10 Things I Love About My First Football Match : Malaysia vs Iraq

i don’t fancy football. i don’t watch the games. i don’t know the teams. i don’t know the players. except of course david beckham. everyone knows david beckham. hihi. but the story goes that i am currently living in dubai so if i get the chance to get closer to anything that is remotely MALAYSIAN, i’m game. pun intended.

..and that is how i ended up watching a LIVE football match between Malaysia and Iraq on 1st feb, at an actual field in an actual stadium in Ajman (another state in the UAE), from start to finish, for the first time ever.

and to sum it up – the TEN things i love about watching a football match, strictly from my point of view.

 

the whole family came in yellow malaya tigers jersey woohoo! (credit to bro wak kohl for this picture taken from his fb – thanks so much, this was our only complete family picture!)

 

1 – WEARING MATCHING JERSEY OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM

there’s something wonderful, united and glorifying about wearing the same thing with other supporters. the sense of belonging is even more so especially when you’re living overseas. this once-a-while get-together really strengthens the bond between fellow countrymen as we cheer and support our malaysian footballers.

in this case wearing the bright yellow jersey with black stripes which echoes the nick name of our malaysian football team – the malayan tigers. rawr!

 

 

2 – RAISING JALUR GEMILANG, MALAYSIAN FLAG PROUDLY

knowing that we’ll be watching the malaysia-iraq friendly football match, i quickly korek-korek everywhere looking for the malaysian flag. it’s not often we get to parade and show-off our flag while cheering and shouting in public. yah, try doing that in dubai mall? haha.

khaleef held the big flag all through the game. he even ran across the front of the seating holding the flag on his shoulders while the other malaysian pakciks cheered on. khaleef felt the pride and joy despite spending half of his life in dubai now.

our flag is so beautiful, and a single piece of cloth can mean so much to us as malaysians once you see the red-white stripes with the star and crescent moon on the dark blue background.

kibarkan jalur gemilang!

 

mak & the kay boys. thanks so much aida for this lovely picture! suka sangat!

 

3 – SITTING IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM WATCHING FOOTBALL

the malaysian-iraq friendly football match was held at ajman football club or ajman stadium. ajman is one of the emirates in UAE (united arab emirates), about half an hour away from dubai.

this was the first time i watched a football match at a stadium, and it was pretty exciting simply because you’re watching it in real time, LIVE. right there and then. you don’t hear hasbullah awang saying “canteeeekkkk” or “owh, sayang! gol terlepas” or whatever. however, you do hear unofficial sports commentators left and right – “woi referee bodoh!” or “dah depan mata pun tak bole gol ke!” and “tendang bola pun lembik!” haha.

the view was great if you don’t know the players and they’re just little blue-white-red dots running around chasing a ball. because you totally can’t see the faces, and i am positively sure that watching football matches on tv in HD is so much better. boleh nampak muka, ape!

 

 

4 – INSPIRING YOUNG FOOTBALLER

khaleef loves football ever since he started running and able to kick stuff. he was barely 2 years old and already running, kicking a big beach ball we bought for him. so he was the most excited to watch this football match.

throughout the game, kahfi would be the most restless – kept asking when are we going home, keep asking for food (i brought snacks and biscuits, phew!) while kazim kept walking up and down the aisle and everywhere.

khaleef concentrated on the game, he kept on cheering whenever the ball is nearing the goal post and he occasionally kept the malaysian flag up in the air. when the game ended with iraq 3 – malaysia 0, khaleef actually tried hard to hold back the tears. he was so disappointed.

he’s fine by the way, and was really inspired to become a footballer one day. position? goalkeeper!

 

 

* * *

 

my mr khairul in the middle with fellow malaysians in dubai. from left : bro affandy, abg fudzail, mr khairul, bro mat nor & bro wak kohl

 

5 – YOU WANNA GO WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

watching football matches in the stadium, you’re usually faced with huge crowds, possibly rowdy and slightly dangerous with strangers left and right, but when you’re watching a football match overseas with malaysians you always see everytime there’s a malaysian get-together, you really feel at home in the stadium.

i particularly enjoy watching this football match in dubai because you pretty much know most of the people in the stadium (the area where malaysian supporters are sitting) so i really didn’t mind kazim walking up and down the aisle exploring the place.

of course, things are always fun with friends. enjoying a concert, hanging out at the coffee shop, watching a football match – you need someone to cheer your favorite team and shout insults to the other haha.

