Know Yourself

Know Yourself? 6 Specific Ways to Know Who You Are

6 "VITAL Signs" are keys to self-understanding, career success, and happiness.

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom." This famous quote is often attributed to Socrates. But what exactly do you know when you “know yourself?”
This blog will reveal 6 elements of self-knowledge that can help you understand your own identity.  As you live your daily life, you can look for clues to these important building blocks of Self. 
But first, why is it important to know yourself?
The Benefits of Self-Knowledge
Maybe it’s obvious, but here in a nutshell are a few reasons why you might want to know your own nature:

• Happiness. You will be happier when you can express who you are. Expressing your desires, moreover, will make it more likely that you get what you want.
• Less inner conflict.  When your outside actions are in accordance with your inside feelings and values, you will experience less inner conflict.
• Better decision-making.  When you know yourself, you are able to make better choices about everything, from small decisions like which sweater you’ll buy to big decisions like which partner you’ll spend your life with. You'll have guidelines you can apply to solve life’s varied problems.
• Self-control. When you know yourself, you understand what motivates you to resist bad habits and develop good ones. You'll have the insight to know which values and goals activate your willpower.
• Resistance to social pressure.  When you are grounded in your values and preferences, you are less likely to say “yes” when you want to say “no.”
• Tolerance and understanding of others. Your awareness of your own foibles and struggles can help you empathize with others.
• Vitality and pleasure:  Being who you truly are helps you feel more alive and makes your experience of life richer, larger, and more exciting.

Now that you are convinced that self-knowledge is worth having (not that you needed convincing!), we’ll move on to those "VITAL Signs" of self-knowledge.
The Building Blocks of Self:  Your VITALS
The capital letters in “VITAL Signs” form an acronym for the 6 building blocks of Self, or VITALS, for short. The letters stand for: Values; Interests; Temperament; Around-the-Clock; Life Mission and Goals; and Strengths/Skills. The details:
V = Values                                                                                                                      
“Values"—such as “helping others,” “being creative,” “health,” “financial security,” and so on—are guides to decision-making and motivators for goals.  Research shows that just thinking or writing about your values can make it more likely that you take healthy actions, for example. The motivation provided by worthwhile values can also keep you going even when you are tired, as shown in many psychology experiments. If you want to self-motivate, know your values!  (For the research, click here.)

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I = Interests
“Interests” include your passions, hobbies, and anything that draws your attention over a sustained period of time. To figure out your interests, ask yourself these questions:  What do you pay attention to? What are you curious about?  What concerns you?  The focused mental state of being interested in something makes life vivid and may give you clues to your deepest passions.
Many people have built a career around a deep interest in something.  For example, a friend of mine broke his leg when he was 11 and was so fascinated by the ER and the ER doctors that he decided to become an emergency physician.
T = Temperament 
“Temperament” describes your inborn preferences. Do you restore your energy from being alone (introvert) or from being with people (extrovert)?  Are you a planner or go-with-the-flow type of person?  Do you make decisions more on the basis of feelings or thoughts and facts?  Do you prefer details or Big Ideas? Knowing the answers to temperament questions like these could help you gravitate toward situations in which you could flourish and avoid situations in which you could wilt.
In the 60’s, “spontaneity” was valued over planning. I tried hard to "go with the flow," but it seemed to me that I wasted a lot of time that way. Going against the grain of my own personality turned out to be a daunting task that wasn’t really worth it.

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Source: "Big Ben," by Aldaron/Commons.wikimedia

A = Around-the-Clock Activities
The “around-the-clock” category refers to when you like to do things—your biorhythms. Are you a morning person or a night person, for example? At what time of day does your energy peak? If you schedule activities when you are at your best, you are respecting your innate biology.  As I look back on my life, I realize I’ve been a morning person since birth. Those fun sleepovers with girlfriends?  I loved being included, but I didn’t like staying up late.
One joy of my adult life has been finding a partner with biorhythms like mine.  We wake up early and go to bed early; we both get snappy unless we eat three square meals a day.  We hate brunch.  While the idea of biorhythm preferences may sound trivial compared to lofty qualities of self like “values,” your daily life is more pleasant when you are in sync with your biology.  In every area, it’s easier to enjoy life when you don’t waste energy pretending to be someone you aren’t.
L = Life Mission and Meaningful Goals
“What have been the most meaningful events of your life?” This was a question I liked to ask when students would see me for career counseling at the community college where I worked.  One woman of about 40 got teary-eyed as she tried to answer.  “Recently,” she told me, “I’ve found it incredibly meaningful to care for my aging father as he declined and went into hospice. I was able to be there and hold his hand when he died.” As we talked about the difficulties and rewards of her father’s last days, she had an “aha” moment and realized she wanted to become a hospice nurse.  (She accomplished her goal and was one of the leaders of her class.)

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Ask yourself the same question: “What have been the most meaningful events of your life?”  You may discover clues to your hidden identity, to your career, and to life satisfaction.
S = Strengths                                                                                                                  
"Strengths" can include not only abilities, skills, and talents, but also character strengths such as loyalty, respect for others, love of learning, emotional intelligence, fairness, and more. (See here (link is external) for a list of “Character Strengths”).  Knowing your strengths is one of the foundations of self-confidence; not being able to acknowledge your own superpowers could put you on the path to low self-esteem.  Become a person who “takes in the good,” listening for compliments and noticing skills that could be clues to your strengths. Example: An acquaintance tells you she loves the soothing sound of your voice. What could you do with that knowledge?  Likewise, knowing your weaknesses can help you be honest with yourself (or others) about what you are NOT so good at. You might decide either to work on those weaknesses or try to make them a smaller part of your personal or career life.
Being True to You
Even if you know your "VITAL Signs," it’s hard to remain true to yourself because you are constantly changing and because society’s values often conflict with your own. I love this quote from fellow habits author Gretchen Rubin:

"My first commandment is to “Be Gretchen”—yet it’s very hard to know myself.  I get so distracted by the way I wish I were, or the way I assume I am, that I lose sight of what’s actually true."

