THE END OF THE BALI TRIP

Arrived home safely at 5:15 a.m. after the 5-day trip to Bali. It was an amazing experience altogether - culture and custom, religion and myth, history and nature, all came together in one package.

I am so NOT ready for school tomorrow but life has to go on. God please give me strength to get back to my normal life. I had too much of paradise already. 

And I would like to thank my travel companion this time, Mr. Asrulnizam Mohd. Nor, for the great time exploring some parts of Bali in the chartered car (or was that an MPV?) driven by the guide, Pak Dwi.

Don't forget to check my blog for more stories, pictures and videos of the wonderful people and island of Bali.

BLOGGING FROM LEGIAN. BALI, INDONESIA

Here I am for another getaway for the mid term school holiday. Will be in Bali for 5 days but too bad I cannot upload any photos from the hotel's PC so we have to wait when I go back home. The real sight-seeing trip will start tomorrow and looking forward to a new kind of experience. *yeay*

Happy holidays, everybody!

QUR'AN RECITAL BEFORE THE SUBUH PRAYER AT THE BLUE MOSQUE

While waiting for people to come to the mosque to perform the "Subuh" (early morning) prayer, the imam (the person who leads the prayer) first read a few verses from from the Holy Qur'an and I think he must be an ALHAFIZ - someone who could memorize the Qur'an. 

Everything was just peaceful. The morning was cold, the mosque beautiful and the voice reciting the holy verses was soothing - it would heal any soul listening to it. I just wish I could lie down, close my eyes and listen and I wonder if I die there, would I wake up in heaven.

THE CALL FOR SUBUH PRAYER FROM THE BLUE MOSQUE

The call for subuh (early morning) prayer (azan) from the Blue Mosque. Something that had made my visit to Istanbul a significant one.

PTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013

A report in brief of what happened today in school (in holiday mode - that's why it's short)

(1) Registration of parents, teachers and award recipients.

(2) The meeting in progress.

(3) The arrival of the guest of honour.

(4) dance and nasyid performance

(5) speeches.

(6) prize-giving ceremony

T H E   E N D 

(now we can enjoy the view from under the leafless tree, like in Istanbul)

 

NOTE: all the pictures were courtesy of Puan Yasirah Yazid.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 3

A banner found in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Similar error committed among Malaysians.

SPM 2012 EXAM RESULT WAS OUT TODAY

outside the hall

The moment everyone had been waiting for - especially students taking the SPM examination in the year 2012. The result was released today and the excitement could be seen and felt by the presence of ex-students to school in the morning.

busy teachers with the results

parents and students waiting at the hall

excellent students receiving exam result slips

the high flyers

Sorry I did not have neither the full result nor the list of names of people who scored straight A's. However I was told that there are 19 people who managed to score all A's in all the subjects they took for the exam.

To all who have secured excellent results, congratulations and for those whose expectations were not met, please do no feel sad. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING and you should be prepared for the long and winding road ahead.

*NOTE:

PICTURES TAKEN FROM PUAN YASIRAH'S FACEBOOK.

MY COLLECTIBLES - "KAIN PELIKAT"

One of the items that I managed to gather during the spring cleaning session a few months back were the many pieces of "kain pelikat". "Kain pelikat" is a sarong [a word that is already coined into the English language] worn by Malay men either at home or when going to the mosque or attending a "tahlil" at a neighbour's house. 

Nowadays, "kain pelikat" comes in variety of colours and designs and people would mix and match it with their piece of "baju melayu" - a Malay traditional costume, but the top part only.

"Kain pelikat" has been one of the prominent souvenirs that people bring back when visiting places like the East Coast of Malaysia or even Sarawak, for example. There were events when the hosts gave away "kain pelikat" as door gifts to the guests. 

I know I don't have to buy any. For one thing, this piece of cloth lasts long and after years of wearing the sane piece, you will get accustomed to its comfort and softness.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 2

... and I spied with my little eye, in Istanbul.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 1

The grammar policeman was still on the prowl, in Istanbul.

For the second word, the first two letters are not visible in the picture which are the "R" and "E".

So can you spot the error?

ATATURK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ISTANBUL

I arrived earlier at Ataturk International airport to catch my flight home as I had a very bad experience entering Turkey at the immigration checkpoint. Thank God, praised be to Allah, everything was fine and the travel document was cleared in just a breeze.

I met with this one sweet Japanese lady while checking in at the airline counter. Tourists are actually friendly people, we could simply strike a conversation and keep on talking (as there is nothing much to do.) She had been staying in Istanbul for 10 days and we happened to be in the same flight to Abu Dhabi.

I was rewarded for talking to her: I was given a packet of Japanese candy where if you look real close you could see images/pictures being drawn on individual piece of candy. Too bad, I can't even remember her name and I feel even bad that I could not return her kindness. If she contacts me, then I will post to her something small from Malaysia. And the moral of the story is: courtesy costs nothing.

"There's nothing like an airport that bring you down to earth"

~ Richard Gordon ~

OF A REPLACEMENT SCHOOL DAY ON SATURDAY AND POTLUCK

Today was a replacement school day and as it was done on a Saturday.  As expected, not many students turned up. A pot luck was planned beforehand for the teachers in the staffroom and today, the plan was executed. It was always a success. The main dish chosen was "mee kari" (translate: curry noodles).

The potluck today was actually the second one done this year. The first one was carried out in conjunction with the Chinese New Year but I forgot to publish the story.

These are just the beginning people, I am sure there will be other potluck sessions coming soon. (P.S.: There is one more replacement school day in April).

THE LAST DAY IN ISTANBUL

13th February ~ All good things must come to an end. It was the last day in Istanbul and with a few hours left, the best thing for me to do was to take in a deep breath, absorb the beauty of the surrounding and wish that I could come back here again one day (or perhaps other parts of Turkey).

After four short days in Istanbul, I think I had seen what I was supposed to see and it was definitely a pleasant and memorable experience. Thanks to my friend, Mr. Razib, for agreeing to divert to Istanbul from our original plan and we shall see where we should go after this trip.

"Like all great travellers,

I have seen more than I remember,

and remember more than I have seen."  

~ Benjamin Disraeli ~