Jel's Feed

7 cuisines you need to taste for foodgasm heaven

2016-07-22T11:00:00.000+04:00

So you’re in Dubai and like everyone else, you love to eat, eat and eat again. Of course, you frequent the regular faves – French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, American, Indian and Lebanese but this post will dare you to zip out of your comfort zone and give your taste buds a treat! Here’s a list of seven cuisines that you need to try right this moment!

1.SLAVIC

Honey Cake. This is probably one of the most loved desserts of Slavic descent and a lot of you probably do not even know that this lovely cake came from that region. If you are in Dubai, I urge you to give this cuisine a try because my recent discovery (courtesy of Vesna restaurant) is probably one of the most unforgettable meals I’ve had in months. Hunt for Borsch, Olivier Salad and Chicken Fritters.

2.PERSIAN

If you like kebabs then you will definitely adore the Chelo and Joojeh Kebabs served with buttery multi-colored rice. Any decent Persian restaurant in town (like Iran Zamin) will serve a daily rice dish with a special stew of the day and I guarantee the combination of flavours will definitely transport you to a different era.

3.FILIPINO

Notorious for Balut (boiled duck embryo) and cow’s balls, you should know that there’s more to Filipino cuisine than the exotic stuff or deep fried pork ears. I would probably recommend checking out the Philippine seafood joints in Dubai for grilled fish, shrimp, crabs and squid at dirt cheap prices. Dampa restaurant behind Deira City Center serves seafood with unlimited rice and iced teas, while lots of other places offer Boodle Fights where a ton of seafood and rice is dumped on top of a banana leaf, which you have to eat with your bare hands. I’m sure those not familiar with the concept can request utensils (yes, please!)

4.HONG KONG

I had this misconception that Hong Kong cuisine is similar to Chinese cuisine then I discovered Lan Kwai Fong, a quaint little restaurant near the American Hospital and I was a convert. The peking duck, crispy noodles and dimsums are to die for!

5. KOREAN

I was never a fan of Kimchi so I never imagined that I will be a fan of Korean Food. However, I fell completely in love with Bibimbap and Korean Barbecue. Healthy eaters will rejoice too because of the fresh, balanced meal options available.

6. PERUVIAN

The advent of trendy joints such as The Act and Coya has put Peruvian cuisine into the spotlight and yes, foodies are paying attention. The food may be on the pricey side but the burst of flavours it gives is definitely worth it.

7. EMARATI

My first taste of Middle Eastern cuisine in Dubai was courtesy of the humble shawarma but this is not in any way an authentic reflection of Emarati cuisine. So what is Emarati cuisine? One of the newest restaurant is Aseelah in the old Dubai creek area. The place is a very modern in terms of its ambiance but uses Emarati flavours and ingredients in the menu. I personally opted for the camel burger trio which is a definite must-try.

5 amazing summer beauty products you need right now

2016-07-20T23:19:00.000+04:00

Summer in Dubai can be harsh on your skin and whether you're a fan of tanning or whitening, the bottom line is you need to make sure you give your skin the respect and TLC it deserves. Here are my top 5 beauty must-haves for the summer of 2016.

1. SUNSCREEN

Académíe Scientifique de Beauté Face Age Recovery Sunscreen Cream with SPF 40

I can't highlight enough the importance of sun-screen. This cream has a non-greasy, oil-free formula with active anti-UVA/UVB ingredients making it a perfect against the harsh rays of the sun! It also promises tightening and firming effects , but IMO, this invisible cream is what makes it a hero.

AED 235

2. FACIAL MIST

Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray

Spraying mineral water on your face to refresh may seem very superficial but when attacked by 50 degrees of scorching heat, a single spray is heaven on earth!

AED 19 for 150 ml

3. LOOSE SETTING POWDER

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana

So you spent hours perfecting that contour... congratulations! However, all your hard work will go to waste and will start melting without a heavyweight setting powder. In these situations, you can definitely rely on Ben Nye. Even just for this once , you can trust Kim K's opinion, even just on this one.

AED 90 for 1.5 oz

4. BODY OIL

Bio-Oil

Before going to bed, I always take a quick shower to get rid of the day's dust and grime then I slather Bio-Oil all over my body to relax and relieve my skin. I personally do NOT recommend it though for daytime use as I find it really uncomfortable and awkward when the temperature goes up.

AEd 45 for 60 ml

5. FACE MASK

Dr Hauschka Organic Hydrating Mask

My discovery of this magical product was purely by accident. For those who need to recover from a sunburn, this is your answer. Recently, during an out of town trip, we were enjoying the pool while it was raining (thus drowning all the sunblock from my face), when the sun suddenly came out and burned my forehead like revenge! Back in Dubai, I tried every moisturizer there is, but nothing seems to heal my cardboard dry forehead. I found a sample tube of this mask and tried it out. The next morning, it was like magic! My face was 300% softer and more supple , just with one application!

