Dhs. 500 note... to take or not to take?

While escorting the guest towards his room, I found a Dhs. 500 (Php. 6,500) note on the floor. “I will sort it out Sir through our security camera” I said to the guest as I bend down to take it. “Yes, you should!” he replied on his amazement.
We reached his room and gave my ample service. I stepped out from the room (Indians seldom give tips…) and bid farewell greetings to him. Now, what should I do on the money?

I called immediately my very good friend Ivy and inform my roommate Bobby of the matter to seek advice. They gave me options but the decision will be mine.

Hope, I had the right choice. I keep the money, hahahaha….!!!

Atlantis Palm Dubai

Amazed, entertained and stunned as I watched the different colours of huge fireworks in the sky. November 21 at around 12:20am I witnessed the fireworks extravaganza as the finale of the Grand Opening of Atlantis Palm, Dubai. It was dubbed as the most expensive private party that this world can offer. Although I was 1 kilometre away from the actual location of the hotel, the excitement and joy brought to us together with other hundreds of spectators was remarkable.
No need to write more on this experience because there are thousands in GOOGLE..

To Use or Not to Use!

I applied for a credit card last month and after a week it was delivered on my doorstep. On the process I received a call for background checking. I’m quite amazed that the person (Filipino) on the line was telling me to lie if incase other party will call again to do the same procedure. He told me that we met in person and I showed him the original copy of my passport and my pay slip even though we did not. Hahahaha!!! But he was so helpful and he will maximize my credit limit even beyond against my salary.
Anyway, the credit card is on my hand for a month now and I feel so hesitant to use it. I even received a call by that Filipino who processed asking me to utilize it and giving me advice how to withdraw cash with less interest. Again, I was amazed. How can they trust people this easy? Maybe, I was just paranoid. It’s too hard to get a credit card in the Philippines and you need tens of identification before a single purchase.

I want to swipe a DSLR Camera that would cost me Dhs. 3,600 or US $ 1,000.00 on my first transaction although I have already a point and shoot DigiCam. I really wanted to pursue my love in Photography but my incoming vacation this April is holding me back to do so. I need enough “BAON” to the Philippines very badly.

Well, the last decision will be mine. I am now browsing the net on how to use the Credit Card wisely because I want a gift for myself this Christmas. Here are some tips:
1. Pay your bills as soon as they arrive.
2. Try to pay more than the minimum balance.
3. Use only one rewards card.
4. Transfer higher-rate balances to a lower-rate card, then stop using the higher-rate card.

Source: ehow.com

OUTRAGE!

this will be my new source of information. thanks to chronicles of e, this will be a very big help. "kapag may knowledge, may power!"

and the best part is,....its for FREEEEE!!!!!

http://www.outragemag.com

My Buhay Dubai - Read On!

it was on my inbox today from a colleague... thought proviking, hard hitting and 100% true. sana mabasa ng mga kamag-anak ko sa pinas...

HAY BUHAY ABROAD TALAGA
A friend named " Mae ng Ni" posted this.
Lahat ng sinabi niya nakakatuwa at totoo, tiyak makakarelate ka.

Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa DUBAI ka akala nila madami ka ng pera ng langis. Ang totoo, madami
kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card Kasi naubus na ang cash pinadala sa pinas,
kase pag hindi ka nagpadala, iisipin nila nakalimutan mo na sila.

Akala nila mayaman ka at marami kang pera kasi buwan-buwan libo-libo padala mo walang palya at kapag pumalya iisipin nila baka nagbisyo ka na o may sinusustentuhang iba. Hindi nila alam food allowance na lang ang natitira sayo at pag kinulang pa umuutang pa at lista muna sa malapit na bakala.

Pag may okasyon sa pinas birthday, fiesta, anniversary, pasko, new year, at iba pa, padala ka agad panghanda sarap ng kainan nila, di nila alam ikaw tiyaga sa budget meal, kapsa, noodles o de lata at itlog na nakakabutlig na ng balat, hay naku!

