blogging again????

it's been over 4 years since i last posted here....i nearly forgot my password but luckily is till managed to recover it.... it feels like it's been ages since i have the inkling to write about my thoughts and and what i have observed around me....
in the last 4 years of my blogging absence there has been may things that transpired, i think i have a lot of catching up on my writing skill again as many things has been going on in my head lately.... i just hope that words would be easily come by to so i can start blogging again...

another shot

since i almost missed the eclipse i decided to take just another go for it

the eclipse

after waiting for half an hour i got a bit tired of waiting so i decided to come back to my room for a while and decided to watch some television show, unfortunately i somehow lost track of time and realized that i stayed down a bit to long and have to hurry up again with my gear and all ..

a much closer look

having set up my gear, i decided to play around with some setting in the menu and managed to see the digital zoom option, i gave it a go and check how it looks and this is what i ended up with...

closer look

the full moon seems to have a different effect on me that night as it entices me to really put mt Olympus digital camera to full test.... using my TCON 17 conversion lens with CLA 10, i managed to get a closer look of the moon surface.. i recon with a few more manipulation of the camera i will be able to take better shots in the future....

full moon indeed

it was really a nice time to give my digital camera a try having purchased my SP-550 UZ some 4 months back, i haven't had the chance to take good subjects with my camera, so the schedule lunar eclipse has afforded me the chance to get some good shot of the full moon

photo trial

the other night i was watching the local news and was surprised to hear that there was a lunar eclipse that will take place, this regular phenomenon has always fascinates me so i thought that i might as well try my few months old digital camera... so i went on our accommodation's roof top and have a shot at the full moon see the attached picture which serve as a photo trial for me

summer peak is almost here

everybody is starting to feel it, after 6 months of lovely weather we are now approaching the summer;s peak. with the date tree starting to bear fruits, temperature reaching over 45 degrees Celsius and with humidity starting to be felt as well...

high temperature is easily bearable based on personal experience if it is dry and hot weather but when humidity starts to set it it is totally different story.. you feel the difficulty breathing, sweating profusely and the craving for liquids preferably cold water.


i must admit staying here for almost 12 years now, i still haven't fully conditioned myself to bear the hot summer weather.... time for me to make sure my air conditioner can sustain the weather...

summer time again

yesterday when i walk out of the house to get to work the weather was really lovely, i believe it was 26 degrees Celsius at around 6:00 a.m. and the sun was already up. by lunch time when i looked out the window i noticed that it was a bit dusty again outside and told myself that it will be tough going home.

by 4:00 p.m. when i walked out the office on my way home it hit me hard, it wasn't dusty, a bit windy but what caught me is the sticky feeling that bites my skin. and all of a sudden it dawn on me.... humid season is here again to stay.... summer is starting peak, and seems that its going to be a long one..

stormy weather...

it will never be easy for people like us working overseas, especially during the storm season. just recently a devastating storm hit our country and make a lot of people miserable. during the storm my wife sent my text messages via SMS telling me that they were unable to leave the house to attend the church services due to strong wind. storm signal number 3, being the highest alert level has just been declared, but unfortunately not too many people managed to get the news; with the power supply cut due to damaged power lines they have to rely on text messages until the battery of their cellphones are drained.

i was really concern and followed the news via online news coverage and sms with my wife, luckily my family is one of those that are luckier than others and has not really suffered from any of the devastating effects of the strong storm. a few of my colleagues here was advised their family that all their belongings are under neck high water and it is flooded everywhere, some houses lost their roofs and many has lost their crops...

it really is difficult being away worrying but life my goes on....

on retirement

after 27 years of work in the middle east, my former supervisor, a very good mentor finally retires... they say it was inevitable, having been extended for two more years, he finally has to say goodbye to the many friends that he met during this years, he has to leave all the happy memories that he had, and many other things that will be left behind

recently had a send-off luncheon for him.. it was a very emotional moment not only for him but for all of us, me personally has felt the lost of a very good friend, advisor, former supervisor and a very good mentor.... i would say that the last 6 years of my overseas work would never been easy if not for the support he has extended me...

we all know that we are bound to retire and be repatriated sooner or later, but working in a foreign land, making new friends and knowing their culture, will definite leave a hollow feeling when the day come for us to leave everything behind....

bad weathers....

it has been dusty all over the last few weeks, a lot of people including me have been snugging in their rooms due to the heavy sand storms we have been experiencing. a lot of locals that i have talked to claims that in the last 100 years it is the first time that this happened and they have not experienced this in their lifetime..

everybody is saying that this year not too many rains was experienced therefore making the sand very dry, and easily carried by the wind when it blows. making the weather unfriendly especially to people like me who suffers from sinusitis. but on the upside of things, the thick sand in the air somehow creates a shield that prevents the heat from the sun making the overall temperature a bit lower than hat it is supposed to be.

well, this is life, and we just hope that the weather will clear soon enough so that everybody can return to their normal lives.

