Journey – justbluedutch

Malcapuya Island-Accidentally In love

March 21, 2016EXPAT TRAVELS, NATURE, WP-PHOTO CHALLENGES11 Comments

6689255-Yet-another-deserted-island-0 — *Island Hopping in Malcapuya Island*

I fell in love at first sight to this island. Accidentally!

Malcapuya island is part of the Calamianes group of islands and basically one of the hottest tourist spot in Palawan. Malcapuya island, together with the other islands of Calamianes, was a site of the Spanish politico-militar Provincio de Calamianes during the reign of the Spaniards. Later, it was dissolved by the American occupation forces and Calamianes was later joined to the Province of Palawan.

We were supposed to be going to the Banana island but our guide informed us that for some reasons, the island is not accessible and we are going to another beach as part of our Island Hopping trip. I visited Palawan with 3 or my girlfriends and we are so glad that we have made the decision to choose this place. It was beautiful. I couldn’t find any more words to describe this place. Just look at these photos . A real paradise tucked away in an endless horizon of azure,peaceful scenery.

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Malcapuya Island is one of the Island destination if you visited Coron,Philippines. This private island can only be accessed through the island trip arranged by the tour company and approximately 1.5 hours away from Coron. This island is owned by the Hennan Group of Resorts and regarded as the ultimate virgin beach, and it’s white sand beach can rival Boracay’s very own. The water that surrounds the island is crystal clear and almost like the morning sky with plenty of coral reef and offers a good marine biodiversity where one can have the most enjoyable snorkeling destination. It has a very fine white sand ( better than Boracay!) and has the image of a virgin, untouched & genuine beach landscape. While you can enjoy the beach up to sky is the limit, the landscapes around Malcapuya could also leave you breathless. You can do a short hike & trek along its rough cliff and edges where you can have a great view overlooking the sea.

I could live in this place. It’s pure bliss just to look how blue the waters is against the cloudless skies.

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This little tree that managed to thrive on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Malcapuya beach. A real stunner. This is the most photographed part of the cliff.

*White and fine as a powder sand shores in Malcapuya*

We stayed in a beach cottage with a hammock where we have a direct access of the beachfront. We enjoyed our lunch and just lazed around admiring our amazing view. If you wanted to stay overnight, they have nipa hut cottages or you can bring your own tent to set up.

There are two restrooms with open air showers a few meters away from the huts.The island does not have electricity, but they have a generator which provides light and electricity at night.There are outlets in the huts where you can charge phones and camera batteries.You can also opt to stay in a simple house-for-rent on an elevated portion a few meters from the shoreline, which has a single room, basic yet comfortable beds, and a decent restroom.

For backpackers, Here are your must-haves when visiting this island : insect-repellent lotion, a hammock, beach blanket, flashlight, basic toiletries, sunblock, snacks, drinking water. Make sure to stash these items in your backpack.

There’s a small sari-sari store on the island where chips, drinks & beer are sold. However, it’s best to bring your own food for cooking for dinner if you’re staying overnight.The best meal of our whole trip was the freshly grilled fish, on the beach prepared by our guide from Mt.Tapyas Hotel along with a freshly picked coconut with its juice.

Fell in love accidentally-it could happen to you, just like a travel bug hits me. When you return to your home, everything seems strange, then you start to look forward for your next trip.

This is my entry for Day- 5 on the challenge posed to me by Stella of the Blog SimpleDimple in response to her 7-Days Nature photo challenge. Stella has always been bubbly &, spreading warm love in the great community here in WP. If you have time, please do pass by her page & get to know her through her soulful posts.

Stella, Thank you once again for mentioning me in your post and giving this challenge.

*The rule of this challenge is quite simple: Post a nature photo and nominate someone else per day for 7 days.

For today, I wanted to nominate on this Nature photo challenge my gorgeous Blogger friend, Minaxi of GameplanhappilyeverAfter. Yes, even her name is so unique!

