As I am writing this recapped events that happened lately, I am at Kota Bharu’s Grand Riverview Hotel after spending my previous night at a favourite lodging, Perdana Hotel. It has been raining cats and dogs the whole day and as this room is facing the Kelantan River, it also makes me kinda agitated and nervous but it is a new experience witnessing the “beauty” of the Monsoon. Haha! Anyway, where do I begin? It has been very packed two months from November till December with many challenges faced but Alhamdulillah everything is to build the better me. Circa October, I was already busy. After submitted my thesis to School of Graduate for the Senate, I’ve already worked on tasks to facilitate the school’s Hi-Tea where I was unanimously selected as the Coordinator of 2023 School’s Hi-Tea. Definitely something out of my comfort zone but I was willing to give it a try for experience. I perused lists of possible hotels around Klang Valley under several parameters:-
- Enlisted in the JAKIM’s halal hotel lists;
- Catered towards conservative Malay Muslims’ appetite (as my targeted clients are conservative-minded teachers);
- Affordable pricings;
- Memorable selling points for teachers to immortalize their OOTDs (views, interior decos, etc).
Definitely, the highlight of my 2023. Alhamdulillah.
I’ve been to a lot of hotels around Klang Valley (I am not boasting; it’s just the truth due to my excessive thesiscation sessions) – Mandarin Oriental, Grand Hyatt KL, Four Seasons, Grand Season (now defunct!), Corus Hotel, Royale Chulan, Sunway Putra, The Majestic Hotel, Concorde KL & Shah Alam, Seri Pacific KL, Palace of the Golden Horses, The Mines Beach Resort, Micasa Suites, Double Tree KL and etc. The screening and filtering finally came to two options which were Tamu Hotel & Suites as well as Shah Alam’s Mardhiyyah. So after several negotiations, I’ve finally decided on Tamu Hotel & Suites at Kampung Baru as it ticked all the parameters in my checkbox list! So by the end of October, I submitted the paper work to Headmaster and my team and eventually confirmed the deal with the management of Tamu Hotel & Suites. Then to circulate survey on the attendance of the school staffs as well as to delegate other tasks such as gifts – doorgifts, lucky draws; invitations and to provide bus for those teachers who don’t drive, etc. Alhamdulillah I had wonderful team.
Alhamdulillah after 9 years, I was back again to the Haramain. But with new set of challenges. Nonetheless, I have fulfilled my words to You, my Lord SWT. You have never left me when everybody does albeit my flaws. I offered myself to You.
The majestic hotels around the al-Haram complex and the Jabal Noor. Exquisite experiences. Unlike my first Umrah experience, I don’t think I am writing this Umrah into details. Being matured and wiser mean to be able to tread on sensitivities. So let them be secrets of my heart.
On 7th-18th November 2023, I flew to Makkah and Madinah for umrah. Three weeks prior, I took two types of vaccines consecutively namely the Meningococcal vaccine & Influenzae. Naturally, my antibody weakened in order to familiarize with the newly-introduced antigens and I began to develop mouth ulcers as well as the usual tonsilitis. Apart from that, I accidently sprained my back and was on the verge of possibility to be diagnosed as slip disc as movement was painful and getting out of bed was a nightmare! It was the time when I was tested with health fiascos. I was worried whether my body would be ready for umrah – or not; I prayed to ALLAH SWT to grant me health. Alhamdulillah, I managed to recover before I flew. For this second umrah, I went with Qalby Ilm Tours Sdn. Bhd. I am an avid follower of Mizz Nina since 2015 and naturally I saw the advertisement she put as well as the Qalby App team. But it was until I passed my PhD viva on 20th June 2023 (Refer to https://undomiel84.wordpress.com/2023/07/02/the-iiepiloguephdii-of-shahrillsroadtophd-passing-my-viva-voce-on-20th-june-2023-with-minor-correction-sheltered-by-my-mothers-prayer/) that I was reminded the moment I was in Makkah back in 2014 where I had the subconscious promise – but not a Nazr – that if I were to achieve my doctorate, I would be back one day to be in front of the Kaabah again. So I guess it was ALLAH SWT’s way to remind me gently; and I saw the ads again. So without hesitation, I booked a slot with Qalby Ilm Tours Sdn Bhd. Unlike my first Umrah with Mak in 2014 (Refer to https://undomiel84.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/the-bride-of-the-red-sea-episode-xvi-the-2014-umrah-part-i-1st-pilgrimage-with-qarnul-manazil-as-miqat-makkah-al-mukarramah/), I felt that this second trip was more privileged in sense of the food and accommodations. Sure that the price I paid for this one was considerably double in comparison to 2014’s but with the post-pandemic situations as well as the Saudi’s mercurial cultures – I thought it was nonetheless somewhat a good pricing offered by Qalby Ilm Tours Sdn. Bhd. For me, my challenges this time were the ones embedded inside. On how to control my anger and my razor-mouth; how to cultivate Sabr when I sensed sarcasm in the tones of judgmental strangers (Look, I am a Communication Scholar. I read people in a second!); how to tame my ego and humbled myself in the Holy Lands, and many more. For me having Haramain lodgings such as Conrad Makkah at Jabal Omar as well as Madinah’s Sofitel were already considered lavish accommodations in comparison to my previous umrah experience – only a stone throw away from the Haramain; so there was no question on that! But having spiritual sessions with Mufti Menk, Sister Mizz Nina and Sister Lisa Surihani were sufficient band-aids I needed in order to soften my heart and harden my Sabr throughout the journey. And Brother Ustaz Syahmi, our Mutawwif also was such a nice guy who worked hard and tirelessly but he never complained. I honestly humbled and respected him for that – and not to mention that he patiently entertained all my questions! Of course I can never detailed out thoroughly about this umrah journey like I always did in my blog (Haha!) but I can say that this time, it was another new experience I had in my life – and as the icing to the cake, I received the news that the UPM Senate has agreed to my thesis in Makkah and I was to have my PhD convocation by the end of November 2023! Mind-boggling, it was – Alhamdulillah!
