2014 ---> 2015 Goodbye Old Year, Happy New Year

Baru 20 minit sudah masuk tahun 2015, apa review mengenai 2014? Senang...what has happened and there is always a reason behind it .. good or bad. Satu yang pasti ialah you reap what you sow. Jadi, apa2 yang berlaku pada 2014 saya terima dengan redha. Lessons learnt will be applied to 2015. ..

rambut sudah beruban ... umur sudah masuk awal 40an .... mortality starts to beckon ...

 2015 .. some changes will be coming .... all the best to all of us.

Review Manisnya Cinta Di Cappadocia

poster ihsan GSC 

Manisnya Cinta Di Cappadocia, telah keluar di pawagam tempatan sejak 11 December 2014 lepas. Semenjak projek ini diumumkan, memang saya menantikan ia, sebab novel yang menjadi asas filem ini, Manisnya Cinta, tulisan Anis Ayuni, terbitan Alaf 21, adalah salah satu novel kegemaran saya. Jadi, review ini adalah dari kaca mata seorang peminat tegar novel ini.

Sedikit latar belakang novel - diterbitkan pada tahun 2004, novel ini adalah kisah cinta Ifti Liyana dan Nazmi. Pertemuan, penyemaian cinta, konflik, pertautan kembali dan penyatuan mereka. Mesir menjadi titik bertaut cinta mereka, manakala kisah lama Ifti menjadi halangan cinta mereka. Bagi saya, novel ini adalah karya terbaik Anis Ayuni sampai sekarang. Memang jalan ceritanya klisye ;-), tapi olahan yang baik dan semangat cinta teraju utama novel ini menjadikan novel ini novel cinta yang baik

cover novel original Manisnya Cinta

cover original ihsan Alaf21

Cover Novel Manisnya Cinta versi adaptasi filem

cover ihsan blog Hezzy Azra 

trailer
Dalam adaptasi ke dunia filem, memang harus dikurangkan apa yang tidak perlu, mengekalkan apa yang penting iaitu konsep cerita novel. Dalam hal ini, saya berpendapat usaha yang dilakukan oleh pihak RedFilms memang berjaya. Kisah cinta Ifti dan Nazmi, bersama dengan konflik itu dikekalkan.

Pengarah Bernard Chauly memang pandai mengolah dialog dan visual filem ini. Khususnya, visual kerana anda akan terpesona dengan visual Turki. Penulis Rafidah Abdullah pandai mengolah dialog dari novel untuk dibawa ke filem. Penting kerana bahasa bersahaja dalam novel harus dikekalkan untuk filem dan ya, ia berjaya.

Pelakon utama Fazura sebagai Ifti Liyana dan Shaheizy Sam sebagai Nazmi. Syabas Fazura kerana BERJAYA membawa watak Ifti. Saya akui agak skeptikal apabila Fazura mendapat watak Ifti, tetapi dia berjaya menjiwai Ifti. Shaheizy Sam berlakon ok sebagai Nazmi,  namun mungkin sebab kecemerlangan Fazura, beliau tenggelam sedikit, tapi keserasian beliau dengan Fazura memang nyata dalam cerita ini.

Ada beberapa babak yang 'kuat' dalam filem ini. Dan saya jamin anda akan menitiskan air mata sekurang-kurangnya sekali. Babak mana? Pergi tengok ye ;-)



Mula - mula berjumpa

Ajakan pertama

Kesimpulannya, saya puas dengan filem ini. Tahniah kepada pasukan Manisnya Cinta kerana menghasilkan filem yang bagus, menepati citarasa peminat. :)


Konflik


Saya rekomen kepada kalian yang mencintai filem Melayu untuk menonton filem ini. Ianya ringan, saya akui, tetapi usaha dan kesungguhan pasukan Red menghasilkan filem ini harus disokong kerana tidak merendahkan minda penontonnya.

Two thumbs way up! :)



lagu rasmi filem ini .... melodinya juga menjadi latar muzik filem ini ...

Saya sangat2 rekomen kalau anda sukakan filem ini, beli juga buku novelnya di kedai buku atau di laman Alaf21. Kepuasan yang terjamin :)

It Does Not Matter Anymore ....

Aku masih penyokong tegar Liverpool FC. Musim lepas, SaS begitu mengasyikkan ... so near yet so far ... tapi, sebenarnya...masa pertengahan musim lepas .... aku sedar ... sedar, sedar untuk segala sayang dan dedikasi aku terhadap kelab ini ... menang, seri atau kalah mereka .. aku masih macam ini ... selepas 90 minit setiap perlawanan mereka .. my life is still more or less the same ....

Bagaimana kalau dedikasi dan sayang aku pada Liverpool aku curahkan juga kepada hidup aku? The same care, passion and effort ..... selepas itu, setiap Pool menang, kalah atau seri .. aku masih boleh senyum dan menjalani hidup ... bohonglah kalau tidak terasa apabila Pool kalah atau seri, tapi kesannya tidak seperti dulu .... kerana pengurus dan pemain Liverpool bermain dan mempunyai kesan secara langsung pada kelab Liverpool khususnya, but not to my life ... I am the one in charge and my decisions my life ... bukan Liverpool decisions affect my life ...

