When Was the Last Time

When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When was the last time you jumped for joy?
When was the last time you cried from happiness?
For your existence, for somebody else's triumph.

When was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers?
When was the last time you observed the leaves change its colors?
When was the last time you appreciated the firmness of the tree?
The color of the clouds, and the birds flying freely.

When was the last time you smiled sincerely at the by-passers?
When was the last time you talked to a stranger?
When was the last time you helped an old woman cross the street?
To show kindness and mercy, to be a blessing to others.

When was the last time you slept without counting the hours?
When was the last time you sat at the park?
When was the last time you've decided to be lazy?
Never minding the deadlines, duties and responsibilities.

When was the last time you breath fresh, cool air?
When was the last time you witnessed nature's finest?
When was the last time you saw the sunrise and sunset?
Feeling the dew on your skin and the sun's kiss.

When was the last time you dreamt while you're awake?
When was the last time you let time pass without worry?
When was the last time you sat and read a good book?
Spend time with your loved ones or your family.

When was the last time you got dirty and messy?
When was the last time you never cared for people's query?
When was the last time you thought about your happiness?
You're own good and no one else's.

When was the last time you achieved something beyond imagination?
When was the last time you proved others they're wrong?
When was the last time you set the record straight?
That you're one life's champion and nothing less.

When was the last time you felt grateful for the hard-earned trophy?
When was the last time you gave thanks for your journey?
When was the last time you shared your blessings?
To believe that you are showered with grace beyond words.

When was the last time? When was the last time?
When was the last time you asked yourself this question?
When was the last time you contemplated on your being?
When was the last time? When was the last time?

Desert Life: What They Don't Know

Riyadh City at dusk,
viewed at 300 m. above sea level.

When you tell people you work in Saudi, it is common to hear a reply like, 'What? Why did you choose that country!?' or 'You are too smart to work there.' or worse, 'There is no life in that place! No freedom for women like you!' 

If I were not able to stay and live in Riyadh for several years, I might believe them and really look at Saudi the way outsiders imagine it to be. Good thing, I have experienced the kingdom life first hand. Truly, it is not a paradise of freedom and nightlife, but, Saudi has so much more to offer than what meets the eye.

So, how do people living in a deserted place live life and celebrate it? Based on my personal experience, there are several attractions and activities that people enjoy. 

Take a look and discover the not-so-well-known beauty of the kingdom.

Food. Mostly, people living in the kingdom celebrate every occasion with a lot of food! For one, it is inexpensive. Grocery sales happen every single week. You will always have something good to buy with your Saudi Riyals. So cooking and trying something new has been a day-off habit of most people working here. There are also a lot of restaurants to choose from, ranging from Asian to Western to Middle Eastern cuisine. It's a multicultural nation so you wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of food choices on the menu.

People in the Kingdom loves to eat.
They enjoy having sumptuous meal after shopping,
especially during weekends.

A typical Filipino Party Buffet .
Most invited guests brings a viand or two
and share it with everyone at the party.

Gold.Gold jewelries are also part of the kingdom's many assets. Have I told that you can haggle on a gold price? Yes, you can! Gold sellers here are very friendly and accommodating. They offer their product taking into consideration the buyer's budget. And when you become their loyal customer, they will even give an instant gift or a few riyals to buy shawarma. Sounds unbelievable, but it's true! I am one lucky person to experience that myself!

Gold displays in a shop at Al Batha.

Al Batha. This is a go-to place of many Filipinos and other Southeast Asians who missed their local products. I, myself, feels excited whenever I come here. Almost everything that you have back home can be bought in Batha. There are also restaurants that serves Filipino all-time favorites like Bicol Express, Pansit Bihon, fish fillet, kilawin, Kare-Kare siopao, halo- halo, and a lot more. What makes it more of a Filipino town is the presence of a Jollibee Fast Food Store. Truly, we feel closer to home just by walking around Batha.

