Bhagwan Mahaveer Road and a church in Bangalore, India

Time to head back to the airport ... told you it was a short visit to Bangalore, in secular India!

You better believe it ... Do Not Drink and Drive!

Otto's are everywhere! Sort of like an Indian version of the Thai Tuk-Tuk or Filipino Jeepney!

Briyani and Aloo Gobi, Bangalore - India

We had a little lamb briyani with some kurd, delicious :-)

No meal in India is complete for me without ... Aloo Gobi, potatoes and cauliflower.

37th Crescent Hotel, Bangalore - India

Add: 37 Crescent Road, High Grounds, Crescent Road, Seshadripuram, Bangalore, Karnataka 560001, India
Tel: +91 80 4037 3737

Welcome to 37th Crescent ...


"Refreshingly different" is an interesting tagline for any hotel :-) The hotel reminded me of a little home, which was nice!


We checked in at 7:30am ... had breakies immediately, showered, rested for a few minutes ... and checked out at 8:30am, thanks to our delayed Air India flight :-(


View from the balconey ... pity we didn't have enough time to enjoy the hotel (or Bangalore)!

My first visit to Bengaluru ... Oops, Bengalore, India!

Bangalore or Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka, and better known as the Silicone Valley of India. Seems it is the third most populated city in India. These are a few photos from my first visit here, and it turned out to be a very busy 11 hour whistle-stop business visit!

We were impressed by the cleanliness, the cool climate as well as the great local airport :-)


Welcome to India!


A mad blue bus who was carving and cutting everyone up!


Passed by a nice parkland golf course on the way to our hotel...

Its been a while since I last flew to India! KLIA - Bombay - Bangalore, MH194

Always keeping myself hydrated on flights ... pink guava, orange and ... hic ... Tiger too!


I rather enjoyed the meal served on ...
Flight: MH 194
Route: KUL - BOM (Kuala Lumpur KLIA - Mumbai)
Time: 8:15pm - 10:40pm

Note the lime pickle and traditional roti served :-) MAS has certainly picked up the pieces, and improved. Another bearable flight!


Pity... the connecting flight to Bengaluru (Bangalore) was much delayed, grrrr!
Flight: Air India, AI 620
Route: Mumbai (BOM) to Bangalore (BLR)
Time: Supposed to be ... 1:30am - 3:20am , but various technical glitches meant the flight left at about 4am ... we got to BLR at 6am!

Whats even worse ... When we arrived from KL at Mumbai airport, we had to go through multiple security checkpoints, wait in very long queues for really severe baggage scanning and checking, blah blah ... We couldn't believe there were so many people at the airport past midnight!

Flight MH705 back to Malaysia ... Yay!

Flight: MH 705
Route: Manila - KLIA

Thanks to a 2 hour delay, we managed to catch a last minute flight back to KL :-)


Very ordinary-tasting chicken with noodles ... Couldn't wait to arrive in KL for some proper food!


Lucky me ... had ALL these seats to myself!

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines

A rainy afternoon in Manila bid us farewell...


Arrival at the Ninoy Aquino Manila International Airport


View from the airport...


Be prepared to see LOTS of people at this rather basic airport...


ps. This was a photo I should have posted earlier, of the Immigration checkpoint at Arrivals, note the hand-sanitizer in-light of the H1N1 outbreak.

Another rainy day in Manila ... Time to say goodbye

It was really rainy weather in the Philippines in mid-July ...

Time to say goodbye to the Philippines ...

Price of gas or petrol in Manila, Philippines

Price of gas or petrol in the Philippines is ... RM$2.74 per litre. That's pricey by Malaysian standards! I believe its still RM$1.80 per litre in "tanahair" of Malaysia ... :-)

Pork Sisig, Makati - Phillipines

Hmm ... perhaps an acquired taste! This is Pork Sisig.


Funny that Anthony Bourdain describes it as a "mosaic of pig parts"!!

An interesting sour soup, with long beans and slices of aubergine. Interesting!

Breakies again at the Mandarin Oriental, Makati

A really good selection of different breakfast meals at Mandarin Oriental ... I tried them all!

English ....


Oriental ...


Japanese and Indian too!

