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| Sunday, 30-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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visiting-anja@hamburg.de
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Date uploaded - Sat, 13 May 2006
Was in Germany with Juhi and Kimm, visiting Anja over the bank holidays break.
Day One - Anja drove us up to Timmerdorfer and Lubeck
Day Two - Roaming around Hamburg
Day Three - Berlin
That weekend was also a getaway for my dearest Juhi Didi's (big sister) birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIDI JIE!! 
Really had fun. Thank you Anja for the lovely weekend 
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| Wednesday, 26-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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IoD 2006 Annual Convention, Royal Albert Hall, London
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Steve Ballmer - CEO, Microsoft Corporation
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Steve's Q&A session
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Todd Stitzer - CEO of Cadbury Schweppes
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Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of attending the Institute of Directors Annual Convention in London.
Speakers lined up for the day consist of some of the most innovative and successful leaders in business today which include Steve Ballmer (CEO of Microsoft Corporation), Todd Stitzer (CEO of Cadbury Schweppes), Douglas McCallum (MD of eBay.co.uk), Gianni Ciserani (MD of Procter & Gamble, UK) to name a few. Even the panels discussing on Business Leaders and Entreprenuer were very very impressive.
My favourite speaker was definitely Steve Ballmer, always as energetic and lively as ever, speaking on Human Capital, Leading and Motivating Staff, a topic I've always found interesting.
Among other issues covered throughout the whole convention were the ever-so-fashionable - Corporate Social Responsibility, how businesses should cope with the external pressures of media and NGOs, creating and sustaining values within the organisation, viral leadership etc.
It was an honour being there, listening to first hand insight advise on current issues facing the business community from really successful people like these and... I also manage to get some ideas for my assignment that I was working on. Not bad eh? 
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| Friday, 21-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Post Espana... London wif Chitah..
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Chitah, who had to withdrew herself from the trip to Spain due to work commitments, came down to London from Lancaster for a day out with me and Elly. We boarded the London Eye, had lunch at Wagamama South Bank, walked right to Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, and later for a drink at Whiteleys, Bayswaters. Really had fun spending time just chatting, strolling, laughing, reminiscing and making fun of each other.. If only every day is as pleasant, simple and nice as this..... Love you guys to bits..
Us after 10 years...
On the London Eye - All tanned after Spain
Fun on the carousel - South Bank, River Thames
Lunching at Wagamama - South Bank, River Thames
Strolling Green Park
Pictures courtesy of Chitah's fotopage -
http://masitah.fotopages.com/?entry=775992&back=http://masitah.fotopages.com/?page=0
(sorry le chitah yea.. ni pun stock curik gambar jugak.. bila la nk blaja upload sendirik nih.. hehe.. takpe, I promote hasil kerja u n Nur..  )
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| Tuesday, 18-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Spain Part 4 - Granada
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Date uploaded - Sat, 13th May 2006
Spent a full day in Al-Hambra.. So enchanting.. I was mesmerised.. It's like a love affair...... 
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| Sunday, 16-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Spain Part 3 - Seville
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Lunch at Arabian restaurant
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Senyum lapar.. tak makan dari Cordoba nih..
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The Giralda (currently a bell tower, use 2 b a mosque minnaret)
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Date uploaded - Sat, 6 May 2006
Let the pictures do the talking.. Well, at least for now...
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| Friday, 14-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Spain Part 2 - Cordoba
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Date uploaded - Sat, 6 May 2006
Gambar dulu, cite kendian..
Took a twelve hours bus from Barcelona to Cordoba (luckily it was a night bus so we slept most of the time!).
Our Highlights
- Le Mezquitta
Used to be the BIG mosque during the Ommayan period. Initially a small cathedral, extended to become a mosque in the late 700s, by Caliph Abdurrahman I. Further expansions during the periods of Abdurrahman II, Al-Hakim and Almanzor. The main feature of this building is its double-red-brick-horseshoe arches which is consistent and maintained by each Caliph in their expansion plans. The distinctive features between the different expansion periods are the different designs on the pillars, columns and ceilings.
You could also still see the very beautiful Arabic inscriptions on the entrance and the walls of the building, particularly at the Mihrab.
