Thursday, July 28, 2005

Contoh Surat Rayuan Saman.

My father said I recceived a love letter back home. Obviously it was surat saman. It seems that I exceed speed limit somewhere in Jalan Mahameru on 30th August last year!!! I really don't remember what I was doing there.
Anyway, I went to the Police Station to pay saman, my father said they will have the 'borang rayuan' for us to fill up to reduce the saman. But they DIDN'T.
They posted a sample appeal letter at the counter, requesting us to follow the format. Handwritten also accepted they said. Below is the format, more or else that I could recall from memory.
I also found out that I have another 2 more summons that I didn't pay. What the hell just pay everything one shot la. All with one surat rayuan. RM270 gone and a lesson learnt.



Nama,
Alamat sendiri.
__________________________________________________________

Ketua Polis Daerah Bentong,
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah,
28700 Bentong,
Pahang Darul Makmur. 28hb Julai 2005

Tuan,
Rayuan Mengurangkan Kadar Saman, No Saman XXXXX, No Kenderaan ABC XXX.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Murujuk kepada perkara di atasm saya ingin memohon jasa baik pihak tuan untuk mengurangkan kadar saman yang dikenakan ke atas saya.

2. Saya merayu agar kadar saman yang dikenakan ke atas saya dikurangkan kerana:-
i) Masalah keewangan, bebanan keluarga yang tinggi.
ii) Saya berjanji tidak akan mengulangi kesalahan saya di masa hadapan.

3. Saya mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih di atas jasa baik pihak tuan.


Sekian Terima Kasih.

Yang Benar,

______________
(Nama Penuh)

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Revelation in Putra Feeder Bus

Today was my legs day in gym, for the first time I did the squad and my legs are screaming with pain with every step. But it is a 'good pain' that I enjoy, meant that my workout worked and my muscle is tearing apart and rebuilding....bigger.

So I was in the bus, heading home after a good workout and tiring night shift, a saw an elderly man getting into the bus, he was not that old maybe at his 50s or 60s, maybe he just retired and was in PBD for some official work. The bus was quite empty, I was sitting at the back of the bus, he got in and right before sitting down he looked at me......just for a while, I sensed sadness and regret in his stare. I didn't react, I just stared back at him, and before I could smile or anything he sat down. The whole thing happened in fraction of a second, but it had me thinking.... all the way to the LRT station.

What was in his mind when he was staring at me?
I can imagine, that maybe he was thinking that, once he was as young...as that guy sitting in at the back of the bus, and maybe he felt that he could have accomplished so many thing in his life when he still in his youth. Maybe he think that he wasted his life on wrong things, maybe he worked too hard until he neglected his friends and family or maybe he was thinking that he should have spend his youth more productively so that he can enjoy his retirement more. Or maybe I reminded him of his son, or maybe he was thinking, look at that young man, so young, at the prime of his age, and he is wasting all his time on things that really does not matter at the end (what ever is that!)
I don't know what the hell in his mind, but there is certainly a lot going on in my mind. I was thinking too much. I was sad.

I always wondered, if there is ONE advice the senior citizen wanted to give younger generation, what that would be?

I always wanted to approach my father and just talk to him about his younger days, the know all his hardship, all the suffering that he went to to bring up his life. But the thing is ,I am not that close to my father, I always wanted to be close, to break that thick wall of ice block between us, but to no avail.
I knew my father is a very hard working man. I am 30 now, and only now I knew that my dad started out as a 'Roti Man', you know, those men that sell bread house to house in motorbike. But in my father's case, it was a bicycle, imagine that! My mum said, my father will come back home roasted in sun, skin dried and darkened, all to support his loving family, and here we are complaining right after we reached home that we had the worse day because the office air cond was too cold.

How things has changed! If my father hadn't work that hard during his youth, will I be sitting here and writing this blog? I really don't think so.

I am just wondering, if my son, one day would write the same thing about me in his blog?

If there is only one advice that I wanted to hear from my father about our youth, what that would be?

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Home Sweet Home.

Today for the first time me and wife stepped into the house we bought. Well hopefully it IS our house, we counted (the odd numbers only) and yes, that is house number 9 ( I love number 9, but my favorite is 7, but it was taken).

Well, we stepped into the house, thank God it was not locked. I was expecting some kind of life changing experience. You know, like the one in the movies, you do something really special or meaningful and suddenly you have the life changing moment where suddenly there is music at the background, light shining true the roof, leaves starts flying in and such things? Well nothing like that happen to us.
But we were truly happy.... our house, a place to call home, hopefully for the rest of our life (unless off course we moved in to a bungalow house, heheh).


Imagine, this is the place that we will build our life, this would be the foundation of our future. This is the place where we will have our first child, the place our kids will grow, and all the important events of our life will happen here in ..Insya Allah..perhaps our children wedding, and me and my wife will grow old here. Oppsss I am too far ahead in the future. Well, it is nice to let our mind wander once a while.

