Day 1: Dubai Tennis Men’s Open

Yey! I was there! A friend of mine by the name of Flor had 2 tickets for the Tennis Open. Sadly, she’s single and she had no idea who’s to bring with her to watch the game. The ticket was given by her boss and “required” (yes, it was a must!) her to watch the game since her boss is leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

Until one day, (which was last week) we IMed each other…until it came to a point that I agreed to go with her to watch the game. I was so excited to know that I will be having an opportunity to watch a tennis game (…the real tennis game!) and probably hold also a shoot! I haven’t been to shooting a sports scene…I don’t think I have the talent to capture any bolting objects…reason? Because my cam isn’t as high tech as the other photographers‘. But hey, that principle is definitely in contradiction with my blog description. Yes, I believe in my blog description…but sometimes I can’t help but become painfully desirous of other’s advantages of having a good cam set.

Oh not only that…on that day, I felt I was the most stupid person in the whole wide universe! …because I forgot to bring my camera…and I also forgot to recharge my batt! Wtf! So, after office, I had to drop by our house to get my cam and just bought a disposable battery…”goodluck how long this would last!”

I was all set for capturing moments for the game…but hey! We were told that there’s a rule of “No Flash Photography”…wtf ! (for the 2nd time!). Alright…I have a very low shutter speed by default, and now I have to dwell on the fact that I can’t use my flash which means that my photos might be prone to camera shakes! Yeah, right…my guess was right…I couldn’t seem to capture any single moving ball…my god! What a poor skill! I was sooo disappointed.

I was a bit happy though…Roger Federer won! (oh by the way, he’s sooo gorgeous…shhhh…Is Randy here?). As we went outside the stadium and head for dinner, we became curious why bunch of people seemed to be waiting for someone near the toilet. And yes, ohmigod, they were waiting for Federer to come out from his shower room! So I immediately grabbed my poor cam from its carry case…only to find out…I RAN OUT OF BATTERY! Wtf (for the 3rd time)! So I just patiently stayed there and anticipate the coming of Federer. I suddenly remembered that my friend brought her cam, so I grabbed it. I told her to show off our ticket and when opportunity permits, we would ask him to sign our tickets. So, we’re ready!

Few minutes later, Federer came out! And people began screaming and pushing each other (including us by the way!)…since I was an avid fan of Ginebra way back then, I told myself, I can do this…so I grabbed my friend and ran after Federer…I was shouting, “Flor, flor, papirmahan mo yung ticket, ako magshu-shoot!”…we were like crazy, really! But it was all worth it! We made it! Though we did not have the great shots…at least I was able to feel satisfied a bit…we were laughing so hard!
So here are some of the sample pictures that I took (I told you, these are not so amusing...hay):



Multi-tasking? Photo by Flor


The only thing that made me satisfied!

Some of my friends (even my hubby) say, I don’t need another camera…but I just feel like buying another one…would that also mean changing my blog description? I’m afraid not…Good compositions can still be created using any point-and-shoot camera, but one thing you can’t have with these cameras are: “ease, comfort and … winning shots!”. There are many good pictures…but only few make headway…sigh…sigh…sigh

Reminiscing the old days

Since I had nothing to do yesterday (only in the afternoon...I just finished a “forever-rush” task!)…I decided to open old files from my external hard drive. I opened the folder, “Videos” because of that cute little icon that Randy had configured. The filenames were not familiar to me…so I decided to open a single file…Nah! It was the 2004 cheering competition that I have already watched for x number of times. Then I opened a folder with obscure title...wow, inside the folder were 2 files entitled “Bangkok_8-05(1)” and “Bangkok_8-05(2)”. Yehey! These must be the video files that Dexter (one of my beloved batchmates in PwC) took while we were in Bangkok,Thailand in the year 2005. And my guess was right, I saw Dexter’s face when I looked at the Details tab of the Windows Explorer (yep, yep…”Windows”…I’m in the office, remember?). So I opened the 1st video. I patiently watched the video, fast forwarding sometimes (hehehe…of course I can also see in the video the people I didn’t like! Ha!). Then, the video reached the scene where Donnabelle, Mel, Wey, Dex and me are gathered together in a room…that was the room assigned to me and Donnabelle. I was laughing very hard while I was watching the video. My office seatmate would look at me to ask why. After watching the video, I suddenly miss my batchmates who I left in the Philippines. There are thoughts in my mind which will forever remind me of them:
(1) Wey has this tendency to put on “Post it notes” when she runs out of undergarment.
(2) I am afraid of brushing my teeth alone inside a hotel’s CR…and my greatest companion? Donnabelle!
(3) Donnabelle is the best roommate ever! =)
(4) Dexter is the most organized person I’ve known.
(5) Mel can stay all alone inside a spooky room…
(6) When Donnabelle, Wey, Mel & me gather together…for sure, we would talk of other person’s attitude and well-being…bad! That’s why we’re called – MEAN GIRLS!
(7) Dexter can endure our unstoppable mouth without protest or complaint…hahaha!
(8) If you want to have meaningful but funny shots, Mel would be the best subject!
The video lasted for more than 1 hour. Sad to say, I didn’t finish the video. When I went home last night, I told myself:
“I REALLY MISS MY BATCHMATES!
Hope they’re here with me…”


