At the dawn of The New Year 2008, I shall...

Hmmmm.......let me think.....lotta things in my mind but I guess I will strive to better whatever necessary for the greater good of all human kind the survival (of the fittest).


Here's a clip from one of my all-time favourite movies: When harry met sally, during the moment they met once again during the new year eve and Harry began confessing all what he has felt for Sally all those while:

One thing for sure, I've been blogging for over 3 years now, but I only made the blog public in 2006. It was a bit jumbled up, contains haphazard sort of entries, not really something you should be checking down the archives but they reflected what those times were for me. It might have been one blog malarkey had i not seen what it would implicate in my life.

There was one time I wrote on my disappointment of not being able to attend the graduation day in the middle of 2006 but thank God, I made it this year. I only came to realize it recently when I did my own archive browsing. But please, under any circumstances, refrain yourself from going through them (rather inarticulate to put it mildly). After all, this is a biasa-biasa-sahaja (petty and trivial presentation) blog and does not even deserved to be remembered when was its 100th, 200th postings, anniversaries and so on.


But I've made friends with some of the bloggers in my "hot spot" list. Some I have met in the real life while others are cyber mates or somewhat close to that. Some are actually my real life old buddies/colleagues and I hope I aint giving some impression that I am here to open a can of worms.


I neither have a proper list of the New Year resolution nor do i really stick to everything that I've thought of as my own personal goals, but nevertheless, I do make my own mental notes of what I would really, really want to achieve in this year. Call me incorrigible but I reckon as a muslim, we are taught to persevere to do the best we can and when we have come to a certain point of our efforts, we execute them by tawakkal (submission with all our faith) to God for He knows better and He is the Almighty One, The omnipotent and the ever living.



Silent wishes and prayers they may be to any mortal but I never shy of asking them to be granted by Him. If he allows it, then so be it.



But above all, what i really do know now is that I am S.I.N.G.L.E again! There you go, my own personal declaration statement and not an iota ashamed of it (dalam hati please please please pretty please let there be single, available rightfully man for me!!!!!!!! ). Of all the things, MJ has chosen to uphold his traditions and would rather prefer to let his parents match him up with his local birds. A bit sad innit, but we are friends nonetheless. Ala2 teman tapi mesra, TTM.


(another clips: Single by Natasha Bedingfield , please click here).



Bismillahirrahmanirraheem, in the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful, I am hereby stepping into the year 2008 with refreshed spirit, revived mind and rejuvenated soul and hoping for more good things to come inshallah. The wiser, the sexier, the fitter, the healthier, the better, ameen.

That Microsoft Dude: Bill Gates

An open letter written by Bill Gates himself, the chairman and co-founder of Microsoft Corp. This computer geek literally rules the cyberworld being the richest or perhaps one of the richest men in the world and has recently received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Harvard University.

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Bill Gates: The skills you need to succeed

By Bill Gates Chairman, Microsoft

One of the most important changes of the last 30 years is that digital technology has transformed almost everyone into an information worker.

In almost every job now, people use software and work with information to enable their organisation to operate more effectively.

That's true for everyone from the retail store worker who uses a handheld scanner to track inventory to the chief executive who uses business intelligence software to analyse critical market trends.

So if you look at how progress is made and where competitive advantage is created, there's no doubt that the ability to use software tools effectively is critical to succeeding in today's global knowledge economy.

A solid working knowledge of productivity software and other IT tools has become a basic foundation for success in virtually any career.

Beyond that, however, I don't think you can overemphasise the importance of having a good background in maths and science.

If you look at the most interesting things that have emerged in the last decade - whether it is cool things like portable music devices and video games or more practical things like smart phones and medical technology - they all come from the realm of science and engineering.

The power of software

Today and in the future, many of the jobs with the greatest impact will be related to software, whether it is developing software working for a company like Microsoft or helping other organisations use information technology tools to be successful.

Communication skills and the ability to work well with different types of people are very important too.

A lot of people assume that creating software is purely a solitary activity where you sit in an office with the door closed all day and write lots of code.

This isn't true at all.

Software innovation, like almost every other kind of innovation, requires the ability to collaborate and share ideas with other people, and to sit down and talk with customers and get their feedback and understand their needs.

I also place a high value on having a passion for ongoing learning. When I was pretty young, I picked up the habit of reading lots of books.

It's great to read widely about a broad range of subjects. Of course today, it's far easier to go online and find information about any topic that interests you.

Having that kind of curiosity about the world helps anyone succeed, no matter what kind of work they decide to pursue.

Bill Gates is chairman, chief software architect and one of the founders of Microsoft, the world's largest software company. From July 2008 he will end his day-to-day involvement in the company and focus on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and its global health and education work.

Source: BBC

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When will I ever be a Billionaire too?

Melayan sebarang pertanyaan

Its been a while since i have been tagged. But to be honest with u, i have some few more tags undone, KIV so to speak.

To ryzah, thanks for tagging me. It looked like some simple enough questions that made me hesitated no further and just belasah with some "plausible" answers.

Here they go:


1) Name of a person who made you laugh last night

MJ....it was his birthday. And i ended up having some mood swings, and in tears. Mixed of happiness, gratitudes, and melancholia all jumbled up.


2) What were you doing at 0800?

Ummmm...believe it or not, after fajar prayers, i took my usual quick sleep but it terlajak till 10.00am! good thing takde important meetings and so on. Blame it on the rainy day. It's been raining since yesterday, almost the whole day, and it continued to wet the bangi-kajang ground today.


3) What were you doing 30mnts ago?

I had my dinner.


4) What happened to you in 2006?

Where do i begin? mostly on the adjusting period....lotsa things i need to learn and catch up regarding the job, university systems and so on. And yeah, bought my first ever car and a house which i have yet to call it habitable till now. Need to apply another loan for renovations and refurbishment.


5) What was the last thing you said out loud?

Congratulations to my first ever Masters student for completing his course successfully.


6) How many beverages did you have today?

