Zaytoon wo Za3tar

A Tech-y Post

2011-05-01T18:25:00.007+04:00

So this post is one of its first kind I guess. A colleague passed on this Tech Magazine called "Tech". Apparently its Oman's Only Technology Magazine...well that's what it says on the cover anyways. I read it yesterday during a free period and I came across a couple of interesting tech's.

~The Duo

Apparently, the Inspiron Duo (by Dell) has just recently been made available to the public and I think it just looks fab.

It's really cool how you can flip the screen a complete 180 degrees which kind of transforms it into a tablet. Really like the idea!

~MS. Touch Mouse

This next one is probably my favorite out of the reads through the magazine. This touch mouse has been specifically designed for Windows 7 and as it says in the magazine "Fun and easy to use". It looks like it!
This touch mouse lets you click, flick, scroll and swipe. The design is pretty flash and it looks comfy to use too. The really cool bit is it supports use with either hand. The matrix on the top of the Touch Mouse is made of "capacitive touch-sensitive electrodes" (??) to help the mouse track the position of your fingertips along the surface. Seriously, this mouse is cool! It costs like OMR 30.800 though ....

~Dolphin on the Road

Well that's what the title the magazine gave for this next bit. It actually talks about a car; the Volkswagen XL1. Well here it is:

So this car, what's so...let's say "different" about it is that it consumes just 0.9L/100km of fuel. We gotta admit that that is pretty impressive, more like EXTREMELY impressive. I mean fossil fuels aren't easily obtainable these days plus, well not here in the M.E. , but everywhere else fuel prices are increasing. So this is a good start!

What I thought was cool about this car though is, there are no side mirrors. How (?) one may ask. Well can you see that thing at the front on the side door that might look like a door handle, THAT's actually a camera (on each door) which sends images of the surroundings behind the car to a display inside the car (as can be seen in the second shot).

When I first saw a picture of the car, I seriously started imagining the future with flying cars just like in "The Fifth Element" (the movie). Look at it's design! It's absolutely...hideous! YUP! I'm sorry to say but I really hate the design. The only thing I like about it is the windows and the front (especially the lights).

~NGP (Next Generation Portable)

So this is the name given to the PSP2? It's going to be equipped with a couple of cool things; dual analogue sticks (that's actually going to be useful), Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity and with a number of applications...it sounds like an I-pod Touch if you ask me. No price has been confirmed yet but Sony did say they "will shoot for an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space".

There you go. Yes! I do have a Tech-y side =P

Maher Zain - Freedom

2011-04-10T11:24:00.001+04:00

Dedicated to all the people struggling for freedom and dignity in the world.

Maher's Zain new music video, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and across the Arab world.

Absolutely beautiful! ♥

Did He Just Play A Trance Song On A Guitar?!

2011-04-07T17:42:00.003+04:00

Did he?! =O

Love the outfit...Mortal Combat much?! Pure awesomeness.

This was actually shared by Phat'hi via twitter, and I just had to post it here.

It was unintentional

2011-04-02T20:52:00.006+04:00

This post is dedicated to being a teacher.

You know when you're mad, and that's it, the fun, and the atmosphere is ruined. When you could have a smooth and chilled out lesson, instead it's just...scary? One kid somehow, unintentionally, manages to flip the negativity of the room just by saying the simplest and silliest thing...unintentionally. I could start laughing my head off right in the middle of explaining something.

Many occasions with my students have reminded me of something that I had done, unintentionally, during my school days. I was grade 10 and one early morning, I decided to tidy up our HUGE shelve (which was the width of the whole back wall) at the back of the class. I was such a super duper neat freak it wasn't healthy xD Anyways, our English teacher had given each of us the task of filling up a jar with new words that we learn through out the week. We kept all the jars in a corner, and being the neat freak I was, I just didn't like them there so I moved them to the center of the shelve lol

Come English lesson, our teacher entered the class in what seemed to be the mother of all worst moods possible. It was obvious the lesson isn't going to be its usual, and well, he's a scary person when angry (but one of the favorites). We started out the lesson and as expected, he got mad at any little thing. Suddenly he blurts out:

Eng. Teacher: "I'm really disappointed grade 10...(stuff I can't remember) .... and look at the jars, they haven't been moved, they're still at the same place."

Okay! So I took the words "moved" and "place" by their literal meaning when he actually meant that they haven't been filled, and just that morning I had "moved" and "placed" those jars in the center of the shelve, I raised my hand up nervously. Teacher pauses and looks at me.

Z&Z: "Sir, I moved the jars this morning. They were in the corner and I moved them to the center...."

He stares at me for a while, gobsmacked by what I had said, then his lips made a slow transformation from pursed lips to a smile. Classmates and the teacher started laughing by this useless comment I had just blurted, while I just sat there wondering what had happened. Yup! Even back then I was slow xD took about 10 seconds to realize what I had said...I went into a fit of laughter and a shade of tomato red.

It was unintentional.

Something is happening...

2011-02-17T13:20:00.004+04:00

...to the Middle East. The people are stepping up and fighting for their freedom, showing the world that we are more than that, and we shall not be silenced when it comes to our Freedom!

For the past month or two chaos and rage have broken out in (first) Tunisia and (second) Egypt, whom we are very proud of, where the people have finally woken up and vowed for a Revolution, a change in regime and a better way of life...in other words, a voice, freedom. Thanks to God, the brave people won without the help of any foreign country, but that was exactly what the goal was. Despite the victory, there have been some serious loses. From buildings, homes and places to the valuable life of a human soul. Many men and woman (old, young, and children) have lost their lives (Martyrs) for the protection of their country, right and voice. They shall not be forgotten for their act of bravery and honor.

I managed to follow the full Egyptian Revolution from day one, January 25th, and I cannot begin to describe how it touched my heart deeply. From crying, to anger, to hate, to shock, to disappointment, to being worried and then happy...the world got to see as the Egyptian people, our people, rose up to the greatest revolution of our time. Egypt, you truly made us proud! You showed the world!

We will not be silenced! Whether you are a Christian, whether your Muslim, whether your an Atheist! You will demand your goddamn rights and we will have our rights one way or the other! We Will NEVER Be Silenced!

Our brothers and sisters are currently fighting in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen for their revolution. Our prayers and hearts are with them!

What a start to 2011. History is being made and I get to witness it!

Thank you, I'm proud!

2010-09-11T14:33:00.006+04:00

Just some randoms.

~ I had one pressurized week at work and imagine, there were no students yet. School officially starts on the 18th and yet I got swamped with loads of work. I was craving for a holiday immediately and I'm so glad we got a week off for Eid...it's more like a charging week before the battle. The week mainly consisted of preparations (so much of it for me) and creating posters for each class we're going to teach this year (eyes pop-out , I have 27 different classes this year, 30 hours of teaching per week). The higher ups wanted to get all this work done before we officially start and they don't want us to slack off apparently. Meh! I'm going to be teaching grades 3 through 11 this year...possibly grade 12, though I'm dreading grade 12 since they study Java...who likes Java?!!! Sadly, no more grade 2 for me. I LOVED grade 2's. They are so cute and said the sweetest things.

No but seriously, I can't wait to see my students. I do miss them! I saw 3 or 4 of them during the week and they sure made me smile.

Highlight of the week: I was saying hello to my to-be grade 9 student who was standing with her mother.

The Mother: "Who's this? Zameeltich*?"
Student: "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam! She's my computing teacher!"
The Mother: "La wallah?! But look at her she has a baby-face!"

All I was doing was giggling like an idiot and thanking her hahaha

* Zameeltich = You're classmate

~ I was daydreaming about New Zealand 2 days ago. How much I miss it. How my University life was so interesting, weird and fun. How much I miss *real* sushi...Bongo cafe! The kind and peaceful people....and here's where I remembered one disappointing incident that happened to Mama.

This is how mama told it:

Mama was at a vegetable shop buying, well you guessed it, vegetables, when she noticed one Maori man giving her an unfriendly look. She had a feeling that he was going to 'drop a bomb', either swear at her in which she'd reply "You're mama" (hahaha) or call her terrorist. It was the latter. As she approached the tomato section (Mama can't live without tomatoes...she's a tomato herself haha), where the man was standing...she prepared herself for what's to come.

Man: "Terrorist!"
Mama looks at him in a disgusted yet I'm going to reply to that way and says,
Mama: "Thank you. I'm proud!"

The section had started to get crowded and he was too shocked to say anything back. Mama got her tomatoes and left happily.

She came to tell us this story that night, we laughed our heads off but we were so sad to know about this situation which has never happened to any of us before, ever. She said she didn't know what to reply with except for that...it worked didn't it?

But seriously, no one can generalize a whole people according to the actions of one person. We still love and miss New Zealand even after remembering that.

~ Oh! And here's what I did this shot for a Photography competition on English Sabla...the theme was Ramadan.

Before

After

There might not be a great difference, but it did make it look better. I used Diablo's tutorial so thanks Diablo! That's one awesome tut.

I won the competition...woooot!

Happy Eid ya'all!

Eid Mubarak 2010

2010-09-11T12:03:00.004+04:00

Eid Mubarak Everyone!!
Hope all is having a wonderful time and enjoying it to the fullest. Isn't it weird to eat again haha, I still feel I should be fasting.

Anyways, have a good one and may Allah bring us another beautiful month of Ramadan and Eid insha'Allah!

Gone Arabic

2010-09-01T13:27:00.005+04:00

~ What a wonderful Ramadan this has been! Thanks to Allah. We've finally reached the final 10 days of this holy month and those should be used even more wisely. I hope that everyone has been benefiting greatly from this beautiful month, in every single aspect. I know I have and I plan to continue insha'Allah!

~ I've been reading two books lately and what can I say, they've been such a fantastic read that I strongly recommend them! The first book is called Stories of the Prophets (from Adam to Mohammad) by Ahmed Bahgat. It gave me goosebumps, brought me to tears and made me smile and chuckle. Just amazing!

The second book is Falastine...Al Tareekh Al Mussawar (History of Palestine in picture) by Dr. Tariq Al Suwaydani. It's very simple with a lot of well illustrated pictures, many dating back in those ages. This beautiful book has benefited me in so many ways that I'm so happy with it! It's in Arabic, and Arabic books are not 'my thing' since I'm so and so with the language itself. So hopefully it'll be a way to improve my Arabic insha'Allah. Secondly and most importantly, I've been living in the dark when it came to my own country' history and basically this wonderful book has opened my eyes to this old, old and beautiful history. So thanks to Allah that I'm gaining this important knowledge!

~ Khawatir 6. Have you guys been watching this show? What an amazing show and I just have to bring up yesterday's episode which is my current favorite right now. Check out the episode, it'll tell you everything you need to know.

"I am white, I am English and the struggle of the Palestinians is my struggle too" - by a protesting British Woman for Gaza

"I am Jewish and I loath by what the Israeli's stand" - by a protesting Jewish man for Gaza

...and the impressive, The Crocodile Tears of Norman Finkelstein:

What a truly amazing man!

~ Lastly, I start work on Saturday. Meh! Mixed feelings about that to be honest. I've turned into a lazy monster, just sitting here comfortably, waking up as late as I want, sleeping whatever time I want...so in other words a very unhealthy lifestyle. I look forward to going back to school for many reasons, but mainly for the sake of getting back to my daily and healthy routine. I've missed the kids as well...all of them, so it should be nice to see them when school officially starts. I'm planning to make a few changes so I hope all goes well! Plus I miss driving my car *cries*

Wohoo updated! :D

The Amazing Qur'an by Gary Miller

2010-08-20T15:30:00.002+04:00

I just finished reading this wonderful article in which not only was it interesting and informative even for me as a Muslim but it amazed me and made me smile and laugh because of how truly amazing the Qur'an is!

It is a very long article but one that cannot be missed!! I have quoted only the first few paragraphs but as you read on, it just gets better and better.

Calling the Qur'an amazing is not something done only by Muslims, who have an appreciation for the book and who are pleased with it; it has been labeled amazing by non-Muslims as well. In fact, even people who hate Islam very much have still called it amazing.

One thing which surprises non_muslims who are examining the book very closely is that the Qur'an does not appear to them to be what they expected. What they assume is that they have an old book which came fourteen centuries ago from the Arabian desert; and they expect that the book should look something like that - an old book from the desert. And then they find out that it does not resemble what they expected at all. Additionally, one of the first things that some people assume is that because it is an old book which comes from the desert, it should talk about the desert. Well the Qur'an does talk about the desert - some of its imagery describes the desert; but it also talks about the sea - what it's like to be in a storm on the sea.

Some years ago, the story came to us in Toronto about a man who was in the merchant marine and made his living on the sea. A Muslim gave him a translation of the Qur'an to read. The merchant marine knew nothing about the history of Islam but was interested in reading the Qur'an. When he finished reading it, he brought it back to the Muslim and asked, "This Muhammed, was he a sailor?" He was impressed at how accurately the Qur'an describes a storm on a sea. When he was told, "No as a matter of fact, Muhammed lived in the desert," that was enough for him. He embraced Islam on the spot. He was so impressed with the Qur'an's description because he had been in a storm on the sea, and he knew that whoever had written that description had also been in a storm on the sea. The description of "a wave, over it a wave, over it clouds" was not what someone imagining a storm on a sea to be like would have written; rather, it was written by someone who knew what a storm on the sea was like. This is one example of how the Qur'an is not tied to a certain place and time. Certainly, the scientific ideas expressed in it also do not seem to originate from the desert fourteen centuries ago.

It goes on about how some people perceive that the Qur'an was sent by the devil :dev: and/or Prophet Mohammed is the Author and the time he came up with the Qur'an and when he claimed he was a Prophet he was crazy and/or a liar. But all of these assumptions and what these people believed are proven wrong through this article.

Continue Article - A MUST READ!!!!

Gather round

2010-08-19T13:07:00.006+04:00

...cos I've got a thing or two to share.

First, I'd like to start of by saying I hope that everyone's Ramadan is going beautifully and smoothly, that it has been a blessing for all and a strong month of worship for you in the path for becoming a stronger and better Muslim! ^^

Second, I would like to introduce this new blog, خطوة | A Step, in which I'll be contributing in with two other fantastic ladies, my dearest friends FAITH and Spot. It's still fresh and plans and ideas for خطوة | A Step are under way. So please do check it out and insha'Allah it will be informative and an eye-opener.

This blog is a drop in the silence sea of the world...in which we believe that if it happens and intensifies with other drops; they'd change something...someday!

And that's my 50bz lol

May Allah (swt) accept our fasting and may our Iftar be delicious! Ameen.

Maher Zain - The Chosen One (Al Mukhtar)

2010-08-13T21:13:00.006+04:00

My favorite song of the album has finally been made into a video and I have to say what a beautiful video. It truly is in perfect sync with the song/lyrics!

The song - The Chosen One - is inspired by Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Maher Zain and Awakening Records felt they had to respond after the recent attacks on prophet Muhammad through cartoons and facebook. The result is this music video. It's a small token in portraying the true character of our beloved Prophet Muhammad.

I always get goosebumps no matter how many times I listen to this song!

A video about Ramadan

2010-08-12T15:00:00.005+04:00

I really liked this video and thought I'd share with who ever would be interested.

The video truly tackles most of the bad aspects we might put ourselves into during this holy month. He sends out good messages in a interesting and funny way and let's hope we and every other Muslim who watches the video learns that truly the holy month of Ramadan is a blessing!

2010 Ramadan Mubarak

2010-08-11T15:51:00.008+04:00

I'm so happy right now! It's always such a wonderful feeling when you know that Ramadan is just around the corner, start preparing for the delicious dishes, and setting out important goals to achieve through out this holy and beautiful month. Fasting in Oman begins tomorrow and I'm so excited about it because it's the first Ramadan in 5 years in a Muslim and Arab country (different feeling and vibe), more specifically Oman! You can already feel it in the air, such a warm feeling, you can see it on people's faces and hear it in their voices as they say do3a2 to one another.

I have set out a few goals for my self in which I've written on small yellow post-it notes (which I've stuck on my wall) and these goals mainly concentrate on reading the whole Qura'an (in a month), read it's translation to get a stronger understanding, memorize a good number of chapters (the whole Part 30 and my favorite chapter Al Ra7man), read the book Stories of the Prophets, and the constant recall (Theker) of Allah (swt), and the list goes on.

There are many things you can leave and gain from Ramadan, therefore, this month should be spent wisely. Make sure your intentions are truthful and in the right place, that you truly want to come out a better and stronger Muslim than before. There's no use if you pray just because you're fasting and you want it to count, and then come the end of the holy month of Ramadan let go of everything...these are the wrong intentions.

Again, Ramadan Mubarak and may it be a blessed and a wonderful month for us all!

[Movie] Inception (2010)

2010-08-11T13:44:00.003+04:00

Plot:

Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption.

Tagline: Your mind is the scene of the crime

Official Trailer

Just be calm and tackle aspect by aspect sensibly.
*I literally have my fingers floating on the keyboard because I don't know where to begin. *

I first heard about this movie some time towards the end of 2009, where I saw a really small part of the making of the "no gravity" scene. I knew that it's going to be a fantastic watch so I gathered some more information about the movie and discovered who was in the cast and most importantly, who was the director of the movie. Let me start with the cast, I mean just look at those names.

Leonardo DeCaprio: he totally grew, for me, as actor after I watched Blood Diamond and The Departed. After these two movies, I looked more forward to any up coming movies he starred in and I have to say he played his role real well. His character was of the emotional and mysterious type which can be quite a tough thing to act but he did it perfectly.

Ken Watanabe: okay! This man was just pure awesomeness. He played the bad man of the group but I honestly like his characters relationship with Leo's character. They had a lot in common and I have to say that last scene between him and Leo was just fantastic!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: always been a fan of this actor since the days of 3rd Rock from the Sun and 10 Things I Hate About You and what a fantastic role he had. Definitely my favorite character of the movie! He got the coolest scenes of the movie too...they were stupendous! Loved how he played the cold yet innocent (and I thought he was sweet) and smart character. You can't help it but like him.

Marion Cotillard: don't know her very well, but she had an annoying character. She scared me with her fast, sudden head turns...makes you think her neck broke but non-the-less she did an awesome job too.

Ellen Page: one of my all time favorite actresses! She is just flawless at what she does and I'm glad she starred in such an amazing move as Inception. She needs to gain weight though...she's super skinny!

Cillian Murphy: guy with the freaky eyes...oooh *makes ghost sound*. I like him as an actor (thanks to Red Eye)...he had a small role but it was an important one. Spoiler?

The movie when it comes to the visuals factor was just absolutely brilliant. Just the thought of the amount it took to create such a massive world is just gob-smacking. Also, one to think or come up with such a world is on a thinking level of their own. Pure genius!

I loved the story and how everything came together. I had a moment during a scene where I said to myself "Ooooh so that's why they made him change in to that person...haha awesome!!"...it was truly awesome because it was like you solving the puzzle. This is what I exactly like, and I'm sure most who follow this kind of genre will agree, your brain just constantly working as the movie progresses so as to understand and solve the story.

The science (time, psychology, chemistry, engineering, etc) behind this movie is incredible! This is where the real genius and art appears because it has to be passed on in a way that it's understandable and fascinating rather than boring and useless. It's definitely something new; some people compared Inception to The Matrix but I don't see the comparison because the idea in Inception is more of the real world (dreams) rather than the fantasy world (with monsters, weird creatures, and slow motion dodging bullets and incredible fighting power, etc) which you see in the Matrix. I just truly enjoyed the science that contained this fantastic movie!

Now let's come to the awesome director, who has become my favorite director in this current time. Christopher Nolan ladies and gents! You might remember him from 2 years ago with his fantastic direction in The Dark Night. Epic-ness right there! The direction totally stands out in Inception and once you leave the theater it's almost the first thing that comes to mind..."the movie was very well directed". So hats of Mr. Nolan, you did it again!

Lastly, I leave you with the fantastic music composer, Hans Zimmer, who was also the composer for The Dark Night (go figure - two amazing movies). A fantastic job here too, definitely matched every bit of the movie and I can't wait to get my hands on the Soundtrack! Just watch the trailer and you'll get what I mean.

If you haven't watched this movie yet then I have no idea what it is that you're waiting for exactly! Must see at the cinema as well just to experience the full sounds and visuals package.

Great direction, fantastic cast, amazing story and awesome visuals and music, hands down a 10/10

Post of the Day

2010-06-11T21:54:00.006+04:00

:: Sweet Oman was hit by a Tropical Cyclone given the incredibly awesome name, Phet. Parts of the country (especially the coastal regions) was under serious alert for 3 complete days. At first, the cyclone had a different course but then it decided to change it's route and visit sweet sweet Oman. It got pretty intense in some areas, where roads were flooded, water entered homes, PALM Trees fell, and sadly, the thing that everyone was mostly hoping for not to happen, the loss of 16 lives. May they Rest In Peace and may Allah have mercy on their souls. I also hope that the people that have been seriously affected by Phet get back up and going asap. The positive side of Phet is that it left Oman cool and cleaned the air for a couple of days, which was much needed in the current oven heat weather we're experiencing. Al 7amdulelAllah 3ala kulee 7al!

:: I'm sure everyone knows what the Zionists have recently done, right? Despite this being late to blog about, it's still the discussion/debate of today. Plus, I just want to get all my fury out there. Day by day I become more and more astonished by the level of illegal-ness the Zionists are allowed to exceed. YES! Allowed! No one seems to stop them so that means they're free to do what they want. Where is the world from them? WHERE? Despite the fact that the boats heading to Gaza contained many kinds of much needed supplies to the people of Gaza (who have been living in indescribable conditions), the Zionists moved out and attacked those Peace boats on INTERNATIONAL effin' waters. The Zionists claim that it was defense. Um...where is the logic in that? Last but not least, I don't blame the Zionists for what they're doing to Palestine, but I blame the Arab cowards who are just sitting there watching their fellow brothers and sisters get slaughtered in front of their eyes. You make me sick!

God bless Turkey!

These two event's happened very close two each other. It wasn't very nice at all!

