Turun Padang

"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is personally checking Moscow's transport security following the recent terror attack on Domodedovo airport which killed 36 people. On Friday he made an unplanned inspection of one of the city's transport hubs, saying he was satisfied with what he saw. But that wasn't the case a day ago when he arrived at one of the capital's train stations unannounced. The Russian leader managed to find only one policeman at the site and saw no metal detectors at the building's entrance. He promised a tough response to the security measures witnessed." - RussiaToday

1:21 - 1:58 The head of Vnukovo airport offers Medvedev to check International terminal, as he wants to show the best part of the airport. Medvedev says - 'No, better show the ordinary'. Aww.. and he's humble too! ;)

Seems like Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev been doing a lot of spot check lately. I like the fact that he always seem to take matter of his country's interest in his own hands. Doing things by himself. He even drove Arnold Schwarzenegger around during his visits in Russia. I mean, he actually became Arnold's driver. ;p

This is Medvedev giving a memorial service at the Lubyanka metro station last year after the bombing attacks at 2 of Moscow's metro stations.

Although, I don't think Russians are afraid of death. They seem to move on with their lives easily even after numerous bombing attacks.

I wonder if our PM would do the same thing? I'd doubt it, but it would nice to have a surprise once in a while. Ignoring protocols and be the people. Ok. I've been watching too many news lately! hehe..

On the other hand, President Mubarak or should I say ex-president of Egypt resigned yesterday. Hopefully Egypt will be a better country, and our friends studying in Egypt can return and continue their studies there, safely. ;))

It's overwhelming isn't it seeing the whole country unite. Malaysia still has some growing up to do. We're still divided between races and religion. I hope someday we can put aside our differences. I don't mean everyone in Malaysia has some racism issues, but I still see them every now and then. In the news and even on Facebook!

Egypt

yeay! I'm home..
how i am so happy to be home.. :)) *senyum sampai ke telinga*
everyone's home.. well, at least until July.. then my brothers will start their semesters..
so its probably just me, kakak and nabilla at home.. and of course my parents... :(

anyway, before i came back, i stayed a week in Egypt.. u know, just jalan-jalan, makan angin.. :)

here's what happened.

17th June 2008
- Arrived at Cairo International Airport
- bB's cousin, Affan picked us up at the airport. Since we arrived at night, there's really nothing much we can do left.
- Checked in at Malaysian Hall
- Sleep

18th June 2008
- woke up at 7.30 am. Got ready and left the building at 8.30 am.
- drove to Alexandria which is in the northern Egypt. It is situated beside the Mediterranean sea. It has a spectacular view of the sea!! damn nice.
- we went to the oldest library in the world which is the Bibliotheca Alexandria.
- We had seafood for lunch. yum2. damn kenyang. huhu..
- left Alexandria around 5 pm and head back to Cairo.
- sampai Cairo, tido~

one of the materials exhibited in the library

mummy's sarcophagus

Mediterranean Sea

19th June 2008
- Jalan-jalan in Cairo
- went to see the Pyramids of Giza
- went to the bazaar and bought souvenirs
- Affan bargain for us since he knows how to speak Arabic. So we didn't get cheated. huhu...
- went to Al-Azhar mosque and university.
- rested at Malaysian Hall the whole evening.
- rushed to the train station around 9.15, our train was leaving at 10 pm.
- ran into Mawi (yup, the AF winner - he was shooting "jejak Mawi" in Egypt. :P) on the way out of Malaysian Hall. Didn't get to take his picture though bcoz we were rushing..
- arrived at the train ngam-ngam pukol 10.

Pyramids of Giza

the Sphinx

Al-Azhar

20th June 2008
- 11 hours in the train. dah la sejuk giler dlm train tu..
- watched the sunrise (cantek giler!)
- arrive in Luxor
- spent the whole day in Luxor
- we went to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple
- didn't get to go to Valley of the Kings and Queens though, because they were on the West Bank of Nile River and they were too far, we didn't have much time on our hands.
- had lunch in McDonald's. :P
- prayed, and made our way to the train station
- the train was late 2 hours. :(
- watched the sunset in the train. it was even more gorgeous than the sunrise
- arrive in Aswan at 11 p.m
- checked into hotel, had dinner and went to sleep

Karnak Temple

Luxor Temple

Luxor Train Station

21st June 2008
- trip to Abu Simbel was canceled. it was hot (40°C - 43°C!!), and didn't have enough time
- went to the damp. a really big dam, which controls the depth on the Nile river so that Egypt wont be flooded.. huhu..
- and then we went to Philae Temple. the temple is on an island in the middle of Nile river. not so sure about the history though, because we were backpacking and didn't have enough money to pay for tour guides... lol~ [save budget]
- spent the whole day walking around Aswan. can't get enough of the view of the Nile River. there's no word to describe.
- main2 air sungai Nil. the water was really cold.. it was nice..
- prayed, rest, head back to the train station.
- made our way back to Cairo

Aswan Dam

Philae Temple

Nile River

22nd June 2008
- arrive at Cairo around 10 am.
- i rested the whole day
- bB went some more souvenir shopping

23rd June 2008
- went to the airport at 1 a.m
- checked-in our baggages
- leaving Egypt on the airplane at 4.50 am.
- arrive KLIA at 11 pm local time.

and now, i am just enjoying home.. :)
i miss bB!

*check out more pics in friendster*