Dinner - La Pergola Khartoum

It was late in the afternoon where I was relaxing at my residential garden and saw some bees flying around.

Followed them to the garden fixture and was wondering what the bees were going after on this garden fixture.




Don't see any food or some leftovers being thrown there.















Later on the same day's night time, we decided to pamper ourselves a bit by going over to La Pergola at Riyadh area. About 5 minutes drive.

First time for me (not my the other 3 colleagues). The place was packed with many foreigners and local Sudanese too. The local Sudanese people have found such places to be of good value and with nice environment / setting for a nice peaceful dinner.

We sat at the outdoor area as cool winter wind (presumably from the Mediterranean Sea) was still blowing in Khartoum.

I ordered the veal emance that came with a large serving of mashed potatoes. Fantastic gravy for the veal which was hot. Cost me 26 Sudanese Dinar (2 Sudanese Dinar = US$1).

One colleague ordered this fish fillet that came with fries ..... I think it was 23 Sudanese Dinar.










This was the Grilled Tenderloin Beef ....... a bit too 'grilled' hehehehe. Came with the mashed potatoes too. Also about 20++.














Another said he was on diet and ordered a sliced beef with salad (something like that) but I found the serving quite big too. So much for the diet.

All in all, our bill came up to 115 Sudanese Dinar. In KL, we could have ordered double of everything with that sort of pricing. But this is Khartoum, just bear with it. If we kept counting the figures, we won't get to have dinner at all.

The external building was erected with their signboard with green background lighting. Just can't miss it when you pass by this road.
Tags: La Pergola, Khartoum

Contribution to Safe Drinking Water

We are blessed in the sense that we have clean water to drink wherever we go in Malaysia or in any other major cities in the world. We can turn on the tap anytime, boil the tap water and there you go, you have safe drinking water.

There are people (those who could afford of course) who have installed water purifiers, water filters, reverse osmosis or water treatment system to ensure that the water they consume is even cleaner than before. I would say in Malaysia itself lots of people that I know of would have some sort of equipment to obtain safe drinking water.

Unfortunately, there are also people on some parts of the world who don't have drinking water within their residential area. They may have to walk miles/kilometres just to bring back some water for drinking. That water may not be clean.

Waterborne diseases in such areas are so rampant that the young ones die from the diseases. About six thousand people die from such unfortunate situation, most of whom are children.

Recently I have read about a small gadget which could help save many lives due to this waterborne disease or to overcome the shortage of safe drinking water.

There is this private company by the name of Vestergaard Frandsen that produces a 10-inch plastic cylinder that filters the bacteria, parasites and some viruses at a cost of less than US$3/-.

The product is named LifeStraw®. LifeStraw comes in two packages, LifeStraw® Personal and LifeStraw® Family.

This LifeStraw could be used on the spot itself. It's an invention that safeguards lots of people from any waterborne disease especially those faraway from any tap water or clean water. Its lifespan is about 700 litres of water (if saline water, it's limited to 350 litres).

Important facts to know:-
* LifeStraw Personal has been referred to as 'One of the Ten Things that will Change the Way We Live' by Forbes Magazine.

* LifeStraw Family delivers water as per EPA guidelines for microbiological water purifiers.

* February 2008, LifeStraw Personal receives the Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas in New York.

Today, you can play a part in this life saving tool by donating a small amount of money. Following organisations have organised and will distribute the tools on your behalf to places where most required:-

*World Outreach International seeing it as a beneficial tool has organised a donation campaign to purchase this tool for people who need it

*IMA World Health

*Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale, Florida (for US$ dollar donations)

*Rotary Club of Menorca, Spain (for International currency contribution)

*Rotary Club of Brynmawr, UK
Tags: LifeStraw, Water Purifier, Clean Water, Vestergaard Frandsen, Waterborne Disease, Unsafe Drinking Water, World Outreach International

Most Famous Tree in Malaysia

Malaysia has unveiled its most famous tree recently. This tree shaded the 'unrecognised' Perak state government's assembly (this state controlled by opposition parties was unrecognised by the present ruling federal govt of course). Major decisions were proposed and voted upon under the shade of this historical tree.

The Perak state govt (as I like to call it that way) has unveiled a plaque at the feet of this famous tree.

Some people will find it a waste of time to do such a thing. Why not carry out the works instead of standing under the tree again.

Well, the unrecognised politicians have been barred from entering the state government building and all thrown out from their offices even though they were elected by the people for the people.

This tree has been given the name of The Tree Democracy.

The plaque in its glory.

Not long after that, Malaysians who passes by that area will take opportunity to take picture with that glorifying tree and plaque. Name me one tree in Malaysia where large group of people line up to take pictures with.

There are people who don't like this plaque at all. They found it offensive and illegal. They can't stand that this tree and plaque have been idolised by the general public. So, in order to stop the people from forming a cult, they destroyed the plague for the good of the people.

To them "Gloryfying plaque? ......... my foot!"

We will see when they plan to destroy that famous tree. Maybe a town council plan will state the the road needs to be widen and that tree is in the pathway ........... as the saying goes, Malaysia Boleh.

(Photos were sourced from Lim Kit Siang and Muslimeen United)
Tags: Famous Tree, Tree of Democracy, Ipoh

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

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

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.

Tags: The Dalmore, Malt Whisky, Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, Dubai