My goals for 2012

It’s the last day of January and I have finally come up with my goals for 2012. At the beginning of each year I set aside time to reflect about whether I have accomplished my pretty ambitious and sometimes unrealistic goals from the year before. From there, I list down the things I want to achieve for the rest of the year.

On the other side, I also love to write everything that happens in my life which I have been practicing since my younger years. In my journal or diary I jot down the details of my day to day activities and in the initial pages I listed all my goals for the whole year. For me, it is a way of keeping my dreams alive and powers up my passion and determination as I keep updating my journal daily.

But this year, I want to share my goals to everyone and for the whole word to see. I will make myself accountable and will help me to drive to work earnestly on my resolutions and actually accomplish something I intend to do.

I normally set major goals into bunch and then sort out the specific details on how to achieve them. So for 2012, I bind myself to the following resolutions:

A small Wadi in Al Hoquain that we call our “own hidden paradise”

Our visitors from Al Ain, UAE

There is a small wadi in Al Hoqain that after we have discovered has become our favorite paradise and swimming destination. We regularly head back to this place for a weekend getaway or simply enjoying an outdoor picnic with our friends and families. Just like in December of 2011, we have two batches of visitors: the first one are from Al Ain and the other are from Ibri. We have invited them to a half-a-day swimming escapade and experience the gentle mineral springs in Al Hoqain.

Our guests from Ibri

With only few loads of meals (such as chicken barbeques and rice) for lunch, we drive to the wadi and enjoy the pleasing 30-minute ride from Al Musannah (our homeplace). At Al Hazm roundabout we turn to the first exit and went straight until we get to another roundabout in Al Woshil. From there we get to the third exit and travel twenty kilometers down the concrete road, which cut through the bleakness and surging terrain. After sometime, the whole Al Hoquain emerge into view with crumbling ruins of Al Hoqain fort situated at the top of a hill overseeing the vastness of landscape sprawled with date plantations. Al Hoqain is an ancient town located near Al Rustaq in the northern part of Al Batinah Region.

"Things aren't always what they seem": the tale of two traveling angels

I received this story from my email. The message is very inspiring and will help you discern the things the happen in your life has many reasons. You just need to keep the faith and trust to keep you going.

A very short message on our 8th wedding anniversary

I woke up very early in the morning of January 3, 2011. Then wrote a special status note to my husband Jesse on our 8th Happy Wedding Anniversary in my facebook account.

After sometime, the message gathered so many like hits and comments from our dear friends and families. It's was short but very touching and romantic thought that I have for my beloved hubby.

Exploring Wadi Bani Khalid (Mukhal Cave and Water Pools)

The beauty of Wadi Bani Khalid

November 27, 2011 - This was actually my second visit to Wadi Bani Khalid. The first was in January 2009 and so it’s two years past the last time I stepped to this hidden oasis of Oman - called the Mukal Cave and Water Pools. I’m excited to get back to the place and now with my family.

Sand Bashing in Wahiba Desert

November 27, 2011 - It was already Sunday and the last day of our camping trip. I felt uneasy of not having a good bath for three days. I just even tied up my hair and simply washed my face with the limited water that was left. What’s more, I wanted to go to a toilet and pass out the uneasiness within me.

So, we went back to Sur and roamed around the city looking for a restaurant or coffee shop. I noticed the many fine old houses with carved doors and Arabic-style windows. As we were near the harbor, the fishing dhows (boat) were a splendid sight. I have discovered that this this town was once a well-known ancient port and seafaring city and a major trading destination between Oman, East Africa and India.

Then, we stopped at a nearby Turkish Restaurant and luckily found a good and comfortable toilet. All of us were able to refresh ourselves and had a really nice breakfast afterwards.

Spending a night in Ras Al Hadd

November 26, 2011 - We left the sinkhole after an hour and aiming to get our last destination in Ras Al Hadd well before nightfall. The place is known for its notable beaches which many wild turtles also lay their eggs on the sand and also considered the last point in the East of Oman on the edge of the Arabian Sea.

As we travelled along the coast highway of Bimmah and Fins, we were awed by the beautiful scenery of tiny coves tucked beneath the cliffs and long stretch of white sandy beaches lapped by refreshing emerald water. We proceeded to Tiwi and continuing along the coast of Qalhat until we got to Sur. I really wanted to get into the famous Sur bridge that connects the village of Al Ayja, but it was out of our way.

Visiting Bimmah Sink Hole (house of demons)

The Bimmah Sinkhole

November 26, 2011 – Around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, we arrived at Bimmah through a wonderful  highway. After we saw the sign 'Hawiyat Najm Park', we turned in and there we saw hundreds of cars and vehicles parking nearby. Like these travelers and holiday makers, we headed to this spot for the Eid Holiday getaway.

Cruising in Qurayat

The next morning (November 26, 2011) we all woke up early at about 5:00AM. Took our breakfast and packed up our things and headed to our next destination – Qurayat.

Since we wanted to get to Qurayat as early as possible we decided to take the shortcut way and only to found out that it was a rough and rocky road. Without any doubts, Jesse and Gerry continued driving and proceeded along the bumpy trail which weaves in and out of the dry wadis and through rugged terrain for about 2 hours (at a speed of 20kph).

The Rough Road

Overnight at Seifah Beach

First Day - (November 25, 2011) - at about 9 o’clock in the morning we were off to our first destination – the Seifah Beach. As we got to out of Ruwi, I brought out some chips and the cheese-flavored Doritos, my favorite snack. They were delicious. I kept nibbling while enjoying the ride.
The trip was exciting but the road was pretty challenging with all the steep spots, blind curves, and had many hairpin bends. But the sceneries on our way were spectacular – rocky mountains, green vegetation, crystal clear lagoon, and the warm native inhabitants. You can really tell that Oman is blessed with natural and untouched beauty.

Road to Seifah

3-day East Coast Camping Trip

the map for the east coast adventure

It was our first family camping adventure trip. When, Jesse and Gerry first proposed the idea of three days group trip during the long holiday, everyone was interested. It was a new experience for us because we traveled to southeast coast of Oman with a total distance of 1070km and visited 6 destinations. Seven of us were in – Catherine, Gerry, Melo, Jesse, and me including my kids Andrei and Anyah.

Happy and looking forward for the New Year!

Yes, 2012 is here!

After reading the following blog of Pastor Dennis Heppner (which by the way referred by an old friend), I was more enlightened and enthusiastic to start this year with positive attitude and full of spirit. He stressed out that:

“Looking forward is an excellent way to begin 2012. Take an hour this week and get alone and write down some dreams and plans and faith statements. Start talking to God about them. Write down some things you could do to clarify where you want to go. Then take actions that move you in that direction and do so with excitement.”