Noche Buena in Bur Dubai

The day I thought I will be lonely celebrating Christmas Eve turns out to be a thought only, a friend save me. I was invited to spend the celebration in their place.

In the pictures are the foods they have prepared for themselves shared to their “visitor”.



Donald is roasting the Bangus (milkfish) when I arrived. Edwin told me that he and Mariz mixed the ingredient, perfectly cooked and nicely arranged the squids and prawns. Ogie after contributing his part in preparation of squids and prawns he then fried the ham. I have found out that these engineers have culinary talents. If there is a branch of engineering called Culinary Engineers they are the ones.



Since it was unplanned event for me, I was not able to join the cooking but instead shared only grapes I brought from Spinneys.

Louie arrived later accompanied by his wife and son who are in vacation in Dubai.

We have chat during the meal and after that singing using Mariz mediacom. Ogie I learned also sing, Donald too and Edwin belting out some songs not for our pitch. Mariz initially lined up some upbeat Christmas song followed by all OPM songs until all drop down to bed remaining only Ogie and me standing up to past midnight.



If only I didn’t realized that Ogie and the rest of the guys except Mariz will have their work the following morning I will not stop singing till I do not have any voice to forget that I wasn’t able to chat and see my family in the webcam due to poor or maybe jammed internet connections in the Philippines.

Anyway, I am very grateful that the good Lord provided me somebody to celebrate with the Christmas Eve traditionally celebrated by Filipinos. Friends are heaven sent. I left the place somehow relieved from sadness. Now, how will be the new year eve.

Cross hands

We had our last taichi session last Sunday. I can do the complete 24-form exercise now. (Cross hands, by the way, is the the step before the concluding one.)

Last Friday, we had brunch at the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Hotel. Great Cantonese food!

Dr. Chen's Taichi Group consists of people of different nationalities. My batch has Amal from Lebanon, Cecil from Norway and Rosalia from Spain. Angela, who leads the sessions when Dr. Chen is not yet around, seems to be English. So is Dalice, who plays the clarinet with the Dubai Chamber Orchestra. Thomas is German. Evelyn, who is my neighbor in Jumeirah 3, is Swiss. John and Judy are Americans, I think. The quiet one, Juliana, is also Lebanese. Rina is Indian. There are some more but I don't know their names and nationalities.

The group practices taichi at Al Wasl Park on Friday mornings. I promised to join them once I learned the complete routine. So, to cap my taichi activities for 2007, I will join them tomorrow ... if, after tonight's Christmas get-together of Morong folks in UAE, I can be at the park at 7:30am ...

Eid excursion

This time, it's Eid il-Adha. And this time, it's Abu Dhabi. It was also the Christmas party of the Pinoys in the Thumb-Up Team.

We had picnic by the Corniche Road ...



bowling at the Zayed Sports Center ...



and dinner and gift-giving in Eddie's flat.



Merry Christmas and Eid Mubarak!

Offline

Isang iterinary ko sa pag uwi s Pinas ay ang mag renew ng driver's license at ipaupgrade ito sa professional.



Maski expire na ang dating kong lisensya at kinailangan ako kumuha uli ng pagsusulit sa pagmamaneho, nakapasa uli ako at nagkaroon ng katuparan, nakuha ko ito s loob ng isang araw, malaking pagbabago kumpara nung huling kumuha ako ng mga taong 2000.

Subalit sa isng opisinang ito ng gobyerno, may napansin din akong kakaibang development, dumami ang negosyante sa tabi tabi at madali na ang kumuha lalo na sa baguhan basta lamang may puhunan ka.

Dumating ako ng bago mag alas 8 ayon na rin sa kanilang payo para daw makakuha ako ng numero, nakakuha nga ako at pang 51 na ako. Nang aakyat na ako para hintayin tawagin ang aking numero sa itaas ay pinigil ako ng gwardiya dahil Offline daw at walang processing, maghintay daw, ngunit magdadalawang oras na ako e wala pa rin. Pero ung iba sa 50 nauna sa akin at ung mga bagong dating ay nakaka akyat matapos n may lumapit sa kanila at may kumausap. Ako ay nilapitan din at sinabi na online sa ibang lugar at pede maproseso, hindi ako kumagat dahil sa tingin ko e negosyante rin siya.



Hindi ako pede magbigay kanino man kung hindi sa cashier lamang, ayokong patulan ang mga ganitong tao dahil sa bukod na lalaki ang babayaran ay mananatili at mananatili ang mga ito Sa wakas ng s tinign nila e wala ng lumalapit sa kanila ay naging online na, pinaakyat din ako pasadong 10 am na, sayang na 2 oras. At ng nasa taas na ako tama ang hinala ko marami ng inaayos na papel sa itaas, ito na ung mga nagsipagbayad ng mahigip sa 50% sa karaniwang binabayaran. Karamihan sa kanila ay mga bagong kuha ng lisensya at mga bata pa.



Ang tinutumbok ko lang sa pagsulat kong itong ng aking karanasan ay ang mga sayang n sandali s aking paghihintay ng isang araw sa opisinang ito na sa halip n makadagdag ng oras pa sa aking pamilya ay ninikaw pa nito, ilang araw lang bakasyon kong ito sa pinas. Sa aking estimate ay kaya ang proseso ng aking lisensya sa loob lang ng 3 oras na ang pinakamatagal ngunit dahil sa mga negosyante ay tumagal.

