Category: Personal blog

  • Abaya – a trend in fashion 2012 collections

    Abaya is a long loose black robe traditionally worn by Muslim women.I have seen the evolution of the design from 1987 to the present. When I first came to Saudi Arabia, Abaya is not a must for non-Muslim foreigner to wear in public. We usually go out in public with modest dresses , blouse and trouser. We started to wear abaya and tarha in public during Gulf war. At first, I refused to wear black, so I wore blue abaya then dark brown until later on, I wore the traditional black abaya and tarha (black headscarf). I also got used wearing it, that sometimes when I’m out of KSA, i felt naked on the first day without wearing abaya.. strange but I guess its true!

    With in recent years, a lot of fashionable Abaya became a trend in public. Different fabrics and colorful design for teenagers, embroidered and tailored with swarovski elements for women. I have different kinds of Abayas, I have abaya for daily use, for party, for meetings and for fishmarket. My friend has abaya according to what shoes she is wearing, whether its high-heeled or flat shoes.

    Today, we went to a Lebanese abaya-maker, we wanted something different and practical to wear.

    model: lyn

    This abaya has no opening on the front, you wear it like a shirt, and it looks like its tailored like a butterfly.

    model: malou

    A very practical abaya with a hood at the back, and well arm fitted sleeves.

    model:mimi

    Another design with two pockets on each side.

    models: mimi-lyn-malou

    a good colored combination of black and grey, black and blue

    So ladies, which abaya do you like?

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  • Age 52: How to turn a simple mom’s dress to a classy one!

    Hello single ladies! its been awhile…well, as usual got caught up with a very busy schedule. Yesterday, i got a ” herbench” dress from my loving husband.It’s simple but so comfy and sexy too! Thanks dad!

    Though i am not comfortable wearing it in public,My son took a few shots of how can I be comfortable on it.

    do you know? ur knees can give away your age?

    Do you know?if your face doesn’t show you’re fifty and above, your knees and back of the hand will give your age away! Who cares? I have reached this age and no one would dare ..would you hahahahaha 🙂

    From simple to demure to classy mom

    Ok ladies, i’m back, i’ll be posting about beauty and fashion without spending much, i bet your husband is smiling hmmmm no way…. go shopping and enjoy!

    dress – herbench, flat sandal- berkinstock,shoes-aldo, top -Coast (white) – Zara (blue)

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  • My bonsai diary

    The mini Bonsai kit

    “Stressed out by your job?” you bet, I am! My youngest son has a “twin brother” Kevs the second, he gave me a mini Bonsai kit, I believed no matter how good you are… hiding your inner feelings, people see it, and the closer they are to you, the more sensitive they are to feel your mood. I thank you Kevs2 for your thoughtfulness.

    Though my level of stress is tolerable, I like to do new things and growing bonsai is not a bad idea at all. Let’s see how this works for me:

    cute!

    Day 1 : the kit includes a pot,Jack Pine seeds, a peat pellet and small scissors and small booklet of introduction to the beauty of bonsai and how to grow your own bonsai. Keeping my fingers crossed here we go!

    pine seeds soak in water

    it has five (5) pieces of pine seeds, soak in water for 24 hrs.

    Day 2: place seeds in damp paper towel,seal and place it into a plastic bag and cold stratify for 7 days in the refrigerator.

    Day 7:

    peat pellet in a tray

    After the pellet has expanded, spread the seeds over it, gently pressing,… alright, I’m feeling excited..huh! my level of stress seems going down 🙂 place the pellet in bonsai pot and set in a tray filled with about 1/4 inch of water.

    expanded pellet

    I set the tray besides my window, inside my room, keeping the soil moist everyday. The first thing I do every morning, as i get up from my bed..”ohayou” or sometimes “Zao shang hao” or ” sabah al kheir” “magandang umaga” simply ” good morning my bonsai” ..hahahaha heard of linguist bonsai!

    Day 9: waiting period

    waiting

    I’m excited to see whether a sprout of leaves or any sign of growth which will definitely makes my day! Ahhh it seems my stress is going up instead of going down:-) just kidding.

    Day 12 Yes!

    awesome!

    What a beautiful sight…awesome day..my pine seeds are growing 🙂

    Day 13 growing more!

    growing!

    At some point, my stress is getting higher, knowing my bonsai is growing, apprehensive that i may not see it the following morning, however ..this gets me up with a smile everyday!

    Day 16 more!

    more!

    o la la, 🙂 my bonsai is growing more and more…

    Day 18 more and more

    more and more

    I’m so happy, seeing my pine seeds growing makes my stress levels goes down, hmmm I believed it’s working!

