At every single birthday, I reminisce about the day, the moment that each of my children were born. It does sound gruesome and icky for the most part but it’s my own way of cherishing a wondrous moment of both my life and that of a newborn offspring.
This year’s birthday for my youngest is bittersweet; this year he turns 13. *sigh*
It seems like a lifetime ago now but we recently visited Georgia for the first time. Georgia the country in Europe, not Georgia the state in America. It’s one of the Eurasian countries where Filipinos can travel without requiring a visa, that is if you have a valid residence visa in the UAE, which we have. Yay! We are allowed to visit visa-free for up to 90 days. We only needed a few days so that was great for us. In fact, there were quite a few Filipino holiday-makers in the same flight as ours. Why not take advantage of visa-free travel, yes?
We’re going back to London tonight! It will be a very different place from the last time that we visited in August. We’re packing layers and hats and gloves and an umbrella. We expect to shiver down to our toes and we will love it. We have a jam-packed itinerary for the few days that we are there including a trip to a magical place. So excited about that one.
The UAE will have a long weekend from tonight so I hope everyone has a wonderful time, whatever you are doing. Enjoy and see you on the other side.
This is how much difference three years make!
June 2012, Ras Al Khaimah
Aug 2015, London
The first Middle East Film and Comic Con was supposed to happen in 2011. It was cancelled due to the Fukushima tragedy in Japan as it affected some of the visiting artists. We thought that was the end of it and Comic Con would never actually happen in Dubai.
But it did! And it goes on!
This is the 4th year of Comic Con here but the first time that I will actually go. Last year, my son was lucky recipient of a VIP Pass from a friend. No photo or signing sessions with any of the stars but he had a great time.
This weekend, Patrick and I will be making our way down those hallowed halls and hopefully get into a photo op with Capt. Kirk and Agent Carter. I am going to bring my GISHWHES flag and have Capt, Kirk hold it up with me.
Living in the UAE for the past 20 years, some people we know assume that we know everything about this place. It has been steadily, sometimes exponentially, growing since we arrived here. It is darn hard to keep up with everything! There’s a new restaurant popping up every week and even more shopping malls at every corner. I exaggerate of course, but there is some truth in that.
And don’t even start with brunches! The entire country goes on brunches at the weekend! Some only go to boozy brunches and hardly eat so that’s a waste of food. I remember about 15 years ago when the biggest thing about brunch in Dubai was the 12-hour affair at the JW Marriott in Deira. Now that was a marathon brunch if there ever was one. We rarely do brunch now, and if we do, we try to find something which does not make it look like a waste. And that is what we did a couple of weekends ago.
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My baby turns 12 today.
That means no more child’s rate for airline tickets or hotel rooms. That’s one year away from being a teenager. The next 12 months will be the last of his childhood. But he will always, always be my baby.
Street food in high altitude – Joseph snacking on some “kwek-kwek” before going up the steps of the grotto in Baguio City. December 2013.
