Aikido after Ramadan break

After a month of resting due to Ramadan, I went back to Aikido class today. I was so surprise all the girls look happy to meet me and welcome me with open arms despite all the time we all rarely talk. Funny sometimes these Japanese are… but I’m happy that they feel that way.

It didn’t take anytime for me to remember back all the basics, infact I’m surprise I remember much more basic moves after long holiday. Thought about the power of memory.

To my surprise I and few newbies were invited to join Aikido Taikai or more accurately Aikido Performance on National Sports Day next month. We are give 5 waza (skills) to practise and act on my partner that day.

My team was to do these basics moves which is way above my level right now but my partner who had level 1 Dan kindly show all the correct moves. The moves are 1. Shomen Uchi Osaekomi or properly known as Shomen Uchi Ikkyo 2. Yokomen Uchi Shihonage 3. Shomen Uchi Irimi nage 4. Kotegaeshi Kaiten nage 5. Tenchi Nage

The one I’m most worried is kotegaeshi kaiten nage which is a waza avoiding punch in naval and bringing the ukemi to fall in circular motion.

However, I’m looking forward to go to the Taikai event and maybe who knows I might meet nice guy there *wink*. Wish me luck.

Reflection to Ramadan

Ramadan is over and today is Eid. All muslims are supposed to celebrate it with joy and happiness.

Unfortunately not me. I didn’t feel like to since I felt my Ramadan this year was not a good one half month of Ramadan.

Actually, I went back for a week to see my family and prayed Tarawikh everyday. It was wonderful to spent time with my family, break fast and sahoor togother with them, help my mom out in the afternoon and then go to the mosque at night everyday. Mek was also around.

I didn’t mind talking to my mom and mek about looking for a life partner. They seem supportive and happy that I began to show interest. My brother and sis also were very kind and happy that I was around and they always bought something home to make me happy. I really appreciate all their affort despite I being away all the time.

After I got back to Japan, things start turning around. Project I was handling had won in bidding, and things started to get very busy. I didn’t manage to ask for holiday for Eid since I had to finish this project. Every night I went back feeling so tired that I only had strength and will to pray Isyak only.

Anyway, I’m glad I spent half of my Ramadan with my family. This I thank to Allah only.

 

Good Bye Rose

Today was one of my officemate last day at work.

The whole month, we’re all relax as though nothing happen. But as the days getting closer, it is not that we’re relax. It just that we’re all pretending it was nothing but infact it was something.

One her last day, we had meeting the whole day, so I didn’t get the feeling she was going to be away. In fact every looks cool. I wanted to attend her farewell meeting but was caught up by my own meeting.

By the time my meeting was finish, her farewell event was also finish I didn’t manage to see her cry.

But just before the working was over, she came over to my desk and bid farewell. It was just so, my senior who was talking to me told us, he is emotional about things like this. I who are usually never should emotion infront of people, suddenly felt to his words which was also my emotion. To their surprise, I shed tears infront of them.

It was embarrasing though but I’m glad she felt happy about it. My senior joke offering his t-shirt sleeve to wipe out my tears. We laugh.

Anyway, I’m glad I was be able told her how I felt about her leaving and we will all miss her. She was really a valuable colleague and a friend.

 

Opportunity for New Destiny Pt.1

Nothing will began until there action.
22 ways to start changing your destiny

1. Learn something new
People who has little encounter are usually hang out alot in one field (eg. office).Learning something new can be a way to meet new people.

2. For better tomorrow
Make preparation/arrangements for tomorrow morning and without a doubt, you life will be in rythm (on time) (eg. handbank, documents, bento)

3. Read biography of great people
You can get few hints on how to be successful.

4. Contact old friends
Why not call old friends, even who pop out of dreams or your thoughs. It might be an sign. Sometimes you can get another point of view / advices from older friends.

5. Clean mirror of your bathroom

6. Arrange your cloths in gradation
Keeping your closet neat is harder than expected. Fold cloths in gradiation, and you might find the motivation to keep on going.

7. Dashi is always first in miso
In Japanese miso, dashi always comes first.
Which means, fortunes balances always comes from balanced necessities of life.Having a strong basic. Take miso for breakfast and tune in to what you do. Once getting use, it is easy.

8. Tell many people your ambition
100% of chances comes from people. Tell people around you about your dreams and also keep in touch is also important.

9. Check positive action of your friend who always seemed to be lucky
There are reason that these people are lucky and it’s not by incident. Watch good examples you can learn from a friend who seemed to be very lucky such as way of thinking, manner, greetings et.

10. Watch sunset & take a deep breath
For people who are always in haste, I recommend that you stop for a moment to watch the sunset and take a deep breath. Sometimes it is important to release negative energy and relax. If you do it everyday, you might notice small change in season.

Excerpt from Japanese “an an” magazine

Outing With Keiko

Today I went to see the movie, “Eat, Pray & Love” at Umeda with Keiko, a friend of mine met at Soroban class. We been dying to see it for weeks and last Saturday, to our dismay the ticket was sold out.

After the movie, we went to the nearest cake restaurant at Yodobashi camera. The restaurant was really huge. Their main menu is fruit toppings on tart. Unlike normal tart or cake, which the fruit is baked together, this restaurant uses fresh fruit with 3 4 variation on each cake. These cakes are displayed at the centre of the restaurant surrounding the patisserie s.

I will tell more about the movie “Eat Pray Love” later on.

Dogi (Martial Art Uniform)

My heart was beating fast the whole morning. It was still beating fast when I headed to Yomiuri Culture Centre.

Today I got my budo uniform. Mine was size 3 and it was really huge but sensei’s assistant said it will shrink once I washed it. I bought it at cheap price, so it has no “Aikikai Foundation” logo or my name tag. Hakama is not included since Hakama is only worn by top people.

