Monday, December 15, 2008
Masalah catatan blog
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Suterarete-Nagayama Yoko
IeJima
Demo ne anohito warukunaino yo (but actually he’s not really that bad)
uasa shinjita watashi ga warui (it’s bad of me to believe in those gossip)
sou yo,hitori ni narunokowakutte (yes, I'm afraid of being alone)
tsukushisugite, sasagesugite (I give too much, I sacrifice too much)
suterareta no (I'm dumped-off)
donna ai de mo ii (any kind of love will do)
sugarerumono nara (I'll throw myself on you)
donna ai demo ii (any kind of love will do)
yarinauseru nara (let's start over again)
demo ne kaeru heiya wa (but the room for me to return)
heiya wa mo nai no (the room is not there anymore)
dakara dakara konya wa (so, so for tonight)
tsuki atte yo (let me be with you)
demo ne anohito nikumenaino yo (there's something in him, I can't help loving)
hidoi otoko to yu no wa yamete (stop saying he is a terrible man)
souyo, kanashii uso ga nakereba (yes, if there is no sad lie)
anohito yori yasashii hito inai hasu yo (I'm sure no other man is kinder than he)
donna ai demo ii (any kind of love will do)
tsumetakusaretemo (even if your loving is cooling off)
donna ai demo ii (any kind of love will do)
soba ni iraretara (let me be by your side)
demo ne daiji na kagi mo (but also the important key)
kagi mo kaeshitta no (that key is returned)
dakara dakara konya wa (so, so for tonight)
tsuki atte yo (let me be with you)
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Salam Raya Korban 2008 (Dec. 8)
Jika dilihat gambar dua orang pakar di atas, terdapat dua jenis lelaki yang wujud di alam ini.
Satu golongan tua botak dan satu lagi golongan tua beruban.
Tapi hanya satu jenis perempuan yang wujud di dunia ini...ia itu...
Semua perempuan adalah makhluk cantik.
Perempuan juga jenis sedia berkorban demi kesayangannya untuk abang botak dan abang beruban.
Salam hari raya korban.
Friday, December 05, 2008
The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2008 with one half to
Yoichiro Nambu
Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, IL, USA
"for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics"
and the other half jointly to
Makoto Kobayashi, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan
and
Toshihide Maskawa, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP), Kyoto University, and Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan
"for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature"
The Nobel Laureates take center stage in Stockholm on 10 December when they receive the Nobel Prize Medal, Nobel Prize Diploma and document confirming the Nobel Prize amount from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
**Bila ditanya adakah mereka berdua akan berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggeris apabila menerima hadiah nanti.
Mereka berkata sepatah pun mereka tidak tahu bahasa Inggeris. Seumur hidup mereka tidak pernah bercakap bahasa Inggeris!**
Thursday, December 04, 2008
US1=Y95.27
Rich world needs more foreign workers.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Without human touch!
(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.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Japan Satellite Broadcasting Station
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.
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).
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.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Interrogation
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!
Monday, November 24, 2008
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.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Kata doktor
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?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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).
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Anthology of Contemporary Haiku (Japanese)
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.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
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!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 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 asKacang 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.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Retirement of the Home Madame.
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?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Persamaan Pantun dan Haiku
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.
**********************
Saturday, October 04, 2008
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:
Friday, September 26, 2008
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.
Monday, September 22, 2008
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!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Lailatulqadar
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.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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.
Monday, September 08, 2008
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.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Iftar awal ramadan
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.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Ramadan 1429/2008

Just yesterday, I had one of those weekly session. I was alone, looking at the sea so far away. "Ufuk langit" at the edge of the earth.
Where does the sea drops from there?
Where does the sky rises from there?
These two, the sea and sky meet in the distance as our plain eyes see but the weird part is, our eyes are just playing trick on our sight.
While deep in thoughts about the "ufuk langit", I saw this women, maybe late 40s, sitting by the edge of the pool, near the glass window.
She has nothing on, she was also reflecting on the scenery. A long, deep reflection.
I looked at her and then looked again on the houses below and those cars that drove up the hill. Those people below would clearly see her as they drove up the hill.
I went slowly near her and told her, made her aware that some people can see her very clear in her bare element. She agreed and nodded her head a few times but never move away from the edge.
Never mind, I told myself, maybe people looking in her natural clothing is not a bother to her.
Ah, tomorrow is Ramadan.
I would miss that "ufuk langit", the white cloud swimming in the blue sky ever so softly, the deep blue colour of the calm sea, the pigeons that come to the glass window and cooing at us in the hot pool.
Ah, tomorrow is Ramadan....
