reliving the bangkok experience

I went to Bangkok,  December last year for a 3 day trip. this was my second time to visit Thailand's capital. I was so excited to go there then a few weeks before my trip he said his infamous goodbye and everything turned upside down for me. I feel sad and I was hesitant to go Bangkok after that. I was afraid that memories will haunt me when I go there again. I'm worried that if I go to the places where we've been to before I might suddenly remember him and I would burst into tears. 

Tickets and hotel were already confirmed and paid for so there's no backing out. My friend doesn't have any clue on what I've been going through that time. I didn't want to tell her. 

16dec2010 we landed safely at Suvarnabhumi airport, this was not the airport we went to before so everything is a brand new experience.

We stayed at Sukhumvit area, a different district from where we stayed. so far, so good. 

On our second day, we went to MBK. this was the first mall we went to back in 2004. memories came flooding in... oh-oh! we where looking for some tamarind candies for pasalubong. and now, we were doing exactly what we were doing 6 years ago! no, i didn't cry. i just remembered him and  i just felt sad. but I've pushed it aside and continue to do what i need to do. this is a business side trip not a trip down memory lane. and besides, i promised myself I'm moving on. 

the rest of the day went by okay though occasional thoughts about him and the Bangkok tour would come up but still it was a good day!

memories didn't bother me the remainder of the tour. everything became bearable even the heat and exhaustion. my source of comfort is this uber yummy pad thai. It melts all the pain away. :) I ate it for 3 days for lunch and dinner. 

pad thai! *drooling*

when it was time to go home, I looked back... and it wasn't bad after all. It was a test on how will I handle the 'goodbye', I think I came through just fine. :)  

I'm glad I went to Bangkok. all the memories old and new, whomever I'm with is still a happy memory I'll cherish. I'm pretty sure I'll be visiting Bangkok soon. 

coffee break

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Earlier today I accompanied "Jericho" (my twin brother from another mother) in his job interview. He'll be thrilled to know that I called him Jericho,. eewww! wahaha! Anyway, he almost convinced me to apply for the job too but something's holding me back. I have to wait for a few months before I can decide if  I'm going to look for a new job or not. There are alot of applicants today. I pity the other guy because he got rejected due to insufficient years of work experience. The applicants today kinda remind me of myself 5 years ago when I was submitting resumes left and right in hopes of finding a job abroad.

This is a common sight if we go and visit employment agencies. The place is almost always packed. Nowadays, right after college everyone wants to leave. Nobody wants to be left behind but who can blame them they just want a better future for their family. Circumstance led them to chose those path. The government should do something about this problem. Create jobs and give the people a decent pay so noone will be tempted to leave or resort to corruption or other wrongful deeds. Government should do something about this rapid brain. We are rearing a parent less generation. And we all know that families are important in honing a person's well being. I just hope in the future everything will turn out all right.

Back to my story... Unfortunately, my twin brother didn't make it. Half of me feels relieved that he'll be staying with us longer, another half feels sad seeing him lose hope.

Nothing but tall mocha frap could cheer him up. And so to Starbucks we went, sat and drank our fraps without talking. Stayed there for 2 hours or so till he was ready...ready for another challenge life has to offer.

photowords v.2

Well, as I said, I'm hooked with typogram. Here are second set of my photowords. Photos are taken from my Bohol and Guangzhou trip and a wedding celebration. Texts are phrases from my poems; blur, still-frames and daydreamer II.

so here's the plan...

I got a text from my cousin, the message goes like this, I'm engaged! And then she said, you'll be my maid of honor!

My cousin, who I fondly call Ate Cci, was practically the older sister I never had. Growing up together,  we would wear the same dress from head to foot, people thought we were twins. I'm happy and excited to be part of her entourage. 

Hearing that she's getting married made me excited, great news indeed! This would be the first wedding in our family on my father's side. So relatives from all over are flying in to witness this event of the year.

So here's the plan, starting this month I will COMMIT myself into walking/running exercises and lose weight. I will soon have my medical exam too that will determine if my visa will be granted or not, the best time to start is now.

Discipline and focus will be my powerful ally. I gotta make this work! That's why I will chronicle my weight loss endeavor here to get me motivated.

Wish me luck guys!

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” - Jim Ryun

PHL airports

A travel site named the guide to sleeping in airports voted NAIA as #5  worst airport in the world and #1 worst airport in Asia.

