My Name is Jonas

I'm Newcastle's new signing. My name is Jonas

First game of the season (premier league season it is) and as usual, United started with not so good result against another United.

I now knew what the hype is all about this premier league, after visited open day training of Newcastle United in their so called fortress, St. James' Park. This open day was not publicly advertised, it was only circulated among email of the members and yet, when I stepped in the stadium, the first and second tiers of the sections opened on that day were full with the supporters.

And, even Newcastle United is so professional in their training. Wonder what it feel inside Theatre of Dreams

Some of the pictures. More in www.flickr.com/photos/budakjawi/

Just When You Thought The Day Gonna Come

If my original “countdown” exercise still on schedule, 7 days from now I will aboard a flight to Amsterdam and in the very next day I will meet my family there. If only…

It turn out that it not going to be that way now, thanks to UK Visa Office (and UK Embassy). Suddenly they feel that they need to interview my maid, and set the appointment on 27th of August. So, everything change, and it’s not for free.

1) My Newcastle – Amsterdam ticket – I bought the cheapest one, hence no change allowed. Crash and burnt £150.
2) Two Amsterdam – Newcastle tickets (for my maid and me) – Changes charge at £30/ tickets, plus upgraded required. Approximately £100 for two tickets
3) My trip to Amsterdam, may be by ferry, or by train via Brussels, £100
4) Changes on my family tickets – I don’t know. Rumour was it cost about RM 500 per ticket.
5) Depression of being alone for another a month or so, including puasa and sahur alone – PRICELESS!!!!!!!

But, I am optimistic. Let restart the counting

29 days more………….

Two pieces of glasses (or plastics) to help you see the world

My eldest son just celebrated his fifth birthday about 5 months ago. As a kid, and a boy, he enjoys cartoons and alike (ultraman, power rangers etc) very much. When I came back from work, 98% he will be there in front of the TV, a tad too close for my liking and automatically I would yelled at him, urging him to take a few steps back, for the good of his eyes.
Then, I flew back to the UK, using Malaysia Airlines for AS-KUL and KUL-DEL route. I picked up their inflight magazine, Going Places and started to read it. One article in that magazine touch about myopia and kids, and misconception about it. The article highlighted that WATCHING TV TOO CLOSE WILL NOT DAMAGE YOUR EYESIGHT. It does make your eyes little bit strain and all but that is it. Then it also said, if, your kids tend to watch a TV in close distance, maybe that because they cannot see from afar, and most probably they have myopia.
The article set me aback. Here I am, scolding my son, even before I bring him to check his eyes. I mean, how many of us parents bring our kids to opto to check their eyesight? So, I told this to my wife and asked her to set an appointment with the optometrist. Today, we get the result. He has myopia and quite a serious one too. In term of power, both of his eyes are on 350, very high considering he is a kid and still in developing period. No wonder he watches TV so close.
Being dependable to glasses since 12 years old, I can say that I am an expert in this area, despite this is not the best area to be involved with. Imagine him wearing those glasses, I can help thinking how he will miss certain things, just like me. Football for instance, will never be the same again, so as swimming.
On the bright side, at least we know what is wrong with him. Hopefully this will make his life more colourful.

Insanity

I think, I am in trouble. In this house, with no one to speak, I feel very lonely and near to insanity. And, with the gas supply still on halt, I dine with my specialty sardine and teloq for three days in a row.

Sardine in rice cooker

I try to keep myself busy. First of all, I try to sort out my backyard, which look like a jungle after I left it for a month. But, it is a slow process. This is what I manage to do in two days (well, two mornings actually).

1/4 more to go, but Flymo already exhausted, so as the owner

Don't blame me though, even Flymo thinks it is impossible. We look at it tomorrow, or Sunday, or next week.

Flymo looking to the almost-impossible task in front of him

 

We will have an open day here tomorrow, and I am volunteering myself to take care the drinking water section. At this period, I love all these activities. Its make me to forget about time and thus, make the time past unnoticed. Sunday, as usual, will be filled with badminton; there goes another day unnoticed. The whole weekdays next week, I will bury myself in the office, to be busy.

