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.

Lunch at MUSE Restaurant Jaya ONE

It's a Saturday, July 2nd and everyone is hungry as the clock shows 1.20PM and yet decided to stay back in the office with the intention of skipping lunch. I thought I have to control my food as my wife is doing the stock count at our warehouse in Klang. This is my chance to go without food.

Just then I heard my phone rings and a voice at the other end is no other than my boss. And he asked me if I want to join his group for a lunch at Jaya ONE, fully paid.

"Ah! I thought, "Free lunch! Why not?! Forget about those diet."

I said, "Ok."

The rest of the group are waiting waiting for us a Starbuck, Jaya ONE and MUSE Restaurant is not far Starbuck.

Mushroom Soup

Coke

 

Seafood Aglio Olio

Grilled Lamb Chop - my choice. Nicely grilled and juicy meat, just nice to my taste.

Italian Herb Chicken Chop

 Lunch is complete and my personal verdict; the food is good and i will recommend my friend to have a round if they happen to be in Petaling Jaya.

The premise is cozy and relax. The music is soothing for the tension mind. The staffs are very helpfully and have good knowledge of their foods & Beverages.

It's time to walk back to our office. The sun is blazing hot and yet we are just happy to walk back.

The Team who make it happen!!!

Tangkak Trip for Yii Hii Ling's Wedding Lunch

Welcome back, dear friends.

Now let us continue our story where we stop in my earlier blog post at an old Chinese Coffee shop eating Fried Oyster.

It's still Saturday night and we should be headed for Tangkak, Johor after our last meal in Malacca. But which route? We are undecided as we had two routes to Tangkak and two captains namely Agnes and Irene. I just sit in the car and let them decide. We drived on but not sure wher we are heading.

I think I have to do something.
Slowly I take out my Celcom broadband simcard and put it into my Nokia handphone and start the Goggle Map. I search our location which will be our starting point and lock our destination (Tangkak) as our end point. Now I am the NEW Captain and navigated our way to Tangkak. Agnes is at the wheel and I give her instruction where to turn.

We reached Tangkak at around 10.00 PM and we checked in to OPHIR HOTEL after we parked our car near the hotel. I booked the washroom for I am the Captain but Irene beat me as I am too slow carrying our bags. She also beat me on my netbook. I am lost again.

After washing ourselves, we took a rest. These two ladies let the temprature of the aircon rael low around
19-20celsius and keep the fan blowing fast. Maybe they are still felt warm after our hot day walk in Malacca.  And yet I can see that they are pulling their bed cover to their necks.

Funny. I am freezing cool.

While they are sleeping, I start my last minute reading/study on the Story of King David and his son King Solomon for my Monday's Bible study Class. About 30 minutes later, I also lost to my eyes and pull myself next to my wife.
In the Bible Reading, I learned about sacrifice and now I sacrifice my comfort for the sack of these two ladies. I am freezing cool and they are sleeping like babies.

On Sunday morning, we wake up late and told them about the freezing cool.

Their answer......
"Why don't you off it when it is too cool for you or you may slow the fan?" Now I think I sacrifice for the wrong reason. I should eat more shell fish and live like normal man as most human are selfish.

After washing ourselves, we go to this Famous Tangkak Bah kut Teh Restaurant which is a few minutes drive from our hotel.

All photos taken with an Olympus uTough 810 - Point & Shoot camera.



Bah kut Teh - Pork ribs in Chinese herbal soup