Awesome Buildings Around Dubai & Abu Dhabi

you know the world’s tallest building burj khalifa is in dubai, but do you know there are many more buildings in dubai with awesome titles too? world’s tallest hotel, world’s tallest twisting tower, world’s furthest leaning tower – all here in united arab emirates.

here are more incredible buildings in dubai which prove that dubai never ceases to amaze me.

 

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my sis-in-law tina is standing in front of ‘cayan twisted tower’ in dubai marina – the world’s tallest twisted tower, twisting 90 degrees. standing at 310m, 75 floors; with each floor rotating by 1.2 degree. so beautiful, so iconic! to build something strong and concrete like that in its twisted form is amazing. it’s an apartment building tapi bila lalu malam-malam nmpak few lights je on. penuh ke tak penuh lagi ni?

 

I was at safa park with my in-laws to check out stuff at the dubai flee market. the two blue buildings behind us is the JW marriott marquis dubai – the world’s tallest hotel at 355m, and 72 storey. all the suites at JW marriott marquis dubai come with sheikh mohammed’s book of poetry penned by himself.

 

me, mr. khairul with his mom and aunt in front of the awesome coin-shaped ‘aldar HQ’ building at the edge of abu dhabi. another great feats of engineering and architecture in the UAE!

 

this quirky-looking building is simply called the ‘O-14’. some call it the ‘cheese grater’ building or the ‘honeycomb’. to me it’s the polkadot building! I always see it from afar, from sheikh zayed road on our way to dubai mall but never got near enough to take a picture – until now. one of my favorite buildings in dubai!

 

this is ‘capital gate’ – popularly known as ‘the leaning tower of abu dhabi’ – the world’s furthest leaning man-made tower. at 160m and 35 stories, it is one of the tallest buildings in the city and features an 18° incline to the west (according to wikipedia). that’s me and khaleef with abah on his visit here few years back. you can see how long it has been when you see how small my eldest khaleef is. hihi. abah you should come back again soon – so much new stuff happening in dubai and abu dhabi!

 

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there are many, many more interestingly shaped buildings in dubai and abu dhabi – and the ones I features here are just top of the ice-berg. awesome! and as usual – everything is ‘the most’ ‘world’s tallest, biggest, widest, leanest, –est –est –est!’ haha.

check out and gp google burj khalifa, burj arab, sheikh zayed grand mosque, the ferrari world theme park and viceroy hotel for more awesomeness!

waiting for the world’s biggest marvel theme park to finish and open here in dubai!

10 Reasons Why I Love Being a Mum

1. i can always blame my extra pound (especially my muffin top in the tummy area) on motherhood instead of those choc cakes i have been indulging in!

that’s what i said when mr. khairul playfully made fun of my ‘extra pound’ – “hellowww, anak tiga ok? what’s your excuse?” hihi.

2. if i had my boy with me when we’re spotted playing with toys in a toy shop, i get the ‘aww, so sweet’ looks from onlookers.

because if i were to do that alone, i get the 'that’s creepy’ or ‘that’s just sad’ looks. haha. coz sometimes you just wanna press all that colorful musical buttons on a yellow bus with barney the purple dinosaur on board…

3. who needs a gym membership when you can get a wonderful workout running after a laughing bundle of endless energy? 

carrying them will build your arm muscles, and bending over picking up their toys is practically sit-ups already! toned tummy in no time! want a good jog and a nice run? let your kids loose in a shopping mall, i guarantee a few pounds lost…

4. when we travel, i get treated like a VIP. we’re allowed to jump queues and are given better seats.

so far when we travel, we’ve never been given better seats than what we’ve gotten (which was always good enough), BUT of course older passengers and passengers travelling WITH KIDS always get in first on the plane!

and yes, in dubai airport, the arab officers in kandoora are always kind and considerate to move us to a shorter line so that we don’t have to stay in line for too long. but sadly, this was not the case in indonesia. nangis la macam mana pun, pegawai kat situ buat tak tau je…

5. with my kids’ smiling face and curious stare, i don’t need to think of any ice-breakers when i want to make friends or start conversations with strangers.

this is very true for me. khaleef’s antics in school. the cheeky stuff kahfi does at home. kazim’s eating habits. ANYTHING goes. anything can be an interesting topic. kahfi was jumping while we’re in an elevator, and even THAT can be an opening for a topic!

but i remember never to over-do the owh-my-son-did-this-cute-thing story. sometimes people get bored! haha. sikit-sikit dah le, mummy! move on to another topic, shall we?

6. i don’t need any excuses for turning up late at a party. i just have to seem hurried and look at my kid with total exasperation.

haha. so true again! i think that’s one of our quotes in the car when we’re late for something. “kita ade anak kecik, mesti diorang paham kenapa lambat.” haha. i know having kids is no excuse to always be late, but i’m just saying that KIDDOS can save us WHEN we’re late! haha.

having said that, “sorry ye, anak mengamuk ni.” kiddos can also save you if you wanted to leave early…

7. “it’s all for him.” i can stock up my pantry with lots of goodies without feeling guilty.

big box of oreos. one tub of ben & jerry’s. really long bar of chocolate. yah, for the boys. *roll eyes*

8. there’s always a good excuse to have kapal-karam house when guests drop by for a visit. they always forgive you. well, pardon the mess ya. it’s the kids, you see… *wink wink*

9. my boys provide enough entertainment for years to come. kahfi’s silly faces and those adorable sepet eyes, the darnest things khaleef says or kazim trying on bapak’s huge sunglasses – anything can provide laughter for the whole family. no need maharaja lawak mega or mr. bean!

owh, and no need for sinetron too – i’ve got three drama kings as it is…

10. i don’t need cuddly stuffed animals, or a teddy bear. snuggling up with my boys are warm and comforting enough. *hugs!*

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the ones in bold and italics are the actual points from the column ‘take 10’ in the dubai magazine ‘friday’, written by ‘sheryl sidharth das’. the rest is my take on the list. thank you for your wonderfully amusing list!

mums rock!

