It's been 3 years.
9 years ago
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
it was only today that i am posting this event since this was actually considered illegal. haha! yep, for 23 days, i have been working as a part-time secretary for a certain company here in abu dhabi. i acted as a reliever for a friend who went for a vacation in our home country. the experience was different and difficult. why is that? because i had to actually be infront of the computer for almost 9 hours straight! typing, editing, checking emails.. these sorts. i had to send fax messgaes and at the same time, make calls. grabeng multi-tasking if i may say. minsan nga, muntik ko nang sagutin yung fax machine dahil sa kalituhan. hihi.
it was a small office (enclosed in a bigger office) with a limited staff. aside from my friend who temporarily went away, there were also two brits and a syrian. the syrian was actually a very nice guy. nice kasi he just pouts when i made mistakes. no "you are such a dummy!" look. hehe. he was also fond of praising the work you did for him. too bad he also went away for vacation after a week of my stay. but then again, it means less work, kaya okay na rin. hehe.
as for the brits, well... what do you expect? they hate the americans, including the latter's english! what's so ironic about it, they sometimes ask me for the spelling (i.e. maneouvre?) or meaning of an english word (i.e., forenoon), in its british version. duh???!!! sa akin pa daw ba itanong??!!! but then, i gave them my best guesses. hihi. of course, with the spelling the word should have that french-look, o then u and r before e. as for the meaning of words such as "forenoon", i give them my wildest guess. i told them it means "before noon", specifically the time when you eat your brunch. ngahaha.
the old brit prefers to be called "captain", i dunno if he was once a ship's captain or not. all i know is, he is quite adept with maritime terms and goings. he said he has been in the UAE for quite sometime. this granny have this habit of cursing, carries an old plastic briefcase, i could hear him chewing something every now and then (nganga kaya yun? hihi), and positively, super stingy! hehe. nde kasi nagla-lunch. =) he also has this very old way of working. like most of his working hours were spent on doing unnecessary things like making table of contents, etc. etc. yep! when he speaks to clients, he is mostly blubbering (has the habit of saying "etc., etc.,etc.," than actually specifying what are those etceteras were) than conveying important information. oh well, you really can't teach old dogs new tricks. eh, ano ba pakialam ko sa organization nila?
as for the younger brit, he is the boss and rather cute if he's on his good mood. he also curses once in awhile, sings at least 3x in those 8hrs of work, brings in this really tasty donuts (sarap because it's not too sweet and the dough is really siksik and manamis-namis, i wonder where he buys it from....) pag nasa mood siya, and with those three (3) weeks he has learned to doubt that i am getting the right names of callers. i don't blame him because i really don't!! haha.
so, now that my time here has ended... what will i miss? not much. probably the times that i wake up at 7 AM in the morning, the chance to update my blog when there were no documents to type, the times i could read an e-book on my mobile phone when i have a spare time, the chance to wear sandals to work, the "talking" elevator, the black tea in the morning, the times that i could sneak out to the mall and of course, the donuts that RJC occassionally brings. hehe.
and what will i not miss?? the rude taxi drivers in the morning, not having lunch (not because i don't want to or nagkukuripot ako, but for the reason that i don't like eating alone in public places unless it'll cause me death), captain's cursings and out-of-this-world tasks to do, the ringing phone, the freezing room temperature, the PC monitor that actually made me go blind, the xerox copier that cannot copy bunch of documents by itself, the printer that "eats" paper, the scanner that takes ages to scan, the sight of yellow envelopes, and going home much later than 4 o'clock. and that is without prejudice. ;)
Monday, July 24, 2006
this wasn't my first e-book reading accomplishment. however, from my new e-book collections i have decided to read this yesterday because bookworms have commented that this was a funny one. in order to encourage myself to actually delve into book reading, i might as well start with a not-so-boring story. and guess what, i finished it after just two days!! excluding the Secret Garden, Daddy-Long-Legs and Shrouded Hearts which i read during spare time a couple of weeks back, this book was officially my first e-book since i started getting seriously back into reading. seriously means reading even if i am on a taxi, at work or while watching tv. =)
the book was written by Sophie Kinsella. it was about an ordinary, charming gal named Emma Corrigan who frantically turned her life upside-down when she confesses her secrets to a stranger she seated beside with on a plane and who later turned out to be her company's living founder -- Jack Harper, the big boss.
she then faced an uncomfortable office days when Jack stayed at their office and recognized her. eventually, revealing her secrets one by one! however, little did Emma realized that she is gradually falling for him to the point of breaking up with her boyfriend Connor. Emma and Jack found themselves together despite the uneasiness Emma felt that the latter seems not willing to share his life story with her.
the story progresses with twists and turns: Emma's confronting her family, Jack's revelation of Emma's secrets on national television, the unwanted help Emma got from her roommate Jemima, etc. however, the story ended with Jack and Emma resolving the differences and doubts between them. finding themselves more fascinated and in love with each other.
verdict: the story was kakilig-kilig at makulet! hihi
Thursday, July 20, 2006
My love,
Its been a long time since i cried
And left you out of the blue.
It's hard leaving you that way when
I never wanted to.
Self-denial is a game
It's strange i never would've
Wanted if until there was you.
Because i have learned that love is beyond
What human can imagine,
The more it clears
The more i have to let you go.
CHORUS
But now i don't understand
Why im feeling so bad now
When i know it was my idea.
I could've just denied the truth and lied.
But why am i the only one standing stranded
On the same ground?
My love because i have learned that love is a
Word gets thrown a little bit too much.
The best excuse to fill the infinite abyss
I never have to if all else fail.
(Repeat Chorus)
If all else fail, would you be there to love me?
When all else fail, would you be brave to see right through me?
this is one of kitchie nadal's song which i like so much. i like the rhythm, the lyrics and most especially, her voice. it was a cross between jewel and alanis. soulful and one could really feel the struggle within. i could relate to the song since i have struggled like this before. uy! hehe.
Its been a long time since i cried
And left you out of the blue.
It's hard leaving you that way when
I never wanted to.
Self-denial is a game
It's strange i never would've
Wanted if until there was you.
Because i have learned that love is beyond
What human can imagine,
The more it clears
The more i have to let you go.
CHORUS
But now i don't understand
Why im feeling so bad now
When i know it was my idea.
I could've just denied the truth and lied.
But why am i the only one standing stranded
On the same ground?
My love because i have learned that love is a
Word gets thrown a little bit too much.
The best excuse to fill the infinite abyss
I never have to if all else fail.
(Repeat Chorus)
If all else fail, would you be there to love me?
When all else fail, would you be brave to see right through me?
this is one of kitchie nadal's song which i like so much. i like the rhythm, the lyrics and most especially, her voice. it was a cross between jewel and alanis. soulful and one could really feel the struggle within. i could relate to the song since i have struggled like this before. uy! hehe.
Friday, July 07, 2006
as with most ofw's, the five of us felt that nothing is happening with our careers in the philippines that is why we opted to go here in the middle east (UAE to be exact) even if things looks uncertain. today, after years and/or months of being in this place with almost all-year round of sunshine, we decided to meet up and reminisce our BPS times.
i started my trip to Dubai at 7 AM in the morning. texting friends as early as 8 AM to inquire about the bus route. i know, medyo istorbo nga kasi Friday is a supposed to be a getting-up-late day. anyway, minsan-minsan lang naman mang-istorbo. =) when i reached the Al Ghubaiba bus station, i took the #42 bus as advised to be the best choice in going to the church. i reached the church area around 9:30 AM already and the service was almost over. we were supposed to attend the early morning service at St. Mary's Church in Dubai together. trying to re-live the BPS culture, kumbaga. however, everyone was late as usual (re-living another BPS trait, hehe), therefore we have attended the mass separately.
after the mass, i walked towards the Al Jadeed Bakery where we are supposed to meet initially. surprisingly, my cousin bong tagged me from behind my back! yep, no matter where one is, the world is still a small place to bump into friends or in my case, relatives. talas ng mata ng pinsan ko! hehe. he helped me find my classmates, namely: eva, irma, lilian and charito. after that, he said goodbye to us and we in return, decided to eat the traditional street food... kwek-kwek, squidball, fishball, etc. in Al Attar, Karama. kaka-miss itong mga pagkaing ito eh.
