29.8.08 (Fri) - Saffron...A Souvenir From Hubby

The moment I'm writing this, I am actually waiting for my darling hubby to come back from Tehran. He's about to be boarding on Emirates which will be touching down at DXB at 6.35 am this morning. It's only a one and a half hour flight from IKA.

I never expect anything from him other than a safe journey he's taking. But coming back from his biztrip in Tehran last week, he bought this for me which I appreciate so much.

It's saffron...familiar enough? Saffron consists of stigmas plucked from the saffron crocus flower below. The flower is beautiful, isn't it?

The first time I heard about saffron was a few years back when my parents brought this home from Mecca. Since it's quite expensive, I guess my parents just bought a bottle or a small box which they later divided a little amount to each of us in the family. I remember my parents said it's very good and healthy. How to use? Just take a few strands, soak them in lukewarm water and drink. Give it to your kids to drink everyday because it's very good for children. So I did because I believe that whatever my parents said must be the truth and nothing but the truth. I seemed to do it for only a few weeks and after that the saffron was like forgotten and still left in my kitchen cabinet. Until now it's kept untouched in the kitchen in my house in Bangi.

Hubby's frequent biztrips to Tehran seem to open his eyes again about this precious saffron. The rice he eats in Tehran is always yellowish in colour because it is added with saffron. Sometimes the chicken or beef dishes are also added with it. There is no wonder since Iran is the world's largest producer of saffron, accounting for over half the total harvest. Hubby said it doesn't have any special taste but somehow the rice or dishes with saffron in it tastes extraordinarily delicious. Hhmm...I'm so curious to try. Hubby was lucky to get to know more about saffron from his new acquaintances. His Iranian friend gave him these tips:

Take a few strands of saffron and soak them in lukewarm water (about 1/5 of a cup).

After a few minutes, pour the saffron water into your just cooked still hot rice. Then, it's ready to eat. The taste...you taste it yourself.

Emails we received from friends are also telling good things about saffron. Some say that it is worth trying to put saffron in baby's milk as it is very good for babies. Some even say it is potent therefore, it's not only very good for the husbands but very good for the wives too! Ohh...is that why my hubby brought it for me?? he he he

Curiosity kills the cat huh. So, you may google it yourself here.

p/s - When I come back, I'd surely take back the saffron that I left in my kitchen cabinet that mak and abah bought for us a few years ago and bring it back to Dubai. I will.

28.8.08 (Thu) - My Family's Favourite Kek Batik Marie and Pancake

Min said this to me some time in May 2008 when we had our farewell makan-makan before I left for Dubai, "Kak Ziela, sebelum pegi Dubai bagi dulu saya resepi kek batik marie ya". "Aisey Min, buku resepi sume dah shipping pegi Dubai la. Nanti I'll email to you later ok".

Min, I'm so sorry that only now I remember I owe you the recipe. That was after a few other friends asked me about that recipe when I brought this dessert to a friend's house last Friday. It's never too late, right. So, here's the recipe Min...and other friends who are also interested...

Kek Batik Marie

Ingredients :

350-400 gm of marie biscuits, 3/4 butter, 3/4 cup of milo, 1/4 of cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of castor sugar (can also use normal sugar) and 3/4 can of evaporated milk.

Method:

1. Break marie biscuits into small pieces (into four pieces each). Put aside.

2. Mix all the ingredients in a cooking pot and stir on a low heat.

3. Once it is slightly thick and boiled, add in marie biscuits and mix well.

4. Turn off the stove soon after you add in the marie biscuits. Otherwise, the biscuits will become a bit soggy.

5. Pour into a baking pan or a suitable container.

6. Press a bit until it becomes slightly compact. This is to ensure that it is easily cut and the batik design will be nicely formed.

Before pressed...

After...ready to be put in a fridge or you may let it cool in a room temperature.

Dan inilah hasilnya...

There are other ways of making kek batik marie but the recipe I showed you is the one I always make for the family and they all love it. Some people add in nestum, oat, almond powder, eggs, condensed milk and even water.

I pun ikut suka hati, kalau rasa nak bubuh telur I bubuh la sebiji. Kalau rasa nak tambah air, I tambah dan nak lebih rasa coklat lebihkan koko. Pendek kata, ikut sukati I la asalkan sedap. One thing for sure, my kids pastinya menjilat jari dan juga menjilat periuk dan sudip bekas kacau coklat tadi.

I have also tried this recipe of kek batik marie. Ok gak.


Oh yea Naza, you want my recipe of pancake? Here you are...

Pancake

Ingredients :

1 cup of flour, 6 teaspoons of baking powder, 2 eggs, 2 spoonfuls of sugar, and 1 1/2 cup of fresh milk.

Method :

1. Sift the flour and baking powder.
2. Beat eggs and add in sugar. Beat again until spongy.
3. Combine the egg mixture with flour and add in fresh milk. Stir lightly.
4. Heat the pan and grease it with butter. Pour half cup of the batter into the frying pan. When the pancake surface slightly bubbles, turn it over.

You can prepare this pancake in less than 15 minutes. Eat it with your favourite jam, honey or maple syrup like the one served in a hotel. Happy trying this for your breakfast or tea time tomorrow!

