Of July and Freedom

Speaking of time, June was arguably one of the fastest months for me this year. June, well, just breezed through!  

I went to KL twice last month to spend time with the in-laws and attend a wedding. 

Significantly, I went back to my fitness training regimen. I've been going very regularly. It helps to have a cute personal trainer you get along with. =) 

July ---- this is it! 

Be nice. Be fun. Be kind. Be exciting. 

I'm hopeful. Very hopeful. 

=) 

Well, hello there, Monday!

I've got a hectic day ahead of me, but my head isn't quite there just yet. I went ahead and beat my coding so I got to the office very early so I can make a head start. That didn't help. 

I'm still distracted by our quick weekend trip. I had a quick weekend getaway at Casa Valencia, Laguna with my old Portal team, gathering together the old and new members. 

It does feel great to be early in the office - get some peace and quiet. I enjoy the solitude and the time afforded to me to really take the time to reflect on my Evernote to-do list. 

Yes, it's gonna be another one of those weeks when I'm gonna have to attend back-to-back meetings, lunch included. 

It was a great weekend, though. I can't complain. I got to spend time with Skye and my team. I managed to get drunk by 4pm on a Saturday afternoon, with no hang over the following day. 

Everything is great. I just need to wrap my head around work again.   

Happy birthday, Skye!

Your sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor really got to me, at a time and place when only few got the drift.  I remember being the only one who laughs at your jokes in conference rooms when you were still pitching and presenting to me.

I have come to love you because you are both funny and witty. At the same time, you are head-on serious when you set goals in life. You are sincere, loyal and you are such a great friend. Your friends can definitely attest to that.

You have a good and kind heart, despite the sarcasm. You have the virtues that I lack, which makes you perfect for me.

Today, I am reminded that I married a great guy.

Happy, happy birthday, Skye.

Looking forward to coming home to KL together tonight. And cheers to more blessed years ahead of you. 

Of airports and planes

I think I've blogged about it already before, but the way I feel about airports remains the same. 

I feel melancholic whenever I'm in airports. 

It means a state of transition and change for me. 

Although I'm always excited of changes, I also feel sad about leaving. 

I had a great time in Malaysia this time around --- probably one of the best trips that I've ever taken in the country.

Things around here are not new to me anymore. What made it great are the people in here who welcomed me back with open arms. 

And Skye --- who always has my best interest at the forefront. 

Blessed and grateful, as always. 

=) 

A few hours and I'm back in Manila! I can't wait to start running our wedding errands! 

Day 1 of 2014

New Year's Eve was spent at the Mandarin Oriental beside KLCC Tower so we can witness the fireworks up close. 

It was a quiet celebration --- cocktails, buffet dinner, fireworks display and a champagne toast by midnight with Skye's family. 

Today, Skye and I had dimsum for lunch, ran errands, bought his 3rd pair of Onitsuka shoes as my New Year's gift and bought his clothes to be brought back to Manila. 

We had a long nap in the afternoon, woken up by his Dad for a taco feast dinner. 

The entire night was spent at home, planning our wedding and ironing out more details together. 

Definitely a good start for day 1. 

Moving up and moving forward, 2014! 

Last Friday of 2014

Today is the last Friday of 2014. 

My morning was spent with my Yayay Cita packing for my Malaysia trip tomorrow. I am so helpless without her. 

This afternoon, I went to the office to complete some of my paperwork and presentation deck. I'm not planning to bring my lappy so better do everything TODAY! 

It's  been very quiet in the office --- as in reeeaaaally quiet. I'm not used to it. 

At any rate, despite the lack of thorough review of what I've done this year and how I fared in my bucket list, I actually think I did quite well. 

God has been very generous. I have been very blessed. 

Off to more paperwork before I finally enjoy my holiday break. 

RnR. Finally!!!

Crossroad, yet again

Crossroads have a way of teaching you life's important lessons. 

At least in my case, it's one of the most important stages where the Universe compels me to take action. 

So here I am again, at yet another crossroad in my career. It's a good one, though. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be given so many choices and opportunities. I'm not even deliberately looking, but the opportunities just come knocking. 

