New Resto in the Neighborhood

These past few weeks, on the way to work, just a few blocks away from our flat building, one signage has been getting my attention. It's " Lotus Garden" which looks like a decent, little chinese fastfood resto very much the same with the ones you see in Remedios Circle in Malate.

So, last Wednesday night, out of curiosity, after picking up Bubot from work, we passed by to have a look see and also taste test of what they've got to offer. We had a little dinner ( and I mean little ), and even brought home some fish fillet in garlic sauce ( which Derico liked a lot).

We were satisfied with the food, the cozy interiors of black, white & red and the superb service of the mostly kabayan staff.

My propensity in gathering data ( for the purpose of this blogsite, he he he) resulted in the discovery that the owner is a filipina, who is working in Dubai as an architect. That explains the Malate ambience and hip interiors! The music they're playing are by pinoy artists and mostly of the bossa nova and jazz genre. Again, very Malate.

Haven't gotten enough with our neighbor resto, we had dinner there this evening with the whole family and our sons enjoyed the fish in mandarin sauce and the other stuff we ordered. We now know that we don't have to worry at times when we don't have food at home during weekdays because we can always call Lotus Garden and deliver lunch or dinner. My curiosity never failed me in discovering new surprises.

The Cactus Apartments

My kumpareng Gilbert who is also an architect working in Dubai emailed me this article with pictures of an interestingly designed apartment building. I just thought that it deserves a space in my blogsite, so here it goes...


DUTCH ARCHITECTS CREATE BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT LOOKS LIKE A CACTUS

Urban Cactus is a housing project on the harbor in Rotterdam by the Dutch firm UCX Architects.

There are 98 residential units on 19 floors, using the pattern of outdoor spaces to determine the overall appearance of the project. Form follows function which leaves ample room
from the interior living spaces for much greenery.
The whole effect creates a building which appears to be living and growing with its inhabitants - A waterfront cactus.

The slightly irregular pattern alternates these outdoor spaces to create more sunlight than a typical stacked composition and a beautiful design that has originality and adds vitality to citylife.

My take on this :

Nature offers unlimited inspirations for architectural designs and talented architects also abound. But what is rare is the patronage for such beautiful and functional creations specially during the conceptual stage because of lots of factors ( commercial viability, practicality, general public's natural rejection to something untried, etc. ). So, when I see something like this come to life, I rejoice at the triumph of the design architects against all odds in convincing all the people around this project. Cheers!

Dubai Creek

Since our first and second temporary homes in Dubai ( Hotel Intercontinental & Carlton Hotel, respectively ) are situated along Baniyas Road ( also called Creek Road as it runs parallel to the creek ), the first promenades my wife and I had in this emirate were executed along the Dubai Creek banks Deira Side during hot summer nights of 2005. Our then only son, Derico, was still in Manila so we played the roles of " Lovers Lost in Desert Paradise" each time we had to stop, wonder where we were and eventually ask for directions, ha ha ha ha ha! We would start in front of Hotel Intercontinental where their cruising dhow restaurant is docked among other dhows for hire and walk our way to the abra station where water taxis called abra will ferry you to Bur Dubai ( literally, other side of Dubai ). Then we would end up to the souqs ( marketplace ) with a purpose of just exploring but ending up buying shoes ( for my wife, of course), toys and other bargains!











The creek is considered the heart of Old Dubai and played a significant role in the economic development since the old days when it was a center for pearl fishing and trading. The Creek has constantly been an important and a safe harbor for small and medium size ships which sail to the ports of the Arabian Gulf Region, the countries of the Indian Subcontinent and East Africa, loaded with different goods which are re-exported to these various Regions. On both sides of the creek are traditional souqs mingled with other more modern shops operated by Chinese, Iranis, Indians, Pakistanis, etc. Landmark buildings are also juxtaposed along the creek , National Bank of Dubai, Etisalat, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, to name some. Not to forget, my wife's work place is at Twin Towers or more familiarly known as Rolex building due to the big neon Rolex signage near the building's crest.








Late last year, a couple of weeks before Diego was born, we were invited to a children's party of Derico's classmate's sister ( did you get it? he he he ). The birthday celebrator is a progeny of an Emirati ( U.A.E. local ) and Pinay. The party was celebrated on a dhow in cruise! Cool! More so, because the weather was getting cooler at that time of the year ( it was in October). It was our first time to attend such and while we were enjoying the food ( arabic & pinoy ), sight and experience , Derico had fun with the games, specially because the guests were also his classmates.

