Dari Jemapoh ke Manchester : Episod Akhir

Manchester

16 May 2009

Pagi ni hujan, aku ngan Da’a dah lambat nak kejar train ke Manchester. Train Virgin ke Manchester tu akan bertolak dari stesen London Euston. Kitorang dengan tak sarapan pagi, terus bergegas ke stesen Willesden Green tu dalam hujan2 dengan bag aku yang berat gila tu. Sampai2 je, rupa2nya stesen tu tutup. Ada refurbishment work. Macam mana ni? Teksi, satu pun tak nampak. Nasib baik tak jauh dari stesen tu ada kedai teksi sewa. So kitorg charter satu kereta ke Euston. Sampai je Euston, macam dalam Amazing Race kitorang berlari beli teket (rupanya beli return lagi murah dari beli single, aku gi beli single je) then to the platform. Kitorang sampai ngam2 sebelum train kol 8.50 bertolak. Dalam train tu penuh dengan peminat2 bola kedua2 team dengan jersey masing2. Dia tak assign seat, so boleh duduk mana2 as long as bukan seat yang reserved. Dah penat2 carik seat tu sekali kena tukar train, sebab train tu ada masalah teknikal. Berebut pulak ke train sebelah. Tapi yang bagusnya, diorang ni bergerak in orderly manner, so proses pertukaran train and carik2 seat ke ketapi baru settle dengan cepat. Kalau kat Malaysia aku rasa ada yang tersungkur berebut rebut.

Perjalanan ke Manchester, melalui kawasan countryside yang cantik. Padang ragut yang menghijau penuh dengan ternakan biri2 dan lembu memang amat2 mendamaikan. Tanah2 lapang pula dipenuhi dengan bunga2 kuning seluas mata memandang. Patutlah orang kata English countryside cantik. Bandar2 kecil dan pekan2 sepanjang perjalanan tu pun cantik. Real English towns. Ada satu kawasan tu penuh dengan terusan2 kecil, dan yang best nya siap ada boat2 kecil yang aku tak pasti tujuannya kerana, bentuknya tak macam boat conventional dan terusan2 tu pun kecik2 je.

Sampai2 je kat Stesen Manchester Picaddily, kitorang terus simpan bag kat keep luggage service dan ambil teksi terus ke Old Trafford. Keadaan sekitar stadium masatu dah penuh dengan penyokong2 Man Utd. Penyokong Arsenal aku tak nampak. Yang ramai2 satu train tadi aku tak tahu diorang kemana. Maybe diorang semua dah ada special arrangement kut. Aku yang pakai jersey Arsenal ni siap cover2 dengan jaket yang aku pinjam dari Da’a. Da’a was so excited akhirnya dapat menjejakkan kaki ke Old Trafford, pulak tu di hari yang mana Man Utd berkemungkinan akan celebrate kemenangan diorang season ni. Aku pun melayankan aja lah.

Enroute to Old Trafford

Sir Matt Busby Way

Selepas bergambar di luar stadium, kitorang masuk ke Megastore. Aku dipaksa oleh Da’a untuk membeli jersey Man Utd. Dalam terpaksa, aku pun belilah satu jersey Man Utd yang lengan panjang tu. Bila nak bayar tu, aku suruh the cashier to remove all the tags, pasal aku nak pakai sekarang, and dia ternampak jersey Arsenal aku. Cashier tu siap tu siap cakap ’You bought this, just to cover that?| sambil menggelengkan kepala.

Aku memang respect la system crowd control diorang. Bayangkan haritu ada lebih kurang 75 ribu orang membanjiri stadium, tapi jumlah penonton yang besar ni dapat diurus dengan sistematik. Seat was assigned with each ticket and you are to enter / exit at designated gates only. Gates dia pun punya lah banyak, and clearly marked. Kalau kat Malaysia ni sure kecoh dan berebut2, pasal pintu bukak sikit je.

