Abang Norman Lagi

Semenjak dua menjak Abang Norman dah nak kahwin ni, biarlah aku dedicate a space to talk about him sikit. Last Sunday in the newspaper, more inside information was revealed. Among the surprising facts:

1. Shireen was married twice, with no child. (Norman siap boleh cakap, dia takde hal kalau takde anak, boleh ambik anak angkat. Ko bior betul. Nanti dah kahwin baru rasa camne kot. Aku rasa perihal anakdalam perkahwinan kita tak boleh cakap selagi kita belum kahwin. Hanya org yg dah kahwin saja ada lesen nak cakap perihal anak ni lah, in my humble opinion).

2. Shireen was a 44 year old divorcee while Norman confessed that even though he's 37, his thinking is of a person aged 47. (Yang ini aku percaya lah..kalau tak, susah dia nak maju mcm sekarang. Maybe lepas kahwin terus age 67 kot..).

3. At first Norman planned to get married quietly, in a boat in Sydney. (Can you believe it??? Tapi bila ramai wartawan dpt hidu kisah nak kahwin dia, dia cancel idea tu. Member siap dah tempah bot tau, dah bayar pun aku rasa...isk isk isk....inilah gaya hidup bila dah kaya agaknya).

4. Shireen is a cousin of Melia, Edry's wife, and she and Norman have known each other more than 5 years. (Lama tu, aku rasa Norman memang betul2 teliti ciri2 pompuan yg bagaimana yg boleh tahan dgn kesibukan dia dan "ketidakadamasanaklayan" dia tu.

5. Lastly, Norman wants people to know that it is not a marriage of convenience. (Yg ini pun aku tak paham, kenapa dia kata begitu. Adakah kerana Shireen ni anak datuk, so dia ada chance to expand his business network? Adakah kerana Shireen dah berusia, so nanti perkahwinan dia tak mcm adik-beradik yg lain? I've running out of theories already).

Memang unik betul perkahwinan Abang Norman. The reasons, the expectations, the outcome, all of which relies very much on his stewardship to steer the marriage. Kalau dia dtg Johor, boleh jugak aku pas satu buku agama sebagai hadiah kahwin - Doa Menjadi Pengantin Baru Setiap Hari. Belajar2 lah sikit ilmu agama bila dah nak dekat kahwin ni. Bila apa2 hal terjadik kelak, hanya dgn kembali kepada agama yg akan menyelamatkan perkahwinan tu nanti. Takde lain dah. Logik akal dan ego kena buang jauh2. Sanggup kah mereka?

Siapa Teman Hidup Mu?

Aku jumpa tag ni kat Yam punye blog, dan aku rasa dah sampai masa aku pulak nak luahkan perasaan aku melalui tag ni.

1. Siapa name teman hidup anda?

Mohamad Fazle Eka bin Mohd Zulkifli.

Nama memang unik dan sedap tapi aku bercinta gak kalau tolong isikan form, selalu kolum untuk nama penuh tu tak muat. Eka tu ialah gabungan nama atuknya - Embong Kasim. Sebab Eka tu unik, nama anak2 aku pun semua ada Eka - Husna Eka, Huda Eka dan Eusoff Ikbar Eka.

2. Berikan 3 sbb anda pilih dia.

a) Sebab dia tinggi lah beb.

b) Sebab dulu dia sayang giler kat aku.

c ) Sebab dia orang Terengganu, so aku selalu dapat makan keropok ori dari Ganu, makanan favourite aku (agak2 boleh tak alasan ni ek?). 

3. Sebab tertentu anda sayang sangat same dia.

Bapa penyayang. Insya Allah seorang suami yang soleh. AMIN. 

4. Senaraikan 3 perkare yg anda buat bile rindu pada dia.

1) Tengok balik gambar2 lama masa bercinta dan baru berkahwin (oh, aku rindukan saat2 itu). 

2)  Call la.

