Out of nowhere

I still remember when I wasn Form 5, there was a girl in my class and she was just come to our school and transferred. She was our Principle daughter at the school but she was different from us. During our class, there was a teacher who asked if anyone got question or got anything that we don't understand but usually, our response is nothing, All of us will kept quiet and just looking at book or anything, because everyone don't know what to ask or do. It is just that maybe the subject of the history did not fascinated us by that much but just out of nowhere, there she was - the new girl raised her hand and asking the questions to the teacher. At that moment, all of us just looked at each other and feel the awkwardness because we never asked the question when teacher asked. It is just a rhetorical questions and you are not even to answered it. That is what our impression on what we have been told to do so. It is just out of nowhere, the girl started to ask questions.

Have you ever the one who raised the hand and asked teacher question? If not, you should start doing it and ask question. Asked anything because the more you asked, the more you will understand. Another impression that come upon me, the dumb question. Never let people to judge you, let them. Believe me, there is no stupid questions and you can asked anything. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinions and stand by it. People were afraid if they were labelled as stupid when asked questions in the class. It is not just the way, and honestly - it is the normal way of learning process. Even in the real life, we keep asking and asking. For what? It is for our better understandings of process. So, never feel stupid but proud, because not everyone has the gut to asked questions. One more thing, everybody has different pace of studying or different style. Maybe you are gifted, the way you learnt are through asking questions. Then, ignore everybody and raise your hand and ask question before it is too late.

Green

I was using polystyrene cup last time to drink plain water in the pantry because I forgot to bring my cup. The polystyrene cup was supply by my workplace for the customer to use in case they wanted to drink hot beverages. Then, after I used it, I am supposedly to throw the polystyrene cup but instead, I keep it so that I can use it again in the future. The woman saw me, I am good for saving the company budget but honestly, I am doing it because I love for going green. Even if it is small, but it is the least I can do to save the environment.

missing my call

I guess I miss my calling. I don't know why only now I realized about things that I do enjoy the most. I don't know if I am supposedly to be an engineer. I don't know.

1) I love books. I love to give my opinions and summary of books that I have wrote. I love spent my leisure times with reading books. I would rather people paying for me to read their books and give review. Maybe I should try looking for a part time job, maybe to ask if they have a column, maybe for public to voice out their opinion about the books that they have read. I am open to everything. It was not such a bad idea.

2) Photographer. This is rather another hobby of mine and I started it last year and I pretty satisfied because I have taken thousands of beautiful pictures, of course up to my opinion. I love to travel anywhere in this world and taking pictures. With the Fujifilm XT10 - I have learnt everything about how to take a better pictures - just to satisfy my needs. Maybe someday, I can ask the National Geographic if I can be on their team. It would be awesome and this is just what I imagine for being the National Geographic photographer - chasing the aurora borealis or northern light as to experience one of the amazing phenomenon, to be able to photographed the people around the world and share their story, to bring photography to another level with the visiting interesting place in the world such as savannah, antartica, mexico, japan and etc etc.

3) Lecturer - I love studying new things. Just tell me anything and if it is in the circle of my interest, I will study and teach if I can. I want to be a lecturer, maybe math or science subjects - because I am in love with the subjects that can brings benefit for us in the future. I am not saying that subjects as language or history were not good enough but believe me, I found people who can speak many languages are fascinating me and history can be intimidated at the same time. Just of course, people love certain subjects and for me, it is science and math.

