Posts from the ‘JOURNAL & MUSING’ Category
Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says
I got lost in a pretty English village, but when I tried to look for a signpost or anything that could help me find my way around. This is what I found:
What does it means, we are at “FOURWAYS” village or at a junction? I don’t think it answered my question which way should I take next.
But wait, there’s another sign says:
Where do you think I should go? I think I am still lost.
These English people are strange…………..
Time to Say Quit?
I knew the moment I decided to take this job, to move to the Middle East, the nature of my job would change forever. I used to worked in a nicely designed office, for an Architectural Company. Now, even though I still work as an architect, the position is irrelevant, I work in a PM/CM company where office locations move around according to where the project is, this is what people used to call a ‘site-office’, and instead of working from a proper office building, I end up working from a porta-cabin, and it’s been going on for more than 7 years now. Moving from one porta-cabin to another. From an acceptable structure to a shed as an office.
Shed as an office
However, there are times that I question the decision I made almost 8 years ago:
- I left my network that I’ve built since I graduated.
- I left behind the job I loved not to mention high profile position.
- Even though I was single when I left the office, I still had my immediate family/relatives.
- I don’t like the nature of the job; changing project after project every 2 weeks to 3 months confused me and demoralized my spirit.
On the other hand, there are good things that I learned since taking this job:
- This job gives different exposure, and meeting different people and nationalities instead of working in Indonesia.
- Instead of working very hard almost 11 hrs a day, and lots of overtime, I work ‘only’ 8 hours a day, very routine with no unexpected overtime.
- I met my soul mate, and got married, instead of being a lonely spinster.
- I can help my family financially very easily, as well as together with my husband, we can easily save for retirement.
- As I caught the travel bug, this job also pays for my very nice holidays.
- The longer my husband and I stay with our jobs, the better lifestyle we can achieve once we both retire.
- While other people are losing their jobs due to the current recession, we are still fully employed and have a regular income; we should be great full with what we have.
I know that there are slightly more positives to this job than the negatives. I should be more realistic and persevere with this job regardless if I like it or not…. but what about my blogging hobby that requires full time work and attention? And how about my husband who’s already well into his retirement age, but still working full time?
Other things that cross my mind is my passion to travel that is put on hold till now. The plan was once we both retired / quit from a normal job then we are going to travel full time and off course carry on blogging about our travels. And I think we should start traveling now when physically my husband is still strong enough to endure the hot and humid temperature of South East Asia. The question now is when is the cut off time? Now? or the end of the year? or next year? or the year after that? One thing I know is that we are not getting any younger and we only live once….
Qatar’s New Airport
When I landed in Doha for the first time back in 2005, I was surprise that I had to take the stairs and walk on the runway to the bus to take me to the airport arrival lounge and the immigration counter. Then I learned that for 2006 Asian Games, Qatar would use a new airport, for the athletes. As the time got nearer to the event, I wondered when would this new airport open. Then I heard the gossip that ‘they’ couldn’t make it for the Asian Games and instead they would open a temporary arrival lounge especially for the Asian Games athletes and officials.
Hamad International Airport – Doha
Now, more than six years on, Qatar is still working on the New Doha International Airport, or rather the Hamad International Airport; but it’s now very close to the opening time, at least the authority is sort of announcing the soft opening date, the 1st of April 2013. The question is whether this is for real or an April Fool?
I think this is now for real, as now I am part of the team involved in the construction of this new airport, at least I know how far it is to go for the finishing of the airport and at least I know and I can see how the airport will look like; as six years ago, I never knew anything about the design or the shape of the airport.
The Bridge towards the parking area
Did I mention that it’s only a soft opening? As only 10 airlines will fly from HIA on the 1st of April, namely:
- Air Arabia,
- Flydubai,
- Air India Express,
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines,
- Iran Air,
- Nepal Airlines,
- Pakistan International Airline,
- RAK Airways,
- Syrian Air
- Yemen Airways,
The first 10 airlines that have the privilege to try out the brand new airport in Doha
So for the frequent flyers with Qatar Airways and from the other bigger airlines, they will have to wait until at least the end of the year when officially the airport will be fully operated.
Here are some interesting facts about the new airport as of Doha News which said:
“There are 41 contact gates in the main passenger terminal – Those gates have some 88 Passenger Loading Bridges. That means no more long bus rides to and from the planes – passengers can just walk down the bridge onto the plane, like at many other airports in the world. Also, the terminal itself should be able to handle 28 million people a year.”
Does this now mean a competition between 3 airports in the region? (namely Abu Dhabi Airport, Dubai Airport and Doha Airport) and is there a need to have 3 hubs in the region? I just try to compare the competition of airports in the ‘80s between Amsterdam and Frankfurt airport, when both tried to be the European air hub, but never fulfilled it’s expectation.
“Terminal 1 will have 150 passenger check-in stations. That includes 14 check-in booths for First Class and 16 check-in desks for Business Class. Ideally that also means no waiting in long lines, although that remains to be seen.”