How can I not be grateful? 

If I go for one career opportunity, I will go back to the lion's den once again. I will again leave my family behind to explore opportunities. 

This time, though, I am not alone anymore. 

But if I don't go, I feel like I'm starting to become complacent already. 
Complacency has never been in my vocabulary. So has it permeated my life as of late?  I refuse to believe so. 

I'm struggling to make a decision. Normally, I stall when this happens. So many things to consider, not enough time. 

I'm asking the Universe to again conspire in my favor for me to be enlightened and to make the right decision - for me and for everyone I love.

On travel frenzy, getting the flu and the future in-laws

I've got barely an hour to go here at Starbucks, 1 Utama Mall at PJ before future mudra-in-law picks me up to head home. Yep, I've been left alone with her since breakfast this morning...but that's not where the story begins. 

Friday night last week, I was literally dragging myself to the airport along with my luggage en route to KL. Dang flu hit me hard on the exact day that I was flying out. Imagine achy joints, major backache, hard cough, fever and severe migraine all conveniently rolled into one. Yep - that was me when I flew out. 

I was on the verge of tears while in line at the immig feeling sorry for myself. Skye wanted me to defer my flight the following day, but Miss Kuripot didn't want to incur USD$250 for a one-way ticket from Manila to KL.  

So on I went to take my flight. Luckily, I was front row and a handsome flight attendant was there to assist me in all my needs. Well, that's the thing. I was at a near-delirium stage already that I cannot even appreciate the eye candy. Yes. It was that bad.

I passed out in the car when Skye picked me up at the airport. 

Saturday - I was a vegetable in bed but I had to force myself to eat meals with his parents as courtesy.  We were actually reprimanded for eating too late in the night for dinner. As mudra-in-law said, "makan time is makan time." That was again a reminder before we headed out yesterday. 

Segue' to today. When Skye left the house for work, he had to ask me to down for breakkie. "Hey, my Mom's nagging us to have breakfast. I'm packing mine. You have to eat yours." Okaaaaaaaaay. So obedient me, off I went. 

Organic breakfast - free-range egg, oats with organic cranberries, Ceylon tea. A quick conversation with the mudra. Not bad. 

We went to the mall together for lunch and grocery at the organic market. I had great organic soy curry laksa and some rice-veggies. 

And now here I am - sitting alone in Starbucks - enjoying some peace and quiet. 

I have not been forced to wake up and eat my breakfast for more than a decade now. I have been living independently, come to think of it, for more than 10 years already. 

Living in a house with very stringent house rules is weird for me. There's a place for wet and dry garbage, I can't eat in the bedroom (I drink wine and eat chips in mine) and the list goes on. 

Truth be told, I am terrorized by this new set of rules. Even Skye is terrorized by his own parents. Luckily, I am a fan of organic and vegetarian food! Unluckily, Skye is not!!! 

This entire KL trip as a prelude to our Beijing-Shanghai tour is a total frenzy! 

But as I sit quietly here, sitting and drinking my usual Starbucks cafe mocha (which by the way the mudra bought for me), I actually feel blessed and grateful. 

SERIOUSLY.  

First of all, I was introduced to the parents. 

Second, his parents are making sure we are comfortable. The house rules are there for a reason. They may be different with mine, but the rules are there to give order and structure in the house and to keep everyone safe and comfortable. 

Third, it's a quiet time that I get to spend with his mom - something that I never had in my past relationship. 

Fourth, new set of rules means new people in my life. A household extension --- an addition to the family so to speak. Both parents are very sincere and quite caring - forcing us to bring more than enough thermal wear, in case the weather gets weird and it snows in on us. 

Fifth, and most important of all, I'm grateful for my timely recovery. Imagine the horror and terror of being in Beijing at 4 degrees with a flu. It will be a so-near-yet-so-far experience of being almost at The Great Wall but never really reaching there.  

Some may not realize it, but health --- is the greatest equalizer of all. Rich or poor, it doesn't matter if you don't have great health. And yes, I'm grateful, too, for that timely reminder. 

Off we go to Beijing and Shanghai for the rest of the Holy Week. 

Safe travel for me and Skye. 

