Assalamualaikum & salam sejahtera

Lama sangat tak dapat kemaskini blog...kami balik Malaysia for good bulan 11 tahun lepas lagi. Banyak benda yang berlaku dalam masa setahun kami balik sini, dan hanya dua bulan yang lepas kami dapat 'memulakan hidup' kami di Malaysia (baru dapat settle down semua benda). Alhamdulillah.. Semoga Allah merahmati dan memberkati hidup kami sekeluarga di Malaysia. aminnn

Akhirnya, it's good to be home!


ps: kena tukar header blog & gambar latar blog! :)

FYI: Polisi pulangkan barang

Polisi pulangkan barang ni adalah salah satu kelebihan untuk pembeli di pasaraya untuk memulangkan semula barangan yang dibeli. Tak semua barang yang boleh dipulangkan, contohnya makanan, atau barangan yang telah digunakan.

Kami juga biasa pulangkan barang bila merasakan barang yang dibeli tidak sesuai atau ada masalah. Kami pernah memulangkan balik barang2 seperti baju, alat kelengkapan bayi, dan dengan mudah duit kami dikembalikan semula tanpa pertanyaan lanjut.

Setiap pasaraya mungkin ada polisi dan syarat2 yang berbeza-beza, tapi setakat yang kami lalui, kebanyakkan  barang  dapat dipulangkan dengan senang. Alhamdulillah. :)

*maklumat yang diberikan berdasarkan pengalaman kami sepanjang 4 tahun di sini.

Malden yang dirindui

Alhamdulillah semalam kami baru sahaja pulang dari field trip suami ke sawah padi di Malden, Missouri. Dan ini mungkin kali terakhir kami menjejakkan kaki ke sini. Pekan Malden agak kecil dan banyak kawasan ladang2 dan sawah2 padi.

A: Brookings, B: Malden
sumber: Google Map

Jarak perjalanan kereta dari Brookings ke Malden mengambil masa selama 12 jam.

Fakta: Ibu negeri Missouri adalah Jefferson City.

Tahun lepas, kami juga berpeluang menetap di Malden selama dua bulan. Satu tempoh yang cukup untuk kami mengabdikan kenangan di sana. Dua perkara yang sentiasa menjadi 'favorite' kami di Malden adalah matahari terbit dan terbenam serta kawasan ladang-ladang dan sawah yang luas mata memandang, cantik! Subhanallah.

Musim menuai sekarang ni

Matahari terbenam

Malden mempunyai populasi penduduk dalam lingkungan 4-5 ribu orang sahaja. Ada sebuah hotel (Malden Airport Inn), yang selalu menjadi penempatan kami bila di Malden.

Jarak hotel ke tempat kerja suami (sawah padi) lebih kurang dalam 15 min dengan berkereta. Banyak ladang-ladang tanaman dapat dilihat sepanjang perjalanan ke sawah padi seperti ladang jagung, ladang soya, dan ladang kapas. Kawasan lapang dan agak luas. Cantik.

Pokok kapas

Malden banyak meninggalkan kenangan kepada kami sekeluarga. Bila berada di sana, terasa macam dekat dengan Malaysia, terutamanya bila berada di kawasan sawah.

Terima kasih dan selamat tinggal Malden! :)

Travel: A weekend trip to Minnesota (MN)

Hari minggu yang lepas kami berpeluang berkunjung ke Minnesota (MN). Perjalanan selama 4 jam dengan kereta dari tempat kami. Setahu kami, ramai juga pelajar Malaysia yang belajar di MN.

Fakta: Minneapolis bandar terbesar bagi negeri  Minnesota (MN)

St. Paul adalah ibu negeri MN

Map of USA highlighting MN
source: wiki

Kami mengambil peluang cuti hari minggu Sabtu dan Ahad untuk ke sana memandangkan masa suami yang terhad dengan jadual kerjanya. Rasanya, Minneapolis dikenali sebagai tempat untuk shopping memandangkan ia mempunyai shopping outlet yang agak besar di Albertville Premium Outlets. Harga barang berjenama boleh tahan murah, tapi kalau beli tu penuh kereta, memang 'kering' lah jawabnya.

Selain untuk membeli belah, kami sempat berkunjung ke Sea Life Aquarium di Mall of America. Seronok bila tengok anak-anak seronok, Alhamdulillah :).

