20070715

The days that went by since last updates were very very hectic. It is a challenging unit to be in but that’s not news anymore. Fun. That is all that matters...but today a shocking "finding" made me really really pissed to give my best to the team. Somehow , the lazybums pigs and those who always "escape" and never get to do all the dirty work - which includes missing weekends with family, sleep for 2-3 hour s a day for a straight week to deliver the best possible to the organization - get the best of the reward available. And the ones who did the most are "allowed" second best and average reward.

Read this: I WILL CLAIM WHAT HAV BEEN DENIED OF ME & MY FAMILY LATER IN THE HERE AFTER!

No use talking about the farkers and anaksharams......they can get richer and richer as they wish.
To each, his own. From this moment onwards!

So now let us just move on to talk about other stuff than work.

1.

The kids are growing and growing. Aliya is really turning into a cheeky & cunning girl. She’s very playful and where we bring her, she’ll the natural the attention of people around. One thing I sense about Aliya, she’s the “mengalah type” to a certain extent. Yeah she’ll “demand” for stuff when she wants but when it involves the other siblings, she seems to understand that Alisya & Naufal has different “background” and she (Aliya) has to allow the siblings for a tad more “privilege”. Nevertheless they all get along together very fine. They love each other so much. They wud do almost everything together…..except for movies. Yeah movies. Alisya & Naufal has been going to the cinema. The latest would be TRANSFORMERS. Kesian juga when we have to leave Aliya with the maid everytime we get to enjoy the movies but as I mentioned above, Aliya seems to understand the situation very much, she’d happily wave us beybeyh (bye-bye) and give us her version of flying kisses.

She’s a gem. We love her so much.

2.

I have been spending most of my photography activities with ImageMaker & RahmanRoslan nowadays. Reason being - if you wanna be the best, you gotta work like the best, be with the best.

NO, I don't want to be the best, I just wanna get teh best out of me and than we'll see how we can move from there on! (Not a being a pessimist at all but just a realistic ambition that!)

The last outing was actually the first outing with them - they decided to shoot with me so that they can "study how I make my images". So far, so good....so what? This is what - I have 1 month and a half to complete a portfolio and submit it to one od the leading photojourna agency of the world (yeap open to all but being asked by a real pro to do it means a lot more to me - sometimes we just do not see what are we capable to do and need a push from somebody else, in my case it came from a pro - established pro....that should mean something at least!

Like RahmanRoslan said to me: GO Torque GO!!!

..now I know I am not just a "syok sendiri perasan bagus" kinda photographer.....Alhamdulillah.

"Airkencingsetan" drinkers......
infront of some muslims who just came back from Friday prayers

3.

If there is one part of the housing area that really matters much for the family it would be the the children's playground. Quite recently, there neighborhood organized a session to clean up the playground. I was there (well, ,after much nagging from my lovely wifey! Eheheh!) with my boy Naufal....literally we cleared the lot - the two of us.....and I took some shots of it....

(Insert image here)

Couple of days later, this is what we get:

(will post up later)

So much about living with civilized human beings...the kids & parents o the kids who made this mess should be living with the llamas, not humans!


4.
I was told today that my leadership rating was given a low score by the Zooleader.

Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Why should I bother? His brain is filled with pigshit anyway!!

Idiots on the top helm of the organization

Yeah...you read it right.

I have my own very valid reason to conclude that. Hear me....

The MAD'07 was designed & executed by a bunch of highly capable & clever lunatics (ehem!) who have the ability to think and to execute (not just think & talk-cock) things from end to end - out side of the stinking box. For the same reasons, the bunch of dudes involved were the same one who managed to set a blueprint and launch a company years ago - whatever happenned to that company is totally out of the equation since the same dudes were refused the rights to intervene in whatsoever means available....not even allowed to questions the decisions of the gorillas who took the helm of that spin-off company.

But to cut it short - we don't really care that much - they can do what they want, cuz it's their neck at the end of the day - Resurrection day that is!

Now back to the story I am trying to tell....

The MAD'07 was a success - it shouldbe if not why the hell would the Second Biggest Guy went to the control desk and congratulate each & every one of the executive in charge...not to say the words from the Biggest-est Guy - as told by the other leaders throughout the proceedings until the ned of the event where he witnessed how the team handled a really critical tech-glitch under pressure...and delivered!

OK..those were just "making me feel good" statements. In short - we did VERY well. NO QUESTIONS AT ALL!

