CARPE DIEM - clayfuture

Viva Karachi!!!

2008-06-19T15:33:00.001+04:00

I’m soooooo exhausted!! It’s been a long time. Did anyone notice I was gone?!! ;) I’ve been busy since my engagement in Jan. Wedding preparations, studying for my CFA exams, searching for a new apartment, moving into the new apartment, buying clothes, gold, gifts, working towards my new position in the company (Al hamdulillah I got it!), etc etc…. I’m exhausted! I just want to relax and do absolutely nothing for a few days. I need break, but I know I won’t get one until the wedding is over!!

I was in Karachi last week for 5 days and had a really good time. I had never been to Karachi before. Actually, this is the first time in over 15 years I’ve gone to Pakistan!! Yeah.. I know.. it’s been thaaaaaaaat long!! I’m glad I got a chance to go there. A lot of things needed to be done: get the wedding cards printed, give measurements for a sherwani for the wedding, buy shalwar-kurta for the nikkah and mehndi, see the venue for the walima, book the rooms for guests coming from outside Karachi, and do some shopping! I got some super stuff like antiques, shawls, silver decorations, leather goods etc… the real thing at amazing prices… the same would have cost an arm and a leg here in dubai! The food was great… there’s a huge Barbeque Tonight restaurant (like the one in dubai) and the food is like wow!! Chanced upon the Lacoste store in the Forum mall and they had a 50% off sale. Got some nice stuff. The Espresso café in DHA has the most amazing chocolate cake!! All in all it was a fun trip and a good change from the dubai!

The work isn’t over yet though! I still have a lot to do before it’s all done. BTW, if anyone’s interested and wants to come to my wedding then here it is:
August 2 – Nikkah – at home
August 3 – Menhdi ceremony – Carlton Hotel, D.H.A.
August 4 – Wedding ceremony – Golf Club, D.H.A.
August 5 – Walima ceremony – Creek Club, D.H.A.

Take care!

Ready for the big day!!!

2008-02-19T09:00:00.002+04:00

Wow! It has been so long since my last post!! but seriously... I've been really busy!

On 10 Jan 2008 I got engaged to my sweetheart. It was a small family gathering in our house... exchanged rings. Finally!!!

So they have been visiting us and vice versa (she lives in Bahrain)

A week ago we set the date for the wedding: 3, 4 and 5 August 2008.

Aug 3 - Mehndi (henna)

Aug 4 - Shaadi (Wedding)

Aug 5 - Walima (reception from guy's side)

It will all be in Karachi, as we figure everyone has easy access to that city and Dubai would be a difficult option for many people to reach. We have already found the venues and have finalized it.

Shopping for the big day has already started!!

Now you know why I've been away for so long! :)

I'm Back!

2007-10-16T20:45:00.000+04:00

First of all, Eid Mubarak everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the holidays. I've been away for some time coz I've been really busy with work and then Ramadan. I haven't posted anything since, but I've been visiting blogs now and then.

Some people from my office left and some went on vacation, so that kept us busy throughout the end of summer and Ramadan. Well, not really in Ramadan.. I enjoyed it coz I came home early this time, slept before iftar and then went out till late night sometimes. I had fun! Eid was pretty boring for me. I think the environment around you and whole atmosphere in general can affect your mood a lot. Eid in UAE is not really like Eid back home where literally the whole country is celebrating! Once upon a time you could *feel* the Eid spirit here, but now it's just dull almost like any other day. Shops hike up the prices of foodstuff and retail goods, only some streets are lit up by ages old colorful lights, hotels really don't have anything special to offer. So basically, it's pretty crappy here. Sad. Very sad indeed. Of course you can enjoy your time with friends and family, but I'm talking about something else, if you can understand this!

On the other hand, apart from the National Day, look at how valentines, christmas and new years is celebrated. It doesn't feel like you're in a muslim country. For those few days the whole country is lit up! Why is that? I mean, sure we can all celebrate these days as we live in a metropolitan and multicultural society, but this is still a muslim country. I do enjoy valentines, xmas and new years, but I also want to see the same fervour, excitement and feel the same enjoyment on Eid. I want to see it on the streets. Aping the west should not mean that you forget your roots.

Or maybe... there's just more money to be made on non-muslim holidays! That's it!

SALIK - it works for me!

2007-07-15T10:46:00.000+04:00

I must admit that Salik definitely has cleared up the roads from Garhoud bridge upto Shaikh Zayed Road. I don't know about others if they have faced any traffic situation on this route, but until now all the times that I have driven up there I could count the number of cars on my fingers! I never thought I'd see the day when SZR would have smooth flowing traffic. Traffic? You can hardly call this traffic!! There's no traffic even on weekends! I remember when it used to be so bad that I'd think twice of taking that route! I don't go towards SZR all that often, but if now whenever I need to, I don't mind paying AED 4.00 for salik. I have peace of mind and don't have to worry about the hundreds of cars on all lanes, jammed bumper to bumper, moving at a snails pace trying to get to the office or home. This is where you save the most time!

However, I will point out the fact that the traffic situation has become worse in other areas, like jumeirah, greens, arabian ranches, emirates road, etc. More routes should have been made available to cope with this. Too bad for those people who leave these areas during rush hour!

On another note, Emirates road was supposed to be some sort of a superhighway on the outskirts of the city linking to other emirates and artery roads linking to different parts of the city. Well, it's all bullshit! It's one of the most clogged roads in the country. There are barriers everywhere, the roads are not wide enough and the scary 18-wheelers block the exits when they drive bumper to bumper! Yes, once I missed an exit coz I wasn't given way to squeeze in between those huge trailers and move out.

I just hope other emirates don't follow suit and start tolling their roads as well!

My 30th Birthday!

2007-06-30T10:51:00.000+04:00

The big Three-Oh!!! Time doesn't fly... it's on warp speed 9! It's like yesterday I was 20 and today I'm 10 yrs older. Well... you deal with life as you go. You can't change the world and you can't turn back the clock, but you adjust yourself as you go along. Everyday is a new experience. I've learned that as you grow older, you realize that everything you've done before, when you were younger, has consequences, whether good or bad, but only now you see them and go "Oh shit yeaaaah... no wonder!!"

Everything you say or do affects others around you. You have responsibilities and obligations, more now than ever before and the list will grow as you age. But that doesn't mean you can't be a kid at heart! Hell, I still am!! Screw 'em who tell you to act your age. There's a time and place to show maturity, to "act your age", but if you do it all the time then you're just gonna die a boring old fart. Do the things you always wanted to do. Buy the things you always wanted to buy. What're you saving all that money for? The next generation? If you're destined to lose all that money and fall to your knees, then it's gonna happen anyway. So you might as well enjoy life everyday. You only live once... but live your life with dignity and honour so later people will remember you that way.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Loving You...

2007-06-20T22:44:00.000+04:00

Each day seems like it will never end. The loneliness stings. Even though I have friends and family, but without you I am alone. I am so used to coming to you everyday that even a day apart from you is unimaginable. You are the drug and I am addicted.

A month without you is way too long for me to bear. Come back! I miss holding your hand. We always hold hands and only let go when it starts to get sweaty! I miss the way you blow your kisses to me. I miss caressing you lips, your skin, the curls in your hair. I know you miss me terribly too. How you tell me everyday. What I wouldn’t do to have you in my arms right now even if just for a moment!

It only took me a couple of days to realize that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And it’s about time too! I know I’m right. I can feel it. I feel it everyday. You feel it too.

It’s not long now. Everything will go our way. Doors will open and we will walk through with the utmost ease.

You are so wonderful to me. I love you!

"My love for you is a journey,

Starting at forever,

And ending at never."

Great Souvenir!!!

2007-06-18T19:37:00.000+04:00

So I was in a bookshop and look what I found on a shelf of Dubai souvenirs... whisky containers... and they had pictures of camels and DUBAI engraved on the front. I didn't know that shops were selling these kind of souvenirs too!! Dubai is a modern and tolerant city but end of the day, it is an emirate of a muslim country. Is this right? Does the government know of this?!!

Madness!!!

2007-06-17T01:35:00.000+04:00

At 2pm in the afternoon... under the scorching sun... with temperatures rising over 45 degrees celsius... this lady had the top down on her convertible dinky...

what the fuck!!??

Stupid people!

2007-05-28T13:33:00.000+04:00

This is the creekside behind Taawun Mall in Sharjah. A lot of people take their cars on the beach to avoid the traffic on the road, eventually joining back on Dubai-Sharjah highway. I admit I drive on the beach too sometimes if the road is jampacked! However, this one car somehow managed to go into the water. Stupid driver!

Free Stuff?

