Lens of Lufias

Back in Malaysia and an end to Lens of Lufias

2009-06-28T22:43:00.001+09:00

Firstly I’ve been dead busy and now back in Malaysia for good over the past 2 months. The Japan chapter for me is already over and now it’s time for me to move on with a “new” chapter of life in Malaysia.

It’s been a roller coaster ride in emotion, feeling, thought, faith and almost everything over there. An honest love for someone special that ended in a walk-out which was due to my own fault. That person is someone whom I treasure, although I’m not sure whether I’ll be meeting her again. However, I could only pray to God that she’d be one of those guided by Him. But there is one thing I want to ask from her is forgiveness for what ever let down n etc I’ve done towards her.

Still looking for a job around, but I might be venturing into new fields apart from automotive. What interests me was when Aimran @ watafak told me abt future potential engineering. It’s a fast changing world, especially things what we used to crave for is what we have to let it go.

New ideas, concept, things have to run in our mind to keep on moving and being too content with what we have would put us back while everyone moves forward.

I’d like to thank those who read my blog. I’ll be creating a new one for this whole new chapter. I wonder what will the blogname shall be ? Will let you know as soon as possible

Moved out (part 1)

2009-03-23T23:26:00.001+09:00

It’s been a hectic week prior and post graduation. i.e. Moving…

First started with moving out the furnitures and electrical appliances… That was an adventure of its own. It was right after I got the news that I officially passed all my exams and thesis on Monday, the next day I got the cardboard boxes ready and a van reserved on Friday & Saturday. Started with a rainy Tuesday, I quickly boxed up books, magazines and notes without looking at the priorities. This is just to make way for bookshelf, bed, washing machine,kotatsu, fridge, cupboard, TV, etc…Friday alone was a dreadful one with heavy rain and strong winds,added with a van that wasn’t equipped with a GPS navigation system… But thankfully, with the aid of my juniors yang amat disayangi… most of the stuff are packed and secured in the van. But that night only me and Wahi was involved carrying the bed which was the most difficult task.

Once I got the stuff sent, it is Saturday… and I only had 3 hours sleep.

That afternoon I had lunch and tea with 2 lovely Japanese teachers and my Malaysian friends from the language school. Then I checked in a Biz Hotel near Osaka Station to take a quick rest , prayers , bath and prepare for a party with my labmates. That was another ordeal for me… After the meal, I decided to go back before the 2nd session or else I’d breakdown.

Had a good sleep at OS Hotel and it was a good Sunday for me.

It was Monday and Tuesday, and I was hunting for a good and affordable moving service. But all costs at an exhorbitant RM 5k onwards. So I started to throw away books, notes, and things of low importance. That was about 30-40kg of rainforest products and oil related products…

However , that Tuesday Afternoon a friend of mine from Wakayama became my lifesaver. I was told that she and her friends reserved a container for Malaysia and seems there is some space for a humble 7 boxes for me. Quickly reserved a Nissan X-trail and stacked up the stuff with the help of my juniors kesayangan. In return, gave them my ol Toshiba notebook, my relatively new monitor, old 120GB HDD and etc…It’s a bit pricey especially the monitor, but they have done a priceless effort on helping me on the furnitures and boxes or else I would die standing.

Drove the X-trail to Wakayama on that Wednesday and left for Osaka that night and returned the car

Thursday and Friday was reserved for a test drive review of Nissan Skyline Coupe but things didn’t work out as planned. Thursday spent a lot of time on the highway leaving no space for my friend to take shots of the car zooming down the road. And on Friday it was a rainy day. Used the car to transport boxes and bags instead which sounded pretty funny. Imagine using a Lotus Elise to carry a cupboard across the city.

After moving to my temporary abode in Higashi Osaka, most of the unwanted stuff are thrown away and room cleaned up. Everything is good and I moved to Higashi Osaka for a week plus with Wahi. He was dead tired with work at the Conference and had other issues coming up.

to be continued…

End of a chapter

2009-02-19T12:31:00.001+09:00

No, I'm not closing my blog or what. But actually an end of a chapter in my life. I've just completed my final year thesis, which answers my irregular posting. All thanks to God, I've passed my thesis and managed to present them smoothly without any sign of panic and nervousness. The do'a (prayers) of Nabi Musa A.S. prior to face the Pharaoh is indeed useful and I highly recommend it to those who are going to present.

While I was busy doing my thesis and experiment, I went out for a test drive back in 1st and 2nd January. It was about 2 extremes, 2 technological breakthrough, 2 wonders of the automotive world. The Toyota Prius and the Mazda RX-8. I'm sure many have read professional reviews, watched Top Gear and heard from various people but I think it would be better if could add some different perspective.

Just yesterday I went out for a drive in the new Nissan Cube. Obviously, to some it's one ugly car but let's take it as "one man's meat is the other man's poison". It is literally a cube on wheels, but a nicely shaped one. On the inside, you see water ripple effect on the ceiling of the cabin and various curves of the 25th century. Very much like a car of the future, minus some of the boring aspects such as the typical dials and buttons you find in a normal car and a boring colour tone. Since it is a rented car, I wouldn't complaint much about it.

Thesis ? Yup, my thesis is related to dental restoration materials. No, I'm not doing Medical stuff but Mechanical Engineering. Interestingly I learnt how to make a false tooth and know how strong it gets. There is like some "main masak-masak" (play cooking) in the research where you'd be weighing the mass of the material, mixing them using the mortar and pestle, and curing the material with a light machine. Then, I perform a fatigue test on the material which goes back to what I've learnt in A levels and Material Dynamics II.

There are limitless possibilities in the research with the materials in hand. It would be interesting if I'm paid to do the research and find the ideal material for replacing a broken tooth. Fatigue related experiment takes time before it fails. Let's say 2 nights in the lab ? What I was told, is that one spent 5 nights in the lab and the material didn't break.

Now I'm a bit free to rest and enjoy a cup of tea while reading some books about life, but I feel like I missed those adventure. Adventures like, getting red inks, blue inks, green inks on thesis showing a number of correction needed to be done. 5 corrections and still a lot of red inks. It is pressuring and stressful when seeing one's own work is being red ink-ed so I had to spend some of my thesis at a coffee shop with a relaxing ambience and cute waitresses with cute voice LOL....

The home is rather cold and depressing so I tried to maximise my time outside. If it is a warm home with "someone" around, maybe that might keep me motivated. I don't know, we'll see how it go.

I only have less than 2 months in Japan and it's time to start a new chapter once I reach home. A lot of uncertainties out there with the depression looming around. Only God I depend on for my happiness and provisions. I just need to be sabr (steadfast) on whatever befalls on me - which is also my weak point.

Wrapping up 2008...

2008-12-31T03:34:00.003+09:00

2008 is about to enter it's end and welcoming 2009. At the same time a welcome to the new Islamic year 1430AH (After Hijrah) which took place on 29th December 2008. Now in the lab performing fatigue stress test on dental composite material for my final year thesis. Still need to produce a lot of results and proper experiments only begun not more than 2 months ago due to unavailable material to produce the specimen.

January has been an interesting month as I remembered 2nd January when I met two wonderful Japanese Muslimahs at the Mosque. Both became Muslim on Eid Adha in two different part of the world and their story was captivating and inspiring even for a born Muslim like me. Somehow it makes me think, am I doing a good job as a Muslim ? It shivers me as someone who is in a conflict between material crave and mission to be successful in the hereafter.

At the same time, I met Abir who is from Jordan, but working in Miyazaki. Someone from the Middle East whom I can enjoy talking to. Quite an extrovert but also a lot of things I've learned through conversations with her.

Exams kicked in and time flew so fast that after the last paper, it is time to visit Miyazaki. With a wonderful Jordanian-Circassian hospitality, I had a great stay in Miyazaki although there were some misunderstandings between Abir and I. Things like this happen between cultures, but we got along pretty well.

The trip around Miyazaki was breathtaking and if it weren't because of Abir's kind invitation, I would have never thought of going there. I thought to myself again, God willing,I shall go there again next year...We learnt from one another about photography and talked about cultures and food and lastly... Shisha... 1st try on shisha and that was memorable...

It was mid February when Itou-san, a good looking middle age man invited me, Mr and Mrs Nakabayashi, Ms Fukuda, and the rest for a Crab feasting trip. Yes, winter is the season of crab harvesting and it's famous in the Kansai region. It was my 1st visit to the Japan Sea in Winter. The crab was delicious, Onsen in winter was enjoyable, and the trip to Izushi town was memorable. Sadly someone couldn't come as she had an urgent work to do, instead we bought something for her.

After the trip, I took a driving license test so that I could drive my parents around and to help ferrying OIT Team Regalia to the circuit and back. Took a few hours of driving lessons and thank God I passed my driving test on the 2nd trial. The driving test itself isn't difficult but the detail oriented examiner will eventually fail you for little details that you didn't do. It was costly for the lessons but looking back, there are people who took the test more than 10 times yet they still fail them. Osaka is the 2nd hardest place in Japan to pass the driving test, so that's one achievement if someone could pass it for the 1st time.

When I got my license, Abir came over and I rented a Toyota ist to familiarise driving around Osaka. What I was told that Osaka is the most notorious place to drive in Japan as road manners are terrible by Japanese standards. So I decided to take the plunge and drive through the so called "madness". Surprisingly, it is still way below my standard of "madness". I think notorious Osaka drivers will turn out to be an innocent little pup when they meet the drivers in KL, Rome, Jakarta, Egypt and the rest of the world...

Then when my parents came to Japan in March, we went to Hiroshima by car and back. The journey was pretty breathtaking, not to mention having to pass through 200 tunnels back and forth and my dad observing the cleanliness of Japanese trucks. It is pretty unusual to rent a car in Japan as Japan boasts it's public transportation. Yes I agree they are efficient and convenient, but there are times that we need to have a little more freedom and see things our own way.

Then April kicked in, sakura flowers blooming across Japan and school season have started. Nothing much for me as I'm more attached to my lab than the classroom. However I have to take a few subjects to meet the 132 credits minimum in order to graduate. Got to know one of the muslima better and we got to know each other more.

Then May kicked in, first time going to Tokyo and back in a day.There was a Job fair for Malaysian students in Japan, so I decided to participate and see how things work. I was there to look around but not immediately to find a job as my plan was to graduate and stay in Japan till my Visa ends. Why ? Mainly making up what I haven't been doing for the past 4 years and to help improvise Team Regalia that many of my friends and I established.

My cousin came in for a week and took a break and brought him around Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. On the last day I decided to send him to the airport by car and then off to Kobe to meet the muslima friend of mine. However after wrapping up that day, I went back home but slapped with a speeding ticket. My 1st ticket in 7 years of driving life.

June was rather busy as we were rushing to build our 2nd car. The situation was bleak as there weren't any proper plans to build the car and design problems arose especially on the front suspension. Then I was told that the plan was cut short - i.e. to complete the car by this year's race. It is impossible to start a new concept in less than a year. Pushrod suspension, new materials, etc is just not feasible in a year. Designing a car alone takes more than a year. However, with all the frustration there is relief as I rented a Nissan Skyline over the weekend. That was one of the most memorable drive ever. It has been my dream car (especially the GTR version) of driving one, and finally took a chance of driving the sedan. Despite not being the GTR, it was one of the best cars driven.

July, the exam month kicked in and I took a few papers as usual. After that in August, the DreamCup Solarcar Challenge 2008 event was held at Suzuka Circuit and this time 20 of us turned up for the race. Unfortunately the Iris Zero Two didn't make it and Iris Type One was still Iris Type One without any much improvement. The only improvement was that we have more members to do the job and well equipped. The muslima I met, things didn't work out well and we parted ourselves. I realised the 2 months getting to know her taxed me a lot, financially to the extend that my phone bills were like 18,000 yen / month.

In August, the week after the race was the trip to the white sand beach in Mie with my labmates. The first impression about white sand beach in Japan.....yeah ! you know what I mean...In the end I spent the whole day in the lodge playing Daifugo, Nintendo DS and watching TV as the beach was a little too sinful for me. It made me think, I wish I could have a wife who would wear a Bikini / G-string and just both of us in a white sand beach without other people around....hahahahaha... in my dreams...

The stress built up in me was tremendous and the following day after I got back from the trip, I decided to release it all in a Nissan Fairlady Z. It was a good way of stress relief and at the same time get to taste something I might not be able to taste it in Malaysia - i.e. to drive such powerful car. It was a great car in terms of performance, but realised it burned my wallet deep.

On Thursday I rented a Mazda MX-5 Roadster as I was curious on my dad's glorious old days having the Triumph Spitfire. Decided to drive to Tokushima with the open top and that was a breathtaking experience. I did turn on the aircond a little to keep my legs warm but otherwise, the breeze would just cool me down - apart from messing up my hair. That too was one of the most memorable drive.

Then in September ramadhan kicked in and had the worst headache on the 1st day of ramadhan. Since then, I had to take care of my activities during the fast. And finally for the first time in 5 years Eid al-Fitri with my family back in Malaysia. Seems a lot of changes over the years as many elders have passed away. It was a little more quiet and I hope ties won't be broken in the future.

Then in November went out momiji with friends on a car, so it was a memorable one as we drove through the hill roads of Mino. And at the same time made a number of Malaysian friends compared to the years before as the new batch seems to be more an interesting one.

And Finally till today, I have been performing a number of experiment on my graduating thesis and till 31st December 2008, I've done all the calculations needed for every experiment I made till today. Except for one because it was a failure due to the internal defect of the stuff.

2008 was a year full of adventure for me. It was more than what I expected the year to be, boring and lonely. But through different new tasks, adventures, and opportunities I took taught me a number of valuable lessons. It is also the final year of me being in Japan for one full year as I will be departing off in April next year (hopefully).

I'd like to apologise to all whose heart I have hurt till this far. I hope we could just make things better in the times to come.

Jazzin up pre-fajr time

2008-11-12T04:43:00.002+09:00

A thousand apologies for not posting a blog for almost a month. Been busy with so many things in college especially final year project. Yup, it's my final year and Inshallah (God Willing) graduate in March 2009. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are my experiment days, Thursday is my lesson day, Friday is my day of rest, Saturday is my day of reading (or resting), Sunday is possibly a day of reading as well.

Winter is around the corner and my legs are freezing but thank God nothing bad happened so far (such as Flu etc) but will have a flu vaccination this evening.

I've been turning the music on loud since midnight just to keep the lively atmosphere in the lab. Turning the lab into a dance floor, opera house, live stage etc... I got only 3 hours left before I could leave the building (Now I'm trapped inside as the main doors are locked by the security guard)

Alright, fajr in 10 minutes time...I'd better start toning down my music and start a good fajr and a good day then sleep till God knows when.... just hope I won't be carrying my pillow all over the university LOL...

Problem with talking about political issues...

2008-10-14T00:19:00.004+09:00

Talking about political issues isn't going to strengthen friendship but rather to show one's weakness and to talk things that could turn out to be a blasphemy. That's one of the topic I really hate to talk about or let alone get close to such discussion because you wouldn't know that what seemed to be true could be a big lie and a lie can be the truth and talking about it would just bring steps closer to hell Audhubillah

Meaning of the Nafs - good article

2008-09-11T12:41:00.002+09:00

I've been wondering... when it was told that Shaitan / Devil is being locked up but there are that evil desires in me that caused me to not making the best of Ramadhan. Sexy girl poster would just shoot up the self and desires and the lil bro, corrosion on the faith and piety and mind. Oh God, I seek refuge in You from my own (evil) self...

I was studying about the nafs few months ago and come to know about it with the help of the Imam of Kobe Mosque. Seems lack of information and study, I decided not to write down about it as it may be digging my own grave. Well Alhamdulillah (Praises and thanks to God) I found it here

The Meaning of Nafs
by Muhammad 'Afifi al-'Akiti ©

In the Name of God, Most Compassionate and Merciful

Praise be Allah, Who has adorned the aspect of man by granting him good stature and proportion,
Safeguarding him from increase and decline in his aspect and measurements,
We ask for His forgiveness and guidance,
We seek refuge from the evils, which are in ourselves and the wicked in our actions,
And may the blessings and salutations be invoked upon Muhammad, His Prophet .

To proceed:

{ As for whoever exceeded the limits and preferred the life of this world, surely his abode will be the Fire; and as for whoever feared to stand before his Lord and restrained the desires of his self, surely his abode will be the Garden. } Sura 79:39-40

Ibn Kathir says:

"The Mu'min are a people who have been prevented through the Qur'an from indulging in the pleasures of this world; it comes between them and what might destroy them. The Mu'min is like a prisoner in this world, who tries to free himself from its shackles and chains, placing his trust in nothing in it, until the day he meets his Creator. He knows full well that he is accountable for everything that he hears, sees and says, and for everything that he does with his body."

(Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, vol. 9 pg. 276, Cairo 1352)

There are two kinds of people, one are those whose Nafs have overcome them and led them to ruin because they yielded to them and obeyed their impulses. The other kinds are those who have overcome their Nafs and made them obey their commands.

Nafs (pl. Anfus or Nufus) lexically means soul, the psyche, the ego, self, life, person, heart or mind. (Mu'jam, Kassis)

Although some scholars have classified the Nafs up to 7 stages, there is agreement among Ulama' that in the Qur'an, Allah (s.w.t.) has described at least 3 main types of the Nafs. And these are in rank from the worse to better: Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' (the Nafs that urges evil), Nafs al-Lawwama (the Nafs that Blames) and Nafs al-Mutma`inna (the Nafs at Peace).

(Chapter 12 v. 53 in the Tafsir of al-Tabari: Jami' al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, 30 vols., Bulaq 1323 & also in Imam Baghawi's Tafsir: Lubab al-Ta'wil fi Ma'alam at-Tanzil, 8 vols. Cairo, 1308)

A summary of these states of the Nafs are given by Imam Tabari in his Tafsir of Surah Yusuf verse 53:

1. Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' (The Soul which Commands):
This is the Nafs that brings punishment itself. By its very nature it directs its owner towards every wrong action. No one can get rid of its evil without the help from Allah. As Allah refers to this Nafs in the story of the wife of al-Aziz (Zulaikha) and Prophet Yusuf (s):
"The (human) soul is certainly prone to evil" (12:53).

Allah also says:

"And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure; but Allah purifies whomever He wishes, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (24:21)

This Nafs resides in the world of the senses and is dominated by earthly desires (Shahwat) and passions….

Evil lies hidden in the Nafs and it is this that leads it on to do wrong. If Allah were to leave the servant alone with his self, the servant would be destroyed between its evil and the evil that it craves; but if Allah grants him success and help, then he will survive. We seek refuge in Allah the Almighty, both from the evil in ourselves and from the evil of our actions.

2. Nafs al-Lawwama (the Soul that Blames):
Allah refers to this Nafs,

"And I do call to witness the Nafs that blames" (75:2).

This Nafs is conscious of its own imperfections.

Hasan al-Basri said, "You always see the believer blaming himself and saying things like 'Did I want this? Why did I do that? Was this better than that?"….

3. Nafs al-Mutma`inna (the Soul at Peace):
Allah refers to this Nafs,

"O Self, in complete rest and satisfaction!" (89:27).

This Nafs is tranquil as it rests on the certitude of Allah.

Ibn Abbas (r) said, "It is the tranquil and believing soul".

Al-Qatadah (r) said, "It is the soul of the believer, made calm by what Allah has promised. Its owner is at rest and content with his knowledge of Allah's Names and Attributes, and with what He has said about Himself and His Messenger , and with what He has said about what awaits the soul after death: about the departure of the soul, the life in the Barzakh, and the events of the Day of Qiyamah which will follow. So much so that a believer such as this can almost see them with his own eyes. So he submits to the will of Allah and surrenders to Him contentedly, never dissatisfied or complaining, and with his faith never wavering. He does not rejoice at his gains, nor do his afflictions make him despair - for he knows that they were decreed long before they happened to him, even before he was created…."….

(Al-Tabari: Jami' al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, vol. 13, Bulaq 1323)

Imam Baghawi says,

"The Nafs al-Mutma`inna has an angel to help it, who assists and guides it. The angel casts good into the Nafs so that it desires what is good and is aware of the excellence of good actions. The angel also keeps the self away from wrong action and shows it the ugliness of bad deeds. All in all, whatever is for Allah and by him, always comes from the Soul which is at Peace.

The Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' has Shaytan as its ally. He promises it great rewards and gains, but casts falsehood into it. He invites it and entices the soul to do evil. He leads it on with hope after hope and presents falsehood to the soul in a form that it will accept and admire."

Ibn al-Qayyim also mentioned the states of Nafs:

"The Nafs is a single entity, although its state may change: from the Nafs al-Ammara, to the Nafs al-Lawwama, to the Nafs al-Mutma`inna, which is the final aim of perfection….

It has been said that the Nafs al-Lawwama is the one, which cannot rest in any one state. It often changes, remembers and forgets, submits and evades, loves and hates, rejoices and become sad, accepts and rejects, obeys and rebels.

Nafs al-Lawwama is also the Nafs of the believer….It has also been mentioned that the Nafs blames itself on the Day of Qiyamah - for every one blames himself for his actions, either his bad deeds, if he was one who had many wrong actions, or for his shortcomings, if he was one who did good deeds. All of this is accurate.

(Madarij as-Salikin fi Manazili Iyyaka Na'budu wa Iyyaka Nasta'in, vol. 1 pg. 308)

Sa'id Hawwa says regarding these Nafs:

"Depending upon its condition, the Nafs exist in multidimensional. When the Nafs is tranquil because of obeying Allah, and the soul opposes its desires, this soul is known as Nafs al-Mutma`inna. Regarding this, Allah has spoken about it in the Qur'an (89:27-28). But if the soul does not attain peace with itself, rather being exposed to desires, then such soul is known as the Nafs al-Lawwama because this soul reproaches its owner due to the owner's carelessness in fulfilling out Allah's wishes - Qur'an (75:2). More so, if the soul submits to lusts and allows itself to be seduced by Shaytan, such a soul is known as Nafs al-Ammara Bissu'. Allah tells the story about the wife of al-Aziz (Zulaikha) in Qur'an (12:53).

(Tarbiyatun nar Ruhiyah, pg. 32, Cairo: Dar al- Salam, 1408)

There is a famous Arabic saying:

"O soul..Watch out! Help me with your striving,
in the darkness of the nights;
so that on the Day of Qiyamah,
you will win a good life on those heights."

May this be of benefit.

And the last of our prayers,

"Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Honour & Power! He is better from what they ascribe to Him! Peace be upon the Messengers! Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds." (37:180-182)

Muhammad 'Afifi al-'Akiti

Belfast, 4 May 1997.

Anyway a blessed Ramadhan al-Mubarak...

Main daging... (playing with meat)

2008-08-26T19:10:00.002+09:00

Ramadhan is in less than a week from now and everyone have to pack up some food supplies for Sahur (Breakfast before Morning prayers @ Subuh) and Iftar (Break-fast at the time of Sunset prayer @ Maghreeb prayers).

I've ordered some minced meat (of a Japanese cow) from Azhar Online as I'm very impressed with their service as well as the meat they have. Usually with minced meat, I make burger patties as there isn't any halal burgers out there. Thawed the meat, prepared some Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, eggs , onions and olive oil, it's time for some meat play....

In the end, managed to prepare about 30+ patties but I ate 5 of them as I was hungry for meat....

A week later...

2008-08-25T12:54:00.002+09:00

A week have passed since the busy weeks of August and now I'm sitting in my room waiting for the right time to go to college. It was an exhausting one, one activity after another and ended with a 30 minutes table speech at Rotary Club on Monday. The title ? It was rather a serious one but good to share while I'm still young. -What I've learnt about life in Japan-. People around are busy achieving their dreams while forgetting their purpose in life. Goals are there but they are just merely nothing more of a checkpoint towards the final goal - death.

It was Saturday, Ueda, Miyashita and I went to Aeon Dainichi to watch 'The Dark Knight' as I see lines like WHY SO SERIOUS and the joker's-red-smile-signature all over the facebook, MSN and the web. I guess it became a joker-hype and I decided to watch the movie. Verdict? I'd give a 10/10 with a Joker-wide-smile.