Night in Manila, Philippines

It was a really short visit to Manila, these were about the only non-hotel and non-office photos I took! A rainy night in Manila...


What's MFHRI? Manila Floating Hotel and Restaurant :-)
This ship is docked at Pier 15, in the port area of Manila near the hotel relic that is known as the Manila Hotel.

Statue of Jose Rizal (1861 - 1896) ...

Shangri-La Makati, Manila - Shang Palace Chinese dinner

Add: Ayala Avenue, corner of Makati Avenue, Manila 1200, Philippines
Tel: +63 2 813 8888

Possibly the most elegant hotel in Manila ... this is the Shangri-La :-)


We were taken to dinner at the ubiquitous Shang Palace.


The food turned out to be reasonably good, I especially enjoyed the sweet and sour pork with almonds :-) SLURRRRP!

Breakfast time at Makati's Mandarin Oriental - Philippines

Breakies at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati, Philippines.


Ah... a nice fry-up, with PORK. Bliss :-)
The pork sausages with hints of tomatoes and other herbs were superb .... I think I had three!


Finished off the meal with something a little healthier ... fresh local fruits, including pomelo.


Wanna know what Makati is?

The City of Makati, or simply Makati, is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the greater metropolitan area of the national capital of the Philippines. It is the major financial, commercial and economic hub in the Philippines, often referred to as the financial capital of the Philippines since many global companies have their offices and headquarters in the city.

Mandarin Oriental, Makati - Philippines

Add: Makati Avenue , Metro Manila, Makati , Luzon 1226, Philippines

Welcome to ... Mandarin Oriental.

Old world charm bathroom...

This is what the club room looks like on the 4th floor, clean, reasonably spacious, and a very comfy bed. Nice!

My first flight to Manila ... Super satay on MAS!

Flight: MAS MH704
Time: 12:00pm - 3:50pm
Route: KLIA - Manila

Ah... got my favourite seat (Two in fact!) all to myself ... Emergency Exit aisle seat :-) all the legroom in the world!


Hmmm ... on my first flight and trip to the Phillipines, I wasn't initially impressed by the styrofoam box of food. Hmmm .. but the Ferrero Rochers perked me up!


Best of all, when I unwrapped the golden foil ... there was some delicious looking satay sauce starring at me, and the three skewers of beef satay and the rice turned out to be delicious too. WELL DONE, MAS! MH does stand for MALAYSIAN HOSPITALITY now ... :-)

Porkfest 6 - Breakfast buffet at Eng Ann Restaurant, Klang

Time: 9am, Sunday

Been here many dozens a time over the years but decided to return just as BG was sending me off to KLIA ... Nothing like a Klangy Buffet-style Breakfast!!

Some last minute pork ... char siew "wan tan mee" , which was rather dry and unspectacular. Should have taken Aunty's chicken rice instead, one of my favourites!


Chee Cheong Fun was also rather average ... At least the pork balls were good!


Ah ... the highlight! The really good nasi lemak here, with excellent sambal mixed with a touch of chicken curry/rendang gravy. Magnifique!


Sigh... it will be at least a month before I eat like a king again :-(

Porkfest 5 - Pork ribs, Roast pork and Jamon at Vintry!

Time: 10pm, Saturday

Add: 130 Jalan Kasah , Medan Damansara , KL
Located: The row behind OCBC , Jakes , Victoria Station , Sri Ayudthya
Tel: +603 2o94 8262

The Pork Fest continues in seriously non-halal ... Vintry, Damansara Heights!


We love this! Caramalised Siew Yoke aka Roast Pork ... gorgeous!

Jamon with Melon, dissapointing. The flavours of the ham just didn't seem right...

The BBQ Pork Ribs, served on a bed of delicious to-die-for mashed potatoes, divvvvine!

This was an outstanding choice, fine value too ...

Trapiche Oak Cask - Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, RM$79

ps - This was an outstandingly delicious, memorable and enjoyable early birthday celebration ... Thanks BBgirl :-)

Hoyo de Monterrey - Epicure No. 2 cigar

One of our favourites at the moment ... flavoursome yet mild-moderately strong, and just a fantastic after-dinner cigar :-) Ah ... quite perfect!