Even some establisments in Al Batha are named in such a way that Kabayans will feel like walking in the streets of their own country.

Amusement parks. People also enjoy strolling in the park. Amusement parks are seen everywhere in the city. Especially during colder months, families spend time relaxing at the park.

The entrance to one of the most-visited park in Riyadh City.
It is located in King Fahad Road, Riyadh.

Inside Salam Park is this beautiful artificial lake.
 It is the main attraction in the park where you can enjoy fishing and boating.

The lush green wide lawns at the park, very suitable for picnic.

Esteraha. These are private places for relaxation. Usually, a group of people will rent this place for a day or two. Here, they can enjoy the swimming pool, sing-along bars or play sports. 

Wide, green lawns provide enough space for visitors to play the sports that they love.

Women, families alike, can enjoy the esteraha all day  because of the privacy it offers to its customers.

Road Trips. This is one great adventure in the kingdom. Outside of the city are a lot of picturesque view that one would think can be a good setting for a movie or novel. Rise up early, prepare your drinking water and your up for a perfect tour of the country road.

Front view! Breathtaking rock formations, with cool music and good friends,
road trips are something we always look forward to.

Side View! The scenic mountain of rocks in Riyadh.

Another amazing view!
An herd of sheep we passed by on our way to the Sand Dunes.

An encounter with the camels.
Camels in this part of the country can freely roam around to the delight of the visitors.

Sand Dunes. Of course, the kingdom is mostly desert. So sand dunes are just so accessible. The Red Sand Dunes in Riyadh is the most visited. Its name came from the fact that this wide area is covered with red,fine grains of sand. The road going to this place is also so captivating. You'll really enjoy the view all throughout the ride. 

The Red Sand Dunes at the Northeastern part of Riyadh.

A very popular weekend or holiday destination among Saudis and expatriates who are fond of the desert

Visitors can rent an ATV to enjoy the humps and bumps of  the Red Sand.
 For the many expatriates, this is a go-to place to escape the busy streets of the city.

The Hidden Valley. It's not really 'hidden' like its name suggests. But it is only known to a few people, and a bit inaccessible to visit. But again, the trip is all worth it! It's like seeing a wallpaper in front of you. Visitors also love to have picnics under the shed. It's an escape from the busy streets of the city and its high-storey buildings. 

Looks like your desktop wallpaper? Not really! This is the view at the Hidden Valley!

Breathtaking Hidden Valley View! 

Here we are, enjoying an ice cream after a fun-filled morning! 

So if you happen to know someone working in the Kingdom, don't think that there life is all about work. More often than not, they have a lot of stories to tell. Who knows, they might be living life in a more exciting way than you do! ^^

At this point, I leave you with this realization : 

See beauty wherever you are. Even huge rocks and tons of stones can create a picture perfect view.

 In the middle of a desert is an oasis you'll surely find, when you keep looking at the bright side of life! 

A Change of Heart

When you see this picture on the left, what comes into your mind? 

(A) a vast area of sand, not suitable for growing trees or plants, where human beings won't have much reason to enjoy life? 

(B) a wide region to explore, do something out of the ordinary and eventually grow to be a better you after bypassing the sands?

I bet, most people would answer letter A. It's not a lot. It doesn't have the dream destinations that other places offer. It is just this simple and boring desert for most people.

A few years ago, I traveled far for the very first time. I ended up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Not the best destination, but I considered it as another thrilling adventure. Living in a new world, learning a new language, a shocking culture, and inhabited by several other nationalities. I told myself, this is going to be all new to me.

At first, I was enveloped with excitement and thrill to discover the place. The joy of discovering new things, food, people and words made my days. However, after several months, I have come to realize that there isn't much to see in this part of the world. It's a kingdom of men, where gender equality isn't recognized. Men rule, and women hide in their long, black clothes. 

