2018 - Ceddy's Random

Ceddy's Random - Vlogs

Wednesday, December 19, 2018


Liebster Award 2018 Nomination - Ceddy's Random







Hello Guys! Ceddy here... It's such an honor to be nominated for the 2018 Liebster Award made possible by Flysoulmates 😃  I have never been recognized for the past 2 years especially in this activity, and I am so happy and blessed that I am nominated. 

I started my blog 2 years ago here in Abu Dhabi, way back then, no monetization, no followers or people who make comments to my content.  My goal is just to write and share it with the world. However, as time goes by, I met a lot of bloggers online and learned more ideas and tips. One of them is Andrew who is the CEO and founder of flysoulmates.com. I am so happy that my blog was recognized and a big thanks to Andrew in making this possible.


About Flysoulmates


Flysoulmates


A co-blogger of mine introduced me to a group. Sharing tips and ideas across the blogosphere. And eventually, I E-meet Andrew. He always visits new places and sharing his content across the blogosphere. From the US to EU countries. He has his own signature way in creating his own content and video intro which is very catchy to the readers. Check his content and don’t forget to subscribe to their mailing list or visit their website here



About the Liebster Award:



Liebster Award is a virtual award given to one blogger by another blogger. It is a way to provide recognition to great content and exposure to fellow bloggers. If you are nominated for this award and would want to reciprocate, here are the simple rules to follow:

1.      Thank the blog who has nominated you and send a link back to their blog.
2.     List the rules of Liebster Award in your post
3.     Answer all the questions provided to you by the person who nominated you.
4.    Nominate minimum 5 deserving bloggers of your choice.
5.    Create a set of 10 new questions you would like to ask your nominees.
6.    Display the award Logo on your blog


 Here are my answers to Flysoulmate's Questions: 



What is the first country that you visited abroad? Tell us about your experience?


PETRONAS TWIN TOWER


The first country that I visited abroad was Malaysia.
Before going to Abu Dhabi, I went to Malaysia for a quick tour- 3 days and 2 nights.

It was a surreal experience! High rise buildings, hustle, and bustle Kuala Lumpur with a mix of a multicultural populace. I felt like I went back in time, as the tour consists of cultural heritage and all about the history of Malaysia. Huge malls and indoor parks that I couldn’t imagine.  And of course, I didn’t miss the PETRONAS Tower. The iconic landmark of Malaysia.
3 days and 2 nights are not enough and I’m thinking to return back to this country! Soon.. :) Check my review here :)



Are you more travel solo or group travel?

Traveling Alone


I prefer to travel alone. Traveling with friends or family can be fun. However, I prefer to travel alone. Why? Because I have my own attention and I can focus on my surroundings. Getting the chance to interact with the local people and I can find my own rhythm, so if I want to stay in a place longer than usual, I will and of course, it opens up more travel possibilities.


What is your next destination?

Screenshot credits to Wikipedia





Georgia!!! It is on my bucket list and God’s Will when everything is planned accordingly. I’ll get going next year. I don’t have Schengen visa at the moment, so for me to experience a European picturesque,  I chose this country as they are likely similar to the EU Countries, no doubt that this country is situated in the middle between Europe and the Asian continent. I recently visit Georgia's neighbor, Armenia :) Read more about Yerevan on this link. :)


Where is your happy place?

Photo credits to Al Bahar



Brainstorming while enjoying the cool breeze



My Happy Place! I am writing this content here in Al Bahar Corniche Beach Abu Dhabi (at the moment). Writing content by the shore is very relaxing.  My mind can think of endless ideas for my blog. A lot of locals, expats, and tourist were here to unwind. I am always here during my free time. It’s the best place to hang out during winter. This public beach is free for everyone and offers pay to go Wi-Fi too.



Tell us about your travel list essential?


A checklist is a must!

Well, I keep It simple. 

For my toiletry, I usually have my toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion,  perfume, and a soap. Just basics. However, If I’m going to stay in a hotel, I don’t bring soap at all nor shampoo.

For my travel health essentials, I have my small medicine kit for my allergy and my other prescription medicines. Pain and headache relievers, hand sanitizers as well.

