Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn

*This post contains strong language. Some people may find it offensive

Unlike other people I know, I don’t care much for Eid. I don’t really care one way or another. If I can have my own way, I’d sooner jet off somewhere than to celebrate Eid here. I’m not against celebrating it, I just don’t like the way we celebrate it. I don’t look forward to fasting but I look even less forward to Eid. And while I don’t look forward to fasting, I get sad when Ramadan vanishes slowly. Oh, I won’t miss having to get up for pre-dawn meals but there’s just something about Ramadan. I don’t look forward to it but I miss it and I feel sad as it comes to a close.

I don’t think Eid is about new clothes, shoes or bag or even new furniture. Eid is to celebrate the end of a month of fasting but it does not mean it is supposed to be celebrated for a month. And what’s with the idea of having firecrackers to celebrate Eid? It’s not Islamic and it’s just a way of burning money. Literally.

Eid is not about having lots of cookies. Oh sure, it’s nice to stock on some to serve to your guests. But most of the time, you will just end up eating most of them. Our Eid cookies are never finished. I always have to throw them a month before the following Ramadan. What a waste. And yet, if you don’t have any, your guests will look at you funny.

And I don’t much care about cooking, much less about slaving myself in the kitchen. It’s so old-fashioned having to entertain people. Only old people do that. After slaving in the office and then rushing home to clear up the mess made during my absence, I just want to rest and relax. Believe me, going to visit relatives and entertaining are the last thing I want to do.

Unfortunately, you can’t quite do that during Eid. No, I’m more likely to end up in the kitchen making drinks or preparing food or doing washing up. No such thing as resting or relaxing whatsoever. And oh, because I’m a cleaning freak, I’ll spend back-breaking hours trying to clean and put some order to the house only to have it messed up by either Abah or my numerous siblings/nephews/nieces.

