my kaleidoscope world

Jeddah Youth Today

2010-10-21T01:38:00.000-07:00

I know you have many questions and wondering on what is the usual daily routine of a typical Saudi bachelors especially the youth of Jeddah. Let me answer that by sharing to you a video that was produced and directed by a genius whom he described himself a film freak.Thank you to Ala'a El Sayed for giving me his permission to use the video.The music on the background of the video is so interesting.That was performed by a group of talented Saudis where they called themselves the Jeddah Fabulous Ambitious Members aka J.FAM.At the end of the video there is a question and please feel free to give your answer.Enjoy watching the video.

A Woman's Stand Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign,Saudi Arabia

2010-10-05T13:57:00.002-07:00

October is the Breast cancer awareness month and because of that ,HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan launched 'A Woman's Stand'-a local Saudi initiative to help raise breast cancer awareness efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Dr.Modi Batterjee,spokesperson for the campaign, explained,"The campaign climax will take place in Jeddah at the Ministry of Education Sports Compound Al-Rawdah next to Kubri Al-Muraba on October 28,2010 from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.Women ages 12 and up are invited to form a HUMAN CHAIN in the shape of a 'PINK RIBBON'-the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.This is an attempt to break the Guiness World Record for the LARGEST HUMAN AWARENESS RIBBON".This event is exclusive for women only.Please make this happen.

I am not a terrorist! My earth hour experience in Jeddah

2010-09-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Oh no don't be alarmed about the title of my entry. Well let me explain and tell it to you about this.Don't you worry I'm fine and still breathing, I'm free and amazingly alive and kicking and enjoying the freedom of life here in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia. Maybe you have noticed about the gap of time from the last entry that i made here. It took me for almost six months for not to have an updates about my life here as a pinoy expat in Saudi. There is a compelling reason about why it took me so long to update my blog because of one experience that i had encountered here and that was so traumatic on my part that i blamed myself because of this hobby and that is blogging.Alas!Now I do have the courage and I'm inspired to blog again and forget the past and not to dwell on that bad experience and so life must go on because once a blogger always a blogger.

I was so excited that time to experience for the very first time about the Earth hour in Saudi Arabia. From the videos and photos posted on the net from the previous Earth hour done from different parts of the world it gave me an idea to participate and so curious about it on what will happen especially here in Saudi Arabia. It so happened that time was my day-off so no work for me.One blogger based in Jeddah emailed me if i am interested to participate, all i have to do is to take photos of the restaurants and other business establishment or my activity that I'm going to do about Earth hour and share the photos and will be posted on his blog.

A brilliant idea i had that time is to take photos of the Jeddah fountain because for me it is one of the famous landmark of Saudi Arabia and lots of restaurant scattered around the place and hotels as well and very accessible from my accommodation.One of my friend also invited me for a dinner and to try one of the restaurant in a hotel near the fountain and to meet him after his work.I said yes to my friend for a plan to have a dinner on that restaurant.I went to Al hamra ,Corniche Jeddah early an hour before the earth hour.I have an opportunity to take some photos of the area for a comparison a before and after activities of an hour of dark night .

So disappointed because the fountain during earth hour is still well lighted and working. So it mean to say not a participant for the earth hour and so with other establishment around the area and business as usual.But the good news about the fountain during the day it is not working so maybe that is the earth hour for this magnificent fountain.

Upon walking and searching for a participant of earth hour im so lucky that time because i found one, i accidentally passed on this hotel.

Lights were turned off .Armed with my mini camera i took some photos.

So excited i took photos,clicking my camera here and there.

While taking photos my friend Bob from Riyadh is calling on my phone and i answered his call and we do have a conversation about the earth hour according to him that earth hour is not a big deal on the capital city. But here comes the BIG problem.I haven't noticed because it was dark in the area but i heard someone is yelling and the voice is approaching towards me.

I saw a man,a black and strong and almost six feet tall masculined man.So snappy with his uniform armed with a long gun attached across his back as if he is a man in a battlefield,not an ordinary gun and not an ordinary or regular security guard for me, a few meters away his armored car is waiting for him and waiting for me as one of his passenger.He is a soldier.He start to speak to me in little english and arabic and he is trying hes best to talk in english.While talking to me in a loud authoritative scary voice he grabbed my mobile phone forcefully.While talking he is dragging me going to his armored car as if i am a rugged or voodoo doll ready to use on his ritual.I am very hesitant to follow.I asked him what i have done wrong in my little arabic "esh fi mushkila sadiq?'.I am struggling to go out of that situation but what can i do he is pushing me going to the armored car.So much scared that all i can hear is the deafening sound of my heartbeat,my legs were shaking,a butterfly on my stomach.I am so puzzled on what is my violation.He said no need for talking this time all i have to do is to follow his order for interrogation.Interrogation?I said it loud almost shouting with my teary eyes.You are a suspect for terrorism!!!!Terrorism?He is asking on what group i belong,who is my boss while checking my mobile phone.He saw me talking on my mobile phone before and asked if that is my boss.He said i am secret agent doing a surveillance of the hotel.What?a secret agent of a terrorist group.He asked me on what i am doing in the dark and why i am taking photos. Feel dizzy that time OMG!!!Im going to jail and experience earth hour for the rest of my life.I am now a suspect and i am guilty unless i can prove to him that i am innocent.Im sweating but i feel so cold.All i have to do that time is to pray,calling all the angels and saints that i knew but impossible because they are not welcome in Saudi because it is a muslim country.Kidding aside he kept on talking to his walkie talkie i dont understand that much because it is in pure arabic.He ask me to help him to operate my camera so that he can see the photos but after how many minutes the camera turned off because the battery is empty that time.I composed myself and try to talk to him on a diplomatic way on the best way i could.I gain confidence again and show to him that i am a good man, a peace loving man and explain to him about the earth hour.Not yet convinced he asked my iqama my resident permit.I explain my work to him.While talking and standing in front of him near his armored car I saw his reaction on his face as if he saw an angel with a spread wings and a halo that appeared on me. He looks so amazed.He touched my shirt and examined it as if i am a model doing a full turn just to scrutinize what i am wearing.I saw smile on his face.My saviour just arrived.He is now good to me and as if he is now my servant.He obeys and follow my request to give back my mobile phone,my camera and my iqama.My t-shirt is my saviour because what im wearing is a picture of King Abdullah the King of Saudi Arabia.The soldier read what is written on my shirt which is in arabic "kulo na abnaok" in english it says Brother to all.Im loving now this shirt that i bought in a souvenir shoppe in serafi mega mall.The soldier now was so convinced that i am a peace loving person.He asked me now in a friendly manner.As a sign of friendship and peace i offer him a firm handshake.He let me go as if nothing happened.I waved my hand and say good bye to him and walk slowly but i feel so tired that time of that emotional torture experience i had.I feel so agitated that all i have to do is to walk,thinking what happened,walk and walk until i noticed i reached my home.I walked that far.Yes very far and i laughed at myself i fell so crazy that time.At home my friend is calling at my mobile phone for a dinner.I made an excuse that im not feeling well that all i have to do is to sleep.That experience i keep as a secret to my friends. That's all folks my unforgettable experience in KSA...

LONG LIVE THE KING......

Earth Hour in Saudi Arabia for the first time

2010-03-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is Jeddah at night where you can see the Jeddah fountain.If i want to see this beautiful view i just climb to the rooftop of our apartment here in Jeddah admiring the different colors of lights but for the very first time on March 27,2010 it will turn dark for an hour because Saudi Arabia is switching off its power for a whole hour from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening. Lights are expected to be switched off in major cities including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The country is taking part in Earth Hour for the first time since the event debuted in 2007.Earth Hour aims to encourage people around the world to reduce emissions and be more aware of climate change. Saudi Arabia is participating alongside 92 countries, where lights will be turned off in almost 2,500 cities. Let us see on what will happen on that night,surprise!!! lol.If you love mother Earth please join and participate.

Women's boycott of men from selling Lingerie to women in KSA!!!

2010-02-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

Im not aware of this issue until i browsed the blog in the events corner of Ms.Susie that starting from February 13th to 27th, 2010 that all women in Saudi Arabia are all encourage to be united in a boycott to protest against men selling undergarments to women in KSA. If you want to read the complete article you can read it HERE.

I have a good news for all the women out there on where to buy your lingerie.

This is the window display of Nayomi store. This store is very close to my work place. This is the only neighbor that I'm not acquainted with. Even to ask loose change for them or to say hello lol.

Yes you've read it right.All the salesclerk working here are all female.

Ladies are only allowed to get inside.This store is located at Mousadia Plaza number 2 along Madinah road in Jeddah.

Starstrucked to Susie's Big adventure

2010-02-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

STARSTRUCK - (adj) completely overawed by someone's celebrity status,

Fascinated by or exhibiting a fascination with fame or famous people.

Since i moved and worked here in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to present.My lifestyle changed abruptly because of very limited activities that I'm doing to my host country because of culture and religion, very different from the one that i had in my home country and absolutely no nightlife,parties and alcohol so the party animal went on a REHAB lol.I became a home buddy for quite sometime and laptop became my best friend lol. Reading a blog on Internet is one of the habit that i developed.By that habit,it gave me inspiration to make my own blog.

One of my favorite non-Filipino blogger that i frequently visited is Ms. Susie of Susie's Big Adventure an American married to a Saudi and currently residing in Jeddah KSA. I love her blog so much and eventually i became one of her fans.How i will not forget when her blog was blocked on internet by Saudi Authority and nobody from her fans in Saudi Arabia have the access to read it but for a few days her blog was on air again.I'm very happy for her because in 2009 she won the Best Asian Blog Award for the Annual Weblog Awards and for 2010 her blog again made it to be the finalist and the winners will be announced sometime this February or March.She was also interviewed by CNN International-Go Asia.

On the last week of August of 2009 i moved from Riyadh to Jeddah for my new assignment in work .From the moment i knew the good news from my boss that i will be working in Jeddah i was so excited and very happy.One of my wish and my friend BOb wish for me and a fan of Susie, is to meet the brilliant lady behind the Susie's big adventure blog.Yes!!! indeed life is full of surprises.The moment that i been waiting for,happened on a beautiful sunday morning of February 7. What a surprise!!!I never expect this to happen.Thanks to my job and my company because accidentally she is one of our customers.It was so funny because i recognized her thanks God she is not covering her entire face by a veil that only her eyes can be seen.Thanks also from the mug-shot that was posted on her blog it helped to recognize her.First i was so hesitant and a little bit shy on how will i ask if she is Ms. Sussie. So many things keep playing on my mind that time on what will i ask.Physically I'm working but my mind was totally disturbed that time that resulted to wrong total of amount of all the stuff she bought that time,i didn't hit the enter button of the computer that's why her lovely husband doubted the amount shamed on me lol.And I have the courage to ask her.Madame are you a writer?and i little pause from her if she will answer or not and i heard her a soft yes answer with a nod and followed her a question if she is Ms.Susie of Susie's big adventure blog.So excited to hear the YES that she was the author and yet i heard it loud and clear.YES it was her on my front not on the internet the real Susie in person,what a big surprise.After she left i grabbed my mobile phone and called my friend Bob who is in Riyadh to deliver the good news and he was so happy also because he is a fan.By that she made my day and a wish came true...Hope to see her again together with Captain Kabob.Indeed i was so starstrucked by her.....

New year celebration at Sheraton Jeddah Hotel

2010-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

A fit and fab welcome for 2010 and a thanksgiving celebration for a wonderful 2009 for me.How do i survived to celebrate this in the desert, a celebration away from my family?Where? My friends decided to have an overnight stay at Sheraton Jeddah Hotel along Corniche and facing the beautiful Red sea.

This is the Sheraton Hotel facing the Red sea.

The view inside the hotel.

The Red sea viewed from my window

Another magnificent scenery of Red Sea

A new year celebration that was so different for me because i haven't experience a countdown to welcome 2010 and there was absolutely no fireworks display.But i enjoyed the night so fit and healthy because we ate our dinner beside the swimming pool of the hotel.The eat all you can seafood barbecue buffet night offered by the hotel was so fantastic for me and lots of sumptuous eastern and Mediterranean seafood dishes at a reasonable price for only 165 saudi riyals per person excluding the drinks.

Fresh catch from the red sea ready for ihaw-ihaw.

I enjoyed eating crabs and lobsters.

At the salad bar i enjoyed the so tasty and so delicious smoked salmon with arabic dressings.

Going gaga over the barbecued lobster.

And yes, the so healthy part of the buffet table.

After the work out in the gym,sauna and steam bath offered by the hotel, it was so amazing and refreshing.A healthy start for 2010.

And lastly before the first day of 2010 ends,i took advantage to have a deep in the beautiful and clean swimming pool of the hotel ,the weather is so perfect and the location of the pool was absolutely and decently welcomes you to have a splash over it.

And that was my 2010 new year celebration at Sheraton hotel.

Christmas at Westin Jeddah hotel.

2010-02-01T22:56:00.000-08:00

Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyun sa Blogspot din ang tuloy...Hello bloggers ,hello world.It took a year to make this post here.Anong petsa na 2010 na lol.Well sorry for the long time of not making some updates of my whereabouts here in the desert.

In a land so far away from my birth place and family and where christmas celebration is forbidden,I exist. But how do i survived from that occasion,well me and my friends decided to celebrate it in Westin Jeddah hotel for a night.This hotel is located along Jeddah Corniche fronting the Red sea.But some circumstances happened that is beyond my control,a call of duty in work on christmas day.Of all the day and my first time to celebrate it in Jeddah that very same day is the un avoidable year end inventory,Sigh!!!!The inventory team changed their schedule from the date that was agreed upon ahead of the given time.Kung sabagay trabaho nga naman ang pinunta ko dito sa disyerto.

Okay heres the view of Westin Jeddah

The swimming pool. I dont like the location of the pool it is located in front of the lobby of the hotel.Westin composed of two buildings,the main building where most of the rooms for the guest are located and this one in the photo is the other one where the gym and the banquet hall can be found.

Green Anthurium flower that adds beauty to the hotel.

The red,green and white wave design carpet of the hotel that makes me dizzy if you stare that long on the floor.Thanks for this carnation flower adorned the coffee tables where i shifted my eyes that for a little of time healed my dizziness.

The decoration of the wall gives you an atmosphere that you can feel the spirit that you are in Saudi Arabia because of this arbic art masterpiece.

The moroccan inspired bathroom

The Galleon wood decor that was used during the sea food night buffet party of westin.Unluckily i havent tried because im late due to traffic coz i have work until 10 pm and it so happened it is thurday and it is weekend in Saudi Arabia so most of the families were headed to corniche for picnic taking advantage of the perfect weather. The seafood buffet closed at midnight and all of the seats were occupied.So i have no choice but to look for food.I found myself on that noche buena you know what where?in Burger King.I have to sleep early coz the following day I still have to work due to the Year End inventory.

From the moment i open my eyes to salute a brand new day, This is the one of a kind of view that will greet to you.Beautiful scennery from my room in Westin overlooking the Red Sea.

I thought for the first time i saw this,that its is a towel.I was wrong coz this is prayer mat, a customized one offered to our muslim fellows and only can be found in WestIn. Thats all folks, my memories of Christmas day in the desert.

I love you...Goodbye

2009-12-31T07:39:00.000-08:00

Yes I really love you 2009,thank you for being the luckiest year for me,you will always be my lucky nine and thank you also for always bringing me on the cloud nine but sad to say I have to say goodbye. Thank you Lord for all my wishes for 2009 granted......and by this i openly welcome 2010 with high hopes and prosperity,good health and more more more post and updates here in my blog lol.....

CONGRATULATIONS TO PEBA WINNERS...

2009-12-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

Indeed that tonight was really a good night and so fabulous and amazing night because the winners for PEBA was already revealed.....MABUHAY ang PEBA....for the complete list of winners you can follow this link here.........

Con·grat·u·la·tion (kən-grăch'ə-lā'shən, -grăj'-, kəng-)

The act of expressing joy or acknowledgment, as for the achievement or good fortune of another.

Heres what Global Pinoys around the world say it

Dansk (Danish)n. - lykønskning

Nederlands (Dutch)felicitatie, (mv) Gefeliciteerd!

