Kebanggan Fa-iz Sekeluarga

26 September 2008

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri


Setelah sebulan kita berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan, Syawal menjelma bererti kita akan menyambut Hari Raya. Kepada semua rakan-rakan yang mengenali Fa-iz diucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin. Andai ada terkasar bahasa, terguris perasaan, terlajak budi bicara dan sebagainya jari sepuluh dihulur sebagai tanda memohon kemaafan. Ampun maaf buat semua.

Salam Aidil Fitri

23 September 2008

Riaszahraku 1 tahun, 3 bulan

Huaaaaa...kakak nangis pagi tadi...

Sudah dua minggu kakak kat Seremban..
Kalau ikut plan asal aritu abah nak amik kakak, adik ngan bonda dan kita beraya di sini. Tup tup tok di Perlis demam kuat dan bonda pulak tak terlayan kerenah kakak dan adik. Bila adik nangis kakak pun nak nangis sesekali tengok macam kembar pulak dua beradik ni. Abah amik keputusan bawa balik kakak seorang jer ke Seremban sebab kesiankan bonda yang terpaksa menjaga adik-kakak ni. Sambil tu bolehla bonda menjaga makan-minum atuk Perlis dan tengokkan tok sekali.

Di Seremban, time abah kerja ni terpaksalah abah mintak ehsan paklang ngan atuk sini jaga kakak. Sesekali teringat apalah yang kakak buat sekarang ni. Malam menjelma giliran abah pulak melayan kerenah kakak sambil dibantu acu ngan wawa. Penat bekerja di siang hari seakan hilang melayan kakak.

Kakak sebenarnya baru jer baik dari demam, kiranya time abah amik dia bawa balik aritu tinggal sisa-sisa demam saje yang tinggal. Sepanjang minggu lepas abah tengok dia ok jer cume setiap hari berak kakak memang cair. Abah ingatkan pasal susu yang kakak minum dah tak sesuai lagi tapi abah tengok kakak minum ok jer. Jadi semalam atuk bawa kakak pergi jumpa doktor untuk kepastian. Doktor bagitau kakak tak boleh makan makanan berminyak. Perut kakak tak boleh lagi terima makanan yang berat-berat lagi tapi apa yang abah, atuk, wawa makan kakak nak juga makan kalau tak diberi nanti kakak merajuk. Sekarang kakak kena makan ubat yang doktor bagi dan susu khas yang disyorkan doktor terlebih dahulu bagi memulihkan sistem pengkhadaman terlebih dahulu. Sabar je lah sayang! Nanti lagi 3 bulan baru kakak boleh makan macam-macam.

18 September 2008

Membilang Usia Anak-anakku

Lilypie 1st Birthday PicLilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

Lilypie 2nd Birthday PicLilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

12 September 2008

Spotlight : Buka puasa at a price

IKLAN
AUDREY VIJAINDREN

While most Malaysians are cutting corners to save a few ringgit, others are queuing up at the Ramadan buka puasa buffet line. Hotels and restaurants tell AUDREY VIJAINDREN that it’s a full house every night, despite higher prices and the rising cost of living


A rojak dish among the buffet spread at Mandarin Oriental
A rojak dish among the buffet spread at Mandarin Oriental
A great way to buka puasa is this tempting Mamak Tenggiri Curry
A great way to buka puasa is this tempting Mamak Tenggiri Curry
KETUPAT, rendang, serunding and lemang. There’s nothing like old-time kampung favourites to remind us of our childhood.

Lucky for us, we don’t have to pack all the kids in the minivan and make that five-hour drive home, each time we have a craving.

All through Ramadan, fancy restaurants and upscale hotels are taking us on that journey.

Bracing themselves for a loss this Ramadan, due to the rising cost of living, hotels and restaurants are glad to report nothing less than a “full house” since the start of the fasting month.
The tell the New Sunday Times that the queue at the buffet table is getting longer and bookings are coming in three months in advance.