Let me see....not that much. Today i didnt drink that much water/beverages and it was rather cold in my office. Yesterday I had 3-in-1 hot choc and coke among other things.


7) What colour is your hairbrush?

A silver vidal sasoon.


8) What was the last thing you paid for?

Online PC instalment to citibank.



9) Where were you last night?

Somewhere between Cheras and Kajang.


10) What colour is your front door?

Dark mahogany brown.


11) Where do you keep your change?

In my wallet, and some few in the car. I used to keep them in a tabung for laundry uses back in the UK.


12) What's the weather like today?

Wet, wet , wet.....gloomy....pretty much reminded me of UK typical weather.


13) What's the best ice-cream flavour?

The best?? how about letting me settle with Pralines and Cream(haagen dazs or baskin robbins), Strawberry and cream (haagen dazs), Choc Fudge Brownie (ben n jerry)


14) What excites you?

In what way? Need me to spell them out? it could be of physical matter as i ni cepat geli, or it could have been like travelling to a new place, or meeting him, getting what i wanted after i've worked hard on it, animals , cool car, the ocean view or lake view or clean river view, lotsa flowers around in the garden, beefed up gorgeous looking men passing by for cuci mata, fitting dress and shoes that i like while doing my shopping now and then, lovely cool weather, cruising down the road at a higher speed.....


15) Do you want to cut your hair?

More like trimming them, yeah...i have not done more than a year now, so maybe i should do some sort of a hair treatment all together at the local hair salon.

16) Are you over the age of 25?

On the birth certificate, yeah....but it changes with the mood and the way i dress.


17) Do you talk a lot?

With the good company of people, yeah.


18) Do you watch the O.C?

Sometimes. It's not that bad.


19) Do you know anyone named Steven?

Come to think of it....i usually call them steve.


20) Do you make up your own words?

Hmmm....i create gelaran for people....


21) Are you a jealous person?

A little bit...and sometimes over the board unconsciously. But usually just mild ones so far.


22) Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A'

Azizah.


23) Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'K'

hmmmm....karina


24) Who's the first person on your received call list?

Dr. S R S A


25) What does the last text message you received say?

It was an offer from Citibank.....

26) Do you chew on your straw?

Nope.


27) Do you have curly hair?

Not really....more like slighlty wavy hair...



28) Where's the next place you're going to?

It could be around PD inshallah.


29) Who's the rudest person in your life?

I cant say who, more like people in general...the rude ones usually can be found on the road and at the cashier counter.



30) What was the last thing you ate?

Nasi goreng.


31) Will you get married in the future?

Inshallah.


32) What's the best movie you've seen in the past 2 weeks?

Hmm.....almost takde.


33) Is there anyone you like right now?

However inarticulately as i may wanna put it, yes there is one.


34) When was the last time you did the dishes?

Right after my dinner.

35) Are you currently depressed?

Mood swingssss....but it is disappearing gradually.....

36) Did you cry today?

More like shedding quite a few tears last night. Mood swings stimulated it!


37) Why did you answer and post this?

Beats the crap out of me.


38) Tag 5 people who would do this survey.

Makji Esah, Typhoon Sue, Hazlinda Kim, Ruby Ahmad, Abang Idham, and saper2 la yg nak volunteer do the tag....

Mother's love

The first few months after i came back from my PhD studies early 2006, things were pretty good between me and my mum. Come a few months later, our relationship were somehow on the rock. It's like an on-off bickering and shouting drama scenes. But the worse one began last February. It was then that I stopped talking that much with my mother. Anger for so many things , frustrations and so on. I knew that I shouldnt be doing the "anak kurang ajar" type but i can be such a temperamental woman.

One time, i went ballistic over something between me and her that I decided to pack some clothes and drove straight to one of my friends house in Puncak Alam. Cruising on my own in the night time down the highway gave some calming feelings, sort of soothing the wounded heart. The faster i drove, the more i get pacified. She probably got worried when she realized that i was still not home yet that she rang my mobile at 5.00am to check on me. I monotonously told her that I was at a friend's house. I reckon no matter what, I am still her daughter and she still concerns about me.

Somehow, all those disagreements and grudges probably aren't meant to be forever especially when it comes to mother-children bonding. Though I am on a better term with my mother, I still don't talk as much as i was during those good old days. One of the highlights during the last ramadhan was when she made the effort of trying to make up with me, her strongwilled, hotheaded, sometimes crazy daughter. I began to slowly rejoicing our relation sensing how she was trying as hard as she can that no matter how kurang ajar i can be, i am more than that. The moment when I was leaving to Melbourne on the second week of Ramadhan (3rd week of september), she just mellowed down remarkably and even packed me iftar dinner as I was going to the airport on my own by KLIA Limo service.


Then, there was the eid fitri. It went on fine between the family members until the third day of Shawal (monday evening). I let go off my steams when i voiced out my yet another major disappointment at how things were poorly managed between us that involved one of my brother in laws. Till today, i don't feel like talking to him at all. I flipped like nobody's business to the point of denying my mother to sit in the front seat of my car and somehow commanding her to join my father in the backseat because i was still totally livid.


Recently, I introduced MJ to her and my father. And since that day, she was more cheerful with me. Sure, I know one of the reasons of all those fucked up times was the fact that I am still unmarried. It's like she's demonstrating her utter worries knowing the fact that 3 of my younger siblings were already married besides my eldest sister.


OK, fuck that. I am getting better and better at being such a melodramatic freak that I think I had to put a stop on that.


Here are some pictures depicting mother's love:

source of the photos: AP Yahoo!

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England won't be making it in the Euro2008! What a shame! Losing to Croatia 2-3 on the qualifying match recently was also the predicament both for the England coach and his assistant, Steve McLaren and Terry Venables as they were sacked almost immediately. Goran Ivanisevic, the former no.2 tennis ace and Wimbledon 2001 champion has predicted it right on the Croatia winning (click here)

Love is perhaps in the air

There were times that i dont think I'd ever have a requited love. Those were the times that I was feeling inferior for some weird reasons.

