A-Musings of Second Thoughts

Ramadan in Hospital

2011-08-09T15:38:00.004+08:00

Many things happened since my last posting.
Too many to list down here.
Today is my 9th day of breaking the fast in a hospital,HUKM.
Alhamdullilah i am in the best of health as i normally am,in the month of Ramadan.
My other half is a bit down and was admitted on the first day of Ramadan.
Her new chemo regimentation, which started two weeks before Ramadan took it's toll and she needed blood transfusion
and her fever was on and off. To top it all,her throat was sore, and she could not even swallow drops of water.
Today ,she is a bit better and can manage to eat bits of food with ease.
Anyway,she is very restless and wanted to go home.
The doctors at the Oncology Ward,is holding her for another day or two,just to be sure that her blood is ok..

I did not enquire much in details as to the medical specifications of her current ailment.
As to my understanding,the cancer is affecting her bone marrow, or something to do with her blood getting lower every 2-3 months.
Henced the Oncologist, has prescribed 18 cycles of chemotheraphy,with one every week.
She managed two cycles only.
Not sure whether the balance will be carried out..they are still thinking..hopefully.
I leave it to them to do the thinking besides leaving it to the will of Allah Taala.
I can only pray.

A Doctor in the making

2011-03-09T20:19:00.002+08:00

Early this morning, or rather past midnight, my daughter called from Leicester
with the good news that she has passed her 4th year exams and will proceed to her final year.We have been praying hard for this and Alhamdulillah it is now a reality.

There was never a moment that i have doubted her capabilities and i have always known that she will do well.

I am just putting on record here my feeling of gratitude and appreciation of her great efforts in achieving her aim to become a doctor.

I pray and hope that by next year, she will graduate and do her bit for mankind.

So we will wait another year till we can call her Dr Azhreen Fuad.

Reaching 55

2011-03-08T10:17:00.005+08:00

Today, 8th March my wife turns 55.
Happy Birthday Tah.
Since the pensionable age has been extended to 58, she is still working.
Since she is a Govt servant, she does not have the occasion and excitement of drawing out her EPF.
Since past midnight last night our children has called her on the phone with a few unanswered, since she was asleep by then.
My daughter in Leicester was wise enough to call her this morning with her wishes. Anyway, she calls home every day.

There is no plans today for a family celebration, maybe this weekend when everybody is home.
However i have taken the day off and so has she, just to remember the day.
We might just go out for lunch.
In a way, spending one's birthday quietly seems a splendid way to look back at the years that has gone by.

Wow, 55 years, and it seems like yesterday.

So Many Thoughts

2010-09-09T23:17:00.007+08:00

Age of Innocence when i had 'No Thoughts' and Present Age when there are 'So Many Thoughts"

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah Hiwabarakatuh.

Since my last posting at the beginning of the year,
so many thoughts have passed my mind.
To claim that i have been busy, might be an understatement.
After my blessed Hajj, i am still trying to live the life of a Hajj recipient.
As i had thought earlier, it is not easy to be one, being a Hajj that is.

Performing the Hajj was a breeze for me and i enjoyed every minute of it.
I promised that i will write about it, but for the want of not being 'takbur' i decided not to.
There were many moments and incidents that would be a great story to tell, but i decided to keep it to myself and occasionally 'cerita' bits and pieces to a few friends.

The story of how i was given a unique Wheel chair(Made in India) in Kaabah itself is a good one.
Maybe i will tell it later in my future postings.
The story of my last day at Mina after the last stoning is also a worthwhile 'cerita'.
My walking in the rain in a makeshift rain coat in Makkah a day before Wukuf is also another story.

On looking back, there can be many interpretations as to why it all happened.

Even my doa at Arafah is also another 'cerita'because i was too shy to ask for anything more because, in my opinion i have been given more than enough thus far,which does not commensurate with the deeds that i have done.
My doa was just to say 'Thank you' to Allah Taala with a bits of doa for HIM to grant me anything that He wishes to give, because obviously, HE knows what is in my heart.

Hence my after Hajj has been filled with 'So Many Thoughts'.

Since tomorrow is First Syawal, and having completed 30 days of fasting during Ramadan, i think it is appropriate that i update this blog of mine,so that i can wish the few friends of mine who must have been wondering why i have been dormant for more than 8 months.
As a reminder Raya Haji will be on 17th November 2010.
Maybe i might be inspired to pen my Thoughts as the first anniversary of my Hajj approaches.

Suffice that my wish for everyone is that Allah Taala will grant us another chance to fulfill Ramadan a year from now and that our 30 days of Ramadan will be accepted by HIM.
InsyaAllah.

2355 hrs 9th Sept 2010.

Future Thoughts

2010-01-04T12:16:00.003+08:00

It's been more than a week since i came back from my journey to the Holy Land and spending much of my time at the two Holy Mosque.
My 40 days was spent on performing the compulsary prayers with small doses of solat sunat.
Come to think of it, i have never prayed so much in the mosque in my life and spending so much time in the mosque.
I am sorry that i am not able to tell stories of strange encounters or interesting stories because i did not encounter extraordinary things whilst i was there and i was also not subjected to any challenges.
I too, on the other hand, had mentally prepared myself for any outcome and to just let it be...whatever the circumstances might be.
So i truly enjoyed the happenings there and observing the many colourful characters and behaviours of Muslims from all over the world.
I came back with a negative opinion though, and my answer on why Muslims cannot unite was exhibited in front of me.
I realised that there are so many types of Muslims that sometimes i wonder, whether they are truly Muslims.
But as i compare the millions there and the millions here, i am of the opinion that the worries of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him), is truly valid to this day. His umat is his most worrying point and he was thinking about them even on his last moment.
I term some of them as Idiots of the highest order.

I am back home, happy that i am not one of the many other umat Nabi out there..
I did not push anybody, i did not spit here and there, i did not throw rubbish all over, i did not jump over anybody's head..and the best part is that i am ever gratefull that i am not like some of them,
That to me is my lesson learnt whilst i was there...Thank God, that i am of a different kind of umat, who is more gentle and accomodating.
I am happy that i did not over eat and i did not waste food.
I am happy that i drank Zam Zam water to the maximum, one cup on the way in the mosque at every waktu and 3 cups on my way out...such so that by the time i got back to the hotel for makan, i was already full.
I am a healthy 86 kg as compared to 95 kg before.
I am happy that i did not have any other ailments except the compulsary Hajj cough.
I am happy that i could cycle 55.5 km yesterday, a week after i came back...
I am happy that i was not subjected to any challenges and was blessed with the best of health.
I am happy that i did not asked or berdoa for many things, but went there to show my appreciations that i am blessed to have been given the opportunity to perform my Hajj.
At Arafah, where we were told that, that was the best place to berdoa, or ask Allah Taala, i am happy to say that i did not do the obvious but only thank him for what he has given and only asked for forgiveness and to ensure that my Iman is always on the straight path, besides asking for the well being of my family.
I was too shy to ask for many more because i believe i am not fit to only ask but not doing enough...in terms of being a good Muslim.

I did not asked for specific richness or whatever, much to the dissapointment of my wife who handed me a piece of paper with a few request, before i started my doa.
I think she agreed with me after what i said in my doa and it did shed real tears, because i was saying it out from my heart.

My future thoughts is what happens next.
What will my future be?
The mabrur of the hajj is what happens to you after and not what happens whilst you were there.
Allah Taala is great and my doa now is for him to spare me unsolvable challenges...keep my Iman intact and keep my family safe.
It is easy to perform the Hajj, but it is harder to be a true Haji.

No Other Thoughts

2009-12-26T22:27:00.004+08:00

Other than the customary Hajj cough, i am A OK and ready to take on the world.
Touched down at 0100 hrs at KLIA on Boxing Day 2009.

To me my Hajj has been most fulfilling and there was never a moment that i had any second thoughts or other thoughts about being there.

The only thought that came through was that i should have made the pilgrimage earlier.

The best memories i have is of Arafah and Mina and the smell of fresh burning firewoods lingering in the air throughout, that was used for cooking because the Saudis banned the use of gas for cooking, because of past fire experience due to the use of gas!!!
The rains before Wukuf truly was a blessing that cleanse the air...
That was indeed a true blessing.

Will gather my thoughts in small doses and will try and jot down some interesting moments.

No Second Thoughts

2009-11-13T06:59:00.006+08:00

Last year, when i was woken from my 'slumber', and being blessed with my other half having a precious part of her body removed, my life has taken a better meaning.

Taking God's reminder, it got me back into Orbit and readjusted my Focus.

On reflection, my experience might not be the best, but i am gratefull that it did happened.

This resulted in my two marvellous Umrah experience in April and May, and InsyaAllah, my journey this Monday, 16th Nov to perform my obligation with my wife.

I once heard that, there are 22 reasons, why one finally perform the Hajj, despite it being one of the 5 Pillars of Islam.

Well, i do succumb to one of the reasons, when i was given the 'friendly' reminder last year.

As a Muslim, performing the Hajj has always been one of the ultimate dream.
Growing up, literally, hearing untold stories of the experiences of the Hajj from others, sometimes gives a different connoctation.
Sometimes it might have some negative impact to mere mortals, who are not devoid of sins.

It is a known fact that the 'calling' to perform the Hajj, was sounded by Prophet Ibrahim and the 'calling' by Allah Taala was done even before the Earth was formed.

It is also a common knowledge that every Muslim hopes that those that has gone earlier for their pilgrimage, will also 'do the calling' for them, when they are there.
This is called 'Seruan'..
I have received a few request to 'seru' them to follow the path....
InsyaAllah i will do the needfull.
In fact i will do a little bit more, and i wll also 'seru' for those that has not requested it.

I hope that i will be able to perform the Hajj, admirably and get through with flying colours, with the Grace of Allah.

I hope, when i come back, i should be able to encourage others to perform their Hajj soonest, without having the experience of being reminded like me.

For me, there was never a Second Thought, when matters of performing the Hajj is concerned.
It is only my human weakness that, only at this age, i am finally making the serious effort to really do it.
My example is not a good one to emulate.

I am sure all Muslims do not have any Second Thoughts when matters of the Hajj crops up.
It is just a matter of wrong priorities.

The Next Raya-Friday,27th November

2009-09-24T10:40:00.003+08:00

Now that Raya Puasa is just a memory, i am reminded that the next Raya is only 2 months away...Raya Haji, which should fall on Friday, 27th November.

I am planning to be in Makkah by then, InsyaAllah.

I know that it will be a new experience from spending Raya here.

May ALLAH accept what i have done

2009-09-18T07:02:00.004+08:00

As Ramadan draws to a close,InsyaALLAH tomorrow,
I hope ALLAH TAALA accepts my month long compulsory fasting.
Like what i wrote earlier, i hope i pass the month long test.
Only GOD knows.
As i watched the Friday morning program Tanya lah Ustaz, i am attracted to what was said.
The correct greetings for Raya should be "May Allah accept what you have done" and the greetings that we have been accustomed to all this while, "Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Bathin" is a Malay greeting.

It makes a lot of sense to me, because after a month long puasa, it is most appropriate that we should hope that we get full marks, or rather GOD accepts fully what we have done.

We know how we have performed and we truly know
that GOD knows better.
We hope HE accepts what we have done.

Likewise my Raya wish to all my friends this year and thereafter..
"May ALLAH accepts what you have done"....the month long puasa

And plus the usual Maaf Zahir Bathin..

Malaya plus Sabah and Sarawak

2009-09-16T18:34:00.003+08:00

Today 16th September is Malaysia Day.
Giving the fasting month as an excuse, there is no extra-ordinary events lined up to remind us of the significance of the day.

Likewise, it was never an occasion in the past for celebrations, especially for us this side of the South China Seas.

Reading through some write ups on the formation of Malaysia, it crosses my mind that not many on the Peninsular values the significance of the additional two states into one Malaysia.
Many still harbours the thoughts of Singapore leaving us and how Singapore is nowhere near us.
Many are still asking the same question.."How come Singapore can do it?".

Will Sabah and Sarawak leave us in the future?
How come Brunei managed to keep out of it and yet remain strong?

I may be wrong in thinking about these.
Who am i to think on behalf of the people of Sabah and Sarawak?

Did i pass the Puasa?

2009-09-15T10:32:00.003+08:00

In a few days time, the month long puasa will end, and the old routine will continue.
Life will be normal again.
My puasa has been quite a normal routine one, not much challenges.
I am truly blessed, Alhamdullillah.

