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The World I Know Now

I slept past 12 midnight. While Rolex is sleeping like a baby, I was wide awake. Then my niece AJ who is in the UK sent me a video of herself dancing to the tune of Michael Jackson’s Beat It in class (just for fun and FYI she’s already in College). I thought it was crazy and I forwarded it to my bff Fiona who is in Canada (FYI AJ, Ate Fiona said you’ve got the moves). And now because of that dance video, I was even wide awake sitting alone in the den of our flat in the Land of Kaugahan while texting with 2 other people from other spots in the world.

A few minutes later, NYTimes just popped up on my Iphone bearing one of the saddest news: “Two bombs exploded seconds apart near the finish line at the Boston Marathon.” Just like that. It was still fresh, no updates yet as to the casualties. Now, tell me how I was able to sleep…with a heavy heart?

I woke up around 6:10 AM not too early to have ample time to prepare breakfast. My right arm is still in pain due to continuous work the other day (time to check ergonomics or am I just really getting old?). Good thing I am not really swamped with work today so I had some time to blog after lunch and browse the net. Here’s what I found:

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Men ejected from Saudi Festival, deported for being too handsome – Is this for real?

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Gwyneth Paltrow at 40, looking like Barbie

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Beyonce’s new H&M Campaign

Rosegold Zane Woven Booties- $168

Shoe moment!

Then while writing this post, I felt a little shake. I looked up and the files above me are still intact and not moving. I said to myself, ok this is just the result of not having the right amount of sleep. I saw my officemates and they were just busy talking, so the tremors must be in my head only. A few minutes later, one of them just said that there was an earthquake in Muscat, the capital city. Now it validated my observations a while ago, the tremors are not in my head alone. There was really an earthquake. My very first earthquake experience in this land.

So to end this non-sense talk, I just have a few questions in my mind: What is happening to the world I know now? Why can’t I have all my favorite people in one place with me? How insane it is to plant a bomb or two!!! and leave the people who joins marathons crippled? Why body pain comes so easy with age? Why being too handsome is a crime? Does it go with being too ugly too? Why Gwyneth Paltrow looks like the perfect woman? While I wish for Beyonce’s body when I was too thin when I was younger, I still admire her now more than that. How can I sing and dance like her? Why I haven’t found the most comfortable shoes in the world? Just because these pairs might be as pricey as their comfort? What the hell is this earthquake doing here?

Cheers!

Runway: Muscat Fashion Week 2013

If you haven’t read yet the first part of this blog post, click here.

As I’ve said in my previous post, I missed the first 2 days of the Muscat Fashion Week But how can I miss the last blow? Of course not! The finale day opened with the collection from Dubai-based label Cest Moi! Kudos to the brilliance of Rashmi Kumari, the brainchild behind this label that exudes vibrance and intricacy.

cest moi muscat fashion week

muscat fashion week

The next designer on the line-up is Oman-based Endemage. The label name which means “the merging of two” encapsulates contemporary+traditional according to the stylish+creative minds of two sisters Lubna and Nadia Al Zakwani. I love how the traditional Omani details transcends in more edgy and modern piece of clothing.

endemage muscat fashion week

endemage oman

muscat fashion week

For a moment I was suspended in a different world when after the short break, the background music changed and entered the models channeling the creation of Ahmed Talfit, known as the “Mcqueen of the Middle East”. The avant- garde creation is reminiscent of the dark ages, where you would imagine fashionable creatures adorned in exaggerated sleeves and sharply cut pieces.

ahmed talfit

muscat fashion week

Last but certainly not the least is Sheikha Rafia Helal Bin Drai’s take on the abaya. Another very talented and creative designer behind the label Mauzan. When we speak of elegant and skillfully made abaya, we mean Mauzan.

mauzan

Photo Credit : ByBernard Photography

Cheers!

My Muscat Fashion Week Experience

“You look so overweight after seeing all those models.” That’s what Rolex told me after attending the Muscat Fashion Week 2013. Standing 5’4″ tall at a weight of 110 lbs, I feel that I am just fine after being underweight all my life. If only I can turn back time, I should have been a “milk-aholic”, not to gain weight but to be taller and then I should have overdosed myself with Cherifer (vitamins) so I can be much taller to become a runway model…but I’ll be 33 next month and my growing years have gone by more than 10 years ago.haha! Nevertheless, I still have plenty of time to talk and share more about my passion for fashion and so it comes with great pleasure to attend the Muscat Fashion Week 2013.

