Biarlah Jadi Rahsia Aku dan Allah

 What I can tell you guys is there are a few of my good friends were approaching me last week asking for prayers on behalf. I have always liked the idea how you really want something out of life and find your closest friends to help you out. You believe in the power of Allah, you know He is going to make it easy and provide a way out for you. But, you need other individuals to make a doa for you as well. People that you can trust and that you know will try their best to help you out. I call it double effort! :D

I was approached by 2 of my buddies a couple of days ago. One, asking for doa and advises on relationship. Another one, asking for doa in need to strengthen his iman.

I never failed to make doas for many of my closest friends to the extent I realise that I forgot about my own family. If they came to the point in a conversation where they said “Mat, nanti kau solat. Doakan pasal aku jugak”

I was like, “Wallahi, nama kau selalu aku sebut dalam doa aku”

Boys, in the name of Allah. You don’t have to ask me to make a doa for you. If you had shared you problems with me, I feel obligated to make one for you. That’s just me. 

I wish I could just tell you guys “Bro, chill. I had and will always pray for you”

And don’t tell me prayers didn’t work. Let me share with you a story. One of the mentioned boys above texted me and asked about Solat Dhuha and I shared everything that I know about the prayer. I started to ask him what is it about this that you really wanted to know about Dhuha? Then, we got to discuss our shortcomings about the importance of Salah.

I know him so well! We grew up together, we literally spent most of our youth time hanging out, playing together. We did come to a point when things were difficult for us to grasp. We had our own easy and hard time to embrace life, we didn’t even cross paths for years to be completely honest.

We decided to meet after almost 3 years. Alhamdulillah, there’s nothing bigger than His blessing. The crazy thing about it is we clicked! It felt like it was yesterday since the last time we ever bumped into each other. 

Since it’s been awhile, of course some changes of the way he reacted I started to notice. You know, what he used to do, what he never did, or what he did when I was away from his life. 

But, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. We’re all adults now. 

Honest to Allah, aku berdoa. And I’d always pray to Allah so that you would perform your prayers. When he asked me “Kau nanti solat, doakan untuk aku sekali, Mat”. 

It took me a few minutes to reply. I wanted to say to him that “Yes, I mention your name whenever I make a doa after salah so that you perform your prayers”

But, I don’t want to. I’m afraid it will lose its meaning. Allah listens to my prayers and for that, it has become one of the biggest blessings I have ever gotten in mu life.  

I thank Allah for this. Don’t tell me prayers didn’t work. It’s just a matter of time that He sends His revelation and mercy to His servants. 

Biarlah jadi rahsia aku dengan Allah.

Seoul, South Korea (03/09/17-09/09/17) - Full Itinerary & Bajet

Many have requested full itinerary untuk travel solo aku ke Seoul. If you guys have questions about the accomodation, total expenses etc, I will just include everything here. Aku stay in Itaewon and for Muslims, this is a decent place because it's located near to the Seoul Central Mosque it’s easy and convenient to find halal food. Since, I was going alone so aku rasa it’s better to just share a room with another 8 guys. I chose Itaewon Inn as my stay because it’s quite near to the mosque so that easy untuk perform prayers and it’s cheap too! :P

Kat bawah ni, aku share main attractions/places dengan bajet that I spent for the whole week.

Ahad – 03 September 2017
Check in @ Itaewon Inn for 7d6n - 74,000 Won (~RM275)
T Money Card (Subway) – 30,000 Won
Dinner – 18,000 Won
Indo Mee (10 packets) – 5,000 Won

Isnin – 04 September 2017
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace:
Entrance: 3,000 Won
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm from Wednesday – Monday, closed on Tuesdays
How to get there: Take the Subway to Gyeongbokgung Station and Exit #5.

2. Bukchon Hanok Village
Entrance: Free
Hours: Anywhere from 10 am until about 6 pm
How to get there: You can either walk from the palace or take the subway to Anguk Station and Exit #1 or #2 – then walk 5 minutes north.