Suasana dalam stadium tu was electrifying. The home team was welcomed with a thunderous roar. It was like a dream to be here, at the Theatre of Dreams. The game ended with 0-0 draw. Congratulations to Man Utd for winning the championship, but Arsenal was a better team that day. Kitorang stayed sampai habis majlis penyampaian hadiah. It was a great experience, witnessing all of this live. So next year, kena book tiket ke London lah pasal the same ceremony will be held at The Emirates (Ni Nostradamus yang kata bukan aku). We had the same exhilarating experience outside the stadium after the game. Everybody was chanting and jumping in excitement. Da’a pun tak mengalah, nak jugak join sama, tapi chant tah apa2, bukan dia tau pun. Some of the chants that I picked up were:

- 18 times and that’s a fact (repeated continuously)

- Are you watching, are you watching, are you watching Merseyside

At the Theatre of Dreams

Arsenal scored 1 win 1 draw against the champ this season

The celebration

Macam faham je si Da'a tu

What most Man Utd's fans have in common, BELLY

Kitorang naik tram balik ke Manchester, masatu perut aku dah lapar gila. Kan kitorang tak makan lagi dari pagi, Cuma makan chips je dalam train. Ingat nak makan kat stesen je, so on the way ke Picaddily station tu, kitorang terserempaklah dengan satu restoran ni, dia ada set meal 10 Pound. Nampak macam menyelerakan, restoran dia pun nampak nice. So kitorang pun terus je menuju ke pintu restoran yang dikawal 2 bouncer yang berbadan besar (Bouncer A and Bouncer B). Kitorang ditahan dari memasuki restoran oleh Boucer A, sambil berkata ”No Coles” (tak tahu dia cakap apa, tapi bunyi macam Coles). Kitorang tak berapa dengar and tak faham, so aku cakaplah ’Pardon me’. Tiba2 Bouncer B boleh menengking kitorang, “were you deaf?? United, united, united” sambil menunjuk jersey, bendera dan bag Man Utd yang kitorang bawak. Masa tu kitong tergaman. Tak sangka boleh kena layan macam tu. Dalam hati aku, memaki hamun dua2 bouncer tu, dah la muka masing2 macam swine, at least hormat lah sikit kita ni pelancong asing, customer. Panas betul hati aku. Tak pernah kena layan sehina tu. Peristiwa tu terus ‘mengomfemkan’ pandangan aku bahawa, orang Manchester memang tak friendly, and tak suka orang asing. Jauh beza dengan orang London, yang generally nya peramah dan mesra.

The pig sty

Tempat makan lain semua penuh. Sudahnya kitorang makan pie je kat Costa cafe, dengan kawan Da’a yang berkerja di sana. Lepas makan, aku ngan Da’a singgah sekejap kat kedai Primark. Banyak jugak aku shopping, tapi setakat shopping seluar dalam lah. Petang tu bila Christy dan Zaitun sampai dari London, kitorang terus bawak diorang ke hostel, dan rehat2. Masing2 kepenatan. Zaitun sakit kepala, Christy sakit belakang, aku sakit perut, masuk angin, Da’a kepenatan pasal terkinja-kinja sepanjang hari.

Malam tu kitorang makan malam kat restoran Malaysia yang dicadangkan oleh Sarah Richardson (ex housemate aku kat Brisbane dulu). Ning nama dia. Sorang partner restoran ni org melayu, sorang lagi, local. Restoran ni memang cantik, dan makanan dia memang sedap. Barulah kitorang dapat rasakan keramahan orang Manchester. Aku akan sepuas-puasnya sampai senak-senak perut. Bukan senang dapat makan masakan Malaysia ni.

17 May 2009

Aktiviti pagi ni ialah Stadium tour. Ake sebenarnya malas nak join. Pasal yelah semalam aku dah pergi stadium tu, jersey pun dah beli, so aku nak lah guna masa yang ada ni untuk merayap sekitar Bandaraya Manchester ni, kerana, aku tak rasa aku akan kesini lagi. Tapi Da’a paksa2 jugak, dia kata stadium tour tu habis dalam sejam je. So aku ikut kan jelah, walaupun memang aku tak nak.

