Friday, July 31, 2009

IN THE KITCHEN WITH MAMA MORALLE......SIMPLE KITCHEN TIPS

Salam to all and a very good Friday to everyone reading vogue-u :)

There will be no recipe today but mama will share some kitchen tips which are quite useful. Insyaallah by next week onwards there will be recipes to share with, mostly simple recipes to cater for the coming RAMADHAN................

TIPS TIPS TIPS..............

** Keep boiled eggs in cold water for 5 minutes, this will make removal of the shell easier!

** While cooking smelly foods, soak a cloth towel and let it dry in the cooking area. It will absorb the smell of cooking and keep the room fresh!

** When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated!

** Add a pinch of sugar while cooking spinach and green leafy vegetables, it will retain its green colour!

** Never store an apple near a banana unless you want to ripen the banana in a short period of time!

** Sprinkle a bit of salt in the frying pan before adding chicken. It will cut down on the amountof grease splattering!

** To remove the coffee stain in the cup, fill it with any kind of soda for 3 hours!

** If you drop an egg on the floor, cover it with salt and leave it for a couple of minutes. Cleaning the mess will be easy with a paper towel!

** If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep biscuits fresh for a longer time!

** To keep celery fresh for a long time, wrap it in aluminium foil and place in the refrigerator!

** To keep the chilies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing!

** Never keep greens in plastics, it will rot quickly!

** To keep lemon fresh put them in water and store in refrigerator!



Hopefully with these few tips, it will helps to solve some common problems that we always hv in the kitchen.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKENDS TO ALL




Thursday, July 30, 2009

La Dolce Vita : I love to Read!

BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up? Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read. Tag other bookies.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen x
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien x
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee x
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens x
Total: 4

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger x
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
Total: 1

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
Total: 0

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens x
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma-Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini x
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden x
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
Total: 3

41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown x
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding x
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
Total: 2

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon x
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Total: 1

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding (in French)
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
Total: 0

71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens x
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker x
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Inferno – Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Total: 2

80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White x
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom x
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton x (yikes read this in primary sch can?)
Total: 3

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (n French)
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare x
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl x
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Total: 2

Total of totals: 18. -- Looks like I have a lot of reading to do to complete the 100...oh wait 99...cos I dun have the intention to read the bible.


I am tagging all you Vogue-uers out there.

Sorry for the lame post today. Having a major migraine. If I'm feeling better by tonight I might post the goodies I got recently from Phuket. Hopefully this killer migraine will disappear by then.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Geek Chic is sorry for interfering in Shopper-mama's slot. :p

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

That, in all matters related to IT, is a pangram. Pangram here means a sentence that has all alphabets in it. [Go on, try you ABCs on it hehe.]

If you are learning how to type the correct way, the basics will require you to type this over and over again, since it contains every single alphabet from A-Z. :)

I'm doing a quick trial and error since I just adjusted some codes for the fonts. Excuse moi eh.


Otak Belacan and her random ABCs of geek chic 101. :p

Time out with Shopper Mama - Distinctively Women!

Women do think differently than Men when it comes to shopping!


Cashier - Cash or credit card?

Woman – Cash pls.

As she fumbled for her wallet, the cashier noticed a remote control for a television set in her bag.

Cashier - Do you always carry your TV remote?

Woman - No. But my husband refused to come shopping with me, so I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A husband and wife are shopping in their local store.

The husband picks up a case of Budweiser beer and puts it in their cart.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife.

'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans,' he replied.

'Put them back, we can't afford them,' demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.

A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband.

'It's my face cream. It makes me look sexy and beautiful for you when we're making love,' replied the wife.

Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser ... at half the price.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And last but not least...



Ok I bet 99% of us women are guilty of the above!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Vogue-U Potion - How do you react if you lost your passport overseas....!!!!

Well it did happen to me in 2005 in KL.

Let me share the experience and hopefully all of us will be extra careful in the future..... InsyaAllah.

Before I begin, praise to Allah, the Almightly, the most Gracious and the most Merciful....

During the mid-term school holiday in 2005, my hubby and me went to a seminar in KL together with my friends (my ex-secondary school classmate and her ex-colleague). Besides the seminar, all of us also extended our stay with other members of our family for hooray2 and shopping as well.

My ex-classmate booked a family suite at Flamingo Hotel in Ampang for all 3 families to bunk in for 3 days 2 nites.

Since the 2-nites seminar was held at night, we decided to spend the day with our family members for fun, shopping and relaxing. We even went to one of the waterfall resort at Hutan Lipur Kanching (just outskirt of KL town towards Rawang). Our children had a good time there, swimming and picnic all.


Picture 1 - Picnic n Relax at Hutan Lipur Kanching - Selangor

Picture 2 - Having a cool dive in the make-shift pool at the 5th floor waterfall of Hutan Lipur Kanching

Picture 3 - Shopping at Suria KLCC


On the last day of stay in Ampang, my friends decided to check-in another hotel nearer to Puduraya so that it would be easier for them to take the coach back to S’pore the following day. As for my family, considering we were driving, we decided to go back that very night. However we hang out in the hotel with my friends after dinner that night until very late before deciding to drive back to JB.

The hotel did not have a proper parking lot, thus hubby had difficulty in finding a parking space. The road around Puduraya was congested as it was Sunday evening. In the end hubby decided to park opposite Puduraya, behind the Indian Temple, after going through the road for uncountable times. The place was quite remote but many cars parked there due to the heavy and congested road.

OK to cut short the story, after hanging out, we bid goodbyes and exchanged hugs with my friends at the hotel. We walked towards our car that was parked behind the Indian temple. It was quite a distant away. Upon reaching our car, hubby took his car key and unlocked the car via remote. Suddenly we realised it was not possible and suspected something was not right. We noticed the latches were up and obviously the car was not locked. My hubby queried whether he locked the car before we left it there. We confirmed we heard the beep sound and the latches went down simultaneously to lock the car when we left it there. Hubby advised us not to touch anything yet while he scouted around the car to see whether it was forced opened. At that point, my heart was beating fast and had expected the worst. We saw that the driver’s door was ajar and hubby quickly opened and as predicted we had been robbed. The coin compartment was on the front passenger’s seat with all the coins tossed all over the seat and floor. My children quickly opened the back doors to check their things at the back seat. Suddenly my youngest daughter gave a loud scream and said her sling bag was missing. My hubby consoled her coz she said her ez-link card was inside the sling bag. We told her we could get her ez-link card replaced when we reached S’pore.

