A dream… a premonition.

This is for the Daily Post: PREMONITION

Everybody dreams.  

I have a dream a long time ago, in fact, a decade ago perhaps… even before my son came into our lives.  It was a feeling of happiness, wonder and then all of a sudden a feeling of losing something.  In my dream… it was a greyish cloudiest day or night. Hubby and I were checking out some beautiful houses and the road was not easy to navigate as it has a steep hill… up and downslope just like in some Auckland roads and streets.  Found “the one” and I believed I told hubby to stop looking for others as I have found the one I want us to live.  Unfortunately, he didn’t share the idea and told me we better check out other houses though the one that I liked was really “the one” for me.  It was a very vivid dream as if it’s real and up to this day I can still remember it and strange but true… I can still feel what I was feeling at that time.  A feeling of disappointment and wonder.

And yes, it was a PREMONITION, alright of what was to come in the future!

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland Ferry, vinneve

From our beautiful Auckland City, in the WEST particularly we headed to a BIG adventure of a lifetime in the …

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Abu Dhabi – as an ex-pat.

Abu Dhabi Skyline, vinneve

To live temporarily in my birth Country THE PHILIPPINES, Manila – to try to see the other side of the World and talking about my old childhood to my son which was great but unfortunately, it’s not the same as I thought it would be. Lots of things changed.

MOA bridge, vinneve

And now going back again to Abu Dhabi and God knows where we going to stay for good this time!  Had talks about living in Switzerland and Australia.  Both, we have the right to live and be happy.  But it seems the premonition lingers up till now.  I guess you better stay tuned and follow me what part of the world we’re going to end up!  Besides, wherever we will be … there will always be some TRAVELLING and ADVENTURE.

There is always a reason to travel. 

 

 

Jump & You will see…

via Daily Prompt: Jump

This is in response to The Daily Post: Jump 

“To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions”  by Benjamin Franklin.

More than a year ago we were living in the beautiful Land of the Long White Cloud but almost live in somewhere else before the other opportunity unfolds as quickly as the snow melts in a hot sun.  Some people are shocked to understand why we have chosen to come to the Land of the Desert & Opportunities instead of The land of the Giants .  

As per the quote above and my older post LINK here… you gotta be quick when opportunity knocks on your door.  Not everybody can have this chance in life!  Let’s say it is the best chances we’ve got over the two “lands”, besides this is only temporary.  We will go back as soon as we finish here.  Try to be patient and be positive that’s the name of the game.

So why not JUMP in?  Besides….

Cheers!  thanks for reading.  🙂

Mt. San Salvatore, Lugano Switzerland

There is a cable train nearby to go up the mountain just a walking distance to Novotel Lugano where we have stayed before moving on to our holiday house with the whole families (mother in-law’s side).  You can click this LINK  from the previous post to know more.

Some men preferred to go UP by this cable train “Funicolare” one way and descend either with their mountain bike or by foot.    They must know what they are up to so Goodluck as it is really steep!  I do admire their strength and bravery!

To know more about going to this place please click this LINK.  There are some mountains you can also visit but we prefer this one at the time thinking we have our little boy with us.  

vinneve photo

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On top, it’s worth it! vinneve photo

 

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@Museum vinneve photo

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THE STREET VIEW ON TOP, LUGANO

Next stop… LOCARNO another beautiful place in South Switzerland Region of TICINO. See you again next time!  Ciao!

 

 

Destination: Lugano, Switzerland

LUGANO is the largest town in the region of TICINO.  It’s in South Switzerland.

It is well loved by Italians who works and holidaying in this region.  It is a little more than an hour away from Milan via fast train.  You can check my previous post as you can view in this LINK about the hotel review closer to this town.  We finally went on our way to our final destination (holiday house you can rent but need to book early)  which is a beautiful house located on top of the mountain overlooking the gorgeous lake and spent weeks in bliss.  For more info please click this LINK.  I hope you too can discover the beauty of Lugano and you will not be disappointed.  

The photos speak for itself.  Enjoy!

Strolling along the pavement  towards the middle of the town, viewing the lake.

fountain, vinneve foto

the mountain, vinneve foto

vinneve foto, lugano

Lugano info, vinneve foto

It is better to ride this little train to make a quick tour around so you know your whereabouts and decide where to get off.  We board it just across Novotel Lugano.