She is one of the Expat Bloggers that I met here that really shares her bubbly adventures along with his hubby. Fairy tale love still exists and her love story is one living example.She takes you to a light tone on her creative approach in life, travelling, relationships & living the most of her life. Even without this challenge, I would always look up to her page and would recommend for you to give time to check her awesome but dreamy Blog.

She makes me smile with her kind comments & provocative posts, so I know she’s a keeper!

To Minaxi, I know time is precious in our world, but if you would take on this challenge, I would appreciate it so much.If not, I still want you to know how much I appreciate you.

Thank you and I hope you have fun & enjoy the next 7-days writing about nature.

My daughter’s first love

March 19, 2016June 18, 2016Modern Parents, RAISING NATALIE15 Comments

Before my daughter was born, I knew that she will be the other woman in my husband’s life. I am sure all the other mothers out there can relate to my thoughts.There is no better view to look at for us to see when we see that our children are raised closely in the guidance of their father.

As Sigmund Freud says;

I cannot think of any need in Childhood stronger as the need for a Father’s protection.

A child who knows they are protected can grow up feeling safe and secure. Emotions are strong in childhood, and often fear is one of the strongest emotions of all. A Papa’s arms are strong and fearless and to a child, they bring safety and peace.

FullSizeRender (11) — *Dear child , The world is your playground ,go on and explore.*

A father’s perspective fulfills every child’s need for exploration and adventure

“Fathers represent another way of looking at life — the possibility of an alternative dialogue.” While we, as mothers focus a great deal on raising perfect children, fathers have a different perspective. They let children dress themselves, choose their own breakfast, jump in mud puddles and swing on ropes tied to the rafters.

My husband let Natalie explore on her own but guiding her by her side. He encourages more free-play. He lets her climb & let her learn how to climb down. He has taught her how to safely descend safely from the stairs & chairs. He is trying his best to make “palm tree ” ( or ponytails) in her ever messy hair. I love the way He put on her clothes that are totally as per his own taste and haste !

Fathers allow children to explore and give them freedom that usually isn’t allotted them by their mother. This different perspective is good for children because it gives them the opportunity to explore, to go on adventures, and to live in their make believe worlds.

FullSizeRender (10) — *A father’s love is endless. When a father gets involved, He is parenting in his own way.*

“The greatest mark of a father is how he treats his children when no one is looking.”

In Netherlands, Papadag (Or Daddy’s day ) has become a standard norm. This is included in the calendar of every working father’s calendar. It’s the time of the week where in the father takes a day off from work to spend time & take care of his child. Isn’t this amazing?Dutch fathers take more an equal role in parenting and being more hands-on.

Studies show that if your child’s father is affectionate, supportive, and involved, he can contribute greatly to your child’s cognitive, language, and social development, as well as academic achievement, a strong inner core resource, sense of well-being, good self-esteem, and authenticity.

FullSizeRender (9) — *Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a Father.*

I am writing this post to give credit to fathers who are involved in parenting their child. One of the things that I have learned as a new mother is that when your husband respect you as the mother of his child, eventually He is an involved Father. With the stress of bearing the responsibilities of being the head of the family, His efforts should not be underestimated.

So next time you see your husband spends more time with your child, be grateful.Let him. Give the encouragement that He needs & deserves.Your child will reap the benefits of this. Do not think of it as He is sharing the “chore “but rather look at it as “He is doing his own way of Parenting “.

It is important to recognize and reward fathers for being there, and actively teaching important life skills to children. It is important to their children, and meaningful to dads everywhere when you say “Thank you, job well done.” This, after all, is what makes life worth living. This is our own true legacy: ensuring the health and well-being of our children : the future generation.

What is your parenting style? Do you also value the concept of Papadag?

Look Up, Adore the visible sun {Kiltepan Peak}

March 17, 2016EXPAT TRAVELS, MY INSPIRATION, WP-PHOTO CHALLENGES8 Comments

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow

~ Helen Keller

307723_279750788707877_3090288_n — *Pursuit of Happiness : My close encounter with the visible Sun*

Life is either a great adventure or its Nothing.

