Without human touch!

You see here in Japan, rice processing has become so high-tech, even until the last part when you put the rice in your mouth you still dont touch it with your hands!

(photo courtesy of tanada)
Ploughing and tilling by machines. Membajak dan menanam anak padi.

(photo courtesy of static.flickr)
All process of harvesting. Tuai padi, gemal padi, irik padi dan relai padi.

(Photo courtesy of iseki-tokai)
Cleaning and preparing rice. Kisar padi.

Most of all to remember is, Japanese do not, I repeat, Japanese do not import rice from other countries for their national consumption.
So whatever happens to the world economy, swinging up or down, the Japanese makes sure that rice is equivalent to 3 years supply for their nation.
This is what I called pure nationalism. The pride and love for one's country.

Japan Satellite Broadcasting Station

(TimeToTalk.org)
In exactly 3 more years, right on this date July 24, 2011, all analog tv will go out of Japan. One day after that date, anybody still using analog tv will not get any image.
JUST BLANK!
Most countries are still using analog tv, if you dont know what analog tv is, its the tv with the bulky colour tube in the back.

Our family just threw out one analog tv two months ago, we still have one more to throw. Mind you, there is a payment for throwing out tv in Japan. The standard disposable fees for getting rid of your tv is yen 3000 to yen 4000! (thats a whooping rm100 or more).
(fromdtvanswers.com)

Now most households in Japan are slowly converting to digital tv, so the electronic shops are having lots of smiling time. I remember there is this grand electronic-goods chain that collect disposable fees instead of defragmenting the parts, they just dumped all the tvs in some store houses. This chain-shop received a biting fine and nasty warning from the information ministry. I dont buy from that shop again, cheaters!

The electronic giants of Japan has fixed digital tuners in all the digital tv to prepare the people for this transition.
Japan Satellite Broadcasting Station, will be the main broadcast station in future. If you look at the picture on top, you will understand how all this works.
We have to replace old analog antenna with UHF antenna.

(from getdigitaltelevision.com)

Anyway, there is a need for people in Japan to change their tv sets and we have 3 more years to do it. The government are announcing this everyday on tv.
So, its not like the Japanese people have any choice to buy or not to buy.
We have to get it. Tv is like the main bloodline of infomation in Japan, afterall most announcement for the people of Japan comes on the main government channels.

What about countries that are not involved in digital broadcasting yet?
They still can use analog tv and not worry about getting in line for plasma or blue-ray!

So, my friends in Malaysia and Singapore, dont rush! Keep your analog, who knows one day it might sell millions on the antique homepage.

Interrogation

As I write this note, the police inspector is speaking with otto in my living room again. The first time he came I wrote an entry about it http://halela.blogspot.com/2008/09/hadiah-hari-nuzul-al-quran.html. That was two months ago, I thought it was a once-and-for-all event but since that first home visit, he came and "interrogate" otto four times now.
Truth is, I feel the home visit has somewhat become an "interrogation". He sees me writing this entry now. Hopefully, he will not go all out and asked for this blog address. I AM TALKING ABOUT HIM HERE!

Why is he making my otto the target for his inquiry? My otto doesn't mind but I felt like we are "suspected". He inquired about the present fund and donations the muslims here made for the mosque foundation, the identity of muslims who make the Jumaat prayer, whether there are new faces among the muslims on this island and the muslims people from USA on the military bases.

Before he left, standing at the entrance, his last question was whether our daughters are at home presently. He said there was a young woman's voice who answered his call before he visited here.
Otto just said his two daughters are still away working but stop short there.

Went he left, I smiled at Otto and said that young woman's voice is MINE.
Being a very possessive person, Otto said the inspector was just making another open invitation for his next home visit!

I'm yours-Jason Mraz

I have some writing target to accomplish but the person overlooking my work has gone for some ibadah obligations. I was told to complete some writings but its raining today and its a holiday in Japan, so I just don't feel like doing anything at all.

Actually I just came back from a concert. But I'll blog about that later.
In the meantime, I'm listening to this song here.

Kata doktor

Kita ketepikan ibadah agama dan lain-lain perbuatan yang berkaitan agama, takut nanti menjadi riak dan hilang pula pahala amalan kita begitu saja.
Jadi kita tumpu hal perbuatan rutin harian.

