The Pink Tarha

A Date with The Pink Tarha

2012-02-02T13:55:00.017+03:00

Hello, lovelies! We celebrated The Pink Tarha's third anniversary last January 24. We actually kind of forgot (eeeep!) that's why the girls and I didn't have a proper celebration. No dinner. No clinking of (Saudi) champagne bottles. No fireworks. Echos, parang meron naman noon (as if there were before).

So anyway, we'd like you to celebrate with us! We're treating one of you to a dinner at The Noodle House, one of our favorite restaurants in the city.

We know we offered this before when we were chairing the Where The Heart Is Photo Contest. However, we didn't get to pick a 'liker' because we became busy with work, with extracurricular activities, and with vacation. So, we're amping up our prize this time. We'll really treat you nicely and bongga-ciously! :P But due to some limitations, this is available to LADIES WHO ARE LIVING IN RIYADH ONLY. Please take note of this as this is really important. We don't want to send a different message especially in using the words "dinner DATE". This is an all-girl date. Okay? (FTR, we are not a dating site, haha!)

So, here's what you have to do:

STEP 1. Visit The Pink Tarha's Facebook page.
STEP 2. If you're still not a fan, please like our page.

For those who are already fans, proceed to step 3.

STEP 3. LIKE this photo.

And that's it! Easy peasy! All you have to do is LIKE this PHOTO!

LIKE!

We'll choose ONE winner (from among the likers) by using an online random raffle generator. Or, we'll write all the names of the likers in pieces of folded paper and pick from there. Don't worry, for transparency and honesty, we'll show you how the winner is chosen. We'll choose the winner on 12:00PM (KSA time), February 14, 2012. So you have all the time to 'like' from today until Feb 14. :) The dinner will happen on a date and time we'll agree upon so we can accommodate everyone's schedule. If you're our personal friend (as in we/one of us know you), you can join. :)

Again, ONLY LADIES WHO ARE LIVING IN RIYADH CAN JOIN. If you have any questions, just comment here.

Don't worry, ladies, we don't bite. Haha. We'll have fun! :)

The Hidden Valley

2012-02-01T07:00:00.006+03:00

After three years, I found myself in Hidden Valley again. Not lost, mind you, but appalled at how much garbage had been thrown and graffiti had been written in the place through the years.

Let me backtrack a little... Hidden Valley is the next stop to a Red Sand weekend trip of Filipino family and friends in Riyadh. Remember this post I wrote about Red Sand three years ago? At the end of the entry, I promised a Hidden Valley entry next but much like missing Pink Tarha up next posts, I never got around to writing it. My sisters, who are visiting Riyadh for the first time, gave me another reason to visit the place and finally, as in finally, write about it.

We went to Red Sand last Thursday. The weather is perfect. It was a little bit cold for my liking but I like the sun's warmth when we were already climbing the hill. Nothing much has changed. There were lots of Filipinos and there were still the makukulit Saudi youth who kept doing acrobatics in the sand. One of them even removed his shirt and began chasing Filipinas wanting to give them a group hug! His friends subdued him (good for him because other Filipinos were already throwing him dagger looks). Anyway, after a while, we went to the Hidden Valley.

The path to Hidden Valley (mind the tires).

It's beginning to look like a construction site.

Not much has been said about the Hidden Valley (must be because it was hidden? Chos!). It's where most Filipinos have their picnic after walking up and down the red sand hills or riding ATVs. When we first went there in 2009, I was amazed with the rock formations surrounding the place. It creates a dramatic backdrop to a desert experience. Filipinos and other expats climb the rock walls and hills to get an amazing view of the dunes and Grand Canyon-like scenery afar.

A trail up to the sand mountain.

What I did not fail to notice though are the graffiti on the wall. Seriously? Must this be a wall of attendance or a bulletin board of love announcements?!

Are those writings on the wall? Trash on the floor?

I was expecting a better Hidden Valley this time knowing that this place is already an established picnic ground so visitors might have cleaned up after they eat or hang out on the place, right? After all, many expats come here and see this as somewhat like a tourist spot. Oooohkay, that thought bubble burst immediately when I saw the place again. It was dirty. Trash littered everywhere.

Plastic everywhere!

The dry river bed running on the side (part of the Wadi Nissah), is filled with paper and plastic plates, plastic bags, empty cartons, mineral water bottles, chip bags, and a lot more.

If this dry river can talk...

*speechless*

If that river is not dry, it might have looked like Ilog Pasig by now. Plastic bags hung on the branches of the desert bushes. The walls were covered in more graffiti. Names of visitors were proudly displayed. As in talaga namang ineffort nila masyado ang pag-akyat at pagsusulat! I wonder how they did that. Spiderman much?! Did they bring paint just to write on the rock walls?!

There are more to these on other walls, kaloka!

The sisters were snickering. "This is a tourist spot? You brought us here to see trash?," they said laughing. I was embarrassed. "It was better before!" I claimed. To somewhat steer them away from the trash-filled scene, I told them to pose making the rock formations and mountains as their background. Those magnificent rock formations are salvation.

You're still here! :)

Closer, closer...

I must admit I didn't begin picking up trash right there and then if I'm THAT concerned. However, we all know that there's no excuse in not disposing trash properly. A lot of Filipinos go in Hidden Valley and in Red Sand; make it picnic grounds, even take naps on carpets under the desert bushes. There are no official caretakers of this place. I think only us Filipinos and some other expats know of these places as tourist spots (Saudis usually go to Thumamah for their desert camping trips). Let this quote be our reminder, not only when we go around Saudi Arabia, but when we go everywhere: "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time."

With that, have fun exploring Saudi Arabia! :)

Much Love,

§undrenched

Coron: Paradise Found {3/3}

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000+03:00

I'm now down to the last entry on my adventure in Coron, Palawan {Part 1, Part 2} and just like what I felt when I left Palawan, I have a separation anxiety going on here. I love talking about my Coron experience because it's one of those travels that I did not expect to live up to my expectations, and go beyond it pa. Coron was a random choice my friends made when a promo seat sale came and boy am I glad their finger landed on this island.

Our view from Ralph's Pension Lodge

I'm sure you're wondering about the accommodation and the food and the souvenirs... very touristy! :) Well, the good news is, accommodation and lodges in Coron are very affordable (bordering on cheap pa nga). The semi-bad news is for picky travelers. The very affordable price comes with basic amenities. There are no grand hotels here that will give you five-star service and amenities. My friends and I are not picky travelers and we can even rough it out if the going gets tough. We had a decent stay at Ralph's Pension House in the town proper. They gave us a competitive package that has everything we need for this vacation (thanks A for arranging everything!). They were easy to talk to and they made sure requests were taken cared of. Here's our room good for five.

The Babydoll Room: 2 queen beds and 1 single bed.

There were towels and a clean bathroom in the room.

Climbing the steep, roughly-hewn steps to get to our room

We paid around P5,000 each for the accommodation, tour, and meals. Speaking of meals, their food are awesome and more than adequate for the five of us. They gave in to our request of seafood on our last night in Coron. I super duper love their huge crabs! And their shrimps too. Even their simple adobo and chopsuey were tasty.

What's for lunch?

Oh my goodness, ~~cholesterol~~ dinner is served!

If you're not satisfied with the food in your accommodation, you can try a lot of restaurants in Coron. There's Lolo Nonoy's Food Stations, Kawayanan Grill, Coron Bristro and Bar, etc. They mostly serve house-cooked meals (lutong bahay). If you're not sure what to order, go for the grilled meat and seafood in the menu. As for the nightlife, hmnnnn, restaurants close rather early. After all, this is still a sleepy town in the middle of the sea. There's one 'bar' though known as Subasco.

As for souvenirs, either go for the tried and tested key chains, ref magnets, t-shirts, and displays at the shops in the town plaza or buy their kasuy (cashew nuts) and daing (dried fish). I picked a few colorful fish key chains for my collection, pairs of pearl earrings for my grandmother, packs of cashew nuts, and a kilo of daing. You can buy them in the stalls near the harbor plaza.

Coron shirts

The usual pasalubong; nothing beats a key chain! :)

Ooooh lovely colors! So summer lang ang peg.

For the cashew nuts, you must go to Coron Harvest. The proprietess is a legend in cashew nuts.

Nanay Lita of Coron Harvest

Nanay Lita has been interviewed and photographed countless of times already because she sells the most awesome kasuy nuts ever. I think I finished two packs in a few sitting. Hindi nakakaumay! They were supposed to be pasalubong for my sisters but I ended up eating them. Haha, guilty!

Once you stop munching, you'll never stop!

Coron's dried fish is a little bit different from the daing in Manila. Theirs is not too dry and not too salty. It's crunchy but still has soft meat in it. We loved it as 'dasilog' (dried fish-garlic fried rice-egg)... perfect breakfast!

Saraaaaaap!

After a hearty breakfast and a walk in town, we went back to Ralph's to prepare our things. With our bags packed, we bid Coron goodbye and headed back to Manila.

Goodbye, Coron! Thank you for an awesome vacation!

Aside from what I've written in Part 1, 2, and on this entry, here are some tips more for future Coron travelers:

1. Pick an accommodation that is near the port like Coron Gateway Hotel (it's the nearest) or those hostels that are in the town proper, esp. when you just come for the usual island tour. It's easier to go to the port and meet your boatmen and guide.

2. Pick an accommodation that is on the other islands if you want to have a peaceful, relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of it all (ie. honeymoon). They're far from the town proper and are usually 30-45 minutes away from the Coron port. Talagang 'middle of nowhere' ang dating. Survivor Series with the amenities! Haha. I recommend Chindonan Resort and Dive Center (a separate entry on it soon).

3. Bring a lot of family and friends so you get cheaper packages with everything included.

4. For divers, try Sangat Island Resort. They're nearer the wrecks of Japanese boats sunk in WWII and really specialize in diving. They have the complete gear and equipment for it.

5. Bring your own snorkel and water shoes if you have so you won't have to rent.

6. Bring a waterproof camera (or rent one in Coron). It's a must!!! (I regret not bringing/renting one!)

The whole Coron experience still feels surreal for me. Was it really possible that I've been to paradise? On earth? In this lifetime? Ahhhh... I couldn't believe it but I have the photos to pinch myself with.

So, what's your travel plans for 2012? I promised myself that I'll travel outside Saudi Arabia this year. I mean, aside from going to the Philippines, I will have a RUH-(somewhere)-RUH itinerary. I'm thinking Morocco or UAE to visit friends. Hmnnn... Maldives is beckoning too. Where are we going next?! :)

How To Keep Your Skin Moisturized in the Desert

2012-01-28T22:47:00.001+03:00

I really love beauty products especially natural and organic ones. I also like to try new things on my own. I make my own facial masks and color my own hair. *yes, it's actually easier than I thought.*

I was already a lotion junky in Manila. Even though it's really humid I would still wear lotion. Why? Because I've seen the long term benefits of moisturizing your skin. My grandmother had the smoothest skin and even at 50, her skin was still supple. She didn't have a lot of wrinkles and if she did, it was only visible when she smiled.

The skin is the largest and most exposed organ in our body and we should remember to take care of it. Beautiful skin really glows and makes one look youthful. And I would gladly endure the lagkit factor (though I don't really feel it) if it will ensure that my skin will age gracefully.

When I moved back to Riyadh a few years ago, I had to slowly change my beauty regimen to fit the climate. You see, in Riyadh, regardless whether it's summer and winter, it's always dry... really dry... so I really had to double my efforts to take care of my skin. Here are my tried and tested natural remedies to dryness.

For the body:

To lock in moisture, I use olive oil! Yep, olive oil. Right after I shower, before I towel dry, I lather on some olive oil. When I'm done, I use the excess olive oil on my face and massage it for a minute. Then I towel dry and put on some lotion on my body. I find that lotion glides on smoother when I do this and it keeps me from re-applying.

Virgin Olive Oil at our local bakala

Don't forget to wear lotion with SPF 15 to protect your skin from sun damage! This is actually the key to taking care of your skin. I usually apply a mix of sunblock and lotion on my arms, the back of my neck, my feet and wherever else my skin is exposed to the sun. This is the best way to maintain your fair skin and avoid further sun damage like darkening, sun spots and sun burn. Wa-epek lahat ng whitening creams if you don't use sunscreen. Do remember that even though it's winter, you still need the SPF. The sun is still there... no matter how cold it gets.

For the face:

After I wash my face, I apply a mix of Aloe Vera gel, SPF 15 lotion and my liquid foundation. This combo helps prevent makeup from looking "caked on". During the evenings, I use Vitamin C serum or Aloe Vera Gel before hitting the sack. On weekends, I prepare a yogurt facial mask for deep moisturizing. ^_^ (I use full cream natural yogurt, it's only 1sr per cup at any bakala or grocery store.)

For the hair:

Oh let's not forget our hair! Conditioning is really important if you regularly blow dry, curl, iron or color treat your hair. And because I color my hair, it's really important for me to keep it moisturized to prevent split ends. I use shampoos and conditioner specifically for color treated hair. Apply conditioner from the middle down to the tips to avoid product build up on your scalp.

Almarai natural yoghurt for 1sr.

On the weekends, I use a mixture of yogurt and olive oil on my hair and leave it on for at least an hour. Then I wash it off. The yogurt hair mask has the consistency of coconut milk minus the smell. Plus natural yogurts are cheaper here as compared to buying gata at the Pinoy market.