Dubai, My Second Home

there’s no place like home, malaysia.

however, for the past two years, i’ve been living in dubai, following my husband who works here. this month (18th october to be precise) marks our 2nd year being part of the huge expat community in dubai.

seems only yesterday i 'celebrated' our 1st anniversary of living in dubai. it was just the three of us when we started off, as i was pregnant with kahfi when i arrived in dubai. and just two years later – we’re suddenly 5ive!

us in 2008 @ klia to dubai (see my baby bump?) ~ us in 2010 on recent trip back

i have a confession. before coming here, i thought abu dhabi and dubai are two different countries. really! turns out, they both are states in a country called united arab emirates (UAE) and abu dhabi is the capital.

mana la tak macam dua negara? abu dhabi and dubai have their own airline; etihad for abu dhabi, and emirates for dubai. their police wear different uniform, and harga minyak pun lain-lain tau!

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introducing dubai!

where is dubai in the world map? it’s the one marked star – see how far it is from malaysia? but it seemed to be right smack in the middle of the world map, right?

flight kl-dubai takes about 6 hours plus, and we’re 4 hours apart – if it’s 8am in dubai, it’s already lunch time in malaysia at 12 noon!

the picture below will show you the location of the 7 states, or here they call it ‘emirates’ – abu dhabi the capital, dubai, sharjah, ajman, umm al quwain, ras al khaymah and fujairah.

1. abu dhabi – mellow city but fast catching up on brother city, dubai with their awesome yas hotel (yang bentuk macam topi basikal tu) and the gorgeous ferrari world
2. dubai – our home!
3. sharjah – home of qanat al-qasbah yang macam venice
4. ajman
5. umm al quwain – we hunted crabs here!
6. ras al khaymah
7. fujairah

fantastic facts on dubai!

• since 1833, dubai has been ruled by the al maktoum dynasty – the present ruler of dubai is the handsome sheikh mohammed bin rashid al-maktoum
• the climate is hot and dry - sunny MOST days of the year. in summer it can be super hot, temperature reaching 50c! however, during winter (nov – feb) it can be very pleasant, and some days surprisingly VERY cold, especially when it’s windy!
• dubai is tax-free, there are no income taxes nor personal taxes!
• the currency in dubai is dirham (dhs/aed)
• 80% of people in dubai are foreigners, (tu aku rasa kenapa emiratis kena buat muka nyombong. diorang sekarang sikit dari pendatang, so have to show who owns the place!)
• dubai is one of the safest cities in the world to live in with an extremely low crime rate
• male emiratis wear kandura (long, white garb), while the females wear abaya (black jubah) ~ (aku suka tengok mamat emirati hensem yang pakai kandura, tapi dengan cap! ade jugak penah nampak awek emirati pakai abaya dengan sneakers! yeap! coolness!)
• ‘sheikh zayed road’ is the longest stretch of highway in the UAE starting from the state of abu dhabi, across dubai and ends in ras al khaymah. it’s much like what federal highway is to KL. it houses a lot of office and apartment buildings
• oh, and of course – dubai is the home of the tallest building in the world – the burj khalifa

dubai marina (where we live) contains over 200 highrise buildings (apartments and condos, hotels & office buildings). gile kan? i’m not done – right across dubai marina, is the jumeirah lake towers – yes, ALSO filled with puluhan lagi highrise buildings (more offices, and apartments).

imagine these buildings are domino blocks. sheesh.

the ones i exed are postponed or cancelled projects. see dubai marina? and next to it, the palm island? that’s the only mega project that has completed. it’s really an unbelievable feat, and you just need to drive there and walked on the grounds of palm jumeirah island to soak in the fact that it’s the biggest man-made island in the world!

the other one that i circled – bur dubai, was our first home in dubai before moving to dubai marina. i love it there. it’s much closer to al-tawasol, my favorite mandi restaurant!

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5 things i like about dubai

1. here, almost everything can be delivered to homes. one pack of rokok, pieces of roti canai, a plate of briyani or sandwiches – you name it – they can send it. so when mr. khairul is off to one of his many business visits for a few days and i’m swamped with the kids, i just call up the kedai runcit bawah, and they’ll send up one bottle of fresh milk and a loaf of bread!
2. in most restaurants, there's always a family area, and singles area. so it's really comfy for us bringing a baby. also, a lot of places have separate sect for male and female - for example the clinic waiting room and the metro train (lrt). also swimming pools and gyms. the park has days where only females can go and exercise, and there are days where families can go.
3. of course, the international crowd is awesome. everywhere you look, there’s mat salleh, malay look (most with malay looks would probably be from the philippines or indo) chinese, indians, arabs, arabs who look like mat saleh, arabs who look like hindi people – it’s quite a sight – a myriad of languages, culture, and idiosyncrasies
4. i LOVE the malls in dubai! be it the biggest mall in the world dubai mall, or mall of emirates (which has the biggest indoor ski in the mid east), the classic mercato mall or dubai festival city
5. saving the best for last, i like dubai because this is where i fall in love with NASI MANDI! i’m a self-confessed nasi mandi addict! i also self-appoint myself as the unofficial spokesperson for al-tawasol, my favorite nasi mandi restaurant in dubai!