Mall of America ni macam Berjaya Time Square di Malaysia. Banyak terdapat kedai2 berjenama dengan harga barang yang mahal dan juga terdapat tempat riadah keluarga. Nak cari parking kereta kat sini sangatlah susah (sebab ramai orang) walaupun kawasan parking agak besar, mungkin sebab kami berkunjung pada hari minggu. Tapi parkingnya free! :)

1. Kami memulakan perjalanan dari Brookings pada jam 9 pagi hari Sabtu (28 Sept) dan kami menyewa kereta di Siuox Falls Airport (FSD). Ni kes tak sempat nak servis kereta sebab perancangan last minit!

Kos sewa kereta: $100 (untuk 2 hari setengah)

Minyak kereta: $60 (dua kali isi)

Makanan dari restoran halal: $100 (untuk 2 hari)

2. Dari FSD, suami memandu selama 4 jam untuk sampai ke hotel penginapan (Best-western) di Eagan, MN. 

Beli subway sandwich untuk lunch: $10 (2 foot-longs)

Hotel: $100 (untuk semalaman)

3. Petang jam 6 dari hotel kami ke Mall of America sebab Aliya nak pergi akuarium.

Tiket masuk Sea Life Aqurium: anggaran $60(ingat2 lupa)

Makan2 snacks: $20

Toys untuk aliya: $15

Jelly fish at Sea Life Aquarium

4. Hari Ahad pagi selepas sarapan, kami menuju ke  State Capitol, di St. Paul lebih kurang 15 minit perjalanan dari hotel.

State Capitol of Minnesota 

"The Minnesota State Capitol is located in Minnesota's capital city, Saint Paul, and houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the Office of the Attorney Generaland the Office of the Governor. The building also includes a chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Minnesota Judicial Center."~ wiki

Permandangan bandar St. Paul dari depan MN State Capitol.

Bandaraya St. Paul (kalau tak silap)

5. Dari State Capitol, kami bergerak menuju ke Albertville Premium Outlets, yang mengambil masa selama satu jam dari MN State Capitol. Ni adalah kali kedua kami berpeluang ke Shopping outlet camni, sebelumnya di Florida. Seronok dan selesa shopping kat sini, tempatnya sangat luas, dan Alhamdulillah parkingnya senang nak dapat. Penuh bonet jugak beli barang, dan kebanyakkannya yang nak buat balik Malaysia (harap urusan dipermudahkan Allah, amin).

Shopping! Alhamdulillah :)

Lama juga kami di Albertville, pagi sampai ke petang, tu pun rasa tak cukup masa lagi. Jam 4 petang, kami bergerak balik menuju ke Sioux Fall untuk memulangkan kereta.

Dalam satu jam perjalanan balik, kami sempat singgah kebun epal. Subhanallah ini adalah kali pertama kami berpeluang untuk memetik epal sendiri. Alhamdulillah, seronok, dan mungkin akan ada satu entry baru pasal lawatan ke kebun epal, insyaAllah.

Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard

8251 Old Highway 169 Blvd

Jordan, MN 55352

Kami sampai rumah selewat jam 11 malam. Penat sangat tapi satu percutian pendek yang menyeronokkan, Alhamdulillah. Anak-anak pun tak banyak ragamnya...

Jumlah belanja secara kasar dua hari kami ke MN= $500 (tak termsuk shopping di Albertville)

6. Konklusi: Perjalanan menuju ke MN dari Brookings agak seronok buat kami. Sepanjang perjalanannya di kiri kanan jalan kami dapat melihat pokok-pokok yang dah mulai menguning, dan kami melalui kawasan 'ladang' kincir angin. Selain itu kami melalui ladang-ladang tanaman seperti jagung, dan soya yang sudah kering, mungkin bila-bila masa untuk dituai. 

Sumber: Google Map

*tulisan ini adalah catatan peribadi kami untuk panduan dan informasi bersama, dan minta maaf jika ada salah fakta, atau maklumat dalam penulisan ini. Salam.

Gambar: South Dakota State University new welcoming sign

Salam semua.. Subhanallah, panas teramat sangat dalam 2,3 hari ni. Pelajar kampus pun dah habis cuti musim panas, jadi ramailah orang kat Brookings sekarang ni...

