Knights and Day

Last nite, after more than 5 years (which feels forever !), I managed to get my hubbie go to a movie. We were attending this wedding reception in Kalibata and it was very crowded - both of us a bit claustrophobic person - immediately heads to the door after offering our sincere congratulations to the bride and groom.

"Let's go to Roti Bakar Eddy instead" - my hubbie suggested.

I think this is a very rare opportunity - a nite date only the two of us without the krucils. so I say we should go see movie. Thank god he agreed, and we then heads off to Pejaten Village.

That night, there were "Toy Story, Letters to Juliet, Karate Kid, and Knights and Day" played in the theatre. Hearing that Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz starring the Knights and Day, I straight into buying the ticket for it.

The movie was very entertaining, a perfect combination of action and comedy. I would not believe that Tom Cruise has the talent to be a bit comic - imagine a more relaxed "Ethan Hunt" in the Mission Impossible, combined with the cute and adorable Cameron Diaz. The movie flows quickly with different location as background - charming Austria, dangerous bull fight in Spain, and off course Kansas, the place where Roy Miller (Cruise) first met June Havens (Diaz).

Roy Miller is a special trained agent that went rouge (or not depends on how you look at it) who met Diaz on his way to save a genius geek who invented an eternal battery power - small enough to be handheld, but big enough to light up an entirely small city ! He was chased both by CIA and also by Spanish mafia - both wants the battery for different reasons.

June, whose life is mediocre, find Roy secret identity is alluring. Travelling with Roy to save the genius guy (sorry - forgot his name), she is amazed that Roy is very attentive to her need and safety. At first she did not know whose to believe, as Roy also act as if he is the bad guy. This is what interesting about the movie. You will keep guessing if Roy is in deed the bad guy or our hero.

Cruise and Diaz is definitely not young anymore, but the combination and chemistry of these star is really what makes the movie so entertaining...

I think I need to watch it again soon ... !

A blisfull 'Eid

This year, Ramadhan and 'Eid brought new feeling to me. A kind of feeling that I have never felt before. Like a lost soul, I often find myself trapped in a routine, days just passes by, week after week, and nothing has changed in a way I do my ibadah to Allah SWT.

For long I was very envy seeing other people really enjoy their daily pray, some even seems to long for the time to do the pray and have the opportunity to face the god Almighty. Frankly speaking, my five times prayers seems to be a routine, one that I do because I am afraid of the sin. Often I do it near the end of the time, and I do not have the enjoyment of doing it. I rarely say my pray after Shalat, likewise Shalat Sunnah.

This year, I started something different. And I felt the changes instantly. I felt that all my body is energised when I do shalat, my head is light up every time I surrender my life, my hope in my pray, as I feel his presence. Allah sees me - all that I have done with all of his blessings. I am so ashamed feeling that I have this little bit of proud for what I have achieved, and yet none of that would happen if he does not give his blessing.

'Eid is different this year, as I am not trapped in the mall to find 'accesories' to celebrate 'Eid. I am growing, step by step insha allah to a better me.


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The Exorcist

I was probably too ignorant to share the news that we have moved to our own house starting 15 May. As newly moved, we enjoyed every bit of the house which is very close to my office. The children seems to like it too, now that they have small backyard to run around.

It was not until third week of July when my youngest was restless at night, and he started to 'see' things. At first I tried to calm him down and dismiss his idea that he sees something on a big tree in our backyard. However, things get weirder that one night when the three of us (my husband was out of town for a week) laying at bed in the children's room fakhri said "mama, what's that noise?"

I shook my head and facing fakhri said "nothing, just close your eyes."

But fakhri can't sleep and said again "I hear people whispering" and the next night he said "I hear people making sound with their teeth". I instantly got a goose bump, since at that time fakhri did not wear his hearing aid, yet he described the sound very clearly!!!

We then slept at my room, and fakhri did not want to see outside of my window and wanted to be carried on my shoulder until he was asleep. Clearly he was very afraid of something. I check with my first son, but alhamdulillah Mizan seems did not experienced the same thing.

When my husband learnt what happen he then contact his mother who refered us to this ustadz who practice rukyah. I learned that if a person can see or hear 'something that normal people can,t that's mean he/she has same frequency with the 'thing'. He needs to be cleaned by a method called 'rukyah' and thatks what we planned for fakhri. Unfortunately fakhri did not want to cooperate, even to be touched by pak ustadz.
I then asked my brother what to do. From then on we read Qur'an every nite reciting. Surah Al-Baqarah, and recite Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, Al-Falaq three times plus Ayat Kursi, blow my palms and touch it all over fakhri. Alhamdulillah Fakhri was much calmer and can sleep through the nite.

Only later when situation is under control that I knew both my house staff was also 'teased'. The first one got her feet pulled and slapped when she was taking a nap while there were nobody at home. The second girl hear voice saying "hahaha hihihi hehehe huhuhu hohoho" when she and her friends were teleconferencing over the hp#

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Mobile blogging

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First Day at School

A little bit late, this is the note from the first day at school.