we started our chismisan the moment we have seated in the make-shift eating venue and munched away the little goodies one by one. we stayed there for almost 2 hours. grabe, hataw talaga ang daldalan. hihi.
i have also managed to meet a former officemate and my friend's ex-bf in the said place (he helped us with the snapshot above). when it was time for lunch, we decided to go to chato's place in Deira for the continuation of our chikahan at the comfort of their home with matching satisfaction of a home-cooked lunch. =)
we have talked about the latest news about our classmates/schoolmates who were not present. hihi. most became successful, some unlucky and some became controversial. haha. grabe, a sought-for handsome guy turning into a woman-wanna-be was just a shocked. iba talaga ang level ng balitang ito. but then, at least nagpaka-totoo na siya. pero sayang siya talaga, hehe.
to be fair for those who were absent, here are the update on the five of us:
charito - she got her BS in HRM in St. Paul, Manila and has been in the UAE for almost five years which according to her was more of a need than by choice. she's living here with her family and is now happily engaged. congratulations in advance! =)
eva - she got her BS in ComSci from PCU, Manila and has been in the UAE for about a year. she loves her job and so much in love and loved by a lucky guy.
irma - she got her BS in Acountancy in FEU, new in UAE but have adjusted in a breeze. she's happy with her job and her boyfriend.
lilian - she got her BS in Business Administration in PUP, new in the UAE and trying to beat the loneliness from her hubby and 2 kids. she's wackier than ever.
myleen - hmm... for the record, i have been here in the UAE for almost two years, married and still the same gal na mahiyain, tahimik, mabait... ano pa ba.. hehe.
we have a classic adobo lunch, videoke and lots of topics to chat upon... from funny to worst experiences in the UAE and what to watch out for in our stay here as well. we wrapped up at around 7:30 PM. i was able to come home at 11:30 PM. no need to discuss the traffic situation that got me into the long journey back home. the most important thing was, i had a great day and hopefully, they did enjoyed the marathon na chikahan too! =)
Friday, June 30, 2006
i woke up early today to fulfill my goal of building my stamina back by jogging at least, once a week in Corniche. after getting dressed and ready, i have paved my way to the corniche/park around 7 AM. i have walked and jogged alternately with Parokya ni Edgar song in my ears courtesy of my mp3 player. kakapagod! i sweat heavily enough as if i have stepped out of a sauna. well, i haven't been on one but i do have an idea as to how profusely it wrings the sweat out of one's body. i felt drenched at the outside but dehydrated in the inside. the sight of grass sprinklers spraying the area with what looks like the freshest water was so tempting!! i wonder, if i will get jailed if i make my way in the midst of it..hehe. anyway, before i do get jailed because of my wild idea, i made my way back home around 8 AM and the sun's scorching hot already. next time i do this again, i should leave the house as early as 6 AM para naman hindi masayang yung paggamit ko ng Block & White soap. hihi. no matter how tiring it has been, masarap talaga ang pakiramdam nang may exercise.
Monday, June 26, 2006
my officemates, alfred and jess, thought of teaching me tennis today. kulet nila eh but then, nagpapilit na rin ako because i wanna try out if i can manage this sport or not. and since, i don't have anyone to play badminton with, i might as well shift into another sport that i would have playmates.
right after office work, we went to our newly-constructed gym with sasi, a fellow technician. the building has four separate gyms that can be set-up depending on the sport that you want to play. it is also fully air-conditioned, with sound system, pull down/up benches for audience, very clean changing rooms with lockers, retractable hoop&ring for basketball... in short, high-tech amenities.
the lesson started with proper holding of the racket, then the correct arm position and later on with the techniques on how to make topspin. i had no problem with making topspin, however, i don't do well with control and also receiving. sobrang lakas ng tira pero mabagal (weird noh) at hindi ko masambot yung tira nung kalaban. hehe. aahh. kelan kaya ako magiging athletic??!!!! i was just a second-rate, trying hard, copy cat version of friends who are into sports. =(
after 2 hours, i was exhausted and naliligo sa pawis. but then, enjoy huh. ewan ko lang bukas, kasi for sure masakit kasu-kasuan ko nito. hihi.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
just before the graduation tomorrow, our director thought of giving lunch to the first graduates of our department today at Al Raha Beach Hotel. it was about 20-minutes drive from PI. the hotel lobby itself was far better than Gulf Hotel or Crowne Plaza. the food, which was a buffet lunch, was sumptous as well. i really love the shrimp! hehe. kaya lang, medyo pa shy-effect pa ako kaya konti lang nakain. =)
the whole staff was invited but some chose not to join. ewan ko ba sa department namin, walang unity. well, i don't blame them. i also don't wanna go in the first place. kaya lang, RW really wants me to change from the shy myleen to a bolder one. if it's not for the promotion i was nominated for, nde ako sasama eh. but then, kailangan eh... and so, i went.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
by Pablo Neruda (translated by W.S. Merwin)
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.i have learned of this poem from PEx forum. i downloaded the recited mp3 version of Andy Garcia and got hooked!!! sarap pakinggan, ganda ng pagkaka-recite, ganda ng message. ang ganda nya kahit na nakakaiyak. naiyak ako dito, so full of sad emotions, of love... kahit na medyo sad siya, share ko pa rin sa inyo. i hope the poem makes you realize how it feels to lose your great love. sob, sob. naka-relate talaga ako dito. i felt the same way before and i do hope i get loved the same way din. hay, kasi naman si andy garcia, andito naman ako...ngahaha. seryoso na sana eh. ;)
Write, for example, 'The night is shattered
and the blue stars shiver in the distance.'
The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.
Through the nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.
She loved me, and sometimes I loved her too.
How could one not have loved her great still eyes.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her.
To feel that I have lost her.
To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.
What does it matter that my love could not keep her.
The night is shattered and she is not with me.
This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.
My sight searches for her as though to go to her.
My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.
The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.
I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.
Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before.
Her voice, her bright body. Her infinite eyes.
I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her.
Love is so short, forgetting is so long.
Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.
Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer
and these the last verses that I write for her.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
yesterday's dress rehearsal has been a laughing stock for the audience. and i kinda feel humiliated as well for i also made mistakes. after a late night practice, i suggested to my partner that we do some extra practice before the actual event so as to have fresh minds and not to forget the steps.
so, my partner dropped by the flat around 4PM and we had an extra run-through of the steps. it took us about 10 rounds before we finally had everything perfect. we called off the practice after 3 perfect performances and he went ahead to prepare for the choir call time at 5 PM infront of Al Salama Hospital.
i reached the assembly area around 5:15PM already as i cried pa before leaving home. i was really expecting my hubby to accompany me to the National Threatre. but then, he declined and said he'd rather stop by the theatre before the show starts. kainis sobra! so, i had to rush and catch the bus at the meeting place! buti na lang, i was not the last person to arrive.
the troop was able to reach the theatre around 5:45PM. we had a short practice outside the hall. it was around 7pm when the shows started. we sang the Lupang Hinirang right after the UAE National Anthem. after around 5 more presentations from other groups, we performed Ang Aming Dasal. i performed well naman, no mistakes. however, my partner seemed to be a lost sheep back there. hay naku, our practice had been all for nothing. deep inside, nakakainis. but then, what can i do? the damage has been done, ika nga. afterall, i know he also did not wish to forgot the steps.
right after the Ang Aming Dasal, we shifted places for the Gandang Sinauna song. this, i was not so proud of myself. i have forgotten some lyrics din kasi. hay, iba talaga pag performance time na. it's either you make or break. well, i hope our performance didn't turn out to be so ugly or funny. as per my hubby's observation, it's not bad after all...