3) SMS - I miss you. 

5. Berikan ciri-ciri fizikal yang ade pada die.

1)  Attractive height.  

2)  Sepasang mata yg sungguh menawan kalbu. 

3)  Senyuman manis memikat jiwa.  

6. Ape yg kamu buat jika ex-couple dia tibe2 contact dia.

Aku ni kan penyabar orangnya. Tak mudah naik angin. Senang je. Pilih lah. Hahaha... 

7. Apa pendapat kamu dalam memilih pasangan.

Pilihlah yang beragama, nescaya aman dan sentosa hidupmu.

8) Sape sasaran tagged ni?

Sesiapa yg baca tag ni, terutama yg telah berkahwin - Akmal, Hurul, Ahmad Asri....and all my friends.

1st Blogging Anniversary

I am happy and proud that I am able to share my thoughts and reveal my emotions via writing in my blog. Like I said in my first entry way back on June 12, 2008, I have always loved writing. Except due to lack of dicipline and focus in life, I think I should have become a successful novel writer like JK Rowling (hahaha...I could see some of you actually puking). Never mind.

This is how thanks to Mr Bill Gates, our change in culture takes place. In the old days, people keep diaries and write their feelings secretly. Nowadays, it's very rare that people keep diaries. All my work related diaries have been kept in place for 2 years and then out in the dustbin they all go. That's how far keeping a diary goes for me. Again, thanks to my goodfriend Akmal, I am able to write whatever I feel like writing, with no restriction, and best part of all, I could share my thoughts with people.

Many people have given me feedback of what I have written. I've got feedback via phone calls, emails, etc and it really feels great. Some people do not wish to register in blogspot, for whatever the reason. Nevertheless, I know he/she will somehow someday come and read my blog. Well, this is more for my future reference, and also for my future generations to get to know me better. Thanks to all of you who have visited my blog and care to share your thoughts.

Lately, our IT department has blocked blogspot from being access all the time. That means I can only access after work or at home. I will surely write less frequently, but I will continue. Nothing can stop my passion for writing. Heh heh...macam bagus jek...

How time flies. It's been a year. You could sense my mood in writing and obviously, has very much to do with the trials and tribulations of my life. Insya Allah I will keep on writing, no matter how busy. Never start something if you don't dare to finish it.

Sampai Syurga Ya Abang Norman

Gembira aku bila dapat tahu abang Norman akhirnya memilih untuk menamatkan zaman bujangnya. Kalau dah dua surat khabar Melayu melaporkan yang khabar angin kuat mengatakan dia bakal berkahwin tak lama lagi, memang sah lah. Aku faham benar perasaan abang Norman. Sekuat mana kita bekerja, segagah mana kita melangkah, seteguh mana jiwa dan perasaan mengharungi cabaran hidup dan karier, pasti kita merasa sunyi bila tiada teman di sisi untuk berkongsi rasa gembira, bangga, sedih, kecewa, terharu dan pelbagai lagi rasa dari asam garam kehidupan. Berkongsi perasaan dengan pasangan tak akan sama dengan berkongsi perasaan dengan kawan-kawan, sahabat handai, sedara-mara, mahu pun ibu bapa sendiri.

Kebanyakan orang bujang dan anak dara yang aku tanya, mengatakan mereka berhajat untuk berkahwin, cuma belum berjumpa dengan yang sesuai atau jodoh belum sampai. Tapi niat untuk berpasangan pasti ada. Itulah fitrah manusia. Kita perlukan seseorang berlainan jantina yang kita boleh berkongsi segalanya. Itulah juga antara matlamat perkahwinan, saling melengkapi, sesuai dengan firman Allah - “Dan aku jadikan dari golongan kamu pasangan / teman hidup supaya kamu merasa tenteram dengannya. Itu lah dia antara tanda-tanda kekuasaan Allah bagi golongan yang berfikir”. 

