My Emirates Airline Business Class Experience Dubai to Sydney.

I needed to Go To Dubai
I have been waiting for the opportunity to go to Dubai but the cost of flying from Sydney is really costly. The regular fare cost around A$2000 return ticket on an Economy.
But recently Emirates Airlines had this promotion which is just around A$1160 economy return ticket at emirates.com. I was about to booked but decided to dig more hoping to really get the bargain. I succeed I found the cheapest one at auntbetty.com.au  for just A$974.58 Return Flight Dubai, Sydney.

Photo by pranjal srivastava from Pexels

Tricks.
When looking for the cheapest flight, I am using momondo.com because it is going to show you the price from the cheapest to the most expensive one. Once you found the cheapest one,  go to that website and hang on in there. Then look for the possible more cheap option using another web browser, it can be a safari, google chrome, firefox, a safari in private window mode, google chrome in the incognito mode, etc. then book the cheapest one. I learned these tricks during my five months of travel in 2015.

Choose your Seat.
Right after the confirmation I immediately choose the seat on the website of emirates airline, I need to pay 30 dollars for my chosen set. You don't need to choose you don't need to pay.

Business Class Offer.
The day before my flight I checked in online and there is an offer to me of A$1500 business class flight to Dubai. I didn't take it because I believed A$1500 is still expensive.

Fourteen Hours Flight
It was fourteen hours of flight and I was on my chosen windows side seat and I hate it, the seat was comfortable but being on the side needed me to always worry and disturbed the couple next to me. It was not a good 14 hours flight.

Rebooking Fee.
I decided to rebook my flight making it 3 days earlier than my original schedule of coming back to Sydney. I paid A$250 rebooking fee.

Upgrading to Business Class.
I was trying to upgrade on the website but I think it was late already that the feature is not available anymore. Then when I got to the airport I asked the ticket seller and told me to just tell it to the cabin crew. On the boarding, I asked the lady if there is an available upgrade and she asked me if it is a free upgrade. I said yes if there is but then there is none.
On the plane, I asked the crew for an upgrade and she told me it will be 7346.00 Dirhams, then I paid 7346.00 Dirhams.

The Business Class Experience.
It was amazing. Comfortable reclining seat/bed. unlimited food and drinks, freedom to move, hang in the bar and socialize with people, I didn't do that as I am shy. I probably do it again.

That was a last-minute upgrade, the last-minute upgrade is not advisable as most of the time it is coming very costly.
I believe there are tricks/ways to get business class or even a first class upgrade. Just Google it.

I travelled Australia Using eMountain Bike

The Bike

It is a Cube Acid Hybrid One 400. This eBike is German made and is available in major bike shop around the world, also available online, Check its specs here or watch the Video.

Beginning of the Trip, I need to take the ferry.

I started the trip from Nelson Bay NSW, I took the 3 o'clock ferry instead of the 9 o'clock one. The captain of the ferry put my bike on the roof of the ferry with my pannier on.

My Backpack, Pannier, and my Sleeping Bag

The sun just got down when I arrived in Tea Garden. I was hesitant to keep on going because I am not sure of what is waiting for me in the dark along the way.  Because of that, 

I decided to stay in one of the hotels in the area just to build my courage. 

I had my dinner in one of the Chinese restaurants near the hotel, I also bought additional stuff in case I need to do some camping.

First Long Bike Ride

I checked out early from the hotel, the reception is not open yet and I just leave the key on their box. I drive the long narrow road seeing mostly the trees around it. I was really thankful that I didn't go on last night because there is a ferry/bridge that needed to go through the other side that operates only in the daytime.
I keep on going and had the dirt road ride.

A Good Aussie Guy Offered me to Stay in His House

I avoid the Bulahdelah expressway and took the Lakes way going to my next stop. I was not aware that this road mostly is ascending and really need to use the electric of my bike. I run out of battery on the last two hills that I took and needed to push my bike going up. I was really tired of this part of my travel. It was raining too.

