A Day for Flowers

A farm of flowers, Asimah Village, Fujairah Emirate


Happy Valentine’s Day! Now, if only I know what to get the missus… Of course, there’ll be flowers, that’s friggin MANDATORY (even if it costs a bomb on Valentine’s), that and a card. That’s a really small price, compared to the things she’s done for me. I’m talking about the other gift… ummm… gimme some inspiration, God.

Anyway, here’s a quick picture post of a flower farm we visited last year just for the occasion. It’s in Asimah village in the Emirate of Fujairah.














Flower Farm, Asimah, Fujairah, UAE


Flowers & hills, a view from the Al Taiba Heritage Museum, Fujairah Emirate, UAE


And I’m chucking in photos of the nearby Al Taiba ‘Haritage’ Museum also. This is a ‘museum’ set up by some locals for the benefit of all. Entrance is free!




Al Taiba Heritage Museum


And here’s another free place, next to the Heritage Museum, the Flag Fort, with views of the oasis nearby.

Have a lovely Valentine’s all of you! Now, gotta go gift hunting…

Justin’s Last Year of Childhood

Justin, at Oli-Oli, Dubai, half a month after his 11th birthday, Dec 2020

Justin’s finally becoming an adolescent. He turned 12, two months back. To all of us, he’s a kid, but try booking an air ticket or a hotel stay for him, and you’d find him grouped with the adults! COVID has just made us lose out 2 years of all the fun we could have travelling when he’s just a kid. Here’s a look back at his 12th year’s adventures (it’s only 2 months late, OK?). Like his 11th year, this was a complete year of being stuck in the UAE. UAE’s not bad actually (but just imagine the money we would’ve saved while travelling when Justin’s just a ‘kid’.)


A day at the zoo. Justin’s not really a fan of animals (unlike Jayden), but any outing’s better than none, Dubai Safari Park, Jan 2021


I can flyyyyyy! One of his favourite activities at home, especially when he’s thinking, or in between doing something, like practicing his guitar, or piano… He’s a restless boy, …when he’s not on his computer or tablet that is


At Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah (the southern part), Feb 2021 – The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (or RAK for short) is divided into 2 parts which are not joined together. The capital (which is also named Ras Al Khaimah), international airport, ports, etc, are all in the north part of RAK. Southern RAK is an inland exclave consisting of hills, wadis and rural villages near the town of Hatta which belongs to Dubai. (Yup, it’s complicated. Just Google it, willya?)


An outing to a flower farm in the hill village of Asimah, Fujairah, Mar 2021


Another adventure, Wadi Ghub, Fujairah, Mar 2021 – This was our last hiking trip / picnic for the winter season of 2020-2021. From April onwards, the heat goes up and we’d have to wait for the end of the year to get out again!


Oh, stuck in the house again. Playing with his new instrument now, the piano! No, couldn’t find a teacher, so he just used YouTube tutorials, you know the ones where coloured bars fall onto the piano keys where you were supposed to play. He’s getting quite good at it actually. Who says it couldn’t work? – May 2021


The end of Year 6, yippee! Here’s an end-of-the-year outing with his Year 6 classmates at Bounce, Dubai, a trampoline park – June 2021. Some of his best friends are here: from the left, Matei (from Romania), Anton (from Vietnam) and Shaun Linz (from India)


Their first ice skating! At the Galleria Ice Rink, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Jul 2021. Not that difficult, said Justin. Actually, April, May, June and July were the ‘skating months’, where the kids spent almost every other weekend in the Skate Park at Nshama Town Square, with Justin skateboarding and Jayden on roller skates, but somehow, I failed to save many of the photos of those few months into my hard disk. Many of them are gone now from Anu’s phone unfortunately…


After watching La Perle by Dragone, at Al Habtoor City, Dubai – Aug 2021. La Perle is a water-themed theatrical acrobatic show created by the renowned Belgian theatre director, Franco Dragone who was one of the key architects of the famed theatrical circus, the Cirque du Soleil. The La Perle show is staged in a custom made aquatic theatre with pools that can overflow and waterfalls and rain that suddenly appear… Nice!


