It's been 10 days?

I arrived in Iran on the 19th of May......today is the 28th of May.....I have been at work (in Shahab Co factory) everyday. So......what? It's been 10 days? No wonder I am feeling so jaded.....This would be my longest "at-work" streak. Well, I hope that this Friday, I won't be required to work.

But come to think about it, I am dealing with Iranians here. No offense, but one think that I learned about Iranians are that they like to be late.....Ali Reza (the Engr Mgr at Shahab) told a joke over lunch today. It's about the American hell and the Iranian hell. But I don't to post it here.....some people might get offended.....

Most of the time....we have to deal with the local suppliers who always have problems supplying their materials.....from out-of-spec materials to "materials not produced yet".....Well, I guess I'll have to get used to it.....It will be hard....almost impossible....to change a culture....

Asim...our travel desk person, just emailed me my air ticket back to Dubai......can't wait to return home.....but to be honest, I like working with my Iranian colleagues....the usual face during lunch will be Ito san, Khoo, Ali Reza, Kafaee (Planning Mgr) and I. We talk about a lot of things, from religions, family, favorite food to women (hehehe....normal la...org lelaki)....Ito san (a Japanese)...always has something to say about religions.....I guess he's been studying about religions.....Kafaee is very proud of his name Sayyed Reza Kafaee....as it means that he's a distant descendant of the Holy Prophet (through Sayidina Jaafar Abi Talib R.A., the cousin of the Prophet)......Ali Reza Tajgardoun is a bit academical....he's probably the smartest guy in Shahab....he's an ethnic Turk.....Khoo, always making joke about Kafaee.....lunch time would be boring and quiet without him..... Me? I don't talk too much during lunch......I just add a little bit here and there....I'm not much of story-teller or a joker either.....

Well.....5 more days in Tehran.....looking forward to coming back to Dubai.....and to the 13th of June.......

My Pride

I have this photo of my family in Cameron Highlands as the wallpaper for my Sony Ericsson P1i. I showed it my Iranian friends with great pride. At the age of 35 (36 this August)..... my life is complete.....I have a great family.....a lovely wife, 2 beautiful daughters and a handsome "li'l man" for a son. Soon, they'll be joining me in Dubai.

I wanted to bring my family to Dubai to give them the taste of living abroad......I had the experience more than 10 years ago in the US....... but that was different.....I had no other responsibilities but myself and my studies. I guess, after almost 12 years of marriage, this would be a great present to my wife..... And I want my kids to have something to tell to their friends when they go home upon the completion of my assignment.... a Malay proverb says "jauh perjalanan, banyak pengalaman".... precisely.... I have been in places like the US, Japan, Dubai and Iran..... I have seen and met a lot variaties of people....It kinda opens my eyes to the world.....I honestly think that I am not living under that crystal glass. And I want my family to do the same thing to....to open their minds......to broaden their horizons.....

Casualties of War

Today at the prayer room, during Zuhur, I met with this Iranian guy. He's maybe in his early or mid-fifties..... I didn't notice anything strange at first....but then I realized that his leg, just under the right knee, was amputated. I asked him about it.....he said with pride (in sign language + plus a very limited English)....I got this during the war with Saddam.....obviously he was hit during the Iran-Iraq war.....he pointed at two pictures flanking the Ayatollah Khomeini picture.....located on a wall..... apparently, the 2 gentlemen on the the wall were his friends who died during the War.....While inter-locking his index fingers and pointing at the pictures, "Syahid" he said.....don't wanna comment about that, though. But I know.....he's very proud of losing his leg on something that he really believed in.....(but I don't actually condone wars....especially when you're fighting against your Muslim brothers)....I wanted to take his picture but had a second thought.....I was afraid that he might be offended....maybe next time.....(I also forgot to ask him his name)

For the first time in my life......I held in my hand the prosthetic leg of a war veteran.....felt creepy a bit..... but I realized that....we should be proud of sacrificing for something that we really believe in.....You don't have to lose a leg or anything so that you could call it sacrifice......just think deeply, and you will know....

