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Showing posts from July, 2012

Blues in the Mountain

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Salam. One of the must-see places in Sydney is the Scenic World Blue Mountain. We took off from the  hotel as early as 6 o'clock in the morning to avoid traffic jam. I had a good sleep throughout the 2 and a half hour's trip there (by road). "The Three Sisters" What greeted us was this mountain, looking so blue against the skies. It's hard not to fall in love with the panoramic view. And even harder not to acknowledge the Greatness of the Almighty Allah swt. for those who believe. So Blue Against the Skies I however was missing Junior so very much up there, wonder why. May be I hadn't got the time to call him the day before, due to hectic schedule of my Super Negotiator thingy. View from Mary's Lookout That explains why I didn't have much pictures taken at this wonderful place. All I knew then was that I've just gotta come back with Junior next time around. So I refused to even take a ride in the famous sky view cable

Cruising Sydney Harbour

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Salam. How's your weekend so far? Well, let's have some rest before a new week ahead, shall we?  Here's my quick post on Sydney Harbour Cruise.  Once finished our session in Malaysia Hall Sydney, we headed to Darling Harbour for our postponed cruise experience. Again, the guys were clad in suits and I in long maxi dress, this time intentionally matched to look more casual. Hence, the change of jacket. I forgot which cruise that we took, but served the purpose to bits, I'd say. Every second of the 45 minute's cruise was a moment to treasure forever. Another group of us took another deal that started at 5.30pm (an hour or so later than ours), which happened to be a longer route. Well, depends on one's preference, right? I've always loved cruise, actually. What more this kinda cruise, which gave me direct view of the  magnificent Sydney. Majestic. Magical. Masya Allah...!  I was tempted for the famous dinner cruise but what's

A Walk To Remember

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Salam. I love walking, really. Especially with friends. But walking in a cold weather has always been alien to me, despite the fact that I love the breeze and chill hitting my face. Guess what? Most of the time my nose would even bleed! Melbourne's winter was like that, at least to me.    Post Malaysia Hall thingy, we headed to the town for some sightseeing, beginning with the Shrine of Remembrance.  Then we took the tram to the Parliament of Victoria. There were three newly wed couples at that time, one of whom were Muslims, looking at the outstandingly gorgeous bride in hijab. I wish I had taken her picture... ~ sigh. From there we just walked right back to where we began. Funny, though, all the guys were clad in suits and it was Sunday. Yeah, and I was in my very feminine long maxi dress. The only rose among the thorns.. *wink. The city somehow reminded me so much of Pavilion's area in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Minus the cathedral and th

Lessening Thirst During Ramadan

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Salam. Ramadan for me has always been about managing thirst rather than hunger, especially in broad daylight with the sun shines ever so brightly throughout the day. But when I grew older, my parents taught me to recite Surah al-Kauthar during sahur over a mug of plain water. That has proven to be so much of a help, with God's Will.  Then I made some research on that beautiful surah. The shortest of all surah, but served to soothe our Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) heart when he was mourning the loss of his dear son Ibrahim and beloved uncle Abu Talib.  Apparently, Al-Kauthar is the name of a river given to the Prophet (pbuh) in Jannah. The pool is made of beautiful and flawless stone, its water tastes much sweeter than honey, its color is much whiter than milk and smells much nicer than citrus.      As years passed by, I started to combine a few ayaah over a mug of plain water: 1) Selawat 3x 2) Al-Fatihah 1x 3) Al-Kauthar 7x 4)  "يا نار كوني برداً Ùˆ سلاماً عل

From Sydney With Love

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Salam. Got so much to share with you guys about my trip to Australia. So it'd be in random order, not necessarily begin with Melbourne or end with Sydney.   Our delegation was a bunch more in Sydney, for all of us were meant to attend the Advanced Mediation Course there.   Arrived in Sydney Airport: Reported to Mom and Checked On Junior We went to the University of Sydney, to witness the " Hogwarts  School  of Witchcraft and Wizardry". So much of a Harry Potter fan, right? Even though I'm not really into Harry  Potter's movies, I fell in love with the buildings there. Simply gorgeous to bits. Hurmm... me and props. Just ignore the fact that the cones were so dirty. One of the Uni students whom I became friends with said, they'd surely wash the cones after this. *wink *wink. Before that we went to Darling Harbour. The scenery was superb. We didn't have much time to catch the cruise yet, so that would have to wait a bi

Home: Where One's Heart Is

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Salam.  This time around I went abroad for some official assignments in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. The first time without Junior.  What a pleasant surprise: Prayer Room @ Melbourne Airport! Looking at the sunshine, I was taken aback by the coldness of the weather. Shivering in front of our Malaysian friends' house.   This orange trench coat couldn't sustain the chill, I'm afraid.  Thank God I'd brought along this overcoat. Saved me loads of AUD not to buy a new one.  I could make use of it  for the function in the Malaysia Hall. Now that I'm back in Kuala Lumpur, I can't be more thankful. Upon landing, I smiled cheek to cheek when the co-pilot announced that the weather awaited me was 26 degree Celsius.   Anywhere and everywhere I go, there's no place like home. That's all for now, folks. Thanks for being with me, love you for that. Until next time, bye. Much love, TPJ.

