[Roadtrip] Where East Meets West
January 5, 2015
Alhamdulillah :)
Finally, after about a week of travelling by car, we safely arrived home! Yeah, it was a road trip, and literally we were in car most of times. ;) The car itself was like our house; it was the kitchen to prepare food and eat; it was the bedroom to sleep. Not to forget, our favorite pit-stops; the petrol stations T_T
Guess where we went?
It is the place where the east meets the west! :D
You are correct!
Istanbul, Turkey.
It was kind of a sudden plan for the winter break; despite of going by plane with expensive tickets, we tried to look for alternative way to travel. So, here we go; by car.
Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Bratislava, Slovakia
Budapest, Hungary
Bucharest, Romania
Sofia, Bulgaria
Istanbul, Turkey.
Overall, the journey was safe and we encountered so many new experiences. Will share about it soon, insyAllah.
Say, [O Muhammad], "Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah , over all things, is competent." Al-Ankabut 29;20
Observe and think :)
Assalamualaikum.
v Khaulah,
150105
Segmen Bloglist 2015 By SITI YANG MENAIP
December 29, 2014
Looking for 30 blogs to put in her blog lists in three categories :) There is one list until the end of 2015, another one till May 2015, and the last one till March 2015.
1. Follow this blog :)
2. Create a blog post with the title "Segmen Bloglist 2015 By SITI YANG MENAIP", then attach the banner and back link it to the segment entry. :)
3. Leave the link to at the segment entry
4. Feel free to follow here in Instagram - SITIRORO.
All bloggers will be selected by random.org.
And the segments will end on 30th December 2014 (it will be tomorrow!)
CLICK THE BANNER TO JOIN!
Let's join, guys! Keep supporting the bloggers! :D
v Khaulah,
141229
Looking at the sky is my favourite thing to do. Aimlessly; at the same time, thinking.
Thinking about life. And also 'life' after life.
Like, self reflection.
I did a lot, I guess, basically in 2014. I hope I've changed to a better person with better personalities, after all the things happened in this year.
2014.
A tough year.
Full of tears, but still there is always happiness somewhere in between.
Well, Allah has said so in Quran, in surah Ash-Sharh (94), verse 5 and 6.
So, let me share my collections of sky in 2014 :)
Thinking about life. And also 'life' after life.
Like, self reflection.
I did a lot, I guess, basically in 2014. I hope I've changed to a better person with better personalities, after all the things happened in this year.
2014.
A tough year.
Full of tears, but still there is always happiness somewhere in between.
Well, Allah has said so in Quran, in surah Ash-Sharh (94), verse 5 and 6.
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
So, let me share my collections of sky in 2014 :)
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| 7/1/14 - Beautiful sunset | Palachova Hostel, Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 19/1/14 - My first road trip | Hradec Kralove - Prague, Czech |
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| 26/1/14 - Let free of myself from books | Olomouc, Czech |
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| 1/2/14 - Spent time at the mosque | Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 16/2/14 - Gloomy day | Warsaw, Poland |
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| 16/2/14 - Weekend escape before start of new semester. | Warsaw, Poland |
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| 27/2/14 - Day trip | Pardubice, Czech |
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| 27/2/14 - Reflection of sunset | Pardubice, Czech |
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| 1/3/14 - I can't recall this T_T | Orlice river, Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 10/3/14 - The park in front of Ad-Deen, I guess T_T | Zizkovy sady, Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 14/3/14 - I was so distracted with the missing flight MH370. May Allah blessed all of them involved. | Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 20/3/14 - Going for class in the hospital. The building up there is the emergency department. The red thing on top of it is heliport - used to land helicopter, taking critical patients from countryside. | Fakultni Nemocnice, Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 20/3/14 - Going back home - Zizkovy sady; Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 21/3/14 - Train ride to OSEM (medical) programme | Olomouc, Czech |
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| 25/3/14 - Walking home | Hradec Kralove, Czech |
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| 29/3/14 - Hiking trip to Narnia's famous acting site | Bohemian Switzerland, Czech |
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| 30/3/14 - Another beautiful sunset from my window | Hradec Kralove, Czech |
More to go :)
I hope these pictures give you peace while facing one of the hardest time for our country; the flood :) Yes, of course the main element of peace is to turn back to Allah and remember Him always.
"Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." Ar-Ra'd 13;28
I can't be there at this critical time, but insyAllah my prayers will be continuously. Ameen. May Allah grant you with strength and patients. Important thing; redha and believe in His plans.
Till then,
Assalamualaikum.
v Khaulah
141229
[Behind The Scene] Astronomical Clock Prague; Czech
December 27, 2014 Prague, Czech Republic
Before I continue with the stories / facts behind this famous astronomical clock, let me show you how busy or packed this area will be at every hour. I mean it, every hour, EVERY, everyday. (or maybe not really at midnight - I haven't been there for that specific time) :)
This was somewhere in September 2014, I guess; where autumn is one of the nicest time to visit Prague. Full of brown, orange leaves getting ready to fall off. Even the weather is nice with not really high temperature nor low.
Let me introduce the history of this clock.
1. As maybe many of us know, this is one of the oldest astronomical clock in the world, being installed there since 1410 (like middle ages time). It is placed near Old Town Square (which is significant area for European countries). And it is still functioning till now! :D
Basically, it had been repaired so many times and some things were added to the tower (in which THAT attract people to see it)
So, what makes it famous?
Of course, the mechanism of the clock - but it is hard for me to understand all astronomical terms or theories. So, can we skip it? Teheee
Other than that, for sure THESE ANIMATED FIGURES:-
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_astronomical_clock |
Start with the left one - the first is; we can see a figure admiring himself in a mirror. That represent Vanity. Beside it; a figure holding a bag of gold; that represent Greed. :p
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_astronomical_clock |
Let's move to the right side. The 3rd figure is the skeleton which obviously stands for Death. The last one figure playing instrument; it was said to be a Turk - represent Pleasure and Entertainment.