2007-05-24T09:36:00.001+04:00

So Sharaf DG is advertising like crazy about their new electronics store in Dubai and their slogan is: If you can't find what you want, we'll give it for free!

Strange slogan... if I can't find what I want in the store, how will they give it to me for free? Will they go out to another store, purchase it and give it to me? or did I understand this all wrong?!! Someone enlighten me pls!

International Stink!

2007-05-21T12:28:00.000+04:00

International City in Dubai (behind Dragonmart) is a very peaceful place to live. Reasonably priced apartments and lots of parking space all around the area. However, there's only one thing that spoils the whole image. It is also perhaps something that people didn't know before they bought or leased the apartments. It is located right next to a huge sewage treatment plant. It literally smells like shit! Every second day, sometimes late evening or sometimes late at night, the whole area starts to stink of shit. The stinky cloud spreads all the way to the highway towards Hatta/Oman. It's so horrible it isn't even funny! There's no way you can escape it! It comes through the balcony, the windows, the exhaust, the air conditioner... It really makes one wonder what the hell were the people at Nakheel thinking when they developed this area!!

Tagged By Kaya AGAIN!!!

2007-05-01T12:18:00.000+04:00

5 Things You Don't Know About Me:

1) I give my all in a relationship. Never cheat or lie. I'm a "one woman" man!!

2) I wanted to be a race car driver! Altho my street racing days are over (I'm a safer driver now), but I'm still very good. I'll admit there are occasional hiccups of recklessness!

3) I'm very stubborn, but only sometimes. It was much worse before. Life has taught me to compromise on many things. I also had a very short temper which, thankfully, is no more!

4) I'm a straightforward person and very blunt on occasions when it comes to expressing my opinion. I don't care who you are or what you do, I'll tell it to you on your face. In fact, there are a few relatives I want to blast.... just waiting for the chance!

5) I'm a pessimist! It's better to expect the worst and receive good news than to keep your expectations high only to be let down soon after!

Tagged By Kaya!

2007-05-01T10:55:00.000+04:00

A - Available or Single
Neither. I want to stay in this relationship so don't jinx it!

B - Best friend
My girl. I can discuss anything with her! :)

C - Cake or Pie
Cake anyday!

E - Essential Item
My mobile.

F - Favourite Color
Hell red

G - Gummi bears or Worms
Gummi bears!!

H - Home Town
Dubai or Sharjah... lived here all my life, so....

I - Indulgence
Regularly buying cars and tech magazines. I read them whenever I have the time, but I never quite cover them all!!

J - January or February
February! The month is shorter, plus I get this wicked pleasure of knowing that countless people born on the leap year will not get to celebrate it! Muahahaha!

K - Kids
Nope!

L - Life
Life is a bitch! Either you tame her or you get fucked!

M - Marriage
A commitment I thought I wasn't ready for, but I am now! :)

N - Number of Siblings
One.

O - Oranges or Apples
Apples... who has time to peel oranges!

P - Phobias, Fears.
Afraid of the open sea, swimming pools... I'm ok as long as I'm in a boat!!

Q - Favourite Quote
"The past is bedrock, the future is clay"

R - Reason to Smile
When she never misses a chance to hold my hand! :)

S - Season
Winter... in this country, it has to be winter. If only it snowed, only for a while...

T - Tag Three People
Ella
Shakespeara Shaira
Uaealias

U - Unknown Fact About Me
Check "Tagged by Kaya AGAIN" for this one!

V*W - Worst Habit
Has to be smoking...

X*Y - Your Favourite Foods
You can give me Daal (lentils) anytime, anyday for many many days and I won't complain! I absolutely love it!

Z - Zodiac
Cancer. Everyone loves cancerians, that's why we can fuck with your mind so easily! Ha!

BTW... Kaya what happened to the letter "D"????

You Can't Go Home!

2007-04-28T10:38:00.000+04:00

Homesick worker rips open his belly in suicide attempt (an article in todays Gulf News)

The sponsor apparently told him he could not send him back as he had already spent a lot of money to bring him here to work.

A case will soon be filed against Kumar for trying to commit suicide, police said.

What about the fucking sponsor?????

Pak Ghazi Strikes Again!!!

2007-04-21T15:21:00.000+04:00

From left to right: Aisha (4 yrs old), Salman (1 yr old) and Fatima (6 yrs old) have all been in intensive care in the hospital due to severe food poisoning. Their other sibling Khadija (3 yrs old) already died on 14/04/07. You must have read the news in the papers, but my point in re-addressing this issue here is that Pak Ghazi restaurant, where the family took their takeaway meal from, should be closed down.

I'm not writing this coz I'm angry at the tragedy that has struck this family, but coz I have had the same experience TWICE in the same restaurant many years back. True, Pak Ghazi used to be a good restaurant a long time ago..... A LONG TIME AGO!! but not anymore. I remember I once went to this restaurant and the next day had a mild pain in my stomach. For anyone who has experienced food poisoning, you will know that it's a very uncomfortable pain.. no matter what you do, it just doesn't get any better. It takes time. So I assumed that perhaps it's something I ate at the restaurant, as that was the last thing I had before I went to sleep. Anyway, I didn't take it so seriously, but a few weeks later, I went to Pak Ghazi again and this time I had severe food poisoning. Not bad enough to go to the hospital, but bad enough for the pain to last for days and vomiting. This time I knew it was the food from the restaurant. I never went back.

The food quality is totally shit. I bet they mildly poison everyone everyday, but in some cases it's fatal!! Their is nothing authentic about their food! There are better restaurants out there that offer better food for the same prices, more or less! The municipality should permanently close down this shithole for good, once and for all!!!

**Pictures taken from Gulfnews.com

Movie Reviews!

2007-04-08T09:11:00.000+04:00

Watched 3 movies last week. I was expecting so much out of 300 that I couldn't take the disappointment half way through the movie! The trailer looked amazing, but the movie was not spectacular at all! I think everyone went for the movie coz the trailer was so good! It was in the papers that it's a big hit and all but you could make out from their faces when they came out of the cinema that something's HORRIBLY wrong here.. Wups.. too late, we already bought the tickets!! There's no character development, the narrator has a gloomy voice with no story-telling expertise - just not enough to keep you interested and entertained. I was expecting something like Troy or Gladiator type epic movie. But.............. it's just time pass if you have absolutely nothing to do!!

The second movie was Breaking and Entering which was totally crap and nonsense. This was her choice, so I had to go along with it. Despite strong performances by Jude Law, Juliette Binoche and party, the director just couldn't keep the plot together. It painfully drags on and you just want the misery to end! We both agreed that just 20 minutes after the movie started that it's going to be boring!! It's a total waste of time and money. The only thing we enjoyed during this session were the chocolate and strawberry crepes!!

The third movie was The Protector which was totally awesome. The second movie starring Tony Jaa. The first one was Ong Bak. He's truly an amazing martial artist, specializing in the art of Muay Thai. Of course, when it comes to most martial arts movies you don't expect a strong storyline, coz if you do, you're probably the biggest fucking idiot who comes out of the cinema grumbling and complaining. A good martial arts movie will keep you entertained, pump your adrenaline and you'll crave for more action as soon as one scene ends. This movie does just that! Tony Jaa is so skillful and believable in his action sequences that even she was interested and enjoyed the movie! :) The fight scenes are genuine with no special effects, which is why the movie is so fascinating! I recommend this movie to everyone, just for the action!!

BTW you're listening to one of my fav. songs - Chasing cars by Snow patrol. You'll like the lyrics.

WOOHOO!!

2007-03-15T16:24:00.000+04:00

I'M IN LOVE!!!

SHE IS AMAAAAAAZING!!!

Dig In!

2007-03-05T09:37:00.000+04:00

I hate it when people pick their nose! You see them when you’re walking on the street, in shopping malls, in supermarkets, but most of all, in their cars while driving. Ok, we all pick our noses once in a while, but most of us would use a tissue. I’m talking about people who dig into their nostrils up to their elbows to scrape off the booger that’s lodged somewhere in the back of their brains!

I see it everyday when I’m on the road and especially in the morning, on my way to work. Like they didn’t have enough time in the bathroom, they have to do it in the car with the windows open. And they do it so shamelessly and totally oblivious to the people around them! Disgusting!! They’re on a mission and they won’t stop until the bad guy is dealt with in a most ugly manner! Do you think they receive a call later from mission control: “Well done Agent 000, the world is now safe!!”

The Evil Genius!

2007-02-26T18:27:00.000+04:00

Hello Sharjah!

2007-02-10T14:50:00.000+04:00

When I was living in Dubai, I could walk to my office in 8 min, but it took me almost 20 min by car. I used to think “Shit, it’s only across the road and I have to wait so long in this traffic!”

