GEMILANG TRAVEL & TOURS - Umrah 2011 [Part 3]

Sampai di Jinah International Airport Karachi dah masuk Maghrib. Asalnya transit 5 jam di Karachi tapi sebab delay berlepas tadi, dan mengambil masa yang agak lama untuk melepasi kastam Karachi, kami terpaksa bergegas ambil wudhu di tandas balai ketibaan. Ramai yang solat di luar tandas so Ayong and I just joined them. Tawakkal ajelah.


Tak sempat jumpa kerusi kosong, dah kena board connecting flight to Jeddah. Awal awal lagi I exchanged my ticket with a young man in my group so that I could sit with Ayong. Ingatkan seat kat ekor rupanya upper deck seats ... more leg room and no LEAKING! Alhamdulillah.

happy getting leg room

BUT! An old stewardess made a big fuss about the change. She insisted I bring the person and show her his ticket. Such arrogance when other passengers are sitting as they please. Ayong got up to find Izzad [the young man I exchanged my seat with], Apparently Izzad was also harassed and he came looking for me. He showed the old hag my ticket [I doubt if our names has any meaning to her].


Eventually dinner was served. Rice with chicken and eggplant. Yummy.


Fed and comfortable I drifted into sleep. Tahu tahu dah sampai Jeddah.

Jeddah from air

Lama berlegar di udara. Lepas tu lama pulak tunggu baggage. Langsung tak de tempat duduk. Risaukan kaki yang sakit berdiri lama gitu. Tumpang duduk kat tahapakenamadia.

lama sangat tunggu baggage

Pelik bila baggage turun belt, ada sekumpulan lelaki [ada yang pakai overall oren, ada yang pakai biasa je] bergegas mengambil baggage dari belt dan mencampak dengan kasar ke atas lantai. Ada beg yang patah tangkai.


Tiga beg ahli kumpulan kami HILANG.


Lama kami tunggu di tempat mengambil bagasi. Akhirnya kami keluar ke balai ketibaan. Dah hampir tengah malam. SEJUKKKKKKK


Wakil penganjur tiba dan bagitau bas syarikat tidak boleh masuk untuk ambil kami. Kena naik bas airport ke satu tempat di luar. [pandai pak arab cari duit]


Kesian pulak wakil Gemilang. Dua kali kena punggah beg.


Terus menuju Madinah. Dalam samar malam, terlihat seperti bukit bukau sepanjang perjalanan. Ingatkan dapat tengok unta. Tak de.


Bas berhenti di tengah  padang pasir untuk solat Subuh. Masjid di tengah jalan tu lain beno dari masjid kat tempat kita. Bilik air sedia tempat ambil wudu' tapi tak de sapa yang larat nak guna jamban. Tertanya tanya jugak, ada air ke kat padang pasir ni? Rupanya mewah air paip wudu' dia.


Selesai solat suboh di masjid tengah padang pasir [hehehe] kami berposing. Tengah galak posing, ada sebuah hilux melintas membawa seekor UNTA. MasyaAllah. Dok nyebutkan unta tengah jalan tadi, now it is sent on a hilux! Sempat ambil gambar unta atas hilux walaupun tak berapa terang.

unta atas hilux

Sampai di kota Madinah dalam pukul 8.00 pagi. Sempat tengok payung Masjid Nabawi yang masih kuncup.

payung Masjid Nabawi masih kuncup

Check in hotel Mubarak AlMAdinah. Lebih kurang 100 m dari masjid. Syukur Alhamdulillah. Had our first breakfast in Madinah. Komen Ayong ... nasi goreng dia rasa cam nasi goreng nenek [nenek kalu goreng nasi mesti tumbuk bawang merah bawang putih dan bubuh sos tomato].

Tak leh bawa kamera atau telefon ke dalam Masjid Nabawi. Jadi kami posing posing kat luar bawah payung yang dah terbuka.

Kami tiba awal untuk Dzuhur tapi dah penuh sampai ke laluan. Berasak asak ke sebelah kanan ... alhamdulillah. Banyak lagi ruang kosong di sebelah kanan rupanya. Memang pesen sesetengah jemaah dari negara tertentu deme suka duduk tengah jalan sampai sesak tak leh lalu.


