Dubai Revisited

It's now 7.17 a.m. in Cairo and about 13 degrees Celcius. I am sitting at a cybercafe opposite the hotel I am staying. I planned to post something on my few days in Dubai whilst in Dubai but the internet connection was so bad and I could not gain access to my blogger account, frequent interruption to internet connection etc etc. It's too early to tell about my Cairo trip as we have actually not started yet except that we had dinner at Nile Restaurant last night after arriving from Dubai and a brief glimpse and tour of Cairo city on the way to our hotel in Zamalek.

On my second day in Dubai, aku menjadi 'chapperon' kepada golden citizens yang terdiri daripada Mak and parents housemate Liza sightseeing in Dubai city. Since all of them are in the sixties, taking the public bus or going on foot were out of the question and taking the city cab was just too expensive. The best alternative was to take the Big Bus Company tour. This is a hop on and hop off tour service on a double decker bus which covers 23 tourist stops in Dubai through 2 bus routes, the city tour and the beach tour. We managed to cover only half of the entire route when after shopping at Dubai Old Souq, some of the golden citizens dah nampak penat memicit-micit kaki, so we stayed on the bus for the rest of the stops and headed home. Aku dan Mak tak rasa ralat sangat because both of us have been to most of these places during our last trip to Dubai in May 2006

The following day, I decided to wander off on my own in Dubai, mainly because I need to get some souveniers and some barang kiriman relatives and friends. Using the same Big Bus Company tour ticket (it's valid for 24 hours from the time of purchase), I took the beach tour route to Souq Madinat Jumeirah. This route will pass through Jumeirah Road and you will stop at some main tourist attractions like Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Public Beach and Souq Madinat Jumeirah. The bus stopped at Jumeirah Public Beach for 5 minutes where you can see Burj Al Arab from there. The view at Jumeirah public beach was exactly how I remembered the last time I came here, breathtaking, undescribable beyond words. Pasir yang halus, the clear water in shades of emerald green berhampiran dengan pantai dan turned into darker shades of green and blue towards the sea.

After a couple of hours shopping at Souq Madinat Jumeirah and Zuhr prayer there, I walked back to the Jumeirah public beach and just sat there looking out to the sea with my feet buried in the cold sand, my iPod playing my favorite numbers, a cup of hot chocolate and my travel journal penning stories of my journey so far, my thoughts, hopes and dreams as the new year approaching. Pemandangan laut yang indah dengan angin sejuk bertiup buat aku leka sehingga tidak sedar sudah lebih sejam aku duduk di situ. Gathered my stuff and decided to walk along the beach and feel the water, it was icy cold but bearable. Continued to walk for the next 30 minutes and finally took a cab to Mall of Emirates where I bought a few more things mainly perfumes yang dipesan.

Lambaian Cairo ex Dubai

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn'
The taxi's waiting, he's blowing his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again

Just like the starting of Chantal Kreviazuk's Leaving On A Jet Plane, I am all set for Dubai, leaving on a jet plane at 0030 hours before flying off to Cairo on Dec 28. Preparation for this trip is the same as my other previous trips except kali ini kena bawa baju tebal. It's not-summer season di Cairo where temperature could go as low as 7 degrees Celcius and maximum 20 degrees Celcius. A good time to travel there.

I started my packing last Friday night. As usual memang konon-kononnya nak travel light tapi I always end up packing more clothes than I actually need. Most of the time ada yang tak dipakai langsung, I call it emergency clothings (or maybe just an excuse!). Anyhoots, I am carrying max two bags, a trolley bag and a backpack. Whilst packing, berbalas-balas SMS sekejap with Yusran, a 'thirsty' traveller currently travelling with Zura (his wife cum one of my usual travelling buddies) to Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and China for a month. Yes, you read me right, a month! Aaaargghhh...best nyer!

22-Dec-06 11.11 p.m.
Hi Nurul, Grub Gott. Truly forgotten about Arabic CD titles as I was so busy with work till just b4 left 4 KLIA. Fr sea we r headin 2 the mountains SAPA via Lao Cai (near China). Appreciate if u cud get latest 5 CDs fr 1)NANCY AJRAM 2)AMR DIAB & 3 other singers. Willing to spend RM200. Sorry to trouble u. Danke schon.

22-Dec-06 11.16 p.m.
OMG - sounds adventurous n interesting. The other 3 CDs r 4 which singer?

22-Dec-06 11.25 p.m.
Just grab based on their Top 10 which had the longest run in terms of popularity. Kalau dapat beli music DVD ciplak lagi bagus. BTW, my Yang is already zzz we r in the overnite train. VIET Train r not as sophiscated as the sleeping berth in China or even KTM

22-Dec-06 11.30 p.m.
Wokey - she must b dead beat. What r u doing still up? Not sophisticated. That's the interesting part of travelling, isn't it? I tgh packing my stuff 4 my trip.

