The Reader

Jalan Melayu,Kuala Lumpur

I don't think any of my children knows where Jalan Melayu is located.The first time I was here was when I was on my first trip to KL in January 1965 on the way to SDAR,Tanjung Malim.My seniors took me to Restoran Waspada at Wisma Yakin.We walked all the way from Central Railway Station.

Last Saturday 5th Oct.,2013,my friends and me took part in Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk and I was happy to walk the memory lane again..Gone were the ample space and the barbers by the Angsana trees by the river..Now,the place is congested with new buildings,shopping stalls and cars...

By the way,there is one mamak shop here where I love to eat capati...

 

Passers-by at Coffee Box Restaurant

Below is a collage of photos taken from a location inside Coffee Box Restaurant located along Jalan Tun Perak,KL.After walking for more than two hours during the Scott Kelby Photowalk(5th Oct,2013) from Chow Kit area to Masjid Jamek area,a few of us needed a rest and some food and drinks.While waiting for the food/drinks to arrive,I saw 'slides' of people passing through the arch doorway.Normally in street photography,shots of people are taken at different places-why not take different shots from the same place.Trying to be creative and different,I took photos of passers-by just from one location-right in the comfort of the Coffee Box Restaurant.Here are the photos..#WWPW #WWPW-KL

Scott Kelby Photowalk@KL

I am going to join my photog buddies taking this train and shoot something and some people along our route from Chow Kit Road to Masjid Jamek...

Are we the best of people?

Many of us have our own versions to measure ourselves.Using different criteria will give us different ratings.As muslims,let us check ourselves against what our Prophet Muhamad said about the best of people....

A man stood up whilst Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was on the minbar and asked:"O Mesenger of Allah,which of the people is the best?"

He said:"The best of the people are those are most well-versed in Qur'an,those who are most pious,those who most enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil,and those who are most respectful towards their relatives".(Reported by Ahmad and al-Tabarani).

There are five criteria mentioned above. Just check ourselves against them?Are we qualified to be the best ummah?The reality manifest itself...

Every day,we are being bombarded by the bad news of evils.I am very reluctant to read the newspapers in the morning because it may spoil my mood for the day.A few days ago,I read about the Malaysia Audit Report and it made me sick in the stomach!This reminds me of what the British philospher Betrand Russell said:"Islam is the best religion, but muslims are the worst people".Looking at what is happening in Egypt and Syria right now,I am very sad to admit that Betrand Russel may be  correct when he said about us muslims!Many of us muslims are capable of doing good deeds but only a few are capable to speak against evils or prevents the evil deeds.

Another Hadith:" The fear of people should never prevent any of you from speaking the truth when he sees it or pointing out its importance.Doing so will not hasten one's appointed time of death or lessen one's rizq".(Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.)

May Allah forgive me and my fellow muslims for our failure to follow the sunnah.

Advice from my grandma..

She passed away a few years ago at the age of about 95 years.She lived with my mother and every time I went back to visit my mother,I met her and talked to her.Despite her age,she still could remember what happened during during WW11 and I love to hear about our family stories.About half of them I almost forgot and my mistake was that I did not write them down..

If your grandma is still around,do jot down her stories.If not all those family stories will be buried as our family elders die one after another.

One lesson I want to share with my friends-old and young is about her advice to me to stay safe.Her simple guide is avoid going to dangerous places!That,to me, is risk management 101 from my grandma who has not been to any formal school in her life time.

Since ,you are reading this far,my advice is never let your mother wait for your call.Just take you mobile phone and say hello to her,NOW.

My first digital camera

Olympus C-750 Ultrazoom-4 megapixels.