Friday, July 27, 2007

Of influencing and creating impacts

I would want to post some pictures, but then mr blogspot here won't allow me to do so. (Technical problem maybe?Or is it my computer?)

OK then, nevermind.It doesn't matter anyway.

But personally, it does. I love browsing through websites or blogs which have beautiful and colourful designs with plenty of pictures in it. I mean, who doesn't?

That rings a bell in my head. The same concept should be applied in various other situations, e.g during presentation, verbal communication or even writing as a matter of fact. This is all about influencing, convincing and attracting others to listen or read your thoughts. To convey your messages by any means, verbally or literally, you must have various methods and attractive ones too. This includes visual aids, body language, gestures, voice intonations, different ways of writing.. (okay, now I sounds like a PCS or Technical Writing lecturer pulak..)

To make things simple, I just want to say :

If you write a blog, make it simple, interesting and understandable. Convey your message clearly and add some personal touch in it. Most readers love personal touch. Copy paste thingy seldom give remarkable impacts, seriously.

If you make presentation or public speaking, include appropriate emphasization in important keypoints, continuous eye contacts with your audience and good body language as well.

If you communicate with others, say it from the heart, because it would receive by another heart too. Be sincere, regardless your method of approaching. Sincerity always works.

I'm not really sure why I'm writing this, but most probably due to my observations to the other new bloggers or my juniors who are still in early stage, to learn to convey their thoughts and messages to other people. Nonetheless, I'm not that good, and I'm still learning too although I can be considered as `warga tua' in the campus. Hehe. Just want to give a few humble opinions and suggestions, that won't harm anyway.

Learn from cradle to the grave, right?

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Dresscode

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera.

Baru-baru ini saya ada terbaca tentang ulasan mengenai kod pakaian (dresscode) yang semakin diabaikan oleh generasi masa kini. Tak silap, ulasan itu datang dari Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang yang memang sering menjuarai isu-isu kemasyarakatan seperti ini.

Teringat tentang `portfolio' atau tugasan saya seminggu lalu apabila menjadi fasilitator pelajar baru. Perkara yang saya sering utarakan adalah dresscode atau pun `attire' setiap pelajar, baik pelajar baru ataupun fasilitator sendiri. Satu garis panduan disediakan untuk pelajar ikuti sepanjang minggu orientasi yang bertujuan untuk mendisiplinkan mereka dan membiasakan mereka dengan pemakaian sopan, kemas dan cantik. Salah ke berpakaian sopan, kemas dan cantik?? Perkara yang sama digariskan dalam peraturan universiti, yang saya yakin ada juga di dalam buku peraturan universiti lain. Tapi hakikatnya ramai yang tak tahu, atau lebih tepat tak nak ambil tahu, ataupun degil jugak nak pakai baju selekeh, seksi atau tak sopan di sekitar kampus, dan juga di luar umumnya.

Berbalik kepada ulasan akhbar yang saya baca tu, kod pakaian yang dihuraikan oleh penulis adalah tentang masyarakat sekarang umumnya generasi muda. Zaman sekarang ini seperti telah kembali semula seperti sebelum zaman peradaban atau civilization yang melanda dunia. Tak kira agama atau bangsa, trendnya tetap sama. Contoh pemakaian sekarang yang semakin menular adalah fesyen tak cukup kain, ketat, mendedah tubuh dan sebagainya. Fesyen sebegini memang terjadi masa zaman jahiliyah di mana-mana sahaja, baik orang Arab ke, orang asli ke, orang Eropah ke(sekadar beberapa contoh). Kemudian selepas itu apabila zaman peradaban muncul, kemajuan sosial juga turut berlaku seiring. Bukan hanya sekadar tamadun Islam sahaja. Tengok saja cerita-cerita Inggeris zaman dahulu, pakaian mereka sangat sopan, kemas dan elegan, baik lelaki mahupun wanita. Mana ada fesyen singkat, jarang, berlubang, koyak semua macam sekarang. Hal ini kerana selaras dengan kemajuan peradaban, mereka juga yakin pemakaian yang sopan dan kemas ini akan menyebabkan mereka dihormati dan dipandang tinggi oleh masyarakat.