AED 176.50 for 30 ml

In Defense of TV and Pop Culture

2015-09-24T01:20:00.001+04:00

I don't really get it when 'intellectuals' say things like 'don't waste your time on AlDub... do something more relevant'... i mean, like what?!?

Majority of the people watching aldub (the target market of a show like eat bulaga) are below middle class filipinos who are breaking their backs with blue collar work, people who cannot afford any other form of entertainment aside from sex or free to air tv or unli social media package to stalk their idols on twitter and instagram. ... what exactly do you want them to do when you say 'do something relevant'? put up a charity? plant trees to stop global warming? build houses for the poor.. oh yeah did you forget they are the poor? you actually want a 40 year old housewife who spends her day doing laundry, cooking and cleaning while struggling to feed her 4 kids (plus extended family) with the money her carpenter husband earns- to do what? what exactly do you mean when you say 'kaya walang nangyayari sa pilipinas kase walang kwenta pinagkakaabalahan nyo' ... what should she be doing instead on her free time ? read the biased newspaper and engage in public debates with politicians? excuse me because unlike you, she cannot afford to go globe trotting to see the world, or have first world problems like which fancy restaurants to try next... she cannot even get cable tv so she can watch Scandal instead. You might say not all actually fit the above 'aling Bebang' profile and you are referring to these people... still, how dare you judge them that just because they spend a fraction of their day watching TV , then it means they are not already doing what in your opinion is relevant during the remaining 23.5 hrs or so of their day?

I'm sorry because looking down on people watching AlDub does not make you smarter than the rest of us... just shows how shallow your understanding of culture and reality is.

My Plum Hair

2015-09-06T06:00:00.000+04:00

So I have been sporting ombre hair for the past two years. I started with a brown caramel ombre when my colorist Charbel from Jacques La Coupe Galeries Lafayette promised me that it will look epic. You see, I was quite worried that it will look weird but I finally thought it was a good move.

The best thing with ombres is you dont have to retouch as often as long as you keep your roots the same color, youre fine because the ombre effect will stay. In 2014, I needed a change so I fully trusted my colorist and told him that he can do whatever. He gave me a blonde ombre which I was nervous about but surprisingly, Ive gotten lots of compliments from people Ive met, even strangers at random places.

Now it's 2015 and I was growing tired of my ombre. I lost my colorist's number and was told he transferred salons (Im still on the hunt for him) . I was so restless so I went to the salon near my flat and paid a cheap price for them to color my hair dark plum. The result was an ombre violet.

However, I was becoming upset when just after a few washes, the violet turned marsala- maroon then just last week , it became ugly light brown. I again felt restless so instead of going to another salon , I decided to take matters on my own. I figured since Im coloring my hair dark anyway, this is the best time to experiment. I went to the supermarket, bought a $10 USD hair color kit with the shade , Attractive Aubergine and did the color myself.

The result was not like that of the box but my hair now has a more even dark eggplant color which I thought looked better. Will post an update when I get a better daytime photo!

AlDub , JaDine and KathNiel Season

2015-09-04T20:55:00.001+04:00

It was around two years ago, I was aboard the Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai to Manila when I discovered a teeny-bopper movie 'Must Be Love' starring Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo. Having lived in the UAE for a handful of years, my busy schedule did not make it practical for me to subscribe to TFC then so I was not that updated on the current stars in the Philippines. As I was watching that movie, I was particularly impressed with the young Daniel Padilla because his acting was so natural. It was as if he was not acting at all. That was when I declared myself a KathNiel fan. I followed their Got To Believe series and their movies as well, making sure that I get a ticket when they screen the films here in Dubai. My kilig was consistent until of course this Jasmine Curtis issue came up and I just felt KathNiel will never be the same. Like everyone else, I was excited with the PSY series but I was a bit disappointed because Kathryn's acting is not that convincing anymore. It has lost that certain spark-- she looks a bit sad and pensive nowadays in my opinion.

Then there came AlDub. Thank goodness Eat Bulaga uploads the episodes on its Facebook page. This semi-reality love team never fails to bring a smile and lots of giggles whenever I watch the videos. Yes , it is corny but I grew up watching the corny magic of Eat Bulaga, Bossing and Joey De Leon so I'm kinda used to it. The funny , semi-rehearsed , impromptu type of comedy is just definitely for me. Add the certain kilig that yaya dub brings which suddenly made Alden Richards an instant heartthrob. I remember meeting Alden once in one business meeting I had a few years back. He was introduced to us as the next leading man being built up by gma, I thought then that , yeah , he was cute, but i did ot think he had that x-factor. Now when it was revealed that girl next door Maine Mendoza had a crush on him, even I thought he transformed into a certiified Bae! haha!

