Be patient in this new world

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world”  by Hellen Keller

This is in response to the WOTD: Patient

The quote is so true isn’t it?

We learn from our mistakes.  If there’s a will there’s a way.  No pain no gain and so many other sayings.  This pandemic teaches us so many things in our lives.  How to be strong in these tough times.  How some of us become like a master chef or baker in our household without relying too much upon in takeaways or fast foods?  How to pray for our beloved safety and well being.  How to be kind to one another.  How to be tolerant about things we cannot control and accepted how it is.  Otherwise, you will only be miserable if you cannot accept defeat.  Life is in constant change.  We are facing a new life.  Be patient.

There is always a reason for everything and yes there are some positive outcomes of this world problem.  We learn how to be more hygienic or overdoing it at times just to protect our loved ones.  Our world started to heal from the pollution and the birds and other animals profited from it too.  If you love traveling like me, another positive outcome is you are now seatmate free as the seat in the middle will now be vacant for each passengers safety.  New Zealand is now on alert level 2 which means “almost” back to normal (apart from social distancing, proper good hygiene, and “being kind” as what the PM always telling on her media interviews. The tourism industry is now being pushed forward after being dormant for so long.  We just have to support and discover our own backyard deepest corners.  Besides, we have a beautiful country!

We hope of a safer tomorrow.  Wishing a covid-19 free world sooner than later.  Let’s be patient. It will come.

PS:  Please also support my other blog site as per this link >> Life and Wonders.  I have transferred some of my older posts in there as it was the first chapter of my new life being an ex-pat in the Middle East (The UAE).  There you can see how it was living in that world and you will be surprised.  Nevertheless, you can still see some of the remaining post here dated from mid-2015 up to early 2019.  FYI.  Thank You!

Warmer Christmas 🎄 & a Chilly New Year!

from readers digest

Yes that’s what we have around here in the land of the desert 🌵 the land of opportunity and multicultural society!

My first time to stay home in Abu Dhabi for Christmas and New Year my current City for the past 3 years but minus some months as I live in and out of the Country for personal reason. Some of you can only guess but maybe my loyal followers can understand. If you’re curious why don’t you read my recent post it’s a hint. I’m sure some can relate in every situation.

Christmas is the time of family celebration and here in my City it’s full of events! Most hotels have free events like X’mas lighting and if you’re lucky your kid can get free gift and parents can enjoy some nibbles & drinks. I’m sure some will agree going there before eating dinner. Consider it having an appetizers for free with shows etc. The malls have their free fun events for kids to enjoy like joining to make a gingerbread cookie and photo session with the famous man Santa 🎅 Yes, Abu Dhabi is a generous City! Even in the Parks lot’s of free fun things to do, including picnic at night with friends and family. Fireworks to gaze up in the sky and jugglers, magicians and even Alice in Wonderland grace the City.

free musical and dancing shows & other activities for kids.vinneve

Galleria mall outside.vinneve

X’mas Lighting @WestinAD.vinneve

You may be wondering how come a Muslim Country allows all these? It’s because UAE is a tolerant blessed Country. Where all religions can be practiced without any issues. In fact Pope Francis is coming next year in February to conduct a public mass! Imagine a Mosque side by side by a Catholic Church! One time I was inside a church having a mass and in time for singing you can also hear a song coming from the nearby Mosque. That is what called HARMONY!! isn’t it pun?!

Corniche road, AD. vinneve

I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!   Peace on Earth. 

 

Journey from the past to the present.

Truly, I already started practicing what the quote is all about just late this year … 3 years later!  For sure, I am not the only one and I did try my best.

Another blogger that I am following gave me an inspiration and insight about my topic today. He gives good advises & can explain better than me about what a topic is about… his name is Drew and here is his LINK.  Enjoy reading!

His post about “Navigating Life” and I can’t help but to answer in my mind the questions asked in his seminar at work that he put in his blog and explained.

Here’s the thought:

1.  The most important thing is where you are right now.  I now realized that I was focused on  the “the life I had before”  that it’s hard for me to let go and accept what are the good things staring in front of me… yes where I am right now.  I keep comparing but the reality is, it is not fair to compare “a kiwi to a date!”  if you get my meaning.  Where I am right now is with my family and hope to stay that way.
2.  Appreciating what you have.  I started to see and appreciate what life has to offer for us in our current situation.  Nowhere else we will feel these “benefits” and gain more insights about the World and having an “expats (extra-ordinary) life”  if we stay put in our comfort zone.
3.  It’s better to have plans and if one is a failure then you have many other options in place.  I often think that after we finished our journey here, that I for one, will be back in my hometown, home Country.  I guess now it’s different.  I am now open to possibility of saying… “it may not be, yet…”  OR “will see what other opportunities out there” OR  “we can always go back anytime”  as I cannot decide just for myself since having a family, it’s all for one and one for all!  Plan A, B, C’s are the best way for us to go ahead.  Life’s journey is never easy but somehow we will decide what’s best for our family one contract at a time!

I leave you with another quote and maybe some of you readers can also relate to my post.  Feel free to comment and I will truly appreciate it.  Thank You for your time.

Wondering & keep wandering!

It’s been a very long time since I post about what’s going on in my brain haha!  Every one of us are wondering what the future brings and what to do in life that will make us a better person or be successful and get what we want in life.

Being an expat is not that easy.  I keep on missing the old life and my home Country but come to think of it, I may not have this chances if we stay in our comfort zone.  Sure, it’s not an easy road but hey, I came back to where I belong I guess.  I will keep on wondering and wandering as both keeps my brain going.

So much for my riddles.  Allow me this time to show you some but not all, of the places that I have seen and experienced in my life and how beautiful our World can be.  I can never experience this if I don’t come and follow my heart.  Life for sure will be more different. More important is, I am with people who matters most and that is my FAMILY.

