Yesterday saw me with a traffic violation ticket, 2 hours of late morning traffic and a taxi ramming the back of my car at around 11:30pm!!!
Since my car wasn't allowed on the streets during rush hour ("coding"), I left the house at 9:00am and started on a trip which I knew wouldn't be pleasant. As expected, I was met with heavy traffic at the Ortigas Ave stretch. It took me 45 minutes for a less than 2KM drive! As I approached the the Ortigas-EDSA intersection, a guy in a blue uniform stopped me.... I was caught!!!
"Ma'am pwede po bang makita ang lisensya nyo?"
"Di ba wala ng 'coding'? Past 9 na ah!", not willing to give the blue uniformed guy my driver's license.
"Ma'am, 10 to 3 po yung walang coding"
"Eh di ba walang coding sa Pasig???"
"Ma'am, QC na po dito..."
"Eh di ba di nyo pwedeng kunin yung lisensya ko?"
"Ma'am, di po namin kukunin yung lisensya nyo. Kukunin lang namin yung license number nyo tapos magbabayad kayo sa bangko"
With nothing else to reason out, I finally gave him my driver's license and got a traffic violation ticket.
Later that night, after watching the bowling tournament of my former office, a taxi rammed into the back of my car! I was stopped at a traffic light and the taxi's brakes were faulty!!!
I had gulped in 3 bottles of beer and I was just a tiny bit tipsy... hihihihi. Knowing this, I was careful in threading the streets of Metro Manila. But being careful doesn't always spare you from disasters because some forces beyond your control might not be as cautious! The taxi offered me 100 pesos for the damages!!!! When I reacted violently, he bargained... "Ma'am, 200 pesos po..." I wanted to laugh out loud! 200 pesos???? I told him to follow me instead to the police station but thought against it and told him to leave. I was alone, tired, and smelt of beer! Going to the police station might have done more damage than good.
In spite of everything, I still managed a good night's sleep. Thanks to the consolation of a good friend.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Better Days
Goo Goo Dolls
Album : Let Love In
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Album : Let Love In
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Monday, November 19, 2007
White Lies
Yesterday, I told a close friend a white lie so as not to add more stains to my already tainted reputation when it comes to waiting for him on an agreed meeting. I do trust him that he’ll keep his word. I do know him well enough to say he won’t keep me hanging on thin air. But against my better judgment, I did something I shouldn’t have done and lied about it.
Right now, I feel so sad. A white lie is still a lie. I should have told him the truth at the beginning so that I wouldn’t be feeling this stomach churning emotion of guilt. The consequences are always much easier to bear if, instead of lies, the truth is told.
Whatever I did, it’s never gonna happen again. And I wouldn’t dare lie to you again ;) Thank you for letting me get off this one so easily.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Contemplations Along Ortigas Avenue – No Expectations
Every night, as I traverse along Ortigas Avenue and the infamous traffic jam packed Rosario Bridge, a thought pops into my head and for the next 30 to 45 minutes of my trip (I’m currently assigned at Libis – not that far from home), I contemplate on it. The thought could either be about work, love, people… or it could be a feeling brought about a song I heard on the radio.
Tonight was no different. NO EXPECTATIONS. We often read or hear stuff like “true love expects nothing in return.” Can any relationship really last without expectations? Hmmm… my conclusion as I stand on our doorstep, NAH… It can’t... not even the most basic form of relationships – friendship. At first, you'll think you can... you'll convince yourself you can but after sometime, you’ll get worn-out of just giving, you’ll get frustrated. That’s why there are just a handful of Saints compared to the billions of people who have come and gone ;)
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Here Without You
I was watching "Goal 2: Living the Dream" and heard this song. It sounded like it was by Nickleback till I searched for the lyrics. I have MP3s for 2 of 3 Doors Down's albums but I keep ignoring them. After watching the movie, their songs will definitely be in my regular playlist.
Friend, this is for you... I miss you :)
"Here Without You"
3 DOORS DOWN
A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight it's only you and me
The miles just keep rollin'
As the people leave their way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
But I hope that it gets better as we go
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl its only you and me
Everything I know, and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it wont take away my love
And when the last one falls
When it's all said and done
It gets hard but it wont take away my love
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl its only you and me
Friend, this is for you... I miss you :)
"Here Without You"
3 DOORS DOWN
A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight it's only you and me
The miles just keep rollin'
As the people leave their way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
But I hope that it gets better as we go
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl its only you and me
Everything I know, and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it wont take away my love
And when the last one falls
When it's all said and done
It gets hard but it wont take away my love
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl its only you and me
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Politics from the Lark’s nest
With the “barangay” or local elections just around the corner, the election fever is at its peak. Everyone bustling around, making the loudest possible noise so as to be heard, campaigning for his or her candidate. I’ve never been fond of elections and politics has never been and will never be one of my strong conversational points. Whenever the topic comes up, all I contribute are occasional nods and some UHUHs. Friends can attest that this is a real contrast to my talkative and witty personality.
