2011 in review... Travel: "trouble seems to follow"

Kakijalan travelled far this year: 4 new countries, 3 return visits. Alhamdulillah I've been very fortunate.

January… The interrupted trip of a lifetime to Egypt.
Planning began 5 months earlier. The plan was KUL – Luxor – Abu Simbel – Aswan – Cairo – KUL... Complete with side trips to Abydos, Dendara, Edfu, Esna and a hot air balloon ride. But fate intervened...
Arrived in Luxor (albeit later than scheduled due to a missed connection in Doha… God must have been trying to tell me something) to the news that the anti-Government protests in Cairo has escalated into a full blown revolution. But things were calm in Luxor. The only signs of unrest was that almost every Egyptian were glued to their radio or TV waiting for the latest news from Cairo. But as a non-Arab speaking tourist who has a tight schedule, I was blissfully ignorant (which is a blessing!). The other tourists also seemed unfazed. So I went along my merry way to visit Karnak temple, Luxor temple, Valley of the Kings, Tombs of the Nobles, Hatshepsut temple, Ramesseum, Colossi of Memnon etc. They were amazing!
But a few days later, the mood changed. Ahmed (the owner of the tour guide company that I used) and Mohammed (my driver) had a worried look in their eyes. My early morning hot air balloon never materialise as the air force had shut down the airspace. Internet was down. Unknown to me (since my room didn’t have a TV), there was chaos on Tahrir Square, people had died, Mubarak was toppled, the police had abandoned their post. My driver told me that the police had even freed thugs from prisons which led to curfews and enforcement of martial law. With no police, the public had to fend for themselves.
The villages around Luxor organised a rukun tetangga to protect their families. I saw men with senapang, parang, sabit, cangkul, belantan by the road side guarding the entrance to the villages. Our car would get stopped every now and then. Obviously Mohammed, who is a local, knew the men from the villages, so except for the frequent stops, we didn’t face any problems. Mohammed himself had a shift to jaga kampong the night before.
Somehow, despite the display of weaponry, I never felt threatened. Mohammed and Ahmed continuously assured me that they will do all they can to keep me safe, even if it meant that I will have to stay with their family. The staff at the hotel where I was staying also repeatedly asked how I was, whether I am ok. They too reassured me not to worry because as a sister in Islam, they will be there to protect me. Alhamdulillah! Despite all the of the problems that the rest of the world was witnessing on BBC, CNN, AlJazeera etc, I had a totally different experience. I saw the strong sense of community and care amongst penduduk Luxor, genuine concern for a lone female traveller in a foreign land, the friendliness of the Egyptians and the beauty of a simple life.
Fortunately (for me anyway), all the “excitement” were in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities near the delta. The media as works, portrayed as if there was huru hara throughout the country. So, families and friends were rightfully concerned. With phone lines and internet down, they couldn’t contact me. When they finally did, I could sense their fear. SMS masuk menderu2... ppl were posting on FB “Uji... are you ok?” followed by “what were you thinking going to Egypt?” ;) Since I couldn’t proceed with my travel plans, Ina helped me book the earliest flight home (thanks Ina!) which was 2 days later. So, I still managed to squeeze in a road trip to Dendara and Abydos... shared the van with a retired Canadian teacher. Dia lagi kelakar... “I wish I was in Cairo where all the excitement are”, from the look in his eyes, I knew he wasn’t kidding. On the way home, had a 12 hrs layover, so sempat singgah to meet up with Adderi & her family, plus a quick tour of Doha (thanks Adderi!).
But I’m not done with Egypt... ;)

to be continued...

Day 364, 1 day left in the year...

No blogs this year... mainly because I've been using FB more frequently. But re-reading old blogs made me want to start writing again.

So with 1 day left in the year, I will write about the happenings in 2011... but it will have to wait until office hours ends ;)

what?? it's already 18 january?!?

Goodness... how time flies. This year the days went by so quickly! It's only the 18th day of the year and I'm already exhausted... And it's already the 18th!!

In a few days, it will be genap sebulan since I'm back from hajj. I'm behind on many things that I've set myself to do... astaghfirullah. Trying my best to keep the momentum going. It's all with me... whether buat ke tak, I have no one else to blame but me. Ya Allah, give me strength and persistence.

I wish the days would slow down a bit... tercungap-cungap nak keep up.

Not quite liking how things are right now... need to institute some change.

as another year draws to an end...

There are only 6 more days left in the year... where did the rest go? Hmm... each year time flies faster, as if there is a race. Maybe there is a race... towards the Day of Reckoning. It is said that time moves faster as Qiamat draws nearer.

