All Work, ...and Some Play

Shit! I’ve been transferred to site again! Abu Dhabi this time. Beginning tomorrow! Here comes the dog days again! And it’s friggin 130 km from home, 260 km of travelling per day! WTF.

Meanwhile, here’re some photos of my past working exploits. The shit days ain’t all bad actually. Enjoy!


Yours truly, after the completion of the Dubai Canal Project last year, with, from right, trusty foremen Shahid & Sajid, chargehand Hari and another chargehand from the adjoining section (don’t friggin remember his name…). No, we didn’t build that canal and the railings we’re leaning against, but that bridge behind us (Al Wasl Road Bridge) was our Company’s work. I was in charge of the car park beside the canal


Couldn’t have done it without these two chaps! Both of them are from Pakistan. Thanks fellas for the help – Shahid (left) and Sajid (right) – from atop the wavy pedestrian bridge built by Besix, one of our fellow contractors of the Dubai Canal Project


Safety Managers on a visit – Alex George, Corporate HSE Manager (left) and Thomas Daniel, Divisional HSE Manager (right) – No, there’re no safety issues to report, my section of the Project happens to be the most picturesque portion of the Project incidentally, so it’s a sightseeing visit actually! The bridge behind is the wavy pedestrian bridge I mentioned in the photo before


Yours truly during the dog days! (Look how haggard I became, friggin lost 4 kg in 40 days!) – with, from left, Bara, an engineer from the Consultants, Parsons, Ziad, our Utilities Engineer, and Mustafa, our Site / QAQC Engineer (Ziad and Mustafa are from Palestine)


Another dog day picture, this time with Binu (middle), an engineer of the Consultant Engineer, Parsons and Belal (left), our Utilities Site Engineer


Here’s one from our many site visits for tendering purposes – from left, Balaji (Planning Supremo of our bidding team …don’t know his real rank actually), Prashant (our top rank estimator, again dunno his actual rank), Anis (Structural Engineer), Boobalan (Highway Engineer), yours truly (ahem), and Suresh (Geotechnical Engineer) – at the Jewel of the Creek Access Project Site


Time to say goodbye – Farewell lunch for Boobalan at the Desi Dhaba Restaurant, Fortune Hotel, near our office – from left, Prashant, yours truly, Ravi (Senior Engineering Manager aka my immediate boss), Balaji, Jeboy (Senior CAD Draftsman), Vinoo (Senior Estimator), Anis, Suresh, and Purchasers, Sridhar and Renjith – From here, it doesn’t look much like a Chinese Company does it?


Another farewell, this time for Anis – many colleagues left us in the beginning of 2017, …not a positive-looking year, but what the heck, we’ll make the best of what we have – from left, Suresh, Vinoo, Balaji, Anis, Prashant, Jeboy and Ravi

And here’re some work trips abroad!


Yours truly, at our Company’s Kuwait Branch’s posh Conference Room at the Al Hamra Tower, tallest building in Kuwait. The Chinese really know how to impress huh? – Notice the Kuwait Towers from the window behind?


On a site visit and meeting trip, Kuwait Airport, Jan 2016


With David Lee of SK Group, Korea and Asif of the Caledonian College of Engineering, at the college’s premises in Muscat, Oman, Dec 2014

Friends in Dubai 2016

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! (It ain’t Mother’s Day here in the UAE, but what the heck, most of the mothers of our family and friends, are celebrating it today!)

In people remembering mood. So, here’s my yearly (well, more or less) tribute to the people in our lives in 2016 (and a little of 2017).


Having coffee with the parents of Justin’s school mates on New Year’s Eve 2016, at Mirdif City Centre. From left – Roby, Madhavi (Aria’s parents), and Jasna (Mashel’s mom), all Indian expats who were born and brought up in Dubai

Our friends here now seem to revolve around Justin’s friends!! Is that how unfriendly we’ve become on our own? Ummm… nah, I think it’s just that we’re too busy being parents, and that we’ve not taken photos of our other friends.


Justin with Aria (middle right) and Mashel (middle left) on a playdate at Mirdif City Centre, Dubai


Yes, another playdate! Anu and Mala, the mum of another of Justin’s school mate, Varshana. They’re Malaysian. At Splash ‘n’ Party, Dubai, Sep 2016


Justin and Sophie at Splash ‘n’ Party on Sophie’s Birthday, June 2016 – this was the last birthday party Justin’s attended. He’s not gone to any birthday parties this academic year. Guess everybody’s feeling the pinch. Either that, or the kids are too grown up for kiddies birthday parties now, huh? Or maybe our kid has grown as unfriendly as his parents!?!


Jayden, with Vivah, Aria’s younger sister – Aria and Vivah have the same age gap as Justin and Jayden! On yet another playdate, at Adventure Zone, Galleria Mall, Dubai, Jul 2016


Vivah, at Kulfilicious, enjoying a kulfi, an Indian ice-cream thingy that Indians (and I guess Pakistanis) will die for. Justin and Jayden are not Indian I guess (from their reaction to kulfi), …and neither is Anu!