For all of us, being yourself sounds easier than it actually is!
But there are a few signposts.  When you’ve made a discovery about one of your "VITAL Signs," you’ll feel a sense of excitement.  Acting on self-knowledge will give you energy and save you energy.  You’ll feel freer and stronger because you no longer conform to how you “should” feel, think, or act.  For example, I can remember my relief when I realized I was an introvert.  How comforting it was to give myself the gift of time alone without wondering if I were a freak of nature!

Sayangi Rambut Anda

tips penjaggan rambut bagi wanita bertudung

Bagi wanita bertudung, penjagaan rambut sangat penting dan perlu dititikberatkan. Hal ini kerana, penjagaan rambut yang tidak betul akan menyebabkan kulit kepala tidak sihat dan seterusnya akan merosakkan rambut anda. Penjagaan rambut secara rapi sangat penting bagi memastikan rambut anda sihat dan cantik walaupun anda bertudung.

Sumber: Muslim Lifestyle

1. Jangan mencuci rambut setiap hari

Cuci rambut 2 hingga 3 hari sekali saja

Rambut anda tidak boleh dicuci pada setiap hari. Cukup hanya mencuci 2 atau 3 hari sekali. Hal ini kerana syampu yang anda gunakan untuk mencuci rambut mempunyai bahan kimia. Penggunaan syampu bagus untuk mendapatkan rambut yang cantik. Tapi, sekiranya anda kerap menggunakannya, boleh menyebabkan kulit kepala rosak. Jadi, penggunaan syampu perlu dikurangkan ketika mencuci rambut.

2. Keringkan rambut secara semula jadi

Elakkan daripada menggunakan pengering rambut

Selepas mandi, jangan menggunakan pengering rambut untuk mengeringkan rambut anda. Biarkan rambut kering secara semula jadi. Sekiranya anda menggunakan tuala untuk mengeringkan rambut, jangan menggosok dengan kasar. Lurutkan tuala pada rambut anda dari atas hingga ke bawah dengan perlahan-lahan. Ulang sehingga rambut kurang basah dan biarkan rambut kering.

3. Jangan pakai tudung ketika rambut basah

Pakai tudung ketika rambut basah menyebabkan bau hapak

Cuci rambut beberapa jam sebelum anda bersedia untuk memakai tudung bagi memastikan rambut anda kering ketika menggayakan tudung. Jika anda memakai tudung dalam keadaan rambut yang basah, rambut anda akan berbau hapak, rambut berbuah, berkelimumur dan rosak kerana kulit kepala yang lembab terperap dalam tudung.

4. Biarkan rambut bebas

Biarkan rambut bebas

Apabila anda tidak mengenakan tudung (apabila di rumah), elakkan daripada mengikat rambut anda. Biarkan rambut anda bebas mengurai supaya dapat merasai pengaliran udara dengan lancar. Diingatkan juga supaya kurangkan menyikat rambut bagi mengelakkan kulit kepala daripada panas.

5. Pilih syampu yang bersesuaian

Pilih syampu yang bersesuaian dengan masalah kulit kepala atau rambut anda. Teliti bahan dan kandungan yang digunakan dalam syampu tersebut. Pilihlah syampu mengikut keperluan, bukan mengikut jenama.

How to Save Money as a Student

The fall semester is well underway, and it's an exciting time for college freshmen. Many are navigating a new campus environment, social circles and how to live independently for the first time. College is also synonymous with young people assuming a greater responsibility for managing their own money – away from the reliable security of mom and dad's wallet.

These six easy tips will help college students make the grade when it comes to forming a strong foundation for money management.

1. Create a budget. This is incredibly important. List monthly income sources, including savings, wages and parental allowances, and then write down estimated expenses for the month. It isn't easy to identify college living expenses in advance, but you should try. Take costs such as school supplies, food outside your meal plan, personal care items and laundry into account. Then, try managing your budget and tracking expenses using an online personal finance management tool like Mint.com, which helps you easily create and stick to a budget.

2. Separate wants from needs. Is $30 per week for gas a "need" or a "want?" How much should you budget for non-meal plan food? How much will laundry cost? After a few months on campus and tracking expenses, it becomes easier to distinguish wants from needs and put a plan into action. Some students give themselves a weekly cash allowance rather than carry a debit card, and when that week's allowance is gone, they wait until next week for more "wants."

3. Set up a checking account. Banks usually cater to college students by offering free checking and saving accounts, which allows students to avoid fees on withdrawals or fund transfers. Shop around to find a bank with convenient ATMs near campus to eliminate out-of-network charges. And keep in mind that when an out-of-state check arrives (say, from grandma), it may take a few days to clear, so keep an eye on the account balance before spending against it.

4. Use, don't abuse, credit cards. In 2012, 70 percent of undergraduate students had at least one credit card, according to the International Journal of Business and Social Science. College is a great time to start building credit (which is crucial for leasing an apartment, purchasing a vehicle and even landing a job post-graduation), but it's easy for many to amass a large amount of debt while in school. It's important to understand the difference between credit building and overextending. If you don't know, visit a business professor during office hours and ask!

5. Do your homework on loans and financial aid. College graduates tend to have a difficult time balancing ever-growing student loan payments against declining wages. Understand what the exact size of your student loan debt will be upon graduation, and come up with a plan for how you will pay it back. Even if it involves moving back home for a bit (to preserve your sanity, give yourself a specific timeline for when you plan on moving out), it will be worth it in the end.

