Happy Birthday Malaysia!

Today is our country's 54th Independence Day. Happy Birthday Malaysia! So much progress have been achieved since independence on 31 st August 1957. On every 31st August is our national day to commemorate the independence of Malaysia from British colonial rule in 1957.

This is how it was like on Saturday morning 31st August 1957 when our first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the independence and chanting "Merdeka!" seven times at the Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

This is Malaysia today.

I am proud to be a Malaysian living in a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religous country.

Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!

*Yesterday, Malaysian Muslims celebrated the first day of Eid this year. I would like to wish "Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin" to my family members and friends and "Happy Eid" to everyone who celebrates it, wherever you are.

Images : flickr.com

                engineeringcivil.ah

                audie61.wordpress.com

Beautiful Quote

 

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

Audrey Hepburn






Image : wallpapers.net

Sunday Haiku

Haiku :  Safe And Sound

The essence of trust,

Folded in my heart of hearts,

Smile, it’s bullet-proof.

This  is my attempt to translate my Haiku to Spanish.

It is losing its 5-7-5 syllables, of course.

This is just to see whether it makes sense or not when  translated to another language.

Haiku : Sano Y Salvo

La esencia de la confianza,

Dablado en mi corazŏn de corazones,

Sonrisa, que es a prueba de balas.

I’m calling anyone who knows Spanish to help me correct the mistakes in the above

translation. Suggestions welcome to improve it to a more meaningful poem. Thank you in

advance.

Gracias. J

Love Haiku,

Balqis

Aug 28^th ‘11

Sunday

Image :  gigistar.deviantart.com

The Inspirational Blog Award

Recently, a blogger friend, Sie of the Philippines gave me a very pleasant surprise by awarding me  the "Inspirational Blog Award".  According to her the award is made "basically for sites on my own opinion have Touched Lives". Thank you so much, Sie, for your kind words. It's a surprise that my blog is among the ones you mentioned. If I'm allowed to add another recipient, definitely you're the one who well-deserved it.

I find that Sie's blog "A Life's Journey" is so inspiring with many posts about life.  At one stage, I even thought that she's a counsellor! I love reading her posts which boost so much inspiration and motivation. Check out  A Life's Journey.

The award came along with "Eight Easy Tag Questions" (according to her) but which aren't seem too easy for me! Anyway, it would be great joining in the fun of being tagged.

Here are my sincere answers. Let's look at the questions one by one.


1. What can make you laugh, smile or giggle?
There are many things that can make me do so but among all, I enjoy tremendously my conversation with someone very close to me who can be very hilarious, sometimes, that I just can't help laughing, smiling and giggling!

2.  What are your dreams for your future?
I have many dreams but on top list is to travel the world and speak Spanish correctly if not fluently.

3.  If you were to go to a cruise, where would it be and why?
It would be to New Zealand because it's a very beautiful country.

4.  How would you spend your vacation time and with whom?
Going for a vacation would free my mind from work. Therefore, I would love to have some quiet, quality time with the love of my life; soaking up the sun, watching sunset, admiring the moon, stars gazing and listening to nature's melody - birds singing, crickets chanting and waterfall cascading. It would  be a great moment together when both of us are disconnected from the internet!

5.  If given the chance, what life would you choose? Your new life or your past?
Let me say it this way. I would cherish the sweet moments in my past life and move on with the present. Definitely, the new life is my choice because I feel I'm moving towards better directions.

6.  Is there something you wished before when you were young but you didn't get it?
Let me answer from a different perspective as I'm not going to touch on the material side of it. Well, when I was a little girl I wished so much that I could swim instead of just watching my friends swimming like ducks! I didn't have and still don't have the ability to swim. If you were to take me anywhere for a swim, make sure the float is provided for this big girl!

7.  Have you been in a situation where you might have given up but you chose to move on?
Yes, many times and it was really a test to my patience.  The other side of my mind told me not to be defeated so easily. Instead of dwelling in it, I chose to move on.

8.  Is there someone in your life your source of strength and inspiration?
My late dad is my source of strength and inspiration. He had the qualities of a man who was strong enough to face the odds apart from being so hardworking to ensure his family had enough for daily needs. He was also a very patient man who looked positively at trials of life and worked towards resolving them.


That are the answers to the tags. I hope, Sie, in particular is happy with it. Once again, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to her for kindly choosing me to receive this beautiful and meaningful award.

Haiku - Fear



Fear, known and unknown,

Lurks around in lust to strike,

The eyes say it all.

Thursday Haiku,

Balqis

Aug 25th '11

Image : smashinggaps.com



Haiku - A Typical Day

Paperwork screaming,
Like claps of thunders non-stop,
Can't help but tied up.


Deadlines a concern,
Still, each vies full attention,
Time's running away.





Bogged down,
Balqis
Mid-week
Aug 24th'11





Image : www.prelovoc.com

Haiku - The Mockingbird

How irritating,

My say, you say exactly,

Get real, get a life.

The bird's-eye view,

        Balqis

Tuesday 23.8.11

 Image : hi-ola-education

My Baby Turns 2!

