Two for the Road

I need to write about this just to get it out of my system. I have never cussed in my life the way I did this evening. A cab driver earned my ire when he hit my left side mirror. I would have let it slide had he been apologetic and showed some respect and remorse. He was not even on the right lane and was actually trying to cut me!!! The nerve of that dumbass. I asked him to get out of the cab so we could talk like civilized adults. He went straight to my side mirror, felt it for scratches then said "Wala namang tama eh. Ikaw kasi mashado kang madikit!". That made me snap and I cussed the hell out of him. He strode back to his cab and drove away. I followed him and drove like a devil until I got the operator's number and reported the incident. I also reproted it to the LTFRB. It somehow made me feel better so now I am letting it go, but with a few chest pains to boot. Hahaha! Oh dear God, help me be a better person.

Yesterday was different though. I made my first traffic violation: SWERVING. Fortunately for me, I chanced upon a kind traffic police officer. He already had a ticket ready, and was pointing the directions to the Guadalupe main office of the MMDA when I said, "Boss, di ko po maaasikaso yan, busy na po ako next week eh. Bayaran ko na lang po yung penalty. How much is it gonna cost me?" to which he replied "500 ma'am." It was an ooopppsss moment because I did not have any cash apart from the 70 pesos I had in my wallet. I said "Boss paano po yan? Wala na po ako cash pero willing po talaga ako magbayad ng penalty." He could have said it is my problem not his but all he said was, "Okay Ma'am, I'll take care of this. Wag nyo na lang po uulitin." and just like that, I was off the hook. There is still goodness in this world I guess, despite the existence of some dumbass cab drivers.

Out Sick and Finding Ways to Make Me Feel Better

The pictures I chose for this post are proof of my successful attempt to feel better. These pictures, in one way or another, made me smile and reminded me of really really good times. I never fail to miss the people in these pictures as well as the places I took pictures of. I have a lot more pictures. Too tired and worn out to look for and post them though. Maybe next time.