For the photos of how I made my pancake, you can go back to my previous blog entry.

26-27.8.08 (Tue-Wed) - i am me

i am me

•

"My Declaration of Self-esteem"

•

In all the world,
there is no one else exactly like me -
everything that comes out of me is authentically mine,
because I alone choose it - I own everything about me - my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions,
whether they be to others or to myself -
I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears -
I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes. Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me - by so doing I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts -
I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
and other aspects that I do not know -
but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me -
However I look and sound, whatever I say and do,
and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me - If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought and felt turned out to be unfitting, I can discard that which I feel is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded -
I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do.
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive,
and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me -
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me -
I am me &

I AM OKAY

by Virginia Satir

* Thank you Naza.

p/s - Biar diri tidak popular, asal kita punya pendirian, misi dan visi dalam hidup.

Always be grateful with what you have and what God has granted you with as God knows what is best for you. You do not have to be others in order to be happy. You just need to BE YOURSELF and learn to be better from time to time...!

23.8.08 (Sat) - Makan Lagi...

People might have this in mind...apa la orang Malaysia kat Dubai ni takda keja lain ke, makan, shopping, pastu makan, pastu shopping balik. Well, as a matter of fact, having a makan-makan like this will always be a very good gathering for us Malaysians to get to know each other especially when we are new here.

Last night, we were invited for a dinner at my ex-coursemate's house at Uptown Mirdiff.

Kaum ibu makan sambil bersembang sambil posing...

Sebahagian kaum bapa berserta anak teruna masing-masing.

The mouthwatering food served : laksa asam and not forgetting a must-eat Zaida's delicious nasi lemak complete with her mom's finger-licking rendang imported from Malaysia.

My kek batik marie menghias meja dessert together with Kak Ina's chocolate cake.

Untungnya berada di padang pasir ni dapat makan fresh kurma yang baru dipetik beberapa jam yang lalu...undeniably luscious and healthy.

We got a cordial welcome from the host Zaida, the lady in red with that chubby rosy cheek Dina. Tak cukup posing kat hall, kat dapur pun boleh lagi.

Eh Aidid pun ada. The friendly Kak Fauziah, the wife of En Mazlan, just arrived a week ago.

While the parents were eating and chit-chatting, the kids were also having their own way of mengeratkan silaturrahim.

3 dara pingitan (excluding yang baju hijau tuh!)

Praktis untuk bazar Ramadhan ke tu...?

Sebelum balik, posing lagi satu round.

A zillion thanks to Imran and Zaida for your hospitality. We really felt at home being at your abode!

p/s - Masih terasa-rasa lagi kesedapan sambal nasi lemak dan rendang tu. Alhamdulillah kenyang. Semoga murah rezeki tuan rumah.

22.8.08 (Fri) - Dari Dapur Malaysia...

This was our dinner for last night...the outcome of the many things hubby brought from home.

Except for the vegetable soup, the other dishes are all from Malaysia. It was only two and a half months we've been away from homeland but eating my mom's pajeri nenas was just refreshing. What more it goes very well with the dried fish! For the sambal goreng, the anchovies, dried chilli and tempe are also brought from home, but the potato and beancurd bought here. That sambal goreng ikan bilis with tempe, potato and beancurd is hubby's favourite.

Once a while my very own kitchen smelled so Malaysian. Our meal last night was delicious, albeit simple. Hhmmm......puas rasanya.

p/s - Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri...

21.8.08 (Thu) - Kontena sudah sampai...

Hubby had safely landed in DXB at 3.30 am this morning. I told hubby once he arrived please ring me as I wanted to help him carry the many boxes of treasures he brought fom Malaysia. Soon after performing Subuh prayer, hubby called telling he was already at the lobby. At the lobby, I saw his luggage and boxes.

Oohhh...tak banyak pun.

One box that has been opened.

Keropok ikan. My kids love this.

Hope this can fulfill our craving for the luscious durians.

Sardin dan kicap cap kipas udang. Tak payah la buka bungkus keselamatan tu sebab semua orang Malaysia kenal kicap kipas udang.

Untuk beberapa mingu ni takda la makan speghetii kari or spagheti laksa lagi.

Daun pandan pun imported from my sister's house.

Batu tumbuk tu...aahhh puas rasanya dapat menumbuk bawang dengan lesung batu ni.

My sister turut bekalkan inti kelapa campur durian...hmm sedapnya. Boleh buat macam-macam kuih bulan puasa ni.

My mom pula buatkan frozen pajeri nenas...hhmm makan dengan ikan masin goreng...oh nikmatnya! Sekadar membayangkan dah kecur liur...

Haa...yang ini penting. Kalau yang ni takda, alamat banjir la padang pasir ni bulan Oktober nanti....

p/s - Thank you Yang for bringing them all for us here. The cost to buy all those things is not as much as the cost hubby had to pay at KLIA for having access luggage!!!

20.8.08 (Wed) - No 3, Jalan Saujana 1/3, Desa Saujana, Sg Merab, Bangi

It's been 2 months and one week since we left our house in BBB. When hubby called last night from Malaysia, he said the house is in good condition, clean and neat (probably neater and less messy than when we stayed there).