I have been haunted by the thoughts on how I am going to finance the whole new house things, yeah we bought a house, but it doesn't stop there. Renovation, furniture, bills. A lot to think about.
But when I imagine all the wonderful and magical things this house going to bear, It simply worth it.
So my dear wife, don't burden yourself thinking about the financial problem, just think about all the beautiful thoughts on our house, and we will somehow make it happen.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Desperate Househusband


I am so bored and I got nothing to do. Thats what happened if you have too much of free time at hand. Since I am working shift, I have 3-4 off days per week. I used to do gardening on my free time, but seriously, how much gardening you can actually do? and some more the new maid is taking care of the garden better than I did, so basically now I am jobless at home.

Well, when you are bored, and at edge of loosing your sanity, it is good to do something nice and different. So I took up cooking. Since I started shift work, I have improved my culinary skill.




Jamie Oliver...my hero....hahahahh


These are few of my my specialties,
Baked potato with cream source
Grilled chicken with orangy creamy sourcy thingy or whatever you feel like naming it.
Fettuchini/spaghetti with garlic source
macaroni and Cheese.


Local dishes,
Mee goreng
Ayam Masak Kicap
Khailan/Sawi/any veggie ikan masin
Nasi goreng

(ignore the spelling mistake, I have no idea how to spell the food name correctly)

But I prefer the western dishes, it is easier to cook, less preparation needed and uses the least amount of kitchen utensils (is it?)

And ever since I joined the Gym , I have learned to cook healthy as well. I use least amount of oil, and I only use olive oil, since it is healthier. I Don't fry anything any more, it is all grilled (without oil).

At the moment, my favorite is Tuna sandwich. It is healthy, has right amount of carb and protein needed by body, and oh man, it is easy to make or what?!!!!!

Other than that, I also sometimes (very rarely though) clean the bedroom and redo the furniture, just to surprise my wife, most of the time she will be pleased with the result.

Hmm, can't wait to move in to the new house, there will be a lot of activity for me to do then on my off days.
I am definitely a DIY guy. I love crafts, carpentering, plumbing , hanging wallpaper, gardening, fixing mosquito net around windows, anything that needed to be done aroud the house.
My major client right now is my mother in law, my parents and my sisters.
My sisters will wait till go back on weekend to fix things up in their house. I am doing charity only now, no charges....so far. I have invested a lot in tools also. It is a good investment though, rather than paying handy man for their lousy job.

P/S: Desparate Hosewives is really a good show, and my wife became an instance fan, maybe she felt related to the characters? I don't know.

Ladies, want to know which house wife you are? Well take this quiz to find out !

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Weddings..... Indian Muslim Style.

This morning I woke up full with excitement. The day was beautifully, the bird's were chirping more joyously this morning and sun seems to shining brighter. I am just too excited. Why? Well, I got a wedding to attend to!!! That's why....It is not any wedding, it is an Indian Muslim wedding. How exciting!!!! (it should be obvious by now that the I am being SARCASTIC!!!)

Attending any wedding is the one thing that I hated most, for me it a terrible way to waste our precious weekend. I practically have to drag my feet all the way to the wedding hall, put up a smile face, chit chat with who ever sitting beside, eat pay the 'saman' and leave.

It is not that bad actually, but after attending soooo many many many Indian Muslims wedding, I am getting very tired of the monotonousness of the whole wedding/reception functions. All reception seems to be following some kinda unwritten rule (or maybe it is written, IM Wedding 101).

I list down the flow of the event for a typical Indian Muslim wedding reception.

1. Once we reached the hall, we will be greeted by the welcoming committee at the entrance, usually these committee members consists of men or women who are seniors on either side of the brides or the groom.

2. Before we were seated, we should greet and acknowledge everyone we know all the way to our table, even the very very distant relatives, by the time this process is completed, 15-20 mins would have easily gone by.

3. Once we were seated at the noise reception hall, usually a round table that sits 8-10. We would face the dreadful truth. The very very familiar looking menu will be facing us. The food is catered by Syed Restaurant, if it is not, you can be sure that it is not and Indian Muslim wedding and you can safely assume that you have crashed a wrong wedding. The food is the same, Nasi minyak or briyani, mutton, onion chutney, dalcha, spicy fried chicken and dessert is caramel pudding.

4. Bride and groom willl arrive fashionable late. (very late)

5. When they finally arrive, the drink jug on each table would have emptied and the appetizer (usually nuts) would have consumed to the last piece.

6. Brides and groom walks the aisle. Most of the time companied by the "Salawat" by Yusuf Islam (this is a MUST, I remind you)

7. When the newly weds finally settled. The MC starts to welcome the crowd and call an ustaz or maulana with massive beard to recite doa and read verses from Quran.

8. The MC will invites a person of influence in the community (preferable someone with Datokship) to introduce the couples to the guest. While this going on, the crowd continuously ignored the speech and talk loudly among themselves, competing with the PA system.