Français (French) n. - félicitation

Deutsch (German) n. - Gratulation, Glückwunsch

Ελληνική (Greek) n. - έκφραση συγχαρητηρίων, (πληθ.) συγχαρητήρια

Italiano (Italian) congratulazioni, felicitazioni, congratulazione, felicitazione

Português (Portuguese) n. - felicitação (f)

Русский (Russian) поздравление

Español (Spanish) n. - felicitaciones, enhorabuena

Svenska (Swedish) n. - gratulation

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified)) 祝贺, 恭喜

日本語 (Japanese) n. - 祝い, 祝いのことば, 祝辞

العربيه (Arabic) ‏(الاسم) تهنئه‏

PEBA President and my favorite PEBA entries...

2009-12-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Season's Greetings to all...

As what the Black Eyed Peas mentioned from their song that i am singing while making this post that goes like this lol....I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night That tonight's gonna be a good good night wohoooo....lol

I'm singing this coz tonight the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards for 2009 the winners for the fabulous contest that give honor and recognition to global Filipino bloggers will be revealed. The top ten outstanding blogs out of 37 nominees from 21 countries around the globe will be announced tonight December 27, 2009 at Phil-Am Life Theater in Manila,Philippines.6:00 t0 8:00 pm.

CONGRATULATIONsss!!!!! Palakpakan....CLAP!!!CLAP!!!CLAP!!!Kudos to all the people behind the PEBA

I'm so lucky that i have the opportunity to meet the president of PEBA here in Jeddah ,Saudi Arabia.The very humble and down to earth well respected man he is Mr.NJ Abad thank you for the gift lol i really appreciate and love it so much.lol

Here are the list of my favorite entries in PEBA.....

The Pink Tarha Ladies of Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Chook-Minders Quill of Port Wakefield ,Australia

Isla de Nebz of Khobar Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....

Im very excited to know the winners...

Again Congratulations to all and MABUHAY....

Judas Cave and Al-Hasa Oases

2009-11-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Its Eid Al Adha holiday again here in Saudi Arabia.For some expat it is along vacation for them.Any plans on how to spend your holidays?Planning for an adventure?Well if you are here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia particularly on the eastern part of the kingdom i can recommend to you to visit Judas Cave and Al-Hasa Oases.As what i did last year together with my friends we decided to have a tour on that place.

Judas Cave is located at Hofuf it is the main town of the Al-Hasa Oasis about two hours drive by car from Dammam or an hour if you take the train.Al Hasa is the biggest dates palm plantation in the kingdom. We arrived on that place so early in the morning where the place is covered by fogs.

For the locals the mountain rock formation they called it Jebel Al- Qarra where the limestone cave is located the arabs called it the Ghar Al-hashab which is the cave of the arrow maker in english.

But for the Pinoy community here in the kingdom it is popularly known as the Judas cave that according to the stories circulated around the group that Judas was cast out here after betraying Jesus.I dont know if it is true maybe chismis lang lol i need some proof regarding on that claim.

The rock formation outside the cave is so stunningly beautiful formed millions of years ago.. Beneath this is the entrance going to the cave,the cave is well lighted by fluorescent light installed inside so no need for torch and lamp. The place is much cooler compared outside with the scent of urine produced by the bats, so be very careful if you will stare the ceiling be sure that your mouth is closed maybe some of the bats dung will drop exactly on your mouth if you feel lucky lol.

If you want more adventure try to reach the top of the mountain.On top of it you will see the oasis.

Wear comfortable attire and that includes abaya for all the ladies and comfortable shoes for hiking as well. Bring some refreshments a bottled water will do. The good thing about this half day tour there is no entrance fee inside the cave so its free.Enjoy and have fun.....

Vote MILES POBLETE for MTV EMERGE...

2009-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hello to all.

I need your help and support here specially to all my PEBA and KABLOG family and friends. There is a contest going on at MTV(music television) The MTV EMERGE and my friend MILES POBLETE has two entries for the contest. Please vote her entries, give comments and rate her songs. Thank you.

Here are the links for her entries in the MTV EMERGE contest.

1.GOTTA GIVE UP SOMETIME dedicated to all PEBA family. This song is written by Gary Allan, which made it to the Top 10 new artist lists on Clear Channel USA's Kj 97.3 FM in Texas.

2. RUNNING ON SAND

MILES POBLETE- A consummate performer since she was a child is one of the most talented artists in the Philippines with remarkable versatility. She sings, acts and dances with the best of them. In 1999 she was the GMA 7 Grand Prize Winner of Metropop Star Search competition. This was quickly followed by a GMA contract as an artist from 2001 to 2003, featuring regularly performances in the popular S.O.P show. It wasn’t long before the acting bug caught her and she became the regular cast of shows such as the youth oriented “CLICK BARKADA” and the soap opera “SANA’Y IKAW NA NGA” Under EMI Philippines she recorded a self titled album. From this album came the hit single “BAKIT NGA BA” In 2003 Miles left showbiz temporarily to focus on her studies and in 2005, she graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas with a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism. In 2007 and 2008 she waded into international waters when she became the premier lounge singer of two of Malaysia’s top hotels, One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya and The Hilton in Kuala Lumpur.

Thank you very much...

The Good and the bad of 79th Saudi National day celebration

2009-09-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

September 23,2009 is a very special day for Saudi Arabia because it was the 79th Saudi National day celebration. The good thing that coincide with the national day for the Saudis was the inauguration of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and it was in the international news this past week. President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is one of the invited guest to witness the event.The university is located north of Jeddah in Thuwal on the Red Sea.If you want to know more about KAUST you can check their website http://www.kaust.edu.sa/.

The other good news that day if you love shopping some malls give special discount on all items that has color green on it "the green discount" why green? it has a connection in honor for their national flag which is color green.

That was a good news and i noticed it happened on the western part of KSA.If there is a good news there is also a bad news and it happened the other side of KSA in the eastern region and in the Gulf area. The place is in Al-khobar. I love that place because i was assigned to work their for almost one and a half years.

So here is the bad news.That night some Saudi teenagers went wild and crazy maybe this is the result of their intense boredom for the celebration is kinda boring because as you know live concerts,disco or clubbing is not allowed here in KSA. And because there is no avenue for them to release their too much excitement they produce a riot. What the Saudi teenagers did that night they sacked restaurants, looted shops and destroyed pretty much anything in their path.

Oh boy my company where i am working right now is not lucky enough, one of our branch located in Tamimi safeway in Corniche was part of the victim of that riot.It destroyed our shop by breaking the glass windows and they took our computer where all of the data of all transactions of the business was there.It is now a big problem for our company specially the IT department.They took also our cash register so money is gone but only the petty cash. Since it was long holiday and banks were closed so most of the cash to be deposited were accumulated until the bank operations resume so it is a big amount but the pharmacist in charge of that place is lucky enough because he took the money on a safe place.So lucky the cash is with him. so here is the picture the result of the riot.

It was in the arab new check this.

http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=126786&d=27&m=9&y=2009

The Manhattan fish market

2009-09-24T19:37:00.001-07:00

Yes its Manhattan but not the place that your thinking right now.Im still here in Saudi Arabia not in the USA and Jeddah in particular. Join me to my newly discovered place to be here in Jeddah amazingly fit and fab and its all about seafoods.The Manhattan Fish market.

Inspired by the finest seafood restaurants found along Fulton Street in Manhattan ,TMFM serve you only the freshest, lip-smacking American style seafood. One bite is enough to keep you swimming back.

This is the Manhattan fish market in Andalus street in Jeddah,KSA a few blocks away from our house in Ruwais district in Jeddah.TMFM can also be found in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

A mini entertainment done by Kabayan before serving the food. Thats what you call flamin-hot-fresh-n-crispy sort kind of a show.....

Its all mine lol The giant flaming whole lobster platter with assorted seafood served on a bed of chips and garlic rice and a bottomless iced tea.

Did you know?

1. Fish has been on earth for more than 450 million years, long before dinosaurs even roamed the earth.

2. Eating fish is good to boost brainpower, as they are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

3. 40% of all fish species inhabit fresh water, yet less than .01% of the earth's water is fresh water.

4. Fish have excellent senses of sight, touch, taste and many possess a good sense of smell and even' hearing'.

5. Fish feel pain and suffer stress just like mammals and birds.

6.There are more species of fish than all the species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined.

7.The oldest goldfish recorded was 43 years old!

8.Dental offices have tanks in order to reduce anxiety in patients.

9.The stonefish, which lives off the coast of Australia, is the most poisonous fish in the world.

10.The lung fish can live out of water for as long as four years!

11.A jellyfish is 95 percent water!

12.Some fish have eyes that are the same size as their stomach!

13.A starfish doesn't have a brain.

source:

http://www.funshun.com/amazing-facts/fish-animal-facts.html.

My ube-buko -pandan inspired room.

2009-09-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my safe haven in the desert. My room when i was in Riyadh,

Welcome to my ube-buko-pandan inspired room. Inspired from jollibee ube craze dessert and goldilocks ube roll. I missed it terribly and i missed home as well.Because of boredom i made all this.I am the one who painted it as well as to arrange the set up of my room.

The entrance i put this chairs and table that i got from the garage area and painted it. The basket is from my friend where they used it as part of their window display in the mall n a clothing store instead to disposed it to trash he gave it to me.

the left side of my bed is a rocking chair from IKEA.The mirror also is from Ikea. Comforter from Bed and bath store.

My entertainment area my 40 inches sony bravia. Couch and tables from Ikea.

Vases from Zara home. Lamp shades from Ikea. Cabinet from Ikea

Vases from Zara home.

Candle holders from Zara home. Candles from Ikea...

Well that was my room in Riyadh.So where are those stuff? I send it not here in Jeddah but to my home in the Philippines....lol New place, new home new life......

The meaning of Purple and Green color according to science.......

Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation.

Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists. Thursday's color is purple.

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony.

Nobody dance with me!!!

2009-09-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

Because of my sleeping habit is not normal this past week due to ramadan schedule where im awake the whole night and sleeping late in the morning and i got a long free time after work.My everyday routine also changed from the usual watching tfc shows to dvd movies. Feel bored last night and I browsed the net and this what i found after that cant help myself but to dance lol...blame it also to the culture here where there is no place for clubbing and bar hopping lol lol lol big thanks to TEAMKOSHI of youtube for creating LEMO my new dance instructor lol

Laing Pizza

2009-09-05T05:13:00.001-07:00

Laing Pizza (Taro vegetable leaf)are you familiar with this?well i tried one, this is not your ordinary Italian pizza,this is so Pinoy and very Bicol and 100% oragun as what the bicolanos said in their dialect an adjective pertaining to extra ordinary or simply the best.

You can find and try this at Camarines Sur Water Sport Complex .This special pizza is topped with cheese, shrimp cooked in coconut milk and the main ingredient the laing.If you want it hot and spicy you can add dried chili powder on it or the siling labuyo . So delicious,yummy and crunchy..

Lago del Rey-Ultimate Lake adventure

2009-08-26T04:24:00.000-07:00

After wakeboarding this is what i did during my vacation in the Philippines. Boating and kayaking at Lago Del Rey or the "Kings Lake" in Camarines Sur.

Lago del Rey – a giant man-made lake right across the road from the fabulous wakeboard cable lake of the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) that offers the best water-based entertainment facilities in Asia.

Intended to balance the cable park’s extreme sports forte, Lago del Rey – a facility expected to be fit for royalty as its name infers – will however offer very affordable wholesome family watersports entertainment including giant water slides, aqua wall climbing, water polo, water volleyball, kayaking, aqua obstacle course, paddle surfing, boat-towed wakeboarding and skiing, dragonboating and, of course, pure and simple swimming.

This is also the venue for the Ironman 70.3 Philippines an international triathlon challenge on August 23,2009. A 70.3 mile race course (total distance) — 1.2-mile swim (1.9 km), 56-mile bike (90 km) and 13.1-mile run (21.1 km) — around the world renowned CWC.

The Song of the Traveller

2009-08-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite poem after Mi ultimo adios written by Jose Rizal Philippines national hero.This poem is very closed to my heart as an OFW and i share this also to all the Filipino Overseas Worker around the globe.Mabuhay!!!!

The Song of the Traveller

by Jose Rizal

Like to a leaf that is fallen and withered,

Tossed by the tempest from pole unto pole ;

hus roams the pilgrim abroad without purpose,

Roams without love, without country or soul.

Following anxiously treacherous fortune,

Fortune which e 'en as he grasps at it flees ;

Vain though the hopes that his yearning is seeking,

Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas !

Ever impelled by the invisible power,

Destined to roam from the East to the West ;

Oft he remembers the faces of loved ones,

Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest.

Chance may assign him a tomb on the desert,

Grant him a final asylum of peace ;

Soon by the world and his country forgotten,

God rest his soul when his wanderings cease !

Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied,

Circling the globe like a sea-gull above ;

Little, ah, little they know what a void

Saddens his soul by the absence of love.

Home may the pilgrim return in the future,

Back to his loved ones his footsteps he bends ;

Naught wìll he find but the snow and the ruins,

Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends,

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth ;

Others may sing of their love while rejoicing,

Thou once again must roam o'er the earth.

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran ;

Pilgrim, begone ! And forget thine affliction,

Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man.

Translated by Arthur P.Ferguson

Happy Ramadan

2009-08-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

A day before ramadan was the day I arrive in Jeddah.It was friday, weekend thats why the street is so quiet and no traffic at all.My schedule of work is different from my regular day a long time for rest.My work start at 1pm to 4pm-rest-back to work again at 9pm until 2am-rest rest rest.So it is a happy ramadan for me.At day time the street is so empty and at night it is so crowded. Lots of sale and promotion to food items in the supermarket even at the restaurants and fast food chains but they are open at night only. During this season i get a good and amazing sales in food supplements and multivitamins from my arab clients so it mean to say fabulous commission...love it.

The name "Ramaḍāma" had been the name of the ninth month in the Arab world long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations.

If the Christian has a star or parol for the Pinoys for decorations, the Muslim arabs also have decorations like this they called it FANOOS.

Destination-JEDDAH KSA

2009-08-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

From Eastern region to Central region and finally where i am?Finally i arrived to my final destination the western part of Saudi Arabia I'm here now in JEDDAH.

My team leader in Riyadh told me that the western team of my company is in need of pharmacist without any hesitation i volunteered myself to be part of that team.A big yes from my boss and i am the chosen one. They give me a week to pack all my stuff. They booked my flight via Saudia Air on August 21 a day before the ramadan.Today is my second day here in Jeddah.There is something about Jeddah that makes me excited and its up for me to discover as what all my Saudi friends told me Jeddah is the kingdom's haven of gentle and friendly people.

O BELOVED JEDDAH!

YOU HAVE A SPECIAL STATUS IN THE HEART.

YOUR LOVE IS SACRED LIKE A MAGICAL BOX FULL OF SECRETS

YOU ARE AN ARID PORT AND TOWN,

BUT FROM THE ENDURING COMPASSION!

BY: Ahmad Qandil-Jedah's popular Literature Pioneer

The map of Jeddah.The head of the region is Prince Khalid Al Faisal. The location of Jeddah is in west coast of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. With a population of 3.4 million and the second largest city in Saudi arabia.

This is the King Khaled Int's Airport in Riyadh. Almost all of the passengers bound to Jeddah are male pilgrims i made this conclusion because of their attire not a thobe but a plain big white towel wrapped around to their bodies.

I'm too early at the airport but sad to say the flight is delayed by almost half an hour prior to that i had my meal at the airport the saudi kabsa-a roasted chicken and a yellow rice.After an hour and forty five minutes in the air finally i arrived at Jeddah safe and happy.What a beautiful sweet escape experience for me....lol

Wakeboarding at Camsur Watersports Complex

2009-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

This is what i did during my vacation in the Philippines.Wakeboarding at Camsur watersports complex.

The Camsur Watersports Comlex is the first world-class watersports complex in the Philippines and in Asia. CWC aims to bring cable skiing to a whole new level and attract watersports enthusiasts from all over the world with its top of the line facilities and relaxing environment. This six (6)-hectare complex, with its 6-point cable ski system, is sure to draw guests, riders and spectators by the thousands. Because of good weather conditions, cable skiing in the park can be done all year round.

The CAMSUR WATERSPORTS COMPLEX is located within the Provincial Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur. The province of Camarines Sur, situated in southeastern part of Luzon is found in the Philippines, Southeast Asia.