It’s not that I don’t care about happens around. It’s just that I find the things some people do in the name of politics plain stupid. I came home to find that one of my favorite hangouts was destroyed! Walking from one end of Manila's bay walk to another was so captivating with lots of lights, food, live bands, stand–up comedians and benches where you could just sit and talk. Now, with the newly elected Mayor, everything has been removed... it's now a frightful place to be in - so dark and misty. He is foolish not to take advantage of the stretch. It was a good tourist attraction and was income generating!!! Now, all major events that used to take place there are shifting to SM’s Mall of Asia which is in Pasay!!! Also, I heard all the other beautification projects are no longer “beautiful”. I’m putting the blame on politics. The new mayor probably despises every good thing the previous mayor, from the opposing political party, accomplished.
Our so called modern hero, Manny Pacquiao, was not spared from stupidity. He didn’t show up at Manila’s invitation for a motorcade when he returned from his latest conquest. Something he always did. Instead, he went to the office the ex-mayor now holds. Why oh why does he have to get involved in politics??? He is supposed to unite the country!
Lastly, Pres. Arroyo granting pardon to Ex-Pres. Estrada? Estrada accepting the pardon? Hmmmm… this wasn’t the drama we read in the newspapers around a month ago. How quickly could tables turn if you want to save your ass??? Hmmm… look through the pages of the political history of the Philippines, I'm sure you'll find the answer ;)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Third Wave
Experiences past, I was a fool
But with you, I'd like to take things cool
Nothing I would do would bring about pain
For to lose you would really be insane
Friday, September 28, 2007
Moving in… moving on…
SURVIVAL. Since I arrived almost a month ago, I’ve been staying at a relative’s house. The house in Cainta, Rizal wasn’t my first choice of temporary shelter because of so many reasons. My close friends would probably know why. I normally make my nest at a friend’s place but since they’re jam-packed right now, I had no choice but to face all incoming storms, which I knew I would meet, head-on during my stay there. I was prepared. After securing a job, the next item on my To Do List was to find a place to call HOME and a week of searching the “real estate” market found me a cute 2-storey apartment with a reasonable price.
APPREHENSION. I’ll be sharing the apartment with a cousin. We lived together in the past and it was a period we both wouldn’t want to experience again. So why risk staying under the same roof again? I believe we both have gained some level of maturity to be able to work things out. I believe that together, we can beat whatever odds would come our way. So, can I maintain a whole apartment? I’ll try my best. I’ve lived alone before but this is the first time that I’ll be maintaining the whole place almost all by myself. I know it won’t be easy but I’ll get by with a little support and help from friends and cousin :)
EXCITEMENT. I now understand why my Mom was always attracted to the “Home” section of department stores. Lately, I’ve been shopping for appliances and furniture and to my surprise, I’m enjoying every minute. The two main items I’ve bought so far are the refrigerator and my queen-sized bed. I still have to buy a washing machine, a TV and rack/stand, a desk for my room and furniture for the whole of the ground floor. For the living room, I plan on buying bean bags instead of the normal sofa chairs. Sabi nga ni Jaja, “Dapat tatlong bean bags ang bilhin mo… para sakin yung isa pagpunta ko sa bahay mo” (Jaja said, “You should buy three bean bags… so that one of them would be mine if I come to your house”). The current table and stools in the dining area would eventually end up in the terrace on the second floor. As much as I’d like to fill the apartment up in the soonest possible time, I have budget constraints. I’d also like to subscribe to Cable TV and broadband internet which again entails money. As it is, the apartment is quite livable and I can probably invite friends over next weekend already ;)
APPREHENSION. I’ll be sharing the apartment with a cousin. We lived together in the past and it was a period we both wouldn’t want to experience again. So why risk staying under the same roof again? I believe we both have gained some level of maturity to be able to work things out. I believe that together, we can beat whatever odds would come our way. So, can I maintain a whole apartment? I’ll try my best. I’ve lived alone before but this is the first time that I’ll be maintaining the whole place almost all by myself. I know it won’t be easy but I’ll get by with a little support and help from friends and cousin :)
EXCITEMENT. I now understand why my Mom was always attracted to the “Home” section of department stores. Lately, I’ve been shopping for appliances and furniture and to my surprise, I’m enjoying every minute. The two main items I’ve bought so far are the refrigerator and my queen-sized bed. I still have to buy a washing machine, a TV and rack/stand, a desk for my room and furniture for the whole of the ground floor. For the living room, I plan on buying bean bags instead of the normal sofa chairs. Sabi nga ni Jaja, “Dapat tatlong bean bags ang bilhin mo… para sakin yung isa pagpunta ko sa bahay mo” (Jaja said, “You should buy three bean bags… so that one of them would be mine if I come to your house”). The current table and stools in the dining area would eventually end up in the terrace on the second floor. As much as I’d like to fill the apartment up in the soonest possible time, I have budget constraints. I’d also like to subscribe to Cable TV and broadband internet which again entails money. As it is, the apartment is quite livable and I can probably invite friends over next weekend already ;)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
And you calling me colored??
I got this poem from an email. It was written by an African kid and was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006. Read on and enjoy :)
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black
And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored??
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black
And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored??
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A bum no more...
