an evening in RC park

Kembaraksa@Istanbul-Amsterdam-London Day 2

16 April 2010

Still hoping to go to Amsterdam. Checking with Airlines what are the possible flights available. From the news last night we got to know all flights to Europe were cancelled due to volcanic erroption in Iceland. I had a feeling that i will not be short time. It will take weeks. What should we do?My husband still keeping hope. We keep contacting our friend in Amstermdam, updating him our status. We are using Skype as mode of communication. Alhamdullllah the hotel provides wireless access. Then we contact him updating him our status and check with him the airport status over there. We also like to consider Paris as another destination to stop beside brussel, dusserdolf and Frankfurt. But after hearing from the news that all train station also get congested we have to re-consider our option.

Airlines are busy to check on next departure flight, trying to cancel our cruise trip from Rotterdam to London (Stenaline) and we stuck here waiting for instructions from Airlines. But Alhamdulillah at least we have hotel and good food because I could see other people they had to stayed in the airport.

by 12.00 p.m suddenly the janitor hush us to leave the room. She is talking in Turkish, I cannot understand. But from the way she is talking that she want us to leave the room. I checked with the operator was it true and he confirmed right because we will be moved into another hotel by Airlines. After having our meal we waited for bus to come and pick up us at the lobby. After 4.00 then the bus arrived. We noticed we were moved to a hotel more nearer to the airport because I remembered the road when we first took during city tour sight seeing. In comparison to the first hotel is further in the downtown.

More better I hope. Yeah it is a 4-star rate hotel. And we noticed added to group another group of passengers who also stranded in Istanbul on the way to London. Amongst them is an old lady and a young pregnant mother with a child. So pity. They were both alone and now become family helping each other.

The Hotel (Grand Senol Hotel) offers us good meal as well and the kids enjoyed the hotel so much and forget temporarily their trip.

Still no news from airlines , no flight can fly to europe. I insisted my husband we got to plan something. Sooner or later our holidays will end. We cannot keep on counting of the airline plan. So I started to search for second alternative, like what if we just stay and have the vacation in Istanbul. I started inquiring the front dest, the places of interest in Istanbul since we did not make any homework at all for Istanbul. We got several brochures from the frontdesk and I started to plan what if we have to stay here. Recall K. Dillah advice if I did not make any reservation yet, she advised me to find somewhere in Sultanahmet Area. It has train link to Airport. Easy access town for movement I guess. So I kept her words in my mind.

At the same time my husband still try to work out for option to go to Amsterdam. I had something in my mind tomorrow, if there is no plan for flight we plan to stay in the same hotel and spent time here in Istanbul. We asked about the rate of our room we had now, it was about 150TL. Family suite. We calculate our cash and it is affordable. So if things no change tomorrow we will be ready to stay in Istanbul. Again after lunch, the airline want us to get ready to move into another hotel. Then quickly we pack our stuff and move to back into another town called Merter. This time the Hotel name is Gunnes Hotel.

Kembaraksa@Istanbul- Amsterdam - London - Day 1

Hotel Sahinler

15 April 2010

Today I cannot stop myself to enjoy my feelings to have our trip to Amsterdam. Feel time tick so slow. After complete my last task at 4.10 sent my last mail for this week to my Boss, I quickly took my bath and dress up the kids and do final check on all our luggage. 1 ,2 and 3. add 2 knapsack. My mom said.. I took 1 month preparation only to pack the bags ..hehehehe. sorry mum to bother you with all my request. The Deuter bag, the Brahim's pack and stuff.

Then we drove to Jeddah, to Yusof house to park our car. He offered us his help to sent us the airport tonight. Our fligh is at 2.00 a.m 16 April. The time was purposely arrangement such a manner because to we want to catch the free sightseeing tour in Istanbul by Turkish Airlines. Since this Year is Turkey visit year, the airline has arrange if we stopover in Istanbul for one whole day we are entitled for city sigthseeing tour inclusive lunch. So I could not see why we should not take this opportunity.


We arrived in Attartuk Terminal Airport at 6.30 a.m. It tooked one hour to clear all immigration check out. Only one counter was opened at that time may be too early. After an hour several counters were opened. Started searching for Turkish Airlines to ask bout our free trip. Still feel afraid if the trip is only true in clause but not available in real. But Alhamdulillah, finally we found the booth and we were told the trip will be at 9.00 it is just around the time, an hour before. We saw many others tourist also will join us. One group from Indonesia, their destination is London, few indiviuals passengers (students) , few transit passengers returning from Easter vacation from various destinations all plan to Europe countries like Amsterdam, Brussel etc.

We now with a group of tourist having our one-day Istanbul Trip. Our destination is Topkapi Sarayi, Sultanahmet Mosque(Blue Mosque), Haghia Sophia, Hippodrome, Arasta Covered Bazaar, Lunch and return to the airport.At least we had some ideas of Turkey as pre-visit and may be next time we will come again.


The places were so beautiful, we enjoyed the city buildings(the ancient time). We have one beautiful tourist guide providing infos and history of the places we went. Though it was a quick tour, but really satisfying. We had our lunch in Tamara Restaurant. Delicous Turkey meal. Kebab, Tavuk, and small portion of Egyptian rice, plus soup of the day, bread, salad and ended with Turkish tea and the famous baklava.


I have calculated in my head. One day Turkey will be my next destination. Then we returned to the airport and our kids were looking forward to fly to Amsterdam. My son was really look forward to visit the Ntural History Museum in London...


On the way to get our luggage where we left earlier at the Turkish Airline Office, my son suddenly told me a shocking sentence, " IBu our flight to Amsterdam was cancelled". I said , " No lah, you might mistakenly see the status". But he insisted it as true and mentioned that was our flight number. He was very keen to go and he had checked on every single thing he saw. We were waited for my husband to update us. When he returned, he said it was true that our flight was cancelled and next flight will be may be tomorrow morning to frankfurt. I told him to check for Brussel or Dusseldorf as well. The kids felt a little bit upset. What to do, we do not the reason. After a while I saw on the electronic board, it was not only one flight cancelled, almost all flight to Europe countries were cancelled. Whats's wrong ? Is there any problem to the world and I started to worry. How bout tonight is the Airline will provide us hotel? My hubby replied positively and now we are waiting for the bus to bring us to the hotel.


