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Breathe by Beni Rusani | Book Review
January 30, 2018
While in preparation with all documents needed to start working, I am so happy I managed to read this book. I mean, another non-academic book. Haha is it really non-academic, Nina? I bet there are lots of medical knowledge inside it. :D
I just knew Popular (at least in AEON Klebang) does not sell Breathe by Beni Rusani. Don't really understand why this bookstore prefer this way, Doesn't the store know this is one of the best-selling books? I ended up buying it from MPH in AEON Kinta City. Funny isn't it, how Ipoh itself has three AEON malls!
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| Front cover. |
Title: Breathe
Author: Beni Rusani
Pages: 260
Publisher: WhiteCoat Enterprise
Publication Date: April 2017
Synopsis:
Basically, it is about Dr. Adam who is now a cardiologist working in National Heart Institute. And ironically a cardiologist suffered a heart attack while he was jogging. The book reminisces Adam's current situations and his memories back in 2003+- when he was a houseman (junior doctor who just start working)
This book also covers his love life, friendships, colleagues and a bit on family.
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| Back cover. |
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A simple (yet complicated) story but a very interesting one as it is medical-related and I managed to understand most of the terms, diseases, managements mentioned in this novel.
1. Life as a houseman.
It will be my life very soon. Just around the corner. In this novel, I can imagine how blur it will be on the very first day of working. Unsure what to do, where to go etc. But, I can observe how Dr. Adam struggled to maintain to be there, in his shoes as a houseman.
Be ready to admit that I lack clinical experiences.
Be ready to accept the fact that I need to learn hard and smart with all procedures - not on mannequins but real patients.
Improve and remember basic ideas on everything I do.
- "Practice and practice until you bleed. It'll make you a better doctor." - Prof. Black
- "Remember our mantra: See one. Do one. Teach one." - Mad Doc
- "Your eye bags are not imperfections. It's a testimony to your hard work and dedication to your profession." - Prof. Black
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| Life goal. |
2. Move on.
Really. Easier said than done.
Move on in this case does not only mean letting go of failed relationship.
But, letting go all the failure, mistakes in life.
Doctors witness death almost every single day. From medical staffs point of view, I can understand how many doctors I've met admit that they end up losing the normal reaction towards death - patients' death. I am a bit afraid to be like that as well.
In this novel, we can appreciate how doctors actually cannot move on from their patients' deaths. Especially their very first one. T_T It basically give huge impact in their own life, even for the experienced doctors - losing patient after trying everything he can do - can be torturing.
- "To enter the light, you have to let go of your past."
- "Someone I look up to once told me, horrible things could happen in medicine. Patients can die on us. We must learn from it and move on. So we can help the next patients."
- "Forgiving others seemed easy while forgiving yourself was hard."
There are many more life lessons I can extract from this book. But, I think these two are enough for me now. :)
Pray that I will be a competent doctor.
Pretty please <3
My rating: ★★★★★
SS, Perak, Malaysia
180130
My Experience and Tips to Raudhah, Masjid Nabawi, Madinah
January 29, 2018
What is Raudhah actually?
First of all, it is an area inside Masjid Nabawi that include tombs of Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq r.a. and Saidina Umar al-Khattab r.a.. There is another place that is said to be reserved for Nabi Isa a.s.
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| Kubah hijau Masjid Nabawi |
Raudhah is the area that is also considered tempat mustajab doa. Most people who prayed here, they usually say that their wishes have been granted :)
As I mentioned earlier, women are allowed to enter Raudhah only after Fajr, Zuhur and Isya' prayers. Always enter Masjid Nabawi via door 25 (for women) if you attempt to enter Raudhah. There are two main gates afterwards - 1) to enter the men's prayer areas from women's prayer areas, 2) to enter Raudhah itself.
1) First attempt.
My first attempt (after Zuhur) to enter, Mak and I followed the Malay group - it is actually kumpulan berbahasa Melayu. Here, you can expect people from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. And I've been told that English speaking countries can be included here as well. I have no idea about other groups. But seems like Indians love to join this group as well T_T
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| Can you see the signboard? This was when we were waiting to pass the first gate. |
After passing the first door, Mak and I ended up separated from that Malay group and suddenly we were surrounded by lots of Indians. I suspected we accidentally get ourselves into the Indian group. No way to leave the group anyway, as there were many other people behind our backs. So, we just try our best to adapt with that situation. To be honest, Indians are very aggressive. SubhanAllah. Memang rasa kena lenyek.
