Humanity

It's irony how nowadays, we subject a person or a troop of people according to their religion. Some westerners, or those of liberal thinking; would perhaps still consider Muslims with all those beard, those white hat (kopiah) and women with burqa or black veils; are terrorists. This explains all the banning issues against many Muslim women worldwide on wearing a head cover.

Well, clearly while many others fight for their right to wear head covers or scarves; there are still more out there who do not realize the concept of covering our aurah is a MUST and COMPULSORY. Not merely necessities. Sad isn't it? Thank God; for Allah, The Almighty Lord; is The Forgiver, alhamdulillah:)

People often misinterpret humanity. They always pin point the religion. For example, if one acknowledge another a syiah; automatically they will have to picture some sort of Basshar Al Assad regime in Syria. Well I had experience something we call 'Humanity that matters'. Something of that mindset that we have to tuned ourselves to, so that we don't judge. Instead, be experienced. Or in other words; do not judge the books by their covers. And I must emphasized; we Muslims; are supposed to always husnudzon (Thinking only good towards something or someone) first, before putting labels, but yet, many of us still fail to do so. I am too at times. Lets repent and switch our mindset. 

Bandra West, looks like a big city but behind those are slums.

When I went to Mumbai two years back, my friends and I had trouble in the search for a good silent place to solah, to pray in the crowd of Colaba. We entered to one shoe shop owned by a Muslim. Unfortunately, the water supply somehow shuts that time so we were really at end wits to where we should perform our solah. They then, showed us the route to a nearby musolah. It was Friday noon that time, so you could imagine how many Muslim men were there at the musolah.

Apparently, we were looking at each other, and asked ourselves how could we passed by all these men who were listening to Khutbah. Though we were a bit perplexed why the shoe shop owner we went earlier didn't actually go for the Jumuah solah. Then, there's a lady who came from the musolah, approached us, and led us the way. For women, they have this one small room (very small, can accommodate one bed kinda room), so we saw some women in black robes (Jubah) and black veils (Burqa') who were performing solah in there. And the room for wudhuk was somewhere else. 

ALLANA HOUSE, COLLABA :) The musolah where we pray. 

Of course, it wasn't much of a surprise that the women didn't pray like we 'did'. I mean, I am quite well versed of the difference in our mazhab. Most Muslims in India they practice Mazhab Hanafi, which didn't require them to really cover their feet while solah/prayer. So, they saw us 'differently' and started staring. All we could do was to reciprocate their stares hehehe :) 

Oh did I tell you that McDonald around Colaba isn't Halal? Well, upon coming here, there are a lot of doubts regarding any fast food's restaurant's status. Our seniors who had been there, told us we should not worry because yes, it's halal. But in the Musolah, Fariyal, a good friend of mine who was among those who is most peculiar about Halal food, asked one woman after finishing our prayer. Well, what to do then? Our craving for McDonald was let down after knowing it's not Halal. Rather, we had our lunch in a local Muslim restaurant called Olympia. It was still nice though but of course pricey.

the restaurant almost close (they don't have lunch at 3 pm)

Nothing could express our gratitude to Allah Al Mighty for showing us the way and ease our intention to do our obligation. Not many masjids of any kind would let women to enter and solat. But something really shocked me during my research for Ethnic studies in 2nd year. 

We went to Bhendi Bazaar to interview this local Imaam, as for Ethnic project on Islamic religion; comparison between that of in Malaysia and India. I told our experience, and somehow, the Imaam told us that the musolah we entered might not be of that of a Muslim. Because, in India all masjids disallowed women to enter since most women don't even pray. And because most of them are not Sunni, or following the Mazhab Syafiee. 

What sadden me the most is to know that, many Muslims, in India, treat their wives just as to keep them at pleasure, do house chores, take good care of the children and that's basically it. No need to teach them regarding Islam or to guide them towards it. Plus we got to know the musolah we went to in Mumbai was a place of worship for a religion or belief called Bahai. 

