In the name of LOVE

Many people have said that a relationship in a marriage will fade away after they have been together for many years... For me, I am trying to keep the faith and make our relationship grows stronger day by day not the other way around... I always believe that a relationship works both ways... Orang nampak kahwin ni macam senang kan... Some might think wedding preparations sangat susah... Wait til you have to ride a tiny little boat together in a big ocean, to go to the deep sea until you reach the destiny ~ akhirat, syurga? Insya-Allah... 

Sebelum ride that boat pun, dah banyak different thoughts, for instance I want the boat to be in purple, he wants it red... I want to go left, he wants to go right? At the end of the day, It's how you meet each other half way... If you're lucky, you'll get a bigger and better ship siap anak2 kapal lagi eventually...  Dugaan yang paling besar buat kami bila kami belum lagi dianugerahkan cahayamata walaupun this marriage has reached its 4th year.  Memang berat lagi pulak bila we both love children and our family and friends have been strongly asking about it regularly.  Lagi pulak, we have gone through all the fertility check-up and the results showed that we both are OK. :'(

Takpe, Insyallah we won't give up trying and praying... Doakan kami sama ye...

As I said, we've been riding a boat together for 4 years now... Alhamdullillah, we struggled from riding a  small boat to a better boat... We have survived through a few of ups and downs, highs and lows... My deepest gratitude goes to Allah... Here's a shout out video composed especially for our 4th Anniversary... 

I took 2 nights to finish up the video.  I put in 2 lovey-dovey songs, "Terukir di Bintang" by Yuna which is my favourite and "I won't give up" by Jason Mraz which my hubby loves it because of its meaningful lyrics... { Dalam hati: "Never give up on me OK, walaupun I ngade sometimes.. " } 

On our anniversary day that morning, he had to leave early.  I saw a gift with 1 card and another smaller card.  I purposely waited until later that night to open the gift depan dia. ;)

 At the office, after lunchtime, I received a bouquet of red and pink roses . A couple of my colleagues said "tiap2 tahun the same roses...". For him to take the effort to walk to the florist like 10 mins walking distance {I know cos I keje dulu kat tempat dia keje sekarang :P}, for him to think that red and pink are my favourite colours {which actually purple and pink, you know "GUYS"... hahaha}, for him to ensure that the bouquet delivered right to my office on time... I can't thank him enough already... His pure intention and his sweet thoughts have made me feel that I couldn't ask for more. Biarlah bunga yang sama, warna yang sama bertahun2 pun, he's still my paradise, will always be... Insya-Allah...

This year, we had our anniversary dinner at Toni Romas, Pavillion, picked by him sebab dia suka makan ribs.  Eloklah dia request nak makan dekat2 aje, sebab masatu perut pun dah lapar sebab I did not have lunch haritu.

Burp... Alhamdulillah... We ordered a big plate of bountiful ribs, tapi belum abis makan, dah kenyang... So ta pau lah ape lagi... Later that night, my turn plak bagi dia gift... Then we took turn to open the gift... 

 

He was so excited to see what he got this time... I am lucky to have him sebab dia seorang yang sangat sederhana, tak pernah kalah dengan peer pressure. All this while, he often buys me pretty good things, does a lot of sweet things for me.  So I take this chance to give him this special something...  I want him to know that I know he has sacrificed a lot to make me happy... Thank you sayang with big hug...

My turn pulak untuk buka hadiah... Tadaa... Tak sangka he actually noticed and remember that I've been wanting to buy this watch for a casual wear.  Early this year, memang ada terbelek2 jam macam ni kat Swatch.  Big HUG lagi skaliiii...

 

Dear husband,

Thank you for your kindness, patience and understanding.

Thank you for all the supports that you have always given me.

Thank you for the sacrifices that you have made for me.

Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

Most of all, thank you for loving me...

From your wife... 

