It's my last day at work.
I should be sad, but...
...I got my last paycheck with severance pay, paid unused sick leaves, and paid unused vacation leaves. Cha-ching!
Now, I can afford my plane ticket back to Seattle! HeHe!
Note to self: 2nd best thing about working in the Philippines (next to thirteenth-month pay) is severance pay!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Road Well Traveled
I'm actually going to do it. All tickets have been booked!
While I traveled "the road less traveled by" this past 1.5 years, I'm going to do the opposite on my S.E. Asia trip. I will just hit the metropolitan cities/tourist attractions only, without worrying too much about "absorbing the culture" and all that jazz. This is my first multi-city trip afterall and I want to make sure that I come out alive. Oh, and another rule is I'm avoiding all white-sand beaches; I'm beached-out, thanks to my beloved Wow Philippines tour.
Without further ado, here is my set itinerary:
April 13: Jakarta
April 17: Kuala Lumpur
April 21: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh
April 27: Bangkok (Again? Again!)
April 30: Macau/Hong Kong
Okay, that looks rather wimpy, but I'm a newbie, remember? I had wanted to go to Vietnam, but I would've had to arrange for my visa prior to traveling and I don't want to do that. We'll save that when I go to China, India, and Taiwan before I turn 30.
What I don't have is my Manila-Tokyo-Seattle or Manila-Seoul-Seattle ticket. So far, either one will cost an arm and a leg if I make a stopover longer than a day. Hmph! I was thiiiiiiiiiis close to hugging The Little Twin Stars in real life, man! *SIGH.
However, I did find this. I figured, I can go back to the States, drop off my stuff, and head back out to Asia and hit up all the expensive destinations: Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in 21 days. That's if I have enough money for the fare, accommodations, food, and oh yeah, local transportation after S.E. Asia has been said and done.
Donations? Donations, anyone? ;P
While I traveled "the road less traveled by" this past 1.5 years, I'm going to do the opposite on my S.E. Asia trip. I will just hit the metropolitan cities/tourist attractions only, without worrying too much about "absorbing the culture" and all that jazz. This is my first multi-city trip afterall and I want to make sure that I come out alive. Oh, and another rule is I'm avoiding all white-sand beaches; I'm beached-out, thanks to my beloved Wow Philippines tour.
Without further ado, here is my set itinerary:
April 13: Jakarta
April 17: Kuala Lumpur
April 21: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh
April 27: Bangkok (Again? Again!)
April 30: Macau/Hong Kong
Okay, that looks rather wimpy, but I'm a newbie, remember? I had wanted to go to Vietnam, but I would've had to arrange for my visa prior to traveling and I don't want to do that. We'll save that when I go to China, India, and Taiwan before I turn 30.
What I don't have is my Manila-Tokyo-Seattle or Manila-Seoul-Seattle ticket. So far, either one will cost an arm and a leg if I make a stopover longer than a day. Hmph! I was thiiiiiiiiiis close to hugging The Little Twin Stars in real life, man! *SIGH.
However, I did find this. I figured, I can go back to the States, drop off my stuff, and head back out to Asia and hit up all the expensive destinations: Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in 21 days. That's if I have enough money for the fare, accommodations, food, and oh yeah, local transportation after S.E. Asia has been said and done.
Donations? Donations, anyone? ;P
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Flipped to the Other Side
It is against my personal values to buy Havaianas. For me, flipflops should cost no more than $3 during the summer season. So you could just imagine my disbelief when I found out that people in the Philippines pay $14 for a bunch of rubber soles.
Though, I do have a pair of pink ones myself, a gift from Ninang last Christmas 2005. Well, after almost two years, I also have this pair:
Technically, I didn't buy them. Salve got them for me as a going-away gift (gotta love my co-workers). I actually just wanted the black slim ones; I've been asking Tet about them since February, but haven't seen them in the stores that were supposed to have them. On Sunday, I found a pair at Chocolate at Shangri-La. I still didn't buy them then because I still couldn’t get myself to do it. In fact, I could think of 10 billion other ways to spend my P695...all food-related, by the way. HeHe.
When Salve said she was going to buy me this Zara umbrella that cost some P1,200, I told her that I would rather have the relatively cheaper Havaianas. She said okay, so we trooped down to Shangri-La today after work. (See, my co-workers have this ability to act like a pseudo-boyfriend to me--taking me out to dinner, buying me stuff as gifts, watching movies with me, the works. Who the heck needs a boyfriend when these people are around?)
After she saw the black slim ones, she thought the ones with the flowers looked better. I reminded her that those flowers cost P200 more. She said she'll fork over the money for the price of the black ones and I pay the difference. By some evil force, I did give in to this arrangement. Now I understand how Philippine senators become balimbing all of a sudden. HaHa!
If it's any consolation, they're University of Washington colors. Go Huskies!