:: Now, as for me, I've just been busy with what life has given me so far. As far as things go, school is my main occupation but honestly, I can't wait till it ends...this heat isn't helping me nor the children. I think the heat has some kind of crazy affect on them where they just go wild. Exams start tomorrow...God help us all lol and I officially get off from school on the 21st of June. It's going great...school I mean. All the 29 grades I teach are fantastic...except for ONE, but let's not go into that shall weh lol Anyways, the good thing is summer is JUST around the corner, and I will have more time to blog about all sorts of things InshAllah!

Lastly, savor the small or big moments (happy or sad) for as long as you can! They're truly worth savoring.

[Movie] Surf's Up (2007)

2010-06-10T11:41:00.011+04:00

Plot:

Based on the groundbreaking revelation that surfing was actually invented by penguins. In the film, a documentary crew will take audiences behind the scenes and onto the waves during the most competitive, heartbreaking and dangerous display of surfing known to man, the Penguin World Surfing Championship.

Surf's Up Trailer

G's thoughts:

* The plot sounds funny! *

So Surf's Up has just been recently added to my list of favorite animation movies, and I gotta say I LOVE this movie! Now that I remember when this movie was first released, around the same time when Happy Feet was, I kind of expected it to be disturbing as Happy Feet (I had only watched the trailer not the movie) was to me so it kind of put me off from watching it. Four days ago, that changed, I managed to watch the movie 3 times in just 2 days, haha. Yeah I really did love it!

The thing is, I never expected it to be like this, which just tells you never to expect anything from movies...just go watch them lol. From minute one you get the idea that this animation is going to be really good! The idea of how it was made and "recorded" was what made it good. Like it says in the plot, the film was in a form of a documentary. I loved this most of all. The "camera" work was like none other animation I've seen so far. It was very professional and as if it weren't an animated movie but more like a "real life" kind of movie. At one point, I also felt I was watching "Cribs" because of the way the camera moved. That was awesome!

I love Shia LaBeouf and the moment I heard his character speak I immediately knew that it was him. Though I still googled the movie to see who was the cast, and I was right! Now once I made sure that LaBeouf was the main character, I knew the animation was going to be fantastic. He did an amazing job with his part, his voice definitely fits for voice overs.

The other characters were hilariously fantastic too. Each one had their own unique style and brought a nice touch to the animation. The Pengonians were something, haha, thinking about the parts they appeared makes me chuckle.

Now the visual work was great. I have to say the waves were the glory of the movie! They looked very real like and had the "beautiful" factor to the point that you wanted to dive into your laptops screen into those beautiful waters and waves. 10/10 for visuals.

I could not have picked a better soundtrack for this movie. Every song played was perfect for the scene. Most of the songs were of Green Day and they had a beautiful favorite from Incubus too.

A fantastic animation to watch! So watch it if you haven't yet because it's funny, fast-paced and very enjoyable (will have you smiling by the end of it) so hands down it gets a solid 9/10 from me.

Not moving. Not breathing.

2010-04-15T14:40:00.007+04:00

It was horrific. One would say, a miracle of miracles needs to happen for him to live.

I am currently in a state of shock since this is my first time I've ever seen, a strong possibility, a dead body. It is impossible to understand how the accident happened because of the point the two cars have been destroyed and I guess I'll never find out.

I was asleep in the back seat on our way back from the Sawadi Resort when I woke to the feeling of the car slowing down and my dad saying;

Dad: "A3ootho belAllah min '3athab eAllah, A3ootho belAllah min '3athab eAllah. Don't look, don't look!"

He aimed that second part to mama since I think he thought I was still asleep.

First I saw the car (silver) and the utterly horrific state it was in. A few seconds away was the other car (taxi) in a milder state than the first. Then, further away of these two cars was the helpless body of an Omani man, in a white dishdasha and a kuma, lying on the hot floor, in a puddle of his own blood that was coming out of his...head. He was on his left side; right arm over the left arm, and right leg over the left leg. I didn't see his face and I didn't want to either. The whole scene was disturbing and heart breaking.

My heart was beating so fast and eventually, I ended up in tears. Seeing the body of a human being...like that...was scary. A lifeless body, not moving, not breathing, while everything else around it is. It makes you realize how fragile and how very human we are.

Like I said, there is no way of knowing what happened (who's fault it was) unless if there were witnesses, but they are probably long gone now. I don't even know if the man was alive when we passed, or on the brink of death or somewhere in between just waiting to be saved. If he has passed on then may he rest in peace and may Allah have mercy on his soul. If he's in a struggle between life and death then God help him because it's not going to be easy getting over something like that. May God strengthen his family also when (I'm sure they've been informed by now) they hear about this horrible news and during the painful time ahead.

I wish people would wake up already and realize how bad the road situation in Oman is! What more do they need to know to tell them that this is a serious disaster that could happen to anyone! If you're not the one who made the accident then someone else would have put you in it.

I love this country, but it's roads are not safe...at all!

Allah Yustur 3aleena wa ye7meena. Ameen.

It's definitely something I'll never forget.

p.s. there's a huge difference between a dead person and a sleeping person =(

Everything 2

2010-04-14T17:05:00.011+04:00

Last day of a one week holiday. I actually miss the kids (not all - definitely not the grade 3's and 4's) and my usual..."healthy" routine. I didn't enjoy this break to its fullest sadly. I got sick and everything just clashed with each other. It's true when 'they' say what ever you plan doesn't go as planned.

I went into a reading frenzy from Thursday till Monday (will explain what happened Monday) to the point that I'm reading two books at the same time. The two books that have been occupying my eyes are 'The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown' and 'Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Al Sanea'. I have my light read, the latter (even though somethings have gotten on my nerves badly), and the thrill of the first. So it's somewhat a good balance.
N.B. I think I will start reviewing books.

Come Monday, I stole Sarz's PSP for the rest of my break because I've been having these major urge's to game. I miss it badly and I especially miss my PS2 (which is with my bros in NZ) and all my favorite games (Prince of Persia, Fatal Frame, Resident Evil...). I also really really miss playing Left 4 Dead with my Uni mates and World of Warcraft with friends. So right now, I've got the PSP occupying me and yet again playing two games at the same time. Silent Hill: Origins (Horror) and Final Fantasy: Crisis Core (Adventure). I'd spend hours on this thing! I'm not even done yet.

Everything 2, eh?! Went to B+F today. Fantastic place for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere at night is amazing...leans towards the romantic side actually. Their burgers are pretty fantastic and what separates their burgers from any other place is their juicy-ness. Those burgers are just juicy, YUM! I went for 'Up in Smoke' SS (again, everything 2) while my friend went for the Philly something. Ordered salad, cheese fries and coke/dew. They have strong burgers but everything else is a bit of a let down, especially their DRINKS! Nothing beats Chilies Strawberry Lemonade *craving it*. Oh! Chilies is my favorite place so far. I try to go almost once every week. Crazy I know, but their food is DAMN GOOD!
N.B. Maybe should start restaurant reviews.

I've finally come to enjoy driving here. I actually enjoy it a lot, more than I did in New Zealand. The roads are enjoyable if you pick the right times to go out lol...but honestly, there will always and forever be some jerk (male OR female) that may cause you to curse or honk. It's true when 'they' say stupidity is infinite...something like that anyways. Oh! Here's my ride (not the actual car in the picture):
Black Kia Soul. Weird design, but that's what attracted me to it. Sadly, I had THE moment with a VW GTI *Edit: removed some gibberish here, obviously I don't know much about cars lol*; you know when you get in the car, sit and your bottom fits perfectly, put your hand on the steering and you get that feeling. Yeah! Well that's what I had with the GTI. It was a mean machine but way out of the budget I put (since there is no way I'm letting dad pay for it) for a first car. I went back to the Soul. So if you see a black Soul (tee-hee) with a Palestinian theme interior (tee-hee) then you just spotted G-chan!

With the Soul you get to choose whether you want a vinyl (car sticker) or not which is pretty cool (thought they were illegal though), but I didn't want it. If I'm to add a vinyl to my Soul then it'd be custom made either by yours truly or Sarz, small in size and symbol too. Now I understand why Amarant wouldn't add a vinyl to his Roxy lol. I would love to add some mods to Soul and first on the list is black tints, maybe black rims and get rid of the yellow head lights and replace them with white ones. I don't know, need an experts touch (wish my bros where here T-T). But one thing at a time, eh?!

Back to school on Saturday where something new is added to my schedule. A few weeks ago, Ahmed (grade 8) came up to me and asked if I could start a Computing Club. Now, honestly, that was just awesome getting a request like that. I ended up telling him if he can gather up to 10 students (yes 10 would be great!) to join the club then I'd ask permission from the principle. He replied that everyone will join so I should just start the club. That made me even more happier but I insisted that he gather some names first. He gathered 45 students (from grades 8,9 and 10) in under 2 days. Hence, the En-Tekk (TM) club has been initiated every Saturday from 4pm to 5pm. It's going to be a very diverse topic club and everyone is pretty excited about it so I hope the students won't be let down!
N.B. Will update on the club every Saturday insha'Allah!

I will leave you with this piece from Final Fantasy: Crisis Core OST. Oh! The whole OST is fantastic.

[Movie] The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

2010-04-01T15:40:00.001+04:00

Plot:

The astounding, well-documented story of a family forced to relocate near a clinic where their son was being treated for cancer. Strained financially and emotionally, the family discovers their recently renovated home was a former mortuary with a dark history. After experiencing violent supernatural events both inside and out of the house, the family seeks the help of ghost hunters and the Catholic Church, which performs an exorcism.

The Haunting in Connecticut trailer

Another horror. In my eyes, horror movies have been restored because of this movie. Who knew! Actually, my grade 10 student told me that the movie's good and that I should watch it. So I ended up doing just that and I truly LOVED it! I found the story interesting than any exorcism stories out there. It felt much more realistic and had a stronger feel to it. Yeah! I really liked it.

When I read the title the first time, I had imagined something like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", which was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Weird enough when you expect something, the opposite happens. Not always, but much frequently. I really thought that I would hate this movie; blood and gore, and a useless killer out to kill everyone. Didn't see that! Like I said the story was good.

It was pretty horrific. I freaked out a couple of times and looked away at a certain scene but this is what I want from horror movies. I want them to be scary not disgusting. This is what you get from "The Haunting in Connecticut"! What made this movie freaky-ier is that it's based on a true story.

I loved the main actor! Kyle Gallner. I think he played his part very well. The last few scene's of him were my most favorite...his acting was very real and flawless (not trying hard) so hoping to see more of him in any upcoming, not necessarily horror, films. He stood out the most for me compared to the others but his "little sister" creeped me out with her eyes. As if she was possessed or something lool. Kids in horror movies - horrific combination! P.S. There's a Spock look a like if you can spot him loool

I loved the music, especially with the final scene. First horror movie that almost brought me to tears. I liked the place and how the movie was shot. One scene was a bit weak...but the movie was good enough to bother about it. Honestly, I was so happy with this movie that I will have no problem watching it again.

I was expecting a scene from Lord of the Rings with this track.
Such a beautiful piece and fit perfectly with the scene.

A definite recommendation to those out there with the horror bone!

Rating: 9/10

It's all in my head...science, he said

2010-03-24T18:24:00.008+04:00

Another week has passed.

It didn't start out as nicely as I would've liked it to, but it sure ended very well. A few students got on my nerves and I actually got a headache...twice! But I still love 'em!

Who has seen the movie A Beautiful Mind? Well I met a student who is so much like John Nash. It's quite worrisome but pretty impressive (you'll understand what I mean if you've seen the movie). You won't believe what grade this students in...grade 2, Yeah! We were sitting at a table in the cafeteria when one of my colleagues called over Anas. He asked Anas a couple of simple (to grade 5+ students) math questions in which he answered all correctly (masha'Allah!). Then the colleague asked Anas to tell us about genetics (waaaa?!)...in which he did to our amazement. He went on about DNA, and if the mother had certain traits, then so will her child. Then he went on about Newton and how gravity pulled the apple down from the tree...

Masha'Allah he knew so much information for his age that I started to wonder if he gets to do what kids do...PLAY! I asked him if he has a Play Station. He does, and he explained to me what games he owns (Golf and Football). I saw kids playing and running around so I wondered if any are his friends.

G: Anas, do you have friends?

Anas: Yes miss. I have a lot!

G: Awesome. Where are they? You can go and play with them, you don't have to sit with us you know.

He starts walking off.

Anas: Miss, I have the closest friends ever! They are up here...

He points to his head with both hands.

Anas: ...it's all science.

He runs off and I just sat there looking at him with my eyes wide open.

Other colleague: Wait! What did he just say?!!

We stared at each other for a few seconds.

G: Have you seen A Beautiful Mind?!

Highlight

The bell just rang, so I walked up to the door, opened it, held it open and said my goodbyes to my grade 2 students who I taught for the first time today. From the looks of it, they enjoyed the lesson.

One boy had his hands over his tummy, as if praying, as he walked towards the door. He had his head down also. Once he reached me, he stood right in front of me with his head still down and hands crossed over his tummy.

Boy: Miss, I lfdsoofafdska.....

He spoke in a really low voice and was only just above my knees tall, so I bent down to his level and asked him what he had just said because I didn't hear. Again, his voice was low and wouldn't make eye contact with me but I managed to hear what he said.

Boy: Miss, I love you.

Okay, honestly! That was the cutest thing I've ever heard! I ruffled his hair and told him thanks and that I can't wait to see him again next week. He totally made the rest of my day!

The fourth

2010-03-19T20:23:00.008+04:00

My fourth week as a teacher has so far been the weirdest one. It was such a hectic week with all the final exams going on and craziness of dealing with people who dealt with things in a really bad manner. I got angry, felt guilt, laughed my head off, got bored and fell asleep in the staff room, somewhat "at home", and best of all unleashed stubbornness and determination which lead to a small triumph that I'd probably never forget neither the people that were apart of it.

I love the kids - that's what I mostly like about my work. I have to see their sweet little faces almost everyday may it be during class or just randomly while walking from one place to another. I still can't remember all their names or who and who is in which grade (they all look similar to me at the moment) but I'm definitely getting there slowly.

Highlight

I was on my way out of the cafeteria with my closest colleague when I met eyes with one of my grade 4 students that I taught just an hour before. He stared at me with a cheeky smile on his face, then tilted his head in an upward motion yelling:

Saeed: "Sha5baarich Miss?"

I just gave him the hugest smile I could muster and waved at him.

*Sha5baarich: How are you

7 Things

2010-03-12T09:18:00.003+04:00

Kitten tagged me in her post Tagged! . Thanks kitten and guess what! I'm gonna do this right now since I'm in a blogging mood.

1:: Computing teacher much? Yeah! I've just started and I'm loving it! I'm the youngest teacher at the school which makes me closer in age to the kids. Everyone is super nice...and the amazing thing about all this is I get to pass what I learned about Computer Science to the children who have finally become interested in it; where in the end, they could say "Miss G-chan taught me that". Also learning how to deal with kids.

2:: Movies freak. Big time! Give any kind of movie and I will watch despite liking it or not, I will watch it. During my holidays, I'd fit in a movie a day and if that day felt extra lucky I'd watch two, sometimes three movies in just one day. I'm always looking for new movies but I have no problem at all with watching movies I've already seen. Oh! If I loved the movie, then usually I'd write a review here.

3:: The sushi. I don't know if it's actually an addiction or not but I just LOVE sushi! It's one of the foods, more like the only, that I don't mind eating everyday. Actually, there came a time in my life during my undergraduate studies where I had sushi for lunch every single day. Even though I didn't want anyone else to love sushi the way I did (more for me noh!), but sharing is caring and therefore, I'd always "introduce" my friends to it may they like it or not. Sushi is a dish that you must try at least once in your life. Eat it correctly and surely you'll fall in love!

4:: Tall and honest. Somehow I always put these two descriptions together even though they're not related in meaning or the fact that one is an appearance and the other is a personality trait. I am a very tall person, well, that's what I'd be considered here in Oman anyways. Most of the time I don't mind it but then there are these little situations where you'd wish you're a tiny bit shorter. As for my honesty, sadly sometimes it hurts even though when it's not my intentions at all. Honesty is good and I believe that it's best to hear the truth rather than a lie which you might discover that it's not true.

5:: Photography, Drawing and playing the Guitar. I love these things! But there's something wrong...rather than just picking one, focusing on it, and being really good at it I, instead, try to take them on all at once and just be okay in them. It's on and off, as well. Never were very continuous. But I do enjoy them very much.

6:: Arabic is heavy. That's what I've been told anyways. When I speak in Arabic, it takes me a while to put my sentence together or the word I'm looking for. Also, my accent is...let's say, messy. So if I talk to you in Arabic you won't know exactly where I'm from because there are so many accents in my Arabic.

7:: Web Programming. Not only it is my specialization but it's actually something I enjoy doing. I still have space to grow and expand my knowledge in this area but what I'm capable of right now is satisfying.

My two cents!

The seven people I'm going to tag are:

Amarant
Lady MAB
Pepsi Diet
Delta
Diablo
Hamdy Elgammal
Spot

Setting my mind

2010-03-10T21:04:00.002+04:00

...on something!

That's it! It's been such a long time since I last wrote here that I actually miss my blog. I miss my readers and the awesome comments you guys left. Therefore, I've decided to update this place once a week (I'll do my very best to do so)...I don't know what form my posts are going to be in exactly, but this place shall be updated!

Also, I've decided I'm gonna give my blog a make-over as in to start anew. Basically it's just going to fit me at this present time.

Lastly, the reason why I have left this place for quite a while is because I managed to find a great job as a Computer Teacher at a very well known school (just completed my third week). The name of the school shall be nameless but all I can give you is that it's quite in the top of the most well known schools list. I will leave the greater details in the posts to come (InshAllah!).

Fin.

[What's This?] Indicate much?

2010-01-29T22:49:00.004+04:00

....I don't think so!

So I'd like to know, what is the indicator function in cars used for here? Do you know what for? Absolutely NOTHING! Shocked much? I don't think so!

Seriously, I don't know why they're built in the cars here since they're not used for their only, sole purpose. I hate it and the people that don't use indicators when turning left or right I call them "Retard" or "Freak on a leash" or "Stupid Idiot"! I mean what the hell?! What annoys me more is some are already too lazy to just flick their finger to work the indicator so imagine someone with a phone in one hand and the other on the steering at an intersection or a roundabout. Oh oh! The hand that's holding the phone is the left which is the one you need to use the indicator...

=_____________________________=

I think one of the toughest areas on the roads of Oman are the roundabouts. Exclude the fact that one is supposed to slow down, and check for on coming traffic but here it's full on speed into the roundabout. If there's on coming traffic they're supposed to stop (which I don't understand for your information). Then there's me. I'm waiting for those cars to pass by with their full on speed thinking that they're going forward (passing in front of me since they didn't indicate that they'll turn and the speed they're traveling in gives you the impression there's going to be no turning!) but instead and sometimes last minute, they turn! WHY? Why did you not use the indicators? Why did you waste my time? People here drive as if they own the roads or that there's no one else on the road except for themselves. Or they expect you to read their mind or something. This is where people really need to think about others.

*sighs* One should give it a small thought really. Like what's it going to do if you indicated when you're turning? What's it going to do to the person(s) you indicated to? I know what! You won't be sworn at (in cases like me) and the other person's time will not be wasted and heck you might be praised even if you might not be able to hear it!

I don't want to generalize but so far I've only seen two people using the indicator so don't blame me.

[Series] Dexter

2010-01-24T17:32:00.006+04:00

Plot:

Based on Jeff Lindsay's novels Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter this crime thriller follows Dexter Morgan. Dexter is a forensic blood spatter expert for the Miami Dade Police Department. He is the main support for his sister. He has a steady girlfriend, with two kids who adore him. He also has an active "night life". Based on a code instilled in him by his foster father, Harry, he hunts down people who have escaped justice and makes sure they don't get away with a crime again.

I've blogged about this series before and here I am blogging about it again since I think it deserves an entry of its own. So I love this series (surprise surprise) and I have to say, it gets better and better every season. I just completed Season 4 and well, it's the best one so far...and the creepiest! There was so much thrill and quick heart beating during some scenes but this is exactly what I like about it. Also, the soundtrack is just fantastic! Check out my favorite piece; Photo Albums.

I won't talk about Dexter him self because we already know (those who follow the series) how he's so good and does a great job with his role but instead I want to talk about the new addition to the series...the enemy.

John Lithgow people! You might know him from the hit series 3rd Rock From The Sun as the child-like character Dr. Dick Solomon. Man did he flip 180 degrees! I really thought I'd have a hard time taking him seriously but was I wrong. I think he was the scariest enemy Dexter faced. Utterly disturbing guy and seriously I don't think anyone else would've pulled the job better than he did. I will not say anymore, just watch the series!

This season had major events following from the previous season with new characters and problems revolving with and around Dexter. People dying, getting married, having babies, finding out secrets and the list basically goes on. But the most major part of the season was the finale. It was HUGE...and shocking! I don't think I was in such shock in the previous seasons. You might expect something but you can only confirm what you think when you see it right? Even though, you will still get shocked because it was...I still can't believe it! It was very bad to the point that I almost teared. Watch out for the big cliff hanger that will leave you at the edge of your seat and I really hope it's a dream but I sadly feel it won't be.

Season 5 gets released sometime late September of this year and I seriously can't wait. I have no idea what to expect, but till September comes all we can do is discuss and make assumptions about what could happen...which is always interesting because it makes you feel like a detective *jokes*

I will leave you with Dexter's Opening theme, which I kind of hate...makes me shiver every time I watch it lol

This opening theme is all about Dexter's real life: killing. The track sounds like a normal day of a normal person but you can almost hear / see there's more to it.

Oh yeah! I wish I was a forensic scientist...would've been such an awesome job!

