Hong Kong Wanderlust 3 of 4

I almost forgot I was doing a series on Hong Kong. That's because I'm now back in Riyadh and I did a lot of catching up to do. Catching up on stories from the fellow Pink Tarha ladies that is.

Anyway, back to the Hong Kong Wanderlust... I'm down to the last two days of our stay. After Ocean Park and Disneyland, we also went to some other tourist spots. We also squeezed in time for the ladies market in Mongkok where I got the pink bag for the Philippine Expats Blog Awards 2009.

During the day, we went to The Peak where we got a full view of one stunning vista and an array of shopping and eating kiosks. The Peak Tower is located 396 meters above sea level. Its viewing platform known as The Sky Terrace gives tourists a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Hong Kong. It also provides views of the outlying islands of Cheung Chau, Lamma, and Lantau.

To reach the Peak Tower, we rode the Peak Tram. For over 120 years, the track has carried millions and millions of passengers. The views while riding the tram are breathtaking, with some track gradients leaning as far as 27 degrees. This is truly an experience you shouldn't miss.

On the tram, with inclined views.

Greens and buildings.

Stunning Hong Kong.

View from the Sky Terrace.

At night, we visited the Avenue of the Stars to watch the Symphony of Lights held every 8 in the evening. We weren't able to see the stars of famous actors because there were already lots of people in the area waiting for the nightly spectacle but we were standing near Bruce Lee's statue, woot!

Hong Kong at night

The buildings getting ready for the show (lights are dimmed or turned off).

44 key buildings dominating the Hong Kong skyline participate with their interactive lights and musical effects in the Symphony of Lights. The best vantage point to see this is along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront or from the sightseeing ferries in Victoria Harbour (we'll try this next time!).

The Symphony of Lights starting...

Lots of people came to watch, even if perhaps they've watched this a couple of times already.

After our short adventure in the waterfront, we went to Mongkok and shopped at our hearts' content. I scored bags, Chinese shoes, souvenir shirts, and colorful chopsticks for the family and friends.

Too bad we didn't have time to visit Ngong Ping, one of the major tourist attractions in Hong Kong but there's always a next time, yes?

We truly enjoyed our stay in Hong Kong. For the final highlight of this trip, what's a tour without food?! That's next on the last installment of Hong Kong Wanderlust!

§undrenched

Trying to Fight Off the Cobwebs

OUR BLOG HAS been gathering up some dust lately, yes, we know. We won't narrate excuses, we'll just dive back right into work...or at the very least try. I am also aware that I haven't unveiled yet! Pa-importante kasi! Joke! Consider me the deviant during the anniversary special, but ever since M raised the bar so high for the unveiling, I was left to ponder my fate. Hopefully ladies and gentlemen, you will meet a delectable Eyecandy soon!

So what have we missed? Ahh, of course, yesterday's Pacquiao-Clottey fight. Honestly, I was quite worried the night before the game because I thought perhaps Africans had much more strength and brute behind their built compared to the average-sized Filipino frame. Apparently, size did not matter much to the fight last night as it was obvious that our National Fist was the pestle, pounding Clottey like a clove of garlic in a mortar.

Mayweather is the one to beat now.

I guess it's true when they say, "Once you go black, you never go back!" ;)

MANNY, CONGRATULATIONS!

WE WILL SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY!

--

In line with our global sense of the Filipino Pride and the recently celebrated International Women's Day last March 8, I'd like to share with you this short video that aims to empower the Global Filipina. The full length premiere of this documentary will be showcased at the Godolphin Ballroom, Emirates Towers, Dubai on March 27, 2010. I hope our dear readers residing in Dubai can support this film. It carries the important message of breaking the stereotyping of Filipino women abroad and empowering us today to make that change and rise above the lowly labels that Filipinas are seemingly known for. Here is the trailer of The Empowered Filipina, A Woman of Substance:

Til next time....Cheers!

-ec-

Craving for Ice Cream

It's been a while since we did a food post. The ladies are so into Steaky that that's where they've been eating since they found the place. So we backtracked a little into food posts that we forgot to share with you. I'm sharing you some cold treats perfect for the nearing summer days.

When it comes to ice cream, Häagen-Dazs is the premium brand - one of the finest kind. While cruising along Tahlia street one evening, my friends and I decided to enter the Häagen-Dazs Cafe after a hearty dinner in Sushi Yoshi. This was before the winter season. It's pretty hot that night and we wanted something sweet and cold to cap our celebratory night.

Good thing, the Häagen-Dazs Cafe in Tahlia has a family section, and we were the only customers during that time so all the servers' attention was on us. We were so engrossed in our stories that we did not pay attention to what each one ordered. Instead of ordering one ice cream scoop for each, we ordered one ice cream DISH per person! We were speechless when our orders arrived:

Summertime Cone, 22 SR
A scoop of strawberry cheesecake and a scoop of strawberry ice cream nested in a large wafer cone with a mix of fresh strawberries and bananas. Served with strawberry sauce and whipped cream.

