Fun with the Sand
2:29 PMAl Mamzar Beach, Dubai |
Hello everyone! It's the first weekend where the house is quiet. Last Friday, our day was filled up with planned family activities and one of them was an afternoon at the beach. A beach mat, a kindle enjoying the sun, clear water and the beach park. The scent of barbecue all around us. Despite having a heavy lunch, the smell of grilled kebabs were making us look forward to dinner. I found these snapshots of my niece and nephew preoccupied with sand.
Fairy Tales & Reality
8:06 PM
{Scenario: A two-hour journey home. Driving along a six-lane deserted highway alone bordered by desert on both sides. Love songs continuously playing on all radio stations with brief interludes of love phone call messages to their partners.}
I just dropped the family at the airport and was wondering about the non-stop sentimental songs. "Oh! It's Valentine's Day today." I completely forgot. I thought about my deceased father. Valentine's Day was his birthday. Somehow during the drive, my pensive mind led me to think about fairy tales.
Chateau du Chambord, France |
I don't remember who read fairy tales to me when I was younger. Though Disney had their fair share of interpreting these romantic stories while growing up, I was more drawn by the places and wild adventures that happened in these stories. They made me see what's out there, beyond the world I was accustomed to. The stories of Arabian Nights, for instance made me want to discover the Arabian desert. (Fully unaware that I will be living in the Middle East one day).
I read an article once about how fairy tales and their symbolism reveal a hidden part of ourselves, like dreams. How the story that most appeal to us can somehow be reflected in our life journey. The story that fascinated me the most when I was a child was- The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen. I'm sure you've heard of this story. I didn't know whether it was the piles of mattresses on top of each other, but the story had always been with me. Then it struck me. Decisions I've made in my life was that of someone who had been trying to prove her worth and her identity.
I'm quoting a passage from an article -Learning About Ourselves Through Fairy Tales: Their Psychological Value by Meredith B. Mitchell :
"To be attracted to or repelled by a fairy tale indicates that the story contains something that resonates with an unconscious process in the reader or listener, for one cannot be attracted or repelled unless one recognizes something that is personally meaningful. Recognition indicates the possibility of a healing awareness through discovery of processes imaged in the stories."
"To be attracted to or repelled by a fairy tale indicates that the story contains something that resonates with an unconscious process in the reader or listener, for one cannot be attracted or repelled unless one recognizes something that is personally meaningful. Recognition indicates the possibility of a healing awareness through discovery of processes imaged in the stories."
It's amazing how one story have this much impact to a reader.
What was your favorite fairy tale?
Have you found specific patterns in the story
that represent what you have been and/or you are currently going through?
I am now aware that that chapter is finished.
I am to write my own journey.
Love is the center of it.
Happy Valentine's Day!
XOXO,
Arni
A Romantic Staycation Wishlist
8:27 PM
Le jour de St. Valentine is upon us. Rouge is everywhere. In Travel Gourmande, a romantic getaway would be the most ideal gift. But for those planning a staycation, here are a few ideas for the home.
1. Potion Magique Carafe by Pied de Poule / 2. Marimekko Oiva Teapot by Crate and Barrel / 3. Sahara Teapot Handblown Glass, Havana French Summer Tea,and Rainbow Tea Cup by Mariage Frères / 4. Chaise Bridge Ava by Roche Bobois / 5. Esprit Circle Red Area Rug / 6. Sensual Aromatherapy Massage Oil (Black Currant Vanilla) by Bath and Body Works / 7. Love Collection Set of 6 Napkin Rings Design by Setsu and Shinobu Ito for Guzzini / 8. Cast Iron Fondue Set by Crate and Barrel
The hubs and I usually don't celebrate it even though this has been one of my favorite occasions. I used to enjoy giving a single red rose to each of my best friends every 14th of February, when I was in my teens till we finished university. I remember back in the office in my last employment, the women also received single red roses from the Regional Director each year. He didn't have to but I think that was nice.
Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?
What have you planned?
Happy Tuesday everyone!
XOXO,
Arni
{P.S.I wrote this post while the twin baby nieces are sleeping during their afternoon nap and their sister is outside for a swim. I'm enjoying the happy time with the family at the moment at home.}
Dubai Museum
2:18 PM
How was your weekend? Great thing about having family and friends over for a visit is the chance of discovering touristic sights that we, expats, tend to take for granted. I've been living in Dubai for ten years. It was only this weekend that I got to see Dubai Museum. Please allow me to give you an overview of what Dubai Museum offers, with a silent blog. Here goes...
