Oh you beautiful people. Please paint Wembley red, bring back the cup and make me smile again!

It has been six years. Tonight it will all change.

Come on you Red men!

You'll Never Walk Alone.

P.S. 10 hours to Liverpool v Cardiff City, Carling Cup Final 2012.

It's on the final Sunday of a very interesting adventure that a strange feeling afforded me to take a walk alone around the place I've lived at for the last 25 days. I had a flight to catch in few hours and the bags were half way packed. I usually pack the lower body stuff first - the likes of shoes, socks, pants and underwears customarily get the first taste of the luggage traveling fragrance.

So what's left were some shirts and toiletries. So I thought I had some time to spare.

I stayed at a quite decent place, but it took me just few steps to enjoy the view before my mind strayed to the land of deep thought, so I decided to stop and sit on the nearest bench, cross-legged, and had my last view of this place which now getting much blurrier with images of the memories intertwining with the sight of the place's appropriate landscape.

Honestly, I did not really want to go back.

Not now, at least.

*

I have no one to blame but myself. I bloody asked for all this thing some time last year when I agreed to slave myself to this student exchange program, which supposedly designed to tie the knot between law faculties of some countries with the one I'm studying at.

I was looking for something different and it did not occur to me that it will get that big that it could actually get some place in my heart.

I haven't been to this place before although the mental image has always been yearning my pocket to spend for the ticket and my feet to walk on the mysterious new earth in the island of Java.

It was a week after my 3rd semester exam that I flew with 19 others to Jakarta in our quest to celebrate the differences and spot the similarities in the contrasting legal system and culture. For the most of us, it was the time to forget about dreary routines and bad memories.

But for me, I was there to find something else.

This was not my first time in Indonesia, and my first experience in this country 3 years ago gave me the hint on what to expect in this part of the country. Capital city of any country has suffered from serious amount of pre-judgment. No one would expect the capital to be unlivable and if there is any place where distribution of wealth is centralized and economic trade is at its peak, it should be the capital city.

.

But looking at the economic side to understand the story of this city is sure a stodgy affair. So I went around the city with eyes on the lookout for the other side of the story.

Jakarta reminded me so much of Kuala Lumpur in so many odd ways. Both cities are in dilemma as to find the balance, carefully trying to equip every corner of the city with sophisticated facility while forgetting the fine line between developing itself while preserving the ethos of the people. Both cities are not sure whether the people are ready for such development but we took the blind leap of faith anyway, hoping development will make us a better society.

I was not sure whether the timing was right but the weather shared the same peculiarity with the one I've accustomed to. It's either rainy or sunny - so I guess the timing couldn't be right or wrong. I've used to it either way.

On sunny days, the street of Jakarta will be filled with hawker selling various Indonesian food. They used intelligently-modified manpowered cart to ply their trades and they would usually join Jakarta's signature heavy traffic to commute and move their stalls. The cart is small enough to be manned by a person and it's usually equipped with enough benches for passerby to sit and eat.

Some of the hawkers did not have anything on their feet and they would push their carts barefoot, but looking at how well dressed their customers are, sitting on the humble benches having a bowl of bakso, it is perplexing to see how they value life in such simple, little ways.

I spent most of my rainy days on the bus, sighting the view Jakarta had for me. I will not forget the sight of barefoot homeless kids with big umbrella in their hands, walking through huge puddles and mud to provide shelter for city dwellers in return for some grace of few pennies. Kids this age in Malaysia would spend their time watching Astro Ceria.

I was standing in my expensive shoes as I sighted the little deeds good people of this city usually do to their unfortunate, homeless kids.

I for one was blaming my upbringing for being too stern and shy in giving away what I have for something too strange and unfamiliar, and that left the eyes of the poor kids lashing in the most crestfallen way, akin to a passionate lover upon finding out the harsh reality of being stood up in the rain with a hopeful bouquet of red roses wrapped around the hands, waiting for the other half to show up.

These poor living things owe their existence in the land of living to the grace of the city's good people. A penny from their hands feed lives to the unfortunates.

I guess I didn't show up to put smile on the poor kid face, which I regret now.