At the duty-free in Abu Dhabi, its priced a little higher then Romeo and Julieta, but below Cohiba. Good value!


stogieguys.com
When it comes to premium cigars from the forbidden island, Hoyo de Monterrey generally takes a backseat to more familiar brands like Cohiba and Montecristo. My recent sit-downs with a few Epicure No. 2s, however, suggest Hoyo shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.
José Gener established Hoyo in 1865 in Vuelta Abajo, a fertile region of Cuba nestled in the southern part of the Órganos Mountains. In 2001, Cigar Aficionado called this place the “land of the world’s best cigar leaves.”
Take a good look at an Epicure No. 2 and it’s easy to see why. This is a clean and elegant stick that measures four and 7/8 inches with a 50 ring gauge. It sports a beautiful, seamless, yellow-tinted wrapper that’s almost flawless and a nostalgic red, white, and gold band.

Its not all about pork ... I love goreng pisang too!

Time: 5pm, Saturday

Even in the limited time I had in KL recently , I squeezed in some pork-free time ... Here's our favourite Goreng Pisang, found in Klang :-)

Add: End of Jalan Batu Unjur 6, Bayu Perdana, Klang
Located: Down the road from Restaurant Chia Siang, near the "u-turn" off the main road

Nescafe followed by Goreng Pisang, that has a perfect batter and is delicately fried. Priced to perfection too at 5 or 6 pcs per ringgit. Nice! I love Malaysia!

Porkfest 4 - Kon Loh Mee aka Wan Tan Mee, Wah Chai, Klang

Time: 4pm, Saturday
Add: Wah Chai Kopitiam, Lorong Batu Nilam 1D, Bukit Tinggi - Klang

Been here a dozen or so times but I still like this place :-)


ps. This was just one of the MANY meals I had on my whistle-stop stop-over in Klang/Malaysia en route to ... Manila!

Porkfest on hold ... Time for some divine Chicken Rice in Klang!

Time: 10am, Saturday

Time for a short break from pork ... Klang's finest, and possibly one of Malaysia's finest, CHICKEN RICE. Deeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious, chicken that is so perfectly marinated and steamed, with a texture to die for, and a divine chilli sauce dip! This is ... Tan Kia Lock's "Top1" CHICKEN RICE.

Add: Jalan Gelugor / Jalan Meru, Klang city centre (You will have to brave the jams till end-09!)
Located: Oppsite Maybank and Chi Liung Plaza (Now, CIMB and LHDN)
Tel: Tan Kia Lok - +6016 284 6962


The dips ... Best chicken rice chilli I have ever had, AND ... the Ginger is perfect, not surprising when it is a blend of the expensive stuff from Bentong, mixed with some less powerful stuff, to get the perfect balance!


Special soya sauce dip too...


Generous portion of cucumbers alongside, and a really delicious chicken soup.


Chicken ... perfecto!


We were in for a treat ... the really pleasant chef made us a couple of Chicken Rice Balls as a special favour. Fantastic! Note that this isn't on the regular menu, just hope that Tan Kia Lok is feeling generous :-)

Porkfest 3 - Beerfest at Brussels Beer Cafe, Jaya One

Add: Brussels Beer Cafe @ L-20-G, Block L, Jaya One, PJ
Tel: +603 7954 2000

Time: 11pm, Friday

One doesn't come to Brussels, Jaya One, to have a bite ... though the food is actually quite decent. This was the 3rd installment of pork upon my return to KL, Caramalised Pork Belly which was fat, covered in sticky sweet black sauce, yummm....

Here's why we visit Brussels!


Crown Lager ... smooth, strong and fabulous!
Country of origin: Australia


Stella Artois on tap too ... nice!
Country of origin: Belgium

BG's choice ... dark, smooth, interesting and mysterious Leffe!
Country of origin: Belgium

I like Hoegaarden too, which is what Brussels Beer Cafe specalises in!

Country of origin: Netherlands


Be warned ... Brussels Beer Cafe gets REALLY packed on the weekend nights ... Ended up having a drink at the nearby Two Monkeys Satay Bar & Cafe first! Tiger Beer!