Aku Scandal

Been fasting for the past 2 days.  Smalam I went to break fast at Nandos, KLCC.  Tiba2 nampak all the waitresses tergedik2 {please don't mind my language :P} snapped pictures with a guy yang ade misai janggut bagai... Siapalah mamat ni kan, tak nampak macam celebrity pun. Sempoi abis ngan t-shirt, 3 quarter khakis and cap senget jer kot... Apasal those gals over excited macam nampak Justin Bieber... Tehehehe... 

Pastu bila dah reda, dia duduk sorang2 right next to my table minum ice lemon tea and main2 handphone dia.  At the time, I pun duduk sorang2 at my table while trying to figure out siapalah mamat ni.  Where was my other half? Dia tak sampai lagi masatu, memang janji nak jumpa kat Nandos.  Skali intai punya intai, Lerrrr... Noh, HUJAN rupanya... Hardly recognised him sebab tak follow Versus tu.  Dah bermisai and janggut, mana nak kenal...

The latest picture of Noh from the Versus show, taken from http://s3.ohbulan.com

Tiba2 panicked, tak tau nak buat apa.  Sebab memang all this while dalam banyak2 indie bands kat Malaysia ni, suka tengok his style since he first came out mainstream. I could have tego him, ambik gambar with him... Pastu baru terfikir, woitt tadi kutuk2 dalam hati when the gals tergedik2 ambik gambar ngan dia, dah awak tu bini orang, jgn nak buat perangai pulak kan... Hehehhe... So bila dah realised that was Noh, terus lagu ni tak berhenti bermain di minda...  Cheh wah...

Cooking Nasi Lemak for the 1st Time

I am so excited! I have never cooked Nasi Lemak before this cos my mom always cook the yummiest nasi lemak ever... Tapi entah kenapa, semalam tiba2 rasa macam nak cuba masak nasi lemak.  It's not that tough because I have used to masak sambal tumis and rebus telur... Just nasi lemak tu yang first time. So, here's the result:

Tadaaa... Inilah hasil nasi lemak itew untuk 4 org makan...  Resipinya senang sahaja:

• 2 1/2 cawan beras
• Segulung daun pandan
• Halia (dihiris 3)
• 1 1/2 cawan santan pekat
• 1 1/2 cawan air
• Sedikit garam

{Masak nasi macam biasa, 2 1/2 beras dicampurkan dengan 1 1/2 cawan santan dan 1 1/2 air, daun pandan, halia, dan garam}.

Nasi Lemak kenalah ada family dia, nanti lonely plak kan... Jadi tak sedap.  Sedangkan manusia pun dijadikan berpasang-pasangan.  ;)

So, here's the family:

Pada mulanya nak buat sayur kangkung skali.  Tapi kat rumah ni tak ramai peminat sayur.  So, just buat sambal tumis udang and sambal tumis kosong untuk bibik (yang dipinjamkan every weekend oleh my Aunty) yang tak makan udang.

Here's the recipe:

• Timun - potong bulat2
• Telur rebus
• Sambal tumis udang:
• 4 ulas bawang merah, 2 bawang putih (tumbuk)
• 1 ulas bawang besar (dihiris)
• Cili boh 
• asam jawa
• sos tiram 
• sos tomato
• gula
• garam
• and of course udang

1. Tumis bawang besar yang telah dihiris, masukkan bawang yang telah ditumbuk.
2. Masukkan cili boh
3. Masukkan pula asam jawa
4. Masukkan sikit air dan kacau
5. Pastu masuk udang
6. Ini memang recipe sendiri, selalu suka masukkan sos tiram and sos tomato kacau lagi. (value added)
7. Last skali masukkan garam dan gula and kacau sampai masak.