[Series] The Office

2010-01-24T16:53:00.006+04:00

Plot:

The Office is a mockumentary that documents the exploits of a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Made up of head chief Michael Scott, a harmlessly deluded and ignorantly insensitive boss who cares about the welfare of his employees while trying to put his own spin on company policy. With an office including the likes of various peers who have their own hangups, The Office (2005) takes a look at the lives of its co-workers: bored but talented salesman Jim, his mildly sociopathic, butt kissing enemy Dwight, mildly righteous receptionist Pam, and indifferent temp Ryan.

So, The Office. You can say I'm pretty addicted to this series, which quite is funny because it's basically the most stupidest, brain-cell killing, annoying, awkward, dorkiest, nerdiest and funniest (just a little bit) series I've seen to-date. When I first watched it, I kind of hated it because of how awkward and annoying (okay and boring) it was. But, it actually sucks you in. I just kept watching. Maybe it was curiosity? Eventually, the more I watched, the more I got into it. I started liking some characters, despised some and I just wanted to know where everything was all going.

I'm sure everyone is familiar with Steve Carell who's the lead (plays Michael Scott in The Office) in this series and well...I liked him before I watched this series, but now, I just hate him lol Sometimes, I just want to slap myself from what he says, how he acts and the situations (some of which are by force) he gets himself into. He really, really, really gets on my nerves. But I think the series won't be what it is without him. It makes me think if there's someone actually like that in real life...with that sort of personality. Very disturbing!

Jim (John Krasinski) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) would have to be my favorites from The Office. One is sweet and funny in which I'm very interested to know what will happen with him, while the other can be nice but has some seriously funny issues which could be annoying as well. New characters are introduced and involved in the many crazy situations that occur.

Yeah...it got me hooked, and so far I've finished 3 seasons and into the fourth season within just the past days. I think I love it lol but it still gets on my nerves. Maybe this is why it's interesting - it makes you react positively and negatively.

Oh, and the facial expressions made in this series are like none other lol They're just awesome!

The thought...

2010-01-12T13:58:00.003+04:00

...of death is scary.

The thought of loosing someone dear to the heart is....beyond...horribly, terrifying.

[What's this?] My nose drowned...

2010-01-10T12:16:00.005+04:00

I am gobsmacked by the heavy amount of oud that has forced it's way through my nose and up to my brain during the number of times I've gone out! It's so strong that I teared in countless occasions where also I felt my head spin. It hurt even! What I'm surprised by though, is that this vivid oud scent came from...women. It's not like I'm getting close to them and sniffing their oud but more like whenever a lady passes by me (or vice versa) I get this whiff straight to the nose. Actually, it feels like a slap to the face because one instant I'm in odorless air then in another BAM!

"What the?" expression on my face and eyes tearing from the concentration of the oud.

I mean do they drain themselves with oud or is it just the one drop that could cause this much odor and/or...damage? Seriously. The men that pass by do not give off such strong odors, maaaaaan! Actually I think they either wear a lighter perfume or oud, which I considered really good compared to the women. What's annoying is, after the women have left the area, the odor of the oud lingers. God have mercy!

I'm definitely sure some will find the strong oud, or oud in general, nice and/or attractive, etc, but I'm not a big fan of oud - it's really, really...really strong and some do not even smell that good. There are a few that have a lighter scent than others which I don't mind or may even like but seriously, I don't think a woman should reek (yes! reek.) of something strong; may it be perfume or oud. It's only for her own good.

========================

Thanks to those that voted on the poll (Whether I should change my template or not)...um what can I say, the fifty-fifty split helped a lot lol I have picked out some templates but I'm not sure whether I will use one, being quite indecisive lately. But thanks! =)

Twenty-ten: Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T11:10:00.010+04:00

Good morning!

It's the first of the first of twenty-ten (01/01/10) ! Happy New Year to you all and may the year ahead be a blissful and eventful year full of wonderful things!

Looking back and remembering the fast days of 2009 I can only conclude that it was a good, nice year but with a few downs here and there (surely). Memories are rushing through my head right now and I don't know what and what to start of with.

+ I caught on to the perfect job for me. Most importantly it revolved around my field and what I wanted to do. Gchan became a Web designer/developer. February 2009

+ Semester A of my fourth and final year at Waikato University began. Favorite semester of my university life! March 2009

- I met R; the girl who turned my friends and I into heartless monsters. March 2009
Refer to posts [What's this?] Patience Test and From "Plan A" to "Plan B"

+ My first website became live! April 2009

- I lost a friend who turned out to be one of those friends where you're not sure if you did the right thing or not. When things end in a bad way you can get in situation where you don't know what to do or if there's actually anything that could be done. Even though, I learned that always, things happen for a reason! Around the same time another friend was acting differently around me. It was such a tiring time. May 2009

+ Semester A ended, and so did the struggle with R. It was time for a holiday and to enjoy the break. June 2009

+ Traveled with my family to Jordan to see our relatives who we haven't seen since 2003. It was the best holiday ever! June 2009

- I started in the second week of Semester B where I discovered that there are crazy things in store for me; personally and study wise. July 2009

+ My second website became live! July 2009

+ Faced the friend that was acting differently around me and got the reason to why that was happening. I got a shock but was understanding yet despite the reason things went back to normal and we even became better friends. We drifted apart but it made us realize many things. This is exactly why true friends, are definitely true and hard to find. July 2009

- Had to put my work on hold due to the hectic schedule of studies. Client was super understanding and thankfully didn't replace me. August 2009

- I became an angry person due to everything that was happening around me. Studies and people (some can be really, really stupid =_=) made me angry. Behavior and personality partially changed. October 2009

-+ University was coming to an end and at the same time a super, dear friend was drifting away due to studies and other stuff. I had doubted my self of not being a good friend and I tried a lot to protect the friendship. But a friendship takes two people to work. Despite that, my super, dear friend and I talked and got through it! We became closer than before. The outcomes, seriously, is what matters. October 2009

+ Uni ended and I had done well in all my subjects! I officially completed my degree! SCHOOL'S OUT!! HERE COMES SUMMER! November 2009

+ Began work on my third and final website. I missed designing websites, a lot! November 2009

+ Packing to move to Oman began. November 2009

+ I got my full drivers license!!! November 2009

+ My third and final website became Live! I gained another wonderful friend (my client). December 2009

+ Left New Zealand for good to a new step and life in Oman. December 2009

Okay, reading this seems like it wasn't a good year with friends for me lol. But el 7amdulellah for everything!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Movie] The Blair Witch Project (1999)

2009-12-29T20:43:00.006+04:00

Plot:

Three student documentary filmmakers venture into Maryland's Black Hills to discover the truth behind the myth of the Blair Witch -- and never return. The only trace of their disappearance comes one year later when their film footage, documenting their final terrifying days, is found.

Yeah! This horror was on TV this morning and I just said to myself "Aah what the hell, let me just watch it." even though I was having second thoughts about it from all that I've heard of it. For starters, I can say I liked this movie! It's a typical story but it's like none-other really. The difference in these sorts of movies compared to other horror or thriller is that they use the real names of the main actors. I got fascinated by their real acting, if you could call it that because basically, they're not well known actors (if at all) but random people (I guess) just so that the movie can be unique and has that extra realness to it.

The atmosphere is the typical type to any horror movie, especially those of freakishly shaped trees and tree branches. I actually hate that! It was dark beyond dark. Literally, this movie had the least amount of light during...rush hour? lol. Plus, you don't know what exactly it was they're facing. Was it a monster? A tree that can walk and talk? A friggin' CHILD?!! Maybe a witch?! I still don't know exactly what it was that they faced but all I know is that it was bad *eyes wide open*

What I really liked about this movie - again just like in Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity - is that the whole 'filming' was raw footage. Yes! Raw footage basically rules all for me - at the moment, who knows I might get bored of it later lol - because it gives you the "real life feel" kind of feeling. Scary right?! Yes! But this movie was different. There were TWO cameras. Now that's new! Maybe I'm making a big deal over nothing but it was different yet annoying how magically the view changed from one camera to the other. Should that even be allowed to happen? Well, I'll just leave it at that.

Now the question is, did it scare me? It should have but it didn't. Surprised? I am. I honestly was expecting to be scared out of my comfy chair but I'm just sitting there with wide eyes open - I guess just trying hard to see what they were facing - and that's it. Like I didn't get the 'heart beating fast' feeling. Well maybe once. But yeah. I can say I was disappointed by that part but I still liked the movie. It had an interesting story to it but then it kind of leaves you with a cliff hanger. When the movie ended I literally screamed "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?". Yeah I was glued to the screen because I wanted to see...it!

I didn't want to watch this movie after I watched Paranormal Activity and you know how the whole hype between these two movies were; they got compared as to which was scarier. Well, they said that The Blair Witch Project was scarier...I'm gonna disagree. Dun dun dun duuuuun. Paranormal Activity left me paranoid for a few weeks and sleepless for a night or two. But The Blair Witch Project...nothing? I just liked it that's all.

I score it an 8/10.

P.S. An hour later I went out with my parents for lunch and I sat at our table kind of, let's say, "analyzing" the movie. This movie has a BIG flaw!! Hint: read the plot.

Its kindness is limitless

2009-12-27T19:03:00.008+04:00

Well, eleven days have already passed - just like that *snaps fingers* - and I have to say that I'm enjoying my self and am very comfortable too (7amdulellah); finally! I've met up with almost everyone that I needed to meet up with but there are still a few to go (you guys know who you are *wink wink*) which I'm quite excited to meet.

One can say we've partially settled down with all that's left to do is receiving the furniture that we ordered and re-arranging the place to make it feel more cosy and homey.

I got the phone I've been wanting since June *huge grin*
I present to you Sony Ericsson C905.

I picked this very same color, bronze, since all that was left was pink and silver. I wanted black but they ran out of it (=.=) so I picked bronze because I'm not a big fan of pink and my last phone was silver; fair enough? C905 is basically the whole package, just to give you an idea in short. I love it!

I'm willing to update and fix up my CV so I can start applying for jobs since it takes a while for 'them' to reply to you here, sad enough. I know and heard that it's so hard to get a job here so it's worrying, you know. But inshAllah 5air. I don't know where to start with the looking part (websites/ads ??). But first things first prepare my CV.

I'm gonna talk about Oman a bit...just randoms things.

:: One of the coolest things about being in an Arab/Muslim country is the fact that any restaurant, supermarket and anything that sells food you go to is guaranteed to be halal *BIG grin*. So there is no need to worry or check if the product/place for that and best of all, you won't feel sad for not being able to buy it (especially when you want it badly). All you need to read is the Expiry date for products (Yes people, read the expiry date of every product!) and the menus of the restaurants! And as for the restaurants, well basically you're not just stuck with 2 or 3 places but instead you have like a bajillion places to pick from!
This part might not be about Oman, but I just had to mention it *innocent*

:: Oman is a BEAUTIFUL country. Very beautiful actually! Every time we go out (since I'm not driving) I'd be looking out the window just absorbing everything. It has changed greatly and has become tidier, cleaner, and greener (nice!). We visited Matra7 a few days ago and I was amazed by the beautiful harbor there and the very nice side walk, OH! and the greenery. I can only imagine this place at night *heart*

I enjoyed just standing there, looking at the beautiful green-blue pure water and feeling the cool breeze on my face. But it was in the afternoon, where the sun was at it's highest (big mistake), I think, and I got a minor sunburn on my nose and cheeks.

:: People stare a lot here and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT; may they be women, men, children and any nationality too. The old, married (some) Omani men are the creepiest. I'll just leave it at that.

:: Ooooh! The service here, may it be at supermarkets, banks, delivery are super super super slow. Btitla3 roo7ak (you're soul tries to escape) just waiting for them to get done. Some of them show it in their face that they HATE the job they're doing. They work bedoon nefs (with out interest). I don't blame them but come on, put a little effort in it!

:: Is it just me or has the double-head trend decreased? *thumbs-up girls*

:: Traffic jams are crazy here! No seriously, I've never seen anything like it. I think I'd enjoy the roads and driving if there was a bit of control, traffic lights here and there and actually if people followed the law. I love the roads here though! They're wide and endless. I'm not allowed to drive until I convert my license to the Omani license. Yeah! That sucks!

:: Majority of Omani's are super nice and polite! This is what I love about this country...its kindness is limitless *heart*

Can't wait to experience what more this country has got to give!

A song I've been constantly listening to for the past 2 days.

Thareed Oman

2009-12-20T10:10:00.003+04:00

I don't know where to begin but here I am, the start of the fourth day since I arrived to Oman and I'm loving it! Pressure has seized. Stress is gone. If there is anything I'm doing then it's for sure relaxing and taking my time with what ever that's occupying me before the seven boxes and four bags arrive for the unpacking. I think unpacking is less stressful than the packing? *thinks* I mean one can just take it easy...no rush.

I've spent the last few days sleeping, reading (a lot), unpacking the bag that I travelled with, playing a bit of Mahjong Titans, and going out here and there hunting for a phone. I need to get in touch with so many so bare with me.

Day of travel was surely the most hectic day. We ran like crazy trying to get everything done and the only time where we actually sat down and relaxed was when I drove us to AUX airport (my last long drive in NZ *cries*). Having not slept that night, we were moody as hell and I had anger issues. Actually, my anger needed some major managing the last week or two before our travel. I mean, I practically snapped and swore (nothing bad or big) at anything, some of which were funny especially when my Palestinian accent and side came out.

Our flight from AUX to beautiful Muscat was really good. If I'm not over-exaggerating then I can say it's the best flight so far. I had a plan where I'd watch about ten movies - movies that I've been desperately wanting to watch and I finally got the chance to - since I don't think I'd sleep through the whole flight... Well, from AUX to melbourne, a three and a half hour flight, I managed to get down Ice Age 3 and half of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Now the flight from Melbourne to Dubai, fourteen hours, is where I thought I'd begin my marathon. I ate while I completed the other half of Harry Potter 6 (which was a major disappointment or I was just too sleepy to give) to check that there was about twelve hours and a half remaining to Dubai. I slept from then till the remaining time was only three hours that I killed by watching Up and an episode of Fareej which I enjoyed a lot! Sleeping that much was greatly unexpected. But I was glad because it only made the flight shorter and quicker.

Seeing Baba when we came out of the sliding doors was hands-down the highlight of the last month or two. Finally it was all worth it really. Plus I greatly missed our house here, and my room even though it's empty and not very G-chan-ee but still...it will change once the rest of our stuff arrive *grins*

At first I had agrophobia (fear of going out) for reasons like the weather and the driving. Yesterday though I decided I'm going to go to CC with my parents. Well one of the reasons I decided to go is because I need a phone but actually I wanted to see the Omani world. I ended up driving us to CC thanks to Baba's trust in me. Who knew?! I drove as if I don't hold a full licence or as if it's the first time I take the wheel. Well I wasn't comfortable. Mirrors weren't positioned for me and the seat was uncomfortable plus I wasn't used to the car and the steering wheel being on the left side. I think Mama was more scared of my driving than the take-off and landing on our flights. So much for cheering me on. Roundabouts where the creepiest and toughest parts I had to deal with, otherwise I think I'll manage.

I haven't seen anything weird while I was walking there...maybe the time I went was the reason *jokes* But I did get an unfriendly reaction. While in one of the shops, I wanted to pass to get to the pants that caught my attention but a lady was blocking my way. She saw I wanted to pass but didn't even bother to move. I softly asked her to "excuse me" to which I got a deadly stare in return. Mission accomplished but what the...?!

I drooled over the number of Mustangs I saw. They're gorgeous monsters!

I had Thareed Chicken? or is it Chicken Thareed? Anywho, I think I'm in love because that dish will have to be my favorite Omani dish so far! I luuuuuurved it. The bread oh the bread! *drools*

I start my day basically after Fajr prayer where after I finish praying and reading Qura'an I lie back in my bed and read Interview with the Vampire I for two to three hours. Definitely an exciting book and I'm pretty amazed by the detailed explanations:

"The lights were going out, first in the balcony, and then along the walls of the main floor. A knot of musicians had gathered in the pit below the stage, and at the foot of the long, green velvet curtain the gas flickered, then brightened, and the audience receded as if enveloped by a gray cloud through with only the diamonds sparkled, on wrists, on throats, on fingers. And a hush descended like that gray cloud until all the sound was collected in one echoing persistent cough. Then Silence. ...

Interview with the Vampire Vo. I - Anne Rice

I really liked this part.

I need a good visit to Borders because for the mean time books are my occupation. The rest of the day comes un-planned which is good enough for me.

I'm glad I'm finally home!

Hysteria...

2009-12-10T10:33:00.006+04:00

Looking at this shot just reminds me so much of myself and my current state. I think I've finally hit rock bottom today or maybe....this whole moving frenzy and work has finally got it's toll on me. I'm blogging about today because I want to remember it's "contents" for when I someday quit from blogging and read through my blog (I've missed it!). Another reason to why I want to blog about today is because it's apart of this whole moving from one country to another kind of process so it's like the step to a...new life.

Five days are left till our departure from NZ, back to Oman and basically, instead of us controlling time, it's controlling us! As freaky as this may sound but that's exactly what's happening.

A "normal" day for me, these days, is waking up around 9:30am, having breakfast, checking my email because there's bound to be a message or more from my client, then the rest of the day happens by itself. Basically it consists of running errands - a lot of them shockingly, packing/selling, some more errands, cleaning the room that my bro is moving to, and with a blink of an eye it's like 6pm-7pm at night where I'm fully destroyed and in the need of "me" time or relaxation time. But no. Actually that time is when I get to work on my clients website. Yeah I work. Sitting on my bed working on Photoshop and Dreamweaver breaking my back because I'm desk-less (lol). I do get to work on the site during the day but my day is usually hectic and my hours working on the site is not continuous so that's no good.

Today, the 10th of the 12th month of 2009 (sounds dramatic lol), mama and I woke up at 7am to finish packing the final two boxes left for shipment (by air). We had a total of four bags and seven boxes. We are moving to another country after all. Anyway, a really nice Scottish man with a HUMONGOUS truck picked up the eleven items and managed to get an interesting conversation with us about Palestine and the Jews -- that's what he called them, Jews because he says that Israel doesn't exist. He surprised me. Around 10am the good man was gone and our house was emptier. Mama and I sat on the empty floor to have breakfast; tummies were rumbling by then.

Somehow, the tiredness started to kick in. Not sleeping much + the amount of work we've been doing for the past month or two has made exhaustion and pain "come out". Despite this, we ended up going to my bros room and complete it's cleaning. Feeling what we felt, our smartness had decreased dramatically lol We reach the room and the following occurs:

Mama: "Aaaah! I forgot the keys to the room. I swear I was feeling like I've forgotten something but it wouldn't come to me."

G: *laughs like an idiot from tiredness*
"it's okay. Let's go back and get them."

*mama pulls out of the drive way and we head back home. On the way...*

G: "I feel like crying from all this. I'm happy and all but I'm so tired."

Mama: "Same here, haha. This whole moving thing has started taking a toll on us"

*takes a wrong turn that has no exit while still talking to me but does not realize it*

G: "Mama where are you going?"
*starts laughing*

Mama: *looks at me and starts laughing hysterically and uncontrollably while trying to reverse and turn the steering wheel which was a huge mission because of tiredness*

G: *laughs at mama for laughing the way she did and for not being able to turn the steering wheel*

We laughed for maybe a whole minute, turning tomato red and tearing up. It was the sort of laugh where "what's happening" is funny yet sad at the same time. I just thought we've gone crazy.

When we got the keys and went back to the room, again we had forgotten to get another important item. An adapter for the vacuum cleaner since it's from Oman and does not fit to the style of NZ sockets. So I drove, like a psycho, back home to get the adapter while mama began work on the room.

Windows (from outside and inside), a couch, the bed's mattress and the carpet were given a nice good clean. The place smelt good and looked clean. We're satisfied now.

We went back home, took nice long showers and had a cup of coffee while planning what needs to be done for the rest of the day. All plans went down the drain though because the two hour rest that we decided to give ourselves went longer than it should, so we decided to call it quits for the day and I decided to bring us kebab's from Salateen (a halal Moroccan restaurant -- I think it's Moroccan lol) since I don't want mama to cook. It was a good dinner. Quite beautiful actually. I'd have to say it was the highlight of the day because it was the whole family talking and letting out the "adventures" of the day.

After dinner, we crossed out yet another day of December.

[Movie] Paranormal Activity (2007)

2009-11-26T07:12:00.009+04:00

Plot:

After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban "starter" tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic, but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.
Oooook!

This movie was horrible! Yes, horrible. It's truly as scary as you've heard it would be. I just want to know, is this under the horror genre, because honestly if it was then it was the scariest horror movie I've ever seen. Well, it's probably the first horror movie that I actually thought was scary/horrible because most horror movies I've seen, to-date, are mostly gore with a lame or no story and I didn't find them scary but more like disgusting. So kudos to Paranormal Activity for actually being scary.

Anyways, back to the movie; like I was saying it was very scary, horrible scary, thrill scary. A "scary" that you don't usually enjoy (I did not just say that lol since when anyone enjoys scary?). There came a certain point in the movie where I was going to close my laptops screen or even just throw the laptop out of the window because I was alone and started getting really freaked out. Weird enough I was glued to the screen because I want to see.... . I had to keep watching. My eyes where all over the place because I didn't want to miss anything. Then once you notice something different or out of place you start freaking out because you know something is going to happen. Worst thing for me about this movie is not being able to see much because it was dark and all I relied on was the time at the bottom-left corner of the screen and the sound.

The way this movie was filmed was awesome (my opinion of course). It's one of those movies where just "raw" footage was used just like in Cloverfield and Quarantine. You know how people send their funny video to "America's Funniest Home Videos"? (example) Like that. A family video. It made everything seem like it was...real. I started freaking out actually because I thought this was a true story until the end where I read it wasn't.

Now the actors/acting. I'm kind of in the middle with them. A part of me is thinking the acting was lame and not done so well, while at the same time I thought this is what gave the viewers the feel that it's "real"; like they're not reading of a script or anything of this sort but more like they're the ones making this movie. It was natural.

The ending was a disappointment for me. Endings are so important because it's like the slap to the face or something. Endings are usually the one that you excess talk about because they were THAT great. It was average. I was expecting a worse horrible scare.