And then I found my true potentials, and things just keep going on and on.

My times in Bradford were those of:

• Knowing that I am an international person with international (middle-east, indian subcontinent and mediterranean) built physique
• That I knew that I was not actually different, I was just not cut as a typical , far-east small-built people. It wasnt my fault that I was bigger than many of them, its just that i was not exactly appreciating what I am.
• having friends who patiently trying to open up my eyes of how wonderful it is to be a real woman in our own way
• finding myself fitting in a more global society easier that I thought and blending well with the locals
  
• going around the european countries for a month on the euro-interrail backpacking with my closest friend, and she still is one of my closest friends. One of the most unforgettable challenges was to learn a new language as quickly as possible before reaching a new country with the help of that Thomas Cook phrasebook
  
• Met a cute Hungarian man who then became long distance good friend and we still keep in touch
• made friends over the net with a French lad from Pirey, who then found his love while visiting me there (in bradford) and we are also still friends
• When i thought I had my first ever proper boyfriend (SH), who then left me just after 3 months we hooked up due to geographical separations and incompatibility
• Met with another guy while still dating that ex-boyfriend, SH and he fancied me so much. But I left him on the account of loyalty to the ex and on different grounds (that he deserved a girl who truly loves him)
• Going to the cinema was one of the social activities amongst us undergraduate students. Titanic was the first ever movie i watched in the cinema during winter 1997. I've never been to a cinema even in malaysia before that.
• Just like that Wannabe-spice girls song and so does my friendship that never ends with most of the chem-engers bradford as well as some of those in the MISG society.
• It's where I obtained my first degree and my graduation was on the 8th July 1999, one bright, beautiful summer day.
• Got to know and fell in love with London
• Had my first kiss in London with SH.
  

My times in London were that of:

• Progressing myself in my chemical engineering knowledge
• Learning about people, about men more and more
• My first encounter with politics in the department
• Went out on a date with men of different races, creed and background
• Moving around the city almost effortlessly doesn't matter by the public transport as well as driving around
• living on my own
• had some fallouts with friends
• Still in touch with many ex-college friends, where some of them are already confidants
• people perceived me as a local girl
• living on a more posh lifestyle
• rubbing shoulder with the movers and shakers and those Hollywood celebrities
• emancipation and liberation and my own prerogative
• Growing up and embracing the true me
• had my taste of the first proper commitment with the bengal dude for almost three years (first half in the UK and remaining time in malaysia)
• having a sensible gay-radar
• Found a reluctant soul mate in H
• Had mugging experience twice, first managed to retrieve my wallet and the second, I had to lodge a police report for a total loss of the wallet (together with my old IC before that mykad, ,driving license, bankcards etc and a 10pounds note).
• Summer was not a long holiday for me, as I still continued on working on my PhD braving through the sweltering heat and long days.
• French friend came visiting me from time to time all the way from France till he decided to do his Masters degree in UCL and we got to meet more often. And on his graduation day, he invited me to join in the ceremony.
• Hungarian friend came all the way from Budapest with his then boyfriend during his gay-switching year. He now switched back to being heterosexual and finally made it to dentistry school in Romania. I love him dearly and I hope he can come visit me here in malaysia one day.
• Fun years in general. I miss London and it will always be my second home.
  

I've always prayed that whomsoever will be my future boyfriend, will be better than the previous one otherwise it will not live up to my higher standards. I dunno if i actually found one but deep inside i think i do. And especially on the fateful Tuesday night, 20 November 2007, I think now i have understood what Abang Idham and Kak Ruby have been telling me in my previous entry's comment.

When I watched one of my favourite movies: When Harry Met Sally, there was this moment when Sally cried silly having found out that her ex, Joe got married to a girl whom he knew for a short while. All those promises Joe made to her like flying to Rome the next day, and so on never really took place and this reminded me of my other ex, Bengal dude(BD). Except that I don't feel like crying over the ending of the relationship even though he has declared that he is now going steady with another girl. I used to cry for all the uncertainties I had over the years I spent with him (BD) and trying to deny by convincing myself that things will get better somehow. Deep down, i know that BD does not deserve me and the little pride inside me that I can get any single man I want if I want it. Not a big deal. Because I know I am worth it.

May God ease our efforts to learn to love each other more and more.....And one day I would like to hear him (MJ) telling me he loves me from the bottom of his heart on a really special occasion. I've been in and out of relationships, mostly flings, yet I am still able to fall in love once again. Somehow, i dont think I have someone to call my first love yet I remembered my first date back in 1994 and that i shed a few tears for him. I remembered who was the first man ever to give me a bouquet of roses in 1993. I remembered my first kiss in London. I remembered my first time being totally in love in the end of 1999. I remembered my last crush back in 2003. And man have I kept my memories on so many things ups and downs in my life including this Italian man who gave me Aqua di Gio (one of my favourite perfumes) as a present and a token of friendship in summer 2001. On the other hand, MJ can never forget his first love to a woman from within his immediate families (first cousin or something like that) and she has already married with kids. He told me that he can learn to love a new person in his life even though it will take some time.

These three songs are like describing what I feel, somehow, someway:


Song #1: Dealova by Once (on-che):





Song#2 : One of my all time favourite love songs: All my life , by K-Ci and Jojo:






Song#3 :Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack: When I fall in love, by Celine Dion and Clive Griffin:

Good thing my works, research and so on kept me away from being angau (hopelessly thinking) of him except in a good way, like a muse to me. And strange enough, I have found some strength not to utter those "i love you" words to him too. Perhaps i was being careful not to hurt myself with melodramatic, hopefulness moments. What is it to expect anymore? Hope can be tiring but i rather put it into a more positive perspective. Somehow I tend to compare MJ/his situation with those men I would call my old flames and it only made me taking some precautions not to repeat any silly mistakes i have done. I was just being analytical. After all, I am a natural researcher.

Let our hearts sing!

Lighten up our Friday! I am too lazy to write and so i let those graphics do the job.
























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What is commitment???

