December 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The PEBA 2009 Experience

Also, the blog entry which will unveil Sundrenched (yours truly). Please excuse this rather long entry.

This is Sundrenched reporting...

I should have been reporting 'live' from the Pinoy Expats Blog Awards 2009 last December 27, 2009 from the Philamlife Theater in UN Avenue via the Pink Tarha's Twitter and Facebook accounts but that was the day Globe 3G friggin' failed me. Why of all the days?! HU-WHY?! Anyway, despite Globe's major fail, the PEBA 2009 was a good night... no wait, make that a GREAT night!

When I made up my mind to go to the PEBA 2009 and risk being, well, obviously seen and be known as 'Sundrenched,' I was nervous. Being in a crowd is not my cup of tea and honestly, I'm better left behind blurs and bars in photos. Add this to the fact that I will be representing not just myself but the other three beautiful, gorgeous, fabulous, and obviously my very very good friends co-PT ladies Eyecandy, Shoegarfreeruby, and Mary. Why did I get myself into this thing again?! Haha. But I decided to go because this opportunity only knocks once and I am personally proud of the Pink Tarha blog and the Pink Tarha ladies! Thus, I went and experienced first hand PEBA 2009.

Now, how do I dress the part of a Pink Tarha lady? This is probably the hardest part of it, LOL. How do I go there as the avant-garde Eyecandy, the classy Shoegarfreeruby, the laidback Mary, and the posh Sundrenched? How do I roll that into one and come out worthy of the honor bestowed to me by the other PT ladies to represent us all? Well, I just decided to be the 'Pink Tarha' lady... literally and not, haha! And since there's no sense in hiding anymore because PEBA attendees have seen me already, then meet me (please don't be aghast surprised):

Errr... lemme gather myself first...

Hello everyone, I'm Sundrenched! It's nice to meet you! ;)

I guess I really do look better with the blur. Hehehe. I'm wearing the infamous pair of shoes worth nine rials which we featured in one of our earlier entries. I was channeling its charm that catapulted this blog into its cult status. (Echosera! Haha!) Anyway, let's all move on and go into the event proper shall we?

The event was simple and straightforward in a way but it was befitting of the theme. There were some presentations and intermission numbers in between the awards. I'll let the photos do the talking for now (because if you noticed, I've been babbling since the introduction of this entry, I do that when I'm nervous). The list of winners can be found here.

The projected image of the PEBA 2009 logo on stage.

An excerpt from I Am Ninoy musicale by the Philippine Stagers Foundation

One of the bands that introduced me to a different genre of music.

One of the speakers of the night, Ms. Dinky Soliman.

The announcement of winners for the special awards came. And then there were more speeches and songs but the most important part of the night (at least for me) is the moment when they announced that...

THE PINK TARHA Ladies...

and THE PINK TARHA blog won SECOND PLACE!

For a second I thought they were kidding. Apparently not. I know I prepared a speech somewhere in the back of my mind but I was too flustered to remember what I should have said. The spotlight was truly surprising. Sorry for the mess that was me on that stage! Haha!

Stage fright?
Receiving the award with the screen shot of the PT ladies in the background. Award!


I wish I had Eyecandy's eloquence, Shoegarfreeruby's finesse, and Mary's sense of humor while standing on that stage. But more than those, I wish they were there personally with me to accept the award. This award belongs to them. (I miss you girls! :)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
To God Almighty, our families, friends, fellow bloggers, readers and all overseas Filipino workers in the world, this award is for you! We are extremely grateful for the support you've given us and our blog. The Pink Tarha blog was born out of the shopping shenanigans of four Pinays living and working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and turned into a lifestyle blog that we're really proud of in just a year of being online with your help. First and foremost, we thank God Almighty for everything. Thank you to our fathers who inspired our entry. Thank you to the judges and those who voted for us who deemed us worthy of this honor. Thank you, thank you everyone! Congratulations to all the nominees and the winners! We're honored to be a part of this PEBA 2009's roster of wonderful and insightful blogs and bloggers. (This should have been the speech I gave. Instead, I rambled on like a klutz on stage! Haha!)

