BBQ Malaysia Food Net

27 October - TOKYO

Roll-call di pagi hari (笑)

Sebuah majlis BBQ anjuran Malaysia Food Net iaitu satu kumpulan yang ditubuhkan oleh beberapa rakyat Jpon yang begitu cintakan Malaysia dan makanannya (笑) telah diadakan bertempat di 新木場公園 (Shinkiba Park) berhampiran dengan 新木場駅 (Shinkiba Station) sekitar jam 1100.. Ini merupakan kali ke-2 ak menghadiri majlis anjuran mereka, kali pertama ialah majlis makan-makan selepas raya yang lepas  tapi kali ini agak menarik kerana lebih 100 orang turut-serta dalam majlis hari ini! Ini merupakan kali pertama ak menikmati majlis BBQ orang Jpon menggunakan daging halal ;)

Bahan mentah..

Daging halal!

Kat Malaysia tak makan satay, tapi kat sini makan dengan penuh selera plak :p

2/5 daripada tetamu yang hadir merupakan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di sini~ Bagi melancarkan aktiviti, kami dipecahkan kepada beberapa kumpulan kecil, dan beberapa rakyat Malaysia diminta mengetuai kumpulan tersebut agar memudahkan proses memperkenalkan kepada orang Jpon tentang Malaysia dsb.. Daging halal disediakan oleh MyHalal Corp malah pihak Malaysia Food Net turut menjemput 2 orang chef daripada Malay Kampong, sebuah restoran Malaysia yang terletak berhampiran dengan Tokyo Station untuk menunjukkan style orang Malaysia masak (笑)

Suasana majlis

Mana satu yang artis sebenarnya nih :p

Kumpulan Nasi Lemak!

Majlis turut diserikan dengan kehadiran beberapa wartawan daripada RTM dan TV3 termasuk pengacara Nona, FaFau? untuk menemuramah rakyat Malaysia yang berkahwin dengan orang Jpon.. Kononnya hasil wawancara hari ini akan disiarkan di kaca TV Malaysia di dalam slot Nona pada 23 December depan (笑) Alhamdulillah, dapat juga berkenalan dengan beberapa golongan professional di sini dalam misi meluaskan "network" disamping mengambil tips tentang hidup sebagai pekerja di sini~ Kagum dalam masa yang sama kasihan juga bila berborak dengan beberapa 先輩 (Senior) yang sudah menetap di Jpon berbelas tahun tapi masih 独身 (Single) o_0

Antara keluarga yang dimaksudkan...

Gambar kenangan bersama super 先輩 dan bekas tenaga pengajar di JAD

Gambar terakhir sebelum bersurai

Ada juga sebilangan kecil daripada orang Jpon yang hadir di majlis kali ini tidak pernah pergi ke luar negara apatah lagi Malaysia.. Ada yang boleh kata kerap pergi sampaikan cuti 3 hari (Jumaat~Ahad) pun sanggup pergi ke Malaysia untuk tujuan melancong terutamanya perempuan o_0 Majlis bersurai sekitar jam 1600; daripada situ ambil 電車 (Train) menuju ke 八王子 (Hachiouji) sekitar 1 jam setengah pula bagi menghadiri rumah terbuka sempena Raya Aidiladha budak batch JAD~ Bila difikirkan semula, tempoh perjalanan hari ini sahaja menggunakan 電車 sudah melebihi 4 jam! (^_^")

p/s Gambar-gambar lain boleh dilihat melalui sini~    

Thoughts of Life, Wealth, Success & Happiness

Recently I read a very nice article about life by the late Dr. Richard Teo which I find truly inspiring and worth reading especially someone like me who have just enter the world of professionals.. Dr. Richard Teo is a 40-year-old millionaire and cosmetic surgeon with a stage-4 lung cancer but selflessly came to share with the D1 class his life experience on 19-Jan-2012.. He has just passed away few days ago on 18 October 2012.. If you prefer watching the actual video, You can watch it from here (link) since embedding is not made available.. 

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Hi good morning to all of you. My voice is a bit hoarse, so please bear with me. I thought I'll just introduce myself. My name is Richard, I'm a medical doctor. And I thought I'll just share some thoughts of my life. It's my pleasure to be invited by prof. Hopefully, it can get you thinking about how... as you pursue this.. embarking on your training to become dental surgeons, to think about other things as well.

Since young, I am a typical product of today's society. Relatively successful product that society requires.. From young, I came from a below average family. I was told by the media... and people around me that happiness is about success. And that success is about being wealthy. With this mind-set, I've always be extremely competitive, since I was young.

Not only do I need to go to the top school, I need to have success in all fields. Uniform groups, track, everything. I needed to get trophies, needed to be successful, I needed to have colors award, national colors award, everything. So I was highly competitive since young. I went on to medical school, graduated as a doctor. Some of you may know that within the medical faculty, ophthalmology is one of the most highly sought after specialties. So I went after that as well. I was given a trainee-ship in ophthalmology, I was also given a research scholarship by NUS to develop lasers to treat the eye.

So in the process, I was given 2 patents, one for the medical devices, and another for the lasers. And you know what, all this academic achievements did not bring me any wealth. So once I completed my bond with MOH, I decided that this is taking too long, the training in eye surgery is just taking too long. And there's lots of money to be made in the private sector. If you're aware, in the last few years, there is this rise in aesthetic medicine. Tons of money to be made there. So I decided, well, enough of staying in institution, it's time to leave. So I quit my training halfway and I went on to set up my aesthetic clinic... in town, together with a day surgery center.

You know the irony is that people do not make heroes out average GP (general practitioner), family physicians. They don't. They make heroes out of people who are rich and famous. People who are not happy to pay $20 to see a GP, the same person have no qualms paying ten thousand dollars for a liposuction, 15 thousand dollars for a breast augmentation, and so on and so forth. So it's a no brainier isn't? Why do you want to be a GP? Become an aesthetic physician. So instead of healing the sick and ill, I decided that I'll become a glorified beautician. So, business was good, very good. It started off with waiting of one week, then became 3 weeks, then one month, then 2 months, then 3 months. I was overwhelmed; there were just too many patients. Vanities are fantastic business. I employed one doctor, the second doctor, the 3rd doctor, the 4th doctor. And within the 1st year, we're already raking in millions. Just the 1st year. But never is enough because I was so obsessed with it. I started to expand into Indonesia to get all the rich Indonesian tai-tais who wouldn't blink an eye to have a procedure done. So life was really good.