Sign ni ada kat tepi jalan sebelah lampu trafik jalan nak masuk kampus, jadi banyak kereta lalu lalang, hehe segan juga nak ambil gambar ni...cepat2 snap :)

Travel: Grand Canyon Adventure!

*I copied this entry from my old blog about our vacation to Grand Canyon National Park, 2011.

A journey to the nature! We planned this vacation for a month. We booked airline tickets early for cheap fares, Alhamdulillah, all the plans run smoothly, although some undesirable things happen. Many thanks to Allah. Syukur.

Our flight was on 1st July, 2011, at 8.30pm. Papa still working on that day, and we went to Sioux Falls Airport at 5pm. We were fortunate to escape from the storms and strong winds. It happens 30 minutes early. Alhamdulillah. What a nerve breaking moment.

Our flight to Phoenix/Mesa Airport took 2 hours and 30 minutes. We arrived at 10pm (followed the mountain time which is late 2 hours than Brookings time).Upon arrival at the airport, we took the rental car and moved to Knight Inn Hotel for five hours overnight slept. We headed to Sedona as early as 5am on July 2nd, 2011. Another 5 hours drove to Grand Canyon. 

On our way to Grand Canyon, we really stunned to see the cactus tree all over the mountain at Phoenix. We passed by a stunning view of Sedona Subhanallah, the pine forest was so gorgeous. 

After two hours drive, we arrived at Montezuma Town for a visit to Montezuma Castle (the remains of old stone building). But unfortunately, the place opened at 8am and we were one hour early. Without wasted any time, we moved to Sedona. We went through the rocky road for about 30 minutes. It's really adventure indeed but luckily Aliya slept all the way to Red Rock Hill.

We arrived at Sedona at 8am, a place filled with red rock hills. Subhanallah, the place was simply stunning. We stopped at Visitor Center for some info about the place. Aliya just woke up and she seems so happy to run and move.

After that we went to the place called as Chapel of Holy Cross (a chapel built in the rock hill). Upon arrival at this place, Aliya puked due to car sickness, poor her! huhu a long way to go. After cleaning up and changed the clothes, we moved to Oak Creek Canyon, but we had to stop a few times because Aliya kept vomiting all the way there. *mode worried!

We stopped at Starbucks Cafe for ice-blended for Mama & Papa and juice for Aliya. And once again she puked! huhu Aliya looked so tired and weak and she fell asleep. After 30 minutes drive, we arrived at Oak Creek Vista lookout point. The view was so beautiful. We can see the pine forest up from the hill. No words can describe it...Subhanallah. It was too hot here (about 40C plus) and we managed to dried our wet and smelly clothes...hehhe

From Oak Creek Canyon, we moved to Flagstaff for gas and freshen ourselves. 

We hit the road after 10 minutes at gas station and headed to Sunset Crater Volcano. We paid $10 ($5 each person) for the entrance fee. Here lies an inactive volcano. It was erupted few hundred years ago and has destroyed five villages. And now, it became a national monument. The larva and black soil are all over the place. Subhanallah, the view was so beautiful. I just can't describe it by words. * and Aliya still sleeping here.. poor her, :(  

The next stop was at Wutpaki National Monument and Aliya started to puke again, and again and again :( She will thrown out everything she ate, huhu :( We're so worried but the closest clinic was miles away. We tried to keep her hydrated all the time. Back to Wutpaki, the place lies with the ruin of natives who lived here thousand years ago. The 'desert' was too hot, we can't stay longer and plus we need to rush to our destination. Aliya really need a break from the car and the road.

We arrived at Grand Canyon National Park at 4pm. Alhamdulillah. A long way to go though. 

Our first canyon stop was at Desert View The Watchtower. The architect was a lady and it was build more than hundred years ago. The awesomeness began! Subhanallah, the canyon was so beyond. Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah who gave us this opportunity to make this happens. We went to Lipan viewpoint for the sunset. We arrived there an hour early and it gave us times for solat, dinner and stretching our legs. The sunset was at 7.50pm. There was nothing better to experience sunset at the canyon. *speechless!

We headed to Yavapai Lodge at 8 and we arrived after 45 minutes. Alhamdulillah, Aliya looked much better when she can laid down on the bed. We freshen ourselves and ready for bed. Alhamdulillah.

