Watch Out 2013!

This should be my post LAST YEAR but don't know why I didn't get around to it. 

 Was 2012 a good year for you? It was for me and certainly no complaints about it, but I know it could have been better. 

Allow me to reflect on the highlights of 2012:

#1 I got married! To my best friend of 8 years. That was totally the highlight of 2012 is to put an end of our courtship and entered something bigger and better.. marriage. Loving every moment of it. Pictures will be posted soon. There are so many of it but I am so MALAS to go about it though. Is this normal? Post wedding syndrom perhaps.

#2 I was introduced to a fantastic business by a friend of mine, Nadia Suhaimi. PB business as we call it. We sell high quality corsets with FIR (far infrared). I am so grateful that I was introduced to this business at the right time as I was in need of financial help for my wedding. Alhamdulillah as it did help me a lot. It turn Those corsets were not difficult to sell. You just have to put your mind to it. Apart from selling and the income that you get, you also get to meet people; various kinds from different walks of life. 

#3 Travel a bit in 2012. Jakarta for numerous times (5 or 6 times? Can't recall!) . Did a lot for wedding while I was in Jakarta. Did my cards there and it was quite a journey. If you are the impatient type, forget it girls. But I was really patient and enjoyed the process of designing, selecting the materials of the card, ribbons, fonts and what not. I also got the materials for my wedding attire, family and bridesmaids there. Good stuff. And lots and lots of spa session! How can you not resist the spa session while you are in Indonesia? Crazy right? It's very traditional, cheap and clean. How come we don't have cheap spas in KL? 

#4 Travel again. FOR FREE this time. To Guangzhou, China. This is an incentive from doing the PB business that I mentioned in #2. Such a 'pampered' trip. Everything was paid for from flight ticket to pocket money! Had lots of fun with the PB girls. Made new friends as well. I killed two birds while I was there. Did some shopping for wedding; door gifts pouches, crystals bowl for VIPs, lace and sequins table runners, cushion covers and more things I could not remember. This was totally a shopping trip. 

#5 Lost 8 kg and gained back 6 kg (as of now!) 

#6 Living life healthily by doing actual exercises. Can you believe it? It has been ages since I last work out. The last time was 2010 perhaps? Towards the end of the year, I started to be around friends who just love to exercise like I love lots and lots of chocolates. How can they do that? I was very much in denial about not getting older .. "lek lu bro, we are still young" and not realizing that body fats are harder to diminish as we get older, but these people made me realize that exercising is not just about diminishing fats and weights. It came with a lifestyle which is highly encouraged for everyone in a long run. I'll be 28 this year and 28 is NOT YOUNG. Better late than never right? So, one of my *gasp* highlights of 2012 is that I actually tried out bootcamp (just for a session) and I survived the session! The only thing I need now is a lot of motivation to be consistent and persistent in doing this! Can I keep up with doing exercise? It may sounds easy, but is it that easy? We shall see more in 2013.

Oh gosh. Only 6 highlights?

I know it could have been better but I am so grateful those 6 happened and has their own significance. Of course there are other mishaps and incidents that happened in 2012 (guess it is not worth mentioning here) but those are just lessons to be learned.

Out for now. 

Watch out 2013!

Twice or Thrice?

Oh travelling. 

One thing I truly miss doing in my life is to travel. During my postgrad studies in 2009-2010 and when Europe was just a train away, I was given opportunities (and very grateful to be given such opportunities! Alhamdulillah) to go around the continent with not so much money spent.

Looking at my current situation, lack of time and financial aid just for travelling, I would have to put it on hold.

*cricket sound*

But but but...I just have to disagree.

(Imagining hubby's reaction: "Hah melawan la tu melaaawannn")

Life can be dull and stagnant at times, and I think the best way to get out of that rut is to see the world. Sometimes, no matter how motivated, driven or aligned we can be, everyone of us goes through a period in our life when we are stuck in a rut. It can be as of many reasons, but the feeling is just the same; bored, stuck and complacent and it can happen without warning even to the optimistic people. Besides, we've worked so hard, I think all of us need at least some break. Or a treat!

Therefore to eliminate those 'rutty' feelings, I feel that we should just go out and travel. Anywhere! Inside or outside of the country, rich or poor places, first class or third class, it doesn't matter, as long as you go.

