4 a.m. Stories at Emirates Plaza

Thursday nights are always the busiest for all the working class here in Abu Dhabi. Plans are already set on how to waste away the weekend and Thursday night is the start of total R&R. My husband and I decided to spend it inside the movie house and give The Last Airbender a try. We both love Nickolodeon’s cartoon series, so, it would be pretty exciting to watch it come to life through 3D movie. Unfortunately, the movie was a total disaster, as expected. We arrived home hoping to hit the sack. Unfortunately, our housemate’s party is not yet near from being over. It all began with a harmless chitchat while the vodka was being passed around and filling everybody’s shot glass. Around 2 a.m. one member of the group was already dozing off. So we decided to call it a night. But, the dozer immediately roused when the group was already packing up, he still wants to visit the nearest bar. My husband and I were a bit wary to join in because we were so tired and we have been up since 4:30 am. We badly need the sleep. But since it is rude to say no to the birthday celebrant, we went along and visited this Manila Bay bar at Emirates plaza.

At 3 a.m. in the morning the place was still alive with so many Indians and Filipino outside the building. The disco bar was located at the penthouse level of the building. When we got there we were welcomed with a brawl. I was so scared I have to hide behind my husband for protection. Two guys were being drawn apart by the security and as expected the chaos was caused by a woman. What is new with a bar scene particularly when almost everyone is wasted already. Despite the near closing time, the fee has not dwindle, thus we tried to sweet talk the guy behind the counter and haggle for the price. After 30 minutes we got in for half the price from the original fee. The place was swinging with so much dancing and drinking. We tried to squeeze in with the crowd. It was fun for awhile then the dancing stopped for the live band. We get to catch our breath and look for a table. While the band was shrieking their guts out I started people watching.

For somebody who was sober the whole time (I don’t drink so shoot me), observing was the best option I have compared to inhaling all the nicotine in the place. The band was not that extraordinary. They could play and sing. That’s it. Nothing sets them apart from the rest of the other playing rock bands back home in the Philippines. Although, I must admit I was impressed when those girls dancing with the band and who were scantily clad would actually sing. I thought that’s all they were backdrop gyrating with the vocalists rhythms. I kind of felt sad a bit later, girls with so much talent such as they, should they really show a lot of their skin to earn a living? Is talent not enough? While the lady singer was bawling Beyonce’s Listen, I noticed the guy on the table right in front of me. His head was bowed and he was staring intently on his open palm. When the song hit the lines “Listen/ I am alone at a crossroads/I'm not at home in my own home/” He was already lip synching with it. As in like Beyonce wannbe is doing on the center stage. It was like actually watching a live music video. Then on the next table, kuya, was already dozing off. Who cares if he was already drooling. His drinking buddies don’t even care if he is already on the verge of falling off his chair. The other table near the wall, 3 guys who were obviously too drunk were already dancing while they were seated. Listen is supposed to be a slow song. They must have heard it differently on that side. And lastly, our table mate. Too high to even noticed us I guess, were already smooching like there’s no tomorrow. Awww. Sweet! Not! PDA is cute but an torrid saliva exchange is way out of my liking. It looked like they were doing an actual tonsillectomy right in front of me. Geez. Oh well, I guess love plus Corona can make you do these kind of things.

By 4 a.m. my eyes were already closing despite the wild noise inside the bar, my husband was already tipsy and quite incomprehensible. So we decided to call it a night. We said our goodbye and we trudge our way home. My first and last, mind you, night scene here in Abu Dhabi is definitely one for the books but will no longer be in my to do list in the next 50 years.

Clean-Up Day at Electra St.

The other day, my housemates and I have decided to hit the saloon to have a long overdue underarm wax session.  Since it has long been discovered that shaving the underarm will only make it darker hence undesirable to look at and unclean.  Also, plucking every hair would take all day, that’s why waxing and threading was discovered.  If you are a masochist this is definitely your thing.  Honestly, I just discovered waxing (and I find no joys in it) just this year.   I got it as a gift from a friend during my bridal shower.  That was January this year (2010).  Anyway, my sister and I played with the kit and well it was ok.  Cleaning your under arm in one or two really harsh pulls could bring tears to your eyes. 

We went to this salon Fine Touch owned and operated by a kabayan.  When we arrive the places was jam packed. The queue for waxing was very long. And we thought we chose the day were most people would be too busy to think of waxing.  However, Ramadan is already near most women of Muslim culture are preparing to clean themselves for the Ramadan, thus the removal of hair – everywhere.  Arms, legs and every body part below the neck which has hair has to be waxed.  Uhmm..right.  Better set an appointment next time and not barge in without one. 

