Taxi & the Drivers

Finding a cab after work has always been a challenge in Dubai. Rush hour. People everywhere. You really have to be smart on how to get a cab like positioning yourself in a strategic location.

I've encountered all sorts of taxi drivers from amusing me to annoying me.

Let's start with the annoying once.

1. Those who will just passed by you because they see a European or a Westener waiting. Discrimination unfortunately.

2. Taking a bath is for heavensake a thing that some drivers don't understand. Having a bath isn't that hard. I have to open my windows to get some fresh air or immediately spray perfume on my hand and smell it the entire time. What I hate the most? Is when I'm at the back seat and infront of me is the driver. The driver will just have to put his arms right next to the window and there you go! Right next to my nose is the most disgusted smell.

3. Picking their noses! I had this one time that I was looking for the exact amount of my bill coz I saw how the driver picked his nose. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any. Much to my dismay, I have to get my change. I immediately took hold of my hand sanitizer and apply whatever is left of it.

4. Really rude drivers. They don't want near distances coz they won't be earning that much.

5. Drivers who display their knowledge of our language. Every single word that they know, they will suddenly enumerate it even if you don't want to hear the rest of it. Tsk tsk tsk!

And the ones that made my taxi ride worthwhile:-

1. A big smile the moment that you ride their taxi.
2. A clean and good-smelling taxi and driver
3. I had a chance to ride with a driver who loves to sing that we even had a duet. I gave a huge tip to the guy coz he sang perfectly well.
4. Honest drivers who return stuff that don't belong to them

For the time being that I don't have yet my car, I'll just have to bear with it and enjoy the ride :)

Mother's Day at this side of the world

I always thought that Mother's Day is supposed to be celebrated every 2nd week of May. I was wondering why in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Malls, promos run left and right. Huge discounts and sales.

The reason behind is that here in UAE, Mother's Day is celebrated today, 21 March.

Mother's Day is celebrated today in the UAE and several other Gulf countries, including Bahrain and Kuwait. In the Middle East, the day dates back decades and possibly further - perhaps as far as the ancient Egyptians, who dedicated a day in a year to celebrate the mother of Pharaohs, Isis. (from the National)

An interesting story from The National came out that shares how the locals prepare for this special day

What I like about this day is that it puts our mom on the pedestal. Simply put, it is their special day, at least! But being a mom should be celebrated at all times. Not only today but everyday. I miss my mom a lot. I miss our great conversations, funny moments (my mom is a natural born comediane), our saloons together, her cooked dishes, her advices. Oh how I love her. If there's anything I can't live without, my mom tops the list. She will always be my shining star and my guiding light.


My mom enjoying her first "apo" (I'll have a separate Mother's Day blog on the day we celebrate it in our country. My mom's too precious not to be highlighted in my blog.:))

I also commend all the mothers in the world. I am not a mom yet but I see my own mother, my sisters-in-laws, my mom friends and relatives. I've seen how they joggle their busy schedule just to cater to the needs of their families.

Nice ecards you can send

A salute to all the amazing mothers out there!

Am back

I'm happy to be able to write and post pics in my blog. It's been ages since I have done this but there will always be another fresh start.


I promise to myself that I'll write more often and share my thoughts.

:)


Oh by the way, just like these Japanese Icecreams, life is always a choice. Pick the right flavor and enjoy! Life must be enjoyed at all times.

Of Candles and Soaps

Years ago, I've had beautiful memories of candles and soaps.

Remember the time that there was a major brownout and I was in a hurry to get a candle coz I don't want to disappoint a guest. And I was caught in a fantastic moment... nobody dared to move. it's just the light of the candle that separates us... and there was magic...



Soaps. Please be careful to use soap as you don't know which part of the body the soap has been used. I found it the hard way. I found out that the soap I used on my face was used on another else's face...butt!!! Geezzz... But that was a classic moment!!!

Since then, candles and soaps represent a moment in time where everything spells HAPPINESS.

These things you don't forget even you have so much white hairs or how many presidents have led your nation. Time pass but these memories don't.

Just utterly LUCKY

I came across an article about Malcolm Gladwell and his new book, Outliers: The Story of Success. It says there that TIMING and LUCK are part of the secrets of success.

