Cravings...

Famous Amos cookies...

my beloved still cannot understand why everytime i pass a famous amos cookies stall..

i just have to buy it.

To him (which i secretly agree)...to pay that much money for a small amount of cookies is a waste of money! After all.... there r loads of cookies by eti or Ülker which taste just as nice (or even better)...so why WASTE???

But thatz d thing isnt it...memory... the sense of de ja vu is a powerful thing indeed...

when i was still studying at the university....everytime i passed the famous amos cookies... i simply had to have it! The smell as u passed by the freshly baked cookies... awwwwwww... for a chocolate cookies lover like me... i just couldnt resist!

After i reached Turkey... i was also deprieved of one of my fav drinks...

Yes... the black current Ribena....Years of looking... Ribena was no where to be found....

and so early this year when cappy introduced....

this mixed fruit juice...i was smiling from ears to ears... Yes...the dominant taste was d black current... though no one in my family like it... i just simply love it!! A reminiscent of ribena...right in front of my doorstep :0)

The same with *air asam jawa* (dried salty plum..added with water...sugar...with ice... heavenly for the hot malaysian weather)... Naturally.. there is no such thing as asam jawa drink... the dried plum in turkey rdefinitely not salty! :0) ..

and so as a substitute...
this sour cherry juice drink... with ice...it is fantastic!!!

Today...as our street was scheduled to have power dstruption between 1200 till 1400...
i decided to escape my home... and had set a date with a fellow singaporean living in istanbul...
for.......no connection with the date... just wanna show u my fav view in the ferry while crossing the continent today....

ok..ok... back to the date....

An indian restaurant in taksim square...

a lunch date with fana..thanks fana for lunch...!!

The next time.. it will be on me, ok?Hari ni akak bankrupt hahahahha... but that minyak cap kapak... insyaAllah... :0)

We had buryani rice with 2 spicy indian dishes...(u can ask for not spicy as well) as well as samosa (that we gulped already hahaha)

and left n right... for the first time in my life living in istanbul..i see sooo many indians!! hahahah

this is the addy for the restaurant if u istanbulites r interested...

http://www.musafirindian.com/eng/eng.htm


Yum yum!

I have not eaten real indian food for ages...!!

Jadi berbaloi la kan baling baddin pi sekolah hari ni?? hahahaha mak bertuah betul...!!!
tapi in my defence la kan... esok n lusa school holiday... lagipun pagi pagi i siap nebulised kan dia dah....takkan this week ponteng sekolah one week kot kan???
:0)

Oh yeah... back to d kids...

simah..over n out for the week...got things to do...see ya!


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A Sunny day at İTO..

THANK YOU for today... i had a nice day...See?? it is not difficult to have romantic pics eh? I am glad 3 romantic family photos were snapped today (by 3 different cameras)..

Selim.... practise on ur smile please!!!!! :0)

i am soooooo tiredddd(and people- say weekends r supposed to be day off)

i owe people blog hopping big time! sorry....

Now..people...please!!..allow me time to analyse n hug n kiss my flight ticket!! hahahah

Thank You for hopping by...Hope to see u again the next time..

My mumbling tonite...

I make it a routine for my kids to listen to Yaasin almost every nite on the mp3 ...esp after the grandpa died... it helped them on the road to recovery a lot....taking turns on who will listen first every nite...

But tonite... baddin begged me.....

*anne... bu akşam dinlenmessak?*
Anne... can i not listen to it tonight?

I softly said in turkish...

*But baddin... u know that ur soul needs eating... physically u have eaten... but what about ur soul? Do u want ur soul to be hungry?*

Contemplating on what to say next... he softly agreed with my points and took the headphone from my hand...

*Ama anne... xxxx doesnt listen to yaasin....xxxx's soul must be hungry then?*

hmmmm...he has a thinking mind indeed....i am glad...

and a very typical trait of Sabahaddin...(just like the grandpa who shared the name).....very careful of the goodness of his health....his dad just told him a few days ago that enginar (artichoke) is very good for health....to help him run faster (he is fanatic about running)... so now he kept asking me to cook him enginar!! hahaha

I called home today as well...2 days later will be my dad's birthday... i just hope i wont forget to call him then (as i keep forgetting every year! hahahaha..anak bertuah!!)..when i asked my mom to ask my dad what he wants from turkey.... he replied from far....