Happy birthday, baby! My baby, "whom" I proudly named as Part And Parcel Of Life ... , was created on 21st August 2009. Today, she turns 2!

Today is indeed a significant day in my blogging life. I was quite hesitant at first to create a blog. But a friend had really been so good encouraging me to share stories and whatnot and told me to blog. From then on, I have been blogging but at one stage I didn't even log in for 4 months! Initially, my blog was so "quiet". I would have been the only one "roaming" around if not for the supportive friend who joined in and that's it!

My mood wasn't dampened though there were no other visitors. I kept on writing every now and then but not on a regular basis. It was about a year later I surfed for the world's bloggers sites and came across bloggers.com.  I visited the site several times and fell in love with it! I thought it would be great if I joined it and I'm glad now because I was taking the right step to move forward. Now, I have 465 followers there where as in this blog, the current number of followers are 174.  As of now, there are 164 posts published with 1922 comments and hits 28,237.

To my baby, I'm wishing you many successful journeys ahead and may you always be blessed with happiness in blogging!

 

A special mention:

1. To Abet of Kuching who had been very supportive.

    Thank you so much for showing me the way to blogging.

     I wish you and your beloved wife, the best in life!

2.  To all my visitors, followers and dear friends, you guys are simply awesome!

     Without you all, this blog would have been disappearing  from blogosphere.

     Thank you so much for all your visits and comments which I really appreciate.

Image :  hellasmultimedia.com

The Way It Was......

A couple of days back, I had the sudden urge to look and read the modules and texts I used during my university days. It was kind of bringing back the bitter sweet memories of how it was being a student having to burn the midnight oil at most times, well, that was me! It was not because  I did not organize my time properly but the number of courses in each semester was too many and that made me feel there was not enough time to concentrate on each course. That's what I thought! There were times when I dreaded  assignments and especially when they were really very tough and needed a lot of references. Now I am thinking of the lack of sleep I went through in trying to accomplish all the tasks in hand.  But on the other hand, thinking of the golden opportunity I had being accepted to further my studies, I determined to strive for the best in the examination and to get a good CGPA in each semester. There were so much sacrifices just to get that university scroll.

Looking back at how it was, I am thinking now, it is worth all the sweat. For me, the time as a student is one of the most memorable times in one's life.  No matter how tough it was, nothing could beat the immense satisfaction once everything was completed. And of course, the greatest joy of all was on the graduation day itself receiving the scroll from the Chancellor. I feel as if it was just yesterday! I miss those days and it is not surprising if I say that I wish to go back to the campus and study again.  I am inspired by my friends who had been continuing their studies for the second degree and who are now PhD candidates.

A special note :

Congratulations to my blogger friend, Jojo Tiffany of Sabah, who will be furthering her postgraduate studies at University Otago, New Zealand.  Jojo, "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes."  The dream is realized through deligence and it is to be fulfilled. All the best to you!

Image : barexambrief.com

Speak Figuratively

A simile - comparison of two things,
indicated by some connective; like, as, than,
expresses a similarity, things compared
dissimilar in kind such as cunning as a fox
though a human cannot transform into a fox!
Refers to one characteristic that two
things have in common.



A metaphor states one thing is something else,
in literal sense, it is not,
not plainly limited in the number
of resemblances it may indicate,
Simply said, I can be a night owl or early bird,
But the fact is I'm human species!





Surveying prose forms and poetry,
                  Balqis
          August 17th '11
      Wednesday evening





Recommended reads :

Metaphor by Sylvia Plath
The Eagle by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Wind by James Stephens
The Silken Tent by Robert Frost
To See a World in a Grain of Sand by William Blake





Image - credit goes to :  www.cartoonstock.com

Life....

The saying : Life isn't a bed of roses.

My opinion : It is true indeed. There are many ups and downs as we sail through the journey of life. Even if it's a bed of roses, still there are thorns in it. We can't even sit, stand, walk or sleep peacefully on such a "bed".  We have to be cautious of what's around us  so that we won't get hurt. Literally speaking, by the sharp thorns, it might be minor injury but a pain will always be a pain.

Image : fwallpaper.net

Sunday Haiku - The Search

 In the search for peace,
 In this path of thorns I trudge,
 It is pricking bad.





 Thinking of the possibility,
             Balqis
       August 14th '11
    Rainy Sunday night





 Image :  deskpicture.com

You Will Forever Be In Our Hearts

A year had gone by but sweet and loving memories linger on. As if it was only yesterday. Everything is still vivid - his voice, his jokes, his patience and his love for everyone. There are times we feel that he is still around. The fond thought of him will make mom teary-eyed. I could understand why for she was the one who gave unconditional love and care for him since the first day he came to this world till the last day he left for another world. Mom would sacrifice anything just to be with him, giving her utmost attention and care and attended to his every need. Though it had taken a toll on mom's health, she pushed every other thing aside and gave priority to him; with the prayers and hope that the support she gave would make things better.  Everyone else in the family was doing the same thing for him.