4) The last one, the impossible one due to commitment to the family and logical thinking, How awesome it would be if I can achieve the last one. Imagine to keep on working as much as you can, as harder you can for 10 years and after that, you sold everything that you have and save the money that you have with you and travelling all over the places in the world. Let's see what I have in mind, first I want to go to Russia to see the places where the author Leo Tolstoy come from, for when he wrote about Anna Karenina, the majestic work from him. Then, I would like to visit all beaches in Sabah, my hometown and also in Thailand. Then, lets travel to the most remote places in the world - New Zealand to chase after the northern lights and to visit the cave with glitter plankton. Then, how about visit the place which is the center of Islam, Makkah and Madinah. Maybe one day, we will visit Spain for the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba for its piece of history and Brazil, the place which famous for its sambe - the most exotic places in the world to experience the culture and visit Italy, Istanbul and Iceland. Then, Europe is a must - I will go to London first, to visit the St Paul  the place where Princess Diana get married, then we went to Paris to visit Eiffel Tower and next, how about the Amsterdam - to visit Anne Frank house and I will not leave Connecticut, United States and have a warner bro field trip to Stars Hollow. So, basically - it is just roughly for what I am thinking to do if I am able to do the number four.

However, here I am - stuck with my job and honestly, I am grateful for my job and lucky to have job as engineer and for whatever reason, He plans better than me. So, appreciates whatever you have in front of you and have faith for this one, everything will come handy in the future. That is just the way of life, you will expect the unexpected in the future because as always, His plan is the best.

The story that was left behind

Recently, these two - PTPTN and CCRIS, it is discussed in the social media how more than one millions still haven't paid yet their loan and resulted in blacklisted by the CCRIS and this might be a problem later when you are applying for loan.

Believe or not, I am among the people who applied for the PTPTN to support my financing in UTP Perak. During the first year, I still remember the hardships of applying and filled in the forms page by page and understanding the terms for the PTPTPN loan. I told myself that this loan is just temporary, maybe later I can try to apply for MARA, JPA or any scholarships that are available to fund and support my study here in UTP. Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to score me even one scholarship. I also still remember during the my second semester and I try my best to score for JPA scholarship so I don't have to depend on PTPTN and my parents' money. The day for the results for shortlisted were come out and unfortunately, I failed. It was Ramadhan month, I remember called my mom during the Sahur because my mom is the only person who always be there for me and listen to me. I even cried when telling her that I don't landed the JPA scholarship and I guess it is one of the saddest moment in my life because I keep my hope high for this one because as myself, I don't want to depend to my parents' money because I know my family and I know how hard they saved money just for me to pursuit my study in UTP. What break me the most is knowing that even I still have the money from the PTPTN, it will not be enough for me since I was in private University and knowing that the fees and everything were expensive and at the end of the semester, I will have to ask money from them. I feel embarrassed asking them for money because I know they need it more than me but still, my mom - she will give me money instead even I haven't asked. Then, another opportunities come - as PTPTN implemented for those who graduated first class honour will be exempted of paying back the loan. It give me a big and new hope for me because rather of paying back the PTPTN loan, I can give it to my mom. Starting from that moment, I promise myself that I will try my best to score and even better, to get the dean's list every semester. I try my best to keep my performance and keep a standard for me to achieve and every semester, the standard for me is getting higher and higher because I know I can go really far if I want to pursuit it and Alhamdulillah, on October 2014 - I know I made my parents and family proud with me, for keep pursuit whatever I want in my life and graduated from the University Teknologi Petronas with the first class honours. So, the dream is achieved and here I am, standing tall proudly with my scroll and I know from that moment, I can achieved anything I want.  I can go higher as mountains if I have the right motivation and I can go deeper to the sea as long as I have the determination. The barriers will be always in front of you, but take it as challenges because that is just the way, us as human to learn from the past mistakes and experiences.

A little vacation

How often you spent a little time for you, just out of any occasion? or any celebration? I am so in the mood for a little vacation, just for me. I am not talking spending the weekend just staying at home and read books and watch some movies. I am talking about a short vacation, maybe to a little place just to steer out the boredom and wipe out the stressing thing that I am experienced sometimes. Why in need for vacation? Because it is a dream of me, just to be away from everything and spent a precious little time and alone. It would be nice just to come out and reach the nature, spent some time with the river and sea, with the elements out of there because it is fascinating where you do realizes what you are missing all of these times. It is a given gift from us, to be appreciated and to be enjoyed. With the climate which is not getting better and the temperature keep on rising, plus with the El-Nino phenomenon made everyone of thinking to stay indoors rather than take a little vacation to the jungle or sea. Take it as a little treatment and time to our self, thinking how well you spend the time with everything. It is well managed? Between your family? Work? Friends? Life partner? How it is going? Did I spent the time wisely? This is the time where you will create a little incarnation for you. Create a new one for yourself, for a better one. When you come out from the little vacation, you will come out a better person. You will more appreciate people. respect nature and life. It is a new brand of you, I will called it as a re-branding for the better purpose. So, take a little time and start planning for a little adventure and vacation, just for yourself.