Country of origin: Singapore

Overall, it was a great evening with fellow penguins, J and V, getting plastered on ice cold beer ... I like Brussels!

Porkfest 2 - I love eating at home!

Time: 8pm, Friday

I had asked mum and dad for a home cooked meal when I got home ... and I was treated to some BKT as well as Siew Yoke. Divvvvvine porkfest continues :-)

And of course mum and Y cooked up a storm ... there were other dishes, non porky ones, too!

Don't get any seafood in Abu Dhabi ... so it was a real treat to have some fish and prawns!

Porkfest 1 - Surprise visit home to Malaysia!

Time: 4pm, Friday

Made a surprise, albeit very short, visit home to Malaysia ... and here was my first meal upon arrival, thanks mum! Char siew ... drooooool, after an abstinence from pork for nearly one month!


Then it was some goreng pisang from our favourite stall in Taman Chi Liung ... I like!


Now ... this is what I call COMFORT FOOD!

Takeaway dinner from Lulu Hypermarket - Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi

Add: Lulu Hypermarket - Khalidiyah Mall, P.O.Box: 4048, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 2 635 4100

For a reasonably priced meal, with a decent selection of dishes, look no further then your local Lulu Hypermarket. Went to the one in Khalidiyah Mall one evening, and picked up some fried rice (AED 4), Chicken with Potatoes (AED 8), and Mushrooms with Sweet Corn (AED 3).


Not the best of meals .... the mushrooms were cold, and the chicken was overly salty :-( I miss home!

Another meal at Golden Fork, Khailidiyah - Abu Dhabi

Located: Near Sheraton Khalidiya, Khalidiya Gardens
Tel: +971 26 673 121

Oops ... forgot to fix the white balance when taking this shot, of the complimentary "Noodle soup" with "garlic toast" starter :-)


Tonight's menu ... SM chose the Beef with vegetables, and me .... my regular favourite BBQ Chicken with Egg Fried Rice.


I remember babe_kl 's comments before, aiks how come the dishes all have dark dark sauce? So ... we ordered a chicken curry, and phew ... it didn't come with dark sauce!


ps - This has officially become my most frequented restaurant in AD, probably cos' of its proximity to "home"!

Toyota Previa or Estima MPV - Interior close-up

As seen in Wikipedia ...
The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima (エスティマ) in Japan and the Toyota Tarago in Australia, is an MPV or multi-purpose vehicle (known as a minivan in North America) produced by Toyota Motor Corporation since 1990.
This is .... The third generation was introduced in 2006 in the Japanese and Australian markets as Estima and Tarago, respectively, and as the Previa elsewhere. Features include an available second-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive drivetrain, automatic parallel and back-in parking, track-mounted second row reclining seats with footrests, and power-folding split third row seats. It was facelifted in 2009.

drivearabia.com

Pricing : RM$/AED/Dhs 97,000 - 112,000

The new-for-2006 Toyota Previa we picked up from the dealer is a rather attractive vehicle in its own right. It is quite possibly the Japanese firm's most daring design, and its unique detailing look like they were inspired by Star Trek. It looked positively modern next to our personal Supra, which looks so 1980s that if it were black, you'd expect that guy from Knight Rider to pop out of it. The Previa has some amusing features, like the power-operated sliding side doors and upward-opening rear tailgate, both of which can be operated by buttons inside or even by a remote, so as to scare passing bystanders when it is parked.

I like the Previa, does what it says on the tin ... drives you from A to B, with little fanfare and drama! And here in the land of the desert, a full tank will set you back under RM$75. Can't go wrong with that!

Tri-nation lunch from Lulu Express, Mazyad Mall - Abu Dhabi

Add: Mazyad Mall, Mussafa, PO Box 4048, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 2 553 2233

Resisted having pot noodles for lunch again today, got some food from the local Lulu Express (A huge supermarket chain in Abu Dhabi). International lunch, ie food from 3 countries, what a treat!

Indian ... Aloo Ghobi, 4.70 AED


Filipino ... Can't remember the name of this dish, but it was a very tasty stir fried beef. 4.10 AED.


