Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

I think I have to write something just for the sake of… I don’t know.

I think magicians are sexy. Either that, or they are really good actors. Go watch Criss Angel’s street magic performances and you’d agree with me.

(On the same note), I think Criss Angel has a rather interesting first name. Criss, with no H and spelled with double S. Cool is what it is.

I think some people exist to test your patience. You know, like roaches.

I think Perodua Alza is just a slightly longer version of Myvi. Come on, Perodua, janganlah malas sangat. You’re better than that.

I think rude drivers should be prosecuted. On the ground of possible endangerment of other drivers’ emotional health.

I think Hari-Hari store’s tagline, “Cantik di Hari, Mudah di Hati” is the worst business slogan to ever exist. Like, what the?! Whoever came up with the slogan should keluar dari persembunyian and explain to the public what the heck he/she was trying to say.

I think copycat bloggers should be ashamed of themselves. If you have no ideas on how to make your blog interesting, just be plain boring. That’s better than stealing other people’s ideas. And if you have nothing interesting to write about, then don’t lah. Peliknya. Haish.

(On the same note), I think people can be so weird sometimes.

I think people should stop talking about Tiger Wood’s sex scandals. I mean, what do you expect from someone like him? Someone super rich and mega famous. Normalcy? Come on lah.

I think most people deserve to be given the benefits of the doubt.

I think Raising the Bar is one of the best legal drama ever created and I hate TNT for canceling the show after the second season.

(On the same note), I think the character Jerry Kellerman (played by Saved by the Bell Mark-Paul Gosselar) is awesome. If only I can be half as good as an attorney and half as passionate as he is with his work. Such an inspiration.

I think smart phones are smart. 24/7 access to the Internet. PC-like specifications. QWERTY keyboards. One-touch response. Bijaklah! Whoever invented the smart phones deserve an award.

(On the same note), I think QWERTY keyboard is good in the sense that unless you’re a gifted driver, you couldn’t possible text while you’re driving.

I think Twitter is making a lazy blogger out of me. Either that, or the other possible reason. Ehem. But yeah, micro-blogging is easy-peasy and fun.

(On the same note), I think I am going to spill the bean soon. Ngeh.

I think Jeffrey Archer is an epitome of an optimist; the kinds of people who make do of the worst situation and turn them into something positive. I mean, he did come up with the book I am currently reading, Cat O’Nine Tales when he was in the prison. And made millions out of it, I believe. Smart.

I think the jingle for the Belilah Barangan Tempatan campaign is annoyingly infectious. You know, “Wah cunnya, memang cun, barangan Malaysia.” Who can resist singing along to that? Or is it just me?

I think I hate my job today. Hate is such a strong word though. Not liking my job. That’s more like it. Bosan bosan bosan. Sigh.

I think I need a blue-sky holiday. Somewhere with beaches and/or shopping malls would be nice. Somebody just please take me.

“If you carry your childhood with you,
you never become older. “ - Tom Stoppard

Hampir setiap pagi sekarang, bila turun lif, mesti saing dengan kanak-kanak riang dalam pakaian renang dalam perjalanan bersuka ria ke pool. Sampai bawah mereka terus campak towels dan lompat ke dalam air dengan bahagia dan carefree. How good it is to have no care in the world.

Selalu saya kata pada Suami, “Tengoklah budak-budak tu, belum tahu nasib diorang. Banyak lagi exams nak kena lalui.” Kah kah. Ya, saya orang dewasa yang mendengki kegembiraan kanak-kanak di musim cuti sekolah.

Seronok betullah zaman cuti sekolah dulu-dulu. Saya tak tahu apa aktiviti budak-budak zaman sekarang sebab saya tak ada adik kecil juga belum punya anak, tapi saya pasti, cuti sekolah di zaman manapun, hatta zaman pre-history sekalipun, pasti menggembirakan. No school! Woohoo!

Aktiviti kegemaran zaman cuti sekolah dulu ialah bercuti dengan sepupu-sepupu. Selalunya parents kami akan bergabung usaha bawa kami bercuti di pantai mana-mana. Balik dari bercuti malu nak pergi sekolah sebab hitam legam kulit mengelupas sebab berjemur mandi laut. Ya, kecil-kecil lagi sudah pandai ada rasa vain malu bila kulit jadi hitam mengelupas.

