Dsf, dubai shopping festival 2014

January 2 is the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival. It will be a month long event. A lot of tourist visit Dubai for holiday at this time of the year. Its also maybe because of the new year celebration at the burj Khalifa -tallest building of the world, Burj Al Arab - the only seven star hotel, or to see the fireworks in Palm Jumeirah - man made island. So for now, it is shop until you drop. ^_^

Happy Shopping. ^_^

New Year 2014

Its start of the year again. A lot of people makes their resolution list but hardly stick to them and I am one of them. This year, me being in a new country. I didn't make any for 2014 instead i just make a list of places i want to visit and do. I am loving where i am right now. I am actually in love with Dubai though its expensive to live here especially now the price for the rent had gone up but still its a good place especially theres no tax but still you can enjoy the things around. Well, lets see whats in store for me this year. Lets get it on. ^_^

Kish Island, Iran

This is just a late post from my journey in Kish Island, Iran. For me, it was a good and memorable experience. I just stayed for two days and one night. Actually, i arrived around 12'o clock am Monday and left 12:45 pm on a Tuesday. I'll share some pictures and videos during my stay in the island so that you can have an idea there.

Above picture is during our departure from Dubai to Iran. It was a nearly 45 minutes flight. We booked a 10 pm flight for this trip. They provide food during the trip. A light snack since it is just a short trip. One thing i dont like though is the plane. Forgive me, but i think its filthy. From my previous experience riding a plane, i can say that this is the worst. Also, the airconditioning i think just works when we are like having our take off. 

This is the hotel where I stayed - Khatam hotel. Actually, i was advised by my friends to go to farabi hotel. It is quite popular hotel to those taking their exit from Dubai to wait for their employment visa. But me being hard headed, i go with other hotel since i also heard a lot of not good stories from other famous hotels. I just discovered this place from kabayans - ate liza and ate miles. I met them at the airport and they recommend the hotel since thay have experience in exiting whether it is in kish or oman. When we arrived in the island, we didnt ride on the coaster / van offered outside the airport. Since there are three of us, we just rode a taxi to our destination. 

Once you arrived at the hotel, someone will assist you to the reception area to fill some info sheets. Then, you are required to surrender your passport to them and deposit 100 AED. It is their protocol to get the passport but you will get it back once you have your employment visa. Then, for the 100 aed, it is just like a security deposit. If you dont stayed that long they will return the remaining money if theres any. 

I stayed in room 121. Actually, we plan to get our own room, but according to the receptionist no avail yet. They offered room 121 since there are still slots and kabayans (meaning filipino) are the one staying there unless we plan to mix with other races. There are 7 beds, 3 of which is already occupied. The Kabayans in the room are nice and accomodating. Im not surprise when i saw that there are a lot of people in a room because I was oriented by my friends that its a normal setting there. What shock me is the toilet. When i enter that washroom, i was like questioning why is the bowl like that? It is not the typical bowl im used to. Well, i just told myself i have to adjust since i have no choice anyways. ^_^. Another thing, the water in their shower is quite salty. Maybe because they are an island and the water came from there. Im not sure but thats just my observation. 

This is the canteen of the hotel. The picture on the right is the typical iranian bread. For some pinoys, they called it 'tsinelas' because it is quite rubberized when you eat it. But for some pinoys, they called it 'skateboard' only it is cut in half. Thats a free morning breakfast offered by the hotel with a cup of tea. 

During dinner (pics on the lower left) we ate in a restaurant, forgot the name. We have a grilled chicken with bread. For that meal we pay 31 dirhams, one liter of softdrinks already included. 

If you are like a homebuddy person, you might enjoy there coz its quiet and you will just hear the chirping of the birds. So one of the kabayan, we call him Pastor Willy or bro. Willy, invite us to join other kabayans from other hotels; like venus and i forgot the other one. They have like a mini gathering. Wherein it is lead by Sir Mustafa. He is a muslim and he is nice i may say. During around past 4, he is teaching basic arabic language like alphabets, reading and writing it. Also, you can play chess, badminton, darts sports like that. Afterwhich, there will be a sharing or storytelling by Sir Mustafa.i enjoyed listening to him though. Maybe, the reason also some of our kabayans change religion. Because they found peace. Lastly, after learning more about the Teachings there is like a merienda being given to the attendees. For that day, it was arroz caldo with egg. It was quite yummy. ^_^

They are the people i met in the island. People with different stories in life. I actually admire and respect them for the things they do for their families and loveones. Their sacrifice. They are the reason that i have good memories from kish despite of me being afraid. Hopefully, they can surpass the trials and be successful someday. Inshallah.

I just have a few snapshots of the island since i only have limited time in there. I think its quite hard if youll be in the island and dont know some arabic language coz not everyone here knows how to speak english. 

I almost forgot about their money. Its quite fun coz they have 5 to 6 digits bill. ^_^ i exchange my 20 dirhams i think to the local currency so i can have a remembrance. My 20 dirhams is equivalent to 170,000. And of course, the upper left is the pasalubong i bought to my friends back in Dubai. 

On my way to Iran

My visit visa in Dubai is about to expire tomorrow. I already signed my offer letter and my papers were already submitted to the immigration for the employment visa. But since my time of stay here in the foreign land is about to end, i have two options either extend my visa wherein fees will be paid by me or i will exit to Kish island in iran and wait for the employment visa until it comes out. Airfare and hotel will be shouldered by the company so I have decided to just exit and wait for my papers. 

There are a lot of stories that has been circulating to all our kabayans here in Dubai regarding the Kish Island. It actually scares me because ill be on my own there without any relatives or friends to help. But  i am keeping my faith and praying that everything will turn out well. Whatever it is there, I will try my best to just enjoy the experience. So i better prepare all the things needed, for the so called early vacation in the island. 

Happy Birthday Mama Mary

September 8 is the birthday of Mother Mary. It is a day of obligation for a Catholic to visit or go to church. Me and my friends went to church to hear the mass since it is a Sunday as well. Though, we have already attended mass yesterday as part of our weekly routine. 

Here in Dubai, the regular rest day for employees are Friday and Saturday. Their usual start of the week is Sunday which felt kinda weird because I'm used to start my work week on a Monday back to my home country. That's another adjustment for me and for other workers i guess.

Going back to the main topic, it felt good to hear the sermon of the priest. According to him, Mary is such a great name. Its stands for 

M - Mary 

A - Always

R - Remembers 

Y - You

She never will forget you as long as you have faith. I am a devotee of Mother Mary and it is for Our Mother of Perpetual Help to be exact. I used to went to Baclaran back in the Philippines and do the novena whenever I want something and whenever I want to praise and thanks her and Papa Jesus for all the blessings Ive been constantly receiving. That's why when I go here in Dubai, It feels good when I went to the St. Mary's church for the first time and saw the image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. There 's an internal happiness and teary eyed moment for me coz I feel home and safe. I remember the priest said that, we should pray the rosary, read the Scripture / Holy Bible, Pray and fast. 

Newbie

Philippines is really far from the United Arab Emirates. It is more or less 8 hours travel via plane and the time difference is 4 hours so there is quite an adjustment with the time, weather, people. Being new in Dubai, i experience culture shock coz its been a long time since I go out of the country. As of now, i am still in the adjustment state and enjoying the most of my stay in a foreign land.