Sunday, July 06, 2008
Rediscovering Southeast Asia
I am continuing on my previous posts of my adventures to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines. It had to be a mix of new places to discover and my revisiting cities I've been to before.
Bangkok and beyond
I got to see the city of Bangkok again after 4 years, wIth the same ambiance and heat while going through different temples.
This time I had additional trips to the Tiger Temple and Elephant Safari. We only had 2 days to make sure we cover the most important sites.
The view of the temples were amazing and had a different feeling when walking around the temples in Bangkok. It really looked more ancient and I just forgot about the heat while walking around since most of the time there were trees around the temple and kids offering you a drink in all the stops.
At night time we went to this Bar street where there are international cuisines and bars with mostly foreigners filling the area. Alcohol was cheap, beers for $1 and cocktails for $3. However, as the days were spent walking around the temples we would normally be like Cinderella, going home by 12 really exhausted and getting that sleep.
Flying from Cambodia to Vietnam
After Cambodia we took a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam and we arrived at 11pm. My friends Agnes and Monna were already there, so we had a trip booked to go for the boat cruise to Halong bay the following day. You can see the details at my previous post.
More flights... Hanoi-Manila-Boracay
We had enough of the road trip and flying after 10 days. The final leg of the adventure was a long trip getting connecting flights and all. We started waiting for our flight at 11pm at the Hanoi Airport. Our flight was supposed to leave at 1am but we had an hour delay so we had t wait even more. We then reached Manila at 630am and I asked my brother to pick us up so we can leave some of our stuff and then head off to the Domestic Terminal. We passed by at KFC for breakfast and then was rushing to get our 930am flight. To our dismay, even the local flight was delayed for 30 minutes and the domestic terminal was not really comfortable for long hours of waiting. Finally, we left Manila and arrived Caticlan airport at 11am. It was still not Boracay, we had to take few more minutes for riding a tricycle-boat-tricycle.
Heaven....
Enjoying the sunset
We had bread crumbs to feed the fishes so all of a sudden bunch of fishes went around us to grab some food.
It was a good 55 minute dive and I didn't feel scared at all. I enjoyed it so much that we went for another dive the day after.
Holidays are over yet the memories are still fresh. Something I needed in the middle of the year, for me to be able to stretch myself and reach my targets for the rest of 2008. It was tough having to go back to work after such a wonderful vacation, but it's always a good reason to strive hard once again so I can have this kind of vacation at least every six months. :) :) :)
Bangkok and beyond
I got to see the city of Bangkok again after 4 years, wIth the same ambiance and heat while going through different temples.
It was also a good time to catch up with my friend and lovely host, Weaw. She showed us a grand view of Bangkok at night while having one of the most expensive drinks in the city. But the atmosphere was priceless!
The road trip to Cambodia
I had mixed reviews of whether the route from Bangkok to Siem Reap was safe. People just mentioned of bus scams and that the roads are not developed, thus it won't be that comfortable for a whole day. I just had to see it for myself and take the adventure.
The road from Bangkok to the border was a smooth ride. We were cautious on where it can possibly go wrong, so when we stopped at a restaurant just before the border I started to doubt the reason for the stopover. The driver suggested we have lunch, and then a tourist guide approached our group and asked those who don't have a visa. No problem with us since I don't need one and my friend already secured one in Manila. The tourist guide looked at my passport and said I needed to pay for stamp fee. I refused and said that I don't think I need one as I don't even need a visa to go to Cambodia. After an hour, they finally brought us to the border and I didn't need to pay extra fee for that stamp.
While we were at the border, we had to wait for our bus. There were already 8 of us waiting, but they said we had to wait for more people to arrive until the bus gets full. Waiting and waiting... heat and boredom was killing me. After 2 hours that almost felt forever, we finally hit the road and took this airconditioned bus.
I was ready for some discomfort and just look at the view from outside. It was all rough roads, so the ride was bumpy and at 3pm the aircondition didn't seem to make a difference in cooling the bus. The driver was taking it slow and at first I thought it was just because of the road. Then I saw cars and trucks overtaking us that it almost felt that if I was running with the bus I won't be left behind. Patience... patience... I tried to sleep over it and I was able to take a nap for about an hour until I woke up hitting my head on the seat in front of me.
I had mixed reviews of whether the route from Bangkok to Siem Reap was safe. People just mentioned of bus scams and that the roads are not developed, thus it won't be that comfortable for a whole day. I just had to see it for myself and take the adventure.
The road from Bangkok to the border was a smooth ride. We were cautious on where it can possibly go wrong, so when we stopped at a restaurant just before the border I started to doubt the reason for the stopover. The driver suggested we have lunch, and then a tourist guide approached our group and asked those who don't have a visa. No problem with us since I don't need one and my friend already secured one in Manila. The tourist guide looked at my passport and said I needed to pay for stamp fee. I refused and said that I don't think I need one as I don't even need a visa to go to Cambodia. After an hour, they finally brought us to the border and I didn't need to pay extra fee for that stamp.
While we were at the border, we had to wait for our bus. There were already 8 of us waiting, but they said we had to wait for more people to arrive until the bus gets full. Waiting and waiting... heat and boredom was killing me. After 2 hours that almost felt forever, we finally hit the road and took this airconditioned bus.