Siapa teman yang abang Norman pilih? Pandai dia simpan rahsia. Rupanya dah 3 tahun berkawan, tapi tiada wartawan yang dapat menghidu. Inilah dia proses percintaaan rahsia antara golongan berkeadaan super busy dan berkedudukan tinggi dalam bisnes. Bila umur kita semakin meningkat, pilihan untuk pasangan hidup semakin terhad. Besar kemungkinan kita akan memilih golongan yang sering kita jumpa tatkala berkerja. Itulah yang berlaku pada abang Norman. Dia memilih pekerjanya sendiri, CEO KRU International – Shireen. Siapa Shireen? Menurut surat khabar, seorang yang lebih berusia dari abang Norman dan pernah berkahwin sebelum ini. Takde pulak cakap ada anak ke tidak. Takpelah, it doesn’t matter.

Tapi kenapa abang Norman pilih wanita lebih berusia dan juga pernah berkahwin berbanding jutaan lagi wanita yang lebih muda dan bujang? Aku rasa macam tahu kenapa. Wanita yang sebegitu biasanya:
1. Lebih matang.
2. Lebih memahami.
3. Lebih mudah berkongsi idea dan hala tuju hidup.
4. Tidak mengada-ngada (haha, sesiapa pompuan yang rasanya dirinya dah matang mesti faham maksud ni).
Abang Norman memang bijak. Kalau dia kejarkan yang satu - S** - semata, memang dah lama dia kahwin dengan sesiapa entah yang pernah digossip dengannya dulu. Abang Norman memberi makna baru dalam erti kualiti untuk mencari pasangan hidup. Bravo Abang Norman!

Aku rasa siapa pasangan hidup kita melambangkan juga keperibadian kita. Siapa yang kita pilih untuk berkongsi hidup di dunia dan juga insya Allah, berkongsi pelamin di syurga kelak, mencerminkan siapa diri kita yang sebenar. Aku pasti cita-cita pasangan suami isteri Muslim seharusnya untuk hidup bersama dan kecapi bahagia bukan setakat di dunia, malahan membawa hingga ke akhirat dan insya Allah, akhirnya bersama hingga ke syurga. Sometimes bila aku baca surah Yassin, bila tiba part ayat yang maksudnya “Dan mereka dan pasangan mereka berteleku (mengecapi nikmat syurga) di atas pelamin"…kemudian Allah mengucap salam – Salamun kaulam mir rabbirrahim….- "Salam sejahtera daripada Tuhanmu yang Maha Penyayang”, aku jadik sedih. Bukan senang nak tiba ke tahap itu. Cermin diri, jauhnya lagi kedudukan kami ya Allah. Selalu jugak aku berdoa, “Ya Allah jadikanlah kami 2 insan yang berkasih sayang keranaMu, Ya Allah”. Takut jugak bila memikirkan apalah kesudahan hidup aku suami isteri kelak. Sampai mana jodoh ini ya - sampai akhir hayat ke, sampai ke syurga ke, sampai sekerat jalan di dunia ke, sesungguhnya hanya Allah yang Maha Bijaksana.

Abang Norman tengah busy menyiapkan segala keperluan nak kahwin ni. Apalah agaknya yang sedang bermain di kotak fikirannya, selain hidupnya yang pasti akan berubah bila sudah ada seseorang di sisinya tatkala susah dan senang. Aku doakan abang Norman akan bahagia dan jodohnya kekal hingga ke akhir hayat. Aku doakan juga agar si Shireen ini akan dapat menjaga abang Norman sebaik mungkin, supaya KRU akan terus gah. Jangan pulak merudum sebab masalah peribadi later on. Susah Yusry dan Edry nanti kalau abang Norman jadik bermasalah.

So untuk kes abang Norman ni, aku nak tujukan lagu Faizal Tahir lah, Sampai Syurga. Semoga perkahwinan yang dibina membawa kamu berdua hingga ke syurga milik Allah. Bukan setakat syurga semasa bercinta jer beb.

