holiday trip

Now let’s get nostalgic a bit. Look what I ran into.

This is a picture taken when I and some friends went to Niagara Falls for some sightseeing. It was Fall break 2009 if I remember it right. We went there by train and stayed at a hotel for a couple of days. I was fresh and new here, very energetic and enthusiastic to explore around. There was nothing stopping me back then..hoho. We had a lot of fun. The views were spectacular. The cold somewhat got in the way though. -_- My body was still pretty much in shock; it took me a while to adapt to the weather. This was one of the very few holiday trips I’ve ever been on since I came. I wish to go on a trip again sometime soon, perhaps one last time before I leave here, with my close buddies of course. We haven’t even been to New York City! And Washington DC! Haih. The farthest I’ve been to is Chicago. That was when we went for our winter break khuruj last two years. I believe many of my friends have been to a lot of interesting places on holiday trips. I’ve been seeing nice pictures. Hey, come to think of it..I think we have been going on lots of holiday trips too..even more than others have. Yess. Khuruj is a holiday trip. : )

Abu Umama narrates that a man asked, "O Rasulullah! Please allow me to travel as a tourist". Nabi replied: "The tourism of my ummah is to strive in the Path of Allah" (Abu Dawud).

p/s: Undoubtedly, the best portions of my time here come from khuruj fi sabilillah.

dodge ball

My body is aching all over from last night's dodgeball games. This is what happens if you force your "sleeping" muscles to work. But it's sumwhat worth it though, considering that team yellow turned out to be the champion. *hoyeah!?* We started out a loser, but then turned the tables around in the later half of the games. Hm..it feels great to work up some sweat in sports. It helps keep you in shape too. I haven't been working out much lately. In fact, I was surprised to find myself gasping when I was climbing up the stairs to my writing class on the 3rd floor! How serious is that? OK. This picture of Hanis below doesn't have to do with this entry, but I insisted to put it up because..she's so cute!! *I thought it was a guilt not to "share" her ^^"*

Hanis Nabila is in hijab now.. ^^

OK. We were supposed to go to Syracuse for this month's khuruj. But since we were short on people amir sab decided to go next week instead. Br. Nasir was pumped up to give the Somalian kids a follow-up visit. See if they can say the syahadah right this time. But for next weekend (the 4th weekend of the month,) the last halaqah syura assigned us the new Yamanese masjid on 300 Bay Street, just near downtown Rochester. I believe this trend of working within one's own locality has been encouraged by all the syuras, in line with the aim to strengthen local efforts. I've been longing to spend longer times in khuruj. Here, one and a half days don't really give the effect you expect, especially when going out with a group of youngsters; lack of tawajjuh (concentration) that is. I do enjoy going out with these kids though, just that sometimes I need to learn from more experienced brothers too. Sometimes, you need to listen more than talk. I miss to be in a jama'ah where there are hafizs of quran, madrasah students, or an 'alim. There's no limit to what you can gain from a good company. InsyaAllah this coming winter break will meet my longing. ^^ Oh, another thing. Br. Irfan is leaving for his hometown in India next week for Eidul Adha holidays. May he have a sound journey home, (and don't forget to come back!)

P/s: The moment I get home, I'll go pinch her chubby cheeks!

summer break breaks down

It's..good to be back. I came back to Rochester to a big loss. Br. Kamran, the Pakistani software engineer who has been with us since I first came here has moved to Chicago on a workplace shift. A couple days before I left for Malaysia, I was not feeling well..so I didn't get to say my farewell to him. Now I'm back to his absence. But that's the reality of this life, people come and go..and in fact, ultimately, we all will have to go. People meet and people part. The only different is whether the meeting and parting are done for the sake of Allah or for some worldly gaining. Hopefully ours have been for his pleasure alone. If we were a soccer team, I would say Br. Kamran is the playmaker. That's how significant he is in our so-called jaulah team. Anyway, the dakwah work here has to go on, with or without him. If you lose a playmaker, then you gotta find a new one, but the game has to continue. Like what the elders are saying, you should do this effort of dakwah to the extent that even if all the syeikh were to leave it, you will still do it. After all, dakwah is first for yourself. InsyaAllah we'll be paying him a visit this coming Winter break and spend some time in khuruj there at once.

