Thank you, Lord

What a wonderful weekend it was, filled with God's word and praises to Him. God showed clearly where we are now. in His word. Forget about the Mayan calendar or someone's prophecy, the bible can point at what junction of time where we at now. The time is at hand. God wants his people to consecrate their lives to Him. God wants his people to knw their ministry in the body of Christ.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve him. I thank the Lord for the journey in thislofe.

Blame it on what?

The other night I slept for nine looong hours. It was the longest sleep I ever had after joining a new company. Getting 9 hours sleep is like finding gold in a trash and it feels like it was a miracle. ;)

But in the afternoon it was difficult to get some winks before going to work. However, I didn't want to spoil the good feeling I was having from sleeping straight nine hours so I didn't make a fuss. I went to work and get on my job cheerfully.

Took my lunch at KFC and then went back to office. Eating fried chicken is nothing unusual but something happened to me after having lunch. I suddenly forgot my network password. It was like something stole my memory. Needless to say, my account got locked because I tried logging in several times. Have to seek helpdesk assistance in activating my account.

Yeah, that's how my day passed by in office. Went home and prepared to heat my pasta. Turned on the knob of the burner where I placed the skillet and turned on the TV to watch my favorite channel - TLC. Waited for like 15 minutes to heat and keep on mixing the pasta to warm it evenly.

I ate the pasta while watching TV and noticed that it was not warm at all. Didn't make a fuss about it. When I was washing the dishes, I realized I turned on the wrong knob hence it wasn't warming. Yay! Was using electric stove so there is no smoke or fire coming out.

How can I explain what happened to me today? Was it because of sleeping for nine hours or was it the KFC meal? :)

The Dye is Cast

This morning I went to Medical City to have CT stonogram done. I psyched up myself that it was a very simple procedure and painless. I went to the hospital alone and confident that I am an adult and I don't need a companion. Preliminary testing and questioning was done. Too many questions asked and the explanation of adverse effect of the dye freaked me out.

"The dye can cause allergic reaction to the body. You may experience difficulty in breathing, rashes and worst case is heart attack," started the medical attendant. Not sure if she was a doctor.

"Do you have history of the following: heart ailment, thyroid problem, myoma, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, blah... blah.." It was a series of Q and A and it started me to feel nervous already. I should have asked my aunt to accompany or asked someone to come along with me to the hospital.

I texted my colleague who volunteered earlier to accompany me to come to the hospital. Unfortunately, he was sleeping. Backing out is not an option. Have to go through the procedure and get done with it.

So far, it turned out well and I felt like a survivor again! Every time I go through a medical test that is a little bit complex, I feel like I am an amazing race participant or a survivor contestant.

The results will be out tomorrow and I like to celebrate small victories of faith because I claim that I am ok and no critical findings.

Gastronomic trip

I was having a breakfast with a friend this morning and I realized that there is a lot of restaurant in Eastwood City that I should try on weekends.  It is a very small community but it is teeming with restos and bars.

Just across the tower am staying at there is Ramen Bar and Osonho.  Have dined this morning at Tsoko-Nut and ordered Relyenong Bangus and Carrot cake. Last Wednesday, we had dinner at Wagyu and ordered for the top sirloin steak grilled infront of us (missed to take a picture of that!)

I will start dining at the restos near Excelsior and then on to Eastwood Mall.

I am looking forward to my gastronomic trip! I can make a review for each dining experience and brush up on my writing skills. :)

In less than three months, we will bid adieu to year 2012.  Time flies so fast that I can hardly catch up.  Can we pause for a year and just enjoy the time?  Me thinking aloud.

It's November soon and then it's December again!  I have great expectations for these months and am praying that I will see it come to pass. 

Have neglected blogging for quite a long time again. Just plain lazy and my computer is in the shop for repair. :(  I will be active again in posting my thoughts and experiences here.  No travels abroad this time around but I am going to explore my own country.  Its more fun in the Philippines no matter what the state of the economy is. 

I stumbled on this quote from one of my fave DIY/fashion blogger Maegan Tintari and would love to share her quote.

"STOP WORRYING ABOUT FAILURE.  YOU ARE ALREADY A SUCCESS."

