I Wish I Don't Have To Go To Work

I admit, those words came out from my mouth this morning; just as the other mornings, especially these days that bed-weather makes waking up a bit harder...

The gloomy light, the morning breeze and the cold water.... brrrr. My bed screams "come back to meee!"

Who's not guilty?

Another Summer Passed...

It's a lovely day out there! Bright sunny day with cool breeze of winter wind.
Summer is finally over... just as quick as October.
Time runs fast; I have counted several summers here in UAE and have waited with enthusiasm for winters. This transition is significant for me. If you have noticed, I have written few blogs about this, annually -- when its almost winter.

What makes this time remarkable for me?
I guess, being in the Middle East, knowing that you are in the desert, having experience the heat of summer and have survived it,  makes this time an extra special above the other phases.

During this time, it feels good to look back few months back... while you are covering yourself from the sun and the hot wind that blows on your face. The feeling of survival and victory that you have overcome the scorching heat of summer.

This year, blazing wind blew several times... I know its not only me, but many of us had a searing summer.

a rainy weekend

its time to say bye bye winter... all the signs are here!
sand storm last week and rainy weekend is approaching.

well, its not my first summer anymore.
compared last year, i was somehow thrilled with the 'summer thought' or rather afraid because of the heat... well, it just hitted 52 degrees last year. but as i've said, i worried too much then, until i realized that it was over.

according to the reports, there were some area wherein there were hailstones...
hmmm. not on our side of dubai. rain is enough for me to enjoy a great home sweet home weekend. :)

and i hope you too will have a beautiful one!

the Global Filipino

A Journey to Global Discovery

this is what Global Village is all about.

showcasing the pride of each represented country through different pavilions... it was a really a priviledge to have a space for this village. having the opportunity to show to almost 18,000 nationalities in UAE, this i think is one of the best way to give each country its global identity.

at bilang Pinoy, excited ako na makita ang Philippines Pavilion... nakita ko, may isang malaking parol at ang watawat ng bansa na malayang sumasabay sa malakas na hangin sa paligid.
yan ang Pinas! kayang makipagsabayan...
akala ko lang pala...
parol at bandila. un lang, at wala ng iba...


gusto kong isipin na marahil, dahil lang sa global crisis... pero bakit punong puno ang iba?
nakakahiya diba?
pero di naman zero ang loob ng pavilion... salamat sa mga indiano o pana na nilalait natin ang amoy. pero sa sitwasyong ito, sila ung umuukupa sa lugar na sana ay mga mababangong pilipino ang nandun. kung sa bagay, parang Quiapo na rin... di ko lang natanong kung puedeng hulugan!

at ciempre, wala ang Pilipinas kung walang mga Intsik. ito naman Binondo o kaya Tutuban!

buti pa sila, naipapakita kahit paano ang mga produkto na bansa nila, sa lugar na dapat sana ay sa mga Pilipino napunta. no wonder, puno kasi ang pavilion nila... samantalang nilalangaw ang sa atin...
bakit nga ba tayo nilalangaw???
eh naka estante naman pala..
ang dalawang tindahan na yan... Turo - Turo. Proud to be pinoy!
yan lang ung atin... yang lang ung pagkaka kilanlan ng bansa natin!!!
kikiam - squidball - sayang nga at walang fishball... na miss ko un!

nakaka tuwa diba? hindi ko alam kung paano ko lalabas dun nung paalis na kami. wala akong mukhang maiharap sa mga banyagang nakakasalubong ko... at kung puedeng harangin ko ang mga taong papasok dun at makikita ang nakatiwangwang na mga puwesto, na di kayang lamanan ng mga Pilipino...

nga pala, may isang malaki at magandang graffiti dun:
sponsored ng western union. 35 dhirhams lang daw ang padala...

malamang nga, yan na ang bentahe ng ating bansa. wala na tayong maibentang ari arian, ubos na ang pag aari ng bayan, wala ng yaman na puedeng pang - kabuhayan... kaya sa ngayon, tao na lang, mga Pilipino ang puedeng ipalit sa kalakalan.

