Kalibiru: spot foto paling asyik di Jogja

Ada rakan-rakan yang bertanya, berapakah jumlah wang yang diperlukan untuk ke Jogja? Agak sukar sebenarnya untuk menganggarkan bajet secara tepat di sana. Puncak Kalibiru di daerah Kulonprogo, yang  seumpama puncak tinjau buat salah satu taman negara di Jawa Tengah ini adalah contohnya.

Di sebalik foto-foto yang memukau di Kalibiru, kisahnya adalah tiada tiket masuk dikenakan untuk ke kawasan ini, walaupun bajet kami untuk tiket di sini adalah IDR 10,000. Walaubagaimanapun, anda perlu membayar sekiranya anda ingin menaiki spot-spot yang disediakan bagi yang ingin merakamkan foto di sini. Terdapat 6 spot foto yang disediakan dengan harga yang berbeza.

Spot yang paling popular adalah Spot Foto Panggung yang boleh memuatkan sehingga 8 orang dan sesuai untuk foto kumpulan, dan Spot Foto 1 untuk foto individu atau berpasangan. Ini adalah kerana, untuk ke puncak ini dari tempat parkir, anda perlu mendaki jalan yang amat curam - oleh itu ramai yang memilih untuk bergambar di kedua-dua spot ini kerana jaraknya yang paling hampir daripada pintu masuk. Mereka sanggup menunggu sehingga dua jam untuk giliran masing-masing.

Spot Panggung

Spot Foto 1

Seperti yang dirakamkan di dalam gambar-gambar ini, spot-spot foto ini merupakan pelantar-pelantar yang dibina tinggi di pinggir-pinggir tebing puncak Kalibiru. Anda perlu memanjat tangga kayu yang tegak untuk ke atas pelantar-pelantar tersebut. Walaubagaimanapun, anda tidak perlu bimbang tentang keselamatan anda kerana petugas-petugas yang ada akan memastikan tali keselamatan diikat kemas di tubuh anda sebelum anda disuruh naik.

Krew-krew yang membantu memastikan keselamatan anda. Khemah adalah tempat untuk mereka memindahkan gambar digital ke telefon android anda.

Anda akan ditanya sama ada anda mempunyai fotografer peribadi, atau ingin menggunakan khidmat fotografer profesional yang disediakan. Untuk setiap foto digital, anda dikenakan IDR 5000. Bergambarlah semahu anda, tetapi bayaran hanya akan dikenakan untuk gambar yang anda pilih sahaja. (Kalau dah bergaya untuk 100 gambar, takkan nak pilih 1 saja kan?)

Nah... sekarang pasti anda faham kenapa sukar untuk menyediakan bajet dengan kos-kos tersembunyi seperti ini. (Terkagum juga betapa bijaknya rakyat Indonesia mencipta peluang pendapatan. )

Langkah-langkah kiri di Jogja

Buat rakan-rakan backpackers, saya ingin kongsikan sedikit pengalaman yg tidak berapa manis di Jogja akibat tersilap perancangan. Itinerari kami di hari ketiga adalah 3 tempat iaitu Kalibiru, Borobudur dan Merapi.

Rancangan asal kami adalah ke Kalibiru di awal pagi... tapi saat akhir ditukar kepada Merapi untuk pemandangan matahari terbitnya, memandangkan jurupandu wisata kami memberitahu bahawa kami juga boleh melihat pemandangan matahari terbenam di Kalibiru nantinya.

Kami bercadang bertolak dari hotel jam 4 pagi,  namun malangnya salah seorang dari kami terlewat bangun, dan kami akhirnya keluar pada jam 4.45 pagi.

Perjalanan dari kota Jogja ke Merapi dalam 45 minit tapi rupanya di sini jam 5.30 pagi matahari sudah keluar. Sudah rezeki kami hanya untuk nampak matahari terbit dalam perjalanan sahaja.

Sampai ke tempat jeep yang menunggu pada jam 6 pagi, hari sudah pun terang-benderang. Kami dikhabarkan bahawa jeep telahpun menunggu sejak jam 4 pagi. Oleh itu, saya kira kami sepatutnya keluar hotel sekitar jam 3 pagi.  Ini adalah kesilapan kami yang pertama.

Kesilapan kedua kami ialah ke Borobudur waktu tengahari. Memang menempah untuk diri dibakar rentung di atas candi. Kami tiba dari Merapi sekitar jam 11.00  - 11.30 (ingatkan pagi) tetapi betul di bawah tangga candi jam 11.30 terdengar azan zohor... (mak aiii... patutla panas bebenor). Tahu-tahu selesai meronda dan bergambar di sana-sini, kepala terus sakit berdenyut-denyut... huhu. (Padan muka, sudahlah datang tengahari, sombong tak nak sewa payung pula. 5000 rupiah je pun...).

Entah kenapa kami terus tersilap langkah pada hari tersebut. Dari Borobudur, perjalanan adalah lebih kurang 1 jam ke Kalibiru. Menyangkakan waktu matahari terbenam  masih lama, kami berlengah2 ke Kalibiru. Setelah makan tengahari, dalam perjalanan kami singgah ambil gambar di sawah-sawah padi di Kulonprogo. Tiba di Kalibiru jam 4.30 petang, rupanya Kalibiru telahpun tamat waktu operasinya. Maka terpaksalah kami berpatah balik. Kalibiru bertukar menjadi kaligagal dan "lain kali".

Alhamdulillah lain kali kami itu direzekikan pada hari ke 5 dan terakhir kami di Jogja. Pemandangan di Kalibiru sungguh amat memukau dirakamkan dalam gambar-gambar yang diambil oleh fotografer profesional.

Pada yang ingin ke Jogja, saya cadangkan ke Kalibiru dahulu, kemudian Merapi, dan dapatkanlah pemandangan matahari terbenam kalian di Borobudur. (Tetapi mungkin agak sukar juga kerana Borobudur letaknya dalam perjalanan antara Merapi dan Kalibiru.)

Mungkin dengan perkongsian ini, rakan-rakan boleh merancang untuk perjalanan percutian yang lebih lancar dari kami. Aamiin...

Istimewa rumah nenek

Lama tidak terdengar kokok ayam. Subuh tadi terdengar ayam berkokok dan terus terimbau kenangan lama. Waktu kecil-kecil dahulu, kalau terjaga dari tidur dan terdengar bunyi ayam berkokok, hatiku pasti terasa lega yang teramat-amat. Itu tandanya aku berada di rumah datuk dan nenek!

Kenapa lega?