Dubai Quickie Tour
8:57 PMJumeirah Beach next to Jumeirah Beach Hotel |
I'm happy to share the snapshots with you, while touring my brother in-law, his wife and daughter around Dubai. They seem to be enjoying the sun very much, upon briefly leaving behind the cold winter in France. December to March is the perfect season to visit.
I Love Chateaux : Château d'Amboise
5:28 PMIt's a beautiful Tuesday and the sky is unusually blue today so I'd like to dedicate a sunny post to our Loire Valley mid-morning trip to Amboise. The town sits nicely next to the banks of the Loire River. The closest big city is Tours, while Château de Chenonceau is only 18 km away.
An Evening in Blois
3:02 PM
I'm going to devote this week to stories about France. The entire in-laws are coming over for a visit this week. While this weekend will be fully occupied by house chores, I'm also worried about getting lost in translation. The family barely speaks English. With some- completely zero. Partly I like that because it motivated me to learn french, but I hope I don't nosebleed. {Nosebleed is a joke, an expression we use at home to describe having difficulty expressing oneself in another language. Excessive thinking will cause the brain to hemorrhage thus leading to nosebleed}.
During a trip to France two years ago, the husband and I went on a long road trip heading up north passing through French Brittany all the way to the tip of Belgium reaching the border of Netherlands and then down to Loire Valley. I was happy playing navigator with a good old map, as we avoided toll gates and highways wherever possible. We slowly drove inside narrow roads discovering small villages on the way. Sometimes, we'd stop at a small supermarket for a sandwich that we could eat outdoors or if I'm lucky, I get to have a big meal in my favorite cafeteria - Flunch, found in big cities. We stayed in chambre d'hotes, bed and breakfast inns for the night and then we'd start driving again.
Deep Blue Sea Diving
2:00 PMThe great thing about Dubai is easy access to the beach. A 20-minute drive to the nearest open beach along Jumeirah Beach Road. I accompanied Yohann for his open beach scuba diving training conducted by Deep Blue Sea Diving.
Picton Pass
2:05 PMA Grand Adventure: Lost in Paradise
7:38 PM
Epic. What does an epic vacation mean to me? To date, I've visited 172 cities in 23 countries and I still have a long list of places I want to see. When I look back, the closest to a grand adventure I've ever been in was the trip to Peru and Bolivia. That was a backpacking experience where I, together with my husband and father-in-law went beyond our comfort zones in an environment so eerily authentic that I have to shake off the notion that I'm not staring at a photograph in a historical book but I was actually there. Many things happened during that trip, yet I still long for more.
Kayangan Lake, Coron, Palawan {Photo Credit: Allu de Rivera, Edited by Arni} |
My idea of a Grand Adventure is a trip that would satisfy all facets of my being. It took me a long time to research and figure out the perfect place where I can experience it. Finally it hit me. Guess where? It doesn't fall away from home. It's in the Philippines!
Run for Fun
5:32 PM
It's that time of year for Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon . For the last several years, I was present as a spectator, patiently waiting at the finish line, cheering as I watched my husband successfully cross it beating his record the previous year.
Marathon Runners |
Wadi Driving
5:10 PM
We're celebrating a long weekend in the United Arab Emirates. Today is a religious non-working holiday, Prophet Mohammed's birthday. It's going to be a long weekend. For those stuck at home craving for adventure with no idea how to spend their Friday tomorrow, try Wadi Driving.
Wadi is an Arabic term, meaning valley. Wadi is a dry riverbed that becomes a stream during heavy rains. January is the best time to try off-road driving. Explore the rocky paths in between large boulders and mountains during cold season in a big group of 4X4s. We drove close to the UAE-Oman border.
The Fog
11:04 PM
I had the scariest experience last night. After midnight, I declined an offer to be dropped off by a friend, the girls night out "designated driver" volunteer. The thought of leaving the car to pick it up the next day in the parking lot was not appealing. My home is also 20 kilometers out of their way. We said our goodbyes and I carried on.
