Sunday, August 24, 2008

Welcome to USA!

Minggu ini aku menerima banyak kabar gumbira dari sahabat-sahabat dari Malaysia. Ramai akan datang untuk menyambung pelajaran ke sini, baik yang akan datang ke sini untuk buat master mahupun phD dalam bidang masing-masing.

Nama- nama kawan rapat seperti Saudari Murni Marlina Karim akan/telah berangkat ke Rhode Island University, Melissa (Texas) , Saiful (tak sure) , Hafiz (Nebraska University) , dan juga Fazliyaton di Michigan (mendapat gelaran: kak Eton, haha jangan lepas ni kene marah dah lar). Ramai lagi kenalan dari serata universiti di Malaysia.
People who are really close, will feel sad and cry for 'loosing' you. So do we right here, for sometimes. We need to do A LOT of sacrifice to be here! It is not just the matter of happy living in different country but more than that. And life sebagai pelajar amat mencabar di samping tidak lah banyak masa terluang. Lagi-lagi dikala berjauhan dengan orang tersayang dan juga sahabat dan kenalan rapat. Hidup buat pada awal 2 hingga ke 3 bulan amat menyiksakan dan perlukan ketabahan hati. Kadang-kadang dugaan amat besar bagi yang dah ada keluarga serta yang ada anak-anak.

So, welcome to all my dearest friends to USA. Semoga tetap cekal menahan arus dugaan untuk melepasi setiap halangan!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Mama! tolong )))

Telephone Samsungku berbunyi nyaring. Mengejutkan lamunan dikala melayan atlet-atlet bertanding dalam sukan Olimpic. Oh, nama Brother Ahmed Alyamani keluar daripada skrin telephon. Apa agaknya berita yang ingin disampaikan. Bisik hatiku.

Brother Ahmed: Assalamualaikum, ya brother Ahmad (me). How are you doing?
Me: Waalaikumussalam wbt, ana bikhoir, alhamdulillah... I am doing good, thank you.

Brother Ahmed: Where are you now? I have something to give to you?
Me : Right now I am in my apartment. What is something? special present? hehe (make a joke)

Brother Ahmed: yaa.. present, lamb meat. Did you eat lamb?
Me: Ooh, relly! ermm... great... well, I didn't eat much but I try to cook it in my way, perhaps.

Brother Ahmed: Ok, can you come down. I can see you talking with your handphone (at that time I am standing at the branda)
Me: Oh, jaazzakallah brother... What for all this meat?

Brother Ahmed: Oh... this is for Ramadhan. I put in the fridge as a fresh meat that I slughtered with my friends this evenig. The meat is still fresh.
Me: Yes., it is.. still hot

Brother Ahmed: Ok, here I got three bag, one for you, brother Hafiz and also to brother Tahir. Could you please give it to them. If not tonight, you can give it tomorrow.

Me: That fine brother, I will keep it in my fridge first and tomorrow I will give it to them. Again brother, thank you so much. Jazzakallah hu khairan kathiran... May Allah bless you.

Brother Ahmed: You are welcome. Massalamah. Assalamualaikum
Me: Waalaikumussalam wbt
Itu adalah antara perbualan aku dengan sahabatku Brother Ahmed dari Yaman. Apartmentnya tidak jauh dari apartmentku. Hanya dalam 20 meter sahaja. Setelah menerima daging tersebut, aku terfikir macam mana aku nak masak dengan daging-daging kambing ini? Sepanjang hidup aku tidak pernah aku masak masakan berasaskan daging kambing... Kata orang, rezki jangan ditolak. Aku ambil saja pemberiannya. Sejarah tabiat pemakanan aku memang jarang aku makan daging lagi-lagi daging kambing. Aku bukan meatarian. (istilah yang aku cipta hehe) Dalam sebulan ada lah sekali menjamah makanan berasaskan daging ataupun tidak sentuh lansung. Adus.... alangkah bagusnya kalau ada 'orang rumah'. Tahulah dia nanti nak buat macam mana. Ini semestinya bukan bidang aku….

Mama.... tolonggggg )))) Aku terkedu menerima sebungkus 'hadiah' yang tidak pernah ku sangkakan. Aargg... bisa saja aku habiskan daging-daging kambing yang segar ini. Lantas aku terus mencapai pisau memotong daging-daging tersebut menjadi lebih kecil supaya mudah untuk aku masak untuk keesokkan harinya tanpa aku membiarkannya beku di dalam peti ais.

Tunggulah apa idea masakan yang aku nak buat nanti...

Merdeka vs Suaka Politik

Merdeka vs suaka politik

Apa erti kemerdekaan? Lakonan? Retorik? Atau omong-omong kosong untuk mendapatkan suaka politik?

