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hello vonnie
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
Love Begins
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I'd rather be in outer space đž
blake kathryn
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
Game of Thrones Daily
titsay
Keni
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
oozey mess
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"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Discoholic đȘ©
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@batangthirdworld
Never Take Yourself Seriously, Or You're Finished
Never Take Yourself Seriously, Or Youâre Finished
This is a quote from a documentary I recently watched on Netflix. Manolo, The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards is an adorable portrait of the shoe king, Manolo Blahnik. Itâs an interesting look on how he started out and managed to still be relevant up to this day. It was during my time in uni when I first learned about this shoeâŠ
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Culture Vulture | Fire Station Museum
The art movement in Qatar is in its infancy but it has a lot of potential. Not only that the government is very keen in amassing a good wealth of artwork from all over but is determined in developing talents within the country. A perfect example of this is the Fire Station Museum which originally housed the fire brigade. The idea of recycling a Civil Defense building to become an art hotspotâŠ
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And The Show Continues...
And The Show ContinuesâŠ
Hola! I am back from my blog slumber. A friend keeps on reminding me to write something soon. Maybe I enjoyed the holidays too much (though it wasnât really hectic and I actually spent mine at work). Or Iâm just not ready to blog about anything yet. Or I got lazy. (The last one seems most accurate). But something happened today. I received an invitation to a farewell brunch from a closeâŠ
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For the fifth consecutive year, Iâm celebrating the yuletide here in the sandpit and away from home. Some of you who have never stepped foot in this part of the world may think that Christmas in the desert is not the same as in the Philippines or Europe or in the US. It may be true to some extent (Qatar is a Muslim country so Christmas is not really considered a holidayâyes, we work on ChristmasâŠand New Yearâs too) but most of the things you enjoy or traditions you do back home to make this season memorable can be replicated here as well.
Oh, and cheat week (month is more precise?) is enforced. Yay for turkey!
Dinner at the Mestarihis
But first, photo opâŠ:-)
and another one
(Early) Media Noche Feast at Sabai Thai
The lobby at Westin Doha.
And then, gluttony (I love my Asian food).
Welcome drinks at Sabai Thai
Care for some papaya salad?
Taking a break
Cheers to all the hardworking expats in Doha!
Night Out at the Souq
Shisha? Turkish coffee? Souq? Sign me up!
Bring it on 2018! Iâm ready for you!
***
It was a great week despite the fact that I was alone at homeâa first in five years Iâve been staying in Doha.  I would have gone out more, maybe visited some museums, but I was too lazy. Must be the weather. LOL. I had fun and I hope everyone enjoyed theirs as well.
Cheers!
 B3W
 In Photos | Christmas 2017 In Doha For the fifth consecutive year, I'm celebrating the yuletide here in the sandpit and away from home.Â
Razzle Dazzle | The $40,000 Balmain Jacket
So the $40,000 question is: Would you buy it? The crystal encrusted baseball jacket which apparently took two months to make and has the words BALMAIN ARMY featured at the back is Oliver Rousteingâs answer to menâs wear ârevolutionâ and attributed to the fact that now, men are more keen in adopting âglamour without feeling ridiculousâ. Thereâs enough glitz in Balmainâs Pre-Fall MenswearâŠ
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Bargain Eats | Bin Mahmoud, Doha
Letâs establish some truths first. Fact number one: Expensive doesnât always mean good food. Fact number two: Everybody loves to eat. Fact number three: Everybody loves to eat cheap! Bin Mahmoud is sort of like an oasis to a foodie. It will satisfy most of your cravings and youâll never get bored as there are plenty of options. No exaggeration. Here are some of the best bargain eats in theâŠ
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Hello, 2018
No, this is not a post about meaningless resolutions. I mean, who does that seriously anyway? Not me, for sure. 2017 is coming to an end and I am excited to welcome the new year with a renewed hope and a positive outlook that life will work out for the better. This year has been full of challenges (and I will leave it at that). I wouldnât say itâs the worst year but know that working awayâŠ
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The Last-Minute Holiday Planner | Veronica's Cypriot Adventure
The Last-Minute Holiday Planner | Veronicaâs Cypriot Adventure
I havenât posted something in a while (been busy) so I begged (Iâm exaggerating, LOL) my dear friend, Veronica, to do a guest post in my blog. She obliged (thankfully) and did an article about her recent trip to Cyprus. Here you go. Read up and be inspired. *** It is almost the year-end so I thought itâs time to use up some of my annual leave and have a quick, short escape from Qatar. NotâŠ
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The Must-Haves | White Sneakers
