A Wolf Supermoon...

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars..."  - Les Brown

(22nd floor, Putramas Apartment)

It was the first full moon of the year, and tonight the celestial display was mesmerising.

The moon appeared slightly larger and noticeably brighter than a typical full moon. This January full moon is known as the Wolf Moon, and it earns the title supermoon because it occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth. 

Despite its evocative name, it has nothing to do with actual wolves, only ancient seasonal traditions and the quiet poetry of the night sky.

Stray Cats at Masjid At-Taiyyibin

"When a cat adopts you, there is nothing to be done about it except to put up with it until the wind changes.” - T.S. Eliot

(A playful permanent resident of the mosque)

For quite some time now, Masjid At-Taiyyibin has become a place where many cats and kittens are abandoned. At one point, more than ten strays could be seen roaming the mosque grounds, searching for food and shelter.

Some of these cats are healthy and playful, but many are weak, sick, or injured. A few kind-hearted people have been feeding them daily, but the sick ones especially, need medical care and attention.

I am allergic to cats, otherwise I would have adopted a few.

(Cute playful kittens ready for adoption)

(Some of the stray cats having a treat)

Migratory birds in Taman Metropolitan...

"The migratory bird's life, a sight to behold,

A journey of freedom, forever told..."

(Burung Botak Kecil)

I saw a photographer deligently taking pictures of birds and this triggered my curiousity. I tried snapping a few but most flew away.

The Lesser Adjutants (Leptoptilos javanicus), also known as burung botak kecil because of their bare heads and necks.They are wading birds in the stork family found in wetlands in Malaysia. They are migratory birds.

They face the storms, and winds so bold,

Their tales untold, a story to hold.

A message whispered, on the breeze,

Of resilience, and nature's decrees.

Tetamu from Abu Dhabi...

"Life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It is about being real, being humble and being kind..."

(Mus, Nor, Niza and me)

My nephew, Nor Azhar, Niza and their youngest son, Aiman came for a visit. Niza flew back to KL with Aiman earlier this week to spend the summer holidays with their three other children who are in KL. The eldest, Asyraf is a young MAS pilot just like his father, who is with Etihad. Alia and Aleesya are still studying in the local colleges. Nor Azhar will be flying back to Abu Dhabi alone tomorrow. They were planning to go for a family holidays later in August.

When Nor Azhar was still an intern with MAS in 1990's, he used to stay with us in our Bidara house. Then there were only the two of us at home as Sara, Iwan and Ja were in the boarding schools. After his contract with MAS ended, Nor Azhar and family moved to Abu Dhabi to work with Etihad.

Whenever we were on holidays or Umrah trips, we used to detour and stay in his house in Abu Dhabi.

Eternal rest place...

“Ya Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, Ya Allah, whom among us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam..."

(Aira reciting prayers with her grandpa)

Today we visited my ailing sister, Amah and my niece, Ailyn in Melaka, Both are suffering from cancer. We pray that they will be strong to fight these diseases and get well soonest..

Later we made a stop at Tanah Perkuburan Kg Seri Minyak to visit the graves of my parents and our youngest son's. May Allah SWT shower all of our loved ones who have passed with all His Forgiveness and Mercy, and may He elevate their status and grant them Jannatul-Firdaus. Aamiin...

(Tanah Perkuburan Kg. Seri Minyak)

(Reciting prayers at my emak's grave)

A beautiful Resort in Batu Ferringhi

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be” - Abraham Maslow

(Peaceful and tranquil)

Earlier this week I browsed the resort reservation page. As usual there will always be some vacancies during weekdays. I made a guaranteed booking at BNM Penang resort at Batu Ferringhi. We will spend four days in Penang to JJCM and continue our search for historical mosques in Penang.

The last time we were here was in right after the PKP. The resort landscape is well maintained and the beach is clean. The Hard Rock Hotel is located next to the resort. Away from the hustle bustle of the city, the resort is a good place to bring the family for a vacation. 

There are plenty of eateries around the area.

(The bungalow unit at the corner)

(Nice ambiance around the resort)

(A small door leading to the beach)

(A beautiful clean beach)

(The spacious living room)

(Cempedak goreng for tea)

(The view at night)

The Bigfoot was in trouble...

"I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened..." - Mark Twain

(Fixing a punctured tyre)

We were on a road trip again. Today we planned to visit a few more old mosques in Perak and at the same time will visit some attractions along the route.

Our reliable bigfoot was experiencing a flat tyre on the highway. We only noticed it when we stopped at Simpang Pulai for a comfort break. We detoured to look for tyre shop and fixed the flat.

(Ready for the road trip)

(Having breakfast at Elmina R&R)

(Comfort break at Simpang Pulai)

(Bigfoot in trouble)

(Fixed and ready to roll)

Cheque collection in Seremban

“Maybe that’s what life is… a wink of the eye and winking stars...”- Jack Kerouac

(Street Arts in Seremban around the lawyer's office)

We were on the road early this morning. Today we made an appointment with the lawyer's office for our cheque collection and finalisation of the sales of our Pedas land.

On the way to Seremban, we stopped at Elmina R&R to have breakfast. 

(Early breakfast at Elmina R&R Northbound)

(Nasi Lemak, Kuew Teow goreng and Roti tib-tab)

The  transactions with the lawyer was fast and efficient. As we still have time to spare before lunch time, we visited the Negeri Sembilan State Museum. It was raining quite heavily when we were in the museum.

we drove back to our Bidara House and stopped at Elmina R&R for lunch.