So what are you waiting for? Bring on the TLC!

xoxo,

Sampaguita Pride

Coron: Paradise Found {2/3}

2012-01-25T09:46:00.001+03:00

Hola, readers! It's cold in Riyadh... how are you coping? I'm coping by looking at the photos of Coron. It's summer on this entry as I pick up where I left off in my Coron, Palawan post. (I'm one with the Filipino people in promoting the Philippines especially after the launch of our "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign. And just for fun, here's a It's More Fun in the Philippines meme generator. Make your own! :)

Read the first part of my Coron adventure here.

My friends and I were really excited for our Day 2. We had an "island hopping" trip the whole day. This is what we missed hiking the 700+ steps to Mt. Tapyas for. We conserved all the energy we had to enjoy our day trip to . Yup, all in a day's ~~work~~ pleasure, folks!

Seeing Mt. Tapyas from the port

The Hollywood-like sign of Coron

The day was clear and beautiful. It was the perfect day to bring out our sunnies and summer dresses (kahit na November na!). The sea was amazingly calm and blue and the sights were all so green.

Boats are so ready for tourists!

I had to pinch myself a few times to remind myself that I'm not dreaming. I'm really seeing nature at its bluest and greenest (as opposed to its brownest in the desert). You'll notice in the photos on this entry that blue and green are the dominating colors. So inspiring! I was on high!

Our first stop is Kayangan Lake, known to be Asia's cleanest lake and when they say clean, as in crystal clean! Este, clear pala! :) But before we reached the lake, we needed to go up and down roughly-hewn, slippery stone steps. For me, who's been bingeing on junk food and avoiding exercise for 2011, it was a nightmare. I was puffing and huffing after 10 steps. Exagg! Haha. Good thing, there was a bench halfway. And the gorgeous scenery renewed my energy. Parang walang nangyari after!

Coron, Palawan

It's the most known scenery in Coron (and I'll be disappointed if you don't know that this is in our beloved Philippines). This is the photo you'll find advertised in travel agencies, travel brochures, and DOT campaigns. I can't blame them for picking this. This photo best captures the things Coron has to offer. It looks amazing yet mysterious at the same time. You're seeing a lot but you'll be surprised more of what these photograph doesn't show you.

This is the huge limestone that you see from above on the photo^^.

We decided to head down the lake...

Time for a dip, don't you think?

The clear blue Kayangan lake was surrounded my limestone cliffs. There was a man-made bamboo bridge to walk in. The first dip in the cool water was amazing! We spent an hour just swimming and snorkeling in the lake (life vests came free with the tour package; goggles can be rented at P50.00/ea). There was a small cave but we were too afraid to enter it. It was dark and the water was rising. After a while, the lake got crowded with students on a field trip so we bid Kayangan Lake goodbye and went to a less crowded lake.

Will we see a barracuda?

Enter Barracuda Lake. Can you guess the reason behind the name? Naman! A huge barracuda fish lives on this lake. Our guide said she's seen it. I had mixed feelings about seeing a barracuda so huge it can probably swallow me whole. Haha. Good thing, the barracuda was a no-show. It wouldn't come to the shallow surface. The photo above is the deep part of the lake as you can see from the color of the water. It's too dark blue/green.

The lake stretches to the other side.

We had the lake to ourselves so we enjoyed this lake better than Kayangan. It was so serene and lovely. We got hungry, of course. So our boat team suggested we eat lunch after Barracuda Lake. They took us to Banol Beach, a slice of 'Boracay' in Coron. It's a small strip of white sand with a few huts where most tourists eat their lunch. Our guides prepared some grilled fish and meat for us.

Sino ba naman ang hindi gaganahan sa pagkain with this view?!

After lunch, we went to the much-talked about Twin Lagoons.

The entrance to the lagoons.

Here's the thing about these lagoons: the bigger one welcomes you with open arms while the smaller one is a little bit mysterious. We needed to make a choice between two ways to enter the smaller, inner lagoon. One is wading in this very small, low tunnel and the other one is to climb a rickety, wooden stairs and jump to the other side. The former seemed a better idea so off we went! {I'm sorry, I didn't have photos of the small lagoon. It's part of its mystic you see. You should go to see it. That, and I didn't bring a waterproof camera with me.}

Which option will you choose?

The unusual thing about the small lagoon is the temperature of the water. It changes every feet or so. One minute you're wading in cool water, the next minute it's lukewarm. Or hotter. Or colder. You wouldn't know what to feel unless you're already there. Fascinating!

It's time to head off to a snorkel site in the area called Twin Peaks. There were so many fishes and beautiful corals in this area. Our boatman opened his stash of bread and offered it in the water. The fishes swarmed and I photographed them like crazy!

Hungry much?

Come here fishy, fishy!

We had a good time meeting the fishes.

Meet n' greet! :)

After that, we went to Siete Pecados, another snorkel site. Siete Pecados is called such, not because of bad things (seven sins), but because of the seven islets dotting the area. It's filled with colorful fishes and long stretches of coral reefs. Sayaaaaa!

The last pit stop.

Even from the boat, we can already see the corals and fishes

My friends and I waited for sunset in this area and it's one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen in my life. Promise!

The sunset at Siete Pecados

These are the scenes on our way back to the port...

So nostalgic...

A burst of color

Sunsets... what a perfect way to end this marvelous day.

This is one day in my life that I'll never forget. I saw a lot of beautiful places that still tugs my heart at this very minute of writing this entry. I learned and experienced a lot. You see, I don't know how to swim and being in the water is obviously my waterloo. Even with life vests on, I cannot for the life of me, trust myself not to do something stupid and prolly drown. Well turned out, I worry too much and I don't believe in myself enough. With the help of my friends and our very friendly, funny guide Ate Tin, I conquered different kinds of fear. The beauty of Coron helped a lot. I wouldn't pass up this chance to not swim in the very blue, clear waters of Coron. And so, I managed to snorkel and wade in the water without screwing up. I managed to enjoy in my very own waterloo. That to me is an achievement. So really, I encourage you to go to Coron and experience a life-changing place. You'll be mesmerized and amazed and inspired and awed...

Okay, I'm waxing nostalgia again. Haha. The best of Coron food and products on the last installment to this travel series. :)

Happy Wednesday!

Much Love,

§undrenched

PS. I'm not blogging from MNL anymore. This tarha is back in Riyadh, haha.)

Q&A Portion 12

2012-01-18T11:34:00.001+03:00

Hi dear tarhas! How's January treating you? It's still cold in Riyadh and a Saudi officemate told us that it'll reach -7 degrees this weekend. Oh my! Let's all bundle up then! :) Anyway, we know we owe you a lot of entries and hopefully, we'll be able to recover from all those 'silent' weeks. You'll be hearing more from us in the next few days.

Orayt then, let's begin!

It's been a long time since we had the Q&A Portion. If you notice, we tend to create a series of entries and then ignore them. Like hello A Photo A Day, Collage Week, and Q&A Portion?! Where are you now? Haha. (We also forget to write entries, imagine?! Haha!) Yes, yes, we tend to write according to what we feel like writing and not go within a scope within a schedule. So, anyway, we'd like to revive the Q&A Portion and this time, we have a "Where Can I Find...?" edition. We've been asked by readers and likers in our FB page where we can find some stuff. Some blog readers might have not encountered the answers in our FB page so we're sharing them here too.

Where Can I Find...

1. An eye mask/sleeping mask

The easiest and most convenient place would have to be Claire's. They have this funky-designed eye masks suited for children and adults trying to be children. Sometimes, we see them in lingerie shops too. If you want it free, ask a stewardess for eye masks when you're flying to Saudi Arabia or anywhere. And nick keep them. We're sure they wouldn't miss it. Qatar Airways and Etihad Airlines give their passengers free loot bags with travel necessities in them. ;)

2. Jeffrey Campbell shoes/bags

There are no JC stores here in Riyadh. You can only buy them online. Shoegarfreeruby almost always go to Solestruck.com for her unusual shoe needs. Sometimes, we also use Envishoes and Nasty Gal. Sundrenched warns you against using the latter though because she didn't have a good experience shopping with them.

3. Kikay Camels

This is probably the most asked item in the blog. Where did we get these cute keychains? We got them from a bazaar in our workplace. The bazaar has long been gone so we don't know where they are now or if they have other branches in Riyadh. What we do know is these kikay camels, along with Saudi Arabia souvenirs (mugs, photo frames, magnets, etc.) are fairly easy to find. Gift shops in the city carry them. For example, there's a perfume/gift store carrying this near Al Rajhi Supermarket (beside the Military Hospital).

4. BB Creams

For those who are encountering this for the first time here, BB (Blemish Balm) creams are all the rage in Asia in 2011. They act as moisturizer and light foundation in one. There are a lot of BB creams brands in Korea and the Philippines but we haven't seen them here in Saudi Arabia. Maybe because it's not made for the Middle Eastern market. Remember that we have different types and colors of the skin so what works for Southeast Asians might not work for the Middle Easterners. A reader asked us about the Missha brand. It's not available here in Riyadh. Your best bet is online shopping, of course.

5. H&M Cosmetics

They're here in Riyadh! While not really known for their high quality makeup line (ala MAC), H&M carries very affordable cosmetics that are best for those who are just starting to build their kikay kit or those who just wants to add something new and versatile in their kits. Sundrenched hoarded their lip glosses and eyehadow palettes just because. Haha. The H&M branch in Granada Center carries them. (S haven't been to any other branches since she got back from my vacation in the Philippines.)

6. Organic Products

When we were trying the Master Cleanse (major fail for S), we scoured the city for organic stores that might carry pure maple syrup (not the ones we pour in our pancakes). We found Bio-Best in Olaya (across Al-Akaria Mall). We called them first to find out if they have the item we were looking for and good thing, they did. They offer a variety of organic foods, organic beauty products, and even natural supplements (herbal medicines). There are two more shops in Oruba Road that offer organic products but we failed to get their names. We usually pass them when we go to Tokyo Restaurant. In the Kingdom, there's Al Watania Agricultural Company, which uses organic fertilizers on their produce and natural feeding on their animals. Their products can be found in Tamimi and Azizia Hypermarkets. These huge supermarkets (also Lulu) also offer imported organic brands so be on the lookout on your next grocery shopping day.

7. Beauty Products and Salon Supplies

In the Philippines, we have Hortaleza or HBC for our salon products needs. In Riyadh, we have Nazih Trading in Olaya Road, just in between Centria Mall and Habitat. They offer a lot of beauty products (hair care, skin care, makeup, nail treatments) and salon supplies in more affordable prices (as opposed to going to the salon and paying SR150 for a hot oil treatment for instance). You can even buy salon furniture here if you want to build your own in-house parlor. Sosyal! We found O.P.I., one of the leading nail polish brands in the world, here.

Do you have other questions? Do you want to find anything ( we don't do missing passports or cellphones, okay?)? ASK us by commenting in the blog, visiting our Facebook page, tweeting your questions @thepinktarha, or emailing us at thepinktarha@gmail.com! :)

Hello 2012!!!

2012-01-02T14:54:00.000+03:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Cheers to a more productive, beautiful, and fun 2012!!!

(And hopefully more entries from us too.)

(Digital) Scrapbooks and Memories

2011-12-27T09:41:00.004+03:00

As the year draws to a close, we've had our fair share of happy and memorable moments. (Not to mention loads and loads of photos in our hard drives....) so what would be a good way to commemorate and re-celebrate each of those moments again? How about scrapbooking? Better yet, digital scrapbooking!

Yep, I love scrapbooking! As I child, I would cut out photos and turn them into collage sheets. Unfortunately, time ages materials and I've grown weary of cutting and buying scrapbooking materials that I get to use only once. Good thing Sundrenched introduced me to Digital Scrapbooking! Now with the advent of technology, we can fully customize and create beautiful scrapbook layouts. We can share them online or even print them as glossy Photobooks!

Digiprint can turn your scrapbook pages into coffee table hardbound photobooks. These are especially good for wedding and baby albums because these are printed on acid free paper, so you'll know it won't fade as the years go by.

I personally love digital scrapbooking because it allows me to be creative and at the same time, I can help sustain our environment by not having to cut and paste actual paper. The digital elements can be resized and reused for future scrapbooking projects!

Here are some of my personal scrapbook pages:

Here's a scrapbook page of my Lolo's 70th birthday party.

Some highlights of my trip to Manila that year


Photos of The Singapore Flyer

Some memorable photos at Sentosa

So? Are you ready to make your own Scrapbook layouts? How do you do this? First you'll need the following:

1. Computer know-how (Photoshop, Illustrator or MS Powerpoint will work but I personally use Photoshop because it gives me more control over effects, layers and image size. Note: If you use MS PowerPoint, the image output will not be as crisp and clear as it would if you used a dedicated photo program like Photoshop or Illustrator. So if you already know how to use Photoshop, I would suggest that you practice with that program. I'll try to make a separate Photoshop tutorial as well.

2. Digital Scrapbook Elements (there are tons of freebies you can download online. Here are some websites to get you started: Smitten Blog Designs, Peppermint Creative, Raspberry Road Designs. They also have even better kits for sale for low prices.)