(Articles copied by googling commitment)


Case 1: A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a gala charity event was taking place. Getting caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make a contribution.

"Great idea!" the chicken cried. "Let's offer them ham and eggs?"

"Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's a contribution. For me, it's a total commitment."

Case 2: A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer.

As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side... You know what?"

"What dear?" she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.

"I think you're bad luck, get the hell away from me."

Case 3: A guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else.

And then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that, as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"

And then there is silence in the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn't want, or isn't sure of.

And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.

And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward ... I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?

And Roger is thinking: ... so that means it was... let's see.... February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means ... lemme check the odometer ... Whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here.

And Elaine is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed -- even before I sensed it -- that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of being rejected.

And Roger is thinking: And I'm gonna have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What cold weather? It's 87 degrees out, and this thing is shifting like a darn garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.

And Elaine is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry, too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure.

And Roger is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty. That's exactly what they're gonna say, the scumballs.

And Elaine is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.

And Roger is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a darn warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their ....

"Roger," Elaine says aloud.

"What?" replies Roger, startled.

"Don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes brimming with tears. "Maybe I should never have ... Oh my, I feel so ..." (She breaks down, sobbing.)

"What?" asks Roger.

"I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."

"There's no horse?" asks Roger.

"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine continues

"No!" says Roger, glad to finally know the correct answer.

"It's just that ... It's that I ... I need some time," Elaine says.

(There is a 15-second pause while Roger, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he thinks might work.) "Yes," he says.

Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand. "Oh, Roger, do you really feel that way?" she says.

"What way?" says Roger.

"That way about time," says Elaine.

"Oh," says Roger. "Yes."

Elaine turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she speaks. "Thank you, Roger."

"Thank you," says Roger.

Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn, whereas when Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car, but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it. (This is also Roger's policy regarding world hunger.)

The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.

Meanwhile, Roger, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say:

"Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?"


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I am trying not to be melodramatic when it comes to commitment!

Words of advice from Abang Idham:

"it is better to have a man who treats the word 'LOVE' as sacred and says it only for special occasion than a man who says love to every girl he wants to kiss"

" the present is often missed because we anticipate too much on the future based on our past"

The archive posts

As i looked back to my old entries in the archive, I have just realized something:

1. I wrote something on the fact that i've never been down under (australia), and last september, I've made it. I didnt realize that it was some sort of a subconscious wish what with all those Australian Open in Melbourne, and it actually came true.
2. I was up to the point of expressing my dismay of unable to attend my graduation day last May 2006, but alhamdulillah I finally got my chance last May 2007.

It's autumn in the northern hemisphere part of the world and it has been 2 years since I passed my PhD viva. And not too long after that I was diagnosed with hypertension. How ironic this PhD as a supposedly short form of Permanent health Damage! It was not just my third and final tertiary education degree from the world 5th ranking university as published by Times Higher Education for the 2007 list (which saw no Malaysian universities made it in the top 200 list), but it also left an almost permanent scar.

31st October = Halloween day. Not a significant day in malaysia yet it was one of those days that my college mates and I did something crazy together. Not totally crazy but oh well, we'd dress up as some freaky monster. That was in 2001 and 2002 though. In 2003, I went to the Black Widow pub down Gloucester Road with 2 of my research group mates and we were given some free santa claus hats? OK sorry, that was our Christmas thingie before the holiday kicked in. Dont worry, I am a staunch teetotal...no need to worry about whether i downed some alcohol or anything close to some few drops of it in my drink. Yea, now i remember, I stopped doing this Halloween stuff from 2003 and onwards to pay my respect to Ramadan fasting month.

Early weeks of November, apart from missing those Lord Mayor Parade in South bank side, I'd opt to go to those bonfire night instead. And i managed to go to one of its fireworks sites in Ravenscourt Park. That was the nearest I stood next to a huge bonfire with some ear-deafening yet totally awesome firework pyrotechnics. The rest were mostly just watching from afar including from my old flat's bedroom window. As cliche and cheesy at times this fireworks maybe, i still would get excited watching those colourful flares lighting up the sky, doesnt matter where on earth I'd be. A bit similar to watching those snowflakes even though i've seen them for like the umpteenth time.


What I'm getting in Malaysia??? A face to face with Sean Ghazi, no fireworks between us of course but it was definitely an uplifting experience to meet a local artiste with international flair who can naturally speaks good English. No bonfire night in Malaysia, but inshallah, there'll be more "fire" relight inside of me soon.

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I knew those words i said may have hurt my mother so many times but i dunno, ever since i am back in Malaysia, I've thrown my tantrums quite so often that I prefer to stay quiet when I am at home. Contrary to the popular believe where office and work can add more stress to one's life, i am an opposite case. I seek my solace in my office. I laugh more when i am with some of my work colleagues than i do so at home. Yes, i have bought a new house but i am yet to be able to move there due to limited savings. I hope i can apply another loan especially for new house renovation and refurbishment so it'll be ready to be habitable, hence another of my personal haven.

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On a lighter note, I have bought a new desktop for home use. My old pc is already nearly 6 years old and being Dell, not just any RAM can be bought and fit in without consulting Dell PC. One little yet rather sickening problem: new pc supported MS Vista as XP is slowly phasing out of the market except by personal request on ordering a new pc. Both my HP printer and digicam photo uploading software do not support Vista. Consequently I still am relying on my old PC (good old PC, bought it in london yet received the whole set "made in malaysia". The new one has Made In China stamped all over the place) for printing and photo uploading purpose. Not that big hassle la, but it is also an early indication that whatever new electronic gadget i'll be buying in the future, it must support Vista as its ultimate OS (and its basic requirement has to be of XP-compliance). My new office PC is pre-installed with XP, which is a good thing as it is compatible to many softwares available.


And i bought this new Dell pc on a 12-month interest free credit card scheme. That would keep my options open on how i'll be paying it later within the 12 months period of course.