Bahai if I am not mistaken is one of the 'Syirik' and misleading belief as well as misleading preaching there is in this world. But how come those people, even if it's true they aren't Muslims could let us pray in their place? As if they saw the hardships or difficulty that we faced during that time to find the place to do so. This really touched my heart. They are seriously humane to me. Humane in knowing that we were in difficulty and willing to help as well as respecting our religion. 

Isn't that just blessed to experience such a wonderful thing. Humanity doesn't count whether you are a Muslim, a Syiah, a Christian, Hindu or even an Atheist. It is one kind of 'blessing' or gift that Allah puts in our hearts but most people couldn't show. The war or the slaughtering of humans made by those tyranny in Syria; those are not humanity; but see how the people from all over the world voiced out the hatred towards violence towards those innocents Syrians. Remember there's a circulating photo of Muslim men who were praying were guarded by Christian men in a circle because there was a riot in Egypt recently? All those are humanity. Humanity doesn't stick just to a particular religion. They go by heart. Only those with clean hearts could express it and show it. May Allah bless us with such hearts :)

>>p/s: loving to reminisce first year, where all of us were more united. But then I realize I am the one who's putting a distance between my colleagues and myself. Pardon me, but I guess I am just a loner:)>>

Choked till bleed

I must say this school holiday, I mean medschool holiday, had been such an experience to me. Yesterday, after running errands here and there, I basically made a simple lunch of ikan goreng berlada and my friend made pajeri nenas. It was our usual Saturday. Chilling and relaxing, waiting to have lunch together. 

We put all the lauk pauk on the tikar, as if it were at some park, and we were about to have a picnic. The steamed rice smelled lovely and tempting, hot and juicy. It was basmathi, so yeah, it was luxury. No greens were about to be our meal, but what ever, we had been vegetarian for many days before had the chance to buy meat and fish. 

We sat down, recite the prayer, thanking Allah for the lunch. We were hungry and quickly grabbed the fish and the pineapple. Such simple dish, such delightful taste. It was okay, we were chatting and enjoying the breeze while eating, the breeze of thin wind that came from the big window I have here in the new hostel. 

Suddenly, I felt something cling on my throat. Crap, I knew it. It must be bloody mackerel's bone. I should have separate the bone, but like always, when hunger strike, nothing else is important. I ignored the throat because the pain was still mild and bearable. I continue eating and chatting, till I can no longer swallow. Dysphagia!

"Hazirah, I am choking!!!" I exclaimed

"Oh, Quick, make a bolus out of the rice and swallow it all through!" my friend commanded

Pathetically, I wasn't good at making rice ball because my lunch partner told me to use my palms. I was like what!? I never made such big bolus of rice before, what else to swallow such thing. Basically, I was stubborn.

I tried to make smaller bolus of rice. That's the only way, the easiest way if one would choked on fish bone. After several small bolus of rice, my esophagus is overloaded. Thank God, the bathroom was near, so I ran inside and puke. 

Who won't be surprised if he or she saw blood, fresh red blood came out from the mouth. Even a slight spit was full of blood. 

"Hazirah, I vomit blood!!"

My friend cum lunch partner, who was still eating, stop at an instance. She was shocked. She still ask me to swallow some more bolus of rice. I just couldn't. Too overloaded. I keep wanting to puke. She on the other hand, made her way to our neighbours, asking for help.

Farah our neighbour said, banana would help. Apparently, earlier in the morning, I already made the cekodok pisang batter with all the bananas I had. My friend went upstairs. Saw kak syira, and mentioned that I had vomit blood. 

"Go to EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT THEN!!"she yelled.

While my friend still continue her attempt, asking here and there for banana, I was to and fro, from the bathroom and to the living room where we had our lunch. This time I made once more a bolus of rice. Swallow it, trying hard to swallow it.