For my gadgets, I always make sure that I have a back up such as Power bank, gimbal stabilizer, charger, travel adapter and lastly my laptop. I don’t bring a DSLR at all. I use my phone to take pictures and it is easy to transfer via airdrop (I’m an avid Apple user, by the way, lol) And most of all. I have an app translator so that in case there's a language barrier, it would be easy to explain to the local. Make sure to download it offline so that you can use it just in case.



Have you ever volunteer abroad? If so, Where?  If not, Is it something you would consider doing?

I never tried! But Yes! Of course! I would love too! Volunteering is a great opportunity to get to know more other people, make friends and experience their culture! 

If you had any advice for the first-time traveler, what would you say to them?

Always be ready. Packed up your things, always have back up just in case. Don’t forget to smile and make eye contact with the local. Don’t be afraid to learn new things on your way! Step out of your comfort zone. If you are getting a hard time, take it as a challenge, to discover new things and meet new people and leave good memories. Don’t forget to take photos. Make friends! 


Tell us what blogging brought you?

 Uhhh. That was 4 years ago. Taking photos and putting a caption and uploading it on Facebook. And I ask myself. How about writing an entire story behind those pictures and sharing it with the world? So this is where my blog started. 2 Years ago, In Abu Dhabi. I started to visit places and had a self-study about blogging and here it goes. My blog was born and up until now, I am still writing fresh content and sharing it with the world. Mainly from my travel blog to hotel reviews and more.

What is the most surprising secret you revealed in your blog?

Do I really need to answer this question? Hahaha. Well, it would never be a secret if I told so. I wrote content about a relationship *thing. So yeah,  I am the person behind that story. Curious? You can read my content- Stumbling on Happiness. :D



What is your favorite airline company?

Etihad Airways! I flew with them round trip twice! Friendly cabin crew, always on time for departure/ take off, the IFE, and the food! Awesome! Check my review here. Special mention to these Airlines as well : 

1. Air Arabia
2.Philippine Airlines 
3. Cebu Pacific. 
4.Malaysian Airlines


Now that I have answered all questions, it is time to share our nominees, I am happy to extend the 2018 Liebster Award nomination to:

1. Bharat Bhushan Sharma of www.travelparable.com

2.TJ Del Mundo of www.tyudorials.com

3. Gabriel Rossini of  www.anhedoniasurrealista.blogspot.com

4. Steve Anc of www.healthymummy.club

5. Kelly Loftus of www.kainspired.com


Best of luck to you guys! Cheers!

Here are 10 questions that you will have to answer by Dec.26 2018

1. Who is your favorite blogger?

2. How did you choose your blogging niche?

3. Why Blogging and not Vlogging?

4. What advice can you give new bloggers?

5. Which was the most embarrassing thing you have ever done/happened to you?

6. Any recognition as a blogger in your community or online?

7. What do you hope to achieve through blogging? 
8. For how long you've been a blogger and who motivates you to blog?
9. What is the one thing you wish people knew about you?
10. The best piece of advice you ever received?



Thanks for reading my content and see you next time :)

--Ceddy


Sunday, November 25, 2018

Rise Up! 3 is the lucky number!





Where to go?


I opt to request for 3 days compensatory off, and luckily it got approved.
Now, where to go? Yas Waterworld?  Ferrari World? Okay! Got it.

But wait, What about accommodation for 2 nights?
Hmmm.. Anyways, enough with the intro. I am back again for another hotel review, so without further ado. Here is my Review of Yas Centro Rotana.

Centro Yas Island by Rotana



I got the chance to stay in one of the leading hotel chains in the region. A leading hotel management companies within the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.

This is Rotana Hotel. I stayed at one of their best 3-star hotel, located on Yas Island.

This is the Centro Yas Island. It is a modern, stylish, affordable business hotel, adjoining Yas Island Rotana and providing guests access to deluxe facilities. The hotel is conveniently located on the spectacular Yas Island, minutes away from the Formula 1 Race Track, The Links Golf Course, Yas Southern Marina, and all-new Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.


Reservations


Reservations and booking were made possible thru Booking.com, check out their latest offers by visiting this link.