(Lunch at Elmina R&R Northbound)

(Asam pedas set and Sup tulang for lunch)

Window shopping at Mitsui Outlet Park...

“If you were conscious, all negativity would dissolve almost instantly….”

(Mitsui Outlet Park)

(A brief stop here)

(An empty mall)

(buying my favorite cookies)

CMCO 5 - 18 March 2021

“Creativity is intelligence having fun...” - Albert Einstein

(Sunset from Putramas Apartment)

The government has announced that the MCO 2.0 that was in place since 13th January will be replaced with the CMCO from 5 - 18 March 2021. From 5 March onwards inter-district travel is now allowed for all states except Sabah. Most attractions, restaurants, and hotels have reopened and are ready to welcome visitors.

Unfolding the Rose...

"Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form..." -Rumi

Sharing a poem by 13th Century Sufi poet - Jalaluddin Rumi

UNFOLDING THE ROSE

It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

God opens this flower so sweetly,

When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading

Each moment of every day.

I will look to Him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,

Only my Heavenly Father knows.

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose.

~ Rumi ~

Remembering MH 370 - 5 years gone...

"Enjoy every moment you have. Because in life, there are no rewinds, only flashbacks..." - Anmol Andore

(An exhibition in the Square @ Publika)

Hug a little longer

Love a little stronger 

Forgive a little sooner 

and smile a little sweeter...

(Remembering the 239 lives on MH 370)

Kampung life in the Mall...

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” – Oprah Winfrey

(Nostalgic feeling of Kampung life)

After spending a few days with us during Ramadhan, today we sent Alia, Arif and their mom to KLIA2 for their flight back to Johor Baharu.

For the coming Hari Raya celebration, the Airport has put up a traditional kampung house as a centrepiece at the ground floor. We stopped by and took some pictures. The decor brings back nostalgic feelings of our childhood life in the kampung.

Grief never grows old...

"Most women say there is no greater pain than to bear a child. I say there is no greater pain than to bury one..."

(Mirza's resting place)

I am missing my dear youngest son...

When the young bury the old,

Time heals the pain and sorrow.

But when the process is reversed,

The sorrow remains forever...

(Dec 1985 - Mar 2006)

PRU 14 is here at last...

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter...” - Winston S. Churchill

(The early voters on Election Day)

After a very long wait and a few cancelled holiday and other plans, today we made an effort to go to the voting centre to cast our votes early in the morning. There were already a large crowd ahead of us.

We were lucky to be in a special queue for the elderlies, which was much shorter.

(Shorter queue for warga emas)

The Road Not Taken...

"Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees..." - Katie Couric

(Somewhere in Tasmania, Australia)

The Road Not Taken 

(By Robert Frost)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 

And sorry I could not travel both 

And be one traveller, long I stood 

And looked down one as far as I could 

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair, 

And having perhaps the better claim, 

Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 

Though as for that the passing there 

Had worn them really about the same, 

And both that morning equally lay 

In leaves no step had trodden black. 

Oh, I kept the first for another day! 

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 

I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh 

Somewhere ages and ages hence 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I 

I took the one less travelled by, 

And that has made all the difference… 

A morning of disappointments...

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed...” - Alexander Pope

(Our ailing blackfoot)

We were at our travel agent office to submit our passports for our Umrah visa.

While we were there we asked about the status of the South America trip and were informed that there were no takers and the trip may need to be cancelled. We have to check our bucket list and need to start looking for another holiday destination.

Half  way home our blackfoot started to experience reduced power. To avoid being stranded in the middle of a traffic jam, we parked our pickup and called the insurance company for a tow-truck service. While waiting, we had fried rice, which was not that tasty, at a nearby stall.

Our pickup is now in the workshop again, waiting for spare parts...

An evening in Japan...

“If you lead me astray, then my wanderings will bring me to my destination.” - Michael Bassey Johnson

(A relaxing stroll)

(A nice ambiance)

The Blackfoot in the workshop...

"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comfortable words of all: This too shall pass..." - Ann Landers 

(Overheated and refused to start)

On Tuesday after Zohor, we started our journey to Melaka for my nurse duty.

We stopped for lunch at Elmina R&R on the Guthrie Corridor Expressway. When we wanted to continue our journey, the blackfoot refused to start and showed the signs of overheating. We called GCE Ronda for assistance. When they arrived 15 minutes later, we drove the Blackfoot towards home but it stalled again at Lagong Tol Plaza. We decided to leave the 4x4 near the rest area and took a taxi home and drove to Melaka with our other car.

We safely reached Melaka a little late than usual...

(Patiently waiting for the taxi at Lagong Tol Plaza) 

(The Blackfoot is being towed to the workshop)

Precious Time...

"Free time is the most expensive time you have, because nobody pays for it but you..."

(Leisure time at Freeport A'Famosa Outlet)

Time changes the weather from hot to cold, 

Time makes us grow old.

Time is something you can't buy, 

Time keeps going on even if you die.

Time is something you remember from past, 

Time is something that goes by so fast.

Time turns the day to night, 

Time makes you choose wrong or right.

Time is never enough, 

Time is easy but also rough.

Time can make you happy or sad, 

Time is something you want more, but never had...

(Jiya Jain)