Life priority

1. Anak
2. Haji
3. JPA

Why?
The above 2 relates to my deeds, amanah and relationship with Allah SWT. My investment for my next life.

No 3 is just about money. To practice that money is just 'di tangan', not in my heart.

Other realization found today:

I can't expect different results if I don't change the way I do things.

I want to improve my bond with my children. Previously written as 'spend more time with children'. I didn't specify what are the things I need to do. If I did, may be it was an ambitious plan . I've been planning on the activities but my weekends are occupied with me running household errands. I didn't execute and sometimes I didn't know what to do with the kids on weekends.

I felt something is not right because I realized I have not progressed since the last time I wrote my plan. I've been doing the same thing over the weekend without feeling the satisfaction of accomplishing my goal of improving my bond with children.

Stop. Just stop and think. Maybe I'm expecting a different result but no changes in the way I spend the time with them.

Write a note 'Have you hugged your children today?' and paste it on my car steering

Why?
Because it is something easy to do, currently not a routine and will have a great impact on the kids. Something I wish long time ago when I was in early parenthood. I expect that I will always give my hug and kisses and be comfortable about it.

Melunaskan hutang

Ya Allah! Berilah aku jalan untuk melunaskan hutangku dengan kadar segera Ya Allah! Murahkan rezekiku supaya jumlah hutang ku dikurangkan dan berkurang Ya Allah! Sesungguhnya aku ingin menjadi insan yang diberkati oleh Mu Ya Allah!
Amin........

Nak amalkan wirid ini 

Observation #2 People

My first interaction with a Japanese during my trip was the owner of the apartment that I rented, Meg. Then a few that I asked directions for, cashiers and waiters/waitresses at Ippin restaurant and Tendon Tenya. The rest are my observations in the subways and places I went. So this observations are based on my experience and may not reflect the general population.

People: Meg

1. Helpful. Meg was really serious being a great host complete with brochures, portable WiFi, suggestions etc.
2. Clean and neat. Meg prepared all the cleaning tools for each of the space in the apartment I thought it was a hint that I must keep her apartment tidy! But I guess she thought guests value cleanliness so she prepared the tools beforehand in case her guests might need them. Oh yeah she's neat! On the day we arrived, she arranged our shoes before leaving the apartment!
3. Cute

People: General

1. Mobile phones have replaced books for passing the time in subways
2. Indifferent when you are with kids. I mean, you don't feel strange when travelling in subways as a foreigner with kids in subways. No one look at us like strangers.
3. They always give ways to others while walking they hardly bumped into each other except us!
4. Always helpful when ask for directions.
5. Provide trays to put your money when paying
6. They wear masks. Whys here
7. Couples/families spend time and lunch at the zoo with bentos. Love!
8. On average, hardly seen anyone overweight so I guess because the clothes fit, everyone seems well dressed.
9. The handbags they carry are well made. Be it well known brand or not, the bags seem to fit the purpose of the carrier. Work bags, leisure bag. Simple, sophisticated, cute, everything except crazy! Love!
10. Common colours are black and brown and everyone/everything seem uniformed with common colours and common height and size.
11. Will only start walking when pedestrian light turns green although saw a few who didn't
12. The bowing is still there when you praise them

My take_pre GST

GST will take effect tomorrow, 1 April 2015. Everyone is talking about it, how it will burden us the consumers once it is introduced.

No point talking
Actually not sure what is my say about GST.  Of course I hate it because it will increase prices of everything although the government claims there are some stuff will not be affected and in fact will be cheaper (huh?). I don't think I can do anything to stop it. It won't be withdrawn because a lot of countries do it, unless Malaysia would like to practice Islamic tax system.

The only thing I see useful if everyone does it (and actions are taken) is to complaint to KPDNK. That way, the shop will be penalized for profiteering. Yet to see the effectiveness though....

Make complaints to KPDNK

• Check whether shops charging GST are registered.
• Check prices before and after implementation. If increase is more than 6%, don't buy and boycott the shop

My way to survive GST

• Be aware of the items that are zero rated GST as well items previously charging 10% service tax. These are items which prices should remain or cheaper (don't put your hopes high). Some listed here
• I have to look back what I can afford and amend my budget
• Start bringing home packed lunch to office
• Reduce dine out activities
• Plan to refrain from buying anything for at least 6 months until the prices are stabilized

Panic buy before GST?
Well there are 4 things I bought with the thought 'buy now or pay GST':

1. Herbalife
2. Michelle Lazar
3. Mayfair
4. Gold

I've spent on these 4 items pre-GST. Other than that, I will just have to pay additional 6%!

Observation #1: Toilets

There are lots of things can be said interesting, amazing and different about Japan. Generally, on high level note, most of them are similar to list here. I'll write my observation according to topics and this observation is based on my comparison with UK and Malaysia.

Toilets

1. The state-of-the-art toilet
2. The cleanliness of the toilets
3. The similarity of squat toilet with Malaysia (although different in shape). Maybe because we are Asian!
4. There are seats for little ones in the toilet while waiting for mum 'doing her business'
5. No one misuse toilet for the handicapped/parent with kids

Save for LV bag

This is how I felt after my trip to Japan, about getting an LV bag for myself.

Looking around in the subway, Japanese people seemed very properly dressed. Common colours were black and brown, probably because of the coats and they were going to work. Most of the ladies carried branded handbags, or at least interesting, quality unknown brand handbags. I found an article that agrees with my observation, point #7 and #8 http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/08/24/the-top-9-things-that-surprise-foreigners-the-most-about-japan/

However, there was a feeling of 'of course they deserve to indulge' in me when I was comparing to my own desire to own branded bags. Maybe because to my eyes, branded goods seem to fit perfectly with their well manicured dressing. They deserve good stuff because they take care of themselves. As written here Japanese aesthetics , Japanese appreciate taste and beauty and it has be the norm or their habit long time ago.

Worth of an LV to me?
Well, my point is I need to ask myself why do I need to save for a LV bag? Why not any other bag which may cost lower or higher? It came to my senses that if I need to save for a bag, I must not be able to afford it under normal spending. What is the worth of an LV bag to me? Why LV? I've been asking the questions before this but ended up writing it as one of my Wish List.

The observation from the Japanese has finally bud some sense in me which I finally accept. I want an LV just because of the name. Because it is still a symbol of status in Malaysia. If you own an LV, you have lots of money. But an LV in Japan is 'nothing' as in anyone can own an LV. I felt as if Japanese own an LV because of it's quality, not because of the status it symbolizes, which is not the same feeling I get in Malaysia.

I have nothing against LV, I have nothing against people owning LV. I have just shifted my indulgence in something else. I will cross LV bag from my wishlist but will never know I might put it up there again.... Once I decided to own an LV because of its quality......

Post TOKYO

Alhamdulillah, I'm back from Tokyo. Didn't get to write during the trip although laptop and internet was accessible. All I can say at the moment is my gratitude towards Allah SWT for granting my wish. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah......Subhanallah, Maha Suci Allah.....

I felt so fortunate I dropped tears this morning reminiscing the time we had together in Tokyo. I'm impressed with Japanese attitude that I've started looking and reading on what have make them the way they are.

I got to see most of what I wished to see and did most of what I wished to do.

I've managed to stride Tokyo with 4 kids. My host was very kind and our apartment was 'kawaii'..... Love! Love! Love!

My children seemed to enjoy Tokyo very much despite there is no swimming pool. Although they firstly complained when trying to get used to a lot of walking, they managed to blend in the fast paced Tokyo in the end.

I will definitely write a lot about Japan.....

Lastly, I relate much with this article Things that surprise foreign women in Japan