    Day 20 lovely!

    lovely!

    Wow! surviving on 20th day

    Day22 great!

    great!

    another great day for my growing bonsai!

    Day 24 Cool!

    cool!

    Really cool! my cute bonsai, hope you grow more and more!

    day 25 Oh My!

    oh my!

    I was surprised to find out that my cute pot broke! not only that my bonsai iii yay! My cleaner didn’t see it coming, she vacuum my bonsai!

    day 26 stress level up!

    sorry

    Oh my bonsai, I’m so sad that you didn’t grow that far, I’m so sorry…

    everyday as the sun goes up..you made my day complete

    be strong i said, i saw you grow tall and proud

    i saw you change… fighting for your life

    you never failed to inspire me…give me love and hope

    so sorry that i was no there to protect you..

    goodbye my bonsai…

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  • Christmas in Saudi Arabia- how do we celebrate?

    It’s not easy to celebrate Christmas in a place like Saudi Arabia, where almost everything is forbidden like, mixed party, religious activities for non-Muslim etc, and what more if you are home away from home meaning, your family are not complete. A lot of OFW (overseas Filipino workers) are home alone (no wife or husband or children) it is really depressing but in spite of the homesickness, the spirit of Christmas overcome the loneliness.

    I am lucky to have my youngest son with me, my brothers and my friends and with the advent of technology,” Skype “group video call made the distance a bit closer, I was able to see and talk  to my parents, my eldest son and my brothers, their wife and their children simultaneously.

    However, a family will always be incomplete without a father, my husband is so distant, I wonder how much the cost of bottle of beer or a case maybe ,compared to the cost of calling and hearing the voices of his family. Virac, Catanduanes is an island but internet cafe is amazingly around each corner, so I don’t think internet connection is a problem. Probably a better quote would be “sorry ka na lang mas mahal ko ang beer” oh so, it’s not the price! 😦 , in fairness, I got a short text greetings of “Merry Christmas”.Ahhh at least in between the “gulf”,”crack” and jokes!!!

    my TFCK family, I miss u all

    Oh well, life continues and i am so thankful for the blessings in spite of my pain (physical and emotional) I am still functionally alive and able.

    old and new friends

    I have seen old and new friends with their family, though, it gives some twist in my heart, I am thankful and lucky with my two sons.I am also thankful to received messages of greetings from a lot of friends ,relatives and a “name” poem, and I am happy to share it to you:

    M-ost eloquent

    I- instrument of beauty; a

    M- mirror of life

    I-n the crest of wave.

    S-uch irresistible beauty beyond

    U-nderstanding yet

    A-mazingly spontaneous,

    R-eaching out to share the

    E-xcitement and

    Z-est for life

    author: Joey,… thank you, though we see each other only once or twice in a year. to say “hi and bye”, I am glad to received this on 25th of December.

    “the best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”- Burton Hillis

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  • Thank you! Cathay Pacific Airways

     Cathay Pacific Airways, “we always go the extra miles to make you feel special” indeed, you made our flight special, My son and I were travelling from Philippines to Jeddah, K.S.A via Hongkong, during check -in, I handed out my gold card (AA advantage),and got a “ruby’ tag on our ticket.When I handed my boarding pass, the officer -in-charge said” Hello Dr. Suarez welcome, we found an upgrade for you …business class..what a surprised but what about my son? Yes, Mr Suarez welcome on board 🙂 cool!

    business class seats

    To the staff of CX902 Nov11-12, 2011 thank you so much, good service…Well done!

    seat can be reclined all the way

    Hopefully, i can always travel like this! 🙂 huh! in my dreams…oh well, i wish!

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  • OFW kitakits – a breezing night!

    It was a cool ,breezing night for all OFW (overseas Filipino workers) in Jeddah, the mood was festive and extra ordinary. Extra ordinary because we live in Saudi Arabia where male and female are usually separated in all occasions.It’s a one night happening in a year, you wont be glad to miss!

    my bff at the entrance

    As usual, i am carrying a small point and shoot camera, so here’s some of my shots…cheers!

    my ladies
    mens fashion

     

     

     

     

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  • From Bicol with love

    It was raining hard, flight was delayed, we only have five days to spare so be it, rain or shine we got to be there, either by air, land or sea and we did it!. My parents were so surprised to see us, as we got inside the house, one by one, screaming, even the dog was barking, the house was full of joy and laughter and teary eyes…it was a great day for all of us!