So what do I do with the spare cash. How do I spend my weekends? Typically, I'll have car club gatherings. I take out my track car, with spare cash I got myself a track car. We have car club gatherings. We'll go up to Sepang in Malaysia. We'll go for car racing. And it was my life. With other spare cash, what do i do? I get myself a Ferrari. At that time, the 458 wasn't out, it's just a spider convertible, 430. This is a friend of mine, a schoolmate who is a Forex trader, a banker. So he got a red one, he was wanting all along a red one, I was getting the silver one.

So what do I do after getting a car? It's time to buy a house, to build our own bungalows. So we go around looking for a land to build our own bungalows, we went around hunting. So how do i live my life? Well, we all think we have to mix around with the rich and famous. This is one of the Miss Universe. So we hang around with the beautiful, rich and famous. This by the way is an internet founder. So this is how we spend our lives, with dining and all the restaurants and Michelin Chefs you know.

So I reach a point in life that I got everything for my life. I was at the pinnacle of my career and all. That's me one year ago in the gym and I thought I was like, having everything under control and reaching the pinnacle. 

Well, I was wrong. I didn't have everything under control. About last year March, I started to develop backache in the middle of nowhere. I thought maybe it was all the heavy squats I was doing. So I went to SGH, saw my classmate to do an MRI, to make sure it's not a slipped disc or anything. And that evening, he called me up and said that we found bone marrow replacement in your spine. I said, sorry what does that mean? I mean I know what it means, but I couldn't accept that. I was like “Are you serious?” I was still running around going to the gym you know. But we had more scans the next day, PET scans - positrons emission scans, they found that actually I have stage 4 terminal lung cancer. I was like "Whoa where did that come from?” It has already spread to the brain, the spine, the liver and the adrenals. And you know one moment I was there, totally thinking that I have everything under control, thinking that I've reached the pinnacle of my life. But the next moment, I have just lost it.

This is a CT scan of the lungs itself. If you look at it, every single dot there is a tumor  We call this miliaries tumor  And in fact, I have tens of thousands of them in the lungs. So, I was told that even with chemotherapy, that I'll have about 3-4 months at most. Did my life come crushing on, of course it did, who wouldn't? I went into depression, of course, severe depression and I thought I had everything.

See the irony is that all these things that I have, the success, the trophies, my cars, my house and all. I thought that brought me happiness. But i was feeling really down, having severe depression. Having all these thoughts of my possessions, they brought me no joy. The thought of... You know, I can hug my Ferrari to sleep, no... No, it is not going to happen. It brought not a single comfort during my last ten months. And I thought they were, but they were not true happiness. But it wasn't. What really brought me joy in the last ten months was interaction with people, my loved ones, friends, people who genuinely care about me, they laugh and cry with me, and they are able to identify the pain and suffering I was going through. That brought joy to me, happiness. None of the things I have, all the possessions, and I thought those were supposed to bring me happiness. But it didn't, because if it did, I would have felt happy think about it, when I was feeling most down..

You know the classical Chinese New Year that is coming up. In the past, what do I do? Well, I will usually drive my flashy car to do my rounds, visit my relatives, to show it off to my friends. And I thought that was joy, you know. I thought that was really joy. But do you really think that my relatives and friends, whom some of them have difficulty trying to make ends meet, that will truly share the joy with me? Seeing me driving my flashy car and showing off to them? No, no way. They won’t be sharing joy with me. They were having problems trying to make ends meet, taking public transport. In fact i think, what I have done is more like you know, making them envious, jealous of all I have. In fact, sometimes even hatred.

Those are what we call objects of envy. I have them, I show them off to them and I feel it can fill my own pride and ego. That didn't bring any joy to these people, to my friends and relatives, and I thought they were real joy.

Well, let me just share another story with you. You know when I was about your age, I stayed in king Edward VII hall. I had this friend whom I thought was strange. Her name is Jennifer, we're still good friends. And as I walk along the path, she would, if she sees a snail, she would actually pick up the snail and put it along the grass patch. I was like why do you need to do that? Why dirty your hands? It’s just a snail. The truth is she could feel for the snail. The thought of being crushed to death is real to her, but to me it's just a snail. If you can't get out of the pathway of humans then you deserve to be crushed, it’s part of evolution isn't it? What an irony isn't it?

There I was being trained as a doctor, to be compassionate, to be able to empathize but I couldn't. As a house officer, I graduated from medical school, posted to the oncology department at NUH. And, every day, every other day I witness death in the cancer department. When I see how they suffered, I see all the pain they went through. I see all the morphine they have to press every few minutes just to relieve their pain. I see them struggling with their oxygen breathing their last breath and all. But it was just a job. When I went to clinic every day, to the wards every day, take blood, give the medication but was the patient real to me? They weren't real to me. It was just a job, I do it, I get out of the ward, I can't wait to get home, I do my own stuff.

Was the pain, was the suffering the patients went through real? No. Of course I know all the medical terms to describe how they feel, all the suffering they went through. But in truth, I did not know how they feel, not until I became a patient. It is until now; I truly understand how they feel. And, if you ask me, would I have been a very different doctor if I were to re-live my life now, I can tell you yes I will. Because I truly understand how the patients feel now. And sometimes, you have to learn it the hard way.

Even as you start just your first year, and you embark this journey to become dental surgeons, let me just challenge you on two fronts.

Inevitably, all of you here will start to go into private practice. You will start to accumulate wealth. I can guarantee you. Just doing an implant can bring you thousands of dollars, it's fantastic money. And actually there is nothing wrong with being successful, with being rich or wealthy, absolutely nothing wrong. The only trouble is that a lot of us like myself couldn't handle it. Why do I say that? Because when I start to accumulate, the more I have, the more I want. The more I wanted, the more obsessed I became. Like what I showed you earlier on, all I can was basically to get more possessions, to reach the pinnacle of what society did to us, of what society wants us to be. I became so obsessed that nothing else really mattered to me. Patients were just a source of income, and I tried to squeeze every single cent out of these patients.

A lot of times we forget, whom we are supposed to be serving. We become so lost that we serve nobody else but just ourselves. That was what happened to me. Whether it is in the medical, the dental fraternity, I can tell you, right now in the private practice, sometimes we just advise patients on treatment that is not indicated. Grey areas. And even though it is not necessary, we kind of advocate it. Even at this point, I know who are my friends and who genuinely cared for me and who are the ones who try to make money out of me by selling me "hope". We kind of lose our moral compass along the way. Because we just want to make money.

Worse, I can tell you, over the last few years, we bad mouth our fellow colleagues, our fellow competitors in the industry. We have no qualms about it. So if we can put them down to give ourselves an advantage, we do it. And that's what happening right now, medical, dental everywhere. My challenge to you is not to lose that moral compass. I learnt it the hard way, I hope you don't ever have to do it.