It is almost 9.00 p.m when the bus came and pick us. It took us 3 hours in the bus where mostly the bus is not moving seemed like the driver lost and cannot find the place. He frequently came down from the bus and asked for hotel direction. Our kids now all fall asleep. My watch now showed 11.30 suddenly the bus driver told us to get down and we have to walk to the hotel. The bus was stucked in the busy road. The road is so narrow and I noticed it is an hilly area and trafffic was busy at that time. It is difficut for the bus to move or turn.


As usual we are always be the last person to get down from the bus because we travelled with many small family members and its better to get down last. But unfortunately, Aina who supposed to take care of one the knapsack, she forgot to bring down the bag because still 'mamai'. When I realized the bag is not with him I told my husband to get the bag before the bus left. While all of us waited for him try to catch which direction the last bus passenger turn into. Its pretty scarry in the middle of the night, when almost every shop about to close we have to stood there waiting for our my husband with all the luggage with us. I cannot see now where the last passenger went to. It is almost past 15 minutes when my husband left. He supposed not to take so much time because the bus is not so far. But now more than 30 minutes, O my God, Now I notice, what if he did not returned. We did not have all our passport with us. They were with him. No cash, no documents and people around us cannot speak English. Almost feel like crying.


Now the kids started to worry when they saw their mum 'gelabah'. We lost from the group and lost from my husband and it was middle of the night. I tried to make myself stepped on a slightly higher pedestrian walk so that hoping my husband could see me. Luckily, he noticed and quickly returned to us and he told me that he took the wrong turn that's why it took him time. Now we had another problem, where is the hotel? We tried the route where I saw the last person went to. And we reach to a junction and we did not know which turn should we take. One more time my husband told us to wait and this time round, I am more smatter, I keep all our passport with us and some cash. Now this area is more scarrier, almost all shops were closed and some few men approached my kids offer them chocolate and tried to talk to me in Turkish language. I tried not to be so friendly neither being so ignorance.


Alhamdulillah after 10 minutes, my husband returned and told us he found the hotel. Finally , we check in and get some doner kebab as dinner. The kids intially were hungry but after what happened the felt so tired and fall asleep. I cannot sleep well thinking what is going to be happen tomorrow. Hoping we could still go to Amsterdam.
Together with us is a group of Dutch who would like to go back to Amsterdam and London after Easter Holiday VAcation and some of them from Brussel, returning from Umrah.

Finding Allah in Texas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBeLhu3eZ_k

YANBU RATTLED

Aftershocks rock Al-Ais :Muhammad Al-Sheikh & Yousuf Muhammad Arab News

YANBU: Strong aftershocks were felt in the village of Harrah Al-Shaqah and its adjoining settlements in the Al-Ais area yesterday with the Civil Defense declaring emergency in the region and ordering complete evacuation.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the strongest of the aftershocks measured 5.6 on the Richter scale at 8:10 p.m. yesterday. Earlier, a Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) statement said: “The magnitude of the earthquake has been rising notably from 3 to 4.81 on the Richter scale with a total of 46 earthquakes recorded between 2 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. today. The strongest tremor occurred 7.7 km beneath Harrah Al-Shaqah and its adjoining villages.” Aftershocks were felt in Umlaj, Wajh and Ula.

An SGS team that is conducting an aerial survey of the quake-hit area found a large crack in the earth and opened a quake detection station at Harrah Al-Shaqah.

The USGS posted on its website that an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale was observed in western Saudi Arabia yesterday morning. USGS pinpointed the location 195 km west northwest of Madinah (25.105 degrees N, 37.788 degrees E) with the epicenter at a depth of 10 km underground. The latest quake of magnitude 5.6 hit the same area.

The Civil Defense warned people in Al-Ais and its surrounding villages to avoid areas where smoke is coming out of the ground as such areas are more likely to see volcanic eruptions. It also said that rumblings and pungent smells are indications of possible eruptions.

Roads in Madinah are currently choked with people leaving for open areas and gardens. In Umlaj there have been reports of people fainting. The Civil Defense, which has been put on full alert, has also evacuated people to safe areas.

People in Yanbu also left for open areas and camped out on roadsides and gardens while waiting for the all clear.

Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed ordered the acting undersecretary at his office, Ibrahim Al-Khattab, and other high officials to inspect safety arrangements in the area, and do all that is necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.

The officials have been asked to guarantee the rehabilitation of the affected people, Al-Khattab said in a statement.

The machines that arrived at the Civil Defense Center here are the latest and most accurate to detect seismic activities — both the rumblings and volcanoes. The machines have been brought on the orders of Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijiri, director general of the Civil Defense.

Heavy machinery that can work under rubble and cameras with remote sensors have been brought in by the Civil Defense. Powerful generators to run them are in place and experts in seismic activities are monitoring the situation.

People reported tremors all day yesterday. Students in Yanbu were excited rather than scared by the tremors.

The Ministry of Education has sent senior officials to the region to make sure teaching in schools is not disrupted.

Civil Defense authorities have also reserved more hotel rooms and furnished apartments in view of the increasing number of people leaving villages close to the affected area.

Col. Essam Farrash, acting director of the Civil Defense in Yanbu, told Arab News that evacuees who wanted furnished apartments were provided with the same. He said up to 800 people were evacuated from Al-Qarasa, Al-Hadama and Al-Amid, and were put up in various Yanbu hotels and apartments on Monday. Officials denied reports that they had stopped providing evacuees with furnished apartments.

“As part of housing arrangements, permits have been issued to evacuees to seek shelter either in Madinah or Yanbu. Those who were issued permits for Madinah will get their accommodation there and those issued permits for Yanbu will be provided accommodation in Yanbu,” an official said. He added that only the best available apartments have been selected for them.

“Seven patients have been admitted to Yanbu General Hospital,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Saeedi, director of Health Department in Yanbu, adding that an emergency hospital with 50 beds and latest instruments has been put on alert in Yanbu.

Hospitals and health centers in the city are ready to handle eventualities, he added.

Special Entry:Selamat Hari Bonda

Selamat Hari Ibu kepada bonda tersayang yang jauh di mata tetapi dekat di hati.

