Experience

From Etisalat to Batelco and now back to Streamyx...

2009-03-30T04:45:00.003+04:00

Another Experience in Life...

To Mr. Farizal...please email me at zuhairi_ahmad@yahoo.com

Thank you.

See you later.

ZBA

Experience...a short stop of a never ending.

2009-02-17T21:41:00.005+04:00

You just accumulate experience at every tick of the time. Every moment brings you closer to the Never Ending.

If a person asks, "Tell me about yourself". What he is looking for are actually the details your experience. Experience in life. From the time you were born, i.e. from a small kampong masjid in Perlis all the way until now in Al Hoora…and to where ever next?

If an angel asks, "How did you use your time in this world?" What he is expecting are also the deeds of your experience. Experience in life. From the time you had your first wet dream all the way until you hear your last tick of time.

It is all about Experience.

It is how you are paid here...in RM or USD.
It is how you are rewarded in the hereafter...water or fire.
It is how you are decorated here…Dato’, Tan Sri or Tong Sri. Even a singer can get a Dato’ here.
It is how you are placed there…No. 1, No. 2 or No. 8. Even a poor guy can enter No. 8.

It is all about Experience...Experience in Life

So...we have to improve it for a better 'pay'.

Zbadbahrain
17/2/2009

From Dubai to Bahrain...sketchy

2009-02-08T09:10:00.002+04:00

Sama-sama kita ingat mengingati...

2009-02-04T19:57:00.004+04:00

Alhamdulillah di atas segala nikmat yang telah diberikan...

Apa yang dikatakan HAK kita sebenarnya adalah HAK Allah segalanya.

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY…one experience of a journey.

2009-01-27T15:36:00.010+04:00

The university seal

I was there from Dec 1988 until Dec 1992. Exactly 4 years. I don’t know why but today after almost 17 years, I miss Texas Tech. It was there where I learnt about Americans; the good and the bad about them. It was my first experience of being away overseas and meeting a lot of different people from all over the world. The US was a melting pot at that time. It still is. But not until I arrived in Dubai a couple years ago that I realized…Dubai is even more ‘melt’ and ‘gelled’ with human diversity.

States was booming then and leading the world in every aspect. Everybody wanted to go to the US. It’s was like a brand everybody proudly wanted to be associated with. But at present time…we may have to ask Obama how he is ‘cleansing’ the US brand.

Will Rogers Statue

It is not about the US that I’m proud to be a part of but the ‘experience’. All famous items and brands in the world today are created from the same experience, the US experience. Things like fast foods and carbonated drinks are popularized from their experience. In other words, it is not literally about the US brands but the US experience. Thus, no experience is bad experience; it is just how you use it.

The College of Architecture

For me, we want to move forward from our experience. In general, Japan is a good example of a nation which had moved and developed further the technological experiences of the west by creating something even better then called their own. In turn, Japan assaults the US and the West economically through its advanced experience. Unlike Japan however, Iran is another example of how technological experience can be literally transferred or copied. The exact US experience was reproduced and copied through a process called reverse engineering. (Read for knowledge: Here, Here , Here and Here)

Americans themselves could have obtained the experience originally elsewhere but what really matter was how they used and took advantage of it.

In Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, what we learnt formed part of what we are now. For the whole 4 years, the academic experience contributed 50 percent of the total. In fact, I don’t know how much of that I actually used. The other half was actually the experience of life. Something that had already developed further and gave us more understanding and control of things around us. There were multitudes of good and not so good experience back then. Some still transfer and copy those experiences in their lives. Personally, what is more important is how to use them for a good course. InsyaAllah.

Like the countries that used the experience for their own good, I use the US experience to stand for what is right in my belief.

Zbadbahrain

27/01/2009

(All photos are by : Here)

Oops...Not to forget. Met the love of my life also here at TTU.

Blogging is Free...

2009-01-21T21:45:00.003+04:00

We are now living in everything 'Free' society. At least as far as the internet and things online are concern. For the youngsters, anything online is expected to be free. The songs, the movie, mp3, mp4, the ceramah, the dakwah and everything online now are absolutely free. You can just download them and enjoy.

Goggle is giving all the people of the world free access and channels to express ourselves. There are too many of them out there. For good or for bad…it’s an absolute free publicity…what you need is an account and a keyboard to write.

Papa blog…mama blog…ustaz blog…lawyer blog…cikgu blog…pm blog…ex-pm blog…neighbor blog…friend blog…ex-friend blog…you blog.

Now…Naim also blogs.

Click Image

BARACK 'HUSSEIN' OBAMA...What's in the name.

2009-01-20T23:02:00.004+04:00

I must say, every President of the US will start with a very good and powerful inaugural speech. There’s nothing different from what was said by Bush when he took oath 8 years ago. Inspiringly uttered only to all his supporters. A lot of empty promises which resulted in a total disaster to his own presidential legacy.

There are a lot of ‘Hope’ and ‘Change’ that people of America and the world would expect. No doubt, one powerful person from a powerful nation can bring change to the world. As much as Bush had changed this world to be as bad as it is now, we hope Obama will make it better. Not that I fully endorse him but our world will be affected one way or another by all his decisions and dreams he may have in months to come in the White House.

For us Muslims, we only pray to Allah to give us change. Nobody would be able to change anything in this world without Allah’s permission. If a person could change anything, the uncle of Rasulullah pbuh, Abu Talib, would have been Muslim before he died.

My personal feeling is that, to hear the name ‘Hussein’ to be announced during inauguration as the President of the United States has given me some positive hope. There’s no weight and relation of deeds whatsoever to the person who is bearing that name but ‘Hussein’ is the name of the beloved grandchild of the Greatest man alive.

For the good course, I only hope that by bearing the name ‘Hussein’ which the Prophet himself picked for his beloved grandchild, Barrack Hussein Obama will be the new door of respect and understanding about Islam for his people. As the first African American President being elected, people of the Unites States have changed. We hope they will change even further to accept Islam…insyaAllah.

As he said in the inaugural address: "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”

The rest is still just ‘Hope’.

Zbadbahrain

21.01.2009

KITA MESTI TERLIBAT...

2009-01-16T18:13:00.007+04:00

Ramai yang mengambil sifat tidak kesah dengan keadaan di Gaza. Masalah di Gaza bukan masalah aku. Mereka yang mati. Bukan aku, bukan ahli keluarga aku. Rumahtangga mereka yang hancur. Bukan rumahtangga aku. Aku masih selamat di sini, aku masih seronok minum di Starbuck dan baru saja kenyang makan BigMac di McDonald.

Terus baca di SINI.

Upside Down Architecture...

2009-01-14T22:41:00.003+04:00

It’s already in the human nature. When we think of a normal thing to be boring then we start to create something abnormal just to be interesting. Easily we could try using different colors or textures but those might not be catchy enough to grab attentions.

Why not we think totally out of the box and throw ourselves 'upside down'. Now, that kind of thinking has actually put some of the human creations to be crazily interesting.

There is entirely nothing special about crazy ideas because we are crazy sometimes, but to successfully create something out of craziness is a demanding challenge.

These are examples of the solutions for that craziness and abnormality.

Zbadbahrain

Upside down and crooked!

These are taken from Unusual Architecture

KHUTBAH DAN QUNUT NAZILAH...SOLIDARITI ISLAM

2009-01-09T17:34:00.004+04:00

KLIK IMEJ:

LOGOS AFTER ECONOMIC AND GAZA CRISIS!!!

2009-01-08T16:52:00.006+04:00

A colleague sent me an email of these logos with a title:

A LITTLE LIGHT-RELIEF IN SERIOUS TIME...

What will your logo look like when the crisis is over???

To continue or to cancel...projects in Gulf

2009-01-08T11:41:00.008+04:00

There are a lot of uncertainties at this point for the overall Middle East development. One way or another this gloomy situation will definitely affect all of us who are expatriating here. As mentioned below, this coming March 2009 will be the critical time....to continue or cancel most of those mega projects. Cancel means retrenchment. Retrenchment means..."balik kampung". We pray for the best insyaAllah.

March is make-or-break month for Gulf market
7 January, 2009

By David Rogers from Building.co.uk.

Developers set to decide this spring whether to restart or ditch suspended schemes.
Experts are predicting that March will be the critical time for developers in the Gulf to go ahead with delayed schemes or cancel them for good.

Dubai has been hit the hardest of the emirates in recent months, and UK contractors and consultants working out there have all admitted that workload in the once booming emirate has slowed down significantly.

Spring could settle the future of projects such as the Trump Towers, recently put on hold

Now some in Dubai have claimed that this spring will be the make-or-break month for many schemes as nervous developers must decide either to go ahead with delayed schemes or to pull the plug on them completely.

Sachin Kerur, a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, said firms will decide in March whether to press on with stalled projects as the availability of financing should become clearer then.

And Minoo Jamaji, managing director of Roshan Construction, added: “March will see banks decide how much financing is available. Plus, by March we know how the market will be.”

The worst example:

Credit crunch drives cement billionaire to suicide
7 January, 2009

By Sophie Griffiths from Building.co.uk

German owner of UK cement firms including Hanson despaired as economic downturn hit his empire
The owner of several UK cement companies has committed suicide due to financial woes triggered by the credit crunch.

German billionaire Adolf Merckle, was 94th on Forbes’ rich list for 2008, but killed himself after his business empire began to crumble in the wake of the economic downturn.

The 74-year-old tycoon made his fortune after developing a small inherited pharmaceutical firm, employing 80 workers, into Germany’s largest pharmaceutical wholesaler. Merckle’s business empire grew to include drug manufacturer Ratiopharm, and large parts of vehicle manufacturer Kassbohrer and Heidelberg Cement Group. He employed 100,000 people by the time of his demise.

HeidelbergCement acquired Hanson in 2007, but was reportedly having problems digesting its former UK competitor.

Other British firms included within the Heidelberg Cement Group include Castle Cement, recycling company SRM , and Minerals Resource Management, a firm which recycles inorganic materials into the cement industry.

BANGKIT ISLAM BANGKIT!

2009-01-07T22:18:00.001+04:00

Click Image:

Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge

2009-01-07T17:33:00.008+04:00

Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge

Built: 2009 - 2013

Duration of works: 51 months

Cost: $3 Billion

Location: Between Qatar and Bahrain

Structural Type: Cable-stayed bridge

Function / usage: Road bridge

Part of: Qatar-Bahrain Causeway

Lenght: Over-40 km twin carriageway,

running over 22 km of viaductsover the sea

and 18 km of embankments

Title: The World Longest Fixed Link Bridge

Consulting engineers:
COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners AS

Contractor:
Vinci

PARIS/MANAMA - French construction company Vinci has been chosen to build what will be the world’s longest bridge, a span of 40 km that will link Bahrain and Qatar, the French weekly Le Point reported Wednesday on its website. The contract, which is worth $3 billion, was signed at the royal palace of Bahrain in the presence of Vinci’s head Yves-Thibault de Silguy.The Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, as it has been named, will reduce the time of travel between the two states from the present five hours, via Saudi Arabia, to about 30 minutes.

The Bahrain-Qatar causeway project is set to begin next year and is expected to be completed in four years.“The $3 billion causeway will have two lanes and one for emergency. The 25-mile causeway is ready for electric grid and oil pipe connections,” the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported Tuesday.

This longest fixed link in the world, known as the Friendship Causeway, is expected to boost the trade exchange of both countries.“The volume of commercial exchange has increased 167 percent in the last seven years. Bahrain exports industrial and aluminium products, on the other hand imports iron bars and petrochemicals from Qatar,” the Bahrain news agency said.

Construction on the bridge will begin after nine months of studies on the project have been carried out. Some 12,000 vehicles will be able to travel daily between Bahrain and Qatar when it is completed.

Currently, the world’s longest fixed bridge is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which spans 38.4 kilometers. – SG

Sources for the above are from: Saudi Gazette

BAHRAIN 2030

2009-01-05T13:34:00.004+04:00

I will be 62 years old to see this development fully developed. Hopefully this blog will be the witness if I live that long. Only God knows...

Bahrain National Planning Development Strategy Bahrain.

In 2007, following an 18-month process of research, analysis, consultation, and design, SOM submitted the Bahrain 2030 National Planning Development Strategies. The plan is the first project to inventory and propose virtually every aspect of a new national infrastructure. It exemplifies a forward-looking process designed to address the role sustainable land use development can play in guaranteeing stable, predictable, and long-term economic growth.

From the original site: Here

TIME TO ORGANIZE

2009-01-04T23:27:00.006+04:00

Acknowledgement:

All the Islamic related entries will be updated in my 'Remember Allah' blog.
This blog is reserved for all other interests...if they may be of any interest to anybody.

Click the image to go to the other blog:

Our Protest Against Israel's Assault on Gaza

2009-01-02T17:32:00.013+04:00

After Friday Prayer today hundreds of Muslims gathered outside Abu Baker Al-Siddiq Mosque protesting against Israel's deadly attack on Al-Ghazzah (Gaza). I was there joining and witnessing the rally. I wish the local language could serve me well but the Arabic, I know not. But the least I can do is to be there...protesting and supporting.

Takbir...Allahuakbar! Allahuakbar! Allahuakbar!

Hanya Tahun Berubah...

2009-01-01T11:44:00.005+04:00

1. Hanya tahun yang berubah…keadaannya belum tentu.

2. Tiap-tiap tahun berazam baru dengan segala resolusi dari no.1 sampai no. 10++

3. Yang berubah sebenarnya hanyalah nombor…dulu 8 kini 9.

4. Bagi zba…nombor juga sudah berubah dari 40 kini 41

5. Talian hayat dah berkurang…satu tahun dekat kepada mati.

6. Kubur tersenyum…dunia sudah mula tidak selesa.

7. Sakit belakang dan sakit gigi...

8. Resolusi sebenar...bersedia untuk mati...should always be no. 1

9. Seperti juga target kerjaya dunia mesti tinggi dan reaslistik...maka tidak ada yang lebih realistik dari mati.

10. 2009 apa ada pada janji.

NEW YEAR 2009 TO FREE PALESTINIAN

2009-01-01T11:34:00.004+04:00

How can one celebrate the New Year with this kind of images...

The least we can do is pray for them...

DUBAI OPERA HOUSE by ZAHA HADID

2008-12-31T23:57:00.007+04:00

This is what you can do when you have a lot of money in your mind. I don't think they will build this one for now. The money is now literally just in mind for Dubai, at least for a year or two.

Another design by Zaha Hadid...

Just an eye pleaser but might not be the best design architecturally. My tutor once said..."difference is not necessarily good"

DUBAI OPERA HOUSE

The design calls for an exciting new cultural centre in the new Seven Pearls district of Dubai. This landmark development will accommodate an opera house, playhouse, arts gallery, performing arts school and themed hotel on an island in Dubai Creek just off the mainland part of the district. All of these facilities will be state of the art to host world class performances and exhibitions. The opera house will have a seating capacity of 2,500 while the playhouse will have a seating capacity of 800.

Read the whole thing at : Dezeen

We will see...

Where Are You Muslim Leaders!!!

2008-12-29T23:34:00.005+04:00

How Can We Allow These Enemy of Allah Destroy our Ummah...

See it for yourself...the World has nothing to hide...

To Hell You Two!!!

Fighters in Gaza...you have my prayer

2008-12-29T11:00:00.006+04:00

We have to take a stand.

We have been taught. We are very well learnt about this issue.

And my stand is…I am with you Muslim fighters in Gaza and fully support of you. You have my prayer…May Allah give you victory.
For those who had been killed by Zionist…May Allah forgive and give you all the high status of the shuhada.

God damn Zionist!

HAPPY NEW HIJRI YEAR 1430...it's has been a year

2008-12-28T22:42:00.008+04:00

Today, 1st Muharram 1430 is exactly one year since I first put my steps into the world of blogging. It was during Hijrah Holiday in Dubai last year I started this blog. Maybe it was due to a bit of peer pressure or I was really looking for something to do with my time and importantly with my faculty up there in the head…my brain. People blog in Dubai, in fact almost everybody has one. While reading some of theirs I decided to have my own. Without any specific reason and theme…and undeniably for the sake of having it at that time…I started SAJAA SRONOK, my first door to blogging.

I am not a politician or political critic, not a news editor, not a businessman and certainly not a writer. I’m just a husband to a beloved wife and a father to my two sons…and that by itself is already one heck of responsibility in the Akhirat time…not to mention hardly perfect for this worldly time either.

Though there was no milestone that I can be proud of with my blog but as far as self satisfaction …I’m satisfied. Maybe it is like an ardent angler ; hours and hours wasted by the beautiful lake on the smelly boat without ensnaring a single fish is always pictured as a fully satisfied moment. Even if the actual feeling is horrible and depressing or God know what…who cares!

This blog is my blog for myself...and maybe 2.34 million bloggers out there have the same exact reason. The main thing is we don’t want to cause trouble to people and we dont't want people to find trouble with us. The only thing worth standing and dying is for the sake of Allah…the rest is insignificant.

This blog for one thing is a pure self assertion of personal taste! I like budu my wife like tempoyak…you can like whatever you want.

Happy New Hijri Year 1430…

May Allah bestow His mercy, blessing and peace to all of us and may this new year will bring us all closer to Him...insyaAllah.

Bush's Eye...

2008-12-15T13:05:00.005+04:00

Maaan…

I really wish that shoe hit bull’s eye onto Bush’s face. It was a really a miss of lifetime opportunity. If it happens then we can change the term now for a direct hit to ‘Bush’s Eye’. What a humiliation to him...

This is a clear message to this Modern Pharaoh as how bad he had put the situation in Iraq in particular and to whole world. Not to mention that throughout the whole Islamic world…he is worth more humiliation than just being hit in the face by a shoe but rather the whole shoes in Muslim world should bear his face as insoles…

Here is the extract from Ustaz Anwar’s Blog:

The Best Shoes in the World!

Didn’t G.W. Bush say that the Americans would be greeted in the streets of Baghdad with flowers and roses?

Seven years later G.W. Bush himself is greeted with a pair of shoes!
Yesterday while Bush was speaking at the office of the Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad, an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at the President, who ducked it, only to have the second shoe thrown at him, and again he ducked it. The President has been showing off his skills of ducking since 9-11. The man said: “This is the farewell kiss you dog!” and then he said: ““This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”

Both, the throwing of the shoe and calling him a dog are ultimate forms of humiliation and disrespect in the Arab world. This, alHamdulillah, is proper greeting for this invader of Muslim land. But the even more proper treatment is that which is leveled against the invading troops on the streets of Baghdad.

The shoes of this journalist are better than those leaders in the Arab world who paraded their daughters to dance for Bush.

Before the Green Zone Scholars, and RAND Muslims, the promoters of the fiqh of humiliation, step up to the stage in defense of Bush and claim that this act is ‘against the Sunnah!’ let it be known that the Muslim is kind with the disbeliever who is decent and pays due respect to Islamic authority, but the Muslim is harsh against the arrogant and the transgressor. The words of Rasulullah to the leaders of Quraish were: “I came to with slaughter,” Abu Bakr cursed the disbelievers in Hudaybiyyah, and Omar would consistently beat these disbelievers, curse them and threaten them. On another note, and as ridiculous as it may sound, for those who say that al Maliki is “wali amr” and as Muslims we should not revolt against him, is this journalist at sin for not having sought the permission of al Maliki to throw his shoes? Because to them, this is definitely an act of fitnah!

