Veiled Kaleidoscope: The Blogging Housewife

Have stairs will climb...

2011-10-05T11:07:00.004+08:00

Funny how certain memories or experiences render you fearful, especially of technology. Last night, I accompanied my husband for dinner at a hotel in Bangkok. He was here to present a paper on e-book. And at the hotel I met most of the participants who attended the Seminar.

My husband was seated next to one participant from India, and his colleague was seated diagonally to me. They were regaling tales and experiences in their lives which I did not pay much attention to until something caught my attention.

I overheard the one who was seated next to my husband explaining why there they were staying on a lower floor at the hotel in Bangkok. And usually when they stay at hotels, they would specifically request for the lowest floor available. At the hotel we stayed in, they were lucky as this hotel did not have a ballroom, hence, the rooms are located from the second floor onwards.

And these two Indian nationals had specifically requested to be located on the second floor. I was greatly amused to hear that they were fearful of taking the elevators, hence would prefer to take the stairs. The reason for this deep-set fear was because, back in Mumbai, India, elevators break down so often that they often had to climb up or down several flights of stairs. And due to this embedded fear, whenever they travel, they would avoid the higher floors and elevators like the plague.

And this amusing encounter with these two colorful characters brought to mind my late aunty who had this deep and genuine fear of escalators. She used to live in Butterworth, Penang. And those days, whenever she came down to KL, we would take her shopping. And every time we had to take the elevators to the higher floors, she would be whining and crying softly and begging us to use the staircase instead. And despite much cajoling and trying our level best to convince her that the elevator was perfectly safe, she would not budge. She would stand her feet firmly at the foot of the escalator, and refused to follow us.

There were numerous occasions where after several attempts, we had no choice but to look for a staircase. However, on one, mind you, just one momentous occasion, I managed to convince her to take the elevator, she cried hysterically and was struggling like a maniac all the way up, that all eyes were on us. People were staring, with their mouth and eyes wide open, looking at us, family. as though we were creatures from another planet. I promised myself that was going to be the last ever that we would attempt to switch her to technology.

Mami Pahbee (as we fondly called her), may Allah bless your soul. Al-fatihah.

Demi Ramadan

2011-08-25T07:43:00.000+08:00

Tahun ini Ramadan datang lagi
Tahun ini Ramadan menerjah kembali
Tahun ini Ramadan begitu indah sekali
Tahun ini berbuak-buak hati kecil ku ini
menyambut mu wahai Ramadan

Tahun ini Ramadan menyapa diri ku ini
Aku berTahajjud
Aku berTaubat
Aku berTasbih
Aku berHajat
Aku berWitir
Demi Mu Wahai Tuhanku

Air mataku berguguran
Demi Ramadan
Demi Mu wahai Illahi

Alunan tasbih yang berkumandang
Meragut lubuk hatiku ini
Demi Ramadan
Demi Mu wahai Pencipta Alam
yang amatku kasihi

Kini
yang tinggal
hanya cebisan hari-hari terakhir Ramadan

Kan ku tangisi pemergian mu
Wahai Ramadan

Wahai Tuhanku, Ya Rabbbulalamin
Wahai Illahi
Tabahkanlah hati ku ini
untuk menghadapi hari-hari yang mendatang

Selamat tinggal wahai Ramadan
Moga-moga diriku ini
dipilih Illahi
menyambut kedatangan mu lagi
Akan ku nantikan kembalinya Ramadan
Wahai Ramadan
Mudah-mudahan...

Live in the moment

2011-08-12T20:31:00.000+08:00

Naitre desirent la mort,

Grandir regrettant l’enfance ou le coeur d’or

Viellir regrettant la jeunesse ravit

Et mourir regrettant la vieiliesse et la vie.

We are born wishing for death

We grow up regretting the loss of our childhood

where the heart is as pure as gold

We grow old regretting the loss of our happy, healthy youth

And we face death regretting growing old, and life itself

Ayah, I miss you so....................................

2011-07-06T10:40:00.000+08:00

14 September 2009

Ayah, I was watching a movie, "Evening" on HBO one Sunday afternoon (18 July 2009), where an old woman shared and recalled her greatest regret in love that would change the lives of her two daughters.

And in one very poignant and heart-wrenching scene, her daughter screamed and collapsed upon hearing that her mum had died. It brought back memories of the morning when your 4 grand children heard a piercing scream, a sound which I did not realize actually came from my own throat. The sound that escaped my throat that day was so eerie that it shattered the usually peaceful morning in my household.