Masa Darjah 6 selepas UPSR, ada lawatan pergi Langkawi. Rasa seronok sangat dapat melancong dengan kawan-kawan. Melancong dalam school uniform pun seronok sangat rasanya. Naik bas ramai-ramai, bayar makanan sendiri, jalan-jalan sana sini tanpa ibu bapa (tapi ada gurulah, bosan) - rasa konon-konon macam adult. Seronok sangat dapat berlagak jadi adult. Sekarang dah jadi adult, dengki dengan kanak-kanak pula. Kah kah.

Cuti sekolah mesti ada family day sana sini. Family day office bapa saya selalunya di PD lah. Kemudian ada sukaneka. Kemudian saya mahu masuk semua pertandingan. Saya bukankah kanak-kanak gila kuasa?

Ada satu gambar saya dalam bikini merah (belum baligh, maka ambil kesempatan sexy sesuka hati) dan menangis sebab kalah pertandingan tiup tepung. Kononnya kalah sebab ada budak gemuk langgar lalu jatuh. Mengadalah saya ini, kalah pertandingan tiup tepung pun mahu menangis.

Gambar ketika Family Day firma saya tahun lepas. Gambar atas ialah saya yang tak menangis apabila terkeluar dari pertandingan rebut kerusi. Gambar bawah ialah saya embracing my inner child (never gone, never will).

Wajiblah balik kampung kan? Kesian Tok Wan, Maktok, Atuk, Opah rindu nak tengok cucu menakal depan mata. Kadang-kadang malas balik kampung sebab rindu katil empuk dan penghawa dingin di rumah. Mengada. Kemudian Ibu akan kata, “Nanti anak-anak Yanti tak nak balik jumpa ibubapak nanti, Yanti sedih tak?” Akan terus jadi takut dengar ayat keramat itu. Lalu akur dan ikut balik kampung and always ended up having great times.

Kemudian ada kem cuti sekolah ala-ala summer camp. Saya without fail akan hadiri program seperti ini. Saya memang kanak-kanak yang gemar beraktiviti. Cuba ajak saya jadi fasilitator sekarang, cubalah kalau nak kena tempelak. Haha. Membesar menjadi pemalas. Si pemalas yang berjiwa positif, boleh? Anyways, antara banyak-banyak, kem paling saya sukai ialah kem bersama Dato Hassan Ali. Memang meninggalkan kesan positif. Tapi saya sedih tak dapat anugerah Peserta Perempuan Terbaik walaupun telah dinominasi. Fasilitator kata sebab saya tak cukup banyak hafal doa. Kah kah sedih kononnya. Kanak-kanak gila kuasalah katakan.

Kem paling saya tak suka ialah Kem Minda Anak-Anak Polis. Balik dari kem itu saya merayu tak mahu pergi lagi. Sebab cultural shock. Kem itu gabungkan anak-anak polis dari sekolah rendah hingga sekolah menengah. Saya budak baik. Tiba-tiba jumpa kakak-kakak yang kena tangkap khalwat, kakak merokok, kakak yang suruh saya dengar lagu Sweet Child of Mine di walkman dia sambil ajar saya menari ikut gaya dia menari dengan boyfriend dia – ish takut! Memang cultural shock.

Juga menarik ialah rancangan Alam Ria Cuti Sekolah di TV3. Dulu-dulu belum ada ASTRO, jadi tak adalah Nickelodeon yang 24 jam ada show menarik untuk kanak-kanak. Lalu bila ada Alam Ria itu, memang seronoklah.

Cerita kegemaran semua anak gadis mestilah The Girl From Tomorrow; yang kemudiannya menyebabkan semua anak gadis menggedik mahu pakai cekak. Satu scene yang paling saya ingat ialah Alana masuk dalam satu bilik kecil dan dibersihkan dengan laser beam. I remember thinking, “How convenient.” (Tak pastilah fikir dalam English atau Malay. Mungkin dalam Malay sebab unlike kanak-kanak beruntung zaman sekarang, saya produk pembelajaran dalam Bahasa Melayu. Ngeh)

Masa yang lepas memang sudah lepas, tapi jangan sampai kita terlupa anak kecil dalam diri kita yang sering kali meronta untuk keluar berjimba.

“I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” - Rita Rudner

“Lately, the only thing I am passionate about is you,” said Tom to Lynette in Desperate Housewives. Ya, saya tonton lagi episod tersebut buat kali ketiga mungkin semalam. Whilst the statement kedengaran manis menggoda jiwa, I think that that is awfully unhealthy. Let me explain why.

