Kindy Mini Sketch

I started practising with the kindy kids "Heal the World", alhamdulillah, they really like the song.. some even wanted to bring back home the lyric so that they can practice at home..

I learnt the trick of teaching them english song from their teacher last year during convocation..

1. read aloud.. just to make sure they are familiar with the words
2. Let them listen to the song.. just to get them familiar with the melody
3. Practice 1 stanza at a time.. going superslow.. then, use the music to sing along..
4. continue without music with the second stanza, repeat from stanza 1, then use the music...
5. continue with the rest of the stanza.. not forgetting to move back and forth..
6. be patient!

Honestly, I don't really think I can make it to practice the sketch itself.. I'll be in my confinement.. See what happens!

Singing New Song Tips:-

#1 make sure the lyrics are printed big enough (extra large if they are not good at reading yet)
#2 you can drill the difficult words on the board before even starting to sing
#3 I use block art to write my lyric, stanza by stanza.. this way, I can always keep the lyric in case I need to use later. It also saves space compared to the manila card or mahjong paper.

Kindy Mini Sketch

Second Day of Fasting! Already?

Alhamdulillah..can't believe I can make it this Ramadhan. Allah has granted time to celebrate fasting month.. I can never be more grateful. The kids are thrilled!

Honestly.. though I'm really eagerly waiting for ramadhan, I'm certainly anxious at the same time.. distracted with the fact that along with ramadhan comes my due for my labour.

This year, with H1N1 spreading like wildfire and most of my family are at high-risk.. me being pregnant, and children, fasting month and school holiday means quarantining ourselves at home.

Unlike 4 years back.. we were to spend on food at the bazaar in celebration of our kids who just learn fasting.. Then we realized that spending luxuriously on food does not really meet the purpose of fasting itself.

Now, I don't normally cook extra dishes for them.. not that I don't consider the fact that they are learning to fast but then, teaching them not to overeat as soon as they break fast is more important. Our dishes are simple and a constant reminder of those who remain hungry even after they break fast or those who always get hungry even during those time of non fasting month. Of course, there will be days that I'll cook a feast! But definitely not throughout the fasting month!

I remembered somebody did protested when my 4-year-old Haziq started fasting, insisting that the boy is not prepared to fast. But the truth is.. we never really forced him to fast.. He was really eager to follow the brother and sister fasting. The reward was of course not in cash.. but stories of the beauty of 'syurga' and the everflowing rivers there. He is thrilled!

Irfan, my youngest.. aged 3 is now learning to fast.. Of course he does not really fast.. but like his brothers and sister, we try to wake him up for 'sahur', and he only eats whenever he is hungry.. hidden from the rest of the family to respect the fasting month.. And we are quite flexible with his sahur.. The first day, he did not wake up for sahur, so he had his sahur as soon as he woke up..

It's never too early to start.. Starting does not really mean they have to do it.. but a mere exposure of the concept.. Forcing is not in the dictionary.. but trust me.. kids are more than ready to embrace Islam.. sometimes, I think, it is us who is just not ready.. :P

Second Day of Fasting! Already?

Raya.. No problem.. Isteri Kena Ikut Cakap Suami

Alhamdulillah, bulan puasa menjelma lagi.. Masa ni lah nak cover pahala-pahala yang tak buat sepanjang tahun..

Indahnya ramadhan, semua orang berebut-rebut nak bersedekah, nak sembahyang sunat, nak baca quran..

Yang paling syoknya.. selalunya kita salahkan syaitan yang menggoda.. tapi bila bulan puasa barulah kita perasan, sebenarnya nafsu kita yang perlu dijinakkan. Tengok itu ini, semua terliur..