Well I will not end this post without my favorite guilty pleasure at present- JaDine! Yes, Im one of those 30 something married women with OJD or (as Ive found out recently) Obsessive JaDine disorder! They are the highlight of my day when I watch On The Wings of Love. Let me thank profusely whoever had that brilliant idea for this soap because it is amazing!

What I noticed in these three love teams is they follow the formula of having the gwapo guy falls for the average looking girl. I mean Kathryn, Nadine and Maine are not your classically beautiful mestizas but i guess they make the love teams work because every girl can probably relate to them --- and dares to dream...

What's a normal 22 year old like?

2015-04-02T20:36:00.000+04:00

In less than 48 hours, I'll be heading out to the Dubai Rugby Sevens Stadium along with thousands of One Direction fans from nearby countries to finally watch the On The Road Again concert. I bought my ticket almost a year ago to guarantee my slot. My friends (and my husband) would ask me why does a 32 year old married woman want to watch a boyband marketed to tweens. They never raised an eyebrow when I bought tickets to Usher, Madonna or Jlo but there's always this patronizing amusement when they learned that oh boy, I'm watching 1D live.

I've always been a pop culture freak, (which I believe is a plus when you work in the TV industry) so liking One Direction is a shoo-in. And i always answered that I have to watch them now before they disband. I grew up watching Backstreet Boys, Nsync, the Eraserheads and Spice Girls so I'm old enough to know that sooner or later, the group will break up. This knowledge did not, however, soften the blow when it was announced days before the Dubai concert that Zayn Malik left the group.I was speechless and so affected that I am writing this blog post about it (hahahaha) but not a lot of people understand how frustrating it is to wait 300+++ days for something only to be told that 'no babe, not happening'.

I am still watching the concert in spite of this heartbreaking development but I can't help but feel cheated. I feel that it was unfair for Zayn to just go off like that in the middle of the tour with the excuse that he wants to be a "normal 22 year old". It got me into thinking now, what exactly does he think a normal 22 year old do?

When I was 22 years old, I was just fresh out of college and working my way up as a trainee writer in the cutthroat TV industry in Manila, struggling to make my rent. 'Normal' 22 year olds do not spend the weekend in a recording studio to write and relax... they go to University, or they work in odd jobs, or maybe are struggling to find jobs to pay their student loans. Of course , 'normal' 22 year olds are young, free, they can do whatever they want without anybody caring but earth to Zayn, 'normal' 22 year olds don't fly out in private jets with their fiancee, nor do they have enough money to even think about getting married (let's face it, 'normal' 22 year olds dont get engaged to pop stars).

What's my point? I guess it would've been better if Zayn just dropped that 'normal' 22 year old excuse and just stuck to the 'I'm not happy ' bit of his explanation. It's just less insulting.

Anyway, as I've said , all roads lead to One Direction on Saturday and I'm just looking at the brighter side of things (amidst the sandstorm)... that I will get to see Harry Styles.

Finding Foie Gras

2014-10-31T00:38:00.004+04:00

I discovered foie gras when I was in my mid-20s in a posh restaurant in Metro Manila. Since that moment, I would always look for foie gras in the menu whether I am in Dubai, Los Angeles or France. So below is a review of my foie gras dining experience at Qbara restaurant last weekend… When I arrived, I reviewed the menu and I was like a kid in a candy store because I was amazed at the unique creations. I must say it is far from the usual menu one usually finds in similar places (typical Italian, trying-hard French or inedible Japanese).

I decided to go for the quinoa salad with pomegranate dressing to start. The, I got excited when i saw foie gras was on the menu! I just came back from the South of France the week before and for some reason, in all the restaurants I went to, all the foie gras available were in terrine form (disclaimer: i am NOT an expert on french cuisine nor do i speak french) so I was really looking forward to ordering this dish especially because according to the menu, the foie gras is cooked with sumac (I love sumac too!)

I also ordered a glass of their house wine (white) which was superb. The quinoa salad followed, and it was perfect. The texture was just right and the balance of the flavours was just spot on. The foie gras was divine. I will repeat, DIVINE. I actually offered a short prayer of gratitude that I’ve found my new favorite dish.

What I did NOT like
OVERALL

I was actually clueless on what to expect at Qbara as the person who told me about it just said that they have “great” food. I was not even sure what type of cuisine is on offer. When I opened the menu, my first thought was ‘Lebanese fusion’ but now, looking back, I have to probably classify it (in my opinion) as contemporary dishes using Mediterranean- Lebanese flavours.

