witsandnuts

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    • 2017 Reflections and being back to basics in 2018

      Posted at 2:20 pm by witsandnuts, on January 1, 2018

      Back to basic in 2018

      2017 Reflection
      For the past four years, I intentionally did not have any grand New Year’s resolution. I wanted to keep it as simple as “to be a better person” and “to implement/execute things better each day”. I like to think that the simplistic approach worked well. Through the years, I have discerned that these two may be complementary, however, not all the time. Knowing when they are supposed to support each other is subjective. The bottom line is, I did not and do not always have to outdo myself in execution in order to be a better person. Sometimes, by not changing anything and/or being myself (not trying too hard) is already the best approach.

      Being a lacto ovo vegetarian and newbie minimalist
      The year 2017 had been very challenging for me, in many ways, but ended favorably. I also introduced key changes in my life, like becoming a lacto ovo vegetarian a day after my birthday for health-related reasons. I will not lie though that I have been inconsistent in being a vegetarian. Knowingly, I scheduled the cooling off on (few) days that there were celebrations with family and friends and forcibly last December when my stamina became sub-standard that I easily caught the illness of ‘seems to be not feeling well’. Apparently, I need to find the right mix of my food consumption. I intend to be fully back on track from day 1 of 2018. The other key change that I have embraced (in last quarter of 2017) is minimalism. I am still far from being a  real minimalist, although I do not see myself being a purist in the short term because of my lifestyle and demands of my work environment. However, I am amazed and cannot be thankful enough for being able to let go of several stuff because I am a pack rat and have started to be genuinely more supportive of sustainability. As a side note, I learned to sell stuff online as I try to dispose some of my stuff and began to see the beautiful (one of which is having additional passive income, if you get to dance to the tunes quite well) and ugly sides of it.

      Back to basics (rather, some of the things that I used to love)
      In line with being in first chapter of minimalism, while sorting stuff, it felt like I had a time machine ride. I instantly wanted to go back to doing some of the things which used to make me so happy. Doing them seemed like ‘as easy as breathing’ that I did not imagine myself not doing them even for a single week or else I would have felt incomplete. Then, they were just out of my routine, not exactly out of my system. I might have had extreme priorities, that is why I cannot say that I am looking back with much regrets for abandoning some of my interests because I was indeed buying much time the past years. Until now. However, I feel more at peace now and confident of reuniting with these because I have a clear direction on how I will re-integrate them in my life.
      1. Photography – Do not ask me how many cameras I have. I used to be with them every single week. The past years though, 95% of my photos were captured through my camera phone and 5% with a GoPro in some of my travels.
      2. Reading– I read several things every single day. Work and non-work-related, particularly when I have mental cravings. However, I did not read much non-work related books. Then, the seemingly irrational part often happens. Even if I know that I must not buy any new books (there is something indescribable about holding and smelling real books), I still do it as it is one of the few things I get as a memento when I travel overseas. I want to be realistic, hence, I hope to read at least four (4) non-work/non-profession-related books this year. I would need to be more patronizing of e-books, however, in line with minimalism and sustainability.
      3. Writing – If you are one of my longtime blog friends (the glorious days of Multiply, free Blogger, free WordPress and so), you probably might remember how prolific I were then as a blogger, given that I have mountains of commitments, too. I will be frank in admitting today that it was not that I lost interest in it. I even remember telling myself that I do not foresee myself not blogging anymore. It was actually the nature of my profession and work environment that indirectly influenced me to have less visibility in this medium. It was a clever decision though, with sacrifices, so to speak. Nevertheless, I cannot just abandon it because I would always love babbling. Saying this made me feel good. On the other hand, I am glad I am still able to live within it via Instagram.

      What I plan to achieve this year is to blog more frequently than I did in 2017 (that must be achievable, the last post I had was in June 2017. What a shame and I am frowning about the lost opportunities to have had shared valuable and probably timely information). On the other hand, I am planning to venture into writing a little — with my professional community as an audience. Lastly and equally important, I aim to fully utilize some of the personal journals I received as Christmas presents – one is a bullet journal  (I like its non-conformity approach) and a Paulo Coelho one, which I plan to keep as a gratitude journal.