Before tears flood in here, let me get back to the event. Now, of course, I didn't leave without having a photo op with the true celebrities of the PEBA night. I was like a fan going up to the PEBA bigwigs and asking for a photo with them. Kulang na lang autograph, hehe!

PEBA 2009 president Mr. Nereus Jethro Abad (Desertaquaforce) and his wife.
Fasyon ever! Fashionista din ang mga anak nila. ;)

PEBA founding chairman Mr. Jebee 'Kenji' Solis.
Aba, eh pumoporma naman pala itong si Mr. Thoughtskoto! It's an honor meeting you sir! :)

The beautiful mother and daughter tandem of Mrs. Sheila Solis (Mrs. Thoughtskoto) and Hevyn.
Sorry for the background of plastic and styro... this was taken at the end of the event when dinner was already being distributed, haha!

Ms. Yanah of Life's A Twitch
She recognized me immediately, hehe! Hindi naman kasi masyadong halata sa damit ko eh. Lol. Thanks for the assistance Yanah! :)

I know I kindda miss a lot of bloggers and people whom I should have approached but I am too shy to do that (I'm the shy type eh! Eyecandy, bawal kumontra! Lol!). I wish to thank my friends and the bf na hinakot ko lang talaga para naman may pumalakpak for the Pink Tarha, hehehe.

My ever supportive friends and moi.
Er, apat kami d'yan pero hindi po sila ang ibang PT ladies. ;) I'm sure the friends of Eyecandy, Shoegarfreeruby, and Mary who relentlessly voted and campaigned for our blog are proud of the 'em too.

The PEBA 2009 was a wonderful night of celebration for the Pinoy expats and I was glad to be a part of it. The Pink Tarha is honored to be a part of this memorable event. A special shout out to Mr. Nebz of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia for winning the first place! Congratulations po! :)

So you see girls and boys, even though Saudi Arabia is seen as a country of ironies, there's a lighter side to it. The Pink Tarha is convinced that if we can't change things (especially when they're age-old tradition, culture, and religion) in the place we're currently in, then we change our way of looking. After all, even if Saudi Arabia is seen as the country for men, the PT ladies believe that "real men read pink!" ;)

The Pink Tarha will continue to churn out interesting entries for you, including the ones that will probably unveil the other PT ladies as well. Please keep on reading. Shukran katir!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Season's Greetings!

Greetings to all of our readers!
The Pink Tarha
would like to greet all of you a....


Wherever you are in the world, we send you our warmest greetings! We hope you are having a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. :)



With much love,
The Pink Tarha

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Photo A Day 6

It's 2 days to go before Christmas! Before the jolly-making on the 25th, here's another A Photo A Day from Manila...

Most of you got the A Photo A Day 5 correctly. Napaghahalata ang mga lakwatsero't lakwatsera! Hehe. Actually, APAD 5 is one of biggest landmarks of Manila. It's even one of the foremost stops of balikbayans and foreigners in the country. Answer below.

Moving on, let's test your true blue Filipino knowledge with this next A Photo A Day:

Where all Philippine roads lead.

Can you recognize this marker? This is KILOMETER ZERO (km 0), the starting point for all kilometer markers in the Philippines. This is a particular location from which distances are traditionally measured. Yes, this exists and only the hardcore lakwatsero y lakwatsera knows this... also Pinoys who know their country's geography really well. ;) The question now is, where in the Philippines can you find Kilometer 0?! (Be super specific and I'll amp your prize!)

§undrenched, blogging in MNL (This I just got to say, the PT Ladies in Riyadh are doing such a good job in posting the blog's December entries, don't you think? I'm proud of you girls!)

A Photo A Day 5 is the globe located in front of the SM Mall of Asia!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The Pink Tarha Wishes For...

Friends, Moms and Dads, generous benefactors, lend us your ears! (by that, we mean 'eyes' :D). Your Pink Tarha ladies are high on the Christmas spirit of receiving giving, ergo we are featuring each of our "wish list" this holiday in hopes that our loved ones will have the heart and capacity to make at least one of our wishes come true this Christmas. Unless Santa Clause is also reading our blog. :P Oh well, libre naman mangarap diba? So here's The TPT's TOP 5 Wishes for the gift-giving holiday season.