*I dont want anything... just come home!*

Ah...so typical of my dad.... i thought of giving him a silver ring...to be given to him when we meet face to face....my mom is already giving her orders of what she wants... alahaii... lemah lutut! hahaha....boleh cancel tak balik mesia?? *wink*

Forgive me for talking too much of going home... i must be boring u with my mumbling... it is only that i dont get to go home often... n when i do have the chance... it is a big happening in my life... so bear with me ey?
*****************

I havent got the chance to read baba's autobiography in full...... but i did read the part when he talked about his family...well... specifically of..my beloved, my kids n myself naturally... curious of what he had to say...

What i discover is this....

**** he talked about how halil approached him unexpectedly about our love... i think i had written an entry on it during summer 2007...as for our wedding in malaysia... he mentioned something about my parents as warm people esp with visitors...about our wedding...

****he talked about hatice.... mentioning about me breastfeeding her...(no bottle for her)..which somehow was a big deal for him...he mentioned about how beautiful her eye lashes r...of what a fluent speaker she is... of how she is able to read several Quranic verses with the mother as the teacher... i think he was proud of that fact...

*****he talked about baddin....about how he felt honoured that my beloved and i decided to name our son, his name... and i was actually smiling hen he introduced baddin as *zeynel sabahaddin*... even though my son's name is only *sabahaddin*..... baba was trying to be fair... my dad's name is *zainal*...in which in Turkish it is *zeynel*... so as to be fair..he had put my dad's name too in the printing... again he talked about my son being fully breast fed...well...i think i had breast fed both my kids for 5 years in total non stop!!

****he also talked about my beloved... i think he was really proud that during the intensive training at the military service, my beloved got first place in the exams...

i am not really emotionally ready to read the whole book..i am sure i can understand the book quite well despite my not so good turkish......i am just not ready....i will one day... just not yet...as for now... i just look at the pictures...

but what i dont understand on one thing is... after completing his ph.D.. he was offered the visiting scholar status by both cornell university and harvard university... and he decided on cornell....by prestige... i think harvard is much more prestigious... but he decided to go to cornell...it doesnt make much difference anyway i suppose... he turned out to be one of the most prestigeous professors in Turkey anyway... be it cornell or harvard...


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In loving memory...

Kerim was giving meşe something.... was that a book?

Meşe was so busy concentrating on the task at hand...
Yup..i think thatz a book...each person holding one book...

But whatz so special about it? Even halim n özlem were full concentrating...

Meşe n kerim talking to each other...

Meşe crying??

I think it is only naturally coz....

Sabahattin Zaim

1926-2007

Bir Ömrun Hikayesi

(One life story)..

Finally..... baba's autobiography is ready...

the very much awaited book for many...

It is not out yet for the public...soon i assume it will...

too bad baba is not here to sign the book himself...

and for each person in this family... at one point of time today...alone or with someone else...including myself...must have shed a tear or two...

in loving memory of the one so dear to the heart...

the one i call...

baba

May peace be upon you

u can go to...

www.sabahattinzaim.org

if u wanna see a website made by halim (baba's 3rd son) for him..

the first piece (the inside part)

the second piece (the outer part)

I have also finally picked up the dress i bought to be worn at my sis' wedding...
it doesnt look too good in the picture i am afraid... it is not white as i thought... it is acrue..or is it cream?..the two colors r just the same to me! hehehe
it is a 2 piece type of clothing...it is simple and yet in my personal opinion...elegant... ladylike...
but i cant say it will still be elegant after i wear it though...u will have to judge it once i wear it at my sis wedding! Still..i love it so much! after all... i wont get a chance to buy this type of clothing often...just once a wedding! :0)

I have a pounding headache... the comments in my previous entry... can i asnwer them a bit later? i am sooo in need of a bath... been out the whole day...the bed is the only place i wanna be...cant though.... thousands of things to do right now.. dont we all eh?