Hotel Details


This upscale, contemporary hotel has a mirror accent walls and floor to ceiling windows.
The Hotel has a capacious lobby where guest can rests or while waiting for someone. Or just admire the contemporary design.

Lobby 










Friendly front desk personnel will greet you upon checking in.


I am very particular to the ambiance of each hotel especially to the lobby itself. I checked in to 3 Rotana hotels and so far, they have the same aura, distinct hue, and contrast of the lobbies which is very comfortable to the human eye. Still confused? Think about using your phone and activating the f.lux effect.

Hallway







Painted canvass are carefully hanged in between the door rooms outside the hallway. The hallway is narrow however they decided to use some accented, hue and vivid carpet so that it will look more spacious.

Secure Card



The room access card is intended only for the room itself (of course) and for the floor which you were assigned. So folks, if you want to sneak out to a different floor level, then you got no chance 😉

Room Detail

Centro Room- Queen Bed is the room that I choose (One full Bed) and it can fit up 2 adults plus a child. The room is overlooking the swimming pull and I am located on the 5th floor.









The room is okay, no fancy things can be found here, except for the electric kettle, condiments, fridge, additional pillows, hangers, secure vault, and linens. 





For room service, the food menu is available as well which they kept in one small filer and a hotel magazine for a change.



Small round table,  a chair, and a long-standing lamp are available.
A led cable tv is available too. The room is very clean, dust free. I am very sensitive to dust, so luckily, I didn't sneeze at all.




A huge long table facing the front of the queen bed is accessible. Another trick design for each of the rooms so that it will look more capacious, the fact that the room is a bit small yet they managed it to be as it is.


On my second night of stay, I find that the AC System was not working properly. And I am sweating.
It was 3AM and the AC was on fan mode, though I didn't touch the settings. Weird...
Fire exit route chart at the back door is visible as well.


Food Trippin'

Breakfast Buffet



Plenty of food choices, I highly recommend their sausage. It's very delicious. Coffee is a part of my breakfast routine, so a coffee machine is available. I choose cappuccino 😁


Dinner Buffet




A big shout out to Ramella Bedua for providing the best dinner buffet that I had!

I got the chance to eat at C Choice by Rotana courtesy of Ramella. "C.Choice" is located just the opposite side of Centro Rotana which is another hotel managed by Rotana.






Food was superb,  A variety of food to choose, from Arabic to *not so sure cuisine 😝, soups, desserts, juices, salads and more.


Here are a couple of pictures that I took inside the c choice restaurant...






I was not able to take a picture of the food as a lot of guests are choosing some food and it might be uncomfortable for them.


And a few more pictures within the vicinity of Yas Rotana...








Verdict

Pros:


So if you prefer to stay in an accommodation which is accessible to Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World, Warner Brothers Studio and Yas Mall. This is the best hotel that you can stay with. A free shuttle bus will drop you off to some of the popular spots within the Yas Island.

Friendly hotel staff will accommodate you at any time of the day. They wear a  smile and greet you anytime whenever you meet them. Awesome!

Free car vallet service is available too!

Cons: 

So far, Just the AC. Acting weird. lol 😂



Thanks for reading my quick review of this hotel and see you again :)

--Ceddy

Monday, October 29, 2018





Apparel Group- Photo Credits to Apparel Group


I've been working in this company for almost 4 years now, and I can say that this company is the best place to work for.  Without further ado, here's my review of the Apparel Group.


Introduction 


Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate residing at the crossroads of the modern economy – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Today, the Apparel Group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its more than 1750+ stores and 75+ brands, employing 12,000 multicultural staff covering four continents.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt, and the Philippines.

Apparel Group Operates Brands from around the world, originating from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia and include leading names in Fashion, Footwear & Lifestyle such as Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy Couture, Skechers, Nautica, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale to name a few and other key brands include Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot, Rituals, etc..

The Apparel Group owes its amazing growth to the vision and guidance of its dynamic Chairman, Nilesh Ved, who has taken the company from strength to strength since its inception in the last two decades. *About,  credits from the website



Job Searching




People are searching for jobs nowadays and it is not as easy as you think to find a reputable company to work with.