Fronalpstock, Switzerland

Venice, Italy

Paris, France

Frankfurt, Germany

Miracle Garden, DUBAI, UAE

Dead Sea, JORDAN

Rotorua, New Zealand

Bali, Indonesia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

St.Mary’s Church, Sydney, Australia

Piha, West Auckland, New Zealand

Milan, Italy

Stilts in Calatagan, Batangas Philippines

Las Casas @Bataan, Philippines

Sunsets in 3 different World of mine

This is for the Weekly Photo Challenge : RISE/SET

You live in the image you have of the world. Every one of us lives in a different world, with different space and different time. Alejandro Jodorowsky 

I don’t know why but I don’t think I ever have a sunrise photo in my lifetime which is a pity! Perhaps it’s because I am a “night owl” than an “early bird”… but this one thing I know, wherever you are in the World, whether it’s sunset or sunrise, you make the life more colourful as long as there is LOVE and PEACE in your heart and yes, keep dreaming (but do something about it) to reach your goals!

pinterest.com

pinterest.com

 

 

 

Now presenting the three homes in my life through it’s sunset setting. Enjoy!

The Philippines, Batangas province SUNSET

friends&sunset, vinneve

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi SUNSET

AD, vinneve 

New Zealand, Auckland SUNSET

AklNZ, vinneve/Jun

Cheers! Thanks for reading or browsing… 😉

 

Was it luck or fate? You choose.

In response to the Daily Post: LUCK

In response to the Daily Post: VIVID

In response to the Daily Post: WISH 

WOTD Challenge – GUESS

Related link to this post if you have time to check: COINCIDENCE OR FATE?

January 2015 – My hubby just resigned from his job in Australia about to go back home to New Zealand and in about 2 days before the landline being deactivated… an important surprise call came that changed our lives. An offer. A once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed, however, changes we need to rearrange our plans.

February 2015 – Back in NZ and celebrating the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in Auckland.  A wish came true (after throwing a piece of paper with wishes on it on top of the tree) or was it just LUCK or fate destined to happen?.  

Wishing tree, AKL NZ CNY 2015

Showing some VIVID images from Auckland Chinese NY Lantern Festival.  The last one we have attended in New Zealand.  It was fun and a good memory to cherish.

CNY Happy pig, vinneve

Animal lanterns, vinneve

Lantern Fest., AKLNZ

Cheers! 🙂  

Glitters in Black Gold

This is in response to the Daily Post: GLITTER

True.  Be careful what you wish for, for it may come true… it depends on who you are or who you will become to be when you get what you want in life.  Some become greedy and want more.  Some are just practical and just taking the opportunity as it comes and some just think that their life will never change be it good or “best” here in the land of opportunities.  Come to think of it… this is not permanent.

Queen’s carriage,vinneve

Life as an expat here in the desert with full of black gold (Oil) can come as a fairy tale to many.  From having lavish brunches, villas that look like a mansion, fast cars & so many benefits that included in salary package that you never had before back home.

f.wheel global village,vinneve

RAK Al Hamra,vinneve

Fame and fortune never stays for long. Beware… life is like a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel that goes up and down.  Not all that glitters are gold as what the old saying goes.

Global village, Dubai. vinneve photo

Perhaps it is best to save some for rainy days.

 

Discover Challenge: Finding Your Place

via Discover Challenge: Finding Your Place

I always see a quote “FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE” somewhere, anywhere.  But what if the place you thought was a happy place is not within your reach at the moment though you can choose to be in that happy place but would it be really a happy place without someone to share it with?

THIS WAS MY HAPPY PLACE.  Sometimes it is not that easy to stay if you are alone and your obligations place somewhere else.

PIHA, AKLNZ, vinneve

Current Place: A place for an adventure, Luxuries in life, Opportunities & feeling ambivalent at the same time.  A mixture of everything.  Still finding my place…

pinterest.com

 

Daily Prompt: Giant Bird

via Daily Prompt: Giant

This is in response to the Daily Prompt: GIANT.

This “giant bird” helps me to go to a place, whether for business or pleasure it continue to amaze and give a constant feeling of adventure!

 

over the top of Swiss Mountains, vinneve photo1

 

 

vinneve photo 2, Swiss Mountains

 

 

Horizon, vinneve photo

UAE, AD. vinneve photo

Going back to UAE, Abu Dhabi.

For more posts about Switzerland please see the LINK 1 & LINK 2 and some decisions to be made as per this LINK 3.  More posts to come but please be patient as I always don’t have the Golden time to do so.  It is worth the wait, though!  Cheers!

 

 

Daily Prompt: Trees Abundant @Al Ain Oasis

via Daily Prompt: Tree

We had a family weekend trip recently to Al Ain just an hour and 45 mins. away from Abu Dhabi City and visited a friend to complete it along with a quick visit to Al Ain Museum (will post about this next time) and see this link Al Ain Oasis where trees are abundant and you will wonder if you are in the desert at all.

Al Ain Oasis, vinneve photo

It is estimated that 98% of fruit trees here in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are date palms. The Country is also one of the World’s Top 10 producers of dates.  It is part of their culture and traditions (gift giving etc.) and you can find this tree everywhere so it is not just a desert sand you see, for those people who think desert Countries are just full of sands.

Unfortunately, the water dried up (perhaps because it’s summer) and going to these plantations make it so hot walking along the pathways with walls throughout the walkways.  So it doesn’t look like an Oasis at all that day.  We didn’t finish the walk and call it a day!  Went to a cooler place which is the mall. 🙂

Now I leave you with an Inspirational quote from pinterest.com

pinterest.com