If I can recall all those days, really hope time could turn back. But, it is impossible.
Dulu kita budak2, anak kepada mak dan bapak, wonder, nakal ke, rajin ke @ malas ke aku ni dengan orang tua. Tak boleh ingat semua tu. Tapi yang masih ingat di kepala abah tak pernah control dan tak selalu marah2 kami adik beradik tapi kami takut dengan abah. Kalau abah marah semuanye menikus. Selalunya decision abah based pada mak. Kalau mak kata ok , maka oklah abah. Huih power kan mak..

Tapi mak lain. Selalu jugak dengar mak membebel. Especially bila time kitorang asyik main dan tak tolong dia masak atau kemas rumah. Ada satu favourite phrase mak yang aku masih ingat tapi tak applicable utk aku skrg " terbakar kaki tangan mak ni nak kasi korang makan". Pernah juga try pakai. Tapi anak2 sibuk pulak cari, "kat mana ibu? tak nampak api pun?" . Lagi satu, ha main lagi.. tak habih-habih lagi main. Nanti mak rebus batu-batu tu bagi korang makan(masa tu main batu seremban) hehehehe.. Sekarang nak rebus apa yek.. "ibu rebus play-station tu buat lauk tengah hari...boleh tak agaknye..


Mak bolehla cakap macam tu, sebabnye mak full-time memasak dan suka memasak. Apa yang dia pernah makan, dia akan cuba masak sendiri , ikut sedap tekak dia dan tekak kami. Hasilnya, abah dan kami kurang berminat nak makan kat luar sebab lebih sedap makan yang mak masak. Dan the most important thing, mak masak sedap original, tak pernah letak any perasa. Kadang-kadang jek abah bawak kami makan kat luar(sebulan), itupun agaknya sebab nak entertain mak kot ataupun nak entertain kami adik beradik, dah letih masak kat umah atau tak de idea nak masak. Tapi bila makan kat luar, kalau tanya dia, " Sedap tak abah?" Dia jawab " Sedap lagi mak kamu masak". Happy agaknye mak masa tu. Abah puji mak bukan sebab nak jaga hati mak sahaja, tapi memang reality. Kalau mak tak de, sedih betul tengok abah. Ada la sekali-sekala mak pernah balik kampung tengok tok sakit. Abah tinggal ngan kami kat umah. Kami cubalah try masak macam mak. Tapi abah makan sikit sahaja. Suruh tambah lagi dia kata "Dahlah. Dah kenyang dah". Kadang-kadang abah sanggup tak makan, boleh makan biskut saja. Nama nak pergi kedai beli makanan, tak. Actually boleh bilang dengan jari sepanjang hayat mak, travel alone tanpa abah. Selalunye mesti dengan abah.

Dari dulu sampailah sekarang, mak tak pernah sanggup tinggal abah sorang2. Bila ajak mak datang sini, dia mesti kata abah kamu macam mana. Walaupun abah kata boleh pegi tapi, mak berat nak tinggal. Setia betul la mak. Aku ni boleh ke jadi macam tu? Aku harap aku boleh jadi macam mak. Sabar dan setia.

Itu abah dan mak. Mak dan anak-anak pulak. Mak jaga kami baik-baik dari kecik sampai dah kawin. Dia jaga makan-minum supaya kami tak gemuk dan tak kurus. Makanan yang kami makan cukup zat dan vitamin. Ada pernah sekali, aku main bola jaring dan bola tampar, jari kelingking terseliuh dan hasilnya terbengkok la sikit, marah betul dia(" beranak elok2, jaga sampai besar, dah besar bengkok sana bengkok sini tak tau duduk diam). Ikutkan segala macam petua mak ada. Dah lepas kawin dan lepas bersalin pun mak tolong jaga.

Tak nak membebankan dia, bila anak ke-3 dan seterusnya nekad duduk rumah sendiri. Bak kata abah " dia dah besar dah pernah beranak tau la dia jaga diri dia sendiri", sebab mak risaukan kita. Lebih-lebih lagi kat Yanbu, sayu masa sebelum bersalin hari tu dengar suara sebak dia nasihatkan kita supaya jaga makan baik-baik. Pantang elok2. Dia tahu anak dia ni suka ngelat. Dia risau. Insya-Allah mak, janganlah risau.

Sekarang ni kita pulak yang jadi mak. Segala macam perasan yang mak rasa dulu agaknya ada pada kita sekarang. Macam mana ye nak jadi macam mak?

Sempena Hari Ibu, ingin ku nyatakan betapa bersyukurnya aku kepada Allah kerana ditakdirkan beribukan bonda Habshah Mokri. Insya- Allah ya Allah, panjangkan usiaku berikan aku kekuatan, kesihatan yang berpanjangan dan kesenangan yang melimpah ruah supaya kelak akulah orang yang akan menjaga mereka.

Weekend and Cinnamon Rolls

Hemmm weekend again.. What to do? Usually, to fill up my time I like to try new recipe. But this time, I remembered my newly arrived neighbour next door are actually waiting to taste my cinnamon roll again. She keep own saying that she likes the rolls and when she went back to Pakistan, she could not stop mention it to her family members.. What does it mean? .. Please send some more..hehehe. .. just kidding. She also like my curry puffs. So today may be I could entertain her.

So early in the morning, I make the dough, while waiting the dough to rise I am blogging and finish all the report analysis required by my Head. I have tried several time my recipes with different types input ingredients(whalla ..like programming le pulak) to find the best result. So this is the best recipe I have ever try I could say...

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo wheat flour(in Yanbu - Kuwait Flour is the best)
1 tbs salted/unsalted butter + some salt
1 tbs sugar 1 tbs dry yeast(saf-levure) any yeast may be works as well
1 egg
150ml low fat milk(fresh)
1/2 cup warm water+ 1 tsp sugar(to dissolve yeast)
brown sugar
cinnamon powder

Methods:
1. Dissolve dry yeast in warm water.

2. Melt butter and then add milk with sugar. Stir until all sugar dissolved. Milk should be warm not boiled. Put off fire. Cool off. Then add egg into it. Mix.