So I went to Old Trafford again half heartedly. The stadium tour was so-so, the tour guide was rude and arrogant. Pulak tu aku bukan peminat Man Utd. Bagi aku stadium dia bukan grand sangat pun. Buruk, tapi well mantained. Tapi dapatlah jugak learned about the crash yang membunuh 8 pemain Man Utd, meninjau bilik persalinan pemain, duduk kat bangku pemain simpanan, lalu bawah terowong tempat players keluar, tengok keadaan pitch stadium yang teruk tu. Memang tour guide tu pun kata diorang ada masalah padang dan masalah rumput kerana rumput dia tak dapat cukup matahari.

The Busby Babies who'd lost their lives in Munich 1958

The dressing room

Players Shower

The reserves bench

Habis je Stadium tour kitorang singgah Megastore. Aku belikan adik Boy satu jersey. Lama jugak kitorang dalam tu. Habis ronda kedai tu 2-3 round, aku pun keluar. Cuaca kat luar tu punya lah sejuk dan hujan pun mula turun. Tak lama lepastu Christy pun keluar. So aku dengan Christy menunggulah Da’a dengan Zaitun kat luar, dalam cuaca sejuk. Aku cuba call and text them, but was unanswered. Mula la aku hangin. 2 kali aku masuk semula, carik diorang, tapi tak jumpa. Boleh sampai 2 jam diorang kat dalam tu. Bila finally diorang keluar, diorang decide nak ke factory outlet dekat2 situ. Aku plak nak jalan2 sekitar bandaraya Manchester. So kitorang split. Aku ngan Christy, Da’a ngan Zaitun. Kitorang set nak jumpa semula kat Hostel pukul 4pm. Masa tu dah pukul 1.30pm. Aku rasa rugi kalau pergi Manchester without seeing Manchester. Hujan yang mulanya renyai2 tiba2 menjadi lebat. Nasib baik kitorang dapat teksi. Sampai town hujan masih belum reda. Aku ingat nak pusing2 town jalan kaki, masuk gallery, museum etc. Tapu memang tak sempat, and the rain did not help. Kitorang berteduh sekejap at pub, in town. Belakang Christy makin sakit. But the good thing, she never complains. Lepas hujan teduh kitorang pun berjalan sekitar city centre. We had lunch at Costa. Lepas makan, aku ngan Christy split. Dia ke Primark sebab tak larat jalan and memang dia nak shopping, and aku tetap dengan rancangan asal aku nak see as much of Manchester.

I only had 45 minutes, so aku main ambik je gambar mana2 tempat yang aku rasa menarik, tanpa berhenti untuk menikmati suasana. Only then, I realised, that Manchester was actually quite a beautiful city. The area further than Primark has a lot of attractions and good shopping including the monstrous Manchester Arndale, and Harvey Nichols. They even have a ferris wheel called “Eyes of Manchester”. I walked passed the famous Urbis building and Hard Rock Café. I didn’t even stop at the HRC. Selalunya memang wajib aku singgah mana2 tempat yang ada HRC sebab aku collect baju dia. (Since dari sini lah aku stop collecting HRC shirts).

Manchester City

When we regroup at the hostel, I told Da’a and Zaitun to take the same route I took. Zaitun nak ke Primark. They still have time, sebab diorang akan balik semula ke London and have extra days to spend. From there we bid each other farewell. Aku kena ambik train ke London semula jam 5pm, as I have a flight to catch from Heathrow at 9pm. Christy pulak kena catch flight to Barcelona from Manchester Airport.