Monsoon Rains Raging

I was moved to tears while watching the news program this afternoon on live coverage of the flooding in Metro Manila and other provinces in North Luzon.  Too many people were affected and lots of properties were damaged by floods brought about by monsoon rains. Some people were stranded on the roof of their houses, eight people dead in the landslide at Commonwealth, kids are rescued via improvised cables put up like zip lines, mother and baby rescued and reunited. My heart goes out to these people.

There is no way out when the nature strikes back. We have to admit that whatever we are experiencing now is brought about by people's neglect of mother nature. It is time to do something for mother earth. She is groaning for some attention and care.
 
I can do nothing but pray to God for rains to stop and safety of people.  It is also never too late to have personal relationship with God. These are signs of the time that He is coming back soon.

In Awe

I am in awe at God's handiwork in my life.  The path I walk on isn't always a smooth one but He make sure I won't get off the track. He doesn't give everything I ask but the bigger picture He present is better than I can imagine. I complain a lot whenever I am faced with troubles; still God doesn't let go of my hand. I am in awe with His love for me. My journey on this flesh isn't over yet and one thing is certain, I will continue to serve the Lord.

Dubai Must Do and See

There are so many things to do in Dubai and lots of places to visit but as a traveller I always want to see what sets the place apart from other cities in the world.  I go for culture and people. In my more than two months stay, here are the places I visited and things I did to experience the life in Dubai.

1. Ride the Metro and RTA bus.
2. Buy at Fish Market at Al Shindagha
3. Quick trip to Madinat Jumeirah Souk
4. Quick trip to one of the Sheikh's palaces in Oud Metha (you can't go near the Palace though because it is prohibited)
5. Quick trip to Gold Souk in Deira
6. Watch the dancing fountain at Souk al Bahar
7. Check out Bastakia - a Heritage Village
8. Visit Al Karama and Satwa
9. Walk in the beach shores - Al Mamzar
10. Dine at Dubai Marina
11. Check out Burl Al Arab and Burj Khalifa (tallest building on the world)
12. Go to the malls (Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Lamcy Plaza, etc)
13. Shop at Al Safa Park Flea Market

Grab a copy of Dubai Time Out magazine,  a quick guide on the best restaurants, hotels and sport activities you can do in this emirate.

I missed out on Desert Safari because it was almost summertime when I got to Dubai.

Here are some of my photos. I will be posting more tomorrow.

Mall of Emirates (sorry, pic is out of focus)

That's the dancing fountain! (bad hair day for me)

Standing tall beside Burj Khalifa

This is the driveway leading to one of the Palaces of the royal family.

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (KJV)

Quoting the above Bible verse, I always believe that all the people we meet in our lives serve a purpose.  The friends we made, our colleagues at work, classmates in school and our family. Yet, there are people who made a good influence and there are some who made you a bit worst. But the experience of knowing these people and hanging out with them becomes a learning experience in life and the experience makes you a better person.

I saw a message in Facebook about people making you discover the gold within you.  I agree with the person who posted it.

Some people do really stand out because they have more lessons to give to you. :) The person who made you smile all the time will be hard to forget. Well, you can't deny the fact that he/she is a blessing from God. The person who made you cry and upset will be unforgettable one also. The person is still a blessing because he/she has taught you how to forgive and love your enemy.

I can never forget one of my classmates in grade school because she exudes that calmness and positivity in life. She was a blessing to me and she was instrumental in leading my spiritual path to the right track.

At work, all the managers I worked with taught me a lot of things about leading and business sense. I am grateful to these people for teaching me and showing me how to be a good leader.

What I am today is the sum total of my life's experiences and the people I met along my journey have contributed a lot. I remember these people in prayer as a way of my appreciation and I thank God for making our paths crossed.

The Dream

The sea was calm and the yatchs and small boats near the shore was a sight to behold. I was standing on a sea view deck with some churchmates and relatives enjoying the view when suddenly a big tidal wave (or is it tsunami) swept us. The deck was far from the shore but it still reached us. Luckily, no one got drowned and I rescued one girl from the waters. I don't know how to swim but I survived because I didn't get washed away by the big wave.