Sebenarnya dalam Al-Quran sendiri telah meletakkan garis panduan pemakaian yang cukup jelas. Tidak menyusahkan dan tidak pula keterlaluan, memang just nice. Jadi untuk yang masih tercari-cari imej diri dan garis panduan pemakaian, jawapannya memang dah lama ada.Tapi sayangnya sekarang ramai yang taknak ikut, terus buat fesyen sendiri. Itu yang jadinya bertudung tapi tak ikut syariat, menutup aurat tapi ketat (alamak bunyi macam pantun pulak).

Jadinya minggu lalu selepas saya emphasized beberapa kali tentang attire yang betul kepada pelajar baru, saya sangat gembira dan terharu sebab ramai kemudiannya tanya saya macam mana attire yang betul, siap ada yang minta maaf lagi sebab tak ikut guideline attire. Tak tahulah mereka memang ada kesedaran, ataupun takut kena tegur lagi (sebab saya kakak fasi yang garang?? Hehe mana ada). Saya ni bersangka baik sajalah kan.

Saya pun cakap pada adik-adik ni, pakai tudung biar kemas, jangan selempang, pakai brooch. Baju tu pakai la saiz baju sendiri, jangan pakai yang adik punya saiz. Pakai stokin, long sleeves, bla bla bla. Lengan baju tu jangan tarik-tarik, elok-elok lengan panjang dah baju tu. Buruk sangat tengok org pakai tudung selempang (tudung roti canai?? First time dengar term ni), tarik-tarik sleeves semua. Ingat lawa ke pakai macam tu? Haha sorry, ni bukan personal opinion je sebab saya ni perempuan. Saya yakin ramai lelaki pun berpandangan sama juga.

Yang paling saya nak tekankan sebenarnya guideline attire ni bukannya saya saja-saja suruh, ataupun sebab peraturan universiti macam tu. Tapi ni peraturan Allah, Dia yang suruh. Takkan kita nak degil pulak. Kalau Dia nak, dan-dan sekarang je Dia boleh cabut nyawa kita, jadi tak sempat nak bertaubat. Jadi pengalaman jadi `dresscode faci' (alamak, buat term sendiri)minggu lepas tu sebenarnya saya ambil iktibar untuk mengajar diri sendiri dan adik-adik tentang perkara yang sangat asas dalam kehidupan harian kita, iaitu pakaian dan pemakaian.

Semoga usaha yang sedikit ni bermanfaat dan diberkati, Insya Allah.

Monday, July 23, 2007

OREO ??


(Tapi..sejak bila pula biskut Oreo pernah ada logo halal??)
Ish..ish.. ish..
Tambah satu lagi barang dalam checklist barang diboikot.

Ya Allah, semoga Engkau mengampuni dosa hamba-Mu ini yang telah memakan biskut Oreo secara tak sengaja sebelum ni..Amin.
JOM BOIKOT!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

San Pietro di Vaticano

Salaam and good day.


A friend of mine requested for me to write something about my experience especially the Vatican City.

Well, I would say not many of people, especially Muslims, whom visited Rome had the chance to visit this Christian's holy country or to be exact, to enter the Basilica de San Pietro (St Peter's Cathedral) in the Vatican City.

Why not many people had visit this country?

Well, there are a few possible resons regarding this. Obviously this place will be very crowded especially when the Christians are having their ritual or religious ceremony like the Christmas, Good Friday or the Easter. If then, the tourists or the non-Christians certainly did not have the opportunity to visit this gigantic church. Besides, when there are special occasions for the Pope, e.g important presidents or diplomats are around town to visit him, yup, there are a mass policemen and securities all over the place, and they restrict the amount of people entering and exiting the country. But the most rigid reason that I've ever encountered so far is the perception and attitude of some of the Muslims about churches, let alone the biggest and holiest place for the Christians.

