tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71348245267366484402024-02-19T06:44:06.700+04:00Jumper's PlaygroundThis is Jumper's Playground! It's a place of retreat, to wind down, to be free and to be that kid again. Like a magic carpet, it's a moveable playground from Dubai to Disneyland and anywhere else in between and you are always welcomed.Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-74400353421927555552012-11-16T19:56:00.000+04:002012-11-16T20:02:18.048+04:00Doctor ZhivagoHistory has taught us how our ancestors had used mottes, great walls, barbed wires and other sorts of barriers as defense mechanisms against external forces. It is clear now the legacy of building up the defensive borders continue to exist in the present world. On the other fronts, faithful believers, in the past and present, have performed their religious rituals consistently to protect their faith and to keep them from darkness. Today, I was just thinking to myself what sort of defense system that I have that works to protect the core of my beliefs and principles. Frankly speaking, I'm defenseless. I have been too open to assorted kinds of thoughts, ideologies, philosophies, lifestyle and fallacy. I have adopted some of them into my so called contaminated life. Consequently, my core values that define who I really am have become vague subjects and been compromised big time. With my core values corroding, I sometimes struggle in my life finding my true self in some situations. While battling my own issues, recently, I came across passages from Doctor Zhivago.....<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">'Everything has changed suddenly - the tone, the moral climate, you didn't know what to think, whom to listen to. As if all your life you had been led by the hand like a small child and suddenly you were on your own, you had to learn to walk by yourself. There was no one around, neither family nor people whose judgement you respected.' </span><br />
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The words poke on my nerve. At the point of digesting the words, I realize how lonely and fragile I have become despite having lived in so enriching crowd for so many seasons. There is a series of work to re-assses the set of my core values, to re-built what is left of it and to reinforce the defensive line around it. I hate to admit it, but, yes, I'm in mid-life crisis and I have a serious construction work going on in my head....Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-23191547644337905662012-11-14T13:18:00.001+04:002012-11-14T13:18:24.304+04:00Moving On....I don't have much to shout about my new habitat. I haven't really settle whole-heartedly yet. In my dreams, I still find myself wondering the familiar corners of the old place. In my waking hours, I still find myself crossing the desert to the old playground a few times in a month. Sometimes it's just hard to let go and move on. But the thought of starting a new chapter and the thrill of embarking a new adventure, really turn me on....
Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-48122931300673249002012-03-05T18:14:00.001+04:002012-03-05T18:31:45.593+04:00It's been many worlds since then....<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPI9_w-1F1zCE-FsyuqS-7VdDHNuRcy0Jha9FPcBwcynWBNvmoN7v1ZFCnDBpMRQLTJVYKVk7b8Z9Fggeo_H4JCnZrBhWxja-KPRC6p-kHzxEqFCD48t7P_9zv6yu5d3xFUH-J2j_nTI2/s1600/_CSC6787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPI9_w-1F1zCE-FsyuqS-7VdDHNuRcy0Jha9FPcBwcynWBNvmoN7v1ZFCnDBpMRQLTJVYKVk7b8Z9Fggeo_H4JCnZrBhWxja-KPRC6p-kHzxEqFCD48t7P_9zv6yu5d3xFUH-J2j_nTI2/s320/_CSC6787.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hadiff is missing a friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I feel for him and his great loss</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS3QPL8EQR_Xdlk6u7EY2QJaHrTe26OmY5i0KcnWilW3cbRvsFDGDFKr6mBw5Yjrjnd7_KVjSD3scmVZH3GCUP-CvVpygWzk4Fd5BhVSWXWNsq2sc-Ezi-fcRVStou4KIgofYNOnXpL-W/s1600/_CSC6783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS3QPL8EQR_Xdlk6u7EY2QJaHrTe26OmY5i0KcnWilW3cbRvsFDGDFKr6mBw5Yjrjnd7_KVjSD3scmVZH3GCUP-CvVpygWzk4Fd5BhVSWXWNsq2sc-Ezi-fcRVStou4KIgofYNOnXpL-W/s320/_CSC6783.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sushi Sashimi RIP. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you someday, Sushi. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today we walked</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">in melting snow</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">hid inside,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">making fire and tea</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I met you when I was wandering</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">it's been many worlds since then</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">though my secrets are wild and deep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">and my mind races while I sleep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will plant my hunger here</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">in you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Secrets - Alexa Woodwards</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-35659620479012223842011-05-22T04:31:00.000+04:002011-05-22T04:31:29.547+04:00A Renewed Life in the Sandpit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUt2BjKbaeZh0fSF0b-K2sEnMEdwFa1GudZ7BxQ4PgMtvl5qieFVaVdK11g2q0EjUzh54uGivivp0c23YSd_Wr-pSrxwFqB7O1hesotAAPoB6s8_O-fSsb3Fn7I3G_7Q9GRuZCzQOcLef/s1600/IMG00181-20101009-0739%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUt2BjKbaeZh0fSF0b-K2sEnMEdwFa1GudZ7BxQ4PgMtvl5qieFVaVdK11g2q0EjUzh54uGivivp0c23YSd_Wr-pSrxwFqB7O1hesotAAPoB6s8_O-fSsb3Fn7I3G_7Q9GRuZCzQOcLef/s320/IMG00181-20101009-0739%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life in the sandpit</div><br />
The other day, I dragged myself on a hot and humid day to an authorized centre for blood screening. It is a mandatory process for the renewal of residence visa in UAE. After a few days I got my passport attached with the new residence visa which allows me to have the legal right to play in this sandpit for another 3 years. So how's life in the sandpit after 3 years? Had I gained much from it? Was it worth it? Did I have fun? How many years more am I destined to be here? These are the introspective questions that hit me as I look at the new sticker nicely attached on my passport. I said to myself, only God knows, nothing is certain in this sandpit but all I know for now, I've had a good playtime. I could've played harder and that's exactly what I should be doing this new season. Have a sweet and sweaty summer!Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-50393294238636922412010-12-04T17:56:00.004+04:002010-12-05T01:03:37.647+04:00Kullunna Khalifa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It has been 39 years since the flag that represents the seven emirates was raised for the first time. It may not be that long compared to the historical emergence of other nations. But the emirates have gone through a rapid transformation over the years. Before 1971 the seven emirates were collectively known as the Trucial States, a name that originated from maritime agreements between the British and the leading sheikhs of the tribes. Today, the seven emirates benefit from the unity that has been solidified for 39 years and the prosperity that has come along with it. It was a long weekend for us here since we are celebrating the National Day on the 2nd December and also Maal Hijrah on the 5th December. I was on my road trip visiting the emirates to enjoy the present day of this beautiful and blessed country. It amazed me somehow when reflecting what I saw along the road trip with the old photos of UAE that I googled earlier. It is indeed a rapid transformation. Kullunna Khalifa means <em>'We are all for Khalifa'</em>, is a phrase which has been used for this year UAE's 39th National Day celebrations. It is written everywhere across the emirates to mark the respect and admiration for President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCnJwqt2M4Lw_5YgeWW23i1sHvDB96Rtw24tN3wc6TEzKf-PyOIlNZZAjRKX5n2jKVFCk0N6SZSfjMLW4ICKcgerj57dOpe_8DYbQXwodV3ayS01BzOI8FcKAyZ4AQ32Fg-zwq_n6eJNf/s1600/2698379210101976354S600x600Q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCnJwqt2M4Lw_5YgeWW23i1sHvDB96Rtw24tN3wc6TEzKf-PyOIlNZZAjRKX5n2jKVFCk0N6SZSfjMLW4ICKcgerj57dOpe_8DYbQXwodV3ayS01BzOI8FcKAyZ4AQ32Fg-zwq_n6eJNf/s640/2698379210101976354S600x600Q85.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day was 2nd December 1971</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQUBwA57EH4phi99kQbxfwcSZCQoMSCmXiiEcB7WJHoE2DcM_l-2fPbkhyphenhyphenRgOPxPeX-Q2y9lBtj90ImdlsyjA3vSGgvT0H_9OvmslXneIQya7mzVzlXTrqwIr0jBYb54bvlqIFvR7qvQ/s1600/2359526010101976354S600x600Q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQUBwA57EH4phi99kQbxfwcSZCQoMSCmXiiEcB7WJHoE2DcM_l-2fPbkhyphenhyphenRgOPxPeX-Q2y9lBtj90ImdlsyjA3vSGgvT0H_9OvmslXneIQya7mzVzlXTrqwIr0jBYb54bvlqIFvR7qvQ/s400/2359526010101976354S600x600Q85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The Father and His Flag</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8Rh3BkaGViEtN_oSK8EBvyM8WclbhJ2ZQ3AjK_eqPm0O1BBwHjM9AjKb6iKk4Bs9V5lSWwLTOka2O-rRVgO58T2p9VFa40Irfk8uJXPc3caVUaO9-c3JI7OhyphenhyphenUrwz1XF6fc4xkjy4dR8/s1600/part-015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8Rh3BkaGViEtN_oSK8EBvyM8WclbhJ2ZQ3AjK_eqPm0O1BBwHjM9AjKb6iKk4Bs9V5lSWwLTOka2O-rRVgO58T2p9VFa40Irfk8uJXPc3caVUaO9-c3JI7OhyphenhyphenUrwz1XF6fc4xkjy4dR8/s400/part-015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoK93YVXCnZB52ow7qAROr9TU41HdIUftjDm33O39NWfRgC6VfGjeb4UHqakCTU8f24YMKBX3-LNZu8crO_CTrRpSa6qexHPQReVgOBVIDQfER1om-ZQTp6q3oOoH1lzvgCFJk6UZZsf7/s1600/part-033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoK93YVXCnZB52ow7qAROr9TU41HdIUftjDm33O39NWfRgC6VfGjeb4UHqakCTU8f24YMKBX3-LNZu8crO_CTrRpSa6qexHPQReVgOBVIDQfER1om-ZQTp6q3oOoH1lzvgCFJk6UZZsf7/s400/part-033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHMhhdLGWB_NA2HpEFUl2oY-Eak6b0X3zlHp8lH5WtDBCh-EgPYvdKWJcZ2uEErr6YdI0D7W7KkKO01_CvCDMuqz4BU4LVPfOtzjYbZPVc29d5u2H5iTfBplpggLxOtgY8VJflJTLnpNe/s1600/part-027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHMhhdLGWB_NA2HpEFUl2oY-Eak6b0X3zlHp8lH5WtDBCh-EgPYvdKWJcZ2uEErr6YdI0D7W7KkKO01_CvCDMuqz4BU4LVPfOtzjYbZPVc29d5u2H5iTfBplpggLxOtgY8VJflJTLnpNe/s400/part-027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-d-ctcNF8RpsDeNLa6y4SENGB7CH-gwk2-neNwj1ZEZE6YLGLs9jKPMXqSaYThz379-P1joRnBHBG_HX8nCfP1nNTHVFDeKUNwOwgeUczcpzV7rT3hiQUchFvkbwKEd-9Q6cOJilWDy0/s1600/part-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-d-ctcNF8RpsDeNLa6y4SENGB7CH-gwk2-neNwj1ZEZE6YLGLs9jKPMXqSaYThz379-P1joRnBHBG_HX8nCfP1nNTHVFDeKUNwOwgeUczcpzV7rT3hiQUchFvkbwKEd-9Q6cOJilWDy0/s400/part-007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The old photographs of the past</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_L1tOou-oKH5a7EaCwov33veukHKWH2PSoS0-xtKij2wa-l1Jk4yiWUYAGnwkxnTwV4y9P3x-bgyFvg_KHrlW_B6_O3ib_Yr1QHJ0lvWu5tmi1swbn7MKjclDLSj6i1NkvJGv5Z5hpW3/s1600/IMG00412-20101202-1547%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_L1tOou-oKH5a7EaCwov33veukHKWH2PSoS0-xtKij2wa-l1Jk4yiWUYAGnwkxnTwV4y9P3x-bgyFvg_KHrlW_B6_O3ib_Yr1QHJ0lvWu5tmi1swbn7MKjclDLSj6i1NkvJGv5Z5hpW3/s400/IMG00412-20101202-1547%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Paul took a snap of Eric, Robin and me on our road trip across the emirates on a long weekend</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-72289016646456934522010-11-29T05:28:00.000+04:002010-11-29T05:28:19.368+04:00Lovely Jumeirah<div style="text-align: justify;">I visit Jumeirah so frequently in this mild November weather. Jumeirah is not my new girlfriend though I would like it very much to imagine that I have one. It is kind of sexy name, don't you think? The name is so feminine, seductive and ancient. I googled up and discovered that Jumeirah is indeed ancient. The name carries significant history of this region. This is what has been written about it, "<em>This affluent suburb to the south of Dubai city is the location of an important archaeological site dating to the early Islamic period. Large houses built of beach rock (farush) covered with lime plaster have been excavated at Jumeirah by a team from the Dubai Museum. Based on a study of the pottery found at the site, Jumeirah seems to date to the first two or three centuries of the Islamic era. Thus, it is in part contemporary with the sequence at Kush in northern Ras al-Khaimah, and with Jazirat al-Hulaylah. Jumeirah is, however, the only complete settlement with well-preserved architecture yet excavated from this important period. A selection of the finds from Jumeirah can be seen in the Dubai Museum</em>."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">So it comes as no surprise that Jumeirah has always been a favourite place now and then. It is now an iconic place for beach goers. A place one can view the tallest building looming inland. A place to chill out, to just let go, to get half naked (sorry nudists, they can tolerate bikinis here but nothing less) and get soaked by the sun and seawater. A place that inspires people to come out and play. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlOA4eNxHcw5-neJf6Q7X6lE1k7a7xBVJluUkV_kfP8pWTfrMtgdHkBmlfE40EH2K4NCoU1wL8o7JBb_rMdpqYRXJrxP1BxXmUXzkSq0Pci8DjPBiETLJM7oTHLKuLJXigMTS1DSx7vNr/s1600/IMG00327-20101126-1641%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlOA4eNxHcw5-neJf6Q7X6lE1k7a7xBVJluUkV_kfP8pWTfrMtgdHkBmlfE40EH2K4NCoU1wL8o7JBb_rMdpqYRXJrxP1BxXmUXzkSq0Pci8DjPBiETLJM7oTHLKuLJXigMTS1DSx7vNr/s400/IMG00327-20101126-1641%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">These guys would probably said happily to each other, "Yalla, it's a beach day!" in Urdu</span></em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQrTTh-EQIWJf1UMECMdTI-Todp4FU3qgDHQPBb4DL1lJvV3jHlsuMEnVNJ8wMBOGQXMn_xbzVk6HcjC252atrpTYpbSVsa2TfEOB-J2qQq0Rxb2CSTocH5-UNP0wavWabYiIhO1o3xIM/s1600/IMG00323-20101126-1639%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQrTTh-EQIWJf1UMECMdTI-Todp4FU3qgDHQPBb4DL1lJvV3jHlsuMEnVNJ8wMBOGQXMn_xbzVk6HcjC252atrpTYpbSVsa2TfEOB-J2qQq0Rxb2CSTocH5-UNP0wavWabYiIhO1o3xIM/s400/IMG00323-20101126-1639%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burj Khalifa standing tall in the background. From here one can really tell how tall it is.