Apit and Ain were happily playing with their bicycles in our porch. That was a few months ago.

Husniyyah (our soon-to-be sis-in-law) is staying there now since the house is only 5 minutes drive to Putrajaya where she works. I know it's in Husniyyah's good hands apart from my parents-in-law and my parents' hands too. Thank God at least there's someone to take care of our house.

Ini kawan-kawan Power Rangers Apit kat taska sebelah rumah. Sekarang ahli Power Rangers dah kurang sorang...berhijrah ke Dubai.

Oooohh...I miss my car very much!! This pic was taken 4 months before we sent it back to our kampung Kota, Rembau. I am very sure it too is in very good hands of my father-in-law. Bapak mentuo seyy kalau pasal car maintenance memang tip-top.

p/s - Bagi la Hummer sepuluh bijik sekali pun, I'd still choose my NBK 2111. Whenever my students asked me, "Teacher, when is your D.O.B?" I'd tell them, "You go to my car and you'll find my D.O.B there..." he he he.

19.8.08 (Tue) - Let Them Play And Eat

As usual when hubby's not around, the domestic engineer just entertains the kids at home...let them play what they want and eat what they like...

Ain and Apit main apa tuh? All the soft toys brought from Malaysia except for the yellow cheerful Modhesh (Dubai summer sale mascot).

It's scorching hot outside so, Apit just cycles in the house.

Haa...jangan langgar Ibu! Ibu nak ambil gambar masuk blog ni. Atuk2, Nenek, Wan nak tengok.

Penat main beskal, tido la apa lagi. Looking at a sleeping child...the peacefulness can make us melt.

"Ibu, lapar la. Along rasa macam nak makan pancake". "Aisey resepi pancake Ibu tinggal kat rumah Bangi la". I remember it was my Angah who first gave me that recipe. So, I sms to her in Malacca for the recipe. A few minutes later, Along's cousin, Hanis, emailed to her the recipe. What we did was that Along read out the recipe to me and I prepared the ingredients there and then. Luckily, we had all the ingredients in the kitchen: fresh milk, eggs, baking powder, flour and sugar.







Right away, I prepared the batter.

My pancake in the pan.

Aiseyy terhangit sikit...nampak macam lempeng pisang la pulak. Yang mula-mula ni jer. Lepas tuh semua ok. Yang penting simple and sedap. Apit siap cakap "syedap la...syedap la...". Along and Ain love it very much and they even asked Ibu to make some more tomorrow.

18.8.08 (Mon) - Hubby's Flying Back to Malaysia

Hubby's flight from DXB was at 3.10 am this morning. He's having a course back at SONY EMCS, Bangi for three days (18 - 20.8.08). As planned much earlier, I have prepared this long list for hubby to take home :

1). Kuih-muih frozen Along (nak borong banyak stok bulan puasa)

2). Ikan bilis

3). Cili kering

(Kedua-duanya dah tinggal sikit sebab dah rajin masak...! hi hi hi)

4). Ikan kering (hari tuh tak ingat nak bawa)

5). Kicap Kipas Udang (kicap Indon kat sini takda ummpphh..)

6). Mihun

7). Mee kuning basah (susah nak dapat)

8). Milo (Milo made in Malaysia kat Dubai harga 2 kali ganda!)

9). Minyak gamat (tertinggal hari tuh)

10). Last but not least, batu tumbuk...yes.

Errr...apa lagi aahhh...

Yang, please send my regards to all and take care ok. Don't forget all these valuable things. If you forget, I merajuk nanti.

17.8.08 (Sun) - The Unbelievable School Bus Fee In Dubai

Hubby went to Raffles IS this morning before going to his office at SONY Gulf, Jebel Ali. As promised, he got to settle the kids' school bus forms and fee at Raffles.

Considering the high cost of living in Dubai, we had mentally prepared to hear the unthinkable amount of school bus fee required for an IS. Being the second most expensive IS in Dubai (as claimed by the people here), it's no wonder that Raffles IS school bus fee would spawn a large hole in the parents' pocket. I just wished that what I heard over the phone when I first called the person in-charge from Diamond Lease Transport a few days ago was not true. If 'that' was the amount of school bus fee per year, we couldn't imagine the amount of money we'd got to pay for the bus deposit today for our two kids. Notwithstanding the worry, hubby just brought whatever amount of money that we had reserved in our little pocket.

At home keeping my fingers crossed, I got a call from hubby at 10.00 am telling that we need not pay any deposit if the sponsor covers the kids' school bus fee. The bus company would just fax the invoice to the sponsor (in this case SONY) and in return, the sponsor would have to pay in one lump sum. Whewww...what a relief! Alhamdulillah...thanks to Allah as that amount of money reserved can be used for other school necessities such as books and extra curricular activities that we've got to pay on our own.

The bus fees for several schools in Dubai have increased starting June 1, 2008. Although Raffles IS is not one of the nine schools highlighted, the coverage of this could be read here and here.

A few hours after hubby reached his office, he received the faxed invoice stating 16000 dhs for two kids per year...OMG!!!

p/s - Syukur Alhamdulillah...

