Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Tag ver. 3.0 - this time it's for charity

Yes, another tag. But this time it’s for a good cause. Found out about it from Kit.

The rule is:

If you are tagged, you need to write an entry related to the meme. At the end of your entry you just need to tag as many person as you like. You will then leave a comment in their blog to let them know they have been tagged. And to include this message, "By doing this meme you are contributing rm127 to the Darul Izzah Orphanage".

For more info please go to http://bakpo.blogspot.com/ . The author of the blog (Mr. Idham) will contribute RM127 on the behalf of every person who does the meme.

I won't be tagging anyone in particular for this one, I feel that I should give you the choice to do it or otherwise. If you decide to do this, please remember to do it by 26th August 2007, and leave a msg on Mr. Idham's blog to let him know you've done it. (**Edit : the dateline has been moved forwards to the end of July. So if you wish to join in do it before that date)

It doesn't take too long, we've all done longer surveys / questionnaires / memes. So why not join in?

Here’s mine:

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1) A person is only as good as how he treats other people

2) Friendship is always important when two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together.

3) To love is to open yourself to the other person, wholly, although it leaves you very vulnerable.

4) Money makes me - actually, it doesn’t make me feel anything. I try to live within my means. As long as I have enough, I’m happy

5) I miss the times when we (family) go on trips. Just us.

6) My way of saying I care is by fussing over people, doing things for them. I’ve lately learned to say “I love you”

7) I try to spread love and happiness by smiling at people, even strangers (no, not the ‘come hither’ kind of smile, the friendly kind). The human touch is also very powerful. I do this especially to patients.

8) Pick the flowers when you can, and give them to another to brighten up their day

9) To love someone is to accept him/her as he/she is. Never be blind to faults, but sometimes it helps to close one eye.

10) Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I believe this strongly.

11) When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was getting my first ever letter from an unknown boy from another school. It really scared the heck out of me! (Takut mak marah…but when I told her, she just laughed and told me to keep it. It really changed the way I looked at my mom..from then on I realized that she was also my friend, not just my mom)

12) When I was twenty-one, I remember not being able to vote because I was overseas. (Hahahah!)

13) I am most happy when I’m surrounded by family. Or with him.

14) Nothing makes me happier than when I feel I’m needed. Sounds strange, huh? I didn’t realize it before. But it’s true.

15) If I can change one thing, I will change – actually, I don’t want to change anything. Even the bad. I’m sure things happen for a reason, and I can only pray that we have the strength to overcome those obstacles, and emerge stronger at the end of those trials.

16) If smiles were the cure to all worries then I would offer it to everyone

17) Wouldn’t it be nice if we could settle all conflicts by talking through them. Then there won’t be needless killings and suffering in the world.

18) If you want to get things done your way then you have to do them yourself

19) Money is not everything but having enough takes your worries away. If you have a bit more then you can share the joy.

20) The most touching moments I have experienced is Azureen (my niece) getting up from her playthings and tried to rub my back when I muttered having ‘sakit belakang’. Having a 2 year-old rubbing your back isn’t very effective, but I was touched by the gesture nonetheless.

21) I smile whenever I think of Azureen.

22) When I am happy, I smile and laugh a lot.

23) If only I don’t have to pack all my things to ship back to Malaysia, then I’d enjoy my last few weeks in London more.

24) The best thing I did yesterday was talk to a lonely elderly lady.

25) If I ever write a book, I will give it this title, “Never lose your sense of humour. No matter what.”

26) One thing I must do before I die is hmmm..I have to think about this one.

27) Doing this meme, I feel like I’m contributing to a bigger cause. Kudos to Mr. Idham for coming up with this! (And may Allah bless you for what you’re doing)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Are you up for the challenge?

Got tagged by Kit. And I think the game's kinda fun.

Here's how it works. I'm gonna put my music player in shuffle mode, take the first 25 songs and post a line or two for each song, not making it too obvious (well, I'll try). So if you think you know the song, make a guess.

Let's see if you can identify them. And the song will be crossed out when someone gives the correct answer. Let's begin!

(I'm actually gonna do Malay and English songs for this one. Have lots in different languages, don't want to make a fool out of myself trying to spell some of the words)

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1) With eyes that knows the darkness in my soul // And how you've suffered for your sanity - Vincent by Don McLean : AmyDoll

2) Take a look in the mirror and I see what you're doing to me // Everyday I try and I try and I try

3) That's all, and that's no joke // These guys don't appreciate I'm broke

4) You been spreading lies that I was untrue // You're gonna be sorry you were ever born - My Boyfriend's Back by The Angels : AmyDoll

5) Through the years as the fire starts to mellow // Burning lines in the book of our lives

6) Bawalah pesanku ini kepada dia yang kucintai // Engkau bisikkan lah yang aku akan kembali menyempurnakan segala janji - Bulan dan Juga Angin by P Ramlee & Normadiah : katakbesar (katakbesar - I give this one to you, coz I never thought anyone would guess this one :))