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKsk9-qx71CF4pff6fl8kCDNg3iXHtRSkP1ctE1sNnTvLCrGIDqEO8alVpt0r3M9NxfGplKIVKvQhNOlSd9F21JRE3rGY8DV9_0Gd9N_m3Oe163wSmwbKBmjznuMBQZHv3G2rtNdRWjP6/s1600/IMG00363-20101126-1718%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKsk9-qx71CF4pff6fl8kCDNg3iXHtRSkP1ctE1sNnTvLCrGIDqEO8alVpt0r3M9NxfGplKIVKvQhNOlSd9F21JRE3rGY8DV9_0Gd9N_m3Oe163wSmwbKBmjznuMBQZHv3G2rtNdRWjP6/s400/IMG00363-20101126-1718%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me and my sundowning moment</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkkcw06EH3NbU49N3KE6Fk6diNQ-F-94BxlabhviLTBOIXEsTlC314pKSsTuHoGsz8XubZ3Zq5fBVl1PNRW2pduNqkMaFhyphenhyphengS0AFS7ov0c6D9r6XSYZxnVlCLxWxwLh36ygN1X2DS8rUq/s1600/IMG00377-20101126-1729%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkkcw06EH3NbU49N3KE6Fk6diNQ-F-94BxlabhviLTBOIXEsTlC314pKSsTuHoGsz8XubZ3Zq5fBVl1PNRW2pduNqkMaFhyphenhyphengS0AFS7ov0c6D9r6XSYZxnVlCLxWxwLh36ygN1X2DS8rUq/s400/IMG00377-20101126-1729%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">These young Arabs were taking their wudhuk prior to Maghrib prayers</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5nLsF9IaDqeNHQ1r_q_CgxCwfrFkMx-_jA2w6D9aIEGNJZLJrO8dsJf7J7iD6Z6u0EgMRExzCEHWIKG_fLmsaBeOWSqKwXyn14ZUeOTsRU2tsm8Bwb5swADYAUWRPA-gsDTMTEfV4cbd/s1600/IMG00219-20101015-1814%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5nLsF9IaDqeNHQ1r_q_CgxCwfrFkMx-_jA2w6D9aIEGNJZLJrO8dsJf7J7iD6Z6u0EgMRExzCEHWIKG_fLmsaBeOWSqKwXyn14ZUeOTsRU2tsm8Bwb5swADYAUWRPA-gsDTMTEfV4cbd/s400/IMG00219-20101015-1814%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The water gets colder at night and soon it's going to be too cold for nightswimming</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-77762080676261125402010-11-26T00:56:00.005+04:002010-11-26T06:50:57.481+04:00Staring At The Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPJOdDgUQneNPoPJa2E7I2jh10CCISjfqZpLuJHJrZoL7FDRWdEn6hksu8uSI_kViI7VIW6XAAmZxUCFH6wqh2mKxQpVIf0xPiGDM57UD2nftEanKcQ-1ze8o-VC3tJTuIMQf9HEI1yuh/s1600/IMG00294-20101119-1428%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPJOdDgUQneNPoPJa2E7I2jh10CCISjfqZpLuJHJrZoL7FDRWdEn6hksu8uSI_kViI7VIW6XAAmZxUCFH6wqh2mKxQpVIf0xPiGDM57UD2nftEanKcQ-1ze8o-VC3tJTuIMQf9HEI1yuh/s400/IMG00294-20101119-1428%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">As I was driving absent-mindedly along the familiar street without congestion and the anxiety of being late on a fine lazy day, I looked up at the sky more than once, to catch the natural work of art. I didn't really look at it rather seriously until my Scottish pal, John, on the passenger's seat, gazed at the sky so intensely and said to me that God has saved him from the miserable rain and cold weather of Edinburgh this year. He is so glad that he is here and then he will spend several months in the exotic city called Chiang Mai in Thailand. He said the people in Scotland get so depressed in the winter up there, consumed piles of fries and fried stuffs including fried Snickers bars and they will die young of depression or on the unhealthy diet. I was laughing at his pathetic view of his own country and countrymen. That was when I looked at the sky again and the word <em>mashallah</em> popped out from my head. Indeed, the sky was so blue and beautiful with the uncommon white tinges and smudges. I smiled and said to myself, right now, there's no other place that I want to be other than this sunny city with the mild winter weather.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I have been deserting this playground for a long while and I just came to know two of my favourite bloggers are no longer here to share the same sky. <a href="http://andiarshad.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-life-middle-east-vs-south-east-asia.html">The flamboyant young architect</a> had left the emirates and so had <a href="http://shielahassan.blogspot.com/">the awesome mother of two</a>. I have never met both but somehow it seemed like I knew them in person from just reading their stories. I wish them happiness in their new playground elsewhere. It also hits me that another <a href="http://the-mocha-lover.blogspot.com/2010/11/women-on-top.html">virtual friend who makes magical mocha with her signature recipe</a>, has come to stay close to the city, not sure where exactly, but close enough for her to stare at the same sky. I wish her <em>bienvenue</em> and all the best in making a wonderful living in this arid land. </div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-11802472425738186702010-08-16T02:07:00.001+04:002010-08-16T02:11:02.857+04:00The Best Thing in Life is Still Free<div style="text-align: justify;">This is me in my most superficial, shallow and basic being. When people bragged how Ramadhan has rebuilt their faith, cleansed their mind, heart and soul, I just want to tell the world that in this holy month, I appreciate food more than ever. And considering that the temperature out there during midday can soar as high as 47 degrees Celsius, I must say, I value water and my cups of coffee too. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Food and drinks comes in many form and style, but they serve only for just one purpose. Yesterday, I forked out AED200 to be served for food and drinks at a Ramadhan tent of Mina Salam, next to Madinat Jumeirah. It was a perfect setting, super service and wonderful ambiance but the food was below par in comparison to all other elements mentioned. Nevertheless, I finished everything on my plate. I was happy that it would fuel me well so as to keep me moving. </div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Today, I went to a mosque in my neighbourhood to observe human fuel in a different form and style. The food was handed from one hand to another in a line of men, it was then arranged like lights on parallel runways. It was a mélange of simple meals. I didn't pay a penny for my portion. Yet the food has satisfied my basic need. I felt a deluge of fuel fixing my weary and deprived body. It felt greater than the great ambiance and the super service of a chic place. When they say the best thing in life is free, believe it. It's no bullshit.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8nIueQRXZZgalRIhV2nMDZEAFkXGDpY77h4at_tVYQ49NsDNnIHGO-ZC58YGbZPbidycLMHLiSUoWNblxxnhjeNemWJ6oPDUBl0CoLJUt0cyIEm8VVw-PcNql3FosAfid9H8XRya-AKO/s1600/IMG00018-20100815-1842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8nIueQRXZZgalRIhV2nMDZEAFkXGDpY77h4at_tVYQ49NsDNnIHGO-ZC58YGbZPbidycLMHLiSUoWNblxxnhjeNemWJ6oPDUBl0CoLJUt0cyIEm8VVw-PcNql3FosAfid9H8XRya-AKO/s400/IMG00018-20100815-1842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_HpDmV4_YHyonKrmrgPOmAGe1JuH69gW2fXZG216VYPztYE8RMu8oS4OSmFZihSl9mLM8hCk1bgcatfYh8dUbAx3bhQx0u6TPeTXq00MIkh-BGxXVKzIK7YoQXJ4hJUgxCdSIHS_lIzP/s1600/IMG00015-20100815-1841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_HpDmV4_YHyonKrmrgPOmAGe1JuH69gW2fXZG216VYPztYE8RMu8oS4OSmFZihSl9mLM8hCk1bgcatfYh8dUbAx3bhQx0u6TPeTXq00MIkh-BGxXVKzIK7YoQXJ4hJUgxCdSIHS_lIzP/s400/IMG00015-20100815-1841.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi-ELx_G40Js1e-RFy634hc66r7tC_fg442rnqYvRxjHPnfMPFr2PNVJEao9LomvjNxShk00NsUr1lL_MlnD1q3Gi8VrX__m4treea-tIXvDw2olDXT-tO75qKCfjyBG7CVaMLXfOETvB/s1600/IMG00020-20100815-1844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi-ELx_G40Js1e-RFy634hc66r7tC_fg442rnqYvRxjHPnfMPFr2PNVJEao9LomvjNxShk00NsUr1lL_MlnD1q3Gi8VrX__m4treea-tIXvDw2olDXT-tO75qKCfjyBG7CVaMLXfOETvB/s400/IMG00020-20100815-1844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-4441370771671793552010-08-06T12:58:00.011+04:002010-08-07T06:02:54.928+04:00When A Chocolatier Meets A Winemaker<div style="text-align: justify;">I have the pleasure to meet Greg, the winemaker from Napa. We had series of interesting conversations. This guy is something else. He rejected medical school to pursue his aspiration of becoming a dreamer. I asked him why and he said he did that after realizing that physicians in America are becoming like puppets and they are ridiculed by the administration of the healthcare system. These were more and less the words I once heard coming from my wife when she complained about her work in Malaysia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Greg hates milk and loves wines instead. Voila! He conjures a passion and that is, wine making. He worked in San Francisco, then a city of the south island of New Zealand and next, Sicily. Well, he knows his shit damn well. He narrated well on the types of grapes, their attributes and the variety of wine derived from the vineyard bunches. His articulation about his trade really delighted the chocolatier. I was really entertained and inspired to exchange similar story about cacao from the farm that we have in central Africa, the dwindling yearly crops and a little bit of chocolate making.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tale of his trade is not exactly the most appealing part about him. We came to a moment when he uncorked the fact that he is an atheist. He believes that he is one of the billion consumers in the universe, who lives to consume whatever that comes along and then one day, will cease to exist. Period. No God, no angels, no devils, no heaven, no hell, no divine intervention, whatsoever. He is a non-believer but not out of ignorance. In fact, he has done a lot of reading and research to support his thinking. I guess he did that, more than I ever read and understood Quran. Meeting him, strikes me with one important realization in life. Having faith is not entirely our choice. I was born a Muslim and I didn't choose to become one. It is a gift I inherit with. A gift from God. Engaging in the delicate conversation with Greg about God, has made me look within to appreciate this dimensionless gift of faith, inexplainable by scientific and logical evidence. It is there in me as a congenital element. I just believe and grow with it. I couldn't be any luckier than this and I am thankful for it. Faith may have somehow eluded Greg's life so far. But anything is possible. He may find it later in his life. One who has it now, may even loose it along the way. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back to the surface, Greg is an awesome guy. He is socially skilled. He engages in conversation very tactfully and interestingly. He really lives for the moment, enjoys his time being a so-called consumer of the universe. He is very appreciative. He is young, curious and adventurous and there's no doubt in my mind, that he would die saying <em>'I ve had the time of my life'</em>. I thank him for shaking up my mind just a bit to make me realize about the little gift I have, which others may not have it in a million years. Indeed, the little gift needs a lot of polishing. Next week, the Ramadhan starts. How appropriate....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQHgxgoNoY49fYWE2Z4z1wUt98Saal3iYfwvTbVUcb-v0uyASPpbguKJQj1NarWBh9WzowpT0R3Ltc1W-gL9MgyGjCk7yEHoL6bm8rAQ7UMoxzUnW5JY7-YiQ4GG9Vi9feYXH1BK9sfdN/s1600/DSC_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQHgxgoNoY49fYWE2Z4z1wUt98Saal3iYfwvTbVUcb-v0uyASPpbguKJQj1NarWBh9WzowpT0R3Ltc1W-gL9MgyGjCk7yEHoL6bm8rAQ7UMoxzUnW5JY7-YiQ4GG9Vi9feYXH1BK9sfdN/s400/DSC_0738.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greg pointed that the slim decanter is for champagne, the middle one is for white wine and the fat one is for the red wine and he explained the conceptual design for each.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS1Vifm6ue3Rm8K2h8yJ8w__vw8_txllPbWkRvJWh9Yv5R8hq7LcNQTKRxUivQaH6xyISQwPggI5ru2uhbGTUkOfzcfgMoVLQfELURoOT9V353C1iL67o3nFHwUo8hH1F-VlHsqpkMqdb/s1600/DSC_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS1Vifm6ue3Rm8K2h8yJ8w__vw8_txllPbWkRvJWh9Yv5R8hq7LcNQTKRxUivQaH6xyISQwPggI5ru2uhbGTUkOfzcfgMoVLQfELURoOT9V353C1iL67o3nFHwUo8hH1F-VlHsqpkMqdb/s320/DSC_0731.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For good life ahead, Greg. Cheers.</span></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-91314158432575930062010-08-05T02:06:00.002+04:002010-08-05T02:15:13.594+04:00Melt Like ChocolateIt has been a while since I last found myself reflecting life and zooming the depth of my being. I have been busy with the superficiality of life, moving around, getting things done and delayed. I have left this tranquil temple in the blogsphere that provides a stopover to fish my thought and reflect. I blame it on the Facebook addiction, my busy work, my laziness and perhaps the heat of the summer. I think I can blame it on everything else but that doesn't change the fact that I have been a bad blogger, a real bad one. So here I am, making another attempt to come back. <br />
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I was kind of sick for the past few days. I had thick phlegm stuck in my chest and I had been coughing them out every single chance I got. I enjoyed watching that yucky yellow stuff swimming away into the sinkhole. Now the congestion on my chest has been cleared but I am having a dreadful time holding back that glue-like juice that keeps sliding down my nose. I called my boss at 6AM that I couldn't make it to work. She said sleepily over the phone, <em>'take care of yourself'</em>. So I did just that...taking care of myself. <br />
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I made myself <em>bihun sup</em> with chicken and tomatoes. I drank lots of warm water and peed a lot too. I took my medicine every 8 hours that really helped to dry up my nose. I cleaned my room, kept my washing machine busy with loads of smelly garments. When the sun was on the verge of setting down, I drove my Jeep, Lucky to a petrol kiosk. I had juicy Subway sandwiches while waiting for Lucky to get washed, wiped and vacuumed dry. I heard myself saying when I started the engine, <em>'Lucky, I love you, you're so handsome today'</em>.<br />