Waiting for the "Friday the 13th"

Finally, the company has allowed my family to join me in Dubai before the 3-month probationary period is over. 3 months? Who in the right mind would separate a father/husband from his kids/wife for 3 months?

I told them that the 13th of June would be the best time.....It's a weekend....meaning that I can be with my family over the weekend before resuming work.....

Can't wait for them to come.....I have never been this homesick before....don't know why.....

And I hope Amin's wife could definitely go to.....

Well...this might be one of those "good" Friday the 13th's......I hope "Jason" takes a day of that day....

A Belated Birthday Present.....

The Man Utd win in the UEFA Champions League over Chelsea (6-5, on penalties) can be considered as belated birthday present to my brother....an MU fanatic....(so am I, actually...)...... I have been following the club since the time when shorts were really short. I watched Bryan Robson, Ray Wilkins, Gordon Strachan, Gary Bailey etc....but during that time, I was a Liverpool supporter (there goes a well-kept secret).....

But now....I am United fan...and nothing's gonna take that away from......since that year they won the treble, until the repeat of the ECL victory and forever......I will be an MU fan.... who knows that one day my Li'l Man might get interested with football and gets to play for the club.....Fingers crossed.....

All Hail The Champs: Kings Of Europe

21/05/2008 20:47, Report by Jon Crampin

Edwin van der Sar was the hero as United were crowned champions of Europe for the third time after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.







Forty years after first winning the European Cup at Wembley in 1968, and 50 years since the Munich tragedy, fate played a big part as a dramatic Champions League final went to penalties.

After Cristiano Ronaldo had missed his kick for United, John Terry had the chance to win the cup for Chelsea, but the Blues skipper slipped on the run up and his penalty hit the post. After Anderson and Giggs, plus Kalou for Chelsea, then converted, Nicolas Anelka's sudden death shot was finally saved by van der Sar, sparking jubilant scenes among United’s rain-soaked travelling contingent.

Cristiano Ronaldo had given United a 26th minute lead with a header from Wes Brown’s cross in a first half which the Reds dominated. Carlos Tevez had two clear chances to put United 2-0 ahead, but his efforts were well saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who also denied Michael Carrick.

Chelsea gained a foothold in the game in the final few minutes of the first half, and equalised with almost the last kick of the half, when a deflected Michael Essien shot fell kindly for Frank Lampard, who beat Rio Ferdinand and Van der Sar.

The Londoners dominated the second half and Didier Drogba struck the post, before Frank Lampard did likewise in extra time. Ryan Giggs, making a club-record breaking 759th appearance for the Reds, spurned United’s best chance.

In the second period of extra time, Drogba was red carded for a slap on Nemanja Vidic, but despite the one man advantage, the Reds couldn’t make the breakthrough on a heavy pitch, and so the final went to that heart-stopping penalty shoot-out.

More reports in http://www.manutd.com/.

27 years ago.....

He is 27 today...my brother.... It seems like it's just yesterday that he's only a small kid, living a kampung life.....He's grown up now....Engaged to be married to a lovely young lawyer....Matured enough to care of Mak when she was hospitalized.....

I am really proud of him...and I know that every one in the family is too.

Happy 27th Birthday Brother.....

Graduation Day, UITM Shah Alam....one the proudest moments for the whole family.

(Photo courtesy of http://runningmom-haza.blogspot.com/)

The Big Night

MU will face Chelsea in the UEFA CHampions League final.....I really, really hope MU will beat the heck out of Chelsea......It's considered the "Biggest Game" of club footbal.....And a win tonite will be the icing for MU's cake.....having won the English Barclays Premier League a couple of weeks ago.....

Glory, glory Man United.

Still in Tehran

I received a call saying that I can move to a normal room tonight.....thank God.....

I was supposed to send a scanned copy of an authorization letter for my personals coming from Malaysia.....They will arrive in Dubai tomorrow (21st May)......So, the letter, scanned copies of my passport and visa page are needed. I couldn't do it here....the scanner's not working and printer in Tajgardoun's office had run out of ink.

