my smiley toe (not smelly...okey) wanna say "thank you, Ya'as!"

" me end-up with fractured leg after boating incident "

I am back but in Singapore, been a tiring long journey back arriving last night with 'one leg walking'. My left leg wrapped in cast with my favorite colors of green & orange( it goes well with this blog colors...right), fractured after boating incident during my dive trip to Fujairah. It all happened so suddenly. I was jumping off from the boat to the jetty with my equipment, missed my footing...knocked my leg on the side of jetty and fell into the water. It was windy and the water was choppy during berthing. But than i didn't wait until the boat stopped properly. I was lucky not to knock my head onto anything, that could be worst-"Praise to God" Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله).

I had my travel insurance handle my hospital bill there. I just made an appointment for next week to see a doctor at NUH(National University Hospital) here in Singapore. The cast will be on for a month or so and I will be in SG recuperating at my parent house. I also need to arrange on completing/editing of the UAE footages...I just hope everything will go well. Today I will hobble my way to Johor later to register my vote, hope you guys done yours too before this 31st March 2007.

Beside this accident, I truly enjoyed my dive. Vibrant colors of marine life and clear blue water, I would say that this is the best dive I had ever had. I don't have underwater picture taken, cause I don't have underwater camera housing. I just gotta wait for people that I mat on this trip to send there pictures to me. I will post my other pictures here later . . .

Tags|Travel|Postcard|Postvoice|Election|Malaysian|Hatzputra

Abu Dhabi Emirates Palace Hotel sometimes confused with the Presidential Palace nerby

" Emirates Palace luxury hotel "

" Emirates Palace fountain court "

Couple night ago we were hosted to dinner here at Sayad, Emirates Palace. It's a majestic grandeur- luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi boasting 302 superior rooms and 92 magnificent suites each combining the ultimate in luxury with 22nd century technology. The hotel was built and owned by the Abu Dhabi government, and currently managed by the Kempinski Group.

I was told that the construction cost of this was over US$3 billion and reputed to be the most expensive hotel ever built and sometimes confused with the Presidential Palace, the official residence of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, which is nearby...

My job here is done for now and time for my R&R (trying to arrange scuba diving tomorrow to Fujairah on the east coast of the UAE, they have the best dive site full with marine life with crystal clear water) , will fly back home on the 28th after my Promax/BDA Arabia conference... yay . . . see ya guys s o o n.

Tags|Phography|Travel|Malaysian|Hatzputra

McArabia or English breakfast, what your choice?

" my brunch...yum, yum, yummy. "

" Grill Kofta McArabia poster outside McDonald "

Today Saturday I had 'halal' english brunch consist of sunny-side-up fried egg, roast beef, sausage, mushroom, tomato, baked beans which gave me anus gas'sation, tasty prawn pancake with some greens and wash it down with pomegranate juice. This meal really made my day (i like...). I walk in this cafe after smelling the nice aroma of grilled meat, but can't remember the name of the cafe.

I also tried McArabia meal, it is made of Arab bread 'imported from Britain', grilled chicken 'currently being imported from Malaysia or not', lettuce, tomatoes with Arab sauce. Yap...I had Malaysian chicken 'ta pau' for supper. ..Burp!

Tags|Travel|Malaysian|Hatzputra

peaceful soul sunset at old Bastakiya district mosque

" cloudy sunset, colors that brighten my soul and be closer to God Almighty "

" sunset at old Bastakiya district mosque...peaceful "

We got wonderful sunset here in UAE, the colors are brilliance and changing or different everyday...it makes me so happy. I've got some great pixs of the old Bastakiya district with its interesting narrow lanes and tall wind-towers which gives glimpse of the old Dubai. In the past...this city was famous for a mass of wind towers that lined the Creek on either side. These wind towers were not just decorative. This were actually 'natural air con system' means for cooling houses & mosque in the olden days....cool or what

Tags|Masjid|Mosque|Islam|Travel|Malaysian|Hatzputra

once i was addicted to shisha but enjoyed my company of friends

" drinking coffee with Mr Waleed using al kadou Shisha, listening to Amr Diab-Leyla "

I manage to totally quit smoking cigarette in Nov 2003. I started smoking when I was 18years old. While in Jordan for news assignment on Iraq war in April 2003, I pick-up shisha smoking there. I actually found out that shisha smoking was worst than cigarette last year and manage to quit too. But I am tempted again by my new found friend here. My spoken arabic wasn't good and he does not know english, we communicate by gesture and sign language...very funny and I learn something from him. I was even invited to his house later, but decline.