So we walked forlornly towards the bus stop station to wait for the bus, but, like a mirage in the desert a blinking sign took all of our attention as we crossed the Electra St., in bold red color SALE up to 70% off.  We sighed and crossed the street with our eyes focused on that little shop named Shobra.  When we were still living at the bed bug filled house we had TFC and Shobra was always advertised with a catch phrase “I’m always sure with Shobra.”  So my curiosity was piqued and we squeezed in to the small shop and checked what’s in store for the ready buyers.  Ho and behold, after a few minutes of checking out the products we have discovered that almost all of the prices are marked down up to 10 AED and less.  Whoa!  We started to pick every item we liked and shoved it into the laundry basket which the store provided to serious buyers.  I found wonderful gems, a toddler’s shoes for only 8 AED and 3 rubber sandals 7 AED each.  All in all I spent 28 AED for 4 items.  Good buy.  But wait!  My budget for waxing was just 10 AED. Eeek! I’d probably get a good bashing from my husband for this one.  So on the way home, I picked two beef shawarma from Sanine Restaurant to make my entrance more appealing and hopefully the 18 AED overspent would be overlooked.  Although I still feel unclean with all the hairs in my pits, my budget was almost wiped clean just because of Shobra –now I can say I’m always sure with Shobra to make my money go so easily away. 

        

Pests in the City

I have been here in Abu Dhabi for exactly 60 days already, to date. And still there are a lot to discover about this city. Bucketful of food to taste, places to visit and, yes, pests to exterminate lined up my things to do. First on the list is the extermination. When roaming the downtown area of the city, many tall structures serve as offices and residential units for both locals and expats. We happen to be living right in front of Hamdan Street. I know the street stretches into kilometers but its somewhere along this street. So we have a beautiful view of the city streets at night and a bountiful of sunlight during the day. I love how the streets light up the night with all the passing cars, making blinking lights. Reminds me of Christmas. Also, our housemates are fun. Most of them because most of them speak the same dialect as I do. A good thing, I don’t have to worry saying the wrong word and come out as the idiot in the group.

The room that we rented was adequately small. Enough to accommodate the bed, one cabinet, the tv and the fridge. Other stuff will just have to be stashed outside. The airconditioning was good. And I can easily adjust the temperature whenever it suits me, the only weird thing is, its placed on the wall. It’s the first time I see an AC on the floor. Anyway, it works, no issues on that. The kitchen was well, ok. You can cook, you can wash and you can even borrow the landlady’s cooking utensils. The bathroom was ok, except for the water which is scalding hot. I think I’d go bald in 3 months if I continue to bath in that water temperature. No wonder the bathroom has many pails filled with water. Some of the tenants collect water into those pails and have it cooled down before using it. But its summer, water being hot straight from the pipe is a given. It was pleasant and all until the attack.

It started with a small insect bite on my arm. It was really itchy so I just had to scratch it to my satisfaction. Then the next day, another one appeared on my arm. By the first week here in Abu Dhabi, my arms were already full with insect bites. So we thought it was just some harmless mosquito. We had to spray the room with insecticide whenever we go out. And had the insect repellant turned on the whole night. We even had the light turned on at night because the attacks usually happen when its dark. But still, more insect bites consume me, my arms, my legs, my back and my tummy. I’m all covered up. At first I didn’t believe it was the killer bed bugs. Our mattress was brand new, so the possibility of bed bugs is highly unlikely. So I continue to believe that something else was trying to cover my skin with red spots and I continue to bath myself with Calamine lotion. After the itchiness is gone scars decorated my arms and legs, and before I came here I was, well, *blush* flawless. In my own way, that is. So we have decided to move house. Our housemates were generous enough to include us while they were also room hunting.

While we were packing up our stuff, that’s when we discovered our brand new mattress was indeed covered with bed bugs nests. It was gruesome. The hair at my arms stood up while we decide what to do with the mattress. We need to shop a new one. Shopping always gives me a heady feeling of euphoria, but not this time. I kind of felt upset about disposing a brand new mattress and barely 3 months old just because of bed bugs. But that is the only solution. So we had a new mattress, did major cleaning and washing, now we are comfortable with our new home. I sleep well at night and wake up with a clear skin. I don’t have to sleep with scotch tape by my bedside anymore. Oh by the way, scotch tapes are used to catch crawling bed bugs. You can’t just squished them their blood could spread their egg that could continue to wreck havoc with all your belongings. Ewww. I know. But that’s how it works.

Chronicles of the Wanderer: Davao sleepover!

Chronicles of the Wanderer: Davao sleepover!