The City Stands Tall

Thank you, UAE. Thank you, Dubai. For the excellent job in protecting us from the missiles, and drones for the past weeks. For keeping us safe, and letting us go about our normal life as much as possible. For your sacrifice, restraint and wisdom, despite the destruction around the country, in not getting us dragged further into this ridiculous, unnecessary war, started by outsiders who have no regard at all for the people living here. I stand with you and salute you. I pray that there will be no more deaths, no more injuries, no more destruction and that this war will soon end.

I wish and pray that some wisdom will come to that President who started this stupid war (yes, the same one who covets the Nobel PEACE Prize. He can shove it up his arse now). May he go back to MAGA, and not poke his finger where it doesn’t belong, and cause misery for the thousands affected. May the world have mercy on the poor, normal Americans who suddenly find themselves to be the ‘enemies’ of so many people in the world, just because of some daft act of their MAGA-leaders.

I wish and pray that Iran’s leaders will have a change of heart, and a realization, that they are not going to ‘win’ anything, with those outdated revolutionary ways of the theirs. May they realize that without the support of their populace, no regime can stand in this modern age. May they channel their resources and efforts into enriching their people’s lives to ‘buy’ back their loyalty, instead of putting money and resources into silly weapons and militias that do nothing for their people, or their country. (C’mon be real, how can your ragtag, under sanctions since forever country-machinery compete with 2 of the most technologically-advanced and rich countries in the world in terms of weapons. Look at the world now, the way ahead is intellectual and economic strength, which is where your people are important, and Iranians aren’t stupid).

I wish and pray that Israel will get benevolent leaders of unity and reconciliation (like Mandela or Gandhi), not hate-spewing bigots like Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, Katz, …and who else? Who makes things worse, not better. Or, make these hardliners have a change of heart. Don’t they know that this Mafia mentality of eliminating all your rivals, will only breed a new generation of rivals who will take you down when you are off-guard, and continue this vicious cycle of hate and vengeance? May Israel learn to live in peace and harmony with its neighbours, and help build a separate and independent Palestinian state that is free from terrorists, insurgents and extremists. And may all its neighbours, and detractors across the world accept and embrace Israel, and forgive it for the wrongs that it has done.

I wish and pray that International Law will prevail, to prevent the fiasco that has been going on for the past few years from happening ever again. I don’t want the world to go back to the age of empires, when the powerful could do as they like at the expense of the weaker countries without any fear of retribution (yes, that includes Russia). May the perpetrators of the war and its atrocities be brought to justice, and may there be help and hope for the countless people affected.

I have so many wishes and prayers for this region and the world, for Palestine, for Lebanon, etc, but I can’t put them all down in this post (I have work to do as well, OK?) Ultimately, I pray that the warring parties in this stupid war will find a way to deescalate and return the region back to its peaceful norm, as soon as possible, and let diplomacy take over to make this region a haven of peace and cooperation.

Ending this post with pictures of the resilient city of Dubai, my home, our home. Stand strong, stay strong. Happy Eid Al Fitr everyone! Eid Mubarak. Selamat Hari Raya.


Dubai Business Bay, from the Paramount Midtown Hotel’s infinity pool deck, Aug 2025


That deliberately misshapen building in the middle of this photo is the Opus Building, which was one of the many offices yours truly happened to work in… Sadly, this ‘office-hopping’ routine still hasn’t stopped, sigh…


A street view inside Business Bay – This one features the UBora Tower on the right (yeah, I found that out, now, when doing this post), Feb 2024


The Burj Khalifa on a cloudy night, Jan 2024


An aircraft takes off from Dubai’s International Airport, Jan 2025 – I sure hope normal flight schedules resume – so many people’s travelling plans were disrupted!


Dubai Silicon Oasis. Or what everyone calls, ‘the Pineapple Building’, May 2024


Dubai city’s skyline at dusk, from the Al Jadaf Walk, Jan 2025


Dubai Marina at night, Dec 2024


Dubai Marina in the afternoon, Feb 2025




Dubai Marina (again), Aug 2025… O yeah, it was hot, but what the heck!


Dubai Marina from the Marina Mall – I know Emaar built many of these buildings, but must they name them all 'Emaar'??


The Address Beach Resort, Dec 2024


See you! Take care! Have a blessed and safe Eid celebration!

The Age of the Bullies

Bravo! You meddling dumbfucks! Look what a mess you’ve done here in the Middle East. We’re living peacefully, and some shithead (one of who, by the way, covets the Nobel Peace Prize) comes and upends all that joy and camaraderie… with this war to put that ‘evil’ Iran regime to rest once and for all. Well, you did it. That old man’s friggin dead, and all hell’s broken lose. And you said Iran is a threat?! I can’t imagine for the world, how a country, who, like a sitting duck, was bombed to near oblivion 8 months ago, and who has been sanctioned since time immemorial, can take on the might and the power of two of the richest and most technologically-advanced countries in the world?!?? C’mon… do you really believe yourself?

