Takziah QZ8501

"With his revelation... I shattered into a million shards. I felt each piece as it splintered and separated from the whole like a glass I had broken the day before. Debris flew everywhere. It left me without any option but to pick each broken pieces up, analyze it, and find out where it belonged. I had to find out where I belonged" ~ T.R Graves

I know grief

I know death

I know loss

It haunts my dreams, my nights. Almost 3 years ago and committed to memory.

I wake up crying most nights, with the same dream of how that kind lady doctor held my hand in that surgery recovery room while I was covered with a shiny metal blanket over me and told me my SON had died. That he had lost his fight. I was alone. ALONE. Always alone.

And that I was shivering with cold. It haunts. It plunders. Eating away at my soul. Some days I tether on the edge of insanity. Some days are bearable. Rindu ingin berjumpa anak yg dicinta lebih dari nyawa. Sesungguhnya rindu itu menyeksa jiwa.

Gone.

My condolences to all the families of those lost in Flight QZ5801. The grief unimaginable. The pain unbearable. 

May you be granted courage to face what none should.

May those lost be blessed.

It is a trying year indeed.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

A Nation Tested...

"Your heart is like a great river after a long spell of rain, spilling over its banks. All signposts that once stood on the ground are gone, inundated and carried away by that rush of water. And still the rain beats down on the surface of the river. Everytime you see a flood like that on the news you tell yourself; That's it. That's my heart..." ~ Haruki Murakami

Readers,

It has been a time of trials and tribulations for anything and everything Malaysia this year.

My heart bleeds for those affected by the floods in Pantai Timur, Perak, Kedah.

After volunteering at a centre I am taking a break because I need to take care of Airiel.

But I wish I could do more. I wish I had tonnes of money at my disposal to help those who cannot help themselves.  Alas I do not.

I wish for endless energy to help pack, unpack and rearrange stuff into boxes. I don't have that either.

But for those who do want to help, I list down places and organisations that are helping out. Don't be shy in going and helping out, they need every pair of hands to help. They will welcome you.

Don't be afraid to spare with some of your hard earned cash and bonuses. Just close your eyes and put yourself in their shoes. It is simply unimaginable.

I list those that I know off here:-

1. Groupon has a voucher you can buy where 100% of it goes to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. Lowest sum is RM10. Highest is RM100. Link is here;

2. Muslim Care. Its collection centre is in Shah Alam. Seksyen 8

3. IM4U. Drop by their centre in Bukit Kiara that is open 24 hours with goods. Or help in packing and labeling.

4. UITM's Misi Ops Banjir.

5. 3 NGO's have combined in getting relief efforts moving. Drop by with your goods at pintu masuk Matrade where the Vendeur Festival is going on right now.

6. This is an effort by Free Market for Pantai Timur. Drop by with your goods at Harley's Malaysia in TTDI.

7. Aman Palestin.They are targeting to collect 1 mil by 15 Jan 2015.

8. Even Milkadeal has set up an emergency flood relief appeal centre. You can contact them at this address:-

MilkADeal.com
22-3 (2nd Floor), Jalan PJU 8/5G
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Selangor

T: +603 7733 4733

(We are located directly behind Public Mutual, above Mutiara D'Maju mamak on the 2nd floor)

There are more organisations, but the above is what I can list down for now.

And below is not a donation request. A friend on FB uploaded this and I think it is extremely useful. So below a  list of a basic emergency kit everyone should have at home.

Just today, another plane went missing. This time its AirAsia:-

We are, a nation tested. Let us show the rest of the world that we band together and rise in times of calamity. That we shall stand hand in hand in facing the difficulties that are upon us. 

Let us show the rest of the world what we are made of. 

Courage my fellow Malaysians, courage.

And last but not least, a prayer for all of us to recite:-

Much  love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

1. Mikey's Pizza New York - Publika; 2. Switch Cafe - Publika

"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook" ~ Julia Child

Hello everyone,

It's time for a foodie update.

Mikey's Original Pizza

First up, Mikey's Pizza New York which recently opened in Publika.

 The menu seems to stick pretty close to the original, sans babi in NY la kan.

 Love the condiments they gave. I hate, and I emphasize HATE restaurants that skimp on the pepper, salt, chili flakes etc. Jangan berkira sgt boleh? Such a turn off. Haa, anyway, this place thankfully does not do that for the mo. Terima kasih.

