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Friday, 2 October 2009

Visiting Mulah Nini =o)


Finally got to visit my mulah Nini Silat after a long while. It's awesome how there are sooo many people going to the kubur during puasa time. We used to go every other Friday to mulah Nini Hj Momin, but there were barely any other people. Ani macam, public place tarus wah. I quite like it though. Feels nice banyak urang.



Money money


We also went to another place near the that Atirah Plaza. Better view though.

Align CentreYou can see my brother Sinadam taking his awesome pictures.

Picture On Anak Brunei!

Hi!!

I've started my Med course in University of Leicester now. It's quite awesome, settled in well and met the other freshers this evening. But will blog about that soon. Want to show off my house too anyway. Hehe.

THE IMPORTANT THING. Aku sakai saja wah ni. Jangan judge okayyyy. I have my photo on anakbrunei!!! Gila awesommme. Heehee.

Sama Nora, her parents and Fidz

Kay, that's all.

Wassalam.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

The Feeling of Nafsu

WE had a Sungkai Outing the other night at Pines Restaurant. Had assorted meats for grilling, 3 portions of Dolsot Bibimbap (rice with fresh veggies, to be mixed egg yolk. served in a stone bowl) and 5 servings of Sushi. Loads of sushi. The experience was gooood. Even Soon and Chern changed their minds about the place. Personally I think they were with cooler, funner and awesomer people this time. Haha.

Then we went off to eat ice cream at Snow House. FINALLY. After much hearing about the place from everyone, I have finally gotten the privilege to locate it and actually go in it to eat. Had this Mango Ice thing. Amaaazzinnnnng~~~ [high pitch style]

Managed to get some gay ass geeks lurking arond the area. =op


Weirdo Tunggul Geek. Hehe.

and then he found a friend. oppostie in every way ......except for the weird part.

No offence intended. Only pure playfulness. I love you guys =o) Au, especially you twinnnnn.

Wassalam

The Memories

Main entrance to Nini's House in Kampor Sungkai Kedayan 'A'

MY mom asked me to accompany her to Kampong this morning to get the Roti Cornflake thing from a family friend. (you know, yang padas2 ah.) This was my first time driving to Kampong and my first time parking on the side of the road. Nothing hard, apart from the huge chuncks of potholes on the side of the road for the parking area and the fact that the road is next to the Brunei River. Hahaha. [thumb up]

We stared going all "awhhhh~", "aaaaaiiiii" and "siiiigghhh~" as soon as we arrived. By the time mummy started to reminisce about the past with my Nini Limah and her daughter, she was in tears. Aigooo. It is kinda sad though. I grew up in the damn huge and wide house. The memories in it are priceless. "Time may continue but it will never erase those memories".

So anyway, we took some pictures. Well, more like my mum pushed me on taking one.

The jalan tu Kadai Hj Salleh
...okay I need to loose weight.

Monday, 7 September 2009

Increase in Domestic Potentials

I HAVE never been so domestic in my life. Then again, it is the Puasa season. In the afternoon, I help in the kitchen from about 4pm? Then Sungkai, then Terawikh. Followed by having tea in Serusop. And then assisting my mom again in the kitchen. That's preeettty much how my plan of the day is. Well at least now there are penyungkaians held by my uncles and aunties to look forward too. And I have a Sungkai out later with the girls.

So I've been cooking. Learning to cook because of living abroad I guess is pretty much part of growing up. This season is the best time to learn cooking man. And learn the legacy my mummy has been bestowing upon me. I've been cooking thing's like Buttermilk Chicken (easy I know), Blackpepper Crab, Ikan masak merah, Udang masak merah and even simple things like Lauk Berabus merah and putih. The taste? ........Tolerable I might say?? Haha.

I pretty much have a lot of pressure on me now. Cause lots of people are expecting me to be quite a good cook. Tell you a secret. I'm not really. =op Ah well, we'll just have to wait for them to find out when we arrive in UK.

I made some Kek Batik the other day. The modern style. Verdicts: Nyaman but manis. Haha.

ps: I'm flying off the night pf "Meliat Anak Bulan". Hoping so much it can't be seen. Too much burden there. Sigh.

Wassalam

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

The Feeling of Pity

I WOKE UP to a moody weather decorated with a mushy grey sky. My new alarm ring tone of Maria Maria by Santana rang enthusiastically. This was a bad choice considering I kept pressing on the “stop” button for every 15 minute alarm interval I have set the night before.

