A Libyan Boy @ Masjid Nabawi, Madinah

Wall Street is Crumbling

And it's going to crumble and fumble further!

Bush administration is BAILING OUT their financial institutions with hundreds of billions of Dollars!

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is calling for those responsible for the crisis to be punished, especially the speculators and demand of more controlled capitalism.

I bet, Tun Mahathir is saying: Been there! Done that!

A Trip Like No Other

I have been wanting to post my Umrah experience.

I hope choratchoret frequent flyers do not feel like I am preaching.
Far from it.
Just to share my experience.

Like I always do after my previous trips.




I have to say the umrah trip was beyond comparison to other trips before. Way beyond ....

It was a personal spiritual journey - me visiting Him at his "house" - Baitullah.
And I felt it! I felt like I was welcome in His arms and it was a wonderful experience.

Why did I say He welcome me big time? And I felt it?

I am sure most of us have heard horror stories about people who had been to Makkah before. I even heard story where people just got sick and didn't even manage to perform umrah when they were there. Soome of them were stuck in their rooms, some even hospitalized.



They said God pays in cash in Tanah Haram - I supposed He does, and that scared the shit out of me. Yes me, a small being with mountains of sin accumulated for the past 40 years. Based on the thing I have done (trust me, it's A LOT!) I deserve to be struck by lightning as soon as I cross into Makkah city limit.

He is the most gracious and the most merciful - My umrah was smooth sailing and it was a wonderful spiritual journey. MOMO would say - HAMDILLAH!

OK, I admit. Only one glitch: I lost my favorite pair of Birkenstock sandles on the last day. But that's totally OK. An excuse for me to get a new pair - and I already did!



So focused that the only things I did during my 9 days in Makkah and Madinah was just pray, sleep, eat, read the quran, tawaf. Only towards the end of the trip I followed my bro and sis to shop, and I shopped big time. Load of books and jubahs for family and friends.




I will try to post some snippets of interesting stories during my umrah, soon.

Do stay tune!

**These pics were taken secretly using my handphone. I was not supposed to do this, but I braved myself with the intention to share them with you. More to come!

AUSSIE BEEF

FRESH HALAL

BERAT BERSIH (NETT WIEGHT): 0.228KG

DIBUNGKUS OLEH (PACKED BY): CITI SUPER (MARKET)

TARIKH BUNGKUSAN (PACKING DATE): 23.06.2006

A vintage!


It was in my freezer just now, while I was looking for something - to be defrosted - to be microwaved - to fulfill my snacking lust.



Now, its in the bin.

About time!

Phnom Penh Quickies!

I hired a boat while the boys were sleeping just to shoot these images around the city and its great river. For I USD12, I can get the whole boat for myself for about 1 hour.

I was warned by my host, a UN personnel, that the UN has some color specification on boat rides which are not quite safe.

I didn't care. I want to walk and sail and shoot.

We skirted this venue everyday, everyday. On the way to the Central Market, Russian Market, Hearts of Darkness and back.

By the way, there was nothing Russian about Russian Market. How?

Seriously, this boy is trying to "open" a coconut with his fingers and teeth.

On the deck, under the hot sun. I felt like a photographer from NatGeo.

The street of Phnom Penh

The River Bassac (a spur out of the Great Mekong)


A fisherman, waiting for his daily catch.

Pnohm Penh gave me the opportunity for me to rejuvenate my friendship with a great friend SK who now has a wonderful husband and 2 adorable children.

I have been away and SLACKING in updating my blog.

I hope to get back into my regular swing, whenever I can spare some times - not only for choratchoret frequent flyer, but also for myself as this is also an avenue for me to digitally pour and records my digital personal snippets.

I don't want to talk about Malaysian politics anymore as I have lost hope. I think the country is totally screwed now. I shall not elaborate more as this police state might just give me a free holiday to Kemunting - not inmy wish list of places to see and things to do before I die.

Having said that, I did pray for the well being of Malaysia and ALL Malaysians during my spiritual journey recently. I hope God will answer my prayer.

Amin

I have got to add the story behind the picture of this boy. His mom, in black veil - I can only see her pair of sharp eyes. She had a request but I unfortunately do not speak Arabic. Finally a guy came and traslated.

She'd been wanting me to take the picture of his boy and email to her. It ways so funny, she actually asked her son to strike a doa' pose with palms facing the sky seeking the blessing from the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.

They are from Libya.

EMPAT SEKAWAN



Watching the sunrise over the horizon of Bassac river, a spur of the great Mekong.

There are only 3 people on the pic, another one JD is behind his phone camera.

I still think about this moment.

Not quite sure what's on each others mind but - definitely one of the high points of a beautiful friendship that will never easily fade away.

One of the most memorable parts of the visit.




pix by JDeBlonde