Just so you know...

# Balqesh Abdullah

I miss blowing bubbles

Dear Boss,

My gills are in need of salt water. I need compressed air in my lungs and possibly some nitrogen to keep me balanced. Can I go away and blow some bubbles really soon?

# Balqesh Abdullah

Guard your tongue

The Messenger of Allah - SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam - said, “Most of the sins of the children of Adam are from the tongue.

The third Khalifa Uthman b Affan once said in a khutbah:


“To refrain from vain talks.


To stop spreading rumors.

To verify any news spread to us.
To correct the news from any source.


To stop all types of backbiting against one another.

To lower our voices, and speak softly and gently.


Not to be ashamed saying "I don't know" for any question that you don't know its answer.


To take the initiative and make da'wah for the love of Allah.

Be sure you say the truth about Islam.


Try to read more about Islam mainly the Qur'an, Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah, etc.


To keep busy in doing something good to you and to others.


To keep watch over your mistakes and your sins”


The tongue is a great endowment from Allah. May Allah protect us and spiritually bind us together in kindness and acceptance. Ameen


# Balqesh Abdullah

Reminder to myself

May Allah protect us from the bad habit of insulting others. May He purifies our heart and sees only goodness in others. Ameen.

# Balqesh Abdullah

My first UW International Competition

I have come a long way when it comes to diving.  I have been curious about diving since I was in secondary school. I remembered watching it on TV and said to myself that one day I would want to experience the beauty of underwater world first hand.

Of course it was met with much scorn from my parents as they viewed the sports as a dangerous activity.

I finally made my break when I managed to convince my then-husband to dive. To cut story short- my first open water experience was unpleasant. I raptured my eardrum and I was banned from diving for good 6 months.

That does not stop me from pursuing my interest. I managed to get my license almost a year after the ear popping experience. I managed to get my open water license and I continued my Advance Open Water PADI certification soon after.

Although the interest is there, my skills are rather appalling. I was definitely not a water baby. I hyperventilated whenever I dived.  My buoyancy was poor.  I take rather really long for me to equalize my ears – partly the fear that it might pop again and partly, very bad technique. Despite all this, I continued diving.

I remembered cursing underwater photographer because they take way too long when they are photographing an object. I find it a chore waiting for them as I struggle to keep my buoyancy.

 The old adage of practice makes perfect rings some truth. With a lot of practice, I am more comfortable underwater. I am more calm, I can equalize easily and my body is much more streamline.  I was getting better at underwater marine life recognition. I am enjoying the diving much more as my skill improves.

Underwater photography is a natural progression once I am better at diving. I remembered a buddy borrowed the camera at Tenggol. I was so busy capturing the octopus that I made the whole team waited the whole time while I busy snapping the photos.  I must confess till today, I still make the whole team wait, just not as long:)

In 2012, I entered inaugural KR international underwater photography competition in Lembeh for fun. I was not expecting anything, as all of the participants are so competitive. They have the best equipment and they capture really beautiful shots of the macro life. I felt so small. I remembered not wanting to submit my entry but my buddy encouraged me to submit my photos.

Before the results were announced, they showed slideshow of the entry photos. I watched with admiration how beautiful the other entry shots. There is no way my photos comes near to those images. When they announced the winner, I was so shocked that I came in first for the compact camera category. Me? The winner of compact camera category? Yes, that's right. I came in first. http://trip.underwater.kr/20121217/shootout-2012-result/lembeh-contest-2012-23/

That experience encourages me to be a better UW photographer. I read more UW photography tips so I can capture more beautiful images. I put more effort in improving the camera composition so the pictures turn out beautifully.

I am saving my money so I can invest in better equipment. I have made good friends along the way. We have a long list of dive sites we want to do. With our improved equipment, it would be a waste if we did not dive around the world right?

# Balqesh Abdullah

Law of garbage truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved ay the guy. He was really friendly.

So I asked “ Why did you just do that? This could almost ruin your car and sent us to the hospital!”

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call “Law of the Garbage Truck”

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and full of disappointments. As and when their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they will dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't

Life is 10% what you make it AND 90% how you take it.

Have a garbage–free life

# Balqesh Abdullah