I had to stay back to arrange for tomorrow's new models. So, when I arrived back at the hotel, after changing to another room, I rushed out to get something to eat. And I found a print and copy shop. I went in and ask the owner if he speaks English. Apparently he doesn't. So, he stood in front of the shop and said something in Iran. It turned out that he was asking the passers-by who speak English......because in came a young couple who translated my needs to the owner. I paid 10000rials (one Khomeini....the owner said) for a print and 3 scans.

I went on to AynehVanak, a restaurant, just behind the Homa Hotel and bought an orange juice, a cheese burger and fries (on the menu it's written as fires).....

I was planning to chat with my wife....but had to pass because by the time I got back to the hotel, it's almost 830pm (12mdnite in Malaysia). I'm sorry Sayang......so sorry...I'll make it up to you.....I promise.

Revisiting Tehran

I arrived in Tehran today....at about 1030am local time.....by the Iranian Airlines (Iran Air)....a complete opposite of the Emirates that I have already been accustomed with......no personal entertainment.....the seats are a bit hard.....I slept almost the whole 1.75 hours trip....the bright side is....the seats are mostly empty.....I was lucky that no one sat beside me.

I reached work in a car driven by Mr Ghafari. I realized that it's not the way I left it one-and-a-half months ago.....It's green everywhere I looked....

I met some of my old Iranian friends.....Tajgardoun, Kamali, Rahim, Maliknejad, AbolFazl, Mehdi etc.....

I left with Tajgardoun...he lives in Ekbatan, and it's easier to take a cab from there....Because I don't have enough Iranian rials...(but I do have USD2000++ in my pocket).....he paid for the cab (remind me to pay him back...hehehe)......

I checked into the hotel room at the Homa Hotel.....They had booked me into a Junior Suite because the normal room is not available.....I told them, please tell the hotel to check me into a normal room ASAP.....I can't afford to stay in a Jr Suite the whole trip...it far too expensive.....1,752,137 Rials per night plus 17% tax. About USD200+.....

It's almost Isyak.....got to perform Maghrib.....signing off....

Gym and Swim

I went to the gym today...after solat Asar.....I was so bored....at least, 20 minutes on the bike, and a few minutes here and there, took my mind out of the boredom. I met 3 guys playing a the pool table....yeah, turned out they were Malaysians....2 of them....the other one is their colleague a Filipino. They live on the 6th floor.....they are on a four-month contract working for a Hitachi sub-con at the Burj Dubai....the next sensation in Dubai....at 160-floor high....it's gonna be the tallest building in the world.....but still the actual height is kept as a secret....

Then, I call up Amin and went to the swimming pool to take a dip.....what a wonderful view of the New Dubai from the rooftop swimming....We met the guys again at swimming pool a had a lengthy chat about work and about life in Dubai....It's good to meet other Malaysians once i while.....

The New Dubai....on the right-center is the Burj Dubai (the Tower of Dubai)

The Al-Karama Walk

I just couldn't believe it......Amin as well I'm sure.....When Venkat dropped us just in front of LuLu Supermarket in Al-Karama.....we decided to take a cab home.....Saurav suggested that as well.

But I talked Amin in walking home.....and walk home we did.....I guess it's almost 4km from Al-Karama area to Al-Raffa area where we live. Here we were....two Malaysian guys, doing the unthinkable.....walking in the middle of the night....with our knap-sack on our bags.....

Maybe we had proven a point.....Dubai is safe.....well you should be weary about the traffic though......but other than that....it's safe.....

We were about to cross the Al-Mankhool....a main street that borders the Al-Raffa and the Al-Mankhool communities.....when we saw a Burger King sign.....after a meal that cost almost Dhs25 each....we continued home....It turned out that the joint's just a few minute's walk from our apartment building.....now we have more options for a decent meal....Amin even took the home delivery number....just in case....hehehe....

We got into the elevator...and I got out at my floor...enter the apartment and found out that Shanawaz has not fixed my stove yet.....well, I was already full....maybe he'll finish it tomorrow.....

