Life Lessons sa Nami Island

1. Life is full of suprises. Don't plan too much or way ahead of your schedule. Live life one day at a time. God has a more grandeur and magnificent plan than our own plan.

2. OK lang to be single or going solo once in a while, but don't dwell on it too much. As the old saying goes, "No man is an island". Also it's very hard to get solo picture when you're traveling alone!

3. Stop and smell the flowers when life is beginning to take a toll on you (and your health). Try to enjoy the simple (and free!) things in life.

4. Exercise! It's a great stress buster. Take it from a guy who works 8:00am-7:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am-5:00pm on weekends.

5. Fall in love and give your best. If it doesn't work out maybe she's/he's not meant for you. But please do try to save it though =)

6. If you're broken hearted, cry over it. Talk to friends. Ask for advice. Then cry more. One week is enough for grieving period. More than that is already fatal. Don't be tied up to a nonsense emotions.

7. Celebrate life! Enjoy life to the fullest as if it's your last. Work hard, Play harder. Go out and party, hang out with friends, serve the community, be with your family. Basta Enjoy lang. No bearing to sulk and holed up in your bedroom the whole day.

8. Love Mother Earth. Recycle. Reuse. Reorganized. We have only one planet and its a no brainer to take care of it.

9. Be fabulous. It doesn't need a lot of money to be one. Channel your inner strength and show your character. Be fab and be a winner!

10. Sing a song. Even if your voice is crooked or out of tune, still sing for joy. If singing is really not your forte play an instrument. A song for God is always in good tune.

11. Take a lot of picture. People, Sceneries, Food, and what not, take their picture. Ignore those people who tease you for taking too much picture (or even check-in on places you've visit). Good memories (via photos) are better than missed opportunity (to photograph it).

12. Stand up on what you believe and be firm on your decision. Though it's hard or have repercussion, still, standing up on what you believe will still give you a character and status.

13. Balance you life. There is enough time for work and play. OA if you're always at the confinement of your office.

14. Fact: Mother know best.

15. Reach for your dreams. No matter how high or impossible it may seem. If you set your goal on it, it is achievable.

16. Don't be afraid to learn new language. If you're on a travel to a foreign land, learn the local version of the word "Thank you". 

17. Find the perfect partner. It may take some time but it's all worth it. Don't settle for "puede na". It should be "Ito na".

18. Not all relationship sails on tame waters. Most of the times you will be tested. Welcome this as an opportunity to learn and be strong and to know more about you're partner. There will be more test once you're married.

19. At the end of the day, it's still nice to go home to your love one.

20. Just like the cherry blossoms, life is like a bloom fields. Let us make the most of it. Show our beauty and grandeur to other. Be an inspiration. Be a model. Be a servant. Be God's chosen people.

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!

So, wazzup??!

Hello, hello! It's been almost a month since my last post here in blogspot. before you think that I already give up blogging eh sorry to disappoint you (hahaha as if some one really care). Im back with a vengeance.
Some of the reasons why i haven't blog for a long time kasi...

1. Im busy at work. Yes, work eats up most of my time nowadays. I've never been this busy since I was in Iran! Plus the fact that most of my officemate is more of a burden than help eh mas lalong tumatagal ang work.Hay, overworked but underpaid, so unfair. Buti pa yung arabo na walang ginagawa kungdi mag-internet, mag-tsaa at makipagkwentuhan malaki agn sinasahod compare to mine. Ano kaya if i changed my nationality??Hmmmm..NOT!

2. Farmville. Nakakatawa kasi pang bata lang ang laro pero you have to admit nakaka-adik maglaro ng farmville!Malapit nako sa level 50 (wohoo!) after ilang months ng paglalaro. By playing farmville angdami ko tuloy na meet na mga foreigners who became my neighbors sa farmville. Ang saya!

3. Vacation plans. Nakaka-stress din pala ang magplano ng bakasyon!Ang daming gustong makipag meet, nagyayaya gumala, mag-kape, etc. Di tulad ng nakarang bakasyon last December this time it would be organized para hindi magkagulo-gulo ang schedule. Buti nalang madali lang pala magpabook ng hotel sa boracay.Hahahaha! at least kahit papano ok na yung part ng vacation ko sa bora =D. Exciting!!!

4. Glee. Downloaded 18 episodes already and 3 albums.The show is so fun to watch!

So now, in two weeks time i'll be working real hard again to prepare for the upcoming vacation. hopefully can blog once in a while.

So, let's get it on!!!

Bonggang-bonggang pagmamahal kay Hesus

Nabasa nio ba yung Gospel reading today (John 12:1-1) para sa Lunes Santo?
Kung hindi eh kwento ko lang ng maiksi sa inyo.

