Pixels For Four

There are some things I learn when I travel. I learned that no matter how much you expected for things to happen, some things are just not meant to be. Just like when I looked forward to dining at a well-known restaurant in Muscat to experience authentic Omani cuisine, ambiance and all. But things didn't work out my way. When my hosts brought us to S&H Chocolate Lounge for lunch instead, I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't on our itinerary. I wanted authentic Omani food, even if it meant eating street food.

An expat friend once told me, if you want to explore a place deeply, go to its markets, or souq in Arabic. In markets, you will find the heartbeat of the community that lives there. And I was reminded of that when I went to Oman last November. On the landing page of my search for the list of top things to do in Muscat is a visit to Muttrah Souq suggestions. *Al Dhalam (Darkness in Arabic) Souq is the local name for the Muttrah Souq. It has been named after darkness because of the crowded stalls and lanes where the sunrays do not infiltrate during the day and the shoppers needed lamps to know their destinations. As one of the Arab nations' oldest souqs, Muttrah Souq plays an important role in the preservation and presentation of time-treasured customs and history. You will see khanjars (daggers), vases and jars, kuma  (Omani headgears), sandals, and even frankincense, myrrh, and gold. If you check out my Instagram posts, you will read bits of my experiences there. The time I...

It's 2017! Happy New Year to us all! More than a month has passed since I came back from Oman when I attended the momentous launch of  Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront . It was one of my most unforgettable moments as an expat here in the Middle East. It's one thing that doesn't happen every day. And until now, the experience hasn't left me. I still cannot believe I went there alone. Or that I was able to interact with strangers who turned out to be some of the friendliest people I know. I wanted to post the other places I've been to after the launch, but I decided it would be best to present my experience and the places chronologically — except for the Plaza Premium Lounge in Muscat International Airport — which I will tell you about on my last post about Oman.

The Port Sultan Qaboos area in Muttrah Friends and loved ones know me for two things: my passion for travel and my eye for beauty. Sandwiched between them is that love to share with others these two things. When I received an invitation to the launching of Phase One of Mina al Sultan Qaboos (MSQ) Waterfront  in Oman, these three things went berserk. Although the idea of me going to another country for a short period of time, without my family, and with strangers waiting for me there seemed surreal, I rejoiced in the idea that this won't happen if it's not meant to.

Being a graphic designer, I love fashion. I love anything that touches on color, variety and beauty. I'm always inclined to check what's in and what's new. But believe it or not, I don't patronize it. I mean, I don't buy clothes just because they're on trend. I don't put on this lipstick color even if it looks good on others. I just love looking at vogue dresses, make up and accessories. That's why I love going to exhibits focusing on beauty and lifestyle. So when the company I'm working at participated in the Saudi Women Show 2016, I grabbed the chance and headed on to Four Seasons Hotel where it was held. I thought it's all about fashion but it showcased clothes, jewelries and more. It highlighted almost everything a woman is concerned about: beauty, health, food, business, tourism, hobby, etc. The Kingdom Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel. Many Saudi women attended the event. I am so clueless how much is the entrance fee for this e...

And so I missed blogging for months here. That's because I found another job which lets me work long hours, and sometimes on odd hours. If you were to ask me, I don't like that. Who would? But when you are an expat trying to seize the opportunity in a country where women don't have that much chance of being hired  - you would just take things as they are, and look at the brighter side of life. Aside from the long hours, the new job gives me stress. Stress I've never experienced in years. There was even a time an Indian colleague asked me to smile because he told me I haven't even projected a happy face that day. And in times like these, I'm famous for bingeing on food to relieve stress. I indulge in something sweet every time. It was for all these excuses that Fred gave in to my whim to try dip n dip in Riyadh Gallery. One of the things I learned in dining out: when you order, ask for the restaurant's specialty. That way, you wouldn't have any diff...

Whenever I chat with my friend based in Abu Dhabi, I always ask her what she will cook for an upcoming occasion, and she would promptly send snapshots of dishes I only dream of cooking. And when I posted the photo of my husband and me on my Facebook account, with a short "A trip to Almarai Dairy Farm" caption, she commented that she and her partner like Almarai products especially the yogurt and fresh milk. That's when I realized that although we're miles apart, my friend and I still have something in common: we enjoy the same brand of milk and juice drinks. Almarai products are also my family's favorite. My kids like Almarai Fresh Milk so much that they can finish a liter in less than three hours. F gulps down an Almarai yogurt before he eats breakfast every day. I like the skimmed milk and the orange-carrot juice drink. I'm loyal to its cheese product line. So when I heard the Almarai Dairy Farm and Factory visit from friends who have been there s...

If only I could freeze moments, I would freeze Sunday's 11th birthday celebration on the first Friday of this month and Gabby's 13th this coming Sunday. But I couldn't. Time seems to pass me by so quickly that I didn't even notice that just ten more days, it's already February. Speaking of something chilly, I presume that the 3°C last two Sundays ago would be this winter season's coldest. I really thought winter was over after that. So a few days ago, I didn't believe Fred when he advised me to still bring my jacket to work. I didn't follow him and even bragged of my layered outfit to protect me from the cold: an abaya over my usual office clothes and a tarha to cover my head. I was so wrong. Not only did the temperature dropped, it also rained! Being laughed at by our driver who donned an almost complete winter gear - a bonnet, a jacket, a pair of gloves, high socks and thick shoes, I walked to the parking lot shivering. What's worse than that...