I watched this movie alone which is actually a mistake because the night I watched it I couldn't sleep at all. Surprise surprise, I know it takes me time to sleep but the movie just made me worse and I was still freaked out from it. My heart even hurt from all the "holding breath in" and the scares, so on, so on.

I'm planning to watch this again with my friends but I'm still not over watching it the first time lol It was horrible and it truly messes you up big time.

8/10

No way, José!

2009-11-18T10:28:00.016+04:00

:: I can officially and finally say I'm done with my Bachelors. My marks for my four papers came out last Friday, and hamdulAllah (Thanks to God) I have passed with good grades and managed to do well in a paper that I was worried about. I carry a Bachelors Degree in Computing and Mathematical Sciences (BCMs) now. How cool is that?! Looking back at the days, I remember when people came to ask me what I'm studying and I'd say the full name of my degree. It was a mouthful lol but yay, I'm done!

:: I've started work on my clients third website and I'm enjoying it since I've missed designing and coding websites. Here's a sneak peak.

It's still under construction. First thing I need to do is re-size those icons on the top-right corner; they're too big. Check out that name at the bottom =P

:: I hate goodbyes.

:: G is officially a Full License holder baby-eh YEAH! I had my 1 hour long test yesterday, and I have to say it was nerve wrecking and quite hard. To be honest, I was beyond shocked that I passed because I almost killed us. When that huge mistake occurred, I gave up all hope. I was told to take us (instructor and I) back to the station and that's when I was telling my self while driving all the way back that I failed. "Oh my gorsh! I have to take the tests in Oman. How the heck will I ever pass?!" and all those negatives thoughts just rushed through. What they usually do is they tell you if you passed/failed when you've parked the car at the station. So I parked the car, in a retarded way, and waited for the bad news.

Instructor: Well...*pause*....you passed, BUT! ...
G: I PASSED?! *surprise in my voice*
Instructor:...you need to be careful with your speed (yeah I was speeding) and intersections. Other than that, you did well.

I went into a fit of thank you's, then the instructor went for smoke. I guess I stressed him out lol

:: the countdown to going back to Oman (for good) has started since Monday. Twenty Seven days to go. Day by day I get more excited yet impatient because I just want to get there. Stress is in the air since we're trying to sort out everything quickly so we can be on the safe side. Though at the same time, we're trying to enjoy as much of the days we've got left here in NZ; especially the driving in my case.

Black Coats

This was taken in Rotorua last Saturday.

:: besides all this busy-ness with work, traveling within NZ and packing, I manage to get some of the things I consider fun for me. I've said this before I guess but my freakish-ness for movies has returned so I try to get down a movie a day.

The new set:

The Women (drama)
The Love Guru (comedy)
The Man Who Cried (drama)
The Haunted Mansion (family)
Gone Baby Gone (drama)

Surprising isn't it? Not a single thriller. I guess I've been abusing them lately or maybe not many have caught my attention at the video store, hence the "light" choices. I think I will write movie reviews, for every movie I watch, from now on so that this place stays alive. One is on "hold" at the moment.

Also, I've been playing one of the scariest games out there. Yes! It is. Fatal Frame III The Tormented (aka Project Zero 3) is the game. I'm more than half-way through, so I'm hoping that I finish it before I leave. I didn't go through any dramatic screaming fits like how you'd find on youchube (example below). I'm usually silent except for the few "Oh my God" (s) and "eeeeeeh" that escape me without knowing. There were a few days (maybe a week) where I had hardcore paranoia...at night. Yeah! The game had it's effects especially on my sleeping because I kept thinking that a dark figure is going to pass by my door while I'm in bed, so I had to keep myself awake, checking the door every 5 seconds just in case. Yes! I sound like a baby and I know it's just a game, but I have to say it is one of the scariest games I've ever played. I'm over it now, I sleep fine lol and I WILL FINISH IT! I have to. I came all this way and went through all that to give up in the end? No way, José!

Warning: excess swearing (they're a bunch of guys, so go figure).
I played this part and it was horrible.

:: Summer; what I don't like about summer is Sushi. Yes! Shocking as it may sound coming from yours truly, but Sushi just looses it during summer.

:: I'm addicted to m&m's O.O

[Band] Outlandish

2009-11-08T01:49:00.020+04:00

Note: this post is dedicated to Nadia (aka Dofari Gucci) but it's open to everyone as well! *innocent*

Who are these guys?

Outlandish are a multi-award winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, they consist of Isam Bachiri (born in Denmark and of Moroccan background), Waqas Ali Qadri (born in Denmark and of Pakistani background), and Lenny Martinez (born in Honduras and is of Cuban and Honduran descent). All three members are devoutly religious, Isam and Waqas being Muslims, and Lenny being Catholic. The band members live in Brøndby Strand.

Outlandish's hip-hop/R&B/soul music sound takes influences from their various backgrounds (Moroccan/Arab/Amazigh, Pakistani/Punjabi and Latin American), and although their songs are primarily in English, they usually feature lyrics in Spanish, Urdu/Punjabi, Danish, and Arabic. All these influences make the music of Outlandish somewhat unique and this is easy to notice from the variety of genres covered in their albums. Outlandish often include themes about Islam and contemporary issues facing young Muslims in the west in their music, and sometimes their songs define a unique nasheed-like urban genre.

Read more at Outlandish's Wikipedia Page

Well I just want to blog about how fantastic these guys are and post some of my favorites and probably the best songs by Outlandish. I definitely consider them on my top favorite bands (out of all the American rocks bands list -__-") because honestly they're just fantastic and definitely do you proud for 1. who they are 2. their fantastic songs and 3. for the many strong messages they send out to the world and the youth of today. Kudos!

They've released 4 albums:

Sadly, I only managed to get my hands on two albums, Closer Than Veins and Sound of a Rebel, and some of the well known songs, which became favorites, from Bread & Barrels of Water. If I have to say which album is my favorite so far then I'd definitely point at Closer Than Veins. That album is fantastic and I loved every single song!

Anyways, enough with the mushy talk and let me share some of their awesome songs.

Outlandish - Aicha

If you know this song then you're most probably singing along with it lol Beautiful!

Outlandish - Walou

Okay! This has to be my favorite from Bread & Barrels of Water.
A strong song with powerful lyrics, beautiful guitar work and a perfect video.

Outlandish - Guantanamo

A more upbeat song. About familia! *heart*

Outlandish - Look Into My Eyes

This song was originally a poem written by Gihad Ali (a Palestinian girl) which voiced out in the clearest way the distances between Palestinian experience and American experience. Another video was produced for this song that I like more.
A link to the Poem.

Outlandish - Callin' You

Aaah...I honestly just LOVE this song! ♥
Beautiful, beautiful! Better than any song that sings about women as if they're only pieces of meat. This is respect right here! Official Video
Taken from the Arabic song "Tamally Maak" by Egyptian ~~superstar~~ singer Amr Diab.

Outlandish - Always Remember

This beautiful song is the Callin' You of Closer than Veins album ♥

Outlandish - Feels Like Saving the World

Another upbeat song! Love it!
I didn't post the official video because they don't include Lenny's part in it (which is the nicest part lol). Link to Official Video
Just discovered that there is a Remix version by Svenstrup & Vendelboe of this song.

Fantastic band! If you don't know them or heard any of their songs, you're kinda missing out lol.

Oh and no one will ever find me listening to hip-hop/R&B/Rap but seriously these guys are a gigantic exception. Their songs have meaning I have to say.

The Official Outlandish Site ~~ Outlandish on MySpace Music

Tell us your favorite(s) =D

[What's This?] Who decides this stuff?

2009-11-05T14:59:00.009+04:00

So I would like to know who decides that a certain movie is good, funny, scary and so on. No really! You find these little quotations on the back or front of a DVD cover along the lines of:

"Scary as Hell" Dustin Putman, themovieboy.com
"Mind Blowing" Philadelphia Weekly

you get the idea. Okay, they do state who said these but seriously, seriously how reliable are these sources? Some of these quotations are just a bit too much for a certain movies sometimes. Like you expect for a movie to be really scary but instead it turns out to be just pure gore and if you're lucky you get one tiny horrific, scary scene. Where's the "scariness" they're talking about? Or take a comedy. They say that it's so funny that you will fall of your chair (something like that lol) and surprise surprise you crack a laugh once or twice and that's it. I didn't fall of my chair! Where's the part that's going to make me fall of my chair!!?

I think they add these , just to boost the movie and get people to watch but how would you feel when you read something like that or you're the type of person that relies on these quotations and after you watch the movie you're probably disappointed by it? I mean come on, let's be honest here and admit that these little quotations are actually doing their jobs to a certain extent. I mean how many movies, that I've picked out, mislead me to thinking that the movie is going to be "something" or or (second 'or' intended) I've watched the movie first then I read the quotations on the covers to see how they exaggerated about it when the movie was just...average.

Okay okay! I know "to each his own...something something" but we're allowed to disagree and have our own opinions at the same time right? I mean aaargh! they can be quite frustrating. I think it's best to either rely on yourself or get some feedback from someone's taste in movies (especially if that person is interested in the same genres as you) you trust OR (!) the quotations should come from a "reliable source" (for example, I'M a reliable source! *Kidding*). Yes! Some of these quotations can be accurate and spot on but others, honestly, whaaaaa!?

P.S. This post might seem useless, will make you think "who cares!" and does not make sense. Well, it's 12:40am NZ time, I can't sleep, and I'm feeling drowsy but this topic came up while chatting to a friend the other day so I thought about it and decided to let it out here lol Also, I'm a movies freak so that's why I would care plus, I've seen many disappointing movies whether I read the quotations before or after watching the movie.

G'Night from Kiwi land!

Lazy Updater

2009-11-02T06:28:00.014+04:00

I've been wanting to update this place since forever (I've got a couple of things in mind). I even clicked on the "new post" button a couple of times and I type one line but end up ditching it. Anywho, I've finally pushed myself to update! Talk about being a big lazy lol

:: I can say that I'm officially done with University....FOREVER (inshAllah!) but I do have my final year project report to complete which is not a biggie' because it's almost done. In the end, I can't believe I'm fully finished with uni. Four years just gone like that *snaps fingers* It went really fast and I have to say it's going to be weird not going to uni everyday, sitting in the lab where I find my mates and kind of get stuck there for the rest of the day working on assignments. Epic days! The labs were my second home. I'm going to miss these days and the people that were a part of them...and I'm also going to miss Bongo (best Sushi shop in the whole of Hamilton FYI) *tearing*

Last Sushi lunch for Sarz (she's leaving for Oman tomorrow): taken today.

:: I'm back to being a movie-holic/freak which I'm happy about, because this semester was very tough so I had lost this freakishness about movies. On Saturday is when I finally got the chance to rent some movies;

~~Fight Club (Action)~~
~~Super Bad (Comedy)~~
~~The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Horror)~~
~~Definitely Maybe (Drama/Romance)~~
~~The Lookout (Thriller)~~
~~City Hall (Thriller)~~
Australia (Drama/Romance/War)

I'd be happy to take any suggestions, since I'm running out of movies to watch.
I have a feeling "City Hall" might get a nice review from me...so will see how that goes.

:: I should be getting back to my Web Design/Development job soon (after I hand in the final copy of my report) which I can't wait for because I really miss it. *Nerd alert* Honestly though, I really did miss it. One more website left to create for my client and I'll be done. Hopefully I'll be finished before we head back to Oman.

:: So we booked tickets for Oman on the 16th of December. I honestly can't wait to get back! Our stuff is getting sold and our house is getting emptier slowly *Yay*

:: Sarz suggested that I take on the 365 Project, where you take a picture of something that explains your day in one line "story". It sounds interesting and fun, plus I've gotten into photography lately so it's bound to give me good practice. I haven't decided when I'll start. I guess I'm just waiting for the "right picture" lol

:: Lastly, I've discovered that most of the videos I favorite on Youchube (intended) are acoustic (I love this word) covers of some of my favorite songs. Just the other day, I found a fantastic cover of Outlandish's beautiful song "Aicha" done by some Indonesian guys. One is playing the guitar and another is playing the beautiful Oud. So one can just imagine how amazing (IMO) it would sound. I LOVED IT! It's completely instrumental. What's awesomer is you can totally make out the tune. Perfect-o!

Listen to that Oud ♥

Watching this video made me want to learn the song (I think I tried before but it was hard) on my guitar and learn to play the Oud also! *crosses hands*

[Movie] Se7en (1995)

2009-10-22T09:06:00.017+04:00

Plot:

Lt. William Somerset, a burnt-out veteran cop, is on the brink of retirement. Forced to train his ambitious and eager replacement, Somerset is teamed with Detective David Mills on an investigation that draws these disparate cops deeper and deeper into the twisted world of a cunning and meticulous criminal. He is methodical, exacting and grotesquely creative. He is known as John Doe and he is the most vicious serial killer alive, fashioning murders based on the seven deadly sins. As each new victim is discovered, the detectives must combine their collective experiences to track the trail of a killer bent on seeking attrition for society's sins.

Man oh man! When I get excited about something, or say am strongly amazed by or love then I get into fits of "SICK! This is SICK!". I don't mean it in a bad way, but more like to explain what I feel about the movie. I need a powerful word.

So yeah, this is one sick, sick...sick (!) movie. I don't know where to begin really, because there's so much I want to say but they're all clashing in my head. Let me start by saying, I truly loved this movie. It has definitely become my favorite movie of all time. I have to say that I enjoyed every second of it, from start to end. My eyes glued to the laptop's screen, my heart beating 300 (trying to be reasonable here) beats a minute and my brain working at 10 (trying to be reasonable here again =P) thoughts per minute. Well to be honest, that's exactly what I love about these sorts of movies.

Definitely expect disturbing/violent, maybe gory scenes but, there's a story behind it all. It's not just the typical one bad guy killing every single person in sight, blood splatter here and there, a shock now and then and done; that's the end of the movie....no, there's a story behind this one which makes those scene's bearable and somewhat...interesting.

Being the "thinker" I am (refer to previous post) this movie just took so much energy out me that I didn't even want to drink or eat anything because I just wanted to focus on every aspect of the movie, scene, message and words. I wanted to solve the mystery, I wanted to guess what would happen next or who's gonna go to the chopping block. There was one point of the movie, where I guess correctly who's going to be one of the victims but as the movie came to a near end I started changing my mind and thought someone else is the victim. It turned out I was right the first time round but my point here is, the movie really plays with your head.

It was pretty intense because of the atmosphere and the whole idea of murdering people according to the seven deadly sins. But, *shakes head with amazement* it was very interesting and the feelings you feel, it's not fear or disgust but more like a...thrill. The movie for me, basically picked up when the action started, because right after that everything started coming together.

The actors.

Morgan Freeman's character I didn't like at all. Too cold for my liking and a personality that said "I'm the best". His job, in my opinion, turned into more like a satisfactory thing rather than being the good detective, saving people and it's my job kind of thing. I have to admit he became nicer later on but I wouldn't say he was a favorite. If you've seen this movie, you might disagree with me, but this is my personal opinion *grins*.

Brad Pitt's character was the nice, good, funny, smart and dumb but has a lot of wrath kind of character. I couldn't take him seriously at some certain parts of the movie even though he's being serious. I just laughed every time he opened his mouth. He laughs at his own jokes and when he includes a swear word at the end of his sentence...hahaha *remembers a scene* He was definitely the top in this movie. An astounding (first time I use this word) and unforgettable performance I have to say. He "shined" in the ending scene!

The bad guy, John Doe is how I will refer to him here instead of his real name because that alone is a surprise that I don't want to spoil, for me, beats Brad Pitt's performance by just a bit. When he first fully appeared on the screen, and the way he appeared was amazing for your information, I asked my self "wait, I know this person, looks familiar. Naaawh it can't be him. What did they do to his hair?". I was more assured by who it was from the credits (!!). He's one of my favorite actors. What disturbed me the most about him is his face. He had no expressions whatsoever. It was just one look the whole time; a look of utter carelessness, smartness and satisfaction. He cracked a smile at one point but nothing to get excited over *laughs* I could keep talking about him but then I'll just have to spill the beans.

The worst sin for me will have to be gluttony (always have been ever since I watched Full Metal Alchemist *anime*) and after watching this movie, lust comes in second place.

Best scene, for me, would have to be the final scene. It was beautiful (the place) first of all and that's where your thoughts go crazy because anything could happen at the moment; that's all I will say. Oh, and when the end is reached and the scene fades out, just before the credits start rolling, you see:

##### ###### John Doe

the name of the actor that played the role of John Doe, then the credits roll. Honestly that part alone, black screen and letters in white, was fantastic for me. I just loved it! Argh, I don't know how to explain it...I just love it *laughs*

Lastly, David Fincher directed this movie so go figure. Kudos!

A must see!
A movie you'll never forget.

10/10

[What's This?] "Analyzer "

2009-10-18T03:56:00.015+04:00

I will always and forever be an "analyzer" (or a thinker) unless some kind of miracle happens where a lightening bolt strikes me and stops me from this madness.

Thursday night, I had quite a long chat with a good friend of mine which kind of went into the late night hours (11:00-11:30pm) and since my friend knows the kind of person I am, I was told to head to bed early since I "need", at least, one hour and a-half to analyze and think about "whatever I think about". I immediately defended myself by saying that that is not true.

It was true...

One may ask, what in the world would G think about? Well, that night I ended up thinking about my last assignment for my COMP437 paper - which is having to write a wiki article on "Feedback Relevance" and designing an interface to complement the article. I just kept getting ideas and sentences of how and what to start my wiki article with. After a while, I realized that my friend was right about me. Here I am, lying in bed, 12:30am and thinking about what to write for my assignment. O......kay! At that point I got angry and finally admitted that this is a problem because I could've used the one hour or so of thinking, by sleeping! Hence, came thinking part 2. I started thinking that I'm going to blog about this particular..."thing" and include it in the category "What's This?". I also started thinking how should I start it, what to write and so on, which all basically took about half an hour. Oh! I also thought if I should include a picture with this post and what should it be. Am I crazy? Yes, I think I am.

I stopped myself from all this madness and decided to get a drink of water. When I got back in bed, I finally fell asleep. So, I guess I should've done this earlier if it was going to make me sleep.

Next morning, I lost all my train of thoughts, all my ideas for my assignment and "this blog post" (which is about three days late by the way) and everything just turned out differently than what I thought about. What I thought about seemed cooler (!) but it's all forgotten now due to my incredible power of remembering things.

Word of the day: "think"

Are you a ?

P.S. If you're wondering why I used that picture, well, that's L from an anime called Death Note (best anime out there) and he is a major thinker! It's part of his job though.

Assassin's Creed Machinima

2009-10-15T04:07:00.007+04:00

So it's finally done! *laaaah holy music*
It took quite a lot of work but I managed to do it.
I hope the lecturer doesn't ask me to add or change something about it because that would be troublesome lol

Used a couple of programs to get it done.

- World of Warcraft Model Viewer (to get the characters)
- World of Warcraft Map Viewer (to get the world)
- Fraps (for recording the actions)
- CineGobs (for editing)
- Windows Movie Maker (for putting it all together)

This is a final project worth 45% of the final mark for my Game Studies paper...dun dun dun duuuuuun. So Yeah! It's pretty huge.

It's not as smooth as I would've liked it to be but I'm happy with it!

The credits is the best part for me lol
=====================

It's officially the last week of uni, tomorrow being the last day.
I'm pretty amazed by how fast this year has gone, actually, more like gobsmacked. I guess this is good in a way but at the same time you feel like you're running out of time or something. I can't really say that I completely finish tomorrow because I have some huge projects due in the next to weeks. So one can say, my "last day" of uni is on the 30th of October. That's good enough for me because I won't feel so under pressure and for once, I don't have exams/assignments due during my birthday! I can't wait to start watching movies again *cries*, I miss that A LOT!

[Music] The Sound of Reason - Palestine

2009-10-13T13:10:00.003+04:00

Let the video and song speak everything...

Long live Palestine!

[Music] Outlandish - Always Remember

2009-10-11T22:28:00.007+04:00

Weh! Haven't posted one of these song "reviews" in a while, so here's one.

Have always been a fan of Outlandish. These guys are fantastic! I only found out yesterday that they've released a fourth album, Sound of A Rebel, around May this year (Yeah, I know! So much for being a big fan). I'm this late because NZ doesn't know anything about these guys...sadly. So I had to do the searching myself. But anyways, I've listened to the first five songs of the album, and I have to say they've changed quite a bit compared to their previous work. The reason to why I haven't listened to the rest of the album is because I kinda got the "on repeat" craze for one of their songs. Yup! Always Remember. One could say it's the Callin' You of Outland's Closer Than Veins album. I just love this track. It's absolutely beautiful, vocally and lyrically.

So if you haven't heard it yet, here it is!

I think it's the lyrics that go to me =P

Edit: Feels Like Saving The World is another fantastic song from their new album!

An Open, Wide, Grass Field

2009-10-04T05:08:00.009+04:00

You know how sometimes you just feel like running in an open, wide, grass field? I want to do this at the moment. Like run and run and run till I get the biggest stitch that anyone could ever get and have a breathing attack. Also, I don't want to run in a wide circle, I want the field to be infinite so that I can just run forwards till I get sick of running. This would do good...exclude the stitch and breathing attack though.

Well, apparently, my final year of university is coming to end and one can only imagine how hectic these last few months have been...from every single aspect. I think this weekend was the first time I get this shiver within me just from realizing and remembering the amount of work I have to do between now and the 23rd of October. It didn't feel nice to be honest, but hey! I guess this is what University is all about...I mean getting all worked up and working your brain off by getting everything done and in time.