Now, I’ve moved to Sharjah coz the rents in Dubai are too high. I had a choice: I could stay in Dubai and pay for the high cost of living. Of course, in the case I would have to cut down on a lot of expenses, be more responsible with money and do “budgeting” ((cringe)). I’m an occasional impulsive buyer – these are one of the unnecessary expenses I could cut down. I would have to spend less on eating out and shopping. I would have to……. well a lot of things would be off the list.

OR I could move to Sharjah, where I can get a better, more spacious apartment that would be 50% lighter on my pocket! I would have a comfortable lifestyle. I would have more cash on hand. I wouldn’t have to be stingy! There’s not much to do in Sharjah, so I would save more. Keep Dubai for the weekends and holidays.

So, Sharjah was the obvious choice. Just one problem: the rush hour traffic is a BITCH!!!!!!

Moving to Sharjah!

2007-02-04T18:32:00.000+04:00

Dear all,

I haven't been able to update coz I've been busy with moving to Sharjah. I have had to buy all new furniture, kitchen appliances, curtains, electronics, etc, etc, etc. I didn't realise it would be so difficult and tiring!! Only 2 more days to go to wrap it up!

I'll be back!

Adios!

Just A Thought!

2007-01-22T18:35:00.000+04:00

"Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so" -- John Stuart Mill

Everything has been going great for quite some time now, which is very unusual. I must be doing something right! But I do believe the above quote by Mill to be true. A quick thought will just cross my mind how everything is almost perfect, no worries, and the next day a couple of problems will be waiting for me! How all good things end with just a thought. I just hope this "happy" phase will not be as short as I think it will be.

Trip to Hatta!

2007-01-05T21:22:00.000+04:00

With nothing to do last Friday, the day before Eid al Adha, me and 3 colleagues from the office decided to go to Hatta. It was a last minute plan (well, hardly a plan if it's last minute!) but I have to admit we all had an excellent day out! We left early morning at 8am and reached home at 8pm! On the way, at about 10am we had our breakfast in the car, which was Puri and Halwa (and parathas) on the highway in Oman territory. We went to the Hatta dam, the Hatta fort museum and then to the best part of the trip, the wadis!! Through the rocky mountains, on long, winding and twisting, dusty roads. The weather was cloudy with tiny rays of sunlight coming through. We went into Oman, into a couple of villages, where all the locals wave at you. They know you're outsiders.

Amazing day! Don't think about it, go to Hatta during the winter season. You can FORGET about it in the summer!! It's too damn hot! We took over 200 pictures. Here are some of them...

Eid Mubarak everyone!

2006-12-28T17:46:00.000+04:00

Here's wishing you all Eid Mubarak and a happy new year!

May this year bring all the joy and happiness and may you realise your dreams!

Oh... and enjoy the holidays!!!

Abu Dhabi International Motor Show

2006-12-23T13:28:00.000+04:00

Went to the Abu Dhabi International Motor Show yesterday. Here are some selected pics I took from my N80. Personally, Dubai's motor show is waaaaaay better than this one!

Abu Dhabi Mina

2006-12-18T11:59:00.000+04:00

Last weekend I went to Abu Dhabi and I went to the Mina area with some friends. I remember this place from many years ago. It was a small, sandy strip of land by the creek where people would go to just sit and relax. You could get some tea from the cafeteria, park your car in front of the ocean and sip in tranquility.

The new Mina is totally different. It’s been expanded and paved up and a whole new road leads towards it. I don’t know if this place existed before and they just dusted it up and opened it for the public, but it’s pretty huge. I went there after midnight and the place was bustling with people. It’s like a mini runway with street lights through the middle and the cars are parked all around the edges. It’s hard to find a good spot to park your car. People are sitting on canvas mats and portable chairs, smoking shisha, talking, laughing and just enjoying the chilly night. Many nationals were folk dancing in their kandoorahs to the local music playing on their car stereos.

A few meters away from here is another little strip of land which is identical to this one, except that there is a long line of old, decrepit wooden boats and dhows lying in the center, a picture of which is seen below. Many have broken rudders or shattered decks. Others have cracked masts or the whole body just cut in half. It’s a boats graveyard. The once proud warriors that braved the rough seas are now too old and weak to stay afloat. Looking at them under the yellow hue of the street lamps, they looked magnificent, yet at the same time they emanated a feeling of sorrow for their collapse.

It was an interesting and peaceful 1 ½ hour spent in Mina. Maybe you guys should check it out too if you haven’t yet already.

Dubai Deira Creek

2006-12-14T15:19:00.000+04:00

Some pics I took today from Deira creek in the afternoon. Instead of of going for lunch, I went for a walk with a can of Mirinda in one hand and my trust Nokia N80 in the other. Hope you like 'em. I think it also goes well with the current theme of "water" on the Global Themes blog. Sexy weather too!

Do You Know...

2006-12-13T13:20:00.000+04:00

Stop the music video, turn up the volume, click play on the flash file and prepare to laugh your undies off!!!

Iraq Study Group Report

2006-12-12T17:25:00.000+04:00

The Iraq Study Group (ISG), also known as the Baker-Hamilton Commission, or simply the Baker Commission, was a ten-person bipartisan panel appointed on March 15, 2006, by the United States Congress, that was charged with assessing the situation in Iraq and the US-led Iraq War and making policy recommendations. It was first proposed by Virginia Republican Representative Frank Wolf.

The Iraq Study Group was facilitated by the United States Institute of Peace, who released the Iraq Study Group's final report on their Website on December 6, 2006.

The ISG was led by co-chairs James Baker, a former Secretary of State (Republican) and Lee Hamilton (Democrat), a former U.S. Representative and the vice chair of the 9/11 Commission. It was also composed of four additional Republicans and four additional Democrats.

President Bush said he would not accept every recommendation by the ISG panel but promised that he would take the report seriously. President Bush is expected to wait for three other studies from the Pentagon, the US State Department and the National Security Council before charting the new course on Iraq. On US foreign policy, President Bush warned that he would only talk to Iran if it suspended uranium enrichment and bring Syria on board if it stops funding the insurgency in Lebanon, extends support to the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and provides economic help to Iraq.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani called the group's conclusions "very dangerous" to Iraq's sovereignty and constitution, according to CNN. "As a whole, I reject this report," Talabani said.

** Excerpts taken from Wikipedia

The full report is available here from the United States Institute of Peace

Fun In The Desert!

2006-12-09T18:23:00.000+04:00

Last Thursday we went quad biking in the desert! Awesome weather at around 4pm. The drive towards Hatta was enjoyable too. This time I had a 500cc AWD bike. It's like a rocket!!! I have some pics and videos for you to check out. I'm the one in the red t-shirt on the red bike. BTW... if you're new at quad biking, start with the 200cc first. It's smoother and more stable. You can learn better on it. Anyways, let the show begin!

That's me! The first one to jump! Do not try this at home kids!!!

Blood Groups

2006-12-06T10:42:00.000+04:00

General information. Good to know. Not much work to do in the office today... oh and Kaya... I just had to write it!! :D

Who Wants Some?

2006-12-05T11:05:00.000+04:00

Got it in the mail today...

License to give BLOOD!

Let's B+ about this!

Welcome Back Clayfuture!

2006-12-03T19:48:00.000+04:00

Ok.. so I'm back after a short but unwanted break! My webpage was all screwed up. All of you must have gotten the blank, white page when you tried to check my blog! At first I thought it's a glitch from Blogger, but after a few days I got a little concerned.. maybe I've lost my blog! Oh no!! Blogger Help didn't do shit! Their forums are so confusing! So I left a comment in Kaya's blog hoping for someone to respond.. and Destitute Rebel came to my rescue. Told me to check my template.. I did.. I tweaked it a little and I'm back! Thanks dude!!!

So... Here is what I did in the last 10 days. I'll keep it short so you don't lose interest, unless you're yawning already!!

On 24th Nov. I went for the Khaleej Times desert adventure. There were almost 600 cars waiting to go dune bashing. We went through Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and ended up in Ras Al Khaimah where we had a not-so-good BBQ lunch. I wasn't too concerned about the food, coz unlike most people, my friends and I had already taken little snacks to munch on the way so we don't starve! It was a good ride, especially watching the newbie drivers who got stuck in the sand with their Hummers and other big cars!!! Ha!! Later, me and the gang went to UAQ to check out the big dune and relax a little, in the middle of nowhere! 12 hrs in the desert is quite tiring!

25th to 30 Nov. I was busy with office work, trying to finish everything before the 2 days weekend. I managed to finish most of it!

