Cancelled trip to Universal Studio

I have long wanted to take a glance to the famed Universal Studio of Singapore and this visit was my schedule.  To make sure I have the right information, I called Marie, my Pinoygrapher colleague who works with the studio.  She replied that today would not be a good time to visit the place because there is an ongoing renovations on major spots. To aggravate the problem, there was island wide brownout since morning.   Upon hearing the news, I decided not to pursue my visit to Universal.  I just proceed to Orchard hoping I can watch some good movies.

I arrived at Lido Cinema at around 5pm and tried looking for the Imax Theater.   I was surprised to see hundred of people loitering at the lobby.   I find the ticket booth and initially thought they just moved it to a new location.  After searching and failed to find it, I asked around.  A beautiful woman who was surrounded with chubby kids replied that the booth was relocated near the elevator and it is currently closed.  The showing right now,s he said, is a premier show for the movie X-men First Class.  There are not ticket because it is sponsored by Starhub.   She offered to give me her extra ticket... much to my delight.

Indeed, I was very glad to watch the opening show of X-men movie.

I left Orchard at around 9pm. I took an MRT train and proceed to City Hall.  I intend to take my dinner at the Soup Spoon at Raffles Place.

the principal

Alpha males are always fond of watching pretty girls, they say. Not me! Hehehe... I like pretty girls, but I do prefer beautiful girls than the pretty ones.

Amidst the sea of beautiful gown, handsome tuxedos, pretty teen girls, gorgeous mothers in their best dress, a lady in orange pencil-cut dress caught my attention. She could be one of the parents, I thought.
"Hmm... she't pretty but she's look too conservative, just like my teacher in high school" I smirked in silence. I take a good look at her, and then I went ahead with my merry ways of taking pictures. But then.... when the show started and everyone has to sit down, I found my self with Ranie and the pretty girl in orange. Ranie, politely introduced me to Carol, the principal of Palm Crest International School.
Dang!!!!!
Hehehehe... I thought, she's one of the parents! And... only to realize, she's a principal. Gee, I made a bobo of my self out there.
Contrary to the impression I perceived - a conservative teacher, she's actually cool and funny. Not only that. She's smart, witty and can easily explore diverse topics during conversation. I was so impressed of how fine she was, that I told her:
"You're the second person who impressed me here in KSA"
She just gave me a wicked smile and she mutted.. "Second?"

"Yep, because the 1st one was the principal of Al Taj"

We shared a timid laughter. (We can't laugh loud because the program was on-going.)
Few more things I learned from her. She's just arrived here in Riyadh last August, she's having a good time in her current school, is happily married, and just like all the newbies in the city - she's experiencing a hard time adapting with the culture and rules.
I didn't stay long at their table. I bid adieu and then continued with my order of the day - photoshoot.

* * * * * *

I had a beautiful day today; photoshoot with the graduating students, meeting very proud parents, browsing elbows with the good people in SE, and meeting new friends.
Hah! Who says there's no fun in KSA?

the nurses of hammadi

Remember that nurse whom I met at Al Hammadi hospital last week - Saturday? She gave me her number right? Well, I met her again last Monday when I went back to see an Internist. And we've been talking on the phone for the past few days. She nice and like me, she speaks my native tongue. That's why I enjoyed talking to her because we can exchange jokes and pleasantries that could only be expressed in full if spoken in our native tongue.

She also introduces me to her friends, all of them speaks the same language, that is why my phone seldom rest now. Tsk tsk tsk, I guess I will have another hole in my pocket when my phone bill arrives. Anyway, I enjoyed talking to these nurses. They were funny and all "naughty" on the phone. Hehehe... I know they were just playful because meeting these ladies in public is almost impossible. Well, if you can get a couple to "sponsor" for them at the hospital, you can arrange for a 4-hour out-pass. But I don't think that will happen. I don't have a willing couple to sponsor them, and primarily because I don't want to do it. I'm just trying to avoid trouble as much as possible.

Hmm... I guess, I will have to settle with phone pal for now.

watching ladies in burqa

One of the most fascinating facets of Saudi Arabia is their strict adherence for ladies to wear burka while in public. Depending on which viewpoint you are, for some women burka could be a protection from preying eyes of men, but for others women burka suppresses their basic freedom. Who's right? Nah, I don't really care. That's not what I wanted to write tonight. I want to tell you about my experience this afternoon.