The Must-Haves | White Sneakers by batang3rdworld featuring mens round toe shoes Maison Margiela mens round toe shoes1805 QAR â saksfifthavenue.com Common Projects mens low profile shoes1545 QAR â harrods.com Converse mens sneaker210 QAR â lordandtaylor.com Acne Studios mens rubber sole shoes1655 QAR â ssense.com Adidas mens rubber sole shoes670 QAR â barneys.com Valentino mens studdedâŠ
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Table For One |Paper Moon Restaurant
Itâs Thursday and none of my colleagues from work felt like going out for lunch. I wasnât mindful of the time and forgot to order food so the inevitable happenedâI dined solo. This is not the first time though as I enjoy having a meal in a restaurant by myself every now and thenâno judgy friends watching me stuff my face with food. And Iâm not worried about being looked upon pitifully by theâŠ
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The Hitlist | 10 Gift Ideas For The Coming Holidays
We are halfway through November (re: Christmas is just a few weeks away). This means we need to start gift planning and sorting out our own wish list. Itâs a difficult task but donât panic just yet. Here are some ideas to help you get through this grueling task. LOL  Scratch Off Map for your travel junkie friend. Iâm sure you have one. Watercolor World Scratch Off Map from Amazon for $29.99âŠ
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Would You Wear This? | Thibaut's "Thong" Jeans
Would You Wear This? | Thibautâs âThongâ Jeans
Who is it for? Someone who loves jeans and at the same time, naked? Where would you wear this to? Is it a millennial thing? Am I too old to understand and appreciate this style? So many questions ran through my head when I first saw online photos of the aptly named âThong Jeansâ from new designer Thibaut during Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo. And they are still unanswered up to now. Front view.âŠ
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Shisha is part of Doha culture and the Arab world in general. I wouldnât say itâs integral but no one will say shisha or hookah without thinking the sands of the Arab world. I remember when I first came here four years ago, the first place I went to was Souq Waqif where most of the cafĂ©s and restaurants serve shisha. I tried smoking this back in Manila but it was different when I first had it here. It was stronger and packed more flavor. Or maybe itâs the souq and the fact that Iâm in Qatar which made the experience more authentic.
Photo taken in March 2013, Souq Waqif
While buying your own water pipe and setting it up at home is more practical than going to shisha lounges, it is more enjoyable to do this sitting with the locals and other expats. I guess it gives me the feeling of being part of the culture.
Now having spent several years in the sandpit, there are places where my friends and I usually visit to get our fix. Other than the lounges in hotels around Doha, I prefer the standalone establishments for two good reasonsâyouâll get better quality (based on experience) and it wonât hurt your wallet. The following are three of my favorite hookah hangouts in the city.
Downtown Restaurant
Back when West Bay was home, Downtown is the most convenient for me as itâs walking distance from where I live. The whole staff is nice and the service is great. The food they serve is not bad either. My Lebanese friend even commented that they serve one of the best tabbouleh in Doha. As this is located in the business area, itâs the perfect after-work option to meet with friends where you can have hookah and a pleasant dinner.
Orient Pearl
This restaurant is situated along the Corniche and very easy to locate (re: dancing fountain). This place is huge and has good interiors. This is great for families as theyâve set up a playground where kids can play while the grown-ups do some adulting. LOL. They serve some of the best Arabic dishes IMHO. There are performances every now and then especially during Ramadan which makes this a must-visit during that time of the year.
Souq Waqif
This is a no-brainer. Located in the heart of Doha, this souq offers a lot of things. There are dozens of shops selling a wide variety of items, a lot of food options, street performances, art galleries and thereâs a museum too. You can literally spend an entire afternoon (or evening!) walking and exploring the alleys of this Qatari market.
Any of the outdoor cafĂ©s or restaurants in this area is a perfect spot for shisha and peoplewatching. Al-Bandar, Damasca and Le Gourmet are excellent examples. And at 35 riyals, it wonât burn a huge hole in your pocket
***
Other than these three, Layali at Lagoona Mall, Eatopia at the Gate Mall, Burj Al Hamam at the Pearl and Shisha Garden at La Cigale are very good options as well.
My usual combo of shisha and green tea
So go now and have a puff. Just keep in mind that like cigarettes, shisha smoking can be detrimental to your health so do it sparingly.
 B3W
For The Love Of Hookah Shisha is part of Doha culture and the Arab world in general. I wouldn't say it's integral but no one will say shisha or hookah without thinking the sands of the Arab world.Â
There is no better way to spend Fridays in Doha but to de-stress after an entire week spent in the office and meet with friends for lunch and do a bit of gossiping (yes, we love to do that like everybody else). We decided to meet at La Spiga in W Hotel because we felt it will be the perfect place to talk and catch-up (nice and quiet) as most people will be brunch-ing in other restos. And we can use our Entertainer vouchers so thatâs a bonus.