So basically what you have to do is go to the counter, look at the pizza's you want to eat and order it. You do not buy an entire pizza, you buy per slice okay? You want to know why? Because the slices are HUGE. Bapakk besar. The pic above is a combination of 4 types of pizzas me and my colleagues chose to eat, with 2 slices of each different pizza.

Yes, we finished everything. Hehe

Switch Cafe

And then there is dessert. So based on the rave reviews on all the flogs (short for foodie blogs, apparently) we dropped by.

The salted caramel cake was moist and flavourful, just like what the reviewers say. So this is a definite yes. 

This is macha latte. An acquired taste but which I loved!

While it was a hit with me, there were some misses. My colleague Farahshu remarked that her red velvet was quite dry, so it was nothing to shout about.  

Switch Cafe has really wacky baked concoctions, I mean while I was there, it was doing a promo for mangosteen cake. Lu ada bran nak try? Haha

Both these shops are located in Publika.

I need to run readers.

Some major pieces of work and stuff to do. A lot to do for the end of the year.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Bye Bye

"She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Leisel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with his fingers...She did not say goodbye. She was incapable, and after a few more minutes at his side, she was able to tear herself from the ground. It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on...." ~ Markus Zusak 

Hello everyone,

It is a Monday.

I miss Akif today. For the longest time I could not even bear to listen to that song by Mariah Carey, Bye bye. Familiar with it?

Yesterday I accidentally heard a remix of the song with Mariah Carey and Jay Z.

I just cried and cried when I heard it.

Right THERE. At the heart. Stab, stab, stab.

Some of the beginning parts of the remix really ... well... you can read it below:-

"I'm wishing the days could go fast

So I can crash

Close my eyes

Try to go to sleep

And bring you back but..

I can't bring you back

(No, can't bring you back)

...Wish time could freeze

But our time is up

And I promise you

I am going to hold it down until it is my time to leave

And I am okay

I mean I am alright, I am not okay

And it hurts my soul

I won't see your face

But if you truly are in a better place

Like what they say

Then that's okay

I'll be alright..."

I never knew that I could hurt like this... but I will be alright.

I miss you, angel son.

Have a good week ahead everyone.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Recent Fabric Shopping - Fitrahshoppe

"Pain is like fabric: The stronger it is, the more it is worth..." ~ John Green

Hello readers,

An update about some of the fabrics I bought. This is long overdue I know hehe.

On the left is a black and white kebaya fabric.

I can't even  describe the colour of the fabric on my right because it changes according to the lighting. Best described as copperish. Stunning.

I bought these from fitrahshoppe at drop dead prices.

The facebook page for fitrahshoppe is here.

The Instagram ID is fitrahshoppe.

I am told that it is a public holiday in Selangor tomorrow. So those who work in Selangor, have a good holiday.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Lets Get Lost 2015 - Coming soon

"I imagine a line, a white line, painted on the sand and on the ocean, from me to you..." 

~ Jonathan Safran Foer

The sea beckons.

I yearn for the sound of the waves.

I yearn for the sand between my toes.

This is coming soon.

And this time, it will be a family affair... and more. *grin*

Mid week almost.

Going to be a busy weekend ahead for me.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

P.S - I do not own the pic above. Credit goes to its original owners.

Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2014

"Aku baru menyedari bahawa antara Cinta dan rasa Ingin Memiliki itu tidak sama" 

~ Habiburrahman El-Shirazy

Adalah cinta yang mengubah jalannya waktu

Kerana cinta waktu terbahagi dua

Denganmu dan rindu untuk membalik masa

Detik tidak pernah melangkah mundur

Tetapi kertas putih itu selalu ada

Dan waktu tidak pernah berjalan mundur

Dan hari tidak pernah berulang

Tetapi pagi selalu menawarkan cerita yang baru

Untuk semua pertanyaan yang belum sempat terjawab..

You're in my veins...

Saranghae...

Lets Get Lost 2014 - Part 10 - Mount Batur

"I felt my lungs inflate with an onrush of scenery - air, mountains, trees, people. I thought "This is what it is to be happy"..." ~ Sylvia Plath

Hello readers,

Next up, another to go place to see in Bali.

Mount Batur.