Doktor-doktor pakar kata senaman dan tidur boleh menjauhkan sel kanser merebak. Doktor kata dalam badan semua manusia ada sel-sel kanser tapi masih dalam keadaan terpelihara.
Jadi doktor kata kalau ingin mengawal sel-sel kanser, kita harus buat senaman dan tidur.
Juga doktor kata kita kena minum kopi, kalau boleh bergelas-gelas sebab kopi pun boleh menahan kemerebakan sel-sel kanser.

Jadi saya yang cukup perihatin terhadap kata-kata doktor, membuatlah rutin yang berlatarbelakangkan kata-kata doktor ini.
(*tak salah berusaha menyempurnakan kesihatan, lepas usaha kita serahkah pada Dia*)

Pagi sambung TIDUR, minum KOPI, SENAMAN (basuh pinggan), rehat (makan).
Tengah hari TIDUR, minum KOPI, SENAMAN (lipat baju), rehat (makan).
Malam minum KOPI, SENAMAN (masak), rehat (makan) dan TIDUR lagi.

Anda sanggup ikut cara yang sama?

Victoria's secret Fashion Show 2008

Who are these shows for?
For the men?
or
for women?

Men do not need all these tiny itsy bitsy bits to make love.
Then, these underwears or is it "underwears" are for women.
Yes, to some women, it brings the spirit up just to put them on.
The feel is like having a very tall glass of Haagan Das Ice cream, sweet just for a moment.

Yes, the sweetness is there but I still opt for nothing.

(note from a lady who is married for more than 26 years).

Anthology of Contemporary Haiku (Japanese)

Below is the essay I wrote for the hardcover book of

Anthology of Contemporary Haiku.

This book is a compilation of about 230 haiku writers all over Japan. Each writer submit 20 haiku in the Japanese language.

This book goes into printing for 1000 copies only and cost JY2500 each.

As far as I know, there is no foreigner or non-Japanese person who have ever stepped into the Japanese haiku world, writing haiku in Japanese.

The photo of me wearing tudung, this will make me quite famous but hey, famous or not, I'm still a housewife ironing my husband's shirt everyday!!!

************************************************************

The Essay:

Eventhough I have known haiku in the english version during the early introductory years, it did not impressed me much. Most of foreign written haiku are either too wordy or too brief. Most of the time, the season word are missing or the magical abstract touch and the inner core of the haiku itself is not there.

I was not satisfied with the knowledge of haiku that is written in the english textbook. The turning point came when I was faced with the challenge of getting to the basic of haiku. I want to know the original version. I want to know when haiku was started and who wrote the first haiku. That was the very basic of haiku. The main body which every haiku enthusiast should know before embarking on a journey of the haiku spirit.

With a heart full of bare knowledge and with a spirit of wings high in the sky, my feet carried me to the first haiku class in session. I did not know anyone in the class and coming from a foreign land, my knowledge of the Japanese kanji and writing was almost minimum. But this fear did not stop my thirst for that sweetness of haiku knowledge.

I challenged myself in a class of original haiku writers. Writers who are so knowleageable in haiku writing. At times I felt so helpless. This is the beginning of a hard climb for me and I am still climbing. Still struggling.
Imagine me, a person without any background of Japanese language since young, going all out to study a new language at this advance age, I have to admit that a few times I almost gave up in my frustrated attempt.

With much help from kind friends around me and understanding members in the haiku circle, I ploughed on. I fertilized the soil and build the knowledge ever so slowly. I planted the seeds of learning bit by bit.
I do not know the result yet but I hope the seed will grow into beautiful plant. This plant will one day, spread more seeds and build an empire of haiku writers in the Malay literary world.

End of Essay.

All this is written in Japanese.

