Basikal

Saya masih ingat basikal yang digunakan oleh bapa saya untuk menghantar saya ke sekolah. Ia lebih dikenali dengan basikal tua. Bagusnya, basikal sangat menjimatkan dan menyihatkan tetapi masalah akan wujud bila tiba musim hujan. Pernah sekali saya dan bapa terjatuh kerana jalan yang lecak. Akibatnya, saya ke sekolah dengan baju yang kotor. Menjadi perhatian sepanjang persekolahan.

Saya juga pernah mengikuti pakcik saya ke rumah rakannya. Kami disambut oleh bapa kepada rakan pakcik saya. Kelihatannya dia seperti lelaki yang berumur 40an. Masih tegap dan sihat. Kami terkejut apabila diberitahu bahawa umurnya adalah 80 tahun!. Apabila pakcik saya bertanya, apa rahsia dia kelihatan muda. Dia memberitahu, bahawa di mengayuh basikal ke tempat kerjanya, di Pelabuhan Kelang setiap hari. Jarak dari rumahnya ke pelabuhan Kelang adalah 40km. Pakcik tu berbasikal sejauh 80km setiap hari semasa mudanya!

Di Malaysia, berbasikal bukanlah suatu kebiasaan dan tidak dilihat sebagai pengangkutan yang utama. Ini mungkin kerana cuaca Malaysia yang panas dan hujan yang menjadikan berbasikal tidak begitu praktikal dijadikan kenderaan seharian. Pemerintah juga tidak menyediakan laluan khas untuk penunggang basikal. Begitu juga dengan undang-undang Malaysia yang tidak memberi apa-apa keistimewaan kepada penunggang basikal.

Di Australia, berbasikal dan pejalan kaki dilindungi oleh undang-undang. Hukuman yang berat dikenakan kepada pengguna jalan raya yang tidak menghormati golongan ini. Laluan khas juga disediakan. Basikal juga boleh dibawa masuk ke dalam trem atau komuter. Seperkara lagi, golongan ini tidak menghadapi masalah besar untuk melintas jalan. Jejakkan sahaja kaki atau tayar basikal selaku untuk melintas, secara spontan kereta mahupun lori kontena akan memberhentikan kenderaan mereka untuk memberi laluan kepada penunggang basikal atau pejalan kaki. Sepanjang saya berkursus di sana, saya tak nampak satu jejantas pun dibina untuk pejalan kaki.

Saya pernah mendengar cadangan agar bilik air disediakan di pejabat-pejabat bagi penunggang basikal gunakan untuk membersihkan diri mereka apabila tiba di pejabat. Begitu juga cadangan untuk membina laluan berbumbung untuk pejalan kaki dan penunggang basikal di bandar-bandar besar. Itu sememangnya cadangan yang sangat baik tetapi tidak pernah dilaksanakan.

Jadilah basikal sebagai alat riadah atau kita akan lebih memilih untuk cuma makan goreng pisang yang berminyak sambil santai menonton TV diwaktu petang.

Kenangan Penerjunan

Bersama buddy, Mejar Shukrie dari 11 Briged. Bergambar di depan hangar setelah dianugerahkan dengan sayap penerjunan. "Nampak jantan!", kata Mejar Shukrie.

Syukur Alhamdulillah, dengan izin Allah saya telah berjaya menamatkan Kursus Asas Payung Terjun di Pusat Latihan Peperangan Khusus Tentera Darat (PULPAK) di Kem Sg. Udang. Selamat dianugerahkan dengan sayap penerjunan pada 31 Nov yang lalu. Usaha getir yang bermula pada 8 Oktober lalu telah meninggalkan seribu kenangan dan ingatan yang tidak terlupa. Lebih dari itu, latihan yang berat itu telah mengubah cara berfikir dan memotivasi diri betapa kelalaian sesaat mampu memudaratkan diri seumur hidup. Alhamdulillah.

Di dalam kursus ini saya telah berpeluang terjun dengan beg payung terjun dari pesawat pada ketinggian 1000 kaki. Ini bukan pengalaman luarbiasa, tetapi sangat luarbiasa. Pengalaman merasai sendiri bagaimana jantung berdegup dengan pantas seakan mahu meletup dan terasa hilang akal dalam beberapa saat. Terasa sebak masa sendiri apabila terkenangkan wajah isteri dan anak-anak. Sungguh memilukan, agaknya mungkin itu secubit gambaran orang yang hendak menemui sakaratul maut. Wallahu a'alam.

