.: Trogglehumper :.

The talk that changed everything.

Why won’t you understand? From the day you were born till the day you get married, you are our responsibility...

Because from the day I was born, I’ve made you my responsibility for life...

Around the age of 5, I used to get nightmares whereby God took my parents away. The scenes were so vivid that each time I woke up, I’ll be in tears, trembling, literally shocked and start praying to God to give me more time with them.

These days, I’m beginning to have the nightmares again. It made me think. Just until when can God keep them alive for me? One way or the other, there will come a time when one of us has to go.

Yesterday, I took a good look at the both of them. Why haven’t I noticed the clumps of white hair sprouting from dad's scalp? How is it possible that I failed to detect mum's aging lines? Was it because they kept it hidden away? Behind the smiles, the laughter, which clouded my vision?

Hence, how much time do I have left with them? When the time comes, will I be able to deal with it? I may have prepared myself for it; however is the faith that I have strong enough to overcome it? Or will it be too overpowering that I may submit to the path of timeless lunacy?

Unlike you, our time is nearing. You still have a long journey to go...

The little time that you have means the whole world to me. I wouldn’t have a journey to begin with if it weren’t for you. This is my journey. You are a part of my journey...

___________________________________

“Oh no!” he cried. “Oh mince my maggots! Oh swipe my swoggles!”

“What’s the matter?” Sophie asked.

“It’s a trogglehumper!” he shouted. His voice was filled with fury and anguish. “Oh, save our solos!” he cried. “Deliver us from weasels! The devil is dancing on my dibbler!”

The BFG, Roald Dahl

In quest of the golden phizzwizards.

10.33am Malaysian Time

.: Sketches in life :.

Stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu.

There are quite a number of buildings bedecked with Moorish architectural elements in Kuala Lumpur. The Stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu, [Malaya Railway Station] also known as Stesen Keretapi Kuala Lumpur [Kuala Lumpur Railway Station] located at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin [formerly known as Victoria Avenue] embodies parallel Moorish structural designs; large chatris to Masjid Jamek.

Other influences are from the Mughal/Neo-Saracenic/Indo-Saracenic [also known as Indo-Gothic] and Western architectural styles that include several forms of horseshoe and cyma reversa [curved-in arc flowing into a curved arc] arches. This building was the brainchild of Arthur Benison Hubbock.

The station was built in the 1900s to replace the Resident Station, serving as Kuala Lumpur's railway hub for the Federated Malay States Railway and the Malayan Railway till 2001. Since then, KL Sentral had taken on the role for these services. Presently, the station caters to the KTM Komuter and goods services.

In the last right-hand picture is the Heritage Station Hotel, formerly known as Station Hotel. In conjunction with Malaya's 50th Independence Day in 2007, the station was officially reopened as a Railway Museum; cultural centre.

-------------------------------------------------

The train station brings back memories aplenty. It was the main transportation we used to travel from the South to Kuala Lumpur. The days when dad would hoist me up the train, mum shrieking at dad to get me away from the edge of the platform, brother and sis urging me to plead my parents to buy us McDonalds...

One of the few places to reminiscence my childhood years, where thankfully each day I'll pass it on my way to and from work. The birds souring high above the towering majestic building, never once has it failed to sketch the pleasant sentiments of a once lived past.

Life.

10.36am Malaysian Time

.: Aftermath relief :.

Daunted, was I.

The last couple of weeks were chaotic. Despite the odds, I’m still scribbling random thoughts in scraps of paper, half-wondering when will be the day when I shall opt to digitize even a measly portion of it.

But the temptation is irresistible. :P I’ve decided to do a little whining, on perhaps the biggest and most unexpected occurrence that can ever happen to me. *on second thoughts, I take that back*

I was stalked. I like to believe I’m no longer stalked as it was clearly making my life dysfunctional to the extreme. This may be an exaggeration, but surely, as much as the mind wants to keep being pragmatic, optimistic about it, the heart rebuts every single claim. In the face of all this, the mind insists I’m overreacting on this misery, deeming that by plummeting deeper in it ought to result in me experiencing one of the worst feelings one can have.

Therefore after being in this insane state of limbo with family noticing the slight disturbance, since Monday I chose to face it straight-on, in total faith that come what may, Insya’Allah the time shall come when we will be able to cross the zebra crossings without fearing a collision with a blasted vehicle losing a limb, or two and kids can scare the living daylights out of us with their intensified cloud nine squeals without getting torturous lectures from mortified parents. :)

Incessant ramblings end.

12.28 noon Malaysian Time

.: Crossing borders :.

A Malaysian hujjaj's travel pack.

I suppose some might wonder about the things I had throughout my Hajj experience. These photos belong to my uncle. In the beginning, he kept an inventory of the things he brought @ got during Hajj. Sometime in our journey, he discontinued this procedure.