Tsunami

artist: Southern All Stars
Song: Tsunami

kaze ni tomadou yowakina boku　(my timid self is confused in the winds)
toorisugaru ano hi no kage (that day's shadow passed me by)
hontou wa mita me ijou namida moroi kako ga aru (actually, more that it seems, its easy for me to cry)

tomedo nagareru sayaka mizu yo (endlessly flowing clear water)
kesedo moyuru mashou no hi yo (the devilish fire burning endlessly)
anna ni sukina hito ni (such a person that I love)
deau natsu wa nido to nai (such meeting that summer will not happened again)

hito wa dare mo ai motomete (everyone is serching for love)
yami ni samayou sadame (wandering in the dark to find destiny)
soshite kaze makase Oh, My destiny (so, I let the winds decide Oh, my destiny)
namida kareru made (till my tears is dried)

mitsumeau to sunao ni oshaberi dekinai (I can't say anything when I looked in your eyes)
tsunami no youna wabishisa ni (desolated like the tidal waves)
I know.. obieteru, Hoo.. (I know I'm scared, hoo..)
meguriaeta toki kara mahou ga tokenai （the magic didn't break since we met)
kagami no youna yume no naka de (like a mirrow in my dreams)

omoide wa itsu no hi mo ame (the memories and its always raining)

yume ga owari mezameru toki fukai yami ni yoake ga kuru (in the darkness of the night when the dawn is breaking, I woke up from my dream)
hontou wa mitame ijou utarezuyoi boku ga iru (the truth is I'm stronger than I appear)

nakidashisouna sora nagamete nami ni tadayou kamome (gazing at the almost tearful sky with seagulls drifting on the wave)
kitto yo wa nakase Oh, sweet memory (makes the world so tearful, Oh sweet memory)
tabidachi wo mune ni (the journey of my heart)

hito wa namida misezu ni otona ni narenai (a person cannot mature without showing tears)
Glass no youna koi da to wa (my love like glass)
I know.. kizuiteru, Hoo.. (I know, I feel it, hoo..)
mi mo kokoro mo itoshii hito shika mienai (my body and soul can only see my love)
harisakesouna mune no oku de (deep in my heart, I almost burst)
kanashimi ni taeru no wa naze? (why do I endure such sadness?)

mitsumeau to sunao ni oshaberi dekinai (I can't say anything when I gaze at you)
tsunami no youna wabishisa ni (such emptiness like tsunami)
I know.. obieteru, Hoo.. (I know, I'm scared, hoo...)
meguriaeta toki kara shinu made suki to itte (from the time we met till the day we die, say that you love me)
kagami no youna yume no naka de (like the mirrow in my dreams)

hohoemi wo kureta no wa dare? (the smile who is it for?)
suki nanoni naita no wa naze? (I love you but why am I crying?)
omoide wa itsu no hi mo... ame (the memories and its always...raining)

ps: Please be kind, when you take this translation, put my name. Its mine!

Jahrera@Okinawa.

Jendela Timur Nov. 2008

Sword Bean/Kacang Parang

I stare and stare at these beans. What do I call it? Since I have the beans and since nobody else know what to make of it, then I shall name it as

Kacang Parang (along the line of Ikan Parang).

or

the english version

Sword Beans.

Maybe I should let Kamus DBP or Wikipedia know about this.

Still thinking and staring...

Kacang apa gerangan ini?
Suruhku rebus, suruhku masak.
Mana asal benih ini?
Taburan dari bimasakti,
membaling kejora ke laman ini.
Mintaku rebus, mintaku masak,
diresap lembut,
dalam senyap menjalar akar
menusuk saraf ini.

ps: kacang bukan buatan photoshop.

Diego

I am sorry but I will come back as soon as things are settled, insyaAllah.

In the meantime, enjoy this heart-rending Okinawa song by Jimama, Okinawa singer. Finish the song and you'll understand.

Diego, the national flower of Okinawa.

Retirement of the Home Madame.

For people who have been actively employed all the waking hours, being paid handsomely or otherwise, they will have a cut-off line to change their lifetime status. When those employed time has ended and they brand themselves as "retired", the image is set.
Naturally, by this time they have a bagful of retirement reward, they feel inner satisfaction, they will look forward to hobbies that were sacrified long ago.

I envy these people. Its nice to know where you stand, good to know you are up onto another level of life.

The subject of this rambling is me.
I am a home person all my waking hours after I am "happily married ever after"!
The first phase of my life as a bearing and fruiting person is long gone.
Then the second phase of guiding and taking care of the growth has just gone.
Now, when the growth is blossoming, when the growth can take care of itself, where do I stand?
Quite clearly, this is the last phase of my life.

Then, do I call myself as retired?
I am still a home person, doing my home thing. So, in truth, let me ask again...
am I or am I not retired?

