Volvo Ocean Race 2012

Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world. This year, for the first time, Middle East is part of the race route. They will stopover Abu Dhabi which means water sports events - paddling!

Coach Mike was pretty excited when he announced this to the team. The event was held in Corniche Beach.



Champ! :P



Last kick!

Of course, we won. I just can't remember which category. I got a wooden paddle as a price. :) More paddling events in the coming months!

x, P

Real Dragon Lover

Have I told you that am not a fan of sun and beaches and water sports? Remember my previous post regarding ADU Dragoneers? That day, my life changed as I met this monster team who loves paddling.

Of course, this was Rache's whole idea. We joined this team who calls themselves "ADMar Barbarians". They practice every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Shangri-La. At first I don't even know why a lazy ass woman like me joined this kind of team. I mean - I'm not into sports, I don't work out, I drink, smoke and party hard. But I was like, okay, bring it on!

So after some trainings with these guys, I got the privilege to paddle with them in this dragon boat festival. It's some kind of a race open for everyone. Rache keeps on telling me that this team is the "king" of dragon boat here in Abu Dhabi and after paddling with these guys, hell yeah they are!

I actually didn't find it hard socialising and making friends with the team as most of them are from back home - "kabayans kumabaga". Plus the Coach is nice and a real person to look up to.

As I was saying, I got the chance to paddle with these guys and gawd, they are mosters! They We received almost all of the awards.

ADMar Family - Champion at 1st Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival

ADMar Ladies

I think I am loving and enjoying this sport. I guess you'll see more of me under the sun in the boat with a paddle on both hands! :D

Peace out! x

ADU Dragoneers

I am really not a fan of sun, beaches, water sports and all that stuff but when a good friend of mine dragged me to join and do dragon boating, man I enjoyed it! Enjoyed it more than a cup of peanut butter infront of my lappy.

Anyway, t'was my first time to paddle and compete. Our university joined a regatta at Shangri-La. Unfortunately, we didn't win anything but hey, ADU's there to have some fun! We are awesome and we really had fun!

Thanks Rache! You brought me out of my shell, love. :P

ADU Dragoneers!

Goofing under the heat with Rache!

Oh Istanbul, Türkiye!

Since I was a little, t'was been a dream of mine to travel and see the world. This 2011 Eid holiday, I've been blessed to visit the capital of three empires where romance and traffic jam go hand in hand. :)

I went to Istanbul with my travel buddies - Kimi, Coco and Tin. We were so lucky to find cheap flight and hotel for 3 days and 2 nights!

Departing at Dubai Airport sucks a bit as our flight has been delayed; eventually, we arrived Istanbul at around 3PM. As soon as we got out of the airport, I felt the city's chilly weather and I liked it... a lot! Istanbul is divided into two continents: Asian and European. We landed at the Asian side and from there, a tour bus was waiting for us to go to the European side where our hotel is located. Travelling time is 2 hours because of the heavy traffic.

Day 1: Checked in at the hotel. Sightseeing nearby mosques. Dinner at a Turkish restaurant. Had some shots of vodka. Planned on going to erotic shop.

Dinner (Turkish style!) with the ladies at Artukoglu Sark Sofrasi

Day 2: A whole day Bosphorous cruise trip. Went and saw Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Bosphorus Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, Guksu Pavilion, and Rumeli Kavagi. Searched for the erotic shop's entrance door but failed.


Wandering the street near our hotel

Galata

A must-try street food - PRETZEL!

Bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Cruise trip

Nice view eh? That's Blue Mosque.

Pinoy family we bumped into

Jumpshot!

Birds. Lots of birds.



This veiled girl pulled me for a pic and thought I am a hollywood star. LOL



I know.. I know but NO, it's not made of cockroach's pee

Tram. One thing I miss about Istanbul

Day 3: Roam around the city. In and out of tram. Rode a buggy. Fed some pigeons. Became pescatarian for a whole day. Bought some souvenirs and presents. Peaked at the erotic shop and it's closed! :P

While waiting for the tram

Buggy ride

Pigeons

Busy street

So there! Tea-sugar-enderim - that's how they pronounce thank you in Turkish language. :)

Looking forward for my next trip!

Classic Short Story

A girl arrived late at the office this morning due to some unfortunate events (seriously, you don't wanna know what happened!). She heedlessly walked all the way to her station, passed by her boss' office - never thought he's there already, he looked at her, she had a 30-second moment of comatose and verbal constipation realising that her shades were still on, got coffee at one hand, bag on the other and earphones in her ears listening to some sort of a screaming rock song which can be heard by a person who is 5 feet away from her.


:D

What d'you call it then?

Time is not the basis on how you would know that that person is the ONE.
Be it 7 years, 7 days or 7 seconds.
It's the way you FEEL beautiful and the most important person in the world.
It's the understanding even if no one is talking.
It's the moment you can't bear not letting that person know how much you love and miss him/her.
It's the time you're willing to spend even if you're very busy.
It's the risk you're apt to take just to make sure the person is safe.
It's the contentment that you discern without questioning or asking for more.
It's those simple little things you recognise without being told.
It's a promise that whatever happens, you'll be there to STAY.
I believe in true love and I want to fall in love everyday but not today.

28th

Today is my birthday and I did not wake up feeling regretful about it. I used to always think I am getting older whenever the first day of my birth month starts. Perhaps there are certain things in life that you feel you have not accomplished but what the heck? I still got a lot more years to do that. Besides, I'm pretty sure I am heading the right path and really doing well. I've realised that one cannot possibly do or get everything she wants in life and that’s quite okay. I know the best and happiest days of my life are still yet to come, as well as my wealthiest days. :)

The older I get the better life seems to get for me. I personally feel that age is a state of mind. If you feel that you are getting old, that’s what will happen to you. I have heard a few people telling that they feel they are getting old before their time, that life is passing them by and there is nothing that they can do about it. That's BULLSHIT. You can change things with a wee bit of effort, the right attitude and a positive outlook on life - it'll do wonders I must say.

My life is a crazy journey but it has been great! Another year is just a reminder that I still have an incomplete mission in life - there's still so much to do and by that, I better get the hell on with it.

So, happy 28th to me and cheers everyone!