AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK

The day that I've been waiting for came at last. I didn't hesitate to go even if no one is free to go with me. Besides, I don't have issues going out alone. Anyway, I want to share my awesome adventure yesterday with additional information/guidelines if you want to go to Aqauventure Waterpark in the near future.

I am coming from Karama and as I read from the internet, if I will take the Metro, I have to get off at Mall of the Emirates then take the cab from there. But as I saw from the map, Dubai Internet City MS is more convenient to take than Mall of the Emirates. So I get off at Dubai Internet City MS then took a cab and it costs me 25 AED.

For the day pass, I didn't pay for anything since I got this free birthday voucher which is their promotion I believe. But for those interested to visit the water park, from what I see and heard, for UAE residents (summer promotion only) a day pass costs 185 AED only. Normal rate is at 200 AED + 50 AED for the entrance to the Dolphinarium.

They have an add on to choose from: Towel for 30 AED, Small Locker for 40 AED and there's an option for a big locker as well but I forgot how much it is. However, there is a package for the towel + locker which is for 50 AED.

I roam around first before trying the slides which is entertaining for me but I regret to do it at the end of the day because I wasn't able to try all the rides since I arrived kinda late (the park opens at 10 am and queue line is long so if you really want to enjoy it, come early).

Souvenir Shops

Water park at 1pm Dubai Time, AM I SERIOUS?

Beach / This is different from Nasimi Beach (because I saw in one blog that they call it the same beach)

Splashers / Children's Area

I tried The Lazy River and I really enjoyed it because it wasn't as plain as just a running water. It comes with rapids in different areas and there's one part where there is a wave kind of rapid (I am not sure of the term).

I took some videos when I was at the Lazy River and when I took other slides but it was so silly and I just decided to keep it for myself. I will be selfish for now. :)

I tried all the rides in the Tower of Neptune (yes this was still an achievement for me! wohooo!) and almost all of the rides will bring you to The Lazy River.

Then after some time, I rest for some minutes and ate some snacks in Shark Bites. I didn't like the Cheeseburger at all. It was so bland. In my mind, I could've enjoyed that amount in Five Guys already (I am craving for it for a few weeks now).

Then I tried the Children's Area and I had so much fun! Yeah I am still a kid and it was obvious but believe me the little slides was fun too! Haha.

And I promised myself to achieve one thing (because I can't seem to find the Tower of Poseidon) which is to take The Leap of Faith. Boy I was so nervous while on queue. I can't get a grip on myself! But of course, in the end, I conquered it!

Yes!

I am proud of myself because I made it and I didn't chickened out. And because I enjoyed my day all by myself. The saying is true that no man is an island, yes. But I believe of finding my own happiness first by all means, working, studying, exercising, traveling, and loving myself and family first. When I fully enjoyed my time being SINGLE, then THE ONE will come at the right time, and that moment will be fully appreciated because THE ONE won't feel as a NEED but AN ADDITIONAL HAPPINESS.

Thanks for the free pass Aquaventure Waterpark! Thank you Atlantis Dubai!

P.S. 
On my way home, since I am already there and I haven't tried The Monorail, I tried it to tick it off in 'My Dubai Bucket List'. But I was so disappointed. The fare is applicable for tourist alone. It costs me 15 AED for a one way trip from Aquaventure Station up to The Gateway. It was so expensive and the trip was just short. It was totally not worth it.

When I reached The Gateway, there's a signage 'To Taxi's' so I followed that sign instead of using the Tram. I was so shocked that these taxis are not the metered ones. It was like a private ones called Royal Luxury something. They ripped money off from me. The starting rate is at 30 AED. I said no way. I said I will just take the tram and they bargained for the price. We ended up for 15 AED which I guess is still too much because I already paid 15 AED for The Monorail trip. Then I rode that cab and when I get off at Nakheel Metro Station, the driver was asking me for 30 AED. He said that the 15 AED was 'The Barter's' decision and not his. I was so pissed off and I was trying to tell him that I am not a tourist and he was still pushing it. In the end, I gave in but I know he felt so bad about it because I didn't say thank you and slammed the door a little bit because of my annoyance.

