Monday, December 31, 2007

Hepi Neu Yer!!!

Selamat Tahun Baru....

another year has come... for me sekadar tulis tarikh tu ganti 08 instead of 07...

tak tahu ada apa celebration ari ni kat Doha... tak pe, malam karang aku nak round-round corniche (ada sesapa nak join???)

azam tahun baru??? hmmm.... aku rasa tahun ni aku tak de lah nak taruh azam yg giler2 mcm bagus... hehehe.... tak nak berangan sangat lah...

but by the end of the year... or more specific, 3rd quarter of the year... i have to determine whether should i stay in Doha... back to M'sia... or go somewhere else...

although tadi aku tak nak lah taruh azam apa2 kan... aku rasa ada lah satu benda yg aku rasa aku patut buat since i'm here... aku nak fasih in Arabic, dah setahun lebih, tak cakap arab langsung... hihihihi... so in 2008, i'll try to sign up for class :-) wish me luck...

Hepi Neu Yer!!!!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Last Friday - Part 2 : Aqiqah for Myra :-)

sekejap je.. rupanya dah nak masuk 3 bulan dah Myra.... and mak bapak myra dan datuk nenek myra organised majlis doa selamat dan aqiqah untuk Myra ni :-)


*gambar tak cukup utk Majlis ni... nanti nak minta kat Adam.ha... :-) anyhow... see some pics, :-) (sebelum tambah dari adam's camera)






apart from Majlis aqiqah... ada satu lagi benda penting... we have found the new place for our karaoke set tinggalan MT. (upon request dr Abe, nizam etc.... MT, i have to put up a story about this... depa kata nak bagi u jeles hik hik hik :-) )


yeah... aizal n yeen has 'voluntarily' mengorbankan ruang tamu depa utk taruh karaoke set kat umah depa... actually mlm sblm kitaorg dah pasang karaoke set tu kat umah aizal... habis kacau set tv depa... betul-betulkan wiring... dan malam lepas aqiqah... masing2 tunjuk bakat... and this time around he have Che' Le as the new pencabar menguji vocal... :-) but selain bakat baru, kitaorg dapat orang lama menunjukkan belang :-).. cool je bapak yeen join sekali :-) next... we are waiting for Naquib n Ruby plak nak join, dgr cite Ruby ada suara mirip misha omar, since datang dr same state kan :-) blh tak menandingi pasangan duet sensasi nizam n sha???


anyway, so who's our next karaoke king?.... mampu kah bakat baru, che'le menandingi raja rock kapak azerdills... vocal matang orang lama dan current raja segala raja high pitch, abe??? :-)

Last Friday - Part 1 : the breakfast...

antara benda yg aku rasa rindu kan KL masa aku awal dulu-dulu ialah breakfast pepagi hari cuti. dulu aku selalu g ke subang ria belakang FAM kat kelana jaya dulu for breakfast, kenkadang kat area taman tun... kat sini lain, hari jumaat pagi, mcm mati je Doha ni... semua org tido sampai solat jumaat... jadi nya hari jumaat mmg lah tak de breakfast...
tp sejak dua menjak ni... since cuaca pun dah sejuk (siang pun dah below 20 degree rasanya)... kitaorang... the usual crowd... g lah breakfast kat corniche... as usual... tp minggu ni ditambah ngan family Che' Le yg equipped dgn few gadgets for activities.. with layang-layang as the main attraction... (Che' Le ni mmg penuh activity:-) )
aku bangun awal lagi... since dah janji ngan abe nak memasak at 6.30am... apparently aku tido pun jam 3am... sbb buat telecon ngan my parents kat ipoh n bro kat UK... jadi nya tido 3 jam je... tp memandangkan abe pun tak sampai jam 6.30am tu... aku pun prepare lah buat meehon goreng.... abe sampai jam 7am, dia plak masak mee goreng....
end up bila kat corniche.. we had nasi lemak (Adam family) nasi goreng (Che' Le family) dan drinks (as usual) from Azerdills... terasa lengkap ngan makanan... after breakfast i went for 3km jog.... while the others started with their own activities...
abe, aizal n nizam with guitar kapok... jamming jap... Che' Le ngan layang2 dia... Adam ngan kamera :-)... the girls with gossips Doha style... and the kids running here and there.... pas tu.... as usual... the guys all for frisbees....
ooh.. this would be our last breakfast this year... azerdills dah tak dapat join dah pas ni sbb nak balik KL... dilla dah nak cukup bulan.... gonna miss u all since korang lah antara key people for breakfast ni... by the time korang balik sini.. dah panas dah... huhuhu... and to those yg nak join our breakfast let me know... may be we would have the breakfast every friday next year (so long as ada orang rajin nak masak (not me anymore) hehehehe...)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Exotic places...

