Delicious Metaphor
My attempt to inspire F at living simply and being happy with what we have.
____________________________________________________________________________
From: Kautsar Abd Rahman
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:12 PM
To: F
Subject:
Cup Or Coffee?
A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.
Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones.While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.
In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you.Consciously went for the best cups… Then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this:
- Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.
- They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.
- Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!.
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”
MoralsAndEthics.Livesimply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
Your life either shines a light OR casts a shadow!
Shine a light & Enjoy the Coffee!
Sincerely,
Kautsar Abd Rahman
____________________________________________________________________________
From: F
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:20 PM
To: Kautsar Abd Rahman
Subject: RE:
Awwwwwwwwww that’s really sweet. Maybe we can have our coffee break after work with ice blended mocha @ coffee bean. And tripledecker cheesecake as well. Yumss
___________________________________________________________________________
From: Kautsar Abd Rahman
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 2:00 PM
To: F
Subject: RE:
F, takde kene mengena langsung. =_=+
____________________________________________________________________________
From: F
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 2:02 PM
To: Kautsar Abd Rahman
Subject: RE:
Well, it’s a metaphor. But if we go to Coffee Bean, we’ll get equal container. Hmmm food for thought 
____________________________________________________________________________
From: Kautsar Abd Rahman
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 2:02 PM
To: F
Subject: RE:
Metaphor fails in this case against you.
Bagan Lalang and Soul-searching
In the depth of a soul that is so layered with many filters of worldly matters, it is hard to reach the core, to bare naked and feel the true wants inside.
Sometimes, life will present to you a moment of solitude that can create a whole new perspective and you begin to feel more anchored inside.
It’s really hard to read whether one is happy or one is being melancholy. There is just a deep feeling inside that feel so held back but have succumbed to being held back.
I have accepted the 9 years ahead of me, even enjoying it. But there is something else to pursue. I am not sure of what yet, but it is there.
Bagan Lalang is the place we went to for a late-night BBQ. The last time I properly went to a beach to spend time on it, rather than by passing them on a short trip is Summer of 10 in Eastern Europe. It was a very rare feeling to bury your feet in cool soft sand and lying down to a clear, starry sky. Lying down in nature is the cure for me. A void surfaces, and new hopes emerge. There is something worth pursuing. But what?
Some people say some people will spend the rest of their life searching. Some people will find it. Some people just kind of stumble into it. Some people lived knowing it is meant to be. There is something, but I just have to keep looking.
“Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life”
“You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary”
“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”
Quotes from Steve Jobs speech at Stanford University, a person who was happy with his decisions in life.
Maxiemo Riera (Passion Makes Us Stronger)
Wickedly beautiful masterpieces by Maxiemo Riera, a genius.
The Octopus Chair. Ancient Marine Life sculptured by modernity.
The Rhino Chair.
The Walrus.
From the man’s website (which you should visit because it is ultimately inspiring)
“The Animal Chair collection constitutes a diverse range of species, from mammals to reptiles, and even including insects. Each creation retains the animal’s natural vitality whilst being totally biological accurate in their appearance. This collection is homage to these animals and the whole animal kingdom which inhabits our planet, as an attempt to reflect and capture the beauty of nature in each living thing.
Octopus Book: the Octopus Chair is the first piece of the Animal Chair collection, and it establishes a base and point of departure for the pieces to come.”
If you go to his website here, you get to see the process and how-to of this project and MORE pictures to drool at.
WOW.
A decade
The pace has calmly settled for me. Working brings in a constant rhythm, allowing me to indulge further into keeping in touch with long-lost friends. Although it usually means you rarely see the ones close to you. Weird.
The CEO of Coca-Cola, Bryan Dyson made an impactful 30-seconds speech on life.
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.
WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING OFFICE HOURS AND LEAVE ON TIME.
GIVE THE REQUIRED TIME TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND HAVE PROPER REST
Yes. This I will have to strive for. Along with keeping some cash for investments, car loan, tax-deductible receipts, making time for soul-searching which has been quietly abandoned, clearing old things to give to people, being good to people around you..wow.
Alhamdulillah, this Ramadhan, I managed to keep in touch with some friends which has been lost for a decade, physical-wise. I met up with my CBN friends, and after 10 years, THEY HAVEN’T CHANGED!!
Secondary School darlings
One of us is getting married real soon, and as if we have never been apart, Alin asked me to be the emcee at her wedding! =)
Alin who looked like 18 when she was 14, and now have gracefully grown into her own age.
They look the same!! It’s impossible!! O_O
These girls look really beautiful and sweet, but trust me, they bite =) Two years studying together in a class 10 years ago had more than reveal their true colors! Hehehe. Some of the awesomest people to have around, for sure.
And yeyeyeyeay for weddings and engagements that will come parading by, which means more catching up with old friends whom I have dearly missed =)
Here’s juggling the glass ball of friendship.
