Maher Zain Live in Concert 2011

Alhamdulillah, I've been waiting for this for quite some time and last night it become true. The first and the best concert I've ever attend, yet!

The rainy night of February 25th, 2011 witnessed Melawati Stadium filled with more than 7000 people for Maher Zain Live in Concert. My seat was actually very far left which will let me see nothing but the stage. Thanks to Adib's friend, Azfar who offered to take my ticket and giving his guest tickets to us. The seats happens to be at the centre of the third floor. Even though it's quite far, we can see everything! :D

Adib, my date :)

The MCs, Farahdiba and 'the guy' I'm not sure what's his name (sorry!) opened the night reminding all the audience that we are doing this for Allah's redha. The concert was started by energetic performance by Inteam which also the people responsible on bringing Maher Zain and friends for this event. Then Irfan Makki who originates from Pakistan but now lives in Canada performs three songs: Mother, Waiting for The Call and a wedding song (I forgot the title). Despite the great performances, everybody can't hide their eagerness for the man of the show. Not long after he appears singing Allahuakbar. It was a nice choice for an opener.

Inteam

Songs from were then sung for the next 1 hour, and everybody seems to be enjoying their selves. I realized everytime he is about to sing a song, he'll say bismillah. And a lot of mashaAllah and alhamdulillah along the concert. What a good example.

Fadly, the vocalis of Padi band (Indonesia) made an appearance featuring in InshaAllah song (Malaysia/Indonesia? version). Then the stage was joined by Mesut Kurtis and five children to sing Never Forget. They were very cute :)

Maher Zain rest for a while to give a chance for Mesut Kurtis to perform three songs. I realized this Turkish singer was bless with a very manly voice, and many of his songs are traditional zikir and solawat which I think suits him really well. One worth a mention is Burdah.

Maher Zain - The closest shot of him from my seat

Maher Zain came back to stage singing Allahi Allah Kiya Karo with Irfan Makki. He then surprises us with his new song which he just wrote exactly a week and a half ago. Freedom, inspired by the struggle of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and neighboring countries which started in the past few months succeed in bringing the message to the audiences.

Announcing his last song InshaAllah in the Malay Version, everybody cheered but at the same time feeling very sad to know it's ending.
After the song ends, he said "Unfortunately that was really my last song." Everybody seems dissappointed.
Then he said indifferently, "Okay, everybody is tired, lets go home." That made us laugh.
"One more song?"
We said, "Yesssssss...!" More than anything!
"InsyaAllah... next year!" he laughs.

He looked at us and with a big smile on his face he said, "Okay two more songs! What do you want me to sing?"
We were so happy, some screamed out their favorite songs. For The Rest of My Life was the most screamed by the crowd.
"What about I sing Freedom first, and then The Rest of My Life, okay?", he offered.
We were euphoric. He then asked us to open our cellphone's light and wave it in the air. Everyone did it and the scene was like the night sky filled with dancing stars. It lits up the atmosphere.
As Maher Zain sings The Rest of My Life, the stadium echoed with the voices of the fans singing along.

Seeing the great respond from the crowd, he offers to sing InshaAllah once again, this time the English version. We sang along, feeling very satisfied and amused by this amazing night. MashaAllah.

Before excusing himself, Maher Zain thanks everybody who had contributed to realize the concert, giving credits to the percussions group and back-up singers, and to all the audiences for great support.

It ends at 12am and I went home with a big smile. Alhamdulillah :D


-IMAN NAILAH 2011-

What day is it? : A GREAT DAY!

What makes today a great day?

1. At last i finished my Public Health examination, after 12 weeks full of proposals, reports, presentations, and three exams! The exams went well (at least that's what I think), with the last exam (with dr. Joko) gave me a satisfaction which is what I seek in all the exams I sit, no matter what the results are. Alhamdulilah~ AT LAST, I can go back to the place I belong: hospitals. I can't imagine I'm saying this, but I really miss the hospital. (I hope I'm not regretting this in the future~)

2. Iffah got 5As! Alhamdulillah!!! We all have faith in her, knowing she studied hard and always certain with what she wants in life just doesn't bring surprise when the result was out. She deserve it and I know she'll continue her excellence in the time to come... Iffah, I'm very proud of u, and not just because of your achievement, but also because who u are. I'm glad to be ur sister. Keep it up girl~ \(^_^)/

3. My old friend met his special one(I'm not quite sure, but it seems like it~). This might not sound very significant, but for me it means a lot. No need to elaborate further about who is he, how and why...the point is, I'm happy that he's happy, in the way that I hope he would be happy. Not that I know what's best for him, but maybe I'm sure for quite sometime I've made him unhappy. I'm really sorry. May Allah bless u with the best. U deserve it.