3. Photos that you want to re-cherish!

Getting started:

First thing you should do is look at Scrapbooking websites and download the kits that you like. Try to visualize what motif you want for your scrapbook page and what photos you want to include. Once you've downloaded your digital scrapbook elements and digital papers, you're ready to go! In this example, I used a freebie kit from Smitten Blog Designs, a stock photo of some random family and MS PowerPoint.

Sample Scrapbook Page

I personally like my scrapbook pages square. If you want to do the same, just set your paper size to 8x8 inches (click design; page setup; then input the desired size on the fields for height and width).

Resize your "canvas"

I then pick out the photos and elements that you want to use. Choose a background "paper". I like to layer prints so I usually pick 2 background papers.

Add all the photos and elements you want in your scrapbook page.

Now arrange and resize the photos, papers and elements to suit your taste. This is where your creativity can run amock! Though in my opinion 1-3 photos are easier to layout. Hehehe...

Layout and layer as you see fit.

Once you have the general layout, you can start adding shadows to give your scrapbook a layered feel. You can do this by double clicking on a photo or element until the "format" tab appears on the toolbar above. Then click on Picture Effects and then choose an effect that you want to use for that particular photo. You can also add your own words on the scrapbook page.

Add some shadows

Once you're done and you want to share your creation online, just save your work as JPEG and upload it. Or you could save it and have it printed as a glossy coffee table book at Digiprint in the Philippines.

Don't forget to save!

There you have it, a basic guide to digital scrapbooking! So what are you waiting for? Let the creative juice flow and start sharing those wonderful memories :)

L-O-V-E,
Sampaguita Pride

Coron: Paradise Found {1/3}

2011-12-18T12:33:00.002+03:00

When OFWs and expats come home to the Philippines for vacation, we usually spend most of our time with our family and friends in our hometown. There are some, like me, who use the time to explore the other provinces of the Philippines and travel like there’s no tomorrow. I find it liberating, especially after being stuck in Riyadh for a year (not that it’s too much of a bother; believe me, I rarely complain of my life in Riyadh), and fun because I get to spend quality time with my friends who I missed so much. I think it’s a good way for OFWs and expats to unwind. You will not see these scenes in other countries. Only in the Philippines talaga!

This vacation, I tagged along with my college friends to Coron, Palawan. We spent more or less 8,000 pesos in this journey. Just 800 riyals to see paradise? Count me in! And after I tell you what went on with my adventure in Coron, I’m sure you’ll be inserting it in your itinerary on your next vacation! I hope this travel entry can also encourage our foreigner friends to visit the Philippines. I tell you, Coron that took my breath away. Hindi pa ako nakakauwi, gusto ko nang bumalik!

This Coron journey started a few months before the real trip. My friends kept tab on airline promos, which make air travel from one province to another so affordable. They saw a fare promo that fit their budget… P2,700 to go to Busuanga, Palawan, the gateway to Coron. So goooo! They told me about their plan a few months after they bought their tickets (they didn’t know I’m going home on November). They have also booked a package (accommodation+food+tour) in one of the lodges in Coron for P4,500 per person. How can I say no to such inexpensive deal? I’M INNNN!

TIP: Here are the sites of low-cost airlines flying to Busuanga: Cebu Pacific Air and AirPhil Express. Make sure to sign up in their newsletter so you receive email alerts when they go on sale. CebuPac's SMILE Magazine is also a good read. You'll be enticed to book to other provinces and other South East Asian countries pronto!

Back to my story... We’re taking an early flight via Airphil Express, one of the budget carriers in the Philippines at the NAIA Terminal 3. It's a relief that we're using Terminal 3 now. It's cleaner, wider, and more well-lit than the old NAIA terminal, which huge international carriers still use. There were a lot of people but checking in was a breeze.

Our flight *excited much*

A mini bus had to take us to where the airplane was parked. We're using a Bombadier Q400 for this flight. The plane is a little bit small, my first time to ride something like it. The weather is fine and we were in the air in no time at all. Snacks are not served for free but you can buy them from the attendants. They’re too pricey so better eat in the airport if you’re hungry.

[For some reason, the photos which should be vertical are automatically made horizontal by the settings of my laptop/system. I will correct them soon. Thanks for reading! :)]

The view from my window... still on the ground.

The inside of the aircraft

G'bye for now, Manila!

A welcome sight to the last ecological frontier of the Philippines!

We arrived in Busuanga on time. For a little bit of info on the island, head on over to this link. Busuanga is the largest island in the Calamian group of islands. This is the jump off point to Coron.

Landed on a clear, sunny day

Arriving at the Busuanga airport

The Francisco B. Reyes Airport, named after a mayor of Coron during the Commonwealth era and located in the Yulo King Ranch, is small and the process is no-fuss. We got our luggages and head on out the door. A van from the Ralph’s Lodge, where we’ll stay is already waiting for us. Travel time from Busuanga Airport to Coron town proper is 45 minutes. Views of hills and meadows will greet you while passing through the ranch, one of the largest in the Philippines. The sceneries are so serene and laidback. You’ll be glad to see the cows and horses grazing in the road side and just lounging around looking so lazy but serene.

I was already inhaling deep and pinching myself. Am I really here? How did time fly by so fast? From the desert to the meadows… how very interesting! Well, it does get more interesting in the days that follow so make sure you visit The Pink Tarha site again in the coming days.

This view gives a glimpse of what awaits...

And before I forget, (advance) Merry Christmas po, mga kabayan!

Sundrenched (blogging from MNL)

A Filipina's Food Trip (2 of 2)

2011-11-27T16:57:00.002+03:00

Who needs a drink? Or a sweet fix?

In Part 2 of my massive food trippin' in the Philippines, I'm ushering in the last installment of what caught my tastebud's hearts. Let's begin with what can mostly keep us warm in the recently occurring winter here in Riyadh...let's toast and cheers to that!

Cappuccino from Figaro

I did my best to stay away from the glare of Starbucks as it's already everywhere, home and abroad. While I was in the North, I enjoyed this rich cup of capp over the view of SM Baguio from Figaro. I am loving the coffee art too as it's not something I see everyday in Riyadh.

Milk Tea from Serenitea

Milk Tea was also a big deal in the metro, with people flocking to "chai-it-out" (such as myself). Serenitea is a popular name in the milk tea business at the moment, allowing customers to customize their own drinks by size, tea flavor, and add ons (think zagu balls and or red mongo beans). And indeed, it is not your ordinary cup of tea. :)

Salted Caramel Cappuccino from CBTL

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Greenbelt was a staple hang out for me during my last vacation since most of my friends work in Makati. One day, my aunt (who is a year younger than me) invited me to try out this drink, which I've only heard of the first time. I am not exactly a fan of salty food, but I am a fan of trying out something new - and lo and behold, I finished every drop of this salted+caramel fusion of a coffee. Think tequilla shots, but instead of Cuervo, you get a dose of caffeine - filling you as equally warm inside. :)

The Teen Craze

Speaking of alcoholic beverages, the Tanduay Ice Alcomix was all the rave when I was back on vacation. Tweeners were anxious to taste it and are excited to act like they can actually get drunk from it. But when I gave it a try, it almost tasted like a more sour version of a 7-Up and seriously, there ain't no buzz. To those who claim to get drunk by this drink, it's like saying even Cali Shandy can get you wasted. But then again, that's just me. Disclaimer: I am not promoting underage drinking.

Who would turn down a glass?

Now I'm not a big beer drinker, but the boys in Riyadh would often times torture themselves and imagine an ice cold beer, complete with the sisig to boot! This one is a classic folks, and should not be missed! Kampay!!!

Cosmopolitan from Friday's, MOA

And of course, to my ladies out there who just needs to loosen up a bit (but not get totally wasted), another classic cocktail drink is the Cosmopolitan (which happens to be my favorite). Mainly made up of vodka, cranberry juice and some triple sec and lime, this will still keep things classy and sassy. Plus it's pink! What's not to love? Cheers ladies! (And let's start talking about that new boyfriend! Tee hee!)

Moving on to desserts..

FroYos are still making a name for themselves with stores like the White Hat and the Red Mango. I stayed safe in trying out these babies coz I'm not a big fan of sour-tasting food. And if you noticed, I kind of buried the froyo in a sea of chocolate (takot sa maasim!).

Plain FroYo with Choco Bits

Banana Waffle with Froyo from Red Mango

This was a deliciously made waffle topped off with the right amount of frozen yogurt on top. I actually had this dessert with P while we were catching up at SM Megamall. It was soft and fluffy and the sweetness was just right. This I highly recommend. :D

Cupcakes from Sonja

What is already an established name in the cupcake biz is "Cupcakes by Sonja" located at Bonifacio Global City, The Fort. Must tries are their red velvet line and these choco crumbles which just begs you to lick it. Price ranges from 85Php to 150Php a piece.

Coffee Bean Sansrival from Chateau 1771

This, hands down, had got to be the most unique Sansrival I have ever tasted in my life. You have to taste it for yourself to know what I mean. :)

Mango Jubillee Gelato from Amici

Amici is one of the longest running Italian restaurant chains in Manila, especially the one located near Don Bosco. One rainy night, my friend introduced me to this wondrous place of gelatos and gelato cakes (among others) and found myself in awe of their homemade food. The taste and quality is worth your money.

Sweet Potato from Red Mango Bistro

Simple but with impact. It's your regular kamote (sweet potato) that's been steamed and tendered, smothered with coconut cream sauce that may have a magic potion in it. This plate was wiped clean!

Chocolate Cake from Conti's

Conti's is a popular pastry label in the metro too with minions flocking in and out for their many favorites. It's fast becoming the next Goldilocks if I would be so daring to say so. I liked that this chocolate cake resembled my mom's own cooking of a beautiful chocolate cake. Moist, right icing and not too sweet.

Cinnamon Bun from Cafe by the Ruins, Baguio

Just from the looks of that luscious piece of bread can already tell you everything you needed to know. Did it taste as good as it looks? Hell yes! Cafe by the Ruins in Baguio is a quaint place that's loved by the locals and remembered by the tourists. They have these items freshly baked daily, plus an undisputed menu of specials. They have great coffee to go with this too!

Halo Halo Special from Chowking

Last but definitely not the least, how can we go home to the Philippines without having halo-halo?! Umulan man o umaraw! Granted that this is the commercial kind, but hey, if you don't have the luxury of time to hunt down the best street halo-halo in your neighborhood, then Chowking's version of it isn't too bad already. So, scoop away kabayan! :)

And there you have it, what's been long overdue of my food trip part 2!

I just got back from my trip to the Eastern Province, visiting Dammam, AlKhobar and Jubail all in one weekend. Perhaps I have that to talk about next!

Til next time....

Eyecandy

Guide to Philippine Schools in Riyadh

2011-11-01T17:07:00.005+03:00

So you've got your visa to sunny Riyadh (plus family visa too!)... but what about your kids? Will they be able to go to a DepEd accredited school? The answer is YES! There are currently a lot of Philippine Schools in Riyadh and other cities in the Kingdom. In fact, Eyecandy and I are proud graduates of Elite International School and International Philippine School in Riyadh. Laking Saudi talaga :)


(Photo credits: http://dexfamily.wordpress.com)

The first ever school in Riyadh is the International Philippine School in Riyadh (formerly the Philippine Embassy School in Riyadh). In the late 90's, other International Schools were established. As of press time, the schools that are still in operation in Riyadh are:

     1. International Philippine School in Riyadh (IPSR)
     2. Second Philippine International School (SPIS)
     3. Elite International School (EIS)
     4. Riyadh International School (RIS)
     5. Future Generation Philippine International School (FGPIS)
     6. Al Danah International School (ADIS)
     7. Millenium International School (MIS)
   8. Al Taj International School (ATIS)
     9. Palm Crest International School (PCIS)
     10. Fawaq International School (FIS)

Majority of the Philippine schools are located around the Riyadh Military Hospital and Suleimaniah Area. It's like the U-belt of Pinoy Expats here. :))

Levels Offered
Most schools offer Pre-Elementary, Elementary and High School education, however some schools like IPSR offer Post-Secondary Courses such as Computer Science, Business Management and Liberal Arts. SPIS also offer IT Occupational Courses such as CISCO training courses and introductory computer courses.

What if you relocate to Saudi Arabia in the middle of the School Year?

That's not a problem. Most of the Philippine schools will accept enrollees even in the middle of the school year, to help OFW's adjust to Saudi life faster. But they will need all of your child's school documents in compliance with DepEd regulations.

Documents that you MUST bring to enroll your child

The documents required for admission would depend on the grade level of your child, but here is a list of documents usually required to enroll your child here in Riyadh:

     1. Birth Certificate (Photocopy)
     2. Iqama of Parents (Photocopy)
   3. Passport of Parents (Photocopy)
   4. 6 pcs of colored 1x1 ID picture
   5. Student's Passport
   6. Original Report Card
   7. Form 137
     8. Honorable Dismissal from last school attended
     9. Certificate of Good Moral Character

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees vary per school but generally the tuition rates are around 4000 - 4500 SR per year plus 500 SR miscellaneous fee. You can pay for this in lump, quarterly or monthly installment. There are also schools that offer graduated discounts for the next child.

For example, IPSR offers "graduated discount for the 2nd & 3rd siblings; whereas the 4th child enjoys 50% tuition fee discount and the 5th child is free from tuition fee." (IPSR website)

Scholarships

Again this depends if the school is actually offering a scholarship grant. For example, RIS offers scholarships and tuition fee deductibles for consistent top-notchers in class.