 

 

6 – RAIN!

it rained during the second half of the match. sigh. patutnya budak-budak malaysia ni lagi terer la main dalam hujan since we’re so used to the rain in our country but too bad, still can’t win over the tall, dark, handsome pak arabs from iraq! hihi

 

 

7 – MEET AND GREET

the game ended with disappointment on our side since we lost 3-0 to iraq, but the malaysians were still looking forward to meet the malaysian football stars.

they took the time to stand by the barricade to shake hands with fans and take some photos. they were all smiles in spite of the tiredness, and the loss to iraq. i applaud their spirit and consideration to spend some time with the fans.

two other players who left the field during the game looked at the malaysian supportersm raised their arms and waved heroically, and the crowd cheered loudly in approval. however, one player seemed to be looking grumpy, mind elsewhere, and hardly smiling. when he left the field, he did not even glance up at the malaysian supporters. sombong lah pengantin baru tu! hihi.

the only player i know is the infamous khairul fahmi che mat (from the controversy surrounding the breaking-off of his engagement, to his link with gorgeous girls, and finally to his beautiful wedding) and too bad he was the one not fan-friendly. tsk tsk.

thinking of his new bride, i’m sure…

 

 

* * *

 

 

8 – NEW-FOUND FRIENDS

knowing most of the malaysians there, but there’s always room for more new friends! always so fun to know that someone recognizes me on the streets after reading my blog haha. aliyah and i ‘met’ through our blogs, and this was the first time we met face to face! comel je orangnye. take care of the baby-in-tummy and have a safe delivery back in malaysia ok!

 

* * *

 

9 – MY MAK LOVES FOOTBALL

football reminds me of my late mak. because no other person that i know loves football as much as she did. even my husband does not like football that way! suka main football manager kat xbox ngan ipad je hihi.

the only time i watch a football match was with my late mak who was a HUGE fan of football. she knew the players, she had a favorite team, and she also had a dream team where she compiled the best of the best players that she liked into one team.

she even had a poster of roberto baggio at the back of the kitchen door. cool huh?

 

* * *

 

10 – MY POINT OF VIEW

i still don’t like football.

but i totally enjoyed watching a game that puts malaysian against another country, and this game has brought together malaysians in UAE in support of our football team. we wear t-shirts with the word ‘malaysian’ on it and malaysian flag too, we brought out our malaysian flag, we sang our national anthem ‘negaraku’ loud and proud – we were being malaysians!

living in dubai for almost 5 years now, anything that reminds me of malaysia is a plus and i definitely want to be part of it.

also, khairul fahmi che mat is much shorter than i expected.

ok, i’m done.

Dino LIVE @ Dubai Festival City : The Good & The Bad

khaleef is a dinosaur freak now, including little kazim who likes to carry a miniature t-rex all around, and kahfi too.

so we definitely wanted to take khaleef to the ‘dino LIVE’ exhibition in dubai festival city for him to go back in time and find out what the dinosaur really look like LIVE since the dino exhibits here are said to be life-size – even the biggest dinosaur of all – the bracchiosaurus!

 

 

fun facts on ‘dino LIVE’ at dubai festival city

1. according to sources on the net, ‘dino live’ is the world’s largest dinosaur exhibition
2. the exhibition consists of more than 30 life-sized animated dinosaurs – up to 20m in length and 6m in height
3. these animatronic dinos emit actual dinosaur sounds, and also move their heads and jaws, and swish their tails
4. ext to each dinosaur, there is a 42-inch screen which displays relevant information about this dinosaur
5. there’s an educational movie and a 3D cinema, where children of all ages can learn and experience what it was like to live among the dinosaurs
6. the exhibition is divided into a ‘Dinosaur zone’, a ‘Fossil Zone’, ‘Educational Zone’ and a ‘3D cinema’.

 

 

* * *

 

my excited little paleontologists!

