It’s day 3 of our 5-day holiday and we’ve been to 3 random places. Our original plan was just to go jogging along the Jumeirah open beach early in the morning. As early as 7am, we headed to the beach with our packed breakfast of pancit, siopao and bread. There is a track for jogging and walking while another track was placed for biking. We jogged for around 20 to 30 minutes and have to stop because it’s already getting warmer. After the adrenaline rush, we decided to visit the nearby Madinat Jumeirah.
At the Madinat, we had the chance to take photos with the Burj Al Arab as the backdrop. It was still early so the place is not yet crowded. There were souvenir shops scattered along the pathways leading to the man-made river which is one of the attractions of this place. I did not bought anything other than taking some pix inside the shops. There is a boat that will take you to a cruise along the river but the ride practically doesn’t fit our budget. We ended the visit just enjoying a drink at Starbucks.
Then before lunch time, we found ourselves roaming in Ibn Batuta Mall. A gigantic mall with lavish architectural design based on different places where the great explorer - Ibn Batuta - had travelled. Imagine, some people we met had mistakenly thought that we are tourist. And as always, some kababayans did not recognise me as Pinoy. I am often classified as either a Malaysian, Japanese, Nepalese, Singaporean or Indonesian. It’s only when I responded back in Tagalog that they surprisingly say “kabayan”.
There is an iMax theater inside the China court. I have tried this kind of theater once at MOA in Manila. Perhaps, I’ll try this again here in my next visit. Ibn Batuta Mall is divided into six main courts such as China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia. Among all the courts, I believe the best designed area is the China court. Everything are in fire red. The fountain in Andalusia court is also eye-catching with its tiger sculpture. Again, I have also taken some snapshots inside the shops. I got this pic with the predator and alien sculpture at my back. I wonder who would dare to buy this kind of stuff.
We ended the day at around half-past two in the afternoon. We need to take a bath and have a good after noon nap.
Whenever I think of our drinking spree in PH, the first thing that I always remember is the “pulutan”. In some Erap jokes, this word is referred to as “pollutants”. One of the uncommon and cheaper kind of pollutant we usually have is the sizzling hotdog. Now that I am cooking my own meal, this dish had become one of the easiest and fastest concoction that I can prepare. Just saute onions in a pan then add the slices of hotdogs. I prefer using Purefoods jumbo hotdogs; my uncomparable classic favorite. Savor with oyster sauce and bits of chili flakes. Add dash of salt and pepper. Presto! Serve and feast while it’s hot.
Pardon me for an unavoidable hiatus these past weeks. Been so busy gathering information for the report that I am drafting at work. I am paid to do the job so it is of greater priority. Hence, once I got home I don’t want to do stuff that will push my brain muscles further.
For an update, I have been thinking of this decision since day-1. And soon, that decision will commence. I have actually decided last week but the result will be felt in the coming months. I know that some may not be in favor with what I have decided upon but I know what I wanted. There are options coming but I am not impeled to perform with undue haste. I am taking one step at a time. Enjoying my time in each step. I am a survivor but I have reached my limits.
We had a company event last night at the Grand Hyatt Convention Center. It was my first time to attend an official event since the time I joined this company. The gathering was packed with so many people from different nationalities. Of course birds of the same feathers flocked together. So we Pinoys have decided to be together in one table. Not much fun compared to what we used to do in the Sunny company but meeting new faces from different business units is a good experience. Here’s the souvenir:
I got a new friend. Her name is Kim. She’s 32, slim, cool and elegant. I like her because she makes me “Imagine the Possibilities”. Meet my new friend … Kim Sam Sung.
Trying my luck on a self-portrait in the eye of a child.
Thanks to little Thomas for the pose.
It’s a long weekend here. That means no work since Thursday. Yesterday, I spent the whole day at the Silverio’s. Frank has a range of Canon lenses so I experimented on macro shots using Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. The first two pix are taken from the pots of plants and cactus in the kitchen. The last pix is a toy owned by little Thomas.
This is something to remind myself …
In order to better understand people’s views of the world, a researcher once placed two children, one a pessimist and the other an optimist, alone in separate rooms. The pessimist was placed in a colorful room full of all kinds of imaginative toys… the optimist was put in a room filled with horse manure. The first child played in the room for a little while, but soon came to the door asking to leave because the toys were boring and because they broke too easily. Likewise, the young optimist soon came to the door…but rather than asking to leave, she asked for a shovel. Of course, the researcher asked the child why she wanted a shovel. She replied, “With all this manure around, I know that there must be a pony in here somewhere.”
- Unknown-
Last month, I took the CISA examination before going to PH for my vacation. The exam date happens to fall on the day of my flight to Manila. No other choice but to take the exam at 8 in the morning then took the flight at 8 in the evening of the same day.
By the way, CISA means Certified Information Systems Auditor.
The other night, I received an email from ISACA informing me that I have PASSED the exam. Yes! I PASSED the exam. The long hours of review and buckets of prayers have brought a sweet harvest.
Indeed, God really makes things beautiful in His time.
I got this job-change checklist from Yahoo! It talks about how can you know when it’s really time to quit your job. It states that if more than half of the following statements ring true for you, it’s about time to get your resume ready and start connecting with new opportunities today.
1. You start to dread Monday as soon as you leave work on Friday.
2. It becomes more and more difficult to get up for work each day, and tardiness becomes a way of life.
3. You cannot muster enthusiasm for anything related to work — other than your paycheck.
4. You spend most of your time complaining to colleagues or about your colleagues.
5. You act defensive and even hostile in company meetings when there’s little cause for it.
6. You interact less and less with co-workers, shutting yourself away in your office and avoiding opportunities to socialize.
7. You’ve used up all your sick, personal, and vacation days — and the year isn’t even half over.
8. You’re constantly putting off until tomorrow what you could (and should) do today. When you do actually commit to doing your work, you feel resentful.
9. You’re bitter about the company’s success or that of a co-worker.
10. You have no professional goals related to your job, and you have a hard time even making some up at your obligatory performance review.
Don’t ask for my score. I better keep it private as of the moment. Go check the whole article here.
