I already mentioned elsewhere that even before Janice de Belen appropriated the title for herself, I was and still is a Quotation Queen. And just a few moments back, I remembered another favorite which I first read while in college --
Just when I knew all of life's answers, they changed all the questions.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
THE VIEW FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT
I can drive. You. Nuts. But I don't drive vehicles. Much as I want to. Or dream about it. I can only manage bikes. Presently. The saddest with this fact is my Bebe. For quite some time now, he has been complaining about the rigors of driving our car. Specially in Riyadh in particular. And in Saudi Arabia in general. [Although he also complains about driving in the Philippines.]
He wishes loudly that I am a driver myself. But right now, my designated seat is to the right of the driver. I have the passenger seat.
Don't get me wrong. He loves to drive. It's the tiredness as a result that he does not like. In the Philippines, he also says the streets are quite dark at night. So unlike in Riyadh where streets are relatively well-lighted, at least in the major thoroughfares. The streets are wider too. Although in the last few years, the width of highways seems to be immaterial with the increased and increasing volume of cars on the road. Traffic jams are now a regular thing. Although still tamer than Manila standards.
But more than the conditions of the road, it's the type of drivers in this country that is at issue here. The bad rap that this country gets for the kind of drivers it has on the road is, from all indications, well-deserved.
Just look at the traffic accident statistics.
Arab News says (in a March 18, 2007 article) that according to a report issued by Riyadh's traffic department, 283,684 traffic accidents took place last year, resulting in the death of 5,883 people. While the report showed a 2.2 percent decrease in accidents compared to the previous year, the figures are nonetheless still shocking, to say the least. The figures mean that three people died every three hours last year as a result of accidents.
On another note, Arab News also says that highway police have started stopping reckless drivers after the traffic department found 63 percent of total traffic violations (2.88 million) took place on highways in 2006. Highway police detected 1.8 million traffic violations last year alone.
The view from the passenger seat is that these accidents happen due to reckless drivers and driving. A report I found on Google reveals thus --
The causes for this increase in traffic accidents can be summarized as follows:
* Aggressive driving behavior such as driving at high speed and not obeying traffic signals
* Poor car maintenance, particularly the tires and the brakes
* Disregard for warning, regulatory and guide signs erected to facilitate the drivers' mission and safety of road users.
It is so vexing (as a passenger at that huh; how much more if you're the driver) and even deathly threatening to watch another car at your far right careen diagonally across to the left of the road because this other car's driver wants to make either a U-turn or a left turn?
What about these? A car simply switches lanes without warning. A van is parked just where the driver wants to park even if it blocks another car or is obstructing normal traffic. After all, the driver only needs a second to finish his business at the store or at the bank near where he parked his car. Two cars stop by the side of the road with not even the hazard lights blinking just so the drivers can have a chit-chat. A young boy who does not look as if he is past his puberty is mightily struggling to see the road beyond the car's windshield. Do you think he has a license to drive? A driver is driving with one of his feet up against the dashboard. He must be driving an automatic car. A guy is driving with his infant son infront of him. He must have left the baby's car seat at home. The driver is busy using his mobile phone while slowly navigating traffic. He must be checking his GPRS? A car is weaving its way in and out of the traffic at high speed. The driver must have lost control or urgently needs to visit the toilet? A car is chugging along like a train, instead of being smoothly driven. The young driver, and his equally youthful-looking passengers, are simply having a joy ride. While on a busy street.
I may not be a driver but methinks the view from the passenger seat is not any better.
He wishes loudly that I am a driver myself. But right now, my designated seat is to the right of the driver. I have the passenger seat.
Don't get me wrong. He loves to drive. It's the tiredness as a result that he does not like. In the Philippines, he also says the streets are quite dark at night. So unlike in Riyadh where streets are relatively well-lighted, at least in the major thoroughfares. The streets are wider too. Although in the last few years, the width of highways seems to be immaterial with the increased and increasing volume of cars on the road. Traffic jams are now a regular thing. Although still tamer than Manila standards.
But more than the conditions of the road, it's the type of drivers in this country that is at issue here. The bad rap that this country gets for the kind of drivers it has on the road is, from all indications, well-deserved.
Just look at the traffic accident statistics.
Arab News says (in a March 18, 2007 article) that according to a report issued by Riyadh's traffic department, 283,684 traffic accidents took place last year, resulting in the death of 5,883 people. While the report showed a 2.2 percent decrease in accidents compared to the previous year, the figures are nonetheless still shocking, to say the least. The figures mean that three people died every three hours last year as a result of accidents.
On another note, Arab News also says that highway police have started stopping reckless drivers after the traffic department found 63 percent of total traffic violations (2.88 million) took place on highways in 2006. Highway police detected 1.8 million traffic violations last year alone.
The view from the passenger seat is that these accidents happen due to reckless drivers and driving. A report I found on Google reveals thus --
The causes for this increase in traffic accidents can be summarized as follows:
* Aggressive driving behavior such as driving at high speed and not obeying traffic signals
* Poor car maintenance, particularly the tires and the brakes
* Disregard for warning, regulatory and guide signs erected to facilitate the drivers' mission and safety of road users.
It is so vexing (as a passenger at that huh; how much more if you're the driver) and even deathly threatening to watch another car at your far right careen diagonally across to the left of the road because this other car's driver wants to make either a U-turn or a left turn?
What about these? A car simply switches lanes without warning. A van is parked just where the driver wants to park even if it blocks another car or is obstructing normal traffic. After all, the driver only needs a second to finish his business at the store or at the bank near where he parked his car. Two cars stop by the side of the road with not even the hazard lights blinking just so the drivers can have a chit-chat. A young boy who does not look as if he is past his puberty is mightily struggling to see the road beyond the car's windshield. Do you think he has a license to drive? A driver is driving with one of his feet up against the dashboard. He must be driving an automatic car. A guy is driving with his infant son infront of him. He must have left the baby's car seat at home. The driver is busy using his mobile phone while slowly navigating traffic. He must be checking his GPRS? A car is weaving its way in and out of the traffic at high speed. The driver must have lost control or urgently needs to visit the toilet? A car is chugging along like a train, instead of being smoothly driven. The young driver, and his equally youthful-looking passengers, are simply having a joy ride. While on a busy street.
I may not be a driver but methinks the view from the passenger seat is not any better.
Monday, March 19, 2007
MY BIRTHDAY MONTH OF JUNE TELLS YOU
My birthday month is June and based on an email I got, my birthday month means that I am someone who [with my comments inside the brackets]
1. Thinks far with vision [Duh]
2. Easily influenced by kindness [Corrected by]
3. Polite and soft-spoken [Ain't it obvious, hmmmm?]
4. Having lots of ideas [yeah, lotsa, lotsa of them]
5. Sensitive [I'm not the best drama actor/actress for nothing]
6. Active mind [Indeed]
7. Hesitating [Not really]
8. Tends to delay [Not true]
9. Choosy and always wants the best [Sometimes]
10. Temperamental [Not anymore]
11. Funny and humorous [Sometimes]
12. Loves to joke [Not very true]
13. Good debating skills [Yep]
14. Talkative [Yep]
15. Daydreamer [I dream but I don't get lost in them]
16. Friendly [Perfectly so]
17. Knows how to make friends [You bet]
18. Abiding [Yes, yes, yes]
19. Able to show character [Very transparent]
20. Easily hurt [Ouch]
21. Prone to getting colds [Just right now, I have one]
22. Loves to dress up [Goody]
23. Easily bored [Uhu]
24. Fussy [On target]
25. Seldom show emotions [The opposite is true]
26. Takes time to recover when hurt [and to forget]
27. Brand conscious [Yep]
28. Executive [???]
29. Stubborn [Nope]
30. Those who love me are enemies [WTF]
31. Those who hate me are friends [WTF]
So I guess, the email was mostly right about me.
1. Thinks far with vision [Duh]
2. Easily influenced by kindness [Corrected by]
3. Polite and soft-spoken [Ain't it obvious, hmmmm?]
4. Having lots of ideas [yeah, lotsa, lotsa of them]
5. Sensitive [I'm not the best drama actor/actress for nothing]
6. Active mind [Indeed]
7. Hesitating [Not really]
8. Tends to delay [Not true]
9. Choosy and always wants the best [Sometimes]
10. Temperamental [Not anymore]
11. Funny and humorous [Sometimes]
12. Loves to joke [Not very true]
13. Good debating skills [Yep]
14. Talkative [Yep]
15. Daydreamer [I dream but I don't get lost in them]
16. Friendly [Perfectly so]
17. Knows how to make friends [You bet]
18. Abiding [Yes, yes, yes]
19. Able to show character [Very transparent]
20. Easily hurt [Ouch]
21. Prone to getting colds [Just right now, I have one]
22. Loves to dress up [Goody]
23. Easily bored [Uhu]
24. Fussy [On target]
25. Seldom show emotions [The opposite is true]
26. Takes time to recover when hurt [and to forget]
27. Brand conscious [Yep]
28. Executive [???]
29. Stubborn [Nope]
30. Those who love me are enemies [WTF]
31. Those who hate me are friends [WTF]
So I guess, the email was mostly right about me.
POSTER
A few months back, there was talk of organizing a concert for a cause, featuring my Bebe as the main performer/singer. You see, my Bebe is an unheralded singer of note. He surely captivates his audience when he sings. He might not enjoy superstar status, but for people in the know, he's more than just a top-caliber singer.My Bebe loves to sing and singing so much, that for a time, he was willing to make sacrifices for the sake of a pseudo singing career in Riyadh -- a career defined as or consists of singing at embassies, singing at awards nights for sports competitions, for induction programs, for gatherings of diplomats, for locally-mounted concerts, for ma'assalama (goodbye) parties for expats, ad naseaum....
For free. Or for a very minimal fee.
And you either are praised or brought down to earth with all kinds of pang-lalait.
Sacrifices to mean spending time at rehearsals, sourcing/securing your own minus one tapes/CDs, singing through a horrendous sound system, buying or borrowing your own costume, transporting yourself to the rehearsals and venues at your own expense, applying your own make-up, make-up which you yourself might have to provide, blocking your own movements on stage, very minimal or even absent production assistant's help, ad nauseum....
Fortunately, my Bebe has always triumphed when he sings. Everytime he performs, his audience loves him.
That's more than enough for him.
Going back to the planned concert, it unfortunately did not materialize. What did was our idea for the poster which chanelled the 2005 poster for the Oscars.
