tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14209102324578000962024-02-07T11:38:54.597+08:00Hazia's Reflections 2A Smooth Sea doesn't make a Skillful Sailor... This is my personal Voyage of NOW and THEN.Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-35751094796905658302010-09-11T23:32:00.005+08:002010-09-11T23:50:19.052+08:00Just ClosureHi there,Wow! It has been a very long time. I didn't forget my password, but it took me more than 20 trials before I realised that I forgot my email address, LOL! Sadly, the Hope I talked about in my previous entry had also become another Closure.Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslims out there. I am taking this oportunity to seek forgiveness if there is any wrong doing, if I hurt anybody's feelings, Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-37452819324380901422010-02-26T18:02:00.013+08:002010-03-13T14:10:45.570+08:00Hope and ClosureJust a quick update, my first entry for 2010. I had a great week at the Lion City after Christmas. I even returned soon after during Chinese New Year. Fate has reunited me with someone who was introduced to me in 2006. Wonder why I wasn't into him before. He's the best combination of the 2 worlds, a dreamer with a big dream who slaves to realise his dream. I feel honoured to be able to help him Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-38849411207351316112009-12-25T04:00:00.004+08:002009-12-25T16:10:42.415+08:00Roar Again, and AgainGosh! Have not updated my blog for 2.5 months, since I started my new job:)I'm sure some would be wondering. Yeah, it started out well, very hectic and a lot of writing. But for the first time, I actually get a boss that I can get along well with. From day one, I observe her carefully, how she manages people especially. I think that is the only thing that puts her above me. In terms of expertise,Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-36311416941799583842009-10-11T13:47:00.011+08:002009-10-11T18:49:29.121+08:00Splashing SyawalBack from a relaxing 2-week long Raya break and straight into a hectic first week at work, LOL!I utilised my break fully to re-connect – menyambung 'Silatulrahim'. The imam's ceramah after Raya prayer was inspiring. After a quiet, low-key Raya celebration, my mother and I visited 3 of our Haj roommates. One in Nakka (near Thai border) – her daughter's wedding where we ate authentic kampung dishesHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-90368115762492511332009-09-10T09:49:00.001+08:002009-09-10T12:40:35.028+08:00Rahmat RamadanIt's the 20th day of Ramadan. My search is finally over. On Friday last week I got a phone call on a great job offer from a Middle Eastern company. And instead of 3 months, I'm getting out with less than 2 weeks' notice. My future employer is paying for 2 months of my notice period and I still have 10.5 days of annual leave left. Which means my last day at work is Thursday next week and I won't Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-16174547405917435612009-08-20T11:13:00.001+08:002009-08-20T12:15:15.620+08:00Rhythm!Last Saturday, my editor/publisher gave his feedback on 5 of the 28 stories that I've submitted. He said mostly I need to work on my rhythm. Stories have rhythm too, just like songs. He suggested that I read the stories out loud and hear what they sound like. He also said that I'm self-censoring myself. Some stories have potential to become erotic, but I stopped it before it could go down that Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-10618691424699728552009-07-13T13:45:00.007+08:002009-07-13T14:45:45.073+08:00Red WaterAfter sending off my draft stories to my editor/publisher, I felt so light. So, I managed to do much more reading. I've also completed another one of my Turkey stories:)Red Water - 1st Cut(continues...)He takes her straight to the thermal pool. They step up onto a low staircase and enter through the door. The scene before their eyes startles her. It feels like a whole different world Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-53808555631019536292009-07-02T09:06:00.013+08:002009-07-03T11:43:44.164+08:00Striking GoldOn Tuesday evening, I finally submitted my first draft of short stories to my editor/publisher. There are 27 stories altogether. From experience, it will take around 2 months until the book is published. Only the day before, my co-author from our first book was shortlisted for an international award for her solo collection. That is great news. It gives a strong recognition to Malaysian Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-31448724953252303842009-06-16T15:22:00.005+08:002009-06-16T16:59:59.235+08:00Commuter