Di rumah ada ibu bersuara halilintar dan sangat tegas (aku selalu kena rotan);
di rumah nenek ada nenek yang lembut bicara dan banyak bertolak-ansur. 😍

Di rumah ada adik-adik yang usianya lebih muda dan aku dipertanggungjawabkan sebagai kakak sulung;
di rumah nenek ada pakcik makcik yang lebih berusia daripadaku dan aku berpeluang menjadi adik kecil... 😁

Di rumah, dindingnya kiri kanan batu tidak bertingkap (rumah teres) dan halamannya kecil serta berpagar;
Di rumah nenek, dinding mana-mana arah pun ada banyak pintu dan tingkap, saujana mata memandang, manakala halamannya luas... di hadapan ada kolam ikan dan kebun jambu air, di tepinya pokok jambu batu dan pokok-pokok orkid, dan di belakangnya ada pokok sukun dan kebun nenas.

Di rumah, waktu senggang di isi dengan bermain basikal sekitar kawasan perumahan ataupun main berlakon-lakon dengan adik-adik di dalam bilik;
Di rumah nenek, waktu senggang aku dan makcikku bermain masak-masak pucuk paku yang di petik di kebun getah sebelah, dengan menggunakan kuali dan api sebenar di kebun nenek, atau membuat wau bulan dan melayangkannya bersama pakcik makcik yang lebih dewasa di halaman rumah jiran.

Indahnya kenangan hidup di kampung. 😊

Rumah Perlindungan Nur Hati

Minggu lalu saya telah berpeluang mengunjungi rumah Nur Hati di Ampang, bersama rakan-rakan bekas pelajar Asrama Toh Puan Norashikin, Yayasan Selangor, mewakili Kelab Penyayang Norashikin (KEPENOR) menyampaikan sebahagian sumbangan yang telah diterima drp cikpuan2 dan tuan2 yg dermawan. 

Rumah ini dihuni oleh 10 orang anak-anak terbuang dari peringkat bayi hingga ke 6 tahun, 15 orang anak-anak yg bersekolah dari Tahun 1 hingga ke Tingkatan 3, dan selebihnya orang-orang dewasa (yg juga terbuang atau sedang menghadapi masalah) yang menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan mereka seramai 48 orang kesemuanya. 

Rumah ini adalah antara rumah perlindungan yang masih agak dhaif di kota Kuala Lumpur. Oleh kerana mereka masih belum selesai urusan pendaftaran dgn JKM, mereka juga belum layak menerima bantuan drp pusat-pusat zakat atau organisasi2 formal; hanya mengharapkan sumbangan drp orang ramai sahaja. 

Sekiranya tuan2 dan cikpuan2 ingin menghulurkan sumbangan, bolehlah menyumbang terus ke akaun pertubuhan Nur Hati seperti berikut:

CIMB 8600769854

BSN 14100-41-00016617-7

Didoakan rahmat Allah swt sentiasa bersama anda. Aamiin.

Rumah Perlindungan Opah Hasnah

Alhamdulillah diizinkan Allah buat saya dan beberapa orang rakan mewakili Kelab Penyayang Norashikin (KEPENOR) yang diterajui oleh Puan Jati Faizah, bagi menyampaikan sumbangan rakan-rakan lain yang budiman, buat Opah Hasnah.

Nenek berusia 76 tahun ini memelihara lebih kurang 16 orang cucu di kediamannya di Bukit Kuda, Kelang. Beliau asalnya memelihara 6 orang cucu kandungnya yang ditinggalkan oleh 2 orang anak-anaknya yang telah lebih dahulu kembali ke rahmatullah.

Namun beliau kemudiannya diziarahi oleh individu-individu yang kononnya menitipkan anak-anak mereka "sekejap" sementara mereka keluar sebentar, tetapi ternyata tidak pulang-pulang untuk mengambil anak mereka.

Sebagai seorang yang lembut hati, beliau juga tidak mampu menolak bila ada yang terus-terang ingin menyerahkan bayi mereka kepadanya. Maka bertambahlah cucu-cucu Opah Hasnah.

Alhamdulillah menurut Opah Hasnah, Allah aturkan rezeki yang tidak putus-putus buat beliau dan cucu-cucunya. Ada sahaja pihak yang mengambil-berat akan kebajikan mereka.

Sekiranya anda juga ingin bertemu dan mengambil aura insan yang sungguh hebat ini, beliau boleh diziarahi di alamat No.20, Jalan Dato Mohd Sidin, Taman Ros, Bukit Kuda, Klang.

Jazakallahu khairan.

Paragliding @ Paralayang

Apa yang saya pelajari tentang paragliding/paralayang dalam tempoh sehari bersama paragliders di Kuala Kubu Baru (walaupun saya tidak terbang):



1. Sama seperti memancing, sukan ini memerlukan kesabaran yang amat tinggi. Sabar menunggu giliran, sabar menunggu angin yang datang dari arah yang tepat, juga sabar mendepani keadaan cuaca yang boleh berubah secara tiba-tiba.

Ada paragliders yang datang daripada Perak dan telah bersedia untuk terbang, tetapi terpaksa membungkus paralayangnya apabila hujan rintik mula turun secara tiba-tiba.

2. Tiada istilah datang pagi dan hendak pulang tengahari. Seluruh hari perlu diperuntukkan hanya untuk aktiviti ini.

Saya dan rakan-rakan bertolak daripada Cyberjaya sekitar jam 8.40 pagi dan tiba di KKB pada jam 11.00 pagi. Saya menunggu di puncak dengan ketinggian lebih kurang 1400m dengan harapan untuk terbang sejak waktu Zohor lagi. Namun, setelah 3 jam berada di puncak yang panas lagi kontang itu, akhirnya terpaksa turun dengan berjalan kaki selama hampir 1 jam.

3. Setiap paraglider perlu bersedia untuk "hiking". Ada antara yang saya temui, pernah mendaki Gunung Kinabalu dan Gunung Rinjani semata-mata untuk terjun bersama paralayang mereka daripada aras yang lebih tinggi untuk kepuasan maksima.

4. Setiap paraglider mempunyai kisah duka mereka. Jatuh tergolek perkara biasa, ada yang pernah terlanggar tembok batu, patah sana sini dan sebagainya.

Pendek kata, bukan mudah untuk terbang. Semua yang mudah, bermula dengan susah. Sama seperti kita saat mula belajar berjalan.

5. Bagi seorang freelancer seperti saya, sukan ini menawarkan salah satu opsyen bagi menghasilkan pendapatan. Bayangkan untuk membawa seorang penumpang di KKB, anda dibayar sebanyak RM250.

Namun begitu kos pelaburannya juga bukanlah murah. Untuk mendapatkan lesen, anda perlu melabur sebanyak RM1800 bagi menghadiri sesi latihan, dan sebanyak RM8000 - 11000 untuk membeli peralatan sukan paralayang ini.