It was very crowded that we couldn't even see our feet. So, we couldn't decide if we already enter Raudhah's area or not.
How to know?
Raudhah's floors are covered with green carpets, instead of red carpets at other areas.
2) Second attempt.
Okay, this time, it was after Isya' and we decided to really stick to the Malay group. And guess what, it was the same situation. Even in the Malay group, there were so many other people like Africans and Indians in the group.
When people in Malay group were allowed to enter Raudhah, there was no easy way in either. So many people who were already in Raudhah had not leave Raudhah yet. Some others who didn't plan to stay longer, they were also stuck in the crowd and unable to get themselves out of Raudhah. T_T
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| Waiting to pass the second gate. Raudhah is beyond the instructions banners that you can see. |
The challenge for me at that time was, there was another makcik following me and Mak. I felt like another responsibility was given to me as I need to take care of her in Raudhah as well. She is 75 years old, guys. She looks tired of waiting and what else kena himpit etc.
We first sit among the Malays before passing the first door, then we joined another group (it was with the Turks at that time). Alhamdulillah, it was the smoothest than previous two. Mak and I waited patiently (walaupun kena himpit jugak) until we reached the very front line of Raudhah. It was the best zone as less people pushing us.
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| Post-Raudhah |
There are few tips I would love to share.
Not just for you but for my own references in the future.
- Perform lots of solat hajat to pray that we will have easier entry into Raudhah.
- Be patient, sabar sabar and sabar.
- Exercise regularly before coming here so that we will be physically fit.
- Stay with the Malay group first. Usually in front of the first gate will be the Turks, beside them will be us, the Malays. But still, Malay group usually become the last group to pass the first gate T_T
- Try to enter Raudhah with a partner. You can take turn to guard each other to pray. Why? When you sujud, other people would not see you down there. The potential to be stepped on will be much higher.
- While walking passing the first gate, always zikrullah and selawat. We are going to visit Rasulullah s.a.w.! :D
- The time allocated is 5 minutes - they said. But trust me, once you are inside, the tendency to be stuck and unable to exit is high. Use that time you are stuck there wisely - either to pray multiple times, make lots of du'as. If you want to give chance to other people, try to move out slowly while keep on making du'as although it will be challenging as well.
- Try to calm and don't shout as this is a mosque and if Rasulullah s.a.w. can see us, he must be very sad to see the situation T_T Avoid using harsh words and be patient when you are pushed from all directions.
- Send our salam for Rasulullah s.a.w. and his Companions. You can always read the prayers in your guidebook.
- Always say in our prayers that this will not be our last chance to visit Rasulullah s.a.w. and to hope that we will be here again very soon.
- Still perform our prayers towards qiblah, NOT TOWARDS THE TOMBS!
- Enter lightly. I mean, avoid taking with you lots of bags. Even, tawakal a lot to leave the shoes at the shoe racks.
- There are spaces to pray for people on wheelchairs. I think they have different entrance :)
There is an interesting story about Saidatina Aisyah. She was originally offered to have a tomb in Raudhah but she decided not to be there as there would be Saidina Umar r.a. (who was not her mahram). Aisyah was buried at Jannat al-Baqi' (Perkuburan Baqi') which is said that people buried here will be among the earliest to enter Jannah. :)
SS, Perak, Malaysia
180128
Post eHousemen
January 28, 2018
I have quite a number of posts in draft - on Umrah, Europe trips, Malaysia trips, things I did while unemployed yadayada.
Wrote something in each of them, unfinished posts with unedited photos... but I can't put blog as my priority since that day :) Unemployment phase is going to be over very soon and a new life's adventure is approaching.
Can't say I am ready but I pray hard that I have prepared good memories and knowledge to face the truthful lifestyle later. Huhu. Pray for me, yea guys!
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| Going to remember this! |
23rd January 2018
It was the first intake for 2018 and I was included in the list.
The system opened that day at 12pm sharp. Even though I used to book my exam dates via the online University's system for the past good 6 years, but I couldn't help to still feel nervous this time. My future 2 years depend on this.
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| eHousemen |
Still, I told myself to think positive if I got any placement beyond my list. But alhamdulillah, it turned out I got my top four choice. All my Hradec Kralove's colleagues got the hospitals they aimed for as well. Alhamdulillah.
May this is the best for us!