Thursday night we went to watch Casino Royale, coz I missed it the week before. Frankly, I like the new Bond. He's a darker version of all the Bonds. More on the action side, he's wearing more casual attire than usual, which makes it easier in one-on-one combat than wearing a tuxedo and doing it! In fact, I only liked the new Bond during the first half, coz in the second half of the movie, he somehow turns into a pussycat! I mean.. what the fuck!! James Bond cannot say I love you!! He's not that type! I'm sure all the ladies liked the new, more sensitive 007... but this is ridiculous!! and he resigns from his job for a woman!! What the fuck!! He hardly drove the new Aston Martin DBS and crashed it. I think he ran more kilometers on foot than he drove the Aston!!! I like the new Bond, but the movie was a disaster!

Friday afternoon I went with friends towards Hatta to go dune bashing on quad bikes. Fantastic weather! It was cloudy and rained a little while in the city. When we reached near Hatta it was raining heavily and was really windy. Would have been amazing to ride the bikes in the rain, but it stopped soon after. We had a lot of fun though. Although some silly mistakes were also the order of the day. One girl fell off the bike coz she braked too hard ripped a couple of tissues in her leg. It was pretty bad. Guess she won't be coming next time!! Another friend crashed into a steel fence. Got his arm all scratched and broke the bike's accelerator lever. Had to pay for it on the spot! All the others fell off, but not too bad. However, yours truly is good at this shit and can give you all a few pointers on how NOT to fall off the bike!! Check out the 2 pics taken in that area. They're grainy coz it was getting dark and we were using our mobile cameras! For a moment I thought of leaving it as it is, but then again... how we bloggers like to remain anonymous! Maybe next time!

Saturday evening went with a few friends to city center. Made a mistake coz it was raining all day yesterday. Some traffic signals were off and the cars were all jammed up! It took me 45 minutes to move a about 100 meters and into the city center parking lot! DAMN!!!! That was so frustrating!!! I bought the 2 DVD set of Scarface and had a calorie filled cinnamon roll from Cinnabon! Yummy!

All in all, it was an interesting few days!

Rock on!!!

Unfortunately, I wasn't wearing a cap or a helmet. My hair was full of sand and from the strong winds, it looked like I got an electric shock!

Khaleej Times Desert Adventure!

2006-11-21T18:10:00.000+04:00

I'm going for the Khaleej Times Desert Adventure this Friday, November 24, 2006. I think it's going to be fun. We'll go from Dubai to Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah and end it with a barbecue-cum-party at the Khatt Resort & Spa. I checked with the organiser and he said we'll span about 30 km on the road and 120km in the desert. The weather is perfect and with yesterday's storm winds, it's going to be an excellent drive!

So is anyone else going? Maybe you'll want to go when you read this! Maybe some of us bloggers can meet up. Maybe... maybe... maybe......

Dune Bashing! (Part 2)

2006-11-19T15:28:00.000+04:00

Some more adventurous fun! Hope you liked the previous videos, coz here are some more! This Friday was great! Excellent weather in Umm al quwain. It rained heavily for some time that day in those areas and the wind was cool and minty fresh! Even at 2pm in the afternoon! It was cloudy most of the time. There were a lot more cars and thrill seekers trying their daredevil stunts! One guy even tried to go up the dune in reverse gear in his 4WD. After 5 tries he eventually made it!! Enjoy...

On the camel trek...

We've come so far, now where do we go?

Get out of our way! These camels think the desert belongs to them! Ha! :P

It's a long dusty road to the dune and everyone is speeding on this track!

Bumpy ride to the top of this one!

Dune buggies... up close and personal!

Dune Bashing Time!

2006-11-11T13:17:00.000+04:00

This Friday I went to the Umm Al Quwain desert with my best friend for some dune bashing! We've been to many places together, but this time I thought I'd make a video of it! It was 4pm, and the weather was perfect for a desert drive! We made our way to a large dune. There were many cars, quad bikes and buggies having fun. In fact there was also an old Toyota Corolla trying to climb the dune (for fun of course - he would never have made it!). I missed making a video of that, but check out the rest of vids! It's not high quality coz I made it with my mobile camera, but good enough for these small clips plus it's WITH SOUND!! You can hear me and my friend talking! :) Enjoy the show!

Here we are on our way to the big dune. It's quite far in the desert.

We're going to drive up on this huge dune, onto the other side and we make it to the higest point. Oh yeah!! Now I can see all you little people down there! ;)

Check out these dune buggies challenging the dune!

Another video of these buggies. Really powerful engines!

We got stopped by these camels on the way back to the main road. They asked for our visa and IDs. Ha.. just kidding!

Carnival

2006-11-09T12:31:00.000+04:00

A thousand apologies for not posting throughout this week! I'm overloaded with work. No time to play! I'm still busy, but I thought I'll post the lyrics to one of my fav. songs and you can watch the video too (live performance!). Yeah, you're welcome. You're welcome. Please sit down! Thank you! Thank you so much! I love you too! Muah!!

Carnival by Natalie Merchant

I've walked these streets

a virtual stage

it seemed to me

make up on their faces

actors took their places next to me

I've walked these streets

in a carnival

of sights to see

all the cheap thrill seekers

the vendors & the dealers

they crowded around me

have I been blind

have I been lost

inside myself

and my own mind

hypnotized

mesmerized

by what my eyes have seen?

I've walked these streets

In a spectacle of wealth & poverty

in the diamond markets

the scarlet welcome carpet

that they just rolled out for me

I've walked these streets
in the mad house asylum

they can be

where a wild eyed misfit prophet

on a traffic island stopped

and he raved of saving me

have I been blind

have I been lost

inside myself

and my own mind

hypnotized

mesmerized

by what my eyes have seen?

have I been wrong

have I been wise

to shut my eyes

and play along

hypnotized

paralyzed

by what my eyes have found?

by what my eyes have seen

what they have seen?

have I been blind

have I been lost

have I been wrong

have I been wise

have I been strong

have I been

hypnotized

mesmerized

by what my eyes have found

in that great street carnival

in that carnival?

Funny Pics!

2006-11-02T16:55:00.000+04:00

Women!!!

2006-11-01T16:00:00.000+04:00

American Women:
First Date: You get to kiss her goodnight.
Second Date: You get to grope all over and make out a bit.
Third Date: You get to have sex but only in the missionary position.

Irish Women:
First Date: You both get blind drunk and have sex.
Second Date: You both get blind drunk and have sex.
20th Anniversary: You both get blind drunk and have sex.

Italian Women:
First Date: You take her to a play and an expensive restaurant.
Second Date: You meet her parents and her Mom makes spaghetti & meatballs.
Third Date: You have sex, she wants to marry you & insists on a 3-carat ring.5th Anniversary: You already have 5 kids together & hate the thought of having sex. 6th Anniversary: You find yourself a mistress.

Chinese Women:
First Date: You get to buy her an expensive dinner but nothing happens.
Second Date: You buy her an even more expensive dinner. Nothing happens again.
Third Date: You don't even get to the third date and you've already realized nothing is ever going to happen.

Indian Women:
First Date: Meet her parents.
Second Date: Set the date of the wedding.
Third Date: Wedding night.

Black Women:
First Date: You get to buy her a real expensive dinner.
Second Date: You get to buy her and her girlfriends a real expensive dinner.
Third Date: You get to pay her rent.
Tenth Date: She's pregnant by someone other than you.

Mexican Women:
First Date: You buy her an expensive dinner, get drunk on Tequila, and have sex in the back of her car.
Second Date: She's pregnant.
Third Date: She moves in. One week later, her mother, father, his girlfriend, her two sisters, her brother, all of their kids, her grandma, her father's girlfriend's mother, her two cousins, her sister's boyfriend and his three kids move in and you live on rice and beans for the rest of your life in your home that used to be nice, but now looks like a home along the Tijuana strip.

Arab Women:
First Date: Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Friends and entire Arab community finds out.
Second Date: Guy is shot dead.
No Third Date!!!

Lebanese Women:
First Date: You will have to spend all your money to impress
Second Date : You will take a loan to keep the image
Third Date : Your are broke, she finds someone wealthier

Sheikh Taj Din al-Hilali (Jackass!)

2006-10-31T13:10:00.000+04:00

Recently, this guy has stirred up a storm in Australian religious and political circles. His extremist views on women have been publicised in all major world newspapers. These days, any extremist view from a muslim is published everywhere anyway!! The following article in The Australian - News published his views on the recent attacks on women:

"In the religious address on adultery to about 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, Sheik Hilali said: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?"

"The uncovered meat is the problem."