And then I found myself in a very idyllic setting. The scenery was like in Bali. Really enchanting! My brother and I and another girl were staying in a big hut perched on a hill overlooking the sea. My brother stayed in the house and I went out to explore the sorroundings with the girl. Suddenly series of big waves came and we were rushing to the upper ground to escape the waters.  Again, I was lucky to escape that big waves.

After a few minutes and the raging of the sea sobered up. We saw from the balcony of the rest house the calmness of the sea. The water was so blue and inviting. It was like no calamity happened a few minutes back.

I heard the clicking of glasses and I woke up from the dream. I was reflecting on the meaning of my dream this morning. Is it God telling me that whatever am going through will get over soon? Will He soon grant my prayer requests?

Or is my dream telling me that the time is at hand and God is coming back soon?

Or it may not have meaning at all.

Roadtrip: Al Ain

We left Dubai at 5am in the morning to have a quick trip to Al Ain, known to be the Garden City of UAE.  True enough, this emirate is full of green scenery far cry from Dubai landscape of buildings and highways. I see trees lining up the streets of Al Ain. The roundabouts are also covered with grasses and flowering plants.

Our first stop was Jebel Hafeet, second highest peak in UAE. The road going up is a winding highway. People come up to the summit cycling or running. In contrast to what you green scenery in the town proper, Jebel Hafeet is a bare mountain. At the summit, the temperature has no difference in the city proper. But this mountain summit is still worth checking because of the enormous highway leading up. My only frustration in this trip is that I wasn't able to take a snap of the winding roads. Maybe next time. :)

Next stop is Al Ain Zoo.  The zoo opens late in the morning (9am). Wanted to see the giraffe and zebra at close range but the viewing deck is too far.

flamingos

Third stop is the Al Ain Paradise Garden which is unfortunately closed because plants have dried up due to summer heat. After that, we tried to find the Camel Market but unable to locate it so we headed to the nearest mall to grab quick lunch and went back to Dubai.

It is wonderful to take a road trip in UAE because the roads are well maintained. No traffic.

Quick road trip tips: make sure that your car has enough fuel and conditioned to travel, bring lots of drinking water, don't forget to wear sunblock, bring GPS and your camera with enough battery to capture the scenes.

p.s. I thought I was back in Singapore. We passed by Lucky Plaza. :))

Show Love, Find Time

I came across this thought on love in FB.  A brother shared it in his wall and I took the liberty of posting it here.

Your best expression of "love" is time.  "Time" is your most precious gift to someone because you only have a set amount of it.  You can make more money but you can't make more "Time".  It is a portion of your life given to someone else and you will never get it back. -DKP

This is so true.  Time is priceless and more expensive than gold.  I also understand now why sometimes I felt bad in the past is because I was asking for time from some people who matters in my life and it was inconsistently given.

Time should be spent wisely though.  You got to find time for yourself and time for family and friends.  You got to love yourself more so when you overflow of love you can also give as much to others.  I had a not so good experience in the past wherein I always put someone else welfare before mine and I was expecting the same but I don't get the same treatment.  When I started putting myself first and then other people second place, people started to pay me more attention or try to please me first.  The key is putting balance in loving yourself and others.

Here is another quote I stumbled on this morning.

"When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. " - Catherine Ponder

I absolutely agree with the author.  A good Christian should have a forgiving and loving heart all the time.  It is a test of a character for a Christian to love his own enemies.

Boredom is the beginning of curiosity

This afternoon out of boredom, I changed my walking route and wandered farther from the villa I live in. I have discovered that I have aptitude at remembering landmarks and finding my way back home. I acquired this skill from traveling alone abroad and I relished the joy of stumbling to something unfamiliar and satisfying my curiosity.

Boredom is the beginning of curiosity. It should read "Curiosity is the cure for boredom" but I prefer to put it my way. :)

My boredom has lead me to a more posh streets in Al Quoz 1. The roads are wider and the houses are not the typical box type I see in our street. But I noticed here in Dubai that the government is not good in street naming convention. It's difficult to find a villa or house if the people who live there won't give you detailed directions. The streets are labeled by numbers and the community is by number as well. So the street where I live in is 23a Street 354b Community. This is type of naming the streets is replicated all throughout Dubai. If I go to Al Karama, I will see 354b community and 23 st also. The streets are not uniquely named.