The AMBIANCE

Amazing ambiance, the music is lounge-y but mixed with a more upbeat vibe – not too loud so conversations are possible. There was also a musician (trumpet or saxophone, not sure) when I was there and a very cool Video Wall that you can watch and look at. Smoking is allowed inside but if you are a non-smoker you will not mind at all because of the massive space and high ceilings, there’s no danger for you to smell like an ashtray.

Never go WITHOUT a booking or risk eating your AMAZING food in a hurry. The night I went there, I was not really planning on going but since I was waiting for a friend in the WAFI area, I came across the place and since i was dressed up anyway, I decided to try it out. I was there early, around 9 PM, entered and picked a nice two-seater table on the 1st floor. After I ordered my wine and my food, one staff insisted I had to transfer to the bar because all the tables are booked. I was surprised because when I came in, the place was half-empty. It was of course stupid of me to assume. Anyway, I explained to the lady that I just ordered my food and as I am dining alone, I am not comfortable to eat in the bar (noooo...my lovely foie gras sitting on a bar stool?!) . She then said all her guests are coming in 30 minutes to 1 hour which actually relieved me because I said, it won’t take me half an hour to eat so if she could let me finish my dinner then I’ll gladly leave. I was speechless when she answered “NO you have to transfer NOW, I’m sorry” which I thought was unnecessarily unreasonable. In the middle of her talking, the quinoa salad arrived and then she just sighed and told me “well okay just stay there for now and eat” and just rudely left. Good thing, all the waiters were so polite and nice which appeased me a bit. So there you go…I ate my food faster than usual (and my friends can attest I am a fast eater, I don’t chew!) paid my bill and left, and for the record, there were still unoccupied tables beside me when I left .

I will definitely come back and eat here again to try out the other dishes. I applaud the chefs for coming up with creative concepts that actually taste good and infused with flavours familiar to the region. I made a decision not to let one annoying staff keep me away from this foodie heaven, but one thing’s for sure , I will never go there again WITHOUT a booking.

The salad that made me love Goat's Cheese

2014-03-21T15:28:00.002+04:00

I have always noticed this new hotel that seemed to come out of nowhere in the middle of these towers in Sheikh Zayed Road, the Conrad. I read somewhere that there's a Marco Pierre White resto in it so I saved it in a corner of my brain to come soon. Until one night when my date said that he found this really quiet but nice place in the same hotel called Purobeach. The weather was great so I thought, why not try it out as I was in the mood for an outdoor dinner.

As we reached the place, I was impressed. The pool side was surrounded by greenery and that immediately transports you on vacay mode. As the place is new , it was not crowded so the "relaxed " feel stayed.

The menu was a mix of different cuisines. We ordered a goat's cheese salad that immediately got me addicted. The salad was fresh and the cheese was perfectly baked. (AED 45 for Half Serving)

For main course, (don't laugh) I tried the Thai Chicken Curry which was served with rice. Does not match the salad at all but I was pretty hungry so I enjoyed it. (AED 65)

My date was more straightforward and is not very adventurous when it comes to new restaurants so as always, he ordered the burger. I tasted it and it was good- pricey though but still good. (AED 95) Overall, I will go back to this place. If you want a relaxed, quiet dinner, then this is for you.

the big bang about the factory called cheesecake

2013-11-04T01:06:00.002+04:00

One of my favorite food memory was in April of 2009 when I dined alone for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory in Marina Del Rey, California. See, a few days before that, a couple of friends brought me to eat at this restaurant for the first time but at the The Grove branch in Los Angeles. I loved it so much that I willed myself to eat there again, even solo, on a busy Sunday lunch. I ate a full rack of pork ribs and two cheesecakes all by myself! What i loved about the restaurant is that in both outlets - miles away from each other, the level of friendly, warm service is just topnotch.

Then with Penny of Big Bang Theory bringing this restaurant to the consciousness of people outside US, it is just expected that the Dubai opening will create such a hype. Contrary to what you'd expect, I procrastinated so much before trying out the Dubai branch for the fear of disappointment.

Finally, I did the inevitable and took the plunge. I ordered the Steak Diane and my date ordered the Blue Cheese Burger. My steak was -okay- not bad but not memorable. My date raved about his burger at first bite saying it is one of the best burgers he tasted in Dubai. I took a couple of bites and he was right! The beef patty was just juicy, with the right amount of meat & fat.It tasted like actual beef! The blue cheese was added with caution to make sure it complements and not overwhelm.

For dessert, we shared a strawberry cheesecake which tasted amazing as expected- but a little bit too sweet for a cheesecake in my view.

The service is not bad but I did not get the same warm or friendly atmosphere. I can't say Im disappointed because it was still a good eating experience nonetheless.

I guess the lesson I learned is if you are going to eat at an American joint, order the burger- not the steak or anything fancy sounding.Go with what the place is good at.Well , I'd recommend the pork ribs but since that is not possible- stick to the burgers!