But there are many others who have more challenges during the fasting month.
Definitely, those that has to work in the field away from the air-conditioned office, like the Traffic policemen,soldiers,pasar malam, construction,.. etc..etc..has a more challenging puasa than me.
I should know because in my previous career, i was subjected to such conditions..
Maybe they get more marks for their extra challenges.
I am not sure about mine.
Did i pass this puasa with just enough points or....?
I hope so....

Anyway, this Sunday, i will be celebrating Raya back in Sungai Patani with my family at my sisters house, because my mother is there.

I have not been celebrating Raya back there for the last few years, with good reasons..
This year i do not have a valid reasons, not to be with my mother and siblings back home.
I will take a slow drive this Saturday, very early in the morning.
To the few readers that drop in, i would like to wish you a Safe and Memorable Raya.

The Lukewarm Response to this years' National Day

2009-08-29T23:44:00.005+08:00

(I posted this to my RMC Old Boys yahoogroup)
Dear all,
I might be wrong here.
It seems that the overall response to this years' National day is rather lukewarm.
I am referring to our E-list here.
In previous years we had some postings about our National day or rather i would post something just to highlight our National day.There will be one or two others who would do similarly.

This time around there is none and i am the only one at the moment, just a day away from 31st August to write something here.

Am i surprise?
No i am not because i too am feeling rather lukewarm about this year's do.
Unlike in 2007, when i was involved in the parade itself when we had 50 of our OPs marching up front on National day parade, this year seems quite a distance away from that feeling i had two years ago.

Am i being less patriotic?
Am i being less Malaysian?
Am i getting ungratefull?
Am i the only one?

Some says that it is the H1N1,
Some says that it is the fasting month

But nobody is saying that they are not in the mood to be reminded of the day, 52 years ago,
when our fathers gladfully declared and celebrated their Independence from their Colonial masters.
Yes,the tv is constantly screening flashback of that moment in time, but then again statistics has it that most of us alive now are oblivion to that day 52 years ago.
Yes we can pretend to have some sentiments but, that is only superficial because, most of us were not there then...
It is only a historical sentiments that we have.....we are play acting to be sentimental about our independence.
Again i might be wrong here, and there are many genuine Malaysians out there who are truly appreciative of our forefathers fight for Independence!!

To top all that had happened recently, the 'cow's head' incident yesterday in Shah Alam, seems to me an indication that something is terribly wrong.
I can understand the sentiments of some of those who objected to the location of the temple.
But i cannot accept the idiotic act of parading the 'cows' head'.
I liken it to our childhood act of drawing a line on the ground and drawing a circle there on each side as an indicator of our father's head and daring the other guy to step on it.

That is inviting trouble...
Now that it has happened, i am sure there will be many 'rumours' and 'wild tales' that will follow.
There will be many stories of the 'pigs head' and many others.....

I am not sure how our Govt is going to tackle this.
Can they ISAed all those guys that took part yesterday?
Can the Indian leaders convince some Indians to take it coolly?
Can the Police seriously control everybody?
Can the others tolerate the idiotic act as an act by some Idiots out to cause mischief?

I know fingers are pointing here and there.

Can we on this E-list do something so that things will not escalate or be blown out of proportion?
I am sorry if my posting here, be misconstrued an an out of place posting or a piece of rubbish....

I am just trying to reason out how wonderfull, the last 52 years has been, less the Communist Insurgency and the Racial Riot of 69, that our nation has been blessed with.
Overall, we have not done badly.
I know some disagree and says that it could have been better, but on looking back, we are OK.

Since i am just older by a year than our National day, i am gratefull to my parents and grandparents for being responsible to ensure that i have a better life than them.
My National Day sentiments is for them.
Merdeka, Merdeka Merdeka.......
In English it is Freedom Freedom Freedom.
And it is the Freedom of the Mind that is Ultimate.
Free the Mind from Hatred.....

OP Azudin O Fuad

52 Years is a long time

2009-08-20T19:20:00.005+08:00

As we are about to be reminded of the 52 years after we got our Independence from our colonial masters, i am lost for words as what to write.

I decided to post the picture of the flags which was taken at the foot of the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
The flags are displayed 24 hours a day.Rain or shine.
I know another friend of mine, a retired Jeneral, who writes about the flag in his blog. I did not make any comments there but i thought that i have a different angle as how the flag should be raised.
From my observations, it seems that the flag is only raised once and it stays there forever.
Unlike my basic training of raising the flag and lowering it down before sunset, it is becoming a trend now, that our flags are raised up the flag poles and remains forever up there.
Sometimes the flags remains for 365 days a year, i.e. from one National day to another!!
Sometimes, the colours changed and the shape too changed due to wear and tear..

Is the flag just a decoration?

Is flying the flag 365 days a year day and night a sign of one's utmost loyalty to the nation?
Do we need to physically keep the flag flying?
The flag too needs some rest...

In my military life, we took care of the flag with utmost respect and care.
The flag is raised and lowered every day.
The flag is lowered and kept dry, when it rains.
There is always somebody who is nominated to take care of the flag.
Looking at the way flags are raised now, it seems that once they are up there, then nobody cares about them, come rain or shine!!!!
Can this also be a metaphor at how loyal we are to our country and leaders?

Mine Language

2009-07-23T14:05:00.002+08:00

Literally translated Mine Language means Bahasa Saya and Bahasa Kita is the plural of it, which is Our Language.
As much as my Bahasa and English is good, i still cannot figure out how they want to implement the English part into our education system.
I am still confused over the whole thing.
I know some have resorted to taking a neutral stance towards the whole thing.

This morning i was trying to remember, how i learnt to speak English?
I do remember singing the Nursery Rhymes like Baa Baa Black Sheep, Humpty Dumpty, London Bridge and what not. I do remember many Nursery Rhymes in Bahasa Melayu like. Bangun Pagi gosok gigi, tom tom bak and what not.
I know that the Malay part comes naturally.
Only my late father speaks and write in English. My mother only in Malay and Jawi, the Arabic Malay.
I was trying to remember an occasion in my Primary school days when i spoke in English to another classmate of mine..well guess what, i cannot remember!!!

I remember that i can read and write and speak English as early as Std One or Two.
I remember reading Beano and Dandy comics as early as Std One and being exposed to these comics even before my primary school days...

I remember speaking in an Elocution contest when i was in Standard Six.
But i cannot remember using English to speak to another friend of mine or even my family?

Likewise in my Secondary school, i do not quite remember speaking so much in English other than in the class, i.e. using English as a means of communications.
I was merely using English in my reading part and also in watching tv.

Come to think of it, my longest session in using English whilst conversing was in England and whilst i was lecturing at the Armed Forces Staff College, where we had students from overseas.

Most of the time my spoken English in full sentences is very limited not because of anything else but more of convenience and circumstances....

With so many subtitles on tv, it do disturb my concentartion on the spoken English, because the eye sees faster than what we hear...

Because of all these, Mine Language is a mixture of Malay and English and i dare say that i am good at it.
Like it or not, i do not have any other choice but to use Mine Language or Bahasa Saya...
What's Your Language?

Using my Language

2009-07-10T21:50:00.005+08:00

So the experiment is over.
It is back to using Bahasa Melayu/Malaysia for all subjects except English.
I am trying to reason out with myself on the rationale of the Government's decision.
They must have solid reasons why.
I can also understand the dissapointment of some.
Maybe the Govt is right.
Maybe it is better to teach basic Math and Science in BM.
Once they have the basics and fullly understand it, maybe they can further their studies in learning about Science and Maths in English.
As an example, my daughter who has completed her second year medical studies at Leicester University came from an all BM primary and secondary education at MRSM.
She got her straight As in Form 3 and 5, in BM.
She graduated with an IB Diploma from Mara College Banting.
I did not see any problem even though she was educated in BM all the way.
Likewise we have students in Egypt and Russia, and they are doing well in their new found langguage studying a tough science and maths based subjects...

As for me, i was educated in English all the way.
But i did not have any problem in my BM in my later years.
Come to think of it when i was in Form 3, there were many of my friends who wrote and spoke broken English....but that did not deter them from graduating as Doctors and Engineers.
There was one guy whose English was so attrocious at Form 3 that when he became an Engineer and then a lecturer at a University, some of us were puzzled.
Like wise my English has been quite ok and i was amongst the few debaters in my lower secondary school days.
I was told that i was quite an orator back then, taking part in Elocution contest and debates...but that does not mean that it guarantees that my Science and Math are tip top...
So maybe it does not matter whether Science and Math at Primary and Secondary school level are taught in BM.
If the student has the right aptitude and attitude, he or she can always excels in their later days.....

So the effort to emphasize more on just teaching English in English might work..
Maybe the Govt is right after all.
My regret was that my Arabic never take off....because the method of how i was educated was just reading without understanding....

I belief that languages must be taught at a very young age, at TADIKA level...looking at the Smart Readers system , where children can speak English during the 4-6 years age...nothing is impossible...
After all the Chinese and Indians speaks an extra language than the Malays...

Where have i been?

2009-07-09T15:23:00.003+08:00

I just realised that i have been busy. My last posting was weeks ago.
Today is Thursday 9th of July.
I have been missing on my cycling routine and keeping empty promises to my cycling buddies.
It is not that i do not have the time, but more that i have other priorities.
Will try to write in with more substantial news and muses through with my second thoughts, which actually there are many looking at the daily happenings including the lastest No English..and also how Michael Jackson is buried?

The Flowers are Blooming

2009-06-24T08:46:00.003+08:00

(This was written to my RMC Old Putera yahoogroup.)

This morning, when i woke up, i looked outside my bedroom window.
Not many, i belief have my priviledge of having rare flowers blooming outside their windows, only once or twice a year.
Well it is the time of year when these flowers shows their full views and clouded the skinny and unpresentable trees that bore them.
I never did like the type of trees that were planted along my road,because they were skinny and did not provide much shade.
Somehow on count back, i have realised that, you cannot judge a tree by it's size of the trunk or bushy leaves, until you see the flowers!!

On looking back at my verbal diorhea in the last few days, i hope i have not been misjudged by the many as to my true intentions.
I know i have crossed the thin line and hit under the belt.
I know i have exposed and super-imposed certain personalities.
Like i said, i am only a mere mortal not devoid of sins.
To Forgive is Divine, as to Err is Human.
So i rest my case.
Please spend a few seconds to look out of your window and look at the flowers that are GOD send free of charge....with no strings attached.
Like i have said, I am truly Blessed.

OP Azudin O Fuad

Another year have gone by....18th June 2009.

2009-06-18T01:57:00.006+08:00

I have entered my 53rd year.
How many more years will i have?
Only God knows.
One thing i know is that for every moment that i will have is always a moment to cherish for.
These need not be happy moments or memorable moments.
They need not be moments that i dream of or dread off...
For every moment that has passed, there is not a moment that i can recover..
My only wish is that when the moment comes for me to leave, it will be a happy moment,
InsyaAllah

Friday Morning Thoughts-12th June 2009

2009-06-12T07:05:00.005+08:00

Pictures of Muhammad Ali Mahdi bin Anuar on his Second Born Day after 8th June 2009
Welcome to the World.

I did not managed to jot down last Friday morning thoughts due to some bad time management.
There are many things that i want to share but i need some time to put them into proper sentences.

This morning, i would like to share my thoughts on breast feeding.
I know everybody agrees that mother's milk is the best.
I also know that not many mother can match their thoughts with their deeds.
There are many valid excuses given.

Well this thought came to my mind last Monday,8th June when my niece delivered a 3.05kg boy at Pantai Medical Centre at about 1405 hrs, by Ceasarian method.

Muhammad Ali Mahdi bin Anuar came into the world with eyes wide open(see photos)to my niece Tahera Zahra binti Shorbaini Abdul Ghani/Zainun Othman Fuad.
This is my First Cucu menakan albeit not from my lineage...
Tahera was my second anak menakan to get married and the first,her elder sister Fatimahtul Zahra is due in August.

Our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him),managed to be breast feeded by his mother for a short period because she passed away soon after leaving him as an orphan.
As much as there were plenty of goat's milk and even camel's milk, it was destined that he was breastfed by his 'milking mother'.
I could not trace any write ups that says that he was given non humans milk.
Surely there must be a lesson here somewhere!!!!

