Things that I would miss about Al-Khobar saudi Arabia (part 2)

3). The Iftar celebration

During the holy month of Ramadan it’s a tradition to hold a Iftar party (or Breaking of the Fast) after the sun sets. Here in our office it is usually held on the second Wednesday of Ramadan. It’s a great time to bond with other employees and to meet and greet our President and CEO of our office. Besides the usual award giving ceremonies the most sought after activity during Iftar is the food being serve. In the two Iftar party that I’ve attend I must admit I’m impressed and never went home disappointed. The food was great and the place was awesome (thanks to SEEF center).

When is this happening: Every second Wednesday of Ramadan, after office hours.
What to expect: Great food, Tons of fruits, overflowing desserts

Daming pagkain!!!

Party!Party! Arabian style

4). IKEA! IKEA!

When I was a kid my father, who was still working in Jeddah then, always bring home an IKEA catalog and Im always mesmerize by the design of the furniture and how it look so “chica” even on paper.

Fast forward twenty years now, I was surprised to learn that IKEA has a store here in Dammam and from then on every time I have a chance to go there I don’t go home empty handed. The last two visit was the highest point of my IKEA trip, I didn’t mind bringing home 2 heavy wall frame for picture frame and a 6 feet carpet made in Egypt (which was on SALE!) Or the 3 pieces big glass jar that I had trouble in packing in my balikabayan box. I mean if SM got it all for you IKEA got it all for me (make sense?) Anyhow, bottomline is the place is just freaking awesome!!

IKEA and Me

I wonder when they would open a store in the Philippines??! =(

When is the best time to go: Morning time during weekend (Get a breakfast first at their restaurant before shopping)

What to expect and what to buy: Sophisticated home decor, fluffy pillows and duvet, kitchen utensils that won't rust, Posh drinking glasses, scented candles that soothes the body. Also looking and getting the stuff from the rack is also quite challenging, the store clerks would only tell you how to find the item and it's up to you to retrieve it from their metal racks/warehosue (and that is why their price is low because they dont have to pay for extra money to the clerks to do your work).

Testingin nga natin ang mga upuan.LoL!

5). Auto Terrain Vehicle trip on the Arabian Sands

I must admit at first I was hesitant to ride the ATV because I find it unreliable (re: not safe) but once you get the hang of it the adrenaline rush will just rush out of your body! Yes the safety issues are still there but as a grown man I think you can handle the ATV as per your required action. The vast dessert is the best place to roar this engine and be wild and be like a kid, seriously! It was fun to circle around the sand or jump from the small hill and land in the sand again with a big bang (or splash of sands). It feels like you’re an action star when you’re riding this bike. The price to rent the bike is cheap but the experience you’ll get from it is priceless.

The best time to go is: Before sunrise during summer, the whole day for winter season.
What to expect: Sands, sands, sands! Breathtaking view and slopes of sands and sometimes a shock of your life learning that you’re on the edge of a sand mountain without any warning.

More to follow on this great adventure...

Things that I would miss about Al-Khobar saudi Arabia

Hwoh! Exactly one week from now and I will bid adieu, sayonara, khodafes and goodbye to my beloved Saudi Arabia. I've only lived here for one and a half year but suprisingly I already adapt to the way of life here in KSA. So, now that I'm leaving for good (though I hope I would be assigned here again, like in construction site in Rabigh or Manifa jejeje) I will be listing up starting today some of the places and things that I would be missing about this place:

1). Swimming at Al-Baher beach Resort

We're blessed that we are working here in Al-Khobar, which is 20 minutes away from the Persian Gulf. And during summer our group always go to this resort to relax and have some bonding time. The place is perfect because it has swimming pools and you hvae access in the beach> With entrance fee of 50SR (roughly 700 Php) this is a bargain. The place offers jetski, boating, videoke and catering for large group of visitors. They have rooms to rent but it's quite pricey.

I had lots of fond memories of this place and Im sure the other guys can say the same thing.

Best time to go there : Summer months of July-September, 6:00 PM- 5:00 AM

What to do there: Swim (of course!), jetski, fishing @ Jetty area, rent a boat

Baher Resort in the morning

Shot from the Jetty side of the resort
Good Morning Saudi Arabia!

Illuminated pool for night swimming

2). Easy access to Kingdom of Bahrain

Al-Khobar is located on the Easter region of Saudi Arabia and it's only an hour drive to Bahrain. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are connected by a King Fahd Causeway bridge which makes the travel to this tiny Kingdom (but utterly beautiful and fun) a breeze. During Eid holidays most of Pinoys who have disposable income go to this country and have their vacation and access those things that are not available in Saudi Arabia. We we're supposed to go back ther last Eid-Al-Adha holidays but due to time constraint and some miscommunication we did not push throught he trip (same thing happened to the egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan trip...so frustrating!!). Anyhow the trip last year was a blast! Had so much time i forgot that we're living in a Middle east country.

