Saudi Sexpat Stories: Tales from the Kingdom

I guess it’s that special time of the year again… when we celebrate our little girl and her joyous coming into our lives. Yes, Marga, our “mini-diva” has finally crossed the “Terrific Twos” threshold last 03 June!

Try as I might not to repeat my first birthday wishes to her, I find myself having the same sentiments… and much, much more.  So as not to bore you too much with all the details, I’ll just give you a quick “run-through” of how we celebrated our little princess’ special day.

First off, to “siomai” love for her (and inspired by an earlier siomai post by Reflexes), I tried my hand at making chicken siomai (steamed chicken dumplings) for lunch…

… and paired this off with tuna-mushroom pasta in olive oil… Though I had to make do with several substitutes for some of the original siomai ingredients (ground chicken instead of ground pork and filo pastry instead of siomai wrapper), I was pleased that my first crack at making this dish proved “passable”. ;) 

Come dinner time, we were off to Casper and Gambini’s.  Unlike our previous trip, though, we were a bit disappointed with our eating experience this time around.  Aside from the delay in getting our orders and in serving the food (no thanks to the “prayer time” observed kingdom-wide where all “outward” activity stops) - which meant that we were practically “past-famished” by the time our food arrived - the airconditioning in the restaurant also was being repaired! “Hot and hungry” certainly do not make for happy party people!

Good thing our desserts in Haagen Dasz considerably cooled down our “hot heads” and made us enjoy the evening once more! Hurray for ice cream!

In fact, the “sugar-high” was more than enough for Papa and the birthday girl to have the “energy” to ham it up for the camera! (*cute!*)

Our dear Marga, you are truly one of the most precious gifts we have received.  Your coming into our family is definitely an answered prayer. Thank you for the joy and happiness you have brought into our lives. Here’s to more blessed and healthy years ahead. Happy birthday, our sweet, silly girl! We love you! 

Last weekend was particularly eventful for us.  We decided to check out the new water theme park in our neighboring kingdom, Bahrain - The Lost Paradise of Dilmun.

Impressive bovine structures greet us at the entrance of the park

Dilmun is actually one of the earliest civilizations in Bahrain.  They were believed to have been descended from the Greeks. We were fortunate to have visited the original site of the Dilmun ruins - a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site - during an earlier visit to Bahrain in October last year.

The attention to detail of the outer walls was a good sign - we weren‘t disappointed when we finally got inside!

What a welcome sight! A replica of an ancient Dilmun aqueduct

Highlights of our visit were the wave pool (apparently the largest in the Gulf region) , the Kids’ Rain Fortress (where the kids spent most of their time) and of course, the exciting water slides!  Too bad, though, that we weren’t able to take pictures of all the attractions we tried since it was quite difficult to bring our non-waterproof camera along while we were having so much fun in the water.

The Kids’ Rain Fortress aka The Water Temple - where we shared a lot of fun, BIG splashes!

Keith and I were so happy to have done something different and fun (for the kids, most especially) for a change.  Our weekend adventure was definitely one of our finer family bonding moments.

Our three blessings

Click here for more pictures.

Yesterday was a special day for our two boys.  You see, every school year, Luigi and Rafa look forward to the Science Fair in their school since it gives them the chance to “showcase” their creative skills at making science projects (modesty aside, with help from yours truly ) and to also improve on their oral presentation skills when they explain their respective “masterpieces” to teachers, students and parents who drop by.

I guess what even encouraged this interest was when Luigi won “Best Science Project” in his class last year.

Despite the admittedly “toxic” time the boys and I usually have preparing for this “big day”, their beaming smiles and sense of accomplishment from this exercise more than make up for all the stressing and fretting of the “pre-fair” days…

This year, Luigi chose the somewhat “high-falutin’” topic, “Bats and Echolocation”, while Rafael decided to highlight his model-building skills by making a simple thermometer.

Here are some pictures from our day at the fair.  Pardon the picture quality as these were just taken using our reliable Nokia N70.  More pictures can be found in Luigi’s and Rafa’s Multiply sites. Enjoy!

 Looking so pleased to finally see us

How’s that for a visual aid?

Next stop: Luigi, the “Bat Boy”!

A closer look at the “Bat Navigation” model…

…and the “Bat Chart”

Finally, the “star” of the Science Fair, its littlest visitor that day - Marga!

Dito sa disyerto, kami’y gabayan

Sa landas na tinatahak, Iyong tanglawan

Sa apat na kanto ng mundong ginagalawan

Kalayaan sa pananampalataya

Nawa’y makamtan.

Di lingid sa marami sa inyo na hindi bukas ang “kaharian ng buhangin” sa iba’t ibang uri ng pananampalataya maliban sa kanilang sinusunod.  Dahil dito, masuwerte na kami (at ang iba pang kabayang Katoliko na tulad namin) kung mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-misa tuwing Biyernes (ang katumbas ng Linggo sa bahaging ito ng mundo) o makatawid sa kapitbahay na kaharian (Bahrain) upang mas malayang sumamba.

