No to Road Accident - Lafarge

 As we approached the Damansara Toll plaza, the smiling faces of Lafarge's staffs greet us with green bags in their hands.

 The wording of the bag 'No to Road Accident' which handed over by those staff caught my attention. A very good reminder to our road users.

 Wow!! This is good way to remind us to be careful on the road. Special thanks to Lafarge for their great effort to save lives.
A real Malaysian, a 1Malaysia mindset company.

The contain of the bag are one 500ml mineral water, a white hat key chain holder, a pamplet for dangerous route in West Malaysia, a pamplet on Guidance and Tips on Tyre maintenance, Motorcyclist Security Info, a black car shade and a car sticker 'No To Road Accident'.

Lafarge, once again we thank you.

Happy Malaysia Day to all Malaysian and may you have a great and safe journey wherever you go.
May God bless Malaysia and her people.

Just Draw it

Everyday is a different day and everyday is special. Sometime when we SEE something is interesting, we want to treasure the image in physical form for the future viewing or showing to our friends.
All of us can capture the image in our mind and describe it in the words of our mouths.

For example:  While we are walking in our neighbourhood, we SEE a child wearing a colourful dress playing with a green baby grasshopper in a garden by a small stream while her mother is watching. Her mother is pointing to the stream which indicate a warning of the danger even if we can not hear any words.

We can easily tell our friends in words with detail what we saw when we walk in our neighbourhood except the mother pointing to the stream. Why? Because we think it's not relevant. Actual it is relevant as it is an action of the character in our frame of the story.

The better way....JUST DRAW IT!

Pictures tell a better story than words as any action in picture has it's own meaning.

When I learn Tae Kwon Do in my schooling days, I always accompany my description of movement with images as images are easy to understand. It does not matter how bad your drawing is but still the picture stick better in our memory.

Before get my Nokia N73 handphone back in 2005, normally when I SEE anything interesting especially the morning sunrise, I will grab my note pad with my colour pensil and start to draw the best I can of what I see at that moment. My drawings are not so good but all the MAIN subjects are there. The round yellowish morning sun and it's striking rays which attract me in the first place. I can add anything else in the picture later. Then fix it in a frame.

The main point here is 'put in what we want to be in the frame to tell our story' so the other person who see it have the same interest and excitement as we have when we see the image for the first time. You may ask, "What about other structure like building and tree?" Those are things to enhance your picture.

Example: Sunrise at KL Twin tower or sunrise between the leaves of your palm trees lokes better than when you saw the actual sunrise in-front of your house.

I am attracted by the three rays. I saw this sunrise image over Bukit Jelutung as we drive out of Puncak Alam Expressway on the way to St. Ignatius Church on the morning Pope John Paul II passed away.

You can add the rest of the images to your main subject to make it complete. In drawing, you are the main controller. You are recalling what you saw and add something to make it more pleasing to the eyes.

It's simple...JUST DRAW IT!

When my Nokia N73 took over, then it's a different way of capturing images.

The basic of drawing principle still apply but the motto change from "Just Draw it" to "Just Shoot It."

The fact is, when you draw the image is still alive until you frame it; but when you shot, the image is dead except you can do a bit of resurrection for touch up in Photoshop.

Last not least, happy drawing and be back with Just Shoot It.

Selamat Hari Raya Puasa

"Selamat Hari Raya Puasa, Maaf Zahir dan Batin" are phrases we normal heard the people say when the Muslim completed their fasting month of Ramadhan and the feast started.

But what actually happen during this month....

I did the same fasting during my schooling days in Kelantan.

I started fasting in the month of Ramadhan during Form One and quit fasting one year after Form Six. I am quitting as some kampong people said I am weird, fasting and yet I am not Muslim. Furthermore I am really exhausted working alone cutting down sago in the farm without food and water.

In the beginning, I know nothing of fasting and I fast because my Muslim friends are fasting. Our Ustaz and Ustazah at the school really helped in my understanding of what fasting really is. But my friend used to laugh at me for fasting without pahala (grace).

They used to say, "Ah! Ari, your fasting is worthless. You are not a Muslim"

But Ustaz told me that fasting is more than food alone, it include your eyes and your ears, your hands and your legs, your mouth, your tongue and your nose, your desire and your heart.

What a wonderful fast it can be?!

It trains my eyes to be impartial and merciful.

It trains my ears to be attentive to the goodness of others.

It trains my hands to be fast to help others.

It trains my legs to avoid bad hats but fast to go where the help is needed.

It trains my mouth to speak gracious words to encourage and uplift others who are down.

It trains my tongue to hold tight when bad word comes to my ears.

It trains my desire to be holy.

It trains my heart to have love and compassion towards others.

Wonder why they said it's worthless for me!!!!

Even when Allah do not give me anything as per my friend said but Fasting trained me to be a better person.

In a few days , we are having Hari Raya Puasa celebration  and I wish you, brothers and sisters,

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA PUASA. MAAF ZAHIR BATIN."

It's a day to celebrate the training is completed with flying colours. Fasting month is completed full heartedly and the new being emerge with purity of mind and heart and ready to walk amongst the wolves.

It's a celebration of victory over the Evil.

Once again,

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA PUASA. MAAF ZAHIR BATIN."

May Peace be with you.

Durian Time at SS2

It's Friday and I have taken a half day leave specially for this durian eating session at SS2 Petaling Jaya. 

Furthermore my Father-in-law is in town to accompany me eating durian which I never taste since a few yaers ago.

We chose the stall on the left next to the Nasi Lemak stall.

As the middle age man cracked open the first durian, "WOW!"

So inviting as if saying..."EAT ME!!!!"

My head was a bit headache when we arrived at the durian stall but I just ignore it. My mind was focused on tasting this King of Malaysia fruits and my headache gone by the time I took my first bite.

My father-in-law just smiled at me as I took picture of him and he said, "Makan lar!" which meant "Eat!"

Actually he is not eating but his wife is eating the durian with me.

His wife is enjoying her durian. I thought she really can eat durian but the end she is just an average durian eater like me.

While we were eating the sign on the stall, shout at us "EAT UNTIL YOU FULL for RM 9.90".

My wife said we should eat at least three durian each but by the 4th durian, we surrendered.

My wife ask for the camera to take my picture eating durian but I ignore her and took her picture instead.

For those who love durian, now is the good time to have a go at SS2 Durian stall which is just next to the Police station or next to my favourite Nasi Lemak Stall. Can't wait for the second round.