A Trip to the East

Assalamualaikum WRT WBT

Ok, lets take a deep breath. *breathe in *breathe out.

How should I start this? I guess the truth is always the best solution.

If you noticed a few posts back, I posted a flyer about a trip to Kelantan. Alhamdulillah, it went well -- not exactly as planned, but it was ok considering what we had to deal with.

The trip was alright. Tiring! But Alhamdulillah no 'casualties". I dont have the strength to write all that happened. Lets just say that we had a pretty rough time handling our bus drivers. And even though Rasulullah teaches us to always forgive, what happened between us (the organisers) with the bus drivers will forever be lodged in my head. And my heart. Just thinking about what they put us thru still makes my heart burn. A couple of drivers from hell.

The overall trip was exciting since it was the first successful trip for us from Jawatankuasa Pemuda Remaja Belia IKRAM Johor Bahru Tengah. The trip was a collaboration between us JKPRB IKRAM JBT with Biro Rakan Muda Masjid Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid, Taman Universiti. Oh man, thats too long to retype. In the future, I'll refer to our 'group' of volunteers as RnB ok. Just so you guys dont get confused with the abbreviations I use. Anyhow, each month, RnB will organise a small programme named STYLE (Smart Youth Leaders) for the children around Masjid Taman Universiti. We've done qiam for a couple of times, and this trip was sort of a treat for the consistent participants of our programme.

This trip to Kelantan was organised during the school holidays. Here's a picture of the participants just before starting off to Kelantan.

Below: Me counting heads before starting off.

Throughout the trip, we taught the kids about the importance of prayer, how to pray during musafir. Among other things, we taught them the importance of Ma'thurat and the practice of reading Al-Quran where ever they are.

One of the objectives of the jaulah was that we'd be able to khatam the Quran by the time we arrived back in Johor. So each person was given one juz to finish. I was so moved by how dedicated the participants were.

When we arrived in Kelantan, alhamdulillah with the help of IKRAM Kelantan, we were brought to various places and brought to eat Kelantanees delicacies.They also organised some games for us. I wasnt able to follow the whole programme bcos I had to go back to my grandparents house to prepare for the BBQ dinner.

For dinner, we had a BBQ at my grandparents house. My grandparents are awesome! I love them both so much. Tok Ayah Su and Nenek Su too! :) And not forgetting Ayah for sponsoring the event. Love you all so much!

For Subuh, the group went to Masjid Tok Guru =)

Regardless of the trouble we had with the bus drivers, I hope everyone had a blast. I guess only the three of us (me, kak anie and ct) were the ones handling all the heat, containing our sadness and tears. We couldnt show our emotion to the participants. That would ruin the whole mood.

Before starting back to Johor on Sunday evening, we had the chance to do a lot of shopping at Pasar Siti Khadijah and Rantau Panjang. I think this was the best 'slot' for everyone. The participants were given RM5 to buy gifts for their parents, so they were so excited. RM5! You can buy a bunch of things at Rantau Panjang! Eventhough it rained, everyone had a swell time.

There's still so much to tell, but I think I'll leave it at that. A huge shout of gratitude to my good friends Kak Anie and CT who played a very big role in the success of this jaulah. I appreciate both of their friendship so much. Without each other's support, we'd all have broken down right at the beginning. So thank you and may Allah bless us all.

 The three musketeers!

Barakallahu Fikum

Assalamualaikum WRT WBT

Before I go to bed tonite, I'd like to update everyone about the events of today. I was supposed to go to KL today for my 10 year reunion. :( But as Allah destined it to be, I was ill and wasn't capable of going. It was kind of sad considering the fact that I was among the organisers.

Thanks Uswah and Anis for taking over what responsibilities I wasn't able to complete. I owe you guys lots! Pictures please! :D hehhe.

With the Bride :)

Since I've been 'quarantined' in JB, I was also able to attend a good friend's wedding. So not everything was lost.

Congratulations Puan Aizat Atikah! Barakallahu fikum. Semoga mahligai impian yang dibina berkekalan hingga ke Syurga Allah Taala.

Its custom for us not to kacau her with programmes for at least 2 months. Hehehe.. Its a good thing they're not going to move anywhere far. It not, we'll be losing a dedicated activist.

