Selfie… Selfus

Owh .. I just fell in love with my new 'toy' . Not that I am too obsessed - well not yet.. but thanks to those who invented this!

I love to take photos. Those days I relied so much on cameras, cameras with the film mind you.. So the limit was like 36 pieces per roll. Mistakes are definitely best to be avoided coz once you click the camera it will be considered taken.

Not like now.. which is so much more spoiled and convenient. The digital camera is everywhere now since that almost everyone can afford to own one. If you don't like having a camera, you can always use a handphone. You can take as many pictures as you like and even delete those that you don't want. The tips - get a handphone with the best resolution. Then edit a bit here and there with the free apps you downloaded in the phone - muka banyak jerawat pun boleh hilang! Thats the beautiful part of it…. you can even make it more dramatic by editing the resolution or colour from the original picture. It just needs bit of practice to master it.

The latest trend of taking a photo now is 'selfie'. A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. The first time I was introduced to this 'selfie', agak kelam kabut gak lah nak mengadjust camera or phone supaya muka masuk dalam screen. I always failed  and gave up. Then came out a phone that can switch the screen to face us.

And wow.. since then I have non-stop taking photos of myself. Well just for myself collections. Only lately I started to share in the social media especially if its a group photos using my new gadget called 'monopod'.

Monopod is a handheld pole or stick that can hold your handphone in a order to take an extend selfie picture. Amazing how this thing works! You can even have a large group up to 20 people and all of them can fit in a picture.

Don't you love it? I do!

How I Celebrate My Eid

Yeah… today we celebrate Eid in Oman. After the Solat Raya, all of us (four cars – 17ppl) head to Salalah. Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman and is located in the southern Governate of Dhofar.

It took us a 12 hours drive from Muscat to Salalah. In the first three hours of our journey we passed by towns and got to see the beautiful mountain scenery, but the rest of our journey was just an endless view of dessert. I’ve never been in such a long 12hours drive before. It was quite tiring and I got bored at one point. We stopped a few times for a break, lunch and petrol.

After a very long hours drive, we finally reached Salalah. We had to pass thru a police checkpoint before entering the town. The moment we passed thru the checkpoint, the climate immediately changed. We could hardly see the road and around us as it was covered with fog. I was expecting to see the lush green of Salalah but unfortunately it was all very hazy, misty and cloudy.

This kind of weather – khareef (monsoon) only happens in July-August every year. Salalah received the most visitors and tourists at this time as they are celebrating the Khareef Festival as well. We are very lucky to be able to experience this.

At some point we felt like back in our home country – mendung dan hujan renyai2 all day long. Salalah is known as “the Switzerland of Oman”, “the oasis” and “the paradise of Arabia” because when all other GCC countries are blazing hot, Salalah is having the Khareef season and cool drizzles. It is hard to imagine and to believe how can the two regions in the same country have the totally opposite climate. For us.. coming from Muscat with a very harsh hot weather, this is something to be appreciated!

Our adventures have only begun on the following day. We went to visit the Makam Nabi Ayoub and Imran. We were lucky to have an Omani friend who was very proudly showing us around the interesting places in Salalah. We went to the famous spot called “the zero gravity” point. There is nothing to see here except for the amazing experience of our car defying gravity and moving uphill while in Neutral. Well.. some say that it is an optical illusion but I don’t care! Since I am here, I want to experience the feeling of it!

On the following day, we visited the Marneef Cave, which is located at the AL Mughsayl Beach. Since it was Eid holiday, the place was crowded with visitors. Dah rasa macam kat Batu Caves ah pulak. The cave overlooks the Arabian Sea and the famous Al Mughsayl blow-holes. If you were to stand near the spot, the gush of water, like a fountain, would come out from the holes.

This phenomenon is from the momentum of the water surging into the cavities of rock that lie mostly under water. We were lucky as it was a monsoon season and the sea level rise. The water currents become more active and the running water rips through the rock cavities resulting in the surge of the water fountain.