Persamaan Pantun dan Haiku

Sudah hampir setahun Sdr Darma Mohammad berkecimpung dalam penulisan haiku dengan prolifik. Haiku-haiku karangan beliau masih dalam proses pengumpulan.

Catatan analisis ini ialah hasil dari kajian beliau menuju ke jalan kemantapan dunia haiku.

***********

Pantun klasik Melayu yang sentiasa segar (evergreen) ialah :

Tuai padi antara masak,
Esok jangan layu-layuan;
Intai kami antara nampak,
Esok jangan rindu-rinduan.

[Pujangga tanpa nama]

[1]
Pada pandangan umum sesebuah pantun mempunyai dua unsur penting ialaitu Pembanyang dan Maksud.
Dua baris pertama (blok A) disebut pembayang, manakala dua baris akhir (blok B) adalah maksud.
Pantun itu mengandungi 4 baris (bagi pantun 4 kerat) dan setiap barisnya terdiri daripada 8 - 12 sukukata.
Bunyi hujungnya berbentuk a-b-a-b.

[2]
Apabila mendalami pantun klasik yang diakui bermutu tinggi; dua baris (Blok A) dengan dua baris (Blok B)
mempunyai kaitan naratif. Pembaca jarang memerhatikan hal ini, kerana pada pandangan umum,
dua baris pertama (Blok A) itu semata-mata pembayang dan tidak bermakna apa-apa.
Begitu juga dengan baris 1 dan baris 2 (Blok A) itu sebenarnya ada kaitan atau urutan naratif, bukan semata-mata
sekadar ada sahaja.
Dengan itu dalam sesebuah pantun klasik yang bermutu tinggi setiap baris itu ada kaitan semuanya.
B1, B2,B3 dan B4 mempunyai naratif; iaitu ada kesatuan cerita dan maksud.

[3]
Perhatikan pantun klasik di atas :

Tuai padi antara masak,
Esok jangan layu-layuan;

Naratifnya :
Pada musim menuai, masyarakat desa sama-sama menuai padi di sawah. Padi huma (ketika itu), perdunya tinggi.
Bila mereka mengetam, keadaan buah/tangkai padi itu berada di aras dada atau bawah sedikit. Mereka menuai padi
yang sudah masak (ada bahagian yang belum masak), nanti kalau tidak dituai,pokok padi itu akan (rebah) atau
tumbang ke bumi,dan ini menyukarkan mereka menuai nanti.
Di antara mereka yang menuai itu terdapat seorang teruna dan seorang dara yang sedang dalam percintaan.

Intai kami kami antara nampak,
Esok jangan rindu-rinduan.

Sang dara atau sang teruna (salah seorangnya) meminta temannya mengintai / melihat / menatap wajahnya
di balik pohon-pohon padi itu untuk melepas rindu masing-masing. Mungkin ini dilakukan secara rahsia,
ditakuti perbuatannya dilihat orang. Mungkin masa itu mereka berada (menuai) tidak jauh dari satu sama lain.
Oleh kerana pokok padi itu agak tinggi, wajah mereka antara nampak dengan tidak. Kesempatan ini (waktu menuai)
hendaklah dimanfaatkan oleh sepasang kekasih ini, agar antara mereka tidak merasa rindu yang bersangatan
pada keesokan harinya.

JIka naratif itu diterima, maka keempat-empat baris (B1,B2,B3,B4) pantun itu mempunyai satu kesatuan yang padu.
Ini menunjukkan pantun klasik ini teramat tinggi mutunya.

[4]
Pengalaman membaca puisi klasik Jepun iaitu haiku (oleh Basho) cukup menarik. Haiku puisi 3 baris dengan sukukata 5-7-5 itu
mempunyai kesatuan dari segi naratifnya. Haiku yang baik mesti mengandungi unsur alam (pantun pun begitu juga).
Dalam haiku ada kata musim (tidak diwajibkan dalam pantun), tetapi pembayang yang baik harus menggunakan
daripada unsur alam. Haiku mengandungi perasaan atau kesan emosi di dalamnya, demikian juga pantun yang baik.