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I went back to my room looking at things that I have been neglected for so long. My plants and my toys. I found myself talking to the plant in my room and toying with the stuffed kittens, the gifts from my kids. I called home to wish my wife and kids good night. They sounded sleepy and related briefly about the things that happened today in their lives. After they hung up, I was alone again looking back at the plant and the stuffed kittens. I just realized that when the plant talked to me earlier, it used my wife's voice and the stuffed kittens I played with, mimicked the voices of my kids. I cried and tried hard to hold back the unstoppable tears and the snots that came along. It was a mess. I tried to find the reason for this madness. I have somehow mustered the strength to get back and carry on.<br />
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I am thankful that I have had this moment. Being sick, being selfish, being me with the little things that mean nothing to others, but only matter to me. I have to admit I was a little lost lately and now I found myself again. I think I will get back to work tomorrow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4EWjA7JeHHpPtXQ_KFlDNve3AuaHmvPwqLHCTIIpvdi-awbY4DBzmz8Fq2svqTy_dS5GgUsUaR7E6HD21hUA1dU6CfagUX6L-QiYAt6hXRXTzrff2kqKPCEmsjMaq1F3QqQ9nyH7wWqQ/s1600/DSC_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4EWjA7JeHHpPtXQ_KFlDNve3AuaHmvPwqLHCTIIpvdi-awbY4DBzmz8Fq2svqTy_dS5GgUsUaR7E6HD21hUA1dU6CfagUX6L-QiYAt6hXRXTzrff2kqKPCEmsjMaq1F3QqQ9nyH7wWqQ/s400/DSC_0794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s4ZXMch5ugN613vqtx1fcXFEAdt14BW1gn6DvcvJQ62hSdQ2kvbUtzCOUMf96l3gN4cIvbbyIX98Zg70HsjC5DNhPLjIrm1fKBiOTtuQmaGpMALvgfW7chZhcByFGv3fPX1mQ1TUEaFo/s1600/DSC_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s4ZXMch5ugN613vqtx1fcXFEAdt14BW1gn6DvcvJQ62hSdQ2kvbUtzCOUMf96l3gN4cIvbbyIX98Zg70HsjC5DNhPLjIrm1fKBiOTtuQmaGpMALvgfW7chZhcByFGv3fPX1mQ1TUEaFo/s400/DSC_0797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-55007716323119885332010-05-06T21:55:00.114+04:002010-05-07T22:15:57.746+04:00Jumper Goes Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the time of the year again to deliver one of the biggest duties as a daddy to my little girl Aimi. It's her 8th birthday and it's written on my calendar to drop whatever I do and fly home to be with her. I skipped my son's 5th and 6th birthdays, he grumbled but I can handle it by offering toys that his mother wouldn't allow him to have and he still thinks I'm the coolest dad. But it's kind of different with Aimi, who can be quite unpredictable. Just at the thought of her biting her lips and holding back tears in her eyes if I were not there on her big day, is enough to tear me apart. So dutifully, I took the flight home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Her birthday was on Thursday. My wife took a day off and so we drove the kids to school. In the car for that morning trip and many other trips for the whole week, I was overdosed with the Glee Soundtrack, Volume 1. I have never watched these series of high school kids in their act of grouping, performing and outdoing the cheerleading squad. I thought it was lame. But now, ask me anything about Rachel, Mercedes, Finn, Artie and others in the Glee cast. I have been well informed about their characters, songs, love and life's issues. Thanks to my kids who supplied me, unconditionally, all the titbits as if they were written in their school's textbook. Aimi thought I was cool, when she noticed that I know the words in her favourite Glee songs like, <em>'Can't fight this feeling'</em> and <em>'Alone'</em>. She doesn't know yet those songs were originally sung by <em>REO Speedwagon</em> and <em>Heart</em>, the bunch of people whose songs I grew up with in the 80s. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The school bell rang at 8 AM to start the scene like in the Serengheti National Park. The school kids responded by making a stampede straight into their classes. The noisy kids were muted by the presence of the teachers. Once they all settled well to start another day of classroom adventure, I walked into the headmaster's office. I told Mr Headmaster that I just came back from the loneliest desert and after missing my daughter for 4 months, I would like to take her and her classmates hostage for an hour, to feed them with fried chicken, cakes and drinks. Mr Headmaster said, <em>"Oh Well, go ahead.... feed 'em well and make 'em happy".</em> Damn, why didn't I have headmaster like him when I was a kid?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I returned to the school to take charge of Aimi's class from 12:00 noon, just around lunchtime. The kids were happy to see me, probably because I dressed in an orange shirt, looking like Nemo's dad, Marlin, the clown fish. I distributed the party pack accessories for the kids to wear and made them rehearse the birthday song a cappella. My wife, at the other corner, was busy being a proper mother setting up the candles, cake, food and drinks. I thought of bringing lots of chocolates, but then I remembered, Chris, our Corporate Affairs advocating adamantly, as if her life depended on it, <em>"We, at Mars, don't promote chocolates to school children......."</em>.Consequently, no sweets and chocolates. I felt sorry for the kids. Yeah, go ahead and adore us...the most responsible and ethical chocolate maker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aimi's teachers were supervising us. They were easy going and friendly. It surprised me when one of them played <em>Lady Gaga's</em>, <em>Bad Romance</em>, to get the party started. Awesome. Damn, why didn't I have teachers like them when I was a kid? Sorry that I repeated myself unneccessarily. Well, the kids just had too much energy that towards the end of the hostage, they had become a little too hard to handle, asked too many questions and I decided it's time to hand them back to the talented teachers. They kids said together, almost like singing, a loud and long farewell and thank you. It's chaotic yet it sounded so sincere as it came straight from these young hearts. Very touchy, indeed. Later in the evening Aimi told me that her friends think it's the best birthday party they have had together. I asked her what she personally thinks. She smiled and looked away. That's her typical way of shielding her own emotion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xMVQspHjBZIdKSf3mmSWzwzZx2Ud_VvZoS9OGLWDYvpShZX0fcp1wtWMwWJvPr4lYGt5KN6063VxvyU8Sn6mcwvixRoMyPtWfOk-JVcPxc917nMk_Ohr2p2xfVtuIQkdjbKDIHPIOsrT/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xMVQspHjBZIdKSf3mmSWzwzZx2Ud_VvZoS9OGLWDYvpShZX0fcp1wtWMwWJvPr4lYGt5KN6063VxvyU8Sn6mcwvixRoMyPtWfOk-JVcPxc917nMk_Ohr2p2xfVtuIQkdjbKDIHPIOsrT/s400/DSC_0125.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If only Aimi knew how nasty a ladybird is, she might not consider her cake to be made like one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nevertheless, it's a colourful and lovely cake. It couldn't be more perfect than this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxfLs-xAw_dn4i7yDm3s1DJ2agxVjBvqk6zmIvcBVIneGGh7LEND5eLM6Jt2F8ctTwRfmp1dUO0IW-VqbWsi_O-XXQ9rXZUONeqoiIRwnzQ9IVOCNdWTU5rp1_iGMUJ3nykM1qEtBnK5E/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxfLs-xAw_dn4i7yDm3s1DJ2agxVjBvqk6zmIvcBVIneGGh7LEND5eLM6Jt2F8ctTwRfmp1dUO0IW-VqbWsi_O-XXQ9rXZUONeqoiIRwnzQ9IVOCNdWTU5rp1_iGMUJ3nykM1qEtBnK5E/s400/DSC_0123.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A busy day for the mother, escaping the hospital for a day to become a party maid.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCiDDZTAJAkUaFlUJ-uJobLFbW-yqCqn1UdMHrZQZgWQ6C8G16LosrtNxf2cYS-4vBodUnSH8nTK9VeLmZEtVNRn4NfLZnx0eZr4_9exL1F7epkz3WMdyKMbMI4dyRYUpq_qpIWnf9Xtv/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCiDDZTAJAkUaFlUJ-uJobLFbW-yqCqn1UdMHrZQZgWQ6C8G16LosrtNxf2cYS-4vBodUnSH8nTK9VeLmZEtVNRn4NfLZnx0eZr4_9exL1F7epkz3WMdyKMbMI4dyRYUpq_qpIWnf9Xtv/s400/DSC_0121.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Dressed in an orange shirt, I was Marlin, the not-so-funny clown fish.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The orange shirt is courtesy of Ploomer by The Last Resort. I have done my duty promoting to these kids. They are all excited to grow up to swing the world highest Canyon Swing in 10 years time. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1jQEWZ_QAxglLvTHWmuT1ybUPXGa5ZXkvv8iso7EXKx5sl-hH3mbpWz5FEm7WpBsJ9AImQBAr-FbNZFSsqgB-w4BdmBYu8pW0r1YKZOhQ6bIkIIcLdV541XKuNlKDsMqhbvPoy2iua1C/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1jQEWZ_QAxglLvTHWmuT1ybUPXGa5ZXkvv8iso7EXKx5sl-hH3mbpWz5FEm7WpBsJ9AImQBAr-FbNZFSsqgB-w4BdmBYu8pW0r1YKZOhQ6bIkIIcLdV541XKuNlKDsMqhbvPoy2iua1C/s400/DSC_0116.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">She is now officially 8 years old, making a wish...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44Nd5H4FV6hwKtSUkGBYHvx1M23uo2tLo9rA5glvsZc1q0e32MxLYPnx33Uldf638g16iO1nLkisDFyl6E2RN0l6-yD-CAnr7xi53mQ4-DtKQUuNb6mji1s5ysRoK_CnsHitKiWHI3Fsq/s1600/DSC_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44Nd5H4FV6hwKtSUkGBYHvx1M23uo2tLo9rA5glvsZc1q0e32MxLYPnx33Uldf638g16iO1nLkisDFyl6E2RN0l6-yD-CAnr7xi53mQ4-DtKQUuNb6mji1s5ysRoK_CnsHitKiWHI3Fsq/s400/DSC_0132.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The teachers are very sporting, they are more than happy to be relieved by Marlin.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP6EztYIg8uEPem9XdICRYUOE5UmVQToS8TJNCiU_-CHqFyNRZO4uDhB-u3X79eOrcHS41o3mH0Wa8WsOleVmVmrfl7IprozU9csFUvnZ3Dkt8iaJbG3xQLXApK4pubPlzbJzCBNI2nNz/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP6EztYIg8uEPem9XdICRYUOE5UmVQToS8TJNCiU_-CHqFyNRZO4uDhB-u3X79eOrcHS41o3mH0Wa8WsOleVmVmrfl7IprozU9csFUvnZ3Dkt8iaJbG3xQLXApK4pubPlzbJzCBNI2nNz/s400/DSC_0131.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Another teacher striking a pose! I told you.... this kind of teacher rarely existed in the 80s.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO3La47p0h6DLxhUi8q4cPtnrf6ty-kWEdePGpL-3pRNZDn3EvPTVWlxst_PdGVGuGtVTfrYWeLoexsprtt5_pOzzV-SItNh4y4PBcM9cSZy53n-hKKFS83hxhTS6gA_9i4-4bWft3fPU/s1600/DSC_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO3La47p0h6DLxhUi8q4cPtnrf6ty-kWEdePGpL-3pRNZDn3EvPTVWlxst_PdGVGuGtVTfrYWeLoexsprtt5_pOzzV-SItNh4y4PBcM9cSZy53n-hKKFS83hxhTS6gA_9i4-4bWft3fPU/s400/DSC_0124.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Most of the kids in the class are 8 years old. Can you spot an underaged, 7 years old boy, sneaking into his sister's birthday party?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Marlin, giving support to the neurologist who got a little neurotic while conducting the procedure to dissect the ladybird into portions as an attempt to locate the nerve responsible for ladybird's cannibalism nature....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WjysDr5vvsn2N3XYeV_mq3d4mzmdpVbsPXLItpojd44kj3mSgVlAB_Fvjc0srDvcXz-RMVnk_RSjly9_RpzmM88gw92FOFsWI9hnN8YD8fl0_gRlfCzQkD0NNsVUAdSHkU6d8h9MV9y9/s1600/Picture+569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WjysDr5vvsn2N3XYeV_mq3d4mzmdpVbsPXLItpojd44kj3mSgVlAB_Fvjc0srDvcXz-RMVnk_RSjly9_RpzmM88gw92FOFsWI9hnN8YD8fl0_gRlfCzQkD0NNsVUAdSHkU6d8h9MV9y9/s400/Picture+569.jpg" width="300" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8i-4HETdqEc_GmSG_RR1UdE1wDzb5v9jPRUqeNym07gARlDeXa6i9RW8BfAGgYwPdaWyHWdzmZZyFfcWW4Xn9cMJAa40HfRog_fsUI93GYHnCHQ_c3KEZKlIU0MZ2OVNNT4atqeTLooP/s1600/Picture+582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8i-4HETdqEc_GmSG_RR1UdE1wDzb5v9jPRUqeNym07gARlDeXa6i9RW8BfAGgYwPdaWyHWdzmZZyFfcWW4Xn9cMJAa40HfRog_fsUI93GYHnCHQ_c3KEZKlIU0MZ2OVNNT4atqeTLooP/s400/Picture+582.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We had another round of celebration late in the evening at our house. The guests invited were among other, my grandma, mother, mother-in-law, aunt, brother, sister, sister-in-law and the kids' babysitter. So you can imagine Jumper has aged again, sitting in the tribal council, while his daughter unwrapping her presents, one after another. Loving home, how appropriate...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-79747660025630579262010-05-01T22:49:00.008+04:002010-05-01T23:06:15.883+04:00The Three Amigos' Night Out<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jorge has got a new job in Mirdiff and he felt on top of the world. Erik wanted to feel extravagant and glamourous before he ended his first trip in the Middle East. I just wanted a different ambience after completing a 12-hour shift. So we were the three amigos on the loose and we found our way to the Burj Al Arab. Reluctantly, the security guard let the barrier down at the grand entrance of this self-proclaimed 7-star hotel to let us in, in a dirty navy blue Jeep. I heard myself said, "Damn, I should have it washed", when my Jeep was temporarily parked next to a shiny Maserati, infront of the glittering lobby.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsE4K7qV26WBfpWyvN1LDFsFyVoNnOBhckuBe8NhbwhWRhiOcfPdqWi1Adbl4MOan5g66pgAoMSCzuHa6ezrIgx4uQfG1dcDKUlL-6ePs5w6u2TJumMv1Psdk9lxycar_7I3EQOLzOLnI/s1600/P4198231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsE4K7qV26WBfpWyvN1LDFsFyVoNnOBhckuBe8NhbwhWRhiOcfPdqWi1Adbl4MOan5g66pgAoMSCzuHa6ezrIgx4uQfG1dcDKUlL-6ePs5w6u2TJumMv1Psdk9lxycar_7I3EQOLzOLnI/s320/P4198231.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">When we entered the lobby, we were greeted well but our expectations were mountain high. We expected a garland of flowers fixed around the neck by beauty queens with a kiss as welcoming gestures. We hoped for a flying carpet instead of an elevator to go up to the mezzanine floor. We wished that we get to see things we have never seen before, like real rainbow inside the buiding and a pot of gold at the end of it. Then, we realized that we only pay 185 dirhams each for this event and so we stopped dreaming and being realistic. It worked wonder and we started having fun. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5g1X7CpyaurvwuNykGnm_KglAqDBf_9s600MfE3sQHCyJnIKUf2S-UQjTdoNfh7Nl9i9jTtrIKDkpN9G4HG0DzuD5iqiwt_qvFHwXPTkzi62GRljvuNMI_0TQSEU2rmjlqdc0iFtSWwh/s1600/P4198224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5g1X7CpyaurvwuNykGnm_KglAqDBf_9s600MfE3sQHCyJnIKUf2S-UQjTdoNfh7Nl9i9jTtrIKDkpN9G4HG0DzuD5iqiwt_qvFHwXPTkzi62GRljvuNMI_0TQSEU2rmjlqdc0iFtSWwh/s320/P4198224.