Sadly though, it was later turned into a cathedral during the Christian conquest by King Fernando and Lady Isabel in the 1200s. The name mezquitta, which literally means mosque in Spanish, is still oddly maintained though - The Mosque Cathedral as it is know today. We were just so 'drawn' to it that we kept on coming again and again. It helps that our accomodation is just a walking distance for the Mezquitta. Regardless of the number of people at the mezquitta (and this means lots!) there is sense of peace and calmness just being there, be it inside the mosque or just sitting outside at the patio, with scent of oranges and lemons.. hmm.. nice! Definitely one of my best stop during the whole Spain trip.
- Medinat Al-Zahra
Built by Caliph Abdurrahman III on the top of a hill, some 5 miles off Cordoba, as the centre of administration of the Muslim government and the capital of the whole of Al-Andalus. The original complex covered a vast area of 150,000 acres (i think). It was named after one of Abdurraham's favourite wives, Zahra, which literally means 'Flower' in Arabic, hence the place is also called City of Flower. After the civil war, the place was abandonned for some 900 years. It was previously burried underneath the hill on which it is situated today. Excavation work manage to unearth 1/10th of the original site, the area that is now open to public. Looking at the area on display now, I can't imagine the amount of soil they had to bring out during the excavation! Restoration work are now conducted on the main hall, trying to join back bits and pieces of rocks found within the area, looks like one very very big and tedious jigsaw puzzle to me! My salute to the very patient archeologist!
- The Alcazar
A fortress by the banks of Guadalquivir river, which was also the palace of the Caliphates during the period when the Muslim ruled Andalucia. And later became the castle for King Fernando when the city was captured by the Christians. Rebuild again to its present form during the period of King of Castile Alfoso XI.
- Calle de Las Flores
One of the most photographed street in Cordoba, appearing in most of the postcards of Cordoba.
- Easter Procession
It was Easter the day we arrived Cordoba. On the night of our arrival, we managed to witness the Easter Procession which took place around Cordoba, in remembrance of Jesus's cruxification. Not too sure whether we can consider ourselves as lucky (I still find the whole experience quite eerie). The procession was led by priests carrying a bell-like container with kemenyan, making stops every few hundred metres blessing the town, followed by huge biers carrying Jesus and St Mary, the choirs and devotees, some wearing black hoods carrying the cross and candles. There was a huge huge crowd.. as this procession attracts pilgrimage from all around the world. I liken the whole situation like the Piped Piper of Hamelin, where everyone just leave their house heading towards the sound of the choir.. It's really amazing.. (I must tell you, it was so difficult for me to book the accomodation here as almost all the hotels were fully booked for this celebration! Luckily last2 dapat jugak. Or else, we'll be sleeping on the streets!! huhuhu)
Others
- The Sinagouge, Night walk, my peaceful morning walks, Plaza d Potro, Plaza de Corredera, Plaza Tedillas, the delicious kebab, again - tapas! (datang spain makan tak ingat!)
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| Tuesday, 11-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Spain Part 1 - Barcelona
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Placa d Espanya
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Poble Espanyol
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Replica of white washed buildings of Andalusia - Poble Espanyol
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Date uploaded - Fri, 5 May 2006
Am going to upload the Spain pictures bit by bit.. (Byk sgt! He He) Starting off with pictures from Barcelona.. Tak sempat tulis panjang2.. tulis sikit2 je eh? Whatever that I could still remember la... It has been more than two weeks now.. *ingat2 lupa je.. germany pun dah pergi and balik dah.. he he.*
Our highlights of Barcelona;
- Poble Espanyol
A mini village built in 1929 for the International Exhibition back then, with plazas and builidings replicas of those from various villages all across Spain, with each continent having distinct characterictics of its own.(Ala2 Mini Malaysia lah). Monuments for International Exhibitions are usually demolished after the exhibition but this one was preserved and later became a tourist attraction. The only other monument built for the Exhibition still standing to date is the Eiffel Tower in Paris (International Exhibition in the late 1800s)
- The Works of Antonio Gaudi
Gaudi's works are refered to as the Modernist or Expresionnist architecture of Barcelona, (after the Gothic and Renaissance era), mainly constructed sometime in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. They look very modern, colourful and very gaudyly looking (I was told that the word gaudy did in fact originated from Gaudi's work!) yet I consider Gaudi a genius, although quite complicated and eccentric, to be able to come out with something of these sort more than a hundred years ago.
- Casa Battlo (House of the Battlo Family, this year marks its centenary anniversary. Main feature - curved edges and finishings on the buildings - no straight/sharp edge in this building, feels nice to run your fingers along the walls, stair railings, door/window handles- Gaudi was inspired by the colours and shapes of marine life when he designed this, apparent from wavy walls, ocean like ceiling, blue ceramic tiles at the courtyard etc.)
