the aftermath

lastnite...after a really good trip to the ain sukhna, we got home and just rested and enjoying whats left of Friday.

We watched the Tsunami-Aftermath, .I remember, that this movies cause quite a stir when they were making it...coz some of those that was there to experience it did not agree that this film should be made. Its not your typical movie...and it leaves u with a sad feeling....

suddenly it reminded me what happen 4 years back on Boxing both me and caveman was on two separate rigs off Kota Bharu. We didn't feel it anything coz we were at the sea and when it happen we both was in bed. I remember walking up passing the TV room...i usually don't go in the tV room..but today..it was crowded everyone was at it, so i pop my head in and then i realise something bad had happen in Acheh and several other places. I went up to the rig floor and asked around about it...and everyone was really upset. Some of the guys had holiday homes in places that was hit.But we were working and it passed us by just like that...of course there was a sombre mood around...one of the guys told me that once a tsunami hit a village in NZ..it hit them when they were sleeping and the next day nothing of left...nothing.Some of the places that's been hit has now been rebuild...look at khao lak one of the place that was hit bad in Thailand...and of course Banda Acehnew building...new resorts..new people..but of course..the memories will always be there...

my prays goes to the deceased, missing and of course to their families and friends.

An afternoon affair....BBQ by the Red Sea

(Red Sea)

None of us have been to Ain Sukhna before...we decided to make trip down to the seaside on Friday and have a little bbq by the beach. It was an 1 30 mins drive from Maadi to Ain Sukhna...its on the way to the Hurghada ( another tourist destination ).

the journey was very pleasant...the highway seems to be floating on air...and all u see are rocky mountains and desserts and occasional goats...something u don't see in Malaysia.:D.

Ain Sukhna is actually on the Gulf of Suez, ( Suez Canal is 55km from Ain Sukhna ), the red sea is almost like a lake, very calm and they hardly any beach...most of it was just rocks, but the water....its crystal clear, unfortunately it was a bit too cold for a swim this time of the year...but i heard that in summer this place is packed with pll..both local and foreign. A lot of the local in Cairo owns a villa here...they come over the weekend to get away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo.

We got there at 1 nish and it took us 30 min to find the perfect spot..must of the spot are privately own..darn!..but we finally did get a spot..well it requires a little tip to an old man as always...bapshih..bapshih.....but it was worthed! the gents got the fire going and the ladies just sat and relax.....it was blissful. The food was excellent...probably the best BBQ ive had in awhile now...the meat was tender n juice yet not bloody, the chicken was well marinated..and the yummy tuna pasta from Marie and choc chip muffins...( i woke early just to bake these babies!!) . The weather was great...the sun was shining but the occasional cool breeze was blowing..so it was the perfect temperature


(safeia, wid and mashael)

bubbles...had a blast!...she was rolling...kicking..eating..the sand..and so was little Mashael..she was all up for it...i think between the two babies..they probably finish 2 tubs of Pringles..hehehe...so cute!!...Marie and i decided that this is the day that they can do anything and eat anything they want....:D. Seems to be paid off....of course they will be times when u still hear one of us screaming!!!!! :D


( Iraqi next top model baby wid)

The sun started to set behind us at about 4.00 pm so we started packing and everyone got a family picture by the Red Sea....


(L-R : wid,mohammad hashim,marwa,marie,meshary,mashael,me,sharizal,safeia,kak zahara,hassan,rosdina,khalil,qistina,samira Bottom: ammar and hadrien)

Bubbles...sleep all the way back to Maadi..she was super tired. I wiped her face with wetones in the car..it was like she had a thick brown foundation on...kekekkeke....she needs a good bath!!!

p/s :- more photos on my flickr

my photo has been choosen...

TOday i woke up...and to my suprise i got an email from this person that was writting for an online travel mag for Perth. She wanted my permission for one of my Perth photo to be short-listed for the magazine...how cool is that!!...then i started thinking..which photos..cant be my smelly wombat photos..::D. It turned out that it was of one of Melbourne Hotel photo.

This is makes my day!!!

Taking bubbles to Victory Park today...i think she is going mad being at home with me....!!!! and im sick of watching Nemo over and over and over again....

Have a nice Day!!! swimmmm awayyyyyyyyyy.....

to hate or not to hate????