Just a little note, please just take the metered taxis at the valet entrance. That's it.

Overall, I still had fun! Just exclude the part of my trip way home. See you on my next adventure!

EID AL ADHA

We are celebrating a national holiday today and that is EID AL ADHA. Government offices and some private sectors declared a non working day today. And too bad, we don't belong to those lucky people with holidays.

Some of my friends were out of Dubai and traveling, some are with their families and some are just plain at home taking good rest, while I am still at my small office, trying to create new accounts (because I think some accounts were stolen by other agents oops!).

I usually self loathe before whenever Dubai declares holidays because we are not part of it. They don't even pay us for that nor they don't change the time schedules.

However, today, I don't. Maybe I got used to it or I have other things in mind. Or I just feel grateful because I know that my contract will be finished soon. And that I am moving on to another company or country soon.

So, EID MUBARAK EVERYONE! Please include me in your DUAS. :)

AQUAVENTURE ON 26th MAYBE?

I got a free pass from Aquaventure Waterpark as their birthday gift for me! Yey! Happy Birthday to me!

The thing is, I don't know anyone free on Saturday who's willing to go? I can't give you any free tickets since I only get one but I am already on a desperate mode. I want to go. Come with me please?

Sincerely,

          







            The Birthday Gal

50 DAY CHALLENGE: TED TALKS

Someone important in my life told me I am mature enough yet I still have room to grow. I cannot disagree to that fact. There are days in my life that I feel like I don't know myself and there are days where I can see myself on a different page but I cannot get a grip of my shit. So basically, I am cynical of telling myself that I am okay nowadays.

And I can't let some force of the universe to make me feel that way. After days and hours and minutes of looking for some platform that I can use to grow, I finally decided to use TED Talks as a help to get the best out of me.

I pledged to listen one TED talk a day, for 50 consecutive days and I am excited what will I be after 50 days. Sure it is not long enough to grow, but I believe that by maintaining a habit of listening to it nor the simple act of being open to wisdom is already a great start.

The first talk that I listened to was so perfect I cannot share it. It was from Tracy Mcmillan and I think I'll be a huge fan of hers one day. Her talk was all about marrying the one person we need to marry (non-verbatim) and that is OUR SELF.

Tracy Mcmillan Quotes about Marriage and Self Love

*TED 'Technology, Entertainment, Design' Talks (I used the word talks than conference since I cannot attend the conferences but just listen to it like a podcast) is a set of conferences held in USA and Canada (as I heard). Videos or talks can be found in YouTube for your perusal.

I am excited to see myself after 50 DAYS!

SUPERHUMAN IN KARAMA: CHINESE & FILIPINO

First of all, my intention of this post is not to bring down any nationality working here in Karama. However, I just feel the urge to uplift these hardworking people which I believe is needed to be heard by others. I just wanna let you know that these two groups are competing here in Al Attar Shopping Mall when it comes to salons. As of writing, I heard that this building houses 18 salons (for ladies) and 3 salons (for gents) which are as follows:

1) Gupit Pinoy
2) Relax N' Style
3) Royal Star Gents Salon
4) Hair Shine Gents Salon
5) Arabian Dessert 
6) Hollywood
7) Skin Plus & Beauty Salon
8) Athena
9) Athena Gents
10) Reena
11)  Dali Zhang
12) Ciao Bello
13) Judy N' Jacky
14) Hair Shine
15) Beauty Care First
16) Nasmat Jamal
17) Meteor Garden
18) Miracle Touch
19) Belo Plus
20) Hollywood
21) Reflection Beauty Centre

I cannot imagine how a  Four-Storey Building (the size of this building isn't big as Burjuman Center or Al Ghurair Center) can accommodate 18 salons. Can you imagine the competition?