Which one are you in?

I have climbed so many high points but I was never in too much awe-overdose with the visible sun than my close-up encounter with the sun as it rises in Kiltepan Peak. This is one travel memory that really shapes up my addiction to sunrises & sunsets. The sun is my favorite subject for photography. For me, its perfect. It’s beauty is endless. Its charm is relentless.

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye..

Just like most of you, many times when I refuse to look up & appreciate another sunrise,It’s the same moments when I don’t see any reason to feel motivated. I felt like everything is monotonous, a tiresome routine. When I’m stooping down, it’s because my spirit is low. I couldn’t see the good in anything except the shadows, all gloominess in my sight.

I am so thankful for my family and friends who have been there to support me and made me get up, gazing up & looking forward to the new day. Nature has been a place where I get my renewed inspiration. Like a magnet in which I find myself attracted.

Could you imagine a life without nature?

Or a life spent in complete solitude?

I overcome. I learned to look up, fixed my gaze to the beauty of sunshine. I have started to adore the visible sun once again.The pursuit to happiness doesn’t happen overnight. I know it’s easier said than done but it’s also doable. It requires every muscle of your body to move together with your mind. But once you master it, you will be rewarded with a great view.

Life is the fire that burns and the sun that gives light. Life is the wind and the rain and the thunder in the sky. Life is matter and is earth, what is and what is not, and what beyond is in Eternity .

Hope is the most important thing that people need to move forward. The slightest ray of hope can ignite the human spirit’s ability to overcome.

So for my first post for the 7-Days Nature photo challenge, I shared with you breathtaking views from Kiltepan Peak in Philippines. I wrote another post about the beauty of this place in Here.

Although I regularly post nature photos , this particular post and the upcoming 7-day series was inspired by an amazing mind behind the Blog SimpleDimple in response to her 7-Days Nature photo challenge. Stella is writing from her heart, spreading warm love in the great community here in WP. If you have time, please do pass by her page & get to know her through her soulful posts.

Stella, Thank you for thinking about me & mentioning me in your post.

The rule of this challenge is quite simple: Post a nature photo and nominate someone else per day for 7 days.

For my Day 1, I nominate Jovy of BecomingDeutsch. If you wanna know how a life can be more exciting when you are in an interracial relationship then head on to her page to get some inspiration.

My Love affair with the Beach

March 10, 2016LOCAL SIGHTINGS, MY INSPIRATION, PHILIPPINES14 Comments

If you would ask me, I prefer a trip to the beach than a tour in the city.

The tropical island place always feels like a home to me. The trees, the mountains, the crystal clear blue waters, the powdery sands,the sun, the simplicity of it ,& the carefree spirit, all working in a perfect harmony. This explains why my favorite season is Summer. Summer in other parts of the world, not in Kuwait, please.

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

`~Jacques Yves Cousteau

One of the things I look forward on a beach trip is the Island hopping where I could have all the time in the world to listen to nature’s sounds. The sounds of the waters splashing, the rythmic sound of paddling against the boat, and the waves are a great way to help me meditate deeper . Ocean waves provide healing nature sounds for relaxation and sleep. Here in Kuwait where we lived 10 minutes away from the beach, It’s one of the best reason to get up , be grateful and admire its beauty. I have written so many lessons I have learned from the beach in my Beach Chronicles. When I bring my daughter in the beach, eventually it leads for her to take a nap. Ocean sounds & breeze are great for babies. One time she was just mesmerized by the sound waves and her eyes was glued to the beach. Also, for wellness of our mind, the ocean sounds are perfect for calming activities such as reading, meditation or yoga. The sounds of the ocean are also a great sleep aid that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.”

Why do people immediately enamored by pictures of Blue waters and white sand beaches?

Imagine seeing a greyish or greenish water in the ocean,how is your reaction?