Wishing all muslim readers, friends, relatives, even people who dislike me, ramadan al-mubarak (after edition), may Allah accept our sincere ibadah with rahmat.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Casino Genting
Link ke penulis asal Adik Aliff Mustakim: http://www.esasterawan.net/esasterawan/1_weblog.asp?uid=131
Dari Genting ke Hutan Rimba
Saya menerima permintaan agar haiku yang pernah ditulis oleh Lelahiro semasa berkembara di Malaysia agar disiarkan di blog saya. Saya tidak dapat menyiarkan kesemuanya kerana hanya satu haiku sahaja yang berjaya dimiliki(ini pun diberikan sebagai ‘hadiah’ daripada Lelahiro-sensei). Haiku ini saya anggapkan ditulis ketika Sensei mengembara di bumi Genting. Haikunya seperti dibawah ini;
Di Bukit Genting,
rimba menebus dosa,
tangan penjudi.
[halela-okinawa]
20 Julai 2008, KL Sentral, Kuala lumpur.
Membaca baris pertama sudah menunjukkan haiku menggambarkan latar Genting. Pada baris ke 3 dapat digambarkan ia mempunyai hubungan kaitnya dengan baris pertama iaitu kegiatan perjudian yang aktif di Genting(sangat mahsyur di Malaysia ini). Di baris kedua menyatakan bahawa ‘rimba (kigo – kata musim) menebus dosa’ ditamsilkan bahawa rimba atau hutan yang melata di bukit-bukit sekitar Genting itu seolah menebus semua dosa yang dilakukan oleh penjudi (baris 3 ‘tangan penjudi’).
Penjudi melalui hutan rimba yang menghijau sepanjang perjalanan pulang. Rimba itulah seperti berjaya menangkap dosa tersebut dimana mata penjudi menikmati panorama hutan yang luas seperti meninggalkan semua dendam, suka duka semasa berjudi kepada flora. Disini boleh dikatakan sudah ‘menanggalkan’ dosa-dosa tersebut.
Pada mulanya saya merasa baris ke 2 ini agak aneh. Mengapa? Sebagai muslim mana mungkin rimba/hutan dapat menebus dosa (erti kata lain dosa terhapus/zero kembali dengan mudah) sang penjudi walaupun sekadar menjamu mata pemandangan hutan tebal. Kemudian saya tersedar bahawa penjudi itu sebenarnya/seharusnya non-muslim. Lelahiro betul pada baris 2 dengan tamsilan yang logik. Dari segi kepercayaan tentulah si penjudi berbeza kepercayaan/pegangan dengan seorang muslim.
Dari segi ini kepercayaan non-muslim mungkin pada pandangan saya, alam atau sekeliling dapat mengawal pahala, dosa, nasib, kesihatan dan sebagainya. Contoh mengenai nasib, kaum cina khususnya terpengaruh dengan Feng Syui. Elemen-elemen seperti pokok, bunga, air, batu, warna dan sebagainya dapat mempengaruhi nasib mereka. Begitu juga dengan alam dan keadaan sekeliling mereka. Haiku ini memang berjaya mengajak kita untuk berfikir sebentar. Haiku ini mengingatkan saya kepada Basho seorang yang berpegang kepada konsep-konsep agama (buddhist).
Sebagai tambahan saya mahu mengajak pembaca fikir-fikirkan tentang hal ini;
Bolehkah alam menghukum kita?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport
This is Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport. It was officially opened in July, 2008. The best part of this terminal is the immigration checkpoint. Its all glasses, see-through for visitors and waiting people.
The Singapore-Garden-City theme is admittedly strong. Tall, palm trees lining up, orchids blooming everywhere, creeping plants over stone walls, spraying, cooling fountains and shops, shops, shops...
It is huge, walking completely around it within all the 3 levels would take 1hr.
Singapore Airlines is the main anchor tenant, so I noticed.
I dont know where this feelings come from but when I'm in places like this, I feel rich. Maybe that's the point here...you are made to feel rich.
*point cursor at foto to see caption.
Bedok, Ansar Gardens
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tempoyak
If you are eating 20pcs daily of durian for the past 2 weeks and you are sort of bloated in the tummy, sort of having some slight headaches, be at peace.
Those of the after effect of too much durian, the shitty smell that the stomach have to work on.
So, after the pulut durian, bubur kacang durian, wajik durian, pengat durian...what do you do with the rest of the durians?
You peel the shitty, vanilla-flavoured, mellowing, yellowing pulp in a bowl, throw in some salt...
Keep in tight bottle, refrigerate...
Anytime of the year, any place in the world, give myself some good company and a dash of the shitty tempoyak and I am the happiest person on earth.