Awal tahun lepas aku ada menyertai satu program anjuran Malaysian Student Association of Nebraska University (NUMSA). Diamanahkan sebagai memegang watak pelakon atas pentas sebagai Tunku Abdul Rahman. Watak simple tapi amat penting kerna akan memberikan impak yang besar dalam keseluruhan program pada Malam Malaysia pada waktu itu.
Keseluruhannya, tampak memang mendapat tepukan gemuruh dari pelajar-pelajar luar mahupun pelajar Malaysia sendiri ditambah lagi dengan pelbagai adegan lucu kawan-kawan Malaysia yang lain. Namun jauh disudut hatiku, aku tidak merasa semangat yang berkobar-kobar melaungkan ‘merdeka’ pada ketika itu. Ataukah pada ketika itu aku hanya berlakon?

Pada hakikatnya, Merdeka disambut dengan meriah sebagai luahan hati masyarakat majmuk yang hidup aman sentosa, menikmati pelbagai nikmatNya kepada bumi Malaysia. Hari yang diraikan sebagai menghargai keamanan yang kita ada, yang kita kecapi selama ini mahupun yang lepas. Tidak ketinggalan suaka politik juga ditunjukkan dengan memaparkan kehebatan pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu daripada UMNO yang secara tradisinya menguasai pemerintahan Malaysia. Namun kini, semua seakan-akan terbuku di hati. Masing-masing tidak lagi termampu terluah perasaan yang dapat digambarkan mengenai kekecewaan terhadap kepimpinan. INGAT! Merdeka bukan medan untuk meraikan kehebatan pemimpin, tetapi yang lebih utama adalah kepada nikmat hidup yang dikecapi di Malaysia.

Sekarang Malaysia akan menyambut kemerdekaan yang kali ke 51 dalam masa tidak kurang 10 hari lagi. Tidak nampak publisiti yang dimainkan oleh saluran – saluran TV tempatan mahupun media massa. Tidak seperti tahun lepas yang kali ke-50, gilang gemilang. Aku dapat merasakan suasana muram di Malaysia. Tika membaca blog Tun Mahathir, ada bloggers mencadangkan menterbalikkan bendera Malaysia pada saat kita merasa kesuraman tersebut akibat rasa tidak puas hati rakyat dengan pelbagai isu yang melanda Malaysia pada masa kini. Aku merasakan tidak tepat untuk berbuat demikian. Nyata, tulisan beliau ingin ingin ditujukan kepada corak pemerintahan Pak Lah yang merundum popularitinya. Bahkan Pak Lah jualah pilihan hati beliau semasa pelepasan kuasa sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang paling lama.

Nak marahkan nyamuk, janganlah kelambu dibakar!. Itu perumpamaan turun temurun masyarakat Melayu. Janganlah disebabkan Pak Lah kita menunjukkan sikap seanak-anakkan dengan menterbalikkan bendera Malaysia. Malu pada orang lain. Kalau marahkan Pak Lah, apa kata terbalikkan aja potret Pak Lah sebagai tanda protes? Bukankah itu lebih adil daripada menggadai maruah negara yang kita sayangi?

“Saya akan sambut Hari Merdeka tetapi tidak seperti 50 sambutan yang terdahulu. Sesuatu sudah hilang daripada makna kemerdekaan. Mulut sudah ditutup dan apa yang ada dalam hati tinggal tertambat, tidak boleh diluahkan….” Tun Mahathir.

Itu sebahagian kata-kata kecewa Tun. Bagiku membina tamadun bukan boleh dibuat dalam masa yang singkat! Tamadun Islam pada zaman Empayar Uthmaniah, Empayar Abbasiyyah membina ketamadunan berlandaskan syariat islam dan terus kekal sehingga lebih daripada 100 tahun lamanya. Inikan kita yang baru sahaja berjinak-jinak ingin membina ketamadunan masyarakat Malaysia. Situasi yang ada sekarang ini akan menjadi pengalaman berharga kepada generasi sekarang dah yang akan datang.

MERDEKA AGAMA, MERDEKA RAKYAT, MERDEKA NUSA BANGSA



Trip to Colorado [part 3/3]


Garden of the Gods


This location was close to the downtown of the Colorado Springs about 30km. Garden of the Gods was belonging to the Native American so called Red Indians. The reds rocky mountain was very nice creature that I never seen before. The changing of the weather, rains, hot of the sun as well as the erosion was created the line of these red mountains. It is open to the public, FREE of charge. Visitors can take a walk, riding the horse to see all these beutiful yellow stones.



At that day, the weather was pretty hot! I am sweating little bit and need a drink a lot. What the interesting points is they have different shape for each mountains. I think I should not call it as a mountain. May be the best is the hills. There was so called ‘camel kiss, grey hill and etc. We can have horseback riding but the best is we should in group. So I walk a lot and do some hiking on this hill. After already tired, I went back to Denver at 430pm. Uh, it is really tired but I am happy. Then I reached at 6.30pm at the hotel and get to the registration for the conference.