During one of my 'one to one' occasions with Tun Dr Mahathir i did mentioned to him that the social ills of todays youth are attributed to cow's milk!.
He brushed me off and says that 'nak salah lembu pulak!!!!'
Well i told him that kalau salahkan mak pak mereka, nanti mereka marah, so better to marah kan lembu....
I even said that when i had susu lembu dulu, it was high quality milk powder, Dumex from Holland or New Zealand, whereas now it might be the cows from India or maybe China!!!!and hence the quality might be low..
I was equating this in jest with no substantive rationale!!!

And since i just did this connection with the examples by our beloved Prophet, i think there is a connection some where, where it attests to the superiority of mother's milk and hence placed all mothers as the determinant to ensure our ultimate ticket for entrance to Heaven, InsyaAllah.....

Just another Musings again.
Azudin O Fuad

Just Sharing the last Training-June 2009

2009-06-07T22:40:00.007+08:00

Pagiii.

I am truly blessed that i managed to be on site, (albeit some unavoidable absence) during the last Training at Putrajaya International Convention Centre from 5th to 7th June 2009.

It was truly a historic occasion. I hope there will be another occasion in the near future, when such a mammoth training can be done, InsyaAllah.

What did i get from the last Recharge?
In relations to my first training in April 2006, there was only a few additions and modifications, which were done to suit the time.

Pak Ary is still superb and i hope and pray that he remains so.
The new second liners too have been well trained by Pak Ary, and i must say i do miss Pak Aminul performing together with Pak Ary upfront.
This Pak Legisan? he is good too...
As much as we have our own Malaysians as cadre trainers, it will take a while for them to reach the proper level..
I hope that we should have our own home grown trainers that has the the same quality as Pak Ary's second liners soon....
I too hope that we can also realise the dream of having our own Graha 165 in Malaysia.....
I will also try to pay a visit there soonest.

I am impressed that the number of volunteers as ATS was oversubscribed.
My application was kindly rejected.
Anyway i hope to be of service in future training if time permits, if only just to re-arrange the chairs and hamparkan the kain tempat duduk....

I hope to attend the MCB Series and all the others, including attending the kids and teenage series, just so that my knowlege can be further enhanced....
I remember attending the teenage training in Bandung in end April 2006 for a short while and i was given the opportunity to give a small pep talk/sharing with them.

I learnt too that the ESQ spirit is indeed powerfull and almost everybody i met have that big smile on their face. You can see from the pictures in my blog.

One thing i do know is that in just a short span of 3 years ESQ is here to stay and we are a lucky lot to have been amongst the first to have experienced it.

Like i always say to my friends, that i would like to share the ESQ experience with them because i do not have that much extra money to share with them, and that sharing this ESQ experience is a life time sharing whereas if it is material sharing it will only last a few seconds.....

Unluckily i did not meet Fakhrul our moderator, because i wanted to discuss with him on some ways of enhancing our communications on this Alumni ESQ165 yahoogroups.

Actually this communication channel should rightly be called "Forum Komunikasi Alumni" or " Alumni Communication Forum".

I think saudara Fakhrul can get the official consensus from ESQ LC and get the guidelines and blessing from Saudara Razib and Ahmad Yani.

Then we can devise certain guidelines and the do's and don't and ensure that our communication lines are open all the time and we do not have any little hiccups here and there....

Let us lead the way and truly use the latest God sent technology to communicate rationally and truly prove that TOTAL ACTION is everywhere and anywhere using anything and everything......
I have written some time back on the proposed guidelines and i hope somebody can tabulate all the other points and comments and put it in simple language as our Guidelines on the FKA or ACF......

Lastly, the song Demi Matahari is still ringing in my ears...till now...
I know that it can be the top song in due time and might even win the juara lagu.....
Allah hu Akbar.......

I told Pak Ary that luckily he gave the green light for the song to be reinstated..
If not i would have sung the lagu Demi Bulan...........!!!!!!!!!!!!he..he..
Anybody can send the song so that i can download....
I bought the SNADA CD...
Cukup lah setakat ini.
Will try to put some captions to all the photos on my blog..
I hope the ESQ LC do not saman me for taking so many pictures during the training.
I tried very hard not to take the pictures in a disturbing manner and i did not use the flash.
There was an occasion when somebody was taking pictures with the flash on and Saudara Rosile was searching high and low up in the Interpreter room to see whether it was me!!!!
Sorry bro, it wasn't me...i know when and where to take and i also know why they do not allow recordings of the training sessions by individuals.
Some might misuse it and use the normal "cut and paste" and try to use it in their
Most of the pictures of individuals that i displayed were done in good faith and i informed them beforehand of my intention.
I also tried to get the best shot of them so that they look nice!!!
You can see a very bubbly Puan Marhaini and a youngish Saudara Razib......and all of them were giving the 3 cm smile...
To Satria ESQ 165 who made their mark in getting the Petition, i salute you.
I am ashamed that i was a bit slow in this sense, being a military guy and should have been as a Panglima to lead all the Satria...
Minta ampun dan maaf banyak banyak Saudara Rosile plus wife and Sheh and others....
I am deeply and truly humbled at your Satria/Fighting spirit.....

I know we have been told that ESQ is like Oxygen.
Well since i like to Muse around on Second Thoughts, i would like to differ on that.
Please correct me if i am wrong.

Actually ESQ is like "Ajinomoto or Kicap ABC", which is a taste enhancer or penyedap rasa/selera...

The Real Oxygen is ISLAM..
Nothing can replace ISLAM and in this life of ours we do need some time 'Ajinomoto" to enhance our taste...

I know there are many that do not use Ajinomoto...
Well, my favourite food is Maggi Mee and i know many says that it is not good.
But to me it is my food saviour and the Maggi Mee Curry flavour taste has not changed since i first ate it way back in 1970's...
Contrary to what they say, my hair is still intact and bushy not botak and luruh rambut and my overall health Alhamdullillah is stable with no major known common ailment thus far.
I am a bit overweight, yes, but i do cycle regularly, both on mtb and road bikes, covering easily 30 km without feeling any fatigue....
I know that we are encouraged to berenang, memanah and naik kuda.
Well i regard cycling as an alternative to menuggang kuda, albeit kuda besi or aluminium or carbon....!!!!!!!!!
I am awaiting Sheh and Jahid my Putrajaya neighbours plus Shahrin to join me

Saudara Muhammad Ary Ginanjar Agustian-

2009-06-07T21:47:00.007+08:00

For those who are reading my blog and do not have any info on the ESQ Way 165 please excuse me for not giving a short info on it before posting the pictures and the write ups on the 3 days training at PICC Putrajaya which are meant for my ESQ Alumni.
I do not know how to load the pictures on the Alumni Communication Forum and the only choice for me to show the pictures is to load on to my blog.
Well Dr Ary Ginanjar Agustian is the guy who came out with this training methodology on the Islamic Guide to Developing the Emotional and Spiritual Quotient.
His training methodology has garnered more than 700,000 participants and it is gtowing every day.

I accidentally attended the First Training in Malaysia held at the Palace of the Golden Horses, Seri Kembangan on 6th to 8th April 2006.
It has definitely left an impact on my personal self and i am glad that the accidental chance to stumble upon this training then was the best that could have happened to me. I owe Saudara Razib and Jamal Nasir a lifetime gratitude.

It was then that i gave Pak Ary the name Muhammad Ary Ginanjar, because i told him that his stature needs to have our beloved Prophet's name up front.

Well today, on the last day of the biggest ESQ Training in Malaysia, Dr Muhammad Ary came out at the closing of the training in a Black Baju Melayu complete with Sampin Songket and Songkok.
He said that he wore the Baju Melayu at his own behest, to show that his affiliations with us here in Malaysia has already been imbued since Parameswara days....(i will write on Parameswara, my version some other time as opposed to Pak Ary's version!!!),...or rather he considers himself as one of us, which is obviously true brecause we are from the same rumpun or serumpun and our langguage too is the same...sometimes we can understand Indonesians better than Kelantanese!!!!

I have posted his pictures in Baju Melayu and also him together with his father and mother celebrating their wedding anniversary....i did not get what number...

Will keep on posting more pictures of the 3 days event

View of the 6 screens for ESQ 165

2009-06-07T14:26:00.002+08:00

ESQ Way 165-Exec Trg-5-7 June 2009

2009-06-07T00:35:00.003+08:00

The Biggest ESQ 165 Training in Malaysia-5 to 7 June 2009

2009-06-05T21:25:00.007+08:00

This morning i decided to join the ESQ 165 Executive Training at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, which is only 5 minutes away from my house.
It would have been unbecoming of me if i did not go.
More so that this will be the biggest training numbers in Malaysia.
I arrived at about 8.20 am and just as i was entering there was Pak Aminul coming down from the Escalator...which was a coincidence because i was hoping to see him this time and was thinking about it before going there.
Well gave him my trademark 'Salam Gajah' as opposed to 'Salam Semut'...
Did not want to detain him and wished him well...
Then i waited in line for registration for Alumni.
I can see a large crowd gathering and entering the hall...
As i was about to enter the hall, as another coincidence i bumped into Puan Marhaini...well was glad to see her and she enquired about my second Umrah...
As i entered the hall, i was ushered to the front by the ATS who thought that i was one of the VIP Guest!!!.. and i was just in time to give my 'Salam Gajah' to Pak Ary who was just finishing his salam to the long line on the front row...well he was telling Pak Yani Karangkraf that the salam gajah is here.Was pleasantly nice to see Pak Yani too...

The record participants of nearly 1000 is history in the making.
When i attended the first training in April 2006, we had just more than a 100..or maybe about 200.
And this is the 34th training in Malaysia and on record more than 34,264 members are Alumnis and the total Alumni is 684,803...
Alhamdullillah.

I stayed on till about 5 pm till tea break and i had to go off a bit earlier..
Will try and attend the 2nd and 3rd day session and the Preview.
I know that there will be more Alumnis coming on this two days..
I did not meet any First Alumni gang, sadly.
Most were surprised when i mentioned that i was in the First Alumni..
I wanted to volunteer as an ATS but was told that they had more than enough already.
Maybe next time....

2009-06-02T09:12:00.005+08:00

Another Fulfilling Umrah 23-31 May 2009

2009-06-01T00:28:00.011+08:00

Alhamdullillah and Allah hu Akbar

I am back intact from yet another fulfilling Umrah.
I truly attest to HIS Greatness and ONE ness and yes indeed HE is the Most Powerfull.
As Hajj means literally in Arabic 'to question Allah' i have indeed been questioning HIM in my own way.
As much as i knew that HE is powerfull, i also bear witness that indeed Allah Taala freely shows His power in Tanah Haram on the spot, so to say.
I will most probably write my experience in small doses, because i need to share my simple experience in a positive tone with my friends who are following my exploits here.
Suffice to say that on this second Umrah Allah has bestowed VVIP Treatment on me, because i managed 5 Umrah and Saaie and numerous tawaff after every prayers...
I was in perfect state of health 24 hrs a day and there was not even a moment when HE subjected me to any serious 'dugaan'...
It was as simple and easy as ABC..to me at least.....
I prayed mostly behind Raudah again in Madinah and had numerous chances asking for favours in my doa inside the small confine of Raudah with ease despite the crowd..
and likewise in Kaabah, i was within the saf 3 and 5 in my obligatory prayers time and even upgraded to first saf in front of Hijr Ismail and Pancuran Mas...exactly at the centre underneath the pancuran mas...
The temperature was chilly hot at max 42 and normal at 35 plus plus...and at night about 32 and above...
The floors outside the Masjidil Haram can cause instant blisters like telor mata lembu if you loose your slippers and decide to walk barefoot!!!!
However inside, the floors around Kaabah remains foot friendly....

Will write more cos i need to go to work tomorrow after a week's absence.

My Second Umrah-23-31 May 2009

2009-05-23T11:13:00.004+08:00

Alhamdullillah and InsyaAllah,
I should board the 1520 flight from KLIA to Jedddah today.
My good friend Major Ramli Othman, the CEO of TH Travel, instructed his GM to hand deliver my passport and visa plus the air tickets to me last night at home.
Somehow they managed to process the whole thing and that is why i am going on my second Umrah today.
Ramli too will be on the same flight and and he is still on a mision to negotiate the atrocious new rates for the accomodation package during this year's Hajj. I am just going to 'tumpang' his room and a little bit of his priviledges.I only paid for my air fares.
Most probably i will spend about 2 days in Madinah and then off to Makkah.