Sampai Syurga - Faizal Tahir.

Ku membenarkan jiwaku

Untuk mencintaimu
Ku persembahkan hidupku
Untuk bersama kamu

Dan diriku untuk kamu
Belum pernah kumerasai begitu

Semua itu telah berlalu
Harapanku palsu
Dan mungkin hari yang satu
Terus ku tertunggu

Di hatiku masih kamu
Belum pernah ku ingin terus memburu

Aku lemah tanpa kamu
Ku inginmu dampingi ku
Aku fahami aku bukan terbaik
Untuk dirimu

Namun aku tetap aku
Yang terbaik untuk diriku
Hanya satu
Hanya kamu

Ku membiarkan hatiku
Untuk merinduimu
Ku menghamparkan sakitku
Untuk tatapan kamu

Bersamamu harapanku
Hilang dalam terang yang membutakanku

Aku lemah tanpa kamu
Ku inginmu dampingi ku
Aku fahami aku bukan terbaik
Untuk dirimu

Sampai syurga ku menunggu
Sampai syurga ku cintamu
Hanya kamu

Dan segala yang ku ada
Ku berikan semua
Untuk dirimu saja

Ku mahu dirimu
Bahagia untuk selamanya
Biar sampai syurga
Aku menunggu cinta darimu
Agar ku sempurna

Aku fahami aku bukan terbaik
Untuk dirimu
Namun aku tetap aku
Yang terbaik tuk diriku

Hanya satu

Aku lemah tanpa kamu
Ku inginmu dampingi ku
Aku fahami aku bukan terbaik
Untuk dirimu

Sampai syurga ku menunggu
Sampai syurga ku cintamu
Hanya kamu

Abang Norman KRU Ku Sayang

Ketika usiaku 17 tahun, sejurus selepas SPM, penangan 4U2C dan KRU begitu hebat. Di zaman tersebut, kawanku Emilda begitu meminati si Yusry KRU. Sebab dia minat sangat kat Yusry, aku mengambil keputusan untuk menanam minatku pada Norman si abang. Walaupun dia tak tinggi, dia ada iras2 mat salleh, berbanding adik-adiknya yang lain. Tiada sebab lain. Selain Norman, aku jugak minat pada si AC Mizal dari kumpulan 4U2C tu. Ada sekali tu, aku siap hantar kad raya pada dia dan aku begitu berbangga sebab kad tersebut berbalas dengan kad raya dari kumpulan 4U2C lengkap dengan tandatangan AC sendiri. KRU pun sama, siap ada tandatangan dari Norman, Yusry dan Edry. Bila dapat balasan kad raya dari mereka ni, aku merasa sungguh berbangga sambil menunjuk-nunjuk kepada rakan-rakan yang lain. Wah, bangga sekali. Tak dapat aku gambarkan betapa gembiranya dan bangganya aku bila melihat riak wajah rakan-rakan yang begitu cemburu kerana aku telah mendapat sesuatu yang tidak ternilai harganya.

Selain kad raya, aku dan Emilda telah menyaksikan persembahan KRU di Plaza Kotaraya ketika mereka membuat promosi album pertama mereka. Tajuk dia aku pun dah tak ingat. Awas tu album kedua. Ketika itulah minat kami pada KRU berada di puncaknya. Ku lihat Norman dan adik-adiknya begitu bersungguh-sungguh membuat promosi. Selain menyanyi, mereka boleh bermain alat muzik dan menari dengan begitu baik sekali. Banyak juga gambar2 mereka telah ku ambil. Masih ada dalam simpanan ku hingga kini. Di waktu itu aku telah dapat merasakan yang mereka akan pergi jauh dalam industri muzik tanah air kita.