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The most natural thing to do at the lobby is to look up and then everyone can tell that it's your first time there.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gYxK80N4HAlxBm-CrGTnR2pHrLv5xcNF8Y62FJiEtaC-3rPdeeeKYfg7fQYIXo11acvni5R9wM5glzkYyRTA-ennNUlEmbvmBE0_3VZSEovbaz4K9hZ_D819eymuRasv8aDcYh83gq-6/s1600/P4198143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gYxK80N4HAlxBm-CrGTnR2pHrLv5xcNF8Y62FJiEtaC-3rPdeeeKYfg7fQYIXo11acvni5R9wM5glzkYyRTA-ennNUlEmbvmBE0_3VZSEovbaz4K9hZ_D819eymuRasv8aDcYh83gq-6/s320/P4198143.JPG" tt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxunWYPdFd5Ca8NPtZSuaX8lp15rjMKg6EWAavLkWNU6bqqs7QSq3ttRjp5BgyB3r3zzBwMSGcHb7sIxbRrCrds5Hbh5wh-r72jXate7hXk8eXe9j8_xapamodCw1L-dzW5WX46eHeUD3/s1600/P4198219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxunWYPdFd5Ca8NPtZSuaX8lp15rjMKg6EWAavLkWNU6bqqs7QSq3ttRjp5BgyB3r3zzBwMSGcHb7sIxbRrCrds5Hbh5wh-r72jXate7hXk8eXe9j8_xapamodCw1L-dzW5WX46eHeUD3/s320/P4198219.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That night the lightings inside the building were minimal to create the romantic and relaxed mood but it was enough to make the extravagance clear and visible. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O_5Yxwz-CR6Kl6IL1EArpbHD8BIIV2Bv2N3slFG5yZp2II-JuFovcQAIzYJ1CwQoq29zdRzeU1_kXWEhkihvHlRcYPxsBJhoMqr80bJ9r1SZ6Lok5alUNOZrd_EnD4KLzvXhGZmZ0q2m/s1600/P4198140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O_5Yxwz-CR6Kl6IL1EArpbHD8BIIV2Bv2N3slFG5yZp2II-JuFovcQAIzYJ1CwQoq29zdRzeU1_kXWEhkihvHlRcYPxsBJhoMqr80bJ9r1SZ6Lok5alUNOZrd_EnD4KLzvXhGZmZ0q2m/s320/P4198140.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The water works at the slope next to the elevator was brilliant. It jumped on air as if it has a life of its own.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoLJy-IYEwCyPaKPN_pddZb_1fP9hCyngGGa43YPzZS-upZMQKAwpAO62SRcWtxIqBCHclVXL4zDNH0rIoKcklXSoqVNjqENyjvp1qGD6HrhfzCLmFUJpjwYqU4k_z4XO4bya1RbTTukg/s1600/P4198151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoLJy-IYEwCyPaKPN_pddZb_1fP9hCyngGGa43YPzZS-upZMQKAwpAO62SRcWtxIqBCHclVXL4zDNH0rIoKcklXSoqVNjqENyjvp1qGD6HrhfzCLmFUJpjwYqU4k_z4XO4bya1RbTTukg/s320/P4198151.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The three amigos</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3xjlsNrn-8Es9hlLJAYyyr3944DG7ICTd2ZWHh_O2c7kM3KmmA-Iau5kSOXuumb1WhinGhKj_naWL6gQF7DhO32BvWCR9Xo1Vtjr15kW3Ykk5NMnFaRwhqfBRgmFwWqTA0ufrn-qPbp1/s1600/P4198156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3xjlsNrn-8Es9hlLJAYyyr3944DG7ICTd2ZWHh_O2c7kM3KmmA-Iau5kSOXuumb1WhinGhKj_naWL6gQF7DhO32BvWCR9Xo1Vtjr15kW3Ykk5NMnFaRwhqfBRgmFwWqTA0ufrn-qPbp1/s320/P4198156.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitunOq8vSYViNPAti8s9jwkSEI-NfH2Sbz1uQDhhxORVPWe57_ijagnKy-NbJQ9Bq7dLIgUvWYdzHwX6YYxWe7oHA0SXX8Rtt2Cd79iZMxPOwGbMBSNjsaKqogQgOniE1rSZVCl87mKh2E/s1600/P4198158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitunOq8vSYViNPAti8s9jwkSEI-NfH2Sbz1uQDhhxORVPWe57_ijagnKy-NbJQ9Bq7dLIgUvWYdzHwX6YYxWe7oHA0SXX8Rtt2Cd79iZMxPOwGbMBSNjsaKqogQgOniE1rSZVCl87mKh2E/s320/P4198158.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We started sober having those juicy sushi, tempura and even satay.....</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9Sw9IFbOus2uIkdhzs4he9-oqkUWTi-WsYTidHtFEyBI5HzUZRSpSEpp7kHrpkIzjZxYjVSONsVrfAcWBsAb_9xhXnjB21CfAlj-CFdIl4pWeFlM4kgkYIZeNE9FOO4D-i3ldCDQTe-G/s1600/P4198164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9Sw9IFbOus2uIkdhzs4he9-oqkUWTi-WsYTidHtFEyBI5HzUZRSpSEpp7kHrpkIzjZxYjVSONsVrfAcWBsAb_9xhXnjB21CfAlj-CFdIl4pWeFlM4kgkYIZeNE9FOO4D-i3ldCDQTe-G/s320/P4198164.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and then came the two rounds of drinks when the amigos got a little tipsy</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYZMbdh5CET7jRtBPK3nB7X0gwqTyHf_OF2MUvdOfdSIUrwA6W8guLhX7oHW17KjqGJknEsFnI9SnCqhYxm-aJ2IOP7c1mq5-hK2CU2IGPDMTaIQusEBFEwYCqdsgXnVbFOM0O8G0qlEG/s1600/P4198172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYZMbdh5CET7jRtBPK3nB7X0gwqTyHf_OF2MUvdOfdSIUrwA6W8guLhX7oHW17KjqGJknEsFnI9SnCqhYxm-aJ2IOP7c1mq5-hK2CU2IGPDMTaIQusEBFEwYCqdsgXnVbFOM0O8G0qlEG/s320/P4198172.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Jorge belittled the famous MH, Malaysian Hospitality when his Mexican persona made him march to the kitchen to meet the chef who prepared our sushi. He thanked him wholeheartedly like it was better than Nobu's. I was then re-assessing my taste buds...was it really THAT good? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku2WkPbd2gj19VLbtKxEr0nsZKM9Lp39ENFpunZRXKUkOMseXYd_KamT1ZjF7bNz3z1TtPuTg_2SIISpZZScw4xWnmNCJM8Aa5_KEoZMJroO9ZegWEcNLuBRx_Z2Hk25ieWDFV2gA2kwv/s1600/P4198207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku2WkPbd2gj19VLbtKxEr0nsZKM9Lp39ENFpunZRXKUkOMseXYd_KamT1ZjF7bNz3z1TtPuTg_2SIISpZZScw4xWnmNCJM8Aa5_KEoZMJroO9ZegWEcNLuBRx_Z2Hk25ieWDFV2gA2kwv/s320/P4198207.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Check this out, the best offer at the spa, the one and only, Rose Rejuvenation Ritual, 1600 dirhams for 115 minutes...but we ain't no roses and we ain't that rich either, so thank you very much.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl9NRQ__CnTJqYHetywdbcxQwxdMg181z-r5GGWoaho5pPiD9LHva6J6qkhg1osoqjssKDWViXHCWQSV2kmrif0Lhl7WYh-2M1ShaAcWwQQ4_5pKnumoDanwOQQ75Boz5u_vqHL9rzNVl/s1600/P4198192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl9NRQ__CnTJqYHetywdbcxQwxdMg181z-r5GGWoaho5pPiD9LHva6J6qkhg1osoqjssKDWViXHCWQSV2kmrif0Lhl7WYh-2M1ShaAcWwQQ4_5pKnumoDanwOQQ75Boz5u_vqHL9rzNVl/s320/P4198192.JPG" tt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCwlmAofThKgQk0J3RfCKWE5aj5FpZs1meeKySCopPCuDZIogwFO9W3w0cwUTUZNwP_kyQXiTWC5jm0p9Dj4xkBTbF6Tf63C8M0-3bPhP50QyzP8UT0B9NYvp5oG7YNcQi-fx-yYUmVKd/s1600/P4198189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCwlmAofThKgQk0J3RfCKWE5aj5FpZs1meeKySCopPCuDZIogwFO9W3w0cwUTUZNwP_kyQXiTWC5jm0p9Dj4xkBTbF6Tf63C8M0-3bPhP50QyzP8UT0B9NYvp5oG7YNcQi-fx-yYUmVKd/s320/P4198189.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Nevertheless, curiosity took us to sneak into the spa and we made ourselves rejuvenated there....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HV2W4Kw9F9c14FKdiQSXyC3SUn1kFBuB-L2-1hJcArablj1rSzCiKHhcFz4ycSHOSaPEVTG5zUWIJjE3v7Wi51wVIXgasAYnZuxa3HbPwygDmKdPsxwZ-4G-9wbkOj9vxFH6AJ_SKd-C/s1600/P4198195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HV2W4Kw9F9c14FKdiQSXyC3SUn1kFBuB-L2-1hJcArablj1rSzCiKHhcFz4ycSHOSaPEVTG5zUWIJjE3v7Wi51wVIXgasAYnZuxa3HbPwygDmKdPsxwZ-4G-9wbkOj9vxFH6AJ_SKd-C/s320/P4198195.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The spa ritual ended with a sweat up session of floor mopping....awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBkVorTce6o8J1ezn7khZqgkDNtZUb7ktm4q0jR1M85fP_HlvFIC1ShKAFW9b6G9_R_dqnnUR-2xnmVQPnGSbNEQGAkSwBhQgf-uYZ4rLnwMyzbaI9DtTRvFifHs2-3DCsrz5QfJ3gc2S/s1600/P4198212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBkVorTce6o8J1ezn7khZqgkDNtZUb7ktm4q0jR1M85fP_HlvFIC1ShKAFW9b6G9_R_dqnnUR-2xnmVQPnGSbNEQGAkSwBhQgf-uYZ4rLnwMyzbaI9DtTRvFifHs2-3DCsrz5QfJ3gc2S/s320/P4198212.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Erik has forgotten his room number and looking around for familiar sign to find his way back</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIFUOmXXOakRj31dZ273nuvgSIcErGfAyEleH3pzWpVLN3uNZXiTtv1zgvrjpDWCxV1nJTGQye10gK2qtJMMmVoOVCe2yn1rA7MOHBz3owhsTV82xzo1mRe1Y7EvLVhPmD7SYF7s3dIzU/s1600/P4198188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIFUOmXXOakRj31dZ273nuvgSIcErGfAyEleH3pzWpVLN3uNZXiTtv1zgvrjpDWCxV1nJTGQye10gK2qtJMMmVoOVCe2yn1rA7MOHBz3owhsTV82xzo1mRe1Y7EvLVhPmD7SYF7s3dIzU/s320/P4198188.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't really blame Erik. Just look at all those rooms...they were so standardized and obsessively organized.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QbGqDOWVAQYWxba24AhbgqKw0FtP_fL5qhkSIDxLsKpuqtRlstKHU6hXhm436j1kxAZRXo5SMwmZuWaoiYcKRvh8qluw4AL_KAf0KMvbpx5CsCDOQqmOyRPPnzYF0-kdCgk11Dn6-BVn/s1600/P4198235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QbGqDOWVAQYWxba24AhbgqKw0FtP_fL5qhkSIDxLsKpuqtRlstKHU6hXhm436j1kxAZRXo5SMwmZuWaoiYcKRvh8qluw4AL_KAf0KMvbpx5CsCDOQqmOyRPPnzYF0-kdCgk11Dn6-BVn/s320/P4198235.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Erik didn't make it to his room, but we found our way out...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQyBKvXyTv32tEJg4R4r7myaTlgobLU8uLMgx45OsuXVR0O9Onn-VPlLNPHog3ps1FqEnwjue7TXxwml9HpPRYUFPZb3qRDMKjnnYPlVkgObDZbl0JplHqWRMo6JIOfKopx5voEOxuG0h/s1600/P4198236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQyBKvXyTv32tEJg4R4r7myaTlgobLU8uLMgx45OsuXVR0O9Onn-VPlLNPHog3ps1FqEnwjue7TXxwml9HpPRYUFPZb3qRDMKjnnYPlVkgObDZbl0JplHqWRMo6JIOfKopx5voEOxuG0h/s320/P4198236.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbFdiDzy_69bBSbVe2lTxBFwdsfQtZxrkfyu39q-KQIfJ0jcwGlDZOSyLHkWwGONPbtxT10SW0V2sH9mSjMqF89z0eJl7Zn9dv80U-pKJ99-18vgo9XvwMzfCXXgzRV_H3MpeJ7T2LZXT/s1600/P4198237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbFdiDzy_69bBSbVe2lTxBFwdsfQtZxrkfyu39q-KQIfJ0jcwGlDZOSyLHkWwGONPbtxT10SW0V2sH9mSjMqF89z0eJl7Zn9dv80U-pKJ99-18vgo9XvwMzfCXXgzRV_H3MpeJ7T2LZXT/s320/P4198237.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Burj Al Arab, near and far....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-57500468262099348712010-04-26T11:30:00.014+04:002010-05-02T03:44:56.069+04:00Arty Farty MeAs a kid, I liked being in art classes. Well, I was no art genius, that's for sure, but good enough that Miss Rani, my class teacher had considered sending me, to accompany her favourite boy, Kumar, to some local competition downtown. We didn't win any prize but went home happy having painted something. Kumar continued to develop his talent and now an architect residing in UK. I, on the other hand, suppressed the little talent that I have in the name of science and now working in a factory making chocolates. Great.<br />
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Recently, I have decided to re-learn art, not to become a celebrated painter, but at least, learn to appreciate it. So off I went on a self-imposed mission to explore Art Dubai and to marvel at the contemporary work of art in the Middle East. Looking like an art collector representing <em>Ah Keong's Kedai Tampal Tayar Basikal</em>, I walked and wondered, stopped to flirt just a little bit with some promoters and snapped some photos of great creations that excite the remaining drops of creative juice in my head, which I try hard to preserve.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthsRUdkXAgDPturzS57jka7__-P0pfosiEE29oVzfJ0AJS98VPAFXtgxieT8DW1DYvkQDCxoqKR54cIraIueBPgDl9uzAZIC2FCfJe8HI3xRxTj5_3z65FtB9qTOtzRC7B1HFEdKDR8Uh/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthsRUdkXAgDPturzS57jka7__-P0pfosiEE29oVzfJ0AJS98VPAFXtgxieT8DW1DYvkQDCxoqKR54cIraIueBPgDl9uzAZIC2FCfJe8HI3xRxTj5_3z65FtB9qTOtzRC7B1HFEdKDR8Uh/s320/ArtDubai+190320103462.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>If you have been to a chocolate factory, this art piece looked like a block of cocoa butter waiting to be melted and mixed into the happy combo that makes a batch of chocolate base. I spend a fair amount of time staring at the piece while checking out that chic with a white belt. Marvellous!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YFko-vQWnutfyccwOV5jkhS_iB9hvdd3VfsUR6rr3XRpYyU7hkowWXc3N8PuIZbELx46Ct-bETEuyK45j6XnG042ZP9lfveBIFcb1-XKbF0kZ31DbFc1Sj4BMlUYs1FOuvowO5Bo-S0L/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YFko-vQWnutfyccwOV5jkhS_iB9hvdd3VfsUR6rr3XRpYyU7hkowWXc3N8PuIZbELx46Ct-bETEuyK45j6XnG042ZP9lfveBIFcb1-XKbF0kZ31DbFc1Sj4BMlUYs1FOuvowO5Bo-S0L/s320/ArtDubai+190320103438.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>This accentuates the hidden talent and the power of possibility. Who would have thought a mop in the bathroom can find its way to the international stardom. Susan Boyle came into my mind.</strong></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPBgRSvwQOJQ5Q9U52qYmJdQ3Ph2_ZPeQhhjq7cdcUSAtGZZuhnwDVPIxPU5C_2Doc0f8F6YxlN2tfJJ5ETv3dCzPnherUMJwAYlF0E68CfJ9ANikQFKzSDK8O1NiP4tNtVT03kAnKMp7/s1600/190320103437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPBgRSvwQOJQ5Q9U52qYmJdQ3Ph2_ZPeQhhjq7cdcUSAtGZZuhnwDVPIxPU5C_2Doc0f8F6YxlN2tfJJ5ETv3dCzPnherUMJwAYlF0E68CfJ9ANikQFKzSDK8O1NiP4tNtVT03kAnKMp7/s320/190320103437.jpg" wt="true" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>The extremes in the Middle East, the faithful believer and the dreamer and the riches surrounded by rubbles. The American bills there say a lot about the power of wealth that mutes the unspoken and covers the unseen. What a strong political flavour! </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1N7AxG-s_Ck1NC-JGEaUYcqZGmwswAlTlNZuAVYRtf-y8tshy9GEM8lsQb2fXMvOA-ZOhhZtfRYeaL2U3jjmpCa01WOTWx8BGYQNO4oq7hzB7vPXyUUflTXf4ntDffh5czCZteipIMG4/s1600/190320103446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1N7AxG-s_Ck1NC-JGEaUYcqZGmwswAlTlNZuAVYRtf-y8tshy9GEM8lsQb2fXMvOA-ZOhhZtfRYeaL2U3jjmpCa01WOTWx8BGYQNO4oq7hzB7vPXyUUflTXf4ntDffh5czCZteipIMG4/s320/190320103446.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>It's not a photographed cat. It's painted in an unusual match of black and blue that makes a pretty face of a pussycat. Lovely.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ50AdPmWnAtRjt3PgqXu7aDlQ-9PVod1Fn_ij586gdrrB5tLvm0Czcx7xA1sMbH_W2ZzOjagtPh7pZfh0zHMgf0-kiUsWp0miQHg3Sy0BcszKUUSvSiA1zsbgNir2IT2gh8EQls5LfDYW/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ50AdPmWnAtRjt3PgqXu7aDlQ-9PVod1Fn_ij586gdrrB5tLvm0Czcx7xA1sMbH_W2ZzOjagtPh7pZfh0zHMgf0-kiUsWp0miQHg3Sy0BcszKUUSvSiA1zsbgNir2IT2gh8EQls5LfDYW/s320/ArtDubai+190320103445.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>This forlorn looking oriental girl delicately painted on a piece of wood. She reminds me of someone special from the past.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk7qIp9eH7456Lcs-3NaPjSLXv9x0tVEgjJ4OA9Wlc5XkBlR9yyDs9DftwQCBxQc-yKr5uG0hrnc34I_angcDpLa19yf_9s91ZOjCxUtjRwun8ynDSOrnkfA58w6a77CDzrnwrAqGfspo/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk7qIp9eH7456Lcs-3NaPjSLXv9x0tVEgjJ4OA9Wlc5XkBlR9yyDs9DftwQCBxQc-yKr5uG0hrnc34I_angcDpLa19yf_9s91ZOjCxUtjRwun8ynDSOrnkfA58w6a77CDzrnwrAqGfspo/s320/ArtDubai+190320103466.