for my older brother, ernan

today is his birthday.
and a great timing for me to shout to world how happy i am to be his favorite sister!!!
and for everybody to know how proud i am having him.

i cant find enough words to say...

he is more than enough for me. im so lucky!!!

love you nan!

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!
____________________________
meet the Zaragoza :)

ericson

george

erika

haidee

mamu mia & papu laurent

and our guests....

mark

mommy & daddy

WELCOME TO BARRACUDA :)

dubai by night

walking is a good exercise...
and it gives me the advantage of seeing this city's skyline.
being able to keep an eye on the fast phase development of Dubai.

every night, we walk - going home.
cheaper. better. more fun.
hassle free on taxi drivers...

and atleast we are able to inhale some fresh air!

its badly needed especially on these busy days...

lets walk together, let me show you the way...

we're home now...

see these hammerSSS (1-2-3) outside?

NOT OURS! :)

Patience is better than Pride

Patience.
it is the greatest of all virtues.
the mother of will.
the companion of wisdom.
the art of hoping.
it conquers all things - the best remedy for trouble!

Pride.
sullies the noblest character.
the first peer & the president of hell.
an admission of weakness.
it slays thanksgiving.
it is a powerful narcotic - the last vice the good man gets clear of!

now, is my title justified? :)

I got that from - Ecclesiastes 7:8b
"Patience is better than pride."

its a fact.
hard to accept...
even harder to practice...

but a man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.

seeking relief

i am feeling tired today. i dont know why.
i was trying to think of the reasons...
maybe, this is just one of my mood swings.

i just came back from a smoke break, went outside the building.
i've seen several birds flying freely in the air.
as if searching for something or looking for someone...

they move without restraint.
they go wherever they want... they are soaring high!

"wish i was a bird?" hahaha...
sometimes.

i envied their freedom - their moves.
as if nothing else matters when they fly.
and the best part is... they know the way home afterwards.

these are my stock photos, taken last summer.

i dont know if what im feeling is really jealousy.

but at some point, i know we all should be... (not just me)

tree story

i once hated this tree...
during fall (as if we have fall)... ok when all its leaves fell on the ground.
and since its located in front of our villa, we are in charged!




i also suggested to have it cutted.
that was during summer, since i dont stay long outside.
for me, this is what it seems to be...



i cant find its beauty.
the leaves, its fruits (i dont know if it is...) and the flowers that easily dries up and soiled our surroundings... duhhhh!!!!
i just want to get rid of it!!!
until one day...




i realized that somehow, the flowers are good...
only if i will just try to appreciate.
it will look better...



and if i will just be more grateful...
it will also give some delight in return :)



and its simple.
most of the time, we expect so much that we forget to appreciate things that we have.
we sometimes have a perfect illusion of what beauty is all about, that's why it becomes harder for us to recognize one.



i am crazy hoping to see sunflowers and calla lilies... forgetting that all this time, what i know is that only cactus and dates tress can stand in the desert.

and i overlooked its beauty and i still enjoy the shade of this tree and have its flowers for my photography... :)

Kali - Dekada

KALI is one of the most well known and worshipped Hindu Goddesses. It is derived from the Hindu word that means "time", and that also means "black". In Hinduism, is a manifestation of the Divine Mother, which represents the female principle. Frequently, those not comprehending her many roles in life call Kali the goddess of destruction. She destroys only to recreate, and what she destroys is sin, ignorance and decay. She is equated with the eternal night, is the transcendent power of time…

For me, KALI is mainly a combination of names.
Me and my best friend… very elementary huh!

But this name has brought us in a decade of togetherness…
being one, being Kali.

KA is also term for Kapatid (brethren) which you can call Ka Lizzie... 

When I first search for the meaning of this, I found BLACK…
I was stunned. Without reading first the whole content, I was thinking of changing it.

Then I browsed another… It says GOD of DESTRUCTION…
Whaaaaaaaaat??? My precious name… the US means destruction?
Hmmm.

I continue researching - read several interpretations.
I liked the one I pasted on top…
It’s for me to choose. My choice wins. This is my blog after all :)

But what’s really with the name? What goes with it?
Does the meaning of your name reflect in you?
It is identity.
But, should you be identified to what your identity means?

I don’t know if some of you also did what I’ve done.
And I don’t know if it makes sense...

But I’ve learn something; that everything on earth have corresponding meaning. In one way or another (through the net, specially) you will find some response to those unanswered questions, or just know something for the heck of it!

And I realized that the value of identity is that so often with it, comes purpose.
It’s not the meaning.
Identity seems to be the garment with which one covers the nakedness of the self…
the shadow where people hide to escape the sunlight.

We don't have to be too cautious in keeping and maintaining our identity.
I believe it is better to persevere in keeping its integrity.
It is not really WHAT we are. It is more important to know WHO we are.

Our KALI has survived a lot of struggles... storms come & go… different chapters… test of faith… phases of life… growing up… We have tagged a lot of names to the trials that we encounter…

and it is not over yet,
we know and we need to prepare...
but these trials, are the base of our identity – a being of worth & dignity.