Best time to go there: Pratically every month of the year, specially if there's a sale season! But most of the parties happens during Eid holidays.

What to do there: Visit Arad fort, party at bars in downtown Manama, Visit the futuristic and artistic buildings in Manama, Buy at Manama Souk, and many more.

Thank you Bahrain for the wonderful time I've been there.

One of the largest mosque in the world: The Al-Fateh Mosque
Paying homage to the earlier inhabitants of the country, the majestic Arad Fort

Prayer carpets in front of Arad Fort

More to follow on this tribute to my host country.....

(links are all provided by wikipedia)

Random Thoughts of the Week

Two great things happened to me this past week. First was my nomination to be a instructor to the young Engineers here in Saudi to teach Material Engineering. It was such an honor to be nominated by our Deparment Manager (who is a japanese). And when i submitted my training manual to our technical adviser (who is a Jap as well) both he and our Department Manager like the presentation. It was like a seal of approval to my job/pat in the back which I really need these past few days after my colleagues just stab me in the back (which is very very depressing and sad). This training is like a slap to their face coz the bosses choose me over them =P.

Sweet revenge.

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Another good thing that happened was when our Manager designated me to handle one activity which my stabber-at-the-back boss was to give to his preferred engineer. Our manager think I can handle this activity more accurately than the other engineer.

And my boss was like: *facepalm*

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Im totally hooked with anything that is related to Vampires, werewolves, teen angst. hahaha! I love watching Vampire Diaries, Glee, One tree Hill (thanks to Floro who keep insisting me to watch that show) and I just finished watching Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. I must admit Vampire Diaries is much better than the Twilight Saga and Glee's episodes are getting better and better every week (except for re-runs). Now the question is: if given a chance what would I choose: To be a vampire or werewolves. Sure the vampires are snappy dresser but having an immortal life seems kinda boring while to become a werewolves you must have 6-pack abs

(and it made me think what's with the no-shirt-abs-showing-denim shorts-hiking shoes get up?i dont get it?!)

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Oh, pre-winter season started a couple of weeks ago.Goodbye to humidity and hello cool breeze and clouds. What I love most about winter season are the flowers bloom in every corner, the migratory birds starts to arrive and as early as 5pm it's completely dark outside. And speaking of flowers, what I love most about this place is that every season (winter and summer) they always change flowers in parks, center islands, etc. I think they have specific flower for each season.

Cool noh?

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It's hajj holiday again next week. It will give me more time to write (coz we don't have overtime huhuhu) and play with my Wii. Last year we where in bahrain for the hajj holiday (but we've planned to go to Syria and Jordan but visa problem gets int he way) and this year Me and orlan was planning to go to Egypt but I never heard from him since the Eid holidays and budget constraints is a MAJOR hindrance! Hahaha. Now i'll just eat, sleep, play wii, blog, watch movies, gym this one week holiday.

All Packed Up!

Less than 45 days nalang ang araw na i'll be staying here in KSA. As a kinaugalian na ng mga kababayang natin sa ibang bansa kapag pauwi ang isang pinoy hindi mawawala ang Balikbayan box!

Since October I was collecting this pasalubongs para sa family and friends and last week i sent all of them via air and sea cargo. Sa sobrang dami nia umabot ng apat na kahon na 60" x 60" ang kinailangan para maipadala lahat ng gamit ko =(. It translates also na mahal ang babayaran ko sa padala pero di bale, para naman sa family yun eh kaya sulit nari =D.

Shempre inunan ko sa listahan n g pasalubong eh yung para sa nagiisang cute na cute na baby namin sa bahay, at para sa kanya eh itong cute na cute na elepante na stuff toy from IKEA..

Mother and daugther Elephant (ang kyut diba?LoL!)

Nagpanick buying din ako ng mga duvet from Ikea, Unan at towels from SMAA. Advice ko sa mga friends ko dito sa Saudi, shop at SMAA, super mura ng mga gamit nila dun!

All vaccum-ed up!

I need to buy vaccum kasi hindi ko malalagay sa plastic yung mga unan na binili ko! Waaaa!

Hello BEAC & ALDO!

I higly recommend for those who are in Saudi also to visit IKEA, super sulit ang pamimili dun coz high standards na ang mga gamit pero affordable naman ang mga presyo.

A room carpet and some cheap glass

The ilawan at candelabras (wish ko lang hindi sha mabasag during transport!)

The decor balls (na pang christmas!!!)!

Another thing that i always bear in mind kapag magpapadala ng pasalubong is the sandamakmak na lotion, shampoo, sabon, and other groceries na wala sa Pinas! Tiyak masaya na naman si ama't ina nito! LoL!

Ang mga groceries kasama si starbucks Oman, Kuwait at Saudi Arabia!