I was obliged to accompany my mom and my sister-in-law out for the late afternoon. Driving through the rain. Horrah. While walking along the Teguh Raya area, I saw one of the workers patiently trying to shoo a little orange brown kitten. I was instantly glued to my feet, eyebrows rising and my heart feeling sorry for the little thing. The rain was pouring, the baby was wet, hungry and alone. [cries] It hurts to see how other people aren’t giving it any attention, not giving any pity to the thing. How I wish I could have become the kitten’s hero. I would’ve scooped it up right away and kept it as a pet if it wasn’t for my mom’s hatred/fear of smelly furry little animals. All I could do was stare at it with feeling of regret. Huhu.

Imagine how the cat was feeling from its point of view…

Hmmm. That was some good fish.

Mommy had brought us to the “magic supplier building”. The place was marvelous! Colourful plastic bags everywhere filled with every imaginable thing. We walked around sniffing them until Mommy called us out to her. I could already smell the sweet scent of fish. Yummm!!

After much cleaning up with our cute little tongues, my siblings and I went to play around the alley. Mommy told us to be very careful. It was going to rain soon. We asked her not to worry. We were invincible! Mommy just laughed but kept a good look at us.

We were playing hide and seek superheroes style when I noticed a little movement behind a trash can. My natural senses were tingling. Hmmm. Maybe I should take a look. I stalked stealthily towards it and just caught a little glimpse of a brown tail. Heehee. I was filled with sudden glee. A mouse!! Just wait till Mommy finds out what I’ll achieve today! With slow agile movements I try to trace its footsteps. When I thought the moment was right, I pounced dangerously onto it. Oh no! It slipped away! But suddenly the rain came down as if someone poured water on the clouds and squeezed them straight away. I noticed there were more cars on this side of the area. Movements of huge human beings could be seen everywhere. I realized that I was not on familiar grounds.

Where am I?

I was cold and wet. I had to find a shelter. Looking around with what my vision could provide me; I saw a stationary car and ran towards it. Oh yaye! Thank you God. I tried to lick myself dry and clean. It was no use; the wind blew little sprays of water underneath the car. All I could do was cuddle up and wish that the rain will go away. I grew scared and tried to calm myself down, singing a lullaby that Mommy always sings to us. Mommy...

It felt like ages before I opened my eyes. I couldn’t tell what time it was because of the weather, but I was hungry again. It must be late afternoon. It was still raining but less hard. I put up with the little courage I had and walked out from under the car. I arrived in front of a huge space with even more colourful bags and people going in and out of it. There were songs playing about this ‘Hari Raya’ thing and constant ring keeps coming out from a machine where people seem to queue up. I wonder if there is any food in there. Suddenly a dark hand pushes me away from my destination. “Shoo, shoo!” Oh, but I just want to have a looksy. I won’t bother anyone sir. Please sir.

But of course, all the man could hear was my pitiful meows. I persisted on trying to go in, but he finally won. I saw a girl in a long head scarf staring at me, her eyes wide open, with obvious feeling of sorry for me. Yes, please come and help me. I saw her look at her mother and made an apologetic face. As if she wanted to help but couldn’t. That’s okay Miss. I think I can take care of myself. She walked away with regret.

My concentration shifted to the aromatic smell of chicken coming from somewhere and followed it. I headed towards the end of the long building. Every time someone opened the door of the entrance, I kept having a whiff of the enchanting aroma. Oh how I wish I could have some. But still no one came to my rescue.

Oh. What was that?

A pile of unclean chicken bones are placed on the side of the building. But they were too close to the rain. I might get wet… At this instant my angry hungry stomach grumbled at me. Fine.

As soon as I arrived there, a low growling noise came from the back alley. It was another big dusty white cat. With ugly eyes. Oh no. It wants the food. At the moment when I noticed that the big cat was actually angry, I decided that this must be his food and he think I’m stealing it. I started to walk slowly away when it came to attack me. But mister, I didn’t even touch it! He was too furious too listen. I tried to defend myself with what strength my little body could provide. It was a good thing I was quite fast compared to him so I could dodge as much of his attacks as possible.

Suddenly I was caught in a corner. Mr Ugly looked quite happy at that fact. He was about to pounce on me when another cat pushed it away. It was Mommy!! And Uncle Ned with my siblings as well! Mr Ugly was outnumbered. He was forced to leave his precious food.