Tales 2My low blood sugar experience on the way to work yesterday morning triggered another story. So this morning, I completed 1 more commuter tale. It's much longer than the rest though, at 1200 words.Sugar - 1st CutAs the door of the train opens, she pushes her way between two rows of passengers to reach the deeper part of the compartment. People are leaning along the walls, there is no more empty Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-30089683180530093122009-06-12T11:14:00.005+08:002009-06-12T11:37:15.270+08:00Commuter TalesSomehow, lately, I've started writing very short stories inspired from my daily experience of using the public transportation system. This range from LRT and monorail to commuter and transit train. I'm talking about between 350 to 800 words here, or the new term for it is flash fiction. Maybe one day, I'll have a separate collection of these. Right now, I think it's sufficient to include them in Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-27542010265696603272009-05-31T16:17:00.001+08:002009-05-31T16:18:30.319+08:00Revisiting & Reuniting Last week when I dropped by at my publisher's place, he asked if I would be interested to read through a collection of short stories' drafts submitted by my co-author & comment on the logic, as well as language. Yeah, he beat me to it, so it looks like I would the last to publish my solo book, among the three of us. LOL! I had to attend a dry 2-day course so I brought the drafts along. I Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-15384329948149440702009-05-11T00:07:00.001+08:002009-05-11T12:51:05.832+08:00Awful, Awful AprilI've put off writing this entry for a while. April had been a really tough month for me, work wise and personally. Gosh, even in 2007, Ad 'died' in April.On 23 April, I had another episode with Mr Designer, quite a definite one. I came close to not seeing the RM3,000 that I lended him (short-term for 3 weeks only). And if that is what it cost to get over him, it might just be worth it. He claimedHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-91221776755797487442009-05-02T23:16:00.002+08:002009-05-03T14:18:20.604+08:00Onion on the WallI haven't had time to update on the consecutive blows that I faced during the last 3 weeks. Emotional outbursts at work where they don't belong plus the lack of emotion in my personal life where I could use some... hmm... a trying month indeed.And I had just returned from my school reunion in Perak a few hours ago. There's more to that too.In this entry, I just want to quickly share an excerpt Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-32510089554142600022009-04-11T12:14:00.003+08:002009-04-11T12:25:03.549+08:00Someone will pay...I have attended a few funerals but the one on 23 March was really heart-wrenching. It was the way she died... Just a week from her 40th birthday too. Her colleagues were planning a big party to celebrate. One day, I heard a relative had been missing for 5 days. The next day, police had already found her body in Malacca, floating in the swamp. It happened so fast. 36 hours had passed and the bodyHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-73674815331727029772009-03-21T16:24:00.009+08:002009-03-21T18:46:04.182+08:00Single Room EnsuiteI initially thought of sharing the story of my frustrating stay at Homeros Pension in Selcuk, Turkey in an entry. However, when my instructor showed me a writing contest in Harper's Bazaar, UK with the theme 'mother', I knew this story will be perfect for that. I have decided to tell it from the pension owner's mother's point of view. That is challenging considering that she speaks very limited Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-64340458302505567462009-03-11T17:02:00.012+08:002009-03-12T16:04:04.904+08:00Wet, Hot and Clean - CagalogluThis is my 8th entry on Turkey.Being a spa fan, I had looked forward to visiting the Hamam, or Turkish Baths, during my holiday. Before that, the closest I ever had to experiencing one was the Morrocan version of Turkish Hamam at Bangsar Village. Hmm.. that was like 5-star when compared to the popular ones in Turkey.And I managed to cover 4 hamams in 15 days. By the time I got back to KL, my skinHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-4751313163295228292009-03-05T18:40:00.009+08:002009-03-07T13:35:08.777+08:00Lost in the Labyrinth - part 2This is my 7th entry on TurkeyBy the time I arrived at the entrance of the Grand Bazaar, I was already sweating. I had to unzip my Winter jacket, which I wasn't comfortable of doing as it exposed my waist pouch. The