Thank You for hopping by...Hope to see u again the next time..

Love me tender...

I guess it doesnt matter how old you are....when u r feeling not well...all u need is a loving tender care of the one most cherished for you...

While Afife teyze was wheeled into her room after the operation..in her disoriented state..she called for her deceased mom...

When hatice n baddin got sick last week days..both kept asking me to hug them non stop...almost putting household chores to a halt...

when my beloved felt/feel not well... he too seek the loving and tender care of his love...asking me to hold his hands as i softly play with his hair while i occasionally kiss his cheeks....

Love is what one needs ...always...

After baddin's birthday... virus was active in this home... Saturday, both kids were sort of sick... baddin had fever on monday...his flu continued still...Hatice woke up with high fever on Thursday and Friday... Only when we started the antibiotics did she start to recover...That nite...my beloved followed suit...he even went to Bursa to give the lecture there only to dscover that by 11 am.. his energy was all used up n he decided to go home to istanbul.....he is still not well.....it is a rush here and there for one week... i myself am in danger of catching the virus...but since i think i have the best defence system in this family (masyaAllah)... i am hoping that at least... let them all recover before i can afford to get sick...

THus...forgive me if i CANNOT blog hop anywhere... not now as yet...i have my family to attend to...i still couldnt pick up my dress from tekbir shop at the other side of the bridge for my sister's wedding... but u know what? by chance...while my beloved attended a meeting ...he left the kids n i at a shopping area where prices r cool and choices r great ..and we found...

Gold coloured shiny shoes for her... (it doesnt look too good here but it is gorgeous!)

Proper shoes for him... A suit for him....Perfect for a little gentleman :0)
But of course...for my sister's wedding... meşe hala has promised to buy him a short sleeve white shirt to wear for the wedding in Malaysia (long sleeve for Malaysia?? i am not that crazy!)... the short sleeve shirt is not in season yet :0) Yes...pink tie! hahahah Hey wanted it!! Truly his daddy's son! I love it when my beloved wears pink shirt :0)

and what will my dear princess wear???

Her very own personal choice....her dream dress...

What do u think? Doesnt she look sweet???

Now i need to find accessories for her to wear.... gold in color naturally!

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Stronger woman...

I was a part of the TESL Hİ CAMP CLUB during my matriculation years in PPP/ITM (Pusat Pendidikan Persediaan/İTM)....in one of the activities during one of the camping trips....we had *friends analysis*... where each of the members (i think this was the activities for commitee members of the club) were to write the strengths and weaknesses of each of their friends there. (oh yeah...i still keep that paper after all these years...caya jgn tak caya!).Here r what they came up with...Bear in mind that this was when i was in my late teens..i dont think i have entered my 20s yet then...



STRENGTHS
***********
Courageous
Has good esprit de corps
Always very careful with things she's in charge of
Very hardworking
Dedicated
Kind
Friendly
Committed
Not afraid to try new things -to volunteer
Quiet
Uncomplaining
Can take Jobs
Group oriented
Physically fit
Determined
Sporting (although she knows people say she's slow)
Trustworthy
Intuitive
Finishes her homework on time
Always follows instructions
Helpful
Motivated



WEAKNESSES
************
Forgetful
Careless-clumsy
Quite disorganised
Lacks courage and confidence-low self esteem
Sometimes too engrossed in her own work that she fails to thing of other people i.e help other people
Blur - blank
Has to wait for orders -dependent
Slow
Too trusting
Feel guilty -blames herself at the wrong time
Not assertive
Does not stand up for herself
Quite vague in her ideas
Falls asleep easily


Miss Yates (our advisor'z advice) to me then was..


*You have to be more focussed both in your thoughts and actions. Pay more credits to your own ideas- sometimes, they are worth it*


Yes...I have to agree with her...the low self esteem i had then was affecting my personality development...that had held me back from developing 100 percent the adventurous, spontaneous, mischievious,essentric person that i should be/am...


