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Riding the Dubai Ferry and some Commuting Escapades

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As I was writing this, articles about a new Dubai metro line – Blue line have come out at the same time I heard about a plan for an elevated expressway along   the historic Pasig river back home and how it is being debated in The Howie Severino Podcast . Named PAREX for Pasig River Expressway it is supposed to solve traffic congestion in the metro by linking Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay therefore giving alternative routes to the business districts(futurearc.com, March 2023). Coincidentally, I have just recently tried the Dubai Ferry, also run by RTA , which has been operating for quite a long time already with routes going to Dubai Marina, Bluewater Marine Transport Station,   Al Ghuabaiba , etc. and two round trip timings a day at Dubai Marina station   (see routes/timings here ). I grew up taking public transportation to school and work. To understand better what my life as a commuter in the Philippines was, I shall recount my commuting escapades: Going to school, I needed to ride
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Visiting the Local Scene Part 2

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Kodak UltraMax400, Minolta X300. Book Hero It is its other branch, that small space that made my tired soul happy while working for nine gruelling months at Dubai Outlet Mall where I have come to know this little gem. What’s unique about this second-hand bookstore is that apart from the one in Umm Suqeim, all their other branch runs on honesty policy. They put up book shelves on their spaces in a mall and a payment box where buyers drop their money. Prices range from 10 to 20 dirhams per book depending on the color of the sticker in the book. It’s where I got my copies of Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares (now a Netflix series), Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, Working with Bitches by Meredith Fuller and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman. If you follow them on their social, they post their latest stocks from their branches. And if you’re someone who still prefer human interaction, the Umm Suqeim bookstore cafe does not disappoint.   They sometimes hold an open mic for poetry reading and music pe
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Visiting the Local Scene (Ripe Market & The Courtyard)

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  I live in a place where summer means staying indoors more. Unless you’re a cactus or a camel, phrases like frolicking in the beach or basking in the sun can be lethal. So before the desert weather starts unleashing it’s full power, I went out and visited these outdoor scenes to take some photos.  Ripe Market Located in Academy Park, it will reopen every weekend on October according to the website. I visited on its last weekend before closing for the summer. In it were stalls selling locally made and owned accessories, clothes, produce, food trucks, a playground and a petting zoo.  There wasn’t much going on when I went as it was on its last week. On cooler months, there’s suppose to have fun activities aside from the market. I also tried just to window shop and only take pictures because as much as the concept is for a great cause for the community, it is still expensive. The Courtyard I stumbled upon this place in a  What's On  article. Apparently, it is close by Alserkal Avenue
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Photo Walking

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Downtown, Dubai. April 2023. Kodak Gold200 It’s been over a year since I started playing with my toy camera, Agfaphoto reusable film camera. I have been able to try different film rolls and no, I haven’t starved from its steadily increasing prices, thankfully. I just wasn’t able to follow up my last blog because I’ve been in a slump – an insanely long slump. While finding my way back, I pored my self over books and photo walks, quite a few actually. Designated reading nook where said reading takes place.  From beaches, tourist spots and commercial spaces in Dubai to churches, greens and a dog in the Philippines, I was able to try out a few types of film roll. Hereinafter, I shall present the frames taken and developed whilst I am rendered unproductive in the realm of writing!📜📣 Sunset at JBR. Kodak Gold200. April, 2023. Catching a common sight in Dubai on film. Kodak Gold200. The Pointe. April 2023. More of what I' v e captured on this film roll  in April of 2023: Another roll of
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The Case of Film Photography: Luxury or Reasonable?

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I’ve fallen prey once again to consumerism! What’s the bait? Film camera!📷. Growing up, my family never owned one. All our pictures in the photo album were from friends’ and relatives’ cameras. By the time I  can afford to have one, the digital age kicked in. So our first ever camera was a Sony  digital camera in 2011 that I’m not sure where it’s now and pretty sure have used it 2 or 3 times only hahaha! It really wasn’t that expensive to own one in the 90's and since it’s the only way of taking pictures of your memorable experiences and milestones in life , it’s supply and demand made the prices fairly competitive. But buying a camera, a battery, a film, then paying for developing is a lost argument to my mother.  Her practicality would put today’s trendy minimalists and backpackers to shame. Sure it wouldn’t be that much a pinch in the pocket to slide affordable camera options alongside food, clothing, house and school in the budget, but do we really have to? Answer: Not really.
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Big Boss: Leadership from a Standpoint of a Subordinate

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  Photo from Pinterest This is partly a tribute to my parents’ boss who passed away recently. Why to a person who I don't know personally and have not worked for at all? It’s in seeing my parents mourn for him – their boss even before I was born until they all retired - that he meant more than just their employer to them. We only met a few times briefly and I barely remember how he looked like, nor I can say that he was part of any pivotal point in my career. What he was though, was the person who gave my parents the means to provide for us. He was not the boss that interviewed and hired me, but without him, those opportunities may not be even available for me. Without him, my parents won’t be able to send us to school and we wouldn’t be able to have better chances to progress. He was an instrument, an important part of my family’s life. The other part of this blog, I like to contemplate on my professional relationships with my past bosses*. Would I grieve in the same way if (k
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Adulthood and Motivation | How Helping a Student with Homework Helped Me

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  Photo from @freelanceWJ - And watch movies and TV to get more ideas.  But, what if you feel like it's time and conscience throwing a spoke in the wheel of your literary carriage? When you feel time is better spent on things that will benefit a better cause like career advancement, family relationship, or job hunting than sitting down to write? Or your conscience telling you to save your energy and effort for more pressing matters, that at times like this, you should be eyeballing on solving imminent problems first and not stalling with distractions i.e. writing/blogging/reading? My answer is to feel it, go through feeling guilty about it, then drop step your conscience! Haks! I surprised ang aking konsensya  (my conscience) by managing to come up with a topic to write about from feeling down! Not a tough shot to make but it almost ran my shot clock up. It is so easy to drown in negative emotions at times like this. What got me back on my toes is a student's homework. A se
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