Ingin dicatatkan di sini Ayong and I rasa cam bergegar dan rasa pening pening sikit [ala ala masuk satah lain]. Wallahual'alam.


Keadaan yang sama setiap kali kami berdua ke masjid.


Rakan sebilik [yang dah pernah mengerjakan haji dan umrah beberapa kali] dah jenuh shopping. Kami juga di beritau harga barangan di Mekah jauh lebih mahal berbanding di Madinah. 


Walaupun dah set strictly no shopping, tapi dalam hati terlalu ingin bawak buah tangan untuk adik beradik anak anak saudara. Lagi pula tengok deme beli jubah hitam lawa lawa dengan harga 30 Riyal. Akhirnya kami mencuri juga masa lepas asar untuk mengintai tasbih dan jubah. Tak sempat siap membeli azan Maghrib kedengaran dan pekedai bergegas menutup kedai.


Kami bergegas ke bilik untuk simpan belian dan berwudu'. Melangkah masuk saja ke pekarangan masjid, imam dah takbiratul ihram. Aying and I, we just bentang sejadah kat tengah jalan tu dan terus takbir. Selesai solat, ada solat jenazah tapi kami tak tunggu sebaliknya cuba bergerak ke dalam untuk menunggu waktu Isyak. Beberapa jam merayap shopping tadi, kaki aku cramp dan tak leh bangun. Puas Ayong cuba tarik. Ada sorang perempuan [tak pasti bangsa apa] cuba mengangkat, pun tak berjaya. Terkial kial aku cuba berdiri. Akhirnya berjaya. Terencut encut mencari jalan masuk ke masjid melalui ribuan jemaah yang mula bergerak. Dan seperti selalu, kami rasa bergegar sikit, pening pening dan akhirnya tiba di kawasan yang agak lapang tidak ramai jemaah. Boleh baring.


Jam 1.00 pagi kami di bawa pemandu khas ke Raudah. MasyaAllah! Bertolak tolakkan berebut tempat paling mustajab doa. Rezeki kami, selepas semua habis berebut, kami dapat tempat di karpet hijau tak ada orang lain dah. Syukur. Kami semua dapat berdoa dengan aman sepuasnya. Menurut rakan yang dah banyak kali datang, inilah pertama kali beliau dapat berdoa dengan puas di Raudah. Rezeki. Alhamdulillah.


The next day kami di bawa melawat beberapa kawasan berhampiran. Pertama ke Bukit Uhud di mana tentera Islam kalah perang kerana tamakkan rampasan perang.


Kami juga sempat melawat dan solat di Masjid Qiblatain, Masjid Quba dan Masjid Tujuh Nabi.


Kemudian kami di bawa ke LADANG Tamar. Tak banyak pilihan tamar yang ada dan semuanya kering keras. Kurma ajwa dan anbar [kurma nabi] harganya 75 Riyal sekilo. Mak aih! Nak tak beli, karang tak jumpa dah ...nyosal. Belilah sikit dengan harapan ada peluang lain.


Bertolak ke Mekah lepas asar. Berihram di Bir Ali. Sampai di tempat menginap di Mekah dalam jam 9.00 mlm. Makan malam yang lazat. Ada sambal belacan. Hahaha!


Kami berkumpul di lobi dan mutawif yang disediakan GEMILANG membawa kami ke rumah Allah untuk mengerjakan umrah wajib.

GEMILANG TRAVEL & TOURS -Umrah 2011 [Part 2]

Dah siap hantar borang cuti tanpa gaji, tetiba diberitau penerbangan di awalkan sehari.


Tak kisahlah. Potong gaji pun potong lah. Ibadat punya pasal tak leh komplen.


Bertolak lepas subuh pada 10 Mac 2011.

Ramai ramai naik bas ke KLIA

Sampai di KLIA jam 11.00 pagi. Flight jam 1.00 tgh katanya.

Segar dan teruja nak bertamu ke Rumah Allah

Pukul 1.00 tgh  diberitau flight delay. Jemaah kumpulan lain pun ramai di balai berlepas.


Jam 3.00 ptg diberitau besok baru terbang. Petugas GEMILANG membawa kami dan baggage naik bas ke Hotel Nilai. Bermalam di situ. 


Keluar dinner ngan abah ayong. Dia belanja kami makan ikan yang dia pancing.