16.8.08 (Sat) - Another Walkathon In The Maddening Heat Of Dubai

We went to Jumeirah Beach Centre to collect Along and Ain's tailored school long pants from Zaks. We also bought one more piece of blouse for Along and Ain. Since the school is about to open in another two weeks' time, there were many parents in Zaks this time compared to the last time we went two weeks ago.

Hubby was busy choosing the right size for Along and Ain's school blouse with the help of the shop assistant wearing a red Zaks T-shirt.

Along and Ain were trying on their newly tailored maroon long pants.

Apit was there accompanying Along and Ain trying their new school pants in the fitting room. He hasn't started schooling yet but wanted to share the excitement with his two sisters.

Seeing Apit so excited, Ayah bought one maroon kindergarten-sized P.E t-shirt for him too.

Posing jap kat depan kolam before having lunch at the kids' favourite BK.

Eeii...apa la Mak-mak Arab ni bagak-bagak sangat. Orang nak beli abaya pun takda saiz. Nasib baik...jimat duit.

From Jumeirah Beach Centre, we headed to Mercato Mall nearby. We guessed it wasn't very far because we could see it from here. So, we decided to walk. At least, the hassle of getting a taxi could be spared. Ayah and Apit walked side by side, Dubai Zoo is the white-fenced area on the right. The smell...eerrgghhh...

After about half an hour walking "in the oven", we finally reached Mercato Mall. Seeing Ain and Apit's frowning face, can imagine how iritated they were this time. The strong boy, Apit, was almost defeated in this 41 degree C Dubai 'walkathon'.

Aaahhh...this was what we needed after a 'long' journey "in the oven". It felt so good sitting in the air-conditioned lobby...Could see Ain smiling now.

We had the opprotunity to watch this great performance. It's part of the almost come-to-the-end DSS (Dubai Summar Surprises) held at shopping malls around Dubai.

Me and the kids, so engrossed watching the performance.

Grocery shopping after that...

15.8.08 (Fri) - We Should Be Grateful...

I qoute this from a tazkirah forwarded by a friend. It reads "...Manusia wajib mensyukuri enam nikmat yang dikurniai oleh Allah s.w.t. Enam nikmat itu ialah : Pertama, nik'matul halqi - nikmat dari tiada kepada ada. Kedua, nik'matul insan - nikmat kita ini menjadi manusia. Kita tidak dijadikan haiwan. Ketiga, nik'matul bayan - nikmat kepintaran dan kecerdikan. Keempat, nik'matul roh aqli dan nafs. Kelima, nik'matul rezki dan keenam, nikmatul Islam - nikmat menjadi atau dilahirkan sebagai orang Islam".

While we are treating our little kids with an MP3 or MP4, ada saudara kita kat Afrika sana yang kena junjung benda tu semata-mata nak dengar radio...

When we are busy making our dreams to own a luxury car come true, this "cowrolla" would be heaven to them...

When there's an emergency to go to the clinic or hospital, we would fuss about the traffic jam or the many traffic lights, but what about them...

When I am grumbling about not having own transport and difficult to get a cab here in Dubai, to our friends in Africa this is heaven enough...!!

All these pics make me think that we should be grateful with what we have. Even though it's sometimes difficult to get a cab here, once we get it, we can sit comfortably in it enjoying the air-conditioned ride and can even doze off and let the driver do you a favour by bringing you to your destination. What's more important, you don't have to drive...

Nevertheless, it's not wrong at all to have dreams, right? Hubby with Hummer...he he he

Isn't it beautiful but tough! Ni kalau dapat sondol teksi-teksi kat Dubai ni...besttt...Kalau bawa balik Malaysia, boleh sondol drebar-drebar yang kurang ajar yang buat jalanraya tuh macam bapak dia yang punya...

From what we googled, we can get a Hummer in Dubai five times cheaper than in Malaysia!! No wonder we can see Hummers especially H2 a lot on Dubai roads...

p/s - Syukur Alhamdulillah...

14.8.08 (Thu) - Alahai...ada pula yang jeles...

"Ala Cikgu...jeles la Cikgu letak gambar budak Form 4 n Form 5 je...," Anis said to me when we YMed this evening. She was a Form 2 girl in one of the classes I taught this year. We've been emailing to each other since I left the school in June 2008. "Haa...tu la kan rugi tak ambil gambar ngan Cikgu. Kalau tak, boleh masuk blog...satu dunia boleh tengok...he he." "Email la gambar kat Cikgu." So, she actually did.

And, here you are girls...

Anis is the sweet girl third from right, posing with her other classmates.

This is the cheerful class of 2KAA1, full of good obedient kids, I used to enter to teach...now no more...

Ilham Hasanah is the girl in blue who's given me a 'branded' purse for Teacher's Day and farewell present. Thank you so much, girl. I'm still thinking of what to give you in return...a KUL-DXB return ticket for one...hmm...?

This is another pic emailed to me by my ex-students from my previous school just a few weeks ago. Qin Zhe and Fui Xian, hope you're pleased to see your pic here...

