April
8
2009
I stumbled upon this website when I was surfing around looking for materials for my assignment. With a tagline “News on Islam continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.”, it’s a self-explainatory indeed. My take : they do have a pretty good updated stuff there. convenience (at least for me) to search for latest (express) updates from just a site.
Anyway, here’s how the website looks like:
March
26
2009
it was during one rainy day when i was at home taking a break from a hectic work watching tv that i stumbled upon a breaking news on Gaza Attack. I have always had this interest
about Palestine since i started reading “From Beirut to Jerusalem” by Dr Ang Swee Chai. >>
Anyway since that breaking news, I never failed to keep myself updated; from CNN, BBC, asia news channel as well as the ‘underground’ news from the net. I was so proud to see our Muslims making doa’, collecting donations everywhere, demonstrating in the name of protecting the palestinians.. etc. Till one night, I suddenly felt this ‘pulling factor’ or a kind-of-calling to do something to help. Tried to contact many sources, but wasn’t that effecti
ve due to their policies of not bringing along those without permission / license, also because I have missed the groups who were already there in Rafah / Gaza. And so I thought I would never get the chance to go there….till I got an offline msg from a good friend in Cairo who will be having her Viva soon.
Cairo – Rafah, somehow i felt that that would be my chance. And so i bought ticket and fly off to Cairo. Of course, I wouldnt dare to hope for any chances fearing of any disappointment and so I just stick to my initial intention to ‘celebrate’ the Viva rather than focusing on going to Rafah. Upon reaching Cairo, still never failed trying, and was really grateful that even my friend was helping me with her contacts as well. We found many options but would need me to stay for few more days, unfortunately, I had to attend a class that i couldn’t extend my stay any longer. After much thought with considerig all options, I finally decided to visit one of the hospitals that treat wounded Palestinians. Asking my cousin (who studied in Cairo) along to accompany me, we went there without much preparation. At the entrance, the security asked many Qs upon knowing that we wanted to visit the Palestinians, as he wanted to know whether we are real Muslims. Not sure tho if non-muslims are not allowed to the hospital, or visiting them. He then brought us to an office and introduces us to one ‘ammu’ (uncle) which after a chat we got to know he was actually the person in charge of the Palestinians. And so he asked about our background and our intent to visit the Palestinians. After the chat, he then called up a young officer to staff us to the ward where the Palestinians are being treated at. There i was informed that there are more than 280 Palestinians and 30 of them are childrens.
Looking at their pains, i really salute their strength, n Masya Allah. the hardships that they went thru are truly incomparable..
Though this was just part of my initial intention, it’s the least i can do, for now.
May Allah shower them with Sabr and grant them strength.
April
13
2008
anyway weeks without enough sleeps.. and 44 hours w/o sleeping at all.. hm, i think that’s the longest period that i’ve stayed awake… and when i slept after that, I was surprised that i could woke up early morning the next day (less than 8 hours) as i thought i would have slept till afternoon.. well, who knows i might sleep after this and not waking up at all.. only Allah know…
hm, more work to do still.. gotta move on for a post-event task now..
WAB
February
3
2007
I feel so sleeepy.. yet i can’t sleep.. dunno what kind of stimulants has been induced in my brain that it just won’t stop thinking.. thinking about work, life, interest, people, assignments.. etc.. so, ” What is THINKING? “, one interesting question popped up by a friend few days ago.. and at that moment, without much thinking, i said “it’s a mental process. for example : if the heart beats, then the mind thinks”, then he said something about brain getting and firing signals…and so we began to think about THINKING and define it in our own perspectives to a various meanings ; an effort to put one’s mind upon something – either to reflect or to make decisions or solutions, things that comes to mind indeliberately or unconsciously, for example, memories.. etc.. however unfortunately, we didn’t discuss it much at that time coz if we were to drag the subject, surely it’ll take the whole life talking about it… hehe..
anyway, having read books on thinking especially by Edaward De Bono, Malcolm Gladwell, James Surowiecki, Sigmand Freud, Paul Arden (just recently), i believe that it is important for us to enhance and improve the skill of this training procesess i.e. by looking at many possibilities and not settling for only few ideas (Creative Thinking), by evaluating ideas and identify the most reasonable ones (Critical Thinking), by involving the willingness to search for better concepts either thru exploration, insight and switching (Lateral Thinking). I’ve always believe in diversity. Anyway.. wanna know what i always do? Play Sudoku, do crossword puzzles, reading books of a higher / above my level… and of coz, one of my theraphy – runaway / travelling to let the brain rest for a while………. hikhik.
Well, that’s it for now. i am beginning to feel sleepy now. but let me end this with an aayat from the holy Quran “Are the ones who are blind in respect of the mind equal to those who are endowed with mental perception and understanding? Will you not then THINK & reflect?” [6:50]
So what is thinking? well, YOU think.. ;>
WaLlahua’alam.