I regard marriage as a sharing of goals, aspirations, dreams and lives of two individuals. Kita semua ada ciri-ciri individual kita sendiri and I think that maintaining your individuality is extremely important.

I mean, for a marriage to really work, I think you have got to give some time and space to yourself. And your partner needs his/hers as well. Sure, I really, really enjoy my husband’s company dan hobi utama saya adalah bersembang and do stuffs with him.

But I do need masa untuk diri sendiri; to read, to spend time with my friends, to watch my favourite shows, you know, the time to do what I like, things that makes me, me. And I understand his needs for that as well.

Dan perlulah ada personality dan ‘hidup’ masing-masing. Untuk bahagia, bukannya perlu turn into your significant other. Untuk bahagia, I rasalah, kita perlu embrace individuality kita, appreciate individuality dia and share and compromise in between. So he likes action movie and I’m into lovey-dovey kind; the right thing to do is to compromise. New Moon this week and Ninja Assassin will be next (I don’t mind anyway, have you seen the new and improved Rain? Wow) Ngeh. You know the drill lah.

Kalau kita hidup mati jiwa raga hanya untuk pasangan kita, bukankah kita akan jadi individu membosankan dan dependant tak tentu pasal macam parasit? Menempel setiap masa. Tak ada personaliti tersendiri. Mahu perhatian 24 jam. Merimaskanlah. I know I’d be rimas.

At the end of the day, I believe that you should never ever give up your individuality and all the little things that makes you special, sebab apart from the fact that you should always be true to who you are, sebenarnya who you are itulah yang buat dia jatuh cinta in the first place. Bukankah?

He’s cool, calm and perfectly collected.
And I’m cemerkap, bubbly and neurotic. Ngeh ngeh.

Pierre William Trudel in his article, ‘Marriage - Are You the Individual You Want to Be?’ wrote that after being married for 38 years, what he is most proud of is how he and his wife were both able to maintain their individuality and this is how they do it:

(1) Respect your need for time and space alone;
(2) Maintain goals that belong to you alone. Keep your interest alive, they are part of the reason the two of you are together;
(3) Share responsibilities. This do not mean to delegate but to share. There is no reason to have a boss at home when you have one at work;
(4) Decide most things together and listen to all your points of view. Really listen. Remember when you loved to hear the other talk when you first met? Never let go of those feelings.

Jadi, marilah kita menjadi passionate terhadap pasangan kita dan yang paling utama, terhadap diri kita sendiri! And while we're at that, let’s remember to always, always be true to who we are.

“You’re just warm. You’re like your own sun.”
– Bella Swan to Jacob Black, New Moon.

How was your weekend, dear friends? Mine was pleasurably great; it was undoubtedly a 4-days leave well spent. But of course, the only downside to a great weekend is when it ends. Haish. So anyways, I’m sleepy and have nothing noteworthy to pen down, so I decide to share my weekend here. It’s a hugely uninteresting entry so you may leave now. Ngeh.

We went back to my parents’ place for Aidil Adha. Ibu cooked the best raya dishes; inclusive of Sambal Daging, Rendang Ayam, Sambal Tumis Udang and of course, my favourite, Kari Daging. Trust me, my mom makes the best Kari Daging. Simply scrumptious.

I just had to share this picture of one of the three cows that were sacrificed because this particular cow was a rebel! Tidak redha at all untuk berkorban. Huhu. I shall now refrain myself from making any inappropriate jokes. Ngeh.

We were a bunch of pemalas so instead of mengikut jejak langkah my mom and dad who went to Balai after the korban to help out with melapah, memasak and what not, Hubby, Little Bro and myself went shopping instead. Ngeh! Oh please understand, we don’t have an OU (or its like) here in JB so excuse us for being selfish and jakun. Kah kah.

My oh my, was I glad I was a pemalas?! YES in One Utama was so lazat! Even Armani Exchange pun ada discounted items up to 60%! Little Bro made fun of the fact that baru masuk 10 minit, I already bought something. Hubby bought them for me actually. A pair of mary jane flats from Charles & Keith on 30% discount. I love them to bits! We had fun shopping but no, I don’t feel like sharing semuanya that we bought. Hehehe.