That was the day your 8 kids lost you, Ayah. Ayah, we know that you were on loan to us from 9 September 1921 to 13 December 2008. Ayah, we were grateful to Allah for lending you to us. However, your passing away caused a deep void in our lives. It was difficult for us at first to accept the grim reality that you would cease to be with us, and that God had taken back what belonged to him.

Ayah, you left me when I hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye to you. You left me when I hadn't even kissed your hands and your wrinkled face. You left when I hadn't even had a chance to hug you in a warm embrace, with a whiff of cigar smell coming from your face. You left us peacefully in your sleep.

And the deep regret I felt after hearing that you're no longer with us will haunt me for the rest of my life. I regretted the fact that I did not spend Hari Raya Haji with you in 2008. As Amir, your son-in-law couldn't take long leave due to heavy work commitments, we were not able to go back to Penang to celebrate Hari Raya Haji with you.

And when you came down to KL for your medical check-up after Hari Raya Haji, I could not visit you immediately as I was lecturing and very busy with work. In fact we were planning to visit you that weekend at Ocah's house (your third daughter).

So, Ayah, you can imagine my torment when I recalled that fateful morning.

Ayah, I woke up feeling very excited on 13 December 2008 as I was supposed to join Amir at Negri Sembilan as he was attending a three-day meeting. That was the day Khairul was supposed to drive me to join my husband at the hotel.

For some strange reason, your granddaughter, Ina woke up early that day. Usually, it'll be mid day before this sleepy head would welcome the sun. All my boys were still fast asleep as I packed my bag in my room, with Ina hovering around.

I was jolted out of my reverie when Ina's phone rang. And my heart skipped several beats when she said, "Ma, Babah called, and he wants you to sit down first." As I turned my head to look at her, the look of total horror on her face sent a surge of terrible foreboding racing through my body.

I grabbed her phone and my husband repeated what Ina had said to me earlier, "Sayang, please sit down. I've bad news to tell you!" Somehow, my brain froze, and deep in my heart I knew something had happened to you Ayah.

And when Amir continued, "Sayang, please take a deep breath, and no matter what, please stay calm. Sayang, Ayah has passed away."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!! That was what I kept exclaiming which was interspersed with piercing scream and uncontrollable sobbing. No! No! No! Ayah. You couldn't have passed away. You couldn't have been gone. I just spoke to you two days earlier and you sounded cheerful, far more cheerful than ever before. So how can my husband tell me that you have passed away!!

"Ya Allah. Please, please tell me this is not true. Please, please let me wake up from this nightmare. Please, please tell me that it's just a dream."

Ayah, all I recalled was sobbing uncontrollably with Ina hugging me tightly and rubbing my back, like a mum would a child. And all I did was to continue screaming and sobbing.

The tears shed freely. And with it came a feeling of deep regret. I tried hard to stop everything, even the beat of my heart, so that I could think with a clear head. One second of total clarity was all I craved for. One moment of stillness so that I might advance confidently into a million moments of undoubted mayhem from that point, that moment when I finally realised you have left us for good.

Ayah, that was also the day, Ina became the mum, the one who comforted me, the shoulder I cried on, the one who kept holding my hands as they trembled non stop and the one who held me as my lips quivered with wrecking sobs.

That was your little cucu Ayah, the cucu who would unashamedly embraced and hugged you tightly and kissed you lovingly and warmly everytime she met you. The cucu who would gladly make cheese poppers for you (she would actually take several slices of cheese and popped it in the microwave and let it cooked until it popped). She knew how much you love to savour that special delicacy created by her.

Ayah, Ina was the one who woke her three brothers up and with a heavy heart, had to slowly break the news about your death. How brave she was. I did not recall her crying. I guess she had to put up a brave front given that I was a total wreck, given that my husband was away and she knew instinctively that I'd need support.

Ayah, I recalled my sons waking up, crowding around me, not knowing what to do. They were as devastated as I was and they felt totally lost as their dad was not around.

Ayah, I remembered going back to my packing and had looked inside the bag. And without even realising what I was doing, I had taken out all the clothings I had put inside earlier for my trip to Negri Sembilan and had automatically reached for other clothings more suitable for this sombre occasion. The loud sobbing had ceased, and was now replaced with soft, wrecking weeping. I felt as if my heart was going to burst.

I couldn't recall much whatever unfolded later. An hour later, Amir rushed home from Negri Sembilan to be with me, and when he walked into my room, tears of distress filled my eyes and rolled down my face. All the pent up emotions of the last couple of hours had ruptured. It was like the flood gate had been released.

Ayah, as Amir hugged me, I clung to him for the longest time and started bawling again. This time much louder than before. It was as if I had lost my mind.