Chinese ... Fried rice w Chicken, 4.70 AED


The new Mazyad Mall at Mussafa is a refreshing change from all the desert landscape around this industrial area :-) Can't argue with the value from Lulu Supermarket too, I like!

Chinese meal at Golden Fork, Khalidiya - Abu Dhabi, UAE

Located: Near Sheraton Khalidiya, Khalidiya Gardens
Tel: +971 26 673 121

Golden Fork is a little eatery, which is really good value for this expensive city, in the heart of Khalidiyah, next to the Sheraton. After popping by at the Sheraton for 2 pints each (total of four) of Amstel Lite, which only cost 50 AED (RM$50 for FOUR!), we wandered over to ... Golden Fork, for our chinese dinner. SLURPPP... we were hunggggry!


This was my third visit here. The first two times were simply takeaway experiences (Really good bbq chicken, and half-decent nasi goreng), but this time we sat-down and had a proper meal :-) Fried rice, and a really good mixed vegetables with lots of oyster-sauce type gravy. I like!


The manchurian chicken was a little "kwai-loh" for my liking, and the hoi-sin beef was half decent. Overall, it was still a good meal, and we were stuffed :-) About 33 AED per head, well priced!

Smile, though your heart is aching - Goodbye Michael Jackson

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...



If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...



Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...



Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...



If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile...

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile




Wikipedia history ...
"Smile" is a pop song, originally used as an instrumental theme in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while the words were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. In the lyrics, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow, just as long as they smile.
Michael Jackson covered this song on his 1995 double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. During the final concerts of Jackson's HIStory World Tour, it was sung and dedicated to Princess Diana.
Jermaine Jackson sang Smile at his brother Michael's memorial service on July 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Price of gas in Abu Dhabi and the UAE

Oops ... the car was running low on gas. I had heard all about how cheap the fuel in the middle east was, after all people say its cheaper then drinking water, so this was my first visit to a petrol kiosk in Abu Dhabi!

Expect full service, they have attendants serving each and every car here. Nice!

A full tank of gas for a large MPV such as a Toyota Estima or Previa is ... 74 AED here (That's RM$72 ... not bad eh!).

OK, here's the math :-)

1 litre of premium unleaded in the UAE is ...
RM$ 1.334
GBP 0.233
Euro 0.269
USD$ 0.374

Or, if you want to do the math in gallons ... 1 gallon of premium unleaded in the UAE is ...

RM$ 6.071 , or GBP 1.058 , or Euro 1.223 , or USD$1.701

Krispy Kreme Donuts - Available in Abu Dhabi!

Krispy Kreme Donuts ... Original glazed, no other :-) . Best 4 AED I have spent in AD!

Picked up this buy one get one free offer from Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi tonight ... went perfect with my Nescafe (Thanks L and V!) imported from M'sia!

ps. My second visit to Krispy Kreme :-) so addictive!

Noodles and chicken takeaway, Lulu Hypermarket - Khalidiyah Mall

Add: Lulu Hypermarket - Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Tel: +971 2 635 4300

Another takeaway dinner for me, this time from the Khalidiyah Mall's supermarket (Yes, its called Lulu!). There's a chinese, indian, arabic, and even italian kitchen, I chose the chinese.

Under 4 AED for some fried noodles with chicken ... Tasty!

Garlic chicken ... RM$8 (slightly over 8 AED). Average tasting ... the onions were really pungent!

Ah... the receipt!

Oasis Chinese Take-away at Khalidiyah's Choithram

Oasis Chinese Restaurant - Various venues across Abu Dhabi and Dubai :-) This particular meal was purchased at Choithram supermarket in the Khalidiyah area of Abu Dhabi. Located across from Sheraton Khalidiyah, it's easily located.

Hmmm... I was surprised with the chilli sauce and especially the green pickled chilli which came with the meal.


I like the simple motto ... Our quality can't be copied :-) My choice for the evening was plain rice with a generous helping of bbq chicken in a delicious sauce. Good! Good value as well, 12 AED or RM$12.

Lebanese Flower Grill, Khalidiyah - Lebanese bread and a delicious mixed grill!

Location: Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 665 8700
Located: Behind Electra and 26th Street
Opening hours: 7am-3am daily

Located in the Khalidiyah area of Abu Dhabi, one of town's most famous (and good value!) restaurants, the Lebanese Flower Grill. SLURRRP!


