Living far away from my home country make me realized how grateful I should be. Missing the family that I used to see at least once a month, missing the seas and beaches a lot (there are NONE of these in Czech T_T). And of course missing the food. Traditional food. Malay food.
Well, so far, I can't see any Malaysian restaurants here (which I guess a lot maybe in UK - I haven't been there ;p). So, every time I'm craving for something that can fill my Malaysian's delicious taste of bud, it is either I will ask someone to make it for me (yeah, I know - muka tak malu, but I'm don't really ask a lot T_T) or I need to do it myself. Sedap tak sedap, belakang kira. What to do, I'm not a good cook.
My second attempt of Laksam.
Here we go!
My biggest challenge was to make the laksam itself T_T. Out of 10 trays, only 5 are properly done & cooked. Ouch, I wasted lots of my rice flour :(
But, no worries, I learnt the trick!
So, let me share with you how I make my laksam. Simple laksam. Maybe more suitable for students like me :) Servings for 4 people.
*********************************** To make the laksam, I use;-
i) 3 cups of rice flour
- (I used IKEA plastic cup. It doesn't matter what types of cup you use, just make sure you use the same one for the water)
ii) 2 tablespoon of wheat flour (the normal one ;))
iii) 4 cups of warm water
How to make it?
1. Prepare your steamer (pengukus) & heat it.
2. In a bowl, put both rice flour and wheat flour together with warm water.
3. Make sure to stir them so that they mix well.
4. Put a small baking tray into the steamer. *you can use anything actually; like a pot cover, a plate*
5. Spread very very very little amount of oil onto the tray. (you can use pandan leaves :D)
6. Pour the laksam mixture into layer (not too thick or too thin)
7. Wait for it to be cooked - about 2-3 minutes
8. Remove the baking tray from the steamer, place it onto a plate. BE CAREFUL, it is really hot.
9. By using spoon and your fingers, fold the laksam. I think it is okay to fold it while it is still hot.
Finally, after about a week of travelling by car, we safely arrived home! Yeah, it was a road trip, and literally we were in car most of times. ;) The car itself was like our house; it was the kitchen to prepare food and eat; it was the bedroom to sleep. Not to forget, our favorite pit-stops; the petrol stations T_T
Guess where we went?
It is the place where the east meets the west! :D
You are correct!
Istanbul, Turkey.
It was kind of a sudden plan for the winter break; despite of going by plane with expensive tickets, we tried to look for alternative way to travel. So, here we go; by car.
Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic Bratislava, Slovakia Budapest, Hungary Bucharest, Romania Sofia, Bulgaria Istanbul, Turkey.
Overall, the journey was safe and we encountered so many new experiences. Will share about it soon, insyAllah.
Say, [O Muhammad], "Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah , over all things, is competent." Al-Ankabut 29;20
Looking for 30 blogs to put in her blog lists in three categories :) There is one list until the end of 2015, another one till May 2015, and the last one till March 2015.
Looking at the sky is my favourite thing to do. Aimlessly; at the same time, thinking.
Thinking about life. And also 'life' after life.
Like, self reflection.
I did a lot, I guess, basically in 2014. I hope I've changed to a better person with better personalities, after all the things happened in this year.
2014.
A tough year.
Full of tears, but still there is always happiness somewhere in between.
Well, Allah has said so in Quran, in surah Ash-Sharh (94), verse 5 and 6.
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
So, let me share my collections of sky in 2014 :)
7/1/14 - Beautiful sunset | Palachova Hostel, Hradec Kralove, Czech
19/1/14 - My first road trip | Hradec Kralove - Prague, Czech
26/1/14 - Let free of myself from books | Olomouc, Czech
1/2/14 - Spent time at the mosque | Hradec Kralove, Czech
16/2/14 - Gloomy day | Warsaw, Poland
16/2/14 - Weekend escape before start of new semester. | Warsaw, Poland
27/2/14 - Day trip | Pardubice, Czech
27/2/14 - Reflection of sunset | Pardubice, Czech
1/3/14 - I can't recall this T_T | Orlice river, Hradec Kralove, Czech
10/3/14 - The park in front of Ad-Deen, I guess T_T | Zizkovy sady, Hradec Kralove, Czech
14/3/14 - I was so distracted with the missing flight MH370. May Allah blessed all of them involved. | Hradec Kralove, Czech
20/3/14 - Going for class in the hospital. The building up there is the emergency department. The red thing on top of it is heliport - used to land helicopter, taking critical patients from countryside. | Fakultni Nemocnice, Hradec Kralove, Czech
20/3/14 - Going back home - Zizkovy sady; Hradec Kralove, Czech
21/3/14 - Train ride to OSEM (medical) programme | Olomouc, Czech
25/3/14 - Walking home | Hradec Kralove, Czech
29/3/14 - Hiking trip to Narnia's famous acting site | Bohemian Switzerland, Czech
30/3/14 - Another beautiful sunset from my window | Hradec Kralove, Czech
More to go :)
I hope these pictures give you peace while facing one of the hardest time for our country; the flood :) Yes, of course the main element of peace is to turn back to Allah and remember Him always.
"Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." Ar-Ra'd 13;28
I can't be there at this critical time, but insyAllah my prayers will be continuously. Ameen. May Allah grant you with strength and patients. Important thing; redha and believe in His plans.