I was ready for some discomfort and just look at the view from outside. It was all rough roads, so the ride was bumpy and at 3pm the aircondition didn't seem to make a difference in cooling the bus. The driver was taking it slow and at first I thought it was just because of the road. Then I saw cars and trucks overtaking us that it almost felt that if I was running with the bus I won't be left behind. Patience... patience... I tried to sleep over it and I was able to take a nap for about an hour until I woke up hitting my head on the seat in front of me.
Road from Popiet to Siem Reap
It didn't help that there was an old Australian guy seated at my back with a Chinese girl. He was teaching her how to speak in English and pronounce some words correctly. At first it was amusing, as he was making her read a book and later on ask questions related to it. It was really annoying when this was already for the whole ride and I jut wanted to rest. The Chinese girl
was not even responding, so I wasn't sure if she was even getting it or he was just being too pushy on it.
After about 9 hours of a bumpy ride and a long stopover in a restaurant, we reached Siem Reap at 11pm. As what Lonely Planet said they will bring you to their recommended hotel and they bus company will get commission for that. For the sake of not going with the group, we took a tuktuk to another hotel recommended by Lonely Planet.
We reached this hotel that was recommended by Lonely Planet but it looked a bit old and empty. Well, what did I expect for $5/room/night anyway? I wasn't sure I wanted to stay but I was too tired to scout for another hotel so we stayed there. Besides, the owner was not pushy and he just let us decide for ourselves. That made us decide later on to stay in that place as we were only going to stay there at night time then be out for most of the day.
Temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
The following day, we went around the temples of Angkor Wat by walking and taking the motorcycle. We thought we can just walk from one temple to another, except that it was really a big area so we had to rent a motorcycle for the day. The owner of the hotel said we can rent one motorbike for $9/day which also includes the driver/tourist guide. It was a good deal plus it was faster to take the motorcycle compared to a tuktuk, though it took some time getting used to it.
was not even responding, so I wasn't sure if she was even getting it or he was just being too pushy on it.
After about 9 hours of a bumpy ride and a long stopover in a restaurant, we reached Siem Reap at 11pm. As what Lonely Planet said they will bring you to their recommended hotel and they bus company will get commission for that. For the sake of not going with the group, we took a tuktuk to another hotel recommended by Lonely Planet.
We reached this hotel that was recommended by Lonely Planet but it looked a bit old and empty. Well, what did I expect for $5/room/night anyway? I wasn't sure I wanted to stay but I was too tired to scout for another hotel so we stayed there. Besides, the owner was not pushy and he just let us decide for ourselves. That made us decide later on to stay in that place as we were only going to stay there at night time then be out for most of the day.
Temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
The following day, we went around the temples of Angkor Wat by walking and taking the motorcycle. We thought we can just walk from one temple to another, except that it was really a big area so we had to rent a motorcycle for the day. The owner of the hotel said we can rent one motorbike for $9/day which also includes the driver/tourist guide. It was a good deal plus it was faster to take the motorcycle compared to a tuktuk, though it took some time getting used to it.
The view of the temples were amazing and had a different feeling when walking around the temples in Bangkok. It really looked more ancient and I just forgot about the heat while walking around since most of the time there were trees around the temple and kids offering you a drink in all the stops.
Amazing view of Angkor Wat- day and night
At night time we went to this Bar street where there are international cuisines and bars with mostly foreigners filling the area. Alcohol was cheap, beers for $1 and cocktails for $3. However, as the days were spent walking around the temples we would normally be like Cinderella, going home by 12 really exhausted and getting that sleep.
Flying from Cambodia to Vietnam
After Cambodia we took a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam and we arrived at 11pm. My friends Agnes and Monna were already there, so we had a trip booked to go for the boat cruise to Halong bay the following day. You can see the details at my previous post.
More flights... Hanoi-Manila-Boracay
We had enough of the road trip and flying after 10 days. The final leg of the adventure was a long trip getting connecting flights and all. We started waiting for our flight at 11pm at the Hanoi Airport. Our flight was supposed to leave at 1am but we had an hour delay so we had t wait even more. We then reached Manila at 630am and I asked my brother to pick us up so we can leave some of our stuff and then head off to the Domestic Terminal. We passed by at KFC for breakfast and then was rushing to get our 930am flight. To our dismay, even the local flight was delayed for 30 minutes and the domestic terminal was not really comfortable for long hours of waiting. Finally, we left Manila and arrived Caticlan airport at 11am. It was still not Boracay, we had to take few more minutes for riding a tricycle-boat-tricycle.
Heaven....
It was worth all the wait the moment we saw the crystal blue water and powder white sand. We immediately went for a quick swim then I had a relaxing massage by the beach. We spent the whole afternoon just lazing around and catching up some sleep. That's what beach life is all about anyway right?
We were in Boracay for 5 days and 4 nights, just enough time to appreciate the island life and chill. No other agenda but to enjoy the sound of waves, feel the breeze of fresh air and enjoy eating seafood. That was only my second time in Boracay, and I wondered why I was not there more often. Well, I had to leave the country to check out other beaches to be able to appreciate what I had back home all along. :)
At night we would have seafood galore with the first two nights being happy with hundred grams of squid/fish/shells. The last two nights we discovered the market place where you can just buy at the market and have it cooked for a very minimal fee. What we would pay in restaurants for 100g we would get at the market for 1kg. After a full dinner, we would go out for some drinks by the beach while listening to a live band.