I am going to contribute there for the next two years, hopefully it will still be smooth despite the challenges :)
Ameen ameen!
Ameen ameen!
Awesome Prizes with Traveloka Fly & Win CNY Contest 2018
January 24, 2018
It was an impromptu trip to Cameron Highlands that my parents and I have just returned home from. Alhamdulillah, it was a beautiful short trip that I will always remember and may all the good memories that I have created together with Ayah Mak be the strengthening core for me to start working very soon.
I guess an unemployed daughter with her retired parents really make a good combination for trips. Hehe. And to see them smiling will be one of my life goals, forever.
Redha with me, ya Ayah Mak?
When I was in Cameron Highlands, I watched this one short video for Chinese New Year. It is about a mother who comes out with lots of ideas to make her son happy. She works as a taxi driver and loves to show different parts of the world in various unique approaches to his one and only son. In my heart, I believe she really want to travel the world with him but can't afford it. The ending of this video is a bit touching, watch it yourself. T_T
So, what do you think about the video?
Other than my amazement towards the woman, this video actually reminds me of my very first time flying. It was out of my expectation to have the chance at that time. Planes and me, I honestly had not much idea how to relate us before, other than studying hard to make me eligible to further abroad.
But, this era, chances to fly are almost everywhere. We can buy our own tickets (there are low cost airlines wohoo) and I have been reading that some people collect points from their credit cards! Wowww.
Traveloka Fly & Win CNY Contest! :)
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| Our Cameron trip recently. |
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- 1st: 6 days 5 nights to Seoul (flight & accommodation)
- 2nd: 5 days 4 nights in Phuket (flight & accommodation)
- 3rd: 4 days 3 nights in Langkawi (flight & accommodation)
I guess Seoul is the number one favourite destination for Malaysians! Even though South Korea was my second country abroad that I had been to, honestly I haven't traveled around Seoul yet. Haha. I had a conference in Busan and my time there belonged to the event.
1. Go to Traveloka CNY 2018 Contest. Click Login with Facebook. Then click START GAME.
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| It is encouraged for us to read the terms and conditions for better understanding. |
2. Tap on the screen to balance the plane passing through 'obstacles' like towers, pyramids, hot air balloons, clouds etc. We can obtain extra points by flying through angpaw (red envelopes). Be careful of flying too high or too low as well.
Be patient! :D
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| Tap tap tap... |
To my understanding, to post / share about the challenge on Facebook is NOT compulsory. We can still submit our score to win the Grand Finale Prizes. But.... there is another thing to take note! Traveloka also offers prizes for sharing the Traveloka Fly & Win CNY Challenge on Facebook! There will be 2 winners (randomly chosen) who can win RM1000 Traveloka Voucher each.
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| My best score so far. |
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| So, I make an attempt, like this. Hehe. RM1000 is a lot okay! |
4. Fill in our details and click REGISTER.
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| Fill in.. |
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| 5. The final page! |
Why not grab our chances to secure these free stuffs for us? Hehe.
We can do this!
SS, Perak, Malaysia
180123
9 Challenges in Masjid Nabawi, Madinah
January 23, 2018 Medina Saudi Arabia
Now, it is time to move to Madinah. Every single day in Makkah was meaningful to me. Even my parents who have been there more than once, are still counting days to go there again. See, how significant Makkah and Madinah to Muslims :)
And to you, if you have never been there yet, insyAllah, let's pray hard we will be invited very soon, ameen :)
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| Beautiful masjid, beautiful every whereeeee! |
Actually these lists were applicable to Masjidil Haram as well, just, maybe my challenges were a bit more in Madinah - when I need to istighfar most of the times to calm myself. T_T
1. Embracing people from ALL OVER THE WORLD.
People. They are not just Arabians or Asians like us - Malaysians, Indonesians, Singaporeans or Bruneians. But expect people from other continents as well - Africans, Indians, Turks, Pakistanis even Europeans and Americans!
All of us have different styles of praying (the basics are still similar) but I need to always tell myself, this is me and my way, and them with their ways. Even though I spent 6 years living abroad, I have never seen such mixtures of people. T_T
Berlapang dada, I must say with different mazhabs, another point to jot here.
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| Challenges but the view is always magnificent! |
2. To pray inside Masjid Nabawi or the open spaces outside?
Again, another point open for discussion. As I met different answers every time I asked different people.