That is a pretty f*cking disgusting sermon if you ask me!! It's a disgusting comparison as well! People like him destroy Islam's name. Extremism has no place in Islam and neither does Islam advocate it. How the hell did f*ckface become the mufti anyways? His supporters, like all fickle minded people of our own nations, voted him in! Australia has been and most probably always will be a racially biased nation. Mind you, I'm not generalizing here. I'm not pointing to all Australians, but majority of them are. A lot of Australians I've met and worked with in this country, sooner or later, I've found out how they really think.

This cleric's views will only further damage the relations between muslims and others. I think he likes the publicity too.

Read his full sermon on Adultery and Theft. What do you think? I mean, can they really give sermons like that in mosques? It's sick.

I Gave Blood Today!

2006-10-29T17:47:00.000+04:00

There was a blood donation drive in my company today from Al Wasl Hospital and yours truly, with some persuasion from colleagues, decided to give blood! It's not that I'm afraid of needles or the sight of blood makes me dizzy. I guess I was just being lazy!

Anyways, I went and first our company nurse gives me a form to fill out. It contained questions like "have you ever taken drugs/shared needles/when did you last have sex/do you think you have AIDS/do you know AIDS will be reported to the government/etc... etc..." Once done, the doctor then took some blood to check my haemoglobin level, iron, etc. to see if I qualify for blood donation. With a haemoglobin level of 15.1, who could disagree?! Normal level is between 14-18.

The doctor then proceeded to check my blood pressure. I don't know why the doc had to check my blood pressure twice. The second time, the machine reset itself and then it was finally over the third time! My arm almost went numb with that tape around it! I can never understand how to read blood pressure levels. I was looking at the numbers, confused. I asked the doc what's my blood pressure level and he said "You're ok. Go and lie down!" Yeah.. I come to donate blood and you're doing ME a favour by taking it?!!

No use arguing. So I lie down and the doc comes over, injects my right arm with anaesthesia, gives me a rubber ball to squeeze, and shoves a big, fat needle inside. I'm donating 450ml of blood. I see other people who started with me and they are almost finished after about 5 minutes. I'm still pumping! The machine starts beeping. I can't look down to see what the problem is. The doc comes by and checks. My friend on the other bed looks down and tells me, the machine is blinking "No Flow" on the screen. What the f@#&?! The doc says its ok and leaves. After a while, it starts beeping again! "No Flow" It took me almost 10 minutes to finish the process. A whole 5 min longer than all the others! Finally it's over and I can go and have lunch!

The weirdest part is, or should I call it silly, in all these 45 minutes, I never bothered to find out my blood type! Argh!!!

Eid Mubarak!

2006-10-21T15:41:00.000+04:00

Eid Mubarak in advance to all my fellow bloggers!

May your Eid be filled with joy and blessings!

(Enjoy the holidays!)

Ramadan Kareem!

2006-09-23T12:05:00.000+04:00

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, “Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night.

Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligatory deeds at any other time.

It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

** taken from Breathe Islam

You Gotta Be...

2006-09-19T10:39:00.000+04:00

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry

You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Herald what your mother said
Reading the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my, hey, hey, hey

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face

Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my hey, hey, hey

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Yup, this is the song I listened to first thing in the morning on my way to work. The song is You Gotta Be by Des'ree. It's going to be a tough day at work today and this is just the song to put me in high spirits! It would give anyone a good boost and ready to face the challenge! Wouldn't you agree?

Please read!

2006-09-17T18:38:00.000+04:00

I came across uae alias's latest post. She has really written this, I would call it a letter to Allah, with all honesty and goodness of heart. I was touched by it and I'm sure you will too. Spare a few minutes and read it! :)

Tagged... Doh!

2006-09-16T16:22:00.000+04:00

I got tagged by Destitute Rebel. Here goes...

I am thinking about...
buying a laptop, but can't decide which one.

I said...
a lot of things I shouldn't have to someone very dear to me

I want to...
shove a live porcupine up my boss's a-hole! (I'm against cruelty to animals, but this one will be doing me a favor!)

I wish...
I didn't have to give away my pet cat. At least I found a good couple who will take care of her.

I miss...
my maternal grandparents. They passed away when I was too young...

I hear...
police sirens outside. Must be another accident... as usual.

I wonder...
If life will get any easier. I'm very tired.

I regret...
many things, but I can't tell you what they are!

I am...
a moody person. What do you expect from a Cancerian?!

I dance...
like a freak... not a good dancer!

I sing...
when I'm in a good mood... usually in the car!

I cry...
rarely, but secretly...

I am not always...
nice to people. I can be very nasty if you get on my bad side!

I write...
this blog to express myself. Although I have still not opened up completely. Perhaps it will take time.

I confuse...
some people when giving directions. They usually end up on the way back to where they came from.

I need...
a vacation. It's long overdue!

I should try...
driving on the race track. I love speed. I'm an adrenaline junkie! I will try almost anything that would give me a rush!

I finish...
almost everything I start.. usually... well mostly... I mean I get distracted easily... like right now I should be working, but I'm answering this questionnaire instead! I'll get right back to work after this... I should!

and I tag (this is the hard part who to tag)
You know what... I'm not going to TAG anyone this time. I already tagged a few people last time (actually they're the only bloggers I've corresponded with here). It's up to them if they want to do this. Just me know if you do! :)

Prize Winning Photography! (Part 1)

2006-09-11T18:01:00.000+04:00

I took these pics last year when it rained heavily a few days. I was in Sharjah and the weather suddenly changed. The clouds swept in from nowhere. Luckily I had my trusty Cybershot with me! I can't compare myself with the photography of other bloggers (like M&J), but I think it's not too bad for a first timer, eh? So what do you think? (Click on the pics to enlarge)

1. Thick clouds are blanketing the sky...

2. Dark clouds creeping in...

3. My favourite pic...

4. You can see the Eye of the Emirates (the giant wheel) from here...

5. I can't think of a caption for this one...

6. Can you see the Emirates Towers?

7. Beautiful seagulls...

8. Back in Dubai...

Parking Problems!

2006-09-07T16:22:00.000+04:00

I know Abu Dhabi has parking problems, but I didn't know it was THIS bad!

I've Been Tagged!

2006-09-05T18:12:00.000+04:00

1) Are you happy/satisfied with your blog with it's content and look?

At the moment, yeah I guess! I want to change some things but maybe later! Need time!

2) Does your family know about your blog?

No. I want to remain anonymous (if that's possible!) as long as I can. I prefer to keep it that way.

3) Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog or you just consider it as a private thing?

My friends don't know about my blog. It's private where I can write what I want or about how I feel, whatever issues I have, etc. Besides, most of my friends don't write/read blogs anyway!

4) Did blogs cause positive changes in your thoughts?

I think it's a good idea to read blogs that tickle your interest. Everyone has a different opinion, point of view or perspective that they want to get across. It's interesting to know different views from complete strangers apart from your group of friends or family. I guess it gives you a basic idea how the general public thinks!

5) Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or you love to go and discover more by yourself?

I mostly visit the blogs of those who have left a comment on mine. Sometimes, when I have time, I visit random blogs just to check them out! If you visit me, I'll definitely visit you!

7) Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures?

Hmmm.. sometimes I guess, but then I get a headache and give up!

8) Admit. Do you think there is a real benefit for blogging?

I write what I feel and people comment on it. Not bad!

9) Do you think that bloggers society is isolated from real world or interacts with events?

Some bloggers only write on the news of the day and I think a lot of us read those posts. I don't think we're cut off from the real world. In fact, blogging tells you more of what the public really thinks instead of believing the other media. You can't get more real than that!

10) Does criticism annoy you or do you feel it's a normal thing?

Constructive criticism is good. Argumentative topics will draw criticism anyway. Bullshit criticism to just annoy me... you can kiss my ass!

11) Do you fear of some political blogs and avoid them?

I hate politics. It doesn't generally interest me. But then again, politics is a necessary evil. What I really hate is when politics mingles with religion. Very bad combination. Unfortunately, it's the truth. Religion is misused to get things done and that's sad.

12) Did you get shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?

I don't know of any bloggers getting arrested! What did they do?

13) Did you think about what will happen to your blog after you die?

I guess it will die with me!

14) What do you like to hear? What's the song you like to put its link in your blog?

Music is life. My all time favourite song is "I love you, I'll kill you" by Enigma. If you haven't heard it, get it now! I'm sure you'll like it!

15) Five bloggers to be the next "victims"?

Muahahaha.... a little more than just 5... here goes:

arab lady (arablady.blogspot.com)

nzm (mandjadventures.blogspot.com)

kaya (abudhabicalling.blogspot.com)

uae alias (uaealias.blogspot.com)

Ella (lamz57.blogspot.com)

elle (cestlavie-elle.blogspot.com)

brn (bssandbrninalain.blogspot.com)

md (funkyrandomness.blogspot.com)

Coming Soon To Your Office Noticeboards!

