Sunday, July 31, 2011

Treats in Surabaya and Malang and farewell SAJ

It's the eve of Ramadhan and there is a great sense of calm around me, alhamdullilah. I finally feel rested and there is still much of the evening left yet.

It had been quite hectic since I came home very late on Friday night (you could say it was already early Saturday morning) after a week's very pleasant holiday in Surabaya and Malang. Neither were 'happening' places and were not really tourist destinations, but I had a good time nevertheless. The real treats were the two hotels I stayed at in both places - The Majapahit in Surabaya and The Tugu Malang in Malang. These heritage hotels were a world class of their own - beautiful, excellent ambiance and service. It was a real privilege staying in both, four nights at The Majapahit and two at Tugu Malang. Both Surabaya and Malang were so traffic-infested and noisy (like most Indonesian cities), but both hotels were a heavenly oasis of calm and serenity.

These days I like spending my holidays in Indonesia. The country has such a strong identity of its own and people were just so polite, considerate and friendly. I never once felt alone or ignored the whole seven days I was there though I knew no one in either places. On arrival in KLIA Friday evening what did I see, a man repeatedly shouting and lecturing a lady sales assistant at the Duty Free shop (even after she had apologised). Why can't Malaysians be civil and considerate to each other, we are sometimes so righteous and so full of our selves!

Of course I came home with some two dozens batiks; most will be given away anyway (sedekah Ramadan la)! The only negative occurrence of my holiday was leaving behind my personal hand phone at Surabaya airport. Granted the phone was old but I lost all contacts and contents! Fortunately I had my business hand phone with me. I have to now start building my contact list again!

This morning I went to the funeral of our Seniman Negara/National Laureate Datuk Syed Ahnmad Jamal who passed away last night at the age of 83 after a rather long illness. May he rest in peace. The artistic legacy he left behind will be treasured and inspirational for generations to come. I went to visit him the day before departing for Surabaya but he was just too ill to receive visitors. I did speak to him on the phone a couple of times and visited him in hospital some months back.

We will miss you Datuk. May you be placed among the chosen people. Amin!

Friday, July 15, 2011

A Friday lament - changes and life goes on

A Friday salam and greeting to all.

Isn't it expected that things change, people change and WE change! Sometimes we are prepared for it, sometimes not - and that's when it takes a toll. I know I have changed, and I accept it. But some things about me that I wish would change never do! Such is life.

Some changes are for the better and some for the worse. It's funny that despite all the rhetoric about changes, when they do happen, they can cause many of things - sometimes happy and sometimes not. And alas, some things/people just never change!

I wholly accept the changes in me, they are inevitable as long as I am living. So why is it sometimes difficult for me to accept the changes in other people. I should know that nothing is permanent. People come into your life for a purpose and when they slip away it is also for a reason. No big deal. Even family members and close friends can change, love can turn into hate, support into envy, admiration into jealousy, a smile into a smirk, friendship into animosity, etc etc. It's all part of life's cycle.

Of course I wonder why some people drop off from my life. At the same time, I involuntarily drop off from some other people's lives too for some reason or another. It's all about choice. Just that when I made my choice to drop off from other people's life I know for what reason it was, but when other people drop off from my life I wonder over and over what had I done wrong to deserve such a fate! Phew!

Anyway, I strongly believe that in life things are destined. Nothing but God is permanent...

" Life goes on and we pass through
  Days of sunlight days of tears
  Live the way life comes to you
  Foolish wasting precious years.

  Here today, tomorrow gone
  Say goodbye
  And life goes on....."

Have a blessed Friday everyone, God bless.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Buah delima

Ambilkan saya buah delima
Masak sebiji dibalik daun
Budi mu tuan saya terima
Tidak ku lupa bertahun tahun....

See video :http://youtu.be/sFx5KfNjaEI