It has been a while since I last wrote... I had every intention to, but fatigue overcomes me. These past few months have just been crazy, bar the past 35 days. Often I have stories swimming in my head as I drive home... wanting to share a story, an experience, an observation... but I failed. Blogging is a way to "capture time"... to have something to refer to in order to recollect. So in a way I'm disappointed with myself.

However, I do have lots of stories to share about what had happened in the past 2 months or so. As it marked a major milestone in my life. No... I did not get married. It was something even bigger. I went for THE journey of my life... Hajj.

I am not eloquent enough to properly describe how it feels... words fail me, and the best way I can describe it is that it was a beautiful, wonderful and amazing experience. I know... that's how many others would describe it, but I'm sure every person has his/her own unique experience. There's nothing like it... to feel so close to Him amidst millions of other worshippers. Subhanallah!

I'm so glad and fortunate to have a spiritual experience as bookends to my year... started with umrah in January and ended with Hajj in November/December. Couldn't have asked for a better year =) And even better, I celebrated Maal Hijrah while in Madinah, after Hajj. What better way to "renew" oneself in a blessed city. I might not have had my family with me, but I was with my other brothers and sisters.

I don't have a new year's resolution, but instead I have a "balik haji" resolution... several in fact. I just hope to be able to keep up with it. Syaitan's temptations and lure is admittedly stronger here, and I'm easily distracted. Ya Allah, save your servant and forgive her for her mistakes, O the Most Forgiving.

Insyaallah... I will write down my to-do list on my wall to remind myself. How can I attain Jannah if I remain the way I am. Terlalu sedikit amalan hambamu ini Ya Allah and terlalu banyak dosaku. I pray that I will be amongst the righteous and be led towards the right path. Ameen...

Ramadan stories...

Story 1
Ina and I were on our way home from tarawikh at Masjid Wilayah when we suddenly heard keletuk… keletak… keletuk… keletak…

“Bunyi apa tu Ina?”
“Eh… apa tu?” she pointed at an object on the passenger seat windscreen.
“That’s my shoe!” Kebetulan we were stopping at a traffic light. “Cepat Ina… ambik”
She quickly opened the door and grabbed the shoe, just in time before the lights turn green.

“Macam mana lah boleh ada kat situ…” and we giggled at what had happened.
Then my mind started thinking of various theories. “Maybe masa Ina nak keluar kereta, you tertendang my shoe out kut”. I usually place my shoe on the passenger seat. “Nasib baik ada orang baik letakkan atas kereta”
“Ha’ah… nasib baik tak jatuh and kita langgar sampai patah”, Ina added with a laugh.

Alhamdulillah… my brown Clarks were saved. Berkat bulan Ramadan =)


Story 2
“u there?”
“yup”
“jom buka puasa at Tamarind Springs… with eVo and G.O.D”
“ok… as long as tak lambat mcm last year”
“ha’ah… takpe, zoe boleh jaga meja”

It was not about lambat buka puasa, but lambat solat Maghrib sampai ter“miss”… makan punya hal.

So… not wanting a repeat, I carefully watched my watch as we devoured the delicious spread. At 7:55pm I quickly left the group and headed for the nearby surau, aided by my trusted Garmin. Itu pun kena reverse 2 kali coz ter miss junction.

As I walked towards the surau, my eyes quickly searched for area perempuan. Seeing a green tabir, I quickly headed there. It was small… very small in fact. Why so small? my little heart wondered. But seeing that it’s already past 8pm, I ignored the peculiarity.

Tengah nak pakai telekung, a young boy approached me “Kak… saf perempuan kat bangunan belah sana” (side note: he called me kak! What a thrill… having being called makcik so often nowadays ;p )
“Kat mana? Boleh tunjukkan?”
“Kat situ” he pointed. “Akak boleh lalu kat sini” as he guided me.
“Terima kasih dik” I thanked him with a smile.

As I walked back to my car, I tersenyum sendiri. Shouldn’t be so gopoh… even if it is to buat benda baik. A good lesson learnt in Ramadan.

Ramadan al-Mubarak !

Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. Allah wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify Allah for guiding you, and to express your appreciation
(Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Rasulullah SAW said: Surely, the month of Ramadan is a great one. Allah multiplies in it the good deeds, erases in it the sins and elevates in it the ranks

Am really looking forward to Ramadan... and hope that I'll be better this year.
My Ramadan planner checklist
» Sahur
Hadith Rasulullah SAW:
“Make sure to have your sahur meal, for sahur is blessed” – Al-Bukhari & Muslim
“The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is the sahur meal” – Muslim

