The Reader

On friends..

Yesterday,I had lunch with my friend who is a very senior government servant(Jusa A).He told me that he is looking forward to retirement in a few months time."Adib,will I have my friends when I retire?".I told him that he can bet on me!

From my experience and observations,once one retires from office,the business friends will slowly fade away,leaving your real friends from your old schools,the places where you worked before and where you grew up.If you are involved in a few hobbies like cycling,photography etc, then you shall have more new friends depending on your engagement with the hobbies and good communication with your new acquintances.

While having our lunch,I noticed my shoolmate who was a former cabinet minister sitting at the nearby table.When he was in office,I did not get to see him because he was very busy and I was glad that he came to my table and chatted with me.He was one of our prefects and I was his school captain.

To my friend who is retiring soon,get a hobby and do some business to keep you occupied and sane.In the event,you get lonely,just call me for lunch or tea.InsyaAllah,I will be there..

About 5 years ago,I wrote something on friends and friendship.Kindly take a look if you have the time.

Personal note: One of my hobbies is taking photos.Here is my selected collection.Below is a photo of my cycling friends...

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Why I Can't Wait to Be Retired

The 3rd Sunday walk..

Yesterday,I walked 5km with a few thousand other walkers in Putrajaya.My thanks to Perbadanan  Putrajaya for  organising this monthly walk.It was their first and overall,it was well done.Please listen to the feedback and keep on improving-on crowd and motorised vehicular intrusions along the trails..As they say Rome was not built in one day..

I took the  5km route and had a field day taking photos as I walked with my friends.In the next few months,I must take the 8km walk.By the way,next walk is on 17th,February,2013.See you there,insyaAllah

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Langkah Ceria Putrajaya

Putrajaya Photowalk #3

Today best shot!

Langkah Ceria Putrajaya

InsyaAllah,I plan to take part in this morning event as shown below.Perbadanan Putrajaya is organising group walk every 3rd Sunday and group cycling every 4th Sunday.Please join us for your fitness and health,insyaAllah.

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Sidewalk cafe in Putrajaya

Enjoying your walk

Green is cool..

To keep on improving my sketch,I saw and observed how the good artists did their sketches.This one was done during my Malacca trip yesterday.Hope to keep sketching everyday...

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Learning takes time..

Another flower sketch

[ s h o t s ] Malacca Trip 2012

Life cycles

Buat baik..

Saya memperingati diri saya dan pembaca blog ini agar sentiasa berbuat baik.Buat jahat jangan sekali.Jika terbuat,minta ampun/taubat cepat-cepat..

Nabi SAW bersabda yang bermaksud: “Sesungguhnya aku telah melihat seorang lelaki berguling-guling (kerana terlampau gembira) dalam Syurga hanya kerana dia memotong dahan pokok di bahu jalan yang mengganggu manusia.” (Riwayat Muslim).

Sila baca senarai mereka yang dikasihi Allah disini.

What is a good restaurant?

I have been in restaurant business for about three years.My experience was in managing corporate affairs of A&W Malaysia in the late 80's -the oldest fastfood chain in Malaysia.However it is not as successful as KFC and McD.

From my observation,when it comes to food business,food quality comes first.Second is the service provided and last but not least is the location and its ambience.When it comes to fast food,location can sometimes be more dominant.

There are two restaurants in Putrajaya located at my cycling pit stops-Umai Cafe and Ikan Bakar Seri Empangan.It looks like Umai Cafe is doing okay but the shop must keep on improving food quality and service.The previos two operators went kaput.Its location is by the lake and next to Masjid Sultan Mizan.

Restoran Ikan Bakar is beautifully located and a great view as shown below.I have tested the food and the shop needs a lot of improvement in term of service and food quality.So far,my friendsds and me are yet to be pleased.It needs to learn fast,if not it may not last longer than the previous operators who had to pack and leave.

How sewing machine works!

via rndoblio.tumblr.com

INow only I know how sewing machine works!