23-Dec-06 8.00 a.m.
Arrived safely in Lao Cai. The temp is below 10C. Ahlan Wasalan.

23-Dec-06 8.08 a.m.
Alhamdulillah..hope u guys hav clothes 2 keep u warm. Expecting that kind of temp in cairo esp at night.

On Saturday, I ran a few more last minute errands. Pagi-pagi ke Taman Tun Dr Ismail to collect sambal tumis Kak Nor yang Liza pesan and whilst at it, stopped by at Maxis centre to configure my mobile phone MMS setting. Since I changed from Nokia N70 to Sony Ericsson K750i a few months ago, the MMS setting has not been working properly. Rupa-rupanya ada masalah dengan my SIM card and it was changed and configured in 15 minutes. Superb and prompt service because ada orang dalam kat situ.

Headed to Kema's place for brunch with Mak and in the afternoon ke KLCC to shop some trivial stuff but ended spending more than I planned/should at La Senza. The price slash and sales offer there was just to tempting for me to ignore. Sebelum balik, exchange Malaysian Ringgit into UAE Dirham and once in Dubai, I'll exchange some into US Dollar and Egyptian Pound.

Now the final hours, going through my checklist to make sure I do not leave out anything important:-

• E-ticket print out
• Passport
• International driving license
  
• Travel journal
  
• Books to read in the plane
• iPod
• Camera
• Shopping list from relatives and friends

OK, I have to shut down now as I have to leave for the airport in an hour or so. Thanks to those who smsed, called and personally wished and prayed for my safe journey and return. If everything goes well as planned and I return home safely, there will be an entry and pics on my trip, insyaallah.....I am now leaving you with a song from Amr Diab - Tamally Maak.

A Banana A Day Keeps The Doc Away!

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

A banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

Apples of My Eye

Weekend at Port Dickson

Hujung minggu lalu dihabiskan di Port Dickson dengan aktiviti teambuilding yang diadakan oleh my department. It was actually a mixed of teambuiding and bersantai since for the past few months it has been a stressful and hectic period with a lot of operational issues. We departed from the office on Friday dan pagi itu masing-masing sibuk menghabiskan apa-apa kerja yang patut. At approximately 3.30 p.m. kami bertolak menaiki bas tetapi hanya sampai di Port Dickson at around 6 p.m. kerana di Lebuhraya Sungai Besi, fan belt bas tersebut putus menyebabkan terkandas selama lebih kurang 30 minit.

Selepas makan malam, aktiviti pertama bermula dengan icebreaking dan pembahagian kumpulan. Tugasan pertama ialah menamakan kumpulan, mencipta slogan, sorakan dan merekacipta bendera dalam masa 20 minit. After much of cracking our brains branstorming, we came up with the name of 'Happy Hooligans' and honestly by now I vaguely remember our slogan and cheers. Each group presented and introduced their teams with much cheering as well as friendly jeering from other teams, the spirits were high that night and semua orang berkobar-kobar as the facilitator briefed us that for each activity and task, points will be awarded. The first task that we had to do to accumulate points was to play charades. Although the words given were common words and easy but acting it out was a totally different ballgame altogether. My team was leading even for the start and by the end of the game, we obviously were the winners.

Hari kedua bermula awal pagi where everybody gathered at the beach untuk aktiviti sea rafting. Cuaca cerah tetapi redup, just nice to do this activity but it drizzled soon after that and eventually stopped. We had to build our own rafts using drums and bamboos provided. After a brief warm-up session and water confidence activity, we hurriedly discuss and drew our drawing plan on how the drums and bamboos should be positioned. The raft has to be exactly like our drawing plan. Misi aktiviti ini adalah untuk berdayung ke tiga lokasi berlainan untuk mengumpul tiga belon yang berlainan warna. Selepas melihat demo yang diberi oleh one of the instructors on how to tie up the bamboos and drums together, everybody went to work and started to assemble the pieces together in 30 minutes. Kalau salah ikat atau ikatan tu terlerai, jawabnya capsize le raft tu. Jenuh juga membuat ikatan sambil cuba mengingatkan ikatan reef knot yang diajar semasa demo dan mengejar masa hingga kena blisters di tapak tangan. Nasib baik tak teruk tapi pedih juga bila kena air laut.