Yipee… my bum days are over!!! After a month of boredom, I finally have a job which I start tomorrow. Ever since I started working, I’ve always wished for time off from work longer than a week. I finally got my wish but to my disappointment, I needed lots of cash to do the things I imagined doing if ever I had the time. So what do you do to escape boredom if you're low on cash? This is how I did it…
TV Series Marathons – Download and watch all the episodes of the shows you’ve missed. You’d of course need an internet connection and a fast one at that. Luckily I was a bum and everyone went to work. I had the bandwidth all to myself!!! hehehe I still haven’t started on some of the shows I downloaded and I don’t think I’ll be able to watch them anytime soon
E-books – Again, download e-books from the internet and catch up on your reading. Bookworms out there, I have over a thousand e-books from almost all the popular authors. Send me a message if you want a copy :)
Chat online – I’m addicted to chatting online and friends never fail to cheer me up. I think I chatted with friends till the topics and conversations became redundant. I also took the opportunity to rekindle relationships with friends I haven’t spoken to in a long time.
Start a blog – my inspiration to start one came from a friend. She asked me to read her blog and from then on, I got hooked… need I say more???
And lastly
Sleep – it’s the most relaxing thing to do :)
So if ever you have time off and don’t have much money to spend, my advice would be… GET CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET! hahahaha you can never get bored with the world wide web… cheers!!!
TV Series Marathons – Download and watch all the episodes of the shows you’ve missed. You’d of course need an internet connection and a fast one at that. Luckily I was a bum and everyone went to work. I had the bandwidth all to myself!!! hehehe I still haven’t started on some of the shows I downloaded and I don’t think I’ll be able to watch them anytime soon
E-books – Again, download e-books from the internet and catch up on your reading. Bookworms out there, I have over a thousand e-books from almost all the popular authors. Send me a message if you want a copy :)
Chat online – I’m addicted to chatting online and friends never fail to cheer me up. I think I chatted with friends till the topics and conversations became redundant. I also took the opportunity to rekindle relationships with friends I haven’t spoken to in a long time.
Start a blog – my inspiration to start one came from a friend. She asked me to read her blog and from then on, I got hooked… need I say more???
And lastly
Sleep – it’s the most relaxing thing to do :)
So if ever you have time off and don’t have much money to spend, my advice would be… GET CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET! hahahaha you can never get bored with the world wide web… cheers!!!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
To a special friend
Dear friend,
Thank you for being there when I was troubled;
Thank you for your unwavering support when I was weak;
Thank you for staying positive and optimistic when I lost all hope;
Thank you for making me laugh and smile when I was on the verge of crying;
Thank you for the encouragement you gave me when I couldn't move forward;
Thank you for showing me the way home; and
Thank you for being you
For...
Without you, I'd still be a mess;
Without you, I wouldn't have the strength people think I have;
Without you, I'd have lost all sanity during my darkest hours;
Without you, I'd have sulked and broken down to pieces;
Without you, I'd still be stuck in uncertainty; and
Without you, I'd still be lost...
Again, THANK YOU so much for being the friend that you are...
Sincerely,
Lark
Thank you for being there when I was troubled;
Thank you for your unwavering support when I was weak;
Thank you for staying positive and optimistic when I lost all hope;
Thank you for making me laugh and smile when I was on the verge of crying;
Thank you for the encouragement you gave me when I couldn't move forward;
Thank you for showing me the way home; and
Thank you for being you
For...
Without you, I'd still be a mess;
Without you, I wouldn't have the strength people think I have;
Without you, I'd have lost all sanity during my darkest hours;
Without you, I'd have sulked and broken down to pieces;
Without you, I'd still be stuck in uncertainty; and
Without you, I'd still be lost...
Again, THANK YOU so much for being the friend that you are...
Sincerely,
Lark
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Bittersweet September
“Friday Group goes to Cherating”
After all the hardships and troubles a few of us went through last August, we welcomed September with 3 days and 2 nights of pure bliss at Cherating, Kuantan - no worries, no problems, no troublemakers!!! 12 friends out on a beach adventure where we were free to do whatever we wanted. We laughed our hearts out, played around like 12 year olds, swam till we all got dark and wrinkled, and drank enough Vodka to run in our veins … hehehe *joke* It was fun fun fun!!!
As we were welcoming September and saying goodbye to troublesome August, I was also saying farewell to Malaysia. Cherating gave me 3 precious days to be with my closest friends here. The bonding moments around the bonfire and our last fishbowl session will never be forgotten. I shall surely miss the Friday Group. I could always try to pioneer another Friday Group in the Philippines, but nothing will come close to the one in Malaysia. A place I can always call HOME. Thank you so much for the memories… the Friday Group will always remain special to me...
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I'm going home, back to the place where I belong...
I'd like to share a song I've been relating to the past few days...
Chris Daughtry was the 3rd Runner-Up of American Idol Season 5. I became a fan when he sang "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi on the show...
Home
Chris Daughtry
I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.
Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.
The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.
Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Chris Daughtry was the 3rd Runner-Up of American Idol Season 5. I became a fan when he sang "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi on the show...
Home
Chris Daughtry
I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.
Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.
The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.
Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
One bumpy ride
Looking back on the past 8 months, I wouldn't say my life has been smooth sailing. I resigned from my stable job of 8 1/2 years!!! Reasons for writing the resignation letter? My car and debts would all be paid by my "retirement" benefits, bigger paycheck (my monthly salary after taxes and others deductions was a huge $60!!!), and the hope that I would be able to patch things up with the person I then considered my best friend.
