The Labyrinth of Shops

And so, 2021 is gone just like that. With COVID-19 reigning for another full year, keeping us stuck from going anywhere overseas for the second year in a row. Sigh…

Anyway Happy 2022. Let’s see how this year goes. As a start, things look really promising, if you’re a super-rich billionaire with some big pharma and tech companies under your control. (Just imagine how much money I’ll make from vaccines, drugs and online games, hahaha…).

If you’re an ordinary folk (like yours truly, ahem), cross your fingers and pray hard, with the economy crawling slower than a snail and COVID cases going thru the roof, probably from the ultra-contagious Omicron strain and having too much fun during New Year (told ya to stay at home, din I?) Here’re some photos of New Year’s Day of 2020, which was the last holiday we spent overseas before COVID struck. (Hoping for the day we can fly again!)


City of Sousse, Tunisia – What a maze? A view from the Ribat (fort). The castle at the far end of the photo houses the Sousse Archaeological Museum – New Year’s Day 2020


Exploring and getting lost in the maze of shops and houses is part of the fun


Why is everything in blue and white? And it’s not only in Sousse. Wait till you get to Sidi Bou Said…


Uh-oh dead end


Another dead end? At least the doors are yellow here


Wee…. These alleys are fun to be an airplane


Let’s get up that fort (Ribat)




More views of the city from the Ribat


Mommy at the Ribat, Sousse, Tunisia


Tired? Some tea perhaps?


Hey, it’s New Year, but there’re not much signs of New Year??

That’s it folks but oh, here’s a point too important to miss. Today is a landmark day for the UAE. The first official working Friday for the country since time immemorial, after the UAE government switched the weekend from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday. I prefer the old system, Fridays off, and alternate Saturdays. A slow Saturday (or Sunday) after the weekend is a way better start to the week than a friggin hectic Monday!

Here’re some quick updates. At work, things are busy despite the lack of Projects. That’s probably because I’m functioning like a friggin one-man show in charge of the closeout of 4 Projects, and have to beg and plead for resources whenever I need help. Fuck.

At home, Omicron has driven the boys back to distant learning, which was announced only half a day before the school officially reopens. Now, ain’t that a nice New Year surprise for parents!?! Bummer! HAPPY NEW YEAR!