Akala ni Tatay, Nanay, Ate, Kuya, anak, mga pamangkin at iba pa namumulot ka ng pera sa Dubai kada may problema text kaagad, kumusta sa una sa bandang huli kelangan ng ng pera! Hay naku…nakaka-alergic na ang text sa roaming puro gastos…minsan padala ka pa ng load! Load mo nga utang pa Pana! Hay naku bakit ba nauso pa yan dagdag gastos lang talaga at pag di ka pa reply aawayin ka pa!

Akala nila masarap maging OFW at tinatawag na bagong bayani….naku mas masarap pa yong nasa pinas na sa katas ni bagong bayani ay syang umaani! Utang sa DUBAI lalong dumarami.

Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI di nila alam di ka na nga makauwi kasi roundtrip tiket kina-cash pa mapadala lang at ibayad sa utang.

Akala nila sosyal ka na kulay ng buhok mo uso pa at naka-highlight pa, di nila alam buhok mo namumuti na sa stress at problema at pag minalas pa nalalagas pa!

Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI kasi pag-uwi mo mestiso ka, maputi at mamula-mula ang balat mo, di nila alam babad ka sa opisina at kulong sa bahay mo dahil no choice ka, mga kapit bahay mo di mo kaano-ano, walang paki-alaman at kung lalabas ka sunog ang balat mo, init ng araw sobra!


Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Di nila alam hulugan pa ito!

Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa dubai
maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa winter na kasama ang asawa mo dito sa dubai .. O kaya naman tiyaga kang mag –abang ng RTA Bus or Coaster na ubod ng babaho ng mga pasahero at pagbaba mo amoy putok ka na rin, grabe! Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa dubai .. madami mga indianao, Bangladesh na driver na ubod ng baho. Pag minalas ka paskitani na taxi driver na rapist pa!

Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Burj Al Arab, Desert Safari, mall of emirates, Atlantis, Al Mamzar Beach, at iba
pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase minsan minsan ka lang makakapicture para mapadala mo sa mga mahal mo sa buhay.

Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dirham na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, medyo malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero
dirham din ang gastos mo sa dubai . Ibig sabihin ang dirham mong kinita sa presyong dirham mo din gagastusin.
Ang P15.00 na sardinas sa Pilipinas AED3.00 sa Dubai , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, sa
Dubai AED 6.50, alangan namang puro cafeteria food ang kakainin mo aba mamatay ka sa highblood o heap nyan kasi nga umaapaw na sa mantika madumi pa! Mga kadiri , kaya lang pag naubusan ka ng pera no choice you have to take the risk .

Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo.nag pa-lypo kay calayan at nagparetoke kay vicky belo, Ang totoo nag loan ka lang sa Mashreq ,HSBC o CITIbank na huhulugan mo ng limang taon. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo at ng luho mo at ng bansang ito !!kasi nga magloan ba naman dahil sa luho bwahahaha!

Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa Dubai . Lalo na mga nurses at mga medsec at eto pa pati cleaners, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun
din sa ibang bansa katulad lalo na kaya sa Dubai madaming outlet ng stress mo !kasi walang bawal!!! . Hindi ibig sabihin dirham na ang
sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa.

Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansang
pinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang
mga mahal mo sa buhay.Hindi pinupulot
ang pera dito o pinipitas o iniigib. Hindi ako
naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang
buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan.

Mahirap mangibang bayan…sino ba ang may kasalanan na iwan sariling bayan?

Manilbihan sa dayuhan at malayo sa pamilya ay may kahirapan.

Hangga't may pinay DH na nangingibang bayan na simbolo ng ating kahirapan, kawawang bayan ni Juan patuloy na mapag-iiwanan.

Kaya Juan iwan ka ng pera para sayo, para sa kinabukasan mo!

Project Runaway Philippines

The best thing in blog is that you can have the latest information you can get of your interest. There are thousand of ways you can look for answers but a blogger touch can penetrate his/her feelings on the specific subject to their readers as you go along.