Then it was Wednesday evening I decided to watch The Skycrawlers which is directed by Mamoru Oshii ( Works such as Patlabor the movie, Ghost in the Shell etc). It started with my friend who mentioned there was a Focke Wulf FW190D look alike in the movie and the air combat was realistic. First time going to the cinema alone, but I didn't care. The action, cinematics, music was great but Mamoru Oshii's storyline can be a little slow for some.

It was Friday and I went off to the Mosque for Friday prayers and a day with Yahya and talked about "Don't tell mom I work on the rigs - she thinks I'm a piano players in a whorehouse". I read a little and the story made me burst into laughter with so many weird things that he went through. There were gory stuff as well but this book isn't a horror or comedy-joke book but it's a non-fiction-travelogue-biography-like book.

Then it was Saturday and Athari called me out for a cup of cofee, so I recommended him Aeon Dainichi. I reached there earlier and my hunger pangs started complaining "where's the food!". At first, I went to Starbucks and had the-only-thing-I-will-drink "Green Tea Frappucino" and continued reading the book. The background was too noisy and a must-look-but-morally-is-wrong Japanese girl was at the table next to me. I decided to scram the place and went off to a quieter one, but in turn it was worse - The Food Court.

It wasn't bad when I had a bowl of don't-get-me-wrong-but-it's-delicious Bukkake Udon and some Melon juice.If I were to enjoy reading the book, I think this isn't the place. Might as well I go to the park or somewhere but the gloomy skies indicate that I'm going to get wet.

As for this posting, no pictures of test drives....

Re-living the glorious past of the Spitfire - Mazda MX-5 Roadster

2008-08-17T19:42:00.006+09:00

I remembered flipping through my parents’ album and looking at my father’s Triumph Spitfire Mk I, I wished I could be like him: Having a convertible sports car which isn’t too expensive to own and to maintain yet it is fun to drive.

Unfortunately Triumph is a yesteryear’s company and it stopped making cars (for the time being). MG cars are a little expensive and it has a mid engine. Based on my diggings on the net is that the Mazda MX-5 Roadster fits the description – simple, agile, fun to drive, and cheap.

So I decided to rent it for two days and see how interesting this car could be.

I travelled through the city streets of Osaka, and the car was like an ordinary car. It didn’t have the grunt like the 350Z and it drives easily around town. However the pots and bumps may be a little harsh on the driver and passenger as it is tuned for sporty handling. Its acceleration seemed to be quick and I think it is just enough as there isn’t a need for a quarter-mile drag race. This car isn’t meant to be raced like its uncle, the RX-7.

The roof was up all the way to Kobe as the blistering hot sun would roast my skin. The fabric top was rather robust but it could be worrying as there are people with knives would love to cut it open. The insulation isn’t perfect but it does the job.

Then I drove to Tokushima via Awaji Island but I made a mistake. I forgot to open the top when I’m about to drive through the Akashi Bridge – the longest suspension bridge in the world. I zoomed across the bridge and the trip to the other side of the island was breathtaking. Then I decided to stop at the R&R area in Awaji and took a few picture of the bridge and the blue skies of Hanshin.

I decided to fold the roof and drove all the way to Tokushima. This time it was a total different experience. I’ve been on a Chevrolet Caprice zooming down the highway of Hijaz at 180kph with the windows down but this time it was in a car that reminded me of the glorious times of MG and Triumph with the open top.

The summer heat went away and I felt the nature’s breeze. It gets better when I've passed through the cloudy areas but it has gotten a little worrying when I passed through the darker clouds. In the middle of the highway with the open top, a few drops of rainwater made me ran into panic, “Oh God! I’m going to get wet!”.As I couldn’t find a nearby rest area. I decided to stop at the emergency lane and quickly fold up the roof before I start to get myself drenched in rainwater. It was an embarrassing moment.

Then I’ve reached my friend’s place in Tokushima in one piece and spent a night there.

On Friday, I decided to drive back to Kobe to catch the Friday prayers. As the weather seemed to be in perfect condition, I’ve decided to open up the roof again and drove all the way to Kobe. As we know sports cars are not practical and the MX-5 is no exception. The trunk is about 160 litres and it is pretty small to say. A cabin bag and a haversack have filled up the trunk, leaving a little space for small bags. So it seemed this car is made for a night or two and that’s it. If there is a plan for a week long journey or to the airport, I suggest taking a train or a bus. Either that or carry your clothes in a plastic bag or turn the boot into a wardrobe for your long journey.

Entering a tunnel. I had to remove my sunglasses...

Then I reached Kobe and I dropped my friend at Kobe station, went for Friday prayers and then zoomed up and down the Rokko Mountain with an Aussie friend of mine. This was where the car showed its true colours – the twisty mountain roads. With the top open, I've just maintained at 50kph as I wasn't familiar with the curves and bends. What not it was a narrow two lane road which can be dangerous with buses and cars zooming down the mountain. It handled like a roller coaster where its wheels are just clinging on the road. The steering is precise and direct. The power is sufficient to carry two people up the mountain and I think there isn’t a need for a drifting session.

The automatic gearbox change was crisp but of course a true enthusiast would want a manual. I’m sorry I could only rent an automatic. But it’s just as fun as the manual. I wish they could come up with a Dual Clutch version of the MX-5 to replace the mechanical clutch. With that, I'm certain the MX-5 would still dominate the affordabe convertible sports car

Then at night I decided to drive along the bayside highway back home with the top down. The experience was just fantastic. Especially when playing Ace Combat 5 soundtrack, and behold! It feels like you’re in a war movie or a game. The car’s audio system is superb for a convertible. The head unit was great but unfortunately it had some skipping error with my CDs.

Verdict :

This car gives you a thousand smiles, not by its looks but when you get your hands on it. No wonder it is still the best sports car in Britain. Forget about Aston Martin, TVR, or Lotus as they are way too expensive for an ordinary chap like us. Hence with a big engine, where do you want to go? The 350Z was a wonderful car but I think there isn’t a need for a 3.5 litre engine to attack the bends and hairpins. If it is for the tracks and the red carpets, yes I totally agree. But if you want a car that does the job, the Mazda Roadster is there to live up to your expectations.

Side by side with a Porsche 911 Carrera. The MX-5 is like the F-5E , a lightweight fighter with minimal loads on its arsenal and gadgetry but does its job well while the Porsche 911 is like an F22, fully loaded with arsenal and technology which also comes with a heavy price tag.

View from Rokko Mountain day and night

A good song to compliment a good car

THE LIBERATION OF GRACEMERIA - Keiki Kobayashi

Trip to Tokushima and...

2008-08-16T10:50:00.003+09:00

...there was Awa-Odori, Tokushima's yearly dance festival. Somewhat "traditional" dance but it had a boozed up history. Held during the Obon festival every year and it is very packed up.

here is some info from Japanese National Tourist Organisation about the Awa Odori.

This Tokushima festival features folkdances performed to welcome the souls of ancestors in the Bon season, from July to August. It is well known throughout Japan for these words, which are voiced to set the rhythm, regardless of their meaning: 'It's a fool who dances and a fool who watches! If both are fools, you might as well have fun dancing!`. The dance dates back to 1587 when the feudal lord Hachisuka Iemasa (1558-1638), in celebration of newly-built Tokushima Castle, offered sake to the people of the castle town; the citizens became so drunk they started to dance in an unsteady gait. Awa is the former name of Tokushima. The Awa-Odori is characterized by irregular steps and by the jovial and energetic up-tempo rhythm. Separated into groups of men and women, the dancers parade through the city while dancing to music played on drums, gongs used when praying to Buddha and at festivals, three-stringed Japanese musical instruments, and flutes. The basic rule of this dance is to move your right arm forward with your right leg and your left arm forward with your left leg in turns to the two-beat rhythm.

The daytime attraction is the famous Selected Awa Dance by groups of several dozen dancers giving graceful performances on stage (admission charged). After 6 p.m., the town becomes enveloped in greater fervor. The excitement reaches fever-pitch by 10:30 p.m. in various parts of the city - parks in the city center, dance stages called enbujo where you can watch the dance up close, Odori Hiroba where even spectators sometimes join in the dancing, Odori Road linking the dance stages and Machikado Hiroba set up by neighborhood associations, as well as local shopping areas.

Here are some photos from the dance.

Up the mountain of Rokko

2008-08-13T10:12:00.003+09:00

Since I've been living in Osaka for years and it seems that it is a must to go up Mt. Rokko, which is situated behind Kobe-Nishinomiya stretch. What's so special about this mountain ? That's why I was there to find out with the 350Z.

It was a good experience driving through the mountain road in the 350Z and it corners well through the hairpins and sharp curves. A little extra on the gas, and hear the tires screeching for grip but nevertheless it is manageable car. Thankfully I've reached the top safely.

There were many spots on the mountain and after getting lost here and there, I decided to stop at the Garden Terrace. As I alighted the car and off to the garden, I thought I was in another country.

The view of Kobe and around its vicinity was just breathtaking. I wish I could go up there again at night as it should be more beautiful than in the day.

My fairlady up the mountains and by the sea

2008-08-12T11:19:00.004+09:00

It was a terrible weekend as my lab organised a trip to the beach. Part enjoyment, part disaster. It was a disaster for me as I just keep on trying to avoid unwanted attention @ girls in bikini. Well it's not wrong if it is my wife but other than that, I think it is a little dangerous for me. Had to hold my desires while my labmates are talking about them and telling me to take photos of the girls in bikini with the SLR I had. And holding that desires turned into stress.

Finally 2 days after the trip, I decided to release the stress I had and indulge myself with a good car to keep me away from distraction of women and fantasies about it. Seriously, I think I need to get a wife as soon as possible. Thus, I decided to go for the Nissan Fairlady 350Z. You know the one famous in Fast and Furious : Tokyo Drift, and I wonder how fast and how furious it would be.

This is the 1st real sports car driven so I can't benchmark it against others. However I'll just try to write in how I felt about the car. how Furious this beast would be.

It's the same VQ35 Engine used in the Murano I've driven months ago but it is tuned for a sporty drive. The V6 grumble is more present than its SUV cousin and especially at start, it just makes any petrolhead smile. I wonder how a V8 , V10 , V12 would do.

Unfortunately the car I rented was a 5 speed auto which didn't seem to satisfy the brute power of the car. Shift response was slow but I reckon if the dual clutch transmission or manual would be much of a fun car to drive.

I took the car up Mt Rokko (a mountain behind Kobe) and later off the bayside highway back to Osaka. Well as we know, it's used in Drifting and highway battles, I'd gave it a try at the twisty mountain road and the highway. The car was well planted on the road with minimal body roll. Bumps and potholes might be a little rough for the spine but it's bearable tho. The steering input is direct and a little blip on the gas would give some screech onto the tarmac. Nevertheless it handles well on the mountain road.

Then off to the highway, it gets pretty freaky as it has already reached the electronic set 180kph limit and yet it have plenty of space to go more. It gets worse when Japanese roads are usually at maximum of 60kph, the car just dashes at 80kph or more. Leaving some speeding tickets for the driver (Fortunately I didn't). Brakes aren't Brembo as it is not the high end version but it serves a very good stopping power. Even after a 100km drive the brakes are still in good condition.

The interior is pretty spartan. Fittings ands finishes aren't top grade as there are wide gaps on the fittings. But I can't say much coz it went as far as 90,000km. The button feedbacks were poor and the aluminium like plastic finishings makes the car a little cheapish. It would be better if they could use real aluminium finish. The door knobs on the inside is made of metal, so there is no need to worry about the door knobs breaking after a million use.

Apart from the automatic transmission drawback, the car is pretty much fun to drive and especially if on a date with someone special. It's not that impractical but can be a little trick on maneuvering through the narrow streets of Japan. Checks before taking the to the roads indicate that some scratches are due to poor judgement on sideparking and on narrow corners.

Well would I recommend buying this car ? To be honest, if the money is working for you ... get one... If ur living off with lots of money and yet working hard to earn it, forget it.... Just a 150km drive landed me with a fuel consumption of 5 km/litre and I think it would be the 1st and last till the day when the money works for me.

However, it does give u a smile as the engine growls and a sense of belonging. On my drive, I just saw a few 350Z here and there and seems like we're related. That's how special it feel having one.

DreamCup Solarcar 2008 Suzuka

2008-08-06T15:32:00.002+09:00

Now it is the 2nd year in Solarcar team @ Osaka Institute of Technology Team Regalia SC and finally it's time to retire. It's going to be a memorable experience,especially the 1st 2 years in the team, where a lot of work and effort involved in building the car. It may not be perfect but at least we had the ball rolling.

Financial constraints, lack of financial and technical support, few members and etc were reasons that we couldn't progress much but also personal problems did cause a few setbacks to the team such as slow progress and delays. Now I just wonder when I work, how am I going to cope up with work if I'm still single ? With years sharing my own thoughts and personal stuff with so many people, leaving no room to talk to someone special and keeping it private between both of us.

Finally the race is over and now summer holidays is in. Time to concentrate on research fulltime and to pass down the juniors, tasks that I've done so far. Some CAD lessons for the juniors and renting a 350Z and a Mazda Roadster over the public holidays. Yup, need to drive good cars to relieve myself as well as a review on these machines. I won't have the chance to drive it back in Malaysia, so while being able to grasp the chance of driving it, take it out for a spin while it is possible to do so.

Back to the race, it was fine but unfortunately setbacks on the track such as 3times tire burst caused us to fail to meet our target (of 60 rounds). The tyres we used was the same with last year's event but the quality dropped to the point of having to change it every few rounds. Last year's event, over 35 rounds there wasn't a single tyre burst.

Then comes with personal issues regarding members. Well well... I guess as long there aren't any communication among members, there won't be any understanding and there will always be rivalries and conflicts among members. But well life is like that...

On final note, I'd like to wish the 2008/2009 OIT Team Regalia members the best for the times ahead. Participation in 2009 DreamCup SolarCar and World SolarCar Challenge in Australia and other solarcar events in other parts of the world.

OIT Team Regalia was formed among the 2nd year students of Osaka Institute of Technology in 2006 and consists of 10 members (including the lecturer in-charge). The name Regalia as defined below;

-"A plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a Sovereign.
The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'."-
source : Wikipedia

coined to represent the university's image as it didn't have anything to carry the university's image. Initially it began as a Solarcar team, but now expanded with the inclusion of Student Formula SAE Team.

Therapist

2008-07-16T10:42:00.002+09:00

A therapist wouldn't exist without being a rapist first... so watch out

Driven through the Skyline of Kobe - review -

2008-07-15T22:27:00.002+09:00

It's always the same, typical Japanese car we see everyday which has 4 doors, 4 wheels with front wheel working while the back is just rolling and 4 cylinders which gives a generic note. Usually when we say Japanese cars, it is always meant to be spacious and overly practical for daily use like a big boot, a spacious rear seat which can fit 3 full sized adults and a flat floorboard.

However, this is rather different and it isn't really made for stereotypes on Japanese cars. Surprisingly the brand name has been there longer than BMW have come up with their 3-series. But due to their faux pride made them lose their market share to the European rivals. If it weren't, the 3 series would have been somewhat behind time.

It is the 12th Generation V36 Nissan Skyline 250GT. (Sold as Infiniti G-Sedan in the US market).

Since the Ghosn era, Nissan went through rapid changes in various ways and one of it is on the design. Started with the ever controversial looking V35 Skyline which was a total "cultural shock" to the Skyline enthusiast but looking on the positive side, it shows that the Skyline is not anymore in the typical box-like Japanese cars which many people would preceive. However, by replacing the Inline-6 engine with the V6 Engine, The original identity of Nissan Skyline has been lost.

My friend and I rented the Skyline sedan on last Saturday and took it out for a drive as to release some emotional stress we have in Japan. Yeah, although examination is closing in but also some external factors caused me to slow down my studies. Especially when in regards to the opposite sex. It is also the same thing with what my friend has at his workplace so we decided to rent a really good car and take it out for a drive.

Fortunately on that Friday evening that I managed to book the car for a day, although I decided to rent it for two days. So it was 12.00pm and we rented the car. Putting in a simple phrase " Love at first sight ". I'd just smile wide as I see the car gracefully stopped in front of the office. With the sleek and bold lines, it has surely matured from the previous generations. It looks small from the outside but I guess it is just great for young executives who wants a good looking car at a good price.

After checking around the car, I got into the cockpit and it felt like I'm in a car ready to take on the roads. Maybe because I'm used to drive SUVs, so that's why I felt a little different. The dashboard seems to be simple and easy to use and the seems are rather good. However certain plastics felt rubbery especially along the door area. Due to some abuses by previous owners, there are scratches here and there.

The speedometer and its multi information gauge seems to be simple and easy to read.However the fuel gauge is a little hidden but who cars ? I'd want to see the speed and the engine rotation speed than how much tank we have left. Like the 350Z, the panel tilts together with the steering, creating an easy sight of the meters for the driver.

Then it is the GPS Satellite Navigation System and the audio system which never fails to impress me. So far with the cars I've driven so far uses a DVD GPS System but this one uses a HDD Navigation System. The latter's resolution is better than the former and compared with the Murano I've driven months ago, it has a touch screen coupled with a BMW i-drive like cursor.

When I was driving around I wanted to know nearby restaurants and being able to select "nearest restaurant", the navigation system searches for nearby restaurants. How wonderful technology can be. On top of that, we can select and deselect the petrol stations as well as convenience store.

The sound system is BOSE if I'm not mistaken and it has the Greennote CDDB thingy which finds the name of each track you're playing. It has the Dolby Digital surround system and yes, it would be fun to drive with some trance beating in the background while zooming through the highways along the coast of Osaka Port.

Driving ?

The V36 Skyline sedan comes with a 2.5 litre V6 pumping 232 horses and it's no slouch. Acceleration was smooth and the engine note is just beautiful. Of course it isn't like the Straight-6 engine but it's never like the typical Japanese car you would drive. Since it is a rear wheel drive, the driver would have control over the 4 wheels of the car. However it was rather late for me to know that there is a D-Sports mode which makes the driving a little more exciting.

The suspension is rather stiff but well damped. But sometimes the intrusions from the road noise is audible. Maybe due to the selection of tyres ? I can't say that for sure as the car isn't mine. Steering, unlike the usual Japanese makes, it is heavier compared to the Harrier I had at home. That gives a different image to the new Skyline.

Interior space ?

Expect that the car fits 4 adults and 1 child (at the middle rear seat). It is not really made to be as spacious as the Toyota Camry or E-class for its price. However since it is a sport sedan, it should be just nice for a happily married couples who are yet to have a family of 5. The front space can be a little cramped as the gearbox is located just below your wrist.

Fuel Consumption

After 232 kilometres of driving and refuelling, I recorded a 9.0 km/litre (about 36mpg) of mixed city and highway driving with a heavy foot on the accelerator.I would have expected it about 7-8 km/litre looking at my driving style but seems the car have proven me wrong.

Minus points ?

Well there is no such thing as a perfect car and the Skyline itself has its weaknesses. The interior can be a little cheap as in the quality of some plastics are a little below the standards. For example the graying ring below the gearknob looks like it is taken out from a cheap toy factory. Then the metal like garnish seems to be a little plasticky ( I hope the wood version is not the faux wood).

As for Nissan, it is sad that this car is only for Japanese Domestic Market (and certain overseas market).

Conclusion

If you can't afford the legendary Nissan Skyline GTR, the normal Skyline Sedan would bring a smile to you. It wouldn't give you what the GTR could provide but at least it would give a big smile to the owners. It is sad that this type of car isn't that widely sold like the 3-series but looking at it on the bright side, it is still unique compared to the sea of German makes. I guess you could do a lot more with the car in terms of modification and improvements and a Skyline will always remain a Skyline.

Assume

2008-07-10T14:29:00.001+09:00

When you ASSUME it makes an ASS out of U and Me.... LoL

Bahasa Melayu boleh dikembalikan ?

2008-06-19T11:55:00.003+09:00

Tengok cuba versi Bahasa Melayu, boleh dikarang atau tidak boleh dikarang. Sudah hampir 7 tahun tidak pernah menulis apa-apa di dalam Bahasa Melayu sejak di bangku sekolah. Sejak mempelajari A-levels, Bahasa Melayu cuma digunakan di tahap perbualan dan pembacaan surat khabar. Tetapi, realitinya ialah bahasa di rumah dan di sekeliling saya adalah Bahasa Inggeris. Bahasa Melayu pun, sedikit sana-sini dari segi perkataan yang susah dijelaskan di dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

Sejak datang ke Jepun, bahasa baru dipelajari. Maka, bahasa Inggeris kurang digunakan dan bahasa Melayu ? cuma sekali sebulan atau dua atau tiga ? Itupun bila bertemu dengan pelajar Melayu di Jepun seperti di Osaka atau Kobe atau Kyoto, tetapi selain itu kebanyakan berbahasa Jepun atau Inggeris. Kalau ingin nak meluahkan perasaan, biasanya di dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Bahasa Melayu lebih kepada kegunaan rasmi atau untuk bersembang dengan orang yang jarang berpengalaman dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

I tried my best, but I still can't express myself in Malay Language.... If it is something official, I might be able to do it. But if I were to use expressions or have words with expressions.... I think I'll have to stick to English or whatever language that suits me best. Of course there would be some hints of Malay words....

Why Learning Arabic is So Hard - interesting article about language-

2008-06-05T21:57:00.004+09:00

After reciting the Qur'an for the past few days, my interest in Arabic is growing and as like myself, I'm trying to understand in its own language. i.e. purely Arabic and no English, Malay, Japanese etc... (yeah, translations do not give you the exact meaning and the wisdom behind the words)... Basic Arabic like the letterings are not that difficult but without knowing the vowels can cause a headspin.. lk nglsh wtht vwls.... Thank God that the Qur'an has the signs to make reciting easier....

Just now I stumped into an article about Arabic and it was something good to share with you all...

----------------------------------------------------

I'm Trying To Learn Arabic
Why's it taking so long?
Robert Lane Greene

When I walked into Arabic class last week, Karam, my teacher, cheerily asked me how I was doing. I said, "Tamaam, hamdulillah," which means, "Fine, thanks be to God." But I was lying. I'd just spent a full day at work and was sitting down at a desk for two hours of mind-bending grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. I knew it would be a long night.

I am not one of those people who dreads the thought of learning a foreign language. While everyone else was partying in high school, I was learning the Spanish past subjunctive and loving it. I studied German, French, and Portuguese in college. I speak decent Russian and have taught myself some half-decent rudimentary Japanese. Languages are usually fun. But Arabic is really killing me.

I'm one of a growing wave of people trying to come to grips with Arabic, a language long neglected by Americans in the years before Sept. 11. Since then, the CIA and the military have tried to recruit Arab-American "heritage speakers." The federal government has spent tons of money, both teaching Arabic to spies and soldiers at its specialized schools and encouraging university students to study it. College enrollment in Arabic classes doubled between 1998 and 2002, with much of the increase coming in a patriotic spike after the World Trade Center attacks. As a foreign-affairs writer, I thought it would be good to give it a shot.

But these patriotic students are probably finding, as I am, that learning Arabic is complicated. The first challenge, the script, is a tough one. But it is by no means the biggest. Arabic has an alphabet, so it's easier than, say, Chinese, which has a set of thousands of characters. There are just 28 letters, and it does not take long to get used to writing and reading right-to-left. (Though it still feels odd to open my book from what seems like the back.) Most of the letters have four different forms, depending on whether they stand alone or come at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. Even then, so far so good. But in Arabic, as in Hebrew, people don't include most vowels when writing. Maktab, or "office," is just written mktb. Vowels are included as little marks above and below in beginning textbooks, but you soon have to get used to doing without them. Whn y knw th lngg wll ths s nt tht hrd. But when you're struggling with comprehension to begin with, it's pretty formidable.

Then there are the sounds those letters represent. I do not recommend chewing gum in Arabic class, because a host of noises articulated in the back of the throat makes it likely that the gum will end up in your lungs. Arabic has one "h" akin to ours, and another that has been described as the sound you would make trying to blow out a candle with air from your throat. That's not to be confused with another sound, the fricative kh familiar to German-speakers as the sound in "Bach." There's also 'ayn, a "voiced pharyngeal fricative," which is like the first sound in the hip-hop "a'ight." Unwritten in Roman-alphabet transliterations, it's actually a consonant that begins many common words and names, including "Arab," "Iraq," and "Arafat."

