The Reader

Up market groceries..

Sent from my iPad

Dunes Ride@Katwijk,Holland

This a a dunes ride(bukit pasir tepi laut).It runs for 20 to 30km with good track to walk and cycle.Some stretches are a bit hilly but not like PICC.A lady in the photo used an electric bike to go longer distance(see the battery on the rear rack).Place: Katwijk,Holland.Thanks to my hosts: Guus and Marjolein

An act of kindness..

Let me begin with this definition:

An act of kindness is a spontaneous gesture of goodwill towards someone or something - our fellow humans, the animal kingdom, and the kingdom of nature. Kind words and deeds come from a state of benevolence, generated by a core response deep within all of us. When we carry out an act of kindness it is a message from one heart to another, an act of love, an unspoken "I care" statement.

Now,let me tell you my story...

I was walking alone on a cold windy morning in Amsterdam.The day was 28th April,2012.Most people are either cycling or on the bus.I was looking for a way to visit Van Gogh Museum.How did I get into this mess?I was so busy reading the brochures while on the bus that I forgot to alight at the right bus stop.The tourist bus only stopped at the next station,about 2km away.

Before I got off the bus, the driver told me to walk back about two traffic lights and turn left.I did and somehow I got lost.I had my Blackberry then, but it was useless to navigate me to my destination and I did not take along my iPad because I have yet to be connected to Internet via simcard.How I wish I had an iPhone with Google maps,of course.I walked about for ten minutes and realised that I was lost.It is better to admit than pretend that I knew the way.The only thing I got to do is to ask someone.

Then I saw a young lady walking towards me and I stopped her and ask for help on the way how to walk to Van Gogh Museum.She replied that she would walk with me to the museum.When I asked her how far to go, she replied it would take about 15 minutes of walking!To me,that was too long for someone to walk and show me the place where I wanted to go.I refused to take her offer and instead asked her to draw the map in my moleskine notebook.What shocked me was her refusal to draw the map and insisted that she walk with me all the way to museum.I can't think of any reasons why would a young girl in her early 20's wanted to walk with someone old enough to be her father.How I wish I was the 25 years old guy on that day;-)

As we walked together toward my destination(as shown above),I asked her why she was doing it.No body had ever walked with me more than 100metres to show me the way whenever I ask for direction.She told one reason that I could not refused.She said,"I want to do something good today to someone!".With that statement from a beautiful lady,how could I refused..

As we walked,I asked about her.She is a student doing law and wanted to be a lawyer so that she could help poor people.She hailed from Morocco and a muslimah.Her name is Akmal.When we arrived at the Van Gogh Museum,I thanked her and exchanged salams.

Iaitu orang-orang yang mendermakan hartanya pada masa senang dan susah, dan orang-orang yang menahan kemarahannya, dan orang-orang yang memaafkan kesalahan orang. Dan (ingatlah), Allah mengasihi orang-orang yang berbuat perkara-perkara yang baik;

(A-li'Imraan 3:134) | <Embed> | English Translation 
Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for Allah loves those who do good;-

Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang bertaqwa adalah ditempatkan di dalam beberapa taman Syurga, dengan matair-matair terpancar padanya.

(Adz-Dzaariyaat 51:15) | <Embed> | English Translation

(Keadaan mereka di sana) sentiasa menerima nikmat dan rahmat yang diberikan kepadanya oleh Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya mereka di dunia dahulu adalah orang-orang yang berbuat kebaikan.

(Adz-Dzaariyaat 51:16) | <Embed> | English Translation

Allah loves:

• those who do good deeds
• those who ask Him for forgiveness
• those who purify themselves
• those who are Allah-fearing
• those who are steadfast
• those who trust Him
• those who act justly
• those who strive for His cause
• those who follow His Prophet

Allah does not love:

• the aggressors (2:190)
• the disbelievers (3:32)
• those who inflict injustice (3:57)
• evil (5:64) and evil doers (2:205)
• those who are arrogant (4:36)
• those who spend lavishly (6:141)

Just write..

I write whenever and wherever..The photo on the right shows I was writing my journal in my moleskine notebook on my flight to KB.I write after my lunch at a kopitiam,on the train to JB,on my flight,waiting at the counters etc.You need three things-a desire to write,a notebook and a pen.Not enough time to write?Just get your pen and notebook out  and write during various pockets of free time available between your work/appointments.

I started writing journal way back in October,1995 when one of my officers(Ruslan) gave me a beautiful notebook on my 43rd birthday.It was 17 years ago...and the size was A4.Since 2006,I opted to a pocket notebook -moleskine version.

How do I keep this habit?Just donot go out without your pen and a notebook.Then, write what you see,hear or feel about things you meet along the way.We don't have to be A Samad Said or Jeffrey Archer before we can write.

In the event you feel sad or angry,just download your feelings inside your notebook.It is safer there and it will give you a lot of benefits..No matter how good are iPad or Samsung tabs,nothing can beat the simplicity of pen and papers(I also carry 3x5 cards).

Why I sketch..

I sketch because I love to see nice objects drawn by me!My interest in arts began when I joined the corporate world and mixed with a friend who loves to collect artworks.He even brought me to an art auction house in London!When I was a kid at school,I never pass my art subject-the most was 46%.It is a way that I could get back those lost years ~just for my own satisfaction.

As I grow older,I tend to forget the most recent things that came to my mind and I do have some difficulties to recall names of old friends as well as objects or places.By drawing I hope I could  improve my memory especially when I do the detailings and I also improve the co-ordination between my hands/fingers and my brain.

To keep my body fit and energized,I cycle once a week and walk twice a week.But then it is only for legs and my heart.To make my life more interesting,I took up photography,writing blog daily and do a few sketches a month.Please forgive my indulgence;especially I am now a senior citizen.

Below is the latest sketch I did using my a stylus on my iPad2:

By the way,I began sketching way back in February,2006 in my moleskine notebook.Here is the link to what I wroten then..

Many trees..

Have you walked around the gardens and lakes at Putrajaya Wetland?It is a bit isolated during weekend...so take your friends and family members along...

As we walk I asked my wife the names of some of the flowers and the trees.Both of seems to know very little..Forgive my ignorance but what if my grandson were to ask me about them?I will be ashamed not knowing...Trees are every where..I think the most abundant of all living things and yet how many of us care about them.From a little knowledge I learnt at school,trees replenish our global oxygen stock everyday.We will be breathless without them!

Below are a few  photos I shot as we walk the trail..

 

Photoblog 2.0

In 2005,I wrote about it and since then I have a few.Most of my photos are scattered all over my blogs.To archive them,I subscribe to flickr but to share with my friends,I upload them at Treoblog and My Story.Here is a short note on stunning photos which I have none.At best,mine are a few good shots I love to see again and again..

By the way,here is the definition of photoblog.In order not upload too many photos at this blog,I created a few here at blogger(free) site and at typepad(paid) sites.You are most welcome visit them..

Most of us take photos  with our camera phones-most of the time.My best experience were with my Nokia 71 and Nokia 8.Photos from bold Blackberry were also good.Now,I love to explore camera+ apps on my iPad2.

Not everyone can write well but anyone of us can snap a few photos.As they say,a photo paints a thousand words..So why not use them to share your subjects of interest with others or capture the beautiful moments of our lives and share with our loved ones. I do.Yesterday,I had a small celebration with my family when I celebrated my 35th wedding anniversary and my 60th birthday.Now,I officially entered the twilight zone of senior citizens with many discouts and special seats..I hope I am not only gettinmg older but wiser,insyaAllah.

Let me share this shot of Floria taken two years ago at Putrajaya..