Strolling the Dubai Mall

Yesterday was even more monotonous. So, we in the house, decided to stroll the Mall of Dubai. We just  went there not to shop for anything really but just simply visited the place and took some pictures. I saw many Filipinos strolling as well. I thought they might be doing the same thing for the same purpose too.

Well, at least we had it on purpose first hand: we were checking on laptop prices as Pap got interested in buying his own unit so he can play games with it as long as he likes. He was addicted to playing the Snooker Game on our laptop and been wanting to soak himself out till exhaustion will call him for bedtime. Cool enough.

Anyway, I would not have come along since migraine has been ramming my head for almost two days now. I always tried to fight the head-bug by preoccupying my self. It's time for me to visit the mall also since everybody's been buzzing about the place a lot. It's time for me to find out. I never caught the first light well, probably eight out of ten persons will say they've been there. I'm testing if mine is worth the visit.

Ok. T'was nice! Huge! I like the aquarium a lot. I went to aim my arsenal of course so I took a lot of careless camera shots. Petty me. Amused or entertained. :o) Hehehe.

It is Dubai's demonstration of tremendously expensive architectural prowess. Adjacent to the still on-going construction of the Burj Dubai, it is one of the highlight in the vicinity.

Well, it was huge but empty for me! Why? I would not trade a time with my girls strolling inside Davao's Victoria Plaza or the Gaisano Mall adjacent to my provincial home. I can not trade the moment I wiped off the melting ice cream from my little JJ's fingers or chasing down JM while inside NCCC the Mall of Davao. Or, the 'no money' window shopping with my wife. :o)

(While there, you can avail of the mall's free transport going back to where you live like Bur Dubai, Trade Center, Jumeira Village, etc.)

LiveJournal Tags: Dubai Mall UAE,Christmas Morning,Pinoy in UAE

UAE National ID Program Proposed to Seize

A Federal National Council committee has recommended that identity cards be issued only to Emiratis only. Not to include the general expatriate population of UAE. The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) have been struggling its efforts to issue cards to all of the five million population that is currently and legally living inside the UAE. Thus came this recommendation that the program shall be applied just for all the national citizens instead.

There had been a surmountable panic in the UAE this past few months because of the mandatory ID system that will supposedly contain all the individuals personal information. It was said that failure to compliance would result to salary bank accounts being freezed among other sanctions.

Just recently came this news about the program to be altered. The FNC committee has suggested that the Government should only issue Labor Cards to foreign workers and individuals living in the country for an expireable two years as reported in the local news paper, the National last Thursday.

According to the paper, the committee members wrote a brief report regarding the change of plan to push the ID program. To wit:

"The goal is to have a comprehensive database about those who work in the country. The ID card should only be given to citizens," said Mohammed al Zaabi, a member of the specialised labour committee.

The FNC is expected to take up the recommendation at its next meeting in January. If the FNC, which is an advisory body, passes the committee recommendation, it will be submitted to the Cabinet. They will then decide whether to adopt it or not.

Now this is important, EIDA on Tuesday released a new definitive time guideline in a bid to avoid confusion for ID card registration in the UAE during 2009. UAE residents and professionals working in the government and private sectors will have until Feb. 28, 2009 to apply for the card, it said.

According to the schedule, residents working in the federal and local government sector, and professional residents including their family members can register for the new national ID card from this month to the
end of February.

This news is still not certain since the issue is at its proposal period only so lets be guided accordingly.

Technorati Tags: UAE and Labor Laws,Pinoy Expatriates,Career Guidelines,UAE National ID System

Christmas Gift Wrappings

This post is for Ms. Theta, my manita.

Okay! I am not that good at gift wrappings but I did anyway. Well, my father helped me so that it becomes more like an industrial package now. See the picture. :-) There's something soft inside I can not tell you - it's classified until ten PM this evening.