Starters ... Hmmm, not sure what these balls were called, but they were delicious, as was the little salad. Humus was complimentary, perhaps cos' the 4 of us ordered so much food! There was also some rather delicious pitta-type bread.


Britishexpats.com
Best Grill Mix:Restaurant Name: Lebanese FlowerLocation:1)Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club, near blood bank, on the same line of Maroosh and Abu Saeed.2)Abu Dhabi, Khaldiya, you can miss it, its in the back between Choitram, KM and Muhairi Centre.3)Abu Dhabi, Defense Road just after the Wahda mall signal.
Cleanness: 8/10
Eat In: Recommended, also available family sections.
Take Away: Very good service and heavy ques ups in weekends, delivery service not so bad when not busy.
My recommendations: Sandwiches from the inside, ask for Shish Tawook Grilled or Chicken with vegetables. Also Recommended Meat Tika Sandwiches on Arabic Nan or you can try the Lebanese sandwiches such as falafel with Tahini or if you want something new, Lsanat or Sujuq or Kidneys.
Summary: Lebanese flower is known for its mix grill and sandwiches, its shawerma quality is just going down every day.

Our main course .... a ONE KILO (Yes, 1 kg!) Mixed Grill. Lamb, beef, and chicken wings cooked to perfection. Delicious with the warm freshly-made bread!


TimeoutAbuDhabi.com
Eye-poppingly tasty and always buzzing, the Khalidiyah branch in particular feels like some rustic kitchen. It’s probably one of the dearer Lebanese outfits, but a shish taouk with houmous, soup and a glass of juice will still only set you back Dhs49. Meanwhile, a cheerful man wanders the restaurant dishing out huge discs of fresh, hot Lebanese bread like some benevolent king. Forget the fries, they’re always lousy, but the kebabs are succulent and delicious.

Cebu Restaurant - Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi

Location: Cebu Restaurant, Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, UAE


Heh heh ... Jeep ni Salem!


My choice ... a rather salty, but tasty Curry Chicken. I think I paid 20 AED for it, but it was enough for two meals, and the plain steamed rice cost 4 AED.

Khaleej Times Online

Salem Al Nagbi is an Emirati with a difference! The 36-year-old businessman speaks not only Tagalog fluently, but also theCebuano dialect. And he has a penchant for things which relate to the Philippines and the Filipino community.
Al Nagbi, addressed as ‘Big Brother’ by his Filipino employees and friends, has made investments in enterprises that target the Filipino community, in general, such as restaurants, a radio station, a party organiser and an events management company that has already brought famous artistes such as Gary Valenciano to the UAE.
His ‘Pinoy Atin to’ (Filipinos, This is Ours) programme at Dubai Eye is very popular, particularly the segment on Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), where Filipinos can air their concerns to attract the attention of the Philippine officials.
One of Al Nagbi’s imports from the Philippines is a jeepney, which is parked in front of a restaurant in the Khalidiya area in Abu Dhabi.
A ride in the jeepney — an indigenous mode of public transport in the Philippines – during his visit to the Philippines in 1992 had thrilled Al Nagbi so much that he placed an order with Francisco Motors Company, a large manufacturer of jeepneys in the Philippines, and arranged for it to be shipped to Abu Dhabi in 2001.
“This is the only one (of its kind) in the Middle East,” Al Nagbi said of the jeepney. Its engine is powered by Mazda and it runs on diesel.
“There’s a Filipino mechanic in Mussafah who services it regularly,” he elaborated.
The jeepney was commissioned in 2002 for the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. ‘Jeep ni Salem’ (Salem’s jeep), as it is named, was put on display at Hiltonia and appropriately bedecked with pictures of the Philippine presidents to commemorate the event.
After its two-month stint at Hiltonia, it was returned to its original spot at Al Nagbi’s office in Salam Street where it continued to attract attention for five years.
Three years ago, it was relocated to Khalidiyah – where it presently stands — when Al Nagbi opened his ‘Cebu Restaurant’.
Since then the jeep has been a local attraction to a restaurant bearing the name of a tourism hub in
the Philippines.
It seems to have served its purpose as curious passersby stop to enquire and pose for a quick snap with ‘Jeep ni Salem’.
“It’s not only Filipinos who take pictures, there are also other nationalities,” boasts Al Nagbi.
“Seeing the jeepney here in Abu Dhabi definitely puts a smile on any Filipino’s face. And as long as its purpose is being served, the ‘jeepney’ is here to stay,” Al Nagbi stated.

