.: a trip that almost never was :.

22 June 2006
2300 hrs - too tired to pack, "tomorrow-also-can" pack attitude sets in

23 June 2006
(to help you realise how LATE I was,
pls note that i was supposed to leave home between 0630-0700hrs)

0430 hrs - wake up; it is still a tad too early

0500hrs - i should really start packing but zzzzzz...

0530 hrs - ok, can't wait, PACK NOW!

0615 hrs - 90% ready, "now, where is my passport???"

0645 hrs - still can't find passport, exasperated especially when mummy, fiza & mai are already on their way to chua chu kang to meet blossom...

0700 hrs - trying to comfort self at the prospect of not being able to go for a loooong awaited trip with my girl-friends... "maybe God is not allowing me to go to melaka...mesti ada hikmah di sebalik segala..."

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for those who are wondering whether i actually MADE IT, I DID!!! alhamdulillah, managed to find the passport at around 0730, immediately called the gang and then, rushed over...alhamdulillah, i am also blessed with kind & patient friends who would've otherwise gone off and left me miserable in singapore...

blessed also am i to be able to be part of such a wonderful experience...the drive, layan-ing the children; hanaa & nadhrah (who is sooo cute), the girls nite out at melaka central (loooong story- we sorta got lost there,while trying to find our way to jalan hang tuah-managed to reach home at 2 a.m.), the food (loads & loads of it- good prescription for those suffering from anorexia, but of course a hazard for those who easily puts on weight, like yours truly...), the girlish chatter (it was an all girls trip- all 7 of us...yeehaa!!!) but best of all, the mornings...

with a house situated just opposite the mosque, the recitation of the quran at 0530 hrs from the mosque's PA system acts as a wake up call which almost cannot be missed (the PA system is super loud!!!)...the azan at 0545 beckons you to pray...despite being sleepy & tired, the body wakes to the call of prayer...

with freshly brushed teeth, wudhu' and telekong donned straight from home, an almost undescribable feeling enshrouds - pure peace & bliss...as you see others, family & strangers alike, walking towards the mosque, with the same purpose - the sole purpose to worship Allah, you feel that you are a part of something bigger; a larger community of believers...

meeting relatives during subuh was an added bonus - a warm welcome, a stream of smiling, familiar faces...




after subuh, instead of still being sleepy & tired (like back at home), the body is energised, taking in the crisp fresh air...a morning walk to the sawah or padi fields proves to enhance this refreshing and enriching experience...

contentment sets in as i count my blessings...for the trip that almost never was...

And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

- An-Nahl 16:18 -

blog entry especially dedicated to:
cik midah, or more lovingly known as mummy, for the house & hospitality
kak erni a.k.a blossom, who accomodatingly (including layan-ing all our kerenah) drove us all there & back safely
fiza & mai for being such good company
the girls, hanaa & nadhrah who made the trip all the more interesting

special thanks to
abang uda a.k.a kak erni's husband, without who's car, we wouldnt have made it to melaka
auntie noi (mummy's sister) who prepared food for us & brought us out for wonderful roti prata
mak nah, mak eton, mak mah, mak kiah, mak uda, cu nan, pak yib, kak ida...basically orang-orang kampung serkam who made the trip all the more meaningful for me

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kg serkam, melaka, 23-25 June 06