Arrived at Malaysia before my best friend who was on vacation and had a good time. Things started to change the moment he arrived. Not wanting to clash with him, I shied away from the friends I just made because they were also his friends. I started going out with a new group of people and found my ground till one dreaded Friday. I was sucked into an intrigue and he was the center of it all. Things really got nasty and we got into a huge fight that I think ruined everything. I tried to hold on to the friendship but I think he gave up on it long before I arrived. The incident broke the last string holding whatever was left. We tried to make up on my birthday but there was still tension whenever we met. This time he said things I don't think I'll ever forget. TIP: You should never say "bug off" (he said a lot more, this is just a summary) to someone you consider a close friend. From then on, I had my final resolve on the friendship, it had come to an end. But then... I'm not all that bad. On his birthday, as the day was about to end, I gave him a call. Something I knew would put a smile on his face. The days following that call have been quite OK but I don't think I can give him that friendship I used to give. He'll just be another face in the crowd.
Another pothole on the bumpy road was work. My new job wasn't that pleasant as well. New environment, new system, new culture... In the end, I gave up. I began missing my friends, co-workers, the projects I left in my old job and to top it off, 2 of my close friends came here for a visit. They reminded me of everything I left back home. Writing another resignation letter wasn't that hard of a choice to make.
As I pack my bags and look back on those 8 months, I've come to realize that many good things have come out of this experience. I did get to make a few close friends. Pioneered the "Friday Group" and it has grown to cult like proportions :) *joke* I'll tell you more about this group in another post. I was able to go to Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and Thailand. I love traveling. I got myself a laptop which I wouldn't even dream of if I had stayed at my former job. To sum it up, there were more good than bad. I'd say the bumpy ride was worth it after all...
Arrived at Malaysia before my best friend who was on vacation and had a good time. Things started to change the moment he arrived. Not wanting to clash with him, I shied away from the friends I just made because they were also his friends. I started going out with a new group of people and found my ground till one dreaded Friday. I was sucked into an intrigue and he was the center of it all. Things really got nasty and we got into a huge fight that I think ruined everything. I tried to hold on to the friendship but I think he gave up on it long before I arrived. The incident broke the last string holding whatever was left. We tried to make up on my birthday but there was still tension whenever we met. This time he said things I don't think I'll ever forget. TIP: You should never say "bug off" (he said a lot more, this is just a summary) to someone you consider a close friend. From then on, I had my final resolve on the friendship, it had come to an end. But then... I'm not all that bad. On his birthday, as the day was about to end, I gave him a call. Something I knew would put a smile on his face. The days following that call have been quite OK but I don't think I can give him that friendship I used to give. He'll just be another face in the crowd.
Another pothole on the bumpy road was work. My new job wasn't that pleasant as well. New environment, new system, new culture... In the end, I gave up. I began missing my friends, co-workers, the projects I left in my old job and to top it off, 2 of my close friends came here for a visit. They reminded me of everything I left back home. Writing another resignation letter wasn't that hard of a choice to make.
As I pack my bags and look back on those 8 months, I've come to realize that many good things have come out of this experience. I did get to make a few close friends. Pioneered the "Friday Group" and it has grown to cult like proportions :) *joke* I'll tell you more about this group in another post. I was able to go to Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and Thailand. I love traveling. I got myself a laptop which I wouldn't even dream of if I had stayed at my former job. To sum it up, there were more good than bad. I'd say the bumpy ride was worth it after all...
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Missing you...
Got these quotes from ThinkExist.com. They express emotions I've been feeling for the past fortnight.
"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.”
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"I miss you when something really good happens, because you are the one I want to share it with. I miss you when something is troubling me, because you are the one who understands me so well. I miss you when I laugh and cry because i know that you are the one that makes my laughter grow and my tears disappear. I miss you all the time, but I miss you most when i lay awake at night and think of all the wonderful times we spent with each other;for those were some of the best times of my life.”
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"Missing someone gets easier everyday. Because, even though it is one day further from the last time you saw each other, it is one day closer to the next time you will”
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"Distance never seperates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. But whenever I start feeling sad cuz I miss you I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone so special to miss.”
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"As I look back on all that's happened..growing up, growing together, changing you, changing me -- there were times when we dreamed together, when we laughed and cried together. As I look back on those days, I realize how much I truly miss you and how much I truly love you. The past may be gone forever..and whatever the future holds, our todays make the memories of tomorrow. So, my lifetime friend, it is with all my heart that I send you my love, hoping that you'll always carry my smile with you, for all we have meant to each other and for whatever the future may hold.”
Monday, August 20, 2007
Precious moments - The Departure
WEDNESDAY
Still exhausted from the roller coaster ride that brought us to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, I had to go to work. I grumpily got out of bed, took a bath and woke Owie up. Their itinerary for the day was to watch a movie at KL's IMAX Theater at Times Square then head over to China Town. After giving him instructions on how to get to Times Square, I handed over my house keys and cellphone to Owie so that we could communicate throughout the day.
At work, I couldn't concentrate. I sent several text messages and made some calls asking where they were and what they were doing. All I could think of was the precious moments lost where I could be with them instead of the sitting in an enclosed cube. I counted the down the hours. At last... 6:00pm!!! I took off and decided to wait for them at the LRT Station. A few minutes later, I was glad to see them again. We went home chatting cheerfully about their day's events. Later that night, we played badminton then had dinner. I really didn't want the day to end. If time would just freeze... oh well... I still had 3 days left with them.
