Technology. Tok.

Technology is pretty amazing, I must say.
Just go to these websites -->

http://www.quranonline.net/quran/media.jsp
I love the fact that there's videos so that while reciting the surahs you can check that all your tajwids are correct. Very much like mengaji-ing infront of Tok Aji (minus the rotan, though I must tell you, I've never been caned by him before... Selamat!)

http://www.quranflash.com/en/quranflash.html
And I couldn't believe my eyes when Shahreil first introduced me to this site. WoW!

Whenever I mengaji, it reminds me of Tok and I sure the sames goes for Ikin and Diyana too.
Those were fond memories.

When I was in the morning session; I'd rush to Tok's house hoping that'd I'd be the first person to arrive. Nak balik first maaahhh.... I'd shower and macam budak baik duduk at the ngaji area, fully aware that the the following things will happen:

Tok: Ti, kau dah makan belum..
Me: Belum, Tok... (suara sedih..)
Tok: Makan dulu sini...
Me: Ok... (macam reluctantly, tapi dalam hati..yabedabedoooo!)

Others will come eventually, hoping that they'd be first in line, but too baaaddd.

When I was in the afternoon session and staying at Tok's house for a few months as my house was undergoing renovations, ngaji time was right after solat subuh. Once we finish solat jemaah (yes! it's solat jemaah every subuh & maghrib at Tok's house), I'd try to creep back into bed like everyone else... but Tok would say,

"Hayati, mari kita mula ngaji,"

and I'd go.. "Haaaaa..." But of course, that was dalam hati. Siapa berani lawan cakap tok oiii!!

But I must say, ngaji with Tok was fun. (or maybe I chose to remember the fun ones..)
Being girls, we rarely got any scolding, and I'd have fun seeing the guys kena marah. Tu ah korang, banyak main!

As I've khatam-ed very early in primary school, the remaining years of ngaji was pretty much focused on correcting my tajwid. Tok would leave me to recite by myself, and once he thought that I had enough, he'd ask me to go back to where I started and testing me on all the tajwids.
Yang mana kena dengung/kenapa kena dengung/ ni berapa harakat and the list goes on. Macam kuiz lah pulak!

I also got to supervise some of the younger ones, and my victim was usually Diyana. I remember being soooo mean to her and poked her with my lidi whenever she was so slow or simply couldn't baca. Geram betul masa tu. Hahahah... But that was terrible of me. Sorry Diyana!

I realise that Tok played a major role in my religious education. From mengaji& tajwid to hafal surah to learning how to ambil wudhu and solat.

Thank you, Tok Aji.
May Allah repay your kindness.

CUCI

I can't believe that I really made the trip to KL last weekend.

I was initially very hesitant as it was afterall a trip to watch Cuci the Musical. Yes! CUCI. It's not PGL or P.Ramlee the Musical. It's the comedy by the 4 stooges(Hans, Afdlin, Awie & AC). I couldn't imagine how they were going to marry the 2 (totally simple comedy + musical) together. Yes, I did love Cuci the Movie.. I remember laughing so hard till my stomach was hurting when I watched the movie. But a musical? And alllllll the way to KL? Hmmmm.... Now, tell me why I shouldn't be hesitant?

But did I regret my decision? Did I feel like strangling Ikin who dragged me all the way there, away from my husband and son?

No. A huge N.O!

It was one of the best decisions I've made in months!

Firstly, I was good to get away from Singapore, work. responsibilities.

It felt just like old times, me and Ikin going to places together, eating and gossiping non-stop.

And Ikin is obviously the best travelling partner cos she knows and handles everything. My manager mah...

And Cuci... What can I say about the musical other than it was great/ fantastic/excellent/amazing/wonderful and all the other good things that are sewaktu dengannyer. The storyline was pretty much the same as the movie, other than a few tweaking of things here and there. The props were simple, costumes not spectacular (you can't expect them to be wearing bling blings while washing buildings, can you?) But what blew me (and the rest of the audiences, Im sure) away were the casts who were damn right hilarious.

It was actually just a bunch of friends goofing around on the stage, not afraid to make mistakes and ad-lib their way through. Their camaderie was crystal clear throughout the musical. Everyone of them were special in their own way.

Afdlin, my talented talented Afdlin was being his round, nak kena cubit-cubit pipi, adorable eldest brother. AC, was perfect as C'Tan... tall, skinny and witty. And I actually forgot that he was afterall a member of 4U2C! He could sing very well...! Come, let us sing Fiona together... with actions, people!!! Ready? One, two, three... go!

Fiona.... Terciptalah irama cinta ini hanyalah untukmu... Bawalah ku ke alam cintamu... Fiona gadisku... (Slide to the left... both hands up, turn one round..)

Hans, was soooooooo cute as the selenger, frank salah tempat kind of guy. Lurus bendul. Comel!

And Awie... he was like a teddy bear that you wished was on sale after the musical so that you can bring home and cuddle all day long! Hahahha... And of course, when he sang... I wished that he'd start singing Sejati or something. You can never take the Mat Rock out of Awie!

Not forgetting the others who were equally splendid. Harith Iskandar as the bad guy. Ramli Hassan as the daddy. Adibah Noor, and her budak nakal selamba kodok kind of attitude. But when she sang, she's truly a DIVA! And my sweet, sweet, meltingly sweet Vanidah Imran. A true blue wanita melayu terakhir and I got a feeling that she's not the kind who tries to be one cos it is just her nature, not like Sendat or Mak Iti.

To sum it up, I had a wonderful time at the musical. Siapa yang tak tgk... RUGI RUGI RUGI. I just hope that somehow, they'd bring the musical to Singapore.

;-)

I received this sms:

bile saya dudok kat teacher's table, mcm tak caye yg saye nie cekgu. dalah prangai saye kdg2 mcm bdk2. Tsk. When im in this state, i always think of you. Thank you cekgu! :-)

That made my day.

Thank YOU, Hawa.

Your warm smile will brighten up the days of many children, I'm sure.