The sounds are tough, but the words are tougher. An English-speaking student learning a European language will run across many familiar-looking words, but English-speaking Arabic students are not so lucky. Merav, an Israeli classmate, should have a leg up on us: Arabic and Hebrew both use a nifty, three-letter root system for word building. The three-letter root represents a general area of meaning, and different prefixes, vowel additions, and suffixes can make it into a person engaged in that activity, the place where it goes on, the general concept, and so on. Most famous is slm, which generally means "peace." Salaam is the noun for "peace," Islam is "surrender," and a Muslim is "one who surrenders." (In Hebrew, this can be seen in shalom.) Ktb functions similarly for writing: Kitaab is "book," kaatib is "writer," maktaba is "library."

Merav is fine with this, though the rest of us are struggling. But the ferociously unfamiliar grammar sets us all adrift. Arabic is a VSO language, which means the verb usually comes before the subject and object. It has a dual number, so nouns and verbs must be learned in singular, dual, and plural. A present-tense verb has 13 forms. There are three noun cases and two genders. Some European languages have just as many forms to keep track of, but in Arabic the idiosyncrasies can be mind-boggling. When Karam explains that numbers are marked for gender—but most numbers take the opposite gender from the word they are modifying—we students stare at each other in slack-jawed solidarity. When we learn that adjectives modifying nonhuman plurals always have a feminine singular form—meaning that "the cars are new" comes out as "the cars, she are new"—I can hear heads banging on the desks around me. I want to do the same.

Karam sees the wear and tear on us, and so sometimes we pause and have a cultural chat. Arabic is peppered with a lot of God—even secular Arabs will append insha'allah, "God willing," to almost any statement of intent, as in, "I'll file my story by 3, God willing." Sometimes Karam tries to teach us how to work various niceties like this into daily speech. "Thank you" is usually just shukran. "But," Karam tells us, "that is sort of boring, so if someone gives you food it's nicer to say, 'May your hands be blessed,' or …" This is way too much information for my skill level, so I squeeze my eyes shut and hope that Karam's flourishes don't enter my brain and dislodge something vital, like, "Where is the bathroom?"

The State Department reckons that it takes 80 to 88 weeks (roughly a year in the classroom full-time and a year in-country) to get to a level 3 on a 5-point scale in Modern Standard Arabic, the language I am learning. But there's a twist. MSA has about the same role in the Arab world that Latin had in medieval Europe: It's the language of writing, religion, and formal speeches, but it is no one's native spoken language any more. Arabic has long since become a series of "dialects," which are actually more like separate languages, as many varieties are mutually incomprehensible. Arabic spoken in Morocco is as different from Arabic spoken in Egypt and from Modern Standard as French is from Spanish and Latin. When Arabs from different regions talk to each other, they improvise a mix of Egyptian Arabic (which is understood widely because of Egypt's movie industry), Modern Standard, and a bit of their own dialects.

So, if I go to Egypt or Lebanon in a year, having managed to get some near grip on my classroom language, I will be walking down the street asking people for a bite to eat in something that will sound almost as conversationally inappropriate to them as Shakespearean English would to us. Most literate Arabs know the Modern Standard from schooling, newspapers, television, sermons, and the like, though, so hopefully they will not laugh too hard as they help me out and respond in something I can almost understand. And that is if I work my tail off for the next year. Insha'allah.

Robert Lane Greene writes for the Economist online.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2120258/

Never give up hope in Allah...for

2008-05-22T15:09:00.002+09:00

He knows what is in our heart, our mind and our actions and our intentions....

I was down for a week as I was busy with my cousin last week and for the past few days, out with a Muslim friend of mine and now down with a flu. Worse that I got summoned by the police 15,000 yen (RM 450) for 23km/h over the speedlimit. My fault for being a little reckless on the road.

Then on Monday, I caught up with some cough and decided to take a rest till Tuesday ends but in the end I got a temperature yesterday evening and today. It is rather hard for me to have my prayers in full concentration and in a state of a weak mind and body, the self and the shaytan starts to cloud my heart with things that is so negative that I could just leap off the balcony.

There is always hope in Allah and All praises to Him, I didn't do anything foolish by leaping off the balcony or do something really stupid. When I get sick, it is possibly a test that I should get closer to Him and leave whatever is bad. So now you know why I took off the music in my blog...

Anyway, I think I got to get to bed or do something beneficial.

Wassalam'

Note taken for a drive

2008-04-14T22:01:00.003+09:00

Nissan Note review

A month had passed since I got my Japanese driving license and I thought I'd might need a car to go around and pick up some stuff. Then on Saturday the 5th, Malaysian Students Association of Japan, Kansai held a Hanami (which means Cherry Blossoms viewing) welcoming picnic @ party at the International Expo 70 up north of Osaka.

I wanted to prepare Chicken Curry for the Malaysian students but I can't be carrying them into the train as the aroma will start cause a "bombscare" like situation which I wouldn't like to attract unwanted attention. My classmate back in university told me that there is a student special discount for Nissan Car Rental which I have to pay 12 hours rent for a 2 days rental - that sounds tempting for me renting a 350Z or a Skyline Coupe in the future.

Cutting the fantasy in the mind with a tight wallet, initially I decided to rent a Cube - which people would start lambasting me for renting a car that is literally like a cube with four wheels.

As we know that Malaysians don't really fancy a car without a decent look. Like Italians in a way which they wouldn't want a car without a soul-less look. However the Cube has a beauty of its own because despite its cubical looks, it is well sculpted and designed that it looks like a car from a science fiction book. At first sight, people would think "what a nonsensical car!" but it looks better and better as time goes by - eventually one might buy.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen because the Cube is taken out for a spin by someone else, so I decided to rent a Nissan Note. What I was told that its underpinnings from a Renult Modus where Renault is Nissan's parent company. Does that mean I will get a European ride quality ?

Well speaking of the design, it doesn't really look like a typical Japanese car which you'd get a conservative taste but instead it has a lot of European flavour. Maybe I might need to try out their sedans then I could tell whether are they conservative or progressive. One of its main attraction point is the boomerang like tail lights which gives the car a distinct character. Then the body curves that cuts down the boxy character of the car. Another nice point is the door handle which is useful for ladies from getting their finger nails broken whenever they have to open a door.

Then on the interior, it is meant for utility. You'd get a deep glove compartment which you can put a tissue box inside. A flexible cupholder in between the driver's and front passenger seat which you can store up to 4 cups / bottles. Then another compartment above the Navigation System for your CDs. Then in the boot , you might think that it is insufficient to put your bags inside but behold ! There are two levels of baggage compartment which you can store valuables at the bottom compartment (which of course I don't recommend and I won't hold responsibility over any thefts). Sorry I didn't have the pictures for that but you can just check it out at Nissan Japan Website (Sorry again.... only Japanese) or Nissan UK.

Well if you want luxury in it, then this car isn't for you. It is built for a purpose (utility) and solely for that. However, the fit and finishing for this car is just perfect. Every seams are tight and you won't find rattles or squeaks when you hit a rough road. The plastics weren't hard but not as plushy as what we can find in cars with a bigger price tag.

Reach for controls is not too difficult as it is well shaped and sized. However what dissapointed me was the lack of foldable side mirrors. Maybe the model I rented was a baseline model ? Anyway, it didn't really bother me much though. The side air-cond vents , like in Nissan Qashqai / Dualis were my favourite. I could just turn it to any angle of my liking and its even better than what you have in a more expensive car. Maybe my hands are itchy perhaps.

Now we'd get to the drive of it...

Hanami ended on that Saturday and I decided to take the car out for a spin at the Japanese mountain road @ touge. Of course I won't be playing Takumi Fujiwara or the legendary drifter - Keiichi Tsuchiya, but a brief test on the car's handling and powerplant. The road was in Minoo which is famous for its Autumn Leaves and this is my first time driving there.

The car's 1.4 Litre engine pulls well up the hill, but I wonder whether it would be underpowered if there are 4 people in it? Thanks to its Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), the revs were smooth and no drops when any change in gear. Wait a minute, did I say gear ? Well there is not even a single cog to move forward. but maybe for the reverse, I'm not too sure about that.

The steering was light but at least it turns where you wanted to turn. However, like in all new Nissan cars, there is a motor like noise you'd get from the steering when you spin it quickly. Something like what you get from a Logitech steering wheel I guess.

The suspension was firm yet it absorbs the inconsistencies on the road very well. It is not like a typical Japanese softness nor it is too harsh like a car without a shock absorber. It does feel a little bit like a budget European Car.

On the downside you don't really have much controls on the gears, especially when downshifting, so you might have to use more of your brakes than an engine braking. Another thing is that it doesn't have an automatic door lock, so it could be risky if you're driving out at night. Then the seats don't really have a lumbar support, so it could be uncomfortable on long journey.

In a nutshell, the car is practical, spacious for 4 and has a relatively good engine and handling for a town drive. But for long distance journey, well I think its better to have a car for that.

Hanami again

2008-04-08T23:57:00.003+09:00

Like the past years , Malaysian Students Asssociation of Japan Kansai branch again had its welcoming party picnic at Japan World Exposition Park 70 located in the outskirts of Osaka city. It is famous for its monstrous architecture which looks like a potential threat to Ultraman from the early Ultraman era...

This time everyone brought out their best foodstuff and as for me, errr... Minced Chicken Curry...first of a kind in 2 years (last time I cooked normal chicken curry at a school event which always runs out of stock)

It was a weekend and as usual, it is crowded.

Generous Peace

2008-04-05T07:34:00.002+09:00

This fool throws wet stones at me insists on attempts
to break my nerves
But I hate to respond to the anger and freed the fuel in
those ugly words

They ask me why I say nothing at all like I don't have
any self respect
I say gentleman I'm like incense the more you burn me
the more I'm fragrant

And I don't feel the need to act violently
And I don't feel desire to fan the fire
You can say what you want about me
But I lace the lines of these times
with generous peace

There's a thin line between virtue and fea and
it's funny how they appear
Both demanding restraint and control and it's enough
that I know it's clear

That I'm not scared of you I'm scared of me and I live
by controlling my fool
Cause you're a fool enough for the both of us but
I still try to find the good in you

And I don't feel the need to act violently
And I don't feel desire to fan the fire
You can say what you want about me
But I lace the lines of these times
with generous peace

I know its hard to listen to the words you just can't stand
It's gonna take more than a fist to enlighten an ignorant man

And don't you see how we fear the patient eyes of a lion
And don't you see ow twe fear those lions in their silence

And I don't feel the need to act violently
And I don't feel desire to fan the fire
You can say what you want about me
But I lace the lines of these times
with generous peace

Lyrics and Song by Kareem Salama - This Life of Mine

If you have listened to the BGM music on my blogpage, well it is sang by am American Muslim Country singer who is of an Egyptian origin. I haven't been interested in country music but ever since I went to his website at http://www.kareemsalama.com/ well its just more than a sing song but it stresses on Islamic values.

A Muslim Country song.... That never came across in my mind. It's always either arabic or something non-western. Thank God, this is really cool.

I bought his CD's (thanks to PayPal) and had a good time with it. Well just to share a song of his on my blogpage (hope Kareem allows it) but if you want the songs, you can purchase from his website.

Sakura in Osaka...

2008-04-02T16:10:00.003+09:00

Ahhhh, the sakura season has started (since mid of last week @ 27th March). Spent some time with a Japanese friend of mine for a photography outing (of Sakura flowers) at Sakuranomiya and Osaka Castle Park. Well just helped my friend on how to use the Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority stuff and the usage of various shutter size and etc...

Well here is for you to enjoy,

Anyway, Hanami session coming soon....so prepare for more Sakura shots...

Himeji and Hiroshima

2008-04-01T20:46:00.004+09:00

It has been almost two weeks since my parents left for home. Well it was great having them, with all the noise and liveliness in the air. Since I got my driving license, it is time to bring my parents around with a different view of Japan - by driving around Osaka, Kobe and to Hiroshima (stop by at Himeji).

My father particularly likes to observe everything rather than just being a plain tourist. So while on the road, he could roughly know what is the Japanese road manners in comparison with Malaysia and other parts of the world. People say Osaka is the toughest because of their manners but I believe it still can't match the outside world.

When my parents arrived Osaka, I decided to rent an SUV so that I can pick up the extra goods. 2 luggages 2 boxes and 2 hand luggage. The taxi's boot is too small as it is taken up by its Natural Gas Tank. So I might need 3 taxis to transport all of us from the Airport Bus terminal to my apartment.

This time was the new Nissan X-trail 2.0 . My brother in law has the older Nissan X-trail of the same engine displacement and I think this is quite a major upgrade to the older model while it still retains its vehicle trademark (like of Pajero, Landrover, and Jeep).

Well its bigger than its predecessor. No more centre meter cluster. An upgrade of interior materials and a quieter yet powerful engine. It still looks the same with the old one but I have no problem with that. Keep the trademark looks, it will create a reputation of its own.

I returned it on that day itself and decided to rent a Nissan Skyline to Hiroshima but as it is costly, I decided to move it to another SUV. Not another X trail as I think once is enough for the experience. So this time a Nissan Dualis / Qashqai.

It is famous for its catch-phrase "The power of suit" which the car could turn itself into a robot - which in reality it can't !!!

The interior is rather simple but the fit and finishings is good. One particular thing that interests me is the swivel air conditioning duct which is very useful. I think it has more freedom than the ducts you find in Mercedes and expensive cars.
However, I still can't find the button for it to change to a robot *sigh*

So we left Osaka at 9.30am and off to Himeji. We got stuck a little bit in the jam on the elevated highway - the usual rush hour time. But we managed to reach Himeji at 11.00am. I got lost a few times especially on what lane to choose as the GPS Navigation is rather misleading and slow - but it served its purpose, or else I have to depend on my heart to lead me to Himeji...

Once reached at Himeji Castle (or some people call it Shirasagi castle). It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fortunately it survived the war but of course renovation works had to be done to keep it standing. I'm not going to put further details about this castle, but what I can say it is HUGE. You have to go through several checkpoints before you reach the main building. So imagine back in the warring period (sengoku jidai), I guess nobody will make it to the top alive (with exception of ninja perhaps).

Well what I know that 10 generation of the Sakai Clan have been the lord of the castle. So my mom (a former high school history teacher) joked about it as in Malaysia there is an indegenious tribe called the Sakais - "I didn't know orang sakai (sakai people) have ruled part of Japan for 10 generations , have to put that in our the history book."

Then we left for Hiroshima at 1.30pm and the journey would take about 3 hours drive. The drive was kinda tiring and of course what amuses me is the number of tunnels !!! I lost count the number of tunnels and assume that there are only 40 tunnels from Himeji to Hiroshima while my dad said 30 and my mom said 50. So I decided to count the number of tunnels from Hiroshima to Osaka when we go back.

We reached Hiroshima at 5.30pm because in the middle of the way I had to stop at a few Rest and Recreation area to take a fresh air and a good cup of coffee. The Dualis didn't really fair well on rough roads as the noise from the road and tyres are rather intrusive. What not the seats are rather uncomfortable and my mom complained that the rear passenger space is small (even for a 5ft4'). The pick up was good for such a mini SUV but it is only meant for the urban jungle. It would be great for a couple with extra seats at the back for emergency but never meant for 4 adults full time. The CVT transmission is silky smooth and you won't get those rpm drop upon gear change.

So we checked in at Regalo Hotel which is an affordable yet comfortable business hotel. The staff are really friendly and it has a very good Italian restaurant. I will definitely stay there for my 2nd visit. After checked in, had my Asr and Dhuhur prayers (Jamaa Qasr) and we had dinner right after that. Then I drove around Hiroshima at night, just to see Hiroshima's nightscene. We passed through the A-bomb dome, and the memorial park at night. Unfortunately we couldn't see anything.

What confused me was the trams because this is the first time to drive with a tram line. How to make a turn ? What to do if I'm blocking a tram's path ? That is the toughest part compared to driving in Osaka (which they don't really have trams).

It was Wednesday and the weather was bleak. Rain with gusts of wind spoiled most of the trip. So, my parents and I decided to go to the Atomic Bomb museum at the Peace Memorial Park. Well for your information, Hiroshima is known for its first Atomic bomb explosion on a city with innocent men, women and children.

In the museum there were information about what led Japan to the World War II and how this "Weapons of Mass Destruction" wiped out Hiroshima (in particular) and almost every detail about what happened during the explosion and the aftermath. Well I was told that the radiation will only be gone after 75 years (i.e Year 2020), so that means I have a slight dose of gamma radiation *sweats*.

It was on August 6th 1945, 8.15am. Hiroshima's fate is sealed by the blast...

This is how Hiroshima city centre looks like before the blast

and after

The gigantic red ball represent the initial blast of the atomic bomb which occured 580 metres above sea level. I was told that the initial temperature of the blast was about several million degrees centigrade which is roughly close to the heat of the sun ?

The explosion caused shards of shattered glass piercing through a concrete wall and whoever was in the way wouldn't have survived the flying shatters of glass.Then those who were within the hypocentre would have been vaporised on the spot leaving the shadows. Those who regained consciousness realised that their skins melted and disfigured, and were in dire thirst due to the heat only to realise that death is just steps away. Many thought that the water in the river was good to cool them down, but realised that the water was superheated from the blast, and died from the boiling water. Those who were in dire thirst ended up drinking boiling pus from their bodies and died.

The explanation was detailed and brought me down to tears as this is depicts the condition of Hell.

On the way out,I saw a few books about the Atomic Bomb especially Tales of Gen. It is just too gruesome to read as it is incredibly sickening. The illustrations alone were too awful for me and it is not fictional, it was the reality.

Then on the way out, I had a good birdseye view of the Memorial Tombstone and the A-bomb dome

Then we went back to the hotel and took a rest as we couldn't go anywhere else due to the rain.

It was Thursday and a windy one. Initially I decided to go to Miyajima but had to cancel the trip due to the poor weather. So then we drove back to the mountains and off to Kobe. This time, my dad and I decided to count the number of tunnels till we reached Kobe.

Initially we decided to estimate about 30...

but it went to 40...

my dad said, "Fine ! There are only 60 tunnels"

but we passed through the 70th

then at the 80th tunnel, my mom made noise

As we reached Kobe, we passed through the 90th tunnel...

So in total Osaka- Hiroshima- Kobe about 170+ tunnels !!! The most number of tunnels we've passed through in our life LOL....

We went to Kobe mosque for Dhuhr and Asr Jama Qasr and reached Osaka at 6.00pm.

Two trips to Uji, Kyoto and a day trip in a car

2008-03-13T23:11:00.002+09:00

After I got my goodie Japanese license, now I can have more freedom moving around Japan but no car to move around. However, I decided to rent a car last Sunday and move around with my Japanese and Jordanian friend.

On Thursday , my classmate and I went to Uji by train and Kyoto for a walk. The main theme of that day is TEA DAY.. Yeah I should commemorate March 6 , an all tea day. Anything that is tea. Had Green Tea, Gyokuro Tea, Sencha, Bancha, Matcha Ice Cream..Of all the tea hype, I think my waste is nothing but tea... Well, good for the health, why not ?After that went to Kyoto's Nanzenji, Maruyama Park and just simply get lost in the middle of the way. Afterall getting lost in Kyoto is just great.

Then on Saturday, went to Uji again with my Jordanian and Japanese friend. Had nothing but tea again. and we went to the temple which is shown in the 10 yen coin @ Byoudouin @ Temple of Equality (literally speaking). However the main attraction is a pillow size cat which is FAT !! but cute !!! expect about 6kilos onwards...

On Sunday, it was rather unexpected but I've planned to rent a car on that day to get used to the driving conditions in Osaka and Kobe. However, to my surprise it is just as easy as Kuala Lumpur. Thank God it wasn't hard at all. Just hope it is like that all the way. God wills...

Thursday Photolog

This is the place where you eat and drink nothing but tea... Don't ever ask for coffee here

Now in Kyoto City

Saturday photolog

Sunday photolog

and this is the car I rented, Toyota Ist

taken at Kobe Mosque

Jidousha menkyo

2008-03-05T17:21:00.003+09:00

Aaaaahh finally got my Japanese driving license.... wheee ,now can start renting or buying my dream car here in Japan like

Z33 Fairlady or

Nissan Fuga or

Impreza WRC STi or

the R34 Skyline GTR V-Spec II / Mspec or

Honda S2000 or lastly

The R35 Nissan GTR

hehehehe... Well more likely neither one of these I'd be able to rent except for the Fairlady and the Fuga... But buy ? hmmm, we shall see....

Well as they said that a person who passes his driving test in Osaka can drive anywhere in Japan as they said Osaka is the hardest place to drive. Issit ? not KL ah ?? even my Italian friend told me, Rome is even harder and Osaka is just peanuts... so well let me try it out by renting a car here....

Well it is not necessary for me to drive in Osaka as public transportation is no. 1. BUT, I want to go out to the countryside, enjoy the fresh air and a good stopover in the middle of nowhere for a photography outing. That's one thing that nature photographers need, a car that gets them to a place that no train or bus passes like the trip to Miyazaki....

For those who wanted to take a Japanese driver's license, firstly you head to the nearest Japan Automotive Federation to get your drivers license translated into Japanese / English. They will do the process for you with a charge of a few thousand yen. Then you head to the Driving Exam Centre in your prefecture and make a "Gaimen kirikae" application.

The staff will then process your application and once completed ,you will do an eyesight test followed by a written test. The written test was rather easy but it is better for you to take note of the rules and regulation in Japan.

Once completed the written test, you will then book a time for the real driving test. In Osaka it would be Monday, Wednesday and Friday. However, my best recommendation is to go through a driving school before you take the exam. So please check for any driving school that have the course for examinees who wish to change to Japanese driving license.

Personal experience : Despite having 7 years of driving experience (not full 7 years though), there are bad habits which the instructor corrected me like placement of hands on the wheel, the "over than necessary steps prior to turning" etc... Thank God I took lessons or else I'd be the ones that have to take 5-6 times driving test... So don't let your pride of driving experience fail u in the exam...

Jung Word... what is yours ?

2008-02-25T10:40:00.000+09:00

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Free Jung Word Test (similar to Myers-Briggs)
personality tests by similarminds.com

interesting but we'll see how it goes

Miyazaki and Kagoshima

2008-02-12T19:14:00.000+09:00

Day 1 - Aoshima, southern coast of Miyazaki

Ahhh finally the exams are over... A little more freedom to relax and to refresh myself. I think I need to go around the country after 4 years stuck in Kansai. So well, decided to go to Miyazaki for some sightseeing and photography outing. Packed my 2nd wife and her accessories and cabut (scramble in Malay) to Miyazaki by ship...It's not a luxury liner or something but it is one of the cheapest and relatively comfortable way of getting there as bullet trains and aeroplanes are not for students.

This was my 2nd time being on a big ship (does a hovercraft count ? if so make that 4th)...It wasn't that comfortable afterall. It's rather warm or hot, and stuffy. The vending machine was selling stuff a little expensive and regretfully not buying drinks and foodstuff before boarding the ship. But anyway, it's a ship, so prepare to be seasick.

Thankfully I was alright but I was kinda giddy when I got on land. Perhaps my biological gyrocompass is screwed and my balance is a little off. I couldn't sit still so I had to move around.

Firstly , I went to Aoshima which my friend told me it looks like a cake from the sky (that's what I was told). It's a little island with a Shinto Shrine in it and it seems it is a pretty famous tourist spot in Miyazaki.

Beach off Aoshima

The rocks were pretty interesting photography subject so I decided to take a few snapshots before heading to the Island. Each one have unique patterns , all formed by waves hitting them.

Then there is a Shinto Shrine in there which is rather southern Japanese style architecture. Closer to Chinese style perhaps ?

Off we left Aoshima and there was a small flower park nearby. Although it is winter and snow falling all over Osaka, it is rather warm in Miyazaki. However, I had to put on 4 layers because strong winds make things cold. But it is not as bad as Osaka...

You would only see this in April...

Tulips !!