If you can pass by in this building, you will get to experience how they try to market their customers. And that is by giving flyers. So, yes, they are giving out flyers in their own ways. I learned that these people are doing that when they don't have any customers at all. I asked some of them how often they do that in a day and in a week and they told me:

In a day: Maybe 4-7 hours depending on the day
In a week: Maybe 4-6 days a week

Answers varies but that's the average answers and out of the observation of people around. So it means that giving out flyers is more often than doing the job itself in the salon.

These people are working their asses off because the salary that they receive are not enough (I believe). I heard that they can receive some commissions whenever they can invite customers to the salons through giving flyers. Some of the commissions are on percentage basis while some don't get any commissions at all.

The Chinese staff receives twice a month day off and the Filipino staff receives once a week day off.

I am very embarrassed of myself as to how I complain about my work. These people never complain about standing all day long, out in the sun, just to give flyers. I can even see them smiling and goofing around with their colleagues, while I am always on my bitch mode on when I don't have clients.

Knowing these people, it inspires me to work smarter in life with humility at its finest. I got the chance to see them from a closer point of view and in the span of five days, I remember a lot of values that I should never ever forget.

I admire these people for working hard despite of any job that they are doing right now. There's a lot of jobs out there harder than these, and I admire all of you (if you're one of them) for being strong and for doing it just to fulfill your deepest why's.

It's my pleasure to be transferred here in the office and I will never forget this wisdom from them. Kudos to all Temporary Foreign Workers or TFW's, may it be here in Dubai or around the world!

LITTLE OFFICE AROUND THE CORNER

I was told I will be transferred to Deira office last week but after a few days, the memo was put on hold due to some considerations I believe. Though I am not sure of the agenda of the considerations. Is it because of my performance? Or are they just waiting for the new employees so that they can set all the new office assignments?

Anyway, as of today, I am well adjusted to my new humble office here in Karama (except for a fact that this office doesn't have a water dispenser so I missed drinking coffee). So yes, good news! I am still in Karama and I don't need to take metro or bus unlike if I will be transferred to Deira. Though I hoped for a new environment, but I am still grateful for what I received in return.

I would like to share my few observations (this small office offers a good spot if you like watching people as a hobby which I do enjoy the most) and reflections for the past two days:

1) There's a lot of salons in this building (that's a fact) and the competition for them is really really high. For them to get customers, there are people downstairs giving flyers for their salons. And when I say they are giving flyers, it is the intense way of giving flyers I can say. That's their sole job, to give flyers. I have lots of thoughts about these people (good, bad, sad, etc.) and I am thinking of another post to be written specifically for them.

2) For the past few days, I complain a lot about my work and my salary but there are lots of people working in this building with worse conditions than mine. I just realized I forgot to be more grateful, more humble and more compassionate. And this office makes me remember those things all over again.

3) This small office receives fewer inquiries and that means I have to work my ass harder and wiser. I got scared sometimes that I might not hit the targets daily. So during the first two days, I tried my best to convince myself  that I will hit the target plus working my ass off and yes, I am hitting the targets (exceeding the margin even!). I just noticed that I am slowly coming back to my positive self and I am loving it!

With my pa-bebe look at the new office. ☺

Wish me good vibes and please always include me in your prayers. Have a great week!

P.S. I got SATURDAYS OFF as per the memo! I AM SO HAPPY! I hope they will not make any changes. I am looking forward to get a lot of chance to go out of Karama during these Saturdays off. See you around!

RUNNING SHOES FOR A START

A few days back, I wrote one post about my birthday wish list. I got the idea of a wish list from Pinay Flying High (Hi!! Avid fan here!) and yes, it’s my first time to write one. I thought that having a wish list is just a pure fantasy or just a wishful thinking. But someone granted one of my wish list! Maybe it’s just a coincidence or that person love me so much?

I have two feelings:
GUILTY. I am not the materialistic type of person. I don’t ask for gifts nor expect any gift during my birthdays. I was always reminded that the act of giving is more than the act of receiving. So I felt that receiving gifts (especially the granted ones) is one thing I don’t deserve.