(Putri, I miss you)
Goodbye Summer
Today, my darling feera will be leaving for the UK for her medical degree, more travelling journeys, concerts, trips to markets and randomness and a whole load of other awesome things she does in London. It was awkward saying goodbye, but we managed to muster through it somehow. Will be weird since I’ve been frequenting her house so often since she came back, her room technically my weekend get-away place, to just lie around and read her amazing collection of books, with good music in the background.
In Thun, Switzerland.
It feels like Summer is over, even though it never begun. Always nice to know she’s around, a phone call away, some 20 minutes drive off. And always up for anything, for AM skate park, hanging out, go to events and such. She’s also got an excellent taste in music, and DIY-ed few CDs for me, custom made to series of “Riding Pleasures” and my car is the envy of KL for the music it boasts (yes, really, and it’s pink too).
“I’m tired of the city, let’s go back to the Mountains”
So, here’s an all the best wishes for her. We’ve exhausted every single way to say so. Even came to the point of saying “keep in touch” which sounded really weird and just ended it with a hug.
Train in Switzerland
So, farewell, good bye, till the time you fly by again, my love. Sucks that you have to leave, but meh, you do what you got to do, and I be here. Till then.
Mum on Mission
This was written on 4th of April 2011.
It feels funny working in front of my computer, having had lunch at Jalan Duta, when my mother just departed for Padang, Indonesia this morning.
Last night I helped her pack. I filled a backpacker’s bag of 30L with her clothes and stuff. She’s going to Mentawai Island from Padang, and that’s 12 hours on a boat in the middle of Indonesian sea, famous for tsunamis on a mission to save an orphan. As I pack her bag with daily contact lenses (she refuse to wear glasses even on a mission), lip color (she bravely puts aside her makeup bag) and CHEWY food bars, she complained of sore throat and gray hair.
So I dyed her hair which she insisted must be done, and watched her try lifting the heavy backpack. She looks like a young missionary, in her kaftan, hair wet with dye, glasses and kain pelikat around her shoulder to prevent the dye from staining her kaftan. As I watch her, I can’t help admiring at how really youthful she looks, all geared up for an adventure.
It’s a wonder how she can brave through all this but still merajuk with me when I don’t sleep with her at nights when my dad is away. I mean, she’s going to Mentawai on a boat that is probably not on par with your average safety standard for 12-hours, with her new crocs sandal for her to walk in flood mud and water (her croc is sling-back sandal, beige in color to match her new adventure cargo pants with diamante at the strap). Heck, she’s also been to the border of Gaza!
“Do you think I should wear these t-shirts or cotton tops?”
“Cotton tops, it’s going to be so hot”
“The flower embroideries wouldn’t look too much on the island?”
“You will wear your scarves, so no one will notice it anyway”
“Okay, then I have to iron it.”
“But it’s not even berkedut and it will berkedut again anyway”
“Eh, kenelah gosok. Nanti orang cakap apa!”
*silent protest at people even noticing the tiny wrinkles on her tops*
A moment later-
“Make sure you pack the electric blue tudung, and not the black ones. I don’t want to look somber”
“You’re on a mission”
“Well ye lah, but I want to look a bit colorful, at least”
“Okay- shall I unpack your practical black t-shirts and pack the pink ones instead?”
“Actually, that’s a good idea. Yes”
Oh emakku.
“Oh, make sure you don’t pack my normal wide-legged pants. Pack the cargo ones, I don’t want the lembik pants. They won’t stand in the flood water”
“Cargo pants??” *holding up a brown-colored trousers*
“Yes, my first cargo pants” *proud smile*
(–_________– )“
And with that, she went. Because Mentawai is 12-hours away from Padang, she would have to stay on Mentawai Island for a week before the boat comes again for Padang. Here’s praying everything is smooth for her journey, and that she can carry out her mission safely. Amin.
Baju Raya
Yeyeyeyeyeyeeyeyeyeyyyy!!
Dah beli baju raya 
Life has been pretty busy lately, with work going on till the PM, and weekends (and early AM) filled with taking care of Hana, my baby niece. Been saving a bit of cash for a nice baju raya, something fabulous enough to be worn to weddings, formal events etc, to basically wear for the rest of the coming years. Raya is such a good excuse
I knew I wanted a kaftan. But the kaftans they sell in shops and bazaars, especially at places like Empire Gallery and The Curve are EXTREMELY overpriced, you feel quite ridiculed. I mean, I understand the authenticity of the tailor’s creativity and cutting and all that, but hard-earned cold cash on a flowing kaftan with tiny bit of lace on the neckline can bomb you out a cool RM700+.
There was a baju kurung, made out of cotton viscose, with lace details on its hem of sleeves, and it was RM680+ 
Cutting was awesome though. It looked as if they clipped the baju kurung behind the mannequin’s body to make it look fitted but it is actually the sewing. If I could afford it, I actually would splurge. But wow, almost RM700 for a cotton baju kurung. Wow.