Cable skiing is simply water-skiing where the skier is pulled by an overhead cable suspended 8-12 meters above water surface by specifically designed pylons. The cables run counter clockwise around the lake. It is powered by a variable speed electric motor which can maintain speeds between 20 - 65 km/h.

Wakeboarding was created from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques. Instead of using skis, the rider rides a single board with stationary non-release bindings for each foot, standing sideways. Wakeboarding, besides being one of the world’s fastest growing sports and is gradually being recognized globally, has become a lifestyle for others.

Since this is my first time to do it a short explanation of the basic and safety of wakeboarding .Im ready to be drowned lol.

For a neophyte like me in this sport this is the first step kneeboarding and for two days this is the only lesson i learned and i didnt passed to be on the next level until my body gave up due to body pain to the point that i can no longer remove and put my shirt on by myself thanks to the help of my brothers and to salonpass lol and not to forget to the bottomless water i drunk from the lake but i really enjoyed that sport and i will do it again after all its very near a three hour drive away from our house in Bicol.

Kneeboarding is an aquatic sport where the participant is towed on a buoyant, convex, and hydrodynamically-shaped board at a planing speed behind a motorboat or cable. In the usual configuration of a towsport kdeck with an adjustable strap. As in wakeboarding or water skiing, the rider hangs ont neeboard, the rider sits on his heels on the board, and secures himself to the an easier learning curve, and not requiring as much effort to have fun. o a tow-rope. The forte of kneeboarding vis-à-vis other towsports seems to be

Stargazer for Tita Cory

2009-08-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

From the narration of Kris Aquino the daughter of our late Pesident Cory Aquino that she saw the sign from this lovely fower, the stargazer lily that her mother is now at peace and happily reunited with Ninoy in heaven.

The stargazer flower appeared in the dream of Senator Tessie Aquino Oreta that her brother Ninoy directed her to visit Cory and give the stargazer flower to her.

From that narration of Kris i asked mysef fom all the flowers why stargazer and i researched the meaning of this flower.

One of the most stunning and perhaps most celebrated lily varieties is the Stargazer lily. Known for its striking blooms and heavenly scent, the stargazer is a fantastic choice for a number of occasions. Delicate, bold, and fragrant all at once, stargazers can say Congratulations, I'm Sorry, and everything in between.

The stargazer has added a new layer to the already rich legacy of lilies, which have been a significant floral symbol for centuries. In ancient mythology and in folklore from around the world, the lily has appeared as a deeply spiritual and philosophical metaphor. Developed in the latter part of the 20th century, the stargazer lily is a recent addition to the lily family, but this unique and rather exotic hybrid has rapidly risen in popularity to become one of the most adored and sought-after of all lily varieties.

The lily family has traditionally represented innocence and purity. These motifs appeared as far back as ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and reappeared in biblical traditions. Stargazer lilies have come to be associated with these meanings, but they've taken on additional meanings as well. White stargazer lilies, in particular, have come to characterize a sense of purity and are often used as an expression of sympathy. The pink varieties are also considered symbolic of wealth and prosperity, as well being as a sign of aspiration.

from:www.proflowers.com

Thank you and we will miss you Tita Cory.

Love Story meets Viva La Vida

2009-07-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Hello again sorry for the interruption of my vacation post here.I will share this kind of music that i really love and i listen over and over again. If you know the song of Taylor Swift"love story" and the other one is from my favorite band Coldplay their so famous Viva La Vida .If you already heard or familiar with it please do listen to this in full volume lol this is so amazingly beautiful done in piano and cello by Jon Schmidt.The Arrangement is so fantastic my two favorite songs done in one composition.Bravoooo

Singapore Air food trip

2009-07-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

What makes me feel more excited in travelling by plane are the food they serve plus the friendly and accommodating flight attendant and Singapore air is the right answer to that.My official carrier of my journey from Riyadh to Manila and back to Riyadh.Stewardess aka Singapore girls were dressed in a version of Malay sarong kebaya a very unique east asian uniform for them and i love the unique accent also when the girls speak in english.

Singapore Sling cocktail drink a must try while on board after all its free.... And i love to drink it in public.

Wow I love the freedom to drink beer in public coz in Saudi Arabia any alcoholic beverages is a big no no if you were caught you will suffered your action inside the jail plus the never ending lashes

Wide range of movies to watch for while on plane

Breakfast

Food that they serve Dubai to Singapore

Food they serve from Riyadh to Dubai a thirty minutes flight and an hour of stopover to pick some passengers bound to Singapore

From Wiki

Singapore Airlines was ranked 33rd in Fortune's World’s Most Admired Companies rankings in 2009 and has built up a strong brand name as a trendsetter in the aviation industry, particularly in terms of innovation, safety and service excellence, coupled with consistent profitability. It has won numerous awards and is an industry bellwether for aircraft purchases. Singapore Airlines is headquartered at Airline House, by Changi Airport.

Fly Away

2009-07-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Inside the King Khalid International Airport

The Huge Mosque Inside the Airport Compound

Airplane...Tayara in Arabic

So Excited my Flight is at 8pm i reached the airport at 4pm

Scene in going to the airport

Bon Voyage

2009-07-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Should i or Should i not post this on my blog because it will only make me missed home lol as you all know im back and already having my adventure again here in the desert anyways im goin to share it with you im not that selfish right? even it is already two months passed.lol

I'm about to spend my vacation and experience the holy week in the Philippines but sad to say it ain't gonna happened because when i submitted my Iqama(the residence permit in KSA)to he HR department to booked my ticket and processed my re-entry visa only that time they knew it is near expiry the rule it must be six months valid so they renewed it and it takes one week so i deleted holy week on my itinerary.

The HR gave my renewed Iqama but i have to travel to Riyadh since I'm at eastern region and it take five hours drive by bus to reach the central region which is Riyadh because i choose to take Singapore Airline for one reason to have a taste of Singapore sling lol.

A night before my flight to the Philippines we had a party a small gathering of my colleagues and friends big thanks to them.

Riyadh-a second chance

2009-07-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Finally im here again at bloggywood to give you some updates of my whereabouts and that is for almost a month now since i arrived here in Saudi Arabia and my vacation stories to tell.Alas count me in im present again in the bloggywood classroom lol.

Yes it is true that im back now again in Saudi but for this time im here in Riyadh and this is the second time for me to work here again and no more in the eastern region thats why when Mr.Kenji of thouhtsmoto invited me to attend the EB of bloggers of eastern region i cant make it coz am to far away for them.Oh missed that event to meet my fellow bloggers based in Khobar area like Nebs and Pajay but this time im now near to the pink tarha ladies and to mr sandbox

The reason why i cannot give some updates of mine here in bloggywood is that i dont have my own laptop coz the one that i used before i gave it to my brother during my vacation in the Philippines.A dream come true again to me coz i got my laptop now,my macbook and this is my first post here using My macbook her name is Queen la-Tifah(Tifah arabic for apple,pronounced as Thufah) yehey clap,clap,clap.

About my vacation i can say it was really a blast for me and i will share it to you every details of it from Manila to Palawan and my Super star cruise virgo experience from Singapore to Phuket,Thailand and Langkawi,Malaysia.

Marhaba Saudia!!

2009-05-29T15:21:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!!! Vacation is over for me so here i am again in Saudi Arabia my home away from home, just arrived last night.I will give you the updates of my lakwatsa grande later when i do have my energy and my mood to do so lol............ see you later.

Maahsallama Saudia....Mabuhay Pilipinas

2009-04-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone this will be my quickie post and just want to let everyone know that mightydacz is on vacation mode, just arrived yesterday here on my beloved country via Singapore air.......Bye Saudi Arabia and Hello Philippines.... hello freedom....hello life......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzyeheeeey

Paulo Coelho

2009-04-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Alchemist is the first book of Paulo Coelho that i totally read twice and gave me the courage to follow my dream and to explore the beauty of life.Thanks to Meow for sharing his book and introduced me to works of Paulo Coelho.I finished reading Eleven Minutes,'By the river Piedra I sat down and wept' when i was in the Philippines

In my two years stay here in the kingdom ,here are the books that i collected and read from the same author and it gave me pointers,guides and ideas on how to appreciate and understand life more on its highest perspective point of view based on the stories of his novels.

Here is the website of the author http://www.paulocoelho.com/

Dan Brown

2009-04-04T09:43:00.001-07:00

My first set of books that i bought in Jarir Bookstore in Pepsi road in Riyadh KSA two years ago.I was really surprised that they have it here in the kingdom they also translated it to arabic so it means to say arabs also are reading his books.Im a big fan of Dan Brown.I love his creation and he is a true genius.What i really liked about all his books are the setting you will have a glimpse of Vatican,Spain,Louvre Museum and other beautiful historical places as if your having a tour around the place.I also love the plot and the unbelievable twist of the story.

Dan Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code and the 2000 bestselling novel, Angels & Demons.Brown is interested in cryptography, keys, and codes, which are a recurring theme in his stories. Currently his novels have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, as he is a Christian himself, and says of his book The Da Vinci Code that it is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith".

New Soul

2009-03-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

my favorite song and my theme song of my life's journey here in KSA after two years

New Soul - Yael Naim

I'm a new soul,I came to this strange world,Hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.But since I came here,Felt the joy and the fear,Finding myself making every possible mistake.La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

I'm a young soul,In this very strange world,Hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake.But why all this hate?Try to communicate.Finding trust and love is not always easy to make.La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

This is a happy end,'Cause you don't understand,Everything you have done.Why's everything so wrong?This is a happy end,Come and give me your hand,I'll take your far away.

I'm a new soul,I came to this strange world,Hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.But since I came here,Felt the joy and the fear,Finding myself making every possible mistake.

The new soul,In this very strange world,Possible mistakes, possible mistakes,Every possible mistakes,Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes,Mistakes.yo

Espasol and booger factory

2009-03-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here in the kingdom the weather is very different from the place where i came from. There is no typhoon here nor rain but if there is rain it happened only once a year for one hour or so.Rain or shine umbrella here is useless, yes even sunny days umbrella is not part of the arabs life because for my two years of stay here i never saw an arab use an umbrella even the expats.

But here in the kingdom there is one special weather which i called the espasol and that is the sandstorm.Why espasol?espasol is a native deli made from glutinous rice and coconut and rolled in toasted flour and because during sandstorm if you stay outside of your dwelling your body or your face will be covered by dust a resemblance of espasol lol.If you dont use any mask your nose will become the booger factory lol.Now it is clear for me the function of the head dress of the arabs which they called the ghutrah or the keffiyeh where they used it to cover their nose as well as the entire face.The ghutrah is now famous part of the fashion statement in the Philippines.But here to use that is a big no-no for non arabs they will be angry for not respecting their national costume.Kaya ako sa pinas ko na lang gamitin yang ghutrah gawin ko pang sarong habang nasa dagat ako lol

V-addict

2009-03-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

Blame it to the weather from unpredictable temperature here in the desert made me sick.I called this phenomenon "the weather transition syndrome" from winter to summer lol .

Im having bouts of flu today but dont you worry i can manage and handle this.Thanks God i found my superhero and my best buddy in times like this yes, presenting Super V to the rescue lol Vicks is the name.

The best in cold relief,decongest the nose and coughing but im not satisfied if i dont taste and eat Super V lol i love the taste cool,bitter and minty although it is used externally and it is stated on the precaution not to swallow but it is harmless.Just in moderation lol.Im addicted to you Super V.

Two years in Saudi Arabia

2009-03-21T01:45:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day again for me here in Saudi Arabia because today I'm celebrating my second year of staying and working here.This is the day that Saudi Arabia welcomes me.

To understand more what Saudi Arabia is,please feel free to watch the video that i got from youtube.Enjoy.

sCAREGIVER

2009-03-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

This is another wow mali or should i say yari ka episode that happened to me and my friends again here in the desert.I almost forget to share it to all of you until i scan some photos on my phone and gotcha i got it and it reminds me of what happened that time upon looking at the picture.It occured almost three weeks from now.This is the story.

One of my friend was rushed to the hospital.Nahimatay sya habang nasa trabaho hindi nila alam kung ano ang dahilan.From a series of medical test done by Arab doctors he was diagnosed with Pleural effusion in short tubig sa baga(same with the title posted by Pajay) and he needs a minor operation just to remove the water and from my research with the help of wiki heres little info about it

Pleural effusion is caused when the fluid that lubricates the lungs and the lining of the lungs accumulates in excess. There are a couple reasons this might happen.

1) The most common cause is from Left Ventricular Failure. The heart can't pump all the fluid out of the heart and it eventually backs up into the lungs and pushes its way out the very leaky capillaries into this space.

2) The second reason could be from a type of lung disease such as cancer, pneumonia, or TB. Some common clinical manifestations are: Shortness of breath, chest pain (sharp and gets worse when breathing deep or coughing), cough, hiccups, and rapid breathing.

The case of my friend its with the second reason its pneumonia .The news spread that fast and everyone among his circle of friends were informed.Indeed it is so difficult to be sicked and away from your family.Walang mag aalaga.Thats why my friends decided to launch"operation caregiver"remember the movie of Sharon Cuneta?something like that lol.

The rule is kung sino ang bakante sa work or day-off sya ang magbabantay kasi sabi ng doctor he will stay for almost three weeks daw pero mga one and a half weeks lang nakaalis na sya sa hospital

CAREGIVER to SCAREGIVER moment

Me and my other three friends went to the hospital after my work ,on the second day upon his admission to the hospital.The two already visited the patient on the first day so they knew already what floor and the room.We arrived late prior to the visiting hours for the patient.

We are so lucky walang gwardiya kaya mabilis kaming pumasok at sumakay ng elavator.Dumiretso agad kami sa kwarto niya.Busy lahat ang mga nurse at ibang staff.

Sa kwarto na kami at that time also sinabi ng isang kaibigan namin na umaga ng araw na iyon ay ginawa ang operasyon sa kanya.Nakatakip ang mukha nya pati na ang katawan at mahimbing ang pagkakatulog.Sya lang ang tao sa kwarto.

Me:wow ang daming pagkain (habang binubuksan ang isang box)sosyal naman ang nagbigay nito cakes from suisse pastry.Makunan nga ng picture bago makain kasi hindi naman sya makakain eh(ang picture ay yong nasa itaas)

Friend 1:oo nga masarap nga at marami ah 4 boxes lahat.

Me:nakakahiya naman kelangan magpaalam tayo sa kanya hindi naman bigay sa atin.(kaya binalik ko at inayos ang mga boxes pati na rin ung dala namin na doughnut)

Friend 2:Oi sya ba talaga yan

Friend 3:oo sya yan kahapon pumunta kami dito.Ang tsinelas sa kanya yan

Me:oo nga bakit parang lumiit sya

Friend 1:nakabaluktot lang ang katawan nya kaya mukhang maliit, sya yan.( habang inaayos nya ang kama at ibang mga gamit ng pasyente.

Tulog pa rin ang pasyente hanggang sa dumating ang nurse .Para matigil ang pagtatalo nagtanong ako sa nurse.Ang nurse ay isang chinese kasama ang isang lalaking indonesian na nurse din.

Me:My friend is the patient here is a Filipino?

Nurse:No not a Filipino,he is Saudi.

Me:really where is the Filipino?

Friend 123:Ano?.(tawanan)

Nurse:The Filipino is on the other room.

Me:nakakahiya nagbabantay tayo ng hindi naman natin kilala lol

Friend 1:Buti hindi mo pa kinain ung cake lol

Sabay-sabay kaming lahat umalis at nag sorry sa nurse habang tumatawa din.Sakabilang kwarto andoon ung kaibigan namin gising na gising at di makatulog dahil sa sakit.Tinanong nya kami bakit daw ang tagal namin.Nagtatawanan lahat dahil na wow mali kami.

Project HELP TWITCH

2009-03-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Saklolo!Saklolo!Saklolo!!!

HELP!HELP!HELP!!!

This post is for my support to spread the news posted and iniated by Mr. Kenj of thoughtskoto and the leader of the ka-blogs.