The attraction that is Zaroob...

2013-10-24T00:50:00.000+04:00

I must admit that it was the almost blinding, flashy lights that made me really want to try out this restaurant. Last week, we finally had the chance to have a late dinner here.

The weather was a bit cooler so we chose a table outside. The ambiance of this restaurant is super amazing. It transports you to another place altogether and makes you want to stay longer.

We ordered beef shawarma in saj bread, sujouk & cheese manakish, fetteh lahmeh and for drinks, lemon and mint juice.

Everything came out fresh and really tasty. Not five star fancy but more of home-cooked authentic style fare.Prices are reasonable (cheap almost) because we went out with stomachs full, paying just about aed100 for two people.

This is a great place to take friends for a relaxing,lovely street-style meal

fashion pressure

2013-10-20T01:22:00.001+04:00

I've always been unaffected by peer pressure. I don't easily succumb to what's in unless I also really dig it. But what I've discovered is I get pressured seeing a certain style of clothing hit it big in the malls! Two years ago, it was the shorts. For some reason, everyone is suddenly wearing really short shorts and what used to be reserved for those with Heidi Klum-esque legs became a staple for everybody. That made me motivated to start dieting and lose weight so my thighs will lose enough fat to look okay in shorts. And thankfully , I achieved that!
Now fast forward to 2013, another trend that's making the waves are crop tops! This is a trend that made me so confused! I am quite positive this is never gonna be a mass market trend because hey, obesity is on the rise so who'll wear these? But that did not stop Forever 21 and other high street brands to flood their racks with crop tops and midriff showing clothes! I was so stressed that I found myself just craving to wear one! Crazy right? Well, after weeks and months of dieting, i got the nerve to buy a couple of midriff showing clothes and actually wear them! I made sure though that the crop top was paired with a high waisted skirt to hide my small pouch :) and the midriff cutout dress is black and slimming! However, I still need a few more pounds to lose and lots of ab crunching before i get to show serious midriff!
Here's my crop top "launch" at Cannes, France

Going for 'Gold'... Literally!

2013-07-28T00:19:00.001+04:00

So i guess I'm almost at a point now where my weight is something i'm quite happy with...maybe a few more kilos and a flat tummy then I'm done! But then, this gold campaign came about and i became super motivated to lose these last ten pounds this month! 1ounce of gold for every kilo is not a joke !

But boy is it hard! Iftars , suhoors and eat outs are just cropping up like marshmallow tests- do i eat now or enjoy the (golden) benefit if i held on? And these marvelous buffets would just have hard to find arabic dishes and desserts that if you don't watch it, they will surely add a couple of kilos in an instant!

Well, ramadan is almost done but then there's eid indulgence coming up! Maybe i'm not destined to get that gold after all!?!

Your Weight in Gold: people lining up for the weigh in at Safa Park

There's us attending the Traccs Suhoor at Khan Murjan

Drinks at Shakespeare Souk Al Bahar

Lovely iftar at Dusit Thani DIFC

'Ugh- i hate 'pseudo-intellectuals'

2013-05-22T00:20:00.001+04:00

What truly pisses me off is reading a tweet by a random 13 year old saying that voting for Erap is indeed stupid. Seriously? You were 1 year old in 2001 so how can you even have an opinion?!?

I can clearly remember that time... I was a freshman in UP Diliman and 90% of the students & professors were cutting classes to go to rallies in EDSA, including my sister who was a member of one of the University's theater group. Almost all of my classmates would go to all these rallies, except me. I remember that whenever classes were suspended, I would convince my blockmate to watch a movie in SM North instead. My number one reason for not going to the rallies was because I followed the impeachment process. Since Erap agreed to undergo this process, then people should respect process. We cannot just ignore the millions of people who voted for him , just because of this unopened envelope. Cmon he was the first president after Marcos who was without question voted by the majority of Filipino people. The number of students who don't even vote crowding the streets of EDSA is not a valid majority.

See, my mom voted for Erap and back then I believed that my mom would never choose someone if he's not good enough. Before you jump to conclusions, my mom is a University educated woman and before Mt. Pinatubo erupted, she owned a considerable part of her father's hacienda. Yes, even educated middle class people voted for Erap. I did ask my mom why she voted for Erap... Is it because he was a famous movie star? My mom always answered that people wanted someone they want to believe in... Someone to motivate them to work harder and someone who really has the heart for the poor people. That was why she voted for Erap.

When Erap was leaving Malacanang, I cried. I was disappointed. i thought Erap would stick it out. I resented Davide and GMA acting "God" and proclaiming a new president. Was Erap really guilty? We will never know will we? And i wont pretend i know better... Maybe he is, maybe not. I just find it so ironic that the woman who replaced him as president turned out to be a proven crook. Oh i was just so relieved i was not a part of those rallies that elected her.