Apart from the dhow cruises and restaurants, there are also other interesting dining places along the creek road wherein you can enjoy a good view of the creek specially at night. One of these is the shabu shabu restaurant at the 3rd floor of Twin Towers shown at the last photo. Evidently, this was taken before the birth of Diego.

The Dance Divos of Plantation

The sweltering desert summer heat could not stop my officemates, architects Albert and Steve along with our document comptroller, Louie, from joining the Filipino Dance Club of Dubai. Our accountant, Gilbert, already a primo dance divo, must have inspired them for he would always be the ladies’ delight in the parties because of this talent.
After months of training and constant practice , these guys completed the basic course of swing, cha cha , boogie and tango. They had a graduation ceremony cum dance competition party last Sept. 7 at the Ballroom of Movenpick Hotel. My niece, Tracy, was also their classmate.

Louie, the most comically gifted of the lot , got the grand prize in the competition apart from ranking number 5 among all the male students of the graduating class. Tracy ranked 8th among the female students.

Now, the summer heat is going down while the Ramadan sun up fasting and sun down feasting (called iftaar ) are on. The dance divos and divas are on pause mode. But not for long, because as Ramadan culminates to Eid in mid October, the dance parties will surely continue.

Intercontinental Hotel in Deira

This is the first hotel that we stayed here in Dubai, when me and my wife first came here in the summer of 2005. Arriving at Dubai Airport at 4:00 a.m. of June 5th, this is the very first place in the emirate we have set foot, dined, wined, hung around and slept (no, Diego, was not assembled in this hotel, he he he ) . I t was the most practical choice for my wife's company to billet us here because the next building, Twin Towers, is where their office is. Most of the service staff are kabayans, hence, we enjoyed lots of perks ( like 50 % discount on buffet prices ) and true to life stories that serve as previews for the life we were to face in this part of the world.
The hotel is located in downtown Old Dubai, being next to the Dubai Municipality, fronting the Dubai Creek, within walking distance to Al Nasr / Baniyas Square ( Dubai's counterpart of Sta. Cruz, Divisoria, Quiapo and Recto combined without petty criminals as Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world ) and within jogging distance of the first shopping mall in Dubai, the Al Ghurair City ( although, presently, it has undergone lots of facelifts to compete with much newer malls ).

Sometime last year, the hotel has changed owners and the marquee now reads

" Radisson SAS Hotel". But, the essence of the hotel stayed the same, with the same interiors, same watering holes and bars, same fine dining restaurants, fastfood and coffee shop and most specially same service staff. We had lunch there today, because all the fastfood restaurants on the streets are closed for Ramadan fasting and only hotels can accept dine ins. Then, we took the chance to be photographed in the lobby and corridors. I assure you, it is the very same hotel we stayed for five days two years ago only with a different name.

Dubai Marina

My wife, Bubot, wanted to celebrate her nth birthday last March in some place in Dubai that she's never been but offering the same carbonara pasta she was craving during pregnancy with Diego. It wasn't hard for me to pick the right venue because I have always wanted to take them to Dubai Marina to see this part of the so called New Dubai at the fifth interchange of Sheik Zayed Road. And , I know an Italian restaurant along the marina which offers just like what she wanted. So, wish granted perfectly.

My familiarity with Dubai Marina started when I got employed with a real estate developer. All our high rise residential projects are located here. And lots of foreigners are investing and buying residential units not only from us but from all of Dubai developers, and most particularly in this exclusive man made marina. Why not? The planned cosmopolitan atmosphere of this waterfront development will be balanced by the view of the Arabian Gulf and the marina itself. Apart from that, it is within the circle where the Media City, Internet City, Jebel Ali Free Zone and the Palm Islands of Jumeirah and Jebel Ali are. The two major shopping malls in Dubai, Mall of Emirates and Ibn Batutta Mall are also within considerable proximity. So, the buying spree continues...


Although, most of these high rise buildings are still under construction and so are the supporting infrastructure like roads and bridges, the marina is already starting to breathe its promised exciting day and night lives.You can see it in the busy surrounding luxury hotels, the mostly filled fine dining restaurants by the marina, the crowded weekend activities at the marina promenade, the yachts docked by the waterfront, the fountains, the lights and even the vehicular traffic.