Selepas wisel berbunyi, semua mengangkut raft ke air untuk memulakan perlumbaan. It was difficult at first getting everybody to synchronise the paddling and manouver the raft but we got the hang it after a while. The mission was to collect three balloons at three different locations. Our raft started to fall apart as we were heading to get the last balloon. We had no choice but to head to shore for safety reasons as two of our female team members already looking panic.
The next activity started at 4 p.m. on the same day. We were instructed to make a reef knot which we learnt earlier from a rope. The rule of this task were everybody's hands have to be on the rope, we can't lift even a single finger from the rope and we are given only three attempts to complete this task. Percubaan yang pertama berakhir even before we started when one of us lifted his index finger. Percubaan yang kedua lasted for almost an hour but not after some of us got squeezed and almost trampled by other especially those yang pegang di bahagian hujung tali. Aku bernasib baik sebab I was holding on to the center of the rope and some of us siap bersembang trying to kill the boredom. Initially, some of us tried to give suggestions and guidance to those holding to the rop ends but it was impossible for them to manouver around other people and this created a lot of confusions. My colleague and I got a better picture and plan on how to complete this task and decided to implement it in our last and final attempt. And we officially became the 211th team to successfully complete this task and we did it in less than 15 minutes. How?.....those you out there yang mungkin kena buat this task in your teambuilding exercise have to figure this out yourself ler...

Sabotage! That was what happened to my team when we had our treasure hunt the following morning. Our last clue which was supposed to bring us to the treasure box was taken by someone. The culprit was not our colleague(s) but most probably someone from other companies who were doing similar activity there. Nevertheless, my team came in third. After short de-briefing, we killed several hours playing water polo, had lunch and headed back to KL 3 p.m.

Eventhough a little bit tired tapi bila balik tengok anak-anak buah aku, hilang segala penat tengok keletah mereka.

Tomorrow Can Be Too Late

Someone sent this to me via friendster and the recipient is supposed to mail this to every person one care about including the one who sent it to you. You will then know that there are people who cares about you that you didn't know. But I thought this is something I should share with everybody and you may be one of those I care about.

If you're mad with someone,
and nobody's there to fix the situation...you fix it
Maybe today, that person still wants to be your friend
And if u don't, tomorrow can be too late.

If you're in love with somebody,
but that person doesn't know...tell her/him.
Maybe today, that person is also in love with you.
And if you don't say it, tomorrow can be too late.

If you still love a person
that you think has forgotten you... tell her/him.
Maybe that person has always loved you.
And if you don't tell her/him today,
tomorrow can be too late.

If you need a hug of a friend...ask her/him for it.
may be she/he needs it more than you do.
And if you don't ask for it today,
tomorrow can be too late.

If you really have friends
whom you appreciate...tell them.
Maybe they appreciate you as well.
And if you don't and they leave or go far away today,
tomorrow can be too late.

If you love your parents, and
never had the chance to show them... do it.
Maybe you have them there to show them how you feel.
And if you don't and they leave today,
then tomorrow can be too late.

Background Music : Kata By Hazami

Saturday 'Wasted'

I woke up early today at 5.00 a.m. to perform Isyak prayer and waited till Suboh azan. Thought I could stay awake but by 6.30 a.m. I couldn't keep my eyes opened as I was still sleepy and tired after late partying at my boss's year-end party last night. I will save this story for my next posting. Went back to sleep and dozed off till 9.00 a.m.

Started the day with work around the house starting with my laundry, separating the ones that could go into the washing machine and those which have to be handwashed. Bukannya banyak pun because I tend to do my laundry every other day. Swept and mopped the floor and arrange apa-apa yang patut. Whilst in shower, scrubbed the bathroom floor and toilet, threw all empty shampoo bottles, cleanser tubes or anything else yang dah luput jangkahayat out into the dustbin.

Folded my dry clothes in the living room and once in a while glanced at the idiot box. 'How Do I Look' was on. I find the program revolting because the host, Alex Liu and those interviewed on his program, who are obviously his cronies never fail to look so superficial and pretentious. I am totally oblivious what's the message this program's trying to deliver, just like whoever is in the program, superficial and the kind of Q & A were insulting my intelligence.

It has been a while since I last buy groceries, my fridge kinda empty. Furthermore, I don't eat heavy dinner. It will be a waste to buy groceries if they are going to end up rotten in the fridge and landed in the dustbin. Kalau nak masak selalu pun, tak berbaloi masak untuk seorang. Nak pergi keluar beli breakfast, malas pulak. Found there are enough basic ingredients for fried meehoon. That's my brunch with a mug of hot nescafe. Kalau ada biskut raya ni best juga. Teringat cake yang Tyah bagi kat office.

It's starting to rain heavily outside. The more reason to stay at home and maybe catch up on my reading. Recently received the December 2006 issue of Reader's Digest. I have been subscribing to this magazine for several years now. Full of enlightening, amusing and interesting real life stories. Kadang-kadang they enclose small prizes like bookmark, coasters or diary with the magazine or even contest information where you have the chance to win like a few hundred thousand ringgit. Most of the time, I didn't bother to read the contest brochures, tapi kadang-kadang saja-saja hantar. Who knows....tiba-tiba lucky pulak.

Malam ni nak ke KLIA to pick up my buah hati pengarang jantung. In the mean time, need to start finishing some office work so that tomorrow I can spend my entire time dengan my buah hati. Siapa yer, tunggu ajer ler....