As far as they’re concerned, it’s business as usual, whatever the cost.

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur (MOKL) says although it’s only a week into the fasting month, there’s no indication of a slowdown in business this year.

“Our Ramadan buffets are usually fully booked from the second week of Ramadan onwards. The response and reservations so far have been more than encouraging.

“The majority of our Ramadan buffet patrons are corporate companies from the surrounding vicinity along with an influx of family gatherings on weekends.

“There’s no real trend indicative of a slowdown, as there are a myriad of factors that could affect the reservations,” said its spokesperson.

While the month of Ramadan is one of the busiest times for their restaurants, MOKL says there’s a slight decrease in banquet events during the fasting month.

“The volumes generated from the Ramadan buffets do contribute to the overall hotel food & beverage revenue. This helps as we have observed a slight decrease in banquet events.”

So, are people forking out cold hard cash for these lavish dinners? Not really.

MOKL says that payments are usually made by credit card, especially for group bookings.

Hilton Petaling Jaya’s assistant food & beverage manager Kamarul Zaman says they’re enjoying similar success with their buka puasa buffets.

“Needless to say, with the popularity of the restaurant, we have our loyal regulars who dine with us every year during Ramadan. It’s a must for them to dine here at least once during this month.

“As the yearly norm, for the first week, our Muslim friends prefer to break fast at home with their family.

“Nevertheless, the restaurant still performs above the average dinner crowd for the first week and it picks-up tremendously over the weeks until the end of Ramadan.”

He says being located in a business district populated by multinational companies, the hotel receives many corporate bookings, as many of them would take this opportunity to dine with their clients.

So, does the month of Ramadan greatly increase their yearly profits? He says that goes without saying.

While most hotels see a balance in walk-in guests and corporate customers, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur says they’re receiving many Prestige Card members (the hotel’s loyalty programme members).

“Our club members enjoy a variety of perks when dining at the hotel, so many come for such promotions.

“Corporate guests and companies are also big on our Ramadan buffets. Most of the customers during this month are between the ages of 30 to 55 years old,” says its assistant public relations manager Nor Aizan Abdul Hamid.

For business or pleasure, she says, both their coffee houses are full during the second and third week of Ramadan, but reservation is always slow at the beginning of Ramadan.

In fact, most restaurants and hotels offering buka puasa buffets have noticed a similar pattern and strategise accordingly.

Buka puasa buffets are usually RM10 less throughout the first and last week of the fasting month.

But while most eateries are raising their buffet prices to a minimum of 20 per cent this month, there’s one restaurant that has chosen not to burden their customers with an expensive meal.

The Seri Angkasa revolving restaurant at the KL Tower is sticking to their RM130++ dinner buffet price, even during the fasting month.

“We don’t need to raise our prices because we have agreements with our suppliers for a year. So, although there is a price hike, we’re not affected. Well, at least not yet. Who knows, next year may be different,” says the assistant marketing, advertising and promotion manager for Seri Melayu group of companies Noorulazwaliza Noh.

Although Seri Angkasa’s buka puasa buffet price is one of the highest around, she says, the restaurant is still receiving bookings three months in advance.

“We house 250 people at one time, with two dinner sessions every night. Obviously, people are still eating out as much as before despite the increase in prices worldwide.

“In fact, during this month, we offer a special lunch buffet for non-Muslims at RM40 per person. Even that is fully booked everyday.”

Yes, but being the only revolving restaurant at the KL Tower, could their business be coming from tourists?

She says, not at all. The majority of their patrons are locals and not tourists.

“More and more Malaysians are dining here, most are here to impress clients and business partners.

“With our new online booking feature, more companies are reserving their tables months ahead.”

While that may be true for the revolving restaurant, Carcosa Seri Negara’s buka puasa buffet attracts many foreigners.

“Oh yes. Our stay-in guests, many being Europeans, Americans and Japanese, never fail to make it part of their experience at Carcosa to attend the Ramadan buffet.