OTOP. One Town One Product.

ang ganda ng ngiti ng pinaka mamahal nating pangulo... pero sana palitan na ang poster na ito... pati ang proyekto. kasi wala na tayong produkto. kung meron man, wala namang makakatulong para mag angkat ng mga ito.

One Town One Million OFW - malamang mas makatotohanan. tutal, yan ang pangunahing 'produkto' na ipinagmamalaki ng ating bayan. nakakatakot na dumating ang araw
na wala ng Pilipino sa Pilipinas...

ang makulay na simbolo ng bansang Pilipinas, natakpan na ng makikinang na produkto ng ibang lugar... maski ang sarili nating bansa, di na natin makuhang ipakipag-sabayan. hindi ko alam kung gaano na kalabo ang pag-asa natin... pero ang tiyak ko, higit na malinaw ang iba.

Global Village - Dubai

Global Village, Dubai's one of the exciting tourist destination, located in the DUBAILAND - the world's largest leisure, tourism & entertainment project, started simply as a small site along the Dubai creek in 1996, with small kiosks selling products & handicrafts from different countries.

Themed - A Journey of Global Discovery, Global Village brings together diverse customs and cultures covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, dances, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes and cuisine of different countries.

Pavilions were designed according to the country. The ambiance of each will make you feel that you really visited their place...

Showcasing the pride of more than 20 countries... shopaholics will surely enjoy not just the scenery but most espacially the best buy items that are available in different pavilions.


From clothes, shoes, jewellries, perfumes, different handicrafts, fabrics, bags... everything!
not to mention native foods, herbs & spices.

Aside from shopping & dining, people should not miss the Entertainment Fun Fair Area, which has a lot of adventurous games & exciting rides to explore, not just for kids, but for kids at heart as well :)

Global Village opens only from November to February... just like how theme parks in our country was... perfect timings for cold weather... Christmas spirit is alive... good enough to make me miss my family again :)

Sand Storm + Rain = +*)$%#$%_+^^

yesterday... it rained.
after 10 months, i felt the cold drop of water from up above.
not that much, though...
but the thought - counts :)

this is the beginning of the winter in the middle east...
no snow, but sand storm...
dust all over...

some people were disgusted with all the sand covering their cars...
which was followed by rain drops...
equals mud :)
they all needed to clean their cars early in the morning, before going to office,
or queued in the emarat station for car wash.

some were disappointed after seeing their newly washed clothes hanged with dirt...
and needed to wash everything again.

there was a heavy traffic on the main road.
some of our colleagues spent 3 hours to reach office...

it was sunday morning.
beginning of the week...
a not - so - good to start!!!
stressed all around!

but this is the reality.
and we only have two choices from this situation...

never forget:
that weather "officially" kick off summer & "launch" winter :)

i finally see clouds again...

PS. this blog was suggested by kickers...

almost winter

this is the most awaited season here in UAE...
winter.
finally, goodbye summer :) see you next year!!!

this year's summer was our first.
i can remember how tense i was when people were sharing me their stories during summer time, when the temperature hits 50 plus.

i am not an aircon baby... but i am not used to heat as well.
i perspire a lot.
that is why i was really worried when the hot temperature season is fast approaching.

how can i go to work? just standing outside our villa kills me... what more when waiting for a cab in pants & long sleeves - under the sun - for almost 30 minutes???? how can i survive?

is taking a bath 2x a day enough to keep me fresh?

then, unconsciously, it was summer.
and you read it right, i was somehow unconscious...
it didnt affect me that much.

during that season, i had carlift. if not, i still managed to go to Al Wasl Road (main road) and waited for taxi... i sweat, but not that much as i expected. as if it was all mind over matter...

i still arrived fresh in the office. sometimes, i retouched. and still was able to cope up with it.
at night, i was still able to walk, from office going home. its a 20 mins walk. and rather than to self - pity - me, i used those times to think, to unwind and to exercise. its not that bad...

and now, the season ends.

i was worried with things that i never knew about...
it took many hours of my life thinking how to survive in something that i havent experienced.
realizing that those things that i feared most were all under control... and its all over now.

don't tell me that worry doesn't do any good. i know better. the things i worry about don't happen :)
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let's welcome, winter...