3. Get the flour into a big mixing bowl and make a hole in it. Pour in the milk mixture, yeast and mixed them together. Roll and punch.

4. Ensure it did not stick to your finger. Then cover it with plastic food wrapper and let it rest for 1 hour.

5. In baking tray, pour some cooking oil to grease and sprinkled mixed cinnamon sugar into it. The more the merrier.

6. Again hit the dough, until all air released. Divide dough into 3.

7. Roll the dough until it make about 15cm(A) X 25 cm(B). While rolling you may use some flour to avoid it sticking to the rolling pin.

8. Smeared the rolled dough with mixed cinnamon sugar.

9. Slowly roll it from the A side the until the end. Cut into 4 pieces using knife or dental floss.

10. Place it into the baking tray. Let it rise 1/2-1 hour. Preheat oven 350 F.

11. After 1/2 -1 hour later, sprinkle more mixed cinnamon+brown sugar on it and ready to bake for 20 minutes.

I usually works with 1/2 kilo flour at a time. My hand is not strong enough to work with bigger dough.

So, try it. If it does not work tell me.

note: Pictures were taken from previous entry.

Nasi Dagang Yanbu

Nasi Dagang by Anak Dagang di Yanbu....heheheheh

Nasi

Bahan-bahannya

1 kg beras wangi(beras siam@Thai)
3/4 beras pulut *kedua-duanya dicampur dan direndam semalam atau paling kurang 5 jam)
3 cawan santan pekat + 1 sudu besar gula + 1 sudu teh garam
3 cawan santan cair/air 21/2 inci halia dan
8 ulas bawang merah dimayang halus
1 camca besar halba

Cara-cara membuatnya
1. Toskan beras yang telah direndam dan letakkan ke dalam periuk pengukus.
2. Panaskan air sehingga mendidih di dalam periuk pengukus
3. Kukus beras sehingga naik wap. Apabila wap telah naik, tuangkan ke dalam besen yang besar dan masukkan air atau santan cair dan gaul hingga rata. Orang banjar kata proses meng'arun'.
4. Masukkan semula ke dalam periuk pengukus dan kukus sekali hingga hingga naik wap. Proses ini diulang 1 kali lagi.
5. Akhir sekali angkat nasi yang sudah masak, masukkan ke dalam bekas besar, gaulkan bersama santan pekat, halia dan bawang yang telah dimayang dan halba. Kacau rata dan tutup selama 1/2 jam supaya lebih mesra selepas itu boleh dihidang.

Gulai Ikan Aye@Tongkol@Tuna

1 ekor ikan tongkol- dipotong dan direbus bersama garam dan asam gelugor(4 @ 5 keping) sehingga kering air.

1 biji kelapa - diambil santannya

*3 biji bawang besar
*2 ulas bawang putih
*2 cm halia
*5 cm lengkuas
*kesemua bahan * dikisar halus

3 keping asam gelugor
2 papan gula nira(boleh ganti gula merah)
3 sudu cili boh/cili kisar
5 sudu besar rempah kari (cap apa2 pun boleh kot) atau rempah nasi dagang(only available in Trengganu , menurut tuan punya resepi)
garam dan serbuk perasa secukup rasa

Cara-Cara membuatnye:

1. Masak santan hingga pecah minyak
2. Masukkan bahan-bahan yang telah dikisar halus, cili boh, rempah kari/rempah nasi dagang.
3. Masukkan ikan, gula nira,garam dan asam gelugor. Masak hingga pekat.
4. Boleh dihidang.

Acar Timun @ Salad @ Appetizer
1 batang timun - dihiris panjang
1 batang lobak merah - dihiris panjang
1 labu bawang besar - dimayang nipis
1 cili merah/cili api- dihiris kecil-kecil
sedikit garam, gula dan cuka.

Cara-caranya:
1. Kesemua bahan di atas dicampurkan di dalam mangkuk dan digaul rata.

Inilah hasil nasi dagang ku berdasarkan resepi di atas.

Tima kasih kepada tuan punya resepi(isteri Abg Pie), katanya ini resepi keluarga turun temurun.

Aktiviti Hujung Minggu - Another Happy Moment in Yanbu

Kalau ada la yang masih ingat di zaman 80-an dulu, ada satu rancangan masakan yang cukup popular dikalangan mak2 di rumah, KESUMA. Masih terbayang montaj gambar bunga yang sedang mekar. Kuat juga ingatanku ni.

Rajin akak2 wife kepada hubby yang serve Yansab buat program masakan Malaysia di rumah masing2. Kami cikgu cikgi ni tumpang sekaki la. Nak harap kami ni, kalau pukul 4.00-4.30 balik office jenuh gak nak open de house untuk kumpul ramai2 dan ajar masak2. Lagi pun, kita nak offer diri ajar masak pun malu. Diri sendiri nak masak pun masih bukak buku lagi, inikan pulak nak ajar. Ajaran sesat pulak nanti.

Antara kelas memula yang boleh join, rumah K.Ima(isteri Hj Ghaz). Menu dia Nasi Dagang. Tapi rupa2nya menu dari orang rumah Abg Pee.. tak pelah.. janji ada resepi. Syok nyer dapat belajar buat Nasi Dagang. Lepas ni anytime teringin nasi dagang, dah buleh buat sendiri. Kalau tak dulu kena usya kedai atau makcik mana yang masak best, baru pergi beli. Sekarang boleh masak ikut sedap tekak sendiri. Tu yang best masak sendiri tu. Semalam layan masak Nasi Dagang. Hush.. yang paling syok tengok anak sendiri yang makan. Habis sekali hadap jek. Nanti esok2 masak lagi. Ni first time buat , trial session jek. Masak tak banyak dlm 4 pot. Riso gak kot nasi tak masak. Rendam beras pun tak lama less than 5 hours. The most important thing, lubang periuk pengukus ku ni besar la pulak, habis berguguran beras ku. Nanti nak pergi carik mangkuk pengukus lain la.