From Shoegarfreeruby's wishing well:

1. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
2. More Minna Parikka (Ginger Bag)
3. Pear eyeglasses
4. Chanel Jumbo
5. MORE SHOES! Minna Parikka Edith shoes, Flower shoeboots, and Louboutin "LOVE" flats


From Maryhadalittlehump's dreams:

1. Blackberry Bold
2. Blazers from Topshop and Zara
3. Roxy Baggage set
4. Ballet flats from Crocs
5. Chance by Chanel


From Sundrenched's imagination:

1. All-expense-paid Trip to Greece (Ambisyosa level!)
2. Sun Jar (it 'traps' sunshine in the jar and can be used as a lamp in the evening)
3. Steve Berry's "The Paris Vendetta" and "The Alexandria Link" books
4. Nars "Orgasm" Blush
5. "Return to Tiffany" Heart Tag Charm Bracelet


From Eyecandy's illusions:

1. Actor Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass on show Gossip Girl (Sige na Bro, kahit one night lang!)
2. Black, military-style jackets from H&M and Promod.
3. Any of the following albums: Foo Fighter's Greatest Hits, Kings of Leon's Only by the Night and or Alicia Key's latest album, The Element of Freedom
4. Jimmy Choo for H&M heels
5. Any cosmetic set from Smashbox.


Tee hee hee. Are those too much to ask? :P There are less than four days to go. There is still time to rush to the mall and show us your love. Hahaha. What are you waiting for? Go, go, go! :D

Earthly possessions aside, We truly, deeply wish and pray for our friends' happiness, our family's good health and peace in each other's hearts. We wish all those in Saudi Arabia bliss and may they feel the spirit of Christmas even though most of them are not with their loved ones 'tis season. Oh, and we also wish for a teeny, weeny prize at the PEBA Awards (if we're lucky). Kung wala man, sana may maka-abot na gift bags sa amin...(if there are any). Hee hee. ^_^


Friday, December 18, 2009

How To Celebrate Christmas in KSA

There are less than seven days left before Christmas Day. Can any of you feel the Christmas spirit abuzz? Or are you mostly left nostalgic for the Christmas celebrations in the Philippines? Being in Saudi Arabia, where one is not allowed to publicly practice one's faith unless he/she is a Muslim, you may very well expect that there are no 'parols' adorning the streets nor would there be carol singers knocking and serenading at your doors in the evenings. The city hustles along it's usual way and the only flicker of Christmas spirit that you can reward yourself with is by playing Christmas songs in your car or iPod.

So what else can we non-Muslim OFWs do to get by the Christmas holiday without freezing our hearts out in the cold, winter weather in the middle of the desert?

1. Have company. If you are single and don’t have any family members with you here in the Kingdom, try not to spend the holidays solo. It will only reinforce the feeling that you are away from your family and let the somber loneliness take over. Surely your friends would also want some company this season, so a little gathering with food and hardcore karaoke is enough to get you by the night. Ilabas mo na lang lahat ng lungkot mo sa videoke!

1a. Enjoy your family. Some of us are fortunate enough to have at least one member with us in the Kingdom (it may be a distant aunt or cousin, or your whole clan might be here). It's worthwhile to be with them during this time of the year, so give them a call. Round up all the relatives you can find here in the Kingdom and organize a little get-together. Have a "Kris Kringle" exchange and share family stories over dinner time. You'll be glad you were with them this Christmas.

2. Offer prayers. You can do this of course in the comforts of your own home. Given that we can't participate in "Simbang Gabi" or any form of public mass or religious gatherings in the name of Christmas, we can compensate for this by doing our devotions at home. Christmas is a celebration of God's gift and it is only rightly so that we give thanks and dedication in the name of God's love.

As much as it is a time of giving, we should not forget to give back to the One who has given us so much. Having a strong sense of faith is one way to fight the gloomy nights away. In fact, if you have a wonderful relationship with your faith, you won't be feeling so cold and alone at all.