4. A friend had gone through brain operation this morning due to a brain tumor. We visited him yesterday, hoping everything's gonna be fine and the operation goes well. We have been told that the tumor is located in the front part of the brain that functions in thinking and vision, which we afraid could be impaired as a result of the operation. Alhamdulillah, he wakes up this afternoon in a good condition. I pray that he recovers fast and he can continue his study. He's a bright student, and going through all the hardship and ordeal, he'll become a better person and a better doctor, InsyaAllah.

No more can I say other than, ALHAMDULILLAH! What more can u ask for?

IMAN NAILAH 2009

Seindah Biasa

Ho! Abah tak prepare lagi umi dah snap~ hehe... spontanious=nice!

"Senyumlaaa..."
Sempat jumpe Adib sekali je kat sekolah die (Sains Seremban) cz die nak exam. Walaupun sekejap, it was a moment to remember... :)

Cuba cari persaamaan di antara dua wajah ini~ (banyak sangat orang kata takde resemblance...)

He's very tired at this point after one whole day packed with landscaping and travelling around to open houses, yet still tetap mesra and ceria...

~aaaam! *sweeet*

terserlah ke'naughty'an AfiQ!

Iffah; lembut di luar, keras di dalam. Lovely, yet it's very hard to change her mind. A very unique person whom I respect... (despite her being much younger than me)

Ija! She's a very curious little girl which I believe will be a very intelligent young woman in the future.

*Secangkir teh susu adalah tanda kasih dan rindu

buat seorang cucu yang nyanyuknya lebih parah dari seorang nyai
belum kering pusara sang suami
senyum tawa tak kunjung lengang
ligat bicara dan senyum yang setia mengundang hangat di jiwa*
she's my one and only Nyai...*love*

IMAN NAILAH 2009

He Will Always Stays in Our Heart

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

"Jangan tinggal sembahyang...", that was his only reminder to me before I flew to Makassar to further my study. He was my grandfather, Hj. Moin.

He passed away at 11.45pm yesterday, July 29th 2009 at his house in Kampung Baru Kuala Lumpur. He died because of his weak heart, at the age of 86.

From what abah said, he went away peacefully. He even asked for a tasbih before he go. He was an obedient muslim, a great husband, father of five successful children, and a lovable grandfather to 23 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He will always in our heart.

Al-Faatihah.

IMAN NAILAH 2009

noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Istimewa Buat UMI Yang Kucinta ~ Selamat Hari Ibu!

My mom (Noraini binti Ishak) n me 4 years ago~ tak same kan muke? huhu

Yang teduh dan rendang

Hijau dan tenang

Engkau tempat bertandang

Melabuh kaki yang pincang.

Engkau pemain layang-layang,

dan pemantun undang-undang

Tak pernah gersang sayang

Walau sampai ke petang.

Melayangnya helang

kilau rubi bak andang

dan teratai yang kambang

adalah datang-

dari ilmu sekarung gudang,

sabar seluas pandang,

dan kasihmu bak laut pasang.

Tiga kali nama diulang

di bibir junjungan terbilang

Dikaulah tempat berhutang

yang kunjung jelang dan dikenang.

(buat ummiku yang tak tergantikan, aku merindumu!)

7 Mei 2009

IMAN NAILAH 2009

noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Jantung Yai

“Assalamualaikum wbt. SMS dari abg Usop (abang sulung abah), tadi bapak pergi routine check-up kat hospital. Buat CT-scan dada, doktor kate ada dua pembuluh darah kat jantung dah melebar dan boleh pecah anytime. Sama-samalah kita doakan semoga bapak dilindungi Allah.”

Kaget mendapat sms dari abah di waktu sedang ward-round dengan doktor specialist di Rumah Sakit Umum Salewangang, Maros. Fikiran hilang fokus, apa yang dibicarakan doktor jadi seperti kekicau burung yang sayup-sayup kedengaran. Hatiku pedih, seperti luluh meleleh dari tubuh. Mataku mulai kabur, berat dengan airmata yang tak tertahan.

Terbayang wajah Yai (baca ya-yi = datuk dalam bahasa Jawa) yang mesra. Terakhir aku bertemu Yai tujuh minggu lalu, beliau kelihatan sihat sekali. Makannya penuh selera, bercerita ceria, senyumnya tak pernah lewa. 18 tahun dulu, Yai mendukung tubuh mungilku ke atas skuter hijau miliknya. Aku lengkap berpakaian baju kurung hijau dengan tudung tersarung di kepalaku. Aku berdiri di antara kepala skuter dan tempat duduk, kuat berpegang pada handle motor. Tak sampai 5 minit, kami sampai ke Tadika Islam Kampung Baru. Aku mencium tangan Yai dan masuk menyertai teman-temanku. Begitulah setiap hari aku dihantar dijemput Yai.

Sekarang senyum itu masih hijau dalam memori. Manakan tidak, ia tidak pernah berhenti.