My parents menyusul kemudian di The Curve and Ibu headed straight to Habib Jewels. Hehe. Habib is on sale! If you’re looking for engagement/wedding jewelry or simply terasa like getting yourself a gift for being a good girl all year round, go get yourself a nice piece of jewelry while YES lasts, girls!

Oh before The Curve, we actually spent 2 hours in Bentley. Hubby and Little Bro went crazy testing all sorts of instruments and after the first 1/2 hour, I almost died out of boredom. Haha. They had so much fun though.

Makan bersama keluarga adalah salah satu perkara kegemaran saya dalam hidup ini, harap maklum. Oh there's a peek at my new camera, Blackie :)

The next day, Hubby went home pagi-pagi by car but I stayed at my parents’ and took a later flight at night. Sedih betul ketika mahu pulang ke JB; the only thing that kept me going was the realization that my lovely Hubby was waiting for me to come home to him, and I guess that will always be enough.

This is starting to kelihatan seperti sebuah laporan Cuti Hujung Minggu Saya. What the heck. Leave now, if you must. Ngeh.

Upon arriving at the JB airport, we went straight to his cousin’s majlis aqiqah which lasted until wee hour in the morning. Letih yang teramat. We were so tired we fell asleep on the MIL’s couch there and then. Oh but I had the yummiest dinner at the kenduri; Sup Tulang with sambal belacan, timun and ikan kering. Such simple dish but simply delicious.

Sunday came and broke my heart. Hahaha. Sungguh over. Sunday morning, we had our brunch at a local kopitiam (you can read more on this here) and later, we ended our holiday in perfection with Swensen’s and New Moon.

Yeah, I succumbed to society pressure and dragged Hubby down with me. At the risk of offending Twilighters, I think New Moon is way overrated. Rotten Tomatoes rated the movie 29% and to be frank, I agree with them. The movie has some interesting scenes and good lines here and there, but overall, it’s too slow to the point of memengantukkan and too jiwang even for my standard. Kirsten Stewart was beautiful though. Rob Pattinson was looking too pale and too depressed for my liking this time around. But Jacob Black, my oh my, need I say more? Ngeh. I undoubtedly prefer the first instalment of the saga, but overall, it was okay lah.

Oh and guess which team I am with? Edward versus Jacob. Friendship blossoming into love, loving the one you’re with, choosing the right guy who makes you happy – I’m all for that! So yeah, I’m definitely Team Jacob!

How this Cuti Hujung Minggu Saya report turned into a review on New Moon, sayapun tidak tahu. Have a good week, people!

Be warm and sunny like Jacob, will you?

"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family" - Thomas Jefferson

How was your Aidil Adha, people? Mine was great!

I'm still at my parents' place. Perhaps I'll update more later. But right now I'm busy managing and cooking for my cafe. Keh keh!

“Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should
get some legal advice.” - Franklin P. Jones

Three years ago on this date, I was called to the Bar as an advocate and solicitor. Lalu hari ini genaplah tiga tahun saya menjadi seorang peguam. Sekejap betullah masa berlalu. Rasa baru saja zaman belajar di Sekolah Undang-Undang. Terkedek sana-sini dengan hidung berhingus (sebab kelas selalu sejuk) dan Farah Hanani (we were a pair of belangkas back then).

Masa belajar dulu, susahnya rasa certain subjects especially subjects yang diajar oleh lecturers yang tak ada field experience. Adik-adik, memang lain betullah teori dan praktikal. If you think you can never be a lawyer sebab tak dapat grasp the theory you learn in Law school, my advice to you, just give it a try. Practicing law and reading the law are two very different things and of course, the former lebih terlalu menarik.

But contrary to popular belief, ours is not a glamorous profession. Tidak sama sekali. I was first introduced to this reality back when I was a young law student doing attachment with a small law firm in KL.

Kami sedang menunggu berjam di Court for our case to be called and the lady lawyer told me, “Marliza, what we do is not glamorous at all. This is what we do. We wait the whole day. And then we go in and got scold. Nothing glamorous about that.” And she was right.

Semua orang disogok dengan imej peguam yang pakai designer suits dengan kereta menjalar dan rumah tersergam megah when in reality, only a few have managed to attain that. Kalau peguam kecil-kecilan hingusan seperti saya, pakai baju lusuh dan tinggal di rumah sewa saja tau! Nothing glamorous about that at all, but it’s my life and I love it!