» Solat fardu berjemaah
Hadith Rasulullah SAW:
“Offering prayer in congregation carries 27 times greater reward than offering it alone” – Al-Bukhari & Muslim
“He who offers Isha’ prayer in congregation is just like one who spends half the night in voluntary prayer, and if he then also offers Fajr prayer in congregation, it is like he spends the whole night in voluntary prayer” – Muslim
“Whoever performed wudhu’ well and then went to the mosque, but found that the people have finished the congregational prayer will have bestowed upon him by Allah the same reward as those who had offered the prayer in congregation” – Abu Daud & An-Nasa’i

» Solat sunat rawatib
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “Allah prepares a house in Paradise for every believer who offers 12 rakaat of voluntary prayer everyday beyond which is obligatory for him” – Muslim

» Zikir
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “The best kind of remembrance to Allah is ‘La ilaha illallah’ ” – At-Tirmidhi
Dan sebutlah nama Tuhanmu pada waktu pagi dan petang, dan pada sebahagian dari malam, maka sujudlah kepadaNya dan bertasbihlah kepadaNya pada bahagian yang panjang di malam hari – Al Insan, 76: 25 & 26
Dan sebutlah nama Tuhanmu dalam hatimu dgn merendahkan diri dan rasa takut, dan dgn tidak meninggikan suara, di waktu pagi dan petang, dan janganlah kamu termasuk orang-orang yang lalai – Al A’raf, 7:205
Orang-orang yang mengingati Allah sambil berdiri atau duduk atau dalam keadaan berbaring dan mereka memikirkan tentang penciptaan langit dan bumi (seraya berkata) “Ya Tuhan kami, tiadalah Engkau menciptakan ini dengan sia-sia, Maha Suci Engkau, maka peliharalah kami dari siksa neraka – Al Imran 3:191

» Membaca al-Quran
Hadith Rasulullah SAW:
“Read the Quran, for it will come forward on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its readers” – Muslim
“He who recites the Quran fluently will be in the company of the noble and virtuous angels, and he who recites the Quran haltingly and with difficulty will have a double reward” – Al-Bukhari & Muslim
“When a person recites one letter from the Quran it is one good deed, but brings rewards equal to ten good deeds. I do not meen “alif, laam, meem” is one letter, but “alif” is one letter, “laam” is one letter and “meem” is one letter” – At-Tirmidhi
When the Quran is read, listen to it with attention and hold your peace that ye may receive Mercy – Al-A’raf 7:204

» Doa sebelum dan selepas makan
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “The thankful eater is like the person fasting patiently” – At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah & Darimi

» Solat sunat tarawikh, sunat tahajjud, sunat hajat, sunat taubat
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “Sesiapa yang mengerjakan Qiyamu Ramadan (menghidupkan malamnya dengan mengerjakan sembahyang) semata-mata kerana iman dan mengharap ganjaran dari Allah, maka diampuni dosa-dosanya yang lampau” – Abu Hurairah

» Solat sunat witir
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “Sesungguhnya Allah itu witir (ganjil), dan Dia menyukai witir, maka lazimkanlah solat witir, wahai ahli Al-Quran” – Abu Daud, At-Tirmidhi

» Niat puasa dan beristigfar sebelum tidur
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “Allah accepts the repentance of a man as long as he is not at a point of death” – Ibn Majah, An-Nasa’i

» Bersedekah
Hadith Rasulullah SAW: “A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise, close to people and far away from Hell. A miser is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from people and close to Hell. An ordinary, generous person is dearer to Allah than a religious miser” – At-Tirmidhi

Have a blessed Ramadan everyone!!

i'm published!

Received the book last week. Am estatic. Never thought that I'd ever be credited in a book. Albeit a small book. And it isn't because of anything I wrote. But nonetheless...

Europe Escapade pix up!

Photos from our Day1 in London is up. Links below...

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873309 Bus ride and The City

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873321 Tower of London

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873326 Tower Bridge

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873338 Buckingham Palace and the Changing of Guards

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873365 British Museum

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873362 Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)

http://kakijalan.fotopages.com/?entry=1873368 Stamford Bridge (Chelsea)

hear! hear!

A totally "ciplak-ed" article from today's The Star

Need to produce thinking students
IKIM views by Nik Roskiman Abdul Samad

There has to be a system able to educate and equip the people with all the tools necessary to face the complex pressures of modern society.

WE celebrated Teachers’ Day a few weeks ago. Talk of education always brings to my mind a speech given by Dorothy L. Sayers at Oxford in 1947, which was later printed in essay form bearing the title The Lost Tools of Learning.

Although Sayers was not an educationist, but rather a novelist, her profound critique of the modern education system has initiated a classical education movement in the US and Europe.

I first came across her ideas several years ago, and those ideas have stayed in my mind. And I find them to be relevant more so now as our government is planning to review or revamp our education system and curriculum.

It is indeed timely for the Government to introduce a new education system that is able to really educate and equip the people with all the tools necessary to face the complex pressures of modern society.

