redefinition of a typical malay mind

I did international relations when I first joined civil service in 2002. I left international relations in 2005 ,to focus on other domestic fields. I am now back in the international arena, focusing on environment issues.

Last time I was in Korea it was an APT course. Now I am here for a meeting. Not in Seoul like last time, in a province called Changwon. Changwon is currently hosting the 10th Conference of Parties of the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands. It is a convention , attended by about 135 contracting parties, to discuss, deliberates and make decisions on continuous efforts to preserve the wetlands and the environment as a whole.

BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MEETING. This is about the gestures of the host country that I have never encountered in other international meetings.

Yesterday, was the official opening ceremony. His Excellency President of Republic of Korea - President Lee Myung Bak officiated the meeting in a grand opening ceremony. Later last nite we were celebrated in a dinner hosted by Minister of Environment Korea.

Food in a foreign country has always been a problem for Muslims. Some countries simply just don’t understand that HALAL foods, are not merely pork-less foods. HALAL also means, the meat/ poultry/ mutton must be from a halal source ( slaughtered by a Muslim). Apart from that, a Muslim cant also consume any products containing lard, alcohol or any of that kind.

Most of the time in international meetings, Muslims will have to survive with fish or any vegetarians food. It is amazing how the world could respect the principal of a vegetarian and served special food for them but refused to understand the concept of HALAL.So walking into the dining hall last night I immediately asked for the vegetarians table. To my surprise the secretariat told me, they provided HALAL food and there’s actually few tables with HALAL tag!!.

Not impressive enough, under the menu cards, there’s an envelope containing a photocopy of the HALAL certificate of the company who’s providing the food for those HALAL tables. I was speechless, happy and impressed!

Thank you Korea, thank you Changwon. I do hope that this consideration will be continued by other countries who have plans to host any international meetings in the future.

THANK YOU

I am attending a mtg in  city called Changwon, in South Korea. The journey to Changwon took 10 hours by plane (9 from KL to Seoul, another 1 from Seoul to Busan) and about 40 mins bus ride from Busan to Changwon.

It is autumn, but coming from a 2 season country like Malaysia, it is so freekinly freezy. My lips dried easily causing it to be irritatingly painful. It is not as bad as winter, but it is cold out there. I am blessed by a great decision to stay at The Pullman Ambassador Hotel. Not only that it is just next to the convfention center, but it is also next to a shopping center.

I had a peek of the shopping center today, and although everything is on sale but still it is pretty much expensive than it was in Malaysia. But Calvin Klein had a 50% less on some of their winter clothing.. Hmmmm. U cant get good winter clothing in Malaysia…and I am so temted to empty my purse for that lovely winter jacket.

But that jacket can wait, went to register my self at the convention center, and discovered there’s a new set of documents on distributions. And that means hell lots of reading to be done.

So peeps, more entries coming soon. As for now, reading documents it is.

“

Some called it a free promotion on tourism what so ever. That’s why SRK deserved his datukship. DUH?

Have there not been any Malaysian who’ve worked hard to promote tourism for the country? Or for that particular state? If the base for that datukship is because of him shooting a movie in Malacca, then after this, would Malacca give datukship to all foreign movie stars who shoots their movie in Malacca?

Datukship, is a high level appreciation. Datuk Shah Rukh Khan??? IS SO DAMN RIDICULOUS!

I’ve been busy ( aint we all?).

Attended a great training on multilateral negotiations and diplomacy last week. Met lots of new friends, developed allies and new networks. Can’t write much… still exhausted from a week of training and socializing. Here are some pics for you to enjoy.. 

I am seriously sick, having difficulties to breath, fever, coughing, flu, you name it. The thing that makes me sicker is, I fall sick at times when I need to focus the most.

Am currently at IDFR attending a course in multilateral diplomacy. As usual, crashing in at Manoq’s room. She was sick earlier before I came, so she blamed her self for making  me sick as well.