Flashback 2015, Apparel hired me as one of the thousands of employees to work with them.
I was assigned to the luxury watches as a sales associate and later a year, I was transferred to the Children's clothing. 

Work/Life Balance and Management




Working in this company with a multi populace is a bit intimidating on my first 6 months of work.
I don't get used to working with different nationalities before, however, I was able to adjust and adapt to a new environment as they treat me as a member of the Family. 

Two brands I worked with, the management behind the brands works professionally. Whenever an issue arises, customer disputes frontline operation or back office, They figure it out and find a solution to it.

Working along with the bosses such as General Managers and Area Managers is good. They are the bosses who don't put any walls to the staffs itself. They are very open to everyone and gives feedback to the staffs which need a room for improvement.

After working, I still have the time to bond with my friends and family, going to the gym or write content just like what I'm doing right now. Although there were times that there is a lack of staff e.g staffs on annual leave or emergency leave, which is manageable as other staffs are willing to give support.


Company Benefits




Apart from getting a salary, there are things that the Apparel Group provides benefits to its employees.

You will receive a free cake for your birthday. And since the Apparel Group handles more than 75 international brands, the staffs are eligible for discounts as well. 
One of the brands that I love the most is LC Waikiki and Tim Hortons and I get 25% each of them.

Paid Annual leave and Air Ticket Allowance is provided as well. Once a staff reached one year,  He/She is eligible for paid annual leave and after two years of service, the staff is eligible for Air Ticket Allowance. Sweet is it?

Working hard means you should take care of yourself, however, there's a chance that you might catch flu or get sick because of the weather change for example. This company got you covered with health insurance.
And if in case you need to rest as advised by your doctor, sick leave is provided and its paid. Emergency leave is available as well.

If you work for several years in the company and planning to settle or move out, You are entitled to a gratuity pay which is compulsory as well. 

Paid overtime, commissions and incentives are provided for each of the staffs once they achieved the sales target.  I even use my saved commissions for my trip to Armenia last year. It was such a fun experience.


Career Opportunities



I believe that if you work hard into something, surely you will get the fruit of success.
the Apparel Group stands for its slogan "where dreams, come alive". 
If you deserve and are capable to work on this position, the management will give you the chance to be upgraded or promoted into a higher "grade", training will be provided accordingly.

Necessary training for sale and Arabic lessons to name a few are the things that you will get from the company while working with them. 


Culture and Values

Dream into a reality


The Apparel Group are active in various CSR Activities below:

Smile Cookie – Tim Hortons
Clean Up UAE
Pink Walkathon
Product Donation To Syrian Refugees
Blood Donation Camp – Dec 2013
Blood Donation Camp 2013
Pink Walkathon 2012
Blood Donation Camp 2012
Stretch & Grow
Breast Cancer Survivor
Taare Zameen Par
Pink Walkathon
Walk for a Cause
Booksplus Scary Tales
Blood Donation Campaign 2009 & 2010

Apart from these activities mentioned above. Working in Apparel means working to a vast diversity of people. Different religion and beliefs. Apparel value these and it had a big impact and an ability to succeed because of it people and it shows that these things count and as a result, it became the biggest giant retail company in the region.


Overall


Security, Tenure, and Opportunity


These are the 3 big factors why I like about this company

First is Security


I know, I am secured when they, the company won't terminate your end your contract for no reason.
As long as you are loyal to the company and you work hard for it. Chances are, they will renew your contract, in the long run, Apparel Group is an equal opportunity company. Everyone has their own voice and has freedom of choice.

Tenure


The Apparel Group will collaborate and work with you as long as you want. Most of the employees have been employed with them for more than 8 years. It simply shows that the organization values its employees. It is just a cycle of return indeed. You work with them and in return, they will take care of you, hold onto you and you can stay with the company as long as you want.


Opportunity


The organization gives an opportunity to talented people. They have a ladder of success to the employees. Without talent upgrade, there would be nothing, no motivation and bland at all.
Apparel Group gives an opportunity to each of the staff, they will mold you and enhance your capability to work in this industry- Retail.



Are you an employee of Apparel Group?

Share your experience by commenting below.

Thanks for reading my blog and see you next time.

--ceddy