Though, I do have a pair of pink ones myself, a gift from Ninang last Christmas 2005. Well, after almost two years, I also have this pair:
Technically, I didn't buy them. Salve got them for me as a going-away gift (gotta love my co-workers). I actually just wanted the black slim ones; I've been asking Tet about them since February, but haven't seen them in the stores that were supposed to have them. On Sunday, I found a pair at Chocolate at Shangri-La. I still didn't buy them then because I still couldn’t get myself to do it. In fact, I could think of 10 billion other ways to spend my P695...all food-related, by the way. HeHe.
When Salve said she was going to buy me this Zara umbrella that cost some P1,200, I told her that I would rather have the relatively cheaper Havaianas. She said okay, so we trooped down to Shangri-La today after work. (See, my co-workers have this ability to act like a pseudo-boyfriend to me--taking me out to dinner, buying me stuff as gifts, watching movies with me, the works. Who the heck needs a boyfriend when these people are around?)
After she saw the black slim ones, she thought the ones with the flowers looked better. I reminded her that those flowers cost P200 more. She said she'll fork over the money for the price of the black ones and I pay the difference. By some evil force, I did give in to this arrangement. Now I understand how Philippine senators become balimbing all of a sudden. HaHa!
If it's any consolation, they're University of Washington colors. Go Huskies!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Manila, Manila
“…Gaya gaya, puto maya.”
After 26 years, I finally know what puto maya is! After my usual spicy tuyo flakes at Via Mare, I decided to not order the bibingka and listen to Lilian’s suggestion. Hence, I ended up learning something new for the day.
Puto maya turned out to be sticky rice (in Via Mare’s version, with sesame seeds on top), with fresh yellow mango and caramel-like syrup. It was good and filling. Yum!
But the cultural lessons didn’t end there. After buying our bus tickets for our Northern Luzon trip this coming weekend, we went to the National Museum aka Pambansang Museo.
Trivia: When you ride the LRT1, you’ll see a building with “Pambansang Museo” written on it as you approach the Central Station. On the other side of that building, the one facing Intramuros, it says “National Museum.” Well, well, well, it turns out that the museum isn’t in that building! The museum is actually in another building to the left of it! Talk about tricking people!
Unlike the San Agustin Museum, the National Museum was air-conditioned, funded by corporations/individuals, and well-maintained (Though as far as what’s inside, I prefer that San Agustin Museum). There you can find the remnants of the San Diego ship and the skull of the Tabon cave woman. Ha! Yet another proof that women survive longer than men. ;P
I felt there wasn’t much there as I had expected of a “Museum of the Filipino People,” but I went on a Sunday when admission was free so who am I to complain?
Afterwards, Lilian and I ventured to the Fuente circle where the big Lapu-Lapu statue is located. Lil and I said to eachother, “What the heck is Lapu-Lapu doing here?” After so many trips to the Visayas, I’ve come to associate Lapu-Lapu with Cebu.
In the background was the Department of Tourism building where I was at last February 14. The Lapu-Lapu statue turned out to be what I kept seeing from the balcony of Ace’s office that day. Yihee, memories! HaHa!
Walking a little further, Lilian and I ended up in Luneta. Now back in 2002, people kept telling me not to go there because it wasn’t a safe place. As I have proven over and over, this world is simply full of paranoia.
I didn’t feel unsafe at all. Luneta is full of people, at least on Sundays, just sitting on the grass with their families and loved ones. As usual, there were a few tourists on the loose, too.
For me, if you haven’t been to Luneta, then you haven’t been to Manila. Corny as it may sound, but I felt really Filipino there. Along the walkway were uniformed sari-sari stores, selling their usual drinks and sitsiryas. Roaming around were the one-man mobile vendors selling green mango, taho, and dirty ice cream. I assumed the fishball vendor was out sick so I didn’t see him. Kids were running around while their parents were sitting on the grass. All these were going on while the cool Manila Bay breezes were keeping everyone from running to the nearest mall.
Near the Roxas Boulevard side, markers were placed where Jose Rizal and the 3 priests (Burgos, Gomez, Zamora) were executed. There is also a wall where Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” is written along with its Tagalog and English versions.
And Luneta won’t be Luneta without the Rizal statue with two armed guards who I always used to just see from a car window as I passed by it on Friday afternoons in 2002. It’s actually pretty nice with the Philippine flags flying high on both sides. You can’t help but feel a little patriotic.
Lilian and I walked along Roxas Boulevard to find a place where we can finally just put our feet up. We passed by my old office – the U.S. Embassy - and I couldn’t believe it has been 5 years already since I interned there. Man, I am getting old! We were thirsty and was going to park our butts at the Starbucks that I used to frequent, but I reminded Lilian that if we just wait a little longer, real food awaited us.