Rolex (my husband who does most of the photographs here in my blog under ByBernard) and I were invited as press to cover the Muscat Fashion Week 2013. Now on its 3rd year, Muscat Fashion Week is an annual event in the city of Muscat, Oman that celebrates the brilliance and ingenuity of Arabic fashion in today’s contemporary world. The 3-day event brought together some of the famous designers in Arabia namely: Nawal Al Hooti, Dibaj, Endemage (Oman); Das Collection, Kanzi, Mauzan (UAE); Tatyana Aceeva (Jordan); Zhor Raïs (Morocco); Toujouri (Qatar); Razan Alazzouni (Saudi Arabia); C’est Moi (India); Ahmed Talfit (Tunisia).

I truly regret not being able to witness the first 2 days of the show (due to work ) but I can’t miss the 3rd and last day of course. The event was held outdoor at the Riyam Park on 15-17 January 2013.

Blooper #1: Rolex drove to the wrong entrance. haha! I hope next time they will still put a signage outside the main entrance of Riyam Park on where to re-route the visitors as we were not the only one who got it wrong. Blooper #2: In the middle of the show (exactly after the first 2 runway shows), my camera died on me. I blamed Rolex for not charging it but ok fine, he captures better photos than I do anyways. Thanks to my savior, my Iphone. Blooper #3 Helle Moos took our photo along with other members of the press such as FashionTV but I was not able to have a photo with her. Helle Moos is a famous free-lance photographer for 20 years shooting fashion shows around the world.

Here are some of the behind the scene during the 3rd day of Muscat Fashion Week 2013.

Dress and faux fur vest by Zara
Shoes by Ellen Tracy
Bag by Louis Vuitton

Highlights of the runway show will be posted shortly…(to be continued)

Cheers!

The Year that was 2012

Erase and rewind or rewind and move forward. For others, it can be rewind and let go. For whatever reasons, we can always rewind. If our memory serves us fresh then we can always look back but no time machine is there ready to take us back once upon a time in our life and re-do what we wanted to. Sorry…but congratulations, we survived 2012 specially the day when they foretell that the world is going to end (where are those people, they owe us an explanation). Anyways, here’s the highlights of the past year of my little bubble life via this blog thekaloka.com… a look back on the year that was 2012.

January
There was a rave about the “Its more fun in the Philippines” campaign of the Department of Tourism. Of course, I joined the bandwagon.

It’s More Fun in the Philippines – posted on 9 January 2012.

February
My Birthday! Do I still have to explain? I’m already 33 this 2013. Paging Rolex…you know how I love surprises (lol).

Staycation on my Big Day – posted on 13 February 2012 (my bday is really 9 Feb)

March
I explored more on my love for fashion and styling and wrote more posts about what to wear, trends, fashion inspiration and there I started monetizing my blog ($$$). If only I can find sustainable income by doing this alone, I think I wouldn’t mind, hello!

Personal Shopper at your Service – posted on 28 March 2012

April

I created my thekaloka.com’s Facebook page in 2011! As of this writing, the most popular post on my FB page was posted in the month of April 2012.

Ted Baker – posted on 2 April 2012

May

I was thrilled. On this month I was finally brave enough to get my own domain. After so many trial and errors, my blog’s url is now officially http://thekaloka.com. I created it from scratch without the help of any IT or web professional. The techy in me was put to the test and until now I am still struggling to understand some terms and commands in the world wide web world, oh my…

Posted this on 21 May 2012 on my previous blog:

“Starting today, I am moving my blog to a new platform. Livejournal has served me well so I will still keep this as a back up for my old blogs (though I have transferred all my files to the new server now).

So for the latest updates, I am now blogging at : http://thekaloka.com “

June

My blog turned 2. I didn’t realize that the “kaugahan” (dullness) and boredom I experienced in this one corner of the globe that I have moved in with Rolex has actually become my source of “something to look forward to”. This time I started receiving request for sponsored posts and giveaways. It has been really rewarding so far. Doing what you love to do and getting paid is the best job in the world, agree or disagree?

Terrible 2 – posted on 9 June 2012

July

The kick off of annual leaves and long summer holidays! First stop was Singapore.

Where am I? – posted on 18 July 2012

August

It’s the month of love? Rolex & I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and 11th year together in Palawan.