These are the bunch of 5B kids whom I taught in 2005-2006 in SMJK Yu Hua, Kajang before I left for a neaarby school SMK Saujana Impian in 2007. They are now in Form Upper 6 Science, some in colleges local and overseas. Fui Xian and Qin Zhe, thank you for keeping in touch! All the best in your coming STPM!

I may not be a very good teacher to them. But when I am being remembered, it does tell me something...

p/s - Anak-anak dara yang berenam tu, lepas ni kalau ada Pak-pak Arab yang nak berkenalan Cikgu tak tau...!

13.8.08 (Wed) - Who Said A Housewife Cannot Get a P.J.K...?

I was awoken this morning by an sms alert from my father in Malaysia. The sms written "Along akan terima PJK pada 21.8.08 dpd DYMM N.Sembilan". What...? Fully awakened this time, I read the message once again. My eldest sister is getting a P.J.K (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian) next Friday from Yamtuan Besar Negeri Sembilan...wahhh.

My 47 year-old Along is the first from left together with my mother and her four daughters. The girl in pink is my eldest daughter.

Being a humble housewife, my Along is an active home entrepreneur in frozen cakes. Lucky enough for her to have settled down in Port Dickson as several hotels in PD are her regular clients, apart from family members, relatives, neighbours and friends.

All this while, when we went back to Port Dickson we'd surely bring back to Bangi a handful of kuih-muih Melayu such as curry puffs, doughnuts, pau, samosa, kuih koci, cucur badak, apam, lepat pisang, popia, fried dim sum and even murtabak. An easy job for me huh everytime the kids and the kids' father want to eat any of those kuih. I would just defrost it for a while and fry or steam it. But now in Dubai, I have to learn to make all those kuihs from zero... Oh tidak...!

This picture taken during our outing at Taman Botani, Putrajaya in 2006. Along in maroon baju kurung. She was once a 'ratu kebaya' at her workplace during her maiden years. Wahh...like sister like sister ha ha ha.(perasan jap...sukati I la kannn)

Since all her kids are big already (the youngest is 11 and the eldest son in UMS), that eldest sis of mine has actively involved herself in LPWI at her place. It's some women society or organisation but I'm not very sure of what it stands for but will find out soon. Mind you...she's not a politician ok!

Her homemade frozen cakes business used to be the headline in one of the columns in Utusan Malaysia sometime last year. In that article, I remember her saying her husband is her number one moral supporter and she inherits all this kuih-muih baking skills from our mother. Our mother used to sell kuih-muih when we were small.

Congratulations Along from your youngest sis, brother-in-law, nieces and nephew from far far away the never never land...We're really proud of you!

p/s - Apsal ahh bakat buat kuih my mother tu tak menurun pun kat I?? I buat jemput-jemput pun kadang-kadang tak jadi...chehh...

12.8.08 (Tue) - Why and How Dubai Taxi Drivers Profile Passengers

Hubby asked me to go Raffles IS to take the bus form for the kids. He was away in Teheran so I had to do it all by myself. I refused to go. It's not that I do not care about the kids' school matters but we squabbled for a reason...

1) If I have a car, there's no problem at all. I can just drive and go. But, taxi is the big issue here in Dubai. He expected me to drag along all my three kids and wait nonchalantly for the taxis which already have a bad reputation in Dubai.

2) There may not be a problem to get a taxi at Al Attar Escala because many taxi drivers stop at Al Ismaily Cafe for their cup of tea and at Eppco gas station nearby. But getting a taxi at Raffles is difficult. When we went there for Along and Ain entrance test last time, we had a nightmare getting a taxi. And now hubby expected me and the kids to go through the nightmarish experience again??

Once at Raffles IS, hubby had to call for a taxi twice but after nearly an hour, no taxi came. The guard, seeing us restless in the maddening heat outside Raffles, ushered us to wait inside the air-conditioned lobby. He even suggested to get help from the British receptionist to call a taxi for us. So, we did. Upon listening to the Westerner's voice, in no time the taxi came...! I was with hubby that time but now hubby's in Teheran. He 'wanted' me to go through the nightmare all alone with the kids...a big NO!! (unless I'm already used to this area).

Suddenly I remember coming across a front-page article in Xpress entitled WHY DO DRIVERS PROFILE? (referring to Dubai taxi drivers). It was a shocking news that made me have even more phobia getting a taxi in Dubai!!

Dubai's cabbies size up passengers according to race, nationality or how well they are dressed before deciding whether to pick them up or not. If you want to get a taxi quickly in Dubai, you'd better be a well-dressed Westerner. (OMG!)

One cabbie admitted : "When there's a call through our system, we are informed about the destination, name and location. Then we decide if it's a good or bad customer." (That bad!) The article even stated how cabbies racially profile Dubai's pasengers whether they are Africans, the sub-continents, Asians, Filipinos, Emiratis, Saudis, Arabs, Eastern Europeans and their most favoured Westerners.

More reports on this, click here.

p/s - Nanti la laki I beli Hummer nanti baru tau. Habis teksi Dubai tu kitorang sondol ngan Hummer. Padan muka...eksyen sangat...! Phehh...