weather change

despite working in the middle east for more than ten years, i still haven't got the hang of the weather ... spring is officially over, summer has arrived three day ago.... with winter that are nearly freezing and summer that is excruciatingly hot and humid at times, climate that changes at least 3 times a day... this is what we are to contend with right now...

after a few days of dusty weather, a few sand storm and a few trickle of rain summer has set in... with temperature way above 40 degrees Celsius with the onset of summer, people will definitely be confined within the comfort of the air conditioned offices and houses...

with the humid weather most likely to start in another 2-3 weeks time, a lot of people will definitely have a hard time coping, especially the new comers and those that are not too accustomed to such climate...

but come to think of it, it is healthy for every body, people do pay good sum of money just to use the steam bath or spa just to relive themselves of cholesterol.... an here we are with free steam bath....

computer courses

my friend and i was chatting the other day, he told me that he would like to learn new things that will help him out in his work and at the same time he can use in his future endeavor... he was inquiring where he could possibly enroll in some computer courses...

i told him that i know some local organization and association sanctioned by the embassy that provides such courses, unfortunately he said that he can't attend a similar class due to time constraint as he works 6 days a week and has long work schedule due to overtime works...

i inquire if he has computer and ADSL connection at home and was advised that they do have both... i suggested to him that his best recourse then is to look for an online computer course, there are plenty of sites that do offer these kind of courses and it gives him more flexibility and will be based on his own schedule and learning speed...

on learning...

i was out with my friends over the weekend and one of my fishing buddy advised me that he wouldn't be able to come with us... he told me he found one of the local association that aims to equip fellow contract workers like us new skills... i told him that it is a good start, at least if it is something that will eventually make him more competent and competitive it is something that is worth indulging into...

he said that he wants to learn new skills, something that he can pass on to his children, something that he can start with eventually when he stops working overseas... i told him i am all for it... and bid him good luck on his new endeavor...

well worth it

for a long time i always dreamed of photography as a pastime.... but due to the fact that a decent professional camera cost a fortune, not to mention the films, developing cost and other equipment you need to develop your pictures..... that was before the advent of the digital era... now a days there are plenty of digital camera that is flooding the market... of various brand, models and the features was astonishing...

for quite some time i was surfing the Internet , looking for a digital camera that is inexpensive, yet powerful enough when it comes to optical zoom without the need to buy additional lenses and filters... after some years of looking around, waiting, finally i found a digital camera that really suites my requirement... I'd say that it was worth the wait....

over the weekend i was with my friends, and we have tested the camera without even reading the manual, typical of us.... hahhaha

now i am in the process of in depth reading of the manual to be able to tale full advantage of ts wonderful features.... i hope to be able to post some of the pictures i will be taking in the days to come...

reliving a dream

I was surfing the Internet the other day and happen to check one of my favorite site, it is a local bookstore that carries computers, digital cameras, handy cam and other expensive electronic gift items... as i was browsing their website i came upon a digital camera that i saw a few moths back in the Internet and i loved the features...

with 7.1 mega pixel and an 18x zoom capabilities makes my mouth watery so to speak... i have always been a frustrated photographer... it is one of what i hoped to have as a hobby when i was still in college... but during those days film camera are not only expensive but everything that you need to pursue the dream cost a fortune....

yesterday i called the bookstore and inquired if it is still available but was told that they already sold their last piece as it was selling like hot cake... considering that they are selling it half the price of the original price when it was initially introduced in the market, no wonder it would sell that fast..... my dream was starting to die down again....

it now prompted me to search for the local distributor through the web... and found one that i frequently visits when i go around window shopping... yesterday, right after office hour i went down directly to the store and inquire about the digital camera and i was really lucky to find their last piece of stock and being sold at the same price....

so now i am reliving my dream of photography... and hopefully in a few days time i can really practice and put in good use the camera i bought...

on weaker dollar....

over the last few months it is in the news: weakening dollars...... unfortunately it affect everybody.... worst of all i think are us who works overseas.... OFW like me are now faced with a so called double edged blade.... weakening dollar and stronger peso.... the effect was tremendous...

the global effect of the weakening dollar is very apparent with increasing prices of commodities... even here in the middle east where the prices of commodities has been fairly stable in the last 10 years, the direct impact can be felt.. locals and expatriate alike are tightening their belts to make sure they can avail of the very basic of their needs...

for me, i am just thankful that we are still able to sustain the effect of the price increase and the decreasing foreign exchange rate of the peso compounded by the weakening dollars...

let's just all hope for the best....

other opportunities

working overseas and being away from your loved ones has it's ups and down.... one of them is the long hours you have to deal with after working for eight hours during the day, the rest of the evening can be lonesome if you don't know how to handle it properly.... these days it is much easier with the proliferation of the Internet and satellite television, the nights has somehow shorter than they used to be...