...but...when I am back in the zoo today, I was asked to do another miracle (FYI, my middle name for the past 12 years in the zoo is - Miracle Worker whohasnevermadeitpastthemanagementlineandstill
beingheldguiltytoopenlycommentandgivesincereinputorsimplyspitonthefaceoftheidiotswhoareaboveme).

I gladly took it as another day in the office and comes Wednesday I will be presenting some analytics to the zooleaders....nothing much of a challenge actually, since I was nevere an above average performer regardless whatever miracles I have shoved up the arsses of the farking leaders for years ago...so, it is just another day in the office....sure, the above average arsekissers would be able to deliver the same (YEAH RIGHT!!! they cud not NEVER do it, not without 6 months delay and in the end asking the miracle worker to sort it out in 2 days!!)....yeah, pretty much like any other day in the office actually, nothing that challenging for an average performer, shooting Street Life is more challenging lah!

What pissed me off was as I was trying to figure out the quickest way to get the analytics done (figure crunching coordination...hv to give the proper instructions and design proper template for the secretaries to use...if I don't want to end up with a bundle of chaos tomorrow!) I read comments that I do not expect to come from anybody holding a title at that level....comments on room & facilities not being the best, and such - the nitty-gritty shit that you should not expect from a LEADER for crying out loud! .

I don't mind if they commented on how the external speakers did or what could have been better to be included in the agenda instead of the very capable figures we managed to get to present....

....NOT about the room they slept in with their bitches were not as comfortable as they expected it to be!! Farking idiots!

Why do we keep them as leaders anyway?!

I don't know, honestly!

...but what I do know, next round of the same event, I will insist all feedback forms to be filled will have the names of the bastards involved....then I can really do a detailed analysis whether they have delivered what is expected of them in the first place and compare it to their personal preferences of "bedroom comfortability"....

...at your position and perks you are having: We do not pay you to sleep comfortably anyway mister!!

...one of the shot I did in an outing with some Pro-Photojournalists recently....it woudl be fun if we can replace the "Missing" man with images of the brain of those idiotas I mentioned above...aye?

09072007

It has been a very busy week for me, last week. Ada hari tak tidur langsung, some days if I can get 3-4hours nap it would be a luxury....but the MC/ CEO Away Day 2007 finally done, I am hoping for more relaxed week, this week...but to bad for me, it is going to be another hectic week....dammit....why can't a guy get his wish granted on his birthday?!!!

Anyway...I will have to get used to this hectic schedulefor another 10-12 months. Maybe after I get a proper reward for delivering what is expected (and more perhaps) I will decide where to move next. For now I am just going to talk about the photography outing that I have done recently....when I have the "mood" to do so...

Sekarang ni tadek mood...was really trying to write something but sebab this frigging Acer junk is really lousy, this is getting on my nerve...the keyboards, goddammit....everything is never right with any Acer!

Maybe I will write on my Mac later tonite...or if I can get hooked to a hotspot....maybe, too many maybe already....

I need a break!

Crystal Halide

This was one of the shots I composed
using Nikon F50 & Fujifilm Ss ISO100


Some people cannot appreciate the things that others do. That is normal. Only when they start to attack the works of others and try to "look intelligent" and think others are looking at them as if they are "intelligent" that is when we'll see how utterly stupid this pathetic bunch is.

It is so very very darn easy to corner and kill the talking points of those who reads less and boasts too much in life.....tsk tsk tsk....

Father's Day

I woke up on the Father's Day this year and found these waiting for me....







....I love you Mama, Alisya, Naufal & Aliya!

Aaargh!! Write more!!!

Some of the 3000 Imams visitng the skybridge...
shot on Fuji SS film using Nikon F50 with 50mm f1.8

1.
The problem with having a big passion in something is you might be neglecting another passion that you have been doing all these years. I am talking about my photography and blog. I seem to have not allocated fair time to the blog compared to photography. I carry either the DSLR of the Pro-sumer class camera everyday but I don't write as much as I used to for the blog compared to the earlier days. This has to stop. It has to stop NOW.

2.
I have been busy with the new unit (already 4 moths!) and it has been quite a challenge to find time to compose - in this bog or on my cameras - but I am not complaining, this is the best unit I could have ever been assigned to (eBSS aside!). The are glitches here and there but still within the tolerable variance. Frankly, I would not prefer to be on this zoo if I am not in the current unit I am in.