[5]
Pantun klasik Melayu lahir dalam masyarakat Melayu, manakala haiku dalam masyarakat Jepun. Pengucapan seniman
yang tulen tidak dapat pisahkan daripada alam persekitaran penciptanya dengan luahan pemikiran, perasaan dan pandangan hidup
penulisnya.

**********************

Terima kasih Sdr Darma mengizinkan catatan ini disiarkan.

Selamat menunaikan ibadah haji bersama isteri, semoga mendapat haji mabrur.

Wassalam

Raya 1429/Oct 2008

Today is the 4th of Syawal, I am still blinking. Don't know how I managed the whole week before the Raya and the cleaning up the days after.
My family, or what is left on this island, wish all beautiful readers and closed friends, far and near:

Salam Aidil Fitri,

May we forgive and forget,

May we understand each other more,

May we mature and not make the same mistake over again.

(this goes for me as well).

With my mother passing away less than 3 months ago and without my two daughters with me, I could not celebrate Hari Raya. Could not!

I made up my mind not to go the morning eid solat, I didn't want to make cookies, I looked at the curtain and let the dust fly happily. During all the days of Ramadan, I stayed home, eventhough there were invitations for iftar together.

I know my actions and decisions were wrong. This is not Christmas, this is not Deepavali, this is Aidil fitri and I am part of it. Then 3 days before 1st Syawal, my brain snapped out of its cocoon.

Alone, I pulled out the flour, the sugar, the rollers and tried making something.

I did but my heart wasn't in the tarts. The pineapple jam just melt out of its fillings, the oat cookie was half-burnt, the blueberry roll cookie wasn't rolling and the peanut bites was hard enough to break a dog's tooth!

Ya Allah, I am into one of my deep depressions, take me out of it! I refused to switch on radios from Malaysia and Singapore, just so I don't have to listen to the raya songs. That can take me deeper into the dark valley in the deep oceans!

My otto somehow understand the "underflow" or lack of it, in this brain. He took me to buy flowers, he helped to clean and tidy the rooms and he went to get the meat for rendang and other raya dishes.

I was smiling quietly to know that most of the muslim friends on the American military base have gone home mainland and many students from JPA are still holidaying in Malaysia and no Malaysian from the JICA group.

So I told myself, "yeay, no cooking, nobody is visiting me!"

There and then, I decided to spend my first raya day at the hot pool spa.

Oh no, that wasn't the best plan arranged for me. One friend from Perak, told me she might bring in the whole contingent from Indonesia to my house.

With a surrendering sigh, out come the kerisik, serai and lengkuas. Soaked in the pulut and waited. Slowly, things just happened. The flow moved on in the right direction. Draggingly, I have to feel the beat, I cannot just drowned myself on this wonderful day.

I am sorry to say, I did not take any photos, neither did I hang those wishing raya cards that were from beautiful friends in Malaysia.

Those flowers in the photo above, are the only evidence of raya this year from this house.

footnote: a few more sessions in the hot pool spa might pull me out of this, so bear with me for a little while, thank you.

From a distance, I am.

I am here...from a distance.

******************************

FROM A DISTANCE - Bette Midler

From a distance the world looks blue and green,and the snow-capped mountains white.

From a distance the ocean meets the stream, and the eagle takes to flight.

From a distance, there is harmony, and it echoes through the land.

It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the voice of every man.

From a distance we all have enough, and no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease, no hungry mouths to feed.

From a distance we are instruments marching in a common band. Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace. They're the songs of every man. God is watching us. God is watching us. God is watching us from a distance.

From a distance you look like my friend, even though we are at war.

From a distance I just cannot comprehend what all this fighting is for.

From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land. And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves, it's the heart of every man. It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves. This is the song of every man. And God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us from a distance.

Oh God is watching us, God is watching, God is watching us from a distance.

26/9/08 1:46 PM from my friend VimmiYasmin, thank you V.Yasmin for the lyric.

Susu melamine

Cantik pinggan dan cawan set ini.

Kalau arwah mak saya, dia panggil pinggan damar dan cawan damar. Rujukan pada Kamus Dewan, melamine ialah melamina. Istilah damar pula Kamus Dewan terangkan sebagai "bahan berupa getah keras yg diperoleh drpd beberapa jenis pokok."

Alahai, dia letak bahan melamine dalam susu tepung minuman bayi.
Bermakna bayi-bayi itu makan bahan getah yang beracun.