So, frankly, no, I don’t feel anything for Eid. I just feel sad at the departing Ramadan. Anyway, Eid Mubarak, everyone.

~~~~~~~~

He thought he held all the cards. He thought there would be a lot of suitors panting and drooling to lure him away. He thought it’d be done quickly but he and agent didn’t anticipate the backlash received and the lack of interest. He didn’t want to go be a Sh*tty (although his behaviour is exactly that) because well, there are enough strikers there. He considered the Old Lady but suddenly the boss there got suspended. He didn’t want to go to PSG although the club can afford to pay mega bucks. Strange, I thought beggars can’t be choosers.

And finally, there were only two clubs interested in him: Arsenal and ManUre. But no, it would be too humiliating to backtrack on his disrespectful and damning statement. No, he’d rather sold his very soul to the devil and burnt the bridges than admit he’d been wrong or withdraw the statement.

Well, he-who-would-not-be-named-in-this-post: Vamoose already. Just go. I hope you will have a Torres rest-of-career warming the bench. You will not have our best wishes. Why should we care for you when you care naught for us? Why should we respect you when you have been disrespectful to us?

You could have been a legend. Our legend. Instead, you chose to sully your own reputation. You are the architect of your own downfall. You will NOT be missed. You WILL be forgotten. You will NEVER be our legend. And you will live to regret this until the end of your days. Mark my word. Just you wait and see.

Do you think you are bigger than the club? Trust me, you are not indispensible. No one is, and especially not you. Can’t believe we spent all that time praying for your good health, for your speedy return and your good spell on the pitch. In the end, you turned out to be just a bastard. Juda$.

I just wonder if you have the class to thank Wenger for taking a gamble on you back in 2004, for taking a risk when others wouldn’t even want to touch youwith a ten-foot pole and backing you during your long injury spells.

Poor Wenger. What an ungrateful, disrespectful bastard you turn out to be.

But you know what? I am relieved. Finally, at last, he’s gone. And we can move on. And we will move on. Because believe me, he’s just a nobody after this. He’s the least of my worry now. I won’t spare a thought for him. Why should I? I’m better off concentrating on the new season and current team.




You can eff off already. I hope the door will hit you hard on your way out and oh, do have fun with those benches. You don’t matter anymore. Two ManUre fans were gloating at me, ‘We’ve got RvP!’ and my curt reply was, ‘You’re welcome to him. Good riddance!’

It is good business for Arsenal. Though I’d much prefer receiving £50 million for you.

FC Köln-Arsenal Pre-Season Friendly

I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

During a training session

The new kids on the block, sans Cazorla

So adorable!

TV5 headed it in

Poldi had a brace

Someone had a good debut! (And full of smiles about it)

Hmm... someone didn’t quite have a good game

Gunners in action

Trivia:

Q: Who/what is purple and wants to rule the world?
A: Alexander the Grape

Q: Who/what are purple and want to rule the world?
A: Arsenal the Great (in or out of our purple reign kit). Because we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen ♪♫

Savvy Chic: The Art Of More For Less

As you may already know, I love shopping, window shopping, browsing and finding good deals be it at the stores or online. I like to think of myself as a bargain hunter (huntress?) and I usually spend only if there’s a sale as I absolutely refuse to pay full price - unless if I don’t have a choice like fixed transportation fares (coaches or trains where the fares are dependent on the distance travelled, choice of carrier and class of travel (first or second class for trains)), groceries and most food stuff. Even then, you can still find deals from the various low cost airlines or plan your journey well in advance.

For some time now, you can find deals and bargains online from the various sites such as Groupon, Deal Mates, My Deal, Milkadeal, Hulala etc etc. And yes, I subscribe to some of these sites and have enjoyed various savings (hopefully they are indeed genuine savings). You can save out on dining, health and beauty (massages; haircut/colour/perm, manicure, pedicure, slimming and even waxing), trips (packages, ground arrangement and hotels) and products (which can vary from watches, bags, inner wear, thumb drive, contact lenses) and services (pest control, house or office cleaning). You can buy practically anything and everything you want. When you subscribe to any of these sites, you’ll get daily emails updating you on the latest offers.