3. Shop 'til you drop! Retail therapy always helps us through rough times (for us ladies, that is). Christmas shopping has become an economic commodity and it's also a good (and expensive) way to get through the holidays. Get lost and drown in shopping mania (in the name of your friends and families, of course) and go purchase something nice and pretty for the people you care about. It is after all the season of giving. And with all the blooming sales that are abound, the ladies are definitely agreeing with us on this one! ;)

4. Perform acts of charity. On a less materialistic note, get involved in organizations that will be hosting events in honor of the less fortunate. Like we've mentioned, it is after all the season of giving. And performing acts of charity is giving at its best. It can be as simple as a monetary donation or better yet, a donation of your time and efforts to a worthy cause. One good idea is to visit a center of distressed OFWs, spend time with them, hear their stories and let them know that someone cares. The gift of service is one of the best gifts you can give this Christmas. This is something you can do on your own and it's not at all illegal in Saudi Arabia.

5. Keep warm but avoid the heat. The heat from 'religious police'* that is. As much as possible, steer clear of big, group events that are being held on the 24th and 25th. Muttawas* are aware of our Christmas holidays and our desire to be with our kababayans on this joyful occasion,. Sadly, they are able to raid such events and even arrest all in attendance. Most of the time, it's because of the mix of the opposite sex in one location. Keep in mind that public events involving the mixing of unrelated male and females is prohibited. Try celebrating two days before or after Christmas Day, and keep the party list to a minimum to avoid suspicion.

It is really difficult to be alone in a foreign country in a time like Christmas (and in a country like Saudi Arabia). Especially if we're used to the festivities in the Philippines this time of the year: the lechon, the keso de bola, the relentless carolers, the midnight walks to the church, the long glances at the Christmas lanterns and decorations while the noise of our families sound off in the background. A lot of things are to be missed...but we have to make do with what we can and let the spirit of Christmas prevail. No matter where in the world we may be.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Winter Essentials

Winter time has definitely made it's presence felt in the city. It's now difficult to get up from bed in the morning, just because the cold keeps calling you back to bed. Coffee sales are up and laziness is in an all time high. Perhaps our bodies aren't just made to combat the cold weather and that is why bears hibernate (Ano daw? Paki-konek nga!) Haha. Well, the Pink Tarha ladies will definitely be combating this winter season....in style! Here are our favorite winter style essentials for the season.


From Shoegarfreeruby's (R) closet:

Violet, wool hat with a bow trim from Jasper Conrad

Black wool cap with bow from H&M


Black, knitted scarf from H&M

Wool hats are very 'haute' fashion forms this winter time. Kick your outfits up a notch with pretty hats that will keep your heads warm and pair it with a knitted scarf to complete the look, just like R does. Since our heads are the most visible parts of our body when we're out in public (because we are in our abayas), hats and scarves are the accessories we can do away with.


From Maryhadalittlehump's (M) closet:

Stripe sweaters from MNG and The XDye Knitwear

These three sweaters are M's favorites. Since she is a slim lady, stripe patterns do well for her. Colors this season are particularly dark and plum-ish. The green one is reserved for Christmas gatherings. Layer these sweaters over a crisp, white blouse and you got yourself a trendy top to go to work with.


From Eyecandy's (E) closet:

Cotton scarves (and one silk scarf) from Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.

E is big on scarves. It's her favorite accessory during winter (apart from boots and gloves). A good pop of color always go well with her abaya on..so with a scarf, you can't go wrong! It's simple and the color you choose shows a little personality. E's favorite scarf is the pink one (Pink Tarha represent, represent yo!). Boots are also big this season, though we're still waiting for the sale season to get ourselves new pairs of boots. We're still clacking away with our old ones...when we got them though, we'll sure feature it!

Other staple winter apparels are ponchos, socks, stockings, leg warmers and gloves. Be sure to have one handy or else you might freeze! A special someone to give you warm hugs are beneficial too. Paano na lang ang ilan sa amin na malamig ang pasko? I guess it's just layers and layers of clothing for us then! Haha.

Sundrenched (S) is in the Philippines at the moment so we weren't able to get her favorites photographed. It was E by the way who took these pictures at her family's living room adorned with Christmas decor. Can you feel the Christmas spirit yet or what?!