I remember that a lot of my school mates would ask me why I dont attend the rallies. Then they would shake their heads thinking i was out of my mind whenever i tell them I'm pro-Erap. I always tell them I am pro-people's choice. i get the same reaction when I tell them that i think Aegis songs are cool and I watch Judy Ann Santos movies. I get laughs and some thought I was just kidding. Then, when i start asking these same people about why they are against these things, they start to clam up. After I try to challenge their views to explain beyond the cliche people read on the front page of every broadsheet, i then discover that most of these people are clueless. That is what i hate. If you really have an opinion, fine... But dont pretend to have one just because you want to look like you belong to the "educated" "in" crowd.

of pink neon lipsticks

2013-03-25T20:45:00.001+04:00

my sister asked me to try out this really bright lipstick, and i laughed after trying it on because it's just... bright!
the next day i was at Boots and found the same lipstick, it was the last piece and since i cant seem to find my entire makeup bag, i bought it. i put it on even though i knew it was too pink. i went back to office and one of my colleagues suddenly commented in the middle of a conersation that i look nice and different and when i pointed out that i just put the lipstick on he "oh!'d" ...that bolstered my confidence and i decided to brave the whole day andkeep the 'pinkness'. today, still cant find my makeup bag so it was another neon day... i still super think its too bright, but whaaduhell, let them and let me get use to it until i find my other lipsticks ;)

anonymous comments

2013-03-19T22:37:00.001+04:00

I was reading a news article online published by my university. After the report, i saw a flood of comments with people just putting their opinions out there. one comment i read bothered me so much that i decided to sign up and comment anonymously. this started an online debate between me and that person. he is not totally wrong but i disagree on how he generalize things and i felt that he is stuck into this certain mentality that is so naive and selfish that is really disturbing. after i challenged his opinions, he even went out of context and argued that he has freedom of speech to publicly declare what he thinks and mocked if i have a problem with that. of course i dont have a problem with him having an opinion but when his opinion disrespects people like those subject in the news report then i feel that i also have the right to challenge that. just saying.
"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"Voltaire

keeping it up

2013-02-15T20:44:00.001+04:00

so okay I totally messed up on this diet thing again..! it's just very complicated to keep up with my focus of not eating the "bad" food when hubby just keeps on ordering pizza and shawarma! or when I don't have any other choice on a shoot but gobble up that mac n cheese... or maybe when there's a kfc treat happening! I know so many excuses but still, I try to skip the m&ms and the galaxy bars !

now I wonder how I can shed off these extra 10 kgs!

Back to blogging , when technology kills technology (?)

2013-01-31T00:55:00.000+04:00

Whenever I feel like writing something, I always tell myself to go back and be active on blogging. The funny thing is after a couple of posts , I sort of get out of the habit again.

In retrospect, I feel that the popularity and accessibility of mobile internet devices is to blame for my non-blogging period. Ever since my blackberry, and ipad started dominating my internet surfing hours (not to mention after selling my 5 yr. old MacBook), I got used to just checking things online on the go. With the touch screen features not really very keyboard friendly to someone like me who is more used to pounding her fingers as she thinks... blogging became something that is a bit of an "effort".

On Feb 2013 , I swore to myself that Ill start my diet again, and with this, I will try to blog at least once weekly just to drain my thoughts and clear my cluttered mind... let's just see which one of these two I can actually keep up!

Lovely Monday

2012-04-25T10:52:00.000+04:00

The day started out really great with very minimal traffic on the way to the office. At around noon, hubby passed by for a relaxing lunch in Century Village. It is actually one of our favorite restaurants in Dubai, as this was where we had our first real date in 2007.

I ordered the lamb chops, but I felt really jealous of hubby's Wagyu burger. Next time I'll know what to get!

After office, I was off to Jumeirah Beach Road to meet up with good friends and our High School English teacher who is visiting Dubai for a couple of months. We spent the night digging into tasty Thai fare while indulging in "walk back to memory lane" conversations peppered with boisterous laughter.