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: blue;">This potrait from an unusual angle reveals an admirable beauty. I couldn't help touching her neck when no one was looking. Me..pervert? Sometimes..</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVeIN2EyThC1sePMqrNwfp-UJHtLSX-n1RkGTJlWlwhK_6FvM2uWMcQfckSp2I90zqnRoBFNi4nCjXFoqFmXExsLV-lO9Ck4XGtQ74ogRjFEddNtvGGZF4iDWTv0hyyDN-RNXu2V7ERgm/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVeIN2EyThC1sePMqrNwfp-UJHtLSX-n1RkGTJlWlwhK_6FvM2uWMcQfckSp2I90zqnRoBFNi4nCjXFoqFmXExsLV-lO9Ck4XGtQ74ogRjFEddNtvGGZF4iDWTv0hyyDN-RNXu2V7ERgm/s320/ArtDubai+190320103454.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">The thumb tales. Fascinating! Would be wonderful if it can be read like a book?</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVeSF7VpkeRDd0hCvl5h7nSNq2R5YsICz-lzWjG_ewwaJnk_LJwUxZg731RiCQK2WwiD-q5GB5Wpk8T71cE3X5pdCY0bxQlGIv3Vwk87Z9sRoF99zfMu99i1kPRwCm5koLGDLKC9vdQqD/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVeSF7VpkeRDd0hCvl5h7nSNq2R5YsICz-lzWjG_ewwaJnk_LJwUxZg731RiCQK2WwiD-q5GB5Wpk8T71cE3X5pdCY0bxQlGIv3Vwk87Z9sRoF99zfMu99i1kPRwCm5koLGDLKC9vdQqD/s320/ArtDubai+190320103469.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>The world is flat and foldable, but still, the sun rises from the same corner in Japan.</strong></span> <span style="color: blue;"><strong>A stubborn art.</strong></span> <span style="color: blue;"><strong>Period.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>This is an amazing classic. It's simple and square, but I admire it the most.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2IFrKKP3Kr8dl-YXaUyMYehN5JVycKOYUQFw8N7D4FE3Xu-mWjDM5p8pRlN0YTL7YJh-b-wg9K2pnKS4FGa0EwVUGv6In-E7i6iW16mQypYjSOqkm3ul7iC_Cg3mH8_8TDYEackJmT1G/s1600/ArtDubai+190320103444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2IFrKKP3Kr8dl-YXaUyMYehN5JVycKOYUQFw8N7D4FE3Xu-mWjDM5p8pRlN0YTL7YJh-b-wg9K2pnKS4FGa0EwVUGv6In-E7i6iW16mQypYjSOqkm3ul7iC_Cg3mH8_8TDYEackJmT1G/s320/ArtDubai+190320103444.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it. The art collector posing with a proud purchase. Yeah, dream on....</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So tell me which is your pick?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-78680169533857896172010-04-24T19:41:00.039+04:002010-04-26T00:42:30.580+04:00Ploomer, The Popular Playmate<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ploomer has visited my playground for a few days. It is really an honour to have him around. He has travelled to many unpopular places on this planet that has made him popular. He has done so many awesome things that I wish I could have done in my life. He spent about 7 months travelling on a bike in the Indonesian archipelago. He went to Nepal twice and did bunjee jumping near the Tibet border. He blended well with the crowd of dark brown people in Bangladesh and the pale yellow people in Indochina. He flirted with the gorillas in Uganda, tried to track an elusive tiger in Sumatra, swam with a manatee and the list goes on. How I wish I have his freedom. Check out his cool blog, <a href="http://www.travelyourassoff.com/2010/04/i-am-burj-khalifa.html">here</a>. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One fine day when I was off duty, we drove to Al Ain to visit the oasis, museum and the breathtaking Jebel Hafeet. This is my second visit to the green grassland of Al Ain. We reached Jebel Hafeet about an hour before sunset. We parked Lucky on an elevated flat parking space, that's the furthest for things with wheels. We hiked further up to perch on the rocks which seem to be the highest accessible peak. Up there, I felt awesome. Looking up at the sky, I had my peaceful moment staring at some buzzards gliding majestically above us, while Ploomer was busy toying with his camera very skillfully and mimicking Borat aloud. Indeed, he is one great guy to travel with and quite entertaining too. He has taught me about living life for <strong>now</strong>, enjoying every minute of it, travelling light in the passage of life, leaving the counter-productive bags of worries behind. When I came down from Jebel Hafeet, I felt anew. I can now imagine why people keep on climbing up from one mountain to another, though such activity may seem silly, dangerous and gruelsome. Indeed, when one is up there, everything else is so small and this perspective makes us realize what really matters in our lives. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2CZeJwPF10ZgDhQQcqmiRXqYJDtFg8Q_j3YwbexoyNlawiRwqCv_yzzZOpn7aaASCYzKzPY5g9ElChCvBgkaZOIlN6t2A08hvRUz4mQXS6jQusV_krjk4n75WIYWynEH6-sIlwzOph4m/s1600/130420103514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2CZeJwPF10ZgDhQQcqmiRXqYJDtFg8Q_j3YwbexoyNlawiRwqCv_yzzZOpn7aaASCYzKzPY5g9ElChCvBgkaZOIlN6t2A08hvRUz4mQXS6jQusV_krjk4n75WIYWynEH6-sIlwzOph4m/s320/130420103514.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">That's Ploomer, posing like a pro while photographing the rocks. I'll feign the same pose some day on top of Kili</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZwVT8J28PCS0HpWwDAsxZfei7za71e93PTKhRFuAuyKSq04r2uDmWNKalFuslBw9JhLiyeRxL0m-nRfmH49JkaTImtS6nG4kga1O3mSUMNIyHHor9cB-RDcNO8E6NneZ9EcNhY7KJUp4/s1600/130420103515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZwVT8J28PCS0HpWwDAsxZfei7za71e93PTKhRFuAuyKSq04r2uDmWNKalFuslBw9JhLiyeRxL0m-nRfmH49JkaTImtS6nG4kga1O3mSUMNIyHHor9cB-RDcNO8E6NneZ9EcNhY7KJUp4/s320/130420103515.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Can you take me high enough? An old song that played in my mind seeing the mountains</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAMXbcrKDGKHWi1ywCeIwg6FWcVNFn6uH-8GPy3FlgNRBvakY35eREbkGBoTc8ppVAGwF9VILIq-WQXCf62F87sfzmUj2Ud2xf0wSnu_Kq5N2leaOd-_fIHL3e6XlFNKYtSCTQM5-NHax/s1600/130420103509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAMXbcrKDGKHWi1ywCeIwg6FWcVNFn6uH-8GPy3FlgNRBvakY35eREbkGBoTc8ppVAGwF9VILIq-WQXCf62F87sfzmUj2Ud2xf0wSnu_Kq5N2leaOd-_fIHL3e6XlFNKYtSCTQM5-NHax/s320/130420103509.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Lucky looked like a tiny stuck up snail down there...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv1nbZz4WWMBcCr6FJGTQfvYqklzYQL6uPNSXe0b40yTQiPYwG_lHYPxztQ7YXB5RUlsSaRUWWrBY3Ryt_K9-MkoMcHfX9Q4DXs3JPGQUU93cXK0tuLD8QCWpflDb3qNZiveGJWeuoYxD/s1600/130420103512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv1nbZz4WWMBcCr6FJGTQfvYqklzYQL6uPNSXe0b40yTQiPYwG_lHYPxztQ7YXB5RUlsSaRUWWrBY3Ryt_K9-MkoMcHfX9Q4DXs3JPGQUU93cXK0tuLD8QCWpflDb3qNZiveGJWeuoYxD/s320/130420103512.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">The sunset was gloomy instead of golden on the day we were up there</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ploomer has left Dubai and now wondering the less travelled place called Azerbaijan. He will continue his travel until one day when he decides to grow up. He thanked me well for my hospitality in hosting him and helping him out. What he may not realize is, how thankful I am for his presence that has sparked new determination in me to see the world as a big unlimited playground for those who dare to come out and play. He made me realize the things I have missed all this while. But hey, I still have time to catch up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>A few days after he left, I walked into a mall and brought home a new toy. It's a Nikon D90, to be tamed from now so that I can play with it later in my next climb up to Kilimanjaro in July. At this writing, I have no idea, who I will go there with, when exactly and how. Nevertheless, I have reserved 8 days from the my 30 days of holidays this year, to make it happen even if I have to scale it all by myself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRC_UPee-PF73GKr9EV6b5rUFN-afLIJrGPAmsxLG_YAnEcWYxipq04xEiqzYZM797rhS764cmmQH4XbiI2_Wm-h7O4TWAXAq6rPpKrHR2XA5grvTTqyfwoB9ez4lJbXeoEZ7822KTnQD/s1600/200420103531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRC_UPee-PF73GKr9EV6b5rUFN-afLIJrGPAmsxLG_YAnEcWYxipq04xEiqzYZM797rhS764cmmQH4XbiI2_Wm-h7O4TWAXAq6rPpKrHR2XA5grvTTqyfwoB9ez4lJbXeoEZ7822KTnQD/s320/200420103531.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Hola! A new toy</span></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-63181657405087071382010-04-19T04:41:00.003+04:002010-04-19T04:44:48.965+04:00I'm Back....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have finally braved my way back to this blog after a long trip to Wonderland. Looking back at this blog, I do think it needs a facelift. I wish that it was a little crazy and random from the beginning. But I guess it's never too late to add some fun, to be silly and stupid to shake things up and sustain that creative juice inside my aging skull. After all, I don't blog for medal or anything. So why be serious and so appropriate? Why do I really have to think what the hell to blog next? So here's the deal. That durian must go. It's not safe to play with spiky stuff and it's so uncool to snack on smelly thing. So I decide to discontinue the durian campaign. Working in a happy place that produces chocolate and chewing gum , I guess I should promote playground instead, where I can be happy jumping around and blogging along the way. So it's.......</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">J</span><span style="color: lime; font-size: small;"><strong>u</strong></span><span style="color: blue;">m</span><span style="color: #e06666;">p</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">e</span><span style="color: #351c75;">r</span><span style="color: #990000;">'<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s</span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #660000;">P</span><span style="color: blue;">l</span><span style="color: lime;">a</span><span style="color: #20124d;">y</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>g</strong></span><span style="color: #741b47;">r</span><strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">o</span></strong>u</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">n</span><span style="color: blue;">d</span></span></span><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I believe there is still plenty of time to play, amazing toys to grab and dream about and awesome playmates to play with. Generally, this blog is meant to be a happy playground, but then again, life it's not all about laughter and good times. Even without much care in the world, kids cry in the playground. Some day we have to play alone and be that lonely kid trying to figure how to get amused on the see-saw by himself. Some day we get bullied by pushing a**holes and some day we become that bullying bull. So this is my playground. It's a moveable playground from Dubai to Disneyland and anywhere in between and you are always welcomed. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XrkAaI8RN-FW6EoWFcgm3VvSzUpamPH3b7d9DMKh5XQbYC5wJpmZ6rSpjAyYuHJCOLWul9UCNO2dCwbsKnvY5pydCtj4-YyYs21yUYDPdPryFMm9GsdthscpT6AH6GjGErZ6-Cv4IHB1/s1600/150420103518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XrkAaI8RN-FW6EoWFcgm3VvSzUpamPH3b7d9DMKh5XQbYC5wJpmZ6rSpjAyYuHJCOLWul9UCNO2dCwbsKnvY5pydCtj4-YyYs21yUYDPdPryFMm9GsdthscpT6AH6GjGErZ6-Cv4IHB1/s320/150420103518.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">This is me, 3 years to reach 40, in the dreamland of Dubai</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgN4MUjCDVcEHMOmAIWeZpvAGKCktFxq0JXhXo8dzFR9iNyMsNusFJAkKx91z-g4nK8Fw2HJDxJN7XHU8ubpNxtbkCiW45KEMeYC2rKaNXugoQUzzr5RIWwfmna2ZlPLphu_3j734Sfga/s1600/P6210072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgN4MUjCDVcEHMOmAIWeZpvAGKCktFxq0JXhXo8dzFR9iNyMsNusFJAkKx91z-g4nK8Fw2HJDxJN7XHU8ubpNxtbkCiW45KEMeYC2rKaNXugoQUzzr5RIWwfmna2ZlPLphu_3j734Sfga/s320/P6210072.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">The girl can be such a cry baby and the boy can be so noisy and pushy, but they are my best playmates</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghvDW9sDR33GvrGDETrRfMiAAkrA_bbE1KBH8F2SKpK9XAAqkLc_mmuyuCTD_d7376Mp2qJk4MF2Pb4Ax8vM-NNA-ggeKQJtemaCPSexj2D7Qxr-FHa6bp06ywlh54-pVv8IWHHCfKYNv/s1600/050320103418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghvDW9sDR33GvrGDETrRfMiAAkrA_bbE1KBH8F2SKpK9XAAqkLc_mmuyuCTD_d7376Mp2qJk4MF2Pb4Ax8vM-NNA-ggeKQJtemaCPSexj2D7Qxr-FHa6bp06ywlh54-pVv8IWHHCfKYNv/s320/050320103418.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Me and my best toy, Lucky</span></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-74640355239064363462010-01-23T11:13:00.000+04:002010-01-23T13:52:44.921+04:00Dubai-Fujairah-Oman-KL-Japan-Dubai (Part 2)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lucky and I had our longest drive in the Middle East with my family. We drove across the emirates to reach Dibba. We were supposed to meet our tour operator there and he would assist us in crossing the border to Oman.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7ZOSa4u9nqAPB0eLGHaD0NHHwS_Dd0Uwe7slsOkFC6_wbwrJMahJOdJm2rwTxrWanK5wEvT7f9OykOCWUgoeSL1h2GZ5h6uV_sT2zmIsDRON0X0YrEX_BWN99wZcXTDCvjStRr1JH6p2/s1600-h/DibbaPicture+541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7ZOSa4u9nqAPB0eLGHaD0NHHwS_Dd0Uwe7slsOkFC6_wbwrJMahJOdJm2rwTxrWanK5wEvT7f9OykOCWUgoeSL1h2GZ5h6uV_sT2zmIsDRON0X0YrEX_BWN99wZcXTDCvjStRr1JH6p2/s320/DibbaPicture+541.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbzjaN0HonBpg47pU7STw9uvyUEAWnFcVJ2WO7GwP4_KmCX2II7dzKXszF-YZN3wlgnvQUtD71k01LO7nWCoYRuqJy-n3zBSxbPusKcXZWMgOcVuIlYduuaGxR7My8EpE_-9rP9voP4L3/s1600-h/DibbaPicture+543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbzjaN0HonBpg47pU7STw9uvyUEAWnFcVJ2WO7GwP4_KmCX2II7dzKXszF-YZN3wlgnvQUtD71k01LO7nWCoYRuqJy-n3zBSxbPusKcXZWMgOcVuIlYduuaGxR7My8EpE_-9rP9voP4L3/s320/DibbaPicture+543.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dibba in various colours and lights</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The tour operator came when we were enjoying our packed nasi lemak. He waited for us and then he guided us to cross the border to enter Oman. It took us just a few minutes at the checkpoint. The Sultanate of Oman is a slower paced country much to the contrast of UAE. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfXT89_KT1qO2RxJkR3VOlaVu21J9U9FSIk1E6gjEcM3fAPwQHXGxVLT54BmHw-4m6OuO58ilZ49B-IwTRoNMWAgPVVEE62P7eqreg6IU4xsvHPiw21V_lBxyjjH2ue5_8-Nju-uYAJBE/s1600-h/Musandam291220093151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfXT89_KT1qO2RxJkR3VOlaVu21J9U9FSIk1E6gjEcM3fAPwQHXGxVLT54BmHw-4m6OuO58ilZ49B-IwTRoNMWAgPVVEE62P7eqreg6IU4xsvHPiw21V_lBxyjjH2ue5_8-Nju-uYAJBE/s320/Musandam291220093151.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oman</span> <br />