Its quite a scenic drive up to Mount Batur, so keep your eyes peeled. There were a few shops selling fresh fruits at drop dead cheap prices, which we bought to bring back to the villa to eat.

 Wow, just wow..

 Now that would take one's breath away...

My travelling feet has been HERE! Ngeeee

The sellers here are pretty forceful, so just politely decline and say thank you. But shopping here isn't that bad with really cheap cheap stuff.

I have to run.

Life awaits.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Seumur Hidupku...

"You do not immortalize the lost by writing about them. 

Language buries, but does not resurrect..." ~ John Green

Dengarkan bisikan kalbuku

Sungguh besar mencintaimu

Rasakan

Rasakan rinduku yang dalam sedalam samudera

Mencintaimu

Menyayangimu

Merindukanmu seumur hidupku

Tuhan kuatkanlah hati ini

Saat dia tinggalkan diriku sendiri

Walau pedih ini sungguh perit

Akan ku relakan 

Asalkan dia bahagia

[Bisikan Rinduku - Dayang Nurfaizah]

Mama tahu Akif di tempat yang lebih baik.

Alhamdulillah. Berbahagialah di sana, anak syurga Mama.

Promise me when the time comes Akif, carilah Mama di sana.

Itu janji Yang Maha Esa pada insan-insan seperti Mama. Bahawa anak anak syurga kami akan menangis apabila tidak berjumpa ibu bapa mereka dan meminta agar dipertemukan, dan disitu kami akan kekal bersama anak anak syurga kami.

Itu pendorong hidup Mama, putting one foot in front of the other every day. Towards you. YOU.

I love you son.

Then, Now, Forevermore.

Bebek Tepi Sawah Restaurant, Bali

"If it were legal, I'd marry food" - Niall Horan

Hello readers,

It is a Monday.

I promised you more updates about Bali. So here goes.

I visited a restaurant which I think anybody who has been to Bali would know off.

Say hi to Bebek Tepi Sawah.

Grand isn't it?

Kindred farahshue was raving about this place before I went. So I mentioned it to my trusty driver, Wahyu that I have to come here.

The views in the restaurant was pretty breathtaking. The set up and deco was awesome. Some wacky pictures up there for you guys. 

But let's get on with the food shall we?

Now apparently this place is famous for its crispy fried duck. They fry it to a crisp, so crispy that you can even crunch on the bones and eat the entire thing (yes, everything) because it's just so crazy crunchy.

Anyways, pictures below:-

The Menu 

The Bebek comes with these 3 sauces to be dipped in and eaten with rice. My personal favourite is the middle picture with the garlic. Yummy. 

 The yummy and crunchy bebek. Gigit jgn tak gigit!

And this is the minced beef on a 'Serai' stick. Yummy and aromatic. Love it.

Bebek di Tepi Sawah also offers villas for rental located on the paddy fields for the ultimate 'kampung' experience. And it's also just a few steps away from this restaurant, of course.

Alright everyone, I have to go. 

Work beckons.

Have a good week ahead.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Where it All Began...

"The Road goes ever on and on. Down from the door where it began. 

Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can

Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say" ~ J.R.R Tolkien

Hello readers,

Apart from responding to your queries on prenatal advice and hydrops, I haven't had time to update.

I know some of you have been asking about the places I went to in Bali.

I will update soon I promise.

It has been really, really busy. 

And today is going to be interesting, because I am going back to my alma mater, not as a student, but as panelist for a talk. 

Gua dah tua beb. *Mode cari uban mana tahu takut dah ada LOL*

I am hoping to help and give insight in any way I can to the young ones.

I cannot believe I have been in practice for 7+ years now. It feels just like yesterday I was called to the Bar.

This is where EVERYTHING began.

Memories will flood.

Those skeletons in my closet will be rattling on my closet door, begging to be let out.

You know what? 

Let's face our demons and skeletons and memories. 

Those skeletons? I am going to let them out and dance with them.

So let's DANCE

Have a good weekend ahead.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

And this is LOVE...

"Mothers are all slightly insane" ~ J.D Salinger

Hello readers, 

I know its approaching the end of the week.

Things have been crazy busy so you know how it is.

Anyway, it was Airiel's concert last Saturday.

 

 Anak Gua hensem (statement biased takleh blah standard setiap mak kat luar sana haha)

Cute kids made punya events thingymajig for the parents 

Theme was the countries and flags of the world.