And of course there are the ‘traditional’ sites where you can buy products online directly from the merchant or seller e.g. Amazon and eBay. (And let’s face it: eBay is a kind of an online bundle store isn’t it as sellers usually sell pre-owned goods to prospective buyers). I have also discovered some sites and blogs where branded luxury goods are offered at a slight discount (for brand new goods) – because they were purchased in Europe - or appealing prices for vintage goodies. As mentioned before, I have nothing against bundle or pre-owned used goods, having bought some products myself. Having heard of some horror stories of eBay, I’ve only just recently joined it myself. And get this, even celebrities are on eBay!

I think Extreme Couponing will take some time before it really takes hold here

I have also recently found a way to better utilise my credit card points (only applicable to credit cards issued by my provider). Besides redeeming them for any of the products provided in the credit card rewards catalogue of my credit card provider (which don’t all appeal to me), I can also redeem my points for shopping vouchers at Sogo or to buy electrical items at Best Denki in Sogo. It will cost 9500 points for a RM50 shopping voucher or 200 points for every RM1 at Best Denki. So if you want to buy a rice cooker at Best Denki which costs RM150, you need to redeem 30000 points at the cashier (on the spot). Or you can redeem 28500 points for RM150 shopping voucher and purchase the same rice cooker at Sogo’s household department. Did you see that? The same rice cooker will cost you fewer points if you buy it at the household department using the vouchers. Aha, yes, I’ve figured this all out. Even if I choose to buy the rice cooker at Best Denki instead of at the household department, I won’t need as many points to redeem at Best Denki as I do if I use the rewards catalogue - the same rice cooker would cost me 49000 points if I choose to redeem it from the catalogue.

I’ve only started utilising my points this way and thus far have redeemed points at Best Denki and RM350 worth of Sogo shopping vouchers which I then used to purchase wedding gift for my cousin and farewell gift for a mate. So yeah, I find this a great way to utilise my credit card points and get the things that I want rather than what my credit card provider hopes/thinks I want. Of course all this entails physical activity on my part: walking to Sogo to get the products myself as opposed to just redeeming my points online and getting them delivered but I don’t mind the exercise. As I’ve stated earlier, this is only applicable to credit cards issued by my provider but your credit card provider may have a similar tie-up with a departmental store too and offer the same benefits.

Isn’t this great? Being able to get products at practically nothing and all based on the points you collect for your previous charges to your card? Well, I think it is and thought it’s worth sharing. I don’t think it’s wrong to be smart consumers and to exercise financial discipline, prudence and restraint but at the same time, be able to reward ourselves too when we can.

This is a community knowledge sharing service brought to you by Adek.

P.S. I don’t know why I don’t already have a pair of red Converse amongst my collection. So yes, I’m now looking for a pair of gorgeous red Converse shoes. Unfortunately, they are not on sale. They cost more on eBay. Let me know if you know of any offers!

My Point Of View

I usually post pictures of my trips on FB to share with my friends what I saw on my trips. The recent Hong Kong/Macau pictures are no exception. A friend, seeing pictures of my MAS goodie bag commented that she disliked MAS because she is of the view that a national carrier of a Muslim country should not be serving alcoholic drinks on board. Well, to be honest, I used to think that way too. But I have since altered my views slightly and replied to her that I was not going to defend MAS or anything but Emirates and Etihad, the national carriers for two of the emirates of the UAE, also serve alcoholic drinks on board and yet no one commented or condemned on this (at least no one I know or maybe I’ve not heard it. Or perhaps they don’t care because it’s not their national carrier). I don’t condone it but now a slightly wiser me thinks that it’s not right to deprive non-Muslims from consuming alcoholic drinks and it’s not right for us to ban them or expect them to refrain eating non-slaughtered meat (non-halal food). It’s their right to consume these things because they are not bound by Islamic law as they are not Muslims. In fact to do so would be unIslamic.

But I draw the line at Muslim cabin crew serving alcoholic drinks. You see, Muslims are not just prevented from drinking alcoholic drinks. There are a few things that Muslims cannot do in association with alcoholic drinks: (i) processing it; (ii) request for it to be processed; (iii) drink it; (iv) transport it; (v) request for its transport; (vi) pouring/serving it; (vii) selling it; (viii) profit from its sale; (ix) buying it; and (x) request for its purchase (in Malay: Rasulullah saw melaknat tentang arak, sepuluh golongan: (1) yang memerahnya, (2) yang minta diperahkan untuknya, (3) yang meminumnya, (4) yang membawanya, (5) yang minta dihantarinya, (6) yang menuangkannya, (7) yang menjualnya, (8) yang makan harganya, (9) yang membelinya, (10) yang minta dibelikannya." (Riwayat Tarmizi dan Ibnu Majah : Tirmidzi : Hadith Gharib : Al-Munziri dalam At-Targhib: Perawinya thiqah)). So in a nutshell, it’s wrong for Muslim cabin crew to serve alcoholic drinks on board so the drinks should be served by non-Muslim cabin crew. I can’t compromise on this part because it wasn’t me who set the rules/restrictions.