I went to Al Faisaliah Mall today. Together with Dowin and his family, I was allowed to get inside this famous "Ladies Mall" and with my Dowin's little boy whom I tagged along, I got a "license" to roam around freely inside those shops that bachelors could never get through. I could pass by the mall guards with ease because they usually ignore people who were carrying children with them. So, what so special about it, you may ask? Well, nothing really. Just a chance to see some very beautiful women with their burqa taken off. And is it worth it? Yeah... sure! very much.

Believe me when I say beautiful women, they are really really beautiful. I am a photographer and I know who are beautiful and who are not. And these ladies, gee.. they are so genetically blessed to have perfect skin, chiseled ivory face, and balance aquiline nose. Just look at their eyes. You would certainly get bewitched with the "soulful" expression of their stare. As if, their eyes are talking to you in some strange language that you could not resist but look.

While majority of the ladies took off their burqa veil inside the mall, some ladies do not. They have a special slit in their veil to allow them to see, and for some, they put a thin concealing net in their face to partially allow them to see. I'm not sure if they can see at all - I never tried wearing one - but I guess they can. You'll see nothing but silhouette of the face and nothing more. And you know what? These ladies are the most intriguing of them all.

Men, like me, when we see women wearing burka with very little opening in their face or just thin net, it always provokes a thought of "is she beautiful?" And we would try to use our fertile imagination to answer that question using some hints available for us like silhouette figure of the face or body, height, and the burqa material. Of course, these criteria does not justify whether the woman is pretty or not. But the exercise of judging a particular "mysterious" lady using pure haka-haka (wild thoughts) pushes our adrenalin and gives us excitement I couldn't explain. You need to experience it in this setting to appreciate what I'm talking about. And I hate to say this... watching "mysterious" ladies in burka dress is better than watching girls in bikini at Sentosa Island.

Whew. If only I have a camera, I would certainly get a snap of one this ladies. But I know that this may never happen. Photography with local women is strictly prohibited in the Kingdom.

Maybe one of this days. I will have an Arab women in my portfolio.

checkup

I didn't tell you, I went to Al Hammadi Hospital yesterday to get a reading of my BP and also to complain my severe headaches. I already fainted last Thursday and then another one this afternoon. I suspect, this could be caused by the change of weather and stress in my workplace. And just to be sure, I went to see a doctor last week. I would rather have a false alarm than realize later that I am seriously ill.

And you know what happened? The doctor simply give me paracetamol and didn't even perform diagnosis. Hah! I objected of course and told him that I wanted to be sure. The *sshole, just ignore me and replied that nothing is serious, then leave. I was really mad. I paid for the consultation and what I get is BP reading and couple of paracetamol? I was about to complain to the administration office when a Filipina nurse explained that this is how the doctors do their job here. She explained that even if I complain, it will just fall onto deaf ears.

In consolation, the nurse set up an appointment for me with a specialist - an Internist - and then brought me to another place where I found a Filipina doctor. Only that time where I felt relieve. The doctor gave me some advice to prepare a concoction of apple cider vinegar, garlic and honey then take one teaspoon 3x per day. I also need to relax during this holiday and avoid long trips. In parting, she still advised me to see an Internist next week.

Before leaving the hospital, I pass by at the nurse station and thanks the nurse who took care of me. She was so amused with me that she even gave me her number. Her name is Maline

takas.. continued

Indeed, Marina gave me a call this morning. This time, she asked me to call her in the landline (I guess, she felt the fangs of cell phone cost).

I did not waste time. I pickup my office phone and called her in their house phone. She was alone, she said. She listened to my old antiques of making her laugh but and judging from the tone of her voice, she was not enjoying any of it. I believe she was sad and perhaps crying. So I stopped and inquired if she was feeling well. She didn't answer. She just keep silent for several minutes, but I could her was her breath and her occasional sighs.

I know she is not yet ready to talk, so I asked permission to put down the phone and promised to call her when she is ready to talk. Still no answer, I slowly put down the lever and ... returned to work.

Four hours later, she rings me again. She sounds lively and I believe she is all right. She apologizes for the drama this morning and explained that she was just not feeling and assured me that everything now was fine.