Unfortunately he missed. As someone on the net has rightfully stated:
“Nobody wants to see President Bush being missed by a flying shoe like this. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that has been missed here.”

In the End, if anyone of you gets to know the brand of shoes this journalist was wearing please inform us about it. We would all like to go out and buy some, in solidarity with our brother!

$2.1bn Bahrain Lagoon...another good place for the Modern Nomad

2008-12-14T23:43:00.008+04:00

The current economic down turn seems NOT to be affecting these people in Bahrain. Or maybe this is one way to boost up the economy by giving the public some hope and confidence...masquerading the actual truth. Whatever that is, this kind of news gives 'the Modern Nomad' like us some new hope of a better oasis...insyaAllah.

A new $2.1 billion development will soon be built between two causeways in Bahrain after council officials gave their conditional approval to plans. The Municipal Council on Thursday gave the Bahrain Lagoon project in Manama the green light following negotiations on the design and access to the scheme. It will be built between the Shaikh Isa and Shaikh Hamad causeways, featuring two five-star hotels, residential and office apartment buildings, a public park, an open market and a food court.

The project, to be developed by Retaj, will be developed on land that is privately owned as well as belonging to the General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi), Gulf Daily News reported on Friday. "Retaj has agreed to our terms and conditions to have the seafront and roads open to the public," council technical committee chairman Hameed al-Basri told the paper. "The project will not be open for business until environmental and technical aspects are fulfilled and other authorities concerned approve it."

From:

ArabianBusiness

Masa dan ekonomi...belon hampir pecah!

2008-12-01T16:15:00.016+04:00

Lama tak menulis...

Urusan kerja banyak mengambil masa harian. Masa lebih yang sedikit hanya untuk rehat dan dimanafaatkan untuk yang lebih memerlukan...hmmmm. Kadang2 terfikir, Allah memberi setiap insan masa yang sama 24 jam sehari, 365 hari setahun namun pencapaian sesetengah manusia terlalu besar dan agung. Terlalu jauh berbanding dengan kita. Banyak yang telah mereka capai dan terlalu banyak jasa yang sempat dicurahkan. Contoh? Tak perlulah, terlalu banyak, lihat saja sahabat2 yang telah berjaya di dunia dan nampak macam akan berjaya juga di akhirat….

Tanyalah diri kita sendiri sejauh mana kita menggunakan masa untuk kebajikan dunia dan akhirat…masa adalah yang paling bernilai di kala ini. Masa yang baik dan digunakan untuk amalan2 soleh dan kebajikan. Masa yang sempat digunakan untuk berpesan2 dengan perkara yang hak dan berpesan2 dengan kesabaran. Masa yang digunakan sebeginilah yang akan menjadi matawang yang tak ternilai di akhirat nanti.

Sebut tentang masa…

Sekarang dunia mengalami masa kejatuhan ekonomi. Bila disebut perkataan ‘jatuh’ maka pasti ada yang akan merasa sakitnya. Kalau menunggag basikal laju2 maka jatuhnya amatlah pedih…ada yang patah gigi dan ada yang patah tulang. Kadang2 yang di tepi jalan juga terkena sakitnya. Dan yang di tepi jalan itulah kadang2 lebih sakit kerana tidak bersedia di masa itu...dan kita kebanyakkannya berada di tepi jalan.

Jika wang dapat membeli masa…maka ‘Dubai’ sudah pasti membelinya. Dan jika Dubai mampu membeli masa itu maka ianya sudah pasti yang terbanyak di dunia. Kenapa? Kerana ‘Dubai’ masih belum cukup masa untuk membuktikan kepada dunia bahawa mereka 'berkuasa' untuk memecah segala rekod dunia lagi! Tidakkah kita tahu bahawa mencipta satu rekod secara tidak lansung mungkin akan mencipta satu rekod yang lain juga? Jika 'Dubai' mencipta rekod sebagai negeri tercepat memajukan ekonomi bertaraf dunia dalam jangkamasa belasan tahun sahaja, dengan segala rekod 'terbesar' dan 'terpanjang'...tidakkah ianya akan memecah rekod juga menjadi negeri paling cepat atau paling teruk jatuh merudum...hanya Allah yang tahu.

Yang pasti kini Dubai tidak mampu membeli masa itu...dan masa, di ketika dan saat ini akan meninggalkan Dubai sebagai satu fantasi yang belum selesai...

Semasa berada di Dubai, naluri ini dan setiap insan yang melihat pertarungan mencakar langit dapat merasai sendiri bahawa 'belon ekonomi ini' akan pecah...namun ramai yang tidak menjangka ianya boleh berlaku begitu cepat. Persoalannya adakah ianya sudah pecah?!

Melihat kepada berita-berita di media massa...keadaan buat masa ini adalah tidak menentu...

Semoga sahabat2 di Dubai selamat semuanya...dan semoga yang di Bahrain ini juga dikekalkan rezekiNya di masa ini dan di masa-masa akan datang...insyaAllah.

Amatilah berita2 ini...(click the headlines for the full coverage)

UAE-based developer Tameer is to lay off around half of its workforce amid the slowdown in the local real estate market caused by the global financial crisis, Arabian Business has learnt.

Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar said on Monday there “might be” redundancies at the company due to the downturn in the local real estate market.

A “significant portion” of unexecuted projects in the UAE will likely be cancelled or postponed in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday.

With the world economic crisis continuing to get worse and worse and the price of oil dipping into the 40's we are witnessing an extremely negative effect in the Dubai real estate market

DUBAI: The UAE government-controlled property giant Nakheel said yesterday it has made redundant 500 of its staff, 15 percent of its global workforce, because of the global financial crisis and that it would be scaling back work on some of its projects.

A total of 200 employees have lost their jobs at Dubai-based Damac Group, the property company confirmed on Monday.

Masa dan ekonomi...

Ingatlah Allah di masa kita senang...nescaya Allah mengingati kita di masa susah.

Happy 15th Anniversary…28th November 2008

2008-11-29T13:05:00.006+04:00

Masa begitu cepat berlalu...

Pejam celik…pejam celik…
Dah 15 tahun aku bersama isteri tersayang.
Tidak ada yang lebih indah pada hari ini bila ku bangun
dan melihat isteri di sisi.

Banyak pahit manis yang dilalui.
Banyak sejuk panas yang dirasai …
Namun yang menjadi ukuran ialah hasilnya,
kemanisannya,
kebahagiaannya,
ketenangannya aku bersama isteri dan anak2 ku…
Di kala ini dan di saat ini…Alhamdulillah.

15 tahun kita bersama…

Aku bersyukur kerana telah diberiku isteri sepertimu…
Engkaulah yang satu…

Aku bersyukur atas doa-doamu terhadapku...
Di belakangku sokonganmu yang padu

Aku bersyukur kaulah yang paling memahami…
Segala karenah, ego dan kekuranganku berjaya kau selami

Aku bersyukur makan minumku anak-anakku terjaga rapi…
Air tanganmu mengubat hati dan menambah kemesraanku

Aku bersyukur rumahtangga...hatiku terurus…
Tenang harianku melangkah ke hati...dan ruang tamumu

Aku bersyukur atas segalanya…
Semoga berkekalan kita dan menjadilah kita insan2 yang bersyukur…

Ameen…ameen Ya Rabbil A’lameen.

Happy Anniversary my dear.

AL QURAN READING...

2008-11-22T19:30:00.005+04:00

Alhamdulillah

The Ustaz teaches the kids every Friday and Saturday morning at 10.00.

Ustaz Hadi and my 2 sons...

Go back to the basic...

BAHRAIN PROJECT UPDATE 5

2008-11-17T00:11:00.005+04:00

New Raffles City Bahrain, hopes to attract new investment with its unique ‘wave,’ inspired design

Located in the heart of Bahrain Bay the new development of Raffles City, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, will offer 4,300,000 sq ft of mixed use residential and retail space. The design for the ambitious project is formed by four separate sites that gradually slope downwards towards the seafront promenade, architecturally linked by a series of ‘waves’ which emanate from the waterfront and culminate with four concave leaning towers.

The multi-billion dollar project, which aims to be completed in 2012, promises to transform the Bahrain Bay skyline with its distinctive design and it is hoped will attract investment for international conglomerates and brands.

Three curved high-rise towers form the culminating gesture of the wave design, which will incorporate luxury apartments and two-storey penthouse suites with views overlooking both the Arabian Gulf and Bahrain Bay itself. The fourth tower, which sits slightly in front of the other three, will encompass serviced apartments. Forty-seven apartments sitting below the towers comprise the development’s most exclusive residences, each featuring a private swimming pool, landscaped terrace, courtyard and drive-way to a parking garage.

The terraced arrangement of these villas not only affords unrestricted views to the centre of the bay and centre of Bahrain, but also provides privacy that belies the urban nature of the project. The design is inspired and derived from souks, or markets, which are the hive of commercial activity in Arabic culture and it is hoped the development will attract a similarly bustling business and commercial aesthetic.

John Edwards

Reporter

BISMILLAH...

2008-11-08T14:33:00.001+04:00

From my Remember Allah blogspot: HERE

THEY WILL NEVER STOP...racing to 'heaven'

2008-11-07T01:41:00.005+04:00

Pak Arab yang sentiasa berlumba mencakar langit...

...dan meredah lautan.

...mencari syurga di dunia.

NAKHEEL HABOUR & TOWER

Nakheel of Dubai is preparing for a Mega Project which will be another world's tallest skyscraper! A battle that will astound the world! At this year's Cityscape Dubai, Nakheel unveiled a new landmark project called Nakheel Harbour and Tower.

This new tower that will surpass Burj Dubai in height and grandeur! ( Burj Dubai pun belum siap lagi....)

NAKHEEL TOWER:

The height of Nakheel Tower will be over 1km (3,280 ft.),
Total cost will be over $38 Billion,
The tower was designed by Woods Bagot architects,
Nakheel Tower will be located in the center of New Dubai near Jebel Ali,
The tower will be a combination of four individual towers joined at various levels and centered on a single open atrium,

Design elements for the tower will contain themes from Spain’s Gardens of Alhambra, Egypt’s Harbor of Alexandria, Iran’s Isfahan Bridges, and Morocco’s Promenade of Tangier,
The tower will have over 150 elevators, more than 200 floors and will take an estimated 500,000 cubic meters of concrete to construct,

A 100 room ultra luxurious hotel will be located at the top of Nakheel Tower,

Project completion estimated for 2020.

Please watch the Habour Movie here: http://www.nakheelharbour.com/

INCLINED TOWER, DUBAI

2008-11-05T09:18:00.005+04:00

Capital Gate to become Guinness Book of Records' most inclined tower?

As Construction of Capital Gate continues ADNEC, the developers, and RMJM, the project’s architects, have submitted a joint application to the Guinness Book of Records to recognize the tower as the 'most inclined in the world'.

The 35 storey gravity defying feature tower will lean westward 18 degrees, 4 times as far as the Leaning Tower of Pisa which currently leans 3.97 degrees.

Because of its unique posture, Capital Gate is being constructed on top of an incredibly dense mesh of reinforced steel. The dense mesh sits above an intensive distribution of 490 piles which have been drilled 30 meters underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind and seismic pressures caused by the lean of the building. Features of the tower include 728 unique custom-made diamond-shaped glazing panels that due to the structure's curving shape will be fitted at a slightly different angle.

David Pringle, CEO, RMJM Asia and the Middle East commented: “Capital Gate will be one of a kind. Its graceful, asymmetric diagonal structure, known as a ‘diagrid’, supports the tilting external load of the building and we believe that this is the first building in the world to use a pre-cambered core.”

Capital Gate will accommodate the 5-star ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’ hotel and will provide exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi.

Received this info via email.

BAHRAIN PROJECT UPDATE 4

2008-11-01T13:11:00.004+04:00

With the advancement of the computer technology, the conceptual design can be visualized to be so realistic. This is one example of a concept design for Bahrain future project presented by Muharraqi Studios, a 3-D visualizer company.

The location is about 5 minutes only from my apartment. It would be great to see this one being built.

But only Allah knows the status...

For more images from Muharraqi Studios

Di sebalik wajah...

2008-10-29T07:31:00.001+04:00

Ada pelbagai yang terselindung...

From Imam Anwar al-Awlaki Online

2008-10-28T14:09:00.002+04:00

As Muslims, we should always be 100% yaqeen on the promise of Allah. What was made haram to us will never give any benefit to us in this World, even though all others see that differently.

This article was taken from Imam Anwar's blog which is worth sharing.

Is the Franklin morphing into the Washington?!

For those readers outside of the US who have no clue what the title of this post is talking about: Benjamin Franklin is the US statesman who is featured on the face of the $100 bill and George Washington is on the $1 bill.

Even though I am not an economist there is an issue on this topic that I would like to share with my brothers and sisters. Gold has been recognized as currency for thousands of years. FIAT money (Paper money) is a new invention and is only worth the political and economical strength of its issuers and the trust the world has in this political and economical strength. That is obviously the case with nations that issue paper money without gold backing such as the US.

Because the US economy is the powerhouse of the world and is the greatest economy on the face of the planet its currency enjoys the trust of the world. It has become the most recognized and it is the world’s foremost reserve currency. Today rather than commodities being valued in gold or silver they are valued in dollars. Oil for example is priced in dollars. In fact gold itself is priced in dollars.

The Messenger of Allah says: Allah has destined that whatever goes up must come down. Therefore if the US falls politically or economically the dollar falls with it.

Today America is the home of an interesting assortment of sins that are handpicked from all over the nations that existed before us: the obstinacy of the people of Nuh; the arrogance of the people of Aad; the rejection of Allah’s signs by the people of Thamud; the sodomy of the people of Lut; the financial deviance of the people of Shuayb as America is the biggest dealer and promoter of the interest based economy; the oppression of Abu Jahl et al; the greed, deception, love of the temporal life, and the bogusness of the children of Israel; along with the arrogance of the Pharaoh who had the misled notion that just because he is the leader of the most powerful nation on earth and is at the top the greatest army of his time he can somehow defeat the servants of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters this leads to the belief that the punishment of Allah is hovering over America. When? And how? Allah knows best.

So if you are one of those unfortunate folks who turned out to be living in the wrong place at the wrong time then it is advisable for you to leave. That is obviously if you take heed. Many don’t and are still living the utopia of the American dream. I am not talking about Mo and Mike who are still shaking to the tunes of MTV with their coke and big mac and are only Muslim by name, but I am talking about the practicing Muslims who sadly enough still think that the America of George W is the Abyssinia of the Negus.

Hijra for the sake of Allah will continue until the day of Judgment. If you leave with the intention of forsaking the people of sin and protecting your family from evil you would be rewarded abundantly. But not everyone has the capacity to make hijra just like there were some Muslims who could not make hijra from Makkah at the time of Rasulullah. So for those who cannot they should pray to Allah to make a way out for them and protect them from the people of transgression.

If you are a person whom Allah has bestowed wealth upon then you should avoid owning property in the US and you should diversify out of the dollar into gold and silver. Gold and silver have retained there value over history and there is no reason to think that they would not do the same in the future. In addition to this being the prudent thing to do from a financial point of view, it is also the recommended thing to do Islamicly. Muslims should not be supporting the economy of a nation that is fighting them.

Finally, for those who are contemplating purchasing a home in the US based on mortgage which is a clear form of Riba they should fear Allah. In addition to it being one of the most evil sins in Islam it is putting money in the wrong place. Allah says that He will destroy Riba. It is a promise from Allah. There is no blessing in anything based on it. What is happening in the US nowadays is a testimony to that.

BAHRAIN PROJECT UPDATE 3

2008-10-26T14:04:00.003+04:00

Developer: Albilad Real Estate Investment Company http://www.albiladbh.com/

ARCHITECT: HOK

Location: close to the airport

Size: 2.2 million sq meters

Details: The project consists of 2.2 million sq m of planned development, including residential hotels, a beach park and marina, schools, plus commercial, leisure and retail facilities. the project is aimed at housing 40,000 people.

BAHRAIN PROJECT UPDATE 2

2008-10-26T13:57:00.007+04:00

THE HEALTH ISLAND: DILMUNIA

A $1.6 billion (BD604 million) health island off the coast of Bahrain.

The project, known as Dilmunia, is being spearheaded by Ithmaar Development Company.

Located on the north-east coast, it is described as the largest healthcare, leisure and real estate project of its kind in the Middle East.

In addition to specialist clinics, hospitals, spas and other wellness facilities, it will include hotels, residential areas, leisure and shopping centres.

A $69m (BD26m) reclamation contract has now been awarded to Boskalis Westminster Middle East (Boskalis), which will be responsible for dredging and reclamation of the seabed, rock protection and canal works.

Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), the wholly owned development arm of Bahrain-based Ithmaar Bank, is part of the Ithmaar banking group.

A successful private placement by Ithmaar Bank has raised $185m (BD70m) for Dilmunia Development Fund I LP and funds raised are being used to purchase land and invest in the initial infrastructure work for the island - paving the way for the project to enter its next phase, when some of the plots will be sold to investors for development.

Site mobilisation for the reclamation work on the island is set to start on March 1 and is expected to be completed in approximately 15 months, said Ithmaar Development Company chief executive officer, board member and Health Island Company chairman Mohammed Khalil Alsayed. He said reclamation and construction work would be carried out according to strict international standards to ensure that the environmental impact was as minimal as possible - adding that the first phase of an Environmental Impact Assessment had already been carried out "with positive initial results".

The master planners for the health island are DP Architects, an international architectural firm based in Singapore.

Dilmunia is the first project in IDC's $3.3bn (BD1.24bn) initial portfolio to reach the implementation stage.

Other projects in the pipeline include the $1.5bn (BD567m) revamp of Al Jazayer Beach, which promises to turn one of Bahrain's oldest beaches into a modern and world-class leisure and family tourism facility, and a chain of family-oriented hotels beginning with a $175m (BD66m) property to be located off Seef District."Future plans are to expand to the greater Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as to other emerging markets that offer strong potential for growth and investment," said a statement by the bank.

BAHRAIN PROJECT UPDATE 1

2008-10-25T13:43:00.004+04:00

Bahrain will never be left behind...

Durrat Al Bahrain is an artificial island project in Bahrain.

It is similar to the Palm Island in Dubai.
The US$ 1.2 billion project will be a series of 13 man-made islands covering an area of 20 million square meters (215.3 million square feet).

It will comprise of six atolls (coral lagoon islands), five petal islands (fish-shaped), a crescent-shaped island, five-star hotels, a 18-hole golf course, 12 bridges, and a marina.

See photos below from the Durrat Al Bahrain website:

Durrat Al Bahrain (from the Official Website : HERE )

Welcome to Durrat Al Bahrain Urban Living, Island Style Durrat Al Bahrain is a unique place where contrasting lifestyles complement each other. It’s an island and a city, it’s the desert and the sea, it’s a holiday and a home, it’s a place to be together, it’s escapism and adventure. It’s one world that offers you endless possibilities. It is a place like no other.