Neat, huh!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
ARABIC CUISINE AND OTHER GASTRONOMIC DELIGHTS
I'm no gourmand, even if the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus know how much I pretend I am sometimes. He he. Nonetheless, and limited my foodie trips may be, allow me to describe the gastronomic and gustatory palette here in Saudi Arabia.
Officially, we can't eat pork. Kasi nga, Islam considers pigs dirty and their meat, therefore, not fit for eating. Unofficially? Let's just say that there are times when we can enjoy pork dishes, even if we're not in Manama. (Sa Manama kasi, as in Dubai, pork-lovers are allowed to eat pork where it is largely legally available.) Di ko na lang reveal how though, to serve and protect the environment. He he. Note however that one pays an arm and a leg for a kilo of pork. Let's just say that the riyals you'll pay for a kilo, will buy three kilos, perhaps more, back home.
Popular meat choices here are chicken, beef, and lamb. And for a while now, ostrich meat has began occupying shelf space in supermarkets although I am unsure how many actually buy and eat it. (More than ostrich meat, I am more inclined to buy the empty ostrich eggshells!) Ang sabi, camel meat is also eaten hereabouts pero I have yet to actually hear of people eating it. (I'm quite sure though that camel milk is in the markets.)
Siempre, these meats must be halal.
With the scarcity of pork, chicken or beef have become substitute meats for tocino, adobo and many other pork dishes.
I never cared for lamb while in the Philippines and this inclination did not change even here despite the country's fondness for the kordero ng Diyos. As a matter of fact, lamb seems to be the official meat of Saudi Arabia (rather than camel meat) ; it is definitely served at official receptions/functions, specially at weddings.
A year ago, we were invited to our first-ever Saudi wedding banquet. Immediately, I conjured up images of a thousand-and-one-Arabian-nights setting, replete with a buffet of exotic-looking and strong-smelling Arabic and Mediterranean food. But boy was my imagination wilder than the reality! After waiting for more than two hours in a huge welcoming wedding hall full only of men being served tea and gawa (Arabic "coffee" - it's not made of the usual coffee beans but of certain spicy roots), while the groom (or several grooms, as certain families share wedding banquets) greeted well-wishers, we were ushered into an adjoining huge hall with round tables and chairs in much the same way wedding receptions at Philippine hotels are arranged. What was different was that each of the round tables had a huge aluminum plate (actually, the size of a large Orocan basin) where lamb (apparently stewed in a variety of spices) sat on a bed of aromatic long-grained white rice. There were no plates nor spoons nor forks though. Each guest had to partake of the main dish with his bare hands. Stations for fruits, softdrinks and water were put up all around the hall. Unsurprisingly, the huge hall was also surrounded by several washing stations. Personally, it was a let-down as I imagined a more lavish reception. But I was so thankful that I finally had first-hand experience of this bit of Saudi/Arabic culture/tradition.
Because lamb is quite a staple at wedding banquets, most wedding halls seem to retain the smell of cooked lamb.
When my Bebe has a hankering for lamb, we usually dine out as I don't fancy cooking this meat myself. The Intercon's Mondo Restaurant, probably serves the best as far as our own Michelin Guide is concerned. Zee Noodles for a time also served great lamb chops but we were told that lately, it has become too pricey and so it will no longer be on the menu. Certainly, lamb chops and other variations of lamb recipes (including mandi which is a stew of lamb brains and innards), abound and are served in many eating places in the Kingdom but most of these are cooked with Arab eaters in mind and just may not be suited to the Filipino tongue. Don't most of us shy away from lamb since it is usually maanggo (pungent)?
Seafood is also popular pero quite expensive and usually parang food of the more well-off. Once nga when we were invited to a picnic in the desert, we brought along halabos na hipon to the potluck lunch. The Pakistanis with us were so pleasantly amazed since they said they could only afford to eat shrimps during celebratory feasts. You see, many expatriates here from East Asia seem to subsist only on a daily menu of bread and dairy such as yoghurt (called laban in Arabic) or white cheese. Seafood shops however seem to be the suki of many Filipinos. In fact, many seafood sellers (who are also predominantly East Asians) at these shops already know many Tagalog/Filipino words/phrases precisely because Filipinos form the bulk of these shops' clientele.
To be sure, there are a lot of different restaurants in the Kingdom, serving various cuisines. Seafood restaurants are a dime a dozen and indeed, they are mostly patronized by Saudis. But there are also Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, Thai and Italian restaurants that do brisk business with both Saudis and expatriates, Filipinos included. For a time, there even was a Portuguese restaurant (Nando's) but its outlet here in Riyadh has since closed shop. With the proliferation of Filipinos in the Kingdom, there are also Filipino (truly Filipino or somehow Asian to include Thai or Chinese or Indonesian cuisines) restaurants but these tend to be where many Filipinos live or gather (such as at the old city center or near hospitals).
There are also a smattering of specialty restaurants such as those that serve only Tex-Mex food or steaks (there's a Tony Roma waiting to open in Oleya). What Saudi Arabia has a lot of are fast-food restaurants (McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, etc.), coffee shops (both home-grown or global chain franchises such as Starbucks and Seattle's Best), juice bars, sandwich shops (think Subway) and shawarma stalls. Hotels also boast of restaurant outlets (specialty or those that serve various kinds of cuisines on so-called theme nights -- seafood night, grill night, etc.). Certainly, the Kingdom also abounds in the derisively called rice-and-fly eateries that serve the usual kabsa (grilled chicken or lamb on a bed of rice served with vegetable salad and dips) or chicken broasted (deep-fried chicken portions).
Our favorite kabsa is from a restaurant called Cabrito's. It sounds Italian but it's actually a true-blue Saudi enterprise. Its kabsa is quite unique since the chicken (or if you wish, lamb or rabbit or pigeon) is freshly grilled. Cabrito's serves it on a bed of rice garnished with raisins (as well as caramelized onion strips until a few months back) and obviously steamed with a dash of olive oil and some spices (we see/taste traces of cardamom and anise). Kabsa at this eating place is also served with huge slices of fresh onions, pepper and wedges of lemon as garnishings. (Trivia: most of these kinds of eating places that serve Arabic fare usually have a section for those who prefer to eat food on the floor and another, albeit smaller section, for those who prefer to eat at dining tables.) On the side, there's also hot/spicy salsa of tomatoes and chili and a serving of tahina (I'm not sure what it's made of but it looks like diluted yoghurt to me). The salsa is great with the chicken and so very Filipino to my taste but the tahina is something I have yet to acquire the taste for. At Cabrito's, we also usually go for a dessert called kanufa, to end our meals. It is a freshly-baked sweet in a small round pan that looks like, and indeed cooked like, our native bibingka but instead of batter, it is filled with a custard-like concoction wrapped in what appears to be very wiry strands of dough and which resembles a thinner version of our pansit bijon.
Newly-arrived OFWs are sometimes served chicken kabsa immediately and most get shocked at the taste possibly because of the turmeric in the chicken or in the rice. Pretty soon, however, kabsa becomes a staple in an OFW's meal. It's relatively cheap (usually served as half-a- chicken) and filling.
Equally popular is chicken broasted (the word is quite a malaprop since the chicken is neither roasted nor broiled but deep-fried after being rolled in a bit of salt and flour and stored for a bit in a chiller). It's usually served consisting of four chicken portions - wing, breast, leg and thigh - thereby leaving out many other parts which the early OFWs simply asked from chicken shops for free, to turn into an adobo of chicken liver and balun-balunan or chicharong balat ng manok or even chicken chocolate (dinuguan using chicken blood). But the shopowners have since become wiser and now charge Filipinos anything between five and ten riyals per a small plastic bag of these discarded chicken parts.
Our favorite chicken broasted is by Green Hut (used to be called Green Chalet) which serves its chicken with a very appetizing humus (blended chick peas with olive oil and a pinch of lemon, with a small portion of garlic mayonnaise added for that tangy and garlikcy taste) and a fresh batch of potato chips. I usually say that one sure-fire indication that a business has thrived is longevity. Green Hut has been in its same location since I first set foot in Riyadh (in 2003) and it has been there even before. Besides, it has often been busy with take-outs.
Home, it seems, is where your palate is.
Officially, we can't eat pork. Kasi nga, Islam considers pigs dirty and their meat, therefore, not fit for eating. Unofficially? Let's just say that there are times when we can enjoy pork dishes, even if we're not in Manama. (Sa Manama kasi, as in Dubai, pork-lovers are allowed to eat pork where it is largely legally available.) Di ko na lang reveal how though, to serve and protect the environment. He he. Note however that one pays an arm and a leg for a kilo of pork. Let's just say that the riyals you'll pay for a kilo, will buy three kilos, perhaps more, back home.
Popular meat choices here are chicken, beef, and lamb. And for a while now, ostrich meat has began occupying shelf space in supermarkets although I am unsure how many actually buy and eat it. (More than ostrich meat, I am more inclined to buy the empty ostrich eggshells!) Ang sabi, camel meat is also eaten hereabouts pero I have yet to actually hear of people eating it. (I'm quite sure though that camel milk is in the markets.)
Siempre, these meats must be halal.
With the scarcity of pork, chicken or beef have become substitute meats for tocino, adobo and many other pork dishes.
I never cared for lamb while in the Philippines and this inclination did not change even here despite the country's fondness for the kordero ng Diyos. As a matter of fact, lamb seems to be the official meat of Saudi Arabia (rather than camel meat) ; it is definitely served at official receptions/functions, specially at weddings.
A year ago, we were invited to our first-ever Saudi wedding banquet. Immediately, I conjured up images of a thousand-and-one-Arabian-nights setting, replete with a buffet of exotic-looking and strong-smelling Arabic and Mediterranean food. But boy was my imagination wilder than the reality! After waiting for more than two hours in a huge welcoming wedding hall full only of men being served tea and gawa (Arabic "coffee" - it's not made of the usual coffee beans but of certain spicy roots), while the groom (or several grooms, as certain families share wedding banquets) greeted well-wishers, we were ushered into an adjoining huge hall with round tables and chairs in much the same way wedding receptions at Philippine hotels are arranged. What was different was that each of the round tables had a huge aluminum plate (actually, the size of a large Orocan basin) where lamb (apparently stewed in a variety of spices) sat on a bed of aromatic long-grained white rice. There were no plates nor spoons nor forks though. Each guest had to partake of the main dish with his bare hands. Stations for fruits, softdrinks and water were put up all around the hall. Unsurprisingly, the huge hall was also surrounded by several washing stations. Personally, it was a let-down as I imagined a more lavish reception. But I was so thankful that I finally had first-hand experience of this bit of Saudi/Arabic culture/tradition.