3.
Am going to start showcasing my shots more frequently after this...and will write more...

Another rainy afternoon

Another rainy afternoon

The climate has been quite "pelik" these few weeks....unfortunate for me who's trying to "belasah" a Nikon F50 SLR!!
Nevertheless...there are interesting stuff to be shot in this kind of weather....
The 70-300mm is still in the service center....have been carrying my FZ10k for almost 3 weeks now!! The shot above was done with that marvelous Leica on the FZ10.
The week has been quite slow...not complaining but, if things are not moving soon I just have to step on some peoples toes and move it lah!

Street Life 2007 V.2

A pigeon in it's attempt to get some breadcrumbs....

Nikon D70s: ISO500 f4.5 1/100 @ 70mm Center Weighted (6mm) WB Cloudy
....converted in CS2, cropping, adjust level, channel mixer, gradient map, unsharp mask , photo filter & shadow/ highlight.

It has been quite a while since I did my last street life shots. Been busy and lotsa other things up on my head. Lucky for me I have a team (of 3 including me!) that really wants to learn and improve in photography. After some planning we finally decided to go out and shoot last Friday - me & Alongz.

To my disappointment, the 70-300mm Sigma "Cap Itik" had some problems the night before the outing. Had to send it to Key Color which will then send it to Sigma - under warranty claim (Heheheh!!) and I will have to wait up to 3 weeks before I can get it back. So the outing this time I have nothing to use except the old trustworthy 18-70mm kit lens of the D70s.

Anyway, it's not really 100% about the lens & equipment....had a great time shooting! Have a story to tell too...read on!
I'll start with the equipments used in this Street Life Series Version II Yr 2007...

Nikon FM2 with 50mm f1.8, Nikon D80 with 18-135mm kit lens, Nikon D70s dwith 18-70mm kit lens & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10k with Leica 35-420mm f2.8.
This little shot was done after the "hunting", while "melepak" in CM during TT and debrief /discussion on what we have learnt. Ni shoot ni pakai SE P-900 (Carl Zeiss lens ke?!) - henfon gue yg dah outdated giler!

THE HUNT...

While waiting for Alongz I managed to get 2 subjects - both with their consent and I approached them before shooting. One is Mie (please read on - maybe we can learn something from this Mie dude) and another one is this dude....who seemed to have difficulties to converse....


A beggar enjoying his smoke
Nikon D70s: ISO200, f4.5 1/80 @ 70mm Center weighted (6mm) WB Cloudy

Snapped 3-4 shots. Waited for the subject to look into the lens before I released the shutter. Not really that difficult maybe because I am used to that "wait & anticipate" requirements of getting a shot...the only thing at this point of time was the people are starting to crowd the street so chances of getting natural shots are getting lesser by the moments.

After I managed to get some good composition, this dude packed his things and moved from the location (will put the image up later - Photobucket is acting up early this morning!)

Moving on....(less alphabets...more pix!)

Masjid Jamek in Monochrome, shot from STAR LRT escalator.
B&W Mode on Lumix FZ10k. ISO100 f5.6 1/50 @40mm Spot metering.
Cropping and editing as per Reuters guides done.

A blindman making his way through a crowded street. Almost hit the panel. He was then helped by a young lady to get on board the LRT to his destination he wanted to go. Could not capture more because of the crowd and did not managed to get his permission for more personalized compositions like the beggar above.
B&W Mode on Lumix FZ10k. ISO100 f2.8 1/50 @288mm Spot metering.
Cropping and editing as per Reuters guides done.

A STAR LRT passenger getting into the station in Sentul Timur.
B&W Mode on Lumix FZ10k. ISO100 f2.8 1/50 @128mm Spot metering.
Cropping and editing as per Reuters guides done.

Muslim ladies waiting for STAR LRT.
B&W Mode on Lumix FZ10k. ISO100 f2.8 1/60 @96mm Spot metering.
Cropping and editing as per Reuters guides done.

The area where the pigeons were
Nikon D70s: ISO500 f4.5 1/200 @ 70mm Center Weighted (6mm) WB Cloudy

...same photo converted in CS 2

A pigeon flying away from the street after having a feast of breadcrumbs...
Nikon D70s ISO500 f4.5 1/100 @70mm Center weighted (6mm) WB Cloudy. Cropping & level adjustment done, as per Reuters guides

The pigeons get their supply of breadcrumbs from Uncle Singh.....

