RSS Feed
TOP

Driving to Bludan

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels:


Took a drive along the mountainous country road leading towards Bludan, a resort town about 40kms out of Damascus. There was very light traffic with the only occassional car passing by us and hence it was a truly leisure late mornning drive. The villages that sprung along the mountain roads looks picturesque – pictures in postcards and was made to understand that some of the villages are made up of the population that moved out of Qunetra. Life in the villages that we passed through are not hurried and tranquil.


more stories behind the mask.......
[−]

Stopped by a nursery along the road to get some flowers (which just started to bloom) for the apartment in conjunction with the beginning of Spring. As usual prices in villages for such items are usually far cheaper than what one would have to fork out in the city center. We could see some snow blanketing the mountain top from afar as we neared Bludan. According to the locals, Bludan is a favourite holiday resort for domestic and foreign tourists during summer where the temperature is far more cooling than the heat in Damascus. Hence, it was still early for the normal hustle bustle of summer environment in Bludan now. According to the locals also, aside from the nice mountain weather in summer, the town’s growth was also due to the availability of imported goods such as branded shoes, Bohemian crystals, electrical items, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc. We just passed the time walking around the town and window shopping.

Stopped at a popular diner by the roadside on the way back to Damascus for lunch. Had charcoal grilled chicken, fries and salad. It was a simple and healthy lunch though different from the one that I am used to - the “finger licking’ good” of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Bludan
Bludan
Bludan
Bludan
full album you may visit here



Subscribe



0 comments
TOP

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels: ,

FJ cruiser Toyota

My car! What do you think?

The FJ Cruiser comes in one trim with a V6 engine and automatic transmission. It is widely considered as a funky reflash of the old FJ Land Cruiser. It is a rugged and ready off-roader. It has two conventional doors and two rear-hinged mini doors. With Toyota’s 239-horsepower and 278 lb-ft. of torque, 4.0-liter V6 under its long hood, the 4,200 lb. FJ Cruiser feels downright muscular. The driving and the automatic shift in the transmission is smooth. But having own and driven a Toyota Harrier, FJ Cruiser lacks the smoothness and sleek of Harrier. The interior of the Cruiser is also not as inviting as Harrier. Its design looks basic and more suitable for rough ride. That's what its suppose to portray, I guess. Driving visibility in busy streets would also pose problems due to the size of the two side mirror which tend to block the line of sight to a certain extend.

read further and enjoy the pictures.....
[−]

Parking does pose a problem in congested areas. This is especially true in Damascus, a highly populated city that lacks proper parking facilities. Also I really have to manoeuvre the Cruiser so as not to scratch my car as well as others in narrow streets with cars parked on both sides of the street. Well, I will just have to get used to the car and slowly learn to appreciate its values as I pump more mileage into it in my many more interesting trips in and out of Damascus.

So what do you think?

My Car-Toyota FJ Cruiser
My Car-Toyota FJ Cruiser
My Car- Toyota FJ Cruiser
My Car-Toyota FJ Cruiser
My Car-Toyota FJ Cruiser
My Car-Toyota FJ Cruiser

Subscribe



0 comments
TOP

Kimo - My 3 month old Kitten

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels:

Cat Kitten

My Affable Kitten, KIMO

KIMO is about 3 months now - a mix offspring, half Persian. Not sure of the father’s breed though because I forgot to ask the previous owner. It has medium length hair though I wish he had been short haired. Anyway, can’t be really choosy because it has not been easy for me to get a kitten here in Damascus. No doubt there are many street cats roaming around the vicinity that I live, I have never come across a kitten. My preference for a kitten is to ensure that it could be easily litter trained as compared to an adult cat. Actually I had bought a white Persian kitten (named SUKI – original name given by the pet shop owner) from a pet shop in November 2008 but she died due to stomach complications (according to the veterinarian).

continue for more & enjoy the pictures....
[−]

After that bad experience, I decided to get one from the veterinarian and not from a shop. I was fortunate when one day the veterinarian called to inform that one of his regular clients was looking for someone to adopt her kittens because she has one too many (8 altogether). Visited the lady and once she was satisfied that I am a cat-loving person, she hand over KIMO to me. It was quite alarming to me when she first told me that her cats are used to eating chicken broil/soup, cheese and eggs and just wonder if KIMO could adapt to a different lifestyle and in a new home, away from the comfort of his parents and siblings.