Because lamb is quite a staple at wedding banquets, most wedding halls seem to retain the smell of cooked lamb.
When my Bebe has a hankering for lamb, we usually dine out as I don't fancy cooking this meat myself. The Intercon's Mondo Restaurant, probably serves the best as far as our own Michelin Guide is concerned. Zee Noodles for a time also served great lamb chops but we were told that lately, it has become too pricey and so it will no longer be on the menu. Certainly, lamb chops and other variations of lamb recipes (including mandi which is a stew of lamb brains and innards), abound and are served in many eating places in the Kingdom but most of these are cooked with Arab eaters in mind and just may not be suited to the Filipino tongue. Don't most of us shy away from lamb since it is usually maanggo (pungent)?
Seafood is also popular pero quite expensive and usually parang food of the more well-off. Once nga when we were invited to a picnic in the desert, we brought along halabos na hipon to the potluck lunch. The Pakistanis with us were so pleasantly amazed since they said they could only afford to eat shrimps during celebratory feasts. You see, many expatriates here from East Asia seem to subsist only on a daily menu of bread and dairy such as yoghurt (called laban in Arabic) or white cheese. Seafood shops however seem to be the suki of many Filipinos. In fact, many seafood sellers (who are also predominantly East Asians) at these shops already know many Tagalog/Filipino words/phrases precisely because Filipinos form the bulk of these shops' clientele.
To be sure, there are a lot of different restaurants in the Kingdom, serving various cuisines. Seafood restaurants are a dime a dozen and indeed, they are mostly patronized by Saudis. But there are also Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, Thai and Italian restaurants that do brisk business with both Saudis and expatriates, Filipinos included. For a time, there even was a Portuguese restaurant (Nando's) but its outlet here in Riyadh has since closed shop. With the proliferation of Filipinos in the Kingdom, there are also Filipino (truly Filipino or somehow Asian to include Thai or Chinese or Indonesian cuisines) restaurants but these tend to be where many Filipinos live or gather (such as at the old city center or near hospitals).
There are also a smattering of specialty restaurants such as those that serve only Tex-Mex food or steaks (there's a Tony Roma waiting to open in Oleya). What Saudi Arabia has a lot of are fast-food restaurants (McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, etc.), coffee shops (both home-grown or global chain franchises such as Starbucks and Seattle's Best), juice bars, sandwich shops (think Subway) and shawarma stalls. Hotels also boast of restaurant outlets (specialty or those that serve various kinds of cuisines on so-called theme nights -- seafood night, grill night, etc.). Certainly, the Kingdom also abounds in the derisively called rice-and-fly eateries that serve the usual kabsa (grilled chicken or lamb on a bed of rice served with vegetable salad and dips) or chicken broasted (deep-fried chicken portions).
Our favorite kabsa is from a restaurant called Cabrito's. It sounds Italian but it's actually a true-blue Saudi enterprise. Its kabsa is quite unique since the chicken (or if you wish, lamb or rabbit or pigeon) is freshly grilled. Cabrito's serves it on a bed of rice garnished with raisins (as well as caramelized onion strips until a few months back) and obviously steamed with a dash of olive oil and some spices (we see/taste traces of cardamom and anise). Kabsa at this eating place is also served with huge slices of fresh onions, pepper and wedges of lemon as garnishings. (Trivia: most of these kinds of eating places that serve Arabic fare usually have a section for those who prefer to eat food on the floor and another, albeit smaller section, for those who prefer to eat at dining tables.) On the side, there's also hot/spicy salsa of tomatoes and chili and a serving of tahina (I'm not sure what it's made of but it looks like diluted yoghurt to me). The salsa is great with the chicken and so very Filipino to my taste but the tahina is something I have yet to acquire the taste for. At Cabrito's, we also usually go for a dessert called kanufa, to end our meals. It is a freshly-baked sweet in a small round pan that looks like, and indeed cooked like, our native bibingka but instead of batter, it is filled with a custard-like concoction wrapped in what appears to be very wiry strands of dough and which resembles a thinner version of our pansit bijon.
Newly-arrived OFWs are sometimes served chicken kabsa immediately and most get shocked at the taste possibly because of the turmeric in the chicken or in the rice. Pretty soon, however, kabsa becomes a staple in an OFW's meal. It's relatively cheap (usually served as half-a- chicken) and filling.
Equally popular is chicken broasted (the word is quite a malaprop since the chicken is neither roasted nor broiled but deep-fried after being rolled in a bit of salt and flour and stored for a bit in a chiller). It's usually served consisting of four chicken portions - wing, breast, leg and thigh - thereby leaving out many other parts which the early OFWs simply asked from chicken shops for free, to turn into an adobo of chicken liver and balun-balunan or chicharong balat ng manok or even chicken chocolate (dinuguan using chicken blood). But the shopowners have since become wiser and now charge Filipinos anything between five and ten riyals per a small plastic bag of these discarded chicken parts.
Our favorite chicken broasted is by Green Hut (used to be called Green Chalet) which serves its chicken with a very appetizing humus (blended chick peas with olive oil and a pinch of lemon, with a small portion of garlic mayonnaise added for that tangy and garlikcy taste) and a fresh batch of potato chips. I usually say that one sure-fire indication that a business has thrived is longevity. Green Hut has been in its same location since I first set foot in Riyadh (in 2003) and it has been there even before. Besides, it has often been busy with take-outs.
Humus with pine nuts and melted butter is best found at Assaraya Restaurant, another eating outlet that has withstood time and finicky palates. It serves Turkish cuisine and makes sure you enjoy this special humus version with freshly-oven baked bread shaped like a tongue (see photo above). Ok, make that a huge tongue! You wash it down with a cool mug of fruit cocktail juice (known as Four Seasons elsewhere in the world; also known in Riyadh otherwise as mixed fruit juice).
Left to right: Blogger and guest (actually a Bell Labs scientist) with a long version of Assaraya's freshly-baked bread to go with your special humus and Assaraya Turkish Restaurant's facade at night.
Grilled fish swimming in a salad of vegetables.
On the matter of fruit juices, apart from our all-time favorite fruit cocktail, we also enjoy of late calorific avocado smoothie, a cold bottle of Rauch's apple juice or a combo of Nature's Best freshly-squeezed orange juice and a few ounces of 7-Up. We used to enjoy Rauch's peach juice but it has disappeared from the market shelves. We sometimes also have a thirst for the NABs (such as Holstein with its mango, peach, apple, and pineapple flavors) but it's just once-in-a-while. Ditto for softdrinks staples (Pepsi, Coke, etc.) except for root beer which my Bebe favors when he indulges his root beer float craving.
For OFWs like my Bebe and I who have no time to cook breakfast, our current breakfast fare would be a steaming cup of coffee with either donuts (from Dunkin Donuts), egg and cream cheese sandwiches or our favorite Kraft jubna (jubna is actually an Arabic word for cheese while Kraft refers to the brand of white cream cheese popular here). Jubna is akin to pizza although the round dough is pulled at two opposite directions which elongates the dough. It is topped with a generous dollop of Kraft and baked in the dome-shaped earthen oven fired not with wood (although I believe that in the olden times, this would be the requisite fuel) but with the more-modern LPG. We make sure we pick them up along the way before heading to the office.
People at the office go on a communal breakfast on Wednesdays (our last day of the work week) and feast on Turkish pizzas, all kinds of flat breads including tamis (flat bread sprinkled with sugar on top), all kinds of dhal (Indian sauces/dips) and foul (foul madama beans mashed and flavored with spices, with versions ranging from Pakistani to Sudanese). There's pickled grape leaves and yoghurt and cream cheese as well. It might be a feast shared by many but surprisingly, they don't really cost a feast's fortune.
The flat breads are cooked interestingly enough by mostly Pakistani bakers. Big round flat doughs are plastered inside ovens that look like giant urns on the ground, by tossing the dough against the oven's walls. Not a few minutes go by when they're done. The bakers simply hook up the now crisply-baked dough with a special long rod and takes it out of the urn-like oven. Ergo, it's now baked flat bread that is piping hot and ready to be served.
There are no bakeries (BreadTalk or even The French Baker come to mind; bakeries here are more like bread factories) in Riyadh but there are quite a few pastry shops with some combined with roasteries - or those that sell both sweets and nuts and spices of all kinds. This means that there are no stores (well, except the flat bread bakers which only sell flat breads and nothing else) that sell only bread. One has to go to the grocery or supermarket for that, to get your fill of pan de sal, or of sliced bread, or buns or rolls. Our favorite pastry shop treats are the chocolate mousse cake or the cherry cheesecake (though Cheesecake Factory and Ganache offer stiff competition) from King's Pastry and baclava and its variants invariably from Sa'adeddin or Diplomat, while hotels come a close second as sources for fresh cakes and pastries (the Riyadh Marriott's black forest cake is soft and sumptuous). I observe that apart from chocolate, pastry shops here are so enamored with pistacchio that they smear its powdered form, if not whole or halved nut pieces, on cakes, baclava and even on ice cream/gelato.
Which brings us to the topic of the proliferation of ice cream labels (both home-grown and foreign - think Haagen Dazs and Baskin-Robbins) and dairy and fruit juice companies. It could be that I have been away from home too long and have become unfamiliar with the variety of dairy and fruit juice products available in the Philippines, but barring this, I have never seen a wider range of products at the supermarkets - from fruit-flavored yoghurt to fruit-flavored milk, to Tropicana, to Nature's Best....
Indeed, the supermarkets are a best way of getting a handle on the food choices of Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom for there you will find all the kinds of olives and cheeses and spices and pickles you can find, apart from the myriad vegetables (both home-grown and exotic), canned goods, bottled delights and other stuff I may only find at Rustan's in the Philippines. Imagine seeing the usual red and green bell peppers, in addition to orange and yellow ones. Imagine white cheese from Hungary and from France. Imagine olives (green, black, stuffed, giant) from Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Imagine mussels (frozen) from New Zealand, caviar from Siberia and Angus beef from the Land Down Under. Imagine mangoes from South Africa, bananas from Brazil, and kiwi from (again) New Zealand. Methinks, Saudi Arabia is the world's veritable supermarket.