Here's what I've got going:

~~SMST319 [Game Studies] 20% Test - 5th October~~
~~COMP436 [Advanced Graphics and Computer Games] Project Topic Presentation - 6th October~~
~~SMST319 [Games Studies] 45% Final Project - 12th October~~
COMP437 [Information Retrieval] 20% Assignment 4 - 21st October
COMP436 [Advance Graphics and Computer Games] 20% Project Implementation + Report - 23rd October
COMP477 [Report of an Investigation] 100% Project Implementation + Report - 23rd October

Bloody... Crazy stuff right there, eh! They're all huge and go towards the final mark so inshallah 5air! I can't wait till it's over, where I can get back to my job that's been on halt this whole semester due to the study work load plus selling our things and the packing for Oman to start. Yay!

I should head to bed.
I've decided, for the next few weeks, to wake up early and do something useful towards my studies; get some work done basically. That's if I can get myself out of bad that early in the morn'.

G'Night

Friend

2009-10-03T03:37:00.007+04:00

Friends are beautiful.
I don't mean physically but in a general way...friends are beautiful. You can always count on a friend, or friends, to make your day. Honestly, it takes many things to get you down, to ruin your mood or your day, list goes on, and yet you have this friend that just lifts you up and make you forget about every single negative thing that came your way. They cheer you up and make you laugh, and when you give them a hug (depending on who it is -- to guys it's a No No) as a thank you gesture, they start to wince and claim that they got your coodies (yeah I know it's cooties but I've always said coodies), which makes you laugh even more.

Special bonds are made just like that, a snap of finger, especially when you feel you've chosen the right friend and you've thought carefully who is your right, true friend. I'm not saying every friend you come across is perfect and the friendship lasts forever. No. Surely, in every friendship there are the ups and downs, some to the point that strong friendships are forever broken, but that's what makes a friendship perfect anyway...these ups and downs I mean. Specifically the downs, they test the strength of the friendship. It tests whether if either side is worthy or deserving to return to. Am I right or am I right? *pokes tongue out*

Your friend is special to you. You need to appreciate them and never forget them. Believe you me, you can't forget about them because your so used to them being in your life every day that if there comes a day where you don't see them or spoken to them in some way you'd feel there's something wrong in the whole picture...there's something missing. This just shows how special and important they are to you...to me.

N.B. There are many more aspects of what a friend is, but I'm just sticking with the obvious ones.

But here's the thing; Treat people the way you want to be treated. Right? So what does this tell you? Since this is how you feel about your friend (all the things I explained) and that's how special they are to you, then guess what! Surely, that's how they feel about you too. YOU'RE a special and important friend to your friend(s). You're the one that's missed when a day goes by with your friend who feels there's something missing in their day. Right? I hope so.

So this post, is just dedicated to friends.
Don't forget that you're a friend too =)

Love goes out to all of my friends.

P.S. Friend can refer to a number of friends, not just one.

[What's This?] Your Own Advice

2009-09-26T03:45:00.006+04:00

Have you ever found your self in a situation where you can give good advice and boost up the person you're advising, yet you don't apply this advice on yourself? I will not deny this but I'm constantly in such situations and I only realize it when I'm in a stressed out mood. It's a good thing to give advice to people, especially if they were friends. It makes you feel good that you cheered up someone or you gave them a little push to get them on their way. Then after a few days or so, they come to tell you "I did what you advised me, and I'm so happy everything is going well...". It's a nice feeling isn't it? ^^

I've been told a couple of times that I'm good at advising people yet I'm the worst at advising myself or following my own advice. This sentence might've sounded weird to you. I mean, you might ask yourself "What the hell, you already know the advice so just take it?", but it actually doesn't work that way. There's a bit more to it. I have to agree with this sentence; I also doubt I'm the only one agreeing and surly there's absolutely nothing wrong with it because after all we're only human.

I've discovered that most of the times it's best to hear advice from others even though you know it already. It's just different when it's coming from someone, especially if they were close. The best thing is when they feel that there's something with you even though you're doing your best to hide it. It's nice. Plus, feeling good afterward comes with the package so there's nothing negative about that. One may say, "No, I don't need advice, people don't need to know what I'm feeling/thinking. I'm not that type of person. I'm strong...", surprise surprise you may find yourself, one day, in need of a person with the right advice that will lift you up and change this idea that's in your head.

There you go!

[What's This?] Just a recap

2009-09-26T03:13:00.005+04:00

Note: I've changed the name of these posts at least three times. First they used to be "I hate #" where I got the comments hate is a strong word. Okay! So I changed it to "Segment #"...and I thought that was just to dull so I finally changed it to a categorical title "[What's This?]" and I'm planning to stick with it :D

What's "[What's This?]" about?
I quote what I wrote in my first post for this category:

So I'm starting this new, let's call it..."segment" =P where I state something that I hate. May it be daily life stuff, food, games, actions, clothes, whatever. I can start a segment where I state the "something I like"...but there are too many good things in this life (right?) so it's just those few things that may annoy/anger/tick/etc you that DO stand out.

So here it goes.

Examples of some previous topics I've blogged about that you can check out if you're interested:

* [What's This?] Don't Do This!
* [What's This?] Gangsta Wannabes
* [What's This?] Patience Test -- This is a really long post but surly you will enjoy reading it =P
* [What's This?] A Salam and A Smile
* [What's This?] You're life must be boring

I've got two pending [What's This?] topics one of which is being written at the moment. So yeah!

Stay tuned.

Is it Eid yet?

2009-09-19T16:18:00.005+04:00

So here's what happened. I started receiving txts after ftoor saying that "The moon has been sighted, so tomorrow is Eid. Eid Mubarak everyone!", so on and so on. I was so out of this world with this news because I didn't want Eid to be on Monday, since I've got 3 hours of lectures plus a 30% assignment due on that day. So I can imagine that the day would be finished by the time I can do anything for Eid.

After the "Wohoo's" and "In your face, tomorrow's Eid" and "Eid Mubarak", I receive a txt from friends saying to go over to their house to put henna. I love henna and the two Eid's is about the only time where I get to put it. As I was getting henna-ed I was FWD-ing and receiving txt messages from friends, when I read the mother of all let downs; "Eid is not tomorrow it's on Monday". "The moon is actually not sighted, so tomorrow is the 30th of Ramadan, Sorry for the false news". And some crazy person actually sent "April fools tz nt eid 2mrw! Tz on Monday. Sory!", who got an angry reply from yours truly of "You Suck!". Pretty sad isn't it, what they did to us I mean. Like the excitement when you get the news that it's Eid has gone to waste. Now if someone told me, "EID IS TOMORROW", the reply will be "Yeah old news. Already know that since Saturday". The feeling is just gone.

Ah well. It was by accident I guess. Another day of the holy month to go so we should totally use this day wisely. I just feel sorry for the friends that I txt'd with the news, who txt'd their friends who txt'd their friend's friends and so on. Small country, so word get's around pretty quickly.

Anywho, since I'm flooded with uni (4 weeks till the semester finishes *eyes pop out*) work at the moment plus Eid is just around the corner, I feel that I won't be able to blog much until I get some of the things out of the way. So I'd like to wish you all, in advance, my wonderful readers, if you guys are still reading me -- I'm sorry for not updating much, EID MUBARAK! Kel 3am Wa Ento Be Alf 5air! May God accept our fasting and bless us and our families, Ameen. I also wish you all a wonderful Eid with many sweets and money-eh! =D

P.S. I've got a couple of things that'd I'd like to blog about, and I think I will write them down somewhere just so I don't forget them. Stay tuned.

G'Night

Mama says: Is everybody here?!!

2009-09-07T13:42:00.010+04:00

So back to uni and 2 weeks of the holy month, Ramadan, have already passed. It was nice to have a 2 week break which crossed with the start of Ramadan so we'd only have to fast 2 weeks while at uni. Not complaining.

I haven't updated in quite a while which is odd I guess...but seriously, for once I have nothing to talk about or something that I would share on here anyways =P

For the past 2 weeks, I just sunk myself into my duties as a Muslima, gaming (yeah! I got into gaming), so many Iftaar gatherings...*off topic: just noticed a scratch on my arm O.O*...and trying to get as much sleep as possible -- which was impossible (sadly) because my sleep is just seriously messed up.

Anywho, on a lighter note, as I was putting on my shoes this morning, to go to uni, I spotted a bunch of baby ducks and their mother walking from behind my brothers car. I was so happy to see such a cute "scene" that early (11am...lol) in the morning. Made my day really. I've assumed that they were in our back garden eating left over rice and bread from last nights Iftaar, because they were coming from that direction. Of course, I carry my camera everywhere I go now, so I immediately took out the camera and started shooting. I tried to get as close as possible but that only scared them and made them walk faster. Aaaw, I just wanted to grab one of those baby duckies and hug it.

I feel in this shot the mother is saying: "Is everybody here?"

I think they were heading to uni because they were going in the same direction as I was. Well, the closest lake is at uni anyways. Safest place for them so hope they made it there safely.

Taqabal Allah 9iyamakum!

G'Night

Ramadan is upon us!

2009-08-21T15:01:00.008+04:00

First of all I'd like to say Ramadan Mubarak dear readers! I wish you all a blessed month for you and your families...for all of us. May Allah accept our fasting ya rab!

It's almost going to be a whole year since my first post in this blog. Can't believe it. A whole year (on 9/9/09)!! Looking back at those days, so many things have changed. I'm looking forward to Ramadan. Actually, I'm always looking forward to it. Even though I'm in NZ and there's a different feel to it in the Arab/Muslim countries, it still feels like something else. Not like any other day. I just love it!

A mini update on me:

Well what can I say, it's been a pretty hectic B-semester for me with lots of weird, crazy, stressful and pressuring things happening. On top of all of this, I had gotten really sick with a flu, recently. Yes! I totally suspected that swine flu has finally gotten to me, but el 7amdulellah it turned out to be just the usual winter flu.

All of these things happened but I'm just thankful that I had wonderful, amazing friends by my side supporting and pushing me to do what I can. You guys well know who you are (some will not be reading this because they don't know about my blog xD) so just know I'm thankful for you guys! <3 Also, love goes out to my Mama!

So a two week "holiday" has started here, today was the last day, and I'm pretty glad that we'd only have to fast two weeks during uni. The reason why I used quotations marks in holiday is because, well, you can't say it's a holiday really. I mean, I've got 3 assignments to hand in next week so I'll be going into uni to do some work plus I have my full semester project. Crazy right! A lot to do...which is good because I'd like to be busy rather than not.

Lately I've been interested in Horror Games O.O Yeah! I know...where did that come from? Actually it came from my Game Studies course that I'm taking this semester. The main focus is on horror games, and for our first assignment we have to play a game and analyze it by writing a 2000-2500 word essay. I've been playing Resident Evil 4...and I LOVE IT!

Anyways, this is it from me. I should go sleep, since tonight we will have so7or inshallah (3 hours and a half to go....I'm so going to be cranky xD).

Ramadan Mubarak all!
G'Night

Suheir Hammad - Def Poetry

2009-08-14T10:28:00.003+04:00

Okay! So I had to share this because this video is one of those videos that just moves you powerfully. This young women is amazing and her words are just...*cannot think of a powerful word to describe the words*

Honestly, I'm amazed and happy by this. No matter how many times I watch it I still get fascinated and moved by it like it's the first time I watch this video.

A must see!

Thanx to Sarz for sharing this with me! <3

[Travel] My Kamboo3a is bigger than yours

2009-08-08T10:41:00.005+04:00

Thursday 16th July
Location - Al Khod, Oman
Time - 12:00pm

Aaargh! I'm in such a depressive mood right now. I really miss my cousins and every single one of my relatives. It sucks living so far away like this *angry*.

I also miss Jordan...I actually really do. It was so much fun! Not bad for a country that I had so much negative thoughts about. As for Oman...well Oman is so friggin' HOT!...and quite boring =P I don't want to be here lol. I really can't believe how air conditioners are crucial...objects in this country. I don't know how people without an AC are fighting this oven lol.

We're here for just 2 days so we only went to City Center, since it's near also. I checked out a few shops and bought a few things but honestly I was a walking zombie. I didn't feel like being there. But here's the thing...everything has changed...negatively and positively. There were some...humans that were out of place if I can say also lol.

The guys. You've got the ones with the dishdasha, which I find very handsome...them wearing the dishdasha not the guys...don't get me wrong here xD, then there are those with jeans and a shirt or a nice Qamee9. Modern, stylish and most importantly reasonable. Then! You see you're 'Gangsta Wannabes' or even worse...'The triplets' as I like to call them.

'The Triplets' consists of three guys who wear the same shoe, pants, shirt, hair-cut, hair-do, and hair-band. The hair-cut is usally of neck length. The hair-do is blow dried and curved at the tips. The hair-band is used to pull the hair back from the front.

..................

What the?! What's this "new" trend xD? Yes! Believe it or not it's a trend since I didn't just see one 'The Triplets' but more than one. I was shocked to be honest. What's fascinating though is their height. They're all the same height as well! =O I already find it weird when girls do this even though it's alright and a commen thing but to see guys doing this and with that hair-do, is just the cherry on top really!

So I finally saw the real Kamboo3a, scarf...thingy that girls wear. I got warned about this; by Omani girls. Some even said that I will laugh when I see how ridiculously high those things can get, but I actually freaked out. Seriously! I was shocked.

I was waiting to get into a dressing room to try on something when this girl came out of one of the dressing rooms....O.O This was my first Kamboo3a sighting. I think she blew dried her hair because her fringe was perfectly made in a way that it sat 7cm above her head. Then there was something higher, behind the fringe, that's covered by a black scarf. I think it was 15cm high *eyes pop out* Her head was so huge, vertically and horizontally! It looked really heavy also =\ On top of all of this about one kilogram of makeup plus blue contact lenses. Why all of this?

I found out that girls with high kamboo3a's compete with other girls to see who's kamboo3a is higher. The following conversation occurred behind me where some girls were standing very close:

Girl 1: "Why are you looking at her?"
Girl 2: "Oh! I'm not looking at her face, I just want to see if her kamboo3a is higher than mine. It's not."
Girl 1: "Aah ok."

So both of these girls saw a girl walking by (her abaya and kamboo3a caught their attention) and apparently girl 2 looked too much at the walking by girl and hence the conversation.

Well people, I'm very much shocked. I saw some reasonably sized Kamboo3a's (man I hate this word now xD am I even saying it right?) which didn't go over the head but behind it and I thought those looked really nice. But the over sized ones are just...eye popping.

Anywho, our flight back to NZ is sometime at or after Fajr...not sure. But all I know is we have to be at the Airport by 3am. So no sleep for us. I'm just waiting to have lunch (even though I don't feel like it but I'm being forced to eat since I haven't been eating much lately) then I'm off to get some sleep.

That's the end of it, sadly.

[Travel] Emo's vs. Pink Muscles

2009-08-05T14:01:00.003+04:00

Monday 13th July
Time - 10:00am
Location: Arajan, Jordan

So we managed to get time, as a family, to go and do something together. We went to a place called Share3 Al Wekalat which is a long street where you have these more modern shops/restaurants on your left and right. It was not bad. Quite nice actually!

I managed to buy 3 shoes from this shop *forgot its name*, so was pretty happy about that. I definitely got disturbed in that shoe shop though because for one thing I know there are men who grow their pinky nail, to pick...stuff. But to grow the nail of the thumb is a first time. It was absolutely long and perfectly shaped O.o I wanted to break it! Ergh! *shivers* Okay! It's not like I approve of growing the pinky nail but the thumb?! Seriously?

After paying we went out and continued our walk to see many more...unexpected types of people.

You've got your Emo's. Yes! The emo trend is pretty popular here and it's the full look too; the hair, the clothes and even the makeup. The guys and the girls. I remember seeing one the first day we arrived. I was sitting with my bros in the back seat of my uncles car and this car passed by us:

Gchan: "EMO!!"

Bro gives me this scared/confused look and says:

Bro: "Oy! There are so many here...they think it's cool or something."

Then, there's the group of guys with major muscles and tight.pink.shirts.....
This did it for me >_<

Then came the fellas from the Gulf. They actually made me laugh and ticked off at the same time. Who would go from one country to another just to sit in Starbucks? Who! I find that quite retarded since there are all these nice, sha3bee - the country's own cafe's and restaurants - places. I know it's none of my business and stuff but seriously...Starbucks?!! Shame on them.

Anyways, this happened about 2-3 days ago and I just got the chance to write about it. I spent the last 2 days catching up with friends, shopping, visiting family and spending the night at my aunts house, which was a lot of fun. My cousins and I stayed up to watch a horror movies, Friday the 13th, which was a complete waste of time. We laughed at how stupid it was though...such a typical horror.

I couldn't sleep that night. I kept on thinking that we have almost 2 days till we leave and that just made me really sad. Getting back to our life in NZ...meh!

[Travel] The Road to the Pink City

2009-08-03T01:40:00.009+04:00

Monday 6th July
Time - 10:11am
Location: Arajan, Jordan

So yesterday we had a cousins only trip to...PETRA!!! Oh. My. Gosh! This is one amazing place! I've been wanting to visit it ever since I saw Transformers 2 xD. It's such an amazing, beautiful place that photos won't do it justice.

We rented a mini-van and al hamdulellah it was perfect for 10 people (even though it was just an 8 seats van lol) . My favorite uncle came with us to drive us there...we specifically chose him because it was like he's one of us. He totally made the trip even more fun with his lovely personality and sense of humor. We were 4 girls and 5 guys (not including uncle). We got picked up around 5am and headed on the road to Petra. We were all very excited and crazy (that early in the morning eh?! xD). It takes around 3-4 hours to get to the Red City, but it didn't feel that long because we were talking, singing, and eating.

The road to Petra is a pretty desert-ee road but it was still very nice and mashallah the weather was perfectly amazing! I asked my uncle if he can just stop, anywhere basically, so we can take some pictures. And so he did. We fooled around a bit and one of my cousins taught us how to do the Dabka so we all ended up doing it. It's pretty easy actually...thought it'd be more complicated than that lol.

Back on the road!

The nice thing was that the road was completely empty...but who goes out that early eh? When we came close to reaching Petra we were able to see how huge it was:

When we finally got there and entered, we were welcomed by a long, open and, again, desert-ee road. If I remember correctly I think we walked a total (going and coming) of at least 10K's. It was uber tiring!

So we started our walk taking pictures here and there.

Oh! The smell...was absolutely horrific xD There were horses that took people, who wanted a ride, to a certain checkpoint before entering the actual walkway to Petra. So imagine all the poo lying around lol.

After bit of walking, we finally reach the main path to Petra.

This was a long walk too. Longer than the desert road at the beginning. But it was a nicer and cooler place.

Finally we reached Petra. It was an awesome feeling, like you've achieved something and it's as if you're in a movie - like how you turn the corner then you find what you were looking for - like that lol.

It was pretty amazing. Very fascinating also. Loved it a lot! There were a lot of tourists there, mostly Asians and Americans. I wonder how they stood the sun. It wasn't hot but the sun was totally out there.

We started getting hungry so we went to find a place to sit and eat. My uncle ended up taking us up this scary, rocky mountain...it was pretty dangerous if you ask me, but we made it and it was a good, beautiful spot to have a picnic.

After getting energized with food we continued our walk deeper into Petra.

We reached a point where we were practically dead. We hadn't had much sleep, due to the excitement, so one can imagine how sleepy we were. All the walking we did just took it's toll on us. It was so hot, that time of day, the sun was way up in the sky, hitting us with it's rays. Plus we were really sweaty and stunk so bad lol...actually I think it was the animal "droppings". All of that and we still had the walk back to the car. Nobody had energy.

The walk back took us twice as long as the walk going...plus we ended up riding horses the last half-hour of the walk because that's it...we were done! My horse seemed to feel the same way as we did lol...poor thing. He just couldn't walk. As we neared the getting off place he made this really loud scream-horse sound and actually stopped in it's tracks. The owner gave him a tug and the horse gathered itself and moved.

I ended up apologizing to him saying something like "I'm so sorry for making you carry me all the way here"...he just looked at me like in the picture lol. *cute*

We all slept on the ride home. We ached so bad to get home and have a cool shower lol. I couldn't stand myself. Oh! I was wearing white boots, they came back pink xD so we were very sandy as well.

All in all, it was the most amazing trip ever!!
Never to be forgotten!

p.s. all pictures from Petra will soon be uploaded to flickr =)

[Travel] Am I in a movie?

2009-08-01T07:15:00.008+04:00

Saturday 4th July
Location: Arajan, Jordan
Time: 8:30am

Goodness! I can't believe it's Saturday already. Time goes by even faster here *noooo*.
Anywho, basically what happened is the whole family gathered up and went on a lovely, full day trip. We rented a 25 seats bus that came with a driver (hah...that sounds funny =P) who drove us to 3 places. First stop was Jarash, also known as Geresa...I think lol. Is that place awesome or is that place AWESOME! It's one of the famous historic locations in Jordan and I don't know why but the whole time I was there I kept remembering 2 movies; 300 and Troy (loved both of them). Maybe because of the Roman-y feel to it or how it's built and stuff.

So it's a really cool place...huge as well. It needed a lot of walking, which was NOT cool -____- (kidding). Let the pictures speak for them selves:

Jordan is a really beautiful country!

This kid was sitting right at the entrance to Jarash making these

Sands in the bottle souvenirs. Very talented! I bought one with my name on it.Cool costume...bet he's hating himself though =PI heard music coming from the area where I took this shot... I was way down there in the big circle-y area.

Guess who was making music?!

He was waving at me so hard to take a picture of him lol.Long long road!

After Jarash we head to an area called Ajloon (3ajloon) to find a nice, shady place to sit and have lunch. We found just that and started unpacking for lunch. Mashallah there was a lot of food and looked good but for some unknown reason didn't eat much =( *regretting it* Oh! I forgot to take a shot of the food...was too busy setting things up and passing food around *innocent*

Anywho, this old old man, walked over with a rababah (which I love the sound of), sat down, took the names of my Dad and my uncles (abo first oldest son name) and started reciting a poem while including their names and playing the rababah. It was really nice and funny!

Rababah Man!

After that, we just sat around chatting and drinking Arabic coffee. Yeah! I tried Arabic coffee for the first time...and it was sugarless O.O Yes! I actually liked it because it had Cardamom (Hael) in it but it was super strong. The strongest coffee I ever drank.