A trip to Abu Dhabi! At Al Wathba Long Salt Lake – Sep 2021. Finally, a relaxation of the Abu Dhabi border pandemic controls, after more than a year. This is the family’s first trip into Abu Dhabi after ummm… 3 years maybe…


Dubai Expo 2020 opens! …In 2021. Ahhh, what the heck, at least it opened. And it’s fabulous, so many things to see, so many concerts and performances. Here’s Justin trying to 'lift' the Mobility Pavilion, Alif – Oct 2021


At the Kyrgyzstan Pavilion, Dubai Expo2020, Oct 2021


Happy Diwali! Nov 2021


‘A Diwali gift for me?!! Thanks Mommy!’


Justin’s 12th Birthday at home, with a few friends! Jamal (sitting, in red) is a classmate from Kyrgyzstan. The brothers Malik (left), Musab (centre) and Moaz (right) from Egypt stay in the same apartment block as us and go to the same school as Justin and Jayden (the school is just next door to our apartment and can be seen from our house). Moaz and Malik are in the same grade as Justin (although Moaz is a year older than Malik) and Moaz is Justin’s classmate. Musab is in the same grade as Jayden but in different classes

That’s it. And here’s wishing all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Chinese New Year to those who’re still celebrating!! !! !!

The City of Boiled Eggs

Rotorua Museum, Rotorua, New Zealand

Gong Xi Gong Xi. Gong Xi Fa Cai! Chinese New Year is knocking on the door, and it looks like it’s gonna be another fabulous Chinese New Year, …in lockdown!

Ah well, at least we can save some angpow money (gotta look at things on the bright side, don’t we?) …Until someone decides to create an e-Angpow app that is!

Oh God, continue to give us hope. Keep us all safe and healthy. Help those who are in trouble to overcome their problems. Mend broken relationships. Help people forgive each other and make this world a better place. Make the economy thrive again. Give my company big, grand projects so that all of us can keep our jobs, and get an increment, and a promotion. Make things go back to “normal” (but what is normal nowadays)??..

Well, since we got no place to go, and I don’t have any Chinese-y photos to post, here’re some pictures of a time we spent together with family, some time ago (in 2018 to be exact) in New Zealand. Here we go!


Anu and the kids, at the Government Gardens, Rotorua, New Zealand, Dec 2018

This is Rotorua, New Zealand, which my nephew Jared says smells like boiled eggs. And he’s right, it does smell like eggs! Actually, ummm… to me, it smells more like the gas you pass out after eating eggs. And that’s thanks to the natural gases (hydrogen sulphide) that comes out from the ground in the form of hot springs, bubbling mud pools and geysers! Heck, there’re even places called Sulphur Point and Sulphur Flats! That’s because Rotorua happens to sit inside a friggin VOLCANO! Yup, you read correct. Lake Rotorua is actually the caldera of a volcano that erupted 240,000 years ago, and judging from all the geothermal activity that’s still active, I’d guess that the volcano isn’t exactly extinct. Well, guess I wouldn’t be moving to Rotorua (unless there’s a job offer of course, hehe).


Sulphur Flats, beside the hotel that we stayed in, the Sudima Lake Hotel, Rotorua




More photos of Government Gardens, Rotorua


With the boys and some scary looking tiki statuettes, at Prince’s Arch & Gateway, Government Gardens, Rotorua


Lake Rotorua, Rotorua, NZ – What’s the Indian and South Korean flags doing here?


Yours truly at Lake Rotorua – Hey, can we get on those sea planes in the lake?