It is a place where contrasts come together to beautiful effect, and create a world full of richness and unique experiences. It is a place where a lifestyle we aspire to and a holiday we long for become reality. It is a place where the buzz of a world-class city meets the beauty and tranquility of an island.

Islamic Arts

2008-10-18T23:25:00.007+04:00

Assalamualaikum,

I just started a new blog.

Click image to go to the blog.

I always love graphics and arts.

A good friend even teasingly suggested that I should change my profession to do more of what I like. I think what he meant was I should be a graphic designer or something like that. Well, what originally inspired me to be in this line of work was also due to the same passion towards arts. When I was interviewed by JPA’s officer back in 1986, “Why do you want to be an Architect?” I simply replied “I like to draw”. That’s it.

However, as my career began to take its own toll, up and down, here and there, the interest toward graphics, arts, design and drawing have somehow diverted to more towards ‘financial arts of surviving’. Straight to the point, now my work is giving me more financial stability than giving me more passion towards what I previously love to do. I’m thinking more for my future I guess. Hey…who knows about his future anyway?

I know there are a lot of people out there who successfully pursue their good life in both. They love their works very much and maintain happiness even if they are not getting paid for that…BUT some are really getting hefty stock in the bank.

My passion towards graphic and design is where the idea to start this new blog comes from…shadowed by my own slogan of Learning…Practicing…and Sharing.

I am still learning at a very intermediate level of Photoshop program but I will learn all the tricks and put the results in this blog. I narrow down the theme to Remember Allah…arts is in you. Why? Because we are the best creation. Where else to find the work of arts if not in our own selves.

The actual contents could be anything related to Islamic Arts. Anything in my head, I will put it on this blog to share. Depending on my free time though. Please feel free to comment.

All the good things that you may find in this blog are from Allah the Almighty and any weakness and shortcoming is from the ignorance of me.

May Allah bestow His Mercy to all people who visit and read this blog…insyaAllah.

Sajaa Sronok...

2008-10-17T15:54:00.003+04:00

Something for Sajaa Seronok...

A Piece of Work

by ZBA

MELIHAT DIRI DI DALAM SEJADAH...

2008-10-14T13:20:00.005+04:00

While browsing with my old photos, I found this nice photo of praying carpet taken inside the mosque during one of my Jalan-jalan Cari Masjid back in Dubai. I was at the same time playing around with my 'Kedaigambar' (ps). Then I imagined, what would be like to physically put myself inside this carpet.

And this is my experience...

The photo...

...and my experience.

Bahrain News: Malaysian firm to present monorail network designs

2008-10-10T14:20:00.006+04:00

Project on track
By MANDEEP SINGH

DESIGNS for Bahrain's monorail network are due to be submitted to the government later this month, it emerged yesterday. Experts from Malaysian firm Scomi Engineering Bhd have been working on the project behind the scenes for the past year, company global projects vice-president V Kanesan told the GDN.

He said it was too early to put a price on the monorail system, but said work could start within two years.

"We have been co-ordinating with the Bahrain government over the last year and have been invited to give them our proposal," said Mr Kanesan, speaking from Mumbai, India.

"We are involved with designing and implementing the project and are now also on the lookout for a local partner.

"We have teams in place on the ground in Bahrain and are making substantial progress towards the project implementation."

The first phase of the project could constitute a 23km stretch of track linking some of the country's most congested areas, said sources.

Construction could begin in the first half of 2010 and the entire project measuring 83km could be completed by 2030, they added.

The Cabinet approved a plan to build a monorail network at the end of last month, but has approached Scomi to help it address the country's transportation problems as a technology partner.

Reports have suggested that Scomi was using its network as an oil and gas player in the Middle East to do the groundwork for monorail systems not only in Bahrain, but also in other countries of the region.

The Cabinet was told on September 28 that the Works Ministry had been commissioned to conduct an extensive feasibility study into the first phase of the project.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa earlier said the initiative stemmed from the government's resolve to decongest Bahrain's roads and pre-empt mounting traffic challenges.

He said under a suggested long-term strategy, Bahrain would use technology that has proved a success in countries facing similar traffic challenges.

Bahrain is also in the midst of a nationwide overhaul of its roads network, which is intended to help the country cope with a growing population, new infrastructure developments and the addition of 2,000 new cars to the roads every month.

mandeep@gdn.com.bh

On another news...

'Green' Monorail Plan on Track
October 8th, 2008Manama, Bahrain

A new monorail system being designed for Bahrain will be the most environmentally friendly in the world, it was claimed yesterday.
It will also have the smallest carbon footprint of any rail network in the world, as well the lowest noise levels, said a spokesman for EAG Capital, which is partnering designer Scomi Engineering Bhd.

"This monorail network will run on rubber wheels on concrete tracks and on environmentally-friendly electricity, with no exhaust or pollution of any kind," the spokesman told the GDN from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"We have also assured that the project can be completed in a relatively short time with minimum disruption to traffic.

"There will be no road closure and it will result in minimum disruption to traffic."

The GDN reported yesterday that work on the elevated rail system could begin in the next two years and the first phase would feature a 23-km stretch of track.
It will feature state-of-the-art, air-conditioned coaches and is described as one of the safest forms of transport.

"Commuters experience panoramic view of the city since train travels on elevated structures," said the spokesman.
"It is also safe and reliable and cannot derail as it is built to wrap around the track."

Designers are due to submit initial plans for the project to the Works Ministry later this month, but the spokesman said authorities had already responded positively to the project - particularly since it would create jobs for Bahrainis.

"The ministry has also reacted positively to a monorail feature which leaves the smallest footprint among rail transit systems in the world," he added.

"The costs are far lower than traditional systems since only light structures and air space for right-of-way is required.

"This virtually avoids any land acquisition since the route can simply pass alongside or across existing roads with negligible land required only for rail stations along the route."

Sources previously told the GDN that the final monorail system could reach up to 83km in length.

Scomi Engineering global projects vice-president V Kanesan revealed his company had been working on the project behind the scenes for the past year.

The company is already running monorail services across Malaysia and is looking at other projects in the Gulf, having already submitted a tender for a similar project in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Kanesan said it had been approached to act as a technology partner by the Bahrain government, which approved plans to build a monorail network at the end of last month.

Source: Bahrain Gateway to Gulf

Beraya di Bahrain...

2008-10-10T02:33:00.004+04:00

Ramai juga kenalan baru yang dikenali.
Banyak juga open house yang sempat dikunjungi.
Terimakasih kepada warga Malaysia di Bahrain.

Berpuasa Enam...

2008-10-10T01:23:00.004+04:00

Aku berpesan kepada diri ini,
Berpuasalah enam hari di bulan Syawal,
Karna terlalu besar pahalanya,
Jika aku mampu berpuasa sebulan,
apakah enam hari terlalu sukar..........

Melukis dengan Teknologi...

2008-10-09T23:53:00.005+04:00

Selepas 2 minggu bercuti.

Kini Sajaa Sronok kembali.

Dengan idea yang agak berbeza.

Aku sebenarnya bukanlah penulis, tapi lebih kepada pelukis.
Allah memberi setiap insan dengan pelbagai kelebihan.
Hanya terpulang kepada kita untuk melihat dan menilai di mana kelebihan itu.

Telah agak lama tidak melukis.
Dengan adanya teknologi Photoshop yang diajar kawan2,
Bole juga aku melukis.
Yang mudahnya, tanpa pensil dan berus.
Tanpa air dan kertas.
Cuma idea dan kreativiti.

Sudah tentu bukan aku yang terbaik.
Terbaiknya milik Allah segalanya.

Sebagai pelukis.
Aku ingin lukisan ku ini berbicara.
Menyampaikan apa saja tafsiran yang tersirat.
Yang pasti.

Satu perkataan.
Satu makna...satu tafsiran.

Satu lakaran.
Seribu perkataan...seribu makna.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

2008-09-26T09:49:00.006+04:00

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir & Batin dari kami di Manama City, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Dari kami sekeluarga:

ZUHAIRI AHMAD
HASLINA MOHAMED DIN
MOHAMMAD ZULHAMIZAN
MOHAMMAD ZULNAIM

Semoga semua mendapat keberkatan dari Allah sepanjang bulan Ramadhan ini dan semoga mencapai kejayaan sebagai Muttaqin di pagi Shawal nanti...insyaAllah.

Kami memohon segala kemaafan dari semua yang melawati blog ini. Jika kita pernah bertemu pasti ada yang tersalah maka ampunkan kami.

Jika kita tidak pernah bertemu tapi tersinggung dengan penulisan ini maka maafkan kami...Semoga Aidil Fitri kali ini lebih meriah dan lebih bermakna untuk semua.

Wassalam.

THE BLESSING OF RAMADHAN…

2008-09-25T07:30:00.003+04:00

One more added to the Ummah of Rasulullah (pbuh)

Last night was another blessing for all of us at Masjid Abu Bakar. In between the break of Taraweeh, there was another new member added to the Islam community here. A lady from Eritrea (African country between Sudan and Ethiopia) reverted to Islam in front of us. It was done behind the screen of course. The Shahadah was again witnessed by all the jamaah followed by 3 big takbir of Allahuakbar..Allahuakbar…Allahuakbar. Allah is Great!

May Allah give her the blessing and peace be upon her in this Deen of His. May all her previous sins be converted into good rewards and may Allah guide her all the way onto the straight path to be a true believer, the Muttaqin. Not to forget that she is now under the responsibility of the Jamaah here.

I was seating next to an Egyptian friend, Aiman, who became my translator. He's been here for more than 11 years. Alhamdulillah, according to him, in this month of Ramadhan we would see a lot of non- believers reverting to this religion of fitrah. Infact, once in awhile we would even see this auspicious occasion during regular Friday prayers. Haven't seen that one yet. But I have already witnessed 4 of them so far. It was such a breathtaking experience to witness the event.

Just feel like in At-Taqwa Bertam…

Inside the mosque

After teraweeh, there was another event held for the children of the masjid. It was a reward given ceremony to the children who completed the Quran. Every year we used to have the same event arranged at Surau At-Taqwa in Bertam, Kepala Batas, and last night was just a Déjà vu…Somehow, it makes me feel like home. With the bigger Masjid Attaqwa which was under construction when I left Bertam 2 years back, surely the same event would be more happening now..insyaAllah.

Berteraweeh di Masjid Abu Bakar, Al Hoora, Manama.

2008-09-24T07:43:00.004+04:00

Tahun ini berteraweeh ada sedikit kelainan. Masjidnya dekat dengan rumah dan ianya agak penting di Bahrain. Walaupun agak sederhana saiznya namun Islamic activity di sini memberansangkan.

Sepanjang 3 minggu berteraweeh, aku sempat menyaksikan 3 orang Filipina kembali ke agama Islam. Alhamdulillah. Majlis penyaksian kalimah Shahadah mereka dijalankan pada waktu rehat di pertengahan teraweeh. Dalam minggu pertama, 2 orang perempuan dan seorang lelaki di minggu kedua. Takbir 'Allahuakbar' bergema disetiap kali selesai majlis tersebut. Rasa semangat melihat seseluruhan suasananya. Imam yang nampak warak dan lembut tuturkatanya lebih memberi kesan mendalam kepada semua jemaah.

Pada pandangan peribadi , walaupun hidayah itu dari Allah, salah satu unsur sampingan dari dakwah Islam masyarakat Bahrain ni adalah faktor peramahnya masyarakat Arab Bahrain. Hampir sebulan aku di sini dapat dilihat dengan jelas layanan local Arab kepada orang2 luar terutama kepada orang2 Filipina atau Pinoy. Berbeza dari pengalam di Dubai. Arab Dubai member layanan second class kepada Pinoy. Ini secara tidak lansung memburukkan dakwah Islamiah dari sudut social interaction. Apa yang disarankan oleh Rasulullah untuk kita menjaga akhlak baik walaupun kepada yang bukan beragama Islam tidak tercapai di Dubai…tapi masih ada nilai2 tersebut di Bahrain…Alhamdulillah.

Di Masjid Abu Bakar, sembahyang teraweeh di buat 8 rakaat sahaja dengan 3 witir. Setiap rakaat dibaca satu mukasurat dari Al Quran dengan bacaan yang baik dari Imam. Walaupun tidak faham namun hati menjadi sejuk mendengar bacaan Imam. Selepas 4 rakaat Imam akan berehat dan memberi sedikit tazkirah. Tak faham juga…di sini terasa ruginya tidak memahami bahasa Arab. InysaAllah nak belajaq nanti, nanti yang sudah 2 tahun!!!…

Di sini, doa qunud dibaca pada rakaat akhir witir bermula dari hari pertama berteraweeh. Dan yang lebih menarik, doa qunudnya memang panjaaaaaaaaaang. Yang paling panjang dalam sejarah aku berteraweeh. Walaupun tak faham juga, namun suasana shahdu tetap menyentuh jiwa. Tapi kadang2 lenguh juga kaki berdiri lamaaa.

Di penghujung 10 malam terakhir, sedikit perubahan kepada sembahyang witir. Imam mencadangkan supaya ahli jemaah menghidupkan 10 malam terakhir dengan beriqtikaf dan lain2 amalan. Maka witir ditangguhkan sampai pukul 11.30 malam. Selepas habis 8 rakaat ada juga diselitkan ceramah oleh penceramah jemputan. Tak faham juga…

Dan akhir sekali yang paling penting hendak dikongsi ialah semangat masyarakat Bahrain menghidupkan sembahyang teraweeh di sini. Walaupun ianya hanya sunat namum sehingga ke malam 24 Ramadhan, saf2 sembahyang masih penuh hingga ke belakang, masjid masih penuh…Alhamdulillah. Berbeza dengan semangat orang2 kita di Malaysia. Mungkin sekarang sudah berbeza…Allahua'lam.

Secara umumnya, aktiviti Masjid Abu Bakar di bulan Ramadhan ni memang agak meriah dengan activity islamiah dan socialnya. Ada juga beberapa orang peniaga mengambil kesempatan menjual buah2an, jam, kitab2 dan minyak wangi.

Wangiannya membawa ke dalam masjid.

SYUKUR…

2008-09-22T07:22:00.002+04:00

Maha suci Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Mengasihani.

Telah terlalu banyak aku menulis tentang kenikmatan, keselesaan dan keseronokan yang telah Engkau kurniakan ke atas ku, namun terlalu sedikit aku menulis tentang kesyukuran ke atas Mu. Ya Allah Ya Rabbul 'alamin.

Sesungguhnya terlalu besar nikmat yang telah diberikan

Tiada sesuatu yang mampu aku balaskan

Ya Allah Tuhan sekelian Alam

Aku besyukur ke atas segala yang telah dikurniakan

Aku besyukur di atas nikmat Islam ini.

Tanpa Iman yang ada, nescaya aku kekal di nerakaMu.

Ya Allah, aku tidak mampu membeli Syurgamu

walau aku mati di atas jalanMu

Hanya rahmatMu yang kupinta

Aku bersyukur dilahirkan dari ibu dan ayah yang juga mengenaliMu ya Allah

Jika ku hadiahkan Al Fatihah 24 jam, nescaya tidak mampu membalas jasa mereka dan nikmatMu menjadikan mereka ibubapaku

Aku besyukur dengan mata yang Kau kurniakan…

Jika aku mampu bersembahyang sepanjang hidupku, nescaya tidak dapat membalas nikmat sebelah mata kananku…

Aku bersyukur dengan nikmat telinga yang kau pasangkan di kiri kanan kepalaku…

Jika aku bersedekah segala hartaku, nescaya tidak dapat membalas nikamt pendengaran dari bunyian di dunia ini…

Aku bersyukur dengan hidung yang sempurna di tengah muka ku

Jika aku berdakwah sepanjang jagaku, nescaya tidak akan terbalas nikmat wangian dari bunga-bunga di tamanMu.

Aku bersyukur dengan nikmat lidah di dalam mulut ku,

Jika aku bertasbih sepanjang siang dan malam, nescaya tidak mampu aku membayar nikmat kesedapan makananMu ya Allah

Aku bersyukur dengan nikmat jari jemari yang ada di tanganku…

Jika aku membebaskan seribu hamba, nescaya tidak ternilai dengan nikmat sentuhan atas segala yang diciptakan.

Nescaya tidak mampu aku menulis tanpa jari jemari ini ya Allah

Ya Allah…

Aku bersyukur kepada Mu

Alhamdulillahirabbilalamiin

Iftar Buffet...errgh Alhamdulillah

2008-09-17T13:21:00.008+04:00

Last night, I was invited for Iftar Buffet with some staffs from the Saudi based/local consultant Omrania & Associates (O&A). It was arranged to be more like a getting together between us, the Site Team of Salam Resort, and our sponsored company. O&A is the local authority liaison for my employer, DSA Dubai.

The Iftar took place at Coral Beach Club, Manama.

The entrance to the club...not as inviting as I would expect...

but actualy it is quite a nice place and only 10 minutes away from my apartment. With sensational setting by the sea, with boats and pontoons in the background, the whole atmosphere seems to be very inviting and relaxing. I guess, this is a getaway place for the locals and Saudis.

Nice setting...

It was my first time buka puasa away from my family in Bahrain.

The food was good, alhamdulillah, typical local food with briyani, bread, hommus, fattoush, etc. Buffet was all you can eat..., but not all I could eat off course…tak kena juga seleranya. Dok tringat juga sup daging yang bini buat kat rumah…Anyway, kenyangnya sama saja.

Right after makan… I just went straight back home for maghrib prayer. Maybe I will revisit the place with my family…after raya.

The next place to visit...Dolphin Park, just next to Coral Beach Club.

BAHRAIN...persinggahan terkini.

2008-09-09T06:18:00.009+04:00

Alhamdulillah...aku selamat sampai ke Bahrain.

Dah lama tak update blog. Bukan apa, proses pindah-randah tempat kerja ni memang memenatkan. Baru pagi ni rasa tenang sikit dan rasa sedikit feeling settledown. Walaupun hakikatnya masih ada yang belum selesai. Sekolah anak2 masih tunggu confirmation sekolah, resident visa masih tunggu some paperworks to be cleared. But overall, alhamdulillah...almost there. Satu perkara yang mudah sedikit di Bahrain ni compared dengan Dubai ialah proses nak cari rumah sewa. Di sini the whole proses was easy dan people are more friendly. Terasa welcome sedikit di Bahrain ni.

Finally, kami settle dengan apartment 3 bedroom, fully-furnished di Diamond Plaza, daerah Hoora di pekan Manama, the capital city of Bahrain. Kami suruh agent yang tolong cari dan terus berkenan dgn rumah ni. The main thing is dekat dengan masjid, senang nak pi terawikh. Kebetulan di kawasan ni pun ramai expat2 dari Malaysia. Mostly expat Malaysia di Bahrain kerja dengan kerajaan...Ministry of Works...JKR Bahrain. Rasanya ada la kot dalam 50 ke 60 orang...