THURSDAY
Another day of agony. They were to see the Batu Caves located just outside of KL. Good thing I had something to keep me busy at work. We had nothing planned for the night but at around 3:00pm I got a text message from Owie. They didn't want to go home early and asked if we could either go bowling or go to RED BOX. He also asked me to invite two of our other friends. When I finally got things organized, we were go to an eat-all-you-can Japanese restaurant for dinner at 1 Utama then Red Box at The Curve. We all had fun that night. It was nice to sing videoke again with Owie and Alvin. I really miss our Red Box days in the Philippines. We sang till 4:00am in the morning! I was really happy but sad at the same time... Sunday was drawing near... 2 more days left.
FRIDAY
Something bad happened at work and the only thing that kept me going was Owie and Alvin were still here in Malaysia. They went to the Genting Highlands theme park for the day. All my frustrations left the second I saw them. We met at KLCC that night then went on to the PC Fair. Owie saw my speakers at home and wanted to buy one like it so we headed straight for the speakers section. Once he saw the speakers, the decision was made - he liked it and wanted it. We passed through every section of the fair before going back to pay for the speakers. On our way out, we stumbled on some friends from work. Zaldy proudly showed me the Canon Powershot S5 IS camera he just bought. He teased me all night about how it was superior to my Powershot S3 IS. Sigh. At least , that way, I was able to cheer him up. He had been going through rough times lately. 2 of my other friends bought laptops. Everybody went home happy.
For dinner, we ate at iThai. Again, Owie ordered Tom Yum soup. He had been looking for that hot, spicy taste but couldn't find it in Bangkok, Shogun (Jap resto) and another nearby restaurant. Here at iThai, he found his match!!! Later that night, I asked Owie not to go home to the Philippines. I knew what the answer would be... Sigh... another day gone... 1 day left to go...
SATURDAY
Yipee!!! No work!!! I had the whole day to spend with them. We packed up our bags then went to Sunway Lagoon, a water theme park. We had a great time. Owie and I tried the G-Force X - anti gravity machine TWICE. The certificate says:
"... who we hereby certify has overcome all fear and instinct by laughing in the face of gravity and allowed themselves to be launched from 0 to 120km/h in 2.5 seconds on the G-FORCE X ANTI-GRAVITY machine, for this we commend their bravery. They completed this experience of sheer insanity at the AJ Hackett Site Malaysia"
5Gs!!! It was the closest thing to driving an F1 car, a dream I know is impossible to achieve!!! Too bad Alvin didn't want to try. We enjoyed the rest to the day at Sunway.
That night, we went to KLCC. We went back to the PC Fair because Alvin also wanted to buy speakers. For dinner, i treated them to Nando's. The food was great, worth every sen (Malaysia's lowest denomination)! After dinner, we took pictures of the Petronas tower, then went for Starbucks... I miss our coffee sessions back in the Philippines. They could sense my sadness. I wanted to STOP time!!! In a few hours, they'd be going back to the Philippines. On the way home, we passed by a dark park... good thing... they couldn't see the tears forming. I held Owie close to me. In the taxi, I started chatting with the driver, something I don't do, just to get my mind off the fact that it would be their last night here.
When we got home, they started packing. My room was a mess! Souvenirs from Indonesia and Bangkok could be seen everywhere, clothes scattered all over the room, Owie copying pictures from 3 different cameras, Alvin checking the lastest stats of his team on the net.... brrrr.... To keep busy, I took over the copying of pictures from Owie and told him to start packing his bag. Alvin soon followed. We had a hard laugh when Alvin expanded the bag he borrowed from Romeo only to see that the expansion was just a piece of cloth hanging from the bag!!! It really wasn't cool to look at... and for someone as vain as Alvin, it was a disaster!!! hahaha
SUNDAY
They finished packing at around 1AM. Got ready for bed. Before falling asleep, I gave Owie a tight hug and hoped that when I woke up, they didn't have to leave. I woke up before the alarm, snuggled up against Owie, praying that the alarm wouldn't go off. But my conscience got the better of me. I woke them up a minute before the alarm. They snuggled deeper into the blanket. To get them to wake up, I tore away the blanket and told Owie, "As much as I want you to stay, you have to get up". By 5:45am, we were on our way to the airport which was an hour's drive away from KL. Their flight was at 7:20am. We were late. The check-in booths were already closed. They were lucky to get through. We didn't get to say good-bye properly as the plane was already boarding. I did get to give them one last hug. I walked away and couldn't look back. I headed straight for the bus to KL Sentral. Once seated, the tears fell...
Still exhausted from the roller coaster ride that brought us to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, I had to go to work. I grumpily got out of bed, took a bath and woke Owie up. Their itinerary for the day was to watch a movie at KL's IMAX Theater at Times Square then head over to China Town. After giving him instructions on how to get to Times Square, I handed over my house keys and cellphone to Owie so that we could communicate throughout the day.
At work, I couldn't concentrate. I sent several text messages and made some calls asking where they were and what they were doing. All I could think of was the precious moments lost where I could be with them instead of the sitting in an enclosed cube. I counted the down the hours. At last... 6:00pm!!! I took off and decided to wait for them at the LRT Station. A few minutes later, I was glad to see them again. We went home chatting cheerfully about their day's events. Later that night, we played badminton then had dinner. I really didn't want the day to end. If time would just freeze... oh well... I still had 3 days left with them.