Crepe Sundae, 18 SR
A freshly-baked hot crepe with a scoop of Haagen Dazs ice cream and a topping of your choice.

Brownie Special, 24 SR
Chocolate fudge brownie with a scoop of vanilla and a scoop of cookies and cream topped with hot chocolate fudge sauce and whipped cream.

You'd probably think we're a bunch of people having major cravings for ice cream and sweet stuff but no, we're only three ladies. My friend asked, "How on earth are we supposed to finish all this?" Uh, good question! Considering that this is ice cream and taking this out is not an option. Nevertheless, we tried. I think we spent a good deal of two hours on that place. The first 30 minutes was spent on devouring the ice cream and the remaining hours for eating up the waffles, crepe, fruits, and brownies while swapping stories. It's a good thing everything was delicious albeit expensive! But what can you expect from an ice cream loaded with the finest and purest ingredients? Yum, yum!

We planned on walking in Tahlia St. to burn off what we just ate but when we went out, we were faced with too many guys dining al fresco on the nearby cafes and restaurants. We were too scared to take our chance so we just hailed a cab and went home with very very full stomachs. We vowed to order just one ice cream dish when we go back... or our original idea of a scoop each person.

Go to Häagen-Dazs to satisfy your insatiable ice cream craving! My fave flavor would be the chocolate chip cookie dough. What's your fave ice cream flavor?

§undrenched

The Best Pink Tarha Entries of 2009

Today, we end our month-long celebration of the Pink Tarha's first anniversary. (However, we still owe you our entries on a few more winners and the unveiling of Eyecandy. We'll be posting them randomly in the next few days.) We'll conclude this with our list of the best Pink Tarha entries of 2009. 2009 being our first year online. This list is based on our personal preferences.

As we've said, the Pink Tarha blog has changed our lives. From bored girls living and working in the hot city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia... we became happy kikay ladies living, working and enjoying in the haute city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


This blog has taught us to look at the brighter side of things and relish what we have now. But enough of our realizations, we'll talk about 'em another day. :P

First on our list is the entry closest to our hearts, the entry which each of us wrote and had fun writing.


Eyecandy listed her experience in Duo as her personal favorite. If you remember, she just loves eating in Duo. She was smitten with the resto's version of chocolate fondant (even waxing sexual sensual dreams out of this dessert!). This is the first time we realized how far we've gone in giving our two cents on the places we dine in and how we are affecting other people's cravings and taste buds.

Shoegarfreeruby will always remember her H&M experience and the unbelievable euphoria that came with it. She knew she's such a shopaholic but when it comes to H&M, wala talagang patawad! Even us were amazed on how thrilled she was when the first H&M branch opened in Sahara Mall (she dragged us to cut working hours for this! Hehehe!) and how she went to the branches in Riyadh Gallery, and later on Granada Centre, like a pilgrim on a very ardent mission. R hopes to repeat the adrenaline rush over and over again! You know what this means... more shopping sprees! :P

Sundrenched finds her walkthrough of the Riyadh National Museum a very memorable one because it was the beginning of more lakwatsas in and out the city of Riyadh. Her travels with E proved that somehow, ladies can actually travel in Riyadh without so much ado. Of course there are restrictions but if you set your heart on it, nothing can prevent a woman to pursue her passion and craft even in the middle of a sweltering hot desert.

Maryhadalittlehump chose an entry she wrote for her dad last Father's Day. Her poem Haligi is featured on her entry Para Sa Aking Ama. Her heartful message to her father echoes our sentiments too. Truly moving.

Next on our list is our favorite entry written by a co-PT lady.


E and R both picked S' Queer Eye for the Wrong Guy (How Not to Fall for the Wrong Guy) as their favorite because this is probably the most controversial entry in the blog for 2009. S was hesitant in publishing it for the fear of her life (echos!) but good thing she did because we are all having a good laugh out of this. This entry gathered many comments too. We're so proud! Lol. R says that this post "aside from being an entertaining entry, speaks truth of the relationships here in the Kingdom. But at the end of the day, it still boils down to what the heart wants which is not always right."

M and S picked out E's The Abaya Special as their favorite entry because it talks about the simple abaya. Who knew it could be so fashionable?! The photographs (shot mostly by E) are fantabulous! Most Filipinas coming to KSA dread wearing the black gown because it will hide their fashion and style but that's not always the case. The abaya, aside from being practical to use in this hot and dusty place, can also be stylish (and couture if you can afford it). After all, fashion is 'nasa nagdadala lang yan.'

And as for our BEST PT ENTRY OF 2009... Nothing beats ANG TUNAY NA KATAS NG SAUDI. And you probably know why.