So aku naik Virgin Train sorang2 ke London. Sedih pulak rasanya berpisah dengan diorang. Entah bila lah dapat peluang berjalan dengan diorang lagi lepas ni. Sampai je London Euston, aku terus bergegas naik tube ke Heathrow and made it on-time. Sempat jugak aku beli jam tangan Bvlgari buat hantaran Hani.

Dari Jemapoh ke Manchester : Episod 1

London

Aku dah lama plan trip ni dengan Da’a, sebelum datang Qatar lagi. Trip ni sepatutnya trip Rombongan Cik Kiah POK Fc. Tapi last last Cuma Da’a, Zaitun ngn Christy je yang pergi. They all cover Italy, Spain, Paris ngn UK (London & Manchester). Sayangnya aku tak dapat join the whole trip pasal dah suntuk sangat dengan tarikh nikah aku. So aku fly Qatar Airways dari Doha, jumpa diorg kat London then fly to Singapore from there. Something happened pada Da’a ngn Zaitun kat Itali, malam sebelum aku terbang ke London tu, so diorg kena stay Italy lagi satu hari, Cuma Christy je yang akan fly ke London esok.

13 May 2009

Flight aku pagi, macam biasa Kaduk hantar aku ke airport. Aku bawak satu beg kabin je tapi punyalah berat dan padat, yelah pasal aku akan terus balik kahwin lepas tu. Bila sampai Heathrow, aku terkenang saat-saat masa first time datang London tahun 2007. Masa tu aku pergi berenam, ada Arwah Suffian, Sam, Che Noni, Kak Long ngn Farid. Senyum2 aku teringat Sam kena tengking ngn immigration officer masa tu, pada hal belum sampai turn dia. Masa dia waiting in line tu, officer tu (bukan mat saleh pun) dengan kiurang ajarnya tunjuk kat Sam, lepas tu jerit kuat-kuat ”You, You’ What you do?” Terkujat Sam sambil terketar-ketar jawab ”I am an architect”. Kali ni aku masuk UK tak ada masalah, pegawai immigresen tu punya lah budiman (Org putih) siap sempat borak2 lagi ngn aku.. pasal aku kata aku nak shopping untuk wedding aku kat London.

Lepas semua clear, aku gi tempat hisap rokok kat luar terminal tu. Kat situlah dulu aku hisap rokok ngn Arwah sampai-sampai je kat London. Lepas tu aku naik Tube, dengan kad Oyster yang sama dan turun kat Willesden Green.

Cuaca kat London masa tu sejuk jugak, aku pulak memang tak bawak baju2 tebal, dengan cuaca mendung, gigil2 jugak lah aku berjalan ke Sarawak Foundation House yang letaknya dalam 800m dari stesen ketapi tu. Zaitun yang book tempat ni, pasal murah. Kawasan neighbourhood Rumah Sarawak ni memang cantik, penuh dengan pokok2 besar dan redup, dengan rumah2 yang dihias bunga2 pelbagai warna. Ada nota kat pintu rumah tu. Penjaga tu tak ada, dia suruh call. Aku masa tu dah tak tahan nak terkencing dah ni. Aku pun try call guna no Qtel aku, Call not allowed, text pun tak boleh.. apa lah Qtel ni.. lepas tu aku cuba pulak Digi, tak ada credit pulak. Aku memang dah tak tahan dah ni.. dah hujung2 dah.. Aku tak ada pilihan, aku sembunyikan beg aku kat belakang planter box depan rumah tu, then aku lari pergi lorong sebelah rumah tu, setelah aku pasti semua line clear, aku pun go with the flow lah.. hahaa.. hmm kalau org perempuan macamana agaknya kan.

Hmm aku dah mati akal dah, macamana nak call penjaga rumah tu. Last-last aku dapat idea, aku keluarkan laptop, register wifi pakai credit card, then call dia guna Skype. Tak lama lepastu orang tu pun sampai.

Bila dah selesai semua, aku pun relax2 kejap sementara menunggu Christy.