Tourist Club Area or TCA of Abu Dhabi

I went for a walkabout at the Tourist Club Area (TCA) of Abu Dhabi one evening ... here's the view of peak-hour traffic when people leave work. I always smile when I look at the Audi-rings or Olympic rings at the signage of the Co-Operative Society Mall Tourist Club Area :-)


Another mall just alongside ... Abu Dhabi Mall!

And this is a popular drinking-hole, the Le Meridien ...

Add: 2nd st, Al meena , Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi 46066, United Arab Emirates.

Mercedes E500 Coupe - Latest W212 E-class in Abu Dhabi!

Even amongst all the gorgeous cars in the city, this latest W212 Mercedes Benz E500AMG stood out! I spotted this at Khalidiyah. Nice profile, great looking front, and a super evolution of the E-class "big small eyes" (as the chinese describe it!) nose :-)

Updated! Thanks to YJ for noting that it is in fact a ... Coupe!



Production 2009–Present
Assembly Sindelfingen, Germany
Predecessor Mercedes-Benz W211
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine 5.4L V8
Transmission 7-speed automatic

Wikipedia history ... The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzung, (German for fuel injection); a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the engine nomenclature (e.g. 220E) in the 1950s. It was not until the launch of the facelifted W124 that the E was used as a prefix (i.e. E220) and the model referred to officially as the E-Class (or E-Klasse).

Wikicars.org ... Codenamed W212, the next-generation E-Class will arrive for the 2010 model year, with the estate version (codenamed S212) expected for 2011. It was also decided upon to rest the CLK-Class name in favour of selling it as an E-class coupe.

Nalukettu is a Keralite indian restaurant, Marina Club - Abu Dhabi

S and myself went to Nalukettu once again over the weekend, only to find out that the Keralite Indian all you can eat buffet was only served on Thursday nights. No bother, we ordered ala-carte anyway. The meal below, including two pitches of beer came up to 100 AED (RM$100) per head.

Add: Nalukettu - Marina Club, near Abu Dhabi Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 2 6444 395


Some starters ... 22 AED for a plate of spicy chicken. Slurrp :-) perfect with beer!


And for our mains, we chose the Cauliflower stir fry (Slightly deep fried with a coating of sauce, really good!) and a Chilly chicken stir fry ala Chinese (Decent ... but well spicey!).


Chapati, roti (3 AED each) and Pilau rice ... I liked the rice (It was about 12-16 AED, for a huge portion, enough perhaps for three!). And the bread was so similar to Roti Canai :-)




ps - The main reason we come here, the reasonably priceed beer! 54 AED for a pitcher of Fosters, or 18 AED per pint if you prefer to order it by the glass.

Fuddruckers ... What!?

I had to rub my eyes, and do a second take, when I saw the name of this burger joint!



Add: 1st Flr, Marina Mall , P.O.Box 32846, Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 681 8160

From the corporate website...
Back in 1980, a simple Texan began a singular quest. He searched high and low seeking the best that a hamburger could be. He hungered for perfection in an imperfect world. All he found were warmed-over compromises between bland slices of bread. The burger culture had sullied an American institution.
Then in the still of a sultry summer night, a voice spoke to him, “Let them build it and they will come.” While he wasn’t exactly sure what the message meant—and there were no follow-up communications—the Texan did the only thing he knew to do.
Finding mediocrity unacceptable, he took a wrong and made it right. He took the frozen and made it fresh. He built his own burger and his own burger place right in the heart of San Antonio, Texas. And then because the man had a sense of humor, he named this place Fuddruckers.

Marina Mall and Ikea, Abu Dhabi

Another mall in Abu Dhabi ... My first visit to the Marina Mall.


Marina Mall is a shopping mall located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It houses over 400 stores, including a hypermarket and cineplex.