Naturally, my wife enjoyed the pasta and also the pizza. My son, Derico, enjoyed running around the promenade specially in the fountain area.All our companions ( cousin Jacq, sis in law Bikoy and niece Tracy ) simply had fun sight seeing and getting photographed. When we got tired, we just sat on one shisha bed and relaxed.

The Dance Diva

Tracy Anne, my wife's niece, has been rocking Dubai since the day she touched down the airport's runway. The moment we saw her arrive all dressed up for sweet success, my wife and I knew it. She would make it here ! We were right, because, in no time at all, she got a job with a Korean company holding office in the prestigious Dubai World Trade Center Office Tower. And she did it all by herself, no backers and all.

So, it didn't surprise us when she joined the Filipino Dance Club and made a big scene on the dance floor. We have known her for sharing and displaying her talents. And she would always do it in style, whatever it takes!

Looking at her now and remembering the first time I met her 14 years ago make me realize how time flew real fast. Though her girlish giggles and doe-eyed stares are still there, she is now a woman in full bloom ripe for the picking. But her "been there, done that" nonchalant attitude towards her male friends creates an air gap of exclusive elusiveness within her. Ironic, so, it seems...

The Fujairah Getaway That I Missed

It was a much awaited event for the Filipino Staff of Plantation Equestrian Community Project Site Office. Not only it is our last hurrah for splashing the last days of summer in U. A. E., it is also a despedida party for the Sarah Geronimo look alike, Miss OG ( for Ofelia Grace ). She’s jumping to another company for much greener pastures…


As the title of this post suggests, I missed it! It was last Sept. 14 and Diego was still sick that time so we had to stay home. So bad, because the whole family, too, was excited to see Fujairah. It is , by the way, another emirate of U.A.E., some two and a half drive away from Dubai. It is a leading tourist destination here and famous for scuba diving sites and , of course, the beaches.

Judging from the series of pix posted here, the Plantation gang had loads of fun. Thanks to the cool waters of the beach, complementing background of the rock formation , the food, drinks and booze generously provided by OG, and the extremely jovial nature of the whole gang. Kakainggit talaga!

New Year's Eve In Boracay

After a year of working in Bahrain, and have earned my first annual vacation leave, I was back in Manila during the yuletide season of 2003. Christmas time in the city is a hectic series of parties ( magdamagang tomaan at videokehan ), mushrooming of all sorts of carnival rides on every public park available and walkathon in shopping malls, tyanggehan and divisoria. Of course, I chose the first option, and nothing more, he he he.

But my relationship with dear Manila is love-hate in nature and after the climax of romancing her has gone down, the reasons of hating her started coming out … like the traffic jams, noise and smoke! And lots of smoke and noise there will be come New Year’s Eve Celebration!

Having foreseen this, and as pre planned, my whole nucleus family ( my wife, my son and me, that is ) along with my sis in law flew to Aklan, stayed one night in Caticlan and rode the ferry boat to that island called Boracay.

After a thirty minute shaky boat ride, we disembarked with the help of the aides and in seemingly ceremonial manner, wet our legs by the cold water as our feet touched the sand.





Boracay is not exactly my idea of a paradise. But it is an experience to revere with. Exciting night life, restaurants, shopping arcade, and other what-have-you’s are all lined up along the beach edges. Foreigners promenading in their minimalist getups, movie stars hanging around and lots of beautiful people, my family included, ha ha ha ha ! We saw the likes of Nina with Jimmy Bondoc , John Estrada and Vanessa del Bianco walking in all abra siete sweetness, Eula Valdes parading her then new husband, and some familiar celebrity faces .

It was a good decision to stay away from Manila for the New Year’s Eve revelry. The owner of the hotel we stayed in, prepared a free dinner buffet for all the guests. And there were fireworks along the beach with all the resort owners outdoing each other for more than an hour. Marvellous! Apparently, there’s a price for the best firework display as sponsored by the local government. Brilliant!



The days that followed we just hung out by the beach, me drinking beer, and my son his milk ( he was about one year old then ). My wife and I, at one time, had an oil massage by the beach. Cool!

Derico, my son, had the greatest benefit from the trip. It liberated him from the caring support of his grandparents in his first attempts in walking. He first learned to walk independently on the white powder like sands of Boracay!