September
21
2006
~~ For some life lasts a short while, but the memories it holds last forever.~~
-Laura Swenson.
1st week of Sep : The wait is almost over..
Full mobilisation started. There were trainings, briefings, trainings, briefings, waiting, waiting and waiting… just to prepare us for the big national event.. nevertheless, it was quite helpful. But i guess i was more excited to know which delegate am i supposed to ‘jaga’.. and when i gotta know it’ll be someone from the southern america, i was a bit dissapointed coz i was expecting those from arabic country. That made me felt more nervous coz i didn’t speak Spanish at all. I was hoping that he can speaks English so that there won’t be any miscommunication or a chicken-and-duck conversation later..
2nd week of Sep : Still waiting..
Tried to spend some time to study about the country and specifically about the delegate. But not much infos are available coz most of it are in Spanish. Luckily google have translate features. On top of that, was quite packed with my other duties as it was my org. moving week.. and due to that i couldn’t spend much time on my study the country and the delegate. And when the day came, i could only hoped and prayed that everything willl go smoothly for me and them, and tawakkal to Allah.
2nd / 3rd week of Sep : And the wait is over.
And finally.. the day i’ve been waiting for.. Went to the airport early in the morning. As i stayed quite nearby to the airport, i arrived quite early so went to get a hot cocoa and hanged out @ the waiting area. There, i managed to do my last minute reading & checklist. Not long after that, i was told that the flight will arrive much earlier, then we went straight to the gate where i was supposed to receive him. When passengers started to appear one by one @ the gate, i waited anxiously for my ‘fierce – looking’ delegate ( based on the pic. given) but to my surprise he actually has that cool fatherly in person ! well, picture can be deceiving sometimes.. I greeted, introduced myself and the rest of the ‘greeters’ and we proceeded to the custom for the delegates’ passport processing, walked to the pick up point, took the BMW and went straight to the hotel.. from that time onwards, my duty as L.O, which basically is to send, fetch, receive, attend him continues smoothly day by day. Quite hectic tho coz lots of movement, recce & planning are needed. Oh yeah, btw he does speaks English… =)
Surprise, surprise !
The 3rd day he was here, i gotta know that it was his birthday on that day. Was looking around to get something suitable for him but couldn’t find something nice over that short period of time. Only when i’ve sent him back to the hotel, i noticed few nice mini cakes and boxes of chocs sold @ the hotel cafe and decided to buy em and ask to be delivered to his room. 20 minutes later, i received a private no. called and was surprised it was actually my delegate using his mobile ( aka ‘cellphone’ @ his country) just to say thanks for that small gift. I was so glad to hear his delighted voice and hoped that that will make his trip here in Singapore even more memorable.
3rd / 4th week of Sep : It’s Over.
And when the fun had just started… well, having to spend time with him and his other officers for 5 days straight, i felt quite sad (and a bit heavy – hearted) when i sent them off @ the airport. They are such a kind, nice and humble souls despite their high-level positions. Am a bit dissapointed tho coz i didn’t get to bring him much for tour as he had a very tight schedule. But the best part was when i brought him to Mount Faber and a temple @ lil India, i felt that i was a tourist too as i’ve never been there before.. =p Anyway my overall comment for the whole journey is beyond words. It’s such a great and wonderful experience! An amazing learning journey and exposures too.. Apart from the delegate, I would certainly miss the other fellow DLOs, the hang out with my other 4 colleagues during our ’standby’, the waiting periods, the screenings, the uniforms + nametag + pin, the arrival / departure hall entry thru staff entrance, Nokia E70… and especially.. the BMW 7 Series… =D
Hmm, anyone interested to go to Uruguay ? 
Wassalam..
September
19
2006
:: Ticket going for only $20 if u call / email me at al_amirah03@hotmail.com (msn enabled) now ! =)
July
23
2006
Sempat jgk memosing……. hikhik..
wassalam.
June
13
2006
Marang – Kapas Island Resort – Kuala Terengganu… 5 days, 3 nites.. reli3x enjoyed myself!! No words could even describe how wonderful the trip was.. from snorkelling, to squid catching, to island tour, to swimming… swimming… n swimming…. hikhik… everything were just great! xcept me being a bit ‘tanned’…
June
13
2006
Just how to measure it and when does one knows the limit? hmm.. prior to that, how does this topic comes about? well, i attended a training the day before yesterday and no no the training is nothing related to a being a self-confident person or a motivational kinda training.. but somehow the short remarks by the trainer with regards to confidence is part of the takeaways too.. what i can remember her saying was, to be a confidence person, one must know one’s weaknesses and once he/she overcomes it, the confidence will then comes naturally. For example, if being knowledgable makes us more confidence, then seek knowledge.. (that applies to me, very much…)
oh no, my colleague called. Gotta leave now… to Malaysia..! Runaway, till Tuesday.. huhu..
Fact about Al-Aqsa Mosque
Me @ Facebook