9. The MC will announce that the food will be served. Crowds get excited.

10. There will be 'food presentation' where the head waiter will makes his grand entrance followed by his follower. This will be accompanied by a very grand music from background, usually form some action movies soundtracks.

11. The crowd fullfills their purpose, they eat.

12. After a while, the MC will call upon the newlyweds to give speech. The newlyweds give speech. The crowd still ignores the speech and minding their own business.

13. MC announce the cake cutting ceremony, couple cut the cake(again accompanied by another background music from movie soundtrack). The crowd is still totally unaware of what happening at the main stage as they busy talking as always)

14. MC announce that guests can wish the couple at the entrance.

15. Another 15-20 mins will pass by waiting in the queue to wish the couple. On the way to queue 'point number 2'repeated here. Another 15 mins gone.

16. When finally arrived at the couple, take couple of minute trying to remember who they are and how we are related to them, if still no idea just say congrats and pay the saman. (anyway it would be impossible to recognize the bride since her face would be transformed into doll-like feature on that day, if they hired a really really bad mak andam).

17. Fuhhh finally out of the hall......wait wait.. there is the auntie you have not met for entire 2 week. She comes running towards you asking how is your health and how is everybody in kampung...no escape.......smile smile...Don't forget that. Another 15 mins flies. (You are lucky if you only encounter only one aunty!)

18. Finally, you are in the car. Oppppssss wait, the wife says, I forget to take the door gift! Run to the hall (it best to enter through the backdoor in order for easy escape) Grab the door gift and run!

19. Ahhh finally in car again!

20. Reach home.... hmmmm another wedding. Heavy food! Time to sleep away the entire Sunday!


My wedding was the exact same!

Friday, July 08, 2005

Tuition

Finally, I got a student. I have been telling everyone since I started my shift work that I am going to teach tuition for kids on my off days. And now after 10 months only I got one.
Well I was not really looking for students seriously, that's the reason I guess, but this one was handed by one of my childhood friend who is a teacher. She was teaching this girl all this while, but due to the unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to continue to teach her.

This is home tuition, means that I have to travel to the student house (all the way to Kota Damansara), the pay is by hour, considered a good pay for a first time tutor (anyway, I used to be a temp teacher while waiting for Uni) I teach this UPSR student, twice a week (4 hrs).

Teaching tuition makes me realize how berkarat my BM has become! I was mostly cluless when it comes to simpulan and peribahasa. But when the student ask, I just ask her to refer to her reference book!

I am no Einstein, but I can teach!

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Sorry...

I am not being arrogant or cocky or anything egoistic, but lately, I can't seem to grab the concept of the word 'sorry'. It is not like I never apologies to anyone in my whole life. I do, I do it quite often, that's the word that comes naturally out of my mouth right after I did or say something that I should have not done. Maybe that's my problem, everybody's problem.... We say sorry too easily, without meaning it.

When and why do we say sorry? And what are the implications of the word 'sorry' should be? What is the course of action that should follow right after we utter the word 'sorry'?
These are not rhetorical questions. I am really asking because I have no idea!

However on my part, I truly belief that, when we say sorry, it should convey the message that we really regretted what we have done and promise to ourselves that we would not repeat the same mistake intentionally.

But when sorry is simply used as an excused to repeat the same mistake over and over again, it losses its meaning, its power. It is like, "Go ahead, do whatever you liked, if you hurt others, just say sorry and everything would be just fine".

I make mistakes in life; I am not talking big here. I do sometimes repeat the same mistakes and apologies over and over again. I admit.

But I hope, perhaps, by limiting the frequency of uttering the word 'sorry', we could actually improve yourself and our relationship with people around us, because we are no longer using the word 'sorry' merely as an excuse to repeat the same mistake in the future.

Monday, July 04, 2005

There is still sand between my toes.....

Pulau Redang.......

It is beautiful.
The water is crystal clear.
The sand is white and so fine.
The sky is blue.
The breeze is cooling.
The atmosphere is always tranquil and fun.
It is a place you go to unwind.



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This picture is taken form the sun bathing bench in the resort I was staying at.

Interesting Facts....

1. My first time to Terengganu

2. My first time in Air Asia.

3. My first time flying towards east in a plane.

4. Terengganu people are friendly.

5. All the makciks there in Kuala Terengganu so awet muda.

6. Bubur (porridge) is called Nasi Air in Terengganu.

7. Even dark skinned people can get sun burn.

8. Things are so cheap in Pasar Payang.

9. The sea look clearer in a very very hot and cloudless day.

10. You tend to eat a lot during vacations.

11. Your testosterone level is very high during vacation. (may be because of no stress).

12. All electricity running on generators in redang.

13. Sea food is still expensive even in an island.

14. Sea fish like to eat dry-bread.

15. It is easier to snorkel with a life jacket.

16. There are few topless foreigners sun bath in Redang.

To be continued........

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