Remember them? The Toy Story soldiers. I think their synchronized dancing during the Disney Parade is more amusing than the float of Buzz Lightyear.
On the other hand, we saw this guy guarding a toyshop in Dubai. I think he ate too much and forgot his shoes. 
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(Taken in June 2009, as viewed from Atlantis; Grannies holding hands while walking)
I’m not sure if the sheiks believe in numerology or maybe it was purely coincidental, but Dubai Metro train was formally opened to public on September 9, 2009. The first ever trip even boarded at 9:09:09 A.M., with Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as one of the first passengers.
When we were visiting Atlantis last June, we saw the dry-run being done for the launch of the Dubai Metro. Personally, I was hesitant at the thought of being among its first passengers. Unless I want to be part of history… being one of the first 100 passengers is good to imagine, you know what I mean. 
Though I’ve been in the MRT of the Philippines not more than 10 times before coming here, I still miss the sight (and noise) of it. During one of my last rides, we even had a photo in Ayala Station.
I think my hesitation to ride the Manila trains emanated from my first try when I was a freshman in college. It was not yet gender coded that time and I had to travel with a classmate going south. We took the train to save time and as we got off, I was already physically out but my bag was still in. So much ala-sardines style.
Read MoreI spent almost half of the weekend in Dubai for two main reasons. One of which was to hand over some items to a newly married close friend who was flying to Manila that night. (Her husband would follow a week later. We were discussing that he would be doing the home chores alone the whole week. Since he’s not fond of washing the dishes, I advised that he buys disposable plates and other utensils. Heehee. Rather than to leave a messy kitchen and dining table.) As I needed to cancel my trip back home this December, I better ship through her such contrabands which are not safe to be sent through air or sea cargo. Another close friend was coming over to their house, with the assumption that she already took lunch, we consumed all the edibles. It turned out that she has not.
So we drove around, hopping from one possible source of ready to eat lunch to the other. As it was Ramadan, it was like searching for a needle during a brown out. We’ve proven once again how (generally) aggressive is Dubai compared to Abu Dhabi. In the latter, you will not find fastfood chains and restaurants and even non-food establishments until Iftar (normally at 7:00 PM) during Ramadan. Luckily, we found a Mc Donald’s and Krispy Kreme outlets housed in separate gasoline stations serving food for take-away.
We can’t wait until we reach their house. That though there’s an obvious risk that we’ll get caught through the radar/secretly installed government cameras, we munched on the Mc Donald’s munchies inside the car. As we tried to discreetly eat, I exclaimed, “Mas masarap ang fries ng Mc Donald’s ngayon!” It follows that when it’s forbidden, it challenges the appetite.
The other day, an Emirati colleague and I were talking about how we spent the weekend. I mentioned about that particular disobedience to Ramadan rules that I observed in Dubai. She can’t believe it at first. The next thing I know, she was already calling a hotline to report that misconduct.
Ngeee, that’s how to be an instant whistleblower. I’m glad I skipped the part that we ate discreetly in a public place (read: inside the car, still we were on the road) and how I/we enjoyed it. Otherwise, my friends and I are in great danger.
Dubai is almost 1.5 hours drive from Abu Dhabi. Except for my Ski Dubai sidetrip, the rest of my visits there were work-related. Most of the time, my friends/former officemates based there take their turn to come here. I almost didn’t note that the last time I came was in April when we had the company annual party in Al Sahra Desert. My turn to see the other fence. Some of the things that happened as I spent the weekend in Dubai:
(a) Met up with my good friend’s sister and helped her scout a place to stay. We’ve inspected the units I’ve marked from the net. She came to Dubai a week ago and will be based there for work. We’ll hang out again when she does visit me in first weekend of November. Feels like I’m excited to give her a glimpse of Abu Dhabi. I’m thinking of taking her to Lulu Island.
Read MoreThe Firm held its annual party in Al Sahra Dessert in Dubailand (they started calling it that way instead of plain Dubai) the other night. I came in with so little preparations, a summery top, a vintage necklace and eyebags on the side… and yeo, ready to go! Jumana Show: The Secret of the Dessert was the highlight of the annual party. It aired for 65 minutes. More photos here and video here.
The dinner was set in an arabic ambience and food was more of a combination of a little oriental and persian.
I enjoyed exploring the sweets that I met the first time in my life, except for the fruit salad (which I explored too, since it got a twist of strong wine in it, tasted great!).
The dance floor was throroughly occupied and while the DJ mixed 80% of indian songs that night with reggae on the side, other nationalities have blended so well. It is quite interesting to discover other moves in the dance floor, with a Mc Donald’s step, hulabaloo and such that Filipinos are mostly influenced by western moves.
We were back home at 3am. While the highlight of the party is the Jumana show, for me it was each minute spent with all the Filipinos as those from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai offices gathered. It felt so much like home.
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