Monday, June 05, 2006
today was the start of the three-day practice we were scheduled to have for our stint in the Philippine Independence Day celebration, to be held on the 8th of this month. the celebration will, of course, be hosted by the Philippine Embassy and venue shall be on UAE/Abu Dhabi's National Theatre. i dunno where the hell is it but according to a fellow choirmate, it's on the opposite side of the Airport Road, around the area where the church is. in addition, it is said to be also near the Al Jazeera Sports Complex, which i also have no idea is. =) ano pa ba ang hindi ko alam ang location dito? hihi.
we are to meet at the church at 7 in the evening. before we separated ways during our last meeting, we were reminded to come on time. and so, i came just in time and found two other choirmates sitting at the bench outside the hall. i sat with them as we waited for the others. one by one, the bench gets filled up. chika dito, chika dun. hehe. however, the list of those that can manage to come without causing conflicts with their work schedule got completed around 7:45 pm already. hay. wasted time.
heniweys, sister fely was able to come up with a choreo for interpretating the song Ang Aming Dasal. it is the tagalog version of The Prayer. it goes like this:
Ang Aking Dasal
I Girls only
Nawa'y maging gabay, saan man magtungo
Tuwing nalulumbay, ilawan ang puso
Itong aming dasal, kapag naliligaw
Kami'y akayin Mo sa landas na wasto
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo.
II Boys and Girls
Aming panalangin --------- Nawa'y pag-ibig Mo
Nawa'y maging gabay, saan man magtungo
Tuwing nalulumbay, ilawan ang puso
Itong aming dasal, kapag naliligaw
Kami'y akayin Mo sa landas na wasto
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo.
II Boys and Girls
Aming panalangin --------- Nawa'y pag-ibig Mo
O Diyos kami'y dinggin ----------- Ilaw sa 'ming puso
Sa bawat sandali ------------ Sa araw at gabi
Maging tanglaw namin.
Ito'ng aming dasal -------- Ito'ng aming dasal
Kapag naliligaw ---------- Kapag naliligaw
Boys and Girls
Habang nasa mundo, kami'y akayin Mo
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo….
Duet
Panalangin namin, kami ay pagpalain na kahit sa dilim nawa'y makita
Liwanag ng pag-ibig Mong dakila at di na mawalay sa Iyong gabay.
Panalangin namin, kami ay pagpalain na kahit sa dilim nawa'y makita
Liwanag ng pag-ibig Mong dakila at di na mawalay sa Iyong gabay.
O Diyos aming hiling --------- Nawa'y tanglawan
Payapang daigdig ---------- At laging bantayan
Ang buhay na laging ---------- Sa Iyo umaasa
Puspos ng 'Yong pag-ibig --------- Ikaw ay manahan
(All)
Boys and Girls
Aming panalangin -------- Aming panalangin
Puspos ng 'Yong pag-ibig --------- Ikaw ay manahan
(All)
Boys and Girls
Aming panalangin -------- Aming panalangin
Tulad ng 'sang paslit --------- Tulad ng 'sang paslit
Boys and Girls
Kami'y akayin Mo, sa landas na wasto
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo..
Kami'y akayin Mo, sa landas na wasto
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo..
Kung sa'n patungo sa Iyo..
this song was taken from the CD Tanging Yaman and sung by Jamie Rivera and Robert Sena. i just thought of it today that this song is a good alternative for its english version if one wishes to use it for a wedding song. *kling, kling* idea coming in! hihi. of course, nothing still beats Panunumpa as a bridal march song. oh well, here i am again with my wedding illusions. pardon the dreamy mode. hihi.
oh yeah, mabalik tayo sa practice details, hehe. we had our practice until 10 in the evening. still, the hand movements/actions were not finallized yet so it follows that these were not perfectly executed as well, lalo na ako!! body coordination is just not my thing. we had dinner courtesy of the embassy folks again. i left the church with my action partner and the rest of the gang just right after dinner.
Friday, June 02, 2006
"showing na ang x-men. nood tayo?" - a text message i received from my hubby while he's at work while i'm home and waste time away online. hehe. of course, i wouldn't turn down an invitation for a date, more so movie-watching!
we went to a nearby movie threatre, Al Mariah Cinema, which was just a block away from our place. we took an early evening ticket and took a seat at the topmost level. that way, medyo angled pababa ang viewing which was better daw according to my hubby.
just before the movie starts, the theatre started to get filled. with my two years of staying here in UAE and watching movies as a pasttime to break the monotony of my routine, today was the first time i watched a movie with half-full of viewers. meaning, madaming followers ang X-men... hehe.
i tried to recall the past X-men movies during the trailers, so as to have something to patch to the new one. pero nde ko maalala... hehe. here goes my volatile mind again. all i could remember was that i enjoyed the second one far better than the first. i think it has something to do with the pacing.
well, the third X-men movie was not that bad naman. although Wolverine, which i claim to be my favorite, has been overly exposed. disappointed ako in a way (gulo ko noh?!), because i want to see the other X-men in action and not just him. and then, Prof. X, Cyclops and Jean Grey died. however, based from a late night reading, there's a special clip at the end which we missed. kainis nga eh. =( it's the possibility that Prof. X's soul transferred to another person's body. we missed it because nde naman kami sanay to stay behind after a show here in UAE because there's not much people traffic to wait. minsan pala, may advantage ang maraming tao... hihi.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Sree, a fellow lab technician, and me were busy beavering down at the thin section laboratory when our department director popped in and asked me for the status of the laboratory requests at hand and how will it be when he allowed me to go on a month-long leave. i answered him that i have everything under control and will ensure continuity of everything. he blurted out that he got the answer that he's looking for. he liked my use of the continuity word. hehe. and so, it's finally settled. assuming i do get everything on schedule, i will be on leave from the 8th of July till the 8th of August. now the question is, how will i survive that long, summer break in the UAE???
sigh. i really, really hope i could go out of the country. well, i could but it would only be an added expense. secondly, who will i go with??? tagging hubby will be an impossibility since he's not up to wandering around when tons of work is at his desk.
sigh. a month. against the heat. against boredom to the max. well, some things i could do are:
- make the HK video that's long overdue. =)
- get etisalat install the Al Shamil unlimited internet connection.
- make my blog projects.
- general cleaning of the house.
- bake?? =) or learn sewing? ok, ok. at least, learn how to turn the sewing machine ON. ;p
- enroll in French class. haha. i wish!
- take driving lessons (hmm... the last of the list though, since i have not convinced myself into doing (most appropriate word: financing?) this. well, not unless somebody will sponsor the fees for the lessons then i will be fully convinced. hehe).
well, as to how many of the items included in the list will get to be done is another question. =) let's see....
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
hanep sa title! haha. correct, today's my hubby's birthday. straight from work, i passed by Hot Breads bakeshop along Electra Street and bought a chocolate cake. ito na birthday gift ko sa kanya. hehe. it was a lovely choco cake adorned with fresh fruits on top. i certainly hope the taste live up to my expectation. well, for a 60 AED cake... it better be! =)
when i got home, i prepared squid as a cameron-rebusado-like pika-pika. as for the tenticles of the squid, i sliced it for pancit garnishing, too. i cooked pancit canton and it was the best pancit that i have cooked so far. =)
when hubby got home, he was surprised and thankful for my efforts. dapat lang noh! hihi. he thought kasi that i will just treat the day like an ordinary one and wouldn't even cook for him. mali siya dun! i was more excited of this day than him pa nga eh! =) anyhow, he phoned some friends to come over and share a booze with him. bong, dennis, mandy, dantes, and willy came. they drunk a bottle of Fundador over the tasty squids. hehe.
the session ended right before 12 AM. just before me and hubby dozed off, he thanked me once again. =) you're welcome and happy birthday!
