warna-warni aidilfitri

(I set two records by publishing this blog post. This is my first Malay post and the first post to be published on a day other than Saturday)

Semoga Ramadhan yang lalu memberikan kita pengajaran bermanfaat agar dapat menjadi insan yang lebih baik.

Marilah kita sambut bulan Syawal yang telah tiba dengan semangat dan azam membara untuk meneruskan perjuangan di dunia yang sementara ini.

Terimalah pantun bagi tahun 2008:

Tatkala pagi dilaungkan gema,
Disinari cahaya petunjuk Illahi;
Ampun dipohon maaf dipinta,
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

Kuharap agar warna-warni aidilfitri akan dapat membuka mata serta memberi teladan yang penuh makna. Di sebalik kebahagiaan yang kita rasai, pasti ada hikmah tersirat untuk dihayati...

wishin' and hopin'

Did you wish you could have done better?

Did you hope that you wouldn't take this holy month for granted?

"So lose not heart, nor fall into despair; for ye will gain mastery if ye are true in faith."
(Ali-Imran (3):139)

And so you disappointed yourself by not fully utilizing the time that you have in this illustrious month.

Guess what? Ramadhan's not over yet; so don't give up...

get up

If you have been reading my blog since the first post, then you should be able to know what I have faced so far throughout the 3rd Sem. Ever since the start of the semester, I have missed so many classes. If there was an award for the student who recorded the highest number of days absent from class BUT with reasons, I would surely be the winner. Before this, I felt that I was at a much lower level than any of my classmates. They seemed to excel in their studies and not to forget, they were able to complete their assignments on time.

But now, I find myself on the same level as everyone else - I'm back on track. I scored quite well in the previous Math test and I'm also proceeding well with my Econ IA and Malay World Lit essay. EE? Nope, that's excluded. In addition, I believe my IRP group has the potential to become one of the best judging from our performance in class and the team spirit among the members. Everything is going smooth.

I used to think that everyone is so much better than me. The thing is, I can have high level of optimism but most of the times I need to have assurance from others; like my friends for instance in order to have faith in myself.

Being humble is a fine trait but being TOO humble can lead to your own downfall. The more I think the others are superior, the more I find myself going nowhere. And with that, I would like to share with you one of my favourite quotes:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Don't stay too long at the bottom. It's time to get up...

anyway

Yup! A blogpost for the 9 day trip in Cambodia. 16 KMB students: Wan Zulhilmi, Syukri, Nina, Nik Syuk, Mimy, Linda, Izzy, Hosni, Fasya, Farid, Erni, Asmak, Ariff, Ammar, Aliah & Adlan Wafi departed on the 14th of August to Cambodia on a humanitarian mission and together, we are "Sehati Serumpun".

I didn't expect that my journey to Cambodia would be so colourful! With so many places to go to and with so many activities; I could only wonder what new experiences I might gain and how they're going to affect my personal well-being.

Leaving Malaysia

The first mosque that I found in Cambodia

At the House of Emirates (an orphanage)
Good hygiene always

What better way to spend time than to play a game of Frisbee?

Smile to the camera

One more picture before leaving

A souvenir for the orphans

Painting the grimy walls

We love to have our pictures taken while relaxing from painting

All the guys of Sehati Serumpun with some of the children

The villagers followed us wherever we go

Staring through the window

The students loved their photos to be taken too

Flour attack!

With the cute kid!

So joyful

The children can get very excited when it comes to candy

And not to forget, balloons!

Preparing for the battle

It was definitely a fierce combat

Group photo!

We're back in Malaysia!

I was grateful to meet the children of Cambodia. They taught me something - even though they're living in awfully depressing environs, they manage to make the best of their lives even at tender age. The children's faces are filled with hope, valour, great determination and of such innocence.

Each of us learned the importance to lend a hand to these people who are desperately in need of our attention. We know what we did is not enough. It might not be a life-changing experience. It might not even be long-lasting. But we did it anyway.

"You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way; dream it anyway..."
Martina McBride

What makes me marvel is that the children seemed so buoyant to receive such little gifts. They'd jump for joy when they get candy or even a colour pencil. They'd crave for the simple things in life which we often take for granted.

I know that all the members of Sehati Serumpun have one thing in their minds - we wish we could do more. Well, at least it's a start. A start to new opportunities; a start to a much better future.

What I enjoyed would most probably to be able to make the Cambodians feel exuberant as we visited their villages. Despite the poor conditions which they live in, they were capable of greeting us warmly. They knew that our assistance may just be worthwhile but they're still happy. They smiled anyway...

the sweet escape

Wow! It's been a long time since I published a blogpost. Last week was surely an amazing experience for me as the members of IP (Interactive Peers) and MPP (Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar) went for a trip to Singapore. I was really in need of a vacation and also to get away from the tedious tasks of KMB. I actually packed my clothes on the very day of departure (I ran to my room as soon as class ended). Eventually, I managed to get everything ready and boarded the bus on time.

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) or ACSI, a private school which applies the IB Diploma Programme

One of the picturesque views around the school

KMBians meet the ACSians

Relaxing on the grass after an engrossing tour around the school

Along the Orchard Road...

KMBians at MENDAKI

Vivacious KMBians

We actually went to the festival on the very last day of exhibition! ;)

Spectacular diorama

KMBians just love photos

Let's go to Sentosa!

More pictures!

Sentosa Luge was definitely exhilarating

Taking a break along the way...

Yup! The sign says it all

We're underwater!

On the double decker bus!

Waiting for the bus...

Songs of the Sea was marvellous!

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see"
Gilbert K. Chesterton

As I look at the pictures from the Singapore trip, the emotions of excitement begin to stir inside my heart - the feeling of euphoria and curiosity of travelling to another country is still vividly retained.

"Have they not travelled in the land so that they should have hearts with which to understand, or ears with which to hear? For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are in the breasts."
(Al-Hajj (22):46)

The 3 day trip in Singapore was a blast! I met new people, learnt a bit about the history, gone to places I've never been before and intuited a virtue which I believe will come in handy in the future.

It was simply joyful and indelible...