So...

2012 is coming to an end, and hello 2013. When a brand new year is about to  begin, one of your resolutions and goals is ...

... to travel as much as you can. 

It can be as frequent as every month or maybe 4 to 6 times in a year, but I'm going to be realistic here, hence, I think I'll just do twice (or three)
 times a year? I think that's just good enough.

That is, before the baby comes. Tee hee. 

If your job requires you to travel every now and then, you are lucky and can exit my blog please. Ok kidding.

Travelling needs money. Duh, anyone knows that, but if you want it so much, you just gotta make it work. And I believe when you put your heart to it, it WILL work. 

*Thinking about PB bonus and Free PB Trips*

So, after days and days of discussion, (arguments!) and consideration, both Mr. Z and I decide to do this, only if time and money permits. 

Two (or three) destinations a year. Can we do this?

Seaside, cities, villages, mountains, deserts..you name it, I want it.

So where would it be?

Let's berangan!

1. Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand, just next door  and truth to be told, I've never been to any parts of Thailand. I guess it is always wise to start with the capital city.

2. Casablanca, Morocco

"I thought you fell in love with me watching Casablance, holding hands 'neath the paddle fans in Rick's Candle lit cafe, hiding in the shadows from the spies. Moroccan moonlight in your eyes..."

An exotic gateway to Africa; its mountains, desert and coast ; to their souq (the Marrakech!), food and culture. I know I'll be happy snapping away my PEN!

3. Redang Island

Before I berangan even more about going to Maldives or Mauritius, let me admit to you that I have never been to our very own Redang Island. Can you believe it? So, that will be one of my stop next year.

4. Almalfi Coast, Italy

Everything I read about the Amalfi Coast suggested sugar and spice, everything nice.  Not just the coastal area, but the nearby village, Positano has it all.  Tall houses climbing the hillside, beautiful beaches on the waterfront, and small winding streets full of shops all beckoned me to pay a visit. Soon babe soon.

5. Agra, India

Which other love story is so grand that you have someone built a monumental palace for you after you die? None other than the emperor Shah Jahan did for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. I would like to witness the place where the great love story was depicted. Can you imagine me in my Salwa Kameez and hubby in his kurta in front  of the Taj Mahal as the background? 

Any of these three places are good enough for me. So bring it on 2013, I shall wait!

So, what's your top three wish list travel destination for next year? Share please!

Different Folks Different Strokes

I was fortunate to watch the Qurban inside the house, not having to hover around under the hot sun because my in law's house is just next to the surau. And to make things more interesting, the cow went amuk and ran inside our compound, so the Qurban people had no choice but performed the Qurban there. Alhamdulillah.

Was at my MIL's house in the morning, and knowing my MIL, she's a great cook and just love to spoil her family with food, food and more food. She told us 'ala ini cincai-cincai aje', well, which part of this is cincai la Mama? Every Raya food is there from lontong to kuah kacang to rendang to mee kari to ketupat palas to nasi impit to ayam masak merah etc etc. 

Oh boy. I have a lot to do and to learn man. *looking at husband*

My Aidiladha did not just end there. We went back to Johor at night, started our journey at about 9-ish pm. It was very unusual for me (and a first time again) because my family rarely (more like NEVER) starts the journey very late at night. My dad would be like  "after Subuh, we shoot" kinda person and yes, we will arrived at our destination way before noon. Less stressful perhaps? On the other hand, Mr. Z's family is totally the opposite but I was appalled that I didn't see any sign of stress in them. Different folks, different strokes I guess.

Arrived Benut at 2 am. I  was sleeping the whole journey I did not see or hear a thing. Tahu-tahu dah sampai. As I opened my eyes, I saw that we were in this huge beautiful compound with many trees and fairy lights all over. There's a gazebo parked beside the house and it was decorated with fairy lights as well. The compound of the house was huge; I think it can parked more than 10 cars kot and the house? All I can say was WOW. The exterior was a bit fusion; classic meets modern Bali style with fancy woods, stones and bricks but the interior is modern. This is the first kampung house that I've been which is fully air-conditioned. Love every sense of it and all I can say is that the house is very very very COSY. 

 Sorry no pictures. Too excited and jakun sampai lupa nak snap. Next time?

But I managed to snap this instead!