6. Shop smart for textbooks. Textbooks are one of the biggest college expenses – a brand new edition of a biology book can cost upward of $300. Bypassing the campus bookstore at the start of each semester is an easy way for college students to save an abundant amount of money. Invest in a Kindle or iPad and download your books – they are less expensive that way. Or look for books in used bookstores or online. Even with shipping costs, the price can turn out to be significantly cheaper.

The bottom line: College can be expensive, but learning the basics when it comes to money management now means you don't have to graduate with massive debt. Laying the groundwork for smart budgeting and spending habits in college enables you to handle responsibility and learn the value of accountability – lessons that are just as important as knowing microeconomic theory.

Malaysia dihatiku

16 Tempat Percutian Menarik di Malaysia

1. THE SHOREA, SEREMBAN, NEGERI SEMBILAN

Salah satu tempat percutian yang menarik di Malaysia dalam senarai kami adalah The Shores. Apabila disebut sahaja nama Negeri Sembilan, perkara pertama yang muncul di kepala adalah Pantai Port Dickson. Tidak dinafikan kerana Port Dickson merupakan pantai peranginan yang paling dekat dengan Kuala Lumpur. The Shorea Negeri Sembilan telah dibina oleh sebuah artkitek yang menghargai ketenangan alam semulajadi sebagai tempat percutian peribadi untuk keluarganya. Terletak di Jelebu, Shorea menawarkan dua jenis pilihan samada Shorea Resort atau Shorea Estate. Seiring dengan tema pemeliharaan alam, kayu yang dipakai untuk membina resort ini adalah kayu yang telah dikitar semula agar tidak merosakkan flora dan fauna.

2. BUKIT TINGGI, PAHANG

Bukit tinggi Pahang terletak di Bentong Pahang, ala kalau orang pantai timur memang akan tahu pasal Bukit Tinggi ni kerana kalau melalui lebuhraya Karak korang akan nampak papan iklan yang menunjukkan arah ke Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. Ia merupakan lokasi yang unik dan menarik kerana kat Bukit Tinggi terdapat bangunan yang mempunyai reka bentuk seperti bangunan di negara beriklim sejuk di Eropah.

Terletak di tengah-tengah hutan tropika yang rimbun di 2,500 kaki di atas paras laut di Pahang, Bukit Tinggi memberikan rehat yang menyenangkan dan menyegarkan, terutamanya dari iklim panas dan lembap sepanjang tahun. 

Meremajakan dengan penginapan yang tenang di pusat peranginan bukit yang indah dan klasik dan menjelajahi kawasan bertema di seluruh dunia untuk percutian unik dan inspirasi. Disini terdapat bangunan ala-ala eropah seperti Colmar Tropicale dan The Chateu Spa and Organic Wellness. Selain itu terdapat juga Japannese Village dan Botanical Garden dekat sini. Kalau korang tak pernah sampai, boleh cuba jalan-jalan dekat sini. Wajib cuba!

3. TANAH TINGGI KUNDASANG, SABAH

Tahukah korang, di Malaysia ada satu tempat di Sabah yang sama seperti New Zealand. Dengan iklim suhu tanah tinggi yang sejuk, Tanah Tinggi Kundasang  terletak di kaki Gunung Kinabalu yang menawarkan pemandangan yang menakjubkan dan menyegarkan. Cuaca kat sini pon agak sejuk dan berkabus dan yang paling menarik lanskap ladang ternakan ini macam senibina ladang ternakan di negara Eropah dan berlatar belakangkan pemandangan Gunung Kinabalu.

Kalau dah sampai Kundasang, jangan lepaskan peluang untuk menjejakkan kaki ke Desa Cattle Dairy Farm.  Desa Cattle ni adalah sebuah ladang perternakan lembu dan kambing, tapi lembu yang diternak ni bukan jenis lembu biasa. Ia daripada baka luar negara, yang selalu korang tengok kat tv tu macam kat New Zealand yang bertompok-tompok hitam putih dan saiznya agak besar jugak lah daripada lembu biasa tu. Paling penting, bila korang dah sampai kat sini, jangan lupa makan makanan berasaskan susu lembu yang ada kat sini (waffle, aiskrim,yogurt) dan susu segar.

Tempat ni dibuka setiap hari, dengan bayaran hanya RM5 untuk seorang dan korang boleh masuk ambil gambar pemandangan sepuas-puasnya di New Zealand Sabah ni!

4. THE CARPEDIA, PAYA RUMPUT, MELAKA

Jika anda sudah biasa dengan hotel berwarna-warni di Brighton Beach di Melbourne, anda perlu mencuba hotel ini di Melaka. Terletak di Paya Rumput, Melaka hotel butik ini di Masbro Village menggunakan hiasan luaran yang berwarna-warni. Sekali imbas sahaja dah nampak keunikan tempat ni dengan senibina yang sangat rare di negara ini yang mana selalunya hanya boleh dijumpai di Brighton Beach, Melbourne.

Walaupun binaannya nampak kecil, tapi di dalamnya boleh memuatkan sehingga 6 orang! Kalau korang jenis yang suka bergambar, tempat ini adalah pilihan paling sesuai untuk abadikan dalam Facebook atau instagram. Ada juga pasangan yang memilih lokasi Masbro Village di Paya Rumput untuk photoshoot wedding.

Lokasinya dekat cuma 5 minit berjalan kaki ke Tesco Cheng Stadium Hang Jebat dan jarak 7km ke bandar Melaka. Jika menaiki lebuhraya PLUS, hanya 6km dari Ayer Keroh dan sekadar 12km ke Tg Bidara.

5. TADOM HILL RESORT, BANTING,SELANGOR

Tadom Hill Menawarkan banyak ciri dan aktiviti menarik, tempat ini sesuai untuk mereka yang ingin melarikan diri dari kesibukan kehidupan bandar dan berehat. Keluasannya 40 ekar bukit batu kapur, tasik dan pokok-pokok dan terletak 12 minit dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur, dan 45 minit dari Kuala Lumpur, menjadikan Tadom Hill sebagai salah satu destinasi percutian terbaik.