Padanlah 5 orang bayi dia dah balik ke alam abadi!

Lailatulqadar

Hadis riwayat ibnu Umar r.a.:

Bahawa sebahagian daripada sahabat Rasullullah s.a.w bermimpi melihat lailatulqadar pada hari ke tujuh yang terakhir.
Kemudian Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda: "Menurutku bahawa mimpi kalian pasti bertepatan dengan hari ketujuh terakhir, maka barangsiapa yang ingin menantinya, hendaklah ia menanti pada hari ketujuh terakhir (bulan Ramadhan)."

Semoga penantian ini dikabulkan-Nya, amin.

Hadiah Hari Nuzul Al-Qur'an

Sesuatu pelik berlaku hari ini tapi saya anggap ini satu takdir atau rezeki bulan Ramadan.
Polis inspektor menziarah rumah ini. Sebelum datang, dia telefon terlebih dulu.
Selepas meletakkan gagang telefon itu, dengan segera Otto minta siapkan kopi.
Polis Inspektor dari Pejabat Polis Besar Naha nak datang lagi 20 minit, katanya.
Berbagai soalan bermain-main dalam kepala ini.
Adakah kami telah melanggar undang-undang?
Apa polis inspektor nak tanya?
Apa motif dia datang?

Dia datang, membawa sebakul hadiah yang berisi berbagai buah-buahan.
Kenapa dia bawa hadiah itu? Hati ini bertanya dengan curiga.
Kalau rakyat jelata memberi hadiah pada pegawai kerajaan secara peribadi, itu orang panggil rasuah.
Tapi apa pula jika pegawai kerajaan memberi hadiah kepada rakyat jelata?
Kenapa dia beri hadiah itu?
Ini membuat unsur curiga bertambah besar.

Tuan nak kopi black atau sugar?
Brack, brack...dia senyum.
Saya hidangkan kopi tongkat ali dari Seremban, hah ambil kau rasa Msia!

Sambil membaca berita online, saya terdengar antara perbualan mereka.
Tahu tak mengapa mereka bertengkar? (siapa pula yang bertengkar?)
Apa perkara yang mereka bincangkan? (ada perbincangan hebat, agaknya)
Orang yang timbulkan isu itu dari negara mana dan apa namanya?

Otto pula memang tidak melibatkan diri dalam perbincangan bersama orang-orang sini. Sudah selalu berlaku kekecuhan di antara kaum-kaum dan puak-puak dari berbagai negara yang datang berkursus di pulau ini.
Otto kata orang Islam yang kebanyakan berkursus di pulau ini tidak tahu cara berbincang, pendapat mereka selalu tidak sama, tidak mendapat kata putus yang sama, keras kepala dan ego.
Saya tambah pula itu disebabkan kebanyakan mereka masih muda dan pengalaman belum dapat mengajar mereka menjadi orang penyabar.

Jadi maklumat yang inspektor harap Otto dapat menolong dalam penyiasatannya hampa belaka. Tidak ada satu pun yang inspektor ingin tahu, Otto dapat bantu.

Malang betul nasib inspektor.
Agaknya menyesal dia bawakan hadiah.
Tapi saya anggap itu rezeki kami, hadiah hari Nuzul Al-Qur'an.

Koizumi, Abe, Fukuda

Mula-mula PM ini letak jawatan...pening dengan pembangkang yang kuat sangat.

Diganti dengan ini pula...dia pun letak jawatan.
Katanya perut sakit, ada lubang dalam perut, kena rehat.


Lawan pun lawan, undi punya undi...yang ini pula dapat jawatan tinggi ini.
Tapi...
dia pun angkat tangan...tak sanggup!

Gaji sebula rm 40,000 (US$10,000)
Bonus setahun rm 200,000(US50,000)
Elaun rasmi rm 15,000 (US5,000)
dan lain-lain penerimaan wang rasmi (tidak dapat dijelaskan).

Gaji bulat sikit lebih kurang 1 juta rm setahun atau US$300,000!

Tapi kenapa mereka letak jawatan berturut-turut?
Pembangkang kuat?
Perut berlubang?
Tak sanggup segalanya?

Entah!
Kita tunggu siapa lagi yang kena "gantung" lagi.

