Sky Watch

Friday, took a jog near Tesco just before sunrise.

Raya Mood.. ! Selamat Pulang rakyat Kelantan !

I guess everyone, or mostly those from the outstation will be back home by now, except those on duty during Raya holidays. Those colleges and university students must have already gone home too by now. My kids bought their train tickets immediately when the counter is open for sale, 2 weeks earlier. It's nice if you are a student cos you will feel the 'balik kampung" mood earlier. Everyone wishing each other before going off separate ways, with the traditional way of saying goodbye to each other.. salam-bersalam.
I fetch my sons at the Wakaf Baharu train station last Friday at around 6.45 am. Did manage to meet up with other parents of their course mate too. It's nice to meet up with parents to talk over about their kids studies over there. Some even extent Raya open house invitation. They even mention the menu for the day.. satay, nasi dagang etc..How nice.. All I only worry is I can't make it. I am so sorry.. :(
If you are moving around town these few days, you'll most probably see those outstation cars are already back to Kelantan, and also those walking trolling their bags after getting down from the bus or taxi. Just imagine how many of those Kelantanese working outside Kelantan. A lot ! And the traffic is getting worst especially around KB Mall or Tesco area.
Most of my Muslim friends are already on leave planning and getting ready for Raya now. And some of those not celebrating will be planing for holidays. I don't know..., somehow or other being a Malaysian I am also on Raya mood now !!!

Life's Adventures

Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off a mountain side; it is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life - facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential.
John Amatt

18 Lovely Years..

Wow ! Coming this 25Th September 2008 will be our 18Th Wedding Anniversary ! Can't imagine time really flies. That also means we have successfully lived legally as husband and wife for 18 romancing years, staying under the same roof, sharing the same room, travelling and holidaying together, eating together, laughing and crying together, watching TV together, making love together and listening to each other yak.., yak.., yak.. grumbling and fighting together..tolerating each other through good and bad times and happy and sad times.
Through the years, we were gifted 3 children.. twin sons and a daughter. And just 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary, on the 23rd of September 1995..my wife presented me our twin sons. And today is their 18Th Birthday. Happy Birthday sons !

Lets hope God will grant us more lovely anniversaries as husband and wife.. to stay together under the same roof, sharing the same room, travelling and holidaying together, eating together, laughing and crying together, watching TV together, making love with each other together, and listening to each other yak.., yak.., yak... grumbling and fighting together.. tolerating each other through good and bad times and happy and sad times... again and again.. for another hundred years to come.

Getting Wiser, Feeling Younger

This is what I did during the last weekend. Teaching the kids from the neighbours doing some art and craft work. I bet all of you can do this right ??

Seloka Hari Raya

I don't know now they still allow Shopping Complex to play aloud festive songs during the festive seasons or not. The musics have to be soften and only as back ground musics ever since the PAS government took over in Kelantan. I just hope that the rules have changed as times moves on, after all these are festive songs to create harmonious and happy mood. I also notice that with all these songs tone down in volume, the shopping mood among shoppers also tone down especially during the Chinese New Year or Christmas shopping. The fun or trill looking forward for the festival is just not there without musics.
Hari Raya is also one of the festive seasons I used to look forward to. It is the season and days we look forward to and not the actual day itself. Whenever the Raya songs is replay, the memoirs reminded me again of those younger days I had....
Anyway here is one of my favourite Raya song lyric, Seloka Hari Raya by Hail Amir and Uji Rashid which I enjoy listening to. Of course, there are also other Raya songs I like from singers such as Sharifah Aini and DJ Dave, just to name a few. I used to play them a lot during the late 70's while my dad was operating a retail shop in KB. Happy Kara-OK'ing. You can listen to the actual song from youtube.

Seloka Hari Raya - Hail Amir and Uji Rashid
HA:
Indahnya sungguh di hari raya
Ramainya orang bersuka ria
( 2 X )
Adikku manis cantik bergaya
Bolehkah abang ikut bersama
( 2 X )
UR:
Usahlah abang membuang waktu
Mari menuju ke rumah bonda
( 2 X )
Sanak saudara sedang menunggu
Di hari mulia bertemu mesra
( 2 X )
HA:
Katamu itu abang mengerti
Kusanjung budi puteri ibunda
( 2 X )
Pada yang tua kita hormati
Barulah hidup saling bahagia
( 2 X )
UR:
Miskin dan kaya sama sahaja
Hulurkan tangan berjabat mesra
( 2 X )
HA: & UR:
Saling bermaaf kita bersama
Lupakan saja sengketa lama
( 2 X )

Selamat Hari Raya and Ma'af Zahir Batin

You Can If You Think You Can ! Anda Boleh !

If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible.
Anthony Robbins

Turunkan Harga Minyak !

No this is not a vandalism ! This is my blog and I can write anything I like. And I am demanding for the reduction in Petrol Price. My Toyota Uncer is consuming too much petrol and it is too taxing for me. It is time for the government to reduce the petrol price now as the fuel price has surged downwards.

Laptop, Teman setia ku..