Kayo na lang mg nakakabasa nito ang humusga kung ano na ang mangyayri kung ito ay nangyayari din sa ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ng pinas. Pinupuri ko yung mga taong nagtiis na maghintay at sa mga nakakabasa sana ay hindi nya matyempohan ang opisinang ito sa MM. Pero balita ko ok naman ung mga nasa Mall.

Overseas Filipino Professionals

During my recent vacation trip to the Philippines, inside the plane I have a chance to sit beside a returning engineer. We have an exchange of stories during our 8 hours travel back home. I learned that he is working for 20 years now in the Middle East, 5 years in Saudi Arabia and currently in Qatar. He is holding a very good position in Qatar Petroleum earning a very big salary. He left working from NPC in the Philippines.

Now I realized that this is one of the so called unsung heroes who keep on pumping needed dollars in our country sacrificing lost precious time with his wife and children. In our project and my company where I am working there are also handful of this elite who for almost their lifetime work abroad to sustain or send their family into a much better life in the Philippines.




Although this I can say and in my opinion not a normal life for a family man being away, like in my situation going for two years now, we really deserve a very good life in retiring or settling back in the Philippines. Good life mean to me as having successful sons and daughters, taking care of my wife, nice savings, fulfilling spiritual life, decent properties or even a modest business.

I hope our countryman or the government we left in the Philippines will have a heart to focus working on preserving country's environment, sustaining peace and order, improving public infrastructures/transportations, establishing honest and efficient governance. Those are the things we only asked for after being an instrument to contribute building malls, condominiums, subdivisions, strengthening banks and businesses where our families funneling the resources we send back home. Philippines is our home, nowhere else.



By the way the man whom I have a chat in the airplane have his trip in the Philippines early not only to celebrate the Christmas season but also to tend to his daughter who is sick of Dengue.

Hooked

Another exciting and memorable event happened again for the adventure loving Meinhardt folks and friends. This was organized by TDM MEP staff Edwin and associates under the leadership of Mam Jenny. Here are some of the individual highlights I captured during our fishing expedition last Friday.



Ebe not only drove with his car and brought the bait for us but also willingly share his expertise in tying up the hooks in different techniques. But since he consumed time helping many us, he lost too the perfect time to catch fish for his own and instead watched all of us enjoyed the event.



Mr. Dante, with his multi hook fishing gear was able to hooked two fish in one time. With that our level of motivation shoot up, I rushed to his place.

About a minute later, this was followed with Jing’s capture of a very big fish and everybody got ecstatic taking their photo with the caught fish.

Then my turn, after consuming two prawns and my faith died down, with the last piece of bait I have, luckily, I was able also to capture my own, history’s first. Mam Jenny was able to got video of my first catch of this small fish which later I pitied and return to the sea. But not long enough when I have adjusted I was able to capture two more in span of our remaining hours, this time much bigger in sizes.




I saw Nelson afar, he was also able to get some numbers. Allan and his family have some fun, bonding and fellowship together with Donald who in that time perfecting to fix the bait on the hook. Mike got so busy with the catch of somebody I think, including my fried fish breakfast, hehe. May prepared her group breakfast also supporting some fishermen and Jovy’s girlfriend too busy taking some nice shots.



Roger caught the most i think but told me that they are all small.

Edwin was busy telling everybody to return to the sea the fish we captured.

Mariz, who initially just enjoyed the sun and sight, later caught some also in span of I think 30 minutes.

Mam Jenny and her determined husband Sir Simon caught some too.

I got also a glimpse of Saeed and his pregnant wife, they too have a nice time together. Maybe this early, they are exposing their unborn child to love the sea.

Then when its time to pack up, smiling Jovy have fun playing with the fish still in the water, he lead them to have a synchronize swim using his fishing gear sink tapping the water. He enjoyed it very much.

To wrap things up, a lucky guy, Hermie was able to caught hammour, a big one.



Then we return to our cars using the same rocky path we cross earlier leaving persistent Sakeel behind trying his own luck.

We got hooked I think by the fish not the other way around, we’ve got to return.

Kiko slamdancing

Here's the YouTube video "Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2007", with Kiko doing the slamdance. He comes in at 1:10. Hanep.



"Bungguan iyan", sabi ni Kiko. "Nagsimula sa mga punk rock concerts noong araw. Ok sa Pilipinas kasi mas maliit sa akin ang mga nakakabunggo ko. Dito, malalaki ang mga tao. Nasira nga ang salamin ko at nagkasugat ako sa noo."

Desert camping

I joined a group of mechanical and electrical engineers with their friends and families on a camping trip yesterday. The convoy took around 2 hours to get to the campsite in a desert which seems to be in Sharjah territory.

Ebe, Dante and I arrived around an hour later because we got lost in conversation and lost the convoy. We were ahead of everyone but we didn’t know and were still traveling along Hatta road when we received welcome messages from the Oman Mobile Network in our cellphones. Oops …

The campsite was perfect. It was at the foot of the limestone range of Jebel Fayah, with rocky outcrops at the west, south and east sides. At the north was a sea of sand and, a few kilometers away, Jebel Maleihah or Fossil Rock. Simon and Jenny discovered the campsite in their earlier off-road trips.



We sat around the campfire and talked and sang songs and shared food and drinks. It was fun all the way from dusk to bedtime.

