Fariza & Sabri's wedding

Kak Ija's wedding. Click here for more photos...


Yesterday I went to Kak Ija's wedding.

It was actually the groom's side but since I've missed the bride's reception a fortnight ago, Kak Ija had invited me to attend this one instead.Kak Ija (also known formally as Ms. Fariza Zainal Abidin) is the closest hing to an older sister to me while I was studying abroad in University of Minnesota. Not only that, she was my roommate and friend. She is the coolest person, and we have so much in common. I really enjoyed being with her, even if it was for a short while. Whenever we don't see each other she'd write to me once in a while and whenever I return back to Malaysia, we would meet up and talk as if we've never been separated.. she's so much fun.. and now she's gone and got married, leaving me in bachelorette zone all alone... ;-)

Anyway, according to the wedding invitation, the ceremony was suppose to begin at 12 noon and end at 4pm. So when I left the house at 1 o'clock, I felt that I was definitely late. As it turns out, luck was on my side. As I was looking for a parking spot at the near the wedding site, I could see strapping young lads carrying the "kompang" walking towards the next street from the wedding tents. At this sight I assumed that the ceremony was almost at its end and the guests were beginning to leave the site. Then just as I founds a parking spot, I got out of the car and heard the kompang drummings melodizing the familiar wedding tune. However, at the time I wasn't sure if I'm at the right wedding cause the road sign was covered by some bushes. Nevertheless, I joined the "rombongan perempuan" as we strolled into the wedding house with the kompang blaring behind us. We were greeted with smiling faces, and people gently chucking "bunga rampai" at us. Since this is the groom's side, I didn't really know anyone. (The guy is not from University of MInnesota, he's an alumni of University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign).. so while the bride and groom sat down to eat at the high table, me and my sister made our way to the guests' table and had our late lunch. I looked around to see if there was anyone I knew but everyone looked so unfamiliar. So we chit-chat with strangers, and kept ourselves occupied.


After we had our meal, I went to snap some pixs with the happy couple and went our way. Just before I left I met my other UofM senior (Haz and her husband). I haven't met her in years, so I greeted her before I left.

The ceremony was grand and joyous. Kak Ija was beautiful, and she looks so happy with her husband. I wish you all the best in your marriage, hope it lasts forever.. :-)

Watashi wa Nihongo no benkyo-shimas desu.

With all the classmates of the first beginners class in ICLS (Inter-Cultural Language Studies), Subang. 


I just got this photo from Sharol through email. She'll be going to work in Japan for two years next month.

Initially I took the class because my boss had planned to send me to Japan for 6 months between April and October this year for some oversea training. He had planned to send about 10 engineers between 9/12/2004 and the end of 2005. Two of the R&D enginners had already gone but he found out that most of the time these enginners were used as translators for them to convert the Japanese documents to English and vice versa. So now we request for Japanese engineers to come to Malaysia to teach us the technologies from Japan. He hadn't said anything to me but I think the company won't be sending me to Japan this April. That in itself had taken alot of the work pressure from my shoulders.. I don't worry about signing a 3 year contract with Panasonic anymore, and somehow it makes my work less stressful..

Well atleast I can understand some of the things my Japanese bosses say :) I've finished the three months course with flying colors but I'm taking the next 3 months course off to concentrate on my GP auditing sessions.. I may start with the second beginners session in April.. but it's still too early to say for sure..

If I don't see Norman in May, I think I want to take a trip to Ireland.. InsyaAllah.

Launching my photopage..

With this entry, I'm lauching my new fotopage. Hopefully I'll be more eager to take more pictures and blog more frequently.. Actually I've been wanting to have a photopage for a while, but just didn't get a chance to make it happen. Well, you know me; the "princess of procastination". Her royal highness, in the flesh and blood.

Take a look, though it's nothing much I hope you enjoy it.

Early Birthday Present

The weekend is a time when any normal person would enjoy shopping, bowling, going picnic, having parties, sleep-overs.. bla.. blaa.. you name it... So this weekend, well today to be more precise, is the day my dad took us shopping in MidValley Mall..

At first we were planning to shop for a new watch for Nora. the idea was to buy a "feminine but sophisticated" type of watch as an alternative to her typical "digital casio" watch. But as fate has destined, she choose a digital watch nonetheless. However, we have to give her partial points for the watch was a little bit more feminine than the other one that she had. At the end of the day, I suppose what's more important is what makes her happy.

So anyway Nora was all smiles for the rest of the evening.. and to top it further more she wants someone else to be equally as happy as she is. Since Husna had left for UTP that morning and Aisyah was studying at home, I was the next one in her target list.. (fortunately for me.. hehe) For the next ten minutes she kept giving hints to Abah about my upcoming birthday and the things in "my wish list" that I may have mentioned in the past month.. somehow she persuaded me that I needed a new phone, one with a camera and video application. So while mum and dad had their evening coffee at one of the coffee stalls, me and Nora enthusiastically surveyed the mobile phone stalls. Since I hadn't put much thought into a new phone, I didn't know what I wanted at first.. then I saw it..