Jayden and a Filipino church friend, Mikaela (hope that’s how it’s spelt) – Why are these kids friends with only girls??? Should we be alarmed?


Justin and his karate mates on the last day before it friggin closed down for good (no, didn’t know about it then). The dojo’s on the same building as our apartment. Justin loved it here, made some good friends (boys, for a change haha), the best being Juvan (dunno the spelling, not in photo), son of Sensei Jitendra (middle kneeling). Justin’s sensei is Ngawang (back row, fifth from left). The dojo closed down due to Sensei Ngawang moving to Abu Dhabi to assume a job with the military, and Sensei Jitendra and family moving to Sharjah! At least they could’ve told us that day, right!


Justin and his Chinese teacher, Wang Laoshi (laoshi means teacher by the way) at the Think First Learning Centre, International City, Dubai


OK, here’s a picture of a friend that doesn’t involve our kids, my colleague, Divisional Health & Safety Manager, Thomas Daniel & wife, at the newly opened Dubai Water Canal, where I was working my butt off to complete, for one & a half months prior to the opening! We friggin did it!! But I lost 4 kilos in 40 days! Construction site jobs are actually superb if you wanna go on a diet!


And here’s a picture of family instead - frequent visitor to our home, niece Karishma, on a very advanced birthday party in Jan 2017 (her actual birthday’s in Feb)

Our Assam Connection

Aren’t you tired of my Iran posts? (I still have a lot to post by the way, hehe). But here’re some family photos for a change.


The kids posing with their aunt, Amrita (left) and cousin brothers Zeeva (second from right), and Rohan (right) at the Shiv Temple opposite Anu's mom's house, Fulertal, Cachar District, Assam, India

Photos from our first trip home to Assam after more than 2 years. Time sure flies. Can hardly recognize the kids back home!! See for yourself. For a comparison, check out these posts of 2012, 2009 and 2008.


The kids all grown – from left, back row – Raja, Anu’s mom with Jayden, & Sonia; front row – Rohan (Raja’s elder brother), Zeeva, Chhandam aka Akash (Sonia’s younger brother), & Justin


The three musketeers – from left, Raja, Sonia & Kunal (and this is them in 2008)


The new three musketeers – Jayden and his cousin Mahie (middle), Anu’s sister Rekha’s daughter, who is 8 months older than Jayden. The boy on the right is Mahie’s cousin on her father’s side (no, dunno his name…)


What izit with kids nowadays? – Hooked on the tab, with Ankit, Anu’s godbrother’s son watching. Ankit also happens to be 8 months older than Jayden


The sisters – Anu posing with Amrita (left), Anu’s youngest sister; and Manju (middle), Anu’s eldest sister. The boy is Manju’s son, Kunal. (And here are the sisters in 2008)

Apart from the kids, nothing much has changed in the place. Some stretches of roads have started construction (finally). Some parts are at subgrade level (i.e. red laterite earth stage, meaning really fun driving (and sliding) after a downpour). Some parts are at aggregate sub-base level (crushed rock layer stage, meaning getting your car rattled till the freaking nuts fall off). And some parts are at pristine untouched level (full of potholes filled with water, like the stretch in front of Anu’s mom’s house). Anu’s mom’s house stretch is worse than before actually due to the on-going construction of drains on both sides of the road. Those darn drains have also shrunk Anu’s mom’s house compound by half! The government needed it to expand the road! No pain, no gain I guess.


With the in-laws in Fulertal – from left, back row – yours truly ahem, Ganesh (Anu’s second eldest brother) carrying Jayden, & Ramesh (Anu’s eldest brother); front row – Ruati (Anu’s third eldest brother’s wife), Anu’s mom & Sumitra (Ramesh’s wife)


Jayden having a field day in Fulertal, looking at chickens and ducks – in the background is his mama (uncle, white T-shirt, Anu’s third eldest brother) constructing a house


Mamoni, the Bengali neighbour in Fulertal whom we’re trying to help, with her half Assamese nephew


Mamoni’s mother, whom we just address as Masi (auntie, ...I think!)

In Silchar, there’re still no signs of the new bridge across the Barak River although it has been err… 3 friggin years since the friggin bridge project was inaugurated!?! (That, unfortunately, is the normal state of affairs here). But one good news is that the railway in Silchar is finally connected to the rest of India!


In front of our Silchar home, from left – Sandhya (Anu’s second eldest sister), Anu, Amrita, Sonia, Sweety (Sandhya’s daughter) and Manju (and here’s a picture of Sandi’s family in 2007, notice how little Sweety & Zeeva are?!?)


This is classic North-East pose, mouth full of paan (betel nut), with brother-in-law, Gopal – When in the North-East, do as the North-East people do, right?