Mga kabayan,kapamilya at kapuso if you want to help you can read the full details by following this link http://jbsolis.blogspot.com/2009/03/honest-plead-project-help-twitch.html

Dental 101

2009-03-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

I dont have any plans to visit and have an appointment with my dentist here in the desert but little accident do happened on my tooth, blame it to too much eating and forcefully grinding nagaraya cracker nuts one of my favorite,it destroyed the dental filling of my tooth ayon nakain ko na yata.

Emergency!!! it needs to be fix right away and i phoned my dentist and the receptionist answered my call and i looked for the Pinay dentist,sad to say she informed me that she is on her vacation leave.Since i need it badly she referred me to the other dentist that is available on my free time and the lady dentist is an Indian.Im a little bit lucky i set my appointment the following day and it so happen it was again my day-off.

At the clinic i noticed the new dental chair obviously pinoy ang may ari nito kasi nakabalot pa ng plastic lol ayaw maluma agad lalo na nasa bakasyon sya.This is my first time that a foreigner performed a dental services on me and most of my dental operation from braces when i was 12 and my four wisdom teeth extraction when i was 20 were all done by pinoys.Iba pa rin talaga kapag kabayan mo ang gumawa tiwala ka at satisfied ka.Madali kayo magkaintindihan.Language barrier?i don't think so kasi english naman gamit nya maybe its accent barrier heres how?

Dentist:keshhh

me:(ang narinig ko kshhh ang pagkakaintidi ko tinatanong nya ako kung ano case)ah my case tooth filling

dentist:noH!noH mehni

me:(ang pagkakaintindi ko tinatanong nya ako kung marami)only one

dentist:noH!noH FULUS FULUS

me:(kung hindi pa inarabic hindi ko maintindihan FULUS ay pera)ah you are asking me if I'm goin to pay in CASH!MONEY yes!yes!yes i will pay you in cash because my insurance card is not yet with me right now,how much?

dentist:warn hrrundered arfterr derscount

me:ah okay one hundred after discount okay.sorry

I had a great time then so funny.lol my tooth is now okay and ready to eat again nagaraya lol.

Good bye Francis M.

2009-03-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Today is a sad friday for me upon knowing the news aired via Pinoy Tv that one of my idol yes im a big fan of him,Francis Magalona died friday at Medical City in Pasig City,Philippines at 12:00 noon at the age of 44.

According to the news Magalona succumbed to multiple organ failure “secondary to severe sepsis and secondary to pneumonia,”

My prayers for you and you will always be part of my kaleidoscope world.Thank you for the music and the spirit of being makabayan in you.

You can visit his blog at www.francismagalona.multiply.com

Its a bird!!! Its a plane!!!

2009-03-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

the conversation of my friend via yahoo messenger:

Friend:kelan bakasyon mo sa pinas?
Me: ako ang bakasyon ko, maybe this coming April or May.Why?
Friend:wow malapit na exciting!!!hindi ka ba natatakot sumakay ngayon sa eroplano,kasi ang daming mga aksidente ngayon sa eroplano hindi kaya effect yan ng global warming lol at karamihan daw ng mga eroplano from middle east ay target ngayon ng mga terorista.
Me:talaga medyo nakakatakot nga,pero kung oras mo na talaga oras mo na para makipagkita kay St.Peter lol
Friend:Para mag enjoy ka kung saan ka sasakay na eroplano at di matakot!!!Oi may i-foforward ako sayo sa email mo check mo sa PAL ka sumakay walang tatalo.
Me:Sige salamat kitakits.

Forwarded mail from my friend.

Airline Cabin Announcements

All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the in flight 'safety lecture' and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

On a Continental Flight with a very 'senior' flight attendant crew, the pilot said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants.'

JAPAN AIR LINES'

In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite.'

BRITISH AIRWAYS'As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.'

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!'

QANTAS AIRWAYS

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: 'We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.'

NORTHWEST AIRLINES

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis , a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, 'Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted.'

PHILIPPINE AIR LINES

We're now preparing to land at San Francisco International Airport. Kindly straighten up your seats, turn off all electronic gadgets, pull up your window shades and buckle up for safety. We hope you enjoyed flying with us as much as we did.

Sa wikang atin po, tayo po ay papalapag na sa paliparang pangkalawakang internasyonal ng San Francisco. Paalala po lamang sa ating mga kababayan -- ang mga unan, kumot, headset at iba pang kagamitan sa eroplano ay di po kasama sa pasalubong. Huwag po lamang baklasin ang LCD-TV na nakadikit sa silya.

Lucky thursday!!!

2009-02-28T07:54:00.000-08:00

Rashid mall

Weekends here in Saudi Arabia is thursday and friday unlike in the Philippines its saturday and sunday.February 26 it was thursday a very beautiful and lucky day for me.You know what?because it was my day-off, no work for me until friday at four in the afternoon.

I got a great quantity and quality of sleep, almost ten hours.The weather was so fine not that hot not that cold and no sandstorm.What i did on thursday?clean my room, washed my clothes,cook,eat take a bath and prepare my self and went to Rashid mall in Khobar.It was the first prayer time in the evening when I arrived at the mall so all the stores and showrooms were closed and it will be open after 30 minutes.It was thursday so it was a family day and it means no bachelors are allowed to enter except expat like me?The security guard asked me

Secu:Inta kori?(are you korean?)
me:la(no)

secu:Inta sini(are you chinese?)

me:la(no)

Secu:Inta min(and you are?)

me:filibini(filipino)

secu:wallah!!!mafi sem sem inta filibini.(really ,you look like not a Pilipino)

me:fih muskila sadiq?(any problem my friend)

secu:mafih muskila,yallah ro,filibini miya-miya.(no problem,come go inside,pilipino the best)

me:Shokran(thank you)

while walking going inside the mall at the back of my mind i was asking myself ano ba ang itsura ko anong lahi?,ay basta pinoy ako tapos lol.After 30 minutes the stores were open.The first store taht i visited is the sony to check if the bag and case for the sony dslr that i bought before is available sad to say again it was out of stock.Almost all of the stores were on sale.After an hour while i was fitting for a rubber shoes in reebok that was on 70% off that i bought i heard again the sound,the signal for prayer time for our muslim friends,the last one for that night so it mean to say all the stores again will be closed for another 30 minutes.Hay sarado na naman magaantay na naman bumukas.open sesame ayan bukas na.

Went to Jarir bookstore and purchased books i spend a lot of my time at the booksore.After that searched for the best buy for the other stores.I dont have the intention to buy a watch but i fell in love to the design at a very resonable price so i got one.Tired and hungry thats why i checked the newly open branch of Johnny Rockets in the kingdom i ordered one for take out beacause its now getting late and i dont want to eat it alone on that restaurant.Yes i did it all alone because all of my friends were all busy then.Home sweet home and shared the food with my roomate.Untill next day off lol.

Glass and Plywood

2009-02-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

Alas!!! I'm back again to my blogsite to update, as what the Arabs said Allahamdalalah.Thanks be to God!!!wink.Yeah i need to update and write something, sorry for waiting.

Saan ba ako nagpunta?Vacation?no not yet on vacation mode.I'm just here.Sometimes i do visit and read some other blogs here.Quickie nga lang.Just little busy again.That's why i cant concentrate on what will i write.Lots of interruption.Blogging in workplace lol.Busy!Visit!bwisit!!!Busy because lots of delivery of new stocks of dietary supplements to be merchandised for my working area,doing reports,phone calls and plenty of time consumed for patients counselling to make it short nagtratrabaho ako kaya hindi makasingit ang pagbloblog pagdating naman sa bahay low- bat na kaya eat and sleep na lang.

Visit, yes I'm expecting a visitor, one of our big boss from our main office in USA is coming kaya nag ayos-ayos ng aking lungga pero hindi natuloy kaya eto pwede na magblog lol.Wala ang pusa kaya masaya at pwede ng maglaro ang mga daga lol.

Bwisit!!!yes nakakabwisit talaga.An accident happened on my working area two days before valentines day.It was a sleepy afternoon for me,im doing reports and all of a sudden i heard a thunderous sound, a big blast,nagising ata ako.A moment of silence and then i checked on what happened.Ayayay hindi naman ako kumanta ng todo todo para mabasag ang salamin.Yes one-fourth of the glass wall of my store ay nabasag.I dont know the exact cause why it occurred.A terrorist attacked?sa tingin ko hindi rin although may history na about that or maybe the glass has already a damage due to that incident at ngayon lang talaga bumigay ang salamin.If you want to see the video of the history of the terrorist attacked you can follow this link http://almightydacz.blogspot.com/2008/07/terrorist-attack.html

Investigation done and the verdict is ,it was an accident no one is responsible.yeah it added to my workload on how to fix the broken glass.Phoned the real state supervisor the one who is in charge for the building maintenance and after two hours of the incident occurred they sent carpenters to fix it for the mean time they used plywood to cover because it takes one week to process the new glass wall from the manufacturer.As of today from plywood it is now on its original glass wall.Thanks be to God.

Lobo and Uwak!!!

2009-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Hello!!!After the Chinese new year here comes the love month.If you are wondering about my title and if you think this is the part two of the chinese post, well sorry its not lol, lobo and uwak are animals and obviously not part of the chinese zodiac animal sign.Me and me just want to act like one of them, so mean lol heres how.

On wednesday last week i catched up the last trip of saptco bus again bond for Riyadh just to attend the very first birthday of my friend here in the kingdom.The trip in going to Riyadh is quite good unlike before that i encountered a malfunction of the bus engine in the middle of the desert.

Im not that excited for the party,obviously i arrived so early at six in the morning.The birthday party of Egay is at eleven of thursday night.Jani open the door for me"wow ang daming lobo yan na ba ang handa"to my surprise this is the line i delivered because the room is full of balloons scattered to be used as the decor,that caused difficulty for me to walk.I take a rest and sleep at janis room.I wake up at eleven in the morning and cook lunch for everyone"embutido espesyal ni godfrey"part of his business venture so far it taste so good kaya pinakyaw ng may birthday coz embutido is part of the menu .Since i was already there all i have to do is to help them in preparing the place."Walang hiya kayo akala ko ba bisita ako dito pinapunta nyo ako dito parang gawing katulong"lol my dramatic line to the celebrator with a twist of comedy.

I love what i did on his birthday to arrange and to finalize the decoration of the place with the help of Charlotte the lobo master.lol Clean here and clean there is the scene that i made.I help again the celebrator for the last grocery shopping that were needed in the party.After shopping, cooked the embutido for the party thanks charlo for the help but when Katamaran strikes hindi ko niluto ang lahat.Im so mean you know what i did?inuwi ko sa khobar ang tira lol.ssHHH hindi nya alam noon but now alam nya na kaya ulam ko until now embutido.

Lights,Camera Action!!!so here comes the party.Its now eleven in the evening but a big problem encountered by the celebrator,the first set of guest arrived but the food from the caterer arrived late by almost 30 minutes......"ang alam ko sa mga dumating isang tao lang ang kilala ng may birthday kaya sabay usisa sa may birthday,

me:Kilala mo sila?

egay:hindi,mga kasamahan daw yan sa trabaho ng friend ko

me:talaga isang department ng company ata dala nya

egay:oo nga alam ko mga 8 or 10 lang sila tingnan mo more than 30 sila.

me:(tumatawa)hindi ata bday party pinuntahan nila "sagip kapamilya program ata"

egay:mali "walang iwanan sa bayan ni juan feeding program ito"

me:ah kaya pala mga malnourished lol

So mean!!!lol Anyways the food arrived and im the one distributing the plates ,spoon and fork.Im the usher in the party or should i say the feeding program lol.One more thing im the photographer also with the use of my sony dslr.

The party is exclusively for bachelors no ladies allowed because here in Saudi Arabia it is not allowed to mingle both gender.Everyone enjoyed the party so far.Guest who are close to the celebrator were the one stayed until friday morning.

Ang UWAK bow!!!

Gawin ko na itong paksa sa ating wika para tayo- tayo lang ang nagkakaintindihan.May mga bagay-bagay tayong minsan ating ginagawa na labag sa batas ng bansa na ating pinagsisilbihan. Sa ating lahi lalong lalo na sa mga salo salo hindi makukumpleto ang kasiyahan kung walang "lason"dyan natin sya ikubli para hindi halata.Lalo na sa mga kalalakihan ito ang nagbibigay kasayahan pamatid uhaw sa lalamunang tigang.Alam ng lahat ito ay bawal dito pero masarap ang bawal wika nga nila.Hindi ito legal dito pero mautak lahi natin ang lason ay sariling gawa.

Sa kasayahan ako ay nanabik sa lason na ito.Ako ay nakalimot na ako pala ay dayo malayo pa ang aking pinanggalingan.Napadami yata ang aking ininum.Akoy may sariling mundo na noon kumuha ako ng pin at pinatutusok ang ang mga lobo.lol.Pasaway na ata ako.Ako ay tinulungan ng aking kaibigan.Halika samahan kita tayo ay magtatawag ng uwak ito ang pagyaya sakin patungo sa cr.Ayan dali magtawag ka na!!!Uwak!Uwak!Uwak!!!un pala ang ibig nyang sabihin.Yuck!!!Hindi naman yan uwak eh,pagkain ng uwak iyan.Ako ay nahimasmasan,nilinis ang sarili,nagpahinga ng dalawang oras.Pagkagising ay dumiretso agad sa estasyon ng train,habang nagaatay sabay lagok ng kape maraming maraming kape nalulunod na ata ako.Natulog lang ako sa train ng ako ay magising nasa Dammam na ako.Masaya ako at walang halong pagsisi basta wag lang PAHUHULI!!!bang!bang!bang.lol sabay pasok sa trabaho.

The dog in the Ox!!!

2009-01-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Today, January 26, 2009, is Chinese New Year or what is known in Mainland China as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival.For fun i always look and search my fate for the incoming year based on the forecast on my horoscope either from the bolang crystal ni Madame Asim Auring or the cards of Madame Rosa just kidding lol.

A little portion of the chinese race runs in my blood because the grandma of my mother is a Chinese.My chinito eyes will attest to that but we are raised and embraced more of the pinoy culture and catholic traditions.During my college days my foreign language is mandarin but it needs more practice to perfect that language but sad to say i cant use that because currently im here in the Arabs world where Arabic is their mother tongue.So anyways here's my horoscope and if you were born in the year of the dog you can relate it aw aw aw moo moo moo. Xie xie.

DOG

Dog Years: (1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006)

Good Personality Traits: Faithful, Loyal, True and Good Friends.

Bad Personality Traits: Obstinate, Selfish, Eccentric and Stubborn.

Dogs Compatibility: Tiger, Horse and Rabbit.

Forecast: Chinese Horoscope for Dog in the Rat year says that these people will have a great career advancement and financial situation. According to Chinese Astrology, the Dogs are most likely to face job changes in the year 2009. They need to plan carefully in financial situations to gain most out of them in the year of Ox. Marriage is on cards for many Dogs in this year. In short, love will be in air for the Dogs in 2009.

This year, the Dogs will be seen constructing something or cleaning something for betterment. Dogs are advised to leave aside worries this year and go ahead with their set standards. According to the Chinese Horoscopes, Dogs are most likely to experience stability this year. Digs working as freelancers and entrepreneurs will be blessed with good luck in terms of money and status in the year of Ox. On the other hand, Dogs working under someone can expect good promotions this year.

This year, the Dogs are likely to achieve a higher social standing. Dogs are advised to take care of their digestive system in 2009, especially in September and December. Dogs born in March, June, September and December might fall a prey to digestive ailments. Chinese Horoscope for Dogs says that friendship will play an important role in their lives in 2009. They are going to make new friends, who will help them in many phases of life. Overall 2009, according to Chinese Astrology will be a memorable one for the Dogs.

If you want to know yours visit this:

http://www.babettesblog.com/2009/01/chinese-horoscope-for-year-of-ox_15.html

Picture taken from bluebison.net/sketchbook

Execute me!!!

2009-01-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

Here in Saudi Arabia where language is a major barrier in communication by that, I experienced some unforgettable situation between the Arabs specially where some tried to talk to me in english and sometimes leads me into confusion and lost in translation.

Yesterday i was in the supermarket. The place is so crowded mostly by Arabs.It is my hobby to read the labels of the product and to look the expiration date and I'm so busy then and my eyes were glued on the item that I'm holding.

