ANGKASAWAN Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is set for a new journey next year, but it's not into outerspace.

The 37-year-old will get married to his girlfriend of eight years Dr Halina Mohd Yunus.

And he has chosen a special date - Oct 10, 2010 (10-10-10) to end his bachelorhood. It also marks the third anniversary of his mission to the International Space Station.

The engagement has been fixed for Jan 1, said the Selayang Hospital doctor.

"It's time for me to end my bachelorhood as I'm not getting any younger. I am a man who loves to have a family and I adore children," he said.

He related that he was smitten by Dr Halina during his time as a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital.

"She was my student when she was training as a doctor at the hospital when I was lecturing there.

"It was not so much her outer beauty that attracted me but her inner beauty. That was what captured my heart,"
he said.

-The Daily Chilli, ANN