is the title of my new mini-blog in Tumblr. As I love taking pictures of the food I eat, this is the easiest way to share my food pictures (with the hope of making people salivate in the process. Haha!). Travelling to other countries can be very expensive so I just let my tastebuds do the exploring. Dubai plays host to a variety of cuisines and eating can arguably be this city's favorite activity (but the shopaholics might protest). This mini-blog will chronicle my journey with food (and includes info on where I ate it, how much it costs and if I am not too lazy, how it tastes) and pay homage to the ones who created it. It is my hope that my photos will do justice to their masterpieces. To the people who want to know what is there to eat, this will give you an idea. To the ones who ask why I am not losing weight, this is your answer. To my friends who get stopped from digging in until I take a picture of the food, this is where all the photos go.
Join me on my food adventure at: http://bittenbythefoodbug.tumblr.com/.
Because life has a lot of flavor.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Roma's State of Mind
I was walking home tonight after a long day at work and suddenly, a thought occurred to me. I am happy to be where I am but I am raring to go and explore more of the world.
After almost three years in Dubai, I can say I have eaten my way through it, seen the sights, learned to do housechores, lived with lots of people and experienced diversity firsthand. I am happy because I can say I have achieved a certain level of comfort working and living here. I had come at a time when recession was starting to peak but I am glad to have caught a glimpse of how people react to the most adverse of circumstances. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best and the most hardworking people I have known. After almost three years, I have learned to deal with the different characters at work - the man I affectionately call my father, who can arguably behave like a brat at any given time of the day, the woman who is reputably the craziest of them lot, the quintessential last minute man and the man who likes to wear blue when he visits the office because he thinks he gets better treatment from me. After almost three years, I already know how they want their tea or coffee. They in turn already know that the best way to say thank you for doing crappy things like formatting BOQs or binding reams of papers is through food - a bar of chocolate, lunch or Starbucks. If they go on trips, they know what to get me - postcards or money. If they get their post, they automatically surrender the stamps to me. I am happy to give an answer to the weirdest queries, happy to teach a few tricks in MS Word or Excel, happy to book the most complex of flights, happy to lend my writing and editing skills to each letter, report and submission that goes out of this office. I am happy to just make things happen for everyone, perhaps except for me.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, I cannot hide the fact that I yearn to do something else - something that will make use of my brain more extensively, something that will eventually pay more money. I may be good at what I am doing now (ok, maybe except for the filing bit) but the call to excel at something more meaningful is something that has been resounding in my head for quite sometime now. Change is the more important issue that I need to address right now - it could be in the form of moving to a different company or maybe even moving to a different country. I am still buying my time, gathering enough courage, battling with myself and praying to God. It will only be a matter of time before I stray from my comfort zone and plunge into the unknown.
After almost three years in Dubai, I can say I have eaten my way through it, seen the sights, learned to do housechores, lived with lots of people and experienced diversity firsthand. I am happy because I can say I have achieved a certain level of comfort working and living here. I had come at a time when recession was starting to peak but I am glad to have caught a glimpse of how people react to the most adverse of circumstances. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best and the most hardworking people I have known. After almost three years, I have learned to deal with the different characters at work - the man I affectionately call my father, who can arguably behave like a brat at any given time of the day, the woman who is reputably the craziest of them lot, the quintessential last minute man and the man who likes to wear blue when he visits the office because he thinks he gets better treatment from me. After almost three years, I already know how they want their tea or coffee. They in turn already know that the best way to say thank you for doing crappy things like formatting BOQs or binding reams of papers is through food - a bar of chocolate, lunch or Starbucks. If they go on trips, they know what to get me - postcards or money. If they get their post, they automatically surrender the stamps to me. I am happy to give an answer to the weirdest queries, happy to teach a few tricks in MS Word or Excel, happy to book the most complex of flights, happy to lend my writing and editing skills to each letter, report and submission that goes out of this office. I am happy to just make things happen for everyone, perhaps except for me.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, I cannot hide the fact that I yearn to do something else - something that will make use of my brain more extensively, something that will eventually pay more money. I may be good at what I am doing now (ok, maybe except for the filing bit) but the call to excel at something more meaningful is something that has been resounding in my head for quite sometime now. Change is the more important issue that I need to address right now - it could be in the form of moving to a different company or maybe even moving to a different country. I am still buying my time, gathering enough courage, battling with myself and praying to God. It will only be a matter of time before I stray from my comfort zone and plunge into the unknown.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Back in 2008...