Some of the things provided by the Malaysian Hajj authorities; Tabung Haji and Malaysian companies. I'm uncertain on some of the books.

Left to right:: Medical pack [eye drops, cream, mouth rinse, vitamin C, aspirin, lozenges], Guide for Hajj Pilgrims and Visitors of the Prophet's Mosque, Prayer Schedules in Mecca and Medina, Hajj and Umrah Q & A, Map of Mecca and Medina, Hajj Pilgrims Health Guide, foldable mat, Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims Risalah, Ibadah: Umrah and Visiting, Pilgrimage Guide, Du'a and Guide for Additional Voluntary Prayers, Hajj Journey Risalah, Hajj Checklist.



A small fraction of the things obtained in Mecca and Medina. These were given out to the pilgrims in our hotel rooms, at bus terminals, mosques, etc. At the airport, we got a copy of the Al-Quran, some books and an umbrella.

Left to right:: Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Charity Store House food pack [mineral water, milk, dates, tasbih and cheese bread], food pack *my uncle stuffed other things inside ... I do recall it being loaded with milk, dates, mineral water, bread and an apple*, Al-Khairy Foods Factory food pack [finger biscuits, tahina dip, dates paste, orange juice], The Establishment of the Motawifs of South East Asia Pilgrims food pack [mineral water, bread, dates, cake].

Insya'Allah, the next post shall be an extension.

10.10am Malaysian Time

.: Garments of reason :.

Inferring the stitches.

A tidbit from cruising over to sister's blogs; "Do you think they are hijab appropriate?".

Friend:: I don’t get girls nowadays with all their skimpy tight clothing. What is the first thing that goes through your mind when you see these girls?

Me:: Don’t they feel cold?
Friend:: I expected you to comment intellectually, i.e. on keeping in tune with the eastern values, immorality etc. since you're a Muslim.
Me:: No really, don’t they feel cold?

Owing to my response, my friend deviated away from the conversation. Obviously, she was dismayed by it. On any given day, I can prattle on the aforementioned points, though I do not see any use of repeating a seemingly common pattern. Besides, it’s unlikely that I emit a holier-than-thou persona in comparison to them as I do have friends that dress in such a way but possess better conduct than some that strictly observes the hijab. Each of us has our flaws; style may be one of theirs. Mine, I clearly have no sense of fashion.

But I am fascinated. My response is relatively strange considering that Malaysia is hot. Perhaps because I’m used to the layers and stuff. *that, and the absence of body fat ... I am incredibly vulnerable to cold ... 18 degrees Celsius is cold ... anything below that is pure madness*

Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. ~Epictetus

Our tailor did his house calling yesterday. Right after the women in the house finished questioning and directing him on their styles, it was my turn.

As long as I can breathe, run around in it without ruining the seams, I'm alright. Nothing fancy.

Shouldn't be too difficult for him.

1.33pm Malaysian Time

.: Masjid Al-Hidayah :.

Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

I sought shelter here during the recent rainstorm while waiting for my uncle to pick me up. The only thing that bothered me was the women's praying area. It was outside. Having gone there only once, I prefer not to comment further.

It's a Friday.

5.27am Malaysian Time

.: Trigger of interaction :.

An abridgment.

As adults, we have this general perception that kids do not know anything and that our word overrule theirs in every single way. The thing here is, things which we deem are right are based on our experiences then. The kids these days have their own standpoints that suit their situations. Most of the time, we disregard this fact. We are hearing them, but we are not listening. We choose to absorb information that is at our best interests, beneficial to us or something that we are familiar with while neglecting the others. That is not communication let alone effective communication. As long as we have this frame of mind, issues will not be solved; problems may prolong ultimately producing series of breakdowns.

How often does one communicate with their family? What is the kind of information one shares? Why is it so difficult to cut loose, open up and give the slip to your own flesh and blood as compared to someone that is out of the circle?

Occasionally, people ask me to be the intermediary. When asked why they’re incapable to hold the conversation with the other, the reply will be the age, generation, cultural etc. gap. They haven’t even tried. I suppose, the hurdle is caused due to neither of the parties willing to initiate the initial step for the tête-à-tête. It doesn’t necessarily take two to tango if one party is adamant, determined for it. On another area, it is sad when one is about to speak up, making the stand; someone shushes the individual on irrelevant grounds.

A family, I figure should make a point to have quality family time. My concerns are the ones that are completely ignorant of the issues their family may have even though all are staying under the same roof. They see each other every day, day in day out saying routine sentences. When things start to go wrong or a family unit crumbles, the blame practically goes entirely on the hectic schedule, lack of communication, fate and so forth; the ever-popular blame game.

What does it take for one to do a self-reflection and realize that the cause is really from our own self?

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.

Confucius

A thought.

10.12am Malaysian Time