Land of Orange

Just came back from a short trip back to the land famous for its bicycles, tulips, cows and anything that is orange. Indeed as it is the World Cup at the moment, the whole place is more colourful or orange than usual, orange is of course the official colour of the Dutch football team and its supporters.

Whilst there we found the mid June weather was a bit chilly, unusual for this is the middle of summer in Europe. Somehow that is now the order of the day when it comes to the weather - global warming, ash clouds or whatever people can lay the blame on.

Talking about the World Cup, it has been a week since it started. The Americas seemed to be doing much better than their Europeans counterpart. Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico and even USA are winning or getting precious points. Whereas, we have seen Germany, Spain, France and even England faltering.

So may be this will be the year for a team from South America to win. That would be either Brazil or Argentina. But then the ball is round and even a better team is not guaranteed to win. It will still be another 3 weeks to go before we know who will win. In the meantime lets enjoy the late nights of watching football.

Spiritual Living

Just came back from a quick hop to a place I spent some part of my tender age. A place where a clear example of truly urban way of living with an overdeveloped Westernised society is to be seen. A place so thoroughly modern, litter-free, shiny and new. A place with endless number of high-rise buildings and shopping malls filled with the latest gadgets and goodies. But this place makes many outsiders having strong opinion that all these amazing organisation and systems make the place dull. For amidst all this modernity and sparkling clean (or to be exact chewing gum free), there is nothing unique in its culture, history and people when compare to all the other Asean countries.

When I lived there before I recalled even the citizens need to be reminded to 'smile' through constant campaigns. Everyones are too busy and neglect their own unique individuality and desire for expressions. It is as if this is as a modern-day version of communism - everyone sacrifices for the greater good of the general society.

Amidst all these though, I found the lush greenery and the tall trees within the city make things less lifeless. And in the middle of the city just a stone throw away from Orchard Road is a place of salvation, where one's spiritual belief and responsibility can still be uphold. The Mesjid, humbly located underneath a storey car park building, provides a place of respite for the devotees amidst the hustle and bustle and temptation of modern living in what some people described as probably one of the most sterile place around in every sense of the word.

Period of Bereavements

This week saw two of our eldest have succumbed from old age and passed away. One is always filled with humility in times of bereavements like these. And the presence of so many to pay their last respect on the day is always quite a sight. Slowly less and less of our elders are living, a sign that we are fast advancing our age and that soon we will ourselves be called the elders.

Death is the clearest sign shown to all humans that everyone are born equal. No one is more equal than others in the eyes of Allah. It is only his deeds that will be counted when the person is judged at the end of life. So when one is confronted with the challenge of life - that hierarchy, rank and wealth are reigning supreme in our society, just step back and be satisfied with what you are.