My hubby pulled up the lever to check the booth compartment. And thank God, our luggages were intact. At that point of time, I suddenly realized and almost had a heart attack coz our passports were in my daughter’s sling bag…..OMG!!!!!! I told hubby and he became furious and questioned me why did I transfer the passports into our daughter’s sling bag. I was still in shock and only said “At least we are all still alive dear!!!” My husband was the lucky guy coz his passport was in his pouch all the time and followed him everywhere he goes.

Before lodging a police report, we combed the area and drains, including underneath our car. Just to make sure, in case the robber/s threw the sling bag around there. I called my friend’s husband’s hp but too bad there was no answer coz the next day he told us he put it under silent mode.

Before going to the police station, hubby queried whether S’pore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and S’pore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) have a webpage. I said we can try to check. We went to a 24-hr internet cafĂ© opposite Puduraya. Hubby and children waited in the car, while I registered to use the net. Upon surfing the net, I managed to surf the ICA webpage and abled to get a 24-hr support call in S’pore Embassy. I called and managed to speak to a Mr Brian (forgot his full name). He advised me to lodge a police report, which I told him I was going to do.

Since embassy is only open during office hours, Brian suggested we stayed another nite in KL and came back to embassy the following morning together with our passport photos (to be taken the next day) and the police report. He would do all the necessary things to report our case to ICA. He told me to relax and not to worry and that we had done the correct thing.

After that, hubby went to Bukit Aman Police Station to lodge the report. Luckily I had all my children’s records and passport nos with me so the process went through smoothly. However it ended quite late around 3 or 4am. Hubby said if we were to check-in a hotel at around that timing, obviously we would overslept as all of us were shacked. He was also worried to drive back to his late mum’s home as she might be puzzled and wondered what could have happened to us. So we decided to doze in the car for a while and then dropped by his late mum’s home to bathe and freshen up. In order not to make his mum worried about us, hubby just told her we had bunked in with my friends in the hotel and rushed there only to bathe considering too many people wanted to take the shower. After bathing, hubby helped to get the children ready. My late mum-in-law wanted to prepare breakfast for us but we declined stating that we want to rush back to S’pore and we could simply just have a quick bite on the road. We bid farewell to her. Hubby said it was too early to get a photo shop and decided to go to a M'sian Passport branch office in town as there was an instant passport photo booth there opened as early as the Immigration Branch Office (around 8am). Hubby waited in the car while I brought my kids to get a photo shot each. After that we proceeded to S’pore Embassy. After registration at embassy’s guard post, we headed into the embassy office where there was a long queue of people applying for visas. I went to the query counter and requested to see Brian. In just a few seconds, Brian approached us. After introducing myself, I passed him our photos and police report. He consoled us and told us to relax while he processed the necessary things for us. Later a Chinese guy came out and approached us at our seats and introduced himself as the officer-in-charge and also consoled us not to worry and the embassy would be doing their best to assist us as much as possible. Brian then approached us again and said he had faxed the police report and other details to ICA and they had to wait for their verification before the embassy could endorse the temporary passports to us. Both of them assured us that everything would be fine.

While waiting at the embassy, my friend called back coz her husband realized there were a coupled of missed calls from my hp. I told them the scenario and they were shocked and decided not to go back to S’pore until we were cleared. I told them to go off considering they did not have any other transportation besides the coach only. They checked out the hotel late and went to Puduraya to check the available timings for the return trip to JB. They decided to hold back their return trip until all of us were cleared as there were coaches to JB on every hour. I was touched by my friends’ gestures and cried.

By late morning, our temporary passports were ready and Brian informed us that we need to surrender them to S’pore ICA checkpoint upon arrival. He said he was not sure about Malaysia’s Immigration ruling and suggested we dropped by their KL office for verification.

Before going to M’sian Immigation Office Head Office, my hubby took out some cash from the bank to prepare for any fee incurred. It was Murphy’s Law as the roads leading to the government buildings had changed and hubby was having a hard time making u-turns all the way to and fro until we finally managed to turn in the correct route. We could see the buildings but yet there was no through road leading towards them and we kept missing the right turnings. And by the time we reached there it was after 12 noon or so and I knew the poor children were hungry but were still in shocked. We bought some savouries sold near the government bldgs just to fill up our empty stomach as all of us did not take any breakfast so far.

We approached the information counter and relaid our dilemma to the officer who was fidgeting all the time and was having a discussion with another colleague. He told us to go down to the ground floor to purchase the application form no. so and so. My hubby mentioned that we were not applying for visa or anything but just to report that we shall be carrying temporary passports and needed them to verify the endorsement from our S’pore embassy. He gave us a queue no. and insisted us to get the forms and filled up the necessary information.

After paying and getting the forms, we went back to the passport office (couldn’t remember on which floor it was). Both, hubby and me filled up all the 4 forms individually and then sat in one corner to wait for our queue no to be called. When it was our turn, we approached the counter and to our shocked the officer said our documentations were all in order and we did not need their verification or so whatever. He said just passed the temporary passports at the M’sian checkpoint counters in JB and the officers will stamp the normal departure/exit date behind it. My hubby was very furious with the information counter officer for the hustles and making us wasted a few hours there. He was too tired to argue and told the officer we wanted to go back to S’pore right away. Before we left, hubby suggested to take lunch in one of the stalls near there considering it was already almost 3pm.

While taking our lunch, I called up my friends and told the scenario. Just in time, they managed to get the 3pm or so return trip to JB.

After lunch, hubby drove all the way and had stopped for toilet and “solat” break at highway’s R n R in Seremban and another one in Machap I guessed.

Alhamdulillah, everything went smooth at M’sia and S’pore checkpoints. However at S’pore checkpoint, we were escorted to their office where we had to surrender all the temp passports to them.

We were all so tired and rushed home immediately.

So dear all, pls look after your belongings carefully, especially traveling documents, and doesn’t matter whether you are in homeland or overseas. Never take things for granted and I’ve learnt a hard lesson here.

Nevertheless, Alhamdulillah, thank you God for giving me the courage to handle the situation smoothly. I was also grateful to Brian, his superior and support staff at S'pore Embassy for the attention and support rendered to us even though I had to bother him at very wee-hour. To my beloved friends, Mazni and family, Gee and family for the moral support and unconditional love rendered to us during our dilemma. To my beloved husband and children, thank you for the patience, cooperation and being together to encounter the dilemma. Last but not least to all of you for being patient in reading my long-winded story…huhu….

So.... stay cool always and think of solutions before reacting…… Lots of Luv to all….. muacks muacks.