The Curriculum
Philippine schools in Riyadh follow the prescribed curriculum from DepEd. Your child will still be studying English, Math, Science, Araling Panlipunan or Sibika, Filipino, MAPE, THE and Computer. Most of the time, they will also be required to study Saudi History, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, which are mandated by the Saudi Ministry of Education.

School Activities

Schools offer a wide range of extracurricular activities like Intramurals, Field Demonstrations during the schools' Foundation Week, Quizbees, Literary Contests, Science Congress and JS Promenades among others. Students may also join non-academic clubs, school newspapers, CAT, basketball and volleyball varsities and Student Council Organizations.

School Facilities and Services


Photo Credit: http://dexfamily.wordpress.com

Most schools would have a Clinic, Science laboratory, AVR room, Computer room, Home Economics room, Bookstores and Canteen. Quadrangles are also used for school activities and ball games like basketball and volleyball. School bus service is also offered by most Philippine schools.

Tutoring
Some schools will offer tutoring service for children who are having a hard time coping with lessons. The rates vary per school but rates would be around 200 SR per subject.

Gender Segregation

In most schools, students are sectioned by gender and not by scholastic standing. This is also a directive from the Ministry of Education that boys and girls should not mix on campus. Usually, only the Elementary students are allowed to attend a mix gender classroom.

Classroom Size

The average number of students per class would be around 20-30 students. Some schools provide armchairs, while others provide desks and chairs for each student. Most rooms are air-conditioned and use white board instead of the traditional blackboards.

Well, there you have it. I think this covers most of the basic details about Philippine schools in Riyadh. We hope this post will prove helpful to our Kababayans who are planning to bring their children to Saudi Arabia. :)

All the best,

Sampaguita Pride

How To Find Your Way in Riyadh

2011-10-31T12:43:00.006+03:00

How do you address the address situation in Riyadh? It's not easy to remember places. Believe me, when I first went on my trip in the city center on May 2008, I muttered to myself, "I will never ever be able to navigate this city!" Riyadh is a grid of long and wide roads, boxy and low-rise housing and villas, and a ramble of Arabic-named stores. Fast forward to today, I can pretty much go out on my own (of course, equipped with taxi tips from this blog: here, here, and here) and I can pretty much find addresses, no matter how vague they may seem.

Here is The Pink Tarha's ONLY tip:

Hire a reliable car/taxi driver that knows his way around. ;)
A good and knowledgeable driver can save us from haggardness and stress. Most of you probably have your own drivers but for those who don't have, pick your own suki from the drivers of taxis you've ridden. Choose the one you're most comfortable with (and someone whom you can trust your life with).

Of course, our reliable drivers are not know-it-alls. No one knows where every store or house is so it's really a good thing to have good drivers who'll be patient enough to take you round and round an area to find the specific location you're looking for. ;)

Now you may ask, what if our drivers don't know where to go? Or what if I have a husband (aka driver) who gets cranky when I ask him to go to this place but I don't know where that place is either? Or the taxi driver keeps on saying "mallum" (I know) when I asked him if he knows this place and suddenly becomes clueless when I'm already inside?

Well, here are our other tips when the ONLY tip doesn't work for/doesn't apply to you:

1. Never leave your house or workplace without knowing where to go. If you have a restaurant or store in mind, look up their address in the Internet. If the address is as vague as "Tahlia St. Riyadh, KSA" then call their contact number and ask them where it's located. If they don't have a contact number or no one is answering, ask The Pink Tarha. Hahaha. Chances are, we've already visited the place, or have seen it in our lakwatsas. Ask in our Facebook wall so we can answer faster. :P

2. Memorize major streets and highways. If they're major, they're popular! Check if you know where these are:

Can you see the Faisaliah Tower up ahead?

^King Fahd Road

Newly-constructed!

^King Abdullah Road

Try if you know the following streets and visualize them in your mind:

Makkah Road

Khurais Road

Oruba Road

Olaya Street

Tahlia Street

Takhasussi Street

Thalateen Street

Dabab Street

3. Remember prominent buildings. They will serve as your landmarks, guides to your trips in the city. And we're not just pertaining to the Kingdom Tower or Faisaliah Tower. All the big and popular malls can serve as landmarks. Or those establishments which have huge, catchy signs in the major highways or those with unusual shapes or structures. Remember hotels and government buildings (hello, Ministry of Interior!) too. Associate these landmarks to the major streets.

In your neighborhood, try looking out your window (I hope they're not too screened) and see the stores or eating places around you. Your building will probably have a number too. I thought ours doesn't exist but it was right in the center, just above the doorway of our building! Haha. What if you're in a residential district where most houses/villas are the same? Chances are, you have a number outside. Or take note of the color of your gate and walls. Draw maps to your house so you can guide relatives and friends over. Speaking of maps...

4. Learn to navigate maps. I know, I know... it's so old school. But they're helpful! What isfthe only available address in the Internet for the newly-opened store you're looking for is on Wikimapia? When Sugar Sprinkles in Takhasussi was new, I looked up the store in the Internet and found this map:

Where you at?

That little red box is where it's at. Now, if you look at surrounding details, there's not much to go on. Er, an empty lot? There are a lot of those here. Wow, the building near it has a pool. Nice! Okay, so you can't find it looking from above so what you do is to zoom out a bit until you can see the surrounding areas in a wider scale. To give you that perspective, here's what it looks like zoomed out:

Click to see larger image.

I spotted the Kingdom Center a few frames below. Hello, would I know where that is?! You bet! Now that I know where it is, I scrolled down a bit more to know that Faisaliah is way below (South) so Riyadh Gallery must be up that map (North). I can already clearly see the roads in my head and they're like puzzle pieces forming into a picture.

From King Fahd Road, I will just turn left to Oruba (where the ornate AlGarawi building is in the corner) and head to Takhasussi. From there, turn right and drive straight. From that time on, I'll already be on the lookout for the Sugar Sprinkles on my right side.

This visualizing and analyzing is easy if you have mastered tip numbers 2 and 3. Don't worry, you'll get there. Just be observant when you're out and about Riyadh. :) Thank goodness, the street signs in Riyadh are also translated in English now. There was once a time when I just stared helplessly at those Arabic green signs and arrows looming overhead. I could only translate the numbers then.

5. Use a GPS device. My father would have laughed at me if I told him I'm still studying and consulting maps when the coordinates are clearly in the page too. From the Wiki, it says Coordinates: 24°44'7"N 46°38'54"E for Sugar Sprinkles. With the right GPS device, it will be easy for you to find the place.

Hi-tech navigation!

However, I don't own a GPS device and the father is not always around. I'm guessing you have the same fate with your fathers and husbands so it's always handy to heed tip number 3. However, most guys will benefit from this tip because they're the ones using these devices. The Pink Tarha are actually thrilled to receive questions from guys asking us for the GPS coordinates of a place (ex. Edge of the World, Red Sand, etc... sige na, kayo na ang may GPS device!) but sorry guys, we don't have a GPS device and we don't even know how to use it. Besides, where's the fun in using that in a city?! Lol.

Do you have your own tips and suggestions on how to find your way in Riyadh? We'd love to hear them. We'd like to read 'lost and found in the road' stories too so do share.

Hope our tips above can help you. If all things fail, ask and you shall be answered. :P

*Click on photo for photo sources and credit.

§undrenched

Addressing Adresses

2011-10-29T10:25:00.001+03:00

Eyecandy and Sampaguita Pride grew up in Riyadh. Shoegarfreeruby has been here for 10 years. Me? Nearing 4 years. And you know what's odd? We still don't know where we live exactly. Uhuh. Let me explain.

When you ask one of us where we live, we will answer you with "at the back of Nafoura Restaurant" or "near King Fahd Medical City." There's no specific answer. Because like everything else you'll find in Riyadh, KSA, the address/location system is unique and one-of-a-kind.

Folks who are living outside Saudi Arabia, here are a few things you need to remember about an address here in Riyadh.

1. We live in P.O. Boxes. Okay, not exactly LIVE there because we wouldn't fit but addresses are P.O. Boxes. There are no flat numbers, apartment numbers, and street names like normal addresses have. Most of us use the P.O. Box of the companies where we work instead of where we live (houses and flats) because we don't avail of our own.

These are not the usual P.O. Boxes in Riyadh. I hope.

For example, a nurse working in King Fahad Medical City can use this address:

[name]

[department]

P.O. Box 59046

Riyadh 11525

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Take note that you don't even have to specify the hospital or company. The P.O. box number and zip codes are the important things to put there. Most companies and hospitals have their own mail room that sorts and distributes mails and packages. If it was following the Philippine address system, it would have went like this:

[name]

Department of Pediatrics

Room 62, Building 26

King Fahad Medical City

Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St.

Suleimania, Riyadh

11525, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

It is longer so having a P.O. box has its own advantages. One disadvantage though of having a P.O. box as an address is when we shop online. Some stores do not ship to P.O. boxes. Sometimes, I have to contact their customer service and tell them that hey, it's all we have here in Saudi Arabia! So I hope stores like that are reading this.

2. Houses and buildings have no identification numbers. They have numbers alright but they're mostly ignored. You will not usually see them in our address. We just know them and would use that to direct relatives and friends who are coming over. I use all prominent landmarks around our place to direct people. For example... here's a conversation I have when ordering for delivery.

Resto Guy (RG): Hello.
Me: Hi, I'm ordering for delivery. Here's my order (blah blah).
RG: Where are you located?
Me: In Dabab St., turn right to Ar Razi St. The street going to Military Hospital.
RG: Where exactly?
Me: Uh, building 25, flat number 3.
RG: Where is that? Near Military Hospital?
Me: Uh, a few blocks away from the hospital.
RG: Blocks?
Me: I mean, not so near. I mean, a little bit. (HUH?!)
RG: Uhhhh...
Me: The building is beside DHL, across Little Ceasar's...
RG: Okay, I will just tell the driver to call you.

It gets frustrating that's why whenever we order for delivery, the father insists that I call. Why does it always have to be me?! Hehe. Of course, that would've been easier if I can speak Arabic or the operator (or the driver) can speak English. Some delivery guys find the right street and just cruise up and down until they find the right building. Btw, that in the conversation is a true location but it's not where our flat is located so please don't stalk. Hahaha. Jk.

3. Street names here are long and winding ~~roads~~. Imagine saying to someone, "We just live in the corner of Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St. and Al Amir Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz St... kuha mo?!" Most popular roads have, thank goodness, shorter names like Olaya, Mecca, and Oruba. Some have nicknames which are totally unrelated to their real names seen on maps. For example, Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St. is better known as Dabab St. while Al Amir Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz St. is better known as Thalateen St. The parallel street named Al Amir Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz St. (spotted the difference?) is known as the hip and happenin' street of Tahlia. Confused much?

Oh, and if the confusion is not enough, they're also spelled in various ways. Tahlia can be Thalia, Tahaliya, Talia... Takhasussi can be plain Takasusi, complicated Thakhassusi, or longer Takhassousi. Spell them however you like to pronounce them. Go! :)

4. Floors are counted as ground floor, first floor, second floor, etc. It's different from how we count in the Philippines where we consider the ground as first floor and so on. Sometimes there are some buildings who follow that so to each his own. No one said there's uniformity around here. Haha. Thankfully, no one lives in sky-high condominiums with 40 floors. Not yet.

Eeenie meenie miny moo, to what store should I go?

5. Most store signs are in Arabic, especially the ones in the older areas of the city. It makes it more difficult to find the right store for foreigners and expats unless it's a common store for something. Some stores look like offices from the outside and it's upon you to guess what they are correctly. Hope the store keeper or manager speaks English.

And just to remind you... Riyadh is not just a city. It's also a province. So there's a Riyadh City located in Riyadh Province (ArRiyadh). It's like Tarlac City in Tarlac province in the Philippines. There's also a "Riyadh Center" symbolized by a circle with a dot in the middle on most road signs. We don't really know what is within the city center and where it ends but we just take it as this: if you're near the Faisaliah and Kingdom Towers (two highest buildings in Riyadh), then you're still in the city center. Once you get out of range of the two (meaning if you see them in your horizon like needles sticking out of the sand), consider yourself out of the center and into the outskirts.

The faraway hazy area? That's the outskirts and beyond.

Needless to say, it's confusing to find a specific address here unless they're prominent and famous. It's always been a must to provide maps to a specific destination, especially if we're talking residential. We wonder how ambulances, fire trucks, and police find the places when they get emergency calls. We guess local knowledge really helps a lot. But what if you're new in the city? What if you don't go out as much? What if you rely on Google Map, Wikipedia, and GPS coordinates?

HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY IN RIYADH?

Do it the Pink Tarha style! Tips on the next entry! Hope you don't lose your way before then. ;)

*Click on photo for photo sources and credit.

§undrenched

A Filipina's Food Trip (1 of 2)

2011-10-26T10:12:00.002+03:00

Call me your resident "Foodiva" or we can stick to "WooF (Woman of Food)". Either way, I simply love food and I want to share the love. :)

After three years of quiet hibernation and re-rooting myself in the country where I grew up, I finally went back to the Philippines to re-discover the motherland and feel what it's like again to roam free and unafraid of the world around me (but then again I already feel that way about Saudi Arabia), but like they say, "Iba pa rin sa sarili mong bansa!" I'll tell you about the places I visited later, for now, let's go on a FOOD TRIP shall we?