Secondly, a lot of us will start to get numb to our patients as we start to practice. Whether is it government hospitals, private practice, I can tell you when I was in the hospital, with stacks of patient folders, I can't wait to get rid of those folders as soon as possible; I can't wait to get patients out of my consultation room as soon as possible because there is just so many, and that's a reality. Because it becomes a job, a very routine job. And this is just part of it. Do I truly know how the patient feels back then? No, I don't. The fears and anxiety and all, do I truly understand what they are going through? I don't, not until when this happens to me and I think that is one of the biggest flaws in our system.

We’re being trained to be healthcare providers, professional, and all and yet we don't know how exactly they feel. I'm not asking you to get involved emotionally, I don't think that is professional but do we actually make a real effort to understand their pain and all? Most of us won’t, alright, I can assure you. So don't lose it, my challenge to you is to always be able to put yourself in your patient's shoes.

Because the pain, the anxiety, the fear are very real even though it's not real to you, it's real to them. So don't lose it and you know, right now I'm in the midst of my 5th cycle of my chemotherapy. I can tell you it’s a terrible feeling. Chemotherapy is one of those things that you don't wish even your enemies to go through because it's just suffering, lousy feeling, throwing out, you don't even know if you can retain your meals or not. Terrible feeling! And even with whatever little energy now I have, I try to reach out to other cancer patients because I truly understand what pain and suffering is like. But it's kind of little too late and too little.

You guys have a bright future ahead of you with all the resource and energy, so I’m going to challenge you to go beyond your immediate patients. To understand that there are people out there who are truly in pain, truly in hardship. Don’t get the idea that only poor people suffer. It is not true. A lot of these poor people do not have much in the first place, they are easily contented. for all you know they are happier than you and me but there are out there, people who are suffering mentally, physically, hardship, emotionally, financially and so on and so forth, and they are real. We choose to ignore them or we just don't want to know that they exist.

So do think about it alright, even as you go on to become professionals and dental surgeons and all. That you can reach out to these people who are in need. Whatever you do can make a large difference to them. I'm now at the receiving end so I know how it feels, someone who genuinely care for you, encourage and all. It makes a lot of difference to me. That’s what happens after treatment. I had a treatment recently, but I’ll leave this for another day. A lot of things happened along the way, that's why I am still able to talk to you today.

I'll just end of with this quote here, it's from this book called Tuesdays with Morris, and some of you may have read it. Everyone knows that they are going to die; every one of us knows that. The truth is, none of us believe it because if we did, we will do things differently. When I faced death, when I had to, I stripped myself off all stuff totally and I focused only on what is essential. The irony is that a lot of times, only when we learn how to die then we learn how to live. I know it sounds very morbid for this morning but it's the truth, this is what I’m going through.

Don’t let society tell you how to live. Don’t let the media tell you what you're supposed to do. Those things happened to me. And I led this life thinking that these are going to bring me happiness. I hope that you will think about it and decide for yourself how you want to live your own life. Not according to what other people tell you to do, and you have to decide whether you want to serve yourself, whether you are going to make a difference in somebody else's life. Because true happiness doesn't come from serving yourself. I thought it was but it didn't turn out that way.

Also most importantly, I think true joy comes from knowing God. Not knowing about God – I mean, you can read the bible and know about God – but knowing God personally; getting a relationship with God. I think that’s the most important. That’s what I've learnt.

So if I were to sum it up, I’d say that the earlier we sort out the priorities in our lives, the better it is. Don’t be like me – I had no other way. I had to learn it through the hard way. I had to come back to God to thank Him for this opportunity because I've had 3 major accidents in my past – car accidents. You know, these sports car accidents – I was always speeding , but somehow I always came out alive, even with the car almost being overturned. And I wouldn't have had a chance. Who knows, I don’t know where else I’d be going to! Even though I was baptized it was just a show, but the fact that this has happened, it gave me a chance to come back to God.

Few things I’d learnt though:

1. Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart – this is so important.

2. Is to love and serve others, not just ourselves.

There is nothing wrong with being rich or wealthy. I think it’s absolutely alright, because God has blessed. So many people are blessed with good wealth, but the trouble is I think a lot of us can’t handle it. The more we have, the more we want. I've gone through it, the deeper the hole we dig, the more we get sucked into it, so much so that we worship wealth and lose focus. Instead of worshiping God, we worship wealth. It’s just a human instinct. It’s just so difficult to get out of it.

We are all professionals, and when we go into private practice,  we start to build up our wealth – inevitably. So my thought are, when you start to build up wealth and when the opportunity comes, do remember that all these things don’t belong to us. We don’t really own it nor have rights to this wealth. It’s actually God’s gift to us. Remember that it’s more important to further His Kingdom rather than to further ourselves.

Anyway I think that I've gone through it, and I know that wealth without God is empty. It is more important that you fill up the wealth, as you build it up subsequently, as professionals and all, you need to fill it up with the wealth of God.

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Here, I'll share with you some Hadiths regarding success and wealth which I find quite resembles to this story.. Hope we all learn some wisdom from it, insyaAllah~ (Source) 