I put my finger inside till it touched the throat. As if I was making my own minor surgery to pull the bone out. I remembered one episode in grey's anatomy whereby one patient swallowed a bunched of keys, and they had to use some robot device to pull the keys out. I was thinking to have the same procedure too. Too much imagination once you were panicked. But it was all vain. All I feel was an urge to puke. And yes this time a major PUKE.

Blood, fresh and red mixed together with chyme landed in the toilet bowl. Guess what??

I saw the bloody, mackerel's bone together with it. And yes, nothing was felt clinging to my throat. I am alive !!

But it was still hurt, my esophagus must have swelled somehow and inflammed. I felt hard to speak for some time. I tried to call out for Hazirah. Then I saw her coming, I told her I am okay. 

She breathed deep in relieved. I smiled. And all she could say was: "See! I told you to bolus of rice would work!"

>>p/s: Berhenti sebelum kenyang. Mana tau boleh mati sebab tercekik kan? Ajal tu tak kira tempat, tak kira masa, tak kira sebab<<

Wordless Wednesday

In Kannada Wednesday is Budhavara ( V is pronounce as if it was a W) and (the last A is silent)

Plus, in Hindi they called it Budhavara too.

Belgaum-Goa

>>p/s: Trust me it was not 3 hours but 7 freaking hours! Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile trip. alhamdulillah.<<

Goa | A short break

Assalamualaikum. {BEWARE: Don't read if you're lazy}

Good that I am able to post something again. Alhamdulillah, that I woke up and finally blessed with a week off from hectic life.

Last Saturday, 9 girls including me went for an embarking journey to the place called Goa. Thankfully, Goa is not that far from Belgaum. It only took us 7 hours straight. Very near if compared going to Mumbai or Bangalore or Cashmere. Hahaha. 

The tour leader was my dear friend cum secretary named Adibah, our co-driver was dear beautiful Yanti. Basically, going to Goa was not a proper plan. The KMB girls made the plan, and my roommate and I said yes at the last minute. We didn't regret at all going with these amazing friends:)

To start up with, we rented a van that can accommodate 12 persons, but in the end 3 of them cancelled and left just the 9 of us. We can say the van is just-enough comfortable through out the journey. The small size girls can easily sleep like a boss in the van. Pity Yanti though who had to sit at the front almost every journey just to ease us with the driver who cannot speak English at all. He only knows Hindi. In the end, the driver named Mahdi (A hindu !) just wanted to sit besides Yanti and no one else. Dasar miang kan??

The journey TO Goa was not breath taking. It was hot all day long. I was wrong to wear black, as black absorbed heat so I was living in an oven. Plus, sitting at a position where the sun shone brightly directly to me, made me tanned without having to go to the beach. The best thing when we went somewhere with a group of girls who are older was that, they would think like how moms would think. Packed the journey with a big tupperware of Nasi Goreng was lovely. My roommate and I made karipap. We called it Karipap Tak Mandi, since we didn't get the chance to bath the whole night making the dough and cooking the stuffed to fill the karipap in. But we made it! Our karipap is the best karipap ever!!! for first timer of course :)

Sleep and sleep, the woke up and eat. The driver tuned on the Hindi song of the zaman batu ages, but we forced him to turn it off since some of us could not stand, and would puke during the journey. The road was wavy, was harsh, was rocky and was blazing hot! We crossed by some amazing sceneries as well as some deserted ones. We even passed by this plantation which looked like sawah padi, and the people only sleep in tents!!!! Pity them with all the dusty surroundings and the bad looking rugged clothes. Something to be learned from what we witnessed.