Uniknya, pengunjung ke resort ini bukan saja dapat memilih untuk bermalam didalam chalet terbuka atau kemah, mereka juga dapat menikmati keindahan alam semulajadi yang boleh dijumpai di sana. Kalau rasa panas dengan matahari tengah hari, terjun saja dalam tasik yang ada disitu.

Jom Tgk Video Official dari Tadom Hills Resort Banting.

6. EAGLE RANCH RESORT, NEGERI SEMBILAN

Saya telah tinggal di Port Dickson hampir dua tahun dan bagi saya Port Dickson memang salah satu tempat percutian yang amat menarik di Malaysia. Tapi, tahukah korang terdapat resort yang bertemakan Cowboy di Port Dickson ini. Eagle Ranch antara destinasi pelancongan yang menawarkan penginapan dan aktiviti ala-ala cowboy dan ianya amat sesuai dengan iklim Malaysia yang panas. Terletak berdekatan dengan Blue Lagoon Port, Muzeum Lukut, Zoo Port Dickson dan Pasir Pajang, Eagle Ranch memberikan pengalaman yang berbeza dengan keluasan 32 Hektar di panti Port Dickson.

Disini tempat penginapan yang disediakan adalah berbentuk Tipi (kemah kaum Native American) dan badwagon yang dibina menyerupai sebuah wagon Cowboy. Bukan sekadar bilik yang unik, kawasan yang luas membuat tempat ini bagus untuk acara berkumpulan atau acara korporat seperti team building, seminar, kem motivasi dan hari keluarga. Terdapat banyak aktiviti menarik yang disediakan disini seperti paintball, flying fox, rapelling, go kart dan memanah.

7. VILLA DANIALLA, KELANTAN

Negeri Kelantan yang terkenal dengan keunikan bahasa, makanan yang sedap dan tempat bebas cukai menjadi tumpuan pelancong untuk melawat kelantan. Selain daripada itu negeri Kelantan sememangnya sinonim dengan masakan yang sedap tetapi sedikit manis.

Tak terkecuali, terdapat juga banyak tempat menarik di Kelantan. Sekiranya sampai di Kelantan, salah satu tempat yang wajib pergi adalah Villa Danialla di Bachok. Villa Danila ni sesuai untuk mereka yang mencari resort yang memberikan ketenangan dan bebas dari kesesakan bandar. Pantainya yang menarik, dan lokasi resort betul-betul di tepi pantai menjadikannya sebagai pilihan. Selain itu, anda juga boleh membuat daytrip ke Pulau Perhentian dari Vila ini.

8. SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE, SABAH

Wah, Sabah memang sangat cantik dan memang salah satu destinasi pilihan kami di Malaysia. Sabah memang banyak pulau-pulau yang cantik yang wajib ada dalam senarai. Sekiranya nak tengok rumah terapung diatas laut, korang boleh cuba melawat Sipadan Water Village.

Terletak di Pulau Mabul, kawasan ini menjadi tempat kediaman nelayan Bajau. Satu ciri unik yang terdapat pada seni bina kaum Bajau ini adalah mereka akan membina rumah mereka mengunakan bumbung pelepah. Terdapat banyak aktiviti yang boleh dilakukan di sini antaranya adalah “Scuba Diving” yang bertaraf dunia. Selain di Terengganu, di Pulau Mabul juga terdapat penyu malahan terdapat juga banyak spesis ikan yang Eksotik dan batu karang yang cantik dan merupakan tempat percutian menarik di Malaysia yang amat cantik dan menenangkan.

9. TERRAPURI HERITAGE VILLAGE, TERENGGANU

Terrapuri (Land Of Palaces) adalah projek pemuliharaan dan pemulihan Terengganu dengan Ciri-cirinya rumah lama berusia beratus tahun. Susun atur resort ini diilhamkan oleh Istana Terengganu abad ke-17 dan sekitarnya. Terrapuri terdiri daripada 20 vila yang dipulihkan eksklusif, galeri dan rumah pantai.

Terletak tengah-tengah diantara Laut China Selatan dan Sungai paya bakau (Setiu Wetland), Terrapuri menyajikan pemandangan Pulau Perhentian, Lang Tengah, Pulau Cepu, Pulau Redang dan Bidong yang menakjubkan. Dan terdapat kunang-kunang pada waktu malam menjadikan Terrapuri sebagai salah satu destinasi percutian yang agak menarik.

10. BELUM ECO RESORT, PERAK

Belum Eco Resort adalah salah satu daripada 100 buah pulau yang terletak di Tasik Belum, Perak – yang terletak berhampiran Taman Negara Royal Belum yang terkenal di dunia. Belum Eco Resort adalah resort yang dibina di atas pulau kecil di tengah-tengah Tasik Belum dan disekelilingi hutan simpan Belum.

Belum Eco Resort adalah satu-satunya resort hutan hujan di tengah-tengah alam dengan udara lalu lintas sifar dan pencemaran bunyi. Terletak di Gerik dan meliputi 15,200 hektar, Belum Lake adalah tasik buatan manusia terbesar di Perak. Keindahan yang tenang di sekitar tasik ini dilengkapi dengan kepelbagaian flora dan faunanya.

Jenis penginapan yang disediakan di sini terbahagi kepada Chalet, Dorm, dan Boat House. Banyak aktiviti yang boleh dilakukan disini termasuk lawatan ke perkampungan orang asli, melihat bunga Rafflesia di Pulau Besar, memancing, berkayak, dan melihat burung.