I am blessed that since my first Umrah last month, my life has been fast paced and according to another good friend of mine Mazlan Omar, i am too fast for him!!
Actually, i am being blessed and my life has truly taken an accelerated change.
Alhamdullillah.

Well, i told him that it was not so, and that it is only now, nearing my 53rd year on earth that i am just somewhere near, within his sight and that all these years, i have been in the shadow of my own doing.

I know a few others like Charlie Yeo who thought that how come, only now,that he sees me in a sort of 'top form'....

Well that goes to show that in as much as we were friends there are many things that we do not know about each other.
It is only now that we are seeing each other more often than last time, and the best part is that we are discovering that it is a good thing.

I hope i will have another fulfilling Umrah like the previous one and my wish and doa is the same as the last one....no additional request....

I will SHARE my experience once i come back next Sunday.

Just to Share-My Friday Morning Thoughts

2009-05-15T07:28:00.008+08:00

(I wrote this to my ESQ 165 Alumni E-list this morning)

Since FRIDAY is the King of all days, i am inspired to jot down my thoughts after subuh on Friday.

I am also on a crusade of a sort to make FRIDAY, the public holiday of my country Malaysia, because i believe that, by ignoring FRIDAY as the most reverred day in Islam, we might have been disillusioned from the true path and that might be one of the reasons for our unsettled life, even though we have been blessed with abundance with everything in this beautiful country of ours.

This is my small contribution to my faith, InsyaAllah.

Dear all Alumni members,
Assalam mu alaikum WarahmatuAllah hi wabarakatuh
Salam 165 and Salam Semut/Gajah
Pagi....

Since Friday is the Islamic King of all the Days, i would like to share with you all some of my Thoughts on this auspicious morning:

I know that many of us have written here on this E-list some postings about life and some motivational examples.
There are some that also post some politically inclined messages on events and things that were organised by some political parties.
There are some that post certain general informations .
There are some that just re-post from others..

Whatever it is, all of us wants to SHARE a little bit of what we have and in this E-list we are sharing information.
This, i believe must have been done through our ESQ traits of SHARING.
This is a good habit and i hope some of us do not over do it.
More so, that we have been through the ESQ experience and we pride ourselves as having ZEROED our MIND.
Anyway since we are humans, we are not absolved of making mistakes.

Hence in ESQ, we are encouraged to RECHARGE.
I know that i am one of the culprits that has not been attending regular recharge and i have also not managed to be able to volunteer as an ATS.
(Sorry Brother Razib and Puan Marhaini)
But, the thought of it has never vanished from my mind and i will endeavour to do in in the near future.

My ESQ experience during the Pioneer ESQ Training in Malaysia at the Palace of the Golden Horses in 2006 is still fresh in my mind and the beautiful melody of Asmaul Husna, the ESQ Version is everlasting in my life, such so that when i hear it on Astro, i will stop all activities and just listen to it.
The CD and casette in my car is permanently there, and i have had to get new ones because of over used!

I have followed in earnest the deliberations about some minor misunderstanding of ESQ and the various comments. I too have made my own comments.

Since, the first foray into ESQ, i have had not a single doubt.
I have found it to be enlightening and thought provoking.
I have found it to be so simple that, it answers most of my questions.
I have found it as a tool to learn more about my Islamic faith.
It is a sort of catalyst or Ajinomoto in my religious discovery, which has been otherwise quite stale.
(Ajinamoto is a taste enhancer and what i mean here is that, after ESQ my quest for more Islamic knowlege is quite apparent.)
I do not want to bore you with details but suffice to say that i have had a fulfilling Umrah from 4-12th April and i will be performing my Hajj obligations in November this year, InsyaAllah.
All these are happening in my 52nd year of existence.
On reflections, i am very slow and i should have done all these in my 20's....

I can vouch that ESQ has made a difference in my life, and it has surely made me more hungry to find out more about my Islamic faith which i inherited or was born into.

Sometimes i envy those that Converted or Reverted into Islam because they did it out of their own free will and not out of default.
Anyway this can be another topic for my future Friday Morning Thoughts!!!!

Today i would like to share with you my healthy habit of Cycling.
I am staying in Putrajaya at Presint 16, i.e behind Taman Warisan Pertanian and in the area of Alamanda.
I have a small group that cycles regularly and we call ourselves The Putrajaya E-Riders or PERs in short.
The E in PERs initially denotes EASY, but after a while our cycling activities becomes EXTREME too..
Anyway, we have a blogspot at kayuh.co.cc.

Our cycling activities are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Nights starting at 9.30 pm at the Putrajaya Mosque. We normally spend about one and half hours and sometimes cover about 30 over km..
We try to ensure that we go back home by 11 pm on weekdays.
Only on Friday do we encourage Teh tarik after the ride.
On weekends we ride too.
On Saturday Morning and Sunday Morning we start at 8.00 am from Taman Warisan Pertanian.
We normally try to go off road in our mountain bikes and try to finish off by 10.00 am.
Sometimes we go and ride away from Putrajaya on Saturday.
Members of our group comes from all over KL and Selangor and they comprises a diversity of professions and background but with a passion of cycling either road bikes or mountain bikes.

I would like to SHARE this healthy lifestyle with my ESQ Alumni, because a HEALTHY body, promises a more stable MIND, and ultimately promises a PERFECT way of life which is after all ISLAM, because it is the MOST Perfect Way of Life.

So keep Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.

Azudin O Fuad, Lt Kol retired.
ESQ Alumni 1(2006), KL

I wore the T-shirt that my daughter gave me around Kaabah

2009-05-12T22:51:00.001+08:00

OP Jamal Nasir and me showing our crown

On the move since Umrah

2009-04-29T16:02:00.006+08:00

Wow, since coming back from Umrah on 12th April, i have been on the move.
Have not managed to stand still eversince.
I am not complaining and i am enjoying every moment of my renewed vigour and enthuasiasm...
I did have a bit of a chesty cough problem, but that has since disappeared.
I am down to below 90 kg and it is definitely going down.
Just got a new mountain bike, albeit second hand, but it has the top of the range component, XTR and it is definitely lighter than my other mtbs...in fact it is as light as my Bianchi road bike...
I have decided that my weekends will be spent on criss crossing off roads trails and my week days nights will be on my road bikes.
The reason is simple.
On weekdays my cycling time is limited to the well lighted streets of Putrajaya starting after Isyak, about 9.30 pm and can last till about midnight.
My Putrajaya E Riders cycling schedule is fixed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Night Ride.
On Saturday, we will try to cycle away from Putrajaya and on Sunday we try to remain in Putrajaya because there will be newcomers who wants to ride in Putrajaya.
The second reason is because the characteristic of mtb and rb is different.
On rb, i need to really concentrate and i can go very fast, leaving me with less opportunity to look left and right and enjoy the view.
I need to cycle on very even tarmac with no potholes.
Whereas on mtb, i can criss cross anywhere i like.
I can also slow down and admire the view and smell the flowers and look at the nice scenery.
It is also less stressfull and i do not need to really concentrate on the road whilst cycling. (to be continued)

2009-04-16T23:03:00.001+08:00

2009-04-16T22:53:00.000+08:00

I am back-after a fulfilling Umrah

2009-04-15T06:36:00.006+08:00

These pictures were taken in Masjid Nabawi and Madinah Munawarrah especially inside Raudah..seen Mimbar in Raudah and Makam Nabi.

Alhamdullillah and AllahuAkbar.
SubhanaAllah Walhamdulillah Walaillah hailaAllah AllahhuAkbar

Got back intact from Makkah Mukkaramah on Sunday,12th April(my mother's 74th birthday) at 1103 hrs.She came along with me together with my wife, youngest brother and my wife's younger brother and his wife.
Everything went well as i had expected all this while.
It was the easiest journey of my life.After all it was a journey back to the home of my beloved Tok Nenek and Moyang Nabi Muhammad S.A.W.
so when you go back to your Tok's house, why should it be a problem to you?
Even if you forget to bring a sarung, they will provide it for you.
Sure enough he will feeed you with plenty of Air Zam Zam, the miracle water that fulfills all thirst and hunger and also provide the essential vitamins and cure for all diseases......so what is there to worry?

I enjoyed the power of Allah Almighty and everything that i thought what Kaabah would be was proven true.

All the stories that i heard from others about Kaabah was proven wrong.
Kaabah is the easiest place to go, very systematic and there was no hassle at all to conduct my tawaf and saaie.

My observations is that in as much as the place is a holy land and faultless in all manner, unfortunately there were plenty of idiots circling the place and tawaf fing the Kaabah...
Hence as much as Islam is perfect, a majority of the ummah are bloody idiots and terribly illiterate and ill educated.
No wonder Muslims cannot unite.
Malaysians seems quite a sombong lot, sad to say...na senyum kat kita pun susah..and most of them look confuse and pretend to be concentrating in just praying to God, wheras God wanted them to see all manner of humans there and to interact with Muslims of other nations...
Ini tak depa ta tegur sapa dan ingat kan the best thing to do is concentrate in their doa saja and ta perdulikan orang yang di kiri kanan mereka.

I managed to kucup Hijarul Aswad 4 times,the first 3 was done in one Tawaf during the 6,7 and 8 round after my first Subuh prayers there. Managed Umrah complete 4 times(2 for me and the other 2 for my father and grandmother). and tawaf sunat countless times i.e. at every opportunity before and after the solat waktu....after all tawaf is solat sunat masjid there.....so why should i waste time just solat sunat wheras i can tawaf sunat..after all i can always solat sunat at other places and time, whereas tawaf can only be done at Kaabah....
It was easy as ABC, no problem and no big deal.
In Madinah i prayed at and inside Raudah at all the strategic places as recommended countless number of times.(There are certain places, in raudah that our doa are answered and granted on the spot).

Was in perfect health all the time and never missed any of the main prayers in the mosque and praying within inches at all the strategic places, less inside Hijr Ismail.(too crowded).Ta ada occasion to batal air sembahyang or sakit perut unnecessarily...so never had the occasion to pay a visit to the toilet...
Only once i wuduk guna air zam zam dalam mesjid...

Had many memorable experience in the Kaabah and witnessed and experience the power of Allah showing his powers on the spot.

One of the petunjuk that i got whilst praying under the Pancuran Emas, is that, whenever the time comes when any of my daughters wants to get married, the Hantaran must be a package Umrah by TH Travel for two persons to a room and not the normal monetary value place to the hantaran.

Another petunjuk is that i must not trust those that seems to be knowledgeable...i.e. jangan percaya orang especially your close ones...

There are a few other lessons that i got too, that should make me a much wiser man.
Sorry,another petunjuk is that i should not change my ways, i.e. can use vulgar words and critical analysis..i.e. can keep on kutuk mengutuk...

Well, my advise to all of you is please go soonest, whether Haji or Umrah as soon as possible don't wait until you have money or have supposedly sembahyang secukup nya,,,,kalau perlu pinjam duit to go, jangan pinjam duit beli rumah or kereta sahaja..

You can go as what you are now, and don't worry about ta cukup syarat, konon nya and takut tuhan punish kalau kita ta cukup syarat....i.e..dah habis buat dosa baru na pi.
This is the old school of thoughts...
Please go as soon as you can afford to borrow money and see the Power of Allah Taala.....LIVE IN ACTION....

I went with an open mind and came back intact and unscathed, despite my foul mouth and critical opinions of people.
It goes to prove that Allah knows best...what is really in your heart....
You don't have to be a big hypocrite and great pretender..

Do not worry and pretend to wait for the right moment or the right calling by Allah...

It is only the devil in you that is making you wait for the so called calling.....

Allah never meant for you to wait for his calling....HE has invited you even before you were born...
If you need any tips on how easy performing the Umrah...i am most willing to give you personal tuition..and precious tips.
If you want me to accompany you and be your tourist guide, i am most willing to do it provided you pay for my fare, which is dirt cheap for a 9 days Umrah package. My bicycle cost more, sadly.

Fulfilling my Obligation

2009-04-02T11:02:00.002+08:00

No cycling next week.
I will be away from 4th to 12th April to fulfill my obligation.
I will be performing the Umrah, InsyaAllah.
This will be my first experience.
I am both apprehensive and jittery at the experience that i will be facing.
I am humbled that thus far, life has been smooth.
I hope my Umrah will be accepted by Allah Al Mighty.