•  Sambal tumis:

• 2 ulas bawang merah, 1 bawang putih (tumbuk)
• 1/2 ulas bawang besar (dihiris)
• Cili boh 
  
• asam jawa
• sos tiram 
• sos tomato
• gula
• garam
  
• sedikit ikan bilis

1. Tumis bawang besar yang telah dihiris, kali ni lain sikit, masukkan bawang dan ikan bilis yang telah ditumbuk.
2. Masukkan cili boh
3. Masukkan pula asam jawa
4. Masukkan sikit air dan kacau
5. Sama macam sambal udang, masukkan sos tiram and sos tomato kacau lagi.
6. And finally masukkan garam dan gula and kacau sampai masak.

Lastly, goreng ikan bilis garing2, boleh makan dengan sambal tumis kosong tadi.. Voilla~ Siap!

Masa untuk lunch...  Jom!  :)

Sad but True

I don't know why... but I feel so sad tonight... I feel like crying my heart out... Then I found this in youtube... Some sad but true words of wisdom... I'm sure each and everyone of us have experienced ups and downs in our lives...  May Allah gives me strength to go on...

Ya Allah, liberate me from fear. Give me the wisdom to think positively; give me the courage to stand by the truth; give me the openness to connect to those who avoid me; give me a smile, a clean heart and a winning attitude which conquers others; give me more of the world so I can spend in Your Path; give me the perspective that I need to remain satisfied with what You bless me with.

Ya Allah, forgive my sins and shortcomings and allow me to enter Jannah. Keep me on the Straight Path once You have guided me to it.

Ameen...

Merlin

Masha-Allah cepatnya masa berlalu... It's almost the end of May 2012... We have reached mid year OK... Have I achieved what I really want for 2012... The answer is NOT YET... Hurm... Sigh...  However I refuse to dwell on it... I choose not to anyway!

By the way since balik from Bandung last month, whenever ade past time, I've been watching "MERLIN".  Giler addicted to it! I bought all seasons (1-4).  Been catching up, and now dah sampai Season 3.  Last time when it was aired on TV, tak heran pun nak tengok.  I thot it was just another crap magic series which was not interesting at all. Merlin pun tak berapa nak cute kot... Bila dengar good reviews from my friends, tried watching couple of re-run at Astro, best la plak layan citer ni... Pastu terasa macam cute pulak Merlin ni (played by Colin Morgan) Itu yang terjebak beli sampai semua 4 seasons tu...

I just read about the legend of King Arthur and Camelot, saje gatal nak compare with the TV series.  All the characters ada in the modern Merlin TV series tu, tapi those characters were created differ from the traditional version of the legend.  I think the TV series version is more fantasy-like perhaps to accommodate the audience of modern era.

Yang paling best about Merlin is the remarkable values of trust and loyalty in friendship and family.  Merlin is a very special kindhearted and gifted guy who is a superbly humble hero.  Cuma IMHO, Gwen in Merlin should be someone really beautiful being a lady who always captured guys' attention at their first sight. Yikes, honest opinion sometimes can be hurtful... Sowwy for her peminat yang tegar...

Merlin has a good place in my favourite chart!

Chillin' around JW Marriott, KL

As mentioned in the earlier post, I had to stay at JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur where the Regional Conference ABAF 2012 was held for 4 nights.  Since it's in the KL City, and being such a penakut, I forced my other half to stay with me, Tak kira!!! Hahaha *evil laugh*... The best thing in this hotel room, each and every room was given a big fat container of Bath Salts. 

Although I had pink dots appeared on my skin right after I soaked myself in that bath salts but it was much worth it! Felt so refreshing! Pink dots tu sekejap je, lepastu my skin felt smooth, I swear! Hehehee... Best giler Bath Salts ni, macam dekat SPA!