I received the news from my Internal Examiner, Dr. Akmar that the UPM Senate has approved my degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Makkah! I am now a legitimate Dr. Shahrill Ramli! Alhamdulillah.
It was great having spiritual sessions with Mufti Menk, Sister Lisa Surihani and Sister Mizz Nina. Mufti Menk was obviously an eloquent speaker with vast knowledge. Both sessions in Makkah & Madinah were seemingly short with him as he was able to touch the nerves of my heart a few times on the emphasis of ALLAH SWT’s mercy! Sister Lisa Surihani was friendly and we had a few layback talks on spiritual conscience and also about Aunty Zarina Fenner, her mother-in-law who happened to be my social media friend. I love Aunty Zarina for her maternal aura. And of course Sister Mizz Nina who I have been following since 2015 (and also knew her from those Penang days. We all grew up knowing Teh Tarik Crew, etc!). I don’t follow local celebrities that much – only her and Siti Nurhaliza. I followed her because I felt connected to her experiences in the dark phases and to acknowledge that but eventually to come back to the light after going through several hiccups. I’ve learned many Doas from her many media social sharings and Masya ALLAH Sister, keep spreading the khayr! I am glad I was finally able to get acquainted to you & talking to Brother Essam was fun and genuine – survival in spirituality and culture! I am wishing you the best Sister ; Brother Essam and Baby Musa! Lillahitaala – Barakallah!
I reached Malaysia on 19th November 2023 and naturally still dizzy with jet lag, I was feeling lethargic. Still, I had to muster strength to drive back and forth from Batang Kali to UPM and other places for a few unfinished errands and events :-
- on 22nd November 2023, I drove to UPM to collect the convocation robe;
- on 23rd November 2023, I drove to UPM for my PhD Hooding Ceremony at the Fakulti Bahasa Moden & Komunikasi after emceeing the Children’s Day at school with my hoarse voice due to excessive coughing;
- on 25th November, I flew back to Jitra to bring back the convocation robe to both my parents as they would not be attending the ceremony due to health setbacks;
- on 28th November, I drove back to UPM to verify a few issues on my softbound thesis;
- on 29th November, I had my PhD convocation at the UPM Great Hall – Pusat Kebudayaan & Kesenian Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
No need for a professional photographer. Just an amateur nephew with an iphone. Haha! Alhamdulillah. But I somehow regretted not taking many pictures as I was too tired. But Alhamdulillah. It was not like – “Hey, I am a Doctor now! Look!”; it was more like “Phew, Alhamdulillah. Finally! Let’s move one! Happy but let’s move on!” Haha!
With my Main Supervisor, Prof. Dato’ Abdul Muati; and my two co-supervisors, Prof. Madya Dr. Hamisah & Prof Madya Dr. Moniza. They saw me from the reckless bud and now grown into a somewhat better flower. Haha! The metamorphosis of a newbie Communication scholar. Hopefully after I settled my hardbound thesis, I would be able to throw them a “makan-makan” or some gifts. Thanks so much to my three Gurus.
The PhD Hooding Ceremony at Fakulti Bahasa Moden & Komunikasi where Main Supervisor put the doctorate PhD hood on the student. It’s like a symbolic coming-of-age ritual, welcoming the student into the world of Doctor of Philosophy. Kinda touching and meaningful to think about it.