Petang tu, hujan lah pulak. Tapi hujan kat England tak lah lebat macam kat Malaysia. Aku berjalan dalam hujan ke stesen ketapi. Tunggu punya tunggu Christy tak sampai2, so aku pun rayau2 sekitar area tu, sempat singgah Sainsbury lagi beli pisang dan sedikit makanan. Lepas tu aku masuk restoran fish n chips yang dekat dengan stesen tu dan lepak makan situ.

Bila Christy sampai, aku pun bawak dia ke Rumah Sarawak tu. Kitorang terus click.. padahal tak pernah jumpa ni. Kitorang lepak2 kat kitchen sambil Christy menceritakan apa yang berlaku kat Da’a ngn Zaitun. Lepas dah hilan penat, aku bawak Christy jalan2 melihat pemandangan kota London di waktu malam dan akhirnya had supper di satu restoran dekat Covent Garden.

14 May 2009

Kalau mengikut perancangan asal, hari ni sepatutnya kitorang buat London City Tour, tapi memandangkan Da’a ngn Zaitu akan hanya sampai malam nanti, so aku bawak Christy pergi Bicester Village Outlet Mall kat Oxfordshire. Masa dalam keretapi tu, borak punya borak, rupanya Christy lah yang uruskan hal recruitment aku masa nak masuk Shell dulu. Jumpa jugak akhirnya. Aku tak beli banyak barang pun kat Bicester Village tu, kerana memang aku tak nak shopping pasal banyak duit nak guna untuk majlis aku nanti. Tapi tetap jugak terbeli 2 scarves Burberry dengan sehelai baju Ralph Lauren, yelah teket keretapi nak ke sana pun dah mahal kan, takkan balik tangan kosong pulak.

Sebelah petangnya, kitorang jalan-jalan kat Bond Street (yang mana aku beli Rantai Berlian Tiffany untuk hantaran), Oxford St, sebelum concluding our shopping day at Harrods ngn Harvey Nichols. (Oh ya aku beli coklat untuk hantaran kat Harrods. Main beli je tak baca2, rupa2 coklat tu yang jenis ada alcohol, ada rum, wine etc. Aku Cuma tahu pasal tu bila habis majlis, masa Hani ngn famili dia dok makan2 cokelat tu.. adoii malu gila aku..)

Lepas Da’a ngn Zaitun sampai, kitorg pun gi makan malam kat area Willesden green tu je. Makan kofta dan grill2 yang biasa orang Arab makan tu. Banyak jugak kedai makanan halal kat area ni. Lepastu kitorang lepak2 je kat rumah, meeting untuk reshedule diorang punya trip, sambil showing off barang2 yang aku ngn christy beli kat da’a ngn zaitun.

15 May 2009

Hari ni aku jadik official tour guide kat diorang. Kitorang keluar agak awal jugak. Mula-mula kitorang pergi Westminster, tengok Parliament House dengan Westminister Abbey. Kitorang breakfast makan sandwich yang dibeli kat Sainsbury on the way ke train station pagi tadi kat garden sebelah Westminster. Seronok jugak main lompat2, lari2 macam budak kecik.

Lepas puas bergambar kat park tu, aku bawa diorang ke Leichester Sq, beli teket theatre untuk show malam ni. Then kitorang berjalan kaki melalui Soho, Picaddily sebelum berhenti lepak kat Trafalgar Sq. Lama jugak kitorang lepak kat Trafalgar Sq tu untuk menghilang kan penat. Yang diorang ni all out ambil gambar kat setiap penjuru dataran tu.

Dari Trafalgar Sq, kitorang berjalan ke Buckingham Palace melalui The Mall. On the way tu kitorang terserempak Askar2 British tengah buat raptai untuk upacara apa tah, so berpusu-pusulah kitorang dengan pelancong2 lain tengok raptai kawad ala-ala hari kebangsaan. Macam scene dalam movie2 civil war pun ada, dengan askar British berseragam merah dengan topi berjambul tu.