Sambil-sambil bersembang petang-petang, merah telinga dibuatnya.. Alhamdulillah tahun ni Allah bagi bonus sebab kalau ikut turn sebenarnya di rumah mertua tapi disebabkan due bersalin masa raya, tak berani nak travel mana-mana. Jadi disini sajalah, jadilah beraya 2 tahun berturut-turut di rumah mak sendiri. Tapi itu pun belum tentu.. terdengar desas-desus ada orang tu teringin nak beraya kat rumah sendiri. Abah pun dah sibuk tanya.. raya kat mana. Takut-takut bersalin betul-betul masa raya.. kesian jugak kat anak-anak, mesti hidangan tak seberapa.

Rupa-rupanya ada kawan yang teringat kawannya yang sentiasa merancang bersalin di waktu raya.. Bila ditanya kenapa, barulah faham.. rupanya kalau dia bersalin sahajalah ada 'can' raya pertama di rumah maknya.. Kalau tak memang kena beraya di rumah mertua..

Saya sebenarnya sakit jugak hati bila mendengar cerita tu. Teringat saya masa first beraya di rumah mertua... Memanglah dah kira keluarga sendiri.. tapi terus terang.. memang masa mula-mula kahwin, memang sedih. Teringat kat keluarga sendiri, lauk-lauk yang dah biasa kita makan dari kecil. Sedih bila mengenangkan pagi-pagi tatkala sibuk bersiap mandi sunat dan pergi ke masjid untuk sembahyang raya bersama keluarga.

Katanya kawan saya tadi.. suaminya kata.. isteri kena ikut cakap suami, rayalah kat rumah suami.. dia ada tanggungjawab pada ibu bapa dia.. Wah! Sungguh kuat pegangan islamnya.. taat pada ibu bapa.. isteri pulak kenalah faham.. kan suami kena taat pada ibu-bapa?

Kalaulah semua suami macam ini.. taat pada agama.. memang aman dunia ni.. Taklah suami pakai duit gaji isteri, mesti suami carikan pembantu untuk buat-buat kerja rumah.. kerana tugas isteri sebenarnya melayan suami. Mesti rumah dan semua keperluan dibayar penuh oleh suami..

Kalau ikut macam rasulullah pulak, mesti sang suami jahit baju sendiri, suapkan isteri makan, tolong kerja rumah dan beromantik dengan isteri. Cakap dengan isteri pun lemah lembut sahaja. Takkan pernah memerintah isteri buat itu ini. Rasulullah siap bawa orang main pedang lagi di depan rumahnya untuk menghiburkan Saidatina A'isyah, semasa baginda bermain lumba lari dengan A'isyah pun, dia bagi A'isyah menang untuk menghiburkan hati A'syah..

Islam ni memang cantik sebenarnya.. kalau isteri kena taat pada ibu bapa sama macam suami.. pakat-pakat semualah raya kat rumah masing-masing. Tapi Allah maha Mengetahui, isteri kena taat suami.. selesailah masaalah..

Apa yang kebanyakan para suami lupa ialah mereka pun ada anak perempuan. Satu hari nanti "history repeats itself"! Mesti sedih kalau anak mereka tiap-tiap tahun di rumah suami. Tapi pada masa tu.. apa nak jawab.. mereka lebih faham.. ataupun mereka tidak ada pilihan.. telan sajalah.. Apa jadi ya? kalau mereka ada 6 anak dan kesemuanya perempuan?

Teringat saya seorang isteri mengeluh pada ustaz.. "tak adillah macam ni ustaz.." Ustaz kata "Siapa kata adil? Kat dunia ni memanglah nampak macam tak adil.. tapi pahala yang kita tak nampak tu memang lebih dari adil." Jadi, bagi para isteri.. katanya memang senang nak masuk syurga.. tutup aurat dan taat pada suami.. teori mudah kan? Praktikalnya.. kenalah kita sama-sama timba ilmu...

Raya.. No problem.. Isteri Kena Ikut Cakap Suami

Bored to Death that I Started Cleaning up!