We eventually got bored and decided to head to Qal3at 3ajloon (Ajloon castle) which is also known as Salah Al Deen's Castle. Now that was something! It was on a mountain and till now I don't know how the bus driver go us up there.

The castle has an area for a small Museum that displays olden day Jewelery, Kohl spoons (which look scary), and coins which were the size of a really really really small button O.O Then there were these big stones that had Arabic writing (from what it looks like) on it, but no one is able to read it without a translation. Being 'me', I took a picture of the stone but not the translation =D

We headed up further more and into the castle, snapping pictures here and there until we reached the outside. Now the view was pretty much breath taking! It was really beautiful and the breeze was so nice. All you could see is land, mountains and little houses. I was with my Dad when he told me "Beyond those mountains (Dad points at mountains)...is Palestine". I just looked at him like O.O, then a rush came over me, feeling all tingly just knowing that Palestine is just beyond those mountains. We were that close, eh.

Palestine behind the farthest mountain :"(
Click image for better look.

We got back to the bus and headed home and let me just say, the ride home was a fun-crazy ride. I won't go into detail but it mostly consisted of traditional Dabka music, dancing (xD) and planning a cousins only trip to PETRA!!!! I'm SO excited! =D

Anywho, this is all I've got for now. I'm hungry so I'm off to have breakfast.

p.s. I miss the internet. I can't believe I can go this long without it =O

Noodles guy

2009-07-27T14:34:00.005+04:00

So a break from my travel posts and let me talk about what's happening at uni lately.

Nothing exciting really. It's my last semester of my 4 year Bachelors degree and I can't wait till it's over. I think this could be the toughest semester out of all the semesters that passed and I say that because I'm doing 4 papers where one of them is a full semester project. I'm trying to keep my spirits high, stay positive and not let the pressure and stress get to me. So inshallah 5air. Having said all those stuff, I'm quite enjoying my papers (except for one =P) and I don't know, but there's a certain, different feel to this semester.

So today in my Game studies lecture, I witnessed what one would call an outrageous...scene (?!). Everyone is seated and the lecturer is talking away about today's topic when one guy enters and heads straight to the front of the lecture room, right in front of the wide lecturers desk, carrying a small transparent container that had white stuff in it. He sat down and I turned my attention back to the lecture.

The lecturer walked back and forth, so I followed him where he went till he got to the place the guy sitting in front was. He caught my attention again because I saw something...unusual. lol. The guy has opened his container and separated the lid from the container, where the noodles...YES! Indemo noodles, rested on the lid. He was adding the sauces/flavors/mix to the container. Mixed the mix with a fork then, in an unbelievable way, added the noodles, that were on the lid, to the container. Then he mixed the noodles with the sauce mix, and slurped away the content of the container in...probably under a minute.

I was utterly shocked! The person I truly felt sorry for though was the lecturer. He actually turned red with anger and was totally distracted, maybe disturbed, by this guy. The worst thing he probably dreaded is walking over to the computer to click the mouse so that he can go to the next slide of the PowerPoint. The computer he used was directly opposite of noodle guy, so he can see him even if he didn't want to.

After noodle guy finished eating the noodles, he put his fork down and used his index finger to wipe the container clean of the left over sauce. At this point I was completely disgusted! Damn, where are the manners and respect gone?! After all of this, he took out his laptop and started surfing the net.........

It's a 2 hour lecture, so when the first one ended and we were given a 10 minute break, noodle guy got up and moved to what seems like the last row of the lecture room. Yeah! Now he moves to the back, where no one could've seen him eat his noodles.

He got made fun off. 2 Kiwi guys sitting behind me described him as an "ass" and "what the hell is he doing cooking and eating noodles in class, that's so retarded...wahwahwahwah"...serves him right!

So much for freedom when it's being abused in such a way.

Though as much as I found it disgusting and totally a stupid and disrespectful thing to do...I also found it funny =P

G'Night ^_^

[Travel] Jordan!!

2009-07-26T06:46:00.008+04:00

Tuesday 30 June
Time - 6:15am (Why am I up this early?! O.O)
Location - Arajan, Jordan

I swear to God I've had enough of airplanes *cries* I'm so tired! But!! Here we are...finally all together...in Jordan!! After 7 long years of not seeing the relatives, yet here we are only a few minutes away from their houses (kinda =P). It feels good to be around relatives. It really does! Like at the moment everything is surreal...nothing has sunk in! *cries*

We took the Omani Airlines to Jordan. The good things about this airlines is that it was nice and clean, and at the moment it beats Emirates Airlines with the food!! If there was any meal on a flight that I greatly enjoyed it'd be the meal on the Omani Airlines for sure. It was really really good. I had the fish and I just loved it! The bad things however are; the plane was small, tight (everything is squished) and, how to say this, aah...un-technologized (?)!

Old fashioned Oman Air - look at the TV's lol

The plane had old-style TV's. You know, the ones that come down from the roofs O.O What's even worse is that we're all forced to watch one movie...an Arabic movie *Deh deeeh* Although we didn't care much about the movie (=P) since we had our books. Brother was reading "Area 7 by Mathew Riley" and I'm still (xD) reading "Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice". Dad had his news newspaper *typical*.

Got it off Dad's newspaper...did me proud ='(

Though most of the time, we talked and ate.
Then came the descending....
It was scary. Very scary! The pilot kept turning so hard >.< (Yes I'm a chicken!! -___-) Oh! And not just turning, but turning and descending at the same time. It was painful *cries*

But the landing was absolutely smooth. It was the second best landing of this trip so far. So yay for that!
Everything after that went smoothly el 7amdulellah. Though the doctor that was checking the computer for people with a high temperature (swine flu check) freaked me out. First, he looked at the computer, then lift his head up quickly to look at me. Then again he looked back at the computer and then back at me O.O and yet nothing was said to me. I was a bit sick...but I didn't have a fever. I wonder what he saw!! *freaky* Maybe electricity was my blood =D lol. We got our baggage and went to see my favorite uncle (Dad's brother) waiting for us in the arrivals area. My uncle came straight at me and gave me a huge hug and I started tearing up! It was amazing to see him again after such a long time. Then we headed for my uncles car.

We got taken straight to our grandparents (Dad's parents) house where almost everyone was waiting for us. This is where more hugging/kissing and the "OMG look at you, you're so grown up and beautiful" happened, so on lol. I was smiling so hard that my mouth muscles started hurting xD It was all unbelievable! <3 Not all my relatives were there so I can't wait to see everyone else!!

Now Jordan as a whole, looks great and the weather here is beautiful! It's not hot at all, which I thought it would be, but thankfully it isn't. Best of all...there's no humidity! =D
Right now, I'm in my room of the furnished house that we rented for the whole time we're staying in Jordan. I have an amazing view from my window and it's even more amazing at night when all the lights are on. The area we're living in is called Arajan (3arajan)...and it's a very nice area. I like it a lot!

Okay! So don't know what's the plan for today but all I know is that I need to get up and freshen myself. You know how I was sick in Oman...well I got slightly worse at the moment but inshallah khair. I'm not going to let it get in my way! *Positive Gchan here =P*

[Travel] Major heat wave

2009-07-24T11:08:00.007+04:00

Monday 29th June
Time - 9:00am
Location - Oman

So I'm sick. Yay for me -___- I have a minor cold and my nose is so runny. Bleh! I'm hating it! I talk from my nose also so I sound funny lol.

Anyways, here we are finally in Oman, at our lovely new home <3 It's good to be here, but what's not good is the heat!! Sheesh, what's up with this weather eh?! lol. When we landed in Muscat, from the utterly the worst flying experience in the history of flying, and came out of the craft this major heat wave just slapped us in the face. I let out a shocked sound while my brother shouted out loudly "HOOOOOLY SHIIIIIIT" Estaghferallah xD that idiot. An Indian man was right infront of us. He just turned to look at my brother and started laughing.

Inside the actual airport was not a pleasant experience either. For some unknown reason, everyone there kept staring at us like we were aliens or something. It was freakishly...weird! We hated it even. Also, I think more than one plane has landed so it got really crowded at the entrance counters...they only had 2 counters open with THAT number of people. I found that really sad...where's the staff?!! Even worse is those guys at the counter worked slowly and sometimes they'd pause to talk to each other while we're waiting =\ *shakes head with disappointment*

The past 2 days we ended up going to Al khuwair (which is a big mistake...the place is SUPER crowded and the driving there is suicidal) and Qurum CC. It's amazing how so many things have changed. It was confusing to me, with all those new bridges and stuff. But I think it's great! Helps with the jams. The roads are pretty amazing...oh! and really clean *impressed*

But today, today is the day we travel to Jordan =O Nice! Wonder how it's going to be (?). We're taking off at 3:00pm inshallah, so we got quite a bit of time.

I finally bought a camera; Samsung PL65 and I just love it! 12.2 MP's, 5 times optical zoom, face detection and a high resolution, etc. Been snapping away with it but I still need to learn about it's many options. I didn't buy a phone sadly. The phone I wanted was a bit out of my budget (since the camera was pricey) and I am being indecisive with the other options out there =( We've been to so many mobile shops yet I can't choose anything...nothing is grabbing my attention. Anywho, will see what happens when I get back from Jordan...maybe there'll be a chance for me to find a good phone inshallah!

As for the moment I'm in major need of coffee (specifically a mocha lol) and a lie down. It's been almost 2 days yet I'm still feeling as if I'm on an airplane. The floor under me is moving up and down and when I'm sitting, the room tilts slow left or right xD It's very freaky and not nice.

Laters at Jordan!! ^_^

Yum! Mocha flake at Muscat International Airport

And we're flying =O

[Travel] Altitude 37,892ft

2009-07-21T00:25:00.006+04:00

Saturday 27th June
Local time at current position - 3:11am
Location - Emirates Airlines seat #40F
Altitude - 37,892 ft
Ground speed - 585mph

So on our way to Dubai. We've got 3 hours and 36 minutes to go. A lot has passed and only a bit is left *yay* so sick of the airplane, and damn is my throat dry.

Surprisingly I manged to sleep, I think, 2-3 hours of the total time...so am happy about that lol. Food was just okay! Don't know...didn't like it much but the salads were great and they gave out these beef wraps as a "midnight snack", which were really good.

I forgot the number of movies I've watched so far. Umm...from NZ to Aussie I watched *crap don't remember*...OH! The Pink Panther 2. It sucked big time. Was so bored with it that I didn't focus on it much =\ The first part was so good I don't know what the hell happened in this one (?). I played a trivia game with my bro and it turned out he was cheating...well I kept loosing so there's something suspicious about that =P

I also browsed through their music library. Wow! They've got some pretty hardcore but ancient stuff on there. I found Metallica's self titled album and found the song that I was in the mood/wanted to listening to..."Nothing Else Matters". Love that song! Put it on repeat and watched the info channel that tells us where we currently are and so on.

Oh! We got delayed pretty badly at AUX airport =\ We were stuck in the plane for at least an hour...on the runway. The reason to why that happened is cos Aussie has closed all of it's air strips and is not allowing anyone in. Even the planes that are meant to land at that moment are just circling above the airports >_< (would've hated it if I was on one of those planes). Why? We never got told the reason O.O *suspicious* We freaked out even more when the Pilot told us "if we don't get clearance to move, we'll take you back to the airport. So sorry about this delay but please stay seated and enjoy our services". That just did it for us lol. But el 7amdulellah we ended up going...we're already out of Aussie now and what it looks like flying over India (??) That area anyways!

Back to movies lol...I also watched Paul Blart: Mall Cop...which was just OK but had a few laughs here and there. Haha at the part where he was running through the airport =P What else?! I watched Bolt...majorly disappointed =( Was actually excited for it. Someone *can't remember who* told me it wasn't great...should've listened to them lol. But aaaw at the friggin' hamster. He was so cute and awesome lol!

I also watched Bride Wars...it was alright as well (don't know I'm being really strict with these movies). Then I wanted to watch Yes Man! but my eyelids started giving up on me so I think I snoozed for a while to wake up to a bit of turbulence O_o

Through out this whole time, I've slept, eaten and watched movies...Damn! That is so unhealthy lol. Argh! I can't wait to get off this plane!

The plane is totally different! Seats are comfier and more spacious, wider screens, remote is bigger aaaaaand there's a usb port where you can connect any portable USB device!! At the moment, since I'm awake and don't feel like watching movies, I'm writing here and listening to my mp3 player. Current song is "Egypt Central - You make me sick (Acoustic Live)". Such a good song! While bro is sitting next to me playing chess. From what it looks like, he's getting his butt kicked lol

My poor poor legs...they're so sore =( Anywho, I'm going to umm...play a game or something. I think I've said everything I wanted to say...Oh yeah!! I don't know why but I keep on bumping into people...accidentally! What's up with that?!

[Travel] We're out of here

2009-07-20T00:32:00.009+04:00

Friday 26th June
Time - 3:00pm
Location - AUX Airport gate 16

Okay! So here we are...sitting in front of our gate and oh man we are feeling the butterflies! The weather is pure crap (so Allah Yustur), gray, foggy and rainy. What's up with that eh?! Just our luck =(

We're boarding the plane in less than an hour. I can't wait to get over and done with with the take off lol...it's the worst part for me. Not many people are sitting at our gate so I hope that just means not many will be on the flight =D

The plane is a double-deck and looks short and fat xD Sadly our seats have been decided for us (-___-) so we're hoping it's beside the window instead of the middle where we'd have to sit next to some stranger.

We decided to eat Ramen *yay* finally got to try it. It was damn good! Oh! It's Japanese noodles with seafood (crab, squid, and shrimps), a yummy soup and spring onion - which I don't like but it actually tasted good!

When we came to order and pay, the Japanese dude at the counter was totally on something or maybe math is not his thing lol. He said that the total is $26. At first I gave him a $20 note and 2 $5 notes. Then I remembered I had a dollar so I said to him "here's a $1 and you can return the $5". I don't think he heard me. He put in $41 in the register as the total, checked how much he needs to return to me, put the money I gave him in the cash holders (everything O.O), then he checked again how much to return to me (which is $5), and THEN he returned to me the same $5 note that I gave to him that he was supposed to give me from the beginning. My bro and I exchanged looks and started laughing. That's mean I know but we couldn't help it lol.

Anyways, we're still waiting to get on the plane to head to Sydney (Aussie) where our true trip to Dubai starts inshallah >_<

Taken in Aussie Airport =P

I'm not much of a flying person

2009-07-19T05:32:00.008+04:00

So am back in NZ *sad* (I want to be back in Jordan with my cousins) I've had enough of airports...seriously. I'm so jet lagged at the moment since I'm sitting on a chair, which reminds me of sitting in an airplane lol *nightmare*. It was a really really rough flight from Oman to NZ to the point that I became so pale that I got called a ghost *cries remembering the flight*. It's not that it was scary and like "oh we're gonna die" kind of flight, but it was just really tiring, uncomfortable, unbelievable turbulence, bad "driving" (talking about the pilots here), bleh I don't know...it was just all messed up really. OH!! I'm never touching airplane food again...EVER!!

Despite all of this...this trip is by far the most amazing trip EVER!! El 7amdulellah it was wonderful and we were surprised by how wrong we were about Jordan lol.

*Stay tuned for posts from my diary of this trip + the pictures =D *

Dubai Airport
waiting in front of our gate .

This bag has become my traveling bag and
this is my new favorite key chain.

Our stupid plane (Emirates) at Aussie (Melbourne Airport)
Loved the sky.

Anyways I'm glad that I'm home on the ground...safe xD I'm not much of a flying person (it seems) lol. What I'm loving about NZ at the moment is the cold weather! I think we came back when the coldness hits harder. Also, the thought of seeing Sarz and having sushi for lunch at uni.

I've missed a week of uni...will be getting back to it tomorrow. Aaargh! The thought of that seems tiring lol. Taking 4 papers this semester SMST319 (Game Studies), COMP436 (Advanced Graphics and Computer Games), COMP437 (User Interfaces for Information Retrieval), COMP477 (Report of an Investigation). I'm quite excited actually cos they seem like fun papers. I read what the first project for the "Game Studies" paper and what we have to do is play a horror game (=D), analyze it, talk about it and compare horror games with horror films. It's a 2000-2500 words essay so gotta do some major research also. I have no idea which game to play but I'm thinking of Resident Evil 4. I've played it before and gave up on it cos it freaked me out =\ lol. The "Report of an Investigation" is a full semester project *freaky* where I'll be supervised by one professor (cos it's his topic). I chose "Hierarchical Menus" and it's going to be web based (perfect!) where I have to come up with ways of making menus better and user friendly. That's as much as I know anyways...so hope it's going to be good!

Anywho, this is what I've got to say so far...will start writing about my trip (I kept a diary like I promised =P) and posting more pics inshallah.

Goodbye for now

2009-06-26T00:52:00.016+04:00

*Sings P.O.D's song*
Goodbye for now
Goodbye for now
So long...

Wow O.o It's finally....today! To my surprise, I don't feel anything what so ever xD I'm normal, as if today is another day of the week, except we're only going to be traveling a couple of 1000k's horizontally and vertically, to the otherside (*sings Red Hot Chili Peppers song Otherside xD) of the world. lol. I guess it will totally "hit" when we get to the airport and realize =O we're actually going...there.

So it's raining. Yup! Such a prefect day for rain...-________- This whole week was absolutely beautiful, sunny, blue clear skies, but here I am, staring out the window (oh how dramatic xD) looking at how gray, miserable and crappy the weather is. Well on a positive note at least we're leaving this rain, cold (though I'll miss the cold) and miserable weather, to go to an OVEN (lol) and sunny skies. Inshallah it'll be great!

Now everyone, please keep your blogs alive and kicking =P I want to come back to a lot of entries to read and heck I'm going to comment on everything I've missed even if you don't end up reading them...at least I commented =D So yeah! This goes out to Sarz (take care of 3WsC for me and Phat lol...we're both away so it's up to you to make it ROCK!! I know you'll do an awesome job!), mr. cK, sweet faith (I'm going to see you soon young lady =D), dear muggle and nadia...just basically everyone on my blog roll. You guys are all interesting and I love reading your blogs =D

*** I won't make this too long cos I have a few things to do before we get going to the airport, but here I am, asking from ALL of you guys, especially those that know me and talk to me, to forgive me =) If I ever said anything that might have offended or hurt you...I'm sorry =(

N.B. I sometimes do this 'thing' where I say something (I don't realize it then) and after that it's too late and thinking about it I realize that it wasn't such a good thing to say =(...I don't like when this happens =\ Wanted to complain/blog about it even.

So yeah! Please forgive me, just in case something happens to the airplane or something (=P jokes. Shouldn't joke about these things O.o) and I don't want to leave this world knowing that there could be someone(s) that maybe hurt/angry from me.

Take care of yourselves everyone! Hope you all have a wonderful time with what you're up to at the moment and Inshallah I'll be back to blogging and commenting on your blogs soon enough.

To Sarz: Love you hon! You rock!!! Take care and I'm going to miss you so much *cries* Don't watch any movies till I'm back =P

Okay! I'm off to do a bit of work before the mini bus comes picks us up to take us to the airport.

Byeeeeee! ^_^

Travel date - 18th June Friday 2009
Take off - 6:00pm

Oh.My.Gosh!!! >_<

Movie-land

2009-06-23T12:56:00.010+04:00

I'm too excited that I have no idea how to start this post.

So I visited the Emirates Airlines website, a few minutes ago, to check out what movies they'll be showing on our flight and WOW!! Okay. WOW! I hope I'm not getting excited for nothing because it's not really clear if all the movies they have in the table are actually the ones they'll be showing...but if they will be shown then that's just....AWESOME!! *cries*

Here's the list of all the movies on the flight (hopefully):

- Australia
- Bedtime stories
- Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia
- Bolt
- Bride Wars
- Changeling
- Confessions of a Shopaholic
- Doubting Thomas : Spies and Lies
- Down and Derby
- Easy Virtue
- Forever Strong
- Frost/Nixon
- Gran Torino
- Happy-Go-Lucky
- High School Musical 3: Senior Year
- Inkheart
- Killshot
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (second time...this movie is too good xD)
- Man on Wire
- Marley & Me
- On Broadway
- Paul Blart : Mall Cop
- Pride and Glory
- Quantum of Solace
- Revolutionary Road
- RocknRolla
- Seven Pounds
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Smother
- Take
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- The Ramen Girl
- The Wrestler
- Transporter 3
- Twilight
- Underworld : Rise of the Lycans
- Valkyrie
- Yes Man

They also just added:

- 12 Rounds
- Dean Spanley
- He's Just Not That Into You
- New in Town
- Race to Witch Mountain
- Save Angel Hope
- Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
- Taken
- The Edge of Love
- The International
- The Pink Panther 2
- Watchmen

Okay! So all the bold-ed, colored ones are the ones I want to see inshallah. Going crazy here xD I'm going to read about the others just in case I remember what they're about lol. It looks like I'm going to get puffy, dark under eye circles cos I won't/can't sleep while travelling, especially by plane...but that's totally fine with me =D Though I do hope I get a little nap or something.

Oh and help me out here...if you guys have seen some of the movies in those lists, advise me on the must see, the good and the not worth watching movies.

Yaay! Hope it'll be a good, not scary full of turbulence flight lol *cries*

[What's this?] Your life must be boring

2009-06-18T11:17:00.010+04:00

I was washing my face yesterday night getting ready to go to bed around 11:45pm when I hear a bunch of people shouting and talking loudly in front of our house's driveway. At first I didn't pay much attention to them, because it was very obvious that they were drunk and I was really focusing on washing my face lol. But then I heard this guy shout out, loudest of all:

Drunk guy: "STACEY!!! I WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABY!!!"

I laughed and said out loud "what the hell?!". Then I started remembering and thinking how (mostly) students here seem to only have fun when they're drunk. It's not what I came up with, it's what I've been told. Getting drunk here is like the only way you can have fun...if you don't drink then you are told that "you have a boring life" or "what do you do for fun?"...so on.