Kisah meminati KRU berterusan ketika aku membuat program persediaan Bahasa Inggeris di PPP, Subang Jaya. Aku masih ingat aku ada satu file, aku sampul bahagian belakang fail dengan poster KRU. Aku ingat sangat sebab aku ada satu gambar dengan rakan sekelas – Nik, Zaidah, Suza, Unai – di mana aku dengan bangganya telah memegang sambil menala gambar poster belakang file tu. Sambil tu ada gaya tangan ala-ala rappers. Memang kelakarlah. Tapi di masa tu aku tidak nampak ada bebudak lain buat perkara yang sama. Cuma aku ada rakan satu dorm yang pegi ke disko dan berjumpa dengan Joe and Azam dari kumpulan 4U2C. Itu aku tidak cemburu, kerana padaku kumpulan KRU adalah lebih hebat. Setakat 7 orang budak hingusan berkumpul dan menyanyi dalam kumpulan, suara pun bukan semuanya sedap, skill menari gitu-gitu je, hensem pun tak semua kan? Sehingga kini ku rasakan keputusanku meminati KRU berbanding 4U2C adalah keputusan yang bijak.

Minatku pada KRU bukan rahsia lagi pada rakan sekelas. Aku masih ingat kata-kata Nor Azrizal, rakan sekelas ketika di Subang, “Lin, tak payah lah susah-susah minat kat KRU ni. Diorang ni semua gay. Aku ada pegi gay club, jumpa diorang ni semua”. Tapi nasihat Arey tidak sedikit pun mematahkan minatku untuk kumpulan adik-beradik ni. Itu hal mereka lah. Yang penting minat aku pada mereka seolah-olah memberi satu kepuasan pada jiwa seorang remaja sepertiku. Aku membeli semua album mereka (kaset dan CD) dan sentiasa mengikuti perkembangan mereka.

Ketika di US, aku berhubung semula dengan bekas brief boyfren, Azam (ni bukan Azam 4U2C tu, ini Azam rakan sekelas aku terjumpa semasa belajar Bahasa Inggeris di British Council JB waktu menuggu keputusan SPM keluar). Bila Azam tanya ada apa-apa nak kirim dari Malaysia, terus aku nyatakan, “Tolong poskan CD KRU latest boleh?”. Azam yang baik hati telah menghantar 2 CD KRU. Satu yang compilation dan satu yang album terbaru. Terima kasih Azam! Sayangnya kisah cinta aku dan Azam tak menjadi sebab Azam tak barapa tinggi (boleh gitu?) dan aku rasa kami ini sangat tidak sesuai (walaupun Azam dah tujukan lagu Back for Good masa kali kedua kami berhubung selepas terputus sebaik aku masuk PPP). Mesti dia kecewa, maafkan aku Azam! Selepas aku balik Malaysia dan bekerja selama beberapa tahun, dia ada menghubungi aku dan menghantar kad jemputan kahwin. Jadi aku rasa dia sudah boleh move on with his life, just as mine.

Di zaman aku mula-mula kerja, aku masih lagi mengikuti perkembangan KRU. Kisah mereka – antaranya berkenaan Yusry kahwin, gossip Norman dengan Ning/Amy Mastura/Nor Azlina Redzuan/Asfarina, gambar lucah Edry dan Linda – semuanya aku ambil pusing. Tapi lama-kelamaan, minat itu lenyap ditelan zaman. Alam dewasa dan alam kerjaya memerlukan aku menumpukan perhatian pada perkara yang jauh lebih serius, berita hiburan adalah sangat tidak penting bagiku lagi.

Namun begitu, kadang-kadang bila aku terbaca kisah KRU dan perniagaan mereka yang semakin maju, aku tumpang berasa bangga. Inilah satu-satunya kumpulan muzik Malaysia yang mempunyai wawasan. Yusry dan Edry aku rasa patut merasa bangga kerana mempunyai seorang abang yang berpandangan jauh, komited dan berusaha keras untuk merealisasikan impian keluarga, bukan setakat untuk dirinya sendiri. Aku rasa tanpa Norman, dah lama kumpulan mereka berkubur. Kenapa kumpulan lain berpecah tapi KRU maintain, sebab mereka adik-beradik yang berkongsi satu matlamat dan mereka mempunyai seorang pemimpin yang berkarisma seperti Norman.