Penerjunan kali ke-6 bersama alatan dan senjata adalah kenangan penerjunan yang tidak terlupa. Sebaik sahaja keluar dari pesawat CN 235 milik TUDM, terasa sepakan angin di ketinggian 1000 kaki. Dalam kedudukan kepala tunduk sehingga dagu mencecah dada dan kaki rapat dalam 3 saat, payung MCI-IBD saya telah mengembang dengan baik. Selepas pasti payung mengembang dengan baik, pemeriksaan sekeliling dibuat untuk memastikan tiada rakan yang berada berhampiran, untuk mengelakkan dari perlanggaran di udara. Setelah aman, terus lihat permukaan bumi, sedia untuk gantung alatan.

Sebaik sahaja alatan digantung, persediaan untuk mendarat bermula. Saya melihat kawasan pendaratan saya adalah tanah lapang yang berair berhampiran jalan tanah merah yang penuh dengan penonton (orang kampung) yang tak jemu menunggu saya dan rakan-rakan membuat persembahan penerjunan. Dengan menarik 'toggle' (alat yang diguna untuk mengarah payung ke kiri atau ke kanan) saya telah menghalakan payung saya untuk mendarat di jalan raya. Kebetulan angin bertuip dari belakang saya. Ini membuat payung saya turun dengan laju menghala ke arah para penonton. Saya cuma tersenyum apabila melihat para penonton setia kelam kabut mengalihkan basikal dan motor saya. Cemas kalau-kalau saya akan mendarat di atas mereka.

Pada ketinggian lebih kurang 100 kaki, sekali lagi saya menarik 'toggle' sebelah kanan dan itu telah membuatkan payung saya berputar 180 darjah dan terus mengadap angin. Pandangan saya mengahadap tiupan angin dan membelakangi para penonton. Pada saat ini, payung saya tidak meluncur laju lagi ke arah para penonton yang memenuhi jalan tanah merah. Payung seolah-olah berhenti dan turun dengan perlahan ke bumi. Saya merapatkan dan membengkokkan kaki dan sedia untuk mendarat. Alhamdulillah, pendaratan dilakukan dengan baik dan betul-betul berada tidak jauh dari para penonton yang menarik nafas lega atas tindakan saya tidak mendarat di atas mereka. Sesungguhnya, saya sudah memahami sedikit dari ilmu yang telah diajarkan kepada saya. Ia telah menyelamatkan saya dari kemalangan. Alhamdulillah. Syukur Alhamdulillah. :)

Chin Up

I am attending a Pra-APT Course at 9 Royal Malay Regiment. The pre course before attend the APT Course at PULPAK. The requirement that I need to pass to attend the APT Course is run 3.2 km in 16 minutes, push-up and sit-up 30 times in 1 minute, fireman lift for 50m, chin-up at least 8 times, and climb the rope. Here are the proper ways to chin up and climb the rope. Chin-up is the tougher thing to do for me. I am worried and wish you can pray for me. Thanks. :)

Sujud

sumber: Utusan Online

Pada 26 September yang lalu bertempat di Capital Hill, Amerika Syarikat, beribu-ribu umat Islam telah berkumpul untuk melaksanakan solat Jumaat. Menurut penganjur acara itu, Abdul Malik berkata, umat Islam datang dari seluruh Amerika Syarikat, malah ada antaranya dari Britain dan Kanada. Menurutnya lagi, acara itu bukan suatu bentuk protes, sebaliknya hari untuk bersembahyang, mengabdikan diri kepada Tuhan dengan doa supaya semua lapisan rakyat Amerika boleh hidup bersama untuk kemajuan sejagat.