Tun Dr M's blog

2009-03-14T01:14:00.003+08:00

Well i just read Tun's blog.
He did write about the English teaching for Science and Maths.
Please read it.
If my prediction is right, the papers will not publish anything that might jeopardise UMNO's election next week, especially on this issue.
So Tun must have decided to write it in his blog instead his opinion and elaborated more than what he said in the Press Conference yesterday morning.
I hope he writes about some of my suggestions and points that i brought to his attention...

Met Tun Dr M-this morning 13 March 2009

2009-03-13T12:59:00.007+08:00

It was an opportunity not to be missed, when the SAHOCA Management Committee met our SAHOCA President Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed at the Yayasan Bukhary in conjuction with the Press Conference by Tun Dr M on the Opening of the SAHOCA Building on 20th March 2009, next week.
We had a private audience with him for about 20 minutes before the PC.
He covered a few world issues during that time, and i can vouch that his views are very relevant and true.
In fact he covered almost all the current issues, Obama, Sudan's Omar Bashir, the Jews, The current financial crisis, War Crime Tribunal,and off course the present PM.
Did asked him a few private questions personally and also did take the opportunity to give him a few points of my own.
Mentioned to him about the change of War Department to Defense Department and maybe ultimately Peace Department, to which he said, maybe...
I did mentioned to him that only two guys can say NO to the US, i.e. Saddam Hussein and him, to which his eyes sparkled and gave that grin of his.
Also asked him whether there is any efforts by China in trying to take the lead in the world and whether he has any personal connections with the Chinese Leaders to try and convince them of taking the lead, since the US is having so much problems or rather they have created their own problems?
He says that they are playing safe...or words to that effect...
I even asked him whether there is any Malaysian Chinese who has such a calibre as to have any personal contacts with the Chinese leadership and can whisper a few words to them on his behalf about his opinions of the wordly affairs!!!
His answer is the same as the above...Non Committal in unnecessary affairs or in plain word...play safe...concentrate on Untung only...(this is my understanding of what he says, because his one liner answers has deep meanings...)
He did give his views of the Middle Eastern Countries of which it is not any different from our views..
He tried very hard but as always because of the colour of the skin, they would rather listen to the pale face in suits!!!

Wonder whether he will write about them in his blog.

Also asked him to write something about the college in conjunction with the Old Collegians finally getting a building of their own after 100 years!!

The Grand Old Man is perfectly sharp and witty.
His one liner answers to the Press has deep meanings and inuendos..
I hope the young reporters understood what he was trying to get at, or rather their Editors will permit them to publish verbatim what Tun Dr M said...

Obviously the question on Enlish for Science and Maths was asked.
He said, that in order to seek knowledge, one must be able to learn any langguage, be it Greek...
He said that he came from a kampung, a Malay, can still speak Malay, even though he can speak English very well. But yet he is still a Malay. There is no harm in learning English.He said that Science is very dynamic and everyday there are many write ups on it. If we were to wait for them to be translated for us to understand them, then we will be too late.

Most of the questions asked, touched on the present political situation...despite the press conference was about the opening of the SAHOCA Building..
Anyway, there were a few questions on the historical aspect about his times at the college.
He said that one of his memorable moment was when he was able to go back to school after a 3 years absent during the Japanese occupation,
He said that he was so excited that he signed his names as graffiti on the walls of the classroom.
He was reprimanded for that and had to clean it up by his teacher.
Not many students now will feel that way after a long break from school!!
He said that his education was gained at only a college level, i.e. Sultan Abdul Hamid College and Medical College...no Institute or University...he says that it was only a Lateral change...(come to think of it me too, from Sultan Abdul Hamid College to Military College...but i had my University experience at Lancaster very much later in life..wheras Tun did not even go to a University or became a specialist or even a surgeon!!!!!).

Unfortunately i did not have a recorder to record the whole PC.
Like Tun always say..Melayu mudah lupa...
And i would like to echo the sentiments of many that says that "Some Malaysians are an ungratefull lot...we do not know how to value the gem that we have in the like of Tun Dr M......
I wonder whether our country will ever get another one similar in calibre like him in the future?
Yes, he has his setbacks, but the point is that he DARES to do it his way and a majority of us has benefitted.
He was very diplomatic when he says "Melayu mudah Lupa' because i would have said "Melayu Tak Reti Kenang Jasa".
Luckily, i am not a Melayu but a Malay..(well it is stated there in my birth certificate what...Bangsa: Malay..)

Some of my RMC buddies

2009-03-11T15:29:00.007+08:00

These pictures are some of those that i conveniently had in my hard disk.
So if your picture is not there it does not mean that i care lesser for you.
It is only a matter of convenience.
I will try to upload more pictures later.

Abdul Waley

Yusof Sabudin
border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311839831686040450" />
Ismail Ibrahim and i

Jimmy,Yusof Ramli,Mohamed Salleh, Abdul Waley

Abdul Waley, Shukuri Comdt RMC,Mazlan Omar,Azudin,Behind-Yusof Ramli, Jimmy Ng,Rajaram,Mohamed Salleh

Mohamaed Salleh

Nazir Kassim, Sofiyan, Tengku Mohamed,Azahari

The Royal Military College

2009-03-10T14:03:00.005+08:00

The Royal Military College, Sungei Besi Kuala Lumpur.
I spent almost 3 years there, from 1972 to 1974, from Boy's Wing to Cadet Wing.

Alhamdullillah-i am ok-boleh kayuh today

2009-03-01T18:30:00.007+08:00

This morning i sms to my PERs member Muhaimy that i could not make it for the Sunday PMR.
Somehow, after that i took a quick shower and dressed up to try and test whether i can cycle around the house.
Well that short ride took me about 25 km and i managed to cycle with my wife to Pullman Hotel near PICC.
That was also her first ride on the hybrid Proton T-Sprint R specially assembled for her..
After her 25 km she told me that the bike is really light and it was not tiring.
That means she can accompany me next Sunday on my ride along the padi fields of Tanjung Karang Kuala Selangor with my Putrajaya E Riders gang...
Alhamdullillah, my immobility was short lived.
The pain is still there and my movement is restricted, but at least it is not the real slip disc.
The short immobility taught me a few valuable lessons and the 48 hours that i was lying flat on my back was a blessing from Allah the Almighty that anything can happen at the split of a second.
Life is too short to take for granted.
My experience in immobility is only a tiny weeny fraction of those who have endured worst.
They have undergone more...
The next time i see someone immobile, i will at least react differently...

No Cycling-for the moment

2009-02-27T15:26:00.002+08:00

Last Wednesday, i did a stupid thing.
Lifted a cement block,the one used to cover the drain, and sprained/strained my lower back.
Am now partially bedridden/house ridden.
Can walk slowly though.
Hopefully it is not split disc but muscle sprained.
If it gets worst by tomorrow, then i have to go and get expert help...hospital.
No cycling....

Alhamdullillah-She's back on the move

2009-02-17T15:24:00.007+08:00

Alhamdullillah, my life's routine is returning to normal.
After nearly a year of readjusting, my wife is on the move again.
She joins me on the weekends on my rides in Putrajaya together with my Putrajaya Easy Riders....and she does it admirably...coping with the 20 over kms travelled...no cramps..thus far...
She is also attending public functions such as weddings and gatherings...
She even went to see Upin and Ipin at the Putrajaya Cineplex...her first movie show after nearly 20 over years..since we got married to be exact...
She is keen to get a road bike so that she can cycle longer distance...and also because it is lighter....
I have to get one assemble soon, maybe not exactly a road bike but a tourer bike with road bike frame...

Alhamdullillah-she's cycling again

2009-02-03T13:46:00.000+08:00

Cycling again after a long break

2009-01-26T00:25:00.006+08:00

Sunday PMR was historic for me.

What was supposed to be a short ride round the block turned out otherwise.
My wife managed to cycle 25 km after laying off cycling for about a year due to her Big C and subsequent treatments.

Alhamdullillah, she is on the road back to normality.
Luckily i had Dr Tengku Mohamed and family accompanying us, and that i think made the difference...
And she did not show any sign of fatigue after the ride and even managed to go out shopping after that.
We even had guest at night and she only managed to get into bed at midnight.

I thank Allah Almighty that my life's routine is coming back to normal.
She even hinted that she might even ride together with my PERs gang together with her oncologist Prof Fuad.

Well she is one determined lady.

Putrajaya-A Resort Of It's Own

2009-01-23T00:51:00.003+08:00

Since the Chinese New Year holidays is over an extended weekend, many will drive out for a short holiday.
Thought of doing just that, but on second thought, decided to spend my holidays,at home.
Why not, because where i stay, it is a resort of it's own.
I can cycle to my heart's content and enjoy the nice and beautiful landscaped sceneries, without spending an extra sen.
I can picnic by the gardens and lakes.
I can utilise the various water sports facilities.
I can watch wild migratory birds just out of my house window.
I can watch bus loads of tourists at the Boulevard.
I can rest in the quiet and peacefull surrounding.
So why must i forfeit all these, after paying so much to stay in Putrajaya!!

Obama-Inspired and Perspired

2009-01-21T07:51:00.008+08:00

Time now is just a few minutes to 0800 in Malaysia and 13 hours earlier in Washington.
CNN is still live on the Inauguration of the 44th President of USA.(44 is not a good number for the Chinese, so i was told).
I stayed up till after his speech till about 0100 this morning with my cycling buddy Won.
Incidentally Won came earlier to leave his Bianchi bike for my safe keeping during the Chinese New Year Holidays.
Together we watched Obama taking the oath (where both he and the CJ fumbled with their words)and later delivered his much anticipated speech.
I cannot remember verbatim what he said, but i can understand fully what he delivered.
I am sure his speech will be an Inspirations to many as the day goes on.
What attracts me is his brave words when he reaffirmed his pledge that "as much as the challenge ahead is daunting, the challenges will be met head on"

"When the going gets tough the tough gets going, but when the going gets tougher, only the tougher ones gets going"(This is my version of the quotation)

My hope is that as much as he has inspired many, i am sure he will perspire in future months to keep the inspirations alive.

As a Muslim, i am a bit sentimental that an American President has a Muslim name....
Barack Hussein Obama, where Barack is Barakah or Berkat which means Blessed.

Blessed are those who belief in HIM.
Alhamdulillah and God Bless,
HE knows best.

Even though Obama's father came to the US not as a slave but as a student, we must remember that the racial prejudice during that time was still strong.
Inter racial marriages too was frowned upon then
More so that he was not even an American, but from a third world country, Kenya.

Indeed if Obama is tough, i am sure that his father and mother was tougher.
They survived a much tougher time then.
And the tougher one is definitely his mother, who survived just so that his son survive.
She braves the odd just so that his son survive.

I simply can't visualise the prejudices and challenges that she had to go through.
I could not imagine how his mother's mother(grandma)felt then, when the daughter married a black foreigner from a foreign third world country).
I cannot imagine how she felt again when her daughter married another third world foreigner from Indonesia!!!

For how much we erred, they have never erred in their prayers for us.
We are blessed because they blessed us.
As much as his book is titled 'Dreams from my father' it was the Mother that kept and ensured that the dream was achieved.

GOD BLESS OUR MOTHERS

Azudin O Fuad

The Malaysian Chinese Muslim Mosque

2009-01-18T14:23:00.005+08:00

The New Putrajaya 'Steel' Mosque is yet to be completed.
It is located strategically by the lake and behind Putrajaya Corporation.
The complex will have a Qiblat Walk, where a bazaar will house varieties of stuff.
Whilst cycling beside the mosque this morning, i realised that the design of the Mosque looks like a Chinese Mandarin headgear, and the motif of the wall looks Chinese too.
I reckon that it will be nicknamed the Chinese Mosque or Mesjid Cina!!!

Putrajaya-The Cycling Capital Of The World By Choice

2009-01-15T08:16:00.002+08:00

When i restarted cycling or re-cycled in 2006, i was toying with the idea of making Putrajaya as the cycling capaital of the world by choice.
Why by choice?
Well,we know that there are other cities and countries that has more cyclists like Beijing and Holland.
But they do not have a choice.
Whereas in Putrajaya, we a choice.
In fact we have a variety of choices.

If that is so, why must cycling be made the main choice?