Cerita ini timbul sebab aku dapat email in facebook dari rakan baikku di PPP si Nur Hayati. Yatie yang baru berhijrah ke MCMC (Multimedia Commission ??) telah ternampak Norman dan Ferrari merahnya di hadapan bangunan MCMC minggu lepas. Yatie begitu teruja kerana dia asyik terfikir kalaulah Dalin yang nampak Norman, mesti Dalin akan melompat gembira. Norman ke sana kerana membincangkan bisnesnya untuk membuka satu studio ala-ala Universal Studio Hollywood di Cyberjaya bersama dengan bos besar MCMC. Yatie telah menjerit gembira secara tidak terkawal semasa memandang Norman sehingga rakan-rakan sepejabat yang keluar makan tengahari bersamanya merasa begitu terkejut. Norman, bos MCMC dan beberapa rakan Norman juga terkejut dan memandang ke arah Yatie kerana Yatie telah menjerit kuat. Yatie merasa malu dengan insiden tersebut. Rakan-rakannya mula menyindir, “Eh, Yatie sejak bila you minat Norman?”. Kesian Yatie.

Yatie juga terkejut dengan insiden tersebut. Ia seperti tindakan reflex luar kawalan. Dalam kepalanya asyik teringatkan aku. Aku rasa cerita Yatie ni begitu kelakar. Dalam apa-apa hal, Yatie masih anak dara dan Norman pun masih belum jumpa wanita yang sesuai. So, tunggu apa lagik Yatie?

Keputusan aku meminati Norman di waktu remaja tidak salah bagiku. Sehingga kini telah banyak aku pelajari dari perjalanan hidup dia. Bila seseorang mempunyai wawasan yang jelas, begitu komited dan berusaha keras untuk mencapai matlamat yang ada, soal lain harus diketepikan. Aku rasa ini adalah sebab utama kenapa Norman masih solo. Dia ada berkata yang setakat ini dia masih belum jumpa seorang wanita yang memahami jiwanya dan masa terhad yang dia miliki. Kalau teman lelaki tak call seminggu, mana-mana teman wanita pun akan merajuk. Tapi Norman tiada masa nak pujuk. Oleh kerana itu, jadilah Norman lelaki Melayu terakhir, selepas Dr. Nazrin Shah berkahwin dengan Puteri Zara.

Abang Norman – the most wanted bachelor up for grab for lady with the most enduring and tender hearts. Go for it, Yatie! Aku dah tak jeles dah. File aku yang ada gambar poster tu pun dah lama hilang. Ferrari beb…..

Crikey Escape Down Under - Part 4 - Tour to Philip Island

We took this tour mostly because I had done a research on the most attractive place to visit around Melbourne, and this tour ranked among the highest (besides the Great Ocean Tour and also the Hot Air Balloon across the city which costs a bomb).

On that day, we were supposed to meet the tour operator at 11am. We left the hotel at 10am, but got stuck in 1 souvenir shop on the way there. All the things in the shops were wonderful and all were screaming “Pick me up…”, “I’ll be nice…”, etc. It should have been a brief stop while waiting for 11am, but we were so immersed in the frenzy that when I realized, it’s already 11 am. Quickly I had all of us paid up, and hurriedly (I mean running) to the meeting point. By the time we arrived, the tour guy was searching high and low for us.

We apologized all right. When they mean 11am, it shall be 11 am. Not 11.02 or 11.05 and worst, 11.10am. Discipline and respecting time is the order of life over here. How I wish we can all emulate this mindset and standard on good time management. I hope by 2020, there'll be no such words as Janji Melayu.