1. “He who loves his worldly life will harm his hereafter, and he who loves his hereafter will harm his worldly life. Give preference to that which is eternal over that which is temporary”. (Ahmed Ibn Hambal on the authority of Abu Musa Al Ash’Ari)
2. “The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Bukhari, Sahih)
3. The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows.” (Muslim)
4. “The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
5. “The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling (rights).” (Ahmad, Sahih)
6. “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
7. “The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih)
8. “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling (rights).” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)
9. “The best of the world’s women are four: Maryum bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah the wife of Fir’awn.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
10. The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it Adam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Muslim)
11. The best of people in recitation are those who when they recite, you see that they fear Allah.” (Bayhaqi, Sahih)
12. “The best of your leaders are those that you love and they love you, you supplicate for them and they supplicate for you. The worst of your leaders are those that you hate and they hate you, you curse them and they curse you.” (Muslim)
13. “The best of you are those who are best in paying off their debts.” (Tahawi, Sahih)
14. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and most excellent character.” (Bazzar, Sahih)
15. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and best in action.” (Hakim, Sahih)
16. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allah.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
17. “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
18. Narated By ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr : That Allah’s Apostle said, “There are forty virtuous deeds and the best of them is the Maniha of a she-goat, and anyone who does one of these virtuous deeds hoping for Allah’s reward with firm confidence that he will get it, then Allah will make him enter Paradise because of it “(Bukhari)
19. Narated By Abu Huraira : A man asked the Prophet, “O Allah’s Apostle! What kind of charity is the best?” He replied. “To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don’t delay giving in charity till the time when you are on the death bed when you say, ‘Give so much to so-and-so and so much to so-and so,’ and at that time the property is not yours but it belongs to so-and-so (i.e. your inheritors).” (Bukhari)
20. “The best of companions according to Allah are those who are best to their companion and the best of neighbours according to Allah are those that are best to their neighbour.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
21. “The best of places are the Mosques and the worst of places are the markets.” (Tabarani, Hasan)
22. “The best supplication on the Day of Arafah and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me ever said was, “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ala kulli shayin Qadir.”" (Tirmidhi, Hasan)
23. “The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar; (Muslim)
24. “The best testimony is when one gives it before he is asked to do so.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
25. “The best of dowries are the easiest.” (Hakim, Sahih)
26. “The most beloved dish according to Allah is that which most hands feed from.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
27. “The most beloved servant of Allah is he who is most beneficial to his dependents.” (Zawaid al-Zuhd, Hasan)
28. “The best of earnings is that of the labourer as long as he tries his best.” (Ahmad, Hasan)
29. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer in its right time, to treat the Parents honourably and Jihad in the path of Allah.” (al-Khatib, Sahih)
30. “The best of all deeds is that you bring happiness to your Muslim brother, pay off his debt or feed him bread.” (Ibn Adiyy, Hasan)
31. “The best of faith is patience and magnanimity.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
32. The best word of remembrance is: La ilaha illallah and the best supplication is: Al-hamdu lillah. (Tirmidhi, Hasan)
33. Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: Someone asked Allah’s Messenger: “Who is the best man?” He answered, “A believer who strives in the cause of Allah with his life and his wealth.” The man asked: “Who is the next?” He said, “One who retires into a narrow valley and worship his Lord.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
34. “The best of hours are those deep in the latter part of the night.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
35. “The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi (How Transcendent is Allah and we praise him!).” (Muslim)
36. “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer in the depth of the night, and the best fast after the month of Ramadhan is the month of Allah, Muharram.” (Muslim)
37. “The best prayer is the prayer of the man in his home except for the obligatory prayer.”(Nasai, Sahih)
38. “The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” (Muslim)
39. “The best of all prayers according to Allah is the Friday morning prayer in congregation.” (Ibn Nuaym, Sahih)
40. “The best fast is the fast of my brother Dawud; he would fast every alternate day and he would never flee (the battlefront) when the armies would meet.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
41. “The best of all fasts after Ramadhan is in the month that you call Muharram.” (Nasai, Sahih)
42. “The world is but a provision and the best provision of the world is a pious and virtuous woman “. (Muslim)
43. The best of all deeds is the Prayer at its earliest time.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
44. The best of all charity is when the one with little strives to give; start with those you are responsible for.” (Hakim, Sahih)
45. “The best of days according to Allah is Friday.” (Bayhaqi, Sahih)
46. “The best of women are those that please him (her husband) when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
47. The best companion with Allah swt is he who behaves best to his companion, and the best neighbor with Allah swt is he who behaves best to his neighbour ” (Tirmidhi)

Eid Adha 2012

26 October - SHIBUYA

Alhamdulillah, ini merupakan kali ke-5 ak menyambut hari lebaran di bumi matahari terbit ini tapi istimewanya pada tahun ini ialah buat pertama kalinya ak dapat menyambut bersama rakyat Malaysia yang lain di Kedutaan Malaysia setelah berjaya mendapat cuti sepanjang hari dari pihak syarikat.. Sejak minggu lepas lagi asyik risau apa alasan yang perlu ak beri untuk meminta cuti~ 

Isnin lepas terus hantar email kepada 上司 (Superior) meminta kebenaran mohon cuti untuk mengerjakan solat di Kedutaan.. Terkejut apabila 上司 minta surat rasmi daripada pihak Kedutaan sebagai bukti adanya majlis ini tapi oleh sebab majlis berlangsung setiap tahun, mimpi la nak dapat surat rasmi walaupun ak sudah menghantar email kepada wakil kedutaan berkenaan aturcara majlis.. 

Antara alasan orang Jpon tidak ambil cuti bergaji o_0

Puas juga mencari laman web rasmi Kedutaan Malaysia di Jpon tapi sayangnya tak jumpa.. Ak hantar link  kedutaan Jpon di Malaysia yang tertulis hari Jumaat cuti kerana 犠牲祭の日 (Eid Adha) disamping menguatkan hujah bahawa perayaan ini sama pentingnya dengan Ramadhan (Kebanyakan orang Jpon tahu Ramadhan itu bulan penting bagi umat Islam) dan Alhamdulillah 上司 membenarkan ak mengambil cuti bergaji pada hari ini ;)

Sengaja ak mengambil cuti sepanjang hari sebab buat masa ini ak ditempatkan di 金町浄水場 (Kanamachi Water Purification Plant) dan tempoh perjalanan daripada rumah ke destinasi mengambil masa hampir 2 jam! Jika bekerja di 本社 (HQ) bolehlah nak minta cuti separuh hari pada belah pagi seperti dibuat kebanyakan professional yang lain, tapi alang-alang cuti bergaji selama 25 hari masih tak terusik lagi, biarlah ak rasmikan pada hari yang mulia ini :) 

Solat sunat bermula jam 0830 tapi oleh sebab dah janji dengan rakan untuk tunggu di hadapan JR渋谷 (Shibuya station) 南口 (South Exit) maka terpaksalah juga keluar rumah pada jam 0645 untuk mengambil keretapi jam 0650.. Paling terkejut ketika transit di 武蔵小杉 (Musashi Kosugi) untuk naik 東急東横線 (Tokyu Toyoko line) sebab terpaksa berdiri sambil berhimpit sejak naik sampai la tiba di destinasi! 

Bersyukur ak tidak guna 東横線 setiap hari untuk ke tempat kerja sebab memang boleh stress lebih-lebih lagi bagi kaum hawa.. Jalan kaki daripada stesen menuju ke kedutaaan dan selamat tiba sekitar jam 0805.. Agak terkejut pihak kedutaan sampai menyediakan permaidani sampai ke luar dewan mengharapkan tetamu yang ramai pada hari ini tapi sayangnya hari minggu, pelajar ada kelas dsb membuatkan pengunjung hanya mencukupi 6 baris saf pada pagi itu.. 