And those who feel so strongly against MAS serving alcoholic drinks, do they feel as strongly towards those restaurants serving alcoholic drinks too like Chili’s, Jake’s, TGI Friday, Victoria Station, etc? (I know my dad feels strongly but he has a very strict view of religion, what can be allowed and what can’t be allowed. It’s more about his discomfort in patronising establishments which serve alco drinks.) It would be inconsistent for them to criticise MAS for serving alco drinks but on the other hand, not criticise restaurants that serve alco drinks.

And for those of us fasting: how many feel strongly towards those non-Muslims who eat in full view? Surely our fast isn’t dependent on whether or not other people eat in front of us. If it does, it brings serious question to our iman. Yes, I do appreciate my colleagues who don’t eat in front of me out of respect but you don’t have to do that. You’re not fasting so why should you deprive yourself? And why should I deprive you? It makes me uneasy to think that I may have been depriving another person of the need to eat or drink.

A few days ago, my boss told a Sikh colleague not to eat in public. I told her that it’s his right to do so. After all, he’s not observing Ramadan, is he? He’s not Muslim, he observes his own religion and is a vegetarian because of his religion. I mean, think about it: have we (and I don’t just mean us Muslims but us non-vegetarians) ever considered his feelings and not consume meat/seafood in front of him? I’m ashamed to admit no. In our office dos, we do include vegetarian meal for him but we don’t think to stop eating meat/seafood in front of him out of respect. So to me, to demand respect and courtesy, we need to give respect and courtesy too. What right have we to ask him not eat in public in the Ramadan when we don’t even consider his feelings when we eat meat/seafood in front of him? I must admit I never thought of his feelings before - probably because I don’t take offence if any of my colleagues want to eat pork or non-slaughtered meat in front of me. (I’m sorry but I do feel like gagging sometimes at the sight of uncooked pork/ham/bacon. And I think beer particularly smells awful. But don’t mind me and don’t let me stop you.).

I know not many will agree with my views here but think about it. Are we entitled to demand others to follow what we observe? No, of course not. Similarly, the feared hudud law is only applicable to Muslims. It’s Islamic law so of course it’s applicable to Muslims only. Non-Muslims are not subject to it. Yet it’s the Muslims who try to frighten off non-Muslims about hudud, who oppose to implementation of hudud, who will be questioned by their Maker for their failure in observing and implementing hudud...

While I’m on the subject of observance, Muslims should not use Ramadan as a month of excuses. There’s no excuse for being less productive, leaving on time, slacking off work etc. You fast because it’s obligated on you. God doesn’t owe you anything so stop feeling sorry for yourself or thinking others should accommodate you because you’re fasting. Fasting is not supposed to make one feel weaker. It does not curtail you from your everyday activities. That’s why I don’t understand why people always get surprised when they find I travel in Ramadan (I’ve been travelling for four Ramadans now). I try not to let Ramadan stop me. Why should I? Surely it’s not God’s intention to make us curtail our activities. Fasting can co-exist with your normal activities. It’s even more convenient to travel when one’s fasting as one doesn’t need to think of stopping for a meal. Performing prayers? Why, God grants us the flexibility to perform shorter prayers and combine prayers too. I still perform Tarawikh and Witir prayers when I travel. Heck, if I refuse not to perform ibadah, I don’t even need to use travelling as an excuse. There are people who choose not to perform Tarawikh and Witir prayers even though they are not travelling so why look at me funny just because I travel in Ramadan? (Tarawikh and Witir prayers are not obligatory prayers by the way). Don’t use fasting or the month of Ramadan as an excuse to stop you from your normal activities.

Like this chap wrote, your test of faith should not be their inconvenience. But then again, it should not be your inconvenience either. Because I don’t think God ever intended for our iman and our observance to performing ibadah to burden us.

Hong Kong & Macau: July 2012

Sunday, 29 July 2012
(Cont’d)
Fortunately for us, our seats were in the shade and didn’t face the setting sun. We were at the ‘clock end’ – where the clock was and someone had thoughtfully hung up the Clock End flag there. There were fewer seats at the North Stand compared to the East and West sides and the Clock End. The match kicked off on time and from our seats, we could see the spectators walking outside still trying to get in.