 

 

while i find the excitement of my boys in seeing the dinosaurs very rewarding, i must give my opinion on what I DON’T LIKE about dino LIVE :

1. while the dinosaurs ARE life-sized, the setting and display of all the exhibits are amaturish. mr. khairul even went as far as saying it’s like a high-school project. why? the dinosaurs are all placed one after another in boxy enclosure, and in a haphazard manner without knowing which dino or era comes first. motorshow pun lagi lawa cara diorang display kereta! haha
2. they should’ve put a one-way path that started accordingly (like in ikea, where we would be ‘inclined’ to cover each ‘room’ as we walk since we’re following a one-way path that doesn’t have a criss-cross to another section) to make it easier to navigate through
3. they should have archways to tell us that we’re leaving a certain era like ‘triassic’, and about to enter another era ‘jurassic’, which will make it easier for kids to know which group of dinos live in the same era; or at least color coded the display panel or names so that it’s immediately recognizable
4. the TV that supposed to display information about the dinosaur is TOO HIGH UP which makes it difficult for young kids to read, thus they’re discouraged to learn more about the dino they’re seeing
5. other than the tv, the NAME of the dinosaur should be displayed boldly in front of the dinosaur
6. there’s no pamphlet with information given to visitors to enhance their experience in dino LIVE
7. entrance fee is 50dhs which include popcorn – but it’s salty popcorn without caramel. aku nak yang caramel! kedekut lah!
8. the so-called ‘educational movie’ IS educational, but i’m sorry to say that the movie they show seemed as old as the dinosaurs themselves! it’s like an old documentary taken from the 1970’s! hello? with 50dhs that we pay, can you give the kids the latest documentary on dinos from highly-acclaimed sourse like nat geo?
9. the gift-shop is a joke. should have more dino LIVE merchandise – enough to make it a lot cooler that it already is to the kids. no dino LIVE t-shirts. no books. not even a freaking fridge magnets

 

mr. khairul with the samseng of dinosaurs – the mighty t-rex

 

the biggest of them all – the bracchiosaurus with khaleef

 

now to be fair, there are a few things that I DO LIKE about dino LIVE :

1. khaleef and kahfi were screaming excitedly as they move to each dinosaur, which is more than enough to make mr. khairul feel less of a fool to spend 50dhs each this hihi it was a joy watching khaleef identfying each dino without even looking at the TV (sebab tv pun tinggi sangat kan, tak nampak!)
2. the life-sized dinosaurs are a real sight – standing majestic over us, especially the t-rex and the biggest of ‘em all the brachiosaurus – and being a highly imaginative person, i was transported back in time where i wandered among these giant lizards to a time before time – it was amazing
3. to see how small we are compared to a dinosaur – standing side by side like in the pictures above – mr. khairul with t-rex, and little khaleef with the gigantic leaf-eating brachiosaurus
4. for really young ones like kazim, seeing these dinos emitting growls and roars, while movie its head or swishing its tail is enough to make their eyes wide in wonderment and awe – kazim was very scared and cautious at first, tagging along close behing his ateh (my sis-in-law) but soon became very curious and interested later on
5. while the setting of the whole dino LIVE could be improved, i kind off like the individual setting of the dino – with the trees, rocks and stones and the plants – looks quite nice
6. also, when we went, we were THE ONLY ONES THERE! so we felt like VIP – konon-konon the dino LIVE is purposely closed just for us haha i don’t worry about kazim getting lost in the crowd. khaleef and kahfi roamed freely running around to see the dinosaurs!

 

kazim! don’t be scared, they’re fake! hihi

 

dino bones pun ade!

 

so – if you have better ways to spend 50dhs in this dubai summer sale, go ahead. you’re not losing anything! however, if your kid absolutely LOVE dinosaurs, and you have more than 50dhs to burn, this might be a memorable ‘trip’ for your kid during this school holiday.

your call!

the dino LIVE show is running now at dubai festival city, the top floor near the cinema.

Gulf Bike Week : Aprilia or Ducati?

i’ve never been on a bike, until one day i went back to mr. khairul’s kampung and he took me for a ride on his old bike which he had gotten as a reward after an excellent PMR result. that was my first time being on a bike, and it was a weird, exhilarating experience!

 

mr. khairul with 3 yr-old khaleef on his old bike he got for his PMR. i think his brother is using it now

 

…and though i always see awek-awek hugging their boyfies tightly on their love-bike, it was so very meaningful to press myself up against this man who is my husband! *wink* it was a cautious kind of happy – i still think being on a bike is so dangerous, yet i feel so safe to have my arms around my man. it was a good feeling.