The 'POSSE' 

Airiel had such a great time!!

These are the moments I know heaven must exist

These are the moments I know all I need is this

I have got all I have waited for

I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

And every dream I have has came true

And right here in this moment

Is right where we are all meant to be

Right here with you

 Here with me

I could not ask for more than this love you gave me

It's all I have waited for

I could not ask for more..

Mama loves you very much son...

May you feel and remember that love one day.

I have some exciting projects and events coming up. Will share it with you guys soon! I promise.

Have a good weekend ahead everyone.

Much love from Airiel and I

Peace and love to everyone.

Lets Get Lost 2014 - Part 9 - Villa 007 - Seminyak

"I'm often difficult to love. I go through dark periods like the moon and I hide from myself. But I promise I will kiss your wounds when they're hurting. Even if they're in your soul. I can find them with the light in my fingertips. I will lead you to the river so you can remember how beautiful it feels to be moved by something that is out of your control. And when our dark periods match, we can breathe with the grass and look at the night sky. The stars will remind us of the beauty in our struggles and we won't feel lost anymore..." ~ Emery Allen

Hello readers,

As you would have guessed. I went to beautiful Bali.

Since emails have been pouring in asking me for recommendations, I will start with where I stayed.

Hello Villa 007

Steps leading up from the gates to the front door. Ohh I am in love already!

The rooms and the hallway, with little figurines and free hats for you to use to keep the sun away

The high ceilings with wooden beams, the lounge sofa in the living room, the lovely locally accented chandelier and the cute little containers in the fully functioning kitchen

The pool, the lounge area, the lounge chairs. When I wasn't out sightseeing, I will be here, either in the pool or lounging and looking up while listening to music...

The view I had looking up, the lovely flowers which fell into the villa next door. The outside shower after dips in the pool. Me camwhoring with a selfie as usual.

I fell in love with this place. Its a 3 bedroom villa. With one room smaller than the others, well fitted for a child and is adorned with children's decorations (didn't manage to snap pictures). The remainder of the 2 rooms come with king size beds and will sleep 2 comfortably. You can sleep in the living room area as well, it was just so roomy and airy.

If it was up to me I would have slept outside beside the pool but honestly I was afraid of rolling over into it masa tido ngeee.

The staff, Made, Tobi was just awesome and catered to our every need. From food, to universal adaptors to having masseurs come over to the house. It was just awesome.

The website link for Villa 007 is here.

My review of Villa 007 on booking.com can be found here.

Have a good rest of the week readers.

More updates soon I promise.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

The Royale Chulan Damansara

"You have made a place in my heart where I thought there was no room for anything else. 

You have made flowers grow where I cultivated dust and stones. Remember this, on this journey you insist on making. If you die, I will not survive you long..."~ Robert Jordan

Hello everyone.

I have been quiet I know. Things have been crazy and insanely busy.

Its time for my weekie updates.

This time the familia went to Royale Chulan Damansara.

The warm decor of the room... totally loved everything

 Bathroom, toiletries, small little pantry and fridge area. It was lovely and spacious as well

 Airiel enjoying himself in the kiddy playing area. He's quite the little chef here haha

The hotel had some fancy Halloween decorations as well...

Okay, the hotel has its pros and cons:-

Pros

1. The decor is beautiful with warm wallpaper furnishings and warm lighting throughout the floors and rooms;

2. The rooms were spacious and so was the bathroom;

3. The hotel is directly connected to the Curve making shopping a breeze;

4. There is wait for it.... an ice skating rink inside the hotel (awesome); and

5. There is a nice play area for kids for a discounted rate for hotel guests.

Cons

1. The rooms were not ready on time. I have stayed at a lot of hotels mind you but this was just at  a new level of ridiculous. When the hotel told me at 3 that my room would not be ready until 5.00p.m I naturally told them I was not going to pay the full price of my room if I check in at 5.00. And then a miracle happened. A room was magically ready for me within 5 mins of me throwing a fit. Pffttt;

2. Wifi was alright but could be faster; and

3. The layout of the lifts was quite confusing but gets better once you are used to it.

My review on the hotel at Booking.com can be found here.

I am looking forward to an Airiel filled weekend. 

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. I have to say this is the best birthday ever! Blessed I am.

Have a good weekend ahead everyone. 

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.