It was around 4:00 o'clock I was googling for a place to stay in the area, and that was the time a car stopped and an Aussie guy offered me a place to stay. We went to a club that night. The next day I load my bike to his car and he brought me to Blueys Beach.

I Reached The Town of Forster and Tuncurry.

Forster is the first legit town that I reached, they have a shopping center and many establishments. Beaches are walkable within the city. I stayed in one of the motels in Tuncurry, Tuncurry is the twin town of Forster that is just across the river, right after the bridge. Forster is beautiful.

I choose a hotel that will allow me to place my bike inside the room

Taree, Where are the people?

Pacific Highway is the expressway or freeway that connects the major cities and towns in Australia. taking this road straight will bring you to Brisbane or Sydney. This long road has a rest area complete with a toilet, picnic table, and information boards.

Do you need Car in Sydney Australia?

Sydney Australia is one of the world's modern city. The city still has the old years vibe of having the old buildings and houses all around, I am actually living in an old apartment that looks like those apartments in Singapore and Malaysia.

In your own car, by public transportation or by just walking around the city is cool too, not having heavy traffic that I have experienced in Manila. Sydney is a walkable clean and green city. wide sidewalk with greenery along with it and a park in big vacant spaces. The weather is just amazing. it is hot during summer but there is no strong humidity like those in the middle east and southeast Asia. Winter is cold that is making the people wear their best winter clothes fashionably.

Train, Buses, Ferries are some of the public transportation that is really affordable for both work and leisure travel. They are easily accessible in a convenient bus stop, station, and wharves. During the daytime, these public transport vehicles almost come and leave every 10 minutes without having to queue in line.

Most of the people living in the suburbs and works in the City, do leave their car at the Train Station parking area and then ride the train to get to the city. One of the reasons for that is because of the conveniences of traveling by train. Another reason would be the expensive parking space in the city.

Opal Card is a prepaid card that people in New South Wales are using for their public transportation, there are cards for Adults, Seniors, and Students. For as low as $10 you can buy it from any conveniences store and can be reloaded from the shops, online or by using your mobile app. The fare is affordable for around $2 for a trip.

If you are working and living in the city you actually don't need a car.

Best Place to Stay in Sydney

These are the place to consider if you are looking for a place to stay within the Sydney Central Business District. Ultimo, Chippendale, Surry Hills, Haymarket, Pyrmont, Barangaroo, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and maybe Glebe and Potts Point.

George Street in Sydney is considered to be the High Street and the busiest street in Sydney. It is about 3km long starting from "The Rocks" Circular Quey where the popular Opera House and Harbour Bridge is located and end at the Chippendale and Ultimo where the Sydney Central Station, Railway Square, and Central Park Mall is located. Going through the street will connect to Broadway and then Parramatta Road where the University of Sydney is located.

Right Wing of George Street

Chippendale
Chippendale is a small inner Sydney suburb where you will see the Mercure Hotel, UTS (University of Technology Sydney) just when you get out of the Sydney Central Station Grand Concourse. I used to stay in one of the apartment just behind the Mercure Hotel during my first few months in Sydney. KFC, Mc Donald, shops and other fast-food here are open until late.

Surry Hills
Surry Hills is located just on the other side of Sydney Central Station all the way to Oxford Street of Darlinghurst. Most of the houses and establishments here are old looking. I used to stay in one of the apartments here and is good because everything is easily accessible.

Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst is where the Oxford street is located, Oxford street is the home of bars and restaurants mostly related to the LGBT community but is open for everybody. Houses and apartments here are both old and modern. The other side of Darlinghurst is the popular Hyde Park where the Museum Train Station is located.

Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo is another inner suburb of Sydney, The first thing you will notice in the location is the Woolloomooloo Bay with high-end restaurants and big parks known as "The Domain" The Domain is walking distance to Sydney Botanical Garden, St Mary's Church, and on the other side is the suburbs of Potts Point.