Nagpunta si Hesus sa bahay ng magkakapatid na Martha. Maria at Lazarus(oo si Lazarus yung binuhay muli ni Hesus). Habang naghahanda ng hapunan si Martha sa kusina eh si Maria ay nilinis ang paa ni Hesus gamit ang sobrang mahal na pabango at ipinamunas pa nya ang kanyang buhok pra matuyo ang mga paa nito.

Parang hindi nagustuhan ni Hudas Iscariot ang ginawa ni Maria kaya tinanong nya ang Guro "sinayang lamang niya ang mahal na pabango. Kung ibinenta na lamang nya yon edi sana madami shang pera ngayon at itong pera na ito ay ipinamahagi nya sa mga mahihirap". Sabi sa ebanghelyo eh nasabi ito ni Hudas hindi dahil concerned sya sa mahihirap pero dahil sa corrupt at magnanakaw sha (guilty!)

Pero sabi ni Hesus, "hayaan mo shang gawin ang kanyang ginagawa hanggang sa aking kamatayan". (buti nga napahiya si hudas).

Ayun, share ko lang sa inyo ang aking personal reflection sa katauhan ni Maria at ni Hudas.

Si Maria, sa simula palang ay nakita na natin ang kanyang pagmamahal at dedikasyon sa ating Panginoon. Kung artista lang si Hesus eh sha na siguro ang pinaka-die hard fan nito, baka nga presidente pa sha ng fans club. Hindi lamang sha tagasunod ni Hesus bagkus ay isinasabuhay nya ang mga aral ni Hesus at ibinibigay nya ang nararapat na pagkilala sa kanya. Yung nangyaring paghuhugas ng mamahaling pabango eh pinapakita nito kung hanggang saan ang kayang ibigay ni Maria para kay Hesus. Kumbaga to the great extent na ito ng kanyang pagkilala.

Ipinapakita nito ang generosity ni Maria para kay Hesus. Dahil imbes na ibenta nya at kumita ng maraming salapi ay ibinahagi na lamang nya ang pabango kay Hesus.

At since wala naman si Hesus sa ating panahon ngayon eh ibaling nalang natin ang ating attensyon sa kapwa tao na nangangailangan ng tulong.

Remembe the famous quote: "Kung ano ang ginawa mo sa kapwa mo eh ginawa mo narin sa akin" - Hesus

Ano nga ba ang importante sa buhay mo ngayon na kaya mong i-share sa iba?

Kung mahalaga sayo ang oras, why not spend an hour doing volunteering works sa mga orphange, home for the aged or sa kulungan?
Kung mahalaga sayo ang pera, why not magbigay ka ng konting contribution duon sa mga nasunugan o di kaya ay apektado ng mga kalamidad o sa mga gawaing pang komunidad.
Kung mahalaga sayo ang pakikipag-usap, why not i-share mo naman ang iyong oras sa pakikinig sa mga kaibigang nalulungkot at gustong maglabas ng sama ng loob o di kaya sa mga nalulumbay at homesick na.
Kung mahalaga sayo ang internet, why not use it to spread the word of the lord, magbigay aliw sa ibang nakakabasa (wag naman puro emo o drama, pero shempre kanya-kanyang trip parin yun.suggestion lang naman ang sa akin), o di kaya ay kumustahin mo naman yung mga kaibigan mo na nasa disyerto at malay mo homesick na sha dun!

Ayun, so kay Hudas naman tayo, shall we (ang haba ng blog noh?pasensha na ha inspired lang kasi magsulat ngayon)

Kung si Maria eh saksakan ng generous sa pagmamahal kay Hesus eh ito namang si Hudas ay ganid na nilalang! Actually mukha shang pera (fyi:sha pala ang treasurer ni Hesus sa kanilang grupo). Hinid nakita ni Hudas ang pagpapahalagang ginawa ni Maria para kay Hesus, kaya nung nakita nya na sinasayang (kuno) ni Maria ang pabango eh nagreact ito. Kumbaga mas inisip pa nya ang kikitaing pera sa pagbebenta ng pabango kaysa sa pagkilala at pagpapahalaga na ginawa ni Maria. Nabulag na ng pagkaganid sa pera itong si Hudas kaya napakadali nyang itakwil si Hesus sa halagang 30 pilak.

Greediness leads to Selfishness. Selfishness leads to Envy. Envy leads to Pride.

(fyi ulit: pride is what keeps Satan in hell. His pride is so high that he doesnt want to ask forgiveness to God the Father for attempting to unseat him in heaven)

HALA! LAGOT!!

So ayun, sa mga taong greed sa buhay, sa work, sa mga kaibigan, sa pera, sa relationship, and what not, eh sana you may find in your heart to share what you have.

So, sino sa dalawa (kay Maria at Hudas) ang gusto mong maging??

