Kali : dubai

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Kali Travels: (2015) Year-End Family Vacation @ UAE

It doesn't matter how many times you visit the place...

what matters are the people you are with.

From Sharjah, Buhairah Corniche, Al Khan Beach, to Dubai, At The Top - Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village....

Visit to UAE will never be complete without experiencing the desert life...
Here's our Desert Safari adventure and ATV ride at Hatta, Oman!

A WEEK IN UAE: Save the Best for Last

Kali Travels: A WEEK IN UAE 05

Saving the best for last... Borey and Benok started their final day at Burj Khalifa and ended at The Deal for the best deals!

Day 07 | The Tallest among the Tall

Last but definitely not the least, Borey visited Burj Khalifa on his last day in the UAE. Having visited the Petronas Tower, he was really amazed At The Top...

Burj Khalifa

A WEEK IN UAE: Desert Safari Experience

Kali Travels: A WEEK IN UAE 04

A visit to UAE won't be complete without experiencing the desert safari.

Dune bashing, Camel encounter and local performers are just ordinary in the desert life...

Day 6: The Desert Safari Experience

A WEEK IN UAE: Sharjah Corniche and Old Souk Dubai

Kali Travels: A WEEK IN UAE 02

Day 2 was a rest day after the adventure in Musandam, considering the jet lag of Borey... that same evening, Benok arrived.

Day 3: Walking @ Sharjah Corniche (morning)...

Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah

and a visit to Dubai Old Souk, Dubai Museum, Gold Souk plus a taste of camel pasta @ LOCAL HOUSE in Bur Dubai...

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

Onwards and Upwards

Hello 2015!

I am looking forward to the bestest year ever...

I have my first-7-days reasons why:

01 Jan is FAMILY | This is the best place anyone can be... when we are with family.

After 7 years, I was able to celebrate New Year at home with all the "rounded" fruits on the table, colorful fireworks, loud firecrackers and a happy noisy extended family.

Desert Safari Adventure

Desert Safari is an experience that you shouldn't missed when visiting Dubai. Dune bashing, short camel riding, ATV bikes, belly dancing, tanoura dance plus the traditional Arabic food are just some of the highlight of this activity.

This is not my first time; I've done the dune bashing for countless times already with family and friends who visited us here in UAE. But the feeling is never the same; the excitement and fun differs, with the people you are with...

Sharing you the happy-best-day-ever-video of our desert safari adventure. Enjoy!

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.

Listening With One Ear

I've been sick for a month already.
As I mentioned on my previous post, The Adventure Begins...
I'm getting used to the buzzing sound from my left ear, though being deaf is a different thing. It's embarrassing at times, it is really difficult to catch up on conversations. But aside from the imbalance and headache... I am fine.

Though it is alarming that I am becoming comfortable in listening with one ear...

Last week, my brother and I flew back home for my medication. It was another test of faith as we were only chance passengers; the flight was full on our first attempt. We needed to wait for another day for the next flight.

On our way home, I prayed and claimed that God will give us seats on the next flight, may His will be done. But as we reached home, I went straight to the computer and search for some alternative routes. Malaysia first came to my mind. I checked flight details and the connecting flights. I even wrote them down; making it my 2nd option, if the Manila flight is full on our next attempt. Then I searched for few other options... but the Malaysia flight seems to be the best.

I asked my brother, who was sleeping then to check the details. He said it's fine, and he asked me back... I had second thoughts. Half of me is saying, go! while the other half seems to challenge my faith. Then I said, no, because I already claim that God will give us a seat on the Manila flight, the most convenient since it is direct flight.

Chapter 32

Five years ago, I received my first passport.
I was 27 when I entertained the idea of working abroad and finally accepted the challenge.
There were many reasons why I want to leave... I've shared it several times through the pages of this blogs. All my dreams, my plans, my success, my failures and frustrations.
You've witnessed how Kali emerges; from the dark cloudy night until the beautiful sunshine kissed my life.

Today. I turned 32.
And I do not know what's with this age that makes me sentimental and emotional...

I browsed my journal before I started this post; there I read that I got my passport on my birthday.

That page is full of dreams. I thank God for the gift - my passport which will pave way to start another chapter of my life. There were positive thoughts about my plans of going to UAE. I'll make it big, I will continue to race... I will focus on my goal. I will be successful in my field...

It's all about me then. My strength, my capabilities and what I can do. I wanted my parents to be proud of me, because I am somebody. I was determined.

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.

My Route

This is my daily route.

From my place to office.

1 hour and 30 mins travel - one way.

---

This is my pick up point.

It's along Al Khan.

This is where my journey begins, every morning...

As the sun goes down, the day ends, the month closes...

Today marks the last day of May.
What seems to be the busiest month (so far) for me.

There are many shocking incidents and important events that happened in the past 31 days.
In Philippines, a new set of government officials were elected. We are now waiting for the proclamation for the President and Vice... God bless the Philippines!
Two planes crashed... one in Philippines, one in India where 158 people died ... and week after was a train accident in India as well.