I knew everyone in the supermarket is using the pushcart.I heard someone talking,a middle aged Arab man with his wife covered by black abaya.I don't look at him because i thought he is arguing with his wife.I heard once,twice and thrice and he is now shouting.The moment i knew it the pushcart that the arab man is using was beside me and my hips ached a little because he pushed it towrads me to caught my attention...

You know what the man is shouting and it was addressed to me was EXECUTE ME!!!EXECUTE ME!!!EXECUTE ME!!! I looked at him and smile and said this to him.Sadeek mumkin inta qalam Excuse me mafih execute me.(my friend maybe you want to say excuse me not execute me) and he smiled back to me and murmured EXCUSE ME!!!

after counting!!!

2009-01-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

After the inventory this is now the place....This is my favorite area of the store, the sports nutrition because they are the best seller here.
The counting machine that i used.(barcode scanner aka pangkaskas ng yelo)

Busy Counting!!!

2009-01-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Alas counting is over!!!Before i finally say goodbye to 2008 and to welcome 2009 this what makes me busy then, to prepare all the stocks that was delivered to my work place from warehouse and the stocks already on the shelves.To make it easy and make it orderly during the inventory this is what i did: segregate the products according to brand and expiration date.

For me not to be bored during counting instead of using english in counting i used arabic.Fun!Fun!Fun count this way: wahid(1),itnayn(2),talata(3),arba(4),khamsa(5),sitta(6),sabbah(7),thomaniah(8),tissah(9),ashra(10) blah- blah- blah miyah(100).Thank you inventory team,people from main office and warehouse in Riyadh.I enjoyed using the high-tech counting machine its look like the size of the first model of mobile phone that was released in the market 10 years ago(parang pangkaskas ng yelo lol).

Oh_Thought_ko_to:2

2009-01-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

The Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh KSA.Noticed the Banderitas very Pinoy

In this cosmopolitan world,people need to move globally to explore the immense possibilities each region has to offer.

To survive one needs to bridge the cultural differences and vive into an athmosphere of multiculturalism and fluidity.

Black Nazarene

2009-01-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

While eating my brunch at the same time my eyes were glued to boob tube watching the news 24oras on pinoy tv and Mike Enriquez is reporting the situation on Quiapo, the feast of Black Nazarene .I cant help myself but to laugh when Mike Enriquez made a mistake during hes report and right away he uttered hes famous "EXCUSE ME PO" line.

Back to the scenario that was being flashed on the screen i saw lots of devotees clad in maroon and golden shirt ,followed from the color of the robe of the life sized image of Jesus.Waving white handkerchief as procession passed by and almost all the devotees were eager to get near the carriage of the image.To be on that procession is the test of physical strength, stamina and agility.Its look like bees on their beehives.

At the back of my mind i wonder on how many devotees again will faint, will be injured and worst comes to worst is to let their life be stolen by that incident.It is also the place where bad people convene likes of pickpockets, snatchers and swindlers.

When i was in the Philippines I attended Friday mass on Quiapo church but not so often and during Sundays also. I know also how to sing the hymn for the Black Nazarene the 'Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno" composed by our national artist Lucio San Pedro. I can say that I'm not that full blown devotees of the Black Nazarene and never in my life i joined in the procession. Yes I do have its novena prayer booklet and a small rosary that was always on my bag or on may wallet but no more today because i don't want myself to put in trouble here in Saudi Arabia where all christian religious paraphernalia is absolutely not allowed. The day i said goodbye to my novenas was the day i stepped on the terminal of the airport of NAIA one year and nine months ago.

During my university days also five years ago,the feast of Black Nazarene is the extension of my Christmas break because that day all schools in university belt in Manila declared to be a holiday so it means to say no classes and thanks God its Friday.Ye hey.

To pray or not to pray, to be a devotee or not to be a devotee.Is it sacred or fanaticism?

It is very clear i got the answer from the superstar Nora Aunor "WALANG HIMALA"

Urban zone arabia

2009-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2009, I faced the very first day of 2009 full of hope,happiness and wonderful changes in dealings with life.The very first thing that i did is to change the arrangement of my room my so called safe haven in saudi "Sanctuario de Ronaldo" sounds like hmmmm.LOL.Nakakasawa na rin kasi ang ayos.Thank you to TFC Urban zone hosted by Daphne Osena-Paez for the informative show and for the pointers on interior design of a room.Presenting my masterpiece!!!

my two lucky plants here in my safe haven in the dessert of Saudi under the parachute-rainbow-inspired lamp shade.

my aquarium here in Saudi arabia, before winter time my gold fish are six now they are trimmed down to two, namatay sila due to the cold weather at nasira ang mini heater ng aquarium ko.ako'y nagluluksa sa pagpanaw ninyo .

My favorite spot in my room this the place where i do blogging at home,thanks for the free DSL na nakukuha ko sa building hehehe.Thank you also to IKEA Dharan for the affordable furnitures kahit pinahirapan ako sa pagbuo ng table and chairs.

Happy new year to all

2008-12-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

Myspace New Years Graphics

My christmas!!!

2008-12-31T03:54:00.000-08:00

In a land where christmas is forbidden and santa clause is not welcome I do exist but it doesnt show it will suppressed the spirit to celebrate the goodness and happiness of this wonderful time of the year as a christian.Me and my friends will celebrate it even secretly.My Christmas underground celebration.My second time to experience this here in Saudi arabia.
December 25,2008 11.30 pm.
Designed and created by Charlotte.Only one day thats why it is a HOLIDAY.wink.

Dennis trillo gagambino inspired x-mas lantern designed by CharlotteMagnolia ice cream from the Philippines thru Batha Pinoy market donated by Jani and Fruit glazed cream cake by Edwin

Roasted turkey courtesy by Bob

Beef kare-kare , Steamed stuffed pusit,steamed fish in mayo, chicken cordon bleau,shrimp tempura courtesy by Manny

Mixed pansit and beef menudo

Beef sisig,chicken barbeque,beef siomai.We had our exchange gift also worth 100 saudi riyals and i got the gift of Jani a dozen of Glass crystals from stokes store in Hayat Mall in riyadh.I knew all of this dahil magkasama kaming namili after our lunch in canton together with my super rich Louis Vuitton lover Manny.LoL

My journey to celebrate Christmas.

How will I forget the 24th day of December around 4pm Saudi time a one-of -a -kind- first-time-experience happened to me. Ang aking sinasakyang kotse ay bumangga.Lucky enough minor lang at walang nasaktan.Hindi ako ang nagmamaneho pasahero lamang ako ng aking beastfriend remember the away because of extension wire sya po ang driver.

Dahilan kami ng traffic hanggang sa dumating ang Saudi traffic police para mag investigate.Well time for me to work kaya iniwan ko na lang sya at sabay para ng taxi.My work is from 4pm to 10pm and my plan after work is to catched up the 11:30 pm SAPTCO bus trip bound to Riyadh,the second to the last trip which is the 12.30 am.Yes,my christmas getaway to celebrate it is in riyadh a five hour travel from my place here in Dammam.

Naabutan ko ang biyahe sabay sakay at natulog lang ngunit pagkalipas ng dalawang oras akoy ginising ng espirito ng kamalasan dahil sa gitna ng disyerto huminto ang makina at tuluyang tumigil ang takbo ng bus sa makatuwid nasiraan ito.Wala ng nagawang paraan para ito ay umandar para kumaripas ng takbo.

Lahat ng pasahero bumaba at naglakad habang nanginginig sa sobrang lamig ng panahon patungo sa bagong bus na aming nilipatan ito ang last trip na bus na napadaan may konti paring swerte dahil hindi puno ito at lahat nakaupo.Ako lamang ang nag iisang pinoy sa bus maybe because pasko yata ito at nagcecelebrate sila.Akoy nagutom at sabay kain ng baong Shawarma,uminom ng tubig at sabay tulog habang angkatabi kung matandang arabo ay naghihilik sa sobrang sarap ng tulog.Muttawa ata ang arabo.Napasarap ako ng tulog dahil medyo pagod.

Akoy nagising dahil nagsisibabaan na sila kaya pala nasa bus terminal na ng Riyadh 5:30 ng umaga.Hinintay ko na magliwanag kaya mga 6:15 akoy sumakay ng taxi at narating din ang bahay.Mahigit 20minutes din ako sa labas ng gate at pilit ginigising si jani tawag ako ng tawag sa mobile phone nya ngunit walang nangyari sarado pa rin ang gate napasarap ang tulog.Kapag minamalas ka nga naman.

May romorondang police ilang beses na pabalik balik sa lugar at akoy nasa labas pa rin akala yata akoy magnanakaw o lasing hanggang sa hindi makatiis ang police sabay hinto at tawag sakin.Siyay nag aarabic at nag iingles kaya kami nagkaintindihan.Hinanap agad sa akin ang aking iqama-resident permit sa Saudi.Naalala ko pasko nga pala ngayon kaya mainit sila sa mga pinoy at pilit akong inaamoy kung may bakas ng alak dahil dito sa Saudi bawal ang alak.Sorry sya hindi ako amoy alak.Buti na lang hindi pa ako nakapag toothbrush kaya amoy pa rin ang bakas ng Shawarma sa aking bibig at hininga, garlic flavor ata iyon.Wala namang naging problema kaya umalis na ang police.

Ilang minuto pa ang main gate ay bukas na salamat sa Indianong maagang pumasok sa trabaho nya.Sabay panhik sa third floor at nakita si Edwin kumakain ng agahan sabay invite sakin to join with him to partake spaghetti,cake and black coffee pagkatapos ng maikling kamustahan and breakfast akoy nakigulo sa kwarto ni Egay at doon na rin natulog until lunch time.Bumaba sa ground floor para sunduin si Jani para mag lunch together with Manny sa Hayat mall.Ngayon hindi na sya secret dahil nabasa mo na.Maligayang Pasko.

unfortunate events

2008-12-31T01:29:00.000-08:00

Matagal-tagal din akong nawala sa mga dahilang hindi ko inaasahan kaya medyo busy lang tulad na lang ng larawan sa itaas ito ay ang TFC dish na nasira dahil sa ginawang bodega at kwarto sa roof top ng aming tinitirahan nayupi ito at nawalan ng signal kaya ilang araw din kaming walang TFC pero sa ngayon ayos na ito.Sa sobrang inis at may kabagalan sa pagkumpuni nito napagpasyahan ko na magpakabit ng Pinoy tv kaya kapuso at kapamilya na ako dito sa Saudi.

Ang pinakamatinding nangyari na sumira sa aking kinahiligan at ito ang pagblog tulad nito ay ang hindi pagkakaunawaan ng aking kasamahan dito sa bahay inaway ako ng matandang matabang kabayan ko na insecure sa buhay-buhay kaya inaway ako dahil sa sobrang sama nya at sakim pinutolan ako ng internet connection kaya hayon matagal din akong hindi nakapagblog.Ngunit pinagpapala pa rin ako dahil may libre akong nasasagap na signal ng internet dito sa gusaling
aking tinitirahan at magandang balita sakin dahil sa ikinabit na bagong system sa botika na naka dsl na ang mga transaction kaya ayon pasimple akong nakakainternet pag walang gaanong tao.

Mabalik tayo sa taong nang away sakin, ang pinagmulan ng kanyang pang aaway ay dahil lang sa extension wire na nasunog na pagmamay ari nya pinaalam ko sa kanya na kung anong nangayari talaga sa wire na iyon dahil ako at ang kasamahan ko ang nakasaksi.Ayaw kaming pakinggan at pinaalam ko din sa kanya na ang wire na iyon ay may history na nasira na noon pa at ginagamit pa rin nila.For safety purposes naman ang aming ibig iparating sa kanya.Napakababaw ng pinagmulan kung ating titingnan ang sitwasyon dahil ayaw nyang makinig at magpatalo kaya nangyari iyon,hay mahirap talaga makisama lalo na sa beteranong ofw na tulad nya generation gap kaya ito LOL.Pagpasensyahan na natin sya.Ang pakikitungo ko sa kanya ay casual na lang hanngang ngayon hindi pa rin nya ako kinikibo.Peace out dawg!!!

wonder mom

2008-12-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS FOR A BEAUTIFUL AND FRUITFUL 2008 MAMA!!!
from Saudi with Love

Oh_Thought_Ko_To:1

2008-12-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of a venture or a major decision I always sit down and think what is the worst that can happen? If I feel I can live with those situations, I go ahead with that venture, regardless of how risky it is.

I think life brings you a lot of opportunities at you.It opens many doors. We just have to be aware of them and explore what lies beyond.

I believe that every situation that you face in life has a reason. Most of the time, we are so flustered that we don't stop to figure why it happens. But if we do, we will see that we might be standing in front of this doors that just slammed on our face but another one is opening.

Most people are so busy banging their heads on the slammed door thinking it is the end of the line , that they don't look around. I think this is the biggest mistake one can make waste their lives in regrets and what ifs.

Friends and Friendster

2008-11-18T02:32:00.000-08:00

Yes i do have a Friendster account and i used this as one of my means of communication to my friends,classmates and my family and to keep me updated to them.As i woke up this morning to check my friendster account because my sister told me via smart roaming number of mine to visit her account because she posted new pictures of her but surprisingly all of my friends list was empty....

Asan na mga friends ko!!!Walang natira bakit zero?Hindi kaya i dinelete nila ako sa list nila?Ayaw na ba nila sa akin? Iyan ang mga bagay na naglaro sa aking isipan. I read what is written on my friends list area!!!SIGHed!!!A big relief on my little problem but a big deal to me!!!Friendster team answered my questions!!!ayan magbasa muna kasi kung ano nakasulat nyahahaha.Isang bulong!!!Maybe tonight or tomorrow it will be okay at magbalik na sila!!!

Your friends list may be inaccurately displayed. Please be assured that all of your friend connections and data stored on Friendster are intact and will be corrected shortly. – Friendster Team

Here are some FAQs to help address your concerns:
What happened to my friends?

Currently, the number of friends in the friends list is being displayed incorrectly.

Are my friends lost permanently?
No. The data for all friend connections is intact and is not lost.

When can this be fixed?
Friendster is currently working on this problem and we hope to have this fixed within 24 hours.

Can I still add friends while the problem has not yet been fixed?
Yes, users can still add new friends and use other features of the site.

What caused this problem?
There was a power outage at our outsourced data center in Santa Clara, California, USA where Friendster’s servers are co-located along side approximately 50 other companies. As a result, the memory caching of data was affected. Since Friendster has 85 million users, the cache is taking a considerable amount of time to build. Once the cache has been completely built, all friends will re-appear.

For the latest updates, please go to

http://blog.friendster.com

Mag-iipot

2008-11-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

While eating my dinner last night, i was watching television show on TFC at the same time and it caught my attention because of the very interesting topic about chickens on Correspondents hosted by Karen Davila,Yes the poultry industry in the Philippines.There is a new job that is generated behind the 150 million chickens and the 15 Billion pesos poultry industry(statistics presented if i am not mistaken) and that job is MAG-IIPOT and by watching it, i cant and i don't finished on what I'm eating because of the videos that was shown.

Ipot means "droppings", or excrement/fecal matter from animals, usually pertaining to smaller types. The word ipot itself is more closely associated with bird droppings than any other animal’s or A juicy globule of bird shit in short TAE and mag iipot is the person who collects it.Nakakaawa naman ang mga mag-iipot because they are not using any protective gear against the bad odor produced by the droppings.The cost of one full sack that mag-iipot collected is only 6 pesos and by that it gives me the idea to value every money that i have.Mahirap talaga kumita ng pera.Dr RJ what can you say about this?May mag iipot din ba dyan sa farm mo sa Australia?

Goodbye Isadora

2008-11-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

Isadora who?The best kontrabida portrayed by Cherry Pie Picache sa teleseryeng aking sinubaybayan dito sa Saudi via TFC na malaking tulong ito bilang pamatay homesick.

Ito ay walang iba ang Iisa Pa Lamang (lit. The Only One) is a Philippine drama series aired in ABS-CBN.The story revolves around Catherine (Claudine Barretto). All her life, she has been maltreated by Isadora and Scarlet(Angelica Panganiban). But time went by, and she couldn't take it, she started seeking revenge to everyone who changed her life for the worse. She had to sacrifice the most important things in her life. But the question is, who will win? Who will Catherine choose? Miguel(Diether Ocampo?, or Raphael(Gabby Concepcion)? "Iisa pa lamang" is a story of revenge, murder, betrayal and love.Sad to say its over.