Monday, July 27, 2009

i LOVE mondays - TRIBUTE to she who is Charismatic

In the name of Almighty, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It was one of the most talk about subject last weekend. Even my mom was saying that the Ustazah at her religious class on Sunday had also made some references about her. Suddenly, the search engine on the much talk about person became one of the major constant hit. Her Facebook is swamped. There were some that mourn for her loss and there were some that condemns her existence. I believe to each is own.

I started to get her news last Thursday whilst I was walking out after my meeting and was scrolling my blackberry to check my mails. A particular email made me so shock, that I stopped walking in the middle of the road without realizing so! And it was after I “parked” myself at the sidewalk that I finish reading all the email trails I was still hopeful that she would get better.

Sunday, 26 July 2009 – The dreaded news surfaced. She is now gone forever…..

And immediately my mind flashback to the first and now, last time that I had a brief moment with her. She was in Singapore, PictureHouse. I think sometime in October or November 2008. The screening of Muallaf. And that was my very first taste of her movie works. And how oblivious I am for I didn’t even know that those tear jerking Patronas adverts that I only get in my email links were her works at that time. C’mon, I rarely watched TV plus I didn't have TV3 cable nor was in flight movies going have channels on adverts...

Particularly this one, it just sting me to the max. No matter how much your work pays you...... parents' love is just priceless.



So I was very shy indeed to be sitting in the room full of her fans that followed her every movie and there I was a first timer…but Muallaf just manage to hit me hard.

A simple message – LOVING YOUR PARENTS. To those who see the actual message from the movie, I'm sure you know what I meant! Its about the substance…not the content.

I remembered being very honest with her. She asked me “So you also watch Sepet, Gubra?” I remembered telling her “Kak, I very paiseh lah. This is the first one watching your movie....but Muallaf meant so much to me and made impact on me of what I’m going through my life.”

And thus our conversation just flow - our path crossed for a brief moment ,but her charisma and stimulating conversation is one that I will never forget in my life.

You are definitely an inspiration. Your beliefs in racial harmony and positive messages about life and family values are admirable. May you rest in peace and your soul be blessed in HIS love. Al Fatihah, Amen!

That reminds me, I've yet to call Mama and Abah today ...to say...... i LOVE you!

have a blessed evening all - xoxo Pearl

only HE knows BEST

i LOVE mondays - REFLECTIONS : The Climb

May Peace be Upon YOU

Have you ever, being in a particular feeling or being in a certain situation, would relate yourself to a particular song and lyrics? Do you?....

I do that alot at times.. When I'm sad, happy or going through a motion, a song would pop in my head and became that background music...

And few days ago, I had Miley Cyrus being my "lead singer". Several times that I heard this song over the radio but never really paid attention to it and while driving back to my parents over the weekend, Miley's out blasting on Power 98 and it's was like just perfect timing! - synchronizing with my my thoughts, reflection in life and the several events that I had undergone.....

I only realized that it was a Miley's song when I recall seeing her video clip in Mama Moralle's during her birthday crash..

Simply said, I just love the lyrics! This is my current soundtrack




The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what?s waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Somebody gonna have to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

xoxo - Pearl

i LOVE mondays - DESIGN HOTELS : Fuzhon Resort

May Peace be upon YOU

Location
: Shanghai, China
Style : Contemporary Asian

I was digging for material in my external hard drive to a post to write and found pictures that I took whilst I stayed in a resort in China couple years back.

It was a design retreat with my previous employer that brought me to Huangzhou, Shanghai in China. A 3 day event, we put up at Fuchun Resort. A collaboration of the INTERIORS design teams from Hongkong, Shanghai and Singapore.


Designed by Denniston International Architects & Planners, the resort is located on a 150 ha site between the mountains and the legendary Fuchun River south of Hangzhou. It comprises of a 18-hole golf course, a luxurious clubhouse and driving range, a 126 room 4-star hotel with comprehensive spa and a group of 48 luxurious residences with private pools.

Three hours southwest of Shanghai, Fuchun Resort is located in Hangzhou, among tea-covered hills. I was coming from Hongkong which took me a direct flight to Huangzhou via Dragonair

One could easily be fooled by the misty background of this town until you step out and could somehow smell the lingering pollution from the chemical industry park that adds to the damaging of the atmosphere and eco system. If you're sensitive to the slightest speck of dust like me, you can easily feel it in your throat and eyes.


Reception at the resort is very warm. From the greetings at the doorstep, checking in and guiding to your room, the service is friendly and professional.

I have to say, this resort is designed for privacy. Hallways and corridors are very dimly litted and if you're bad at directions like I am, its easy to lost your way as its like a labyrinth finding your way round.

If you're into golf, it is said that this China's finest international standard award winning 18 hole, 72 par golf course set amongst a working tea plantation, is one challenging range . For those who loves exercising and would like a stressful unwind activity, Tai Chi and Yoga are being conducted by the hotel's renowed Fuchun tai chi and Himalayan yoga masters.


The rooms are nicely fitted out to an Asian contemporary flair. Rooms are very spacious and you can probably play hide and seek if you want to. Alas, my Pato could not join me for this. There are several different layouts of the rooms in the resort but the interiors are fairly similar.



My eyes first laid on the bed. 4 pillows...!!! (Pearl needs minimum 4 pillows). Guess I don't have to do the request of pillow test. Since I was staying in the room by myself, it was sufficient. The resort hotel staff gave me tour of the room as well as using the amenities in the room itself which seems to be a standard procedure as I've checked with the rest. No tipping required.


For me in particular, I love the lounging area. With a good book, you can laze on the sofa and my room was overlooking the lake which was very calming I would say.



For those of you who loves large bathroom, this would be a haven. Two sets of basins so couples, you don't have to fight when you brush your teeth or when one is shaving whilst the other is doing facial. Plenty of room to maneuver. However the bathtub, if you think you can squeeze for 2, its worth the try.






Each room is provided with a CD player which comes with an Instrumental CD compilation of Asian flavoured lounge and chillout mood. Sold at the resort's gift shop, it makes a nice souvenir back home.

Featured in the SLH Spa book, the spa treatment is rendered by a group of Balinese girls that offered many types of massages, facials and baths. I'm not much of a massage gal but loves aromatherapy, scrubs and bath. So I had the "Hangzhou's Silk Cacoon" which consist of a body cleanse, body scrub, after which wrapped with rose petals with a red silk cloth and pretty much left you there for the next 15 mins and finished off with a shower.



Honestly speaking, nothing special considering their steep prices. The only thing I like about the spa treatment is the footscrub.



What I really love is sitting by the terrace. Sitting here in the mornings having breakfast was simply breathtaking. We had few discussions and brief meetings here and definitely less stressful.....



