Hello.

Because I Miss You

Today is a weird day.

I woke up a few times during the day because I slept after five am. I woke up after a certain familiar face came up in my weird vivid dream- Kak Rose, you gave me quite a scare.

I remembered that I was in her living room, sipping hot black coffee in the middle of the summer night while she kept reviewing our roadtrip plan across the USA. The rustling of the papers seems so real and her voice sounds like a big sister coaxing her little sister to sit down and pay some damn attention to the things that she say.

But I could tell that this was just a flashback memories that I had since her death.

I know. This was just a piece of my memories of her.

The scene changed and I am now behind the wheels, driving in the dark highway- I had no idea where we were. I looked around and saw Kak Rose was asleep, at least I think she was. Her breath evens out, syncing with the slow classical music that she had me listen for hours just because she said "Classical music is good for you, trust me."

Well, guess what, I really feel that it does not.

I saw a few cars on the opposite side of the road, lights flashing out battling the surrounding darkness. Kak Rose abruptly woke up and gave her eyes few rubs before her raspy voice asks where we were.

I shrugged, "I don't know. But the GPS said that we are almost in Arizona."

I saw her head bobbled up and down before she went back to sleep.

And just like that, the scene changed again.

A still silence lay over the land. A pair of black birds flew overhead, exchanging chatters in their foreign tongue. Kak Rose and I cooked and ate dinner by the car, basking in solitude.

We saw two minibuses a few hundred metre in front of us, they were building campfires and singing around as they ate and having fun.

"This is fun too, no?"

I chuckled. "Yes sis, this is fun. Eating a pack of hot cup of Maggi in the car on summer night is very appealing."

Kak Rose made faces. "We are having more fun this time around. Before, you were travelling around by your own but you've got me this time. That ought to say something."

We were in Antelope Canyon for a day before continuing to other canyon.

But then, I woke up.

I laid on the carpeted floor with a pillow in my hand. My body hurts but my mind was reeling- the dream had been surreal. My orbs were looking around before it settled on the balcony in front.

It was ten in the morning and the African summer heat greeted me with morning wind.

I am back, right?

"Happy Independence Day, Malaysia." I read the messages on my Whatsapp chats and on Twitter and Facebook. And the clock turns 10.01 in the morning.

I saw Jue was watching The Big Bang Theory, sipping hot coffee no doubt while laughing at something that Sheldon said.

Yes, I definitely am back in the reality. The feeling that lingers deep in my heart will always be there and I want you to know that you're always gonna be in my prayers.

See you again, R.

10:00
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Favourite City of All Time : Kuala Lumpur

Asia

I look around as I drive by the magnificent city. I see how a city can be both futuristic and exotic. The urban texture of Kuala Lumpur is designed in a way that unites nature and the people reside in it rather than separating them. It's always one of the main reason as why I love KL apart from the city is the capital of my motherland, Malaysia.

Walking in the shade of the skyscrapers that dominate most of the city, I realise that even these tall buildings doesn't bother me - I find peace in their tranquil glory. I familiarize my senses with the hectic surroundings, welcoming any feeling that greeted me. It felt kinda surreal - coming home after such a long time.

Kuala Lumpur is also famous for the harmonious coexistence of the Malay, Chinese and Indian populations. I am proud to be one of them eventhough I no longer live in Malaysia. I am proud to tell my foreign friends and family that I am Malaysian, no matter where I am.

I parked my little purple car near to KLCC's LRT station. I decided to take the LRT to see lots of things in Kuala Lumpur because of the little time that I had. Ethan would love to be here, he always told me in his annoyingly excited voice back in New York - he undoubtedly wanted to go to Malaysia and eat lots of amazing delicacies and experienced the wonderful harmony between the people in Southeast Asia and their unique lifestyles.

Ethan is weird in his own style. Whatever.

I went for a walk in Chinatown, I smell the scent of incense from the Tao temple nearby. Some chanting immediately echoed in the air, I saw many tourists going in and out of the temple. I made a stop near a small stall, ordering Ice Tea in this hot weather.

"Very hot today, eh dik?"

I smiled. "Yes. But I just strolled around, uncle."

The old Indian uncle chuckled while making 'Teh Tarik' for another customer. Who in their right mind to order Teh Tarik under the scorching sun, I wonder.

When the humid and suffocating air starts overwhelming me, I went to another tourist spot, the beautiful Lake Garden, comprising Bird Park, Orchid Garden and Butterfly Park. With more than hundreds species of mesmerizing colours flying around, the park allow the visitors to experience a majestic forest atmosphere in the heart of the city.

"It's almost seven. I should find something to eat."

I leave behind the realm of birds and sit at one of the best restaurant that is really known for its naan cheese with a friend.