There is no doubt a Muslim CAN enter a church. In some opinion from the scholars, they even permit a Muslim to perform solah inside, but of course provided with concrete reasons. One thing for sure (correct me if I'm wrong), Muslims are not allowed to attend special rituals and religious ceremony of the non-Muslims cause those may affect our aqidah. You can click here to read the `hukum' of Muslims to enter churches. That's why, when I got this opportunity, I'd immediately told myself - GO FOR IT. This is a chance of a lifetime, and I really believe we can learn a lot from our observation, regardless our race, religion and other differences.

Inside the basilica

The famous sculpture by Michelangelo

I don't know what is this..

Gate of Heaven (??..their beliefs..)

St Peter's Piazza (Square)

I had to admit I felt quite uneasy the first time I step my foot in a church. That was in Salzburg, Austria, few days before I reach Vatican City. Also I must admit we need a strong will and courage and faith so you will learn and get useful information about other religion, without changing the slightest confidence and beliefs of your own. Nonetheless, it doesn't worth to feel too frightened or too pessimist about the whole situation. Always be in control and feel at ease.
One personal opinion that I share between me and my family, is that the basilica (big church, in Italian) obviously has a very beautiful design, both interior and exterior. From the tiles, the colours, the glass, the chandeliers and everything, there are really a state of art. But fortunately we'd went to the two holiest mosques for the Muslims, the Nabawi Mosque in Madinah and Masjidilharam in Makkah, we'd made our personal comparison. These two mosques perhaps are much more beautiful!! This is just a small personal note, and I know I'd learn a lot more than that.
The tiang-tiang yang banyak

The model..(sorry, bro=P)

The fountain

I am always proud to be a Muslim. I know all of you are, too.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Impian Palestin-Impian Kita Semua

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera.


Sesekali tak rugi kiranya kita menyorot dan menghayati kisah-kisah tragis, suka duka sahabat, saudara seIslam kita yang beribu batu jauhnya. Negara yang tidak pernah aman semenjak kali terakhir bumi ini diperintah sepenuhnya oleh kerajaan Islam, dan sentiasa akan menjadi rebutan antara dua pihak kerana kesucian dan sejarahnya yang sangat unik.

Novel Impian Palestin ini sangat mengujakan, sarat dengan informasi dan perincian pergolakan tentang apa yang benar-benar sedang dihadapi oleh saudara-saudara kita di bumi suci Palestin. Walaupun sebetulkan novel ini adalah campuran fiksyen dan fakta, saya yakin apa yang digambarkan tidak banyak lari daripada realiti sebenar yang berlaku di sana. Kisah yang digambarkan sungguh menginsafkan dan penuh dengan campuran emosi- ngeri, sedih, marah, kecewa danpenuh suka duka kerana mengambil latar hidup survival warga Palestin sehari-hari.

Antara babak yang ingin saya kongsikan di sini adalah apabila seorang pemuda Islam tiba-tiba berlari ke arah sekumpulan tentera Israel yang menceroboh kawasan rakyat Islam Palestin dengan tujuan untuk membaling batu dari jarak dekat. Namun baru beberapa langkah, pemuda itu tersungkur dan menyembah bumi kerana ditembak berkali-kali oleh pengganas Israel (ya, golongan Israel ini yang patut dan sebetulnya dicop pengganas!!). Setelah semua orang berkerumun melihat kejadian mengerikan ini, datanglah si ibu yang berlari mendapatkan sekujur tubuh kaku anaknya sambil meratap. Apa yang berlaku seterusnya sangatlah mengerikan. Sekumpulan tentera itu terus menembak si ibu pula bertubi-tubi sehingga syahid kedua beranak tersebut! Perasaan saya ketika membaca plot ini sukar digambarkan. Ngeri.Sedih.Marah.Kecewa.

Satu lagi soalan stereotaip, yang pernah juga terlintas dalam hati saya suatu masa dahulu, dan sering tertanya tanya oleh sesiapa yang kurang mengetahui tentang survival Palestin ini iaitu, kenapa orang Palestin berjuang dengan membaling batu ke arah tentera Israel, sedangkan Israel mempunyai kelengkapan perang yang cukup canggih dan hebat? Bukankah sudah semestinya orang Islam akan kalah?Kenapa tak dicuba strategi lain?