Welcome Aboard Ramadan Airlines

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Salam. Juma'ah Barakah dear friends and readers. I've been very much tied up lately. With loads of things. I might not be able to blog much for the next few days, for I've gotta be 'out of coverage', literally speaking. By the time I'm available, Ramadan would already begin. Not that it matters to you, but I'd definitely make a point of saying hi and bye one way or another occassionally. When I've got time. Anyways, come Ramadan, come. You've been so dearly missed. And like most Ramadans, I'd most probably be wearing abayas on daily basis. It's like a habit, actually. Last year my mom came back from taraweeh and asked me why did I leave the saff I first settled in? I was like, how did you notice, mom? She said, well that's easy.. You were the only one who wore abaya in the crowd. Yeah, true. Among those Muslimahs in white praying outfits, stood a lady in black or beige or printed abaya, who happened to be her daughter. But another thing

The Offensive 'Stinky' King

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Salam. Have you tasted Durian before? Well, at least you must have heard of its offensiveness, I'm pretty sure of that. I guess it's the only king that stinks. Or even dubbed as smelly socks, or worst, cat's shit (?). And it's strictly forbidden on board any plane, train or other public transportations whatsoever. Plus, a big No Entry at any hotel premises. Check it out here . Seriously, as exotic as it is, most peeps would make a point of trying. For the sake of curiosity, at the very least, if not adventure.  But some take a challenge of offering such infamous exotic Durian as one of ice cream flavors. Click  here .  Well, not a problem to me. Not at all. In fact, I love Durian to bits. Just like most of Asians do.  Ice cream or not, it doesn't even matter. We eat it on its own, baby..! Raw. Fresh. Stinky or not, king or not, Durian is our lifetime favorite fruit. Two of my BFFs & I were having supper @ Hatyaai Which reminds me of du

Hijabi's Best Friend Forever

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Salam. Take a look at this: I've always wanted to wear short-length necklace like the above pic. But it was impossible to do without revealing the neckline. Thank God inner (or ninja or the like) came into this world. Officially a hijabi's Best Friend Forever. To me, the best of friends EVER. Am I right or am I right? ^_^ Thanks for dropping by, folks. Humbled me to the max. Much love, TPJ.

The Adrenaline Abu Dhabi Desert Safari

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  Salam. What I loved most about Abu Dhabi's trip was the Desert Safari.  Adrenaline to the core.  There were two groups of us in the jeep, 'representing' Britain and Malaysia. And the driver was from Pakistan. That made us a bunch of colonies, don't you think? A commonwealth group of peeps. LOL. The SUV jeep The driver was crazily a pro. Been doing it almost a decade, he said. The pro driver was amused by a silly me, who was 'afraid' of the camels. The winter had just started. I for once didn't have any idea the weather was gonna be freezing in the desert! Subhanallah.. Luckily I made a point of putting on a long john underneath. Or else I'd have turned into frost or something.    At the top of the desert we could see the moon at one end and the sun at the other. I mean, how awesome could that be? What a breathtaking view there in the desert. Masya Allah. The sun set ever so beautifully upon us. Mesmerizing. What a privilege to have seen it.

Abaya Make-Over and A New Friend

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Salam. I have quite a number of black abayas in my closet for quite a number of years. Never before I styled any of them like I did in these pictures: I layered it with a yellow chiffon slit sleeves top from vintagebiri2 Couldn't find an image of yellow one Fade Purple Chiffon Printed Hijab | Silver Belt | Off-White Handbag |  Pink Pumps I wore this when I went to meet a fellow blogger, Mama Gee . It's good to make new friends, especially when we have so much in common, like both of us. I believe in a friendship in the name of God, full of sincerity. Spread love and kindness so that the world shall be a much better place to live in.  I leave you with what Ibn Abbas used to say:  “No one may taste true faith except by this (i.e. building relationships for Allah’s sake), even if his prayers and fasts are many. People have come to build their relationship around the concerns of the world, but it will not benefit them in any way.”   

Coffeeholic ~ Cerita Kedai Kopi

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Salam. It's still early for a cup of coffee. But as we 'speak' I can already smell the aroma of a freshly brewed coffee. That makes me an official coffee addict. The first thing I've gotta try in a new place or town or continent or state or country or whateva ~ is the coffee, baby.  It began with a cup of black coffee in a bullet (train) from London to Scotland like donkey years ago (?) and the rest was history. ('My'story, rather). I've been hooked ever since. Like a coffee-self discovery or something. LOL.  I like local coffee as well, especially my 'kopi-o' that is dubbed as 'kopi kampung' or village coffee. Other than that, I'd vote for Indocafe, which comes closer to what I call my cup of kopi kampung.  But I'm not into thick coffee that much, considerably not that strong kinda taste. I guess that's why I've always preferred cappuccino and latte in Coffee Bean as compared to Starbucks.   I haven't gone to