Hilman Nordin

Nov 8, 2009

SS: Monkey met the Emperor

Emperor's Garden Restaurant, Boston. Picture taken from Yelp

Master asked me to venture to China. The act was supposed to be done by him personally, but for the fear of his health, I was asked to go. That was the first time master sent me to do something else other than scouting. The current job is not easy, it is more complicated than the routine tasks that I was asked to do.

A great leader should have met the Emperor in person.

I grow fond of the Emperor of China from the stories that master has told me before. Thus, the meeting made me feel sort of insecure, knowing that relations between the two countries is not always good. Moreover, master has made known to the world that he is going to conquer China. Saying your vision out loud may have been very stimulating and self-satisfying, but when it comes to meeting the man in person, your presence matters - I wonder if having only me to represent such boastful vision will be enough.

I was sitting in front of the Emperor in one of his gardens.

The meeting was a secret between the two governments. Many would be disturbed to know that such relations between countries existed. The people of both countries - grew suspicious of each other for such a long time. Others, Dutch, Spanish and all will be very alarmed to know such meeting took place. My master also took the necessary steps to keep the meeting secret, even from the knowledge of his faithful advisors.

If only the Emperor knew I am only a Monkey sent by the Great Kingdom of Japan, I would certainly be expelled. I was to play the role of my master's right hand man.

"The unifier of Japan is very busy to meet you for such trivial matters", I began the conversation, referring to the meeting as mere trivial.

"And yet, he is now quarreling with his wives! I wonder where he put his priorities." the Emperor chuckled, referring to the clashes that still occur among clans in Japan, even after the unification.

"He always have his priorities in his vision to conquer the world" I said the word confidently, though I couldn't hide the trembling tone.

"And today, he sent only a small man to move the mountains of China?" the Emperor smiled. I believe the phrase 'mountains of China' was referring to the vast population of the country, and the resistance that we would face from the vast army, should we decide to attack China.

I need something even stronger than mountains...

"Today, he sent only a man to bring forth his vision", I declared.

Today, Monkey bring forth his master's vision to be heard by the Emperor of The Rising Dragon.

And that evening marked a historical event. I saw the princess in person - the two great countries have agreed to stop major clashes. The common seas however, will be left to rock with minor skirmishes between young generals. The princess will be married to my master, though there are several complications that suggest the marriage be done in secret. The Dutch and Spanish will be banished from the lands of the two countries, and new sea-route to the New World will be discovered by heading East, towards the rising sun.

The secret meeting in the lavish garden of the Emperor will always be in my memories. I believe now that, in order for me to perform my best, my master should have trusted me in full. A great leader he is, giving me the opportunity to seek a better me, when he could have done the same.

Knowing my master, however, I believe he already had that many opportunities with him since the beginning.

But, he didn't get the opportunity to taste wonderful Chinese cuisines with me!

p/s: Currently Monkey D. Luffy is trudging to level 3 of Impel Down.

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Nov 1, 2009

Short Story : Monkey learned about his master.

Monkey D. Luffy WANTED poster - as advertised in Taipei Main Station Mall

It was raining that day. I always wanted to get rid of the rain - by getting out of the Palace early, so that I can continue my journey to the next city. Today, somehow, I did not have the strength to do so, maybe because of the early morning scold by my master.

I believed I had served him well. I scouted paths before he travelled through, I checked his sword, sharpened it before any battle and I tasted the food before he ate it - to make sure that it is not poisoned.

Though I loved my job – especially the food tasting, I always believed that my master does not have what it takes to be our leader.

I dreamt of taking over his place all the time!

That day, I failed miserably. I knew I deserve to be scolded. But still, I believed that he does not have the cut to be a wonderful leader – he does not do what is required to be one.

I always believe that to be someone great, you have to do great things.

That day, I learned something. Great people just do not do great things in front of your eyes. They did it every time.

What’s even greater – my master offered me the opportunity to do the miracle. Shocked – I leave the honour to him.

Then I thank God for the opportunity to see a great miracle at work – and I prayed that he stays that way.

I then trudged through the drizzle – scouting.

p/s: I was a boy-scout once. Someone told me that boy-scout also means something else.

p/p/s: The miracle was not food-tasting, in case if you are wondering.

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Oct 25, 2009

Minna, Arigatou~

It is quite surprising to know that, during my absence in writing, there are still few clicks here. It is true that however we see it, updating your blog should be in one's list of responsibilities. Some might go as far as saying "this is my blog, therefore, it is my choice to update it".

Respect

I respect those who read this page. It is because you took the time to read someone else's opinion on things, what revolves around him, and some even leave comments: a gift that all bloggers wanted - however they may deny this simple gesture as having an effect to them.

One asked me to update this page.

A living page

I don't know why, but somehow, this page has a life of its own. On two different occasions, I was told that they read my blog even though I did not update. It is because there are other people's updates featured at the sidebar of this page, updating every hours with new thoughts and experiences.

On these two occasions, both conveyed a message that they learned a lot by reading my friend's blog. I too am learning from them: but I never thought my blog can act as a bookmark for someone else to read my friend's updates.