Kita perlu sedar bahawa umat Islam Palestin secara umum tidak dapat menerima sebarang senjata dari negara luar. Sedang bahan makanan pun terhad, apatah lagi alatan perang. Namun mereka berjiwa pejuang, mereka tidak pernah takut mati. Mereka terus gunakan apa yang ada pada mereka, malah suicide bombing juga dihalalkan bagi mereka kerana situasi yang sungguh getir. Mereka diperlakukan seburuk ini hanya kerana agama yang mereka anuti. Sedarlah kita, rejaman batu yang bertubi-tubi pun mampu membunuh tentera Israel yang memang sedia penakut itu. Kalau tak bunuh jasad, bunuh keberanian dalam jiwa mereka. Mereka terus berusaha dan berikhtiar dengan apa saja yang ada pada mereka. Lihat, betapa sanggup mereka berjuang kerana Islam. Sedangkan kita? Apa sangat yang kita hadapi sehari-hari? Jangan sampai kita kufur nikmat, makin banyak kemudahan yang Allah berikan makin jauh kita dari-Nya. Nauzubillah minzalik.

Cuma berkongsi sedikit sebanyak, selebihnya anda boleh baca sendiri dari novel yang diadaptasi dari bahasa Itali ini. Harganya pun sangat murah, sekadar RM14.90. Semoga kita mendapat manfaat daripadanya, Insya - Allah.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Dari Wien ke Roma

Salam,

(This entry was made based on requests which I could not resist. However it will be a very brief one, besides it would be my own personal note for the future)

In the beginning of the semester break, I was having a family vacation to a place fully arranged by Abah. I went there 2 days after my last paper for the final exam, so just imagine I was quite rushed to settle things on time. But then, takde ape2 nak di rush kan pun. My elder brother had arranged his working leave well and my other bro already in a mids of semester break. Thus, I just joined the crowd, infact that the holiday was planned especially for me to fit in (due to my unusual `school' holiday compared to other IPTs)

(halamak I've started blabbering the unnecessaries, I did promise this would be a short one right?? Huhu sorry)


Okay, we joined a 10 days tour covering Austria and Italy. To be precise, the places we went were Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck (three places in Austria) and Verona-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome ( in Italy). That explains why it need 10 days to complete, since the distance on the road altogether was more than 1000km. Yep , we also had lots of exercise and calories burning all the way.Here are bits of my experience along the way. (takleh la nak letak semua kan, ada 600+ gambar semuanya..huhu)

Vienna (Wien)

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a German-speaking country and it looks typically European. Err, means the old Victorian building, smartly-dressed people rushing everywhere (all of them seems very busy). Also the country is very economically and politically stable, its standard of living is higher than the Italians.Maksudnye, barang kat sini memang mahal ok.




Here's an amateur model in front of Belvedere ( a famous garden in Vienna). He went `adik, tangkap gambar Ame depan bus stop nih! Hehe'`OK OK..' Whatever, bro.(dalam hati) haik , depan bus stop pun nak amik gambar?

The Schonbraunn Palace, our first pit-stop in Vienna.
Back then a succesful queen ruled the entire empire, she was known as Maria Theresia. And the famous Napoleon Bonaparte had some blood relation with this royal family indeed. Yup ladies and gents, Napoleon actually originated in Austria!

Salzburg

This place is a must to visit whenever you come to Austria.It is the kampung of Mozart and the very place where they shoot the legendary movie `Sounds of Music'.It is a beautiful small town, with rivers dividing the Old and New Town.

If you watch the Sound of Music, you would certainly remember this garden!

This is the river dividing the Old and New Town.The bridge's under maintenance, as you can see in the pic

Innsbruck

This small town is our favourite! A popular skiing place during winter, once hosted a winter Olympic games! We were awed by the Alps and the snowcaps on top of the mountains, something you won't see back in our hometown. This is also the hometown of Swarovski Crystals (girls, takkan tak tau? guys if tak tau Swarovski Crystals, then you're forgiven). Yup the famous man-made crystals. The crystals here are much more beautiful since it used pure, fresh mountain water as part of the main elements in making the crystals.