One of the best aspects of coming back home is tasting different cuisines which are abundant due to Kuala Lumpur's cultural and ethnic diversity. I ate various delicacies from Indian, Malay and Chinese cuisines for an affordable prices.

Normally in Malaysia, there are food kiosks or restaurants managed by Indian Muslims, called 'Mamak Shop' by the locals - visitors definitely should try their genuine dishes. Located at almost every corner, Mamak's speciality is Roti Canai (a type of Indian flatbread) which coincidentally is my all-time favourite.

I remember mornings and nights spent overseas when I was craving for Roti Canai so much that I drove for hundred of miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco because apparently I had no patience and hunger for Roti Canai clouded my mind immediately. The restaurant was closed in LA during that night so I dragged late Kak Rose and Ethan to go to San Francisco.

I was way crazy back then.

Same thing happened in Toronto but neah, not gonna write it here. Maybe next time though.

So yeah, Roti Canai is definitely Malaysian's favourite.

The next morning, I spent my day with my siblings in Gombak. My little brother was excited to hike Tabur Hill (West Side) but I was keen to go to Putrajaya to do some rock climbing. After the vote (yes, we voted), the three of us drove from Shah Alam to Gombak in the early morning.

"We came back to Malaysia for this, eh?"

"Live a little, sis. Hiking is fun, you should do it more often." Ariff chimed in while driving.

The trail was quite extreme and I was complaining, a lot. My body isn't fit like it used to be but the view was completely breathtaking. We took three hours to reach the top because we made stops in every ten minutes. Poor guy, haha.

"Maybe we should hike a hill with an easier trail, then." My little brother commented on his older sisters inability to hike as fast as he can.

"How about you shut up and gimme the water?"

Ariff and Ika exchanged their sly smiles.

"Yeah, if there is a next time."

As I pack my bag, I think that Kuala Lumpur is one of those cities where the beauty is in the details. I'm gonna miss the people, the cultures, the foods and definitely some of my family and friends.

It's so good catching up. Until the next time, KL.

02:43
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My Ramadhan Story : Sixth Edition

Cairo

I expertly guided my ride into a parking spot, almost hundred metre far from the Turkish Airlines office in Tahrir Square. Aini went out from the passenger spot, telling me to just wait for her in the car. I wordlessly nodded while looking out the window.

Hit songs were playing on the radio and the air-conditioner was on full blast but the stagnant African heat out of the car can still be felt. Mind you, it was nearing forty-five degrees Celcius that day.

Like every other summer in Egypt apparently.

The roads were filled with a sea of cars, buses, motorcycles and tremcos. Transportation in Egypt is quite a bittersweet, and in Cairo even more so. The metro line didn't quite extensive as any other modern cities, the taxis were always causing me losing more money than I should (or I'm gonna end up with profanities from the drivers). But you can always rely on tremco that will get you from Point A to Point B in crazy, bizarre way that you might not get to experience in other country.

"Nash, I think we have to wait a little bit longer. Still waiting for the confirmation for the cats."

I sighed slowly, and replied.

"It's okay. It's not like I'm going anywhere under this crazy heat."

Aini replied the message with thumbs up and a pig's nose emoticon. Huh, typical.

After a few minutes, I saw an old man walking by the street beside my car. He was walking very slowly with no umbrella or a cap to cover his head from the scorching hot sun while holding a few plastic bags on his hands. His dark abaya made me cringe because it will just made him feel hotter.

I was wondering and fascinated by the sight when he suddenly stopped before the mosque's stairs. He then sat down, closed his eyes and seemed to take a few breaths before he calmly stood up and walked towards a group of homeless people near him.

It was nearing two in the afternoon. Egypt were scheduled to break fast at seven pm after we're fasting starting at three in the morning. I was getting more interested to watch as the old man approached the homeless group.

He then gave a small child one of the plastic bag that he brought earlier. The child was smiling with all he could, saying "Syukran!" countless times. The old man nodded, ruffling the child's hair and proceed to give others the same plastic bags.

His action got some attention from onlooking pedestrians and people that were in their cars, just like me. A young man that was parked in front of my ride, got out of his car and immediately help the old man distributing the plastic bags to the needy. To be honest, the old man himself was looking rugged with his tattered abaya and worn-out shoes.

I was ashamed of myself. Here I was, sitting inside a cosy space behind the wheels with a roof atop my head. I thought about his outside appearance and knew that it wasn't some fashion statement. The old man might be wearing what he was wearing because it was what he had.

Later, I saw the young man earlier offered his cap to cover the old man's head and he thrust some money into the old man's palm. The old man plainly refused the money at first but the young man insisted. His expression was one of both connection and appreciation as he accepted. He kissed the young man on both cheeks while gesturing his hand on the air like saying God will reward you for your kindness.