Lepas tu pegi kelas masakan kat umah k.Ina 'Z'. He ..heheh banyak sangat nama K.Ina kena bubuh initial lak kat belakang, baru boleh differenciate. Selain kIna, nama K.Za .. lagi ramai. Macam2 K.Za ada. Kat umah K.Ina, belajar masak mee udang. Part paling best, belajar buat mee sendiri tu. Tu yang mahal tu. Rational kelas memasak ni actually bukan untuk tujuan berkongsi resepi sahaja. But almost to majlis sosial sesama isteri yang hampir sepanjang minggu terperuk kat umah. Kat sini bukannya macam kat Malaysia, boleh bawak2 kereta dan menyinggah rumah sesapa bila2 masa kita nak. Nak bergerak kena la tunggu driver balik keje dulu.. Pas tu busy masak dan urusan harian. Hari minggu je lah lapang sikit. Masa ni la baru boleh nak jumpa kengkawan. Oleh kerana tak de tempat yang best nak lepak2 sesama kengkawan, maka the best place is kat rumah la.. Invite orang datang dan kumpul2 , bawak pot luck sorang sikit, then boleh le sembang2 dan bertukar cerita ceritet. Anak2 pun inilah masanya jumpa kengkawan Malaysia. Bukan semua anak2 Malaysian ni pergi sekolah yang sama. At the same time, geng lelaki pun ada jugak la aktiviti sesama mereka.

This is another happy moment in Yanbu. Masa zaman sorang2 dulu, kami asyik terperuk kat umah jela. Anak2 nak main kat luar pun kita cemas nak kasi. Sebabnya takut kena baling batu. Kat kawasan rumah kami ni bebudaknye aktif kan main. Sekali tingkap bilik dipecahkan. Second time pintu sliding door. Tak tau lah part mana yang attracted to them. End up budak2 ni kalau nak main, depa main dalam rumah sahaja. Sometimes main basikal pun dalam rumah. Hujung minggu baru bawak gi park atau beach. Adalah dalam satu semester sekali buat majlis makan2. Combine Malaysian yang serve YIC dan YUC(male and female). Sekadar bertanyakan khabar dan berita dan melepaskan rindu kepada masakan Malaysia. Kami yang kurang expert ni terpaksalah berjuang sedaya upaya memasak apa yang terdaya...heheheh..

Walau macam mana pun, semua itu tetap kenangan berharga. Sekarang ni, dah tak rasa sunyi dah. Rindu kat Malaysia pun tak berapa menebal sebab dah ramai orang Malaysia kat sini. Bukan setakat Malaysian community sahaja yang ramai, Saudi-Malaysian pun ramai. Selain daripada tu dah mula kenal Indonesian dan Saudi-Indonesian. Jadi kehidupan tak macam dulu. Routine sosial pun dah berbeza berbanding 2 tahun yang lepas. Well syukur kepada Allah kerana mengurniakan nikmat ini...

Tak ada rezeki

Nampaknya tak ada rezeki kali ni parent nak datang sini, meskipun semasa proses visa tak ada masalah tapi dah takdir Allah tak izinkan, maka tak jadi juga.

Apa yang telah berlaku?

Kisahnya.. pada hari nak hantar dokumen untuk proses visa di Malaysia, kereta parent telah dipecah masuk semasa parking di depan kedai kitchen cabinet kat Batu 3, Shah Alam. Masuk kedai tak sampai 15 minit. Bila keluar tengok cermin kereta sebelah pemandu dah pecah dan suitcase bawah kerusi dah hilang. Semasa buat report polis kat balai seksyen 11, polis mengiakan sahaja kawasan tu memang favourite kes pecah kereta.. timbul le question mark kat kepala.. kalau dah banyak kes pecah kereta kat kawasan tu tak de ke hantar polis ronda kat kawasan tu? Emm tak de jawapan untuk soalan itu..

Antara item lost semua dokumen perjalanan dan ada le beberapa RM. Nak settlekan dokumen sahaja dah makan masa.. makanya tak jadi la nak ke sini..

Tak apa la.. nak buat macam mana...

Visa Dah Approved

2 minggu lepas visa parent dah approved. Cepat pulak kali ni approvednye.. Tak pelah bagus le tu.. Just to share the application of visiting visa process.

The documents needed:

1) Salinan passport parent(ibu dan ayah) - jika nak jemput dua-dua sekali

2) Salinan iqama(anak yg bekerja)

3) Salinan surat beranak( anak yang bekerja) - certified translation in Arabic

4) Certified highest degree translation in English

5) Surat pengesahan gaji dari Employee

Note:

Semua maklumat di atas adalah merujuk kepada saya yang bekerja di bawah Royal Comission. Ingin dinyatakan bahawa keperluan kepada dokumen-dokumen yg disebutkan di atas mungkin berbeza. Sila rujuk kepada pegawai masing-masing. Visa ziarah(invitation visa) HANYA TERHAD kepada ibu dan ayah SAHAJA.

PROSES UNTUK MENDAFTAR VISA ZIARAH

1) Isi borang permohonan manual untuk ziarah - saya dapat daripada pegawai RC

2) Isi borang permohonan online juga di - https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/

kena isi borang ni dalam arabic, tapi baru2 ni pegawai RC yang buatkan (sbb website masa tu takleh reach, please take note, borang dlm bahasa arab, so kena isi dlm bahasa arab KECUALI nama orang yang akan dijemput ditulis dalam rumi ikut ejaan dalam passport). Bila dah register online - akan dapat no permohonan(application request number (guna nombor ini untuk search kemudian)

3)Hantar borang (1) dan dokumen yg disebutkan di atas.

4) Proses mungkin ambil masa 1 up to tak tau berapa minggu

as for me 2 times experience (1 week min and 2 weeks max)

5) Dalam tempoh selepas 1 minggu boleh la semak kat

https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/SrhComFamilyVisa.asp

masukkan no permohonan dan no iqama dan print.

6)Proses di Malaysia, kena bagi print out ni ke agen Saudi Embassy, passport, surat beranak(translated in arabic), duit RM300 utk visa(200) dan processing(100) per person.

Then.. insyallah boleh le datang sini..