Kat Buckingham kononnya nak tengok Changing of Guards, tapi manusia punyalah ramai so tak kuasalah kitorang nak berhimpit2, tengok dari jauh je. We then had lunch kat satu restoran ni. Set meal dia 10 pound je. Memang sedap dan layanan superb. We took our time enjoying our lunch sambil borak2.

Lepas makan kitorang naik tube ke Russel Sq. Da’a ngan Zaitun nak tengok patung lilin kat Madame Tussaud. Diorang dah beli teket online masa kat Malaysia lagi. Dekat stesen tube tu ada kedai souvenir besar. Kat situ ada agen jual teket bola. Da’a memang nak sangat pergi tengok match EPL ni. Infact this was the reason dia datang Europe, to see Man Utd play at Old Trafford. This match in particular, is the most important one. If Man Utd win or draw the Championship is theirs. The match pulak lawan Arsenal. Team kesayangan aku, tu yang aku pun semangat sama nak tengok. Sebenarnya kitorang memang dah cuba macam2 cara nak beli teket match ni. Tapi sold out. So bila agen ni kata ada teket, kitorang grab je, walau pun mahalnya ya Rabbi sampai beratus2 pound. Teket yang sepatutnya berharga 30 Pound kitorang beli at 120 Pound each. So besok pagi2 kitorang kena naik ketapi gi Manchester lah.

Teket tu kena collect in 1 hour so, Da’a ngan Zaitun proceed ke Madane Tussaud. Sementara diorang berdua tengok patung2 tu, aku dengan Christy habiskan masa ronda2 area Marylebone tu. Kitorang menapak sampai sakit2 kaki, dah la sejuk. Dekat hujung2 High Street tu ada pulak kedai farmasi besar, siap ada kerusi urut. So kitorang pun apalagi, berurut percuma lah.

Dari Russel Sq. kitorang naik tube sekali lagi ke Westminster. Kali ni kitorang melintasi Jambatan Wesminster ke Southbank. Da’a ngan Zaitun sepatutnya naik London Eye, kerana teket Madame Tussaud tu include sekali dengan London Eye ride, tapi they decided to do that later, sebab diorang akan balik semula ke London dari Manchester nanti. To kill the time kitorang pun lepak2 baring2 kat padang depan Bangunan shell kat Southbank tu untuk meregangkan otot2 yang kejang sambil berangan betapa bestnya kalau dapat kerja di Shell london tu. Gi kerja naik ketapi turun kat Waterloo, petang2 boleh jogging kat Queens Walk tepi Sungai Thames tu.

Dari Southbank, kitorang melintas Pedestrian Bridge semula (sebenarnya aku nak naik ketapi kat waterloo then turun kat London bridge, tapi Da’a ngan Zaitun tak dengar aku jerit2 suruh diorang patah balik). So bayangkan betapa jauhnya kitorang berjalan kaki sepanjang sungai dari pedestrian bridge tu sampai ke Tower of London. Macam nak tercabut lutut dibuatnya. Sampai2 Tower of London pulak, hujan.. so kitorang lepak makan2 kat satu restoran dekat2 situ. Tunggu hujan berhenti.. tapi hujan tak behenti jugak, malah makin lebat.

Dalam hujan2 tu jugak kitorang berlari ke stesen Tower Hill dan berkejar ke Theatre District. We made it to the theatre just before the show started. Kitorang tengok Chicago. Diorang punya acting, dancing and singing were better than the movie version. Tapi kerana keletihan, aku siap tertidur masa last-last part tu.

Kitorang terus balik rumah lepas theatre, packing dan tidur, pasal esok aku ngan da’a kena bertolak ke Manchester pagi2. Zaitun ngan Christy akan spend the day kat London, dan bertolak ke Manchester sebelah petang.