And as I eagerly expecting, we continued the yesterday's story that she left hanging.

* * * * * *

Before leaving the house, she said, she managed to pick up her hand bag which contains her passport, iqama, cell phone and some money. However, she failed to grab some clothes because the master, that time, was starting to stand up. Running short of time, she pulled the bed sheet and use it cover her body.

Inside the taxicab, her senses started to came back. She realized that she was wearing a torn shirt that exposes her breast, but she was quick to cover so as not to attract attention from the cab driver. She instructed the cabbie to take her to Danube District and drop her near the Sahara Mall.

Shocked, confused, and afraid because she was not wearing an Abaya, she grabs her phone and start punching some number. She was hoping to get in-touch with a Filipina friend who was living near the area. She got lucky she said, because the Filipina responded and promised to pick her up.

They went to a big house full of women of different nationality. She saw five other Filipina, 3 Indians/Srilankans, 2 Chinese, and 5 other Caucasian looking women. Then she was introduced to the landlady of the house - a fat old woman of Arab descent. After telling the landlady her harrowing experience, she was instructed to join with her friend in a small room. In parting, the old lady promised to help her go home to the Philippines.

Still tired, she falls asleep the whole day. At around 10pm, some noise and loud moaning coming from the next room awakened her. She carefully listens to the sound and she realized that someone was having sex on the other side. She slowly stands up and looks around. Her roommate was gone and when she peeped in the door, she saw the ladies all dress up in skimpy clothes.

She was terrified! "What is this place"?, she asked herself.

Slowly, she locked the door, went back to her bed... and started to cry. Fear was creeping all over her body, as she hears another woman screaming on the right side of the wall. She was sure that it was a Filipina because the woman was shouting a Tagalog word "wag, masakit!" Then she heard some slapping and hoarse moans from the right side of wall. She was so terrified with what she heard; sleep did not catch her the whole night. She just sat in the corner and waited for daylight.

Around 4am, the Morning Prayer call from a nearby mosque echoed all over the place. She heard people outside her room, talking, laughing, and was bidding goodbye to each other. Few minutes later, her friend came in and was looking very tired. In her friend's right hand was a small glass of sadiki (illegally made wine) and on the left hand was a small roll of money. There was no need for explainations, she said. She already realized that she run onto a prostitution den.

She planned to escape that day and hopes to reach the Philippine Embassy, but the doors were locked. Not losing hope, she went to the rooftop to find a fire exit but was not lucky. She also tried to open the windows but there were locks too.

That night, the landlady gave her a razor and asked to shave her pubic hair. She knows that there was no escaping and she will be fed to the male customers as a prostitute, but she didn't complain. Instead, she silently approached the old lady and told her that she was having menstruation. She immediately noticed the foul reaction of the old lady, who asked her to go back to her room and do not come out. (In this part of the world, women's menstruation is considered dirty and any woman having it is considered unclean and bad luck for business).

A night in the Farm

For the adventurous Pinoys, one way of coping up with boredom is to take field trip to various farms in the kingdom. You may ask, "Do vegetables grow in the desert"? Yes, they do. Just over a hundred kilometers from the city, farms - as they call it - sprout like mushrooms. Thanks to the billions of dollars that the government poured into advance technology and research. It made wonders and transformed the desert land into a paradise of lush edible greenery and forest of fruit trees. I do not know how they did it. But as long as I got the assurance that the food is safe to eat and has no side effects, I'll devour the fresh food in my way. Hah! Fiesta.

That is where we go today. We went to a farm, roughly 120 km from the city, to attend a party organized by our Filipino friends. The place was nice, but I did not the got the chance to enjoy in the orchard because it was dark! Actually, the party starts at 2pm but we miss the chance to tour around because we were late - we arrived at 8pm.

That is all right. Anyway, there is still plenty of food to munch at the kitchen and a karaoke bonanza to enjoy at the reception area. Moreover, the kids have their place too. They were running around playing at the lawn. Dowin and his family stayed in the house. I opted to separate and wander at the perimeter looking for some interesting subject to shoot.