If we look at the layout of Putrajaya, the accomodations/houses are placed around their office in a circular motion.
It is as if their houses are behind their work place.
They are living within a radius that is less than 5 km.
I would envisage that it will not be a problem to cycle to their work place.

The town planners of Putrajaya must have this in mind when they drew up the master plan then.
This can be attested to the many bike racks that is scattered all over the cycling routes around the lakes in Putrajaya.
As a matter of fact, the cycling racks are almost new by virtue that they have been under used!

The pedestrian/cyclists tracks are well paved and well maintained 7 days a week.
They are also well lined by blooming flowering plants.

If they improve it further, the cycling routes will be fully shaded by bushy trees and thus providing cover from the direct sunlight.

Maybe for starters, the Chief Secretary, the No. 1 Government Servant can issue a directive to encourage a Public Transport Day in Putrajaya, where the civil servants are encouraged either to use Public transport or another alternative-Non Motorised Transport i.e. bicycle.

Once the idea that cycling is convenient and a joy, then it will be a matter of time that the civil servants will cycle everyday to office.

Obviously, not many will change their lifestyle overnight.
But i am apprehensive that if a concerted and well planned efforts are undertaken to encourage a healthy lifestyle, it will only be a matter of time when, the residents of Putrajaya will be proud to announce to the world that, indeed, they have made their Choice of making Putrajaya The Cycling Capital of the World By Choice!!!

Azudin O Fuad

First Try at Bt 18 Hulu Langat-Sg Tekala

2009-01-11T15:01:00.002+08:00

Not to dissapoint Pak Wan Sabri and GEDEBE, i reluctantly turned up at Bt 18 at about 0820.
They had already left the starting point by then, at the designated time 0730.

By reluctantly, i meant that i am still having this flu and cough.
Had a late night out last night at the Putrajaya Bowling alley, with other PERs gang. I did not bowl, but stayed on to chit chat with them.
Was tossing and turning till about 0300, my breathing tube was giving some problem, sort of wheezing away, and the coughing was picking up.
My wife woke me up at about 0630 for subuh...
Still i was contemplating, whether to just sit it out at home or go to Tekala or GCE.
Prof Fuad last minute email and Wan Sabri's sms were both tempting, in addition to Shahrin's suggestion of PMR.
By the time i was dressed, it was already 0715, and i know that the GCE train would have left...anyway i did give a call to Dr Azmi and Taufik...no answer and that confirmed that they have started.
Called up Pak Wan and he says that he should roll out at 0730, and he was already at BT 18, wheras at 0720, i was only out of Putrajaya.
Told him to carry on and i will follow from behind and will either meet him on their way back or whatever since he will take the same route back to Bt 18.

Just as i thought, when i arrived, i asked another group the way to Tekala.
Mind you this is my first time there.
Tried to call Pak Wan, no response...(i was told later that when i called he was speeding downhill at 50 kph...}
Braving myself i cycled alone to follow them
Saw quite a few other riders wheezing past...i must have looked unprofessional with my jacket on...well it was rather chilly and i am still nursing my flu and slight fever....
Arrived after about 10 km at the junction going to Peres and Tekala.
Managed to ask for direction from some locals by the road and i was told to turn right.
At the same time , managed to call Pak Wan and he said that they are about to reach Tekala and will wait for me there since they will be taking their carbo loading there.
Wow, another 14 km to reach Tekala!!
I was contemplating of hitching a ride on any pickup truck passing by so that i can catch up with the GEDEBE gang.
It was at that time that another group arrived at the junction and was having a short rest.
A rather plumb guy called up to me and says that he is TSB.
Told them that i was trying to catch up with Pak Wan.
Well, this guy TSB, being a nice guy as what i have read in the Le Tuang e-list, switched his groups destination to go to Peres and offered to escort me to Tekala.
Being a nicer guy too, i hesitantly agreed.
There goes my intention of tuanging some distance and getting a free ride on a truck!!!!!!!!
Anyway, TSB,thank you for the kind gesture...and added another 14km to my distance.

Huff and puff, arrived at Tekala.
True to his word TSB stayed by me and delivered me safely to GEDEBE group, who was already into their second nasi lemak.
After a short rest, it was another 24 km plus back to Bt 18.
All in all i covered about 50 km today, and that despite the wheezing sound of the breathing and my yet to recover flu..
This time around Pak Wan stayed by me and ensured that i arrive back in one piece.
Mak Wan and the other Mak Cik, terus lesap ta nampak nampak...
That's when i started asking this poisonous question
"'Is their bike better? My humble Proton T Sprint R despite the Ultegra group set, is still slow.".
"Definitely, they can't be faster than me?"
"Wah sebab tu lah basikal mahal lagi laju"
Well, i guess this is the 'racun' that we have been talking about.
Bila laju na laju lagi?

I think i will stick on to my Proton for the time being.
Let's see in future ride.
Is it the bike or the man?
OP SK if you are reading this,let me have a few dry runs first before i join the Ironman group. I can cope up with the Rubberman, but Ironman, give me some time to prepare first....
By preparing means either man or machine?
The scenic and kampung view of Hulu Langat is more suited to mtb, in my opinion, because, on mtb we can take leisurely ride and enjoy nature.
I highly recommend this route to my PERs Plasticman on our mtb.
Maybe we can mandi manda after a leisurely ride.
On roadies, you have the urged to simply kayuh laju and take advantage of the draft of the peloton..

BTW i was doing 60kph on the way down to Tekala.....
It did cross my mind if the tayar meletup?
What do i do?
Anyway,there were not less than a hundred cyclists using this route this morning.....
Gang yang naik motor pun ada juga....maybe doing the Broga loop...
And what crosses my mind too about talks of volunteering to go to Gaza....i suggest come and cycle first and try Peres or even Tekala, before even mentioning of volunteering!!!!!

My doctor Tengku Mohamed advised that i take some Panadol and rest.
I think i will do just that now.
Azudin
1500 hrs.

Saturday Putrajaya Morning Ride (PMR)

2009-01-11T01:11:00.002+08:00

Managed to join PERs members on Saturday PMR after laying off cycling since Tuesday.
The flu and cough is still around. The wheezing breathing sound is still there.
However, i managed to cover about 25km.
Still could't sleep.
Contemplating on cycling in Hulu Langat or Guthrie Corridor tomorrow.

About Putrajaya again

2009-01-09T12:47:00.003+08:00

Since i am in the mood to write about my kampung, here goes some more second thoughts of mine:

There are many other observations that i can highlight.
But on second thought, i have faith that Putrajaya is run like a
corporation and defintely, they should be better than the local
council and even KL City Hall.
The plans for Putrajaya is First Class, but we must remember that not
all the temporary residents of Putrajaya has First class mentality.
Putrajaya is populated by people from various segments of society, who
were staying in a lesser standard of accomodation in and around KL,
including rumah haram and other housing estates where they hang their
rubbish on trees and their drains are clogged.
Putrajaya is perfectly tailor made as a showcase to the world.
Tourists passed by every day and night and the Dataran Putra is a focal
point for their visit.
Some how, there are a few occasions when events are held on the
Dataran and the organisers closed the whole area and hence,
inconveniencing the bus loads of tourist who has a limited time to
visit this area and hence, missing the opportunity to drop by. There
are so many other places where these events can be held but yet they
have to do it at the Dataran and worst still close the whole area.
I cannot comprehend the rationale for this!!
When Putrajaya was initially opened, i remember the then KSN, Tan Sri
Halim Ali, who is a friend of mine, going around Putrajaya on his son
in law's motorbike to observe things. He will despatch one of his
loyal Indian staff, i forgot his name, to advise residents who hang
their clothes on the shrubs and bushes and fences behind their house,
with the reasoning that it does not look well on the landscape of
Putrajaya and that there are tourists who pass by everyday.
Even, the placement of air-cond outdoor units are to be placed in a
specific part of the house, so that it does not jeopardise the house.
I remember i had to remove 3 units to the proper place initially
because i simply placed them at the convenience of the air cond
contractors, the cost of which could have make me purchase another air
cond unit!!
Even, now at my present house, i have not made any renovations that
will disturb the originality of the house. I only erected a Pegola
type structure at my kitchen, because without it my wet kitchen will
be subjected to the elements, and hence render it useless. That too, i
have been served a summon which i have to pay because, my applications
for that renovation was lost and it was not done properly.
Being, like i said a typical govt servant, albeit ex, i have no qualm
of paying and in the process of submitting a fresh and proper
application.

Now i see a blatant disregard of this and air cond are simply hung at
their convenience, hence making it an an ugly sight.
I am a firm believer of the rule of law and i break them when i can
have a good reason, for example beating the red light on a lonely road
at midnight, in this case in Putrajaya lonely roads.
Perbadanan have to be firm in enforcing the rules.

After all, what is the problem of enforcing rules for civil servants?

Mosque- Dataran Putra-Out of Bound Area after midnight

2009-01-09T12:27:00.004+08:00

A member of PERs sent an email to the KSN to complain about the shoddy treatment of the guards, in getting rid of visitors to the Dataran at the mosque after midnight.
He also asked about the rationale of disallowing visitors to the mosque after midnight.
Perbadanan Putrajaya responded after being asked by the KSN within a week.

However, I am not satisfied with the reply by Perbadanan.
What security are they talking about?
Putrajaya is beautiful at night.It's a waste if we curtail the time to admire it's beauty.

What social problem can the public do in front of the mosque?
What is the job of the guard?

They are supposed to be mobile and ronda the area and not sit on their buttock.After all the contract for the number of guards and their payments were made on the degree of work. I wonder how much is the cost to maintain the guard services?

By getting rid of everybody after midnight, their burden on the job is lessen, that too if there is any burden.

How can they perceive that by midnight it is is a time for rest and there is no reasons for people to be around that area.

And talking about gejala sosial and kegiatan jenayah?
How many reports have been made thus far?
What jenayah?
What gejala sosial?
Pak Samad is right by suggesting that the officials from Perbadanan visit the area at midnight to see what is happening.

I would have thought that the authorities would welcome visitors to Putrajaya day and night and even at dawn. I would have thought that at Dawn or after Subuh prayers, the Dataran would be full of healthy people exercising and doing Tai Chi or any other form of healthy activities'

I would have thought that since the facilities are there, all Govt servants will be exercising after office hours and also on weekend morning. After all they are staying in the excellent quarte ors within easy reach of the superb facilities.

I would have thought that the KSU's will be organising weekend healthy activities like jogging or any other form of healthy living, in Putrajaya by virtue that they are given 2 days off every week.

As it stand, the well paved and well kept pavements are empty. We can count by fingers the number of people using the facilities for healthy activities.

We did pass by the KSN house some time back whilst cycling and he was at his balcony reading the Sunday papers. I belief he must have been back from his morning walk that morning. The next time we pass by, i will drop by and say hello to him and probably invite him to join our cycling group.

Since the Govt is concerned about excessive health care expenditure to the civil servants, why not take preventive measures and really make the civil servants healthy. Looking at the crowd at the now, twice weekly Pasar Malam, i am inclined to belief that they are not healthy at all.

Added to that looking at the mushrooming of Mamak eating shop, where in an area 2 Mamak shop can open at the same time side by side and still do a blooming business, where as the night gets darker, more patrons comes in.

As highlighted by the response by Perbadanan. what reasons do people have to be awake after midnight? At least in the case of those at the mosque area, they are not
unhealthily drowning teh tarik and nasi lemak at midnight?

It makes me wonder whether there is a kilang somewhere, where the workers need to eat after their midnight shift. Sarcastically, i am inclined to believe that they are working overtime!!

In Presint 15, they will have not less than 4 Mamak shop within a small enclave.
And the best part is that there is nobody living in Presint 15-The Diplomatic Enclave.

And lastly, there is no sign board or whatever about the limitations at the Mosque Dataran. We only know when the whistles are blown!! And yet within view there is an expensive electronic display board? And one more last thing, there is no Town Clock anywhere in sight. It would be nice if the unused Minaret displays an electronic clock visible all round.

That's the very least that we can do to make the Minaret usefull. We know the Bilal do not run up the Minaret anymore for the Azan!!! The loud speakers too are not placed there.

I would love to volunteer as a local Councillor of Putrajaya, having lived here since it was established, but then again as i was told by one Perbadanan official, it is better that we do not have outsiders or rather in our case politically elected councillors, because 'susah nak control".

I know Tan Sri Sam personally. Maybe it's about time that i pay him a visit.