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</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The initial plan was for us to camp by the seaside. But we were just 2 adults and 2 kids; too small to make a camping group. So the tour operator took us to an old villa on a rocky hill surrounded by the sea and only accessible by boats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUnx1c3KMridN6y6YibW44VKKbGxSlbpykUL74G8HMSlAMvIoAy6iUsXOdnNzeZF1T9_Slv4sriEnLaxDh5_yIdaqYoLTOr5Foeky4X-zu78yEZku62DhsSBgsw2IVVQcSLl7tMqS8NPu/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUnx1c3KMridN6y6YibW44VKKbGxSlbpykUL74G8HMSlAMvIoAy6iUsXOdnNzeZF1T9_Slv4sriEnLaxDh5_yIdaqYoLTOr5Foeky4X-zu78yEZku62DhsSBgsw2IVVQcSLl7tMqS8NPu/s320/MusandamPicture+587.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The villa</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As we climbed up the hill, we sensed that there was a strange cheesy smell in the air. Then we came to know the area we stayed for the night was also a home to about 200 goats of different sizes and colours. The villa was fenced and we were inside the parameter while the goats were scattered outside searching for the scarce vegetation in the dry and barren rocky hills. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9klYtHHc-AeTWfzsX-0fSF4F6EuFIL3N5Rn5293KgoG_uYgyEfiM-3rMfPo1Bk6qUNhCepG_KP9epypFN6ZW_HsnB_Ap9rAwZs7rBfiRQtFac7fOwD7X8X8zEYvM3blgbnsBgh1CG0iZr/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9klYtHHc-AeTWfzsX-0fSF4F6EuFIL3N5Rn5293KgoG_uYgyEfiM-3rMfPo1Bk6qUNhCepG_KP9epypFN6ZW_HsnB_Ap9rAwZs7rBfiRQtFac7fOwD7X8X8zEYvM3blgbnsBgh1CG0iZr/s320/MusandamPicture+589.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The goat house for summer</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2oNwAoTdCfw6t8lB4XrxqOcB8Qm9txyTg3LYxsVr_lGxg0TbUz0XmIuq3_H4kM8Q0n5iZzBOf6HLlDKvaDtCt2v3Yw4fXVvu_uOTGEaRx4rffdJPZ5JWWN7_fZC8NttGxMcG5Cpqfrgd/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2oNwAoTdCfw6t8lB4XrxqOcB8Qm9txyTg3LYxsVr_lGxg0TbUz0XmIuq3_H4kM8Q0n5iZzBOf6HLlDKvaDtCt2v3Yw4fXVvu_uOTGEaRx4rffdJPZ5JWWN7_fZC8NttGxMcG5Cpqfrgd/s320/MusandamPicture+577.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The goats parade</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKWMB98Z_9cgPCUMeDi7fs-3KGotnBSmWxUkxlIwsonRwrHJ-LzRly9BWCVg2nVwLZOFKvbQkoOlSip09iYxHQuS7YlEhnVb6cB0GKQyrxhrlHfed6OTZu26oL7ZpfQiVzF5BvjgPUeZk/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKWMB98Z_9cgPCUMeDi7fs-3KGotnBSmWxUkxlIwsonRwrHJ-LzRly9BWCVg2nVwLZOFKvbQkoOlSip09iYxHQuS7YlEhnVb6cB0GKQyrxhrlHfed6OTZu26oL7ZpfQiVzF5BvjgPUeZk/s320/MusandamPicture+578.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The goats checking us out</span><br />
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</div>We had BBQ dinner. It was a fusion of Arabic and Indian dish. There was nothing much to do at night. There was no TV and no internet. But the kids had fun toying with the little lambs. By that time the goaty smell had been well tuned with our noses and no one was complaining.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7agEW-w-n8Fit62tb-4spnl7w808evcYGtleop6LmUx3cyMqR50zsTgQ4Grzch1Ov53M8ChGmNh9Jw0HwOoFcVGMYRQSs35ZMPj_yPqa5fXsRYhRxZouCusBylDQrGvNxQvHUFU6bSM4/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7agEW-w-n8Fit62tb-4spnl7w808evcYGtleop6LmUx3cyMqR50zsTgQ4Grzch1Ov53M8ChGmNh9Jw0HwOoFcVGMYRQSs35ZMPj_yPqa5fXsRYhRxZouCusBylDQrGvNxQvHUFU6bSM4/s320/MusandamPicture+564.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaKyuNjnF12o43I_RBo56uB9_-c9sps_L0p_bcfzYjjRz0JcCBp088j6ekBgwRZM_vPfw2W_Qd4Q98kx3eW_peBxb3vg68VIeb6vajytwpNgprg_urBWaqP_wlcegYBk0uwhoyg5Kg7Q9/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaKyuNjnF12o43I_RBo56uB9_-c9sps_L0p_bcfzYjjRz0JcCBp088j6ekBgwRZM_vPfw2W_Qd4Q98kx3eW_peBxb3vg68VIeb6vajytwpNgprg_urBWaqP_wlcegYBk0uwhoyg5Kg7Q9/s320/MusandamPicture+554.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The next morning we woke up with a breathtaking view of the cliffs and the calm sea that reflected the pale colour of sunrise. We had simple breakfast while watching the landscape. One of the goats had come close to us to give a bleating cry of 'good morning'.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBrF-Qz37VBfufMxD6JiQzL47ezQ0gKRMRMvhzHio2lKmpmSYgkoKc8bPmGG2bFDfE0CBXBziQvVK5KvT59ExNcXAmTRuZdOVFJlaS11yLgMyzchhT6rl70QJ49I83b5Yyrx2LEqGUIYG/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBrF-Qz37VBfufMxD6JiQzL47ezQ0gKRMRMvhzHio2lKmpmSYgkoKc8bPmGG2bFDfE0CBXBziQvVK5KvT59ExNcXAmTRuZdOVFJlaS11yLgMyzchhT6rl70QJ49I83b5Yyrx2LEqGUIYG/s320/MusandamPicture+574.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen9XRJAEXP6DhP0jTj7uTjGJIoCAE4QZcUCDX-V9njXS6k7Jv8QF1k2w-RECeelnhGRFyQ-3GPbWkbGxqJKa6CMp3rvyDIxGENyyeeaa5z6dDWTdss9IbYwdBntVvInByblKgN0CevrPx/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen9XRJAEXP6DhP0jTj7uTjGJIoCAE4QZcUCDX-V9njXS6k7Jv8QF1k2w-RECeelnhGRFyQ-3GPbWkbGxqJKa6CMp3rvyDIxGENyyeeaa5z6dDWTdss9IbYwdBntVvInByblKgN0CevrPx/s320/MusandamPicture+580.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qSWObfWG2-21ldxYPY62Z5WxWEORyTmA7LEUAJL0307Us9P24nacEt4ApAYFn8Twboq2lkws2wBeqcb-aSQpSQJM127y9d7oWQJby5T6I68Oj-p9OjrA8oF8W2SXqwAf4N822MOv4Dbh/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qSWObfWG2-21ldxYPY62Z5WxWEORyTmA7LEUAJL0307Us9P24nacEt4ApAYFn8Twboq2lkws2wBeqcb-aSQpSQJM127y9d7oWQJby5T6I68Oj-p9OjrA8oF8W2SXqwAf4N822MOv4Dbh/s320/MusandamPicture+579.jpg" /></a><br />
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Then it was time to say good bye to this place with its great goaty experience. We got into a small boat that took us to a jetty where a bigger boat, 'dhow' was waiting for us and a few other groups of tourists. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowN_bvKHNJkTp3R_-Zd9LjR634tO3L28d-5hQoyUGUz5A-rng7wAoPWSXcLzn-qQqQKUv7iiEpVrDSf-VWah8_cME8wqSl2kFvGyP1ZgufrlO4JD8v59-mJ7s-ihKjXGDnVec5PAhVn4E/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowN_bvKHNJkTp3R_-Zd9LjR634tO3L28d-5hQoyUGUz5A-rng7wAoPWSXcLzn-qQqQKUv7iiEpVrDSf-VWah8_cME8wqSl2kFvGyP1ZgufrlO4JD8v59-mJ7s-ihKjXGDnVec5PAhVn4E/s320/MusandamPicture+583.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the goats walked us down</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">the hill</span>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">What a hospitality!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLWAP_6OoSeZ416HutUKaX04FG51xcEdfltEcxmU9g_MDExy0mdxYhP7O14psBvZtpEADE-TbSva5-KZFwR8a9Sg7MuzGRKLRLuHDW0uivKZlc9X62HuFDlM4vAV1nIcVRkKG69i9Ui1Q/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLWAP_6OoSeZ416HutUKaX04FG51xcEdfltEcxmU9g_MDExy0mdxYhP7O14psBvZtpEADE-TbSva5-KZFwR8a9Sg7MuzGRKLRLuHDW0uivKZlc9X62HuFDlM4vAV1nIcVRkKG69i9Ui1Q/s320/MusandamPicture+598.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The villa was a small white spot as we waved good bye and sailed away</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6qKX0SmC-I2Yvdc4Rlyu8qnkOP_JpQscKdLckHNKCOx0gLwqZkdphJbPlyrjL9w6AEe9JjogSBTtSimz2T0cyw16ks1dY0WKjKdAxPAYbHkGO0AIGrc96lCoE9UMrKhDkOFgS3Iuz8px/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6qKX0SmC-I2Yvdc4Rlyu8qnkOP_JpQscKdLckHNKCOx0gLwqZkdphJbPlyrjL9w6AEe9JjogSBTtSimz2T0cyw16ks1dY0WKjKdAxPAYbHkGO0AIGrc96lCoE9UMrKhDkOFgS3Iuz8px/s320/MusandamPicture+605.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The boy was pretending to navigate the boat</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dhow took us about 25km north. It cruised along the coastal area of Musandam. After about 3 hours, we reached a lee shore which was sheltered by the majestic rock formation that dwarfed us down. We dived into the water and then jumped into a small boat to explore the coastal cave. We got back to the dhow and had lunch. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mhDN1BGNCKG5tnjKCUPkajfTGq4wHv-asT1hFm_NnLtRYs0ZnRrUNA7bhKKV2bd9YQ-uhgzuhRb_RfdQL8kRc7GtVhiUqmi6b6N8fCa7kRAFcadUhCdrT2jTm4Z4aMYTgFBVp94Y_ZDa/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mhDN1BGNCKG5tnjKCUPkajfTGq4wHv-asT1hFm_NnLtRYs0ZnRrUNA7bhKKV2bd9YQ-uhgzuhRb_RfdQL8kRc7GtVhiUqmi6b6N8fCa7kRAFcadUhCdrT2jTm4Z4aMYTgFBVp94Y_ZDa/s320/MusandamPicture+619.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTYx4kblC-bQrk1Efu2blHOpGKQXuSONUKdEZ-U2LUDrcQZfkihWbZJHdNeUYFJzZLr3ZU72YFUyqQWENB3WKZG6JgWkMX113HC2fI9Asoax494M7t7e2MecdGipRdHuYjmWopXVJqAFr/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTYx4kblC-bQrk1Efu2blHOpGKQXuSONUKdEZ-U2LUDrcQZfkihWbZJHdNeUYFJzZLr3ZU72YFUyqQWENB3WKZG6JgWkMX113HC2fI9Asoax494M7t7e2MecdGipRdHuYjmWopXVJqAFr/s320/MusandamPicture+620.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The journey in the dhow was very </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">pleasant. I dozed off almost all the way.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzArxSnkvEqTXtL1uZ1HBovvpFqxvzhQFGRWgK9VQt4rrGRxJEsHyLtAy9KtcHHztyE7__G9j7tSKs_BF5O9Bftni2J8yK3GJoDEbawQnHoaoiYJ9MVmMf6QDeWKsKF840TSPzStOwOSM/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzArxSnkvEqTXtL1uZ1HBovvpFqxvzhQFGRWgK9VQt4rrGRxJEsHyLtAy9KtcHHztyE7__G9j7tSKs_BF5O9Bftni2J8yK3GJoDEbawQnHoaoiYJ9MVmMf6QDeWKsKF840TSPzStOwOSM/s320/MusandamPicture+621.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The majestic view of Musandam</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQp8Uv0COAbh91Zv_vYH4IqJC4GGLcdO_iIDID1w3YrAk0Y3MQqTL8HjyVc-nwpRDIwS_RVAUe975qY_50s3Rr34svT14W4hkSZrl6YcrrWKdvvlh8vV-Jy3DkDxvXDXDbM6o4dfH-3Ea/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQp8Uv0COAbh91Zv_vYH4IqJC4GGLcdO_iIDID1w3YrAk0Y3MQqTL8HjyVc-nwpRDIwS_RVAUe975qY_50s3Rr34svT14W4hkSZrl6YcrrWKdvvlh8vV-Jy3DkDxvXDXDbM6o4dfH-3Ea/s320/MusandamPicture+613.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dhow was moored and the people in it jumped into a small boat to explore the beach</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNUyYz_WtoMVFP2OmI861LFTskhwuzAFL3JESZAaTDHAjpnJho0RFeKNO6yhk_kxNvWT53Nht656Z4jEKMCcXxPjepFzYw_gR2WeGMg1PLlHglIpAmlQZ0vlBXG_g1SwoCK_JnWd9ur9K/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNUyYz_WtoMVFP2OmI861LFTskhwuzAFL3JESZAaTDHAjpnJho0RFeKNO6yhk_kxNvWT53Nht656Z4jEKMCcXxPjepFzYw_gR2WeGMg1PLlHglIpAmlQZ0vlBXG_g1SwoCK_JnWd9ur9K/s320/MusandamPicture+625.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The coastal cave</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D5VOrSy8-WTFa3ZbHgNaUbdI626T18U8cauHMNyes_Tz0uTQi5nBwzr_HyOJuQgM3l6gRdjlci-PEV6N6mG9zVvlRxbDl84Jxritxpz4PKpSREG1cRAWbJa4-RopMmQ1-CYcHCDs9mr0/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D5VOrSy8-WTFa3ZbHgNaUbdI626T18U8cauHMNyes_Tz0uTQi5nBwzr_HyOJuQgM3l6gRdjlci-PEV6N6mG9zVvlRxbDl84Jxritxpz4PKpSREG1cRAWbJa4-RopMmQ1-CYcHCDs9mr0/s320/MusandamPicture+628.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The kissing rocks</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">When it was almost sunset, the dhow took us to a deeper sea for us to fish. I hadn't done any fishing since my Pangkor trip, which was almost 12 years ago and I had never caught anything with the baited hook. But this time, I have had my first fish, a long barracuda, caught on the line using a little sardine as the bait. I guess there could have been a school of barracudas swimming underneath the dhow, that we were blessed with a bucketful of them on board.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCafOIktvK-IOXJRbcMMaxQ0Mss9fCR7lJS2Qe8MzAIQQnryHLvrnkD9rWsb2QLUkXJXW8R22tnpugkwE2e2cyWhPo5zefB7ttr5BM5DIWyQQ0McWRYLaR_WYg-5AtZvOcpziZs7f5e2e/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCafOIktvK-IOXJRbcMMaxQ0Mss9fCR7lJS2Qe8MzAIQQnryHLvrnkD9rWsb2QLUkXJXW8R22tnpugkwE2e2cyWhPo5zefB7ttr5BM5DIWyQQ0McWRYLaR_WYg-5AtZvOcpziZs7f5e2e/s320/MusandamPicture+632.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My first barracuda</span> <br />
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</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMoWZvNsCMSEMsEmNYBe2T3t23kLyoojFP6oUs-mr827lLMqCNCh_d6mWCC7HSS75XO4n1zYrwPkxRSpGuN6teDINM2qrCkSNFDKNE90J7gaTRmImahm2byaBlskej364S0dwwdUal-2u/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMoWZvNsCMSEMsEmNYBe2T3t23kLyoojFP6oUs-mr827lLMqCNCh_d6mWCC7HSS75XO4n1zYrwPkxRSpGuN6teDINM2qrCkSNFDKNE90J7gaTRmImahm2byaBlskej364S0dwwdUal-2u/s320/MusandamPicture+635.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A bucketful of barracudas</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WPMVUkAslvy5zOCVHUBS-Jek3Afaek70QzIcuJGAsqrVLV-wexq2L-T-lO8X3XlGkB1cakkRZSBIRUE15s5llIXmF_-z97qBEmiVtwodZXxCCmn8GXwljDCDKpqEHbsVZX8Mk6g4mdIg/s1600-h/MusandamPicture+634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WPMVUkAslvy5zOCVHUBS-Jek3Afaek70QzIcuJGAsqrVLV-wexq2L-T-lO8X3XlGkB1cakkRZSBIRUE15s5llIXmF_-z97qBEmiVtwodZXxCCmn8GXwljDCDKpqEHbsVZX8Mk6g4mdIg/s320/MusandamPicture+634.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The sunset</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">To be continued........<br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-65880619238776984962010-01-20T18:25:00.000+04:002010-01-21T18:12:42.550+04:00Dubai-Fujairah-Oman-KL-Japan-Dubai (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">December has been eventful for me. My wife and my kids had come to visit me in Dubai. It was great having them warming the house while I was in the office and factory working hard to meet several deadlines before the year end. There were sessions of appraisals, report writings and meetings that occupied the days in December, that I was not able to be a really good host for them in their visit this year. Fortunately the beach is just a 5-minute drive from my apartment. I took them for a splash in the wavy sea and a slow camel ride along the beach of Jumeirah. We went to The Wild Wadi, the place they really enjoyed last year. This time around my son is above 1.1 meter. His height with his hair spiked upwards to add an extra inch, had granted him to take all the adrenaline rides and slides. He took them all. It was great watching them finding their balance as they had their brief surfing lessons there........