A one-live cat's life

@ Last!! Snow!

In 28 years of my life, I haven't seen snow!  Growing up in a tropical country where the season is only either wet or dry, Snow is very foreign object to me!  Thus, experiencing it will be overwhleming i guess.  Ive been to places that do get snow, but never was i able to be on the winter season. 

Never did i think that in Australia it do snow, and so when i have been hearing from my colleagues and learning from them the ski-resorts and area where it snow, i think it is a good opportunity to go and see and feel how winter with snow feels like! 

Starting month of June winter in Australia starts, it is very different from the rest of the world.  Some stores even have this signs saying Christmas in july! and they do sell Christmas ornaments and of Christmas motiffs.

Anyway, I am glad that there's this community called CouchSurfing.  Where i posted a message of interest to go see the snow.  After a month of correspondence, we were able to arrange the trip with the big organizing of James (our host and who drove us during the trip), and our host in Aulbury (boundary of NSW and Victoria).

I took a day off from work on a Friday, and we started the journey to Aulbury by 1430.  Arriving James' house at 2100hrs.

@600 we left Aulbury and headed to Falls Creek. We travelled on two vehicles.  Travellers with me were James, Steve, Luanne (fellow 1st timer to see snow), Stephanie (fellow 1st timer to ski), James, Kaye, Nonie and Josh.

Arrived at Mount beauty to get our gear hires (ski clothes, skis and boards - 85UASD)  Left the shop at 830is and arrived the Falls creek resort by past 930.  On our way to the mountains, it was a zigzaggy two lane road.  As you go higher towards the alps, you can see the vegetation changing from leafy to branchy kind.  I was in awe, seeing the Snow caps from afar!

We took the lifts and lessons for beginners which is 65UASd each.  I did have a few runs while waiting for lunch and the lessons which i did have a few fall since i do not know how to stop.  But looking at the slopes, it do looks scarey sliding down! and skiers just seem to do it so easily without any effort!

We took the shuttle and cable up towards the lessons area.  And so glad to see a large group of adult doing the first time skiing!! I am not so old after all to learn to ski :).  We have a Austrian female instructor.  She taught us how to side-step, ski and snow-plow (stop).  that was after 2 hours with 9 other beginners.  I say that the lessons did help me learn to stop and do it properly.  after which i never did fall again!  And the lessons also gave you more confidence.

 

I did have a few runs on the beginners slope.  It was of help being a runner that my legs are not getting tired from this activity,  although my arms did get sore because most of the time carrying the skis when we were still to do the learning.  (I think my free weight-training and light equipment training helped me carry my gear compared, literally the boots, and the clothes and ski and pole are of the same weight as me).

It was a plan to go again on a Sunday, but James our host was having a going away party in his house, having partied and sore during the day, everybody decided to just sleep and rest.  It was indeed a very pleasureable experience.  The road trip, the couch surfing and the ski.  I would love to learn more and go skiing again in the future.

Steve and Stephanie and me- the night of James' Partey!

@ James house in the city of Aulbury

Why not travel?

Contemplating on a haven for backpackers, I was thinking, what made me love traveling?

As I go back to my younger, kid days, I remember that during Summers and New years day we head down low lands where my dad's origin is.  We go there to relax for a day or a weekend in the beach.  On the other hand, we travel too up north on my mom's side to the mountainous areas and join rituals of their tribe.

Not until I was 12 years old, when I was in 6th grade.  I can remember that was the first traveling experience I had without my parents or my family/sisters.  We were going on a Regional Science Fair, I was with my team mates at school and with my coach.  I was excited and happy and not scared at all.   I can not remember that I did cry looking for home.  Most probably is because our coaches were good and nice and the team was good.  That is one thing that makes traveling a whole lot different, your travel mates.  So from that time on I think I just didn't mind being away from home even if it means school work, but getting to know different people, a new place, new culture etc.  Lucky should I say that at school that was what gave me opportunity to travel until I was in highschool.  Fairs, conferences, sport meets.  I just remember one conference that I have to go alone without any coach and it was different.  Tough emotionally but I learned to be independent from that time on.

Now that I am OLDER yea older … I travel for business and leisure on my own or with friends.

Anyway I listed some question on my self interview (hahaha!) about my interest in traveling:

Longest period away from home: 6 months, I was already working but I was away from my own place, my friends and family for 6 months.  It is long enough since Pinoy culture have very close family ties.