At night we would have seafood galore with the first two nights being happy with hundred grams of squid/fish/shells. The last two nights we discovered the market place where you can just buy at the market and have it cooked for a very minimal fee. What we would pay in restaurants for 100g we would get at the market for 1kg. After a full dinner, we would go out for some drinks by the beach while listening to a live band.
Hey crabby! Seafood dinner like there's no tomorrow
Enjoying the sunset
We always missed the sunset in Vietnam and Cambodia, but in Boracay we had 4 days of clear sunset view. The first day was just relaxing and seeing the view from the beach. The succeeding days we tried to get it from a different view and went sailing and island hopping with a regular boat. Sailing was quite an adventure, as you would think it was a smooth ride when you see the boats sailing across the sea. While we were there, there were two other guys with us, one setting the direction and the other one taking care of the sails and balancing the boat when our side becomes too light. The waves were splashing through our faces and I was scared for a bit, until I just became more comfortable with the ride. It was worth the ride once we saw the sunset from the boat and then headed back to the beach for a smoother ride.
Discovery Dive
I live in the islands of the Philippines who's very well known for nice diving spots, and yet I don't have the license. Just like a driver's license, I have a lot of excuses why I don't have one but really I just don't have a compelling reason why I need one. Besides, it's really an expensive hobby that I didn't want to get into.
So we were inquiring at this dive shop so Martijn can go for his dive while I will just enjoy sipping my fruit shake and take a nap. Then we inquired on how much more it would cost to rent an underwater camera so he can show some proof that he really went for a dive and saw nemo and co. It was a good deal that the lady was offering renting the camera for two dives for the price of one. She then started telling that I could join the second dive and be part of the picture. So there goes my compelling reason to dive.. she got me by the word picture, then I had images of me and some fishes in the underwater world. Then I hesitated again as I was always scared of not being able to reach the ground and being in deep water. She gave me a better deal and said I can just go and try it in shallow water by the beach, using all the equipment and will go for the discovery diving where there was a dive master always guiding me. She said if I don't feel comfortable going deeper, then I don't have to pay. I had the whole night to think about it since the dive was still the following morning.
Conquer your fear
I really thought about it and how nice it will look like on the photo. Yet, there were a lot of hesitation on how I would be able to breath underwater and what I'll do if I get tired of swimming or fighting the current. Then again, I just thought of giving it a shot since I had nothing to lose. There was no point in being scared of something I haven't even tried. So the decision was made before going to sleep, I just had to conquer my fear of the underwater world.
I was ready with my gear and just went on the shallow water. The dive master was patient in making me comfortable and teaching me how to use the diving equipments. I was a bit scared so he let me take my time. He also encouraged me whenever I was able to do the practical training. I was scared of having to do the exercise of removing my mouth piece and being able to put it back without having to take in any water. Surprisingly, I passed that exercise and I was really excited to go for my first dive.
I live in the islands of the Philippines who's very well known for nice diving spots, and yet I don't have the license. Just like a driver's license, I have a lot of excuses why I don't have one but really I just don't have a compelling reason why I need one. Besides, it's really an expensive hobby that I didn't want to get into.
So we were inquiring at this dive shop so Martijn can go for his dive while I will just enjoy sipping my fruit shake and take a nap. Then we inquired on how much more it would cost to rent an underwater camera so he can show some proof that he really went for a dive and saw nemo and co. It was a good deal that the lady was offering renting the camera for two dives for the price of one. She then started telling that I could join the second dive and be part of the picture. So there goes my compelling reason to dive.. she got me by the word picture, then I had images of me and some fishes in the underwater world. Then I hesitated again as I was always scared of not being able to reach the ground and being in deep water. She gave me a better deal and said I can just go and try it in shallow water by the beach, using all the equipment and will go for the discovery diving where there was a dive master always guiding me. She said if I don't feel comfortable going deeper, then I don't have to pay. I had the whole night to think about it since the dive was still the following morning.
Conquer your fear
I really thought about it and how nice it will look like on the photo. Yet, there were a lot of hesitation on how I would be able to breath underwater and what I'll do if I get tired of swimming or fighting the current. Then again, I just thought of giving it a shot since I had nothing to lose. There was no point in being scared of something I haven't even tried. So the decision was made before going to sleep, I just had to conquer my fear of the underwater world.
I was ready with my gear and just went on the shallow water. The dive master was patient in making me comfortable and teaching me how to use the diving equipments. I was a bit scared so he let me take my time. He also encouraged me whenever I was able to do the practical training. I was scared of having to do the exercise of removing my mouth piece and being able to put it back without having to take in any water. Surprisingly, I passed that exercise and I was really excited to go for my first dive.
Ready for the real dive
I really felt comfortable underwater and loved the view of the corals and school of fishes. It was great seeing it in reality when I was always just hearing it from friends or just looking at the underwater world in Sentosa.
How do you smile underwater??? :)
We had bread crumbs to feed the fishes so all of a sudden bunch of fishes went around us to grab some food.
It was a good 55 minute dive and I didn't feel scared at all. I enjoyed it so much that we went for another dive the day after.
Holidays are over yet the memories are still fresh. Something I needed in the middle of the year, for me to be able to stretch myself and reach my targets for the rest of 2008. It was tough having to go back to work after such a wonderful vacation, but it's always a good reason to strive hard once again so I can have this kind of vacation at least every six months. :) :) :)
Good Morning Vietnam!
