Dinner story

People come and go. The memories remain. Hee. Do I sound a little emotional? :P Iman has left for Malaysia, spending his short two weeks break at home. I'm gonna miss him!  Nonetheless, I don't feel too sad as I have Alang back in Sydney! Yeay!

After I finished working at 5pm, I straightly went to the boys' place and Iman made me his signature dish (well, it's more to a drink) -- Oreo Milkshake! It was me who actually requested him to make it before he went home! Haha. While enjoying the milkshake, Iman, Hafiz and I had a good long talk about marriage and dowry.  It's cool to hear what guys thought about marriage. At the same time, it scared me to realize that getting married was such a complicated thing. I mean it should be simple as according to Islam, the most important think is the solemnization or the akad. But living in this modern world yet still attached to traditions and culture, family's expectation could be a stressful thing especially when it comes to the value of dowry and the kenduri itself. Okay enough of that, not something I should be worried about just yet I guess. *wink*

Then we had dinner together with Alang and his friends from Newcastle, Ridho and Imran. Alang being a good cook, prepared a lip-smacking black pepper lamb dish and omelette pizza for us. He also baked delectable chocolate brownies.. which I ate them while it was still hot with vanilla ice-cream and maple syrup. Simply delightful! It was way better than I imagined!

I just used my E71 camera, so the quality of the photo wasn't too satisfying.

I guess it is just that for today. I don't have anything in mind to talk about really, I just feel like writing something. Good night everyone. :)

Desserts. Mouth-watering one.

I was chatting with my brother Alang just now when he suddenly said to me that he felt like eating brownies with ice-cream. Since I have a very imaginative mind, I then straightaway thought of hot chocolate brownies with walnuts.. Covered with melting hot chocolate syrup and completed beautifully with vanilla ice-cream on top. Oh Alang, please come back fast and bake me some hot brownies! I even googled for a picture of the brownies like the one I imagined of.. I got one!

Gosh it looked so yummy..

And this suddenly reminds me of Suchan (a cafe in Empire Subang). My friend, Farouk, who loves to explore nice places for food, told me they serve the best brownies ever! Okay it's a bit exaggerating I guess since I have never been there myself, but I am seriously tempted for food now! Farouk, if you are happened to read this, remember you promised to bring me to Suchan! Haha Gosh I can't wait to go back! :D

Another friend whom I was chatting with (I chat a lot hey?), Dilla, also gave me a blog of a lady who gave away lotsa cool recipes. I've copied a few of them.. Will try make them soon. Something good to do this long holiday I reckon. :) Cooking is good but eating? Doubt that. Hee. Here's her blog http://nanirostam.blogspot.com/ . Just type in the word 'recipe' in the Google bar on the top right corner on the page and voila! the recipes will appear.

Malaysia.... Food...

And oh, since it is 9 Muharam today.. Where Muslims are highly encouraged to fast on this day and tomorrow (the 10th of Muharram as well), I'm planning to cook Nasi Tomato and Ayam Masak Merah at Kak Zaima's house.

We are also going to have a small makan-makan event at Iman's house tomorrow evening, for breaking fast. Iman, me and Kak Zai are going to cook Turkey sumbat! Haha. Hope the turkey turns out well. *crossing my finger*.

Till then, have a good day everyone!

Craving for food........ Although I already had two slices of pizza for lunch.

I'm writing this in a very enthusiastic feeling.. Haha. I can still feel my hands shiver. Too excited! Haha I'm in a rush actually, promised Kak Zai to go out teman her shopping. Yeah I will only TEMAN her. Not gonna shop again today. *crossing fingers secretly*

Thousand words (with a lil sense of linguistics)

As the title tells, this post will touch a bit on Linguistics issue. Well yeah just trying to make my brain works during this long break. ;)

It just occurred to me that there were more words to describe certain things in English than we have in Malay. I went to Bondi beach two days ago and was sitting alone by the sea when I heard these two women next to me talking to each other.

Woman A: Hey look at the tanker over there.. (while pointing to the sea, to a big tanker ship that passed through far away)
Woman B: That must be gigantic, from here it already seems so big..

What attracted me when listening to this conversation was the word 'tanker' used by her. Well, personally if I were to talk to another person, I would definitely use the word 'ship'. As for me (who have a very limited vocab, mind you), a 'ship' represents all kinds of sea transportation be it a vessel, an icebreaker or a schooner.. They all are the same to me. As in Malay, we only say 'kapal' for any 'ship' right. I mean we only have 'kapal minyak', 'kapal kontena' or the code-crutching** version of tanker which is 'kapal tanker'. Hmm.

This is a tanker.

A vessel.