Friends + Food = Happy
7:01 PM
"Happiness is only real when shared."- Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild
It was a foggy Dubai this morning. Weekend was blissful. I just finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom last Saturday and my eyes puffed from this tear jerker. This book made me spend a lot of time with friends, the ones closest to family I have here in Dubai. Make each moment with them count and try to be as present as I could ever be with each of them.
A Winter Stroll in Les Essarts
4:30 PM
I can't help looking back wondering if I were in France at this time of year, what would it look like? I dug up some old photos of a winter stroll I did on my own , one ordinary morning in the town of Les Essarts.
St. Pierre Church |
Les Essarts is a quiet town rich in history right at the heart of Vendee, Pays de la Loire region in western France. One really cold morning, while,waiting for my father-in-law for his doctor's appointment, I grabbed my camera and decided to explore the streets.
All Day Brekkie
4:47 PM
Greetings from a gorgeous sunny Dubai. We're becoming avid fanatics of all day brekkie. Having friends over, with the laptop completely set aside for a day, it is always wonderful! Each one had a little something in hand, may it be a bowl of blueberries or a loaf of wholemeal bread.
Instagram Photo by Tintin I. edited by Arni |
Like-minded women connecting. A listening ear and a harmonious exchange from family topics to current events, like an upcoming Cirque de Soleil show this February in Dubai (I've never seen one) and discussing an itinerary for a friend preparing to travel to Peru and Brazil.
Despite all of us coughing while laughing together as we sipped our tea and drank flu medications. (We all had bouts of flu). It's fascinating to realize that I'm blessed to have these women in my life, like you (readers) who I could open myself up to, offer advice when needed, and present through highs and lows.
What are you all up to this weekend?
What's your favorite breakfast?
XOXO,
Arni
What Happened Offline
6:53 PM
Our home is very sandy. The sand crept in between door gaps despite the rubber fillers. There were on and off medium to mild sandstorms the past several days. It's still blowing sand outside so to speak. Imagine a light drizzle but with sand. You're absolutely right, it is a nightmare to clean. Apologies for my long online absence. The husband is away on business this week. I was away from the computer and was mostly indoors (at my place or at a friend's) except for this one.
Watched the sunrise. I accompanied the husband before going to the airport last Sunday para-motor up in the air when the sky was clear.
Sand Storm
4:12 PM
We're experiencing a sand storm all weekend. No worries, nothing like the Mission Impossible 3 kind. I think a strong one like that happens in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Luckily we've not experienced it here. Driving on a highway means very low visibility and yes, a lot of sand. Wearing shades or glasses or goggles if you must to protect the eyes would be helpful.
Time Travel in Vigan
4:51 PMThe Chocolate Hills
2:19 PM
As I'm devouring a bar of Lindt dark chocolate, I was wondering what to write today and it struck me. Yes chocolate!
The Chocolate Hills, 1,260 mounds on the island of Bohol, Philippines. They become brown during dry season. A folklore tells of a giant who falls in love with a local girl and his tears transformed into limestone mounds. Do they remind you of Hershey Chocolate Kisses?
Embracing Wildlife
5:18 PM
You might have an "Eeew" expression the entire time you're reading this post (later,you'll see why), but I'm excited to share it. Mainly for the reason that I never thought I'd be able to do it and have never really planned on actually getting myself into it.
On my shoulder, then on my head (Baluarte, Vigan) |
One Lazy Day
6:31 PM
Today is a lazy day. A day with no makeup, tousled hair and in sleepwear all day catching up on series I've missed while cuddling with my favorite cat.
While I was away, I have had my share of cuddling with a lot of wildlife that I never thought I'd ever touch in my entire life (That's for the next post). For now, I'm going to enjoy the purrs of my cat whom I've missed for a month and half. Meet Tiptoe, a tabby cat. We've adopted him from a family leaving Dubai for good to migrate to the U.S. Tiptoe has been with us for the last six years (turning 7 this year). He's a very dramatic cat. He loves to do this kind of poses.
What is your idea of a lazy day?
XOXO,
Arni
I Love Chateaux: Palace of Fontainebleau
11:42 PM
How are you enjoying the mid week? I'd like to be a bit random today so I'll rekindle my attachment with castles. During a road trip to visit numerous castles driving from the city of lights towards Loire Valley, we did a stopover in Fontainebleau, 55 kilometers from Paris. This tranquil town lies at the heart of a vast forest.