That was I felt as I read the blogs of AJ of “Bakla Ako, May Reklamo ?” about the Project Runaway Philippines. I know that he also loved the program more than I do. I had been following this over youtube or Pinoy Channel and checking wikipedia regularly if in case downloading of the said program was delayed. I even read every comment posted after each clip under sweetproject (the most comprehensive) account in youtube. There was a viewer who commented 3 days before the announcement of winner that Philip won and I thought it was true. I am base in Dubai and internet is my only way.

Not until November 14 at 11:00pm as I read AJ’s blog dated November 13.

! Aries Lagat, the 25-year old designer from Ozamis City became the first Project Runaway Philippines winner. The designer that annoyed me since episode 1 because of his attitude towards other contestants, but his creations was very competent though. I almost forgot that this is a competition of fashion designers and not for Big Brother where wit and charm is an ultimate requirement. I love Philip more than Aries and Veejay but the runway proves that Aries has F1 race car while the others use jeepney and “kalesa” on the ramp. Much more on “Bakla Ako, May Reklamo?”

Congrats Aries!

By the way, your Mom’s sister is also annoying, hehehe..! her reaction after your showcase in the runway was also unpleasant, kidding

Lulu Island Resort - Abu Dhabi, UAE

May 9 2008 we went to abu dhabi to visit the much talk of the town LULU Island Resort. An 1,050 acre man made island coast off to Abu Dhabi completed in 1992. After several plans which were subsequently dropped, the island is now being developed as a mixed commercial and residential project. It was rumored that Lulu Island was going to be a tourist’s destination for a Disney theme park during the mid 90’s.

We reached the place only to find out that it was under renovation and close for public use. We decided to go to the nearby beach in the place and ate our lunch. The incoveience brought by the heat of the sun made the group to decide to come back to Dubai and spend the rest of the day at Wild Wadi Water Theme Park. Whew! What a waste of time, money, effort, etc. Nevertheless, we had fun at the water park especially to those first timers. Duh!!! That was my 4th time. We end the day eating the rest of our “baon” at our accommodation lawn.Last November 2, 2008. After 5 months, the same group are now again heading to the place to where gave as disappointment. To Lulu Island Resort in Abu Dhabi.


We travelled for 2hours and a half from Dubai to Abu Dhabi because our driver doesn’t know the way. I called a staff from the resort and he gave me the information on how to reach the place. And wallah! Here we are… sun, sea, sand. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Christmas Gift 2008

I am saving to buy myself a gift this coming Christmas and that is… a DSLR Camera! The choices are:
Canon EOS450
or
Nikon D60
As of this time, my saving is not enough but I am determined to do any possible option to have it like… using my Credit Card! Hahaha..!!!

And on January 9, 2009 I was schedule to attend my first Basic Photography Lesson here in Dubai for a very minimal cost. I hope I can get the slot because it is very limited as what the President of Lightform (a group of Filipino Photographers in Dubai) told me.

Good Luck to me!

The Chronicles of E

It was after lunch of October 31st when a very good blog, The Chronicles of E crossed the screen of my computer. I find it on the links of The McVie Show Season 7, my most visited blog site in the internet. I get interested to read his latest blog entitled “Malate” although it was too long because it’s place that I am planning to visit on my vacation this April.

After reading, I find my self reading on the previous 3 blogs right there and then and still craving for more. The author was very good story teller and he used words that were very easy to understand. I also love those who gave their comments right after each blog and the graphic attached to it, pretty cool! Simple and yet bold. And later, I print his 9-10 previous blogs that took me almost a hundred pages. I was hooked.

Happy, inspired, enlightened while reading…

Chow!

One of the Tallest!

Here are my own shots of one of the tallest flag stand in the world located in the capital of UAE, Abu Dhabi. The flag stands at 123 meters and flies a flag measuring 20x40 meters. It was classified (in 2002) in the Guines World Record as the World's Tallest Unsupotted Flagpole.