A quick visit (part 2)

Aside from the palaces we could also see the tallest building in the world from our terrace.  

 sunny but chilly.

Boys' room

 aw! jacuzzi. a little luxury.

we visited 4 schools and we narrowed down our choices into two.
This is the 2nd most expensive school (GEMs World Academy). The most expensive school (American School of Dubai) already informed us that they dont have seats anymore. It's fine. They are not IB anyway, but I heard it's a good school and one of the first IS in Dubai. Oh well.

great facilities.

 REPTON School (our other choice). REPTON School has more or less same tuition fees with GEMs. The school environment will take you to Harry Potter the movie. Good feeling. Personally, this is my choice. i saw lots of Filipinos and they were all warm. the students looked disciplined and well mannered. But let's see.

We were also toured by the relocation team, just a quick view of the residential houses. I requested for a 3 - 4 bedroom villa, but a 3 bedroom is more likely. Can I clean a 4 bedroom house? OMG! think again.

despite their busy schedule, Shervin, Fudge, Sharon and Amir managed to visit us in Dubai. They are staying in Abu Dhabi. Thank guys. See you again soon.

Mercato Mall. Had one of our after school tour lunches.

 Dubai Mall. HUGE! Hubby bought me my LV "starter set" hahahaha! Oh by the way, LV is cheaper in HK. I checked my bag in the internet and I got upset when I compared. shootsssss!

So this is it. When we finally settle in Dubai, I plan to begin my travelogue. Naks.Hubby and I are looking forward to an annual trip since Dubai is somewhat in the middle and traveling to other countries is relatively easier and shorter.
Thanks for dropping by. :)

our quick visit (part 1)

Days flew fast. Those five days in Dubai seemed to have passed by so quickly. In a snap of a finger we were back. Basically, the trip was just to find a school for the three. It was cold. It reminded me of my Seoul trip in 2007. It's biting and you would just like to stay home stay under your blanket the whole day.
We traveled business class as a policy. :) so I had to remind the kids that if ever we have to go on vacation to another country it would already be our expense and we will travel economy. A violent WHAT????

there i was talking with my mother. Business class lounge in NAIA. A lot of room for improvements.

Business class lounge in Dubai Airport. wow! Not much pictures, obvious na first timers.

I don't like economy. weh! Di nga?!

 Never a dull moment for the two during the nine hour trip.
Appetizers.

Main course (three choices actually)

dessert (again three choices)

 fruits.

 i skipped the wine.
Noodles can be ordered anytime. They also have kids meal but have to be arranged a day before the flight. Great!
Our view from the 29th floor. we are lucky coz we had the view of the palaces of the sheikhs and the track where the ruler does his horseriding routine. Nice view.

 our apartment hotel was spacious. three bedrooms with bathroom each. with a maid's room, laundry room and a guest toilet downstairs. oh wow.

almost done for tomorrow

almost all my major to dos in my checklist for tomorrow's flight is complete. We are all set. Well, 99%
Our luggage for check in:

 We can't afford an LV and I don't think we would ever purchase one. The price is sending me goosebumps. :) (sour graping lang po)

This might be for handcarry.
I spent one whole day reading forum on how to dress appropriately in the airport particularly if it's a long haul and if you are in a business class and almost everyone says you don't have to be dressed to the nines if it's a long flight. Smart casual will do and more importantly you must feel comfortable through out the flight.
So I got myself a knitted turtle neck, cotton cardigan and leggings. I expect to use this jacket and legging again in Dubai.

Abi is wearing cotton long sleeves. He likes being warm.

 Anjo insisted on wearing a scarf. I bought her one in neutral color.

DJ can wear just anything. He doesn't care.

Hubby is a frequent traveler so it's up to him to choose what he is wearing tomorrow.
From tonight, we will entrust Sarah to our neighbor who also owns shih tzu, she has two cutie cutie dogs so she welcomes Sarah warmly. We will all miss her :( sad. sniff... sniff...sniff.. Only for one week. :)

Updating...

I miss this blog. It's been a while, I know. Schedules are crazy, things to do are overwhelming. The past month seemed to have gone like it did not happen.

I hope you had a memorable Christmas. Some may recall a stressful Christmas but I'm sure majority of us is still thankful for the respite.

It was in a way a rest for me, a time out from my normal Mommy routine, but as I sit here, what I could think about my holidays are my packing, unpacking and my always being on the road vacation. It was like one morning I woke up it was already 2014!
So allow me to greet you a Happy New Year. I'm sure you had a blast! Spending it with your loved ones will always be the most important celebration for us.

Now, what's up?
We are all gearing up for "the move". This Saturday all of us are flying to Dubai to look for our house and to visit schools. So far, i have booked four school tours online. It was a breeze and it looks like we can enroll the kids without going through the long waiting list (perhaps because they are three?), except for American School of Dubai who straightforwardly told us that their next AY has a full waiting list. Ok, no problem. I guess kids will have to be in a British curriculum school.
During the weekend I finished my packing for the five days trip.
Even when staying in a hotel (be it a five star or low budgeted), we make sure we bring our own bathroom supplies. Iba pa ring gamitin yung personal mo.

