Day 11.

Sabaah Al Khayr.

Hari ini masih hari bercuti, bermaksud boleh lah tidur lama sikit. Dan pagi ini, Rohizan membawa saya ke kedai di sebelah Al Hason yang di kendali oleh orang Yemen. Makanan yang di jual adalah ‘sandwich’, b

urger dan sakhan. Sakhan adalah masakan yang di goreng dalam periuk dan periuk itu di letak di atas meja, di makan dengan roti arab. Ada jugak macam-macam yogurt dan juga jus buah tapi buahnya tak hancur semua, cuma potong.

Sakhan.

Kedai Yemen.

Buah.

Siap makan, balik ke Al Hason tapi sebelum naik kita berjumpa dengan pengurus di Al Hason tu dan bercerita yang ada lagi orang Malaysia yang akan bertapak di Arab Saudi ini. Oleh itu, kita pun bercadang kepada dia supaya menurunkan harga sewa untuk masa yang akan datang supaya boleh memenuhkan Al Hason ini dengan ramai lagi rakyat Malaysia. Dia pula kata akan berbincang dengan tuan bangunan ini, Mr Ahmed supaya boleh menimbangkan cadangan itu. Hari ini pula internet tak dapat, so tak dapat skype atau ‘update’ blog sebab pengurusan tengah menambah modem menjadikan 2 modem di setiap tingkat. Katanya, semua akan siap hari Sabtu ini.

Sholat Jumaat pada pukul 11:25pagi dan lepas tu, balik ke Al Hason sebab kedai-kedai di Jubail ni buka pukul 4 petang pada hari Jumaat. Balik tengok TV dan rehat sebelum di ambil oleh En Jo untuk di hantar balik ke Kim’s pada pukul 4 petang. Lepas gi ‘Cyber’, saya, Nizam dan Tuan pula mencari kedai untuk makan malam dan saya cadangkan untuk mencari sakhan macam yang saya makan pagi tadi. Sampai kita di kedai Nore dekat stesen minyak depan Panda, kita di jemput oleh 2 orang Bangladesh yang tukang masak dan tukang jaga kedai. ‘Order’ sakhan tapi yang di hidang lain sikit, sebab ayam, daging dan telur di asingkan dan di letak di pinggan berasingan. Masakan lebih kurang sama dah, tapi cara ini lain sikit. Mungkin lain kedai, lain cara kot. Kita makan je, tapi tak habis dan kita pun bungkus balik untuk jadikan sarapan pagi esok.

Siap makan, Tuan gi ‘Cyber’ dan saya dengan Nizam ke Panda untuk beli barang sikit. Khalas semua, kita pun menuju balik ke ‘apartment’ tapi semasa berjalan balik, saya dapat panggilan dari Mohd Nor Sipchem. Di ajaknya ke kedai untuk minum kopi pulak. Dah sampai di depan pintu takkan nak tolak, rezeki kan? Kita menuju ke ‘Jubail International centre’ dan ke sebuah ‘coffee house’ tapi dah penuh dan kita pun beralih ke ‘coffee’ house depan masjid. Di ‘coffee house’ ini ada Wifi dan TV serta kerusi sofa yang besar dan selesa. Kira ada kelas la di tempat ini. Berborak-borak sampai pukul 11 mlm dan kita pun balik ke tempat masing-masing sebab mereka nampak. Mereka juga berkata yang mereka kena masuk kerja pada pukul 6 pagi.

Tamat. Wassalam.

Tips : Barang-barang yang di nasihat beli di Malaysia untuk di bawa adalah lada kering, asam jawa, ikan bilis, sos tiram, sos cili, ikan masin, rempah sup dan yang ada di bawah ini.

Day 9 (Deffi Clinic)

Assalamualaikum and ahlan wahsalan to my blog.

Today is where the newcomers are to collect the malaria report from Deffi clinic. Deffi clinic is owned by the Royal commission (and I don’t even know what it means). As usual, after arriving at work in the morning and then waiting for transport at the front gate at 8:15am to bring us to Al Lulu and Deffi. The transport was not there at 5 minutes past the designated time, so I called Mr Haitam and it was just an ‘ok’ reply. I assumed that the arrangements were not done as the bus arrived 30 minutes later! These kind of arrangements must be followed up by any of us so that things get moving and a reminder is that we must be patient here at KSA.