THURSDAY
Another day of agony. They were to see the Batu Caves located just outside of KL. Good thing I had something to keep me busy at work. We had nothing planned for the night but at around 3:00pm I got a text message from Owie. They didn't want to go home early and asked if we could either go bowling or go to RED BOX. He also asked me to invite two of our other friends. When I finally got things organized, we were go to an eat-all-you-can Japanese restaurant for dinner at 1 Utama then Red Box at The Curve. We all had fun that night. It was nice to sing videoke again with Owie and Alvin. I really miss our Red Box days in the Philippines. We sang till 4:00am in the morning! I was really happy but sad at the same time... Sunday was drawing near... 2 more days left.
FRIDAY
Something bad happened at work and the only thing that kept me going was Owie and Alvin were still here in Malaysia. They went to the Genting Highlands theme park for the day. All my frustrations left the second I saw them. We met at KLCC that night then went on to the PC Fair. Owie saw my speakers at home and wanted to buy one like it so we headed straight for the speakers section. Once he saw the speakers, the decision was made - he liked it and wanted it. We passed through every section of the fair before going back to pay for the speakers. On our way out, we stumbled on some friends from work. Zaldy proudly showed me the Canon Powershot S5 IS camera he just bought. He teased me all night about how it was superior to my Powershot S3 IS. Sigh. At least , that way, I was able to cheer him up. He had been going through rough times lately. 2 of my other friends bought laptops. Everybody went home happy.
For dinner, we ate at iThai. Again, Owie ordered Tom Yum soup. He had been looking for that hot, spicy taste but couldn't find it in Bangkok, Shogun (Jap resto) and another nearby restaurant. Here at iThai, he found his match!!! Later that night, I asked Owie not to go home to the Philippines. I knew what the answer would be... Sigh... another day gone... 1 day left to go...
SATURDAY
Yipee!!! No work!!! I had the whole day to spend with them. We packed up our bags then went to Sunway Lagoon, a water theme park. We had a great time. Owie and I tried the G-Force X - anti gravity machine TWICE. The certificate says:
"... who we hereby certify has overcome all fear and instinct by laughing in the face of gravity and allowed themselves to be launched from 0 to 120km/h in 2.5 seconds on the G-FORCE X ANTI-GRAVITY machine, for this we commend their bravery. They completed this experience of sheer insanity at the AJ Hackett Site Malaysia"
5Gs!!! It was the closest thing to driving an F1 car, a dream I know is impossible to achieve!!! Too bad Alvin didn't want to try. We enjoyed the rest to the day at Sunway.
That night, we went to KLCC. We went back to the PC Fair because Alvin also wanted to buy speakers. For dinner, i treated them to Nando's. The food was great, worth every sen (Malaysia's lowest denomination)! After dinner, we took pictures of the Petronas tower, then went for Starbucks... I miss our coffee sessions back in the Philippines. They could sense my sadness. I wanted to STOP time!!! In a few hours, they'd be going back to the Philippines. On the way home, we passed by a dark park... good thing... they couldn't see the tears forming. I held Owie close to me. In the taxi, I started chatting with the driver, something I don't do, just to get my mind off the fact that it would be their last night here.
When we got home, they started packing. My room was a mess! Souvenirs from Indonesia and Bangkok could be seen everywhere, clothes scattered all over the room, Owie copying pictures from 3 different cameras, Alvin checking the lastest stats of his team on the net.... brrrr.... To keep busy, I took over the copying of pictures from Owie and told him to start packing his bag. Alvin soon followed. We had a hard laugh when Alvin expanded the bag he borrowed from Romeo only to see that the expansion was just a piece of cloth hanging from the bag!!! It really wasn't cool to look at... and for someone as vain as Alvin, it was a disaster!!! hahaha
SUNDAY
They finished packing at around 1AM. Got ready for bed. Before falling asleep, I gave Owie a tight hug and hoped that when I woke up, they didn't have to leave. I woke up before the alarm, snuggled up against Owie, praying that the alarm wouldn't go off. But my conscience got the better of me. I woke them up a minute before the alarm. They snuggled deeper into the blanket. To get them to wake up, I tore away the blanket and told Owie, "As much as I want you to stay, you have to get up". By 5:45am, we were on our way to the airport which was an hour's drive away from KL. Their flight was at 7:20am. We were late. The check-in booths were already closed. They were lucky to get through. We didn't get to say good-bye properly as the plane was already boarding. I did get to give them one last hug. I walked away and couldn't look back. I headed straight for the bus to KL Sentral. Once seated, the tears fell...
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Precious moments - The Adventure
DAY 1 : Singapore-Indonesia
Our trip to Singapore was rather uneventful. Alvin slept the moment he sat down, Owie and I talked for a while then dozed off after an hour or so.
Got our first jolt of adrenalin when we arrived at Malaysia's Immigration Office. Owie left his departure card at our house, admittedly my fault, and the immigration officers won't let him through. After 30 minutes of looking for it in our bags and looking for blank arrival/departure cards which you normally find scattered around in immigration offices, Owie was able to secure one with a scalper outside the office. He paid MYR 1.00!
We arrived at Singapore at around 7:30am. Looked for a money changer then took a taxi to Glenn's place at Yishun St. WOW! The taxis here have GPS on them. This wasn't my first time here but it was my first time in a taxi. Alvin wouldn't leave the taxi without taking a picture of the GPS system.
