GIRLFRIENDS WENT TO A PLACE CALLED PARADISE

That took a lot of coordination and planning.  As any friendship there will always be a drama involve otherwise it will be so boring !  MARY JANE YOUNG that I am proud to call my friend made our trip happenned.   Here are some part of our paradise during a week of togetherness:

WHERE IS PUNTA CANA AND BAVARO LOCATED? located on the beach in Punta Cana's Bavaro Beach neighborhood, close to Palma Real Shopping Village, Cocotal Golf and Country Club, and Dolphin Island. Other points of interest near this all-inclusive resort include Bavaro Beach and Golf de Bavaro.

Bavaro Beach Resort On the seafront of one of the 10 best beaches in the world, Barceló has a 2 km beach, the best in Punta Cana and protected by a coral reef that makes the pristine sea perfectly calm. The Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe***** hotel is found in this magical place and is characterised by its incredible levels of comfort and rest. This is made possible due to the new B-Room rooms that combine technology with the best beds on the market as well as raindance showers.

It was a unique gourmet experience for us with 11 restaurants throughout the Resort and not counting the bar in every turn (Mattie and I) never missed a turn.  In the daytime you can relax by the ocean or by the pool.  Jane and I opted to explore the city and the jungle.  On our first day we went to Higuey.

This is Higuey Street where we stop for some cultural shopping and every stop we were offered the Mama Juana vitality drink.  I brought home some.  Bought a beautiful Oil Painting only it did not reach home.  I lost it between transferring from hotel to airports.  But I will not forget the beauty of it.  While in Higuey we visited   La Basilica Higuey.

 

 

We experienced the city life, the street vendors, the local bakery and ate with the locals.  We met a very nice couple Isis and Carlos Rodriguez that are honeymooning.   Isis was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  She was a great person and a super friendly personality.  We enjoyed their company all day.

 

Went back to Barcelo Bavaro and immediately enjoyed the sun, sand, sea !!!!  Of course with our cocktail and champagne in hand.

Time to catch up with Wendy and Mattie for dinner at La Comedie French Restaurant.

We were very late and we ended up at Margarita Mexican Restaurant.   and the bar...  and Disco Dancing

 and CasinoYes it was an exhausting, exhilarating day trip and lively nightlife......  The next morning Jane and I woke up in such a beautiful day and immediately ran to the beach and explore further the other nearby islands.  Before I forgot take a quick look at our room. Yes we got our own jacuzzi!   Huge breakfast and ready to hit the road again.  We did the Safari Tour all day activity.  We went to the Tobacco Museum, Sugarcane Plantation, Cacao Plantation and in the wilderness.  I saw first hand small children waving at us along the rugged mountain road.  Very welcoming and the sweetest smile.  Saw the beautiful wildlife surrounded us freely roaming around not oblivious to the people around them.  The most exciting part is our ZipLining and Horseback Riding.  Jane and I were true troopers.   Lunch we were served the typical local food.  I love the Porkchops and the chicken cooked similar to the Filipino Adobo.   Here are some photos for all to enjoy:

Horse Back riding  Sugarcane

There is no greater experience in all my travels than embracing the life of the local people.   Seeing for myself their way of life and by doing so it gave me an awakening of life in it's simplest form give others contentment and happiness.   It is in appreciating what you have been given in life.   My heart says that and my body still want to go back to the easy way.....  ahhhh! life in many forms!!!!   It is in this content that Jane called me a "brat"!   

Well back to civilization and of course the first order of the day.... my bubbly and Jane's Tequila Sunrise while lying down on the white sand!  and more activities, how about a fisherman walking by the sea and pretend we went fishing with him, photo ops!!!!  and then we caught a real big fish whoaa in a speedo!!!!  Oooop's his partner (also in speedo) was just a step away.... we let him go!  

We are late again for our Teppanyaki Dinner ! ughhh!   Wendy was not a happy camper and Mattie called us in our room.   Well we made it this time at Kyoto. 

The food was great, the company was even more greater until we all shared experiences of the incompetent front desk, inefficiency of services and the many unacceptable customer services .

Jane took all personally and felt she failed our expectation  but she did not and mny times we told her

she got nothing to do with that.  Well Mattie retired to bed afterwards and the three of us headed to our nightlife plan.  Meeting Heather at the Club, Casino and Bar hopping.   While at the bar, for some unknown reason I pointed to Jane why she have been in a habit of repeating things.  Reminds me of another friend that told me bhaving kids makes you do that.   Things went sour and the night was cut short.  Jane walked away and left me and Wendy.....  well fun got to continue!  More drinks

and more casino!   I came in the room and Jane apologized but not really!  She was very condensending and totally ignored her!