Reaching Goa, what we mostly saw, were the restaurants which merely all have bars in it. Dozens of westerners or must I say tonnes of westerners were there, happily relaxing at the restaurants, sipping bottles and bottles of wine and beer. We wonder what we can eat there. We finally found our place to stay. Luckily, Adibah had booked three rooms at Fatima Guest House. Of course, we can never trust India when it comes to a name that is familiar with Islam. Fatima Guest House is not owned by a muslim. Instead, its owner is a Christian. A dentist if I am not mistaken. My roommate and another girl named Anis Wahab chose the 2nd floor room and we got jealous by the other girls. Why??? Because our room has this TV with satellite channels and of course a lot spacious compared to theirs. What could I say? It's our luck! :D

In front of the stay, there's a Muslim Restaurant, called Aslam. But we also witnessed the signboards of the shops were mostly written in Ruskee. Russian alphabets. I knew the alphabets really well since I did learnt them for a month during 2010. However, I can't even read some of them as I cannot recall the alphabets . I became puzzled as Goa is a place almost like Mexico but then every signboards tell you something in Russian. Am I in an asian-russian? Perhaps yes!?

Then dear Anis Wahab told me that because Russians like visiting Goa so much, despite their bad proficiency in English, the Goans decided to named everything and make all the billboards in English as well as in Russian. That's why I see tonnes of blondies (most of them are middle ages and golden ages) at the restaurants sipping their favorite Henneken. Jahiliyah is what I can say.

So, too bad the Muslim Restaurant we went, was as slow as a snail. Or even slower than that. The price was costly too. Surely not a place where I would suggest you all to go! But if Goa, I still think it's a place for muslims to consider. The only Muslim restaurant that is purely Muslims I tell ya! The owner of that place suggested Shashilk Restaurant for dinner. It an Islamic restaurant he told us. 

After some nice lemon tea, my friends and I strolled along the shops to have some eye candy moment. Women and shopping are like wave and tide. Ahahaha! The shops were abundant. We were spellbinded, but beware! Do bargaining till half the price is yours truly! Don't get cheated by this sly Goans!!

Things I would suggest people to buy would be 

1. Goa T shirts (range from INR 100-250)

2. Beach Pants (range INR 100-150 each)

3. Beach Hats (range from INR 100-300)---> I got one for INR 100 ONLYY!!! (RM 7 that is)

4. Keychains (range from INR 20-60)

5. Fridge Magnets (range from INR 100-350)---> Bargain till half yo!!

6. Nice cloth bags (range INR 300-INR 600)
7.Star shaped lanterns
8.tattoo making anyone ??

That's all I think. They are also many Kashmirian's leather shops where you can purchase some leather goods: bags/coats/belts/wallets cheaper than Mumbai. You can also shop for some pendants or jewelleries if that what you ought for! These shops are mostly owned by Muslims.

After tired of strolling and bought what we needed, we went to the beach. They are a lot of bars there, and the moment when we arrived, lotsa tourists were sunbathing. Our aim was to see the sunset and recite the Al Mathurat. Looked like we went there at the wrong time!! Plus it was blazing hot. Thus, we continue on strolling down the aisle of shops. And more money was spent: D

At 6 pm, we walked to the beach back. Sunbathing session ended. So we sat down at the clean sand, and start reciting the Al Mathurat while enjoying the wind as well as the Sunset. People was staring at us bizarrely but we continue on reciting till the sun set fully. It was nice....subhanallah:)

That night went to a restaurant called Souza De Lobo. It was at the beach too! Apparently, walking to the restaurant was frightening. Lots of this annoying men and drunken humans. The restaurant is attached with bar. I went inside, and I was shocked by how crowded it was with drunken humans. Some of them are quieing for more beers and wines! It is certainly not a place for dinner. 

The restaurant was actually been recommended by our seniors. Looking at it, I was perplexed how did they eat there. Certainly, they served ham and they must cook using wine there. Sometimes, eating is also an issue that we must be properly taken care off. Another friend named Adeebah told us, Allah has put such a strict rule upon eating not because He wants to put harsh onto us, instead He wants to test our Imaan. He wants to see how do we take care of ourselves while away from getting Halal food, He wants to see which of His servants are the loyal ones. But sometimes, we take it from granted, we took Allah's command for granted. Even if I do eat seafood at that restaurant, that served ham and wine and beer, can I say confidently that my food is halal? How about the way they prepare the food? Of course, I could ask the waiter to tell the chef or the cook to avoid using wine while cooking the food, but how about the utensils used? Aren't they polluted already? There are many thoughts that we must think deeply thorough. Haram food must be avoided even how hard it may be!