Malaikat

On one occasion, someone told me that I have 'Angels' as friends. The way these people conduct themselves (in the Internet) are pious. The message that they deliver filled with warmth and peace. They hardly putting on bad light on matters.

On the other, someone told me that he learned where the next "Intellectual Discourse" will be by reading my (friend's) blog.

Connecting people

I believe I belong to various circles of friends. The topics I discussed here varies from time to time. I have interests in many different things. I guess, that's how people meet each other. From someone you know that knows someone that her friend knows someone.

What disappoints me is that sometimes, the traffic only goes one-way. By one-way I do not mean that you have to comment on my friends blog, but what I really mean is there's this one group who didn't take the opportunity to get to know the others.

These people may provide solutions in their blogs - therefore the heavy traffic into their pages, but they did not go and have a look into the source of the problems - get to know where the solutions can fit in.

Come on, get together and play nice with each other.

Arigatou.

Some of you friends who are listed on the sidebar changed people's life. I want to thank each and everyone of you for making your blogs updated, filled with information, solutions, problems to be solved and rantings on your life. You never know how your blog can benefit others. Even if you are writing about a vase behind the wall that you cannot see (what the...).

Thank you. Now I have many reasons not to write often. LOL!

p/s: I am in the state of living a story of my own. I am not prepared to share with you the stories of what happened until 'it' happened. I believe, after 'that' point of my life, I will eventually tell you the story - for the sake of sharing and learning from each other.

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Oct 2, 2009

Pelajaran untuk pagi raya, sehari sebelum raya dan selamanya.

Raya tahun ini saya banyak mempelajari berkenaan "memberi". Selain daripada merupakan tahun pertama saya menjadi 'distributor' di pagi raya, ada banyak peristiwa yang berlaku pada Syawal 1430 H yang pada pendapat saya, tidak akan saya lupakan sampai bila-bila. Mungkin inilah yang dirasakan oleh atuk, nenek, pakcik, makcik, ibu dan ayah saya apabila memberikan sesuatu, samaada di pagi raya, beberapa hari selepas raya pertama ataupun selama-lamanya.

Ibu bapa

Syukur ke hadrat Allah, pada tahun ini, saya sudah bisa memulakan untuk memberi sedikit token apresiasi kepada kedua ibu bapa saya. Sengaja saya memberi 'duit raya' sedikit awal, iaitu sehari sebelum raya - untuk mengambil berkat Ramadan. Ada juga ibu mempersoalkan samaada saya berkira-kira dengan Tuhan kerana melakukan sedimikian.

Bagi saya, saya perlu mengambil semua peluang yang ada. Oleh kerana saya bukanlah ahli ibadah, hafiz qur'an ataupun sesiapa yang tidak banyak dosanya, saya merasakan bonus Ramadan yang dikurniakan Allah perlulah direbut. Awal atau lambat, namanya tetap "duit raya" bagi saya.

Sedikit kelakar, apabila saya memberikan duit raya kepada ibu bapa saya, namun pada masa yang sama, makan dan minum saya masih lagi ditanggung mereka. Kalau dihitung, perbelanjaan untuk pulang beraya (tol, minyak kereta) sahaja mungkin sudah melebihi duit raya yang saya berikan.

Aduh, memang banyak lagi bakti dan jasa yang selama ini ditabur kepada saya oleh kedua ibu bapa. Nampaknya, saya perlu berusaha lebih keras lagi untuk membalas jasa mereka.

Sepupu-sepapat

Wajah ceria Aidilfitri - Kira - kira yang perlu dibuat.

Sepupu memang ramai. Yang masih bersekolah pun ramai. Mereka ini, saya sudah buat peruntukan khas. Awal sebelum bulan puasa lagi saya sudah berkira-kira untuk memberikan sesuatu kepada mereka. Dilema peringkat awal, ialah berapa yang sepatutnya diberikan kepada mereka?

Rakan sekerja pula mula menceritakan pengalaman raya tahun-tahun sebelumnya apabila ada yang membuka sampul duit raya di hadapan si pemberi sambil mengatakan, "Alahai... Seringgit aje?" .

Syukur Alhamdulillah, apabila nyaris sahaja saya membatalkan hasrat untuk memberi, Allah memberikan saya rezeki lebih untuk makbulkan hajat saya. Akhirnya, saya memutuskan untuk memberi dahulu sekadar mampu, dengan kesimpulan yang saya buat terhadap diri saya - saya baru sahaja bekerja beberapa bulan, tahun-tahun akan datang akan lebih banyak daripada tahun ini insyaAllah (pada masa yang sama bilangan sepupu turut bertambah).

Sedikit kekesalan saya pada tahun ini ialah, saya gagal merancang untuk menghadiahkan sesuatu kepada pakcik dan makcik saya. Tahun hadapan, perancangan perlu lebih baik.

Adik beradik

'Memberi' kepercayaan untuk dua orang adik memandu kereta ke Kuala Lumpur. Ini boleh dikira sebagai satu pemberiankah?