      My 2018 started so well. I hope it is the same with all of you. In case, it did not — what matters most is the entire journey and how we all intend and will actually play it. Cheers and more blessings!

      Posted in Life | 3 Comments | Tagged Photography, Reading, Writing
    • Obtaining a license for your dog in the UAE

      Posted at 12:13 pm by witsandnuts, on June 2, 2017

      Clover

      Did you know that you need a license to buy liquor in UAE? What about getting a pet? Think thrice before bringing or adopting a pet in UAE.

      One of the things that our family immediately noticed on our first month in UAE in 2008 was the seemingly ‘lack of popularity’ of pet dogs. While there are many street and house cats, it was quite unusual to see dogs with their ‘parents’ in public places or even inside the house. Apparently, the flat (apartment) or villa owners (landlords) prefer that their tenants take care of cats instead of dogs due to Islamic-related reasons. Back then, there were only few landlords who allowed cats. Some resorted to hiding pet ownership from their landlord, with some kind of protection from the Godfather (aka ‘natoor’ or building caretaker). The landlords usually do not live in the same building, lease management is done commercially through a third party. Since 2010, we badly wanted to adopt a dog because we missed having one. We always had a puppy/ dog when we were still in the Philippines.

      In 2011, we were allowed to have cats in the flat. We got the first fur baby in April, then adopted another one later of the same year. After two years or so, we noticed a dog on leash coming from the same building and learned that at least two dogs (different tenants) live there. Oh. We were upset because we were not allowed to have one earlier. The drama did not last for 24 hours though because that is not fair to our two cats who have made and continuously make our life more sunshine-y in this part of the Gulf. In late 2015, we were blessed with a happy coincidence. You know what they say that you do not really look for a pet, but they are the ones who come to you, especially when you least expect them? The short story was that we adopted a dog. The coincidence, adoption and how our third fur-mily member got along with the two cats deserve another blog entry.

      Clover
      Getting a haircut

      Of course, there are pros and cons to having additional living/ non-humans at home. I will try to strike a key point in this blog entry. We operate based on a budget which means that there are things we do sacrifice to be able to allot for our fur-mily members’  needs as well (e.g. one-time neutering/ spaying, microchipping and periodic vaccinations, etc.; our dog had all these prior to adoption). I will not elaborate on the many benefits resulting from this financial sacrifice.  (I remember how in Suits where both Harvey Specter and Mike Ross, in separate occasions, mentioned that they would not bother to explain to those who might not be able to understand it, anyway. That may sound arrogant, however, believe me when I say that our cats and dog bring joy to our lives and aid us in improving our overall sense of being responsible – health wise, etc. Period. )

      In late 2016, a (not so) surprise came in the form of UAE law, i.e. Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 regarding possession of wild animals (classified as mammals, reptiles, birds, invertebrates). In summary, it provides information about the exotic and dangerous animals which must be handed over to UAE authorities, requirement for all dog owners to obtain a license, and corresponding penalties. With regard to dogs, there are seven banned breeds: canario, rottweilers, pitbulls, tosa, boxer, doberman and mastiff. Our dog is a Norwich terrier.

      The law was announced to the public in December 2016 which (still) gives an opportunity to those concerned to comply until middle of June 2017. Since early this year, I have been trying to get an update from the vet clinics in Abu Dhabi (e.g. American Vet, National Vet) about my main concern which is to obtain a license for my dog. They were providing me with the same information that there is still no specific details about the implementation of law. Last month, an article had been published over Dubizzle website that the due date to comply had been changed to July 2017 and provides information on obtaining license for dogs. However, this article seemed to point out to those who are residing in Dubai. (There are seven emirates in UAE, including Dubai.) When I asked the vet clinics in Abu Dhabi about the article, they seem to view that the implementation is still a gray area and do not consider it as an ‘official’ procedure to implement the law within Abu Dhabi.

      What do I suggest to those who are required to handover the exotic and dangerous animals (including the banned breed of dogs)?
      1. Document your intent to handover to UAE authorities/ agencies (e.g. through Ministry of Climate Change and Environment).
      2. Do not wait for July 2017. In the absence of official announcement of extension to comply, you would be bound to comply with the initial timeframe, i.e. middle of June 2017.

