It's amazing who you meet in the corridors.
Today we met Walter, the Belgian French-speaking pianist who lives one floor below, and he was a great talker. Philippe just chatted him up en Francaise, so they conversed in French, naturellement. I joined the elevator, so being polite, chirped 'Bon soire'. Walter was pleased, Elle parle francaise? To which my beloved said, in perfect English, "Just a bit". Ah, bon, said our new friend.
We live in a 9-storey condominium unit, low key, in a cul-de-sac street. Not really high profile, but according to this gentleman, houses great personalities. Walter relayed the story of one of the first tenants here, who's been living at the 9th floor for the last 20 years: he was the counselor of the counselor of the King of Thailand. There was also Monsieur Lieutenant General, the first Thai who graduated from the London School of Aviation (yes, Khun Lieutenant was a pilot).
Then there was Marco, the Chef in Bangkok's premiere Italian Restaurant L'Opera, who lives at the 9th. There was the Italian dude at the fifth, who was the go-to guy for anything Italian. We were promptly given a small pint of Italian traditional cheese to sample that Signore's produce.
Walter says that Bangkok is full of surprising personalities. My favorite story was how Walter, a piano teacher by profession, knew the Dalai Lama's personal adviser--also a pianist himself. "This man," Walter said, "is Spielman's son's best friend." That promptly gave me goosebumps; The Pianist's (from the Polanski film) son was three degrees from me just by speaking to my neighbor one floor down.
There are other stories, like the Yakuza who opens the door in his briefs; about the crazy lady from the 7th floor; and the former owner of L'Opera who sold his resto to a German for 60 million big ones.
Walter promptly invited us to have Happy Hour at the Italian Restaurant across the street one day, where we can dine on cheese and fresh bread avec Sangiovese, all for less than THB300. And then, in a gesture of hospitality, gifted us with a packet of authentic Japanese green tea and a box of Ceylon apple infusion, which he had in abundance as supplied by his piano students.
It was a good evening meeting the neighbors. I think I'm liking them already.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Exciting!
Season 2 started with a BANG.
Oh yes, it's an explosive season premiere, and man, was it a rollercoaster of an episode today. Ibang klase talaga to work at a Regional Office.
Siyempre, drama queen that I am, merong may-I-cry-with-matching-hagulgol moment ngayon. Nothing alarming, the pressure to do well (overachiever kasi ang inyong lingkod) was just too much. Nakakaloka, buti na lang I have another language to fall back on. Imagine, kung Ingles lang ang wika ko, ang boring siguro ng buhay ko! Ang saya saya magTagalog ngayon, lalo na to make taas my kilay with matching rolling of the eyes and raising the shoulders. Sarap ilabas ang inner bakla to make taray, I swear. Without going into the gory details, this week packed a wallop in the stress category. Mega super gigantic humongous over sa sobra as in tremendous talaga!
If what I'm writing sounds like incomprehensible gibberish to you, then, my dear reader, you have fully understood my day today.
I'm just thankful for music (the Rat Pack, thank you Mr. Chairman of the Board), for my family (love to Mama and Papa), and my cherished Cheri (without you, hun, I would have had a terrible meltdown by now. mwah! mwah!)
Buti na lang din, may Diyos akong makapangyarihan at napakahenerosong magmahal. Amen!
Oh, and such great timing too. Actually, I celebrated my 11th month in Bkk on Monday, and wow, coming full circle soon. Woohooo!
As I close this entry, Ol' Blue Eyes was crooning, "Dream your dream!"
Oh yes, it's an explosive season premiere, and man, was it a rollercoaster of an episode today. Ibang klase talaga to work at a Regional Office.
Siyempre, drama queen that I am, merong may-I-cry-with-matching-hagulgol moment ngayon. Nothing alarming, the pressure to do well (overachiever kasi ang inyong lingkod) was just too much. Nakakaloka, buti na lang I have another language to fall back on. Imagine, kung Ingles lang ang wika ko, ang boring siguro ng buhay ko! Ang saya saya magTagalog ngayon, lalo na to make taas my kilay with matching rolling of the eyes and raising the shoulders. Sarap ilabas ang inner bakla to make taray, I swear. Without going into the gory details, this week packed a wallop in the stress category. Mega super gigantic humongous over sa sobra as in tremendous talaga!
If what I'm writing sounds like incomprehensible gibberish to you, then, my dear reader, you have fully understood my day today.
I'm just thankful for music (the Rat Pack, thank you Mr. Chairman of the Board), for my family (love to Mama and Papa), and my cherished Cheri (without you, hun, I would have had a terrible meltdown by now. mwah! mwah!)
