Happy Halloween!

First of all, it’s officially my dad’s birthday but we celebrated a long time back. So Happy Birthday Dad… Hope everything’s for the best. ;-) Next is I would like to greet everyone a Happy Halloween! But since I am in Dubai I guess trick or treating here would be making a fool out of me. Instead, I plan to watch horror movies today. I actually just finished viewing The Exorcist, and it still creeps the hell out of me. Now I’m watching Halloween… and all its sequels. Guess this will be another long weekend. Happy Halloween!

GITEX Technology Week 2008

With all the amount of work I have to do every now and then, I barely have time to update this blog. Anyways, last October 19-23m 2008, GITEX Technology Week was recently held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. While most high profile companies were noticeably absent from the show and only a handful attended the event, there were still a lot to see during the show. Here are some shots:

Me looking bored... after hours of walking.

Big-ass phone!

My new favorite notebook, the Acer Gemstone Blue 6920G

Yes, my friend Hazem modeling a gold-plated hard disk.

Me and Hazem

Our friends at the LaCie stand.

Playing with the Emirates Towers!

The Convention Centre

Me and Irish

By the fountain... woohoo!

Jeez, and I thought this was only used for refrigerators!

The exhibition hall seems empty...

That's Panasonic's 150-inch plasma TV!

This was at the Samsung stand, where a guest artist was offering 'cartoonized' sketches.

Samsung's Blu-ray home theatre

Sanyo's waterproof camcorders

Panasonic's new G1 digital camera

Ideas for life.

HTC's stand... but I didn't see the Google phone (HTC made the phone)

Yes, we're looking formal!

Some Harman/Kardon home theatre systems.

Still alive and kicking!

Yes, and I also want that Acer Predator desktop

The Fog

While trying not to emulate John Carpenter's horror flick, I felt that I needed a little release from all the pressures and deadlines I would have to meet. Just yesterday, a thick blanket of fog quickly enveloped Dubai. It may due to the weather changing since Winter is already coming. I do hope so since all this heat is driving me insane. See the pic? Everything feels like you're in Silent Hill. Since it wasearly in the morning I felt like running around the parking lot and enjoying the fog. I think for me it is the only way I could enjoy myself with all the work we had to do. Starting next week, GITEX will take up most of my day. It's scary since you have all these interviews to do and transcribe, but still fun since you will get a preview of some of the latest technologies each company has to offer. I hope I can make it through next week, and probably reward myself with another DVD purchase. Or even a Grande Mocha Frappucino with Caramel Drizzle from... guess you already know where.

Madrid, Spain

I was recently invited to join Symantec in launching their newest Norton Antivirus 2009 software. Since this will be my chance to go to that place, I didn't hesitate to come.

I left for Madrid on a Monday everning, with a stop over at London-Heathrow Airport. Good thing the people kept placing me at a window seat - and this was always my view. Me thinks that I shouldn't be afraid of heights anymore.

At London-Heathrow, some part of me was thinking if I could just go here instead. I've always wanted to go to the UK and maybe someday I will. Good thing I got to go to a different terminal, and as I went out of the aircraft, I noticed the cold weather that dominates the country - and they say its summer. See the picture above? Yeap, it's dark and gloomy - kinda like Azkaban, if you know what I mean.

Arriving at Barajas Madrid Airport, I can't help but marvel at the airport's unique design. See the ceiling? It's made from wood. Just going through the airport is already an experience.

At Madrid, I got to stay at Hotel Puerta America, one of the five star hotels in the city. The hotel was deisgned by renowed architects, with each floor having a different theme and look. I stayed on the third floor, which was designed by David Chipperfield - which shows a black and white motiff.

This is one of the perks of being a journalist. I love my room. It seems like it is one of those rooms out from a magazine. If the room is good, the bathroom was even better.

Afterwards, I got dressed and attended the Norton conference. It was the launch of the 2009 version of their antivirus software. What's great is that they've presented the product so accurately and and convincingly that I even bought my own copy.

The next day I woke up early to find breakfast - aside from the one I ate from the hotel. I went around and found my favorite coffee place -Starbucks!

I got the chance to hop on to one of the tourist buses and got the chance to explore some of the sights in the city, including this cathedral.

I don't know, but seeing this fountain makes me wanna pee. ;-) Haha.

After a long day, i made my way back to the hotel and before I know it, I'm on my way back to Dubai. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I'll definitely be going back. This is one of the places I won't forget.

Ramadan

Today marks the first day of Ramadan here in the UAE (and every part of the world). It means Muslims must start the ritual of fasting before sunrise up until after sunset. Here, even if we have 6 hour work days, other non-Muslims must still be considerate to other people fasting. Maybe for me, it is a good way to lose weight (I hope). And this is probably a hectic work week for me, since my editor is not around, I'm in charge of everything... which also means that every fault the magazine has will be blamed on... well, on me. Wish me luck... ;-) Ramadan Kareem everyone!