Life is not just what happens to you, it is what you make of it. I have been lucky enough to experience some unique cultures in this arabic country where my work takes me.
Full-time worker, part-time traveler. I started traveling since 2011, the time when I already manage tough backpacking trips on a self-imposed tight budget. I don’t want to depend my travel expenses on my parents. I promised myself to save from my salary for my travels and yes, I stood on it despite of supporting allowances of my sibling in school. My range of travel is very wide, I dreamed to experience different cultures and go to many places, tried new incredible adventures.
You only live once, so lived with it to the fullest and continue doing so of what you want.
Never desired traveling alone, not a fan of solo traveler, for me, I will get bored traveling alone. I admire people traveling alone for they are able to explore solo without a friend or family with them to take a photo and to take their snapshots of their OOTD’s. For me, traveling with people I want to travel with is a precious one, I really treasure bonding. You can get to know more of them, you can gain a lot from them by sharing their cultures and customs. You can earn knowledge from them by learning about their stories and experiences because we have different perspectives in life, sometimes what you see is I can not see. It can boost your confidence also especially if you are like me, shy type. There’s so much to get from dealing with people.
Anyway, I want to share with you my travel this past holidays. November 30, December 1 and 2, 2017. Random photos from my three days and two nights island experience.
Disclaimer:
I am not good at writing, had no writing experience. I had no idea to start this blog, no clues what blog is good or not. I don’t even own a good camera. I am not a good photographer.
Don’t expect too much, you will get hurt! Hehe #Hugot! I don’t want to pretend as professional blogger and travel expert. Just being honest!
So yeah, let gets started!
This travel is a Family Camp for this year 2017. This is also a get together for us christian’s all over UAE to gather together and publicly show our faith and trust in God. This is the best time of the year to praise Him and thanked Him for 2017 has been the best year yet. Lucky us that this consecutive three days are national holiday in this country so we don’t have to report on work because circumstances sometimes beyond our control.
| DAY 1 | 2017, NOVEMBER 30 |
This travel/camp is at Al Futaisi Island located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Approximately 2-3hours drive from Sharjah and 20-30minutes from the Abu Dhabi coast and easily accessible. Campers are from the local churches of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
We are from Sharjah, our call time is 5 in the morning in Abu Shagara so that by 9 a.m. we will be at Abu Dhabi port They said that boat timings are strictly imposed, morning boat trips scheduled at 9 a.m., next boat will be at 10 a.m, then last trip is 11 a.m. Late arrival from the port you will pay additional charges accordingly.
We will go to there by bus, we are almost 30 including kids.
It was so cold inside the bus, wearing a jacket is a must plus sunglasses for a sleepy head who woke up early to catch up the estimated time to depart.
A closer selfie before departing. 😂
My seatmates from my left.
From my right and a photobomber at the back.
We’re here!
📍ABU DHABI coast
While waiting selfie, the sun is about to rise and absorbing some Vitamin D is good at this time.
Sharjah Family is ready!
Wear your life jackets for safety.
Waves is calm today.
Amazing view along the way.
Mini light house. Signal that we are near to the island.
Finally were here my roommates are Tita Abby, Tito Rey, Ate Sherley and Ate Roselle.
I took a right away photo for a room tour exclusively for this blog.
My bed for the next three days.
Sofa is good for two but I own it. Haha
A quick shot from Huji Cam at the storage room, mini fridge is at the right side and trash box on the left. I forgot to take a photo on their clean bathroom with a very cute bath tub.
I made a retouched of my make-up. Three hours traveling from Sharjah is a blast!
Our view infront of the chalet.
Obligatory post for my social media accounts.
Im with them in going to the assembly area. Time check 1:31 p.m. It will start at 2 pm.
Worship Hall, Jesus Reigns Ministry Family Camp 2017 is themed with a Highway of Holiness.
Sun is setting down, general assembly is done at 5:30pm. Sun is not yet done but theres the moon.
Took picture with my sisters in Christ of JRM Sharjah.
Fried chicken, beef steak and a cup rice plus a caramel cake slice for dessert. Our dinner for tonight! I am so hungry, I only eat my packed lunch awhile back so this picture tends no justice. I don't even think of an instagrammable shot. Food is courtesy of Max’s Restaurant.
After dinner we went back to the worship hall for our next general assembly.
The program finished at 10:30pm. Indeed a very long day been awake for 19hours and our chalet is room #133, we will walk and need to pass through 33 houses before we reach it. It takes us there for 15mins.
Family Picture for Day1
| DAY 2 | 2017, DECEMBER 1 |
Woke up 4am to take a bath and go by the beach at 5am for our morning devotion and dawn watch. Beach is on low tide today.
The beauty of God’s creation reveals.
Chicken, boiled egg and one cup of rice for todays breakfast. Don’t forget the coffee.