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when coming back to the Philippines is "Yay, Pork!" hahaha! But I guess, growing up here in Riyadh never had me appreciate the glistening and sought-after Lechon skin or say, the hot and steamy Sinigang na Babs on a rainy day. Though through college, I've learned to love Sisig and Pork Siomai as easy student meals. This time for me, I was more excited to try out lots of restaurants - as I feel like I've already eaten at almost every single restaurant here in Riyadh. And my, was I overwhelmed! In the Philippines, I could spend an hour at the mall just thinking about where to freaggin' eat coz there's a gazillion of options! Of course now that I am off the student budget, I have the liberty to pick whatever and wherever I want to eat -- which is excruciating!

So as to help you not suffer the same ordeal, let me give my two cents worth of the places and dishes that my mouth and I found deserving around the Metro and then some. Be warned: The following photos may cause excess saliva, food (or)gasms and strong desires to fly back to the Philippines right away for a quick bite.

Here we go...in true dining decorum, let's start with some entrees:

Deepe-fried, crunchy Kangkong and Okoy from Kabisera, Bonifacio High St.

Call me oblivious, but until that day I ate at Kabisera ng Dencio's - I had no idea that you can deep fry kang kong and dip it in some delicious mayo-honey-mustard dip. The Okoy is also great with their special Ilocano vinegar. Visit Kabisera at The Fort for an authentic Filipino dining experience.

Garlic Fries at Stackers, Resorts World, Paranaque

Even before coming back to the Philippines, I already started reading about this new French Fry craze called 'Garlic Fries' and actually, I was smitten by this one store that's dedicated to garlic fries called, 'Eat My GF', but I couldn't go to their actual store so while at Stackers, which is an Australian burger joint, I decided to try out their version of garlic fries and well, while it's not 'Wow!' it is something new at the very least. :D

Flaming Cheese at Cyma, Greenbelt 1

This is not only a delicious dish but also an entertaining one. The Flaming Cheese is one of the bestsellers at Cyma, a Greek-slash-Mediterranean restaurant. Why? Because every time somebody orders it, the server who will bring it to you will ignite the sizzling plate with flames and then shout very loudly, "OPAH!!!" (Just like they say it in the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding). If you like being the center of attention, you'd like this one. ;)

Gỏi Cuốn Rolls from Pho Hoa, Glorietta 5

This was my first time at Pho Hoa even though I've passed by it a million times back in college. One of the unique dishes I had at this Vietnamese place is their summer rolls, which are wrapped in this paper-like rice wrappers. Not like our fresh lumpia version, but something else. The sauces option cap off the perfect combination (depending on your taste buds). More specific details of this dish can be found here.

Crispy Tawilis

Hito Flakes

Buttered Scallops

The last three entrees are all from the chic and quite affordable, Mesa at Greenbelt. Their food is mainly Filipino fusion, with a modern twist. Take that Crispy Tawilis and Hito Flakes for example. These are very traditional ingredients and yet they cooked it in a way that is quite upscale and probably aimed for the more probing palate. I particularly LOVED the Hito Flakes with that green mango and bagoong+sili on top! Ack, I want more! Hito is catfish by the way. :) I also say affordable because for the five of us who ate there that night, we were really surprised that it only cost that much (coz it would appear that their food is expensive, but in reality, it isn't).

On to some heavier entrees, bordering on main courses:

Tonnos Salata from Cyma

Coriander-crusted seared ahi tuna with mixed greens, feta cheese, baked onions, Gavros (homemade anchovies), roasted bell peppers, black olives, marinated potatoes, green beans and boiled eggs, served with Cyma’s Summer Herb Vinaigrette. In short, YUM!

Buffalo Wings from Don Henrico's

These babies are the truest Buffalo wings I have ever met - unlike them other restaurants claimin' they got 'buffalo' wings - Don Henrico's is the real deal! A piece of this is bigger than your palm! It's still as good as I last tasted it. Prepare for some serious finger-licking after this. Good for sharing too, btw.

Chicken Wings from Yellow Cab

Yellow Cab's chicken wings are juicy and crunchy, with enough hints of spice that will make you want s'more - especially when served hot! It's not as big as a buffalo wing, but it's close. GMOs FTW! LOL.

Pork+Shrimp Siomai at Eat Well!, Taguig

These are as good as they look! Probably the best siomai I've tasted in the Metro that's really worth your buck - heck, there's even caviar on top! Eat Well! is a little resto right across JP Morgan Chase in Taguig and I hear it's a favorite of a lot of employees around the block. I was sold! :D

Baked Tahong at Kabisera, Bonifacio High St.

Oysters Americana from Murray's New Orleans at Bonifacio High St.

If you're not watching your high blood pressure, getting high on mussels and oysters is up for grabs in the Philippines. Being that such produce is very scarce albeit expensive here in the Kingdom, it's always open season back at home. My mom had such a craving that when we were at Murray's New Orleans Bourbon Street Steaks and Oysters (Whaatta long name!), we ordered three plates of different oyster dishes! Theirs are fresh daily and you wouldn't have to worry about angering your tummy - in fact, ours were very happy!

Chicken Carbonara with Premium Beef Strips from Greenwich

Sweet & Sour Pork Lauriat at Chowking

Let's talk fast food now. A couple of things have changed since I was back - like the prices! Haha, talk about inflation rate Philippines! Other than that, most fast food chains have phased out a lot of old favorites like for me, was Greenwich's Chicken Quesadillas, which I learned that they don't serve anymore (I think the waitress was wondrous for a second and thought, where have I been the last 5 years asking for a phased out item?!). My brother and I tried their carbonara and it's heavy - good option for the boys. Meanwhile, I also took my mom and grandma to Chowking, which is their favorite, and ordered their famous Lauriats. Same taste as years ago, higher price. :P

All four sinangags at SEX (Sinangag EXpress)

After one of my heavy partying with friends at the Makati area, they brought me to a famous tapsilog place fondly referred to as 'SEX' (stands for Sinangag EXpress) to nourish ourselves post-party (you know how it is. ;p). AND NO, I DID NOT EAT ALL THOSE FOUR BY MYSELF Thank You Very Much! Hahaha. It was a cool place, a lot of call center employees apparently eat there and they have free water and unlimited rice so, solved! Haha. I'm laughing a lot coz I remembered what went down that night....hahahaha! Anyway........

Seafood Mix from Mango Tree Bistro, Trinoma

My family celebrated my brother's birthday at this hip Thai restaurant in Trinoma called Mango Tree Bistro and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the things we ordered - except for this new pork curry dish that was too tough for us to chew (which they gladly replaced btw). All of the seafood dishes that we ordered was a hit, particularly this one above. I will definitely go back there again. :)

Kare-Kare from Max's

I ate at the Max's at Intramuros, which has bit of an ancient feel to it. I'm not sure if it's where the first Max's restaurant was, but it sure felt like it One of my favorites there is their Kare-Kare. Given that Max's is such an institution already, I'm sure most of you have already tried it. If you haven't, then try it! :)

Sushi selections from Saisaki/Dad's/Kamayan, Megamall

I was with Sampaguita Pride on her birthday and she treated me and few other friends at the Dad's Buffet in Megamall wherein they have a package that let's you crossover to their other sister-restaurants like Kamayan and Saisaki. Of course, I first headed to the sushi bar and indulged my sushi desires. For like 700+ pesos, their buffets are really worth it. But with these things, the key is to pace yourself so that you can enjoy everything. :))

Peri Peri Chicken, Megamall

If you're opting for a change of chicken scenery, there's Peri Peri Chicken, a Portugese-themed restaurant and it's how they cook their chicken that actually makes it special: It's roasted for 30 minutes then exposed to spit fire before actually serving it to the customers. The term "peri-peri" refers to the spice that's used to create the dish (they also have it in condiment form). If you're not a fan of spicy chicken, fret not for they have other options for you to enjoy.

Hot Pot anyone?

Yummy, yummy, yummy.

Right along Roxas Blvd, there's a number of Hot Pot restos and my family and I tried one of them after watching the theater. Sorry here folks, but I totally forgot the name of the place. But, it is your usual shabu-shabu-type of resto with refreshing hot vegetable soup with selected seafood to boot cooked right in front of you. It's a different way to spend dinner with the family. :)

Yellow Cab's Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta

Hands down, this is my all-time favorite dish from Yellow Cab. It has the hot and spicy ninja kick, the crunch of 'em hot nuts, tender chicken bits and the somewhat sweet+salty combo sauce of the pasta - very oriental of a taste for a New York franchise, but it's amazing and I love it. I think I ordered it like five times throughout my whole vacation. :P

Lechon Kawali from Andoks

Pork Sisig from Kabisera

Of course, food trip in the Philippines isn't complete without pork overload!? I sure indulged til I surrendered (which was about two weeks into my return). While stuck in traffic one night, I was sitting inside the bus, imagining a hot, freshly chopped lechon kawali from Andoks on a plate, pouring gravy all over the it like a blanket then chopped chilis sprinkled over it while the wisps of steam from the newly cooked rice floats through the atmosphere. AHHHHH! I got home and did exactly that -- and that my friends is a dream come true. ;)

--

Let's take a quick break from here and digest what we've tripped on so far. I need to get back to work now, but when I come back, I'll bombard you with even more photos of the desserts and drinks that I had while in the Philippines.

Til our next Food Trip!
Eyecandy

The Case of Pancakes

2011-10-16T12:00:00.003+03:00

This is The Pancake House I've always known:

Orange interiors, warm lighting, comfort food

For our non-Filipino readers, this is Pancake House in Manila. It serves mouthwatering plain and flavored pancakes and waffles. They're also the best in my book for comfort food. I long for their chicken, spaghetti, and taco combo we used to have for lunch in the old work place. When I received bad news in 2009, I remembered sitting in Pancake House, Pasong Tamo and munching on chocolate chip pancakes to tide away the sadness. It is the ultimate comfort food place!

I was overjoyed when I heard Pancake House is opening in Riyadh. The joy proved to be short-lived because it wasn't the Pancake House I was expecting. It was a different Pancake House but since it still serves pancakes, my friends and I decided to give it a try. We might discover another wonderful brunch place!

This is The Pancake House in Riyadh...
(disclaimer: it's NOT related to Pancake House in Manila)

Soft-hued walls, bright natural lighting, comfort food

Just a reminder before I go on: the entrance of the family section is at the back. It's not the door beside the entrance to the bachelor's. That's the door to the kitchen. I know because I made the mistake of opening it and coming face-to-face with the stunned chef and kitchen staff. LOL.

I love the simple and elegant scheme in this restaurant's interiors. Our welcome committee of enticing photos did not help our hunger... just look at that pancakes smeared with chocolate! How could you give us tooth ache just by looking at you?! Haha. We were surprised to find The Pancake House full in the morning. We nearly fought our way to a table that was already reserved to us but someone claimed as hers. Being the nice people that we are, we just gave way. We didn't want to ruin our morning for because of people who didn't know what a reservation is. Anyway, the glass walls that welcomed sun rays in the morning creating this very homey, sunny vibe helped in making us giddy and happy again. The well-lit dining place was perfect for my food photos!

Natural lighting FTW!

The decorations are not that frivolous. The soft light blue wall and chair cushions contrast nicely with the browns and whites.

On to the food... a good thing is they serve breakfast all day long and they serve their non-breakfast items all day long too! All their dishes are available all day long! So, we got the following:

Stack 'em!

Of course, this is the pancake house so we ordered... pancakes! We expected more from this because well, this is the Pancake House. However, we were disappointed. The stack is fluffy and ample but they actually don't taste like buttermilk pancakes. Did our taste buds go wrong? It tasted more like bread. No amount of butter and maple syrup salvaged this. So we went to the next dish...

LOADED!

I can't finish an omelet by myself. I tend to share but since eating a piece of this omelet, I wanted to snatch this away from my friends and keep it. Yes, talk about being a generous friend. Haha. My friends didn't seem to mind because they were contemplating on ordering another one. The omelet was savory and had a serious amount of steak bits, unlike other omelets we've tried where the eggs took the center stage and back. This omelet is loaded with ingredients bursting the thin layer of fried egg wrapping it.

Mr. Smiley, I need to eat you. Sorrrrry!

How cute is this? If you have this smiling back at you, are you still willing to eat it? Do you have the heart to wolf it down? We did. Unfortunately, it's still food so we cut it up and took hearty bites (sorry smiley!). This waffle is thin, crispy, and light. It's not the usual waffle I know. I kindda thought waffles use the same batter of pancakes but are shaped differently, haha. It's good but I'm not really fond of airy waffles. And please, I want more bacon with this. :)

We wanted to try a non-breakfast food so we ordered their sampler consisting of quesadillas, onion rings, and calamari.

Crunchy, saucy, lovely.

Our favorites!

We like everything on this plate. The rings are crispy and tasty; the quesadilla was savory.

A wonder-full cup of cappuccino.