I am yet to own a laptop. I think i am one of those few people in the developed world who has never own a laptop but to date has bought a desktop for the third time. My virgin experience with owning a pc using my own pocket money was way back in Bradford, autumn 1998 during my undergraduate studies. The second was in early spring 2002. I love electronic gadgets tawwwww, but i am patient on when i can afford to lavish myself with equipping myself with woteva state-of-the-art latest technology gadgets. I hope to be able to get a new set of laptop once i get my own research grant.


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We had to incorporate Kemahiran Insaniah (human capital) evaluation in our final year grading. Hmmm...that is equal to more works to do.

Some malaysian celebrities

Picture#1: Taken last April, on the day Kak Teh, the lady on the right leaving home to london from her brother's place in bandar baru bangi. I'm in the middle, looking wee bit worn out coz i went there straight after office. And that petite pretty little lady next to me on the left is Kak Teh's beloved mother. She must have been quite dishy in her heydays as she still looked adorable in her golden age (90 years old, isnt it kakteh?)

Kak Teh or Zaharah Othman is one of the prolific malaysian journalists who is based in London, and that was where i first met her during my PhD years. Recently, her husband, Wan Ahmad Hulaimi published a book entitled: Growing Up in Trengganu under a nom de plume: Awang Goneng. I hope she and her husband will be back in Malaysia again for an official book launching so I can get a signed copy of it.




Picture#2: After like berhempas-pulas looking for the house, I finally made it to teratak AdieJin somewhere deep in Hulu Langat (it's his parents weekend abode by the way). I drove all the way from Port Dickson (PD), right after our faculty retreat at a boring hotel called Corus Paradise (pbbhhtsssss, how uncanny and unbecoming its name relative to what it has to offer!). Being a "minah kerempitan" as what Makji Esah suggestively called me, I didn't spend that long reaching hulu langat from PD although the distance travelled surpassed 150km. I am not implying in any way that I am a reckless, fast and furious on the road, but when i am cruising down the highway, I took my opportunity to test how far can my car go as far as efficient-on-the-road is concerned.

Dek kerana dah berniat nak jugak jumpa Nurfarahin Jamsari (AdieJin's darling wife and an ex-Tv3 talk show hostess and newsreader turned image management unit chief in Media Prima,) and to get a signed copy of her new book entitled "44 hari bersama Nurfarahin", I managed to reach his place after like 1 and a half hour going round and round sesat-barat but learned a few new places between the journey. Dah la tu, it was raining cats and dogs the time i reached my final destination. Had to thank this malay dude in his 40s for offering to direct me towards the nearest spot before the (parents) house by asking me to follow behind his motorcycle. I met him along with a bunch of other malay dudes sitting around in a mamak shop when i stopped by asking for some directions. They were all very friendly and sensing that it wasnt easy for me to really find the place, one of them , the 40s dude in his motorbike, came and offered to assist me. Alhamdulillah, ramai orang malaysia kita yang baik-baik kan? I still remembered that chinese bloke who also gave me directions to Subang Bestari while he was about to fill his car with petrol at Petronas Bukit Subang.


Anyways, here's a picture of us. Nurfarahin (kak farah) sitting on the left looking delectable and composed as usual, her youngest daughter siti sarah hugging her from behind and kak farah's youngest sister inlaw (AdieJin's sister la), Cher, who happened to be my old A-level College friend and that I have not seen her for almost 10 years. And there was I in my all black top to skirt (and shoes too), gave my cheerful best even though i was kinda tired! Sempat met with this popular Kelantanese sitcom actress, Mek ( i dunno her real name) who looked better in flesh than on the telly, kinda cute actually (comey lotey as kelate would normally call it) and she lost more weight too.






Picture#3: And uhhummmmm.....i got to be upclose and personal with Sean Ghazi! Wohooo....!! I met him right after our University of Bradford Reunion Dinner at Shangri-La Hotel in KL. You wanna know what i said to him the first time we greeted and shook our hands:

"I saw you in that PRamlee the Musical.....Hey ,you are a small guy".... while looking rather ecstatically at him.

My three other ex-bradford mates quickly responded loudly telling me, "Ape la cakap macam tu!" (What did u say like that to him?) for which i told him straight away as a matter-of-factly, "But he sure is a BIG TALENT!".

He laughed nonchalantly, taking it as an honest remark from some unknown person like me. While we were taking photos in group, Sean casually put his arm around my waist and i ehhemmm lovingly ehehhe...put my arm around his shoulder. My mates saw that and began to ask me to keep my hand off him . I reckoned Sean probably heard what they said. As a result, it only made Sean holding me closer! When it was my camera turn to take our picture together in group, my batteries gone flat! Bloody hell! i quickly korek-korek (rummaged through) my bag looking for spare batteries, immediately changing it and gave my camera back to the lady who took our picture. My mates , tired of my little antics with Sean, left me posing alone with him.

He was so sporting and cheerful and when we finally had our picture snapped, he jokingly said,
" Third time lucky!".

Before he left us, he told me there would be a rerun for the musical next year but did not hint when exactly. I told him that I knew Kak Ruby, and he fondly mentioned her as his friend. To Kak Ruby, we sure have to get hooked up after this!




Somehow, I am already blase having met quite a few hollywood and british celebrities in London that I get to act more casual when it comes to the malaysian scene.


Cant help adding one of his most popular songs: Semalam. It kept me afloat listening to his melodious, creamy smooth, frank-sinatra like voice. I would personally love to hear his "my way" rendition live! Dont worry, i aint falling in love with that dude himself, but I adore his singing talents. Not many male singers (those that are still alive) in malaysia that could send me some goosebumps and besides Sean, we have Anuar Zain, Zainal Abidin, some old rockers like Amy Search, Awie, Hattan, MNasir, Nash,Saleem and few others like Tam Spider, and Reshmonu.