Monday, May 22, 2006
it has been a year since i have given up calling my hubby's mother, nanay rita. however, today i tried phoning her mobile number once more and viola, she answered! we had a rather long updating of things. close talaga kami . she's not your usual malambing na nanay but amidst her rather supladang tone of voice, are words of concern and guidance. although we haven't personally met, we converse like we have known each other for so long. we had about an hour of talk and she's sincerely glad i became her daughter-in-law.
when hubby arrived from work, he suspected that i have something naughty in mind. galing nya huh! i have this wicked smile daw kasi. well, to give justice to his guess, i called nanay rita again. hehe. they talked for quite a long time, too. i am happy that they have finally spoken to each other after a long time and because of my intervention pa. =) they have talked about the same things nanay rita told me. no mushy stuffs.
after their conversation, my hubby tried to convey what they have talked about. however, he was shocked that i already know these things. he is happy and i am happy for them. =)
Friday, May 19, 2006
a memo has been released in hubby's office requiring them to wear polo's at work and shirt IF and ONLY IF they would have to go on-site. with that, problemado ang mokong because he has a few sets of clothes. he claims he doesn't need as much clothes, more so branded ones as he has face value which far more important than these. may point siya. although may pagka-mayabang nga lang. hehe.
anyhow, we went out tonight in search for polo along the shops in Najda Street. we were able to bump into Bong (a choirmate) along the way. our first stop has been the newly-opened RED TAG store. it was were Sana store used to stand. my hubby was able to get himself a checkered- and blue-colored polo. blue na naman!!! yep, yep. ewan ko ba, all his polo shirts were of blue in different shades. he prefers light-colored clothes. ngayon, pati ako nai-impluwensyahan to convert from the flashy dark-colored fanatic to a subtle light-colored gal. ang nagagawa nga naman ng pag-aasawa. hehe.
after Red Tag, we went to the old Sana store located at the far end of Najda St. found nothing that tickles our fancy though, so we left. it was a long walk to and from that shop so we decided to eat in the Lebanese resto which we nicknamed "the garden". =) meron kasi siyang kainan outside its enclosed area and it has trees all over and the open space gives. a non-choking ambience. hanep sa desc. it simply means, it's along the street and dusts can freely season your food without you feeling bothered. =)
he ordered grilled chicken with hommos while i requested for a chicken shawarma. while waiting for our orders, we heard an explosion of some sort somewhere outside the kitchen area of that resto. dedma lang kami. then, we saw some resto staffs splashing the outskirts of the resto where the stove(?)/aircon(?) area was. we weren't sure what really the thing that was burning eh. as soon as our orders arrived, we heard another explosion. this time, it was quite louder than the first one. then, fire broke off the oozes out to the exhaust atop the building!!! grabe, it was so shocking!!! everyone panicked, including us! my hubby snatched me up. i stood up, with my shawarma at one hand, and rushed with him to a farther area. within the vicinity pa rin naman, safe but near enough to view what was happening. hehe. mga uzi ba. for the third time, i was so inis i left my jam again at home. kainis talaga! another mega event left undocumented! hehe.
soon after, firetrucks came. some splashing here and there. so exciting! hehe, sama ko. while i was munching my shawarma, i watched how the firemen conquered the blazing fire. gleng-gleng! =) they were able to bring the building down to cooler temperature after about 15 minutes. my hubby and i approached back the waiter of the resto. my hubby offered to pay for the bills, etcheng lang yun syempre. hehe. but then, the waiter with a permission from the resto owner did not let us pay the meal. a fireman smiled at us and said sorry for disturbing our supposed-to-be quiet dinner. hehe. no problemo, sir! =)
we trodded back along the length of Najda St. and came to National Cinema. i urged my hubby to check out the new chinese resto. it was at the 2nd floor of the said building. we entered, got curious, and ordered a hotpot! =) it was OK, not the usual food we eat here. however, hotpot restos in Manila were far better. syempre, pinoys were very particular with food eh so they better be good. anyhow, we were still able to enjoy the joy of cooking at one's table. the plok-plok of the soup, the meat slices, the seafood thingy. for 25AED dinner, it was not bad after all.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
before hubby left for his second shift at work, he informed me that we will eat out tonight. with that, i need not prepare dinner of any kind. buti naman, hehe. i was spared! or was it, he was spared??? ngahaha.
it was around 8 pm when he called up and he wants us to meet in Mubashir. it's a small resto right around the block that offers arabic specialties. he ordered hommos with meat while i ordered mixed grills of lamb, kofta and a pita-like bread with meat fillings. he asked me to taste hommos. i obliged but told him that i am not fond of eating the said appetizer. i have tasted it once but never liked it. that was, when i was still very new here in UAE. however, seeing him eat it with such gusto has made me crave for the different taste as well. now, i'm a hommos fan as well. hehe. inggetera kasi.
hommos was made from chick peas. it has a bitter sweet taste and was topped with olive oil when served. it is usually served with hot unleavened bread and is eaten by carefully dipping the bread into the sauce. yum, yum!! ;)
Thursday, April 27, 2006
it was supposed to be a fieldtrip con team building for our department. however, as to how will a teambuilding activity be incorporated to the schedule or to the plan, was one thing i was wary and sure that more likely, will not happen. =)
anyway, i woke up at the same time i usually do during weekdays. florian fetched me up infront of Crowne Plaza Hotel, 6:50 AM. we were the first ones to arrive at PI. one by one, the professors as well as the Exploration Advisor arrived right after us. Dr. Pierson, the advisor, gave a short briefing about the trip. Around 8 AM, everyone hopped into respective 4W drives they were assigned to. i was with florian and dr. ali.
after PI, we stopped by an ADNOC petrol station where everyone (except me) bought their light lunches. my hubby prepared my lunch pack so there was no need for me to buy anymore. =) some pinoys working at the said gas station gave me an inquisitive look as i was the lone lady in a pack of 9 expats. naku, if i only had known that Pilar wasn't coming, i shouldn't have come as well.
from the petrol station, we started to follow the trip itinerary. we first stopped by the Mussafah Channel where we saw bedding of sand, desert rose (halite) with some gastropods, algal mats, anhydrite and a fossilized mammal! i bet, it must have been the shark of Jaws 4. hehe. he just died first before his life was made into a movie
after some geological discussion ek-ek, we went to see the algal mats in real life, the mangroves, and we even saw an oasis which was just a meter deep from the desert. as discussed, these almal mats, mangrove and bodies of once living creatures, are the ones responsible of giving the oil which they abundantly have.
i learned quite a lot today despite the burning sun. here are some of my learnings:
- destruction made to almal mats are irreversible;
- mangroves live only in saltwater;
- mangrove roots stick themselves out into the sands/soil to get the needed hydration for the tree to survive;
- mangrove leaves perspire salt crystals;
- some parasite plants live around mangroves because they need the desalinized water around and due to the magroves;
- anhydrite forms from salt water and when temperature is above 80 degrees Celsius;
- halite forms from saltwater and when temperature is 50 degrees and below.
now, that's what happens when you are around geologists for too long. you get to borrow some of their words. masama na 'to! haha. luckily, i still manage to keep my sanity. =)
Friday, April 21, 2006
i had one great sleep last night. without grudges or worry that bothered my subconciousness. i do recall having a dream although i don't remember now what it was. hehe. medyo volatile lang talaga ang isip ko paminsan-minsan. =) i got up around 9 AM although been dozing on and off from sleep since 6 AM. hubby went out early for his karate class while i was scheduled to go to church for the Tagalog Mass at noon.
i called up muna sa bahay in the philippines to check how things are. as usual, got a good laugh from IA who tricked me to believe that they indeed watched the MYMP concert in Araneta. iniinggit ako! hmp. but she later admitted that she's just teasing. naku, manang-mana talaga!
the Tagalog Mass celebration went well naman though it was an outdoor mass. we had a short warm up beforehand, although we were still familiar with the tunes and all since we just sang the list last Easter Sunday. we also had some photos taken after the mass with Father Eugene. i'll post it here when i get myself a copy.
for lunch, i cooked munggo beans with celery. ewan ko ba, since i tasted celery in Ruel's (a choirmate) molo soup, been craving for the flavor eversince. kaya ayun, ni-try kong lagyan ng celery pati yung munggo. wala lang, lasa siyang kintsay. hehe.
after lunchtime, got online to surf stuffs over the web. blog hopping actually. chanced upon a blog and a post about her zodiac sign details. naiinggit na naman ako, so i googled for my own zodiac details as well. hehe. so far, here's one that i find that describes myself best :
The Virgo Woman
The Virgo female usually has a strongly developed maternal instinct and makes for a very devoted wife and mother. Counted among the best housekeepers, she is economical (in short, matipid at kuripot, hehe) and delights in having her home and personal belongings tasteful as well as elegant. This is a woman who will be extremely precise...even to the point of fussiness (medyo korek!). Clean and chaste in thought, most Virgo females display expressions of purity and virtue. There is normally a certain fascinating sweetness lingering in the eyes and about the mouth. Females governed by this Sign love those who are pure in mind and who possess characters which are just and true (i really hate backbiters!). Thus, they tend to dislike the baser instincts associated with the male population and are apt to find marriage something of a disappointment.
