Inspirations

GOODBYE 2021, HELLO 2022

January 4, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

As a tradition, I always look back at the year that was before embarking into the new year. I thought 2021 was just an okay year. Covid cases may have lessened, more freedom to roam about but there were still restrictions of course. I thought 2021 was just like a “mediocre” year – not too bad, not too amazing. But looking back at it now, I realised I have so many things to be grateful for 2021.

Gratefulness List of 2021

1. Experienced Wahiba Sands and Desert Camping

For J’s birthday, we celebrated his birthday in the beautiful magnificent Wahiba Sands. We slept in a warm tent like bedouins at the Wahiba Bedouin Rustic Camp, played in the dunes and had bonfire at night. We are had a wonderful experience there and we are glad we got to experience that once in a lifetime.

2. Staycations

For this year, we have been doing lots of staycations as our way of celebrating birthdays and as our own way of travelling since travelling is still challenging because of Covid. Here are the hotels we stayed at this year:

pool Intercontinental Hotel Muscat — Intercontinental Hotel for Howell’s Birthday

Hilton Garden Inn — Hilton Inn for Zeke’s Birthday

Sifawy Boutique Hotel — Sifawy Boutique Resort at Jebel Sifah for Naj’s Birthday

Bidiyah Oasis for bonding with Filipino friends

Swiss-Belinn Muscat — Swiss- Belinn for my birthday

We also went back to Sifawy Boutique Hotel in late November. We had our Christmas in Grand Hyatt and tried their sumptuous Christmas Eve buffet. For New Year, we spent it at Royal Tulip Hotel. I will be reviewing that hotel soon

3. Courage to stand-up for myself

This year, I learned to stand up for myself and I am glad I did. It made me feel strong and powerful. I usually let things slide to avoid conflict and maintain peace. I learned that I should never allow people to disrespect me and I should learn to fight for myself. I did and I reap good benefits. I gained respect in return and people now know that they shouldn’t mess with me flippantly.

4. Friendships

I am grateful for the friendships I have gained and nurtured this year. I glad I was able to have meet-ups with my two doctors friends who are working in far hospitals of Oman.

I also have wonderful friends in my work place. They are Indian doctors and I was honoured to be invited in one of their festival celebration in their home. I got to experienced the unique celebration of Onam, a traditional Keralite festival of India.

5. Paying off debts

One of the accomplishment and what I am really grateful for this 2021 was that we finally paid off our debts in our credit cards in Singapore and Oman. It is such a liberating feeling to be out of debt. We finally closed our credit card account in Singapore. Paying off our credit card debt allowed us to start invest in a property in the Philippines which we are really excited about.

6. Wonderful oppurtunity

I was given an unexpected offer this year which is so hard to say no to after thinking of all the pros and cons. It is not actualised yet but inshallah by 2022, it will be a reality and I will share more about it.

7. Acne-free

I been struggling with acne since I got here in Oman. Maybe it is the stress from moving to a new country, the harsh climate and lack of availability of the usual skincare & make-up products I used in Singapore that lead to my skin issues here. But I am so happy I discovered Sae Skincare. My skin finally cleared up and I am very happy to say that I am now acne-free. I also slowly discovered makeup products here that works for me.

8. Work fulfillment

This year, I realised that I loved my chosen specialisation: Family Medicine. I love its versatility and its opportunity to connect with patients holistically. I feel like I have gained skills and improved my management as doctor working here. I became more confident in handling obgyne cases, delivering babies, doing antenatal check ups, managing emergency cases, and doing minor surgeries. I feel honoured that my colleagues and coworkers trust me and feels relieved & happy when they know I will be working with them on that day.

9. Peace

In the middle of 2021, I got really busy in building my brand in Instagram. I gained traction, gained new followers, made new Instagram friends in Oman and even started in creating good quality reels (short videos with music) in Instagram. But I realised I been too caught up with social media even with posting in Facebook so I took a pause. I reassessed my priorities and realised that I should stop chasing likes & followers in social media. It was too draining already. So I decided to unpublish my Facebook Page, stop posting in my Instagram and Instagram stories. I would still post occasionally in my personal Facebook since I am using it as sort of an album for memories. But I try to keep the posting to a minimum and I now hold my privacy sacred. Result of this was peace. I am glad I did it. I still will be keeping my blog of course because it is my source of refuge & it brings me joy writing here. But there is no more pressure to promote it. If someone stumble into my blog, I will happily welcome them in my little space.

10. Passed BLS and ACLS course

I am happy that I passed the Basic Life Support Course last July and the Advance Cardiac Life Support Course just this December. The ACLS particularly is a tough course and I am glad I passed it. These certification will aid me in my job as a doctor here.

I am excited for 2022. For 2022, my theme is Homecoming. It is coming back to the source, to the original, to where I am suppose to be. Coming back to God, to what is essential, to my profession, to my loves….. This is the year we will be coming home to the Philippines by the end of this year if the situation permits. Let us all pray for a wonderful 2022. May this Covid leave us already and we can live our lives to the fullest.