Then we took a drive further south of Miyazaki along the coastal roads and God, its just beautiful !!! I wish I could have my Honda S2000 and drive it down the road with the top open (but we took an old,small Toyota hatchback which spoils the enjoyment).

Then we reached the rocks somewhere along the way. Took a few pictures of myself and my Jordanian friend.

Then we moved on to another Shinto Shrine which is in a cave along the sea side cliffs. I forgot the name but its worth the visit.

Then we had to rush back to hotel for Asar (afternoon prayers) and thankfully we reached there in time. The rest of the time spent at my Jordanian friend's house busy looking at pictures we took. I got back to the hotel and slept like a log till the sun rises.

Day 2 - Aya, Marina, Seagaia, Heiwadai Park and shisha

2nd Day we went to Aya, which is famous of its suspension walking bridge in Aya National Park. It was rather scary for me at first because its been a long time I havent been on a bridge so high. But I got used to it later on in the day. The natural scenery of Aya is spectacular and thankfully it was sunny. Good to go out for a drive or a touring with friends.

Then we got down and went off to a lake nearby. It's just beautiful... Good for camping, and a swim. But since it is winter, forget it...

Its very tempting to swim into the lake...

Then we went to Aya castle, which is all wooden. My friend complaint that why nobody knows about Aya castle... Maybe the pre-Higashikokubaru governors are a lil hopeless to say.

We left for my friend's house for Dhuhr prayers (Noon prayers) and went out to the marina... It is rather desert like sands but darker. However it's worth taking a number of shots and if you're smart enough, you can fool that this is a desert.

Then we went to Phoenix Seagaia. To those who have read GTO, try read the part where Kanzaki was at the indoor swimming pool with Onizuka sensei. Maybe that would give you a hint.

However it is closed but its all not lost. We went up Sheraton Hotel and took a bird's eye view of Miyazaki coast when the sun is about to set.

It's just neverending...

We proceeded to Heiwadai park (Peace park) which was made of stones that were collected from all over the places that Japan had conquered in World War II. It was on top of a hill but not that many visitors where there... However its worth a visit

We got back to my friend's house and had a good round of shisha...

Day 3 - Kagoshima , Sakurajima, departure

Woke up early enough to have some free time and took a few pictures of downtown Miyazaki but not enough to take a full glance of the city.

We left for Kagoshima early in the morning and took a highway route. We stopped at a rest and recreation spot in Satsuma and saw my dream car - the new Nissan GTR... I just couldn't get my eyes off it. Yeah, hopefully one day will get it... I don't know when that day shall be...

We reached Kagoshima and proceeded straight to the harbour - to catch a ferry to Sakurajima... An active volcanic mountain nearby Kagoshima city.

I don't know who is this but worth taking perhaps ?

We took a ferry to Sakurajima and here is the picture of the volcanic mountain...

Wish I could go back to Miyazaki and travel all over Kyushu by my own car... Expensive but it's always worth every yen to enjoy the nature.

Farewell 2007... welcome 2008

2007-12-31T19:32:00.000+09:00

Sorry to keep you all waiting for my next post but I think this would be the last for 2007.

Time flies so fast that I still remember almost all the events going on this year. Time to wrap things up for the year 2007 and making resolutions for year 2008. 2007 was rather a turbulent yet memorable year for me. Ups and downs physically, psychologically, emotionally, and academically. At 23 and in the 3rd year , a lot of changes in life and a lot of decision making in where to head in life.

Now, turning a new leaf in the new year. I hope all the issues in me are resolved and hope this new year would be a brighter, clearer and more meaningful. Firstly, I thank God for being alive and teaching me a lot of life experiences, my parents for being supportive and working hard to help me graduate (financially).I thank my Muslim friends for giving me a lot of spiritual advices , my Rotary Club Councillor for helping me financially and physically healthy in Japan, my Japanese friends in OIT Regalia for doing an impressive job on making the car finishing 8 hours at Suzuka circuit, my lecturers, classmates, fellow Malaysians, Japanese friends, and all my readers (who painstakingly took their time reading my boring blog)

Well these are the pictures taken specially in the year 2007, based on chronological order

I did start a new year with a burning smell of gunpowder

Yeah, spent 100 rounds on the Magnum and the snubby. What a start... Don't get me wrong, but someone who have lived through the Counter-Strike and action movie generation would get their hands on these.

Then a trip to Tokushima Prefecture, famous for their Awa Odori and whirlpool.

Me facing the Pacific Ocean in the evening. I was a little down back then because of a foolish "crush" over someone. It took a toll till November that I decided to break it off. Now I'm a better person.

However nothing is better than having a good pair of Oakley Splice

Yup, my friend, Hamsa talked about his beloved Splice (which he lost it somewhere). Indeed this is one of the best Oakleys I've ever had. Bought it in May, the day before a measles outbreak in college, forcing a 1 week closure.

Then in August 3,4 and 5th... OIT Regalia entered the Dream Cup Solar Car race 2007 at Suzuka circuit. We reached our target of completing the 8 hours endurance race. A huge success for our team and I thank everyone for the hard work

On the 8th I went back to Malaysia for a summer vacation and my parents and I went for Umrah (Minor Pilgrimage to Mecca). I couldn't take my DSLR with me into the Masjidil Haram, I took some photos with the Casio Gz'one

After the Umrah, went back to Malaysia just before the 50th Anniversary of Independence day i.e. 31st August.This is one of the best spots in taking a march pass photography.

Then it was Ramadhan in mid of September stretching down to mid of October. During that period, I didn't take a single photo. Busy with visits to the Mosque for iftar (breaking the fast), and prayers. This year was a memorable one because met new people, made new friends and strengthening ties with the one that are loose.

Just a week later, I got myself a 10-20mm lens, which was incredible. Sadly though I didn't get to go for Autumn Leaf Viewing in Minoo and Kyoto this year. Too busy with so many things.

One of my first pictures with the wide angle lens,

Then I decided to improve my skills by taking pictures of Namba Parks, an excellent architecture shooting spot.

Then one afternoon I decided to take the picture of the sky because it was a beautiful day in Autumn.

We had a lot of end year dinners and one of the notable ones was a dinner with my scholarship councillor. Had fine dining dinner at two of the top hotels in Japan. Imperial Hotel Osaka and Rihga Royal Hotel. Of course I had my reservations in food and drink. So I got a lucky draw present from the organisation dinner...

Totoro !!!!

It's just too cute... I checked the price and it was about 5000 yen (about 48USD). I won't buy such plush toy with my own money though.

Anyway that roughly tells what happened in 2007. I wish you all a Happy New Year 2008!

Death...

2007-10-27T10:55:00.000+09:00

Remember when you finished your semester exams you'd be shouting MERDEKA !!! (FREEDOM !!! ). While those who couldn't do it would be so worried and anxious whether he/she will be able to make it to the next world.

Yes, indeed this is true in Islam in regards about death. As I have mentioned in my previous "not so well done" poem about life. It came across in my mind after watching another good video by Amr Khaled (In Thy Name, We Live) which was about God's 99 Beautiful Names (Asma ul-Husna). which was Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem (The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful).

It is mentioned that at the time of the death of a true believer, he will be surrounded by Angels standing / sitting in circle and congratulating him that he has passed his exam and its time for him to meet the Lord. Yes, and the grave is the waiting hall to the most grand graduation ceremony , that will be the day of Recompense. So a true believer wouldn't find the grave to be narrow and torturing but a wide, comfortable place to be.

The question is, are we true believers ? Are we following the answers given by God to pass the exam in this world ? Think about it... God has given us the answers for the trial in this life and yet we stick to our worldly desire, and also the devil who keeps on giving us the wrong answer although they seem to be right.

Here is the video and I hope you would learn something new out of it.

Al-Wadud - The Most Loving, The Most Affectionate

2007-10-23T20:30:00.001+09:00

Well, just to share something which I found from a Muslimah's blogpage and I'd like to share it with you all.

Updated 25th October 2007 , 22:37

I finished watching this one hour show and I fell into tears after reflecting what he said. It reminds me of how parents love me and God is loving us despite our disobedience and arrogance. It reflects my bad attitude towards my parents in the past. I'm sure it applies to all of you.

God's love is incomparable and exceeds our mind yet we belittle Him by doing forbidden things, and having pride in it, worshipping other than God, and doing corruption on this earth. Despite our disobedience, God still loves us and wants us to go back to Him. He doesn't need your worship because the heaven and the earth and everything in between worships Him.

But he wants you to follow His path for your own good. He made this earth with full of love so that we all can benefit from it. Like the cow, which provide meat to eat, milk to drink, skin to keep us warm and the male one to bring us from one place to another. Yet, we worship other than Him.

It reminds me of how parents love is like. They give you everything, food to eat, good clothes to wear, good room to live and good education yet they don't ask a single cent from you. What they want from you is to be obedient and have high moral standards for your own good and for you to pass on to the later generations. Yet, we shout at them, being disobedient towards them, and having pride in it , yet we don't realise.

The heavens

2007-10-23T13:18:00.000+09:00

After classes I decided to take a picture of the heavens, appreciating God's creation. Just to share with you. We tend to be overly busy with our daily life, forgetting the blessings God gave us.

Prophet Muhammad , PBUH once said

“Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.” (Muslim)

A great Sunday

2007-10-21T20:59:00.000+09:00

I was down on Friday and Saturday due to low blood pressure and little intake of food (my stupidity). I could barely stand straight and had a hard time praying and walking properly. Instead I was in bed throughout the whole Saturday and forced myself to college on Friday because of lab experiment. Luckily I was prepared for the pre-experiment "check up" or else I'd get booted off the lab. Today I fully recovered from my low blood pressure and sickness and off for a haircut, picking up my watch and a photography session at Namba Parks, Osaka.

Just to let you know about Namba parks, it is a shopping centre with a theme of a park on the roof and some "middle eastern nature" themed architecture. What I meant was that the building is like the route towards the ancient city of Petra, Jordan where the path is curvy and deep. On the rooftop of the building lies a park, good for strolling, dating, and relaxing. However, I don't have a wife so more likely I won't go to this place for no apparent reason. Inside the building lies boutiques, restaurants, cinema and various little shops where it is relatively a haven for dining, shopping and wasting time. However, the food isn't HALAL so I can't really enjoy them. Never mind, I'll have my own parks in Jannah hehehehe....
You can visit the link here for further information (Sorry only Japanese language available)

So started off from the bus stand near my house... Bus 110 to Temmabashi

Unfortunately the bus heading to Uehonmachi left when I reached the transit bus stand and the next bus is in 30 minutes time !! DANG !!! Ah well, instead of waiting, why not walk to Osaka Castle park and take some pictures and take the bus from there?

This is the jogging and walking path along the outer walls of the castle

Blue sky.... Excellent weather !!!

A road train outside Osaka Castle... Better make full use of my 74,000 yen Lens !!!

The entrance to the castle

The other part of the exterior walls

This is the NHK Osaka building(left) and the Osaka Prefecture Police Headquarters(right) (remember Black Rain starring Michael Douglas and Ken Takakura?)

Beautiful architecture of the NHK Osaka Building

Welcome to Uehonmachi-6-chome. Basically my "hometown" in Osaka. The highest peak in Osaka city. The rest are all plains. Another note is that this is also quite a high class area in downtown Osaka. How I wish I could have an apartment here.

Inside the Kintetsu train, heading towards Imazato, my previous apartment.

Then I got down from the train and welcome to Shin Imazato...Aaaah natsukashii~

Got my haircut here, at Takeshita's . The owner is very friendly and it's worth the cost going all the way down south just for a friendly chat and a haircut. Sorry if I took your precious time but I won't go anywhere else for a haircut. Even if I move to Kobe, I'll definitely visit you for a haircut !

I went to another salon nearby when I was in my 1st year but the haircut was terrible and that was my first and last. So after wasted some time talking about all kinds of stuff, I headed for Namba to collect my watch.

Welcome to Namba... One of the most happening spot in Osaka. Famous for everything and for all ages. Whatever you want to do, everything is in Namba =D But I don't suggest going to places that are *ahem* not Halal... hehehehehe

I got hungry and visited a Thai restaurant called Krungtep *something*, which is another name of Bangkok in Thai language (If I'm not mistaken). It is located beneath Takashimaya, and it is a pretty casual restaurant. So ordered 2 Thai prawn burger and filled up my empty tank. The ambiance is great for simple dining.

Then I left for Namba parks which is just a few hundred metres away.

Just love the architecture...

Sometimes I don't feel like I'm in Japan ! LOL

Taken from the floor. It gives a pretty good effect and I highly recommend it ! However ONE BIG CAUTION !!! DO NOT TAKE PICTURE OF WOMEN'S SKIRT FROM THIS ANGLE !!! I DON'T HOLD ANY LIABILITIES FOR SUCH ACTION !!!

So on my way up, I went to the shop I got my watch repaired. Yup, it is Victorinox Swiss Army. You can read about it here . My dad got me the Victorinox Swiss Army Seaplane and I'd like it for its chunky yet simple design. However the plastic dial got broken so it needed repair. Other than that, it's worth every yen buying a good Swiss Made watch. I didn't know it is more than just watches and Swiss army knife. They sell quality stuff out there, I highly recommend it.

After I got my watch repaired, I strolled around the complex and walked through a restaurant area. Pretty good for some architecture shots, so I decided to take a few shots before going up to the gardens.

Welcome to the roof of Namba Parks

]

I got tired and left the park with a number of good (and rubbish) shots. Had my supper at Eikokuya tea shop. Waffle with butter and syrup and a cup of Royal Milk Tea. Then I headed for Sakaisuji line Nippombashi station and took a shot of the train before boarding it.

I reached Tenjinbashisuji-6-chome and changed train. After I alighted the train, I took another photo of it... Crap shot but worth the try

That's all for today... Tired but at least that keeps my mind off from some distractions.

I'll just be straight about myself

2007-10-19T10:46:00.000+09:00

I guess some of you know about me well enough, but some of you don't. I'm just an average Muslim but I'm still fighting my own desire, lust, soul, evil and worldly delight. It's not that I'm denying this world, but I don't want to be attached to it as if I will live here forever. People die every hour, and the next hour could be mine. For every seconds I lived this far, I'll try my best to make it meaningful to me and pleasing God.

Many asked me to chill out at nightclubs, but I won't go to such places. Call me snobbish or on high horses, but I got my principles which I must not lose. Sometimes I do find myself left out when I see others are having the fun of socialising through clubbing, drinking, partying but it's not me to do so. I don't mind having few acqaintances or very few friends, but true friends are the one who keeps on supporting me in remembering God.

Yes, I don't really enjoy life in this world because the real enjoyment is in the hereafter. Reserve these enjoyment for the later life as it will be for a lifetime. We get old, we will grow wrinkles, we will lose strength, and we will get sick. We will go hungry, we will go thristy, and we will go sleepy. All these will be gone forever in the hereafter and everything will be luxury.

Forget Zouk, Velvet, Host clubs and happening spots. As there will be a bigger enjoyment in the hereafter. Forget Chardonnay, Sake, Italian wines and Pina Coladas, you'll get a lifetime supply of those in the hereafter. Forget sexy girls, kawaii girls, and MILFy girls as you will have them forever in the hereafter.

It's always depressing for me when I see girls going clubbing and get banged by guys and later get dumped, for one day they suddenly bear a child and soon abort it or abandon it. Indeed these are the losers in this life and the true losers in the hereafter. You may say I am disrespecting you but stop blaming me and blame yourself. Indeed being pure is difficult in this era, but it's worth the effort for the hereafter. Don't say I'm being insensitive because I know people who lived without a real father and mother. They are indeed in rage, anger, depressed, and sadness because they don't know whom they really are.That is being injustice.

I never meant that I'm more pious than you but the life I went through these years made me realise that it's not worth doing all these. I understand and respect your feeling of fun and joy and all the youth you went through, but I'll reserve that for the later life. Call me whatever you want, but your way of life is to you, and my way of life is to me. I may be a Muslim, but I have to work hard to be a true Mu'min (A believer). Being Muslim is easy, but being a mu'min isn't because it is where you will be fighting with yourself (that is the soul).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Say: Oh you who turn away (or disbeliever)
I do not worship what you worship,
nor do you worship what I worship.
And I will not worship what you worship,
Nor will you worship what I worship.
Your way is yours, and my way is mine.

Surah Al-Kafirun.

Trying out the wideangle lens

2007-10-17T22:28:00.000+09:00

Unfortunately it is a slow lens, so I need to have a supersteady hands to take picture of it or leave it up to the tripod. I'm still satisfied with it, but I think with a camera of a better grade (read Canon 5D or 40D or 1D), the pictures will look much better.

It seems that Saito has a very good taste in photography... He calls it the sexy clamp :P Somewhat it is true for pistonheads like us... added with a close up

Just great... It looks good !!!! Industrial theme photography, why not give it a try ?

Then in a group of four, I played around with the wide angle lens on people, see how it goes

Not bad tho... Just add some word balloon and expressions, it will make a good live comic (Save some ink and time to draw some character). So we went for dinner at Doutour cafe and happened to stand outside the maingate... Here's the chance !

It's just beautiful... And at Doutour cafe, here it goes

If I could just add some Counter-Strike, or Battlefield GUI and weapons, it makes a good scene... hehehehe

That's all for today

New inventory uploaded

2007-10-16T19:50:00.000+09:00

Almost a year plus I never had a single stuff added on my camera. I remembered the last stuff I bought for my camera was the external flash and it did a very good job. I'm loving it all the time.

Since I bought the camera, I wanted a wideangle lens but didn't really have the budget to buy, so instead got myself the usual Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 lens for overall above average user (closer to Professional). After a year usage, I'm very satisfied with the current lens but it still limits my creativity...

Last night just happened to talk to my friend, about what to buy next for photography. Lens ? EOS 40D ? Extra flashpack ? lil gizmos for the camera ? I was lost... I tried the new EOS 40D and the features in it meets my expectation, however it comes with a pricetag of 130,000 yen !!! ( RM 3900++). Plus it uses the APS-C sensor (which isn't the real 35mm film size sensor) so it's just going to be a technical upgrade.

What about wideangle lens ? Yup, I thought about it too but I want to bundle it with the new camera... But that adds up to more than 150,000 yen ( RM 4500 ++)... *Gulp* In Malaysia, I don't think I'll be able to afford one....

So the regular shop I visted suggested me to wait for 1/2 a year because possiblity the 1st batch of 40D might not be as good as expected. Cool... Can save some money for the 40D...

Now I have a dilemma, WHICH WIDEANGLE LENS TO BUY !!!

Tamron 11-18mm ? Sigma 12-24mm ? Tokina 12-24mm ? or Sigma 15mm EX DG Diagonal Fisheye ?

Trying to get the best wideangle possible so that I could get a good picture of landscape and architecture... Tried the Sigma 15mm EX DG Diagonal fisheye... it rocks !!! but lacks the flexibility. Sigma 12-24mm ...not too many good review about it.... Tamron 11-18mm ? Slow lens...

Never came across in my mind...

Canon EF-S 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 USM lens.... Pretty pricey at 74,000 yen but is it worth the money ? HELL it costs MORE than the BODY !!! Ah screw it, it's worth the money because I'm going to fully utilise it... Benchmarked the Tamron, Sigma fisheye and the Canon... In the end I decided the Canon Lens....

KACCHHIIIIIINNNGG !!! MAIDO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA....

there goes my 74,000 yen....　

Went to Umeda for dinner at Subway sandwich

The simple yet good looking camera box... I think part of that 74,000 yen goes to the box art ?

Ahhhh... Canon EF-S 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 lens

So tried it on my dining table and see how it goes....

So after had my dinner, on my way home, I just took some pictures of the nightlife in Umeda.... Images may be blur because I didn't have a tripod with me.

Dojima Avanza - a place where you can find a good bookstore : Junkudo

Opposite Osaka Ekimae building, pretty interesting sight...

A place where you buy branded stuff... (read : LOUIS VUITTON)

Another expensive shopping center - Hilton Hotel... Expensive place to be... Not for a poor guy like me...

Verdict : Is it worth the money ? PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD.... IT IS !!!!

Islam is in the prison...

2007-10-16T10:43:00.000+09:00

...of culture , nationalism and tribal pride...I felt that is how Islam is treated not only in Malaysia but throughout the whole world. By whom ? Muslims themselves... not all but many... Now I'm studying the Qur'an myself (mostly via translation but need further research) and it is the most reliable source. You don't refer Islam to what Mr A B C says or "so called experts" in Islam. But the Qur'an itself talks about Islam (Submission, Peace, Obedience, Surrender and Sincerity towards Allah)

You won't know Islam till you refer to the source, that is the Qur'an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). What I've been writing this far is just what I've understand from the Qur'an itself but whether my statement are in line with the message in the Qur'an, that is your responsibility to re-read and understand.

Here is something for brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity...

Indeed I was right in against the concept of nationalism and ethnocentricity.

Happy Eid Mubarak

2007-10-15T14:16:00.000+09:00

It's a little late but this festival is for a month...

Happy Eid al-Fitri Mubarak

Wish you a blessed nature festival (if you put it in 100% English)

to all the Muslim readers out there =) Make dua for the success in this life and the hereafter as well as being able to live up for the next Ramadhan.

It is sad to see Ramadhan just passed by like that. But I hope all of us have a stronger eeman (faith) than before from the blessed month of Ramadhan (Ramadhan al-Mubarak).

Makkah al-Mukaramah , Madinah al-Munawarah

2007-10-11T20:18:00.000+09:00

As it is written above, yes I went back to these two lovely places on earth. The house of God, Baitul-Allah Haram (the Sacred House of Allah). The house was originally built by our grandfather, Adam (PBUH) after he was sent down to this earth after transgressed his limits by eating the forbidden fruit. Then it was destroyed by the great flood of Noah (PBUH) and rebuilt by the patriach of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ibrahim/Abraham (PBUH) and the father of Arabs , Ismail / Ishmael (PBUH). Basically the oldest yet the most modern place of worship in the world.

Makkah as what it is, the center of the world where everyone from all walks of life, from all over the world, gather and perform duties commanded by Allah through His revelation (i.e. Qur'an) and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH(Sunna).
This is the place where there is no discrimination between rich and poor, white and black, where everyone pray side by side with a sense of unity and humanity. Everyone is united by one faith and nationality is the thing of the past, where you greet "Assalamualaikum" or "Peace be upon you" which is the uniting language of all Muslims. Let it be an American or a Brazilian or a German or an Arab or a Tanzanian or an Arab or a Russian or an Indian or a Malaysian or a Chinese or a Japanese.

Makkah as well is the most happening spot on earth where the Mosque is open 24hrs 365days year round and open to Muslims only.There is this sense of return than travelling where this is the spot where lies the greatest written history on earth. You got the Kaabah, built by Adam (PBUH) and rebuilt by Ibrahim (PBUH), then the ZamZam well which was found after Hajar / Hagar was looking for water when Ishmael (PBUH) was thirsty and etc. The Holy Mosque is full of wonders where it is not just a place of prayers, but a place of gathering, a place of dating (for married couples of course), a place of picnic (during Ramadan where everyone breaks fast together), a place of meditating, and a place where children likes to run around, hide and seek and get lost (Yes it happened to me when I was 4)...

The Kaabah alone is a wonder of its own. Simple yet elegant and full of wonders. Why it has to be a cube ? Why no extra decorations like what you see in temples or in churches ? Compared to the temples in the far east, it is very simple. No, we don't worship the Kaabah nor God manifest in it or assuming God is in there.

anyway sorry for waiting, here are the pics

Purpose of Life... think and reflect...

2007-10-08T13:35:00.000+09:00

Life is nothing more than a brief stopover to the real destination.
It's not just a stopover, but it is also an exam hall.
An exam hall with clear answers written in the Book.
An exam hall with a time limit,
That reaches to a point where you have to go,
An exam hall where your soul, mind,and heart will be challenged,
An exam hall where your answers will be subjective,
But there is only one answer,
And it's all in the Book.

The stopover is indeed too tempting to one's soul,
that it makes one to stat forever.
But it is nothing more than mirage of the destination,
and it is nothing more than a stopover.
Once the time comes, it is inevitable to leave
and that time is when one realises its realities.
The book has given warnings, lessons, wisdoms and solutions
but Nay ! people are heedless over what it has been said,
Then when the time comes, one has to depart for the long journey
That is to the final destination itself.