Well, the old man you killed, in addition to being the Supreme Leader of Iran, (and being responsible for the deaths of many helpless people in Iran while at it), happened to be the Imam of the entire Shia world (well, …a significant part of it anyway). He’s like the Pope of the Shias, who has millions of followers around the world, and you killed their ‘Pope’!?! Just imagine the amount of hatred you’ve created for the poor, normal American people from that one act alone. (Doesn’t make a difference for the Israelis, because they’re already hated before that). You could’ve just sat tight, and sooner or later (and I don’t think it’ll take that much time), that ‘evil’ regime will collapse from within (because in this current age of information, leaders who do not adapt to cater to the needs of their people, will ultimately fail and fall, and that ‘evil’ regime doesn’t seem to be able to understand any of that. Their mindset is still set in the 80’s with their stubborn, outdated revolutionary stance). You would’ve thought that after that disastrous 12-day war of last year, the Iranians would’ve woken up, and changed tactics. Maybe, start improving their economy, by ditching that silly, decades-old, weapon-building agenda, and start channelling action into improving the livelihoods of their people, because how else could its enemy penetrate so deeply into Iran’s network, that it took out all its air defence systems from within the country before bombarding the hell out of it, if it wasn’t for the hate that its people harboured for the regime?!? But no, they went the other extreme, arrested, imprisoned and executed anyone whom they suspected to be infiltrators…

Aww, well. Too late for that now. We’ll just have to wait it out, and hope for the best.

I still wish you peace, Mr President (because you are the most powerful person on earth now, and only YOU can make the world a better place). May you have the wisdom, to be a better leader, one of unity, not of division… (and if you can’t, may you go away as soon as possible). But I can’t say much for your collaborator, Mr Bibi (is he the one who prompted you to take this stupid action, in the first place?) Don’t you think Mr Bibi is beyond redemption? Blood of a million lives in his hands?!? I can just imagine him with his evil smirk, and devil’s horns, holding a trident. Evil incarnate…

20 Years of Blogging

The dark days are upon us. Israel has bombed Iran, our northern neighbour, and there will surely be retribution. What is it with this world? Since I started blogging 20 years ago, (yup, it’s already 20 years, as of March this year, believe it or not!), the world seems to have grown colder. Calculative, manipulative, power above all else. That was how it was like in the medieval times; every country for themselves. Now, we’re starting to feel it all come back, the age of empires. I thought humans would have evolved to be kinder to one another, more concerned for others, regardless of their views, beliefs, nationalities, ethnicities and social standing. But no, we’re back to square one, our basic instincts. We’re humans after all. God help us.

One fundamental problem, is that we, humans, tend to choose the strong to lead us. That’s what you call leadership qualities, you know? Well, from looking at what’s happening to the world today, I’d say, to hell with the strong and forceful leaders, I’d prefer the kinder and more compassionate leaders that’d not make my country great again, but make my country kinder, to all. 20 years ago, we seemed to be on the right track, …no more Cold War, countries opened to trade, travel and cultural exchanges, behaving lawfully and responsibly, respecting one another, with an international body overseeing the rules. Where did that all go?!?

Anyway, I am no God to correct this. We’ll rely on our great and mighty ‘leaders’ of the world, who want to shape history, leave their mark here, win, and show who’s boss. Why can’t they understand that we’re merely visitors to this world.? We come here for a few decades, and then we die, and leave the world. Why not make it a better and happier place for all when we’re here?

Also, prayers and blessings for strength, perseverance and hope to those affected by the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad. May God strengthen and bless you all through your difficult times.

To commemorate my 20 years of blogging, I’m posting some older photos of our time here in Dubai, circa 2019 – 2023. Photos that I can’t seem to fit anywhere, but are still interesting. See you in my next post!


Some family in Dubai – Anu’s eldest sister Manju, and her son, Kunal, at Zabeel Palace, Dubai, UAE – in the COVID Days! (Jul 2020). They were stranded In Dubai due to COVID-19, they were in Dubai to visit Karishma (Manju’s daughter) and were supposed to be back in India by March 2020!