      Clover
      Looks so small after the haircut. She is 5kg.

      What do I suggest if you own a dog and is based in Abu Dhabi?
      1. Get the current update from your vet clinic(s) about obtaining a license for dogs.
      2. If it remains a gray area nearing middle of June 2017, you may want to initiate to comply with the most likely minimum requirements: have your dog vaccinated for anti-rabies, etc. Based on my inquiry, the vet clinics in Abu Dhabi charge AED360/ USD98 (average) for the vaccines. Actual fee may vary depending on the age of your dog. Moreover, have your dog spayed/ neutered and microchipped.
      3. Keep your dogs on leash when you are outside the house since it is one of the requirements of the law. By the way, prior to the announcement of the law, I have never seen a single dog without a leash when they are in public places. Truth is they are not allowed in most of the public places, even in some parks. (Do not imagine that it is like in the US and other countries where they may sit with you in the airplane, stay in the hotel, and other unimaginable things in this region yet.)
      4. If possible, try to document your intent to obtain license/ clarification on obtaining license (e.g. by sending an email to vet clinics).
      5. Try to not bring your dog to public places until you reasonably comply with the law. Summer is a blessing in disguise. (Since last month, I have temporarily stopped my periodic jog/ walkathon with my dog because of the weather. Even with booties, it is quite unbearable for the dogs. You can literally fry an egg on car’s dashboard.) If there is a need to take your dog outside the house, have a photocopy of the vaccination records, microchipping, etc. Holding something is better than nothing.

      I do not want to sound arrogant, however, I opine that there should not really be a panic regarding the requirement to obtain a license for the dogs. The expected requirements on microchipping, vaccination, spaying/ neutering are actually being done/ should have been done prior to the existence of the law. The only new information here would be the license itself and oh well, the hefty range of penalties. On the other hand, I empathize with the other point of view that this may be misjudged as a money making mechanism and it will definitely boost the revenue of the vet clinics.  Overall, it depends on one’s mentality as a pet owner. If you bought or adopted a dog and thought that your cost of investment would be limited to providing shelter and food, that is being irresponsible and naive. Having a pet is like having another ‘human’ family member. Particularly when you co-habit with one, all the more that you will ensure that there is proof of identification and accountability attached to you as a parent/ owner and that this fur-mily member is in good shape. For expatriates like me, I am sure that before you made the decision to adopt one, you carefully thought of your plans A, B and C in case it is time to return to our respective home countries or move somewhere else.

      The Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 was introduced to better protect the human beings and animals, prevent transmission of disease and ensure animals receive proper care. I dread the scenario of having street dogs and other forms of abandoning of pets. I remember that in 2008 there were cars (particularly luxurious ones) dumped at the airport by those who tried to escape from their financial obligations and returned to their country.  Challenging times ahead for the humans and non-humans.

      Posted in Clover the dog, UAE, Winello the cat | 1 Comment | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Clover, Dog license, Dogs, Pets
    • 2017 Spring break in the US

      Posted at 7:09 pm by witsandnuts, on May 6, 2017

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      Since last year, we have planned to spend the 2-week Spring break of 2017 in Italy. We have obtained the Schengen visa and made all the related bookings. Surprise, surprise! We made a bold decision of changing the plan to visit the US instead (i.e. Chicago, Washington DC, New York and New Jersey). The second photo will tell you why. After our first visit in July 2015, we were really eyeing to visit US again in Spring of 2018. The short story is this — after considering all the other factors, that having had 2 to 3 weeks left to plan for the US trip — it pushed through. Whew!

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      Apparently, Little J is a HUGE supporter of Bangtan Boys (otherwise known as BTS). She had never asked anything substantial the past years for her birthday and whenever she deserves a prize for the several times that she did well in school and other aspects of and milestones in life. In fact, she begged not to have any grand celebration or spend a dirham/ dollar this year for her birthday. Hence, what she got was a labor of love consolidated video greetings from her closest friends since kindergarten — some of them are based at other continents. From her parents, she only got video greetings as well and something extra, a letter and an enclosed downloaded/ dummy ticket for a BTS concert from the internet, with a note, “This may come true someday.” Enclosing the dummy stuff was my idea. Hence, when she finally got hold of it and saw her crying, I thought she liked it so much.