Once you leave your temporary abode,
your answer sheet will be taken away.
Once you passed it with flying colours,
you will reach the point where you're going.
Once you failed it,
There won't be a U turn for you.
You may not reach your desired destination,
but to a place that you wouldn't want to go
And that destination will be a lifetime abode.

Sense of guilt over sense of blame

2007-10-05T11:05:00.001+09:00

I was browsing through the infamous youtube.com and happened to search for clips that are good for the soul. I remembered throughout my life, we Muslims tend to blame others for anything that screwed up all over the world, from personal matters to international conflicts. It's no surprise that even I, myself have that tendency to blame others when something screws up but not myself. Maybe due to the surrounding that I was brought up? God knows best...

Here's a video to ponder around...It would be worthwhile to take a look...

Test your patience...

2007-09-30T14:10:00.000+09:00

Oh boy.... That's a long way to go till iftar bro...

A point of reflection in Ramadhan

2007-09-29T00:06:00.001+09:00

I was reading Psychology and relating it with Islam... I took Psychology as an elective subject in my 2nd year and I realised that it is something I've learnt back in my primary school through Islamic Studies. It was about Sigmund Freud's theory of "Self" in terms of Ego, Super-ego, and Es. In relation to that, Islamically we have Hawwa (desire), Nafs (ego and/or soul), Shaitan (Devil), Akal (mind) etc.

With some readings of Pyschology in Islam, I realised it is more complex than the simple Freud's theory of Self... In the end, Islamic studies isn't about theology, but it covers psychology, physics, environmental studies, chemistry, biology, nature studies and long list to go where it is sourced from the Quran and Sunnah.

In Islam, there is no such thing as adolescence but why it happens because I think living in a secular world, one's soul is continuing the search for truth by changing one's self every time. That is what I understand from what I went through in life.

Now my regret was that I didn't buy book about Psychology and Islam by brother Jeffrey Lang.... =(

Wisdom of the day

2007-09-27T13:05:00.000+09:00

O believers! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance. It may well be that your Rabb will remove from you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. On that Day Allah will not humiliate the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their light will shine in front of them and on their right, and they will say: "Our Rabb! Perfect our light for us and grant us forgiveness, for you have power over all things." [Quran 66:8]

あなたがた信仰する者よ，謙虚に悔悟してアッラーに帰れ。恐らく主は，あなたがたの様々な悪を払い，川が下を流れる楽園に入らせるであろう。その日アッラーは，預言者やかれに従って信じる者たちを，辱しめはしない。かれらの光は，その前方または右方だ閃こう。かれらは（祈って）言うであろう。「主よ，わたしたちのために，光を完全になされ，わたしたちを御赦し下さい。あなたは凡てのことに全能であられます。

クルアン　66:8

Moonsighting in Ramadhan by Hamza Yusuf

2007-09-24T10:40:00.001+09:00

As usual, taken from youtube, which can be a good source of vitamin for the soul (given that you don't watch the not-so-halal videos which is a khamr for the soul)

Part 1

Part 2

Based on what I've heard from his speech is that, being Muslim as well makes us being a human being in its true nature. Living with nature, observing it, reflect and act. Since I have been living in Japan for years, Japanese would go so far in trying to live in harmony with nature (in regards to their customs belief) while depicting Islam as a religion that isn't harmony with nature (seriously you can't find books about Islam and nature, unless I'm proven otherwise). Jazakallah khair to our bro Hamza Yusuf for the beautiful speech.

Islam: Between the Malays and the Chinese

2007-09-23T10:11:00.000+09:00

Taken from the Mufti Perlis' webpage ...Something good as a reminder to me and everyone.... Well said about it...

Every so often, our incorrect manner in using a particular term can give a terribly harmful impact in the way other people understand certain issues. Even more unfortunate is if it affects people’s understanding on the religion. Based on my observation, among the misconception that implicates the religion is the tendency to substitute Malay as a term for Islam and Chinese as a term for kafir (non-believers). Thus, some Malays describe those who newly embrace Islam as “embrace Malay” or sometimes they even say irrelevant things such as “not a Muslim but a Chinese”. As if, according to them, the Chinese epitomize kafir and the Malays epitomize Muslims. Even worse is when they label a Chinese who has embraced Islam as muallaf (new convert) all his life and it sounds even more awful when pronounced with a northern slang as ‘Mat Loh’.

As if only the Malays have the potential to become true Muslims whereas for a Chinese person, regardless of how potent his Islam is, he is always regarded as a drifter or ‘not genuine’. While the fact is many of the Chinese people who embrace Islam hold sound Islamic value but look at how many Malays who were born in a Muslim family but their grasp on Islam is and should be questionable.

The sarong, traditional Malay suit and sampin (a short sarong worn outside of Malay suit) are not the clothing worn by the Prophet s.a.w. and yet the Malay people regard it as religious clothing mainly because it is of a Malay tradition. True! Islam does not prohibit traditions that do not contradict its authoritative texts. However, there was a time when the Malay people regarded that it was wrong to eat using chopsticks since it resembled the Chinese tradition, even though there is no difference between eating using chopsticks and using forks and spoons as practised by the English people. What was taught by the Prophet s.a.w was to say Allah’s name, use the right hand and eat the part that has been allocated or the nearest. As said by the Prophet s.a.w to ‘Umar bin Abi Salamah when he was just about to start eating, and he was still a boy at that time: “O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Malays will ask a Chinese who has embraced Islam to change his name and replace it with an Arabic name. It is as if the names like Ah Chong, Ah Seng, Lim and Koh represent infidelity. It could be because those names do not sound Arabic, and that is why the Malays feel weird about it. Unfortunately, the Malays do not feel strange over the names like Awang, Leman, Seman and the likes of it and those too are not of the Arabic language. Even many Malay names do not have any meaning in the Arabic language. Worse still, some have bad meanings when translated to the Arabic language and that is acceptable just because those names are the favourites among Malays. Is Malay Islam and Islam is Malay? The Prophet s.a.w did not ask those who embraced Islam during his time to change their names except for those names that have bad meanings. The name ‘Umar itself was used during the times of jahiliyyah (ignorance) and the same name was used after he embraced Islam. It was also the same with most of the companions of the Prophet s.a.w.

I do not object if the Chinese want to change their names. Even more if by changing their names, it will give the impression as if they are close to the Muslim community at all levels. However, we must give them the freedom to choose. If the practice to change names only makes the Chinese people who are non-Muslim afraid of embracing Islam, afraid that they will be discarded from their original families and lose the family ties, what is wrong about retaining their original names? If we can retain the name Awang, why can we not retain the name Ah Chong?

The conception in thinking that Malay characters personify Islam has its unpleasant impacts in many cases. It is worse now since the current characters of the Malays mostly contradict that of Islam. On the other hand, many characters of the Chinese people display the manners and conducts commendable in Islam. However, the Malays have one undisputed advantage in that more of them embrace the faith of Islam compared to the Chinese in this country. Indeed, a genuine faith is the main saviour in the afterlife.

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that many Malays only assume Muslim names but their belief in Allah and His Messenger sometimes has long been damaged. Too many Malays are involved in syirik (worshipping other than Allah), and belittle the decrees of Allah and the teachings of His Messenger. This type of Malays only assumes Muslim names but does not reside in the region of Iman (belief), or in other words, their Iman has been nullified.

As for the Chinese people, due to historical phenomenon, the majority of them in Malaysia do not embrace Islam. The calling of Islam might have not been lucid enough to gain their awareness. In addition to that, the Malay people who embrace Islam themselves do not execute the da’wah (missionary work for Islam) transparently. Instead, in many cases, they display to the non-Muslims characters that contradict those of Islam. The Malays are able to talk about a variety of topics with the Chinese including campaigning to vote for their party of choice. However, they are incapable to discuss the greatness of Islam and to invite the Chinese towards their religion of choice. Furthermore, the manners of the Malays that do not represent the identity of Islam have been causing a big number of the Chinese people to generate a misconception on Islam or to feel disgusted about the idea of embracing Islam.

Being lazy, lacking of effort, acting on malicious grudges and the likes of it are the attitudes that are being combated by Islam. Unfortunately, many of these traits are observed in the nature of the Malay society. Many Malay students are weak and are being left behind in education and fields of knowledge. If they try to compete with the Chinese students, be it in schools or universities, in most cases the Malay students will lose the battle. Even in matters concerning the knowledge of Islam, the Malays are slacking in that they are not interested to learn about the genuine knowledge of Islam.

Their preference is more towards the stories of Israiliyyat (narration from the Jews), fairy tales and tips that do not come from al-Quran and al-Sunnah. They like better information that can be obtained easily without having to think about it and study it. As for the public libraries and books, the ratio of the Malays who are using them and reading them is still very thin. Worse still, at the same time that the Chinese students are striving to expand their education, many Malay students are being careless in their study. Consequently, when the examination result is out, those students who have been working hard surely are more outstanding than those that just depend on water or raisins that have gone through the process of incantation. If a Chinese who is not yet a Muslim misunderstands Islam by thinking that the practice of some Malay students who depend on special water is Islamic and obtain poor results because of it, surely he will reject Islam.

Islam does not teach its followers to depend on incantation only to become intelligent. It is indicated in some hadiths that the Prophet s.a.w prayed for a few of his companions so that they would be bestowed with knowledge and intelligence. Among them was a young prominent companion whose name was Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. to whom the Prophet s.a.w said his prayer for: “O Allah, teach him wisdom (i.e. the understanding of the knowledge of Qur’an).” (Reported by al-Bukhari). Ibn ‘Abbas really turned out to be a prominent scholar, an outstanding interpreter of al-Quran and a very knowledgeable companion who became the reference for the Ummah. However, Ibn ‘Abbas was not the type that just waited for the outcome of the Prophet’s prayer to come rolling but instead, the pages of history recorded his determination in striving to gain knowledge, in addition to the opportunity that he had in learning directly from the Prophet s.a.w for thirty months. The Prophet s.a.w deceased when Ibn ‘Abbas was just 13 years old. He then continued to pick up hadiths from the other companions of the Prophet s.a.w such as ‘Umar ibn Khattab, ‘Ali, Mu’az, his own father ‘Abbas, ‘Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Auf, Abu Sufyan, Abu Zar, Ubai bin Ka’b, Zaid bin Thabit and many others. He studied the al-Quran with Ubai bin Ka’b dan Zaid bin Thabit. (Refer to: al-Zahabi, Siyar ‘Alam al-Nubala`, 3/332-337, printing: Maktabah al-Risalah, Beirut).

It means that the will of Allah is materialized through the rules that Allah has determined for this world that is cause and effect. Knowledge will come with effort and perseverance. The Ulama such as Imam al-Bukhari (deceased in 256H), al-Imam al-Syafi‘I (deceased in 204H), Ibn Taimiyyah (deceased in 728H) and the likes of them became the champions of knowledge after they persevered in acquiring it. In Tawali al-Ta`nis bi Ma‘ali Muhammad bin Idris written by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (deceased in 852H); Ibn Abi Hatim said: “I heard al-Muzani (the grand student of al-Imam al-Syafi’i) said: “Al-Syafi’i was asked: How is your desire for knowledge? He answered: “Whenever I hear a word that I have never heard before, all of my body parts will wish that they had the capability to hear so that they can indulge in whatever that the ears are indulging in.” How is your greed over knowledge? He answered: “Like the greed of a treasure collector who guard his treasure so closely in deriving pleasure out of his treasure.” How is your condition in seeking for knowledge? He answered: “Like the searching effort of a woman who has lost her only child”. Likewise is the story of Syeikh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah narrated by his student al-Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (deceased in 751 H). He stated that the work of his tutor numbered up to 350 books. It was reported that Ibn Taimiyyah consistently surrounded himself with knowledge. In Raudah al-Muhibbin Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Our Sheikh (Ibn Taimiyyah) narrated to me: “When I became ill, the physician told me: “Indeed, your study and your speech on knowledge aggravate your illness.” I answered: “Indeed, I have no patience for that. I would like to evaluate your opinion based on your medical knowledge; is it not true that when a soul is happy and pleased, it will assume a character that is strong and resistant to diseases? He answered: “Yes.” I said: “Indeed, my soul feels happy when accompanied with knowledge and thus, it assumes a robust character and subsequently, my whole being achieve a state of relaxation.”

Such was the condition of the great Ulama. They did not rely upon spell water or spell pencils and erasers before sitting in for an examination. They also did not rely upon water chanted with surah Yasin commonly consumed by the Malay community who unfortunately totally disregard the true meaning of its verses. The previous generation excelled because they uphold knowledge and earnest in studying it only for Allah, and not just focus on getting a testimonial. Their earnest attitude towards knowledge and their struggle to gain excellent achievement in the fields they involved in led Islam to become an outstanding religion and establish its civilization of knowledge.

Many Malay youths are only focusing on getting testimonials and not on the quality of their knowledge. In the end, many of them receive the testimonials but their quality does not show. Then, there are those who do not have any testimonial but possess knowledge while at the same time, even more embarrassing, is the existence of those who have testimonials but do not possess knowledge probably because they study only to pass the examination but as soon as the examination is over, their knowledge vanishes. If indeed spell water is able to function such that there is no need for struggling to gain knowledge to pass the examination, then surely it will produce more students who only pass or excel in the examination but without having any knowledge.

Sometimes we should allow ourselves to praise the Chinese community. Some Chinese youths do not get to continue their education to higher learning but they study a particular field with much determination even without having any degree. They either inherit the knowledge from their parents or learn it in practical from others. Thus, many Chinese mechanics do not own high degrees but they succeed. Similarly, many Chinese big bosses are experts in various fields of business even without having any official testimonial. They continually look for ways of advancement. This attitude of determination is something that is favoured by the religion. We are urged by the religion to always rely upon Allah and increase our knowledge. Allah said (translated to): “O My Lord! Advance me in knowledge.” (Surah Taha: 114)

This is despite of the fact that the Malay religious teachers and the Malay people themselves always recite a particular fabricated hadith stating “Go seek out for knowledge even as far the China”. (This is a fabricated hadith as stated by the Ulama. Refer to: Al-Jarrahi, Kasyf al-Khafa` 1/138, printed by Dar Ihya al-Turath al-`Arabi, Beirut/ / Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Silsilah ad-Dha`ifah wa Al-Maudu`ah, 1/600, printing: Maktabah al-Ma`arif, Riyadh). The Chinese people do not recite this fabricated hadith but they struggle to gain knowledge. In fact, the reading culture of the Chinese is much stronger than that of Malays.

Islam is a great religion, a religion that teaches its followers about responsibility and punctuality. If a person is involved in business, he is responsible and punctual. Islam gives emphasis to cleanliness to the extent that it prescribes pureness and cleanliness as the mandatory requirement for a Muslim to perform the prayer. All matters that are wicked and disgusting are prohibited. It is prohibited for a man to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is in her menses. Carcasses and filths are also prohibited. All these rulings guide a Muslim in living his life. Observe the following statements from Allah:

Allah’s statement in describing the characteristics of a genuine believer (translated to): “And those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants.” (Surah al-Mu’minun:
Allah’s commandment in prohibiting wicked matters (translated to): “Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); he releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, it is they who will prosper.” (Surah al-‘Araf: 157)

Allah’s Messenger s.a.w said: “”(O people!) Save yourselves from the (Hell) Fire even if with one half of a date fruit (given in charity), and if this is not available then (save yourselves) by saying a good pleasant friendly word.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

In managing their businesses, if this type of spirit and fortitude are being applied surely the Malay people whose religion is Islam will succeed. Their shops or businesses certainly will be clean, the goods are guaranteed halal (legitimate as prescribed by Islam), their appointments are met in a precise manner and their appearance in front of the customers are satisfactory. This will bring about blessings and simultaneously, by Allah’s willing, success in their businesses. Unfortunately, many Malay people do not apply the spirit of Islam in their ventures but instead, there are those who believe that the downturn of their businesses are only because of the “evildoing of others” or “hex of a sorcerer”. I do not deny the existence of black magic. Al-Quran and al-Sunnah admit its existence, by Allah’s willing. However, the problem is, every time a person’s business is not profitable or becomes problematic, it will always be correlated to black magic and in most cases the accounts are just tales made up by the sorcerer and as a result, they will condemn this person and that person. Hundreds or may be even thousands of ringgits has to be spent in attaining protective charms from sorcerers who are deemed invincible. I once went to an eatery and its owner complained to me saying that his eatery had been cast a spell such that it became unprofitable.

It just so happens that I – all praises to Allah – have a little knowledge about black magic and the ways to overcome it and I found that there were no indications of black magic there. Instead, what I found was that its management was sluggish, its condition was not very clean and its food was not tasty. He ignored all these and blamed its bad luck on others. If it is true that there is a superb sorcerer who is able to bankrupt people’s businesses just ask him then to bankrupt the American’s businesses and spare us the difficulty in boycotting them.

How is it possible, in this kind of condition, for the Malay people to present Islam to the Chinese people who are not yet Muslims and describe that Islam has shaped humans to become people of quality? On the other hand, many Chinese merchants if compared with Malay merchants practice excellent management and display the characteristics that can make the customers proud. Many of the Malays themselves, in many cases, trust the quality of the Chinese merchants more than that of their own people. Where are the likes of ‘Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Auf, the Prophet’s companion who has been heralded as a model for the Muslims in the world of business? Probably, the Chinese people whose majority are not Muslims can reflect more to that character than the Malay themselves.

Lately, there are many Malays involved in business ventures and are manufacturing their own products. However, if we look closely, it still revolves within the same confinement. Most products by the Malays are associated to medicine. Most popular is the medication for enhancing virility. There are those who sell spell raisins and it is purported that its consumption can cause people to become clever and bright. The truth is that there is no authentic hadith indicating as such. What worries me is that people may think that the Malays are lately being impaired by various bodily diseases and by the weakening of minds. Where is the fardhu kifayah (obligated to all until at least one person fulfils it) duty in providing the necessities for our Ummah if our businesses are still revolving around virility?

In giving religious lectures, many Malay ustaz are still capitalizing stories that are full of tales and cartoon materials. In addition to stories of Israiliyyat and fabricated hadiths being recited in mosques and prayer halls, they are also adding in stories about bizarre incidents to attract the audience. Stories about dead bodies turning into this and that have become cheap means of attracting people. Beyond doubt, Allah is capable to do just about anything but historical accounts show that Allah did not do that to the people of His very last Prophet unlike the people before them. If Allah so desire, definitely the body of Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab would have become the perfect examples. Those two prominent characters of infidelity did not die of shock or because of some mysterious disease as a result of their evil doings but instead, it was the Muslim people that waged a crusade against them and destroyed them in the battlefield.

Allah says in the al-Quran concerning the challenge posed by the polytheists to the Prophet s.a.w (translated to): “They say: “We shall not believe in thee, until thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth, or (until) thou have a garden of date trees and vines, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst, carrying abundant water; or thou cause the sky to fall In pieces, as thou sayest (will happen), against us; or thou bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face: or thou have a house adorned with gold, or thou mount a ladder right into the skies. No, we shall not even believe in thy mounting until thou send down to us a Book that we could read.” Say: “Glory to my Lord! Am I aught but a man, an apostle?” What kept men back from belief when guidance came to them, was nothing but this: They said, “Has Allah sent a man (like us) to be (his) Messenger”.” (al-Isra’: 90-94).

The Prophet s.a.w himself was incapable to accept their challenges unless by Allah’s willing. They asked for the sky to fall on them in pieces but the Prophet s.a.w only answered, “I am just a man that has been sent as an apostle.” Allah s.w.t., most Intelligent, still did not destroy the polytheist with what they had asked for but instead it was fated that their destruction was through the battle with the believers. What is odd is that some ustaz or religious speakers are passing on stories whose nature differs completely from that of the life history of the Prophet s.a.w and his companions. Allegedly, those dead bodies turned into this and that because they never went to the mosques, were too miserly and the likes of it. As for the other one, his hand paralyzed or had a body full of disease because he did not want to perform the Hajj. They are guessing the uncertainties. Whereas, it is always possible for a person to get sick mainly because Allah wished to eradicate his sins by it or due to other judicious reasons that only Allah knows. Many pious individuals too get sick. In actual, stories of a dead body turning into this and that are mostly speculations and exaggerations. What is more disturbing is that some mass media distort this type of subjects to attract readers. To the extent that when a Chinese who is not a Muslim reads the headlines he then says: “It’s just so bad being Muslims, uncanny things happen to them when they die. Even us the Chinese whom you refer as infidels do not end up that way. Because of this, I don’t think that I can embrace this religion of the Malay people. It is dangerous! God would always release his wrath on us and even dying would be difficult.”

Clearly, sometimes the Malay Muslims distort the comprehension of others on Islam. All ustaz should be teaching the religion with an intellectual manner using references that are acknowledged and reliable and not by picking up stories from the streets to gain popularity.

The number of Malays who are involved in drug abuses is far higher than that of Chinese. I am perplexed because there are less Malay people in Singapore compared to Chinese people but the Malays still hold the record for being the highest number involved in drug abuse. How then can Islam possibly be expanded?

There are actually a lot more to talk about. It makes me to think that if the Malays do not possess the faith of Islam then there is nothing special about them that they can be proud of. If the Chinese acquire the genuine faith of Islam, there are a lot that they possess that can be used to help strengthening Islam. Therefore, it is our duty to make every effort to Islamize the majority of the Chinese people. Let them take control of this country as long as they are believers who hold a sound belief over the whole teachings of Islam.

It is with a conscious mind that I say that in every ethnic group there are weaknesses and strengths. It is not as if there is not a single commendable characteristic of the Malays but in fact, there are many. Not that there is not any bad characteristic of the Chinese but rather, there are many. However, the Malays to whom Allah has bestowed with Islam should be demonstrating good characteristics that are more distinct and visible compared to the Chinese. However, the reality is indicating the opposite of that.

Purpose of Life...

2007-09-16T13:20:00.000+09:00

Why are you here ? なぜ君がここにいるんだるう？

check the video here

イスラーム　①

2007-09-14T04:11:00.000+09:00

この世の中にいつもイスラームとは宗教であるが、宗教という意味はなんだろうか？それにイスラームといつ意味はなんだろうか？周りの人がいつも「宗教、宗教」と違和感で言われるが、ある程度までこれは真実である。イスラームは　一般の日本語に訳す　と　アッラー　に　①身を任せる　②　平和する③　服従する　④　本音を表す　⑤　甘受する。　

では、定義を表しまして、自分で振り返って見てください。心を空けて、プライドなどを持たず、世界を一時的に忘れて、考えましょう

５つの意味では何がわかる？　　　それに、
自然と何が関係する？　　　　　　つぎに、
何のために生きるでしょうか？　　　また、
人生とはなんでしょうか？　　　　その上、
どこから来たのでしょうか？　　　そして、
どこへ行くでしょうか？

イスラームは誰々の教えもなく、その言葉自体で日本語で言えば「動詞」と「名詞」である。ですから、イスラム教は間違いです。

では　アッラー　は　神様と違う？

たまに　アッラーと言う神　とか　アッラーの神とか　よく耳にするが正直に言いますと、１００%日本語に変えてみたら、神の神　神と言う神になる。

アラブ語では　イラーフ　（Ilah）とは　日本語で言うと神であるがアラブ語事態で何でも崇拝する物。木や石や川などを崇拝する。日本の見方としては、これは八百万の神を示しているつまり、椅子も神様、太陽も神様、などです。　また　アラブ語では　イラーハ　（Ilaha) とは　女神を表す。つまり神は性別がある。

しかし、アッラー（Allah)　は唯一性を表し男女もなく何も比べられない神様である。目に見えない、想像できない、この世に比べられるものはありません。

ですから　イスラームの第一柱の最初は

La ila ha il-Allah...
ラーイラーハ　イラッラー

アッラー（神）以外崇拝する物はない。

という単純な表現する。

１００％日本語に言ったら

神様以外神様はない　と　言えるが、それは言語の不足を表します。私もたまに考えていた、なんでやねん？神様以外神様はない？　英語でも同じだし、マレー語でも同じですが、上の定義でわかったら、　そうなんや～　と　わかるようになる。

だけど、

「あなたは日本人じゃないから、何もわからない」と言うプライドの高い人がよく耳にする。ではあなたは人間でしょう？あなたの血と私の血は赤いでしょう？あなたは私と同じ地球で生きるでしょう？本格のムスリムとしての考え方は国民性はないはずです。国民性を考えてみたら、やはり戦争になるし、人種差別が起こるし、「私の国民を標準にして」ほかの国民を比べるし、さまざまな問題が起こり続ける。

アッラーから言われて

人びとよ，われは一人の男と一人の女からあなたがたを創り，種族と部族に分けた。これはあなたがたを，互いに知り合うようにさせるためである。アッラーの御許で最も貴い者は，あなたがたの中最も主を畏れる者である。本当にアッラーは，全知にして凡ゆることに通暁なされる。

クルアン　４９：１３

ノート：書いた事は信じるかどうか、自分で判断してください。私はただのムスリムとして人々にイスラームをシェアしたいと思っております。もしイスラームを知りたかったら、まずクルアンを読んで理解する。
参考：　イスラム.net (日本語訳の意味のクルアン）
Islam Tomorrow
イスラームとは何か　その宗教・社会・文化　小杉康　　講談社　ISBN4-06-149210-1
(Free Quran 英語訳の意味とクルアン 26MB ファイル）
クルアンはどのように聞こえるのか？注意：ページに入って、核ファイルを右クリックして保存する

Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

2007-09-12T18:46:00.000+09:00

Finally the sacred month of Ramadhan has come and in this month, shaitan is chained up, The gates of Hell is closed and the Gates of Heaven is wide open. It is nothing more than a commandment by Allah (or in English you call it God) which was sent down before us (before Prophet Muhammad SAW) As been described in the Noble Qur'an,

O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, so that you will (learn how to attain) piety

Noble Qur'an 2:183

As mentioned what was decreed before us refered to phophets such as Jesus, Moses, David, Abraham, till Adam. So what we Muslims do aren't something that came out about 1400 years ago but ever since before the Old Testament came out.