I would say, this is my favourite spot of the resort.


Food wise, it is a variety of Asian cuisine. From Indonesian fried rice to Singapore noodle to Phad Thai and even Japanese soba, its the typical selection of Asian food. I guess food is a subjective topic. Whilst some of us love the food, I couldn't say for myself. Very blend indeed.




However, the great company of merry makers made it all up. We had a blast till 2am in the morning !!



One thing that I did not try out in Fuchun Resort is the waveless pool for simple reason that - PEARL DON'T SWIM....

So, if you're in Shanghai and looking for a nice relaxing, pampering stay and for those golf lovers, Fuchun Resort may be a suitable getaway. Not for a family retreat with young children as you'll be entering a realm of pure boredom.

And no, not for Shopaholics either...........

So, been to China lately?

From your kawai designer - Pearl

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Vogue U Quicktips: Household Items = Extraordinary uses?

As I was doing my random-'pointless'-surfing-of-the-internet routine, I stumbled upon a great site that shares 16 great facts on household items that are been put to other means of usage. It was pretty awesome cos as I was reading, I went 'oooo' and 'ahhhhh', like that. Hehe.

Well, my routine today wasn't really that pointless ey? :p

A bit from the website here:

1) Toothpaste

* To remove crayon marks. Walls are like drawing papers to kids right. Hehehe. What you can do is to squirt a small amount of toothpaste and rub it against the wall with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.
* Deodorize hands. You can wash your hands with toothpaste if you can't get rid of whatever smell that stinks on it. Lol. I wonder if it works on tumeric? Hmmm.

2) Nail polish

* Secure a screw. Helps to tighten a loose screw. [?] Maybe I should go find a screw that is 'on the loose' and try this. Lol.
* Stop tarnish. Keep costume jewelery from turning black.
* Smooth a hanger. You can actually smooth out the rough edges of your hanger by using nail polish. Now how cool is that?

3) Cornstarch

* Get cooking grease of the wall. Just need to rub it with a cloth. A bit of hardwork I guess.
* Freshen your feet. It absorbs moisture and help to prevent blister. Erk. 0_o
* Detangle a knot. Stubborn knots like shoelaces, strings, chain necklaces, etc. [I am super curious about this lah!]

4) Salt

* Clean a greasy pan. A little salt before washing will help to absorb most of the grease.
* Remove water marks from wood surfaces. Aha! Mix salt and cooking oil and clean it with a sponge. I am so gonna try this. I belong to the anti-water-mark-on-wood-surfaces-clan you see. T_T

That's just some I find it useful, well for me. Hehe. More on this HERE.

If you have some other interesting tips similar to this, sharing is caring you know. =p

Friday, July 24, 2009

The Geek Chic oops I did it again!

Telllll meeeeeee what you think of the new template my dear vogue-u-ers!!! Constructive comments are mostly welcomed! We're still tidying things up, so give us some time ya? But but, it's better right? Bolder?

Super coolness. Hehe.

And yes, may I ask, if any of you would be interested to take part in a spree? Tell us what kind of sprees would you prefer. Victoria Secrets? Forever21? Old navy? Dorothy Perkins? Asos?

Let us know aights?

Have a blast weekend yaw! :)

Recipe of the day: Roti Boyan

Dengan nama Allah, maha Pengasih, lagi maha Penyayang.....
Kepada Del from UK yg bertanyakan resepi Roti Boyan..... OK dear, disini kami lampirkan resepinya. harap-harap boleh lah mencubanya ya...... Pembaca yg lain pun boleh juga mencuba resepi ni... senang jer....

Sebelum kita keresepinya, Mak Pah nak menyingkap sejarah roti boyan ni. Sebenarnya Mak Pah tak tau kenapa orang S'pura panggil roti ni roti boyan, mungkin asalnya dibuat oleh orang boyan (bawean) agaknya.... Mak Pah pula bukan orang boyan jadi tak dpt lah nak tau kepastian asal usul roti boyan ni. Tapi dari apa yg Mak Pah tau ianya dicipta dari bahan2 yg mak2 kita dapat kat dapur utk dijadikan sarapan atau buat makan petang. Terus ianya menjadi suatu kuih yg mcm sinonim bukan saja pada masyarakat boyan (bawean) tapi juga kpd orang2 melayu yg lain diS'pura. Bersepah dijual sama ada yg dah siap utk dimakan ataupun yg jenis beku. Kalau bulan Ramadhan, hampir semua gerai kuih dibazaar Ramadhan ada juadah roti boyan, mcm2 bentuk dan rupa, antara sedap dgn tidak jer. Baiklah utk tidak berlengah lagi, disini Mak Pah lampirkan resepi roti boyan.....

Roti Boyan

Adunan A – Kulit roti
500g tepung gandum
1 cawan minyak masak atau marjerin/mentega cair
1 cawan air suam dibubuh 1 sudu kecil garam (gaul sebati) – boleh tambah air jika perlu
Adunan B – Inti
500g ubi kentang
1 atau 2 biji telur
1 atau 2 biji bawang besar - dihiris halus
Sedikit daun sop n daun bawang hiris (maybe 50 sen) - optional
Lada sulah secukup rasa
Garam secukup rasa

Cara Membuatnya:
Cara Membuat kulit:
1. Tabur tepung gandum kedalam bekas uli.
2. Buat lubang ditengah tepung dan masukkan minyak dan air suam ditengah lubang.
3. Kemudian gaul sedikit demi sedikit hingga kesemua tepung menyaluti minyak dan air.
4. Gaul rata dan uli adunan tepung hingga kental. Jika perlu, boleh ditambah air utk mendapatkan adunan yang kental dan boleh dijadikan bebola utk diuli.
5. Ada 2 cara utk buat kulitnya, samada seperti epok tapi buat 2 bulatan adunan kulit mcm pizza, letakkan intinya diatas kulit, lalu dirangkip satu lagi bulatan kulit diatas inti dan diklim sekelilingnya.
6. Atau uli dan guling bebeola kulit hingga menjadi empat segi, masukkan inti dan lipat macam murtabak….(Ikut selera masing2 ler)


Cara Membuat Inti:
1. Cuci kentang hingga bersih dan rebus hingga empuk. Lalu ditoskan dan dibiar sejuk sebelum dikopek kulitnya.
2. Kemudian kentang dilecek hingga lumat.
3. Gaulkan telur, bawang hiris, daun sop, daun bawang, lada sulah dan garam bersama kentang lecek hingga sebati.
4. Letakkan inti kedalam kulit roti yang telah diuli.
5. Klim keliling atau lipat kulit supaya inti tak terkeluar waktu menggoreng
6. Goreng hingga ranggup diatas kuali leper seperti goreng roti canai (roti prata)

Roti boyan selalunya dicicah dgn sambal tumis udang kering atau sambal tumis ikan bilis atau apa2 sambal pun OK lah….. nyum nyum….. kira kalau dah makan tu mesti giler kentang ler... hehe
Selamat mencuba……

Just in case you need to try the roti boyan, I have a supplier yang supply frozen roti boyan cum with the sambal ikan bilis. She’s selling at S$6/packet. 1 packet has 10 pieces of roti boyan (the size is the one I brought at Blushwax’s housewarming party - abt 1 palm size each). You may call Marina directly at her hp no. 96525266. The orders are quite overwhelming, she might take a few days to do for you.