Nah, menarik kan?

Sibayak Volcano

Mt. Sibayak (Indonesian:Gunung Sibayak), is a small stratovolcano, or also called a composite volcano. Located in northern Sumatera, Indonesia, it overlooks the town of Berastagi.

Although its last eruption was more than a century ago, the many steam vents which produce crystalline sulfur, and hot springs on and around the volcanoes prove that geothermal activity is still high there.

Sulfurous gases has also caused acidic discolouration of the small crater lake. What's interesting, we can actually go inside the cold crater lake to take pictures in it!

At the height of 2212m/7257ft, the mountain is surprisingly quite easy to climb and has been popular amongst activity-based tourists in Medan.

To join me on my next trip here in May 2016, drop a message via WA +60133881855.

Sumur Abadi

Sumur Abadi is a hidden gem for tourists in the northern Sumatra. It's not known to many people, not even to most tourist guides in Medan. Hence, you can't really google this place and expect to find it.

"Sumur" means "well" in English. What's special about this well is it is also a fountain, springing hot boiling water out of it. It also has never dried up, not even during the draught season.

Don't confuse this well with Danau Abadi in Binjai. They are not the same. Well, you have a chance to visit it of you follow me there in May 2016, and you can be the first to blog all about it.

Medan City

Medan, the capital city of North Sumatera, is also the fourth largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung. Despite being a busy economic hub of the region, Medan itself is not a tourist destination, but is a gateway to other popular tourist destinations like the beautiful crater lake, Lake Toba, and the cool mountaineous city of Berastagi.

Hiking at Sipiso-piso

Hiking down to the bottom of Sipisopiso is certainly not for the faint-hearted. There are literally hundreds of paved steps that one would have to take to get to the bottom which will make you think twice or thrice about continuing to do so.

Surprisingly, if you're persistent, you'll get there in just half an hour. What most of my team members didn't expect was the "rain shower" we got from the heavy fall... so do be prepared with a raincoat, and protect your handphone!

Sipiso-Piso Waterfall

Located 45km away from Berastagi, at the nothern end of the famous Lake Toba is the highest waterfall in Indonesia. The 120m high waterfall is called Sipisopiso, due to its resemblance to a knife. It is formed by a small underground river which flows out to Lake Toba.

Lots of things have happened since the last time I entered this blog. Things that have changed me. Things that have made me wiser. Things that have contributed to my personal growth.

Been trying to access this blog for quite some time (I think it's been two years), but due to my confusion of synchronizing my google accounts, I failed.

Happy that today I've succeeded. I've missed this forgotten public diary so much. Welcoming myself back to blogging! Yippee!

Instagram

For years, I had thought nothing would ever be more interesting than Facebooking that I had even almost dumped blogwriting. Until I bought a new handphone that came with Instagram. It's simply awakened the photographer in me.

Hmm... if you find it's hard to see me in FB these days, find me on Instagram. ;)

The ninth wonder of the world.

Have you heard of Rule 72?

Rule 72 is a formula to count how many years it takes for your money to double. For example, if you keep your money in an instrument that gives you something like 3% yearly returns (ie. fixed or mudharrabah accounts), and you want to know when your RM100 would become RM200, you just divide 72 by 3. The answer is 24, meaning it would take 24 years for your RM100 to become RM200.

It also gives you an insight of how fast your money will lose it's value. I mean, when your RM200 in the future will be of the same value with your RM100 today. 72 divides by the present inflation rate, for example 4%, equals 18. That means in 18 years time, for what you buy today at RM100, you would need to spend RM200 to get the same thing.

Just recall the price of a cup of coffee in our local restaurant some twenty years ago. How much was it? 60 sen? 70 sen? And what is the price now? RM 1.60, right?

Hence, a smart thing to do is to invest your money in an instrument that gives you a higher return than the inflation rate. If the instrument only gives you the same return rate as your country's inflation rate, it means your money doesn't grow in value! The value will remain the same.

Worse, if the instrument you choose gives you a lower return than the inflation rate. It means your money will shrink in value years from now!

However, do not be too greedy - remember, higher returns means it's a higher risk of investment. Make sure the risk you take suits your profile. Make sure your money is placed in a safe, LEGAL saving instruments!

(This article have also been published at www.facebook.com/HealthiWealthy)

WANG SIMPANAN ANDA DI BANK MAKIN KURANG SETIAP HARI WALAUPUN ANDA TAK KELUARKAN. TAK PERCAYA?

 Pernahkah anda mendengar tentang Hukum 72?

Hukum 72 digunakan dalam bidang kewangan untuk mengira berapa lamakah jangkamasa yang diambil bagi seseorang untuk menggandakan wangnya, seperti berapa lamakah untuk RM100 anda menjadi RM200.

Cara pengiraannya mudah. Anda hanya perlu tahu berapakah pulangan yang diberi oleh tempat di mana wang anda disimpan. Contohnya, akaun simpanan biasa atau al-wadiah memberi pulangan kira-kira 1% setahun. Maka angka 72 dibahagi dengan 1, jawapannya ialah 72. Wang anda akan mengambil masa 72 tahun untuk berganda jika disimpan dalam instrumen ini!

Akaun semasa atau al-mudharrabah pula memberi pulangan kira-kira 3% setahun. Maka 72 dibahagi dengan 3, jumlahnya ialah 24. Maka di dalam instrumen ini, wang anda akan mengambil masa hanya 24 tahun untuk bertambah 2 kali ganda! Ini bererti 48 tahun lebih cepat daripada akaun simpanan biasa!

Bagaimana pula jika wang anda disimpan dalam amanah saham yang memberi pulangan lebih kurang 8% setahun? 72/8 = 9. Hanya 9 tahun diperlukan untuk menggandakan wang anda melalui instrumen ini. Hebat bukan? Semakin tinggi pulangan yang diberikan oleh simpanan anda, semakin cepatlah ia berganda-ganda.

Hukum 72 juga digunakan untuk kita menganggarkan bilakah masanya wang kita akan susut nilainya sebanyak 50%. Bahagikan angka 72 dengan kadar inflasi di negara kita. Sekiranya kadar inflasi adalah 4%, maka 72/4 = 18. Ertinya dalam masa 18 tahun lagi wang RM100 anda akan jatuh nilainya bersamaan dengan RM50 sekarang!

Masihkah anda ingat harga sebiji kuih karipap 10 tahun yang lalu? Hanya 30 sen bukan? Tetapi sekarang, anda hanya boleh membelinya dengan harga 40 sen sebiji. Ertinya, wang kita telah susut nilainya sebanyak 25% dalam jangkamasa lebih kurang 10 tahun sahaja!

