Eid festive wish

Bismillah.

Deary readers,

Eid Mubarak to all muslims wherever you are celebrating it.

Let's forgive each other and visit family and relatives. 

It is the best time now!

May all of us have a blissful and joyous one.

:)

Much love from Malaysia,

Tasneem Y.

In the name of Allah...

Bismillah.

Bismillah. What does this word means? Bismillah? It is an Arabic word which brings the meaning, "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate."

I feel moved to share a scene in my life that has to do with this common word, which is being cited countlessly everyday by a Muslim.

This happened when I was in Bosnia. In my office cubicle, there were four of us. All man except me. And the one who had always have the time to 'entertain' my long listed queries is Haris. He was sitting next to my desk plus he is more fluent in English than the rest in the cube so that explains why he had to answer me. Hehe. 

One day, he offered me a snack , Štapići, a salty stick biscuits. 

I took it right away and after the first bite, Haris said to me in puzzled face; 


Haris  : " Hey, you were saying something". 


I stopped chewing and asked him back.


Me      :  " What did I say?".
Haris  :  "You were saying something right before you eat."


Then only I understood what he meant.


Me     : " I was saying Bismillah."
Haris  :"I know but we say that only when we are having a feast like when iftaar and during eid etc."
Me     :"Oh. I suppose we say that everytime before we eat or drink. No matter how big is the   
            meal." 

                                                                                ...

What I would like to highlight from the story above is that, I would not have realized that I recited Bismillah if Haris did not mention it to me. It is good that he asked. That made me think that, one could actually done something naturally, if it is done repeatedly. That when it becomes a habit or natural, one might not notice it anymore.

I read it somewhere from religious storybook when I was little. There is a story of a woman who always say Bismillah everytime she is about to do anything. Before cooking, before eating, before working. Her husband just could not get his wife's behaviour. So one day he put her on trial. He emptied a wheat jar his wife usually use in cooking before his wife comes into the kitchen that day. When the wife came to the kitchen to cook, she took the wheat jar and before opened it, as usual she said "Bismillah". MashaAllah, as God has willed, she scooped out the wheat and start cooking. The husband who was hiding behind was very surprised to see that there the jar is filled! He was very sure that no one get into the kitchen after he emptied the jar and went into hiding and was waiting all the way for his wife to come in. Unbelievable but true. Allahu akbar!

Such a wonderful story we can learn from. Now, I try to make it a habit too. To say Bismillah before getting into vehicles, before making telephone calls, or when I am about to step out from the elevator. ;) 

Because I believe in the word. Because you know that you are asking Allah for his blessings on whatever you do. I don't think a person would say Bismillah before committing a crime or stealing. That would be twisted. ;) 

"Sayyidina Ali (ra) was reported to have said that saying Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim is a duaa that helps simplify a hard task and removes grief and brings happiness to the heart."

Bismillah. It may be just a word. But it has made and will make a difference! 

And I shed a tear to a goodbye

Bismillah.

Today is the day where they will leave Malaysia. Again. After spending a week here. They are going home tonight. Midnight flight as scheduled. Time flies and that I feel a lot when best things happen.

I wish I could send them off to the airport. To bid and wave final goodbye. Unfortunately I'm working today. But I told myself that I would give them a call before midnight. Before they go on board.

After I reached home at about 9pm, and was doing some cleaning, I was thinking of them. Really. How yesterday's outing was greatly good yet too short. Imagining that they are not going home for good tonight. Hoping to rewind it some other times again.

When I walked into my room, I checked my phone. And saw a text message and one missed call.

*Oh my oh my* 

I touched on the envelope icon on screen and the message says;

"Selam, we are heading towards airport, we all feel that time spent with you was too short, all the best to you and your families, Seida, Serif, Davud n Delila..."

:')

Quickly, I checked out call log on the phone, and it was from Serif. 

With an overwhelming heart, I returned the call and we were exchanging words and best wishes. And both were wishing, hoping and praying that we could meet again in future. Whether in Malaysia or Bosnia. As Seida said earlier, she always prayed to come back to Malaysia and when all of us were least expecting it, thought that it was almost impossible, Allah has granted and allowed them to walk again in the land of Malaysia. Allahu akbar! Never lose hope in Allah. Never. :') And I can then meet them in my country this time. 

And I can't put words on how I felt after we hung up the phone. All I know I was shedding tears. Oh how I love them in the name of Allah. Never that I regretted my decision taking the path to Bosnia and to have met them. And everyone there. 

"O Allah, bless them. And their land.

And let me walk in Bosnia again. Ameen Ya Robb."

ćao ćao i vidimo se, inshallah!

Paris, when it sizzles

Bismillah.

What a long break I took to resume on my journal on Europe Trip which had been discontinued for couple of months. Okay. After strolling in Swiss, we are here in France. Paris to be precise. City of love, most people claim. Really? Hehe. We spent two two days there and were lucky to have our friend from same faculty who did her internship in Paris to take us around on a sight seeing. Thanks to Pika and also Jason! ;))) We owe you!

Breakfast. Say hi to Ms Pika, the one with blue sunglass.

Arch de Triomphe. This is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. We see this a lot in movies. Can you name any movie which has this in it?  :)

Arch de Triomphe again.

The Arc de Triomphe (in English: "Triumphal Arch") honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. (Wikipedia)

Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

Postcard, anyone?

Next, we went to public garden in Paris where Parisians celebrated, met, promenaded, and relaxed. Tuileries Garden.