Note: My 4 other batchmates (Ivy, Les, Coco, & Jessamyn) were not in the video because they went outside the hotel that time…but for sure, they are still remembered. *wink*

My trial make up with Val Villarin

Well, I just wanna share the photos from my trial make up with Val Villarin. I really love Val...ang taray ng lola! hehehe...

Take note, that this trial make up was done few days before the wedding...so, no backing out na to...hahaha! Joke lang, Val...

Here are the pics!


right after the tmu


with the make up artist, Val Villarin!


ang linis gumawa ni val, oh!


the bride & groom


...after 8 hours! fresh pa rin...hehehe!


my curly hair! hehehe....

Val did not shave my eyebrows...papahabain na lang daw muna para come wedding day, pwede nang ahitin...hehehe! Right after the tmu, we went to SM Sta. Rosa (yep, we traveled pa from Caloocan to Laguna ng lagay na yan ha) to get my contact lens. Everybody in the mall was staring at my hair & face...ang haba ng hair ko! Then the optometrist assigned to me couldn't help but asked me: "May program ba sa mall na kasama ka?" hehehe...ang haba talaga ng hair ko that day, hahaha!

My 2006 life...are you in or out?

Well, as promised, I will enumerate some important things that happened to my life in the year 2006. 2006 had brought so many changes in my life...there were many transitions happened. And also, I somehow felt the importance of some things and people. Let us cast each and everyone's mind back to year 2006:

JANUARY '06:
(1) January 13 - my last day in PwC. The Group C managers treated me out for lunch @ California Pizza Kitchen. I was really touched with this gesture...to make an extra effort to go out with me in spite of their busy schedule..take note, busy season po nuon...eheheh!). I was a bit sad also on this day...wala ang batchmates and staff ko sa office...si ellen caijo lang ang naabutan ko sa area...while finalizing our client's FS.
(2) January 17 - my flight going to DXB. Mixed emotions...because I was leaving my family in the Phils and at the same time, I was so excited to see Randy again after 3 months.
(3) January 21 - the day I joined Deloitte Touche - Dubai. I was not happy.
(4) January 28 - the day I resigned from Deloitte. I was soooo happy...hahaha!

FEBRUARY '06:
(1) February 8 - the day I joined Arbour International.
(2) February 14 - my 1st valentine in DXB with Randy...we just ate @ chilli's - Burjuman. I just came from a conference call which ended @ 11pm.
(3) February 23 - the day I got my residence visa...after so many discussions with my visit visa sponsor...
(4) We went and hang around Dubai Marina -- one of our friends has a unit there! sosyal!

MARCH '06:
(1) I received my 1st ever 1-month salary in Dirhams! my first purchase/s ?? - oakley halfwire, ipod nano for bro, N6600 for my padir...all in one day...hehehe, di naman excited!
(2) I went to Ski Dubai and Al Ain, UAE!
(3) Transferred to a new home...home nga ba? or hell?
(4) Started thinking about the wedding...civil or church?
(5) Joined the w@w yahoogroup...not a regret!

APRIL '06:
(1) I applied for Australian visa and got accepted.
(2) My first hair rebonding, hhahaha!
(3) Finally settled for a church wedding! whew!

MAY '06:
(1) May 4 - I went to Melbourne for the CSL Project with Steve Lancsak of Arbour - Chicago.
(2) May 12 - my first time to celebrate bday all by myself....not a single family member...oh I almost forgot, Steve just treated me out for dinner...
(3) May 28 - my flight going back to DXB...i was so happy!!!

JUNE '06:
(1) We went to Wild Wadi!!! yey!
(2) Started booking the wedding suppliers...my 1st supplier booked? Mr. Kelvin Montalbo of Imagineer Digital
(3) Booked also the church, reception & caterer
(4) Started studying digital photography...that's why I bought my 1st SLR camera on this month
(5) I got my Serbia and Montenegro visa ... and no, I did not go there...hehehe!

JULY '06:
(1) Wedding preps!
(2) Things are getting worse in our house!

AUGUST '06:
(1) Wedding preps!
(2) Things are getting worst in our house!