Balik hotel ada perjumpaan dengan bos GEMILANG.


Berita buruk.


TIADA TIKET penerbangan.


Kami ditawarkan penerbangan dengan PIA transit di Karachi. Pun ada tiket untuk 24 orang sahaja. Balik pun dengan PIA tapi pada 25 Mac transit 2 hari di Karachi. 6 orang lagi kena naik SIA direct flight ke Jeddah tapi kena board di Changi.


6 orang yang disenaraikan membantah. Penganjur minta volunteer.


I voluntereed but was turned down sebab masalah mahram. Orang lain voluntereed.


Pagi besok, jam 9.00 bertolak ke KLIA semula. Check in jam 11.00 pagi. Flight delay lagi. 


Intai surau untuk solat. Orang beratur berderet deret.


Tetiba kena board around 3.00 pm.


Ramai yang merungut sebab tempat duduk terasing bagi yang berfamili.


I got a shock when I get to MY seat.

PIA BOCOR!

The plane was leaking. A blanket was put on my seat to catch the droplets. I told the stewardess [unfriendly one and appeared to be very crossed] I was not going to sit there. 


She pointed to the front row. The cushions from 3 seats had been removed and blankets were piled to catch the leak. That left one aisle seat. I told her I would need an umbrella. She insisted I sat down as the plane was taking off.


A few rows of seat in front of me were occupied by men in uniform who were speaking loudly, oblivious of other passengers.


I asked the one in front of me if they were the crew. He said yes but they were off duty.


Putting on my most school-marmy tone I asked him if it was not a good courtesy to let a customer have a better seat.


He answered, "Most definitely."

Mamat tu ala ala Ajay Devgan dengan kulit cerah dan mata hijau - JAMBUU

Soon lunch was served. Nasi beriani kambing. Yummy! Tapi tengah makan salad the crew sitting next to me pulak kena pindah seat sebab ada orang mintak tukar. Susoh weh nak bergerak sebab tempat sempit ya amat! I dropped my lunch on the floor. Aisehh!!! Dia punya dessert nampak sedap tadi.


Mulanya ingatkan sempat ler buat jamak takhir bila tiba di Karachi. Tapi borak ngan crew masa lunch tadi dia kata anggaran masa tiba di Karachi ialah Maghrib.


Ke tandas untuk wudu'. Teruknya tandas!!! Tawakal je ler.


Rupanya ramai yang belum solat di KLIA tadi. Maka ramai ramai ler yang turut jamak qasar.

GEMILANG TRAVEL & TOURS - Umrah 2011 [Part 1]

Awal 2010 berbisik kat Ayong, "Kita bawak atuk ngan nenek gi umrah?".


Ayong setuju.


"Tapi kalau saya sorang, tak larat. Kena lah bawak Epit sekali untuk bantu atuk."


"Bajet?"


"Bawah lima ribu ringgit. 5 orang = 25 ribu. Perlu kenalpasti apa lagi perbelanjaan lain yang terlibat. Strictly no shopping!"


"Bila?"


"Cuti sekolah bulan Jun."


Bagitau adik yang kerja di Dubai. Dia sanggup taja tambang nenek. Lega! Tapi adik ipar cakap tahun lepas, bulan Jun musim panas. Emak dia pergi umrah masa tu sampai kena basahkan tuala letak atas belakang.


Uishh! Susah gitu. Atuk mana tahan cam tu.


Cuti sekolah bulan September pulak musim raya. Tak de pakej bawah 5 ribu.


Tunda ke cuti sekolah bulan Mac 2011.


Hujung bulan Disember, bagitau atuk hasrat nak bawak  dia dan nenek mengerjakan umrah.


Atuk menolak. Katanya dia tak larat.


Terkedu!


Tapi dia benarkan nenek pergi.


OK lah tu.


Ayong cari pakej umrah di Kuantan. Mintak tolong bapak kawan baik dia yang biasa bawak jemaah ke Mekah.


Dapat. Tapi bulan Jun.


Kansel rancangan nak umrah.


Tetiba, rakan sekerja ada yang berbincang nak buat umrah bulan Mac. Banyak lagi tempat kosong. Terus sign-up. Then baru call Ayong tanya kot dia nak ikut. 