Amir comforted me softly, and kept whispering in my ears to stay calm, and kept whispering that Allah had taken back what belonged to him. That you were only on loan to us. That I should be grateful that God had extended his loan of you to us. And that you have had a fulfilling life, surrounded by everyone who had loved you, your four sons, four daughters, four sons-in-law, four daughters-in-law, thirty three grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Ayah, right after that, everything was a blur for me. I recalled reaching Ocah's house with all the bags packed for our journey to Bukit Mertajam.

Upon reaching Ocah's house, I was greeted at the door by Jude and Zaini.who enveloped me in a hug. And once again, the floodgate was let open and the dam burst again.

And once I reached your bed, where your body lay lifeless and cold, I kissed your forehead and cheeks tenderly. I kept holding your hands and stroking them gently.

Ayah, you couldn't have passed away because you looked as though you had just fallen asleep. Your face looked serene and calm. And your face belied someone whose soul had just left the body, where Malaikatulmaut had just finished his task of separating and returning your body from your soul. Ayah, you have been recalled permanently from the physical world back to the primordial spiritual world.

At the graveyard in Bukit Mertajam, all I could do was watch your body being lowered six feet under. For weeks later, every time I looked at your photos or looked up the contacts in the handphone and came across your name, I would sit down and weep again. Suddenly I was afraid. I was afraid to have lost both you and mak. I'm now an orphan.

Ayah, up till today, I'm not sure how I survived the first 24 hours. But after the initial shock had worn off, huge waves of emotions had hit me. And I must have cried throughout the day, throughout the night, and probably throughout the month. Everything was a blur.

And today, Ayah, I still cry, but instead of weeping, I would summon your image again. I would reminisce the good times we've had.

I'm thankful to have been born into this family. I'm thankful to have been loved by you and mak. I'm thankful that you've had a fulfilling life with Mak and all your 8 kids, grandchildren and great grand children. I'm thankful to have been your daughter. Thank you Ayah for being my dad. And thank you Allah for lending you and mak to us.

Alfatihah.

Kalau Ku Tahu

2011-07-03T08:52:00.002+08:00

Kalau ku tahu dahulu
Tidakkan aku setuju
Kalau ku tahu
Akan ku lari seribu batu
Kalau ku tahu
Pasti fikiranku tidak bercelaru
Kalau ku tahu
Ohhh...kini aku termanggu
Leraikan diriku dari belenggu
Yang saban hari menghantuiku

Sebuah keindahan yang tiada penghujungnya.........................

2011-06-17T08:16:00.001+08:00

Lihatlah langit dengan kebiruan pemandangannya,bintang-bintang dengan kerdipan cahayanya, matahari dengan pancaran sinarannya,dan alam ini dengan keluasan ruangnya. Lihatlah bumi bagaimana ia terhampar danterbentang luas, dengan limpahan air yang meliputi bumi dan tumbuh-tumbuhanyang menghijau segar; dan lihatlah gunung-ganung yang berdiri megah dan teguh.

Fikirkanlah tentang lautan yang dalam, dan sungai yangjernih, malam dan siang, cahaya dan bayang-bayang, dan awan yang berarak.Fikirkanlah tentang keserasian dan harmoni yang wujud di seluruh alam semestaini.

Lihatlah bunga-bunga yang kembang semerbak, buah-buahan yang masak ranum, susuyang enak diminum, madu yang cukup manis, pohon kurma yang rendang, lebah,semut, serangga yang melata, ikan di lautan, burung yang berkicauan danberterbangan, burung bulbul yang asyik menyanyi, reptilia, segala jenis haiwan,sebuah keindahan yang tiada penghujungnya dan sejuk mata memandang.

Kebutaan hati adalah kebutaan hakiki

2011-06-16T18:49:00.000+08:00

Terdapat seoranglelaki yang buta, hidup dengan bahagia bersama isterinya yang amat dicintai,dan anak lelakinya yang pengasih dan penyayang, serta temannya yang setia.Namun satu hal yang membuat hidupnya tidak tenang ialah kegelapan yangmenyelubungi kehidupannya. Dia berharap mampu melihat cahaya dan segala-galayang membuatnya bahagia dengan matanya sendiri.

Lalu datanglah seorang doktor yang pintar, mengunjungi bandaryang didiami oleh orang buta ini. Dia pergi menemui doktor tersebut untukmeminta ubat agar mampu mengembalikan penglihatannya. Maka doktor tersebutmemberinya ubat titisan dan mengajarnya bagaimana untuk menggunakannya, sambilmemberi amaran bahawa dia akan berupaya melihat dengan serta merta, padabila-bila masa sahaja.