 

An icebreaker (It breaks ice, obviously)

A schooner

I would love to know more words that can describe things more specifically. I suppose as a future English teacher I would need to widen my vocab knowledge, don't you think? Guess I should read more. Oh yes, have to read and look at pictures at the same time. At least I won't be confused of what do a squid, cuttlefish and octopus look like. Cause at the end of the day, they are all sotongs to me. Anyone, can surprise me with a little picture dictionary? Hee.

P/s: code-crutching is using a word or phrase from other language (to tell the same meaning) because we don't have it in our language e.g globalization--> globalisasi, obsession --> obsesi

To change, it's not easy, but it's not impossible

Salam, and hi to all. I suddenly have a thought that I want to share with all of you. Since it is the New Year according to the Islamic Hijr Calendar, firstly I would like to wish everyone a very blessed new year.. Like the Arabic saying.. "Kul 'Am Wa Antum Bikhair" - May you always be blessed and well each year.

Hijrah or Change. The new year marks the journey of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) from Makkah to Medina to spread Islam.. Hijrah itself means alot to a Muslim, individually.

Sitting alone in my room while waiting for Maghrib prayer just now.. makes me wonder whether have I changed, to a better person since the past year? To change into a better person is harder than to turn into a bad person. Because it requires a deep thought, it doesn't come instantly. Unlike being bad where we always follow our instinct, usually without thinking. Like what Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h once said... "The believers whose faith is most perfect are those who have the best character" (Abu Dawud, Darimi). Only those who think deeply, who have a strong faith or iman, will know the importance of being good.

Just to share my experience.. Some of you might know that previously I was not like who you see me today. Alhamdulillah Allah gives me the chance to change.. Before death comes to me that nothing can be changed anymore.. Alhamdulillah. The month of Muharram marks one year of this new image which I am truly grateful of, and feel so blessed to be given the realization of my own responsibility as a Muslim. May Allah give me the strength to be istiqamah in this journey insyaAllah. I need your du'a my friends.. :)

At first, I was worried of what people would say of my change. I was worried and self-conscious of my own image, how I would look like as I didn't have many scarves to be worn and I didn't know how to wear them good. I was worried and scared to leave all the things and clothes that I'd been wearing all my lives. (I mean the not-fully covered ones). I was not confident of my own determination to change. I doubted myself that my change was going to remain long. The only person that I told of my intention during that time was mom. She was very supportive. Thanks Mak. You are always my strength.

To be honest, to be a full-time Hijabi girl is a major change in my life. I can say it is a major thing in any girl's life. But to keep you going in performing a big change, I mean a good one, is your own willingness and intention. Do it for Allah. Then everything will come to ease. There will be some challenges, it's undeniable. But don't think of other people. Do it because you want to. If we do something for the sake of other people, let's say the person we do something for is gone.. We might not continue doing the good deed, right? But Allah is always there.

To all girls out there, who might have thought of shifting to a new image, a hijabi image.. Trust me, wearing headscarf doesn't make you look less pretty. In fact, it makes you more beautiful. More special. Cause you are different from others. You'll feel it insyaAllah. :)

I'm sharing my own experience here not to show that I'm good. No I'm not good enough, there's still so many things to improve within myself. But the main point I would like to share is.. If we want to change, or do something good.. Don't be afraid. Don't think twice in performing good deeds. But think twice in doing the opposite.

Salam 1432 Hijrah. :)

Holiday, and New Year.

Mood to update this blog suddenly comes again. Well to be honest I don't feel so good now. I mean I don't have a good mood now. I'm currently listening to Westlife feat Mariah Carey's Against All Odds and suddenly feel a bit mellow. Haha I don't know why but maybe because it has been a tiring day for me. No not 'day', but 'week', in fact. Stressing myself for exam. Hihi.

Alhamdulillah I'm done with this semester. Since last week's Wednesday I have been busy studying a.k.a compressing all inputs that I can for the exams. Whatever it is, I'm happy that it is all done. Now I need to keep on praying that I pass all the papers (if I were to get better than Pass, alhamdulillah :) )...

So, the holiday has started. Many of my friends will leave Sydney this weekend, yeap to spend their summer break in Malaysia. Me? Well I decide to stay here. At least until the new year celebration. Celebrating new year is a significant event for my family and I. It's because since the past 4-5 years (I can't really remember), we will spend the eve (and do countdowns) in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, which is Bukit Bintang. Since we (me and my cousins) are mostly girls, my aunts and mom are worried of our safety to let us out for the night. So they decide to book hotel rooms for us to stay for the eve (with them as well... and Opah too!). It has been a tradition. So this year I decide to stay here instead of going back too early, to experience Sydney's new year celebration. Luckily I have few friends who intend to witness the fireworks and experience the event too. So I'll be occupied. Don't worry. (I don't care if you don't :P )

This year will be different, celebrating it without them. I truly miss them all. But I am not sad. Cause I know deep within their hearts, they miss me too. :)

p/s: I tried to upload few pictures of 2010's NY celebration but the server just won't let me. :(