Indonesians are a friendly lot, and I was greeted with amazing hospitality during the days. Relationships were built and friendships were made, as so it occurred to the other 19 who went together with me. We all came from the same faculty and most of them are strangers to me. I barely talk to most of them in person, but 26 days were both short and long enough for strangers to become someone you know and for acquaintances to become friends. I have to admit that I suck at giving a good first impression. People will either like or hate me at first instance. I don't blame any of them for that's who I am. But it's good to know that first impression dies at the second, and to be able to be in the same room, doing the same thing and laughing over the same matter is something I will never forget.

I spent quite a great deal of time with my camera, trying to capture as much great times and moments as possible but I know myself well - I don't need a camera to capture beautiful moments, because beautiful moments are best remembered, not captured.

*

I left something in Jakarta. I left good times with people I've no idea I could hang out with and talk to. Like I did in Makassar, I made quite a number of new friends, new favorite people and most importantly, new 'teachers'. For those who made it in my book, you know who you are. Thank you very much.

I left some fucking beautiful memories.

I miss you Jakarta.

*

That kind of Sunday. I'm glad it's Monday already,

which means it's business as usual.

Ah, a good book.

Every page is a turn of wonderful anticipation. The glorious sound it makes from the crease of paper when you flip the page reminds me of life's little delight we often overlook. Each line is a revelation coupled with sheer epiphany of a five year old toddler after a good story been told. If the words can speak, you will listen it murmurs beautiful things into your ears as you look at them in monochromatic lines. The journey it takes as it goes through the plots transfixes the mind and nerve and you will wish it will never end.

But it will anyway,

and soon you will have to succumb to life's harshest reality that all good things will come to an end as you reach the back of the page. You will wish you have few more lines to read, but you are not the author, so what you think is of little note, because the end is the end. Then you will hear a subtle thud as you close the back page and walk your way to the shelf as you prepare to rest the book with the common herd of old books.

But not even an ending can take the feeling away - the feeling of knowing you have read a book of that class. It has changed your world in the simplest of way. Life's little delight.

A good friend is like a good book.

Once read, once enjoyed. Sometimes on the shelf, but always in my heart.

Always.

Kelab-kelab berstatus mega adalah antara yang pertama untuk hanyut. Hanyut ditelan oleh pergelutan wang di meja lembaga pengarah. Sejarah hanya tinggal sejarah. Sejarah hebat bertukar busuk, lenyap dek hujanan wang ringgit.

Kemudian ombak mengambil stesen-stesen TV bersama. Ketiadaan kelab berstatus mega melenyapkan minat penyokong-penyokong berjiwa lemah dan sederhana.

Tamadun bolasepak kini semakin hampir menjadi jelmaan Tamadun Rom, merudum dan bakal pupus.

Lembaga pengarah dipecat satu-satu. Pemilik berstatus jutawan mengira hari untuk diusir. Keduanya dipijak oleh tekanan wang dan kejayaan segera.

Stadium umpama sebuah struktur yang terselamat selepas suatu perang besar. Serinya hilang, cahayanya malap dan kerusi-kerusinya ibarat sepohon kaktus di padang pasir.

Tamadun ini hancur. Tamadun ini lenyap.

*

Suatu hari, muncul seorang lelaki tua, berseluar pendek, berselipar dan memakai jersi sebuah kelab mega yang telah pupus, berjalan ke arah stadium yang dipenuhi semak samun dan najis pelbagai binatang.

Di tangannya ada sebilah sabit. Di belakangnya digantung sebatang penyapu. Di hatinya ada semangat yang pupus di hati orang lain.

Samun ditebas, najis disapu dan stadium yang usang bertukar menjadi baru. Berita ini disambut sahabat-sahabat lelaki tua itu dan bersama lelaki-lelaki tua yang lain, kelab dibangunkan semula.

Sejarah diceritakan semula kepada pemuda-pemuda dan anak-anak kecil. Kehebatan kelab dicanangkan ke serata dunia.

Api yang sama kelihatan pada lelaki tua dari kelab mega lain apabila mengetahui musuh mereka sudah bangun dari tidur.

Pemain-pemain yang kini menganggur diberi peluang untuk bermain dalam liga-liga kecil dan daif. Kali ini tiada apa yang dijanjikan selepas tamat 90 minit. Tiada wang dan ganjaran, yang ada hanyalah rasa puas dan senang hati.

