I miss...

... having the person in front of me to give the courtesy of holding the door opened until I reach there.
Having the door almost slammed in one's face is not a great way to start a morning...

... being treated nicely by the sales assistant in the shop no matter how one appears, whether in branded or cap ayam outfit...

... greeted with salam by a stranger on the road with a cheerful smile

... clean and free public toilets everywhere

... clean and comfortable baby rooms everywhere

An evening in Wangsa

Met some ex-schoolmates on Sunday at Bangi Kopitiam next to Wangsa Walk. My first time there - but I did not get lost driving there, alhamdulillah.

Some 'worthy' mentions:

- "Consultant - to con and insult..."

- "Ada maid pening. Tak ada maid pening. Tapi lagi baik pening ada maid daripada pening tak ada maid."

- "CM tu Central Market lah, bukan Chief Minister. Hisy, hang ni betui ka budak SMAP?"

- "XXX tu mestilah tak lawa sangat kan pasal tu aku tak ingat" statement "apakah?!", especially so since XXX used to be one of the prettiest girls in the class

- "Siapa ingat budak lelaki kelas 5M yang main chess,  aaar, yang baik dengan si A, aarrr dan budak A ni minat kat KA..." - after a while we found out that while the girls usually won the matches at the chess tournaments, the guys pretty much sucked, so the school team lost due to point system. 

- "Lain kali nak jumpa, kena bawak ILHAM (our school magazine). Senang sikit nak ingat balik..."
 
- "Siapa ada kawan, kerabat, cousin yang single lagi? Ni kami ni ada lagi yang single ni. Mana tau, kot-kot ada, bolehlah kenal-kenalkan" a statement which immediately reminded me of Wali's song "Cari Jodoh"

-"Anak kau memang aar - semuanya ultraman. Ultraman Cosmos. Ultraman Neo. Yang seorang lagi Ultraman apa pulak? Yelah, kena marah pun, cakap Jepun baru faham" - referring to who else? my kids of course.

- "Ada masa macam menyesal tak cari partner masa sekolah dulu. Paling-paling pun depa semua dah ada basic agama. Bila isteri yang lebih bab agama, suami bukan nak ikut kita lead. Susah!"

- "Aku nak menangis pasal kau juga macamana Y menangis pasal S bertudung balik. Dulu masa kau bukak tudung, L menangis sebab dia sedih sangat kau bukak tudung. Aku nak menangis happy sebab kau pakai tudung balik"

It was an evening filled with light moments, and later, after all three guys left, leaving just us girls, heavier points to ponder upon. Understandable - what with realizing that there are more old friends of ours who are now 'single again' - a term that no longer refer to the state of being boyfriend-less, but referring to those who used to be married but now divorced.

It was nice to catch up with old friends - some of them my best buddies at different periods of my life. These are the people who have seen me in huge plastic frame glasses, with a broken half front tooth and 'tudung tak  kelepet' and when I was in the 'making up stories' period of my life. No, I'm not particularly proud of the 'story making up' part, just admitting my weakness. And pray that my ex-classmates and Allah will forgive me for my weaknesses (Yes Zarin, that's why I had to drag you and Ira in when I shared about the 'incident' involving your ex-classmate - just for verification that it was not a made-up story)

Anyway - I had a kelam kabut moment after the meet ended. Forgot where I placed the parking ticket - maybe because I was so excited to see Ira just before I parked my car. I usually insert parking tickets in the small compartment at the back of my handbag. But that day I simply forgot to do so. It was already dark when we girls finally said good bye to each other, so it was not easy locating the missing parking ticket in the dark.

Groped under the driver's seat. Groped under the passenger's seat. Looked under all the floor mats - at the driver's seat, the front passenger's seat, the rear passengers' seats. Examined the center consoles oh-so-very-closely. Explored both dashboard pockets even though was pretty sure that I did not open them before exiting the car. Checked the drink-holders. Grabbled in the door pockets.

Found nothing. Okay, found other unimportant stuff, but not the parking ticket

Went to the the pondok pak guard, asked the boy in charge if anybody had found a lost ticket since I could not find mine.

"Tak adalah kak."