Bedtime was 10:30pm for most campers and an hour later for Nelson, Hermie, Shakeel and Saeed. For me it was midnight and various times thereafter. I was in and out of bed for hours. I don’t think it was because of Dante’s snoring that I could not sleep, or the sound of a passing airplane every 20 minutes or so, or the silent conversation of Aley and his two boys, who stayed by the campfire well past midnight. Maybe it was just the new bed syndrome.

In the morning, Shakeel served hot tea while Ebe distributed hot dogs and Edwin, warm cooked-in-the-shell eggs. Cool.



We packed up, cleaned the area and left around 10:00am. We stopped over at a quad cycle place along Hatta road. At noontime, we were on our way home. A bit tired and sleepy but feeling good ...

Desert rhythm

Full moon. Al Awir desert camp. Bedouin tents. Cushions and mats. Arabian barbecue. Shawarma. Two hundred fifty drums of various shapes and sizes. Two hundred fifty drummers of different colors and ages. One rhythm. Fantastic.

Loaded With Foods We Missed Back Home

Too much…just about an hour ago, again an unplanned dinner hit the DMH group, 5 from MEP and 2 from C&S. Location is Satwa 365 restaurant. We hitched to our boss service car then breeze to Dubai busy streets and alight somewhere near the Al Wasl road.

After a brief walk, we are greeted by a nice cozy place with an elevated outdoor dining place, we have some snapshots at the entrance before we invade the heart of the restaurant, the buffet table. The palatable Filipino foods unveil in our eyes. Before I could check the whole compact air-conditioned indoor dining, there goes my buddies already lined up for the food, not even minding my will to take their photograph first.

We feasted on foods we missed back home, ginataang isda, bakarita, chicken apritada, pansit, pritong balat ng manok and ginisang ampalaya. We also have soup, vegetable salad as our appetizer and gulaman as our dessert. We paid only 16 aed average each for eat-all-you-can meal with drinks.

We have a hearty dinner, my stomach was very satisfied that just staying seated will do us no good so we have a little walk outside before three of us rode a bus back home to Jumeirah while 4 of our buddy rode on an opposite direction to going to their home in Bur Dubai.

Ok again next time. Restaurant staff said there are always changing the menu.

Dubai drums

I just had a group drumming experience courtesy of Dubai Drums awhile ago at Bur Juman. Oh, It was fun.

Participants were divided in 4 groups, around a dozen per group, facing each other. Dubai Drums guys, including founder Julie Ann Odell and master drummer Atsu of Ghana, comprised one group. Mallers - anybody who wished to join - comprised the other groups. African drums in various shapes and sizes were provided.

I sat in in one set, where Atsu acted as conductor of sorts. On my left was an Indian couple with their young kid and on my right was a group of Middle East teens. We started with a simple rhythm, which, right away, began to sound complicated because participants were drumming in different ways and because of the syncopations made by the Dubai Drums players and by this Santana-percussionist-wannabe. Later on, Atsu would signal us to pause, count - 1, 2 - then play again. Sometimes, he would make us stop banging our drums and clap our hands instead, as the Dubai Drums group continued with the rhythm and one member did a solo. At one point, we did a call-and-answer song: O ya o yaya, o ya o yaya. Drumming went on for 30 minutes. And like the little kid beside me, I enjoyed each minute.

Now, I'm thinking of going to the Full Moon Desert Drumming event on the 26th. Tara ...

Eid trip

Today, the second day of Eid il Fitr, a few hours after sunrise, the Fellowship was formed. It consisted of 12 people representing 4 tribes of Middle Dubai – 4 from Jumeirah, 4 from Karama, 2 from Satwa and 2 from Bur Dubai. Immediately, we embarked on a journey to search for the One Open Beach in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. As if to remind us of the uncertainty of what we had set out to do, a strange orchestral music slowly filled the air ...

It was the intro of Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. Great! The new FM Modulator was working.



In Fujairah, we saw an open beach where there are gazebos with umbrella roofs. It seemed okay but we wanted to look further. We came to the bank of the river that leads to the Gulf of Oman. It's a natural place, with some trees and herbs around. The beach is a little farther away. When we walked closer, we saw a No Swimming sign. Anyway, we ate lunch and stayed there for awhile.



At around 3:00pm, we headed for UAQ. We passed by the Dreamland Aqua Park and the Barracuda Beach Resort. Not our type. May bayad kasi. We drove farther towards Ras Al Khaimah looking for an open beach. We found one, also a natural place, and set up our tent between those of 2 kabayan groups. We ate and swam and sang songs until 7:00pm.



We were home by 9:00pm. Wanderlust satisfied.

Eid mubarak!

Inject to Eject

Recently, about two weeks ago, a minor clinical procedure has been done to me. A momentary pain I have experienced suddenly wiped out more than a month of hurt in my left foot. An inch long needle was injected to me thrice bringing some fluids that will cause some numbness on my left toe. The culprit, my toenail which did not follow normal position while growing cause pressure and scars on part of my toe where a concentration of nerve endings are placed. Although infected, I decided this toenail be removed.

Results, two days out from work having a mild fever. Week long daily taking of antibiotics/pain reliever, wearing of sandals and daily nursing/dressing of wounds. Job impact, being missed by site engineers therefore deferred approval of site installation. Physical impact, I missed 1 Saturday badminton play (my only strenuous exercise).