Setiap perlawanan dinanti dengan penuh debaran dan semangat. Pemain bermain untuk maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Penyokong menyokong demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Stadium diisi oleh sorakan penyokong yang dahagakan aksi, gerakan pemain, hantaran dan jaringan gol. Semuanya demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Pengarah dan pemilik kelab diundi oleh penyokong setia. Penyokong diangkat menjadi raja dan bukan lagi komoditi. Pengarah dan pemilik bekerja untuk kesenangan penyokong dan pemain, bukan diri sendiri. Semuanya demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Tamadun ini kembali dihormati.

Beliau mengelap air matanya menggunakan jersi kelab kesayangannya.

Lelaki tua tersenyum puas.

Some of you may be wondering where is the 'Older Post' button in this blog. I've also got some feedback that the header is not clickable and won't direct the readers to the main page.

I use the traditional HTML to edit this blog because I don't like the new template builder. It makes things too easy. But one day I was tweaking the script and the next thing I knew I've lost the 'Older Post' button and the header is no longer clickable.

Too easy, eh?

Guess not. So if you nerds know how to get it back on, please write me a line. I might buy you a drink.

Cheers, in advance.

The referee pointed to the spot. Gerrard did the rest. Penalty well taken. Hart had no chance. Wembley beckons. Silverware is all we need.

Stevie will take us there.

P.S. Manchester City 0 - 1 Liverpool (Steven Gerrard), Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg.

Suddenly the Judiciary is praised to the skies. Some people need to say sorry and retract their accusation that the Judiciary is this and that so that they would not look like a hypocrite celebrating the judgment.

Congrats anyway to Anwar Ibrahim and his legal team. I'm happy for his innocent family members who have been vilified day-to-day.

Big day for the Judiciary. I can't wait to read the full judgment.

What's next? It's only High Court, mind you.

Buckle up for more dramas.

Driving's lesson of life: Jangan jadi budak gemuk yang selalu buat orang lain jadi slow. In Chemistry these people are called rate determining step. Get rid of these people and move on to a better life.

Issues are aplenty, running wild and hovering in my head, but the hands are not keen to elaborate in paragraphs. Hence the pointers, for a change.

1. Liverpool decided not to appeal for Suarez's 8-match ban. I don't understand why, especially after Kenny Dalglish and the players came out wearing THE t-shirt the day the verdict was delivered. Knee-jerk reaction - somehow reminded me of the £35m signing of Andy Carroll, but of course not as expensive. Personally I rather see Liverpool buck up their legal team and appeal - intelligently without aggression - if they feel the verdict and 8-game ban unjust, just to put THE t-shirt in proper justification. If not, move on, step out from the cold, remedy it by saying sorry. Be a gentleman we are.

2. Few hours after deciding to put world to rights and accepting Suarez's punishment, Liverpool lost to Manchester rich boys, and the call for Kenny Dalglish to put Liverpool house in order intensified. I hope he realizes that the transfer window is open to strengthen the squad. A quality striker and winger would cost a penny compared to how lavish Kenny spent the money in his pocket last transfer window, buying expensive and overrated British players. It has been six years without a trophy. The cabinet is getting dusty. Does it have any extra room at all?

3. Rafizi Ramli will finally battle it out against Khairy Jamaluddin after months of enticement. But it will not be enjoyed by the eyes of hungry, impatient, overly-passionate Malaysians in Malaysia. The debate will be held in London. Yes, London. I fail to see this as a run-up to any actual, formal debate. Any result from this London debate will shy any of the party of any more possible debates in the future. That aside, I tweeted and likened this debate to El Clasico, but played in Stadium Hang Tuah. Great match it will be, but boring crowd.

4. The country is buzzing with the subject of student power and academic freedom. I don't really sure what they are fighting about. I am a student. I feel powerful, and I think I am free academically. End of story. But seriously, I like how passionate they are in championing what they believe in. The message is great, but they have to understand that no matter how powerful the message is, they have to be relevant to be influential. End of another story.

5. Afdlin Shauki is now an UMNO member, much to disapproval of his fans. Exactly the problem of Malaysians who think they understand arts enough to enjoy them. Afdlin has made Malaysians cry and laugh through his movies and shows, but they are all seemed to be imaginary after this one political inclination uncovers. We as Malaysians are flawed in so many ways. We haven't really learned to respect other people's belief, yet we think we deserve to be respected.