Nonetheless, the magnetism of the Virgo woman is very marked and once she has gained an influence over another person, she will rule absolutely (talk about having my way, hehe). Although the heart of this female will not go out to the world in general, she is likely to be very loving and affectionate toward those of whom she is fond. If one single word could describe the Virgo woman, it would probably be discriminating. She demands action rather than words and quickly seeks commitment in any relationship (sobrang true!).
With a love of finery, dress, society and display, women who fall under the jurisdiction of Virgo will resort to any honorable means in order to gratify their desires in these areas. Likely to be a leader of fashion...if circumstances permit...she will always show excellent taste in the selection of wearing apparel. These women harbor much respect for the beautiful coupled with an outstanding perception of color, which often develops into artistic talent and may be displayed in their use of a needle, brush and pencil. Floral arrangements and home decoration are their particular specialities. This female is blessed with a quick and accurate eye which enables her to excel in any profession which utilizes such gifts. This woman is not one to be trifled with and she truly knows what she is all about. It would be a grave mistake to underestimate this female. She will set goals and overcome any odds to achieve them. The most enlightened Virgo woman is one who has developed both her intellectual and spiritual sides. Such a female is extremely powerful, magnetic and charming (ahem, ahem)...one who could possibly sway an entire nation, if not the entire world.
Acccommodating and adjustable, this woman may basically be a shy individual, but such will not deter her from overcoming life's obstacles. If some flaw or imperfection is perceived in a relationship, then she will have no hesitation in breaking the bond (yep, yep!). When annoyed, females who fall under the jurisdiction of this Sign can be shrewd and fussy (kaya, don't mess with me, hehe) and they are certainly nobody's fool. However, this woman can be won over with grace and taste rather than physical charms. The approach to life here is direct. Virgo women can be pessimistic and critical souls but somewhat earthy in their judgments. This is one of the few female types of the Zodiac who can be trusted in every way.
Often possessing the reasoning powers customarily associated with males, the Virgo oman refuses to adopt a veneer of helpless feminine charm...although she is usually feminine in appearance. Severe in her moral judgments, this woman is frequently good at hiding such, presenting a smiling face to the world and always pleasant on the surface. By no means a spoil-sport, being tolerant and wise in many ways, the Virgo female does possess such high standards for herself that she often seethes with inner tension. In addition, this woman will probably have a tendency toward hypochondria. She is so centered on being perfect that she is inclined to imagine ailments and diseases whenever she feels the slightest bit out of sorts. In truth, however, the Virgo female rarely requires medicine at all and usually lives a long and useful life...frequently appearing much younger than she actually is.
Intellectual by nature and blessed with a gift of language...or even the powers of a retentative memory which helps her pass examinations...this female is something of an academic type which can be threatening to many ordinary males. Nonetheless, this is a woman who does possess sex-appeal and is often counted among the prettiest females of the Zodiac. She will also be lively and vivacious well into old age. The woman governed by Virgo will have a quick and alert mind but can be something of a snob. Regardless, she respects all the old-fashioned virtues and is one of most subtle and delicately cast women of the entire Zodiac. As a mother, she will be relatively indulgent, taking infinite pains to understand her children. As a wife, she will constantly strive for perfection in every way...backing her partner in each endeavor while making every effort to be self-effacing.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
although i am aware that a certain race has it's bad stock and it's good stock, i have always keep an open-mind to give every individual a chance to prove himself/herself. that, not only applies to everyday living but most especially to the workplace. why is that? because being at work means that person should already be well-educated, well-trained.
yesterday, our new laboratory technician reported to work. so far, i had nothing against her. that was, yesterday. today, i felt otherwise. she have earned a masteral degree and can't even put a chemical powder to a bottle without spilling it??? don't even know the laboratory adage, "clean as you work and work as you clean"? most importantly, can't she even watch her hygiene??? aahhh!!! her second day and i could almost die!!!
i have always considered myself slow, not until i met her. haha. she's so slow... in actions and in thinking! ggrr.... no! i am not a racist. it's just that, i really hate people with no common sense. what to do??? and i could imagine her nodding from left to right instead of up and down! getsch mo? :p
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
woke up early since i alloted this day for a trip to a beauty salon. yep! yep! para-magpa-beauty! =) after hubby eft for the office, i work around the house for awhile, took a bath and off i went to El-Joy Beauty Parlor just across Najda Street.
as usual, it was Mel (the petite young pinay) who got asigned to my hair which i also prefer as she was the one who made my rebonded hair before. she started working on my hair around 10:30 AM. it was a rebonding procedure so it took her roughly 5 1/2 hours! i was so hungry that i bought a waffle that they were offering at the parlor. hehe. the taste was OK since i know my stomach will take any kind of food at that time. anyway, i left the parlor at 4:00 PM fully satisfied with the result. i know that my hair itself ain't healthy at the moment so this is the best that it could get. hehe.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
song by Gary Valenciano
Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
I'm strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
Chorus:
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
(Look up for His smile)
'Coz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
(Aahhh)
Unafraid because His arrow is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
I never face retreat, oh no
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet
Chorus:
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
(Look up for His smile)
'Coz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
(Aahhh)
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
(Look up for His smile)
'Coz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
(Aahhh)
been listening to this song a lot lately. next to my other never-fails-to-bring-me-to-tears song(More Than You'll Ever Know), this song also have the same effect on me. every word was right on target talaga... the melody, the lyrics and the feelings that it invokes in me, everything combines to make me feel sentimental. *sniff* *sniff*
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
got back to the hospital to get my laboratory tests. the result was not bad though not a happy news either. however, i'm still thankful that it wasn't the worst lab test result that i had in my life. =) the pretty doctor gave me a prescription for a 3-week medication. she also required me to go back for another laboratory test after a week. sigh. after i bought my medicine, i went to the church for another choir practice with GFC. singing will be my sole theraphy for now.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
i had to visit the hospital again. i actually don't want to as i know what to expect. but then, my hubby scared me that if i don't go today, he won't accompany me anymore if i complain of pain tonight or in any other day. we reached the hospital around 5pm and waited for half an hour for my turn. the doctor was so young and pretty. she must be a syrian or something. to my relief, she's got gentler hands than my personal doctor back in the philippines. anyhow, she had me get some laboratory tests which i will come back for the results on tuesday.
it did gave us a peace of mind when she said that the cause of my pain might have been some hormonal change or stress. stress due to that damn air compressor, ggrrr... however, in lieue of the physical pain our pockets were painful as well. with just one visit, it costed us 270 dirhams already and i am not well yet! haha. ssheesh... sinabi na ngang bawal magkasakit dito sa abroad eh! =)
Friday, March 24, 2006
woke up a bit late today and we just had bread for breakfast. hubby went to his karate class while i just stayed home since we were expecting a visitor today. while having breakfast, i was also watching the tv program called "Makuha Ka Sa Tikim". it is a televised cooking contest and hosted by eula valez and jean garcia. the kampanerang kuba girls.. hehe. anyway, for today, i was able to see the egg stuffed with beef which also goes with bolognese sauce. hmmm.... it just gave me an idea!
so, off i went to the supermarket. i bought veggies for my chopsuey (my other specialty) recipe and of course, my new recipe, the egg stuffed beef. however, unlike the one i've seen on tv, i used quail eggs instead of chicken eggs. firstly, quail eggs are smaller, so the stuffed dish will be of smaller bites. mas hindi overwhelming tingnan. =) second, i could still use the other quail eggs as chopsuey goodies. double purpose siya di ba? hehe. here's the recipe with a little varation:
ingredients:
ground beef
maggi liquid seasoning (uy, plugging yun ah! hehe)
pepper
salt
carrots
onion
red bell pepper
quail eggs (boiled and shelled)
procedure:
1. marinate the beef with liquid seasoning, pepper and salt.