Nak.


Terus pergi baharui paspot di Kuantan. Sekejap je prosesnya. Siap dalam beberapa jam sahaja.

Memula penganjur kata bertolak 10 Mac dengan Garuda transit di Jakarta.


I was hoping we could go with MAS direct flight.


Few days later, organizer 'confirmed' we were going with MAS direct flight to Jeddah. I was elated. Still had to apply for no pay leave though because return flight would be on 21st Mac. Oh well!

Umat buih

Ada duit dihabiskan begini

Tak de duit kutuk kerajaan

The Agent of the Seed

Update: Oil shoots higher on Libya turmoil [read here]


First Mallott and now this

So 

this is how it is done.

Planting the seed

Flaming the fire

Creating chaos

When 

someone miscalculated and the ice did not melt

the flood stopped and Faiza Herba Ponni rice is back on supermarket racks

palm oil has higher burning point.

Seriously

I am beginning to believe

multiculturism can happen only in Shangri La

unity in diversity 

is for the sole purpose of 

'e[R]ection'

Before and After



Before

 

After

 Material = RM360.00

Labour = RM600

Duration = 8 days

D'UH !!! Been had!





The sun and the moon @ Kool

my eastern sky at 7.30 am

This is the sky that greets me

 as I reach the top of the hill

before turning left

to get to work in the morning

And this is the sky that greets me

as I turn right

and come down the hill

when I come back from work

I am clueless 

as to what caused that thick line

in the middle of my purple sky

My western horizon at 7.30 pm

waxing gibbous 98% full

This is the waxing gibbous moon 

at 98% full

seen on my eastern horizon

on 17 Feb at 7.41pm

This was taken in 2008, October 15

I posted this photo here in an earlier blog entry

along with few other favourites

which I snapped at almost midnight

full moon at midnight

Guess what this is

SHAMSUL AKMAR: Get Your Facts Right, Malott

Another response to John Malott's Malaysia's Racism.


FORMER United States ambassador to Malaysia John R. Malott must be over himself with the attention given to his recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled the "The price of Malaysia's racism".
A shallow article from a less-than-average diplomat should not have made Malaysians excited but instead, make them realise that amid the powerful nation's diplomatic corps, mediocrity does exist.

At the same time, there are, of course, the "anglophile" Malaysians who will take the opinion of a racist white man as gospel. This is apart from those who have decided that Malaysia is a failed state, adding to the crowd of naysayers.

Since there are many "Uncle Toms" in the our midst, Malott's piece needs some scrutiny so as not to allow his brand of racism and propaganda to get away with impunity.
First, all the issues he raised had gone through the processes of political debates and the law and put to rest.

They were the "cow head" procession, removal of crosses and claims of unpatriotic non-Malays with regard to the armed forces. Those involved had either been punished or apologised.

The other issues are political posturing, perceptions and minority rights viz. affirmative action at the expense of the country's minorities.

Herein lies Malott's confusion and distorted logic.

Coming from a country claiming to be the purveyor of democracy, Malott forgets that he is dealing with a much younger nation, whose democratic practices may not be as "mature" as the Americans'.

Malott may not realise that all Malaysians, or then citizens of Tanah Melayu, had the right to vote from the day the country gained independence in 1957 unlike the US where African-Americans only enjoyed such rights after the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed.

In the American context of discrimination against minorities, Malott would have to understand that such a thing does not exist in Malaysia.

The Jim Crow laws, which upheld the segregation between "whites and Negroes", were repealed only in the 1960s.

These laws barred African-Americans from mingling with the whites, be it in schools, universities, the military, buses, toilets and even drinking fountains.

Such segregation has never existed in Malaysia and is not about to start nor will it be allowed to take root.

In fact, it is the reverse, especially in the case of Malaysian schools where the minority chooses to remain in vernacular schools, spurning calls by the government to embrace national schools.

Of course, it can be argued that many feel vernacular schools offer a better education than national schools but the fact remains -- there is no segregation.

Not to be ignored is affirmative action, which Malott attempted to pin as the factor for the bad blood between the races.

Again, Malott exposes his lack of intellect or ignorance because the affirmative action here is a direct opposite to that of the US.

The affirmative action in Malaysia is targeted at the majority while in the US, it is for the minority.