Veronica having a moment with the menu
Since this is not our first time dining here plus the fact that Veronica and I are (sort of) following a pescetarian diet, it didnât take long for us to pick what we wanted to have for lunch. We went for the sea bass and hamour while Rica and Justin, the meat eaters, opted for the beef mains. We all had dessert of course because meals are never complete without them.
Care for some fresh ground pepper? Yes, please
Because she insited I take a photo of her dessert so I obliged. LOL
Pan fried sea bass with potatoes
Seared hamour with lentils
Apple Crumble, Panna Cotta and Tiramisu
As for the interiors, we still canât seem to grasp the idea of photos of Hollywood icons hanging on the walls considering itâs an Italian restaurant. Maybe they have a reason for that, who knows? The place is cozy and nice although the dim lighting gives off a snobby ambience. Overall, food and service considered, La Spiga is a great choice for eating out in Doha.
 B3W
Friday Catch-Up With Friends At La Spiga There is no better way to spend Fridays in Doha but to de-stress after an entire week spent in the office and meet with friends for lunch and doÂ
One advantage of working in the Middle East is its proximity to Europe making travelling there less exhausting (16-hour flights?) especially for someone like me who hails from the Far East. Oh, and itâs a lot cheaper too.
Every year, I make it a point to visit places Iâve never been to.  Sort of like a treat for myself. 2017 is a different story thoughâŠdonât ask.
Place Massena â Nice, France
Trevi Fountain
Vatican Museum
Because theyâre everywhere.
Ile Sainte-Marguerite
Place Massena â Nice, France
Rome, Italy
Cala Bassa
Monaco
Mercado de La Boqueria â La Rambla, Barcelona
An alley in Monaco
Nice, France â Does this image bother you? Lol
Cafe Del Mar â Ibiza
San Antonio sunset
La Parole EmpĂȘchĂ©e â Ile Sainte-Marguerite
I miss it already đŠ
 B3W
  A Throwback to Summer 2016 | Nice-Ibiza-Barcelona-Rome One advantage of working in the Middle East is its proximity to Europe making travelling there less exhausting (16-hour flights?) especially for someone like me who hails from the Far East.Â
You should.
To raise awareness of menâs health issues, an annual event is being held and ran by the Movember Foundation since 2004. The organizationâs aim is to reduce the number of preventable deaths among menâbe it cancer or mental health issueâby increasing the rate of early disease detection, accurate diagnosis and effective treatments. Their website contains a wealth of informationâfrom the causes they are pushing for to interesting trivia to styling and grooming tipsâso do yourself a favor and click this link.
The idea is simple: Show your support and involvement by signing up at https://ex.movember.com/ , growing your moustache (not your beard!) for 30 days and helping to raise funds for the (worthy) causes the foundation is advocating. The task is not difficult. You just need to stay away from your razor (or clipper) until the end of November. Thatâs it! Minimal effort required and you get to promote awareness among family and friends. Not to mention the money you will save from buying creams and aftershave cologneâitâs a win-win! Hehe.
From a style perspective, the mo is making a comeback and currently a fashionable look for guys (please donât wear it with flared pants or youâll be in retro land!) . It may be off-putting to some (hello, creepy) and have a dated quality to it but if you manage to pull this off, youâll be the coolest guy anybody would want to hang out with. I can see this look good with pieces from H&Mâs collaboration with Erdemâa perfect contrast of masculine and feminine. But since having one can be a hit or miss, the Movember initiative is a great way to determine whether the âstache is for you or not.
Here are some styles you may want to try.
Try out the chevron or if you want to unleash your inner hipster, go for the handlebar (the latter may require you more than a month to grow so that means commitment). Yalla! Make the month of November count. Grow those whiskers and be the difference in a manâs life.
 B3W
Will You Grow A Moustache This November? You should. To raise awareness of men's health issues, an annual event is being held and ran by theâŠ
H&M x Erdem: A Floral Explosion
H&M x Erdem: A Floral Explosion
For the first time ever, Erdem Moralioglu designed a collection for men and based on the photos released by H&M, it doesnât disappoint and will be a hit among the fashionable bunch. This yearâs designer collaboration focuses on the romanticâthink florals, tweeds and a bit of ruffles. The collection has a hint of androgyny that I really like. Very dandy, I must say. And the styling reminds meâŠ
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