Azudin
p/s,
"Putrajaya, the Cycling Capital of the World, By Choice"

Down but not Out

2009-01-08T19:29:00.002+08:00

This is the 3rd day/night that i have not cycled.
Managed to complete my fast on 10th Muharam.
Thought that i could join the Wednesday night PNR.
After breaking of fast, i was on the bed by 9.00 pm.
Didn't feel well to cycle despite a call from my cycling friend.
Sure enough, i woke up with a sore throat and dryness this morning.
Decide to skip work and visited my Doctor friend.
Diagnosed as having some elements of viral fever, he gave me 2 days MC, to have a complete rest.
Hence i have been on my bed eversince(literally).

At my age it is better to be wise and listen to the Doctor.
Better be Healthy so that you can be Wealthy and hopefully Wise.
Prevention too is better than cure.

The chain is broken

2009-01-06T22:08:00.002+08:00

I am now on my bed, two hours before midnight.
No cycling today/nite.
After cycling everyday/nite, the chain is broken today.
There was not enough quorum to ride tonite. Only one PERs member responded to join me.
I decided to call it off.
Maybe it is also good because the small bulge/lump at the back of my head is giving me some discomfort.It feels like bisul but there is no sign as such yet.
Can feel a slight pain when touched.Maybe i should get expert medical help tomorrow.

And i need some rest too, because tomorrow, i will join my wife who is fasting on the 10th day of Muharram. Got to get up for sahur.

First Monday of the Year

2009-01-06T00:22:00.002+08:00

I did not feel right when i woke up. Felt that there was a small lump at the back of my head.Could not sleep well too the night before, felt a slight pain.
Instead of going to the office, i went to see a doctor friend of mine at his clinic.
Today being the first day of school, he too was late opening the clinic.
According to him, there is a slight lump, but there was no visual discolouration and it did not look serious enough. He recommended that i take some rest and see how it goes.
However, not wanting to break my daily ride routine, i joined my PERs gang in their Monday PNR. Did a fast ride with only one stop.
That's why i am still awake on this 6th Day of the year.

First Sunday of the Year

2009-01-04T16:15:00.002+08:00

I liken exercising, in this case cycling as a form of servicing our body.
We send our cars for regular maintainance service and likewise even our bike needs servicing.
So how do we service our body?
Well getting the heart to reach the required level and start pumping furiously is one of the way.
In cycling, my body sweats like a monsoon rain, basah kuyup and i can practically see the sweat running down my face and hands,menitis nitis. My shirt is thoroughly wet, hence after each ride, i will put on a fresh dry shirt.
The feeling is great, segar macam baru service kereta.

Alhamdullillah, for the last one week, i have felt really great, despite the regimentation of cycling either night or day or both!!
Only last night i was on the bed before midnight.
This morning, i tried for the first time, the GCE Ride , on my trusted Proton T-Sprint R.
Joining the Rubberman( a devisionist of Ironman but in the same Le Tuang group)led by OP Pedro and assisted by OP Doc Olmo, i had to cycle 18km non stop till the Nasi Dagang stall off the junction to Kuang from Sg Buloh road.Total ride distance was about 40km plus minus!!
These Rubberman on their roadies are fast, despite what they say about themselves.
I wonder how the Ironman do?
That's one of the reason, i have yet to garner enough courage to join them.
Anyway, OP Pedro was responsible enough to ensure that he keeps count of everybody under his charge.
Nobody was left behind.
My Plasticman Gang did me proud, on their mtb, matching the speed of the Rubberman.
Just you wait Rubbeman, till all my Plasticman gets their roadies.
We might be Tin-man or Carbon-man

The end of Day Three

2009-01-03T21:39:00.003+08:00

It is about two hours till the end of Day 3.
I think i'll bunk off early tonight.
The PMR this morning was in the rain.
Tomorrow going for my first Rubberman Ride at the Guthrie Corridor Expressway

Third day of the year

2009-01-03T00:43:00.003+08:00

It's nearly an hour into the 3rd day of the year.
Back on the bed, after straight night out cycling doing the Friday PNR with the PERs gang.14 riders in all.
Managed another 20 over km again tonight.
Had TTS at Presint 8 Mamak with Nan garlic and capati.
Rode from mosque to the new Sports complex and Pullman Hotel, on the other side of PICC.
Tomorrow morning another Saturday PMR.
I feel great, and hope that i will be able to carry on this healthy lifestyle for a long time, InsyaAllah.

Second Day of the Year

2009-01-02T01:56:00.002+08:00

It's nearly 2 hrs into the Second Day of the New Year.
I am still awake after getting back from another PNR-Putrajaya Night Ride with the GEDEBE gang of Wan Sabri of Kemensah Height.
It is a special request PNR, because normally, there is no PNR on Thursday.
But two members of GEDEBE wanted to test their new bikes again after breaking the virginity last night at the DUKE night ride.
Being Penghuku of PERs, i am obliged to accompany them.
Anyway they were old school mates of mine from SAHC.
Earlier on in the morning, had the PMR with PERs.

Wow!! This is really serious, pagi petang naik basikal.
This is truly a positive start to my new year.
If i maintain this regime, it will be a matter of time, my body will get back in a better shape, InsyaAllah.

It is now a New Year

2009-01-01T02:19:00.003+08:00

I am still awake two hours into the new year.
Couldn't sleep.
Came back from cycling in the city at the yet to be open Duta Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) with a few PERs gang and the GEDEBE gang of Kemensah Heights led by Wan Sabri.
Tomorrow morning at 0800, i hope to be able to join my PERs gang for the PMR-Putrajaya Morning Ride.
Managed to watch the fireworks at the KLCC from somewhere along the DUKE.

So hopefully, i will do better things this year.
No point in wishing for a better year if you yourself don't better the year?

The year is coming to an end

2008-12-31T01:30:00.001+08:00

In less than 24 hours, a new year will unveil.
We will welcome the year 2009.
I am still awake at 0130 hrs on the last day of the year 2008.
Could not sleep after reaching home at midnight after completing about 20 km with my new cycling group, the Putrajaya Easy Riders (PERs).
Since i will be ushering the new year tomorrow night cycling along the yet to be open DUKE-Duta Ulu Klang Expressway with another cycling group, the GEDEBE cycling group led by a senior of mine OP Wan Sabri, i thought it is better for me to write this last entry in my blog for this year-2008.

Looking at what i have written here for this year, it seems that i have been extremely busy.Too little entry!!!

My purpose of creating this blog was to record some thoughts which i thought would be amusing, if it it seen from a second opinion or second angle.

Take cycling for example.
Not many 50 plus guys does it.
Only a selected few suddenly don tights that seems rather revealing and take to the open road.
It became an obsession that, they can't do without riding to the extent that they even cycle at night!!

So to me it is like falling in love again, with my first love as a boy, i,e, cycling.
I belief others of my age group are discovering that too.
Some of their bikes cost more than their golf set, and some cost more than a Kancil!!

I am just excited about sharing this long lost love with others.
I am excited to see the changes that cycling has done to their health.
I am also excited that at this age of mine, i have found friends who share a healthy habit.
Cycling is fun.
And we can cycle 365 days in a year without any weather restrictions.

Since i live in Putrajaya, which is made for cycling, it is a waste if i do not use the facilities.

One of my aim is to make Putrajaya-The Cycling Capital of the World-by Choice.
I know Beijing has more bikes than us, but they do not have a choice, but to cycle, whereas in Putrajaya we have many other choices, but yet we choose to cycle. InsyaAllah.

Do i have a resolution?
Well, nothing definitive, except that my wife and i have set our mind to perform our obligations, the Umrah and Haj.InsyaAllah the path will be clear.

Looking forward to a good year ahead,

Hijrah-moving on

2008-12-29T22:25:00.004+08:00

Well, yesterday evening i had the opportunity to recite the doa akhir and awal tahun.
Since it is only done once a year, i was reading it out from the small kitab, given to me by my wife.
My understanding of the doa is that as much as we have committed so many flaws in the year before, yet Allah has been ever merciful and forgiving.
The doa for the new year is only asking Allah to safeguard us from the temptations to succumb to the devil's wishes and to help us to go in the path of rightiousness.
It is a simple doa and easily done.
But as always,it is not as easy as it look.
Hijrah means moving on to a better life.
Hijrah means taking risks.
Hijrah means doing something better.
Hijrah means change for the better.
May this new Hijrah year bring good tidings to who ever read my blog.
I hope to write in as often as possible and share some of my worldly views, which might be different from the norm, hence my musings of second thoughts.

Yes, i am cycling again

2008-12-09T15:06:00.003+08:00

My cycling has been as irregular as my postings here for 2008.
There were many reasons to it.
The main excuse was my other half's bout with the big C.
Now that she is at the end of her Radiotheraphy session and InsyaAllah on the road to recovery,my life should return to normal.
Over the last two months i have been inspired by a group of cyclist who frequents Putrajaya and who takes the opportunity to cycle here every other day.
Calling themselves the Putrajaya Easy Riders(PERs), their zest for cycling is a misnomer to their name Easy Riders.
They are led Pak Adib who is the oldest at the moment, just after retirement age, a few doctors coordinated by Dr Azmi and Dr Taufik,Muhamamd bin Ali, Samad, Muhaimy, Won, Razi, Azhar, Dr Rapi, Dr Azren, Prof Dr Fuad and Sani, Alan, Prof Dr Jaafar, and one girl Aliff.(There are some more names that i have yet to meet.)
I join them in their Putrajaya Morning Ride (PMR), Putrajaya Night Ride (PNR) and Putrajaya Evening Ride (PER). The minimum distance covered is 20 km.
The mode of riding is light and easy using MTB.

Since Putrajaya is my kampong, i take it as an honour to ride with them and show them the various hidden tracks and routes available here.

Now that there is another monthly Putrajaya Critical Mass on every last Friday Night of the month, i am obliged too to join in.

I hope i will ride as often as i can for 2009.

Sacrifice-Korban

2008-12-09T14:51:00.002+08:00

Alhamdulillah i spent my day helping out the korban process of
my Surau Ar Rahman at Presint 16.
No i did not korban this year, only my time and effort was korban'ed.
Managed to get back home at about 1645 hrs.
The fatigue of it all is about 30 km worth of cycling.
Anyway no complain, and i knew that the pahala gathered is well worth it.
InsyaAllah from next year onwards i will definitely do my korban proper inclusive of the korban fatigue duty.
I think this is a better way of just spending the Raya Korban by eating and being in front of the tv.
Hari raya Korban is not about being joyous and beraya the traditional way. It is meant as a remembrance of the Sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail.
The least i can do is get some blood on my hand and get to use my 60 years old scout knife again.

It's already December!!!!!!

2008-12-02T22:33:00.002+08:00

Suddenly, the year is coming to a close.
How time flies.
I must have been sleeping all year round.
Not even one decent post!
Must try and do better for 2009

AWOL

2008-10-13T20:38:00.001+08:00

Wow,
I have been AWOL(absent without leave).
Have not been doing justice to this blog of mine.

2007-02-23T11:57:00.000+08:00

JOHN DENVER lyrics

ong>

JOHN DENVER: Rocky Mountain Suite - December, 1974

2007-02-17T22:47:00.001+08:00

another one

John Denver-Rocky Mountain High Tribute

2007-02-17T22:23:00.001+08:00

Forever evergreen in my heart

John Denver - Sunshine On My Shoulders (1974)

2007-02-17T22:08:00.001+08:00

This song lift me up whenever i am down, always..

John Denver - Take Me Home Country Roads (1982)

2007-02-17T22:02:00.001+08:00

I can really sing this song.
First heard it in 1972.

John Denver - Annie's Song

2007-02-17T21:57:00.001+08:00

This one inspires me to love my wife more.

John Denver - Follow Me (1970)

2007-02-17T21:55:00.001+08:00

Another one of my favourite.

This Old Guitar

2007-02-17T21:52:00.001+08:00

This is one of my favourite JD song.