In other words, it is accepted that the minority, as a collective entity, is economically superior to the majority. Even then, the affirmative action target is 30 per cent equity of national wealth for more than 60 per cent of the population.

Simply put, it is an attempt to allow more than 60 per cent of the population just about one-third of the nation's wealth. The target had not been achieved and the policy had been criticised, not for its objectives, but for its implementation.

Compare this with the American affirmative action, which is targeted at improving the less than 15 per cent African-American population. Despite the small target, the minority is still the most disadvantaged with an economic equity of about seven per cent.

In short, it is the majority in Malaysia which is economically displaced and the minorities hold an equity larger than their population (again this is stated within the context of a collective entity just in case some Malaysians who think like Malott start arguing the minority groups also have their share of the poor).

The best joke is Malott's attempt at discussing Malaysia's economic standing and claiming it was worse than the racial tensions of 1969.

He should then be more concerned with the state of affairs in America, where those living below the poverty line comprise more than 12 per cent (2004 estimates, long before the sub-prime crisis, junk bonds and collapse of its financial institutions) and almost double-digit unemployment rate with growth of less than three per cent.

By comparison, Malaysia's standing is healthy if the US is the yardstick, with about five per cent of the population living under the poverty line, unemployment at 3.5 per cent and growth steadily rising to above seven per cent.

In short, Malott should have urged Washington to use Malaysia as a case study.

That being the case, what was the rationale behind Malott's piece?

As pointed out earlier, it was an attempt to redeem himself for his shortcomings in 1995-1998 when he had wrongly advised Washington on the situation in Malaysia, apart from failing to ensure that his predictions came true.

He had then equated Malaysia to Indonesia, of turning to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the ascension of a leader of Washington's choice and the end of opposition to American hegemony.

But Malott is not about to give up.

The "Uncle Toms" here are ready to jump when he commands them


Read more: SHAMSUL AKMAR: Get your facts right, Malott http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/22lott/Article/#ixzz1DprRmM7M

Melting pot?

Update.
Malaysian Insider ran a response by Umar Mukhtar to John Malott 's article. [read here] MI also ran a response by DPM but I will not bother to link it here for embarassment.


Well, what do you know ... thestar today run Ms Mote's counter arguments to John Malott's article.  Azmi Anshar responded on nst online earlier. I commented about it here.


Yeah! Where else in this world that the ethnic celebrations are honoured as state holidays?


Where else in this world you will find the citizens who cannot speak the tongue of the soil and insist on keeping their vernacular schools ... not even in the PERFECT Singapore.


However, Ms Mote's observation is counter to the opinion of an American who resides in Kuala Lumpur and heads an international company. He opined that Mr Malott's piece is current and well aligned with reality. He observed that our economy is slipping against all of the regional competitors and that without a higher growth, there is risks of social pressures. He went on to note that the government is hinting the protest in Egypt is building up pressures here.


Hmmm ... by the look of things, perhaps one should consider stocking up on canned food and drinks. The way things are between two dinosaurs [LKY and TDM] maybe it is a good time to start piling up gold dinar too???

Embedded lies

Rachel Mote wrote a response to Malott's criticism about Malaysia's racism. Ms Mote contended that Malaysia is a true melting pot in opposition to Malott's claim of a cracked salad bowl.


Look at the comparison of GDP growth.


"Counter to Malott’s claim, Malaysia’s economy has been a burgeoning one. Its GDP has had positive growth for each of the years between 2000 and 2008, only dipping into negative territory in 2009, a year that saw the entire world’s economy in decline. Malaysia enjoyed a GDP growth rate of 8.9% at one point in the last decade. That’s hardly “underperforming.” By comparison, the best year of GDP growth in the United States over that same period never exceeded 4.9%. By that measure, Malott’s assessment of Malaysia economy is entirely unfair and inaccurate."


Ms Mote than adressed the question that have been buggng me all day long.


Now the question must be asked, why Malott chose to advance a negative and inaccurate picture of the country where he once served as Ambassador. The answer is a simple one that can be seen in his own hand. John Malott is a pet of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. A long defender of Ibrahim, Malott has taken to the press before in defense of a man who has been charged twice with sodomy, a serious crime in Malaysia, and who was convicted of corruption.