11 am – bus started its journey. On the way picked up a few people at St. Kilda (happened to be 4 Malaysian girls on back packing trips, from IMU).

12.30 pm – stopped for lunch in a small town called Tooradin (had fish n chip).

1.00 pm – 1st stop at the Woolamai Beach, famous for surfers. Even in the cold weather, I could see a few people went surfing, including old lads, I mean at the age of 60s you....

2.00 pm – 2nd stop at the Koala Conservation Center. There were about 18 koalas under protection, medical care and under study. They were so close, and yet so far. This is the highlight of the visit for me, besides seeing the penguins going back to their burrows later in the evening. Spotted 2 wallabies in the area as well. Wallabies are the smaller version of kangaroos.

4.00 pm – 3rd stop at the Nobbies where we can spot penguins and seals at the Seal Rock. Since the Seal Rock is farther away, they can only be seen via telescope.

5.00 pm – 4th stop at the Penguin Parade. We were to watch the penguins go back home after their day of searching for food and playing at sea. Just like in National Geographic program, but this time Live baby!

This is the one thing which I had researched widely about and really was dying to see. But guess what, on the way to the entrance, one of the Malaysian girls poked me and said, “Eh, that one looks like the famous singer la, siapa tu, Mawi?”. I was like, “Where, where? What he's doing here?”. Then there he was with his wife, right in front of me. I just stretched out my hands and shook hands with them (it's OK for Mawi and me since I was wearing a pair of gloves!). Then we just swept past them as we were in a hurry to catch the penguins live! That one was far more important. I wanted to see penguins in their most natural habitat and act. Mawi and Ekin, later guys.

1 thing good about our tour operator (Eco Platypus) was that we got to sit at the most front of the stage. Well, actually he provided us with small mat so we could sit on the beach, the most front view. Better than the VIP platform. While waiting for the penguins to emerge, we were served with hot coffee and cookies. Just exactly what we needed on that freezing sunset hours by the beach. It was damning cold and the wind chill could easily be around 2-4 degree, I reckon. Many people were on winter coat + hat + ear muffs, but we were not. I just had my normal jacket on, with my newly bought muffler from Target store. Plus a pair of gloves, thanks to last minute packing by ransacking my sister’s bag. We were trembling, had it been not for the hot coffee, it’d been worst.

We were chit chatting for about 15 minutes until the 1st penguin surfaced. Everyone was so happy and excited. But this one kept on flipping to and fro the beach and the sea. People were going "..oooohhh...." and "...ahhhhh..." upon seeing it struggling to settle. Then, around 20 minutes later, its other members started to emerge. Finally we got to see the life and attitude of penguins in their most natural way. About 20 of them gathered, the leader would do head count, ensure it was the right path, then only they marched together to the burrows. How smart! If you recall, they are the smart species in Madagascar the animation movie. It is apparently so in real life. They are smart, full of discipline, good at teamwork, loyal and humble. Just the kind of species you’d hope for the people in office. The penguins surfaced in groups of 15-20 at one time. All in all, I guess we must have spotted over 100 of them. Some were lost, and the officer on duty (rangers) would help them back to their home. I never expected that the penguins could produce such loud and noisy sound compared to their size. These ones were the small species penguins.

After the highlight of the event, everyone went back to the shore and stormed the souvenir store. That's where we met up with Ekin and Mawi again. Well, put it this way. Even though Mawi's era may have ended, we just wanted to capture a moment as a token that we have met them at the most unexpected place. We managed to chit chat for about 5 minutes, in which we got to know that they were sponsored by Victoria Tourism to promote the state of Victoria to Malaysians. They spent 1 week in many places of interest there. Bertuahnya badan! Rezeki orang kan...Ekin talked the most while Mawi was busy eating ice cream despite the freezing weather outside. The funny thing was that, I was wearing a tudung Ekin, while she on the other hand, was just wearing a scarf with muffler wrapping around her neck. I almost uttered "Eh camne ni, saya pakai tudung Ekin tapi Ekin sendiri pakai sekap jer??", tapi tak jadik lah..nanti spoilt the mood pulakkan.