Keep warm! :)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A Photo A Day 5

After arriving in Manila, I did not go home immediately. I went to... oops, I'm not saying yet! For you to know, look at this photo:


This "globe" is located in the National Capital Region. Can you guess where? Clue: SHOPPING! It looks rather ordinary during the day but this holiday season, this globe turns into a huge LCD projector depicting colorful scenes of Christmas (ie. Santa and his deers 'traveling' around the world). It's a must-see! ;)

§undrenched, blogging in MNL

Answer to A Photo A Day 4 is the jambiya! Eyecandy took that photo in the seasonal tiangge outside the Riyadh National Museum and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Villa Restaurant

It's no secret: I am a spicy-food addict. My Scoville tolerance ranks probably up to the 50k to 100k (I kid you not). And once in a while, I get an itching to devour some finger-lickin', mouth-airing, table-tapping-hot Thai food. A restaurant that never fails to scratch my itch for such food is The Villa Restaurant. It's been around for as long as I can remember. My brother, who is now 14 years old, had the reception of his "christening" at this restaurant, so I am betting that The Villa is around 15-20 years in existence. They primarily serve Thai, Chinese and Filipino dishes and they really do deliver your money's worth. And they're not even close to the prices you would usually encounter in some franchise restaurant! If you are a big rice eater and you miss the taste of a home-cooked Oriental-ish meal, I reckon that The Villa Restaurant is the next best thing to your momma's cooking!


Since it's very affordable, I prefer bringing my entire family here during special occasions. My uncles are big rice eaters and most of us share a love for spicy Thai food, so it's off to The Villa when I'm "it" for the treat.

Here are some of my favorite Villa meals:

Appetizer: Spicy Squid Salad (18-20SR, good for two)

This pretty much tastes like "kilawin". It's blanched squid, dressed in thai vinegar, chillis and coriander. A good start to make your mouth salivate. ;)


Poh Tak Soup (Thai Style) (18SR for the small order and 36SR for the bigger one).

This soup is made of mixed shrimp, squid, cuttle fish and crab. It is moderately sour and has a good kick. Not too spicy and quite tolerable. It's served hot for your pleasure. Tom Yang is also a popular favorite.

Nam Toke (18SR, good for two)

I am pretty sure this is Nam Toke, but just in case I'm wrong, print this picture out and tell the waiter that this is what you want. Ahaha. This is a mix of sliced roasted beef and squid with several hot spices and oyster sauce.

Thai Green Chicken Curry (18SR or 24SR)

This is a soup-y dish made of slices of chicken, string beans, peas, coconut milk and a couple of more vegetables which I can't determine. This is a spicy dish and great with tons of rice! I think there is some curry paste in it, ergo adding the term "curry". For us Pinoys, just think of this as a form of "ginataan".

PAD THAI!!!!
Officially "Pad Thai Goong Sod".
(18SR, good for two, but for me, one serving is not enough for one person...or maybe that's just me :P)

This is my FAVORITE dish in this joint. I solemnly swear that I can eat at least two servings of this and I will not apologize for it! Hahaha. Why? Because it is SO GOOD! And mind you, this isn't that spicy at all. I just happen to sprinkle red chilli over mine for more flavor. But on it's own, the Pad Thai is delicious! It's stir fried noodles in a special sauce, with bits of shrimp and garnished with ground nuts and fried chicken skin. SUPER YUM-OH. This dish is my one-way to ticket to my 'happy-place'. La-la-la-la-la. :D


Sizzling Mixed Seafood (18SR or 24SR)

This is a tasty choice that's familiar to everyone. It's simply fish, squid and shrimp in oyster sauce with baby corn, sweet onions and peas. It's your typical Chinese order. If you are not too adventurous, this could be a safe bet to munch on.


Battered Fish (Huhu, kawawa naman siya).
Joke lang ha! :D It's really "Buttered" Fish, ganyan lang talaga i-pronounce in Kuya Waiter kasi eh.

I've had this dish a couple of times already, though I have to say that sometimes it tastes fresh and sometimes it tastes "malansa". I don't know if it's because of the cooking or they just didn't get the fish fresh from the market. But when it's good, it IS good. What makes the Buttered Fish more delectable is the shredded green mangoes that comes along with it. The price for it varies depending on the size of whole fish that you'd want, starting from 40SR.


A grand fiesta for nine people: all under 400SR, with drinks and dessert!