When you travel where do you stay? Hotels - business travel/holidays; Travelling as a backpacker: hostels/guesthouses/friends houses/travellers houses (through couchsurfing.com)

Any favorite accomocation? Hotel: although they do not have the home feeling you pay for the service and the nice room - Ritz Carlton in Jakarta.  Guesthouse: Youth Guesthouse in Japan - clean and friendly.; couch: a number of favorites

Favorite Airlines? Singapore Airline! I don't mind sitting in the economy class.  Good food, nice service from the staff, good entertainment system, staff treat you well
Item you always bring when you travel: a book, cellphone and camera

Favorite destination? So far from my travels abroad, its Luang Prabang, Laos! Very simple life and idyllic envronment.  Locally: its Bohol and Palawan.  When you travel as well, even if you've been in the same destination, what makes it different experience is the people you travel with.

How do you get around: Business: taxi, backpacking: all kinds of the public transpo, and walk a lot!

What have you learned so far from traveling: A lot that money the money you spent can not even buy! The experience first hand of the culture, language, people, history that is very different from the books while you were learning at school.  Aside from that, it taught me to be more independent, got more sensitive of who really am I, you learn life while you travel.

Everyone should travel because … it makes you grow maturer and life is short.

Something you wish to do whenever you travel that you always don't do? Sketch! Or write a real travel blog of the destination … just that there are too many things to do, to less time!

My Own Exodus

Okey after running the exodus run, i am on my schedule of doing my exodus.  My move.  Now i think i know why I won the race during that exodus themed run.

I spared going home to my folks to Baguio with the usual Holyweek rest to prepare and do my packing.

I am not leaving because i think Philippines is a not so well country, Its not because i do not like staying here.  In Fact i am okey staying and happy with my life in the Philippines.

But getting an an opportunity that do not come as often is big consideration for me if it meant personal and career growth.  Taking advantage of being single it was easier to decide.  yes i want to move to Sydney.

I know i will be missing a lot.  My Family, close relatives, friends and colleagues the country, the nihgt life, the shopping time, the cheap everything and the good life in the Philippines.  But I know i will still be coming back soon who knows.

a mix of emotions.  Anxiety, Excitement, sadness is what i am going through.  been doing my packing and my meeting of my friends and eating a lot lately.  I have been on "sick leave" for 2 weeks now at work after which a week of wait before my flight. I needed all the well wishes friends give as i know i will need it and i will miss the company of the people who in one way made me grow on the period of 8 years in Makati.

b3n's pabaon for me :)

Related Links from friends

Roselle
Banggigay

1st Backpacking trip

Have thought of going backpacking soon with a friend Marah to Europe, then got more inspired after seeing Australia, I promised my self to explore the world if i can if i have the opportunity.

I was deployed for a project in Malaysia for more than a month last November 2007, and having 25 days leaves and my offset days from overtime work, I deciced why not travel south east asia after my assignment at work before going home for Christmas.

Weekend before my 2nd trip to Malaysia I bought my backpack with Dan's help to look for the right one.  Being a very novice backpacker I didn't know that its not just buying a backpack! but trying it out just like a dress, which should fit you.  I have to choose carefully what clothes to bring as i am going for my work and my vacation.

I planned the backpacking trip more than a month ahead.  I did not intend to go alone as i wanted to be with friends, unfortunately they were too busy that time as it will be days before Christmas. With my budget and time, I scheduled a 10 day trip, 4 countries, 5 destinations.  Chiangmai, Thailand; Luang Prabang, Laos; Hanoi, Vietnam; Saigon, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I have two good hosts for accomodation Esther from Singapore in ChiangMai and Cameron and Geni in Hanoi. Rest of it, Laos, Saigon and Cambodia will be Guesthouses/traveller Hotels.

Have met new good friends and people aside from my hosts: Mike- Canada; Jerre-US; Carlos- Friend i met in Japan

Common reaction of people i met; "Are you travelling alone?, Where you from? Are you Crazy? So small asian girl travelling alone!, never met a Filipino as a traveller"

Highlights
ChiangMai: Staying in my Host place, such nice place beside River ping, good food :), Riding the elephant, well okey I admit.. poor elephants! they get chained and owned by people.. i didnt know that after the ride, visited lots of Wats

LuangPrabang: The boat trip to the Buddha caves, traversing Mekong River, watching the moutain ranges covered by early morning mists, enjoying the warm peaceful characteristics of the Lao people