I spent a night at Putrajaya a night prior – and of course, taking a day-leave from the school. Since Kakak had an urgent meeting, she couldn’t attend my PhD convocation so my brother-in-laws, Abang Zam and nephew Rifqi came. Well to be honest, I didn’t feel that sad (if 15 years ago, yeah I would probably be crestfallen and all! Haha!) because perhaps I was too tired and relieved that this PhD invisible rock was about to be uplifted. However on hindsight, it was quite turn off that those I’ve been growing up with – my parents and sister – couldn’t see me on the stage. But hey, that’s life! In the end in this life, I am to weather the journey alone. So, I see this as training to strengthen my innerself. I believe that if my mental is strong, Insya ALLAH I could weather the agony. As my name starts with “S”, I was put in the fifth day of 2023 UPM Convocation Week but the ceremony was graced by the Selangor Prince Crown, Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj. However most of us the PhD graduates were quite dissatisfied that the emcees accelerated our procession of scroll-giving ceremony! We barely had two seconds to enjoy our moment with the Crown Prince or even on the stage!! But they eased up when it came to the subsequent Bachelor Degree and Master’s Degree graduates! Well, as an emcee myself I understood the responsibility that they had to bear to go in sync with the allocated timing – but as a PhD graduate, I was frustrated. Most of the other PhD graduates too expressed the same – we were supposed to be the ones celebrated but the opposite happened. Nevertheless, shits happened. We could not unwind things, no? I guess all we could do was to bitch about it and move on. Yeah! Sigh, LOL!
My brother-in-law, Abang Zam & nephew Rifqi came to my PhD convocation! A collage of pictures in the UPM Great Hall.
Seeing both my parents donning the PhD regalia was immensely satisfying. Alhamdulillah! They couldn’t make it to my convocation so I brought the robe to them. My father especially was being endlessly expressive about my PhD by asking me the millionth times question – “Bila nak habeh PhD?” as if it was a straight-cut process! It annoyed me, sometimes – but I knew it came from good place. My mother however always an intelligent woman who is empathetic towards my journey. I always know she is a wise woman. It was unfortunate that she didn’t get the kind of parents that would nurture her talents and all. If not, she could have been one of the intellectuals in universities. I guess that is just life. Sometimes we have or don’t have the chance, no? Some people were born or existed at the right timing. Life is but a dream.
On 30th November 2023, I returned to school but after work, I brought my team to Tamu Hotel & Suites for site visit; to enable them to visualize whatever I’ve been saying the whole time! On 1st December 2023 after school and Friday Prayer, I drove back to UPM to submit the convocation robe so that I won’t be penalized for exceeding the stipulated borrowing period. On 2nd December was the Hi-Tea at Tamu Hotel & Suites. Alhamdulillah, everything went well without major hiccups. I was grateful for the management for fulfilling my various requests and also in choosing the strategic corner with 4 iconic towers in a view – The KLCC Towers, The KL Towers, The Merdeka 118 Tower & The Exchange 106 Tower! Thanks so much to my team!
Being the Coordinator of Hi-Tea as well as the emcee of School Hi-Tea 2023. And with ex-Guru Pentadbiran SK Serendah, the suave and friendly Cikgu Maswadie. I learned from him that never burn bridges after you have crossed. You would want to leave a place with good image so that everybody appreciates your presence, no? Cikgu Maswadie is good. I like his personality. Something to be learned here.
Truth be told, it was totally a period of non-stop activities back-to-back and by this time, I was already battling toothache which I never knew would have ended up into 9 agonizing days prior to a root canal treatment :
- On 9th December 2023, we had the Annual School Camping;
- On 12th December 2023, my colleagues and I threw a pre-farewell get together at Batang Kali’s “Rumah Hutan Bonda Rozita” for my senior teacher colleague, Kak Aznor who was to be retired;
- On 13th December 2023, I was entrusted to emcee a spontaneous KPM-endorsed programme for schools all over Malaysia namely “Pelancaran Kempen Hidup Sihat Cegah Rokok & Vape”;
- On 14th December 2023, I emceed Kak Aznor’s retirement ceremony amidst battling the painful toothache for about 3 hours.
Honouring Kak Aznor during her pre-retirement get together at Batang Kali’s “Rumah Hutan Bonda Rozita” and her retirement ceremony. I am proud of myself being the professional me to continue emceeing the event despite battling throbbing head due to the aching dental nerve throughout 3 hours. Well done, Shahrill! You did good.
With the subsequent 9 days of battling the toothache, I saw it as bless in disguise albeit it was a hell-on-earth experience, I could never deny! At last I REALLY HAVE THE TIME to relax. I have been relaxing well at the East Coast now from Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. But news on the raging Monsoon somehow disturbs my tranquility. Initially I was thinking of continue relaxing in Dungun or Kuantan but due to this revelation, I may perhaps drive straight back home to Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor tomorrow. Hope everything is alright! On whole, Alhamdulillah.