<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNQme75OEgXeLo7FPNZWEa4oZCV2MMVggE7DKkhTAcP06VjcBSgNSuWfCtYI2dmzAzNFlzPHH5THSu7O4fd30A_374JMeK737xXpKgKPttV76xSs7PFCbSiFsjbXPVzg9wPXrcqKfUSDC/s1600-h/Picture+413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNQme75OEgXeLo7FPNZWEa4oZCV2MMVggE7DKkhTAcP06VjcBSgNSuWfCtYI2dmzAzNFlzPHH5THSu7O4fd30A_374JMeK737xXpKgKPttV76xSs7PFCbSiFsjbXPVzg9wPXrcqKfUSDC/s320/Picture+413.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CsNzPbgCNn2Vo9DZsQIgN-6WtKO7Z9f-0kYdVoPR_gLLcmy9XjTXk9zDyzLkWtWwNivuaNoDjBUZdo8RfLoEtX5bwY4q8fbQDGLPHaJhZL2jWXb4iEKW3LJO0ZEFJzqYVoji4lzAbxnQ/s1600-h/Picture+431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CsNzPbgCNn2Vo9DZsQIgN-6WtKO7Z9f-0kYdVoPR_gLLcmy9XjTXk9zDyzLkWtWwNivuaNoDjBUZdo8RfLoEtX5bwY4q8fbQDGLPHaJhZL2jWXb4iEKW3LJO0ZEFJzqYVoji4lzAbxnQ/s320/Picture+431.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My wife has been a more seasoned shopper in Dubai. Last year she didn't buy anything from the Malls of the Emirates. She said the prices there were ridiculous and somehow made her felt like a pauper in the palace. This year she had a few bags of things to pose with, there.......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We checked out The Heritage House in the old Dubai area. It is the first museum the kids have ever entered and an eye opener for them about emirati culture and heritage which has many similar values with ours......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">When my work was done, I bid farewell to the factory to start my vacation. We drove away from Dubai to Fujairah, another emirate at the east coast of UAE. We stayed in a nice resort, located at the Al-Aqah beach, near Dibba. The kids enjoyed swimming in the the warm pool. We had dinner and celebrated my wife's birthday which was a few days before Christmas. We sang her the birthday song and she made her wishes. The next day, I had an early morning run along the beach, leaving my shoe prints along the way. It was a refreshing run with the scenic view of sunrise and the fishermen hauling their catch. It was a good retreat for us especially my wife who woke up with a new age.......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">To be continued.........<br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-13086616966839519332009-11-30T21:54:00.000+04:002009-11-30T23:01:50.994+04:00Tribute to Dubai, The Dreamer<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My mother-in-law once said to me before I left my home country to work in Dubai. She said, <em>"Hujan emas di negeri orang, tapi tak akan sama di negeri sendiri".</em> I am not sure whether I quote her right but it sounds something like that. I was so pre-occupied with the prospect of leaving my home country for new opportunities, still, I understood her message. She tried to remind me of who I am and where I really belong. A wise and conservative woman, she is. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am always uneasy with my father-in-law. That man is full of hot air and I have to limit my time around him so that I don't reach to the point that I get pissed off with his cowboy's mentality. In my numbered and very brief conversation that I had with him, I recalled him saying, <em>"Di situ bumi dipijak, di situlah langit dijunjung".</em> I did not really pay much attention of what he was babbling about back then. But I only realized months later when I was already working in Dubai that he was tipping me off something valueable about living abroad. It is about an expatriate's obligation to respect the host country, the people and their way of life. <br />
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</div>It is so convenient to condemn and criticize the things one sees in Dubai which can be perceived as politically and ethically inappropriate compared to how things are in other places around the world. I have many expatriate friends who complained about this and that. Hearing too much of the complaining and bad-mouthing, it seems to me these people are so unhappy but I wonder why they are still here. I thought of what my father-in-law had said and decided that I should make the best of my stay here and channel my energy positively by being appreciative and focussing on opportunities so that I have limited time to complain. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At this writing, it is reported globally, that Dubai is crumbling down after it has sought for a standstill in paying the debts of its major players until May next year. There are people reacting in a clumsy way, pushing the unnecessary panic buttons. There are critical people criticizing the inappropriate and untimely manner of how the communication of such financial distress was done. Well, I say Dubai is no ordinary dreamer. Unlike its big brother, Abu Dhabi, which is richer and more conservative, Dubai has less natural resources but is very ambitious and adventurous. It has made big plans and pushed the limit to make them happen. For such a fast-pacer, trend-setter and risk taker, there is a price to pay. The fact that Dubai has stumbled and faced financial difficulty, does not mean that Dubai is sinking like the mythical Atlantis, though ironically, Dubai has built one at the tip of Palm Jumeira. These hardships are like any other life issues that one has to overcome. It is like hiccups that require some time to recover after gulping a glass of desalinated water. But to say that Dubai is collapsing or crumbling down is sensationally driven, pre-mature and unfair. I have lived almost 2 years here to tell that there are many willful and extraordinary people in Dubai, who love and very much attached to this place, and who would do wonder to turn things around.<br />
</div><br />
In the mean time, life is business as usual for many of us. We are having the double celebrations, the Eid al-Adha and 38th UAE National Day on the 2nd December. The cinemas are visited by the New Moon fanatics, the parks are packed with families, the beaches are littered with half-naked people and the mosques are patronized by believers.<br />
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</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-53878192821748445782009-11-27T11:12:00.000+04:002009-11-30T14:50:37.680+04:00November RainA few days back I was running in my neighbourhood. I looked up at the sky and saw patches of grey clouds. I told myself that the rain would come. True enough, it rained a few hours later. But the much anticipated rain turned out to be a short and stingy sprinkle. It drizzled not more than 15 minutes, just enough to leave messy dots of water mark on our cars. We talked about it at length, longer than the actual time of the rain. We were excited as it was our first winter rain in Dubai. Back home when it rains, it usually means natural car wash, free of charge. But here, the rain had made a busy day for the men who wash our cars at the parking lot. They had wiped clean all the dotty water marks, the evidence of our first November rain.<br />
<br />
I called home. My wife was in Hong Kong for a week. My kids was counting days for their mother to return home. I asked why they were not counting days for me to return home. My son said <em>'susah, nanti salah kira'</em>, admitting that he would lose count and his numbering skill is still poor. They also complained that it rained everyday. The rain has made them deprived of their outdoor playtime in the evening at the playground nearby.<br />
<br />
It was in the news today, the rain claimed 83 lives in Saudi Arabia, our giant and holy neighbour. It was an unusual heavy downpour. Jeddah was showered with 7cm of rain last Wednesday, which was more than it would normally get in an entire year. Rain or no rain, there is nothing going to stop the massive flow of those faithful pilgrims, determined to complete the fifth pillar of their faith.<br />
<br />
As I watched AlJazeera Live to witness the sea of pilgrims climbing up the Mountain of Mercy at Arafat and praying for forgiveness, I couldn't help wondering, would I ever get the call to savour the spiritual high point of the pilgrimage before the rain or anything else claim the life of mine? <br />
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Eid Mubarak.Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-21551324220683448802009-11-17T22:09:00.000+04:002009-11-27T17:00:57.900+04:00Siput And SerundingI will have a long run tomorrow morning. I plan to have a 20km run around the neighbourhood and therefore I am really eating tonight to load the carb needed for the task. There was a plate of spaghetti and sardines on the kitchen counter, accompanied by special appearance from the far east, a bowl of <em>siput</em> and <em>serunding</em>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf5vztTerzSpviQT7fODidOLwd3TUaVrArf4bmD_G95-fOgBd2wqzVq83AgoV2PvJfcoBE5Kck0sXKcEQJ3KhwVXY-MUkJBWK26_msXx0IIrh3PY7hGbfc8mUtbcOT6GqA96Iu5t0TCjv/s1600/171120093039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf5vztTerzSpviQT7fODidOLwd3TUaVrArf4bmD_G95-fOgBd2wqzVq83AgoV2PvJfcoBE5Kck0sXKcEQJ3KhwVXY-MUkJBWK26_msXx0IIrh3PY7hGbfc8mUtbcOT6GqA96Iu5t0TCjv/s320/171120093039.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This morning at 6AM, I met an old friend, my ex-course mate in our engineering school. She was in transit at Terminal 3 Dubai Airport, and she had 10 hours to kill, before she got into her connecting flight to Dusseldorf. It was really a last minute arrangement. She dropped me an email a day earlier to check whether we would have a chance to meet after such a long time. It's Tuesday, a working day, a hump day in the Middle East, and I had a meeting scheduled at 9AM that I couldn't postpone or cancel. I did it last week, but not this time. Yet, I agreed to meet her early in the morning. She came with her boss and the boss's wife.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Years back in the campus, whenever I skipped or slept through the lecture, her notes had been a great help to fill in the blanks and holes in my head about enthropy, thermodynamics, the laws of kinetics and some other scary stuffs. I guess the blank and holes are still there but at least the notes had helped me passed and graduated. <br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I waited for her at the meeting point. We met. She has not changed much. Thankfully, her buddies are friendly. I drove them around Dubai. It was exciting to exchange each other's story while I was driving Lucky, along the Emirates Road, crossing the Sheikh Zayed Road near the Malls of the Emirates, waving at the Burj Al Arab, showing off the Atlantis and the Palm Jumeira and finally, entering Jebel Ali Free Zone. Since I had to attend the meeting at 9AM, I had made an arrangement with our company driver to take my visitors to the Gold Souk and Burj Dubai until lunch time. I told her that I wished I could spend more time with them. She was flattered with the hospitality I was able to extend, given such a short notice. I told her that I was happy and honoured having her though it was just for less than 3 hours. I gave her pouches of chocolates to add the weight of her luggage. She was tactful enough to remove packs of the <em>siput</em> and <em>serunding</em> from her backpack and passed them to me, in return.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Back to my carbo loading session, I really can't stop crunching the <em>siput</em> and chewing it with the <em>serunding</em>. They are really good. Good enough to make me miss home, already.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Definition:<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Siput</em> is technically made of dough mixed with some spices and flavourings, rolled, cut and shaped like the shell of a snail and fried to perfection. It may contained trans fats but it is one hell of great tasting titbits.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Serunding</em> is shredded piece of meat, fried with spices. It gets very dried after a long process of heating, I think.<br />