Gagal Jantung

”Jantung yai memang dah lemah, sekarang asyik pengsan-pengsan. Selalu dia tidur je. Pegi toilet pun kena pakai kerusi roda.”, ayahku bercerita di hujung telefon. Setahuku dulu tekanan darah Yai memang rendah, sampai abah pernah konsul kepadaku tentang itu. Jawabku (dengan ilmu teoriku yang sangat minimum) menyarankan supaya Yai diberi minum air garam untuk menaikkan tekanan darahnya.

Setiap kali bertemu Yai, tak pernah aku lihat dia dalam keuzuran atau lemah biar jantungnya semakin lelah bekerja. Tiap kali ditanya pertanyaan ”Yai sihat?”, jawapannya pasti ”Alhamdulillah!” dengan penuh semangat dan ceria. Yai tak pernah mau menyusahkan orang lain.

Lemah jantung? Maksudnya sudah gagal jantung kerana definisi dari penyakit ini adalah kelainan dari struktur atau fungsi dari jantung yang mengganggu kemampuannya membekalkan aliran darah yang adekuat untuk memenuhi keperluan tubuh. Penyebabnya bervariasi dan antara gejala pentingnya adalah bengkak-bengkak (dari kaki, tangan, perut dan wajah), sesak nafas, dan setahuku biasanya mereka akan mengalami tekanan darah tinggi dan bukan sebaliknya.

Kompensasi

Suatu fitrah dalam setiap benda hidup adanya proses kompensasi dan adaptasi dengan setiap perubahan. Manusia yang tidak pintar biasanya akan berkompensasi dengan belajar lebih kuat dari orang yang pintar, pohon yang kekurangan air akan berkompensasi dengan membentuk akar yang lebih panjang untuk menyerap air dari tanah yang lebih jauh, dan jantung yang lemah akan berkompensasi dengan memompa lebih kuat supaya darah sampai ke setiap bahagian tubuh. Rupanya sebelum tekanan darah Yai jadi rendah, ia sempat tinggi sebelumnya sehinggakan beliau diberikan ubat tekanan darah tinggi dari doktor yang merawatnya. Selama ini Yai minum ubat tersebut terus-menerus tanpa menyedari bahawa tekanan darahnya mulai turun secara perlahan-lahan sehingga Yai mudah sekali pengsan setiap habis minum ubat. Rupa-rupanya jantungnya sudah tak mampu lagi berkompensasi.

Klasifikasi gagal jantung menurut New York Heart Association Functional Classification:

• Class I: no limitation is experienced in any activities; there are no symptoms from ordinary activities.
• Class II: slight, mild limitation of activity; the patient is comfortable at rest or with mild exertion.
• Class III: marked limitation of any activity; the patient is comfortable only at rest.
• Class IV: any physical activity brings on discomfort and symptoms occur at rest.

Mendengar dari keadaan Yai sekarang, mungkin gagal jantungnya sudah mencapai kelas III. Doktor yang merawat melihat adanya penanganan untuk Yai iaitu pembedahan janutng, namun melihatkan dari umur Yai yang mencapai 87 tahun ini, beliau melihat lebih banyak kekurangan dari pilihan tersebut. Kurangnya kemampuan untuk proses penyembuhan, risiko untuk gagal yang tinggi dan biaya yang mahal adalah faktor-faktor yang ditimbang oleh doktor untuk tidak menyarankan pilihan tersebut.

Pilihan Terakhir

Mempelajari sendiri tentang gagal jantung di bahagian Internal Medicine sekarang, aku faham dengan perjalanan penyakit tersebut dan sedar ke arah mana sedang ditujui Yai. Cuma emosi yang berfluktuasi membuat aku tidak rasional buat seketika.

“Abah jaga Yai baik-baik tau. Jangan bagi Yai meninggal sebelum Iman balik tau…”

Aku merengek seperti anak kecil. Tapi siapalah yang bisa aku tipu? Seraksasa bintang pun akan berkecai dengan izin-Nya, apatah lagi nyawa seorang hamba. Kami pasrah dan yakin inilah yang telah direncanakan Allah untuk Yai. Apapun terjadi nanti, walaupun aku tak dapat melihatnya buat kali terakhir, aku persiapkan diriku untuk itu. Buat masa sekarang, aku doakan Yai tenang dan kuat menghadapi penyakitnya. Semoga Allah mengampunkan segala dosa-dosanya dan menyediakan sebuah mahligai syurga untuknya.

“Yai, kenal tak siapa yang datang tu?” tanya Nyai (baca nya-yi = nenek) di suatu hari pada awal bulan Januari tahun ini sewaktu aku pulang menziarahi mereka. Kami tersenyum-senyum menunggu jawapan Yai yang semakin mudah lupa.

“Tahulah…anak si Aim(Rahim)!” jawabnya penuh yakin. Kami berderai ketawa. Moga saat berharga itu terus mekar di jiwaku biar dia tiada lagi di sisi kami.

