Friday, September 26, 2008

SALAM EIDUL FITRI

This would be my fourth Eid away from home. But I'll have my wife and kids with me this time and days off from work.

So to everybody who comes across this entry....I want to say this.....

SALAM EIDUL FITRI....MAY ALLAH'S BLESSSINGS BE UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY....

AND DON'T FORGET THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US AND THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Ramadhan in Lahore....and Karachi

My PIA flight landed in Allama Iqbal Airport at about 700am.....It was about 1.5 hrs delayed because of God-knows-why. Then, there was a long queue at the Immigration counters......The authorities should do something about the congestion at the counters.....perhaps, introducing e-gate would be a good thing.



I was carrying some screwdriver from Dubai....but luckily, I didn't have any problem with the Customs....I texted my colleague in Lahore that I couldn't join the meeting at 1030am as I definitely needed some rest.....or else I'd be sleeping the whole meeting. He replied that he'd take care of it.....and told that my pick-up would come at 12noon.



I checked in at the PC Lahore at about 900am and slept until about 1140.....I was just out of the shower when Wajid called. He's taking me to the meeting at the Office.



The meeting ended at about 300pm or 330pm......the Wajid took me to his office (actually a service center)



Later, when sending me back to the Hotel, he said that he will treat me for Iftaar and dinner at a famous Pakistani restaurant.....hey....I'd always welcome good and free food. He'd pick me up at 600pm as the restaurant will be fully-packed by 630pm. Iftaar time is at about 705pm.


If you are watching your weight, then don't go near a Pakistani restaurant like this one. Always all food served was either deep-fried or sweet.....I opted for a serving of fried-rice, potato salad, chilly chicken and a sweet-n-sour meat ball soup....definitely not Pakistani. Then I went one step further......chicken kebab, samosa, chicken tikka etc.....I tried to avoid the deep-fried ones......Then...we had some freshly-baked naan roti.....buttered and plain.....and I'd had enough.....

The Salt n Pepper Village Restaurant


Inside the restaurant

He sent me back to the hotel at about 800pm or 815pm......tomorrow, we'd go to the factory where I will train the production people about the new model they were doing.....At 830am, Wajid will pick me up.

I woke up at 840am.....the phone was ringing...It was Wajid....apparently, I overslept.....I guess my body was still following the Dubai time (2 hrs later than Lahore).

I checked out of the hotel and we drove to work which is about 50 minutes drive from the hotel.......

That afternoon, Wajid sent me to the airport for the first leg of my trip back to Dubai....I'd be going to Karachi.....

The flight to Karachi took almost 2 hrs......they served dinner just a few minutes before Iftaar.....but the pilot didn't anounce the Iftaar time....so, everyone carried the dinner box out of the plane when dis-embarking. I ate my Iftaar/dinner at the domestic arrival hall of Jinnah International Airport. I was joined by a middle-aged pakistani who correctly guessed that I'm from Malaysia.....How? He said, "You looked like a Malaysian and you are eating your Iftaar meal...". We talked for a few minutes while I ate my meal.......then, his luggage arrived and we bid farewell.


My Iftaar-cum-dinner courtesy of PIA

I went out and headed for the international check in counters.....as usual, the security was tight in Pakistan....but upon knowing my nationality, the security officer let me go without checking my bag. I checked in, had my passport stamped and went into the international terminal area.

The flight from Karachi to Dubai was filled with a lot of young Pakistanis.....I guess that they were coming to Dubai to work.....The air crew was having a hard time handling them....it could be their first time on a plane.....we couldn't blame them.....

I arrived in Dubai at about 1100pm and reached home at about 1200 midnite....

Saturday, September 13, 2008

My Photoblog

I have created a photoblog where I post photos that I took. Click here to view it and feel free to give comments....

Thursday, September 11, 2008

A Ramadhan in Tehran (the Sequel)

Today is the 4th day for me in Tehran....celebrating and observing the holy month of Ramadhan Al-Mubarak. And today is the first time that I have a decent iftaar.....the first day, only water and dates.....the second and third just plain mineral water as I was still not in the hotel by iftaar.

Some of the souvenirs sold at the bazaar

Is that my upstairs neighbor at the Tajrish Bazaar?

One of the alleys in Tajrish Bazaar

Rows of Shisha pots

Coke-flavoured Shisha anyone?

A produce market at the bazaar

On Tuesday, we went to the Tajrish Bazaar.....my SOEM colleagues were looking for some souvenirs to bring back to Malaysia.....especially Tan because this is the first time for her in Tehran.....We ate at the Ayneh Vanak restaurant (my favourite restaurant, right behind the hotel) that night.....

At the Vanak Star Restaurant...

Inside the Vanak Star Restaurant

The delicious Shrimp Noodles Soup....

On Wednesday, we went back late from work...almost 7pm.....I had my iftaar right in front of the grocery store in Ekbatan...But we went to eat some of the best Asian/Oriental cuisines in Tehran that night at the Vanak Star Asian Restaurant. The menu was shrimp noodle soup, tempura chicken, tofu beef stew and a mixed vege salad.....with chinese tea to wash them down.....

My Iftaar for this evening....Alhamdulillah....

But today, we left early....I bought a loaf of bread, butter and a small bag of potato chips.....this would be my iftaar (along with the dates) and dinner. It's actually nothing compared to what I would have had when at home....It's nothing compared to my wife's cooking....but I'm still full of gratitudes to the All-Mighty Allah for the "rezeki" that has been given to me.....It's one of the things that an international traveller like me would have to expect. At least I'm far better than those poor people from poor countries who sometimes have to fast all year.....Alhamdulillah....thank you Allah for everything....

