Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - astounding and exhilarating. Beyond words to describe its unique showcase. With their humonguous population, China is able to prepare itself for one of the best Olympic Games in history.

Indeed, the theme itself "One World One Dream" will spur many athletics to live their dreams by winning their events.
Even though, I'm in Sudan at the moment, was glad that our TV satellite subscription didn't disappoint us. What more can I do on a weekend in Sudan.

The Olympics will be on for the next sixteen days up to 24 August 2008. Google's website changed its logo for the day to commemorate the opening event too.
The opening ceremony began at an auspicious timing today, on 8.8.08 at 8.08:08pm. The meaning of numeric 8 to chinese is huge. It could mean properity, success or considered a lucky number in chinese culture.

In Malaysia, when we see a car number plate which has the digit 8 or 88 or 888 or 8888 (max of 4 digits) on it, we are very sure that it belongs to a chinese.
Tags: Beijing, China, Beijing 2008, Beijing Olympics, Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Sports, One World One Dream

Forrest Gump Goes to Heaven

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, "Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about youI must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."

Forrest responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was."

St. Peter continued, "Yes, I know Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?"

Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over,
give me your answers"

Forrest replied, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter "T"?
Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow." The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, "Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer.

How about the next one?" asked St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder," replied Forrest, but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve."

Astounded, St. Peter said, "Twelve Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?" Forrest replied, "Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... "

"Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind .... but I will have to give you credit for that one, too.
Let us go on with the third and final question.

Can you tell me God's first name"? "Sure," Forrest replied, "it's Andy." "Andy?" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter. "Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"

"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song,
"ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN."

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: "Run Forrest, run."
Tags: Forrest Gump, St Peter, Pearly Gates, Funny, Humour, Jokes

Lebanese Restaurant in Khartoum

We went hunting for a place to try out some new dishes in Khartoum. One of my colleague thought of this place as I'm the only one who hasn't been to this new place.

The nice facade of the restaurant cum hotel called Assaha, a Lebanese restaurant.
At the village's entrance, that's what they call it - Assaha Lebanese Traditional Village. It's owned by Lebanese people.
The moment Fairuz saw me taking this picture, he said surely I'll put this into my blog ....... your wish came true.

As for Nazril, if money permits, would like to order all the food in the menu.

Our two other colleagues enjoying the free flow peanuts.
I really like the internal decor which reflects the Lebanese architectural design.
There are only a few hotel rooms in this village where all of them were located behind our table. Could be a bit noisy for hotel clients as the restaurant's table seatings are located just outside the hotel rooms.
We were there quite early, say around 7pm plus. The crowd was not there yet.










Three of us ordered this Flamingo drink. It has whipped cream, banana, strawberry, syrup, mango juices all mixed together. My stomach was alright after this marvellous mixture.













Our food started to arrive. I missed the main one because we were busy eating.
This bread was really unique. When I took one of it, it was quite light.
The moment I crack opened it, it was found to be empty inside.
A well look-a-like was built in the middle of the restaurant.
There was another section with low tables and chairs. Nobody chose to sit at this area as it was a bit dark anyway.

Tags: Lebanese Restaurant, Lebanese, Khartoum, Food, Assaha, Assaha Lebanese Traditional Village

Beijing Olympics in Jeopardy

China government is not taking anything for granted in the forthcoming Olympic Games after noticing a poster that was found in the capital city.Tags: Beijing 2008, Beijing Olympics, Olympic Game, China, Sports

Outskirt Teh Kangkang

We went outskirt for a work assignment and passed by this area where houses were made of tough clay. This place is roughly 20 minutes away from the city centre.

This is an actual simple bus stop.












While waiting for our stuff, we dropped into another teh kangkang stall. This stall was covered with bamboo sticks all over. Quite comfy. Of course you can't compare with air conditioned room but under a hot weather, this was a good cover.

Didn't really snap a lot of pictures as you just won't know when you could or could not.








As usual, we ordered three cups of coffee and one cup of tea for myself.

Notice my Sudanese counterpart, he's in his marvellous coat again.

Taken this at a nearby housing area. They got donkeys to pull their carts.

Only the main road was properly laid with tar. Away from the main road, it will be the original land itself.
Tags: Outskirt, Teh Kangkang, Coffee, Tea

Weirdest Hotel in Pyongyang

North Korea, shutting itself out of the world, is not far back in terms of building towering buildings. Unfortunately, a building that North Korea has committed into building is what I would say out of the world. It's the Ryugyong Hotel located in the capital city of Pyongyang.

It's set for opening soon with an Egpytian company, Orascom Group, continuing the final touch up for it.

The facts known about this weirdest hotel:-
* construction started since 1987
* construction value - US$2 billion (which is around 10% of the country's GDP)
* 1,082 feet tall
* 105 floors
* 3,000 rooms

With that number of rooms, any tourist going into Pyongyang area would still get to stay in the hotel even if all tourists in Pyongyang were to book a weeklong stay.

It has even gotten itself a nickname - Hotel of Doom or the Phantom Hotel.

Reading: North Korea's Ryugyong Hotel Gets a New Lease On its "Doomed" Life - HotelChatter
Reading: Ryugyong Hotel, the Hotel of Doom Isn't so Bad - Associated Content
Tags: Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea, Hotel, Orascom Group, Egpyt, Hotel of Doom, Phantom Hotel

The Non-Growing Seed

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

"It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "I have decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.

Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened.

Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back.

"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!" All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front.

Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said? Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. "When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

The moral that you have learnt?

Tags: Moral, Chief Executive, CEO, Seed, Boiled Seed, Honesty