What's MINIMALIST about

What minimalist really is? I'd define it as immaterial life triggered by a self awareness in various context of life.

I guess this is nothing new for a Japanese. Due to higher cost of living, limited resources and peer pressure as a result of social status, one may choose to strife in meeting the standards or redefine the needs and wants.

The latter is what trigger the minimalist in me. Personally I never felt content and grateful with what I have in life nowadays.

The exclusion of material objectives in life is about changing the mindset and bending the cultural perception which has been implanted at the back of our mind ever since.

This is a good read of what I'm talking about.

http://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/

Muslim in Edinburgh

I've done a lot of reading and research about living in Edinburgh a year before we got here and as a muslim I was searching for the source of halal food and place for ibadah. (disclaimer: I'm not pious). Typically 'halal food edinburgh' are the best google keywords to start of with, but I'm not here for vacation which means I must think as a settler not a tourist.

Unfortunately, the information that I need was not sufficient as compared to muslim reviews on Manchester and London. I could imagine that life is going to be a bit tough with limited source of halal source and I'm talking about having a family of five. Anyway that was just my perception before we got here and the real situation is totally opposite.

So, I would write on halal info in Edinburgh which maybe suitable for Malaysian or muslim tourist and whoever plan for a long stay or even settling down in the City of Edinburgh. 

I will list down the list of halal restaurant, halal food store and mosque or place for solah. 

Halal Restaurant: 

1. Kebab Mahal - http://www.kebab-mahal.co.uk/

2. Mosque Kitchen - http://www.mosquekitchen.com/. To be exact, there are three Mosque Kitchen in the same area which serve different target group (please google this)

3. Nanyang - http://www.nanyangrestaurant.com/ - Malaysian cuisine, but please read through the menu as they may add in wine in certain dishes but we can always request not to have it in. 

Halal Food Store 

1. Global Food - 4, Norton Park EH7 5RS

2. Medina - 

3. Starlight - This is actually a chinese food store and please look for halal logo etc before buying. Kicap Kipas udang is available here

Place to pray: 

1. Edinburgh Central Mosque -  50 Potterrow, Old Town EH8 9BT

2. Iqra' Academy - 10 E Suffolk Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5PH

3. Chaplaincy Center, Mary Bruck, 3rd Floor, Kings Building, University of Edinburgh (only available for UoE student)

Well I'll keep this list updated. 

Beyond my wildest dream

Well here I am in the middle of the autumn night trying to express myself in a blog..It's more than a month now since we arrived and never in my wildest dream that we are going to make it.

Anyway...I'm now 10,627 km away from Klang Valley with my wife and kids and I still can't believe that we've made it..Yup..I've made that point.

We are still settling down and I hope for another month to get a grip of the whole situation. Anyway it's not that bad really. I didn't mention that we are now in Edinburgh, did I?

One of the most beautiful city, well preserved world heritage and personally I love being here..despite of the weather.

I've been here seven years ago with my wife on a holiday and a six hours walk at Edinburgh High Street is enough for us to dream of living here one day...

Here's a stunning view of Edinburgh from Blackford Hill, few minutes walk from our place called HOME.