Palace of Fontainebleau is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the largest French royal castle with 1,500 rooms, 130 acres of gardens and parkland. Travel Light
4:00 PM
"He would travel happily must travel light." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I have always wondered why the last quote of the week, "Not all those who wander are lost," struck me. After a week of reflection, I've realized I've been wandering with a heavy heart- physically, spiritually, and emotionally, not knowing what to find. There are days when I feel lost, trying my utmost to glide through the unpredictable wind, taking me to a particular destination. Homeward bound. I allowed myself to accept each emotion that surfaces, good or bad.
Travel Back in Time
1:58 AM
Hello everyone! I've missed you all. It feels weird being away from the computer during my trip up north of the Philippines. Here's a sneak peek of captured memories in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, a World Heritage site known for its well preserved Spanish Colonial Architecture and cobblestone streets that survived WWII. Riding the carriage or carruaje is a wonderful treat, not to mention satisfying the taste buds with the local cuisine.
I'm all packed and getting some much needed sleep before my flight back to Dubai tomorrow. I can't wait to meet the hubby for NYE at the airport.
How are you celebrating your New Year's Eve?
XOXO,
Arni
Seasons Greetings
2:13 PMGuest Post: Happiness by Nikki
5:30 AM
Hello everyone! I am deeply honored to have Nikki here today We grew up together and she is more like a sister than a cousin. Despite living thousands of miles away from each other, I'm so happy that this sisterly love surpasses time and distance.
Nikki is the author of the blog, The Kasama Kusina, a collection of her own recipe creations that are near and dear to her heart. Let's all welcome Nikki as she shares with us what happiness means to her.
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The first time I found myself pregnant ended with the pain of miscarriage, and I never thought I could ever produce a child after that. It was to my dread and surprise two years ago around this time that I found myself a newlywed of about a month and pregnant. Fear and elation washed over me after reading the word "PREGNANT" on a home pregnancy test stick, yet the memory of my lost pregnancy lingered on my mind. The optimist in me shrugged off the trauma, yet during the first trimester of my pregnancy, my husband, Paul, rushed me to the hospital where I was diagnosed with “threatened abortion” or a “threatened miscarriage”. Immediately, I was devastated. The only solace the emergency room doctor could give me was to "wait it out" and that situations like mine "happened to a lot of women". Once again, I felt helpless, but I heeded his advice of rest and plenty of fluids with ample food, and did my best to stay off my feet. During my follow up appointment with an Ob-Gyn, I was given this sonogram, which shows an embryo that was still implanted onto my uterus. I was told that as long as the bleeding does not reoccur, I should have a viable pregnancy. The next time I went to the doctor was a month after my diagnosis, and I was told that as long as I stayed healthy, the baby growing inside of me would be healthy, too. I was over-the-moon!
I was one of those happy, pregnant ladies… I would pretend to complain to my friends and loved ones just to appear “normal”, but I secretly loved every minute of every ache and pain that pregnancy gave knowing there was a teeny, tiny person living inside of me. I often complained that an alien took over me: I couldn’t control my emotions well that I cried at sentimental television ads; I felt as if I was constantly hungry; I would often wake in the middle of the night to the baby kicking in my belly; and on top of everything, I would get heartburn just by drinking water! Every thing and all of it was lovely!
After I recovered from the “threatened abortion” diagnosis, my pregnancy went as smooth as could be imagined. I readied myself by reading as much as I could about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding. I monitored my diet and made sure I had ample exercise that I only gained 30lbs. The day I went into labor, I went for a 2-hour walk with a friend to speed up the process.
After I recovered from the “threatened abortion” diagnosis, my pregnancy went as smooth as could be imagined. I readied myself by reading as much as I could about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding. I monitored my diet and made sure I had ample exercise that I only gained 30lbs. The day I went into labor, I went for a 2-hour walk with a friend to speed up the process.
Paul and I checked into the hospital at 4:30 in the afternoon on Thursday, July 21st only to be sent home to continue laboring in comfort since we lived a mere 5 minutes away from the hospital. We were told to return when the contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart. We went back to check into labor and delivery at 1:00am, and as soon as I sat down on the gurney in the delivery room, my water broke. From that moment on, my labor progressed, and after a couple of rounds of pain relievers and an epidural it was time to push at 11am. It got to the point that I started begging my Ob-Gyn to physically pull the baby out of me. I never experienced so much strain to my body all at once, yet at 1:30pm on July 22nd, which was my exact due date, Kaya Adelle was born. And, she was 7 lbs., 4 oz. of pure joy.