Footnote from Nadh OB: Yes we did get to try Puan Marina's roti boyan! And I can tell you, it was scrumptious. It's not oily, the fillings are very generous and the sambal goes well with it! Do try if you may. Lagipun, dah nak bulan puasa ni, senang lah ada ready made stuffs like this. Boleh buat sahur. Hehe. Happy weekends everyone! :)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

La Dolce Vita : Out Damn Spot!

Ola everybody! I received an email recently asking for advise. Let's look at her(I assume it's a girl) problem shall we?


Hi Sis Blushwax,



I love your La Dolce Vita tips!! They are very useful. Thank you for sharing! But, i got a problem with pimples and i need your advice. I am 16 years old and have troubles with pimples since i got into secondary school. :( can u help to recommend any cream that is good and cheap(budget) for the pimples? thanks! appreciate it! ^^


From,


Pimple hater.
 
Dear Pimple Hater, I can so identify with your problems right now cos I am having the worst bout of premenstrual breakout ever! Hehe. Now let me stress on how important it is to cleanse your face properly especially since you are at the stage where hormones will cause your face to be really oily.
 
1) Get a suitable facial cleanser that's anti bacterial or with tree tea oil as one of it's active ingredients.
 
2) Also get a toner that contains witch hazel in it like the witch hazel toner from Guardian. Cheap and good! But remember not to overcleanse your face. This will cause more sebum and oil production which will eventually lead to more pimples.
 
3) As for the pimple cream, I swear by the Blakmores Anti-Bacterial Pimple Gel. Dries out the pimple in one night. I am not kidding. I used that when I was in school and even after I had a bigger budget. One problem though, I used to buy it from Watson's or Guardian but lately it's been difficult to find. If you do find it, drop me an email ok! I wanna get one too!
Here's what the packaging looks like
 
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further help yeah. 
 
Vogue-Uers, any other pimple creams you swear by? Do share with us here. Care and share everybody!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Time Out with Shopper Mama - Hey U, Ms Nasty!

The idea of the topic today came from an article I read in URBAN, referred to by Indra (Tks babe!)


So instead of me rambling abt lousy customer service, let's take a good look at the mirror & ask yourselves," Have I been a nasty shopper?" too!

And sometimes we dont realised it but in reality, I think each of us have been ONE at least once in our lifetime!

As a typical Mr Kiasu Ms Kiasi Singaporean, each of us will go to great lengths for a freebie anytime!

Examples you ask? Let me raise my hands & start with me first!

I will buy my make-up or perfume ONLY when they have a bundled offer or when they also throw in tons of free gifts! Actually, wait......come to think of it, this is not being nasty, but just being smart & savvy shopper lah!


Ok I tell you who are the nasty ones - people who come back to the beauty counters with a half filled or even near empty bottle of moisturiser, lotions & what-nots, demanding refunds with the sob sob story that these products gave them allergies! Like duh!

Then there is this group of 'pinchers' - some beauty counters do have a generous display of testers at their counters. So don't be surprised if you see these pinchers slap a generous amount of the cream (read: LA MER) on their face, neck, body & god-forbid, 'down there' too! Gasps...

Apparently, according to the URBAN article again, some blatantly flaunt their freeloading ways. Let me quote from URBAN -

"There is one woman who is known to visit the various counters of a certain luxury beauty brand for her regular beauty ritual, zooms in on its most expensive cream, scoops out as much of it as she can from the tester jar and proceeds to slather it all over her face and body, oblivious to the looks of disgust around her.

The beauty assistants have since wised up. Now, when they see her striding purposefully towards them, someone will discreetly hide the top-dollar sample and politely tell her that they have run out of it."

Worst still, there is even a group who bring along empty containers to the counters and empty the contents of the tester bottles into their own containers! Don't they ever give a thot that some of us have actually dipped our fingers into those creams! Eeewww...


So tell me how many of you dare to pull these stunts or have done it before!


I dare not & I know I wont, that's for sure!


Let me clarify, spraying of perfumes here & there, testing of lipsticks colours on the wrists or trying creams & lotions on the hands are pretty normal, not something we should feel guilty about!


Ps. This entry was done in the absence of the text formating buttons! Arrrrghh, I hate you blogspot!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Get well soon Mak Pah Vogue!

Our dearest Mak Pah Vogue is not well. She's on MC for 3 days, means a 3 days off from the blog too! Our well-wishes for her to recover soon. Stay vogue u Mak Pah! Hope this boosts you to a speedy recovery! *hugs*

Monday, July 20, 2009

i LOVE mondays - Arts : Spanish Artist

May Peace be Upon You



Love from your kawai designer - Pearl

i LOVE mondays - Arts : Mi'raj

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

A 16th century Persian miniature painting celebrating Prophet Muhammad's ascent into the Heavens, a journey known as the Miraj. Prophet Muhammad's face is veiled, a common practice in Islamic art.