   

It never ends

I'm at the Miascor airport lounge waiting for boarding. Thank God for lounge memberships and Citibank perks. I CANNOT STAND NAIA TERMINAL 1. 

I remembered what Big said the first time we met --- it's the worst airport in the world. 

But I'm digressing. 

Initially, I wanted to start reading the newly assigned book from my SWATTS book club. I eagerly got myself a cabernet sauvignon so I can sit back, relax, sip my wine and read through my Kindle. 

But no. Barely 5 minutes on the couch, my phone started ringing. I had to be in a series of phone calls  

with my boss and my leads to firefight some issues in the office. 

I had no choice but to turn off my Kindle and open my dear reliable lappy. 

Work. It never ends. 

Paalis ka na lang para magbakasyon ng ilang araw, hahabulin ka pa. 

At the same time, while this may sound like a rant to others, it's actually quite the contrary. 

I love my job. I love work. It's my vocation. I like the adrenaline rush. It gives me my sense of purpose. 

Sadistic as it may sound, hahanap-hanapin ko ang panic mode at habulan if I am on vacation for far too long. It's just how I'm hard-wired to be. 

But for now --- let me take this moment to chill a little bit. 

Off to KL for a couple of days to celebrate Chinese New Year and VDay with Skye. 

It's one of those very rare moments when I don't want work to come running after me --- even just for a couple of days. 

We do deserve the time to be together and just be. 

Closing lappy in a little bit. 

Wanderlust with Skye

My tickets for Chinese New Year celebration have been booked. 

I'm all set for the Holy Week holiday as well. 

For a change. 

Hmmm...I can get used to this. It's nice to just get the tickets in my Inbox for printing. Dang, we even have a Dropbox folder for all our plane tickets. 

Thanks for planning ahead. I'll make it up by researching on the itinerary.  

Weekend breather

All  my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... 

I need this weekend trip. 

I'm so glad I'm doing it. 

If there is such a thing as comfort food, this is comfort gallivanting. 

5 hours to flight. Game on!

These made me happy over the weekend

 

I'm glad they came over and visited.

See you again this Christmas break, Kids.

Lunching ladies

It's been a hectic week.

I was given 2 days to write my business plan. I have a presentation to the steering committee in a couple of days. My numbers are flat-lining. 

I'm stressing my team out and pounding on them to panic and do something about our numbers. 

My college friends are here in Jakarta. Whilst they gallivant around town and cuddle tamed tiger cubs in Taman Safari, I remain seated in my office typing away how I should be growing my business for 2012. 

In the middle of a hectic Friday, I decided to head out to Din Tai Fung and join the company of the lunching and brunching ladies: the Jakarta Bitches. 

I'm glad a did. Breath of fresh air. Made me feel more grounded. 

I'm the second to the youngest among all of them and it's nice to be the green one hearing wiser words.  For a change.

It's so true --- I need to be French every now and then - savor the joie' de vivre which I have been neglecting lately. 

And my ladies reminded me of the true path. Many thanks to the wiser ones. 

Now that I'm done with the bizplan, I still have Monday morning to panic and draft the steercomm slides. 

In the meantime, I shall enjoy a weekend of good Indonesian food, antiques, batik, Ramayana ballet at the Prambanan Temple and the view of Borobodur up close.

Yogyakarta - here I come!

Muntik na!!!

Muntik na kong mawalan ng flight pauwi ng Manila in December! 

I checked my flights last night as I wanted to book December 24 to January 2 flights. Lo and behold! All dates from December 21 until January 4 are SOLD OUT! 

I saw 2 more seats left from PAL for December 21st so I just had to take it! Cebu Pacific and Singapore Airlines were both hopeless - fully booked as well. 

Taking it from last year, flights were tight already as early as July. DAMN!!! 

Muntik na kong magsagwan pauwi ng Pilipinas. Buti na lang meron pa. 

Moral of the story: Competitive and Pinoy sa flight bookings for vacations and Christmas holidays. MUST. BOOK. EARLY!!!

Post-Sri Lanka Thoughts

Colombo has treated me oh-so nicely, what with the executive floor stay at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo and the warm welcome of my counterparts in Dialog.