Kids mess so just be ready with these in their hand carry bags.

Yes. I am expecting five activity filled days so this is a must in the evening.

I know Dubai is a perfume haven, but we are not there to shop. For one, we don't have the time and the resources for that. :)

basic.

see? I have become expert.

mostly for the home

all for the go.

(excuse my foot, ewwwww)

But wait, it was not only me who did the packing. hubby and the kids started making the inventory of our things for sea freight this end of Jan.

Partial delivery of the boxes for the books, clothes etc.
This is not a warehouse, this is our house now.

Anjo encoded the books. The three took turns actually. They insisted on bringing their books. I'm bringing mine too. :)

what else are we bringing? hehehehe. the sofa, dining table and chairs, all the beds and lamps, comforters, pillows, blankets, marble table, plorera... Practically, this house would be empty by the end of this month. In fact the Move Movement Specialist told us that we can bring everything and they will all fit in the container van. Teka, teka Mamang specialist, sinasabi mo ba na ang konti  pala ng gamit namin sa bahay? grrrrrr.

I am seeing late March or early April as our departure schedule, except na lang if we can negotiate for a later date, but hubby definitely has to be there by end of Feb. As of now, i try not to think too ahead of what's happening because whenever I think of it, I feel like crying because I might be leaving behind our Sarah. We will try to process her documents but since the veterinarian had told me that Sarah has an inherent skin illness (like psoriasis in human) we might have some problem with the immigration. But anyway, when we come back on Jan.17, I will start attending to her medical documents (lonngggg procedure i'm telling you).

Some of my relatives were asking if I'd be looking for a job in Dubai, but as I have told you, I am not loading my mind with a lot of future plans. As of now, I don't see myself being employed in Dubai, but I plan to enroll in a short term culinary lessons. That's all I could plan for the time being. And of course I am the designated school service driver.
So I have to have this.

Kaya ko kayang mag drive sa sand dune? dream on!!! Hindi nga marunong mag reverse parking eh, mag sand dune pa?

This is it for now. Again, I am wishing everyone a Blessed New Year! Let's all be optimistic for 2014. The year that was may not be so good for some people in our country but if everyone will become positive this year, we can all hurdle anything and everything that will come our way!
GBU!

time out!

Can i have this yummy yema cake after my very tiring but still unfinished morning linisan at labahan?

I'm sure I need a second slice later.

Balik Bukid

this is definitely a late post, but better late than never. I have been swamped with a lot of "to do's" for next year's moving out and when I say a lot, it really is a lot. We had documents that we had to unearth from our maalikabok files like baby books, ID's, ToC etc. etc, plus tons of forms to fill out. We had our medical check up last week and perhaps next week would be vaccines. aw! We even had to visit our pediatrician in Batangas who  never seem to age; we retrieved vaccine records and updated the vaccines of the bagets. This week when medical results are out we are expected to coordinate our school preferences (location, curriculum etc) and our house and possibly we will begin also the processing of documents for our site preview trip, which means we have to prepare ourselves and all the things we need to get our family visa for that five day trip in January or early Feb. I have no idea how we would go through that in the embassy but if it's the way things are then so be it.
Anyway, I still try maintain normalcy in our routine despite the mounds of  to do lists - attend parents/teachers conference, enroll and watch DJ in football, go to the mall, eat out and last month I managed to bring the kids to Sta. Elena Countryclub all by myself for their Balik Bukid festivities (www.balikbukid.com). Nakakapagod but I know it's my only way to let my children experience the joy outside ipad,TV and malls.
There we were greeted by a flock of sheep.

 they were blocking our way causing a long but happy traffic :) A guard came to our rescue.

 In Mindoro, we called this paragos. when we were young, my cousins and I had a blast riding paragos during summer.

There was a huge horse here; i was told that it was given by Former Batangas Gov. Leviste to this countryclub but Anjo was too scared to ride her.

 you can actually hop into the cage if you want.

 I forced them to join this yoga session. I told them that " if it's not now then there might not be any opportunity to experience yoga". T'was great.

Fishing reminded them of their grandfather. they stayed there while I did my window shopping.

Anjo is an adventurer. always. Usually, I let her do whatever she wanted to do as long as I can see that the activities are character building.

i wish i took time to take better pictures, but I was careful not to lose my children from my sight. The pavilion that you can see there was full of people watching Manny Paquiao fight :). There rest of the visitors were at the back of that pavilion having their lunch.
Too sad we wont be able to make it again next year for their Balik Bukid but that's fine I guess. Our Balik Bukid this year was already a memorable chunk of joyful memories.