No title

Again, I am wide awake and not able to sleep. It is 1.24 AM already and I really don't mind since on Sunday, I can sleep as much as I went. I noticed that I love book story with background of old classic. Take example of Princess Diana which one of the books that I have enjoyed the most because of the background which lined in 1980 until 1998. There is something about the old year, which amused me and I feel closer when I read any book with that kind background. Anne Frank is not an exception, even his diary brought us a long way to the holocaust era during the conflict between Nazi and German war and as usual, amused me and one of the memorable excitement and enjoyment for finished it. She did a great job because she played with your emotion, tell you what does she saw from her point of view as the girl who were 12 or 13 years old and have trapped inside the building and missing everything of what a free girl supposedly to do in her age. Currently, I am reading The Savage Detectives which took me back to the era of poetess as earlier 1983 in mexico city when literature is a big thing during that era and it was one of the most random book and I am struggle to finish it because of the thickness but I will finished it by or before the end of the April.

Inspirational Quotes #3 for you to read books

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. Francis Bacon

 So, for the last one for today - what make a great book? It is a book that can give people to think afterwards about the story, action and character. A great book also can make people to discuss every point in the book. Let's take for example, Robinson Crusoe is one of the classic story and I am glad for I have read it when I was Form 1 even my English was not very good during that time but it is a great book, about the adventure of a man who experienced shipwrecked and stranded alone in an island. How terrifying it would be if it is happen in real life because how well you can adapt to the environment and take a long journey with you just being alone in the island. So, for this quote - I would like to suggest you to read Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. For those who have read it during their secondary school, try to read it again because I have re-read it again and it was totally different from what I have remembered. Because I used to struggle to understand this book but now, it is really give me new insights and it is never too late to re-read it again.

Inspirational Quotes #2 for you to read books

Do not stick to one genre of collections. Try to expand yourself to a different genre, maybe try looking for a book like serious books. Besides, books with love story themed are very popular nowadays and I used to read this kind of books. For example, I am a big fan of Nicholas Sparks. His books are amazing, with narrated and carefully layered of love story and very promising. I have also read any love story books, like The Fault in Our Stars and etc etc etc but until one point, I believe that suddenly I got bored with the love story books. I need or want looking something which is refreshing and bearable for me to read. So, this recently I have tried read the indie books, crime scene books, holocaust related event books and event, the latest one is biography of Princess Diana. I can see that my books collections have variety because I have read every genre I have known or even existed and it is good to switch between these genres because out there, there are many books just for you to explore and read.

For this quotation, I would like to suggest you to read Anne Frank the Diary of Young Girl - by Anne Frank and trust me, this one is awesome as when you read about the experience of a young girl named Anne Frank who was trapped and hide in a house during the holocaust era and she was telling about her experience on day to day basis. Such a brilliant girl, trust me - you will shed a tear at the end of this book.

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. Haruki Murakami

Inspirational Quotes #1 for you to read books

I don't know what kind of inspirational quotes that I have when I read books but honestly, last night - I have to tidy up my room and put the books into the boxes since I am going to move. So, when I take a look at my books and see the collections I have, I am surely spent a lot for books. Then, I decided - after finished tidying up, I will read before I went to sleep. The reason is, I am really struggling to find some time to finish this 600 pages novel, a classic from the writer in Mexico city, Roberto and the novel is started from 1975 and 1996. Such a long time for him to write the book and remembered everything in the between.

I am come across from the bright side website today, it is a very nice reading if you are looking for something light to read between doing your job or have lunch or dinner, and I want to share you one by one the inspirational quotes for us to read books.