July 3, 2011. We planned to get up early for sunrise at 5.15am, but we were too tired. So , we cancelled the plan and just stayed at our lodge for rest. We checked out at 7.30am and we went to general store nearby to buy some foods. After that, we headed to El Tovar for breakfast and tours to the canyon.

On our way to El Tovar, we saw elks by the road. We pulled over the car and without wasted the time, I grabbed my camera and excitedly photographed them. Actually it is illegal to approach the wildlife here, so, we made a bit distance and tried not to disturb that huge mammals.

After breakfast at El Tovar, we parked the car and took shuttle bus to Hermits Rest Route (red line). The bus provide transportation along the canyon with nine overlooks. We stopped at first overlook (Trailview point). We walked about 1.5km along the canyon to Powell point. We can took the bus instead of walking but we want to explore and spend more times at the rim trail. At Powell Point, we took the bus to Hermits Rest, the last overlook point. After rest for a while and having lunch with sandwiches and tuna, we went back to El Tovar. When we reached the bus stop,all of sudden the wind blew so strong and we barely walked along the path to the lodge. The wind pushed us so hard. After 15 minutes struggled, finally we reached the El Tovar lodge. Alhamdulillah, nothing bad happens to us and Aliya was fine.

Overlook point along the canyon

We waited until 2pm to check in at El Tovar lodge, got some rest, solat, and ate. At 4pm, we went back to shuttle bus and took the bus to Village Route (blue line). We spent our evening at Mather overlook point. Alhamdulillah, our day one at Grand Canyon well as planned.

In the morning of 4 July, we managed to experienced sunrise at El Tovar...we planned to go to Mather overlook point for a good view of sunrise, but Papa was lost and can't find the place, so, we went back to the lodge and viewed the sunrise from El Tovar. We check out at 8am and moved to Phoenix. Our flight was at 3.45pm. We went through the straight highway instead of zigzag road of Sedona... And Alhamdulillah, Aliya was free from the car sickness... We arrived at the airport on time, Alhamdulillah. We arrived home at 9.20pm.

Alhamdulillah, thank you to Allah. Alhamdulillah! We really had a great vacation.

Notes: This trip was planned mostly based by advises from tripadvisor.com forum. Suggestions, recommendations and tips from this forum really help us to plan and make the trip memorable and unforgettable.

tahukah anda?: DANDELION

Salam, hari ni nak cerita pasal pokok rumpai yang bernama DANDELION. Masa kami sampai Brookings empat tahun lepas, tak tahu pula bunga kuning yang ada di kebanyakkan rumput ni rupanya bunga dandelion. Kami dapat tahu bila seorang kawan, warga Amerika yang memaklumkannya...haha malu je..tapi sekurang-kurangnya dah tahu sekarang, :)

Gambar: kitar hidup pokok rumpai dandelion

follow my photography work here: https://www.facebook.com/wannorazalini.wh

"Dandelions are common weeds. They can be found in the city or the country. They have long deep roots that makes them hard to kill.

Their yellow blossoms turn into white feathery seeds. These seeds are carried by the wind. When the dandelion seeds light, they often germinate and make more dandelion plants". 

source: http://www.mbgnet.net/pfg/cycles/dande/index.htm

Gambar: Matahari cantik

Subhanallah dan Alhamdulillah tahun ni berpeluang lagi untuk bergambar di ladang bunga matahari...

Open house!

Salam semua :)

Musim-musim raya ni mesti ada banyak rumah terbuka di Malaysia. Kat sini pun ada juga open house, tapi tak leh nak g makan-makan beraya, sebab open house kat sini bermaksud rumah tersebut di buka untuk dijual/ disewa. Pembeli yang berminat akan membuat 'survey' dari segi interior dalaman, reka bentuk, bilik dan semua yang berkaitan dengan rumah sebelum memilikinya...

Iklan dari surat khabar 

This is not a pumpkin! or maybe it is... :)

Bismillah, salam..and it's Friday today.

Acorn squash

It's so confused to know which one is a squash or pumpkin, heh? Wallahualam. :)

Take a look at this informative blog on veggies and this entry was specifically explains about various types of squash.

source: http://ohmyveggies.com/a-guide-to-winter-squash/