EARLY RISERS IN HANOI
I am on my last day of my Asian adventure, and the best morning so far. I am now in Hanoi, Vietnam. We decided to wake up early and walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. The streets are busy as early as 5am where you see food vendors on the sidewalk, people jogging around the lake followed by some yoga sessions or playing other sports (eg. badminton, sipa, etc.).
Exercises around Hoan Kiem Lake
I had one full day in Hanoi and it was more than enough when you the day already started at 5am. Most shops are closed by 10pm, so it was just in time for our 1am flight to Manila. Hanoi is a mix of Chinese and French influence. You can see a lot of people selling in the streets, riding bicycles and motorbikes. I survived one hell of a ride in that motorbike with an expert driver I must say, yet my heart was beating really fast wondering how I will survive another minute. :)
Photos below reminded me so much of Paris.
The one on the left is the opera house and the one on the right is an HSBC branch. :)
CRUISING THROUGH HALONG BAY and CAT BA ISLAND
Halong Bay was highly recommended by my friends. We went for the boat cruise for 3 days and 2 nights and got a good deal for $95 which included the 3 hour drive from Hanoi, food, accommodation and all the cycling/kayaking rentals.
The first day was just sailing through thousands of limestone rocks, kayaking by the bay, going inside a big cave and enjoying seafood for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We spent the night in the boat. As the weather was a bit misty, there were no stars in the sky, yet the lights from other boats were very visible enough to enjoy the soft mist of the night.
The second day was a more active day with some trekking, swimming, and cycling. It was refreshing to do some cycling again and tiring when we have to climb up a hill. There were stopovers in between and nature was right next to you that made me relax and enjoy the ride.
The third day was drizzling a bit but just in time for the way back to Hanoi. A final cruise around the bay to remind us that the view is extraordinary though it may seem ordinary now for the past days. The tour ends with great food, great company of travelers and a satisfied tourist with all the adventures so far.
Exercises around Hoan Kiem Lake
I had one full day in Hanoi and it was more than enough when you the day already started at 5am. Most shops are closed by 10pm, so it was just in time for our 1am flight to Manila. Hanoi is a mix of Chinese and French influence. You can see a lot of people selling in the streets, riding bicycles and motorbikes. I survived one hell of a ride in that motorbike with an expert driver I must say, yet my heart was beating really fast wondering how I will survive another minute. :)
Photos below reminded me so much of Paris.
The one on the left is the opera house and the one on the right is an HSBC branch. :)
CRUISING THROUGH HALONG BAY and CAT BA ISLAND
Halong Bay was highly recommended by my friends. We went for the boat cruise for 3 days and 2 nights and got a good deal for $95 which included the 3 hour drive from Hanoi, food, accommodation and all the cycling/kayaking rentals.
The Dream Voyage Tour Group
The first day was just sailing through thousands of limestone rocks, kayaking by the bay, going inside a big cave and enjoying seafood for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We spent the night in the boat. As the weather was a bit misty, there were no stars in the sky, yet the lights from other boats were very visible enough to enjoy the soft mist of the night.
An attempt to catch some squids at 1am.
The second day was a more active day with some trekking, swimming, and cycling. It was refreshing to do some cycling again and tiring when we have to climb up a hill. There were stopovers in between and nature was right next to you that made me relax and enjoy the ride.
Smoking the vietnamese way... just for photo purposes as I don't smoke.
The day ended quite early at 4pm where we checked in the hotel with some bay view, then met more tourists from other countries for some drinks until the night was finished at 1am. The lights were slowly being turned off as if a sign to start packing up.
The third day was drizzling a bit but just in time for the way back to Hanoi. A final cruise around the bay to remind us that the view is extraordinary though it may seem ordinary now for the past days. The tour ends with great food, great company of travelers and a satisfied tourist with all the adventures so far.
One Dollaaahhh.......
"One dollar... One dollar..."
I went to Siem Reap in Cambodia and spent three days in the city. Wherever you go, there were kids asking for one dollar in exchange of postcards, drinks, fruits and even for just taking a photo of them. They were even selling Lonely Planet books for just 5 dollars! When we were passing through the floating village and there were small boats with moms carrying their kids (with a snake around them) and asking for one dollar. I didn't understand it clearly at the start only to realize they were having the same phrase as if singing a song.
After awhile you just get tired and try to avoid them, since they are in every temple you go to in Siem Reap. Then at one instance I just told the kid I'll come back for it, then she said "Lady, make sure you come back or else you make me cry." I couldn't help but laugh but be impressed on such unique statement, she will definitely go far among her friends. She's probably only 6-7 years old, studying in the morning then helping her parents in the afternoon. I guess the charisma of the kids make it easier for them to sell the items since your initial instinct will be to just buy whatever they have, it's just one dollar anyway. Then you start to think why at such a very young age they have to work instead of just enjoying their childhood and playing in the streets. Then again, at least they are still given the opportunity to study in the morning when their parents may actually demand them to just work all day.
That's just a bit of Cambodia that I experienced. Apart from the ancient temples and floating villages, the country has something more that you have to experience while interacting with the people and knowing more about their personal experiences.