Learn and read serious books. Life will do the rest. Fyodor Dostoevsky

 Fyodor is one of the russian novelist and I have heard about him, just I still don't have time to find or read his book yet and actually, I have some opinion about how the russian writer always wrote an excellent story. Take the anna karenina for example, and it is such a classic.

As advised, we do not only have to read but also, to learn about the serious books and life will do the rest. What he wanted to highlight here is how the book can help you to go through this life and give you new perception. So, what are you waiting for? Go grab a book and learn and read it.

For the first one, I would like to suggest you try Tuesday with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and it will give you need perception about life and trust me, Albom never failed to surprise me with his books because everything about him, he is able to touch your heart and soul with his books.

What is your team?

As you know, recently - there are many books that are being filmed. Named it, everything is come with movie. I guess it is one of the way, they want to increase the sales and publicity of the books. Jack kerouac, JK Rowling and Mitch Albom, you named it and their books have been filmed and receive good feedback from the sales and publicity itself. Just my question is, which team you are?

1) Book Before Movie
So, do you prefer to read the book first before the movie? Sometimes, when you read the book first, you are allowed yourself to imagine things that happened in the book in your own book. You don't have to rely on the film itself but you can choose what kind of imagination that you want. You can choose who is the actor, actress or any setting and everything up to you, what your brain decide.

2) Movie Before Book
So, you preferred movie first then book? Sometimes, people prefer to watch the movie first because it will take only about an hour and half or more, just to make sure the story line is not suck. Because you will save your hour by watching the movie first, check if it is worth to read the book yet or not. But, sometimes - you know the movie is totally different with what they write in the book.

3) Book only
This one is depend to your taste, even after you read the book and you feel like you wanted to watch the movie and see how they narrated it. It is good or bad, everything is depend to the producer on how they produced it. But, for me - if there is a book that is really good enough, sometimes I am trying not to watch the movie if it is released because I don't want them to destroy whatever perception I have after read the book because they turned out to be suck, as always.

4) Movie only
This one, you don't want to spend time or have not enough time to read books and decided to just watch the movie to spare you some time from reading it which will consumed hours.

how much do you spent for books?

Today, I was wondering - How much normally people spent for books? For a year. For me, I have spent about RM750++ last year (2015). What a big figure. I did kept all the receipts that I have spent for books. I just want to check how much I have spent for a year and it is an addiction. I don't know what I kept on spending my money on books even I still have many books that I don't finished yet. Yet, there were carnival and usually, when they have this kind of events - the price is super duper cheap. For example, last month - I went to Putrajaya International Book fair and I spent about RM99 for eight books and save about Rm100 with the discounted books. It was almost 50% off for all books and they even have 70% off discounts. It is so hard for me to resist this temptation and I spent about two hours looking for books. Then, of course there is one book fair that I am waiting for - Big Bad Wolf and usually it will be held at the end of they year and I always spent RM200-300 and got 25 books or more. So, how much do you spent for books for a year?

Good Books..

What make a good books? Great cover? Synopsis? Movie adaption? Interesting characters?

This is according to my opinion and every one is entitled to their own opinion because this is subjective and might be different for everyone.

The first one is for me is the anticipation. Is there any book that make you anticipate on what happen next? That one book that keep you on reading non stop until you finish the book? Or even make you sit still for the whole days and finished it in one sitting? That one is amazing book because it is very hard for me to finish the whole book in just one sitting. This is because of the distractions, for example like social media such as facebook, twotter and instagram.

Then, a great story line obviously. The story itself should be good enough, not that one with the ridiculous story line until people can't imagine what has happened. The story line must be slow enough for the readers to follow and gasp the story but not slow enough or the readers will become so bored and throw the book and start a new reading. But not very fast or people will not be able to follow the story and skip the book and start a new one.

Plus, a great character with interesting personality also will attracted me the most. Most of the book will have few character that will be the main focus and it is good, it can help us the reader to grasp the characters' personality and playing along. But, I have read few books that the writers seem to used many character in his or her books. Although it is not a major one, but a lot characters can caused confusion to the readers.