It has been weeks since I last updated my blog.. Been trying to clean up the clutter that I myself collected. Been trying to complete the housechores that I procrastinated. I actually rewarded myself with RM1 for each of the task that I finished. Teruk betul! I managed to get RM18 that day.. I managed to iron the kids' uniform, azly's office attire, arranging my book shelves, clearing almost every eyesore in the hall.. Honestly, I deserved more than RM18.. It's not the money actually.. It's the fact that I'm trying to motivate myself to do the chores. Not a big fan of house cleaning.. and everyone knows that..

I promised myself I'll just spend it myself to treat myself.. be it chocolate, a cone of really expensive ice cream or even a sneak to Nando's or Johnny's..

Tapi tak sampai hati.. Eventually, everyone got an ice-cream.

Among my favourite channel is 733 - Astro.. specifically "Perfect Housewives", "Help, I'm a Horder" as well as "Scrub". It's really amazing that some people do enjoy cleaning.. I tried watching "Cleanaholics" but they are mostly ridiculously clean that I get so upset with my part of cleaning.

I do like cleaning at times.. but not all the time that I can't even make a mess. My kids, following me.. are not that tidy but then I'd rather the way I am that being a perfectionist. I tried before.. trying to be as tidy as I could but I have to admit, it gets me and the people around me really stressed. I really wonder, as I go to my friends' house.. and couldn't help myself asking them.. how did they ever managed to keep their houses clean and tidy.. The answer is always the same.. "Kemas ke ni?" [sigh]..

Bored to Death that I Started Cleaning up!

Susahnya Kalau ada Buruk Sangka, Batu Api dan Lalang!

Assalamualaikum..

Entah kenapa rasa hati memang tak sedap.. Kalau ikut orang melayu.. kalau tersedak tu maknanya orang tengah syok mengata kita.. Tiba-tiba tersedak masa tengah makan.. sebenarnya perut tengah lapar.. makan pun gelojoh, tu yang tersedak-sedak tu..

Tapi disebabkan kita tidak mengamalkan amalan islam yang sebenar, mulalah timbul sifat-sifat mazmumah di dalam hati. Bukan senang sebenarnya nak bersihkan hati. Nisfu syaaban pun dah dekat, buku amalan dah nak ditukar baru tapi masih belum bertaubat atas dosa tidak menjaga hati.

Salah satu penyakit hati ni tentulah buruk sangka.. Sebenarnya kalau kita berbaik sangka pada orang, hidup kita akan lebih tenang. Bila bercerita ni bukanlah mengata orang, sebenarnya 'reflect' diri sendiri.. dosa sendiri.. dengan harapan, bila terlupa, bila baca blog ni, saya muhasabah diri sendiri. Maklumlah.. kita bukan malaikat, iman sentiasa bertokok dan berkurangan.

Bila dah buruk sangka.. mulalah jadi sakit hati, syaitan pun membisikkan ayat-ayat cinta biar kita iri hati dan dengki. Bila syaitan tengah syok.. ada pulak syaitan kepala hitam yang suka mengapi-api. Mulalah dia memuji-muji orang yang kita sakit hati tu. Sebenarnya tiada kena mengena pun tapi bila hati kita pula macam lalang.. ditambah dengan syaitan dan kuncu-kuncunya.. dan askar tak diiktiraf berkepala hitam yang bermain dengan api.. ditambah pula rempah titik-titik hitam di hati.. maka kita pun menjadi lalang.. Terikutlah kita dengan hasutan syaitan dan sifat-sifat mazmumah yang menjadi makanan hati kita..

Hati yang sakit akan menjadi kotor, keras dan berkerak macam kerak karat di besi. Memang susah untuk dibersihkan kalau dah terlalu dibiarkan.. Sepatutnya zikir menjadi penawar hati.. ditambah pula dengan istighfar dari hati yang rendah menginsafi kesilapan diri sendiri. Apatah pula bila kita mengalirkan air mata apabila teringat dosa-dosa kita terutama sekali pada manusia. Bila kita berdoa pada Allah, alangkah mudahnya kerana Allah itu maha penyayang. Allah sentiasa akan mengampunkan dosa kita tapi apabila kita berdosa dengan manusia, manusia sukar untuk memaafkan, apatah lagi jika kita tak pernah pun mohon maaf pada mereka.