More to see and admire around the town and the Park nearby.

View from the holiday house

vinneve foto

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It rained for a few days and we have seen a beautiful rainbow even doubles!

Lugano, vinneve foto

Perhaps you can say… this is the “Lake house” 

 

vinneve foto @lakehouse

 

There are some shops of course for shopaholics out there!  as well as many restaurants around town and even on top of the hill.  The alleys on top of the hills are similar to Italy (very narrow) and it takes a good driver to maneuver around the steep hill and zig zag roads so please be aware.

Next post will be about some FUN  in Lugano for all types of travelers!  

So see you again next time,  Tschuss! 😉

Daily Prompt: Complicated & Confused Switzerland vs. New Zealand

via Daily Prompt: Complicated

via Daily Prompt: Confused

Now that our long holidays are over… a piece of advice from some relatives and friends keep on bugging me and it is so hard to choose.  Really it is not that easy!

How can you choose between the HOME you come to love and missing so much and the other ONE that is very similar in looks yet far different in characters, values, and life but family wait?

Yes perhaps some of you who come to really know both Countries will find it hard as well to choose like me.  Both have their own merits and demerits.  It is almost poles apart in geography and I find it is indeed CONFUSING and/or COMPLICATED.

Perhaps I will wait until I get a sign from above?.. WISH.

NEW ZEALAND

Beach NZ, vinneve photo

SWITZERLAND

So now I leave you the quote below… Up to you if you agree.  Feel free to give some nice comment and let me know how you well know these two beautiful Countries and which one will you choose and why?

My Daily Post Challenges in Switzerland

I am currently away on holiday with the family and visiting relatives from one Country to another, and I thought it’s better for me to do some unique way of joining the Daily Post Challenge.  I have some good themes that I specifically chosen and will connect to our holidays.  I hope you will approve and enjoy some photos and makes you dream and start to wanderlusting beautiful places on Earth.  It is never too late.

July 30th Admire – Please click the link about the place for more info.

Zurich on top of the hill of LINDENHOF where it all began…

Paintings from the outside walls of Fraumunster Church

July 28TH Unstoppable – These are the photos from our journeys via Regional (more stops) and fast train (express) and then finally to final destination in Zurich, Switzerland.

July 26th Shared Journeys – with families or VIP are the best!

July 25th Sanctuary – for me a place that makes you feel at home.

Locarno, Switzerland

July 24th Clock

St. Peter Church

July 22nd Cherry on Top

@Zurich

There isn’t any cherry on top literally BUT it made our holidays more especial by celebrating a birthday even it means eating a cake three times within a month as we celebrated it with relatives in 3 different places.   

July 21st Carefree  

Birds have freedoms too!

July 19TH The Things We Leave Behind – are the places that marks some happy moments into our holidays.

July 19th FEAST – your eyes with some burst of colours everywhere

July 14th STORM

After the STORM in Locarno

We spent some family times in Locarno and though the storms came you can still see the beauty of the place.

July 13th Journey  

Our late afternoon train journey from Locarno to Zurich

We are continuing our journeys and exploring the beautiful Country of Switzerland.

Thanks for your time!

Missing something. It’s just a “phase”.

This is in response to The Daily Post/Prompt: PHASE.

“The honeymoon phase always ends, for everyone.”  by Rose Leslie

It is indeed my true feelings that come and go and I believe some or most Expats all over the World are experiencing the same thing like me.  After all, we are only human.

I have saved this writing under a draft for such a long time and finally dig it out again just in time for this particular theme.  Having a negative feeling is not nice if I put it mildly.  There were times that all I need is a little more push and I will be booking a ticket to my home.  Yes, there is a but… family sticks through thick and thin. This is just a phase… and I will get over it.