Iftar awal ramadan

Tahun ini Ramadan datang dengan kami saja bertiga di rumah ini. Tahun ini ramadan menjelang dengan melihat saya beriftar seorang. Otto habis tugasnya sejam selepas waktu iftar dan Tomo, si bujang yang tinggal, balik dari kelas mengajarnya 3 jam selepas waktu iftar. Tomo membuat kerja sampingan luar waktu belajar. Dia mengajar di Pusat kelas malam. Untuk bekal berbuka, saya bungkuskan nasi kepal bermacam rasa atau burger dengan sebotol air.
Jadinya saya berbuka seorang sahaja.
Hari pertama Ramadan, kedua-duanya Otto dan Tomo, tidak dapat duduk bersama beriftar, jadi saya menjemput beberapa pelajar JPA yang masih ada di sini, yang lain sudah balik ke rumah di Malaysia masing-masing sebab sekarang cuti penggal musim panas.

Menu:
Gulai lemak cili padi nangka dengan ikan masin (yang kuning).
Rendang daging nogori.
Sup petula bersama telur.
Ulam kacang botol dengan sambal tempoyak
Pulut kuning dengan serunding daging

Manisan:
kurma
Hum chee paeng
Buah jambu air, buah naga, buah belimbing manis dan buah anggur hitam.
Antara perbualan yang terdengar...
Eh, mana auntie dapat buah nangka?
Aik, engkau tak nampak ke pokok nangka depan rumah auntie tu?
Dah bertahun keluar-masuk rumah auntie, masih tak perasan ke?
Itulah nangka buah sulung, hah ini rezeki engkau dapat rasa buah nangka sulung tanaman uncle.
Sebenarnya nangka itu belum masak sangat lagi tapi agaknya terlampau berat, dia merekah. Auntie takut lalat dapat masuk dalam sarungnya, jadi berulat pula. Itulah auntie suruh uncle potong sebelum nangka itu masak.
Yang buah naga itu pun dari laman rumah auntie, tak nampak ke berjuntaian di tempat letak kereta depan rumah tu?

Depan belakang rumah auntie menjalar-jalar buah naga. Sekarang musim dia berbuah, bergantung sana sini, berbuai-buai sana sini.
Jambu air tu mana auntie dapat, pun tanam ke?
Oh, jambu air tu kakak ipar auntie bawa dari rumahnya, dia ada sepohon buah itu, manis sangat.
Auntie kalau ada petis rojak, lagi sedap buat cecah.
Oh, ada...
Tempoyak nie mana auntie dapat?
Oh, tempoyak auntie bawa dari Seremban, tempoyak itu auntie buat sendiri. Masa balik Seremban bulan lepas, auntie tengok durian berlambak-lambak di belakang rumah sedara, auntie pungut semua dan ramaskan isi durian, masukkan sikit garam dan masukkan dalam botol.
Bila bawa sebotol balik Okinawa hari tu, sikit durian masam itu tertumpah. Nasib pegawai itu memang malang, dalam banyak-banyak bagasi yang auntie bawa, dia pilih yang bag durian tumpah itu.
Bila auntie buka bag itu untuk diperiksa, alangkah berbaunya...auntie mengaku memang bau durian jeruk, sememangnya busuk. Pegawai Jepun itu, ialah orang Jepun, manalah tau itu durian jeruk, menjadi takut menjenguk lama-lama. Cepat-cepat dia minta auntie tutup bag itu dan kata lulus, lulus.
Selamat auntie, save by the durian busuk...alhamdulillah.

Kacang botol itu dicecahkan dengan tempoyak pun sedap. Kacang botol itu, jiran auntie kasi. Kacang botol banyak menjadi di pagar rumahnya, sampai tak termakan. Bila dia tau auntie suka ulam kacang botol, hari-hari dia hantar kacang botol ke rumah ini.
Engkau dah habis makan tempoyak ini ke?
Auntie kena tutup cepat-cepat, nie uncle sibuk kata busuk, busuk...

Hah, nanti balik bawalah balik gulai nangka ini, auntie tak habis makan.
Kalau boring-boring, datang rumah auntie, berbuka sama.
Auntie memang berbuka seorang saja.

Selamat bersahur dan beriftar semua. Rahmatullah.