Imej selingan: Wajah rumah (sewaan) baru kami (yang tidak glamorous langsung, if I must add), tempat cinta kami dibaja setiap hari (pergh!)

Living Hall, where we spend most of our times watching TV, reading and what not. Yes, that leather 3+2 seaters are new. Suka suka suka.

Dining Hall, yang mana mejanya hanya diguna once in a blue moon sebab most of the time, we have our meals di depan TV. Kah kah. Dasar hantu TV.

Pokok hijau yang saya sukai sepenuh hati.

Merata-rata kami cari wall mirrors yang suit our taste and budget.

Sambung (ngeh!) I have to say that sepanjang 3 tahun ini, my relationship with the career path that I chose have definitely been a love-hate kind. I have had days when I enjoy the thrill and adrenaline and yada yada yada but I definitely also have had days when I just want to leave this all behind.

Normallah, kan? Most people are like that kan when it comes to their careers. Only a few lucky ones yang boleh cakap they really love their jobs every single day of their lives. And I envy them for that.

But above it all, I am thankful to Allah for this path that He has chosen for me. For the opportunity dan kemudahan yang Dia berikan. Untuk pendapatan yang walaupun tidaklah banyak sangat, cukuplah untuk hidup dengan selesa dan bahagia. For all the people I have met along the way, yang telah berikan tunjuk ajar dan pengalaman, biarpun baik ataupun buruk. Alhamdulillah untuk tiga tahun yang bermakna ini.

Being a lawyer sucks now and then, but what the heck.

“Passion makes the world go round.
Love just makes it a safer place” - Ice T, The Ice Opinion

Teruja betul buang masa baca ruang-ruang maya di Goodle Reader saya. Tiba-tiba muncul rasa kemahuan untuk kemas kini ruang maya yang busuk berhabuk ini. Tapi terlalu malas untuk menyediakan sebarang bentuk karangan. Lalu saya mahu kemas kini dalam gaya micro-blogging lah ya.

1. I think Aaron Aziz and Fazura are super hot in Pisau Cukur. Fazura, in all her gedikness glory, never fails to amuse me. You know, the acceptable kind of gedik? She’s adorable! And Pisau Cukur is a feel good movie-lah! I menyengih throughout the movie, okay? Go lah tengok!

2. If you reside in JB or happened to be here, please oh please cari this warung we call Saujana (it is beside Saujana, the MB’s place, hence the nick-name). Their breakfast menus are heavenly! Nasi Lemak Kukus with all kinds of lauk-pauk, Lontong Basah, Lontong Kering, Soto – they got it all. And they’re all, subhanallah, super duper yummy!

3. Snazzy & Such makes the cutest crafty stuffs, including gifts for newborn babies. I had one made for my Kindred Spirit’s son, Umar Iskandar – a baby boy baby quilt set – and they’re gorgeous! My Kindred loved it to bits as well! She sent me an MMS picture of Umar with the baby quilt set and I almost cried out of, entah, joy? Love? Appreciation? Ngeh.

4. Still on food (I know it’s been a while tak kemas kini my foodie blog; I promise I’ll do it soon). If you are looking for good Indian briyani in JB, there are 3 recommended places. And when I say good, I mean REALLY GOOD. They’re The Briyani Village, 7 Spice and Chakra. They're slightly pricey kalau compare dengan kedai mamak, but trust me, they’re worth it!

5. The Malaysian Bar Election is coming up and we lawyers are asked to vote via post for our representatives. Cuma mahu share this; I don’t know most of them as most are in KL so how did I choose whom to vote for? Simple. Those with the most interesting or better yet, the wittiest self-biography - got my vote. I know that might not sound fair but yeah, if they cared enough to write something engaging, they might just be my man for the job.

6. Saya memang haloba. Sudah ada gadgets yang cukup untuk tujuan mengambil gambar, masih mahu sebuah kamera kompak (Semua gadgets mahu, kemudian pakai baju lusuh ke pejabat. Isk) Saya salahkan Low Yat; raksasa penuh gadget pemakan duit (Isn’t Low Yat the best? Tak ada digital mall lain sehebat Low Yat di Malaysia ini; I’m a fan!) *Drum Roll* Woohoo! I am now a proud owner of Canon IXUS 120 IS! My oh my, it’s super tiny, super handsome and super hebat; I’m in love.

