DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

18th July 2008, 915pm: Arifah, Afiq, Atiqah and my sister-in-law sent me to KLIA. On the way, we stopped at INTI University College Nilai to fetch Afifah. My flight to Paris, transit at Dubai, is at 12.50am, 19th July. After checking in at about 10.30pm, I asked them to leave for home because Atiqah has to attend school the next day.

19th July 2008, 4am: I arrived Dubai International Airport. I was a bit lost since I was alone and it was my first time at this airport. After passing through security, I asked a lady worker about subuh prayer time. She could not understand my English very much, but from her sign language I could understand that I will be able to hear the azan when subuh is due.

4.20 am: Alhamdulillah, Praises due to Allah, Azan for Subuh could be heard throughout the airport. I managed to locate the prayer room. Hmm…ladies were sleeping in the prayer room despite being asked by an airport worker to wake up and perform prayers! From her looks, this airport worker is a Chinese origin. I was quite shocked at the way she reacted to the ladies who could not be bothered with the sound of the Azan. May Allah protect her. Most of the ladies just continued sleeping…

After I have performed my prayers, another airport worker again asked the ladies to wake up and to leave the room if they do not intent to perform subuh prayer. She threatened that she will call the security if they refuse to leave. Look like these ladies are stubborn and no threat or scolding will make them budge!

I left the prayer room, and just walked around while window shopping around the many shops in the airport. I saw that Emirates also give meal vouchers if passengers transit for more than 4 hours – I qualify actually! But the queue was too long and I doubt if I have the patience. Moreover I wasn’t hungry.

I think Dubai Airport is very huge and beautiful but one set back is that there were too many people sleeping on the floor!!!!

MAT REMPIT

Young men (most of the time, anyway) riding on motorbikes performing dangerous acts that endanger other road users – yes, they are known as MAT REMPIT in Malaysia. I wonder whether this phenomenon is unique to Malaysia only. I always wonder also, how this MAT REMPIT terminology came into existence… (Any experts from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka out there???)

Afifah, Atiqah and I went to the Bandar Baru Bangi Post Office this afternoon. I had my car parked under a shady tree in the compound of the post office while I asked Afifah to go into the post office to do some chores. After a while, Atiqah and I saw two MAT REMPITS (sorry for giving the plural form of this noun) doing a dangerous act about 70 m away from where I was. Fortunately that road is not very popular except when they have the Pasar Malam.

In away I was glad that they both fell (ouchhhhh!!!!!) and they looked somewhat hurt. I saw them pushing the motorbike to the side and they were there for maybe 15 minutes. I was sure they hurt themselves quite badly! If Afifah had come out of the post office fast enough, I would definitely go to these two rascals and give them a piece of my mind! Too bad, by the time Afifah got back to the car, the two guys rode away, albeit much slower than they did before the accident (kah…kah…kah…) I pray that they will have some feelings of regret and that there will be lesser MAT REMPITS in Bandar Baru Bangi, well at least lesser by two!

CAN'T WAIT

What is this Emirates Airlines doing here in my blog? Well, this is a form of releasing my excitement… I will be flying on Emirates Airline on the 19th July 2008 from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris CDG is the largest airport serving Paris. It is also the second busiest passenger airport in Europe after London Heathrow.

My three weeks leave has been approved by the Human Resource Division, Ministry of Education. In the public service department in Malaysia, one must fill up a special request form to go overseas, even if it means going to Singapore (across Tebrau Strait) or going to Sumatera, Indonesia (across Malacca Strait). Hmm… Government servants as we are called, so I have no choice but to abide by the government rules and regulations. Well, that doesn’t hurt me as long as I get to see my beloved hubby in Nantes, France.

I am really looking forward to this trip. I have never flown Emirates Airlines before but I had no other alternative, since the Malaysian Airlines (MAS) fares are beyond my limits! When I made the ticket reservations in April this year, Emirates Airlines seem to be the only wise choice. I don’t mind the transit in Dubai, yes, during both the to and fro journeys the plane will transit in Dubai – I hope I will be able to do something interesting there. BTW, my journey home will be on the 10th August from Paris CDG Airport back to KLIA.

COLMAR TROPICALE, BUKIT TINGGI

My unit (refering to my professional unit at work in Putrajaya) will be having our first PDP (Professional Development Programme) for 2008 from the 7 - 10th April. After going through the proper procedure, the project manager (Cik 'Ain) manage to convince the Procurement Unit that we can have the meeting at Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia. Kudos to Cik 'Ain!

Well, just in case if there are any French who happen to stumble on my blog - we do have a Colmar in Malaysia. Every architecture and furnishings in Colmar Malaysia is almost identical to what you get in Colmar France. I guessed the only difference would be the temperature and the language that people use!!!

Having been to Colmar France in 2007, I am looking forward to see Colmar Malaysia, not just for the sake of comparing. But of course, to gain new experience and knowledge from the PDP would be my main priority. We were informed by the Unit Head that the two focus in this PDP are Finance and ACA :) Please do not be paranoid...I believe attending is believing.

COUNTING THE DAYS

I want to have this short piece documented. Suddenly I realised that very soon Monsieur A will be back to Malaysia for a short break. Hmm...I did not make any entry when he left.......

He left for France on the eve of 1st November 2007, it is just over 4 months now! From the calls, chats, emails, SMSes, etc (what else?), he said that his progress is good. I am making doa that he will finish his research before the due date, ie one year from October 2007. Huh....huh.....still a long way and a long wait.

Being a temporary 'single mother' for the past 4 months was a real test! What more, my maid fell very sick just a few days after Monsieur A left for Nantes, and I had to send her back home. (Home is Indonesia, of course). A month ago, Arifah, my eldest daughter met with an accident. When I recall the night that I received the call about the accident....I cannot imagine how I survived that night. It was due to Allah's help that I managed to calm myself down and also to calm Monsieur A. Otherwise...... I don't know what stupid decisions I would have made that night. It was the 6th of January 2008! Hmmm...Arifah does not seem to remember the date!

BTW, Monsieur A will arrive KLIA on the 7th March 2008, Insha Allah (God Willing).