Kokeshi, kokeshi, kokeshi

Prior to the Kimmidoll craze, Kokeshi dolls have been around for over 150 years already.

Originally from Northern Honshu, Kokeshi dolls are hand-made from wood, with an enlarged head, a simple trunk and no hands. The bottom portion of the dolls is signed by the artist.


This evening, I had dinner with Tim and Mads at Taman Anggrek. While walking towards the Chinese restaurant, I bumped into these lovely Kokeshi dolls.

And I want them ALL!!!



Unlike the Kimmidolls, the dolls I saw were of different shapes and sizes. Damn, I wanted to hoard but what's the fun in collecting if I buy everything in one sweep? 'Didn't help that I only had 200 rups in my wallet and the rest were USD. Whatta timing that I couldn't find a money changer!

So I contented myself with buying a set - the cutest of the lot.


Brace yourself Taman Anggrek - I'm definitely coming back next weekend for a few more Kokeshis. Not to mention there's a lot of great stores there for quality Batiks, socks and tights, a gigantic GNC outlet and Hello Kitty!!!

Paging Gemma and friends --- help in building the Kokeshi collection! Gemma --- you're first when you go to Hello Kitty country!

Da Funk: Ovah and Out

(Random musings on a Friday afternoon when I need to SPACE OUT)

‘Didn’t realize when I blogged last time that it was actually V-Day. Vlack Day, in Gemma’s world. Hahaha.

I’m not a fan of V-Day – not that I’m love-allergic. It’s quite the contrary, actually. It’s just that it’s too commercialized and it puts too much pressure on the single peeps.

Love should be an everyday thing. Mush, mush, I knooooow. So what do you need V-day for?

On da funk, I’m over it. It was probably hormonal or the lack of sugar because of me diet. I’m back to my usual chirpy self.

Happiness is a choice. This weekend, I choose the happy, chirpy path.

TGIF, peeps!

The spice of life…or a lack thereof

I’ve been having persistent discomfort on my upper left abdomen so I went to the doctor today. It’s not really painful – like I said, there’s just a discomfort and it’s been there for more than a week now.

Normally, I’d feel the pang of discomfort every now and then. I just shrugged it off and ignored it. This year, though, Feng Shui wisdom reminds me to take care of my health. So off I went to SOS for another check-up.

Doctor’s orders:

No more coffee – which just happens to be my fuel in the morning. Don’t expect me to think without my daily dose of caffeine.

No more spicy food – at all. My tolerance for spice is extremely high that I can drink Tabasco sauce straight up. Yes – no spice. Not even a tinge. Kill me now.

No more stress. I was advised by Dr. Joyce to avoid stress at all costs. Sige --- please explain how this is even possible with my kind of work and lifestyle. Should I seriously think of becoming a full-fledged tai-tai now? I mean…seriously?

Wow. Heavy.

These are a few of my favorite things. My brain doesn’t start working without my café latte. Spice is the way to go for me, thus, my natural love for Thailand and its food. And stress…I was born to be a miracle worker, so to speak.

This is a major lifestyle change --- but it’s probably the Universe’s way of telling me to hit the brakes and slow down.

Again, there is always a silver lining. In this case, it’s always better to change lifestyle for better health than suffer a debilitating disease.

So, okay, foyn – Madame Universe, I may sound begrudging, but thank you for the nudge.

Hope you won’t take the spice of my life completely, though. I love my wasabi and Tabasco waaaay too much.

Slam dunk the funk

TGIF --- finally!

This entire week was THE works when it came to stress build-up. Javana Spa beckons in the afternoon.

Whilst I suffered from da funk this week, being mopey and weepy for no particular reason, I heard from the besties.

Gemma YM'd to ask why. I fumbled for an excuse because I really can't think of any - except for the lack of sugar in my body because of my diet and missing Manila.

Her comment: "Sira ka pala, eh. Anong ida-diet mo - pilikmata?"

That totally cracked me up.

La Roura SMS'd the following day to update me with the latest chizms and that she was feeling the funk, too! On the same day, Thads YM'd that he already resigned. WTF!

My thought bubble: what da H??? Why's everyone in a funk? Kailangan na bang maligo ng asin ulit? In this case, do I need to be salt-marinated?

Whatever it is, the Universe this week conspired to test my patience.

Madame Universe: we both know patience is not one of my virtues, but I'm pretty sure you've got a grand masterplan for me to proceed with my World Domination quest.

Until then...I shall enjoy the margs this weekend with the Jakarta Bitches.

Thank you, Gemma, Arlene, Thads: for messaging within 24 hours. That made me feel that the Universe somehow connects people in the strangest of ways.

I love you, guys. And I miss you a lot.

Sad

...immensely sad that it ate me up today.

I remain stoic, though I am weeping and crushed deep inside.

Bahasa Indonesia resurrection

7:03pm: still in the office and just concluded Bahasa Indonesia lessons. Mads and I got a new teacher because the first one fired us for missing a lot of classes. And I mean A LOT. We were terrible students, not by choice, but by circumstance.