Bole baca juga catatan di My Fantasy Island untuk sedikit gambaran proses cari rumah di sini.

Hari ni dah masuk 2 minggu di Bahrain. Secara umum, Bahrain is more like home to me. Selain dari cuaca yang sememangnya lebih panas dari Bertam, yang lain2nya agak selesa.

These would be some overview of Bahrain for my two-week stay, so far...

1. Airport - tak secanggih KL dan Dubai. Tapi yang better, tak la hectic sangat. Waktu landing hari tu...rasanya hanya kami punya flight saja yang sampai. So everything was a smooth traffic. BUT, aku sangkut juga kat immigration for technical problem. My sponsor forgot to send the original copy of NOC (No Objection Certificate)to the airport. Stranded for 2 hrs. Nasib baik semua clear after that.

2. Cuaca - sama macam Dubai. La ni masih summer. Panasnya mencecah 45 degree celcius. Very high humidity.

3. People - Bahraini are very friendly people. Waktu baru sampai di Airport, kami di jemput oleh driver dari local company. Agak menarik bila kami tanya dia berasal dari mana...katanya dari Bahrain. Surprising! Nampaknya orang2 Bahrain masih 'real' nak banding dengan Dubai. Di Dubai, mana nak cari local arab nak jadi Driver! In other words, due to that nature, I think orang2 orang Bahrain ni masih mampu menghormati orang lain. Semua local Bahraini yang kami sempat berjumpa dan berbual are more friendly and helpful. Rasanya bole dok lama kat sini...insyaAllah.

4. Matawang - Bahrain pakai dinar...atau Bahrain Dinar (BD). Nilai dinar ni lebih besar dari Dirham by almost 10 time. 1 BD = 10 Dirham, lebih kurang. Kalau di Malaysia macam compare RM dengan Bhat Siam. Yang beza kat sini, duit kecik dia depa panggil fils. Kalau kat bertam kita panggil 3 kupang, kat sini jadi 30 fils. Then, depa punya fils bole sampai ratusan fils. Hari tu aku beli kepiah putih d depan masjid tu harganya 500 fils. Kalau nak tulis harganya = BD 0.500. Pelik sikit la sebab ada 3 digit selepas titik tu. 500 fils tu sama la dengan RM5 lebih kurang. Kalau nak tulis harga 8 Dinar 700 fils maka jadi = BD 8.700.

5. Makanan - sama saja kat negara2 Arab ni. Arab tetap akan makan makanan Arab. Belacan dengan tempoyak memang tak ada. Yang lain rasa bole cari kat supermarket.

6. Traffic - hah..yang ni yang best. Nak banding dengan Dubai, jauh langit dengan bumi. Dubai tu langit...Bahrain tu bumi. Sebab apa, no jam! no jam! and no jam!. Kalau ada pu tak la sampai sempat menyumpah dalam kereta. Unless kalau sakit perut! Tempat kerja aku lebih kurang 49KM dari rumah, but it takes me about 40 minutes saja ke tempat kerja. Memang jauh tempat kerja tu tapi aku tenang bawa kereta. I can time myself...relax saja bawa kereta. No rush...no jam. Alhamdulillah.

Lihat lah betapa lengangnya jalan ke tempat kerja...F1 Circuit d sebelah kanan

7. Pekan MANAMA - rasanya lebih kecik dari Penang dan besar dari Alor Setar kot...tak la besar sangat dan tak la kecik sangat. FYI, Bahrain ni pulau, lebih kurang sama saiz dengan Singapore sajaa. Just nice for us yang tak la kesah sangat tentang saiz pekan ni. Yang penting ada sekolah utk anak2, bole beli beras dan ikan, kain baju dan kasut...kira ok la tuu.

8. Tempat Kerja - tempat kerja memang jauh for Bahrain standard. Kalau Malaysia tu besar Bahrain maka tiap2 hari aku travel dari Kangar ke Melaka...sebagai gambaran. Nama projek tu...Salam Resort & Spa. Boleh click sini for some info. Tapak projek betul2 tepi laut merentasi padang pasir yang luas terbentang. Site ni dekat juga dengan Bahrain International F1 Circuit. Yang syok...jalan lengang. Nak bawa 160km/j pun bole tapi aku bawa 155km/j sajaa...just kidding!

Bahrain International Circuit

9. Bulan Ramadhan - kebetulan 2 tiga hari sampai sini dah masuk bulan posa. Posa di Bahrain sama saja. Tak ada pasar Ramadhan... Sahur habis pukul 4.00am dan berbuka pukul 5.50pm lebih kurang...Teraweeh buat dekat dengan rumah d Masjid Abu Baker, Hoora. Agak berbeza sikit dengan d Dubai. Di sini depa buat 8+3 dengan satu mukasurat Al Quran setiap rakaat. D dubai depa buat 21 dgn bacaan surah pendek. Yang berbeza lagi, setiap witir ada doa Qunud yang memang panjaaaaaaaaang. Mat Naim sampai terlena tengah baca qunud...

SELAMAT MENYAMBUT RAMADHAN AL MUBARAK...

2008-09-01T13:41:00.004+04:00

Kepada semua yang mengenali...

Selamat menyambut kedatangan Ramadhan Al Mubarrak.
Semoga segala amalan di bulan yang mulia ini akan memberi keberkatan kepada kita semua...insyaAllah.
Ini adalah Ramadhan ke-2 1/2 di perantauan.

2 1/2.....?
2006 - 1/2 di Bertam dan 1/2 di Singapore.
2007 - di Dubai
2008 - InsyaAllah di Bahrain.

Ramadhan Kareem,

Zuhairi Ahmad
Manama,
Bahrain.

Selling my car in Dubai…some stressful experiences.

2008-08-31T11:28:00.006+04:00

Gambar Hiasan

Obtaining a new employment contract with DSA is a blessing…Alhamdulillah. Since the reason to move to the Middle East is to save money thus this offer is the best so far. But I am not going to elaborate on that but to share the experience before even getting here in Bahrain. For one thing…I have been tested. My patient was tested starting even from Dubai.

The hardship of selling my car.

- Selling car in Dubai is different from back home. I bought a brand new Honda Accord in September 2007 for only AED69,000. Cheap! Banding dengan Malaysia of course. I took car loan with my salary account bank for easy process. No problem about that and I had enjoyed every moment with the car.

- Now that I’m leaving Dubai, I need to sell the car. Using it for less than a year with only 20,000km on the mileage, the car was just like brand new. I would say that it was a good buy for the new owner.

- The problem in Dubai is that, you have to fully settle your car loan before you can sell it. You can’t sell unless you have a cash buyer or the buyer use the same bank. Unfortunately my bank has no longer offered car loan. Besides, the cash buyer always asked for cheap price so I ruled out the option. I thought for 10 days, I could maximize the price of my car if I could sell it to the bank loaner…wrong call!

- I put adverts everywhere and one of them was at Dubizzle…very powerful online classified web in Dubai. I got a serious buyer within the same day, Mohammad the Jordanian.

- That was where the problems started.

- I left DPA on 14th August and I had only 10 days to sell my car. DSA had already booked the hotel in Bahrain on 24th August, so it was me against the time now. I needed to settle these entire lists before getting my money back…and top of the matter was to OBTAIN the money before I depart to Bahrain.

These were all the events

o I had to fully settle the outstanding balance for the car loan with my own cash. If I had the cash, it would be just a brisk business. BUT, my money was in the National Bonds, it’s like Amanah Saham…ingat nak tambah keuntungan sebab ada cabutan bertuah dan bole menang 1 juta, who knows! Maybe too much of a wishful thinking! So I waited till last minutes to withdraw. That was the first mistake. It took me 4 days to withdraw the money! So, left with 6 days to sell my car

o I should get the Clearance Letter from my bank for the new owner to apply for his loan.
It took me another 3 days to get the letter. The problem was, I didn’t check exactly what sort of clearance letter I should request. The bank officer just passed me the form to fill up. They were many types and I requested the wrong one. I should have requested the one to be addressed to RTA for clearance of the mortgage of the car from the bank. It should have taken only 1 day BUT I wasted 2 days. This was the 2nd mistake. 4 more days left!

o Now we have to go to the second hand car dealer for the Valuation of the car. No time wasted here. We got it on the spot.

o After all these were cleared, now only the buyer could apply for his car loan
Mohammad promised, his loan would be approved within 3 days! NONO NO Not gonna happen. He didn’t even complete his documentations with Emirates Islamic Bank. I was informed by the bank officer himself, Mr. Ahmed about that. Mohammad is just 27 yr old engineer. Young chap with a lot of things to learn.

After 2 days of waiting, the loan got rejected! Bad news…the beginning of stressful days. Mohammad quickly changed the application to the new bank. OMG…I have 2 days left of my stay in Dubai and the buyer had just changed the loan application. It would be another long wait! At this point, the cash buyers who called me a few times earlier with cheaper offer were already laughing in my head. At first, I felt a bit regret selling the car to this guy, BUT I had made a deal. Better stick to this. Deal means deal. May Allah help us.

o Then I received the phone call from Mohammad. The sound of disappointment. The tones that I don’t want to hear. “Zuhairi, the bank said they can’t clear the loan within 2 days…I’m very very sorry. You may have to extend your stay to get the money.” Rasa nak marah tapi nak marah sapa lagi! Nak marah buyer pun the time is running short…tak sempat nak cari new buyer. So I had only myself to blame.

Mohammad also felt guilty at this point and offered if I want to just break the deal and sell the car to someone else. TOO LATE! So by hook or by crook…I had to stick to Mohammad. That meant I have to ask DSA to extend my stay in Dubai.
My departure to Bahrain was delayed for 2 more days and I didn’t feel good. But Alhamdulillah, my predicament was understood and extension granted.

o Now I had 4 extra days to resolve my problems. One of the days was Friday, so basically there were just 3 working days left. Saturday 23/8, Sunday 24/8 and Monday 25/8. Tuesday 26, 10.15am was my departure date to Bahrain.

o Saturday – Mohammad and I went to sign some documents at one of the Mashreq banks. Basically the loan was approved Alhamdulillah but to get my money, we had to complete the registration of the car. Transferring the ownership from me to Mohammad and mortgaging it again to Mashreq bank. Bank officer Ms. Alissar helped out and asked us to go ahead to Tasjeel (car registration centre) and we had to complete the registration by today. No joke! By today! But we managed to register and obtained the Molkiah (registration card) under Mohammad’s name. Now, technically Mohammad got the car, but I still didn’t get my money. I couldn’t give my car without the money!

o At this stage, normal procedure would take another 3 days to clear my cheque. Furthermore the cheque was supposed to be a crossed cheque. I needed account to cash it…and I had already closed all my accounts in Dubai. Disaster! I’m flying a day after tomorrow!

o The Mashreq Bank officer gave me some light at the end of the narrow tunnel of hope. Mr. Shadap Khan, the team leader gave assurance that I just need to provide an appeal letter with 3 support documents to obtain my cash.

*A copy of my cancelled Residence Visa – no problem I have it!

*A copy of the flight ticket to Bahrain – no problem, I have this one too!

*A copy of Account Closing confirmation from Citibank – no problem, I got them all.

o Sunday- early in the morning, I rushed to the bank with Molkiah and handed over to Alissar to complete the process. I prepared all these and submitted everything on Sunday. That evening I called Alissar and received the best news…” Mr. Zuhairi, your cheque is ready and can be collected by tomorrow morning”. Alhamdulillah.

o One hell of waiting was over. The next morning I collected the cheque and straight away went to Mashreq bank to cash it. Finally, I got my money.

From this experience, I would suggest something for those who plan to buy or sell the car.

1. PLAN everything about your car ahead of time.
· Know how long you want to stay here and how long you want to keep the car.
· Renting would be preferable if you plan for a short stay.
· Buy easily resale car such as Toyota or Honda.
· It would help a lot to have enough saving to settle the loan. Just to obtain better value of the car in case no cash buyer is interested in your car. We know we can just sell it at the secondhand car dealer but for sure…the dealer would just squeeze you dry for cheap price.
· Take note of selling the car procedures. What to do first, etc.

2. Make sure you are always ready to sell it or let it go when you have to leave the country. You never know how long you will be staying here.

3. Never wait till the last minutes because things are different in this part of the world.

You never know what you gonna get!

Farewell and Thank You DPA…

2008-08-15T07:28:00.009+04:00

Back in October 2006 I decided to go oversea to work. Feeling tired of the same old routine of our lives, my wife and I made a decision to try something different for a good cause…a better place to improve our economy which at that time seemed to be a kind of neither here nor there. On top of that, I need more international experience myself.

My wife started looking for adverts in The Star for vacancy in the Middle East. We did plan to come to this part of the world from the beginning. I sent my CV to almost all related jobs advertised for Dubai, Qatar, KSA and Kuwait. In the beginning, I attended the first interview with one Dubai aluminium company in KL name Al-Abbar but I didn’t get it. It was a blessing in disguise for me though because the company was offering a monthly salary of AED11,000 only. It’s a lot for Malaysian standard but if I were given the contract to Dubai with that package…I die!. Dubai would just devour all the money. AED11k is not that bad if you are a single and leading a simple life. But with a family like me…it’s not worth it. The rent for the apartment is ridiculously expensive. I'm paying AED5,800 a month now for a One-bedroom apartment. Imagine that...

Then a good friend Haron who was my Clerk of Work for the Penang High Court Project at that time threw me the Classified section of The Star that DPA was looking for a Resident Architect in Dubai. I sent my CV straight away the same day which happened to be the closing date of the offer. Alhamdulillah, Allah made it all happened after that and here I am in Dubai working for DPA.

It has been all together 22 months, from 15th October 2006 in DPA HQ, Singapore, 4th November landed in Dubai until today, 14th August 2008.

There are a lot of things I learnt within that period in the office. It is the biggest international firm I’ve ever joined. The site team itself is bigger than any firms I have ever worked with.

It is here that I learnt to be better in my career as a site architect. It is here that I started to be more self confidence and more composed. I begin to realize the potential of myself in my career and DPA has given that precious platform for me to advance myself to the next level. I would say that DPA has become the college of my career and I just graduated with flying colors…

Syukur Alhamdulillah, today 14th August 2008 is my last day in DPA. I have fully served my contract. Even though there were some ups and downs but by end of the day, I feel really appreciated by the company.

Thank you DPA and to all the individuals for the supports, guidance and experience given to me for my whole tenure in the office.

May our path will cross again in the future…InsyaAllah.

All the best to DPA!

My project in Dubai

All photos are courtesy of DPA's website. Check here for details of the company: DP Architects Pte. Ltd.

Gulai Lemak Rebung...

2008-08-05T14:11:00.006+04:00

Hari ni lunch special sikit.

Pertama kali isteri tercinta bekalkan lunch nasi

dengan gulai lemak rebung.

Perghh...best gilaaa. Makan kat pejabat pulak tuu.

Walaupun aku beli rebung dalam tin dengan harga AED2.50 saja,

tapi isteri tersayang telah berjaya membuat

gulai lemak rebung yang cukup uuumphh!...

at least for me.

Alhamdulillah.

Terima Kasih sayang...

Hilang rindu nak makan rebung padat batu 9,

jalan kaki bukit, kat Perghlih.

Itulah makanan kegemaran aku d kampung!

Sambutan Isra’ Wal Mi’raj di Dubai...

2008-08-01T16:18:00.010+04:00

Pak Payne (Tn rumah), Bro. Hasnol (Pengacara majlis) dan
Ustaz Hasan sedang memberi tazkirah. (Gambar oleh ZBA)

Semalam (31/7/2008) bertempat di kediaman Pengerusi Malaysian-UAE yang juga sahabat karib En. Ariffin Mamat (Pak Payne) berlansung majlis sambutan memperingati mukjizat besar junjungan Nabi Muhammad S.A.W iaitulah Isra’ dan Mi’raj.

Sebagai melengkapi majlis, Bro. Hasnol telah menjemput Ustaz Hasan Masoh, bekas pegawai di pejabat Consulate Thailand di Dubai yang juga berkelulusan Al-Azhar untuk memberikan tazkirah dengan tajuk “Isra’ Mi’raj - Apa, Kenapa dan Untuk Siapa?"

Majlis berlansung dengan begitu lancar. Aku dan isteri sampai di Arabian Ranches tepat pada waktu maghrib dan terus bersembahyang berjemaah bersama semua tetamu yang rasanya dalam linkungan +-60 orang.

(Gambar oleh Abdul Halim)

Lepas sembahyang, sementara menunggu ketibaan Ustaz Hasan, Hasnol memulakan majlis dengan sessi takrof (memperkenal diri) kerana ramai yang masih belum belum mengenali sesama sendiri. Alhamdulillah, yang datang ke majlis kali ini bukan sahaja dari Dubai bahkan ramai juga dari Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman dan seorang wakil terjauh dari Ras Al-Khaimah juga dapat meluangkan masa bersama.

Ustaz Hasan sampai beberapa minit selepas majlis Takrof dan terus menyampaikan tazkirahnya. Beliau nampak bersedia dan secara peribadi, penyampaian ustaz sungguh menarik dan dapat dirasai impactnya di hati para tetamu.

Tafsiran Isra’ Mi’raj telah terlalu banyak kali kita mendengar namun setiap kali disampaikan oleh Penceramah yang berbeza ianya tetap akan memberikan cetusan baru dan pertambahan ilmu.

(Gambar oleh Abdul Halim)

Inti pati tazkirah sepertimana juga salah satu tujuan Allah mengisra'-mi’rajkan RasulNya adalah untuk menerima satu ibadat penting bagi manusia iaitu Sembahyang Fadhu 5 waktu.

Di sepanjang perjalanan malam Rasulullah ini, termaktub terlalu banyak iktibar dan pengajaran yang tak mungkin dapat ditulis dalam ruang blog peribadi ini. Namun yang pasti Isra’wal mi’raj ini telah mengesahkan kepada manusia seluruhnya bahawa Nabi Muhammad SAW adalah Rasul terakhir yang menjadi Imam kepada keseluruhan Nabi2 terdahulu, memansuhkan syariat2 terdahulu dan menjadi Rahmatul ‘alamin. Keseluruhan makhluk akan mendapat rahmat dari kekasih Allah yang mulia, Muhammad Rasulullah. Tidak akan dijadikan sekelian makhluk di Alam ini jika tidak kerana Rasulullah SAW.

Satu persoalan menarik tentang apakah hikmah perkara2 yang Allah gambarkan dalam hal –hal ghaib tentang seksaan neraka dan nikmat syurga kepada Rasulullah sepanjang Mi’raj ini, Ustaz Hasan telah memperjelaskan sesuatu yang cukup mudah untuk difahami. Alhamdulillah penjelasan mudah Ustaz adalah berdasarkan ulama’ yang aku tidak sempat mengingati namanya. Dijelaskan…apa yang telah ditayangkan oleh Allah adalah dari ‘filem’ yang telah lama Allah siapkan dari awal kejadian makhluk dan kini ianya hanya ditayangkan semula. Hakikatnya, kita dan kehidupan di dunia ini juga kita adalah lakunan dan tayangan semula sahaja.

