third weekend and an update. oh what a title

I find my older posts (read: last year) as vividly interesting. Yeah call me vain or self-indulging or whatever, but I think that even though most of it are necessarily crappy, they seem to having some 'touch' in every post, and sadly, I kind of lost the 'touch' nowadays.

Never mind that. Browse through the archives if you want to, not everything that was available here once can be viewed because some of them has been turned into drafts.

Well now a blunt update of myself, ngeheh. I'm back for the sake of I'm bored, that's the main point, plus minus. Then I'd like to finish up my ICT assignment here on my very own, complete, personal, easy (...) PC. I mean, seriously I can't do an assignment that needs me to produce a brochure and a poster using a PC with Windows 98, very slow internet connection and has no USB connections whatsoever. And since when do people make posters using Word? Am I missing something during the last century?

I have no classes from Thursday to Sunday for every week until the end of the semester. That means four free days for now, but we're expected to face the real terrain of being in the course, so in other words, assignments and more assignments are waiting in our way. Mondays are packed with English, Economics and Physics, Tuesdays are packed with six hours of Architecture Communications, which then continued with two hours of Arabic. Wednesdays are filled with English, ICT and Kesatria Kembara. We just started anyway, so I can't say much.

I just got back from plundering OU & Ikea for stuffs (hehe). I'm out of collared shirts, you see, and my tie was ruined, so I got these shirts and that tie from Kedai Baju Cap X & Cap Z at Ou. (sale! sale! wuhu) Then we headed to Ikea for organisers. Tried to find some Archi books Shiela recommended me to buy, but they were out of stock :( .

welllll I'm heading somewhere tomorrow I guess. better finish up that assignment. take care you alligators!

07/07/07!

huhu! saye suke date ni sbb saye suke number tujuh. 777 - cool ah! ok I'm wasting spaces here. Anyway happy 17th birthday to Illya ok! huhu work hard for SPM, chewah. and...........happy advanced birthday to Najmi (8/7), Haziq & Ilah (15/7), Mad & Ghazi....semua lah. haha. ramai gak birthday July. blanje blanje la makan...

the first week!

rentetan kehidupan seorang yeop di bandar gurun Seri Iskandar selama seminggu. ate paneh bebenorr nye tak tahan betui teman!! (translates loosely to "I can't stand it, it's f**king hot man!!)

Hello, I'm back. haha, what a typical return message. but well that's it, I'm home after a tiring one week at my campus back in Seri Iskandar! One thing that we all took note - the place is BLAZING hot! Orientation sucks, as expected, so fine with that. Qayum joined my ride home (with Ayah driving). I think it's a little bit to early to try taking the bus home, because we just want to get home for a short while, and we're a bit blur about the whole bus-riding thing, but the main idea is to get a bus from Seri Iskandar all the way up to Ipoh (approx 30 min ride), then from Ipoh we'll take a bus to KL or Shah Alam, and of course a direct bus to Section 17 is preferable.

But hey ho, either way everything is settled down! Apart from the disastrous climate, everything is well beyond OK, considering that it is a UiTM branch. I think we have the second-largest Niners community kot, after Shah Alam. orang Shah Alam pun ramai, so going back should not be a problem lah kan, haha. 2 out of 3 of my roommates are from Shah Alam - Syith is from BJ, Ijai is from Section 7, with Amir from Sekinchan. Afiq and Michi lives just next door, and for those who don't get the picture these guys are my Section 9 neighbours. Hanila and Yusra lives in the Siswi area, OBVIOUSLY. together with Afiqah, Jijah and Fatihah. Qayum switches from the Teratai block to Dahlia 2, which is nearer to mine, just because his former roommates at Teratai are uncool (kind of true, through my experience) and his former room is at the furthest corner of the highest floor. His new roommate got a PSP and an iPod. well.

Either way Abang Alel & Kakak Ati are at the UTP nearby, with Izwan and many others studying there also, so simply if I have problems going back during any cuti...it would be freaking weird.