7. I saw an old, tiny Indian lady in Cold Storage today tried to carry a basket full of stuffs, including 3 bottles of minyak masak! So I offered to help carry her stuffs to the cashier. At first she seemed shocked (What? Don’t tell me nobody ever offered you help? Or are you shocked because I’m a tudung-clad Malay?) Anyways, I helped her and she salam-ed me and pat my back and said, “Thank you, girl.” For some reason, that warmed my heart, and yeah, she calling me GIRL makes me feel muda belia.

8. I am currently addicted to Orange Juice, Orange Yogurt drink, Orange Ice Blended; anything orange-lah. Setiap hari, I’ve got to have at least a glass/box of Orange Juice. I am practically making Peel Fresh richer by the day. Those who might know the reason behind this, I urge you to, ermm, senyap-senyaplah. Haha. But anyway, if you haven’t already known, Old Town Kopitiam has the best Orange Yogurt Ice Blended in town.

9. I haven’t read a good book for quite sometime. The last good one was Love In A Torn Land, a beautiful portrayal of people surviving life and love during war. Anything that warms my heart and reminds me to bersyukur with segala nikmat kurniaan Allah, is good enough for me.

[Picture Credit: We Heart It]
10. Yes, I adore anything lovey dovey lovely. I’m hopeless like that.


Kah kah. As evidenced by the above long-winded ramblings, I suck at micro-blogging. So in a nutshell: Aaron Aziz is hot, I love good foods, I’m in love with my new camera named Blackie, I appreciate good writings, I like it when people think I’m younger than my 27-old age, I’m responsible for the increase of Peel Fresh sales, I adore cute baby stuffs, I am in dire need of a really good book and I’m a sucker for love. Yeay!

And as our lives changed, come whatever
We will still be friends forever

Sungguh hampir sempurna hujung minggu lalu. Hendak dikatakan sempurna, banyak lagi yang boleh ditambah tolak untuk menjadikan ia lebih baik, lalu cukuplah saya katakan ia hampir sempurna. Hujung minggu yang sarat dengan gembira dan cinta. Sehingga saya rasa mahu menitis air mata apabila terpaksa bangun di hari Isnin yang muram untuk bergegas ke Mahkamah pemakan jiwa.

Bertemu keluarga yang saya rindu dan kasih sepenuh hati adalah tentunya perkara paling bermakna tentang hujung minggu itu. Juga tentunya pertemuan semula STF959 yang dinanti-nanti.

Betul, seperti yang Ayin dan Ayuni tahu, pada mulanya ada ‘perkara’ yang mengganggu saya tentang pertemuan itu, tapi saya gagahkan diri dan ketepikan perasaan hitam, lalu saya hadirkan diri dengan rasa ceria dan bahagia. Saya berterima kasih pada diri sendiri untuk itu. Tentu, pertemuan itu boleh jadi sempurna jika saya tidak terbeban dengan ‘perkara’ itu, juga jika Ayin yang saya rindui dapat turut serta.

Setinggi penghargaan buat para urusetia yang menjadikan pertemuan semula selepas 10 tahun itu berjaya. Saya yakin ia bukan kerja enteng untuk mengumpulkan 117 manusia yang ada di sini sana. Lalu apabila berjaya mengumpulkan lebih separuh dari jumlah itu, saya rasa para urusetia perlu dihargai setingginya. Kenapa saya menulis dalam Bahasa Melayu terlalu formal, sayapun tak tahu kenapa. Layankan saja saya.

10 tahun dulu sebelum tinggalkan sekolah, kita bersiul-siul satu-lagu-berjaya oleh Vitamin C; apa kita akan jadi selepas beberapa lama? Akan berjayakah kita? Adakah lawak-lawak kosong kita ketika zaman hingusan dulu akan masih kita hargai seusai remaja? Mampukah kita hadapi dunia luar yang mencabar? Akan ingatkah kita akan gemilang masa silam?

10 tahun kemudian, di usia 27, kita bertemu semula. Dalam nada yang cukup berbeza. Dengan perubahan dan perkembangan hidup yang cukup ketara. Berkongsi kegembiraan masa silam yang belum pudar. Mempamer kejayaan dan kebahagiaan masa kini yang dikagumi bersama. Pertemuan singkat itu cukup menyeronokkan. Penuh ketawa dan sarat dengan persahabatan.