Uncle Singh & his friend. My buddy and me approached them and had a chat. Uncle Singh has been feeding the pigeons there since 1970s. He offered us to take shots with the birds on his head or our heads....we declined! We were yet to perform our evening Asar prayer and with the "CRET!" of the birds we'd be having trouble to do so!
B&W on Lumix FZ10k ISO100 f2.8 1/80 @79mm Spot Metering WB Cloudy.
Cropping and level adjustments done as per Reuters guides.

Along @ Kroch
Nikon D70s: ISO500, f4.5 @ 70mm, 1/80 center weighted (6mm) Cloudy WB, Vivid color setting.

That's my buddy/ teammate Alongz. His shots were done on FM2 (Film) and D80. For this shot I have to anticipate his movements (including the eyes) and get the right moment when he was focusing at that direction before I released the shutter. The picture stays because I just like the moments & natural color. Some cropping was done due to a taxi "enter frame" - bukannya senang street shoot ni byk elements beyond our controls!

Find Mie, the business man:
The shot is not to be shared freely...
because Mie does not like being photographed.

I have tried to compose this shot the last time I been there but failed due to the uncontrollable crowd. Messy. I was lucky enough to get this one I guess. I spend a good 30minutes or so talking to Mie after this shot.

Mie is in his mid 30's. He was born in Negeri Sembilan and lived in Ulu Langat with his disabled parents and siblings. The parents passed away and now he lives with his kid sister in Selayang. Mie was a pre-natal baby and had to lived in the incubator for a while. When he was about 2-3 years of age he had a very high fever and was pronounced dead. By the miralcle of Allah, he recovered while he was being "kapan" but he suffered the difficulties to walk and his hands were somehow distorted.

Everyday, he'll be around the area of Masjid Jamek KL selling crackers, you can ssee him at the main entrance in any friday insyaAllah. He works on his own, took the LRT on his own and never asked for sympathy form anybody. However, people seems to think he's a beggar - which is totally not the case. Mie sells crackers but due to being a disabled person people seems to give him sedekah instead of buying the crackers he sells.

As I mentioned, I spent a good 30 minutes in coversation with Mie. The crowds were there all the time (glamour plak as if I am doing some article for NatGeo or what!!!). Mie does not like being photographed because people (press, students, freelancers) has done that many time on the promise that it is not for publication but onlny for personal use. Couple of days after being photographed he has seen his iamages in many tabloids & newspapers in this country. Telling FALSE stories about him. On many occasions, he has been carried by Jabatan Kebajikan for interrogation - thanks to the people who did this not only he wasted his time, he had to go home with no extra money in hand due to the wasted time...and he had to swallow his pride when family members & "orang kampung" asked him about his photo being published and all.

What a pity. This is what I hate about some freelancers, student of photography or newspeople or photographers wannabee - TEMBAK CURI! They took photos of poor people with no respect. They just snapped away happily froma distance with their expensive lens and published false stories - how can you tell a true story if you do not even have the decency to approach the subject to take propoer photograph?

Tembak curi - what a real coward! In the end, what do these bunch of idots get? They will get glamour for being able to get some "cool" shots. Post it up inn some forums and get the "Ohhh wow!"...and yet it was a shot taken without consent of the subject!

Some may even get some RM for the shots but what do people like Mie get? NOTHING is as good as it gets but TROUBLE may come instaed of just nothing!

So, fellow photographers and others, next time you wanna take a shot of a poor street poeple, have the courtesy of approaching the subject.

Believe me - I NEVER take a pic without approaching a subject EXCEPT for public photographs - a subject/ many subjects in a crowd. For single shots of people like Mie, I will ALWAYS ask for permission and pay something in return....and I am not making any money or benefit out of them.

Mie told me, his friends - the blind people that plays music around Jalan TAR and some other disabled people around that area, also suffered the same scenario. People just seems to take advantage of them. They beg for courtesy & respect from the rest - they deserve to be treated like other normal human beings too.

Obviously Mie has not travelled much but he has a strong wish to go to Sarawak (I asked him about his baju melayu Sarawak that he's wearing - which was given to him by a friend who no longer need it) and Mekah. InsyaAllah, I told him, one day he'll be there, insyaAllah. He works hard, to suport his kid sister who has 9 child and with low income. As much as he could, he would not want to ask help from anybody - except when he really has no other options due to his condition. Mie always follow the teachings of his parents - never complaint your fate, let others do whatever they want to you but always be grateful of what you have. Always smile and make friends to others no matter how thay have treated you before.