Potts Point
Potts Point is located next to Woolloomooloo and is around three km from Sydney CBD. The red light district of Sydney is located in the area known as Kings Cross. Kings Cross Station is the nearest Train Station. I used to work in one of the restaurants in Potts Point while living in Surry Hills. Every day I walk around 20 minutes to get to work and 20 minutes coming back home, by bus is just around 10 minutes.

Left-Wing of George Street

Ultimo
Ultimo is the home of the University of  Technology Sydney, TAFE Sydney and is actually walking distance to Haymarket Chinatown Paddy's Market or Market City.

Haymarket
Haymarket is the home of Sydney's Chinatown. Shops and restaurants are all over the place, colleges, and universities are walking distance. Residents mostly live in a highrise apartment. Very Near to Sydney Central Station. The Tram from Sydney Central Station goes through here to Pyrmont.

Pyrmont
Pyrmont is the home of Sydney's Fish Market, The Star Casino, Darling Harbour, and Cockle Bay that is adjacent to Sydney City Centre. Madama Tussaud, Sea Life, Museum and other attractions are also located within the Darling Harbor.

Barangaroo
Walking from the banks of cockle bay you're going to reach the Barangaroo, you will see the modern restaurant in the modern highrise buildings, offices, and commercial buildings. Moving on you will reach the beautiful Barangaroo Reserve/Park and the hill called Millers Point with the view of the big and beautiful Parramatta River/and Harbor Bridge. Walse bay is the next stop where museums and theatres are situated all the way to The Rocks and Circular Quey.

If you Cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge you will reach the Milsons Point, Luna Park, Kirribilli and the rest of North Sydney.

Places like Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, Watson Bay, Manly, Parramatta,  Chatswood, Cronulla, Blue Mountain, even Newcastle, Wollongong can be reach easily by public transportation such as Trains, Buses, and Ferries.

Cheap Shared Room in Sydney

Sydney is the most crowded city in Australia, So many people from different country are here to study and to work.

gumtree.com.au flatmates.com.au realestate.com.au domain.com.au lhooker.com.au are some of the websites where you can search, checked and book a place for long-term stay.

Coming from Kuala Lumpur, I arrived in Sydney and stay in a backpacker hostel in a room with 5 double decker bed for the first two nights (www.abroadero.trvl.com). With the help of my sponsor, I then moved to an apartment dormitory with 4 beds in the room and 4 beds in the living room.  We are a total of 10 people staying in the apartment. 

The apartment is fully furnished and all you need is your food and your personal needs. Internet, electricity, water are included with the rent of $125 every week. 

The apartment is obviously crowded and is not properly maintained,  I keep on looking for a new place to stay at gumtree.com.au, flatmates.com.au domain.com.au realestate.com.au and in the local noticeboard and classified ads.

Then I moved to a single room paying A$200 per week with everything included except the food. It was my friend who referred me to this apartment. This is a two-floor apartment with three rooms and one toilet. We are four people including my landlord staying in this apartment.

My cost of living in Australia

Australia particularly Sydney is one of the most expensive cities to live in, despite Australia is also the country that gives more salary to its employees. If you are coming to Australia on a working visa, it is required by the Australian immigration that your sponsor/company must give you a salary of not less than 53,900 Australian Dollars annually. That is roughly 900 Australian Dollars net every week.

My Cost of living in Sydney

I first came to Australia staying in a backpacker guesthouse paying 25 Australian Dollars each night for three nights. I then found a shared room of 4 people a total of 8 people in one apartment paying 125 Australian Dollars every week including everything except food. The apartment is not comfortable so I moved to a single room paying 200 Australian Dollars every week in a shared apartment with four people. Some of this apartment are usually providing a set of bidding but if they're not, blankets are available at a very cheap price from Kmart, Target, Big W, this three department store are awesome.

Every week I spend more or less 200 Australian Dollars for food because most of the time I am eating outside and sometimes cooking food at home. The average meal in Sydney is ranging from 10 Australian Dollars and up from the food court, fast food chain and regular restaurant. The cheapest meal with rice, meat, and vegetables at a discounted prices of 5 Australian Dollars in the most food court, this is happening at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon to finish the sale of the food.