Syukur, tahun ini juga mula memberi kepada adik beradik. Biasanya sebelum ini, pemberian untuk adik beradik hanya berkisar tarikh lahir mereka sahaja. Tahun ini, saya gembira dapat memberi kepada mereka juga, diluar tarikh lahir. Kegembiraan saya untuk memberi kepada mereka mungkin sahaja melampaui batas masa selepas ini.

Dan biasanya, saya meletakkan syarat kepada adik-adik saya. Terutamanya yang lelaki (macamlah ada banyak adik lelaki) . Syaratnya, duit yang diberikan hanya boleh digunakan untuk jalan ma'ruf sahaja.

Sebenarnya, memang sepatutnyalah kita membelanjakan untuk jalan yang baik sahaja. Tetapi, cuba kita renung sekali sekala. Astaghfirullah, saya mendapati, ada juga wang saya yang keluar untuk perkara sia-sia.

Saudara jauh

Kalau nak diikutkan saya sebenarnya sudah mula memberikan duit raya sebelum Ramadan lagi. Yang paling awal ialah seawal Ogos. Saya memberikan duit raya awal kepada Dani dan Lala semasa saya berada di Taiwan.

Dani bengang selepas dilanggar secara tidak sengaja oleh seorang budak lelaki Cina. Silap saya bila jalan tak tengok depan!

Keluarga sebelah ibu memang besar. Ayah kepada atuk lelaki berkahwin dua. Jumlah anak semuanya 25 orang, termasuk atuk lelaki saya. Di Taiwan, saya bertemu dengan Abang Hashim dan Kak Adda, the best Malaysian couple in Taiwan! Syukur, dalam pada saya dan Sayuti berkira-kira untuk mencari tempat untuk tinggal bagi hujung minggu tersebut, Abang Hashim terus sahaja mengambil kami untuk minum-minum, dan menawarkan tempat untuk bermalam bagi hujung minggu tersebut.

Kasihan juga dengan Dani dan Lala. Mereka perlu beraya di perantauan pada umur yang masih muda. Saya belum lagi merasakan perkara sedimikian dalam hidup saya setakat ini.

Syoknya memberi

Bukanlah tujuan saya untuk memberitahu semua berkenaan saya telah memberi banyak duit raya pada aidilfitri kali ini (sebenarnya bukan banyak mana pun - cuma nasib baik tiada siapa yang buka sampul raya dan menjerit ".....ringgit aje?!!"). Tetapi saya sangat gembira untuk berkongsi dengan semua kegembiraan memberi dengan semua.

Memberi bukanlah semasa Aidilfitri dan Ramadan sahaja. Adik saya baru-baru ini 'berlatih' untuk senyum. Katanya, "senyum itu sedekah".

Kalau dalam musim raya ini, "memberi masa" dan melawat sanak saudara mungkin satu perkara yang kita sukar lakukan. Ketahuilah bahawa kita sedang menyenangkan hati mereka dengan melawat mereka, dan 'menghabiskan' makanan yang dijamukan kepada kita. Falsafah 'sepenuh-penuh peti, takkan tak muat sehelai sapu tangan' digunakan secara maksimum untuk menjamu kuih raya selepas perut sudah selesa dengan rendang dan ketupat.

Cumanya, apabila kita dihadapkan dengan pilihan berat - Allah mahukan kita untuk memberikan perkara yang terbesar dalam hidup kita, saya risau sekiranya tidak mampu melakukannya. Saya risau sekiranya saya tidak boleh 'enjoy' dalam memberi lagi.

Apabila saat itu tiba, saya kurang pasti bagaimana tindakan saya.

Yang baiknya, saya sedang melihat seseorang yang sedang berhadapan dengan perkara tersebut di hadapan mata. Kekuatan perlu diraih, semangat setiakawan, dan yang paling penting sekali kebergantungan dengan Allah. Saya mendoakan beliau berjaya dalam memberi yang terbaik, meskipun dalam masa yang sama, bisikan syaitan di hatinya semakin menjadi-jadi. Semoga beliau terus melihat kehidupan ini dengan mata hati, dan dapat terus 'enjoy' dalam memberi.

Banyak yang perlu saya belajar. Benarlah, 'real' tak sama dengan 'ideal'. Cuma saya sahaja yang perlu terus menerus berhajat untuk melihat dunia ini dalam bentuk ideal - menurut acuan Penciptanya - dan saya rasa mula-mula saya perlu tanamkan sifat memberi ini.

p/s: Maaf. Post ini sudah lama dikarang, tetapi ambil sedikit masa untuk dipaparkan.

p/p/s: Semoga beroleh manfaat. =)

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Sep 18, 2009

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Maaf Zahir Batin.

from

Mohamad Hilman bin Nordin

p/s: This post is made on a rush. I'm going to share with you more on raya, insyaAllah
p/p/s: Going for a long drive to Mersing, Johor. Going to be back in KL on Wednesday.
p/p/p/s: Enjoy your raya ppl! -Pray that all our ibaadah is accepted by God-

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