At last, we went to Shashilk restaurant, ate western instead of dreaming for lobster. It was so costly for lobster :(( Too bad, the service was off under rated one, very slow and the grilled food turned burnt!. Overall for 9 girls, the price went up to INR 1350 around hundred ringgit plus plus:) Okay for me, but some of them eat this Fish Steak that cost around 20 ringgit and not even worth it! While we were on the way back, they screamed how regret they were for eating eat ! HAHA. (I was in the air as I got my fresh pineapple juice!!)

The next day, I thought of playing the paragliding, but I had no guts!! Water is always scary what not it's Goa not Malaysia. I went to the beach and quickly got myself wet. Love the waves so much! Feel like having them again now! We recited the Almathurat once more, then came some locals who offered us water games like bumper riding, banana boat and stuff. Many came, but at last we got INR 130 per person for banana boat. Sadly, it is not worth it at all! It was a short ride, not as fun as when I was in Sabah last year. Gosh! I miss Sabah and the troops at asasi:( I didn't get my paragliding ride thanks to my under-confidence. Waaa:( But I promised myself to come again and get the ride done before returning to Malaysia for good!!

Anis Sakinah, another Anis, who is popular with her cuteness, acting childishly at 21 years old, want to play the banana boat like crazy. We were on a small fight trying to get the cheapest rate. And INR 130 per person was the cheapest we could ever obtained. Sadly, I did something to my roommate back then, so she went back to the guest house alone without having the ride. Sorry though.

Playing with the beach was superb! Goa is such a heaven of big waves. The water is just nice, not cold just warm and the wave was amazing. Having fun like a blast! Too bad for some of the girls who didn't join though. They are just too old to play, said Anis Sakinah.

Get back to the guest house, rinse our selves, bathed then packing to go back to Belgaum. Searched for another restaurant that we can have our lunch. The place called Infrataria something. Sadly, it too served ham and wine and beer. We ended up buying lots of processed drinks and some crisps to eat during the long journey. Then, Yanti found this vendor. He was selling briyani. Yanti at first didn't see that it was written the briyani was halal, but then she found it when the vendor told her he's a muslim. We were gifted at that moment. Allah has certainly the best plan for us. He knew we were hungry and tried hard to find halal food, so there it was, the briyani vendor. 

Lucky us the briyani was superb. Not very oily, and bulky just nice for RM7. The best thing it is halal. Next we moved our journey to the legendary Fort Aquada. Nice place to see the Arabian see from on top of a hill. This was where I got a Goa T shirt and my straw hat at INR 100 each. YAHOO! Also, I get to drink at last the coconut juice yahoo!!!

Chapel St Chaterine was next.  A nice chapel built by the famous history text book person called Alfonso De Albuequeque. The interior was very nice to see, the carvings and all, sadly no photos are allowed T.T No!! The archeology museum was okay over all even though I was having a bore seeing the potraits and all. My eyes certainly not created for arts eh? But now I know how Vasco Da Gama looks like.

After the hot day, everyone was starting to have head ache, so we decided to let Goa go. We left Goa and headed to Jawarhalal Nehru University. Again, the journey was fun. It was long and more breathtaking. It was funny too sometimes. We even did our prayers together in the van, and it certainly tighten the bond between us.

Overall, the short break was splendid. The KMB-ians sisters are so sporting and very nice indeed. Our holiday didn't turn into just a mere holiday but filled with joy and food for the souls. Certainly, looking forward for another holiday like this one, insyaAllah:)

fact: Goa has the most abundant dental clinics in India. waaaa.