7) You might need time to think it over // I'll ease your mind if you give me the chance - Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney : AmyDoll

8) Meraba aku dalam kelam // Ada kerdipan ada sinar - Kau Ilhamku by Man Bai : AmyDoll

9) But I've got all I want when it comes to loving you // You're the love that rescues me when the cold winds rage

10) Want to breathe, can't find air // Well maybe you should know just how it feels - Left Outside Alone by Anastacia : AmyDoll

11) I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad // I've learned what love's about, by loving you

12) Tanpamu sepinya waktu merantai hati // Tanpa dirimu aku merasa hilang - Dealova by Once : katakbesar

13) I kept my distance but you still catch my eye // Well it's been a year it doesn't surprise me - Last Christmas by Human Nature : AmyDoll

14) It's your happiness that matters most of all // Just remember, I love you

15) Hari demi hari ku tetap menanti // Seringkali terjadi bila kau disisi - Manisnya Senyumanmu by Elite : katakbesar

16) Well, it's three o'clock in the morning // Well, I hate to leave you, baby - Goodnight Sweetheart by Rockapella : Kit

17) Aku adalah aku, nyanyi lagu yang rindu // Di sini aku berdiri - Misteri Mimpi Syakila by Wings : katakbesar

18) Thought I was alone with no one to hold // This feeling's like no other

19) I saw you smiling at me // Close enough for me to feel your heart beating fast - Eyes on Me by Faye Wong : AmyDoll (ehehe I think I know why you're laughing)

20) When those girls start hangin' around, talkin' me down // Hear with your heart and ya won't hear a sound

21) In a restless world like this is // Seem to cool in the warmth of the soon - When I Fall In Love by Celine Dion and Clive Griffin : Kit

22) You hang on every word I say but the truth sounds like a lie // Let another round begin

23) Bagai kau di depan mata // Bila tersedar semula, disisiku kau tiada

24) The gentle way you look at me // You've given me the freedom no other love has known

25) It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon // I'm turning my head up and down - Lemon Tree by Fool's Garden : katakbesar

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I know, I know, I'm being too obvious with some of them, but there you go.

And yes, I know Google is very useful. Let's not take the fun out of the whole thing, okay?

Friday, June 08, 2007

Let's play 'tag'

Ah, another tag! This time it's from Kit. So let's begin right away, shall we?

Layer One: On the Outside
Name: Azhani Akmar Izhar
Formal name: Hani Izhar (I prefer this one somehow, mostly because not many people can pronounce my name properly)
Casual name: Hani
Birthdate: November 6, 1982
Current status: Status of what?
Eye color: Dark brown
Hair Color: Shocking pink with neon highlights (hehe..xdela..dark brown)
Righty or Lefty: Left! (although sometimes I forget that I'm left-handed and get confused)

Layer Two: On the Inside
My heritage: Bugis + Melayu minangkabau
My fears: I have quite a few, and then some
My weaknesses: Chocolate; Azureen (hehe); roses, i guess
My perfect pizza: Hmm I'm not really a fan of Italian food. But my favourite is Pizza Hut's Island Supreme. Not THE perfect pizza, but the best I can come up with at the moment

Layer Three: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
My thoughts first thing when I wake up: What time is it?
My bedtime: Nowadays after 2.30 a.m. - have to wait for Subuh.
My most missed memory: Forms 4&5, years in Banting, anytime with 'him'

Layer Four: My picks
Pepsi or Coke: Don't do carbonated drinks. Sorry
McDonald's or Burger King: Not a fan of either. Burger King, I guess
Single or Group Dates: Single
Adidas or Nike: Don't do either. No preference
Tea or Nestea: Tea
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappucino or Coffee: Cappucino. With a bit of cinnamon

Layer Five: Do I
Smoke: Nope.
Curse: Not usually, although I did mutter an expletive yesterday when I got a splinter in my finger. Caught me by surprise, that one.
Take a shower: 'Course I do.
Have a crush: Hehe I can't answer this without getting into trouble. Actually, no one (else)
Think I've Been In love: Yes I do, I have, I am.
Want to get married: Even if I didn't I have people who'd pester me to do so (read : PARENTS!!)
Believe in myself: Yes I do
Think I'm a health freak: The words 'Health freak' & 'Hani Izhar' are antonymous

Layer Six: In the past month
Drank alcohol: Nope. Never had. Unless you take into account the alcohol gel that accidentally got into my mouth in hospital (bleahhhhh!)
Gone to the mall: Yes
Been on stage: Nope
Eaten Sushi: Nope
Dyed your hair: Nope

Layer Seven: Have I ever
Played a stripping game: Nope. Haven't had the inclination to. Yet. (eheheh)
Changed who I am to fit in: Not that I can recall. I usually don't really care. People either accept me as I am or they're free to leave.

Layer Eight: Age
I am hoping to be married: Before 60 would be nice....
(Laaaa...satu soalan je ke?? The person who did this questionnaire sure didn't have much imagination!)