Saya kira, selepas 10 tahun, semuanya jadi lebih istimewa. Kita sudah lupa apa yang bezakan kita. Kita hanya syukuri bahawa ada sesuatu yang satukan kita; kita berasal dari rumpun srikandi yang sama. Dan saya mensyukuri saya diberi nikmat sedemikian rupa.

[Kredit gambar: Ayuni yang saya kasihi. Suntingan oleh saya.]

Kawan-kawan, terima kasih atas 2 jam yang menyeronokkan dan membangkitkan rasa. Saya sayanglah anda semua!

Kata Pujangga: "Sesuatu khayalan kadang kala menjadi realiti."

Alangkah indahnya kalau sedang keluar mengetik kamera merakam subjek-subjek indah. Matahari sedang bersinar cantik, maka tentu gambar akan cantik tanpa usaha keterlaluan. Tapi tak mahulah ada rasa bahang; mahu matahari terik memancar tapi juga mahu dingin yang memberi selesa. Ya tentulah itu bukan seperti di Malaysia. Lalu siapa mahu belanja saya ke Australia saya dahului dengan ucapan terima kasih dan saya berjanji saya akan ketik gambar subjek indah banyak-banyak sebagai balasannya.

Alangkah indahnya kalau sedang berbaring di atas rumput wangi sambil membaca sesuatu yang menyentuh jiwa. Lebih indah jika rumput wangi itu adalah sebahagian dari laman rumah sendiri dalam suasana dingin tapi cerah. Ya, masih bukan Malaysia nampaknya. Suami, mari berhijrah?

Alangkah indahnya jika sedang berbuai-buai; membuai diri tinggi mencecah ke langit biru, tanpa bimbang tentang segala yang di bumi. Wajah mendongak ke langit di mana matahari sedang gagah memberi cahaya dengan angin sepoi-sepoi menyapa seluruh pelusuk diri. Lebih indah jika dapat membuai diri laman rumah sendiri, di mana bebas berteriak gembira menghayun diri sambil rambut berterbangan girang.

Alangkah indahnya jika dapat berbaring di atas tilam empuk dalam suasana remang lampu kuning dan sejuk pendingin hawa. Lebih indah jika tiada gangguan panggilan telefon dari pejabat atau hilai tawa anak jiran-jiran atau ya, lebih indah jika berbaring tenang tanpa sebarang masalah di jiwa.

Alangkah indahnya kalau sedang berlari-lari di pantai berpasir mulus dan berlaut biru dengan angin menghembus manja. Udara masin laut dan jerit pekik ombak yang anehnya cukup mententeramkan jiwa. Berlari-lari dengan yang tercinta, mengejar layang-layang yang terbang tinggi di atas sana, dengan rasa cemburu pada layang-layang itu yang begitu beruntung hidupnya dapat terbang ke sana ke mari dengan girang tanpa duka.

Hidup memang bukan sentiasa yang indah-indah saja tapi saya kira, itulah yang menjadikan hidup ini begitu hebat dan istimewa.


* Percubaan menulis penuh dalam Bahasa Melayu tanpa perkataan pasar kerana merasa malu apabila seseorang ini menyifatkan karangan-karangan picisan saya sebagai penulisan yang baik. Sungguh saya malu tapi terharu.

* Oh ya, dan gambar-gambar indah tentulah dari Kami Cinta Ia.

“Sesungguhnya tidak Aku ciptakan jin dan manusia kecuali untuk menyembah (beribadah) kepadaKu” - Adz Dzaariyaat: 56

Rumah saya sudah langgan pakej ASTRO Tayangan Hebat. Tempoh hari saya tonton Indonesian horror movie bertajuk Tiren: Mati Kemaren. Comel kan Indonesians, suka betul buat abbreviations. Mati Kemaren pun boleh jadi Tiren. Bodoh betullah ceritanya. 0.01% pun tidak seram. Cuma mungkin hype sebab ada ratu gelek Dewi Persik yang comel itu. Dan banyak adegan gadis kekurangan baju. Kah kah. Bagus lagi horror movie kita, Histeria. Tapi tak boleh komen banyak-banyak sebab tonton sedikit-sedikit saja. Yang pasti, jalan ceritanya lebih baguslah.

Seperti biasa, intro panjang lebar. Sebenarnya mahu berkongsi beberapa cerita hantu yang tergolong dalam kelompok old wives tales; tapi cerita-cerita ini dekat betullah dengan hati saya. Tapi tidak, tidak, saya tak pernah jumpa hantu dan tak ingin langsunglah nak jumpa. Jadi tak perlu ajak saya main ouija board untuk seru-seru hantu ya.