Saya juga manusia biasa.. yang punya penyakit hati.. mungkin dengar macam saya menasihati orang.. sebenarnya saya lebih kepada mengingati diri sendiri. Takut-takut penyakit hati ini melarat.. Apatah lagi, apabila kita tidak puas hati, mulalah muncung mulut ni melepaskan perasaan.. tidak sedar sebenarnya kita mengumpat dan memakan daging mayat saudara kita sendiri. Terdengar ustaz berkata.. mengumpat dah jadi satu 'trend' sampai orang tidak kisah mengumpat dengan alasan "Ini kisah benar, bukan kita buat cerita". Tapi sebenarnya mengumpat tu dilarang keras..

Teringat pula Ustaz Fauzi tersengih-sengih berkata di Al-Kuliyyah.. "syoknya bercerita pasal orang, cuba kalau orang buat kat kita..". Juga pernah terbaca.. sedang elok sekumpulan lelaki mengumpat, rasulullah menyuruh mereka berkumur. Dengan izin Allah, apabila mereka berkumur, terkeluar sisa-sisa daging dari mulut mereka walaupun mereka tidak makan daging sebelum itu.. Takutnya.. kalau itu benar-benar terjadi. Yang paling sedih, memang susah untuk kita berhenti mengumpat. Saya juga memang ada mengumpat.. Lepas dah reda marah.. barulah terfikir.. macam mana nak minta maaf.. Itu yang tak sabar-sabar menunggu raya.. boleh minta maaf zahir dan batin..

Tapi kadang-kadang bila saya bertekad untuk tidak mengumpat.. ada sahaja isu yang timbul. Saya tidak mengumpat kalau tidak ada kena mengena dengan saya, tapi bila terkena kat batang hidung sendiri.. memang susah saya nak elak. Kononnya, hati reda bila sudah melepaskan perasaan..

Ya Allah.. bersihkanlah hatiku ya Allah. Jadikanlah aku antara orang-orang yang sabar dengan ujianmu. Jika hatiku terlalu kotor kerana dosa ya Allah, maka kau gantilah hatiku dengan hati yang baru ya Allah. Kau buangkanlah sifat-sifat mazmumah di hati ini ya Allah. Kau tanamkanlah sifat sabar dan redha dalam menghadapi ujianmu.

Janganlah kau palingkan rahmatMu Ya Allah atas kelemahanku menjaga hati ya Allah. Amin amin ya Rabbal Alamin..

Susahnya Kalau ada Buruk Sangka, Batu Api dan Lalang!

Dilemma di antara 2 Kedai

Assalamualaikum.

Been a while since I last wrote.. Been organizing all my teaching materials that I've been prograstinating for the past 2 years. Now that I've started teaching form 3 part time, I really need to get organized.

I haven't been cooking properly since last week. Ada dilemma sebenarnya nak memilih antara 2 kedai. Sebenarnya memang dah biasa pergi kedai Acheh. Orangnya jujur. Tak pernah menipu dari segi harga. Kalau harga barang naik sikit memang dia bagitau sekian sekian.. Tapi masaalahnya.. bos sahaja yang bagi servis yang bagus. Kalau kita minta potong ayam, buang kulit dulu, potong 16 dan sebagainya.. memang dia akan berhenti buat apa yang dia buat dan terus buat dengan muka yang manis.

Kadang-kala memang agak cerewet sikit. Minta tolong dia buang kaki, isi perut dengan kepala je. Kadang-kadang potong tom yam (extra small). Bukan apa, bila balik rumah boleh terus masak..