Felling hot @ Chilis

One thing that excites me this past few weeks is discovering good restaurants here in Al-Khobar/Damman/Dharan area. One good restaurant find is Chilis in Mall of Dharan.

Actually there's two Chilis branch located near to our place, the one is in Al-Khobar Corniche and the other one is in Mall of Dharan but we prefer the Mall of Dharan branch because of the ambiance and
its is convenitently located next to my..errr..our favorite mall also (i.e. IKEA).

Chilis restaurant is divided into two areas, the family and bachelor, as customary to Saudi's law, though we need to pass throught he family section before entering the bachelor's area.
Upon entrance, their gracious host welcomes you together with their servers who will take your orders. I find this very hospitable and feels like we're @ home. I remember experiencing this kind of kind gesture
when I ate in Kamayan/Dads/Saisaki in Glorietta together with Floro.

As for appetizers, I recomend the Garden fresh salad, with chicken and shrimps. It's not only healty but the servings is huge 4 persons can share on it.

Though Chris prefered eating Tostada as appetizers.

Though im not a big fan of chips/tacos I do recommend ordering this Tostada coz not only it has a superb creamy white sauce dip but also this is bottomless.

Yep. You can eat Tostada as many as you want and you can even take home your remaining Tostadas. Isn't it great?!

The Iced Tea beverages are to die for. I love the way that we have to add-up the syrup by ourselves. This is the best prepared iced tea that 've ever tasted (sorry tokyo tokyo, but your my second favorite iced tea parin dont worry!).
And one thing good about it is it is Bottomless also! Yahoo!

Bottomless iced tea = Frequent visit to the bathroom.
(btw, the bathroom is waayyy too far from the resto, so you'll better have an empty bladder upon entering and ordering bottomless drinks)

For Main Course we tried a variety of food in the Menu.

Flame Grilled Ribeye, with bones still on it, was a winner. I think it was 306 grams of pure beef meat, tenderly cooked and easily sliced. Best to eat while it's still hot.

I suggest you to dip it in a hot sauce, super good combination!!!

As for the side dish, they have a lot of side dishes to choose from like mash potato, buttered vegetables and steam brocolli. All of them taste good (tried them already) but im always been a mash potato lover and their version of it was delicious! Sorry brocolli, better luck next time =P.

As for dessert, the molten chocolate cake is a runaway winner. Actually the only reason I went to Chilis is to eat this delicious cake with ice cream on top. Its a combination of cold + hot dessert. Sure fire hit!

So if you're living near the vicinity of Mall of Dharan or in Al-Khobar Corniche, please do visit their restaurant and I assure you you'll enjoy every minute of dining out here.

What keeps me busy..

Aside from my hectic 7am-7pm work @ the office, I did give myself some much rewarded R & R every weekend. Besides swimming @ the beach (which will be done again this coming weekend) one way to relax is to raid the malls here in Al-Khobar and Dharan. Actually just doing some window shopping is kinda relaxing. Though sometimes it can be very tempting to buy especially when its on sale, just like this slender lamp from IKEA..

IKEA slender lamp

I keep on baggering my friend Charlie and Richard to go to SACO mall so i can buy those huge clothes hangeran, and after many cancelled trip we finally made it and i was very happy when we set foot on that store.

Before

After

You've probably think im a domesticated-kind-of-guy, nah, wish i could. I'm not good at designing homes nor pick the right duvet or punda for my pillows. And that's why i thank god i have friends who has a keen eye on this kind of things. Hahaha. User friendly!!

Another stash from IKEA

Another thing that keeps me busy this past few weeks is my collection of padala to Pinas. I've planned to send this things wayback January but unfortunately, due to unforseen events and gastos, only now I did manage to almost complete my balikbayan box to Pinas. Another trip this weekend and im done.

Tefal for Mom, her favorite brand

Almost full

All boxed up!

Oh, i did manage to buy myself a new phone coz the old one will be shipped together with the padala sa Pinas. Was very happy to buy this phone and special thanks to Chris for joining me in my phone-hunting @ King Khalid street.

Let's do the BBM!!

And finally, what keeps me insane this past few weeks was the pestering cockroaches inmy room. Gah, there's cockroach everywhere! Form kitchen sink to bathroom to my bed and even under the refrigerator. I did one very stupid thing last week though, i sprayed my room with baygon (i consumed 3 cans in one night) but it was nightime already, shempre i was tired so after 30 minutes i slept. Come morning time i felt horrible.

In short nasinghot ko ata lahat ng baygon sa kwarto.

Not a good idea noh?

And guess what, not all of them are killed.I didn't annihilate the entire cockroache population yet. Di bale, there's a second batch (but will definitely not on a weekday night).

My frenemy..baygon

Oh well, that's how i spend my days here in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, slightly boring pero im fine with it. Aba, till Decemeber pako dito so I should enjoy life here in the Kingdom. Diba?