11. CASA TITIK, PAHANG

Bagi korang yang nak merasai pengalaman berada di Sepanyol boleh datang ke Casa Titik, Cherating Pahang yang menawarkan resort ala “Spanish Villa”. Casa Village Terletak terletak di perkampungan Sungai Baging, Mukim Sungai Karang di sepanjang jalan Kuantan-Kemaman berdekatan Cherating Village. Casa Titik memberikan pengalaman percutian yang santai bagi mereka yang ingin menikmati keselesaan di rumah dalam suasana intim dan damai di tepi laut.

Sesuai untuk acara termasuk majlis perkahwinan, pesta, perjumpaan dan retret korporat, bangunan utama Casa Titik menawarkan sepuluh bilik tidur tamu dan dewan serbaguna. Terdapat juga aktiviti menunggang kuda, berjalan santai di pantai atau menjamu selera di gerai makanan berdekatan menjadikan Casa Titik salah satu tempat percutian menarik di malaysia yang perlu dilawati.

Kawasan yang luas dengan dua kolam renang dan jakuzi. Mengadap Laut Cina Selatan, Casa Titik yang terletak bersebelahan pantai berpasir putih yang lembut memberikan pemandangan yang luas mata memandang. Disyorkan untuk korang yang mencari tempat percutian menarik di malaysia yang santai dan privacy.

12. CANOPY TRIBES, JOHOR

Bagi korang yang gemarkan perkemahan mewah alaf baru, Canopy Tribes di Kota Tinggi Johor ini merupakan pilihan terbaik sebagai salah satu tempat percutian menarik di Malaysia. Kalau di eropah, aktiviti ini dipanggil Glamping, iaitu tidur didalam “Bell Tent” disamping flora dan fauna tapi dengan cara mewah.

Semua peralatan dan perkakasan disediakan, tidak perlu lagi membawa sleeping bag atau peralatan memasak untuk berkhemah. Banyak aktiviti yang anda boleh dilakukan di sini antaranya adalah mandi air terjun, trekking di Gunung Panti, berbasikal, berkayak, dan menaiki ATV manjadikan Canopy Tribes salah satu tempat percutian menarik di Malaysia.

13. SEAVENTURES DIVES RESORT, SABAH

Jika korang sukakan aktiviti “Scuba Diving”, Seaventures Dives Resort Sabah ini merupakan salah satu destinasi percutian yang patut korang lawati. Terletak di segi tiga batu karang Sabah berdekatan dengan Sipadan, Sea Venture Dives Resort adalah bekas pelantar minyak yang diubah menjadi sebuah resort “Dive Rig”.

Tujuan utama ia dibina adalah untuk menyediakan penyelam dengan pangkalan untuk salah satu tapak menyelam terbaik di dunia.

Rig tersebut telah berada disitu sejak tahun 1997, di mana struktur dan tempat perlindungan telah mewujudkan syurga untuk ikan menjadikannya tempat yang memang cantik dan menarik.

14. VILLA SAMADHI, KUALA LUMPUR

Bagi yang tak nak bergerak jauh dari pusat bandar Kuala Lumpur, jangan risau kerana terdapat percutian menarik di Malaysia iaitu villa ala-ala bali di tengah-tengah pusat bandaraya KL. Villa Samadhi yang dibina berkonsepkan ruang udara terbuka untuk melupakan kesibukan kota.

Terdapat tip dari pengunjung yang mana Villa Samadhi ini tidak membenarkan membawa anak-nak kecil bagi menjaga privacy penungjung-pengunjung lain. Villa ini mendapat rating yang agak tinggi di agoda iaitu 8.7/10 dan pernah memenangi Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award 2014.

15. THE DUSUN, MANTIN, NEGERI SEMBILAN

Selain The Shorea yang terletak di Seremban, orang Selatan Malaysia juga mungkin boleh mencuba untuk bercuti di The Dusun yang terletak di Mantin. The Dusun juga dibina dengan konsep yang sama seperti Villa Samadhi iaitu berkonsepkan Bali. Resort ini mendapat nama “The Dusun” kerana asalnya ia merupakan dusun durian.

Pemiliknya menukar dusun ini kepada resort kerana mahu berkongsi keindahan dusun ini dengan orang ramai. Sampai ke hari ini, jika anda berminat, anda boleh mencuba durian yang tumbuh di dusun ini. Rumah Rehat ini diperbuat daripada kayu dan direka dengan elemen modern-tradisional. Tetamu dapat melihat pemandangan hutan lipur semulajadi yang belum pernah disentuh manusia. Supaya suasana resort tidak menjadi terlalu sesak dan untuk menjaga keindahan alam disini, hanya bilangan tetamu yang terhad dibenarkan menginap disini pada bila-bila masa. Boleh masukkan dalam senarai korang sebagai percutian menarik di Malaysia.

Inilah dia senarai 15 tempat percutian menarik di Malaysia yang kami dapat senaraikan buat masa ni. Kami akan sentiasa update senarai baru dan menambah senarai-senarai lain. Kalau ada cadangan atau idea boleh hubungi kami terus dengan menghantar email ke aidanadhirah03@gmail.com atau komen di bawah ini.

Why People Blogging

Why Do People Blog? The Benefits of Blogging

When blogging started, the first blogs were really glorified online journals, and in all likelihood, becoming a professional blogger and making money online wasn’t the goal. Since then, the blogosphere has evolved, and now people blog for many different reasons. There are even distinctions among types of blogs - business, lifestyle, fashion, food, and entertainment blogs, among others.
While the blogging scene has developed over the last decade, the benefits of blogging are still plentiful. Here’s a list of reasons why people blog and how blogging can benefit your personal or professional life.

Express Yourself and Share Your Passions
The landscape has changed, but there are still countless blogs that serve as a platform for people to voice their ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Whether your passion is business, personal finance, cooking, politics, photography, or marketing, blogging gives you the opportunity to connect and network with likeminded individuals who share the same passions.