IMAN NAILAH 2009
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Meaningful Days

Can't believe the holiday is coming to an end in a few more days. The days I've been having were far from what I've expected, or maybe of what I have hoped. Honestly, I was hoping that this Aidilfitri would be so 'meriah', getting to meet with everyone of my family members. But that dream was vanished when I get to know that only two other families is going to join us this first raya in Kampung Baru. Well, it's something to be thankful for, a lot better than having no family members with you during raya.

That night we went back to Melaka at Kuala Linggi, surprised to see Mak Syam was already there. Mak Syam is my mom's elder sister who usually get back in second or third raya when the turn comes for their first raya at her husband's kampung at Puchong. Because of illness, she was very sick last raya that she can't go beraya. Alhamdulillah this Aidilfitri, she seem a whole lot better despite of her illness and she manage to make a moderate raya preparation.

Allahyarham Pakcik Rahim with beige baju Melayu last year

Something I realized this raya is that we didn't go to visit as many houses we usually go in the previous years. I don't know why, but it seems like the spirit of raya kind a fade a little bit this year. In most of the visits, my dad is the only married guy in the group. My first aunt's husband had passed away last march due to chronic heart failure (Al-Faatihah for his soul) while Mak Syam's husband had to get back to Puchong in the first raya for a definite reason. One have been divorced and the other have a husband with no interest in visiting people he didn't know is also another reasons contributing to that condition.

I made another funny dream this raya - collecting the most duit raya I ever had! This also is far from achieved as I am so grown-up that I look like my mom's sister. There it goes again, seeing people awe-ing to the fact that I'm abah's daughter rather that his 'second wife'! I need to positive my mind thinking abah just look younger that his real age, and I'm as normal as my age. (Pleeeeassse don't say I look old for my age :( )

This seemed so negative all the way down, but do I feel terrible? No. I didn't get what I hope, but who am I to know what's best to hope for? I got more than what I could ever imagine.

My new house or should I say, my new HOME in section is a sweet surprise. It's not like I didn't know it's existence, it's just I was so ignorant before that I didn't have the interest of checking it out during it was constructed. I even slept in the car when the others even my youngest brother (Afiq) went in the under construction house. The first time I lay my eyes on it is from a couple of pictures ummi had sent via email. Having a rough image of it, I come to be impressed when I first saw it in front of me in the early Ramadhan. It's not big, simple, and classy-modern, even without fences and grasses at the compound(yet), I like it. Even though I felt a bit sad leaving my 'growing up' home in Section 19 that I stared to it for about 15 minutes (after performing tarawih prayers) recalling all the memories I have, as we lived 11 years in that house.

The best thing is to be so close to ummi. For all these years, being her daughter, I never been so close to her as we've been this holiday. Thanx to our new house as the biggest contributor, we became together a lot in tidying up the house, shopping for the furniture, discussing about the house decorations and interior designs, and a whole lot more talking about cooking, raya, her past, my future and many more. Getting to know more about someone whom you thought you already knew is amazing. It made me realize how neglectful I was of small tiny bit things that are so significant, so meaningful and so precious. There was one day where I made mango juice for breaking fast, and gave her a glass of it. She didn't even have a sip. I wonder...and with a smile she said, "I don't drink mango juice...you know how weird is my taste...". I was disappointed. Disappointed with myself. How can I not know this? If only I pay more attention before... I came to appreciate her more day by day. Ohh...how can I go back when things are going so good between us...? I can't imagine departing away from her... I love her so much!!!

I'm feeling so nervous about going back to Makassar. It's a new world. It's the real world. See u soon Makassar!

IMANNAILAH 2008
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Malaysia...here I am!

Assalamu'alaikum wbt...

Alhamdulillah, in Malaysia I am...
gathered again with my beloved family! :)

To all my friends in Malaysia, be sure to meet me during Raya k!
This is not a promise, but a hope...
by the way, we've moved to Seksyen 8, Shah Alam!
Our house is still under construction, some finishing and furnishing...
Hope it will be done before Raya...(will it? doubt it looking at the way it is now...huhu)

An important announcement: It might be quite difficult to ctc me thru friendster and YM due to no internet service(yet) in my house. So my blog is gonna be inactive for quite sometimes...hope not for long... :)

Well, can't wait to see everybody especially my best buddies...
Love to here from all of you...
Wallahu'alam.

2nd Day - Bandung All The Way!

Assalamualaikum, from Jakarta once again!

Last night I slept at 4am and only got about one hour sleep. Woke up at 5.17am, I perform Subuh prayer, and then hurrying for our 6.15am express train to Bandung. There's two classes to choose from; business and executive class. We took the executive class of Argo Gede train for Rp45,000 per person, providing air-conditioned space and some bakery for complement. The three hours journey brought my sister and I on a chat in the first hour. We talked about the past, the present and the future. How we've grown up and going on our own way. I'm glad we talked, cause this might be the last real face to face talk we ever have before she go to the US.