5 things i dislike about dubai (aside from semua barang mahal!!!)

1. every service here requires you to give tip, at least 2dhs (equivalent to RM2). from taxi driver, waiters, petrol pump attendant to the pizza delivery guy. if you don't tip, i guess it's fine - but don't expect your food to come on time on your next visit!
2. we’re almost ALWAYS mistaken for philippinos. malaysian lah – MALAYSIAN, and proud to be!
3. there are no street addresses in dubai – seriously, i don’t even know my home address! i always tell the cab/delivery guy, “the building in the middle of apartment W and apartment TY”.
4. here in dubai, when you need petrol, you MUST place your car so that the pump will be exactly next to your petrol door. if your petrol door is on the other side of the pump, the police might fine you! so sometimes you'll see a long line on only ONE side of the pump only. ntahape kan
5. the summer heat can be deadly, and i’m not speaking figuratively. memang ada orang mati sebab working under the hot sun! if i’m not mistaken, if the temperature hits 50 degrees, the construction workers get a day off!

oh lagi? in dubai, when you want to tapau food, you don't say 'tapau' or 'take away' – you say 'parcel'. "this one parcel, yah?" i was really surprised when i first heard it! it's weird!

ah, so much more – and as much as i miss my family and home so much, it has been an enjoyable 2 years in dubai. we have a large malaysian community here, so raya gatherings or any other activities held are never short of warmth and the feel of malaysian hospitality.

we’re all right here!

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my eldest son khaleef, with burj khalifa; the tallest building in the world

sigh. 2 years already, huh?

lagi berapa lama lagi mau duduk sini, mr. khairul?

Record Breakers in Dubai & UAE

as most of you might already know, united arab emirates is where you can see the tallest building in the world – the ‘burj khalifa’, (formerly known as ‘burj dubai’). apart from that, dubai also has the most expensive hotel in the world, the biggest man-made island in the world, the tallest hotel in the world, the biggest mall in the world, the tallest flag pole in the world – and macam-macam ‘-est’ lagi!

what else do they have, what else did they do, and what else did they build – to break world records?

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most expensive license plate

in february 2008, the most expensive car plate number is sold at 52.2 million dirham! it made what siti nurhaliza paid looked like nasi lemak money! it was bought by an abu dhabi businessman saeed al-khouri. also, you wanna know how incredibly rich his family is? well, the previous record was held by none other than his own cousin, who bought a license plate number 5 for 25.2 million dirham!

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the biggest aquarium in the world

apart from being the biggest mall in the world, the dubai mall also houses the biggest aquarium in the world! it’s awarded ‘world’s largest acrylic panel’ measuring 32.88 metres wide by 8.3 metres high by 750 mm thick and weighing 245,614 kg!

once, it actually cracked a little bit and flooded some parts of the mall! ngeri jugak kan. dah la aquarium tu ada shark skali…

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the tallest guitar in the world

the old hard rock cafe, dubai along sheikh zayed road, and the new one building at the dubai festival city

have you been to the hard rock hotel, penang? great experience wasn’t it, to see all the beatles exhibition and other music memorabillia. well, how about visiting the largest hard rock cafe in the world?

for eleven years, dubai already has a hard rock cafe along the sheikh zayed road (like our federal highway). it’s closed for a few years now, and will open a spanking new one in dubai festival city. it will be the largest hard rock cafe outside of north america.

not only that, it will feature the largest hard rock shop in the world, as well as the tallest ornamental guitar in the world! its height will be 118 feet (36 meters!),

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tallest flag pole in the world

like our tall 100 meter flag pole featuring the malaysia flag jalur gemilang at dataran merdeka, this one aims to be the tallest in the world! it probably is, at 123 meter tall!

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longest line of sandwiches

150 volunteers from kraft foods made 10,000 sandwiches to break the world record for the longest line of sandwiches, yesterday at dubai outlet mall. the sandwiches were arranged in a long line, and must touch each other, for a span of 2.6 kilometers!

“it took half a tonne of cream cheese spread, 10,000 baguettes and nearly 900 kilograms of tomatoes, cucumbers and olives to create the sandwich chain.” gile banyak!

my problem with record breaking that involves food is – what do they do with that much amount of food afterwards? i mean, remember the controversial record-breaking attempt to make a malaysia flag using beras by a group of school children (if i’m not mistaken)?

however, worry not – these sandwiches were packed and distributed to 5,000 workers in the sonapur, al quoz and jebel ali labour accommodations. so it’s all for a good cause, and even greater fun!

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world’s biggest shopping trolley

we may have the biggest chair in malaysia (though sadly, the furniture mall was burnt to the ground around june, i think), but dubai has the world’s largest shopping trolley!

being one of the biggest shopping destinations in the world, it’s only apt to have that!

it’s 639cm in length, 250cm in breadth and 900cms high. 15 people too five days to build it, and was constructed by century mall. seriously tak pernah pegi pun mall ni. can check it out soon!

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largest plates of dates

dubai also ‘served’ the largest plate of dates in the world! it was awarded to rakan maktoum al qubaisi, chairman of the organising committee of the fourth liwa festival. the liwa festival is where uae showcases its rich cultural heritage. the highlight of the festival is – the dates!

also, the UAE has been officially recognised as the leading cultivator of date palms in the world with 42 million trees!

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for more record-breaking feat by the united arab emirates, click here.

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?