“Foreign executives also participate with great enthusiasm, not wanting to miss out on a Malaysian experience.

“We attract many expatriates, business groups and families, due to our lush garden environment, “ says its general manager Carla Petzold-Beck.

But unlike other hotels, Ramadan is not a huge profit-making month for this boutique hotel.

“Large-scale events are greatly reduced during the day, so no, the fasting month does not contribute significantly to profits.

“It’s also not the busiest time of the year for us. It’s simply the perception of busy-ness because most of the dining takes place within a shorter window of time, which is at the break of fast,” she says.

The price of their buka puasa buffet? RM119++ per person.

So, who are these big spenders?

Director of construction company Greenfield Buildtec Raymond Selvaraj is one of many.

Because he has a lot of Muslim and Indonesian sub-contractors, Raymond says the fasting month is a good time to foster business ties.

“It’s a great opportunity to entertain business partners. Who’s going to turn down a free meal? And because other contractors are taking their business partners out, you can’t afford not to.”

Even for an overpriced plate of kerabu pucuk paku?

Why not, he says, Ramadan only comes around once a year.

Raymond says when you take into account the business opportunity, the price of a Ramadan dinner is peanuts.

“These Ramadan dinners used to cost much less, but now it’s steadily increasing. But when you are talking about million ringgit projects, this is a small price to pay.

“Especially in the construction line, people expect to receive little perks like this. It’s all part of business.”

Raymond is not the only one who’s taking advantage of the Ramadan month to boost sales and seal deals.

IT consultant Francis Lim says he too doesn’t hesitate to give his clients and prospective clients a treat.

“It’s no surprise that Malaysians love food. So, when an opportunity like this comes along, we have to grab it. In fact, it’s much better to take your clients out for dinner than to a karaoke lounge.

“It’s all done in good faith and people like to be appreciated. Unfortunately, there are some who take advantage of the situation by carting their whole family along. But what can we do? We can’t say no. The customer is always right.”

Raymond and Lim are part of the vast majority who are willing to spend lavishly, in hopes of a bigger “fish".

But there are business people who don’t think showering clients with pricey buffets is the way to go.

Financial planner Clarence Chua says he doesn’t mind entertaining his Muslim clients at home. But expensive Ramadan dinners defeat the purpose of fasting.

“I don’t think my clients would expect it of me. Buka puasa is a great time for family and friends to get together. But why must it be at an expensive place, with 300 dishes? That’s so impersonal!

“Wouldn’t the experience be better in the comfort of your own home? I think my clients would appreciate the extra effort I put into preparing a dinner for them in my own house.”

Most of time, Chua says, talking business in a restaurant full of people is not conducive.

“It’s usually a ’full house’ at the restaurants during this time and it’s impossible to talk about serious stuff. People just eat and go, with little mingling.”

But for business, pleasure of leisure, buka puasa buffet dinners will still be a tool to foster better relationships for some and build a bigger client base for others.

And if you look at it that way, a plate of fresh kampung ulam-ulaman is truly priceless.

Drink : Long, cool sips

IKLAN
By : SU AZIZ


(From left) A mealy jackfruit slurp, an enticing dragon fruit gulp, a memorable kedondong sip and a crispy cool lotus root swig.

SU AZIZ celebrates that first drink of the day that marks the break of fasting for Muslims. Others, too, can enjoy the flavours of these concoctions any day, any time, when longing for something tasty and different.

WHEN I was a kid, fasting month was never about food. The anticipation was all for an icy, cold, sweet drink lubricating my throat that had become sandpaper dry. It truly didn’t matter what drink it was, as long as it was cold and sweet.

At the first cold sip, I would slowly regain life. Then, there would be no stopping me. Glass after glass, despite warnings, I would gulp. Regret came way too late; suddenly, I’d discover there was no more room for food. Nevertheless, it was a habit that endured for the entire month (and yes, until today!).