11.8.08 (Mon) - I USED to be all those...!

I am a counselor and psychologist to a problem-filled child,

I am a police officer that controls a child gone wild.

I am a travel agent scheduling our trips for the year,

I am a confidante that wipes a crying child's tear.

I am a banker collecting for a ton of different things,

I am a librarian showing adventures that a storybook brings.

I am a custodian that has to clean certain little messes,

I am a psychic that learns to know all that everybody only guesses.

I am a photographer keeping pictures of a child's yearly growth,

When mother and father are gone for the day, I become both.

I am a doctor that detects when a child is feeling sick,

I am a politician that must know the laws and recognize a trick,

I am a party planner for holidays to celebrate with all,

I am a decorator of a room, filling every wall.

I am a news reporter updating on our nations current events,

I am a detective solving small mysteries and ending all suspense.

I am a clown and comedian that makes the children laugh,

I am a dietician assuring they have lunch or from mine I give them half,

When we seem to stray from values, I become a preacher,

But I'm proud to have to be these people because...

I'm proud to say, "I am a teacher".

by Stacy Bonino

p/s - Putri, I'm not a police ok...he he he

10.8.08 (Sun) - Walking In The Desert

Yesterday evening, we took a walk from our apartment to Al Kuwait Street. Hubby had some business to do there.

Ni bukan jalan-jalan kat Pantai Port Dickson tapi kat padang pasir, berlatarbelakangkan our apartment building.

Apit, with his newly cut hair, was the most excited to have an evening outing.

The mosque which Apit and Ayah always go for Friday prayer, just a few minutes walk from our apartment.

I saw these at one grocery shop at Al Kuwait Street. Yes, these are brooms. Apsal depa jual sekerat jer? However, what attracted me was that...

...pasal buah-buahnya pun ada melekat skali kat bulu-bulu tuh. Nampak macam buah kurma kecil tapi tak tau la. Kat Malaysia rasanya tak pernah lak nampak ada buah-buah melekat kat bulu penyapu. The broom in Malaysia is made from sabut kelapa, right. Dah la bulu-bulunya kasar.

One more thing, it's very difficult to find lesung batu aka batu tumbuk in Dubai. What I could find was only this lesung kayu (macam mainan je...nyesal tak angkut lesung batu dari Malaysia).

Ok la, can do laa...

Better something than nothing at all...hhmmm...

9.8.08 (Sat) - Jimmy Oliver In The Making...!

Once a while whenever he's free, hubby likes to show off his cooking skills...which also means a half day off for the domestic engineer today. Yes!

Being an avid fan of Jimmy Oliver, today he's cooking roast chicken. Looking at his styles can tell huh...hi hi hi

(Ni Aidid kalau nengok mesti jelez kannn...)

The mashed potato mixed with celery and carrot that hubby stuffed inside the chicken.

Before...

After half an hour...

Hhmmm...the appetizing smell of freshly roasted chicken permeating Al Attar Escala made the whole apartment building tenants famished!

Since the domestic engineer's taking only half a day off, she would still have to cook!

Mee Kari for lunch..or in this case Spaghetti Kari as yellow noodle is difficult to get in Dubai...hhmm...not bad huh.

My brother and sister-in-law in Holland served their guests with Mee Bandung Muar or Spaghetti Bandung Muar as they too couldn't find yellow noodle in Holland. Looking forward to trying Spaghetti Bandung Muar...!

8.8.08 (Fri) - Baking A Chocolate Cake For Hubby

Hubby just came back from Lahore yesterday. As promised, the kids and I baked a chocolate cake for their beloved Ayah.

Ini kek masak seniri taw. Tuh ambil gambar dalam oven lagi. Beli-beli tak main sebab kat Dubai mahal ooo...

After 40 minutes, this is it...Yang tompok-tompok putih tu tepung yg tabur kat baking pan...melekat lak. Tak kisah. Kena toppingnya nanti, tak nampak la.

Apit n Ain merengek-rengek tak sabar nak makan. They complaining, "Ibu dah lama tak buat chocolate cake". Tak sempat bubuh topping, dah selamat...!

Apit couldn't wait to sing 'Epi debay Ayah...Epi debay Ayah...'

p/s - Wiz, the cake may not be as superb and delectable as yours but ok la kot ah...for a domestic engineer...he he he.

In the evening, Ayah brought Apit to have his first ever hair cut in his life...!

He was always afraid of 'Uncle Itam' but this time he really behaved like one fine gentleman. Good boy.

15 Dhs...the cheapest! Kat Dubai ni, potong rambut ke potong kapla...??

6.8.08 (Wednesday) - Pantun BURJ AL ARAB

Burj Al Arab nama diberi,

Mercu tanda kemegahan Dubai UAE,

Sekali melihat terpaut hati,

Suatu hari nanti pastikan ku duduki.

Dari jauh ku lihat kapal,

Kapal layar bertiang besi,

Di atas pulau ia terhampar,

Sekali melihat pasti nak lagi.

Kelip-kelip kusangka api,

Nampak berbalam cahaya menyinar,

Hajat di hati ingin dekati,

Keindahan Burj Al Arab kian terpancar.