Also bought this silver palted, heavy duty na lalagyan ng mga prutas..Im planning to give it as a Christmas gift.Pero kanino naman??

And here's another set of baso ulet...Ewan ko ba but i have this fascination with Baso...I really wish walang mababasag sa kanila pag napadala na sila sa Pina!!!

Another headache for me was this Vuvuzela which was a pasalubong by my close friend who happened to watch the World cup in South Africa last July. Sa sobrang haba nia I had a trouble on how to fit them in the box. Sana pala t-shirt nalang ang pasalubong ko para at least nasusuot pa vs. this vuvuzela! Hahahaha!

The Red one is mine, the black one is for Jasper

All in all, masaya naman pala ang pagiimpake, lalo na ngayon at papauwi na ako sa Pinas for good. I alaso miss blogging, so now quietly I'll open up again this blog para mai-dokumento ko naman ang mga nangyayari sa buhay buhay ko dito sa Saudi via this blog.

Para sa mga nakakabasa ng blog ko, thanks for dropping by and I promise mas magiging madalas na ang pagsusulat ko dito, ngayon pa na pauwi nako..hehehehe..

Peace yah all!

Ang blue na polo..bow..

Nitong mga nakaraang araw, tinamaan ako ng homesick.

Huwatt? Ako maho-homesick?! Parang isang himala na nangyari ito! Kasi ba naman kung kelan ang tagal ko na sa overseas ngayon pako tinamaan ng homesickness.

Inisip ko nitong mga nakaraang araw na baka puede magpa early demobilized ako dito sa saudi. Parang gusto kong umuwi sa darating na September sana.
Masaya siguro yun, baka masakasama pako sa RLTC ng Lingkod sa September, baka makakajoin ulit ako sa trcik or treat sa office sa darating na October, makakapunta ulit ako sa sementeryo/fiestahan sa November, at higit sa lahat maeexperience ko ulit ang christmas rush pagdating ng kapaskuhan!

But wait there's more! Miss ko narin ang mga kaibigan at pamilya ko sa Pinas. Miss ko na ang mga debate namin ng kapatid ko, miss ko narin makipaglaro sa mga pamangkin ko, miss ko na rin ang mga prayer meeting at fellowship sa Lingkod, miss ko narin magturo sa mga bata sa Tuloy, miss ko narin ang kulitan namin ni bestfriend. Hanubhayan, dami naman namiss!!

Kung kelan naman nagdesisyon nako na umuwi sa September saka ko naman nakita yung color blue ko na polo, and it all coming back to me now (insert memory lane song here)....

You see almost 8 years ago, right after college, nung panahong nag-aapply pako ng work, dalawa lang ang suot kong polo lagi. SM Menswear ang tatak nila pareho, yung isa is color blue, the other one is old rose.
Sa lahat ng mga interview at submission ng resume na pinuntahan ko parating ito lang ang suot ko kasi wala naman akong ibang formal wear. This polo symbolizes my struggles in finding work that time, never give up kahit na inabot nako ng bagyo sa isang examination ko sa cavite, o di kaya sobrang init naman habang nagiintay sa isang lumang factory sa liblib na lugar ng laguna. Kung noon na mahirap ang buhay dahil walang pera at sobrang hirap pa ang trabaho ay hindi ako bumigay ngayon pa kaya na im living the good life at ngayon pako bibitiw.

Then it struck me..shit..what the hell am i thinking!!!!

The reason im here is because my boss believes that I can do this job. The reason why im extended for anther 6 months is because my japanese boss trust me alone in this job. The reason im here is because i want to give the good life that my parents didn't experience before. The reason im here is because i can help further my community and my charitable institutions financially wise. The reason im here is that I prayed to God to be here.

Ang kapal pala ng mukha ko to just give up simply because I miss my life in Pinas.

Parang nasa kama na ako lilipat pa sa sahig.

Kung dati hirap na hirap akong maghanap ng work eh i never give up, ngayon pang ang dali-dali lang ng work eh ngayon pa ako susuko!! Di na oy!!!

Looking back at my polo again I made up my mind. Ok i'll finish my contract till December, and i'll make sure that ill give all my best in the remaining months of my stay here. Salamat sa mga alala na binigay ng simple at kupas kong polo, naliwanagan na ako na ang mga biyaya na ating nakakamit ngayon ay bunga ng pagsusumikap natin at higit sa lahat sa tulong ng maykapal.


postcript:
sa anim na taon kong pagtratrabaho, naka mahigit kumulang 75 formal clothes (polo at longsleeve) na ako. may mga pinaglumaan na akong pinamigay dahil hindi na kasya o di kaya ay kupas na. pero ang dalawang polo ko na ito ay kasama parin sa sinusuot ko. it is a reminder of where i came from at kung papanong struggles ang aking nagawa para lamang marating ang position ko ngayon.

