Love yourself, Love your family, Love others...

Last year in September, Hazizi's (Bean) father passed away just one day before Ramadhan which make us, me and other budak koleq (Hijjas, Koboi, Alan, Topek, John, Mad) took an emergency journey to Kemaman for a ziarah. Early this year, Afifuddin's father passed away but I could only convey Al-Fatihah from the distance. At that time, Hazizi was so strong to face the fact that he had lost his father in a 'controversial incidence' but when I hugged him brotherly when we met, I could feel the feeling of lost flowing inside his veins.
I began to wonder if ever I am ready to lose anyone in my life. One by one of my small family's faces slides inside my head with some non-family additional faces. Am I strong enough to lose one of them? Either death took us part or just plain destiny? For now, I feel that I am not yet ready for it but what should I do? The answer should be related with STOP TAKING LIFE FOR GRANTED. We have to be prepared by not wasting all the chances we have to appreciate each single soul around us especially our family members and if there is something we wish to reach for in our life, better work for it now, rather than later. For maybe we might not have another tomorrow.
YES..it is true that everyone of us will die. But it doesn't mean that I will just sit to wait for it. I will continue serving a role in this society doing good deeds (God's servant, research worker, social obligations, relationship) in order not to die regretting not doing it.
I will put my family first (especially my mom) because they are so important to me, far more important than money and worldly wealth. When some of the people out there prefer to see me as a THING, my family always regards me as LOVE. Cheers to Love..Cheers to family ties that bonds us....

COL-Celebration of Love

I believe in love....and love is magic. When I first arrived to Kyoto, a newly met Germany friend said to me that Kyoto is the city of love. I still can't find the meaning of it yet but later, I slowly feel that somehow, love is in the air. It is not because of the V day on 14th February that inspired me to write this but just an unseen shigeki (stimulus) that appears lately. I did not plan to touch each and every single love stories that I knew here either a historical one or a current contemporary love but I just wish to emphasize how strong this thing called love could drive us.Love is just a simple word with 4 alphabets...meaningful for whom who valued sincerity and respect emotional expression, meaningless for tyrant and player. Some people changed their personalities in order to win somebody's heart while some let love lead the way. Whatever it is, I do believe that because of love, people either live day by day with smile or ready to do anything including hurting him/herself inside just for the sake of love. There are actually no exact points in this article. Enough said that love....sometimes...in a very rare occasion...just are mend not to be together....But it is also called love...In fact, great love...

I do enjoy snowy days in Kyoto but deep inside.... still missing the sun...

Mere ideas...

In life, man must enjoy full opportunity to conduct freedom. This was displayed in a story sometime after the Prophet (peace be upon him-s.a.w) migrated to Medina which is the city of Dates. One day, the Prophet s.a.w saw that some people were busy doing something atop of the palm date trees. When asked, they answered to the Prophet s.a.w that they were busy pollinating the palm dates. The Prophet s.a.w then asked them not to do so. The upcoming year, yield of dates decreased tremendously and the the people reasoned to the Prophet that this is due to his order not to pollinate the palm dates. The Prophet s.a.w then revoked the order and asked them to continue their agricultural practice. Starting from the day that the Prophet s.a.w himself endorsed freedom in research activities, science and technology had charter its past through glory and expands to Damascus, Baghdad, Andalusia and the rest of the world as the foundation of the modern scientific age we knew today.

I do personally believe in freedom for mankind but freedom must not be taken for granted. Freedom of speech, freedom of media, freedom on expressing comments and point of view and freedom of faith are what currently being repetitively addressed by new age Malaysian. We must be always aware that freedom itself won't make way, freedom should be guided by wisdom...or else...peace march could turn into a riot...nationalism could grew so rigid into racism. In a multhi-ethnic country like Malaysia, strong leadership carry a large portion on the formula of practising democracy. Without strong leadership, people will be further divided (not just between ethnics, but also divided by level of doubts in putting big decisions to poor judgement authority, problems faced in daily life due to weak policies and worst of all, by economic disparity). Court of Justice should not be a stage of a flip-flop jester (bukan saya..macam saya). Aged and seniority in politics should not be the plus point out of uncertainty and mislead. Wannabe-leaders should know earlier that big pay and big title do come with gigantic responsbility and the need to be firmed in decision making . I wish Malaysians good luck in casting their polls in the upcoming election in March and I do hope that a team of ultra leaders could emerged in leading this country back on its right progressive track (a dream of mine, maybe..). Malaysians, use your freedom wisely!!

I don't want to be a 'stone'...

The importance of education is quite clear in this age of globalization. Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to its maximum use. Education doesn't only belong in the rigid wall of universities or academic institutions but should be interpreted at a larger perspective as a continuous self-development activity. This is actually how I comfort myself when I feel a little regret to be part of the Japanese education system. Time is the only reason of this regret as the Masters Degree by research in Japan took two years minimum instead of just brief two semesters in other Western countries. Furthermore, you have to spend 6 months to 1 year as research student prior to be accepted as full time student. Complicated as it may sound, there is also an entrance examination and screening process. With a track to be an academician that lies ahead of me, the fact that research is a time consuming activity should be accepted as part and parcel of life.

Hereby, I also recommend to those who wish to further their studies in Japan to possess a high level stress management capability and creative minds to generate a happy day out of minimum resources (in plain words-know the right time and the right way to enjoy). Long hours in the lab without occasional outing won't make you a Nobellaureate so you have to balance it with sports, social outing, nature walk or shopping for gizmo. Reaching out to have a social encounter is a must as the lack of it also contributes to Malaysian students failure in Japan (affected mostly on extreme gamers who care to finish their game level more than their research report or attending lectures). If you are religious type, you may join the IPIJ activities. Otherwise, it is better to get married so that you will not feel lonely and deserted. Trust me, living a monotonic life could turn you either into a 'stone' or a 'lab freak'.

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Kyoto starts its cultural calendar this year with a Setsubun Matsuri (節分祭り）to celebrate the upcoming spring at Yoshida Shrine, just beside the Kyoto University. Ogres (Oni-I only managed to capture its white hair) representing bad spirit were thrown with beans (mame) and food stalls lined up the narrow road up to the temple site on the Yoshida hill (make me miss the Malaysian night market so much). Takoyaki, Choco Banana, Kaarage (Fried Chicken), Ikayaki made the most of the stalls. The place was packed with Ogre-fans that sometimes Asmadi is lost in the crowd with his mission to get a Japanese girlfriend instead of watching the Ogre. Hehehe. Also attached are pictures of me during the Experience Japanese culture Day organised by Kyoto City International Foundation. Thanks to Mahendra for the photos and Mr. Shimizu (worked in OMRON Sg. Way for 5 years) for being a kind volunteer. Weekend is over so what else, back to the lab!! ;p