Nak masuk tahun baru, mulalah aku berangan mana nak pergi jalan-jalan... mana tempat yang aku patut jelajah... actually bukan tunggu tahun baru je... almost every other day, kalau ada je orang ajak berjalan... rajin je aku berangan... orang tak ajak pun rajin je aku pikir...

anyway, listing bawah ni aku dapat dari forwarded messages, (tp pic tu aku cari kat internet, tak tahu lah ada copyright ke tak.. hehehe) so bagi sesapa yg suka berangan mcm aku, blh lah berangan g ke tempat-tempat ni... ada yg mmg logically blh buat and tak mahal sangat lah... like item number 9, 4 & 2...

no 10, 8 n 5 tu tak lah interested sangat... no 7, 6 dan 1 tu mcm mahal and perlu byk persiapan mental n fizikal... and no 2, maybe dah ramai pun orang makcik2 kat M'sia dah buat sambil shopping2 kan... but there's a possibility i might go for number 9, 4, dan 3... anybody wanna join???
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With the arrival of 2008, it’s time to do something different, something daring, something exhilarating. After all, we only live once -- or twice, in James bond’s case -- so why not make every second count? Whether it’s skiing down a mountain or hot-air-ballooning across the skies, you’ve got to "up" the excitement level in your life if you’re ever going to say you’ve truly lived. So, make like Richard Branson and scour the Earth for your next kick; here are 10 such exhilarating activities to mark on your 2008 to-do list.

Number 10
Ice fishing in Canada
If you’ve ever wanted to make like the Inuit and catch your own fish straight from a hole in the ice, now is your chance. There are many places in the world to do it, but Ontario, Canada, offers up over one quarter of the world’s freshwater, with plenty of trout, bass and pike to go around. Travel to Algoma Country on the northern part of Lake Superior -- the largest freshwater lake in the world -- then bait-up, cast your line and wait for something juicy to bite. Try contacting Ontario Ice Fishing to get started.Highlight: Undoubtedly, the highlight of this activity is cooking your catch on a crackling fire by night, holed up in a cozy lakeside cabin. After all, just because you’re fishing like the Inuit, doesn’t mean you have to stay in an igloo.

Number 9
Running with the bulls in Spain
While the locals think nothing of running away from a bull during the nine-day San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain, it’s one of the most exhilarating activities an outsider can do. During the festival, part of the town is sectioned-off and transformed into a makeshift bull-run. While you could watch the action from one of the many overhanging balconies, you’ll have to join the hordes of participants to really feel the heat. When the protection barricade is opened, six or so raging bulls charge down the street, bucking and snorting.The aim of the game is to run as fast as you can and escape injury by ducking into alleyways along the way or completing the run before the bulls. There’s usually a few injuries, with people being trampled or gored by the beasts, so if you walk away unscathed, you’re one of the lucky ones. If you're interested, contact PP Travel, who offer a number of San Fermin bull-run packages.Highlight: As well as being able to enjoy the nine-day booze-fest that precedes this activity, running with the bulls is all about bravado and will enable you to demonstrate your prowess as a man (that is, if you aren’t kicked to the cobbled streets by a well-placed hoof).

Number 8
Motorcycle trip up Highway 1
There are few road trips that manage to pack in the best of both the natural and the man-made worlds, but a motorcycle trip up the road linking Los Angeles and San Francisco does just that. The trip affords drivers sights of everything from jaw-dropping mansions to awe-inspiring coast lines, but in order to bring this ride to the next level, we suggest hopping on a motorcycle that will make the road the main attraction -- a feat easily accomplished with help from the fastest bike on the market: the 2008 Hayabusa.Designed to change the lives of even the most jaded motorcycle aficionados, the Hayabusa’s 194 horses and 13400cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine will make you feel like you’ve just burned through California in an F-14 (without the less-than-exhilarat ing Kenny Loggins soundtrack, thankfully).Highlight: The undoubted climax of the trip comes from stopping to take in the awesome beauty of the coastal mountains in the Big Sur, then jumping back on your bike and accelerating to the speed limit quicker than you ever have before.