Today, 14th August is the first day of school for Mizan. Fakhri's pre-school does not start until the 17th, but he wake up early this morning and insists that he goes to school and wear the uniform.

So here we are at school, Mizan is on class 1E, along with other 24 children. Mr. Abdullah and Ms. Nina are his class room teacher. The first 3 days at school is intended for orientation, and last only up to 10 a.m

Mizan looks not sure of what to expect at school, but I am glad he does not seems to worry with the new environment, new school, new friends. He seems fine with it and does not ask much about school. Only after 1 week of school he understands the typical program and activities, and make new friends that he is able to share about his day at school.

Fakhri on the other hand, are very estathic with the new school. When I asked what he is going to do at school, he said "(play) slide !" His school has a big kids playground with 2 slides, and climbing areas. As Fakhri school has not begin, I use the opportunity to meet his class room teacher Ms Obi and Ms Dinant. I explain to them about Fakhri's situation, and make them aware about what to do in a situation where Fakhri's magnet detached from his head, or when the battery needs replacement. Alhamdulillah the teachers look very welcome and confident that they can manage Fakhri's device in the class. In fact, when I compare Fakhri's playgroup with Mizan's, I found Fakhri's school is more discipline and encourage self-independent much more than Mizan's. No parents or baby sitters are allowed on the school premised starting the second week, and the teachers are very capable in handling the kids crying and screaming. They hold, carry and soothe them with all kinds of persuasion, something I admire in these teachers....

After first week of school, I received a text message from Fakhri's teacher that says Fakhri is independent, and follow the teacher's instruction at class very well. I was very happy to hear the complement, as Fakhri was the only one that does not cry at all since the first day at school.

Lima hari berkesan di Bali

Liburan sekolah tahun ini, kami sekelurga plus kakek + neneknya Mizan pergi ke Bali. Sengaja dirancang jauh-jauh hari, alhamdulillah liburan kali ini sangat mengesankan tanpa rintangan berarti dan semua orang tampaknya enjoy dengan program yang disusun secara rapi dan cermat (hehehe emang hobi saya atur-atur....).

Hari pertama usai mendarat kami langsung ke Ubud (setelah sebelumnya mampir ke pantai Kuta untuk makan siang dan bersantai sejenak). Berdasar rekomendasi kawan baik, kami menginap di Agung Raka Bungalow. Tempatnya enak, harganya relatif murah, makan pagi juga mengenyangkan. Paling pas sebenarnya untuk honeymoon, karena di belakang banyak bungalow yang berada di pinggir sawah, jadi pemandangannya bener-bener asyik, dan ga terlalu hectic. Mizan dan Fakhri bisa puas berenang di kolam yang ga terlalu besar tapi relatif sepi tanpa gangguan tamu lain.

Malamnya kami langsung menjajal Bebek Bengil, yang psst... katanya jadi beken setelah Bianca dan Mick Jagger menjadikan resto ini sebagai tempat resepsi pernikahan mereka di Bali. Bebeknya soo... crispy dan tidak bau, tapi kalau boleh komentar harganya kurang bersahabat dengan turis lokal, satu porsi bebek + nasi harganya sekitar Rp. 60 rb belum pajak. Menimbang tempatnya yang romantis dan nicely decorated, anggaplah impas paling ngga bisa bilang udah pernah makan di sana..hahaha.

Hari kedua kami langsung tancap gas mobil sewaan ke Bedugul. Di tengah jalan, karena ketidak fasihan membaca peta, kami baru menyadari kalau jalan yang ditempuh ke Kintamani. Tapi namanya juga liburan, take it easy! Jadilah kami ke Kintamani. Jalan yang ditempuh ternyata relatif sepi dan tanpa hambatan. Cuma 1.5 jam kami sudah sampai di Kintamani. The view was breathtaking ! Sudah 2 kali ke sini, masih saja terpesona melihat gunung disaput kabut tipis dengan danau membentang di hadapannya.... Kami pun turun ke danau, tapi ternyata kami hampir saja 'dirampok' pedagang yang menawarkan dagangannya secara paksa, bahkan ada yang memijit-mijit punggung saya menawarkan massage ...hii... buru-buru saja kami menyingkir. Syukurnya, salah seorang teman suami saya memiliki resto + bungalow tidak jau dari dermaga Kintamani itu. Kami pun pindah ke sana dengan harapan dapat diskon makan siang...:)

Usut punya usut, ternyata sang pemilik resto itu lulusan almamater yang sama dengan saya, dan anak bungsunya adik kelas saya ! What a small world ! Tempatnya benar-benar asyik, lihat deh foto-fotonya di bawah ini. Mizan tiba-tiba punya hobi baru memancing bersama sang Nenek yang memang jago dari masa kecilnya.