Its like love at first sight.The reflection of a cloudless blue sky creates a heavenly sight against the crystal clear beach waters that makes a carpet of azure blue beauty. Blue color emanates sincerity,being reserved and quiet, and something that doesn’t like to make a fuss or draw attention.This color hates confrontation, and likes to do things in its own way. Blue waters are an enigma. I love looking through the beach waters because it invokes peace and tranquility above everything else, which promotes both physical and mental relaxation.

When I’m at the sea, my stress is reduced, creating a sense of calmness, relaxation and order . I certainly feel a sense of calm if I lie on my back and look into a bright blue cloudless sky. It slows down my the metabolism and yet makes my heart sing. The paler the blue the more freedom we feel.

This is a glorious feeling . I feel at home. I feel in love. Always.

boracay-beach-selfie — Love affair with your phone (Photo credit to Rob Timms via Pinterest)

But just like in any love affair, there comes a time when we become short sighted that we failed to see the real beauty & deaf to hear its calling. I always remind myself to engrossed myself in nature and making my presence known to it,as much as possible instead of just being a busybody capturing photos that I failed to appreciate its beauty.

What about you, do you have a love affair with the beach or love affair with your phone?

Footprints

March 9, 2016March 13, 2016LESS IS MORE, MY INSPIRATION, RAISING NATALIE13 Comments

T h e L i t t l e s t f e e t m a k e s t h e b i g g e s t f o o t p r i n t s i n o u r h e a r t s.

Last week we had an awesome weekend spent in the beach with our friends. The place is quiet, with mostly with Kuwaiti chalets nearby. It was perfect getaway away from the crowds and the hustle in the Gulf street. My daughter is a beachbummer. She love the beach,the scent of it, the wind & the blue waters. She had a delightful time as always when she is outside playing .One fascinating I look forward is seeing her basking in the sand, without a care in the world, eating, licking & playing the sand with her hands, stomping in the waters with her feet, and shrieking every time the tides came by. She run all over the place, stomp and made holes in the sand (with a little help of course ! ) and eventually rolling over the white-powder beach sands . She’s enjoying this and letting her steam out until she became so exhausted to collapse in her afternoon nap.Yes, she loves napping in the beach too.

She made memories there.She made footprints.

Footprints are the marks we leave in any path we go by walking or running barefoot.There is such a nostalgic charm seeing these little footprints in the sand.

So tiny, yet so special.

When was the last time you have walked barefoot in the sand and made footprints? When was the time that you have let the ground be aware of your presence? Was it a good mark?

Have you notice which direction have you taken?

Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.

Footprints are like the random acts we leave on other people’s lives. The footprints symbolizes our acts of kindness, acts of service, or maybe a not- so- pleasant action that leaves a mark on the lives of people that we encounter on a daily basis. The sand of the beach may refer to the soft, fragile emotions & feelings of a person. One act of kindness can leave a print in their hearts that time can never erased.Our actions are like the prints & marks we leave on every interaction. Unlike the footprints in the sand that are easily washed away by the tides,then its just a memory.Never to be seen again.

How well aware are you of the marks that you leave on others? How does your words made others feel?

**Your actions are leaving footprints in the lives of others.**

My daughter may not be able to make another footprints on the same beach,same place or the same time as this,but when she grows up, I will show to her these photos of her tiny sweet footprints. It’s a great memory to remember.

Do you personally leave a lasting memory that others cherished & look back ?

I personally reflect on this and evaluate my random actions. I asked myself, Am I leaving good set of “footprints “in the hearts of the people in my life?in my circle? to my friends, to my neighbors, to the taxi driver, to the strangers I saw in the street, or even to the cashier in the grocery shop ? What kind of impression I leave on them?

We can make lots of footprints, It is very easy. But It is also very easy to leave a foul mark. We can have a choice to either be polite & courteous , to smile or to frown or we can be harsh & arrogant. It’s all depending on our choices. I have learned this ; The random acts of kindness is always contagious. It is always good. It always heals. Always the right thing to do.