New South Wales including Sydney are using prepaid Opal Card to pay for every travel by Bus, Ferry and Train. You can purchase Opal card at the most convenience stores with the value of 10 Australian Dollars and up. I rarely used the Opal card because I am just walking to work. The fare is charged with around 3 Dollars depending on the distance, time, day, and usage. 10 Dollars Opal will go a long way.

The same as everywhere the Taxi ride is expensive and Uber is a little bit cheaper.

Basic Personal Hygiene needs like toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo, deodorant, ear cleaner are roughly 3 Australian Dollars except for shampoo, and most of them last for more than a week.

Branded shoes like Nike, Adidas the cheapest are around 120 Australian Dollars, Branded Shirts and Pants are around 50 Australian Dollars. But you can always find a good quality of shoes and clothing at a 75% cheaper price at Kmart, Target and Big W Department Store. 

Moved to Regional New South Wales. Australia

I am now living in the regional area of New South Wales, In here you can rent a full house with at least 1 bedroom for just 250 Australian Dollars usually furnished with water and electricity included. The prices of grocery items are the same as those in the city, but I am now able to save a little bit more because there is no so much restaurant here., and Because of that my budget for food is now just around 40 Australian Dollars every week. 

Grocery like Coles and Woolworths are everywhere in Australia they usually have a sale, ALDI and IGA are some of the Grocery that sells the cheapest and most affordable ranges of products. There are other independent Grocery and Department Store in every local area of Australia.

Health Insurance is usually paid every month, and my one is 109 Australian Dollars every month,  My prepaid mobile phone before was 40 Australian Dollars for 28 days with 7GB of data, and now I am on a postpaid plan paying 70 Australian Dollar with 120GB of data every month. 

Haircut in the city is cheaper from 10 Australian Dollars and it is very rare to see 10 Dollars haircuts in the regional area which mostly is 30 Dollars. I had a Gym membership at fitness first in Sydney and it was 26 dollars every week, I'm sure the other gym is cheaper.

Public transportation is not very convenient in my current location as buses don't come as often like those in Sydney. A car here is a necessity that is why almost everyone owns a car. Because of this, I bought an electric bike that I used for my daily travel to work and recreation. I don't drive mate.

In Australia, People are welcoming and friendly, it is clean and green everywhere, Amazing beaches...Life is Good here actually.

What you need to do to get a job in Australia if you are not in Australia.

EASY TO GET A JOB ABROAD

If you are planning to work abroad, countries that are easy to get a job would be those middle eastern countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain etc. Most of the companies in middle eastern countries provide everything to their employee from flight from the home country, accommodation, food, transportation, and health insurance during the duration of the employment contract. There may be some but that is not the case in the rest of the world.

WORK VISA IN AUSTRALIA

In Australia, a non-Australian can only work in Australia if they have a proper visa. There is a different classification of visa for work-related visa depending on location, duration of stay, skills, and qualification of the visa applicant.  Some of this visa are 457 Visa which is valid for up to 4 years, 189 visa which is valid as long as you want to stay (Permanent Residency) and there are other more here Work Visa Option. Holders of student Visa, Working Holiday Visa are also able to work with some limitation apply.

Company sponsorship is commonly practiced to get a job in Australia. (457 Visa, TSS Visa). Then there is 189 Visa and 190 Visa that will allow you to come to Australia without sponsor. (Permanent Resident)

HOW TO START

The easiest way to get a job in Australia is through Recruitment Agency or Migration Agency because they usually have a ready employer that is willing to sponsor foreign skilled worker. Aside from the migration agency and immigration lawyers, Australian Immigration Website is the best place to gather information on how to apply for any kind of visa. The website is always updated and have the most reliable information. You'll  see the list of requirements, procedures, fees etc, it just means that you can apply for your own visa.