Overall, I like the food and setting in The Pancake House. I wish it doesn't get too filled with people though so I can enjoy a quiet morning. (This is my selfish side speaking so please ignore.) I also wish they improve their pancakes after all, it is The Pancake House. (I just have to point out the obvious redundantly, haha!) It's nothing near Pancake House in Manila but it's all right. I think I can live with this version. Besides, I have yet to try a lot of items in the menu.And I want to take more photos. Their natural lighting is beautiful, did I tell you that already? :D

The Pancake House

King Fahd Road

(near NCB and Kingdom Tower)

T: 01-2016816

§undrenched

Top 5 Fitness Centers for Women in Riyadh

2011-10-15T14:10:00.007+03:00

Who's raring to go to the gym these days? Did you know that according to Forbes, Saudi Arabia ranks 29th on a 2007 list of the fattest countries with 68.3% of its citizens being overweight? Yessir! It will probably go higher if you include ~~The Pink Tarha ladies~~ expats in those numbers. :P I think we were ones of the few expats who kept on complaining that there's no form of exercise that are available to us immediately. How come guys have many gyms at their disposal?

Anyway, we eat a lot but we don't move around a lot because our jobs consist of being glued in front of the computer 8 hours a day. But who are we kidding? It's our fault that we're not into physical activities mostly. Well, we did try. A few months ago (or years pa yata), we were going to the gym in the workplace but we got busy with other things (including eating Riyadh). So, for those who don't have gyms in their workplaces and are willing to shed moolah to become fit, healthy, and fabulous, we scouted Riyadh for gyms and fitness centers for women. Admittedly, we're not the best persons around to advise you on fitness so let these professionals be your guide.

Here's the top 5 fitness centers for women in Riyadh (in no particular order because we don't have the right and capacity to rate them; we haven't tried them personally).

1. KINETICO
Kinetiko is a one-stop center. We haven't seen the place but according to their website, they offer wellness training programs and performing arts. They also have a cafeteria that caters nutritious and healthy dishes that are fit for their patrons. They also have an internet access and a sportswear boutique. Their Fitness Klub has a lot of classes that focuses on what you want to improve on: BodyBalance, a yoga-taichi-pilates program that helps build strength and flexibility, KardioKombat, an intensive body workout using boxing and kickboxing moves, Triskel, a strength training class using the Lotte Berk method, and the new trend in fitness, Zumba which combines mambo, reggae, and merengue. And there are more types and other formats of classes that suits what you want and need. The Fitopia Akademy uses dance to make you fit. Classes include the Classic (barre exercises), Fame (hip-hop), and Latino'd (rhythms). If you want to get the best value then the Smartpack which combines more than one type of class, is for you. Kinetico has different membership packages ranging from one month to a year. We asked via email and their one-month membership known as the Kinteco Klub Basic is worth SR1,200 (all-inclusive). It's a little steep compared to what we pay for in our workplace's gyms but our gym doesn't offer all these different classes and more. Contact them here.

2. CURVES
Curves is one of the newest fitness centers in Riyadh and Sundrenched recently visited the branch in Panorama Mall to know more about it. One thing that is noticeable in Curves is the lack of the usual gym equipment and machines like the treadmill or the elliptical. Curves offers a 30-minute workout through an interactive circuit that has 8 machines using hydraulic resistance targeting specific areas of the body and in between the machines are recovery boards that lets you walk, run, jump, and jog in place. To see what we're saying here, click this link.

The 30-minute workout

Curves in Panorama is a little bit smaller than most gyms but since you'll only need the circuit, then it's fine. They have lockers and changing rooms too. The advantage of going here, aside of course from becoming fit, is that it's located in Panorama's Ladies Section where a beauty salon, coffee shop, and fashion boutiques and stores are within reach. This program will be more fun if you do it with your friends. When S went there, she noticed that most patrons are young ladies. Of course, women of all ages are welcome. A 3-month membership is SR2,700. But the more than SR5,000 annual membership is said to be the best plan with its various benefits and perks. Contact Curves here.

3. YIBREEN
Yibreen is said to be the ultimate indulgent experience as it combines the relaxing benefits of a spa and salon and the rejuvenating benefits of a gym all in one place. Yibreen, a name referring to a lush desert oasis in the heart of Saudi Arabia, has a lot of fitness programs and classes. Programs include fitness evaluation, personal training, nutritional therapy program, and swimming lessons. Classes include Kick Aerobics, Funky Step, Mat Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga, Liquid Bliss (aquacise), Body Blitz (circuit training), Arabian Belly Dancing, and Kick Boxing. Combining all of Yibreen's services, you have to shell our SR9,500 for their annual membership package which gives you a personalized fitness evaluation and program, 20% discounts on all spa and salon services, 6 guest passes, 3 personal training sessions, and 1 nutrition consultation. If you want lesser on the three latter benefits, then membership fee is down to SR7,000. Contact Yibreen here.

4. AL-MANAHIL
Al-Manahil is more known for their spa and salon services but they also have a sports complex that caters to women's fitness and health needs. They've undergone renovations recently and has upgraded their services and facilities. Like the other fitness centers, Al-Manahil's staff are ready to assist you in losing weight, toning up, and making you feel good. Fitness classes include Step for agility and stamina, Step N Tone for firming, Cardio Combo for aerobics, Retro (a combination of dances like hip-hop, jazz, salsa, and more), Tae Bo, Oriental ( a combination of hip-hop and belly dancing), and Spin (indoor cycling). They also have the Walking Club which lets you burn calories and enjoy the sceneries in and around the Diplomatic Quarters. Al Manahil also offers swimming, tennis, and taekwondo classes. A 1-month membership is SR1,900 while a 3-month membership is SR2,500, which is a better value for your buck. Contact Al-Manahil here.

5. ELLE ET VOUS
We don't know much about Elle et Vous because there's little info on their Facebook page. All we know is that it's also primarily a beauty salon with a gym inside. We do think that it's a good idea to combine a beauty salon and gym. In that way, women can find every thing they need to remain beautiful and healthy. Elle et Vous boasts of a professionally-trained staff and state-of-the-art tools and equipment. According to their site, they just opened fitness classes so that's a good thing.

There's one called the Al-Multaqa Centre for Women in Riyadh but we haven't found any extensive info on it and it's not located in the city center so we'll just add any thing once we learn more. We heard Luthan Hotel and Spa might also have a gym as most hotels have in-house gyms but we doubt if they have fitness classes.

We want to go to the gym and enroll in fitness classes but looking at the prices, they're a little bit more expensive than what we imagined. Some of you might find the prices steep too so we have other "free" fitness ideas for you... WALKING! Walk around King Fahd Medical City or the bigger Prince Sultan University. You can ask your friends to come with you and after a round or two, you can go to Mama Noura for some shawarma fix. Kidding! Have a healthy fruit juice instead! You can also join a hash (walking/running/traveling in the desert organized by a club) or the Riyadh Road Runners.

Okay ladies, let's get physical! And a-one, a-two, a-three...

The Joys of Jordan: Petra, The Dead Sea and Mt. Nebo

2011-10-12T07:39:00.003+03:00

And so the Part 2 to Part 1 finally finds the light of day...

Last May I went to visit the bustling country of Jordan for the District Toastmasters Annual Conference, part of which was to receive the many awards our Toastmasters Club (PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club) garnered over the last program year. The gala night gave all Toastmasters from the Gulf region a chance to reap the fruits of their labor and enjoy a night of good food, good company, and most of all, dancing!

It was an honor to accept these in behalf of PRTC.

During gala night, with equally fashion-forward Filipino Toastmasters from Riyadh.

After the glitz and glamor of the conference, my friends and I spent the last two days of our stay in Jordan touring the highlights: Petra and the Dead Sea. I was told to prepare myself for the long walk that it entailed, but boy oh boy, did I underestimate what the words "long walk" truly meant. Here I am still all smiles as we left the apartment early that morning:

Sunblock is on and the necessary heat protection.

We even filled up our stomachs before the heading to Petra. Shawarma, anyone?

Our ticket to Petra. Roughly around 265 SR.

In case you haven't heard of Petra before, Petra is one of the most unique ancient cities in the world having been mostly carved out of rocks (Al Batra is the Arabic for "rocks") and the whole city is made up of red-rose colored rocks (sometimes pink-like) most obvious especially during sunset.

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1985 and was also shortlisted in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A little trivia: this site has been featured in numerous Hollywood blockbuster movies including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. ;) Cool ei!?

Every journey begins with a single step.

Given that we were on our last days of the vacation, our funds were running low. So, we couldn't afford renting the horses and donkeys being offered upon our entry of our Petra tour. I didn't mind because though the sun was high, the wind was cool - perfectly conducive for a day out in Petra, walking and sightseeing (at least, what I first thought).

Welcome!

The first grand sight to behold is The Siq, which is a steep and narrow gorge which serves as a waterway for the Nabateans who inhabited the city of Petra in ancient times. Just look at how huge those sandstone rocks are!

See how tiny humans are compared to those rocks! We're practically ant-like!

This part is sooo cool - as in literally. You don't need an A/C.

The next attraction is coming up!

Towards the end of the Siq, you can slowly start seeing The Al Khazneh, or "The Treasury." It is an architectural wonder in the sense that this facade was built purely out of the rocks that it stands on (as most of the amazing sites to be found in Petra) and the details carved unto them are truly remarkable for having been done in a time and place as ancient as Petra.

With fellow tourists from India and USA.

The Colonnaded Street

Halfway through our climb headed to the most coveted spot in Petra, which is the "Ad Deir" or The Monastery, I was already feeling the strain of walking (two hours in). But luckily, the sights were still keeping me amused - like the Colonnaded Street. I imagined how many feet have traversed these sand-laden ruins and how native Nabateans must have come to and fro this area to attend events in the amphitheater or even en route to bury their dead.

At this point, I was already growing envious of the people riding camels instead of walking.

Here I am, headed UP to the monastery! Exhausted na!

From the base of the mountain (if I may call it that), it took us another approximately one hour and a half to finally reach the top where the monastery stands. Now it was a grueling climb - especially for me. The farthest I walk to on a regular basis here in Riyadh is from my office to the bathroom. And there in Petra, I think I walked enough office-bathroom routes to last me five years! Plus, the only real workout I more than often engage myself with in Riyadh is "malling" but in Petra, mahn oh mahn, do they mean the real deal. I should've known so that I could have trained for this kind of climbing before coming here - heck, I've never officially hiked in my life until that day in Petra. On one hand, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can truly say that I reached the Monastery, drenched in sweat and tears by merely using my God-given gams. But on the other hand, I couldn't help but think that I had could have saved myself the torture by riding a donkey on the way up instead (which wouldn't be as rewarding but less tiring, nonetheless).

The things I'd do to proudly wave this pink scarf on this site!

And there you see it, The Monastery of ancient Petra. One would wonder (such as myself), why in the world was this monastery built so far away from the city center? And why oh why would they make it so hard for their people to reach the top?! One of my friends answered, "Para daw mapagbayaran mo na yung mga kasalanan mo on the way up." (So you can pay for your sins and repent on your way up). Tiring as it may have been, a little further away from the facade is a resting spot - rightly deserved by those who have braved the heights and a little shack that sells drinks and snacks. I think I gulped two bottles of ice cold water by the time I got there as I was panting breaths. Sitting by the rest area, with my two feet up the seat, I took some photos and in true 21st century fashion, claimed to the world that I was in the middle of an ancient wonder -- by posting it on my Facebook. Yes, there is a 3G signal there and you can Facebook atop a world wonder.

One of the many steps going back down. See how rose red the rocks are?

We stayed at the Monastery for a good thirty minutes or so to regain our strengths (or what was left of it). Until it was about time to head back. It was already around quarter to four and we needed to start walking since the Petra site is closed by sundown.

You would think that heading down would be easier, but the fact is, it couldn't be any more different on the way up. The walkways are steep and if you are not careful, you can easily trip and break your skull on the rocks. My thighs were slowly surrendering. Then my knees. Followed by my ankles. It took me a full two hours to walk (nay, drag) my body towards the end and really, I was like a snail - honest to goodness, no kidding you here! Two of my friends were already in the car and it took me a good twenty minutes to follow suit. By the end of the trail, I wanted to literally kiss the gravel road (I settled for a hug) - and thanked the heavens for whoever invented flat, gravel-laden surfaces. I have never appreciated a piece of street as much as I did that day. Really.

Petra was amazing. But I can only do that walk once. If I ever go back there, I will load up on cash and have a freakkin' carriage to take me wherever I wanna go.

On our last day in Jordan, the group and I went to a place one must also not dare miss while in Jordan: The Dead Sea. As early as 7 a.m., we were already at one of the resorts, ready to experience what the Dead Sea had to offer.

We were the first customers that day!

The Dead Sea is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jordan. It is famous for its Biblical references and for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the whole world. Fact: It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.

First natural body of water I have seen in three years!

By the shore of the Dead Sea.

Now, they ain't kidding when they said you can't swim in the Dead Sea. You simply float. That's because the density due to the saltiness is so high, the water will simply push you up - no matter how heavy or light you are. Hmmm...does that mean one cannot drown in the Dead Sea? Well, I sure did not try to (Tanong ko, sagot ko). But I will say this, follow the rules very carefully - and you'll live.

Typos aside, they ARE helpful warnings.

The Pink Tarha at the Dead Sea.

We immersed ourselves for a while in the waters, and yes, it was deadly salty. My friend just got one drop, one single drop of the water in his eyes and it had him running to the swimming pool to wash it off with some fresh, chlorine-induced water. We all laughed at him but sooner or later, all of us suffered the same fate.