Bersambung

Dukhan Beach and Zikreet

Qatar can be a boring place to live for some. We usually spend our past times at shopping complexes or cinemas if there's no invitations for Jamuan (feasts , gatherings). But today Hani came up with an idea for a picnic at a beach. So we headed 84km west to Dukhan. She prepared a picnic basket of Nasi Lemak, mineral water and fruits but did not pack any swimming gear. We did not intend to swim anyway. We set off for Dukhan at 3 pm and took a detour to Zekreet. There was a deserted rustic Arabian village and some beautiful rock formations along the way. We continued our journey to Dukhan beach after taking some pictures.

It was a windy day. We set our picnic basket at a shelter by the beach and had our late lunch. It was hard to enjoy the meal in the gutsy wind. We had our plates and meals blown by the wind a number of times. We thought of heading home after taking some pictures at the beach, but could not resist the temptation to have a dip in the azure water of the Arabian Gulf. We ended up swimming in the sea and did not bother to rinse before heading back to Doha. Well this impromptu trip turned out to be a nice little beach getaway for both of us.  

Pictures at Zikreet

Pictures at Dukhan Beach

CAMELS...

Today, the KBT group in two cars went to Al-Sheehaniya Camel Race Track to see some of these revered creatures in the Arab world. We went to this place without any expectation, but we glad we did. I have never seen that many of camels in my life, but today I have witnessed hundreds or maybe thousands of them practising along the race track getting ready for the upcoming racing season. We drove along the track and taking pictures as if we were in a safari park. The experience being surrounded by these handsome animals (ignore the smell) is not something you see everyday, even in Qatar. Here are some of the photos from the outing.

at dusk

Calvary of camels at war?

Fascinated are we?

Nostalgic?

Afternoon jog?

Driving me MAD

I finally got my Qatari Drivers License on 9 June 2009. My reluctance and procrastination not to enrol for lessons at driving schools and taking up driving tests earlier was a blessing in disguise. As of last month, Malaysia’s driving licence holders are not required to sit for the local driving tests. It saved me a lot of money, time and not to forget frustrations as the tests were known to be a killer.   

Now that I am eligible to drive, its time to pick the ride. So this morning, I went to search for a car to rent with Rizal. I told him that I was not keen to rent a Tiida (Nissan Tiida is the most common rental car here). We first went to Toyota’s Showroom. I was hoping I can get a Camry, Corolla or any sedan, but nothing was available except 4WDs. Not to despair, we went on hunting for rental companies in Al Sadd. First we tried Al Maha, and again they were fully rented out. We asked the guy his opinion where to look next. He said in a thick sub continent accent ‘Go back street… too much .. too much rent car’. Like child we heeded his advice but the street was jammed and we did not see the ‘too much’ car rental companies he was telling us about.

It was a blistering hot summer day with the mercury hovering around 50 degree Celsius. I did not want to continue our ‘go sees’, so Rizal called the rental agent that supplies rental cars to his company. He confirmed that they have cars available. This must be it, I thought. Rizal rented from them 3 years ago before he bought his Tiida. I may even be getting discounts.

This is where the drama started. I rented cars countless of times before, in Malaysia, Australia and many other places I travelled. The process was all too easy it can be done in a jiffy. But this place really tested my patient and making my blood ‘go upstairs’.