Esok harinya, kami memantapkan diri pergi ke Bedugul. Alhamdulillah kali ini tidak kesasar lagi. Di Bedugul kami melihat banyak restoran muslim, bahkan ada masjid besar yang berdiri tepat di depan danau Bedugul. Setelah beberapa hari tidak mendengar adzan, panggilan shalat terasa sangat sejuk menyirami hati. Bedugul sangat cantik, setelah puas berfoto-foto, kamipun berangkat menuju Nusa Dua, tempat menginap kami selanjutnya.

Kami sampai di Nusa Dua setelah Maghrib. Kali ini semua terpesona dengan hotelnya yang berbentuk semacam apartment 2 kamar lengkap dengan perabot masak-memasak dan ruang keluarga yang besar. "Pasti mahal !" kata ayah saya, saya cuma tersenyum saja karena dengan sedikit riset di internet, saya dapat bungalow ini cuma seharga Rp. 800 rb/malam. Saya rasa harga sedikit murah karena letaknya tidak persis di depan pantai. Tapi tidak mengapa, jalan kaki 10 menit saja dari pintu belakang hotel, kami sudah sampai di pantai Nusa Dua yang bersih dan tidak sepenuh pantai Kuta.

Esok paginya, kami berangkat menuju GWK atau Garuda Wishnu Kencana. Saya yang belum pernah ke sini sebelumnya cukup takjub melihat bagaiman gunung kapur di 'potong' dan dibentuk secara artistik menjadi latar untuk Patung GWK itu. Patungnya sendiri belum selesai, kita baru bisa melihat kepala Garuda, Kepala dan Tangan Wishnu. Kalau patungnya sudah berdiri dan fully assembled dengar-dengar bakal setinggi Empire State Building di New York.

Dari sana kami ke Uluwatu, namun sesampainya di sana, rombongan tidak berani masuk karena monyet-monyet yang ganas. Saya, ibu, dan Mizan masuk ke dalam dan kami sama sekali tidak menyesal. Pura Uluwatu terletak di atas tebing ratusan meter di tepi semenanjung. Kalau melihat ke bawah, rasanya perut seketika mual membayangkan kemungkinan terburuk.

Malam itu adalah malam terakhir kami di Bali, jadi kami memanfaat waktu yang ada untuk menjajal sedapnya seafood pantai jimbaran sembari menikmati sunset. Berdasar riset, yang direkomendasikan adalah kafe Menega - yang sempat menjadi sasaran Bom Bali II. Tidak salah memang, walaupun penuhnya minta ampun, tapi bumbunya benar-benar pas dan harganya relatif sama dengan makan di Muara Angke ! Berenam kami mengabiskan Rp. 300 rb, itu sudah termasuk Udang Windu, Cumi, Kerang, dan 2 macam ikan ! Suasana makan di pinggir pantai sembari melihat sunset adalah sesuatu yang tidak terlupakan....

Akhirnya, tibalah saat kami harus berpisah dengan Bali.... Sedikit shopping di Kuta kami lakukan sebelum akhirnya berangkat menuju Bandara.

Mizan & Anin

Seperti biasa, saya mengantar si sulung ke sekolah. Terjadilah pembicaraan seperti ini di dalam mobil:
"Mah, jadi ya nanti abang dibelikan Handphone kalau sudah kelas 3 SD?"
Saya pikir, wah kemajuan nih... kemarin-kemarin soalnya Mizan ngotot dibelikan HP saat ini juga...
"OK Bang..." kata saya, dengan perasaan sedikit curiga dari mana 'kelas 3 SD' muncul.
Mizan nyambung "HPnya Nokia ya Mah.. yang bisa dilipet". Saya diam saja. "Biar rasain tuh Kak Anin... ga bisa sombong lagi.. kan aku juga punya HP Nokia...."
Oh.. itu toh asal muasalnya...saya tertawa dalam hati. Anin adalah anak temennya Mas Eko - mantan pacar a.k.a suami saya. Minggu lalu Mizan dibawa ke kantor sama bapaknya, dan di sanalah dia ketemu Anin. Pertemuan pertama mereka diawali dengan Mizan mendekati dengan PeDe mengajak kenalan.
"Kamu kelas berapa ?" tanya Mizan.
Anin menjawab "Kelas 3 SD, kamu?"
Mizan hanya diam...hahaha... ga lucu kan kalau dia ngaku masih TK B... soalnya badannya sama tingginya dengan Anin.
Kembali lagi ke dalam mobil, Mizan tiba-tiba bilang, "Kalau aku udah punya HP Nokia, nanti Kak Anin pasti mau jadi pacaran sama aku..."
Gleg !
"Pacaran itu apa sih Bang ?" aku berusaha tenang.
"Mah... kayaknya abang udah nemu neh siapa calon istri abang nanti.... "
"Siapa ?" (pura-pura bego)
"Kak Anin...."
Haduh.... abang..... mama pikir masih lama lagi pembicaraan seperti ini bakal muncul... ternyata.....