place might seem complex and tricky, but fortunately, I didn't have much trouble there. I got lost slightly when the tour guide left us there during the city tour on Day 2. However, Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-57467306444683346532009-03-03T19:38:00.007+08:002009-03-04T19:50:26.263+08:00Hidden Hospitality This is my 6th entry on Turkey.As much as I enjoyed my Turkey holiday adventure, I have to admit that the first 24 hours after my arrival was something else. I took the MAS Golden Holiday package and that included airport pick-up. The driver who met me at the Ataturk International Airport was 'mute'. A frail looking man, he kept his right hand in his pocket. He did not smile and did not greet Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-6998300049449213392009-03-02T10:25:00.022+08:002009-03-02T16:19:38.098+08:00Lost in the Labyrinth This is my 5th entry on Turkey.Travelling in Turkey on my own was a significant achievement due to the fact that I am extremely direction-challenged. This entry is not merely about the local transportation system but rather how you have to go beneath the ‘deceiving and tricky’ surface to fully enjoy the essence of this unique country. And I did just that.Feeling ambitious, I had pre-booked a Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-50656570396645975382009-02-28T18:40:00.009+08:002009-03-01T12:49:56.998+08:00Cay for Two - Part 2 This is my 4th entry on Turkey. Before I continue the story on the damn attractive 36 year-old bachelor carpet store owner I met on my first night in Selcuk, let me share another tourist's comment I found on a blog (see: omansusan.blogspot.com/2007/10/vol-52-day-5-selcuk.html).) She described him as tall, dark, handsome, relaxed and super-sexy. So, he sizzled, it wasn't just me, LOL! Well, sheHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-35800435609359150752009-02-26T12:17:00.004+08:002009-02-28T12:09:35.589+08:00The First Time I Saw SnowThis is my 3rd Turkey entry, and my first since I returned to KL this morning.I could never forget the first time I saw snow. On 15 February 2009, the Hasslefree travel agent to Troy and Gallipoli called me to say that my morning pick up will be delayed to 3pm. My tour guide will accompany me on the Metro public bus for the 6-hour journey to Canakkale . Reason being was because it was snowing Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-28183549331350545202009-02-22T22:30:00.007+08:002009-02-27T19:28:28.347+08:00Cay for TwoThıs ıs my 2nd entry on Turkey. Yeap, I am stıll here.Turkısh people serve tea ın a tıny narrow glass on a small plate. It ıs mostly to welcome theır guests, to warm up ın wınter or just as a drınk to hang out wıth frıends. Interestıngly, by my 10th day ın thıs country, I have learned the many dıfferent meanıngs of an ınvıtatıon to tea, and how to read the hıdden motıve of the one offerıng ıt. Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-3695757169994242802009-02-18T19:39:00.005+08:002009-02-27T18:30:27.229+08:00Tricky TurkeyMerhaba! Today marks my 8th day ın Turkey and 1st day of ınternet access. It has been quıte an adventure... both good and bad. Travellıng alone as a woman ın a unıque country on a free and easy schedule ıs really enrıchıng´ though ıt ıs rısky and scary ın many ways. My 5 days ın Istanbul was smoother than I had ımagıned but full of contrastıng experıences too. My 2 days ın Canakkale was quıck butHaziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-84804416539736891502009-02-02T14:14:00.004+08:002009-02-02T14:36:04.243+08:00An Unlikely RescueDisclaimer: please change the channel if you don't fancy this particular topic.I’ve wanted to write about this for a while. A lot has happened ever since Mr Designer parted with his ex-partner. And I never thought that there would be a day when the former would serve as a back-up for the later. Now that I have met his ‘secret team’, it shed lights on so many matters. It showed me a completely Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420910232457800096.post-82998886234018971412009-02-01T16:01:00.008+08:002009-02-02T13:04:07.137+08:00Picking UpThis morning, somehow I got the inspiration to re-look and re-approach a long overdue story. I first submitted the story to my instructor in December 2007. He rejected it, saying that it has 2 different stories within it and I need to decide which one I wanted to write. He also said it was impossible for a gay man to turn straight and years later form a relationship with his partner's ex-wife. Haziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777527354266474628noreply@blogger.com0