Duduk bersantap di bilik mewah,

Sesudah penat berrekreasi,

Siapa tahu adanya tuah,

Dapat bermain tenis dengan Andre Agassi.

AED 4000 kadar sehari,

Mampukah diri menggapai hajat,

Burj Al Arab syurga duniawi,

Igauan semua mata melihat.

Aaarrgghhh...mahalnya...tak mampu! Pasang angan-angan dulu...

For more info on Burj Al Arab, click here.

Dialog Burj Al Arab :

"Teacher, nanti teacher ambil gambar kat Burj Al-Arab, hantar kat kitorang ya," one my students said weeks before I left for Dubai. She was so excited that Dubai was the place I'd be going to live soon. She seemed to know quite a lot about Dubai and Burj Al-Arab but luck wasn't with her yet to be here in Dubai.

So girl, here are some fascinating pics of Burj Al-Arab...enjoy the sight-seeing. Can you see Teacher posing in those pics? No, you can't? Oooo...teacher was invisible that day la...he he he

5.8.08 (Tue) - Bila Perempuan Ini Dan Perempuan Itu Diberi Peluang Posing Di Dapur...!

Mem Aluyah Kuih Lapis just sent me these pics at 2.45 am Dubai time. She sent them to me while chatting with her through YM...not merely chat, 'sesi pembelajaran sesuatu' actuallynya. What was she doing still awake at 2.45 am in the morning...?! Hiish...hish...hish Mem, Mem...mau jadi nenek, nenek si bongkok tiga ka? Siang mengantuk malam berjaga. And...what was I doing at that time 2.45 am?? Well...hanya Mem and I sajer mengetahuinya...

Savour your eyes with the vogue pics from my very own kitchen...tarra...

Bila larut malam...tarra kucha kucha...(yang pegang peroyok tuh hi hi hi)

Awat Kak Ina...hang tergeliat urat kaa? I tau la you banyak makan 'aphrodisiac' ramungei, coba bawak besabau...! kih kih kih

Sambil makan Puding Jagung Berkuah pun boleh posing hapa. "Minta sikit lagi puding ah," Jeda said sambil Mem memegang babynya. Zati pun nak tapi malu-malu, Nurul pula terus tertunduk malu. Kak Ina...maintain.

Dalam pada sibuk berposing, sempat juga menyiapkan hidangan semeja...hhmmm...yumm...yumm..Jeda bawa Ayam Masak Merahnya yang sangat sedap itu (dalam periuk merah), Mem dengan bubur pedas Sarawaknya (belaja dari Bamin ke...?), Kak Ina bersama pulut manisnya yang enak itu. Terima kasih la kerana membawa hidangan walaupun tak expect sebenarnya. The rest are all the domestic engineer's own cooking he he

Darling hubby with our Penghulu, Pak Payne with offsprings, Adlil and Zati Alyana.

p/s - Terima kasih daun keladi, kalu sudi datang la lagi...

4.8.08 (Mon) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING HUBBY...!

I shall never ever forget 4th of August every year...it's hubby's birthday. Today's my darling's birthday!!! Apit's singing...Ebi debay Ayah...ebi debay Ayah...

But Ayah is not around. Hubby darling is in Lahore, Pakistan and will only be back this Wednesday.

For the first time in nearly 12 years (since we got married), hubby has to celebrate his birthday alone. Ciannya Cayang. You celebrate je la ngan Tanikawa ya Yang...he he he. Hubby's going outstation to Pakistan together with that Japanese boss of his.

Here are some past year's pics that might be reminiscent to the time we celebrated your birthday together.

Happy birthday...2005

Happy birthday...2006

Don't worry Sayang. I would bake for you your favourite chocolate cake once you come back from Lahore. The kids can't wait to help fudging and decorating the cake like they did before as can be seen in the pic below.

Along and Ain really love arranging smarties on the cake to form 'H' that stands for Ayah's name. Apit can't wait to smudge his mouth with chocolate fudge...I can't wait to see you back in one piece...he he

A Night 'Walkathon' From Bager Mohebi

Today, we took a taxi to Al-Khaleej Centre first for hubby wanted to go to Al-Rostamani for his monthly errand .

This is the place where he pays a visit to every first week of the month to do currency exchange and later send some of the dough back home to enable Maybank2u managing all our monthly bills in Malaysia.

After finishing the business at Al-Rostamani, we walked home. It was quite far but we intended to drop by at Bager Moheibi to buy chickens, prawns and some vegie. Although it's quite far from Al-Khaleej, it's too near to take a taxi. We know it no taxi would take us. So, once again we did a night walkathon.

Itu 'unta' belum belli laa...jallan kaki laa...

Malam yang sepoi-sepoi bahasa diterangi lampu-lampu neon dan lampu kereta menjadi saksi 'perjalanan' malam itew...

Hubby said it's good to teach the children the hardship in life sometimes.

2.8.08 (Sat) - The Kids' School Uniform At Jumeirah Beach Centre

As planned, our destination for today is Jumeirah Beach Centre. Not going to the beach...who in his or her right mind would go to the beach in this scorching summer! We went there to buy Along and Ain's school uniforms.