Oh, if that is the case, how much do I need to pay for a loss ticket?
"Kalau tiket hilang kena bayar RM50 kak. Kalau tak, parking hari ni, sekali masuk RM2 ja. Akak cubalah cari lagi"

Asked for permission to search for the ticket in the pondok pak guard because it was well-lit, definitely brighter than in the car. Emptied the whole handbag  quickly put all the spare 'woman items' back into the handbag and examined all the content oh-so-thoroughly, but to no avail.

Went back to the car. Repeated the whole process of looking for the parking ticket in the dark. Found more rubbish in addition to those already found earlier on - leaflets for "pinjaman mudah!" usually left on the windscreen at parking lots, postcard-sized colored pamphlets, even a plastic "Committee Member" tag usually worn during expos - but no parking tickets. Groped, grabbled and fumbled about in the dark even more - and finally my fingers came into contact with a piece of paper the size of a name card under the front passenger's seat after I rubbed the center console from the back of the seat.

Found it! Alhamdulillah!

Phew, at least I didn't have to spend RM50 on a loss ticket after spending nothing at Bangi Kopitiam and Secret Recipe since the tab was picked up by others, thank you Zarin, Topex and Ira *winks*

Note to self - always, always put the parking ticket in the compartment at the back of the handbag right away! No more spending one hour berpeluh-peluh groping for a parking ticket in the dark car!

Panda?

Conversation with Humaidi yesterday evening.

Humaidi:  (pointing to a picture of a kitten) Ini ku-cheng.
Ibu:          Yes, that's a white kitten.
Humaidi:  Kitten... meeeooowwww...
Ibu:          That's right, kitten meows, meeeooowww....
Humaidi:  (pointing to a picture of a puppy) Ini an-jheng
Ibu:          Yes, that's a black puppy.
Humaidi:  Puppy... woof woof!
Ibu:          That's right, puppy barks, woof woof!
Humaidi:  (pointing to a picture of panda) Ini panda
Ibu:          Yes, that's a black and white panda.
Humaidi:  Panda... heeeee yaaahhhhh...

Hah?? Heeee yaaahhhhh?
Clear sign that he's been misled by Kungfu Panda.
Adoi!

I miss Japanese children TV show

Now, now. I know that TV is not healthy for children.
But come to think of it, after watching the limited children programs on TV - it hit me that I miss Japanese children TV show. Other than missing all the IQ-enhancing variety shows, of course.
And after meeting Dr Priya, it hit me that some segments in Japanese TV shows actually promote development of fine motor skills in young children. Seriously!

One may think of them as the Japanized version of Sesame Street or Teletubbies. More toward Teletubbies - but with some points for the parents who watch those shows with their children. Right now, for comparison basis, I can't think of any locally produced children program aiming for infants and toddlers in Malaysia. (Is there any?)

In Japan, programs like Inai Inai Baa (peek-a-boo in nihonggo) and Okaasan to Issho (With Mother) are huge hits with young children. And not just among Nihonjin children - even Huzaifah and Humaidi seemed to enjoy them tremendously.
Well, it might seem like there are lots of gibberish, dances and gymnastic exercises (part of educating the children to be fitter and to improve their ability to concentrate) - but there are also segments which show 'accomplishments' by young children.

Among such accomplishments are 3-4 year old children shown putting on pyjama on their own, or brushing their own teeth or using the toilet on their own.
The featured boy or girl would introduce themselves - stating their name and their age.
Then proceeded to do what they claim they could -
putting on the pyjama - both the pants and the shirt up until buttoning the last button;
or brushing their teeth vigorously then proceeded by letting the mother giving final touches in hard-to-reach area;
or an innocent view of them using the seat toilet and letting the mother know that they had passed motion;
All which will be congratulated warmly by the respective mother...
No, these segments do not feature 'celebrity' kids - just normal, girl/boy-next-door kids.
And yes - it kind of encourage the young viewers to try or at least imitate what they see their peers accomplished on TV.

As for physical exercise, Huzaifah would always dance excitedly as Yoshi oniichan sang "Pawa! Pawa! Pawa! Paawa!" and imitate walking in a circle (with the rest of the crew as shown on TV) when the song "Supurappi Supurappa" came at the end of Okaasan to Issho. And I think it's easier for him to learn how to brush his teeth because he has seen it being done by toddlers numerous time on TV.