We started slowly and were behind in a matter of minutes. The first goal was definitely not Iggy’s finest moment. Theo then levelled but the hosts led again before half-time.

The other squad members who weren’t playing in the first half entered the pitch to warm up during the break. Match resumed after 15 minutes with a number of changes. A final change was made in the 70th minute and Thomas Eisfeld again saved Arsenal’s bacon when he levelled. What a chap! He did the same thing in KL, bringing us level within seven minutes of being on the pitch and he repeated that in Hong Kong, also within seven minutes of entering the pitch. Tried as they did, the score stayed at 2-2. We stayed on applauding the players. Alas, they didn’t stay long as they were catching a flight back the same evening.

We left and shuffled our way to Causeway Bay MTR station. From there, we rode the train to Mongkok, changing trains at Central. I wanted to look for a pair of red Converse shoes so I headed to Fa Yuen Street (aka Sports Shoes Street). I wasn’t happy to find the shoes were selling at HKD299 a pair after discount. That’s as expensive as the price in KL before discount! So I left and headed back to Ladies’ Market.

We left after 2135 (I was late for the rendezvous because of the long wait for my miserable fish bun) and headed back to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Monday, 30 July 2012
We had planned to go on a ferry ride to Macau today so we left at 0930. We finally found Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal (I only discovered then it was part of China Hong Kong City!) and browsed the various operators. It was 1030 when we got there and most ferries were due to sail at either 11 or 1! We finally found one at HKD310 for a day return (but you must return by the 1730 ferry at the latest or the return fare would cost slightly more). We then quickly joined the queue to clear immigration and practically had to dash for our ferry.

The ride took about an hour and we landed in the hot scorching noon Macanese sun. We joined yet another queue to clear yet another immigration (there were a lot of Korean tourists to these parts) and then took the free shuttle to Grand Lisboa. The deco was tacky but I guess the owner could afford it. We then walked to Largo do Senado and then traced our way to the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral. It was getting unbearably hotter by the minute and I decided to part ways with Aud and head back to some hotel or casino for the comfort of air-conditioning and to contemplate my initial plan to explore Taipa.

I decided to abandon Taipa and headed back to the ferry terminal, reaching it just after 3. My ticket stated my return journey was at 4.30 pm but the girl who sold the ticket assured that I could sail back any time before 4.30 pm. Alas, the boat was full and I joined the dozen or so others also on stand-by. We were given priority to board the 4 pm ferry.

I stopped briefly at Harbour City before returning to our room.

I left at 7.35 pm and brisk walked to the Clock Tower where Aud and I had agreed to meet for the Symphony of Lights show. The show started at 8 and it was conducted in English. Lucky for us the day had been clear. On another thought, unlucky us because the air was still. No breeze whatsoever. The show lasted 15 minutes and we then walked to the Avenue of Stars.

I went to check out Sogo after that while Aud returned to the room. I had wanted to have dinner at Sogo but later changed my mind when I saw the menu. I headed back to Nathan Road, bought some souvenirs at a small alley and then headed to Cute Fei Vegetarian Restaurant for my late dinner.

Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Last day of July! It had been a challenging, testing and trying month and as much as I love my birth month, I couldn’t wait for it to end. Thank God for Arsenal for restoring my sanity just when I needed it.

We left at 0940 and headed out to Tsim Sha Tsui. I went for a last visit to Harbour City then wandered back to Nathan Road before exploring the other side of the neighbourhood. I returned back to our room at 1125 and left ten minutes later. Aud’s flight back was later. I crossed the road to the bus stop for the bus back to the airport. This time, the bus took a slightly different route. We reached the airport an hour later.

I went to perform prayers first before dropping off my bag. I had checked in online the afternoon before and changed seats from the pre-assigned seat at row 31 (!!) to one in row 16. I then went in, queued for immigration process and then explored the duty-free before making my way to the gate.

The seats on the plane were in the 2-5-2 form. We took off on time and guess what? The seats next to me were empty. So why was I pre-assigned a seat at row 31??!! I reclined down the minute the seatbelt sign was off and took a nap.

We landed at 6.10 pm but our bags took time to appear. I caught a train at 1845 but there was no budget cabs when we reached KL Sentral. We’d have to wait between 15-45 minutes (or so the sign said) so I turned back and took the LRT to Ampang Park before making my way home by cab.