There's a 9 screen cinema / cineplex ... and, no shortage of posh shops here!
Rolex, Omega, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, YSL, CD, Gucci, Todds, Coach, Diesel, Boss, Armani, Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co. Austin Reed Burberry Carrefour Chanel Etam Ferrari Store IKEA Elle Mercedes-Benz Showroom Paris Gallery Perfumes, Watches, Bags, Sunglasses and other Luxury accessories Plug-Ins Sanrio Versace Woolworths Yves Saint-Laurent Zara

Opening hours, and all details above from Wikipedia ...

Stores operate 7 days a week from 10 am to 10 pm with exception of weekend allowing additional 1 shopping hour till 11 pm.

There's even an Ikea alongside, which I have yet to visit!

India Palace, Salam Street near Adnoc - Abu Dhabi

A colleague brought us to this posh indian restaurant one evening ... It was a good meal!

Add: Salam Street (Opposite ADNOC FOD HQ) in Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 644 8777 (They also do delivery)
Opening hours: 12pm - 3pm, 7pm - 11:30pm





The Briyani Chicken was really good, the Aloo Gobi was perhaps the best I have ever had (As good if not better then those I have eaten in Mumbai, India in 2005) ... the roti's were good too :-). We also had some really good Dhal, and various starters whose names escape me!

Yin Yang - Mongolian BBQ, Marina Mall at Abu Dhabi

Food here in the Middle East can best be described as limited, european-like, and very pricey. Here's a simple lunch at the fancy Marina Mall, in Abu Dhabi.

Add: PO Box 41006, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 681 8151


I chose the Chicken and Beef BBQ combo, served with a choice of vegetable fried rice or noodles. Price ... A frightening 30 AED or RM$30. Ouch! A small 7-Up is an equally painful 4 AED. Taste-wise it was rather average, but hard to be choosy in these parts ... sigh!

Nalukettu serves a Keralite indian buffet, Marina Club - Abu Dhabi

Add: Nalukettu - Marina Club, near Abu Dhabi Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 2 6444 395

The Fri-Sat weekend is here :-) The night started off with some Heines and Fosters at NRG Sports Bar in the Le Meridien ... About 22-24 AED (Think 1:1 for conversion to ringgit, and you won't be far wrong) per pint here, not bad!


A colleague had recommended Nalukettu, which specialises in Keralite Indian food. I was surprised how packed it was, and that it was serving an all-you-can-eat buffet. For 49 AED (RM$49), you could eat as much apams, rice, noodles, fish/beef/lamb/chicken dishes and curries and stews, as you want! Not bad :-) Food was firey hot, very tasty and good in general.


We had pints of Fosters as well, which were reasonably priced at 18 AED, whilst the exotic India beer called Haywards 500 (Strong at 7% alcohol content) was 22 AED per bottle.



ps. We will definitely be returning here for another lads' night out!

Sevila Asian Buffet - Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi

Add: Al Raha Corniche - PO Box 38616, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Located: This hotel is located in a premier position on the Al Raha Corniche which is 10 km from Abu Dhabi Airport and 25 km from Abu Dhabi City Centre and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and only just over an hour from Dubai’s Jumeirah district.




In what is described as "Abu Dhabi’s first luxury boutique hotel", with "only" 134 rooms (and over 300 staff!), we had dinner at the Wednesday night at Sevila. 179 AED (or about RM$180), and an extra 16 percent tax, this was not a cheap meal!

Food was unspectacular, but very nicely varied - We enjoyed japanese tidbits, chinese timsum, malaysian, vietnamese, thai tom yum goong, as well as indian subcontinent dishes including papadoms!

I still found room to squeeze in some fruits ... including MANGOSTEENS after the meal!

Washed down with a refreshing Heine :-)

Black Pearl Piano Bar, Al Raha Beach Hotel - Abu Dhabi

Warsteiner lager and a view of the Arabian sea ... Refreshing!

Location and description: Set in beautiful landscaped gardens and located in Abu Dhabi's premier Al Raha corniche area. Al Raha Beach Hotel offers magnificent views of the Arabian Gulf, just a short drive from the city and Abu Dhabi International Airport.