Another day and Jane did not show up for breakfast.  Hmmm she was really getting to my nerve this time.  I finally confronted her and she cried that totally make me love her again !!!!

Jane got a confirmed seat and able to fly back home as planned.   Wendy, Mattie and myself were left behind.  This time we went to another RESORT  called VIK Arena Blanca.  where we enjoyed the afternoon and watch the sunset and night time by the ocean.

 Our Hotel Lobby  

Our room  The Dining Hall     Another Day in Paradise

Following day Wendy and Mattie bought their tickets home and once again I got bumped!  Although I wanted to stay longer but I also wanted to go home and be with JD nd Einstein.  I finally got a seat

with US Airways and got home very late at night!  Thankful afterall that all of us arrived safe to our families!

Overall it was a great vacation to all of us.  We did not allow anything to ruin the fun except that night with Jane.  That also prevented me to spend time with Heather, Seavonte and Kim.  We move on and we created another chapter, another memory and lifetime of stories to tell.

The GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

by:  Carmen Arcilla Daniels

I consider this a true Love Story.   A Father that so dearly love his children and wanted to save them from a life of gloom that  His only son willingly offerred his life that the rest of His children may live a wonderful life.  The brutal pain that both the Father and the Son endured. 

For that it is just right to give thanks to the Father and to the Son not because of our differences but because of our relation,  not because we want to repay them back, we can't anyhow but because of
our devotion.  What they've given us is beyond our understanding, a complete surrender, obedience and the kind of LOVE that none possess except this Father and Son team.

As we celebrated the Resurrection tommorrow let us not forget the life we got now.  Take care of that life,  never take for granted that our lives been purchased by the act of one obedient Son that was brutally murdered.....................
                        

                    A PRAYER

                 I've never known how to pray

                 Somehow without any words utter

                 My mind speaks to you

                 My heart made you feel

                 My action tells you

                 Somehow you know

                          I needed you

                             You rescued me

                                   You make me whole again

                                          And I then know you are listening

                                              Then I know you never forskaen me

                                              And you are ALIVE!

       You gave us LIFE in every form, in our surroundings, in our day to day existence

and the only thing we need to do is not take it for granted.       

OPEN YOUR EYES

                         

God's handiwork in every Spring

God's  Endless Blessings

Renewal and a new Beginning

The birds, the trees, the bloom, the colors, the smell and a never ending landscape of life.

For once, let us pause and be thankful, be gratified, be in love and be happy what surrounds us.

There is no greater joy than joy itself, there is no greater happiness but happiness itself, there is

    no greater love but love itself......  and they are within us, waiting for us to exhale,

    to explore, to enjoy and to share, to give, to feel what is within....................

SPRING, FRIENDSHIP & REJUVENATION

"From you have I been absent in the spring,
When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trim
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him.
Yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odour and in hue
Could make me any summer's story tell,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew;
Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
Yet seem'd it winter still, and, you away,
As with your shadow I with these did play."
- William Shakespeare, Sonnet 98
 
                                The magical beauty as the season change is almost similar to renewing and rejuvenating our soul.   It gives us hope that there is always a time to make anew, to look forward and continue the path to growth.   Standing by the deck admiring the tall trees with it's green leaves reaching for the sky,  the blooms and fragrance of the flowers and bushes that somehow manage to call your attention as well.   The magnificent beauty and serene athmosphere in our own backyard is nature's art .   The music of the chirping birds as they happily stop by and flies to every direction.

                               This morning was a beautyiful one.  My girlfriend Stephanie Watson whom I adored came for coffee.   We discussed almost anything under the sun.  Shared experiences and
talk about our family and the charity works we both passionately been working together for many years.   Steph is one blessing to our lives.  I consider her a confidant when things get rough.   I never see her get truly aggresive unlike myself.  I needed that.  She is so level headed.  She got Jake that we also adore and Ken is such a sweetheart.   Today is one of those days when you wake up to the rising sun and a girlfriend comes over is an added joy to the day!

 Even Einstein loves Spring.  She sunbathed and enjoy the wonderful weather of Spring.