Make A Difference
Some people’s passions lean toward supporting a cause. Whether it’s a political, environmental or social cause, a blog is a great way to build awareness and garner support.

Share Your Knowledge
If you’re someone who loves to teach, starting a blog can provide the opportunity to educate others interested in your field of expertise. The best part is that, as you build resources on your blog to teach others, you may realize there is a chance to monetize your blog by creating educational products or services online.

Refine Your Writing Skills
The more you write, the better you become at it. Most professional bloggers write on a regular basis and therefore analyze and proofread their writing constantly. You may even get feedback from readers to help you become a better writer.
However, being a good writer is not a prerequisite for a successful blog. Many very high profile bloggers are self-proclaimed terrible writers, and part of their success could be attributed to their message of “If I can do it, so can you”.

Learn How To Make Money Online
Most people start out with one blog, but along the way, they gain experience and eventually generate ideas for blogs in other niches. What you learn from your initial blog - the dos and don’ts, marketing strategies that are effective, how to make money blogging, etc. - will help you accelerate the growth of future ventures.

Build Your Professional Network
Blogging is a community-based endeavor, and networking is one reason people engage in it. Whether you are a solopreneur or blogging to market your business, building relationships will facilitate your blog’s growth.
Meanwhile, growing your online network has its own side benefits, such as gaining access to valuable software and tools, seminars, workshops, product unveilings, and other events.

Earn More Exposure
Businesses create blogs primarily to expand their online presence, connect with potential customers, promote their brand in a positive conversation, and even generate online revenue.
Beyond the immediate results, businesses use content marketing to rank their posts in search engines, thereby generating residual leads and revenue.

Become an Authority in Your Industry
A blog can be utilized as a platform to showcase your knowledge and expertise. Publishing blog posts that are accurate, timely, relevant, and informative will eventually get the attention of industry insiders and earn you recognition as an authoritative source and thought-leader.

Build an Online Portfolio
Blogging is a great way for aspiring authors and freelance writers to build up an online portfolio. By showcasing their writing skills on large platforms with expansive reach, freelancers can grow their exposure and sign new clients.

Market Your Business
For companies and entrepreneurs, gaining online visibility is one of the best ways to grow subscribers, leads and ultimately revenue. This can’t be achieved with a static corporate website. Creating blog content that is valuable, helpful, and/or entertaining is an effective way to grow your website’s authority, online rankings, and traffic.

Starting A Blog Today
As the internet and technology become more ingrained in our day-to-day lives, the benefits of blogging or building a website become impossible to ignore. However, unlike in the early days, bloggers don’t need to have computer science degrees or HTML knowledge. Software such as WordPress.org and “how to start a blog” guides have made it simple and easy to set up a blog in 15 minutes. If you’re unsure of whether blogging is right for you, use a free blogging platform for a few months before transitioning to a self-hosted solution.

The Perfect Dose of Trials

The Perfect Dose of Trials

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. One of the reason that I go into blogging is that I want to archive all the articles that I found and read long time ago. By doing this I’ll manage to keep these interesting articles while not afford to lose it as in hard-copy. Hence, I can still review and revise the points in the future. Furthermore, I can share these with others, of course. Hopefully, it will be beneficial to all.
This is one of the interesting articles that I would like to share with all readers. The best thing for us to do after read blogs, articles etc; reflect it to ourself from time to time.
May Allah give us strength to improve ourselves and be a good servant to Him.

Man jadda wajada, wa man zara’a hasada

ALLAH KNOWS BEST – THE PERFECT DOSE OF TRIALS
We are only humans. We are slaves of Allah who are imperfect in a myriad of ways. Indeed, we are powerless. Everyday, from dawn till dusk, we are always at the mercy of Allah the Almighty. The question is, do we realize it? Sometimes we go about our daily life without even a flicker of realization that we are under the command of Allah. At times, we seem to think that we are in control. Yes, to a small extent I guess we do. However, the greatest planner is still and will always be Allah.

Allah is enough for us

Every time we open our sleepy eyes and inhale the morning breeze during Fajr, some of us make an effort (a gallant effort, undoubtedly), to map out their activities for the day. This commendable action is definitely worthwhile to do. Nevertheless, bear in mind that Allah has also mapped out our activities. Indeed, man proposes, Allah disposes. My point is, it is important for us to plan our lives. It is pertinent in fact. However, we just need to remember that despite the plans that we organized, Allah has greater plans in store for each of His slaves. Indisputably, His plan is the best possible plan.
I’d like to share an incident that significantly altered my view of life in general. When I was in my secondary school, an English teacher of mine shared her wisdom with the class. I was Form Five. We were all engulfed in our books, with pressure mounting as the time flies nearer to SPM. My teacher was quick to realize that we needed a dose of inspiration to spur us ahead. Thus, she mentioned that despite all your shortcomings, problems and insecurities, God does not give you more burdens than you can bear.

Allah does not give you more burdens than you can bear.

That simple sentence proved to be incredibly influential to me. It gave me a kind of confidence that I had never experienced before. To me, it meant that no matter how difficult life treats me, no matter how hard it is to smile, no matter how unbelievably impossible it is to push through the trying times, I can still do it. I can still prevail because that quote reminded me that Allah is Most Merciful. He throws all the challenges and difficulties at me because He knows I can overcome them. It made all the difference to me. It modified my outlook on all the predicaments and troubles that I have to face. Hence, I grew confident to prevail over them.
When I was at school, I admired my teacher for her wise words. As time flies, I gained more experience and knowledge, vested by Allah of course. Until one fateful day, Alhamdulillah, I came across a verse in the Holy Quran from Al-Baqarah, verse 286. The last verse of the longest surah in the Holy Quran. This verse is translated as:

‘Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned…’

This is a verse that many of us recite, especially after Fajr and after Maghrib. It is one of the verses that were compiled as al-Mathurat. A verse that I am sure many of us have it locked and safely memorized in our brains. Yet, despite the many times that I have recited this verse, I never took the time to understand its meaning. Nonetheless, alhamdulillah, Allah blessed me with His hidayah and I read the meaning.

