Novotel Names New IT Manager

Novotel Al Dana Resort, the only Bahrain’s premium deluxe resort, has appointed Khaled Ahmed as Information Technology (IT) Manager. Khaled has wide-intensive experiences in IT and chain hotels, having worked in Jordan, Yemen and the UAE.

Born in Jordan and raised in Kuwait, Khaled Ahmed has deep love of technology, learning and working since an early age. Graduated from University of Alabama, USA, Khaled obtained his Bachelor degree in Computer Science. As part of carrier development, he successfully gained Certified Microsoft Engineer in Dubai, 2005.

Prior to working with Novotel Al Dana Resort, Khaled Ahmed had 10 years experience in several four-five star Accor’s hotels, such as Novotel & Ibis WTC Dubai (2003-7007), Sofitel Taiz Yemen, Mercure San’a Yemen (2002) and Sofitel Taybet Zaman, Jordan (1997-2002).


In his new role with Novotel Al Dana Resort, Khaled who loves analysing latest technology development, is in charge of the whole IT operations and management within the resort. His ambition is to carry a synergy between eco-friendly technology and hospitality industry, to provide outstanding services to the resort’s guests as well as to deliver the most efficient assistance to other departments.

Orangutan vs Orangerrorist

Believe me...!
I would prefer my country to be famous as Orangutan rather than "Orangerrorist" (people living with terrorists).

Lets Learn from a Weird Tourist Attraction

They are dark, smelly and buried beneath Australia’s biggest city, but Sydney’s historic sewers have become one of the country’s most sought-after tourist destinations.

Demand for the underground tours is so great that people who apply for tickets have been known to offer bribes such as chocolates and flowers to try make sure they are not among the thousands turned away each year, tour organizers said recently as noted by Bahrain Tribune (article on “Sewer Tours a Hot Ticket for Sydney Tourism”).

I’ve had people calling up and offering all kinds if bribes to try and get place on tour”, said Pascale Hastings, form Sydney’s Historic Houses Trust, which runs the sewer tours. “There is a huge appeal in going underground and being in dark, confirmed spaces normally off limits.

The Historic Houses Trust, which manages some of Australia’s oldest heritage buildings, organizes tours of the old Sydney sewers only twice a year, and can take only 180 people though the drains every six months. But more than 4,000 people regularly apply for tickets to tour the drains, built to provide fresh water fir the British settlement in Sydney in about 1790 by convicts sent to Australia.

By the 1980s, the stone drains were being used as sewers. Today, they carry only storm water to Sydney Habour, running beneath Sydney’s tallest buildings and commercial centres. The drains are some of the oldest surviving remnants of Australia’s early European settlement, after the British settlers and convicts arrived to set up a British colony in Sydney in 1788.

The tours operate only two days a year because water authorities have to clear out the drains, treat lingering bacteria, and pump in air to make the tour safe.

* * *

I remember Surabaya has lots of historical buildings, but seems no body takes care of them, the same happens to other big cities in Indonesia such as Jogyakarta, Malang, Jakarta, Medan. We found many classical mansions and river dams have been abandoned. We (you and me, and particularly government) don’t think those buildings are the main asset to boost tourism. They don’t event think simply to take benefit of it. Who care?

What about our museums? It is worse...! We don’t appreciate our culture, apparently. How can we appreciate it, if we charge visitors with only ticket Rp. 2,000 (perhaps around 20 cents). How can we pay the maintenance costs, train employees, upgrade or refurbish facilities, and et cetera. Don’t compare with national museums for example in Germany, you’ll suck to know the ticket cost.

In fact, you can witness big cities such as Paris, Venice, London, Amsterdam maintain their historical heritages. And the government is keen to spend million dollars to preserve their historical sites.

Ok, then you can visit and experience what happens with Museum Subak in Tabanan, Bali. If you really love history, education, culture or anything related to museum, you will cry to know that site.

Eventually, one of my friends whispered me... “First ask our government to feed us properly, then we can think this matter properly.”

No Flirting, please...

Flirting could be a problem in some countries. Read this article, taken from Bahrain Tribune 24th February 2008. You probbaly think it's wierd, but it happens. Some think it's normal, others dont care.

Riyadh - AFP
Saudi Arbia's powerful religious police ordered the arrest of 57 youths this week for flirting with girls in malls in the holy city of Makkah, the Saudi Gazette reported yerterday.

Thr young men were detained on Thursday evening by reggular plice oficers following a request from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. They were accused of wearing "indecent clothing and playing loud music and dancing" to attract the attention of the opposite sex, it added.

Members of the commission, known as the Muttawa, patrol public areas to ensure that the Kingdom's relus and laws are enforced, and this includes strict segregation of the sexes.

So, what is your opinion?