Jadi, walk on Pool ... You Never Walk Alone :D

This heart always beat Red :)

135 Kg

This is me. It is a wake up call. A proverbial kick in the butt. Omg.

Sudah Dekat Penghujung 2014

Sudah dekat penghujung 2014 ... bagaimana keadaan anda sekarang berbanding dengan awal tahun? Biar saya bertaruh 10 sen ... masih sama kan? 80% nothing has changed .. correct? ;-) okay, anda hutang saya 10 sen ...

Your Choice - Powerful Stuff

A reminder for all of us ....

credit : Conrad Alvin Lim, one of my trading sifus ...

Man In The Mirror

For the past few weeks, I have to admit that the dark moods that I had during my 20s are making a comeback. They don't stay long, but long enough to inflame the doubts in the mind. Doubts that come from the 'shoulda, woulda, couldas' ... it makes me incapable to think clearly and positively. The film of the past would furiously be playing in full HD and surround sound. And the background voice would repeating the same phrase over and over again ..."Tu la kau ... tu la kau ... orang lain dah berjaya.. kau camtu gak ..."

Especially, in the past month, I got into the habit of comparing my career to my childhood friends, school mates .. and most of the time, it was disheartening. Just looking at the potential I had in my 20s and how I threw it all away ... because I was moping, sulking about my Jasin and college years ...

then I saw the pattern ... that I spent my 30s sulking about my 20s ... and that is why I think my biz pursuit in my 30s did not go well.. I was busy chasing so many things that I lost focus ... now in my early 40s, I will not repeat the same behavior again.

Syukur, writing this post has helped me to clarify my muddled thoughts a bit ... in a sense, I am still a a work in process ... recovering and going to a better place ... I have to keep the faith that what I am doing right now will lead me to success for me and my family.

One thing for sure ... if you want to change for better, you have to ask the man in the mirror to change .. the man in the mirror knows you better .....

Dalam Diri Ini Ada Naga

Pada masa saya kecil sehingga lewat remaja, saya selalu diperkecilkan, dipermain2kan dan diperlekehkan. Dan saya akan menjadi sangat marah. Perasaan marah itu seperti api yang membakar. Dan saya akan bungkuskan kemarahan itu dalam ais sejuk dan ia menjadi satu ketul ais. Sekian lama, ia menjadi timbunan ketul-ketul ais. Dan dalam ketulan-ketulan ais ini ada Naga.

Pada masa sekarang, kadang-kadang, bila rasa marah, saya boleh rasa kewujudan Naga ini, and it scares me to think what can happen if I let it take control ...

hiasan sahaja (imej dari Wikipedia)

The Opposite Sex Best Friend Syndrome - The Reality

I hate the situation as described in blog post title above. Why? Been there, done that. Romantic movies / drama / sitcoms make it so cute but IT IS NOT! blah2, hopefully he/she will see you as a better partner than the current partner...uh uh, no it does not if rarely happens.

It does not work because no matter what you did or do .. he/she will never see past your gallant/good acts .. treating it just as an act of a best friend who is suppose to do that ... does it suck? yes... does it feel sucks? most definitely ... but if you make your move and get out .. the hurt will lessen in time and your life will be better ...

Get off the floor and believe in life .. there are other romantic opportunities where life goes on .. your life goes on, and that person's will go on (if not already).

One of my past situations involved this scenario. It was cute at first, then you realize that you are just the sounding board/feedback wall ... the couple still ends up together and you are left clutching nothing ...

and you are always the invisible man .. :P


dulu best la lagu ni ... bila dengar balik, rasa terkilan sebab dulu kita je asyik mengharap ....

Mengapa Dirindu?

Kepada rakan2 pembaca blog,

ingatlah ... bahawa masa lepas adalah masa lepas ... coulda, shoulda, woulda tidak akan memberi manfaat kecuali merebahkan dan melalaikan kita kepada masa sekarang dan masa akan datang ....


aduh, diri ini sudah tertipu dan sudah sedar .. doakan aku terus berdiri dan berlari ke hadapan .. Amin.

Discipline Itu Proses

Discipline must be done consistently. Kalau tidak, ia tidak akan menjadi. Betul? Focus pada proses dan hasilnya akan menjadi semula jadi. Pelajaran hidup baru.

Lagu rock klasik no 1 gue of all time ...

The Two Lessons From Insanity

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expect different result. That is insanity Lesson 1. Insanity Lesson 2-not learning and applying Insanity Lesson 1.

I Saw Pet Shop Boys In Concert :)

Finally, they came down and a lifelong dream was achieved. No words needed. Just the pics, and even they don't do justice. A very musical experience.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2014

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri dari kami sekeluarga ;)

 lagu raya best ...