My jiran depan got two desktops placed in their room, quite considerable because they're taking Computer Science (but still..wtf? I'm expecting a WiFi connection). All of my roommates are taking Architecture, so senang. the good thing about our program is it is classified as Ijazah (well it is) so at times we get some privileges the Diploma students don't, like not having to attend the Program Pembangunan Pelajar for the last two days (tido!!) ..early registration etc etc. haha. but our course is longer of course, three years in Seri Iskandar and another one year in Shah Alam..ngeh. ;|

and..what else eh? erm the rules are quite rigid lah (as expected)..but sorry..tiada huraian di sini haha. I just hate tucking my shirts in while wearing jeans, that's all (reminds me of PLKN rules)..it's just disastrous man.

A very complete convenience store is situated right below my room at the ground floor. I got the first floor, and very near to the stairs and the bathrooms. The dewan makan is situated a few walks nearby. Faculty je jauh sikit, standard lah tu tapi on a very hot day (which is, kind of everyday) I expect it to be bloody torturous! (especially on Mondays where we're expected to wear necktie).

Kalau nak keluar, by walking distance there is Seri Iskandar je, with a good amount of shops lah. All UiTM and UTP students go there to get their stuffs, they say you can tell the differences between two...I think the most obvious is we walk and UTP students drive....sooo sad. haha. Driving in campus vicinity for students is only legal when you reach 5th semester kot, tu pun with many limitations lah.

I'm kind of hoping for Abang Alel to fetch me there to watch Harry Potter at Ipoh Parade (-__-"). haha come on, desperate plak! well either way the place is fine lah....quite cool (definitely not literally)..though I'm hoping that if I could spend my time there for a time lesser than three years? haha.

Still hesitating on bringing my laptop....looking forward for the classes to commence! (but NOT the induction programme...dah dengar rumors yg it will be scary...haih when will these seniors had enough). so for the weekend I'm topping up some stuffs..haha. nak beli lagi banyak baju collared... huhu. cheers! :D

p/s: ramai nak mampus budak name Syukri....x leh terima langsung haha. I know my name is quite a common name lah, but it has never been this common doh. haha. bencii

my update before entering university ;o

away (again!!)

OK...I don't know what the hell has happened to the blog's so-called update, really...hahaha. sorry for letting things go into this..I don't know....turmoil? I should be punished for not updating on certain 'important' things..well...for now kena postpone dulu la the punishment, if available.

I'm proud to announce that the great holiday has ended....aww so sad is it? haha I'm kind of sad..SO MUCH MEMORIES MAN! for the last 7 months...life has never been so lively! I got my stupid times, the bad times, the happiest of the happiest times, the greatest moments, the lousiest moments...everything lah! I mean, it was bloody great!!! I met all kinds of people...............with so various and unpredictable perangai..weird behavior and such...and of course, I made new friends!! things have never been so good :)

I loved it all - the crazy stuffs we did (which will be too long to be listed, and 'we' stands for random groups of friends), outings...out of our heads...from the days of KTMs and LRTs to parking our cars in the shopping malls itself...the lavish gatherings, parties, bbqs......the UBER CRAZY vacationsss.......the train ride to Langkawi with silly kids, Zurich and Adelaide with family.......Istanbul with AB's family...........it's been greaaaaat!!! of course, PLKN at Sabah ...........with the freaky people....weird stuffs to do...new things explored...bloody awesome!

Well I did a lot, quite literally. Half of them are beneficial, well half of them, I think not. Not exactly half lah, but they're quite balanced. I was given the opportunity to not having my after SPM holidays by just sitting at home everyday and being lifeless, but explore the world, from the outside my houses' gates to across the open seas........the holiday is something to be cherished lah. :)

So right nowww......my packing is like 95% done kot...hmm...quite anxious and curious about tomorrow. fine I'm worried a lil bit. but I don't have the really, really great sorrowness like I did when I was to leave for PLKN dulu lah, that one was gila tension plak. haha.