I went to Siem Reap in Cambodia and spent three days in the city. Wherever you go, there were kids asking for one dollar in exchange of postcards, drinks, fruits and even for just taking a photo of them. They were even selling Lonely Planet books for just 5 dollars! When we were passing through the floating village and there were small boats with moms carrying their kids (with a snake around them) and asking for one dollar. I didn't understand it clearly at the start only to realize they were having the same phrase as if singing a song.
After awhile you just get tired and try to avoid them, since they are in every temple you go to in Siem Reap. Then at one instance I just told the kid I'll come back for it, then she said "Lady, make sure you come back or else you make me cry." I couldn't help but laugh but be impressed on such unique statement, she will definitely go far among her friends. She's probably only 6-7 years old, studying in the morning then helping her parents in the afternoon. I guess the charisma of the kids make it easier for them to sell the items since your initial instinct will be to just buy whatever they have, it's just one dollar anyway. Then you start to think why at such a very young age they have to work instead of just enjoying their childhood and playing in the streets. Then again, at least they are still given the opportunity to study in the morning when their parents may actually demand them to just work all day.
That's just a bit of Cambodia that I experienced. Apart from the ancient temples and floating villages, the country has something more that you have to experience while interacting with the people and knowing more about their personal experiences.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Are you going to Fight or Flight?
One of my co-trainers did a run through of her stress management session. The advantage of working among trainers, you get first hand experience of newly developed modules.
So we got to look at the tips and exercises. She mentioned that when you're stressed, you can either fight or flight. The only difference between choosing one over the other is that you either choose to overcome the challenge now or delay it for something that could even be more stressful later on. In different circumstances, we choose one over the other, whichever would be best for that particular scenario.
Then we moved to the exercises. Proper breathing. Eye muscle movement. Positive self affirmation. Physical exercises practical to do while at office. That's when we realized that we should actually do this more often. At least the exercise part, since a lot of times when we're stressed, we end up to stress eating and not much movements.
We've started our sessions of Hip Hop Abs at no other place than our training rooms. We normally take 30 minutes after work and then still manage to get back to work for one more hour. It really energizes you a bit and livens up the sleeping muscle.
Up. Down. Bend your knees. Wave your arms. Step forward. Step backward. The instructor on video even gives comments as if he's just right in front of you. "Come on, I know you're getting it. You can feel your muscles and you go on. Four more steps." In my mind.... fight, fight, fight, because if I flight I will still be tired and yet won't feel that I got some exercise.
One more thing that my co-trainer mentioned is that stress is a constant companion in life. The only time where we won't be stressed is when we die. So i guess I will just welcome any stress that comes in to my life, it's a challenge worth overcoming. There are times when I felt like giving up but manage to fight again before totally giving up. It's usually worth fighting for it and more rewarding than just thinking what could have been.
So we got to look at the tips and exercises. She mentioned that when you're stressed, you can either fight or flight. The only difference between choosing one over the other is that you either choose to overcome the challenge now or delay it for something that could even be more stressful later on. In different circumstances, we choose one over the other, whichever would be best for that particular scenario.
Then we moved to the exercises. Proper breathing. Eye muscle movement. Positive self affirmation. Physical exercises practical to do while at office. That's when we realized that we should actually do this more often. At least the exercise part, since a lot of times when we're stressed, we end up to stress eating and not much movements.
We've started our sessions of Hip Hop Abs at no other place than our training rooms. We normally take 30 minutes after work and then still manage to get back to work for one more hour. It really energizes you a bit and livens up the sleeping muscle.
Up. Down. Bend your knees. Wave your arms. Step forward. Step backward. The instructor on video even gives comments as if he's just right in front of you. "Come on, I know you're getting it. You can feel your muscles and you go on. Four more steps." In my mind.... fight, fight, fight, because if I flight I will still be tired and yet won't feel that I got some exercise.
One more thing that my co-trainer mentioned is that stress is a constant companion in life. The only time where we won't be stressed is when we die. So i guess I will just welcome any stress that comes in to my life, it's a challenge worth overcoming. There are times when I felt like giving up but manage to fight again before totally giving up. It's usually worth fighting for it and more rewarding than just thinking what could have been.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
3-2-1 Knocked out
I came home for a weekend and the whole family said they've been knocked out by my niece, Luce in the boxing game of Wii. "Unbelievable!" I said, "how can a kid beat the oldies with this game? Let's try it out with me!" Confident!
As you can sense, I have a love-hate relationship with Luce. I miss her when I go home, then when I see her I just love teasing her to death. She's a diesel, so it takes awhile for her to warm up. Once she does, she won't even be nice to all the people around her. Her favorites would be her parents, her look-alike aunt Mimam, her grandparents, and any "podji"/pogi/handsome guys that's around.
Since I'm not on the favorites list of Luce, I challenged her that I'd be able to beat her. I've just rested from a great vacation so I thought I can definitely release all my energy for this match. Yes, almost felt like a Marquez-Pacquiao match as the whole clan was also there that weekend.
Round 1. Big punch, lower punch, straight in the face. I really feel like I'm winning, except I had no idea how the scoring works. More punches. My opponent is almost knocked out.... but she managed to get up. Man, it felt like a long game.
Round 2. What??!! There's a round 2? I was already out of energy, or no exercise so it's getting back on me? My opponent still had 101% energy. Fight must go on. More punches. It's not just a game of strength but also of endurance to have that level of adrenalin throughout the game. I was losing that.