When I had a long day with few issues raised  here and there, this is where I went back to, our hotel room, yang ada swimming pool and small city view...  Hurmmm... rase relieved sangat... Tak ada lah tension mana pun... :)

Kemas je kan interior design bilik JW Marriott ni... Yang semak tu semua my stuff la tu... Tehehehee... Alangkah bestnya kalau my own room boleh sentiasa kemas macam ni.  Hotel boleh lah, ada "room service"... The first 5 Star Hotel yang I experienced bed turn-down service.  Sebelum ni ada jugak stay kat 5-Star hotel like Tanjung Aru resort, Renaissance etc, tak pernah experience such... First, second and third night, suka giler turn-down service tu, tapi masuk malam keempat, takpelah, I yg turn down that service... Hehehe... Nak tido lah, tak yah lah kacau2... :P

The last night (4th night), barulah dapat jalan2 around JW Marriott... Unfortunately tak dapat jalan lama, I had stomach ache maybe because sebab makan tak tentu masa... I have gastric, bila makan tak tentu masa, my tummy pun upset la! Kacau je tummy ni, terus hilang mood!

Kalau pegi JW Marriott KL, soaking in the Bath Salts and warm water is not to be missed!

Asian Business Angel Forum 2012

The last BIG event I have helped to organise was in 2001 - The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) at Langkawi.  Masa tu umur muda belia, 20 something...That was like a decade ago... Sekarang dah 30++, well isn't 30 is the new 20? :)

Our company has just finished organising a regional conference of Angel Investors Forum namely "Asian Business Angel Forum", (ABAF 2012) at JW Marriott. KL.  I was assigned to be in the Meet and Greet team to welcome the guests especially the speakers.  So we were stationed at the ABAF 2012 help desk next to the hotel reception. 

Stolen from Comel's album. Thanks dear, Mmmwaah!

My colleague took this picture and told me that this lady looks like a Puan Sri in one of those Women Magazines. Hahaa... Yeah Rite! This was taken when I was on duty on the 2nd day of the event. It was Friday, maka agak sopan dan sesuai untuk berbaju kurung kan... ;)

The funniest thing happened here when we were busy organising the accommodations for the guests, some of the tourists thought that we were the hotel staff, sebab our suits were similar to theirs.  One of them, ada Makcik Arab ni datang tanya "Excuse me, where can I find a Salon here?"... Hahahaa... Kena mintak komisyen dari JW Marriott ni...

Thursday night ada Gala Dinner.  Since the VVIP was a Minister from PM's office, YB TAN SRI NOR MOHAMED BIN YAKCOP so haruslah pakai baju sopan for the Gala Dinner to follow the protocol requirements.  Tak payah lagi pening kepala, terus pakai baju kurung yang comfortable.  And it was my first time pakai baju kurung for a Gala Dinner, tu yang sibuk documented my first time in this picture. :)  Kalau orang kata syok sendiri pun tak ape... At least kalau panjang umur, bolehlah tengok balik gambar ni sambil tersenyum... Hehehee... Lepastu the next day was Friday, pakai baju kurung lagi... Simple and Formal for a 2nd day conference...  

Inilah rupa Holding Room yang menempatkan all the selected VVIP and VIP guests sebelum events. My colleague yang bertugas kat sini, sibuk ensured bilik ni kena smells nice and fresh.  Barulah saya tahu, boleh mintak hotel people untuk spray the freshener all around the room before the guests sampai.  Before this, tak pernah request pun... Syian the VIP guests sebelum ni, terpaksa bau bilik yang tak brape wangi n fresh. heheheee...Pas ni I promise, the VIP guests mesti masuk bilik yang lebih wangi siap dgn fresh flowers lagi OK... 

Masa Gala Dinner, I had the chance to greet the CEO of Groupon, Joel Neoh.  A successful cute young chap yang sangat stylo. Patutlah stylo... Dia pernah jadi model before this... Selama ni, memang suka giler window shopping and shopping kat Groupon. Dapat jugak jumpa CEO Groupon.  Thank you for the fabulous portal!!! Sepanjang nak took him walk out from the hall to the reception for his accommodation arrangement, ramai betul stop him and tego dia.  Famous betul mamat ni...  maklumlah one of the Malaysian youngest successful entrepreneur...  Check out this website http://joelneoh.com/ if you want to know more about him.

Macam biasa, memang ada dramas and hiccups this and that, tapi ABAF 2012 Rocks!!!