Number 7
Bungee jumping in Zimbabwe
While you could just appreciate the beauty of Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls with a walking tour, the more daring among you can bungee-jump from a perch at the nearby Victoria Falls Bridge. Until recently, the highest legal bungee-jump spot in the world, Victoria Falls is undoubtedly one of Mother Nature’s most terrifying creations.With a frighteningly frayed-looking rubber band tied around your ankles and the unnerving “five, four, three, two, one” countdown booming from the eager bungee staff, you’ll fall 364 feet towards the fierce Zambezi River that gushes below. It’ll only last seconds, but the jump will feel like an eternity as you fall through the air, with the thundering noise of the water behind you. Jump with Safari Par Excellence, who have an excellent track record.Highlight: Twice as high as Niagara Falls,Victoria Falls separates Zimbabwe from Zambia, and bungee jumping from it will make you feel like you’re on the edge of the world.

Number 6
Cage diving in South Africa
If you’ve ever seen Jaws, then you’ll be familiar with the fear associated with a sharp gray dorsal fin slicing ominously through the water. Fortunately, in this case, you’ll be in a robust cage with an oxygen tank strapped to your back as the undisputed king of the deep approaches, eyes wild with anger.Setting off from Kleinbaai Harbour, a boat will take you out to a channel between the Geyser and Dyer islands, where a great white will be lured with bait. Give the White Shark Company a call, and get hooked.Highlight: Underwater for 30 to 45 minutes, you’ll be able to experience the thrill of being close to a great white without the fear of being torn apart, limb by limb. You’ll be able to see its gleaming white teeth, its dead black eyes and its torpedo-like body, all from the safety of a cage. When you come this close to the devil, you’ll feel like you’re playing God.
Number 5
Tandem skydiving in England
The best way to experience the thrill of falling to Earth, tandem skydiving involves you being strapped to an instructor as you leap out of a plane 10,000 to 12,000 feet above the ground. Without you needing to worry about pulling the cord at the right time -- thus ensuring survival -- you can enjoy the thrill of the jump without the fear of dying. Organize your free fall through Virgin Experience Days to make like daredevil Richard Branson.Highlight: There’s nothing quite like a 5,000-foot free fall at 120 mph, after which you’ll be able to safely float to Earth while taking in the panoramic views of the countryside below you. What’s more, with a tandem skydive you get to experience the thrill without all the time-consuming training.
Number 4
Camel trekking in Morocco
Make like Ali Baba and embark on the adventure of a lifetime in the Sahara Desert -- on camel! Sure, you could take a 4x4, but it’s more fun plundering dunes and battling sandstorms atop a hump. Starting in the mysterious city of Marrakech, you’ll follow the ancient camel caravan routes through the desert to Jebel Saghro and up towards the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Log on to CamelTrekking. com for a first-class trek.Highlight: Camping each night beside a crackling fire at small, palm-fringed oases, you’ll feel like Aladdin on his first wish. Just make sure you use your second wish for water and your third wish for a compass, should you get lost.
Number 3
Hiking the Inca trails in Peru
Hiking 28 miles in the Peruvian Andes, you’ll come across the stunning ruins of the long-forgotten Inca city of Machu Picchu. Like Indian Jones, you’ll cut away foliage with a machete as you make your way through the subtropical jungle, cross deep ravines, scale long flights of stairs, and pass through the crumbling passageways constructed by the Incas thousands of years ago. Along the way you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery that this part of the world affords, as well as age-old monasteries and nature’s most beautiful creatures. Schedule your hike with Sungate Tours.Highlight: Reaching the city of Machu Picchu is the highlight, as it’s like stumbling on El Dorado. Hidden deep in the jungle, you’ll become part of history as you explore an open-air museum without velvet ropes or artifacts in glass boxes.
Number 2
Walking the Great Wall in China
The world’s longest man-made structure, stretching over 6,300 miles from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, walking the Great Wall of China will do wonders for your ego.OK, you don’t have to walk the full 6,300 miles, but walking a section of the wall is certainly viable. What’s more, it’s a great way to experience the country’s history, culture and breathtaking scenery. But be warned: You’ll need physical strength and stamina to keep up, as this is not an activity for the weak. Opt for tour company AwimAway.com if you think you can hack the pace.Highlight: One of the most legendary man-made structures in history, walking the wall is an achievement that’ll be hard to beat. The highlight of the trip, however, has to be the chance to explore Beijing a vibrant metropolis that is a fusion of old and new.