This is our view during breakfast, a kiddie pool at the back of the worship hall.
After breakfast we are able to walk around the assembly hall and theres a mini bridge going to a big man made boat designed for display and indeed a touristy spot.
Let us pretend this was candid shot.
General assembly starts again at 9am.As I am looking for a seat I saw these men from Sharjah taking a picture. Todays activity is affirmary wherein delegates are divided into two. Single and couples.
Seat-mates. We are seated in front we were on a nervous breakdown when the speaker told us to introduce ourselves and where we came from. Regretting why we don’t seat at the back either in the middle.
The program was finished quarter to one. Going back to our chalet to eat lunch.
Fried Daing na Bangus, veggies, cup of rice and caramel slice cake for today’s lunch.
Right after lunch we walk around our chalet to take our obligatory post for day two. 🙂
Saw this bunch of trees near the last chalet of the island. It reminds me of one the speaker told us a while back that those who travel this highway do not seem to care much for the things of this life for their eyes are set on a greater goal. I realized that I was focused on the island alone. The beach that I don’t even see that there is also this awesome area where you can find silence, and peace of mind.
After taking photos we went back to our chalet to fix again ourselves for the next assembly.
Giving you a selfie while walking.
On our way another obligatory post at the middle of the island. Extending my arms for I can feel the awesomeness of His creation.
Going back to the assembly area with my family. Affirmarry again and after this, is the water baptism.
Program finished at 4pm. We are free now to have our siesta or go on a beach volleyball.
We went to witness the water baptism. 14 of them will be baptized.
While waiting, I took a shoe selfie for my shoes served me well. Exactly my stan smith is with me for a year now.
Took a picture of the beach, I just don’t know what the black things are but yes, the water is so clear and pure.
A very long day again the sun is about to set. We went back to our chalet and take a rest and eat dinner. This time I can feel that I am a bit tired, I forgot to take a photo of my dinner.
After dinner we had also bonfire by the beach until 11:30pm.
| DAY 3 | 2017, DECEMBER 2 |
Time flies so fast. I didn’t notice that yesterday was December already. We planned to go dawn watched again in the morning but we aren’t awake with our alarm, decided to take our devotion inside our chalet so we can get prepare earlier to attend the last assembly.
Today is our last day on the island, the wind blows so hard and the waves are stronger compare to yesterday.
Last worship ends around 1pm. We had our prayer and fasting this morning so here I was excited to eat my lunch, didn’t remove the cover of my food upon capturing and the rest is you know it already. Haha
After three days staying here, we are now leaving 🙁
We will go home together in one boat. The capacity of it is 400 people so only one ride. This is where we can bond also to other campers before we go back to our places.
Again taking a selfie is a must.
Truly that God reveals his love and mercy while we are on our way. See the cross in the sun during our sunset session on our way back home.
I learned so much on this travel/camp/fellowship, with the theme alone “Highway of Holiness”. It reveals to me that a highway is established it starts from a certain point to a certain destination. To reach the desired destination we have to take the correct route that leads to that destination.
We are all on a JOURNEY. The starting point is our salvation experience. The journey will last for the rest of our lives. It is a journey down a long and sometimes dangerous highway or terrain on that is filled with holes, dangerous curves, mixed up signs and danger from every side.
The road we must travel as people of God is called the “Highway of Holiness” and it is a road that is less traveled.
Holiness is not what you do, it is what you are.
Those who travel this highway do not seem to care much for the things of this life for their eyes are set on a greater goal. They are the one who speaks at a city that is not at this world but one that is for greater than any that the world can offer, if we are to travel in this highway of holiness the things of this world must grow dim. The desire for riches in this world though not totally wrong, must take second place to our desire to “abstain from every appearance of evil” and from those things that will deter us from our heavenward journey.
Our eyes must be set on Jesus and His way of righteousness and we must never forget that all of the beauty of this present world is going to he destroyed.
“Guard your vision, your heart and mind!”
Be careful of the things you hear and see less they cause you to leave the Highway of Holiness and because you will be lost in the streets of sin and enticement of this present world.
We are citizens of heaven. We are journeying through a strange foreign and dangerous world on our way home.Watch for your soul for there is nothing more important for us to make, teaching home, as people of God our desire must always be to inherit the kingdom of God.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don’t look on the things of this world lest your gaze creates a desire to be a part of this world. Put on your spiritual blinders and work the straight path of holiness. Put your body under subjection.
Every time we stray from the Highway of Holiness we try God’s best for our lives. Every time we fall, it is another delay and another spiritual hurt.
God in Jesus established a new and living way to bring himself a people who will dwell in his presence. We are living in the end times and the promise of God rapture those who pursue holiness is about to be fulfilled, as all the signs are evident before us.
My last few words, Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Indeed this experience was amazing and unforgettable. Hope you learn something on this blog. Happy steeming folks! Till next time.