I guess Qatar is gearing up toward the 2022 World Cup (which is 9 years away from now) when they will expect an influx of tourists and football fans. But between now and then, I can’t see any possibility that Qatar will have so many visitors except business people and expats. I wonder what will happen after the World Cup? I just remember the building of new airports in Barcelona, just for the Olympic Games, but after that, the airport was too empty….
“The next phase of the airport will handle 50 million passengers a year. Dubbed Phase 3A, and due to be completed by 2017, it will include the development of an expansion of Terminal 1 and the addition of a training center, rail station, car rental facilities, a “sea rescue” harbor and a multi-story parking structure.”
Gate 3 to go into the airport with a reflection of the parking area in front.
Well, I don’t think I will be there by the time the next terminal opens. Will I still be a Seasoned Traveler and using Qatar Airways to see the “New” terminal…? Who knows…..
Saturday Lunchtime
As a Middle East expat, I think we work harder than other expats who work in a ‘normal’ world. Yes, we work 6 days a week and at least a 50 hour week. And our break day is on Friday, not Sunday like the rest of the world. However, we play hard as well. Not only that we can have exotic holidays, but we also enjoy treats every now and then. I am lucky enough that I get the same deployment as my husband, so we work for the same company and in the same country. However, that doesn’t mean that we lead a ‘normal’ life. We left our families and relatives behind. Even though means of communication have never been so easy, I bet they still don’t understand what kind of lifestyle we are having out here.
Nevertheless, I keep on sending them pictures, through MMS facility, so that it reaches them instantly in their mobile phone, telling them whereabouts we are or what am I doing or even what I eat for lunch. What I didn’t realize was that how often I send them pictures of my food:
-
- Mushroom Burger with Potato Chips
-
- Linguine Piccanti Con Granchio E Gamberi
“So it seems that you never cook, you are always eating in a restaurant…” that was a reply from my cousin.
Other people even wrote on her Facebook status : “Somebody out there, STOP uploading food pictures on Facebook!”
I feel embarrassed with that remark, and I felt like I had too many treats of eating out too often, if its not always. Yes, I have to admit that I don’t cook, and as we can afford to eat out. Especially our Saturday Lunchtime. We like to have a special treat, having it in a hotel restaurant. Currently our favorite place to eat is at the Cellar Wine & Tapas.
Interior of The Cellar, very elegantly decorated
A Mediterranean Tapas and Wine tasting place that is popular among the yuppies after hours. I will write more about The Cellar next week. but this is the food that we ate during our last two visits to this place.
Australian Black Angus Beef Medallions
Salmon Steaks on Green Asparagus and Saffron Sauce
And this is what we had today:
Mediterranean Seafood Mix served with Zucchini and Capers
Grilled Hamour Fillets on Sauteed Spinach and Lemon Cream Sauce
Café Yogya di Budapest, Mungkinkah?
Wong Jogja????
Jawabannya, mungkin! Dan memang benar-benar ada.
Pertama kali melihat papan namanya terpampang di Octóber 6 Utcában, atau mungkin artinya di Jalan October 6, saya agak bingung, mungkin saja ini adalah salah satu nama a-la bahasa Hungaria yang tidak termasuk dalam rumpun bahasa inggris atau Germanic ataupun Rusia seperti Negara-negara eropa yang lain. Apalagi papan nama café ini tidak ber’bau’ Indonesia ataupun Jogya sama sekali.
Cafe Yogya di Octóber 6 Utcában, Budapest
Kamipun berjalan cepat melalui café tersebut, karena tujuan kami tidaklah berkunjung ke café. Segera setelah kami melewati café tersebut, rasa penarasan saya mengalahkan ketetapan hati saya, dan kami berjalan kembali meskipun hujan gerimis dan dingin. hanya untuk melihat apa yang dijual oleh café ini.
Walaupun cafe tersebut kecil saja, dan tidak banyak ornamen khas Indonesia, tapi ada sedikit-sedikit sentuhan dekorasi interior ala Indonesia, seperti Ganesha yang menjadi pajangan di ujung bar.
Patung ganesha diatas counter
dan kain batik yang memisahkan antara ruang tamu dan dapur, khas gaya ‘warung’ di Indonesia.
Tangga keruang makan di atas
Menunya, ah ternyata ini benar-benar menjual culinary Indonesia, seperti lumpia yang saya pesan ini:
Vegetarian Lumpia (spring roll?)
Dan makanan favorit saya dan yang sudah menjadi makanan universal di dunia, bukan cuma di Indonesia:
Nasi Goreng + Telur mata sapi
Apalagi yang pedas…. hmm lumayan untuk menghangatkan tubuh yang kedinginan dari cuaca diluar…
Mereka bahkan punya Facebook Page nya Cafe Yogya, tapi sayangnya terakhir saya mengunjungi facebook pagenya, ada pemberitahuan bahwa Cafe ini tutup 
Dari notification di Facebook, rupanya membuka restoran Indonesia/Yogya di Budapest ternyata tidak mudah….
Berarti itulah saat saya terakhir kali mengunjungi Cafe Yogya, dan kesempatan lain saya mengunjungi Budapest, mungkin tidak akan ketemu dengan restauran Indonesia lagi….