"Mom, I'm in deep pain." That was what he said to my mom who was always by his bedside. This rang through my ears right to my heart, as if piercing it. I felt as if my heart suddenly stopped beating for I could not even bear to hear that.  Everyone of us felt the very pain he went through and everyone would console him and tell him to be patient facing the critical moment. If only the word "patience" could do miracle, it would have healed his critical illness. Medicines had been like staple food that had to be taken everyday and in large amount. That had made him feel nauseated and lost appetite. Everyone of us would ask him anything he would like to eat and by all means would look for it.

For two years he was battling with the critical illness and finally succumbed to it on 11th August 2010. It was a terrible blow to everyone in my family and even worse for his own - leaving behind a wife and 3-year-old son.

This post is written in loving memory of my late brother who was called to rest on 11th August 2010.  I wasn't able to post it yesterday because I felt the great pain of losing someone very dear to everyone of us. We held prayers on 30th July for two beloved men in our lives, my late father (who passed away years ago) and late brother, who had left us for a better place.

This is what my sister wrote at her facebook as a dedication to my late father and brother. I am quoting her who might had quoted it somewhere, if not her own.

"A good person will always be in memory. A better person will always be in dreams. But the best person will always be in heart. For us, you are the best persons and we will remember you till the end of our life...."

This is my prayer for both of them in Bahasa Malaysia which I'm unable to translate to English.


"Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh kedua-dua allahyarham dan diletakkan di sisi orang-orang beriman. Amin."

Haiku - The Three Pieces

Loneliness
















A little island,
Surrounded by vast ocean,
Loneliness prevails.






A Fate

So light and fragile,
Like a feather in the wind,
Destiny unknown.







The Constraint

I want to Haiku,
Haiku's entangled in mind,
Words undelivered.






Conveying in Haiku,
       Balqis
Cool Thursday
 Aug 11th '11





Images :  myhdwallpapers.com
               dreamstime.com

Have A Say ....

The five most essential words for a healthy relationship :

"I apologise" and " You are right".

~ Terry Duke

What do you think? :)

Image : fwallpapers.net

Poem - The Love Birds

Then.............
The great love of
Adam and Eve,
Romeo and Juliet,
Samson and Delilah,
Are timeless love,
Held in admiration.


The love birds.......
Whispering a sweet nothings,
As nothing else matters,
Two hearts bursting with love,
Lost in the land of affection.


The days are brightened up
by smiling sunshine,
The nights adorn
by beautiful twinkling stars,
Romantic feeling that keeps coming
from inner fold of the hearts,
The wish it will ever last,
Till the end of time....till eternity.




Written with love,
       Balqis
     Tuesday
  Aug 9th '11




*This is a special dedication to my friend, Sie of the Philippines and her Quiet Angel. Sie is such a wonderful friend who shares and expresses lovingly her true feelings towards her beloved Quiet Angel. I am wishing both of them the best in everything and may every dream comes true! :)



Image :  wallpapers-diq.com

Acrostic Poem - Thank You

T - The sincerity in thanking
H - Has to come right from the heart
A - And let it shines on the face
N - Never hold back a minute
K - Knowing well the good it brings


Y - You will always be remembered
O - On your sincere two little words
U - Undoubtedly, brings a smile to another face



Thank you!

Terima kasih - Bahasa Malaysia
Salamat - Filipino
Grazzi - Maltese
Merci - French
Danke - German
Obrigado - Portuguese
Gracias - Spanish



Let me thank you all,
          Balqis
    Sunny Saturday
        Aug 6th '11



Image : dirjournal.com
Smiley : sl-design.com

Haiku - Fabulous Friday

To cloud nine I fly,
When all duties accomplished,
Fabulous Friday.



Wishing it to be,
Balqis
Early Friday
Aug 5th '11




Image : www.999images.com

A Thankful Thursday

How the days fly! It's Thursday! Outside, it's raining, a mild one, the rain taps the roof gently. It's early morning and a cold one which I'm so thankful after days of hot weather. The weather had been quite harsh lately. I felt as if it was biting my skin! That was the time when I wished I was staying at home.

On another note, I wish to extend my thanks to everyone visiting this simple blog. Thank you so much for taking your time to drop by. It really means a lot to me. You guys are simply awesome!

The roses above are for everyone of you. Wishing you guys a fruitful day ahead and do make the best of your time! Remember to carry a smile with you! :)

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! :)




Image : fdwallpapers.com

Bangles - Eternal Flame

Eternal Flame - to me this is a metaphor. The eternal flame that keeps burning in the heart with love. I really enjoy listening to this song and like it so much. The lyrics are so sentimental and give such an impact on me.

"Say my name,
Sun shines through the rain,
A whole life so lonely,
And then you come and ease the pain,
I don't want to lose this feeling.........."


Isn't it lovely? Everyone would wish for a sunshine after every rain. And the immense joy of seeing the sun which gives the warmth much needed is a feeling no one wishes to lose.

I don't want to lose this feeling......... either.

Haiku - Determination

Scorched by midday sun,
The face like crimson sunset,
The will undeterred.


Defying the heat,
Desires boiling inside,
Victory in mind.




The will,
Balqis
Into Monday





Image :  aimforawesome.com