...A black NOKIA 7200.. I remember that the phone had only been launched about 6 months ago while I was walking in OU with Norman many months ago.. So I started surveying for a bargain. I traded in my old NOKIA 6610 for RM 400 which I got for USD 35 in a T-mobile promotion about two years ago. So i guess it was worth it..

During the ride back home, both Nora and I was smiling up to our ears all the way to KJ... :)
Thank you Dad!!

Blackout

Although it's Thursday already, it's actually the first day of work for me this week.. See I've been granted a three day compassion leave for the death of my dearest grandma last Saturday.
She died of old age. There wasn't any sickness associated but it was still a sad occasion. I was at a training at my work place in Shah Alam when I heard about it from Husna. I rushed home as soon as I found out. Abah was in a conference and mama was shopping, both in KL, at the time. We all gathered at home as soon as possible and begin packing to leave. we had to pick Nora up at the KLSentral to avoid wasting any more time. She was in her rented apartment in PutraJaya when she heard about the sad news.
So we took my car and abang's car and spent the whole evening driving to get to Mersing, Johor. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it in time. they buried her right after asar and we arrived just before Maghrib. That night and the nights following tok's death, we held various "doa selamat kenduri"s, both in the kampung and back home in PJ.

5 days later, I'm back at work.. then a blackout happens.. we wasted a quarter of the day from 12.30 til 2.45 just waiting for the electricity to flow back into the sockets. This time was just wasted chatting in the doorway between the canteen and the office. After a while it started to get warm and we begin going into the dark office, trying to absorb the remaining coolness of the air conditioner before the blackout. We found out that many of the main cities in the south of malaysia suffered from the blackout too. Thought the whole peninsular of MALAYSIA was stranded in darkness.. but that thought was immediately erased when we heard of news that there's electricity in the north. People are walking around with handphones in action calling their loved ones to check if their areas were also affected. Someone said that if the electric was stiff down at 3pm, we could return home.. but then it pops back up 15 minutes before time and back to work we go...

TSUNAMI Website

Assalamualaikum

A valuable web site about Tsunami - very informative !!! Got it from my dad who got it from his co-worker.. though I'm not dirrectly affected by this natural catastrophy, you just can't help but feel the pain.. physically, emotionally, psychologically..
" Berat lagi mata memandang.. berat lagi bahu memikul"
Let's all help, in any way.. By donating money, clothes, food, etc.. nothing is too little to give.. especially your prayers for them.

Another day off..

Kini ku kesepian
Menantikan kasihmu... ku rindu
Namun hanya impian
Bayanganmu belum kutemu

Usahlah kau bersayu
Ku tetap di sisimu selalu
Walau kehadiranku
Seakan seimbas waktu

* Chorus
Bagai bayu berlalu (ooh... yang masihku rindu)
Yang masih ku merindu
Kaulah segalanya erti cinta
Ku menunggu masa kita
Akhirnya... ooh...

Ku memahami jiwamu
Yang penuh keayuan...sayang
Keluhan hatimu
Kau yang meyakinkan diriku

Ku selalu menantimu
Tiada akhirnya bagi diriku
Kerana keikhlasanmu
Kini tersemai dalam jiwa... kerana...

* Chorus

Rela menerima segala takdir
Begitulah kehendaknya Yang Maha Esa
Dikau ratu dihatiku
Abadilah cinta kita
Bersama menerimanya

* Chorus x2

Akhirnya...

Happy New Year 2005

Missing the thrills and trepidation of college life..

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005..

Actually I'm a little late to wish this, but I don't really care.. wow! it's been almost a year already. actually this time last year, I was still in London, planning our one week visit to Dublin with Norman, Nini, Mudin, Pakak, Azam, Dya and the others.

Man, how time flies.. how can I recap this past 12 months..

January, I bid farewell to 2003 and welcomed 2004 in London. Then I spent the first week in Dublin, arrived back in Malaysia on 10/1/2004 and just spent the whole month adjusting to the fact that senior year is definitely over and it's time to cross over to the real life.

February, I started my professional engineering career on 10/2/2004 with Matsushita Electronic Devices (M) Sdn. Bhd a.k.a Panasonic in the R&D section under material Development. Bought my first car, a gold colored Proton WAJA (WLN 5745). Honk when you see me.. hehe

March-May, went to work.. made new friends, learnt new things etc.

June-August, Norman came back from Dublin. Nini and Mudin got married a week before Norman's return in June.

September, found out that I may be sent to Japan for 6 months next year (April - Oct 2005). Start taking Japanese classes.

October, Zack goes to England to further his studies. Ramadhan begins. Got a part time job with DBP as one of the writers for their Form 4 Science textbook (English version), which will be used beginning 2006.

November, my first Syawal with the family after so many years of being apart. Abang gets engaged to Lieyana.

December, still with Panasonic. Upgraded as one of Matsushita's Asian Region Green Product Supplier Auditor. Thinking of other options to broaden the horizon. Joined Fitness First :)

Anyway, that's just some of the highlights of 2004. There's a lot to look forward to in 2005.. hopefully I'll have the time and opportunity to begin blogging again. Here's hoping all the best for all you lot out there.. HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2005.