Round 3. At least I managed to get to round 3. She knocked out my sister in round 1, my mom and cousin in round 2. I had to set the new record. I started sweating, it really felt like going for an exercise. The cheers went for Luce. Fine. She needs more support. Even my mom was coaching for Luce! Punch here. Punch there. I was really tired on this round and didn't know where my punches were going.
The countdown begins. 10-9-8 trying hard to punch more. 7-6-5 still fighting but my icon is not getting up! 4-3-2-1 Knocked out! Yes, I was knocked out by a 4-year old girl and she's still ready for one more round except I just gave up.
Phew! This is one good computer game. Almost involved the whole family while playing. Engaging enough, physically exhausting, not like those other games where it's just a thumb exercise.
Although I must warn you that kids have more energy for this than we could imagine. They are just naturally hyper, always on the go, and not easily distracted.
I've become a Wii fan. Now there's something that encourages me to go home. Except I have to woo my niece again, since I have to borrow it from her. Then the cycle continues.
As you can sense, I have a love-hate relationship with Luce. I miss her when I go home, then when I see her I just love teasing her to death. She's a diesel, so it takes awhile for her to warm up. Once she does, she won't even be nice to all the people around her. Her favorites would be her parents, her look-alike aunt Mimam, her grandparents, and any "podji"/pogi/handsome guys that's around.
Since I'm not on the favorites list of Luce, I challenged her that I'd be able to beat her. I've just rested from a great vacation so I thought I can definitely release all my energy for this match. Yes, almost felt like a Marquez-Pacquiao match as the whole clan was also there that weekend.
Round 1. Big punch, lower punch, straight in the face. I really feel like I'm winning, except I had no idea how the scoring works. More punches. My opponent is almost knocked out.... but she managed to get up. Man, it felt like a long game.
Round 2. What??!! There's a round 2? I was already out of energy, or no exercise so it's getting back on me? My opponent still had 101% energy. Fight must go on. More punches. It's not just a game of strength but also of endurance to have that level of adrenalin throughout the game. I was losing that.
Round 3. At least I managed to get to round 3. She knocked out my sister in round 1, my mom and cousin in round 2. I had to set the new record. I started sweating, it really felt like going for an exercise. The cheers went for Luce. Fine. She needs more support. Even my mom was coaching for Luce! Punch here. Punch there. I was really tired on this round and didn't know where my punches were going.
The countdown begins. 10-9-8 trying hard to punch more. 7-6-5 still fighting but my icon is not getting up! 4-3-2-1 Knocked out! Yes, I was knocked out by a 4-year old girl and she's still ready for one more round except I just gave up.
Phew! This is one good computer game. Almost involved the whole family while playing. Engaging enough, physically exhausting, not like those other games where it's just a thumb exercise.
Although I must warn you that kids have more energy for this than we could imagine. They are just naturally hyper, always on the go, and not easily distracted.
I've become a Wii fan. Now there's something that encourages me to go home. Except I have to woo my niece again, since I have to borrow it from her. Then the cycle continues.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Great Southeast Asian adventure begins....
It's been awhile since I last went for a travel adventure. Since I got back in the Philippines it's been mostly catching up with the country I left 4 years ago. So I thought I might as well venture into the region that I left 2 years ago, with some of the hot countries remaining to be discovered.
I remember the last time I did something similar was my trip to India where I took 10 days after International Congress to just venture the roads, buses, trains with just the Lonely Planet in my hands. I was alone, yet I survived. So I guess it won't be much of a problem this time either. I looked like a local Indian then, I can also pass to be Thai, Cambodian and stretch myself to being a Vietnamese as well.
The itinerary looks something like this, with one clear plan of just having plan while exploring nature.
24-26 May Bangkok
Meet up with some AIESEC alumni, visit temples, river cruise, and shopping!!!
27 May Bangkok-Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cross the Thailand-Cambodia border by bus, should be some fun adventure
28-30 May Siem Reap, Cambodia
Visit the famous Angkor Wat, explore Siem Reap
31 May - 1 June Halong Bay, Vietnam
Go on a boat cruise along Halong bay and wake up to the sunrise by the boat
2-3 June Hanoi, Vietnam
Explore Old Quarter, lake and shopping!
4-8 June Boracay, Philippines
Hopefully some sun (as it has been raining the past two weeks), snorkelling (I don't dive yet), relaxing and massage by the beach for 4USD. :) Nice life!
Waiting for a few more hours until the flight and I just can't sleep thinking that tomorrow I'll already be in a new place, new destination. Will keep you posted in three weeks with the highlights of my next travel adventure.
I remember the last time I did something similar was my trip to India where I took 10 days after International Congress to just venture the roads, buses, trains with just the Lonely Planet in my hands. I was alone, yet I survived. So I guess it won't be much of a problem this time either. I looked like a local Indian then, I can also pass to be Thai, Cambodian and stretch myself to being a Vietnamese as well.
The itinerary looks something like this, with one clear plan of just having plan while exploring nature.
24-26 May Bangkok
Meet up with some AIESEC alumni, visit temples, river cruise, and shopping!!!