We went to a clinic at Kg. Baru yesterday. Manoq told the doctor that she thinks she is the reason I am sick. And the doctor said, “Nothing will happen without ALLAH permits, don’t blame your self for what is happening to you or others”

The doctor asked us what we do for living. We then said government servant. She then asked, what group of government servants? PTD? and we said yes. She then told us that she is going to be 50 next year. And for the past 50 years, she felt like she is not doing anything to the society and for herself. She advise us to do something useful (yeah.. but we have to get well first aint we?)

Her father was a teacher. Her sister became a lecturer with a PHD. She became a doctor, few other siblings are also doing fine. Her husband is a doctor as well, they were blessed with 9 kids. But according to her, non of them becomes what she wanted them to become, which is becoming a doctor. 

Her first child,  tried to take up medicine, but gave up after 2 years and took up another course. The second one took up engineering, and gave up after 1 year. So she felt that although her children went to universities, but she has failed.

Because I am sick, and because she was still writing my prescriptions at that time. I kept my mouth shut. I just want to repeat what she told Manoq earlier “ Nothing will happen without ALLAH permits, don’t blame your self for what is happening to you or others”.

Redha is the key word here.

I think the doctor needs to advice herself the way she advised others. Only then she would be happy. 

~~~down with all kind of diseases~~~~

dakwanie 

www.handbagplanet.com 

go check it out and you can win too !!

My mom, will be 58 years old this year. Another 2 years before she reach 60. Although she doesn’t even look like a 58 years old lady, but yes age are catching up with her. Now that I have moved back with her, I realize that the aging processes actually are taking place.

The most significant is her hearing ability. She sometimes could not hear me clearly, especially if I am sitting  behind her. Her left arm not as strong as before, thus makes her movements limited. She is still active, moving here and there, socializing, contributing to the society, but she get’s tired easily. During last Ramadhan, she found it very difficult to get through the day, if she missed her sahur. She became fussy over unecessary things and ignore certain things that used to be important to her. She used to drive agressively, but now, she is more carefull.

 Apart from that, my mom has changed from a strict person to a more understanding mother. Well i guess it is natural for mothers to be a bit strict while raising their children. But as years passing them by, the become their child’s best friend.

I am blessed that for this 6 months before my posting, I get the opportunity to spend more time with her. It makes me realize, that growing old is actually a wonderful process.

My beloved cousin was engaged to a stupid jerk who don’t even know how to put up a proper hantaran. You can find a complete review of that engagement ceremony at http://wanierazi.fotopages.com/?entry=1220940

And so time flies, they had their sweet and tough moments. At one time Anim don’t even want to speak to jerk for about 3 months. But they patch things up and decided to tie the knot on 10th january 2009. The jerk however decided to end everything -abruptly 2 weeks before eid.

Well, aint Anim sad? of course, they have been dating for more than 6 years. But it is also a blessing. The family did not have good feelings about jerk since the first day we saw him. What more after his bunch of mamak’s aunties came with ugly hantaran without no dulang. And so, although  lots of money has ben spent for the wedding preparations. We are still happy.

1) We are happy for Anim for she would no longer have to bare all the cursing of that arrogant jerk

2) We are happy for Anim so that now she could find someone better and fairer (mamat tu gelap gulita ok)

3) We are happy for Anim for now she is blessed with happiness.

The jerk did made stupid remarks such as

1) Saya paksa diri saya pujuk awak — and I say : ko tak tau betapa terpaksanya kami menerima ko just because Anim loves you

2) Duit tak jadi kawen ni- saya nak beli HONDA — ler… tak ada duit ke sebenarnya?

3) Nak sangat ke duit hantaran saya ni?— Ko ingat, mak dia besarkan dia pakai air longkang? hmmmm

4) Family kita tak sama —- Of course, we are at a higher standard!

 well he said hell lots of stuff, but these 4 are so funny, and I cant help my self but to share it here.

To kakak, putus tunang?? Yeayy.. life moves on bebeh. 

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI

Maaf Zahir dan Batin

terhadap semua keterlanjuran kata mahupun perbuatan

Semoga Syawal kali ini membawa jutaan kebahgiaan untuk kita semua. 

I hit big 30 today.

Thanks guys for all the best wishes. 

Mon…treated me with a SHOPPING SPREE session. Well i guess after so many years, he finally realize that is the BEST gift!