And just as Filipino restaurants have sprouted in neighborhoods where Filipinos tend to live, so do Filipino supermarkets that sell not just Filipino stuff but also other Asian (Indonesian, Chinese and Thai) foodstuff.
Lunch nowadays (at least during the work week) is invariably fast-food fare from a nearby mall.
If we're not trying to be so sosi by eating out, we stay home and cook or else, get invited to someone else's flat for dinner of kare-kare, sinigang, rellenong bangus and such other usual Filipino fare. Otherwise, we spend quite a fortune each time when we sample Japanese cuisine at Tokyo, the rib-eye or the sirloin at Steakhouse, the dinosaur (barbecued ribs) at Chili's (we used to travel more than 800 kms - Riyadh-AlKhobar-Riyadh - just to be able to savor Chili's famed barbecued ribs, until it opened an outlet in Riyadh), the salads at Apple Bee's or the fancy buffets or a la carte menu items at the Brasserie of Al Faisaliah Hotel or at Quattro, Grill Room or Seasons of the Four Seasons Hotel.
Other fave fancy-food hang-outs, when we're feeling pretentious and we still have credit in our plastic money, are Waterlemon and Cafe Blanc - Lebanese-run restos with intercontinental and fusion cuisines (The steamed almonds at Cafe Blanc, served as an appetizer is delightfully perfect.) The more I think about it, it seems that the Lebanese appear to have a monopoly of managing excellent restos. Jeddah's Casper & Gambini is a fine example, with a menu offering and resto architecture that are both to die for. Can't wait for it to open in Riyadh even as an outlet is set to open in Al Khobar.
If you've not guessed it by now, I should point out that most of our fancy dining activities are confined to dinner.
Talks over coffee are best done at Starbuckla (the Starbucks along Oleya where so many gays, even Saudis, seem to gather) or at a nearby Dr. Cafe or Coffee Day or Java Cafe (it's not the coffee there for me but the iced tea) or Costa Cafe (where the best chocolate cupcake is, straight from Kuwait, or so we're told). The irony is, while my Bebe favors hot or cold cafe mocha, I almost always go for hot choco.
It goes without saying that more often than not, you will find us at our favorite Filipino turu-turo restos. Hacienda comes to mind although of late, we've also been frequenting La Paz Batchoy.
After all, pritong isda with sawsawan ng patis at suka and freshly-steamed white rice, are more than enough to make me forget I'm in Saudi and away, at least for some time, from their exotic gastronomic delights.
If you've not guessed it by now, I should point out that most of our fancy dining activities are confined to dinner.
Talks over coffee are best done at Starbuckla (the Starbucks along Oleya where so many gays, even Saudis, seem to gather) or at a nearby Dr. Cafe or Coffee Day or Java Cafe (it's not the coffee there for me but the iced tea) or Costa Cafe (where the best chocolate cupcake is, straight from Kuwait, or so we're told). The irony is, while my Bebe favors hot or cold cafe mocha, I almost always go for hot choco.
It goes without saying that more often than not, you will find us at our favorite Filipino turu-turo restos. Hacienda comes to mind although of late, we've also been frequenting La Paz Batchoy.
After all, pritong isda with sawsawan ng patis at suka and freshly-steamed white rice, are more than enough to make me forget I'm in Saudi and away, at least for some time, from their exotic gastronomic delights.
Home, it seems, is where your palate is.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
DESIDERATA
DESIDERATA (which according to Wikipedia is Latin for "desired things", plural of desideratum) is one of my all-time favorite poems. Wikipedia further describes it as an inspirational prose poem about attaining happiness in life. I first read it on the walls of dormmates back in college. It was a best-selling poster during our time, together with a poem about not quitting. I didn't like the latter actually so that I never really bothered to keep a copy nor memorize portions by heart.
In the 1960's, Desi has been widely circulated without attribution; it was even sometimes claimed it was found in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, Maryland (USA), and that it was written in 1692 (the year of the founding of St. Paul's). However, a fellow identified as Max Ehrmann reportedly has owned its copyright since 1927.
In any case, here's Desi once again, and with a brilliant and equally engaging (albeit I find it a bit modern) version in Tagalog/Filipino to boot. Unfortunately, I have no idea who wrote the Tagalog/Filipino version; I just found it on email.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than you are.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble, for it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is.
Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere, life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
And nurture strength of the spirit, to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imagining,
for many fears are borne of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
Whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful.
Strive to be happy.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than you are.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble, for it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is.
Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere, life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
And nurture strength of the spirit, to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imagining,
for many fears are borne of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
Whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful.
Strive to be happy.
DESIDERATA [Salin sa Tagalog/Filipino]
Mahinahon mong tahakin ang kaingayan at mga agam-agam ng buhay, at pakatandaan ang kapayapaang mayroong taglay ang katahimikan.
Mahinahon mong tahakin ang kaingayan at mga agam-agam ng buhay, at pakatandaan ang kapayapaang mayroong taglay ang katahimikan.
Hanggat maari ay makipagmabutihan sa lahat ng nilalang.
Turan mo ang iyong paniniwala ng buong kalinawan, katiwasayan at walang pag-iimbot; at makinig sa iba sapagkat kahit na ang isang hunghang at kulang sa aral, sila ma'y may kwentong may kwenta.
Pakaiwasan ang mga hambog at mapupusok, sila'y panggulo lamang ng kaluluwa.
Huwag piliting ihambing ang sarili sa iba sa dahilang ikaw ay maaaring maging mayabang o kaya nama'y mapuno ng kalungkutan; parati kang makakakita ng mga taong mas magaling o mas mababa sa iyo.
Ikagalak mo ang iyong mga narating o nagawa katulad ng iyong pagkakilig tuwing ika'y may bagong hangarin.
Panatiliin ang interes sa iyong napiling karera, kahit gaano ito kahamak; sa pagitan ng pabago-bagong panahon, ito'y mananatiling sa iyo.
Parating mag-ingat sa iyong mga gawain pagkat ang mundo'y punung-puno ng kadayaan. Ngunit huwag mong pabayaang bulagin ka nito; marami pa ring mga taong may mataas na pangarap at hitik ang kapaligiran ng kabayanihan.
Mahalin mo ang iyong sarili. Huwag mong utuin ang sarili mong ika'y kaibig-ibig. Lalo namang huwag mong pagdudahan ang pagmamahal; sa harap ng tagtuyot at pagkukunwari, ang pagmamahal ay pabalik-balik tulad ng damo.
Makinig sa mga nakakatanda habang isinusuko ang lahat ng bagay na mura.
Alagaan ang tibay ng dibdib ng sa gayo'y masalag ang lahat ng biglaang kamalasan. Ngunit huwag mong pakadibdibin ang kadiliman. Maraming pangamba ang isinilang sa pagod at kalungkutan.
Maging maamo ka sa iyong sarili na dulot ng isang mabuting pagdidisiplina.
Ikaw ay isang sanggol ng sansinukob, sampu ng kagubatan at mga bituin; ika'y may karapatang manirahan dito. At kahit ito ma'y maging malabo sa iyo, walang kaduda-dudang ang sansinukob ay dapat lang na mapasaiyo.
Kaya naman maniwala ka sa Diyos, ano man ang kanyang anyo sa iyo.
At kahit ano pa man ang iyong pinaghirapan sa gitna ng kaguluhan ng buhay, panatilihin ang katiwasayan ng iyong kaluluwa.
Sa lahat ng pagkukunwari, kahungkagan at nasirang pangarap, masarap pa ring mabuhay.
Maging maligaya.
Sikapin mong maging masaya.
A COLLECTION OF PRAYERS/POEMS
I've collected these from emails I received these past years:
***
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.
***
I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard -
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame,
I knew you wouldn't mind.
I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you
At the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small,
But it was for His loving care
I prayed for most of all.
***
A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
eX alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory - where none are ever sad!
***
When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts... God knows how hard you have tried.
When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish... God has counted your tears.
If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by... God is waiting with you.
When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call... God is by your side.
When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn... God has a solution.
When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated... God has the answer.
If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope... God has whispered to you.
When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for... God has blessed you.
When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe... God has smiled upon you.
When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow... God has opened your eyes and called you by name.
Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing... GOD KNOWS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN BLESSED.
***
***
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.
***
I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard -
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame,
I knew you wouldn't mind.
I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you
At the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small,
But it was for His loving care
I prayed for most of all.
***
A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
eX alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory - where none are ever sad!
***
When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts... God knows how hard you have tried.
When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish... God has counted your tears.
If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by... God is waiting with you.
When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call... God is by your side.
When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn... God has a solution.
When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated... God has the answer.
If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope... God has whispered to you.
When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for... God has blessed you.
When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe... God has smiled upon you.
When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow... God has opened your eyes and called you by name.
Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing... GOD KNOWS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN BLESSED.
***
ONE ENLIGHTENING OPRAH SHOW
Growing up, I heard my father once say after someone blurted "Wala akong pera/I have no money" that you shouldn't say that lest it becomes the truth. Last night (Monday/march 12), while watching Oprah interact with a panel of motivational speakers on "The Secret," Rhonda Byrne's now hugely-popular rendering of what makes successful people successful (check out www.thesecret.tv), I realized how right my father was. If I understood the exchanges last night correctly, here are the takeaway messagess as best as I can remember them:
- Nothing new will come to your life if you have not been grateful for what you've had.
- It's all about energy - energy flows where your focus goes.
- What you get focused on attracts all others to that focus; the law of attraction is what works in the world.
- Life is like ordering from a menu at the restaurant; you get what you ordered for. You don't pray for strength just to cope with the week; you don't say "I'm hanging in there!"; you don't mindlessly respond "I'm surviving" when asked how you were -- because that's what it's going to be.
- Being religious is not necessarily being spiritual; being spiritual is being more aware of yourself; of growing to love yourself; of how much of yourself you can share to the world.
Last night's show got me to thinking about all the excellent passages I have read in my lifetime - from books, magazines, emails and the Internet. Like I've written time and again, I am fond of quotable quotes (but whether or not I get to apply them to my life, is another story, er, blog entry, he he). Channeling "The Secret," here's one such enlightening set of words/phrases/quotes that I remember writing down, based on the wisdom of one of my Bebe's bosses. My Bebe and I call them "The Bob Wyatt Guiding Principles" --
Never demand more of others than you are willing to do yourself.