I am hoping that I can get inside one of the villas in the posh street. I am so curious how the houses of Arabs are structured. Architecture or style of houses is influenced by topography, customs, and climate.

Wandering into those streets gave me the idea to shoot. Will go back there this Thursday with a friend to take my snaps. :)

City in the Land of Desert

I have set foot on a foreign land again. This time I found myself in a city in the middle of a desert they call Dubai. I thought I will never like this city because of its sultry weather but when my brother drove me around, my perception has changed. :)

The place is more progressive than the Asian cities/countries I visited before. I am amazed with building designs and I love the fact that roads are very wide.

However, I noticed that this country shouldn't be called United Arab Emirates because a lot more Indians live here. It would be more apt to call it United Indian Emirates. In Singapore, there were lots of Indian nationals there but here they pop everywhere! Maybe because of its proximity to India.

Have seen three malls in Dubai already. I have watched the dancing fountains as well. I am looking forward to the desert safari. I would love to ride a camel, try sandboarding, and watch bellydancing.

Let's see what's in store for me in this city in the desert.

Pick me up!

The first person to motivate you or uplift you when you're feeling down is YOU. There is an inner strength from within that comes from faith in God. Just like happiness, you can't rely on other people to find happiness but it should come first from yourself.

Allow yourself to cry or be sad but after that smile, look forward to something positive because God is with you all the time.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! Gong xi fa cai.

Today the Chinese communities celebrates the lunar new year. I would like to wish everyone a happy new year and a prosperous one. I am enjoying my stay here in SG though my main purpose in coming here has not materialized. I am blessed that I get to fellowship with the brethren here and I get to share the word of God to a new friend.

The positive things outweigh the negative ones. Thank you, Lord!

Thinking Out Loud

Robin Sharma's 35 Tips for a Better 2012

I'm sharing these tips from Robin Sharma. If you haven't read any of his works, you can start this year. :)

35 Fast Tips to Make This Your Best Year Yet

I’m sitting on an airplane thinking about what the best performers and most successful people do to continually outperform everyone around them.

As we enter what I hope will be the single best year of your life yet, I’ve come up with 35 Tips that I invite you to concentrate on. Share these tips, reflect on then, post them where you can see them – and allow them to infuse your mindset:

1. Remember that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts.
2. Keep the promises you make to others – and to yourself.
3. The project that most scares you is the project you need to do first.
4. Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results.
5. Stop being busy being busy. This New Year, clean out the distractions from your work+life and devote to a monomaniacal focus on the few things that matter.
6. Read “The War of Art”.
7. Watch “The Fighter”.
8. In a world where technology is causing some of us to forget how to act human, become the politest person you know.
9. Remember that all great ideas were first ridiculed.
10. Remember that critics are dreamers gone scared.
11. Be “Apple-Like” in your obsession with getting the details right.
12. Take 60 minutes every weekend to craft a blueprint for the coming seven days. As Saul Bellow once said: “A plan relieves you of the torment of choice.”
13. Release your need to be liked this New Year. You can’t be a visionary if you long to be liked.
14. Disrupt or be disrupted.
15. Hire a personal trainer to get you into the best shape of your life. Superstars focus on the value they receive versus the cost of the service.
16. Give your teammates, customers and family one of the greatest gifts of all: the gift of your attention (and presence).
17. Every morning ask yourself: “How may I best serve the most people?”
18. Every night ask yourself: “What 5 good things happened to me this day?”
19. Don’t waste your most valuable hours (the morning) doing low value work.
20. Leave every project you touch at work better than you found it.
21. Your job is not just to work. Your job is to leave a trail of leaders behind you.
22. A job is not “just a job”. Every job is a gorgeous vehicle to express your gifts and talents – and to model exceptionalism for all around you.
23. Fears unfaced become your limits.
24. Get up at 5 am and take 60 minutes to prepare your mind, body, emotions and spirit to be remarkable during the hours that follow. Being a superstar is not the domain of the gifted but the prepared.
25. Write love letters to your family.
26. Smile at strangers.
27. Drink more water.
28. Keep a journal. Your life’s story is worth recording.
29. Do more than you’re paid to do and do work that leaves your teammates breathless.
30. Leave your ego at the door every morning.
31. Set 5 daily goals every morning. These small wins will lead to nearly 2000 little victories by the end of the year.
32. Say “please” and “thank you”.
33. Remember the secret to happiness is doing work that matters and being an instrument of service.
34. Don’t be the richest person in the graveyard. Health is wealth.
35. Life’s short. The greatest risk is risk-less living. And settling for average.