A Botched Plan

I got off work at 630pm.....thinking tonite is the nite.....to start cooking....Shanawaz the maintenance guys had agreed to fix my stove yesterday when he came to break the door lock....(I left the keys at the office and the mgmt office didn't keep a spare....how nice...hhhmmm)

I stopped by a grocery store to buy a loaf of bread and some cheese....to make my famous omelette sandwich....and I found this on the partially dismantled stove.....

A Post-it note at the edge of the stove....that reads......

Well....there goes another noble plan.....hehehehe.....and the conclusion is.....the ever-loyal MAGGI.....hehehe......

Maybe tomorrow.....I had told Amin that I'm gonna buy a chicken tomorrow at the Speedex.....so, we'll having chicken tomorrow, hopefully....if the stove's fixed.....If not....we might settle for the Al-Ismaily delicacies or some Shawarma....(by far Amin's favorite Dubai food).....

My Own Place At Last....

Thank to Amin....I have an internet connection at home at last....He just got his wireless internet installed by the Etisalat guys this morning.....We agreed to split the bills 50-50.....

Actually....I have other things to be installed in the house.....or flat as they call it here. I need to install the outstation calls....the in-house telephone can only call Dubai landlines.....no mobile or international calls.....and cable TV for entertainment....at least the ones that allow me to watch the Barclays Premier League games and for my kids to watch cartoons etc.

I bought a rice cooker this evening...at the Choitram Supermarket....an AED140 Black & Decker RC35....equipped with a steamer.....so that we can cook rice and steam something else at the same time.....I bought butter, some eggs and a beef mortadella (some kind of salami I think) for breakfast. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to work the stove.....maybe I'll ask Shanawaz the resident maintenance guy to teach me about it.

I'm settling in quite well now....Alhamdulillah.....at least I know my way around the area.....

A Malaysian Weekend

We had a dinner with some of our Malaysian friends in Dubai.....After getting off the coaster, Amin and I went straight to the Al-Khaleej Center....perform Isyak prayer led by an Indian with a really thick Indian accent (even when reciting the Takbir & Surahs)....

Then off we went to the Automatic Restaurant....a Lebanese restaurant. There we met Zakaria and his wife Nurul (they just arrived 2 days ago, according to Zakaria). Shortly after that, Putri and Sofia came....followed by Syed Nasir, Bro Yusuf, Azmi, Tang, Din & Sharif. Bro Ibrahim came af few minutes later.

They are the first Malaysians I met (aside from Amin) here in Dubai. We had a really hearty dinner.....I didn't even the names of all the food. Just after dinner, Zoe and Thiru arrived....Thiru just came back from Doha I think......

These are what we ate....13 of us....and look at the price

After that we went to another Lebanese restaurant just opposite Al-Khaleej....this time its supper....under the Dubai sky.....I didn't eat anything....just had ice lemon tea. I was so full from eating the dinner.

We talked about life in Dubai.....the veterans talked about their experience in Dubai.....Tang, told us about his experience of being an "illegal labor" when he first arrived in Dubai one and a half years ago.....courtesy of a "stinky" agent.....

We split at almost 230 in the morning....Amin and I just happened to pass by a brawl just outside the Imperial Suites Hotel......didn't know why.....but it was really a "free-for-all".....My guess is that somebody was not satisfied with somebody over a girl....because the Hotel is famous for its "meat" business (get it?).....

We get home at almost 3am....had shower and slept until about 9am....

We went to the Masjid for the Jumaat solat.....we met another group of Malaysians.....Suhaimi was bring his 3 friends who were on a business trip from Doha.....(Hhmm...when it rains, it pours).....I chanced upon Zakaria who happens to live in the nearby Richmond Hotel.....but didn't get to talk to him.....maybe he's on a rush as he left his wife alone at the hotel......

No other activities today....I plan to move to my own place downstairs but........maybe this afternoon or tomorrow morning....

