Sending Off Mak to Mekkah

I know this might be a long awaited blog update for some. Yes you know who you are. Well wait no more.

Yesterday my mom went for her hajj.

I went back to Terengganu for the weekend and took the Monday off so that I could spend the last few days with Mak before she went for her 50 day journey. InsyaAllah she'll be back on the 1st of January.

We all hope you gain Al-Hajj Al-Mabrur, insyaAllah. And we all hope you have safe journey to and from. Ameen. Can't wait to see you come next year!

Here's some pictures.

Classic

A quote from two of the best soccer players in the world.

Gerrard said: "I wouldn't swap Fernando for any other striker in the world, he's the best."

And Torres added: "If you play alongside someone like Stevie, who is the best in the world, it can only help you. He is a great passer and can score goals."

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, 5 friends, all of which were studying in Vanderbilt University, were going back to their dormitory at Branscomb Quad. On their way, they decided to form a band, a band that would later be known throughout the years as Vandy Boyband.

Original Members: Hubab , Dols, Babe, Arif, and Hafiz Hafifi

Later that night, as the newly formed band continued their walk home, they decided it was time for their first performance. The performance was held behind Olin Hall, and featured a guest singer, a rising star made popular by band members Babe and Hubab, named Abal.

Abal takes a pose with the original Vandy Boyband.

The band's first music video was released later that year. The momentous event for Vandy Boyband occurred on the band member's way home from the 2005 Raya celebrations. Using Rizwan's Handycam, the band recorded their video clip in between the Art Studios and the Student Life Center buildings. However, due to some difficulties, band members Dollah and Hafiz couldn't attend the shooting, and were replaced by Amar and Hassan, who would later become prominent members of the band. Among the songs sang where from Westlife, the Backstreet Boys, and Jamal Abdillah and Siti Sarah. The music video was available only for a limited time on Youtube, and generated almost a thousand views. Not bad for a first timer.

Vandy Boyband's first music video.

Vandy Boyband continued its rise to stardom when the band was invited to sing during the 2006 Senior Farewell Party. However, no photographs were taken, and thus, no record of the performance survived.

Later that year, the band decided to change courses for a while when it released it's debut nasyid album. The band even went as far as changing its name into Auliya'. Two extra singers were invited to the photo shoot, Qayyum and Amir. The newly formed nasyid band made its sole performance during the 2006 MAS Youth Camp. Again, no photographs of the event were recovered.

The band rebranded itself into Auliya'

The band went into a brief hiatus after that and it wasn't until the winter of 2007 that the band finally reemerged.The band decided to reform it's boyband and inspired by James Blunt hit You're Beautiful, which was shot in the snow, Vandy Boyband's cover album was also photographed in the snow. The album title: Boyband in the Snow. The band retained Dollah and featured Danny for the cover album.

Boyband in the Snow

The band decided to move slowly from there onwards. Their performances were limited to the MSAV's annual Raya celebrations only. There were no record of other activities by the band.

May 2009 signaled another milestone for the band. All of the band members, Dolah, Amar, Hubab, Hasan, Babe, and Arif graduated from Vanderbilt with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. After of which, they decided it was time to step out of the lime light and call an end to their glittering four year career. Now, the band members are dispersed everywhere in Malaysia and are living life as ordinary people among you and me.

That's the story of the Vandy Boyband. And yes, as with all fairytales, the band members are also living happily ever after.

THE END

Becoming a 'Kl'er

I'll be becoming a 'Kl'er starting from tomorrow. lol.

I start my job on the 1st of October.

I'll try to come back to Terengganu once a month, but I know it'll be quite hard to do so.

The waters are murky, the view hazy, and the stakes are high. But do wish me luck for this new chapter of life I'm entering into.

Selamat Hari Raya

Finally, here is my Hari Raya post. And yes, I know this post is outrageously overdue, it's almost expired! But what the heck, raya in Malaysia is for a month!

So I'd like to wish everyone out there, Muslims especially, Eid Mubarak! May this Eid occasion bring 1001 joy to each and everyone of you. And may Ramadhan that has just passed us bring us closer to the Creator, and hopefully, we can continuously maintain our ibadah for the coming months. InsyaAllah.

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin.

Berkat Ramadhan

Praise be to Allah, the All Mighty!

Ramadhan is a month of blessing, forgiveness, and hindrance from the Hell fire.

And in this blessed month, I finally got a job!

I landed a job in the forensic business. As a Failure Analysis Engineer. It might not be pretty and glamorous much, but it should be something I would enjoy doing. Gaining hands on experience is something I would prefer more over staying in the office.

Here's the website of the company which, InsyaAllah I'll be working at. Thanks for all the prayers!

Ramadhan Then and Now

As we approach the final few days of Ramadhan, it's only fair to compare my previous 4 year experience of Ramadhan in Nashville, TN, with what I'm experiencing now in Malaysia.

I'd have to say I really enjoyed fasting here in Malaysia, especially with my family and all. It's thrilling to relive the experience that I had prior to my stay in the US. The 'kuih muih' and the variety of food on offer at Ramadhan bazaars are at times overwhelming. It makes the decision on what to buy somewhat tougher. The blast and cracks of fire crackers and fire works throughout the night (even though sometimes quite annoying) are just some of the things I miss hearing. And then there's the 'bedil' the loud blast in Kuala Terengganu that signals the time for Imsak and break fast. Those are just some of the things unheard of in the US.

But whose to say I don't miss the Ramadhan in Nashville? Because I really do! I miss break fasting together with my friends at ICN, and the occasional sahur there. I miss it's Terawih, and especially, I miss the food. That's why during the break fast here in Malaysia, some of the things I cooked include, manggo lassi, tandoori chicken, and Waffle House style hash brown (others, I have forgot).

However, it's quite saddening to see that the month of Ramadhan is nothing more than just a tradition to some of us. We fast only because everyone else is doing so. Terawih here in Malaysia is most attended only during the first week of Ramadhan. Where everyone goes during the remaining weeks is quite a mystery. Even the last 10 days which contain Lailatul Qadr can't encourage people to visit the mosque. That my friends, has got to change.