Masaalahnya.. co-worker dia tu la.. Bila kita bayar, kita pulak kena tunggu dia habis tengok tv lah.. Yang paling sakit hati, kalau terkena dia baru bangun tidur, muka mencuka 14 depa. Kita nak minta pun serba salah. Yang lagi sorang pulak, sebab kita ni "regular customer", bila orang lain datang lambat, dia bagi orang lain dulu.. dengan alasan, kita mungkin boleh faham. Mula-mula tu bolehlah tahan, lama-lama kita pun fed up juga.

Dipendekkan cerita, masa tengah-tengah bengang tu, bukaklah satu kedai baru. Nak boikot kedai Acheh lah ni. Pergi ke kedai lagi satu. Sebenarnya dah lama berhenti pergi ke supermarket atau hypermarket sejak boikot Israel hari tu.. Beli barang sekadar yang perlu sahaja, tidak stok barang seperti selalu. Kononnya nak tolong orang Islam.

Layanannya first class, ikan daging semua segar-segar. Ambil terus dari pasar borong Puchong. Banyak lauk-lauk untuk masakan kampung, nangka, pucuk ubi, ulam-ulaman, mangga untuk buat kerabu. Pendek kata sesuai dengan selera orang Malaysia. Bila mula-mula beli di kedai, ada tetamu, borong sakanlah sampai RM30.00-RM40.00 sekali beli. Lama-kelamaan, beli pun makin berkurangan sebab beli barang harian. Sekarang ni asyik-asyik tanya, "beras ada lagi kak, minyak? Tak nak beli pisang ke?" Saya bergurau "Semua benda nak suruh kak beli ya?" tapi sebenarnya malas nak layan.

Saya serba salah. Nak pergi kedai Acheh, servis macam hapa, nak pergi sini, dah terlebih ramah sampai semua nak disuruh beli.

Minggu lepas, saya nekad buat keputusan setelah insiden ini terjadi. Teringin nak buat sup, saya minta 1/2 kilo tulang, dia pun bungkus. Bila dah siap beli barang-barang lain, saya pun tidak banyak cerita, bayar dan pulang. Setibanya di rumah, baru saya perasan tulang macam banyak, saya timbang. Rupanya 940gm dah dekat sekilo, bila saya cium bau, sudah tak 'fresh' macam biasa. Jadi ini kes nak habiskan barang lah ni. Saya terkilan tapi bersyukur pada Allah kerana memberi saya petunjuk.

Kita ni sebagai orang Islam.. kenalah tolong orang Islam, "support" perniagaan orang islam. Tapi yang berniaga pun kenalah cara orang islam. Jangan ingat nak untung je. Tak berkat. Layanan pun mestilah first class. Tengoklah Rasulullah berniaga, sampai Saidatina Khadijah jatuh hati dan terus pinang baginda. Walhal, Saidatina Khadijah tu memang orang kaya bangsawan, cantik yang menjadi rebutan pada masa itu. Saya baru je balik dari kedai Acheh.. Malam ni bersemangat nak masak!

Dilemma di antara 2 Kedai

Air Asia oh Air Asia

My booking date was 30th June 2009. I just got everything settled by yesterday (21std July 2009). Honestly, it was partly myself to be blamed for the delay. But then, if it's not too difficult.. it would have been settled weeks ago.. So, just let me share with you what happened in case you need to deal with Air Asia.

It was not me actually.. flying anywhere, it's my son's teacher who is going back to Jakarta for Raya. We booked really early to get a cheaper fare. It was really cheap. Back and fro, it costed her only RM302.00 including tax, luggage as well as chosen seat for both ways compared to the normal RM600.00 she used to pay.

It would have really easy if I have a credit card instead of a debit card. The problem is, it was told in their site that payment could be made via Maybank2u. If I can make the payment via Maybank2u, it would have been really easy, but we couldn't so I'd try my debit card instead. However, there's an option for Debit Card, but then Maybank Visa (Debit Card) was not one of the options.