2. add the minceds onion, carrots and red bell pepper.
3. mix well.
4. coat the quail eggs with the mixture and deep fry.
one thing i've learned about cooking beef: use maggi liquid seasoning. haha. it brings out the flavor talaga. just a few drops will do. don't put too much or else your dish will taste like the seasoning and hide the main ingredients' flavor huh. also, although i am not fond of eating bell peppers, i still put these veggie just for flavor.
as for the sauce, use the same procedure in cooking the sauce for spaghetti. however, since i am in a rush today, i just used the sweet and sour sauce for toppings. it turned out yummy pa rin. hehe.
by lunchtime, everything's ready and so was our visitor. hehe. rey, a former officemate in the philippines, came over for a short visit. he came all over from dubai. nice to see old friends and talk about old stories. he went back to dubai around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
for today, we also received a call from kuya boboy. so glad to hear he is doing well. i know he loves me so much and i love him as well. i love my family, they will always be my inspiration in life. i also discussed with him my plans for our house in taguig. what to do with the part for renting and stuff. as of now, i am not sure if me and my hubby needs a "dreamhouse" back in the philippines. everything's so uncertain at this point in time.
Friday, March 17, 2006
after a month of planning and amidst the current windy situation (probably a sandstorm in the desert) today, we were finally able to pushed through with our desert safari gimik!
me and my hubby started our journey to Dubai about 12:30 PM. although he wasn't quite well yet, he still fulfilled his promise that we will go on a safari tour! yey! we were able to reach the Al Ghubaiba bus station at around 2:00 PM. we took a cab to my cousin's place somewhere near bank street.
at her place, we met Ness, her bestfriend who is new (and is on a lookout for job! calling all jobhunters! hehe) in UAE. we also had a light snack of pasta, which my cousin cooked (masarap na din..good thing, i like pasta na maasim-asim, hehe). we waited for about 40 minutes for the 4x4 driver who will took us to the desert. grabe, sobrang late siya huh! anyhow, the trip itself was worth the wait so we just kept our cool and remained patient. despite being late, we forgave him of his sins because he turned out nice din naman, may customer service kumbaga. hehe.
the girls with the driver...tsansing pa si mokong..hehe
the driver drove us for about 30 minutes to the desert, to the sandiest part. we went up and down the slopes of sands and have hours of dashing and screaming in the dunes! so thrilling talaga!
posing with the 4x4 with the broken tire.. hehe
fine sands + coarse travel + me = great time
our driver drove with two other 4x4's with tourists. ganun yata talaga, they have to travel in groups so that they could watch out for each other. though the activity is dangerous in itself, travelling in groups add some feeling of security.
the sand grains captured in photo
in the middle of our dune bashing, the two other 4x4s encountered some disaster. haha! one had vomiting tourist on tour, the other one broke its tire. only our group survived and claimed to be the strong ones! daanin ba naman sa kakasigaw eh! hehe.
the girls with the hitchhiker south korean..hehe
the girls... pose lang ng pose! hehe
after the 2-hour desert dune bashing, we went to the camp site among with the other safari goers with other tours. the camp features a camel ride (which we missed.. sad), henna painting, sisha, arabic costume, some BBQ's, arabic dinner and most of all, belly dancing! hehe. purely arabic adventure to the max!
my henna bracelet and ring...
henna painting is an art. it combines symmetry and assemetry and still turns up beautiful. the painter is an arabic lady. she's nice and very accommodating although some arabic little girls tends to break into the queue. letting the girls cuts into the line or have a separate line in their culture, has its disadvantages din pala. no wonder, they grow up wanting to always have their way. they don't have patience to wait for their turn.
"the sheikh and sheikha"
putting on their dresses aren't easy as well. it's harder than fixing a necktie. for the ladies, the head dress should be tight enough. for the men, they should have balance to maintain their head dress as it is not to be fixed securely yet is expected to stay put. hehe. so, ironic noh?!
sisha?! yep, we learned to do it the right way. that is, after a couple of coughing it out. hehe. as for the BBQ... well, i'm getting accustomed to arabic food anyway. therefore, i can say that i love the grilled lamb chop and the chicken kebab. =) matched it with tabouleh and salad veggies. yummy!
oh... curious about the dancing belly? watching the belly dancer swayed her belly without any "bilbil" was just so cool. it's as if she has no internal organs nor bones! lambot ng tummy nya! galing gumiling, haha! she swayed and danced accompanied by an arabic music. everybody enjoyed, especially the boys! haha.
the safari goers! craving for more!
we were able to get back to dubai city centre, around 10:30 PM. got to abu dhabi around 12:30 AM the next day... exhausted but fulfilled! we had a grand (arabic) time!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
i receved a text message coming from a Pinoy Exchange forumer saying that she'll finally be able to join GFC as per my invitation. her nickname's jen and she goes by the code "jhenggay" in PEx. hehe, ibisto daw ba!
anyway, we met up across the church grounds (between the church and the hall) right after the 6 PM mass. she's easy to talk to and we got along pretty well. since she was with somebody, she then decided that it was best to attend GFC's choir practice next week instead. even so, i had oriented her with our schedule and what to expect.
at the choir, we were not able to have our practice tonight as agreed upon but had a little salu-salo over some Popeye chicken courtesy of Mandy. after the meeting con eating was adjourned, me, Josie and Sephrim took a taxi cab back to the city. i got off the cab near Hamdan Center to meet my hubby. ako na sumusundo sa kanya ngayon. haha!
upon meeting, me and hubby went straight to Abu Dhabi mall to buy his watch. he got himself a a swatch irony with brown leather strap. it was rather fashionable. kaya ayun, nde mapakali sa taxi palang! hehe. according to him, after 10 years, he finally got to buy his own watch! hehe. kuripot kasi. ;)
there were quite a commotion at the mall since a fashion show was being held. syempre, pati kami naki-usyoso. hehe. sus, lamang lang sila sa height. pero wag ka, ako lang yata ang kaisa-isang gurlush na nagkakakanda-haba leeg and arms sa pag-picture. haha! (don't get me wrong. documentation purposes lang po.. ako'y girl noh! hehe, defensive ba.)
Friday, February 24, 2006
i have cooked caldereta before and considering it was tasty, i still haven't considered it my specialty since i was able to make it having all the ingredients at hand. however, today's different. i can claim that this was actually my #2 specialty. hehe. my ingredients aren't complete but still, the caldereta turned out more than what i expected. in my hubby's word, hindi lang yummy ang look, pati daw lasa, yummy pa din! saucy and a bit hot. separate cooking of veggies and meat, some seasoning, some pinch of this, a little of that... just perfect! =) i'll be making this quite often from now on.
we were supposed to go on a safari today but decided to postpone it and re-schedule as for the first time, i actually heard thunderstorm here in UAE. hehe.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
my hubby was supposed to come home last night or at least this morning, just in case there were flight delays. i have been waiting for hours and there was no sign of my hubby. =( i called up his office to check with his boss his actual flight schedule. i know, my hubby wouldn't like it (he might actually kill me for this, hehe) , but then i was so worried since last night.
it was their secretary who first picked up the phone and then she transferred me to their boss. hubby's boss has a warm voice, mukhang mabait nga, as what my hubby told me. anyway, after he promised to check up on his actual flight schedule. my hubby called up from AUH airport. hehe. patay! hehe. i called up his office once more and relayed to their secretary to tell their boss not to bother anymore as hubby was now in UAE.
anyway, hubby's flight encountered so much delay in bahrain. they actually had to be checked-in a hotel. we vowed not to ever fly via gulf air again. poor service doon't deserve second chances.