Always lead by example.
Never do less than your best; no one can expect more.
Always have high, but reasonable, expectations of others.
Never be afraid to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out".
Never be afraid to say, "I was wrong".
Always learn and always teach.
And maybe most important of all, always say thank you.
- Nothing new will come to your life if you have not been grateful for what you've had.
- It's all about energy - energy flows where your focus goes.
- What you get focused on attracts all others to that focus; the law of attraction is what works in the world.
- Life is like ordering from a menu at the restaurant; you get what you ordered for. You don't pray for strength just to cope with the week; you don't say "I'm hanging in there!"; you don't mindlessly respond "I'm surviving" when asked how you were -- because that's what it's going to be.
- Being religious is not necessarily being spiritual; being spiritual is being more aware of yourself; of growing to love yourself; of how much of yourself you can share to the world.
Last night's show got me to thinking about all the excellent passages I have read in my lifetime - from books, magazines, emails and the Internet. Like I've written time and again, I am fond of quotable quotes (but whether or not I get to apply them to my life, is another story, er, blog entry, he he). Channeling "The Secret," here's one such enlightening set of words/phrases/quotes that I remember writing down, based on the wisdom of one of my Bebe's bosses. My Bebe and I call them "The Bob Wyatt Guiding Principles" --
Never demand more of others than you are willing to do yourself.
Always lead by example.
Never do less than your best; no one can expect more.
Always have high, but reasonable, expectations of others.
Never be afraid to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out".
Never be afraid to say, "I was wrong".
Always learn and always teach.
And maybe most important of all, always say thank you.
Monday, March 12, 2007
MY CHINESE ZODIAC AND ELEMENTAL SIGNS
I'm a Water Rabbit. This means that (at least as far as the www.chinese.astrology.com is concerned) -- Timid and attractive, the Rabbits of the Chinese Zodiac tend to act more like bunnies, whether they like it or not! This Sign is extremely popular and has a wide circle of family and friends. Its compassionate nature leads it to be very protective of those it holds dear, but where romance is concerned, the Rabbit's sentimentality can lead it to idealize relationships. The sweet, sensitive Rabbit often ends up giving more of itself to a partner than is realistic or healthy. The good news is, when this Sign goes off-balance, the Rabbit's core group of friends and its stable home life help bring it back to center.
The Rabbit is a rather delicate Sign that needs a solid base in order to thrive. Lacking close, supportive friends and family, the Rabbit might just break down in tears at the first sign of conflict. Emotional upsets in this Sign's life can even lead to physical illnesses. Rabbits dislike arguments and other conflict and will try anything to avoid a fight; this results in something of a pushover nature. Rabbits can also lapse into pessimism and may seem stuck in life -- often to mask their insecure natures. Rabbits tend to move through life's lessons at their own, rather contemplative pace; it's a waste of time to become exasperated with this Sign's seeming disinterest in facing its problems and conquering them.
With the right partner -- meaning someone whose high principles won't allow it to take advantage of this sensitive, giving Sign -- the Rabbit can make an incredibly loving and protective partner or family member. Rabbits love to entertain at home and always make sure their house is comfortable and tastefully-furnished. What Rabbits need most is a stronger sense of self-worth and the security that comes with it. Their discerning natures, coupled with some hard-won assertiveness, will help these happy creatures go far.
The most compatible match for a Rabbit is the Sheep or the Pig.
Wikipedia for its part says --
Those following traditional Chinese astrology consider people born in the Year of the Rabbit to make ideal diplomats or politicians. In Chinese astrological thought, a "rabbit person" is graceful, cultured and well-mannered. Although Rabbit people get along well with many people, at heart they are considered to be basically reserved creatures, and are only truly happy when engrossed in some sort of scholarly or intellectual activity. Rabbit people are considered too sensitive for the world around them; they are not able to thrive in competitive or aggressive environments, and are anxious when others force them to take risks. Their inner world is considered too delicate for unsettled or unpredictable situations, and they tend to create peaceful and comfortable atmospheres--like rabbit dens--instinctively. According to traditional Chinese astrology, this characteristic makes them very hospitable and attentive people, who take care of those around them.
The average Rabbit person emphasizes the importance of small details. They pay attention to everything from color, design and furniture to food and conversation. And only when they are sure that everything has been arranged as they wish can these people relax and have fun.
People born in the year of the Rabbit often lead a conservative lifestyle where one of the most important things is their security. This quality has a negative side also: opting for safety over risk, they may miss good opportunities. These people are not frivolous or irresponsible, for when they truly believe in something, they are serious, persevering and capable.
Calm as they are, it is not easy to provoke Rabbit people. They are sentimental and compassionate. They can be moved by the personal problems you share with them.
Just like the Ram and the Pig, the Rabbit's quest is the aesthetic and beautiful in life. Its calm nature gives it great leadership abilities. It is artistic, refined, intuitive, and well-mannered. Its soul loves the preliminaries in love, and is ae fine artist in its lovemaking. The Rabbit, Ram and Pig have been bestowed with calmer natures than the other 9 signs. These three are compassionately aware, yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive lover. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic.
In addition, as someone born under the Water element --
Those of you born under the influence of the Chinese Astrology Element of Water act with the assured fluidity of a river, affecting your environment with your strength and quiet charm. Creative and captivating, diplomatic and intuitive, Water individuals are the masters of subtle persuasion. Without even appearing to try, you can gain someone's trust and affection, and once you've got them they'll follow you anywhere. You make everyone feel special, noting and praising each person's unique talents.
Your inherent pliability, the fluid calm that makes you so appealing, can also make you sometimes too passive, too willing to be what someone wants you to be. You tend to take the shape of whatever container you're poured into.
Rather than letting others dam up your energies, let yourself flow freely!
MY BIRTHDAY TREE
As I was born on June 7, my birthday tree daw is the Hornbeam. WTF is a hornbeam tree? But if the Internet [Which Tree Are You? avintagewedding.com] is correct, the hornbeam is the tree of good taste#&%^&*()(!
It is a tree of "cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unsual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, and is very conscientious."
Whew! Is this all me?
Here's more --
The American Hornbeam tree, Carpinus caroliniana, is a shade tolerant under story tree. American Hornbeam trees are also known by the common names of Musclewood, Ironwood, Blue Beech, and Water Beech trees. The word "hornbeam" comes from the words "horn" for "toughness" and "beam" an old English word for "tree" and refers to this tree's very hard, tough, wood. This deciduous species provides nuts that are eaten by many birds such as grouse, bobwhite, pheasant and wild turkey. Cottontail rabbits and deer nibble on the shoots of this tree.
Carpinus caroliniana exhibits leaves that are thin and beautifully translucent. This shade tree will provide cool, dense shade in the summer because of its many leaves giving a dense appearance. In late autumn the leaves turn deep scarlet and orange providing good fall color tree.
JOHARI WINDOW
Back in high school when annual retreats were de rigeur for us students, the concept of Johari Window was much bandied about. Are you familiar with this? If not, here's a repro, lifted from the Net.
Johari Window
Known to Self
Not Known to Self
Known to Others
Not Known to Others
The Johari Window, named after the first names of its inventors, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, is one of the most useful models describing the process of human interaction. A four paned "window," divides personal awareness into four different types, as represented by its four quadrants: open, hidden, blind, and unknown. The lines dividing the four panes are like window shades, which can move as an interaction progresses.In this model, each person is represented by their own window.
Let's describe mine:
1. The "open" quadrant represents things that both I know about myself, and that you know about me. For example, I know my name, and so do you, and if you have explored some of my website, you know some of my interests. The knowledge that the window represents, can include not only factual information, but my feelings, motives, behaviors, wants, needs and desires... indeed, any information describing who I am. When I first meet a new person, the size of the opening of this first quadrant is not very large, since there has been little time to exchange information. As the process of getting to know one another continues, the window shades move down or to the right, placing more information into the open window, as described below.
2. The "blind" quadrant represents things that you know about me, but that I am unaware of. So, for example, we could be eating at a restaurant, and I may have unknowingly gotten some food on my face. This information is in my blind quadrant because you can see it, but I cannot. If you now tell me that I have something on my face, then the window shade moves to the right, enlarging the open quadrant's area. Now, I may also have blindspots with respect to many other much more complex things. For example, perhaps in our ongoing conversation, you may notice that eye contact seems to be lacking. You may not say anything, since you may not want to embarrass me, or you may draw your own inferences that perhaps I am being insincere. Then the problem is, how can I get this information out in the open, since it may be affecting the level of trust that is developing between us? How can I learn more about myself? Unfortunately, there is no readily available answer. I may notice a slight hesitation on your part, and perhaps this may lead to a question. But who knows if I will pick this up, or if your answer will be on the mark.
3. The "hidden" quadrant represents things that I know about myself, that you do not know. So for example, I have not told you, nor mentioned anywhere on my website, what one of my favorite ice cream flavors is. This information is in my "hidden" quadrant. As soon as I tell you that I love "Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia" flavored ice cream, I am effectively pulling the window shade down, moving the information in my hidden quadrant and enlarging the open quadrant's area. Again, there are vast amounts of information, virtually my whole life's story, that has yet to be revealed to you. As we get to know and trust each other, I will then feel more comfortable disclosing more intimate details about myself. This process is called: "Self-disclosure."
4. The "unknown" quadrant represents things that neither I know about myself, nor you know about me. For example, I may disclose a dream that I had, and as we both attempt to understand its significance, a new awareness may emerge, known to neither of us before the conversation took place. Being placed in new situations often reveal new information not previously known to self or others. For example, I learned of the Johari window at a workshop conducted by a Japanese American psychiatrist in the early 1980's. During this workshop, he created a safe atmosphere of care and trust between the various participants. Usually, I am terrified of speaking in public, but I was surprised to learn that in such an atmosphere, the task need not be so daunting. Prior to this event, I had viewed myself and others had also viewed me as being extremely shy. (The above now reminds me of a funny joke, which I cannot refrain from telling you. It is said that the number one fear that people have is speaking in public. Their number two fear is dying. And the number three fear that people have, is dying while speaking in public.) Thus, a novel situation can trigger new awareness and personal growth. The process of moving previously unknown information into the open quadrant, thus enlarging its area, has been likened to Maslow's concept of self-actualization. The process can also be viewed as a game, where the open quadrant is synonymous with the win-win situation.