Flying With Kids : What to Pack?

i travel back to malaysia with my 4 boys - a 4 year old kid, a terrible 2 toddler, and a 3 month-old baby. oh, and my favorite 31 year old boy!

there's A LOT to plan!

khaleef's on first flight!

i remember khaleef's first flight. sigh. how easy it was back then!

mr. khairul had already gone to dubai, and was waiting for us. i flew with my abah and umi, and a 2 year old khaleef. kahfi was in my tummy, and kazim was yet to be conceived!

it was a 2am flight. khaleef sat down, i switched on the in-flight movie to his favorite disney's 'the little mermaid'. after less than 30mins, he had already dozzed off - all the way - yes, ALL through the journey. he woke up only when the plane had landed!

memang senang ya amat!

* * *

on our second trip back home, khaleef was his usual 'easy-to-manage' self. he sat down, and immediately got comfortable with his in-flight entertainment.


what was new this time around, was we're travelling with kahfi - on his first flight, and first trip back to his home soil.

he too, was fairly easy to managed. hungry, i breast-fed him. when sleepy, he slept. when playful, he just sat quietly on my lap.


we got the 3-seat in a row, right up front so that we can have the bassinet for kahfi to sleep in. the bassinet is sturdy and looks comfy - kahfi slept well in it! however, he had to be taken out during turbulence, or else he might go bouncy bounce!

* * *

now for the first time, we're travelling with another addition to our family - baby kazim!

WHAT TO PACK?

1. make sure you have EXTRA CLOTHES - i got 2 for baby kazim, 2 shorts for the boys, and 1 t-shirt that could be worn by either one of them (travel light. it's highly unlikely that both boys dirty their t-shirt, i hope!)
2. DIAPERS and wipes - few for kazim and kahfi. if possible, double whatever you plan to bring. anticipate flight delay or tummy trouble!
3. shower cream, powder, diaper rash cream - i got myself the small packs of mini johnsons, and tucked them right in the diaper bag.
4. PLASTIC BAG to dispose the poopy diapers, or keep soiled pants - you can also use the barf-bag available in planes
5. MILK - for kahfi.
6. own SNACKS, finger food & bottled water - you can't keep asking the stewardess for water, or peanuts, can you? i brought biscuits and cereals.
7. entertainment - left it to the in-flight cartoons, and i'm saved!
8. favorite BOOK - a picture book for kahfi, and of course, 'the cat in the hat' for khaleef
9. TOYS - cars, cars or anything with wheels. more for kahfi.
10. first aid supplies - vicks vapor rub, plaster and tiger balm (tiger balm tu for the pening mom!)

arranged everything nicely in your diaper bag. make sure all items are organized, and MOST importantly - easily accessible.

in fact, pack a small bag (plastik bag pun boleh!) with just one diaper, a few wipes, and rash cream if needed and place it in the seat pocket in front of you, before you keep your handcarry and diaper bag up on the storage compartment.

senang nak capai kalo ape-ape hal!

AT THE AIRPORT

1. make sure you arrive early at the airport. you would have plenty of time for check-in. you must anticipate meragam, mengantuk, mengamuk or mengada-ngada drama from your kiddos!
2. try smiling helplessly at everyone and you may get help and be able to queue jump! (the last time we went back, they opened a counter JUST for us, because kahfi was crying)
3. this one i read somewhere - you can try asking if your flight is full when checking in because they can block out the seat next to you in a less full flight or put you next to a vacant seat, especially when traveling with a toddler under 24months without a seat; like kahfi.
4. wide space, plenty of room to move, the kiddos definitely want to run around - so put a set of reins or a harness on your kid so that you can let him walk around the terminal - but still keep him close.
5. make sure your kiddos wear distinctive clothing with bright colors or print to avoid losing them in a crowded airport - ALL my boys wore RED!
   

what's YOUR experience when flying or travelling with your kiddos? do share!

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i hope by the time you read this, we're already safe in malaysia, gobbling up durian and sticks of satay kajang, plus plates of char kuey teow!

50 Must-Eat Dishes In Malaysia

yes, soon i will balik kampung, and i am so excited!

apart from the obvious people i want to meet and hug, i've also prepared a list of the yummies i want to devour upon touchdown on malaysia soil!

(attention to abah, my sisters, my aunts and cousins, mr. khairul's siblings and my buddies yah! hihi)

1. durian
2. char kuey teow puchong
3. satay kajang
4. ayam masak merah yong
   
5. nasi lemak taliban
6. ikan keli cik masak
7. nasi ayam auntyna masak
8. selera desa tokcik
9. ikan bakar sg duyung melaka
   
10. cendol ipoh jaya
11. kuey teow sup r&r tapah
    
12. goreng pisang kampung lalang
13. pengat durian syimot
    
14. burger ramly tepi jalan
15. nasi kandar kayu
    
16. ikan keli puchong
17. pau yutt loy
18. donut goreng taman tun
19. caramel puding yong
    
20. nasi lemak giant puchong
21. kedai lauk banyak shah alam
22. banana choc secret recipe
    
23. goreng pisang & cempedak gerai bawah
    
24. char kuey teow FAM kelana jaya
25. nasi kandar line clear penang
    
26. ikan bilis sambal mak keh
    
27. laksa kuala
28. nasi tomato cik
    
29. yong tau foo pasar malam rapat setia
30. roti canai medan gopeng
31. bubur-bubur rapat setia
    
32. rendang mr. khairul's mom
    
33. putu piring kelapa
34. keropok lekor
35. ketupat daun palas tokcik
36. donashi
37. nasi ayam uptown
    
38. goreng pisang puchong
    
39. asam boi
    
40. sambal ikan bilis mak cah masak
41. ayamas chicken
42. nasi goreng USA
43. lepat pisang
    
44. hmm, what else
45. i'm sure there's some more
46. well...
47. 
    

any suggestions?