Bro Hasnol menambah, Allah telah memberikan satu’ blueprint’ kepada apa yang perlu dibuat kehidupan di dunia dan apa ganjaranya di akhirat. Sesiapa yang mengikut ‘blueprint’ dari Allah akan kembali kepada Penciptanya dengan hati yang tenang….insyaAllah. Lain2 iktibar dari tazkirah antaranya adalah betapa pentingnya kita menjaga sembahyang dan menjelaskan segala hutang sesama makhluk.

Majlis berakhir dengan majlis makan malam yang diadakan secara ‘pot-luck’. Alhamdulillah, dengan majlis ilmu dan makanan ynag pelbagai, Majlis Isra Mi’raj di Dubai kali ini cukup membanggakan. 5-star standard. Semoga Allah memberikan keberkatanNya kepada semua dan kepada tuan rumah Pak Payne serta keluarganya.

Farewell...

Pakpayne menyelitkan majlis penutupan dengan membaca sajak farewell untuk aku dan keluarga yang akan berhijrah ke Bahrain. Terimakasih banyak2 kepada semua di MyUAE-Pro dan semua sahabat-sahabat yang terlalu ramai untuk disenaraikan di sini serta memberi hadiah yang tersangat kami hargai.

Seperti yang telah saya nyatakan sebelum ini…jauh di Bahrain namun semuanya tetap dekat di hati…insyaAllah.

Terimakasih lagi sekali kepada Pakpayne di atas sajak yang ditulis dan dibacakan sendiri di majlis semalam. Belum ada di sepanjang hidup saya insan lain yang menulis sajak untuk saya atau keluarga…

Jazakhallah Khayran…

The whole occasion is so special that I can simply say…PRICELESS!!!

Sajak dari Pakpayne:

Selamat berhijrah – Zuhairi dan famili

Semalam itu, milik kita bersama
Semalam itu, adalah taman indah
dicahayakan
mentari dan mimpi
disemai harapan diri dan keluarga
membuahkan kehidupan kita dan mereka
mungkin kita terlupa
persinggahan di sini, hanya sementara.

Taman ini
kita letakkan dalam memori
antara cerah dan samar
rimbunan kenangan dan dahanan
rindu,
melambai kenangan
wajah-wajah beribu perasaan
yang kita cinta disiram bisikan, gurau senda
dilitupi peristiwa kita lalui bersama
Kan hijau sentiasa.

Kau menjadi sahabat,
Sesingkat masa sepanjang persalaman
Sempat bersama, jalan jalan mencari keredhaan
sama bicara, sama ketawa
sama mencari keredhaan yang esa
Kita pernah menikmati secawan kopi
Berkongsi secangkir mimpi
Di bawah bayangan menara dan tinggi
di bumi bertuah UAE ini.

Esok,
Kau dan keluarga memulakan penghijrahan
Yang semestinya sudah di rancang
Kita sekadar melaksanakan
Perjalanan mencari bukan sekadar rezki
Perjalanan bersedia menuju abadi.
Kau akan terbang jauh
tapi hinggap sentiasa di hati
di iringi doa kami.

* * *

DARI DPA KE DSA…SATU PENGHIJRAHAN…

2008-07-24T07:07:00.006+04:00

Setelah lebih kurang setahun 9 bulan di Dubai, aku terpaksa berhijrah lagi. Kali ini ke Bahrain pula. Keputusan berhijrah sudah pasti sesuatu yang sukar kerana Dubai adalah tempat bermulanya satu impian. Bermulanya satu pengalaman baru bagi aku bekerja di luar negara.

Telah ramai kawan dan sahabat yang telah dikenali di sini dan telah ramai juga yang aku tak pernah termimpi untuk berjumpa macam Dato' Dr. Harun Din, Mat Sabu, Ali Setan dan Anwar Ibrahim sendiri.

Telah serasi juga aku dengan DPA dan projek Dubai Marina Mall di sini.

Telah agak selesa dan familiar juga aku dengan keadaan sekeliling di Dubai ni.

Sememangnya niat asal adalah untuk aku berada di Dubai untuk beberapa tahun ke hahapan, namun demi masa depan aku dan keluarga, demi yang terbaik dan kesejahteraan sekeluarga aku terpaksa membuat keputusan berhijrah.

Faktor utama yang mendorong sudah pasti merujuk kembali kepada tujuan asal penghijrahan asal aku dan keluarga dari Bertam ke Dubai, iaitu faktor ekonomi. Di mana saja yang sesuai di bumi Allah ini, aku akan mencari rezeki demi memantapkan ekonomi masa depan aku dan keluarga. Aku perlu memberi semula keselesaan kepada anak2. Mereka telah banyak bersabar dengan keadaan di Dubai.

Bahrain lebih ‘murah’ dari Dubai. Dengan pendapatan yang sama di Dubai, di Bahrain aku dapat memberi lebih ‘keselesaan’…insyaAllah. Lebih banyak ‘buffer’. Memandangkan selepas menghadiri beberapa temuduga dari pelbagai international companies termasuk KEO, RMJM, P&T Architects and Engineer, Hill International, Nakheel dan DSA International Architects, aku telah memilih yang terbaik untuk aku buat masa ini...alhamdulillah.

Walaupun satu ketika aku bercita2 untuk ke Nakheel atau KEO namun mungkin rezeki aku buat masa ini tidak di situ maka aku telah memilih DSA. Semoga Allah memberi keredhaanNya juga atas pilihan ku ini. Dari sudut kerja, rasanya selepas 15 tahun dalam bidang architecture dan construction ni, mana2 pun sama. Permaianan tetap sama hanya padangnya berlainan.

Dari DPA ke DSA...

Banyak pengalaman yang telah diperolehi di DPA. Dan secara tidak lansung, pengalaman yang diperolehi di DPAlah yang membuka ruang untuk aku terus memajukan diri. Yang pasti, dengan DPA aku berpuas hati kerana telah berjaya menghabiskan sepenuhnya tempoh kontrak. Walaupun tergoda juga untuk berhijrah lebih awal kerana “the grass looks greener on the other side” namun aku kuatkan hati dan habiskan juga kontrak DPA. Harap2 ada la ‘bonus’nya nanti.
Terimakasih kepada semua di DPA...

Alhamdulillah, sehingga kini semua berjalan dengan lancar. Aku hanya menunggu proses Visa Application dari pihak majikan. Kalau mengikut program, aku perlu mendaftar di office baru di Bahrain pada 24hb Ogos 2008, namun semuanya bergantung kepada kelulusan visa juga.

Sekarang aku sibuk membuat persediaan untuk berhijrah. Perlu let go banyak perkara. Kontrak rumah sekarang telah pun di sign hingga ke awal januari 2009, ianya perlu diselesaikan. Perkakas rumah yang perlu diclearkan dan yang agak penting…kereta yang tak sampai setahun pun perlu dijual. Namun itu semua adalah karenah penghijrahan.

Accord...dok bau kedai lagi...for sale!

Semoga semua berjalan dengan baik…insyaAllah.

Selamat...dan jumpa anda di sana…di sana…

MINYAK NAIK...BESI NAIK...

2008-07-21T09:56:00.004+04:00

Steel prices up 10% in a week
by Summer Said on Sunday, 20 July 2008

PRICE SURGE: Steel prices in the UAE
have increased 10 percent in a week.
(Getty Images)

Steel prices in the United Arab Emirates have risen almost 10 percent in one week as demand for construction materials continues to drain the local market, traders said on Sunday.

Gulf Arabs are investing heavily in real estate and suppliers of building material are struggling to keep up with demand in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy.

The rising cost of building materials is helping fuel inflation across the Gulf, where economies are flourishing on a more than six-fold rise in oil prices since 2002.

A tonne of reinforcing steel bar, used in construction, fetched around $1,700 (RM5,524.13 ) on Sunday, up from around $1,550 (RM5,036.72) on July 13, dealers said. "If you are paying cash, you can get one tonne of steel at around $1,700, but if you are getting it on credit, you will have to pay 5 or 10 percent more," one steel trader said. "Some producers won't even sell to you at these prices unless you are having a large order," he said.

One executive from a Gulf steel producer said prices could hit around $2,000 (RM6,501.40) by the end of August. Contractors have warned that they might have to stop working on some projects due to the losses from a surge in rebar steel prices to almost $1,851 (RM6,014.32) a tonne, al-Ittihad newspaper reported on Sunday. The UAE lifted customs duties on cement and steel in March to stabilise the real estate market and to reduce the burden on contractors. (Reuters)

Mekah Berubah Wajah...

2008-07-21T09:21:00.008+04:00

Gambar ini dihantar ke email. Sumber tidak diketahui.

Ia menunjukkan pembangunan menyeluruh kawasan kaabah.

Klik saja gambar di atas untuk gambaran lebih jelas.

Arus pemodenan akan terus melanda ke setiap pelusuk dunia...

Mekah, tidak terkecuali....

Makkah project finds a financier
by Reema Memon on Saturday, 19 July 2008

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque

and surrounding areas.

The Western Gate Road project will

be located to the west of the mosque.

Makkah's US $3.3 billion (SAR12.4 billion) Western Gate Road project in Jabal Omar has gained the backing of Saudi Arabia's Jadwa Investment to finance the construction.The agreement between developer Jabal Omar Company and Jadwa is over 18 months.The main construction contract was awarded last December to a consortium including The Binladin Group and Saudi Oger.

The project, located west of the Grand Mosque, includes seven 35-storey apartment towers, two 50-storey hotel towers, four 15-storey hotel blocks and a four-storey retail concourse.It will create a model residential and commercial centre with new roads, pathways, tunnels, electric stairs and other facilities.Infrastructure work on the project has already begun and the entire project is expected to be completed within 30 months."The plan includes a number of residential towers and 40 hotels," said Jabal Omar Company chairman Abdul Rahman Faqeeh.

According to Faqeeh, the project would cover an area of 232,000m2 and the towers will accommodate 34,500 pilgrims.Concrete pours have started for the foundations of four towers overlooking the Ibrahim Street and two towers on the Umm Al-Qura road."It was a race against time to sign many agreements for utilities such as telephone, water and the sewage system to simultaneously serve 45,000 pilgrims," Faqeeh said.

Tenders from hotels like the Hilton, Sheraton and Movenpick are being assessed to manage several residential and hotel towers within the project. The development will create prayer areas comprising 94,000m2, including surrounding gardens for 78,000 worshippers, and will be linked to the Grand Mosque's sound system."These prayer areas could be considered an indirect expansion of the mosque," Faqeeh said. A 2000-seat conference hall overlooking the mosque is also included n the plan.

The agreement between Jadwa and Jabal is for 18 months. Faqeeh said the agreement reflected Jadwa's confidence in Jabal Omar Company, adding that Jadwa based its decisions on financial and market studies.Jadwa will be providing both long-term and short-term finance. Long-term financing will be through Islamic sukuk distributed throughout the world."This is the second largest project for Jadwa in the Kingdom and we'll focus on projects in the Kingdom which is currently going through an economic boom," said Ahmed Al-Khateeb, managing director and CEO of Jadwa, adding that Jabal Omar is the largest financing provided by Jadwa.

JALAN JALAN CARI MASJID ( PART 3)...RAS AL-KHAIMAH

2008-07-18T05:08:00.014+04:00

Salam kepada semua,

Dah agak lama tak update blog ni. Dalam seminggu dua ni memang sibuk. Kontrak kerja terkini telah sampai ke penghujung. Kalau diibaratkan seorang pengembara maka aku sudah sampai ke persimpangan, mesti memilih untuk ke kanan atau ke kiri. Dan aku telah pun memilih. Diharap dan aku berdoa semoga pilihan aku di redhai Allah juga hendaknya.

Seperti yang telah dirancang sebelum ini, program Jalan Jalan Cari Masjid kami diteruskan lagi untuk minggu ke-3. Dalam program minggu ke-2 ke Abu Dhabi tempoh hari aku tidak dapat bersama. Namun catatan dari sahabat yang pergi ketika itu boleh la di baca di sini.

Minggu ini, bersama Pakpayne, Hasnol, KP, Mushil dan Adi (anak sulong Pakpayne) kami telah berjaya pergi ke Ras Al-Khaimah dan selamat kembali setelah menziarahi 7 buah masjid di negeri tersebut.

Seperti program minggu ke 2 dahulu, selain dari bersembahyang sunat dan membaca quran, kami juga pada kali ini mengadakan sedikit sessi tazkirah atau perkongsian ilmu di beberapa masjid yang kami singgah. Dan secara peribadi, sessi tazkirah inilah yang sebenarnya memberi kesan yang mendalam kepada semua sahabat yang turut serta.

Rumusan yang boleh di buat dari keseluruhan perjalanan kali ini adalah sesuatu tujuan yang baik dan dilaksanakan dengan cara dan niat yang baik kerana Allah maka akan memberi kesan kepada hati. Tazkirah dan perbicangan kami di beberapa masjid yang diziarahi membuka ruang untuk kami sama2 berkongsi ilmu dan pengalaman masing dalam konteks mencari keredhaan Allah...insyaAllah.

Banyak juga yang dibincangkan. Antara yang penting ialah kepentingan kita mengisi masa yang Allah berikan kepada kita. Setiap insan di atas mukabumi ini telah diberikan Allah jumlah masa yang sama sehari semalam. Namun cara kita mengisi masa tersebut di atas dunia ini yang akan menentukan kedudukan kita di akhirat nanti.

Kami berbincang tentang Surah Al-Asr, yang mana Allah menekankan tentang kepetingan masa.

Kami bincangkan juga tentang manusia yang paling cerdik dikalangan kita adalah yang sentiasa munggunakan masa untuk membuat persediaan untuk hari matinya.

Jika kita tidak mampu untuk mencontohi para sahabat dalam pengurusan masa, kita boleh juga merujuk kepada para alim ulama yang ada sewaktu dengan kita untuk dicontohi cara pengisian masa yang dituntut. Saudara Hasnol memberi contoh, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz sebagai contoh terdekat.

Kita boleh membayangkan sendiri dan membuat bandingan bagaimana beliau sebagai seorang yang sama diberi masa oleh Allah 24 jam sama macam kita tapi mampu melaksanakan semua tanggungjwabnya di rumah sebagai suami, bapadan sebagai datuk kepada cucu2nya. Manakala di pejabat sibuk memimpin sebuah negeri, memimpin dalam parti dan sebagainya namun masih sentiasa mampu memimpin dalam sembayang jemaah dan mencurahkan ilmu Allah kepada rakyatnya. Di malam hari bertahajjud dan sujud kepada Yang Maha Pencipta, di siang hari sibuk pula menguruskan sebuah negeri, mengimamkan kakitangan diwaktu zohor dan asar, mendengar masalah rakyat, memberi kuliah di selepas maghrib dan berbincang juga masalah parti sebelum menutup tirai malam. Ini semua adalah tugasan harian beliau.

Bayangkan betapa sibuknya beliau bebanding kita yang hanya menjaga satu keluarga dan satu projek sahaja. Inilah satu model terdekat yang boleh kita ambil sebagai contoh.

Secara pribadi, aku adalah terlalu jauh...dan itulah yang harus kita semua memperbetulkan diri kerana masa yang telah terbuang pasti tidak akan kembali lagi. Masa yang mendatang itulah yang perlu dipenuhi sebaiknya...insyaAllah.

Setiap kita harus mencari yang terbaik dari masa yang Allah telah kurniakan.

Dari segala yang telah di bincangkan bersama, itulah yang paling penting.

Selain dari menziarahi masjid di RAK, kali ini Tuan KP kita sempat mencadangkan untuk kami singgah di Sharjah Shooting Club untuk recreational shooting. Buat pertama kalinya dalam hidup, aku bermain dengan pistol dan peluru hidup. Jenis pistol tu kalau tak silap M9 Beretta 9mm Pistol. Dengan AED90 untuk 25 butir peluru...pengalaman menempak di club ni tak akan dilupai. Sementara menunggu, sempat bersembang dengan Hasnol...kita orang Islam ni sepatutnya berlajar menggunakan senjata sebagai riadah, pengetahuan dan persediaan menjaga diri dan agama. Who knows...

Dari Kiri: Mushil, Khairul (KP), Pakpayne, ZBA

Duduk: Hasnol

Secara keseluruhan, perjalanan kali ini cukup memberi kesan dan cukup bermakna. Kalau nak di beri bintang...rasanya ianya bertaraf 5 bintang!

Terimakasih kepada Pakpayne, Hasnol, Khairul (KP), Mushil dan Adi di atas perkongsian pengalaman yang cukup memberi kesan.

Gambar2 JJCM kali ini boleh dilayari di sisi.
Ulasan Pakpayne di On The Move

Pengalaman Hasnol di dperantauan

Pistol yang digunakan semasa di Sharjah Shooting Club: Beretta

hasil dari photoshop...yang tengah dok belajaq

DUBAI...the only identity is weirdness.

2008-07-09T10:52:00.006+04:00

click image for better view

This article from the editor of Construction Week clearly stated the same feeling I have about architecture in Dubai.

It is the playground of Western Architects. Even if they are Asians, the formal educations by Asian architects are mostly from western schools of architecture too.

Dubai has no identity now. It is just the expression of extraordinary ideas on the desert.

Continue reading...

Skyline frenzy

Sunday, 06 July 2008 04:00
by Rob Wagner on Saturday, 05 July 2008

Architect David Fisher's rotating Dynamic Tower project has got me thinking about the state of the skyscraper in Dubai. Just where is this architectural frenzy to establish Dubai's character taking the city?

The irony is that Dubai's skyline is a product of the imaginations of Western architects who are given free rein to do in the Middle East what they can't at home. They design what they want at whichever extremes please them.They are backed by willing governments and developers with cash. The Trump Organization recently hinted that it might build a skyscraper taller than the Burj Dubai. Why? Because it can.

Where does this leave Dubai? The basic concept of architecture is to marry form and function, and keep it simple. The reason why architectural giants like Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright remain legends is because their design philosophy has worked for more than a century. Nineteenth- and early 20th-century skyscrapers represented wealth, commerce, prestige and power.

Once the automobile came along - and subsequently freeways - glass and steel high-rises replaced concrete exteriors, but were also designed to be aesthetically pleasing. In most cases, the American or European skyscraper was understated and elegant. Above all, the skyscraper gave a city a sense of place.

Dubai can't lay claim to understatement and elegance, and certainly not a sense of place. Review the artist's renderings of the Waterfront and it appears that designers have torn a page from the architectural plans of high-density Manhattan. There is block after block of tightly-packed plain office and residential buildings punctuated with an occasional architectural marvel.

Burj Dubai's Grand Boulevard is the modern version of the Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris. Western architects and planners have stolen bits and pieces of Western urban design and plonked it in the desert.The result is that Dubai lacks identity. A spectacular skyline, yes. But barely a passing nod is given to Dubai's past, traditions and culture. In their zeal to build a city that gives us the "wow" factor with unconventional shapes and gimmicks, they have stripped Dubai of its cultural identity.