The first thing you need to do is to check if your profession or your kind of job is in the Skilled Occupation List. If you see your job in the list, alongside is the Assessing Authority, assessing Authority is the one that will give you an Australian Qualification. Australian Qualification can be a certificate 3 or  4 depends on your field of work. In my case I am a cook, the assessing authority gave me "Commercial Cookery Certificate 3". For the Chef, Cook and other trade professional TRA or Trade Recognition Australia is the Assessing Authority. Nurses, Engineers, and other job have other Assessing authority.

Once your skills have been assessed and got a proper certificate, the other thing you must have is the English qualification, it can be an IELTS, PTE, passport or certification that English is the medium your school is using. and then the rest of the requirements are the usual school credentials, employment certificates, passports, other certificates etc.

Once you have all those requirements ready, all you need to do is look for a job in Australia,  Submit your CV to a different company in Australia, always write a nice cover letter stating your qualification and don't forget to mention that you have all the requirements ready for visa application. If the company hire you the possibilities are they will refer you to their migration agent, or lawyer for visa application procedure.

Those are the procedure I did to get a job on a 457 visa here in Australia. I was already here in Australia when I did that. I think this is the same even if you are offshore or not in Australia. I am just not sure about the procedure of skills assessment offshore, but it explained in the Trade Recognition Australia website.


Procedure for Permanent Residency in Australia. Video

Cost of applying for a Job in Australia.

Success Story ng Domestic Helper at OFW

There maybe people dreams of becoming a carpenter or a salesman but I don't think there is person dreamed of becoming a Domestic Helper.

From Domestic Helper to CEO Story.

Tagpuan ng mga Pinoy sa Abroad

It is very common to see Filipinos in every countries McDonalds, KFC, Jollibee, and other Fast-food or restaurant na malapit sa puso ng bawat Filipino. Ito madalas yong nagiging tagpuan nating mga Pinoy sa ibat-ibang bansa.

St. John Cathedral. Ito ang tagpuan ng mga kababayan nating Filipino na nagtatrabaho sa Kuala Lumpur, mapapansin na nagkakaron ng tiangge sa mga bangketa sa paligid ng Cathedral at napupuno din ng mga Filipina ang mga restaurant dito tuwing araw ng Linggo. Kanya kanyang kwento at tawanan at ang iba naman eh nag ne negosyo.

Orchard Road. Ang Orchard Road naman sa Singapore eh ganon din ang scenario lalo na sa araw ng Linggo. Napupuno din ng mga kababayan natin ang lugar kung saan naglalakihan ang mga shopping mall. Kapansin pansin din ang ka sweetan ng mga kababayan nating pinay kasama ang mga nobyo nilang ibang lahi.

Hongkong Central. Natural na sa ating mga Filipino ang pagiging masayahin kaya naman ganyan din ang sitwasyon sa Hongkong Central tuwing araw ng Linggo.

Success Story

Isa si Ms. Xyza Cruz Bacani sa mga kababayan natin na nagtatrabaho sa Hongkong bilang isang kasambahay, pero sa halip na tumambay sa Hongkong Central or matulog maghapon eh mas ginugusto nyang gawin ang kanyang libangan at yan ang Photography.

"When I'm wearing my camera, I'm not a helper anymore, I'm an ordinary girl. It's a way of protection because when you're a helper here there is a kind of stereotyping that they do"

"Pag dala ko ang camera ko, hindi na ako katulong, ordinaryong babae ako. Parang proteksyon ko kase ito, kase pag katulong ka parang iba ang tingin sa yo ng ibang tao"

Kilala si Xyza sa black&white street photography katulad ng 2014 Hong Kong  Street Protest sa Central, ganon din ang kuha ng mga larawan ukol sa buhay ng ibang domestic helpers. At dahil sa angkin nyang talento, katayuan sa buhay at sa mga kuha nyang larawan, Xyza Cruz Bacani was chosen para mag aral sa New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She is one of the seven people from different country selected by the Human Rights Fellows by the Magnum Foundation.

Sa kasalukuyan eh isa sya sa BBC100 Women of 2015.

