Archive | PermalinkFrom Thirteen Years Ago

Sometimes rummaging through your old stuff that you haven't touched for years can surprise you in a good way. Yesterday, upon cleaning house I stumbled across three artwork of mine which I made back in 1993, several thousand years before my first foray into the digital medium.

Click on the titles to view them in their entirety on deviantArt.

An Armoured Sith Lord

Starfleet Officers

Dr. Jones

Keywords: artwork,indiana_jones,star_wars

Archive | PermalinkAfter That We Took Some Pictures

A belated Eid Mubarak from Ain's kampung at Pondok Lubok Tapah, Pasir Mas. We spent a week here, and had plenty of good food to eat. The morning of Aidilfitri, Tok Ma made Nasi Dagang - Terengganu Style - but there are no pictures of that. The second day, Ain made Laksa Johor and there are no pictures of that either.

For most of the rest of the week we didn't travel out much because of the horrific traffic jams which were practically everywere. We didn't even go to Kota Bharu, which didn't mean we didn't try.

Keywords: balik_kampung,hari_raya,irfan

Archive | PermalinkIn a galaxy far, far away... Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak and Selamat Hari Raya to everyone! This year, for the first time, Mak and Abah came to spend raya with us, so we had a nice quiet celebration, just the 4 of us. We had the raya breakfast of pulut (glutinous rice), rendang ayam (chicken rendang) and sambal tumis daging (beef sambal) but took no pictures of the food as we were too busy chowing down the morning of the 1st of Shawwal.

After the food, we then all got dressed in our Raya finery, took a bunch of pictures and then did the ritual salam-salam and asking of forgiveness of each other, as is tradition for a Malaysian Eid. Take a look of the pictures of Mak and Abah with us for the first time during Raya, and because it was quite cold outside and our Malaysian thin cotton materials, we only took pictures indoors.

Keywords: around_the_house,hari_raya

Archive | PermalinkAnd Now For A Word... Or Four

Today is the last day of Ramadhan and tomorrow is Aidilfilti.

We’ve just had our last sahur for the year and now the sun is slowly rising in the cool morning air of Irfan’s Tok Bah’s house here in the outskirts of Pasir Mas. We arrived here at noon yesterday, commandeering Irfan’s Atok’s car which he left with us before flying off to Ohio earlier this week. As you can see they’re having lots of fun (and awesome food) in the previous post.

Keywords: balik_kampung,hari_raya,linux,ramadhan

Archive | PermalinkIn a galaxy far, far away... Part I

After Yope, Yong, Emma, Irfan, Wan Ngah and Aji sent Abah and Mak to KLIA, they embarked on a long, arduous journey where finally they landed in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.

Unfortunately, they arrived on a rainy night and due to traffic issues in the rain, Vin and I did not arrive at the airport right on time. Abah and Mak were waiting outside the terminal, and Abah was cold, so after a quick salam and kiss kiss, everyone piled into the car and we came home for dinner.

Keywords: around_the_house,food,vacation

Archive | PermalinkOn To The Far Side Of The Planet

Tok and Opah Irfan boarded the flight that would take them to Singapore, then hopskip to Tokyo, Chicago and finally Cincinnati where Ayah Cik and Cik Dik would be waiting to bring them to their house in Middletown, OH for a month at the United States. This would be their second time in the US.

To prevent being late for the flight because of breaking of fast, we left after 6 PM from the Tenth Floor, headed for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which is strangely enough a million light years away from KL, but maybe that's a subject for another entry.

We broke sawm driving through Putrajaya and ate dinner after Mahgrib prayers at the Dengkil R&R on the PLUS Highway. And no, I didn't need to pick my teeth en route.

Anyway... pictures, as they say, are worth a thousand words:

Keywords: irfan,travel,vacation

Archive | PermalinkHair!

OK, so I didn't actually go see the musical Hair while I was in New York City on Saturday, but here's some news on hair:

I cut mine!!

Keywords: around_the_house

Archive | PermalinkIrfan at Centrepoint

Centrepoint Bandar Utama, that is. While waiting for his mother to finish work, Irfan took the time doing his usual thing, running about amongst the greenery and going up and down the escalators. I thought I'd put the camera phone to good use.

One thing I'll say for Centrepoint's garden is it's really well kept. Shame about the crap people throw into the koi pond, though.

Keywords: irfan,kuala_lumpur

Archive | PermalinkThe Sixth Year

It's been six years since Ain & I were married. More than 10 years since we first met.