6. Mahali Jasuli is the new Harimau Muda A captain, and he will lead the team in their mission in the S-League, which starts next month. Ong Kim Swee targets top 5 finish, but I am sure Malaysians won't be happy with that and will only settle as champions. Good luck boys!

7. Yes 7th point already! I'm out of idea but who cares? I've wrote 7 points! I would like to propose a toast on this 7th point to Anfield's beloved number 7, Luis Suarez. I can't wait for your return.

That's all for now. Cheers.

The year will end in few hours, which means it's resolution-listing time for most of us. No, it's not listing, because resolutions aren't supposed to be long. I've seen many people who can't get on with the idea of having new year resolutions and designate it as a yearly unavailing ritual rather than a strong spiritual statement of life we want to live in the following year.

Let's face it. With or without it, we want a better year every year.

My 2011 resolutions had ticks in few boxes, and the blanks are no indicator of foundering, but a message to me that I need to do better. But boy, the ticks are aplenty and the feel good factor and amazing recollection of the year are reminded even the word 'two thousand eleven' is uttered. Something about the word that usher my mind into a state of heartening good spirits.

The year reminds me of the enchantment, life's brilliant lesson, wonderful experience that comes with the support of the people I love.

2011 is the product of the grit I made myself available to, to do what I love.

*

Liverpool ended the year with the most tiring maneuver. The Reds drew 8 times and hit the woodwork 18 times. If the woodworks converted into goals and draws turned into wins, I could see us plying the fallen trade in Europe again.

The year does not reflect the magic 2011 had on me. 2011 for Liverpool is a test of character for the fans. The leap of faith is on trial every time Liverpool played. King Kenny, wearing the reputable managerial crown, now the chief of Anfield was on a mission to test the faith and renew the hope.

He sold Fernando Torres, brought in Luis Suarez and lines of expensive faces.

The dividends thus far: 8 draws, and a Europa League berth.

It will be a testing 2012 if the trend holds steady, because the rich boys in Manchester are not going to slow down and the Londoners are hungrier than ever to bounce back.

The test of character.

*

Malaysia is the official kings of South East Asia. After the sensational AFF Suzuki Cup win in 2010, Harimau Malaya did not put a cap yet on the pen that write phenomenal history of Malaysian football. In its younger form, styles as Harimau Muda, 2011 was a promise made by Malaysian football team that the future is bright and rosy.

The nation was united, yet again, behind the young team that won the gold medal in 2011 SEA Games. The nusantara rivalry stirred up once more, and Malaysia always came on top with due elegance and class.

The boy with Spanish brain Nazmi Faiz Mansor is introduced to Malaysian crowd in 2011, and hope is all in all restored.

2011 is the year football is officially back in Malaysia, and Malaysian football fans are yearning for more in 2012.

*

What a rewarding 2011 it has been. I can only pray that 2012 will be as great.

Happy New Year, and may the best of this year be the worst of next to you, you and you.

And you too.

Yes, you.

Steven Gerrard is probably a name that best fits the character of someone who is revered when he's not around, and cheered when he is right in front of you. He is the type of guy who will cheekily hide behind the curtain when the show is badly staged, so that he can come forth, in all elegance, especially during the chorus, to steal the show and leave the stage a superstar.

He does that all the time.

But life is not always about getting on top when the show does not work for you. Some audiences are hard to please, and no matter how much panna and flip-flap you pull through, a certain lot from a certain bench will probably find it as a dull, bland routine. But you can't blame them, for the tickets they paid serve the best purpose when you win the game, banging goals after goals.

Then again, the fickle mind will be tricked into listening to certain voice from certain lot, which will hum to you that no matter how big your win is and how classy your celebrations are, nothing beats the elegance of a good, fluid and entertaining performance.

Steven Gerrard, like everyone else, tries to please every lot every time he steps his foot on the field. He never compromises his dream by giving all he can. He took whatever he has on the plate and savour it like the opportunity everyone can't afford to miss. He does it in the classiest way anyone could imagine. He takes it calmly, but with aggression. He downs it slowly, but with pace.

Master of elegance, he is, and the winner of many hearts. He thought me much, that boy Stevie.

So, how's your game?

"Maafkan mereka, mereka tidak tahu,

Mereka tidak ramas buku, mereka segan ilmu,

Mereka tidak fasih malah fasik guna kata,

Kita kongsi nama bangsa tapi tidak kasta bahasa."

- Malique Ibrahim.