I settled down at the entrance gate.I took a chair and made myself comfortable as I enjoy watching the lights of the Riyadh city from the horizon. Several minutes later, I saw some kids came to my place.They join me watching the planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport. I told them stories and then help them identify the stars. They were noisy and asked lots of questions, but honestly, I actually enjoyed talking to the kids. Their laughter made me feel good and their innocence simply made me ponder on the purity of my heart. Gee... I am a sinner and a warm-blooded animal.

I was still talking to the kids when I heard a voice from my back. As I turn around, I saw a middle-aged woman who came looking for her niece. She then asked what we were doing in this dark place. The kids responded in chorus "we were watching the planes". I smiled (I wonder if she could see it) and assured her that everything is all right. Then I asked the kids to go back to the lawn area. With that cue, the kids start running back to the house and they were all shouting and laughing.Hehehe… kids.

I thought she would also go, but she did not. Instead, she sat down on the bench and starts looking at the sky. She asked why I preferred to separate from the group and… asked some details why I am here in Riyadh. Of course, I gave my standard reply – for the money. Then she keep silent for few minutes. Later, she started to share about her adventures in the kingdom. I learned that she literally spent half of her life here - she arrived in the city at the young age of 21. Started as a DH for 10 years, then moved on as an independent sales clerk at Faisaliah Mall, and lately been working as a personal beautician for a royal princess.Unlike the typical women in Riyadh, she does not stay in an accommodation.She said, she rents a place near Olaya (together with a Pinoy couple) and supports herself in exchange for her freedom from an employer.I was surprise.She is definitely strong and brave.

Frankly, I was not interested with the woman. I did not even ask here name. However, I was sincerely listening to her. I was hoping to pick up some advices and hints on how to survive in the land of my Arab brethrens. Twenty years of experience is a treasure of knowledge and wisdom for anyone to mine.

Two hours later, I asked her to join with the rest of the group. She readily agreed and she walks with me towards the house.When I saw her face clearly under the light, I could help but think; she must be very pretty during her younger age. But nah, I am not interested with middle-aged women. They can be obsessive and fatal. Nakakatakot

We left the farm at around 11pm.

My weekends

You may ask, what would the people in a city - where movies and alcoholic beverages are restricted - do during weekends? Go to a public plaza? Hehehe.. nope, there is no public plaza and if there is, you don't want to expose yourself under the searing heat of the sun nor would you like to chill during the cold winter nights. Perhaps, go shopping to malls. Well, that's alright if you have a family status AND your family is with you. But for singles like me, then you have to settle for limited access in the mall.

Singles are not permitted to areas where there are women, and for the adventurous one like Jorge boy, be ready for a hide-and-seek session with the mall guards. No family? No problem, the solution is simple. Tag along with Filipino family and try a casual conversation with the father of the family. You'll be surprise how far can you venture inside the restricted areas.

Batha is another option, but I don't like the place. It's like going to Quiapo or Baclaran on a Wednesday afternoon, except the sidewalk vendors are not Pinoys but Indians and Pakistanis. It's crowded, messy, and yaiks! dirty. (Oh, how I miss Singapore!)

Okay alright, there are more Filipino ladies in Batha than any other place in Riyadh, but let me remind you that it is also known that there are plenty of mutawahs lurking at every corner in the area. Call it a another game of cat-and-mouse, but that's a hard truth. If you are faint-hearted, then don't try talking to any Pinays, or you risk ending up in a nearby mosque or worse, picked up by the police and sent to jail. But if you have a dragon heart and a skin as thick as a crocodile hide, then Batha is your place.

Batha is the central place where all Pinoys send their remittances. Nurses from all hospital in the Al Riyadh Region swamp the place for remittance, groceries, and jewelries. Likewise, freelance ladies who works at malls, beauty consultants, and including domestic helpers also litters all over the place. You can take your pick: beautiful, pretty, chubby, dark, fair skinned, curly, nice long hair (some don't hide their hair), young, middle aged, oldies-but-goldies, and the "physically-challenged". Its your choice, and your diskarte. You can have as many as you want, but just be careful least you invite trouble to yourself.

Didn't I tell you that during my second day in Riyadh, I already got two phone numbers by just visiting Batha?

Si jorge pa!

KAMC

"Life would be dull".. so they say when I was still thinking of going back to Riyadh. But... hehehe... I have proven them wrong.