Maka, adalah lebih bijak sekiranya anda memilih instrumen simpanan yang memberikan anda kadar pulangan yang lebih daripada kadar inflasi. Sekiranya anda menyimpan wang anda sebanyak-banyaknya di dalam akaun simpanan biasa yang memberi pulangan hanya 1% setahun, sedangkan kadar inflasi adalah 4% setahun, ini bererti wang anda bukannya semakin berganda, tetapi semakin menyusut nilainya sebanyak 3% setahun!

Tetapi janganlah pula anda terlalu ghairah untuk mendapatkan pulangan wang yang terlalu tinggi. Perlu diingat, dalam pelaburan, semakin tinggi pulangan, ertinya risiko kerugian yang anda hadapi juga adalah lebih tinggi. Pastikan instrumen yang anda pilih adalah yang bersesuaian dengan “risk profile” anda. Jangan kerana ingin kaya cepat, anda terperangkap dalam skim cepat kaya! Berhati-hatilah dalam memilih instrumen simpanan atau pelaburan anda. Pastikan ianya mematuhi syari'ah dan undang-undang negara.

www.facebook.com/mimawealth

Teaching students how to make a presentation

These slides have been used to teach as well as demonstrate on how to make an oral presentation. The idea is for teachers to use these slides to "present" on how to make a presentation.

Slides 2-4 are meant to be used as an effective opening tool to elicit a more explicit definition of what is meant by a "presentation" from the students. They are expected to include "speaking" and "to a group of people" as in the context of their assignment.

These slides also demonstrate how the students' slides are supposed to look like. My students are expected to use lots of interesting pictures, but not to cramp many of them into one slide. I encourage them to minimize text, since they are supposed to make their audience listen, not read.

This lesson has been inspired by www.presentationhelper.co.uk - that I'd really like to thank. I'd also like to thank google images for most of the interesting photos which they've gathered from various websites.

Three presentation essentials

View more presentations from Azimah Mima

The Somalians' Plight: Let's be part of their solution...

This Ramadhan, unlike the previous ones, I don't really feel excited about eating. It's the 18th day of fasting, and I haven't even been to the Ramadhan Bazaar, not even once, can you believe it?

Every day I cook minimal food for sahur and iftar for my hubby, son and myself - something that we can finish there and then, hoping for no leftover food that I would have to throw away.

And this is because everyday I would see the pictures and read the plights of our brothers and sisters in Somalia... oh, how different their babies and children look compared to our chubby ones! How can we not respond to them and leave them suffering while we have so much food to savour and to waste?

So dear brothers and sisters, let's tone down our preparation for Eidul-fitr this year. We've already got a lot of clothes that we can still use in Syawal - well, we don't need 3 or 4 pairs per person in the family, do we? A new pair for the eid prayer is sufficient enough. And, do we need to have so many types of cookies on our table in Syawal? I've seen houses with more than ten, sometimes up to twenty different jars of cookies - which would still be there even after Syawal was over - not able to be finished.

Let's channel some of our budget to those who need it more than us. Not for them to enjoy celebrating Eidul-fitr the way we would, but for them to survive. Support Islamic Relief Malaysia's efforts to help save their lives.

Having fun with children - 10 cheapskate mum's ways!

Here are some of the things I've done with my kid (and borrowed kids) for the past two weeks (besides playing online games):

1. Reading aloud. Choose interesting books where our intonation and gestures can be varied while reading, as well as books that have a lot of interesting pictures that can lead into chats or discussions with the children. Some of the books that I love are ' Good Night, Gorilla' by Peggy Rathmann, 'I Love My Family' by Brimax, and 'The Napping House' by Audrey Wood, just to name a few. For a Malay book, 'Kuda Terbang Reza' by Halimah Badioze Zaman has proven to be very entertaining to children over and over again.

2. Finger painting. All we need are some pieces of white paper and poster colours. The rest are up to our creativity or the children's. They really love this activity. To avoid messing up your house or dirtying their clothes, do this outside your house i.e. at the porch on a mat, and cut some of those unused garbage plastic bags for the kids to wear outside their clothes.

3. Gardening. Mine wasn't any real gardening though. It was just the repotting of some plants. I bought a few bags of soil, uprooted some plants from the original pots, and planted them in bigger pots. The children loved helping me out, especially when they got to touch the soils, and to water the newly potted plants.

4. Vacuuming the floor. I don't know what is it that attracts the children to this machine. I used to think that they are a nuisance when it comes to me wanting to vacuum the floor and them wanting to help so hard. Nowadays, I would just let them do it until they are tired, then I would continue, but I would be careful about vacuuming again the spots that they had vacuumed - it's like saying, "You didn't do a good job." Be sensitive - kids have feelings, too.

5. Washing the dishes. Children love this! They get the feeling of being trusted by an adult (with all the breakable glasswares), being 'useful' and at the same time get a chance to play with water!

6. Train 'joy' riding. I parked my car at the commuter station in Bangi. No, we didn't actually steal anything here. Bought a return ticket to Nilai and there we went - on a train to and fro. You can actually go to a further station than the one you paid for, provided that you don't check out from the station. Neat! I think it would be more fun if we rode to KL Sentral instead, but I didn't want to spend too much time on the train.

7. Playground hopping. We went to one playground after another in the different parts or sections in our townships. Basically, they have the same things, like the see-saw, the swingset, the slides - but they come in different designs, and each park where the playground is set in, has a different environment. Oh, what a fun time we had!

8. Eating out. In my township, there's a bakery called 'Zaty's Bakery' which is a hit with any children I've taken there. They are spoiled with the choices of bread and danish they can have, plus they love the 'ice-cream goreng' (fried ice-cream) there. A good way to make non-eating child like mine eat! The bread are all less than RM2 each and the fried ice-cream is RM1.50 each.

9. "Tengok wayang" (watching movies). All we need are a DVD player and our TV set. Then, just put in the CD and relax with the kids.' My kids' love Sinchan, Tom and Jerry, and Mr Bean (the animated series) the most. Other hits are Toy Story, as well as Space Chimps.

10. Going to "pasar malam" (night market). Great choices of food for individual kids and a chance to buy some balloons. The handcrafted ones are sold at RM1.50 each at the night market in my housing area.

Kesal

Selalunya kalau orang tanya, pernah tak aku menyesal kerana tinggalkan kerja sebagai guru sekolah dulu, aku akan jawab "tidak", kerana aku seronok menerokai pelbagai pengalaman baru semenjak meninggalkan "bangku cikgu sekolah". Mengajar di kolej atau di universiti juga kepuasannya berbeza sedikit - lebih banyak kemudahan dan kurang kekangan untuk berkreatif dalam kelas berbanding di sekolah.

