In which Haru needs a new friend

Pantai Senok, Bachok is all the hype nowadays because the rows of planted Beach Rhu looked like somewhere in Korea. Hipsters come and pose. Brides come for photoshoot.

The Rhus are part of the national program of replanting swamp trees. Unfortunately for the place, when people flock to them they leave behind rubbish everywhere. They take pictures but take the beauty for granted. I was pissed when I saw the pictures they all posted with flecks of rubbish on the ground.

So today, on my off day, I went there with two plastic bags of my own. Parked my car and smelled the air. Saw several hipsters picnicking and posing. I scanned the ground and started picking up rubbish in between the rows of Rhu, making my way to the beach and singing to L'arc-en-Ciel.

Ten minutes in, a lady came up to me.

"Hi. Do you have an extra plastic bag."

"Yes I have," I straightened my back.

"May I have one?"

"Sure." I dug out my extra plastic bag.

"Do you study here or work here?"

She was smiling amiably. She didn't look like a threat, but I'm not exactly a fan of talking to strangers. I had my shades on.

"I work." I answered curtly. Why did it matter? This is the world we live in, we are responsible to keep it clean.

"Where?"

"At the hospital."

"Are you a nurse? Or a doctor?"

"Doctor." Dude if you look closely, as you are standing close to me, you would notice I was wearing a scrub.

"Ooh. Thanks."

I nodded and went back to singing and picking up rubbish. I noticed she picked her share with her I-assume husband.

Half hour and my plastic was full. I went to the beach and walked all the way to the lighthouse, climbed up the stone barrier and admired the scene where Sungai Pengkalan Datu (the one running behind HUSM that I went occasionally) ended into the sea. The beach appeared leveled and the wave dangerous. This was not a good spot for a kid to mess around alone, I could fall into the sea unnoticed.

So I went back to where the rhus stood.

---

I haven't been to the Sungai Pengkalan Datu bridge for a while now. The last time I went there, I told Luqman about that place and he said "enlightening. Should have brought me along" and I said "next time".

I'm a man of my word so I should take him with me when I go there next and although I want to, I'm not one to initiate the invite, bwahaha. I just go out and hope we're nirvana enough to meet up without planning to. Stupid, yes. And because I don't go with him, I can't go to the river nowadays. Because I said I'll bring him along the next time I go there.

Man I'm messed up. I need new routes.

Crescent-lit Night

I sing a song with all my heart, my heart

Do you know the story of you and me

That is shining in this world?

Unchangingly always by my side

Your heart is making me shine

I hope that this feeling

Can continue shining on forever

Yes, I hope that your and my feelings

Will surely become a single star

I sing a song with all my heart, my heart

Humming CN Blue - Starlit Night

Campfire night at Orabi Farm, 

030114

trees are made for hanging

there's a huge tree outside my balcony. kinda like the old tree at the end of the field of my primary school which i spent climbing and jumping off during my lunch breaks. except this tree, the one outside my balcony, doesn't have that kind of thick sturdy branch that allows petite girls (hey i still fit my adolescent clothes) to safely hang around.

what a waste. trees are made to be climbed and jumped off and hung around.

so bored..

Join Me Cliff-jumping

One day, I want to jump off a cliff and swim back to shore.

Preferably in this life, but I wouldn't mind if I only manage to tick this one off in the next. After all, this is only a worldly gain. There are too many important stuffs to do and accomplish in this life. Allah placed me in this world for a reason, and once I have accomplished all that Allah wanted from me, maybe I can pursue this kind of exhilarating stuffs.

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 164)

Granted, He did create the cliff and that beautiful blue water for us.. but not for mere worldly enjoyment. Life is not a simple run off the cliff, soar through the sky with adrenaline pulsating through your veins and land loudly into the cool water. A feeling like no other. The best feeling you could ever imagine. 


No. But these kinds of grace are for us to appreciate His Greatness and to remember Him, for us to be grateful to Him. And for us to reflect how insignificant we truly are without Him, to be reminded of who is The Ultimate Creator of all these and what is it that He wanted when He made us who we are where we are.

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah . But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah . And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 165)

The world is not the retreating place for a Muslim. Tired is the nature of a daie.

I am still trying to place "lillah" as the reason for when I'm exhausted, but you know me.. There's still reason for hope though. Rabbi zidnal ikhlas.

26th July - Sky Blanket

Two years ago after sending my dad off at his check-in counter at Heathrow Terminal 4, I trotted along with my bag in tow for my flight to Egypt (mine was Terminal 3, I think?) and was alone to amuse myself.

So indeed it was soothing that the check-in British Airway officer was young and very friendly with pretty smile some more ;) I get that Britons are polite people, but they are not exactly as amiable compared to the Germans. Anyway, he didn't make me feel awkward and he even asked if I have a preferred seat.

"If you could give me an isle seat, please."

"You sure you don't want the window seat?" His smile reached up his eyes.

"Very sure." I smiled back reassuringly.

"Isle it is."

Isle, because when I took Emirates from KUL to CAI on 2009, I had the agoniest of time waiting for the sleeping person next to me to wake up so I can run for the WC. I don't wake people up for my sake, I believe it is a violation of human right.

I swear I jotted down his name for keeps; forgive me Mr. Awesome.

Dad always pick me a window seat, though. For a short hour journey between KUL and KBR I think it's perfect, especially when it's clear and so blankety outside.





p/s: Speaking of flight attendants, there's this guy named Banter on my Saudi Airway from RUH to KUL who reminded me of Orlando Bloom the very moment I sat glance on him. Good thing he wasn't in charge of my section or I would have been deeply in trouble (hehe).

The crew who tended to us, her name was Fatimah and I couldn't thank her enough for she was prompt and friendly while tending to us. The flight was the first that I was beyond sleepy (if you count out easyJet between Munich and London) and I was holding the cup in my hands while shutting my eyes. But then I felt the cup being gently tugged and I opened my eyes to see her smilingly clearing cups away.

Syaimaa later told me that they had a good chuckle when Fatimah stood awkwardly beside my sleeping form, doubting whether or not to take the cup from me.