Lessons learned, first, never wear shoes that are to tight that will cause abnormally positioned growth of toenail. Second, take time carefully cutting the toenails.

Season of Slurs

A Resolution of sorts

Whereas a-b_t_h-of-a-columnist described our not-so-rich countrymen as “cheap” and she would not be caught dead with the bunch of low-life. Fate has something instored for her. Democracy gives the right for people to have freedom of speech. As some writer found out, the same liberty would guarantee maddened dogs to hound her endlessly. Barking, yelping until she would go insane and could not take it no more. Until…. She lets go and resigned her post. No requiem for her there.

Whereas an enlightened writer of a famous TV series questions the educational acumen of our nurses is in itself questionable. The same nurses have proven their exemplary medical capabilities for years on end; it’s moot and academic to argue otherwise.

Whereas one mans’ “discrimination” is another one’s “right to eat whatever he likes aside from briani”, armed struggle may be necessary. Good thing that some has heeded the call of reason and sidestep irrelevant and rubbish claims.

Whereas congressmen accuse each other of bribery due to the hastily prepared impeachment charge against the executive. You can't help notice that it is like watching a dog chases his tail. Sometimes it’s amusing, but most of the time, its not. Ruff!!!

Whereas the Champion of the People, boxing thru glory as he is, has allegedly given a sexy actress some luxurious villa and a 4WD vehicle is not entirely unfounded really. In circumspect, it is none of your darn bloody business anyway. Hehehe!!!

Thereby we enact that no such slurs are to be allowed to defame our person, dignity and rights.

And agreed to be vigilant against these menace as long as we shall live.

May God help us...

Some quotes

Why do you think we should suffer in silence? When a heart is broken, there's nothing to break. – Robbie Williams

Get up, stand up. Stand up for your right. – Bob Marley

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. - Matthew 7:7

Patience and fortitude conquer all things. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sabihin mo lang pala … at umasa at maghintay … at maghintay nang maghintay … at mag-biryani muna nang mag-biryani … at darating din. – Jun San Miguel

Mabuhay ang pinakbet! – Paul Munji

Badminton sa Jumeirah - 2nd Season Preview

Ramadan starts

It is prohibited to eat, drink and smoke in public from sunrise to sunset for the whole month, the ninth in the Islamic calendar. The first day was yesterday, Sep 13. In the workplace, we have the pantry for drinking and eating but the pigpen for smoking is exposed to the public. So how?

The upside is that there are shorter working hours. There may be more if we relax and try to understand the occasion. Let's start here: http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/ramadan_faq.htm

Iftar shahy.

Cloudy hands

I’ve just come from my first session of Dr. Chen’s Taichi class. There were 4 of us in the batch but we were joined by students from previous batches at the breakwater of the Jumeirah Open Beach. There’s a paved circular area there, at the center of which, we formed a circle and followed Dr. Chen’s instructions. We did a lot of “cloudy hands” for our first lesson, where we waved our hands in slow-mo like clouds in the sky. “Cloudy hands” is one of the forms in the 24-form simplified Yang style Taichi Chuan that we will learn in 3 months. Classes are held Sundays and Wednesdays. (Got to move my Wednesday Safa jog to another day.)

You can find Dr. Chen’s website here: http://www.chenqiang.net/taichi.html.

Votes on American Idol

I just watched American Idol hours ago and I am unconvinced by the result of the 4 contestants out of 24 booted out by American votes.

I can’t remember their names but I remember well their performances and how great are the evaluations from judges Randy, Simon and Paula they received.

For me, it seems there is something wrong with this voting system. These performers (I will already label them that not just a contestant) did not deserve to be removed from the contest.

I think recording company should take a look at them because I suspect American Idol votes were electronically hacked and manipulated. All these superb persons especially the girl who sings an upbeat song did really great and the other one who looks like Shania Twain for me is fantastic. They are better than some of the contestant who remained.

These observations are also shared by my talented musician housemate who has a great and sensitive hearing system and expert in catching a wrong tune.

I hoped immediately electronic results gathering and tallying should ones again be checked and timing of voting should also be change or widen.

Love struck

Testing video embedding. Wahed, ethnan, thalath. Go.

The Return of Jepoy

This is a story involving Jepoy who just return recently from his vacation and a two incident in going to our office in a one ordinary day.

Jepoy have a friend who took his vacation in Singapore and lend to Jepoy his nice SUV for a day, relieving his two door Mustang car.

Here comes the morning we are eager to ride in the SUV. The first one to get out of our house is of course Jepoy, so excited to drive the SUV. Following him, when I am about to left turn in the garage, I was met by a jumping and running Jepoy. I was so surprised and thought if something is chasing him. I also hurriedly step backward and retreat. Then after he got calmed, he paused for a moment as if in shock. Then we ask what happened. Then he told us there is something in the car, in the car?, I peeked for a while and search and I found nothing, he told us… it’s a dead bird. Yes a lifeless bird. In unison, we asked if inside the car. He answered no then he pointed bird laid dead near the wheel. Hahaha, Jepoy I learned is a funny man.

We are relieved it’s only a dead bird. We did not mind picking it up since we are all going to be late. Christopher Reeve or Chris in short told me maybe it is due to high temperature outside our house that’s why this bird was probably dehydrated, in which Bistek easily agreed.

While we are heading towards the office, inside the car I am tantalized by the interior of this BMW SUV, although not so spacious but very elegant and stylish.