We were at Deffi at about quarter past nine and when we went into the office of the person incharge, he told us to come back at 10:30 am as the results were not ready yet. That’s because our names has to be written in Arabic, so another person wrote our names on the form and then the first person got our reports from another room. Alhamdulillah all were tested negative. The malaria result is then submitted to James for further arrangements.

For me, it was sadness that showed as my ID number was still not created due to some technical errors and approvals. Since the President is on leave, the acting President is not authorised to approve any documents so I must wait until Saturday for the President to be back. I just hope that all will be done by Sunday as pay day is just around the corner. All thanks to the secretary for trying to get my documents done by contacting the persons required. No, it is not a she but a he and his Name is Turki. Very nice person.

Then, back home for a bath and rest. After my rest, it was off to Al Hason to visit for a night at Rohizan’s apartment. He had an empty bed and asked if I wanted to stay there for a night or two and I said yes. I thought that if I try staying there, I would get the feel and maybe decide if I would move there or to Al Mishal. Picked up by Jo, I was at Al Hason at about 7pm. Skyped with Lynn who is having fever, but hopefully will get better after seeing me even though through the monitor.

Later, Rohizan brought me down to look at the area where the shops are like Jalan Bukit Bintang as I mentioned in my earlier blog. They call 1 street Ladies Street and now I know why they call it that. From lingerie to perfume to kids stuff to fabric to make up products to shoes to handbags to whatever related to women! The list would be too long if I continue. Then there is Jubail centre with shops selling electrical items, jeans and I mean Levis original made in Mexico! Just like any other shopping complex and cheap if you know where to go. I bought a 501 button for just SAR190! Imagine how much it would cost in Malaysia?

Going through the alleys and shops, we then headed for prata and tea. Then it was back to Al Hason. About Al Hason, the apartment Rohizan is renting has no carpet so no smelly carpet and the place is clean. It’s furnished with a sofa set, wardrobes in the 2 rooms, beds that can fit 4 persons and a kitchen for cooking. Looks ok to me compared to the earlier rooms the tenant showed when we were here earlier. I won’t mind renting here just in case Al Mishal is still not available end of the month. We’ll see when the time comes.

Tips : DO NOT take any photographs in the open. You can be hauled by the local police and put in the lock up without questions asked! Try not to walk on the water on the roadside as it is waste water from underground.

Day 8.

Peace be upon you and good evening.

Today was just a normal day with not much to do as assignments are not given yet. But thanks to Allah, our contracts has been signed by the President and my copy has been given to me. The setback for me is that I still do not have my ID number. The final release is from the President and then to Riyadh for processing. Good thing is all is done online so the pace is quicker but of course, due to human behaviour, there would still be problems.

Today was another milestone for me as I visited the Central workshop and Maintenance workshop. Work was about 50 to 60 percent complete and I don’t know what the expected date of completion is. My future office will be at the maintenance workshop on the 1st floor. As usual, lunch, prayers, office and home at 4pm.

A quick bath and sholat, it was off to dinner with Nizam and Tuan. We settled to eat at Coco just opposite the Mosque due to limited time as Isha was just about 30minutes to go. We ate the famous rice with chicken in a pan (I think called Lahambd) as usual and each shop has different servings. It was similar to the shop at Al Jalal street but the best is still at Al Manakh. Must have another go there next week. Yum yum. After dinner, it was a slow walk to the Cyber cafe.

8:30pm and it was back home. Good night.

Tips: Bring cold weather clothes as it will be getting cold soon. Gloves would be good.

Pictures on Day 1 (Night soccer)

Day 7.

Assalamualaikum.

Hari ini adalah hari Isnin iaitu hari yang ke tiga dalam jadual kerja mingguan di KSA ini. Kerja macam biasa serta menghabiskan masa membaca apa yang ada. Yang boleh di puji adalah mat india yang membuat teh di ‘pantry’. Dia buat kopi tarik macam di Malaysia tapi dia panggil ‘Cappucino’. Tak tau kenapa, sebab ada buih kot?