“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”  by Oliver Wendell Holmes

BACK HOME.  Sure I have said before that home is where the heart is.  Perhaps with regards to family life yes it is better that we stick together. But… still something is missing.  Something I left behind that matters.  That I felt suffocated and anxious sometimes thinking it will take so long before I set eyes on them again.  I never felt this way before when I was younger and want to explore the possibilities of making my dreams comes true.  It did come true when I settled in New Zealand.  A place I longed to come back to.  A place where I felt the stronger ME, the better ME and the freedom that comes with it. I miss the natural beauty that surrounds me in all honesty over there.  I miss the car that I have sold a month before coming here in the UAE.  I miss all types of birds that I fed every morning from our back garden, thinking back then that sometimes it annoys me when a particular bird make a noise (Pukeko) in the morning like an early wake-up call when all I want is to sleep in. I miss our big comforting house compare to our apartment hotel we have now though I am not complaining it’s just I am missing those things that I was taking for granted just because it was there.  I miss earning my own money without depending on anyone and I travel when and where I want to within reasons,  I miss talking with my friends that I left behind, though I have new friends here but being an EXPATS they too cannot be too attached so not to hurt so much when one is leaving after the contract ends.  This is the reality of life here being an expat.  I miss the 4 seasons though not as much the long winter months but the colours it brings and the feelings it evokes.  I miss all the wonderful places I have been inside the Country and still not finish exploring it as it was cut short even after staying there for more than a decade and the awesome feeling of being proud of its natural beauty!  I just felt the need to write and confirm this feeling of sadness sometimes.  All expats have this feeling resurrected once in a while I am sure of that.  And someday once it’s all done and dusted, once the responsibilities and future established then we WILL go back home… where our hearts hoping for a better tomorrow!

New Zealand flag on top, vinneve photo

Auckland Ferry, NZ, vinneve photo

somewhere in Dunedin,NZ (vinneve photo)

Thanks for your time reading this.  Cheers! 🙂

Destination: Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain is just over an hour drive away from our place and it is the second largest city of Emirates of Abu Dhabi (which is the capital of UAE).  We only have a limited time so we only visited the Zoo.  We will definitely be back next time to the Garden City of Abu Dhabi.

The Zoo is well organized and maintained properly.  Lots of staffs to help you and they even have a train to tour you around as per schedules.  It appeals to both young and adult. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of quality pictures to post here so better go and visit yourself if you are here nearby or on a tour in UAE.  You can also come at night! though the roars of the lions can scare any age group. Nice to have a picnic lots of shaded areas.

You can see this type of birds everywhere in Australia.  Not sure why they are outside the net 

 

Having a nap, one of the many in their lions den

 

Arabian Oryx

Daily Prompt: Whisper

This is in response to The Daily Post: Whisper.

“Difficulties come when you don’t pay attention to life’s whisper.  Life’s always whispers to you first, but if you ignore the whisper, sooner or later you’ll get a SCREAM…”  by Oprah Whinfrey

Missing you a lot…. wish it is easy.

This is TRUE.

So I better end this with….

 

Destination: Ras Al Khaimah (RAK)

One of the 7 Emirates of UAE.  Here’s the LINK for you to know more about this rugged beauty.

different soil and colour from other emirates

Hubby finally had a short break from work and our last escapades before the start of school (last week) so yes this is a late post indeed.

The Accomodation

With a nice view of the Golf course when you open your window or veranda

Serenity at your doorstep

The Surroundings 

Some tourists from Europe mostly from Germany.

The sister hotel (5 star) as we only got the 4 star.  You can access the beach by coming to this place and enjoy the beauty of this luxurious hotel.  You might get confuse if you see the Al Hamra Palace Beach Resort side by side with  the Waldorf Astoria hotel which is among the luxurious hotel nearby. Here’s the photos.

Al Hamra Palace Beach Resort

May I add that RAK is more conservative than Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so please mind what you are wearing.  I have seen the locals giving a negative look at the woman with a boyfriend in tow holding her shopping bags, who was oblivious of her “dress code” in short shorts!  Remember ladies, you are in a different culture than yours so please mind your manners and clothing.  If you respect their cultures they will respect YOU too.  Just a friendly reminder.  It reminds me too when I first arrived in Dubai and on Ramadan season I have seen a very daring clothing from some Women who doesn’t bother to read the signs from the doors of every establishments and even on hotels leaflet see this LINK to my old post please check it out if interested and want to learn more about the life here in UAE.

Anyway this saying goes….

pinterest.com

Thanks for your time reading this.  🙂