The next two hours, I explore Abah's Blackberry internet fuctionality, discovering some places of interest in Bandung. After listing down all the places recommended in the internet, I called a rental car driver, Pak Dadang (whom number also I got from the internet) to get his service for half day. I'm so lucky to get an available car and driver even though I'm calling on the same day. We agreed on the price of Rp300,000 covering everything, including benzene and parking.

For your information, the train also provide meals like Nasi Goreng, Nasi Campur etc, but of course it will be charged and I believe the price must be a lot more expensive than the one you get at regular stalls. The one thing that you should never miss is the scenery along the last one hour journey, where outside you can see how natures can capture your eyes. Mountains, rivers, hills with rice-plants on them, so tempting! Subhanallah!



We arrived in Bandung on 9.30am. We met Pak Dadang, our guide of the day and we're off for our shopping heaven!!! Bandung, here we come!!!

Our Bandung-Jakarta train is scheduled on 6.30pm, so we got about 9 hours to explore Bandung. I asked Pak Dadang to bring us to Jalan Dago, one of the places with lots of factory outlets besides Jalan Riau. We first were brought to Episode, a factory outlet selling branded clothes for the whole family.

We shop,and shop, and shop until we drop! Actually, I'm not really a shopping person, compared to some of my friends (ehem ehem...), but normal for gurls, you just can't resist when you see something with discounts, cheaper price, and moreover with special gift goes with it! So guys, don't blame our nature, just remind us when we are going too far...hehe

Abah also enjoyed shopping in Bandung, and for the record, Abah's the one who started the shopping thing when he found the cheap wide-range branded trousers. You name it- BOSS, HUGO, DOCKERS, they're all there. We were blinded! Well, I got a cool grey sweater for myself... ^_^



Then we went to Grande just across the road from Episode, then realizing it's lunch time, we searched for a Sunda restaurant. Pak Dadang brought us to this restaurant called Sindang Reret, quite an exclusive one. Try Gurame fish dish, and a drink named Neinang Strawberry (if I'm not mistaken), offers an exquisite taste!



Then we continue shopping at Toko Tiga, a store with a with variety of jeans-Levi's, Cardinal, Lois~ you name it! The cheapest is about Rp50,000, but the higher the price, the better the quality and the brand. Next stop, Stock Center, where we bought Iffah's and Afiq's(my younger sis and brother) a coat-blouse and a sweater. Oooh...can we not buy something anywhere we stop?

Abah made us realize that Pak Dadang will always get inside the shop after we finished buying things. Apparently, he went inside to get some commission for bringing some client to the shop. Business minded, I say!

We then drowned ourselves with bags! Handbags, backpacks, luggage-bags, oohh, we can't make up our mind! At last we ended up buying 9 bags, one for everybody - three for me! huhu The thing I realized is every store we stopped, there must be other Malaysians there too. I'm so amazed on how crazy Malaysians are in shopping! Well, that may includes me, but come on, if there's more Malaysian than other foreigner here, what else can that conclude?

Then I insist on getting some 'jajanan' to bring back for family and friends. We stopped at a stall selling many types of 'kerepek' and 'manisan' or more known as 'jeruk' in Bahasa Malaysia. Last stop is the specialty of Bandung! Who knows, raise your hand! Right!! Steamed Brownies!!! Yummy!



Allright, enough for the day. We managed to get on the train on time (thank God!), and have our rest after whole day shopping like crazy around Bandung. New place, new experience and new goods! Haha ^_~

Well, for those who's planning to get to Bandung, plan your spending. List down what you want to buy, know where your aimed destination, make some space in your luggage, and spend wisely! It may seem cheap, but buy only when you need it! Okay, I guess that's all for now. Have a nice day! ^_^"

Wassalam.

IMAN NAILAH 2008
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

My Adventure in Jakarta - Day 1

Assalamualaikum!

Guess what? I'm in Jakarta!
I'm here to gather with abah and my sis, Izzah who's going to fly to Pennsylvenia, USA this August to further her study in Biotechnolgy. She already had 2 years foundation in Intec, now is going to commit three years in the Penstate University to get her degree. Well, I'm so proud of her. She'll be going to the state of my parents' first meeting and my birth. :)

Enough with USA. What's with Jakarta? As all of you know, I'm studying in Unhas Makassar, in an island named Sulawesi situated far east, near Australia. So for the reason of meeting my sister for the last time before she fly (because I can't go back to Malaysia in the mean time due to a course work demanding me to go into the hinterland village until mid-August), my father and I planned for their visit to Indonesia. At first I just ask Abah to bring Izzah to Makassar, in order for me to meet her, but the meeting become a boring option when thinking about what's interesting things she'll be doing here (in Makassar). To be honest, Makassar is quite a dull place for a simple tourist. It has a few great nature attractions, but they are not really accomplished yet. If you demand on a great vacation in Indonesia, Makassar might not be among the options because of it's distant from Malaysia which will cause a larger spending on the plane ticket. There's no direct flight from KL-Makassar, so you need to take two flights, transits in Surabaya, Bali or Jakarta.