Sa katunayan, noong una kaming napadpad dito, sa takot na malagay sa alanganin, wala kaming nabitbit na kahit na anong bagay na relihiyoso maliban sa isang rosaryo na naisilid ko sa bulsa ng aking bag.  Kaya naman laking tuwa ko nang “maipuslit” namin ang dalawang larawang ito (na may tig-aapat na kanto - kaya “swak” sa tema ng linggong ito!). Ibinigay ang mga ito sa amin ng aking ina mula sa kanilang “pilgrimage” sa “Banal na Lupain”. 

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang dasal namin na nawa’y matuloy na ang napipintong pag-uusap ng hari dito sa mga lider ng iba’t ibang relihiyon upang mabigyang-daan ang inaasam-asam na kalayaan sa pagsamba sa bahaging ito ng mundo.

While shopping for the boys’ science project materials last weekend in our favorite arts and crafts store, Al Zamil, I was pleasantly surprised to find these…

Whaddyaknow? After “desperately searching” in the nearly 2 years we have been living here, I finally was able to get hold of my first Saudi refrigerator magnets - yey! What’s more, I like them because they are distinctly Saudi - with the man in the traditional thobe and the woman garbed in the “controversial” burkah (head veil) and abaya (aka “black ninja outfit” ). 

You see, apart from the celadon elephants I fancy, Keith and I also collect refrigerator magnets as souvenirs from all the places we have been to.  So far, we have been successful in our “quest” (except for Japan - but that’s another story…). 

I am so pleased with my finds that I placed them right smack center with all the rest of their “friends”.

Hmmm… now if only any of you guys can tell me where to snag those “much-coveted” Japanese magnets (without actually having to go back to Japan), I’d be forever grateful - promise!

“Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin.” (or something like that!)

At last, after countless sleepless nights, Mahjong Medley Classic, Aztec tile layout - I have overcome! Woohoo! Clincher turned out to be game number 159 (yes, I lost 158 games previously).  What’s even sweeter is that I even ended up in the high score list with this one!

Other things to toast about:

• Had an April Fool’s nightcap (translation: mocha latte and strawberry cream pie) last night with NFF (new-found friend) Brenda (visiting wife of co-”bagong bayani” Raymund from Manila) and the whole gang at Starbucks - it was good to get out of the house for a change after our “forced confinement” due to illness
• Speaking of…  Looks like fate has finally smiled on us as sickness has now officially gone out our door (and I don’t mind slamming the door after it and throwing away the key! Hahaha! ).  Luigi has fully recovered while I had my first decongestant spray-free sleep last night! (*breathing in a sigh of relief - literally*)
• Hubby has also confirmed that our return flight to Manila for the duration of the boys’ summer break has been booked.  More horn-tooting is definitely in order!

If I may just tweak a familiar saying to suit our purposes: March showers indeed brings April flowers! Here’s to more good things coming our way this month and for the rest of the year (and coming years, too)!

Guess this only means, paraphrasing the famous Austin Powers  (sans the sexual innuendoes, of course - oh, behave! ) - Mojo’s back. Yeah, baby, yeah!!!

Life is sweet. God is good. I am happy (again).

Just wanted to share this with you to end my posts for the month on a yummy (and decidedly more positive)note. 

Also, I didn’t want my monthly entry count to conclude at such an unlucky number as “13″ - especially since this month has not exactly been my favorite (with all its “sickness episodes ” and with the weather turning from comfortably cool to “typically desert” again)… Better keep all my bases covered to ward off all negativity.  Right, Weng?

I read somewhere that people celebrated “Fat Tuesday” in olden times to ensure that they were able to use up all their “lent-prohibited” kitchen supplies before actual fasting started on Holy Wednesday.  Suffice it to say that we were (unknowingly) sold on the idea when we, together with other kingdom-based friends, had our very own Fat Tuesday dinner here in the ”land of the sand”- at our newest delish find of a resto, the global restaurant-cafe, Casper and Gambini’s.

We first sampled C&G’s fare on a pre-Valentine’s date and have been hooked ever since.  The ambience is very cozy and classy in an understated manner, the service - friendly and efficient, and of course, the food - oh-so-generous portions and positively to-die-for taste!  Call me an April Fool but I wouldn’t mind doing a repeat of our Fat Tuesday fiasco really, really soon!

For starters: Delish bread basket with yummy spread “on the house”

Pear Iced Tea - both didn’t disappoint, thankfully!

Rafa, our very own “mac-and-cheese grinch”: Bawal humingi! Grrrr…

Believe me, underneath all that garnish and sides is a yummy grilled salmon fillet!