Tapi di saat-saat begini, ketika anak-anak terpaksa kutinggalkan sendirian di rumah sempena cuti sekolah yang mana tak kena pula dengan cutiku... terdetik juga sekelumit rasa kesal... Masa aku meletak jawatan dulu, anak baru seorang dan masih kecil pula. Bila ditanya ibuku, "Tak sayang ke cuti panjang yang ada tu?", kubilang aku tak betah bercuti lama-lama, bisa mati kebosanan aku di rumah. Balas ibuku, "Esok bila anak dah besar, dan waktu cuti sekolah... baru nak menyesal." Dan benarlah apa yang dikatanya...

Nasib baiklah aku suka berkali2 suka kerjaku sekarang berbanding di sekolah dulu. Maka tidaklah aku sampai rasa terkilan atau rasa tersilap membuat keputusan.

Cyberworld and The Matrix

A conversation with a colleague yesterday had actually triggered this thought... when we live actively in the cyberworld, i.e. the facebook - responding to friends' messages, chatting in our photo albums or the messenger, play Cafe World or MyFarm for hours and hours without care for the real world other than for our basic needs like eating, it's so similar to the humans' life in The Matrix, the movie. Our bodies are elsewhere, while our minds are creating an illusional life for ourselves. What do you think?

Superman for modals of ability and probability

INSTRUCTION: FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE MODALS YOU HEAR


Five For Fighting
Superman (It’s not easy)


I _________ stand to fly
I'm not that naive
I'm just out to find
The better part of me

I'm more than a bird...I'm more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

Wish that I __________ cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I'________ never see

It _________ sound absurd...but don't be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I ________ be disturbed...but won't you concede
Even Heroes have the right to dream
It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away... away from me
Well, it's all right... You _________ all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy... or anything...

I ________ stand to fly
I'm not that naive
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
inside of me.. inside of me.. inside of me.. inside of me.

I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
I'm only a man looking for a dream
I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
It's not easy, oh..oh..oh
It's not easy to be me.

Practising the future simple

I usually use this song after teaching the future simple 'will + infinitive'.

We use this structure when we make predictions based on our thoughts and experience, and when we make spontaneous decisions, such as when we make offers, refusals or promises.

After teaching the students all of these, I would do a reading text "Promises, promises" from a textbook, New English File, and follow it up with this song as an enrichment activity.

First, the students would listen to the song. This would also be a practice of listening to the main ideas:


I'll Be There For You
Bon Jovi

I guess this time you're really leaving
I heard your suitcase say goodbye
Well as my broken heart lies bleeding
You say true love, it's suicide

You say you've cried a thousand rivers
And now you're swimming for the shore
You left me drowning in my tears
And you won't save me anymore

I pray to God you'll give me one more chance, girl

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you

I know you know we're had some good times
Now they have their own hiding place
I can't promise you tomorrow
But I can't buy back yesterday

And Baby you know my hands are dirty
But I wanted to be your valentine
I'll be the water when you get thirsty, baby
When you get drunk, I'll be the wine

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you

Solo

And I wasn't there when you were happy
I wasn't there when you were down
I didn't mean to miss your birthday, baby
I wish I'd seen you blow those candles out

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you


Then, I would ask them some display questions to deduce the main ideas from them. For example:
1. Who sings this song? (Naturally, some would answer Bon Jovi, but I would wait until someone answers: a man)
2. Who does he sing this song for? (Expected answer: a girl, or his girlfriend, or his wife)
3. What is happening in this song? (Expected answer: the girl is leaving him)
4. How do you know? (Expected answer: I heard your suitcase say goodbye. (Here, I would usually introduce them a bit to the literature stuff like 'personification' - can a suitcase really say goodbye?))
5. Why is she leaving him? (Expected answer: He's never been there for her)
6. How do you know? (Expected answer: I wasn't there when you were happy, I wasn't there when you were down, I didn't mean to miss your birthday...")
7. What is he trying to do? (Expected answer: to stop her from leaving/to give him a second chance)
8. What are the five words that he promises her? (Expected answer: I'll be there for you)
9. What are his other promises? Are they logical? (Eg. When you breathe, I wanna be the air for you - open discussion)
10. What do you predict will happen next? Will she stay with him? Would you? (Open discussion)

Remember to be really patient and allow your students some time to derive their thoughts.

Finally, after they have understood the song, allow them to have some fun - singing the song with you! :)

Bon Jovi to practice listening to mixed tenses

This worksheet is designed for students to listen to three different forms of tenses - the present simple, the present continuous or the past simple. It also tests the students' knowledge on the infinitives - which should come after modals like 'can' or 'will' and the auxiliary 'don't'. It would be especially suitable for the upper elementary or lower pre-intermediate adult students of English.


ALWAYS

This romeo (bleeds/ is bleeding/ bled)
But you can't (see/ be seeing/ saw) his blood
It's nothing but some feelings
That this old dog (kicks/ is kicking/ kicked) up

It's been raining since you (leave/ are leaving/ left) me
Now I (drown/ 'm drowning/ drowned) in the flood
You (see/ are seeing/ saw) I've always been a fighter
But without you I (give/ 'm giving/ gave) up

Now I can't (sing/ be singing/ sang) a love song
Like the way it's meant to be
Well, I (guess/ 'm guessing/ guessed) I'm not that good anymore
But baby, that's just me

And I will love you, baby - Always
And I'll be there forever and a day - Always
I'll be there till the stars don't (shine/ be shining/ shone)
Till the heavens (burst/ are bursting) and
The words don't rhyme
And I (know/ 'm knowing/ knew)
when I (die/ 'm dying/ died), you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you - Always

Now your pictures that you (leave/ are leaving/ left) behind
Are just memories of a different life
Some that (make/ are making/ made) us laugh,
some that (make/ are making/ made) us cry
One that (make/ are making/ made)you have to say goodbye

What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair
To touch your lips, to hold you near
When you (say/ are saying/ said) your prayers try to understand
I've made mistakes, I'm just a man

When he (holds/ is holding/ held) you close,
When he (pulls/ is pulling/ pulled) you near
When he (says/ is saying/ said) the words you've been needing to hear
I'll wish I (am/ was/ were) him 'cause those words are mine
To say to you till the end of time

Yeah, I will love you baby - Always
And I'll be there forever and a day - Always

If you (tell/ are telling/ told) me to cry for you
I (can/ could)
If you (tell/ are telling/ told) me to die for you
I (will/ would)
Take a look at my face
There's no price I won't pay
To say these words to you

Well, there ain't no luck
In these loaded dice
But baby if you (give/ are giving/ gave) me just one more try
We can pack up our old dreams
And our old lives
We'll find a place where the sun still (shines/ is shining/ shone)

And I will love you, baby - Always
And I'll be there forever and a day - Always
I'll be there till the stars don't (shine/ be shining/ shone)
Till the heavens (burst/ are bursting) and
The words don't rhyme
And I (know/ knew) when I (die/ 'm dying/ died), you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you - Always

Corporate look

Love this new layout of the office in Bangsar. So much different than the first time I stepped into it 5-6 years ago.