The good people of Legend Hotel in Kuala Lumpur can relate to this and therefore have come up with four cool, sweet drinks to quench the thirst for buka puasa.

The four below are elaborate concoctions but terrific distractions as you wait for the sun to set and feasting to begin. Or, order them while enjoying Legend Hotel’s Ramadhan buffet spread of over 100 dishes every night!
The first drink uses buah kedondong. This drink is not only refreshing, it also evokes childhood memories for me. This fruit has a soft, spikey stone that has a distinct flavour – rather raw but with a sour-sweet tinge to it.

Simply cut the fruit up, remove the stone and blend:

• 120ml of kedondong juice

Then muddle in:

• 1-2 sour plums

• syrup water to taste

Finally, add in crushed ice before drinking.

The second drink is a terrific variation of our sirap biji selasih. The chopped up lotus root gives the drink a crispiness biji selasih does. Chop up as much as you want:

• young lotus root

• jackfruit or nangka

Then mix some raspberry syrup with water, add chopped ingredients and mix in:

• 5-6 nata de cacao

Lastly, add crushed ice before drinking.

This third one doesn’t need crushed ice but the vanilla ice-cream will go down well. This is a mealy drink. The jackfruit is comforting and it is most definitely sweet. All you need is to blend together:

• 1 tsp green tea powder or ¼ cup of very thick green tea

• 120ml soya milk or lessen it slightly to accommodate the ¼ cup of green tea

• 1-2 slices of jackfruit

• 1-2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream

The most visually enticing is their fourth drink. Its mango yellow and burgundy are rich and appetising. When mixed, the ruby red defies the soft mango flavours and the drink’s innocent sweetness.

Another heavy and mealy drink, simply blend to retrieve:

• 30ml of red dragon fruit puree

Pour it into a tumbler. Then slowly pour on top:

• fresh mango juice

For a hint of zest, crush the thick end of a lemongrass and use the crushed end to stir this drink. Remember, add in crushed ice only before you drink it to minimise dilution.

10 September 2008

Teruja sangat nak berhari raya!

Dua hari lepas Fa-iz menerima sms dari mak saudara, Mak Mah adik kepada ibu. Sms tersebut menyebut tentang satu perhimpunan seluruh keluarga kepada adik beradik Allahyarham Wan Mohamed bin Wan Ismail sempena Hari Raya Aidilfitri yang bakal disambut 01 atau 02 Oktober bulan hadapan. Majlis tersebut bakal diadakan di Dewan Orang Ramai Bandar pada hari Ahad 19 Oktober.

Bagi Fa-iz perhimpunan keluarga sebegini ini memang amat dinanti-nantikan kerana melaluinya kita dapat mengenali antara satu sama lain dan merapatkan silaturrahim. Bayangkanlah anakanda kepada Wan Mohamed saja dah 10 orang dan cucu-cucu dah hampir 50 orang. Berkumpul pula bersama-sama keluarga adik beradik Wan Mohamed yang lain. Satu perhimpunan besar keluarga yang dijangka menjangkau lebih 500 orang rasanya.

Semoga usaha pihak penganjur ini berjaya dan berjalan lancar. Teruja sangat nak berhari raya!

09 September 2008

Salam Aidilfitri dari Dublin

Terjumpa la plak... budak mane ntah ni buat ucapan Salam Aidilfitri keluar kat dalam BH. Bukan setakat on-line jer keluar...paper pun keluar tarikh 08.09.2008. Layan jer lah yerr...


SALAM Aidilfitri kami tujukan istimewa buat ayahanda bonda dan keluarga tercinta, saudara mara, sahabat handai serta kenalan kami yang berada di seluruh Malaysia terutama di Negeri Sembilan, Melake, Pahang dan Johor. Tidak lupakan juga kepada pensyarah Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor, Kolej Dar Al-Hikmah dan KMB. Doakan kejayaan kami di Dublin, Ireland. Selamat menjalani ibadah puasa, Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir Batin. Dari kiri: Diana, Fairuza Feerhana dan Izdzatun Nasyiah.

