Thanking you sincerely...

Salaam,

Got this marvellous surprise soon as I reached home after being discharged from the hospital last week. Somebody has gone out of her way to do something special which simply touched my heart. Indeed I was lost for words to express just how much I appreciate her kindness and thoughtfulness.

To my dearest sister Ibu Malinar, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you dear, my heart has no bottom. And as William Shakespeare once said, "I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks."

For your thoughtfulness and generosity, for your precious friendship and great companionship, I could never thank you enough. May Allah the Almighty shower you and your loved ones, continuously, with His choicest blessings. May you all live a happy, prosperous, and a healthy and long life always, Amin.

Wassalam.

a gift of a big carton of foodstuff...specially flown from Indonesia...
favorite all-time Indonesian noodles...

of varieties of Indonesian flavors..enough to last us for several months more...

one pack of 5 Indo Mee or Maggi noodles back home cost only around B$1.20 (US 0.90 cts)...

while just one pack of same noodle here costs around Rials 6,000 (US 0.60 - 70 cents)

always in high demand and sought after...glutinuous rice flour from Indonesia

coconut milk...originated from Indonesia...

another favorite crackers from Jakarta...

ovalette, cake softener...a rarity in Iran

my kind-hearted & thoughtful dearest sis...

with all my thanks and appreciation always...

When it snows...

Salaam,

At last the real wintry and snowy weather is all over Tehran once again. Since early last week, heavy downpour of fluffy snowfall began to blanket the city landscape into a white fairy land. Another drop in the temperatures resulted in another continuous downpour from last Saturday evening until the following Sunday. A snowy weekend...

Another snowy days for us, our sixth white and wintry season in Tehran. Nonetheless, winter can also be a time to renew our vigour, and to look forward to anticipation the new spring growth as nature once again comes to life. As the Persian proverb says...A year of snow, a year of plenty..., A snow year, a rich year...

Wassalam.

blessing from the Almighty...
snowy snowy night...

our frozen pathway...

who would think those branches would turn green again and blossom...

fluffy snowfall...with large snowflakes...

year of snow fruit will grow...(proverb)

white alley and street

Ghetariyeh park...

pretty deep...

you can't make cheesecakes out of snow...!! (proverb)

a good deed is written on snow...(proverb)

no snowflake ever falls in the wrong place...(proverb)

if you walk on snow you cannot hide your footprints...(proverb)

the sun will bring to light what lay under the snow...(proverb)

Thank you All, again...

Salaam,

Yes, its been quite a while since my last post almost a forthnight ago. And welcome back to my story of a trailing spouse for the new year 2011. Unfortunately or rather, it all began with my being hospitalized yet again for the second time since my last admission to Kasra Hospital almost two years ago (Thank you all... dated 16 April 2009). It all began with an emergency midnight visit to Erfan hospital on Thursday 6th January until I was eventually discharged a week later.

Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah the most merciful, the most benevolent, the treatment went out extremely well and after a dozen drips of serum and other medications, the infection was finally diagnosed and accordingly treated. Thanks to all the wonderful jobs by all the professional doctors and experts, the well-trained nurses and other personnels of the hospital, and the excellent treatment, their skills and pleasant services rendered.

Thank you so much also to all my dearest colleagues, friends and relatives for all their continuous support and encouragement and their unceasing prayers during such a difficult time. Not least to my hubby who had always been, patiently, by my side throughout my ordeal. May the blessings of Allah always be upon us all, Amin...Wassalam.

continuous high temperatures...

dawn view of the city from my hospital room...

my daily 6am breakfast...

and lunch & dinner...

two days of continuous downpours of snow...

well-wishers from my dear Indonesian colleagues...

and a heart-warming visit from the ladies...

prayer n encouragement...

joyfulness...the night before being discharged...

one of the best, sophisticated and advanced medical centers...

in the city...

and finally n happily... home again...

Wintry day returns...

Salaam,

The cold spell and the wintry weather is here again. Waking up this morning feeling extra cold and chilly. When I peeped through the window curtain, yes it was almost all white over our front garden. Last night and this morning rain sleet had started spreading over this northern part of Tehran. During the last few days, temperatures were forecasted to drop to as low as zero. The sleet, slush or wet snow, whichever way you called it, are usually accompanied by freezing rain. But this year though, it has not been snowing yet compared to the last two previous winters when it snowed heavily during this time of the year.

Well, don't mind the snow, but not the long and severe cold spell, please...

Wassalam.

frozen raindrops...

slush or wet snow...

wintry and cold day...

New Year day in Tehran...

Salaam,

Spending the first day of the new year of the Gregorian calendar in Tehran...yet again away from home.

Well, nothing much really happening around here on the first of January though. Iranian does not observe the day as a national holiday. Saturday is in fact the first working day in Iran after their two-day weekend.

As it is also still weekend (Friday & Saturday) for the embassy, we decided to spend the day out for some groceries, eating out and not least some windowshopping. Sightseeing, is not in the program though, as it was reported that lately the city's pollution level has again reached an alarming level. And the cold wintry day, minus the snow, can already be felt everywhere in the city.

So there goes our first day of the new year...spent away from our beloved ones...for the six consecutive years.

Happy New Year 2011 everyone...

Wassalam.

Golestan Mall

sunny n chilly day...

a good day for some windowshopping...

and relaxation...

view of milad tower from golestan

less congested drive on the highway