Mr. Z's family is from a Bugis ancestry, so here I am presenting to you their famous wajib dish; Burasak which is made out of rice and coconut milk. Lots of coconut milk. I can feel the ooze of fat running inside my body mannnn! You either eat with rendang or sambal goreng but I discovered another way of eating it; with asam pedas lobak masin ikan parang.  

 Chilled freshly made pineapple juice and sugar coated butter toast on a very hot day. Such simple snacks but memorable to your palate. Oh gosh, where can I find this in KL?

Canton Fun - Day 1

So, my first trip from doing PB business was Guangzhou. Yeah I know some of you would think " Eleh, China je?" Hhhm. I got that remarks all the time but come on guys, if it's FREE would you go? When I say FREE, I ain't kiddin ya. From flight ticket to hotel (5 stars mind you!) to food to transportation to gifts yada yada all the necessities were provided by them. Even umbrella (it's so warm over there! Warmer than KL!) and mineral water pun depa dok kasi setiap hari. I could say they were spoiling us all the way. We arrived at Baiyun International Aiport in the afternoon and boy, it was such a hugeee and modern airport. I can't help it to actually compare it with our own KLIA and the structure of the building is similar. Maybe the same architect?

The tour leaders guided us from lugagge claim and brought us straight to the coach. Coach 'I' to be precise with our mentor-leader, Hanis Haizi. We headed to our first shopping trip! The first stop was the Leather Market. Now I know where the Malaysian online boutiques got their stocks! And Kenanga Wholesale Mall got theirs! Leather goods from phone covers to clutches to bags to shoes and all that jazz. Didn't get anything huge except for clutch and  leather iPhone and iPad covers.

 Muka-muka LAPAR

Done with shopping, and then it's.. LUNCH TIME! We had our lunch at Xin Yue Muslim Restaurant and the food was..OK. We were so hungry that time, so we gobbled up anything that were served right before our eyes. Most of the Muslim Restaurant in China serve Xinjiang cuisine because of the huge Islamic population in Xinjiang, the food is predominantly halal. 

90% vegetables right? YUM. No wonder Chinese girls are so slender and have great skin!

We were entertained during lunch by the dancers from Xin Jiang.


Right after makan, we went to our hotel. The Rosedale Hotel situated smack in the middle of the city, next to a shopping mall, convenient store and a massage parlour! That's what I was looking for and that's what we need after so much of walking and shopping. A massage parlour! Love the hotel as our room was so huge, can masukkan another 7 girls. (We had pizza party with the group in our room on the last day - altogether ada 9 people. Siap tengok movie lagi and ended with O group with Aliah)

Not bad right? It's comfortable and so convenient! 

The things we did at night: SAMBUNG SHOPPING and MASSAGE! 

Haizum, haggling ada tactic nya.

  
We shopped little things like earrings and bracelets, nothing much but the mommies and daddies shopped a lot for their sons. Dah macam Toys R Us dah tu.


Right after shopping, it was time to balik hotel. We were asked to rest for the next day but instead of just resting golek-golek in the room, we went for a MASSAGE.. until late. Kukikukik with just us singletons. These girls were hilarious. 

Aaaahhhh.


Wait for next post. Day 2. We will be in BLUE!

GZ Yaw!

Will be in Guangzhao for four days. Bedsheet, cushion covers, table runners and pearls. 

Shoppin' for the weddin'.

See you soon. Toodles!

I Miss London

London. A place where I used to go every other weekends. 

Jangan panic. Not go every weekends from KL (gile ke?) but every other weekends from West Midlands, a place I called home two years ago.  The journey from Birmingham to London takes 1 and 1/2 hour.

OMG! Has it been two years? So cepattt.. Sigh. Rindu nyaaa..

My housemate and I (Sheena), whenever we are bored with our lives in Brum, we would head out and take the first (cheapest) train from Birmingham Moor Street station to London Marylebone (via Chiltern Train). Of course we prefer the fast Virgin Train which will take us straight to Euston Train station in just an hour, but that's only ... when we have extra to spend. Those were the days when every penny counts. Hahah.

The things we did in London:

1) The Cranberries concert at Royal Albert Hall. OMG that was one hell of an experience. I never thought I ever watched this band up close and personal. They are like... the bomb. 'Linger', 'Zombie', 'When you're gone' and many more. Best gileee.