At first, I was worried of getting post-partum depression, and there are days when parenthood gets harder than the norm, but just looking at Kaya washes all my self-doubt away. She makes me feel like I could conquer any thing. She is my heart, she carries my joy.
XOXO,
Nikki
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{This is a scheduled post} I'm currently traveling to Vigan, north of the Philippines. As we all prepare for the Christmas holidays and festivities in the next few days, may we all celebrate and give thanks to what gives us utmost joy and what truly matters. Have a great weekend to everyone! - Arni
On a Personal Note: Missing Him
2:41 PM
"Missing someone gets easier everyday because even though you are one day further from the last time you saw them, you are one day closer to the next time you will." - Loving From a Distance
Source |
Zip Line
10:01 AM
I love flying. Being suspended in the air, taking in the aerial view of a tropical scenery is in my to-do list for this trip. Zepy of Travel Explore Beyond and I craved for an adrenalin pumping morning, trying out the Outland Adventure Xcelerator Zip Line, a 1 kilometer dual cable zip line about 200 feet above the ground.
Tinuy-an Falls
9:55 PM
Today I'd like to share a trip to a majestic waterfall after visiting the Enchanted River. Tinuy-an Falls, 180 feet plunge down three cascading falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Often referred to as Little Niagara.
Travel Quote of the Week
5:00 AMCamels
1:00 PM
Being away makes me feel homesick. United Arab Emirates has become my home. Somehow after having lived in Dubai for nine years (turning 10 next year), the place has become dear to us. It's so funny, how we initially planned staying in the Middle East for not more than 3 years, we-among the thousands of expats share the same thoughts, end up settled for almost a decade. This country allowed me to transform into who I am today. For that I'll be forever grateful.
Today, I'd like to write a post about these beautiful and graceful creatures that I have grown fond of over the years. When I see them strolling in the desert while driving to work some mornings, I can't help but smile. They somehow gave me hope those days when I'd rather stay in bed, fully knowing I have a much dreaded day ahead of me. These lovely camels reminded me that we all have a purpose and until I find what that is, I'll just have to show up every day.
Gift Ideas: For a Traveler
12:01 PM
It's that time of year when we are all scurrying to find Christmas presents. I just thought of creating a gift guide for travelers this year's holiday shopping.
1. Amazon Kindle ($ 69) / 2. Natural Silk Pashmina from Debenhams ($ 15) / 3. Microfiber Towel from Decathlon Domyos ($10 ) / 4. Travel Journal by Moleskine ($ 19.95) / 5. Universal Travel Adapter by Life Systems ($ 25) / 6. Airless Travel Kit by Sephora ($ 36)
Enchanted River
11:59 PMHinatuan River, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines |
Enchanted, a perfect adjective for this nature wonder. This is a famous attraction in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, best accessed via Davao City. There are limited tour companies offering packages for group tours including hotel pick ups from Davao City. Unfortunately, such tours are difficult to come by. Nevertheless, that didn't stop Zepy of Travel Explore Beyond and I to personally see this magical place.
Sonya's Garden
11:52 AM
Sonya's Garden is a popular wedding destination on the hills of Tagaytay, in the main island of the Philippines, two hours away from Manila. I have always wanted to visit this garden tucked away from the bustling main road. Tagaytay was also the venue of my wedding, because it was the first place my husband and I went to when we were still dating.
A Soulful Journey
11:15 AM
Alone, I traveled to Isla Reta. The usual direct ferry to the island was nowhere to be found. With the helpful guidance of crews in the wharf, I took a different route to get to my destination.
A woman in her forties with traces of wisdom written on the lines of her naturally tanned features beamed at me as she sat next to the window opening of the boat. There was a lightness about her and I immediately warmed up to her as we talked about life in general in Mindanao.
Travel Quote of the Week
5:00 AMOrchid Farm
5:00 AM
A short stop in this beautiful orchid farm was refreshing after a long drive. After a morning hike at Eden Nature Park,we were greeted by these lovelies when we got to Yuhico Orchid Garden.