Hey, there’s a peacock! No, Jayden, they’re not so easy to catch – Zabeel Palace


And then, there are friends! Anu with Madhavi (middle) and Jasna (left) at Da Vinci’s Italian Restaurant, Millenium Hotel, Garhoud, Dubai – Sep 2019. They’re the mothers of Justin’s former classmates Aria and Mashel


Here’re the kids. Justin and Jayden with Mashel (middle), Aria (right), and Viva (between Mashel and Aria). Viva is Aria’s younger sister. Mashel and Aria are the same age with Justin, while Viva is the same age with Jayden. At the Jebel Ali Village Recreation Club, Apr 2021


We meet again, kids and their mothers at Bounce X, Dubai Festival City Mall, Jul 2021. Bounce X is a trampoline park. Hmmm, where’re the fathers? Well, who’s gonna look after all the stuff, and snap the photos? And old men don’t really jump, do they? Wouldn’t mind sitting around, having a beer or two, haha!


Pizza time! What better way to wind down after jumping, then pizza!


Another meeting, Anu and Madhavi at Zinc, a café in Sports Society, Dubai – Nov 2022. The kids were ice skating at the ice rink. This time it was for Justin’s farewell, just before he moved to Singapore for his studies. Jasna and daughter, Mashel had already left for Canada, a few months prior…


Best thing to do before ice skating, is to learn some roller skating. And skateboarding, while you’re at it! Justin’s a quick learner. Jayden took a li’l more time, but he’s OK now. At the NShama Town Square Skate Park, Dubai, May 2021


Not content with one skate park? Here’s another free one, haha! – the Damac Hills Skate Park, June 2021. No, you don't skate on the grass, the skate park is just on the horizon towards the left of the photo!


The NShama Town Square Skate Park also features a Battle Park, surfing pool (a pool with waves for you to learn surfboarding), trampolines, sports courts, etc. Justin looking at some players at the Battle Park. Next time, OK? When you’re a li’l older!


Going around town, shopping and visiting friends (very rarely, we prefer friends visiting us, hehe) make up most of our activities in the city. We prefer the mountains, but you can’t do that in bloody summer. So, it’s malls, until saner weather comes around. Here’s us watching a movie with Danylo, Jayden’s Ukrainian friend, who stayed in the same apartment block as us, until he moved to Germany. VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre (Jayden, corrected me, ahem) Sep 2023. (I remember it was Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning)


Going back in time, Anu at Mankhool, Dubai, outside a building (Badri Building) where a friend stayed, Feb 2019


Another retro photo. Yours truly, in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, Mar 2019. This hotel was the location of our company’s first and only annual dinner in 2010 (or the only annual dinner I knew about), in my 14+ years working for them!


Sometimes we end up in places like this library! The Al Twar Public Library, May 2022. We were waiting for Justin to finish his World Scholar’s Cup event, in the school next door (Cambridge International School)!


Finally, here’s mommy and son at Ghantoot, a Nepali Restaurant in Bur Dubai, Sep 2023.

Remembering My Hometown

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia – Jul 2022

It’s Chinese New Year! The biggest festival of my childhood years. How I remember those times, when the whole of my father’s side of the family would converge in our house in Ipoh for CNY (because my granny and grandpa were staying with us, hehe).

There’d be all the silly games we kids played (I have lots of cousins, growing up. My father has 5 siblings, and then there’s mom’s side, and my parents’ cousins’ families), firecrackers, card games, etc. We could eat till we gag. We could break ‘curfew’ and stay up late. Gamble a little, and drink a little (when we were older). And we could get loads of ANGPOWs! $$$ Ka-ching! We’d be festive for at least 2 weeks (CNY is 15 days, OK?) and our biggest day isn’t actually the first day of New Year but the 8th and 9th day, being Hokkiens. Those were the days.

Sadly, the Ipoh house is an empty house now, and not many of the family still reside in Ipoh. Many of the old folks have left us and gone to the world beyond. My siblings and cousins have all gone their separate ways to make a living elsewhere and start families. They’re all over the world now. But Ipoh still brings back loads of memories.

Here’re some photos of Ipoh from our last visit in Aug 2022. Happy New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Koung Hey Fat Choi! Kiong Hi Huat Cai! Etc, etc, etc.

We decided to climb (walk up, to be more precise) a hill near Ipoh, from my childhood years – Kledang Hill, in Menglembu. The last I remembered climbing this hill was with my mom when I was a kid. That may be 40 years ago, because my mom passed away in 1985. To climb the hill, we’d wake up in the wee hours of the morning and get there before sun breaks. We’d walk as much as we could, then head down to Menglembu town to get an early breakfast at 7+am! if I remember correctly. We’d do this to avoid the relentless midday sun. Malaysia has a hot and humid climate after all, being a tropical rainforest.


Canning Garden, our suburb – That hill in the background, is Kledang Hill


We’re there! A view of Ipoh City from Kledang Hill. We got there before sun break! It’s full of clouds. It may rain at any time


It’s raining. We forgot to bring umbrellas. Anu’s smart. She brought a rain coat. “There! That’s the summit. Let’s go on”


The road at Bukit Kledang


We’re drenched. I think we’d stop here. We don’t know how much more there is to go, to the summit. Can’t check maps because there’s no coverage and it’s bloody raining… (Later on, I checked and found out that we were only about 1.4km short of the summit. We could’ve got there in 30 mins!)