12 Going On 13

I almost forgot....it's the 7th of May.....I have completed 12 years with Sony. Time does fly.....It seems like it's just yesterday that I was a young executive just out of college....looking for a career. I have never dreamed that I will spend almost 1/3 of my life working for the same company. Most of my friends have jumping all over. I only know a few like Ean and Hairry who have stayed with same company eversince graduation.

I think the most important factors that have kept me with Sony are not the working environment and the paycheck. I could get better working elsewhere. But the friendship and the camaraderie that have been built through the years. There are a few people that I have known even before I came to Sony.....some I knew because I had to work with them....some other because I went to courses or just as canteen table-mates..... At SOEM, I could be considered as an "Otai".....with years of experience with the Production.....but here in SoGul, I have to start from scratch....I have to know new people, remember new names and faces....It's gonna take some getting used to....But there's nothing a Minang guy like me can't do. I'll survive...I know that....I'll take everything one step at a time....Most importantly, I want my family to do the same as well.....

So, here's for the 13th year with Sony....hope it'll be a lucky one......InsyaAllah

The First Weekend

This is my first weekend in Dubai......on Friday morning, we had some breakfast at Al-Ismaily Cafe...run by an Indian Muslim named Abdul Hameed.....this will be our new gerai nasi lemak....he serves puratta, sandwiches, burgers etc to mostly the working class people....it's located just beside the Eppco service station near our building.....just about a 5 minute walk.

We went Jumaat solat at the nearby Masjid.....the Khatib gave the sermon in Arabic.....didn't understand a word he said.....but he did repeatedly talked about Az-zaujat (=spouse).....I think he's lecturing about family values. I was a waterboy for a few minutes as I was standing by the table where the complimentary water cups were located.....I was quite proud to serve my fellow Muslim brothers...hehehe....

Amin and I performed the solat outside under the scorching Dubai sun.....no problem.....but I finished the solat drenched in sweat.....then we go to get some refreshment at the Al-madina minimarket....in the same building as the masjid.....

Late afternoon...we went window shopping at the Spinney's and Al-Ain.....about 30min walk from the Al-Attar Escala.....We had beriyani in the Al-Khaleej Center...a small but modern shopping center.....

On the way back...Amin had his first Dubai haircut....it costs him Dhs40.....yes......40 Dirhams....I said to him...."You won't need a haircut for the next 4 months....."

We arrived home tired.....after some rounds of the Fifa08 on my PS2....I went to sleep.

Today...we went to Al-Khaleej again.....we had McD....a Quarter Pounder meal (regular) costs me Dhs15.....hehehe.....

And here I am at the CC in Al-Khaleej....writing this entry......have a lot of emails to check....

So long for now...

Touch Down!!!

Alhamdulillah....the Emirates EK347 landed safely at the Dubai International Airport.....My immigration processes was made smooth by the aids of the Marhaba people.....Amin was waiting for me....We went straight to his apartment...Ravi the East-Coast Transport guy brought us to the Al-Attar Escala Apartment complex......We spent the morning resting......10am, another East-Coast driver came drove us to the Sony Gulf office where I had my induction training & briefing.....first by Ms Aurora (HR) and then by Mr Krishna and Mr Ramesh from IT.

There was some confusion about my next schedule.....I was supposed to go to Iran next week....but Mr Mark from HR said that I have to have my Rsidence Visa stamped before going out of the Emirates.....I said, please settle it when Mr Tanikawa came back from his biz trip next week.....

Received my transfer allowance.....hehhehe...."PakcikKayo" for a while.....got my SoGul sanctioned handphone and an Etisalat number.....my first official handphone (an SE T250i).......

That evening...Amin brought me around Bur Dubai....what a tiring walk....but at least now I know the important shop and shopping complexes around the apartment......

Took some pics....but I think I'll post it in here later......Wait ah???!!!!!

To my family who sent me off at the airport....thanks so much for not shedding tears....at least for not letting me see anyone crying......I wanted to leave with the feeling that everyone is happy for me......Can't wait to bring my family here......Be patient ye Sayang........