This entry is very personal for the Pink Tarha. You had a glimpse of our childhood even before you saw our faces through this entry we wrote for the Philippine Expats Blog Awards 2009. We received our first blogging award because of this entry. And most importantly, we shared a part of our lives that we hope others might learn a lesson or two from. We're still very much elated and grateful.

So there you go, that's our best Pink Tarha entries of 2009. Do you agree with our picks? If not, then tell us what your favorite Pink Tarha entries are! ♥♥♥

A Post-Valentine's Post

We were missing in action during Valentine's because as you know, in Saudi Arabia, Valentine's Day should be celebrated on another day so we're posting our V-Day post almost two weeks after. (This is also a good excuse for the tardiness of our entry. ;)

Last year, we told you How To Celebrate Valentine's in Saudi Arabia. (That was our first ever How-To article!) This year, our entry is a simple sharing of our favorite "love" stuff (nothing kinky promise! :P). After all, the Pink Tarha ladies are all in love... in love with life, that is! Hehe.

One way of celebrating Valentine's in Saudi Arabia is to soak up on love and romance by watching romantic movies and listening to love songs at home. The Pink Tarha ladies, though keen on watching the latest movies showing, have our own fave romantic movies of all time. And boy do we get pretty mushy with our romantic movie preferences!

Eyecandy has a penchant for romantic movies with tragic endings because she believes that if it's not tragic, it's not that grand of a love. In translation: Kung hindi nakakamatay, hindi yun pag-ibig! (She said that with utmost conviction it was scary! Hahaha!) Can you guess what E's fave movie is? Hint: I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss of her mouth, one touch of her hand, than an eternity without it. The infamous line came from the movie, CITY OF ANGELS. E says that when she watched the movie, she saw what true love is and what it should really be.

Shoegarfreeruby's fave movie is probably your fave movie too because it is quite popular both on the big screen and the pages of a Nicholas Sparks book. She loves THE NOTEBOOK, because it shows that love transcends time and memory. It doesn't also hurt that R has a major crush on the ruggedly handsome Ryan Gosling (Noah). Sino ba naman ang hindi mai-in love pag sinabihan ka ng... 'The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever. I love you.'


Mary loves another Nicholas Sparks book turned into a movie. A WALK TO REMEMBER is a truly moving tale of love and faith. Bet you already know the story. Naiyak din siguro kayo. It quotes one of the most beautiful Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful." The movie also teaches that love is like the wind... you cannot see it but you can always feel it. Awww factor diba?

Sundrenched is a rom-com movie watcher and she picks THE CUTTING EDGE (the very first one only and not the sequels) as her fave romantic movie because this is the only movie she can watch a hundred times without getting tired/sick of it. (As of count, she already watched this over 30 times since she first watched it at the age of 9.) Sorry, no notable romantic lines on this movie (maybe because the characters spent 3/4 of the time bickering and fighting... tough love huh).

As for our favorite love songs, we get all teary-eyed and cheesy with the following: E's all-time favorite love songs are Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart, I Want You To Want Me by Cheap Trick, and The Dolphin's Cry by Live. Her current faves are If This Isn't Love by Jennifer Hudson, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer, and Each Day Gets Better by John Legend. Inspired ng special someone nya siguro, yiheee! R falls in love with Come Away With Me by Norah Jones and Standing Right Next To Me by Karla Bonoff. Mga kanta nya siguro ito para sa husband nya! M lovingly dedicates Officially Missing You by Tamia and Especially For You by MYMP to her boyfriend in the Philippines. S will fall in love more with her bf if he sings her Beautiful In My Eyes by Joshua Kadison and slow dance with her to the tunes of The Last Time by Eric Benet and The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel.

And because chocolates and flowers are the norm during the day of love, here's our sweet preferences: E loves dark chocolate and tulips. R is happy with Curly Tops and a bouquet of different flowers. M appreciates boxes of Choco Baby and tulips too. S loves any kind of Meiji chocolate and a single long-stemmed rose or stargazer. We're pretty much easy to please and woo. Lol.

As we end this post-Valentine's post, we leave you with E's favorite love quotes:

Love wounds. There is no love that does not pierce the hands and feet. Love's exquisite happiness is also love's exquisite pain. I do not seek pain but there is pain. I do not seek suffering but there is suffering. It is better not to flinch, not to try and avoid those things in love's direction. It is not easy, this love, but only the impossible is worth the effort. - The Powerbook, Jeanette Winterson

Love has got complicated, tied up with promises, bruised with plans, dogged with an ending that nobody wants-when all love is, is what it always is-that you look at me and you want me and I don't turn away. - The Powerbook, Jeanette Winterson

Anything less than mad, passionate, extraordinary love is a waste of your time. - Frankie, Dream for an Insomaniac

Share with us your favorite romantic movie, love song, chocolate, and flowers. Tara na at magpaka-mushy after Valentine's Day! Tutal, Valentine's naman araw-araw diba?! ;)