I saw Tuanku Mizan coming out from some Accountant society dinner function at Shangri-La hotel too, just after my encounter with Sean. The Agong, too, is a small malay built guy but somehow he looked a bit serious, judging from the moment he stepped out of the banquet hall and walking in between his guards and some important people. He probably was tired anyway, as the function ended around 10.30pm (or tired of being surrounded by bunch of accountants, young and old, mustve reminded him of something to do with money matter and whatnots. Another two despised yet popular job are lawyers and real estate agents, the latter especially despised in the UK!). I was just about to take his picture but he walked away swiftly. Oh well,next time, in a more proper occassion, I shall get my chance to know that sultan better. He exudes the regular bloke type but with an air of authority of course. I just dunno why but from the moment i saw his profile in the Sandhurst Military College graduate book back in August 2005, I began to think that I wanna meet him coz he looks like a friendly dude. And when he was coronated as the Agong in the end of last year, i somehow felt proud? One is because he doesnt look that snobbish and two because i see a regular bloke in him. Betul ke tidak my firasat, wait n see la.

Two photographers outside that accountant night banquet hall came talking to me. Ntah pasai apa they got friendly and all and even told me how friendly Sean was with me! Sib baik I am no celebrity or someone in a provocatively sexy dress. But even if I was, walking up to meet Sean was nothing short of a waste of energy with him being accommodating and professional!!!!


What a day to remember this Wednesday, 7 November 2007!

Boudoir inspiration, Sunday matinee and Subang Bestari

Nothing beats a more relaxing and money worth spending hotel room than to have: A spacious bathroom, a luxurious and comfortable bed and a great view from across the window (and possibly a balcony). Yet, what is more convenient than to have a comfortable space around the room, lightings/illuminations u can control at the touch of a button next to your bed, calmness and serenity it brings us with good sound absorber (and excellent window double-glazing, helps to keep the room temperature steady during cold nights besides muffling the outside noise), warm shade of colours all around us to arouse the romantic mood and the right ambience, good room temperature settings and of course, smart internal security lock just so that we will get better sleeps at night especially if one is practically a single occupier or we just need a full privacy.




Some photos taken at some angles inside my room in melbourne:




Sengaja mess the bed so it'll give some homey feelings to it, and to remind me how comfortable the bed was



Not gonna design my bedroom this way, but some of it yea, especially the tv position and the study desk next to the window.





Dengan ini saya telah merasmikan katil ini. Sekian terima kasih. Only thing missing is a gorgeous lover.....



Vanity mirror...Must take note on having that in my bedroom.





Hmmm.....remind me to get a bigger, more spacious, bali-like/hawaii-like/bora-bora like hotel suites for my honeymoon. With bigger bathtub equipped with jacuzzi waters-streams, fresh seabreezes right through the windows, some nice, easy-listening musics with good surround system and speakers, divan across the room, sweet aromatherapy (candles, potpourris and whatnots).....did i just imagine a softporn scene here.....i think NOT!




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Sunday, 28 October 2007, 3.00pm, Istana Budaya


Yeay....alone yet happy and satisfied! I managed to catch the show PRamlee the Musical yesterday and I must say that I was perpetually lifted (by my own courage to go and watch it on my own first of all) by the whole ensemble.

This was also my first ever show at Istana Budaya and i was glad I went for it. Moreover, I managed to dress up the way i had wanted it from my own wardrobe that was suitable for both the show and the open house function, which i attended right after i left Istana Budaya at Subang Bestari. Deciding on what to wear and where to buy the clothes i want is never really an easy task all the while in Malaysia. I know my whereabouts and which shops i would target in London but here, I probably have to resort to those London high street shops like Dorothy Perkins or something like that around KL. The nearest megamall would be the Midvalley Megamall in bangsar, but it's not really around my neighbourhood unlike Alamanda Putrajaya, The Mines Wonderland, Jusco Taman Equine and IOI Mall Puchong. At least I can still buy shoes and some office clothes at some of the shops/boutiques there but not casual, trendy ones that I like and fit me well. Whatever hell the reason that most shops in those malls sell clothes of chinese-far east asian cuttings i do not know. Yeah, sure, that would definitely gain them more chinese, and typical malay customers with those petit 5ft 3 frames but not me unfortunately. They dont even make a regular size for people of 5ft 5 and above like me! Their XL pun either too londeh on the shoulder or only befitting those chubby 5 ft 3 ladies.

I need more shops, please!!!! like Principles, Sisley, Uniqlo, Oasis, Walis, GAP, River Islands, and many2 more shops that does size 12, 14 and 16 for regular sized people like me. So far malaysia has arrays of nice local boutique shops that does all that indie-manik2, sequence, bohemia-gypsy-malay-ish clothes, and skirts and tudungs but I need more than just that! Not many clothes in Reject Shop that i like pon, and those yang i would consider lak, are not cut for me!



OK, back to PRamlee the Musical.



One thing for sure, none of the main casts are the repeat ensemble of PGL (puteri gunung ledang the musical, of which i missed watching it due to my previously poor financial conditions).
Sean Ghazi, who played PRamlee has lived up to his name as a calibre west end-cum-singer extraordinaire. The main female protagonist, Saloma, played by liza hanim has almost brought the legendary "sally" back to life with those trademark manja-ness yet no-fuss persona. The story was told in 4 different eras of PRamlee: the first being his prepubescent years adoring the aristocrat's daughter azizah, his personal muse, the second one is the early making of a legend in Penang while still wooing azizah (played by Siti Nurhaliza, not her best acting performance but her live vocal talent is undoubtedly a pure bliss), the third part revolving around the golden malay movie era at Studio Jalan Ampas, Singapore in the 1950s and early 1960s and the fourth part was the last few moments of PRamlee before his demise in Kuala Lumpur in 1973, also made into the opening scene showing PRamlee composing one of his last songs, Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur, on the grand piano while accompanied by his darling wife, Saloma during a rainstorm.


It's definitely money worth spending on this show, although i am not sure why should i be spending more than RM100. They have good props, good lightings, variety of clothes/costumes that suits the era and mood, and most of them speak in a clear intonation.