Inilah salah satu bentuk syiar yang dituntut di dalam Islam. Memberi gambaran yang jelas lagi baik tentang Islam di mata dan hati orang bukan Islam. Melihat gambar di atas mengingatkan saya betapa nikmat, hiba dan syukur dapat bersujud di bumi Allah yang tidak disirami syiar Islam. Mengingatkan saya bersolat di bilik persalinan di Mount Buller, di bilik kecil di RMIT, di dewan bola keranjang di Warabee dan sembahyang duduk dalam perjalanan menaiki bas dari Melbourne ke Sydney yang mengambil masa 14 jam.

Bersujud dan menyebut "Maha suci TuhanKu yang Maha Tinggi dan dengan segala puji-pujiannya" sebanyak 3 kali di bumi Australia adalah satu nikmat yang sungguh menginsafkan. Nikmat yang sama dirasai oleh mubaligh Islam yang bersujud di persisiran pantai Melaka semasa pemerintahan Parameswara, Tariq bin Ziad di bumi Sepanyol dan umat Islam AS di Capital Hill. Maha Suci Allah.

It's end

Thanks to Allah, I managed to finish PEGASUS after a month of sweat bathing, undefined tiring, uncertain sleep, missing the love ones and more hellish things. Alhamdulilah, I experienced a lot of a good things, met a lot of new friends and more important is, I have measured myself. Allah is Great.

PEGASUS

I'm attending PEGASUS a.k.a Kursus Penyesuaian Beret Merun at 17 Royal Malay Regiment from 20th July until 20 August 2009. May Allah bless me, Ameen.

Zuhrah

Thanks to Lt. Cdr Hiruldin (Ketua Cawang Operasi) because gave me this opportunity to sail with one of the best RMN's sailing boat. Although it just sailed around Selat Dinding, I can experience the real seaman's life. This sailing boat named Zuhrah and it cost 4.6 million. One of the most expensive assets belongs to RMN. The crews are expert and the skipper on that day was Major Madinah!. I never knew that she can sail the boat!. It was unforgettable memories, not because the opportunity to sail with Zuhrah, that day was my birthday too. :)

30D

There is nothing special about this entry, just to share my experience using my DSLR's rival brand. Canon 30D. It belongs to Infusion Sdn. Bhd. We worked together to conduct K-Force registrations for a new students on last Tuesday. K-Force is a high learning centre for Malaysian Armed Forces. It is a joint venture between Malaysian Armed Forces with Unitar. A bit confuse with the button at first, but I managed to handle it. Take several minutes to study before I realized where the control button for the aperture and ISO. I was a unofficial photographer for that event. A very fine DSLR, even in a low light condition and ISO 1000, the pictures look sharp and the noise quite low. Although I impressed with the 30D technology, my heart still says that I am a dark side fan!! :)

ESQ

me with Pak Arief Rahman Saleh

Last weekend was a spiritual weekend. We were attended a spiritual course called ESQ 165. ESQ is come from Emotional Spiritual Quotient. The origin of the inventor of ESQ model is from Indonesia. The founder is Dr. Ary Ginanjar Agustian. The lecturer on that course is Indonesian, Pak Arief Rahman Saleh. He is a very talented speaker. He can make people laugh and cry! It just not a motivational talk for management but it contents a lot self-motivate about being a great Muslim. One thing that this course has changed me is, my vision now is not about myself. The only vision that I have now is Jannah!

Navy Day 09

Eve of 75

Prawn Noodle

Ward 5

Last week was a tough week, I had to take an emergency leave because of my children. They suffered Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Harith suffered the fever first and when he began to recover, his sister, Nabilah had infected!. 3 days for Harith, then continued with Nabilah for 3 days. But the funny part was, as you seen on clip, they didn't look like they had a fever. So active like they never get ill!. Since they were in quarantine mode, The ward has became their play ground.

My EL with my children gave me a lot of free time. Time to get along with my children and my handphone. The only gadget that I have to excess my email and communicate with my clique. Although I have it a year ago, I never discover the great technology behind my K530i. Thanks to Allah, beside stress caring my children in quarantine room, I have learnt to make a simple clip just using my handphone. I don’t need authoring software, nor computer!. Even the quality is not so good, but I’m satisfied with clip. Enjoy watching my first clip, all about my children's happy hour at ward 5, Hospital Seri Manjung. :)