In simple words, maybe he is more normal a human than most of us. Facing challenges straight in the eyes and tackle it with a smile and strong faith to Allah.

So, here's my wish from you who read this entry.....if you happend to see Mie (or people like Mie) do the right thing - BUY what he's selling, give sedekah if you want to and NEVER take photograph without asking permission first.

You'll see Mie at the main entrance of masjid Jamek most of the time especially on Fridays. Drop by and say hello to this dude...and do what is necessary.

You'll be a better person insyaAllah.

@20070520

Makin chun melechun laaa anak dara gue ni!

1.
The weekend was spend with my kids. Received a call on Sunday morning from Mak asking whether I have forgotten about Chik Amin's invitation. Yes, I HAVE forgotten. Totally. I am really bad when it comes to honoring weding invitation. Ever since I was a kid I just do not like to attend weddings. Crowd, noise and havoc really make me feel messy....butthat is not ther eason why I have totally forgotten about Chik Amin's invitation. I really have no clue about it! Hectic is one thing but the sense of importance to be with the kids 24x7 over the weekend has made me almost neglect in total whatever happenings around me. It has always been "The weekend is ONLY for my kids". I just have to do something about this....soon. What I have in mind is to take a 10day off and do a "tour" back to Johor and visit all my family members that I have not met ever since I had babies. This will have to happen by the end of the year, when we should already have a bigger and more comfortable and more reliable family car. InsyaAllah. This would be the immediate milestone in my new "milestones in life".

2.
The Saturday was spent spinning around in my old Persona. Had to take the kids (all of them) away from home because Mama had to do a cupcake class. After about an ahour spinning around, the kids still would not surrender, I had to throw the white handkerchief, bought some drinks & grubs with them at the neighbourhood 7-Eleven and we spent the rest of the afternnon lying infront of the TV watching movies. Had a late lunch (cum tea cum dinner!) in Tesco and shopped for groceries and formula milk (Aliya is needing more than her usual monthly allocation already!!) and an early retirement for me. The fatigue-ness of the course and thinking all week really is taking toll on me.

3.
Sunday started a bit late. Went to SS16 to deliver a the cupcake set ordered by Syahril. Meeting point was is at the MSC - the big bike shop. Boy! If only I can fart money!! One day, insyaAllah one day I'll have one of those beautiful monster as my own.
Mama decided to bring the kids to their first movie (she has promised the twins to bring them to see Spiderman 3 couple of weeks back). Aliya had to stayaaaaaaacvn, (sorry, that was Alisya & Naufal trying out my Psion!)
Aliya had to stay at home and we managed to get th5 5pm movie. With more than 2 hourds to kill, Mama treats us at Starbucks. I had the time to work on this Psion Netbook @ Dino. Alisya & Naufal has been doing their own rendition of Jin "super power" and I am struggling hard not to laugh and roll on the floor!!

4.
We still have 1hour and 30 minutes to go!

5.
There's always the first time.
As for Alisya & Naufal, they have experienced their first movie outing - Spiderman 3. It was fun. They enjoyed the movie and we enjoyed the time soent together. More to come after this but they would not get it too easy, they have to "earn" each movie by doing some "good deeds"!

6.
I received a shocking SMS from Ted late Saturday. Palie, Ted's assistant and best buddy, drowned after saving 2 friends who felled into a river.....he died as a true hero
He is a very friendly chap, we'll miss him a lot...

Cupcakes and grubs

Naufal-dhino - at Zharif's b-day bash
Naufal is starting to show his atheletical capabilities.....

NOTE: Late post - busy meh!

1.
Ever since she got her first digicam, Alisya has managed to capture a number of shots....but currently she's being "barred" from using the digicam - we found her not taking good care of the digicam and she'll have to behave and be good until we are satisfied before she'll get the chance to use it again. On the other hand, Naufal is happy with the non-tech related stuff he got. When he is ready he'll get his first digicam too insya-Allah.

Note: I will Insert Alisya's shots here!