The scenery in Kristallwalten (Crystal World). This place displayed thousands of Swarovski Crystals and its usage. By the way crystal is not only meant for accessories, but its also important in futuristic movies-making to create the light effects.

Among the Crystals displayed and for sale

The fascinating Alps! However we experienced massive global warming this year so we won't see plenty of snow on top of the mountain.

Verona
The first city to visit when we entered Italy. Here we can see The Arena (smaller version of Collosseum) and Juliet's House. You should've heard about Shakespeare's masterpiece, the Romeo and Juliet right? (cerita cinta dua darjat).They were actually existed for real.

The heavily vandalised signboard. Casa Giuletta means Juliet's House

My bro again, in front of the city hall. To his right was the Arena ( not in pic)

Venice

Have you watched Casiono Royale? I haven't, but I heard they made some shoots over here. And what's so romantic about Venice? I'm yet to get the answer..(maybe I'm just not a romantic person.Haha). Venice is an island with unpredictable weather..yup in personal note,we learnt our lesson.

The famous gondola in Venice

The sporting Datuk Hon's family
Florence (Firenze)
An old city where the first industrial revolution started.
View of Florence from a hilltop

Pisa

Pisa is very beautiful..it is actually a small village came to life just because its famous leaning tower.The leaning tower's sister you can find right here in Teluk Intan..hehe

Rome (Roma)

Last not least, we arrived in out last stop, which is also the capital city of Italy.The locals called it Roma. We coincidently had the same schedule as the American President, George Bush when he paid a visit to Rome. This caused us to walk extra miles due to closed roads and thousands of policemen scattered around Rome city. What a luck.

My Mom and the sporting aunties..oops, they referred themselves as Charlie's Angels~ ain't they cute?? Hoho

The Vatican City..(cam tak caye bleh sampai kat tempat ni.Btw tak jumpe pun Pope. Dia busy nak prepare meeting ngan Bush kot)

Banyak kan polis? Ni semua Bush punya pasal..takut sgt orang nak serang dia

Constantine and the Forum Ruins. Rome was a huge empire thousands of years ago

The ever famous Collosseoum..tapi sekarang dah takde orang main Gladiator lagi (kalau ade teringin gak I nak tengok)
Kesimpulan daripada cerita di atas: Saya banyak belajar daripada budaya orang lain, di samping dapat jumpa masyarakat dunia khususnya Europeans.Makin banyak kita mengembara, sepatutnya makin dekat kita dengan Allah, kan? Tapi apa-apa pun peribahasa ni memang suits me best: Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri..lebih baik di negeri sendiri.. hehe
Allright, enough for now. Sorry for the decreasing dictation towards the end of the entry..sudah penat dan malas dah nak tulis. (erm, brief laa sangat entry ni..huhu)I haven't even had my breakfast yet...until then, enjoice=)

Why lack of entries?

Spanish steps (ini adalah nama tempat okay)

Salam and good day to all,

Sorry for the lack of entries these days. Its ironic though, since I'm actually in a midst of my semester break, and I was constantly being at home for more than one week until now. For me, blogging needs mood and clear mind. I'm simply pelik, since I did lots of blogging when I'm being pressured with lots of work, and vice versa. Previously during my internship period, I always blogged right after I received instructions and work briefing from my superior. Also last semester, I did blog when I was due to have a test the day after. Haha, that's just me being natural.

Since I'm not doing serious thinking these days (I mean without assignments, meetings, upcoming tests whatsoever) thus I'm quite reluctant to write. It took me quite some time to compose any entry since I know it will reflect myself and maybe make impacts to the readers, so a peace state of mind and a clear objective is very important each time. Sounds complicated, huh? Nah, its not. I'm just dwindling within myself, that's why. And I'm actually in a middle of composing quite a lengthy entry about my previous long journey, so be patient okay? Hehe.(ayat bajet)

Since then, I wish you guys the brightest days ahead=)

"It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Tanggungjawab kita melebihi masa yang kita ada...

Jadi gunakan masa sebaik-baiknya.