Ad Hoc

This was a last minute task given to me by my boss last week. He asked me to create a short video clip for closing ceremony. The closing ceremony for 'English Course for Officers'. It was a tiring day. It took a whole 'final' day to take photos and compile them in one short video clip. Luckily, I managed to finish it before Friday prayer. The closing ceremony was beginning at 1655H and my clip was presented 10 minutes later. It was a release! and felt so happy when they impressed with what I have done! I just lucky because it still has a lot of space for improvement. I just wish that I have a lot of leisure time to sharpen my decaying snapping photo skill. :)

Ironic

I found it from TT, thank you very much! very cynical but the truth is there. A short film about a young Chinese who decides to learn Irish. Ironically, he felt like an alien when he arrived in Dublin. Even, Irish can't recognize their own mother tongue! What a pity! :(

An Extraordinary

I just finished read a book written by Dato' Hasan Nawawi. The title of the book is 'Cabaran Berbasikal Mengililingi Dunia'. A story of an extraordinary journey by a senior government officer (he was 46 years old when he started kick the paddle) with his brother cycling around the world. I took about a week to finish the book and feel like I was a part of the adventures. He wrote his adventures very nicely. He took about a year to complete the journey started on Jan 2001. I felt a little sober at the end of the journey when he wrote that he felt so eager to hug his youngest son when he almost reaches the border between Thailand and Malaysia. His experiences inspired me to be like him, at least in my dream.

I turn to internet to find similar an extraordinary experience. I found a lot of foreigners especially westerner whose have such a great journey travelling around the world by bicycle. The recent one is Nicolai from Denmark who travel solo on bicycle. According his plan, he will finish in year 2010. Now, he is in Central America and will reach USA soon. I'm following his dairy and so excited to know what is next happen to him in his diary. you can reach him at worldtravellers.dk.

The other one is Rune Monstad from Norway. I think he is crazy but yet a funny person. He started his journey from Bolivia in year 2006 and now he is in Central Africa. Why I said crazy? from his blog Viking Biker, you can find that he is travelling by bicycle alone without any plan nor sponsor. He just let it be. He managed cycling alone cross Colombia, where criminals and drug gangsters are everywhere, he was rob in Seattle, USA but then he become famous and cycling alone in a snow storm crossing Canada. Here some of his opinion from his blog about people on cycling around the world that he met along his journey.

"Have seen many long distance bikers and you don't believe what they bike with. One 65 year old man bike from Mexico to Colombia with girl bike for and all his stuff in a backpack. Another one biked Central America with roadracing bike and 3 kg (7 lbs.) of stuff, he was shaking his head when he saw how much stuff i had. Then there was the guy that bike around the world with 60 kg (132 lbs.) of gear and bike 200 km (125 miles) everyday. Another one cross USA with a trailer for his dog. A homeless man bike with homemade bike and homemade trailer, he have biked around USA for 8 years. A 60 year old couple bike Central America with tandem bike, man in front off course. they fight a little about who pedal the most. Some bike in group, two or alone. I like to bike alone, you meet more people when you bike alone." source Viking Biker

From my opinion, beside a great adventure lies a braveheart. The hearts of a pure survivor which never break even has to face the toughest obstacle, calm to face any resistants and dare to dream higher than the others!.

Cameron Highlands

This was unplanned vacation. It came from my father in law's spontaneous idea. A day trip to Cameron Highlands. Although it was an ad-hoc vacation, we managed to book a hotel apartment and my father in law was successfully drags my sister in law and her family from Rawang to join us. Nothing much to say, just enjoy some photos that I took on that vacation :).

Alor Setar

On last Dec 2008, My family and in laws went to Alor Setar. A short day trip to satisfy my father in law's desire. He wants to see the changes of the city nowadays. For me who left the city for a past three years ago, there’s nothing much changes. The only obvious was the change of the route in the city. It’s much better than before. No more heavy jam in the city. We went to Alor Setar Tower, Muzium of Kedah. We had lunch at Sri Pumpong Restaurant, the best curry house in Alor Setar. It is Malay restaurant and it did satisfy my in law's taste. After Solat at Syed Bukhari Mousque, we went to Pekan Rabu. A must visit spot in Alor Setar. Lastly, we went to Restoren Abu where we had a special 'Mee rebus' before leave Alor Setar with new great memories. It is an instant visit for great experiences.