Then, there's the all-time family favorite, Pitagora Suichi. Or even Pitagora Suichi Mini.
The show would show some Rube Goldberg machine in motion - that fascinate even the most hyperactive of children. Seriously! Huzaifah could stop and watch Pitagora Suichi for ages, notwithstanding the fact that he usually is on the go, on the go, on the go.

I like Today's Topic segment - it will show two young penguins, Pita and Gora, playing with something and then become puzzled by some concept of science. Along came Hyakka Ojiisan (Mr Encyclopaedia?) to explain the concept to them. He would say that "The details are written on my page xx," but Pita and Gora would reply, "We're children so we can't read!" So they would call in Terebi no Jon (TV John?) to explain the story on his screen. And the science concept shown on Terebi no Jon are concise, precise and easily understood by kids. Nicely done! I've seen something like this on TV9's "Pondok Pondok" recently - but it was more straightforward compared to using Terebi no Jon...

Then, there's the Arugorizumu Taiso (Algorithm Exercise) involving 2-person exercise while they simultaneously sing a song. Huzaifah simply loved the rolling hand part of "grun grun grun grun grun grun guuruun guuruun"

There's also the Arugorizumu Koushin (Algorithm March) - which has become a phenomenal fad all over the world. We've seen the march being performed by a vast categories of people on YouTube - from prisoners in a Philippines prison to smartly dressed office workers in a public area in Europe. Yes, it's fun and funny at the same time, so no wonder it became a huge fad.

Anyway - the main point is - I miss TV shows specifically targeting really young audience.
apart from missing Japan every now and then, oh well...
It will be really cool if someone could produce an Islamic children program aiming for really young kids locally.
I mean, they can for example show a 3 year old putting on the pyjama followed by reciting the do'a before one goes to sleep.
Or a 3 year old to recite the do'a before entering/after exiting the toilet plus waring a head covering piece while using the toilet.
Or simply jumping and doing rhythm exercise while chanting simple zikir or selawat.
I mean - instead of jumping and holding up their hands while singing "Pawa! Pawa! Pawa! Paawa!", they could be jumping and holding up their hands while chanting "Allah Allah Allahu Akbar!" or something along that line...
How cool is that, huh?

Belilah bedak tu

There was a booth offering free 1 minute make over in the twice-monthly bazaar downstairs and I decided to volunteer to be made up.
On impulse.
I figured I had nothing to lose - it's not going to last long because I haven't pray Zohor.
And Kit was there with me to witness the made over - and she herself was made up after the make-up artist-cum-seller was done with me.
(*Note to self - must go and get a facial - the 'kakak make-up' was geram with both of us for having so many blackheads and for not getting rid of the dead cells on our face, ngeeeee)

Kit came over to spend the Friday-extra-long lunch hour with me, and being more authoritative on make-up and stuff, commented that the light make up expertly applied by the seller seemed to suit me well.

"You look finished"
"What? I look finished as in 'aiyaaa, finished laa'?," I joked
"No. I mean you look complete"
Huh? I don't look complete ke all this while? Ha ha
"Ok..."
"I think you should buy the powder. It seems to suit you lah"

Well, it's common knowledge that I am not into make-up.
Not that I have anything against it.
It's just that I'm not into it.
(Poor Kit - most of her close girlfriends just don't dig make-up.
But I didn't mind buying stuff for you, kan dear?)

When I appeared in office after lunch with a made up face, a few clerks commented on it.

"Puan nampak berseri-seri."
"Puan nampak macam ada nur" ayat melampau ni
"Macam inilah baru puan saya..."
And the best 'compliment' came from my Chief Clerk, who entered my room, wanting to get something, startled to see my made-up face half-way to the cabinet, stopped and asked,
"Eh Puan, why do you look so beautiful today?"

Ha ha ha.
Her facial expression was priceless.

After I explained that I went for a 1 minute free make-up demo, she said, "Puan, I think you should buy this powder..." (Pixy 2-way cake to be exact)

"But CC, I don't wear make-up. I don't even feel comfortable wearing just powder"

It's true. I've only wore make-up on certain selected ocassions - and usually the make-up set didn't belong to me.