I remember back in my first year, where a friend was telling me, that his friends and himself have a special gathering every Friday at a bar where they'd drink so much at 12pm in the afternoon. That's pretty shocking and he was only 18. He used to say, that he didn't understand how 'we' (Muslims) don't drink...how do we have any fun if we don't drink?! I ended up explaining to him that you don't need to be drunk to have fun. There's a million ways of having any sort of fun with the advantage of being fully awake and aware of what you're doing and what's happening around you. At least you won't end up regretting anything the next day when you realize or remember what happened the day before. Here he replies that that's the 'beauty' of being drunk...even if you do something stupid/crazy/messed up, you won't regret it because you were drunk. You had no control over yourself. You basically can do whatever you want and won't even think twice whether to do it or not. You just do it, because you can! Shocking right?! lol. The conversation went on, where I was trying to convince him that what he's saying is stupid (lol) and that you don't need to be drunk to have fun, while in return he tries to convince me that I must go for a drink to really understand what he means. Yup! Over my dead body =)

I remembered another occasion - though I wasn't there, I was told about it by Sarz xD - also in first year of uni, where the Engineering Department had a boat race day for the students that took a certain engineering paper where they had to build mini boats with motors. On that day, each team with their built boats are to race each other and so on. They were having a bbq and stuff so that's normal, but what wasn't is the beer. Students actually ended up getting drunk during the day, where lectures were still being given even after the boat racing had ended. I remember when I met up with Sarz for lunch, she told me that T, a former class mate, just came over to her and H, where out of the blue he says 'ALLAAAAH' and made a toast like gesture at herself and H as if he was saying 'cheers' to them. How retarded is that?! lol.

I truly feel sorry for these people. I can't believe that they rely on getting drunk just to have any sort of fun. How sad is that?! It's the worst, most shocking thing I've ever heard while living here. I guess they only look at the 'good side' (if any) of drinking and ignore the bad side. It's bad enough that most, if not all, end up regretting something that they might have done or gotten into because they were too drunk to control the situation and for the fact that they 'can do whatever we want' idea when they are drunk. Sad!

All I say is...El 7amdulellah wal shukur =D

Vehicle Release

2009-06-15T07:11:00.014+04:00

So apparently, I parked in the "wrong place" at uni today...ended up having my car held in place with those yellow, clip...thingies that go around the tire (forgot the name) to stop you from taking off with your car. I had to pay 40 bucks to get my "Vehicle Released" (equivalent to 10 Omani Rials). Honestly, what a waste of money....could've watched 2 movies with popcorn and frozen coke *cries*.

Edit: found out they're called Wheel Clamps lol.
Not my car...just an example from google =P

OK! So here's the thing. I thought it was a parking spot. It had the white lines that tells you that it's a parking, but they were severally faded. But I thought it's okay anyway, as long as I'm not blocking any ones way and that place totally makes a good parking spot -______- Anywho, Sarz and I went into the lab and after an hour or so of "working" we decided to go eat something, only to come out and see that there was a yellow clip thingy on the front right tire of my car and a note under the window wiper (what ever it's called lol) -______- The note said I was parking on a yellow line (-___-) and I have to pay $40 to get my car released. Then I started panicking (don't know why)...like I needed this to happen to me today (having a really crap day seriously *sad face*). They were so quick as if they were waiting for someone to park there and fine them. EVIL!!!

I ended up complaining for a while. Actually, I complained a lot today...which is.....bleeeh! I hate when I do that but I guess I reached a point where I just wanted to complain. Yes! The day was that bad, but there were really nice and funny moments here and there.

Mama is half to Oman at the moment and I truly miss her! Allah yewa9elek bel salameh ya rab! <3

I've been working my butt off with house work which is weird coming from a lazy person =P Guess I'm not so lazy after all. I am totally enjoying it but it get's stressful after a bit lol.

I've somewhat started on my MBT assignment (complaining: I wish we didn't have an assignment) but I need to read the book before I can do anything. Actually I can't do anything cos I'm not understanding much =\ YEAH! Here's another thing. Our Golem/Smigel (LOTRs creature) look alike lecturer sucks when it comes to explaining things in an assignment. He asks of us to do...actually taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaf (pass)! lol. Tomorrow is a new day, so I'm going to be positive and hope that the sun shines brighter!! *cries*

This song was in my head for some unknown reason. Out of the blue =S It actually ticked me off, but it was stuck in my head xD The guitar sounds fantastic in the video though. Love it!

[Music] Pillar - Rewind

2009-06-12T13:41:00.006+04:00

Wow! I'm so into this song at the moment.
Very beautiful, soft, smooth but sad; lyrics, music and voice wise!

Absolutely beautiful.

[Series] Prison Break

2009-06-12T01:13:00.002+04:00

Plot: Season 1

'Prison Break' revolves around two brothers: one who has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and his younger sibling, a genius who devises an elaborate plan to help him escape prison by purposely getting himself imprisoned. The brothers, along with six other prisoners at Fox River State Penitentiary, manage to escape in the final episode of the season.

Plot: Season 2

The brothers, along with six other prisoners at Fox River State Penitentiary, manage to escape, and the second season follows a massive manhunt chasing the group. Dubbed the Fox River Eight, the group splits and members go their individual way, occasionally meeting up to help each other. They struggle to escape from the police while avoiding a secret group of multinationals called The Company, that wants them all dead.

Plot: Season 3

Ultimately recaptured and sent to a Panamanian jail, Penitenciaría Federal de Sona, at the end of the second season, the third season revolves around Michael's breakout from Sona with several other inmates.

Plot: Season 4

A quest for vengeance starts where Michael and Lincoln realize the only way they will truly be free is by taking down The Company. With the help of a government handler, they assemble a group of allies and familiar faces to aid in their seemingly impossible task.

They'll soon discover the only thing harder than breaking out is breaking in.

---------------------------

I don't know where to even begin. Will I can first start by saying that Prison Break is officially the best and most amazing series I've ever seen. Officially!! I'm definitely going to get the Dvds, just to watch it over and over again. Yes! It's THAT good and even better. I only was able to finish the last few episodes of the last season at 2am this morning xD I had to know what happens. It was THAT...BIG. So I'm the last to watch it out of everyone that's following this series and I've been told that it's a sad ending. I wasn't expecting it to be THAT sad to the point that I cried so hard....at 2 am in the morning =P It's the only series where I cried so much...that final episode was twice as much tears compared to the seasons added up.

I got into bed and immediately started thinking about the finale, and shook my head at how unexpected it was. I woke up for Fajr and what am I doing? Thinking about the finale and shaking my head xD Yes! And until now...I'm still shocked and shaking my head. O.O *thinks about finale and stares at screen*

Season 1 was kick @ss, so hardcore. No wonder we came back to watch the second season. Season 2 was great and pretty sad too...I think this is where the tearing started up lol. Season 3 was nice (for different reasons =P) but not as good as the previous seasons...on a certain level anyways. Season 4 though...wow! Yeah season 4 pretty much sums it all up, huh?! Such a powerful season, and the finale couldn't have been more powerful-er. It was SO friggin' good! Shock after shock after SHOCK! It's actually messed up...but then it's totally understandable.

I don't know what to say...Prison Break is too good to be missed. You're ALWAYS at the edge of your seat, always thinking; not just of the what's going to happen (yes cliffhangers at the end of every episode) but just to understand what's going on and as if you're part of the series...you even try to come up with strategies.

I'm definitely going to miss it and miss all the hotties that were in it <3 It had to end sooner or later though. The sigh of relief I gave when it was over...wow!

Really good stuff! A major recommendation.
I'm sorry...but you're crazy if you're not watching or didn't watch this series!

[Movie] Disturbia (2007)

2009-06-06T11:19:00.010+04:00

Plot:

After his father's death, Kale becomes sullen, withdrawn, and troubled -- so much so that he finds himself under a court-ordered sentence of house arrest. His mother, Julie, works night and day to support herself and her son, only to be met with indifference and lethargy. The walls of his house begin to close in on Kale. He becomes a voyeur as his interests turn outside the windows of his suburban home towards those of his neighbors, one of which Kale begins to suspect is a serial killer. But, are his suspicions merely the product of cabin fever and his overactive imagination?

lethargy: deficient in alertness or activity ^^

---------------------------

G's thoughts:

WOW!! This movie is AWESOME! I think I remember when it first came out (2007) and wanting to see it, but some how didn't. Am I glad that I did! I found it by chance on the shelve at the video store (I randomly picked 4 movies of the thriller section without reading the back info of the dvd O.O). Haven't seen it there before =\ Anywho, the movie is your typical thriller (but it's good!), except there's a little romance going on, plus a light comedy here and there. It gets you in suspense, then you're fine the next moment. Then again it puts you in suspense. lol.

Shia LaBeouf!!!!!! Who does NOT like this person?! Seriously. This guy is such an awesome actor, that I've enjoyed every single movie I've seen him in (except for Constantine...that movie just sucked with a capital S IMO). He was really good, along with David Morse, who was one chilly guy. Meaning he was scary O.O gave me the chills. Carrie Anne-Moss (chick who played Trinity in The Matrix movies) is in this movie also, and I didn't like her much, because she was really mean. lol.

I watched it twice. Lol. YES! Once was without the commentary the second time with the commentary with Shia, the director (DJ) and the chick who played Ashley (she has a nice voice xD) in the movie. It was really funny *the commentary*, like they made fun of each other, yet at the same time they'd explain how the scene was shot and what they had to do in some scenes, and so on.

9.7/10 hands down...absolutely loved it!!

A MUST watch!! It's too good to miss.

Band: If These Trees Could Talk

2009-06-03T11:30:00.003+04:00

I seriously don't get why this band is not THAT famous (?). Why is it always that the suck-y musicians get famous while the hardcore, great ones are not even well known? Huh?!

If These Trees Could Talk self titled album is absolutely great!! Actually it's all that I've been listening to for the past week, and still listening. This is the kind of music I truly enjoy. It's pure music. No vocals, no lyrics. Everything is expressed through the music. Trust me, you will feel it! I've always been the "music listener" more than the "lyrics listener", so that explains my attraction to the band. Plus I'm a guitar freak and this band is all about guitar music.

Genre: a heavy shade of instrumental Post-rock.

So their music is instrumental. Mainly electric guitars, bass guitar and a set of drums. What more can I ask for, eh?! The band consists of 3 electric guitarists, 1 Bassist and 1 drummer. Everything is made using only those 3 instruments. The effects done using the guitars are flippin' awesome. At first I thought there was some piano/techno device but it turned out to be just the electric guitars but with effects!

I first discovered them when I watched the new COOL (=O) PS3 game inFAMOUS (<< cool official website), where their song "Malabar Front" got featured in the trailer of the game. If you haven't seen the trailer yet...-_______-

Watch it here - inFAMOUS Trailer <<<<

So yeah! I liked the song so much while watching the trailer...that I decided to hunt for the song/band name. Yay for me, I found them and managed to get my hands on one of their albums.

They just rock! Seriously.

If These Trees Could Talk - Malabar Front

Yes! It's an 8:05 minutes long instrumental. True that their self titled album has 5 songs only, but they're no shorter than 4:06. Absolutely great! <3

Here I come: Oman & Jordan

2009-05-30T04:08:00.014+04:00

By ~jordanians and ~buthy-13

I was supposed to post this on the 26th but a lot of things happened so I ended up forgetting about it and blogging about R instead =\

Anywho, exactly what the title says. My family and I are going to be traveling from NZ all they way to sweet sweet but HOT (=\) Oman and Jordan. Honestly I've got these mixed feelings in me about this whole trip. Like, I'm excited and all but at the same time, I'm like =S this is big. Haven't travelled in while. Things have changed...so on.

We're going to see relatives (Jordan) who we (bros and I) haven't seen for a really long while (since 2003 =\). Go around Jordan and visit all its historical places, and so on. Plus there's Oman...I MISS OMAN!!! I'm actually more excited for Oman than Jordan, which is funny because I'm staying longer in Jordan than in Oman (5 days out of 23...I think it's 23 days). Last time I was in Oman was on January 2006. So I'm sure it's all changed and stuff.

Distribution of days as follows:

~ First stop Oman #Days = 2
~ Second stop Jordan #Days = 16
~ Third stop back to Oman #Days = 3
~ Fourth and final stop NZ -_____-

What am I going to do in Oman for the first stop? Buy a Phone (and burn my 6630 xD), a camera, visit a beach (!), eat Ista6ambooli shawarma (!), a Supreme Zinger, BBQ-ed 7abbar with tamerin sauce (<3) (!) and most importantly meet up with some close friends who I haven't seen since 2006 =( I'd like to go to the cinema but maybe there's not much time for that..who knows *eyeing Faith =P* Also I gotta get as much rest as possible...going to be so jet lagged. The trip is direct from Aussie to Dubai; 14 hour flight. I'm so not looking forward to that >.< but I am looking forward to all the movies I could possibly watch *huge smile*

As for Jordan...things will just happen by themselves...there's no specific plan really. But we know where we want to go, see, visit and what we want to eat! lol.

I've decided to stay away from the net/laptop for the entire duration I'm overseas, especially in Jordan...internet tech is not so WOW there, and I've also decided to buy a little book to write everything I do and happens in it so that when I'm back in NZ I'd update this blog about the trip.

Yaay! I seriously don't know what to expect, what I'll see...WHO I'll see, so on. So this is the "thrill" of it all =D

Countdown: 28 Days to go

Shot by: ~inspelad

From "Plan A" to "Plan B"

2009-05-27T10:49:00.006+04:00

So I finally handed in the massively hectic, annoying, and mean assignment today for COMP451 and I have to say, I'm happy and not so happy. Happy because some pressure has been lifted off and I can squish movies and playing on the guitar now, not happy because I feel that this is the worst assignment out of the whole semester and I'm not sure if I'm going to get good marks. All I can say is Allah Yustur!

Since R is with "us" (as in Sara, J, H and Me) in this paper, one can just imagine the amount of bull she's given us for the past days. She is the first person, in my 21 years of life, who I come to know to be the most disrespectful, stubborn, selfish, annoying, undignified...and the list could most definitely go on. Apparently, she hasn't been getting what she wants from us, because we don't want to/can't help since we also have to deal with the crap loads of work we got, so she started using "Plan B" with us. YES! All along this little piece of...e7m e7m...has had a "Plan B" just in case "Plan A" stopped working. "Plan B" took place on Monday...with none other than yours truly (for sure I'm unlucky). Oh, the things I go through and put myself into =S It's not enough I have other things on my mind + uni and now her with her damn "Plan B".

What is "Plan B" one might ask? "Plan B" is when asking for help no longer works. When everyone seems to ignore you and try to avoid you where ever you are and/or go. "Plan B" is...drum roll....CRYING! Yes! EFFIN' CRYING! What the FUDGE!?!!!!

I was the first to experience "Plan B". Unfortunately for R it failed. It's the first time (again) in my life, where a crying person does not affect me. Honestly, she has turned me into this heartless, mean monster that's filled with rage and anger.

N.B. I don't get angry quickly. I basically collect my anger and then when my "anger box" reaches it's limit...KABOOM!! ENTER ANGRY-CHAN xD 3anjad (honest).

I never thought I could treat anyone so badly....and actually mean it.

R: "I don't know what to do...please tell me what to do" *sob sob* *wiping tears*
G: *heartless face on* "I don't know" *cold tone voice*
R: "I really don't know what to do. How do I create assertions?"
G: "O.O....AssertThat takes 2 arguments and you're only giving it one. Look in your previous assignment you used it there." *walks away angry*
R: "...." *cries*
G: *ignores and sits back in place*

After 3 minutes she moves from the computer she was on (which was far away from where I was sitting) to the computer RIGHT next to ME! I got up immediately, as she was logging in to her computer, and told Sarz let's get out of her to have lunch and change labs. I won't be able to work with her in the same room -____-

She followed us into the lab that we moved to after lunch, and that's where the ignoring kicked in. I can hear her calling my name but I just ignored her and talked to Sarz or worked on my assignment. Eventually I got tired of hearing my name being called 10 times, in just 30 seconds, and "gave her face" where she asked a stupid question and where I answer with a cold voice "I don't know".

I don't understand why a person doesn't understand from the 3 simple words "I DON'T KNOW"...how hard can't it be?!!

Sadly the crying seemed to have worked on H...I wanted to kill him for loosing to it. He spent 3 whole hours with her explaining and helping her out with the assignment. She turned him into a mean (not + heartless like me...just mean) monster as well. We all know him to be a nice person who never treats anyone badly. We were proven wrong and till now Sarz and I are shocked by him. Sarz was more shocked though lol.

This is what he did. He started packing his stuff up while explaining the last few bits (in a hurry) and as soon as he closed his bag he walked away. Then you hear R calling out loudly to him as he walks away...we thought he'd go back and help her...but to our surprise (xD) just continued walking. He flippin' ignored her loud callings. Wow! WAY TO GO H!!! xD

It continued like this yesterday and today *sigh* though she did get one lecture from me and another from H...but NOTHING WORKS WITH HER!!! NOTHING! Oh wow! I'm actually angry now!

Quote Sara:

She's like One in a Million except I mean this in a really bad way =S

I've started hating going to the labs (my second home) because of her =(

Anyways, I know the best thing to do is ignore her and tell her "I don't know"...but I know sooner or later I'm going to get tired (actually I'm already tired) of doing so...when will it end?! Ta3abt...ta3abna (I'm tired...we're tired) =(

-------------------

So today's lecture was boring beyond boring (as usaul) and since I just handed in a sick assignment I was basically tired and sleepy and just wanted to go home. So I killed time by drawing.

What boredom can do eh?! xD

Sorry about the quality, it's from my retarded Nokia 6630 phone lol.

No! I'm not thinking suicidal stuff so that I can go to the "Otherside". I was listening to the Red Hot Chilli Pepers song "Otherside" and I just felt like writing that word out. Did I ever say how much I LOVE that song?! I LOVE that song!

Okay...I haven't seen a movie in 11 days so I'm going to watch one now =D

Music: Staind - Nutshell (Acoustic Live)

2009-05-25T16:03:00.008+04:00

I keep falling more and more in love with this person's voice/music. He's seriously one of the top favorites. I've recently discovered this song while looking through some person's channel on youtube (such a good channel...so many songs of different alt. rock bands) and I've just been listening to it for the past 2-3 days.

Great song, great voice, nice but sad lyrics...

We chase misprinted lies
We chase the tracks of time
And yet, I fight
And yet, I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
Oooh...oooh...
Oooh...oooh...
My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet, I find
And yet, I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead
Oooh...oooh...
Oooh...oooh...

Youtube Channel: Wickedsin69

G'Night

[Art] Jester's Hat

2009-05-24T12:22:00.007+04:00

Finally! It's complete...and thankfully titled "Jester's Hat".
According to Sarz this is what the drawing reminded her off when she first saw it. Hence, enter "Jester's Hat".

It's definitely one of the most detailed (I think =P) drawings I've ever done and repetitive too. I don't usually do repetitive...but changed with this one. Not much has been edited. I thought it looked good as it is. But I did change the background color and added a texture to it in "Jester's Hat Red".

Visit my gallery for a larger view.

I'm sure that the actual drawing needs some serious photoshop-ping, but it's definitely going to take a long time and I'm too tired. lol!

Comments appreciated =D

My Gallery

Not much....

2009-05-21T11:28:00.004+04:00

It has been quite a hectic week...where I locked myself in my room studying for the test that I had today. Yet it's not even over till it's ALL over. Still got assignments + a project + a test.

Something funny happened today while working in the lab.
Sara dug her long nails into my hand a couple of times and giggled at every time she did so. I think she was trying to annoy me but it didn't work much. At one point it got intolerable so:

G: "STOP IT!!!!"

*Sara giggles*

Two guys sitting in front of us turn around to look at me thinking that I was referring to them. I immediately told them I didn't mean them and laughed...then they laughed. Sara was in hysterics by then! She achieved a better goal xD

Habla wa7da =P

I don't have much to say really....but check this out (H):

White Chocolate Keyboard <3

Hopefully, soon enough, I will come back with a proper G-chan-ee post...right now I'm just tired, sleepy, sad and list goes on...

^_^

Kitteh Challenges The Doggy!

2009-05-15T09:46:00.003+04:00

Oh man! They're so cute! <3

I Can Has Cheezeburger? - Lolcats

Best part, is when the puppy turns his head slowly to look at the kitteh! lol.

Ninja cat

2009-05-13T06:07:00.002+04:00

Tee-hee...I've been looking for this video for a while now.

Enjoy! =P

Wasabi Dare Part 2: Epic FAIL!

2009-05-13T05:17:00.007+04:00

It was torture!
TORTURE!
You know TORTURE?!
It was TORTURE! T__T

Where do I begin...

Mashallah Sarz ma qa9arat (she went wild) with the amount of Wasabi I'm to eat T__T and I'm 100% sure that it was more than what she had to eat .

*Oh God I can taste/smell Wasabi right now*

Anyways, we found a nice place outside Memento cafe, so basically it was a public display -_____- I prepared my water (which I shouldn't have done, should've gotten Aloe Vera instead...water made it worse *yuk*) bottle, tissue, Sarz had camera ready and the spoon full of disgusting Wasabi.

I was so nervous! I put it in my mouth quick and started counting to 5. First second or two, I felt nothing...just a weak smell. But then it HIT! and it hit HARD! First I got this burn down my throat. Then it traveled up my nose. Basically I was burning. I start squealing with my mouth closed. Putting my hand to face. Chewed. Squealed some more, then it was time to swallow. I was ready...I'm going to do it...I'm going to get free stuff yaay!! But wait a minute, what the hell?! My brain is saying swallow...but my throat is not doing anything.

SWALLOW DAMMIT SWALLOW!!

.....nothing.

Then I couldn't hold it in anymore...and hence, gagging starts. Oh the misery T__T I gagged like 3 times + tearing so much + turning RED, then Sarz hands me loads of tissues and tells me to spit it all out! Yes this was all in public...I hope no one was watching *looks left and right* =P

I spat so much out...but I still had so much in my mouth. I drank water. BIG MISTAKE. The water was cold and it just mushed the Wasabi together and made it harder to swallow! YUUUK! Then I started the process of calming down...and Sarz just laughed at me the whole time...and only apologized for laughing and not for making me do such a scary thing.