Number 1
Trekking to Everest’s South Base Camp in Nepal
The adventure of a lifetime, trekking to Everest's South Base Camp in Nepal is the only way for explorers to truly prove their mettle. Start at the city of Kathmandu before making your way to Lukla and up the Khumbu Valley towards the South Base Camp. In addition to breathtaking snow-capped mountain ranges, you’ll take in the Khumbu Icefall, Sherpa villages, the famous Namche Bazaar, and a number of Buddhist monasteries along the way. This is the only way to soak up Nepalese culture. Organize your trek with ResponsbileTravel. com.Highlight: The highlight of the trip is reaching the base camp and standing at the spot where so many adventurers have set off to climb the world’s tallest mountain -- it is simply awe-inspiring.
living every minuteWhile many of these activities involve a lot of effort, any red-blooded man will tell you that a life that doesn’t require such dedication is a life half-lived. So strap yourself in and get ready for the ride of your life.

Nak keluar negara pun kena bayar???

QR10 exit permit fee imposed
Published: Wednesday, 26 December, 2007, 03:24 AM Doha Time
By K T Chacko

THE Ministry of Interior hiked the charges for some of its services with effect from yesterday and introduced a fee of QR10 for issuing an exit permit, which was so far issued free of cost.According to the Interior Minister’s Decision No. 19 of 2007, frequent travellers can get a multiple exit permit for an annual fee of QR500. For the cancellation of such a permit the same amount will be charged.

As per the new decision, identity (ID) cards have become costlier by 100%. The new charge for issuing the ID card is QR100. For replacing a lost card, the owner will have to pay QR200.The residence permit (RP) fee for a child sponsored by the parent has been raised to QR400. The same amount will be charged for the RP of infants as well. However, those who renew their children’s visa for a period of three years will be given a discount of 20%.

Dependants who stay beyond the stipulated six months outside Qatar will be charged an additional QR500 for their return to the country.The renewal fee for worker’s visa (RP) continues to be QR1,000. Foreigners who invest in Qatar and Qatari real estate owners will also be issued residence permits for an annual fee of QR1,000.Expatriates may be granted permission to take up part-time work outside after their working hours with their sponsors for a monthly fee of QR100. Before applying for such a permission, they will have to secure the approval of their sponsors.

For transferring the visa from an old passport to a new one, the fee has been raised from QR50 to QR100. To effect changes in the name, nationality and designation, the new fee is QR200.Those who want their entry visa to be changed into work visa without leaving the country will have to pay QR500. For changing the sponsor before the visa is stamped in the passport, an expatriate worker has to pay a fee of QR300.

Students who get dual residency in another GCC country will have to pay an annual fee of QR500. For employees under company sponsorship, the fee for dual residency permit will be QR2,000.Cancellation of RPs of dependants will cost QR20 and cancellation of worker’s visa QR50.Foreigners who want to recruit domestic servants have to pay a fee of QR1,500.

Expatriates who want to change their sponsors will be charged QR1,000 for the first time, QR1,500 for the second time and QR2,000 for the third change. For firms, the fee for changing sponsors will be QR2,000, QR2,500 and QR3,000 for the first, second and third times, respectively.

Business visas, extendable up to three months, will be issued for a fee of QR200 for each month.Visit visas for relatives, extendable up to six months, will be charged QR200 a month.Non-extendable tourist visas for a month will cost QR100. Visit visas for GCC residents, extendable up to three months, will be also charged QR100 for every month.

A transit visa, valid for a maximum period of 48 hours, will cost QR100. A resident who loses his visa while abroad will be charged QR200 for issuing a return visa to Qatar.

From Gulf Times....

* aku dengar air ticket pun akan naik from 1 Jan 2008... meaning nak keluar dari negara getting costlier!!! ooh... should i stay here longer?? since my main interest utk g tgk negara2 orang kat sini... kalau mcm ni, susah lah nak melancong... hu hu hu...

ooh.... more cost.. check here...!!!

extract of it :

Renewal of driving licences to cost more
Published: Wednesday, 26 December, 2007, 03:24 AM Doha Time
Staff Reporter

-THE renewal fee of driving licences of expatriates for a period of five years has been raised to QR250 from the current QR150.
- Issuance of a temporary driving licence, valid for three months, for tourists, visitors or foreigners will cost QR150.
- The fee for issuing a duplicate licence in place of a damaged or lost document will be the same as for the issuance of the original one.
- To remove the wheel clamps of vehicles violating rules, the owner should pay a fine of QR200 for the first time and an additional QR200 for every subsequent violation. The fine has a ceiling of QR1,000.
- The usage of police cranes to move vehicles would cost QR500. The fee for permission to change the colour or shape of the vehicle is QR50.
- Those who want to take their Qatari-registered vehicles along with them outside the country can obtain a single exit permit for the vehicle for a fee of QR5.
- If applicants seek a permit for multiple exits and re-entries for a period of three months, the fee will be QR25. Such a permit can be got for six months for a payment of QR50.