Sometimes when I take a look at the Dubai skyline, I am reminded of an old Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan, in which scientists remake an inhospitable desert planet into an artificial environment teeming with waterfalls and stunning greenery.Things didn't end well for the inhabitants. At the end of the day, restraint and acknowledgment of the existing environment are good things.

Rob Wagner is the editor of Construction Week.

JALAN JALAN…CARI MASJID.

2008-07-05T15:42:00.016+04:00

Just another brilliant idea for this summer!

Pakpayne called me the other night asking whether I want to join him for this so call …’summer bachelor’ getaway. Bachelors...just for those home-alone husbands whose wives and kids are back home for the summer holiday.

I'm not a summer bachelor and of course need some sort of 'getaway' license though...

What’s the idea?...

“ ...kita akan menjelajah 7 negeri di UAE dan menziarah masjid-masjid di sepanjang perjalanan kita...”

Wow...such a good idea. Earlier on, PP has even asked the permission to 'borrow' me from my wife...surely to confirm a limited getaway license for myself. Then the approval condition turned up something like this…

”nak pinjam bawa pi masjid tak paa la PP…jangan pinjam bawak pi tengok arab gelek sudah…"

That’s very interesting and good thinking…at least for those whose wives are in Malaysia …rasa tenang sikit bila suami2 nak menziarah masjid.

But, everything we do always comes down to our NIAT juga…Innama a'qmalu binniat.

So yesterday, with Pakpayne, Hasnol, Imran, Khairul Affendi and Adlil, we started our journey to Fujeirah, the first one we picked of the 7 Emirates.

The basic idea is to stop at any mosque, perform sunat prayer and berdoa plus any other fadzail- amal , and we will document at least 7 mosques for each of the emirates.

But the more the merrier of course.

Back to the idea…while travelling, we enjoyed the scenery...which mostly sand dunes, rocky mountains, date palms, sand dunes again...another date palms...blue sea...mountain again…and the most important thing is to tambah more pahala.

dates on the palm...

winding and mountainous road

even before completing the journey, we had clearly seen the light at the end of the tunnel...

Actually, I have already started collecting photos of local mosques when I first got here but the inspiration just got stuck there, no more update. So, this is a good time to polish back that plan with this brilliant one.

These are some photos of our first exploration …JALAN JALAN CARI MASJID

Mosque No. 1...somehow there's no name found.

Mosque No. 2...

Pakpayne...performing doa'...khushukly

Mosque no. 3....where we performed our Friday prayer

Mosque no. 4...

the most interesting of all. This is Al Bidyah Mosque...built around 1446AD (562 years ago). It is a historical mosque believed to be among the earliest in the region.

Having mutton briyani...during our lunch break...

This particular mosque is actually built whithin the compound of the gas station. Equivalent to 'surau' back home. Something definitely extra from what you normally see in Malaysia.

Mosque no. 5

Mosque no.6

Hasnol...pause and reflect...

Fruit stall along the way...just like back home.

Mosque no. 7

Even in Fujeirah...you will see Ayah Pin's style replicas...

Finally...on the way back, Nik Ericson invited us for a delicious refreshment.

Thank you Nik...

...and the rest of the photos are HERE.

...from Pakpayne.

6 TRUNKED COCONUT PALM...

2008-06-26T17:21:00.004+04:00

...pokok nyioq bercabang enam...

Remember the 2 trunked coconut palm I posted earlier.
Forget that one...see this one!
A friend emailed this to me.
Don't know where this is though...

DUBAI PROJECT UPDATE 11...ROTATING TOWER

2008-06-26T15:54:00.005+04:00

THE FIRST DYNAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE WORLD IS HERE...

AND THE FIRST TO BE IN DUBAI...

From Dynamic Architecture Web Site:

A BUILDING IN MOTION

Visionary architect Dr. David Fisher is the creator of the revolutionary Dynamic Tower, the world's first building in motion. The Dynamic Tower heralds a new era of architecture: Buildings in motion will challenge traditional architecture, becoming the symbol of a new philosophy that will change the look of our cities and the concept of living.

The Dynamic Tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor rotates independently at different speeds, resulting in a unique and ever evolving shape that introduces a fourth dimension to architecture, Time.

The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly, with the ability to generate electricity for itself as well as other buildings nearby making it the first building designed to be self-powered, it achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor. An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.

The Dynamic Tower is also the first skyscraper to be built entirely from prefabricated parts that are custom made in a workshop, resulting of fast construction and of substantial cost savings . this approach known as the Fisher Method, also requires far less workers on construction site while each floor of the building can be completed in only seven days, units can also be customized according to the owners needs and styles.

Dr. Fisher states, “Today's life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our mood, buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather, buildings will be alive.

“From now on, buildings will have four dimensions, the fourth dimension is ‘Time' to become part of architecture,” Dr. Fisher added. “Buildings in motion will shape the sky line of our cities.

By combining motion, green energy and efficient construction, the Dynamic Tower will change architecture as we know it, and will start a new era of Dynamic Living.

These are the photos taken from the actual brochure of the project forwarded to me today.

Click photos for better images...

It is already in the news: 7DAYS today 26/6/2008

The ‘Dynamic Tower’, a slender, shifting skyscraper of rotating, energy-self-sufficient luxury apartments, was presented in project-form late on Tuesday in New York by Italian architect David Fisher, before it goes up in Dubai.

The 420-metre building features 80 pre-fabricated apartments that spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 power-generating wind turbines located between each floor. “This building will have endless different shapes,” Fisher said. As each floor rotates independently from the other, the Dynamic Tower will constantly change its profile, in a new architectural concept that is taking root around the world.The Mirax group plans to build a similar, 70-storey skyscraper in Moscow.“We look forward to build a third one in New York and maybe in other cities,” said Fisher. “These buildings will open our vision all around, to a new life.”He said the skyscraper, which will be completely energy self-sufficient and will cost an estimated $700 million to build, should be up and running in Dubai in 2010.

We'll see...

DUBAI PROJECT UPDATE 10...REVISITED

2008-06-25T16:25:00.003+04:00

I was informed that the 'Death Star' on the desert will not be built after all. It was just a concept design by OMA for the design competition of the project held back in 2007. Thank you to Ikmal for pointing that out.

The winner of the competion is the Norwegian architects Snohetta International

Here are some photos of New RAK Convention ad Exhibition Centre by Snohetta.

...and this is the breaking news as published in Arabianbusiness.com

Snohetta designs for RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre unveiled
by James Boley on Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Designs by Norwegian architects Snohetta International for the RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre have been unveiled at Arabian Travel Market 2008.Developed by Rakeen, the project is estimated to cost US$400 million and will cover 270,000m2 of built up area at the RAK Gateway project, located 150km east of Dubai.

The project will be the gateway for the planned new capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.A 200m high tower will offer a 5-star hotel and views of the Gulf, the surrounding desert and nearby mountains, from which the project draws its design inspiration.

This concept provides for an infinite variety of naturally shaded, intimate and protected spaces, around which the multiple uses associated with the development are woven. Ceramics developed by RAK Ceramics will be used in the finishing, in reference to the Emirate's status in ceramics design and production.

"The RAK Convention & Exhibition Centre will be the finest of its kind in the region, not just a place of function, but also an outstanding architectural masterpiece, designed meticulously, allowing for future expansion," said Dr. Imad Haffar, chief operating officer of Rakeen.

The project is estimated to be completed in 2011.

DUBAI PROJECT UPDATE 10...

2008-06-23T12:12:00.010+04:00

...bola di padang pasir...

This project update is just my personal documentation of what's going on in my line of work around here.

Basically, I am trying to document these architectural phenomenons...while staying here in Dubai. They are just records of something really amazing to me and I think worth sharing. To be here is to witness what other people...architects and engineers, expats and labours are doing...and to be aware of my surroundings...architecturally.

There are too many of these outstanding works by famous architects all around the world. But here, I excite to share some extraordinary ideas by architects which could only be defined by or translated into the the amount of money these Arab clients have. Some projects may actually take off but some would just be the manifestation of incredible ideas on papers…or just wallpapers on our computer screens.

Mega projects are meant to be the symbol of economics power and strength of the countries where they sprout from. The perfect representation of ‘I also can do’, ‘I also have money’and ‘I also can beat you’…and for the final exclamation…I’m damned rich!. These kinds of economics and development battleground are surely here to stay. At least for another decade, Godwilling.

And for the same reason, this part of the world has become the architects play grounds. All the best come here to play like the World Cup for the architects. Famous players like Atkins, ZahaHadid, OMA, AEDAS, KEO and of course DP Architects, to name a few, are here to show their skills. They play in the sand and they play in the sea. If not enough land to play, they put sand in the sea, make a new field and play there too. They fight the challenges until challenges subdued. They fight the impossible until impossible is nothing.

Depicting relentless endeavor of human creativity, spirit and determination in achieving the design intent of something beyond imagination.

These photos are examples of the above…

Project: RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre

Status: Concept (as reported in May 2007)

Architect: OMA

Client: Rakeen DevelopmentLocation: Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Budget: N/A

Site: Gateway City, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Program: Mixed Use: Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hotels, Offices, Residential, Shopping, Restaurants

Source: Dezeen

and remember this....

Star Wars - Death Star

We'll see...

PERTAMA KALI MENYANYIKAN 'NEGARAKU'...DI DUBAI

2008-06-22T06:51:00.006+04:00

Pakpayne menulis...

" Meremang bulu roma bila lagu Negara Ku bergema di foyer MATRADE! Lebih kurang 250 Malaysians berdiri berganding bahu menyanyikan lagu dengan semangat waja - kasih kan ibu pertiwi walaupun berada di rantau. Begitulah suasana di permulaan majlis Sambutan Ulang Tahun Keputeraan DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agung - yang di anjurkan oleh pihak Konsul Jeneral di Dubai, dan diberi kerjasama kelolaan sepenuhnya oleh MyUAE-PRO..."

...dan salah seorang yang menyanyikan lagu Negaraku tu adalah ZBA sendiri. Memang kebetulan berada di sebelah Pakpayne. Memang meremang dan semangat bila sekali sekala menyanyikan lagu kebangsaan ni. Tambahan lagi bila berada di tanah asing di Dubai ni...bersama expat Malaysia yang pelbagai kaum meraikan sambutan Official Birthday of The Supreme Ruler of Malaysia.

Bila tu? Jumaat 20hb Jun 2008
Di mana? kat foyer bangunan Matrade Malaysia kat Dubai ni...
Pukul berapa? dari pukul 3.00 sampai pukol 6.00 petang
Siapa yang mai? Ramai... rakyat malaysia kat dubai ni, tengok la gambarnya nanti...Nik Rahman punya...banyak gambar...tq Nik.
Siapa yang anjur? Malaysian Consulate kat Dubai laa dgn kerjasama MyUAE team (kawan2 kita la tu).

Malaysian consul-general Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin yang merasmikan majlis.

Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin

Apa yang ada? Macam2 ada...Makanan mesti ada, kalau tak sapa nak mai...betoi! cuba try buat majlis official lepas tu cakap kata makanan tak akan disediakan...ingat ada ka orang nak mai...

tapi kalau kita yang jenis setia dan ikhlas, jangan kata tak ada makanan...kena bayaq pun tetap sampai...

ada pertandingan photography...tabik kat abang Affendy, dia pulun sungguh...
ada pop kuiz dengan hadiah untuk orang tua2 dan kanak2...rasanya Mat ju menang...
ada cabutan bertuah...ZBA tak menang pun...rasanya Mushil menang...
dan yang paling best...semua pakat ambil gambar buat kenangan.
Sesetengah tu tak makan pun tak paa janji ada dalam gambar...

Abang Hasnol...MC bergaya...

Akhir kata...

Terima kasih diucapkan kepada pihak penganjur dan para petugas MyUAE Dubai yang telah berjaya menganjurkan majlis ini dengan jayanya. Syabas diucapkan!

gambar dari camera PP

BILA BABAH MELUKIS...

2008-06-22T05:40:00.008+04:00

Anak2 babah suruh babah melukis...

Kenapa nak jadi arkitek?
Soalan temuduga dari Pegawai JPA semasa memohon untuk ke universiti dalam tahun 1986... Sebab saya minat melukis...
Itu saja alasan babah...sedangkan ketika itu,
apa sebenarnya kerja arkitek itu pun babah agak kurang pasti...
babah ingatkan semua kerjanya melukis bangunan saja...
Kecik2 dulu memang babah minat melukis...
Ketika umur babah 6 tahun, jiran sebelah rumah seronok melihat babah melukis...
Dulu babah minat melukis orang bersilat, sebab memang suka cerita lawan2...cerita2 pendekar
Pelukis yang babah paling minat waktu tu...Mohd Zohri Sukimi (ZOY)...
Memang best...semua komik dia babah baca dulu...pinjam kawan baik babah punya...anak Cikgu Dali...Pakcik Azni.
semua cerita2 silat...best

Satu lagi, babah minat cerita lawan2 kat TV...
kalau Ed Osmera, Jins Samsudin, Husein Abu Hassan, Tamam Idris berlakon memang tak lepas peluang,
kalau cerita Panglima Harimau Berantai dan Pancha Indera Harimau Berantai mesti nak tengok...10 kali pun tak jemu...
selepas tengok...esoknya banyaklah pokok2 pisang di belakang rumah yang menjadi mangsa sepak terajang babah...bersilat dengan pokok pisang...
pening kepala Tok...habis pokok pisang kena tumbuk...
seronok! sebab pokok pisang tak melawan balik...hi hi.

so...abang jangan laa nak tumbuk adik pulak tuu...

tapi babah tengok TV kat rumah jiran saja, rumah babah tak ada TV...itu pun gambar hitam putih...
tak macam hangpa...sedar2 dah ada TV,...colour pulak tu...flat screen lagi...
balik surau babah dengan Tok mesti singgah samada di rumah Tok Cik Timah atau rumah Che Yah...

Kesian Tok melayan karenah babah...

Alhamdulillah, sekarang semuanya menjadi kenangan indah bagi babah...
Jadi babah teringat juga nak melukis orang bersilat ni...untuk anak2 babah

Inilah kegemaran babah dulu...

Dan dengan minat inilah yang menjadi pendorong untuk babah terus belajar...
Bekerja...dan menyara kamu berdua...
InsyaAllah...kalau minat melukis bole jadi arkitek...

Yang lebih berjaya dari babah...

Kalau tak jadi arkitek pun...
Jadilah insan yang berguna...untuk dunia dan akhirat...

Cerita babah...

2008-06-16T18:19:00.006+04:00

teringat pulak zaman budak2 di kampung...

I’m just wondering now that with all the technology…the internet, ym, im, ps2, mp3, i-pod, i-phone and a lot more jargons that I don’t even know how to abbreviate…the time of sharing my childhood stories with my two kids seems to be less of the interest…hardly be the topic of our conversation. Not to find an excuse but it is a fact. One of the reasons is that my two sons grow up in a totally different environment and very far away from where I grew up…back in the kampong. So, there’s nothing much to relate in their daily lives now. At least, while eating nasi..i told them that babah, at your age actually went to paddy field myself helping grandma to harvest the paddy to make rice. They just smiled and asked back…”babah buat macamana?..”

So, now I’m thinking, rather than letting all the memories of my childhood faded away naturally inside my brain or literally buried forever with me into the eternity…I might as well write something for them in this blog so that they can reflect later in their lives, when they themselves are no longer the master of ps2,3,4…or something like that. And if the history repeats itself, their own sons might not have the interest to hear about their ps2 stories…

So my dear sons…I write to you my story.

1968 – the beginning…

...to be continued...

BERSAMA PEMIMPIN...

2008-06-14T10:01:00.012+04:00

...bersama Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim...

Our rezeki is deliberately planned by Allah. Rezeki dah tertulis…kata orang. We all know that. It is not just about food and money, but every single thing that happens around us. The person we meet, the friends we make, the colleagues we work with…everything is already written up there…as the well known expression goes...jodoh is in the hand of Allah.

This is all about written fate. Since I got here in Dubai, Alhamdulillah…I have the opportunity to meet people whom I have never expected to meet in person in my whole live. Meeting Dato’ Dr. Haron Din, Mohamad Sabu and Azmil Mustafa in person has become so priceless experience.

Got to know, Mawi was also here in Dubai a few months back. But there was no rezeki to meet him. It was not written that way…tak ada jodoh nak jumpa Mawi in Dubai, but that was not a regrettable one.

The latest ones just couldn’t get any better…Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Dato’ Husam Musa thrilled us Malaysian in Dubai. The meeting was held last Thurday night, 12th June 2008 at Fudzail’s residence.

gambar oleh Nik Rahman

Never dream to meet these famous leaders before. The best I could imagine getting closer to them probably is just a few inches from the TV screen.

After the event, got the opportunity to speak personally to DSAI on his Galery Pejuang which was designed and built by me in 2003 when he was still in the prison…the time when no other contractors would dare to involve anything related to DSAI. But I just followed my gut and Alhamdulillah, the gallery in Cherok To’kun, BM was completed and has served its function well for PKR Penang. DSAI told me personally they are planning to upgrade the gallery.

...galeri pejuang, cherok to'kun, bukit mertajam...with a limited budget, this has been all that i could come out with.

In my own words, the main intipati of the meeting from the beginning up to Q&A is for all of us to see the vision of Pakatan Rakyat. They did explain on how to resolve the current political and economics problems which are the main crisis of the country. The theory seems logical but the reality is yet to be proven.

As mentioned by DSAI, all the things that are happening back home, from Pak Lah’s determination to stay in power to the latest increase in oil prices have been a blessing in disguise to Pakatan Rakyat as a whole and a personal advantage to DSAI himself. He has been dubbed as PM in waiting…but again, Allah has written that too…nobody knows for sure. I pray, however, for whoever that is…may Allah give us the best person to lead the country.

One thing that impressed me that night was when Imran asked about the role of Tun Dr.M in stirring up Malaysian political scenes and issues of DSAI forming the new government…DSAI simply replied…” biaq pi kat dia laa…dia dah tua pun”…like there was no sense of revenge in him. On that note, I do respect his view for not condemning that old fellow.

...sempat juga sembang2 dengan pemimpin...gambar oleh Mr. Nik Rahman.

The flow of the meeting and the details of the events have been elaborated by fellow bloggers here in Dubai:

1. From the Penghulu of MyUAE Dubai – Pakpayne
2. From Tuan Rumah – Bang Fudzail
3. From Very Important Person in Dubai – Mr. Hasnol

Dan dari blog DSAI

IBU...

2008-06-08T00:21:00.007+04:00

Aku dalam dakapan ibu…
…tanpa bapa…ibu tetap berjaya...

Sudah lebih lapan tahun ibu pergi…hanya doa yang mampu ku kirimkan kepadanya…

Ya Allah yaa Tuhanku…Kau ampunilah dosa kedua ibubapaku…Kau sayangilah mereka sepertimana mereka menyayangiku ketika kecilku…Kau cucurilah rahmatmu ke atas keduanya…Kau masukkan mereka bersama orang-orang yang bertaqwa…Amin…Ya Rabbal A’lamin.

