Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Paris 2015: Climate Change Conference (COP21)
Remember my old article about the Doha 2012 UN
Climate Change Conference: COP18/CM8 back in November 2012? http://dreamworldtravelbyroland.blogspot.qa/2012/11/doha-2012-un-climate-change-conference.html
This year the UN Climate Change Summit is ongoing in Paris, France. The Climate Change Conference (COP21) hopes to be successful and fruitful for us all as world leaders are presently battling with what little is left.
Let us make this world a wonderful place to live for us and the future inhabitants to come…and for other people in our present generation to enjoy of what are still beautiful places that left there is.
“The world is expecting more from you than half-measures”
“The clock is ticking towards climate catastrophe.”
- UN Secretary-General, Ban
Ki-moon
Sunday, November 15, 2015
#PrayForParis
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13 - NIV
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
ROZZA HASSAD: The Greenhouse
I know most of you have walked into a botanical garden somewhere in
the world as any country has several around, especially those labeled as
green. By green, I mean any environmental
conscious country there is. How about
greenhouses? I’m sure you have. And mind you, I never have… until recently.
On my recent local trip in Qatar one Saturday, I was amazed by one of
these local farm houses around the country.
I read about the article in one popular local online magazine in Doha
(Doha News) and bumped into this article that says “Things to do in Qatar this
weekend”, and it got my attention into one thing to do that would interest me,
a visit to a greenhouse somewhere in the outskirt of Doha. At first, I thought it was just a similar
botanical garden with a greenhouse in the middle of the dessert as many rich
would have for their private indulgence which anyone can only see from afar when
you travel on a main roads going to the north or to the south of the country.
We started our trip somehow in a bad note because we got lost and
seems like do not know our way around to the place even if we were looking
through a location map. We were not enchanted for one but the experience of
getting lost gave us more excitement in driving around nowhere, the thrills
were priceless. The place only opens
ones a month from sometime in September or October to April depending on the
weather at around 10am till 2pm, so imagine the suspense if you get late
because your mental GPS is malfunctioning, not to mention that your petrol is
dwindling. See how terrible it could be if
we were stuck in the middle of nowhere in some faraway dessert?
Getting there was even a surprise, it was not your typical greenhouse
in the middle of nowhere but an impressive one that only few can afford. The place is called ROZA HASSAD (google it!)
in Umm Leghab, Dukhan Road. The greenhouse
is not just flowers, vegetables and crops production farm but a very
environmental friendly one. It is
self-sufficient and self-sustain farm.
It produces its own water for irrigation, recycles water, produces its
own natural compost and uses the most sophisticated temperature and light
controlling system; and the most simple pest control techniques which are by
the way again all natural. At the end of
the guided trip you can have the opportunity to bring produce on your way back
home!
So what’s better way to spend your holiday next weekend? But you just have to wait for months till
next season of the opening day comes back around (as per schedule
announcement).
Below are some photos in action, of course, with the permission to
blog an article about from Mr. Jean Pierre, the man himself, a kind tour guide
who lets us get in, even if the door was already closed… because we were late
(big thanks to the management!).
Their environmental advocacy is well worth promoting, please support
them as well next time.
Photographs Courtesy of:
Mr. Mykel Quinto (MQ House of Photography)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Sports Travel: 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship
What is more fulfilling traveling
the world than doing sports altogether?
Just recently, a friend of mine
has done something amazing in improving her health and physical looks by the
way of doing sports…triathlon it is! She
used to be heavier than what is required.
She put extra mile towards what she has now achieved in sports. Now she is qualified to join the 2016 IRONMAN
70.3 World Championship in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia… And her name is Nerissa Usero.
Nerissa loves to travel; one of the
factors I think that gave her that much enthusiasm participating in sports
competitions abroad. She and her husband
are also into photography. Their recent
visit in the United Kingdom tested their stamina in traversing the streets of
London with me at one point with their DSLR Professional Camera. Strike the pose!
I cannot keep up with them
walking around so I left to give them time to explore around London by
themselves. As sporty she is, I’m sure
she did a lot of walking to see places around town.
Are you inspired enough in doing
sports travelling the world yet? Please
click to open the article’s hyperlink at the bottom to learn more from her
recent broadsheet newspaper interview.