Kisah Tentang Adikku Juliana

Pada sekitar pertengahan Julai 1981, Sukan SEA sedang berlangsung di Manila, Filipina. Dan sekitar minggu 17 Julai, aku menonton perlawanan bola keranjang wanita Indonesia bertemu Filipina. Terus suka dengan nama seorang pemain Indonesia ini ... pada malam itu, Papa turun ke kereta di parkir UH setelah melawat Mama di wad. Katanya, "ha,.. korang dapat baby sister .. nak nama apa?" .. spontan den jawab, " Nama Juliana la Pa.. macam sedap je " ... itulah kisahnya. Nama adik ku sempena nama pemain bola keranjang wanita Indonesia ;-) ... just nak put that into record! :D

Selamat Hari Jadi ke XX kepada my adik bongsu Juliana Ismail :) rakan tengok wayang CM masa late 90s dulu :D have a great celebration!!

gambar ihsan FB Juliana :)

Syukur I am 41

Assalamualaikum, semua.

Syukur, I am 41 today :) Alhamdullillah, this past week has been eventful, an awakening that I thought would never be possible. My gratitude to Him for the all blessings that He has given me. Syukur :) and may He gives more in the future. My thanks to my parents, Ismail Md Noor and Puteh Ismail for being the best they can be as parents. To my family, wife Linda & kids Zara, Farah .. who bring me smiles and joy every single day. To my siblings, Ajie, Novie and Julia, thank you for being around, InsyaAllah, we will be back together.


41 man ... not bad eh :DDDD

It is not my path anymore?

Sejak awal tahun ini, saya telah membuat tekad. Tekad bahawa UCSI adalah tempat terakhir kerja saya sebagai seorang akademia. Dalam suatu kerjaya, ada matlamat yang harus dicapai untuk 'mencukupkan' kerjaya itu. Dalam kerjaya akademia, dua perkara utama tersebut adalah membuat penyelidikan dan menghasilkan tulisan akademik dan menyambung pengajian phD.
Dan akhirnya, setelah tujuh tahun berkecimpung dalam bidang ini, I come to realization that for all intents and purposes ... it is not my path anymore ... and continuing this path will not make me happy in the long run ....

Drastik bukan .... kerja stabil tetapi tidak mahu teruskan kerja ini ... habis itu, mahu buat apa? Hujung tahun lepas, saya berfikir .. 20 tahun akan datang ... apa yang akan saya lakukan? Sayangnya,bayangan dunia akademik saya agak malap. Saya boleh teruskan dengan apa yang saya lakukan sekarang, tetapi rasanya tidak akan ke mana.

Tapi, saya bersyukur dapat merasa kerja sebagai seorang ahli akademik ... saya dapat masa untuk berfikir secara terang, sambil membuat sesuatu yang menyeronokkan.. dan bekerja dengan orang muda membuatkan saya jiwa muda :) hehehe ....

Saya tahu masa depan saya masih dalam bidang pendidikan, tetapi mungkin pendidikan ilmu lain ...

okaylah ... cerita malam-malam.

Goodnite!

Change and Vigilance

In the movie, " Pursuit of Happyness " .. there is a scene where Chris Gardner talks about the 10 gallon hat of disappointment in his head .. I know how he feels I guess, because for the past years, I felt the same. The coulda, shoulda, wouldas .... the constant comparisons to friends your age who are far more successful .... and the list go on and on .... so what did I do about it? Ignoring it did not work as it still gnawed on my mind.
I just ACCEPTed it. That was the first thing I did. I admitted that I effed up my 20s and early 30s in terms of career, especially. And I am behind and must accept where I am. The next thing was moving on, acknowledging that the memories are there and plan your current and future. I forgiven a few fellas and l felt better. Letting go truly works and can be therapeutic.
One thing about change that I learnt in the past month is that you have to plan for your change. There must be details in this plan, so that you know what to do when the need or situation arises . p
One minor change in my diet for the past month is I have limited/remove intake of sugared water during working weekdays. I do my best to drink plain water / air masak, during these times. Or iced water / Coke Light. No Milo, teh o ais and the works. Result: I feel a bit lighter and I like it. Will continue doing it. I have not been 100% successful, but it is not a bad thing.
oh and I have been posting my old diary entries from my Jasin school days in this blog. Nothing has been edited, as it has been posted word by word. Reading it again brings a different perspective. I was a bit naive then, that's for sure.

A recent picture of Me and my Pool :)

and I like to finish with this video of Michael Jackson performing 'Man In The Mirror' live. Now that he's gone, more people miss him and realize what a legend he was.



Later.

Why I Have Been Wrong About Change ....

A common theme in my posts in the past years has been my desire for change. Of course, I want to change for the better. In 2014, I did some changes to how I work ... and discovered that something interesting and significant.
What I did was I just scheduled my work stuff/details ahead of time. Nothing major. And the results were significant. I was able to handle more workload especially the pressure. There was less 'paralysis' and more movement-more completed tasks, etc.

Eureka! ( just for illustration )

In the end, it was just that I had a 'system'. That is what it was .... a system of how to do things ... and actually, all of us have been doing that all this while .. what is a human body, but a system of interconnected organs, for example.
So lesson here ... Change is good, have a system that would implement the change ... and it should fit you as a person-Who you are ...

Aku dah grown up a bit kot :P ...

A poster of Liverpool Man United 10 Magic Moments

I love this poster :D courtesy of Liverpoolfc.tv :)