one good thing when you work overseas is that you get to meet new friends and find other opportunities if in case you need additional source of income.... for the last few years i have been sharing Internet connectivity with my neighbor on the same building where we live, and one time i was asked if i am familiar with blogging. i said i have read a few and started something similar on a a forum where i moderates a few years back, but i am no longer active for sometimes.... then my friend asked me if i am familiar with PPP. it was the first time i heard about it and wast advised it stand for PayPerPost. A website that gives opportunity to earn money through blogging... i was told by the same friend that she already signed up for PPP a few months back and has been busy ever since and getting good returns....

i didn't believe my friend immediately but started a blog just the same.... now here i am, i found out one day that i can no longer resist and eventually i signed up for PPP .... i was really surprised that my log was approved on the same day that i signed up.... now i look forward to good opportunities... although my friend is yet to be aware that i=my blog has already been approved.get paid to blog

My wife and I made our plans last month to do a bit of travelling, my son would like to see Hong Kong Disneyland, and i believe that by signing up for PPP is a good move for me, and hope to use my earnings here to finance our travel on December....

i can't believe that there are such opportunities like this.... now i can foresee that even when i eventually decide to stop being and OFW, there will still be great potential for me through PPP and blogging... all i will need is my laptop and and an Internet connection....

Now instead of getting glued to the TV, my nights will be spent in the Internet updating my blogs and scouting for new opportunities

almost weekend

its almost weekend a few more days to go and i have to start the weekend activities again... i usually refer to it as LIPS day.... it stand for Laundry, Ironing, Playing and Sleeping.... so i look forward to the day when i can do all this things...

then again working with maintenance company and being on the call list, i need to be aware of the possibility of being called in anytime....

i wish i wouldn't be this weekend...

weekend is over

weekend has just slip by like that.... time really flies so fats these days...


well not really, it is a common expression we use whenever we feel like time isn't enough to do what we were hoping to accomplish... for us working overseas we try to busy ourselves as much as we can.... by doing so it eases the loneliness and the yearning to be with the love ones...

another week end spent doing the household chores such as the laundry, ironing and tidying the room... the usual regimen during weekend... luckily i managed to sneak in a fer hours with my friends and we we out fishing...

so it's another working week ahead of me...

stronger peso....

for the last year or so, contract workers has been feeling the effect of the so called stronger peso.... compounded by the weakening of the dollar, and the increasing oil price contract workers really has to tighten their belts, including their dependents back home...

i still remember the time when we used to get 55 pesos to a $ barely a year ago... now the Forex is now down to 41.50 to a $.... imagine that is almost 25% reduction on the value of what we are sending home....

so for us here overseas, we have to try and find ways to keep the remittance enough for the family's needs... the odd thing is the prices of the commodities are not going down.... worst is the prices of commodities here is increasing as well...

at least we are still able to send remittance home...

it was quiet at the work place....

it was supposed to be a company holiday were i worked at, well not really my company but i was assigned to work there as a manpower support... all the regular employees are out on a long three day week end, while my colleague and i have to report to work... t is part of our contractual responsibilities so i have no option but to report to work...

it was really quiet... just imagine on the floor i work at there was just three of us, and the rest of the building most likely have about twenty people working that they... during regular these there are at least a thousand people in the building...

so that day it was really quiet...

weekend is over....

it's a fact.... it's back to work once again..... luckily i managed to finish my laundry early... that leaves me ample time to look after other things that i need to do at home, like tidying up the room, some ironing and sorting out my clothes as well...

i also managed to go out with my friends and spend some times together as well as go out fishing... this time around we were luckier than the previous week, we had some good catch...

so i look forward now to the next weekend hoping it will be better than last week...

reminiscing.....

i still vividly remember some 9 years ago... on this very day, it was barely a few weeks when i arrived in KSA, and my sponsor is yet process my local papers due to the holidays.... my brother who happens to be working in the same company that i used to work with, was invited to a community affair and we needed to get some documents in the office so we decided to pass by the office before going to the affair...

while he was busy in his office taking the documents he needed, i pass by the room that has the company fax machine, copier, etc... it was locked then and saw that there were a few pages in the machine so i advised him that it might be important otherwise it wouldn't be sent during weekend... that time mobile phone line are still very expensive and not advisable to have, so communications are either through expensive long distance call, snail mail or fax messages.

the fax message contained the message that my brother and I have been afraid to read all along.... it says that my father who when i left manila, has been already hospitalized for over 3 months for cancer treatment... we are being advised that my father has passed away on the 9th of April 1999..... i was devastated then...

many things has entered my mind then.... one reason i decided to work overseas again is to help sustain my father's treatment cost... and have better life for my family.... have i known that he will only last a few more weeks i could have delayed my deployment by a month or two.... another thing that immediately come to mid is i have no legal documentation yet and there is no way for me to be able to leave for Manila in a week at least...

but thank God next day, holiday was over, our sponsor instructed our liaison officer to expedite my papers and make sure i can go home within the next 36 hours... with God's grace they managed to pull through.... in less than 36 hours i was back in manila to bury my father... and back in KSA in 10 days time....

i still recall this hectic process that i have to go through and it will remain in my mind until the day that i die....