Let’s follow her road to the Southern Hemisphere at Mooloolaba in
September, 2016.
Sunshine Coast to Host IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship
Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2014/07/sunshine-coast-to-host-ironman-70.3-world-champs.aspx#ixzz3kamVjhI2
Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2014/07/sunshine-coast-to-host-ironman-70.3-world-champs.aspx#ixzz3kamVjhI2
Thursday, August 6, 2015
6 Easy Ways to Avoid Fraud Abroad
I just thought that
it could be more helpful if I share you this very important article that could
help you remember to be more cautious when you are out there on a trip
somewhere. Mind you, remembering these
tips for one of your travels in the future could come handy. I had the slice of my fair share once when I
was vacationing in Eastern Europe. I
won’t tell you where it was as I want to protect the reputation of that country which
I value dearly. Every place I traveled left a special place in my heart as well as in my psyche... and cannot compare one from the other. Of course,
we got to be careful even in a place where we thought to be the safest.
Please take time to read and feel free to click the link below where the article originated. Thanks to the original author.
6 Easy Ways to Avoid Fraud Abroad
Travel should be about fun, sun and relaxation, not worrying
about where your credit card info or personal identity might end up. The only
risks you should be taking on vacation involve a second--or maybe third--round
of margaritas poolside. Here's how to protect yourself and keep your identity
safe, according to Justin Grudzien, Chief Information Security Officer at
Orbitz Worldwide.
1. Don't brag on
social media... until you're back.
This is going to be unpopular, but don't tell all your
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram followers that you're going on this great trip
to Paris and will be gone all week. There used to be a website called
PleaseRobMe.com. It effectively mined data from social media and told you when
people would be away from their home for a while. It's likely that sites like
this still exist, but don't stop posting altogether -- you also don't want to
suggest that you're gone by not posting anything at all. Once you're back,
those travel photos are fair game; post all you want!
2. Take only what you
need on vacation.
The number one thing to protect is your passport or ID. I
only travel with one piece of identity, and leave things like medical and
social security cards at home. That way, should something get stolen, the
damage is as limited as possible. Also, I bring two credit cards: one that I
use, and another that I keep locked in the hotel safe, just in case I lose the
other one or it gets stolen.
3. Avoid the scan scam.
Most passports these days are RFID-enabled, which helps you
get through customs faster. But these can be easily scanned from afar without
you noticing. Luckily, there are certain kinds of secure holders that will
protect your documents from this, so I definitely recommend getting one of
those. I would also keep such documents on your person at all times.
First and foremost, call your credit card companies. All of them.
Credit card companies have fraud systems, and they monitor your spending
patterns. So if you're traveling internationally, credit card companies need to
know -- if they start to see transactions in, say, London, they might shut you
down. And that could be a major burden on you.
Be aware of your surroundings, and keep your important
documents in your front pockets instead of back pockets, since it's a lot
harder to get something out of a front pocket without you noticing. The same
goes for purses -- try to always carry something with a cross-body strap, and
to keep your purse in front of you. And keep everything else that you don't
need locked in the hotel safe.
6. Keep an eye on your accounts.
All the big credit-monitoring companies -- Experian,
Transunion, and Equifax -- have three-in-one credit monitoring. Sign up for one
of these to get alerts, and keep an eye on major changes to your balances, or
any accounts in your name that may spring up once you've returned home. And, of
course, call your bank to let them know you're back and to keep an eye out for
any suspicious foreign charges.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Explore New Areas
“If you can't travel every day, at least try to find
something new within your hometown.”
This is the phrase I just bumped into this morning while
reading one interesting online article from MSN’s 25 Daily Habits That Will Make
You Smarter (at number 20), a great
point to ponder about travel.If you can't travel every day, at least try to find something new within your hometown. You'll meet different people, learn new facts, and understand something new about the world. It's a lot more productive than staying at home and watching TV. —Manas J Saloi
Screenshot pic of the article
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
#EarthDay2015
It's Earth Day today!
Earth Day is
being celebrated every 22nd of April each year to remind us of our
environmental responsibilities. Let’s
help in nurturing earth and everything in it!
...and hey! Also try the Google Doodle. Take the earth day fun quiz!
Which animal are you?
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