Pada pukul 10 pagi, kita berempat pun telah berjanji unuk ke ofis James untuk bertanya keputusan ‘medical’. Alhamdulillah, semua lulus dan kontrak pun telah di sediakan untuk di tandatangani. Lepas tandatangan, kontrak itu akan di hantar ke Presiden untuk disahkan. Baru boleh digunakan untuk pendaftaran Iqama tapi keputusan malaria pun kena ada sekali. Semua telah dapat ‘ID’ mereka tetapi saya tak dapat sebab RR(Recruitment Requisition) saya belum di luluskan oleh Pengurus saya. Lepas selidik di mana masalahnya, Mr Saad berkata HR memang selalu buat begitu jika ada permintaan yang telah lama di dalam ‘system’. Mereka memadamkan dalam ‘system’ untuk menjaga KPI mereka. Kena buatlah semula. Hari ini saya juga di beritahu tentang skop kerja dan sejarah ‘department’ saya.

Pukul 12 tengahhari, makan kat kantin. SAR10 tapi cukup untuk 2 orang. Tak boleh ambil gambar sebab takut kena buang kerja! Kena jaga lah. Balik kerja hari ini dengan Haji Sabaruddin dari CWS. Saya minta tolong dia sebab nak gi beli madu untuk sakit kerongkong saya yang telah seminggu berkahak. Beli di kedai bernama Hamil Al Musk di ‘Ladies street’ yang ada juga jual minyak wangi dan kayu. Kayu-kayu sini di gunakan untuk mewangikan udara di bilik atau masjid. (Macam kemenyanlah katanya) Di jalan itu terdapat kedai baju, barang solek, kedai kasut, kedai baju dalam dan lain-lain lagi macam jugak di Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman atau Jalan Masjid India. Lepas beli, balik terus sebab sudah nak masuk Maghrib. Terima kasih kepada Haji Sabaruddin sebab sudi membawa saya membeli-belah. Heh Heh. Saya beli juga pengering rambut yang berharga SAR125 selepas menawar harga dari SAR150.

Lepas Maghrib, berSkype sampai masuk Ishak. Balik ke ‘apartment’, mandi dan keluar makan. Malam ini makan di kedai tepi ‘apartment’ kita ini je. Makanan yang di jual ada nasi, dhosai dan phrata (canai di Malaysia). Saya makan dhosai dengan kari ayam dan ada juga kacang kuda di masak macam dhal. Gambar di bawah.

Selesai makan, gi kat kedai untuk cari barang-barang rumah. Ingat nak gi Panda tapi ahkirnya singgah di kedai runcit tak jauh dari ‘apartment’ kita. Balik & tidur.

Selesai. Wassalam.

Day 6.

Salam and sabaah al khair.

Another morning and another day in the land of Saudi Arabia. Today is safety induction day as required for all employees in Saudi Kayan. As usual, the pick up was at 7am and alhamdulillah it was a bus that came. So all of us managed to board and none was left behind. Arriving in time, we then reported to our respective departments going about our daily work. Assignments are already given to some of us making use of our manpower. But as we do not have access to computers and SAP due to not getting the ID number yet, we can only go through manuals and other reading material.

Today was the chance that I had to go into the site with another colleague, to the PP plant. Of course by vehicle and wow!, the plant is so big that the guy got lost lookng for the PP cabins. It took us about 20 minutes to look for the cabins. As the construction is still on going, traffic and human traffic were all over the place. After meeting the relevant people, we then headed back to the maintenance office. Lunch for me was at 12pm and after lunch was our safety induction at Building 3. Person in charge was Mr Basil Al Haqbani. It just took him 15 minutes to complete his presentation and it was back to our office. Talk about fast! Back to work...

At my work desk, borrowed from Mr Khalid as he is away but for only 1 week, I just picked up any books or manuals to read just to pass time. No assignment or objectives yet so I try to occupy myself in any way I can. 4 pm on the dot and it’s going home time, walking to the bus arranged in just a few minutes. Upon arriving at the apartments, I got myself ready to be picked up by Johan for dinner at his place. The cook, his wife of course. Knowing that she cooks delicious servings, I was looking forward to dinner tonight. And was I right! Prawns cooked with chili and cauliflower braised with chicken. Guess how much the prawns were? SAR3.80 per kg! Compared to RM16 per kg at Kuantan. What a difference.

After dinner, it was my time to Skype with the wife as Jo and another friend stuck to the TV set watching EPL matches. The final match I managed to watch was the Chelsea – MU match and I even saw the goal scored by John Terry. With the final whistle blown, it was back home for me. Another thank you to Edira for a wonderfully cooked dinner.

Good night, massalamah.

Pictures Day 4