The bare skin shown off. The industrial adhesives taped around the box makes it looks scary. It looks like a bomb bare skin so we need a fancy Christmas wrapper to make it nice. And it's bulging too. Don't be fooled. The angle taken for this picture just makes it looks like it's big but it's not.

Funny thing is, there aren't any grocery stores selling Christmas gift wrappers so I opt to use the Birthday gift paper instead. If there's a list of anything 'hard to buy' in Dubai. A Christmas gift wrapper should qualify to the list. LOL! Not one grocery store is selling the stuff - Shuhada! Mosquel Kabir!

Well, I am not that good at gift wrappings but, Voila! Done in less than an hour. LOL! Company party is in two hours. What's inside? That is for Ms. Theta to find out. I hope she'll like what's inside more than what she can see here.

 

BuzzNet Tags: christmas,Dubai,Food,Games,Shopping,Christmas Rush,Gift Wrapping,Middle East Christmas,Occasion,Photo,Pinoy Christmas,Pinoy in UAE

The Price for Sex

And you thought sex is easy? Let the pictures speaks for itself.

LiveJournal Tags: Cruelty,Human Rights,Human Trafficking,Prostitution,Sex,Woman

My Pay for an Unpaid Evening

Again we were slaves doing the thing we weren't supposed to do or might have done voluntarily do ourselves if we were only given the respect due to us. Mentality of slavery! Although I'm a strong believer that nothing pays more strongly than the respect of your people to do you more extra jobs. A little respect, surmountable motivation and even just a little penny compensate a huge hours of work will matter a lot.

Out of frustration, I among others in my office who were obliged to do work overtime without pay, was a bit desperate for a little recreation. Anything just to get it even with the eye that was probably been staring at us. Remotely, from a security camera the whole night from his comfortable abode.

It's unusual during this time of the night, this exotic and extremely lovely lady came walking towards my post. Two huge guys, probably a brother and a husband behind her back were scanning the displays to purchase. I immediately grabbed my camera and asked her politely if I could make a picture shot at her hand. She was undeniably beautiful and kind. The ones you see in those Hollywood movies about Persian women.

The moment there I was hesitant whether to take a head-shot or not. Slightly lifted my camera up or down, twice or more. Then, I forgot I should have asked permission from the men as well. So I did. Two guys smiled and kindly exclaimed, 'Yes, of course, please do!'. So I did take a picture of her beautiful Henna tattoo - a poetry painted on the hands. And thus, the picture I've attached to this post.

I considered it a privilege of the evening. My pay for an unpaid evening.

(Last photo credits to http://media.collegepublisher.com)

LiveJournal Tags: Asia,Culture,Dubai,Ettiquettes,Poetry,Rant,Work,UAE,Henna Arts

Chowking! Indulge My Appetite

Yeah! Here's another every common topic in town. And, every one eats Chow-king.

One of my favorite topic to talk about when I'm hungry is - food! What else should I be musing about? My mind's probably loose right now. {--,}  I'm hungry and my ordered food from Chow-king Restaurant has not arrived yet.

Calling the restaurant has been the most convenient yet costly way of bringing down your lunch to the office. Well, not that costly but you loss the point of working your ass hard to save a penny to send back home. The people on the other lines are extremely friendly too. Well, you'll know by the tone of their voice they had a bad day but what the heck, it's always a good thing to cheer up people - even if it begins from a customer. Well, I'm a testified believer that when a customer is happy he will hail the people who served him and he will even write a blog entry about them. Hehehe.

The one in the picture is a beef mushroom wanton noodle - my lunch today! Good when it's served warm and a little bit of chili curry dipped with a little bit of soy sauce. Chow-king foods are known to have served lacking a little bit of salt because not every one likes it salty of course. Each person has a distinct taste when it comes to salty tasting food. This thing cost twenty-one Dirhams per order which will of course save you plenty as much as thirty-four dollars a week, one hundred thirty six dollars a month. Hehehe. Whew! the Chili sauce is hot!

