row, row, row your boat....

Thursday, August 28, 2008


Like every Wednesday night, we had our RAKSI last night. In the beginning, we were all hesitant to go because of the numerous assignments and upcoming tests but we went anyways as it was compulsory for first-year students. This time, the task was to make a boat out of nothing but paper and plastic straws. We were separated into two groups and the winner will be chosen according to the boat's endurance and our creativity. It should be big enough for three persons to sit on. We started clueless but eventually enjoyed making the boat once we got the hang of it..and what you see in the picture was the result. It was not that handsome or charming but at least it did look like a boat. And it was really a memorable moment.
PS: neither of the groups won.

7 blunders of the world according to Mahatma Gandhi

Saturday, August 23, 2008

7 blunders of the world according to MAHATMA GANDHI

Mahatma Gandhi said that there are 7 blunders of the world. Yes. 7 things that can possibly destroy the world and everything in it. It is everywhere. You can easily find one, if not several, of the 7 blunders of the world around you. What are they, you asked?

The 7 BLUNDERS OF THE WORLD are:

1. wealth WITHOUT work
2. pleasure WITHOUT conscience
3. knowledge WITHOUT character
4. commerce WITHOUT morality
5. science WITHOUT humanity
6. worship WITHOUT sacrifice
7. politics WITHOUT principle

Most of you would probably agree with Mr. Gandhi right now - after knowing what the 7 destructive things are. Wealth, pleasure, knowledge, commerce, science, worship and politics. Those are the things that we actually work hard to gain. They are the 7 things entrusted to mankind so they can help us make the world a better place to live in if they are managed wisely.

Every now and then we hear of the people who either fail because they don't appreciate what they have or ruin their own life simply because they can afford to do so. Wealthy kids doing drugs, committing suicide because of family problems. Trust me, the news gets more petrifying each day. What is more devastating is the numbers. Knowledge has always been misused by the heartless to harm others. Respectable scientists of the past devoted their lives to their scientific beliefs and researches. Little did they know that the information they obtained will be used centuries later to build weapons for nuclear wars. Killing millions of helpless, innocent people. Dirty politics led human being to battle with its own kind for all the wrong reasons.

The 7 wonders of the world makes earth a wonderful place to live in but these 7 blunders of the world will totally bring earth down in destruction. As long as we are willing to work hard and sacrifice, and have the right character, conscience, principle and morality, we can prevent what Mahatma Gandhi referred to as the 7 blunders of the world from annihilating mankind.

peace

Friday, August 15, 2008



Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and saw a stranger in the background? It makes you wonder how many people have pictures of you, how many moments of other people's lives we've been in. Were we part of someone's life when their dream came true, or were we there when their dreams died? Did we keep trying to get in, as if we were somehow destined to be there? Or did the shot take us by surprise? Just think, you could be a big part of someone else's life, and not even know it.

the black parade

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Eleanor Roosevelt once said that

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the things which you think you cannot do."


I've always love jungle trekking and camping but I've never imagined myself being left alone in the jungle at night. If given the ability to choose, I would never have chosen to stand alone surrounded by the eerie silence of the jungle. But my preference didn't matter when my group of twelve first-year female students were sent out in the middle of the darkest of nights carrying only a map, a torch light and a compass. We were to find our way through the darkness and look for Osama Laden in the form of a twelve-inch bamboo in an empty, abandoned house.


Despite being the youngest of the group, I have to lead them through this whole program. Their health and performance were my responsibilities. But they were all very cooperative and considerate enough to make things easier for me.

A group was sent off every 30 minutes and our group was the sixth of ten. We started our 'Osama' hunt at exactly 1.45 am. With the map as our sole guide, we headed into the darkness. We were walking cautiously in 6 rows - two in each row. It was like a mini exodus, a black parade. The path was gravelly for the first 10 minutes. There was no sound except for the silent zikr each of us was citing. As we reached the edge of the jungle I was getting more and more anxious. I couldn't wait to get it over with. The dual line form we were in became a single one as the path was too narrow and fit for only one person at a time. I was in front of the line. Holding the torch light firmly in one hand and the map in another, I carefully led the group into the blindness of the jungle. Teamwork and tolerance kept us on the right route although we need to turn back every time we were off track.


Through teamwork and tolerance did we manage to reach the empty house on time. It was lit with dim lights. We couldn't find the twelve-inch bamboo after searching the parameter of the house for an hour. Only after that did we realize we were searching the wrong house. It was supposed to be the other house that we missed because there was absolutely no light whatsoever in that area. We had to go back to into the absolute darkness again. I was about to give up as I was already at my limits. But thinking of the other members of the team, giving up was not my choice. As said by Hannah Arendt : Fear is an emotion indispensable for survival. I knew I have to finish this dreadful journey.