Sunyinya aku,
bila keseorangan,
entah apa nak di buat,
yang di buat semuanya tak betul.
Cuba mengisi masa untuk mengelakan pemikiran,
tapi terkenang juga masa2 yang mesra.
Kini aku keseorangan,
dengan sebuah laptop buat teman ku.
Laptop ku lah yang menghiburkan aku,
dengan lagu2 yang menyedihkan.
Laptopku lah juga yang mendengar rintihan hati ku,
menrakamkan suara hatiku,
dan tak tau sampai bila..
Cuma terlantar di fikiran ku,
apa akan jadi, kalau suatu hari laptop ku tiada,
siapa yang akan menghiburkan daku,
yang kesunyian ini..

My Life, My Move

Life is a game,

play it.

Life is a challenge,

meet it.

Life is an opportunity,

capture it.

My late grandmother once mentioned to her friend while I was laying resting on the timber floor next to her sitting, 14 days after my mum passed away. I was 11 at that time.... "this boy has a smiling face and he never shows his sorrows even at his very down moment. No one can ever tell if he is sad .."
I think this statement holds true about me. Even until today, during my very sorrowful moment, I never shows it out or share with the person closest to me. I rather keep it in my heart instead of passing it to others. I always believe there is happiness after sadness, and there is sunshine after every rain. No one is lucky in all his life. When opportunity closes it's door, another will open in a matter of time.

Respect The Holy Month of Ramadhan

I am not a Muslim. but why am I talking about Ramadhan ? What is Ramadhan ? Is it just about refrain from eating ? No, no.. I am not qualify to interpret it. I am not even supposed to argue or comment about it nor say anything about it. But let me practice it my way and respect it the way it should be or at least the true Malaysian (Non-Muslim) way. Perhaps I will call it the Holy Month, and make it my way of life.
Yes, most of my Muslim friends are practicing it. People surrounding me are fasting. In Kota Baharu, in Kelantan, in Malaysia and around the globe.. Muslims are fasting in the month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan to me is not just about fasting or refrain from eating. It's also refrain from saying bad, refrain from acting or doing bad, refrain from hearing bad, refrain from thinking bad, refrain from touching bad and refrain from anything bad with all our senses that god has given us. And I am not saying that the rest of the time you can forget about all these refrain things. Ramadhan is just a reminder to us human. It would be wonderful if we can practice it as our way of life the whole year through. And during this holy month, it's just not all about refrain, refrain and refrain. To me, it's also about doing and practicing good things, like doing charity, be helpful to others, respect others, respect the elders, love and be loved and etc., etc., etc. And don't expect credit for all these good deeds you have done. It has to be sincere and genuine and come right from the very bottom of our heart. During the rest of the time most of us will be busy thinking about our job, our family, our house, our difficulty, our nasty boss, office politics, financial problems, girl friend or boy friend problem and other things alike in life. During this holy month, why not we allocate some of our time thinking about the unfortunate or the less fortunate ones be it of any race, religion or locality and even where they are from. After all they are just human kind same like us, but less fortunate like us. Likewise, this act should be practice through out our life. Ramadhan is just a reminder to start a fresh and to begin with. Probably there are people who never even thought about it in their whole life until when they are approaching death.
You'll be glad that you are living in Malaysia because every year you'll be reminded when the Ramadhan is approaching. So to me, every times when comes Ramadhan, I will practice it my own way as a way of life refraining from anything bad and doing more good deeds. After all, during the rest of the months you'll most probably be influence by things that any good human beings are not supposed to be.
If you would like to get involve in this charity drive organize by kickdefella, kindly visit this blog site by clicking here.

When I Am Gone...

My translation adapted from Bila Aku Sudah Tiada by Hujang

When I am gone, please keep all my songs,
And don't be sad.
May be it's just for a short while,
And if you found someone else,
please don't forget me.
The beautiful morning was usual as it is,
I was awakened, still sad and tired,
Open up your window and pour in the sunlight.
Who knows when it's our time to go,
Forever.
We'll never expect at this very moment,
if god decides that I am the one.
Laughter, tears and sadness are our memories living in this world,
Wouldn't it be nice... if we can live,
forever.