7.00 pm – went back to Melbourne, on the way stopped by a pizza place, had a vege and plain pizzas.

At the Koala Conservation Center

Inilah spesis terbaru. Boleh kata endangered species jugak.

At the Nobbies - place for seals and penguins

The information center.

The rock at the back is called the Seal Rock. Can only be seen via a telescope.

At the award winning and world renown Penguin Parade

Tengok, pamphlet dalam pelbagai bahasa. Bahasa Malaysia pun ada.

Crikey Escape Down Under - Part 5 (Souvenir)

I have to admit that both Mr. X and I have committed major folly in buying of souvenirs in Melbourne. On the first day itself, right after brief stop for lunch at Flinder’s Street, we passed by a so-called Wholesale Souvenir shop next to Subway. The intention was to “look” only. Looked at them we did. The souvenir items were so colorful and varied that it seemed all were worth the purchase. Shirts were at AUD8.90 per piece for round neck, key chains koalas the cheapo ones were at AUD5 for 20, fridge magnet at AUD2.50 and many others priced at such affordable price, or so we thought. Because of the excitement and the worry that we might not have ample time to buy more souvenirs, I have contributed almost AUD30 to the Indonesian born lady owner.

Next idiocy was to pop round a souvenir store while waiting for the tour bus on the 3rd day. Again, it was only to “look”. That “look” costs another AUD100. This store sold embroided shirts, nice ones. 4 for AUD50. Thinking that I had not been away for quite some time from home, I owed my siblings and in-laws some stuff, the ones with quality. I wouldn’t dare buying them cheapo koala key chains, would I? While I was busy selecting the right shirts, Mr. X was ecstatic enough to choose koalas key chains (the one with better quality) for his office mates and friends. He got them 4 for AUD 10. He was so happy that nite.

As if couldn’t bear the gratification further, I collected a few gifts here and there while I was on tour. Some at the Koala Conservation Center and some at the Penguin Parade store. The one at the Nobbies was incredibly expensive. Mr.X only bought a fridge magnet there for our house.

We only realized it was such a folly until the last day, when we decided that by hook or by crook, we had to go to Victoria Market. Damn all those stores! The shirts were priced at AUD5 (made in China), cheapo koala key chains you can get them at AUD2.50 for 20, fridge magnets and small key chains were at 8 for AUD10. The same koala key chains with better quality which Mr. X bought while waiting for the tour bus was at 8 for AUD10. 50% cheaper!!! Extraordinarily bargain basement priced! He couldn’t help himself but to curse at all the previous shop owners. But then again, not all things can be found there. My embroided shorts were no where to be found there.

Oklah kan…dah beli dah…lesson learnt. Victoria Market is HEAVEN for shopping in Melbourne. Majority of the sellers are Asians who have migrated there and the workers can be foreign students as well. Some sellers can even speak Malay. So, it’s such a great place to shop but be prepared to dig into your pocket further. Every thing seems nice and a must have. I almost bought a kangaroo and a koala medium size huggable, until I managed to curb my insanity to finish off all the AUD left (dah tinggal sikit pon…). Cash only here, no credit card. Nasib baik.

Before flying home, the airport is also a devil’s place for shoppers. There is a store called Purely Australian, in which all the items sold are made in Australia. Since many things are made in China, this store creates that edge for those shoppers who’d be willing to pay slightly higher price to get their dream things. I got a purse made of Kangaroo skin. This one is not sold in Victoria Market. Among other things, :P.

In short, Melbourne is a shopping heaven. Considering that I had skipped visiting factory outlets, the amount spent there can be considered incredibly high to my standard. There goes all my AJIT program. Ampun Pak Aziz!