Thursday, March 12, 2009

Overseas Restaurant in Khartoum

Just when you thought that Overseas Restaurant is found in Kuala Lumpur only, we found another one in Khartoum itself too.

It's chinese food ........... minus the pork ingredient favourably used by chinese in cooking their dishes. This restaurant is halal.










The main entrance is being renovated (covered on the left).

We were in chinese restaurant so chinese tea it is.

The owner himself is a Malaysian chinese. Quite a large Malaysian contingent in Khartoum and he knows people from every single Malaysian companies.

He's very good in his PR skills. Highly entertained by him that night.

This is a VIP room. It has a flat screen TV with karaoke sets in place. If you want to organise a small function, this is the place (no, I don't get paid for this indirect advertisement).

Where are the pictures for the food? Too hungry and ate my food up. Only realised it when everybody has almost finished their food. Another day!

I ordered the special Hokkien Mee (egg noodles). My three colleagues ordered Sambal Chicken Rice, Chilli Chicken Rice and Dried Chilli Chicken Rice, typical Malaysian style.
Tags: Khartoum, Overseas Restaurant, Sambal Chicken, Chilli Chicken, Dried Chilli Chicken

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

What Has Frying An Egg Got To Do With Driving?

The wife is busy frying eggs, when her husband comes home. He walks into the kitchen and immediately starts yelling:

"CAREFUL!!! CAREFUL!!! MORE OIL!!! TURN THEM!!! TURN THEM NOW!!! WE NEED MORE OIL!!! THEY ARE GOING TO STICK!!! CAREFUL!!! CAREFUL!!! TURN THEM!!! TURN THEM!!! HURRY UP!!! ARE YOU CRAZY!!!! THE OIL IS GOING TO SPILL!!! USE MORE SALT!!! THE SALT!!!!"

The wife is very upset: "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you yelling like this? Do you think I don't know how to fry an egg?"

The husband calmly replies: "This is to show you what it feels like, when I am driving and you sit next to me..."
Tags: Wife, Husband, Funny, Humour, Frying Egg, Driving

Monday, March 09, 2009

Fantastic Architecture of Dubai Airport

I arrived via Emirates Airlines at Dubai International Airport around 5.20am (Dubai time). Didn't really sleep in the plane and managed to watch three movies during the seven hours flight: Quantum of Solace, Slumdog Millionaire and Bangkok Dangerous.

At last I'm catching up with the movies.

The Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 has been put into maximum usage already and it's really huge. The place is new and looked so clean. The interior design was nicely done and it stood out giving a first hand good impression to travellers.

This particular terminal is fully dedicated to serving only the Emirates Airlines and bearing in mind that it was built to cater for the large double decker Airbus A380 plane.

The long walk to the exit door from the customs or immigration checkpoint. Things didn't start smoothly on my arrival. Was supposed to board a bus provided by the hotel but missed it.

That was due to my stomach upset ....... had been eating too much along the way from KL itself. Digestion came too early. Never mind about the bus and went to relieve myself and found myself missing the bus.

Had to wait for another twenty minutes for the same bus (or another bus) to turn around. The Millenium Airport Hotel gave me a room on the 2nd floor but it was the end of the hotel wing. A good solid one minute walk from the lift. With my long legs and walking speed, it's considered very far. Now, good thing I relieved myself earlier. Never regretted that long wait for the bus.

By the time I got myself settled down in the room, it was already past 6am and I decided not to go anywhere in the morning and stayed in to sleep till 12 noon. Went downstairs for a good buffet lunch before joining another colleague of mine for our trip to Sudan.

Funny that the office booked the two of us into two different flights on the same morning. His flight departed at 12.30am and mine departed at 2.10am. There's only one flight to Sudan per day so we definitely will meet at this hotel. After our lunch, we hopped into our hotel bus to go to the airport for our connecting flight to Sudan, scheduled to depart at 3pm.

As we alighted from the hotel bus, I saw this ambulance that looks like one of those that I saw in the USA movies. Similar built.

Nice architecture design seen at the outside of the Dubai International Airport. Now, that's not the airport.

The main entrance of the airport with its superb curved in roof.
That part of the building is the part of the Dubai Light Rail system. This is one of the stops for people to alight at the airport.

Surprisingly, the winter is still hovering around Dubai. During the early morning, I could feel the cold air (17 degree celcius) and during noon time, you don't really feel the heat (25 degree celcius) at all as cool wind was blowing against your face.

That's the Dubai Police car, Toyota Prado!

The well covered escalator area for travellers coming from the monorail station to / from the main airport building.