To cap off the week, here's a link that I cannot not love ... hehehe

Superman lily

One of my all time favourite movies is Superman starring the late Christopher Reeve. Of all the scenes, the one that struck me the most was when Superman flew across the globe to get Lois a flower for their date [or was it dinner?]. The flower was the peach lily. Ever since then, I became rather obsessed with lilies.

I have not been blessed with green fingers. The joke has always been that I could kill off plants simply by watering them. However, since moving into my own abode in 2003, I have been trying to 'cool' off my fiery fingers. I tried roses with some success until I left them without water for weeks when I had to go outstation. So were the orchids. Spent half k getting the 'orchid house' but I could hardly get them to bloom.

I first saw this pink lily at my brother's place in Klang. I asked for some of the bulbs to be planted at my house. 

About five years ago, I planted some bulbs in two flower pots. The leaves sprouted and shriveled again and again over the years. I used special fertilizers in the hope of seeing the beautiful flowers under my purple sky but to no avail. 

After tending them all these years, I was ready to give up. I left them alone. Not even bothered to water the pots. Mimosa began to take residence in the pots. With the end of year mad rush, they were totally totally abandoned. I gave them up for dead.

The rainy season past few months gave them some life but I ignored the sprouting leaves shrouded in the dark green mimosa foliage and its fragile pink round flowers. I just didn't have any hope to ever see the pink lily.

Last week I noticed the tip-of-the-flower-thingy but I was too occupied with Hikmah. Coming back from school on Monday in the evening, I was greeted by this three beautiful pink blooms on a single stalk. With the fourth still in bud.

Mesmerizing! Subhanallah! They are so beautiful. 

So is this life giving rain I snapped using my phone cam. I love watching the rain drops like big shiny pearls dropping down from the sky. I could spend hours watching them.

Over the years I have had some blooms around the house at different times. I didn't get to take any photos of my lovely roses and orchids before they died out [of neglect and termites]. 



Superman Lilies in June



Heliconia with leaves

Heliconia in vase

bougainvilla

Periwinkles

I have no idea what this one is called

MarginS

A former US Ambassador to Malaysia wrote an article on Wall Street Journal "The Price of Malaysia's Racism" .

Almost 500,000 Malaysians left the country between 2007 and 2009, more than doubling the number of Malaysian professionals who live overseas. It appears that most were skilled ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians, tired of being treated as second-class citizens in their own country and denied the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, whether in education, business, or government. Many of these emigrants, as well as the many Malaysian students who study overseas and never return (again, most of whom are ethnic Chinese and Indian), have the business, engineering, and scientific skills that Malaysia needs for its future. They also have the cultural and linguistic savvy to enhance Malaysia's economic ties with Asia's two biggest growing markets, China and India.

Of course, one could argue that discrimination isn't new for these Chinese and Indians. Malaysia's affirmative action policies for its Malay majority—which give them preference in everything from stock allocation to housing discounts—have been in place for decades. So what is driving the ethnic minorities away now?

I kept thinking of apartheid in South Africa. 


I strongly believe that these world policemen are looking at us through apartheid lenses.


That the non-Malays are marginalised on this soil.


They swallowed the Ketuanan Melayu [Malay Supremacy] lies hook line and sinkers tossed by DAP and Hindraf.


"... right-wing militant Malay groups such as Perkasa ..."


"... Chinese and Indian political parties in the ruling coalition are supposed to protect the interests of their communities, but over the past few years, they have been neutered. They stand largely silent in the face of the growing racial insults hurled by their Malay political partners..."


"... Utusan, which is owned by Mr. Najib's political party, has claimed that the opposition would make Malaysia a colony of China and abolish the Malay monarchy. It regularly attacks Chinese Malaysian politicians, and even suggested that one of them, parliamentarian Teresa Kok, should be killed..."


Their opinions and arguments conveniently overlook the statistics. 


And most of all, they conveniently forget that we are not U S of A.


That the Malays did not bring those non-Malays onto this soil.


That we honestly believe they wanted to go home because they insisted on keeping their vernacular schools. Otherwise why in the U S of A or anywhere else in the whole wide world do we NOT find a vernacular school? If one go to Nottingham, England, one will find Bank of India in Lenton Boulevard but no Primary/Junior/High School (India)?