The culture of shisha smoking is not what you put in the pipe, but who is with you while you're smoking. In cafes, you find good people, old people, interesting people in good company and friendship...warm atmosphere. Along the coastal sides of Arabia, people in small towns and fishing/pearling hamlets, used for almost two centuries to smoke a particular shisha made totally from clay they referred to in the UAE as “al kadou”. Here in Dubai, a shisha costs between 5-7 Dirhams along Muttina Street and up to 50 Dirhams in classy cafes of 5 star hotels. In addition, there are now many shops that sell different types of shisha with added paste of fruits that have strong exotic aromas, such as apple, melon and strawberry. A good shisha in Dubai would cost around Dh 200, but the price may be as cheap as 35 Dirhams or as expensive as 5.000 Dirhams!

I like having my shisha with a glass of ice water and a cup of sweet, tangy, infused 'cardomom' traditional Arabic style coffee. Drinking coffee is a part of Arabic style hospitality, and you might be lucky enough to be offered some of this coffee in a tiny cup, poured from a traditional style coffee pot before business meeting in Dubai. It shows that they respect your visit and should take in the liquid just a sip at a time, and smell the aroma, it’s magical!

Tags|Shisha|Islam|Dubai|Malaysian|Hatzputra

hatta village in dubai world and medina project news

" taken from the watchtower with Hatta Town in the background "

I am in Dubai for a week or two and might stay longer because of work. This is my 3rd visit here and I love this cosmopolitan city, different from other middle eastern country. It is a city of contrasts, where outstanding modern architecture and soaring skyscrapers stand alongside traditional Arabic buildings and old villages. They also have a village by my name called "Hatta Village" located in the rocky "Hatta Mountains". It's a historical village that goes back thousands of years. Now part of it turned into tourist spot that consists of 30 buildings made of mud, hay, sandalwood and palmfronds. Overlooking the village are two towers, known as the "two stones" that were used as defense fortresses. Enjoyed the serenity while I was exploring and my guide find it amusing with my name . . . related to this historical place. By showing my namecard to traders there, I've got great discount on shopping from them.

I have not been checking the news lately but this piece from Najib Tun Razak here made me smile: How I love to visit Medina to be close to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his beloved city.

" Masjid an-Nabawi - Medina, Saudi Arabia "

RM25b hi-tech city in Medina

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

MEDINA: Malaysia will help Saudi Arabia build a RM25bil high-tech knowledge-economic city here.

“This is going to be a landmark not only for Saudi Arabia but also for the Muslim world,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“It shows two Muslim countries can co-operate and collaborate in the interest of the ummah (Muslim community) and can indeed transform the Muslim world,” he said here on Monday.

He had earlier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Malaysia’s Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and Saudi’s Seera City Real Estate Development Corporation to build the Medina Knowledge Economic City (KEC). Najib said it was only fitting that Medina – the holy city that marked the beginning of the Islamic acquisition of knowledge – was chosen to transform the Muslims and to bring about a true revival.

“This will not only transform Medina but elevate its standing in the eyes of the world,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.

Najib said he was proud that Malaysia had been chosen as Saudi Arabia's partner for the KEC, which is patterned after Malaysia’s own Multimedia Super Corridor and Cyberjaya.

“We are willing to share our experiences and all our expertise. We have built the MSC and Cyberjaya and we will share the experience gained to make this project a real success,” he said.

He also suggested that Saudi Arabia and Malaysia embark on twinning programmes between the MSC and the KEC, adding that MDeC has the framework to bring in the Malaysian companies. MDec is one-stop agency established to facilitate the development and promotion of the MSC. Seera City managing director Dr Sami Baroum said they were already in talks with a number of Malaysian companies.

“The project is huge and can absorb as many joint ventures as possible,” he added.

Physical work on the project will start in August and the first phase is expected to be completed in three-and-a-half years, he said.

That phase, he said, would include educational and health segments, hospitals, a hospitality complex, museum and some residential and retail shops.

Dr Sami said Medina, because of its holy status, was exclusively for Muslims and, hence, the projects would go to companies from the Muslim world.

“Malaysia is on top of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in terms of technology and capability and experience,” he added.

KEC will be ready in 12 to 15 years. Spread over 4.8 million sq metres, there will be, among others, technology and knowledge complexes, an interactive museum, a business centre and Islamic civilisation studies, technology and administrative centres.
source: The Star

Tags|Islam|News Asia|Dubai|Malaysian|Hatzputra