After 3 Years – posted on 21 August 2012

September

Got a blog feature together as a couple via thenomadcouple.com. It was all about our travels.

Rolex & Elna on thenomadcouple.com – posted 28 Sep 2012

October

For the first, Rolex & I watched the Royal Philaharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Opera House Muscat. It was such a very unforgettable night. I cried to the tune of “Memory” from the musical Cats.

A Night at the Opera (or Orchestra) – posted 2 Oct 2012

November

If you follow this blog, you would notice that at times I would complain about the “kaugahan” (dullness) of my so-called current state of land which I refer to as “Land of Kaugahan”. Now, that perception has changed a bit when I discovered heaven in an island here called Masirah. The Sultanate of Oman (there, you have a name) must truly be the “Jewel of Arabia”. Indeed, beauty has an address…Oman.

Masirah Unplanned Part 2 – posted on 5 Nov 2012

December

On the eve of 30th December 2012, Rolex & I along with a bunch of our friends traveled together to Dubai to celebrate the New Year. For the first time, I witnessed the extravagant fireworks display Dubai has to offer. Unfortunately, I only have my iphone with me while Rolex brought his wide angle lens which seemed not enough to capture the marvelous lights that lit up the sky for a couple of minutes. From a distance I can see half of Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab’s show and on frontal view is Atlantis in The Palms and there were also 2 other hotels which showcased their fireworks display for the new year. It was breath-taking indeed.

This the video I found in youtube which basically describes where we were…we were on the shores of Jumeirah Beach Residences. Literally I don’t know which sky to look at but one thing for sure…wherever you are in the world, we are always under the same sky.

Happy New Year! Wishing you all a 2013 full of love and happiness. God bless us all!

Cheers!

Oh My Giant Christmas Tree!

Having grown up in a country where the Christmas spirit kicks off by the time the month turns “ber” (starting in September), I can’t help but miss it so much now that I am here in the land where Christmas is nothing but an ordinary day. I have already spent 4 Christmases far away from home. Apart from missing my family, the noche buena feast or Christmas eve dinner where lechon (roasted pig) is the star on the dining table, I also miss seeing amazing Christmas lights and giant Christmas trees.

Giant Christmas trees are always a big deal in the Philippines. Looks like they are always up for Guinness World Record. In my hometown in particular, the giant Christmas tree in the City Hall has been the main attraction every holiday season.

Christmas Tree in Tagum City

Last Christmas 2011, even away from the normal holiday hype, I was hopeful that at least I can get a glimpse of beautiful Christmas decorations, a giant Christmas tree in particular…and so we went to Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat. I heard they do have a giant tree in the lobby.

Lobby of Al Bustan Palace a Ritz Carlton Hotel in Muscat

photo via carrier.co.uk

On the day that we visited the hotel, it was also the same day that they put down the tree. I was late

On this year’s Christmas, our good friend Francis took me, Rolex and another friend to a post-Christmas dinner. It was a Christmas weekend since Dec 25 fell on a Tuesday. With no prior reservations we went to The Chedi. It was raining and all guests were moved to the indoor restaurant. As a result, they could not accommodate us anymore, well they can by 9PM and it was still 7PM when we arrived. We decided to go to Al Bustan Palace instead. Though I was also hungry like the rest of us, it made me smile thinking that finally I can see the Christmas tree. And so I did!

Taken using my iphone. Blurred but I’m happy!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! See you in 2013.

PS. Rolex & I will be in Dubai for the New Year. More than the fireworks and the shopping, my highschool friend just arrived after spending Christmas in the Philippines and she came back to Dubai with…guess what? lechon!

Cheers!

The Great Musandam Peninsula Part 2

I must still be having an extended seasick that I totally forgot to post the second part of our adventure to the great Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman. According to my dear friend wiki (wink), geographically, the Musandam peninsula juts into the Strait of Hormuz the narrow entry into the Persian Gulf, from the Arabian Peninsula. The Musandam Peninsula is an exclave of Oman, separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. Its location gives Oman partial control, shared with Iran, of the strategic strait. In the northern section of Musandam, around Kumzar. The Musandam Peninsula has an area of 1,800 square kilometers (695 sq mi) and a population of 31,425 people. Connectivity has traditionally been a problem for the region, but this has greatly improved since August 2008 with the world’s fastest passenger ferry launching service between Muscat and Musandam.

musandam oman