We walked towards the Ermita Church and hailed a jeep to take us to my former suki mall in 2002 – Robinson’s Ermita. And no trip to Manila would be complete without eating at Aristocrat on the top level of the mall (which didn’t used to be there…my former co-intern, Alexis, and I used to have to hail a cab to go to the Roxas Boulevard branch to get our Filipino food fix). I added an order of sago’t gulaman with my usual boneless chicken barbecue. O di ba, Pinoy na Pinoy!
Ahh, Manila. If we could just fix some of our major problems in the country, I wouldn’t have to “miss” this place because I would stay here for good. Sniff.
After 26 years, I finally know what puto maya is! After my usual spicy tuyo flakes at Via Mare, I decided to not order the bibingka and listen to Lilian’s suggestion. Hence, I ended up learning something new for the day.
Puto maya turned out to be sticky rice (in Via Mare’s version, with sesame seeds on top), with fresh yellow mango and caramel-like syrup. It was good and filling. Yum!
But the cultural lessons didn’t end there. After buying our bus tickets for our Northern Luzon trip this coming weekend, we went to the National Museum aka Pambansang Museo.
Trivia: When you ride the LRT1, you’ll see a building with “Pambansang Museo” written on it as you approach the Central Station. On the other side of that building, the one facing Intramuros, it says “National Museum.” Well, well, well, it turns out that the museum isn’t in that building! The museum is actually in another building to the left of it! Talk about tricking people!
Unlike the San Agustin Museum, the National Museum was air-conditioned, funded by corporations/individuals, and well-maintained (Though as far as what’s inside, I prefer that San Agustin Museum). There you can find the remnants of the San Diego ship and the skull of the Tabon cave woman. Ha! Yet another proof that women survive longer than men. ;P
I felt there wasn’t much there as I had expected of a “Museum of the Filipino People,” but I went on a Sunday when admission was free so who am I to complain?
Afterwards, Lilian and I ventured to the Fuente circle where the big Lapu-Lapu statue is located. Lil and I said to eachother, “What the heck is Lapu-Lapu doing here?” After so many trips to the Visayas, I’ve come to associate Lapu-Lapu with Cebu.
In the background was the Department of Tourism building where I was at last February 14. The Lapu-Lapu statue turned out to be what I kept seeing from the balcony of Ace’s office that day. Yihee, memories! HaHa!
Walking a little further, Lilian and I ended up in Luneta. Now back in 2002, people kept telling me not to go there because it wasn’t a safe place. As I have proven over and over, this world is simply full of paranoia.
I didn’t feel unsafe at all. Luneta is full of people, at least on Sundays, just sitting on the grass with their families and loved ones. As usual, there were a few tourists on the loose, too.
For me, if you haven’t been to Luneta, then you haven’t been to Manila. Corny as it may sound, but I felt really Filipino there. Along the walkway were uniformed sari-sari stores, selling their usual drinks and sitsiryas. Roaming around were the one-man mobile vendors selling green mango, taho, and dirty ice cream. I assumed the fishball vendor was out sick so I didn’t see him. Kids were running around while their parents were sitting on the grass. All these were going on while the cool Manila Bay breezes were keeping everyone from running to the nearest mall.
Near the Roxas Boulevard side, markers were placed where Jose Rizal and the 3 priests (Burgos, Gomez, Zamora) were executed. There is also a wall where Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” is written along with its Tagalog and English versions.
And Luneta won’t be Luneta without the Rizal statue with two armed guards who I always used to just see from a car window as I passed by it on Friday afternoons in 2002. It’s actually pretty nice with the Philippine flags flying high on both sides. You can’t help but feel a little patriotic.
Lilian and I walked along Roxas Boulevard to find a place where we can finally just put our feet up. We passed by my old office – the U.S. Embassy - and I couldn’t believe it has been 5 years already since I interned there. Man, I am getting old! We were thirsty and was going to park our butts at the Starbucks that I used to frequent, but I reminded Lilian that if we just wait a little longer, real food awaited us.
We walked towards the Ermita Church and hailed a jeep to take us to my former suki mall in 2002 – Robinson’s Ermita. And no trip to Manila would be complete without eating at Aristocrat on the top level of the mall (which didn’t used to be there…my former co-intern, Alexis, and I used to have to hail a cab to go to the Roxas Boulevard branch to get our Filipino food fix). I added an order of sago’t gulaman with my usual boneless chicken barbecue. O di ba, Pinoy na Pinoy!
Ahh, Manila. If we could just fix some of our major problems in the country, I wouldn’t have to “miss” this place because I would stay here for good. Sniff.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Softer than a Softie
Big girls don’t cry. I guess that makes me a friggen little girl then.
My See You Later party was held today at work. I thought I would make it without shedding a tear, but I should’ve known better: tears fell continuously. Dammit.
My See You Later party was held today at work. I thought I would make it without shedding a tear, but I should’ve known better: tears fell continuously. Dammit.
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