    Though the weather was not that great, rain showers all the time, I took some few shots of one the beaches in the island of Catanduanes and the famous Mayon Volcano in the province of Legazpi City where my husband is currently residing.

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  • PETRA- It has to be seen to be believed.

    the siq

    Ready for 3 hours walk ? yesss! It’s even longer than that, every step I made is worth a million awe, It’s marvelous to see and touch one of the new wonders of the world (7/07/2007). I could have gone on for more 800 hundred steps to monastery but I need more time to make it.

    narrow passage (siq)

    TIP: you need to wear a walking shoes, a big bottle of water and a hat to walk one kilometer.

    horse driven carriage

    Another choice to go around the trail… is by horse or horse driven carriage but you can’t appreciate much the writings on the walls along the siq (gorge) or to really experience the walk along the narrow passage between mountains  to reach Al-Khazneh( treasury).

    Al khazneh (the Treasury)
    the end of the siq– a glimpse of the treasure

    Walking will give you more time to take pictures, appreciate how the Nabataeans ( ancient villagers) works hard and used their clever minds to  create water system, carved their niche, incredible architecture of natural beauty not to mention sophisticated machinery doesn’t exist 2000 years ago.

    Along the siq, the remains of the tomb can be seen, I see the influenced of the trade to the east into the arab world; building are built with ancient Egyptian, Babylonians style that I can only see in movies or in history books.

    Tired? well you can actually hire a donkey or for more adventurous… a camel, both come with a handler who speaks English very well.

    TIP: If you don’t want a ride just say “No, thank you” don’t say “later” because they will follow you all around.

    colorful striation of rocks

    I am fascinated by the colors of the rocks, Petra has been known a” rose-red city” because of the colors of the rock in which it is being carved. By the way, from Amman, Jordan, I traveled alone in chauffeur driven limousine (courtesy of my boss) around 2 hours and 3 hrs walking (cars are not allowed inside) to the narrow gorge and walla to the city of red rocks!

    If given another chance, I would definitely come back and explore more the area, climb the high cliff mountains and experience the sunset.I like to experience the candle procession (done twice a week) people walk in silence , just you and the nature…nothing more!

    the Hadrien Gate

    One can’t stop to wonder and gaze what a wonderful stories have been told about this place and its people and you bet! I am still in awe!

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  • Dead Sea -the sea of salt

    Don’t know how to float? Come to dead sea, its unusual buoyancy will make you float effortless…Yesss, it’s true, i was able to float in no time, standing or you can lie back and read newspaper, wonderful experience.

    dead sea at Jordan Valley Marriott resort

    To reach this unique spot, we traveled from Amman around 30-45 minutes by car, as we go nearer down, my ear pops too. Dead sea is the lowest body of water on earth, the lowest point on earth and world’s richest source of natural salts.

    a closer look

    It has also therapeutic effect on skin but beware if you have an open cut or sore, it really stings! I opted for arabic coffee scrub instead of dead sea salt rub and i came out of the spa, beautifully tan and smelling great too, an aroma of brewed coffee! hehehehe.

    I was so lucky to capture the amazing sunset at dead sea, its reflection was like a big candle glowing  at dead sea.

    beautiful sunset at dead sea

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  • Celebrating 52 in Style!

    October 27, 2011, flying high aboard Royal Jordanian Airlines, My friend Nabil warned not to travel on my birthday but I have a little superstitious belief that If I die, I die in style! 🙂

    So, I reached my destination Amman, Jordan…in one piece… kicking and alive! Yeheyyy!

    We had sumptuous lunch at my second family house. As much as I would like to eat more arabic dish, I was thinking about the 5 kilos I lost… hmmm i told myself…,”stop eating” otherwise your dress wont fit! SPandexxxxx!

    After meeting the family members and old friends, we headed to Marriott  resort and spa at Dead Sea. Wonderful place, large swimming pools ( I think they were 4 of them), I was booked as one of the bride’s family member so for the meantime, i signed my name with their family name, (for discount purposes) yay!

    beautiful sunset

    After getting my things into the room , I hurried up to see the beautiful sunset, while walking along the shore, I met old friends, we sat down at the lobby of the hotel, few more minutes, familiar faces came in and I’m still dressed with shirt and jogging pants, I excused myself but they said it’s alright no need to change…so, dinner is served!

    52nd b-day dinner

    At the very end, waiters were getting closer to our table, I thought for a while, they were already closing but to my surprised, one is carrying a big cake with one big candle. Hurray! it’s my 52nd b-day. Cheers!

    thanx for coming!

    Thank you for an awesome night, a night to remember!