So planning on, we then chose Bandung as our meeting destination, but looking at the difficulties for me only to get there (again, you can hardly found a flight from Makassar to Bandung, excepts for a few expensive airlines like Merpati), we decide not to meet there. At last, considering everything at both sides, we made Jakarta our next adventure!

Taking LionAir, I arrived in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 7.30am. Alone, I encourage myself searching for the place to have my breakfast (LionAir did not provide any food, not even drinks!), then for the arrival gate of Airasia. After being guided by nice people of Jakarta to Terminal 2, I found people see myself a little bit weird waiting for other's arrival but with me is a very large baggage like I'm going to somewhere far. While looking at the people coming out from the arrival gate, I saw some Malaysians starting to walk out. Then I realized how much I missed Malaysia. At last I saw them. ^_^"

Hoping for a cheaper-rate taxi, we walk ourselves outside the airport, yeah, until beyond the airport toll. We realized there's no taxi waiting there, so Abah had to stop a taxi at the highway road! Then we head to Central Jakarta to check-in to The Acacia hotel Abah booked a week before. Greatest surprise in the room is -- there's a computer! And not just that, with a wireless unlimited-access internet!!! (the one I'm using rite now). We got to the room, explore a little bit, get some rest, have our lunch and headed for our first place to visit.

And to be honest, we were not so sure which place we should go first. We only planned for tomorrow trip to Bandung, but being clueless about today's vacation plan. We are so lucky to have the taxi driver as our travel guide who suggest us to go to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah at Ancol, 30 minutes from Central Jakarta. When we arrived,we were told by the taxi driver that the place is so big that we need to travel by car to explore all the mini parks there. So this means paying the taxi meter until the end of our exploration in the Taman Mini! Fuuh, that would take a few hours at least, how much that would cost? Abah who had realized this earlier had gave the driver some reminder to turn off the meter if we are not moving. Meaning if we stops somewhere then the meter should stop too. Fair enough I think. So we take some pictures, walk a little bit, and then take some more pictures, and more until we are too tired to walk and explore anymore.

At 5pm, the houses started to close and we guess it's our time to go back too. It was a nice experience...and we got to see many beautiful architecture and landscape. The only thing I regret was not able to ride the mini cable car because we were too late and it was closed when we found the place. So for those whose interested, the entrance fee is Rp9000 per person and do come early so you wont have the regret I had.

We got back, tired and sleepy. I slept, woke up at 10pm, washed myself, and then perform my jama' ta'khir prayer. We went to find something to eat near the hotel, and we found out that Rumah Makan Mas Miskun's is quite nice place. The price is affordable, the food is satisfying, and the place is acceptable. Then we went to find a 24-hour minimarket in the middle of the night, and being lucky to be told by the hotel worker that there's one not far from the hotel. While walking to the store, we witness the night life of Jakarta common street. Many shops are still open, and most of them are cellular shops. After we bought some stocks for tomorrow journey to Bandung, we head back to the hotel.

Hmm...I guess that's it for my first day in Jakarta. Hope it interest you as much it interest my point of view! See you later... more updates from Jakarta, soon!

IMAN NAILAH 2008
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Guardians

Sedang ‘abah’ yang khusyuk membaca ‘Berita Harian Online’ di komputer ribanya, ‘ummi’ pula sibuk menyidai baju di ampaian kering di sudut ruang tamu kami yang sekangkang kera.

Di waktu yang lain, aku simpati melihat ’ummi’ keletihan seusai pulang dari tempat kerja lantas berehat di atas katil manakala ’abah’ masih setia di atas sejadah menghabiskan bacaan ma’thurat.

’Abah’lah yang selalu mengingatkan aku bila masih terpaku di depan komputer walaupun sudah setengah jam azan Maghrib berlalu.

’Ummi’lah yang selalu bertanya khabar keadaanku bila wajahku kelihatan monyok tak bermaya.

Namun ’ummi’ bukanlah insan yang melahirkanku, menyusukanku, atau membesarkanku dan ’abah’ bukanlah manusia yang mengiqamatkanku sesaat setelah aku bernafas di dunia ini atau yang memberikan aku duit poket RM2 sebelum ke sekolah.

Yang telah melaksanakan tanggungjawab mereka dengan sempurna itu adalah ummi dan abah yang ku terlalu ku rindui sekarang. Ummi dan abah yang sedang dalam rahmat Allah di bumi Malaysia tercinta, insyaAllah.

’Ummi’ dan ’abah’ yang aku maksudkan adalah dua insan yang kini merupakan teman sekamarku di Makassar, Indonesia.

Mereka adalah Yong Noor Faatihah Abduul Jabbar dan Kawtsar Ainol Azhar.

