some things I do not get and never will

"Dear readers before I go any further I want to make one point clear this is not a pro or anti political post it is about that people do not look further then the next bloody coconut tree"

Just some things that I do not get my head around:

• Why on earth are u telling resorts to close down their spa's and mention u are thinking to ban alcohol and pork items, just during the busiest period of the tourist season, simply because you want to prove a point to others. Well u don't have to be a very clever person to know that this will be in the International media in no time and than one week later to retract this and say o spa's in resorts are allowed again???? I doubt if those intelligent people are truly realizing what negative effect this stunt are . Well I can say this do not play your largest single source off income because if this income stop we will be all in big shit, it as simple as this.

• Demonstrations, why o why are people demonstrating after business hours or during the weekend, now this does not make sense at all. Is the purpose off a demonstration not to disrupt a certain business or ministry, etc. Example in France when the civil servants go on strike they do this during the week so people can not go to work, shops have to be closed actually business comes to a stand still. the effect is that sooner or later people have to listen simply because off the hugh loss for the economy. Ok I am not a big supporter for demonstration because they are enjoying and disrupting ordinaries peoples life. But if u demonstrate please do it at a time that it has effect and not in the middle off the night and distributing peoples lives.

• GST - It is official GST is introduced in the Maldives, which is good as the tax revenue can be used for the betterment off the people right, like healthcare, schools, etc. But this is what I don not understand why introducing GST of 3.5% in October, the 4th quarter of the financial year and than in January raise the same GST with 2,5% making it in total 6%. From a accounting standpoint it does not make sense to introduce a tax so late in a financial year, it would be much better to start with introducing a the tax in the beginning off the new financial year and why not introducing straight away 6%GST much simpler and less confusing for businesses and people. There are many related problems with the GST like some shops are charging 9,5% and they thought they have to add 6% to 3,5%, some retailers get charged GST when they buy goods at the wholesaler so the customer get charged at the end 12%. In my opinion this is not because people want to rib off other people intentionally, but it is a lack off communication and information before introducing GST. For example when Europe introduced the Euro there was a extensive campaign to inform people at the end u got so fed-up with it but it worked.

• Healthcare - since January there is free healthcare HOORAY honesty that is great. A friend off mine had a serious through infection and he did not go to see the doc for 4 days and it got worse by the day. I got angry and told him to go, he said but when I go I have to wait for hours and he mend it he waited more than 2 hours to see a doctor. I was amazed I know waiting is the norm here but so long. Than he mention u know we have that new free healthcare and some people just go to the hospital sometimes for noting, while when there are really ill people they have to wait for a unbearable time. So I was thinking about this and spoken with some friends who are doctors. Healthcare is a very good thing and it should be free to a certain extend. To a certain extend I mean not everything should be free as otherwise some people will make miss use off it. In addition, people should be well informed about what free healthcare is and what and how it works through TV adds, news paper, etc not just introducing it with little information given.

So these are just something I do not get, in my opinion it is all about using commonsense, communication and understanding what the effect is off your actions and yes please look further than the next coconut tree.

And dear readers that is how I c it

A quote to live by

"Live life fully while you're here.

Experience everything.

Take care of yourself, Family and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird.

Go out and screw up! You're going to do it anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process.

Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it.

Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”

What makes a place a home

Yes finally time to write this blog, about a topic I wanted to write a longtime "Where I live" and over the years it became home...

I must say I like where I live now, I really do I know it is not very conventional to say I like living in Male but I guess I do.

Yub it is; overcrowded, to many cars and bikes, a lack of good restaurants, good shops, entertainment option, when it rains the streets are turned in to rivers, people who make staring to a olympic sport the occasional demonstrations and the some other interesting eyebrow raising events that are happing in this place.

But still I like this place, but why asked a friend of mine, well good question so I was tolling with this in my head "what makes a city or country feel like home" so what is it?

Well a part of the answer was given by a very good friend of mine last December, when he asked me why I was gloomy, well as it was before christmas I kind of missed to spend time with my family and friends back in home. He just answered don't feel like that you have now good friends here who care about you and like to spend time with you and are there for you at any time... This was really nice to hear.

This made me think a bit further and I came to the conclusion it does not matter where u live, how the city looks like, how many museums there are, how cool the entertainment is, or how many good restaurants and shops there are, etc. But it has everything to do with people very simple with people. They are the friends that make any place livable, with them you are creating memories giving faces to normally anonymous streets and buildings, they make you feel that you belong "people give a place a face a character" either positive or negative that is.

What I try to say is I feel at home here because I have wonderful friends, they inspire, teach me, guide me, keep me sane and make this place unique and home. Think about this if you come back from holiday you will not say wow I have missed the STO building so much right, bud you will have missed your best friends right.

See that is the point people make the place not building, cars, restaurants, shops, etc they help to shape the place but it is people who are the key to make a place home.

This it why do I like to live here because I got to know amazing people here and many of them turned out to become very dear friend.

So to all of my friend here thank you for being in my life and making this my home...

A solution to smelly and unfriendly waiters

Please read this blog of a friend of mine who has a perfect solution for the bad service which we all encounter here in Male, enjoy:

http://madlyinlovewithfood.blogspot.com/2011/01/poor-food-service-in-male-is-solved.html

The flip side of service

This blog is long over due but he better late than never... So here it is.

Ok the living here you get adjusted regarding bad service in restaurants and cafe's it is sadly to say, bad service becomes your norm (I guess accepting this is a way of not getting your blood level to high) but there are levels of bad service and when it is bad it is really bad.

So I have created a special service indicator:

Excellent service = Non existent

Good Service = Rare

Mediocre Service = The new good

Bad Service = Acceptable

Sub Zero Service = The norm

As the first two levels of service does hardly exist here we are focusing on the last 3.