I'll be doing my Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains (Senibina)............ermm translates loosely to Bachelor Science in Architecture..comment me if I'm wrong, but it is NOT and DIFFERENT from Bachelor of Architecture..gile ape amek degree terus..heheh. I'm not doing a diploma. I'm placed in UiTM Seri Iskandar campus....it's near UTP (sedih gile, kne gune landmark U lain), not exactly in Tronoh...it's near to Bota somehow..but as far as I know (I always go down to Bota from Ipoh for Raya visits)..the location is OK lah.. and yes, Seri Iskandar's in Perak.

that's all I guess....sorry for the messy writing and update...haha sumpah nmpk cam blog picisan.. just informing. I'm deeply sorry for not updating pictures, words, and replying your messages here. this blog will run as far as it could run.....that means it will have updates lah, but in what way I don't know...OK...haha. erm well that's about it then......for those continuing studies....let us strive hard........be good...and ALL THE BEST FOR US! :)

and thank you, thank you to everyone...whom since last December 8 coloured my life for good. it's been absolutely brilliant...........I'll miss it! :)

Syukrishairi
Shah Alam Kuala Lumpur Petaling Jaya
Langkawi/Perlis Adelaide Zurich Kota Kinabalu/Papar Istanbul
December 8 2006 - June 30, 2007! :)

the final tahiyat

between the shadows of massive pillars,
at the corner of a mammoth space,
lush carpets spread like grasses trimmed,
glistening chandeliers drop from unreachable ceilings,
under the dome as high as the sky,
tasbih beads move slowly,
as faint as the sorrow air,
a tongue twisted with a language foreign to ears,
but sips smoothly in hearts.

though the stained glasses,
lofty tiles, and stairs tall,
outnumbered
the al-Fatihahs uttered,
and the takbirs raised,
the salams given,

it doesn't matter,
as long as he has his tasbih,
a sajadah worn out,
a kopiah he got from Medina,
and a little green Qur'an tacked safely.

and at the corner of a mammoth space,
he waits for the muezzin he knew,
to hear a voice familiar,
to resonate through the chills of empty halls,
empty spaces to be occupied,
empty hearts to be purified.

the tasbih beads paused,

he steps to a saf familiar
with breezes of the last wuduk,
soft mists flew as he fixes his kopiah,
old eyes look down,
wrinkled hands locked.

his flat forehead touches the ground,
his body reflects no sound.
to what he believe, but he visually didn't found,
but it doesn't matter,
as, as long as he believes,
and as the tasbih beads move,
the God he knows,
is always around.

and at the corner of a massive place,
he sits down, slanted,
testimonies said,
forefinger raised,
finishing what is final,
what is left to a life breathed,
and to a world full of greed.

fil alamina innaka hamidum majid.

the final tahiyat,
the last salam.

PLKN, the camp.

A scratch of where I spent most of my time for some 64 days of my life.

The camp was one of the first Khidmat Negara camps to operate in Sabah during the earliest days of PLKN. Situated on the banks of Sungai Papar, the camp distinguished itself from other PLKN camps by having the notable hanging bridge stretching over the river, being the only connecting way the camp has to the other side of the river. The Crocker Range is located at the eastern side of the camp, though they only consist hills and the lower grounds of the range. The camp is relatively remote, though well connected by roads and is very near to the local settlements.

The camp is a good 45-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu and 15 minutes from the town of Papar, where one would exit the main road for another 7.5 kilometers inland using the relatively well-paved Jalan Manggis-Kaiduan-Tampasak, before reaching Kg. Ovai; where the road is no longer paved, and one could make a right turn to a smaller road, greeted by local vegetable farms at the left and right side of the road before the view of the camp appeared slowly at the opposite side of the river.