‘Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned…’

Surprisingly, when I read this verse, it reminded me of the advice given from my English teacher. That was when I finally became enlightened. It came to my knowledge that my teacher actually quoted a verse from the Holy Quran. She actually imparted knowledge so grand and meaningful – a testament of knowledge from Allah, the Most Knowledgeable. Consequently, the effect of my teacher’s quote became more profound and significant. The belief I had on the quote amplified. I have utmost faith that Allah will follow through in all of His promises. Thus, I totally believe that Allah does not give us more burdens than we can bear.
Imagine what you can do with such belief? Each and everyday, we are bombarded by incessant challenges that come our way. Some of us are born more resilient than others when it comes to overcoming these challenges. However, the rest of us are somewhat frail and naïve. Generally speaking, people usually judge this difference to be due to one’s upbringing. To an extent, our upbringing certainly dictates how we turn out as human beings. Nevertheless, when we truly rest our beliefs on the verse above, we can scale enormous heights, regardless of our upbringing. No matter how difficult things are or ought to be, we can indefinitely rise to the occasion because deep down in our hearts, we know for a fact that Allah will not present us with such difficulties unless He knows we are capable to triumph over them.
Therefore brothers and sisters, if Allah has the confidence in us, why don’t we have such confidence in ourselves? If Allah has promised us that we can rein over our problems as they come by, why do we still question our abilities and ourselves? Who are we to deny the promise made by Allah who created us?

our efforts count~

Theoretically, it might seem easy to comprehend the essence of this verse and imagine we practicing it. However, it can prove to be quite troublesome to really put it into practice. As most of us are students, we are often faced with examinations and tests to gauge our level of knowledge in the field of study that we have chosen. Sometimes, we wonder if we can answer the questions in the exam. It might be helpful to bear in mind that Allah planned for us to face the examinations, and since that is His plan, we should have the means to successfully pass the exams.
However, the road towards that success is not lined with pristine petals of roses. Let’s not kid ourselves. Of course, we have to work for it. Allah vested us with brains for us to use wisely. True, according to this verse, we can overcome every challenge that we face. But, we still have to put in our efforts. We will not go anywhere if we simply rest on our laurels. The verse should give us the motivation to move forward and shine us with confidence to act upon all the predicaments that cross our way. With the motivation and confidence, we can surely call our greatest might and effort to appear victorious.
As Muslims, we are truly blessed with a rich and colorful history. We have learnt that Islam conquered the world once. That era was indeed incredible. Muslims at that time were different from Muslims at present. They practice Islam like it should be practiced. They were Muslims every second they lived and in every breath they took. It is time for us to follow on that example and prove to the world that we are capable to do greater things. Hopefully, with the understanding of this verse, we have the faith in ourselves, the way all Muslims should. Indeed, the world is waiting for us to act. The world is waiting for us to help them break away from the injustices that are enveloping.

Hence, brothers and sisters, are we ready to shoulder the challenge?

Improving English speaking

14 Methods for Improving Your Spoken English Without a Speaking Partner

1. Think in English.

Sometimes the difficult thing about talking in a new language isn’t the language itself, but how you think about it.
If you think in your native language and then try to speak English, you’ll always have to translate between languages. Translating isn’t an easy thing to do! Even people fluent in two or more languages have trouble switching between languages.
The solution is to think in English.
You can do this anywhere, anytime. Try to use English when you’re thinking about your day, or when you’re trying to decide what food to order. Even try to use an English to English dictionary to look up words. That way you never have to use your native language and translate words. You’ll notice that when you think in English, it’s easier for you to speak in English.

2. Talk to yourself.

Whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) you can practise your English with your favourite person: yourself.
If you’re already thinking in English, try speaking your thoughts out loud. Read out loud, too. Practise is practise, and even if you don’t have anyone to correct your mistakes, just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English.

3. Use a mirror.

Whenever you can, take a few minutes out of your day to stand in front of the mirror and speak. Choose a topic, set a timer for 2 or 3 minutes and just talk.
The point of this exercise is to watch your mouth, face and body language as you speak. It also makes you feel like you’re talking to someone, so you can pretend you’re having a discussion with a study buddy.
Talk for the full 2 or 3 minutes. Don’t stop! If you get stuck on a word you don’t know, try expressing your idea in a different way. You can always look up how to say that word after the 2-3 minutes end. This will definitely help you find out what kinds of words or sentences you have trouble with.

4. Focus on fluency, not grammar.

When you speak in English, how often do you stop?
The more you stop, the less confident you sound and the less comfortable you become. Try the mirror exercise above, but challenge yourself to speak without stopping or stammering (taking pauses between your words) the entire time.
This might mean that your sentences won’t be grammatically perfect, and that’s okay! If you focus on speaking fluently instead of correctly, you’ll still be understood and you’ll sound better. You can fill in the correct grammar and word rules as you learn them better.

5. Try some tongue twisters.

Tongue twisters are series of words that are difficult to say quickly. One example is: “The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.” Try saying this a few times! It’s not easy.
Word games like this will help you find the right placement for your mouth and tongue, and can even help your pronunciation. You can find a list of great tongue twisters here.

6. Listen and repeat.

Do you watch TV shows or You Tube videos in English? Use them to improve your fluency. Choose a short part of a show and repeat it line by line. Try to match the tone, speed and even the accent (if you can). It doesn’t matter if you miss a few words, the important thing is to keep talking. Try to sound just like the native speakers on the show.