There were plans to go check out kaftans at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Subang Parade, but never really got the time or energy to go.
And then, there’s Fashion Valet.
Those who frequent the website would understand the high-blood pressure inducing moments when new items are published and suddenly the website won’t load because traffic got so jammed that, one moment, you see something you like, and the next, a dreaded red SOLD OUT flashed on the screen.
You have to have good internet service, quick decision making prowess, and to be super efficient, login your details before the new items come in. So you can immediately chop your favourite things and check out!
Here are some of my favourite things for Raya, a wish list.
Nurita Harith Gold Sequin Kaftan
Okay, pengsan. Terlalu hot. Next.
Shana Satin Kaftan
This is really fabulous because it’s made out of satin so you don’t have to wear an inner!
Shana Chiffon Kaftan
A personal favourite. Absolutely love the rich color, flowy cut and the heavy lacework. Sold out, heart attack.
Manique Jubah
My ibu’s favourite. I like it too.
Radzuan Radziwill
This week, FV introduced RR’s raya collection. This one is extremely stylish. Could only admire, but know I’d never dare pull this one off. Bravo to those who will.
When they made the announcement, I was not that excited because I expected the price to be sky-high anyway. I was interested to see the collection though. Plus,I dare not access FB from work thus I didn’t know what time FV would be updated with the new RR’s collection. I thought I might as well browse through them at night and check out sold-out pretty kaftans for inspirations.
So imagine my happiness at the sheer stroke of luck when I tried to open FV in between meetings and waiting for some papers to be printed and discovered that the page looked fresh and everything still available! I have stumbled into the website when it was just freshly updated and have luckily striked jackpot!
*Quickly rambang mata through the site*
I saw something I really like, quickly opened few pages of things to filter through (and didn’t scroll till the end, so I missed out on Shana’s kaftans. Cis), logged in, hoping the page load faster, and made a decision.
*Okay, printer still printing, still got a bit of time before I have to go back inside the meeting room*
Just one more click to put the item into the basket and it’ll be MINE.
“Kautsar”
O_0!!
Boss walked towards me.
“You know the things we talked about just now…”
“..y…yes”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! MY PPPRRRRREEECIOUS!!!!
Eyes shifting towards the screen. JUST ONE MORE CLICK!!
“Should we discuss them now?”
“..Sure!” *bye kaftan*
.
.
SOB
.
.
Then, something lucky happened.
Someone called for Boss to ask something.
*Boss turned around*
IN A LIGHTNING-SWIFT MOVEMENT LIKE A BOLT OF THUNDER—I clicked to check out.
*Boss turned back to me*
“Yes, Boss, let’s go discuss them now!!!” *beams*
The world seemed brighter *drama betul*
Walked on cloud nine while smiling to myself silly. Worked the next 7 hours till 10.30pm happily. Went down at Basement 4 at that time of the night feeling high.
A Radzuan Radziwill at a price so reasonable, Alhamdulillah!
Ramadhan 2011
When Ramadhan came to grace the World once more, it felt like Heaven opened its door, and blessings are abundant, making hearts feel lighted and a warm feeling glowing within. Promises are dedicated to be a better person, to try one’s best, to be the best version ever desired, in this one month where darkness is shackled and the battle is entirely with one’s own desire.
Like a kindling fire, on a candle’s wisp, it can be strengthened with protection from winds that threatened to turn it into grey smoke that carries empty promises into thin air. Or, it can flick, one moment lighted, another gone for a second, grasping and gasping, trying to stay lighted.
Solah is the pillars of Islam, of one’s self. A good quality pillar will last for eternity. A rushed job could crumble within a ruler’s lifetime. The fight seems always to be against time. To rush for work, to rush before the next athan begins. Solah feels cheap. It feels like a movement. It has no soul.
It is for this that I made a pledge for Ramadhan. To strive for a better solah, especially the 5 prayers. To make it count, to embody it physically and spiritually. On time. To make it a habit even after Ramadhan. To build pillars that will stand, in this World, and next. InsyaAllah.
Here’s wishing all the best with your strive for Ramadhan 
(no title)
There are things in life that really lifts you up, even when you’re brain fried after work. Oh, work. It’s been almost 10 months, and it’s a tensed love relationship. Love the work and all that but it can be so intense that it makes me numb in the face, in the mind and in the brain. Zombified. I go home and sleep and need dentist appointment and liposuction.
But, weddings are aplenty, friends are the ultimate, love all around, all is good.
When the world is dark, and the only lights are solid firm affirmation from people you love
The one I would like to grow old with happily ever after.
They say perfect partners look alike. She found hers.
Sally’s pre-wedding musical.
Primary school dudes.
The bundle of joy of love.