Juadah yang disediakan memang cemerlang pada pagi itu sampai boleh tapau jadi terpaksa berterima-kasih kepada mereka yang tidak dapat hadir (笑) Sempat bertegur sapa dengan 先輩 (Senior) setelah setahun lebih tidak bersua, baru tahu dia sudah berhenti kerja sejak tahun lepas dan kini buat bisnes bersama 2 lagi rakan kongsi yang lain.. Majlis bersurai sekitar jam 1100~

p/s Minal Aidin WalFaizin. Kullu 'amin Waantum Bikhair

The Lives of Man

Alhamdulillah, selesai juga membaca sebuah buku nukilan Imam Abdullah ibn Alawi Al-Haddad yang berjudul, "The Lives of Man"~ Imam Abdullah merupakan seorang ahli sufi yang pakar tentang ilmu Al-Qalb (Hati) dan sering menerima kunjungan daripada orang ramai dan juga anak-anak murid beliau bagi membincangkan perihal kehidupan baik dari segi rohani dan jasmani.. Beliau tahu kebanyakan daripada mereka mempunyai sedikit ilmu tentang apa yang akan berlaku di akhirat kelak tapi sesungguhnya manusia itu seorang insan, pelupa dan sering diganggu, kerana Qalb mereka menjadi keras.. 

Buku ini dipecahkan kepada 5 sub-topik dengan topik pertama menceritakan perihal kewujudan Nabi Adam A.S, bagaimana baginda dihantar ke bumi dan hubung-kait dengan umat Nabi Muhammad SAW~ Topik seterusnya pula membincangkan tentang dunia semasa, bermula daripada lahirnya manusia daripada perut ibu yang mengandung kemudian membesar daripada kanak-kanak kepada dewasa.. Buku ini turut meletakkan beberapa potongan hadis dan ayat di dalam Al-Quran dalam memperihalkan tugas seseorang mengikut usia sepanjang kitaran hidup seorang manusia.. 

"The feet of a servant will not move away (from where he stands on the Day of Rising) until he is asked about five things: his life, and how he expended it, his youth and in what he exhausted it, his wealth, and where he obtained it and on what he spent it, and what he did regarding what he knew"

[Hadith At-Tarmizi #5197 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud]

Setiap peringkat umur diterangkan secara terperinci berdasarkan Al-Quran, Al-Hadis, petikan daripada Imam Ghazali, dan juga beberapa sajak~ Menarik juga apabila para ulama' ada mengaitkan sebuah ayat dalam Al-Quran yang ditujukan khas untuk mereka yang berusia 40 tahun.. Malah Imam Shafiee apabila berusia 40 tahun, dia mula berjalan menggunakan tongkat dan bila ditanya, beliau akan menjawab, "Untuk mengingatkan diri sendiri bahawa aku hanyalah seorang pengembara.." Soal kematangan turut diterangkan dalam bab ini dengan mengambil petikan daripada Ibn al-Jawzi yang membahagikan kitaran hidup seorang manusia kepada 5 peringkat umur..

1. Childhood: ~15 tahun 
2. Youth: ~35 tahun
3. Maturity: ~55 tahun
4. Seniority: ~70 tahun
5. Decrepitude: ~Maut

Bab seterusnya membincangkan tentang peringkat ke-3 kehidupan seorang manusia iaitu selepas dia mati sehinggalah hari dia dibangkitkan melalui tiupan sangkakala Malaikat Israfil.. Antara perkara yang dibincangkan dalam bab ini ialah azab di dalam kubur, bagaimana yang hidup boleh membantu yang mati, adab menziarahi kubur dsb.. Bab seterusnya pula menerangkan tentang Hari Pengadilan, bagaimana manusia akan dihimpunkan, situasi di situ dsb.. Hadis ada meriwayatkan manusia pada hari pembalasan itu akan berusia 33 tahun dan kesemuanya berbicara dalam bahasa Suryani (Syriac)..

"Do you know who the bankrupt is? The bankrupt of my nation are those who will come on the Day of Rising having prayed, fasted, and given Zakat, but who have insulted this one, slandered that one, taken someone's wealth, or beaten him up. This one will be given of his good deeds and that one will be given of his good deeds; and if his good deeds are exhausted before all his debts are thus settled, he will be given some of their sins, which will be cast upon him; then he will be thrown into the fire"

[Sahih al-Jami #88]

Bab seterusnya dan juga yang terakhir dibincangkan dalam buku ini ialah perihal syurga dan neraka.. Inilah kehidupan paling panjang bagi seorang manusia, dan bukannya kehidupan di dunia.. Kengerian neraka Jahanam diceritakan penuh terperinci sehinggakan sesiapa sahaja pasti akan insaf, dan keindahan syurga bila sesiapa sahaja yang baca boleh membuatkan semangat nak masuk membuak-buak (Pengalaman penulis) Sesungguhnya belas kasihan Allah terhadap hamba-hambaNya itu melebihi daripada seorang ibu kepada anaknya! Bersama mengingatkan rakan-rakan yang lain~ 

O Lord! Accept our deeds, for Your are the Hearer, the Knower! Relent towards us, for Your are the Relenter, the Merciful! Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy for Your Presence. You, only You, are the Bestower. [3:8] Flood us with patience, and take us to You as Muslims! [7:126]

 

Experiencing Sumo Tournament

14 October - YOKOHAMA

Sejak menjejakkan kaki buat pertama kali di Jpon lagi ak sudah menyimpan harapan untuk menyaksikan perlawanan 相撲 (Sumo) secara live tapi sukar untuk menunaikan hasrat ini bila tiada member yang ingin pergi sekali (笑) Beberapa hari yang lepas, salah seorang kenalan yang berada di Jpon selama 3 bulan atas urusan kerja mengutarakan hasrat untuk menonton 相撲 dan kebetulan "Sumo Tour" pada bulan ini berlangsung di sekitar 関東 (Kanto) iaitu 埼玉 (Saitama) 13hb dan 横浜 (Yokohama) 14hb..

Tiket masuk

Kalau ikutkan ak berminat nak pergi yang 13hb supaya boleh menghadiri ceramah Sheikh Yusuf Estes yang bakal diadakan di 東京大学 (Tokyo University) pada 14hb tersebut.. Sayangnya isteri kenalan tersebut tiba di Jpon pada 13hb jadi plan "terpaksa" bertukar kepada 14hb (-_-) Mujur urusan tiket telah diuruskan oleh 先輩 (Senior) melalui telefon; kami beli tiket paling murah iaitu 5000円 (RM200) walaupun pada asalnya ada suara bangkit hendakkan tiket 1万円 (RM400) sebab pengalaman sekali seumur hidup (笑)

Pertandingan berlangsung di 横浜文化体育館 (Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium) yang terletak berdekatan dengan 関内駅 (Kannai Station)~ Bukan main awal lagi kami dah tiba di destinasi memandangkan atur-cara program menunjukkan masa bermula ialah jam 0800! Agak terkejut dengan barisan orang yang beratur untuk membeli tiket pada pagi tersebut dengan sebilangan kecil merupakan 外国人 (Foreigners) seperti kami.. Aktiviti awal pagi itu ialah beratur untuk mengambil gambar dan tanda-tangan pemain sumo~

Usia dia 2 tahun lebih muda tapi dah berkecimpung dalam dunia sumo lebih daripada 8 tahun! 