BBC100 Women 2015[/caption]

Bilang isang Filipino na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, alam natin na ang tanging dahilan ay ang kahirapan sa Pilipinas kaya napipilitan tayong iwanan ang mga mahal natin sa buhay.  Alam natin na hindi pang habambuhay ang pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa lalo na nga kung alam natin na walang namang pag angat or magandang future ang isang trabaho na katulad nga ng pagiging Domestic Helper, waitress, factory worker at kung ano ano pa.

Kung sakali na kabilang tayo sa ganitong proffession bigyan natin ang sarili natin ng pagkakataon na gawin ang bagay na sa palagay natin eh makakatulong sa ikakabuti ng ating future. Ang internet eh isang mabisang paraan para madagdagan ang ating kaalaman para sa magandang kinabukasan and at the same time eh para kumita ng extra income.

May mga tutorial, may mga blog of experiences, may mga online school, may sari spring mga instruction at procedure kung papaano makaalis sa pagiging domestic helper. Walang masama sa pagiging domestic helper pero ang ganitong profession eh walang pag angat, walang pag asenso at malayo sa pamilya.

Source:wikipedia, XyzaCruzBacani

Dubai Hidden Beach

I love walking in the streets of Dubai, You'll going to see a lot of things that you don't normally see when you are always in the car. You get to know the details of what this street is having.

For the second time I ride the Dubai tram from the Jumeira Lakes Tower Station and as usual, you'll get to see the nice view of the Marina and Media city area. I get down to the last station which is the Al Sufouh. From Al Sufouh Station you can see the Burj Al Arab and you will be tempted to just walk to get there, but still, it is around 40 minutes' walk.

In Al Sufouh Road, aside from the sidewalk, there is also a bike lane a jogging path and there is already a rail waiting for the future trip of the train there.

I also found this public beach that is hidden and most of the people going there are with the car.

Life

Cost of living sa Dubai

Dito sa Dubai dahil nga sa halos karamihan ng kompanya ay nag po provide ng pagkain, transportasyon at health insurance para sa mga empleyado nila ay masasabi ko na magaan ang pamumuhay dito dahil nga hindi mo na iisipin ang mga mabibigat na buwanang bayarin na mayroon tayo dyan sa Pilipinas katulad ng Ilaw, kuryente at tubig. Kahit pa sabihin natin na ang minimum na sweldo dito para sa ordinaryong empleaydo ay 1000 dirhams lang or mga 12,000 pesos eh okay na yan dahil buo naman yan at walang kaltas na katulad ng SSS atbp. Syempre dependi sa nature ng trabaho mo katulad ng mga nagta trabaho sa mga hotel at restaurant e may additional pa silang kita katulad ng TIPS at SERVICE CHARGES. Kung ikaw e single at walang gaanong obligasyon na magpadala ng pera dyan sa Pilipinas e sapat na para masunod mo ang luho mo at makabili ng gadget na kung nasa Pilipinas ka e malamang tamang tingin ka lang sa mga display ng gadget sa mall na katulad ng gawain ko non nandyan pa ako sa Pilipinas.
Isipin nyo na lang ang sweldo ko dati dyan e umaabot ng 13,000 pesos pero kalahati lang napupunta sa akin dahil nga sa mga kaltas. Kaya wala talaga akong maipon survival nga lang ang sweldo ko. Tuwing December yon lang ang maayos dahil kahit papano e may bonus at 13th month pay kaya nakakabili ako ng gusto ko, at yon lang din yon panahon na nakakapag bigay ako ng regalo sa mga mahal ko sa buhay.

Malaki ang difference ng mga bagay bagay lalao na ng presyo ng bawat bagay dito sa Dubai at dyan sa Pilipinas. Noong nandyan pa ako sa Pilipinas sabi nila mura daw ang electronics dito katulad ng Laptop, PSP, TV atbp. pero kung iisipin eh halos pareho rin at kung mura man eh kunti lang ang difference pero yon nga can afford na makabili ang mga pinoy dito. suma total nga mas mahal pa ang mga bilihin dito. may mga lista ako ng mga bilihin dito ng mga produktong pinoy.