Orang buta tersebut terus menggunakan ubat ini, meskipunorang lain langsung tidak yakin bahawa ia mujarab dan berupaya membuahkan hasil.Namun, selang beberapa hari semasa berada di dalam tamannya, dia mula terlihatcahaya. Dia sungguh merasa teruja dan gembira, lantas berlari mendapatkanisterinya yang tercinta untuk berkongsi berita gembira ini. Alangkah sedih danmalang baginya, kerana sebaik penglihatannya pulih, dia melihat si isterisedang berselingkuh dan berlaku curang dengan temannya di dalam bilik tidurnya.Dia langsung tidak percaya dengan apa yang dilihatnya. Kemudian, dia berlari kebilik lain dan terkejut apabila mendapati anaknya sedang mencuri sesuatu darialmarinya.

Akhirnya, orang buta itu menyusuli semula langkahnya tadi,sambil berteriak: “Ini bukanlah seorang doktor, dia adalah seorang tukang sihiryang terlaknat!” Lalu dia mengambil sebatang pin dan mencucuk kedua matanya!Akhirnya, dia kembali semula kepada kebahagiaan yang pernah dikecapinya sebelumini.

Tidur berbantalkan tanah atau gelimangan sutera?

2011-06-16T08:28:00.000+08:00

Seorang lelaki telah bertengkardengan isterinya dan telah berkata: “Aku akan membuatmu sengsara!” Dengan sabardan tenang, si isteri telah menjawab: “Kamu tidak boleh berbuat begitu.”

Suaminya bertanya: “Kenapa tidak?” Isterinya menjawab: “Seandainya kebahagiaanterletak pada kekayaan, wang ringgit atau emas permata, nescaya kamu mampu merampasnyadariku, dan menghalangiku dari mendapatkannya, namun kebahagiaanku tidak mampu kamu atau oranglain rampas dariku. Aku menemui kebahagiaan menerusi keimananku, dan keimanankubersemayam dan bertakhta di dalam lubuk hatiku, dan tidak ada sesiapa yangmampu menguasai hatiku kecuali Tuhanku.”

Inilah kebahagiaan hakiki,kebahagiaan yang berasaskan keimanan, dan tiada seseorangpun yang berupaya merasakankebahagiaan ini kecuali orang yang cintanya begitu mendalam terhadap Allah s.w.t.sehingga ia meresap ke dalam kalbunya, ke dalam jiwanya, dan ke dalam fikirannya.Yang memiliki kebahagiaan secara hakiki adalah Allah Yang Maha Esa, makamohonlah kebahagiaan tersebut dariNya dengan menyembah dan taat kepadaNya.

Satu-satunya cara untukmeraih kebahagiaan adalah dengan menggali dan mengenali agama yang benar ini,yang mana Rasululllah s.a.w. diutus. Setelah seseorang itu menemui jalankebenaran ini, tidak penting baginya samaada dia tidur di dalam pondok yang kecil atau berbantalkan tanah di tepijalanraya. Cukup baginya mengalaskan perut dengan sekeping roti untuk menjadi manusia yangpaling bahagia di dalam dunia.

Namun, bagi mereka yang menyimpang dari jalanini, maka seluruh hidupnya akan dilanda kemurungan, kehibaan dan kepiluan,hartanya dirampas, usahanya sia-sia semata-mata dan akhirnya dia akanmenanggung penghinaan.

I doubt he knew who Liew was: urghhhh....please mind your language!!!

2011-06-14T12:20:00.108+08:00

"Boring. Bosan. Boring. Bosan. Boring. Bosan. Boring. Bosan. Boring. Bosan. Wish I'm some place else."

That was what I had posted on my Facebook wall three days ago (12 June 2011). Last Sunday, I had to attend a compulsory Syariah training course. Being a stickler for punctuality, I had told my son that I wanted to be there 30 minutes before the course began. So I was at Sime Darby Convention Centre well ahead of time.

Upon reaching SDCC, I was surprised that there was already a huge turnout of consultants. After registering at the "U - Z" counter, I went into the ballroom to take my seat.

And just after 9:00 a.m. there began a two-torturous hour as the first speaker took stage. I had expected someone of his experience and stature to have a more commanding oratorical skill. But I was several tad disappointed, so were the others. Everyone was silent and was stony-faced throughout the two-hour ordeal.