Baby Boo : The Nesting Ground

i'm preparing the nest!

BABY CLOTHINGS

...starting with the boys' clothings!

1. remove khaleef's clothes to upper drawer
2. remove kahfi's clothes from baby basket to middle drawer
3. compile, wash, hang to dry and fold khaleef and kahfi's baby clothes, napkins mittens and booties for incoming baby kay

khaleef's t-shirts, pajamas, jeans, socks and such are kept in the cupboard in the guest room, in the middle section of the cupboard. now that lil bro kahfi's stuff is going there as well, i removed khaleef's clothes up a level to make room for kahfi's stuff.

before this, i kept kahfi's stuff in a basket placed near his crib. now, his clothes are 'promoted' to be placed together with big bro's stuff in the guest room.

the basket is being prep up for the incoming baby kay! itty bitty pajamas, rompers, mittens and booties too! minyak telon, baby powder, rash lotion and the works! oh, i even korek-korek and found their old baby pillows, bolster and mat - those need to be washed too!

in the meantime, rasa nak print je this baby check-list from my just10 buddy anneeza - click here for full list!

* * *

BABY COT

next, is the crib or baby cot!

we're proud to use the one that we have been using for khaleef, and kahfi! still in good condition, and have not been in use since we came back from malaysia last year. since then, both boys had been sleeping on the same single bed which is pushed close to ours.

there had been 'accidents' or overlapping feet on stomach, or hand on face and 360 degree turning as they slept hihi but so far all is well!

* * *

BABY STROLLER

after this, the baby car seat and the stroller! (honey, you balik keja kang you gi korek bilik stor for the stuff ye).

last time we use to bring out two strollers - the smaller one for kahfi, and the bigger one for khaleef because sometimes he sleeps in the car and becomes too grumpy to walk when we've arrived at our destination.

the brothers in their respective strollers!

however, since few months back, we haven't been using the bigger stroller, because i want khaleef to get use to not having any stroller to sit (or sleep) on! now, if he sleeps on the way, we wake him up a few minutes before arriving. we kept him up with 'interesting' conversations on the cars and bikes we see on the street, or we sing a song. works most of the time!

* * *

baby clothes, baby cot and stroller.

ok, ape lagi?

Baby's Comin? What to Pack for Hosp?

my due date is drawing near. eventhough it's my third pregnancy, it's hard to ignore the the anxiety and suspense!

yesterday i packed my little mickey mouse luggage bag for must-bring stuff to the hospital. this is my list, cross-reference to the one made by my dear friend kak arin. i remember she put up a list of important items to bring to the hospital once you're experiencing labor pains. read her full list here!

kain batik
this was first on her list, which never would cross my mind! twice pregnant, and during both times i just relied on the cutesy hospital gown (bright yellow with little pink and blue flowers tau! hihi). she reasoned well - kain batik does provide the most comfort especially if we go through surgery. i'll just add this in, just in case!

speaking of comfort, don't forget a pair of thick socks! air-cond hospital sejuk! also, bring along a comfy top and pants/abaya that you'll wear when you're discharged from the hospital.

breastfeeding bra
also an important must-bring to facilitate breastfeeding. in addition of course all your necessary undergarments. i brought along breast pads as well. and while you're at it, don't forget the nipple gel to keep your nipple from cracking!

pads
yes! definitely! like kak arin stated, hospitals do provide their own maternity pads, but some women are just comfortable wearing a brand their used to - well, we wear it every month! so i bought the normal sanitary pads - a super-long-with-wings! ha, kalau bocor jugak tak tau lah!

toiletries
kak arin listed it all - tooth brush, colgate, powder, shower cream - "..kang pas mandi tak berseri lak muka." she added. hihi.

snacks
kak arin listed milo and biscuits as 'standby' snacks - and i agree. imagine getting up to breastfeed few times in the night, and feeling a grumbling in your tummy, with nothing to eat! a few bite of biscuits or bread and a hot drink would be very handy!

some hospital provides a lot of meals from breakfast to supper so you'll feel full by the end of the day. however, remember that this hospital bag is all for the just-in-cases!

handphone, extra top-up card and charger
oh-so-very-important! not only to spread the good news, but also to communicate with your other half! both times, the first on our must-call-first list are my eldest sister yong, and mr. khairul's parents to inform them of a safe and sound delivery.

extra top-ups is of course always, always useful - even if you ended up not using it. especially now that i'm in dubai, i'm sure i'll be needing more than a 100dhs just for phonecalls to malaysia!

and once you have your handphone, and extra credit too - it'd be so awfully frustrating to forget the handphone charger! hp ade, credit berlambak tapi tak boleh call pulak, receive pun tak boleh! so remember these 3 items that go together!

reading material
another important item for me. very. both times alhamdulillah we managed to get a private room with my own tv - but curling up with a good book while breastfeeding my baby is so satisfying! hihi.

knowing this, both times after delivery, mr. khairul would surprise me with a new terry pratchett book because he knows that's what i would like to have with me to pass the time. a paperback is better since it's lighter and easier to flip, while holding the baby with your other hand!

my personal choice would be a light reading from the 'reduced shakespeare company' (hillarious!) or any 'agatha christie'. my favorite of course would be any 'terry pratchett' - his story is always funny and witty - easy reading!

camera and battery charger
with facebook picture file and many moms having blogs - a picture of your newborn is almost mandatory - that not having it makes you a misfit, an outcast - people will look at you funny - "haaa? tak amik gamba satu pun?" so this is another of my must-bring!

however, during these times, a handphone camera would be adequate - click, and send mms to anyone you like. in fact, right after he came out, it was just a click, and kahfi's babyface is engraved in my handphone at 10 mins old!