That after 53 years, the non-Malays cannot speak the NATIONAL LANGUAGE of this soil.

I wonder if any of those in office read what this learned gentleman spewed.

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

In apartheid Africa, the white people became the master and the blacks became aliens in their own country.

Once, under TDM we were a nation well on the way of shedding our underdeveloped-country cloak. 

TDM was branded as a dictator by the west.

LKY brandished his designer democracy and is applauded for his success.

And suddenly everything chinese is  magically correct. 

"... Chinese parents can get away with things that Western parents can't..."

No more French, many would choose Mandarin as a second language. That's the language of the biggest economic power now.

Exercise in older adults improves memory

One year of moderate physical exercise can increase the size of the brain's hippocampus in adults aged 55 and more, leading to an improvement in spatial memory, a new study showed.

The hippocampus is a brain structure involved in all forms of memory formation.

The study -- conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Illinois, Rice University, and Ohio State University -- appears in the January 31 issue of "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

"The results of our study are particularly interesting in that they suggest that even modest amounts of exercise by sedentary older adults can lead to substantial improvements in memory and brain health," said Art Kramer, director of the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois and the senior author.

"Such improvements have important implications for the health of our citizens and the expanding population of older adults worldwide."

For their project, scientists recruited 120 sedentary older people without dementia and randomly placed them in one of two groups -- those who began an exercise regimen of walking around a track for 40 minutes a day, three days a week, or those limited to stretching and toning exercises.

The results showed that the aerobic exercise group demonstrated an increase in volume of the left and right hippocampus of 2.12 percent and 1.97 percent, respectively.

The same regions of the brain in those who did stretching exercises decreased in volume by 1.40 and 1.43 percent, respectively.

"We think of the atrophy of the hippocampus in later life as almost inevitable," said Kirk Erickson, professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and the paper's lead author. "But we've shown that even moderate exercise for one year can increase the size of that structure. The brain at that stage remains modifiable."

[from here]

In the name of democracy - Public Farting

When Malawi was under the rule of a dictator, people were afraid to fart in public. Since the last dictator was removed 16 years ago, the people thoroughly revel in their newfound freedom brought by democracy. 


A Malawi cabinet minister said democracy in the country has encouraged PUBLIC FARTING. It is becoming such a nuisance that the lawmakers will next week debate a law to CRIMINALISE public farting.


In 1929, a law was introduced which states "Any person who voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour"


Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, George Chaponda said, "The government has a right to ensure public decency. We are entitled to introduce order in the country"


Hence the amendment to the existing law is proposed which will make farting in public an offence.


The democratic government also ban long hair for men and trouser wearing for women. [from here]


Singapore is a democratic country. It is so successful that the people only need one party. Opposition has no place there because the government is so very efficient and and its people are all so happy and contented.


We succumbed to pressure. We were TOLD we were not democratic enough. We marginalised the Chinese and the Indian.


Now, who said all that? 

HIKMAH

A long long time ago when I was 14 years old, a teacher put me in charge of the school magazine. Got myself a few friends to help me cut out prints using scissors (our own) and pasting each piece painstakingly to the 'typing' paper. The teacher gave me an old portable typewriter [can't remember the name -very popular brand then]. We had to buy our own glue. I didn't see the teacher until the day I hand in the final draft. It was left to me to get all materials including the foreword from the Principal and other education officers concerned.


Last year, I was made the secretary to the committee. I thought it would be a breeze because we have all the hardware and software needed to produce a school magazine.


I prepared a schedule and appointed students ... the way my teacher did. 


Then I had that bout with shingles followed by the great sail. I was missing from school until May.


All the while I took it for granted that the 'work' for the mag was undergoing.


Turned out I was misinformed.


When the final meeting was called, the mag was far from ready. Even the design for the cover was not in sight.


Deadline came and went and no mag in sight.


School ended and began for the new year and still the mag was not making any appearance.


I have never worked with MS Publisher before but I needed to come out with a mag.


After three sleepless weeks, I came up with a whole mag.

Phewwww!

Finally.

After struggling for the whole month, today I managed to hand Hikmah to the publisher. Hopefully, it will be ready before SPM result is announced at the end of this month otherwise it will be another headache.

Moral of the story, it helps a lot to know how to use MS Publisher.