Dari Abu Hurairah r.a., Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: "Satu solat di masjid ku ini (Masjid Nabawi) lebih baik dari seribu solat di tempat lain kecuali Masjidil Haram." (HR Bukhari dan Muslim)
Some people prefer to pray inside Masjid Nabawi instead of open spaces outside as they consider the ganjaran to be inside not outside. If you prefer to pray inside, do come earlier before the azan (about 10 minutes) as it will be a bit hard to get a proper space or empty saf if you are late.
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| Sunset - I have no experience watching the process of opening and closing these roofs. After Fajr, when I exit the mosque, it is already open. And after Maghrib, it is already close. |
This is different than Masjidil Haram. I can say if I arrive in between azan and iqamah, I still manage to get myself a good space with Kaabah in front of me <3
Prepare a small prayer mat so that if you don't have the chance to pray on the carpets, you can still pray on the tiles comfortably. The tiles are cold, I am telling you.
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| Open roof inside the mosque - at night. |
3. Orang suka makan saf.
Haha I don't have proper words for this. MashaAllah.
For example, you come early and you manage to get yourselves a good place on the carpet to pray. Like myself, I love to pray beside a pillar so that I have extra spaces to put the sling bags.
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| Masjid Nabawi |
The challenge I want to say here is... when suddenly a group of people come sitting in front of me (knowing there will be no spaces for me to even sujud). I experienced few times that I need to adjust myself before sujud otherwise my head will kiss her foot. T____T
Not to forget how people love to walk passing me, while putting their hands on my head. Other example, their bags simply hit my head and they don't even realise that. T_T
4. Put the shoes in the spaces provided.
I understand some people prefer to carry their shoes with them. Huhu I am not sure if they lack common sense or their common sense is not similar as mine.
At least, if you want your shoes to be with you , put it nicely in a plastic bag.
Can you imagine suddenly you sit on random people's bare shoes (without any knowledge that the shoes are clean or not)? There was one time, a group of 3 ladies came to pray behind me and suddenly they put their bare shoes in front of me.
Whyyy? I don't understand this thing. T_T
5. The guards.
Honestly guards in Makkah are scarier than in Madinah. Hehe.
But, in Masjid Nabawi, we will encounter more guards especially for women. To enter the mosque, there will be guards who will check our bags. Not sure what items are they searching for but camera is one of them. It was a bit tricky for me as I usually put the camera inside my bag (even though I don't have much intention to snap).
But, phones are allowed so just take pictures with the phone okay? Even though sometimes the guards won't allow you to do so. Just, be careful of other people's aurat.
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| Post-Isya' prayer I think? |
6. The challenges to enter Raudhah.
This is one of the ultimate goals in Masjid Nabawi.
Since Raudhah is located closer to men's prayer areas, the duration of time to be there for women is a bit limited. If men can enter Raudhah 24/7, compared to women who can only attempt to enter after Fajr, Zuhur and Isya' prayers.
I will write a specific post on Raudhah - my experiences and tips :)
7. Be patient, sabar sabar sabar
Related to other points, there will be A LOT OF PEOPLE. Sometimes, even for me I need to calm down, be open, try to be ikhlas to go to Masjid Nabawi. I need to keep telling myself that Masjid Nabawi is a very special place, Rasulullah's tomb is even there!
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| Wakaf Quran in Masjid Nabawi have this stamp on :) |
Other than people crossing above you, slapping your head with their bags... please expect they even cross your bags even though there are Qurans on top of the bags!
I am crying insideeeeee.
8. Botol spray wuduk
Same as in Masjidil Haram, this item is crucial.
Toilets for women are not that far and usually they will be in front of the doors to enter the mosque. But for women who already be in the mosque and suddenly batal wudu', it will be a bit challenging to go outside and to take wudu'. T_T Another challenge is to return to your saf when the people are increasing in numbers after you have taken your wudu' outside.
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| The toilets - it is not encouraged to go alone to the basement where the parking level is located. Dangerous especially for women. Stay in groups, yea? |
Avoid drinking too much water before prayers and do it after prayers instead. Water is important to prevent dehydration which is common for us there.
Oh yea, to use the spray, prepare yourselves with small towel to prevent the water from dropping onto the carpets.
9. Tawakal
All efforts must come with this. Tawakal.
Tawakal that there will be spaces for us to pray.
Tawakal that there will be chances for us to visit Rasulullah s.a.w. and his Companions in Raudhah.
Tawakal that our shoes will still be on the shoe racks when we return to pick them up.