I was dragged by my sister-in-law to attend a free Arabic course at the Eton Institute. This kept me busy while looking for work during Ramadan. It was a good introduction to the Arab culture and a good exposure for me too (Imagine being caught on TV after just living for a weeks here!) . Who would have thought that after 31 months, recession and all, I am still surviving in this amazing city?
See me and my groupmates (who later turned out to be my first non-Filipino friends in Dubai - both have left the country already) count in Arabic starting at 00:40. :) For me, this is where it all started. Enjoy! :-)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Strange Brew
My Chinese colleague Chen made me the strangest brew I have ever tasted. Now I am not a fan of tea (or hot drinks in general) but of course I could not refuse. After all, it isn't everyday that somebody makes tea for me. I gave it a shot...
and regretted it after. First of all, it looked something like jutes swimming in hot water. This was supposed to be green tea, "Good for the health!" as Chen said. It was green, sure, and it indeed tasted like it when the warm liquid touched my mouth. It was a different story as soon as I swallowed the tea. The bitter taste started creeping in like ants crowding over a mountain of spilled sugar. Blech! I took another sip to give it another chance but it was no better than the first. Ah well, at least I tried...and perhaps the same can be said with certain experiences and with certain people you come across in life. We meet people who leave a bad taste in the mouth but we still give them another chance in the hope that the outcome this time will be different. In the end, you realize that you just never really liked bitter. You can only give yourself a pat on the back for having at least tried.
and regretted it after. First of all, it looked something like jutes swimming in hot water. This was supposed to be green tea, "Good for the health!" as Chen said. It was green, sure, and it indeed tasted like it when the warm liquid touched my mouth. It was a different story as soon as I swallowed the tea. The bitter taste started creeping in like ants crowding over a mountain of spilled sugar. Blech! I took another sip to give it another chance but it was no better than the first. Ah well, at least I tried...and perhaps the same can be said with certain experiences and with certain people you come across in life. We meet people who leave a bad taste in the mouth but we still give them another chance in the hope that the outcome this time will be different. In the end, you realize that you just never really liked bitter. You can only give yourself a pat on the back for having at least tried.
The Birds Are Falling
I'm going to try my hand at short entries with pictures for a change....
28 January 2011. I was hurrying on my way to the metro station but I just had to stop and finally take a photo of this eye-catching graffiti. It was one of those "artistic" shots that you so luckily stumble upon. I wondered who made this given that a construction site would probably be the last place one would think of writing such a cryptic message on. Interestingly enough, as soon as I reached the platform, the skies began to get dark and a thick cloud of sand covered the horizon. It could very well have been an ominous sign to the unexpected sandstorm that lasted for about half an hour. And perhaps that day, a few birds fell indeed.
28 January 2011. I was hurrying on my way to the metro station but I just had to stop and finally take a photo of this eye-catching graffiti. It was one of those "artistic" shots that you so luckily stumble upon. I wondered who made this given that a construction site would probably be the last place one would think of writing such a cryptic message on. Interestingly enough, as soon as I reached the platform, the skies began to get dark and a thick cloud of sand covered the horizon. It could very well have been an ominous sign to the unexpected sandstorm that lasted for about half an hour. And perhaps that day, a few birds fell indeed.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
My Thursday Surprise
Thursday led me to a small flower shop to buy a bouquet of flowers for a colleague who was leaving. As soon as I entered, I knew something in me ticked. I suddenly forgot that I was in the middle of a bustling commercial property. Time stood still as I looked at rows and rows of pretty flowers in different colors, shapes and sizes. A smile slowly formed. I felt like Rosalinda*, in her flower shop. My reverie was interrupted by a kabayan** who promptly asked how he could be of help. I answered, albeit in a distracted mechanical manner, that I was looking to buy a bouquet. Mr. Florist asked what her favorite color was and I told him I had no idea. He then asked how I wanted the bouquet to look like. My gaze shifted between looking at him helplessly and looking at the flowers in awe. The roses, mums, lilies and hydrangeas all seemed to say, "Pick me!". I was confused. Forced to make a decision, I pointed at something blue, yellow, white, purple and green.