* * *

how about stuff for your little newborn?

newborn clothings, booties and mittens, including barut
so far, i never brought barut - pasal baby kecik sangat, nak barut pun takut-takut! haha. but i do bring a few newborn clothings - a few old ones from khaleef and kahfi, and one brand new. why few olds and one new?

the baby can wear the old ones while in the hospital. newborns are usually tightly wrapped around with the hospital napkins and blankets anyway, so the guests coming to visit won't see the cute hello kitty or thomas and friends on your baby's rompers anyway! hihi.

the brand new one - is for when the baby is finally discharged from the hospital, and on the way home. it's a special occasion, it's an auspicious day! so the baby needs to look his/her best! hihi.

so far, i never had to use the old clothes, because the hospital provide the baby clothings during my stay at the hospital, but i find that the brand new baby clothes really 'festive' when the time comes!

blanket and towel
yes, to wrap the baby when the time comes to bring him/her home, or to be used while in the hospital.

pampers
newborn ones! yes, hospital do provide their own, but again, sometimes you're just comfortable knowing you have a brand that you trust and have been using.

* * *

my dear friend kak arin also pushed a little reminder for dads because he is our partner in crime, our PA, our driver, our midwife - our pillar of strength! check out her list here.

packing - check! mommies better do this - dads usually have no ideas what goes where and kept where so it's safe to do this yourself!

handphone - check! it's best if you remember YOUR handphone and charger, and he remembers HIS handphone plus making sure it's fully charged with a lot of credit!

minyak kereta - this is one that i never thought of but equally important, right? what if you're in the middle of labor, pain and all - and the car won't start or you had to endure a stop at a nearby gas station - tensen!

kena kuat - yes, mr. khairul is alhamdulillah, strong both physically and emotionally. he let me squeeze his hand as hard as i needed to.

plus, to make me feel at ease during the painful labor, he made stupid jokes about the day we met and how he fell in love (ok, ramai-ramai say awwww.. haha)

he was so emotionally strong that i remember dia casually bersembang dengan doc lagi while he's stitching me up - with all the blood and gore! ceh!

berdoa - this part that kak arin wrote make me sebak. isk isk. you can click the link and read what she wrote in her own words.

cool bapak with his first-born khaleef

this is another interesting list i found in the net. click here for full list.

bring a little piece of home
dads can help make the hospital room a little friendlier and warm with family pictures. i remember when i was in painful labor with khaleef, mr. khairul took out a picture of me and mak which i always kept in my handbag and placed it on my side. that was really one of his sweetest moments! love you!

distract mom
again, back to mr. khairul's 'talent' for bad comic timing haha - during the labor pain, he would reminisce the first time he saw me, and how he fell in love - and he added his story with silly jokes - yes, it distracted me from the pain, even for a little while!

provide focus
everytime the contraction pain peaked, obviously my grasp of his hand tightened. mr. khairul would just coach me through it, telling me that eventhough he can't feel the pain, but he knew when the pain heightened and subsided from the way i held his hand. from there he could just follow my experience, while helping me go through it!

relax
kalao bapak pun gelabah, maknye yang nak beranak tu triple gelabah! good for me, mr. khairul is one relaxed dude (walaupun gelabah kat dalam!).

take the abuse
this is a funny one - imagine wife in labor, and the husband asking where she put the handphone charger. when the wife lashes at the husband, husbands must remember it's not intentional - it's the contraction pain speaking! honey, sorry in advance, ye? hihi.

* * *

well, that's about it. anything else i'm forgetting? do share! and while you're at it, doakan semua ok for me on my delivery date ya! i repeat - 3rd pregnancy and i'm still very, very nervous!

The Invasion of the Wombats

i've been updating my facebook status with a couple of "wombats" coming to visit. for the clueless, the wombats are my younger sisters, coming to dubai for a holiday - scheduled to arrive, tonight!

why 'wombats', you may ask. i guess our family have deep affiliation with the aussie animal! abah, syida and i are all ex-melbourne students. we've made holiday trips to melb, sydney and the gold coast - it just seemed like something all of us are attached to.

and it's cute. w o m b a t. say it. it's cute!

sigh. i'm excited beyond words.

me and the wombats

ok, budak-budak busuk, these are my plan for you guys. subject to change. with additional fun stuff and lotsa good food.

• MAKAN, of course! all those postings on nasi mandi al-tawasol will be relatable to you guys after this because that's the first meal you guys are going to get once in dubai!
• we'll take countless stroll at the walk, dubai marina - and visit its many cafes, coz this time it's easier for me to walk around with two babysitters in tow!
• we'll visit the creek, and the bastakiya - so that you'll have an idea of how dubai was like back in the days
  
• abg khairul would drive us to the atlantis - where we would have ice-cream at one of our favourite ice-cream stops - coldstone creamery - where its specialty lies on its staff's amazing ability to baling-baling ice-cream into the cup, very accurately!
• you guys would wanna take a second visit to the burj al-arab, since our first trip with abah in 2004.
• we'll go to the dubai global village where you'll feel like you've visited saudi, zimbabwe and nepal with all the wondrous of each country!
• we'll hang out at the biggest malls in the world - the mall of emirates and dubai mall - each with its own specialties! MOE has the ski dubai, and the dubai mall has the biggest aquarium in the world! also, it's right next to the soon-to-be tallest building in the world!
  