27 May Bangkok-Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cross the Thailand-Cambodia border by bus, should be some fun adventure
28-30 May Siem Reap, Cambodia
Visit the famous Angkor Wat, explore Siem Reap
31 May - 1 June Halong Bay, Vietnam
Go on a boat cruise along Halong bay and wake up to the sunrise by the boat
2-3 June Hanoi, Vietnam
Explore Old Quarter, lake and shopping!
4-8 June Boracay, Philippines
Hopefully some sun (as it has been raining the past two weeks), snorkelling (I don't dive yet), relaxing and massage by the beach for 4USD. :) Nice life!
Waiting for a few more hours until the flight and I just can't sleep thinking that tomorrow I'll already be in a new place, new destination. Will keep you posted in three weeks with the highlights of my next travel adventure.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Manual or Automatic?? I'd go for my "automatic" car
Is it a luxury or just being practical? Is it a necessity or just something nice to have? As my 4-year old niece pointed out- "food, house, toys and car are necessities." Her rationale being that she won’t be late for school if she has a car.
After getting used to a commuter friendly environment abroad, I didn’t have the urge of driving my own car anymore. Not until I got back in Manila where I realized that my travel time alone eats up 3 hours of my time each day. Gone are the days when my schedule is predictable thus I can ask the driver to pick me up then hitch a ride with my mom to work. What happens when I work until 8pm and my mom is already finished at 530pm? Yes, on my first month it was ironic that my mom was the one waiting for me. It just didn’t feel right, yet it was expensive for me to take a cab and unsafe to take the buses at night.
I was almost convinced that I really needed a car, though there’s still one big obstacle- I don’t know how to drive. Then there were a couple of things to consider- maintenance and gas expenses, monthly amortization, what if it breaks down, what happens when there's flood, excuses, excuses, excuses!!!
I had a thousand and one reasons and even more when I moved to my apartment just near the office. I found my “automatic car” where it will bring me to my office within 15 minutes and I won’t have to worry about traffic and parking. I really like the added service in my condo since they would even ensure that the cab will be there when you reach the lobby. Isn’t that lovely?
Almost the ideal set up for me yet I guess the necessity of having a car comes up again. My niece would have already given me the look of “I told you so…” I realized that I just don’t go to office and home everyday. There are times when a short drive outside Manila can be relaxing or bringing around friends who are visiting Philippines for the first time to show some Filipino hospitality. I always had to rely for someone to drive for me and it was even more inconvenient that way.
So what am I waiting for you might ask. I just need the courage to take on the responsibility of driving my own car. It’s a big investment in the long term, of which I haven’t really had that kind of obligation before. It’s so easy to budget monthly expenses when there are less of the fixed costs, but obviously that’s just for the short run. I’d really need to work on a budget to ensure that money is spent wisely rather than just having disposable cash. It should be worth an investment. I better check out new models of cars now, most that I’ve seen look like a spaceship or space shuttle. Next thing you’ll hear from me is that I took my niece’s advice… “a car is a necessity.”
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Life of a trainer: loving the work that I do
I am like a teacher, supporting adult learning in the corporate world. It's even tougher than higher education, since they have to unlearn and relearn more practical aspects of their work. I facilitate discussions and stimulate their minds through various activities. It almost feels like being a pre-school teacher where one runs different activities with prizes, except with a more complexed lesson plan.
I was assigned to run the three day induction programme for our new hires. Before running the marathon, I had to run several sprints to prepare me for the long haul. I had a development plan where I was tasked to conduct the first day of the training then just facilitate the succeeding days with guest speakers, until I was able to run the whole program on my own. On my first run I was really exhausted I didn't think I could really last for three days. The solution is of course practice, practice, practice. Now I think I can run the full marathon as I'll be holding three consecutive runs of the course this month.
I initially thought I would be killing myself for doing that. Yet you'd be surprised that I'm usually more energized on the third day when the participants say they found the course useful, learned new insights for their work and that you made an impact in their learning. THat indeed gives me the purpose for the work that I do. They wave goodbye ready to face their targets and overcome challenges. I really hope they don't give up easily when the demands become tougher.
I am more than a teacher. I am a facilitator, energizer, team builder. I really think of this as my calling and feel lucky to be given work that Iove to do. The globe trotter has gone local, following her calling to train the world's local bank.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The next generation begins...
This was a studio photo taken with my cousins from the mother side, and the next generation of our clan.
1st Row: Gabby, Luce(my sister's daughter), Seth
2nd Row: Kid(now also a dad of the two boys), Erika, Star
3rd Row: Moi, Keith (my brother), and Mimam
4th Row: The Giants- Lee, Faye (my sister), and Rocky
Monthsary, celebrations and festivities
Monthsary – term used to celebrate the number of months in a relationship.
The concept of time
Breaking in at work
Reunions and gatherings
Living independently
House parties
Indeed, it seems that most relationships don’t even last a year that it’s important to celebrate monthsary instead. I hope it won’t be the same in terms of working relationships since I’m about to celebrate my 4th month in the bank. It's just celebrating another milestone in my life, of deciding to be back in the Philippines after all these years of wandering around.
It took me all this time to write down something on how it is to be back. I needed this much time to answer that simple question, since most of my impressions on the first few weeks were mere symptoms of reverse culture shock. I was easily irritated with traffic, pollution, over population and the concept of time. All these things are normal situations to the Philippine environment where I have been accustomed in the past 24 years of my life. It was challenging but interesting to actually experience this myself and have some realisations in the end.