We were fortunate to see the beauty of the place but on the other hand because of too many visitors, the spot of this blow-hole was just like a “stage show” to them. A few of them (taking turns) stood on the spot and waited for the water to shoot up to pose for a picture. The annoying part was some of them stood on the holes it self that we couldn’t see the water come out beautifully. Memang geram sangat!

We then had a picnic lunch on the hills nearby. It was a very breathtaking view. Our Omani friend cooked for us the local biryani rice with fresh grilled fish and chicken. Yummy… We ended our day of course with shopping! We went to the famous Al Husyn Souq and Khareef Festivals.

4 days and 3 nights in Salalah – I really enjoyed myself. It is worth for a visit though it was a very tiring long hour drive journey. I’ve been staying in Oman for almost 7 years and only now have the opportunity to visit Salalah.  Salalah is a very beautiful place and no doubt will astonish you.

I love the weather – wish that we in Muscat could have the same climate and also enjoy the beautiful green scenery. Salalah, which is also known as a religious city, also has its own unique history. If you want to know about the city, read here as what I am sharing here is just my wonderful experience holiday with my family and friends.

This is how I celebrate my Eid. Berbaju kurung, berpakaian melayu lengkap sampin dan songkok – berjam2 dalam kereta… kami tetap gembira!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri semua!

Esok BELUM Raya

Penyimpan mohor besar Oman baru saja membuat pengumuman - anak bulan tidak kelihatan dan maka itu esok kami di sini masih lagi berpuasa dan esok juga bermakna BELUM raya!

While friends and relatives back in Malaysia are busy cooking, kemas mengemas or doing last minute shopping for Raya, we, over here having our last tarawekh tonight. This year I am celebrating Eid in Oman. 

This is my second time celebrating Eid in Oman. We came here three years ago a week before Ramadhan. Even during our 'first session' stay in Oman, we go back every year to Malaysia to celebrate Eid.

This year, I and hubby decided just to stay here as four of our elder daughters celebrating Eid at their place (Tasmania, Wellington and Washington). Furthermore I have my mother in-law joining us since mid Ramadhan.

At first I thought I will be fine with all this plan but I was wrong. I don't know why.. but since a week ago I've already feeling sad. Yesterday was even worst when all my daughters started sending their Raya wishes. I felt terribly down. 

All I was thinking that what will they do and eat on the first day of Eid. They celebrate their Eid tomorrow, Monday. One has to work and the other have classes as normal. As a mother, I always worried of their well-being. Worried whether they are safe there and also worried whether they are eating well or not. Every time when I cook, I always remember them especially if it is their favourite dish or food. 

Hmm.. ni baru anak2 belajar jauh… kalau dah khawin dan ada keluarga sendiri? I hope they will still find their way back home to visit me.. :) 

Sometimes I feel that the up and down feelings that I have is because I am now probably getting older (ayat-ayat skema orang tua selalu cakap kan..). I sometimes tend to be over sensitive if my children say or do something that make me kind of nothing and not important to them. Well.. probably to them it is nothing or normal, but to me it is probably something that could deeply hurt my feelings.

OK.. no more sad story here.. I just pray that wherever my children are and whatever they do, Allah will always protect them. 

To all my relatives and friends who celebrate Eid tomorrow, Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Dzahir Batin. Wishing all of you a blessed Eid. 

As to us here in Oman.. one more day to go!

 

Here I Go Again..

Here I go… Sitting in front of my laptop, blogging again. Yeah.. hoping that people will still reading it.. my dearest followers are still aware that this infamous blog is still exist! It has been like around seven months that I've neglected my blog.

You might wonder what make me suddenly pop up now right? Every single night while waiting for myself to doze off, as usual my mind will always keep playing all the incidents, plans, memories like a movie in my head. I always plan to blog those and share it here.

But…. the next day when I woke up, I either forget about it or just lazy to do it. Owh.. what a shame..

I don't want to make any promises (as I always do every time I continue blogging after M.I.A for so long).. but Insyaalah. I think I have got back on track.

I feel that I need to write and blog again because there are things or feelings that sometimes better to pour it out thru blogging or writing.