Ayayay dito sa Saudi dehins ka IN sa umpukan ng mga kabayan kapag hindi ka nakapanuond ng iisa pa lang.Ito ang aking pinagpupuyatan 3am kasi pinapalabas dito sa Saudi kaya iyon sabog sa umaga pagpasok pero nakakarelate naman sa usapan nila kabayan......Nakamiss lang kasi wala na as in tapos na.

Miss Earth and her Earthworm

2008-11-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

This entry and the picture that I'm using is in relation from the pageant that i watched last night via The Filipino Channel ,Miss Earth.It reminds me of my first encounter and a chance to have a photo taken together with a beauty queen, she is Alexandra Braun Waldeck of Venezuela,Miss Earth 2005, together with her Earthworm yeah its me proud to be her earthworm nyahaha.It happened way back when I was in the Philippines two years ago when my former company that i worked to sponsored an event about Cancer Awareness and she is one of our guest.

About the pageant that i watched last night ,the Philippines' Karla Paula Henry was crowned as this year's Miss Earth, during the Coronation Night held at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Pampanga, north of Manila on November 9,2008.

Henry bested 84 other contestants from all over the world, succeeding Canada's Jessica Trisko, Miss Earth 2007.The Theme for this years competition focused on green lifestyle during the coronation night on Sunday. Congrats Ms. Philippines from your earthworm here in KSA.

Lost Iqama

2008-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is a one of a kind bad experience for me here in KSA.Hear yeah !!!hear yeah!!!I lost my Iqama or my residence permit here in Saudi Arabia ,two months ago, days before Ramadan.I lost it together with my Philippine drivers license that are both kept on my Mundipharma wallet,

I wasn't robbed, i just lost it, so careless about my things.Iqama is very important here in Saudi Arabia to do all the transactions here.It took two months for me to get my new Iqama,it looks like an atm card.Since i am based here in Al-Khobar Eastern region of KSA, i was oblige to go to Riyadh, Central Region of KSA where our main office is located to process my new Iqama.For me to travel to Riyadh legally my sponsor sent to me my passport.

With the help of our company's liaison officer and my interpreter for arabic it is easy for me to processed it.Thank you Mr.Mubarak for all your help.I have to go personally at Jawazat or the Immigration and passport office so they can get my fingerprints and photograph.We are both so early to Jawazat and before lunch time we are done.Finally I got my new Iqama now, only two days old

These were the added information that I learned from that experience about Iqama.Normally the validity of iqama is for one year. If you lost your iqama, first you have to advertise in an Arabic language newspaper that you lost it then wait for 15 days for it to be found, hopefully. If not attach the advertisement and re apply for a new one to be issued based on the original one.

Important things to do regarding Iqama.

1. Keep a telephone number in your Iqama in case it gets lost or stolen so the 'finder' can contact you.

2. If you are a victim of pick-pocket, don't leave the crime scene and immediately call 999.

3. Call another friend who can communicate in Arabic to go to you.

4. If you will have no difficulty getting a letter from your sponsor and bringing your liaison officer to the Jawazat, better do it the "right' way and apply for a new Iqama and this is the one i did.

Chicken:to love or to hate

2008-11-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

As i was visiting the blog of Nebz i came across to read an interesting blog that talked about chicken written by my fellow pinoy blogger a veterinarian who is based in a land down under hes name is Dr. Rj.Why oh why I'm so interested about hes entry to his blog because chicken did something wrong to my body.

As i open my eyes and welcome the first day of November i felt so weak,uneasy,not comfortable, have difficulty in breathing and unbearable itchiness all throughout my body.As i rushed to my comfort room to examine my body i was so amazed and frieghtened on what i saw voila tiny red spots on my skin as if it is new year for me wearing personalized tiny polka dots costume.But i dont panic because i know now who is the main culprit of this crime committed on my body.

Napapanahon ang pangyayari sa araw ng November 1 ang mga kaluluwa ng mga manok na aking kinain ay nagsipaglabasan na sa aking katawan. Hindi naman ako nakulam coz i know walang mangkukuklam dito sa Saudi.

Rewind!!!...Rewind and think on what i ate on that night. gotcha!!! its chicken.It happened to me again here in Saudi.Yes i got an allergy from chicken.Too much eating of chicken is the main cause if i am not mistaken.Where in this kingdom porky babe is not legally welcome on their dishes on any restaurant or any butchery that's why chicken dominates all in their choices of menu here in Saudi Arabia aside from beef and lamb so no choice but to eat chicken either broasted,khabsa,shawarma or adobo.

Thanks God to Zyrtec my saviour to ease and enlighten my burden caused by this allergy.But i love eating chicken.Uulit pa ako nyahahaha.Anyways I'm now okay may kaunting bakas lang ng krimen na ginawa ng manok.

Girls of Riyadh

2008-11-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Alahamdalalah is the word that i muttered (which means to say thanks be to God the expression that i borrowed from the Muslims brothers here in Saudi Arabia)when finally this controversial book is legally available now at Jarir bookstore printed and translated to English and with out any hesitation I purchased this book.The book that I'm talking about is Girls of Riyadh and I'm done reading it.

The book is surprisingly informative and offers a rare glimpse into the secretive lives of Saudi women behind their black cloak and veil.The book answered all my questions on how do Saudi ladies do their shopping, attending parties ,dating,courtship and weddings.

Girls of Riyadh or Banat al-Riyadh, is a novel by Rajaa Alsanea. The book, written in the form of e-mails, recounts the love lives of four young Saudi girls, Lamees, Michelle (half Saudi, half American), Gamrah, and Sadeem. It describes the relationship between men and women in the conservative Saudi-Arabian Islamic culture.

Originally released in Arabic in 2005, Girls of Riyadh was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia due to (experienced) controversial and inflammatory content. Black-market copies of the novel circulated and Girls of Riyadh has been a bestseller across much of the Middle East.

Ramadan Days!!!

2008-11-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

This is the punishment for myself of being so lazy to update my blog.To think and remember the things that I've done to my life for the past,( let me count) one and two months ayayay let now my brain work on it.

Oh well , Big thanks to my photographs that i captured during those some special event and the likes as a souvenirs help me remember on what happened. I will start it from the holy season for the Muslims here in Saudi Arabia the Ramadan days.Ramadan time is so memorable for me because my schedule of work is very different form my normal working hour.

Since I'm working in a pharmacy following the mall business hours which start late in the afternoon until late at night so it means to say i have plenty of time to go party with my new found friends yahooooo.More invites here and there from some of my pinoy community here in Saudi Arabia.I discover new things and surprised me about the life here in the kingdom.New discoveries for me.I love it.

It is so Ironic because Ramadan here in Saudi Arabia is a time of fasting in the morning but for me it is a time for gluttony thats why i gain sooooo much weight it makes me fat.

Juan Tamad no more!!!

2008-11-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

Juan Tamad who?Days and then weeks and then for a month now here i am again to my blog site trying to update and update.

From those moments i felt that the lost soul of Juan Tamad reincarnated and entered to my innocent body and that makes me soooo lazy to update my blog. So who is this Juan Tamad anyway?

According to my bestfriend Wiki Juan Tamad (Filipino for "Lazy John"), is a character in Philippine folklore noteworthy for extreme laziness. He is usually portrayed as a child, although in some interpretations, he is said to be a young man.Arguably, the Juan Tamad story most often told illustrates his utmost laziness to the point of stupidity that it becomes comedic.

Is there a similarity?I guess there is, so let me go backward and study those events that occurred to me and let Juan Tamad be free from my body.By doing that I'm now updating my blog.Yahoooo.

The reasons why i finally decided for myself to go on line and make this blog are the following:

1. to kill the boredom and make blogging as a passing time here in the Kingdom of Big brother ,the Saudi Arabia.

2.To let my friends and my family be updated about the things I'm doing to my life.

3.and let this blog be my souvenir as an ofw and read and review all my entries when the time i go back to my beautiful, free and open country las islas filipinas...nyahaaha.

But i am so surprised that there are some people out there who reads my blog and interested and be updated about on what i am doing about my kaleidoscope world . Thank you.

Why updating my blog makes me so lazy? one reason is that i I don't like the poor service of my internet provider the Saudi telecom company always have a problem with my connection to the Internet.hayayay!!! but now its pretty doing well hope this coming days i will not encounter problems with my internet provider.Sayang ng binabayad ko.LoL and be free from Juan Tamad.sana nga!!!Sarap kaya matulog!!!

hibernation

2008-10-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my friends out there who are eagerly waiting to know for my updates about my whereabouts of my life.I just want only to post my pictures for this entry if these are appropriate for the title that i used and more stories to follow coz am kinda lazy and all i want to do is to sllllleeppppp, a good quality of sleep............thank you.....hello meow

happy birthday party number two

2008-09-18T12:11:00.003-07:00

This is my second birthday party that was organized by Dr. Alan with the help of his friends.I would like to thank Chef Bernz with his associate Tolitz for cooking the sumptous dinner for everyone Im so thanktful for them for sharing thier skills in cooking and it is a gift given wholeheartedly for me.Thank you all for joining and sharing your time with me.

happy birthday party number one

2008-09-18T12:11:00.002-07:00

I just want to share the happiness of celebrating the birthday of mine to everyone September 16 is the date that i should treasured and a day of thanksgiving.I would like to thank my friends for the greetings,for the party,for the gifts and for the love and support.I missed my family I celebrated my birthday again without them.This is my second time to celebrate it here in Saudi Arabia.My pre birthday celebration, a party done in Tony Romas in Corniche,Al-khobar KSA is full of surprises,gifts and events something not to forget,moments that is something to be treasured of.

birthday cake number one

2008-09-18T12:11:00.001-07:00

A surprised choco-vanilla ice cream cake by my friends.Thank you.

birthday cake number two

2008-09-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is my second birthday cake, a choco vanilla cake ,a gift given by Dr Alan an optometrist here in Saudi and it was specially made by his friend a Pinoy Pastry chef named Charlotta aka Kimsamsoom.

first year in al-khobar

2008-09-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my first year anniversary of staying here in Al-khobar after in Riyadh.I like it here,clean,beautiful surroundings,little relax compared to Riyadh,major places are near to each other,friendly people,near the beach oh i love the views, i love the salty crisp air flashing on my face.What i hate here is the humid weather as if i am on a big sauna room,just standing and doing nothing almost all of my body is sweating but still i love it.Thanks God i survived the Al-khobar life style so simple yet amazing and i learned so many things in dealing about life specially when boredom strikes and i surprised myself of new hobbies and new discoveries.

Pansit Tiwi

2008-09-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

The information about Pansit of Tiwi is worth a million of pesos as what Edu Mansano the host of Pilipinas Game Ka na Ba? asked his contestant on what is the main ingredients that makes pansit of Tiwi,Albay special, sad to say the contestant don't know the answer so no one million pesos for him, but it is more too bad on my part that Tiwi is my hometown and i don't know anything about it.Shame on me but anyway my big thanks to The Filipino Channel for airing that show here in KSA and I am now informed that Pansit of Tiwi is made up of seaweeds.To confirmed that info i phoned my dad about that matter and it is true according to him.I searched it also on the internet and surprisingly there is an article talked about it written by my classmate in high school who is now a reporter in ABS-CBN,thank you Sarita.

Albay folk promote seaweed 'pansit'
By SARITA KARE;ABS-CBN Regional Network Group

Pansit or rice noodles -- how ever you cook it -- is a favorite Pinoy fare.But coastal residents of Tiwi town in Albay province have discovered a new pansit variety right in their backyard.Seaweed pansit has become a favorite among residents, thus creating another business opportunity for farmers.

Tiwi is teeming with seaweeds, making it the perfect place for seaweed pansit makers.Aside from its unique taste, seaweed noodles is packed with health-benefits."We cant get calcium from seaweed and it's good for the children's bone and teeth development. For adults, seaweed has magnesium that prevents cardiovascular [problems],” said Seth Conde, the town’s project manager for seaweed pansit production.

Seaweed noodles can be cooked into pansit canton, pansit luglug, spaghetti or carbonara.A pack of seaweed noodles costs P25 while a kilo is sold for P50.Some residents have also made chips out of seaweeds sold at P10 per pack.Seaweed noodles are also making a social impact in Tiwi."We're targetting schools that have malnourished children," said Conde.

Presently, seaweed-made products are being manufactured at the back of the municipal gym.There are also plans to supply seaweed pansit to various businesses in the province.So if you're in Albay -- make sure to visit Tiwi where seaweed noodles have helped families earn extra income provide a food source for poverty-stricken children and put the municipality on the gourmet map.

Shopping Experience,Kingdom Centre,Riyadh KSA

2008-08-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

Shopping here in Saudi Arabia is also a very one of a kind experience.It is very different from the Philippines that everybody is allowed to enter the mall like in Glorietta,Greenbelt or any SM super malls.

Here in Saudi Arabia there are malls where only families are only allowed to enter and bachelors are not allowed especially the Saudis or any Arab nationalities but for some expat like to Filipinos,Americans and British or European nationalities security guards give considerations for them to do shopping.Before going to mall phoned first the customer service if bachelors are allowed to enter for not to waste time and effort.All people working in shopping malls from cashiers, sales people are all males and don't be surprised if there is no females that will assist you.Store hours also must be observed in shopping because as we all know KSA is a conservative Muslim country so prayer time is strictly followed and during prayer time all showrooms,boutiques and all establishments are closed .Five or so minutes before the prayer call customers are asked to leave the shop,the staff also exit closing the shutters and failure to do so religious police or the Mutaween also known as the Authority for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice will catch the staff and the customer for disciplinary measures.

This affects shoppers particularly at Midday or Dhur, prayer start between 11:30am and 12:30 pm,it is worthwhile checking if the shop will re-open after prayers, as many stores and malls close between midday and 4:00pm or after mid afternoon or Asr prayer , because during that span of time the temperature is at its highest so its is a siesta time.Shopping malls open from 9:00am until or before midday prayer time. Also during Sunset or Maghrib,prayers start between 5:30pm and 6:30 pm and last prayer time of the day the Isha or dinnertime prayers start between 7pm and 8pm and re-open until 10 or 11pm.

This mall the Mamlaka or Kingdom Centre (Arabic: برج المملكة‎) is very closed to my apartment only a block away when i was assigned working in Riyadh and it is my landmark for not to get lost in the city.Kingdom Tower is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, somewhat resembling a modern bottle opener. With a height of 303 m (992 ft), it is the 24th tallest building in world.

The tower is host to the highest mosque in the world. The Kingdom Centre is owned by Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company. The total cost of the project was 2 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian El Saif and the Italian Impregilo S.P.A. Kingdom Centre is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street in the growing business district of Olaya in Riyadh.

Kingdom Centre was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected as the "best skyscraper of the world for design". A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. Besides the shopping mall, the Centre includes a Four Seasons Hotel and state-of-the-art apartments. The 56 meter long skybridge atop the skyscraper contains a public observation deck and a view of the entire city of Riyadh.

The Shopping Mall contains 170 prestigious stores.The first and second floor is open to both gender and third floor is stictcly for females only where they can freely remove thier veil or abayas.If you feel hungry during shopping and if you want to eat,the wide array of choices of local and international fast food chains is located in ground floor ,also the Family and bachelors section is stricly followed.Enjoy Shopping.

pictures of saudi arabia

2008-08-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Enjoy watching the beauty of Saudi Arabia

Polvoron

2008-08-22T00:27:00.000-07:00

Almost two months now when Mark and Egay arrived here in Saudi Arabia from the Philippines, special polvoron of goldilocks was the pasalubong for me and today i ate the last piece of yummy polvoron.I love it and i will miss it.

Polvoron is a special blend of toasted flour, milk, butter and sugar, cooked and then molded. Available in special and these flavored variants - cashew, peanut, crisped rice (pinipig), marble and cookies and cream.