Then we reach the office, I was about to get out in the door where Chris alighted and where we use to, proudly, Jepoy told me why not use the door in my left since we are now using a different four door vehicle, so I did. Then when I turned on the other side, I heard a simultaneous “hey, hey” inside the car. In my mind I asked why. Then I noticed Chris left the door open when he got out, thinking I used that door. With a grin in my face I returned and in behalf of Chris say sorry and closed the door. This is the product of months using a two door car.

We returned home in the afternoon now aware that we are riding in a four door vehicle. And the cause of our early incident is now gone, probably the compound caretaker buried or throw it in the garbage bin.

End. Real names have been changed as per advice.

Dumi ng Isip

Pagsapit ng alas sais ng gabi, tapos na ng oras ng opisina, talagang hindi kaagad ako umaalis. Hindi ito sa kadahilanang gusto ko ngang magtrabaho pa, bagkus ako ay nag-iipon pa ng sapat na lakas ng loob (o “inner strength”) bago magsimulang lumakad patungo sa pinaka-malapit na taxi stand na mahigit 600 metro ang layo mula sa aking matiwasay na kinauupuan. Hala, mind-power ang gamitin na "motivation" para mapag-tagumpayan ang katamaran ng katawan. Nais pong ipabatid ng manunulat na ngayon ay nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng mabanas na tag-init, dito sa mala-impiernong lugar na ito. Kaya isipin nyo na lang na 41 centigrado ang temperatura sa labas at naglalakad ka. Bukod sa baka mahuli ka ng “safety officer” kasi ala kang hard-hat na naglalakad sa loob ng construction site, tagaktak pa ang pawis mo sa noo, likod, leeg, kili-kili at basang-basa na din ang salung-(kung ano man ang meron kayo, hehehe). Ito ang kalbaryo ko araw-araw sa pag-uwi.

Ngunit langit pa iyan kung ikukumpara sa mararanasan mo kapag tinawag ka ng inang kalikasan habang ika‎‎‎‎’y nasa 200 metro pa lamang ng iyong paglalakbay mula sa nilayasan mong tanggapan. Ay sus ginuu! Ano po ang gagawin mo? Ako ba ay‎ babalik sa unang baitang ng gusali (nandun ang opisina, pero nasa ground floor ka na ngayon eh) o tatapusin ko ang natitirang 400? Buti na lang may palikurang malapit sa “finish line” (opisina ng mga kaibigan ko sakabilang dulo ng project site) kaya naisip ko din na ituloy ang laban. Pinagpapawisan ka na ng butil-butil at hindi maihakbang ng mabuti ang mga paa. Baka kasi may makatakas na “perwisyo” sa ano kapag naluwagan ang “control” mo doon sa kuwan eh. Hindi magiging kaaya-ayang sitwasyon yun malamang. Kaya sige, “mind over matter” ang gamitin mong litanya upang mapanatili ang iyong dignidad at kahihiyan sa harap ng mga nagkalat na mga pana, patan at kung anu-ano pang mga lahi sila. Sa oras na iyun, wala kang pakialam kung sa planetang Mars pa sila galing. Basta ang nasa isip mo, sugod kapatid!!! Sugod!!! Tuloy ang ipit-pwet na paglakad patungo sa kaligtasan (syet! 200 metro na lang!). Kung pagninilay-nilayan mo ang iyong kasalukuyang kalagayan, maslalo kang mapapa-aga (gets mo?), kaya mabuti pa na ibaling mo ang iyong isip sa ibang direksyon. Sumagot ang naghihirap mong sentido, “SAAN???”. Teka lang po, nagpapayo lang naman, pero dapat malibang ka kasi hindi mo kayang damdamin ang maduming kalagayan mo ngayon. “ANO NGA BA ANG DAPAT GAWIN KO?” ang hibik ng isip, teka ulit, naaalala mo ba na eksena na nabasa mo sa libro ni Bob Ong? Iyung tungkol sa pag-luwal niya ng kahihiyan sa gitna ng silid-aralan noong siya‎ kindergarden pa lamang? O dili kaya‎’y noong naranasan ng kamag-aral mo noong highschool ka (opo, hindi po ako iyung nagkalat, peksman!) na isa ka pa sa nag-kutya at bumarubal sa pagkatao kanya? At ngayon, nasa gitna ka na ng, hindi silid-aralan kundi ng construction site at napapaligiran ka ng hindi kamag-aral kundi mga trabahador at mga pahinante? Di ba nakakahiya si “engineer” kapag bumulwak sa sentro ng sangkatauhan ang nakaririmarim na tinatago ng iyong kalooban? Malamang, ikamamatay mo ang kahihiyan na daranasin kapag nagka-totoo nga ang mga hula.

Ngunit hindi rin, hindi pa, eto pa ikaw ngayon at lumalaban, mamatay-matay na sa kahirapan pero tuloy pa rin ako… “aba! nakuha pang kumanta?” ang tirada ng peligrosong kokote. Hindi mo namamalayan, malayo na ang iyong nararating. Akalain mo iyun, malapit na ang finish line?

Yeesss!!! Iyak ng loob, napapikit, tumingala sa langit at kagat-ngipin ka na sa tuwa ngayon. Closer....

Hoy! Wag mong kalimutan ang “control” at baka ngayon ka pa magkakalat, malapit ka sa mga kaibigan mo! Di ba mas nakakahiya iyun kapag magsabog ka ng lagim sa harap nila?