AWAL PERKENALAN

”Panggil akak Kak Yong je”, senyumnya tulus.

Wajah berbentuk hati itu tampak manis, tambahan berkulit hitam manis. Masih segar dalam ingatanku situasi di dalam bas universiti pada malam pertama kami menjejak bumi Makassar. Kak Yong bersama Kak Intan rancak bercerita perihal pengalaman mereka sepanjang setahun di sini. Sikap ambil beratnya jelas terserlah.

Kak Kawtsar pula lain ceritanya. Pertama kali melihat, pasti merasa segan kerana tampang garang dan seriusnya. Tertipulah aku dengan impresi pertama apabila dengan mesra dia memperkenalkan diri dan tanpa disedari kami sudahpun berbual rancak.
Keirasan wajah kami juga memudahkan kami saling mendekati satu sama lain. Kebetulan nama adiknya juga seperti namaku; Iman.

Tak lama setelah itu hubungan kami cukup baik, namun siapa sangka ikatan ini bakal menjadi suatu khazanah tak ternilai. Semuanya bermula dengan satu tawaran dari Kak Kawtsar – dia mengajakku tinggal bersamanya dan Kak Yong.

Mereka tinggal di Rusun, apartment yang sama seperti ramai mahasiswa Malaysia di Makassar termasuklah kami pelajar tahun satu. Seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya apabila memasuki tahun dua, mahasiswa harus keluar dari kamar masing-masing bagi memberi ruang kepada mahasiswa kemasukan berikutnya. Dua tiga bulan sebelum kedatangan junior, bersakanlah kami mencari bilik atau rumah, bergantung tuntutan masing-masing. Aku cukup bertuah apabila teman sekamar Kak Kawtsar dan Kak Yong menyatakan keinginannya berpindah ke kamar sendiri.

Aku mengambil beberapa waktu untuk membuat keputusan.

Tak sedikit teman-teman yang menyuarakan keraguan dengan pertimbanganku.

”Sesuai ke dengan diorang?”

”Nanti takde kawan nak study same...”

Tak kurang juga yang menyokong. Pening juga kepala dibuatnya.

Aku membuat rujukan dengan ummiku yang pada waktu mahasiswinya pernah tinggal bersama senior. Beliau memberikan pros dan cons, membantuku membuat pilihan.

Setelah solat Istikharah, melangkah ke kamar A202 itu memberi ketenangan di hatiku.


EPISOD BARU

Sebelum A202, aku tidak kenal rapat dengan Kak Yong dan belum cukup memahami kakak naqibahku, Kak Kawtsar. Di titik inilah, aku mula tahu siapa di hati Kak Yong, makanan apa yang bisa menimbulkan reaksi hipersensitivitas pada Kak Kawtsar, siapa teman baik mereka, kenapa Kak Yong tak makan tauge, kenapa Kak Kawtsar tak pernah pulang ke kampungnya di Negeri Sembilan, betapa Kak Yong pandai dan rajin memasak, betapa Kak Kawtsar sangat suka membaca dan seterusnya.

Pokoknya, kami menjadi seperti anak-beranak.

Persoalannya, kenapa sampai ’ummi’ dan ’abah’?

Tidak ada pertikaian ummi dan abah ku adalah satu-satunya dan tidak ada yang dapat menggantikan mereka.

Cuma ada keunggulan yang membuatkan aku suka memandang mereka seperti sepasang suami isteri yang anak mereka adalah aku.

Pertama, mereka seperti suami isteri kerana mereka adalah sahabat sejati.

Mereka sentiasa mempunyai topik untuk dibincangkan. Setiap hari.

Mereka sentiasa sedar dengan ketiadaan masing-masing dan mesti saling menghubungi untuk sekurang-kurangnya bertanyakan, ”Awak balik pukul berapa?” dan ”Dah makan belum?”

Mereka mengenali setiap seorang dari ahli keluarga masing-masing sehinggakan nenek saudara, dua-pupu, tiga-pupu, suami kepada makcik sebelah ayah... tanyalah yang mana saja, insyaAllah kenal.

Setiap pagi sebelum salah seorang dari mereka bertolak ke rumah sakit, yang terdahulu pergi akan dihantar hingga ke pinggir pintu.

Inilah yang dinamakan ikatan hati.

Kedua, mereka seperti orang tuaku kerana sifat mereka sendiri.




Kak Kawtsar tegas dalam hal-hal agama dan selalu menjadi tempat rujukanku berkenaan bidang itu.

Mirip sekali sikap abah.



Kak Yong yang lembut selalu menjadi tempat aku meluah rasa dan berbual pengalaman sehari-hariku.

Seperti ummiku sayang.