7. Pay attention to stressed sounds.

English uses stresses in words and sentences. That means you’ll need to stress, or emphasise, certain words and syllables (sounds) to give words and sentences different meanings.
Listen to where native speakers place the emphasis when they speak. Try to repeat it the same way.
This won’t only help you speak well, it might even reduce misunderstandings. Sometimes the placing the stress on the wrong syllable completely changes the word. The word ADdress, for instance, isn’t the same as the word adDRESS. ADdress refers to a physical location where someone lives, and adDRESS means to formally speak to a group of people.
Learn to hear the difference!

8. Sing along to English songs.

Singing along to your favourite English songs will help you become more fluent.
Once you can sing along to Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz, you can test your skills with something a bit more difficult: rap!
Rap is a great way to practise English because often the words are spoken like regular sentences. However, the rapper uses a stronger rhythm and faster speed. Some of the words might not make sense, but if you can keep up with the rapper then you’re on your way to becoming fluent!

9. Learn word forms with new words.

Some practise comes before you even open your mouth. Make speaking easier by learning the different forms of any words you learn. You should do this when you’re learning new vocabulary. For example, if you just learned the word write, you should also learn some other forms like wrote and written.
Knowing the correct way to use a word in any kind of sentence is important. This knowledge will help you while speaking. You won’t have to stop and think of different words—you’ll know exactly when you need to use that word while speaking.

10. Learn phrases, not words.

An even better idea is to learn word phrases, not just words.
You might be using correct grammar and vocabulary, but it’s still not how a native speaker would say it.
For example, you can say “how do you feel today?” but a native speaker might say “how’re you doing?” or “what’s up?” instead. Phrases and expressions can be helpful for sounding more natural when you speak.

11. Learn your most common sayings.

Take some time to really notice how you speak in your native language.
What words and phrases do you use the most often?
Learn how to say your most commonly used phrases and words in English. Knowing them in English will help you speak as well in English as you do in your native language.

12. Prepare for specific situations.

Are you learning English for a specific reason? For example, are you learning English so you can get a job in an English-speaking company? In that case, practise English that will help you in an interview. Are you learning English so you can make friends in America? Then you would need a different kind of English.
Before you go to a place where you have to speak English, you can practise what you might have to say. If you’re preparing to go to a restaurant, what might conversations in a restaurant sound like? Answer the questions a waiter might ask you. Try talking about food and menus.
You’ll feel more confident if you’re prepared!

13. Relax!

You can be your best helper or your worst enemy when learning to speak fluently! We know it’s hard, but you should try not to worry about how you sound when you speak. Just relax!
If you get stuck or confused, just take a big breath and start over. Speak slower if you have to. Take time to pause and think about your next sentence.
Do whatever it takes to become more comfortable with speaking English.

14. Tell a story from your language in English.

Here’s a fun way to test how well your spoken English has developed: choose a story that you know really well and tell it in English.
Remember to think in English as you’re telling your story. Focus on speaking fluently instead of correctly. Say every sentence out loud to yourself.
Even if you have nobody to talk to in English, you can still build confidence and master fluency on your own time.
In some ways, practising speaking is even easier by yourself!

Make Up Tips for College Girls

Gorgeous Makeup For College Girls – A Step-By-Step Tutorial

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College days are super fun. Every girl wants to look perfect and show off her flawless skin when she goes to college. But when it comes to makeup, most of the girls tend to follow the latest trends blindly without actually knowing the basics and the correct procedure to wear it. Makeup can help one achieve a perfect and flawless look, but on the other hand, it can be a bit stressful to perfect your look. Moreover, your makeup must never appear fake and overdone.
We perfectly understand your problem ladies! And that’s why, we have come up with a tutorial for the perfect makeup for college girls.

Things You Need To Do The Perfect Makeup For College

• Powder
• Foundation / BB Cream
• Eye pencils
• Brushes
• Blush
• Lipstick
• Mascara

Makeup Tutorial For College Girls

Step 1

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Keeping your makeup minimalistic is the key to perfecting a natural and fresh look. Start by applying a compact powder all over your face to prevent excess oil and shine. If you have a few minutes in hand, you can use a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream to brighten up your face instantly. Here, I have used MAC’s studio fix powder, which quickly evens out the skin tone.

Step 2

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Once you are done with Step 1, apply a hint of blush in a lighter shade like pink or coral onto the cheeks using a fluffy powder brush. This would add life to your face, making it look healthier.

Step 3

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Move onto the brows. Use an eyebrow pencil and create thin hair like strokes, keeping it as natural as possible. Finish by blending it with a spoolie brush.

Step 4

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Next, use an eye pencil to line your upper eyelid. Here, I am using a dark brown eye pencil. Smudge out the harsh line and blend it completely with the help of a smudging brush or a pencil brush. Smudging the eye pencil will give a softer and natural look to your eyes.

Step 5

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Set the smudged pencil line with a light brown matte finish eyeshadow. It is always recommended to avoid shimmer and satin finish eye shadows for college makeup as it can look overdone and unflattering.

Step 6

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You can use an eye pencil in your preferred shade on the lower lash line. Here, I am using a white pencil on the rim of the lower lash line to open up the eyes a bit.

Step 7

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Once you are done with the eye makeup, coat your lashes with loads of mascara ­ both the upper and lower lashes. This will enhance the appearance of your eyes.

Step 8

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Finish the look by swiping a coat of your favorite lip color. You can also use a lip balm or a lip gloss in place of a lipstick to keep your makeup natural. Here, I have used a mixture of two pink lipsticks.

Final Look

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And you are done!


Adolescence is the time when breakouts are most likely to occur. So, take care of your skin by adopting a good skincare regimen. It will help prevent acne and blemishes. Also, make sure you remove your makeup every night before sleeping.
Wasn’t it simple? This look can be achieved within a few minutes and you will be good-to-go! Try it and do share your feedback with us in the comments section below.