Well, I am one of those people here in Dubai where one of the passion is food. And its not a good way to save a penny. It's always very cost saving bringing along with you everyday food for lunch - there will not be much dinner-left overs in your home. I find it very effective when I'm tight budget, no really, I mean when I'm really on tight budget, to be able to save money. It's usually a habit for a Filipino OFW like me to prepare food earlier at home to bring and consume the next day or two. Preparation is usually in the evening, and usually by bulk. One or two cups of plain rice in a topper-ware container for each day of the week.

Depending on your mood to share chit-chat around other office people, it will usually take you a total of thirty minutes to eat this thing which of course can be eaten in just a matter of sixty seconds. You don't have to drink water - it's in it already. Hehehe. You don't have to worry about the noodles entangling around your tonsils inside your mouth. You can have Maju pull that out that strings of noodles for you. Hehehe.

The thing comes good with Siopao too! Cost eight Dirhams ($2.18) in UAE.

Technorati Tags: Chinese,Chowking,Dubai,Fastfood,Food,Health,Noodles,Occasion,Party,Philippines,Pinoy in UAE,UAE,Siopao

Congratulations UAE - It's 37th National Day

Congratulations UAE for the 37th Anniversary as a nation of peace and prosperity.

However difficult it is living alone here in the UAE, I am still thankful for the opportunity of work and for the chance of better life for my family back home.

UAE, despite few problems the expatriates are facing, is still truly a country of equal opportunity and growth for as long as you have the guts to grab your heart's desire. People have many problems here, I'm no exception, but I always examine the condition back home before I begin to think or become vocal about it. Like for example, before I even begin to complain about the traffic condition, I always remember the condition of my own home-town's roads and streets. And, hopeful the same condition will happen one day in the Philippines.

This country is beautiful. And, many of its locals are respectable and honest. I think honestly and respecting one's belief and principles is the key to a nations growth and peace. One principle UAE is modeled. Wherever you go, you will still face problems anyway.

Everywhere or whichever company you will go, there will always be antagonists and challenges around. And, one sure way to make expatriate's stay worthwhile, endure homesickness is to find all possible ways to enjoy your self with the camaraderie of others. Might it be a fellow Filipino or not, there are good sides of people too.

I am sure the Filipino community of UAE is ever thankful and as well sharing the pride this nation has achieved for thirty-seven years of challenges and opportunities.

Well, at least I got a day holiday off to relax and contemplate my plans in the coming seasons. Government offices are entitled fifteen-days off and other private offices will have a two day's off in the coming days.

(Photos credits to http://fiveprime.org, http://experiencingtheemirates.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html & http://ofwzone.com

Technorati Tags: Career,Dubai,Home,Party,Patriotism,Philippines,Pinoy in UAE,Work,Opportunities,Living,OFW

My Pren!

 

One Pakistani guy was sitting in the ladies section of the bus C2 en-route to Deira today. When the bus made a stop just somewhere near the Muzalla Towers, few ladies rushed in. While there were no more sit for the ladies is available, one lady who has been sitting beside him exclaimed, "my pren, you stay behind!" Hehehe! The guy was point blank. He was I think new in town. Either he does not speak English or he's just dumb clueless. The ladies were staring at him. It took him moments to stood up and went backside. The right remark should have been, "My friend, can you please sit at the back?"

Regardless of what language we speak, we should make an effort to convey what we think as clearly as possible to avoid failure of communication. Even if the guy does not speak English, it's never an excuse just to whack some statement unclear. We speak clearly and directly, some guys might just be able to help us.

This scene so common when one guy is not a so good English speaker having an argument with a local policeman who is seemed having problem speaking or comprehending it too. Anyway, the total dumb and immediate solution to the dispute was the poor guy sent away to jail. "OK Stay there inside bugger!" Hehehe.

Sadly there is this race who just thinks of themselves as high above the others because as they have claimed they speak good English. "O! what a beautiful cobra, taste like chicken!" as my brother jokes it.