Taman Perbandaran Tengku Anis

I have not been using my camera for quite sometime now. Today, I took out my Canon EOS 400D out from the closet only to find out that I almost forgotten how to use it. Can't even find where the "on/off" switch is located ! So somewhere about noon, I took both of my camera, the canon and the compact Sony DSC DW 70 for some snap shots around town. Took a drive around KB town without any idea at all where to go.
Finally it strike my mind that the best place in town for photography is the Taman Perbandaran Tengku Anis, somewhere near, natural and with colourful floral landscaping.
The official opening ceremony of Taman Perbandaran Tengku Anis was officiated by the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ismail Petra Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yahya Petra on the 4Th September 2004. Coincidentally today is also the 4Th of September. As such, as at today this place is officially in it's 4Th year.
If you have no idea where this place is located, all you need to do is drive straight from Pengkalan Chepa Junction to Jalan Kebun Sultan. Go all the way straight until you reach a T-Junction. Turn to your left where you will see a newly constructed bridge, and the taman is just a few metres on the left. In around two years time, I expect this place to be a tourist attraction centre as they are constructing some projects which may attract locals and tourist. One is the Komplex Budaya with nice traditional architecture buildings and the other is the Sport complex consisting of a bowling centre, skating ring, a gymnasium, snooker centre, futsal stadium and a restaurant with an entertainment corner. Not bad, right ?
At the taman, they have a lot of mini traditional houses as play house for kids. And there is a children's corner with swings and slides and some kind of games I never even played before, also with swimming pools and water fountain for kids. They even have jogging tracks for adults. As such, on the normal day during the early morning and evening, you'll get to see a lot of elderly people exercising, jogging and walking to sweat out. There are also a few groups of people doing aerobics and some Chinese tai-chi (if I am not wrong). These people come around as early as about 6.30 am. There are also lots of people picnicking over there. Try visit there and you'll know what I mean. What I am trying to say here is that there are a lot of activities at the park.
By the way, all these photos taken with my Sony compact. I find it more convenient and durable to bring it around.
If you are planing to test out your camera, I think this is one interesting place for you to try it out.
Another suggestion is that if any of you would like to take up outdoor photography especially wedding, I suggest this is one beautiful scenery location for your snap ! snap ! wedding background.
See ? Am I right ?




Oops, before I almost forget, there is also a mini Zoo with peacocks, deers and pigeons.

And lots of flowers over here too ! I love taking colourful flowers but I don't wear colourful or floral clothing ! It's just not me ! My favourite clothing is still light pastel colours, earth tone, free and easy type. Preferably jeans and light cotton T-shirts with sneakers or sport shoe but unfortunately I can't wear that during my working hours. So, I'll probably have to wait until the week end to put on my real- me attire... free and easy and simple. That's it.. the simple kbguy !
This is exactly what I was looking for. Taking photos of the flowers. More as you scroll down. Enjoy yourself looking at them.






Swimming for kids ! Excellent place especially during hot weather. Where else can you find a pool in KB town to soak ?

Look how clean the place is. It is well maintained by the MPKB staffs. Hei ! you can also find rubber trees over here too ! With rubber seeds of course. When I first came here with my kids, we collected a lot of rubber seeds. I taught them to play with it. The game is you have to challenge the opponent by hitting their rubber seeds with ours. The one broken is consider loose. I recalled my childhood time where we seek for the best seed, one of it is called "anak-kerbau" a.k.a. anok-bubar. This is a smaller seed with thicker skin. We polished it with oil to make it reddish and shine ! And during that time, to find rubber seed, you have to go to the estates. And people always associate rubber estates with ghostly area.., such as pontianak or vampires ! He! he!... very scary ! So, if one of us were to shout "hantu !" or ghost !, everyone of us will run out of the estate as fast as we can. Btw, I can even make a helicopter using a rubber seed, with a string, a "lidi" make from coconut leaves, a rubber band and an ice cream stick. Maybe I'll blog about this traditional game one of these days.
A place for relax too. Suitable for picnic and a good nap while waiting for the kids to enjoy themselves.
They even have a proper and nice ' surau' for Muslim Prayers.
This is the place where all the kids look forward to go. And the best part is that it is free of charge. EXCEPT the pool area, where there is some charges for each kid.
This is one of the mini traditional house I mentioned earlier.

More flowers !
And more flowers !
And much much more flowers !

Oh ! No. I have to put all the flower photos over here which I have taken. They just look too good for me to keep them aside.
Although it is a very hot afternoon today, I have no regret going there for photography though I was sweating a lot. I am planning another trip, and this time I will be toying with my Canon EOS400D !

Sharpening The Saw

The Ramadhan month reminds me the time when I started blogging. I can't really recall when I actually started, but I do remember somewhere last year when I was busy blogging about Pasar Ramadhan and the local dish for breaking off fast.
I started with Sri Kebakat. Later I was so engrossed with blogging that I added another few blogs to my blog list.. Raymond Lim's Sharing, than Sri Kebakat 2, just me "N" us and My Kelantan.

Raymond Lim's Sharing was about my collection of corporate cartoons. It wasn't my original. And Sri Kebakat 2 was my photo blog writing is Malay language. When I started with many blogs, I also begin to receive comments. I was most happy when I received my first comment and visitor. But then, not all comment are motivational nor inspiring. There are one particular elderly blogger from Ipoh who left me with bad vulgar words and some nasty review at his blog site. Of course I wasn't happy but looking at the brighter side, I realize that he has also given me a free publicity as he has his own domain name. And I let the readers make their own judgement. After all he has his own right of speech to say what he wish to say. You can't stop a fool becoming an idiot. That taught me a better understanding about blogging and the freedom of speech. There onwards, I also made my decision to delete off some of my blogs i.e. Raymond Lim's Sharing and Sri Kebakat 2. Just Me 'N' us will remain as my main blog as it represent the true me and it's all about the family and me. It's about my hobby, family vacation and my writing about my emotions and feelings expressing in pictures and photos.

Through blogging, I have also make a lot of friends and sometimes unintentionally intimidated others.

After one year, it's time for me to look backwards again and re-sharpen the saw and see what I can do to improve in order to move forward.