I went to Malaz this afternoon to visit some friends. Malou - the nurse whom I met at the Military hospital last week - invited me to cover a volleyball tournament at KamC. "Malayo ba yan", I ask. She smiled and timidly said it is. "But we have a transportation so you don't need to worry that you didn't bring your car", she added. I couldn't say yes because I didn't know the place and ... with the event to start only at 10pm, that would be too late. So I politely declined the invitation, but I offered to do a shoot for free should there be any event in the future. Well, I was glad that she didn't take it bad. I guess, she understand that her invitation was just too late.

When I arrived home, Dowin asked me to guide him to the National Guard Hospital because he is not familiar the place, and he needs to be there before 6pm for a tennis tournament. And since I have nothing to do tonight, I gleefully agreed. In my mind, I would be meeting new faces again. National Guard Hospital compound is known to be "free" and women don't wear abaya. We left the house at 5pm. Of course, I brought my camera with me. Hehehe...

Trouble knocks when we arrived at the gate. I just realized that we need a "sponsor" from inside to get a pass. I was really worried because only Dowin was registered and I don't have any invitation. While standing near the gate - thinking of a solution for this predicament - I saw the sign at the entrance: King Abdullaziz Medical City. Gee... it stands for the word KAMC.

Alas, I found a way out. I immediately called Malou and asked her to sponsor for me. She gave me her ID number and called the guard at the gate. It didn't take a minute and I was able to obtain a pass.

Dowin proceed to his tennis tournament, while I detoured to the Recreation Center. Malou was already waiting for me at the canteen and was waring a big smile when I saw her. "I thought you don't like to see me tonight", she sarcastically greeted me. "You were right but I have some itched to scratch", I sweetly responded. Laugher followed!

She then took me to the volleyball court and introduced me to her colleagues. There were plenty of them and remembering their names was a challenge. But I remember one whom caught my eye - Mitch. Hehehe...

I took out my camera and starts taking pictures. Shooting at the players while theya are playing was very difficult because the lighting condition was poor. So I settled to snipping on by players at the bench and on the nice ladies at the crowd, but with flash forbidden, my pictures still comes short. After an hour of frustration, I gave up and went back to Malou who was waiting for me at the bench. Talking to her was far better than watching the game. She was, let me put it nicely, a good host!

Two hours later, Dowin arrived. He signaled that we are go to go!

I held Malou in the hands and bid adieu. She gave me a kiss on the check and let go of my hands. I went home with a big smile on my lips. Not only that I got a kiss, but also several numbers from new nurses whom I met at KamC. Mitch?, hehehe.. I got her number too.

Hah!... so life is dull in Saudi.. hehehe.. they were all wrong!

si noel

I never had a buddy who could keep up with me except for one who used to be my "partner-in-crime". His name is Noel Macaya. We were friends way back on our high school years and were both products of a Marist Brothers ruled Notre Dame School. And during my work years at Philcom, Noel became my buddy at work: he manages the customer interfacing operations while I managed the back-end-operations. We had a seamless work relationship that we were so effective, our superiors could not cope up with our output. Several times, we were given citation as the best employees and best team in the company.

Little did the company know that we were better partners not in the office, but in our gimmicks and escapades. Almost every night, we would "hunt" inside the bars and clubs in Cagayan de Oro picking up girls, ladies and pretty women of different "variety". We alternate as wing-man and predator and we were so effective that we have a success rate of almost 100%. Once we set an eye on a "prey", it would just be a matter of minutes - we could get the target. We were known in all watering holes in the city. We earned such a reputation that other "hunters" would felt threatened of our presence, and they would make a way for us thus making our hunt much easier.

What make us tick together was our mutual respect with each other's ability and skills. Noel has good looks, charisma and intelligence, and I used this to my advantage. I am audacious, fast, and smart and could sweet talk anyone with ease, and Noel uses my skills too.. to his advantage. This positive reinforcement toward each other and a healthy competition push ourselves to a higher plane that we could not have reach individually. I don't recall we ever disagree about women. Our unspoken code: whoever first set eyes on a prey, it his!

And when we parted ways because we had to move to different companies, I felt I lost a leg. Gone was an important part of me that made me deadly on a hunt. I lost a partner. For several times I tried doing it by myself, but my success rate drop significantly that eventually I decided to stopped my hunting ways. Occasionally, we still hang out together but during the latter days, we started to lost contact when I went abroad.