While Kuya Florist was arranging the flowers I picked, I decided to make small talk. I told him he was lucky because he is always surrounded by beauty. I asked if it was easy to arrange flowers and he said it was. I asked if he could teach me how to do different types of flower arrangement. Kuya Florist said I could drop by after work or on Saturdays. "Proomisssse?" "Promise!" I still couldn't take my eyes off the blue flowers. I asked if they were artificially colored and he confirmed. "Paborito mo ang blue, ano?" (Blue is your favorite, right?). He then decided to throw an extra flower for me and picked a blue rose (Good choice, Kuya!). I beamed.
I then approached the owner who was manning the counter. I told him I liked his shop and cheekily asked if I could learn flower arranging there and work on weekends there. The owner was amused and said he would allow it but I won't have any salary. I agreed and told him I would swing by one Saturday. I was pleased with myself because I now have something new to do.
Kuya Florist approached me and showed the finished product.
After which, he handed me my special gift: my very own blue rose. :)
I walked out of the shop feeling like a million bucks. The blue rose seemed to catch everyone's attention and perhaps so did the mysterious smile pasted on my face. I was the happiest girl in the world.
*Rosalinda was the name of the character (she sold flowers) that Thalia played in the hit Mexican telenovela of the same name.
**kabayan (aka kababayan) - from the same country
While Kuya Florist was arranging the flowers I picked, I decided to make small talk. I told him he was lucky because he is always surrounded by beauty. I asked if it was easy to arrange flowers and he said it was. I asked if he could teach me how to do different types of flower arrangement. Kuya Florist said I could drop by after work or on Saturdays. "Proomisssse?" "Promise!" I still couldn't take my eyes off the blue flowers. I asked if they were artificially colored and he confirmed. "Paborito mo ang blue, ano?" (Blue is your favorite, right?). He then decided to throw an extra flower for me and picked a blue rose (Good choice, Kuya!). I beamed.
I then approached the owner who was manning the counter. I told him I liked his shop and cheekily asked if I could learn flower arranging there and work on weekends there. The owner was amused and said he would allow it but I won't have any salary. I agreed and told him I would swing by one Saturday. I was pleased with myself because I now have something new to do.
Kuya Florist approached me and showed the finished product.
After which, he handed me my special gift: my very own blue rose. :)
I walked out of the shop feeling like a million bucks. The blue rose seemed to catch everyone's attention and perhaps so did the mysterious smile pasted on my face. I was the happiest girl in the world.
*Rosalinda was the name of the character (she sold flowers) that Thalia played in the hit Mexican telenovela of the same name.
**kabayan (aka kababayan) - from the same country
Monday, July 19, 2010
Banana Chocnut* Smoothie
The sweltering heat forced me to unearth my dusty smoothie maker from the bowels of my boxes one summer day. I had overripe bananas and Chocnut* waiting to be eaten. My bottle of fresh milk seemed to be screaming "Drink me! Drink me!" when I opened the fridge. Another eureka moment. Banana Chocnut* Smoothie? Why not?
It all starts with putting milk and some bananas in your smoothie maker or blender.
Pulse for a few seconds.
Add a few pieces of Chocnut.
Pulse again for a few seconds to mix everything together and voila, you now have your own homemade Banana Chocnut* Smoothie!
Reminds me of Jonah's Shakes in Boracay...mmmm... Dubai is no island paradise like Boracay but this is the closest I can probably get to having a taste of Philippine summer! :)
*Chocnut is a brand for a Pinoy sweet composed of chocolate and peanut. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world! :)
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