Polvoron. So simple. So yummy. So reminds-me-of-my-childhood fun. There’s a game we used to play when we eat polvoron. The contestants put a piece of the treat in their mouths, and the first one who can produce a whistle wins.

ninoy in me

2008-08-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

Just this morning as i open my television the program aired on TFC is Boy and Kris.The show gave tribute to the 25th year death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino.Watching it awakened the spirit of being Filipino in me to love and give honor to my beloved country. I felt the Ninoy Spirit within me.I am a hero.I do what I believe is Right.I do what I believe is Good.I fight for Justice.I fight for freedom.I am a hero.In a big way,In a small way.In my own way.I am Ninoy.I am mightyDacz.I am an OFW.Mabuhay ang mga bigatin saang sulok man ng mundo.Ninoy keep on smiling eventhough your heart is breaking.Mabuhay........

one hundred years of solitude

2008-08-21T00:30:00.000-07:00

Alas!!!Finally I'm done reading this book.This is my reaction until reading the very last page of this book because I misplaced this book and i don't know where did i put this when i moved to my new apartment,until last week i found it mixed up with my unused clothes in my luggage.

Here in Saudi Arabia the more i develop, I love and appreciate the hobby on reading novels.Reading became my past time here,maybe because I don't have any options aside from blogging because here is very different mind you there is no public cinema here very different from the country i came from and watching movies with my friends is one of my hobbies before.I am an occasional reader and it depends on the book that i read, sometimes too lazy to finish reading a novel.But this novel is a must to be read book,highly recommended by my writer friend in the Philippines.

There is only one bookstore here in KSA that carries English books on there choices and that is Jarir Bookstore and copies is very limited thats why you have to phoned them so that they will reserved a copy for you. I am lucky i get one.What inspired me after reading the book is to make a family tree for my clan to trace my roots.To all my friends this is a magnificent novel please do read and enjoy the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Spanish: Cien años de soledad) is a novel by Nobel Prize winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez that was first published in Spanish in 1967 (Buenos Aires: Sudamericana), with an English translation by Gregory Rabassa released in 1970 (New York: Harper and Row). The book is widely considered García Márquez's magnum opus, metaphorically encompassing the history of Colombia or Latin America.

The novel chronicles a family's struggle and the history of their fictional town, Macondo, for one hundred years. García Márquez acknowledges in his autobiography

Living to Tell the Tale that Macondo was based on the towns where he spent his childhood. Like many other novels by Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude crosses genres, combining elements of history, magical realism, and pure fiction.

One Hundred Years of Solitude does not have a plot in the conventional sense of the word. Instead, Marquez uses the novel to explore a literary conceit, to wit: that it is vitally important for people to remember their history, otherwise they will suffer for it. Taking this as his theme, Marquez illustrates it repeatedly throughout the novel in a number of seemingly unconnected incidents which make up the narrative.

By using different incidents to illustrate the same theme throughout the novel, Marquez is able to disconcert the reader with significant changes in the emotional tone. For example: in the whimsical case of Remedios the Beauty's assumption into heaven, one is led to think that the lack of memory for history leads to the innocent blurring of myth and reality. However, this is then contrasted with the incident of a violent massacre, which is effectively covered up by the authorities, leading one to question whether Marquez does not intend the novel to be a biting criticism of terrible human rights abuses which may have happened in Colombia, and Latin America generally.

Tellingly, the village of Macondo is completely destroyed at the end of the novel, along with all traces of its existence: implying that its inhabitants have failed to make any lasting impression on history, and that there is now no longer any method of determining whether any of the events in the novel might be true or not.

McArabia

2008-08-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dining at fastfood chain is the big solution and a big help to satisfies my hunger here in Saudi Arabia because I'm too lazy to cook for myself at home.The best way to do it is to eat at McDonalds and my favorite here in there menu is the Chicken McArabia,beef is also available.The only difference of McArabia to burgers that they served is the type of bread that they used. Grilled chicken McArabia is served and dressed in Arabic flatbread with black sesame seeds.There is no Mc Spaghetti, rice and chicken served here in KSA unlike in the Philippines.Dining also here is different, bachelors and family are not allowed to eat together so there is a special section for the family and bachelors.This practice of dining is observed to all fast food chains and restaurants.

Saudi Arabia 101

2008-08-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Some facts about my host country,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Cats

2008-08-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Hello to all, finally i made it again to update my blog.I found some difficulty to log in to blog spot due to poor connection of internet here in our new apartment.So anyway I'm so thankful today.I will re introduce my pet.Actually im not the real owner of these cats my Brazilian friend named Rudy who is on vacation now is the owner, since nobody will take care of his cats he left it with me.I gave the name Shobe and Ditch to the kittens and Meowie Taylor for the mother, sounds like a sexy actress in the Philippines.Right meow?Rudy instructed me on how to take care of these cats.In the morning put them all in a box full of pebbles so they can pooh and peeh.Feed the cats three times a day.Twice a week give them a shower and last on the list especially instructed to me don't kill the cat just to make them siopao because they know how to fight i taught them capoira Rudy said to me.LOL.Meowi e the mother is not an ordinary cat,one time when she escaped to Rudy in the apartment and when she came back to the house she is now pregnant to shobe and Ditch the father is an unknown strange Saudi cat.

Video of my cats

2008-08-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

Another reason that made me busy is by taking care of my new pet.This is the video of my cats meet Ditch and shobe.Dedicated to Meow D of Mundi.

I'm back.

2008-08-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Finally I'm back to blogging again.Welcome back to me and it is so nice to update my page again for after a month of absence here in blogspot,so exciting.Sorry for the inconvenience and for keep on waiting for the updates about me especially to Meow and Bob,hello to both of you.The only reason why i cant make it to update my page is that I moved to a new apartment,my new accommodation here in Saudi Arabia.That's what made me busy and there is no internet connection ready yet.Obviously right now i do have now my internet connection,thank you to Joener for sharing the wi-fi connection.I missed my fellow blogger and i want to say hello to all like to Laura Stone,Sheila Catalan,Meow,Mel,Ms kalidadis,Ms Babette and to Kit Zulueta.Thank you.

Louis Vuitton

2008-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the first year of my first Louis Vuitton wallet.I bought it in Kingdom Tower, Riyadh Saudi Arabia on July 7,2007. Bob is the one who accompanied me to purchased it.

According to my horoscope that day 777 or July 7,2007 is the best day to purchase something for myself as a gift or reward for hardwork. I chose Louis Vuitton because it gave me the sign from the Logo itself that LV is the perpect gift. From the popular monogram canvas i saw the triple seven from the logo and that is the sign.Louis Vuitton is my magic wallet,my wallet that never runs out of cash.LoL.hope it will not stop to produce more!!!

Facts on Louis Vuitton
From Wikipedia

Louis Vuitton Malletier, or sometimes shortened to LV, is a French luxury fashion and leather goods brand and company, one of the main divisions of LVMH headquartered in Paris, France. Known especially for bags and trunks, the company collaborates with prominent figures for marketing and design (most notably supermodel Gisele Bündchen and fashion designer Marc Jacobs). Internationally renowned and highly regarded for name recognition in the fashion world, as a result LV has become one of the most counterfeited contemporary luxury brands.
LV is also one of the oldest fashion houses in the world, having started in 1854. It sells its products strictly through its own retail stores and online (as an effort against counterfeit). It primarily competes with Versace, Gucci, Chanel, Prada and similar luxury fashion brands.

History
In the late 19th century, Louis Vuitton was a renowned trunks and luggage retailer. Entering into the 20th century, the company expanded in terms of locations and financial success. Beginning in the middle of the century, it entered the fashion world, integrating its signature Monogram Canvas into purses and bags. Its merger to create LVMH became a milestone step, and from then on, LV came to acquire its luxury fashion image known today.
Prominent figures to have exclusively ordered Louis Vuitton luggage in history include Congo explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who ordered a combined trunk and bed from the company, and American conductor Leopold Stokowski (for his travels), whose traveling secrétaire was designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton.

Biography of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton (born, August 4, 1821; died, February 27, 1892),future founder of his eponymous company, was born in Jura, France (now part of the commune of Lavans-sur-Valouse). In 1835, he moved to Paris. The trip from his hometown to Paris was over 400 kilometers (249 mi), and he traveled the distance by foot. On his way there, he picked up a series of odd jobs to pay for his journey.

There, he became an apprentice Layetier to prominent households.Because of his well established reputation in his field, Napoleon III of France appointed Vuitton as Layetier to his wife, Empress Eugénie de Montijo. Through his experience with the french aristocracy, he developed expert knowledge of what made a good travelling case. It is now that he begins to design his own luggage, setting the foundations for LV Co.

Discover Riyadh

2008-07-06T03:06:00.000-07:00

Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض‎ Ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to over 4,260,000 people.
The city is divided into 15 municipal districts, managed by Riyadh Municipality headed by the mayor of Riyadh, and the Riyadh Development Authority, chaired by Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The current mayor of Riyadh is Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al Migrin, appointed in 1998.

The name Riyadh is derived from the plural of the Arabic word rawdha, which means "garden," particularly those formed in the desert after the spring rains. Riyadh has for more than 1500 years been a fertile area set in the heartland of the Arabian Peninsula.The settlement was historically famous for its Palm Trees and Dates and Orchards. The modern name was first applied to only certain parts of the settlement where orchards predominated. Gradually the name was used for the entire settlement.

Terrorist Attacked

2008-07-04T15:51:00.003-07:00

This video that you are watching happened a year ago to the place where i am working right now.This is in Panda Supermarket,Dammam Saudi Arabia.I wasn't aware about this because that time, this event occurred i was still in the Philippines.

My fellow Pinoy shared this video, for me to be aware on the history of the place.He is working that time to the adjacent building where his office is located.He witnissed the crime from his window and it was captured from a mobile phone by his arab colleagues.At first knowing and watching the video my reaction is to be scared but examining the place now it is peaceful and well secured so no need for me to be frightened and to be worried about it.

That's why whoever ask the exact location of my health shop they knew it easily by means of that event happened in the store.To all my friends don't worry about me everything now is okay, and the place is now well secured and peaceful.

Belo Essentials in Saudi Arabia

2008-07-04T03:11:00.000-07:00

Whenever I heard the word Belo the first thing that comes into my mind is Beauty and the meaning of beauty based on my observation from Belo is having a flawless,light and unwanted or fat free skin and for me to have it you must spend money so it is expensive but not anymore today.Thanks to the idea of launching Belo essentials by that you can experience belo in the affordable or the cheapest way.

Belo is very popular here in Saudi Arabia,most of the Filipinos want to have a flawless skin especially the ladies and part of the itinerary when they want to have their vacation to the Philippines is to visit Belo clinic.Now, no need for them to wait for the vacation. In Saudi Arabia, Filipinos can experience belo by means of Belo essentials because it is now available in the Filipino Market in Batha,Riyadh KSA.

Belo Essentials composed of the following products:

Belo Essentials Whitening Body Bar Soap with Dermlight Skin System

A body bar that lightens skin naturally and safely with its Dermlight Skin System - a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins.
Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. This ensures faster, more visible whitening results.
Cleanses gently and prevents dryness, resulting in silky soft skin. Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Belo Essentials Smoothing Body Bar Soap with Dermlight Skin System

With microbeads that exfoliate for smoother skin, this body bar lightens skin naturally with its Dermlight Skin System.
A combination of California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins. Exfoliates to reveal newer, smoother skin.
Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. Cleanses gently and prevents dryness, resulting in silky soft skin.
Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Belo Essentials Pore Minimizing Whitening Face Wash with Dermlight Skin System

A facial wash that minimizes pores for smoother, clearer skin.
Lightens skin naturally and safely with its Dermlight Skin System - a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins.
Promotes skin renewal, helping minimize pores for noticeably finer, youthful skin.
Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. This ensures faster, more visible whitening results.
Moisturizes gently. Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Belo Essentials Whitening Face Wash with Dermlight Skin System

A facial wash that lightens your skin naturally and safely with its Dermlight Skin System - a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins.
Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. This ensures faster, more visible whitening results. Evens out skin tone.
Cleans gently and retains skin's natural moisture. Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Belo Essentials Whitening Lotion SPF 15 with Dermlight Skin System

With reinforced sunscreen that protects skin from harmful UV rays, this body lotion lightens your skin naturally and safely with its Dermlight Skin System - a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins.
With sunscreen that shields skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. This ensures faster, more visible whitening results.
With Pentavitin that provides longer lasting moisture. Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Belo Essentials Whitening Lotion with Dermlight Skin System

With reinforced sunscreen that protects skin from harmful UV rays, this body lotion lightens your skin naturally and safely with its Dermlight Skin System - a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins.
Reduces skin darkening by inhibiting tyrosinase, which leads to melanin build-up. This ensures faster, more visible whitening results.
With Pentavitin that provides longer lasting moisture. Chamomile extracts soothes skin and shields it from irritation.

Vans shoes

2008-07-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

I like the checkerd design of Vans shoes thats why i bought it.It is also comfortable to my feet and it is also fashionable.My first pair is white and the second is blue.

Vans
From Wikipedia

Vans is a Southern California-based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes and other shoe types catering primarily to the skateboarder/surfer youth market.
Contents

History

1st vans factory
Originally known as Van Doren Rubber Company, Vans was founded on March 16, 1966 by Pauul Van Doren, Jim Van Doren (Brother), Serge D'Elia (Investor based in Japan), and Gordy Leeon 704E Broadway in Los Angeles, CA.
At first, Vans shoes were produced in the store, decades later American production of Vans shoes ended in July 1995. Vans began taking custom orders when people wanted different color schemes on their shoes. In the beginning, Vans designed their shoes with a diamond tread. Later on, the middle part of each shoe cracked and fell apart during heavy use, prompting Vans to add vertical lines in the tread to increase strength, friction and grip. The tread was officially named the "waffle-sole."
Today, Vans works heavily in the surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, urban and punk markets. The brand has also become popular over the last two years after re-introducing their much-loved slip-on. They have also marketed additional items such as clothing and skateboarding accessories.

Music scene
Kevin Lyman proposed to Vans, a music tour nationwide while Steve Van Doren wanted to do a skateboarding competition nationwide which then became Vans Warped tour with its first appearance in 1995 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Newport Beach, CA
In recent years, the bay area hip-hop scene has begun to show interest in the brand, which has been popularized by the hip-hop group The Pack. The punk / ska band The Suicide Machines wrote The Vans Song as a tribute to the brand, and the rap group The Pack followed suit with their song, Vans.
In 2008, Vans - along with Relentless and Rock Sound - sponsored the UK tour of American supergroup *shels.

Livestrong wristband

2008-07-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

I bought one Livestrong wristband at Go Sport in Granada Mall, a distributor of Nike products in Saudi Arabia.

Brightly colored, rubbery wrist bands are an affordable fashion jewelry trend. But these soft bangle bracelets are a trend with a purpose. Each colored band represents a particular disease or societal concern. The hope is that people will be reminded of those issues when they see the bracelets worn. This "raised awareness" of issues can lead to increased research into cures for disease and better funding of programs designed to help those in need.

What is this Livestrong wristband?

Livestrong wristband
From Wikipedia

The Livestrong wristband
The Livestrong wristband is a yellow silicone wristband (a gel bracelet) launched in May of 2004 as a fund-raising item for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. The wristband itself was developed by Nike and their ad agency Wieden+Kennedy.

Purpose
The band is part of the "Wear Yellow Live Strong" educational program. The program is intended to raise money for cancer research, raise cancer awareness, and encourage people to live life to the fullest.

The band sells individually, as well as in packs of 10, 100, and 1,200 as part of an effort to raise $25 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation in cooperation with Nike who manufactures the "live strong" bands in Austin, Texas the home of Lance Armstrong and other world wide manufacturing plants and sells the wristbands through their Nike outlets worldwide. This target was achieved within 6 months, and there have now been 70 million Livestrong bands sold to date. Individual bands sell for US$1 each.

Yellow was chosen for its importance in professional cycling, as it is the color of the yellow jersey worn by the leader of the Tour de France. Other charities were inspired by the success of the Livestrong bracelets, and many charities have developed their own wristbands for raising money and awareness.

IKEA

2008-07-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Under the scorching heat on the 26Th day of June in Saudi Arabia my fairy gay godmother Manny decided to let our group including the neophytes, the new recruit in the Kingdom ,Mark and Egay to have lunch at Ikea cafe and invade the place to do shopping afterwards.Ikea escapade is not part of my itinerary but since i haven't been and experience it with so much gusto i said yes and join with them.