At this point, one could be certain that they've reached Kem Wawasan.

As of May, 2007;

The camp Commandant (Kem Komandan), Deputy Commandant of Administration (Timbalan Komandan Pengurusan, TKL) and Deputy Commandant of Training (Timbalan Komandan Latihan, TKL) are from the Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia, TLDM). These officials must be addressed as tuan.

Location: Kg. Ovai, Papar, Sabah. Kota Kinabalu is a two and a half hours away from Kuala Lumpur by flight. All Malaysia Airlines flights land at KKIA's main terminal (which is currently under renovation) while all Air Asia flights land at the newer KKIA Terminal 2.

Weather: Cool mornings, occasional fogs, extremely hot at noon. Temperatures are not low at night, though it can be really briskly during early mornings. Bright sunshine and cloudless skies are the usual - not desirable during marching (kawad kaki) sessions. Sunrise and sunsets are usually admirable. It will usually rain in the evenings, but at many times there will be no thunderstorms at all. At all times downpours are short, you can actually wait for them to stop if an activity is conducted, but this is not guaranteed at all. Laundry can go wet for days if the sunshine is not out, so prepare for hard times caused by the weather. Like elsewhere in our tropical country, it is extremely humid.

Phone coverage:
Celcom *** Good at many spots in the camp, the best to be used. Prepare a Celcom number if you're visiting or attending, or else it would be problematic for most of the time. Best received in the higher grounds, i.e the Padang Kawad, areas around the office and Dewan Makan.
Maxis * Poor, only at certain places.
Digi None at all.
Two phone booths near the Dewan Makan using phone cards (TM's Kadfon) which can be bought at the Convenience Store, phones and fax services use wireless form of transmission.

Water: Moderate, water sources are of natural ones. Often, there is no water after a heavy downpour, due to natural causes of the river's water level. Though doubtful to hear for the first time, the cleanliness level of the water is acceptable, though sometimes there would be river sediments (soil, etc) that would make clothes, white ones especially, look dirty. Be well prepared for constant lack of water supplies, especially in toilets. A number of water coolers are situated at the Dewan Makan.

Electricity: Moderately-sufficient, the main source of the electricity is provided by a generator at the centre of the camp, should a blackout happened outside especially after a heavy downpour, the camp would still function albeit scarce amount of electricity. On a very hot day the generator would probably break down, so prepare for some very unbearable afternoons. There will be no phone coverage if there is no electricity - in other words, the camp would be virtually disconnected from the outside world.

Internet: There is one at the commandant's residence, though it would be probably some sort of a dial-up connection. Of course, access is restricted.

Food: Moderate. There are 6 meals for a day, without fail. Breakfast is at 7 am after Physical Training, with brunch at 10 am. Lunch is at 12 noon. Tea will be served after Physical activities at 4 to 4.30pm, while dinner is at 7 pm. Before roll call, supper is to be served at 10pm. Vegetarian meal is served upon request. Overall, the allocation for meals per day is RM 22 per trainee.

Rules: Relatively lenient. The rules imposed at the camp is often said one of the most lenient of all PLKN camps, though gender segregation still applies in many activities. Most rules are similar to PLKN camps throughout the country. All wira and wirawati are subject to the KKJ, Kontrak Kita Janji, a form of disciplinary oath every company (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta) makes and presents at the beginning of the training course. Basically if a trainee breaks a rule, it also means that they are breaking their own-made promises, thus the trainers (Jurulatih, to be called cikgu) will react to this by seeing it as a promise-breaking, which will lead to any respective punishment.

Disciplinary actions are of moderate ones, with occasional checkups done from rooms to rooms in the morning during classes are conducted. Every Sunday is an off-day. First and third Sundays are visiting days. Trainees can go out from the camp upon strong reasons during weekends, though this depends on the commandant's consent. Holidays will be announced and ruled out through the commandant by Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara, some holidays apply to all, while some applies to particular ethnics and those celebrating. The rule applies that the wake up time is 4.30 am in the morning, and by 10.30 pm all activity ends, and as of 11.30 pm all lights in the mess are supposed to be turned off.