</div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-19431035066753431962009-11-09T23:52:00.000+04:002009-11-10T04:52:48.286+04:00The United Germany and My Mollies<div align="left">Today is a special day. If I were to rule the world, I would declare today as the world's most celebrated public holiday. It is the day to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall that took place 2 decades ago. But I don't rule the world, not even a chocolate factory. Hence, it's business as usual. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">When I woke up this morning, I was struck with the the wisdom that I have recently embraced. It sounds something like this, <em>'You may not change the world but you can change yourself, your own life and emotion</em>'. So I lingered on the bed and then dialled a number in the office to cancel the arranged meeting that I was supposed to have. It was a day nicely spent at home. </div><br /><div align="left">I don't remember this united Germany night of glory back on the November 9th, 1989. I was probably sleeping in the dormitory of my boarding school. Back then, I couldn't be bothered, there was too much pressure at school and too many pimples to pop. I couldn't really open up my young mind. But today, it is on our face that the human race is splitting in many ways. People are fighting for too many reasons. So such rare and real case of unification of a great country and its people is a joy worth sharing. In the near future, it is unlikely that there will be another great historical event in the name of unification, but we can learn from this special one and hope for another. </div><div align="left"><br /><br />To commemorate this special day, I have united a pair of mollies, one black and the other white, in square jar filled with an exotic plant that I bought last weekend. They are such a lovely couple. I feel love radiated from the jar each time I look at it. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402236332506447346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmFF_BxF-XBHCPcf2ZqBUeAKmTZ9DBt4aVC9V4wuIt5HCVodpRn7LgoxKPI8ffFxb3Z5qlXqPOPIZRuzJOVS_jgtcJX_kjYfCoWK0dNt0dBQoI7cfe2OrgKokM0RIDBuDks_PHvhDsCrP/s400/101120093013.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Home Of The Mollies</span><br /></strong></p><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402236371979522002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO9M2poxOr8pHOeoJDUz5csBl2oGSIxoFRv-n1afRi8eCDj_hxddtpMZim7FBTw9-2KvG5QZfMWdroDxTtksE5qWa7dtb3SLztfeXROPVNKOnHinT5SJCjTXdL5omePQIfIFAZQjNQtzi/s400/101120093022.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402236360786545474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XhOMMcYtP2t8dBF-OGfwJGLezJDxNZs2J1WKITAGLAbHQi_5S-SSV45qYQhlSzyjieqKclOJ-D6FRrU_6XDCVUPOAckZ9H0fCbt5a1CmmPo-iTP20Z1-6dM6e3RDpWaenH97fEzhbuI/s400/101120093021.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402236343371262978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBrnLEfg9umethOElEjSBXw0f8KuKRF9BTyARAaiXWTaYhX4eDCzNWbQK8k5NgmKk4YNSyYGrFe8bgoh12-kWI9g_3YhcJpyd7gSSUMsBkYONk6_uDhban21AcdIBWkZHlWctG0bjnhpj/s400/101120093017.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><strong>Lovely Mollies</strong></span></p><p align="center"> </p>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-18599123525823406592009-11-03T10:13:00.000+04:002009-11-03T14:42:26.215+04:00The New Running Shoes and StyleIt took a great courage to let go off my old pair of running shoes. They have been my great buddies for more than 2 years and they have had signs of wearing out. I have about 2.5 months before the next marathon. It is time to get a new pair so that the new shoes could develop and match the contour with my feet.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399779922364352898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib203ZU9TfAtfokWmo7PtOic1MAub-WmOzJINbLnxJMsswOKC4chHjtBnQuOp9Vh3RsclC1zKRpQBm0-k2dRjhu7YaXcreECYoe1GDaZ89L3f340zhpVz5VaR42iBTXS5a6BUxBfHpFAA/s400/031120093002.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><strong>The pair of antiques</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br /><br />It took a greater courage to let go off my old way of running. I have been running and believing in 'Just do it, just run'. I have had my inspiring moments by just running, feeling free and connecting with my inner self in the old way of running. Now I have turned to the new nano way of running in order to get better results. In this new way of running, I have to program the run, stay focussed on maintaining the consistent pace, keep track of the distance and review the performance.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399779930722717746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP-islB6qinaHgQtqW049HRHoMRiwgZwQOCVViaWv29hmOY326SIlJaSJaFJWV-LODNBd1EY2rvOeaEcpJytbuEMXlKoFgM6trt2Ou8DxyTY-JlUhPJjbJvaPmaXg0gjJEKifp4hyC-Y/s400/031120093005.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;">The new wonder</span></strong> </p><br />My new running shoes are the white Nike Lunarglide with Nike iPod sensor receiver. I had my first run with them last Saturday. It was a 13km run. I could feel a better foot grip. The new shoes felt heavier but I guess after a couple of runs I will get used to them. There is a pocket under the insole of the left shoe where I have placed a sensor before I started the run. The run started and ended with a click on the iPod which I carried along in the run. Throughout the run, I was constantly checking on my pace on the iPod screen. There are also options to set the running music and voice feedback which I have yet tried during the last run. The details about the run were uploaded to <em>nikeplus.com</em> in which I have opened an account to track my running progress on-line. It was a fun running experience and I am really looking forward for the next run......<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399789732958237346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcPbziU5Jz_pXIPBbJUnXz6T9P9nUVu4AF33xm8qvLCyxBouAcnsdS_u_8DAVNuNcG3qsxHwfCQ4sE4AeIJX7lr2lyY-gf402TQJrWGTacMIbipH0mRnA-ySYIaQ-RDPin4wuA1h1ZK0/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /><span style="color:#006600;"> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The running report</span></strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399801363731887394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Cru-qpMFNs0NAfpu-ZdhmOA_EztweIf_QtW24eVW9w3Sf7Thr4nnwifA6gnld2uJfeY__IWVlwuKUWxVq0TwrRehyphenhyphen-aijuu-6VTpFVgJCLegst-3DQO9s74WI5FD9e-hcix5vZLm5uE/s400/untitled5.bmp" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><strong>The satellite view of the running track around my neighbourhood, Discovery Gardens-Ibn Battuta-The Gardens<br /></strong></span></p><div align="center"></div>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-71619281859702917732009-09-30T08:58:00.000+04:002009-10-01T07:21:35.402+04:00It Has Been A While<p align="left">It has been a while since I did my last posting in this blog. Since then I had gone home twice. It was great to see my wife receiving her scroll in her graduation day in August. The last time in Tasmania, she had no one waiting for her outside as she marched out of the convocation hall. This time around, she had bouquets of flowers, hugs and kisses from me, the kids, the parents, her brother and sisters. It was one of her happy days. She has now decided to further her neurology studies. She is considering to make another big decision whether to pursue that in France or Australia in a couple of years to come. At the same time, she knows that I am hoping that she would live with me and work in Dubai. Well, there will be a time we will have to talk about it, but not now.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387161297411716434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsB-Q_YlKF9e9ve1s5_FtTJo9OW0LJqDcJmtkCGA00bbre55ii1T51AgGzL-7IpDR4ADUcvqg5VrekIZnC3DxIvHysZISiz_wptElePJHjWw2hLcL1BYGqo4FyP7eY10nZk-0bZ2EMFI/s400/Grad.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">I went home again in September to be with my family on the last few days of Ramadhan and also to celebrate the first week of Syawal. It was a great Syawal. Great food, great time. But the time was short. I just had enough time to spend with family members in Johor and Singapore. I wish I could have more time so that I could meet some great friends in this great Syawal. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387156351540353330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa2HkBQEkhjFvXUpJWDeYxOv_rMUuhgWJzBAGAih6RLiHjxz-wpPEEdRQ1-3b3mN0PHk23BBHD6N5hUs89sQSH518u0FOG0qrcM1JvRNkvksvhxn4sYZ3KCpI7ILZTjYxNvsz4_RbCb0/s400/Raya+2009.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin - ingatan tulus ikhlas dari kami sekeluarga</span>"</em><br /></strong><br /></span></p><br />On the 6th Syawal, the day we returned from Johor Bahru, we discovered that a desperado had broken into our house in Klang and taken tit bits like Astro decoder, DVD player, digital camera, 14kg cooking gas cylinder (I'm not kidding!) and some other insignificant things. We are lucky that we carried all our cash money and jewelleries with us during the holidays. But we are not lucky that the burglar got hold of our house spare keys and my wife's bank account books. So I was busy making police report and fixing things up, before I got into the plane back to Dubai. I told my wife that in Dubai, I sometimes left my car unlocked in the parking lot, my balcony door is left ajar for fresh air and there is no need to have a great grilled door equipped with super-security locks and she can walk in Dubai streets with a sparkling bling-bling Gucci hand bag without worries of being victimized by the street snatcher..........<br /><br /><br /><br />Now, I am back in my safe but lonely den in Dubai, looking forward for my family to come and visit me in December. Being alone now after being surrounded by the loved ones just a week before, is really depressive. I am hoping the transition can be geared up quickly so that I can move on. Thank God, summer has come to an end. We are now blessed with days of pleasant weather. We are seeing more and more blue sky. I am hoping to fill up the vacuum from now until December with some happy thoughts of things to do. I am hoping for the peaceful moment by the beach, reading some good books with the sound of the waves and the blue horizon to zoom out the tiring eyes. I am hoping to meet up with Malaysian friends over dinner and talk in Malay with coffee taste in the mouth that waters down the hot and spicy Asian meals. I am hoping to hit the gym to shred the excess accumulated from the raya treat. I am hoping to run, run and run to prepare my feet for the next marathon. I am hoping to do more at work to meet the year end with a style and satisfaction. Thank God, there are plenty of hopes to drag me out of the depression. So excuse me, I need to get myself out there......Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-59753480838560979852009-07-30T03:26:00.000+04:002009-07-30T12:29:56.937+04:00The Best Of Their KindA group of Emiratis came to visit our factory. They are young officials and trainees. At the moment, there is no Emirati working as an associate in our company. Working in a factory is not a popular choice for these privileged nationals of the UAE. I don't have much contact with these people as much I have worked with the Egyptians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Syrians and Palestinians. So when this group came to visit us, I took them for a plant tour. I had the opportunity to interact and understand them better.<br /><br />These Emiratis are humble. Compared to the other kinds of Arab, they are less agitated and more liberal in their thinking yet they hold on dearly to their values and national identity. They are overly concerned about their look though they dress conservatively. They are peaceful and united. They respect their leaders and they are blessed with good visionary leaders to ensure their well-being and protected future. They are the lucky lots. Looking back, who would have thought that these once nomadic people who relied on camels for milk, falcon to find their meat and lungful of air to dive for pearl, could pin superlative achievements in today's map.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbh4rNWrzKcZPJk_1S1Xmdrab-Zq7OpFJ9aZE1n7OmD6-PAnTXMD3R7YKoZMj-9OApzQKGl90YMehSM_KWjTQZ3PyB42KMQdnyLgoJqJFsbBXEKeB6ZOGYSmLG2zAtXuGk9pFD3W3N-E/s1600-h/DSC00502.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364028258701350082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbh4rNWrzKcZPJk_1S1Xmdrab-Zq7OpFJ9aZE1n7OmD6-PAnTXMD3R7YKoZMj-9OApzQKGl90YMehSM_KWjTQZ3PyB42KMQdnyLgoJqJFsbBXEKeB6ZOGYSmLG2zAtXuGk9pFD3W3N-E/s400/DSC00502.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7134824526736648440.post-31922062897375015522009-07-27T13:34:00.000+04:002009-07-28T01:44:13.169+04:00SadnessI don't get sad easily. In life I try hard to find the goodness and the greatness of things even for those that hurt. But sometimes when there are just too much sorrow displayed on the screen, I just have to let it be. Today I let myself be low and restless with sadness. <div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It started last night when I switched on the laptop to hook on the FB, I found myself muttering Al-Fathihah to the departure of two souls. First was the death of a storyteller whose work I really admire. It is such a big loss among Malaysian dwindling talents. Next, was the death of a university friend. He worked with primates and studied them in Sabah and he had earned a PhD for doing that. I just feel sad thinking that their deaths are sudden and untimely. There must have been many things left undone and unsaid. Anyway who am I to complain in the matter of life and death. I might be next on the list, one can never tell.<br /><br /></div><div>Also in the FB, today, an ex-colleague left a farewell message that is really touching. He was sacked for being himself, an abrasive Egyptian. There are other terminations before. But this one is sudden and untimely. He just got married. He has brought his wife weeks before, from Egypt to Dubai. Now he is jobless and in a month time they have to leave Dubai. Isn't it ironic? He might have his ego. He might be careless. He might struggle to fit into the template of associate profile the company prefers. But I think his termination is not justified. He can be warned and given feedback to improve. I am planning to talk this matter to my superior since it affects my sense of job security and peace of mind at work, apart from being sad and sympathetic for the dismissed friend. I'm sure they are prepared to give all the politically right reasons for the decision, but at least they will see the sign that many of us are not happy with the way it was handled and the inhumane outcome. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Of all the above, the one that really makes me sad the most is to see the photo of my little boy on my mobile phone screen, who is now down with fever. This is the boy who fell down from the bed just weeks before I came home in my last homecoming in April. Now when I only have less than 2 weeks before I return home, he's unwell. How I wish I could be there to hug him, kiss him and take away his heat and misery. And also the sad look of his lonely sister waiting for him to get well soon, to play with, just adds another pinch of salt into the already salty sadness........</div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363241288796892338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSYm4xQ6U7Ucl79m5d4rsYeZ9tIIRrlrqxojmMNJSpDNlNPtj28BpPxm03wxLJAn8dmSBFl8TebJXKaHV7Is25tlneXh2vhGkLIS68z7fLbltAdMOw4r7yGILOKpMcpozLZ1SMX_tevU/s400/Image0039.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363241294650385698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANcLOnBLh9McGEHWatJYoah3HXckinUlnp44oBgJLEKxkoZQGBtcrv8q59QzfkZCoNT17Ll9PmyToiUlA4pYi_yfZ8Sp0rQYCAnakSV-3MPpYQEFbM5Hy9wxXyAzJJNsbDBikP0Id2Yo/s400/Image0036.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p></p><p></p>Jumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051018845819632390noreply@blogger.com8