Apart from these dishes, other popular meals include the filling and delicious Mixed Fried Rice, Chicken Barbeque and tasty Chicharon/Kropek (among their extensive menu list) .

The Villa Restaurant is not a fancy place at all. Their economy-class looking tableware and seemingly crowded seating arrangement is not to be compared with the interiors of Tony Roma's or Duo's. But what their simple restaurant may lack in ambience, they make up for a warm, hearty meal and a loyal following among their customers, especially Westerners. You'd be surprised at how many of them flock to The Villa for some Thai/Chinese/Pinoy food. And really, do you think a restaurant business will survive more than a decade if they didn't have good food? My point exactly. Also, the restaurant is often jam-packed during the peak hours in the evening, so better come in early. It's first come, first serve over there. So as much as you'd wish they had reservations available, like I said, it's not a fancy place. Unfortunately, The Villa doesn't have a delivery service, but you can call in your orders ahead of time and drop in to pick it up. That way, you can also enjoy their meals in the comfort of your own home.

So, next time you need a decent Thai food fix (on a budget) and you happen to be in Riyadh, you know where to go. Ayt?


Cheers!
-ec-


The Villa Restaurant
Umal-hammam District,
Across King Khaled Eye Hospital
T: 01-482-2749


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Holiday Glam

With only 18 days to go before Christmas, I'm sure most of you have been pondering what to wear on the parties ahead for the Holiday season. Even if we celebrate here discreetly, there's no excuse not to look your best. Here's an ensemble that's easy to create; do away with the usual greens and reds and think glam Christmas with bright emerald greens and fuschia, golds studs and embellishment. Dress up kahit iilan lang ang nakakakita, iwasan lang magmukhang Christmas tree.

Here's a pic with the jacket on (that's Betchay posing on the side).


An LBD will never go wrong. Pair with opaque tights to warm up this winter.

Beaded headband Forever 21 Satin black dress Topshop
Floral jacket and satin shoes H&M Pearl necklace Ms. Selfridge
Studded bag MNG


Whenever and wherever you choose to spend your Holidays this year, let us not forget the Reason for the season!

♥R♥

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Flight Home

aka as "How to Survive the Plight Flight Home"

A year and a half gone by so fast, I didn't really notice it at all. I guess I truly enjoyed my stay in Saudi Arabia (I'm surprised). Coming home to the Philippines for the first time after I went abroad is one moment I've played in my head over and over. Surprisingly, it didn't play as I imagined it to be because for me, nothing much has changed. It's as if I fit right into where I have left off. There was no adjustment needed. No reintegration whatsoever.

The moment in between. Visions of clouds will put you at ease.

Before I rush into my schedule here in Manila and in my home province, I just need to write this entry so I won't forget what it was like. This is a survival guide to the moment in between; your place in the land and the sky when you left the foreign country and will be returning to the home country. Excitement, nervousness, anxiety... emotions that will turn your stomach and make it lurch with the aircraft. Anticipation at its finest! This is the story of my first homecoming and the lessons that came with it. I hope you gain something from my sharing. :)

1. Prepare the documents needed. Passport? Check! Exit/re-entry visa? Check! E-ticket? Check! These are the main documents you need to travel out of Saudi Arabia. Make sure everything is present. Make sure they give you exit/re-entry visa and not an exit only visa. The visa is printed in a legal-sized coupon bond (2 pages). The iqama (residential ID) is left with the employers. Usually companies and their respective travel agencies are the ones preparing everything for you just make kulit once in a while so you know they're processing your papers. Er, first, make sure your passport is still valid!

I realized my passport expires on January 2010, and I only realized it last October. And I'm having my vacay on November! I went to the Philippine embassy immediately (October 4) and had it renewed. The renewal process was pretty straightforward and I came out of the embassy's consular services office 15 minutes after. Renewal costs 200 riyals and takes 30 WORKING days. I hoped and prayed it come out before November so I can apply for my exit/re-entry visa asap. Thank goodness my passport was released October 26, a week earlier than expected. I had enough time (and breathing space) to secure my visa and travel papers.