It was not the greatest show on earth but I left the theatre feeling rather entertained and adoring PRamlee and his sheer love for film arts without stressing on the profit making more and more. Some scenes can be a bit dragging but hey, like Adlin Aman Ramlie the co-director (and i saw him standing at the entrance foyer smoking after the show) said in the New Straits Time: "It’s not easy to please everybody, but I hope I have done justice to the story". His aim was to be able to squeeze in the 4 different love stories of PRamlee with 4 women who have inspired him towards his acting and singing career as well as his movie-making talents.


Congratulations are in order for the producer herself, Tiara Jacquelina as the mastermind behind this successful sold-out musical theatre show and the whole production team. Even though she did not appear on the stage at all this time, her casts have made the audience reeling from the wonderful emotions having patiently endured a 3-hour show. To be honest, I would love to have shaken hands with Tiara and many of the cast members especially Sean Ghazi and Liza Hanim but I could not spare more time there as I was rushing to go to Subang Bestari, a new residential area in Kampung Subang and that I have never been there before. It was eventually a long drive away but i managed to arrive safe and sound thank god for my progressively reliable navigation skills around klang valley.

I jumpa AC Mizal and his pregnant wife, Emilia Rosnaida on my way to the car park. As she looked kinda preoccupied, I didnt go n talk to her but instead said hello to AC, who was manouvering his "posh" black 4WD slowly towards the public entrance staircase and asked about his wife. And that parking lot officer who kept coming near me and trying to be rather helpful and friendly from the moment i drove into the free parking area all the way to the time when i was leaving. I supposed he thought he was doing his best chivalry of helping me around seeing that i was alone and all. Anyways, he found a good parking spot for me so i should be thankful, innit? I reckon there are always good people around especially during Visit Malaysia 2007....

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It was indeed a long way to Subang Bestari, home to my old kisas classmate, Siti Zured and hubby Ramzi. She had invited me a few days earlier to her open house function yesterday and yet she would not mind me arriving at her place after maghrib as the show ended at 6.15pm. We were close mates during our form 4 to form 5 but we havent seen each other for almost 13 years. She also made another arrangement with another close buddy of us, Warda, who came with her daughter all the way from Seri Kembangan. We were once a trio but as we slowy edging up towards SPM, we became engrossed with our own world and i got closer to another mate, mira. Somehow, i managed to keep in touch now and then with Zured yet i lost contact all together with Warda. Last year we were trying to plan for our first ever reunion, the three of us, but it didnt materialize due to a certain circumstances and time clash. However, Warda saw me at Jusco Taman Equine on the day that we supposed to meet for the 1st time. And then, it took us almost another 10 months before Zured finally managed to get us all back together. Despite knowing the long distance and having to brave through new roads and all, Warda and I persevered in the name of friendship, each driving on her own from different locations.

I guess when the niat is good, God will help ease our way, and that was the case with our first ever "grand" meeting. Believe me, as we have missed so many things on each other's life, to be able to tell all the (momentous and more relevant) happy and sad stories we had in 2 hours was far from enough, perhaps it was the tip of the iceberg. Yet, we managed to get some gists of what we needed to know as far as first meeting after 13 years is concerned. Both are married and with kids except me. But we all were very happy for each other's successes in life. None of them went to each other's wedding reception and they would hope that i would make way for that to happen.

Funny how we met when we were not yet 16 but all three of us do not change much in the physical appearance except being prettier, womanly and more diva(thats me laaa hehe...). May there be more meetings to come, inshallah.

Views from the top

Melbourne, 23 September 2007, Sunny Sunday morning.


Manal's eyeview of the panoramic sceneries across a few angles of Melbourne captured by her 2 years old fuji 6 megapixels digicam from 43rd floor, room 19, Sofitel Melbourne hotel:



Photo #1: The building down below houses a few commonwealth and city administration offices next to the Treasury Park on the right. All the way down the park, you may catch a glimpse of river Yarra.

Photo#2: That dark cathedral smack in the middle of the byway is supposedly one of the oldest of its kind in Melbourne.


Photo#3: The lower building in the middle of the brown and grey buildings is the Parliament House. Melbourne used to be one of the country's main admin domain until everything is shifted to Canberra.


Photo#4: The heart of the city where commercial areas and banks and some colleges situated near each other.



Photo#5: Another view of the Treasury Park in Spring time. To the right middle of the park is the Conservatory area where they grow some exotic plants, herbs and flowers. A bit like a plant nursery.

Pretty sombre yet tranquil city on a Sunday morning was what I could describe. Not so much of a traffic seen, and this reminded me of a certain part of London especially on the East End, Mayfair, and Chelsea on a normal Sunday.

The hotel is situated in what looks like one of the posh and quiet vicinities of the city. Even though it is not really london or paris vis-a-vis (relatively speaking), but the city's close proximity to the places around it made this hotel a convenient spot to begin your little journey to roam across the city sans unnecessary hassles. Nevertheless, people can still enjoy some sense of je ne sais quoi the more you travel across the city (and perhaps all the way to the coast line down south) (kan makji esah?)

I feel blessed

I Am Blessed
(by Eternal)


Ooh, hmm
Here in the silence I say a prayer
Though I've never seen you somehow I know you're there
You're in the faces of the people that I meet
You're as silent as the Earth beneath my feet
So if I should complain that all I have is not enough

Forgive me, I've been given so much



And I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who've touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed

So many changes this world can put you through
Sometimes it's hard to find a way if a heart can get confused
But then I hold you and it all falls into place
You've given me what time cannot erase
So when I'm feeling down or feel sorry for myself
I look around and it's easy to tell



That I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed




Every time I look into my baby's eyes

I realise I think of all the friends who touched my life

And I am blessed (I am blessed)
Every time I look into my baby's eyes (I look into your eyes)
I think of all the friends who have touched my life
I realise (I realise) you've given me such peace and happiness
In this world where some have more and some have less
I am loved
And I am blessed

Let us observe Ramadhan

Salam Ramadhan kareem to all, may we observe the fasting of Ramadhan steadfastly, full of humility aiming to ask for blessings (barakah), forgivings (maghfirah) and Allah's good pleasure and satisfaction (mardhatillah).

From Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:265

"And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not Heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it. Allah seeth well whatever ye do"


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An interesting article from Islamicity.

"Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society (which makes up more than one fifth of world's population) in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and for the same end. No sociologist or historian can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan. People have been crying throughout the ages for acceptable 'belonging', for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have met..." says Hammudah Abdalati, in Islam in Focus.


"What is fasting?" "How does the fasting of Muslims in Ramadan differ from the fasting of other faiths?" "Why should one 'torture' one's body in the first place?" "What do you really gain from fasting in the end?"...These are a few questions that a number of non-Muslim friends and colleagues often ask us, usually out of fascination with this spiritually-uplifting practice of Islamic faith, and at times out of pity and sympathy for us, thinking, why should anyone suffer from hunger and thirst like Muslims? I wouldn't be surprised if many of us shared the same negative perception of Fasting.

It is important to note that Fasting in Arabic is called, "Sawm", which literally means 'to be at rest'. Fasting in the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) is one of the Five Pillars upon which the "house" of Islam is built. During this month, every able-bodied Muslim, is required to fast, everyday from dawn until dusk .

12 Reasons To Fast!

1. Fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character of human being. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in some than in others. The Islamic Fast, as opposed to mere starvation or self-denial, is an act of worship and obedience to God, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and self-examination.

2. Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is a time to give our selves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with. In hectic times, such as ours, and in places like the West, this valuable time to think about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed! It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one's moral and spiritual 'assets and liabilities'.

3. Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social and humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else in sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and responding to their needs. "

4. Fasting in Ramadan enables us to master the art of mature adaptability and Time-Management. We can easily understand this point when we realize that fasting makes people change the entire course of their daily life. When they make the change, they naturally adapt themselves to a new system and schedule, and move along to satisfy the rules. This, in the long run, develops in them a wise sense of adaptability and self-created power to overcome the unpredictable hardships of life! A person who values constructive adaptability, time-management, and courage will appreciate the effects of Fasting in this respect as well.

5. It cultivates in us the principle of sincere Love, because when we observe Fasting, we do it out of deep love for God. And a person, who loves God, truly is a person who knows what love is and why everyone on this Earth should be loved and treated justly, for the sake of God.


6. Fasting elevates the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It strengthens our will-power as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to master their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their emotions. Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over- or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above their carnal passions. "A fasting person empties his stomach of all the material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and Faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution," says H. Abdalati in Islam in Focus. The person who can rule their desires and make them work, as they like, has attained true moral excellence.


7. With the clarity of mind and absence of distractions, also comes a greater focus. As students, the period of fasting, especially early during the day, serves as a tool to focus our minds on our academics. In the month of Ramadan, many Muslims try to avoid watching TV, listening to music, and some other leisure activities, which spares them more time and energy to be spent on more productive activities such as academics, intense study of Islam, voluntary prayers, social and humanitarian causes, and a quality time with the family, to name a few. It is a reminder of our duty to God, our purpose and higher values in life, as God Himself describes the purpose of fasting as follows, "O you who Believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop consciousness of God" (Quran 2:183).



8. Fasting has numerous, scientifically proven, benefits for our physical health and mental well-being. The time, length and nature of the Islamic Fast all contribute to its overall positive effect. One of the medical benefits is a much-needed rest to the digestive system. The reduced food intake during the day allows the body to concentrate on getting rid of harmful dietary toxins accumulated as natural by-products of food digestion throughout the year. The length of the Islamic Fast itself (around 12-14 hours) is in sync with the 'transit time' of food from the mouth to the colon of the large intestine, ensuring that no stimulus reaches the stomach or digestive system while it remains in homeostasis. Therefore, for the vast majority of healthy individuals fasting poses no medical risks but in fact provides many health benefits, such as: an increase in serum Magnesium, essential for cardio-vascular health and prevention of heart complications; improvement in the quality and depth of sleep; improvement in memory and slower skin aging over time; increased production of growth hormone, etc. Also, as a general note, it has been observed that underfed animals live longer than their heavily fed counterparts and suffer fewer illnesses during their lives.



9. The month of Ramadan provides us with a sort of "Boot camp." It is a month of intense moral training. Since we know that Fasting is a special duty prescribed by God, we learn that any sins may spoil our record of fasting with God, so we go through great lengths making sure we are on our best behavior. Many people who experience fasting in this month, feel the impact that this intense training has on their habits, and realize the power of this transformative tool designed to make us better human beings- the ultimate goal of any spiritual exercise. The entire Ramadan atmosphere provides the driving force for this positive change.



10. It makes us realize the reality of life and death. Fasting makes us realize how dependant our lives are on things that we often take for granted, such as food and water. It makes us think about our dependence on God and God's mercy and justice. Moreover, it reminds us of the life after death, which itself has a great impact on our character and our world-view.



11. Ramadan is a blessed month for a special reason: It is actually the month in which God first revealed His final message and guidance for mankind to our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This message has been perfectly preserved both orally and textually in the form of a Book, called the Qur'an (The Reading/Recital). Therefore, Muslims try to do an intense study of the Quran in this month especially, and evaluate their lives according to the standards and guidance contained in it.



12. After the month of Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate one of the two most important holidays in the Islamic year: EID-UL-FITR, or the Festival of the Fast Breaking. It is a day to thank God for the blessing and training that He provides us with throughout the month of Ramadan. EID-UL-FITR is marked by praying in a huge congregation at an Islamic center or mosque, and by giving a small donation to the poor in the community. The adults give the donation on behalf of their children as well. Dinner parties, family outings, fairs, carnivals, and great joyous celebrations follow the prayer and charity.


In a nutshell, even though the real purpose of the dynamic institution of Fasting is to discipline our soul and moral behavior, and to develop sympathy for the less fortunate, it is a multi-functional and a comprehensive tool of change in various spheres of our lives, including: social and economic, intellectual and humanitarian, spiritual and physical, private and public, personal and common, inner and outer ---all in one!