Malaysia, where my heart is...

Salam semua,

Apa khabar? Lama kita tak berjumpa ni...Macamana ibadah puasa kita yang sedang meniti 10 malam terakhir ni? Adakah kita masih sibuk bekerja atau sanggupkah kita ketepikan kerja demi ibadah puasa yang setahun sekali datang ini? Barulah pengertian "Beribadahlah sebanyak mungkin seolah-olah ini merupakan Ramadhan terakhir buat kita" benar-benar menusuk jiwa. Jika direnung kembali, memang rugi jika kita meninggalkannya begitu sahaja (sambil mengingatkan diri sendiri sebenarnya). Memang Ramadan tahun lepas merupakan Ramadan arwah mak yang terakhir, biarpun perit dan sayu menjalaninya tahun ini tanpa mak, kami sekeluarga cuba sedaya upaya melaluinya...namun Hari Raya yang bakal tiba nanti mungkin mengundang rasa Rindu yang teramat sangat...

Malam ini merupakan malam yang sangat istimewa, selain kita semua mendekatkan diri kita kepada Allah s.w.t, malam ini juga merupakan Malam Merdeka yang mana ianya juga mengundang rasa pilu, sayu dan juga bangga bila terkenangkan bagaimana pemimipin kita dulu berjuang untuk mencapai kemerdekaan. Dengan rasa rendah diri, we would like to salute and thank our Heroes for what they have done for us. Without their courage and determination, I don't think we could've achieved what we have now.

1Malaysia? My humble opinion, I don't really know what exactly the definition is, because I was born with it. I was raised to be friend with everyone, I never acknowledged my friends as budak Cina or budak India. I like to refer them as friends. I thought Malaysia is the only One in this world, where we live in multiracial society and accepting our differences. I don't know why we need to say 1Malaysia when we are already as One.

To think of it, maybe the new generation never experienced what 1Malaysia is. I guess to remind or to recall what Malaysia means, our beloved Prime Minister has to come out with 1Malaysia. For me, whether it is Malaysia or 1Malaysia, we must ready to carry out our responsibilites as Malaysian where we respect each other, keep our country clean, stop vandalisme and last but not least, Do Not "Betray" Our Own Country!

To all Malaysians, Selamat Hari Merdeka yang ke 53! 1Malaysia Menjana Transformasi.

*(Btw, Keranamu... is still my all-time favourite tagline).

Selamat Hari Jadi, Kuala Lumpur

Hmm.. agak lama juga kami tak update blog ni. Tahu-tahu aje dah masuk bulan Februari. As we all know, 1 Februari is Federal Territory Day for Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan. Paling special sekali, this year is Kuala Lumpur’s 35th anniversary.

Wow, rasa cukup bangga kerana menjadi sebahagian dari wargakota yang mencari rezeki di Kuala Lumpur, even though we were born in Selangor & Perak. 35 tahun adalah satu jangkamasa yang telah mematangkan Kuala Lumpur sebagai sebuah bandaraya. Ianya masih dianggap muda jika dibandingkan dengan kota-kota seperti New York, London maupun Tokyo. Masih banyak yang perlu diperbaiki terutamanya infastuktur, sistem pengangkutan, tandas awam dan kebersihan, jika kita mahu Kuala Lumpur menjadi world class city. Tapi yang paling penting sekali attitude juga perlu berubah… Mari wargakota, Kita Sayangi Kuala Lumpur.

*Masih ingat lagu "Kuala Lumpur oh Kuala Lumpur". Lagu dan klip video (ditayangkan di RTM pada tahun 80an) yang menjadi inspirasi semasa saya di bangku sekolah. Tak sangka boleh jumpa lagu ni di YouTube...click here.

Suasana Hari nak Raya

Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslimin and Muslimat. Mohon maaf zahir dan batin andai ada tersinggung kata sepanjang kami mula mem'blogging'. Dah agak lama juga tak update this blog.. well, busy for Hari Raya preparation & open house.

So, we start this month's blog with some of the pictures that we didn't manage to upload before Hari Raya. These were taken around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India during last week of Ramadhan.

There were still people going out for their last minute shopping. Why? cos bargain hunting normally starts around this time and sometimes it continue until Malam Raya. 

At Sogo Department Store, one of the famous shopping mall in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, people queueing as early as 9am to get in. What so special about this mall? Everyone has their own opinion but we guess you should venture this 10th floor mall yourself. Cos even if is not festive season, Sogo still packed with customers. Hmm.. wonder why?

*Also a nice spot for "lepak-lepak" after shopping, picture taking or doing nothing.

*Buying for berbuka puasa.

*The bargain hunting goes on..

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a popular spot for "kain ela", tudung, baju kurung, butik pengantin, kedai buku and also gadgets like camera and handphone. Places like Harrison (textile), Gulati's (textile), Bunga Riben (wedding), Pustaka Minerva (bookstore), Medan Mara (tailors) and Maju Junction (camera goods), to name afew.. go jalan-jalan along this street, more shops and variety awaits you.

Bazar Ramadhan di Jalan Masjid India pun dipenuhi orangramai yang go for their last minute shopping. Kerepek & kuih memang fast selling item specially towards end of Ramadhan. Nak habiskan stok? Maybe.. tapi kalau beli banyak dapat diskaun, why not...hehehe. Our favourite kerepek and kuih during raya ni tentulah Kerepek Pisang Tanduk & Kuih Dahlia. Lagi sedap kalau ada kopi secawan...

Juga terdapat pelbagai barangan lain yang dijual seperti hiasan ketupat, butang baju melayu, songkok, beg tangan dan aksesori. But for us yang paling menarik sekali di bazar ramadhan ini ialah melihat gelagat para peniaga using their skills and creativity to promote their sales. 

*Berminat untuk ke Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman dan Jalan Masjid India, anda boleh menaiki public transport seperti  RapidKL bas dan lrt. (LRT berhenti di stesen Masjid Jamek dan Bandaraya) atau Metro Bus.

On my way home, tiba-tiba teringat this raya song titled "Raya" by actor/comedian Jalil Hamid. Jarang sekali stesen-stesen radio Era baru Yang Panas put this song on their playlist... Why?