Permohonan Sijil Daftar Kelahiran Malaysia

Alhamdulillah , Laila Najla telah pun mencecah usia 1 bulan hari ini. Bermakna lagi 10 hari sahaja boleh duduk di rumah looking after her. Cuti maternity di sini hanya 40 hari. Any comment? Very short indeed. Kenapa? Maybe wanita kat sini yang bekerja very few, so tak de concern for this issue. While other non-islamic country dah go forward 3 months , 6 months and some even 1 year for leave, kat sini hanyalah up to 40 days. Unless kalau ada masalah kesihatan, approved by physician( ada MC) baru lah boleh dapat leave tambahan. What a pity. Anyhow, since kerja kat sini, we must obey and respect the rules, so pandai2lah adjust our time for baby and duty. Proses men'dokumentasikan kelahiran Laila juga telah selesai. Though ada le probs arised during the process, tapi biasa la kan. None is official in this country. Kami ingin berkongsi maklumat dan pengalaman kami sepanjang proses tersebut.

Fasa 1: Mendapatkan Birth Notification(dikeluarkan oleh pihak hospital - RCMC)


Dokumen yang diperlukan:

1) Salinan Iqama (suami/isteri atau kedua2nya sekali jika ada)
2) *Salinan sijil perkahwinan(certified translated arabic)
- mula2 officer hospital tu nak certified translated certification itu diapproved juga oleh MOFA Saudi, tapi luckily kebetulan ada orang yg dikenali dekat hospital tu, dapatlah consideration. Katanya undang2 baru nak cop certified MOFA, Saudi. Wonder kalau kenalah certification dari MOFA, Saudi berapa lama pulak lah baru boleh register Najla dan buat passport dia)

3) Salinan passport suami dan isteri

* sesiapa yg akan datang ada anak akan dilahirkan, mungkin boleh start survey dengan pegawai masing2 tentang maklumat ini.

Fasa 2: Mendapatkan Birth Certificate dari Wizarah Dakhiliah, (imigresen dan kemasukan kalau tak silap), Mudiriah Aamah LilEhwal Madinah, Yanbu Al-Bahar.


1) Birth Notification - yg dapat daripada hospital tadi.
2) Salinan Iqama (suami/isteri atau kedua2nya sekali jika ada)
3) Salinan sijil perkahwinan
4) Salinan passport suami dan isteri


Fasa 3: Mendapatkan Sijil Daftar Kelahiran dari Kedutaan Malaysia dan Passport

1) *Birth Certificate ( di terjemahkan ke Bahasa Inggeris - cost (SR 60-100)
2) *Sijil Perkahwinan
3) *Kad Pengenalan suami dan isteri
4) *Passport suami dan isteri
5) Gambar anak ukuran passport - 3 keping


* semua di atas mesti ada 3 salinan dan original masa submission

Maklumat lain yg perlu tahu:
1) Tempoh utk daftar kelahiran (dari 0-12 bulan umur anak)
2) Tempoh siap passport(1 bulan)
3) Hari khidmat passport (Sabtu dan Ahad - hari lain better call Embassy dulu)
4) Anak kena hadir sebab kena turunkan thumbprint depan officer)
5) Fee Passport : SR 158


Maklumat Konsulate Jeneral Malaysia,Jeddah

Consulate General of Malaysia,
Lot 241, Al-Mualiffin Street, Al Rehab District,
P.O Box 593, Jeddah 21421.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Telephone :00966 2 6727740;(minta sambungan kepada En Ali)
00966 2 6728019
Fax : 00966 2 6760877
Email : maljeddah@kln.gov.my
Work day : Saturday - Wednesday 8.00 am - 3.00 pm
Holiday : Thursday & Friday

Little Updates

It has been a while we have not updating this blog. Busy?, no not really. Maybe out of ideas and stories. But for sure, we thanks a lot and thousand of apology to the visitors who keep visiting this little and tiny blog "nyamuk".

Little updates

1) The new members of family has been given name Siti Laila Najla.

2) We have to take her along(as told by Pak Ali , she needs to give her tiny thumbprint for her passport) to Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah tomorrow to register her as a Malaysian.

3) Her moms is getting slimmer (macam dulu2).

4) She's cries a lot at night. As usual, the father is always a patient man...and he just let the mother entertained her....huhuhu.

5) Both of us have same blood group (A+). The other childrens follows their mom(O+).

6) Alhamdulillah, Hannan is not jealous to Najla, otherwise it will be a big problem to us.

7) My Parent in Law is coming soon. Their visa is ready. Just get ready with the delicious and mouth watering mom in law cooks.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan ya Bint

Alhamdulillah, praise and worship to almighty Allah alone, Who have blessed us with a new member in family, a baby girl born on Thursday, 29 Jan 2009 (3 Safar 1430).

O Allah, I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.

Masa..Masa ( Bahagian 2)

There is something precious I found it here, but it is so difficult to share with others. Is it too precious till I refused to share? Let me check.. No.. no.. I don't think so. In fact, it is my big hope to share with other people that so-called friends and family members to me.. and soon my community.

I tried several times to share my knowledge but it was rejected. Some said, this is new. Another said it is against what we have learnt in Malayisa. It is not according to our Imam, Shafie. Some even said, this is difficult, we have a simpler option and some scholars approved it, Islam is easy and why must we troubled ourself when we have easiest option? Emm .. my first reaction, my mouth shut immediately and realized that I have a big weakness lying in myself. I may have good Islamic education background, good scores but still cannot defend my points. Words become so difficult to utter maybe due to less of knowlegde. I have to read more and pray for His guidance.

I asked myself again, am I wrong? If I was, I need to check all my resources. But they were from Hadis sahih and Al-Quran itself. What makes people reject the knowledge? The only thing that I understand is the peoples are so comfortable with their current practises. I don't blame them. May be it is how we have being brought up and taught in our Islamic Education curriculum. It's really demotivated at the beginning, but keep telling myself , "our duty is only to deliver the truth and let Allah decide to whom He guide to the right path and those who He let them astray. Wisdom does not come very easily. It will go to whom He pleased to give.

The most disturbance that lingered in my mind is the issues or being particular in a certain madhab. Is it compulsory for a muslim to follow certain madhab? The same issues also arised to some enlightened Japanese in Tokyo when they conveyed their intention to be Muslim. The first question that popped-out from their mouth after acceptance of Islam, is it necessary for a Muslim to follow any one of the prevalent Imams and their sections? Is it correct to say that we are better than others because we follow certain Imam? I could feel some proud feeling for becoming a certain followers. The feeling of "I am better than you. My madhab is more pious compare to others and promised to heaven and et cetera." Ultimately, without realizing, this opinion and circumstances spoiled the unity and brought downfall and misery. One group is blaming others for a very small and ordinary differences. The issue of disunity among the Muslim Ummah grew so much that various sections always confront to each other. May be I will share this issue in the next entry, because it requires more details.