~~~~~~~~

I was disappointed that the new boys Poldi and Giroud didn’t make the trip to Asia but I was even more disappointed with the attitude of the soon-to-be-gone captain. It’s a good thing he didn’t make the trip; I would have pelted him with rotten eggs and tomatoes had he come but his situation is still unresolved.

As for Hong Kong? Well, whatever made me think the city was cheap? Not this time. Meals are expensive. A small bowl of noodles and a pot of tea cost HKD36 or HKD40 (rounded up for tip) – that’s RM16++! Most things cost more than in KL: Marks and Spencer goods (even those on sale), Chanel bags (even those at the airport duty-free) and even Arsenal magazine costs HKD60 (equivalent to RM24.60, when it costs us RM20 here). Converse shoes don’t cost any less. Only LeSportsac bags and some Crocs shoes on sale cost less but other than those, I was hard pressed to find anything that cost less than in KL. So I don’t understand those who prefer to go shopping in Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta or Hong Kong when KL offers better prices PLUS you don’t need to suffer from credit card charges or lose out on exchange rates.

And after a while it got increasingly annoying to be constantly dripped upon by the air-conditioners above you. Strange that I never noticed this before.

Hong Kong: July 2012

This trip was planned in early March before Arsenal confirmed coming to KL and even after the KL trip was confirmed, I decided to proceed with it. I guess I’ve caught the bug, having watched them in KL last year and at Ashburton Grove in May and since they’re in the region, why not? I ruled out going to Beijing because I didn’t want to apply for visa and besides, it’s scorching there this time of the year. Aud subsequently confirmed going too so I browsed the available guesthouses in the city. I finally received confirmation from Yiu Fai Guesthouse in mid-March and paid a deposit for one night to secure our booking.

Friday, 27 July 2012
I broke fast in the office today and left after 8.30 pm. Took the Komuter train to KL Sentral and performed prayers prior to boarding the coach to the airport. I dozed off on the way and only woke up when we reached the airport at 10.30 pm.

Saturday, 28 July 2012
Our flight took off on time at 0055 and I was later woken up by the stewardess who asked if I wanted to have my meal then or after 3 am. I told her I’d take the latter option and tried to sleep back. Alas, sleep escaped me no matter how hard I tried to catch it and I kept getting up.

True to her word, the travelling Muslims were served their meal just after 3 am. We were also given a goodie bag – containing some chocolate dates and a can of 7-Up.

We landed at 0430, 25 minutes earlier than scheduled. Ours was the only flight to arrive at that hour and yet it took ages for our bags to appear on the carousel. I referred to the airport plan and made my way to the prayer room at the departure level. It was already Suboh so yeah, I fasted slightly longer hours in Hong Kong. Fajar is at 0430 while Maghrib is at 1905.

I tried to catch some sleep after prayers. Both the Airport Express and the bus service start at 6 am and anyway, I wasn’t in a hurry. Even if I was dying to shop, the bus ride would take about an hour and I still would have to wait for the shops to open. I don’t know if it was my imagination but it felt like it got colder the longer I was there, so cold that my feet started to cramp. I dozed on and off and once when I opened my eyes, it looked like it was raining outside. But I could be hallucinating.

I finally got up at 0830 and freshened up. It was impossible to get any sleep anyway as the departure level got noisier as the morning progressed. I then went to buy the Octopus card before making my way to the bus terminal. A single ticket to the city costs HKD33 while a return ticket costs HKD55 so I bought a return ticket of course. I saw people boarding the bus A21 and hurried to join the queue.