We were hoping to try out the mud thing (the one where you're supposed to rub mud all over your body before hitting the sea) - but since it was way too early in the morning, the resort staff said they haven't prepared the mud yet. Hm, I had no idea mud was that hard to prepare. Anyway...

If you see the background of the picture above, that on the farthest side is already Israel. We were kidding that "Hey, why not we all float towards Israel?" -- and then my friend answered that within line of sight, we would already be shot at by the soldiers manning the shore.

After our the Dead Sea visit, we decided to drop by Mt. Nebo, which is a holy site. Stories have it that when Moses was looking for the Promised Land, he stood upon those very same grounds.

Pope John Paul the 2nd once visited here as well.

The place where Moses stood. Of course, the map wasn't there that time.

Atop Mt. Nebo, they are currently in the middle of building a Franciscan church - which will hopefully allow Christian/Catholic followers to pray and gather in mass. It was a very solemn site up there and I lit a candle in one of the rooms and said a little prayer for my family and friends.

Pink really goes well with the dessert, don't you think?

That afternoon, on the ride back to the airport, I can't help but be amazed by how wonderful Jordan is, especially culturally. I love how the old and new lives and thrives at this time and even how the people - Muslims and Christians alike, live in harmony and in respect of one another. I ended up thinking, why can't the same thing happen in Saudi Arabia? (Well, that's another story).

Thank you Jordan!

I love Royal Jordanian Airlines! Especially because of their logo, which resembles the symbol of my name. The flight back was quite heartwarming, armed with the stories and experiences I've gathered in my week-stay there. I would be more than happy to come back Jordan! (If you will have me :P).

Next up, I'll tell you all about my vacation in the Philippines.

To more travels!
Eyecandy

Eyecandy Day!

2011-10-05T00:00:00.003+03:00

Today is October 5, guess who just turned a year older, wiser and prettier? None other than the Queen of food, fashion and eloquence, EYECANDY!

E, sans make-up... still beautiful.

She was my first friend in Saudi Arabia. We met 18 years ago in grade school. At an early age, Eyecandy loved to meet people and make new friends. Perhaps a tell tale sign of her PR-savvy skills later in life.

Who says she looks like a guy? Shame on you! :P

Eyecandy is a wonderful friend, a loving daughter, a caring sister, a great mentor, a patient and hardworking colleague and most importantly, a beautiful person with a big heart.

She may not be perfect but she makes every day as perfect as can be, not just for herself but for the people she cares about.

E, thank you for being your fabulous self! We love you!

Ready to face the world, always!

Happy Birthday, Eyecandy!

Where Their Hearts Are

2011-10-02T08:23:00.000+03:00

The scores are in and even if it took us a while to deliberate, the winners of the PEBA 2011 "Where The Heart Is" Photo Contest is here!

Open publication - Free publishing - More contest

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

It's been a very fulfilling experience for The Pink Tarha to "chair" this project. We received numerous beautiful entries that gave meaning to the catch phrase "where the heart is." Their interpretation and execution of photos are amazing. Thank you very much to all participants and their family and friends who supported them. Thank you to the PEBA, Inc. officers and volunteers who made this project possible and giving their full trust to these four ladies right here. Thank you to all sponsors who provided help and prizes

Sweet Riyadh

2011-09-28T12:02:00.002+03:00

How was your week? Well, it started out busy for the tarhas and it's ending pretty much busy too. We are all sure you're dying for the workweek to end so you can start your day off. Whew Wednesday!

Well, we have a nice sweet idea to jump start your weekend. We're spreading the calories by sharing photos of the some of the desserts you'll find in Riyadh. Yes, we're eating Riyadh today.

We start with a simple slice of chocolate cake.

Sinful much?

Pardon Cafe and Restaurant in Olaya has one of the best in town. It has wafer-like layers that add crunch to the moist base. It also has this glazed cereal accent that glistens like a jewel. Yum-oh!

And some ice cream, please.

A pairing of sweetness

Gate of Jazeera Palace in Suleimania has small scoops of vanilla ice cream in cute glasses drizzled with some lovely chocolate syrup. You can order it with bananas or lychees.

Add the chocolate cake and ice cream and we have the infamous chocolate fondant, which you might have encountered in the Philippines as "lava cake."

Best when shared.

A chocolate volcano can be found in Steak House. The cake is soft and the fudge is warm. We cannot resist!

Starry-eyed.

Nino in Olaya has a simpler version... with a star. It's a little bit dry but it's satisfyingly sweet nonetheless.

The volcano erupted!

A favorite is Cafe Ceramique's in Sahara Mall. This is the chocolate cake that tastes like our cakes in the Philippines. Not too sweet, not too exquisite to be expensive. The milk chocolate oozes out effortlessly. (For the record, this did not come out in the kitchen looking like this. We had to digest the main meal first before we can attack this dessert that's why it was left alone for a while. Our bad!)

An order will leave you longing for more. It's small. Really.

There's the cutie-patootie version of Wayne's Coffee, minus the ice cream. This is the cheapest in this bunch.

Dessert became the main dish?

And then there's the version of Ketchup (at the back) but what caught our taste buds off guard was the banana pudding. It was lovely. E can't get enough of it.

Are you done with the chocolate cake and ice cream pairing? Hey, the ice cream has always been a free agent so it can be paired with anything! Try these:

The yummiest bunch.

Outback Steakhouse in Tahlia has an ice cream+brownie combination. (Get their sampler of three desserts!)

Hot and cold is a winning combo.

While Ketchup has an ice cream+cookie offering. The cookies are warm and crisp.

Who has the heart to destroy this tower?

Le Relais de L'Entrecote has a sosyal French dessert that has meringue+ice cream. This Vacherin tower is exquisite.

And Dairy Queen has their famous wafer+ice cream aka the ice cream sandwich. It gave us a teeth freeze (pangingilo=dentin hypersensitivity). We have a photo in my phone somewhere.

The Sumatra with pancakes filled with pistachio and cream.

More chocolate goodness comes in The Noodle House's chocolate Sumatra. This is wicked. If you haven't tasted chocolate with a punch, this is it.

And if you're tired of chocolate, then there's always...

Walnuts love!

The carrot cake of Tony Roma's. It's crumbly, fruity, nutty... almost like a fruit cake. The syrup was too sweet though. (Try Outback's carrot cake too.)

The anatomy of a carrot cake.

Or this one from Cakelicious, which is well, a cake so delicious!

Sultry and sexy dessert. ;P

Or the oreo cheesecake of Ketchup, which we devoured in a matter of minutes. Or was that seconds? It's too fast my memory failed me.

Well, that's quite a long list huh? We hope your sugar levels did not go up and reach new heights upon seeing the photos. All we want really is to wish you a very merry weekend. It is not our intention to make you salivate and be hungry. Nope, not at all. :P

Enjoy! ;)

The (Aqua) Radiance of Kaya

2011-09-26T13:21:00.004+03:00

I made the mistake of going out on the night of September 23, Saudi Arabia's National Day. The traffic was migraine-inducing and watching youths snatch balloons from a car filled with children made me want to lash out harsh words at the rude teenagers... and the police officers who seem to think all was perfectly fine. Talk about unnecessary stress. It's been a golden rule for expats not to go out on the occasion of this kingdom's Independence Day but oh well, I admit it was a wrong move for this tarha.

Good thing, the workplace declared September 24, Saturday, a holiday. I decided to avail of the facial Kaya Skin Clinic offered. I was booked for a 4pm appointment and I made it five minutes after 4. I was led to their waiting area while they prepare the room where I'll be administered what is called an "Aqua Radiance Facial."

This facial has something to do with water (obviously, hehe)... and air. I didn't know at first what would that mean. I do wash my face with water right? Will this take more than 5 times washing perhaps? How different will this facial be from the Advanced Kaya Facial I underwent a month ago? (I did enjoy that microdermabrasion facial btw.)

I was ushered into the same room and was greeted by the lovely Lala, one of Kaya's skin practitioners. Loiue, who did my facial before, was currently in Hayat Mall for Kaya's booth display. I had no problems with the SPs of Kaya. They're very friendly and well-trained. As I was saying, Lala explained to me the process of the Aqua Radiance facial while I took photos of the room.

Clean, no-fuss room

You might be intimidated with the look of the room because well, it does look and feel like a hospital room. But there's no major surgery going on here. This is a skin clinic, not a spa, so the rooms are kept bare with just the necessary machines, tools, and products. Lala was still preparing the room and the materials to be used when I went inside the room... excited much?! :D

The Jet Clear system

This is the supersonic (-expialidocious) machine used for Aqua Radiance.

Tale of the prods.

On to the Aqua Radiance process... this facial has three major stages:

1. Exfoliation

What Kaya Says: Cool and soothing supersonic jet sprays gently slough off layers of dead cells, instantly enabling your pores to breathe and restoring lost lustre. This deep cleaning process penetrates the deepest layers of the skin whilst unclogging blackheads, leaving your skin spotless and fresh.

What I say: It was ticklish and cold. It was like having a hose directed at my face, without really getting wet. By the time the exfoliation was done, I thought my face was frozen. Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful feeling - very refreshing. With that amount of force, I was sure my pores opened wide, breathed, and sighed. Those who are very sensitive to touch might find the tickling sensation uncomfortable but I'm fine with it. I wanted to laugh but I'm afraid the water might get inside my mouth. :P

2. Hydration

What Kaya Says: Next, these cool and soothing jet streams are used to infuse therapeutic elements deeply into your skin, recharging and revitalising the cells. This stimulates the production of new collagen, an essential part of skin rejuvenation.

What I say: It was like the first stage. At first, I was doubtful that the jet streams can remove layers of dead cells, much more infuse elements. How can that be? It's just water, right? Let's just say the force of the jet is actually enough to cause abrasions when not handled well. (Read: cuts like a knife.) Fortunately, Lala knows what she's doing and she was gentle on the strokes. She tells me what part she was doing next (the eyelids are pretty sensitive) so I have time to prepare and stifle my giggles.

3. Nourishment

What Kaya Says: After a thorough initial assessment of your skin type, a range of vitamins selected to suit your specific needs are then infused into the oxygen and water jet streams, feeding the skin with the nutrients it requires. These vital vitamins are then again applied to the skin for further nourishment.

What I Say: The same jet machine is used to apply the vitamins. By this time, I'm used to the sensation and I knew I'm going to miss the refreshing and relaxing feeling of the facial. Of course I can't see the immediate effect of the vitamin dose but I'm hoping it did nourish my skin.

Minor steps include the facial massage which was very relaxing. The kneading was kept to a steady pace. Then the extraction which hurts (darn those blackheads and whiteheads!) for the sensitive to pain types. It doesn't hurt as much for me because ~~I'm thick-skinned and not sensitive~~ the comedones living (and thriving) in my nose were easily nudged and removed. The last step was the mask, which calmed my nerves.

I looked in the mirror after the Aqua Radiance and I must say that my nose was redder than ever. LOL. That was expected. I also noticed that my face was radiant and smooth to the touch (I couldn't help touching my face, sorry!). I also felt like my face was squeaky clean! That for me was already an achievement. I did not go to Kaya for a fast miracle for my skin woes but I got what I wanted: a face that feels clean and hydrated inside and out. (There should be before and after photos here but ~~I'm too shy to show my huge face~~ I forgot to take photos of the "After"... hello?!) Suffice to say, I'm happy with the effects of the Aqua Radiance. I did not get allergies from the creams used nor had pimples after wards.

I don't know about the restorative and healing properties of the Aqua Radiance but we all know that maintenance is a key factor in making the skin youthful and beautiful. I don't have enough riyals to maintain a twice a month facial regimen with Kaya (my wallet will kill me, if it's not dead already) but I will visit again soon to try their other treatments and meet the friendly and professional staff. :)

The Aqua Radiance service is priced at SR550 but is currently offered at SR450 for the month of September. Hurry and avail of their promo. Be tickled fancy! :)

§undrenched

PS. Thank you very much to Lala, my Aqua Radiance SP, who kept me perky despite threats of pain from the supersonic machine. Hahaha, just kidding. And to Louie, who I saw in Hayat Mall and reminded me that I had to keep my appointment after I bailed on the original sked (btw, you did not give me a free patch test. Chos! ;) Thanks to the staff of the Kaya Clinic, Oruba branch, for making me feel welcome. Hope to see you again soon. Who's willing to be my next SP? Hahaha.

Special thanks to Ms. Kholoud, client coordinator, Ms. Nadia, area manager of Kaya Clinic KSA, and Ms. Danya, assistant brand manager. I did not get to meet you all personally but thank you from the bottom of my pink heart. :)

The Chichi of Tao

2011-09-19T13:43:00.000+03:00

Whatever happened to our food posts?! We did not stop going out and eating (who does?). We just stopped writing.

I'm gonna pick up the pen for us again. Sorry, are you getting tired of my writing? Apologies. The other tarhas are busy with career changes, events, vacation, and personal issues. That is not to say I'm not busy too. I'm just not too busy, I guess. Haha. Okay, so what will I bring you this time? I've had it with cupcakes but there are still cupcake stores opening in the city. I saw Kitsch in Tahlia and a Cupcake Shop in King Abdullah Road. Yes, it's literally called "Cupcake". Gee, I wonder what they will sell. :) Will have to get back to you on those. I'm not still over with desserts, of course. And if there's one thing that caught my fancy and attention in that department over the last few months, it's the peanut butter ice cream of Tao Lounge.