Usapang Puso (Heart Talks)

2012-04-20T23:35:00.000+04:00

I was sitting in a hotel lobby yesterday waiting for my husband to pick me up when an elderly woman sat down next to me asking if there was wifi in the lobby. I was playing a game on my IPad so she might have thought I had access to the Internet. I shook my head saying that there is a fee of 5$ per hour. She mumbled that she couldn't understand why a 5 star hotel in Dubai wouldn't have free wifi. I was intrigued so I closed my IPad and started to get to know her. I asked where she came from and she said she's originally from Bangkok. I was excited and I told her how I adore that city. I told her how my mom and my sister shopped all day nonstop and went back home paying over baggage fees at the airport. I found out that she is in Dubai not as a tourist but as a participant in a medical conference for a week. She is a cardiologist. I was taken aback! This seemingly harmless,fragile lady is actually a super doctor who saves hearts! She smiled at the obvious surprise in my face. She said that she is not a surgeon but she focuses more on treatments and medicines for heart conditions. In those short minutes I briefly told her how my dad had a heart surgery a few years back and how it is very important for him to take care of his health now.she asked how old my dad is and i said 59 then she shared that she is 65. I gave her my contact details and asked for hers. I told her that I will surely give her a call next time I'm in Bangkok. I asked her then if she has kids and she said no. Husband? She pointed at the man who was sitting not far away on the next couch. She then said he is a plastic surgeon! I jokingly touched my face and exclaimed: "plastic surgeon? I'll surely give you a call next time I'm in Bangkok! " It's amazing how a simple conversation can lead to new friendships with people you'd never expect.

my dubai must- haves

2010-09-07T00:14:00.000+04:00

1. a pair of good quality sunglasses
Before living in Dubai, I was not the type to wear shades on a daily basis, but now I make sure I have a pair on whenever I go outside to shield my eyes from the piercing heat. Investing in a good pair or two with really strong UV protection is recommended. Tip: Don't fall for the Buy one Take one hook in most convenience stores, i did a long while ago and the shades made my head ache!

2. Comfy sneakers
Being a mall rat, I love the huge shopping malls in Dubai but my feet definitely don't! Now I make sure I have my trusty pair of Nikes on when I spend the day in the mall, or a comfy pair of sandals/slippers when shoe shopping.

3. MAC Studio Fix
Not everyone is blessed with good skin so girls like me have to rely on the power of Mac Studio Fix to look at least presentable. This product is magic and can stand 45 degrees C of heat, with just a couple of blotting paper touch ups.

4. Lip Balm and Moisturizers
Battle the dryness! I make sure to always carry around a tube of Burts Bees or VS lip balm and B&B lotion to even out the flake.

5. Anti Hair Fall Shampoo
For some weird reason, the water here in Dubai is not hair friendly.It was a struggle to find a shampoo that suited my hair type without adding to the hairfall problem- and minimise it. Mine is Head and Shoulders Pink. What's yours?

6.Laptop
Every expat should have one. It is the most essential tool for communicating with family abroad, job hunting, socialising, etc.

7. Vitamin C
Being inside the AC for the whole day then braving the heat outside is not good for the system. Taking 1000mg a day protects me from getting sick.

8. Jacket and Scarves
I find the Dubai winter cold and that's perfectly normal, i guess, if you come from a tropical country like the Philippines. So I stock a few jackets and scarves for the colder months in my closet

9. A nice smelling cologne for the elevators
My least favorite moment is getting stuck in the elevator with an unbearable 'smell'. If i'm carrying my bag, I just take out my atomiser and spray when the 'smell' loads off.

10. Water
I know, i SHOULD drink more water.

thoughts 8 months into 2010

2010-08-19T00:50:00.000+04:00

okaaay. so i finally managed to transfer all my blog posts from my 5 separate blogs and export them to my original, first ever blog address which is this one. So all my other ones are dead- may exist somewhere in the blog-o-sphere but will not be updated... super inggit that zeena zalamea kept all her blog posts in one, so i really studied how to transfer na.it feels nice to know that i have one solid blog where all my thoughts are kept and published.

It has been a crazy 8 months. i feel that it was just a flurry of events , hard work and sleepless nights. Traveled 5x in the past 7 months, the shortest one for 4 days, the rest about 10-12 days and the longest one 22 days. As one of my arabic colleagues put it, i'm lucky that i have a supportive hubby who understands my work.

the year started with a movie in production , rushed and completed shooting by April. Then immediately following the film,. a series of 7 tvcs needed to be done (in 4 laguages) and completed by June... and just when i was scheduled to take my annual vacation, one of the biggest projects in the agency happened in July- which im still doing now.. so i guess no leaves for me for the next 4 months... that's gonna be 2 years since my last annual vacation, where my only break from work happened when i had an operation, when i had a serious flu and when i had a 1-2 day stopover on a trip

In the past 8 mos...there's new friends, lost friends, better friends, friends newly reacquainted with and long distance friends ive seen recently... Friends who stay the same in terms of your relationship with them even if you haven't seen them for a long time and there's friends who consider appearances more important than how you'll feel. There's been laughs , loves, fights and hurts, weight gains and weight loss.

the past 8 months is a flutter of memories.. i loved the early beach dates with my husband where we just hang out and stare at the ocean, hanging out with the dubai gang, Glee marathon with friends, following the world cup only to miss the finals as i was aboard a plane at the exact time, nighttime safari and walking aimlessly -lost- in the streets of singapore , pigging out in cebu while hitting only 3 hrs of sleep a day, drunk nights in w hollywood and that wicked hangover in the city where what happens there, stay where it is.