2006-09-04T13:33:00.000+04:00

One of the emails that get passed around in my office! This is an old one and you might have already seen it! (click on the pic to enlarge)

Bumper To Bumper

2006-09-03T16:09:00.000+04:00

600,000 children return to school today after summer holidays. The title of this article in Gulf News scared the hell out of me. That number scares me! 600,000? I'm sure it's more than that! I got the first shock today morning when I heard the bus horn outside my apartment for the first time after more than 2 months!

The good times are over! The madness is back! Traffic is going to be horrible!

I wish my car could fly...

Weekend Trip

2006-08-31T12:40:00.000+04:00

I'll be going to Al Ain this weekend. Need to get out of Dubai for a change! My friends and I will be staying the the Mercure Hotel on Jebel Hafeet. I heard its nice, plus my friend works there as well so I'm expecting a sizable discount on room charges!!

Does anyone know of any cool places to visit? I rarely go to Al Ain so I don't know much. My family and I stayed in Al Ain for 2 years from 1990 to 1992. There was nothing much there at the time. So, if you have any nice places in mind, do let me know!

Adios!

No Answer To This Question! (humor)

2006-08-30T10:56:00.000+04:00

A world-wide survey was conducted by the UN. The only question asked was: Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?

The survey was a huge failure because...

In Africa they didn't know what food means.

In Eastern Europe they didn't know what honest means.

In Western Europe they didn't know what shortage means.

In China they didn't know what opinion means.

In the Middle East they didn't know what solution means.

In South America they didn't know what please means.

In the USA they didn't know what the rest of the world means.

The 90/10 Principle

2006-08-28T11:18:00.000+04:00

The article below is by Stephen Covey. When I first read this, I realised that I do get emotional in some situations. There have been times when I did lose my temper, get excited or just erupt and in the process gathered quite a few losses. However, changing one's temperament is difficult. In some instances I have tried the cool and calm approach and to some extent it did work. But then there are some people who deserve to take shit. Then the end result does not matter to me. Just as long as give him/her hell!!

The article is long, but very interesting. Please take the time to read it. Comments are welcome.

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different.

You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red-light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible.

As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs.

After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure sky-rocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten minutes later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.

Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90/10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90/10 principle is incredible. Very few apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. There never seems to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.

Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost and life is a bore. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life.

AND REMEMBER WE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL OUR EMOTIONS & NOT LET OUR EMOTIONS CONTROL US...

Are You A Good Kisser?

2006-08-27T10:59:00.000+04:00

Alright!!!! Come 'n get it ladies!!

Your Kissing Technique is: Perfect

Your kissing technique is amazing - and you know it.You have the confidence to make the first move.And you always seem to know what kissing style is going to work best.Sometimes you're passionate, sometimes you're a tease. And you're always amazing!

Try out this quiz!

Same ol' news!

2006-08-13T11:15:00.000+04:00

Its human nature : we can't stay glued to one topic everyday. We need variety. You might not agree with this, but it's true. Your attention will be diverted to another event as soon as it happens and then to another and another.

We get excited and fanatical on these issues in the beginning, but eventually it dies down. For example, I was at a shisha cafe recently, and the news channel was on all the 7 TV screens, giving the latest updates on Lebanon. Some people started complaining that they are here to enjoy their time and relax and to switch to a music channel. They don't want to watch the same thing all night. Well, they switched to a music channel.

Same thing with the earthquake in Pakistan. It was total devastation. Thousands upon thousands of lives lost. It was a momentary thing, I would say about a month, and then we forgot. However, the repercussions of that destruction are still echoing today.

If I am pointing my finger at those who really do think about the world around them, try to help but eventually lose interest and move on, then I am also a part of the same crowd. There are very few among us who really do something about it. There's a big difference between making a difference and trying to make a difference. No one remembers the person who tried! We remember those who achieved. We are all such busy bees, what with all our jobs, friends and family that we do not really feel much for the affected, unless something unfortunate happens to those close to us. Even then we do not learn.

Well, I don't what happened, but just had to put my thoughts here. And I'm in the middle of preparing a report at work!

Google Calendar

2006-04-17T09:54:00.000+04:00

Google's new calendar service looks promising! It looks good and is simple to use. They're heading straight for Yahoo Calendar and it's going to be a long fight! I'm already using Microsoft Outlook, well... not fully utilizing it's features, but using it for emails and short planners. I've tried the monthly planner feature. Update it one month, second month and then I really get bored doing it! Besides, the Outlook colors are so drab and gloomy compared to Google's calendar, which looks exciting. Although I doubt it's flashy colors will make my day look any good!!

I need a calendar to plan my life. It's a mess!

Film Your Own Violent Movie

2006-04-15T13:12:00.000+04:00

This is sick! The report on a woman raped and the attackers record the whole thing on their mobiles! Every now and then these incidents are reported in the paper, but believe you me, a whole lot of them never get reported at all. The public has to know what's going on around them. You, reading this blog, know that our news media holds back a lot of information. Why? Is it damaging to the country image? Is it damaging to the policing authorities image? Is it due to the culture and tradition these reports never make it on paper or TV or radio? The robberies, car thefts, club fights, drunk drivers, etc. are common in the news, but crime of a sexual nature are mostly low-key.

Far worse, most of the culprits of these sex crimes get away with a slap on the hand (and perhaps a little manual on good behaviour!) Hell, print their full names with photographs! Let everyone see who these people are. Some time ago, eve-teasers who were caught, had their photos printed in the paper the next day. Maybe, they should do the same to real criminals.

Check It Out Before They Fix It!

2005-11-01T09:58:00.000+04:00

After a month long hiatus, I am back! But I don't have the time right now to add any deep and meaningful thoughts, so I will leave you with this little "google gimmick"

Perhaps you have already seen this, so forward it to your friends!

1- Go to Google (http://www.google.com)

2- Type in the word "Failure"

3- Instead of clicking "Google Search," click "I'm Feeling Lucky."

4- Giggle

5- Spread the word before the people at Google "fix"it.

Etisalat's Professionalism

2005-09-19T13:08:00.000+04:00

This report in Gulf News says that land lines are getting hacked through the internet and Etisalat isn't bothered about it. If your phone line was misused by a stranger, wouldn't you be upset?

“I faxed a complaint and e-mailed Etisalat twice, but I received no response. Then I went personally and I got an explanation from the counter that my telephone line was hacked via the internet and calls were made and that I have to pay.”

Even though Etisalat knows that the line was hacked in, they still don't bother to investigate and want the victim to pay for it. The victim can install all kinds of anti-hacking, anti-virus and anti-this and that software, but the least telcom can do is to investigate who is hacking and how! But no, they don't have the time for that!

Now that's high level professionalism for you right there! If only other major corporations adopt this attitude, we'd all be living in an ideal world!

Cheap Housing? Really?

2005-09-14T16:57:00.000+04:00

Dubai Municipality is planning to build low-cost housing to cater to the needs of low-income groups, particularly expatriates.

So Dubai has finally realised the requirements of its residents. Not everyone is financially well-off to live in expensive, posh areas of the city, or even moderately posh for that matter. Gulf News published this article today and I'm sure a lot of people must have given agreeable nods when they read it.

But... will the housing really be affordable? If you have a close look at the current housing situation in Dubai, especially in the overcrowded areas such as Deira and Bur Dubai, you will find that people residing in the old buildings, of which the rents have not sky rocketed as much as the newer buildings, do not vacate the apartments so easily. And that is mainly for 2 reasons:

1 -- Most older buildings have larger apartments. They are old structures, so the rent was not as high to begin with like the new buildings.

2 -- The current residents demand "key money" for vacating the apartment.

Key money could be described a mild version of extortion. The current occupants set a certain amount over which they refuse to leave if it is not paid. The would-be occupants cannot do anyting about it and the landlord is not bothered, as long as the building is fully occupied.

Just like real estate companies take over the sale of apartments in buildings, so do certain unscrupulous opportunists who will rent a few of these upcoming low cost housing. They know that when the building is ready, potential residents will run to sign up for apartments. And most will be willing to pay the key money to get in. Only then will the tenancy contract be transferred.

Business is good. And in Dubai, everything is for sale.

And Now The New York Times!

2005-09-12T14:45:00.000+04:00

Fascinating! Blogging in the UAE has become ever popular since Secret Dubai Diary's blog was blocked by Etisalat and the story was published in the paper. And, as you are all aware, eventually it was unblocked.