The name of the agency was Ar Rayyan Car Rental. The idiot in charge (Again from the Sub Continent) was asking far too much as if we were beggars. First he asked for my passport. I told him why does he needs my passport when I can provide him with my Qatari ID? Then he said they will retain the original passport. I jumped off my seat. What an idiot. We told him that it is against the law to hold someone’s passport. After a long argument, we settled with me providing a copy of the passport. Then he complained that my license was new, so I am not eligible to drive or rent a car. Then We told him, “Who are you to say no when the Government of Qatar has issued me with a licence to drive?”. Then he asked, which driving school I went to for the lessons. Then I said, as a Malaysia’s Drivers license holder, I do not need to go for classes, as our license can be convertible. He was not pleased. Then he looked at my license (both Malaysia’s and Qatari’s) I said “I have been driving since 1998, the license was renewed in 2006” when I noticed he was looking at the issue date of my Malaysia’s license and it shows 2006. The idiot started making some paper work and making copies of the documents. He wanted to make a copy of my credit card, I hesitate but obliged. Then he asked for Rizal’s particulars and keyed them in the database as a guarantor. WHAT THE F@%K?? So if I came here alone, I wont be able to rent a car? I told him that this is stupid. The jerk asked Rizal to explain that the requirements were necessary. Rizal, too was puzzled with all the requirements but was sort of agreed with him. When it all settled, we asked what car was it? He said, “because you are new, we can only give you 2005 Sunny, if you are ok next we’ll give you 2007 Lancer, then we will give you a newer car like 2008 Tiida”. Can you believe that??? My blood was already boiling before he requested for a deposit of 3000 Riyals. “Normal people 2000, you new 3000”. That’s it, this is too much, We walked out the door and left luckily I managed to contact Loo (my officemate) and he suggested a place at Al-sadd.  I managed to rent a new Tiida (apparently the only one left) for 1700 Riyals with 3000 deposit with no question asked. So Tiida it is

Sah ...

I did not get to sleep last night. My mind was active thinking of what my future is going to be like. Tired of tossing and turning, I got out bed and joined Along and Om watching Champions League Final on tele. I went to bed again after the game, and only managed to get some two hours of uninterrupted sleep.

At 8.30am, my entourage was ready with all the ‘hantaran’ (Gifts for the bride) and we arrived at my now parents in law’s house just before 9.00 am. I tried to hide my apprehension. I believe all my trainings and participations in debates and acting were paid off. I managed to put on a game face and acted cool even though my hands were actually trembling and my heart was pounding as fast as a steam engine on a locomotive.

I took my place on a specially made mattress for the groom opposite the Kadi. The rather long ceremony started off with a sermon and recitals of all sort of vows etc2. I was still maintaining my composure and did not really pay attention to what was going on around me. But everything went blank the moment when the Kadi hold my hand (in hand shake position) for ‘Akad’ and started to utter the Ijab, (he suddenly changed the pitch of his voice from mellow to somewhat hard). It was like I was transported into another dimension where there were only me and the Kadi. The murmur that was previously filled the space went quiet. Without thinking, I made the Lafaz Qabul as soon as the Kadi gave the signal. Words just came out from my mouth loud and clear in a single breath. Without hesitation, he said ‘Sah’ to the witnesses and recited a prayer. I was so relieved. It was like a burden being lifted off my shoulders. 

After the ‘Akad’, it was time for the ‘Batal Air Sembahyang’ ceremony, where I presented my wife with the dowry, gift and exchanged rings (But in my case I put on a necklace on her neck instead). When it all done, I supposed to perform a ‘Solat Sunat Syukur’ (prayer) but I rushed outside and had a cigarette. What a relief.

I still cannot belief that I am now a married man. But I am thankful to ALLAH that made it all easy for me to perform his call. To my beautiful wife... I'll do my best to make you happy. 

Doha-London-Manchester-Johor-London-Brussels-Paris-Doha

It's really happening. In two weeks I will say good bye to my bachelorhood. Off course I am a little nervous, but I guess I am ready. All the preparation are well underway. Thanks a lot to my family and my dedicated wedding planner, Sam and his team. I hope everything will go according to plan. 

Tomorrow will be my last day at work, before going off for 3 weeks leave. I am so looking forward to get away from work for a while. I will make a detour to London and Manchester for 4 days before heading home. A little break with some of my good friends from Shell, Da'a, Zaitun and Christy. It will be fun, since I do not know when will I get the chance to go on holidays with them again.

After the wedding, I will take my beautiful wife for a little honeymoon in London, Brussels and Paris before heading back to Doha.

I am so excited about coming home and to become someone new. But now, I better start packing...