Layer Nine: What was I doing
1 min ago: Looked out the window
1 hour ago: Kickboxing
4.5 hours ago: Had Life Support course
1 month ago: Can't remember
1 year ago: Nothing earth-shattering, or else I'd remember

Layer Ten: Finish The Sentence
I love: the sound & smell of rain early in the morning when I wake up
I feel: I'm ready to graduate and move on to the next phase of my life. At the same time, a bit apprehensive about the whole thing
I hate: it when I'm not given the privilege to decide what goes on in my life (can also be day-to-day things). If you give me options and the freedom to decide, I'm less likely to fight you
I hide: when I have mood swings/get angry. To avoid doing/saying things I don't mean
I need: to stop obsessing about the 'Chand Sifarish' song. It's all I listen to for the last 1 week!

Layer Eleven: Tag 5 people
Yatt, Peah, Niesa, and sesape lagi nak buat, buat la....

Sunday, June 03, 2007

"If the moon was to recommend me.."

Watched the hindi movie Fanaa a couple of days ago. Haven't seen a bollywood movie for...oh, quite sometime. Mostly because I don't have the stamina anymore to sit down for 3 hours to watch something, and also I feel that the hindi movies nowadays are the kind you can't watch while you're baby-sitting your niece (yeah...I've taken the roles of the censorship board where my niece is concerned..that's why all she watches is Playhouse Disney and the news and Discovery channel..hehe)

Went off on a tangent quite a bit there. Anyway, back to the topic. The word 'fanaa' means 'destruction' in Hindi, or 'annihilation' in Arabic, according to Wikipedia. The word carried many meanings in the movie, and was mentioned several times in the dialogue as well as the songs. The storyline of Fanaa was very much like Dil Se, but with the male and females roles reversed. While with Dil Se I didn't feel like watching it after the first 10 minutes (sorry, SRK!!), I was enthralled by Fanaa from the start to the end, ESPECIALLY the first half of the movie. Quite a lot of poetry said by the main characters (some of my friends found them to be cheesy, but I felt they were quite charming).

The chemistry between Aamir Khan and Kajol was so believable, I couldn't help but wish they'd worked together in more movies (Fanaa was the first movie they starred opposite each other, quite sometime ago they acted together in the movie Ishq, although paired with different people). Aamir Khan carried his role so well that I'm convinced that Shah Rukh Khan couldn't have done it with the same calibre (ack, sorry again, SRK! I love you as an actor very much, but it's true). After a 4-year hiatus from acting Kajol returned to the silver screen with this movie, reminding us why we thought of her as one of the best actresses of her generation. She was simply mesmerising and in her element for this movie. There is no one like her. So it was only natural that she won Best Actress at the Filmfare awards. And I've just got to mention the boy who played their son, he was so adorable! Managed to make me sigh wistfully a few times...

Well, anyway, moving on..

The songs were beautiful, one of the best collaboration by the Jatin-Lalit pair, with Prasoon Joshi as the lyricist. My favourite is 'Chand Sifarish', sung by Rehan (Aamir Khan) to the blind Zooni (Kajol) in the movie. I loved the intro music in particular, reminded me a little bit of A.R. Rahman's song in the movie Swades (which was also awesome, by the way).

While watching the movie my focus was mainly on the love story, not so much on the ter*rorism bit, although it was a bit unsettling the fact that they showed KLIA as a place of transit for Aamir Khan en route to Bangkok for one of his 'missions', showing the MAS crew at the check-in counter a Malaysian passport, no less! Just an issue I have with regards to the movie. Anyway, moving on again..

The ending of the movie wasn't the typical ending of Bollywood movies. With a movie title meaning 'destruction', what would you expect? Still, it was one of the few movies that moved me, can't remember how long it's been since it last happened. Definitely worth a watch for anyone who has an afternoon to spare.

So, you might wonder, what's with the title of this entry? It's the first line to the song 'Chand Sifarish'. The video is posted below. Enjoy!




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Addendum : The subtitles for the songs in the video sounded somewhat suggestive, I'm sure the real meaning was lost in translation. I found a better one (which I prefer)

Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Lord be praised!

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Zid Hai Ab To Khudh Ko Mitaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Now I'm determined to obliterate myself and get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Teri Ada Bhi Hai Jhonke Wali Chu Ke Guzar Jaane De
Your charm is like a breeze which touches me and passes

Teri Lachak Hai Ke Jaise Daali Dil Mein Uthar Jaane De
You're as supple as a young branch, which moves me no end

Aaja Baahon Mein Kar Ke Bahaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Find some reason to come into my arms, let me get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Lord be praised!

Hai Jo Iraade Bataa Doon Tumko Sharma Hi Jaaogi Tum
If I tell you my intentions it'll make you bashful

Dhadkanein Jo Suna Doon Tumko Gabrah Hi Jaaogi Tum
if I let you hear my hearbeats it'll scare you (with it's intensity)

Humko Aata Nahin Hai Chupaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
I can't hide my feelings, let me get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Zid Hai Ab To Khudh Ko Mitaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Now I'm determined to obliterate myself and get destroyed (in your love)