Ya Allah ya Tuhanku…Dalam berjuta Ibu di dunia ini aku bersyukur kerna Kau telah memilih Hajjah Che Ah menjadi ibuku. Seorang insan yang tabah mengharungi dugaan dan pengorbanan untuk membesarkan anak2 tanpa bantuan insan bernama suami . Bapa pergi meninggalkan ibu ketika aku berusia 12 bulan…

Ya Allah… bagaimanakah pula rupa bapaku. Dari kecilku sehinggalah kini…ada kekosongan di jiwa ini…aku masih tertanya2 bagaimanakah rupa bapa ku…kata ibu, bapa tidak pernah bergambar untuk kenangan. Mungkin keadaan susah dikampung waktu itu membuatkan bapa tidak pernah memikirkan untuk bergambar buat kenangan.

Kadang kala aku memohon untuk Allah gambarkan rupa bapa ku di dalam mimpiku namun sehingga kini setelah empat dekad…ianya masih belum menjelma. Mungkin ada hikmah disebaliknya.

Wahai ibu dan bapa…semoga kita bertemu kembali di syurga nanti…insyaAllah.

Ibu…disaat ini aku menangis mengenangkan mu…aku menangis mengenangkan segala pengorbananmu membesarkan ku, melayani segala karenahku…dengan pendapatan yang tidak menentu,dengan hasil l bendang yang sekakang kera…dengan keringat dan tulang empat keratmu ..dengan hanya titik peluhmu tanpa suamimu…namun ibu berjaya.

Aku berdosa padamu ibu…

ketika aku meminta makanan sedap yang sebenarnya tak mampu kau sediakan…

Aku berdosa padamu ibu…

ketika aku meminta mainan sebenarnya yang tak mampu kau belikan…

Aku berdosa padamu ibu…

ketika aku meminta kasut raya yang sebenarya tak mampu kau hadiahkan…

Aku berdosa padamu ibu…

ketika aku meminta segalanya yang sebenarnya tak mampu kau adakan…namun sebagai ibu…kau laksanakan tugasmu…

Ibu…aku ingin berjasa lagi pada mu…

kerana sesunggunya tidak terbalas jasamu kepadaku…

Ibu…aku hanya mampu berdoa disetiap solatku semoga kau disayangi Illahi…

Kepada sahabat yang masih menpunyai ibu dan bapa…berbaktilah kepada mereka…kerana berbakti kepada kedua ibubapa itu terlalu tinggi nilainya…

Sahabat Nabi SAW, Abdullah bin Amru bin 'Ash berkata: "Pada suatu hari seorang lelaki menghadap Rasulullah SAW, memohon izin untuk ikut berjihad bersama Baginda. Lantas Rasulullah SAW bertanya kepada lelaki itu: "Adakah orang tuamu masih hidup?" Jawabnya: "Ya, mereka masih hidup." Rasulullah SAW bersabda: "Dalam diri orang tuamu itulah terdapat nilai jihad." (Hadis riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

Weird Houses...Gravity Defying Homes

2008-06-06T09:00:00.009+04:00

Some people are just trying to be funny...architecturally funny!

Upside-Down House
(Syzmbark, Poland)This upside down design seems totally nonsensical–but that is exactly the message the Polish philanthropist and designer, Daniel Czapiewski, was trying to send. The unstable and backward construction was built as a social commentary on Poland’s former Communist era. The monument is worth a trip be it for a lesson in history or balance.

zba: if you show this to the CEO of any Dubai Developer, in the next year you will see the tallest upside down tower in Dubai!

Rozak House
(Darwin, Australia)It’s pretty gutsy to build a stilt-house in cyclone country, but these residents came prepared. Even if Mother Nature knocked their house off the grid, their solar power panels and rainwater collection systems would keep them self-sufficient. Take that, cyclone!

zba: Well.. I thought this is Razak House!

Cube House

(Rotterdam, Netherlands)Living in a tilted house is much easier than it looks—just ask the people living in these the Kijk-Kubus homes. Architect Piet Blom tipped a conventional house forty-five degrees and rested it upon a hexagon-shaped pole so that three sides face down and the other three face the sky. Each of the cube houses accommodates three floors: a living space including a kitchen, study and bathroom, the middle floor houses bedrooms and the top is the pyramid room that can act like an attic or viewing deck. These houses are quite expensive, but you can satisfy your curiosity by visiting the museum show house.

zba: when the architect played too much Lego and Rubik's Cube...

Berman House
(Joadja, Australia) Surrounded by lush vegetation and wild animals of the outback, this striking split-level cliff house hangs over a deep river cut-canyon. We don’t know what makes this house more thrilling—the looking down from the plank-like living room or all those wild animals.

zba: there's swimming pool below...

Floating Castle

(Ukraine)Supported by a single cantilever, this mysterious levitating farm house belongs in a sci-fi flick. It’s claimed to be an old bunker for the overload of mineral fertilizers but we’re sure there’s a better back story . . . alien architects probably had a hand in it.
Credit: Microscopiq.com

zba: amazing support!

Single Hausz
(Anywhere)Inspired by a city billboard, this rendering of the pole-supported Single Hausz only needs a few feet of land to hold a home. And it can be installed in a variety of ground conditions so it can relocate to wherever your heart desires.

zba: will suit nicely here in dubai...can build a lot of them along sheikh zayed road.

Extreme Tree House
(Irian Jana, Indonesia)The Korowai and Kombai clans carved out clearings of the remote part of the low-land forest to make way for these extreme tree houses. Unlike the typical tree houses that are nestled in branches, these dwellings are perched on the tip tops of the treesfully exposed to the elements. But we aren’t sure what’s scarier a strong gust of wind or the ladder they use to get up there.

zba: dulu kecik2 sempat juga buat rumah atas pokok...kesian anak2 aku...tak ada pengalaman ni.

Wozoco Apartments
(Amsterdam-Osdorp, Holland)A zoning law and blueprint flub were the inspiration for this apartment complex. Dutch housing regulations require apartment construction to provide a certain amount of daylight to their tenants–but MVRDV architects forgot to plan for that. Their solution? To hang thirteen of the 100 units off the north facade of the block. The ingenious design saves ground floor space and allows enough sunlight to enter the east or west facade.

zba: there's always a solution to any problem...as long as the brain is still working...

Heliotrope Rotating House
(Freiburg, Germany)Green to the extreme, Architect Rolf Disch built a solar powered home that rotates towards the warm sun in the winter and rotates back toward its well-insulated rear in the summer. A house that spins in circles doesn’t sound too stable to us, but for the environment it is worth the risk.

zba: very interesting...bole pusing2 lagi

Habitat 67
(Montreal, Canada)Apartments connect and stack like Lego blocks in Montreal's Habitat 67. Without a traditional vertical construction, the apartments have the open space that most urban residences lack, including a separate patio for each apartment.

zba: people in dubai don't like this...they only like vertical construction...the higher the better

Pod House
(New Rochelle, New York)We assumed this oddball home was UFO-inspired, but it turns out the weed Queen Anne’s lace is where it got it's roots. Its thin stems support pods with interconnecting walkways.

zba: macam cendawan

Gangster House
(Archangelsk, Russia)Though incomplete, the “Gangster House” is believed to be the world's tallest wooden house, soaring thirteen floors to reach 144 feet (about half the size of London’s Big Ben). The homeowner or gangster, Nikolai Sutyagin, had all intentions of finishing the construction but his dream went on hold when he got locked up behind bars for his third jail sentence. Now out of jail and out of money, the ex-convict lives at the bottom of this precarious tower of wood.

zba: yaaa....correct...correct...correct

Free Spirit Houses
(British Columbia, Canada)These wooden spheres can be hung from any solid surface (tree, cliff, bridge, etc.) and are accessed by a spiral stairway or a short suspension bridge. A web of rope grasps onto a strong point, essentially replacing the foundation of a conventional building. You can anchor points on the top and bottom to prevent swinging or just let it loose and enjoy the ride.

zba: architect ni tak biasa kerja di dubai...

Cactus House
(Rotterdam, Netherlands)Cool-looking would be a good enough reason for us, but this housing design was created to maximize each apartment’s outdoor space and indoor sunlight. The splaying stack of slabs creates big terraces for gardening and the irregular shape allows sun to enter from multiple angles.

zba: easy to design...difficult to build...this an example of the contractor's nightmare

Mushroom House
(Cincinnati, Ohio)So disparate in materials and shapes this hodgepodge house looks like its been welded and glued together. But this is no hobo-construction, it was designed by the professor of architecture and interior design at the University of Cincinnati, Terry Brown, and was recently on the market for an estimated $400K.

zba: i think my son also can be professor of architecture there...

*all of these are extracted from here

MY PROJECT...heading for the home run...

2008-06-03T21:46:00.004+04:00

DUBAI MARINA MALL & HOTEL/HOTEL APARTMENT...

The biggest project so far with the construction cost @ AED 1.4 Billion
What is the next one?...

DUBAI PROJECT UPDATE 9

2008-06-03T21:20:00.006+04:00

...di dubai ni, bangunan pun pakai kain pelikat...

IRIS, a leading property developer in the region, has officially launched the Dh.600mn IRIS Crystal, during an event held at the InterContinental Hotel on 28th April.

Located at the heart of Business Bay, the 25-storey five-star luxury business development is a freehold office tower, covering 300,000 Square Feet of floor space and 12,000 Square Feet of retail space on the ground level.

Designed by well-known international architects, Aedas, IRIS Crystal will be a commercial tower with prominent architectural features and rich interiors with finest fittings and innovative technologies incorporated. The tenants will have access to a wide range of amenities including health and fitness facilities, state-of-the-art business center, retail outlets all complemented by modern office infrastructure.

The interior will be so designed that it ensures efficient usage of space and light, accommodating six high-speed elevators, nine levels of parking with sufficient parking space for 672 cars, 24 hours security, high-speed internet connectivity in all units, state-of-the-art CCTV systems, Smart Card access control, apart from offering unparalleled aesthetics, which ensures high return on investments.

The starting prices of units at IRIS Crystal is nearly Dh.2,976 per Sq. Ft.

The IRIS CEO and the Managing Director of Sheth Estate, Ashwin Sheth, when speaking during the launch, mentioned that the impressive growth of Dubai economy has led to increased demand for office space at prime locations, and that IRIS is proud to introduce another iconic development in Dubai's prime business hub.

Originally Published by: Estates Dubai

PERTEMUAN DENGAN USTAZ DATO' DR. HARON DIN...

2008-06-03T17:33:00.011+04:00

Semoga anak perempuan solong Ustaz Dato’ Dr. Haron Din, Dr. Huda yang masih di Intensive Care Unit Mafraq Hospital Abu Dhabi akan kembali sembuh seperti sediakala…secepat mungkin. Ketika berjumpa dengan Ustaz tempoh hari dilaporkan keadaan beliau semakin stabil…dah boleh bercakap. Semoga keadaan bertambah baik untuk semua keluarga Ustaz dapat kembali ke Malaysia.

Ustaz Dato' Dr. Haron Din

Pertemuan yang tidak pernah dirancang tapi terjadi dalam suasana yang cukup simple yet fulfilled.

Berjumpa Dato’ Dr. Haron Din di Hotel Mafraq, Abu Dhabi cukup bermakna bagi kami. Salah satu sebabnya ialah kerana tempat pertemuan singkat tu berlaku di bilik hotel beliau sendiri. Dengan kain pelikat dan berbaju kemeja…tak pernah bermimpi nak jumpa Dr. Haron Din dalam suasana …cukup simple. Bukan senang nak dapat peluang ni.

Banyak pengalaman yang dikongsi beliau kepada kami...kalau nak cerita detail mungkin tak kesampaian.

Dari masalah2 check in di hotel..., cerita mendapat layanan privet jet dari orang kaya arab Saudi..., ceita bagaimana orang nak ajak dia business hambat jin…off course dia tolak, that service is not for money…ada mat tu nak bayar tambang dari Malaysia ke Arab Saudi untuk memindahkan jin2 di sebuah rumah di sana dengan upahan one million. Mat tu dengan selamba set the deal…dapat duit kita 50-50. Dengan selamba juga Ustaz cakap kat dia…baguih la nak buat business macam tu…"tapi cari orang lainlah…"

...sehinggalah ke satu pengalaman first hand dari Ustaz menceritakan bagaimana beliau mendapat special permission masuk melihat keadaan dalam Kaabah. Only selected people are able to be inside the Kaabah…and he is one of them.

Satu benda yang saya baru tahu rupanya kunci kaabah ni hanya di pegang oleh keturunan Bani Syaibah dari turun temurun. Hanya permission dari keturunan beliau sahaja orang dapat masuk ke dalam kaabah. Menurut Ustaz yang pegang kunci ni masih budak lagi, Tiada orang lain boleh buka pintu kaabah melainkan dibuka oleh penjaga kaabah ni. Dia punya power…even kalau King Abdullah nak masuk pun perlu dapat izin dia…

Pengalaman tengahari Sabtu tempoh hari cukup bermakna…

Sempat juga tanya hal2 keluarga di Perlis. Abang kepada Tok sebelah mak saya ( Tok Haji Chin) adalah bapak mertua adik Ustaz Haron ni…orang Kampong Masjid, Padang Pauh, Perlis…

Sebelum balik, kami di pelawa untuk minum di café hotel tu dengan seorang kawan ustaz yang datang melawat beliau dari Malaysia. Kawan ustaz ni belanja kami minum sebab kami semua dah makan. Kami serombongan, Hasnol, Mushil, Imran, Rusdi, Halim dan Nik Ericson akan ingat pertemuan dgn kawan ustaz ni rasanya sampai bila2. Very nice and very interesting person…Dato’ Othman Ahmad...CEO of AMONA Holding.

Pertemuan dgn Ustaz memang dah cukup bermakna untuk kami…di tambah pertemuan dengan Dato’ Othman....Priceless!

*cerita2 berkaitan di sini: Hasnol, Pakpayne
*gambar2 di sini: Picasa

People Changed...Azmil Mustapha Changed.

2008-05-31T01:31:00.004+04:00

People changed...

I changed. My friends changed. A lot of people changed. The more popular you are the more noticeable your changes to others. If I shave my head today, only my wife, my sons and my colleague would notice and say…orang tua ni dah buang tabiat ka? BUT if Pak Lah or Najib do the same today…we surely have to ask for re-election tomorrow.

However, that is just physical change and some people just don't want to change!

The change that I want to share is the inner, spiritual change or spiritual enlightenment that is by itself could bring about the physical change in a person. In reality, who cares if you or your friends change, BUT if this spiritual revolution happens to a prominent figure, then this phenomenon would surely attract our attention.

This is my story about Tn. Haji Azmil Mustapha. He is the hero of Ali Setan movie. I watched this very popular movie back in the 80’s. It was an entertaining movie and I still remember his character. But I would surely have NO interest whatsoever to write about him or his movie if not for the changes that he has gone through in his life now. The reason is…as much as I have changed from my younger years, nothing is comparable to Tn. Haji Azmil who has totally, 100% changed and made a ‘U’ turn from his literally Ali Setan’s life to become a devoted Muslim…Ali Malaikat (figurative speech). He gave up everything of his glamorous life to pursue his passion for Islam.

I have heard a lot of stories about him and we can find some of his elaborate story HERE.

When some of us Malaysian in Dubai met him at Fudzail’s place last Thurday night, he shared the same experience with us. I reached Fudzail’s house with my wife quite late that night and about ¾ of the whole experience has already being shared to all the audience. However, I would somehow have the idea of what he has gone through based on the summary at the end of his talk and recaps by Mr. Hasnol.

The whole hour of experience with this ex-actor really reflects his determination of totally giving up his glamorous lifestyle in KL, earning thousands per hour to completely no job and income, serving himself for the forgiveness and mercy of Allah. Not everybody has the power to do that. He did it.

Now, Tuan Haji Azmil Mustapha and his kids are still in Syria pursuing Islamic studies and when asked until when would he be studying there. He said personally…”sehingga Allah saja yang menentukanya”.

hidung sudah sama janggut belum lagi...

We make dua’ for him so that Allah will give him the strength and passion to complete what he has intended to do and hopefully his ’U’ turn would fully benefit his own spiritual life, his family and all of us brothers and sisters in Islam.

May Allah make verything easy and good luck to you…Tn Haji Azmil…

...yang tak pernak bergambar dengan artis...

2 TRUNKED COCONUT PALM IN DUBAI...

2008-05-30T11:09:00.009+04:00

Before coming to Middle East, I thought the coconut palms do not exist here, especially in Dubai. All we know about palms in this part of the world is Kurma…this is the land of date palms. Even when my wife first arrived here back in January 2007 and I showed her around dubai, she had already spotted some small coconut palms within the compound of the local residents…but I skeptically said… ”dak kot, pokok nyioq payah aih nak tumbuh kat sini…are you sure?

Hey…I was totally wrong. There are a lot of coconut palms in Dubai indeed.

This is the actual photo taken along Sheikh Rashid Road...on my way back from work.

The location

This special coconut palm along Sheikh Rashid Road seems to attract my attention. I have laready seen 2 trunked pokok nyioq back home but really did not expect to see this kind in Dubai.

Probably somebody else has already spotted and written about it but i have to blog it for my own record. Sometimes, a single little thing does matter...that's the Greatness of Allah's creation.

This photo is taken at Dubai Creek, Deira.

My wife is absolutely correct, there are a lot of pokok nyioq here...

Satira Kampung Kita...SPACECRAFT LANDED ON MARS...

2008-05-26T14:13:00.011+04:00

Amerika berjaya sekali lagi membuktikan tahap kecanggihan maksima teknoloji depa. Memang dok tau dah, tak dak yang setanding Amerika dalam hal space exploration ni. Kita baru dok kalut nak tengok anak bulan nak puasa atau nak raya...depa habaq kata dah sampai dah ke bulan. Laaa, tu kaa?

Betoi ka dak tuu...hanya Allah dan orang2 depa saja la yang tau. Kita yang tau pun sebab depa jugak yang bagi tau. To think about it, zaman dulu tu mana la ada orang lain yang secanggih depa, rasanya kalau waktu tu depa kata depa dah sampai ke mars ke jupiter ka, bahkan kalau depa kata sampai pluto pun mungkin semua pakat percaya juga kot. Tambah2 orang kampung macam aku ni. Teringat lagi dok tengok Space 1999, Lost in Space dan Battlestar Galactica waktu kecik2 dulu...macam real saja.

Di SMTSPutra (sains perghlih) dulu kami pun dok main sampai ke planet2 juga. Bukan setakat tu, tapi pakat dok pulun setahun sekali musim sukan berjuang untuk planet2 kami (laa ada yang berjuang demi bulan dan roket)...

Mars atau dalam bahasa kita panggil Marikh ni nama untuk rumah Merah, Venus (Zuhrah)...rumah teman la tu, rumah biru...(la kurang berkenan sikit biru ni), Saturn (Zuhal) untuk rumah Kuning dan Jupiter (Musytari) untuk rumah hijau...sepanjang yang teman dok ingat, puak2 hijau ni la yang selalu dok menang pun.

Nampaknya hijau dengan bulan ni ada kesinambungan dia kot...