(macamane pulak dengan makcik-makcik ngan akak-akak yang tiap-tiap hari naik bike dengan suami diorang ye masa pegi keja atau pegi pasar? kadang-kadang nampak ada yang letak tangan kat belakang, bukan peluk suami! rasa romantik lagi ke, atau dah boring sebab hari-hari? hihi.)

 

* * *

 

yes, ini cerita bike. superbikes.

 

khaleef trying out the kiddo bikes

 

mr. khairul is a ducati freak. so when dubai festival city plays host to the annual ‘gulf bike week’, he dragged all of us to share his dream of owning one.

khaleef loves big bikes too. kahfi enjoys making vroom-vroom sound everytime he sees one. and kazim has an inexplicable passion of biting the little toy-bikes that only babies would understand. so all three boys are practically halfway there.

it turns out, mr. khairul’s little sister also likes big bikes! so it was just me alone who was out of place!

 

 

for 40aed per adult, you can enjoy the scenes and sights of big bikes, bike shows, bikers, bike-enthusiasts and biker-wannabes as well as the beautiful biker-babes! not only bulky guys and tattoo-ed dudes, but mommies with prams and strollers too!

…and then there are people like me, perhaps – just tagging along among them. hihi.

there’s also a rock concert by the side – which was too loud for kazim that i quickly left. (actually too loud for me!)

 

 

 

upon entering the vicinity, a huge ‘harley-davidson motorcycles’ balloon greeted us. khaleef had the chance to sit on a harley, while inside, my sis-in-law teh also tried her hand on a harley – the smallest of all harley it seems.

mr. khairul grabbed the opportunity to ‘test-ride’ the harley. it’s not really moving – just like trying out an exercise bike! but it gives the rider the chance to have a feel of the roaring harley-davidson engine when you hit the pedal.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 the bike show. kids, don’t try this at home!

 

* * *

 

khaleef with this awesome spidey bike

 

once inside the makeshift white tent where the bike exhibitions were, mr. khairul was looking at types, and horse power and ntah ape-ape lagi yang aku tak paham. me? if the bike looks nice, it’s nice to me! who cares about how fast it can go, or whether it’s dubbed the bike of the year – like the one below!

 

 khaleef with the green kawasaki bike said to be the bike of the year

 

*yawn*

 

* * *

 

 some of the gorgeous bikes i see there

 

* * *

 

saving the best for last – we came to the ultimate exhibit – at least, to that ducati-freak who was responsible at dragging me here.

DUCATI.

 

mr. khairul on the prowl

 

he was so cute; like a lost kid in a candy store. eyes-wide, rubbing his chin, mind racing, heart thumping – he was looking at the love of his life (after me la of course!!!).

i helped myself to a couple of shots with the ducati. ape yang best sangat ye? haha.

 

 me and a red ducati. so you’re my rival, huh?

 

 the latest from ducati – the ‘diavel carbon’. very huge. very expensive.

 

 ada gaya?

* * *

the kiddos with their ateh

 

sheesh. i have THREE boys, so it’s just my luck!

i know it’s just a matter of time before khaleef sneaks out of the house with bapak’s key to the ducati; or kahfi arguing with kazim over who’s turn is it to use the ducati this weekend. i just hope and pray that i don’t get late-night calls from the police about a certain involvement in illegal racing or worse – accident!

simpang!

What is Mufti Day?

tomorrow is ‘mufti day’ in khaleef’s school.

what’s a ‘mufti day’? something religious happening in school? a mufti coming over to give a talk? a birthday of a famous mufti? what is it?

in a letter to parents from the school, it’s said that on this ‘mufti day’,

• it’s a non-uniform day
• khaleef can wear any other ‘colorful’ clothes
• and bring a minimum of 10 dirham for charity

ha?

i was reading the letter and was clueless with the connection between a day called ‘mufti day’ with non-uniform day, and with bringing 10 dirham.

 

 

 

i googled of course.