"But Puan, being in your position, I think it's only appropriate that you start wearing some powder and putting on some lipgloss. Nothing too drastic. Just a little touch-up to make you look more presentable."

I grinned.
Well, I don't know...
Now that we have seen so many all-made-up ustazahs appearing on TV, it's even harder to justify that I don't wear make up because it's tabarruj, kan?

The lingering dilemma of the lingerie purchase...

Women in Saudi must still buy their bras and undies from male sales staff. While many finds it annoying, they don't have much choice because only men are hired as sales staff in most retail stores . So they have men selling g-strings to women, and grabbing push-up bras from the rack when customers complain that they need to push up sagging bosoms.

Ewww...

No wonder modern Saudi women buy their lingerie online or when they go abroad.

Apparently, it's not an easy situation for male sales staff too, as some finds it embarrassing to admit that they work in a lingerie shop.

One 21-year-old Saudi man who works in a lingerie chain called "Women's
Secret" is too embarrassed to tell his friends.

"I swear before I took this job, I never even went into these stores with my sisters and family because I was too embarrassed and now I work in one," he said.

"I told my buddies I am still unemployed and those of them who know I work think I work in a regular store," he added. "I can't allow anyone to see me in this store, it's too embarrassing. I'd rather they think I'm unemployed."

Here in Malaysia, I believe most women still buy their bras and undies from fellow female. But some find it embarrassing to shop for lingerie with men around. And it happens from time to time - men going to the lingerie shop with a female - sister, mother, daughter, wife - waiting for the women to make their purchases. Some are also consulted before final purchase is made. And some even go there alone to buy bras and undies for their female partner.

Which will make some female customers feel very conscious and uncomfortable merely with their presence. While the women might not subject to making their lingerie purchase from a male (at least in Saudi the women are covered from head to toe with exception of the eyes, so there is no telling how crimson a person's face would turn, being 'forced' to buy such a private piece of clothing from the opposite sex), some feel that there's an element of 'harrassment' to pick or buy a private garment in the presence of members of the different gender.

So, should men be banned from being near lingerie shops or lingerie section in the departmental store? Should they (like Saudi women) resort to buying lingerie online or when they go abroad? (Wacoal in Bangkok for an instance is a lot cheaper and more affordable than they are in Malaysia) If men were banned from entering lingerie shop or being near the lingerie section in the departmental store, it might make lingerie shopping a lot easier for many women. Some friends told me that they would go and kill some time elsewhere before hitting the undies and bras section upon seeing a guy in the vicinity. Especially so if they are browsing through really, really private stuff, like thongs. After all, imagination might run wild too upon seeing a man in the lingerie shop - it might not be so bad if the men who go there alone buy stuff for his wife - what if he's buying them for himself?

Ewww...

Anyway, what is the guideline for a man who wants to surprise his wife with lingerie? Too big and the wife might believe that he thinks of her as fat, and too small will be taken as a hint that he wants her to shed some pounds. Too conservative might lead the wife to believe that she's boring and too raunchy might be considered as trashy.

So, how?

Wanita materialistik?

That's the topic discussed in "Chit-chat Pagi" segment on MuzikFm this morning.

The callers on the radio seemed to basically agree that most women are materialistic - to different extent.

1. There are those "pisau cukur" type who will only fall for/date/marry rich guys because they look at the money factor first and foremost. This is the kind that most male callers talked about - the kind that give women a bad name.
2. Then, there are those who expect the guys to have more than them because they don't want to end up being the one to be the bread winner in the family. They feel that if they married those who are beneath themselves, then they are not doing justice to the future children because they fail to choose a responsible father. If they married those who do not earn at least as much as they do if not more, then they are not giving themselves much self respect because they are willing to stoop low and who knows how much lower they have to stoop later on. This group seemed to form the majority of the female callers, parents included ("Saya tak nak lah anak saya kahwin dengan orang yang pangkat dan gaji rendah dari anak saya, nanti apa saya nak jawab kalau orang tanya saya tak sayang anak ke?") .
3. Then, there are a few who believe in 'jodoh and rezeki di tangan Allah'. Yes, it is important that the guy has to be responsible and proves that he is willing to work hard to provide for the family. But who is to say that when you marry someone who doesn't earn that much, it will remain that way for the rest of your life? Who is to say that when you marry someone who earn a lot it will remain that way for the rest of your life? And if that happened, will you leave him just because he doesn't earn as much as he used to?