Till then.. cheers and have a nice day.

Like a "Diva"

Throwback 2012: One of the 'excited perasan diva' moment I had!!


LOCATION: QCC, food court
TIME: 2nd sept, noon

Stranger: I think I've seen you somewhere in the magazine.

Me: Hah? (curious face..) I think you've got the wrong person. It cannot be.

Stranger: Yes.. I am very sure I've seen you. (pause for a while..) Oh yeah.. It was in the newspaper - The Week!

Me: Really?? (muka hidung kembang kuncup excited) Wah.. That was long time ago. Like a month back. Surprisingly you could recognize and remember my face.

Stranger: Of course I remember and recognize your face. The story was something about food and Ramadhan celebration.

Me: Yes.. It was about how our Malaysian celebrates Ramadhan. Thank you by the way for noticing me.

Perasaanku saat itu: Like a Diva babe.. Anyway this was me that appeared in The Week. It is actually a weekly newspaper that is quite famous and well known here in Oman.

Amazing kan mamat ni bole ingat muka akak.. Now akak tau macam mana perasaan Siti Nurhaliza, Fasha Sandha atau artis suam2 kuku tu.. Bila peminat dtg tegur deorang. Inikan pulak akak.. yang hanya sekali tu je muka keluar kat newspaper Oman.

Sesungguhnya akak rasa sangat terharu dan dihargai! Hahahaha.. Statement dah ala2 artis diva gitew. Anyway.. uolss baca post akak ni jgn ah hentam dan kutuk akak ala2 peminat kutuk Abby Abadi ye.. Akak ni saja je syok sendiri verangan..

Ye lah.. Hidup ni akan bosan kalau asyik nak serius je kan... Ok. Take care uollss.. Selepas insiden ini, muka akak kuar banyak kali gak ah lagi dlm newspaper Oman ni.. tapi takde lagi ah peminat mcm ni tegur akak… hehehhe.. Maybe kalau akak jadi cover page magazine kut baru ada yang notice. Anyway kalau ada lagi peminat kejar akak.. akak kasi tau lagi ye..

Ceria-ceria selalu.. Muah muah..

Say NO to Jeans

I don’t remember when is the actual date but what I know is I’ve not worn jeans for more than a year. Wah.. Pecah rekod!!

What make me stop wearing it? Well.. One day when I was putting on my jeans, stood in front of the mirror.. I felt like a pumpkin. I felt so bloated. My butt was so huge and that peace of denim was just trying to cover it.

I suddenly lost my confident. I felt so ugly and old. I told myself, maybe this is it. This is the time that I should say good bye to my favorite denim pants. Jeans has been ‘a must’ in my wardrobes. I’ve worn jeans since I was small. I have all kind range of designs – boot cut? bell bottom? straight cut? low cut? skinny? jegging? Just name it and I had it all. I followed closely to all the designs so not to be left out.

Now I am more comfortable seeing myself in long skirts or non denim pants. Some say, you are what you are. Well.. Maybe I look more feminine or like makcik2 but that doesn’t mean that I am not cool.

Hey.. I still love and doing my outdoor activities. I can still climb the mountain without jeans. The most important thing is you yourself. Wear something that you like and feel confident in it.

I always check myself in the mirror before going out. This may seem vain, but if what I see don’t make me smile, then it’s not worth it. If you find yourself adjusting your clothing constantly, it’s obviously not something you’re comfy in. Doesn’t matter what it is, it needs to make you feel good when you see yourself!

Be yourself, everyone else is taken!

Happy New Year - 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

New year.. new day.. new chapter begins for the year of 2014. I had a wonderful year of 2013. I wish I could be more proactive in writing blog for the year of 2013 that I could share all the moments I had with all of you.

I don't have any resolutions as I never fulfill it! Everyday is my new day with my new resolution! Better that way I guess..

I hope this year will give me and my family happiness and prosperous. I want to see all my children success in their study and life.

To all of you - happy new year and may you always be blessed, healthy, happy and loved.

photo taken from my instagram