A Conference in Bangalore

Some of you might have heard or read this joke. I thought I have heard it before. But hearing my colleague, Sanjay telling it in his version with his Indian slang and spices, tilting head and enlarged eyeballs was as good as hearing it the first time. So this was how Sanjay presented the joke as I recalled it, more and less...

There was a conference in Bangalore, attended by all kinds of top engineers in the whole India. They discussed a hypothetical topic which is, if God is an engineer, what kind of engineer he could have been when he created human beings.

An electrical engineer was the first to say, "He must be an electrical engineer. Just look at the veins all over our body. They are like the electrical wires, which only electrical engineer could understand. So he must be an electrical engineer". His fellow electrical engineers clapped their hands to support.

One electronics engineer was next to add, "He must be an electrical engineer with good knowledge in electronics. Otherwise we are all blind and deaf without sensory and control devices to see, to hear, to smell, to feel and to react accordingly". This remark created a huge applause. The mutual respect among the electrical and electronics engineers was visible.

A mechanical engineer was all out to disagree. He reasoned that, "Human beings are active, reactive and can be pro-active. The human anatomy is supported by excellent motors work, powered by strong and complex structures of bones, joints and muscles. This is definitely the work of a mechanical engineer!!". The team of mechanical engineers were on their feet with their hands up in the air and making the wave of supporting sounds.

A chemical engineer got up from his seat and started his argument. "Ladies and gentlemen, this morning, we all had great breakfast of paratha, puri and masala dossey, veg and non veg, as we like. The food and water we consumed are all processed and converted to energy to make us do our things physically and mentally. Now tell me, who can handle a process better than we do?". There was a soundless moment of reflection. The chemical engineer sat down, satisfied.

It was not long enough that a civil engineer stood up to break the silence. He first mimicked the chemical engineer's word. "Ladies and gentlemen, this morning, I had 4 pieces of paratha with egg masala. The breakfast has been processed and now must find its way out. Now tell me, who can handle the drainage system and solid waste pipeline all the way to my manhole, as well as we do. So God is a civil engineer. Anyone has problem to deal with this?". Apparently, nobody.


When I was in the college filling up the enrolment form that required me to list my selection of engineering school. My first choice was chemical engineering, followed by electrical & electronics and material engineering. Civil Engineering was not in my list. I enrolled to the school of my first choice and did all my things. All this while I was rather ignorant about civil engineering. It is only when I set my feet in Dubai, I see the powerful contribution of civil engineering work that makes the right first impression, creates opportunities, accommodates the mass community and ensures sustainability. If only the prospect of their career can be as strong as what they have built and as sustainable as what they have contributed.

I dedicate this entry to the civil engineers and their constructions workers who had left Dubai after the completion of their projects. Some of them have to leave unexpectedly and unwillingly as their projects were cancelled or pushed back due to the lack of funding. Some of the lucky ones are here to stay and continue the legacy of their civil work in Dubai.

Image from Google - The aerial view around Burj Dubai under construction months ago

Image from Google - One of a civil engineer's duties is to ensure safety at sites

Image from Google - The less happening sight of a construction site now

The unhappy face of a construction worker probably worrying about the future of his family

(Photographed by Paul Keller in Flickr)

Love Thy Neighbour For A Lovely Orchid

I thought the phrase 'Love Thy Neighbour' is non-existent in Dubai dwelling community. There is no clue whatsoever who live behind the closed doors of the same floor I live in. Once in long while, I meet some of them in the elevator or at the parking lot. The neigbours are always in a hurry, look either tired or occupied and very few would exchange smiles with me, but our smiles are the faint and the reluctant ones. Here, neighbours talk only in a time of crisis, like two months back when our electricity was cut for a silly reason. We ganged up at the lobby to discuss the action plan. After that, they are lost behind their doors, nowhere to be seen, what more to love and be loved.

Yesterday I found this notice in the elevator. One of my neighbours in the building is leaving the country and offering his personal effects. There was a list of things, but one that captured my attention was the orchid plant. It was 9:40PM on a Thursday night. I figured some folks sleep early or some are sweating and clubbing out there. There is no sense of bugging them at this hour. So I sent an SMS that read, "I'm interested in the orchid. Still available? Can I see? -No 422".

Today, I was in my apartment after my Friday prayer. There was someone at the door ringing my bell. To my disbelief, there was a man holding a pot of white orchid plant. He is the man who posted the notice at the elevator. He is a Canadian who will be back to his home country in a week time. He smiled at me and said the orchid is for me, for free. He asked me to come over to his place if I need anything else. I thanked him and told him I would drop by later. It was not exactly like the prized orchid plants I had seen in the Shah Alam Pesta Anggerik. It is an orchid plant in its simplest form of existence. It has only 2 white flowers, one long stem, one thick green leaf and a cluster of roots.

I call the orchid plant simply "Orked" and I'm her Muhsin admiring her presence in my apartment. I spend some time looking at Orked's details. She has remarkable details despite her simplicity. I make a spot for Orked to reside, next to my family photo frame, my wife's wishing well card, Hadiff's toy bear and Aimi's Mickey pillows . I hope Orked likes her new home.

Later after lunch, I dropped by at the place of my Canadian neighbour. He was a bit surprised to see me with a small bag of assorted chocolates. He accepted the chocolates and he was very excited showing me his other stuffs. I also met his wife, an Indonesian from Surabaya. It was lovely to hear her asking, "Apa khabar?" and I replied "Baik" with a big smile. I told him that I am only interested in small items since I live in a furnished small apartment with little space for new additions. I ended up buying his foldable air mattress with the pump, a Phillip alarm clock that can project the time on the wall in the dark, a box of tools and a Tefal sandwich maker, all for only 100 dirhams. They are very nice couple. Too bad that I only get to know them in the verge of their departure. I wished them "Bon Voyage. Selamat jalan". It is long way to go before Dubai residents from over 200 different nationalities from many corners of earth surface would live the 'Love Thy Neighbour' residential concept. But I have experienced a humble start here, thanks to Orked.