Oo nga ‘no? ang sagot mo naman.

Susmaryosep! Nagkakaroon ka na ba ng schizophrenia? Sino ba ang kausap mo? Masama na talaga ito!

Hindi bale, ang mahalaga, makaligtas ka sa maduming sitwasyon na ngayo‎’y bumabalot sa buong katauhan mo at sinusubukan ang katatagan ng iyong “mental health”.

Heto ka na sa harap ng pinto ng backdoor ng opisina nila. Gusto mo dun pumasok kasi mas kokonti ang taong dumadaan dun, mas malaya kang gumalaw, so-to-speak. Buong pagkukunwari ka sa pag-project ng “coolness” sa lahat nang maaaring makasalubong mo para wala silang mabatid sa tunay mong kalagayan ngayon. Walang bahid ng panganba ang kara mo. Teka, may bahid na kaya iyung brief ko? Malalaman ko sa madaling panahon. Sige, go! Lakad lang ng normal. Butil-butil talaga at na-tulo na, este, dumadaloy na pala ang mga dapat tumulo lang. Pigil pa din ang hindi dapat tumulo (at hindi ito ung sakit ah!). Parang gusto ko nang magpalabas ng dig-low (kabaligtaran ng dighay, o dig-high?) o kaya, simpleng utot.

Anyway, gusto kong magpalabas ng konting hangin, kahit konti lang para maibsan ang “pressure” sa tyan ko. Pero hindi dapat asahan iyun (Lesson #1, never trust a fart), kasi malamang, may kasamang tropa iyun kapag lumabas. Nangyari na sa akin iyan sa Singapore. Papasok ako ng opisina noon at nakatayo sa bus. May hangin na ibig lumabas sa pwet ko. Akala ko, simpleng utot lang iyon kaya pinayagan kong lumabas ang konting hangin sa aking kalooban. Syet! May sumama! Kaya ilang segundo lang at umalingasaw ang mala-posonegrong simoy sa loob ng bus. Lumaki ang mga mata ng mga intsik at nabahuan ang mababahong iba. Nakakahiya sa mga intsik, pero isa itong higanti sa iba, sila naman ang mabahuan “for a change”. Hehehe. Patay-male pa din ako sa buong diskurso ng byahe na ito. Sa oras na pati ako ay apektado na din sa baho at polusyon na dulot ko, kaya minabuti ko na bumaba na (Actually, naghihintay lang ako ng susunod na bus stop para hindi ako “obvious”. Ang lufeet ko talaga 'no!Kaya hala, pindot ng stop botton at pa-simpleng na akong bumaba. (Inhale!) Ang sarap ng sariwang hangin! Refreshing!!!

Nasaan na ako, naglalakad pa din at ayun na ang toilet! Malapit na ako! Wala namang istorbo sa paglakad ko. Bukas ng Toilet! Upo sa trono! At nang ilang napakasarap na saglit, nadama ko ang isang mahaba at mapagpalang buntong-hininga. Tapos na! Lumaya ang bait sa parusa at kahirapan. Para bang lumindol sa burol, nahati sa gitna ang sanctuwaryo ng templo at nagbukas ang kalangitan. Haaaaaaaaaay!!! Salamat poh!!! It is done......

Grabe ‘no? kaya ako noon, bago umalis ng opisina ko, inilabas ko na sa palamus-unan ang lahat-lahat ng aking sama ng loob para hindi ko maranasan ang mga paghihirap na nakalahad sa itaas. Kung iisipin mo, oo nga naman.

“PEACE” PO TAYO!!!!!!

Lemon Grass – A Thai Restaurant (Huling bahagi or panghimagas)

Matapos ng pagkagulo gulo sa ulam ay ito na ang kintutuwaan ng lahat, ang panghimagas. Dahil ewan ko pa kung bakit tuwang tuwa ang mga Asian, hindi lang Pinoy sa Durian. Gusto ng mga taga Hongkong at Singapore n matikman itong durian at para sa kanila ay ito ang challenging na kainin kaya isa iyon sa mga kinuha nila. Pinagmalaki pa nila ito sa kasama naming Iraqi kaya dito muna pinapatak ang kapirangot na Durian at pilit na ipinakain. Ayun lang pala ang ipagmamalaki, ang amoy. Natuwa naman ako sa kinahinatnan ng durian, nagmistulang ulam ko na rin, walang pumansin. Inamoy lang ng Iraqi at tumikim ng gatas na sabaw ng durian at inyawan na, mabantoto daw kasi.

Para hindi mapahiya ay kinuha ng isang intsik at inilipat din sa kabilang table. Nagpakuha siya ng tig-iisang kutsara at platito, at pinagbahabahagi ang kawawang durian (ayun lang ang naging kaibahan sa ulam ko, pinaghatihatian, huhu). Ayus pala ang kanitong negosyo, mag supply ng durian sa kanilang bansa. Kung baga sa atin parang lambanog n pinagkukumpulan at matindi kapag nakainom ka, me dating, kaya pagalingan sila sa pagkain.

Kami naman sa kabilang lamesa mukhang natahimik sa busog.