The story that unfolded before my very eyes gave me a different perspective towards people. Egyptians are really loving people. They are quite emotional at times - they laugh too much, they cry too much and they love too much. The act that I witnessed was clearly an act of love, an act of compassion.

This is my sixth Ramadhan in Pharaoh's land and I had seen countless act of kindness here. This land had taught me to treat people all the same even we are from different backgrounds and to love one another as a human.

Thank you old man for instilling a deep faith in humanity in me. Thank you for showing me that you don't have to be a rich person to be someone that has a beautiful heart as yours.

Syukran, from a grateful stranger

13:35
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Kungsleden Trail, Abisko

Backpacking

It was sensory overload the first time our Arctic Circle train came to a stop in Abisko, a small town with a breathtaking view of the snow blanketed the town and their surrounding nature.

I took my green backpack along with my other belongings, waiting for my crew to join me. I spotted Abisko Turistation STF from my spot, and took rest beside a trail of bronzed statues. It was the third day of our journey and my third time in Abisko. My ears rang with extremely cool wind and the hustle and bustle of my surrounding - people (read : tourists) were chatting while carrying their things, cameras hanging on their necks with some children in tow behind. The accomodation was only a hundred-meter away and I was relieved to see that everything went smoothly. The sun shone on the sky but the weather was still very cold.

I picked myself up from where I sat and head together with my friends to the hotel. Abisko is one of the town that didn't have any hostels, the nearest would be in Kiruna. I made reservation at the hotel that I used to stay once upon a time, but this time we didn't get the cabin, we only got dorms.

It's been four years since the last time I was here. I'd been in Cairo for almost six years now and found myself gallivanting around the world while managing my university life. I always questioned whether or not it was a privileged notion that travel could cure you of some rat race.

My dad once said, "Travel is a way of pilgrim, you know."

It only seemed fitting. In Abisko, I saw different kind of people, came from different backgrounds but there is a layer underneath all that - purpose. We might come for the same purpose or we may not be heading in the same direction.

"Hey, I was thinking of going hiking at Kungsleden Trail. Wanna come?"

That evening, the sun broke across the thick layer of clouds across the mountain. I drank my hot water from the tap, strapped on a pair of light brown boots and took out my winter coat. Sofe and Mira along with Kak Maya and Dinie were discussing while hovered over a map and Lil was busy preparing herself for the hike.

They pointed over the train station, right down below the rail after the tunnel. "That's where we're going."

I looked over from their shoulder and saw their plan. The trail didn't undergo any transformation, it was the same exactly years ago except for the weather - I came during summer for midnight sun season.

We started the hike with small talks. Kak Maya was right beside me, talking animatedly while playing with snow. "I don't think that this was going to be fun," She said. "But clearly I was wrong."

I smiled. When I looked ahead, I can't really see the mountain surround the trail because of the heavy snowstorm. We hiked in subzero temperature, it easily hit -20 degrees. The incline was steep but I push myself forward despite of my heart was beating very fast. I had cold and I was down with fever but being a stubborn girl I am, I marched on.

Downhill and through dense woods, my toes pressed against my sturdy brown boots but I did not stop. The five-inches snow felt good beneath my feet. I looked in front towards my companions.

Dinie was photographing the nature while Lil was making silly faces in front of his camera. Sofe was focused listening to what Mira had to say and Kak Maya stood here and there, modeling for Dinie's camera.

There were exceptional views in every direction : just ahead of us, smaller peaks, various small trails and in the distance, majestic mountains. It didn't take long before the trail headed towards boulder formations that were part of the backdrop at the beginning of our hike were right in front of us. And after a few short, steep stepbacks with some loose footing, the route gave way to amazing view of frozen lake and a series of huge boulders that stacked together along the way of the lake.

We hiked ahead until we scrambled upon an amazing clearing, welcoming us to the more spectacular view of our surrounding. We decided to took a commemorate picture of our first hike of the day here, behind the frozen lake and massive mountain on the back.

For hikers wanting to experience raw adventure and avoid crowds, the Kungsleden Trail at Abisko National Park of Abisko is one of the most enjoyable and epic treks. Spectacular geology and out-of-this-world views are the calling cards to this incredible place.

"We can hike ahead, the trail ran for many miles."

Every step we took, unbelievable panoramas unfold right before our eyes.

"This is way too beautiful." Sofe chimed in.

"Just like a winter wonderland, huh."

The rest agreed with my words, we were indeed in the winter wonderland. Abisko National Park (specifically Kungsleden trail) should be included in every adventurer's buckets list, the trail is easily one of the best ways to experience the raw and unspoiled glory of this most magnificent nature.

My nomadic heart was baffled at the sight of the beaut, believing that I had made the right decision of coming back here. Back in Cairo, some friends teased me and asked what I believe can be gained by traveling.

"Just be who you are. Depends on how wide your eyes can see, how deep your heart can feel."