After I had posted my frustration on FB, someone had responded to this hilarious posting:

Wan Sallehah Can't imagine having to endure this yawningly boring and monotonous speaker for the next 2 hours...
FB User Hahahahaha... be careful, he might be on your FB and read this.
Wan Sallehah I wish he's on my FB so he knows how awful his prsn is, n why he should retire from public speaking with immediate effect. If I'm the organiser or his boss, I'd sack him and have him removed from the podium! Immediately!!!
Wan Sallehah The patricipant who's seated next to me is already fast asleep. That's how boring the speaker is!!!
FB User Hahahahahaha... which is why my sessions are always physically and mentally interactive.
Wan Sallehah Im begging you to come over and replace him...
Wan Sallehah Thank God the 2nd speaker is MUCCHHH BETTER!!!

I, and I'm sure a majority of the 800 + participants would not have minded this bloke's session had it been well presented. He was not only exceedingly boring, but he was practically reading entirely from his text. And if he was reading like a presentable news reader, it wouldn't have been so bad. He was actually droning like a bee. The sound was so annoying that if I had it my way, I would have walked out of the SDCC ballroom.

To add salt to the wound, his English left very much to be desired. It was riddled with atrocious and horrendous errors. What amused me greatly was how he had pronounced the letter 'W'. You'd not believe it till you hear him say it. It was really hilarious. 'W' was pronounced as 'doubt liew'. I doubt he knew who Liew was!!!

And if this was not bad enough, I have this annoyingly and irritatingly dreadful and appaling habit. If a speaker's English is riddled with grammatical errors with horrifying pronunciation, I would be 'mentally' correcting him/her like a good English teacher would....Ha.ha.ha.ha... The perils of being an English teacher.

I had picked up this abysmal habit since I was in college. I'm not really sure how it had started but each time I listen to someone talking or making a presentation, and if I find that the English is peppered or punctuated with errors, I would be occupied (mentally) with the task of correcting them and would not be paying attention to whatever they're presenting. And I find this habit exasperating and maddening.

And speaking of listening, I was greatly amused when that speaker asked the audience, "Can you listen to me?" He had actually wanted to check whether the audience who was seated at the back of the ballroom could hear him. Sometimes it makes me laugh when people can't differentiate between the word "listen" and "hear." Oh boy!!!

Some of the words he pronounced and sentences/phrases he used had me clutching my mouth in horror. "Sesshion" for session. "Becaush" for because. "We'll be marking your attendant to make sure you guys are intact!" "I wish to reiterate you that..." "In consideration of the customer purchased..." and many more ghastly errors.

Well, speaker dear. I only have this to say to you. "I wish to reiterate to you that if I'm your attendant, and in consideration of the customer purchasing the ticket to your seminar, I'll make sure your English is intact becaush your sesshion #@%&%*#"!!!

Layarilah bahtera ketaubatan dan keinsafan

2011-06-13T16:11:00.000+08:00

Di manakah Muslimin dan Muslimat, di manakahgolongan lelaki dan wanita yang beriman, kaum lelaki dan wanita yang jujur,mereka yang berpuasa, mereka yang menyembah Allah s.w.t. Yang Maha Agung lagiMaha Penyayang, dan di manakah kaum lelaki dan wanita yang rendah diri dan mengerjakanamal ibadat, serta golongan orang-orang yang khusyuk?

Apakah kamu inginmenghabiskan sisa kehidupanmu yang singkat ini dengan perkara yang sia-sia danpemburuan yang tidak bererti dan remeh temeh yang menjurus kepada kemaksiatan?

Apakahkamu memiliki kehidupan lain selain dari yang ini? Apakah kamu telah dijanjikanoleh Allah s.w.t bahawa kamu tidak akan mati? Tidak sama sekali.?

Itu hanyalahilusi dan khayalan dan palsu, dan angan-angan yang sia-sia. Oleh itu,cerminkanlah diri kamu, dan perbaharuilah pelayaran bahteramu, ayunkanlahlangkahmu, burulah kafilah yang telah berlalu dan layarilah bahtera ketaubatandan keinsafan!

Ibu, aku ingin mengangkat kedua sepatumu pada festival kehidupan

2011-06-10T20:10:00.003+08:00

kutelah membesar dewasa, namun di mata ibu, diriku tetap anakmu yang masih kecil.Usiaku telah lanjut, namun dipangkuanmu aku tetap persis seorang bayi. Kamulahsatu-satunya orang yang mana, air mata, susu dan darahmu mengalir dalam diriku.

Semua manusia melupakanku kecuali kamu, wahai ibuku! Semuanya menentangkukecuali kamu, dunia membenciku kecuali kamu. Demi Allah, wahai ibuku! Akumengakui: sering kali pipimu berlinangan air mata saat aku pergi, sering kali kamutidak tidur saat aku jauh darimu, seringkali kamu berjaga malam saat aku sakit.

