Romania's Alluring Beauties

From Muammar Kamarudin BUCHAREST, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Romania, an Eastern European country, is not only famous for its Dracula legend but also for its beautiful buildings, landscape and not to mention its gorgeous ladies. The sight that greets one during the ride from Henri Coanda International Airport to the hotel in Bucharest, will amaze any visitor. The city's alluring landscape, its cleanliness and the majestic Arch of Triump built to commemorate the victory of the Romanian Army in World War I, will awe any visitor. This writer was in Bucharest recently to cover the promotion of Malaysian fruits at two Carrefour Hypermarkets from 30 Sept to 1 Oct organised by the Malaysian Agriculture Representative Office (Pejabat Perwakilan Pertanian Malaysia) in the Hague, Netherlands and the Malaysia Embassy in Romania. At the event, Romanians got to know a number of Malaysian fruits, including jackfruit, dragon fruit and star fruit. MORE THAN BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS Along the road to the hotel, there are a lot of impressive buildings with classical European architecture. Taxis, tram, metro underground train and buses serve as the public transport modes in the city. One of the architectural landmarks in Bucharest is the Parliament Palace, which is the largest administrative building in Europe. The sight of gorgeous blondes and brunettes walking along the streets and hanging around at the malls or having a meal at the cafes and restaurants adds to the attractions here. However, the only caveat here is language as English is not widely spoken. The locals speak the Romanian language, which is a latin based language and sounds like a combination of Spanish and Italian. However, it is fortunate that a fifth year Malaysian medical student at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Saiswini Jayakumar, 24, who assisted the embassy in the fruit promotion here helped this writer with the language. Saiswini, who hails from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, said generally it was safe to live in Bucharest but language is the main barrier for foreigners. Even she had to learn the Romanian language though her course is conducted in English. The writer also met another Malaysian, a real estate agent, Muhammad Tarmizi Dol Samad, 26, who has been staying in Bucharest for almost a year with his Romanian wife, Sara@Maria Daniela Dobrescu, 30. Muhammad Tarmizi provided the writer an insight to life in Romania. REASONABLE COST OF LIVING For Muhammad Tarmizi, the cost of living here is quite reasonable with the prices of food still low. He earns about 3,000 lei (US$725) a month and is renting an apartment at 400 euro (about US$450) a month. Muhammad Tarmizi, who migrated here in November 2015, now speaks basic Romanian. At home, he converses in English with his wife who used to work in England. Asked how they met, he said it happened when he visited his aunt Rohaya Osman residing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After they met, they kept in touch and their love blossomed. Muhammad Tarmizi then decided to propose to Sara who wholeheartedly accepted his proposal. Their marriage in April this year were solemnised at a Turkish Mosque with a dowry of 1,000 euro (US$1,120). Sara, who is a Muslim now, is working with an international hotel. While there is no problems in living with a Romanian spouse, the only thing that Muhammad Tarmizi laments is the food there as they taste bland. Living on Turkish food, like kebab almost everyday, is tough. Hence its not suprising that he let out his frustration when he joined in for lunch with the writer and Malaysian Ambassador to Romania, Tajul Aman Mohammad who brought along some fried rice cooked by his wife Nofiza Yaacob. "I have not eaten rice for three month (Abang saya dah tak makan nasi tiga bulan)," he told this writer. Hopefully, the Malaysian fruits brought in for the promotion will be well received by the Romanians and open the doors for other Malaysian food products to penetrate the Romanian market. This will certainly help make life easier for people like Muhammad Tarmizi now living in Romania. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIDE BAR THE ROMANIAN WOMEN This writer out of curiousity inquired with Muhammad Tarmizi, who now holds Romanian permanent resident status, on the beautiful Romanian women. The Romanian women could be a little bit fussy but most of them are honest, caring and carry out their responsibilities including household chores like washing and cooking diligently. He also said Romanian woman are easier to take care and loyal to the husband. Many have a liking for people with different skin colour and they will stick through thick and thin with their partners. -- BERNAMA