And of course, HAPPY. My birthday is still 18 days away but I already receive a present! I am not expecting any at all. The highlight of my birthday is just to go to Aquaventure. That’s it. BUT SOMEONE GAVE A GIFT!

A friend granted the first on the list. A pair of running shoes. It’s not Merrell but it’s more than I can wish for! Nike Flyknit Airmax as I saw in the internet. I don’t care about the name (just curious) because I really don't understand why they have names but I so like it! Light, colorful, and it came as a package! Yes. With a tank top and sports pants! How can I not like it?

Happy Birthday (way advance) for me! Let’s have a happy month-long celebration for me!

WALLS: STANDING TALL AND STRONG

I just finished reading 'The Heir' last night. I can't make a good review out of it since I don't have much time to do so. However, to make a summary out of it, I can say that I am torn between loving it and hating it.

Eadlyn Schreave is bratty and selfish. She knows what she wants in life. She's a total bitch and a pain in the ass of the Selected guys. The book is not the best of the series but what kept me going is her point of view in life. She knows what she wants, yes. A true queen on her own.

But what made me love her is that she's confused as ever when it comes to her feelings. (Smart girls tend to be dumb when it comes to her rationale about relationships. I think Science can prove that.)
She's keeping people at bay but she knows she's thirsty for some affection. She knows she's powerful but she's afraid that these guys will hurt her and became powerless once they get to open her heart.

Eadlyn and I has something in common. And it is to guard our heart. Not to let our defenses down. Not yet..

I saw in one article and I quote:

"What happens if  we've been neglected when we our little? Did your parents use to leave you alone frequently when you were little?  Or maybe they were there physically, but emotionally unavailable, always too stressed by their own issues? When coming from a neglectful family, as adults, we may have the tendency to cling to our friends, afraid that they will leave us. The opposite can happen too: deep down inside, we "know" that the persons w need most in our life will abandon us or the relationships we cherish the most will end at some point - which makes us terrified of letting our guard down and letting others in." 

I used to believe this is true for myself. That this happens to those who grew up with neglectful parents, until I read The Heir. I didn't envisioned America and Maxon neglected Eadlyn when she's still a child but I can see that she's afraid like hell when Ahren left her for Camille.

I realized that there might be more reasons as to why people don't let their guard down. Everyone have their own reasons. We can't blame people for doing so. You can't blame me either.

CLOSING ONE CHAPTER OF MY LIFE IN GHALIYAH TRAVEL

Last Monday night, I was caught using Facebook (not literally but since I'm very honest, I told them that I was checking someone's message in Facebook) and that lead to salary deduction of 500 AED plus I will be transferred to another office.

Yes, you read it right, I will be moving to another office starting on Saturday.

I spent my whole weekend sulking, and sleeping, and stress eating and thinking.

I was upset at myself for these reasons:
1) I was not able to learn my lessons when others got their salary deducted from using Facebook.
2) I was too consumed from reading messages that I was not able to hide it (if I was careful it won't lead to something like this)

I was upset at my company for these reasons:
1) I already hit the targets for the day let alone my monthly target which I am proud to say that I hit 200% of it.
2) It was 9 pm already and I already hit the targets 200% (this means that I don't neglect my tasks and work responsibility) 
3) Employees have their own version of their productivity strategy and using it doesn't mean that I am not productive

Okay enough with the explanation. After exactly one year (I reported as an agent in Corner Office last Sept. 6, 2014), I will be moving to Deira office this coming Sept. 5, 2015. 

At first, I was sad and upset of course. The market is already here. I am (at least) stable with my humble accounts/clients. People knew me already in this area and clients were coming back for me with their own reasons and judgments.

After a whole day of sleeping and meditating, I get a grip on my composure. I found myself excited for this new chapter of my life. My soon to be office is a challenge to me. New environment means new colleagues to work out with. New boss. New clients. New strategies. New lessons. New leap of faith. 

And all these new things mean one thing. Getting out of my comfort zone. 

I am excited as to what person will I be after 12 more months. Hoping for an exciting year for my career! See you around in Al Ghurair Center!