Awat yang depa kalut sangat nak pi Mars ni. Kalut sangat nak buat research kat sana. Nak cek kandungan carbon dalam tanah di mars la, nak cek hidrogen la, microbes dan apa2 bala lagi ni. Depa kata...kalau Mars ni bole tampung kehidupan, depa pakat nak pi dok sana la kot.

Ingat kalau betoi2 bole pi dok sana, sure pak2 arab dubai ni pakat kalut nak pi sana dulu. Dalam kita dok selesa dok buat bangunan atas darat elok2 depa kalut pi dok tambak laut buat bangunan atas laut pulak. 50 tahun lagi rasanya punggah la rumah2 tu...tenggelam kena global warming. Air laut dok naik dah sikit2...

Pakat faham2 laa, pak2 arab ni, apa saja yang orang putih buat semua kira betoi, semua kira canggih, semua nak kena ikut.

Ish...kalut sungguh aih...banyak lagi tempat kat dunia ni yang tak ada lagi orang duduk, depa dok kalut nak pi duduk kat mars buat apa? Rasanya, nak pi buat rumah kat everest atau kat antartika pun tak la mahal sangat macam nak pi buat rumah di planet marikh tu.

Rasanya ada sebab2 kot. Teman dok terpikiaq juga pasai apa depa kalut sangat nak pi sana. Ada dua tiga perkara yang teman dok agak2...Rasanya laa.

1. Depa semua yang dok kalut ni...semuanya jenis yang tak percaya hari Qiamat. Memang betoi, jangan kata hari Qiamat, Tuhan pun depa kata tak dak. Depa tak percaya bab kehancuran alam semesta ni, semua planet nanti hancoq...bukan kata kehancuran bumi saja sebab ada yang dok percaya lagu tu. Tu laa yang depa dok kalut cari alternative kot2 depa ni boleh pindah pi sana bila bumi dah nak penuh kaa, global warming dan macam2 bencana lagi la...dunia dah tak selamat la kira...tu yang depa pakat kalut nak pi duduk di Mars. Rasanya laa..

2. Lepas tu...depa ni ada yang memang percaya tentang kehancuran benua Amerika nanti selepas perang dunia ke-3 nanti. Dan selepas tu Yellowstone super volcano meledak. 2/3 amerika akan hancoq...eem dekat nak qiamat la tu. Atau ada yang kata bumi nanti akan dilanggar asteroid...taik bintang besaq...Jadi waktu tu bole la depa pakat lari pi dok kat planet marikh pulak. Sapa yang duit banyak tu kira bole la pi buat banglo ka villa kat sana...Rasanya laa..

3. Last sekali...kita tau islam akan memerintah dunia sekali lagi. Hangpa ingat puak2 yahudi dan nasrani ni nak tunggu sini kalau islam memerintah dunia. Depa dulu laa yang nak lari. Tambah2 puak yahudi...depa pun tahu kita akan berperang dengan depa satu masa nanti sampai pokok yang depa dok sembunyi pun akan berpihak kepada Islam...pokok bole bercakap habaq kat kita ...ini ada Yahudi belakang aku ni...mai bunuh dia. Hah...nak tunggu apa lagi atas bumi ni...baik depa lari. Nak tunggu apa lagi atas bumi...Rasanya laa.

Puak2 islam dah sah dah tak akan sampai ke mars. Jangan kata nak pi mars...nak naik ke angkasa pun tak brapa nak cerdik lagi. Tu la yang malaysia menyahut cabaran ke angkasa lepaih hari tu. Depa hantaq juga la sorang pi...buat syarat. Baguih la tu...bukan tak baguih cuma tak tau la apa faedah lagi buat masa ni...kita pun tak nampak la lagi, harap2 tu ada la kot. Jangan buat rugi duit beraih sudah la...dah laa beraih pun tengah mahai laa ni.

Rasanya lagu tuu la kot...

Takpa laa...biaq kat depa la nak pi planet merah tu ka mana ka...rasanya kita semua ni nak kena masuk 6 kaki dalam tanah merah dulu kot sebelum nak jumpa planet merah tu...

pakat2 nak kena dok beringat bab tu sama...

ni la berita asal dia...

Nasa spacecraft successfully lands on Mars

AP Published: May 26, 2008, 08:12

Pasadena: A Nasa spacecraft plunged into the atmosphere of Mars and successfully landed in the Red Planet's northern polar region on Sunday, where it will begin 90 days of digging in the permafrost to look for evidence of the building blocks of life.

Cheers swept through mission control at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory when the touchdown signal from the Phoenix Mars Lander was detected after a nail biting descent."In my dreams it couldn't have gone as perfectly as it went," project manager Barry Goldstein said. "It went right down the middle."

The first images transmitted from the lander about two hours after landing showed one of its feet sitting on Martian soil amid tiny rocks and a view of the horizon of the arctic plain. Another image showed that the lander's solar panels had deployed.

The early pictures were primarily to give engineers information on the condition of the lander including its power supply and the health of its science instruments. The solar panels were designed to not unfurl until after the dust settled.

Phoenix plunged into the Martian atmosphere at more than 12,000 mph after a 10-month, 422 million-mile voyage through space. The lander kept in contact with Earth through the orbiting Mars Odyssey during the entire "seven minutes of terror." The landing is a relief for Nasa since Mars has a reputation of swallowing spacecraft. More than half of all nations' attempts to land on Mars have failed.

The actual news HERE

BERSAMA MOHAMAD SABU DI DUBAI...

2008-05-23T16:19:00.009+04:00

Bersama Naib Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu atau Bang Mat di Dubai, 22hb May 2008.

Dah lama tak dengaq Bang Mat berceramah. Dulu semasa musim2 politik kat Malaysia Bang Mat ni, dah kira macam penceramah wajib yang mesti tengok.

Kalau tak tengok rugi...

Bang Mat tengah memberi taklimat...

Dulunya, memang banyak maklumat politik yang Bang Mat bole kongsi bersama kerana pengalaman dia dalam politik, tapi yang buat Bang Mat ni special sikit ialah cara dia present the political facts, most of the time...very hilarous.

Soal ceramah dia memberi kesan kepada minda atau tak itu bukan persoalannya. Dia sendiri pun pernah kata dalam salah satu ceramah dia,...."hangpa semua ni mai ramai2 nak tengok aku saja...esok balik hangpa pangkah BN juga"... hakikatnya kadang2 memang betoi.

Dia ni memang pemeriah dalam arena politik di Malaysia. La ni, dia bole dikategorikan ala2 selebriti politik. Tak dak Mat Sabu memang tak meriah.

Bersama Mat Sabu...

Semalam, aku mendapat maklumat dari Hasnol yang Bang Mat transit semalam di Dubai sebelum balik ke Malaysia dari trip ke Europe. Memandangkan esok cuti, so aku pun ambil peluang untuk bersama Bang Mat di rumah kawan malaysian kat sini.

Perjumpaan lebih kurang 2 jam bersama beliau di rumah Mr. Fudhail memberi sedikit gambaran tentang perkembangan politik dari sebelum PU12 sehingga ke keadaan terkini politik Malaysia. Yang bestnya, as usual tak kering gusi sapa yang attend bersama dia malam tadi...

Salah satu yang agak menyentuh minda ialah bila Bang Mat menceritakan bab Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, YB Lim Guan Eng (LGE) yang cukup humble. Dah banyak tersebar tentang ketelusan LGE memerintah dengan tidak mempergunakan kemudahan kerajaan walupun berstatus CM untuk kepentingan peribadi. Naik kapalterbang kelas ekonomi, menyewa standard room untuk urusan rasmi dan guna kereta Kenari peribadinya selepas office hour, etc....nampak marhain dari kebanyakkan pemimpin2 Islam kita.

Tambah Bang Mat, bila bertemu LGE, Bang Mat menggambarkan cara pemerintahan LGE adalah yang dituntut dalam Islam dan telah ditunjukkan oleh Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz dizamannya. Dari idea Bang Mat ni maka LGE mengistiharkan dirinya untuk memerintah seperti Umar Abdul Aziz...agak tercabar pemimpin2 melayu yang tidak setaraf LGE dalam hal ini. Namun bagi kita apa yang baik itu tetap akan menjadi baik tidak kira dari siapa...hak keadilan Islam adalah untuk manusia sejagat...bukan hanya untuk PAS, Melayu atau mana2 bangsa.

Inilah nilai2 Islam yang kita nak dari pemimpin2 kerajaan...tapi Bang Mat menambah yang kebanyakkan pemimpin2 Islam sekarang memerintah lebih seperti Firaun...

Antara yang hadir di rumah Fudzail

Apa yang boleh aku gambarkan secara umumnya, keadaan di Malaysia ni masih lagi memerlukan kombinasi, in my own term...sebuah bas dan pemandu yang stabil. Bagi aku, injin bas pun masih belum cukup stabil dan pemandu pun masih kelam kabut...maknanya penumpang2 pun masih tertanya2 dan belum pasti.

In other words..we don't know. With the current political situasion...anything can happen.

Bersama tuan rumah...Fudzail

Aku memang tak pandai nak mengulas bab2 politik ni tapi...

Apa2 pun semoga Allah memberikan yang terbaik untuk rakyat malaysia...bas yang selesa dengan pemandu yang berhemah membawa penumpang ke destinati dengan selamat...insyaAllah.

*Untuk huraian detail dari taklimat Bang Mat ni boleh baca di blog Hasnol sendiri di sini: dPerantauan

...dan juga dari blog Penghulu myUAE di Dubai: Pakpayne

SEJARAH SUDAH BERMULA...dan bagaimanakah akhirnya?

2008-05-20T08:40:00.010+04:00

I have to put this breaking news...

Monday, May 19, 2008

Pengumuman Keluar Dari UMNO

Hari ini, Mei 19, 2008 saya mengumumkan keputusan saya untuk keluar daripada UMNO. Isteri saya turut bersama.

Keputusan ini dibuat kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuh 62 tahun dahulu yang berjuang untuk bangsa Melayu, Agama Islam dan Negara Malaysia (Malaya); UMNO yang menggagalkan Malayan Union, memperjuangkan kemerdekaan Malaya dan Malaysia dan membangunkan Malaysia sehingga menjadi Negara yang termaju di antara Negara membangun di dunia.

UMNO yang ada sekarang hanya wujud untuk menyokong Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, keluarganya dan tindakan serta dasar yang tidak secocok dengan kepentingan bangsa, agama dan negara.Kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah jelas membawa kekalahan dan bencana kepada Barisan Nasional, UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan dan PPP. Kemenangan UMNO di Sabah dan BN di Sarawak bukan kerana kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah.

Saya akan jelas satu persatu dasar-dasar dan tindakan Dato Seri Abdullah yang menjadikan Kerajaan pimpinannya dan parti BN dibenci oleh ahli-ahli parti komponen sendiri.Walaupun sebelum perisytiharan ini saya adalah ahli UMNO tetapi sebenarnya selepas saya letak jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri saya tidak dilayan sebagai ahli UMNO.

Saya tidak dibenarkan berjumpa ahli UMNO dan ahli UMNO tidak dibenarkan hadir apa-apa perhimpunan di mana saya dijemput sebagai jurucakap atau penyampai ucapan.Menteri-Menteri yang dahulu berada dalam Kabinet saya tidak dibenarkan atau tidak berani atau tidak mahu jumpa saya lagi.

Jemputan oleh UMNO dan bukan UMNO kepada saya diarah ditarik balik oleh Mneteri Besar dan Polis.Ramai pemimpin UMNO melepaskan kata-kata kesat kepada saya dan ada yang menyuruh saya keluar daripada UMNO walaupun mereka baru sahaja masuk UMNO.

Tidak ada pemimpin UMNO yang pertahankan saya secara terbuka.Wakil ke Perhimpunan Agong tidak dibenarkan menyuara pendapat mereka. Mulut semua orang ditutup.Yang didengar hanyalah media arus perdana yang memuji Dato Seri Abdullah sehingga dia percaya dia begitu popular dan akan sapu bersih parti lawan dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12.

Hasilnya ialah kekalahan yang teruk bagi Barisan Nasional. Malangnya mesej yang hendak disampaikan oleh pengundi dan penyokong BN tidak dapat difahami oleh Dato Seri Abdullah.Dia masih berkata dia menang. Ini sukar diterima oleh orang Kedah, orang Pulau Pinang, orang Perak, Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan.

Oleh kerana Dato Seri Abdullah buta mata dan pekak telinga dan tidak faham mesej ahli BN, oleh kerana ahli UMNO pun turut bersama, oleh kerana proses demokrasi tidak berjalan, oleh kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuhkan 62 tahun dahulu, saya berpendapat penyertaan saya sebagai ahli UMNO tidak bermakna dan tidak berguna lagi.

Justeru itu saya ingin umumkan bahawa saya sudah keluar daripada UMNO.

Saya ingin tegaskan bahawa saya bebas dan tidak menyokong mana-mana parti lawan.

Saya akan pohon untuk masuk UMNO apabila Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sudah berhenti daripada menjadi Presiden UMNO, Pengerusi BN dan Perdana Menteri Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad (bekas ahli UMNO No 1)

Dr Siti Hasmah binti Mohd Ali (bekas ahli UMNO No 2)

Dari Blog Chedet di sini

...dan hanya Allah saja yang mengetahui arah tujuannya...

Just imagine....

image from: this blog

YB DR. CHE ROSLI BIN CHE MAT

2008-05-16T11:34:00.009+04:00

Tahniah YB Dek Li,

“Nasib baik Dek Li bertanding di Hulu Langat ri tu, kalau tanding di Perglih macam PU11 dulu rasanya, haruih jugak, orang Perglih tak mau lagi perubahan, beza dengan orang Selangork..."

Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 dah 2 bulan lebih dah selesai. Aku tak perasan pun sebelum ni yang abang sepupu aku ni bertanding lagi kali ini. Alhamdulillah...berjaya juga beliau kali ini.

Tahniah YB Dek Li…

Aku dapat tahu pun secara kebetulan saja. Dalam melayari berita2 politik negara dalam internet, isteri aku terjumpa secara kebetulan berita2 yang berkaitan dgn YB. Dr. Che Rosli bin Che Mat, Ahli Parlimen Hulu Langat.

Sebelum ni aku terlupa nak bertanya kepada kakak aku samada beliau bertanding ke tidak. Mungkin ketika aku talipon tu Pas kalah di Perlis maka suasana waktu tu agak mendukacitakan hingga terlupa nak memberitahu tentang kemenangan Dek Li.

Waktu zaman sekolah rendah dulu, Dek Li ni memang menjadi role model kepada aku adik beradik di kampung kerana beliaulah di kalangan keluarga kami yang paling berjaya. Arwah mak selalu menyelit kata2 perangsang untuk kami mengikut jejak Dek Li bila nak suruh kami pulun study. Abang aku sendiri sempat juga bersama Dek Li waktu beliau menjadi pensyarah di UKM.

Tahniah…tahniah…tahniah!

Semoga YB akan menjalankan tugas di parlimen dengan penuh keikhlasan kerana Allah untuk memartabatkan Islam dan keadilan yang sewajarnya. Bukan kemenangan itu yang menjadi kebanggaan tetapi kejayaan menunaikan tanggungjawab secara adil itu adalah yang lebih bermakna...

Kami sekeluarga mengharapkan yang terbaik dari YB.

P101 HULU LANGAT
DR. CHE ROSLI CHE MAT

UMUR : 57 TAHUN

ASAL : ARAU , PERLIS

MENETAP : BANGI, SELANGOR

KELAYAKAN AKADEMIK : PH. D DI DALAM SAINS FISIOLOGI/KIMIA/SAINS NUKLEAR/,

UNIVERSITI OF LANCESTER, UK

PENGALAMAN POLITIK : AHLI POLITIK

PENGALAMAN KERJAYA: BEKAS PENSYARAH UKM

BEKAS PENGURUS BESAR SYARIKAT SENARAIAN AWAM

JAWATAN DI DALAM PARTI : AJK KAW HULU LANGAT

KHIDMAT MASYARAKAT : PENGERUSI KOPERASI UNIKEB

AJK PERSATUAN ANAK-ANAK YATIM DARUL IZZAH

Jumlah Pengundi: 90,319

Peningkatan jumlah pengundi:
Peratusan Kaum: M:52.68%C:36.15%I:10.55%L:0.83%

1. Dr. Che Rosli Che Mat (Pas) : 36,124 undi

2. Datuk Markiman Kobiran (BN): 34,379 undi.

Majoriti: 1,745

Thank you Tn. Haji...

2008-05-12T08:42:00.005+04:00

A good comment and reminder from a good friend...thank you very much.

I think we are going to be left behind as far as these state of the art towers are concern. Noticed that the latest inclusion in design of these new towers is the energy concept. Gone are the days when Tok Arabs are associated with lighting a cigarette with riyal notes. The buildings are not only getting taller and taller but smarter.

I don't think building owners in our country are adding all these smart features in their design except for a few. Anyway it will cost a fortune and render not feasible.The tower race is now not confined to Gulf area alone but Jeddah has received a few proposals for these "Dubais".

I visited Jeddah municipality recently and was briefed on the proposed development of Jeddah coastline which included massive coastal development concepts that look similar to those in the gulf. In fact AlHaram will witness towers sprouting its perimeter in not for long since old buildings around the holy mosque have been torn down now to improve hajj accommodations.

Zuhairi, consider yourself lucky to get hands-on experience on tower construction. But remember, whenever you step out of these magnificent buildings, however sophisticated they are, they have to rest on the ground.

So do we, one day we have to rest six feet down.

Allahuakbar....

Hj. Zakiyuddin

TIPS TO IMPROVE MEMORY...

2008-05-11T18:06:00.004+04:00

These are additional good tips to share...

10 Tips for Concentration and Memory
by Wayne Lee

1. First realize and become aware of how important it is to develop the skill of concentration and memory.

2. Do not always trust your memory. Write your ideas, goals and important information down on paper. Anything you need to get accomplished, create a To Do list.

3. Use the formula…Think It, Ink It, Link It and Sink It.

4. Create an affirmation to build memory and concentration. Many people say “I can never remember names” or “I have such a bad memory.” These will only reinforce your belief in having a bad memory. Instead, create a positive affirmation and say “I have an amazing memory and I remember names with ease.” Once you “act as if” you have great concentration and memory, you will have great concentration and memory.

5. The use of your imagination is a key factor in remembering any names, places or things. When remembering, amplify whatever it is you want to remember. Make it bigger, bolder and louder so it impresses upon your memory.

6. Clean up any clutter or messes in your life. Any unresolved business will turn your attention away from what it is you need to remember.

7. Set goals for yourself. Once you set a goal, your mind will automatically accept it into the subconscious and recalling important information will become easier.

8. Listen to others…Look Intent, Stop Talking, Embrace Naturally. This way, you will absorb what others are saying and it will be easier to recall.

9. When remembering, take a deep breath in, exhale and relax. This will allow you to release any tension and resistance, thus enabling you to concentrate without trying.

10. Read books and study how your memory works. Suggested books are Mega Memory by Kevin Trudeau and Mind Power by Harry Lorraine.