At every hour, the skeleton rings the bell while the other figures shake their heads side to side. Means? They are not ready "to go" (to die).
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_astronomical_clock |
Okay, I have share 4 figures at both sides of the clock. What about in the middle?
Of course there are some more! 12 moving figures (that are presentation of statues of Apostles) - that twelve Apostles presented every hour.
You can watch this video to have more view on the moving figures.
Honestly, I am not a city/town traveler type. I enjoy nature more than watching/understanding the buildings. But, who said we can not learn anything from historical building?
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| The beloved sisters on their graduation day last July, 2014 :) |
1. Vanity; feel like we are the best compared to other people. In which sometimes make us become more egoistic, not to listen to other people's advice.
2. Greed; yeah, feel greed to have everything good at one time. Don't worry much, do things one step at a time okay?
3. Entertainment; addicted to all those fun stuffs, entertainment most probably will lead us far away from Allah. And we don't feel excited to do religious things. Sobss T__T
But, at the nearest end, they are not permanent while we will return to the Creator by dying. Right? Have we prepare ourselves? Gulppp.
Till then,
Assalamualaikum.
v Khaulah,
141225
Christmas Market in Prague, Czech
December 23, 2014 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
December in Europe, as we all know is synonym with Christmas markets. In Czech, it is called váno?ní trhy (vaa-noc-nii ter-hi). Maybe not all European countries hold this Christmas market, but it is more famous in Germany especially Nuremberg, Dresden, Frankfurt etc. Actually, I was planning to go to Dresden (since it is the closest to Prague) to experience the market there, but because of the demonstration, it was better not to go :)
So, what can you expect from Christmas Market in Prague, Czech?
First of all, huge beautiful Christmas trees, like mostly everywhere. Like the one down here, it may be more than 15 meters. Maybe.
There will be so many tourists!
That time, I was looking forward to meet some Malaysians but, I guess I can't find any. I just met a group of Singaporeans when we were buying something from the stall there. The reason I want to meet some, maybe because I really would love to help them asking for lower prices or maybe having conversation while suggesting few other places to go.
By the way, that stall is managed by a Turkish guy and he gave us discounts (which is not so common to get discounts after bargaining here in Czech :p) But, I can say that if you know basic Czech language or you can say few words prettily good, Czech people will be amazed with you. And then you can ask for discounts :) It works for me, few times before! Yeay!
Aha, basically at the market, you can find lots of Christmas products; ornaments and decorations. Hmm, of course traditional Czech wooden toys, cookies, crafts, handmade soaps, scented candles, souvenirs (snow globes, key chains, fridge magnets etc). What else?
FOOD!
The famous one, for sure trdelnik, lango?, pirohy (dumplings), varieties of nuts (chestnut, caramelized chasew nuts, almond), spring potatoes, parek (bun with hotdog) etc and since this is Czech, there are hot wine, honey liquor (called medovina). Well, this country is well known for it's beer / alcohol. (I know I mentioned this few times in previous posts :p)
** the one I bold - insyAllah can be eaten from the Christmas markets.
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| Czech pirohy (dumplings) |
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| Trdelnik - rolled bread? |
For more information about Christmas market in Prague, you can simply check this website.
Actually, I was more excited to go ice skating there, but I don't know why I can't find the ice rink. It was normally located in front of Karolinum - official hall for the university for matriculation day or graduation day. It was just not there T___T
The most famous place to go in Prague - Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí); significant for the astronomical clock which can gather thousand people every hour. :p Basically, at every hour (when the long needle meet number 12), there will be 4 moving figures at the clock and that are what tourists want to see. I will share more details about the clock next time, okay? :)
Before I forget, please take care of your bags and valuable things. There will be so many people you will meet and even the night I went there, my friend's bag was opened by someone. Fortunately, he/she didn't managed to take anything. Pheww.
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Al-Hujurat 49;13)
p/s - I don't celebrate Christmas, I'm just celebrating the diversity the Czech people have. Well, not even 20% of them are Christians though :)
v Khaulah, HK
141223
Lango?
December 22, 2014
Assalamualaikum
Last Friday I had a opportunity to taste lango?. And it was homemade by my Czech friend, Lucie. :) Well, I was looking forward to eat lango? since the lango? stall was opened just few meters from my flat. But every time I want to buy on my way to hospital or back, there were so many obstacles. Like I didn't bring the money, I was fasting, the stall was already closed, the stall was not opened yet bla bla bla.
Then, on this fine day, the technician was coming to my flat to set up the Internet. Yeah, I just got my own Internet! My flatmate already asked Lucie to help us to communicate with the technician. And even, the technician used her name on the receipt as the person receiving the service. The reason was that, my name is very long to write. Haha. Ouch.
Really, Malaysians' names are considered long here. At least, mine. ;)
So, basically, lango? is a flat bread that is famous especially in cold weather. Actually, it is not originated here, but from Hungary. It is made by quite basic ingredients like flour, yeast, salt, milk and water. But I'm not sure about the ways of preparing it. Then, the dough is fried in oil.
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| We already ate most of the food. Haha. |
I was so excited when Lucie said she can make the lango? for me. It was like; my dream comes trueeee. Hmm, actually, I heard just few days ago, the lango? sold at the stall in Christmas market contain non-halal ingredients which is lard. Know what it is?
Lard; pig fat that is usually used as cooking fat. You can read the rest in wikipedia, just type 'lard'.
p/s - 2 weeks holidays are here already. Pray for me to use my time wisely, yeah! :)
Till then,
Assalamualaikum
Bushra, Praha
141222
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