• saving the best for last - we'll lunch and munch at central perk cafe! woohoo, you crazy nutty f.r.i.e.n.d.s fan, you!

we eat and eat and eat lah. and jalan-jalan huha huha.

ok, where else do you wanna go?
what else do you wanna do?
what else do you wanna eat?

* * *

* just called them wombats. busy with last minute check on luggage. pokpekpokpek - then, "ey malam ni kan dah nak jumpa? sembang malam ni je lah!"

ceh!

H1N1 : Do Your Part!

h1n1. now you gotta be outta the planet for the past month not to know of this pandemic that has hit malaysian shores with sad, tragic results. to date, 60 deaths reported - much to my sister (who disinclined to be named) dismay of malaysian's lackadaisical attitude.

according to her, victoria australia was reported to have a higher recorded number of death due to h1n1, way before a malaysian died of it. now they were able to contain the pandemic with only 21 (correct me if i'm wrong) deaths so far, while malaysia's number is still growing. why?

my sister has strong opinion on this. i and i alone, (hihi) also feel that some malaysians are simply stubborn, selfish, ignorants infecting people with their condition despite being sick! the precautions are all over -

• stay indoor if you're showing symptoms of a common flu
• and if you must go out, wear face masks (the face masks is not just for your protection, but also to protect others from your coughing and sneezing!)
  
• tak sempat beli/pakai mask? cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough
  

so just be smart and considerate!

have you got your masks? my just10 galpal anneeza went creative and sew her own face mask based on the idea of another creative blogger. click here to try it yourself!


be smart, be safe!

Before I Turn 30

don't wish me just yet.

and no, i won't waste this space for philosophical 'evaluation' of my life. or 're-examine' my life-choices. or 'dwell' on past mistakes and 'dream' of past achievements. i'm turning 30 and i'm just going to enjoy a BIG birthday!

my 25th birthday cake

before turning 30, i had wanted to do 30 new things.

1. i want to make sambal belacan : check!
   
2. i want to be less choosy in food : i ate fig. yech. and owh, check!
   
3. i want to at least finish a whole level of an xbox game (khaleef, mak la pulak!) : check!
   
4. i want to bake other than cheese and choc cake. i baked brownies! : check!
   
5. i want to...urm..
6. well..i..
7. let's see..
8. there's that..
9. wait i know i did something...oh yes, i did wear an abaya! which i didn't think i'd ever do!
   
10. ...

* * *

ok, i did not get pass 5! well, some things change -

• i've been living in dubai for the past 8 months!
• i'm a mother of two? me! the tomboyish freakazoid!
• i tried cooking a LOT of new dishes for my hungry boys and mr. khairul was *nice* enough to just keep quiet when it's not spicy enough or pekat enough - and sweet enough to always make yummy sounds when it's good.
• i have a blog! (erm. you're reading it)

and some things that stay the same -

• i still collect tissues, stirrers, free postcards and other lovely junks. since 1997.
• i still prefer t-shirt and jeans
• i still LOVE fast-food and indomee despite my resolution to eat *healthy*
• my choice of tudung is still the regular bawal, and have not graduated to tudung mrs mawi or lilit-lilit (niraku taught me how to lilit once, and i just can't quite get it right yet!)
• i still haven't read richard adam's 'watership down' but i still very much in love with my books!
  

* * *

turning 30
by syigim

here i am, look at me
still more to do, yet more to see
years of tears, joys, no bores
oh well lemme be 30 in due course

from tomboy kook to mom of two
years flew by as they often would do
today i wish that time moves slow
oh heck i'm turning 30 tomorrow

it's just a number, i shall not fret
i'll have a small BIG birthday bash i bet
get a cake, noise-makers, party hats and balloons
oh wow-wee i'm gonna be 30 soon

alhamdulillah for this one more year
to continue my journey with loved ones so dear
but hey, i still look 20, let's just say
though the truth is i'm 30 after today!

p/s don't wish me just yet, i'm still 29!

Kahfi's Guide to Pre-Crawling

hi and salam. i'm kahfi khairul and i'll be your coach today. as you all know, i've successfully rolled over. i could've done it sooner, but when you're an expert like i am, you don't need to rush into things.

i'm here to coach you on one of the most important phases in our life; learning how to crawl. but before we start to crawl, we need to prepare ourselves with the correct stance. i'm here to teach you the right steps!

pre-crawling is no easy task. it involves an intricate mechanism and outstanding motor skill to execute an excellent pre-crawl. that's where i come in. ekhem.

this fun (but serious) guide to pre-crawling is dedicated to fellow future crawlers - sis zara and caitlyn, cousin wafa, baby hannah and net, fellow just10 jrs munirah and pe'ah.

are you all ready? mommies, step aside, please. babies, take your pacifier out and let's begin.


1. puting your arms out is easy. just pretend you're reaching for daddy's expensive handphone or the remote control.

2. the parachute mode is a hoot! just make sure your arms don't touch the floor and you're good to go! a good balance is important for this task. this mode is basically to get you ready for the next step.


3. just pretend you're a lion in its prime, or a walrus waiting to be fed - you'll eventually get this effect. sigh. i love pretend game. (zara, nanti kita pretend kawen-kawen lah, eh? *wink*)

4. now this is the hard part. just focus all your strength in your bum-bum and you'll do fine. the force must be in your bum-bums! few good shrill shouts and screams of triumph are an excellent mix too while you're doing this.

got all that?


now that you know the steps to pre-crawl, have fun pursuing one step closer to the actual crawling! of eating weird stuff off the floor, breaking things, chasing cockroaches and hiding from mommy under the table!

and don't push yourself too hard. if mommy or daddy give you a hard time being too ambitious of keeping up with the joneses; boys - just *shoot* while they're changing your diaper! girls, temper tantrum is the word! - you know what weapons work!

good luck and may the force be with you (and your bums)!

