at Ivy's

At Ivy’s house in Tung Chung, Hongkong with Ivy and my mother, Nancy.
Thanks for everythingg Ivy :) God bless you.

the rose and other quotes

I went to the restaurant (Sakura) just across the hotel Ruposhi Bangla to get something to eat for dinner. When I came back to the hotel, a lady, an employee of the hotel handed me this rose and before I could tell her that I am not a delegate or someone who is attending a seminar in the hotel, she gestured that this was for everyone and that she has no intention of taking it back from me.
I suddenly remember Shakespeare’s words, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name, smells just as sweet“. With this, I also remember one of my college professors who used to say those Shakespearean words and another quote came to mind, from the mouth of Mr. Dinopol...”I will give you wings so you can fly” in reference to his role as teacher who gives his students the knowledge and guidance they need and for the couples in class and those who have special friends, he’d say, “Tie your heart”. As if it was a kite that’ll get blown away by the wind of emotions. It was good advice at that time.

the godfather

This is a very tasty pizza (nicknamed the Godfather on the menu) at an Italian restaurant called Gotti’s in Megamall. I had the whole pizza for myself so I wasn’t able to finish it even though it was so delicious. I decided to bring it back to Jeddah. I heated the pizza when I arrived in the compound and although I thought it was a bit dodgy, I ate it. I had a terrible stomach infection a day later because of the pizza that had gone bad. It was my fault and will never ever, ever be that merciless to my body again. Sure it satisfied my craving, but the pain in my gut was all too much to do the same mistake again no matter how good and safe it might look.
I will however, go back to Gotti’s when I get a Manila layover enshallah in December this year.

beef bhoona in bangla

I’ve been to Dhaka for quite a few times now and I would have to say my ultimate favorite Bangladeshi dish is this beef dish called bhoona. I first tasted this soft meet goodness at a “carenderia” in the market where my cc friend took me for dinner. It was the right mixture of tastes for me. The hotness/spiciness, salty, sweet flavor took me by surprise the first time I had it.
I ordered this beef bhoona in the photo above from a restaurant with a really poor lighted interior (it felt like a nightclub inside with all the cigarette smoke and the men and the sofas and the darkness) called Sakura. It is just across the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, formerly Sheraton Hotel. I think it costs around 300 takas which includes the rice. Oh the rice, oh my God. There’s too much rice put in the green box and I like it. I have taken a photo of the beef bhoona many times because I didn’t want to make it look like shit on top of the rice but somehow it always manages to do that. This is the best picture that I’ve taken; I’ve given up on trying so hard. It might not look very appealing in the photo, but trust me when I say, it is really good. It never fails to satisfy my taste buds.

a birthday wish come true

I’ve just arrived in Dhaka on the eve of my birthday. My bestfriend Leah who works in Singapore has told me that she was gonna buy a cake for me on my birthday. And she did..around 12 in the midnight, Singapore time, I skyped with her and she sang a birthday song for me and presented this sweet cake that I had wished for. I was so happy and proud and very grateful for friends like herself who never forgets and who, even though they’re far, make a constant (maybe even unconscious) effort of making me feel loved.
The next day, on my birthday…we flew back to Jeddah. I was so busy that I forgot that it was my day. I thought the world was unfair but got over it quickly enough preventing a possible depressed mood. On that day, I thanked God for my health and for the love of my family and friends. I have never felt so blessed.

expats

With Gail, at Jollibee Balad, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We finally met.