Oh and this month, im celebrating my 3rd year in dubai. the city i actually came to love , where i found love and hopefully bring me more lovely days in the coming years.

one thing ive learned is to have more time for my self, my husband, my family and personal stuff... in the end, i want to look back with no regrets. i believe success is not being cutthroat and just pushing people away to get on top of the game,.. success is being able to recognize what is important to you and making that your priority.
sheesh. cheesy i know, but hey as Khloe Kardashian puts it... " So go out and party and be merry with the people you love."(Khloe Kardashian SOURCE: NBC New York)

advanced christmas

2009-12-11T18:29:00.000+04:00

Christmas season started early as i received lots of gifts this early..well mostly doubled up as wedding and xmas presents but i dont mind at all!

> got loads of stuff from johnnys family in syria- from clothes,shoes, food, and jewellry

>got a surprise wedding reception during our office xmas party from the bosses

> our boss flew in my mom and dad to dubai as a surprise gift- theyre staying till new year

>got Pinoy stuff gifts from ma and pa

> got my essay published in PDI

Youngblood

> wine glasses from kashif

>best wishes from everyone

Things im still waiting to receive:

1. trendy espresso cup set

2. MAC Studio Fix NC40 (foundation)

3. the new john grisham novel

4. surprise me…

whew too long

2008-12-04T18:28:00.000+04:00

it’s been too long since ive posted anything in here, and now i promise to update this blog regularly.

here’s 5 great things ive achieved since my last post:

1. went on to my annual leave and visited cyprus and latakia syria

2. got married while in cyprus during a too quick sunset by the beach

3. learned tons of arabic in syria and met all the rest of my husband’s (ehehe) family

4. got a new job focus in my company as a producer and part time PA

5. lost 5 kilograms yey!

yala, til next post

good and bad

2008-07-25T18:26:00.000+04:00

Good: Met up with Johnny’s cousin last night and had couple of drinks of kiwi juice and arag (for them)

Bad: Had to stay up late and miss my car pool for the 3rd time this week!

Good: once in the office, toshibamillionaire website was up with very tiny changes from client

Bad:Had to update 19 pages of work in progress report

Good: Technically halfday on Sunday because will accompany new Account director with flat hunting

Bad : Coffee got cold because had to do a detour and brief the studio guys

Good: Had nice late lunch of oriental prawns with office mates

Bad: Too much emails in lotus notes to read, manage and not forget.

Good: Got email from ecensus with birth certs, etc that i requested online which took them only 2-3 days to process, now i am a firm believer of the Philippine online Government system.

Bad:Realized that it’s almost month’s end and my budget is depleted

Good: Bosses held lottery raffle this afternoon with everyone winning cash

Bad: Not so lucky in Raffle- got consolation but hey, the amout is actually NOT bad at all!

i'm older now

2008-05-31T18:26:00.000+04:00

Quarter of a century. This might sound a bit too cliche but i still have to say that time flies so fast. I can still remember when i was in elementary school and mama won’t let us watch TV on schoolnights so whenever i’d miss Campus Romance on GMA 7, i’ll just lie down in bed thinking up my own plots and pairing up my favorite TV stars and watch the episode in my head.Then i’ll fall asleep thinking ‘yeah right’. Fast forard to 2005, i am working at the biggest TV network in the Philippines and my childhood hobby is actually my real job. And just thinking about it now, i just shake my head because that was 3 years ago and i am now in the middle east with a totally different life.

25 is old. That is according to my 15 year old mind 10 years ago. A couple of months back, it started to dawn on me that the answer to the question "how do you see yourself 10 years from now" which was always asked in highschool and in college entrance exams is actually the present. This is assessment time. I realized that I’ve done a lot, I’ve been through a lot of things people i meet now say ‘really?’

Then, I ask myself about my life now. I’m happy. I don’t like any contradictions. I feel good now whenever i do something good for other people. Like good karma. I now know that being a good friend does not neessarily mean saying yes to everything. It’s my life too so I also count.It means accepting that some friends are simply the way they are. it does not help to pretend that they are otherwise. I still feel upset though whenever i get disappointed and other people just make it their business to make lives messier.

Reiz told me a few days back that i sound so mature like I think differently. Well i guess i have always been this way but now my age caught up with my brain and everything fell into place to make everything seem right ( i hope that makes sense). i don’t want to struggle anymore with senseless things that do not benefit anyone. i just want to live my life and be happy.I’m older now… it’s time for me to just savor the experience and face life with my head up.