Dine Out at the Panoramic Floating Lounge

Novotel Al Dana Resort, Bahrain proudly introduces another exclusive experience at their dining outlets. Following the management’s marketing strategy, the resort has completely upgraded the terrace of La Bellevue Lounge Bar, one of the predominant lounge bars in Bahrain. This refurbished porch will be the only “floating lounge” which overlooks both Muharraq and Manama view.

The bar is just located at the edge of the resort’s private beach, whereas its refurbished terrace is likely attached on the main building and hanged above the sea. To access the bar, every guest pass through the hotel’s La Perle seafood Restaurant, located at the first floor, under the Bar.

At the La Perle, there is a unique-wide stair over a mini fountain and waterfall curtain. This very elegant stair leads you up to the La Bellevue Bar, where there are seating choices of either private sofa setting and the bar seats on the main indoor area, or within the bar's open-air style balcony, that seats up to 40 persons. A pretty cocktail bar display/counter and a mini tavern can be seen from the seating.

The major upgrade is that an extension terrace, an 80 meter square furnished balcony, with wooden floor, glassed ceiling and walls. The new renovated lounge is 90 percent covered by glass, allowing guests to overlook the sea view, and the panorama of Manama & Muharraq city in a very convenient temperature during the summer and the winter alike. The lounge represents touch of modernity and style, resulting exclusive and elegant ambience.

Savour the Flavour
La Bellevue has carried over to its lunch and cocktail menu that features an extensive and elegantly crafted selection of Seafood and International cuisine with a twist concocted by the hotel’s Executive Chef, and served by an expanded, friendly Novotel staff. Start off with Salad on Focaccia Loaf or Bloody Mary Crab Salsa, continue to taste the Sour Seafood Conssome, and then proceed onto a main course of Pan-fried of Roast Turbot Fish with scallops and prawn served with artichoke and fennel cream bisque sauce.

After wrapping up the meal with a portion of Chocolate Dome with Vanilla Ice Cream Raspberry Coulis, peruse the extensive drink menu that has made La Bellevue famous amongst discerning cocktail connoisseurs. As their distinguished concoction, Magnum 40 is the specialty of the house. Some choices that range from the virgin cocktail are provided, such as Virgin Colada, Pinkie Velvet and Dynamite. Selection of Champagne cocktail such as Marie Antoinette and Kir Royal are also available.

Sunday evenings bring in Ladies Night, from 8pm to 11pm. Wide variety of Gin, Whisky, Vodka, Martini, Rum are served with very special offer only for ladies. For your consideration, the La Bellevue Bar stocks hundreds of cocktails, wines and champagnes. All of them are presented at excellent value for the quality.

Happy Hours
Take advantage of Happy Hours from 5pm to 7pm with 30% off drinks. Special offer of champagne + cigar or cognac + cigar are interesting to try. Music starts up nightly from 9pm on, and each evening plays host to something different from Lebanese band, delivering both International and Lebanese songs. The friendly staff really makes the La Bellevue Bar an evening to remember. Try it..!

What is Tourism?

I just suddenly ask my self, what tourism is? This question brought me to my past time, where I studied tourism in the Udayana University, Denpasar Bali, 9 years ago.

Is there any revision on the terminology of tourism? Does the term/definition grow? Check these out...

Tourism is smokeless industry
Tourism is hospitality industry
Tourism is invisible export
Tourism is service industry
Tourism is multi-sector industry
Tourism is multi-S industry (sun, sea, sand, service, and smile...)
Tourism is recreation, leisure and pleasure
Tourism is lodging industry
Tourism is a mass employer
Tourism is everyone's business
Tourism is market friendly business
Tourism is state-income earner
Tourism is the fastest growing industry
Tourism is a beautiful-attractive girl

The meaning above, are based on industry or commerce or business perspective, most of them are with word "industry", so it more to do with business. What if with the meanings, below:

Tourism is peacemaker
Tourism is cultural heritage
Tourism is peace ambassador
Tourism is Museums
Tourism is ecology preservation
Tourism is socio-cultural phenomenon
Tourism is friendship
Tourism is understanding primitive traditions
Tourism is about local genuine

Those meanings are from conservatives who enjoy tourism. But what about the other meanings, such as...

Tourism is cultural exploitation
Tourism is custom and moral degradation
Tourism is about environment destruction
Tourism is a package of modernism, globalism and capitalism
Toursim is legalized prostitution
Tourism is multi-S, (sex, sex, sex and sex...)
Tourism is children sexual exploitation
Tourism is a new kind of mass desctructive weapon
Tourism kills tourism

You might think different. Would you contribute with your own perspective?

Meet the Doctor

Finally, she ended up in a hospital. Got some problems with her stomach and typus, and need surgery. Been more then a week, strugling with some medicines, she eventually gave up to see doctors and nurses in daily basis. God, help her...