Demi Allah, wahai ibuku!Saat aku tiba, kamu berdiri di pintu menyambutku dengan linangan air matabahagia. Jika aku pergi meninggalkan rumah, kamu berdiri mengiringiku denganhati yang luluh. Demi Allah s.w.t, wahai ibuku! Kamumengandungkanku di antara tulang-tulangmu padahari-hari yang meletihkan dan memenatkanmu, lelah dan lemah. Kamu melahirkankudalam keadaan yang amat sakit dan perit, lalu kamu merangkul dan mendakapkudalam kehangatan pelukan kasih sayang dan kegembiraansambil kamu tersenyum kegirangan.

Demi Allah, wahai ibuku! Kamutidak tidur kecuali setelah diriku terlelap, kamu tidak tenang kecuali setelahdiriku bahagia. Jika aku tersenyum, dirimu tertawa tanpa kamu mengetahui mengapaaku tersenyum. Jika aku tampak sendu, dirimu menangis padahal kamu tidak mengetahui apa yang terjadi kepada diriku. Kamu memaafkanku, sebelum aku bersalahdan mengampuniku sebelum aku bertaubat, dan bersikap lapang dada sebelum akumengakui kesalahanku.

Demi Allah, wahai ibuku! Setiap orang yang memujiku, kamupasti membenarkannya walaupun pujian tersebut menjadikankuseolah-olah persis seorang imam bagi seluruhmanusia dan makhluk yang sempurna. Setiap orang yang mencelaku kamu tegasmengingkarinya sekalipun disaksikan oleh orang yang jujur dan dibenarkan olehorang yang cerdas. Hanya kamu sahajalah yang prihatin tentang segala urusanku, hanyakamulah yang senantiasa memperhatikan diriku.

Demi Allah, wahai ibuku! Akuadalah masalahmu yang terbesar, ceritamu yang indah, angan-anganmu yang cerah. Kamutelah berbuat baik kepadaku, namun kamu tetap memohon maaf di atas kekuranganmu. Cintamu telah melebur dalam diriku, meskipun kamu sentiasa ingin menganugerahkan yang lebih besar lagi dari itu.

Wahaiibuku! Semoga aku mampu mencuci kedua kakimu dengan air mata kesetiaan,mengangkat kedua sepatumu pada festival kehidupan. Wahai Ibuku! Semoga kematianmelewatimu untuk menerjangku, dan semoga kesengsaraan yang akan menghampirimuterjatuh pada tubuhku.

Berkerut-kerut kening Si Teja

2011-06-10T16:14:00.001+08:00

Berkerut-kerut kening si Teja pabila melihat gambar-gambar yang disiarkan di Facebook. Apakah perlu gambar-gambar itu dipertontonkan di khalayak ramai? Apakah motif sebenar mereka?

Teja terus termenung. Keningnya yang nyata sudah berkerut bertambah kerutannya. Teja tidak mengerti. Teja semakin kebingungan. Teja merasa amat sedih.

Teja duduk termanggu memikirkan sanak saudaranya. Teja terus mengelamun. Air mata Teja berjejeran. Teja bencikan kehiprokitan. Teja bencikan kebodohan. Teja dambakan kesederhanaan.

Teja ingin berlari jauh dari dunia yang dipenuhi dengan dosa dan manusia yang amat cetek ugama, yang semata-mata mengejar duniawi. Manusia yang sudah hilang pertimbangan. Teja terus melelapkan mata. Teja hilang dari pandangan.Teja dambakan kebebasan. Teja terlepas dari kebelengguan.

Note to Self: Never Judge a Book by its Cover, Ever Again!!!

2011-06-10T11:46:00.003+08:00

I'm pretty sure you have heard of the maxim "Don't judge a book by its cover". How many times have we (you and I) been guilty of judging people incorrectly and erroneously?

Have you ever driven someone away, someone you didn’t like at first?! You know that thing about judging a book by its cover it’s true, sometimes you got to read the whole thing and even then you might not know the whole story, this is what I’ve learned today!

We’ve always been told that it’s what’s inside that counts, and not to ‘judge a book by its cover’ so to speak. And this is indeed a useful tip in life! Looks can always be misleading, and usually it is indeed what’s inside that counts!

Opinions you hold can be quickly altered after closer inspection and interaction with the person or thing! In fact our perception of looks usually alters with time, based largely on the other characteristics of your subject matter. How true…

We judge others based on our pre-conceived idea. We judge others based on our misconception. And sometimes we also jump to conclusions about other people simply based on their looks.

And sad to say, I'm guilty of this too. Today, as I was traveling in the train to KLCC, I was taken in by a conversation that was taking place between the girl who was facing me and someone she was talking to.