So it's going to be 30 days of fasting, no food , no water, no sex, no smoking from the start of Morning Prayers (about 1.5 hours before sunrise) till Sunset. Basically for half a day, one have to keep himself away from doing such acts that voids fasting.Since there is less or no whispering of shaitan, that leaves to our soul crying for food , drink and sex during the day.

On a scale that impacts our daily life inside and outside Ramadhan is to be mindful of our tongue, to watch where we spend our money, to be careful where we are going and to caution ourself from what we are looking. These are little things that many of us tend to forget but making fasting meaningful is to understand the impact of fasting. You know backbiting, wasting money, walking to places of shameful activities, looking at women like as if they are sex objects etc...and start ones dirty fantasies about it.

This particular month is also a high time to seek forgiveness from Allah for past sins and asking the Lord to increase in one's Iman (Faith) and to be a better Muslim (A better person who submits, surrender, obedient, peace and sincere to God).

Well I'd like to wish all Muslims a happy fasting and may Allah guide us all...

Oh ya and never to forget this good Reminder Video by Baba Ali

Life is but a trial

2007-09-08T12:32:00.000+09:00

Having someone special
Is but a trial of affection

Living in a luxury life
Is but a trial of compassion

Driving good car and wear good clothes
Is but a trial of being grateful

Having married to your love one
Is but a trial of being faithful

Having children and being a parent
Is but a trial of forbearance

Living in a peaceful nation
Is but a trial of tolerance

Being a leader and a boss
Is but a trial of responsibility

Being famous and loved by all
Is but a trial of humility

Pass these trials with flying colours
And share your success with others.

I don't know whether these rhymes or not but give it a try ...

Anyway on daily life, I've just bought another timberland product in 2 straight months... last month was my shoes, to replace my 1.5 year old Bata Power which served me well... now a white and black sling bag... What I remembered was that I always thought handbags are for women and backpacks are for men.... Well indeed there are handbags for men.... pretty convenient especially you try to carry it light...

Never to forget to bring a sajadah (a prayer mat) and a towel for wudhu (ablution)

The Achilles Heel, The Ulcer and The Wire

2007-07-31T15:35:00.000+09:00

Yeah, for this week it's been the worst week of the month... I got two big mouth ulcers on my lower front lip which started last friday, then an Achilles Tendon damage (in regards to Archilles heel) which occured to me on Sunday morning and worsens on Monday...and my 4th Wiretap on Tuesday...

It was the worst of the worst... Especially when you have an ulcer at times like this, EXAM SEASON !!! Basically you can't enjoy your food as everytime a food touches your ulcer , the world turns up side down...

Then things didnt get any better till a Flu and an injured Achilles tendon which spoiled the whole Sunday...As in regards with Achilles Heel, yes.... it just limps the hell out of you... and you're vulnerable to enemies... I couldn't cook, I couldn't stand, I couldn't walk normally, I couldn't even put a single stress on my legs !!! If I'd do.... hell breaks loose and everything goes up side down... Really, I'm serious....

Then Exam on Monday and Tuesday , thanks to the achilles heel injury and a mild flu, I flopped with flying colours... Basically lack of nutrition in my food because I didn't have the energy and time to cook as well I was bedridden for 2 days !!!

Then the light shines upon me and voila !!! my 4th Oakley Wiretap has arrived... That made the gloomy days as bright as ever with blue skies and fresh air... But still I flopped my paper with flying colours because I didn't have the strength to cook a lot to keep my brains working...

Here you go, my 4th Oakley Wiretap.... with Ruby Iridium Lens.... It just makes the sky soo blue that Oh God, I'm thankful that you gave me the chance to enjoy the beauty of your creation.... The Heavens !!

The Lens may look red from the outside, but once u wear it , the world looks pretty cool....

Well it doesn't fully complete my Wiretap Collection but I'm satisfied with the collection i have right now.... See when I will start getting into the Juliet or Penny... God Knows

Ultra-Busy June and July and August

2007-07-28T00:26:00.001+09:00

Wahahahaha, I think July is the busiet month throughout my 1st semester...So many things came up, I had to finish 4 reports in 2 weeks and then finishing up the solar car and exams...Schedule is so tight that I think sleeping for 6 hours is considered a luxury.

Now reporting for June and July....

Our solar Car Team , Osaka Institute of Technology Team Regalia went to Suzuka Circuit for trial run. Thank God no mishaps nor getting our car into the litter box.
It was pretty stressful but at the same time mixed with joy... Just that particular weekend, I was dead busy that it wasn't a weekend for me.

On Saturday , our team had to finish up the car from morning all the way till 10.30pm at night. Then I had part time job as an exam prefect on Sunday which was tiring but good pay. That night I had to wash my clothes coz no clothes to wear for the next day. It was raining like cats and dogs and the bag of dried clothes from the coin dryer fell out of the basket as the bicycle collapsed in the heavy downpour... Got it dried again and the rain stopped.

Once got everything packed, I rushed to Kintetsu Uehonmachi and finally managed to catch the last train to Shiroko-station (station that leads to Suzuka Circuit). Hungry, tired, sleepy.. I just had a light dinner in the train and doze off till I reached the station. All my team members went there ahead of me because they didn't take the part time job. Apparently the lodge I booked is further than expected, and my friends had to walk for 2 kilometres under the heavy downpour.

I reached the inn at 11.50 and ppl are asleep. Without wait, I went to bed and woke up at 4.30 am in the morning the next day. We had to rush to the Circuit by 6.30am. Luckily we made it in time. Then we got our team prepared for the race but apparently we were ill-equipped compared to other teams. It became a lesson for us what to prepare. At least we know what to bring for the race next itme.

Our Iris Type One managed to race along the track for 6 laps... Thank God nothing happened... After that, interesting race came up...a Skyline R31 Track Day !!! u'd see a long fleet of R31s... They are just beautiful despite the old boxy looks. It was just a step before the rebirth of the legendary Skyline GTR.

Then We got back to Osaka at 6.00pm and I was exhausted... Just cant move any further... I went to bed that night and slept all the way till the next morning. Realised I was so tired that I couldn't budge any further half of that day...I was too tired and I can't move any further...

here are some pictures of the track day...sorry I didn't take pictures of my car...what not no Solar Car Racequeens tho hahahaha

Exams are over on the 2nd but on that day we have to leave for Suzuka Circuit for the race... Hopefully the 8 hours endurance race would be fruitful and hoping that nothing goes wrong with the car we made...

GANBARE !!! TEAM OIT REGALIA !!!

Ohgiler Oakley

2007-05-28T23:48:00.000+09:00

My 5th Oakleys just arrived at 1800hrs and I guess people whom I’ve talked to would have thought I’m a crazy idiot who would buy such stuff. For your information, yes I’m that crazy idiot. It’s normal for a person to be loyal in purchasing a particular brand because he knows that it suited to his taste. Well as for my case, it’s my Oakley eyewear.

I remembered had my 1st Oakleys back in A levels, where I was stuck in the world of conservative eyewear (I was referring to the flat front glasses with a curved edge at the temple). Then I visited my usual spectacles shop to get my 2nd pair of glasses. The first one in my mind was Lindberg Air titanium. No-screw, beta titanium glasses which fetches RM 1k plus. Forget it...

Then I saw a Oakleys. It caught my mind because I once owned a Killer Loop which has that wrap around design which is similar to Neo from Matrix the movie.

That was way back in 1998 if I'm not mistaken when I had a pair of Killer Loop Pandemania. Wore it for about 3 years till the lens got scratch badly... Well back then I suck at taking care of things... So it is normal to get it scratched...

Sigh, missed that old pair of sunglasses (I got to search them in the drawers and cupboards, maybe there is chance to get it back)....

Then found the right choice. Oakley Wiretap... It looked a little radical for a normal pair of glasses because:
a) it’s a wraparound
b) unique looking temples
c) straight end of the temple

Without asking, grabbed one and tried it on.. Then my mom sarcastically said “You want to be Ultraman is it?” Oakleys are pretty known for their Ultraman-Kamen Rider-Green Goblin (from Spiderman the movie) line ups... but it’s worth a try wearing a unique pair of glasses. You know what I'm saying...

Something like a mixture of

THIS

and THIS

which gives u

THIS

muwahahahahaha.....

Well I've gone a little too far in the future... It is actually

THIS

Oakley Wiretap Silver...

Used it as my 2nd pair, so I didn’t wear them often enough to love it till I decided to discard my Seiko glasses 2 years later. The more I wear it, the more I love it. It just wraps nicely around your eyes and it doesn’t block your eyesight. Let’s say an everyday protection goggle for you.

Then in Summer 2005, I went back to Malaysia and went Oakley hunting… Saw some nice models and one of it was the C-Wire and Juliet. But the price in Malaysia is enough to kill your wallet, I just waited till holidays end and went back to Japan. I bought an Oakley Zero a month later. Why ? It’s just futuristic, light, and the protection level you get.

Oakley Zero, Black Iridium

I was pretty crazy to get a 3rd pair of Oakleys after that but I don’t have the cash to buy one so I just put on hold for a while. A year later the lens of the Wiretap broke (accidentally sat on it) but the frame was still intact… I sent it for repair and they changed the whole thing for half the price. Now that is something new. Got it repaired 2 weeks later and Gosh, it’s just as good as it was new… Duh, it’s a total replacement!!! Right, next pair of glasses would definitely be an Oakley…
Then in Spring 2007, I saw Blood Red Oakley Wiretap Ti which is Japan limited model. It was just plainly sexy… Same frame as the one I have but it is lighter and sexier (due to the blood red coating). And at the price of 32,000 yen… *sweats*
Without thinking twice, I put it on reservation, fearing someone would buy it out.

A week later, the Blood Red Oakley Wiretap Ti is MINE !!! It costed me RM1222 but it’s worth every sen. How many glasses in the world have such unique looking temples? I don’t think so.

Then the “Ohrmones” (Hormones carving for Oakleys) just built up in me and I frantically reading about Oakley models and hearing from friend’s experience. One of my classmates mentioned about Oakley Splice he had... I surfed the web and saw the model...Dang! It’s one unique looking beauty! Unfortunately you can’t find them at stores because it is out of production for more than a year.
The other which still caught my interest is the sunglasses version of the wiretap. Note that the Wiretap I’m wearing was based on the sunglasses model. So basically you’re wearing a sunglasses framed glasses. Odd but it’s cool.
Just yesterday, I was going to my friend’s place for his son’s birthday party and visited the shop that sold the Zero and my 2nd pair of Wiretap. They were kind enough to tell me that the Splice is available. I put it on reservation and went to my friend’s son’s birthday party. On the way back, the “Ohrmones” got up in me again and decided to take it...There we go... a 4th pair of Oakleys...Oakley Splice 5.56 FMJ Fire Iridium which is like a hybrid of the headlights of the new BMW 3 series and the eyes of Green Goblin and Ultraman....

Now the semi conservative me turned into one radical outlook. To some, I may look like Green Goblin from Spiderman the Movie or Alien but I don’t care anymore what people say about me. In fact, I like it that way…
Then today, I just got my 5th pair of Oakley… Wiretap Sunglasses with Fire Iridium lens...It’s just perfect for me...

Rather than having a typical shades, it’s good to have something a little different. Spice up my own lens with something unique, and that unique thing would be my pair of Oakleys.

As a conclusion, If you'd want to spice up your lens... Save up a little more money and get yourself an Oakley... You will never regret having one and who knows, it appreciates through time....

Visit Oakley if you'd like to know more about Oakley products... and if got time, visit your local store and try em up ! You'd never know it makes you look one of a kind !

I'd thank our buddy, Amir for opening up my sight as well hehehe....

Quote of the day:

When people say ,“There got more fish in the sea”

You should reply,”There are so many fish in this world, but what made you choose one fish matters. Ikan Terubok, Ikan Kurau, Unagi, Kampachi, Tuna, Salmon, they are all fish. Got fins, got gills, cannot live on land and they swim. But of course I’d take a salmon and kurau as Sushi and Fish and Chips.”

I think I'm in love... but with who ?

2007-04-12T23:02:00.000+09:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Interesting Vid

2007-04-07T17:29:00.000+09:00

The presenter also looks good.... naa, that wasn't my purpose watching this video... Just happened to bump into it

Random pictures

2007-03-21T13:28:00.000+09:00

Here are some of my randomly selected pictures taken a year ago (Except for the daruma dolls - 3.5 years ago).

Live a life like there is no tomorrow

2007-03-20T16:14:00.000+09:00

Verily, Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, Well Acquainted (with things). – Surah Luqman 31:34

Many of us tend to fall for this shortcoming that we will become successful tomorrow and perhaps later in the future, all due to our hard work. We have so many bright ideas, visions, plans and yet we tend to forget that only God allows it. Success and failure is only from God and those who truly believe in God will not be in despair if things didn’t work out and not be boastful or arrogant if success befalls upon them.

There are countless signs God has sent us on this world years and centuries after revelations, let it be in the on each individual, or on a society as a whole. Rather than pointing fingers at people and blaming them for the cause of our failure, it is important to reflect ourselves, where have we gone wrong? Pointing fingers is not going to improve the situation but it creates the matters worse, one couldn’t save face, the other start to behave weird, and some might have committed suicide or ended up in a mental asylum!

As a Muslim, life on this earth is full of trial (fitnah) and we have a purpose living on this world. As Sheikh Ahmad Sakr said on one of his speeches “You think God created you on this Earth accidentally?” Unfortunately, many of us do not realize the true purpose of life in this world (that includes me). Additional to that, we have slacked ourselves and worry about the worldly matters more than the hereafter, which created an unbalance for the soul. I’ve seen parents being overprotective over their child, fearing losing them to a freak accident, while they do not realize that their time is up. People weeping over their beloved ones and say “It cannot be! Why must be he/she?” but they do not realize that the hour has arrived. We will indeed lose someone whom we love somewhere in our life but accepting it as a Divine Will by God, at His Will, one wouldn’t be in despair nor arrogant.

“Everyone shall taste death. Then to Us you shall be returned”

Surah Al-Ankabut 29:57

It is irresistible that we taste death one day. It could be in a few days time, a few hours left, or a few seconds more. Death, as what we know come in various ways. Reading the newspaper alone will give you the answer. People die in earthquake, car accident, plane crash, suffocation, viral attack, rape, murder, heart attack, cancer, and so much more, yet many of us tend to be very confident that we will live till 80. However, what we don’t realize that we don’t know when and how death will fall upon us. Only God knows, not us. If we know, I think the world would be a peaceful place as many of us will be striving hard to do well. But as truth has been said in Surah Luqman 31:34, we assume that death will come upon us anytime soon.

What should we do to prepare for death? Nobody taught us about preparation of the soul for death. I’m not sure about the concept of preparation of death in other religion, but in Islam, there are various practical ways in it. Imagine you have to prepare yourself for a University Entrance Examination which is tough; you need the right book, the right knowledge, the right food for your body, the right mental state. What about death? And the post on Air Janazah will give you a clear idea how will it be.

As Muslims, we are thankful that we have 5 times a day prayers, an obligation that we are supposed to be thankful because God wants us to remember Him before sunrise till your bedtime. Of course a non Muslim would say, “Wow! You must be pious to pray 5 times a day”, or the ones who take religion a trifle issue would say,”It must be difficult and troublesome”. I don’t blame them, but we Muslims should take the effort to realize that those 5 daily prayers is part of our ticket to Paradise and a balance in life.

God has mentioned the difference between a believer and a non believer is through the 5 obligatory prayers. So basically if you don’t pray 5 times a day and don’t feel sorry about it, only God knows what is with you and hope you will get guidance some day. I’d ask you, how clear it is being a Muslim and a non-Muslim? The 5 obligatory prayers is the one that shows the difference between a Muslim and a non Muslim in terms of relationship of human being and God. In Islam, God stresses the relationship between mankind and the creator, and through his guidance, we learn a lot of things from family affairs, business, economics, law, governance etc.

“Pray before you will be prayed upon ( funeral prayers)”

This saying is true; we will never know when we will die. You may not realize death will come in a few moments away. It is always stressed by God that one should perform their obligatory prayers on time. Why? The phrase “Pray before you will be prayed upon” means that one should hasten his Fajr, Dhuhr, Asar, Maghrib, Isya’ before his/her time runs out. Imagine if you would have been busy playing Counter Strike while the Prayer for Asar hits in, yet you’re so excited with the game, fragging every opponent with your Arctic Warfare and Desert Eagle. Suddenly, the Angel of Death, Azrael fragged your soul while you were fragging every regenerable opponents. By then, you’re fragged for good, BIG TIME… no Arctic Warfare, no Desert Eagle, no M-4 Carbine, but the Angel of Death just came upon you.

So my advice, perform your prayers as soon as possible before the inevitable happens. I realized this when I was asleep last night, somewhat it was in my dream that there is an urge for me to type this out. I felt like the Angel of Death is coming closer and closer, and without delay, I have my prayers as soon as I woke up again. Yes, I had my Isya’ prayers late because I was mentally stressed last night due to some excessive thinking. Thank God I had my prayers and had a good night sleep.

The ultimate way of enjoining good and avoiding evil is through taqwa (Acute awareness of God).

This is what I try to uphold upon so that I could avoid doing evil deeds; let it be in the heart, in the soul, and in the eyes. With acute awareness of God, or taqwa, one will definitely avoid doing corruption in this world. When one is in the state that he is aware that God is forever watching his / her act, hearing his / her heart and words, and observing his / her intention, he / she will not get into the act of performing deeds which are forbidden by God.

Putting in a simple analogy by imagining your parents are together with you in your room. You wouldn’t dare to do anything funny by flipping some porn magazine which you are tempted to do so. So, putting parents apart, think of God who is always watching you from His throne above. Just be mindful that God is observing you.

One of the easiest examples of it is about drinking. God has forbidden us to drink for various reasons which He knows best for us. But that doesn’t mean if we drink we will get instantaneous punishment. That is not the point. You have a choice having booze or not. Many tend to have this misconception that if I drink, I will have an inevitable punishment bound to fall upon me. Okay, here’s the truth...

Everyone wants to be pure. But they don’t have the definition of being pure. Many would say, bathing everyday is pure, drinking lots of water is pure, being vegetarian is pure, and etc. Depending on cultures and traditions, the idea of being pure can be very subjective. Based on the divine revelations, intoxicants (drugs, alcoholic drinks etc), blood, flesh of swine is considered impure in God’s revelation. Many would argue about it but would one want to argue with God? It’s not my idea, it’s not Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) idea, it is not Jesus’ (PBUH) idea, and not Moses’ (PBUH) idea. But it is God Himself said so. It is not even the ideas of scholars and sages and wise men but it is from God himself.

But knowing that it is impure, it is not good to have it in our body as it causes our body to be impure and God doesn’t accept one’s prayers in an impure state. I’d ask you, would an emperor/leader/king/sultan accept your wishes if you’re in a state of drunk and intoxicated as well being in dirty clothes and haven’t had a bath for a day?

In the end, you have a choice to drink and get your prayers nullified (that only at God’s will) or not to drink and earn bigger rewards from God. I’d take the latter because I believe that if God gives me something that is best for me and He would give it in folds. God doesn’t give 2nd best, He gives the best.

In relation with taqwa, I would certainly think of God is watching over me although there are no religious officers. With this awareness, one will not need to worry about the law because he/she will eventually would not commit crime or cause corruption in the land. I don’t need pamphlets on how to avoid alcoholism or health book on “how to drink well”, because I know it is impure by God and I know God is observing me, thus I choose not to drink it. You don’t need to read so many science book or to be a chemist to come into this conclusion, just put 100% trust on God and 0% doubts on His revelation, you will indeed be one of the successful people on this earth.

In a nutshell,

- Live like as if you live for today
- Don’t be in despair nor arrogant when something happened unto you, let it be in happiness or sadness
- Give and take relationship between God and man.
You want so and so…the only One who can answers you is God. Ask as much as you want, but in return He asks you to worship Him alone.
- Perform what is good and avoid what is evil, as laid upon by God
- Pray when the time has come, as if your death is coming very soon.
- Be mindful that God is watching you all the time.
- Put trust in God to handle your affairs.

Mobile phone e-mail....

2007-03-13T10:54:00.000+09:00

If it is meant for short messaging like, a short greetings, or asking your whereabouts, it's good... But if it were to create a conversation or strike a deal or telling something, it is best to talk...Not on the phone but face to face... The dark side of technology...

Either that or I'm the type who confuses people....

60 ways to keep your wife's love Guranteed !!!

2007-03-10T10:15:00.000+09:00

Okay, I sound like as if I'm deeply in love or what, but hey ! I'm trying to be realistic...For those lovebirds out there, I'm just a regular Joe,giving a helping hand...and those husband wannabes, I highly recommend it....

backbiting, gossiping... scary

2007-02-27T06:45:00.000+09:00

message -

"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah, verily, Allah is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful" (Al-Hujuraat 49: 12)

Okay okay...I quit , I quit !!! I'll watch my words next time...same with you.... even as simple, calling someone "shorty" behind his back despite the truth, is already backbiting and the sin is so huge that if it mixes with the sea, the whole sea becomes polluted with sin.....Astaghfirullah...

resist sinful temptations and you'll earn your reward from Allah

2007-02-17T11:40:00.000+09:00

Taken from islamonline.net

Written by Sister Marwa Fahmy

As Muslims we are taught not to give in to sinful temptations, and sometimes this can be a hard task in view of the overwhelming amount of temptation coming from all around us. However, the time when temptation to do wrong is the strongest is most probably in a person’s adolescent years. I am a student in a high school in Western Australia. I go to a secular school, which in some cases can present a larger amount of temptation, considering the people around me do not have the same faith or any faith at all.

Students who go to secular schools may find themselves in some difficult situations. These situations can vary from explaining to your friend that you can’t eat the pizza she ordered because it has pig meat on it to struggling to tell a peer that you do not drink and you do not do drugs. So you may ask, why not go to a Muslim school? A metamorphosis of some young Muslims has taken place and their behaviours and attitudes are now also quite Westernized.