Last Day of the First Month

2007-02-01T00:20:00.000+08:00

I ended the last day of the first month, riding about 30km last night and the finale was the sound of the fireworks at the Boulevard.Why only the sound of the fireworks you might ask? Well i was already home and did not wait till midnight to see the fireworks. My two elder children was amongst the hundreds there...well they drove there as opposed to cyling like their mid age father.
My wife was way past in her sleep as usual preferring not to waste her energy cycling and reserving it for her housework.
There were about 30 cyclists in my group with an assortment of road and mountain bikes.I guess i must have been amongst the oldest.
I saw quite a number of children cyclists coming to watch the fireworks and the entertainment programmed for the night.
There were hundred of youths on their motorbikes..
Well, the first 31 days of the year has gone....
Have i done what i should have done?
Have i been keeping my resolutions?
Have i been happy?
Let's see what surprises the second month will unveil...

19th Day of the Year

2007-01-19T11:38:00.000+08:00

Today is the 19th day of the year or Week 3.
I have been busy and i presume others are in the same mode...
Hence my last postings was on Week One...
Starting the year with my driving adventure alone, to the East Coast, i had another adventure last weekend.
Took a drive with my 'big brother' who is a brother of my friend from Melor(a small village south of Kota Baru), up to Hatyai, through Bukit Kayu Hitam and took a flight to Bangkok on Sunday,14th arriving after sunset.
Came back on Tuesday evening arriving in Hatyai at 1930 hrs local time.(2030 WM Time)and decided to drive through Pattani and Narathiwat to Kota Baru and hoping to spend the night at my friend's house in Melor...
However we reached Golok way past midnight and the border was already closed. So we slept at the nearest hotel.
After breakfast on Wednesday morning, we drove across to Kota Baru, but decided to leave the car there and took the evening flight to KLIA.....
We thought that it was just a normal trip that we took that night driving through the troubled areas of Southern Thailand..there was not an iota of worries..
We were told on arrival at Hatyai that there was some bombings earlier in the day at Chanae, which was along the route...but my brother says that there is nothing to worry because we will be passing through friendly territory, populated by Thai Muslims Malay...However my friend in Melor was worried that we might not reached Kota Baru...because we were not in communication till we reached Golok. I guessed they must have blocked the communication from Pattani till Golok...there was no line..
The road was superb, double lane all the way and there was only a handfull or rather only one handfull of other vehicles that passed our way..otherwise it was a very lonely road..
There were about 6 roadblocks and there was no fuss in letting us through...
It was a risk that we took that night, so we were told...but then again we were aware of the risk when we decided to drive through that route...
So that was the second risk that i took in the first month of the year...Still another week or so to go...let's see what other risk is there...
No venture no gain...and when you gain, then it is an adventure.

Second Ride and First Night Ride

2007-01-07T00:17:00.000+08:00

Well, i managed to do another 20 km last night..
Again with the same group that i cycled yesterday morning plus a few more of his children and the family of another doctor friend of mine from Country Height.This is their first night ride.
Well there were a dozen of us and we were the only ones on non motorised transport at the Putrajaya Boulevard and mosque.
The place was full of cars and people lepakking and enjoying the night view.
We were the only ones sweating it out. We managed to reach the PICC and what a breathtaking view it was...
Putrajaya is tailor made for night cycling...
Why not try it out..

My First Ride of The Year-Cycling

2007-01-06T18:41:00.000+08:00

After starting the year with my driving up to the East coast , this morning i managed to cycle around Putrajaya with an old classmate of mine and his son from Melor, Kota Baru(He's here to enrol his son in an Institute in Bangi tomorrow) together with his big brother and sis in law and another cousin..
I managed about 20km plus....
No sweat really and could not cycle at a faster speed because this old classmate of mine was a bit tired from his long drive yesterday, and had to pace himself so that he does not burnt out.
Being a doctor, i guessed he knew what he was doing. Hence i was cycling at a slow pace and thus, it did not really burn out my calories as i had wanted to.

Maybe tonight i might ride again...
One of the things that i wanted to do this year is to seriously reduce my weight, and the only solution is to exercise and cycling seems to be the most appropriate means..
I embarked on this rekindled love of cycling last year....
Well, that is another long story maybe i might reproduce it again later..

Reading

2007-01-05T12:11:00.000+08:00

Chapter 22 of my first book for the year, Mental Revolution, discusses the Reading Tradition.
All of us knows the importance of Reading.
Iqra, the first revelation to our Prophet Muhammad, pbh, says that..
He was asked to read....
What a shock it must have been, asking Him to read, whence he was an illiterate, never attended kindergarten. Unlike the Standard One pupils now, who can read and write even before they attended their compulsary formal education...
But how did the Prophet read, when he does not know how to read?
Well, i guessed that he read with his Heart, with a little help from Allah swt...
The Prophet pbh, says that the best way of teaching is by doing..
Therefore i can imagine that He has been doing the good all his life and whence He was asked to read, it was a matter of putting One's heart and the words comes out naturally...
Do i make sense here?
I know all of us read everyday...yes reading the subtitles on the Hindustani, Tagalog, Thai or South American tv movies is also reading...or rather seeing and reading...
Reading the sms is also reading...
Chatting on the net is also reading...
Reading my blog is also reading...

So why do you read?
Get the book and read that out yourself..

My First Book of The Year

2007-01-04T12:46:00.000+08:00

Whilst i was waiting for my 2015 flight at Langkawi Airport yesterday,i got myself my first book for the year..Although it is an old book, nonetheless, i remember skimming/reading through it a very long time ago when i was still very young...i said skimming/reading through,because i did not actually read it per se..the book in it's original form is in Bahasa Melayu...
So in actual fact i did not read the old book then. The title of the book is all too familiar and the recognised author too was the father of my wife's classmate from Jitra, Kedah.
He was a famous son from Jitra,from where i grew up, beside the small path of Salleh Khan rubber trees and the padi fields behind the government office up on the hill along Jalan Changloon....
The English version is called Mental Revolution...as usual i skimmed through, the moment i got the book, managing to reach Chapter 11 by the time the plane landed...
And just before i wrote this i skimmed through the Conclusion chapter of the book and the last line is all encompassing
about what the Mental Revolution is all about...Quote" <strong>Before we can attain this progress, we must first change our attitudes to open the way to it. This is what the mental revolution ia all about."Unquote.
And that is exactly what i wanted to do this year, if i had not done so in some areas...Change my attitude to certain things that have dragged me down or impeded my advance...

Don't be shy to get the book and go through it.
It can make a world of a difference...

Week One of 2007

2007-01-04T12:19:00.000+08:00

I have yet to get a good diary.
I have had a few free ones but they were all taken up by the children.
I am still using the monthly planner of 2006 that has Jan 2007 in it.
Today is the 4th day of the year.
I have travelled more than a thousand kilometres since then...
Well a day before New Year, after the Aidil Adha prayers, i drove alone to Kota Baru, through N-S Highway via Lenggong-Gerik-Banding-Jeli-Rantau Panjang-Pasir Mas and arriving in Peringat with the final destination at Melor..for a wedding of a friend's daughter on New Year's Day...Took me about 6 hrs plus-minus very fast driving..
Just before the first day of new year ended, at about 2315 hrs, i drove back to Putrajaya using the same route and arriving at 0500 hrs..another 6 hrs plus-minus...still driving alone..
Took a short nap and woke up at 0730 and took another nap and woken up again at 0945 hrs and got ready to board a flight to Langkawi at 1155 hrs..from Sepang LCCT..
Arrived in Langkawi on time(no usual delay from Air Asia)..
Did not move around that much in Langkawi..luckily..
And the next day, in the evening took the 2015 flight back to LCCT Sepang..
Well that was how i started my new year..
Definitely there were plenty of happenings but i am too tired to jot them down here. Suffice to say that it is quite a mouthfull to swallow...
Maybe i will pen them down as i go along in this New Year, which i hope will be full of surprises and adventures....
Happy New Beginning and may God bless everyone...

Week Fifty Two

2006-12-24T12:32:00.000+08:00

Monday,25th Christmas Day 2006 is the start of the last day of the year.
Week No. 52.
I have yet to get myself a Diary. Come to think of it, do i really need one. For this year i have only filled up the organiser part of the diary,i.e. the Monthly planner..filling up every small things on the small space....
The pages of the diary is still fresh and blank....and to think that i have been carrying the diary in my briefcase throughout the year...just another weight in my daily carrying of objects ranging from the laptop,the pda, the handphone and the camera...plus the wallet off course..
Maybe for next year, i might just as well remove the pages of the month in the diary and only use the monthly planner or better still use the one page yearly planner...
What is the use of a diary if you do not fill it up.
Likewise my Nokia 9300i complete with u-name it, is still under utilised...still have not got used to jotting down everything....
Maybe a simple hand phone is just what i need...which i have actually,... the second cheapest Nokia with the FM radio which i use for my cycling...using another number off course only known to a handfull for emergency purpose...
Likewise this laptop that i am using at the moment...is still under utilised...mostly used in the bedroom or sometimes out of office...
So, after 52 weeks, i have realised that i have been carrying unnecessary baggage!!!
Maybe in Week One of 2007, i will carry less...maybe just some memories of 2006 and not the liabilities....
It is wise to start with Light and Easy....warming up first..
So Week One will start on MONDAY, but then again Monday is a Holiday. But then again Tuesday is yet another holiday, a replacement for the Sunday Hari Raya Haji overlapping the Sunday Holiday and the Monday New Year Holiday.....
But then again when it comes to holidays, nobody's complaining...overlapping holidays are zealously adhered to..as opposed to overlapping work days!!!

Another new year,another new beginning

2006-12-22T13:44:00.000+08:00

2007 is just round the corner. Another new year, another new beginning.Nevermind if the ending of 2006 has not been to your satisfaction,you can always begin again in 2007.
After all everything starts with Number 1, and every new calendar starts with January.

Once you get your new diary, one of the first thing that you do is jot down the important dates,the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates that is relevant to your life.....
Your bornday is one of them, not so much as a reminder but out of curiousity you just want to know, what day it will be...whether it is over a weekend or in the middle of the week.
I know mine will be on a Monday...

However, it has never crossed your mind, when your goneday will be in the new calendar...
Obviously, you do not know unless you are serving a death sentence and the date has been fixed!!!!

Why am i fussing about this because, over the last few days i was having my A-musings of Second Thoughts on death by cancer.
Yes the BIG C, you never know when it will strike and when you know, it is too late...
I do not know and have never seen the sufferings of a cancer patient, so i cannot say anything about it. Thank God that, thus far none of my family members have succumb because of that...
I was told that the pain is unbearable....

But comparing cancer death to death in a road accident, the consolation in cancer death is that you will have some time frame to make amends and seek forgiveness before you finally bunk off.

That might be the only consolation, despite the fact that you are counting the days, when the day will come...

Oh what a thought to ponder on, whilst awaiting the new year!!!

So my new year's resolution this time is "Please God, help me be nice to my dear ones , if i have not been that nice all this while,
make me a simpler person to be with and take away all my prejudices and stereotyping of other people...in simpler term...make me make less comments on other people....they are entitled to be what they want to be, even if it is the most idiotic thing....."

It is not too late to make another new beginning, because every moment is a new beginning, until death...when the old compulsary questions are asked...questions which you have been told over and over again in your life time...there is no new question or booby trap questions...just the plain simple question....beginning with "Who....?

Let us begin a new beginning...good luck..

Finally!!!!

2006-10-21T08:03:00.000+08:00

Thank goodness, after a year of creating this blog, i am able to write in thanks to OP Ee Van, who showed me the way.
My A-Musings of Second Thoughts aims at looking at things in a different perspective.
It is not meant to be abnormal, but just an avenue of letting the right side of the brain do some work. Being under utilised, it is a shame that we do not use it as often as possible.
Today is Deepavali or Festivals of Lights or Good over Evil and celebrated by our Hindu brothers.The Lights here is a way of showing a clearer picture or a brighter outlook of life, after being blurred by Evil. There is a story about this according to Evil being overtaken by Good.
Likewise the Lantern Festivals of the Chinese too has similar meaning...celebrating Good over Evil.
Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Fithri as an end to the compulsory obligations of the month long of fasting during Ramadan.
We are taught that Aidil Fithri is not a celebration of having to fast for a month, but more of a signal of ending the month long fasting and we are encouraged to fast another 6 days after the one day break of the month long fast...
There are some that fast 3 months before Ramadan begins and some that fast every Monday and Thursday...
The connection of Evil here in this case is the Evil that ONE has in ONESELF....
It is not the Evil of others.
I find this very true because the Evil in ONESELF is normally worst than the Evil of others...
Do i make sense here?
If i do please give some feedbacks and that will encourage me to write more...in the future..
Azudin O Fuad