2) If we are ever in London on Saturday, we never failed to singgah Portobello Market (near Notting Hill) just because. Before we depart back to Brum, we just had to indulge ourselves at least for a cuppa of Red Velvet from Hummingbird. Sedapnya tidak la terkata. The soft and moist texture of the cake and the sinful creamy cream cheese. Glory glorrrrryy. Apart from Hummingbird, there are many many more things to do at Portobello. Vintage lovers, say hello to your world!

3) During our depression days, and when we missed Malaysia so so much, the food, the kekecohan of being around Malaysian people,    we just loved going to Malaysian Hall cafeteria. We were there just to eat their roti canai (breakfast), Sup ekor and sambal belacan (lunch) and have their scrumptious teh tarik (supper). A lot of people said that Malaysian Hall's food sucks and all that, but I just don't care. I felt safe there and in a way, it does felt like home. 

It may sound..what? Sup ekor? Teh tarik? The little things that we love.

Zaman students at MSD (Malaysian Student Department)

4) Harrods. Should I elaborate?

5) Oxford Street. I miss Selfridges (of course!), my favourites which are H&M, Zara and..... Primark. Nothing beats Primark's leggings. 

6)Museums and art galleries. London has the best museums in the world and we've only managed to see the British Museum and Tate Modern. The National Gallery, National History Museum, etc??

Andy Warhol exhibition at Tate Modern

7) West End! I've seen Wicked, Chicago and The Legally Blonde, but the best I've seen was Wicked of course. I cried buckets kot. Don't mind watching it again. But Billy Elliot and The Lion King are next in my list.

There are many many more of London's must-do and must-see pictures that I have in my laptop but those are memories and it will be kept as memories. Cute English cafes that serves original English scones with clotted cream, tea, the fish and chip, Camden town, Borough market, frozen yoghurt, smoked salmon and egg benedict from Patisserie Vallerie, yada yada yada. Banyak sangat la and it won't do any justice if you don't try all of these yourself. 

Which you can come with me next year FOR FREE. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. In 2013 we are going to London and Paris for F.R.E.E! 

Mr. Z and I insya Allah! 

Want to know how you can go for FREE? 

Contact me at : 013-2033763 (24/7 on whatssap)

rashida.rafar@gmail.com

Constantinople Dream - Part 2

It was the last day of 2010, woke up and had that 'wet burger' for breakfast, (wow, 'healthy' giler la kan) and head to town to meet the boys. It was already towards the end of our trip but haven't finished covering the 'wajib' historical places in Istanbul. 

First stop for that day was Hagia Sophia, the major cathedral when the city was still 'Constatinople' before it turned into a mosque under the Ottoman Empire. I learnt about this when I was 17, that a church was turned into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople. The carpets of the mosque were removed and the white plaster covering the mosaics of the cathedral were also taken out. This is to show to tourists the events that had happened in Hagia Sophia/Aya Sofya especially about the conversion. And yeah, I did noticed the differences between the mosque and the church, but since the conversion of the mosque was before the museum, the structure looked more a mosque than a church. That's just my point of view. I was inside Aya Sofya for more than an hour checking out old paintings and snapping away pictures. 

The prodigious structure of Aya Sofya

It was Friday and noon, so that means Friday prayers. We went to the Blue Mosque. The boys and Dalia went for Friday Prayers, as for myself (Aunty Flow) waited for them outside the Blue Mosque and just listening to the serene sounds of the Surah that were recited in the prayer. Such peaceful serene feelings. 

 The Blue Mosque

Were given a bowl of free sweet porridge at the Blue Mosque. Delicious. Of course, at that time we were hungry.

Ekmek by the roadside 

And had bigger lunch nearby; at the district of Sultan Ahmet.

And the last location we visited was the palace of Topkapi which was the primary resident of the Ottoman Sultans approximately for 400 years. It is now converted into a major tourist attractions in the world(under UNESCO) and it contains important legacies; amongst are the Prophet Muhammad's sword and cloak. 

We end our Istanbul vacay with watching New Year fireworks at the Ortakoy and eating... Midye Dolmasi, the famous Turkish delicacy!

Happy 2011! (At that time la)

 Yum!


I will definitely come again for more Turkish adventure!