Muslims are in some ways very different from secular society. Our religion gives us guidelines to help us with our journey of life, and if we follow those guidelines we will be rewarded greatly. These guidelines are what separate us from others. The secular world states that Islam is too harsh a religion, too strict a religion; however if people stopped for one minute and looked at the things that are forbidden to us and how those things effect them, they would quickly realize that a person who lives without these things will be much better off.

A perfect example of this is alcohol. I had a peer at my school who asked why I didn’t drink. When I told her that my religion prohibited it, she looked at me as if this was a surprise to her and then said, “But it’s just a drink that helps you have a bit of fun.” I then explained to her that alcohol can effect you in many negative ways: It is detrimental to your health, befogs the mind and prevents rational thinking, causes road accidents and the loss of innocent lives. Alcohol increases the occurrence of domestic violence, and alcohol addiction causes financial ruin. I couldn’t understand why someone would find alcohol fun after knowing all the harm it can cause. I explained that I was happy not to be drinking and I was happy that my religion forbids the consumption of such a dangerous poison because it makes it clear that Allah is trying to protect us.

The Media

Alcohol is one of the main temptations that face young Muslims today, and many are giving in to the temptation. You may be wondering why. And the answer is right in front of us: the media. The vicious and vindictive techniques that alcohol companies are using to advertise their products to their target audience, which in many cases is the youth. Alcohol companies are using the power of the media in advertisements, movies, television shows, and various other mediums to drum a fictional and completely fake image of the so-called enjoyment that alcohol brings. Each year, a typical young person is inundated with more than 1,000 commercials for beer and wine coolers, in addition to several thousand fictional drinking incidents on television. The aim of the alcohol companies is to create a mirage, a shiny exterior around the ugly and disgusting truth that is the poison that billions of teenagers are consuming every day, alcohol. Alcohol companies and the media are brainwashing the next Muslim generation by repeatedly showing them images of beautiful, successful people having what looks like a huge amount of fun, and all of this is happening while they are holding a beer bottle, a glass of spirits, or a bottle of wine in their hands. However, the media can also help us steer the next generation away from such sinful temptations. Australia has started an anti-drug and anti-alcohol advertising campaign. These advertisements have strong images that show the real effects of drugs and alcohol, and it is not a pretty sight to behold.

All this fictional advertising and the negative impact of the media are contributing to the growing number of Muslims that are being led astray to drink alcohol. However, there are other contributing factors, and peer pressure is one of them. Peer pressure is one of the biggest problems in our youth today. Having friends and being liked is extremely important to most people, especially teenagers. The number of teenagers committing suicide due to severe depression is growing at an incredible rate, and a portion of these depression cases is due to feeling isolated and having no friends. So the power of peer pressure is also growing because of this. Some teenagers would do almost anything to feel that they belong to a group. I have seen a case with my own eyes where a Muslim boy accepted some marijuana from his supposed friends because when he refused the first time, they called him weak.

The Nightlife

Temptations do not stop at alcohol when you live in a Western country. It is normal for secular people to go clubbing and to date, and they enjoy these types of activities. However, as Muslims, we are prohibited from actions such as these. We are not permitted to touch or to socialize or have a personal relationship with a person of the opposite sex who is not your immediate family or your spouse. This is another temptation that many young Muslims have given in to for the reason that they go to secular schools and have Western friends who consider clubbing and dating normal and fun. When Muslims see everybody else doing this, they don’t want to feel left out so they join in, even though they might know it is wrong, because they want so badly to fit in with the rest of their group. The logical answer would be to make Muslim friends. However, many young Muslim people do the same type of things with their Muslim friends. You would not believe the wild escape stories that I have heard even though many Muslim parents are strict with their children.

The Thin Black Line of Distinction

I am a Muslim girl who goes to a secular school. I have been telling you of the many temptations that occur in secular schools. So why don’t I go to a Muslim school? Well, it’s simple: There is not much difference between a secular school and a Muslim school anymore. All these sinful deeds that I have described—consuming alcohol, doing drugs, dating, and clubbing—are all present in Muslim schools as they are present in secular schools. Our next generation are becoming more and more Westernized. There is little we can do but inform them and make sure they know their religion. If all the young Muslims were informed about what’s right and what’s wrong in their religion, there would bound to be some improvement in the behaviour of youth.

However, it is not enough to stop there if peer pressure is a problem. Then they need to learn to be assertive. If the media is a problem, they need to be aware of its deceitful techniques and to learn how to use this powerful tool to their advantage. They are the next Muslim generation; they will be representing Islam to the world. They will be raising their children and passing down their knowledge to them. So let’s make knowledge a priority because a lot of the Muslim youth are lost. I had a Muslim peer who was a smoker since he was 14. This boy was a good Muslim but was a bit lost. When I asked him why he smokes he told me that it wasn’t haram, but it is.

The Qur’an refers to intoxicants and games of chance as [abominations of Satan’s handiwork] (Al-Ma’idah 5:90).

“Intoxicants” means drugs, and cigarettes are drugs. You can also see that the Qur’an commands, [Slay not the life which Allah has made sacred] (Al-An`am 6:151).

We all know that cigarettes can cause lung cancer and various other diseases. This fact points out that when our smoking is like killing ourselves slowly and, therefore, taking life that Allah has made sacred. So we need to make sure that young Muslims understand what Islam is about.

Many young Muslims have already sinned, but they must know that it is not too late for them to ask for forgiveness. Allah will forgive one who asks sincerely for forgiveness and, after doing so, tries hard to follow the guidelines that have been given to us to help us with our life in this world.

When it truly comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter if you go to a Muslim school or a secular school. What matters is that young Muslims realize what is right and wrong in their religion and that they take that extra step forward and follow the guidelines and do right and stay away from wrong. Fighting temptation does not come from the school but it comes from within the young Muslim.

BMW　？　ベンヅ　？

2007-02-01T08:12:00.000+09:00

ベンツ・BMW　は　高級車？　まぁぁぁ～　そう言われているが。。。

俺にとっては　普通より　機能の優れている車だと思う～　（標準装備）

まぁぁ　BMWは　１度しか乗らなかった、つまり友達の　７シリーズ。。。気になったのは　見た目は一つだが、その車の内面だな～　エンジンのチューンはきれいだ、ちょっと４０歳までに適切だと思う。まぁぁ　なぜ　４０歳といっているか、その運転の楽しさ～。　やっぱり　The　Ultimate　Driving　Machine　だから、　運転を楽しめるために、　BMWは適切。たぶん　５０歳・６０歳になったら、そんな楽しさはもうないと思う。

ベンヅ？生まれてからずっとベンヅであちこち行っていた。まぁぁ、見た目は　まぁぁ　まぁぁ　けど、新車でも、そんなに気にならない。だが、おっちゃん向けの車。。。若者はベンヅを運転するわけはない。。。なぜ？　落ち着いて運転すること。または、運転手が運転してくれるのは適切　（SL　クラス除く）

日本車は優れているが、標準装備はまだまだ足りない。　多分そのわけで、安い。。。

私にとっては　「かっこいい　かっこいい」って言うより、　何のためにBMW・ベンヅを買うん？

まぁぁぁ　ベンヅなら　ちょっと　落ち着いてから買う。。。

今の段階では　まぁぁぁ　BMW　３２５i にしよう。　（でも買うお金はない　T_T)
で、お金があったら　M5。。。

でも　よく考えると、

まぁぁぁ　日本車で　ええわ～。安く整備できるし、運転はまぁぁ　そんなに要求しすぎないちゃうかな？

まぁぁぁ　次のビデオを楽しみにしてや～

Nurturing Marital Love

2007-01-21T06:44:00.000+09:00

A good advice for Nurturing Marital Love in Islam.. link is right here (大すすめ！）　

interesting quotes and excerpts :

A woman said to Aishah: “When my husband comes home, he becomes like a cat. When he goes out, he becomes like a lion. He does not ask about what might have happened.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Marriage is love and affection. Allah says: “He created for you mates from among yourselves so that you can seek comfort in them and He has placed between you affection and mercy.” [Sûrah al-Rûm: 21]

Selamat Hari Raya Haji

2006-12-31T08:19:00.000+09:00

Finally it's Hari Raya Aidiladha although it is not as interesting as the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. 3 years away from home, and finally get to celebrate together with family and a prospective member of the family. almost 3 days she's been here and 3 nights I couldn't stop dreaming about her. There were good (from God) and bad (from Satan), but I shall not take it seriously further or I'd be depressed throughout the days ahead.

Anyway ,while I was (am) going through hard times, I refer back to this book which I highly recommend to everyone....

Don't be Sad

'Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN 9960-850-44-7
about USD 10.00

Basically it is the Islamic Point of View on being happy. As usual, people think it's just another religion where you pray 5 times a day , fast on Ramadhan, no pork, no alcohol, with soo many constraints that it is such a burden being a Muslim.

Want to know properly about Islam is to read more about Islam - not just the outlines... but deep into the core. As the saying goes "Don't judge the book by it's cover".... I've yet to explore more about my religion but as I explore more and more, I will see (at God's will as well) the essence in every single thing in life.

Wrapping things up

2006-12-28T18:55:00.000+09:00

1300 hrs – Passed the Osakan turbulence

Now blogging off at 30,000 feet and currently seated at the rearmost seat. The weather in Osaka However is was cloudy, foggy and somehow rainy but gladly I managed to see the clear blue skies over the sea of clouds. Only one word I can describe about the clear skies up here, spectacular!
It is somewhat you’re in another world, another dimension where the thick clouds of various shapes and sizes mimics the land we live on and the clear blue skies. You see nothing above but blue skies and nothing below but thick white clouds.
Getting up there isn’t something easy after all as it is a little stormy when you pass through the clouds. The turbulent flow of air pushes makes you uncomfortable and unpleasant. But once you’ve reached to the top, the journey became silky smooth.

1433 hrs - closing into Philippines

The in-flight entertainment seems packed with a lot of punch. Not to mention great selection of movies (despite a little old) and music. Fast and Furious 3 : Tokyo Drift, Superman Returns, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 : Dead man’s chest, so on and so forth. As for music, I’m impressed they have Andrea Boccelli – Amore.

Back to movies, I chose to watch Superman returns…I understand that many doesn’t seemed to be impressed with the movie , the typical Marvel Comics Superman – saving the people from calamities.

Why?

Would you agree with me that Lois Lane just looks better and better? From Superman I (well I think LL looks good at its time), then the Tomorrow Never Dies’ Bond Girl as Lois Lane in Clark Kent and Lois Lane: Adventure of Superman… and now…. Kate Bosworth as the 21st century Lois Lane XD

Alright, me and my Lois Lane fetish… =P .But being frankly, I’ve always liked Lois Lane since the Superman TV series was out. Not just the looks but the somewhat the character and looks match. Hard to describe but I think I know what kind of woman I’m looking for.

Kate Bosworth, from what I read throughout the net, just another typical American blondie which doesn’t seem to impress me. Unlike in reality, she looks more suitable in a dark hair like in Superman Returns. Yup, she just looks like Siti Nurhaliza and my girlfriend (kana? まだ、できてーへんわ　＞＿＜). Now someone would have just said, Lufias has fetish over Siti Nurhaliza…. Well actually I’ve never been interested in younger girls because I spent most of my life till now with people who are years older than me.

15.30 – Hola ! Kota Kinabalu　

Finally I’ve officially reached Malaysia. Thought of calling Akiko just to know how are things going on but I didn’t have a single contact of her. Anyway, give her some time to take a good rest in this beautiful state. Plus it was my stupidity for not asking her contact…

The woman next to me was a first timer so it’s good to give her a helping hand on a few issues like currency exchange, transit procedure, and etc. Luckily she is kind enough to talk a little or something.

The Kota Kinabalu airport is rather small but I’m happy that the airport staff and the immigration officers are very friendly. Not like the “semenanjung” who treats foreigners like as if they owe the officers / staffs a huge sum of money. Interesting, that the Sabahan’s Malay is somewhat similar to Indonesian but well versed compared to the semenanjung who doesn’t really bother speaking proper Bahasa.

1 hour passed and it’s time to board the plane. Luckily I managed to have my prayers but I got to think how to deal with the night ones. Then some little 3rd world mentality comes into light. While walking towards the boarding counter, a guy of Indian nationality just barged into my line because he wants to board the plane first. Hey! Can’t you just line up you bloody old bloke! Doesn’t mean that you’re older, you have the privilege to barge into people’s line. Well obviously I just said it off discreetly “how rude, barging into people’s line.”

Now recalling what was written on Yahoo travel advisor about “mind your manners” in flight. Indeed sitting in a cramped economy class can be either an interesting one or a dreadful one.

1830 hrs – International Airspace in between Borneo and the Peninsular Malaysia

In local flight, it seems there is no in flight entertainment, so that makes it worse when mixed with a dreadful next door. Luckily I have this note book, preloaded with hundreds of mp3s to keep me entertained. But no game to keep me addicted so long. Instead,I might have to write all the way till I reached home. It’s cool testing the laptop’s battery performance as I’ve spent a little more on the 9 cell battery.

As the darkness is chasing us quickly, it seems it is difficult to chase the sun. I wonder what’s the velocity of the rotation of the earth? It’s creepy to see darknes chasing us so quick that eventually it will outrun us. Perhaps we need to beat the sound barrier in order to get in pace with the earth’s rotation.

Malaysian airspace - ETA 1940hrs

Looks like darkness have overtaken the plane. And now we're in the twilight region. Neither bright nor dark but as time passes, it gets darker and darker. Now recalling flow dynamics, I might have to understand the meaning of tail wind speed. Hmmm, sounds familiar but I totally lost it. 178 km to KLIA ... Ground speed V = 789kph tail wind speed 52 kph... Now got to check Yamamoto's lectures and how to identify whether it is a smooth flow or a turbulent flow. Anyhow, if it is turbulent flow, I think I would be getting airsick

Express Rail Link – 27 minutes to Kuala Lumpur Sentral

Finally I’ve set foot on my own homeland and will see the space and serenity of home. Of course one of my reasons coming back is because of Akiko. As a bonus, it would be Hari Raya Haji with her. I’d thank Allah for the safe journey and allowing me to meet my friend.

Dargh, Immigration path flooded with people. The autogate doesn’t seem to function but I realized that the main reason of the slow process is because there are people who don’t understand Bahasa Melayu despite being Malaysian. What the hell are you doing in Malaysia if you hold Malaysian passport but you don't understand simple Bahasa Melayu? I’m no perfecto in my own mother tongue but at least I can understand the basics at least. I guess that what lacks in Malaysia, too lenient on language.

Not to say I’m being very nationalistic but hell, if you don’t want to assimilate with the local community, might as well you just fly off to your own country. People are dying to be Malaysians and Malaysians themselves are taking things for granted.

Now on the train off to KL, and at the will of Allah, I shall return home safely. I think being mobile is the most important aspect in this current lifestyle. You can’t be at home all the time with the computer typing things down. Now with mobile laptops and ultra-portable laptops, you don’t need to have a workstation fixed at home.

2 days after arrival – Tired to the core

Seems wireless internet at home isn’t working as I hoped, “thanks” to the local internet provider for providing poor service at a premium price. I don’t doubt there are lots of complaints but ah well, as a monopolist, they don’t care…do they ?

Starbucks Bangsar Village - Conclusion for this last blog of the year 2006

Well I may vent my frustrations and distrust and perhaps ill feelings or whatever people may think about me, but I think I’ll roll it up this year and just forgive for what ever mistakes and nonsense I just said till just now.

Yr 2007 resolution

- a good health
- a good life
- being a little more pious as well as street smart
- lesser “bongkaks” and show offs and distrust
- being more optimistic and teamworking
- putting more effort on someone I love
- get full credits
- forget ill-hatred, past issues and grudges
- and finally ; being more thankful than ever ; but
- I think there are more yet to be said….

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T23:46:00.000+09:00

First and foremost, I'd like to wish all my christian friends a blessed Christmas. Merry Christmas ~! *sings 12 days of Christmas*

Anyway, back to business.... errr, where was I ?

Yeah... It was just another busy evening. 3 days of Karaoke with my Japanese friends and 5 days of sleeping in the Kotatsu (Table with a heater underneath). and 2 days of sick. Now I've done my part in organizing Bounenkai (End Year party) and now just preparing to go overseas for a while prior to my exams. Why ?

I NEED TO REWIND MYSELF for crying out loud.

Today, right after coming back from Karaoke session, there was a TV show regarding "hidden love or betrayal" which caught my attention. It's about a group of selected guys who love their partner of the opposite sex (obviously no gay talk here) but doesn't know what is the other side's feeling.

"Thanks" to the show, I thinked twice on someone I like because I trully like her but does it work the other way round ? Does she share the same feeling as I do ? Does she have someone else in mind ? or she has someone right now ? or no feeling at all.

The last but one part was about a guy who's girlfriend had a lot of dark history to tell out. But gladly she apologizes and pour them out before going serious with him. It is heartbreaking for the guy, but after looking at it for a while I think both sides have a story to tell. Nobody is perfect tho.

Anyway, as for my part...I'd just leave to God to give the green light or not. If she is not for me, then I have to accept it. Touchy touchy....

A new header

2006-12-19T21:45:00.000+09:00

Changing the header can be fun.

Looking back into the past

2006-12-18T22:45:00.000+09:00

When we move forward, we need to look back once in a while as a reminder. Just like there is always a reason why a car has a rear view mirror. Without it, we don't know what is following us and may affect us in the future.

It can be loads of sadness, hatred, jealousy, distrust, and so on.... but by just moving forward without looking back, it would just be a barrier in life. Especially carrying the grudges from the adolescence world into the adult world. It is easy to deny it but it can be very difficult when it is dragged down to your own grave.

The reason why I post this online when one of my best friend, Zil passed me this Music Video Clip
Less than Jake - Rest of my life.

The music video started with a message written by a prominent Canadian poet , Alden Nowlan:

The day the child realizes all adults are imperfect, he becomes adolescent;
The day he forgives them, he becomes and adult.

and ends with ;

...the day the child forgives himself, he becomes wise.

I vaguely remembered my adolescent world, but thanks to Zil for pointing some stuff out, yes... now it just came up in my mind.

In the past I was kinda show off type of kid and had a fantasy over someone who doesn't exist.
Somewhat the brag-a-lot kid who is together with another 2-3 kids of the same kind. I too recalled saying someone I loved an "old textbook" and kept on saying "my time is different, your time is different". But in the end, it all boils down to the same thing. It could be true if the difference is of more than two centuries but not many live more than a century.

Luckily it was no regret of coming to Japan, which was a dream in my adolescence . But as I grow older, I realised it wasn't a pleasant past. Many hated me for being a cocky prefect in primary school, what not - a boasting one. And that dragged down to my secondary school life.

Things didn't tone down till I left for Japan. Even in A-levels, some friends turned foe and a foe remains as a foe. It can be so apolitical and racial at times but never to forget , that was in my adolescence period. Even my 1st year in Japan I was still somewhat like before I came. Only when I got into University, things changed.

What I boasted in the past - like showing off a brand new car or something, I just want to share with others and recommend what I have. Like my digital SLR camera. I didn't buy the camera to show off I got an SLR camera but rather to give recommendations to people who wants to buy one. I post pictures on my site not to show that I'M IN JAPAN!! HAHAHAHA! ! But to let readers who didn't have a chance to go overseas to experience how does it look like from an average Joe's lens. Of course it would be better from a professional photographer's page, but it is different.

Okay, once in a while I get a little "Narcissistic" on my images in MSN or Yahoo Messenger or Friendster but I've never intended to do so. To be frankly, I prefer to post my own stuff than taking other people's photo and dump it into my profile photos. That's just me.

I'd just like to thank to all of you for the support and spending precious time reading my junk. =P. It's never too late to change.

Here's the video, after the jump - worth viewing

Teh Tarik Diraja (frosty Royal Milk Tea)

2006-12-16T22:11:00.000+09:00

Again I was experimenting in the kitchen, trying to make a quality Malaysian favourite drink, Teh Tarik (frosty milk tea). Usually the mamaks (Malaysian coffee house) would charge you 80 cents to more than a dollar for an instant tooth decaying, ultra sweet, teh tarik with a little taste of tea.

I was at Italian Tomato in Namba , Osaka last Tuesday after searching for the right notebook (my current one is dying soon) and I ordered Royal Milk Tea. I'm not sure what's with the word "Royal" but what I realised the barista preared the tea in a different method - infusing tea in steamed milk. Usually you would infuse it in boiling water, but this is different. Taste ? Creeeaaamyyyy.... yet unsweetened.

So I boiled a cup full of full cream milk and then infused Twinnings English Breakfast Tea for 2-3 minutes. Then, I tarik-ed (pour from one cup to another cup at a height of more than elbow length). It is just as frosty as the ones you find at mamaks but with a hint of quality and rich in tea.Price ? I've yet to calculate but I think it'd be around more than RM 3.00 for the milk used and the tea. But rest assured, it is what you called a Teh Tarik Diraja @ Royal frosted Milk Tea.

ingredient

1 tablespoon full of tea leaves or 2-3 bags of tea / person
1 mug of full cream milk (low fat milk also OK)
sugar to suit own tastebud

instruction

1) Boil the full cream milk in a stove friendly mug or pot till bubbles comes out and lower the flames to the minimum. Cover the pot / mug to avoid a layer of milk solid formed.
2) Put in a tablespoon full of tea leaves (of your own choice, but I recommend a Dimbula or Uva) or 3 bags of tea into the pot/mug and cover the pot. Allow the tea to infuse for 2-3 minutes.
3) Filter the tea leaves if you're not using tea bag.
4) Add sugar to taste.
5) Prepare another mug and pour the tea from a height of an elbow length. Repeat this step till you get a frosty milk tea.

It's not wrong to be a Nikonian and a Canonite at the same time

2006-12-02T23:14:00.000+09:00

Or is it ? I'm not sure, I nearly became a 100% Nikonian if I had bought a D70 or a D200. There is no doubt that when people talk about film SLR, one of the first thing that rings a bell is Nikon. But the path of fate changed when I bought a Canon Digital SLR. However, I'll still stick to Nikon on 35mm film photography...

Pictures taken with Nikon F-401, AF Nikkor 35-70mm F2.8 , Fujicolor Reala ACE 100

Kyoto revisited - part 2 : Sannenzaka to Maruyama park

2006-11-30T19:49:00.000+09:00

After walking down from the famous Kiyomizu temple, it is recommended to walk to Maruyama park via the old path @ Sannenzaka. The path is just a few minutes walk from the Kiyomizu temple market, and you can notice it through the traditional stone steps down the hill. Sannenzaka passes through rows of traditional Japanese structure and it leads to Koudai temple @ Koudaiji. And as you proceed further, following the traditional stone pathway, you'll eventually end up in Maruyama park.

Sannenzaka is a place where you can enjoy traditional Japanese atmosphere but it takes half a day to explore the whole place (inclusive of visiting the temples). Another thing is that it can be very crowded on weekends. A recommendation for photography travelling is to visit early in the morning, before the shops open.

Kyoto revisited part 1 : Kiyomizu dera

2006-11-29T17:44:00.000+09:00

Wahahaha.... just this month alone I've been to Kyoto for about 3 times using the same train - Keihan railway (very good and very cheap)... 1st trip was the Malaysian students Raya gathering, then 2nd trip was from Kiyomizu dera to Kodaiji (but due to rain and crowd, I had to cut my trip really short) and the 3rd trip is to cover the soaked up 2nd trip.

Not many thought of this, reaching Kiyomizu dera by sunrise - a very tiring and troublesome trip because one have to catch the 1st train and have to wake up very early in the morning... 4.00am today... However it pays off because you don't get the annoying crowd and tourists as well as enjoying a more spectacular view at a relaxed pace.

And voila !!! my 1st bird photography !!! hahahahahaha

alrighty...will continue to part 2 in a few days/hours time...stay tuned...

Autumn Sunset in Osaka

2006-11-24T22:23:00.000+09:00

I had a little stomach ache and had to skip the 4th period. While grumbling over the discomfort , I'd happened to sight a little unusual cloud pattern across the sunset horizon. Locals said it is an earthquake warning if it persist for a long time. So I grab hold of my camera and made a panorama photography. Thanks to modern technology, you could make wonders out of what you shoot(photo). Prior to the digital technology, photographers invested on so many filters to bring a different effect. Nowadays, just grab a good photo editing software, and there you go.