I am not going to tekan butang and compliment myself on what they thought my strengths were/are..... tak main la puji diri hehehehe i can imagine my *best buddy ever* rolling her eyes right now hahahahahah but dear pal.. feel free to compliment me if u want!...though i doubt that from the deepest of my heart!!! hahahahaha


but the weaknesses...let me comment on some of them...


Yes..i think i am as forgetful and as clumsy as ever... i cant remember the number of times i hit something n got blue n black all over... or the times i spill stuffs...particularly if i get tired.....clumsy... i am still... very in fact...


Too engrossed to think of others in my work till forgetting to think of others..i suppose that still applies... do u remember my one entry many months ago how if i am lost in my own thoughts... even if u r in front of me..i wont even notice u... ?? Aye! thatz me, maam :0)


Lacks of courage? hmm...i think i am one of those courageous persons there is (or have i misplaced the word with insane? *wink*)...ok..ok..now maybe...perhaps not then eh?


...My self confidence is not what it was... living in this land... having to experience things that i never thought possible.....i think i am more self confidence than what i was then... i think i am good as everyone else...i feel good being me....i used to think that being coloured is less superior than the white...Living among the whites...... i see how silly that is...i no longer compare my dark skin or my flat nose with my belovedz who is white with pointed *crooked* nose *wink*


Blur...slow....hahahaha blur??... u have to decide for urself...i suppose that will always be my unique self... but slow?? that has totally changed... i have this reputation among the moms in my kids' school as the mom who plays jengket jengket... the mom who is basically on the run (literally speaking)all the time..i am almost never without my jeans n t-shirt...in which during one of the teas i attended n i wore ladylike dress... one of the moms i am close with couldnt believe her eyes that i can be ladylike (slow? never!) :0)..active..yes..i am.. am always here and there...thus making my sports shoes a very vital part of my being...


Falls asleep easily.? Oh YES! A lady has got to have to sleep to keep her beauty eh? ... if i am tired... i am not shy to yawn..i will sleep at every opportunity....



But one thing i hate about my weaknesses is that i was quite vague with my ideas....i am not able to present my ideas effectively...i am still vague...i cant seem to focus...that for a person trained as a teacher is a totally bad trait...maybe thatz why i dont work here ? hahaha nahhh..this is purely laziness :0)..but i know i would have been one hell of a dedicated teacher if i still teach...(perasannnnnnn... cepat muntah best buddy ever! hahaha)


Not being able to focus does not mean that i do not give credit to my ideas... i didnt then...but i do now... that is why i am not shy mumbling in my blog as well as mumbling in a local newspaper once in a while....on things i feel important to voice out.. yes.. my articles in todayz zaman is the ultimate evidence that i value my ideas... thus an indirect indication that my self confidence is escalating...


All i can say for myself is this....I am not a Perfect Woman... Like everyone else...every step i take .... every moment i breathe... is a learning experience for me.... i have a lot of flaws...as well as the good sides in me...... but i also know that i am happy now..happy becoz i am able to accept myself as i am....which i couldnt years ago... i am happy to be me (despite my weight problem).... i am stronger inside and out... and Alhamdlillah even when my families n friends r in Malaysia ... i am surrounded by my other family n friends here in turkey...
All in all..i am just a simple and decent person who is getting stronger every day ...
not forgetting the woman who counts her days as well...

the tickets to fly home is safely tucked somewhere...

i look at it everyday...silly i know but then... i just cant help it...

The hotel where we will be staying in KL... the reservation is confirmed..

We will be in crown princess hotel from 13th till 17th june...

What more can i ask for??

i am wobbly inside with excitement...

I am praying hard that Allah will ease my way

to the land i miss...

to the people i long to see...

to the food i wish to gobble...

And after a long time... iwrote another article...this time on my RP renewal...

u can check it out at my articles blog...

http://www.mytzarticles.blogspot.com/

Thank You for hopping by...Hope to see u again the next time..