Wednesdays and Saturdays are allocated for the Community Service Module (Modul Khidmat Komuniti), which commences as soon as the Character Building Module (Modul Pembinaan Karakter) ends, and the Nation Building Module (Modul Kenegaraan) begins.

Religious obligations: As religious issues are highly sensitive, careful precautions have been taken that everybody's religious needs is well taken care of. Basically religious adherence are up to an individual's options, though congregational prayer times are best observed. Friday noons are allocated for Muslim male, while Hindus are allowed to go to the respective temple in Friday evening. Some followers of certain Christian sects attend church on Saturday, while the others, especially the Catholics will go to service on Sundays, together with the Buddhists. Subuh generally starts as early as 4 am, Zuhur around 12 noon, Asar around 3 pm, Maghrib at 6 pm and Isyak at 7 pm.

Thursday and Friday nights are allocated for Spiritual Class (Kelas Kerohanian), where the Muslim class will often led by a KAGAT, an official from Armed Forces Religious Corps or Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera (to be called ustaz) or an Official for the Islamic Affairs or Pegawai Hal Ehwal Islam (PHEI). Non-Muslims will be separated to their respective religions and will be led by any respective religious associations from out of the camp. It is obligatory for Muslim trainees to attend Maghrib and Isyak congregational prayers at the Surau every night, though this is rarely observed by the majority of the trainees, which received high criticism by the ustaz and ustazah.

Miscellaneous:
The camp has its own MySpace page, and a group in Friendster.

According to a cikgu the camp is rated as a 4-star camp, which facilities could accommodate 300 to 400 trainees at one time. Currently for the third batch (kumpulan) there are only 87 trainees reporting. Separate that into 4 companies, there would be only 20 person for each company, and if the wira and wirawati are divided equal, there would be only 10 male and 10 female in one company. That's sad.

A part of the series of PLKN notes, still in completion process.

Syukrishairi.

clickr your way

there are little updates working down here at flickr...well check them out if you're bored..or hungry or feeling a little stressed out because of boredom and hunger.

update hari ini

Aus and Apit came over to my house after Isyak, all the way from Kg Melayu Subang with their motorbikes, haha. Exchanged some shocking news about the camp after I was gone, then gave them a look at some of the pictures captured during the heydays lah. Now it's my turn to pay them a visit.

I really loved the sweater I brought just now! AB & Joe suddenly turned to shopping freaks (which is kind of against their nature) so they dragged me together with AB's friend, Kari, to Bukit Raja after having our lunch at Nasi Ayam Pak Mal in Section 11 (not really a lunch for me, I had mine and just ordered ABC).

Then, it's the usual with Syafiq J at the surau for Isyak, except that I met Abduh (AB...budak ni la yg same mcm Kari tu) who also exchanged stories (it's the usual thing people do nowadays).

Teh tarik at Syed is always the best, but really the service there sucks. Happened many times - at all times - it took one of the mapley up to five minutes (that's long!) to take our order during our breakfast (Haziq, Izwan, Mad, Uzair, Edzmir - brunch for me), and if you sit at weird, isolated (relatively) places, it'll take longer before you start your waving and..anything else.

But for the sake of the delightful teh tarik, yeah you're forgiven.

I searched for a Turkish restaurant in town and found one - right down there smacked in Jalan Doraisamy in KL. Yeah, right. If it's worth it to drive all the way to have a scrumptious Firin Sutlac (rice pudding) similar to those found in, at least Beyazit, then I'm all set.

I'm really happy to be reminded (I nearly forgotten it, yes!) that I still have extra cash in Bank Pertanian, thanks to.........PLKN!! haha. hu huuu....

*lagu wira wirawati negara plays in the background*

that's it. off for now :D