oh yeah, amongst hubby's belongings from philippines, found out that he was able to take my last medical check-up results from Medical Plaza. sadly, my x-ray showed i have dextroscoliosis. =( all the other tests were OK. it's all clear to me now, the frequent back pains... i should have drunk lots of milk when i was younger.. pde pa kaya ihabol?? hehe.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
it's valentine's day and i am all by myself. this day made me sing like bridget jones. =( good thing, i was able to have some korean telenovela VCDs recopied from She. at least, i have something to keep myself busy with for the next few days.
i started with the telenovela entitled, Full House. i enjoy watching it each episode! iiyak, tatawa, iiyak, tatawa... maloka-loka. haha! the story was so light-hearted, comedy and drama. the guy was so sexy. especially the scene when he was cleaning the house living room windows. nice butt. haha! in fairness, the gal was pretty na din. hehe.
my hubby and i were able to talk to today though. he promised to take me to a desert safari when he comes back as valentine's gift. hmp! make-up gift??!! kung nde lang gusto kong mag-safari, i won't give in into his suhol. hehe. sige na nga, i will patiently wait for his return and his promised gimik. =)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
two weeks after i got back from the philippines, hubby decided to go home. nope, not that he didn't want to go home with me (hehe) but for an emergency reason that he has to attend to. about lunchtime, i received a call from him telling me that his boss allowed him for a week-long vacation. well, i know he needs to. but then, it made me sad because that means i have to be alone for a week. well, time for me to experience what i did to him for a month! hehe. karma!
right after i got home from the office, we immediately went to Emirates Spermarket and grabbed goodies for the kids in the family. rush talaga kami because we only have an hour to prepare before his flight. i also tucked in his luggage the electronic blood pressure equipment for my nanay. hay, first quarter palang and we already have tons of gastos over our heads! =( i wonder what the year will be...
we called up a taxi to take him to the airport. from the time he left until the time he was waiting for his flight, we've been calling and texting each other. being separated really brings the sweetest things in us. =)
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
yep, finally going back to UAE, my second home away from home. my flight was right after lunch and it was tatay and nanay who took me to the airport. so what can i say about my vacation?? Hmm... tiring, stressing, and magastos! hehe.
tiring because i have to squeeze in a lot of activities within the day, just to have time for others. although i have vacant days, it has been vacant since i have no one to go out with. made me miss my hubby tuloy. =( if he took the vacation with me, this shouldn't have happened. we could have stick to my itinerary for the month.
what makes it stressing? well, the sickness i acquired and the medical tests that i have to go through. if this will always be in my yearly itinerary, that means my vacation will always be stressing, one way or the other. but then, it also took the worries out of me while i'm away. better go through the stressful moments then.
magastos... do i need to say more??? hehe.
some of my regrets during this vacation were NOT being able to:
- have an Outreach program for the less-fortunate kids;
- visit Nagcarlan, Laguna to see their church and re-invent Imang by ringing the church bells; =)
- go to Ilocos and Corregidor for my historical tour of the north;
- see my former 1-O classmates and prepare ice cream for them; =)
- see my friends (Jen, Jazz, Elaine, Tuning) and meet their children/hubbies, which ever is applicable;
- see Recana family and have a chat;
- go mountain climbing and feel revived!
- meet former officemates (the QA folks of IPI and Design of VPII);
- scout the metro for possible business venture in the future; and
- forgetting to buy the Levi's jeans that i owe myself!
however, the month long vacation was well-spent anyway and worth it. how come? with those few days, i was ABLE to:
- spent overseas trip with my parents and sister;
- be with my friend Me-an when she needs me most;
- scout for church and venue for the future church wedding;
- learned how to cook kare-kare, the traditional way;
- finally get in touch with some of my 1-O classmates (Agnes, Ariel, Jasper and Maricel);
- got a taste of taho, siopao, siomai, fresh lumpia, etc. my favorite things! =) and
- most importantly, have myself checked by my doctors.
with the long list of regrets vs. my achievements, that made me conclude that a month is not enough. i'd definitely use up all of my vacation privileges next year! hehe.
Monday, January 23, 2006
i went again to my dear hospital, Manila Sanitarium, for (hopefully) my last visit. my doctor did a check-up on me and verified another negative result and asked me to still continue with the medication for the next two months. i also went to see the opthalmologist of the hospital for the pain i am experiencing with my eyes right after my saturday trip from Quezon City. the opthalmologist confirmed that i have acquired eye infection because of my contact lenses. she prescribed an antibiotic eyedrop for it. my eyes weren't really used to expensive contact lenses. hehe. when i am using contact lenses that costs more or less a thousand, i haven't encountered any infection or whatsoever. now that i bought them an almost 3K pesos lenses, what do i get? an infection! mga mata ko talaga, nde sosyal! hehe. but then, it did gave me a scare because the pain was really excruciating and uncomfortable. my greatest fear of all was to lose sight. yep, mala-Stairway to Heaven ang drama ko. haha. i have worn my new lenses just twice only. could have gotten the infction because of the dust and the weather. well, i might as well stop wearing it. what is 3 thousand over healthy eyes? =)
Saturday, January 21, 2006
my mother accompanied me to the Caritas Clinic in Cubao for the last medical test i ought to have. the clinic is located at the third floor of the Starmall. so, right after getting off the Cubao station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), it was just a couple of meters walk towards the mall. after having the test and getting its result which confirms negative (thanks God!), i finally got my peace of mind. well, for a year, at least...
before heading for home, we strolled along the nearby malls in the area, too. the new one, Gateway Mall, resembles like a mini-Rustan department store. their enticing open-top restaurant at the center, offers fine dining with the cozy, natural feel. nope, we didn't eat there. haha! we just had snack in KFC. chicken na naman! yeah, yeah...
Thursday, January 19, 2006
my mom, my sister and me went to Medical Plaza in Makati for our annual check-up. we sort of have an overhauled check-up, hehe. however, i was not able to avail of one of the tests, since their resident doctor for that test was out of the country. they then referred me to Caritas Cubao and have given me this coming Saturday's schedule. hay. as for the rest, they will give the result next week. that means, it will be my sister and/or my mother who will get it. we were able to finish up with the check-ups a little over lunchtime. we then went to Makati Cinema Square and took a heavy lunch at Chowking. sarap ng lauriat talaga! hehe. i love everything in Chowking. =)
after lunch, i went to NSO for our authenticated marriage certificate. as usual, i still wasn't able to get it. damn, this government agency! sarap sunugin!
Monday, January 16, 2006
i took a quick visit to my dermatologist at Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang. the dermatologist had to cauterize the warts off my skin. the ones where she was able to put anesthesia were bearable. parang kagat lang ng langgam, ika nga (langgam na malaki, hehe). but for those she failed to see at first and lasered out still, ang sakit, grabe! i was charged just P500 for the procedure. quite a steal! other dermatologists charges by the thousands for such procedure. bait kasi ni dr. limcauco! =)
since i was in the alabang area na lang din. i texted marifer so we could meet up and we did. we have a late lunch in the Thai restaurant called Siam Taste, which was inside Festival Mall. as usual, long chat over some spicy dishes. hehe. it will definitely take a lot of servings before i could get use to the taste though. hmm...after some sips, masarap din pala! not your ordinary soup...hehe. the grilled ones were tasty though. compatible with my taste buds kumbaga. =) the bill.. er, well... norm for fine dining (kaya pala sumarap yung soup! haha!).