The only down side to the whole meal was this (Keith’s order): Chicken Teriyaki which turned out too spicy for his taste!

Everybody happy! (*Burp!*)

By special request, here’s a sample snap of Marga with one of her oh-so-many “Arab-mirers”, Eli, the Lebanese head waiter who “bribed” her with a shiny, red balloon

Pardon that this post took long in coming as the past week has been some sort of rollercoaster ride for me.  As most of you know, Luigi has been sick and Keith and I have been beside ourselves with worry and panic (more me than him, really – hehehe) especially since he had a relapse of sorts yesterday.  The “nursing role” of my diva-ness seem to have taken a toll too on my health (i.e., getting up every four hours for the past week  to take Luigi’s temp and give him his medicines) as now it’s my turn to be under the weather…well, what goes around comes around – especially the “viral kind”, I guess… 

Good thing that Luigi has been fever (and paracetamol)-free for almost the whole day now – yay! God is good!  I’m sure with some more rest and a lot more TLC, he’s well on his way to complete recovery.  Thank you too to all of you who have prayed for him as I am positive this made a big difference in his getting well.   

Anyhoo, Munchkin Mommy’s “Metal” post a few days back gave me the inspiration for part of this entry.  I have been collecting elephants for a couple of years now (am actually partial to the celadon kinds) since aside from them being, for lack of a more descriptive word, “cute”, they are also supposed to bring luck.  Since Weng has also “educated” me on which type of luck elephants bring specifically (“descendant luck”, she says…), it made me appreciate my pachyderms all the more!

Without further ado, let me share with you the “pachyderm pals” we managed to bring in from my collection in Manila.  Here’s to more luck for all of us (I sure know I could use more of it!) in the coming days.  Enjoy!

It’s 1:45 am and sleep continues to elude me.  Haven’t been exactly relaxed the past two days - guess the excess adrenaline in my system is keeping me awake.

Oh well, I guess I should comfort myself in the fact that I have actually accomplished quite a lot in those two days.  I’d like to think of it as domestic diva “strength training” and “endurance building” exercises.  The regimen goes something like this:

Morning exercises:

1. Marga watching/washing/feeding - 3 sets, 5 reps
2. Cooking and kitchen duty - 1.5 hours
3. Part 1 of wash-and-dry duty (whites/light-colored) - three 5kilo loads
4. Surfing (the internet kind) for info on boys’ school projects due tomorrow - approx 2 hours

Afternoon Exercises:

1. Dish duty - 15 mins
2. Part 2 of wash-and-dry duty (colored/towels/bedsheets) - four loads
3. Folding/hanging/storing of clean clothes - 2 hours total
4. Preparing drafts of boys’ school projects - 3.5 hours
5. Marga nap time (cool down period) - 2 hours (if I’m lucky)

Good thing my “personal trainer” (aka Keith) comes in at around 5:30 pm to help out with the rest of the housework-out regimen.

Seeing my “training schedule” for the past two days explains a lot - no wonder I haven’t stuck with my treadmill sessions and “Billy (Blanks) dates” (yes, we’re back together - hehehe) since Saturday! 

It’s 2:15 am. My eyes feel a bit droopy now.  Thank God I’m getting some serious shut-eye soon.

G’night y’all! Super Inday signing off…

The weekend that passed was largely uneventful save for the killer clean-up of the boys’ room and toy boxes (yes, it’s that time of the year again!).  For those of you wanting a sneak peek of the first time I did this here in the Kingdom, click here. 

Given the considerably smaller living space we now have (compared to our Manila home), Keith and I have decided that we should actively manage the amount of stuff we keep in our house lest our living quarters turns totally chaotic (as it is wont to given our three active gremlins!).  

In a way, living sans a bodega and larger closets has been good for us.  It has allowed us to constantly take stock of the things we keep – deciding which stuff are truly important and needed vs those that we can really live without (i.e., what we don’t need anymore that can still be used by others as well as trash that needs to be disposed of).  I personally find cleaning-up totally therapeutic.  Nothing beats a clutter-free home, if you ask me!

Hopefully, these clean-up exercises will also rub off positively on our children despite the innate difficulty of actually getting started and “digging into the dump”, so to speak… I pray that this teaches them to live simply by prioritizing what is truly important and to experience satisfaction in sharing the stuff they still want but don’t really need anymore to those who actually need them more. 

Doing the clean-up also reminded me of the Chinese concept of qi  - the flow of energy in all living things – and how this flow can be ultimately blocked when we continue to hold on to stuff, experiences or past hurts too tightly. There’s just so much wisdom in this as far as I’m concerned.  It totally makes sense: after all, how can we enjoy new things and experiences if we don’t give them the chance to even get into our lives, right?    

Qi is flowing quite well in our little home right now.  We enjoy what we currently have and we remain open to new things and experiences - for each of us, individually, and for the family, as a whole.  Life is good.  I am happy.