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Al-Fatihah Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah - Sebuah Renungan

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Malam ini terasa lain sedikit. Berita pemergian Tun Hasmah tiba-tiba membawa aku kembali kepada makna seorang ibu, seorang pendamping, seorang wanita yang bertahan dengan lembut sepanjang zaman yang penuh cabaran. Seratus tahun bukan usia yang singkat. Ada banyak yang beliau saksikan, banyak yang beliau lalui dan mungkin banyak juga yang beliau pendam sendiri sebagai seorang isteri kepada tokoh besar negara. Aku terfikir, di sebalik gelaran dan sejarah, beliau tetap seorang manusia biasa yang penat, yang gembira, yang bimbang, sama seperti aku dan semua wanita lain yang cuba menjadi kuat setiap hari. Entah kenapa, berita ini menyentuh sesuatu dalam diriku. Mungkin kerana aku pun seorang ibu, yang cuba bertahan, cuba membesarkan anak-anak sendirian, cuba mencari makna di sebalik keletihan harian. Melihat seorang wanita yang begitu dihormati akhirnya pergi dengan tenang pada usia begitu panjang, buat aku rasa bahawa hidup ini, walau seberat mana pun, tetap ada keindahannya sendiri jika...

Brain Feeling Foggy? Lecithin Might Help! | Simple Story About Dementia

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Hello my wonderful friends! Have you ever forgotten where you put your favourite book? Or maybe forgotten a friend's name for just a little second? Oops! Our brains play little tricks on us sometimes, right? Hehehe. Usually, it is just our brain being a little bit tired or busy. But sometimes, for older people especially, forgetting things happens more and more often. It can start to feel worrying. There is a special word for when the brain's "remembering helper" gets very, very tired and has trouble doing its job. The word is Dementia (say: dee-MEN-sha). What is Dementia Like? Imagine your brain is like a super amazing library, full of wonderful memories and smart ideas. Dementia is like a naughty little Gremlin sneaking into the library and mixing up the books! People (Often older people) might start forgetting important things, not just where they put their keys, but maybe big memories too. Thinking can feel tricky, like trying to solve a puzzle with missing piece...

Yucky Haze Air! Kak Mawar's Simple Tips to Stay Safe & Healthy

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Oh dear, oh dear! The air outside is looking a bit… yucky again. It is hazy! Do you know what haze is? My little boy, Ujang, had a funny idea! He said, "Mama, I know why there is haze! It is because of the traffic jam ('jem'), right?" Hehehe. So cute! He thought all the cars stuck together made the smoky air. Well, not quite, little one! But his idea made me think. We really need to know WHAT this yucky haze is and HOW to keep our family safe and healthy when it visits us. Here in Putrajaya, Malaysia! What IS This Hazy Stuff Anyway? Imagine the air is like a big, invisible soup. Haze happens when lots and lots of tiny, tiny dust bits and yucky smoke get mixed into the air soup. Where does it come from? Sometimes people burn big fires outside (open burning). Oops! That makes smoke. Big factories sometimes puff out smoke too. Puff puff! And yes, Ujang was a little bit right! Cars and motorcycles make smoke too. Vroom vroom... cough cough! All this tiny dust and smoke...

Misi Dulu, Ride Kemudian

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Ya Allah, rindunya nak ride sesama lagi. Tapi apa boleh buat, ada misi yang perlu diselesaikan dulu. Ada kerja yang tak boleh ditangguh dan ada matlamat yang perlu dicapai sebelum Mawar boleh pulas  throttle sepuas-puasnya. Misi 1: Tanam Benih Dulu Dua tahun pertama ini, Mawar perlu fokus untuk membina sumber pendapatan sampingan. Tanam benih, semai, jaga, siram dan baja cukup-cukup. Hasilnya nanti, Mawar harap ia memuaskan hati. Tak ada jaminan, tapi Mawar percaya usaha yang konsisten tak pernah sia-sia. Misi 2: Setelkan Hutang Ini bahagian yang paling jujur untuk Mawar tulis. Duit tabung Mawar dah licin lecak, termakan dek pelaburan yang tak menjadi dan macam-macam kes yang Mawar sendiri terlalu percaya. Sekarang, hutang keliling pinggang. Pengajarannya mahal, tapi Mawar simpan sebagai pengalaman. Ada orang pernah cakap pada Mawar, hutang itu pemberat hidup. Biar kita "miskin" dulu asalkan hutang selesai. Mawar setuju. Bila bahu dah ringan, langkah pun jadi...

My Last Ride of 2014! A Cool & Calm Motorcycle Trip to Betong, Thailand

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The official  'Canon Rider Was Here!'  photo spot! Gotta snap one! Hello my lovely adventure friends! Do you remember the year 2014?  Wow! For me, Kak Mawar, that year was like a super twisty-turny rollercoaster ride! Wheee! Lots of happy ups, some scary downs, lots of learning, lots of trying, maybe some oopsie-daisies, but lots of Alhamdulillah-we-did-it moments too!  It was a year that really tested how strong I was inside. A big, big challenge! Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I made it through! And guess what? Right at the end of that super rollercoaster year, in December 2014 , after a HUGE trip traveling through three countries with my little kids just one month before, I got a surprise invitation! An old friend asked, "Hey Mawar, want to ride motorcycle to Betong, Thailand?" . My heart went thump-thump-YES! Thailand? On my bike? You know me! I love Thailand! Just ask me, and I will pack my bag! Hehehe.  My secret mission is always to fill up my little red pa...

Pattaya Bike Week Dream! Fly, Drive or Ride? Planning the Adventure

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Hello my awesome friends! Guess what? Kak Mawar is dreaming of an adventure! There is a super big, super fun party happening next year. Next year, maybe February! It is called the Pattaya Bike Week ! Where is it? It is in a sunny, happy place called Pattaya , in Thailand! It is a giant party just for motorcycles! Vroom Vroom! Bikers come from everywhere – Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, maybe even from faraway lands!  They bring their cool bikes, shiny bikes, big bikes, small bikes! They show off their amazing machines. There will be loud music (Rock and roll!), yummy Thai food (maybe spicy!), dancing, and lots and lots of happy biker friends together. It sounds like so much fun! So, Kak Mawar really, really wants to go! For the fun, the bikes, the adventure! But... there is one big puzzle I need to solve first. How do I get there?  Should I fly like a bird? Drive like in a cozy car? Or ride my own big monster bike all the way? Hmm... let's think about it together! Option 1: F...

Sunshine in a Cup! Warm Lemon Water in the Morning | Yay or Nay

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Hello my lovely, healthy friends! Do you have a special morning routine?  Something you do right after you wake up, even before yummy breakfast? Kak Mawar likes to start the day with a special sunny drink! Guess what it is? It is warm water mixed with... LEMON juice! Squeeze! Splash! Some people say drinking this warm lemon water when your tummy is still empty is like giving your insides a gentle morning shower! A little "washy-washy" to start the day fresh!  But wait! If your tummy sometimes feels a bit grumpy or ouchy, like with gastric, maybe it is better to drink it after you eat, okay? Listen to your own tummy, it knows best! What's So Special About Lemons Anyway? Lemons are amazing! They are like little balls of sunshine you can hold in your hand! They belong to the citrus fruit family, like oranges and limes. They have bright yellow skin, a super fresh smell that makes you go "Ahhh!" , and a taste that is sour but also super refreshing! Pucker up! Hehe...