Get updates on your booking once in a while. After your flight is confirmed, just call the airlines a day or so before your flight just to make sure that your slot was not canceled or changed. There are some instances when slots are canceled even if it's already confirmed. I called the customer service of Gulf Air the night before my flight just to be sure. I wouldn't want the hassle of going to the airport only to be told na wala ako sa listahan! That would break my heart into a million pieces. Imagine, excited ka na eh tapos di ka pala makakalipad?! Ugh!

2. Be on time. Or earlier. Airlines have rules that you have to be in the airport 3-4 hours before your flight. Don't be late. Make sure you know your departure time. Memorize it by heart. AM is different from PM. Check if your ticket uses the 12- or 24-hour timeline. Some gets confused by this. The good thing with the King Khaled International Airport is they prioritize women (or was it just my experience?!) in the baggage x-ray and counter line.

The view from the lounge area of KKIA gate 16.

I was early because I wanted to get a window seat. My Gulf Air flight is 4:30 in the afternoon but I was at the airport by 12:30nn (excited much?!). Imagine my surprise when the lines at the still closed check-in counters were already long! My porter brought my luggage in front of the line. Mabuti na lang kabayans yung nasa unahan ng pila and they let me get the first spot! Imagine my surprise too when I saw I was the only woman in line! Most passengers were Indian and Pakistani men! I immediately asked the check-in guy to give me a window seat. My question of "Am I the only woman on this flight?!" made him laugh. I was darn serious.

3. Mind the baggage limit. Gulf Air has a baggage limit of 30kg. Weighing your check-in luggage at home will let you clear the counter in no time at all (though your weighing scale might not be as accurate). While it's true that a little charm can nudge the check-in guy to accept your overweight baggage (if it's just 1-5kg over), not all can be swayed. Some won't permit all that weight. Be fair to your co-passengers too. Avoid begging them to check in your extra baggage for you. Make sure all your bags and luggage are properly tagged and labeled. You wouldn't want them to be lost in transition. Every time you go and leave a seat (ie. the airport waiting lounge, coffee shop, etc.), check if your belongings and essentials are still with you and complete. Never let your bag/s out of your sight.

My check-in baggage was just 14 kilos. A week before my flight, I sent my 'balikbayan' box through air cargo. A 50kg box cost me SR350. Not bad because my box arrived before me (exactly 5 WORKING days). It arrived in Manila on the day of my flight. I was also carrying a very light hand carry. All my essentials (documents and cellphones) are in a smaller bag.

4. Relax and be comfortable. Wear comfortable clothes. Stop being fidgety. There's really no need to rush to your gate once they announce boarding. After all, you are already assigned seats, no one can steal it from you (unless they made a mistake in registering two passengers in one seat!). Just make sure you will not be left behind! Usually, airlines staff will seek the missing passenger (causing a delay on the flight departure time). They announce boarding through speakers but just to be safe, wait at seats near your gate.

Have some coffee and croissant while waiting.

Have a guessing game of planes' logos
(para sa mga talagang bored na kahihintay).


I chose a seat near my gate but also wandered around the KKIA because I had lots of time to spare. When they announced boarding, I chose to let all passengers go in first before me because as I said, I noticed that most of the passengers were men and were of other nationalities. I wouldn't want to be sandwiched in there! (Women, you know what i mean!) I was still shocked though to find my seat near the end of the plane and was the only woman on that cabin. Seriously. I couldn't even find a Filipino nearby. There were a handful Filipinos, I noticed in the waiting lounge, but they were scattered inside. Gah! I was feeling nauseous when the plane began its ascent but I chose to ignore the stares and stared outside the window instead. Thankfully, my seatmate appeared to be nice and he wasn't the noisy type. He kept quiet the entire 1 hour flight to Bahrain.

Likewise, I was one of the few last passengers who entered the plane from Bahrain to Manila. I think it will be much organized if they announced boarding for those whose seats are near the plane's tail first and so on so there will be less human traffic inside. But oh well, what do I know about planes and stuff. LOL.

5. Survive the stopover. Like what we said on our How To Land In Riyadh Fashionably, almost all airlines except Saudi Airlines, have stopovers in their home countries. For Gulf Air, being the national air carrier of Bahrain, its stopover is at the Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq Island, 15 minutes from Manama, the kingdom's capital city. Stopovers can be fun especially when there's a lot to see. Just make sure you know where your next gate is. Locate where you're headed first and know how many hours your stopover is before going around.