Upon reaching, we headed to Zaks as only Zaks's selling school uniforms for Raffles IS. There are other branches of Zaks such as at Deira City Centre but the one at Deira sells school uniforms for other IS.

Ain and Along's school uniforms are in this Zaks' plastic bag, not yet washed.

What attracted me to capture this photo is because the bus/taxi stop is not only glass-walled and roofed, but most interestingly it is air-conditioned!

There's also a certain button inside the bus stop for you to push upon seeing a bus coming. The light coming out from the bus stop roof will alert the bus driver. So, you don't have to burn yourself under the scorching sun in order to hail the bus. Smart isn't it? This is the thing I think we'd surely miss when coming back to Malaysia.

What makes all children excited when the school is about to reopen is not the eagerness to go to school! Instead, they are very excited to have almost everything new, from school uniforms, school shoes, school bags, food and water containers as well as stationery. Isn't there a pahala granted to parents who please their children...?

Whatever we bought for Along and Ain, we also bought for Apit. Otherwise, ada yang akan berguling kat lantai kedai tak nak balik nanti!

1.8.08 (Fri) - JJCM and Doa Selamat

Today, I'm going to talk about JJCM. No, it's not Jalan-jalan Cari Makan. In Dubai, JJCM means JALAN-JALAN CARI MASJID.

It refers to a group of Malaysian UAE males exploring mosques in the seven emirates of UAE every Friday led by our Penghulu of Malaysian UAE group, Pak Payne. Only at the last Jalan-jalan Cari Masjid part 5 did hubby get the opportunity to join JJCM.

Hubby had been too occupied with his Teheran biztrips that he didn't have the chance to join the previous JJCM part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4. Alhamdulillah with the bless of Allah, I'm so thankful that he was one of the tetamu Allah at the mosques around Dubai this time. For more pics of Jalan-jalan Cari Masjid part 5, click here and here.

At the end of today's JJCM exploration, hubby and I had a great pleasure to welcome the geng Jalan-jalan Cari Masjid to have dinner in our house.

Furthermore, we'd been wanting to have doa selamat in our house since our family has safely arrived in Dubai and the kids have got their place in the IS school. Alhamdulillah it did materialize today.

Tengah sibuk bersilat kat dapur tu, tah sapa la ambil gambar I. Kalau tau boleh posing lebih-lebih tadi...hi hi hi

Makcik-makcik Dubai ni pun sama memeriahkan suasana. From left: Nurul, Zati (Pak Payne's daughter), Zaida, my neighbour upstairs Laila, and Kak Ina. Mostly from qariah Bur Dubai ni je. Maklum rumah tak besar mana, tak boleh nak invite satu qariah Dubai ni. InsyaAllah next time.

This is one of the ways we, Malaysians in Dubai, get to know each other mengeratkan silaturrahim.

30.7.08 (Wed) - Isra' Mikraj Off Day

It's Isra' Mikraj today. When the public sectors in Dubai are having their off day tomorrow (Thursday), hubby's SONY Gulf is having theirs today. So, we took this opportunity to go grocery shopping at our usual place Carrefour. Carrefour at Deira City Centre here is like Apit's favourite Carrefour Alamanda, Putrajaya.

Along, Ain and Apit with their new sling bags bought at Carrefour.

Ibu pun dapat gak beg baru. Tak dapat beg Prada atau Gucci, dapat beg Carrefour 9 hinggit 9 posen pun jadik la...Ok what?

A foodcourt at Deira City Centre.

Along and Ain had their favourite cabonara pasta at Pizza Hut, Apit and Ayah had a burger and fries, Ibu had Tandoori Chicken with rice. We also tried New York Fries...hhmmm...not bad.

As we don't have our own transport (yet!), as usual we had to patiently queue up to get a taxi. There was a long queue. It reminded us of the time when we had to queue up for SKS bus at Puduraya or Terminal One Seremban. Long queu but moving, so there's no worry of not getting a taxi home.

28.7.08 (Mon) - Apit, Ain and Along's stories...

Actually I wanted to take the photo of Ain with her new favourite Disney princesses pink pyjama when suddenly the mischievous Apit enterframed along with the crow's sound..."aakk..aaakk..."

Look at Along's face full of Apit's scratches. Bila Along tak layan dia, leka main game atau baca buku cerita, dia scratch muka Along. Kesian Along...he he

Rambut Apit kelakar...hi hi. Ayah nak bawa potong rambut kat uncle, dia tak nak. Dia kata takut "uncle itam!" Takpa la jimat duit Ayah...The normal hair cut rate for men here is 40 Dhs, the cheapest we could find is 15 Dhs! Tunggu balik Malaysia tahun depan la potong.

Kalau balik Rembau atau PD, mesti salah sorang Mak Long dia akan potongkan.

Minah sorang ni memang suka posing. Ibu nak ambil gambar Puding Jagung Berkuah ni, dia pegi melentok kat situ lak...! hi hi hi

p/s - Atuk-atuk, Nenek, Wan, Mak Long-Mak Long, Mak Ngah dan semua famili, tengok la gambar-gambar Apit, Ain dan Along ni ya.