With the generous kindhearted of yours truly me, myself yes its me is the one who paid the bill for the sumptuous lunch that the entourage partake that include herb bake salmon,soup cream of chicken,hamour steak, and tenderloin with the desserts of blueberry and strawberry cheesecake and chocolate croissant.Ohlalala i love it we are so much full and by that we had enough energy to invade the place to do shopping.

Sad to say Bob one of my friend wasn't able to join due to work.What i bought from Ikea is the beautiful wall clock,mirror,slippers .Manny and Johnny bought plates and other kitchen utensils.Mark and Egay bought some stuff for laundry and for bathroom.Everybody felt exhausted yet happy for the experience even in a limited time.we hurriedly went home to take our afternoon siesta.

Doing that it reminisced my experience that i had with my friend Meow shopping some stuff for his haven in the Philippines, i missed it especially when we looked for the bamboo curtain.

IKEA in RiyadhP.O.Box 91285, Riyadh 11633

Saudi ArabiaPhone: +966 1 2442233

E-mail: Inforyd@ikea.com.sa

Opening hours at normal days including EID

Saturday to Thursday: 10:00AM – 12:00

Midnight Friday: 4:00PM – 12:00 Midnight

IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden and it is owned by a Dutch-registered foundation controlled by the Kamprad family.

IKEA is an acronym comprising the initials of the founder's name (Ingvar Kamprad), the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd), and his home county (Agunnaryd, in Småland, South Sweden).

IKEA is a privately-held, international home products retailer that sells flat pack furniture, accessories, bathrooms and kitchens at retail stores around the world. The company, which pioneered flat-pack design furniture at affordable prices, is now the world's largest furniture manufacturer.

Europe
(Belgium)

(Czech Republic)
(Denmark)

(Germany)
(Spain)
(Greece)
France
(Iceland)
(Italy)
(Cyprus)
(Hungary)
(Netherlands)
(Norway)
(Austria)

(Russia)
(Poland)
(Portugal)
(Romania)
(Switzerland)
(Slovakia)
(Finland)
(Sweden)
(Turkey)
United Kingdom
North America
Canada
United States

Middle East
(Kuwait)
(Israel)
(Saudi Arabia)
(United Arab Emirates)

Asia Pacific
Australia
(China)
(Hong Kong)
(Japan)
Malaysia
(Taiwan)
Singapore

SAPTCO

2008-06-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

VIP Class is not only on airlines, SAPTCO- Saudi Public Transport Co. can make your travel comfortable because VIP buses offer you space and comfort that never seen on any other buses.Plus food,beverages,computer facilities,newspapers in english and arabic and mobile recharging servicesfor you to enjoy the comfort of first class travel aboard on bus.What makes me really comfortable and relax is that the driver and his assistant were both my kababayan,Filipino.

SCHEDULE AL-olaya Houard Johnson Plazza Hotel-Tel. 01 4629939
Departure times from Riyadh to Khobar
Saturday and Sunday- 06.00 and 17.00
Monday and Tuesday- 09.00 and 17.00
Wednesday 09.00 and 17.00
Thursday 14.00
Friday 15.00, 17.00 and 19.00

SCHEDULE Al-Kousaibi Hotel Al-Khobar-tel. 03 8874481
Departure times from Khobar to Riyadh
Saturday and Sunday- 06.00 and 17.00
Monday and Tuesday - 09.00 and 17.00
Wednesday 10.00, 15.00 and 18.00
Thursday 14.00
Friday 15.00 and 17.00

Regular class of travel is every hour and the bus terminal is in Dammam near Governor's Palace

Saudi Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO) was established in 1399 H (1979 G) with a fully paid up capital of SR 1000 million to provide public bus transport services. SAPTCO operates around the clock with terminals in the Kingdom's major cities and through an extensive network of local and international agents.

SAPTCO operates a fleet of 2,714 modern buses of different capacities and sizes carrying out 579 daily scheduled trips, connecting 362 cities, towns and villages Kingdom wide. Daily international trips are scheduled to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E., Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and Lebanon.
SAPTCO's intracity services covers 10 major cities which include: (Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Abha, Gaseem, Tabuk, Hael), and special transportation to the Holy Shrines during Hajj and Ramadan. SAPTCO also provides a distinguished VIP service, offers Charter bus service and operates school/college transportation services.The number of passengers transported by SAPTCO has reached more than 2.005 Billion passenger.
The number of local and international agents of the company reached 161 Agents.

Our distinguished VIP services are between Riyadh - Al Khobar, Makkah - Madinah and to Bahrain. These trips are direct and non-stop. Passengers are provided meals, hot and cold drinks, newspapers and the outlet to use mobile phones and laptop. The company is planning to expand its VIP services to include new routes.
We have a team of skilled and well trained bus drivers, comes in compliance and adherence with safety and security precautions for our customers. All our fleet, drivers and passengers are fully insured.
SAPTCO - as Future plans:- is looking forward to cope with the developments that transport sector witness. It continues to update its fleet with most recent technologies in bus's manufacturing in addition to its efforts to introduce "integral Umrah and Tourist" service

Welcome to KSA Mark and Edgar

2008-06-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

After my work on June 25 at around quarter to eleven in the evening,I hurriedly went to the bus station of SAPTCO (Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company)to catched up the last trip of the day headed to Riyadh, the bus left at around 12:30 am and it takes five hours travel from Dammam to Riyadh.

It was a nice trip I only sleep at the bus and the moment i open my eyes wow i was now in Riyadh.The reason why I went there is just so simple, just to meet and welcome my friends Edgar and Mark, both of them will now work here in Saudi at the same company where i am working.To EDGAR and MARK welcome to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Iqama

2008-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

I just renewed my IQAMA recently and the new one is with me now.So what is this IQAMA,why it is very important here in Saudi Arabia being an expat like me.Sorry no photograph of my iqama to be posted here for security purposes.

The first paperwork hurdle once in Saudi Arabia is your own Iqama term used for residence permit.Dont wait for HR personnel to ask you,present them with the documentation on day one once you are here in the Kingdom. You will need to do another medical- known as the iqama medical and results take three to four days.

Issue of Iqama takes two to five days, for the mean time the company will issue a letter together with the photocopy of your passport attached to it,because the emloyer will keep your passport for safety and for exchange for it is the iqama.The letter will serve as your temporary Iqama with a validity of one week until you received the Iqama.

The new iqama issued , it looks like an ATM or credit card with your picture,name in english and arabic characters,birthday,nationality, expiration date,name of the company.Unlike before its look like a mini passport green for Muslim and brown for non-Muslim.
IQAMA CHECKLIST

Get Iqama medical done
Prepare company letter
Copy of contract
Copy of medical results
passport
photographs

The iqama can be viewed as your residency card. The iqama indicates you are a legal resident in the Kingdom. With this document you can open a bank account, rent or buy a car, rent lodging and any other legal and/or business transactions.It is needed when you are going to buy a sim card for the mobile phone, prepaid or postpaid and for telephone line at home and for dsl connection for internet.Iqama is needed in buying tickets for bus,train and plane for local travel within the kingdom.

Without an iqama, one is very limited in what they are allowed to do. For example, one may come into the Kingdom on a visitors visa but that visa will not allow one to engage in many standard transactions of day to day life.

Make a photocopy of your iqama and have that with you at all times. Keep your original iqama in a safe place. Also be sure and note its expiration date.Validity of iqama is one year only.If your iqama expired you cannot perform any transactions in the bank like to deposit or to withdraw from your bank accounts! You will have no access to cash.Until you renewed it.Iqama is very important here in Saudi Arabia.

Pinoy abroad

2008-06-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

Living life as an expat is very good when you are earning enough or married to someone who can afford the life there. Living abroad exposes one to other cultures, food, places and ways of living one would otherwise have not known if they have never gone out of the Philippines.

It is great exposure to cultivate an open mind and to develop a mature perspective of the world. One can experience culture shock but if one keeps an open mind and keep a positive attitude, one can easily adapt to changes and new cultures. However, it can be sad when one realizes how far they are from family and friends and things that are familiar.

We are fortunate that technology nowadays like the internet and mobile phones allow people to connect in more ways than one and to communicate as if loved ones are just in the other room. The best way to combat homesickness is to bring something that reminds you of home, keep busy at work and make lots of friends. Before you know it, you would have made your new place your new home.

Noypi!!!

2008-06-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Its been a tough week for me.Feeling blue, I must say, for some reasons maybe because due to the bad weather. Sandstorm althroughout the week, to add more the uncontrollable hot temperature here in the Kingdom.That is nature and it is beyond my control, all i have to do is to take care of myself.Mag ingat wika nga.Aside from nature human matters also.

So I was on the verge of paranoia a while back.Working here in the Kingdom is a multicultural setting.One incident that i will never forget that add to my burden is that this certain workmate of mine from the Lahing 5-6(my code for that race and kabayan you knew it, lots of these people are working in the Philippines popular for that act of business deal)I don't understand why he is trying to put and pull me and my fellow Pinoy down when it comes to work and it happened so many times.I don't know hes motive.Always want to make fight on absurd things.Maybe because he want to prove to us noypis that hes race is better than mine.Based on my observation they are believing in this mantra that,If you are good on this things, well I am better than yours.In other word kabayan "kung may amoy ka mas matindi ang amoy ko" ayon sa paniniwala nila hahaha EWWW.....anghit!!!siguro ganoon nga,anyways just want to make you laugh and so with me because i dont want to take it seriously and I dont want to sound racist here.For Human peace and love sake...we are now okay...pakisamahan na lang sila.On a lighter side of this issue among noypis when it comes to work na hindi na kailangan magbuhat ng bangko, let others noticed the quality of our work as an expat.While reading Arab News yesterday(the well read english broadsheet here in the Kingdom),June 16 i came across this featured article written by Abdullah Al-Maghlooth by the name itself i must say he is an arab.The article helped me to ease the blues with in me.Reason to celebrate and be proud.......Cheerio!

Imagine a world without Filipinos

By:Abdullah Al-Maghlooth Al-Watan, almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.
Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

Thank you:Ka Pete

2008-06-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

To inspire,one must have been inspired.To influence others,one must first have been influenced by someone else.

In the age of Internet nowadays, nothing is impossible to reach every people around the globe.One gets the chance to dialogue not with one or two people at any given time but with the whole world.

One way to get noticed and be recognized by using Internet is trough blogging.For almost a month now that i am into this hobby, still i can't believe it for myself that some people that i didn't know read my blog.Maybe this is the purpose of this technology man had created.Making and bringing our planet so close to each other.As my past time here in Saudi Arabia,during my idle time at home i read others blog.Some are so much interesting and so much inspiring,that my eyes is glued to the page and with out any hesitation i read it until the very last word of the entry posted.One of those is the blog Jose F. Lacaba.I like the poem very much that he created,a masterpiece done by a genius.It is my honor and privilege to have his permission to post his poem on my page.

The poem that i am talking about is Tagubilin and Habilin.He wrote the following poem, obviously inspired by "Desiderata" and "Sunscreen," sometime in 2002 or 2003. It was commissioned by Armida Siguion-Reyna for her album POP LOLA (Viva Records, 2003). Armida's recording of the poem, with background music by Ryan Cayabyab, got a lot of airplay on Ted Failon and Korina Sanchez's program on DZMM teleradyo last year, 2007, just before the elections. Sometimes Ted himself recited the poem. In the wake of the Jun Lozada revelations in the Senate.

Who is Jose F.Lacaba?
Perhaps one of the most prolific and versatile writers of his generation, José F. Lacaba has been a journalist, poet, translator, university lecturer, screenwriter, and show business specialist. Once a student at the Ateneo de Manila University, Pete Lacaba has since received recognition from several eminent award-giving bodies such as the Manila Critics' Circle, Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), FAMAS, Film Academy of the Philippines, Urian, Manila Film Festival, Palanca, and National Press. Recently, he has also been a recipient of the Centennial Honors for the Arts, given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to 100 outstanding Filipino artists of the last 100 years.

His poetry collections include Mga Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran (1979, 1996), Sa Daigdig ng Kontradiksyon (1991) and Sa Panahon ng Ligalig (1991). A new edition of his important, highly charged Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage (1982), a reportage on the First Quarter Storm and the subsequent times, has also been released. Many of his screenplays have been ingrained in the Filipino consciousness; these include the acclaimed Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (1984), Sister Stella L (1984), Orapronobis (1989) and Segurista (1996).
Pete has served as a deputy chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). He is also a resident fellow of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing.

Maraming salamat Ka Pete.

TAGUBILIN AT HABILIN:Ni Jose F. Lacaba

2008-06-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Magandang araw sa lahat lalo na sa mga kababayan ko,akoy natutuwa at labis na nagagalak sa kagandahang naidudulot ng makabagong teknolohiya sa ngayon.Dahil sa pagbabasa ng blog ni Bianca na aki ng nakahiligan bilang isang expat nabasa ko ng buo ang isang napakagandang tula at nahanap ko rin ang link kung saan matatagpuan ang blog ng may akda.Hindi ko mawari na ang isang forwarded sms ay hango sa isang tula.Ibinabahagi ko ito sa inyo at naway magustuhan ninnyo at mapagnilanilayan.

TAGUBILIN AT HABILIN

(Slightly revised version)

Ni Jose F. Lacaba

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan!

Mabuhay ka!

Iyan ang una't huli kong

Tagubilin at habilin:
Mabuhay ka!

Sa edad kong ito, marami akong maibibigay na payo.

Mayaman ako sa payo.

Maghugas ka ng kamay bago kumain.

Maghugas ka ng kamay pagkatapos kumain.

Pero huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay para lang makaiwas sa sisi.

Huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay kung may inaapi

Na kaya mong tulungan.

Paupuin sa bus ang matatanda at ang mga may kalong na sanggol.

Magpasalamat sa nagmamagandang-loob.

Matuto sa karanasan ng matatanda

Pero huwag magpatali sa kaisipang makaluma.

Huwag piliting matulog kung ayaw kang dalawin ng antok.

Huwag pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang walang utang na loob.

Huwag makipagtalo sa bobo at baka ka mapagkamalang bobo.

Huwag bubulong-bulong sa mga panahong kailangang sumigaw.

Huwag kang manalig sa bulung-bulungan.

Huwag kang papatay-patay sa ilalim ng pabitin.

Huwag kang tutulog-tulog sa pansitan.

Umawit ka kung nag-iisa sa banyo.

Umawit ka sa piling ng barkada.

Umawit ka kung nalulungkot.

Umawit ka kung masaya.

Ingat lang.

Huwag kang aawit ng “My Way” sa videoke bar at baka ka mabaril.

Huwag kang magsindi ng sigarilyo sa gasolinahan.

Dahan-dahan sa matatarik na landas.

Dahan-dahan sa malulubak na daan.

Higit sa lahat, inuulit ko:

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan!

Mabuhay ka!

Iyan ang una't huli kong

Tagubilin at habilin:

Mabuhay ka!

Maraming bagay sa mundo na nakakadismaya.

Mabuhay ka.

Maraming problema ang mundo na wala na yatang lunas.

Mabuhay ka.

Sa hirap ng panahon, sa harap ng kabiguan,

Kung minsan ay gusto mo nang mamatay.

Gusto mong maglaslas ng pulso kung sawi sa pag-ibig.

Gusto mong uminom ng lason kung wala nang makain.

Gusto mong magbigti kung napakabigat ng mga pasanin.

Gusto mong pasabugin ang bungo mo kung maraming gumugulo sa utak.

Huwag kang patatalo. Huwag kang susuko.

Narinig mo ang sinasabi ng awitin:

Gising at magbangon sa pagkagupiling,

Sa pagkakatulog na lubhang mahimbing.

”Gumising ka kung hinaharana ka ng pag-ibig.

Bumangon ka kung nananawagan ang kapuspalad.

Ang sabi ng iba: “Ang matapang ay walang-takot lumaban.

”Ang sabi ko naman:

Ang tunay na matapang ay lumalaban

Kahit natatakot.

Lumaban ka kung inginungodngod ang nguso mo sa putik.

Bumalikwas ka kung tinatapak-tapakan ka.

Buong-tapang mong ipaglaban ang iyong mga prinsipyo

Kahit hindi ka sigurado na agad-agad kang mananalo.

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan!

Mabuhay ka!

Iyan ang una't huli kong

Tagubilin at habilin:

Mabuhay ka!