555 Sardines     =  1.75 aed
Century Tuna    =  3.50 aed
Lucky me Pancit canton 6 pcs  = 6.00aed
Maggi seasoning = 6.95aed
5 kg Jasmine rice = 27.00aed
Nescafe My Cup = 23.50aed
1 tray of egg =  17.00aed
Dove pink bath  = 5.95aed
Skinwhite bath  = 4.00aed
UFC native vinegar 3.75aed
Argentina corned beef  = 4.50 aed

Apple Ipad 2 16gb = from 1899aed to  2.200aed
Nokia C7 = 1100aed
PSR e333 Yamaha keyboard = 800.00 aed
Laptop ranging from 2000.00aed to 5000.00 aed

Room rental 1 month =500.00aed/month
Taxi fare = 10.00aed minimum
Bus and Train fare = 2.00aed minimum to be deduct from the prepaid card.

Chowking Shanghai lauriat = 29.00aed
Tapsilog = 13.00aed
KFC chicken = 12.00aed
Mc Donalds Big Mac = 18.00aed
Restaurant = 50.00 / person
1st class Restaurant = 250.00 aed/ person 3 course
Fine Dining restaurant = 500.00aed/person 3 course

Ang mga ito eh dito lang sa dubai at iba ang presyo ng ibang emirates na katulad ng sa Abu Dhabi na kung saan e mas mura ayon sa mga tao don. katulad ng taxi fare na nasa 3aed lang talaga on specific km.
Madalas na may sale dito or mga promotion sa mga ibat ibang produkto ang mga shopping malls at mga shops dito at masasabi ko na malaki talaga ang discount na binibigay nila.

Buhay sa Dubai

Kay bilis ng panahon, aba eh tatlong taon na pala ako dito sa Dubai, Samantalang kelan lang e iniinterview ako ng management ng Four Seasons Hotel and Resort para mag trabaho sa kanila. E syempre sa takot ko dahil middle east ang pupuntahan. Inisip ko na baka pagdating ko sa Dubai e hindi ko na maranasan ang ganitong buhay dahil sa middle east nga at arabic country. Pero hindi naman pala ganon. Para sa akin maganda ang buhay namin dito sa Dubai lalo na kung binata , dalaga or walang gaanong responsibilidad na padadalhan sa Pilipinas, Karamihan sa mga kompanya ay nag po provide nang lahat ng basic needs ng empleyado katulad ng bahay, pagkain transportation papunta at pauwi sa bahay at trabaho at pamamasyal. Kung wala ka ngang luho or hindi mapili sa pagkain e maiipon mo ng buong buo ang sweldo mo. Pero Hindi rin ganon dahil nagkalat din sa Dubai ang ibat ibang libangan at pagkakagastusan, segurado e mapipilitan ka na bumili ng mga gadget na naglipana sa mga naglalakihang malls. Kung ikaw e ordinaryong empleyado sa Pilipinas for sure maliit ang chance na makabili ka ng mamahaling bagay or mga latest na gadget pero pag dito sa dubai e for sure makakabili ka kahit na buong sweldo mo pa yan dahil segurado naman na kakain ka makakapasok ka at makakasurvive ka kahit na walang pera. I know mali ang ganitong pananaw kaya I changed, nagsimula na akong mag save para sa mga future plan. Pero hindi lahat ganito ang kwento. God Bless Kabayan

Imagine a world without a FILIPINO

Nakakatuwang malaman at nakakataba ng puso ang makabasa ng mga artikulo na tumatalakay sa kabutihan ng mga Overseas Filipino Worker. Kahit na malungkot tayo at na mi miss ang mga mahal natin sa buhay sa Pilipinas eh maayos pa rin nating nagagampanan ng maayos ang ating mga trabaho dahilan upang lalong humanga ang ibang lahi sa atin.

Imagine a world without Filipinos

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”


Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to the hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us. Life Tagalog