 

mufti, or civies/civvies (slang for "civilian attire"), refers to ordinary clothes, especially when worn by one who normally wears, or has long worn, a military or other uniform.

mufti day (also known as casual clothes day, casual friday, own clothes day, home clothes day, plain clothes day, non-uniform day, free dress day) is a day where schools allow the students and staff to come to school in normal clothing (instead of uniform). in return, students are usually required to pay a small fee. the proceeds go to fund raising efforts in which the school is currently involved.

~wikipedia

 

so it’s actually simply a day where kids wear their everyday clothes, but have to bring some money for charity. in uk, australia, canada – the schools are doing it, so it;s not JUST a dubai thing as i first thought. this is really a new thing for me, because it’s the first time that i heard of ‘mufti day’!

however, as much as i’m all for charity and donations, i was taken aback by the letter from khaleef’s school.

from the letter i got, written by the principal it said, and i quote, “…children will wear colored clothes and bring a minimum amount of dhs10 for charity.” yeap. no ‘please’, no ‘if it’s possible,’ not even a ‘if you would be so kind’ flowery words!

i mean, make an effort to sound pleading, at least! ni macam ayat arahan je! i felt like khaleef is in a military school! hihi.

dah la ade jumlah minima, lepas tu ayat macam kena paksa je. hmm. jadi kalo aku nak bagi 5 dirham je, tak boleh la ye. ini kan derma. ikhlas dari hati, tak kira banyak ke sikit. kenapa nak kena ada had?

* * *

kat malaysia takde macam ni kan?

i remember when i was in school, a ‘derma PIBG’ thing where we’re given a letter with slips that parents can fill in with name, amount and signature. some gave RM2, mostly probably about RM5, and a few gave more than RM10. there wasn’t any minimum amount, kan? bagi je la berape-berape nak bagi kan?

 

* * *

these are some comments i collected all over the net – sites, moms forum, expats chats – i don’t agree with everything but it’s just interesting to note what some mothers have to say about ‘mufti day’ :

 

AGAINST

• Some mothers think this ‘charity’ thing is no charity at all when it’s made to seemed like it’s compulsory
• parents don’t know which charity the money goes to and that they should have the right to choose that charity (to me, no need to choose, but at least mention the name of charity or orphanage that benefits)
• the minimum amount is specified in the letter – charity should be in whichever amount and parents should decide the amount they wish to donate – little or a lot (AGREE)
• if the kiddos can wear anything they want after giving this so-called charity money, this will give the wrong impression on the kids. they would expect a reward whenever they give out charity
• this is a for of bribe (ha?!) it’s like, ‘hey kids, bring 10 dirham to school, and you can wear anything you want to school.’ (bribery? really?)
• in other words : ‘okay kids, you wanna wear your ben10 t-shirt to school tomorrow? okay, pay 10 dhs. oh, don’t worry, this money will go for a charity – but if you won’t pay you cannot wear your favorite clothes’!
• donation should be something you give without the expectation of anything in return. however, ‘mufti day’ is like the kiddos are ‘buying’ this ‘non-uniform day’.

 

FOR

• it would be more fun to allow a non-uniform day than a straightforward request from the school by saying for example "okay people, it's near ramadhan so we are collecting money for charity - please give generously". full stop. seronok la budak-budak kalo ade hari special macam ni hihi
• during PTA meeting, parents can express concerns and ask which charity benefits from this ‘mufti day’
• cammon – just ONE day of non-unifrom for small kiddos, along with this TINY contribution – not too much to ask!
• and the kids love not wearing uniforms! they can wear their cool spidey t-shirt, their favorite purple gown or that fancy yellow pants. why not give them this joy for ONE day, even if it comes with a price – that is, after all, for charity!
• the school is actually teaching the kiddos that they can do something nice for other unfortunate kiddos by raising a little bit of money for charity. and the kids can do this wearing their fancy shirts and dresses!
• this is just like when big organizations pay 10K for a table and that money goes to charity – don’t these adults get to wear strappy tuxedos and fancy evening gowns to a fundraiser dinner party? same logic! why can’t kids have the same fun?

 

what do you think?

* * *

anyway, tomorrow khaleef IS wearing his favorite t-shirt, and yes, he IS bringing some money.

for charity.

and boy, he’s gonna have fun donating!