Water Industry Reform

Yesterday I spent the whole day at a workshop on Water Industry Reform organised by Malaysian Water Association(MWA).The main topics deliberated are the economics of water services,demand management and service levels. The outputs of this discourse will be submitted to the Ministry of Energy,Water and Communication as inputs to the formulation of the national policy and legal framework that is being studied and drafted. Hopefully, our views will be incorporated and tabled in parliament by end of this year to enable a systematic reform for Malaysian water industry. The worshop was attended by all the key players in water industry and as well as the CEO's of all major water companies and organisations. I am also glad to note that not only water reform issues were discussed but also there were exchanges of views and experience among the CEO's and participants in managing our water services.I would suggest MWA to conduct more water industry dialogues in the future. Now, over to you Mr Mininster of Water.Enough talks,let's just do it. According to The Economist magazine,water is the most precious commodity when yo don't have it. "It is not until the wells run dry that we know the worth of water."-Benjamin Franklin Note:The photo shows how difficult is to get water in Africa. They took one month to dig this well!Just click on the photo for bigger view.

via adib.typepad.com

Way back in September,2004 I blogged about our national Water Reform and beginning last night at about 6:30pm(14/1/02013) till now at about 5am(15/1/2013),my house tap runs dry!My deja vu?

10 Reasons to Walk Alone

At graduation ceremonies around the world, graduates will hear the tune, "You'll Never Walk Alone," from

2. Getting together: It is hard to find a partner who is ready to walk when you are. Maybe I prefer mornings or after work or lunchtime, but any willing partner has an opposite preference. It gets expensive posting classified ads looking not for love but for a walking partner.

3. Early, late, or never: So you make a date to walk with a partner -- and he shows up late, or doesn't show up. Your schedule gets blown and you don't get in the walking you planned to do. Sally Stressedout always arrives 15 minutes late with some heartbreaking excuse, expecting sympathy, while you've been getting in your walking pacing the floor.

via walking.about.com

...And I can stop any where I like to do my stretching and take photos along the trail.

Bandar Baru Bangi-Bandar Ilmu?

Bandar Baru Bangi(BBB) diberi gelaran Bandar Ilmu.Ini mungkin kerana UKM terletak disini dan ramai pensyarah yang berkhidmat di UNITEN dan UPM tinggal disini.Pada hemat saya yang baru tinggal di BBB sejak tiga tahun yang lepas dan bukan tergolong didalm orang akademik,saya kira BBB belum layak menerima taraf Bandar Ilmu.

Salah satu kriteria yang dapat dilihat dan diukur olih masyarakat umum ialah perpustakaan umum dan kedai buku.Perpustakaan umum di BBB hanya layak untuk anak-anak hingga kesekolah menengah dan jumlah buku amat sedikit sekali untuk umum.Sehingga hari ini,saya belum melihat satu kedai buku lagi di BBB tetapi yang jelas saya lihat BBB sekarang ini di banjiri kedai makan.Tidak keterlaluan jika saya beri  label sementara bahawa BBB sebagai Bandar Kedai Makan!

Nota foto: Taman Tasik Cempaka,cantik dibina tetapi tidak diselenggarakan sepatutnya.

Salah satu ukuran Bandar Ilmu ialah budaya majoriti masyarakatnya mempunyai ciri-ciri orang yang berilmu saperti biasa  dizahirkan melalui kebersihan jalan raya dan kawasan tempat tinggal dan ketertiban berurusan dan bergaul.Apa yang saya perhatikan BBB adalah sama dengan bandar-bandar lain di Malaysia.Malah yang sedih ialah tiada tindakan menghalang perbuatan memapar pelbagai iklan haram yang menjual produk yang amat memalukan.

Saya amat sukacita apabila Bangi di beri gelaran Bandar Ilmu,tapi saya amat kecewa dengan ketiadaan usaha yang bersungguh-sungguh  untuk mencapai gelaran yang di beri sejak tiga tahun saya menetap disini.Kedudukan BBB yang amat dekat dengan Putrajaya perlu di manfaatkan  untuk kedua-dua BBB dan Putrajaya.BBB berpotensi tetapi perancangan,rekabentuk dan perlaksanaan perlu dibuat untuk mencapai taraf Bandar Ilmu.Keadaan ini amat menuntut keperihatian kepimpinan politik dan pentadbiran BBB khususnya dan Selangor amnya.

Disamping saya menunggu BBB menjadi Wadi Ilmu atau Bandar Ilmu,izinkan saya menikmati nasi goreng kampung yang sedap di Restoran Biryani Bangi.