I would not have paid attention to her if not for the turn of conversation that unfolded.

I had dismissed the girl from mind as I had emphatically and erroneously branded her (mentally) as a maid. Her dressing and demeanour clearly lived up to my misconception of thinking she was just another maid in Malaysia, who's out with a friend, on their off day.
She was with a friend, who looked like a typical maid. They were both dressed decently, nothing outlandish nor bizarre, in a typical jeans and t-shirt outfit.

My reverie was broken when her phone rang. I did not pay much attention to her until I heard her speaking.

"Hi Encik Ramlan. Yes. I'm interested in purchasing all that land." I was riveted from this point on.

And she continued chatting in a mixture of English and Malay. Her conversation revolved around her interest in buying massive palm oil land.

Oh my! My brain froze! I felt hugely embarrassed and awfully guilty for judging her erroneously. I was mesmerised by how educated and intelligent she sounded despite her simple looks. She may have looked like a maid (thousand apologies once again for being so judgmental), but her looks belied her true self.

As I alighted the train, I was thinking with wry amusement of why I should never again judge a book by its cover, never again judge others based on simply their appearance.

As I continued walking towards KLCC, I kept chiding myself repeatedly for
being quick to judge others. If only you could hear me lady, "Thousand apologies!"

Beijing - Day 2: I know what I did the last 6 days

2011-06-07T14:54:00.003+08:00

Day 2: 30 May 2011 (Mingdu Hotel - Forbidden City)

2:05 a.m. - Tut tut...tut tut....tut tut..... My deep sleep was shattered when I heard the phone ringing. I thought it was our wake-up call, which was scheduled for 3:30 a.m. daily (Subuh is mighty early in China in the Summer and days are long, but nights are short).

When I picked up the phone, a sleepy female recptionist told me in her halting English that my luggage had arrived. I almost jumped for joy, despite being very sleepy. The clock showed 2:05 a.m. I was deliriously happy. I thought, at least, I could now change into fresh clothings.

Took the elevator down and was ushered to a small room. When I looked around with my haf-asleep eyes, my joy turned into horror as I could not find my bag among the luggage in that room. But thank goodness, my daughter's luggage had been found. I was somewhat relieved but felt sad at the same time.

Dejectedly I pulled my daughter's luggage into the elevator. As my missing bag was occupying my mind, sleep eluded me. So I decided not to go back to sleep. I decided to talk to God, have a conversation with Him.

It was a plea to Allah. In the stillness of the night, I pleaded to Allah to send my luggage back to me. I continued praying until Subuh prayers. And after waking up my daughter, I went back to sleep.

Before the alarm went off, I was awaken by the ringing on my phone. My husband who was worried about my missing luggage had texted me to enquire about it. Dejectedly I relayed the bad news to him.

8:00 a.m. - As I had no fresh clothes, my daughter offered her T-shirt (thank God it fitted). I continued to fervently pray to Allah for the return of my luggage.

We had breakfast in the room (We weren't really keen on having breakfast at the coffehouse as we were sceptical of the halalness of the food). I had brought bread, cheese stick, sardine and maggi. This morning we had sardine sandwich.

8:25 a.m. - Went down to the coffeehouse to have coffee but the coffee tasted awful. Helped ourselves to some boiled eggs so that we could eat those for the next day's breakfast.

9:00 a.m. - Left Mingdu hotel for Forbidden City (See story on Forbidden City)

Beijing - Day 1 (P.M): I know what I did the last 6 days

2011-06-07T14:53:00.006+08:00

Day 1 (P.M.) - 29 May 2011 (KL - Hongkong - Beijing)

P.M
1;25 p.m. - A thick haze greeted us as we touched down in Hongkong International airport. If we thought the haze was an ominous sign, we were spot on!!!

As our flight was somewhat delayed, a CP staff ushered us hurriedly before the security check point. We were flabbergasted when the Hong Kong airport staff rudely screamed at our group. I reckoned some of the staff at the Security checkpoint at Hong Kong International airport could either be suffering from depression, enduring serious PMS, or they're born psychotic!!! They were barking at us in a high-pitched tone, like as if they were suffering from dementia. That was a far cry from New Zealand or anywhere else for that matter. The Hongkees were devoid of any greetings, let alone a smile!!!

As our connecting flight to Beijing was at 2:00 p.m. and by the time, the scowling and psychotic security personnel cleared us, it was close to 1:50 p.m.