Pengunjung bebas untuk keluar masuk daripada dewan sepanjang masa memandangkan perlawanan sebenar bermula sekitar jam 1100~ Sekitar jam 0930 lagi kami sudah mengambil tempat duduk sambil menyaksikan pemain-pemain sumo memanaskan badan di atas gelanggang.. Agak terkejut dengan sebilangan kecil pemain sumo bukan warganegara Jpon tapi berada di divisyen atas termasuk salah seorang yang berat dia sahaja kurang daripada 100kg! (Yang lain semua taraf gajah)  

8:00  Baru bukak kedai.. pukulan drum
9:00  Salam ngan ahli sumo, mintak sign, amik gambar
10:00  Tgk sumo training
11:00  Match geng2 division bawah
12:00  Match geng2 division middle
13:30  Baru nak stat yang btol nye
14:00  Match btol nyer
15:00  Habis

Sesi memanaskan badan..

Selesai aktiviti memanaskan badan, ada sesi antara pemain sumo dengan kumpulan pelajar yang mengikuti kelas sumo.. Comel bila tengok budak kecil cuba menolak pemain sumo yang bertubuh besar dan akhirnya 廻し (Mawashi) mereka diangkat menggunakan sebelah tangan sahaja (笑) Acara seterusnya merupakan "persembahan karaoke" daripada persatuan sumo? yang terdiri daripada pakcik-pakcik dan seorang makcik yang lebih kepada 演歌 (Enka) (笑)

Daripada saiz lidi kepada saiz buluh!

Kena dukung 

Selepas itu barulah mula pertandingan sumo peringkat divisyen bawah selama beberapa pusingan.. Setiap pusingan tidak mengambil masa seminit pun; hatta sesi memperkenalkan peserta dan gimik sebelum mula perlawanan lagi lama (笑) Selesai perlawanan divisyen bawah, pengunjung dihiburkan dengan 漫才 (Gimik) 2 pemain sumo di atas gelanggang dengan aksi lucu yang pastinya tidak akan kita lihat dalam perlawanan sebenar.. Majlis diteruskan pula dengan sesi perkenalan pemain divisyen tengah dan "persembahan karaoke" mereka.. Kalah WWE siap ada karaoke lagi nih!

Kaw2 baling garam (Gimik semata-mata)

Karaoke?

Selepas itu, ada persembahan pukulan gendang? dan kemasukan pemain sumo kelas atasan untuk menari? yang mungkin ada kena-mengena dengan upacara permainan sumo ini.. Menariknya selepas itu ada pertunjukan cara pemain sumo mengikat rambut mereka.. Ternyata level perlawanan pemain sumo divisyen atas lebih menarik dengan pelbagai teknik yang mereka gunakan atas gelanggang.. Selesai perlawanan peringkat divisyen tengah, ada sesi cara ikatan tradisional pemain sumo khusus untuk 新横綱 (New-Yokozuna); menariknya ikatan itu ditarik sehingga memerlukan 6 orang! 

Kemasukan pemain divisyen atas

Upacara sikat rambut

Upacara ikat tali pinggang?

Selepas itu barulah kemasukan pemain sumo kelas pertama; ramai juga yang siap bawa anak masing-masing ke atas pentas.. Selesai sesi perkenalkan diri, tibalah giliran 6 ahli sumo termasuk 横綱 (Yokozuna) dan 新横綱 untuk menggegarkan gelanggang dengan aksi hentak kaki mereka (笑) Pertarungan paling menarik semestinya antara 横綱 dan 新横綱 yang akhirnya memihak kepada 新横綱! Selepas menang, 新横綱 dihadiahkan busur dan mulalah tarian kemenangan beliau selama hampir seminit.. Lucunya ramai mula meninggalkan dewan bila berakhirnya perlawanan sampai ada yang kejar 横綱 untuk dapatkan autograph sedangkan pemenang masih berada di gelanggang (笑) 

Kemasukan pemain sumo divisyen 1

Tarian 横綱 

MOTD: 横綱 vs 新横綱

Sebaik sahaja tarian 新横綱 tamat, ramai juga pengunjung yang maju ke gelanggang untuk mengambil pasir di atas gelanggang tersebut.. Tidak pasti atas tujuan apa, tapi ak syak mungkin mereka percaya pasir itu suci memandangkan sebelum setiap perlawanan bermula, pemain sumo akan membaling serbuk garam di atas gelanggang sebagai upacara "menyucikan" perlawanan mengikut kepercayaan 神道 (Shinto) Event berakhir sekitar jam 1500, beli barang cenderamata sedikit sebelum maju ke restoran berdekatan untuk makan tengahari sebelum pulang~

Suasana di dalam dewan

新横綱 memenangi perlawanan dan dihadiahkan busur

Beli bantal duduk pada harga 500円 (RM20) sebagai cenderamata alang-alang dah tak nak pergi lagi lepas nih :p

p/s Ngantok sangat dalam train sampai tertidur, dalam keadaan mamai sanggup berkejaran untuk tukar train sampai tergolek waktu turun tangga, luka lutut dibiarkan janji sempat naik train.. Cuma yang lucunya, train hanya bergerak 5 minit kemudian     (-_-") Gambar-gambar lain boleh dilihat melalui sini~ 

Yusuf Estes Japan Tour

13 October - TOKYO

Yusuf Estes merupakan salah seorang pendakwah bebas yang terkenal di dunia; sejarah bagaimana dia berhijrah daripada seorang yang menentang Islam kepada seorang pendakwah begitu menakjubkan sehingga dialih kepada pelbagai bahasa.. Ak mula mengikuti ceramah beliau sejak di tahun ke-2 JAD dek tertarik dengan bidang "Comparative Religion" khususnya Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, Zakir Naik, dan juga Gary Miller..   Gaya penyampaian yang unik dan banyak jenaka membuatkan ceramah Yusuf Estes disukai seluruh peringkat umur meskipun dia agak tegas tentang beberapa isu yang pada ak masih diperbincangkan oleh para ulama.. 