It took us almost an hour to reach Tsim Sha Tsui. I was seated on the top deck and was dozing off, hence I missed the stop for the guesthouse. I got down at the next stop, got harassed by a foreign chap trying to lure me into staying somewhere and went to search for Golden Crown Court. The doorway to the Golden Crown Court is sandwiched between shops and it is in a block bounded by Citibank and StanChart bank. There are two lifts: one serves the even-numbered floors and the other serves the odd-numbered floors. Raymond, the chap who runs the guesthouse, told me my room would only be ready after 1230 so I left my bag and went for a walk around the area.

I had seen, on my previous trips to Hong Kong, small shops selling branded goods and as I’m not prejudiced towards second-hand goods, I went into a few to check the goods on offer. I was surprised to note that some of the shops carry brand new goods. They manage to offer these goods at slightly lower prices than at the boutiques, probably by sourcing them from Europe. I then discovered there are literally dozens of such stores in Hong Kong. What does that tell you? Consumerism is alive and kicking hard in Hong Kong.

I made my way to Harbour City at Canton Road and was surprised again to note the long queue outside Chanel. Why didn’t these shoppers just go to the small shops then instead of queuing up? Your guess is as good as mine. A lot of boutiques have Canton Road as their address: Hermès, Ferragamo, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Miu Miu, Burberry... and they are large stores, mind you. It surprised me yet again that in a place as crowded as Kowloon where space is a premium, there are spacious and numerous boutiques such as these.

I went into Harbour City and browsed around before making my way to China Hong Kong City. So many stores were having a sale and yet I returned to the guesthouse empty-handed. I checked in, had a shower, performed prayers and had a short nap. I got up at 6.30 pm and went in search for food. Iftar dinner was had at Cute Fei Vegetarian Restaurant at Haiphong Road.

I headed back to the guesthouse for prayers and waited for Aud to arrive. She arrived at 9.15 pm just as she predicted and shortly after, we left the room to have a look at the night life. There were still a lot of people about, returning home after work and dinner or just browsing around like us. We walked all the way to Chungking Mansions, home to dozens of guesthouses. The building is an OSHA nightmare and fire hazard alright. We turned back and stopped at a supermarket before returning to our room.

Sunday, 29 July 2012
I woke up a while after the alarm sounded and had only 15 minutes to have my pre-dawn meal. Oh no! Had a few slices of bread, too late to have any instant noodles unless I wanted to burn my tongue and throat.

I got up again after 9 and we left at 10 to collect our Arsenal tickets at Tom Lee Music store nearby. It was a simple process: you just swipe the credit card you used to purchase the tickets and the machine would churn out your tickets. The whole process took less than a minute.

We took the MTR to Tung Chung station where Citygate Outlets is. It’s near to the airport on Lantau Island and I remember passing it the day before. It was a long ride and we had to wait a bit at Lai King as the train service from Central was less frequent. We finally reached the centre at 11 am.

We spent just over two hours there. I came back empty-handed (I was beginning to worry then. Had I been losing my shopping touch?) and went back to my room while Aud stopped at Jordan for lunch.

We left for the stadium at 3 pm. We walked down to the Star Ferry Pier and boarded the ferry for Wan Chai. From Wan Chai Pier, we walked to the bus stop near Wan Chai MRT to catch bus 5B to the Hong Kong Stadium. There were notices of road diversions due to some procession and the traffic made us slightly worried. Finally the bus came and we hopped on.

We got caught in the procession at Causeway Road and the traffic came to a stop. Even the trams stopped moving and everything came to a halt, everything except for those in the procession. After a while, the bus moved again and inched on. I was starting to get worried but was comforted by the sight of fellow Gooners on the road. I wanted the bus to stop so I could get down and just continue the rest of the journey on foot.

Fortunately, the police waved us through again and we inched our way up Leighton Road before turning into Caroline Hill Road. Here, the bus inched again; this time, held back by the Gooners heading towards the stadium. You gotta admire the patience of the drivers in Hong Kong. No one blared their horns at all!

We finally reached the stadium and joined the crowd entering the stadium.

To be continued