Visa vs Permanent Resident vs Residence Permit n BİRTHDAY BOY :0)

Merve called this a *weak menu*

coz there'z no dolma in it *wink*

İ called this *the best i could do menu*

esp since i decided to hold the birthday gathering at Baba's place instead of my own place...

mainly due to Teyze's suggestion..which was/is logical coz baba's place is sooo much bigger and everyone would be more comfortable...after all... Mıstık's there... ı wont need to do the cleaning up etc etc heheheh.. and considering that the kids had spring school on the same day...i wouldnt have enough time or energy to tidy up my place properly...(in which instead we had a nice family time together with the kids at their spring school)..

....and i spent Friday going from one shop to another to buy the last minute materials ..esp since i originally planned only börek n poğaca as the food to be served(if it were to be held at my place hehehe)...so for one starting the cooking by 5pm..in between the kids' weekend homework n dinner etc...) and THANKS 2 mıstık for boiling the chicken n eggs for me..my weak menu was the best i could do hehehe

And for a fussy eater like Merve... even she found something to eat on the menu... Thank God! :0)

So... baba's place it was indeed...where everyone was comfortable ...n the guys get to watch the Fenerbahce match!! :0)

The birthday Boy..entering number 7

on the way to baba's place... at baba's place..

for the rest of the photos... please hop hop to my photo blog :0)

Referring to Alice's comment in my previous entry..i think there is a confusion in terms here...even for myself in between PR n RP...i have taken the liberty (please excuse the boring description which i think r necessary)..for me to clarify the terms...

Visa
*****


Visa (document), a document whereby a duly authorized government agency gives a citizen of another country permission to enter the country.






Permanent Resident
*****************


Permanent residency refers to a person's visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country despite not having citizenship. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident.






Depending on the country, permanent residents usually have the same rights as citizens except for the following:
they may not vote (some countries allow this)
they may not stand for public office
they may not apply for public sector employment (some countries allow this)
they may not apply for employment involving national security (In Singapore, however, Second-generation PRs have to undergo compulsory military service)
they may not own certain classes of real estate
they may not hold the passport of that country
they may not access the country's consular protection (some countries allow this)

(Alice..i think this is what u have right now.. but not the one i have..mine is below)..





Turkish Residence Permit
**********************


According to the provisions of Law no.5683 of 15 July 1950, persons who come to Turkey as tourists may stay Four months without a residence permit, unless there is a restriction in their visa or a separate provision in the visa agreement between Turkey and their country of origin. Generally the period stipulated in visa agreements is three months.(90 days)Persons who wish to stay longer in Turkey are required to apply to the security authorities for a residence permit. The maximum duration of a residence permit is five years. Persons who wish to extend this period must apply again to the security authorities within fifteen days of the expiration of their residence permits. They may also apply before their residence permits expire. If a foreigner with a residence permit has children less than eighteen years of age they may either be issued separate residence permits or he listed as accompanying minors in their mother or father's residence permit. If a foreigner who has a residence permit changes his residence he must report this fact within forty-eight hours to the police or gendarme stations nearest both his old and his new residences either in person or by registered letter. Foreigners who have residence permits must report any changes in their marital status by a signed statement to the security authorities in their district within fifteen days of the change. They must also have their new status registered in their residence permits.

So..i have residence permit and not permannet residence..which means that if i dont renew my RP.. i cant stay in turkey... which costs a lot of money! at present currency it is about..400 US dollar... per year.. that is not a cheap price... which is totally unfair really coz women (German citizen) who got married to a turkish citizen does not need residence permit to live in turkey..!! unfair isnt it?

I think as for my to be expired 8.5 months passport... i wont have trouble leaving turkey with it... coz like u said alice... i will be returning to my own country... my passport is valid... besides... i plan to renew my passport when i return to Malaysia... i think the passport should be renewed at least 15 days prior leaving the country...

here is the malaysian immigration link..
http://www.imi.gov.my/eng/im_Page1.asp


apologies if i am unable to blog hop...hectic week ahead... and pls pray for my beloved's autie who will be going thru a simple operation this monday...


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