I hope to leave you with a cheerful and grateful heart with this post . For the last 2 months that I have been blogging here in WP, I have met wonderful people. With every comment I made, I impart myself. With every post I shared, I shared my life.Thank you for all the kindness that you have given as a “footprint “in my heart as well. I am grateful and cherished it all.

I am going to continue making footprints..good ones , the kind ones.

How does this post made you feel? What is the random act of kindness you have done lately?

My Sentiments from the Clouds

March 1, 2016March 1, 2016LESS IS MORE, MY INSPIRATION14 Comments

“I have learned to detach from my thoughts, said a young woman.I observe them like clouds moving across the sky. Sometimes I reached out and grab at them & remember that they ‘re just passing by and so I let them go. I felt much better for letting my thoughts go because they really drive me mad.”

How did you wake up today? Was your mind clear and so as your vision?

Or was it cloudy? Are you familiar with Brain fog?

Whenever we identify with an unpleasant thought or mood, we are not our true selves. These thoughts & moods are not who we are. We need to treat our thoughts like the clouds in the sky…distant… passing…insubstantial.

In Zen , we are endowed with Buddha nature, empty, vast and sky-like, which is always present even when hidden by clouds. This disagrees or doesn’t disagree with early Buddhist teachings about impermanence, depending on who you ask.

Do you also find yourself in the midst of Worries? or even entangled with them?

How sound was your mind lately?

Worries, yeah, I am familiar with them. When I became a mother, I worry even more. Simple things like : Is my daughter growing well? Am I doing this right? or maybe I am doing the wrong way? Or what can I make for dinner, or what more can I do for others to read what I write?

These questions made me worrisome. Sometimes I am not mindful that I am in this state. Living in Kuwait, I even worry constantly about the weather, Really!

Can you relate on these? What are your daily thoughts of worries?

Worries and anxieties are like clouds. They are just thoughts that pass through the mind. They are not facts. They are not the truth. They have no reality. They are like a mental game of asking, “What if…”, and nothing more.

TEMPORARY THOUGHTS

Have you look at the clouds that pass through the sky today? Was the sky clear? cloudless? Clouds are made of vapor, and they change form as they move through the sky. They hide part of the sky or all the sky, and sometimes they hide the sun. However, this is only temporary. Sooner or later they move on, allowing the sun to send its rays down again.I remember that in grade school, we were taught about different types of clouds namely Cirrus, Cumulus, Cirrustratos, Cirrocumulus, Altocumulus, Nimbustratos,Cumulunimbus and so on and so forth. I have keenly observed that formation of clouds is different from location. Here is Kuwait I seldom see Nimbus clouds since it is very rare for rainfall here, literally approx. 2x a year only.

1929006_102209243128700_7439843_n — *How to Kill a Thought in a Good Way?*

There could be different “cloudy aspects “in our thoughts depending on our mood and thinking. Worries become problems, imaginary problems. When you try to hold on to them, focus on them, and lose sight of the sky and the sun within you, which become temporarily hidden. Then your sight becomes gray, sullen, and stale.

“The sky and sun in this case are your spirit, the real you, your inner strength, and your ability to control your thoughts.”

Worries, which are actually thoughts, are like the clouds. They pass through the mind, hide reason, common sense and our aims and goals, and if you don’t hold to them, they go away, making place for other worries.

*Fluffy, cottonballs of thoughts that turn into cumulus of worries in our minds.*

If you keep watering your worries, and don’t let them leave you, sooner or later you might start acting and behaving in such a way, as to make them come true. Why should you?

*Instead of cultivating the unpleasant thoughts, why not let them evaporates so you can see the blue sky and sunshine.*

*Hiding from the clouds ; Hope & Mindfulness*

Thoughts don’t have to be believed. You can just acknowledge the ridiculous or negative thoughts that pop into your head, chuckle at them, and then release them. This is the essence of mindfulness.