Majlis dilaksanakan bertempat di Minami Otsuka Hall berhampiran 大塚駅 (Otsuka Station) dan dijadualkan bermula jam 1800~2000.. Awalnya ak khuatir samada perlu ke Masjid Otsuka terlebih dahulu untuk mengerjakan Maghrib atau terus maju dengan yakin ke dewan~ Alhamdulillah, ada ruang disediakan di dewan untuk solat dan bukan ak sorang sahaja memikirkan benda yang sama.. Atas masalah teknikal dan faktor kelewatan VIP, majlis bermula sekitar jam 1820 dengan bacaan Al-Quran dan persembahan nasyid oleh pelajar sekolah agama komuniti islam Otsuka.. Kemudian, sedikit pengenalan tentang biodata Sheikh dalam English dan Japanese..

Kagum dengan Sheikh yang mampu pusing seluruh negara walaupun sudah berusia lebih 70 tahun.. Kononnya dia baru sahaja tiba di Tokyo selepas selesai program di Fukuoka, selatan Jpon.. Topik yang dibawakan pada malam ini ialah "How to Introduce Islam to the non-Muslim?" Sheikh memulakan ceramah dengan menceritakan pengalaman beliau ketika melawat sebuah tokong di Fukuoka.. Sheikh pada mulanya terkejut apabila Sami di situ tidak membenarkan beliau masuk suatu tempat di dalam tokong tersebut tanpa "menyucikan" diri terlebih dahulu.. Lantas Sami tersebut menunjukkan cara mereka "bersuci" iaitu basuh mulut dan basuh tangan.. 

Sheikh menerangkan bahawa Islam juga ada konsep "bersuci" iaitu Wudhu' lalu beliau menunjukkan cara mengambil Wudhu' di hadapan Sami tersebut.. Kagum dengan tindakan Sheikh, Sami tersebut lantas membenarkan beliau masuk ke tempat tersebut memandangkan beliau "lebih suci" daripada Sami tersebut kerana basuh muka, tangan, rambut, kaki dll (笑) Sheikh menyambung dakwah dengan memaklumkan Muslim masih boleh solat tanpa air tapi Sami tersebut mungkin tidak boleh jika tiada air.. Malah keistimewaan umat Nabi Muhammad ialah kita boleh mengerjakan solat di mana-mana sahaja di muka bumi ini dengan sedikit pengecualian dan bukan sahaja di tokong seperti penganut agama Sami..

Sheikh dan Sami banyak bertukar pendapat sehinggakan bila tiba masa Sheikh untuk maju ke lapangan terbang untuk kembali ke Tokyo, Sami tersebut menghadiahkan sesuatu yang agak bernilai dan bukan calang-calang orang untuk menerima hadiah tersebut! Oleh kerana Sheikh tidak menyediakan apa-apa pada waktu itu, beliau hanya dapat menghadiahkan sekeping pelekat tingkap kereta bertulis, "WORSHIP the CREATOR, not the CREATION" dan menariknya Sami tersebut menerima hadiah tersebut kendatipun sudah diterangkan maksud ayat tersebut.. Sheikh menjelaskan "Nothing is like Allah, yet He is All-Seeing and All-Hearing"

Sheikh kemudian memaklumkan suatu perkara yang buat beliau tertarik dengan masyarakat Jpon ialah mereka kurang gemar bercakap tentang agama.. Sheikh bersetuju kerana baginya Muslim tidak perlu bercerita tentang agama kerana kita ada sesuatu yang lebih besar daripada agama iaitu Ad-Deen, pegangan hidup.. Masyarakat Jpon sudah memiliki akhlak yang baik, cuma mereka tiada ilmu tentang jalan kehidupan.. Banyak perkara yang boleh Muslim pelajari daripada masyarakat Jpon dan antaranya ialah jika kita tidak tahu tentang sesuatu perkara, eloklah kita senyap seperti masyarakat Jpon (笑)

Ak begitu tertarik dengan jawapan yang diberikan oleh Sheikh apabila ditanya adakah orang non-Muslim yang berlaku baik di dunia boleh masuk Syurga? Sheikh membalas, "If you are nice to the people, look to the people for the reward!" Ganjaran syurga adalah khusus bagi mereka yang menjaga hubungan baik dengan Allah~ Kenapa tidak berterima kepada Allah yang menciptakan segala benda meskipun sudah berterima-kasih kepada sesama manusia?  Sheikh juga menegaskan Muslim tidak perlu sibuk menerangkan Islam kepada non-Muslim sebaliknya cukuplah sekadar Muslim mengikut apa yang Allah suruh, dan meninggalkan apa yang Allah larang.. 

Whoever try to please the people by displeasing Allah, then Allah will be displease and He will make the people be displease with him! Whoever try to please Allah albeit it might displease the people, Allah will be please, and He will make the people be please with him! 

-Yusuf Estes-

Majlis bersurai sekitar jam 2030.. Kalau ikut program pada malam itu, semua tetamu dijemput ke Masjid Otsuka untuk menunaikan solat Isya' berjemaah dan menjamu selera dengan 弁当 (Bento) yang telah disediakan.. Tapi bila melihatkan jumlah tetamu yang hadir, ak memilih untuk menjamu selera bersama rakan yang lain di restoran Thai halal bertempat di 田端 (Tabata) pada malam itu.. Kebetulan waktu sedang menjamu selera, tuan kedai berada di situ dan dia maklumkan yang dia akan membuka sebuah lagi restoran baru "Korean-style" bertempat di 新大久保 (Shin-Okubo) sekitar penghujung bulan ini ;) 

p/s Sayangnya tidak dapat bergambar bersama Sheikh Yusuf Estes pada malam itu ;(

飲み会 (Drinking Party)

Salah satu majlis yang ak kurang gemar untuk turut-serta terutamanya majlis pihak syarikat ialah 飲み会 (Drinking Party) kendatipun jus disediakan khas untuk ak.. Sewaktu pelajar dulu, ak senang memaklumkan kepada rakan-rakan yang lain yang ak tidak minum jadi mereka tiada masalah untuk ak tidak menyertai parti dsb tapi situasi di tempat kerja menyukarkan untuk ak tidak turut-serta majlis seperti ini lebih-lebih lagi kes 新入社員 (New employee) seperti ak.. Salah satu sebab utama ak tidak turut-serta juga ialah bayaran yang mahal sedangkan tidak banyak yang boleh ak makan (-_-") 

2 minggu yang lepas, ak "terpaksa" menghadiri 2 飲み会; satu dilaksanakan khusus untuk mengenal 海外社員 (Foreign workers) di dalam syarikat ini dan yang lagi satu pula khusus untuk fakulti sekarang.. Kagum dapat bersua-muka dengan beberapa senior dari Mongolia, Nepal, dan Cambodia yang mempunyai pengalaman menguruskan tapak pembinaan di luar negara kendatipun baru 2,3 tahun pengalaman bekerja.. Kebanyakan daripada mereka mudah bercerita pelbagai topik bila sudah minum 2,3 teguk jadi mudah untuk ak bertanya pelbagai isu tentang kerja, peribadi dsb.. 