Dubai’s ‘Free Public Transport Day’!

it’s the 5th anniversary of RTA (dubai road and transport authority), and they celebrate it by making 1st november a ‘free public transport day’!

metro (their lrt system), busses and water transport (the abra) – all were free for all on this day. guess how many people ditched their car to take advantage of this once-a-year offer?

dubai prince, sheikh majid, anak pemimpin dubai officiated the day by riding on all the available public transport. cool, eh?

the aim of the free transport day is (from gulfnews)

• to involve various public and private sectors and different segments of communities
• boost the use of public transport in the emirate
• reduced fuel costs and vehicle maintenance
• reduced traffic fatalities
• less carbon emissions

this is the first time dubai held a ‘free public transport day’, and will make it an annual ‘celebration’.

best kan?

 

* * *

some interesting bit about the public transports in dubai :

 

 

the bus stops are air-conditioned.

yeap. as you can see from the picture above (taken from my sis in law tina’s facebook) there are doors, and during the scorching summer heat, you can wait for the bus in the cold comfort of the cool bus stop.

i repeat – bus stop. ade air-con.

i’ve waited inside once, not for the bus though, but for mr. khairul. and a lady complained that since she’s the only one inside, sometimes the bus just pass by and did not stop. hmm. what’s the point of the tinted doors – to protect from heat, but bus drivers can’t see (or choose not to see that one passenger) the passengers waiting at the bus stop?

so how? hihi.

 

* * *

 

 

that’s mr. khairul’s little bro asrar during his cuti-cuti dubai late last year. yes, mr. khairul’s whole family came all the way and took the opportunity to ride on the ‘water transport’, or the abra, to cross dubai creek.

the fare? just 1 dirham! (less than RM1!)

abra is a traditional boat made of wood, and the original, classic way of transportation for dubaians. now people are still using it, including tourists like my bro in law la. hihi.

where passengers sit all around it, facing outward – 10 on each side. and yes, like you see in the picture – there are no railings or raised sides to hold on to. ade la canopy nak teduh dari panas but it’s really open-air like that! scary kan? but this is what the dubai people use, daily!

the scarier part is, it’s mentioned that small collisions between abras are common, as they jostle for space while at the creek! brrr! langgar-langgar tu biase je!

dubai creek separates the old dubai (deira), and the new dubai (bur dubai). i think there are 4 roads/bridge including a couple of tunnels you can use to cross the creek by car.

 

* * *

 

while abra is the traditional mode of transportation, metro is the modern one. newly launched, and a few new lines opened, more and more people are opting for metro to commute.

i had the pleasure of using this brand new train service late last year when my in laws came. i’m proud to say that malaysia had been using this service for many many years ahead of dubai, eventhough ours are not as posh and our train stations are not as lavishly designed. ye la diorang punya train station siap ade chandellier tu!

 

me on dubai metro with sis in law tina & bro in law asrar

 

read my ‘adventure’ on dubai metro here.

 

* * *

 

hmm. ‘free public transport’ day. imagine if malaysia has such a ‘day’…

Want to Act in Mission Impossible 4?

if you’re in dubai, you can act, aged between 25 to 50, and has a fancy national dress fit for the silver screen, then you’re eligible to audition for the latest movie franchise of mission impossible, the fourth instalment. it’s set to be filmed in dubai starting next month, and the production team is looking for extras – 1000 of them!

if it gets me closer to tom cruise – why not! hihi.

somehow this reminds me of the time the production team from ‘anna and the king’ came to malaysia looking for kiddos to act as the king’s children. i remember my cousin wanted to try out, but backed down when the kids were required to shave their head to get the look of the thai princes and princesses.

anyway, shooting has already begin in prague as of now, and will continue next month in dubai, and end in vancouver.

they’re looking for people to fit these roles :

1. 3 speaking roles are up for grabs – applicants must have acting experience
2. arabic and european men aged 25-35 years and european women aged 40-50
3. glamorous indian men and women between 25 and 50 years old, dressed in traditional kurta pyjamas or saris
4. men and women of all nationalities aged 25-50 dolled up in evening dress, tuxedos or formal national dress
5. businessmen and women from all nationalities aged 30-40

click here for more info.