The ultimate Bora experience, Paraw sailing, snorkeling, and sunburn! (Part 3)

The night before our last day in Bora, my cousin asked me if we want to do the Paraw sailing the next day. Actually we had other options like Parasailing, deep sea walking, jetski etc. but the Paraw really caught my attention. After asking my parents if they want to come to sail with us I immediately say yes tomy cousin.

It was a little bit gloomy on the day of our sail, lucky me, my skin wouldn't get burned during the sail. Ayos!



According to the manong who manned our boat, Lee paid them to advertise on their paraw. it's a big advertisement using the paraw coz many people will get to see your add even from the shore.

Kumpleto kami sa trip. Here am I together with Floro...



..And my parents with cousin Steven.

Feeling sailor si Floro =P

Except the leisurely boat trip another itinerary in lined is snorkeling on the other side of Boracay. I think the place is called crocodile island. The trip took us an hour but we never complain. Ang sarap kaya magrelaks whle sailing =D

Ganito ka linaw ang tubig sa boracay

After an hour of trip we finally made it to the snorkeling area. We brought alogn some bread to be fed with the fishes. In fairness maraming isda sa lugar and it's so fun to feed them. Kinakagat kasi ang kamay mo hahaha!

Happy faces snorkelers!

It was really a fun experience. I really hope to do it again in the near future. Maybe Palawan naman next year?

The ultimate Bora experience, the Shangri-la trip (part 2)

Salamat sa pinsan ko who was an engineer during the construction of Shangrila Boracay we've got a chance to visit the place while we're vacationing Bora.

The place is far from station 2, actually you need to ride a special trike going to this place (150 pesos ang special trip). It's far from the party scene of station 1,2 or 3 but the privacy and seclusion is perfect get-away sa mga tao who wants it.

Upon entering the place, the first you'll notice is marami silang ponds, fountains, and stuff like that sa reception area nila. Well actually its not only here but the whole place is full of this.


The reception area/ welcoming area is a huge palce, very cozy and mahangin (coz the place is located on top of a mountain, yes from mountain to sea shore sakop ng shangrila, ang laki diba?)

This is the view from the reception area. Tanaw na ang karagatan from up here.

Si Inay at Itay ay napagod sa kakaikot sa reception area and they try sitting on the salas in the area. The architecture of their reception area is somewhat mixed of balinese, chinese and thai. Their decorations are obviously very thai.

I want this rainspout in our house. Ang sosyal tignan ahahaha!

The long hallway of Shangrila, leading to the guest rooms.

And yet another water decorations.

This is the way to the swimming pool area

We've only visit this swimmi pool of Shang, and I must say i love it! I love the blue tiles they used on the pool. It's like swimming on a beach itself.

Near to the pool is the buggy station 2. Shangrila offers a transpo inside the resort for guest who are tired walking around the area. But if i we're they i don't mind walking around the place. Nakakarelax kaya maglakad sa super gandang lugar na ito =D.

Oh, eto sila Inay at itay trying the parasols at the pool area of the resort.

Guest can actually sit in one of the duyan under the coconut trees and have a relaxing day. Ang saya diba?

Another part of the resort is the Chi Spa village. Dito yung spa center ng resort.

That's the reception area, sitting near the koi at tilapis pond.

In fairness, mas madaming tilapia vs. koi!

During the construction of the resort, my cousin told me that they unearthened a lot of corals just like this one. Instead of throwing or crushing this corals, they preserved it and ginamit nilang decoration sa buong resort. Kaya they have a lot of these sa buong resort, ginawang decor, at least nakatipid pa sila =D.

The pool area of the spa. On the backdrop is a mountain where there's a lot of bats flying every afternoon. The resort preserved this bat sanctuary as well.

Hey hey hey! it's me and Floro @ the pool side!

These are the guest house on the backdrop.

They have infinity pool...Ilabit!!

Accordign to my cousin, the sand here are not as fine as the one located in station 1, it's more the same as the one in puka beach daw. Hindi sha masyadong pino but i dont mind, coz mas malinis naman sha compare sa beach sa station 1 and 2.

Hindi nakapagpigil si Floro and he actually dipped in the beach para magpapicture!

Lovely sand + lovely beach = heavenly feeling!

They also have this hang-out area/ chill-out place with aa good view of the beach. This is we're most of the people hang out especially during night time.

This pic was taken from the Jetty area of Shangrila (yes, they have their own jetty), the big buildings are the guest rooms while the smaller buildings are the villas (which is more expensive of course).

I would like to thank my cousin Steven for maiing my family trip to Shangrila possible. We had fun visiting the place and I hope that someday we will be able to check-in in their hotel. Maybe a honeymoon would be a perfect reason! Nyahahaha!

Thank you Shangri-la, magkikita parin tayo very soon!