*Radiance of the Sun, melting the clouds*

While I was reflecting on this, I decided to lift up my cloudy thoughts,and what a way to share this to others through writing. Expressing my thoughts in words. It felt good. I felt relieved.

My mind was diverted to my background music “Love & Hapiness ” by Al Green

(Wait a minute, let me tell you)
The power of love
The power…
Make you do right
Love’ll make you do wrong

(Love and happiness)

Now that’s a better thought.

I find something naturally interesting that can draw out my curiosity. So, in the end, it’s not so much about killing our thoughts as it is about investigating them until they lose their power, and they often stop coming on their own. This is the real practice.

Here’s hoping that you feel the warmth of the sun, and feel the greens of the grass..and a not-so cloudy vision.

Do you like this post? Or how does these thoughts made you feel?

Why do you love watching Sunrise & Sunsets?

February 28, 2016March 6, 2017LIFE IN PHOTOS, MY EXPAT LIFE, MY INSPIRATION, NATURE, RAW & UNFILTERED, WANDER TAGS30 Comments

*Arabian Gulf Sunset ,never the same,always fascinating.*

T H E B E A U T Y O F A S U N S E T

Are you an early riser? a nature lover?

Do you make an effort to wake up early just to watch the sun rises?

When was the last time you let your eyes wander at the changing palette of the skies when the sun sets?

“Someday you will find the one who will watch every sunrise with you until the sunset of your life.”

Personally, I think that you don’t need to be a romantic or a poet to be able to appreciate the magic of watching the sunrise & sunsets. This is one of the most amazing things in our world that we can appreciate everyday, the best things is- It is FREE! Life gives us a wonderful slideshow of beautiful nature that is displayed for all of us to see.

*One of my favorite Dusk photo of Kuwait,watching the sun sets*

“People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don’t find myself saying, “Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner.” I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.”

*The beauty of Sunset in Philippines is also incomparable*

“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.” ~Mohandas Gandhi

P1010503 — *Changing colors of the Sky..Nature’s palette.*

Many times that I felt like my eyes are filled with worries about life, I try to watch a sunset and suddenly my mood changes. It’s a proven mood booster. Then I make it a habit to appreciate the sunrise every morning and gaze with a grateful heart at the sunset at the end of the day. I promise to myself that whenever possible, if I have a chance, then I strive to be an agile sun chaser. I should know where to find the sunrise and sunset times and note how the sky looks at those times, at least once. One of the things that I do whenever I am in a new place is to watch how the sun rises or catch a sunset. It’s the perfect souvenir I am taking in.Watching the sun sets relaxes me and it gives me enough inspiration, enough reason to be grateful to end a healthy day & look forward for another day. Living as an Expat allows me to see different horizons where in the sun creates a natural painting that no artist can ever replicate. If you would check out my camera roll, photos of sunrise and sunsets are abundant. It really become my most favorite subject for photography.

Nowadays that we live in a smartphone era, it is very hard to take away our eyes from our phone that we neglect the beauty that readily awaits for us to see. May your busyness leads you to right vistas, to lasting beauty of sunrise and sunset.

“If your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset.”

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Where was the last time you watch the sunrise or the sun sets?

Any thoughts about this post? I would appreciate your comments and your share of your own sunrise/sunset moments! Thank you for dropping to read.

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Stay Golden (Chronicles of Lessons from the Beach Pt.3)

February 9, 2016February 10, 2016RAW & UNFILTERED, SNAPS + STORIES5 Comments

The tide recedes, but leaves behind bright seashells in the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.

The Music stops, yet echoes on in sweet soulful refrains.

For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.

{ P E A C E O F T H E B E A C H }

Don’t ever underestimate the healing power when the beach turns into golden beauty. It’s the cheapest and most abundant medicine for an aching heart. The solitude that one finds while walking along the shores and listening to the rhythmical sounds of the waves brings healing to the soul. The peace of the beach has no limit. Stay under its spell binding peace. Stay golden.