HOW TO FIND BEAUTY IN EVERY DAY

December 20, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

There are days when it is a struggle to find beauty in the day. There are just days that leave us low and uninspired. We all experience those days. Life can some knock us down and we would feel less enthusiastic or cheerful some days. We have to accept that life can’t always be sunny. But the trick is not to wallow in that mood and learn to look at the life with positivity and still appreciate it.

I realised that most things has to do with mindset. So I teach myself to be more positive and learn to pick myself up if I am feeling listless and uninspired. Here are few things we can do to open our eyes and appreciate the beauty of every day:

1. Have a grateful attitude

• List 3 things that you are grateful at the end of the day

• Always “Thank you” to those people who are generous with you in gifts, time and praises

• List the blessings you received monthly or quarterly or every end of the year

2. Take time to savour the things that you are doing

• Practice mindfulness

• Be fully aware of your surroundings when you experiencing a moment: the sight, the sound, the smell

• Get lost in the moment and enjoy peak experiences

3. Do random acts of kindness

• Donate for a worthy cause

• Spread some encouragement online

• Greet people with a smile

• Compliment

4. Create meaningful social connections

• Put away your phone when you are with family & friends

• Reconnect with old friends

• Make new friends and ask them about their interests

• Listen more, talk less

• Value relationships, not things

5. Commune with nature

• Go out of your backyard for fresh air and a bit of sun

• Plant a tree or shrub

• Enjoy the breeze in your balcony

• Watch the sunrise or sunset

• Sit in your patio and listen to the sound of nature

Hope this list help you in some way. Can you more to the list? Let us promote positivity and share this blog post. Are you all excited for the holidays? I know I am!

JAPANESE BUFFET AT TAKARA AND STAYCATION AT SWISS BELINN FOR MY BIRTHDAY

November 27, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

Few days ago, I celebrated my 42nd birthday. I can’t believe I am 42 already. I thought reaching 40s before would make me feel so old but honestly, I feel like life has more to offer and I still feel young enough.

My little family and I usually have a tradition to blow our birthday cake by 12 midnight. But my boys prepared my cake early before 12 midnight because we are off to Muscat early the next day. So we said that we are celebrating my birthday Philippine time instead of Oman time. They told me to stay in the room while they prepare my cake. Awww, I got a beautiful cake with a bouquet of pink & white roses. Hubby even surprised me with a phone gadget gift which I been wanting so bad.

Next morning, we woke up and prepared for our staycation in Muscat. I wore my little red dress for my birthday which is the same dress I wore in my last year’s birthday.

We drove two hours to Muscat to check in Swiss Belinn Hotel. It is a small hotel near Azaiba Beach. Inside the hotel, the vibe is very hip and quirky. We were accommodated by the nice Omani receptionist and gave us our room card.

We got a suite room. There is a living room with extra bed with TV and round table. Inside there is a big queen bed with shower & toilet.

The vibe of the room aligns with the hotel. I love the quirky wall decals, the modern minimalistic feel of the room and the round table perfect to place food orders unlike some hotels. Only downside is that they don’t offer much toiletries available like conditioners, body lotion etc. For iron and hairdryer, we have to request it from housekeeping.

We fixed our stuff in the hotel then we head off to Intercontinental Hotel for our Japanese buffet lunch at Takara. I called weeks before to book reservations for the buffet. When we were in the car, heading to Intercontinental, I got a call from Takara, reminding me of the buffet that starts at 12 noon.

We were warmly received by the Filipino receptionist at Takara. We were brought to our table. Weekend buffet cost per head is 21 omr for adults and 10.500 for kids 5 years and below. The waiter gave us the QR code for the menu. Unlike usual buffet, there are no banquet spread for us like most buffet. We can order whatever we want from the menu. Drinks are not included in the buffet charge.

We ordered a lot of sushi and lots of yummy dishes until we feel our tummies would burst. Hubby tried out their sake. He said it tasted nice and sweet. We finished off our sumptuous lunch with a banana tempura and ice creams.

We headed back to the hotel to rest a bit. I stayed in the room with Zeke to relax while hubby and the two big boys went into the play area of the hotel where they have foosball table and a playstation area.

I got a lovely surprise from my two doctors friends when I got a cake delivery in the hotel. I am so blessed to have sweet and thoughtful friends like these.

Before sunset, we headed to Al Mouj. We made the kids play at their outdoor playground. Then we strolled around the lively atmosphere of Al Mouj. Oman is celebrating National Day so the place is adorned with green and red light all around. We decided to have a nice dinner at Yellow Cab before heading back to our hotel.

We woke up to a wonderful sleep. We went down for our free breakfast. The breakfast options were modest but kids were happy with the Choco Crunch cereals with milk and bread with Nutella spread. I was happy with my Spanish omelette and macchiato coffee.

We relaxed a bit in our room after breakfast before we packed our stuff for check out. We were going to the mall to buy some stuff and do grocery before going back to our house in North Sharqiya.

I love celebrating my birthdays like this – enjoying good food, relaxing in a comfy place with the people that I love dearly.

Can’t wait what my 42 year of life has to offer. I am ready!

Swiss Belinn

Address: Al Anwar Street Azaiba Muscat Oman 130

Phone: 24 908800

Takara

Address: Al Kharjiya Street Al Shati Area Muscat Oman, 114

Phone: 22 060003