When Rasulullah married Saidatina Khadijah - she was a millionaire and he was working for her. In other words - she made a lot more than he did, but that did not deter her from marrying him as she fell for his sincerity, honesty, loyalty and good manners. Their marriage remained intact until Saidatina Khadijah passed away. For the duration of their marriage Rasulullah never married another. He only practised polygamy after Saidatina Khadijah passed away (a fact that many Ustaz seems to forget to include in their text when talking about polygamy in Islam) And even when he married others, his wives - including Saidatina Aisyah - were jealous of his deep love for Saidatina Khadijah.

Ah, but then he was a prophet. Maksum. Special.

Personally, I believe in looking more at the guy's attitudes than how much money he has. The attitudes go a long way insya Allah, the money, wallahua'lam. And of course, asking for Allah's guidance through solat istikharah is very important before one agrees to marry anybody. Merely using our head and heart is not enough without Allah's guide, so I believe istikharah is a HUGE factor in determining the 'one'.

I've seen some friends and relatives marrying someone who earns/earned less than themselves but alhamdulillah their marriages remain intact until today. I've seen a lady executive who married her boss' driver. Another lady executive married a clerk in the same office. The wives might be the main bread winner in the family, but both the husbands and wives don't let that bother them much. They both learned to take the meaning of "tolerance", "acceptance" and "respect" to another level compared to other 'common' couples.

So, is it true that most women are (or need to be at least a little) materialistic ?

Makcik-makcik?

"What happened? Why do you look so makcik-makcik now?"

Alamak!

We haven't seen each other for a year - the last meeting just a brief one while he was waiting for his domestic posting after his term in Bangkok was over. I was happy to be able to meet him while I was in Kuantan yesterday, attending a discussion there. He was among my earliest colleagues, as we used to work in the same department in the old Ministry. Apart from both of us being law graduates from UK - he from Cardiff and I from Leeds, he also married an old classmate in NCUK. And we certainly had gone through a lot together - being under the same irresponsible boss and a workaholic bigger boss. I know Ali has always been honest with me, but well, I was still a bit shocked to hear him making that statement about me looking like a 'makcik'...

I looked at my own picture on his digital camera. He had a point. A valid point. The person standing next to him in the picture looked more like a 'makcik' than someone in her thirties.

Adoi!

Maybe it was the color of my baju kurung, or the glasses, or that I still have a lot of "baby fat" to dispose of - but he had a valid point. I know for a fact that I do look older wearing glasses than contact lenses, but lately after the infection case I went through during Raya, I prefer wearing glasses than lenses.

Oh well...

With Ernie, a clerk in my office who I've grown to love like my own sister

What should I do...

I haven't gone to the gym for months now.
I should start going again.

I haven't started writing my 'Travelog di Bumi Sakura'.
I should start writing it.

I haven't visited the list of possible kindergartens/Taski for Huzaifah
I should start visiting.

I need to strenghten threads of relationships to become ropes
I should start working on them.

I feel like I might be happier if I could contribute positively to another's life
But unlike when I was a Malaysian-MA-student-cum-an-Imam's-wife in Tokyo,
I am not quite sure how to play my current role effectively to achieve that.

I know I should start making changes.
Can anyone tell me where to start?

Melihat pada kata-kata atau yang berkata-kata?

"Dia tu siapa orang nak panggil Ustaz? Dahla asalnya pun dari kumpulan sesat..."

Entah kenapa hati saya merasa sedikit panas mendengar nama seseorang yang telah kembali ke rahmatullah diburukkan sebegitu.
Serasa mahu saja saya melawan untuk mematikan kata yang berkata, tetapi saya juga perlu hormat pada 'senior' yang baru kali pertama bersua dan berkenalan.
Saya diam.
Tapi hati saya meronta-ronta mahu berkata...

