Amazing Sights

I’ve seen a lot of amazing sights in the course of my life.

The Kaabah, during my first trip to the Holy City of Makkah

I was barely in my teens. Full of youthful naïveté while the beginnings of adolescent rebellion was gaining a foothold in me.
The family trip to perform the Umrah was the perfect balm.
I had a lump in my throat when I saw the beauty of the Kaabah. Some may argue that there’s nothing exceptionally beautiful about a cube covered in a black cloth, but trust me… It was beautiful. The symbol of Islam stood firmly while Muslims methodically circled it, murmuring prayers.
Peace and serenity simply radiated from the scene.

The Washington Monument in Washington DC
I really don’t know why I was so impressed with this simple four-sided stone structure. My friends who went with me didn’t seem that awed by it. But to me, it was a lovely sight. It was nearly sunset on a freezing winter’s day, and the monument was reflected in the still waters of The Reflecting Pool. The 50 flags that surround the base of the monument danced in the gentle wind.
A beautiful picture of soothing tranquility.

KL Sky-line from the Highway
Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, I have always loved the sights and sounds of KL. Yes, the traffic can be horrendous but whenever I travel to rural areas, I find myself getting antsy because of the lack of traffic (example: During our trip to Tg. Jara, we were driving around looking for food in the dead of the night at Dungun. It was so quiet and still so my poor husband was flabbergasted when I suddenly yelped upon seeing a traffic jam at a junction. To me, it was a nice sign of civilization.) Anyway, I remember coming home from a trip to Taiping. We were accompanied by torrential rain and the wicked symphony of thunder. Upon reaching a slight incline in the road, the sky suddenly began to clear and up ahead, I saw the KL skyline. Finally. Home sweet home.
The City of Lights, indeed

These are only 3 of the amazing sights that I’ve had the privilege of enjoying during my 27 years of life.

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
Miriam Beard

Yesterday, I saw another one.

Wan and I went for our 2nd appointment with the obgyn. She conducted another ultra-sound on me. The last time, I could barely see anything on the screen.
Yesterday, we saw our baby.
And we also had the pleasure of hearing the gentle heartbeat.

I lay there on the bed and soaked it in.
The doctor’s heartening words that the baby was doing fine, alhamdulillah.
The laughing smile of the nurse as I blurted out “Oh my God! It has a heartbeat!” while the doctor kindly chuckled “Of course it does. It’s a living thing, dear.” The smile of the doting father as he insisted on recording the entire experience (Fortunately, Dr. Fauziah didn’t mind at all... she seemed quite amused).
Most of all, I soaked in the gradual awareness that my body was giving refuge to another soul. Another human being. Another person. My child.

The doctor then pointed out a blinking dot on the screen and said “That’s the baby’s heart beating. You can see it now.”I turned and saw it.
It was like a bright, twinkling star. A beautiful illuminated glimmer. A steady sparkle on the dark screen.

And THAT was the Most Amazing Sight I’ve EVER seen.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)