More controversially, content that verges on the political has also been blocked: Secret Dubai Diary, a quirky blog about Western expatriate life here, was blocked for weeks this summer, raising howls from the blogger community. Etisalat says users can appeal to have a block removed.

Secret Dubai Diary made to the New York Times! (on page 2). I don't know if the blog was as popular as it has become now, but I'm sure almost all local bloggers want to be there when the blog is updated next. Even small articles draw so many comments from readers.

To be honest, I never thought of blogging until I read that article in the paper. In fact, I was surprised to find so many local bloggers writing on such diverse topics - from anything to everything! This prompted me to start my own blog and see how it goes from there. Only thing is, one has to be regular in posting to attract readers, and I try my best to do that. Even though I have a very hectic daily schedule, I find some time to post my thoughts/opinions online.

So, Secret Dubai Diary... kudos to you!

Oasis Center Burns Down

2005-09-10T09:48:00.000+04:00

Oasis Center on Shaikh Zayed Road was on fire early yesterday, and as per the police, it was due to negligence of safety measures. One of the most prominent landmarks in Dubai, it was saddening to hear the news. Although I'd only been there a few times, it had a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere.

The workers were using gas cylinders and at one point sparks flew, igniting the thermal insulation.

Very dangerous indeed. I remember once when my office almost caught fire for the same reason: electric sparks flew from a few jumbled wires and the thermal insulation caught fire immediately. Luckily, some of us were in the office late night and saw the smoke and put it out. Otherwise, we'd be in the news the next day, as I too work in a very prominent "landmark" in Dubai that's been around for over 30 years!

"It was not vandalism as is being spread by many people, who love circulating rumours to spark fear among the people," Al Mazeina said.

Vandalism is the first thing that comes to one's mind. However, most of my friends were thinking about "insurance". Being that Oasis Center was not doing so well financially as most other shopping centers, this was a way to cover losses and start over. But I don't think so.

My biggest concern was for the animals at Petland. No matter how many times I'd been to Oasis Center, I would always stop by at Petland to see the animals.

A rescue worker at the site on Shaikh Zayed Road said all the animals had been burnt. "It was a a horrible sight," he said.

This was extremely distressing for me. I love animals and last night when I heard from a friend that Oasis Center burned down, my first thoughts were "What about the animals?" Left me thinking for sometime.

It's outrageous that a large and modern shopping center such as this would develop a faulty sprinkler system. Perhaps they did not maintain it properly, in which case, along with the workers, the management is also at fault. There should be fire drills and maintenance of the fire detection systems regularly. The Police and Fire Department should be advised earlier that at this particular time a fire drill will take place, so as not to send their vehicles and personnel when the fire alarm rings, which is connected to the Operations Room at the Dubai Police.

Voice Mail Woes!

2005-09-08T18:02:00.000+04:00

Voice Mail : Hi! This is .... I'm not available right now. Please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Caller : ((( click )))

That is so damn annoying! I get about 30 calls on voice mail a day and more than 20 of them are just sounds of the phone hanging up. For those of you who have experienced this, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes the same person calls several times (I know because I get the number) and still never leaves a message.

Check this out : Once a person complained to my colleague that he called so many times but I'm never there. I check my voice mail and find that he called 7 times - but NO message. I call him back and ask him if the matter is so important why didn't he leave a message. He replies, and I quote, "Oh, I never leave messages!" Unbelievable! So then we both had a nice conversation after that.

The most irritating thing is when in a message I can just hear cars whizzing by and honking and the car radio blaring in the background.

Wish I didn't have the facility of voice mail here. Then the phone can just ring forever!

Internet Speed Limits

2005-09-06T19:55:00.000+04:00

Well, our dear and most loved telecom (Etisalat - like you have a choice!) has announced a free offer to upgrade your current Al Shamil package to the next higher one, on the occassion of the 10th anniversary of internet access in UAE.

Subscribers to a 256K package will be upgraded to a 512K package; subscribers to a 512K package to 1 Mb, and subscribers to a 1 Mb package to 2Mb. Subscribers to a 2Mb package will remain on the same package but with a significantly reduced price.

So what are you waiting for? What? Say again? Think a little louder! Ahh.. yes. What great, big difference will a little upgrade make anyway! Except for peace of mind that you have a "better" package now!

From 256k to 512k is not a big deal, but from 512k to 2MB "should be" a big deal. But it ain't! I have a 512k at home and a Wi-Fi 2MB in the office. Pageloads and downloads are only slightly faster. Bah! So much for great expectations.

While it is great news, it is worth making an international comparison. Perhaps, the most famous global telco is British Telecom.

Its most basic 2Mb connection works out to Dh108 a month. In the UAE the cost of a 2Mb connection is Dh650 a month (as quoted on the website at the time of going to press). The most expensive BT offering is Dh190 a month.

Now we all know Etisalat makes oil tanker loads of money off its subscribers. And as part of a hugely profitable local enterprise, it is obligated to donate funds into the local economy for the betterment of its nationals.

But isn't it also obligated to continually improve its services for its subscribers? Spending billions of dollars in buying large stakes in foreign telecoms does not benefit us in anyway.

Read this on Etisalat's shopping spree!

Prince Charming's Complaint!

2005-09-05T10:02:00.000+04:00

(Excerpt from a play)

PRINCE CHARMING: Anybody remember that song? That’s right. “Rescue Me”. Fontella Bass… 1965. A golden oldie. To most people it’s a golden oldie. Except for the women I married. To them it’s the national anthem. Maybe it’s the white charger… Maybe it’s the suit of armor… Maybe it’s the royal title… I don’t know. But what I do know is that for some reason the only kind of women I seem to attract are women with a desperate need to be rescued. If only I’ll save them from whatever hell they’ve been forced into, they’re convinced life will be wonderful.

There have been a lot of women in my life… I don’t deny it. I love women. I don’t trust any man who doesn’t love women. My mistake is in marrying them. I’ll give you an example. My first wife… Rapunzel… Great name, isn’t it? Rapunzel. You don’t run into many girls these days named Rapunzel. A lot of Brittany’s and Taylor’s but no Rapunzels. I used to love just saying her name… Rapunzel. When I first met her she’d been locked in a tower by her mother. That should’ve been my first clue. You have to wonder about a woman whose been locked away in a tower by her own mother.

But she begged me to rescue her. She said she would love me forever, if only I’d free her from that tower. Something told me not to get involved and I told her that. Straight out. Up front. I didn’t want to lie. I am Prince Charming, after all. That’s when Rapunzel let down her hair. Guys, am I right? There is nothing sexier than a woman who, at just the right moment, gives her head a shake and unleashes cascades of long, flowing hair? And with Rapunzel, that moment happened in spades. She shook her head and that thick, gorgeous hair started cascading and it never stopped. All I could think about was how that hair was going to look spread out on a pillow.

So what’s the first thing she does right after the “I do’s”? She cuts her hair. “It’s too long”… “It’s not practical”… “It interferes with my back hand”… “I thought you cared about me”… “You only care about my hair”… “My mother was right about you.”

Before the marriage even got going, it was over… That’s when I met Snow White. I went for a ride in the woods to get away, clear my head and there she was. Snow White… If ever a woman was mis-named, it was my second wife. The woman lived with seven guys who worked in a mine for God sakes. Trust me, cooking and cleaning wasn’t the only service she provided. Before she showed up, Happy was just called Phil.

Pakistan and Israel: Will it work?

2005-09-04T14:01:00.001+04:00

One of the latest top news going around these days is the diplomatic talks between Pakistan and Israel. Go into any of the hundreds of coffee shops and people are smoking shisha and watching either football or when the Pak-Israeli talks come on the news and every head turns to listen.

The sensitivity that surrounds any move towards establishing diplomatic ties with Israel is evident from the choice of the word "engagement" rather than "relations".

Of course, the right words have to be very carefully chosen for such a sensitive topic. Any misunderstanding and all hell will break loose, which very often does happen in Pakistan.

Dr Rizvi points to two immediate benefits that Pakistan may be seeking from its change of policy.

"The first has to do with image," he says.

"What better way can there be for Pakistan to prove its moderate credentials by moving towards establishing some kind of ties with Israel?" he asks.

Does Pakistan have to develop peaceful relations with Israel to prove to the international community, especially the West, that is it a peace loving nation and that it is against terrorism.

After the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan joined hands with America to rid the world of Osama Bin Laden, He still got away, but at least Pakistan was in Uncle Sam’s good books. After the London attacks, first thing Pakistan did was shut down hundreds of madrassas and deport the hundreds of students who come from all over the world to attend these madrassas.