When I called up the first time, the salesperson (salesperson no. 1) asked me the time I tried to book the ticket and I told him just before midnight. He checked his computer and said.. it can be done now. The problem is, I told him, if I failed I have to call them again and .. their line is always busy. He simply asked me to try again. I hung up and tried again, still I could not make the payment.

Annoyed, I called them again, this time another salesperson (salesperson no. 2)said "why don't you click on the MEPs icon" I had to hang up since I was not in front of the computer.. (clever me) and I swear, there's no such icon. I had to call again, this time it was a different salesperson (salesperson 3), she told me that some of the flights are not supported by Maybank2u payment and suggested that I go to their sales counter at either KL Sentral or LLCT. Then, the problem would be solved. Okay... by this time I felt much better, at least she didn't ask me to click on an non-existent button. But is it worth it to go to KL Sentral or drive 50 minutes to LCCT?

The problem with paying at the post office is you have to book via the telephone. At this point, you are not able to choose a seat as it is not a confirmed booking. So, basically, I have to go to the post office and make the payment for the ticket and the tax (RM277.00+a whopping RM2.50 for the commission). Then, I have to call up again to choose a seat and luggage, and then go back to the post office and make the payment for it.

That's what I did. I paid for the booking. Exactly after I was out of the post office, I called up Air Asia and I told her I have already made the payment. She told me (salesperson 4), the payment is still pending. Asking where my location is, she told me, depending on the location of the post office, it may take 2 days to clear. Until the payment is clear, I can't pick my seat and pay for my luggage. What? That was another big mistake that I made. I actually made the payment at POS at Tesco instead of a big one. It may take a longer time to clear. [sigh]..

By this time, I called Azly (my husband) and tuuuuttt ttuuuutt ttuuuutt... I was really furious. I called my bestfriend, and told her I should have gone to her house for a favour of using her credit card and pay her cash. I really don't mind paying whatever commission and the service charge to her instead of all the hassle at the post office..

The next step was to wait two days for the payment to be cleared. So, I waited and received an email from AirAsia that my booking is confirmed. The next step was to call them and choose a seat, make the payment and get it confirmed. Easy right? Nope! This time, instead of going to the post office, I tried to make payment using my debit card. The salesperson (salesperson no 5) told me that he can try to charge it using my debit card. Then, I realized that I have taken all my money out to save all this RM1 charges when if I take out bit by bit. I only had RM22.00 in the account and the seat and luggage would cost me RM20.00 He told me it might not be possible. So, I told him, I'll call him later once I have transferred some money.

My husband transferred money in my account and I called them up again. This time, a lady salesperson (salesperson no 6) told me that I have to make payment by 15 July or the booking for the seat is cancelled. It was 14 July and I was furious as nobody told me that there was a dateline for the payment. I was just too busy with my son's sports day to be bothered with the payment. She told me, after the phone booking, I can't make any payment using POS Malaysia but have to pay at the sales counter instead (KL Sentral or LCCT). Debit card was also out of the question. #@!^&%!!! I argued. I told her I'm not driving to LCCT just to pay RM20.00. She put me on hold to ask her supervisor.

She agreed that I could pay at POS Malaysia and jotted down a note there. The problem is when it will take 2 days to clear and they might not hold my seat. Desperate, with my best friend's credit card no in my hand, I called them up and decided to make the payment for once and for all.. This time, a male salesperson with a very fluent native-like slang answered (salesperson no 7) and he called me MAM.. That was a good sign!

I told him about me wanting to make the payment using credit card.. As expected, he asked me to give him the card number and I gave it to him. Then, he asked me the card's expiry date (opps!!) as well as the security number at the back of the card. I hesitated, "I thought the security number is private and you are not supposed to share it with anyone". He patiently explained, when you are making an online transaction, of course it is dangerous to expose the number. But then, when you are making payment using phone booking, we cannot proceed unless we have the number". I was really confused. Okayla.. it was for security purposes. But I dare not take the risk.

Actually.. the security number was the reason why I didn't want to make the payment using my bestfriend's credit card. I simply don't want to know her security number though she does not really mind sharing with me since we are really close and she never doubted that I'd do any harm with her security number.