Overall it's been a great six years. It wasn't a perfect six years. It's been one hell of a rollercoaster for this and that reasons. But I'm still in love with her as much as the days before we were married, and I feel some measure of pride over the life we've built. For that I am very grateful to the Almighty for His joys, including the one known as Irfan Shafiq.

There is probably many more years of riding this rollercoaster, but I hope we've learnt much and matured enough to allow us to determine what's important in life, endure the ride and make the right decisions.

Keywords: anniversary

Archive | PermalinkGiant Purple Dinosaur? Not Really

In the Jann Tosh / Mon Julpa story arc of the Droids series the heroes encounter a 3-metre tall monster called a durkii in a dungeon pit, not surprising since the durkii was apparently a pet of the evil Tammuz-an vizier Zatec-Cha.

It was large, purple and had an unpleasant demeanour, but had no stats.

I hope this entry rectifies that oversight. At least in D6 terms.

Keywords: rpg,star_wars,tv

Archive | PermalinkMeanwhile on Taris...

I've never played Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) computer game before, where I've read Taris was first featured.

However, when I heard Dark Horse Comics would be producing the Knights of the Old Republic series on four-colour print, I was dubious. Reading through the first story arc of the series written by John Jackson Miller entitled "Commencement", I discovered that in terms of numerous minute elements in the story, this series has the most Original Trilogy Star Wars flavour in comics.

The story is simple, a young Padawan Zayne Carrick, part of the Jedi Academy on the city world Taris in the Outer Rim, isn't the best of Padawans. In fact he's been screwing up task after task on one assignment: to capture small time Snivvian black marketeer Marn Heirogryph, who believes Zayne has the ability to leave behind wreckage strewn after him.

Unfortunately for Zayne and his fellow Padawans, a conspiracy would transform their regular lives as apprentices into a living hell. Zayne is framed for multiple murder and is forced to team up with Heirogryph to flee Taris authorities.

More shocking than the reason why he was framed... was who it was that framed him.

Keywords: comics,star_wars

Archive | PermalinkSoups

I don't know what it is about Ramadan, but fasting makes me think about food. My last entry was about bread. What goes well with bread? Soups, of course! Toast up a little bread and dip it in hot soup, like little croutons. Mm mmm. Some soups even begin with stale leftover bread. Like this Gazpacho Andaluz.

Keywords: bread,food

Archive | PermalinkBlue Harvest

I'm a bit late for last month's SWAG Theme Art Contest, entitled "Blue Harvest".

The subject matter alludes to the working title for the movie Return of the Jedi during its filming, to throw rabid Star Wars fans off its trail. It's also the name of a fanzine in the early 90s, which I contributed some art and writing to.

So what's blue and likely to be harvested in the Star Wars universe?

To view a bigger image, check out its entry at deviantArt.

Keywords: artwork,star_wars,swag

Archive | PermalinkFrack! Is Today Friday?

Cause if it is, it's time to get back home to the starboard landing bay. It's time to find out what happens to people left with the rag tag fugitive fleet and on the Cylon-occupied New Caprica. The last ten minutes of the previous season's finale was quality mindfrack.

Because of the total tangency to the status quo last episode, I can see this being the best season premiere or the worst season premiere ever.

The odds are certainly against it sucking.

So say we all.

Keywords: battlestar_galactica,tv

Archive | PermalinkMore Fodder For My Viewing List

Archive | PermalinkInto the Second Week of Ramadhan

It's now the second week of Ramadhan.

If anyone asks (and you'd know the answer to this if you've asked me) it's been more tiring than it's been hungry. The myth that you're wiped out and floored by the hunger was totally dispelled when I was fourteen and playing hockey in the mornings during fasting month. And again, when I was seventeen and whacking tennis balls against the wall after school at 3 PM in the hot sun - though I was wiped out after that.

However, this year I find out I can barely stay awake after 10 PM. I wonder if it's because of the job I'm working now. I've already missed 2 nights of Tarawih & Witir prayers. I remember less than 10 years ago completing a full month of them at the mosque, even.

And this year, for Aidilfitri, Tok & Opah Irfan will be in Ohio spending time with Sila & Vin. It wouldn't be a stretch to expect some pictures of them with Irfan's Ayah Cik and Cik Dik on this weblog in the next couple of months.

Happy Ramadhan, everybody.

Keywords: hari_raya,ramadhan