Mediocre Service:

The waiter speaks and understand either English or Dhivehi or both, does not smell and somehow manages to bring the correct order.

Bad Service:

The waiter does not speak and or understand English or Dhivehi, does not smell, trow the order on the table, give the bill while you are still eating or drinking, if you ask something, it is like you have asked the move to world, o yes brings you the order but one after one.

Sub Zero Service:

The waiter does not speak at all if it does it it sound like grumbling, did not wash, if you ask for something o sorry rephrase better do not ask for something, the order, do not ask it will come when ever he feel like to bring it, give the bill before you even start eating or drinking, does not care, etc, etc

So why are we putting up with this? Good question, because we do, even if you complain they look like you if your are the biggest idiot alive... So you are avoiding the places with Sub Zero Service that means 2/3 of the restaurants/bars here in Male'. So u go the place with bad or Mediocre service...

That remind me of a funny story of typical Sub Zero Service. Me and a friend when to a well know place for a mid night snack ordered a stake sandwich, well after going through all the agonizing of making the order and dealing with a half brain, finally we got the order, well than it became interesting

Me: Can have some mayonnaise?

Waiter: Sorry I can not give u mayonnaise

Me: Asked why?

Waiter: Blank face (it mumbled a bid)

Me: Can I see the Manager (can I remind u they had mayonnaise as it was on the sandwich)

Me: Repeated my self "can I have mayonnaise"

Manager: Sorry we can not serve mayonnaise

Me: Why not

Manager: The Management says so (he was one of the manager)

Me: Got frustrated and said bring me mayonnaise as u have it in the kitchen

Manager: No answer he just walked a way

Me: I was amazed and blazing to say the least

We did not see the manager anymore during the time we where there, WTF is wrong with this picture, needless to say I avoid that place like anything....

Now this is not a one off sadly to say I can go on and on with this topic as BAD SERVICE

here in Male is the norm...

So here is my plight to the owners of restaurants, bars, hotas, etc. Please before you put a waiter in frond of your customers, please teach them this:

1. Please teach them about basic hygiene e.g.. what is water and soap
2. That they bring the bill when the customer ask for it and NOT before or during the meal or coffee
3. That NO is not a option please check if it is possible
4. If you do not understand something get some one who can understand the customer
5. please smile, it is free you know
6. Do not argue with the customer
7. Talk in a language that is understandable if not possible u should not let them serve customer.

Writing these points I have the feeling it is a bit pointless and many of the owners really do not care either so why would their staff care right, but still it is good to keep enlightening you guys.

Enjoy eating and drinking on one of the many restaurants and cafes here in Male, hopefully the service is Mediocre Service at it best :)

The track and the snails

Dear All,

It has been a while since I last updated my blog anyway I have been busy new job, moving to my own apartment o boy that was so good to have my own space a gain and also I was busy training for the Dhiraagu run held every year here in Male it a one round around Male, the distance is 5.2km not much but he considering it was my first race I ever done and only start running last year November I wanted to make at least a good time.

So 2 month before the run 5 did massive amounts of training in he gym and on the track strengthening my legs improve my endurance and technique and lots of track training with a good friend of mine.

Actually the running track in Male is quite a cool place to be well it is except of one thing people who think it is perfectly okay to walk on a running track WTF yes waking on the inside lane. Well I am not a expert of running etiquette on the track but normally the inside lanes are for people who are actually running and not walking and talking and having a stroll. It DRIVE ME NUTS and most of them are woman why and one you still can still go around but for heavens sake they are walking 3 or 4 wide.

Do they move or speed up or simply go to the outside lanes NO why would they, honestly why would they because as they live in ignorant bliss as they apparently own the track.

So all the runners are either going on the grass to pass them or just on the outside lanes, but when you have speed that is not possible.

Now dear readers this evening I had enough 3 of those snails where leisurely strolling asked them move during running did they NO so on my last sprint they did not move so I bummed in to one of them per accident I must say I simply did go to fast to stop. Anyway as my mother always said to us kids if you do not want to listen than we have to opt for other options.

While during the cool down one of those snails told why did I pushed her friend so I told here why are they walking on the inside lane why that is used for people who are actually exercising and they left... fellow track users where quite amused by the scene and got some looks of approval. A friend of mine told me hopefully they learned a lesson, well I do not think so because those snails are living in ignorant bliss.

This is how I see it I applaud everybody who exercise I really do as it is healthy and it has the possibility to change you live. but please please if you want to walk use the bloody outside lane because 2rd of the users are very much inconvenience by snails on the inside lanes.

O yes how did I do during the run well ended up 15th place so not bad.

And this is how I C it ban the snails from the 2 inside lanes of the running track.

One thing I simply do not understand... Jealousy

This is it I do not get it, well than again it could be me… But what is it with adults and jealousy, especially where I am living now. Here they are making it in a art form and it drives me NUTS….

Ok granted some times we are all jealous in one form or a other. In my case it would be in a form of admiration or something I want have or achieve, so if I wanted it I will work for it.

I asked some of my closest friends and nobody could give me a satisfying answer why people are so jealous here , to be honest I stopped looking for a proper explanation.

Hence I am mention 3 things that bug me the most about jealousy:

First - What is the problem with all of you Jealous people just be happy for some one, it does not hurt honestly it does not, in matter of fact it would make you a better and even a bigger person.

Secondly - Jealousy might be a ok or even slightly adorable when you are a kid (well younger than 10), but honestly when adults are jealous it is not at all cool, adorable or interesting IT IS JUST VERY VERY SAD period.

Thirdly - If you want to have something that someone else has, fore god sake WORK for it, it is so simple as that it really is.

And dear people that is how I see it….

Have a great day J