Much, much more has been written on the Johari window model of human interaction. The process of enlarging the open quadrant is called self-disclosure, a give and take process between me and the people I interact with. Typically, as I share something about myself (moving information from my hidden quadrant into the open) and if the other party is interested in getting to know me, they will reciprocate, by similarly disclosing information in their hidden quadrant. Thus, an interaction between two parties can be modeled dynamically as two active Johari windows. For example, you may respond to my disclosure that I like "Cherry Garcia" by letting me know what your favorite ice cream is, or where a new ice cream shop is being built, kinds of information in your hidden quadrant. Incidentally, it is fattening, so be careful on how much you eat!
We believe disclosure to be healthy, at least that's the impression one gets after reading Freud. However, Anita Kelly recently wrote that self-disclosure of personal secrets has its dangers. We are often better off not telling secrets regarding our sexual behavior, mental health problems or large-scale failures. "If you give people information about yourself, you give them power over you," she says. Monica Lewinsky's disclosure to Linda Tripp and the ensuing scandal that enveloped President Clinton is a case in point. Be forewarned that most secrets get passed along to at least two more parties. People also misjudge how others respond to secrets. Sometimes you get negative feedback. For example, a women who reveals that she was raped may be seen in the future as a victim, or by men as damaged goods. Now, if you must tell your secret to someone, chose that person very carefully. Chose someone whose response will give you some insight into your problem. Unfortunately, such a person is often hard to find. So if you cannot find anyone appropriate, consider this: that keeping secrets is healthy and tasteful, because it is a way of managing your identity, and indicates you are secure and have self-control. But it takes energy, because you have to be on constant guard not to accidentally reveal something that is potentially damaging.
As ones level of confidence and self esteem develops, one may actively invite others to comment on one's blind spots. A teacher may seek feedback from students on the quality of a particular lecture, with the desire of improving the presentation. Active listening skills are helpful in this endeavor. On the other hand, we all have defenses, protecting the parts of ourselves that we feel vulnerable. Remember, the blind quadrant contains behavior, feelings and motivations not accessible to the person, but which others can see. Feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, impotence, unworthiness, rejection, guilt, dependency, ambivalence for loved ones, needs to control and manipulate, are all difficult to face, and yet can be seen by others. To forcibly reveal what another wishes not to see, is "psychological rape," and can be traumatic. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a variety of defense mechanisms to cope with such events, such as denial, ignoring, rationalizing, etc.
The Johari window, essentially being a model for communication, can also reveal difficulties in this area. In Johari terms, two people attempt to communicate via the open quadrants. On the simplest level, difficulties may arise due to a lack of clarity in the interaction, such as poor grammar or choice of words, unorganized thoughts, faulty logic etc. This induces the receiver to criticize you, the sender, by revealing something that was in your blind quadrant. Then, if the feedback works, you correct it immediately, or perhaps on a more long term approach take a course in reading and writing. On a deeper level, you may be in a group meeting, and while you secretly sympathize with the minority viewpoint, you voted with the majority. However, blind to you, you actually may be communicating this information via body language, in conflict with your verbal message. On an even deeper level, you in an interaction with others, may always put on a smiling, happy face, hiding all negative feelings. By withholding negative feelings, you may be signaling to your friends to withhold also, and keep their distance. Thus, your communication style may seem bland or distant.
And let's not forget the parable of the blind men and the elephant. Our society is constructed so that many of us get very specialized, knowing only a small academic field very well, while being virtually ignorant of all others. This specialization is blinding many of us to what is happening in the world today. According to R. Buckminister Fuller, this system of education was done on purpose, to channel the most intelligent people into specialties, enabling them to be more easily controlled. Noam Chomsky has made similar comments with regards to the manufacturing enterprise, and how Adam Smith's writings have been purposely misrepresented. See my webpage On Education.
In the construction of this website, I am putting more of my knowledge into the open quadrant. I am consciously using the Johari model to improve my awareness of the world. If you see one of my blind spots, please feel free to contact me, and let me know!
References:Luft, Joseph (1969). "Of Human Interaction," Palo Alto, CA:National Press, 177 pages.Kelly, Anita E. and McKillop, Kevin J. (1996), "Consequences of Revealing Personal Secrets." Psychological Bulletin, v120(3), pg. 450 .Roan, Shari (1996). "Our secrets are spilling out all over," Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 1999 by Duen Hsi Yen, All rights reserved.
Johari Window
Known to Self
Not Known to Self
Known to Others
Not Known to Others
The Johari Window, named after the first names of its inventors, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, is one of the most useful models describing the process of human interaction. A four paned "window," divides personal awareness into four different types, as represented by its four quadrants: open, hidden, blind, and unknown. The lines dividing the four panes are like window shades, which can move as an interaction progresses.In this model, each person is represented by their own window.
Let's describe mine:
1. The "open" quadrant represents things that both I know about myself, and that you know about me. For example, I know my name, and so do you, and if you have explored some of my website, you know some of my interests. The knowledge that the window represents, can include not only factual information, but my feelings, motives, behaviors, wants, needs and desires... indeed, any information describing who I am. When I first meet a new person, the size of the opening of this first quadrant is not very large, since there has been little time to exchange information. As the process of getting to know one another continues, the window shades move down or to the right, placing more information into the open window, as described below.
2. The "blind" quadrant represents things that you know about me, but that I am unaware of. So, for example, we could be eating at a restaurant, and I may have unknowingly gotten some food on my face. This information is in my blind quadrant because you can see it, but I cannot. If you now tell me that I have something on my face, then the window shade moves to the right, enlarging the open quadrant's area. Now, I may also have blindspots with respect to many other much more complex things. For example, perhaps in our ongoing conversation, you may notice that eye contact seems to be lacking. You may not say anything, since you may not want to embarrass me, or you may draw your own inferences that perhaps I am being insincere. Then the problem is, how can I get this information out in the open, since it may be affecting the level of trust that is developing between us? How can I learn more about myself? Unfortunately, there is no readily available answer. I may notice a slight hesitation on your part, and perhaps this may lead to a question. But who knows if I will pick this up, or if your answer will be on the mark.
3. The "hidden" quadrant represents things that I know about myself, that you do not know. So for example, I have not told you, nor mentioned anywhere on my website, what one of my favorite ice cream flavors is. This information is in my "hidden" quadrant. As soon as I tell you that I love "Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia" flavored ice cream, I am effectively pulling the window shade down, moving the information in my hidden quadrant and enlarging the open quadrant's area. Again, there are vast amounts of information, virtually my whole life's story, that has yet to be revealed to you. As we get to know and trust each other, I will then feel more comfortable disclosing more intimate details about myself. This process is called: "Self-disclosure."
4. The "unknown" quadrant represents things that neither I know about myself, nor you know about me. For example, I may disclose a dream that I had, and as we both attempt to understand its significance, a new awareness may emerge, known to neither of us before the conversation took place. Being placed in new situations often reveal new information not previously known to self or others. For example, I learned of the Johari window at a workshop conducted by a Japanese American psychiatrist in the early 1980's. During this workshop, he created a safe atmosphere of care and trust between the various participants. Usually, I am terrified of speaking in public, but I was surprised to learn that in such an atmosphere, the task need not be so daunting. Prior to this event, I had viewed myself and others had also viewed me as being extremely shy. (The above now reminds me of a funny joke, which I cannot refrain from telling you. It is said that the number one fear that people have is speaking in public. Their number two fear is dying. And the number three fear that people have, is dying while speaking in public.) Thus, a novel situation can trigger new awareness and personal growth. The process of moving previously unknown information into the open quadrant, thus enlarging its area, has been likened to Maslow's concept of self-actualization. The process can also be viewed as a game, where the open quadrant is synonymous with the win-win situation.
Much, much more has been written on the Johari window model of human interaction. The process of enlarging the open quadrant is called self-disclosure, a give and take process between me and the people I interact with. Typically, as I share something about myself (moving information from my hidden quadrant into the open) and if the other party is interested in getting to know me, they will reciprocate, by similarly disclosing information in their hidden quadrant. Thus, an interaction between two parties can be modeled dynamically as two active Johari windows. For example, you may respond to my disclosure that I like "Cherry Garcia" by letting me know what your favorite ice cream is, or where a new ice cream shop is being built, kinds of information in your hidden quadrant. Incidentally, it is fattening, so be careful on how much you eat!
We believe disclosure to be healthy, at least that's the impression one gets after reading Freud. However, Anita Kelly recently wrote that self-disclosure of personal secrets has its dangers. We are often better off not telling secrets regarding our sexual behavior, mental health problems or large-scale failures. "If you give people information about yourself, you give them power over you," she says. Monica Lewinsky's disclosure to Linda Tripp and the ensuing scandal that enveloped President Clinton is a case in point. Be forewarned that most secrets get passed along to at least two more parties. People also misjudge how others respond to secrets. Sometimes you get negative feedback. For example, a women who reveals that she was raped may be seen in the future as a victim, or by men as damaged goods. Now, if you must tell your secret to someone, chose that person very carefully. Chose someone whose response will give you some insight into your problem. Unfortunately, such a person is often hard to find. So if you cannot find anyone appropriate, consider this: that keeping secrets is healthy and tasteful, because it is a way of managing your identity, and indicates you are secure and have self-control. But it takes energy, because you have to be on constant guard not to accidentally reveal something that is potentially damaging.
As ones level of confidence and self esteem develops, one may actively invite others to comment on one's blind spots. A teacher may seek feedback from students on the quality of a particular lecture, with the desire of improving the presentation. Active listening skills are helpful in this endeavor. On the other hand, we all have defenses, protecting the parts of ourselves that we feel vulnerable. Remember, the blind quadrant contains behavior, feelings and motivations not accessible to the person, but which others can see. Feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, impotence, unworthiness, rejection, guilt, dependency, ambivalence for loved ones, needs to control and manipulate, are all difficult to face, and yet can be seen by others. To forcibly reveal what another wishes not to see, is "psychological rape," and can be traumatic. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a variety of defense mechanisms to cope with such events, such as denial, ignoring, rationalizing, etc.