Breakfast old style

Steamed curry pao - a set of 3 for RM6.50 and a cup of white tea for RM2.50. Location: PappaRich Cyberjaya. A real diversion from my coco crunch or roti kaya, n dutch lady milk breakfast every morning at home.

Demi pembangunan

Agaknya brp lama lagikah dpt aku nikmati pemandangan sebegini sebelum bukit itu digondolkan?

Black n White

Our favourite teatime restaurant, located in Bandar Baru Nilai, right across th clock tower that is still being built. Nice range of local n western dishes. The kids' favourite ones are black n white burger, and mexican burger - RM3 and RM4 each. Mine is the local char kuey teow, at RM3.50. Wanna try?

NEGATIF

Berapa kali dah aku kata
tapi kau tak faham-faham juga.

Biar orang tak pandang kita
biar orang tak kesah nak sapa
tapi aku tetap tak suka
kau berburuk sangka
mengata-ngata orang di sekeliling kira
umpat dan cerca jangan dijadikan budaya.

Usah ditelah hati manusia
ikhlas tak ikhlas biarkan saja
ia di luar bidang kuasa kita
biarlah Allah saja yang menilaiNya
apa salahnya kita serah padaNya?

Hidup di dunia sementara saja
dunia ini Allah yang punya
miskin kaya itu ketentuanNya
dugaan Allah pada hambaNya
lihat manusia pada budinya
bukan pada harta bendanya
kalau pun kita ni batu loncatan cuma
apa ruginya kita biarkan saja
dari berkecil-hati tak tentu hala?

Biarlah orang tak ampu
asalkan kita tak menipu
biarlah orang tak kenang jasa
asal kita tidak meminta-minta
biarlah orang pandang sebelah mata
asalkan kita tak buta.

Esok lusa tiba masanya
ke liang lahat juga kita akhirnya
tak usahlah kita nak keluh kesah
resah gelisah tak tentu arah
memikirkan benda-benda yang tak berfaedah
yang tak sepatutnya pun menjadi masalah.

Bukankah lebih baik kita berusaha
gunakan seluruh masa dan tenaga yang ada
untuk mencari keredhaan Allah yang Esa?

Sikap negatif buruk padahnya
kelak hanya memakan jiwa
silap haribulan menempah neraka
minta dijauhkan kita semua
dari kesesatan seumpamanya.

Amin.

Mimpi

Sesekali terusik juga perasaan
oleh kenangan
dan angan tak kesampaian

Sesekali keliru juga mindaku
terusik jiwa melihat dia
ilusi dan realiti kelam kelabu

Sesekali terlerai juga rindu
pada insan-insan yang lama tak ketemu
pada masa yang telah berlalu

Mimpi
hadirnya sedetik cuma
manisnya menggetar sukma

Mima Zohds

Breakfast haven

In the sleepy old town of Bangi, lies this special stall that sells great variety of food for breakfast. There are nasi lemak and its many options of 'sambal' - just name it, nasi kerabu with fried meat, fried noodles, fried rice as well as nasi himpit (rice cubes) with a choice between kuah (gravy) lontong or kuah kacang (peanut sauce). I especially love the kuah kacang - the best you can get in Bangi area. So, mark this spot if you ever come to the Bangi old town in the morning. The business starts at 7.30 a.m., unfortunately it's not open on Sundays.

Lontong Klang

Lokasinya di bawah Emporium Makan (nama lama, nama baru aku tak tau) di seberang jalan bertentangan dgn Pasar Jawa di Kelang.

Masa aku mengajar di sebuah SMJK(C) yg berhampiran lebih kurang 14 tahun dulu, di sinilah tempat aku membeli sarapan pada waktu rehat setiap hari. Kadang-kadang lebih drp 10 bungkusan akan ku bawa pulang ke sekolah dikirim oleh kawan2, juga anak murid.

Nasi lemak dan lontongnya memang sedap tiada bandingannya. Masa dulu2 nasi lemaknya disertakan sayur kangkung. Sekarang cuma timun. Lontongnya paling sedap, ditambah dgn sambal sotong, tempe goreng dan pegedel.

Lambat sikit datang waktu pagi pasti kempunan. Yg bagusnya kalau terdesak, boleh datang di sebelah malam. Sekarang, yg empunya gerai ini sudah memiliki restorannya sendiri di Seksyen 7 Shah Alam, jadi jika lontong klang di Kelang habis, tuju saja ke Shah Alam, pasti dapat.

Sampai ke hari ini, bila2 dan di mana saja aku makan lontong, pasti aku teringatkan Lontong Klang yg masih belum ku jumpa tandingannya.

A new landmark in my hometown

The view of Masjid Klang from my favourite eating place - Lontong Klang.

Bercucuran airmata

Begini rupanya perasaan ibu yang kehilangan anaknya. Tidurku tak lena, mandi pun tak basah - lebih teruk daripada orang bercinta. Siang malam berjuraian airmataku mencurah. Kalau ditadah, dah bercawan-cawan gamaknya. Tak mengapalah...

Antara airmata dan cita, biarlah airmataku yang tumpah asalkan citaku dan citamu tercapai. Antara ilmu dan rindu, biarlah kupendamkan saja rindu yang membuak-buak ini asalkan dadamu sarat dipenuhi ilmu.

Ingatlah anakku, setiap titis airmata dan setiap hela nafas rinduku diiringi dengan do'a agar kau mampu menjadi insan yang mulia di dunia dan di akhirat. Amin...

Selamat jalan

Telah banyak yg kita tempuhi bersama, suka duka, tangis dan tawa. Dari putih ke mocha silver, kau menemaniku ke LKW, PM, Amway, Avail, MFI dan USIM, meneroka pengalaman, menimba ilmu, mengejar impian dan mengenalpasti bakat terpendam juga kelemahan diri. Bersamamu siang dan malam kutemui manusia2 hebat lagi mengkagumkan.

Kau seumpama tangan yg memimpinku untuk menjadi lebih dewasa, seumpama sayap yang membawaku terbang demi melihat dunia yang lebih luas dan akhirnya seumpama kaki yang mengembalikanku berpijak di bumi nyata. Bersamamu akhirnya kutemui jati diri, siapa aku sebenarnya dan apa mahuku.