Well, after three weeks, KIMO is adapting fine to the new environment. Very playful and likes to wander around the apartment on his own especially when he is left alone in the house. He does not like to be left alone if they are people around. Though he tend to rum away when people try to hold him, he will keep on coming to where people are sitting. KIMO also has a peculiar eating habits whereby he likes to first lick all the syrup that comes along with the can food first and then only later eats the meat. Might be he was used to eating the chicken broil cooked by the previous owner.

Had tough time in convincing him to use the litter box to do his “business” initially but he is doing okay now except that he still occasionally prefers to urinate on my rugs in the bathroom. Hopefully, he will overcome this problem in the long run and not too distant future. Otherwise it will surely bring extra workload to the house helper, having to clean the mess daily.
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO
My Cat - KIMO

Subscribe



0 comments
TOP

Tanggungjawab Bersama !

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels: ,

Terpanggil untuk saya catatkan di blog peribadi ini setelah terbaca teks ucapan YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad di Perhimpunan dan Sidang Kemuncak Pribumi Perkasa Negara, di Kuala Lumpu yang telah diadakan di Kuala Lumpur pada Ahad 22 Mac yang lepas. Teks ucapan tersebut dipautkan ke blog ini untuk saya jadikan pedoman dan ingatan kepada diri sendiri akan tanggungjawab terhadap Bangsa, Agama dan Negara. Kemelut politik yang melanda negara telah sampai ke tahap yang membimbangkan dan sekiranya masih terus lena dan tiada kesedaran akan membawa kehancuran bukan sahaja kepada negara malahan bangsa dan agama. Itu ada lah realiti yang tidak boleh dinafikan. Bacalah sebagai peringatan. (Teks ucapan YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad)


Subscribe



0 comments
TOP

Trips to Homs, Hama & Tartous - Final Chapter

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels:


Arrived Tartous at about 4.00 pm. It is located about 90 kilometers south-east of Damascus. It is the second most important Syrian seaport on the Mediterranean (90 km to the south of Latakia). In ancient times, it was called Antaradus by the Pheonicians and Tortusa by the Byzantines. Tortusa was to become one of supply ports for the Crusaders and a military base of considerable importance. It was held by the Templars, but recovered by Saladin in 1188.
continue for more......
[−]


Stopped for a late lunch at one of the seafront restaurant. Sitting by the glass window facing the Meditteranean sea, one could see many local tourist buses parked by the roadside. It was really heartening to see them enjoying the afternoon sun after all it was supposed to be winter in Syria. The weather in Tartous was very pleasant and it being a long weekend in Syria, it was thus not surprising to see lots of local tourists at the seafront area. Enjoyed the view from the first floor restaurant while we munch our lunch of grilled fish – specialty of the restaurant. There was not much time to really go around Tartous since it was getting dark and I still have another 600+ kilometers to drive back to Damascus. On the way back, we stopped by the highway to buy fresh fruits like bananas, oranges and strawberries. With just another stop to refuel my FJ Cruiser and a cup of tea, I safely reached home at 9.00 pm.

It was an interesting journey out of Damascus – driving my own with two co-pilots (friends who are conversant in Arabic). Driving the Toyota FJ Cruiser in itself is an exhilarating experience which I will always look forward to in the near future. I enjoyed the scenery with lots of green area. As all generally knows, Syria is the cradle of the great civilizations , and the accomplishments of her ancient peoples are renowned throughout the world . It was in Syria that agriculture began ten thousand years ago , that settlement commenced and civilization emerged

Successive waves of migrations from the Arab peninsula gave an Arab identity to Syria , and it managed to withstand the invasions by Hittites, Persians, Greeks and Romans . The Islamic conquest of 636 A.D . only confirmed this Arab identity and gave a sense of unity to the land.
The immense strategic importance of Syria is due to her unique position as a meeting – point of three continents ( Asia , Africa , and Europe ) and as a crossroad between the Caspian sea, the Indian Ocean, the Black Sea, and the Nile River. Through Syria lay the silk route which led from China to Doura Europos (Salhieh), from Palmyra and Homs to the Syrian ports on the Mediterranean, where for thousand of years Syrian seafarers had ridden the wave in their enormous fleets with gleaming white sails.

This geographical position lent distinction to the country, not only as a trade and caravan route, but also as a melting-pot of diverse ideas, beliefs, talents, and cultures. Evidence of these ancient civilizations are aplenty and spread all over Syria.

Just hope to visit all these places with its rich troves of civilizational treasures during my brief stint in Syria.


Subscribe



0 comments