We got to the creepy abandoned house and started searching for 'Osama'. This time we were able to get inside of the building. There were lots of old furniture, drawers and cupboards. There was a calendar still hanging on the wall which stated the year 1887. After circling the building countless times we were grateful to finally found the so-called 'Osama' and headed to the base camp. It was 4.00 am when we reported to the commander. It was so late and the hunt took a long time - not to mention a lot of energy - but it was so worth it when we finally held the twelve-inch bamboo.

I couldn't sleep for the rest of the morning. Before heading back to UMP we took our chance to visit the museum nearby and had a blast of air batu campur and keropok lekor before hopping on the bus. Thinking back, I realized that the 'journey through darkness' has opened my eyes to a whole new level of capabilities. As I have once stated in my previous post:


'It is only when you're tested that you discover who you truly are and who you can be.'


story of 'nurul afiqah'


story of 'nurul afiqah'

From: mocqachinno, 14 minutes ago


story of 'nurul afiqah'
View SlideShare presentation (tags: te)



this was a presentation for my english class. we had to make a short presentation about ourselves. i decided to talk about how i got my name


SlideShare Link

this blur called life

She loses herself in a song
doesn't want to be found
lets her worries fall to the ground

plays it louder again and again
doesn't want the tears to begin
to just forget the places she's been

if only these notes
were a cure to her pain
for the tears that still remain

no voice speaks loud enough
it seems she's heard it all
now she puts up this wall

in hopes that someone
will tear it down
and forever wipe off her frown

it's not what she wants
as tears stream down her face
she's lost something that she cannot replace

all she wanted, all she needs
is someone to hold her
and make sense of this blur

guys actually..

[this is a reply to Khalilurrahman's post about girls]

guys...
if you treat him, he'll say you are in love
but if you don't, he says you are proud
if you dress nicely, he'll say you are trying to impress him
but if you don't, he says you are from kampung
if you don't love him, he will try to possess you
but if you love him, he will try to leave you
if you don't let him kiss you, he'll say you don't love him
but if you let him kiss you, he says you are cheap
if you break your promise, you can't be trusted
but if he breaks his promise, he is forced to do so
if you hurt him, you are so cruel
if he hurts you, you are too sensitive
so how on earth can we trust them??

never say YES when you mean NO

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

"Say no to a thousand things so that you can say yes to the few that really matter."
Redzwan A. Rahim


Saying 'NO'. I always have a problem with that. Every time someone asks for help or wants something from me, no matter how busy or unavailable I am I don't know how to say NO. It gets me all the time. Sometimes they want to borrow something that I need or I care about so much that it would worry me if it is in other people's hand. Still I couldn't find the strength to say NO. I just couldn't bring myself to let down a friend when they needed help. Each time they ask for help I would think...'What if it is me that is asking for their help? How would I feel if they refuse to help me?' and that thought will automatically block any sentence that consists the word NO from coming out of my mouth. There are times when the things that I lent them got lost or broken but I tend to think it was an accident. They didn't mean to lose or break it on purpose. So I'll tell them that it's OK. A friend once told me not to be too lenient about my possessions. Those are my things and I have the right to say NO but I just don't have the heart to do it. I know I have to somehow learn to say NO but it takes time.

this blur called life

Thursday, August 7, 2008

She loses herself in a song
doesn't want to be found
lets her worries fall to the ground

plays it louder again and again
doesn't want the tears to begin
to just forget the places she's been

if only these notes
were a cure to her pain
for the tears that still remain

no voice speaks loud enough
it seems she's heard it all
now she puts up this wall

in hopes that someone
will tear it down
and forever wipe off her frown

it's not what she wants
as tears stream down her face
she's lost something that she cannot replace

all she wanted, all she needs
is someone to hold her
and make sense of this blur

fight or flight?

Wednesday, August 6, 2008



When confronted by our worst nightmares, the choices are few. Fight or flight. We hope to find the strength to stand against our fears. But sometimes despite ourselves, we run. What if the nightmare gives chase? Where can we hide then?

invictus

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

(invictus means invincible. this inspiring poem was written by William Ernest Henley)

the pain of losing a friend

Monday, August 4, 2008

Friends come and go…but true friends will remain in our hearts forever. Friendship is a powerful thing that can either make or break us. It’s up to us to differentiate between the pros and cons. Friendship makes the simplest, littlest things matter. Like every time you are having a bad day and by just being there they can make you smile again and enjoy the rest of the day without worries. Like each time you are hurt and they are always there to console you and mend your wounds. Every time you feel insecure or unsure they are always there to support you. And like all the times you are in trouble they are always there to back you up. Having new friends is always fun and exciting but losing one will cause a heartache so severe that it seems like there’s no convalescence.

How would you feel when the person you care about turns his back on you and walk away as if you never knew each other before? How would you feel when you found out that a friend you thought you knew so well and trust with all your heart turns out to be a whole different person?

I lost a friend so dear to me not too long ago. It hurts so much that sometimes I wish that I could turn back time and undo the things I did wrong, take back the words I shouldn’t have said and do the things that weren’t done then. Sometimes I wish I could make things right again. If only I had the chance...