Demi Hijrah ini.....

Dengan restu Mu aku ke sini
satu Hijrah lagi.....
mencari pelabuhan di pesisir usia
meniti memori perjalanan berliku
hati meronta di gurun berdebu
tapak-tapak di pasir semakin pudar
angin menderu membawa khabar
"Demi Masa! (1) Sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian;
(2) Kecuali orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh dan
mereka pula berpesan-pesan
dengan kebenaran serta berpesan-pesan
dengan sabar."
Ketika kita di selimut bunga-bunga mimpi
bintang-bintang menyaksi.....
Sesunguhnya kita manusia yang rugi!
pengHijrahan ini
melewati persimpangan ke arah abadi
Sekian lama merantau menjejaki
berlari, merentasi, terus memburu
di celah-celah pasir dan batu
di warna warna pelangi dan permaidani
mencari punca simpulan mati
ingin membebaskan tambatan hati
yang buta, bisu dan tuli
yang inginkan itu dan ini.
Dengan restu Mu....aku ke sini
PengHijrahan merentasi
dari dunia fantasi ke dunia realiti
dari dunia realiti ke alam abadi
mencari pelabuhan di pesisir usia
buat sekian kalinya
"Demi masa........"
jangan kita kerugian buat selamanya.
PengHijrahan ini
pandulah kami
jejak kaki dan gerak hati
bicara kata dan naluri rasa
biarlah ada Mu di dalam mimpi
semoga damai di pelabuhan abadi
menemui Mu Ya Rabbi......
di suatu hari yang sudah pasti.

To usher in 2008 we were on the Jumeira Beach next to the iconic Burj Al Arab. For the special occassion to welcome 1429 Hijrah new year - we joined other Malaysian families camping overnight on the beach at the Hamriyah Port in Ajman. It was our first time camping out - and that too we chose a chilly cold night to do it. The fun started well before we got there, by means of pantun exchanges via emails between would be campers. Setting up tents were done with great enthusiasm - ours was one of the first to be up, and definitely the biggest - ample space for all six of us. A little thrilling moments when my Honda SUV got stuck in the sands. After four men power pushed it to safety, I used the opportunity to convince LiL for the 66th times that we need to buy a 4x4. She dusted the sand from my shoes, ruffled up my hair and said simply but firmly, "No!".

Perhaps, the most enchanting bits were the bonfire and BBQ. Each family brought a few bundles of firewood - at AED5 per bundle it was value for money for keeping us warm and giving us the much appreciated ambience. Having a bonfire going by the sea side - flickering of flames and rumbling of waves were just magical! I paused to reflect - it dawned on me that one of the main attractions of our lives in Dubai is this care-free fun life-styles which brought us back to our teen-age years. Moving in a pack - camping out, having picnics, doing BBQ, weekend's soccer games, pot-luck meals, or simply exchanging sms with friends such as "Jom - breakfast Puri sama2". And it happens! All fun and games of Malaysian in Dubai.

The BBQ was generous.....chicken wings, beef skewers and sausages were delicious. The children had a wonderful time roasting marsh-mallows. The fishersmen amongst us could not resist the call of the wild - and went fishing from the embankment.

For me, the half-hour we spent listening to Bro Hasnol's Tazkirah was very reflective and touching. His story about the Prophet's first Hijrah brought silent tears to my eyes. Sitting around the bon-fire, under an open sky, with the sound of rolling waves in the back ground made me realize how extra special we are to be alive - for yet another new year.

I was half asleep in my own tent when I heard voices and laughter of my friends - sharing instant noddles by the bonfire. I zipped my jacket on, and crawled out to join them. Nik's instant noodle that night was amongst the best I ever had at 2am. I noticed that Along was not in the tent. He confided the next day, he felt awkward to join us there - LiL, myself and the three younger boys. A point I took seriously and noted. He has grown up into a young man himself. The next time we go camping, we agreed to buy a smaller tent to give LiL and I privacy while the boys will be sharing the big one. Now, I may just hurry the next time, hehehehe!

Despite having little sleep - I felt so well rested. Maal Hijrah greeted us with a new possibilities and promises - and we greeted the new year of 1429 with new hopes!

di bawah bintang-bintang di tepi pantai Port Al Hamriyah.

malam Maal Hijrah.

1429.