Okay, let me back track a little. Sampaguita Pride and I went out for dinner days before her vacation in the Philippines and we went to this restaurant called Tao in Tahlia. You might not have seen this but it's there. Just look for a massive sculpture of something that look like an arm, a microphone, trophy, or er, well... a phallic symbol. I swear I did not think of the last one first upon seeing that silvery thing in the middle of a boxy building. I didn't even think that was Tao until I saw this thin neon sign with stars that say "tao" in cursive. Ohkay. How are they related? Mind you, I wore my best abaya, like our dinner in L'Entrecote, for this because the place is 'reservations only.'

I felt like a socialite when I stepped inside. The place screams 'sosyal' and I would have reverted to the conyo-tic English if not for P. This is an English teacher in front of me, what was I thinking?! Hihi. If Riyadh have socialites, then they probably visit Tao Lounge and Restaurant. The place is stylish, chic, elegant, and trendy (thus the "chichi" in the title). There were couches perfect for friends gossiping and hobnobbing and smaller tables for couples on dates. Huge curtains separate the spaces. P and I were led to a small, intimate table for two (we were just on a friendly date, lol). There were soft lights around in shades of purple, pink, blue, yellow. I looked at the menu and gawked at the prices. A maki platter was SR62! Seriously? A pasta with no meat is SR67?! On to the foodography:

Have you seen a green and orange bread? :D

The fab trio of dips for the multi-colored bread (olives, herbed butter, tuna)

California Tao Roll, SR62

This is one of my fave makis ever but still, why so expensive?!

Penne tossed in cream and pesto sauce, SR67


Some green cocktail infused with fruit juices

The SPA: pineapple, kiwi, orange, watermelon

Oreo mousse... we like it. :)

Let me summarize the food experience as this: delicious but expensive. And I honestly think I will only go back to the place if I'm not the one paying for it.

Until the peanut butter ice cream came. It gave the meal a delightful perspective. Let me first say that I am not a fan of imported Peanut Butter. I dislike Goody. I dislike peanut butter that are salty. I'm all for the sweet, oily variety we have in the Philippines. Lily's FTW! So anyway, I was hesitant to order the peanut butter ice cream for the fear of wasting my SR30 for it. But you know what, it's one of the best spent SR30 ever.

The highlight of our meal

This ice cream is sooo peanut buttery! I cannot even explain it nicely so I will explain it without logic. Tao probably took a bottle of peanut butter and placed it inside the freezer. Then they took it out to melt a little, whipped it, and voila! Peanut butter ice cream with the added mmmmm! It is really, really good. It's my favorite kind of peanut butter ice cream and that's saying a lot because they might have used imported salty peanut butter on this one. Yummy!

How chichi!

I got caught in nostalgia with the ice cream I mainly forgot I paid over SR300 for the entire meal for two. (I have no regrets though because I was in good company.)

And Tao's comfort room got me with its honeysuckle paint and mirrors all over. Can you say vanity?!

Mirrors all over. Self-LOVE! Lol.

Made for the Pink Tarha! :P

I will probably be back in Tao for the ice cream. But then again, I'm not a socialite (in other words, I cannot afford this indulgence) so it's safe to wander to other restaurants for now.

How To Renew Your Passport in Riyadh

2011-09-17T11:42:00.000+03:00

If there is only one ID a Filipino should have, it should be a passport. Not only is it one of the most recognized documents in the Philippines, it's also the most recognized ID in any part of the world. Don't get caught not having without a passport, much less an expired one. So, make sure you renew your passport on time. Please remember that traveling in most countries will require you to have a valid passport for 6 months. For example, your passport expires on December 25, 2011 and you're traveling to Japan today, they won't let you in the immigration because your passport is no longer valid for 6 months.

When I first went home for vacation in the Philippines, I was so excited and forgot to renew my passport months ahead. Good thing, it only took a month for me to receive my new one or else, I had to re-schedule every thing. My father, who doesn't really pay attention to these "trivial" things, didn't know his passport is expiring in two months and he had to travel to Pakistan for work. He had to ask the embassy for a passport extension, which will only be given with valid (business or emergency) reasons. He finally had his passport renewed and he waited a month or so to receive his new passport.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has recently introduced a new appointment system for e-passports. You don't have to wait in line anymore and you'll be able to request specific dates and time. It would be less hassle for your work or everyday activities. Only renewals are accommodated on this new system. Lost passports and new passports for children will be entertained as walk-ins. The Consular Section will accommodate 120 applicants daily so it is a must to get your appointment. Wag pasaway! :P No appointment, ~~no entry!~~ no processing!

The following information is taken from the Press Release No. 74-2011 (24 August 2011) of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

How to get an appointment to renew your passport
1. The new appointment system is free of charge and the applicants may enlist themselves directly through either one of the following ways:
• By e-mail to epptappt@philembassy-riyadh.org indicate the full name, contact number and preferred time and date for appointment.
• By SMS (text) to 0560503895 indicating the full name and preferred time and date for appointment.
• Family applicants must indicate all the names of its members. Otherwise only one slot would be provided to them.

2. Applicant should make an appointment at least 3 days before his/her intended day of personal appearance in the Embassy.

3. Applicant can request an appointment date and time.

4. Applicant will be informed of the date and time of appointment.

5. If the appointment is not confirmed, the applicant must request for another appointment.

6. The applicant should be at the Embassy at least 15 minutes before the appointment for personal appearance.

7. Late comers will be entertained after finishing all applicants who came on time.

The Embassy is open Saturdays to Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon except on regular Philippine and Saudi holidays.

Requirements for e-Passport renewal:
1. Personal appearance
2. Original old passport
3. Photocopy of old passport (data page only)
4. Duly accomplished passport application form that can be downloaded from the Embassy website: www.philembassy-riyadh.org or obtained from Window 1 of the Consular Section or at the Information Desk at the Embassy lobby (no photo needed)

Requirements for replacement of damaged passport:
1. Personal appearance
2. Original damaged passport
3. Affidavit of Damaged of passport
4. Duly accomplished passport application form (no photo needed)

Requirements for replacement of lost of passport:
1. Personal appearance
2. Police Report with English translation
3. Affidavit of Lost of passport
4. Duly accomplished passport application form (no photo needed)

(Note: There is a 15 days waiting period before the approval of the passport application)

Requirements for newly born applicants for e-Passport:
1. Report of Birth form accomplished in 4 copies. (Form available at the Consular Section of the Embassy or the website)
2. Arabic and English temporary birth certificate and/or other supporting documents (e.g. Notification of Birth from the clinic/hospital where the child was born) – 3 copies
3. Marriage Contract of parents duly authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila (if married in the Philippines) or authenticated by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs with English translation (if married in KSA) – 3 copies
4. Photocopies of parents' passports (data page only) – 3 copies
5. Duly accomplished passport application form (no photo needed)

What to do on your appointment date

• Come to the Embassy at least 15 minutes before the appointment time.
• Proceed directly to the encoding Area for encoding
• After encoding, proceed to Window 6 (Cashier) for payment.

Passport Fees

Renewal
e-‐Passport SR 240.00
Lost Passport

Green or MRP   SR 360.00 & SR100 for authentication
e-‐Passport          SR 600.00 & SR 100 for authentication
Newborn children

Report of Birth SR 100.00
e-‐Passport SR 240.00

How do I get my new passport?

• After 30 days after applying for your passport, you may check the Embassy website at www.philembassy-riyadh.org to find out if your passport has been received by the Embassy and is ready for release. You may also call 482-3815, 482-3559 and 482-1577

Releasing of e-Passport (Window 3)

1. Releasing will be in the afternoon only from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
2. Bring the following:
a. Original old passport
b. Official receipt

If you cannot appear personally to collect your new passport, you may authorize a representative and give him/her a signed letter of authorization stating your full name and the representative’s full name.

Project Blue Balloons: An Online Awareness Campaign Against Tuberculosis

2011-09-07T12:41:00.004+03:00

Everyone is familiar with Tuberculosis. In fact, this is considered "old" news for developed countries but for countries like the Philippines, this is a stark reality. For a country like ours, a disease like Tuberculosis is not only debilitating but it is also costly to maintain medication. Personally, I think that until this disease is completely eradicated, it should never be "old" news.

There are so many misconceptions about Tuberculosis that timely diagnosis and treatments are not initiated. Did you know that an expectant mother with Active TB can transmit the disease to her unborn child? Or that TB can infect the uterus and cause infertility? Did you know that most children get Tuberculosis from adults around them? I didn't either. Tuberculosis is not just a lung disease. It affects every gender, every age, and every race. And it is our responsibility to understand and prevent this from spreading.

Project Blue Balloons is an online awareness campaign, initiated by UP Open University students, that aims to clear these misconceptions. By collecting credible information about Tuberculosis and informing netizens about the symptoms and treatments available for TB victims, the project hopes to generate awareness among adults who have children of their own, or live with children or work with children. It is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of Tuberculosis and have yourself tested so you can protect your family from getting this disease.

Project Blue Balloons website

Here is a short video prepared by Project Blue Balloons to inform people about Tuberculosis. It outlines the symptoms of TB and preventive measures.

I urge you to take a few minutes from your time to watch the video and share it on your blog or social networking sites.

The Pledge

Don't forget to visit their website: www.blueballoons.yolasite.com and sign a (non-monetary) pledge to spread the word about Tuberculosis. With just a few minutes of your time and a few clicks, you can help educate people about TB and how we can help prevent it from spreading.

Love,

Sampaguita Pride

News From Home, The Digital Version

2011-09-05T09:55:00.003+03:00

I love digital reading materials. As an online student, I live and breathe "digital" 10 months a year. So it's no surprise that I've developed a liking to ebooks, pdf textbooks, digital comics and mangas... but what I've been craving for is news... not just any news, but the meaty no-nonsense news found in our local newspapers.

Yes, I can read the headlines online for free but it lacks the appeal that traditional newspapers offer. I read the newspaper from front to back and devour every page. I like to look at the headlines, glaze over the business section, look at advertisements, browse the cinema and theater listings, read up on the lifestyle section (my fave), checkout the job market and read the local comic strips.

So you can say that I got really excited when I learned that the Philippine Daily Inquirer is now available through its digital edition. Some people criticized this as ripping readers off because the content was on a subscription basis. But to be honest, I felt that the bad reviews were made by people who didn't actually bother downloading a digital issue. So I decided to give it a try... why not? They had a no obligation 14 day/issue trial offer. What was there to lose?

Your digital news stand

I downloaded the app for my iPad. The Inquirer app is free. I signed up for a free account and tried out their 14 day trial period. Let's just say that I was blown away! The whole user experience was easy and it didn't take long before I downloaded the Sunday issue. In terms of format, the PDI Digital Edition is similar to the online version of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, which are offered by online bookstores like Barnes&Noble.

The PDI Digital Edition gives you, not just the headlines, but the actual content of the news as they appear in print. If you're like me who appreciates the actual layout of printed newspapers, you'll understand my fascination. It gives you everything they have on the actual paper version of the newspaper. You will get even the local news in the provinces, the editorials, obituaries, the job openings, the cartoons... even the ads!

I miss editorial cartoons.

For the business minded

Lifestyle

This is something you don't get for free on other websites. I for one felt nostalgic when I saw the telecom ads and the theater listings....

Updates on local Indie Films

I've been fixating on Anne Hathaway's boots for a few days now. ^_^

You can click on a headline and a reader-friendly version pops up. Forget about cutting up the newspaper to clip articles! With the digital editions, you can email it, link it to twitter and Facebook or Airprint with compatible printers!

Very social network friendly. ^_^

Another reason why I love this is because it's a more earth-friendly way to appreciate newspapers. If you think about it, local prices for a paper-based PDI issue costs 20 pesos. The digital edition, only 10-14 pesos depending on your subscription package. They've already taken out the paper and delivery costs out of the price, reducing their carbon footprint as well. After the trial period, I decided to subscribe for one year. It only costs me about 99 halalas each day. Deal na for all the content I'm getting!

As an expatriate in Riyadh, I don't need to go to Batha to buy our local newspaper anymore. I can just download it on my iPad... less paper waste, less effort. Personally, I find it refreshing not to have old newspapers lying around the house. Let's be honest, I don't sell tinapa and I don't have a dog to paper train, so I don't need a regular supply of old newspapers.

A cup of coffee and my newspaper in a tablet! Geek bliss! ^^,

For a week now, my mornings have been perkier because I look forward to the news that will be delivered via wifi. In a way, it has rekindled a love for newspapers as well as a new found interest in what's happening in our country. I get to read about the good things about our country too, and not just the sensationalized news broadcasted here.

I understand that this is not for everybody. Some people like to collect newspapers and some are not used to reading online. I suppose these are for people who own tablets and are willing to pay for content. People who are used to reading online and don't mind spending money on subscriptions. No one will force you to make the switch.

But for me, the mere fact that this technology is available now in the Philippines is amazing. I am so happy to know that our country is catching up with the ICT trend in communications and learning. I think this is a wonderful step towards modernity and another way to ease the homesickness.

Sampaguita Pride