Bangkok Chronicle

I am back after three days of being missing in action. Where have I been people might wonder...I just got back from a three-day break with my family in Thailand, Bangkok to be more precise. I had a great time if only for the fact that this was the first time in quite a while (as in really really long time) that I went on a trip with the entire family. When I travel, it's either just me and a friend (or sometimes a group of friends) or me and my sister. But this time, it was different. It's actually quite refreshing to travel with them and this time I got to take care of them. From checking in, to boarding, up to queueing at the immigration, I was in charge. And it felt really good knowing that my parents trusted me in those situations. Apart from sight-seeing in the temples, the floating market, the flashy cabs (in hot pink, purple, red, and yellow-green) and tuktuks, and the crazy shopping, I would say without a doubt that Manila is still lovelier than Bangkok. The loveliest parts of Bangkok were concentrated in Historical Rattanakosin. In there were the Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Wat Pho (where the biggest reclining buddha can be found) among the many other beautiful temples. We did not get to walk around the Grand Palace but we saw it from outside and it truly was majestic and beautiful. I can only imagine what it's like inside. But going back, I would say again that Manila is lovelier than Bangkok. For one thing, I appreciate the effort we Filipinos give in speaking English and that we really are a bunch of warm and friendly people. While I was there, I had a tremendously hard time communicatiing with people. Case in point: Sister and I went to Swenssen to try their ice cream. We ordered four scoops (two chocolate peanut butter, one plain sticky chocolate, and one rhum raisin...yummy!!!) one for each of us (including our parents) to go, for take out. When our orders arrived, it was in four separate cups but sans the cover. I asked for a cover since we ordered it to go. What did they do? They got the three scoops and put it in one plastic platter which appears to be a cover, to my dismay. Everything went downhill from there. Hahaha! Imagine my embarrassment when I had to take a 10-minute walk from there to our hotel. By the time we got to our parents' room, the ice cream was already melted. One thing I noticed though, was there were no flies swarming in Bangkok despite the not-so-clean surroundings. I wonder why...Pollution level is almost the same as what we have here in Manila. And don't get me started with the traffic. Although we went by foot for most of the time going to our destination (read: shopping centres), I experienced it to and from the airport most especially when we were in downtown Bangkok. Our tour guide, Mr. Heing advised us to just walk from our hotel since it was conveniently located near the shopping malls. He also taught us how to just ignore the tuktuk drivers who were notorious for bringing you where THEY want and not where you actually would like to go. Shopping in Bangkok was great in the sense that you really have a lot of choices as a shopper and it is cheaper (well somehow). The Platinum Mall for instance, is a one-stop fashion centre. It has six levels with just clothes and shoes in it. Beside it is the Computer City, a one-stop shop for the techies and geeks which has about five levels. Boot copies of your favorite movies could be found in here, as well as the latest in computer software and hardware. The highlight for me was the part where my sister and I explored Siam. We initially walked and explored with our parents but Mama and Papa were too tired to continue walking with us, aside from the fact that they were scheduled to watch a show and experience Bangkok's night life that time. Me and my sister were very persistent to get to Siam since she wanted to see the Siam Ocean World which was located at the basement of The Siam Paragon. It was really tiring since we had to pass through the Isetan (a shopping center on its own), the Central World Plaza (a very big shopping center as well and I liked and really nice), and a walkway very similar to what we have to get to Greenbelt only the stretch was longer. It was all worth it though. The walk was tiring but never stressful. And when we got to the Paragon, I was floored. Hahaha! Pucci, BV, Jimmy Choo among other designers were housed in that very upscale mall. I felt sad and sorry that we would be gone by the time the 70 percent sale would be on for most of the shops. Yet relief flooded me as well since I was be able to walk away unscarred (naks! well financially at least hehe). After our Ocean World adventure, my sister realized that we were too tired to walk all the way back to our hotel and that taking the cab was not an option since we were afraid to be ripped off and that we did not want to deal with difficult drivers. So we braced ourselves to take the Sky Train which eventually turned out to be a really good experience. My belief in myself that I was good in interpreting maps was reaffirmed:p There really was no need to be afraid as long as you know how to read, interpret, and ask when in doubt. I had a slight boo boo though. Hahaha! While my sister and I were trying to get a shot of The Paragon which will include me (read: a headshot with The Paragon on the background), the guard in the train station blew his whistle on us since I was about to be hit by the train while I ducked for a shot. Silly me, I was looking the opposite way for any oncoming trains. I forgot that this was a right-hand drive country and everything was the opposite in terms of my orientation. Teehehe. But I couldn't care less. They don't know us...or me anyway. Hahaha. But it would have been shocking, me being hit by a train and getting killed on the spot, all because of a headshot. Tsk tsk tsk. It would have been a rather apt though not-so-good end to a trip that didn't start well either. On our flight out to Bangkok, my tinted moisturizer was confiscated at the airport as well my Benetint. After fussing over the cologne which I had in my purse and transferred to our checked in luggage, I forgot I had those essentials in my purse as well. After overcoming the sadness and the sense of loss I felt, I shed a few tears out of frustration because I felt really stupid to not have remembered they were in my purse too. But nothing will beat what I got from the flight attendant when we were about to board. SInce I just finished crying then, I was wearing my old trusty pair of shades to cover my puffy eyes. Then the flight attendant, after I presented my boarding pass says..."The shades ma'am, for eye check." It could not have come at a better time. Hehehe. I attached some pictures for your amusement. (Pictures from top to bottom: 1. airport structure; 2. the Biggest Reclining Buddha; 3. a view at the Central World Mall; 4. Seahorses in Siam Ocean World; 5. Me and Me-an at the Central World Complex; 6. Me camwhoring in our hotel room; 7. family shot in one of the temples; 8. a buddhist columbarium; 9. just outside one of the temples we visited; 10. Me and Me-an camwhoring again; 11. an interesting signage...fresh...alive...scary:p; 12. hot pink cab)

Happy New Year!!!

That this blog has been neglected, is an understatement to say the least. It sucks I know but hey, I won't allow this to stop me from wishing everyone a Happy 2007!!!

My last post was in August?!? What have I been doing the past few months you might ask? A lot of things actually. Family and I moved to a new place, had to settle in, shop for things to fill the place, and a lot other things. Grabeh! The year 2006 went by in a blur with all its craziness, changes, dramas, highs, and lows. But all in all, it was a good year for me and my family. The past year wasn't all that rosy but it ain't that bad either. In fact, when the clock struck at 12 midnight to signal that the new year has arrived, all I ever thought of was how grateful I am for the life I have, filled with family, friends, and love(cheesy na kung cheesy!!! hehe). I did come up with a list of what I intend to do more of and what I want to rid myself of this year. You know me, I am a work in progress. I will keep the list to myself though (para di mausog). But I do hope that all of us would have a great year ahead and that each of us would be inspired to be better persons that we ought to be.

Happy new year everyone!!!