- Casa Mila - yg ni tak masuk, only took pictures of the exterior facade
- Sagrada Familia (Due to its very delicate and complicated design, this church wasn't completed during Gaudi's lifetime. It is still under construction even today and is expected to be completed in 40 yrs time - would be interesting to come back in year 2046 )
- Park Guell (The park was originally part of an unsuccessful commercial housing site which was later converted into a municipal garden. Houses Gaudi's home which is now a museum. Main features - broken ceramic mosaic sculpture and the colourful giant lizard)
- The Picasso Walk
We took a Picasso guided walking tour, discovering on foot in the Bohemian section of Barcelona the history of Picasso, where he used to live, what inspired and influenced his artistic style etc during his youth before he settled in Paris. This year is also the centenary celebration of Picasso's return to Barcelona in 1906
- Others
The Beach, Barcelona FC Stadium, Tapas!, La Rambla, La Boqueria Market, Pla de Palau, Sta Maria del Mar, the Cathedral, Friendly hostel owners, it's a family-owned hostel, dont really speak English but somehow we managed to communicate properly (which reminds me I have yet to send them these photos!) ?Hmm.. Apa yek lagi? Can't remember lah.. Oh ya, last minute shopping at Zara n Mango!
Cukup lah buat masa ini... Back to assignments...
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| Monday, 10-Apr-2006 13:00 |
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Espana.... Barcelona -> Cordoba -> Seville -> Granada
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I've been extremely busy lately. So, for the time being, to get a glimpse of some of our photo's in Spain, have a peek at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nurhidayati/sets/72057594114223441/ - Even then, these are only a selection of the hundreds of shots we've taken.. takpe ye nur pinjam sekejap till I upload myself.. hehe
The whole trip was really amazing!! A mixed experience of architectural beauty, scenic views, history, and culture all blend together. It does get a little bit 'heavy' at times, but was definitely worth it! And of course great great company makes it all more enjoyable!!
I'll find time to upload the pictures (together with the write ups) pwomise.. (not so soon though)
*so many to show, so many to tell, so many to share - don't know how, when and where to start*
Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona
Casa Batllo, Barcelona
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Park Gruell, Barcelona
The gorgeous double horse shoe arches of Le Mezquitta, Cordoba
Le Mezquitta, Cordoba
The Principal Door, Le Mezquitta, Cordoba
Calle de Las Flores, Cordoba
Medinat Al-Zahra, Cordoba
The Giralda, Seville
Amazing blue sky of Seville (taken from the top of Giralda, yup, we climbed all 34 storeys up!)
Plaza de Toros (the bullfight ring), Seville
Best Flamenco in Seville
Anin the story teller (reading the history of Al-Hambra to Elly, the Mexuar in particular), The Mexuar, Palacio Nazaries, Al-Hambra, Granada
Bermain-main di Taman Al-Hambra, Granada
Serenity.... Al-Hambra, Granada
Overlooking the white-washed builidings of Albaicin, Granada
Disclaimer : Most pictures taken by M.i.s.s N.u.r.h.i.d.a.y.a.t.i Y.a.h.y.a. The owner of this photopage is not taking credit on Nur's effort and 'pain' in getting the right angles for all these wonderful shots. Me setakat jadi tuan pengarah n model tak rasmi boleh lah. He He. What was it, 'cooperative subjects' yea Nur?
*Photos in a photopage not taken by the owner of the photopage - bizzare isn't it?*
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| Sunday, 9-Apr-2006 12:00 |
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Road Trip - Lake District!!
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Rented a car and drove across the High Pennines over to Cumbria and had a short picnic at Lake Windermere at Lake District. Girlie road trip and me driving - me likey!
*will upload more pictures after I come back from Spain*
*off to Spain tomorrow*
*as for now - packing time!*
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| Saturday, 8-Apr-2006 06:57 |
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Look who's in Durham? Elly Melly Goslow! :p
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Elly (my cute n crazy <-- i was forced to write this!!!! - good friend since I was 7 years old) is here for a two day 'pit stop' before going for our 2 weeks vacation in Spain!
Staying with me for two days, she was forced by yours truly to follow my daily routine, which includes the very early morning jog.. tak kira la elly, jet lag ke apa ke.. kena jugak ikut! ha ha..
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