And as I mentioned, it has been the busiest month (so far) for me...
My weekends were fully booked with different activities... birthdays, church events, shopping and other 'extra curricular activities'... to the extent that schedules were overlapping!

Also, I had tons of work recently... our the campaign for the coming World Cup.
Numbers are all around me... payables, quotations... hayyys!
I was stressed with a lot of things at work... felt disappointed and sometimes, bored in doing the same stuff...

Others, may have enjoyed... maybe? But I cannot relate... :)

We may have different experiences on this month...
Yet, today is the last day... and do you realize how fast this month passed?

And after all the difficulties that each day brought... all the pain that was left by the accidents... and our own personal frustrations...

With all these things that weren’t happy at all, we are saying goodbye.

It's about time to turn the page of the calendar and move forward to June with hope that things will get better...

In Manila, summer is over... the heat of El Niño is about to end. Hello rain, Hello water... hopefully, lesser floods on the streets.

Here in Dubai and in other countries, school classes are about to end …Hello vacation, Hello holiday! Yet, it is the start of summer! The 'heat' is on!!!

Now, we are giving June a warm welcome... let's start this month with a positive spirit that there will be greater, happier and brighter days ahead :)

Dubai Metro 09-09-09

9 minutes and 9 seconds after 9 in the evening

on the 9th day of the 9th month in the year '09

Dubai, again made a history on the inauguration of

The Largest Automated Driverless Metro System in the World.

The Dubai Metro is the first railway transport in the GCC, with inital opening of 10 stations from the 29 Red line station and 18 Green Line stations, which will all operate on 2010, already had a record of 114,000 passengers on the first 2 days.

The interiors of the stations are uniquely designed based on the four elements of nature: water, air, fire and earth. All stations are fully aircontidioned. Equipped with world class facilities based on international standards. There are platform screen doors for passengers' safety. They also have the record of the largest undergound metro station in the world - the Union Square station.

Stations along SZR have bridge across the highway.

Fully airconditioned with walkalators.

up to the ceiling and down to the floor...

inside the station and outside the door...

Dubai has stepped another milestone.

with all the worlds' best...largest and now... driverless!!!

-*-*-
Its not my first time to ride a Metro.

I first experienced that when I was still a kid... the LRT in Manila, which is so far behind compare to this Dubai Metro.

and come to think of it, riding metro is a part of everyday journey by most Filipinos since 1980s. yet Dubai Metro is the first in GCC.

and as I tour around with the Metro, I saw families, different type of people who were amazed, having rode the train for the first time in their lives...

and I realize, its worth the wait for them.

because despite the overcrowded passengers, and not to mention the "perfumes" that covers the

air, their Metro deserves the title of the World's best.

many incident that caused delays were acceptable, since its still on trial period.

in our country, we already have 3 (MRT, LRT1 & LRT2).

but still, its nothing compared to this.

we had it earlier. but they have it better.

Downtown Burj Dubai

For me, this is the most amazing spot in Dubai... atleast for the next 1 year, maybe.
The amazing Downtown Burj Dubai is situated along sheikh zayed road... and luckily, just 15 minutes (including traffic signal) from our place :)

Obviously, this is where the tallest structure in the world is located... the BURJ DUBAI.
And in no time, lights will cover this building as it is now in its final stage of construction.

While the Burj is still in silent mode... THE ADDRESS has been a new Icon in Dubai in about 6 months already. it is nestled at the heart of the Downtown, just few steps away from...

2 of the best places to go shopping.

the Souk Al Bahar. Souk is an arabic word for market. It has a traditional arabic construction mixed with modern context... a waterside shopping and entertainment destination in the so called Old Town Island - Downtown Burj Dubai.

I dont think a day would be enough to stay in this Downtown... it wont even be enough for the DUBAI MALL... one of the largest mall in the world.
on its soft opening, Dubai Mall has 600 shops already and still counting...

the amusement is not over... having the tallest structure and one of the largest mall in the world, you can also enjoy this breath taking entertainment... the World's largest fountain...
the DUBAI FOUNTAIN.

It is set on the Burj Dubai Lake (30 acre) and the water shoots as high as 500 ft. (= 50 storey building) and 900 ft long, with 5 circles and 2 central archs.
the beam of light shining upward from the fountain can be seen over 20 miles away and will be visible from space making it the brightest spot in the M.E. and quite possibly, in the whole world.

3 world titles... on one spot!

isnt it amazing???

i know my photos are not that good :(
it was my first time to go there and watched the fountain and i was really really fascinated.
i did a point and shoot so i can watch it live :)
i will post a better one... soon!

Dubai Metro

almost ready!
here's a glimpse of the Dubai Metro, the first train transport in Dubai.

the red line will run in about 52.1Km from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali (29 stations) along sheikh zayed road and is expected to operate on 09.09.09.

the green line is 17.6KM from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya Bus Station, through Deira City Center and Dubai Airport Terminals 1&2.

in few more months, there will be no traffic jams in the ever congested Sheikh Zayed Road... (fingers crossed!)

and bus stop will serve as a resting place, while walking towards the stations...

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.