I do agree with a lot of things Pakistan’s President Musharraf is doing. Most of the country’s mullahs are corrupt and use their influence on people to do things which they themselves will normally never do. The madrassas are their training grounds. The mullahs cannot be controlled, they can only be slowed down, but for a while only, and then they spring back up.

Pakistan's top religious leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed has already described the Istanbul initiative as a move "against everything that Pakistan has so far stood for".

Qazi Hussain Ahmed is an opportunist. He feeds on the fickle-minded and the illiterate. He once came on TV on a talk show and said that he is a very simple person and has no material things or luxuries to boast of. After which the show’s host asked him, “So what about the Toyota Landcruiser you stepped out of tonight?”

Some Pakistani observers argue that President Musharraf has been resolutely trying to move Pakistan's foreign policy away from its current ideological basis to one rooted in economic self interest.

If by these diplomatic talks, Pakistan improves its standing in the international community; if it helps the local economy; if it improves the standard of living; if it brings about a more liberal way of thinking; if it improves the image of Pakistani’s living abroad; then it is by all means the right step forward.

What remains to be seen now is how successfully Pakistan's foreign office and its affiliated think tanks can sell it to the public.

Damn right!

Mike's Letter

2005-09-03T18:50:00.000+04:00

We all know Michael Moore and his criticism of the government. Prez Bush had it coming this time! Check out Mike's letter to Bush.

Katrina the Terrible!

2005-09-03T13:51:00.000+04:00

Katrina: such a beautiful name given to something so terrible. The hurricane has caused immense destruction and left so many dead in its wake. The residents were ill-equipped to face the sheer size of the thing and the authorities also seemed helpless. It’s so unfortunate and sad to see pictures of the devastation on the net and the live broadcasts. These satellite images will show you massive flooded areas of Louisiana.

Perhaps what was most appalling was the state of the residents of New Orleans: all the looting, killing, raping and other horrible crimes committed by the same people who were otherwise law-abiding citizens. The city has descended into chaos. We are used to seeing this sort of thing on TV, movies and the “poorer and/or Third World countries”. But I guess it’s just human nature. It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are. When the basic necessities of life are taken away, we will do whatever we can to attain even a little bit of security. In a lawless city, where even the cops are not cops anymore, everyone has to fend for himself. After all, what’s more precious than your own life!

Petrol Price Panic!

2005-09-01T08:01:00.000+04:00

Unbelievable car queues at every petrol station since the announcement of of the price hike! The new prices were to take effect from 1st Sep. but Gulf News reported that some stations had already started charging the new prices from 30th Aug.

I was at an Eppco station opposite Wafi to pay for my credit card bills and everyone was filling up car tanks to full! It was like those cases during the coming of the new millenium year 2000 (Y2K) where people were stocking up all kinds of goods - when the end of the world was just around the corner! OK... so they will fill their tanks today, make the best of the low prices for one last time, drive their cars for a day or two or three and then ... well you have to fill up the tank again!

It was ridiculous! And I'm ashamed to admit it, but I too was a part of that ridiculous queue!!! I thought "Oh what the hell, if everyone is doing it, so I might as well save a few bucks too!"

UAE: Dealing With Terror!

2005-08-28T20:24:00.000+04:00

I came across a very interesting article published online recently on the Oxford Business Group website http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/

If you haven’t read it already, here is the complete article:

“ABU DHABI: Great efforts are being made by the UAE government to distance itself in the world's eyes from the problems that afflict the rest of the region. As the country, and in particular Dubai, seeks to market itself as a regional business centre and attract companies and their employees from across the globe, political stability and security are essential components of the UAE brand.

Political stability is indisputable. Despite speculation that on Sheikh Zayed's death Dubai might bid for the presidency, or that one or other of Zayed's sons might attempt to displace Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa, in the event the smooth succession in November 2004 proved a model for changing governments worldwide. The partnership between Abu Dhabi and Dubai has rarely looked stronger, and the sons of Zayed appear to be working in close harmony with one another to bring a new wave of development to Abu Dhabi.

The question of security, however, remains a matter for concern. The UAE remains the only country on the Arabian Peninsula, and one of the few in the Arab world as a whole, that has never suffered violence from the plethora of militant Islamic organisations that plague the region. This has certainly been a remarkable asset as the country presents itself to the world and opens its doors to the international economy. Dubai's unprecedented growth, for example, has been heavily reliant on its attractiveness to the foreign companies that use its free zones, and its future prospects are dependent on foreigners filling the glut of expensive real estate development that is literally rising from the sea off the emirate's shore.

But some analysts fear a well-placed explosion in Dubai could bring the whole fragile house of cards tumbling down. Were Dubai suddenly to seem a little more dangerous, and more similar to the Arabian Peninsula of people's nightmares, would the brand they have built be damaged beyond repair? Would the foreign investors they have attracted up and leave, and would those that are projected to arrive in the next decade stay away?

The UAE's secret police and security services tend to be both pervasive and focused, and have been remarkably effective at keeping the UAE off the list of countries that have suffered attacks. Recently, they have been responsible for capturing several al-Qaida commanders, including in August 2004 Qari Saifullah Akhtar, a Pakistani who used to run one of the training camps in Afghanistan and has been linked to two assassination attempts against President Musharraf, and also al-Qaida's Gulf operations chief, Abdel-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was captured in late 2002.

The government has gone to great lengths to ensure that its security apparatus is very discreet. Visitors do not see the armed forces or police on every street corner and are not subjected to constant reminders of threat and insecurity. This is a deliberate strategy to persuade visitors that the UAE is safe and to encourage the confidence that is so essential to the economic miracle being driven by Dubai. The presence of these senior al-Qaida figures on Emirati soil is of concern, however, and while the arrest of these and others is a tribute to the local security services, it may also have made the UAE a target.

The issue has come to the fore in recent weeks after a warning was posted on an Islamist website, admonishing the UAE government for allowing US naval vessels to use Dubai's ports and for its pro-US policies. The posting on the al-Sakifah site on July 19 warned the UAE to remove the US ambassador and other US citizens within 10 days or face an attack. If you refuse to do this, we ask God to settle the matter or we will settle it with our own hands, it said.

While al-Sakifah is not one of the more prominent semi-official al-Qaida mouthpieces, such as the al-Ansar and al-Neda websites, it is known as a forum for Islamists and has been used by al-Qaida in the past. Security experts cannot verify the authenticity of this particular statement, but say every threat must be taken seriously.

Although there has been some insurgent activity in some Gulf countries over the past year, al-Qaida has not yet pulled off a spectacular on the peninsula to discourage the ruling families from supporting the US, said one expert to OBG. While al-Qaida's principle focus is the US, there have been many attacks on its allies since September 11, 2001, designed to evaporate support for the US. An attack on what bin Laden and his ilk see as the apostate regimes on the peninsula could be timely, he said.

Opinions are mixed over the damage an attack would do to the UAE economy. Much depends on the selected target. The worst case scenario would be an attack on a soft target such as one of Dubai's hotels, analysts say. This kind of tactic has been used to devastating effect in Egypt and elsewhere more than once. Some analysts see Dubai as more vulnerable even than Egypt, since tourism and real estate development are the principal drivers of its latest economic boom, and because of the sheer scale and cost of current development. The over-exposure of current growth to these sectors means that any significant or, worse, sustained, down-turn in numbers could devastate the emirate's economy.

Nonetheless, more optimistic analysts say that the emirate's economy is more robust and would survive a terrorist incident. Many large international firms have established regional offices in Dubai's free zones, and the cost of re-locating would outweigh the perceived risk after a single attack. Moreover, to where would they move? Nowhere in the Middle East can be considered entirely safe, and it would take a far more sustained attack to outweigh the advantages Dubai offers in terms of location, life-style and economic and social openness, they say.

These analysts also point out that the tourism industry has subsequently recovered after each attack in Egypt and elsewhere, and that the tourist industry in Dubai would also recover quickly because of the facilities on offer. It might take a great deal of effort to persuade people that the Dubai brand is not tarnished, but a single attack would not damage that brand irrevocably. The security services' track record so far makes a more sustained attack unlikely.

One way to ensure the economy is more robust in the face of potential terrorist attack is to ensure that the 80% expatriate community takes more of a stake in the country. People who own nothing are far more mobile than those that have capital invested, or who own property, in a country. Allowing foreigners to own real estate and invest more heavily in UAE companies may anchor the transient expatriate population that is so essential to the functioning of the local economy. In the event of increased threat, people would be less likely to leave, making the UAE less vulnerable and the economy less fragile.”

sizzlin.....

2005-08-28T14:13:00.000+04:00

Damn... when is this heat going to end!!!