The concept of time
There were various occasions when I was very much ahead of time. So much that I had to wait for two hours before my friends arrive. Then it had to be connected with the heavy flow of traffic, parking slots were full or the simple fact that the meeting time was meant to be an hour later than the agreed time. I have started to be more flexible with friends and changed my mindset of being “on time”. Also, I organized parties at my apartment instead so that there is no rush in making it to your reservation or losing the table that you’ve been trying to save. Instead, I was able to relax at the convenience of my home, and just wait for people to arrive. I relieved myself from being stressed to being able to work on things within my control.
Breaking in at work
Now I can say more about my role, the scope of my department and the industry I belong to. My role encompasses different aspects of the bank, especially when you're pertaining to their learning and development within the organisation. I am now assigned to run the induction programme but before that I had to do a lot of preparation for me understand the depth of what I will be teaching. It was easy for me to relate to my days in AIESEC, when we were talking about history, vision, values, organization. It’s somehow part of the basics that you have to teach a new hire, but vital to their induction to the company.
I’ve been enjoying it so far, especially the fact that most of these students are the younger generation. I don’t feel old at all, just a bit wiser. ☺ Apart from that, it has also been interesting to take part in some projects that will increase the scope of learning. It is never confined inside the classroom, so I’ve been trying to understand the realm of online technology, offsite activities, on the job training and various methods by which we can expand people’s capability.
I’ve been enjoying it so far, especially the fact that most of these students are the younger generation. I don’t feel old at all, just a bit wiser. ☺ Apart from that, it has also been interesting to take part in some projects that will increase the scope of learning. It is never confined inside the classroom, so I’ve been trying to understand the realm of online technology, offsite activities, on the job training and various methods by which we can expand people’s capability.
Reunions and gatherings
I arrived at the right time when there are various reunions and get-togethers during the Christmas season. From college to grade school friends, I was able to meet all my friends and this time it was not for a limited period anymore. There were also various gatherings organized by my previous organizations from simple after-work drinks to some ballroom dancing. The common denominator was of course the amount of food and alcohol I was able to consume in those 2 months. Good thing we also had our company Christmas party, where new hires are required to perform. We had dance practices every night so the amount of food I consume were burned during those practices.
Living independently
I was at home for the first two months, enjoying time with my family and home cooked food. I needed that time to adjust and it was great to have the support of my family. I didn’t have to worry about doing my laundry, cleaning or even commuting to work.
Then I had to make a decision that entailed careful consideration for my parents. Just to give you a background, it’s not common for Filipino children to move out of their parents' house unless they're getting married. Since I am not rushing for any marriage soon, I had to make an arrangement that will allow me to live alone.
It was easy when I left the country. I simply had to live within my budget to survive. It wasn’t just a whim. Surprisingly, I enjoyed being able to budget and see the value of money.
This time, I thought about how my life had changed since then. Back in college, life was predictable with schedules to follow, classes end on time, then someone can pick me up. My first month, I sometimes had my mom waiting for me to finish my work and I didn’t even know if I’d be able to finish it at 6pm. I also had to be practical in terms of time and money, since it was not really commuter friendly from my home and it would have been too expensive to take a cab everyday. Since we had an empty flat just near my office, I thought of playing the guardian of the place.
It’s a manageable space that I can do the household chores myself, and still commute to work without having to spend so much time and money. I used to still go home for my laundry, then decided that I can have the laundry services and do the ironing myself. Life indeed has become interesting once again. It probably has been a bit tiring to do the logistics, but little by little my small space is starting to have the basic stuff. The most important so far has been connecting to the internet and getting a new laptop. That’s definitely one of my survival gears.
This time, I thought about how my life had changed since then. Back in college, life was predictable with schedules to follow, classes end on time, then someone can pick me up. My first month, I sometimes had my mom waiting for me to finish my work and I didn’t even know if I’d be able to finish it at 6pm. I also had to be practical in terms of time and money, since it was not really commuter friendly from my home and it would have been too expensive to take a cab everyday. Since we had an empty flat just near my office, I thought of playing the guardian of the place.
It’s a manageable space that I can do the household chores myself, and still commute to work without having to spend so much time and money. I used to still go home for my laundry, then decided that I can have the laundry services and do the ironing myself. Life indeed has become interesting once again. It probably has been a bit tiring to do the logistics, but little by little my small space is starting to have the basic stuff. The most important so far has been connecting to the internet and getting a new laptop. That’s definitely one of my survival gears.
House parties
Even before I officially moved in to my new place, I’ve already had a couple of gatherings with family and friends. My AIESEC friends back in university organized a Mad Hatters' Christmas party, while we party til morning and have a movie marathon afterwards. I've also spent great time catching up with my highschool friends and ex-MC team in AIESEC either for a swim or drinking just like the old days. My family spent New Year’s Eve here just looking at the fireworks from the 11th floor, where we had a good view of the city. There’s more to come and everyone’s welcome to visit Manila in 2008.
That’s about 3 months of my life back home. I am starting to get used to writing in my blog again even now that I’m back in the Philippines. The buildings or sceneries may not be something new, but I’ll start to write again based on my observations of how different life has been. A lot of my friends think I’ve really been away for so long since I’m mostly clueless about the latest nightlife. Well, even in that area I should start relearning and share my tips for globe trotters like you who’s decided to move back home too. Until then!