Sunday, January 15, 2006
proving i always have the energy when it comes to gimik, me and pepot agreed to meet up in World Trade Center for the Wedding Bazaar. i went to meet her up with IA and my sister. i am not used to going out into Manila area just by myself kasi. i don't feel safe anymore. =( we got to WTC around 2PM, kararating lang din ni Fe. however, the security guard of the WTC informed us that there was no fair!!! kainis talaga! we came all the way for nothing.
anyway, the four of us just went to Makati and had a light snack at the Glorietta 4 Food Court. after eating, my sister and my niece went ahead while me and fe did some updating of each other's lives. =) pepot accompanied me in doing some window-shopping as well. at the end of the day, i got myself a lime-coloured dress.
by the way, on my way out of the Glorietta building, i noticed a Banana Leaf sign. uy, meron din pala dito. =)
Saturday, January 14, 2006
we went back to Central area via the ferry boat from TST. from the TwoIFC mall (this mall was said to be as tall as the Petronas of Malaysia. nde naman pala kataasan, diba?) , we searched for the Mid-level Escalators which was not difficult to do since directions were posted every step of the way. this escalator was included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest covered escalator. galing! the escalators were connected until it brings you up the Soho area.
the towering TwoIFC Mall
reaching the end of the escalators, we had about a 30-minute walk to the Zoological/Botanical Garden (this was not in the original IT that i made, but we were able to pass by this area from garden road towards the tram terminal. we were able to save one bus ride, haha. however, taking this route going to the tram terminal was kinda difficult to explain, since one have to use cylindrical roads and lots of walking. anyway, if my parents were able to withstand the walking, while me and my sister were able to locate ourselves versus where we are at the map, so can any healthy and smart person! hehe. do get some inspiration from us, ok? =)
snapshot among the ponsettias inside the garden
it's still chilly though one could see a little bit of sunshine
parang gusto ko ng ice cream... hehe
Central buildings as backdrop
we took the tram on our way to Victoria Peak. the tram ride was the most exciting and thrilling part of this trip! the said machine is pulled by huge cables going up and down, in 45 degrees angle of inclination! really a tram ride to heaven!!! haha (which reminded me of the Tokyo Disneyland ride we had back then)! by the way, the total tram fee was HK$30 (10 up & 20 down, or was it the other way around? hehe. ah basta, that's the cost of damage on the pocket).
up by the peak, the site itself was having some renovation. only the mall and some cafes were open though. the Wax Museum was also closed. =( we then took a walk through the 2.8 KM HK trail. only me and my dad finished the trail since my sister and mom decided to walk back after a quarter's length. hehe. we were not able to climb to the highest part of the area considering my parents' health. however, the HK trail itself has a good clearing about 1/3 of the way (if you take the way on the right side from the start) where you can appreciate the view of the HK cosmopolitan. the whole trail was about 2 hours of long walk. since it was at about past noontime when we were there, lahat na yata ng breed ng aso ay nakasalubong namin! haha. it was the time for dogwalking for most expats who live in the area. yep, there were still quite a number of brits living in this posh side of town. =)
the tram...part of the past yet still carries the thrill of the future!
view of HK cosmopolitan from the peak
we got down from the peak with a tram ride for the second time. still as exciting as it was upwards! =) at the peak tram station, we took the bus (bus #15) ride back to Admiralty. we took a long walk inside a mall which later brought us back to Central Star Ferry Pier Station, where we took another ferry ride to TST.
after a last minute short shopping in TST, we were able to get ready to ride back to airport at 5:00 PM already. since our flight was at 9:00PM, we were supposed to be at the airport at 6 PM. looking and figuring out where to take the Airport Express could be time consuming (we still have to get back to Central Station if we are to take the AE), so we just took a bus ride at the bus stop just across Mirador Mansion.
at the airport, we opted to eat at Banana Leaf restaurant. my first time to eat here and i just love their pasta that with grilled flavor. sorry, i failed to get the name of the menu since i chose it based on how it looked on the counter photo. hehe. anyhow, it really is yummy!
right before boarding time, i was surprised to see Sir Joey (and another employee) from a former employer in the Philippines. small world indeed. they came from a business trip from Shanghai. good for them! a trip to Hong Kong for free. =)
as for us, we had a tiring trip back to our dear motherland and had a safe touchdown around 11PM. to sum it all up, we have had memorable 4 days of our lives. Hong Kong is a great place to see and come back to. i definitely will! hehe. a 4-day trip is not enough to tour and do great things in the said country. i strongly suggest at least a week of stay. =) that gives the traveller, in our case, the backpackers (hehe).. a chance to tour around on most places and discover more things than what you can see with your eyes. that is, to actually live the Hong Kong way. =)
my sister and me... with our wide close-up smiles. =)
nanay and tatay... all smiles din!
Friday, January 13, 2006
our third day was dedicated to the Lantau Island area. we had our US dollars exhanged at Shop 9B of Mirador Mansion, the Wing Hoi Money Changer. it has the same exchange rate as the one along humprey's street. however, the latter is still closed before 9 AM whereas the one in Shop 9B do business early than most exchangers. we also recharged our Octopus Cards in the nearby 7-11 Store before heading off to the MTR Station downstairs.
from TST, we took the MTR to Central Station. i wasn't able to take note of the fare though. we rode back to Central as this was one of the exchange stations that will take us to the lane bound for Tung Chung (do refer to the map for the right color, hehe). we were able to deduced as to how come there were a few poeple on HK streets in the morning, as most of them were down the MTR stations! haha! they walk like ants down there! =)
from Central to Tung Chung was bout 30-minutes ride via MTR, fare was HK$15. we got off the station and proceeded to the bus station going to the monastery. the bus (bus #23) ride costs HK$16 during weekdays and HK$25 during weekends. commercialism! tsk..tsk.. anyway, the ride going up to the monastery takes approximately 1-hr and another hour downhill. this was because the lane can only accomodate one vehicle at a time. so, the bus that took the people up, will be the same bus that will take them down. however, there's a recent construction going on so expect to find an improved transport system in a year or so. the ride to the monastery also gives you a glimpse of the coastal area in some parts. however, the rest of the travel were mostly ups and downs.. (just like a trip to Baguio City! hehe). we also consumed an hour for climbing the 250 steps to the giant buddha plus picture-taking, etc.
the giant buddha and the offerers...
the 250 steps to the giant golden buddha!
photos outside the Po Lin Monastery
we were able to return to Tung Chung station at about noontime. we ate our lunch at McDonalds and then rode back to Sunny Bay Station, fare costs HK$ 2.2 each. at the Sunny Bay Station, we had a short ride to Disneyland via the Disney Train! so, cool! the train's windows and hand guides were shaped like mickey's head. there were miniature statues of the disney characters inside as well. train pa lang, enjoy na! =)
some pictures inside the disney train
me, nanay and tatay at the disney entrance
we were in Disneyland right after lunch. unfortunately, it was only at this time that we were to mention the senior citizen's status of my parents. they only asked for their passport copies (which i always bring) and then you get to pay the senior citizen rate which is HK$ 170 during weekdays and HK$ 200 on weekends. normally, adults pay HK$ 295 on weekdays and HK$ 350 on weekends. laking tipid, di ba? too bad, we weren't able to avail of the said discount in Ocean Park and Octopus Cards. haha. here are some snapshots inside the park :
mickey mouse statue inside the park
just after the entrance, fountain with the whale and mickey statue...
and the in-house train that brings visitors around the park...
me and my sister... mga nag-isip bata... haha!
the parade where most performers were filipinos... hooray!! proud to be pinoy! =)
the disney castle which to my dismay was just a few meters tall...
an excalibur-pose...
mom and dad beside the grand carousel...
photos outside some disney souvenir item stores....
picking out a minnie mouse stuff toy...
the magical world of disneyland!!!
we have enjoyed our half-day tour of HK Disneyland. we were able to ride the Space Mountain and tatay had a wonderful time! nawiwili ang lolo sa rides, hehe. however, the park fails in comparison with Tokyo. the princesses in HK were kinda shorter. hehe. bad ba? ;) if in Tokyo, i looked like the alalay of these princesses on photo. in Hong Kong, these princesses looked like my sisters. haha. ang kapal!!! mascots and the parade were shorter as well. bakit kaya? ;p
despite the negative sides that i could think of, Disney is still a wonderful place to be young at heart, to be carefree and be merry! (pambawi for all the bad things i said about it, hehe). as with any Disneyland, the highlight of all the day was the fireworks display at night. what can i say?? it was simple magical!!!
;;
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