I had never walked (tearing and dashing were more like it) so fast in my life in an airport!!! We were all practically sprinting to the train terminal which would take us to our Departure gate 49. I was panting and wheezing all the way. And I really pitied the 4 ladies who were part of our tour group as they were gasping for air. This was pure madness!!! It was like taking part in an Amazing Race, except that this was worse.

Once we reached the plane, the Gwailo captain announced, "We're about ready to take off, but we're missing one passenger, and the flight control just radioed to say that we're 4th in the queue and will take off only at 2:40 p.m. Gosh!!! The sprinting and the scrambling and the gasping were all for nothing!!!

Thank God the CP staff on board the flight were friendlier and sober than those at the airport!!!. I vowed not to fly via Hong Kong again, if I could help it. Just after I sat down, the CP crew came to enquire if I wanted Muslim meal.

2:40 p.m. - The plane took off for a 3-hour flight to Beijing. Muslim meal was served and the cew were courteous and friendly which made up for the shoddy treatment we received at the HK International airport.

5:45 p.m. - Arrived at Beijing International airport. Somewhat surprised that the airport was so quiet. There was hardly any passengers. Seemed like we were the only ones arriving at this spanking clean and new airport (this airport was built for use during the 2008 Olympics that was held in Beijing).

6:30 p.m. - Waited for our bags at Belt 41. 6 bags were missing (including mine and my daughter's). Were told that those bags would arrive on the next flight (7.30 p.m.).

8:15 p.m - Waited patiently but 8:15 p.m came and still no sign of the 6 missing bags. Lodged a second complaint with DragonAir. This time was told that the bags would come on a later flight. Weary and tired, we decided to adjourn to our hotel and hoped against hope that our bags would safely arrive at our hotel.

What a misdaventure!!! I've travelled rather extensively and this was my first encounter where passengers arrived without their checked-in luggage as the luggage came on another flight!!! So much for their tagline "5-star airline!!!" It's awfully ridiculous and mind boggling.

8:45 p.m - Taken to a Muslim restaurant by Jessica, our amiable tourist guide for our first meal in China. As the missing luggage was occupying my mind, I hardly ate. I had no appetite. My entire belongings were in that bag.

10:00 p.m. - Checked in into Mingdu Hotel (a 4-star outfit). My weariness slipped away as we entered the spacious room. I was pleasantly surprised by the size and the facilities offered. It was comparable to any comfortable 3-star hotel in Malaysia.

After showering, my daughter and I retired to bed. It had been a long day. As I had no clothes, I slept in my sweater. The minute my head hit the luscious and fluffy pillow, I fell asleep and forgot the day's misdaventure. I slept like a log, oblivious to the world around me, oblivious to the fact that 5 bags had been found and were delivered to the hotel as I lay soundly asleep...

Beijing - Day 1 (A.M.) : I know what I did the last 6 days

2011-06-07T14:53:00.003+08:00

Day 1: 29 May 2011 (KL - Hongkong - Beijing)

A.M
6:15 a.m. - Left for KLIA after Subuh prayer. Slated to meet the tour agent at 7:00 a.m, but they only showed up at 7:45 a.m.

Hunger pangs crept in, but there wasn't sufficient time to eat as we had to board the train which would take us to the International terminal at Departure Gate C32 for our transit flight to Hongkong.

9:50 a.m. - Our flight was slightly delayed and only took off at 9:50 a.m. As we had to skip breakfast, my stomach was churning and turning topsy turvy. We were only served drinks initially and had to wait a miserable 2 hours before breakfast was served.

By the time it came to my turn, I was ravenously hungry which later turned into anger as food choices were between Chicken Sausage and Fish and Egg Omelette. When they approached my seat, and to my utter disappointment, I was told that they had already ran out of Fish. As I'm averse to chicken, I had no choice but to settle for only bread, butter and yoghurt. So much for 5-star airline. That happened to be the tagline which the tour agency propagated for the airline I flew, i.e. Cathay Pacific. And if this wasn't bad enough, I was in for more nasty experiences as the day progressed!!!

Despite having so many crew members, they were in disarray. They were walking here and there without actually knowing what they were supposed to do. The miserable and so-called 5-star meal came without drinks. I had to page several times before drinks were served. Plates took a long time to be cleared. And to make matters worse, I coudn't sleep as CP's seats were not comfortable at all. My spine was screaming in agony.

It was somewhat a different scenario with my daughter. The minute she boarded the plane, she fell asleep almost immediately and only woke up when food was served. I wish I can fall asleep that easily. Sleep usually eludes me, regardless of whether I'm in a plane, car, bus, train or even in my comfortable bed at home. Sleep has always been a nightmare for me....

Beijing: The birds flew into the nest

2011-06-07T14:52:00.003+08:00