The teacher’s assitant taught me how to tie up the “dogi” (as we called it in Japan) or “gi” they called it outside Japan which is by the way an incorrect Japanese. It was easier than I thought. One thing I was really impressed about this cloth is the way I could tie my pants securely and comfortably. It struck to me that praying skirt should have the same style like this pants. I always hate that how hard it is to tie up praying skirt without making it short or easily fall down. This Japanese are really genius and muslims should learn alot from them.

As I went into the class with my new uniform, other classmates smiles. Sensei camed next to me and said, “You look great!.” I thank her beaming away. It was my first martial uniform.

After that, we did some flips and falls. The assistant said,”It less painful isn’t it than normal cloths. This material is thick, so it should reduce some impact.” and it’s true enough. I felt much confident and high spirited by just wearing proper uniform.

After the class, the sensei told me she was quite surprise that my hijab didn’t got loose. I replied, in my country its normal to wear it while playin sports and we have no problem with it. But there are hijab highly design for sports but I don’t know how to buy it.

Sensei said,”aa, then you must get it…”

Anyway, I just love my new martial art uniform now.

Wonderful Rainy Saturday

Today I met another Singaporean, friend of Yunice at Soroban class. Her name is Joyce. After the class, Yunice, Joyce, Keiko and I went to nearby restaurant. We had really wonderful time, talking about Singapore, culture, work life and travel experiences. I really think Singaporeans are friendly.

After lunch, I discovered my favourite umbrella was stolen by one of the customers in the restaurant. I and Joyce purposely put it out from the umbrella box and I couldn’t believe someone from there took it as everybody wear nice cloths and the men wear suits. I hate that this kind of adults really doesn’t think make consideration that their stealing of umbrellas is a seriously effecting others.

However the restaurant waitress was kind enough to gave me an umbrella. I promised to returned it later.

After that, I went to Umeda with Keiko to watch Julia Robert’s latest movie ” Eat Pray Love.” To our dismay, Toho Cinema at Umeda was packed like sardines in tin and the tickets are sold out. We were really frustrated and checked all other cinemas. But none was showing the movie. We decided postponed to this Monday as it was public holiday.

After that Keiko followed me to Yodoyabashi Camera to buy a camera pouch. Then we had some coffee there as Keiko talked about her future plans and culture again and also my thoughts recently on moving on.

I told her, sometimes its better not to think too much when doing something as I discovered people like Yunice and my seniors wife got married with foreigner quite fast after few dates as most business man jump out into unknown market. But at the same time, I also told her, that I was same as Keiko when it comes to relationship always thinking too much ending up with nothing. But I never regret my position now as I’m enjoying it to the fullest.

On way back home, I bought some cute box at 300 Yen shop to decorate and organize my house. Things had been out of order lately.

At home, as I surf the net I receive a surprise call from someone I met last year during a job searching trip at Tokyo. I remember she and her husband was going to botanical park and was keen to know about me back then. Her son was working or maybe studying in one of the Islamic countries back then.

This time she told, she was worried if I got a job or not. I told her, I my luck was in Osaka but if I go to Tokyo I’ll visit her one day. I was surprise to know that her husband recently went to the mosque often and sometimes start doing Islamic rituals and her son is still in Jordan. She ask me women also prays or not. I told her yes.

It was only just one meeting but I don’t really know why, but I think I want to really meet this family one day again… InsyaAllah.

Ultron 40mm

Image via Wikipedia

For weeks I’ve been thinking about which lens to buy for my hiking trip next week and Okinawa trip next month. I was unable to decide between 50mm, 35mm and 40mm. Finally I bought “Cosina Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2″, 100% manual lens.

The package was supposed to arrived at 8pm tonight. I was so excited at work, I work as fast as I could. Somehow, I got caught up with extra work but fortunately my senior said I could finished it on Tuesday as I talk out to him.

I had half and hour before reaching home. I came to work by bicycle and it was raining heavily outside as I got out of the office. The fastest way to reach home is by bicycle but it was too dangerous as I didn’t bring any raincoat with me.

Considering my safety, I took the bus and prayed that I’ll make it one time.
Alhamdulillah, I did make it on time, as just few seconds I close my apartment door a door bell rang, with a voice saying ” Takkyubin (Post here!)”. I jump with joy.

I opened up my package quickly and attached the new lens to my slr camera. It was strange to use it. My camera panel could not detect the aperture of the lens and I discovered that I couldn’t control the focus using the camera buttons. After all this is my first completely manual lens.

I discovered that using manual lens is quite different than semi auto semi manual lens than I thought. Maybe I need time to get used to it.

Here are some pictures on the web taken by this lens. They are really beautiful.
photohito
flickr

6 Days Fasting in Shawwaal

Alhamdulillah, I was able to complete fasting 6 days of Shawwaal for the first time in my life after numerous of failed attempt before. I don’t think I did it very well though, but insyaAllah, hopefully it will be start for the years to come.

Benefits of fasting 6 days in Shawwaal

Ayyub (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said,

“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year.”
[Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah; Ahmad transmitted it from Jabir, Muntaqa]

Thawban (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said,

“Whoever fasts Ramadan, and then six days after Eid, it is [like fasting] an entire year. Whoever does a good deed shall have ten times its reward.”
[Ibn Majah, Muntaqa]

From Malaysia With Love

I got a surprise today. I received a box full of goodies from my family. Its been years since I received one. I was really happy. One of the items was moon cake set. It was really beautiful. I am really proud of Malaysia Chinese for doing such beautiful thing.

As I rummage through the items in box, I discovered a letter. It was really heartbreaking just to read it. But I thought, I had no other choice and only Allah knows it.