The Johari window, essentially being a model for communication, can also reveal difficulties in this area. In Johari terms, two people attempt to communicate via the open quadrants. On the simplest level, difficulties may arise due to a lack of clarity in the interaction, such as poor grammar or choice of words, unorganized thoughts, faulty logic etc. This induces the receiver to criticize you, the sender, by revealing something that was in your blind quadrant. Then, if the feedback works, you correct it immediately, or perhaps on a more long term approach take a course in reading and writing. On a deeper level, you may be in a group meeting, and while you secretly sympathize with the minority viewpoint, you voted with the majority. However, blind to you, you actually may be communicating this information via body language, in conflict with your verbal message. On an even deeper level, you in an interaction with others, may always put on a smiling, happy face, hiding all negative feelings. By withholding negative feelings, you may be signaling to your friends to withhold also, and keep their distance. Thus, your communication style may seem bland or distant.
And let's not forget the parable of the blind men and the elephant. Our society is constructed so that many of us get very specialized, knowing only a small academic field very well, while being virtually ignorant of all others. This specialization is blinding many of us to what is happening in the world today. According to R. Buckminister Fuller, this system of education was done on purpose, to channel the most intelligent people into specialties, enabling them to be more easily controlled. Noam Chomsky has made similar comments with regards to the manufacturing enterprise, and how Adam Smith's writings have been purposely misrepresented. See my webpage On Education.
In the construction of this website, I am putting more of my knowledge into the open quadrant. I am consciously using the Johari model to improve my awareness of the world. If you see one of my blind spots, please feel free to contact me, and let me know!
References:Luft, Joseph (1969). "Of Human Interaction," Palo Alto, CA:National Press, 177 pages.Kelly, Anita E. and McKillop, Kevin J. (1996), "Consequences of Revealing Personal Secrets." Psychological Bulletin, v120(3), pg. 450 .Roan, Shari (1996). "Our secrets are spilling out all over," Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 1999 by Duen Hsi Yen, All rights reserved.
KOMIKS
I grew up on komiks. Not the Marvel Comics sort. Not even Jughead. More like Hiwaga, Wakasan, and Tagalog Klasiks. I even soaked up on Liwayway and Bulaklak. I know, I know. This really dates me. But I'm disclosing this because I owe a lot to komiks, specially in helping me read and write in Tagalog/Filipino.
I don't know how I got started but I distinctly remember spending time at the arkilahan (places where you rent komiks; these were actually roadside stores that display the magazines on a clothesline much like the way you hang newly-washed clothes to dry). I remember getting (more like making kupit) coins from my mother's make-shift money box at our vegetable store so I could rent the komiks. The arkilahan would have long wooden benches for readers. The owner of the business would make sure you did not run away with the komiks (or that you did not share it with others) and that you read it in a reasonable amount of time so that others can rent it as well, and the owner gets more coins from one copy. Methinks this was the precursor of video (now DVD) rentals. He he. But back in those days, it was more like borrowing books from a library with pay.
I would go to the arkilahan at various times of the day specially if I had no classes (I was in my elementary grades then). During schooldays, however, you will find me there after school till dusk.
In a childhood when I had no books except books for school, komiks was my reading pastime. I have of course outgrown komiks but not reading. In highschool, I progressed into pocket books starting with Nick Carter, Hardy Boys and then Harold Robbins and Robert Ludlum. Reader's Digest has also been a favorite. My taste in reading has greatly expanded although I have a soft spot for the Og Mandinos, Mitch Alboms, the Jeffrey Archers, the J. K. Rowlings, the Dan Browns and the John Grishams. And oh, I also now read autobiographies. Ironically, as an English litt major, I have yet to name my favorite English litt, and even American litt authors, as my readings were limited to the works required for my course. Oprah Book Club member I am not, yet.
Komiks-reading trained me to read fast. During times when I had no coins, I would casually scan the komiks on display surreptitiously lest the owner caught me and drove me away. Even then, what National Bookstore calls "private reading" was not allowed. (This was why I was more inclined to read Wakasan; I wouldn't have to wait for the next installment of the story - the stories ended on the same week the komiks came out.) But in my desire to keep myself updated on what happened next to the series I had been following, I would take a peek - thereby unconsciously getting trained on speed reading.
It was excellent training. After all, I was reading the likes of Carlo J. Caparas, Nerissa Cabral, Gilda Olvidado and yes, Pablo Gomez, Lualhati Bautista and the great Mars Ravelo -- stalwarts all and now celebrated authors of a genre people thought was only for the masses.
I don't know how I got started but I distinctly remember spending time at the arkilahan (places where you rent komiks; these were actually roadside stores that display the magazines on a clothesline much like the way you hang newly-washed clothes to dry). I remember getting (more like making kupit) coins from my mother's make-shift money box at our vegetable store so I could rent the komiks. The arkilahan would have long wooden benches for readers. The owner of the business would make sure you did not run away with the komiks (or that you did not share it with others) and that you read it in a reasonable amount of time so that others can rent it as well, and the owner gets more coins from one copy. Methinks this was the precursor of video (now DVD) rentals. He he. But back in those days, it was more like borrowing books from a library with pay.
I would go to the arkilahan at various times of the day specially if I had no classes (I was in my elementary grades then). During schooldays, however, you will find me there after school till dusk.
In a childhood when I had no books except books for school, komiks was my reading pastime. I have of course outgrown komiks but not reading. In highschool, I progressed into pocket books starting with Nick Carter, Hardy Boys and then Harold Robbins and Robert Ludlum. Reader's Digest has also been a favorite. My taste in reading has greatly expanded although I have a soft spot for the Og Mandinos, Mitch Alboms, the Jeffrey Archers, the J. K. Rowlings, the Dan Browns and the John Grishams. And oh, I also now read autobiographies. Ironically, as an English litt major, I have yet to name my favorite English litt, and even American litt authors, as my readings were limited to the works required for my course. Oprah Book Club member I am not, yet.
Komiks-reading trained me to read fast. During times when I had no coins, I would casually scan the komiks on display surreptitiously lest the owner caught me and drove me away. Even then, what National Bookstore calls "private reading" was not allowed. (This was why I was more inclined to read Wakasan; I wouldn't have to wait for the next installment of the story - the stories ended on the same week the komiks came out.) But in my desire to keep myself updated on what happened next to the series I had been following, I would take a peek - thereby unconsciously getting trained on speed reading.
It was excellent training. After all, I was reading the likes of Carlo J. Caparas, Nerissa Cabral, Gilda Olvidado and yes, Pablo Gomez, Lualhati Bautista and the great Mars Ravelo -- stalwarts all and now celebrated authors of a genre people thought was only for the masses.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
COUNTRIES I'VE BEEN TO
This list includes countries kung saan hanggang airport lang ako. He he. And it goes without saying na I could not have been in these countries without my Bebe. Sa totoo lang, kahit na me wanderlust ako, I never did have the courage in the beginning to venture into embassies to short of beg for visas. My Bebe was my confidence-booster everytime. It's also a factor na dahil OFW kami, we were able to afford those travels. I mean, mas mura naman talagang mag-fly to Europe from the Middle East kaysa from the Philippines! So since 1993, nakarating na ako sa mga bansang ito --
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
- Saudi Arabia but of course
- The UAE
- Bahrain
- Egypt
NORTH AMERICA
- USA including Hawai'i
ASIA-PACIFIC
- HongKong
- Thailand
- Australia - the best ang Sydney for me
EUROPE
- Italy
- The UK
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Romania kahit 24 hours lang sa airport
- Cyprus - hanggang airport din lang
- Belgium - hanggang airport din lang
In contrast, kokonti pa lang ang napupuntahan namin sa Pilipinas. Nakakahiya na tuloy kay Susan Calo-Medina. Pero pasasaan ba't makakalibot din kami sa sariling bayan. Hindi sa ayaw, mas naging convenient lang na unahin ang foreign travels.
Traveling is indeed a huge source of education/fount of knowledge for the traveler. Magastos at nakakapagod pero sulit. True, sa pagiging pandemic ngayon ng Internet use, one can simply and easily be an arm-chair travelogue pero wala talagang katumbas ang maging real traveler.
Parang pagbabasa yan ng literature. Traveling is akin to reading literature. Sabi nga nung mga litt teachers ko sa state university sa Diliman, hindi ka pwedeng umasa sa synopsis or sa reviews -- lalo na sa Cliff's Notes. Kailangan basahin mo yourself ang original work. Nang sa ganun, captured mo ang nuances at iba't-ibang kaeklatan nung masterpiece. Just gleaning from what others have rendered out of the original, is an injustice not just to the original author but also to you as reader. For you are depriving yourself of the wonders and the magic that reading an original work of art entails.
Traveling indeed has made me aware how small I am compared to the world, but ironically, I nonetheless did not feel unimportant and insignificant. I learned on the contrary, that I am part of something grander other than myself, that I belong to a bigger world other than the one I used to think I only moved in. This realization urged me to be more aware of the new worlds being opened up for me, to me -- to soak it all in, lest I never pass that part of the world again.
No matter the intrigues, we go ahead and travel when we can afford it and given the chance. The opportunity to fly far outweighs any unwarranted intrigues that may come.
Sabi nga, "hindi man kami jet-setters, well-travelled naman."
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
- Saudi Arabia but of course
- The UAE
- Bahrain
- Egypt
NORTH AMERICA
- USA including Hawai'i
ASIA-PACIFIC
- HongKong
- Thailand
- Australia - the best ang Sydney for me
EUROPE
- Italy
- The UK
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Romania kahit 24 hours lang sa airport
- Cyprus - hanggang airport din lang
- Belgium - hanggang airport din lang
In contrast, kokonti pa lang ang napupuntahan namin sa Pilipinas. Nakakahiya na tuloy kay Susan Calo-Medina. Pero pasasaan ba't makakalibot din kami sa sariling bayan. Hindi sa ayaw, mas naging convenient lang na unahin ang foreign travels.
Traveling is indeed a huge source of education/fount of knowledge for the traveler. Magastos at nakakapagod pero sulit. True, sa pagiging pandemic ngayon ng Internet use, one can simply and easily be an arm-chair travelogue pero wala talagang katumbas ang maging real traveler.
Parang pagbabasa yan ng literature. Traveling is akin to reading literature. Sabi nga nung mga litt teachers ko sa state university sa Diliman, hindi ka pwedeng umasa sa synopsis or sa reviews -- lalo na sa Cliff's Notes. Kailangan basahin mo yourself ang original work. Nang sa ganun, captured mo ang nuances at iba't-ibang kaeklatan nung masterpiece. Just gleaning from what others have rendered out of the original, is an injustice not just to the original author but also to you as reader. For you are depriving yourself of the wonders and the magic that reading an original work of art entails.
