A WEEK IN UAE: Fjords of Musandam

KALI travels: A WEEK IN UAE 01

Mid of October, cousins went to visit us... it was an extra challenge for us to compress the activities in a week, given that they are 2 adventurous guys... this will be a series of A WEEK IN UAE...

Here's our Day 1: Musandam Dhow Cruise in Oman

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Germany's Fairy Tale Dream Town

Europe Journal 02.

I first heard Rothenburg ob der Tauber from my brother after his visit and he mentioned that Rothenburg appeared on several fantasy films including Pinocchio. Since I grew up watching Pinocchio and other Disney movies (80's), it seemed like another Disneyland  to me.I want to see those places where my childhood days were mostly spent...

* Rothenburg ob der Tauber  is a town on the Romantic Road in Bavaria, Germany, about halfway in between Frankfurt and Munich. It is known for its medieval center (Altstadt), seemingly untouched by the passage of time, encircled by the undamaged 14th century town wall. It means, in German, "Red fortress above the Tauber". This is so because the town is located on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River.

I visited Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber almost a year ago as part of my 3 weeks Europe tour, which I will also share with you on my next posts...

This is actually 2nd to the last city that I visited from that journey, I initially posted my teaser when I fell for Eiffel; but since Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber is my first choice, let me begin my Europe Photo Journal from this wonderful adventure...

From Stuttgart, where we stayed with my loving grand mother, we travel via train to Rothenburg; it was about 3-4 hours if I remember it right...

Sailing Along Dubai Marina

Few weeks back, we celebrated a friends birthday sailing along Dubai Marina waters. For 4 hours, we enjoyed the perfect view of Dubai Marina's skyscrapers and the water activities prepared for everybody...

With me is our new baby, "Chabi" who took this lovely photos so we can share it with you... enjoy!



Dubai Marina is an artificial canal city, built along a two mile (3 km) stretch of Persian Gulf shoreline.

Kamikaze - the Bomber

As most people celebrated Labor Day with rallies and demonstrations in different parts of the world last Friday...

We, the "bagong bayani" (OFW) from Dubai welcomes this day with self-pampering activities. After a whole day of shopping at the Dubai Outlet Mall, we went to DFC (Dubai Festival Center) for our dinner and to add some thrill to our not so very expensive lifestyle.

there is Fun Fair Festival at the corniche of DFC...

and these lights are too attractive to resists.

the mini - carnival just reminded us of the PERYA back home. it has couple of rides for kids, young adults and the young at hearts, just like us...

- for kiddos -

amusement games and adorable prizes

as we were walking, temptations and challenges begun...

token booths are everywhere! dare is in the air!!!

as lovely as these lights are the rides for the young adults...

as we were walking around, our hearts keeps on pounding!!!

excited looking for the biggest challenge that we will face!

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these next rides are just for - young adults...

NOT for us!!!

and so, we went on...

walking... checking...

and whhhhooooooowwwwwwww!!!

somebody just said, this is it! lets all ride in there!

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the BOMBER!

it's as tall as a building... seats are just on opposite ends.

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honestly, my hearts beats faster... i suddenly feel cold and freezing.

my feet sweat and so with my hands...

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"uhhhmmm... im still nervous, i dont think i can do it!"

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"we just had dinner... we might throw up!"

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"its not safe... its not covered!!!"

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"OMG... i can pay your salary double.. just dont ask me... i'll pay for your token!"

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"NOOOO! this is it! lets go...."

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those are the words i heard after watching how the BOMBER works...

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"hmmm... can we first have a warm up???"

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OK... warm up!

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there in KAMIKAZE!!!

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this is just a mini Bomber!

smaller version... just half of the height of the bomber..

and you are in a lot safer, since the seats are inside a "cage"

but...

it works just as the same as the Bomber...

it swings... until you turned upside down!!!

and while you are UP, it will suddenly stop...

so you can enjoy the view from the top!

and yes, that was indeed a good WARM UP!!!

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and after that... we were all screwed up!

Perya

Perya is Pinoy version of Carnival...

but smaller than the usual, because these mini rides and game stands are set to move from one place to another. they can be seen on different towns or 'barrios' during 'fiesta' (feast for the patron). It is usually set up in some empty lot or rice fields...

the celebration of fiesta will never be complete without Perya, where people, especially kids can ride the famous Ferris Wheel, Caterpillar and Octopus...

and also the game booths where players can win baso at plato (glass and plates) with just throwing coins at the board...

and not to mention the all time favorite Bingo with a grand prize of Sala Set (Sofa) or a Karaoke :)

and if you really want to win money... quickly :) you can play Color Game. you just simply choose a color, place your bet, and if the cubes' color matched yours, YALA! your money will be doubled!

i grew up with these Perya experiences... as a child, we always go there, with my tita alice - our banker :)

i can remember how we sneak out at night, when our grandfather is already sleeping (because he doesnt want us to go there)... and how our grandma gives 'baon' (allowance) for her apos (grandchildren) for the rides. YES! Lola allowed us. but not Lolo :)

i had a lot of childhood memories at Perya... and all are happy memories.

during my recent vacation, luckily, the Perya in the nearby barrio is still open, and that gave me a chance to be the banker... i am now the tita (auntie) of these kids. its my time to pass to them my happy experiences in this wonderland...

shoot the coin at the center of each box and you'll win the prize written on the box (above)

shooting the balloons

basketball

target shooting

- these 2 boys are shooters! (kokoi and derick) i can bet for a thousand for them :)

admittedly, i was shocked with the big difference of Perya compared to my time...

the rides are much bigger and wilder (unfortunately, there is no more Ferris Wheel and Caterpillar) and the cost of the games and the rides are so so expensive!

yet they still give away the same candies...

Bingo still have the sala set as the grand prize...

and most of all, the same smile that lasted with me will now be forever in their hearts...

Perya symbolizes how simple Filipinos are... and the joy that Perya gives are not the material things that we get from playing, but the happiness and wonderful memories as you spend time with the kids and the kids at heart :)

Barracuda Beach - Umm Al Quwain

our neighbor, kuya jeff, introduced the Barracuda Beach to us.
he said its good place for crabbings...
and really have big crabs!



then we set a date - Nov. 6...we will go there - with them.



but 2 weeks before the set date...



our friend's parents went here for a visit.
one dinner, we discussed the barracuda island... and the fun of crabbing!
and we set another date. Oct. 24!




the problem: no one in the group knows crabbing!
the solution: canon + nikon = great pictures!
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meet the Zaragoza :)

ericson

george

erika

haidee

mamu mia & papu laurent

and our guests....

mark

mommy & daddy

WELCOME TO BARRACUDA :)