Sometimes

sometimes you just need to think of yourself because when you keep thinking of doing things for someone else you tend to suffer

sometimes you get stressed out when things are not going your way

sometimes you need to spend quality time with the person close to you

sometimes you need to find someone else that understands you better

sometimes you feel like telling the whole world your problems so that they can help

sometimes you are just not ready to deal with changes in your life, you are not ready to be a different person

sometimes you think you are doing everything right and everyone else is doing it wrong

sometimes you cant think for yourself and you cant make wise decisions

sometimes you think you have made the worst decision ever in your life and you wonder if that mistake can actually end up being a great experience in the future

sometimes you just need to get away and calm yourself

sometimes everything just doesn't seem right and writing this releases half the burden. ahhhhhhh that feels much better : ).

My very own top 10

Top 10 places I would love to visit if given a chance

1) TURKEY– Istanbul
Do I need a lengthy explanation on why I should visit Turkey? Turkey from what I know is a country that has so much to offer on Islamic history. The sultan Ahmad mosque can be a good place to start.\

2) SPAIN - Cordoba – Granada
This was the essence of Islamic culture in Europe and a place that I must visit. I’m hoping I could visit the Roman Catholic cathedral which was once the great mosque of Cordoba, and also the ever so popular Al-hambra. There is so much to see and so much to learn.

p/s To my friend Ardi if you are reading this , I have something to say….I sangat jealous! : )

3) EGYPT –Cairo
I have always wanted to see with my own eyes these gorgeous pyramids. I’m amazed how until now they are still revealing secrets and hidden passages of the pyramid

4) ITALY – Rome

5) MALDIVESMaldives offers beautiful white sandy beaches like you see in pictures but I don’t want just to see it in pictures. I want to experience it myself….. Oh when oh when can I go

6) UNITED KINGDOM – London

7) INDIA – Taj mahal

8) UNITED STATES – CALIFORNIA :- San Francisco and LA
I have been longing to visit the rock a historical prison in San Francisco. Im not sure about LA, but my husband says it’s the place to be .

9) INDONESIA - Bali

10) THAILAND – Bangkok

I need a long break

Hi all

I will be taking a break for a few months and im sorry i wont be able to share my ever so wonderful New Zealand trip just yet because i have 4 months to plan for a really big thing! so hopefully ill spit a whole lot of stories after April!! : )

thank you for reading my blog and i do hope ill share other stories soon : ).

My absence

Hi 

I am aware that it has been a month... probably a little more than a month that i have not been updating this blog. Its because i have been away on a long holiday to a place very beautiful, fantastic views and filled with activities none other than New zealand : ). 

Ill update on the stuff i did in New zealand soon enough once i finish on the stuff you can do in Gold Coast. 

Will post something on pretty soon : P

Selamat Hari Raya

Another Ramadan has ended. What have I achieved, gained or learnt during this glorious month?? I shall ponder on that to achieve a more meaningful Ramadan next year insyallah. This year ill be celebrating Eid in Brisbane together with umi and abi, just the three of us, and all the rest will celebrate Eid as shown below .

Abang+kak ah
Iyah + A.ikhwan } Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Mas + najib  

Me, Abi, Umi } Brisbane, Australia

Irfan } Auckland, New Zealand

Zaki } Leeds, UK

Who knows where we will be in 2009. 

Eid Mubarak to all! 

Explaining hijab to non-muslim kids

I am now doing a part time job dealing with primary school kids from age 5 to 12. Looking somewhat different from the majority of the people in this school, kids would approach me and ask why I have “that thing” on my head. I knew I would have to deal with this question since I’m the minority in this country, but I wasn’t expecting it to come from an 8 year old on my very first day. 

My first reaction was a 20 second silence. Not that I didn’t know what to answer but I was thinking on how to give her a simple answer which is not confusing. In the end my response was “because I have a different religion”. Older kids would ask a lot of other questions regarding the head scarf like “do you wear it when you take a shower” “don’t you feel hot” “what else must you cover” “do you wear it at home”. Because these kids are roughly 11- 12 years old, I answered as simple and as truthful as I could which I think is just what they needed.

Just a few days ago, a new kid arrived and she asked me the same question. Instead of just saying I have a different religion, I said I have a different belief. Because I was not attending to any other kid at that moment, I figured its better that I have a two way discussion with the kid so she understands better. 

Me:- You know how different people have different names and look different from one another. They also come from different places, countries. Can you tell me what else is different between all of us?
Girl:- Different eye colour, different hair colour.
Me:- that’s very good. What about different language
Girl:- yeah! and different way of dressing too
Me:- that’s right! And a different religion, that’s what I have, A different religion.

I find this an effective way to approach younger kids provided that you have the time to have the conversation. Some people would say you should tell them why you are covered so they understand why your religion wants you to cover. As for me i would elaborate on that if they raise the question, which usualy comes from older kids.

Some other answers I came across from other people were :-
“I tell them that I want to look as nice as Mary, the mother of Jesus”.  
“this is what I believe and it helps me to stay modest"

Add some other responses you may think would help.

'Pregnant Man' gives birth

I get really annoyed whenever I come across this news on the internet. I can’t understand why some people are making a big fuss on this ‘lady’ being pregnant. If ‘she’ was born a female, of course ‘she’ is able to get pregnant. Why are you calling ‘her’ the first man to give birth. Get a real man and show how you can manipulate god’s creation and make him pregnant. I find it funny how people play with words and just because she decides to grow a beard and moustache that doesn’t make her a man, she may look like one, but she is not one. 

People are trying to make man and woman equal in everything where in actual fact without going in much detail nature has set a clear standard in defining man and woman. Both are a part of a system just like the sun and the moon, according to their nature shall move in their orbits to carry out their divine duties. Women can bare a child while man cant and both creation of Allah have been created and have their own specific purposes. They are both an integral part of the system to be respected and honored.

so why ask to be a man when you are infact a woman.

A Little Princess

I remembered watching this movie when I was young and I can’t help watching it again now. It doesn’t relate to my life whatsoever, but I do like how they put forward that people will enjoy being around you when you are sincere in helping them and sincere in whatever you do. It teaches young girls who love and wants to be a princesses to know that princesses are not only those with fame, fortune and beauty, but everyone is one and whats important is that you need to find the goodness within you. A good story for kids.  

Understand Quranic Arabic

About a year ago I had this urge to learn Arabic for the benefit that I will be able to speak and understand the Quran when I read it. I started to Google various keywords and at last I found this really useful website “ http://www.understandquran.com/u/default.asp” . Its main aim is not for you to be able to speak but for you to be able to understand what you read in your prayers and to understand the Quran when you read it. 

Start with the short English courses and you will find it really easy to understand and follow what is being taught. I would pay for this course if I had to, but Alhamdulillah both the directors have gone through this much trouble preparing and everything is given for free for you to download like the videos, power point slides, work book, notes, text book and a test at the end of each week just for you to assess your understanding on the lesson. 

I hope you will benefit as much as I did. Do give it a try and tell me what you think.