X-Files vs Fringe

i have always been a fan of the unexplained. paranormal. ghosts and goblins. the weird and wonderful. so it's no surprise that i'm an x-files maniac. for those who had been on another planet for the past 10 years of the show's golden years and don't know what it's about, check out my entry on the x-files.

and when another show comes along heavily compared to my fav show, i can't help but be intrigued. mr. khairul first saw it and was immediately hooked. besides, he was more excited to tell me about it coz he knows what i like.


brought to you by the same man who did 'lost', 'fringe' is about an FBI special agent olivia dunham, who seek the help of mad scientist walter bishop, and his son peter as they investigate aspects of *fringe science (such as telepathy, psychokinesis, reanimation, and teleportation to name a few).

*fringe science is sort off a branch of science which defies the mainstream or orthodox theories. it's highly speculative, widely refuted and lack plausibility. rarely recognized by the science community.
~paraphrased from wikipedia

see, sounds x-files-y, eh?

what do i think? it's unfair to make any judgements now coz the show is new, i've only seen a few episodes AND i am very biased plus sceptical as i watched the show. ("eish ni dah merepek" or "dia ni saje je nak sound sceptical to everything" or "eleh nk buat sexual tension mcm mulder and scully") cammon, this show is trying to please an x-files fan! it has got to really be as good if not better!

since i don't have anything better to do at the time being (read: takde keja) i happily did a list:

- in fringe, the lead is heartbroken-confused-searching for the truth FBI special agent olivia dunham while in x-files it's monotonous-obsessed-searching for the truth FBI special agent fox mulder

- agent dunham started a 'quest' after finding out her dead bf (also FBI agent) was a traitor and involved in something really wrong, while agent mulder started plunging into the x-filed cases as he believed that his sister was abducted by aliens

- agent olivia seek help from a mad scientist, a specialist in 'fringe science' but agent mulder relies on his knowledge and his partner's medical expertise

- agent olivia's sceptical 'partner' is peter bishop, son of the mad scientist - while agent mulder's sceptical side is his partner, agent scully

- agent olivia's boss is this black dude who seemed to purposely sound conspiratory and mysterious - in x-files agent mulder reports to his boss skinner who also tend to sound conspiratory and cover-up-y

- fringe's tagline is 'ask. imagine. investigate.' - x-files' tagline is 'the truth is out there'

well, i miss the x-files and i love the unexplained phenomena. or in this case fringe science, a term i'm hearing for the first time. so, i'm staying glued to the couch for this one! check out the promo trailer...

Google This to My Blog

keyword analysis.

what do they type out in the 'search' box to get to my blog? yang paling mengarut had to be 'abu dhabi indian hot fat aunties friendship'?! what the..!

	Num	Perc.	Search Term
	10	15.63%	syigim
	4	6.25%	MGS IPOH
	3	4.69%	syazrin syigim
	3	4.69%	3rd largest mosque in the world
	2	3.13%	oldboys weekend 2009
	1	1.56%	abu dhabi indian hot fat aunties friendship (wth?!!)
	1	1.56%	koleq boys
	1	1.56%	majestic mosque in the world
	1	1.56%	+problem living in dubai marina (mane de problem! hihi)
	1	1.56%	aku dubai
	1	1.56%	roaches/cockroaches.com
	1	1.56%	how do you spell kadir in cursive
	1	1.56%	blog of nazruddin habibur rahman
	1	1.56%	how to spell mucho gracias
	1	1.56%	words kids need to spell by kindergarten
	1	1.56%	jumeirah beach walk
	1	1.56%	spell the word hid
	1	1.56%	shops in jumera beach resedance
	1	1.56%	japanes word ichiban
	1	1.56%	ichi ban slang
	1	1.56%	how do you spell 30th
	1	1.56%	spell kindergarten
	1	1.56%	How do you spell Gracias?
	1	1.56%	syigim blog
	1	1.56%	Mark Wahlberg
	1	1.56%	nixon crying titi
	1	1.56%	the largest mosque in the world
	1	1.56%	making love for boys from dubai (?????? kepala hotak diorang)
	1	1.56%	syigimblogspot
	1	1.56%	biggest mosque in the world
	1	1.56%	secrets to graffiti on facebook
	1	1.56%	"American Idol" Dubai 2009
	1	1.56%	poems that spell the word baby
	1	1.56%	jumeirah beach residences restaurants walkway
	1	1.56%	mckk old boys weekend
	1	1.56%	dunkin donuts in ibn battuta only
	1	1.56%	how do you spell the word me in chinese
	1	1.56%	maid of honor that is married
	1	1.56%	cooking class in ipoh
	1	1.56%	syigimsharif.blogspot
	1	1.56%	where is the big mosque in the world
	1	1.56%	friends quotes joey i'll love you forever by robert munsch
	1	1.56%	shakespere in uptown mirdiff
	1	1.56%	mckk old boys weekend 2009
	1	1.56%	how do you spell 25 in word form
	1	1.56%	maid of honour is married
	1	1.56%	married maid of honor
	64	100.00%

popular pages
the popular pages (ceh ceh macam le popular sangat ye) - ok lemme rephrase that - the pages that are 'comparatively receiving more views' are still any postings on dubai marina and the walk. there were a lot of views for the writing on my alma mater too, MGS ipoh. recently, however the posting on mr. khairul's old boys weekend in dubai got the most clicks.

keep on clicking, people. you're always a guest of honor here!

*grin*