So, that is just my few opinions. This weekend, I plan to list all books I have with me at the moment.

100 books by 2016 (list) up to March 2016

So, basically I have read exactly 33 books by March 2016. I guess I can do better than this but if I maintained this, I can finish 100 books by the end of 2016. Just 67 books to go =)

JANUARI 2016 (9 books)
1. Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck by Hamka**
2. The Night Rainbow by Claire King
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4. 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window by Jonas Jonasson
5. Ajaib by Syafiq Izat
6. Merantau Ke Deli by Hamka
7. The Death Cure (The Maze Runner trilogy) by James Dashner
8. Kumpulan Cerpen : Kopi by Fixi
9. Harry Potter and Half-Blood-Prince by J.K. Rowling

FEBRUARI 2016 (12 books)
10. Lelaki Sesuatu Itu / Cikgu Asyraf by Shaz Johar / Dayang Noor
11. Voice in My Head - A Mind Reader by Lilian Chan
12. Mereka by Ariff Adly
13. The Other Side of Coin - Aiman Azlan & Ameen Misran**
14. Looking for Alaska - John Green
15. Paranoia - Hani Suraya
16. Kampung - Irvan Affan**
17. Winterwood - Patrick McCabe
18. Nota - Shaz Johar
19. Babies in Waiting - Rosie Flore**
20. Aksara - Syafiq Aizat
21. Anne Frank : The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank**

MARCH 2016 (12 books)
22. Dosa - Nuril Basri
23. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
24. Mental - Shaz Johar
25. Ten Things I've Learnt about Love - Sarah Butler
26. Love in Penang - FIXI
27. The Gift of Maybe - Allison Carmen
28. Santet - Saat Omar
29. The Paper Boy - Pete Dexter
30. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho**
31. Kasarnova - Izwan Hafifi**
32. Diary of A Wimpy Kid (Rodrick Rules) - Jeff Kinney
33. Diana Story of a Prince - Tim Clayton & Phil Craig**

** Recommended book monthly

The Royal Wedding Pt.3

This is the last part. We were shocked with the saddening news of accident that involved Princess Diana in 31st August 1997. She was a international star, was known for her royalty and kindness to the people. She was involved in accident which involved her boyfriend and the driver as well. Both of her boyfriend and the driver dead right after the accident but somehow, Princess Diana was sent to the nearby hospital but unfortunately, she has not made it. Such a loss to the world. Millions of people were watching her funeral and it was one of the most watch live show in the world. The funeral which done with the grace and beautifully, people come from every place in the world and there are carpet of roses were given by her fans. The only thing people wondered, was she happy? She did not even achieved her dream, to live a normal life with family - sometimes, the simplest dream is the wisest and people did not ask much for it.

Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

Many of us who are not very familiar with Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls series. I was 13 or 14 years old if I am not mistaken when I have watched this series for the very first time. I don't know if I have mention this in my previous post, just the main reason why I feel like to write and share about is the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. She was one of the person that influenced me that reading can be informative yet fun to do. All of seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, there are total 339 books that was referenced in the series and obviously Rory has very good taste in books. Hence, I want to challenge myself to read all these 339 books but with no interval times because I think it is impossible for me if I want to finish all these in one or two years. Because only just this year, I have made a new year resolution which is to read 100 books by the end of year 2016 and as for today 4th April 2016, I have read exactly 33 books and the current book that I read right now is Diana : Story of a Princess by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig hence explained my obsession and my entries about the royal wedding. Back to the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, out of 339 books that were referenced in the series, I only have read 11 books only and I have a long long long way to go but it is still never too late for me. I will try my best to traced all the books and have finished read it. What have I done with my life and I feel that I am so behind with my reading. Shame on me. If you want to see the list of the books that were referenced in the series, just click here http://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/all-339-books-referenced-in-gilmore-girls#.guaR8llBlA and there you go, the magic will happen and trust me, it is not a propaganda but it is a real magic.

