My Bucket List (until December 2013)

It will be the first time in my life that I will be doing my own bucket list and I just feel giddy as a child and so excited to start one. It's like putting all your wish and dreams, whatever that may be, in one list all lined up for me to see and wonder ☺ As i say, nothing is so small as to have achieved by hard work. Well, I am making this and promising myself to make it and achieve it as much as possible. I am so sure that this will be updated from time to time and more labels will be added as well. I am making this realistic so my target to achieve this is until December 2013. So here goes...

Places to visit (other country):
Georgia, Russia
Oman
Other Emirati within UAE
HongKong

Places to visit in the Philippines:
Boracay
Coron, palawan

Things I want:
LV speedy bag
Another Longchamp bag
Samsung Galaxy SIII

For my family:
Our own house ☺♥

Things to do:
Learn a foreign language

It's been awhile...

Blogger has a new look! It has been awhile since I visited and wrote in my blog. Time flies so fast indeed! Where have I gone? I got myself busy with work, busy with coping up living here in Abu, and mostly got busy with my pregnancy. Yup, I have another angel and he is almost 3 months now ☺...He is taking up most of my time so I really do not know why at this point in my life I just wanted to write again. Probably it's because  I have so much in my mind that i just needed them to put somewhere. Perhaps thoughts and emotions in paper makes it real or makes it tangible somehow.

Right now, my thoughts are running crazy of what I have done and gone through the past months and would like to put everything here now! But time is limited. As of now I am content that I am back writing again...

Out and About

It's been a long time since I have visited my page again. Been so busy with work and personal matters AND has been focusing myself in my spiritual journey. It has been good! I have fasted, read the Bible and prayed sincerely. It's kinda addictive talking and confiding to someone so Great and believing with all your heart that everything will just be alright...really wipes out all the negative vibes for the day and energized you to look forward to the following day. Everyday is great!

As I have said, I have also been out and about. After Ramadan is the Eid. The moon was sighted on a Monday night so Eid Holiday was declared  Tuesday then Wednesday. Went to office on a Thursday then had the weekend again for 2 days. The thing is we went to Dubai Wednesday morning and had fun, fun, fun...then went home almost 2 in the morning (Thursday). I still reported to work though i reeeaaalllly feel so groggy and all. 

I have also been walking and jogging a lot now. Almost every night and that feels great too =) Anyway, I will be posting pictures, pictures...For tonight I am content having visited my blog again =)

God bless all! ♥

Screwed

Living in Abu Dhabi for quite some time now, has taught me to be unmindful of the extravagance I see in the city. The expensive cars parked along the streets, the excessive food, the well-talked about Christmas Tree where it carries real diamonds and precious stones, the 'hotelicopter', the facilities that only a rich country can afford and not to mention the 2030 Abu Dhabi Plan of getting the Louvre' and Guggenheim to name a few. Though I still get surprises like when my hubby and I were riding a cab going to Al Wahda Mall. I just saw this small screen at the back of the seat beside the passenger. I wasn't paying attention because I just thought it's one of those mini-players screwed on a car seat. As usual my husband is curious about it and ask if he can watch from the TV. The driver said it's an Ipad sir and you can take a survey of our services. THAT again made me wonder...

My Iftar night

My wish is granted! Got my first Iftar. We went to Cafe' Arabia yesterday to celebrate Kuya Willie's birthday. I am overwhelmed by the place. It's a 3-storey Villa on the 15th street. When going there be sure to drive slowly so that you will not miss the place. Outside you will see a sign "No picture taking inside" since according to Hassel there are some paintings that are conspicuously on display. And true enough the place is a haven for arts enthusiasts! Paintings are displayed in every wall, photographs, and books while the place is bursting of a modern interior mixed with mid-eastern ornaments. One will be a little dazed at first what with comfortable sofas and tables casually and comfortably arranged everywhere. It's a villa after all turned cafe'.

Our group seated beside the glass window on the second floor overlooking the street. Since 15th street is not a busy one, outside just seems to be a quiet night. Hassel told us that aside from the buffet she has ordered something special on the menu. Since the guys doesn't want the hassle of going down, Hassel and I helped ourselves on the buffet table. The buffet is all Arabic sweets, breads, salads, and some starters. I specifically loved their dried apricots, sweetened figs with walnuts, and small biscuits coated with dark chocolates. We heaped two plates each with some and brought it upstairs for the guys.

Our first serving is a creamy vegetable soup. It's made of squash. I remembered my mom used to make a similar recipe back home and hers tastes richer. Anyway, we weren't yet done with our soups when our orders came. Six big plates more! Our table was overflowing with food.  We had 2 pastas - one is a seafood pasta in tomato based sauce and the other one is a chicken pasta in cream sauce, 2 grilled chicken,1 salmon,1 beef kofta all served with salad and potatoes on the side. Really a feast made for Iftar!

Since it was not only Iftar and we are celebrating a birthday, the staff gave a surprise birthday song with a mini-cake to Kuya Willie. Really made us all smile...

When we had our fill, we ordered coffee and black tea (with mint) while chatting the night away until past 2AM. 

So we called it a night and walked our way to hail a cab. The guys were ahead of us but I saw Mario talking with an Indian guy. He was given a tray full of dates. Ramadan Kareem!

It's a glorious night having shared dinner and stories with friends. It's the essence of Iftar after all =)

P.S. Luv to be back here!

Note: To the respect of the cafe', i have limited my pictures due to their policy and to the artists who's paintings and photos are in display. It would be nice visiting the cafe' in person. ☺

Understanding Ramadan

Sorry folks, but bear with me talking more about Ramadan. My curiosity always gets the better of me and I am always open-minded to different cultures, religion, their ways, their beliefs, and the people all behind it. So, as an alien adobo and a first timer in the Middle East, my eyes are wide in awe and open in sincere appreciation of what to come in this Holy month of Ramadan...Let me share you some Dos and Dont's courtesy of Time Out Abu Dhabi...

Ramadan dos and don’ts

A few tips to help you better understand the holy month Discuss this article

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Don’t 

dance or sing in public at any time. Most major nightclubs will be shut, but bars will generally be open after sunset. There is also no live music (other than oud players and the like) and nothing above quiet background music in bars and pubs.

Don’t

play loud music at any time in your car, on the beach or even at home.

Don’t

wear revealing or tight clothes in public – even when you are going for a night out.

Don’t

smoke, drink, chew gum or eat in public in the hours between sunrise and sunset. It’s not only seen as offensive, but could get you a warning from the police or even a short spell in jail for any flagrant flouting of the rules.

Don’t

swear in public. Blasphemy is frowned upon at the best of times, but during the Holy Month it’s particularly insulting.

Do get into the charitable spirit. You don’t have to spend the earth – small gestures go a long way, from buying a construction worker a bottle of water to fostering a stray kitten or dog.

Do make the most of the community spirit and sumptuous food to be found in the iftar tents at the city’s hotels. It’s a great opportunity to relax, play games and experience some traditional Arabic entertainment.Courtesy of Time Out Abu Dhabi, 26 July 2011

Iftar

I want an Iftar! Been browsing Time Out Abu Dhabi for the best deals in dining and found this.

Must Try Iftar Dishes

I want an authentic Middle Eastern food. I do not want the commercialized Lebanese Arabic food that is so common and popular in Abu Dhabi, I want what the locals eat to celebrate Iftar.

I just hope that I may be totally free from my stomach upsets and dizzy spells so that I can go out at sundown and truly experience Ramadan. Got about 3 weeks to go! ☻