Buat macam ni kat Malaysia, memang hangus.

OK. Tak payah tunggu kat Malaysia. Kat sini pun boleh 'garing' dah. hahaha

Behind us is the Tuileries Palace. Was a royal palace. The palace looks so 'Cinderella'. Fairy-tale like setting.

This triagular monuments is called The Louvre. It is located at Louvre Palace and also a museum. It is one of the world's largest museum and most visited art museum. 

Notre Dame de Paris which means Our Lady of Paris. It is actually a cathedral. It is known widely of its finest example of French Gothic architecture.

Do you see that? Those people are actually lining up to get into the cathedral. Very very long queue. A friend of ours say it was like a church day. That is why the cathedral was crowded that day.

Next, we took  public tansit system, Paris Metro. It is similar to our LRT and Monorel. However, it is actually one of the densest metro networks in the world, with 245 stations! Can you imagine? That's a lot! Huhu.

Here, we are, finally. Arriving at people most dreamed place to be. Alhamdulillah. I'm looking at Eiffel Tower with my bare two eyes. 

I used to dream of being in Paris when I was a kid. But then I came back to reality with thought of, "Nah. It is impossible to go as far as France". But, then, when I saw Eiffel, I pinched myself to make sure I was not dreaming. Ever since, I told myself nothing is impossible. Never doubt what Allah might have stores for you. Referring to Surah Al Baqarah, ayat 117, that translated;

"Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is."

This magnificent building will not stand if it is not because of the Creator granted knowledge and inspiration to human being. So, if we are impressed by human's creation, we must be highly impressed by who creates this human, am I right? Subhanallah! :)

The city of Paris. Nice,man.

We chilled for a while.  Mr and Ms Tour Guide sitting on the pavement. The day was bright and sunny and it was hot considering the transition season from winter to spring. It was almost 5 months of freezing and dryness and suddenly we were sweating and tanned! :P

Below is Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. It is actually a church built in 1875. You can find variety product line of souvenirs just down the road before you hike up to this church.

And careful with the street magic trick performer (usually they are immigrants) around this area. If you look or stare at them, they would go up to you, and perform the trick and ask you to involve by showing you which string to pick and when they have finished, they will ask you for money. Therefore, do not look at them. Some might cheat on collecting donor for disabled and poor kids. Just ignore them all and make sure you guard all your belongings especially your begs. This is normal and it happens anywhere. Just don't be surprise if you see they are more aggressive there since Paris is one of the world's top tourism area and high cost of living. By the way, you are there to see beautiful city of Paris, not them. Just be careful. :)

We had biryani rice for lunch and it was so filling and successfully cracked my craving. Yummieh! After visiting Basilica, we jumped on the Metro, since our kind guide, Pika was on a schedule. So, we headed home.

And I was so excited to meet up with one of my close classmate that evening, who did her internship in Abu Dhabi. She flew all the way from U.A.E. to Europe on a trip with her husband. :) I was so happy she waited for me before she departed on EuroStar train to Prague that night. I didn't know what to give her, so I just bought juice drink for her from Carrefour. ;)

Fatima and me

That night, after dawn, we slipped into the city again to see Paris at night. Mostly, we got into shopping stores (Our target is H&M! :p ) The night still young for Parisians but not for us. Our feet are hurt after a long day of walking and we need to get rest for another journey on the next day.

Destination: Frankfurt, Germany

When Malaysian goes to Vietnam

Bismillah.

Arrived in Ho Chi Minh city two days ago along with my parents and my little sister. Just four of us. Were four of us. Now, just the three of us. Last night, we sent mother to the airport since she has to work today. We spent the last two days solely for shopping. Mother had always been the one all geared up and had been pulling us around to here and there. It is like she had the map and travel guide in her head. She could remember stores and streets very well. I know she had been looking forward to shop in Vietnam. Mother is always passionate about shopping which somehow I think is good. Now that she's gone home, i wonder what my day here in Saigon would be like.

And guess what, i think most Malay from Malaysia are like that. You see, when were walking around in the city, it was very easy to spot another Malay Malaysian in sight. I don't see many Chinese Malaysian here. Or maybe they look alike with the local Vietnamese that I don't recognized them. So far, I've met only one group of Chinese Malaysian and one group of Indian Malaysian. Other than that, Malay and Malay again. You can recognize them from their veil/hijab style and clothing. And their hands are always full of plastic shopping bags. That's what I'm talking about. Malaysian like to shop especially when the place offers cheap and various things to shop. Trust me. I have seen it Bandung and Bangkok. Now, I'm witnessing it again in Vietnam.

I think the reason of this phenomenon is due to the rising of low cost airlines systems in Malaysia. The famous AirAsia tagline, "Now everyone can fly" really works. You can even save up to 70% if you booked a year in advance. This low cost airlines has opened the opportunity for everyone to go abroad and thus, expanding their shopping coverage. To go shopping in neighbouring countries is way cheaper especially going to country that has lower currency rate than your country. :) And you know what, last night when we were lining up to check-in at the airport, most of people are Malaysian! I think they might be in the same case like my mother where they go travel and/or shop just for the weekend. Remember again, that "Now everyone can fly"? hehe.

we were in the queue for check-in. See those people behind us?

sorry for the blurry image

People can escape fromm their routine workloads in the weekdays and escape in the weekend! As they say, borderless world. huh? Thanks to AirAsia for making people less stress and spend less money. ;)

I will write more on travel in Vietnam. Stay tune.