 

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tom cruise as ethan hunt, an IMF (impossible mission force) agent, has always been, comparatively, my favorite – more than the overrated james bond, and even jason bourne. i mean, the theme song along could give me goosebumps!

he’s so cute, he’s hunky, and oh that smile!

tom cruise in MI:1, and MI:2

 

i like him better in the first mission impossible, though. his character was young and slightly careless and vulnerable at the beginning, which makes him human. the scene where he dropped into the temperature-sensitive, sound-sensitive, high-tech vault – dropped like someone parachuting. that scene is classic, man.

in the 2nd instalment of MI, his character was over-dramatized to the point that it became too corny – the insane car and bike scenes, the supposed-to-be-rugged floppy hairdo, and the chick’s droopy eyes – too soap-opera-ish to me! even the theme score was brought up a notch, doncha think? jadi macam rock sket!

and i didn’t see MI:3. was it any better?

oh well, now MI:IV is filming, and i hope tom cruise’s hair looks as good as it did in MI:1! so, any takers for the roles of extras in dubai?

How to Donate Blood in Dubai

gulfnews dot com (uae’s major newspaper) ran a how-to on blood donation today. have you ever donated blood before?

i NEARLY did, when there was a blood donation drive at my school one day. the clinic/hospital personnel were stationed at one of the classrooms, and students who were interested were asked to register, then answer few questions to see if they’re fit enough to donate blood.

a few of my friends and i did register, and were just waiting for our turn to donate. we were offered some biscuits and tea. we munched, took sips – and left! i changed my mind at the last minute! adoi!

was it the needles?

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anyway, i could probably ‘redeem’ myself after reading this article – here’s my chance to donate! in dubai, you can go to these two places to donate blood :

Blood Donation Centre (BDC), Al Wasl Hospital (kazim was born here!)
Call: 04 2192331
Time: Sun- Thurs 7:30am - 6:00pm

Al Baraha Hospital
Call: 2710000

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here’s the do’s and don’ts for blood donors :

Those who can donate blood should:

• Be residents of the UAE (yup!)
• Be between the ages of 17 and 60 (turned 31 years old last june!)
• Have a minimum weight of 45kg (ehem ehem, for me & the poor alat penimbang to know and for you guys to never find out!)
• Not have donated blood in the last 90 days (never ever had!)
• Not be suffering from any infectious diseases, influenza or taking antibiotics (alhamdulillah, none at the moment)

Those who can never donate their blood are:

• Hepatitis B and C patients
• HIV positive patients
• Diabetics who are insulin or pill dependent. However, those who can control sugar levels through diet and exercise can donate
• Alcoholics and drug addicts

Temporary deferrals (people who are unable to donate NOW, but can, at a later time) on people who:

• Are taking antibiotics
• Not feeling well due to fever
• Have smoked or consumed alcohol in the last 72 hours
• Have had tattoos or ear piercing done in the present year
• Pregnant women
• Anaemic patients who can replenish their haemoglobin can come back for donation later

When you visit a camp for donation, you should have:

• Had plenty of fluids (gluk gluk gluk!)
• Eaten nutritious food (nasi mandi? hihi)
• Had a good night's sleep (ZZzzz)
• Refrained from smoking or drinking (another good reason to quit it, honey! *wink*)

At the centre, they'll register you as a donor, take a quick medical history, do a medical examination, get you to donate and finally provide you with a place for brief rest and some refreshments to replenish your energy.

The process:

• An area on your arm will be cleansed
• A brand new sterile needle will be inserted, which will feel like a quick pinch
• The actual donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you’d be seated comfortably
• Refrained from smoking or drinking (another good reason to quit it, honey! *wink*)

After donation

• You must continue to lie on the bed with your feet raised above the level of your body for ten minutes
• Leave the bandage on for four hours
• Drink extra fluids for the next three days, especially the first four hours after donation
• Have a protein-rich diet and rest, which means not taking extra stress of work or driving

sources from gulfnews.com, click here to read more.

hihi

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i am A+. when i delivered khaleef, i was given a credit-card-size blood-type card from sunway hospital to be put in my wallet. senang kalo ape-ape hal, they simply look at the card to know which blood to give me in case of emergency – but i lost it when i lost my wallet few years back!

sayang betui!

do you know your blood type?

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why should i donate blood? the feeling of knowing you will save a life? the feeling of knowing that if you or your loved ones need blood, it will be available?

one fine day, i must!

what’s your experience?