But after getting married, I sure hope we gain a new member in our team. Kan Aizat? :D hehe.. InsyaAllah. Baru mantap!

Ok, so just a quicky. I have tons to write, but I need the right setting to open up. So its gonna take some time. We'll see how I do tomorrow.

Over and out! *wink*

Recent Events!

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim.

Assalamualaikum WRT WBT..

Hahahahha.. Needed to get that out first before I continue to write. Sorry again folks. If you look at the shoutbox at the side, you'll notice my sister urging me to update my blog. Ok la ok la.. Ill update :P

So whats been going on with my life? :P

First of all, I have to mention the fact that there have and will be lots and lots of kenduri this year. Friends getting engaged, getting married, so on and so forth. Looks like I'll me going to and fro from JB to KL a bunch of times this year. Hehe.

Let me mention the majlis yang dah lepas.. lets see..
1. Lilly & Ameer tunang (both are close friends)
2. Khalid & Wani kawen (both are friends)
3. Kak Ira & Syawal tunang (both close friends)
4. Sue & Eddie kawen (Sue close friend)

Fiuh. Alhamdulillah I was able to attend two of these events. I really apologise to Khalid and Sue sbb tak dpt attend you guys punye ceremony. Especially Sue :( Im so sorry babe. InsyaAllah I'll come to Eddie's side ok.

Ok, picture time :D

1st, Ameer and Lilly! hehhe..

It was kinda a majlis tunang com small reunion! Hehe.. it was great. Lama betul tak jumpa my friends. Had a blast. Well worth the long journey.

Next, KakIra & Syawal. This was last weekend. hehe.

Ok, please forgive the excessive picture taking. Hahhahaha. You know us girls. Takleh tengok camera. Kitorg mmg mcm ni, especially when all of us are photographers (not professionals, but have the knowledge :P) and always want to try new poses. Hahaha.

Well, these are my uni friends.

In between these events, lots have been happening at home.

One: Aimi and I are now wearing braces! Aghhhhhhh! hehehhehe.. Its a combination of two totally different emotions. For me la. 1st suka, 2nd agony. Hahhaha.

Who ever said wearing braces is nothing mmg nak kene sepak ngan aku. Im sure those who've experienced it can vouch for me when I say it HURTS.

Alhamdulillah mine takde la sakit like Aimi's. The dentist said that my teeth only need rearranging. Tak jonggang (kasar ek perkataan jonggang tu). Aimi kept saying that it really really hurts, but this isnt the case for me.

Although I have to admit that it hurts to eat, and it hurts when you wake up in the morning, etc, but I havent had the need to eat any pain killers just yet. Alhamdulillah.

I have two theories for this. (cewah, ade theory lagi tu! hahaha.. ntah betul ntah tidak). Anyway, my first theory is that since I already used to have terrible headaches (which I found out was partially caused by my whole upper jaw being shifted to the right), my pain threshold is very high. Which might mean that compared to the pain I used to have, this kind of pain is very very mild. Again, just a theory :P

Second theory: since my teeth only need to be realigned, compared to Aliya (dulu2 la) and Aimi, and Raihana (jiran belakang rumah who I interviewed the other day) which were slightly misplaced and slightly in a forward position (Im trying to find the translation of jonggang -- which I find slightly offensive), my teeth dont need to be pushed in. Again a theory.

But I do have difficulty eating -- a GOOD thing, since it will prevent me from eating hard snacks. Haha..

And a huge thanks Aliya :D You know why. Thanks a bunch sis!

So now, bukan aje me and Aimi a very simillar height, we also have the same teeth!! hahahahha. Aida la paling untung, gigi die lawa! Untunglaaaaaaaaaa :P hehe.

Banyak lagi nak cite ni. But I think I have to stop for now. Nak gi solat. Hehe..

Till next time! Over and Out.

Before This Gets Old

Assalamualaikum wrt wbt

Id like to give a loud shout out to my loyal readers -- who no doubt have been visiting my blog for the past few weeks, only to find it being exactly the same, with no new posts to read. Sorry folks. Ive been way busy for the past couple of weeks and only now do I have the time to write.

I know its nearly a month since I came back from Australia, so I think its best that I write about it now before it all gets basi. Yeah yeah, Im back home oredi Alhamdulillah. Back in my old bed, with my old pillows and my old clothes and my precious car. I have to admit that I missed my old navy blue car. Hehhe.