Gladwell said that in order to understand successful people, we should stop focusing on what they are like- their IQs, character, daily habits but instead look at where they are from. "You've got to go back and do an archaeological dig." He cited the likes of Bill Gates who is undeniably brilliant but says that Bill Gates had a series of lucky breaks as well. It only goes to show that intelligence is NOT THE ONLY GROUND for success.

The path to success is coupled with timing and pure luck, background and experiences and not just the basis of educational attainment nor how high is one person's IQs.

I totally can relate to this. I've had some classmates back in high school and college who are not really doing well academically. Some of them are just too lazy to study; Others would rather party than do their assignments and some are not just gifted in a specific field. But lo and behold! After a few years, those who were once lazy are running their own companies. Others who'd rather go partying are all over the broadsheets and those who are not that talented or academically good have masters/doctors degrees in prestigious schools.

While timing and pure luck are some of the factors, I also think that your color, the given resources you have and the people around you are also deciding factors.

Sad to say, at work, there are people who are more talented than the others but because we belong to a 3rd world country, most of the time we are underpaid and left unnoticed. I can also cite that like me, I took my masters degree in the Philippines, but since I came from the Philippines, my degree is 'not at par' with those who are western-educated. Employers seek those who have UK degrees or those who have studied in the US more than those who graduated in the Philippines. Even if you know that you are far better than the "lucky" ones who had the privilege to study in good schools abroad. This is what I meant by the given resources. I can only afford to fend myself in one of the good schools in the Philippines.

Another example. I have a neighbor who does not do well in school but because she knows how to play her cards well and loves to socialize ended up working with the A-listers and is now a well-known figure in the elite circle.

Success is such a big word and the meaning of it is relative. And I do agree that timing, pure luck, background, resources and your clout would really have a big impact in your status and can make a big difference in your road to success.

A Sick World

It was an alarming news- Albinos in Tanzania are being hunted because according to some witchcraft or voodoos, the body parts of albinos make their magic potion more effective. Mothers who have albino kids are scared. So are all the albinos living in that country. Read:

Another astonishing news for me, quite shocking too, is the 8-year old kid who was convicted of killing his parent and another elder with a gun. Read:
But really, I don't think that the 8-year old boy is capable of doing this... The investigation is still on process.

Stories like these are alarming. Are we living in a crazy, demented world? It surely is unsafe for anyone. Who knows what the next surprising news will be? Will it get worse each day? Are these incidents are works of too much violence and chaos of our surroundings?

I still believe that we, mankind, have a pure, 'white' heart (like what my Egyptian friend Nora tells me). In our hearts lie the purity of our conscience, kindness and love.

Let us just pray and hope for the best!

What on earth was she thinkin'?

I am not an American. Not at all. But for this particular election, I actually followed the candidates, particularly Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.

I always have high regard for Barack Obama. I once watched his speech when he won the candidacy for Democrats... and I was moved. He was very inspiring.

Anyway, I'm not here to talk about Barack because he is one subject altogether. But I was just astonished by how VP Candidate (then) Ms Sarah Palin responded to the questions of Katie Couric when she was interviewed.

Yeah, I know she might be very stressed out and pressured by all the campaigns that were going on but I don't think that's an excuse since the role that she was campaigning for has far greater pressure and stress. She can't even finish her sentences. Her thoughts were not coherent, unclear and not straight to the point. The big issue of BAILOUT. She should have at least a ready response for that.

I just thought that that she was good. But she did crack under pressure. And it was a major turned off when Katie asked her what's her favorite newspaper...

No wonder SNL got the highest viewership when Tina Fey imitated her.

And that she was pranked. Though it was a bit overboard what these duo from a famous radio station, still she didn't even wonder why President Nicolas Sarkozy will call her. And she really fell for it... flat on her face. This is how it went:



Oh well! I thought only in the Philippines we have the likes of Erap. The Great AMerican Nation do have their very own - George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.

I hardly comment on these kinds but I really can't help it. Why? Because, we are affected with whatever's happening in the US. Imagine if she won, together with Sen. McCain, I believe that the Great Depression will be strongly felt (again). And the value of our money back home will be worthless. Good thing that the US still care for their future.