Let’s head down. Whew, the rain’s stopped. Anu at a mini waterfall






Someone’s made a garden here! Fancy that


Monkeys out to play, at the car park


Back in Canning Garden. This is our neighbour, Auntie Nancy’s house. She loves leaves, as you can see


More of Auntie Nancy’s garden. We have the same swing in our house, next door. I think it comes with the house as all of our neighbours have the same swing. And that big urn which Jayden is looking at, we used to have one in the Ipoh house’s bathroom that I took a bath from when I was a kid. We took baths with a mug. It’s nice!

One sad news from our neighbourhood recently – our other next-door neighbour, Mr Leong, passed away last month. He had been sick for some time. The Leongs were teachers in my school, the Ipoh Anglo-Chinese School. Mr Leong was once the head-master. Mrs Leong lives alone now in the house. But one of their children lives in Ipoh and visits regularly. God bless them.

Anyway, Happy New Year! May your Dragon Year be filled with success, joy, good health and prosperity!

Expo 2020, a Look-Back

Mobility Portal, Expo 2020

A big fat climate summit is happening in town! It’s the COP28, or the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference. (COP stands for ‘Conference of Parties’. No, not the Parties where you drink yourself silly and boogie till you drop, the Parties who signed the climate agreement! Duh!) The whole world is in Dubai and it’s in the Expo 2020 site. Our company has a booth there, and we’re invited to go have a look. But I ain’t going. Too busy (…preparing for our holiday next week, hehe).

Anyway, here’re some throw-back photos of the Dubai Expo 2020. It was a fabulous event. We bought a discounted monthly ticket for the first month of the Expo, which was Oct 2021 (oh, if you’ve forgotten, Expo 2020 was pushed to 2021 because of the pandemic), which we then extended for the entire Expo season (there was an offer for that at that time). And we’re glad we did it. We spent many weekends and holidays in it (we’ve paid for it after all). There were free concerts and children’s playgrounds. We'd typically packed our food and drinks from home and had it at the many parks and rest areas at the Expo! Your typical cheapskate family, haha.


Flags of the nations at Expo 2020, Dubai, Oct 2021


The main Al Wasl Plaza at Expo 2020. This was where many of the main events were held. It could be spectacularly lit up!


One of the many stages for performances and concerts… I think this is the Jubilee Stage, and we’ve just finished a Portuguese music festival


A UB40 concert in front of Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Expo 2020 is divided into the 3 main Expo theme districts, Sustainability, Opportunity and Mobility, with 2 other districts Jubilee and Al Forsan in between them


Is that a phoenix? In front of the Opportunity Pavilion, Mission Possible


There’s even a waterfall feature where you can waddle in! It’s called the Fire Falls


Now, you know why it’s called the Fire Falls!


Play time! The boys at a children’s playground (Rashid’s Adventure), Jubilee Park, Expo2020, with the ‘Garden in the Sky’ feature behind (it's a platform with a garden which could go up and down)


The UAE’s Pavilion is shaped like the wings of a falcon


Family pic, inside the UAE Pavilion


The Vision Pavilion, a pavilion dedicated to the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. He loves horses


Inside the Women’s Pavilion. Yup, there is a Pavilion dedicated to women


One of the common features throughout the Expo 2020 grounds


See you! Expo 2020, Dubai

I do hope they come up with some real action on climate this time. It’s the 28th such conference, and I still don’t see any improvement in climate. Instead, every year I hear more and more floods happening, forest fires, temperatures reaching their record high… God save us.

Oh, and I hope they talk about Gaza, and put a stop to the mindless bombing and destruction that Israel is still inflicting. C’mon, if we’re talking about justice, justice is when Israel stopped killing at a thousand or 2. That’s what I call an eye for an eye. This is like, he killed your brother, and you go ahead and wipe out his family, his friends, his village, destroy everything in sight, heck, anybody and anything that's around him? That is pure insanity. An act of an unrestrained bully. And I ask the West, especially the US, the so-called defender of justice. Is this justice? I’ve always advocated for the recognition of Israel. I’ve always thought that some of the Muslim nations were being irrational not to have this stand. Israel and Palestine must agree of each other's existence to move ahead, to have peace. But this time, I stand for Palestine. Israel, if you want peace, you need to change your mindset… You need to treat others as equals, people as people, not like master and slave. If you are so high and mighty and have no regard for others, others will have no regard for you. God save Palestine. God save Israel.