2.
The cupcakes & birthday cake business is picking up quite fast. Almost every week we'll be dealing with small bundle of boxes for delivery and inquiries are pouring in everyday.
Some people are comparing CoffeeTorque with other more established cake makers out there - it is like comparing durian to apple (or rather BlardyWindows to Apple-Macintosh!! Ahahah!) but hey - I'd take it as a compliment (positive mindset always!) since though we are just few months in "operation" already they are comparing with the established players....Alhamdulillah!
There is only one big difference that we promise in each of the cupcakes - they are made with "passion" - my wife just love doing it and each piece means so much to her, like a piece of art she'd love to share to the world! That is why we don't do mass production and we have order ceiling. Thank you for the supports people!

A box filled with love -
Specially made for Zharif's Birthday Bash

3.
One of the best part of helping my lovely wife with her cupcake business is we get to help others in expressing their love to their loved ones.
The first of such case would be Elisa Taufik who lives in the Middle East. She got in touch with my wife and the deal ended with us delivering a specially made package of cupcake to her 4 years old nephew on his birhday....we were informed later by the family that they loved the design so much that they save it to the last moment - tak sampai hati nak makan! My wifey also had some "special package" for Mother's Day celebration. Well you can read more in her blog CoffeeTorque
The best, (for now) would be those she made for the kids's buddy - Zharif - Bawal's hero.
The birthday bash was fun-filled..the kids enjoyed it very much......

Mama's work of art! (the cakes....& photos too!)

Zharif & his cupcake

RC Racers eager to burn some rubbers!

Alisya & her MonsterTruck RC

Aliya and friend

Here comes the little dinosour!

I guess, the early years birthday bash would be one of the most important things in life, for parents who loves their kids so much....Alhamdulillah.

Street Life...V1.5

Couple of my latest shots...took this one in less than 5 minutes after I had lunch with Shamshahrin (a photojournalist).....saw the subject on my way back to office, did not take much time to pull out my 70-300 "lens cap itik", smiled to the subject and nodded (for approval to shoot)...and the shutter went to work....

We used to have mamak selling kacang putih on old Raleigh bicycle with big heavy tin carriage on the back. This particular machaa is the closest I can get to that original version! (Would really love to shot the original if I ever found the subject!).

Even though he is "orang kurang upaya" he still tries his best to earn a proper living......kudos Machaa!

Next time I saw you I'll buy something from you - was rushing back for a meeting did not have the opportunity to talk to the Machaa.

It has become my "natural" habit to carry my beloved DSLR (and some other stuff!) with me everyday - almost everywhere I go I'll have the DSLR with me all the time. Maybe I am just taking this passion too seriously? Well, it is doing me no harm so why not!
Have been frequenly visitng the likes of NatGeo, MagnumPhotos, FredMiranda to see what the world famous professionals works are like and try to "emulate" the learnings and translate it in my own ways.
As I have mentioned, one of my favorite subject would be street life.....and I will always try to find time (and excuses!) to go out there and literally "hunt" for an interesting subject. Sometime I can get it within 30minutes outing, sometimes I will get nothing worth keeping for a whole day attempt! That is just something that I have to learn to accept. Some professionals that I knew spent months at a location (far away from home) just to get the subject they want. They have to - it is their bread and butter anyway! In my case, I can allocate certain amount of time and commitment to improve myself and do the best out of that allocation. Am not a professional - not sure if I ever gonna be one (or really wanna be one for the sake of argument!) but one thing for sure, I think I have finally found out what I want to do when I retire...insyaAllah.

The year flew past me again!

My baby girl...on the same "buaian"....two years apart!


My baby boy...on the same "buaian"....two years apart!

It is their birthday again...and they are growing faster and faster each year!
28th APRIL 2003....the day I became not just a daddy - THE LUCKIEST DADDY IN THE WORLD - EVER!!

We had a small celebration.....yeah and they had their share or presents...more to come during the next celebration!(bigger celebration will be done in June - insyaAllah (for a reason which will be revealed sooner or later)....Mama made a special cake for the twins (this time Alisya gets to decide)
....hmmm...the doll looks quite like Baby Aliya...
"No way!!! I am much prettier lerr!!"


MY babies.....how they have grown well! They used to ride their trikes....

....but they have out-growned it...
...quite tremendously!

They have been riding bicycles for the past 1.5 years or so.....

.....and they have been falling,

....but they just get up on their own and get back on their bikes, taking it as part of the deal...

....and they are no longer afraid of this "Paper-Lama" van they used to call " Taw-taw" when they were just toddlers!

I am convinced....when they grew up, they'll be strong and confident to take on anything that comes their way, insya-Allah....

Alisya & Naufal....no words can describe how much I love you both.....

Happy 4th birthday sayang!