'm probably lame, but garbage enzymes are not! Honestly, it's really simple to make. Well, the one that I am currently using isn'tt my masterpiece. My lovely neighbour gave it to my family months ago, in the 100 Plus plastic bottle. I practically didn't realize it's existence until a few weeks ago. It was just there, at my patio and I've looked at the bottle countless of times, just that I thought that....nah truth to be told, I didn't think anything of it. So, imagine when I asked for 'the garbage enzyme that Mrs C gave us', and my mom told me where it was. And so you've probably guessed, it was pretty much anti-climatic when I took my first look at it.  

No worries, I used it last week to clean the bathroom (the sink, floor and toilet bowl). It was all good. The smell was came across as quite weird to me at first.  I suspect Mrs C used citrus fruits. Hence, the strong scent. But it was all nice. I guarantee you, InsyaAllah it is as good as your detergent. I think it's way better. You see, I came out from the bathroom feeling a little giddy after absorbing the citrus smell. But surprise, surprise my sister said she thought I had sprayed lemon scented perfume. Imagine the surprise when I told her what was the secret ingredient. Okay, maybe she wasn't surprised. I was the one who was! And so I was encourage more to make our own garbage enzyme and ever since that day, the scent of the GE became pleasent. So, why don't we all start using the GE! It saves the environment. Imagine all the garbage that don't have to end up in landfills! It is really easy to make, I've seen people doing it, just never got around to do it yet. You can save up a lot of money too. It can be used for toilet-cleaning, laundry, car-washing, water bath (yes, you beauty conscious people, it's good for the skin!) and a LOT more.

Our garbage enzyme XD

The best organic waste that I've heard people recommend would be citrus fruit peels (orange, lemon,lime). They produce the best smell.  Try it!

Happy Belated Birthday Malaysia!

So people, a thought just came to me on celebrating Merdeka. I'm not trying to be critical or anything. I love Malaysia. I really do. I love our national language. I love Malaysians who have peculiar traits, some good and some bad. We have the friendly Malaysians who make this country a much better place to live in. Most of us are anti-war. We prefer the tak payah havoc la principle, sometimes it's good but at times it's bad. If something is unjust then we must voice it out. If I ever become a law student, I'd probably insert something from the federal coonstitution as a proof that we have every right to do so. And the definitely bad part about Malaysians would be that we are shamelessly not punctual, the sambil lewa characteristic. I can talk about our filthy public toilets, government and rude taxi drivers but we don't have all day,do we? 
Anyway, back to said thought becoming, I remember attending an Independence Day Celebration at my school last year. My sisters preferred to not attend just because they thought it wasn't fruitful event. At first, I was full of patriotism, defending that we all should. And giving reasons such as we should be proud of all of this. But then they said that just because you attend an Independence day celebration, it doesn't make you patriotic. You could show your love to Malaysia by actually working hard and some day contribute to the country's economy. I didn't remember how I retaliated but I don't exactly remember giving a good comeback. Maybe I had thought to a certain extent, they were right. They were only being practical, weren't they? 
Well I still attended the celebration anyway. And I still don't think it's exactly right to miss one of these celebration. Maybe it's because...Nah, I'd come up with something lame and corny. Hardly helpful. I guess I must say, it feels quite bad to not celebrate. Anybody else care to reason?
 I actually forgot to wish everyone the other day, Eid Mubarak! And also... SELAMAT ULANG TAHUN KEMERDEKAAN KE-54 MALAYSIA! I'd say I''m sorry I'm late' but then again, wishing you late doesn't mean I don't love you, Malaysia. Muah!