Merry Christmas everyone....of course here in Cairo...its not a public hols, over here their public christian holiday is Coptic Christmas which falls on the 6 th Jan....which means that new years is round the corner.....i can't believe 2007 went by just like that!!...littlemisskechik blogged on insurance a few weeks back..and i totally agreed on her views on it which totally reminds me that i've got my car and my life insurance to pay next month...:(

Everyone should be covered one way or another if they can afford it.I remember my dad bought me and my brother our student policies from my tuition teacher a.k.a my fren's daddy..but that's like 15 yrs ago with Rm50 a month and i know some of us have insured their credit cards in case they lose them..well at least i did after a consultation from a banker..kekekeke.

I think two reason why ppl try to run away from buying insurances...are the agents and also they don't know what to buy!! Policies are a nightmare aren't they..there a so many to choose from and the are lot to look at before buy agreeing to a policy and the agents sometimes help too much and pushes to make decision.I had some experience with them...its all started when we wanted to buy our house and everyone started recommending their agents and it was crazy..i was getting calls all the time. Since all this was all relatively very new to us..we didn't know what to choose but we know we wanted something to cover our house mortgage and at the same time insure us. With a lot of help from the parents and our agent..we finally found something that fit our needs....its covers the house and at the same time covers our family at a good rate. I have meet a lot of agents...but i like mine the best...he doesn't push you but he educates about your financial planning and how to save...in the end he's a good insurance agent...and we ended up buying for the house and for bubbles too...:D.

Now u can do all this from the internet easy peasy.......

I have been blogsvertised..

yes..i was the next one to join the band wagon, thanks to lilmisskechik and her influences. Its a great principle rite...u blog and get paid for.I'm hoping that it will pay for that super cool red-mini IPOD that I've been eyeing on.If not i could use the extra cash to buy titbits or lollies for bubbles...:D..

so I've taken the plunged to enroll to blogsvertise..its free and all u need is a paypal ( wish i never knew i had??) account an away you go..start blogging and collect your $$$....

For those who's interested in joining the wagon too...
click here -----> blogsvertise

Ayam Masak Merah Mama

I have made this trice now...and i still cant remember the recipe...have to keep calling mama for it...lucky calling KL using Skype is cheapo!

anyway...since the recipe is still fresh in my head..i will put it down

Ayam Masak Merah Mama ( 1 1/2 chicken )

1 1/2 chicken cut into small pieces
cili kering ( 2 handful - more if u want it hot )
3 big onions
6 garlic
5 cardamon
3 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
5 stalk lemongrass
3 inch galangal
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 tomato puree
1 big tomato
2 red chilies
3 Tsp Sugar
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:-
1. Fry the chicken til slightly brown and drain.
2. Blend chili kering,onion, garlic,lemongrass and galangal together with some water.
3. Heat up some oil and start frying cardamon,star anise,cinnamon stick and cloves til fragrant.
4. Pour in the blended ingredients and fry til u can see that the oil had come up.
5. Add in the tomatoes, red chilies
6. Add in the fried chicken in and mix well for about 5 mins.
7. Add in the milk and tomato puree and mix well for another 5 mins.
8. Add in sugar,salt and pepper to to your desired taste.

Hari Raya Korban in Cairo

Selamat Hari Raya...sorry this entry is abit delay...i got sick after raya...i guss too much of the good stuff!!!

It was quiet raya for us..caveman went for prayers at 6.am..(.yes here they do the sembahyang raya after Subuh..) then he was off to work..i made some dessert for dinner and ayam masak merah...and just chilled at home...with bubbles...
We had some frens over for makan-makan as always...my caveman made Nasi Beriyai Johor Ayah...and i was well impressed..it as really good! of course it will never be the same as ayah's but it was close..im soo proud of him! but i forgot to take some picture...darn!

Eid-Adha here is very big..almost everyone that can afford to sacrifice will sacrifice at least a a goat or sheep and this year i get to witness something very different then what i normally see in Malaysia...over here we get to see sheep..goat and cow..being slaughter by the street..next to your house...in front of your house or even under your house..we were lucky that...none of this business was happening in our flat..but for samira & hadrien..they had to succumb the blood and smell of animal being slaughter as they were doing it under their flat...

I guess everyone has their own was of doing things...