This was perhaps the aged Sultan Muhammad's (Persian painter) last painting, and it is an unquestioned masterpiece. Shah Tashmasp, the ruler of Iran, had by this point become more orthodox and disenchanted with miniature painting, and this work stands as one of the last paintings dedicated to him.

i LOVE mondays - from Pearl's heart : Art Appreciation simply means being able to look at works and form your own opinions. I believe this artwork is not meant to depict the actual event but the artist impression of the event through his LOVE for Art. A talent that not many possessed.

xoxo - Pearl

i LOVE mondays - Energy Spill : Peristiwa Isra' & Mi'raj

In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful


Sebelum Israk dan Mikraj


Rasulullah S.A.W. mengalami pembedahan dada / perut, dilakukan oleh malaikat Jibrail dan Mika'il. Hati Baginda S.A.W.. dicuci dengan air zamzam, dibuang ketul hitam ('alaqah) iaitu tempat syaitan membisikkan waswasnya. Kemudian dituangkan hikmat, ilmu, dan iman.ke dalam dada Rasulullah S.A.W. Setelah itu, dadanya dijahit dan dimeterikan dengan "khatimin nubuwwah". Selesai pembedahan, didatangkan binatang bernama Buraq untuk ditunggangi oleh Rasulullah dalam perjalanan luar biasa yang dinamakan "Israk" itu.
Semasa Israk ( Perjalanan dari Masjidil-Haram ke Masjidil-Aqsa ):

Sepanjang perjalanan (israk) itu Rasulullah S.A.W. diiringi (ditemani) oleh malaikat Jibrail dan Israfil. Tiba di tempat-tempat tertentu (tempat-tempat yang mulia dan bersejarah), Rasulullah telah diarah oleh Jibrail supaya berhenti dan bersembahyang sebanyak dua rakaat. Antara tempat-tempat berkenaan ialah:
i. Negeri Thaibah (Madinah), tempat di mana Rasulullah akan melakukan hijrah.
ii. Bukit Tursina, iaitu tempat Nabi Musa A.S. menerima wahyu daripada Allah;
iii. Baitul-Laham (tempat Nabi 'Isa A.S. dilahirkan);

Dalam perjalanan itu juga baginda Rasulullah S.A.W. menghadapi gangguan jin 'Afrit dengan api jamung dan dapat menyasikan peristiwa-peristiwa simbolik yang amat ajaib. Antaranya :
§ Kaum yang sedang bertanam dan terus menuai hasil tanaman mereka. apabila dituai, hasil (buah) yang baru keluar semula seolah-olah belum lagi dituai. Hal ini berlaku berulang-ulang. Rasulullah S.A.W. dibertahu oleh Jibrail : Itulah kaum yang berjihad "Fisabilillah" yang digandakan pahala kebajikan sebanyak 700 kali ganda bahkan sehingga gandaan yang lebih banyak.
§ Tempat yang berbau harum. Rasulullah S.A.W. diberitahu oleh Jibrail : Itulah bau kubur Mayitah (tukang sisir rambut anak Fir'aun) bersama suaminya dan anak-anaknya (termasuk bayi yang dapat bercakap untuk menguatkan iman ibunya) yang dibunuh oleh Fir'aun kerana tetapt teguh beriman kepada Allah (tak mahu mengakui Fir'aun sebagai Tuhan).
§ Sekumpulan orang yang sedang memecahkan kepala mereka. Setiap kali dipecahkan, kepala mereka sembuh kembali, lalu dipecahkan pula. Demikian dilakukan berkali-kali. Jibrail memberitahu Rasulullah: Itulah orang-orang yang berat kepala mereka untuk sujud (sembahyang).
§ Sekumpulan orang yang hanya menutup kemaluan mereka (qubul dan dubur) dengan secebeis kain. Mereka dihalau seperti binatang ternakan. Mereka makan bara api dan batu dari neraka Jahannam. Kata Jibrail : Itulah orang-orang yang tidak mengeluarkan zakat harta mereka.
§ Satu kaum, lelaki dan perempuan, yang memakan daging mentah yang busuk sedangkan daging masak ada di sisi mereka. Kata Jibrail: Itulah lelaki dan perempuan yang melakukan zina sedangkan lelaki dan perempuan itu masing-masing mempunyai isteri / suami.
§ Lelaki yang berenang dalam sungai darah dan dilontarkan batu. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang yang makan riba`.
§ Lelaki yang menghimpun seberkas kayu dan dia tak terdaya memikulnya, tapi ditambah lagi kayu yang lain. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang tak dapat menunaikan amanah tetapi masih menerima amanah yang lain.
§ Satu kaum yang sedang menggunting lidah dan bibir mereka dengan penggunting besi berkali-kali. Setiap kali digunting, lidah dan bibir mereka kembali seperti biasa. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang yang membuat fitnah dan mengatakan sesuatu yang dia sendiri tidak melakukannya.
§ Kaum yang mencakar muka dan dada mereka dengan kuku tembaga mereka. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang yang memakan daging manusia (mengumpat) dan menjatuhkan maruah (mencela, menghinakan) orang.
§ Seekor lembu jantan yang besar keluar dari lubang yang sempit. Tak dapat dimasukinya semula lubang itu. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang yang bercakap besar (Takabbur). Kemudian menyesal, tapi sudah terlambat.
§ Seorang perempuan dengan dulang yang penuh dengan pelbagai perhiasan. Rasulullah tidak memperdulikannya. Kata Jibrail: Itulah dunia. Jika Rasulullah memberi perhatian kepadanya, nescaya umat Islam akan mengutamakan dunia daripada akhirat.
§ Seorang perempuan tua duduk di tengah jalan dan menyuruh Rasulullah berhenti. Rasulullah S.A.W. tidak menghiraukannya. Kata Jibrail: Itulah orang yang mensesiakan umurnya sampai ke tua.
§ Seorang perempuan bongkok tiga menahan Rasulullah untuk bertanyakan sesuatu. Kata Jibrail: Itulah gambaran umur dunia yang sangat tua dan menanti saat hari kiamat.

Setibanya di masjid Al-Aqsa, Rasulullah turun dari Buraq. Kemudian masuk ke dalam masjid dan mengimamkan sembahyang dua rakaat dengan segala anbia` dan mursalin menjadi makmum.

Rasulullah S.A.W. terasa dahaga, lalu dibawa Jibrail dua bejana yang berisi arak dan susu. Rasulullah memilih susu lalu diminumnya. Kata Jibrail: Baginda membuat pilhan yang betul. Jika arak itu dipilih, nescaya ramai umat baginda akan menjadi sesat.
Semasa Mikraj ( Naik ke Hadhratul-Qudus Menemui Allah ):