Before I continue with the stories / facts behind this famous astronomical clock, let me show you how busy or packed this area will be at every hour. I mean it, every hour, EVERY, everyday. (or maybe not really at midnight - I haven't been there for that specific time) :)
This was somewhere in September 2014, I guess; where autumn is one of the nicest time to visit Prague. Full of brown, orange leaves getting ready to fall off. Even the weather is nice with not really high temperature nor low.
Let me introduce the history of this clock.
1. As maybe many of us know, this is one of the oldest astronomical clock in the world, being installed there since 1410 (like middle ages time). It is placed near Old Town Square (which is significant area for European countries). And it is still functioning till now! :D
2. Legend said that it is one of a kind after the creator named Master Hanus was blinded by members of the council. Why? They heard that Hanu? want to build this kind of clock in other town too. Ouch, just because of that? T_T <-- this story was said to be false.
3. Then, the real history exposed. when it was actually made by clockmaker Mikulá? of Kadaň and Jan ?indel. ?indel was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Charles University. :)
Basically, it had been repaired so many times and some things were added to the tower (in which THAT attract people to see it)
So, what makes it famous?
Of course, the mechanism of the clock - but it is hard for me to understand all astronomical terms or theories. So, can we skip it? Teheee
Other than that, for sure THESE ANIMATED FIGURES:-
These 4 figures (2 on left side and another 2 on right side of clock); they represent 4 things during the making of the clock (with meanings)
Start with the left one - the first is; we can see a figure admiring himself in a mirror. That represent Vanity. Beside it; a figure holding a bag of gold; that represent Greed. :p
Let's move to the right side. The 3rd figure is the skeleton which obviously stands for Death. The last one figure playing instrument; it was said to be a Turk - represent Pleasure and Entertainment.
At every hour, the skeleton rings the bell while the other figures shake their heads side to side. Means? They are not ready "to go" (to die).
Okay, I have share 4 figures at both sides of the clock. What about in the middle?
Of course there are some more! 12 moving figures (that are presentation of statues of Apostles) - that twelve Apostles presented every hour.
You can watch this video to have more view on the moving figures.
Honestly, I am not a city/town traveler type. I enjoy nature more than watching/understanding the buildings. But, who said we can not learn anything from historical building?
The beloved sisters on their graduation day last July, 2014 :)
Just take a look at all characters of the figures - vanity, greed, death, entertainment. 3 of them are kind of pleasant things to do / to have in this world.
1. Vanity; feel like we are the best compared to other people. In which sometimes make us become more egoistic, not to listen to other people's advice.
2. Greed; yeah, feel greed to have everything good at one time. Don't worry much, do things one step at a time okay?
3. Entertainment; addicted to all those fun stuffs, entertainment most probably will lead us far away from Allah. And we don't feel excited to do religious things. Sobss T__T
But, at the nearest end, they are not permanent while we will return to the Creator by dying. Right? Have we prepare ourselves? Gulppp.
December in Europe, as we all know is synonym with Christmas markets. In Czech, it is called váno?ní trhy (vaa-noc-nii ter-hi). Maybe not all European countries hold this Christmas market, but it is more famous in Germany especially Nuremberg, Dresden, Frankfurt etc. Actually, I was planning to go to Dresden (since it is the closest to Prague) to experience the market there, but because of the demonstration, it was better not to go :)
So, what can you expect from Christmas Market in Prague, Czech?
First of all, huge beautiful Christmas trees, like mostly everywhere. Like the one down here, it may be more than 15 meters. Maybe.
There will be so many tourists!
That time, I was looking forward to meet some Malaysians but, I guess I can't find any. I just met a group of Singaporeans when we were buying something from the stall there. The reason I want to meet some, maybe because I really would love to help them asking for lower prices or maybe having conversation while suggesting few other places to go.
By the way, that stall is managed by a Turkish guy and he gave us discounts (which is not so common to get discounts after bargaining here in Czech :p) But, I can say that if you know basic Czech language or you can say few words prettily good, Czech people will be amazed with you. And then you can ask for discounts :) It works for me, few times before! Yeay!
Aha, basically at the market, you can find lots of Christmas products; ornaments and decorations. Hmm, of course traditional Czech wooden toys, cookies, crafts, handmade soaps, scented candles, souvenirs (snow globes, key chains, fridge magnets etc). What else?
FOOD!
The famous one, for sure trdelnik, lango?, pirohy (dumplings), varieties of nuts (chestnut, caramelized chasew nuts, almond), spring potatoes, parek (bun with hotdog) etc and since this is Czech, there are hot wine, honey liquor (called medovina). Well, this country is well known for it's beer / alcohol. (I know I mentioned this few times in previous posts :p)
** the one I bold - insyAllah can be eaten from the Christmas markets.
Czech pirohy (dumplings)
Trdelnik - rolled bread?
For more information about Christmas market in Prague, you can simply check this website.
Actually, I was more excited to go ice skating there, but I don't know why I can't find the ice rink. It was normally located in front of Karolinum - official hall for the university for matriculation day or graduation day. It was just not there T___T
The most famous place to go in Prague - Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí); significant for the astronomical clock which can gather thousand people every hour. :p Basically, at every hour (when the long needle meet number 12), there will be 4 moving figures at the clock and that are what tourists want to see. I will share more details about the clock next time, okay? :)
Before I forget, please take care of your bags and valuable things. There will be so many people you will meet and even the night I went there, my friend's bag was opened by someone. Fortunately, he/she didn't managed to take anything. Pheww.
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Al-Hujurat 49;13)
p/s - I don't celebrate Christmas, I'm just celebrating the diversity the Czech people have. Well, not even 20% of them are Christians though :)