Monday, September 08, 2008

A Ramadhan in Tehran

Today is the first time I'll be spending my Ramadhan in Tehran.....I'll be spending about a week here.....before briefly going back to Dubai.....then, off to Lahore.....

Personally, I don't have any problems spending my Ramadhan anywhere.....I have been fasting for about 30 years.....the hunger and the thirst would never hinder me from going through my daily routines......

One of my Iranian friends was quite surprise when I told him that I am fasting even though I could consider myself a "musafir".... He said I could decide not to fast and replace it after Ramadhan.....Well I told him that the value of fasting in Ramadhan would never be replaced.....no matter how many days you fast outside of this Holy month. That's why....as long as my body can take it....as long as I am healthy....I will fast.

Actually the dry environment and thin air in Tehran doesn't help....if you are fasting.....By 300 or 400pm, I have started feeling the exhaustion....But like always....I would try to dissociate the sensations from my consciousness......and tried to forget that I am fasting.....Alhamdulillah, my body and mind responded very well.....I managed to get through the day....

I took my iftaar in the hotel room......with dates and some mineral water.......then a piece of cake that I bought in Ekbatan.

But I'm still wondering what would I eat for sahuur? Well, maybe a few dates would do it.....Tomorrow would be the real deal.....we'll see how I'd do......

Saturday, September 06, 2008

The Malaysian Ramadhan Bazaar and MOE

We planned to check the Ramadhan Bazaar held at our CG residence in Al-Barsha. So, we took a taxi, driven by a Sudanese....I took the task as a navigator.....something that I'm very familiar with since my US days.....

Top: The CG residence....bustling with Malaysians

Bottom: My wife with her new friend Shiela

We arrived at around 500pm....to our disappointment....almost everything was sold out.......We only managed to get some chicken pop and some pasta.....We left after a short while....the cabbie was so kind to wait for us.....quite a rare thing when a cabbie is Dubai is concerned....

Ain and Apit.....doing some promotions for MOE

We asked him to take us to the MOE.....one of the biggest shopping malls in the world......and before getting out, we gave him some pasta meal for his iftaar.....It's also our token of appreciation for him....heck of a guy, I should say.

We went to Carrefour to buy some stationery for my two daughters......Just as we walked out of the check-out counter, the Azan Maghrib was sounded on the PA system....it's iftaar time.....Just water and dates...Alhamdulillah.....

After Maghrib, we stopped by at the food court and have dinner......then we took a cab home.....and end our day.....

What an experience....we had always wanted to go to the MOE....especially the Ski Dubai....but I think that one will have to wait until next time......

Iftaar and Sohuur time for the Middle East

Salam....here are the Iftaar and Sohuur time for the major areas in the Middle East.....

Ramadhan Kareem everyone......

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Ramdhan in Dubai…..

This is my first Ramadhan in Dubai….My third Ramadhan if we count the ones I spent in the US. It’s a very different Ramadhan…..in terms of the heat (try 40 degree), the humidity (50% - 60%)….and one main thing is I still have to go outstation during Ramadhan.

But here in the office, you get to go home early in Ramadhan (if you’re a Muslim)….I took the opportunity to the fullest when I’m in the office…..whisking away stealthily and take the 245pm bus home. But the downside is that I have to walk from the “Computer” street stop to my place. It’s about 1 km walk in the scorching heat. Luckily I always bring the handkerchief that my wife gave to me…..I sweat like crazy…..I guess I must have already lost 1 or 2 kg of fluids after just a few days of fasting.

I always look at the brighter side of things…..at least when I get home everyday, my family will be waiting for me…my two daughters will definitely be sleeping after their day at the school…..but Apit will be as energetic as ever…..It’s also soothing to know that I’ll be eating my wife’s cooking instead of the take-aways from SFC or Al-Ismaily….

My next trip to Tehran will be this Monday…..it’s delayed because I have to apply for a Pakistani Visa…. I’ll leave for Pakistan one day after I get back from Iran.

My kids start their school this month. It'll be very interesting to see how they cope with the different environments and with the Ramadhan.....but so far, they are doing OK....alhamdulillah. Click here for more reports from their mother.

Ok...still have a long way to go for Ramadhan....all the best to everybody....

Monday, September 01, 2008

Ramadhan Kareem: The Holy Guest Is Here Again

"Ramadhan Kareem"... that's the greetings for Ramadhan here in this part of the world. It means "Ramadhan the Generous".

After being away for a year, this Holy Guest is here again, bringing with it as-sawm (fasting) and the tarawikh solat among others....

This is the same month in which the Battle of Badar was fought.

This is the month in which Holy Quran was revealed

The is the month filled with "barakah" that in some part of the world, people call it Ramadhan al-Mubarak.

This is the month when all the doors of Paradise are opened and of the Hells are closed.....

This is the month when the Devil is bound.

This is the month when the faith of Muslims is tested by the restrictions that come with as-sawm.

This is the month when we can physically feel how our poor brothers and sisters in some part of the world feel all year round.

This is the month when we can appreciate the food that we eat and not wasting it.

This is the month for us to help those unlucky people around, through our "sadaqah" and "zakat".

This is a Great month.

Welcome: Ramadhan Kareem....al-Mubarak.