05 September 2008

Jejak Kasih (Siri II)

Jeng jeng jeng...

Siri kedua kali ini aku fokuskan kepada kengkawan di SMAD Titi Besi, Kepala Batas. Sekolah ini terletak kira-kira 10 KM dari bandar Alor Star berhampiran sangat dengan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim. Aku start masuk sekolah ni pada penghujung 2004 dan ditempatkan di tingkatan dua, kira-kira beberapa minggu je lagi nak periksa hujung tahun. Di sini bermulalah era persekolahan formal aku dan sepanjang di sekolah ini juga beberapa kali jugakla aku keluar masuk asrama (bukan kena buang asrama tau tapi kengkononnye nak fokus belajar). Boleh kata satu kejutan budaya jugak la kat aku bila belajar kat sini.

Tahun 2005 aku amik PMR dan alhamdulillah taklah mengecewakan sangat bolehlah 2A. Ok per belajar setahun jer beb!. Masuk form 4 aku berulang dari rumah di Taman Mahsuri, Jitra. Dan tahun ni pun aku ada amik exam arab (SMRA) dan alhamdulillah resultnya pun ok aku dapat maqbul jer. Okla tu!. 1997 aku kembali ke asrama masa tu parent semua dah balik ke N9 tinggallah aku sensorang kat sana. Tahun tu jugak aku amik SPM dan resultnya taklah gempak sangat tapi steadyla. Kalau susun ikut ranking laki-laki aku dok top ten jugakla. Hehehe. Tapi yang paling aku ingat, tahun tu raya haji tak balik sebab nak dekat ngan periksa. Aku balik raya rumah Mat Zaki Saad kat Pokok Sena.

Masa dok asrama memang banyak kenangan. Teringat aku kat ustaz Kamil dan arwah ustaz Long. Hari-hari kena ligan kalau tak pergi sembahyang kat surau. Kalau dapat kat diorang alamat berbiratlah kat kaki. huhuhuh...sian kat aku. Tapi yang paling best bila time outing, memang tak pernah nak balik ikut waktu yang ditetapkan, paling tidak pun kitorang balik masa lepas abis prep. Lubang kat pagar kat hujung bangunan tu lah yang jadi port kitorang masuk. Dan yang paling best sepanjang penglibatan aku alhamdulillah tak pernah kantoi lagi la. Huhuhu.


Ni otai asrama ni...huhuhu. Kamcing diorang ni ngan ustaz Kamil tapi geng aku balik malam jugak ni...sebab tu aku tak kantoi...hehehe. Gambar ni masa kita orang gi Bukit Hijau masa tu aku baru dapat lesen. Sewa kereta sebijik ronda dari pagi sampai malam.


Ni pulak kat bilik ketua dorm, port bebudak malas pergi surau, konfom waden pun tak kacau bilik ni. Ketua konon! Hampehla korang!

Banyak dengan diorang ni aku dah lost contact, entahla masing2 dah bawa diri. Setakat yang aku pernah jumpa lepas abis sekolah dulu antaranya wan lah (MPI), fakhrul, zaki yaman, hanif (Kisdar), spotlight (Seremban) tapi itu pun 7-8 tahun dulu. Wan lah masa kat MPI dulu selalu jugakla aku jumpa tapi bila dah posting ke mana entah dia pun terus hilang. Cuma yang aku dah jumpa dalam tahun ni Mat Deris dan adiknya. Kebetulan umah Mat Deris kat Tokai ni dekat ngan kampung Pak Mertua aku.

Last sekali, takziah aku ucapkan kepada keluarga arwah ustaz Long, ustazah Khairiah, Pak Cha dan lain-lain yang telah kembali ke rahmatullah. Al-fatihah.

Suka atau tidak layan jer...

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