Friday, November 30, 2012

UAE National Holiday, a glimpse....

National Day (Arabicاليوم الوطني لدولة الأمارات العربية المتحدة‎) is celebrated on 2 December each year in the United Arab Emirates for two days or more (mostly on the 2nd and 3rd). It marks the UAE's formal nationalization from the British Protectorate Treaties which ended on December,1,1971 and the eventual unification of the seven emirates in 1971 which combined to form the modern-day country. **borrowed from ms. wiki
car parade filled the streets from hamdan street to salam street going to the road of corniche all the way to the breakwater near marina mall.
 cars and music and people everywhere....
bright and colorful lights decorate the buildings of abu dhabi....from top to bottom, side to side all around :)
the locals love to sit on top of their cars during the parade with their stereos playing local music in full force
twinkle, twinkle, abu dhabi....the city sparkles!
amazing buildings like giant clusters of light statues
feels like christmas time to me
hehe even the fishes celebrated national day (they were painted with uae flags)

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Marhaba UAE 41 go forward!
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Friday, November 16, 2012

Surrender

Life during the past few days felt like a desert safari....
Time used to be easily spent on the cycle of work & sleep (only). Day after day same-same.
Then, the cycle was broken 10 days ago when someone gave me these 2 big responsibilities, I thought I got rid of them already but they came back. See, I gave away my 2 hamsters to a friend a year before because I was afraid that I'm not responsible enough to take care of them. Here they are again, poor tiny animals. Depending for food, shelter & water.
<my pet hamsters>
Plants are more easy to take care of than pets. Someone gave me a fortune plant 4 months ago, alhamdullila! It is still alive. They say it brings good luck to the area where it is located.
One colleague treated us during her birthday 2 weeks ago. Did you ever notice that celebrations are usually done in restaurants, in front of food, and the topic is always about work...?
<great friends>
We witnessed this year's Big 5 Show at the Dubai World Trade Center. Report said more than 2500 exhibitors from 70 countries participated. That means the middle east market is alive. Let's hope it would get better more and more. I thought I'd missed the exhibition, big thanks that I am blessed to have a phenomenal boss, he brought me to escort him. Cheers!
<picture borrowed from gulfnews.com>
I never imagined that our korean managers would be so humble as to acknowledge and even give gifts and cool birthday messages to a fellow staff. We always felt and assumed that there is a gap or distinction between 'us' global staff and 'them' korean staff. But such a humble gesture from them is very warm & bridged any boundaries.
<will definitely miss them>
Last Saturday, we watched a very talented Russian ballerina performed at the Emirates palace hotel. The ballet dancers are very graceful. Twirling and splitting and spinning. Was entertained too by the grandeur of the hotel.
 Walking outside after the show, the grounds of the hotel is breathtaking at night with its lighting effects all over the place.
 Its already midnight and here we are not caring and just taking endless photos in front of the building.

<Fountains and palm trees decorate the grounds of the hotel>
<the Moscow City Ballet>
<Ms. Oryekhova plays the role of Aurora (sleeping beauty)>

Our new-found friend, Byun said goodbye to us 2 days ago. She is probably safe and together with her family in the city of Busan, South Korea now. Life always give us 'goodbyes' along the way...
<sshhh!....this is shhoju>
<Peace- their favorite photo pose.. hehe... last night in PISA>
Sometimes we just have to surrender to Life. If it throws us responsibilities, we need to accept it and grow. If life blesses us with great people to serve and work with, just be grateful and cherish each chance to serve them, likewise if those above us are difficult to deal with, we have to learn and adjust accordingly. Along the way, there are so many great things to enjoy, like more friends to meet and get to know, more experiences waiting to explore and discover....just surrender to the safari of life.


.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The greatness of a man's power
is the measure of his surrender. 
~ by William Booth 
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Friday, November 09, 2012

What Girls Want

I've been thinking about this question someone asked me the other day. Very basic question but I do not really know the answer.
But what does a girl really want? Almost every man thinks that girls are complicated and normally treat their wives/mothers/sisters like a Soduko puzzle. Well actually a girl's heart is very simple and easy to please.
As a present or just to make your girlfriend/wife/mother/grandmother happy....these simple suggestions are worth like a diamond, it gives refreshment to any female soul.

  • a genuine smile, a kiss and a hug.
  • an honest compliment coupled with encouragement.
  • a surprise gift (flower is the best).
  • simple acts of thoughtfulness like opening doors or carrying heavy stuff for her.
  • during rough times, take her side no matter what.
  • a funny story or a simple joke to make her laugh when she's tired.
  • ask how she is & just listen when she's in mood to talk (don't forget to 'nod' once in a while).
  • show appreciation at any chance you have.
  • offer to take her out for a walk or for a lunch or just drive her to the grocery store :)

These are just some of the many ways to make a girl happy, in the end what's really important is to make her feel valued, loved, and protected. Hope these ideas helps us to deal with the girls in our lives next time they behave like puzzles.

Au Revoir!

<~>*<~>*<~>*<~>*<~>*<~>
“Being a woman is a terribly difficult task,
since it consists principally in dealing with men.” 
~by Joseph Conrad
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