      It turned out that she was joyful with how her recent birthday celebration unfolded, except for the dummy ticket that (seemed to have) ruined the fluidity of genuine happiness + fun out of simple stuff. The dummy ticket misrepresented something. It so happened that BTS really had an upcoming concert which was happening during her Spring break. She thought the ticket was real. (Oh no! So, dear readers, learn from my ‘I thought that was a great idea’.) We had to re-evaluate everything, financial and non-financial factors. The point was I did not know that this Korean group, who has the largest international fan base, was going to have a US tour. However, since we have been planning for the Italy trip since last year, she did not want to bother or re-route anything.

      Sure, there would be other BTS concerts in the future. Chances are they do not coincide with her school break (e.g. they have the Wings tour in Philippines on 6th May, as I write this) and you know, it is always best when one is at the peak of her ‘enthusiasm’ about the group. (Note: After the concert, she exclaimed, “My life is complete. I can die now.” Whaaat? A separate post/ entry about the BTS concert is underway.)

      BTS was having (superb!) concerts in New Jersey, Chicago and Anaheim. We chose to go to the one held in Chicago because of date/ timings involved (the one in New Jersey coincides with our flight) and we have been to other nearby cities (e.g.  Los Angeles).

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      Feel the breeze of Lake Michigan.

      We are so grateful though because the 2-week Spring break turned out to be a worthwhile and memorable trip. Apart from visiting Chicago, we thought of visiting Washington DC for a few days mainly to meet up/ spend time with a long time friend whom I met during our old blogging days, who is based in Maryland and works in DC area. (In 2015, I have met up with 2 friends whom I met through blogging, too. I know I have remained ‘virtual’ to many for some reasons, but I am getting there. Meeting up with them in 2015 was among the highlights of that trip.)

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      Wrigley Tower.

      How I wish I had a photo at Wrigley Tower with my friend whom I have not seen for over 10 years. We were re-united during this trip (with her husband and very amiable daughter) and I cannot thank her/ them enough for spending time with us for few days during our stay in Chicago. I remember we were walking to our hotel that evening and she said, “Look up, I really like this building.” I liked it, too, because it is really a great one + she likes it, hence, I liked it more.

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      I loved deep dish pizza! We tried the ones from Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s. I am also now a fan of Chicago hotdogs. Too bad we do not have all these in UAE. There is Shack-ca-go dog in Shake Shack Abu Dhabi, I have yet to try that though.

      Spring break in US. 2017.

      Founder of Chicago, John Baptiste Point du Sable, is mindful of Trump, err, the tower.

      The fascinating architecture in Chicago made me feel that I was constantly in an open museum. We joined an official architecture tour though. What a twist, we thought Ed Sheeran was on the same tour. I could not help but asked/ told him, “Hi! Are you aware that you have so much resemblance with Ed Sheeran?” As a side note, he is going to perform in Dubai again this coming November. He was brilliant in his 2015 concert. He is a musical genius.

      Spring break in US. 2017.
      Spring break in US. 2017.

      We went up to Sears Tower (yeah, like the locals I prefer to call it by the original name, instead of Willis Tower). I look forward to blogging in details how my hunger for photography (sometimes) can outweigh the terror of heights. Hahaha.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Bangtan Boys, BTS, Chicago, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Photography, Spring Break, US, Washington DC
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    • About witsandnuts

      Snapchat-5703935704258315256 Marhaba! That's "hello" in Arabic. I am an expatriate based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). I started writing about my adventures and misadventures few months before arriving here at winter of 2008. I have 2 cats and a dog who live harmoniously together. I am also surrounded by kindhearted, crazy, funny and indescribable humans! I was a dormant blogger for almost 3 years because of countless reasonable justifications like watching football, postgraduate studies, sleeping, traveling, caring for the world, and more! :) I am just so happy that I am back! It is never too late to catch up with the people and things we really care about. Feel free to look around.
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      • 2017 Reflections and being back to basics in 2018
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      • 2017 Spring break in the US
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