Other expenses:
Sebiji epal merah – 1,200 Won
Turkish Kebab – 7,900 Won

Selasa – 05 September 2017
Korea Everland Theme Park (the largest theme park in Korea with over 40 rides and attractions)
Entrance: 34,000 Won (~RM130)
Hours: 10 am – 9 pm
How to get there: Take the Subway to Gangnam Station and Exit #6 or #7. Walk straight and find the bus station in the middle of the road that has number 5002, take the bus 5002 to Jondae Everland Station and take a free shuttle bus to Everland.

I’d suggest that you buy the ticket online as it’s cheaper because if you decide to buy it at Everland Theme Park, it will cost you around 54,000 Won (~RM200)
Here’s the link to buy it online https://www.kkday.com/en/product/2914
One of the most popular rides at Everland is T Express, the third tallest roller coaster in the world with speed 104km/h. Kena cuba yang ni, sumpah best! Haha

Other Expense:
Turkish Kebab – 8,900 Won

Rabu – 06 September 2017
1. N Seoul Tower, Namsan Mountain (Famous to go to the tower and lock a padlock from the fence as a symbol of love)
Hours: 10 am – 10:30 pm
How to get there: Take the Subway to Myeongdong Station and Exit #1, walk straight up the hill around 10 minutes and find the cable car station.

2. Myeongdong Street
It’s a perfect time to spend your day in the evening after a trip to Namsan Tour because these two places are close to one another. If you love to shop, spending time in Myeongdong will be one of one of your favourite things to do in Seoul.
Entrance: Free
Hours: Many of the businesses are open from 11 am – 10 pm but things are most busy in the later afternoon and evening
How to get there: Take the Subway to Myeongdong Station.

Other Expenses:
Namsan Cable Car for return: 8,500 Won
Padlock & pen: 5,500 Won
Socks: 5,000 Won
Dinner: 11,000 Won
Turkish Icecream: 3,500 Won

Khamis – 07 September 2017
1. Nami Island (Winter Sonata, the 2002 Korean drama was filmed on Nami Island)
Hours: 7.30 am – 9.45 pm
How to get there: Take the Subway to Gapyeong Station, take the shuttle bus to Nami Island.

2. Ewha Womans University
Entrance: Free
Hours: Anytime
How to get there: Take the Subway to Ewha Womans University Station and Exit #3.

3. Hongdae Street Performance
Hongdae is brimming with the young, artistic, and creative who flock there because of the local art focused university, Hongik University. And what happens when a large concentration of talents get together? Well obviously street performances!
Entrance: Free, donations accepted!
Hours: Preferably in evening, Almost every night (year round), But Friday-Saturday nights are best!
How to get there: Take the Subway to Hongik University Station and Exit #8 or #9.

Other expenses:
Shuttle Bus to Nami Island – return: 6,000 Won (keep the ticket)
Ice-cream: 2,000 Won
Drink – milk: 1,300 Won
Dinner: 15,000 Won

Jumaat - 08 September 2017
1. Han/Hangang River
The Han River is one of Korea’s largest, and it goes right through the center of Seoul. You can walk along the river or rent a bike for 3,000 Won per hour (optional)

2. Cheonggyecheon Stream
Entrance: Free
Hours: Throughout the day
How to get there: You can walk there form a number of subway stations, it starts at City Hall Station

Other expenses:
Lunch: 10,000 Won
Dinner: 10,000 Won

Sabtu - 09 September 2017
Check out, take the Subway to Incheon Airport Station and go back home, Malaysia.

Overall budget: 
Around 255,000 Won – 260,000 Won
Malaysian Ringgit equals to RM950.00 (without return flight tickets)

I didn’t include the flight tickets because the price varies. If you could secure best price during promotion, it would be great. I bought the ticket on November 2016, it’s RM668 Air Asia return ticket which was quite a good deal! You can get cheaper than that, for sure!

I saved a lot jugak actually sebab masak je kat sana. Itaewon Inn tu ada tempat untuk masak so tak masak untuk breakfast, aku masak for dinner. Indo Mee jela pun sebab nak jimat kan? Hahaha. 

Here's the link to my facebook post for the video I made during my stay in Seoul.

Solo Trip: Seoul