Sungguh sedih melepaskan kau pergi jauh dari pandangan mata ini buat selama2nya. Jasamu terlalu banyak sungguhpun kadang-kala kau meragam dan terpaksa kupujuk menggunakan wang! Dengan hati yang berat akhirnya kurelakan kau pergi - semoga kau mampu terus berbakti - menemani seorang lagi manusia mengenali erti dewasa. Pergilah satria - sungguhpun kau hanya Iswara, kaulah satria hidupku.

Sapa la punya kerja...?

Ini kes langgar lari. Masa nak balik dr tempat kerja semalam, aku tengok kereta ni dah macam ni pulak rupanya kat tempat parking. Parking space kat sebelahnya dah kosong. Sah le, aku kena niaya. Dah hentam, tinggal gitu je. Sapa2 yg buat kerja macam ni bertaubat le. Takut2 lepas ni dia pulak yang kena hentam dan bukan setakat body kereta dia yang melengkung - body dia sekali melengkung. Terbang lagi RM250...

The car's gone crazy

I had a tough time driving home today. Imagine the car honking all the way for more than 20 kms on its own. People didn't know that though, so all the other motorists and people at the roadside stared at me angrily. How embarassing! They must have thought of me as someone who's having this manic depression or something. The mechanic told me that this whole part inside the steering needs to be changed - and it's going to cost me RM300-400 - and it can only be done tomorrow. Oh, what a day!

Kafe Che Tom, Menu Cendawan Segar

Somewhere in Batu 4 3/4 in Gombak - between Jatikraf furniture shop and Seng Hock Metal Engineering workshop, opposite Masjid Sg. Mulia - there's a cool restaurant by the roadside named Kafe Che Tom.

The interior design is very simple but neat, and what's great is it's very clean. It offers great choices of food, both western and local. Our favourite is the mushroom soup - at only RM2.50, it's none like the instant powdered soup that we get elsewhere. It's originally homemade and comes with a piece of garlic bread. The restaurant's mushroom fried rice which is priced at RM3.50, are also worth given a try.

The mushrooms are homegrown, right behind the restaurant. If you are nearby, why don't you look for this particular spot?

Banding Lake, Perak.

The gateway to the Royal Belum Rainforests. One day, I would come back to explore this place.

The top of Titiwangsa, Perak.

The view from Amiza Titiwangsa Restaurant alongside the East-West Highway.

Keropok Batang Merbau

Terlepas peluang 'shopping' keropok lekor di Kuala Terengganu dan Kuala Besut. Nasib baiklah ada pulak gerai keropok ni di Jeli. Nampaknya tempat ni memang popular. Sentiasa ada yang menunggu keropok siap di rebus. Angkat habis, angkat habis.

Zul ikan bakar, Kuala Besut

Tiap kali pulang ke Besut, mesti abah belanja makan ikan bakar. Selalunya abah akan berpesan, jangan makan apa2 sebelah petang - abah nak kami makan ikan bakar puas-puas, kenyang-kenyang. Ikan fresh lagi, memanglah memuaskan.

Medan Selera Buluh Kubu, Kota Bharu

Variety of delicious food available especially with the food night market going on but the dirty surrounding would kill anybody's appetite. One can see big rats dead, and alive, here.

Surau Sri Jerus, Kelantan

All petrol stations should follow the example set by Caltex at Sri Jerus. The surau it has built for the public is so different than other surau's' that travellers would usually come across. The exterior and the interior furnishing has been designed with such care as if it's a personal home. Such a joy praying in it. The petrol station's public toilet is nice too. I hope the management of this place will maintain both facilities well, and may Allah bless the effort made by the owner. Amin...

Pantai Bisikan Bayu, Kuala Besut, Terengganu

In the map, this place is also marked as the "Beach of Whispering Breeze". It looked like a deserted beach visited by only by the local folks, with rubbish everywhere. Could be a nice attraction should the local authority pay some attention to it.

The best satah n otak-otak

We bought these at the roadside in Kuala Besut, right at the place where they were made and grilled. So much cheaper than the one we used to get in the Klang valley - satah is only 25 sen per piece, and so much tastier. The fish tasted so much fresher and sweeter, especially when eaten under the tree near the "Beach of Whispering Breeze".

Dataran Shahbandar, Kuala Terengganu.

Awesome place with awesome view.

Goodbye Kenyir

The lake is still as impressive as I remember it from my first visit 15 years ago. We enjoyed watching the sunset and the view from our balcony was awesome. We had fun soaking ourselves at the Saok Waterfall for an hour at noon. However, we decided to pack our bags and leave right after that 'coz we couldn't put up with the craps we received from the place that uses the tagline 'You get what you deserve at Kenyir S... Resort'.

Masuk sekolah baru - sekolah oh sekolah!

Tahun ini merupakan bab baru dlm hidup anak2ku. Irsyad ke sekolah menengah dan Naufal pula ke sekolah rendah. Gambar di atas diambil ketika mereka seronok mencuba pakaian sekolah masing2 sebelum menyertai program orientasi di sekolah masing2 keesokannya.

Malangnya awal2 sekolah dah bermacam2 malang menimpa yg menumpulkan keterujaan mereka. Naufal telah ditukarkan kelas selepas seminggu selesa dgn kawan2 barunya di Tahun 1 Jupiter. Alasannya, bagi mengimbangkan bilangan pelajar setiap kelas. "Depressed" sungguh Naufal masa tu. Terbang semangatnya nak ke sekolah.

Dua tiga hari kemudian berlaku kemalangan di kantin akibat kecuaian pihak pentadbir sekolah di mana palang yg dibuat dari bata sbg pengadang kantin telah runtuh dan menimpa tangan kanan Naufal. Nasib baiklah Naufal kidal.

Irsyad pula sentiasa menjadi ancaman pelajar2 samseng di sekolah menengah dan terpaksa berikhtiar sendiri untuk "survive" memandangkan guru2 pun tak dapat berbuat apa2 sekiranya peristiwa diugut dan dibelasah diadukan; malah pelajar2 yg mengadu bakal kena belasah dgn lebih teruk lagi. Apatah lagi kalau ibu bapa yang datang mengadu atau laporan polis dibuat.

Fikir2 dan kenang2 semula memang tak seronok jadi pelajar. Politiknya adakala lebih hebat dari politik di tempat kerja. Patutlah ramai yang memilih "homeschooling" sekarang - "at least for the peace of mind'. Apa agaknya komen Kementerian Pendidikan ya?