Einstein is our perfect canine in every way.  Her love and devotion to us, to others and to the environment are characteristics that we can emulate from her.

 Dogwood Trees with their lovely white flowers makes me wait day by day when it finally filled up the branches and make a statement on their own.

  Coffee - Fruits - Friendship
  A perfect way to start the day
  For it brings us true joy
  And a day that makes it easy.            

ROADS TO TRAVEL AS LIFE GOES ON.....

We started life on earth with roads to travel.  I remembered part of growing up:  a huge house and the biggest on that street,  closely knitted family,  celebrations,  being the apple of every one's eyes ----  a lil' skinny ugly duckling , many cousins but only 2 were my closest,  GLORY  &  UNO.  We personified what our family wanted us to be, only the best nothing less!  GLORY was book smart, UNO was street smart, myself was quite flexible and can be both !  same class, same family  we RULE !    Our road was shut down one day,  I was not able to comprehend why my Uncle was put in that beautiful box, why gorgeous flowers surrounded the entire house, why we were asked to be quiet?   Since then we all drifted.

As the road branches out so were our life.  I no longer wish to be surrounded by family conflicts. I hate to be an underdog, I hate to see my Mom used and abused when my Dad left us.  Devastation and frustration made me realised, I will travel that road where I will build a life that I myself can control.  I no longer want to be a slave by my own blood relatives from my paternal side.  My mother was a martyr to my paternal heritage but never been appreciated nor shown gratefulness.  I never wanted to be like her!  I will be like my father that stood to his belief, fearless, that played hard and work hard, enjoyed his life to the fullest and nothing bothered him.  When he got all the worldly possession he shared to all like there will be no tomorrow, when he lost his worldly possession, he was still happy knowing he did what he wanted to do!  Not in anytime of life he doubted my capabilities.  He challenged my teachers for giving me a near perfect score, he believed I was more than perfect and rightfully earned that.  My mother on the other hand was nurturing, she was scared I will fail, she was scared I will get hurt.  She considered me a porcelain doll that will easily break and will never be able to be put together.   Her love was the greatest I've ever experienced in life to the point it suffocated me and wanted to break loose!

I took another road to freedom, a road that was long and winding.   Achieving freedom was not an easy road to venture.  I was again confused!  There was the struggle to fight for political freedom both for myself and others.  I studied, I read many books, I listened, I got involved and woke up trailing the road of a political activist !   I was passionate  but the ambiguity strike me that I allowed myself to be used as a propagandist that uses the word freedom to attached feelings and emotion to a cause that will build up to trek the road of no return. 

As years passed by you came to an age where you are in a crossroad of being a child and a teen.  which one should you take.  I chose the road to be the bigger person.  I got involved and it was great in the beginning but when my mother learned all she wanted was not losing face, that her child was breaking her religious belief.   I was forced to face and travel the high road.  I owe my life to her in the first place .  I crashed and the road to recovery was very painful to myself and to my mother.  She blamed herself!   

Education was the road I kept coming back for I knew what my father said to me,  "educate yourself, you may lose everything in your life but no one can ever take your education from you!",  "it will be your ammunition and you will compete and you will win for you are in possession of the strongest weapon!"   With boldness and determination I conquered the road to be an academician not a regular one but one that will excel !   It was not an easy road to be on top specially if you don't have the resources but I needed to reached that hill.  The drive was hilly, the road blocks were everywhere. I ran out of fuel, I blew my tires, I hit the rock bottom.   I put the palm of my hands together without a word to utter I looked up and finally said,  "I need you".

With an education to bragged, with perseverance and willingness to sacrifice and with an attitude I entered the work force.   I wanted to start where power exist, where decision makers convene and where actions and not mere words were the daily agenda.   I landed with the position under the Office of the President and the rest were history.  I met dignitaries, politicians, entertainers, grassroots.  I handled projects of national importance.   I finally was ready to face the road to achieving a life of my choosing .   I travelled, settled in another country, established my businesses, widen my network and became an international business figure. It was not as big as millionaires but it was an establishment from my own sweat, sacrifices and small as it may seem to others, it was a gigantic achievement for me.  

I married a Diplomat where once again I got reminded of my childhood environment.   It was a very smooth road with no bumpers, so smooth and so surreal that I got treated as one of the many porcelain dolls on display.   I loved the adulation, the pampered life, the extravagance that I thought will be forever.   My family were taken cared of for a while until I realised although the road was smooth at the end of it was a continuing road to hypocrisy and senseless show of wealth.   I took off and travel back in time.  