Lets talk bout ouself as parent and our responsibility to the children. This is from my observation on the community in general in Malaysia. We were blessed with good school curriculum and our government had carefully plan the education system so that it could produce individuals balance with both spiritual and world knowldege (ukhrawi and duniawi). I could see the approach is to balance the number of conventional schools and islamic religous school.

The govermnet has established boarding school like MCKK, STAR and etc and also Islamic based boarding school like KISAS and etc to give better education to the people. Why they need Islamic based school if the conventional boarding school has produced good professional and leaders. The words uttered from my ustazah in one day was the answer "Whoever you are, either you are an engineer, doctor, teacher, housewife or even you are a general labour, you must make sure yourself a mukminah or a mukminin".

Islamic based boarding school became famous to parents nowaday. To the parents, these schools can give both to their children and that is what they looking for. some parents however take it as advantage as an alternative schools for their children to excell and to get a easy getways to the higher education level (university) because the conventional boarding school usually have high competition compared to these schools. Besides, these schools also show high potential for the student to excell due to good resources they have. These was proven and the school alumni record has shown it all. The graduates are securing places in many famous institutions, with good positions. Some of them now are famous intellectual with outstanding contributions in their areas/field.

I also realized some parent took this school as a place for rehabilitation centre. They have a smart children (gifted talent) but unable to control their attitude. Hoping by enrolling them to these schools can change them through the training mode and education approach. There are also parent that unable to model themselves as a good guardian and started to channel the responsibilities to school with hope the children will turn to angel, while they remain on the same path without any effort to changes themself as well. Is it too harsh if I say this school as a place for responsibility escapism?

Similarly, Islamic/Tahfiz based schools blossoming like mushrooms. Parents are now get excited to enjoin the trend to send their kids to these schools, I am not sure what are thier reasons but one thing for sure the cost is not cheap. What is their intention? Is among of the listed here is one of their objectives?

1) Would like to have children in future succesful in this world and the day after?

2) To have a child that can memorize Quran and could pray for his/her parent when they passed away.

3) As an alternative school because it is near to workplace.

4) As an alternative education, since being a huffaz also can promise you good job and income.

5) Felt honoured being a parent of hafiz/hafizah.

6) Felt doing a mistake if not having any child that know and can arrange their funeral in future.

7) Others.

Whatever the reasons were, as a parent and the guardian it is our responsibilities to correct our intention as all deeds are based on your 'niat'/ intention. Our intention is our wish and will become our pray. If Allah wish to full-fill your wish, that is because we asked for it.

Rasulullah (p.b.u.h) said
" The rewards of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according he has intended. "

-Sahih Bukhari - 1.1

Malaysian Community

I like to share my opinion about Malaysian community. They are two types of communities as I observed (three actually). One is the pro-religious community and the other is claiming as islamic pro-modernization community. I did not want to discuss the third community which totally reject the truth. The first community described by itself. The second comunity say " We like our future generation balance with religious and academic knowledge". That is a very good intention indeed. How are we going to implement it? Is it as simple as enrolling our children to the morning school session and KAFA (Islamic class) in the afternoon? is KAFA can help to produce such generation? If true, then it will be very good. But unfortunately, the social problem in Malaysia is getting worse. Where is the mistake? Is there something wrong with the curriculum?Or is there any negligence in implementation? Is the institution really play role as an institution to develop children social development or it is only profit-based institution? When the problem arise, we started pointing fingers to others and blaming them without thinking that we are part of them.

Whatever the intentions are, I like to look at this issue from parent point of view. Parent sent their children to school generally for good reasons. Hoping the childrens will grow and be a better person.

However, some parents mixed up their good intentions with contra practical. They intent to have children will become good new generations but in the same time allowed themselves mixed with confused culture. Parent do send kids to learn Islamic Studies in the afternoon and those kids are trying their best to survive their schedules but they are not being explain the reasons. Why? Maybe we as parent also unable to determine the reasons. What was learned in school was not practiced by the parents and now we see that the school is not the place to educate the children but merely a place to train them to memorize words in order to pass an exam.

Here are few examples of our socity today and what their children was thought at school:

Basic Islamic Studies year 1.

1) Islam has 5 pillars - To make the testimony(shahadah), Solat 5 times a day at specified time, Fast, Pilgrimage and charity.

The kids view:

1) Shahadah :

I rarely see my parent say the shahadah- what does it means, what its implication if we break the shahadah and are there any actions in our daily lives can break our shahadah?

2) Pray / Solat:

I usually see my parent going to work as early before fajr being announce to avoid traffic jam, and return after the sunset gone. When did they do their 2 prayers? Or why they pray at the end of the prayer time and why sometimes I saw my parent wait to the end of prayer time to combine with the next prayer just to avoid themselves to perform another ablution? Not yet discussing about how to pray during travelling.

3) Fasting during Ramadhan:

Parent usually emphasized their childrens to fast as early as seven years old. Alhamdulillah this is the good way to train the children. Without realize we also teach them to spend more during this month. More money spent on food for Iftar (breakfast) and normally the food was wasted.

Some parents handsomely reward their children with money for the day they fasted but in other hand the parents finding way to excuse from fast. Clinincs and hospitals will receive more patients with gastric than usual a few days before Ramadhan.

4) Pilgrimage -:

Hajj is obligatory on every Muslim only once during his or her lifetime, provided that he or she
is able to perform it. The order comes from Allaah in the ayah:

Hajj (Pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka'bah) is an obligation that humanity owes to Allaah, for those who can find a way (i.e. for those who can find the means to do it). And whoever disbelieves (i.e. denies the Hajj), then Allaah is beyond any need of all that exists (from His creation).” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 197]

And His order in the ayah:

“"Complete (perform properly) the Hajj and Umrah for Allaah..." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 196]

Many people may be performed Hajj more than once or only once and some are not yet willing to perform Hajj although he is able to do it. Some said they are not prepared and they are still young. Coming back from hajj they wanted to be call Haji or Hajah and proud of that. Is there anything wrong if people did not call you Hj or Hjh? Have we ever read the Sirah nabawiyah the prophet (p.b.u.h) and his companions be called haji Muhammad, haji Abu Bakar or haji Omar? Hajj is to surrender ourself to the Almighty Allah and ask for His forgiveness for our past sin and yet we are creating a new one!