The day of my flight back home was a very emotional one. I had finished packing, and was watching "p/s: I love you" just to kill the time before Id take layth for some one and one bonding before I go home. Ive watched that movie lots of times, but since it was an emotional day, I ended up crying my eyes out. If you read how my state of mind was back then, you'd understand this. Haha.

Anyway, I ended up thinking about the 2 and a half months I stayed there and what good it has done to me. Having been influenced by the movie, I wrote Aliya a heartfelt letter conveying my gratitude for helping me recover. Yeah, I cried alrite -- all thru writing it and re-reading it. I was sad to leave. I was scared as well.

After that emotional part was over, it came for me to have a one and one time with Layth, just the two of us. Which is making me cry right at this moment just thinking about it. Layth, mangah rindu kat Layth la! :(

We went to the library and Layth got himself a huge heavy book about trains and airplanes. During the whole 2 hours, I kept repeating to him that I was going back home, that I was going to take the plane home back to "datuk's" house. And that he shouldnt look for me in the morning. Sedih kan? :(

Later that evening, Aliya took me for my last meal at Nila -- an indian restaurant which has the lamb briani that is to die for! Yummy!!

I certainly think so. Kalah nasi Mandy kat Ar-Rawsha. Hahhaha. Personally I like Nila's better.

Around 930p.m. Aliya brought Layth to my room for a last cuddle. He wasnt really feeling very well, so all he did was lay on me and watch a movie right there on the bed. It was so sweet! I loved that last cuddle. Isk isk.. sedihnye bile cite balik.

Then around 11p.m we started off to the airport. Web check-ins are awesome I tell you! No need to come 3 hours before the flight. All I needed to do was check in my luggage and I was off. At the gate, I gave Aliya the letter I wrote, hugged her for the last time, cried my eyes out (malu je nangis depan Abglong. haha), kissed Layth for the last time, said thanks to Abglong and walked off to the departure gate. I kinda walked quickly coz I didnt want to break down there in front of everyone. I guess my eyes were real read, and my face was covered in tears coz the man at the gate just smiled at me. I think I returned a weak smile back. Then one last glance at Aliya, Abglong and Layth, one last wave and I stepped in the international terminal.

Inside, after the customs check, I went straight to the toilet to cry some more and repair what damage I did to my face by crying. Sedih giler. Dalam terminal pun dah start rindu kat Aliya. Isk isk.

Ok enough about that. I think you can imagine how emotional the departure was for me. When I finally went into the plane, I relaxed a bit and decided that I might as well have some fun for the next 8 hours. Unfortunately, I got a seat beside this indian guy who wouldnt stop fidgeting! Ugh!! It was TORTURE I tell you!! Mengganggu orang je.

I ended only getting ONE hour of sleep. Ugh. I was starting to get grumpy. Rasa mcm nak pusing kat mamat ni and say "Can you PLEASE stop fidgeting?!!". Nak bagi gambaran how annoying it was, mcm orang dadah tak dpt dadah. Ha, mcm tu la. Geram aku.

To compensate, I spent my time watching movies! Hahhaha. I watched Transformers 2 (for the first time! One word to describe: AWESOME!!). I watched that 2 times, and watched The Proposal. Got some yummy plane food (MAS punye food are the BEST ever). Alhamdulillah the flight was also great. Not like the last time.

I touched down around 6.a.m about an hour early. And waited for Ayah to fetch me. Hehhe.. You know how our luggage always comes out lambat, so I took my own sweet time in the international terminal before coming out.

After jumpa Ayah and Aimi (surprise!), we went to send Ayah to his meeting place, me and Aimi went to get some breakfast, and went straight to Uswah's house! Hehehhehehe. That was great!

After a few hours, I went straight to Kak Has's house where the Plusticks (this is what my geng of 11 girl friends call ourselves) were hosting their openhouse. I think I'll do another entry about the openhouse. Anyways, no one knew I was coming except Ju and Pia. So you can imagine how surprised everyone else was! hahahhahahahahha. All the details will be in another entry. Promise. Hehhe.

Until then, Im going to leave everyone with this video I did. Enjoy! :D