So many roads I travelled along the way  some were you find road signs, others unmarked and somehow I got tired of travelling trying to find out that road to a peaceful destination.   It was wild and definitely rugged road!   Relationships came and left,  businesses booming and employees cheating,  worked day and night, girlfriends were temporary.   Once again I took the opportunity to travel the road and experienced cultures around the world.    Lived the life of a nomad, a socialite, a homeless, a tourist and the very most important road I took was in England outside of London.  I lived on the grounds of Arundel Castle.  I walked up the mountain with a picnic basket in the afternoon with Grandma,  I fed the swan in the morning and enjoyed the beauty of the solarium with a cup of tea.   The local pub knew me and greeted me with my title.   The best was learning the Gliders on my own....  that was the road where being up in the sky on para gliders gave me the true meaning of being on top of the world!   I felt like a human bird reaching what was beyond and intrigued what was below.  That road I will never regret!

Somehow  even how much we travel the road will have a dead end.  Now what ?  Once again I was not appreciative of the wealth accorded to me and blew it all.   The road took me back where I started.    My father was right, education stayed with me and used that to take me to another journey. 

Well the road at this point of time was unreachable but I needed it so badly to reach my destiny.

My childhood friend IAN took me under her wings.  It was fun at night listening to her music and dreadful in the daytime when she slept all day.   At this point of time there were no roads to travel.

There were mountains to climb and hills to conquer.  One more time in life..... hardship and sufferings tend to block the road to your destination!   Perseverance, action, hard work  in full force

to unblock that road that will take me to my destiny!!!!

I got my groove back finding which road to take.  I met my JD at a wrong road but we travel together to find the right path......   our journey continues..........  the next road trip proved to be exciting, loving and real!   

Finding my closest cousins and travel the long road to fill in the gap.   One day , one hope, one opportunity and we can all have closures and build our own private road. 

This is a digested version and hope one day I will be able to write  details of  life on road trips  for our children, our godchildren, our grandchildren and the next generation of the one and most important in our life.... FAMILY 

SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS

When you see a young ballerina it seems unreal the beauty, poise, gratefulness that only a musical box can do .  In this photo she look like a painting of perfection and she happen to be my niece.
At times my love for photography will make an artist's vision wanting to put it in a canvass and won an Award.  The Perfect Pink  I took photo from our yard was interpreted in canvass by my friend Artist Gail Newman,
The friendly sky is where my soul find peace and solace.
When a friend makes an effort to open a bubbly and pair it with strawberry covered chocolates on your birthday that is the true definition of BFF!
Boys! boys! boys!  but these 3 are the boys that occupies a big part of our heart.
The Asian beauties that live around the globe that got together for our common friend IAN.
Up in the sky or down on the ground we are fly girls!!!!
Flight Crew knows how to make up for lost time on the ground.
An evening of sailing in  Bangkok, Thailand
Forever Friends till we meet again,

SPRING 2012 IN FLORIDA

When you think about Florida, several things come to your mind: summer, vacation, sun, amazing beaches with white sand, blue sky and of course beautiful palm trees. It is difficult to imagine Florida without palm trees. They are everywhere here. The delightful trees remain a popular symbol for warm tropical Florida.

Warm humid climate makes the Sunshine state is the best place to grow these exotic tropical plants. The temperature rarely goes below freezing. The trees grow well in hot humid summer with a lot of rains and the soil of Florida is ideal for palms.

Believe it or not, there are over 2500 different species of palms. Almost all of them can be grown here. They are so different!  You can see them every day along streets and coasts, in shopping malls entrances and restaurants, in botanical gardens and theme parks. They are gorgeous and beautiful landscape plants, and I can never have enough of them. Another interesting characteristic of these plants is that they can grow solitary or in clusters. The palms can be self-cleaning (the leaves fall off cleanly) and not self-cleaning (the leaves stay on the trunk of the palm after they dry)....  Florida Palm Trees.net

I took some photos of the magnificent trees during our Spring Time visit with friends from West Palm Beach,  Asterios and Blair Houstas.   Blair and I love the Palm Trees.  

             Taken along the streets of Miami  ,  Houstas Patio,  Trump International Golf Club,   
                                                      West Palm Beach, Florida 

  These are amateur photos and does not give justice to it's beauty when you see them clusters  together or just standing on it's own.