Mungkin dia pernah datang dari kumpulan sesat,
tapi kita tahukah kalau dia bertaubat dan Allah menerima taubatnya?
Mungkin dia bukan dari latar belakang akademik jurusan agama,
tapi kita tahukah segala selok belok tarbiyah yang dia terima?
Kenapa hanya mahu nampak yang salah-salah saja,
tak bolehkah melihat pada yang baik-baik?
Ada yang kata nasyid sepatutnya begini, begini, dan nasyid dia begitu, begitu
dan itu bukan memenuhi hasrat dakwah Islamiah...
Tapi sejujurnya, pada saya, dan saya rasa pada ramai yang lain
dia dan rakan seangkatannya memberi satu alternatif yang didahagakan ramai
Dia dan rakan seperjuangannya komited dalam usaha dakwah
Nasyid-nasyid, zikir-zikir, selawat-selawat yang didendangkannya banyak yang menusuk-nusuk hati dan menggetarkan jiwa para pendengar
Bukankah itu satu usaha dakwah?
Sejujurnya saya tidak nampak sebab kenapa kita harus menafikan dia hak untuk digelar ustaz walaupun mungkin dia tidak mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan agama secara formal sehingga menerima 'tauliah' sebagai ustaz.
Gelaran ustaz itu kadang-kadang diguna sebagai tanda hormat
Apalah salahnya teman-teman dan orang lain yang menghormatinya memanggilnya ustaz?

Pada saya, ada masa-masanya kita perlu lebih muhasabah diri sendiri
daripada terus-terusan memperkecilkan (usaha) orang lain
Inisiatif dia berjuang di bidang nasyid sudah pun nampak hasilnya, walau di dunia cuma...
Inisiatif yang berkata-kata memperkecil dan memperlekehnya apa pula?
Bukankah ada masanya kita perlu lebihkan tumpuan
pada mesej dakwah yang disampaikan
berbanding individu yang berdakwah itu sendiri?
Bukankah ada waktunya kita perlu lebih fokus
pada kata-kata
berbanding yang berkata-kata?

I miss (interesting) Japanese TV shows

(Yet another entry on what I miss about Japan. Heh)

Reading Hanny's entry on Warratte Koraete made me kind of miss some Japanese TV shows.

When I first arrived in Tokyo, I found Japanese TV variety shows to be rather boring. "IQ-reducing stuff" was how Amy, my half-Japanese dorm-mate used to describe it. Lots of too plastic acting, slapstick jokes and too many shows seem to concentrate on food, food, food.

Still, after a while (and because we didn't have that many choice anyway with free-to-air TV showing almost 90 percent local content), I've grown accustomed to and begin to enjoy some interesting programs.

Compared to Malaysian TV which seems to be producing more 'new talents' through entertainment shows, Japanese TV more often made use of the available 'talents' (usually comedians - they have no shortage of these) in various game shows. IQ Sapuri, NepuLeague, Q sama and Hexagon came to mind - in which participants have to answer general knowledge questions, solve IQ puzzles and test their knowledge of kanji. Viewers get to laugh at some 'stupid answers' given by the (usually cute, or at least seen to answer with cute expression) participants while increasing general knowledge and sharpening own minds by attempting to simultaneously solve the IQ puzzles as it was shown on air.

Then, there are shows like "Terebi Champion", "The Best House 123" and "Nani Kore" - in which viewers get to learn about some amazing facts and figures in and outside Japan. "Terebi Champion" tries to crown one "King" of a particular ability by challenging short-listed competitors in an array of tasks. The episode on shinkansen (bullet train) for example, tested the participants on the speed, sound and feel of the seats (while blind-folded) in different kind of shinkansens. In "The Best House 123" guests introduce the best/worst 3 of a particular subject, such as the most spectacular sea creatures, strongest fibre, hottest place in the world, etc. Once, Malaysian program "Cabaran Teh Tarik" was featured as one of the 3 most interesting TV programs in the world. "Nani Kore" features strange and interesting sights from around Japan - stuff like a pony born in Hokkaido with a Hokkaido map on its body, or a shop selling ramen filled with shaved ice, or a monkey that works as a shop assistant, and the nearest convenience store to an operating rail line.