That is only from the first page of the Fiqh book in Year 1 in KAFA. Lets see how we can support our children in other matters. Lets say our children ask us about Sirah Nabawiyah, and we oftenly can hear parent in joking mode will say, I am sorry kid I did not know about that and asked your Ustaz or Ustazah. Is the Sirah Nabawiyyah only for those who has learned Islamic Studies? How bout us who declared ourselves as Muslim where the second 6 pillars of faith is to Believe in Prophet (p.b.u.h) and yet we don't know his story? Why we are not bother to learn as well? I suggest.. check..check.. check.. who are we?

Malaysia is a composition of multi-racial people. The people comes from different culture, background and histories. The government is very concern in retaining these cultures even some of them (politician) darely against Islam in the name of cultures. Claimed as progressive Islamic country but contradict to Islamic practices. If asked why is this happening, the answer is very simple "we live in multi-racial society and we have to respect others sensitivity" The government is very careful when to implement Islamic rules because to respect other people feelings, opinions or may be better to say due to some personal or political interest? Even the actual fact and most people can understand because Malaysian is not illeterate anymore. The Islamic rules apllied for muslim and criminal only. Why do we muslims afraid to the law if we not doing any crime? Are they now making any mistakes? Why people are rejecting these rules? Are these rules recently created by human or any bodies? Even it is an ijtimak of ulama, if it based on sahih resources it is not newly invented. I like to repeat it again , are they (muslim) now keep on making mistakes and become a culture therefore cannot get rid of it. So that makes them worry, may be I will do the mistake without realizing and then being punished? What's wrong with rules if it can help prevent us from doing mistake and hence could survive the real punishment afterwards?

When government as an authorized body is not able to control and gear community responsibility to shape the future of the next generation, therefore on whose shoulder should bear the responsbility? They said " Parent must place an important roles as a model to shape their children".

The duty of a parent become very difficult, when there is no support from the institution(education/schools-curriculum, rules), media (newspaper did not publish the correct news summary/improper conclusion or proposing view on the opposite perspectives). If there is good opinion (usually views that urge to go back to basic rules), the intention is hidden or given a highlight topic but sum-up as against modernization. If lucky enough it will be publish as a small piece of note in almost a spotless area.

Whilst entertainment program (tv program - non-educational program, profit-based real-tv program, a half kid-adult talent program) was promoted and given bombastic coverage. Kids shows so called as natural telent programme which usually the initial objective is said to dig out their talent, But after a while, I found that, this is not natural talent, it is a trained talent performed by kids. Usually to mimic their favourite artists or hot/top artist at certain season. Some parent seemed happy to see this. Enjoyed watching their kids to dress like an adult, talk like an adult, use the adult words (usually harsh words) for communication among of them and make jokes like an adult and yet their age just almost 5-9 years old.

I wonder how is it possible to laugh and to enjoy such program. For us as parent we might say, its nothing, only an entertainment. But for kids, do they know and understand that what they are doing? Will they understand that overdressing and silly harshwords only permissibile on stage but not in community?

(to be continued..)

Waiting for the new arrival

Preparing and waiting for the new arrival. Either he or she, still unidentified. The baby too shy to show up. Anyway, neither boy nor girl, it did not bother us a lot. Since, we already have one boy and three girls , Masyallah. If asked the brother and sisters, they prefer girls? Why???? For Eiman he likes to be the only boy in house. While for the girls, may be they thought baby is like a doll which they can play with.

Recent news received, maternity leaves are only 40 days. Previously, the administration had announced it to be 60 days. But dunno from where the errors came from, suddenly it was changed to 40 days. And again without official circulation only verbal instruction from college administration office. This is the uniqueness of this place because rules can change in a blink!... May be I should check by myself with the appropriate channel and confirm the actual rules.

Hajj 1429H

Hajj season is coming again and yesterday approximately 50 Malaysian hujjaj were departed from Yanbu. This is the biggest number of Malaysian hujjaj ever since year 2005. Only 6 people performed hajj last year and lesser a year before. With increasingly number of Malaysian coming to Yanbu, InsyaAllah better arrangement can be made in the future.

InsyaAllah, we wish and pray all of you will be granted with Hajj mabrur.

Yasmeen's Birthday

Yasmeen turned 6 years old today. MasyaAllah she's already grown up. There are always grin in our faces when we discussed about her. Even her grandparents also agreed that memories of raising her could not be removed from the lane. Yasmeen is herself, neither inherited me nor my wife. When asked who does she love most between us, cheerily she replied, both of you mom and dad, slowly coming toward us and kiss us.

She's now attending one of Saudi local school nearby our house and Alhamdulillah so far she able to catch up with other kids. Language is a big barrier for her to excel but InsyaAllah with patient, practice and Allah guide, InsyaAllah she will be doing fine.

Happy Birthday Yasmeen

"Freedom - Are we ?"

When people start questioning the religious matter (law/fatwa), verily the time has come to an end. In the name of freedom and people rights, laws no longer need to be abide. Accepting the laws means left behind.

We are not much different with the peoples of Prophets which constantly denying the messages send to them by Allah. Are we trully blind and deaf? Why we never learnt from histories? Trully the word of Allah is correct and Allah will keep His promises.

More story, follow links below

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/20081122215437/Article/index_html

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/23/nation/2625368&sec=nation

Prince or Princess ?

Guess whose on the next list. Prince or Princess? Will he/she be the "khatam"? Leave it as a big ? as our future is in Allah hand .
"Ya Rabb..Anta A'lam wa ma la na'lam. Anta Rabbuna wa ana a'bduka. Rabbi Ighppirlana wa liwalidaina. Anta maulana wa Anta ghappur wa rrahimin".