Oh Mommy! I was so scared!

“It’s okay honey. Mommy’s here. I’m here to protect you now.”

The world can be so cruel when you are alone and there is no one to shelter you from it. People can be so ignorant to you when you are different even though deep down inside, helping you was the right thing to do.

Monday, 31 August 2009

Holy Month

ISABELLA could hear the impatient honks from the car downstairs.

“Kaka Bell!! Hurry up!”

“Yes yess…” she replied hurriedly trying to concentrate on locking the main door. It was 5 minutes to Isya by the time Isabella got in the car. The usual religious songs were playing on the radio while she and her brother sang along to them.

“Whoaahh… talk about second day of Terawikh man!” Cars were overflowing from the compound of the mosque. Even from the shopping complex opposite it.

“Nahh… who told you to be late? I’m not even sure if we can find any space to park the car,” replied my dad. It’s amazing how semangat people are when Ramadhan had just arrived. It’s nice to see a lot of people walking around the compound of the mosque. Men with their Cara Melayu or Kain Sarong while women with their telekungs. You only get to walk around in telekungs in Mekkah. I tell you that.

It was Isabella’s first season of puasa here in Brunei after missing it for two years of “celebrating” it in UK instead. The difference is quite obvious especially the atmosphere. Here the government allows shorter office and school hours. Not to forget holiday on the first day of fasting and the never ending adverts on discounts in every imaginable stores.

---

Isabella was walking slowly out of the mosque, in a daze thinking about the food at the Pasar Malam and the Stadium. Suddenly a finger poked her hips. She barely had any reaction since she was immune to these attacks. She turns and sees a familiar face. Hazel shaped eyes, a cute little nose and that mischievous smile that has never changed since they were in Form 2.

“Laina! Ohmigosh! I haven’t seen you since you went to Phillipines. How are you?”

“Hey bebs. Doing okay. Back now for about a month. Going to uni soon. You?”

“Same here. Too bad I’m leaving right before Hari Raya celebrations man.”

“Awwhh. That’s too bad. Hey, you know what? I miss those times when we debate about stuff.”

Laina and Isabella used to spend hours discussing about random topics. Things like the society, the tree, about our life in this world and even about the reason people pick their nose during driving!

“Now that you mentioned it, I was going to say something about Terawikh. You know what? I think it is actually like a form of exercise!”

“What are you taaaalking about??”

“Think about it. You know how Terawikh is uber long, 20 rakaats? Imagine the fact that you fast the whole day, you metabolism becomes low. Then some people might eat their hearts out during sungkai and just sit or lie down after that. I presume Allah advices we should not just sit around like that… C’mon it Ramadhan. Lebih baik beribadah.”

“Hahahaha. You sound like those iklan on RTB about puasa”

“… I know right! ‘Inda bah kita aniiii. Aku ani kan becerita ganya nyaintaaaaaa~’”

By this time both of these two enthusiasts were making their way to the parking lot.

“But I get what you mean Isabella. There’s so much stretching, sitting down and standing up. I guess we can call it relaxed exercise. Like yoga or tai chi or something.”

“Especially good for the elderlies.”

“And it’s totally beneficial. Your body is moving and you’re also doing ibadah to Allah.”

“Ahh… but there’s also the fact that people do only 8 rakaats. What do you think are the reasons?”

“Well… there are a few. Firstly they might have other obligations and they still want to do this optional task, so this is an decision they can choose. After all, we want to make as much Pahala as possible. Secondly,”

“Isabella! Hurry up; it’s time to go,” the voice of Isabella’s mom was heard from their car of which she vaguely remembered its position. She looked around the dim-lit parking area and found her ride home.

“Mann… I gotta go Laina. Sorry. How shall I contact you? Same phone number?”

“Haha don’t worry. My parents are waiting for me too,” she points to a nearby car already occupied by her parents, “yes, same number.” She turned to leave but stopped. “Ooooh, facebook me!”

“Ooh great idea. Facebook is the penultimate socializing site man!”

Both of them giggled. It’s fun to be silly girls once in a while. Isabella skipped to her awaiting family and entered the car. She started her routine on changing from her telekung into her head scarf as they were going out to have a drink. Yet again.

Isabella took in the view of the traffic around the mosque. “Why do I have to suffer from going home late just cause of this minum, and then cook for sahur?” She started weighing out the reasons and consequences of the situation on the short ride to the usual cafĂ© they go to.