Also, there are shows like "Million Kazoku", hubby's all-time favorite. This show brings the traditional hide-and-seek game to a new height. Each week, two regular hosts plus one celebrity guest would try to search for 3 persons (from the same family - it could range from 80 year plus grandpa to a 4 year old daughter) in their house within 30 minutes. If at least one of the 3-persons team could stay hidden during these 30 minutes, then the family win 1 million yen. The families are encouraged to build up traps to make things more difficult for the seekers - in the past such traps include mazes from polystyrene, room filled with large boxes (which could be possible hiding place), room filled with air-filled balloons, a water-filled kiddy pool covered with empty PET bottles and all sort of balls falling down from all sort of places. Creative and innovative hiding places include a make-shift pillar attached to a room's wall, an old tv set, a large teddy bear, an aquarium, the bottom of an oven and inside a piano. No kidding.

(I won't discuss "AiNori" and Smap x Smap (aka as SmaSma) because I'd been partial to them right from the very beginning, when I thought of most Japanese TV shows being boring.)

Now, if only Malaysian viewers can learn more through Malaysian-produced variety shows...

Fish head curry

"This fish head curry is really something. It's a loss not to eat it,"
Ayah tried to tempt me. Last time, it was always Ayah who cook the best curry in the house, but after almost 25 years of marriage, Mak has learned enough tips from Ayah and can now cook better curries than Ayah.

I could tell that it was good. Adik ate more than usual. Since he's been frequenting a gym nearby, he's been quite fussy with his meal, so a second helping was a good indicator that he just could not help himself.

I looked at my own plate - ikan goreng, sayur pucuk paku and pucuk labu masak lemak.

I looked back at the main dish, purposely put in the centre of the table - kari kepala ikan jenahak. Or was it ikan kerapu?

"Best ni kak..." Ayah said as Mak looked at him scrapping all the best part of the fish head. (It is funny how Mak would always let Ayah scrap all the good part and then complain right after it that Ayah "tak ingat bini". She could have easily told him to leave some of her favorite part (the eyeballs for example) while looking on...)

I have never been a big fan of curry, but I usually make some exception for Ayah's (or Mak's) fish head curry. Not this time though.

My gut feeling told me that I would not be able to stomach the curry.
Just like I could not eat mutton/lamb now.
The baby inside would reject it.
And I would have to pay for it.

Vomiting could not only be very messy but also cause one to be very exhausted...

"Takpelah Ayah, I'll pass. Next time, insya Allah"

What I miss about Japan

Been back for 2 months and I still get the question "do you miss Japan?".
So here's a shortlist of what I miss about Japan, in no particular order. Mind you - there's another list of what I don't miss about Japan, and trust me, hubby would have a big say in that list *winks*

1. Clean (free) public toilet, especially those shower toilets, with built-in bidet.

2. The exemplary customer service. If one waits for long at a restaurant - chances are, we would be offered free drinks as apology for not being able to serve us quicker. Service is always with lots of smiles and greetings. Staff are ever helpful, and even when I had on a herot tudung and non-branded jeans, I still got 1st class service at classy departmental stores such as Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya. (No looking down on potential customer a'la treatment received by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman...)

3. The drivers make use of their signal lights.

4. Not that many motorbikes on road.

5. Koyou (autum leaves). And come Spring, it would be Sakura, then tulips, daffodils.

6. Fresh, sweet and tasty fruits and veggies. A lot of people seem to agree that fruits and veggies taste better in Japan than in Malaysia - sweeter, crispier, etc

7. Efficient public transport. Had to take public transport to work the other day, and it was such a hassle. Try comparing the two situations below:
Taking public transport from home to school in Tokyo would be;
Bike to Asakusa eki (7 minutes) -
Ginza line subway to Nihombashi (13 minutes) -
(5 minutes transfer time)
Change to Tozai line subway to Waseda (13 minutes) -
Walk to University (10 minutes)

Taking "public" transport from home in PJ to office in Putrajaya would be;
Asked Adik to drive me to Taman Paramount LRT station (5 minutes) -
Putra LRT to KL Sentral (15 minutes) -
(30 minutes transfer time)
KLIA Transit ERL to Putrajaya (25 minutes)
(20 minutes waiting time)
Asked cousin/aunt to pick me up at ERL station and drive me to office (15 minutes)

8. The automatic queue - no pushing, no cutting in

9. No smoking in public area, and even on the road too.

10. Play area for children in most public offices, shopping malls, etc. Diaper changing stations and nursing rooms included.