Satu perkara yang paling ak kurang gemar ketika berborak dalam 飲み会 ialah pancutan air liur mereka bila sudah mabuk (-_-") Selagi boleh ak cuba untuk menjaga jarak agar pancutan tersebut tidak sampai ke muka tapi ada kalanya sukar nak elak (笑) Selalunya di parti sebeginilah mereka banyak soal tentang Islam terutama 上司 (Superior)~ Ada yang sibuk bercerita tentang pengalaman bekerja di negara Islam, dan ada juga yang bercerita pandangan dia tentang isu pemakaian tudung sampai kaitkan dengan olimpik baru-baru ini.. Siap kuatkan hujah dia dengan mengatakan wanita negara Islam boleh menang banyak piala kalau tak pakai hijab seperti kebanyakan wanita "biasa".. 

Mereka memandang pemakaian hijab ini merupakan sesuatu "penyeksaan" kepada wanita yang mengekang kebebasan mereka untuk memakai apa yang mereka suka.. Dia cerita pengalaman menaiki kapal terbang dari negara Islam menuju ke Eropah, dalam kapal terbang ada kelibat seorang muslimah yang memakai hijab lengkap atas ke bawah.. Selepas kapal terbang berlepas, muslimah itu masuk ke dalam tandas dan bila dia keluar, 上司 ak terkejut beruk bila lihat muslimah tersebut 変身 (Change) kepada orang "biasa" (笑) Ak suarakan bahawa tujuan pemakaian hijab adalah untuk "melindungi" mereka, bukan fesyen tapi sukar untuk dia terima memandangkan ayat itu keluar dari mulut lelaki.. 

Belum pernah lagi dengar atlet muslimah menyalahkan hijab sebagai punca mereka kalah

p/s Terfikir juga kalau lelaki Jpon banyak soal pasal muslimah, adakah perempuan Jpon banyak soal tentang muslim?

Majlis Santapan Malam bersama YDP Agong

4 Oktober - TOKYO

Mula mendapat berita tentang majlis ini kira-kira 2 minggu yang lepas menerusi Facebook; pihak kedutaan menjemput golongan professional untuk meraikan majlis makan malam bersama Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan (YDP) Agong di Imperial Hotel, Tokyo.. Kononnya pihak kedutaan akan membuat cabutan sekiranya bilangan yang memohon terlebih jadi ak tidak mengharap sangat untuk terpilih memandangkan ak baru mula bekerja di sini~ Seminggu kemudian dapat email yang memaklumkan kad jemputan akan sampai di rumah dan ak diminta untuk memastikan kehadiran! 

Memandangkan majlis bermula jam 1830 dan para tetamu diminta menghadirkan diri dalam dewan pada jam 1745, ak terpaksa meminta kebenaran untuk pulang awal kepada pihak atasan.. Asyik risau jika tidak diberi pelepasan, tapi siapa sangka, pihak atasan membenarkan dengan alasan, "Kalau dah Agong kasi jemputan, siapa aku untuk halang engkau pergi~" \(^o^)/ Oleh kerana syarikat ak tidak melaksanakan flex time, maka ak diberikan cuti separuh hari; tapi ak sengaja balik sekitar jam 1430 bagi meneruskan ulangkaji untuk peperiksaan bertulis 第一種電気工事士 pada Ahad ini..

Bertolak daripada rumah sekitar jam 1630, ajak member yang terpilih sekali untuk bertemu di 新橋駅 (Shinbashi Station) sekitar jam 1715 dan daripada situ jalan kaki menuju ke Imperial Hotel yang mengambil masa sekitar 10 minit.. Sesampai sahaja di lobi hotel, kelibat ramai tetamu dari Malaysia benar-benar membuatkan kita berasa seperti sudah pulang ke tanah asal.. Selesai mendaftar diri, bersyukur apabila diberitahu surau ada disediakan memandangkan Maghrib hari itu jam 1730~ Sukar untuk dipercayai tempat duduk ak ialah no9; antara meja hadapan berhampiran dengan meja VIP dan juga Agong!

Majlis bermula sekitar jam 1830 dengan ucapan daripada Duta Malaysia ke Jpon, dan seterusnya titah ucapan YDP Agong.. Duta memaklumkan lebih 5 ribu rakyat Malaysia menetap di Jpon telah mendaftar bersama pihak kedutaan dan hampir 3/5 daripada jumlah tersebut merupakan golongan professional~ YDP Agong pula kagum dengan beberapa syarikat Malaysia antaranya Petronas, AirAsia dan YTL kerana berjaya menyahut cabaran globalisasi dengan membuka cawangan di negara matahari terbit ini.. Baginda juga menyeru kepada rakyat Malaysia supaya menjaga nama baik negara dalam menjalani kehidupan di sini..

My dinner table

Tak kenyang pun tapi cukup sekadar alas perut :p

Sedikit terkejut dengan menu malam itu walaupun sedikit sebanyak sudah boleh duga menerusi pengalaman makan malam bersama Dato' Najib Razak 2 tahun lepas di Hotel New Otani.. Memandangkan ak baru sahaja bergelar "関東人 (Orang Kantou)", agak gembira dapat berkenalan dengan warga 関東 yang lain termasuk dari pihak kedutaan sendiri.. Paling mengejutkan apabila YDP Agong setuju untuk sesi beramah mesra bersama tetamu seramai 200 orang yang hadir pada malam itu.. Cuak apabila di minta beratur di barisan hadapan untuk bersalaman dengan Agong dan para VIP malam itu~

Gambar kenangan bersama Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin yang bertindak sebagai Menteri Pengiring untuk YDP Agong sepanjang baginda berada di Jpon

Pertama kali memberi salam mengikut adat istana; siap sempat berborak lagi sebab Duta Malaysia ke Jpon memperkenalkan ak sebagai seorang "pelajar" jadi terpaksalah ak membetulkan status semasa (笑) Paling lucu apabila ak memaklumkan nama syarikat, dan mereka mengeluarkan suara kagum padahal tidak pernah dengar pun (笑) Selesai bersalaman, kami diberi hadiah cenderahati dalam bentuk beg~ Sedikit kecewa kerana tidak sempat beri kamera kepada rakan untuk ambil gambar ketika ak bersalaman dengan Agong sebab mereka-mereka yang lewat semua dapat buat (-_-") Majlis bersurai sekitar jam 2130~ 

Cenderahati daripada pihak Istana Negara

p/s Pengalaman paling bernilai sepanjang ak berada di bumi Jpon ini..