Precision Agricultural Conference


What the coincident? I met Dr Siva, lecturer at the same department with me at UPM and Prof Wan Ishak, my former lecturer at KBP, UPM. We talk a lot about Malaysia as well as UPM also the latest research. At least I have someone to talk in Bahasa! Then on the next day I just follow the conference, attended the selected seminar, try to get the experience and met a people with the same field. I met a lot of international friends, from Africa, India, China, Korean as well as American. So this conference gave me the precious exposure and initial impetus to get the idea for my future project as well as the get the networking with my friends. I am also met Melissa advisor from University of Texas Tech. We talk about his background and specialized and he is kinda very very nice person, very polite and friendly. (Melissa is my office mate at UPM, she already at Texas)


Before I went back to Lincoln, I met Prof Wiwi and his wife; Kak Nomie, gave me 4 packs of instant cooking dishes from Malaysia. One of them is masak asam. Until now I didn’t touch this masak asam because need to find the fresh fish to cook it! Well, I can learn how to cook it! Yum yum yum.... Now, it is time to go home. He and his wife say good bye for me while waiting for the tour bus and makes the best wishes and good luck for my master and Dr. Siva does so. Thank you for your moral support.

Adios…

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Trip to Colorado [Part 2/3]

Royal George Bridge

We drove at early morning from the hotel after take a fatty food, made from cheese: Ukraine styles. It’s sweet, and so delicious…. That Slava was told me. The journey from our hotel took about 2 hours. We reached there at 10am. The sun already almost vertically on our head, but the weather is still nice at more than 12,000 feet above sea level. I took some UV protection on my face and hand since we are already at the high altitude and the weather is getting hot.

Awesome, beautiful, majestic scene! That the best words to describe the highest suspension bridge in the world and an unforgettable quarter-mile journey through the clouds of the Royal George Bridge in Colorado Spring. Historically, this place was a quarry activity to get the silver at the upper stream of Arkansas River in 1877 and has the railroad beside the river. That’s little bit history about this place that I can remembered. Otherwise, we can visit their website.

From engineering point of view, this bridge is impossible to build because it connected with two mountains across the deep river at more than 1km high. This bridge was built across the Arkansas River at 384m length, 5m width, and for walkway, it is screwed up with 1,292 planks of deck; about 250 are replaced annually. It’s very strong. Sometime the tram that bring people can go across over on this bridge too and I at the first time I have to hold at the side of the bridge! The bridge starts to shake a little. I feel dizzy when I looking down through two planks! Fuh… (gayat!) hehe

This is the best place to take a day vacation with family. Not so much that I can share about this place except the interesting place that I was visited at that day. The mains attractions is of course the Royal George Bridge, Aerial Tram, world's steepest Incline Railway, the world's scariest Sky coaster (I didn’t do this!), natural park, shows (gazebo, pavilion shows, plaza theater), shopping and food with BBQ deer meat and also outdoor activity i.e. white water rafting. I paid for 19buck for the fee and you can play anything that you want but not including the food and lodging cost. It will be my own expenses.

We started with the steepest incline railway brought us downward to the river. It was very fantastic experience and little bit different with railway in Langkawi, Malaysia that I took 5 years ago. I snap some photos of Slava and me with the view of along the river. I catch up the photos those who take white water rafting while they are shouting at the visitors. Slava and I miss the chances to take white water rafting since we little bit late arrive at the check point and have to wait for the next trips at 1.30pm. Furthermore, we did not bring our clothes. At this time, we are already plan to go back at Denver.

phonnn… phonn. phonnn.. Suddenly, we hear the echo sound: train’s bell. The echo sound created by the rocky mountains along the river. There was a mono train’s trail beside the river, brings the tourists to the panorama of the mountains along the river. After 15 minutes, we went to next location: the Aerial Tram. Again, I felt dizzy when I was in the tram. Damm….While the tram across the river at 4km/hr (consider slow!). We reached at the middle of the trail! Through the window, we can feel the wind blow at our face and make our tram shaky and unstable. There was one young girl shouting in the tram … may be she is scared!
Her mom tries to calm down her. Then when reach at the finish point, we take a walk little bit through the Pine tree. What the nice smell? Slava told me that the smell is come from Pine tree; make me feel fresh though. I also take a chance to see others wild life that I never seen before such as wild goat, deer, and white bison. I am really enjoy took a chance to brought some t-shirt of Colorado as well as Royal George Bridge cap. At least I got something to bring home!

After almost three hours we went back and take a short break having a lunch. I just have the big tuna sandwich together with the salad. Enough for me! Then we continue our tour to Garden of The Gods.

Cheer…
[Royal George Bridge; not so clear]

[Aerial Tram across the Arkansas River]

[ Who this guy?]

[Water clock: running by water]

[Shopping centre: to get some survenior]

[View of the rocky mountains]

[Arkansas River snapped from the bridge]

[Incline tram brought me to the river]

[Can you see who watching at me?]

[Railway to bring a tourist along the river]

[SAD... I miss white water rafting]

Cheer......