Sa wakas uwian na. Kanya kanyang punta sa sasakyan. Para kumpleto yung kwento balik na uli tayo kay Mr. Praktis, sya ang magmamaneho pabalik remember. Lumabas kami at dumaan sandali sa Lamcy gaya ng iba. Pagka Lamcy, ito na nabunyag ang sikreto. Hindi alam ang daan pauwi. Alam ni Rey na nasa harapan nakaupo pero sa mahabang rota. Ako alam ko ang direksyon pero gabi di ko maituturo ng tama kaya sabi ko bahala na sila.

Ganun nga ang nagyari umikot ikot ng mahaba hanggang sa sabihin ko ng pabiro “Dumaan na lang kaya tayo sa gitna at umakyat sa island”. Akala ko magagalit sila pero ang sagot naman ng isa e hindi pede, hindi 4 wheel drive ang kotse. Hehe. Ganun kami ka desperado para mapaiksi ang biyahe. Nakarating din naman kami sa aming tirahan, alas dose na yata.

Kinabukasan, matapos ng kasiyahan ng gabi, meron palang inspection kaming mga consultant, kaya pala. Nagkamali sila, yung kain pala naming ng gabi ay para tuminik ang aming mga utak sa inspection kinaumagahan. Mukhang lalong higit nagkaproblema ang contractor, mas marami kaming nakitang palpak at naglabasan ang maraming instructions to rectify defective items. Ito pala ang nangyayari kapag kumakain sa Lemon Grass.

Huwag kalimutan meron ding Golden Fork dito sa Dubai ang mga Pinoy ha.

Wakas. Ibang karanasan naman.

Mars unspectacular

Have you received an email about Mars lately? The one that says that Mars is going to be spectacular and become the brightest object in the night sky, second only to the moon, on August 27. I haven’t got mine yet.

Last year, I received the said email at about this time and forwarded it to my teen-aged daughter. She was excited and told her classmates about it. Later, she asked me to help her search the net on how to spot the red planet in the sky. I found some tips in Sky & Telescope (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/) on observing the sky with or without optical aid. I also found an article there about the “Mars hoax”.

Yup. The August 27 mentioned in the email refers to August 27, 2003 when Mars and Earth made a historically close encounter. Tapos na. Kalas. But somehow, the email gets circulated every year.

It was very embarrassing for me and my kid.

Lemon Grass – A Thai Restaurant (Pangalawang bahagi or main course)

Nang matanaw namin ang lugar n aming kakainan e dali dali kming pumasok sa tuwa at ayun nandun ng lahat maliban lamang sa ibang namin kasama na nagpasiyang mamili sa di kalayuang Lamcy Mall. Si Mr. Praktis ilang minutong p lang nakakaupo ay dalidali ng tumayo at natanong ko kung bakit dun sa katabi nya. Ayun magbabayad daw ng parking fee, sabi ko n nga ba, kailangang pa palang magsabi sa kanya e mahigit sa isa para maniwala.

Ito na ang main part, meron ng nagdatingang mga babaing nakapuyod sa aming kinauupuan at nagaabot ng mga maayos na sa unang tingin ko e parang mga magazine. Kulay berde ang pabalat at nakabalot sa makintab n plastic. Nang tignan ko un listahan n pala ng mga menu at akala ko nga ay mga magazine, isasa uli ko sana dahil di ko maintindihan ang mga nakasulat. Yun palang mga nakasulat e pangalan ng mga pagkain.

Nagkuyos ako ng mukha dahil nun ko lang nabasa ang mga menu na iyon. Inobserbahan ko ung mga nakapuyod para aking tanungin dahil napansin ko ay ingles ng ingles alam naman nyang mga pilipino kami at di naman sya mukhang ibang lahi. Kaya ginawa ko nag ingles na rin ako pagtatnong baka di ako pakainin. At nabasa ko ung pangalan nya sa kanyang dibdib Swarshihitta Papororoti yata, di accurate yun memory ko dito ha. Kaya pala ganun ung mga menu at pangalan dahil sa Thai Restaurant pala ung pinasok namin, mga mukhang pinay din, medyo iba lang ang paling ng dila kaya iba ang salita, made and develop in Thailand.

O baka gutom na kayo sa kababasa, punta na tayo sa kainan. Ung menu pagkatapos ng mga kakaibang pangalan, sa ibaba naman nya e may nakalagay kung ano ang rekado in English kaya at least alam namin ung main ingredients kung pagkaing dagat, pagkaing kati o pagkaing lupa bahala n kayong magisip. Ako dahil sa ingat ako sa mamantika kaya order ko ay steam fish n me kung ano pang atsutsutsu na mga maliit na palamuti sa pagkain.

Karaniwan syempre bago kumain ay drinks muna ang dadating kaya drinks ang unang pinaorder. At ito ang natandaan ko dahil maiksi ang pangalan, “Samui”. Ang Samui ay pwersadong pinaghalong pineapple…coconut milk…at lime. Talagang desidido ako dito sa drinks na ito, gusto ko kasing kumulog at kumidlak sa sikmura ko para matanggal naman ang mga masasmang mikrobyo dito.