It saddened me that I won't be able to do a lot of outdoor activities here. That is when reality came in. For a few months, all I wanted was to go home to my motherland. Homesickness hit me like the insane heat of the desert. I became moody, easily angered and worse, I lost the zest to enjoy the adventure.

This is going to be hopeless! This is just a desert. There is no growth in here. Boredom and homesickness will eat you alive. You think of quitting and you live each day like yesterday- nothing new!

Until one day, a realization moved me. I can't always wait for tomorrow, Christmas season, day- offs or in my case- vacation leave to be happy and enjoy life. I have to find ways in order to make this journey a learning experience. After all, this is not the end, this is just a bend in the road, a hump, a stepladder towards a bigger, brighter tomorrow.

That is when I turned my view from point A to point B. Of course, it did not happen in a blink of an eye. I had to do some things in order to make this transition:

1. When you wake up, remind yourself that today is a blessing.

Say a little prayer of thanksgiving for (1) you were able to open your eyes again (a privilege that is not given to everybody this morning), (2) you have the opportunity to make a living and save for future adventures, (3) you and your family back home are safe and healthy, (4) you have the chance to make someone feel better today, (5) Today, you're a day closer to coming home.

The list can go on and on. The moment you train yourself to focus on the good side of today, it will be a lot easier to get up and face it. Again, it will take some time to get used to this, but it will be all worth it.

2. Never compare yourself with other people's success.

This has eaten me so many times in the past. Through social media, we now have easier access to other people's lives. Most of the time, your wall will be flooded with celebrations and moments that you currently isn't experiencing. And the next thing you know, you feel bad because while they are celebrating, here you are, tied to your bed, letting the day pass without moving a muscle.

Trust your own pace. This may sound cliche, but there is still some truth in it.  Most of the time, people will only announce the fruit of their labor- the medal and trophies, but never the labor or hard work that comes with it. Surely, every success does not come easy.  Learn to realize that they, too, had to strive and experience defeat before achieving glory. 

Who knows, you're just experiencing some difficulty now, and soon, your medals and trophies will appear just when you expect it the least. 

3. Feel good about yourself.

Develop the habit of feeling good. Smile in front of the mirror, exercise for a few minutes every day, cook your favorite food or make other people happy. Do something that your future self will thank you for. Remember, this is not the end of your life's adventure. Why not make each day count, no matter how bad they can get.

If feeling good means watching the most childish movie there is, by all means go for it! Nobody will judge you for doing so. All they see is the positive aura that you radiate when you feel good on the inside.

4.  Share what you feel or think.

Yes, moving from point A to B will be a lot easier when you do this with the aid of some reliable people.  If then, I used to keep everything to myself, now I have learned the benefits of sharing this with my most trusted friends. True friends will never judge you, they are the best listeners and confidante.  

When you spill the bad feelings to someone you trust, you feel better after sharing it. At times, you even laugh at it upon knowing that you're not alone in your struggle. Your friend may have experienced the same thing before. And the best that can happen is when you will be able to come up with a solution on how to make things better.

5. Read inspirational books.

Or any other book that you want to read. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie has helped me a lot. It is an eye-opener for me. I want to share with you some striking lines that I got from this book:

- The blackest moments we live through can only last a little time- and then comes the future...

- Cooperate with the inevitable. 

- There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. (Epictetus)

- Obviously, circumstances alone do not make us happy or unhappy. It is the way we react to circumstances that determines our feelings. Jesus said, the kingdom of heaven is within you. That is where the kingdom of hell, too.

- The remedy for worry is to get completely occupied doing something constructive.

- Don't cry over spilt milk.

- Live in a"Day-tight Compartment".

After mastering these things, I have come to realize that where I am is not only comprised of sands and tons of it. When I directed my point of view in a different direction, I saw this: 

The fun-loving people, the picture perfect view, the moments when you jump for joy! I guess, there is so much more to this desert than the unending sea of sands it shows to the outside world. It just needs a change of heart.