Shopping in Silchar, from left – Amrita, Sweety, Rohan


Our brother-in-law Gopal’s godbrother’s house – god sister-in-law (left), and 2 god nephews (twins nicknamed Aku and Paku, …don’t ask me what their actual names are!)


Gopal’s godmother (left) and godbrother (right) with his wife (middle)

This was a pretty cool trip actually. Cool, in terms of temperature that is. Thanks to the incessant rain, thunderstorms and hail (8 friggin days out of 11), it was 20 to 25 C for almost the entire time we were in Assam, while the rest of India baked in a heat wave!

Cool also because all we did was chill out at home – sleep, eat and play (games on the tab / phones, yup, we’re a gadgety family unfortunately). All that and guide Justin on his studies and homework (which is no fun at all, believe me, for Justin nor for me). The only time I got a chance to watch a new movie, the thunderstorm put out the darn power. When I wanted to read the brand new novel I bought at Kolkata airport, the kids cooked something up. Today, I’m proud to say I’ve completed …2 pages of the novel despite the distractions.


The school next to our Silchar house, Cachar High School, flooded because of the rain!

Jayden was the star of the trip, charming his ways into everybody’s heart (I guess it’s easier when you’re a baby, huh?) Jayden can talk now. He can make Amol (animal) sounds. He knows his colours, like Owizh (orange), Ya-o (yellow), Back (black), etc. He can name many types of vehicles, like Au-tot-te (or Ai-koko) (helicopter), Wai-jinjin (fire engine), Ami-esh (ambulance), Bi-ca (police car), Wuck (truck),… But our favourite word is Cow-wowo (dinosaur, and also thunder – yes, they’re related, they both sound the same, according to Jayden). Anyway, in Dubai, dinosaurs are more common than thunder.

That’s it, till another time!

Scenes from Half the World

Naqsh-e-Jahan Square and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Aww, what the heck! Might as well finish posting pictures of Isfahan, since I’ve sorted thru them already. Besides, I’m kinda busy with work (a good sign in times of uncertainty, …like now). So, here’s another picture post!

“Isfahan is half the world,” so says a Persian proverb ~ 'Esfahan nesf-e-jahan'. The world must be a lot smaller then, but still, Isfahan has its own unique qualities that makes it a place well worth a visit. Pictures don’t do real justice to the place, go see it yourself!


Muqarnas (the hanging beehive-like formations) at the entrance of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque


The interiors of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque – this mosque was built as a private mosque for the ladies of the king’s harem – Isfahan used to be the capital of Persia during the Safavid Empire era


The patterns on the dome of the inner hall, coupled with the beam of light reflected on the dome, are supposed to look like a peacock with its tail opened, especially from the entrance to the hall. Whatever it is, it's still a sight to behold!


Naqsh-e-Jahan Square at night, north view. The square has a north-south alignment. On the north (in the background of the photo) is the Qeysarieh Gate, entrance to Isfahan’s Grand Bazaar. On the east (right side of the photo) is the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. On the west (left), is the Ali Qapu Palace. And Anu’s standing in front of the Shah Mosque on the south


The south-west corner of the Naqsh-e-Jahan Square with the Shah Mosque (Imam Mosque) in view – The huge square is surrounded on all four sides by shops selling souvenirs, trinkets, Persian sweets, Persian …you name it, and arches. Whoever built this place, sure has a craze for arches. "OK, let’s put an arch here, and there. And there, and there, and there… What the heck, just friggin fill all the gaps with arches!"


The shops around Naqsh-e-Jahan Square, Isfahan


Qeysarieh Gate, the main entrance to Isfahan’s Grand Bazaar (Bazaar-e-Bozorg), on the north of the Naqsh-e-Jahan Square


Isfahan’s covered bazaar, the Bazaar-e-Bozorg, closed for business! We were told that it’s the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday! (In Dubai, the birthday was on the week before!) No, I don’t know how the Prophet can have different birthdays in different countries. Go ask a scholar!

Persian bazaars are interesting. They’re typically covered with vaulted ceilings that have holes in them (I guess it’s to let light in, if not it’ll be pitch black, right?). And they’re huge with a network of maze-like alleys! Nice, for some spy thriller movies, ain’t it?


For the love of arches! Told ya there's a serious obsession with arches in Isfahan – Imam Ali Square, Isfahan


Let There Be …Arches! Thirty-three to be exact – This is the Si-o-Seh Pol (33 Bridge), so named because it has 33 arches. How unimaginative can you get?


Khaju Bridge, Isfahan – It IS a bridge, despite the lack of water – heard they’d typically release water back into the Zayandeh River just before Nowruz, the Persian New Year in March. Not fair for us winter visitors!!! What did they do to all that water anyway?


More arches (what else?) below the Khaju Bridge, Isfahan


The gardens around the Zayandeh River …it’d be nicer if there was SOME water!


Khoda hafez! Till I write again...