Momiji @ Minoo, Osaka

2006-11-23T15:24:00.000+09:00

Momiji - literally called Red leaves (refering to the red Maple leaves), is one of Japan's best season (other than Hanami - Sakura flower viewing). It depends on the temperature changes and the wind direction, but the best time to view the red maple leaves is in late November. There are several locations to view the spectacular scenery, but my recommendation is to go very early in the morning to avoid the congestion.

It's been more than 2 years I haven't been Momiji viewing, so this time, with my 2 wives (referring to my 2 cameras). I planned to make a trip to Minoo, Osaka (also a place famous for drifting).

The bridge area, and the river is always crowded on weekends. Even people picnic on the rocks on the river

Then we reached Katsuo-ji. A temple with beautful gardens. We got a parking lot and it was a hefty 500 yen / 1st two hours. Then, the temple's entry fee was 400 yen / person, so we gave up cause it is a little too expensive. Instead we took some pictures from the outside. Anyway, it is beatiful enough at FOC.

I got back home at 12 noon and straight to classes.... tiring but it was good. It's more tiring spending time in front of the PC with post processing than at the spot taking pictures.

Sannenzaka part 2

2006-11-20T21:29:00.001+09:00

Ah well, a few pictures taken at 2nd half of my trip to Sannenzaka,Kyoto. And all wrapped up as it became dark. I don't have an external flashpack to compensate the darkness. On top of that, the rain and poor preparation made things worse.

Anyway here are a few pictures to share.

Sannenzaka

2006-11-19T20:32:00.000+09:00

Today supposed to be a day trip to Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. Pretty famous for their temples and shrines as well as autumn leaves scenery. Actual plan was to wake up before dawn and reach my 1st destination just before sunrise. But at God's will, it rained...Instead I decided to wake up later, and then realised I got a lot of housework to do - laundry. Supposed to be 5.16am departure delayed to 12.00pm Σ(>_<). In the end, I reached Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera at one something and it was raining + crowded.

I knew it!

I thought of going to Sannenzaka (a traditional Kyoto pathway) instead , thinking that it would be less crowded. But, it was as crowded as Kiyomizudera. You can't really enjoy the scene because you'd be seeing people with umbrellas covering the traditional stone-path. Plus, the rain... (now worrying about fungus attack)

A path to a temple, looks isolated but seems a lot of kaki-photo are roaming around this area

Then, I went to this shop selling pickled vegetables. Got some girls in traditional clothes at the counter promoting the shop's pickled vegetables, so thought of taking some pictures. Thought of taking the picture without buying, but I think isn't polite in my own lens.

For that she charged me 1 yen less, but I declined because 1 yen makes a difference and I don't want her to get into trouble with the owner.

Nearby there is an entry to the shop's Traditional Japanese garden (which is opened to public). Spent some time taking photos but not many turned out good. Haih, all because of poor preparation

So that's all for part one....

G shock phone Ver 3.

2006-11-02T22:09:00.000+09:00

Do you remember the green colour cool looking phone from Fast and Furious 3 : Tokyo Drift ? Yup, that phone exists... and it is one of the famous models around... especially motorheads, aventure lovers, and eccentrics.... Now the newer version of it is out....

Was thinking of getting a new phone as my older one got too many scratches from careless drops I made (just bought it last year). Now my mobile phone carrier, a.u. , is promoting so much to bring in more customers and to provide a very good customer loyalty service. Perhaps excellent ? The newer service (although it was launched 2 years ago), had good array of mobile phone sets and services (mostly on internet). So I subscribed it and I just need to pay about 8000 yen (RM 240++) for unlimited internet browsing + e-mailing, etc)... but I only get 25 free talking minutes ( I don't talk that much on the phone tho).

Then got the box which looked like....

Very neat, simple, elegant... The previous phone however has a more rugged looking box. As I opened it, alot of manual stuff...comes with a USB cable and a CD software(which I've yet to open). Casio never failed to impress their customers with their interesting phone charger dock... My previous phone charger dock looks like an oversized bolt...and this one...

Looks like something from Star Wars saga... Darth-Vader-ish...

And the phone's battery is difficult to be removed without this...

The previous' phone battery uses the same concept but was easier to open.

And I present you the phone....

Jeng Jeng Jeng !!!!! (runs the 20th Century Fox bgm)

There is a hint that somewhere in the future I will be getting a Nissan Murano or the next generation of the Skyline GTR or perhaps....

a perodua MyVi....

Casio mobile phone designers never failed to provide the best colour for their phones.

There are also Black and white, but I chose Volcano Orange as it has a sense of adventure-ish + futuristic character...

Even the previous phone was the Racing Red.... Very good colour...

This time the concept is somewhat more futuristic. The previous phone's (G'zOne version2) theme was more of motorsports. while the current one stresses more on some sci-fi movie. Features about more or less the same but the Version 3 comes with PC Web viewer 2.0 megapixel digital camera , faster internet connection, a music player !!!( with a Micro SD Slot), more advanced GPS navigation, bigger screen, Push to talk service, and so much more... Still yet to explore the phone's capabilities.

But rest assure, you don't need an mp3 player nowadays when you have this phone.

After more than 1 year of contract, I got this phone at about 7000 yen (RM210)... It is a little old (more than 3 months old), but the toughness of the phone is very impressive (the version 2 of the phone has proven it)... Waterproof, shock proof... military grade I assume....

Now hopefully Version 4 comes out.... with more features...

Version 1 came out long time ago when Matrix the movie came out. It wasn't the clamshell phone but the design alone meant business. Can I consider the SOCOM of Phones ? You bet it is !

My 1st SLR Camera

2006-10-30T11:14:00.000+09:00

Every Raya (Eid festival), my family would gather for a group photography at the lounge and dad takes out his most expensive camera for the group photography . That is the Nikon F-401 SLR (Single Lens Reflex - the one with BIG lens) camera. And it is only used once a year - only on Hari Raya. He likes photography stuff, but I don't recall my dad using the SLR most of the time. Maybe almost every dad's have an SLR to be passed on to their children. Big boys toys I think. I started bringing it out when I was in Form 5, using the camera for class photography and something as a present to a visiting school (from Kawane Senior High School, Shizuoka, Japan).

However, I didn't really know how to fully use the camera. I was a camera nut, just a point-and shoot type of person. The thing about film photography is that you don't know the result from the settings you have made. So I just went shooting spree. The difference between the compact camera and the SLR, was nothing further than having a BIG flashpack, a BIG lens, some weird dials, and a rotatable focusing ring. Cool !

I went to Japan a year later (in 2002) for holidays. And prior to that I bought a 70-300mm lens, which I find it cheap compared to some lens I saw sold at more than RM 2000. I didn't know what what are the differences, but I noticed photojournalists use them. So I myself wandered around Japan and took photos which are deemed un-amateurish with the camera I had.

Now in the digital age, film photography is the thing of the past.But it is still alive within film enthusiast and professionals. It is something that cannot go because half of the fun in photography is processing the image in the dark room.

Fly Air Janazah

2006-09-29T13:55:00.000+09:00

Air Janaazah
where everybody will fly....

When we are leaving this world for the next, it shall be like a trip to a foreign country.

Where details of that country won't be found in glamorous travel brochures, but in the holy Quran and Hadith.

Where our plane won't be British Airways, Gulf Air or Emirates, but Air Janaazah.

Where our luggage won't be allowed 30kg, but our deeds, no matter how heavy they weigh. You don't pay for excess luggage, they are carried free of charge, with compliments from our Creator.

Where our dress won't be Pierre Cardin or the like, but the white cotton shroud.

Where our perfume won't be Channel or Paco Rabane, but camphor andattar.

Where our passport won't be Indian, British or South African, butAl-Islam.

Where our visas won't be six months leave to stay or else, but Laa Ilaaha Illalah.

Where our air hostess won't be gorgeous female, but his name is Isra-eel.

Where the in flight service won't be 1st class or economy, but a piece of beautiful scented or foul smelling cloth.

Where our destination won't be Heathrow, Jeddah International, but the last terminal graveyard.

Where our waiting lounge won't be nice carpeted and air-conditioned rooms, but the six feet deep gloomy qabr.

Where the immigration officer won't be his Majesty's officers but Munkar & Nakeer. They only check out whether you deserve the place you yearn to go.

Where there is no need for customs officers or detectors.

Where the transit airport will be Al-Barzakh. Where our final place destination will either be the garden under which river flow or the Hellfire.

The trip does not come with a price tag. It is free of charge, so your Savings would not come handy.

This flight can never be hijacked, so do not worry about terrorists.

Food won't be served on this flight, so do not worry about your allergies or whether the food is Halaal.

Do not worry about legroom, you won't need it, as you legs will become things of the past.

Don't worry about delays. This flight is always punctual. It arrives and leave on time.

Don't worry about in-flight entertainment programme coz you wuld have lost all your sense of joy.

Do not worry about booking this trip, it has already been booked da day you became a foetus in your mother's womb.

At last the good news! Do not worry who will sitting next to you.You will have the luxury of being the only passenger.

One small snag though, this trip comes with no warning.

ARE YOU PREPARED?

---------------------------------------

I got this from a forum, so hope it'd be a reminda for ya

Qasidah Burdah

2006-09-18T16:54:00.000+09:00

This video is a Nasyeed (Islamic "Gospel" music) form of a poem @ Qasidah Burdah (Poem of the Scarf) which was composed more than 700 year years ago by Imam Sharafuddin al Busiri RA (d. 1296AD). He composed this poem when he was partially paralyzed , seeking help from Allah SWT. At the Will of Allah, he recovered...

This nasheed is played almost everywhere in the world and there are various ways of playing it, while keeping the lyrics the same as the ones 700 years ago. For those who haven't listened to it, it's my recommendation...

I also want to start composing nasheed like this XD

Hanabi @ Juso, Osaka

2006-08-06T01:46:00.000+09:00

Hanabi @ Fireworks is somewhat a nationwide summer event in Japan. Usually back in Malaysia, we'd have fireworks display on special occassions such as Merdeka celebration (independence day celebration), or New Year or some big festival. However, only once I managed to take photos of fireworks display on Merdeka day '03. But of course I didn't have my 2nd wife to rely on...so I had to take my 1st one and the result wasn't up to standard... Maybe I was fooling with my 1st wife too much.

In Japan, there is no fireworks display in New Year's celebration (correct me if I'm wrong), so don't get too hype of celebrating New Year here at an empty padang (field). Instead, try to spend your 1st two weeks in August or better, 1 month here in Japan ,travelling here and there JUST to watch fireworks display (or competition)... One of my recommendation is the Fireworks display at Juso (just 2 stations away from Osaka main train station).

If I'm not mistaken it is held on the 1st / 2nd Saturday of the month, and it starts at 7.00pm. But be sure to be there early or else you wouldn't have a place to sit !!! I'd say, this is the 1st time I see Japanese taking their time off, enjoying. It's a major BREAK !!! When they are at work, they mean they are at work... but when they enjoy...hahaha, they'd push their enjoyments to the limits....

Speaking of this particular fireworks display, what amuses me is that it is not just an ordinary fireworks display... You'd get various kind of stuff like Mickey Mouse, Doraemon, Hello Kity, shaped fireworks (sadly no pictures taken on that)....It was soo creative that I think Malaysian pyrotechnic experts need to learn more right here....

Anyway, I'd end it here as the main reason blogging is to share some lame pictures I took =D
Sit back and enjoy.... (of course it's best u enjoy the fireworks at the spot itself)....

Sembahyanglah kamu...

2006-07-26T22:23:00.000+09:00

sebelum kamu disembahyangkan....

From this video, I'd tell you....when the azan calls...get ur bums off to prayers before your time is up... Seriously, you wouldn't want to die during any of the praying times without praying ASAP...

Another vid... quite cool tho...

You can buy ur Bvlgari, Aigner, or watever u want or go out and enjoy... but when it's time to pray, hit the [pause] button then [pray]...then back to [play]

remember the rule...
[pause] then [pray] for at least 3/4 minutes and [play @ continue]

Hanabi at Tenjin-matsuri

2006-07-26T15:26:00.000+09:00

Finally finished Calculus III paper and dashed off to Temmabashi, Osaka for Tenjin Matsuri but I spent most of the time shooting the fireworks display. It was the night before, Masaharu mailed me about the trip, so I decided to go there as I haven't been to any of these 3 main festivals in Japan....

Waited for about 2 hours and boy, it was packed (ref picture below : taken around 5.30 pm).... luckily we managed to get a place to sit... so while waiting, i took some nonsense pictures of my friends, ppl around (didn't dare to take women in yukata without their permission... legal or not ? even if it is in a group?) and etc...

The fireworks display was splendid as well as you get to see a lot of beautiful chicks out there in their traditional summer clothes @ Yukata.... XD .... But dang, we didn't take the plunge and go after a group of chicks (waiting for us to court them =P) ... Well there were about 6-7 girls in yukata were grouping nearby... I sense something amiss as everyone was leaving but they were gathering up.... I didn't go after them as I had that "otaku" looks or my mind wasn't there...

A big regret didnt go after them =(.... but u'd never know it may be a trap....

Pictures right after this text....

for those who were there : the guy in Oakley and Red Polo T-shirt armed with an SLR camera, that was me...

Moonshine

2006-07-08T19:50:00.000+09:00

Ah.... I first got hooked this song when it was mated with drifting videos and they click perfectly.... I only managed to enjoy the song in the video or this Avex Trance CD, which is a medly.... I'd want the song alone but seems they don't sell it.... okay, no choice but to download them thru the net. However only one or two matches....damn...and they are incomplete....

So with the power of google,amazon and etc. I found a 2nd hand CD at Amazon but they don't ship it to Japan.... Then from an online music store.... they need my credit card no, which I will not give in...... PayPal ? hah, it is useless..... I tried putting money in but it is soooo troublesome that I quit 2 hours after signing in...... I WANT THAT CD FOR GOD SAKE !!! =((

Oh btw, here is the Music Video....enjoy

Project Medusa vs Exor - Moonshine -

Don't hope for others to pose for you....

2006-07-01T22:02:00.000+09:00

You do the posing and the shooting yourself....

Seriously.... to some who thinks I'm being vain in photos I took... okay, you may screw your bloody minds off and get some fresh air sucked into ur pessimism clogged brain because it's never my intention to look soo vain...

Well, if I am so...I'd be doing it for years....and even now... but hell, I don't have a model to shoot (not even a pretty girl)....so I have to shoot myself in the end.... I don't mind for the sake of parody coz that is my cause.... "parody"....

I'm starting to sound like someone I knew a long time ago.....

and one thing.... I am who I am.... so don' t try to supress me to be someone else.... or the normal Joe.

Off for quite a while I think....

2006-06-22T22:45:00.000+09:00

I didn't have time to write a good blog as I was busy with many issues such as the university project, mid-term exams, reports, tests and etc... Finally my last mid term exam ended with a slight tragedy on Tuesday afternoon when I mistakenly inserted a wrong formula on a wrong question.... damn, how I could be that careless !!! Maybe because I had 3 hours sleep.... Damn it...

I had a busy weekend, finishing lab reports and reading. But my mind went astray in the world of Wikipedia. From reading engineering and mathematics related stuff... I'd accidentally got myself into the world of cigar and Afternoon Tea.... Was reading about cigar smoking culture... pretty interesting that it is different from the usual cigarette smoking. The latter inhale the smoke while the former draw and taste the smoke without inhaling. Alright, a plus point for cigar smoking... but looking at the "nutritional value"... it is just as bad as puffing out a cigarette @ risk of getting cancer. Maybe once a month or on a special occassion would be fine, but making it an everday habit like cigarette smoking or every week is just going to kill oneself.. However, the best thing is not to smoke at all.... knowing the consequences... even Fidel Castro stopped smoking cigars, knowing the adverse effect despite living in the home of the world's best cigars.... Cuba....

Hmmm.... anyone for a MonteCristo Especiales ?

Draw....taste.... puff out....

DON'T INHALE !!!

that's it for today....

Too lazy to write

2006-06-04T19:28:00.000+09:00

Sunday , 4th June 2006

Lately I'm not in the mood to write... maybe because I'm a little fed up with the computer which always get my posts deleted while writing. Maybe it's time to get a newer computer...

errr, should I get a computer specially for media stuff @ Audiophile uses ?

or a much simpler and lighter notebook which I can travel with ?

My Toshiba is doing well enough but I think it needs a little tweaking with its cooling fan and a formatting to get the performance up.... BTW, I'm not a performance freak like before... but maybe an exception with Audio stuff... Heck , I spent RM 500 on headphones for God sake !!!

So, what is the best sound card to date ?
Onkyo ? Sound Blaster X-Fi (god knows what edition) ?
or what ????

Saturday, 3rd June 2006

It was a bright an sunny day and I spent almost the whole day at home washing my clothes.... Then realised got some weird creepy crawlies crawling up my bed... Took the anti-cockroach device and sprayed it gasses the hollow wall...

Somewhere in the afternoon, I got my Ace Combat Zero Original Soundtrack... Although I haven't flipped through all the songs but only one particular track which interest me... the track which is used in the Ace Combat Zero trailers... A lot of spanish flamenco guitar influence in it...

Then got a call from Kok Wei senpai who came all the way from Tokyo to see visit his senpai's wedding. Not to waste his money on the Shinkansen ticket, he paid a visit to Osaka and called me and Raymond up... So had tea at Hankyu 32 ban-gai and a small "adult chat"... I mean not the other "adult" chat but rather those intellectual chat which I myself couldn't keep up...

Then I got back home at 8pm and rested again after a 20 minutes cycle.... it's tiring because I don't like the relaxing cycle... prefer those fast cycling which keeps me puffing all the time. Then I spent the whole night listening to Sarah Brightman's Harem.... I love her songs as a whole... not only her voice but everything which is well composed.

Friday , 2nd June 2006

It's odd for two guys to go together to an Ice Cream parlour. But what do I care, I promised to belanja Masaharu on Haagen Dazs because.....a) I got a free single scoop coupon (only for friend) which I think it is a waste if I don't use it. b) the coupon expires on that day.... So, as usual I have a combo of chocolate and green tea while my friend had green tea only...

Later, I headed to Tsutaya Ebisubashi and got myself a Jazz CD... @ The Jazzinvaders - up and out-...pretty nice to hear although I'm no aficionado on Jazz and its relatives. Then I rented Sarah Brightman's CD, Taro Hakase and Joe Hisaishi.... So, that shows I'm not in a mood to hear cute voices like Ayumi Hamasaki or Aiko or whoever you know in Jpop.... 5CD's for 1000 yen / week... Not bad... (usual rental price is 1600 yen++)

Got back home and spending the rest of the night listening to Jazz and Sarah Brightman's Harem.

spoiled my morning only

2006-05-30T16:29:00.000+09:00

Had to study for Calculus III because there is a test at the 3rd period and all my preparation spoiled as I had nightmare that Siti Nurhaliza as my mother... Of all times in the world and I had a test the next day ...all spoiled by last night's weird nightmare.... tu laa, next time don't forget to basuh kaki before you sleep...

Hell I don't want a mother who is younger than my sister !!!!

2006-05-28T19:14:00.000+09:00

Should I put this up as my blog cover and fear getting sued by the infamous aircraft engine maker , or find a better alternative ?....This is just a draught.... not finalised....

Squeeze !!! not pull !!!

2006-05-28T13:01:00.000+09:00

Those childhood times where kids love to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie like Terminator 2, Commando, Robocop and play those virtua cop games. I remember I'd wanted to be a police officer or a commando because I'd get to chase robbers (former) and use the firearms of choice (both). But, I decided not to become one because of the payroll.

I have been a fan of firearms from handguns of 9mm calibre to big ass tank destroying rounds. But I have never pulled the trigger till the year 1999, where a point which changed my hobby. In the beginning I was very skeptical about shooting as my father always said that it can make me fly to the back. So I didn't really bother about touching the handgun.

In mid 1999, I went to a shooting range in Sungai Buloh, where a shooting competition was held by a security company. That was when I pulled... oops... squeeze my 1st trigger... Yes, my 1st handgun was a Smith and Wesson Chief's Special .38 calibre snub nose handgun. And my 1st round of bullets were the standard .38 calibre lead head.

It was pretty scary to hear the gun shots as it was painfully deafening at close range. I mean a gun discharged in front of you is pretty deafening... You'd need ears of steel to bear the noise...

Since then, I got hooked with the aroma of gunpowder and my childhood interests turned into real hobby. I entered Selangor Shooting Association on that year. However I only managed to go for a session once in a blue moon.

Then in 2000, I'd started using Magnum rounds on the club's Smith and Wesson's 686 6 inch magnum. This was the first time I'd get to use a handgun which was my favourite and the only thing in mind was MAGNUM = POWER... and it is true.... Unlike the normal rounds the magnum doesnt poke the target... It makes a clean slice through the target paper. I mean a clean hole that is... However there were no more magnum bullets at the armoury, so I had to use the normal rounds instead.

In the same year, I used my 1st semi-automatic handgun. The Glock... Yes, that plastic handgun but it is pretty compact and easy to be brought around. Not to mention it fits 15 bullets... 3 times the capacity of the Revolver !!! I have been anti semi-auto handguns till I fired the Glock... Different shooting feel. It somewhat twists your wrist easily.

Now being in Japan, I'd rarely use a real gun.... Only when I got back to Malaysia, then I'd use it...

However, the advent of BBGun brought a huge impact. Yes, ud get to use those guns but they are replica which fires plastic bullets. Harmless if follow the safety procedure. So I started off with a Glock 26, and sold it off for a Sig Sauer P226. Ah ! The Sig was quite a meaty handgun and it suits my preference.... The Desert Eagle was a choice of hero's handgun but it is way too big for my palm and being inconvenient, I decided not to buy one. Maybe somewhere in the future perhaps ? as a Show Off handgun...

Now it has been 7 years and yet I haven't touched those competition airguns....

A good headphone + A good CD Player = Heavenly Sound

2006-05-27T00:02:00.000+09:00

...but not CD's from mp3 128kbps format....I mean the standard mp3 quality...

Actually it was my friend from Osaka Uni who adviced me on using a professional quality headphones i.e. - no point spending so much money on pro headphones and playing it on a non-pro quality music.... Alas, it answered a question in me... i.e. WTF is 1 mb = 1 min while there are only 14-15 tracks / CD ??? shouldn't an 800mb CD can cover 200 songs (given than 4 minutes = 4mb of songs)

Well my old CD Walkan rested in peace...

It was a pretty boring Thursday coz
a) I was fucked up because of not enough sleep
b) I don't feel like studying because of (a) ; thus
c) I didn't go to college ; and
d) I got a temperature and unstable heartbeat

But... my fucked up day brighten up when IT CAME !!!!

Ah, finally.... after ordering it last Saturday and it arrived the day before they confirmed. I thought I wanted to cancel the order because no immediate reply from the shop and proceeded with a Mini Compo like Onkyo or Denon. But Thank god it came....

and the packaging looks good tho, which looks like

This.... pretty simple yet elegant.... However due to environmentally conscious Sony, the packaging looks a lil cheap in terms of the packaging, which it is made up of recycled paper...Well, it doesn't matter as long as the 'inti' (filling / inside) is good.

and... Indeed... it is

I'd introduce you,

Sony CD Walkman D-NE830 with ATRAC / mp3 playback...

Upper case made out of aluminium which makes it looks very elegant... Oh yes, it is ....

It has a very high level in build quality, play quality, bla bla bla... (I'm no marketing man)
But I'd assure you, it would be an eye catcher although it is an old skool to many in the world of iPods and mp3 players...

but rest assured...

With this combination, no mp3 players can give the best combination compared to this. (In terms of quality feel and quality audio)

a High End CD walkman and a High End Headphone.... You'd get a result like

A deluxe home theater system... or perhaps a home orchestra.... without disturbing your next door neighbour...

With all the quality I emphasised in music, CD player, headphones, etc. I'm proud of one thing....

The Sony CD Walkman (for Japanese market) is

JENG JENG JENG !!!!

Made In Malaysia....