Didatangkan Mikraj (tangga) yang indah dari syurga. Rasulullah S.A.W. dan Jibrail naik ke atas tangga pertama lalu terangkat ke pintu langit dunia (pintu Hafzhah).
i. Langit Pertama: Rasulullah S.A.W. dan Jibrail masuk ke langit pertama, lalu berjumpa dengan Nabi Adam A.S (ahli dalam bidang pendidikan). Kemudian dapat melihat orang-orang yang makan riba` dan harta anak yatim dan melihat orang berzina yang rupa dan kelakuan mereka sangat huduh dan buruk. Penzina lelaki bergantung pada susu penzina perempuan.
ii. Langit Kedua: Nabi S.A.W. dan Jibrail naik tangga langit yang kedua, lalu masuk dan bertemu dengan Nabi 'Isa A.S. (ahli dalam bidang kesihatan) dan Nabi Yahya A.S (ahli dalam bidang pengajaran).
iii. Langit Ketiga: Naik langit ketiga. Bertemu dengan Nabi Yusuf A.S (ahli dalam bidang ekonomi). Beliau lah yang pernah berhasil menyelamatkan perekonomian dunia sewaktu dilanda oleh paceklik selama tujuh tahun.
iv. Langit Keempat: Naik tangga langit keempat. Bertemu dengan Nabi Idris A.S. (ahli dalam bidang kerajinan tangan, produksi and industri. Beliaulah orang pertama yang menemukan tulisan and pakaian berjahit)
v. Langit Kelima: Naik tangga langit kelima. Bertemu dengan Nabi Harun A.S. (ahli dalam bidang diplomasi) yang dikelilingi oleh kaumnya Bani Israil.
vi. Langit Keenam: Naik tangga langit keenam. Bertemu dengan Nabi-Nabi. Seterusnya dengan Nabi Musa A.S. (ahli dalam bidang strategi dan siasat perang) Rasulullah mengangkat kepala (disuruh oleh Jibrail) lalu dapat melihat umat baginda sendiri yang ramai, termasuk 70,000 orang yang masuk syurga tanpa hisab.
vii. Langit Ketujuh: Naik tangga langit ketujuh dan masuk langit ketujuh lalu bertemu dengan Nabi Ibrahim Khalilullah (ahli dalam pembangunan fisik) yang sedang bersandar di Baitul-Ma'mur dihadapi oleh beberapa kaumnya. Kepada Rasulullah S.A.W., Nabi Ibrahim A.S. bersabda, "Engkau akan berjumpa dengan Allah pada malam ini. Umatmu adalah akhir umat dan terlalu dha'if, maka berdoalah untuk umatmu. Suruhlah umatmu menanam tanaman syurga iaitu LA HAULA WALA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH.
Mengikut riwayat lain, Nabi Ibahim A.S. bersabda, "Sampaikan salamku kepada umatmu dan beritahu mereka, syurga itu baik tanahnya, tawar airnya dan tanamannya ialah lima kalimah, iaitu: SUBHANALLAH, WAL-HAMDULILLAH, WA LA ILAHA ILLALLAH ALLAHU AKBAR dan WA LA HAULA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAHIL- 'ALIYYIL-'AZIM. Bagi orang yang membaca setiap kalimah ini akan ditanamkan sepohon pokok dalam syurga". Setelah melihat beberpa peristiwa lain yang ajaib. Rasulullah dan Jibrail masuk ke dalam Baitul-Makmur dan bersembahyang (Baitul-Makmur ini betul-betul di atas Baitullah di Mekah).
viii. Tangga Kelapan: Di sinilah disebut "al-Kursi" yang berbetulan dengan dahan pokok Sidratul-Muntaha. Rasulullah S.A.W. menyaksikan pelbagai keajaiban pada pokok itu: Sungai air yang tak berubah, sungai susu, sungai arak dan sungai madu lebah. Buah, daun-daun, batang dan dahannya berubah-ubah warna dan bertukar menjadi permata-permata yang indah. Unggas-unggas emas berterbangan. Semua keindahan itu tak terperi oleh manusia. Baginda Rasulullah S.A.W. dapat menyaksikan pula sungai Al-Kautsar yang terus masuk ke syurga. Seterusnya baginda masuk ke syurga dan melihat neraka berserta dengan Malik penunggunya.
ix. Tangga Kesembilan: Di sini berbetulan dengan pucuk pokok Sidratul-Muntaha. Rasulullah S.A.W. masuk di dalam nur dan naik ke Mustawa dan Sharirul-Aqlam. Lalu dapat melihat seorang lelaki yang ghaib di dalam nur 'Arasy, iaitu lelaki di dunia yang lidahnya sering basah berzikir, hatinya tertumpu penuh kepada masjid dan tidak memaki ibu bapanya.
x. Tangga Kesepuluh: Baginda Rasulullah sampai di Hadhratul-Qudus dan Hadhrat Rabbul-Arbab lalu dapat menyaksikan Allah S.W.T. dengan mata kepalanya, lantas sujud. Kemudian berlakulah dialog antara Allah dan Muhammad, Rasul-Nya:
Allah S.W.T : Ya Muhammad.
Rasulullah : Labbaika.
Allah S.W.T : Angkatlah kepalamu dan bermohonlah, Kami perkenankan.
Rasulullah : Ya, Rabb. Engkau telah ambil Ibrahim sebagai Khalil dan Engkau berikan dia kerajaan yang besar. Engkau berkata-kata dengan Musa. Engkau berikan Dawud kerajaan yang besar dan dapat melembutkan besi. Engkau kurniakan kerajaan kepada Sulaiman yang tidak Engkau kurniakan kepada sesiapa pun dan memudahkan Sulaiman menguasai jin, manusia, syaitan dan angin. Engkau ajarkan 'Isa Taurat dan Injil. Dengan izin-Mu, dia dapat menyembuhkan orang buta, orang sufaq dan menghidupkan orang mati. Engkau lindungi dia dan ibunya daripada syaitan.
Allah S.W.T : Aku ambilmu sebagai kekasih. Aku perkenankanmu sebagai penyampai berita gembira dan amaran kepada umatmu. Aku buka dadamu dan buangkan dosamu. Aku jadikan umatmu sebaik-baik umat. Aku beri keutamaan dan keistimewaan kepadamu pada hari qiamat. Aku kurniakan tujuh ayat (surah Al-Fatihah) yang tidak aku kurniakan kepada sesiapa sebelummu. Aku berikanmu ayat-ayat di akhir surah al-Baqarah sebagai suatu perbendaharaan di bawah 'Arasy. Aku berikan habuan daripada kelebihan Islam, hijrah, sedekah dan amar makruf dan nahi munkar. Aku kurniakanmu panji-panji Liwa-ul-hamd, maka Adam dan semua yang lainnya di bawah panji-panjimu. Dan Aku fardhukan atasmu dan umatmu lima puluh (waktu) sembahyang.
Selesai munajat, Rasulullah S.A.W. di bawa menemui Nabi Ibrahim A.S. kemudian Nabi Musa A.S. yang kemudiannya menyuruh Rasulullah S.A.W. merayu kepada Allah S.W.T agar diberi keringanan, mengurangkan jumlah waktu sembahyang itu. Selepas sembilan kali merayu, (setiap kali dikurangkan lima waktu), akhirnya Allah perkenan memfardhukan sembahyang lima waktu sehari semalam dengan mengekalkan nilainya sebanyak 50 waktu juga.
Selepas Mikraj