SEPTEMBER '06:
(1) Most peaceful month in our house! hahahah!
(2) Developed good friendships with other housemates...eh nagkakasundo ba naman sa hinanakit eh!
(3) Bought my 1st ever HP photo printer
(4) Wedding preps!

OCTOBER '06:
(1) Wow! the busiest month!
(2) Had our 1st prenuptial shoot @ Dubai Creek Park
(3) Our 8th year anniversary...Randy finally gave me an engagement ring...hmph...late! We went to Dhow Cruise as his surprise for me
(4) I bought my macbook! yey!
(5) Finally....we transferred to a new house --- the happiest move in October! hhahahaha!
(6) Had our 2nd prenuptial shoot @ Burj Al Arab open beach
(7) Wedding preps!
(8) I met the UAE pexers!
(9) I met the DXB - w@wies!

NOVEMBER '06:
(1) Had our 3rd and final prenuptial shoot @ Madinat Jumeirah
(2) Bought my iPod Video @ Gitex
(3) Bought my PSP which I eventually sold to Randy, hahhahaah!
(4) Wedding preps

DECEMBER '06:
(1) We went to Desert Safari 2006 - Pasko sa Disyerto!
(2) We went home to Philippines! Yey!
(3) Wedding preps!

So that's it! Pardon me if I failed to remember some of the dates.

2006 was really a memorable year for me...the only year where I can vividly remember the various happenings in my life...no matter how small it is...I wonder if 2007 will beat that...

I can now access FLICKR!!!

I've been out of UAE for more than 50 days. I got no idea on what was happening here...until one day after my arrival, while resting since I just came from a 20-hour flight MNL-HK-DXB, I tried to log in to http://www.flickr.com. And guess what?!? BLOCKED AGAIN BY ETISALAT! wtf!

Few months ago, Etisalat (network service provider in UAE) revived the Flickr.com from being blocked for a number of months (they are saying that the site is against the moral, religious and political values of UAE). Because it was finally been revived, I decided to acquire a pro account from Flickr.com which gave me privilege to unlimited uploads plus other features. I enjoyed Flickr for 2 months just before I left for Philippines. (I was not able to use Flickr while I was in the Phils since I was busy as a bee doing all the preps!)

So, since I arrived here in Dubai, I'm really annoyed with this blocking of sites by Etisalat...reasons? Because I cannot upload my wedding pics and my practice shots in Bohol & Cebu...which many people are waiting for (as if!). Also, I can't release my Wedding Suppliers' Rating without the pictures...pictures will speak for the truth!

But guess what?!? A friend of mine which I met from a forum suggested downloadable programs which will enable me to access the blocked sites. Ok fine, I was able to download one (out of 3...damn! the download sites for some of the programs are even blocked! wtf!). But how can I go around this thing without any knowledge about network configuration?! Dang!

But again, I have proven the saying, "Patience is a virtue."...is true! ahahhaha! After so many attempts to load and reload and run and save and enable and all the things that you could imagine you could do with program files,...haha...SUCCESS! I was able to connect using a proxy server! Yahoooo! One of the happiest moments of my life...not only because I can now access my flickr and make use of what I paid for, but also because I am now a certified network specialist...joke! hahaha! But Im really happy that I was able to make my way around all the jargons...like proxy, binary packages, ports, 192.168..ek..ek... ewwww!!! Stop!

If you wanna know about this...just drop a note, kokei?

Back to reality

Yeah...yeah...I know I owe each one a lot...been out for quite a few days...(few ba yon?!?). Well, I have listed down the things I promise to blog about for the upcoming days (wish ko lang, heeheh!):
(1) My 2006 life...are you in or out?
(2) January 20, 2007...when I walked down the aisle
(3) Randy & Lei - Wedding Suppliers' Rating (im still having 2nd thoughts if I would publish this...)
(4) Honeymoon kwento
(5) Unveiling the personality of *IPod Nano* (with reference to my friendster blog entries)

Now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for these...

Latest news?
(1) Im officially Mrs. Leilani Villanera - Baytiong (whoa! di pako nakapagpa change ng name, so di pa pala official)
(2) Im back in DXB...arrived last Feb 3, 4AM from a delayed flight. Turning back time, I went to Pinas last Dec 19 as my annual vacation.
(3) Went to Bohol (Bohol Beach Club) & Cebu (honeymoon, yikiteee!)
(4) Finally, I changed my phone...this was due since October 2006 (since my SE W800i celebrated its 1st year on that month)...welcome to Palm powered Treo 650..no violent reactions, please!
(5) I plan to buy my rebel (Canon 400D) in the next month or two. And no, Im not selling my Sony DSC-H2...hehehe!

That's all for now...