Aku memang minat sangat dengan konsep "homeschooling" ni. Masalahnya, kalau aku jadi cikgu di rumah, siapa pula nak mengambil-alih bayaran hutang2 bank dsbnya? Tambahan pula aku fikir, anak-anak perlu ada ruang keluar dari bawah ketiak mak-bapak dan belajar bergaul dan berdikari dalam masyarakat, dan sekolah merupakan wadahnya. Sekolah juga merupakan tempat terhimpunnya minda2 intelek yang majoritinya amat dedikasi dalam penyebaran ilmu yang membolehkan anak-anak berguru dan menimba serta mengumpulkan ilmu yang terbaik daripada setiap minda ini.

Harapan aku, pihak sekolah dan kementerian, tolong-tolonglah ambil-berat isu keselamatan pelajar di dalam dan di sekitar kawasan sekolah. Pihak polis pula janganlah pandang laporan2 yang berkaitan dengan gangsterism di sekolah dengan sebelah mata saja... Masing-masing janganlah tunggu sehingga berlaku kematian baru nak bertindak.

Kembalikanlah kuasa merotan guru-guru agar mereka kembali "bertaring" dan mampu mengawal kerenah pelajar. Aku sendiri pernah meggunakan rotan ketika bertugas sebagai guru di sekolah dulu, tetapi dipanggil pula oleh Pengetua.

"Cikgu," katanya. "Sekarang ni kita di sekolah mengamalkan budaya penyayang. Dah tak boleh rotan-rotan budak ni..." Jawabku, "Puan, sebab saya sayangkan diorang lah saya rotan... Kalau tak, buat apa saya nak kisah, nak tertungging ke, nak terlangkup ke, bukannya ada kena-mengena dengan saya...Lagipun, anak-anak murid saya siap cakap lagi "Eleh cikgu, tak sakit pun cikgu rotan?" Saya bagitau mereka, saya rotan bukan nak bagi diorang sakit, cuma nak bagi diorang ingat..."

Bagi para guru, bila merotan, perlulah dimulakan dengan Bismillah dan disertakandengan niat yang ikhlas - untuk membetulkan, untuk mendidik dan bukannya untuk melepas geram seperti yang dilaporkan dalam akhbar baru-baru ini - tentang guru yang merotan muridnya berkali-kali di bahu hingga cedera... Kalau gitu namanya, cikgu tu le pulak yang jadi kaki buli di sekolah...

Hai, sekolah oh sekolah...

Naufal tumpang seronok.

B4 op, irsyad kena puasa. So unt lunch n tea, naufal le yg tibai. Bilik baru abg yad ada extra bed, naufal pn apa lagi, syok la dpt baring sambil pegang remote. Abg yad punya kesan bius belum hilang lagi. Abg yad tidur n naufal's got th 'power'. Hai... mengadap Disney channel je la jawabnya.

Irsyad - post operation

Just came out fr th op theatre for hernia.

Naufal's graduation day

At Thistle in Port Dickson

Stay from Cinderella '80 the movie

I still remember how crazy we, the hostel girls, were when we watched the movie on TV3, a new station then.

The movie is a modern version of Cinderella. The girl, Cindy, like Cinderella, has a stepmother and two stepsisters who take advantage of her. Her life becomes meaningful after a so, so, so, so, very, very, very cute boy (that was what we thought then) comes into her life. He appears to be a poor musician, and they spend a lot of their time in a green house for plants. At the end of the story, she discovers that he's actually a prince and she feels cheated. But then, love always wins - they make up and I suppose they live happily ever after, just like Cinderella and her prince charming.

The movie had really moved us, and the theme song "Stay" became our favourite. All of us were head over heels in love with Pierre Cosso and wished that we were Bonnie Bianco singing this song with him. Oh... the way he looks at her in the movie could have killed any of us had he really looked at us that way. We drooled just looking at his beautiful eyes.

So strong was the effect of the movie on us, that one day, knowing that TV3 was having a rerun of the movie and the hostel rule was such that we couldn't watch TV on weekdays, we had actually used a small saw to remove the padlock locking the TV and watched it secretly. We had bought a new padlock beforehand to replace the one we had planned to saw, and then gave the new key to the hostel prefects, coming up with excuses like we had accidentally broken the old key inside the old padlock and therefore had taken the responsibility to replace it.

I can't remember if the hostel management had actually discovered the truth or not. However, I would always remember one of the most powerful movies that had affected me, as well as my friends, as we were growing up together at the hostel - Cindy 80, and a song that has become so sentimental to all of us - Stay.

Anakku graduate.

Majlis khatam al-Quran beramai2 dan penyampaian sijil bg tahfiz2 di sekitar Bangi berlangsung di Masjid Uniten pada 22 November 2009. Terharu dan sebak aku semasa acara berkhatam ini. Rasa seolah-olah baru sehari sebelumnya aku hantar Irsyad memasuki Tahfiz al-Madani dan hari ini dia sudahpun menamatkan pengajiannya di Tahfiz al-Hidayah.

Ujian taekwondo

Jangan main-main. Naufal depan sekali masa ujian baru ni.

Kaki Naufal dah panjang.

Dah besar dah anakku yg seorang ni... dah 6 tahun, tapi masih menyebok di katil kami... hai la anak!

Tiada bandingannya...

Sesiapa yg tengok cerita Nenek Kebaya di TV9 malam2 mesti biasa dengar lagu tagnya..."Kuasa tuhan tiada bandingan..."

Satu malam, lepas dengar lagu ni, masa tengah iklan, Naufal pun bertanya... " Ummi, apa makna tiada bandingan?"

Aku pun fikir... (Hmmm... macamana nak jawab ni?)

"Ha... dalam rumah ni siapa perempuan yang paling cantik?"

Sambil tersipu-sipu, Naufal pun menjawab... "Ummi laa... mana ada perempuan lain lagi dalam rumah ni..."

Lalu, aku pun menerangkan... "ha... itu la makna tiada bandingan... Naufal tak boleh bandingkan ummi dengan sapa-sapa pun dalam rumah ni sebab ummi sorang je perempuan..."

Aku apa lagi, tersenyum2 perasan sebab Naufal terpaksa cakap aku yang paling cantik... he he...

My Love Will Get You Home

by Christine Glass

A great song to practice the first conditional.

Try sequencing these lines to make sensible lyrics, then listen and check whether you have put them in the correct order:


my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

my love will get you home.

Boy, my love will get you home.

Boy, my love will get you home.

Boy, my love will get you home.

Boy, my love will get you home.

Boy, my love will get you home.

lost and all alone,

lost and all alone,

lost and all alone,

lost and all alone,

If you wander off too far,

If you follow the wrong star,

If the bright lights blind your eyes,

If your troubles break your stride,

If you ever feel ashamed,

When there's only you to blame,

If you ever find yourself,

If you ever find yourself,

If you ever find yourself,

If you ever find yourself,