I genuinely wish you the best year of your life.

Stay Great.

Robin Sharma

How to be happy

I stumbled on this website about the science of happiness. It's worth checking out.

How to Be Happy - Less Wrong

Happy Friday the 13th!

Some people believe that the 13th day falling on a Friday is bad luck. Others who are superstitious enough won't go out to travel or start a new project.

Personally I believe, there is no bad luck. As the Bible says all things work together for good to them that love the Lord God and do His will. If something you really want goes wrong, it happens for a purpose. It isn't lady luck causing the bad result.

I believe there is a reason or purpose for everything that happens in one person's life. But I still wish someone good luck when they're about to undertake a new endeavor or exam or whatever. I think it is odd. I think I say it because I want the person to be confident and be positive about his new endeavor.

Today, I have this great feeling of being in love but to no one in particular. I am just extremely happy! I wish I could show in pictures my joy but unfortunately the card reader slot of my laptop isn't working.

Folks, don't let Friday the 13th scare you. If you want to have dinner outside, go and enjoy it.

Happy Friday! :)

Kung Hei Fat Choi

The new year based on Gregorian calendar is over. We are about to observe the Lunar calendar new year on Jan 24th.

Went to Ang Mokio Hub and I ran into the three prosperity gods. It's time for photo-op :)

Thank You, God

Yes, it is true. You can never run out of things to thank God for. Start your day with gratitude and end your day with gratitude. Think about the air you breathe, that is something to thank God. Think of the food that's on your table. Think of the people who made you smile that day. Think of the birds that sing for you near your window when you get up in the morning.

I am in awe with what the Lord is doing in my life. I didn't get a good job in 2011 but God has blessed me spiritually tremendously. He opened my eyes and made me realize a lot of things about my life, work, friends and family.

I stumbled on this video via twitter. It's a nice video about gratitude.

New Year's Eve 2012

Getting around SG via Bus

I am getting the hang of riding buses when I go out. The area am staying at is a good place because there are lots of buses going to the north and east of Singapore. I never get bored even when I go out of my own because (1) I enjoy being with myself and (2)I make use of the travel time to observe people or reflect.

I get amused watching people in MRT or bus. The other day I went to Marina Bay to see the New Year's eve countdown and watch live performances. I was on the upper deck of the bus and keep myself busy clicking pictures. An Indian guy with his kids boarded the bus in City Hall. The Indian girl sat beside me and her brother sat behind. They were chattering loudly in English. Just hearing their Indian accent while talking made me smile because I remember Russel Peter jokes about his fellows.

I consciously eavesdropped of the kids conversation.

Girl: You know I don't want to buy the electronic gadget.
Boy: I like it! it's nice.
Girl: what if the battery gets over? can you buy a battery?
Boy: (he was silent as he doesn't know the answer)
Me: ( I was thinking the girl is smart.)
Girl: Aneesh, you can buy the gadget. You can .... blah blahh
Father: You are telling him to buy when you don't want to buy the gadget. What's wrong with you?
Girl: Daaad, I didn't say he should! I said "he can"."
Father: Hmmn, smart answer ha.

The kids continued to talk in their high pitched voices and their father keeps reminding them to talk softly. I asked later the boy when he sat beside me their names and ages. The boy is 7 years old and his sister is 5 years old.

Me: You know you and your sister are smart kids.
Boy: (without batting an eyelash) Yes

I caught their dad's smile when I said the kids were smart.

*****

Singaporeans women love fancy nail polish. I saw an old woman in her 60's wearing 3 inches long nails and polished with silver. One time, I saw also a woman in her 40's sporting silvers. She has glittery silver nail art, a diamond studded watch and fabulous silver shoes!. I see young girls also sporting fancy nail arts.

*****
some snaps I took when on board bus 133 :)