The Dialog guys were very generous and friendly. Hospitality is really a Southeast Asian thing. I have not been to a Southeast Asian country where the people were not as warm and sunny as the tropical weather. I love it!

Colombo still has the "old city feel," where ravens fly about any time of the day while ducks and pelicans float about on the lake.

Sri Lankans are predominantly Theravada Buddhists. I was extremely fascinated with the Buddhist temples and the monks clad in orange garb walking on the streets.

I looooooved it. A different place, a different feel. It was a welcome breather, despite that I was there to work and conduct several presentations.

Too bad I didn't have enough time to go around, much less shop for gemstones as the country is well-known for it.

The trip satisfied my wanderlust --- which never fades away in the first place. But instead of pacifying my restlessness, it just fueled it all the more. It reminded me of what I hope for, what I should do and where I'm supposed to be.

There is a reason and season for everything.

Colombo, thank you for the enlightenment.

One night...

...to pack the stuff that I need to bring to Manila.

Haven't organized and I have to go straight from the office to the airport!

Panic mode!!!

Yet another bahala na si Batman mode.

At the same time, I feel happy that I will go home - even just for a little while.

I need to breathe and learn how to swim faster, with the tide of changes, and not against it.

I just really want to see familiar and trustworthy faces right now.

Hello Kitty eye candy

I am currently salivating over this Hello Kitty Polaroid Instax 25S:


Since patience isn't really one of my virtues (at tanggapin na natin na hindi talaga), I absolutely want to get this!

I'm hitting the beach next week so it would be really be awesome to have me Hello Kitty cam by that time.

Dear God --- sana may bumagsak from heaven na Hello Kitty Fuji Instax.

To Cairo or not to Cairo: that is the question

'Supposed to fly out to Cairo, Egypt after the trip to Jerusalem (no, it's not the game, it's the real pilgrimage, dummy!). With the coup against their prexy though, common sense dictates that this is no longer a good idea.

Aaaw, man. I so wanted to see the pyramids badly.

Also send Jo (Avendano) a private FB message since she's working there now. Glad to know she's safe and lives near the Philly embassy.

There's a reason and season for everything --- so fine, no Sphinx for now.

How'z about Istanbul, Turkey? Hmmm...not a bad idea!

Note to self: email HR the optional trips to replace Cairo!

Dua bulan

Two months...

Time flies by really fast. I can't believe I've been here for two months already.

It's the first of August --- one of my best friends' birthday is coming up. Bar exams is on the horizon in September. When October comes, I'm turning another leaf.

Time flies, it really does.

This year, for the past seven months, I feel though that my time was well-spent.
It's been tiring, it's been hectic.

But everything is all worth it.

I do miss Manila. I wish I can come home. But I wanna rake in lots of moolah so I can party-hardy in December and go on that Cambodia trip that I've been dreaming of for the past 2 years.

So Jakarta is where I will be for now.

It's been surprisingly amazing, though.

Not bad, Jakarta. Not bad.

You've been treating this lady very nicely.

Jakarta Online: Of moving on and going back

What difference 3 months can make…

A new job. A new apartment. A new country.

It’s literally a new life for me.

4 more days and I have been in hiatus for exactly 3 months already. I needed the time to adjust –find my own place and move in, learn the ropes of my new role and become more familiar with the culture and people.

Plus, as excited as I was to share the news, I didn’t want to do a preemptive strike until I knew that the plan was no longer a mere blueprint. I had to make sure it’s already real.

Yes, friends. I am back.

I guess it’s more apt to say that I’m back. And moving on.

I have been in Jakarta for almost 2 months now. I accepted an expat post in a growing and progressive telco here. The new job actually requires me to go back to my professional roots and first love: portal user experience design and usability.

Jakarta welcomed me with open arms.

Contrary to the horror stories of some friends and colleagues who have been assigned here, Jakarta has been a delightful experience for me.

Love the food, the people, the office culture. I love the lifestyle!

What can I say?

Thank you, Universe, for the new beginning. You definitely have a way of making it up.

Brace yourself, Jakarta.

I am sooooooo back in my element!