I woke up at around 7AM last Friday (weekend here) to take a pee. Before going back to bed, I looked out the window and was surprised at what I saw:
Nothingness. Foggy mornings are normal during the winter here but not in June! The sun is normally up by 5AM, sometimes even before. So, despite the sleepiness, I looked for the camera because I wanted to document the moment and then went right back to sleep.
Woke up at 10AM, and the weather was back to normal:
What’s been keeping me busy for the past weeks that I haven’t had time to blog?
1st… Our move from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
You won’t believe it, but it took us almost a month to finish moving our stuff. Initially, we wanted to hire professional movers. There are a lot of them in Dubai but when we inquired about the price, all of them have a minimum charge of 2500AED (USD680). For that amount, I can buy a new dining set, or a king size bed or a 32-inch HDTV. So we said NO WAY. The only major furniture that we will be transporting from AD anyway is our bed frame that can be dismantled (without the mattress), treadmill and a three-seater sofa. So instead, we rented a pick-up truck with an Indian driver to help us carry the said furniture. For that, he only charged us 250AED!! For the rest of our stuff, we transported ourselves. This was the hardest part. Almost every weekend, we would be going to Abu Dhabi. We didn’t realize that we had that much garbage after living for only a year in UAE!
Now, we’re finally settled and are adjusting quite well to our new surrounding. The “beautifying” of the house is also almost done. Here’s a peek:
2nd… My constant trips to Muscat
Was there thrice in the last month alone conducting workshops and presentations. During my last trip, I stayed at The Chedi. My first time there and it was NICE! Unfortunately, we were there for two days only and it was all about work work work.
3rd… Work
NOT! It’s summer time once again, which means that most of our customers are going out of the country and there are hardly anybody in the office. This week, there were only two people in our floor. When July comes, ako nalang siguro matitira. Yey for me!
4th… Meeting fellow bloggers
Met up with Keith, Pinky and their kids when they visited Dubai last month. Three years ago, I am against the concept of EB, but blogging has totally changed my attitude. I realized that meeting interesting and very nice people through the net is possible. Keith and Pinky are one of them! Even their kids are well behaved and respectful. Marga is such a cutie; Harvs and I totally loved her.
And then there’s Gracie, my katukayo. I was surprised when she sent me a message via Facebook before and learned that her real name is the same as mine pala. I’ve never heard or known anybody with the same name. And every time I read her blog, I always learn something about her that is so me (her OC-ness, her kakikayan, her Zara blouse, her love for tall shoes, etc, etc). She also lives and works in Dubai, so a meet-up is inevitable.
A month before her birthday, she called me to invite us to a bowling game for her birthday. I wanted us to meet earlier but since Harvs and I were still busy with our move, we never got the chance to meet sooner. Last Friday, we finally got the chance to meet face to face during her birthday celebration. Bowling first (unbelievably Papa Harvs was the highest scorer! For that, he got a price pa: one box of Cadbury truffles!). Then dinner, then inuman at their room at the Dusit hotel. We totally hit it off not just with Gracie and Ryan but with their friends too. We stayed until past 3AM drinking and talking. Hopefully (definitely), there will be a next time 
5th… Too lazy to blog.
As usual!
No internet for almost a week, that’s a record for me.
Still moving our stuff from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. TIRING.
Went on leave for three days to “fix” the flat. Still NOT done.
Have to stop buying things to “beautify” the flat. NO MORE FUNDS.
Sunday will come and a truckload of work is waiting. GREAT.
By end of this month, this is going to be our backyard (Dubai Marina):
And this will be the view from our balcony (Shaik Zayed Rd. and the ugly Jumeira Lake Towers on-going construction):
After living for a year in Abu Dhabi (has it really been a year already!?!), Harvs and I have decided to brave the increasing prices of properties in the UAE by buying (actually, more like loaning) our own two-bedroom flat… in Dubai! At first, I was hesitant to do it. I have no plans to live in Dubai forever, so why should I buy a house here? Having a property somewhat keeps us grounded here, what if an opportunity somewhere else comes along? But after a lot of convincing and rational reasoning from Harvs, I finally realized he was right and agreed with the plan. Here are some of his reasons:
-Our monthly rent of US$3K is not a joke, why not invest that on something that can be yours one day?
-Rents are increasing 5% annually, while our monthly mortgage will remain the same until the end of loan.
-If an opportunity in another country comes along, we can always sell or rent out the flat
-Here in UAE, tenants have the right to live in an apartment for three years. After that, the landlord, if he prefers to do so, can kick the tenant out so he can lease the flat at a much higher rate. Where will we go when that happens? Right now, the building where we live have increased their price by almost 100% (greedy no?!)!!
-If we don’t buy now, we might look back after five years and say we should have bought a property because the prices are already twice or thrice as much.
Since we bought the flat last January, the market price of the property has increased 40%. Not a bad investment, right? Despite my initial fear, I am now thrilled with our decision! I am excited about decorating the place, about living near MOE (hahaha!), having the Dubai Marina Mall at a walking distance and the Metro station just across Shaik Zayed, etc, etc.
One of the things that are keeping us busy nowadays is our move! It is tiring but the thought that this move will be our last (only within UAE!) is somewhat comforting.
Got both of these from Gracie. She didn’t tag me but I am not doing anything so…
An ESFJ is defined as “The Supporter”. ESFJs are social butterflies that value relationships, supporting and nurturing others. Never one to shy away from social events, they are often the host. They are great encouragers of teamwork. ESFJs are responsible, dutiful, observe traditions and follow rules. ESFJs have a deep concern for others and often end up as caretakers. They are sensitive to criticism and have a need to be appreciated for the good they do for others. ESFJs are understanding, generous, have a quick wit and a knack for composition and beautification.
I’m not sure about the observing traditions and following the rules part but the rest should be accurate
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How long did you date? Exactly three years before we got married
How old is he? 30 turning 31 this November
Who eats more? AKO!!!
Who said “I love you” first? He did.
Who is taller? He is.
Who sings better? I think the more appropriate question would be: who sings worse? Hahaha!
Who is smarter? I’ve said this many times to Harvs before, I have high regards for his intelligence, logical thinking, etc. but when it comes to directions or geography, talo talaga! anyway, yes he is the smarter one (wag lang sa directions) but I’m not far behind
Whose temper is worse? Mine! But I’ve seen him get really mad…nakakatakot!
Who does the laundry? Should be him but laundry for him only means putting the clothes in the washing machine.
Who does the dishes? Both of us.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We switch sides a lot.
Who pays the bills? I spend. He pays.
Who cooks dinner? Me or the cook in Chowking or Domino’s, haha!
Who drives when you are together? Oftentimes him.
Who is more stubborn? Definitely me.
Who kissed who first? I did! Without him even asking me, hahaha!
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Him. I’m childish when it comes to this.
Whose parents do you see the most? Since we’re away from our family, I’d say we both don’t often see them.
Who proposed? Syempre siya.
Who is more sensitive? He’s always been more sensitive to my feelings.
Who has more friends? Him, I think. I don’t easily make friends (masungit daw dating ko. Hmp!)
Who has more siblings? Him with 4 and I only 1.
Who wears the pants in the family? When it comes to decisions in the house, like where to put what furniture or how to clean the house and where to eat for dinner or lunch, normally, me because he lets me decide. But when it comes to more important stuff, like where to put our money, career decisions, etc, I guess him because I let him decide. So, I guess, the answer is both?
chichung