Bedok, Ansar Gardens.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Padang Sebang
The landmark that will tell me that I have reached my station,coming from the south.
Everytime we watch out for this, when this comes, we would dragged our luggage near the entrance to be thrown out during KTM very short stop.
This time, when this picture was taken, I was on that trains. Having not enough time to stop here, my kampung. I have to go back to my sick mother.
This time I wonder, how are the people over there, is my mother's house still standing strong, when will I be able to visit there again.
Ah, would time erase the name from this board, would they take away this old board to be replaced by the new, blue version?
Would you stay as you are, as when that 5 year-old girl pictured you when she waited to cross the light on that dusty, old bus?
Would you still be there, waiting for her to come back?
Found some more link:
http://www.esasterawan.net/esasterawan/1.asp?uid=131
Bedok, Ansar Gardens
Friday, July 25, 2008
Trains
Friends would ferry me everywhere in the cars. I would be passed from one house to another. I would sit in the car and looked out. Not knowing my position or the place I was in. My sense of direction is like going to the toilet from a food court. Further than this, I would be lost. I would turn around and get back to the same place, swearing inside quietly.
Its easy for anyone to torture me mentally. Just take my cash and put me on any pavement of KL roads and I would sit on the kerb, staring...not going anywhere, not thinking anything.
This time vacation in Malaysia gave me wider experience. The trains.
I prefer travelling by trains overland, rather than bus. Express buses give me the urinary stress. The feeling of not being able to have the toilet, would create anxiety stress, would create a chain of uretha cramps that leads to another chain of more phobic nervousness.
Just give me trains and I am happy to travel alone.
The first day, my feet step in Malaysia was at KL sentral station. I came by KTM from Spore, supposed to arrive at 2.40pm but ended up at 4.30pm (is that typical or what? 1 hr. 40 mins late).
Some dear friends greeted me. When up the main level and was surprised to see a small bazaar-like atmosphere.
Most of my meetings with friends from day one, were at KL Sentral. I would say happily with confident,
..."ok kita jumpa depan KFC kat KL sentral".
...Or "kita duduk sembang depan Nile Bookshop at KL Sentral".
...Or kita makan di Food Court at KL Sentral.
I saw the express and local bus terminal, bought some big, juicy Korean pears at the fruit shop there. Took light meals at the food court, some gatherings at KFC, browsed through some reading materials at Nile Book shop, did solat at the surau and best of all, the taxi services. You tell the counter staff your destination, pay at the counter, give the payment slip to the driver and he just carry you off. No hassling about meter or payment. No talking, peace.
If I am not mistaken (correct me if wrong), there are 5 lines going through KL Sentral. The lines that is ever too familiar for me is the KLIA transit to the airport. I port up at Putrajaya. This line is fast, clean, smells nice too and best of all, always empty. Mostly, I see people aboard with luggage, airport staff with their smart uniform, MAS fligh attendants and Putrajaya cyber-clone.
If any of you notice, the platform has only two kinds of writing on the signboard, Bahasa Melayu and Japanese!
I stayed a few days in Seremban and going to KL Sentral from here, I have to use the only line, KTM komuter. I can always get seat from Seremban because its the line starting point but as we get to KL Sentral, some people were hanging on the holders squeesed to the bones.
One time, on a Sunday, (I thought its not a working day and this train should be less crowded...I was wrong), I stood at the platform with people around me pushing left and right. I was just standing to get my queue right.
I was thinking, how would I get on the train without queueing. In that crowd, my mind went to the scenario at Mina in Mekah during the 250m walk to "lempar batu". I didn't moved, the crowd moved me.
I missed the first train. People were pushed in like boiled, red sardine in tightly packed tin.
I am not strong enough to withstand that battle, I have all the time in this world to wait before it became dark.
I waited for the next train, it came...but I couldn't get in. I was at the door. Imagine at the door of the train yet not getting in. I was stranded at the door. Can you imagine, at the door yet not getting in? Go, figure that out.
Anyway, wonderful thing was, I GOT A SEAT!
In that crowded coach, I got a seat! I must have done something good in this life to be able to get reward like that, masyaAllah.
Every stations on the KTM komuter, remind me of friends staying at those stops.
A lady with bad eyesight at Tasik Selatan, a top cyberman at Kajang, a very pious single girl at Bangi and many more.
Ah, those memories and good friends, I would never exchange any gold coins for it.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Alamanda
That is alamanda, a trumpet-like flower, yellow sometimes pink and I've seen blue one.
Most of my friends in Malaysia, be they from the bloggy society or from the writing group or from the in-course working classes, are young, career ascending, full of vitality in life and most importantly, they are girls.