Revenues and product launches first, over and above anything.

As part of my effort to reclaim my personal time, I need to be hell-bent on attending the classes twice a week.

Let's see how far we can go.

Todo-effort na 'to!

Musings on a Sunday morning – version 2011

Dreams…

are manifestations of a hidden fear or a subconscious desire. You may be in denial during your waking moments but dreams have a way of filling you in on what’s in the recesses of your mind.

Denial is a river in Egypt. But a dream can actually be the hardest reality that you dare not face when you’re awake.

Personal space

I have a lot of it. I need a lot of it. I cry foul when I feel it’s inadvertently penetrated. I like my quiet moments when I get lost in contemplation. These days, a period of silence is hard to come by. If I am elusive, it only means I want to retreat into my own corner. I am elusive because I choose to be.

All I’m asking for is a little bit of space – a few hours or so can already recharge my batteries. That’s not asking for too much, isn’t it?

Reclaiming what’s mine

Before I officially hit Loserville, ‘thought I needed to make the effort to get my Me Time back. Last year, I wrote less, I read less. I visited blogs less. It may well be attributable to the World Citizenship transition, but still, it’s not an excuse. The move should not have been too daunting – enough to stall me from writing.

And I realized… all my blog entries are about work! I lost my mojo.

I intend to get it back!

I miss keyboard-pounding. Not for presos but just for me – no matter how trite and trivial.

I should do this more often.

Really.

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!

Bitch is soooo back!!!

Due to popular demand and constructive critique (aka the tandem of Jovan and Gemma), Bitch, please just got a face lift! The besties thought the old template was blah.

It's long overdue. The feedback was given around Christmas time but I never got around doing it, until now. I figured, might as well do it --- my writing has been stalled. Damn you, Facebook!

Moving on...

Shall we open the New Year with the latest addition to ze bag collection?

Ta-daaaaah!!!


I got me-self a new Louis Vuitton Trouville. I've been salivating over this for several weeks already! It's a very sensible bag - gazillions of pockets and gargantuan space - enough to fit my iPad!

I am officially declaring a self-imposed ban on visiting the LV flagship store in Plaza Indonesia.

Happy new year to Moi, indeed.

*wide, wide grin*

Life is good, God is fair

2010 – you treated me very well. You paved the way to my world citizenship.

As if having a relationship that takes me to Hong Kong and back is not enough, my career finally took me to a wonderful, albeit unexpected city – Jakarta, Indonesia.

Disclaimer: I’m not a Jesus freak. I can’t help but be grateful, though. God is amazing for giving me all the opportunity, for giving me a happy, blessed life.

Let 2011 be opened with a multitude of grace and gratitude.

Let this be another year when I am closest to where I want to be, and who I want to be.

Cheers to being a world-class citizen! Cheers to conquering Thailand.

Hong Kong --- you remain to be my final destination. You better brace yourself for me!

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! Great life, great everything!

And the winner is...

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is names Time's Person of the Year.

Hats off to the guy who revolutionized social networking.

2 words: awesome and inspiring!

Zoning out...almost

My mind is (almost) already in Manila. 'Got tons of friends to see and lots of things to do.

Yes - I have finally decided. I'm giving up my South Sikap apartment.
It's time to move on.

More on that later.

I just want to rest right now --- 3 days na kong feeling pagod and not in my element.
It may just be because I worked the entire weekend. Or I'm already counting the days before I go home to Manila for the holidays.

Moral lesson of the story: there really must be some time spent to zone out after mental gymnastics at work. My productivity is suffering.

Must. recover. soon.

Pampataba ng puso

Sandamakmak ang trabaho ko ngayon.

In fact, sandamakmak is an understatement. Tatatlo ang tao ko pero naka-launch ako ng isang malaking portal. Na pumapalo na ng 2.5 million unique users in total. Kileg ka!

Sa wakas --- dadagdagan na rin ako ng tao. Inexpand na din ang scope ko.
Empire-building daw, kantyaw ng bagong boss. Not exactly. I need the empire for me to deliver.

Kapag reliable ka, dumadami din ang trabaho mo. Carry lang. Mas gusto ko 'yon.

Pero hilahod ako sa pagod. Dahil marami rin akong issues, mas gusto ko na sumubsob na lang sa trabaho ngayon. Hindi lang train of thought ang nasa utak ko ngayon. Trains and trains of thought. Makakabuo na nga ako ng isang railway system.

Anyway, I'm digressing. Kahit na sandamukal at ga-Mt. Everest ang trabaho, masayang makakuha ng positive feedback. Hindi lang sa mga bossings pero galing sa tao.

"Iba ka, Ma'am. Bilib ako sa 'yo." Translate na lang natin sa Tagalog. Focused sa trabaho pero makatao pa din.