What more can I say about its architecture design ............. more facts here. With this new Terminal 3, I can see that this airport will just win more awards.
Tags: Emirates Airlines, Dubai International Airport, Quantum of Solace, Slumdog Millionaire, Bangkok Dangerous, Dubai Light Rail, Dubai Metro Project, Millenium Airport Hotel Dubai, Dubai Police

Interesting Stuff to See in Dubai

The Dubai International Airport Terminal 3's main foyer upon entering the airport building. The floor is so shiny that you could see the notice boards being reflected clearly on the flooring.







First time seeing such a facility. If your notebook was out of battery, you could recharge at this little counter set up for you with power points.













The complexity of their lift system. Two lift carriages moved at the same time. It could easily carry up to twenty people per lift.

This is the most expensive malt whisky that I have seen in the Dubai duty free shop. The Dalmore will cost you Dhs 7,200 or US$2,000 per bottle. I'm sure there are buyers, otherwise they wouldn't have produce and sell it.

Will you?

A nice little garden set in the middle of the airport ...... the greeny feeling.
This is really a unique scene. The huge glass covering the airport building surely requires some professional cleaners to keep it clean throughout the year. And so happened, it was during my trip.
Six 'spidermans' with safety gadgets hanging all over the place to ensure the cleaners' safety.
That's my plane to Sudan. Still thinking of whether to set my feet onto it .... hehe
Almost every single departure gate was occupied.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Hectic Work Week

At long last I get to post. Was bogged down with office work for the last two weeks till my brain was restless when back home. In the end, didn't blog about anything at night while enjoying and relaxing in front of the TV. Really needed the rest. Was rushing various documents that were required for my upcoming trip to Sudan. Done all and emailed over to colleague in Khartoum for him to print.

Thanks to the Citibank credit card that I could have complimentary access to the Plaza Premium Lounge at KLIA. Otherwise you may need to pay RM88 for two hours usage. Inside here you have a wide range of magazines (local/international), four desktop of which I'm occupying one of them but limited, out of courtesy to other passengers, to twenty minutes only. Have to type really fast now.

I can't wait to dive into the buffet area ..... haven't seen what's being served today but usually I'm not fussy with food ...... slurp!

Flight is at 2.10am and touchdown around 5.25am at Dubai. Dubai should be hot now as summer is approaching. Will stay put in Millenium Airport Hotel. Wondering whether should I venture out after breakfast. Normally will go to one particular shopping centre, Deira it is. Or should I sleep in and skip breakfast. Or take breakfast and sleep again before waking up to have lunch ........ all provided by hotel.

Flight to Dubai is at 3.00pm, what a long transit time. Will wander around the Terminal 3 this time to see what kind of shops they have there. That's really an international airport ......... superbly packed to the brim at all areas. KLIA? Majority of the shops will close by midnight and very empty.

Expected to arrive at 6.25pm in Khartoum. That's 11.25pm KL time. Almost 24 hours from KL house to Khartoum house. Hello Khartoum guys, don't forget to fetch me and don't let me wait too long in the open ..... you know I know lah.

Cheers!

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Cigars Could Be Insured for Fire Incident

This happened in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA -
A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, and then insured them against, among other things, fire.

Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost "in a series of small fires."? The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued... and WON!

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous.The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be "unacceptable fire" and was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars lost in the "fires".

Now for the best part.

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of Arson!!! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

Reading: Cigar Fire Insurance Fraud - Tri-City Insurance News
Tags: Cigar Fire, Expensive Cigars, Insurance Fraud, Insurance Company, Insurance Claim, Charlotte, North Carolina

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Korean Car Filed Bankruptcy Notice

One by one of those famous companies are packing up or facing financial difficulties in this current world recession. What world recession? It's already happening but not deep into it. Few days ago, I blogged about The Royal Bank of Scotland Berhad ...............

Now another foreign company that is having business interest in Malaysia has filed for bankruptcy at their home base. This time, it's Ssangyong Motor Company ("SMC") of South Korea.

SMC has been bought over by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. ("SAIC") which is based in China. SAIC in turn is owned by General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG. Pity those SMC staff as their salaries have not been paid since December 2008 and the shares have been suspended in the Korea Exchange.

The only Malaysian company that is distributing the Korean made cars, Competitive Supreme Sdn Bhd, could be faced with a dilemma. Will the distribution be affected? Will current Ssangyong car owners face problems in obtaining their car spare parts?

Just when I fell in love with their Ssangyong Actyon Sports.

Reading: Ssangyong Motor files for bankruptcy - China Daily
Tags: Ssangyong Motor Company, Competitive Supreme Sdn Bhd, Ssangyong Actyon Sports, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, Korean Made Car, South Korea

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Pattaya is definitely firing up its presence internationally. Covid19 has hit many nations really hard and Pattaya wasn't exempted from ...