Lake Rorotua is formed from a caldera of a volcano which erupted ummm 240,000 years ago, before modern humans even existed. In the background is the lone island inside the lake, Mokoia Island




More views of Lake Rotorua, it was a really windy day when we visited, brrrr… (although this was the peak of summer in NZ)


Mommy with the boys and Jared in Rotorua. Jared’s mom had to tend to Jared’s baby sister, Skye, and Dad and Hazel decided to accompany her and catch up on some rest in the hotel (this was not their first time in Rotorua, ...unlike us)




Kuirau Park, with geothermal hot springs and bubbling mud pools


Tired? You can dip your feet in the free hot water springs in Kuirau Park, Rotorua, NZ

Before I go, here’s to wishing all a happy, vibrant and happening new year, filled with opportunities, success and hope. Here’s to wishing the world a recovery from the effects of the pandemic. Let us step out and make this world a better place again.

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On a more solemn note, 2 days ago, Anu’s younger sister, Amrita gave birth prematurely to a baby boy only after 6+ months of pregnancy because of fibroids in her womb. The baby was on life support but unfortunately, weakened and passed away later in the day. Mother is still in pain from the fibroids, birth and is greatly distraught over the loss of her child. Oh God, take care of the little baby who’s gone back to you, heal Amrita of her pain and condition, give Amrita and Rahul the strength to overcome this loss and to strengthen their relationship to create an ever happier and closer family going forward. Thank you Lord. Amen.

The Story of Jayden, Year 7

Jayden, Love Lake, Dubai, Dec 2020

Finally, I finished looking thru all the photos of the little one between his 6th and 7th birthday (after 3 months!), and here they are, a summary of his Year 7 adventures, stuck completely in the UAE, thanks to friggin COVID. (I’m getting sick of this word…). Enjoy!


Here’s he at home, explaining what his monsters can do. Hey, did it kill King Kong? Nov 2020


Al Jazirah Al Hamra Old Village Fort – Behind this fort is the abandoned ghost village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, spooky eh? Ras Al Khaimah, Dec 2020


With his Koko at the zoo (he loves aquariums and zoos, by the way), Dubai Safari Park, Jan 2021


Another fort! The little visited Falaj Al Mualla Fort, Umm Al Quwain, Jan 2021 – We were the only ones there that afternoon. The watchman had to unlock the museum just for us. A whole fort to ourselves!


Hey Harry Potter, where’s Ron and Hermione? Fooling around at home as one of his favourite characters of that time – I think this was British Book Character Day, or something like that. Their school has all sorts of ideas to make parents use up their money – Feb 2021


Gong Xi, Namaste, I’m confused… Malay clothing, Indian greeting, Chinese decorations, …ahh, what the heck, we’re Malaysians! Malaysia, truly Asia! – Mar 2021


Last trek of the season, Wadi Ghub, Fujairah, Mar 2021 – The weather turns up the heat from April onwards… Waiting eagerly for the end of Oct again to go outdoors


Another of his all-time favourite character, Spiderman – Apr 2021


Oh, it’s stifling hot! May and June 2021 were the skating months where the kids went every other weekend to rack up their skating skills (coz that, and swimming, were about the only things we could do that’s free …nah, we aren’t stingy, …just thrifty, ahem) – Nshama Town Square Skate Park, May 2021


Museum trips are still OK during the summer months. Hey, where’re your legs??!? Sharjah Science Museum, Jul 2021


Jayden with friend Viva and the Fox of Fabyland at Dubai Festival City, after a playdate with his Koko, Arya, Mashel, Viva and their moms at Bounce Trampoline Park, Jul 2021


Pulling faces with Koko, at Ce La Vi Restaurant, atop the Address Sky View Tower, Downtown Dubai celebrating Mommy’s birthday, Aug 2021


Abu Dhabi reopens! Abu Dhabi finally relaxed its internal border controls regarding COVID-19. Before that, all entering the emirate of Abu Dhabi from other emirates had to show COVID-19 PCR test results not older than a certain amount of days (it changes from time to time) – Hey, look at my piece of salt! At the Al Wathba Long Salt Lake, Abu Dhabi, Sep 2021


Expo2020 Dubai finally opens! I AM THE MUMMY!! At the Egypt Pavilion, Oct 2021


Happy Birthday! Jayden at the South Korea Pavilion on his 7th birthday, Expo2020 Dubai, Oct 2021