The Royal Wedding pt.2

The Queen of Heart or Princess Diana, she was known for her heart to the public on how she was really concerned with the people around her. It was not an acting at all but she was honest and drew an attraction mostly to the children. There was once time when AIDS is not a very well known disease since it was new to them. They don't know about the protocol or how to handle with the case. They even wondered whether they had to wear gloves or not or any kind of protection but Princess Diana is such a different. She was famous with her kindness and friendly gestures, whomever she met during her charity visit, it is not just a formal visit. It was quite different with the Princess Diana. She touched people, listened to them and have talked with them. Not just a regular one discussion but it was Princess Diana who shown her concern and have chit-chat with the strangers. Although it was their first time met, Princess Diana never let people felt awkward but rather, felt acceptable for his concern and kindness.

With the trouble marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, she was in the quest looking for her true love. The man that willing to spent his entire life with her, the man who willing to spent the normal life and live at the countryside. It was very hard for her to established all of these, all of her wants. How you are going to act when you are an international star? Everywhere you went, people is taking for your picture. People were asking and waving at you. How hard it was for Diana to kept on smile like nothing is ever happened, like she wanted to forgot everything but at the same time, she had this responsibility, to serve her people - who looks at her more than a princess, but also a role model. How hard it was for her? 

The Royal Wedding Pt.1

The royal’s wedding or wedding of the century, called it whatever you want – you will never forget the beautiful Princess Diana and charming Prince Charles wedding on 29 July 1981. It was remembered as the fairytale’s wedding and who thought that it was blown everybody in the world. The wedding took place at St. Paul Cathedral, London witnessed by millions of people over the world which is bizarre and happening. Every teenage girl were dreamt of Prince of Wale, Charles included Diana herself. The first time the met, she was 19 years old and watched Prince Charles was playing Polo. But, after the proposal was made by Prince Charles – it was sudden and he was forced to make it because everybody included The Queen Elizabeth asked about it. Diana, was known as the Queen of Hearts – did know that between the marriage and engagement, Prince Charles was pretty close with Carmilla. At that moment, Diana thought of cancelling the wedding because of the affair but it was too late. Only if she knew what will happen in the future after Prince Charles became her husband, she will drop everything and called the wedding off. As for now, I am trying to finish the book, Diana Story of A Princess by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig and I can’t continue with the reading because the turmoil of emotions that accompanied me when I was reading her story. Honestly, I was not born yet or old enough to know the story of Princess Diana or the royal wedding itself, but believe me – all I know it was a fairytale wedding story like a Cinderella one. But, the further I went with my reading, I can’t imagine how someone likes her who was affectionate and eager during her teen, volunteered when she has chance and show interest with people around her can be unhappy with the wedding. She is a fashion icon and role model to everyone. Anywhere she went, it caused chaos and people come over around the world just to saw and visited her during her wedding. Not only that, when she went to another country for visits – people waited for her no matter how bad the weather went but she was happily to greet everyone. Even her presence overshadowed Prince Charles and people like her, she was such as goddess and she was phenomenal. There is one thing that bothered me. Why Princess Diana did insisted of staying with Prince Charles even she knew about his husband scandal with Carmilla? She is a powerful woman and she can do anything what she wanted because she is a public affection and people will support her no matter what. However, Diana and Hewitt were made of each other and Diana was even happier than she was after her marriage with Charles. How is that even possible? Hewitt is the man that brings Diana to his dream of ordinary world. She always dreamt of having a normal lifestyle in a countryside place and spent her life normally with her beloved family. All she ever wanted was a normal night dinner with the family, spent the free time with walking at pebbled beach and have chat with the sister or mother of her husband. But, she was married to a royal family and all of that were impossible and made her even sadder. (To be continued in part 2) 

** Just paying to a little tribute to Princess Diana. Well you know, sometime when I read her biography or the story, it felt like you almost know her. Currently, I am reading Diana, Story of the Princess by Tim Clayton & Phil Craig.