That was almost 6 years ago. This evening, I was surprised to see an email from my long lost friend Noel. I learned that he is currently in Davao and is working with Splash corporation. He used to be with Smart Telecoms but found the company too boring, thus made a decision to transfer to Splash. But knowing Noel as an untamed and free spirited intelligent person, it didn't surprise me when he told me that he is planning to moved out of the country soon.

I was glad to hear from my friend. We talked about many things: work, career, classmates, and of course women. It was so relishing to reminisce our good 'ole days and we have plans to doing it once more here in Sg.

Hehehe... I can't wait.

Lingerie Show @ Mellenia Walk

Clean the house! It's been three weeks overdue and I agree... I just have to do it.

I left at around 4pm. I would have plenty of time to spare, I thought, since the Fashion Show at Ngee Ang was scheduled at 7:30pm. I even dilly dally on my way to the MRT, using all opportunity to get pictures of Bedok area while reading the manual of my 20D. Probably, I would at least pick up the basics on what my camera can offer. Yeah, my 20D has been with me for almost a month yet we are still strangers to each other. Grr!!! I still have so much to learn.

Oh before I forget, I met this Pinay lady inside the train. We exchange smiles and then had a good conversations. I realized that she was staying just across my block, which was quite amazing because for over a year that I stayed in my place, I never saw her in the bus nor at Sheng Song shopping store. There's only two explaination I could think of... first because I a home body (???) and the 2nd, she's not that interesting! Hehehe... Anyway, she's nice to talk with. We parted along Lucky Plaza when I saw Glenn who just came from Ngee Ang.

Glenn told me that he has watch the 3pm show and is now going to Mellenia for another show. Glenn also told me that the 7:30 show is exclusive and may need ticket to get in. Huh, my schedule was off! Anyway, the Mellenia Show at 7pm, he whisphered is much better. It's a lingerie show. Wow! I don't have to think about it, instinct told me to go with them. And just as Glenn told me, the rest of the guys were there: Bhong, Mac and his wife Nadine, and the people from photonski - Raffy and Lyn. There were also other photographers whose names I forgot and gee... they all flaunt their expensive lens and camera. Most of them had "L" lens if not Nikkor lens. While me?.. hah! just an ordinary Sigma lens. I didn't feel bad anyway. What matter would be the end result - the picture, not the accessories. Ako pah!

The show proper started at around 7:10. The clothes, at first, were a bit wholesome but started to get skimpier as the show goes on. With pretty and sexy model, there was of course, excitement in the air and you could easily feel that on the photographers. Each one was trying to get the best possible position - the closer the better - and every angle counts. Where was I? Hehhe.... I was sitting at the end of the runway and was taking shot upwards. I could see everything, I meant "everything". Yes!

Let me post some pictures, perhaps next week, after Friendster allows me upload more photos. *wink*

What was more interesting with this photog session, was the chance to meet the models. I met at least three of them and they asked me if I can send the pictures to their email. I didn't waste time of course, I gave them my card and asked them to write their email on my notepad. Before parting, I was able to shake their hands and made beso-beso (just kidding).

Sabi ko sa iyo.. si Jorge ito!

Ms Bikini

I remember I did promised to write about the Ms Bikini competition held at Wet Wet Wild theme park but honestly I had thought of skipping it. Why? I am afraid there nothing to write!

Okay, I went there together with Arjie - my photo buddy - to join with some of the photonski team who were already ahead of us. I was even excited by the thought of shooting sexy girls in bikini. And did you know that last night? I charged all my batteries and emptied all my CF cards just to make sure there's no surprises today. I even clean the ccd sensor of my camera and the filters of my new lens!

But to my horror, I was very frustrated when I saw the girls who will be competing.
I couldn't believe these were the contestants because I have seen so many pretty and sexy locals along the beaches of Siloso & Palawan which was far far more qualified - and these contentants were just wannabes. Given they got plenty of guts and nice bodies, but talent? Huh, that's another story. I have to reminisce those moments that I have to bow down my head because I was ashamed for a contestant who was dancing a "pinoy Sisa" - tsekwa version.

Save for two or three pretty girls who has the "K" (forgive them with their singing voice that sounds like a crying poodle), I couldn't pick anyone else.

And my choice? contestant #13