DEJA VU

Pernah suatu hari, aku diajak teman menghadiri program ESQ. Kepingin ikut serta, aku memohon kepada Kak Kawtsar agar menangguhkan usrah ke waktu petang supaya aku dapat mengikuti program tersebut pada waktu pagi. Memohon pada pagi-pagi hari sebelum subuh tidak membantu kerana terlalu last minute. Ketegasan Kak Kawtsar membuatku tak berani memohon buat kali kedua. Namun hatiku memberontak. Saking terdesaknya aku sehingga terbit di benak untuk meminta Kak Yong memujuk Kak Kawtsar untuk menuruti keinginanku. Hampir-hampir saja permintaan itu aku lafazkan sebelum aku sedar bahawa pertimbanganku tidak munasabah. Maka aku kuburkan saja keinginanku itu. Pagi itu usrah selesai lebih awal dari biasanya dan Alhamdulillah, kami berjaya mengikuti program ESQ tersebut sehingga usai.

Suatu hari tak lama dulu saat aku di Malaysia, teman-teman mengajakku bepergian bersama mereka di ’Time Square’. Aku lantas memohon kepada ayahku namun buat pertama kalinya dia tegas tidak mengizinkan. Aku merasa aneh dan tidak puas hati. Merayu dan menangislah aku, namun abah tetap teguh dengan keputusannya. Malam itu aku sungkam memadam angan-angan. Ummi yang kasihan melihatku memujuk abah dan keesokan paginya, guess what?
Abah memberikan green-lightnya.

Mungkin kisahnya tak layak dipanggil deja vu kerana pengakhiran yang berbeza, namun ada suatu kualiti yang benar-benar meninggalkan kesan di jiwa ini. Suatu perasaan respect yang menebal serta kepercayaan dan pengharapan yang menggunung telah terbina.


GUARDIAN

Kami sedang menikmati juadah makan malam bersama di ruang tamu ketika Kak Kawtsar dan Kak Yong terus rancak berbual.

Aku terus menatap wajah mereka sambil tersenyum.

Mereka adalah guardianku di sini.

Tawa dan tangisku adalah milik mereka dan suka duka mereka ingin aku rangkul dalam dadaku.

Kawtsar Ainol Azhar dan Yong Noor Faatihah Abduul Jabbar...

Ketahuilah, aku menyayangi kamu berdua!

~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

The Artistic Me

A 'perasan' pic of me

Medical course is something far from what I’ve dreamed I will be taking these days. I never like medic, the nearest is biology, but if I have a choice, I wouldn’t take it as my study field. From childhood, I can see how I really keen on artistic stuff such as songs, literatures, theatres, films, paintings, designs, crafts and much more. It’s in my blood! My dad is an landscape architecture n my mom studied engineering eventhough she’s a teacher now. And…I love LOVE. Like Shakespear? You know people said artistic people tend to have much softer soul, sensitive heart. Jiwanglaa, the simple translation.

I remember in the primary school, with three other classmates, we planned on having our own album. Not picture album, but nasyid album! Seriously, we even create our own songs, share money to buy a recording cassette, and use some old toys that make noise as our music background. Sounds foolish, but that’s what we did. But sadly, the cassette disappeared and my friends keep asking on it until the end of school. In the secondary school, I wrote short stories, novels (love-stories, to be exact) and lots of poems. I can say they are not really good, but I’m proud of them and showed them to my friends for comments and critics. I’m known to my roomates as the one who’ll read her poems before sleep. Haha…did I? Can’t really remember actually, but that’s what they said.
Also, I took Pendidikan Seni in SPM because I thought it would be necessary if I want to take a design course. Funny, how I even took extra classes for Pendidikan Seni, but no extra exercise for other more crucial and vital subjects. So, suitable with my effort, I got A1 for Pendidikan Seni, but for science subjects, its dissapointing. See, nobody look at my Pendidikan Seni or Bahasa Melayu or English result because the reality is so obvious. The reality I have to swallow is that you cannot have a great future with art. Wait, cannot is a harsh word, hardly – that’s the word. You can hardly have a great future with art. But NOT impossible.

Photography & graphic design ~ I like!

I always believe we will do great if we do what we like, what we love. Until before I enter matriculation program in Melaka, I still have the dreams to do what I really like. I wanna wait for an offer from UIA on my chosen course, architecture and design, rejecting the matriculation offer. But with that kind of result, my parents don’t have faith that I will get the UIA offer. So I took biology course in KMM, based on the sense that I hate physics. I didn’t realize that I’m leaving my dream once I step on the plane that will bring me to Hasanuddin University in Makassar. I just thought I made a new dream. So there I went, in a new path, new field, and new world.

The 'fonts' I made on the back of my Geriatric textbook.

I don’t blame anybody for the lost dream. Because deep inside, I believe it’s not lost, it’s a part of me that I can’t discard. I’m still writing, still singing, I still design some advertisement for my club, I still made cards for my friend birthday with some poetic words on it, and I will keep doing it until…I don’t know…until death? Allahu’alam. =)


~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com