1. Hantu Susu

Ini adalah hantu yang paling menyentuh hidup saya sebab saya memang diselubungi kebimbangan ketika cerita tentang beliau berleluasa (Beliau? Hantu? Sopannya?) Kalau tak tahu, mari saya kenalkan Hantu Susu. Beliau ialah seorang perempuan beriman yang dibunuh ketika sedang mengandung. Ada satu lagi versi cerita, beliau dirogol dan dibunuh dan anak beliau yang masih bayi turut dibunuh. Roh beliau tak aman sebab pembunuh beliau masih bebas. Lalu beliau berjalan sana-sini, ketuk-ketuk pintu rumah orang dan minta susu untuk bayi beliau. Lepas dah dapat susu, nanti beliau tunjukkan bayinya yang rupanya batu nisan. Mwahahahaha.

Kemudian kalau rumah itu ada bayi atau budak kecil, beliau akan culik dan masukkan dalam tudung labuh dan bawa lari. Mwahahahaha. Masih belum gentar? Well, the tale is, ayat-ayat Al-Quran atau azan dan seumpamanya doesn’t work on her sebab beliau hantu beriman, remember? Kalau kita baca ayat Al-Quran untuk halau beliau, beliau akan sambung baca. Mwahahahaha. Scary seh. I used to be so scared that she’d culik my brother who was still small at the time. Nasib baik kawasan rumah saya tak dijejaki Hantu Susu.

2. Hantu Cermin

Hantu Cermin ialah hantu yang muncul di cermin ketika kita sedang gosok gigi. Nanti dia muncul tersengih sambil gosok gigi dengan pisau lalu berdarah-darah. Beliau sangat popular di tandas-tandas sekolah berasrama. Saya tak pernah jumpa, tapi sejak dengar cerita tentang beliau, memang meremang jugalah mahu gosok gigi malam-malam sambil pandang cermin.

Nyorq, masih kah kau ingat? Selepas kita dengar cerita ini dari senior mana entah, kita pergi toilet beramai-ramai dan tak pandang cermin bila gosok gigi? Kah kah. Sungguh kelakar. Tingkatan 2 lah masa itu. Masih kecil dan murni. Heh. Good old times. Oh kemudian saya tertinggal di toilet subang silver berbentuk bintang yang comel yang saya beli di Chamelon tapi tak berani mahu pergi ambil sebab semua orang sudah tidur dan esoknya ia hilang. Sedih. Gara-gara Hantu Cermin lah!

3. The Green Lady

Beliau ialah hantu yang paling popular di sekolah asrama. Tapi saya rasa ia seperti tak relevan untuk sekolah asrama lain dan paling sesuai untuk STF. Mari saya terangkan kenapa. Beliau ialah hantu yang mati dirogol. Dan baju beliau berwarna hijau. Ini sesuai dengan STF kerana baju outing kami warna hjau. Ceritanya ialah beliau keluar outing dan balik lewat malam. Lalu beliau takut nak lalu guard house dan mahu panjat pagar. Ketika itu, beliau dirogol dan dibunuh. Sejak itu beliau berkeliaran mahu cari badan budak STF untuk dimasuki supaya beliau boleh kembali belajar dan cari pembunuh beliau.

Pergh scary seh. Tapi cerita Green Lady sangat dekat di hati saya entah mengapa; mungkin sebab beliau kononnya budak STF? Yang punya masa depan yang luas tapi hidup terhenti sebab satu kesilapan kecil? Entahlah. Emosi betullah kalau fikir kasihan Green Lady. Yeah, I’m weird like that.

Kalau jumpa hantu comel macam Casper tak apa juga. Kemudian boleh bertukar jadi budak lelaki kacak seperti Devon Sawa itu;
boleh juga buat adik angkat. Kah kah kah.

Tiga cerita cukuplah. Nanti ada yang tak tidur malam terganggu dengan imej Hantu Susu bertudung labuh serba hitam atau Green Lady in our hideous outing outfit. Kah kah. Siapa tak pernah masuk sekolah asrama, just be thankful that you never had to don any sort of outing uniform yang huduh okay. Ngeh. Kesimpulan yang tiada kena-mengena dengan cerita hantu.