Hanoi: Staying in Cameron's and Geni's place, eating good vietnamese food, did bay tour and visited the Cao Dai Temple.  Road Rage hopped on Geni's scooter on our way for dinner

Saigon: first time to ride a scooter from the airport with my backpack doing the budget way!  Visited CuChi tunnels from the Vietnam-American war

Cambodia: Visited Angkor Wat and nearby temples

Duration: 545hrs-KL December 13, 2007 - 2045hrs - Manila December 23, 2007 Mode of transportation: By Air - AirAsia, Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Singapore Airlines

(Accom @ ChiangMai, My Backpack, Mike and me in Laos foreground his guesthouse, accom in Laos, Jerre and me in Tamarind Restaurant, Saigon; accom in Hanoi, Me and Geni with her bike, Cambodia accom, Laos taxi, Saigon's accom, cambodia's tuktuk, too plenty bikes in Vietnam!, rikshaw in Saigon)

Sagada Revisited

14 years from last visit of Sagada, on December 26, my friends from CouchSurfing Dan and Glenn. We boarded the bus for 730 trip at Dangwa Tranco Terminal, expecting to arrive after lunch. 

My first visit of Sagada was when i was 14, 2nd year high school for a press conference competition.  I was with my team mates, now i am with my friends.  The roads changed, better and paved most of it.  There are still bits and parts that are off road but it wasnt too bad after being there when you get the free massage and face powder 14 years ago.

Arrived in Sagada 2PM, with our backpacks we walked to look George's guest house which was recomended by high school friend from Marah. the room was pink funny having two guys in tow to stay in a very girly colored room.  Room is not bad, we have our own toilet/bath with warm/cold shower and our own balcony overlooking the street and a hill.

Highlights of the trip:
- went to echo valley
- visited the hanging coffins
- ate and sleep a lot (youghurt house - recommended food place)
- attempt to go do connection caving but dislocated my toe, mission aborted, Dan and Glenn went without me the next day.
- Eating good lemon and egg pie from a lady in the market. One of the best pies ive tasted, considering she improvised her pie boxes out of cartons of litro softdrinks!

Duration: December 26-29, 2007

my minor injury: (embarrassing that it was the local who got injured!)

Indonesian notes

indonesia spending my longest offshore work in Jakarta for more than 4 months now made me learn a lot of things. just some notes
1. Most taxis are franchised under few companies not more than 10. 2. Not all can speak English. Not all of the taxi driver, not all of the hotel staff not all of the mall store attendants, i ended up buying my bahasa indonesia book. Good for me its much closer to the Ilocano dialect.
3. DVDs are so cheap!.. oh yea i mean pirated DVDs ... 6000 Rupiah that is more than half a dollar.
4. Shopping can be fun for Brands that they produce in the country - Lacoste, Wacoal and Polo
5. it is a challenge for an APAC resident to get passed the immigration when you are for business trip without a business visa. So far they are the only asian country i've encoutered to make your life difficult to be able to enter the country. Now be worry when they ask you for the "Indonesian souvenir"
6. the only country where i saw a mosque opposite a catholic cathedral, only a country with a side by side catholic, jewish church and a catholic church
7. KFC's have no gravy, and not all have plastic utensils, you have to eat with your hands
8. I attended a catholic mass on a sunday before the Hariraya week and it seem like the church try to be harmonious and repectful of the Muslim fellowmen by encouraging churchgoers to greet Muslim fellowmen for their celebration
9. they have this mikrolet a mini van converted as a public utility vehicle, il still prefer the Philippine's jeepney
10. It is just like Manila instead of churches its mosques
11. Hariraya is celebrated just like Christmas but i guess more grand in the religiuos sense. Some of the sects start their hariraya prayer from 6pm to 6am the next morning
12. During the Hariraya the bring out their gongs and drums and put up bonfire outside of their house and have some fireworks
13. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country not just in south east-asia but in the world
14. Bali's faith is 90% Hinduism/Buhddism 10% others
15. Balinese speak good English and are friendly
16. Indonesia is not really what most Westerners think as a stereotype of a terrorist filled country.
17. If Filipinos are 'balat-sibuyas' Indonesians are more 'balat-sibuyas'

...haha so i thought as well, i sent my farewell and thank you letter to my Indonesia project team mates 2 weeks ago ... and here I am again. I was back earlier as I thought! Flattering, to see how gladness you can see from the faces (sincere or not) of my colleagues that I am back for just days ... I hope I deliver of what they expect, and make my vacation cut short worthwhile in exchange of some of my Holiday vacation days.