Life goes on…another 14 days..keep counting

The Second Time Around

Second time was painful than the first one. After a month spending time with the kids (and their mother), it was the time to say goodbye again. Spending time alone in an airport hotel in Delhi, I realized that my life wasn’t that meaningful and cheerful without them by my side. For that reason, million of thanks to the Almighty.

Abang and adik self take picture, using MacBook camera

Since I went back using NCL – AMS – DEL – KUL –ALS route, the return trip looks like exactly the opposite of that. As I am writing, I am waiting for DEL – AMS route to be accomplished. I arrived here in Delhi this morning, and have to wait almost 12 hours for the connecting flight. So long so, I’ve to collect my bags first and then re-check in, as the period between Flight A and Flight B must be less than 6 hours if you want to check in straight away. No complaint though, the difficulties in journey cannot be compared to a month I spent in Malaysia.

To certain entrepreneur-engineer, I am sorry because I left before we have a chance to meet. I was in KL last night, waiting for a morning flight to Delhi. I wanted to call you, but, being a father myself, I think it is quite uncomfortable to ask you to go out late at night, so I dismissed the idea.

Welcome to India

Delhi's traffic.

India journey was, a lifetime experienced. After touchdown at Indira Gandhi Airport, we were welcomed by Delhi’s noise outside the airport. The weather was warmer, nice one after 3 cold months in northeast Angleterre. A driver waited for us and chauffeured us to RCCI guesthouse.

Above: Din negotiating after our names were not in the list. The red shirt guy was our driver, minus english

Below: RCCI guest house. 

Early next morning, we started the journey to Dehradun, which is only about 300 km from New Delhi. What we failed to understand though, why on earth this journey will take about 6 hours, albeit the distance. This kind of journey in Malaysia (equivalent to Kangar-Penang maybe) will take only 2 and half hours, 3 hours top. But, upon reaching the road, suddenly it all makes sense. 

Innova, the mode of our transport. 

We use the shortcuts, instead of highway, to avoid traffic. When I said highway, please don’t imagine the north-south highway, because highway in India means “a main road using by majority of people to go from A to B, despite the condition of the road”.

The above mentioned shortcut. We were in this kind of road for most of the time in the journey to Dehradun.

After half period of the journey, we headed back to the main road to fill our hungry stomach in a nice restaurant. This was what to be our first encounter with the legendary Indian food. I had typical Indian breakfast to fill my stomach.

Above: Typical Indian breakfast

Below: Dehradun town

Arrived at Dehradun half past two and had our lunch in the hotel. It is a nice hotel, with Himalayan (I guess) in the background. The place itself is 2000 ft above sea level, and they have tea plantations here. The town is bustling with daily activities and the sound of the horns from all types of vehicles. Here in India, you use your horns because (a) you wanted to tell others that I am overtaking you, so please move aside, or (b) I am coming in your direction, so please move aside, eventhough I am way over your side of the road. Amazing enough, during my stays, I only saw one minor accident involving motorcycles. That’s all. Everyone seems to be understood with the system.

Madhuban Hotel. If u look carefully, you can see the ridge in the background. I guess that is Himalayan, but, forgive me if I am wrong, I failed my geography

Lunch finished and done and we moved to Indian Institute of Petroleum, another 30 minutes of driving. This is a government institution, with interest lies on with all things associate with petroleum (and fuel). They did their research, and sold the technology to the parties interested. They put less interest in publication (opposite of academician/ university researches), but importantly, have a high regard on patenting. This is more like PRSS or MPOB in our country (I think).

Anyway, there goes our first day in India..

India-Namaste

Dear inspector shahab, namastee

I am off to India (with 2 friends) in wee hour tomorrow morning. 5.00 am from NCL to Amsterdam and then 9.00 am from Amsterdam to Delhi. Still didn't make up my mind whether to sleep or not, since I must get up from bed at 3.00, and move to the airport 15 minutes before 4 am. One thing I will regret from this trip is, the Euro 08 Final tomorrow night. Other than that, nehi he.

The place we are heading to called Dehradun, right at the bottom of mighty Himalaya Ridge. That must be fun. It is expected to rain cats and dogs though. That must be double fun!!! Will report back as soon as I get a decent internet connection.

Acha Namaste