11. 100/99 yen shop.

Change...

* I should learn to do things faster, and now that I am a mother of two (soon three, insya Allah), I need to allow for more "masa kecederaan" too.

* I should learn things faster at work. Should decrease answering queries with hesitant "err... jab ye, saya check"

* I need to eat more iron-rich food. Already, been twice 'gently advised' by the nurse at the clinic to do so in order to improve the hemoglobin content in my blood.

* I need to exercise - get so easily tired nowaday, and sleepy early (and I know it's unfair to Mak and Neni the helper, because they have to look after Huzaifah and Humaidi all day long, and I should be looking after them after work but sometimes I fell asleep first before putting them to sleep)

* I'm not the only one who need to change... but for things to change, I guess I might as well start changing first...

Sorry ye...

My dearest Abang,

Sorry for losing your precious long lens for your new Canon EOS Kiss Digital X. And your glasses. I don't know what came over me last Sunday, as I simply didn't realize when exactly we lost the blue-&-black sports sling bag containing your lens kit case. Might be in the Yamanote train we boarded from Nippori to Shinjuku; or the bag might had slipped down while we descended the stairs in JR Shinjuku eki; or someone might had stolen it while I was buying the train tickets for Takaosanguchi at Keio Shinjuku eki (although the latter does seem a bit unlikely).

We already tried asking Lost and Found office in both Keio and JR Shinjuku eki, but to no avail. Either bukan rezeki, or we lost it in turn for something better.

Whatever it is - I am sorry ye sayang.
Really, really sorry.
Truly, deeply sorry.
Gomen ne.
Nanti kita beli lain ye.
Our anniversary dah tak lama lagi...

Indah khabar dari rupa...

... that was the conclusion Faizly, hubby and I agreed on upon leaving Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama last Monday...

Will write a longer review when I have more time. Today I have to fold a mountain of laundry before the man from Tokyo Gas arrive to change the hot water boiler in the bathroom and the kitchen. The ofuro in the toilet is in 'critical' stage - it has been there for almost 30 years! We get a good discount for the ofuro (150,000 yen with installation) , and 'special support' from Tokyo Gas in installing the 'kitchen shower' because the current one is considered too dangerous. So, instead of paying almost 40,000 yen for new 'kitchen shower' and installation fees, we have been asked to prepare less than 10,000 yen. Tired of waiting for the ICOJ people to do something about it, (we had asked them to change these appliances more than a year ago) hubby and I have decided to use our own money first this time. Nevertheless Brother Ehsan, the 'big guy' of this mosque and Brother Harun, a restaurant owner who has been very generous with donations for this mosque, told us that they will try to refund us, so we'll see how it goes...

Maybe I'll post some 'before' and 'after' pics later...

Iro iro

nl : so you must be happy that kimi won (F1 World championship)
a.z. : mestilah!
nl : i thought you support McLaren
a.z. : i support kimi more
nl : eh, i thought you like kimu(ra takuya a.k.a. kimutaku) more
a.z. : kimi ke kimu, dua-dua pun sapu...

#####

z.j. : it's like u haven't put on weight much since we last met
z.j. : but u might not recognize me now...
a.z. : i ride the bike a lot here
a.z. : plus i live on the 5th floor with no elevator in the building
a.z. : but i don't know what it will be like when we return to Malaysia
a.z. : what do you think, should i bring my bike home?

#####

a.z. : we mothers, we want to study more
a.z. : we also want to be good wife, good mother
mdr: ya lah... so much to do kan
a.z. : tu lah, we only can do so much...
mdr: yes, so true
mdr: my friend suggested getting out of the house to ensure i can get my thesis work done since there are too many distractions at home
a.z. : o O (maybe we should, but could we?)