But then, I told her, I savior (is there such a word).. okayla.. I treasure our friendship more. In case anything happens with her credit card and it has nothing got to do with me.. of course it's gonna be really crazy I don't even want to imagine what will happen.

Anyway.. since it's gonna be a hassle, I decided to stick to making the payment at the post office. I told him that I was told earlier that the seat booking is reserved for me only if I the payment is clear by 15th July by midnight. "It's not advisable to make the payment at the post office if the date of the flight is near, mam" (that was about 2 months before the departure actually).. I told him the flight is not gonna be near soon, it's just the expiry date for my seat reserve. Still, he insisted that I should not make the payment at the post office if it's too near the date of the departure. I was even more confused. Then he gave me an option whether I can pay using credit card, or pay at the sales counter or the last option that he does not really favour is to pay at the gate on the departure itself. Blimey, it's like a never ending circle..

I suggested that he cancelled my seat booking and rebook, hoping that I'll get the chosen seat and a longer expiry date so that I don't have to worry about the payment being cleared before 15th July. My son's teacher told me that, if we don't choose any seat and pay in advance, you'll end up in a mess walking here and there looking for an empty seat and I understand completely. I myself would rather pay extra RM10.00 so that I can go straight to my chosen seat than the trouble of pushing here and there just to get a seat.

Perhaps he didn't get the idea.. or perhaps my Malaysian English does not match his native slang that he had trouble understanding. I told him I'll just pay and see what happens. He told me that once the payment is cleared, I'll get a confirmation (I assumed via e-mail like when I booked the flight).

After making the payment at the Bangi Post Office, I waited for the e-mail. I did asked POS Malaysia and they said it should be cleared by midnight the same day. I made the payment on the 14th, the payment was cleared on the 15th and yet on 21st, I still haven't received the e-mail. I called AirAsia for the final time. The salesperson (salesperson no 8) told me that if I have an account online, I can just check my booking under "Manage my Booking". But then, lucky me, I quickly remembered that I did ask my husband to check my booking online but he did mention to me that it was not possible to check online when you make phone booking. He received like.. you are not authorized to blah blah blah. I told this to her and she said she'll e-mail me the details. That was the only time when I got it straight on the spot. A few minutes after that, I received my e-mail.. confirming my luggage payment as well as the seat. Finally.. Alhamdulillah.. It was a loonnngg journey to Jakarta.. even before you board the flight..

I printed the e-mail and asked my son to send straight to the teacher. She was relieved. Imagine, she gave me RM300.00 cash. That was at the end of June, and she finally received the booking detail on 21st July. Luckily.. the date of the booking as well as the date of payment was stated in the e-mail which is 30th June. I really don't want her to think that I must have used the money first..

At the same time, I learnt a lot of new things. Honestly (and surprisingly).. I have this fobia of dealing with people whom I don't know on the phone. It's just awkward to pick up the phone and talk to strangers. But then, knowing that someone relied on me for the ticket and it actually save her RM300.00, I braved myself and did it anyway.. In return, I managed to overcome my fear and learnt it the hard way.. I thank Allah for the lesson. Normally, I'll just get my husband to do any phone call like this..

Hopefully, if there is any next time.. I know exactly how to do it.. Or perhaps, I should have just brought a notebook, went online and get someone to pay using their credit card and pay straight to them.. or the best thing is to go straight to their ticketing counter though it takes 50 minutes of driving but I can just get it done and over with there and then rather that making a few phone calls and go through all the hassle..

My phone bill is higher that usual.. not because of the number of phone calls that I made to Air Asia but the waiting time.. listening to their "konon2nya" soothing music and the prompts "Thank you for calling Air Asia, All of our salepersons are busy, blah blah blah..or feel free to call us back later" after every 15 seconds.. But then.. the experience is PRICELESS!

Air Asia oh Air Asia