Salamat. At least nararamdaman ng tao ko na mahal ko sila --- their interest is at the forefront. Madami ring gustong lumipat sa team ko. Flattering.

Minsan, naiinis ako sa dami ng gagawin. Dahil pare-pareho ang mga tao na madaming ginagawa - at naturalmenteng kasama ko 'don. But at the same time, masayang makarinig ng magandang feedback. Masayang malaman na mahal ka ng team mo. Nawala ang pagod ko sa pag-karir ng strategy namin buong weekend. Nakurta utak, pero mataba ang puso ko.

At oo --- Tagalog dahil meron ng international audience. At kahit na i-Google translate nila, kailangan pa nilang mag-effort.

Maganda ang Lunes ko.

Happy. =)

At oo, subsob na lang ako sa trabaho.

Whew! Monday, I'm loving you!

My entire Sunday was spent doing NOTHING BUT my strategy presentation for today.

Okay - I'm exaggerating. I managed to squeeze in some time to go to the salon for my weekly hair treatment. But dang, it's a Sunday!!!

The silver lining: I got my 2011 strat approved by my new VP and managed to get more headcount for the team.

The future is looking bright for Portals.

Moral lesson: When life gives you lemons, make fantabulous vodka tonic with lemon as garnishing!!!

Life will always throw curve balls. What makes the diff is optimism.

So whilst my personal life still needs a'fixin' and I need to spend some time healing wounds and making things better, nothing's stopping me from giving it a go at work.

Ayusin muna ang career, bago karir, so to speak.

Another great week is ahead...crossing fingers.

Happy pill

Monday, rainy Monday.

Tomorrow is a holiday here in Jakarta. They're celebrating Moslem New Year.
I have no driver - compassionate naman ako at may puso, New Year nila so sana naman pagpahingahin ko, da bah?

I wanted to do my Christmas gift shopping already but no --- I have to work on 2 strategy presentations. This week is THE works. READ: sobrang daming trabaho.

I have a speaking engagement for the Huawei Knowledge Sharing on Wednesday, I'm presenting to BOD on Thursday and I need to close my release 2 scope for Ze project.

Walang paghinga at pahinga itu!

I'm willing to take the hit because I'm coming home on the 22nd. So foyn --- work and slave it off.

There is a silver lining!!! I so deserve a damn good Christmas holiday!!!

Shyet --- I need both a happy pill and a chill pill today.

Can't wait to get wine and steak from Cork and Screw tonight!!!

Gadgets galore

This just in this morning...

2 laptops.

1 Ipad.

4 mobile phones: 1 Blackberry, 1 Android, 2 Nokia candy bars.

The gadget girl is definitely back!

Lola by Marc Jacobs

I'm soooooo loving this scent right now.

I discovered it when I was in Hong Kong.

I can't stop thinking about and smelling the scent!!!

Hahaha.

It smells creamy, powdery and sexy at the same time.

My type of scent.

Makes me happy every morning. =)

A blessed Friday

TGIF!

I've been so wanting to take a break this weekend.

Lo and behold, the Power-that-be called me in again and asked me to make his preso over the weekend. Thing is, we're both presenting at a mobile event next week. So that actually doubles up what I have to do.

2 presos for a mobile event and 1 strategy preso for my team.

There goes my weekend.

I'm a presentation factory all over again.

I'm willing to take the hit since I'm going back to Manila on the 22nd.

And I'm sooooo looking forward to it.

So bring all the presos on! Samantalahin na dahil magbabakasyon talaga ako!

*all smiles*

December 2010

Woah. Time just flew. Yep, just like that.

December na!!!

Unlike Manila, Christmas carols in Jakarta only start to play in malls by first of December. I heard the first Christmas carols last night when I was shopping for some cosmetics and Christmas gifts for friends.

I miss the Christmas spirit in Manila that starts as the 'ber months come in. Being in a Muslim country made me miss it all the more --- considering I'm really not a Christmas person.

My Christmas loot came in very early, though. Finally, I got my most favorite gadget-toy. 6 months ko ng pinag-iinitan. My much-coveted precious is finally mine!!!

Thank you, Mr. R. Claus. =)

I'm loving it. I haven't jailbroken it, though, and I'm not sure if I wanna do that. I don't mind paying the premium for the apps that I like. Besides, there are a lot of free cool apps, too. I've got 2 pages of apps already and most of them are free.

Already finished Plants versus Zombies in my computer last year but the game is so addicting --- I actually purchased it for my iPad. At 5 dollars a pop. Hahaha. Okay lang. Masaya naman.

Random thought: I can't wait to go home for the holidays. I miss Manila. I miss my friends. I miss December in my hometown.

Universe, align with me. Let this December rock. Totally!

Pagod + Fulfilled = Rockin' TGIF

I launched my baby already.

Have not eaten lunch to prepare for ze preso and the trip for the Mobile Asia Congress next week.

For that, I shall bawi tonight!

Go Decanter!!!

Work hard, play harder!