It will never be the same again with me and Wasabi. I don't know if my love for sushi is still on the same level after today T__T Everything smells like Wasabi at the moment. I ate so much food to get rid of it...but nothing T__T

*sigh* It was the toughest and scariest thing I had to ever do...jumping out of an airplane is NOTHING compared to eating, actually not eating...more like SWALLOWING Wasabi. Horrible horrible thing T__T

And I still have to watch the video...lol.

------------------------

Apparently Sarz, J, H and myself aren't the only ones who are suffering and complaining from R. It is shocking how she's just ambushing everyone when she doesn't even know them.

Sarz and I ran away from her 3 times today.

She was in the lab that we found refuge in (-___-) so we ended up going into a lab that's for first and second year students (-___-)
We were leaving the lab for lunch, and there she was out in the entrance of R-block...so we rushed back in to the lab and waited for 5 minutes till we went out again.
When we finished from lunch and entered R-block...there she was sitting on a chair in the entrance as if waiting for us to see which lab we'll go in to. Again, as soon as we saw her *made eye contact too* we went back out and started planning on which lab to go to. Sarz was watching her through the window and said to me that she went into the lab that we were working in before lunch T__T We just waited outside watching people play chess on the floor and suddenly she comes out, walks right in front of us without saying anything. What does that supposed to mean?! =D =D =D

R-block Entrance Chess game

3aysheen be ro3ob (we're living in a nightmare)!

Okay, back to researching for my Wiki article assignment.

Updated from uni

2b || !2b

2009-05-12T09:24:00.021+04:00

The title is just something random and has nothing to do with what I'm going to "talk" about but it has a meaning, and only programmers will get it ;-P

::: Lame...where should I start?! There is a time when a person can be lame, yet you still laugh because what they said/did was actually funny. But then there are times, where one says a joke that is lame beyond lame O_O to the point you just want to...you just want to...give them this disgusted look or a look that says "Laaame-eh =S"... *emphasis on the eh*

::: Wasabi Dare Part 2 is happening tomorrow, only I'M (Sarz is going to get her revenge lol) the one that's going to be eating the Wasabi. I'm actually nervous about it...but I KNOW I can do it! So wish me luck =P and from what I remember winner get's Frozen Coke (<3) and a Medium Popcorn (<3) to the next movie we go to (which hopefully will be on Friday).

::: Remember R?! Well she's still being a pain in the...e7m e7m. This creature will just not understand that we can't help her and yet she manages to ignore what we say and insist on us helping her. I truly feel I'm going to make her cry (by telling her the TRUTH) one day if she asks for help again. Believe it or not, she doesn't go to the effin' lectures and yet she's still has the courage to come and ask for help. HOW?!

And an example of her ignoring my cold "NO's":

R: "I will bring scarf tomorrow and you show me how to wear it ok!!"
G: "Sorry, but I'm really busy, got a lot of assignments to do."
R: "I will bring scarf and you show me how to wear it the same way you wear it ok!"
G: "-_____- I don't know, I'm busy...I have a lot of work to do."
R: "Okay. I will bring it anyway, and keep it in my bag and you show me when you free."
G: "Ummm...O....K! -______-"

I said the last line in a "what ever" kind of way.

So I've come to a conclusion where either my English sucks, or she doesn't understand me OR she doesn't want to listen to me! What the fudge! xD Haha...fudge *laugh's hysterically* @__@

::: Even though I'm busy with uni work, I still want to watch a kajillion things. I rented 5 movies:

X-Men
X-Men 2
X-Men 3: The Last Stand
Death Proof
Dream Catcher -- Oooh yeah...that's one cool name =P

I also want to watch Dexter Season 3 (can't wait) and I'm going to start watching all the episodes of the Simpsons as well. Right now I have season 1 =D *Thanx Sarz*

::: I got this black pen for free from a shop where I bought my Mama's present (for Mother's day...which she loved...Yay T_T) from and I'm loving the pen. So I ended up leaving it for drawing only and hence comes my new drawing which I have no name for yet (I shall consult some people for this...you know who you are ;-D), because it doesn't necessarily represent something, and this time I'm going to finish this drawing! I haven't drawn for a really long time and I've been "craving" to draw since January or something. So hopefully it's something I'll be able to share soon enough.

That's all from me...if Wasabi dare part 2 goes as planned then there shall be an update of how it went! For the mean time I have to stuff my nose in some books and do some research for my 15% worth Wiki Article assignment.

Fantastico!

[What's this?] A Salam and a Smile

2009-05-05T14:58:00.008+04:00

There is this saying that goes like..."a smile is contagious", right?! WRONG!!

So the Muslims, especially the Arabs, have this problem with smiling back when someone smiles at them AND...get this, when someone says "AL SALAMU ALAIKUM" to them also. I seriously don't get that @_@ This has been a "abnormality" since a long time, but it seems to get worse and worse as years go by.

So there are situations where I'm walking in one direction and a Muslim girl (particularly the Saudi's and Somalians) heading in the opposite direction. So basically we pass by each other. Us being "sisters" in Islam we should at least say Salam or if too lazy 8-\, then smile. But apparently, smiling has become a mission itself O.o In both cases, I get no reaction *fashla*. Once I said "Salamu alaikum" and smiled too. All I got was a long stare and no reply.

G: "O....K! What was that about?! O.o"

So after that, I just smiled to any Muslima I see, but still no use with some *don't want to generalize*

I remember another occasion that happened a while back, where Sara and I were at Bongo filling (=P) our containers with sushi, and there was this Muslima with her husband, looking around seeing what's there to eat. The place somehow got crowded and Sara and I stood against the wall waiting for people to clear the place so we can select the sushi we want. The girl passed RIGHT infront of us. She was looking at us hard out so I smiled and guess what?! She looks away =S Then Sara tells me...

Sara: "I just smiled at that lady and she ignored me O.o"
G: "Even me. I smiled and she ignored...how rude =S"

This is something I really don't like. Fine, if you don't want to smile back okay, but when someone says el salam, you should most probably reply back - rodoo el salam. Also, when they flippin stare it's as if it's the first time they see an Arab, Mu7ajaba (wearing a scarf), Muslim girl. That's just weird, because Mashallah there are many mu7ajabat at uni from all over the Middle East + Asia. So what's the problem exactly?

This doesn't happen with the majority of the non-Arabs/Muslims, it's more like they take the "first move" and they don't stare much either (and if they do stare, then it'd be because of the scarf - 7ejab, which in a way is understandable), which I find disappointing knowing that our fellow "sisters" (in our case) don't do that even though they don't take the "first move"!

(^______^)

Wasabi Dare!

2009-05-04T08:39:00.010+04:00

Woochooooooooooooooooooooh!! ^o^

So I declared a dare sometime last week...ehm, ehm.
This dare involves Sara eating a SPOON full of Wasabi, keeping it in her mouth for 5 seconds, chew it, then swallow. If she clears all stages of the dare, I treat to her to unlimited sushi for a day and a medium (which is like HUGE) size pop-corn <3 to the next movie we go to.

One might ask, what is Wasabi?

Well Wikipedia says:

Wasabi is a member of the Brassicaceae (G: "ay?!") family, which includes cabbages, horseradish and mustard. Known as "Japanese horseradish", its root is used as a spice and has an extremely strong flavour. Its hotness is more related to that of a hot mustard than the capsaicin in a pepper, producing vapors that irritate the nasal passages more than the tongue.

So basically it burns the hell out of your nose lol.

Not very appetizing is it?! hehe...

I know what Wasabi tastes like. I don't mind it...I just have to be in the mood to eat it. Plus I can't stand it by itself, I have to mix it with Soy Sauce. But point being, I know how horrible it is to first timers =P

So the dare took place at lunch time today. Being the mean person I am, I took a HUGE amount of Wasabi from our favorite restaurant Bongo. I set the scene *Dexter* for Sara:

Big Piece of Tissue - Check
Aloe Vera Juice - Check
Camera - Check
Spoon full of Wasabi - CHECK!

And we waited....

Sara closes the gap between the spoon full of Wasabi and her mouth. The next second you know it, the Wasabi has reached it's destination xD

1.2.3.4.5 seconds pass. Sara goes to second stage! *She's actually doing this*

Chew chew chew......

Then it HITS! The vapors from the Wasabi has finally gotten to her nose. Sara grabs the tissue quickly and spits all the Wasabi out (though she swallowed the rest that was still in her mouth...but that doesn't count =P)...it was too much to handle. Then tears started coming, due to the effect of Wasabi on the nose. Then the "swearing at G" happened....

After Sara calmed down I declared victory, shook hands with Sara and told her I was proud of her for attempting such a hard/crazy dare T__T

I honestly thought she was going to be able to do it, complete the tasks...but I guess it was just too much Wasabi. One small bit in the mouth can do damage. Imagine a spoon full xD

*Applauds Sara*

--------------

R came to ask for help about something stupid today. I swear it's either she's lucky, or I'm massively unlucky. As soon as I entered the doors of R-block, she comes out of one of the labs. My morning just went down the drain because of her...I was on the verge of tears after Sara saved (again) me.

One person can ruin your mood but then there is/are friend(s) that just make your whole flippin' DAY! T__T

[What's this?] Patience test

2009-04-30T13:40:00.012+04:00

Warning: The following post may disturb some people...naaah...it's just a really long post! Really!

It's been a while...since I (8) talked about a thing I "hate". As you can see, "I hate" has been changed to "Segment #" due to "hate" being a really harsh, too strong word to use =P

R: girl that won't stop asking for help!
G: yours truly
Sara: classmate
J: classmate
H: classmate

So! It's the end of the 7th week of uni. So uni work is starting to get heavy, right?! Now the thing is, there's this girl (R) who won't stop asking for help with her assignments! She asks me, Sara, and 2 other classmates of mine. We're basically starting to pull our hair out. At first, in the BEGINNING, we felt sorry for her. We said she's new, doesn't know the system yet...so let's help her out. And that's exactly what we did but I guess some people just have to abuse the good things they get -____-

I don't know about my 3 other classmates, but I think I'm the most that's suffered with her. She seems to find me where ever I am *cries* The thing I hate about her is when she starts complementing me, then over complementing just to get me to help her out. sheeeeeeeesh!! God I seriously can't stand that especially if it was for THAT purpose. Another thing I don't like is when she says stuff like "Ooh I'm new here, and I don't know anyone. Everything's so hard so please help me!".... no comment. She uses those exact words every time she needs help. Honestly honestly, any day now I'm waiting for her just to say "could you do my assignments for me" xD lol...wallah!

I don't want to come off as a heartless person, but seriously there are limits. I'll be really happy to help out anyone if they're actually willing to try to solve/research/read (for flips sake) the assignment before giving up from the start and going to someone for help. This girl wouldn't even try to read or search for things that may help her with her assignments. The worst thing also, is she misses lectures and she asks for notes as soon as she sees the person that's with her in that class. This happened yesterday, where one of our mates (H) came , he said his Salam to us and was going to ask us if we were prepared for the test (I'm assuming) but she just cuts him and asks straight away...

R: "do you have the lecture notes for <paper name>, I didn't go to the lecture you know."

...will is it his problem you didn't go?! The look on his face was just utter annoyance and I actually said out loud "Ya ellahy" (oh my God) when she started asking him for the notes. As for today...it was pretty messed up/hilarious. I arrived at R-block and there she was sitting on a chair.

R: "Hi, Ghofran...where is J?"
G: "Hey! I have no idea."
R: "When will she come?"
G: "I have no idea."
R: "Did you see her at uni today?"
G: "Nope. I just came to uni."
R: "You just came?"
G: "Yeah....ok, see ya"

I go into the nearest lab and started working on my huge COMP451 assignment. J came in, sat next to me, we talked about the assignment and helped each other with things. Then R came in...deh deh deh deeeeeh! She sat next to J and the questions started pouring out!

"help me!", "how do you do this?", "I have no idea what to do?", "Can you show me what you did? I won't copy I just want an idea."

...and on and on she went. God gave J and myself the patience to deal with her. First to suffer was J. Sara came in and straight away sat far away from us so she wouldn't have to deal with R xD J eventually got fed up and changed her position. So I was left alone, with that girl asking me a kajilion questions per minute. Now the CRAZY thing is, the lecturer gave us an EXAMPLE code on how to go about attempting the assignment. I kept telling her to use it as help, but she just wouldn't effin' listen!!!

Earlier on, when Sara came in I had asked her let's go to lunch and then change the lab to avoid R. But she wanted to do a bit of reading before heading for lunch. Though in the end, she was my savior! xD At least after 15-20minutes of me suffering, she came and stood next to me, ready to leave. I guess she wanted to put me out of the worthless misery I was in xD

R: "So sorry Sara you have to wait."
Sara: "Yeah yeah! Hurry up G."

I started rushing with R, and kinda ditched her in a place where I needed to do more explaining! But heck! I wanted to get out of there asap *cries* Sushi made my day!

So we left J in the lab...alone...with R. We asked her to join us, but she wanted to stay and work. We were having lunch and Sara started telling me:

Sara: "G you seriously have to do something about this girl...5ala9, this is too much!"
G: "I know. That's it...if she asks for help, I'll tell her sorry I can't. I already have too much work on my hands, she's not the only one with assignments =(. I can't believe what she's doing. You know Sara...ana aste7ee when I come and ask any of you guys (friends) for help. Like you guys are my friends and yet I don't want to annoy you or bother you."
Sara: "WTF!?"
G: "Wallah Ma ye3jibnee!!"
Sara: "Bes it's 3adi >.<"
G: "anyways, we have to find a better place to do our work."
Sara: "We should go into R1, sit in that far corner so if people pass by the door they won't be able to find us."
G: "hahahaha!! Yes, that's a perfect place."

We headed back to R-block and who comes out...poor J.

Sara, G: "Hey! How was it?"
J: puts hands on face "aaargh...marah hell!"
G: "where are you going?"
J: "to commit suicide."
Sara, G: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Miskeena. See you."

Here's the funny part, we had to SNEAK!! Yes!! Sneak into the lab we decided to work in, just so she doesn't see us through the window of the lab she's in.

Sara: "You go first."

Okay only Sara can explain to you how I went in.

Sara's explanation:

Well, we had to sneak in like soldiers undercover. I yelled at you "go go go !" and pushed you on your back. And you like bounced to the door in a weird way, its like your knees were gonna touch your chin, and entered bsur3a (fast) then turned back and gave me the all clear. I counted to 10 then did the same thing, but without the weird bouncing.

The way I opened the door and how fast I got into the lab, freaked the hell out the people that were in the lab. Though I was laughing hard out...they probably thought I was crazy or something xD Then Sara comes in a few seconds after me! It was like as if she was doing something wrong lool! So we sat down. I wanted to get my papers out of my bag and guess what?! They're not there >.< I left them in the other lab where R is in.

G: "I can't find my papers O.O"
Sara: =O
G: "They're in the other lab =S"
Sara: "G, if she asks for help, just tell her sorry, I have too much work to do. You do have a lot of work to do you know!"
G: "Yup yup"

Goes into the lab and as soon as she saw me going in and heading towards her, the look on her face was "There is hope after all" >.< My papers were right next to her and as soon as I came to pick them up...

R: "Please help me Ghofran...I don't know what to do."
G: "Hi! So sorry, but I have so much work to do right now...don't have time."
R: "=(...ok but can you help me with submitting the assignment on Monday?!"
G: *major eye-rolling* "yeah ok, see ya"

I actually got angry. Seriously! Submitting the assignment?!! How did she flippin' submit the previous one?! O.O So anyways, went back to the lab and was able to work and read peacefully with out any annoying disturbances.

So the thing I don't understand is...she's a masters student. Basically someone who's finished their bachelors degree and therefore has way more knowledge and control on how to do everything. I also don't understand why she wouldn't use resources giving to her, like google, books, and the friggin' good example (which most of my coding is based on) giving to us by the lecturer. Why?! WHYYY?! At least she should try to do it before asking for help. Also, what is with the excuses and the complementing?! God that is just weak and lame! It's the 7th week of uni...how can she not know anyone else but us?! I remember when Sara and I were 1st years, we made a lot of friends (not for the sake of getting help, but for the sake of having FRIENDS) who till now we know and talk to, but it's tough with those from other departments, but still. Yeeeeeesh!!

I don't know what to say, but these kinds of people annoy me so much! The over-doers especially who abuse the fact they are getting help and just want to take the easy way out. Messed up! I seriously don't know how she will pass like this =S

Bleeh, I don't know bes (but) it seriously got out of hand, and I blame myself!

Yes! My patience has been greatly tested and hence that is why I'm becoming less and less patient every day...which kinda sucks. I've always been the patient person, but seriously someone who get's put in this kind of situation, can't help it.

Hey! That felt good =P

Amazing stuff!

2009-04-24T15:00:00.007+04:00

Seether ft. Amy Lee - Broken (Guitar Solo)

Tabla + Metal = FUN

Uum...ignore the stuff at the end =P lol

Spine chilling ghost footage

2009-04-24T14:56:00.004+04:00

O_O .....

Beautiful sushi!

2009-04-22T14:01:00.005+04:00

The photo explains it's self! <3

This is only 1 section...the fried/marinated section. There's another section right next to it which has all the raw stuff *beautiful* <3

Shot taken by none other than Sara!

Some more photos taken on that same day here

=D

From Uni...

2009-04-20T03:26:00.005+04:00

So it wasn't a good idea to go walking back to uni after all. Today is a very rainy day and at first I was enjoying the rain under my umbrella but then it got out of control due to the wind.

*sigh* I have no idea what got me out of bed this morning, but one thing I know for sure, it was by force. My 9am (-____-) lecture couldn't get anymore boring then how it was today. I really wanted to walk out. My headphones had broke so music wasn't there to help =(

I figured that I wouldn't survive the day without music (discovered that I'm a super music addict) so I walked back home, in the nice rain (that time), and decided to drop by the big shopping store in front of our house to hunt for some headphones. I bought them, dropped by home and picked up my lunch, then walked back to uni.

Mama wanted to drop me off, but I insisted that I'd walk because I enjoyed it and needed it =P Though I regretted it after wards. It rained so hard that my bag got so wet. My bag has this front pocket where I keep my Phone and MP3 player and guess what!? They were BOTH soaking wet! *laughs hysterically* I took out my MP3 player and started drying it. I "ignored" my phone because it was already dying (didn't care about it much xD)...I can't loose my MP3 player too *cries*

Got to R-block and headed straight to the "rest-rooms" and started drying up my bag under that thing that dries your hands xD And here I am...sitting in the labs, wanting to start on my COMP462 assignment that's due on Wednesday, but instead I'm blogging xD

....

[Music] Don Omar - Virutal Diva

2009-04-19T11:06:00.007+04:00

Ok! So I can't get enough of this song. Yes!! It's THAT good. True, not completely my type and I can't understand a single word sung because it's in Spanish - a hot language (=P ) and one that I enjoy hearing, if I may add. But the music in this song is absolutely...awesome! It's really really put together nicely. Doesn't sound all over the place. Loving the trumpets and the techno-ish piano (?) *that's what it sounds like to me* Just an excellent electropop, hip hop song!

Oh and this song is in the soundtrack of the new "Fast and Furious" movie.

<3 <3 <3

Hmmm...

2009-04-18T12:15:00.008+04:00

- Uni starts on Monday. A big -____________- to that! Bleh...a 9am class first day back...which I'm going to force myself to go to.
Goodbye staying and waking up late. Goodbye movies...I love you! xD Goodbye anime and Waqas (acoustic guitar). The reason why I'm saying all this is because I know this part of the semester is going to be crazy. Projects + assignments + final tests will all be magically squashed into our timetable >.< *pulls hair out*

- 2 more episodes left of Dexter Season 1 and I don't know why I haven't seen them yet, since they're the finales! The last 2 episodes that I watched have shown me the other side of Dexter. The weak/fragile side. Which is awesome...just shows that even a heartless (at a certain level) person still has such a side. But for some reason I didn't like it. I liked the strong/cold and somewhat evil side of him =P This time Dexter reminded me of Light-kun, last episode, of Death Note! I want to make time just to watch this series (season 2 and 3), even though I shouldn't for I heard (from Sara) that it only get's better and more addictive. Dangerous O.o

- Somehow, and shockingly, I'm starting to enjoy listening to RnB and Hip Hop. Not all songs but just the ones that stand out to me. But still, RnB/Hip Hop for a Rocker...really-eh?! I think if electric guitars were added to those genres I'd probably be into them...but then they wouldn't be what they are, right?! xD *I feel I'm talking gibberish*

- Mocha heavenly sachets (that's what I call them now xD) are back in my life. I had finished the packet and kind of suffered for 4-5 days without drinking a cup a day. My addiction for them has increased to the point that today I wanted to have another cup. But I don't think that'd be a good idea =P

- I kinda ditched "Nothing Else Matters" even though I'm progressing in it, but "Path" and "The Unforgiven",by Apocalyptica, both kinda pulled me to learn them. I'm really really enjoying playing "Path" seriously that piece of music totally rocks! But again, today I decided to look up Stuart Chatwood (music composer of Prince of Persia games) to see if someone was kind enough to upload the tabs for "Attack at Sea" but No! -____- Instead I found "Escape the Dahaka". Damn that's one great piece as well! So I'm learning it as well just before uni starts! <3

Now if only I had an electric guitar! *dreams*

That's it from me ^__^

George Bush Impersonation xD

2009-04-18T07:33:00.004+04:00

Hahahaha...he's too good! xD

Bathroom concert series

2009-04-14T15:34:00.011+04:00

John Myer and Ellen

I don't know...but I just found myself laughing hard while watching this! They were so into it xD
*John Myer O.o....<3* =P

Jennifer Hudson and Ellen

This one was also funny *hint hint - 3:12 xD*...yet good!

^__^