This is the crux of Sayer’s critique of the modern education system: the inability to produce educated people equipped with the necessary tools of modern life.

Our national education system has failed, the public has said. They are clamouring for a better education system to replace the present one. Our system is accused of being exam-oriented and produces trained “parrots”. Why?

One of the reasons is that our system today is burdening students with too many subjects. Since there are too many subjects, teachers are not able to concentrate on developing personalities and individual characters. Their focus is on completing the entire syllabus of every subject, otherwise the students may not be able to answer questions in the coming term examinations.

No time is spared for inter-personal discussions, counselling or informal advice-giving sessions between teachers and students. The situation in our country is worsened by the attitudes of some of our ministers or politicians, who want to have their say with regard to the education system.

It is as though every minister deems he has the right to have his say in deciding what subjects should or should not be taught in our schools, without being duly qualified.

When we feel that the trend is towards Information Technology (IT), we want subjects related to IT to be taught in schools.

Later, when we dispatched our angkasawan to the moon, we wanted Astronomy to be part of our curriculum.

When we feel entrepreneurship is important, we want it to be part of the subjects taught in schools.

Recently, we seem to feel that national unity and patriotism is at stake, therefore we demand that these subjects be included in the national curriculum. It goes on endlessly.

We have actually lost sight of what education is all about and what its true objective entails.

Education is not about teaching particular “subjects”. Neither it is about the number of subjects taught in schools. It is about nurturing a human being to be a “good man”.

Modern students today are certainly taught more subjects, but that does not mean they are actually “good” or know more; nor does it mean they are better equipped than those before them.

Compared with students of the Athenean Middle Ages, who only studied three subjects at the trivium and four subjects at the quadrivium, for example, today’s students should perform better, considering their intellectual growth.

But this is not the case. Many a time an interview panel is frustrated with the performance of our graduates, despite their having spent more than a decade at the primary and secondary education levels and approximately four years at the tertiary level.

They certainly “studied” hundreds of subjects and, yet, they do not know the basics, have no confidence in speaking, no critical and logical thought when arguing, have no common sense, rational thought and so on. Why?

Because they had never been taught to think, how to use reason or how to argue during their entire “formal” education.

The only reason they have succeeded thus far is, perhaps, purely because they were good at memorising data – not that their intellect has been developed.

The findings of child development psychiatrists and research workers have emphasised the deep impressions early experiences have on children and the lasting effects of such impressions.

Comenius, in The School of Infancy, Montessori, in his The Secret of Childhood, and countless others have stressed the importance of right education at an early age.

In Islam, emphasis is given even when the parent is still searching for his spouse, seeking only for one with upright religious bearing since their children will be affected by their parents’ character.

At their early stage, children should be taught the proper use of the tools of learning before they begin to apply these to “subjects”, which should only be taught at a later stage.

At the foundational stage, they should only be taught three things, the trivium: Grammar, Logic (Dialectic), and Rhetoric.

This is quite similar to the traditional Islamic primary education where children at an early age should be taught, among other things, the Qur’an, language, literature (adab), ethics (akhlaq) and logic (mantiq).

Only at the secondary or university levels perhaps whatever subjects suit the national interest and the contemporary age may be introduced.

In general, children in Malaysia are reluctant to go to school, unlike children in the developed countries who exhibit eagerness and enthusiasm.

Children in Europe find school very interesting, and their teachers to be very loving and friendly. In Malaysia, even before going to school, we have a hard time with our children.

Teachers are assumed to be fierce because of their demeanor, like “teacher-cum-police” officers.

They also envision being bombarded with too much information that they are required to know, not to mention writing.

But their ability to reflect, think and ponder is not being groomed and developed. They are required to memorise data where all the answers are given.

Our education policy makers should sit down seriously with educationists and “experts” to come up with a better education policy for the sake of our future generations.

We have had enough of the same old moans whenever review of our education system is mentioned. Nothing substantial has been done thus far. Even the perennial issue of heavy school bags has not been effectively resolved yet.

Hopefully the “people’s Prime Minister” will look into this matter more urgently.

ouch!

My need to be connected to the electronic world (largely fuelled by my obsession with House and the outcome of the final 2 episodes for the season) has come back and bit me HARD! Although I had promised myself not to use my blackberry during the recent trip, I succumbed. The desire to know what happened was too strong.

So now I'm paying (literally!) for it.

Bill for this month - monthly charges RM99; Usage chargesRM987.18. After tax and all the bill came to RM1,205.98

DAMN!!

I could have bought that Celine bag which was on sale for that amount of money.

So... BIG lesson learnt. NEVER use blackberry to surf internet while travelling abroad.

Such a big waste of money... :(