By 8:30am, we were at Glenn's place. It was nice to see Glenn again after almost a year. We made breakfast and cleaned up quickly after eating because we had to catch our ferry trip at 11:30am to Bintan, Indonesia. The port was still an hour away. I used the little time we had to find and book some cheap hotel in Bangkok, Thailand for I still hadn't done it yet. We left at 10:15am! We couldn't hail a taxi!! At 10:40am, we were on our way!!! We were gonna miss the trip!!! As soon as we got to the ferry port, Alvin ran as fast as he could... good thing, Glenn and I read the reservations wrong!!! 11:30am was the trip back from Bintan to Singapore. Our trip from Singapore to Bintan was at 12:15pm!!! *sigh* *relief*
I slept throughout the ferry trip and was awoken by Owie's tap on the shoulder. We were booked at the Nirwana Beach Resort. The place is so serene. I'd recommend this place if you just wanna have a vacation and relax. The food's nice. We were on a food trip. Lunch buffet when we arrived. Grilled food for dinner - steak, lamb chops, chicken and salmon. And breakfast buffet which comes with the package. The night life wasn't that inviting.
Day 2 : Indonesia-Singapore
Went out for an early swim. Had breakfast then headed back to Singapore. Reached Yishun St. at around 2pm. We got to meet Aldrin and Gilbert later in the afternoon. It's been 4 years since I saw Aldrin. Gilbert just moved to Singapore a month ago. We had a good time. Aldrin even treated us to Starbucks!!! RARE! The meeting was short lived. Alvin, Owie and I had to be in the airport for our flight to Bangkok at 8:30pm.
Day 3 & 4 : Bangkok, Thailand
We arrived at Bangkok at around 12:00am. No one was gonna pick us up. We had to find someone to translate Golden Horse Hotel to Thai characters to show to the taxi driver. When we got out of the airport, I was again amazed by the taxis. Not by the gadgets I found inside, but by the color - PINK. All taxis were brightly colored. Bright pink, orange, blue, green... Crayola could use them for advertisement. We soon found out why the hotel was cheap. Our room smelt stale and it looked like no one has booked a room but us. Pah! Who cared? We just wanted somewhere to sleep and keep our things in.
The next morning, as we were about to start our temple hopping adventure, we met a schoolteacher on the street. He talked to us in Thai. He saw the confused look on our faces and explained to us that he thought we were going to some festivities because Alvin and I were wearing yellow shirts. To our surprise, it was a holiday. They were celebrating some festival for Buddha. Almost everything was free!!! The schoolteacher helped us get a "tuk tuk", Thailand's version of our tricycle to bring us to the different tourist spots. We went to around 4 to 5 temples. To bad we were able to enter the Grand Palace. At night, we went to the famous Suan Lum Night Bazaar. So far, the trip to Bangkok has been worth it.
On the second day, we went to the floating market. Too bad we were late. We didn't see much and we paid a lot for the trip and boat ride itself. We'll charge it to experience. I'm sure it won't be the last time we'll be there.
After 4 tiring days, it was time to head back to Malaysia. We reached our house at around 10:30pm.
{Next chapter : Precious moment - The Departure}
Our trip to Singapore was rather uneventful. Alvin slept the moment he sat down, Owie and I talked for a while then dozed off after an hour or so.
Got our first jolt of adrenalin when we arrived at Malaysia's Immigration Office. Owie left his departure card at our house, admittedly my fault, and the immigration officers won't let him through. After 30 minutes of looking for it in our bags and looking for blank arrival/departure cards which you normally find scattered around in immigration offices, Owie was able to secure one with a scalper outside the office. He paid MYR 1.00!
We arrived at Singapore at around 7:30am. Looked for a money changer then took a taxi to Glenn's place at Yishun St. WOW! The taxis here have GPS on them. This wasn't my first time here but it was my first time in a taxi. Alvin wouldn't leave the taxi without taking a picture of the GPS system.
By 8:30am, we were at Glenn's place. It was nice to see Glenn again after almost a year. We made breakfast and cleaned up quickly after eating because we had to catch our ferry trip at 11:30am to Bintan, Indonesia. The port was still an hour away. I used the little time we had to find and book some cheap hotel in Bangkok, Thailand for I still hadn't done it yet. We left at 10:15am! We couldn't hail a taxi!! At 10:40am, we were on our way!!! We were gonna miss the trip!!! As soon as we got to the ferry port, Alvin ran as fast as he could... good thing, Glenn and I read the reservations wrong!!! 11:30am was the trip back from Bintan to Singapore. Our trip from Singapore to Bintan was at 12:15pm!!! *sigh* *relief*
I slept throughout the ferry trip and was awoken by Owie's tap on the shoulder. We were booked at the Nirwana Beach Resort. The place is so serene. I'd recommend this place if you just wanna have a vacation and relax. The food's nice. We were on a food trip. Lunch buffet when we arrived. Grilled food for dinner - steak, lamb chops, chicken and salmon. And breakfast buffet which comes with the package. The night life wasn't that inviting.
Day 2 : Indonesia-Singapore
Went out for an early swim. Had breakfast then headed back to Singapore. Reached Yishun St. at around 2pm. We got to meet Aldrin and Gilbert later in the afternoon. It's been 4 years since I saw Aldrin. Gilbert just moved to Singapore a month ago. We had a good time. Aldrin even treated us to Starbucks!!! RARE! The meeting was short lived. Alvin, Owie and I had to be in the airport for our flight to Bangkok at 8:30pm.