And tawakal that our ibadah will be accepted by Allah and we will be granted with pahala and syurga :)
Ameen.
SS, Perak, Malaysia
180120
[Photos] Views of Makkah from Jabal Nur and Gua Hira'
January 22, 2018
It was an impromptu plan for our group. I think there were some people who personally requested to hike Jabal Nur and it became a group activity instead. :D
I am so glad and it becomes one of my best moments in Makkah.
Something I have never imagine in my entire life - to visit the hill where the first revelation was delivered to Rasulullah s.a.w.
That event was significant enough and the reason why the hill is named as Jabal Nur - nur means light / cahaya.
Alhamdulillah!
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| Beautiful, isn't it? <3 |
We left the hotel after Asar around 5 pm with a small van to accommodate 13 of us who would love to join the hiking trip. It was really pack in the van, but I still remember that was the moment I had the sweet chance to introduce myself to other group mates and got to know other people.
What is needed for you to climb?
- A small bottle of water
- A hiking stick
- Wudu' spray. :)
- Dates (kurma) for immediate energy supply
- Comfortable shoes and clothes
- Money - I recommend lots of 1 to 5 riyal notes.
You can easily buy the hiking stick at the shops at the base of the hill. A nonadjustable wooden stick costs about 5 riyal, while the adjustable one about 10 riyal. Haha, at that time my mind flashed back to a cheap hiking stick I bought in Czech for just 20kc! (approximately RM 4),
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| It was challenging to decide at first - to go hiking or not, as I just finished my umrah before Asar. Huuuu |
Arrived quite close to Maghrib, we prepared ourselves for prayer there - neither at the mosque nor musolla but simply at the shops, beside the road :) Then, we started climbing. The hill was not that high, just 640 meters plus but maybe because we hiked in the dark, it felt different.
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| I was amazed with the driver's skills to park their cars at the hilly road like this. |
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| Can you see the crescent moon? |
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| Special pose from the cat :D |
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| View of Makkah. |
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| Hiking higher... |
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| And higher... |
We had been taught that how special Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. is. Even though he was born in a place surrounded with Jahiliyah, he was well taken care and protected from those activities - like syirik etc. But, Rasulullah didn't like all Jahiliyah the people had been doing. He went to isolate himself and to find calmness in Gua Hira' by climbing Jabal Nur.
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| The hills are full with rocks like this. |
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| And this. |
Through out the pathway up the hill, we can meet a lot of people asking for sadaqah. Especially, there will be quite a number of guys who ask sadaqah to make stairs on the hill. Stairs are very helpful for people to climb and sometime the original rocks are too steep to step. It is up to you to help and I would recommend you to prepare small notes before hiking - so that you can help different people.
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| I couldn't see any toilets up there so I wonder what was this thing. T_T It was on the stairs though, I bet no one want to poop in public like this. Actually I have no other idea of what this thing is. -_-' |
Once we reached the peak, we could see some stalls (maybe around 4?) selling varieties of items from drinks, food and even clothes. Prices were a bit higher than usual, but you can expect why - attraction site and I don't think it is easy to carry all items uphill. T_T
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| Stalls. |
Walking at the peak, we could see the best view of Makkah from Jabal Nur. Of course Kaabah was out of view but it was easy to locate the qiblah based on the tall clock tower. In fact, on top of the hill, there was an area complete with carpets to pray.
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| Like this. |
Just ask around about the cave and we managed to arrive at Gua Hira'. The entrance to the cave was not that big, not easy either because the cave was behind rocks.
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| Surah Al-'Alaq - the very first Quran verse revealed to Rasulullah s.a.w. |
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| There were many people but bearable, each of us had the chance to pray at the cave. 2 people can pray at one time - one standing and one sitting. :) |
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| Some people said this is an example of vandalism T_T |
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| Some of our group mates who climbed together :) |
There are many life lessons we learned through out the hiking trip.
It is an amazing spiritual experience, reminiscing the memories when Rasulullah s.a.w. went to find peace in mind plus all strength and sacrifices Rasulullah s.a.w. and his Companions had made to make sure Islam spread to the whole world till now.
And it was really fascinating to think and imagine how Saidatina Khadijah risked herself to deliver meals to Rasulullah s.a.w. Climbing the hills twice daily... I don't think that was easy! There were no stairs back then.
MashaAllah! SubhanAllah!
SS, Perak, Malaysia
180120
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