Ayan na….hindi ko alam ang pinag oorder ng mga kasama ko at katabi ko. Pero ang alam ko ay hindi rin alam ng mga nakapuyod kung ano ang pinag oorder nila basta hindi na nakarating sa kinauukulan ung mga order dahil mali mali na nga ang lagay ng mga nakapuyod. Un katabi ang nasabi na lang e “ayun ung order ko a”, nasa kabilang table kasi, ito yung malalaking prawns n me kung ano ang nkapaligid. At ang tumapat naman sa akin ay ung parang lumpiang pritos na iba’t iba ang hugis, akala ko e appetizer, kaya tumuhog ako ng ilan. Di ko na alam ang sinabi nung talagang umorder nito. Di lang naman ako ang tumuhog dun sa pagkain sa tapat ko pati na rin ung balbasin sa me harap ko n kulang n lang ay huthutin ang lahat ng pagkain dumadating. At sa wakas dumating din ung sa akin at dahil halos lahat ay kinain na ang hindi nila order kaya wala na halos pumansin s choice ko, e pagkalaki laki pa naman. Kaya pagkasungkit ko ng ilang hibla e ipinuwesto ko na sa katabing table para naman sabihing nagpalipat lipat din dahil masarap, hehe.

Ang katabi ng balbasin sa akin harap ay isang Iraqi at huli syang dumating kaya ang umorder sa kanya ay yung kanyang katabi, isa sya sa sumaid ng ulam ng iba. Hindi rin nya pinansin ang aking pinili. Gayumpaman, isa sya sa nagpasaya sa susunod na bahagi ng aking istorya…

Itutuloy muli…

Pigpen thoughts

Burton Rascoe, journalist, editor and critic, once said, “... a writer is working when he's staring out of the window." (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Burton_Rascoe)

In a similar way, an engineer is working when he is smoking somewhere, away from his workstation. In fact, many times, it goes this way: You spend hours trying to solve a design or a construction problem unsuccessfully so you go out to smoke. Midway through your cig, a solution suddenly pops up.

The managers of the construction site where I work do not see it that way unfortunately. They have put up smoking areas which are not conducive to work. In fact the designated smoking areas look like kural ng baboy (pigpen). Tsk tsk tsk.



Warning: Smoking may be hazardous to your health.

Lemon Grass - A Thai Restaurant (unang bahagi)

Nung isang gabi ko pa dapat nilathala ito. Wala lang naman ito. Isang karaniwang kainan sa may Lamcy Mall. Sana e di ako pagnakawan ng antok sa pagbahagi ng aking karanasan.

Sa aming MEP project team, meron kaming pangkarinawan at regular na salu salo sa labas sa tuwing isang buwan. Ito ay madalas na sagot ng aming kontraktor na dahil sa tindi at tinik namin sampu ng aking kasamahan sa pag check ng kanilang mga trabaho e obligado kami amuin paminsan minsan.

Nagsimula ito ng paganito, sapagkat kami ng aking kasama sa trabaho n nagngangalang Chris ay iisa ang tinitirhan, at mahirap at mahal ang umuwi ng kaming dalawa lamang, napilitang imbitahan ng aming puno ang isang senor na inhinyero sa proyektong TDM na magiging aming tsuper sa pag uwi (anyway two way naman ang pakinabang). Siya ay dumating ng tama lang na oras ng labasan. Siya ay reliever lamang sa pagmamaneho sapagkat ang tunay na aming tsuper e nagbakasyon. Kung baga e lumalabas n mistulang kami e pinagpraktisan lang sa pagmamaneho sapagkat ilang linggo p lng siyang nagmamaneho dito sa Dubai.

Kaya ko n kwento ang tungkol sa tsuper e dahil karugtong ito ng susunod n mga pangyayari. So ayun larga kami, kami ang pinakahuli sa tatlong sasakyan, di ko n ikwekwento ung paraan ng pagmamaneho ng naunang sasakyan sa amin. Isa lang ang masasbi ko, inakyat nya ang gutter pagdating nya sa may kinatatayuan namin.

Pag labas namin ng Doha road ayun biglang u turn si Mr. Gutter at di man lang kami binigyan ng signal kaya si Mr. Praktis e nabigla at nakalampas sa dapat naming inikutan. Kaya doon pa lang e masasabi ng di na maganda ang aming biyahe papunta sa aming patutunguhan. Kayat kami ay dumeretso ng malayo layo patungo sa isang runabout. Buti n lamang dahil sa teknolohiya ng komunikasyon (CP in short) ay nagabayan kami ng grupo ng aming puno kung saan kami daraan.

Sa wakas dahil sa mayat maya pag uusap ni Chris at ni Frank (ung nasa grupo ng aming puno) kami ay nakrating sa paroroonan. Bigla na lang isinalpak ni Mr. Praktis ang aming sasakyan sa isang parking slot. At pagbaba e tiningnan p niya kung ang parking na iyon ay may bayad. Meron akong nakita na isang malaking anunsyo n ayun ay pay parking subalit ang sabi ni Mr. Praktis ayun daw ay para sa kabilang kalye na aking kunwariy sinang ayunan.

At nakita na namin sa di kalayuan ang tunay na kwento ng article na ito....

Itutuloy...

harry and the movies

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix movie version was shown recently in the theaters all around the UAE.

As a biased bookreader as I am, the Potter movies do not do justice to the J.K.Rowling books.

Obviously, 2.5 hours of cinema time is not enough time to render properly on screen most of the highlights and events contained in one book. That is why when you watch the movie version of it, you are left lurching for answers as to why a certain situation transpired that way.

Did I forgot to mention the lousy performance of the actors? ok, to put it politely, should i say "a performance, wanting in genuine feeling"?

However, the special effects are spectacular! two thumbs up for that! kudos to the army of the computer gooks and the special effects geeks!