Rasulullah S.A.W. turun ke langit dunia semula. Seterusnya turun ke Baitul-Maqdis. Lalu menunggang Buraq perjalanan pulang ke Mekah pada malam yang sama. Dalam perjalanan ini baginda bertemu dengan beberapa peristiwa yang kemudiannya menjadi saksi (bukti) peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj yang amat ajaib itu (Daripada satu riwayat peristiwa itu berlaku pada malam Isnin, 27 Rejab, kira-kira 18 bulan sebelum hijrah). Wallahu'alam.
(Sumber : Kitab Jam'ul-Fawaa`id)
Kesimpulannya, Peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj bukan hanya sekadar sebuah kisah sejarah yang diceritakan kembali setiap kali 27 Rejab menjelang. Adalah lebih penting untuk kita menghayati pengajaran di sebalik peristiwa tersebut bagi meneladani perkara yang baik dan menjauhi perkara yang tidak baik. Peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj yang memperlihatkan pelbagai kejadian aneh yang penuh pengajaran seharusnya memberi keinsafan kepada kita agar sentiasa mengingati Allah dan takut kepada kekuasaan-Nya.

Seandainya peristiwa dalam Israk dan Mikraj ini dipelajari dan dihayati benar-benar kemungkinan manusia mampu mengelakkan dirinya daripada melakukan berbagai-bagai kejahatan. Kejadian Israk dan Mikraj juga adalah untuk menguji umat Islam (apakah percaya atau tidak dengan peristiwa tersebut). Orang-orang kafir di zaman Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam langsung tidak mempercayai, malahan memperolok-olokkan Nabi sebaik-baik Nabi bercerita kepada mereka.

Peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj itu merupakan ujian dan mukjizat yang membuktikan kudrat atau kekuasaan Allah Subhanahu Wataala. Allah Subhanahu Wataala telah menunjukkan bukti-bukti kekuasaan dan kebesaran-Nya kepada Baginda Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.


Mafhum Firman Allah S.W.T. : "Maha Suci Allah yang telah memperjalankan hamba-Nya pada suatu malam dari Al-Masjidil Haram ke Al-Masjidil Aqsa yang telah kami berkati sekelilingnya agar Kami perlihatkan kepadanya sebahagian dari tanda-tanda kebesaran Kami. Sesungguhnya Dia adalah Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Melihat."
(Surah Al-Israa': Ayat 1).

Nota : Risalah diatas dipetik dari Al-Azim.com dan Pondok Pesantren Salafiyah Syafi'iyah

i LOVE mondays - Energy Spill : Isra' & Mi'raj in Islam

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


The year 619 A.D. was known as the “Year of Sadness” in Islamic history. The Muslim community was under constant persecution, and in that year the Prophet Muhammad’s beloved wife Khadeeja and his uncle Abu Talib both died. Without Abu Talib’s protection, the Muslim community experienced ever-increasing harassment in Mecca. The Prophet Muhammad visited the nearby city of Taif to preach the Oneness of God and seek asylum from the Meccan oppressors; he was eventually mocked and run out of town.

In the midst of this adversity, the Prophet Muhammad had a comforting experience, which is now known as Isra’ and Mi’raj (the Night Visit and Ascension). During the month of Rajab, the Prophet Muhammad made a one night -time trip to the city of Jerusalem (isra’), visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and from there was raised up into heaven (mi’raj). While there, he came face-to-face with previous prophets and received instructions about the number of prayers the Muslim community should observe each day. Prophet Muhammad and his followers perceived this as a miraculous journey, and it gave them strength and hope that THE ALMIGHTY was with them despite recent setbacks.

Non-Muslims, and even some Muslims, debate over whether this event was an actual physical journey, or merely a vision. The majority view among Muslim scholars is that Prophet Muhammad truly traveled in body and soul, as a miracle from HIM.

The Isra’ and Mi’raj is not universally observed by Muslims. Some individuals or communities conduct special lectures or reading about the story and the lessons to be learned from it. Muslims use the time to remember:

Note : The above passage reference is taken from About.com: Islam


i LOVE mondays
- Energy Spill : From Pearl's heart -
A year has passed.......for, it has been a testing time for me and one that filled with many sad events but today, Alhamdulillah, I could still reflect and try to improve where I have so many lacked. And its with HIS LOVE and the many LOVES that HE has bestowed and shown me through many ways that to see others smile, that is one big medication to my sorrows. May we meet in the next Rajab, insya Allah.

"No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune." (41:35)

Fi amanillah - Pearl

i LOVE mondays - Energy Spill : 27 Rejab 1430

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Bold

A very good Monday to every Vogue U readers and blog hoppers!! Sitting in my room this morning, I just gotten my brother's laptop and starting to do my post. As I looked out the window, its a very soulful morning at my whereabouts. I just love this kinda weather - the sun's shaded, very cloudy (or rather it looks more hazy actually, but I could do this for now...) with a very light breeze. Subhanallah, sometimes, I just forget these little things, consumed by other stuff that I would think its more important.

Anyways, I'm taking a day leave from i LOVE mondays - DESIGN portion for this week and decide to focus on the Energy Spill...simply for a simple reason - Today is my birthday in the Hijr calender - 27th Rejab 1430.

The same date that our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w embarked on a magnificent event - the ISRA' & MI'RAJ . The event that our Prophet for the first time met Our Creator face to face. The event are the two parts of a journey that our Prophet Muhammad took in one night, around the year 621. One night, he made a trip to the city of Jerusalem (isra’), visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and from there was raised up into heaven (mi’raj).

A brief sketch of the story is in verses 1 and 60 of one of the Quran chapters (#17: sura Al-Isra), and other details were filled in from the supplemental writings, the hadiths.

It was also in this event that the solat prayers which was initially to be done in 50 rakaat ( 50 times) and reduced to 5 rakaat (5 times), granted by Allah for our Prophet for his people. And Allah, being Most Gracious has kept the goodness of praying 5 times equivelent to of praying 50 times a day. And whilst HE has given many goodness, why is it that at times, I forget...... and then I realised, I am just a mere humble servant with many disabilities and ignorance.....

My doa and prayers to those I love and cherish and to Vogue U readers and blog hoppers, MAY YOU SHALL BE BLESS with goodness and happiness by the Almighty and forever be showered with HIS LOVE and GRACE.

Fi hifzillah - Pearl

PS : i LOVE mondays - Energy Spill shall be updated with several post today. Do come back time to time....