I stayed with girls. Single and young. Its the freedom in the house that I prefer with these girls. No covering the hair in their houses, just loose butterfly one-piece in and out of the rooms.This trip to Malaysia, I made one of the houses at Putrajaya my port. Presint 9.
I came to love Putrajaya. Everyday, for about 3 weeks, I was alone in the daytime.
One time, after alighting from the bus by Alamanda Shopping Complex, I waited at the crossing for the green walking man to cross the road. Eventhough the road was cleared, I still waited for the walking green man, didn't come, waited again, didn't come, waited again....
How do I ever cross this road? I paniced!
I felt like my culture standard was broken when I dashed across the road, imitating some locals.There were long time alone in the house, I felt cooped up. I should just go out by myself and explore the area.
I did. I ended up in Alamanda Shopping Complex.Bought myself coffee-flavoured soya bean milk (cannot get this in Japan) and a piece of Roti boy with a book in my hands. Precious hours just went looking at people walking by. The book on my lap. The clean environment, the cultured surroundings, the peaceful air, the quiet manner everybody conduct themselves remind me of Naha, Nishihara, San-e, Jusco in Okinawa.
I can sit at Roti boy eating rotiboy by the buckets while people-watching for hours. One time, I went in Burger King, studied the menu and tried hot dog with minced meat (cannot get this in Japan). Again my people-watching session with that one hot dog for hours.
There was time when I wanted very much to open my blog but after inquiring, I found that there wasn't any internet cafe at Alamanda. That is strange. No internet cafe at Alamanda!This is about the only dissappointment for me. The Cyber hub of Malaysia and Alamanda do not have any internet cafe at all.
I ended up going into the Cinemaplex watching "Sepi" alone. Good plot, talented people acting, humourous, some poetic inclination, some heart pinching sadness when I cried at the ending minutes.
If, only if, I intend to buy a property, I wouldn't mind buying a piece in Putrajaya. Make it my home base. Once in a while vacationing in Malaysia, I can use it as my loading and unloading port.
Bedok, Ansar Village
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Ambulance
I was thinking that she might be given another CT scanning to confirm the spread of the cancer cells but the doctor confirmed it without the scanning. I was told that by giving her the chemo treatment, it would take her life within a week and so it was decided that chemo is out for her.
There is no medication for her and this puzzle me, nothing at all.
When the doctor saw my worried look, he suggested some kind of mushroom extract that would slow down the spread of the infected cells. There is not much to be done to what has already been spread around her organs but the mushroom extract will slow down new infected cells from infecting new sites.
All we have to do now, says the doctor is to make her as comfortable as possible and let "nature" take its course.
Please, be my friend, make doa for my mother. My doa for her to go without pain, comfortably and easily.
Yesterday her appointment time to see the doctor at Spore Cancer Center was 4.20pm but we came early at 3pm. I was engrossed with "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini and forgot all about the waiting. I was holding my mother in one hand and holding the book in the other hand, while rubbing my mother forehead, I kept on reading.
My mother's helper was saying something, more to grumbling but I ignored her. Then, I realised we had waited for 2 hours in the cold, comfortable room , all by ourselves.
No wonder the helper went to the toilet two times, no wonder she was taking a nap on her arms on the table behind me. All this time, I was so engrossed in the reading!
But where is the doctor?
Thats it!
I put the book down, with quick steps to the reception and standing still, staring at all the counter staff. Effectively, they all kept quiet and paid attention to me standing there, quiet.
With a quiet but killing voice, I asked for the doctor and I have waited, my dying mother have waited for 2 hours for him. Every other waiting people in the room were listening to me.
Where is the DOCTOR?
I left the room with this question. Later, 5 minutes later, the doctor came. Young.
I am Dr. Poh, or something like that. I wasn't listening anyway. I was screaming inside. But I keep my cool. I just give him the stare and kept my face straight, staring at him, hopefully he felt some guilt. But never do I expect an apology from him, which is wise of me, as it never would come, anyway.
Just 5 minutes of touching my mother here and there, maybe 3 minutes, said those few words and left.
I am good at waiting. I wanted to see somebody, waited for two years and I have seen this person at last, my reward for the patience.
What is 2 hours for me? I have all the time in the world to wait. But where is the work etiquette in the doctor?
Going home was rush hour time. Let me tell you the experience of going through rush hour in Spore in an ambulance. Feels real good.
Felt like some VVIP on the road, all vehicle giving way, what with the siren blaring all the way.
At rush hour and the ambulance blast through at 90kph all the way, with other cars giving way.
That took all the anger and frustration out of my system. I am alright now and kissing my mother all the time.
Bedok, Ansar Village.

%5B1%5D.jpg)