Traveling indeed has made me aware how small I am compared to the world, but ironically, I nonetheless did not feel unimportant and insignificant. I learned on the contrary, that I am part of something grander other than myself, that I belong to a bigger world other than the one I used to think I only moved in. This realization urged me to be more aware of the new worlds being opened up for me, to me -- to soak it all in, lest I never pass that part of the world again.
Traveling has also made me aware how truly the same we all are - humans that we are, even if we have a lot of differences. We care for the same things - our histories, our cultures, our resources/environment; we take pride in the same things - our achievements, our people; and nurture the same hopes and dreams - harmony, peace, tourists [he he]. Despite language barriers, we were able to forge friendships with other travelers and the citizens of the countries we traveled to. Despite differences in cuisines, we were always full at mealtimes [and no thanks to McDonald's]. Despite varying cultures, all of us unanimously understood the need to shop for bargains. What is more universal than that?
An OFW being able to travel however, is not without its share of intrigues. There has always been talk that our travels were mere fantasies/virtual travels. Where are the photos? one asked. These OFWs are so profligate - spending on travel instead of saving up. Unahin pa ba yan kesa sa pagpupundar ng bahay, an OFW's ultimate dream? These OFWs are a pair of show-offs. Bakit ba palagi na lang naka-press release ang travels?No matter the intrigues, we go ahead and travel when we can afford it and given the chance. The opportunity to fly far outweighs any unwarranted intrigues that may come.
Sabi nga, "hindi man kami jet-setters, well-travelled naman."
THESE ARE WHAT I LOVE
These are what I love - in random order:
1. Peanut butter/jelly sandwiches.
2. Ripe/sweet mangoes and watermelons.
3. Strawberry and chocolate ice creams.
4. Chocolate and ube cakes.
5. Eating out.
6. Fish/shellfish.
7. Kiamoy, dikiam and those sweet/sour Chinese candies.
8. Peanuts, cashew nuts, pine nuts and almonds.
9. Shopping for clothes and accessories; shopping for the home.
10. Keeping house.
11. Bags and boxes and wrappers.
12. Rabbit knickknacks.
13. Sinigang na baboy, or hipon or bangus.
14. Mushrooms.
15. Clothes and shoes.
16. Abercrombie and Fitch, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, Zara and Ralph Lauren.
17. Blue - the color of a blue sky; spice colors; unlikely color combinations - brown and Tiffany blue, apple green and violet....
18. Nice-looking cars - Infinity comes to mind.
19. Kutkutin except the likes of cornic.
20. Books and magazines; bookstores.
21. Reading.
22. Internet.
23. Spas.
24. Massages.
25. Skin pampering products, treatments and services.
26. Traveling.
27. Airports.
28. Classical music; music of the likes of Regine Velazquez, Lani Misalucha, Take That, Barry Manilow....
29. Buko juice, dalandan juice, orange juice with 7-Up.
30. Writing.
31. Lighthouses.
32. Taking photographs and being photographed nicely.
33. Scented candles.
34. Frames; posters.
35. Bedsheets and linens and towels....
36. Paul Smith stripes.
37. Old Philippine houses and churches.
38. Living both in cities and in suburbs.
39. Malls and malling.
40. Walking.
41. Entertaining.
42. Movies and tv shows and watching them even on re-runs.
43. Emceeing.
45. Being giving/sharing/charitable.
46. Being the underdog specially when I feel/think/believe I am not.
47. Quotable quotes.
48. Designing, organizing, being creative.
49. Watching people.
50. Talking about certain people.
51. Celebrities.
52. Paying with a credit card.
53. Pushing a trolley in the grocery.
54. Merrill Court and POTR.
55. Earning lots of money.
56. Being quiet in a church.
57. The sound of falling rain while trying to sleep; the sight of bare streets after a rain.
58. Snuggling under a comforter when it's cold.
59. Dressing up in coordinates.
60. Symmetry.
61. Chocolates.
62. Undies - think CK and Aussiebum.
63. Pillows.
64. Walking barefoot.
65. Blogging.
66. Laughing hard.
67. Quiet times.
68. Moments.
69. Seeing elderly couples holding hands and being sweet to each other.
70. Children's smiles.
71. Mix of modernism and classicism.
72. Blue eyes.
73. Intimate celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, thanksgiving....
74. Broadway/West End shows; also local shows at PETA and Repertory
75. Erotica - he he he
1. Peanut butter/jelly sandwiches.
2. Ripe/sweet mangoes and watermelons.
3. Strawberry and chocolate ice creams.
4. Chocolate and ube cakes.
5. Eating out.
6. Fish/shellfish.
7. Kiamoy, dikiam and those sweet/sour Chinese candies.
8. Peanuts, cashew nuts, pine nuts and almonds.
9. Shopping for clothes and accessories; shopping for the home.
10. Keeping house.
11. Bags and boxes and wrappers.
12. Rabbit knickknacks.
13. Sinigang na baboy, or hipon or bangus.
14. Mushrooms.
15. Clothes and shoes.
16. Abercrombie and Fitch, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, Zara and Ralph Lauren.
17. Blue - the color of a blue sky; spice colors; unlikely color combinations - brown and Tiffany blue, apple green and violet....
18. Nice-looking cars - Infinity comes to mind.
19. Kutkutin except the likes of cornic.
20. Books and magazines; bookstores.
21. Reading.
22. Internet.
23. Spas.
24. Massages.
25. Skin pampering products, treatments and services.
26. Traveling.
27. Airports.
28. Classical music; music of the likes of Regine Velazquez, Lani Misalucha, Take That, Barry Manilow....
29. Buko juice, dalandan juice, orange juice with 7-Up.
30. Writing.
31. Lighthouses.
32. Taking photographs and being photographed nicely.
33. Scented candles.
34. Frames; posters.
35. Bedsheets and linens and towels....
36. Paul Smith stripes.
37. Old Philippine houses and churches.
38. Living both in cities and in suburbs.
39. Malls and malling.
40. Walking.
41. Entertaining.
42. Movies and tv shows and watching them even on re-runs.
43. Emceeing.
45. Being giving/sharing/charitable.
46. Being the underdog specially when I feel/think/believe I am not.
47. Quotable quotes.
48. Designing, organizing, being creative.
49. Watching people.
50. Talking about certain people.
51. Celebrities.
52. Paying with a credit card.
53. Pushing a trolley in the grocery.
54. Merrill Court and POTR.
55. Earning lots of money.
56. Being quiet in a church.
57. The sound of falling rain while trying to sleep; the sight of bare streets after a rain.
58. Snuggling under a comforter when it's cold.
59. Dressing up in coordinates.
60. Symmetry.
61. Chocolates.
62. Undies - think CK and Aussiebum.
63. Pillows.
64. Walking barefoot.
65. Blogging.
66. Laughing hard.
67. Quiet times.
68. Moments.
69. Seeing elderly couples holding hands and being sweet to each other.
70. Children's smiles.
71. Mix of modernism and classicism.
72. Blue eyes.
73. Intimate celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, thanksgiving....
74. Broadway/West End shows; also local shows at PETA and Repertory
75. Erotica - he he he
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
WHILE WE WERE AT MARRIOTT
We were at the Marriott in Riyadh on February 25-26, 2007, as support staff of the 2007 Alcatel-Lucent Technology Seminar. The seminars have been staged in Saudi Arabia only six times since 1997. They bring over scientists and researchers of world-renowned Bell Labs to the Middle East region. This year's edition brought the Bell Labs president himself no less. And here's one trivia that could also earn me bragging rights: I was part of each team that has organized the seminars every time since 1997.
While we appeared to be simply receptionists and registration assistants during the two-day event this year, the truth of the matter is that we almost single-handedly organized the seminar with the able but remote support of Marketing colleagues in the UAE. It therefore was very fulfilling to see the huge turn-out of participants, majority of whom praised the veneer of professionalism that the seminar successfully displayed.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
101ST POST
My post on my TTAM pala was my 100th. Akalain mo yun? Hindi pa kasali siyempre yung mga drafts na until now, I have yet to publish. Anyhow, for the 101st, naisip ko na ilista naman ang mga eccentricities ko. Buti na lang hindi yata aabot ng sampu. He he.
1. I flush the toilet even before I'm done.
2. I drink water or beverage even before I'm done eating.
3. I must always have tissue paper around me.
4. I always tend to sleep on my left side.
5. I can't scrape my tongue without gagging.
6. I always want my name written to include my middle initial; it's my way of honoring my mother.
7. Coordinated/symmetrical things appeal to me greatly.
8. I never walk when crossing a street; I always run.
1. I flush the toilet even before I'm done.
2. I drink water or beverage even before I'm done eating.
3. I must always have tissue paper around me.
4. I always tend to sleep on my left side.
5. I can't scrape my tongue without gagging.
6. I always want my name written to include my middle initial; it's my way of honoring my mother.
7. Coordinated/symmetrical things appeal to me greatly.
8. I never walk when crossing a street; I always run.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
TTAM
Taking a cue from kapatid Chris, here's my TTAM [ten things about me] you may never know until this revelation, in random order now --
1. I'm uncomfortable with being touchy-feely.
2. I love to shop in 3s or in 6s or a dozen specially when it comes to clothes and canned goods.
3. I need to push a cart when grocery-shopping.
4. I don't readily accept people in authority; I must first be convinced that they indeed are capable before I kowtow. Otherwise, resistance is the name of my game.
5. I am a sucker for romantic stories - in print, in movies, on TV, in real-life.
6. I don't give; I share.
7. I'm 43 going on 28.
8. I'm a glass-is-half-full/tomorrow-is-another-day/this-too-shall-pass kind of person.
9. I admire women of strength.
10. I want to go gently into the good night.
1. I'm uncomfortable with being touchy-feely.
2. I love to shop in 3s or in 6s or a dozen specially when it comes to clothes and canned goods.
3. I need to push a cart when grocery-shopping.
4. I don't readily accept people in authority; I must first be convinced that they indeed are capable before I kowtow. Otherwise, resistance is the name of my game.
5. I am a sucker for romantic stories - in print, in movies, on TV, in real-life.
6. I don't give; I share.
7. I'm 43 going on 28.
8. I'm a glass-is-half-full/tomorrow-is-another-day/this-too-shall-pass kind of person.
9. I admire women of strength.
10. I want to go gently into the good night.
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