It's my final year here at RIT..can't wait to have it all done and be unemployed..haha. I didn't set high hopes to graduate with highest honors or anything..enough to be able to graduate and get a decent job..insyaAllah. Anything more, I would regard it as a bonus. Now, there might be someone who is curious about what I did in my Summer break out there..well, it was wonderful..mostly due to the fact that I got to fast the entire Ramadhan and celebrate Eidul Fitri with my family..after 2 years. You wouldn't want to know what I did throughout the break..haha..it was filled with laxity and laziness. I hope all my friends had a wonderful break to leave behind. Maybe the only thing that is worth mentioning is there were a lot of jama'ahs going out in khuruj around the area, and among those was a three-day jama'ah that came to my home masjid. The least I could do was assist them in any way possible throughout their stay. Too bad I didn't get to spend any time in khuruj myself. Hm..perhaps the following pics would better describe what I went through during my break.

Naim and Nadia
My lovely little niece and nephew working on the jigsaw puzzles I bought them. This was at my sister's place in Klang, before I actually returned to my hometown in Sg. Manik.

The candy to my eyes. =)
They may have almost everything here in the US, but do they have this? No they don't.


Adam Mustaqim bin Rosli.
The thing I enjoyed the most was picking on this little fuss maker. This little brother of mine, he is such a hyper! Even I have trouble keeping up with him. His coming was a little 'overdue'..he's the same age as Naim. But thanks to that, at least my mom has someone to keep her company while I'm away. =)

GoGo the 2nd.
This was the 2nd candidate on my to-bully list. Our first GoGo died of old age, so this one was named after him..by my little sister. He voluntarily hopped and squeezed in. I thought he wanted to come with me..or perhaps he was reluctant to let me go.

Nadia in her 'Raya' outfit. I really love seeing little girls in 'Baju Kurung'..they are just adorable aren't they? (oh, this applies to BIG GIRLS too) =)

Teluk Intan Science School's 19th batch Raya reunion
It's always a great thing to be able to meet up with old friends and catch up on old things.

Old buddies get together
We wrapped up the reunion with a futsal game at a court in town

Well..that's pretty much of it. I don't know if someone would find a bachelor's holidays tale interesting at all..oh, perhaps a bachelorette would? hehe. Looking forward to my next khuruj! =)

an afternoon in the life of a bachelor

Yeah..at last! The day I've been looking forward to is finally here. My journey home begins tomorrow. I don't know who else are going on the same flight with me among the RITans, but I do know a bunch of us are leaving tomorrow, or the day after. Whoever you are guys, may we all have a sound journey back to the company of our loved ones. =)

I went fishing the other day (for the very 1st time here!) with my housemates. Haha..to me this was more like a housemates get-together kind of thing, rather than a fishing experience. Well since we are gonna be apart for quite some time, I thought it was 'cute' to spend some quality time with my housemates here. So this was one of the activities we did to occupy this 'happy' week.

diving board?

adik bongsu (red) & abang long Rustic
menguji tahap kesabaran masing2

abang long main air

housemate sementara di Rustic
merangkap bekas housemate di Intec
(eh tu ikan ke kayu?)

"Ikan2 mari lah sini kita beramah mesra"

adik bongsu berjalan ke Monroe Community College (MCC)
di seberang Rustic Village setiap hari

housemates for the longest of time!

"Eh betul ke aku pasang nih..mcm x betul jek"

Abg Amer: "Ha..camni cara pasang umpan.."
Adik Arep: "O..tak gigit pulak cacing tu?"

This is where we were; at a river next to The Gosnell Boathouse,
in one of Rochester's suburbs

In Summer, the sceneries here are not much different from Malaysia's - this is the time in the year when you can enjoy the sunlight and the evergreen views all you want (before the Winter snatches them away!) I hope this coming break at home will somewhat rekindle the fading study spirit in me. I really miss my mom's lectures..and her cooking too not to mention. I know I'm short on pounds, but I don't wish to stuff my face with all the food I can find..but it's gonna be fun though, checking things off my to-eat list..=D

p/s: Luggage kosong..xtau nak isi ape?