Duyan

My three-week vacation is over. I spent 95% of my time at home because it was raining throughout. How did I forget that August is monsoon season in the Philippines. But still, it was still a good break from the 40 deg C temperature in United Arab Emirates. 

During my vacation, I gained 4 kgs. How can I resist my mom's home-cooked meals? For 21 days, I did not visit the gym. I ate, and ate, and ate until I fall asleep. Good times. And in that 21 days, only 2 days were sunny. That's the only time we were able to explore the city and the mountain side.

Duyan is the Filipino term for hammock. It is also a cafe in the Silay City, where the photo was taken.  How I wish the weather was better during my vacation but nature is beyond our control. So instead of regretting, just make the most of it especially if you are with your family and loved ones.

Oh - and I just recently saw the trailer of the movie Edie. It inspires me travel. If workload is a little lighter, I will pack my stuff and travel.

/totomai
2018/08/29

Silverlake

Burning

The temperature started to reach mid-40's and it's giving me a burning sensation every time I go out of my accommodation. It is my first summer here in the Middle East as a resident. My friends and colleagues told me that this is still not the peak of summer season, perhaps in a month, it will hit 50 deg C and higher. 

the hot maize spotlight

exposes sea waves' jewels

continental range

/totomai

Louvre

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me a message asking why I haven't posted travel photos lately.  I was quite busy with work. But one weekend, instead of staying at home, I decided to go to Louvre Abu Dhabi, the latest architecture and tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, United 

rain in the desert
wipes out footprints of camels
trekking back in time

/totomai

Stand-by

Current workload is taking-off that I always lost count of the days, weeks, and months. I am still on probationary period, so I have to do my part to get that regular employee status. During the first week of April, I went to Thailand for a business trip. It was also the same week that I was featured again at Poets United. I am so sorry I wasn't able to reply to each and everyone.

a world in two hues

alternating black and white

computer keyboard

/totomai

My blog is still breathing, but a bit in coma.

/totomai 
2018/04/28

Eleven

E L E V E N  Y E A R S .

Yes, that is eleven years of shooting, blogging and distilling thoughts. As you may already know, I started blogging when I was jobless. Since then, I made sure that at least I have one post per month though the number of posts per year dramatically decreases. I am sorry, I have been saying this every blogsary.

Dubai

Reuniting with friends whom you haven’t seen for a long time is always a great time. When I found out that some of my high school and college friends are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, I cleared one of my weekends to travel and explore the city with them. But two days were not enough.

Burj Al Arab

Dunes

I really wanted to see the sand dunes up close, so I booked a Desert Safari tour in Abu Dhabi. This is also an exciting way to celebrate my birthday. The tour includes sand bashing, camel riding, sunset watching, belly dancing viewing, and BBQ dinner. The first activity, and my favorite, was the sand bashing. Inside of the 4x4, we braced ourselves for an adventure. I was seated at the front seat, so I can clearly see the slopes, and feel the turns. It felt like I am in a rollercoaster ride.

 

etched by the car tires

winds tamper the evidence

golden sands of time

/totomai