Day 3 & 4 : Bangkok, Thailand
We arrived at Bangkok at around 12:00am. No one was gonna pick us up. We had to find someone to translate Golden Horse Hotel to Thai characters to show to the taxi driver. When we got out of the airport, I was again amazed by the taxis. Not by the gadgets I found inside, but by the color - PINK. All taxis were brightly colored. Bright pink, orange, blue, green... Crayola could use them for advertisement. We soon found out why the hotel was cheap. Our room smelt stale and it looked like no one has booked a room but us. Pah! Who cared? We just wanted somewhere to sleep and keep our things in.
The next morning, as we were about to start our temple hopping adventure, we met a schoolteacher on the street. He talked to us in Thai. He saw the confused look on our faces and explained to us that he thought we were going to some festivities because Alvin and I were wearing yellow shirts. To our surprise, it was a holiday. They were celebrating some festival for Buddha. Almost everything was free!!! The schoolteacher helped us get a "tuk tuk", Thailand's version of our tricycle to bring us to the different tourist spots. We went to around 4 to 5 temples. To bad we were able to enter the Grand Palace. At night, we went to the famous Suan Lum Night Bazaar. So far, the trip to Bangkok has been worth it.
On the second day, we went to the floating market. Too bad we were late. We didn't see much and we paid a lot for the trip and boat ride itself. We'll charge it to experience. I'm sure it won't be the last time we'll be there.
After 4 tiring days, it was time to head back to Malaysia. We reached our house at around 10:30pm.
{Next chapter : Precious moment - The Departure}
Monday, August 13, 2007
Precious moments - The Arrival
I've never been as excited to get out of bed as the morning of July 27, 2007 - I had two of my close friends from the Philippines coming over to Malaysia. Got out of bed and remembered that I haven't packed my bags!!! We were to go on a roller coaster ride that would bring us to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. I rummaged through my clothes and sorted out what to bring. Ironed the selected items and placed them nicely in my bag. Time check - 9:30am.
At 9:43am, I got a text message, my excitement brimming, it was from Owie. They were already at the immigration's desk and were asking for my address. I called him up, gave him my address and told them I'd pick them up at KL's Central Station in about 6 hours time.
I had 6 to 7 hours to go and my room's a mess - as it always is. I put on my cleaning hat, arranged and dusted my chaotic room and by lunch time, it was presentable. Had no appetite for lunch. I wanted to catch up on sleep but wasn't sleepy. So to while away the time, I chatted with friends online. Time check - 4:30pm.
I tried calling Owie and Alvin. Alvin's phone rang... they'd already landed and were already on the bus to KL Sentral. They'd be at KL Sentral at around 5:30pm. Not wanting to be early, I had "merienda" with some friends from work. Arranged dinner with another friend of our's also working here in Malaysia then left to pick them up. Time check - 5:30pm
Alas we meet!!! As expected, they were 15 minutes late. They were starving. They grabbed a bite at the safest food joint they could find - McDonald's - "take away". Went home, had a light dinner as they had just eaten then played badminton. It has been a while since I partnered with Owie. We won just 1 game out of 3 or 4 :) Alvin's game was sluggish. But we all enjoyed. Too bad the four of us (Carlo, Alvin, Owie and I) weren't able to play a set.
By 11:00pm, all showered up and ready to go, we headed for Puduraya Bus Station. The next available bus was at 1:10am. We took the opportunity to catch up on each other's lives. I learned that apart from people getting married or having a baby, not much has changed in the Philippines. Time check - 1:00am.
The bus was late... at 1:30am, off we were to Singapore!!!
{Next Chapter : Precious Moments - The Adventure}
At 9:43am, I got a text message, my excitement brimming, it was from Owie. They were already at the immigration's desk and were asking for my address. I called him up, gave him my address and told them I'd pick them up at KL's Central Station in about 6 hours time.
I had 6 to 7 hours to go and my room's a mess - as it always is. I put on my cleaning hat, arranged and dusted my chaotic room and by lunch time, it was presentable. Had no appetite for lunch. I wanted to catch up on sleep but wasn't sleepy. So to while away the time, I chatted with friends online. Time check - 4:30pm.
I tried calling Owie and Alvin. Alvin's phone rang... they'd already landed and were already on the bus to KL Sentral. They'd be at KL Sentral at around 5:30pm. Not wanting to be early, I had "merienda" with some friends from work. Arranged dinner with another friend of our's also working here in Malaysia then left to pick them up. Time check - 5:30pm
Alas we meet!!! As expected, they were 15 minutes late. They were starving. They grabbed a bite at the safest food joint they could find - McDonald's - "take away". Went home, had a light dinner as they had just eaten then played badminton. It has been a while since I partnered with Owie. We won just 1 game out of 3 or 4 :) Alvin's game was sluggish. But we all enjoyed. Too bad the four of us (Carlo, Alvin, Owie and I) weren't able to play a set.
By 11:00pm, all showered up and ready to go, we headed for Puduraya Bus Station. The next available bus was at 1:10am. We took the opportunity to catch up on each other's lives. I learned that apart from people getting married or having a baby, not much has changed in the Philippines. Time check - 1:00am.
The bus was late... at 1:30am, off we were to Singapore!!!
{Next Chapter : Precious Moments - The Adventure}
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