[Sorry, no photos here... I was busy shopping sightseeing! Hehe!]

I have a three-hour stopover in Bahrain. (I like stopovers! I wouldn't want to take a Saudia flight if I had my way. My experience with them during my flight to KSA was not that great). I located my gate first so I know where to go when boarding is announced before I wandered in BIA's Duty Free. I also used the airport's wifi (free wifi is always a winner!) and surfed the net to my heart's content.

6. Get to know others. It's also fun seeing kabayans who are going home. Take the time to get to know some and you'll be amazed with all the stories our fellows are willing to share. Laugh, cry, empathize... whatever it is, make sure you gain valuable insights with each experience you hear.

More than 200 people on one one flight. More than 200 stories for your soul.

I had the privilege of getting to know a few Filipinos on my flight from Bahrain to Manila. I met a man, who like my father, has been working in Saudi Arabia for almost 20 years. It was fun listening to how he willingly transferred to Dammam from Riyadh because the capital city is too strict and suffocating for him (cough, cough). I stopped listening when he asked for my number and YM ID. Toinkz naman si tatang! I also heard this woman talking to her husband in her cellphone, telling him that she has no money at all. It's not as if I'm eavesdropping you know, because the entire waiting lounge actually heard her shout it. Also, she was my seatmate. Turned out she didn't complete her contract in Bahrain. She was an overworked domestic helper and the only salary she got for the month was used to pay her flight home. There's this woman who's going home for two weeks only. Then there's another who lost 400 US dollars in the plane (!). And so on... By the time our plane landed in Manila, I was already imagining of compiling OFW stories in a book! One flight, one book. Interesting, LOL.

7. Don't miss a beat. When it's your first time to go home, you get to experience every emotion there is. But the moment you should not miss is the few hours before landing. Every Filipino on the plane becomes fidgety. Like they don't know what to do. Some go to the loo, others just stand up to stretch, some talk (and talk a lot), some just stare outside their windows grinning like crazy. It's the moment when the plane beats to an excitement emanating from all its passengers. Every one is preparing for their homecoming. Patience is running low. Everyone will be gunning to the exit any minute now.

Don't miss meals too. Try their snacks too to ease whatever you're feeling.

My flight from Bahrain to Manila took 8 hours. I slept the first 5 hours (there was nothing better to do). I woke up to see most of the passengers getting up and going to the lavatories. Some are requesting water. Some are taking pictures (with the clouds outside as background). Some are just well, not knowing what to do. I took my breakfast with ease, but I can feel my stomach lurching a little. Believe me, it's not because of the food. I can feel the excitement and anticipation of the crowd. And when the captain announced that we're landing, it was as if time stood still. I swear everyone held their breath. (I heard some will even launch a round of applause... I guess we're too shy to do that on this flight, LOL!)

Heto na, heto na... Manila is that you?!

8. Do not forget the essentials. Don't forget to fill up the disembarkation card and custom card that are given at the beginning of the flight. Ask the flight stewardess if she forgot to give you one. You can check out the Duty Free counter if you want to buy more pasalubong. You have to present the disembarkation card and your passport to the immigration official. Go to your assigned conveyor belt for your baggage. Once you get your belongings, hand over the customs declaration card to the customs official before exiting at the arrival area. You'll surely see your relatives waiting for you already. If you can't, I'm sure they're the ones who'll spot you. An extra tip is to stand on the sign of your surname's first letter (pero ang sabi nga nila, pang bagito lang daw itong step na ito... eh sorry ha, may mga taong ayaw mawala at gustong sumunod sa signs eh. LOL!)

Airport taxis are available if no one's coming to fetch you (which is sad naman pero oh well, may mga pagkakataon talagang ganito eh... lalo na kung may pa-surprise effect ka pang nalalaman... gaya ko! Haha!).

Coming home is the most-awaited event in an OFW's life. Being home to share the holiday feast with your families is probably the best gift you can give to your loved ones.

Mabuhay! Maligayang pagdating sa Pilipinas. Enjoy your stay in the Philippines!

§undrenched, blogging live from MNL
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