It doesn't come as a surprise, having been in the airport premises for nearly 8 years (for work and travel)  I can say that we belong to that list, not only NAIA but half a dozen of our domestic airports as well.

Let's say 15,000 passengers per day x 750 terminal fee x 365 days. do the math. What I can't understand is that where did it all the money go?!

NAIA had been my home for 2 years (2003-2005). I don't know if the passenger noticed it but when it rains potted plants suddenly appears at the departure lobby. These plants supposedly absorb/catch water dripping from the terminal ceiling. bright idea huh?!

I have not visited NAIA for almost 4 years now, and I've heard it got worse. Aside from outdated facilities, I heard horror stories about utility personnel asking for 'tip' from passengers using the toilet. At first, I thought its ridiculous and my friend just misinterpreted the way the utility person helped him. But after hearing accounts of the same incident happening to 3 more person I finally accepted the fact that it does exist. Wow, that is just so wrong!

Aside from NAIA, other domestic airport are also in bad state. I wish I had taken photos of the said airports.

One classic example is Caticlan Airport, year in year out  there is a steady flow of tourist arriving and leaving the airport. As far as I can remember, Boracay was famous more than 10 years ago, I was still in college when Secretary of Tourism Mina Gabor went there and said that Boracay waters are clean and safe. The point is, that was eons ago and still Caticlan Airport is small.  I went there 2008 off peak season and boy, the waiting area is packed. Its lean season! What if its summer or peak season?! What will happen to the passengers waiting there? With more than a decade of Boracay's fame weren't the airport officials collected enough money to expand or even repair the airport?!  You don't have to imagine how small or how crowded it can get in Caticlan Airport. I found a video.

off peak, see how small the airport is.

A very crowded Caticlan Airport

I wouldn't mind paying a little higher airport tax if they can make sure that the taxes goes to the improvement of the facilities.

Case in point, Siem Reap, Cambodia. We paid 25USD roughly around 1100php. But the airport is nice, though its quite small its still nice and cozy. More hi-tech than our airport at the same time you can see traces of Cambodian Architecture. You don't see that in NAIA. 

Siem Reap Airport *photo taken from www.kestan.com*

Airports are the first thing the tourist see when they come and visit us. We don't wanna ruin their 1st encounter/experience with us. I do hope the government would do something about it, after all its named after PNoy's dad.

not so 'holy' week

Holy Week ngayon kaya punuan ang mga flights namin.  Ang unang araw ng pasok ko ngayong linggong ito ay kahapon, Maundy Thursday. Ito ang simula ng mahabang bakasyon para sa karamihan kaya medyo traffic ang mga dadaanan. 4 na pasahero ang na-late ng araw na to, sa kasamaang palad di na talaga sila nakasakay. At lahat sila ay inaway ako. Okay lang, medyo kaya pa. Migraine attack lang naman nun hapon ang napala ko sa kanila. Pero walang tatalo ngayong araw na ito. Quota na lahat ng klase ng mura! Mayroon 1 pasahero na sa bawat sasabihin nyang salita may kasamang 'bullsh*t' lalo na kapag nagpapaliwanag ako sa kanya. Pero ang winner na winner sa lahat ay ang Pranses na pasahero ko. Kung baga sa beauty pageant siya ng kokoronahan; grand slam, hinakot lahat ang award!

fra pax: if i were a terrorist, i will shoot you first (points to my colleague), and then you (points at me). this country is so f*cked up! f*ucked up! f*ck it! sh*t!

Gaya nga ng nasabi ko sa inyo dun sa isa kong post, read here; i eat death threats for breakfast! Award ang kanyang mga banta. Pagdating sa Immigration nang-away pa ulit cia. Ayun, balita ko hindi na cia pwedeng makabalik pa dito sa bansa natin ever!

Ang Good Friday ko naging BAD Friday. Sana bukas, mas okay na at wala ng pasaway.

photowords

I was just browsing through itunes store an hour ago and I came across typogram application. Okay, I like instragram app but typogram is cooler coz you can put words into your photos. I was hooked and best of all its free, just download it! :)

The photos used here are my shots from my travel; word/phrases are also from me except the last photo. 

*sunset in Clark, Pampanga*

* a sidestreet somewhere in Guangzhou, China*

*Clark, Pampanga*

*Siem Reap, Cambodia*