Buti na lang din, may Diyos akong makapangyarihan at napakahenerosong magmahal. Amen!
Oh, and such great timing too. Actually, I celebrated my 11th month in Bkk on Monday, and wow, coming full circle soon. Woohooo!
As I close this entry, Ol' Blue Eyes was crooning, "Dream your dream!"
Monday, September 5, 2011
Season Finale: Mangroving in Krabi
I love great season enders, and in my teleserye life, I think today is the best season ender for Biyaheng Bakawan Season 1.
Remember, I started this blog almost a year ago. Episode 1 was 'The Big Move', when I flew to Bangkok on the eve of my 30th birthday. Only the hotel front desk officer wished me happy birthday then, because no one in this land knew I was celebrating my third decade that day. Episode 2 was 'Clear as Mud', when I was unsure of what I was doing in Bangkok chasing my mangrove dream (sabi nga ni Lourd Ernest deVeyra, "Nakaka-t*ng*n* this, di ba?"). Episode 3 was 'Sri Lanka: The Emerald Isle'; then, Episode 4 'Buddha Bless You' immediately followed by 'Pilipinas Kong Mahal'.
'Pas de parle Americain' (I and II) was a two-part episode concluded by 'BS kayong lahat!!!' (I was having a very uneasy first and second quarters). Ilang episodes na ba? I think I have at least 13, complete with a season break when I went back home to Manila this June ('Time Out'). There was also this most tumultuous time in Phuket when I went through my Eureka moment ('Joie de Vivre'). Then came the Season CliffHangers, 'Oui, Je T'aime Aussi' and 'Route 66' (remind me to write about these later). I think today is the best day, though, and today is the Season Finale.
I call it "I, Mangrover."
Yep, I've come full circle in my mangrove-chasing career. I've reached my pinnacle. Today, I reconnected with one of the mangrove world's foremost mangrove heroes (Dr. Norm Duke, the original Dr. Jones of the mangroving world). Tomorrow, I celebrate my 100th* visit to a mangrove forest, and it's in the Krabi estuary, a RAMSAR site. I've been chasing mangroves since I was 10, and for 20 years, it's been a great journey. Since devoting my early career to mangroves, I've been all over the Philippines, and almost all over the world. I've been to Singapore; to Viet Nam; to Malaysia; to France; to New Zealand; to Sri Lanka; and to Thailand. Ibang klase talaga ang buhay kasama ng mga bakawan!
Tapos na ang Season 1. Ano kaya ang darating sa Season 2?
Abangan!
*indicative of how I lost count of how many mangrove forests I've seen and visited in the past 10 years
Remember, I started this blog almost a year ago. Episode 1 was 'The Big Move', when I flew to Bangkok on the eve of my 30th birthday. Only the hotel front desk officer wished me happy birthday then, because no one in this land knew I was celebrating my third decade that day. Episode 2 was 'Clear as Mud', when I was unsure of what I was doing in Bangkok chasing my mangrove dream (sabi nga ni Lourd Ernest deVeyra, "Nakaka-t*ng*n* this, di ba?"). Episode 3 was 'Sri Lanka: The Emerald Isle'; then, Episode 4 'Buddha Bless You' immediately followed by 'Pilipinas Kong Mahal'.
'Pas de parle Americain' (I and II) was a two-part episode concluded by 'BS kayong lahat!!!' (I was having a very uneasy first and second quarters). Ilang episodes na ba? I think I have at least 13, complete with a season break when I went back home to Manila this June ('Time Out'). There was also this most tumultuous time in Phuket when I went through my Eureka moment ('Joie de Vivre'). Then came the Season CliffHangers, 'Oui, Je T'aime Aussi' and 'Route 66' (remind me to write about these later). I think today is the best day, though, and today is the Season Finale.
I call it "I, Mangrover."
Yep, I've come full circle in my mangrove-chasing career. I've reached my pinnacle. Today, I reconnected with one of the mangrove world's foremost mangrove heroes (Dr. Norm Duke, the original Dr. Jones of the mangroving world). Tomorrow, I celebrate my 100th* visit to a mangrove forest, and it's in the Krabi estuary, a RAMSAR site. I've been chasing mangroves since I was 10, and for 20 years, it's been a great journey. Since devoting my early career to mangroves, I've been all over the Philippines, and almost all over the world. I've been to Singapore; to Viet Nam; to Malaysia; to France; to New Zealand; to Sri Lanka; and to Thailand. Ibang klase talaga ang buhay kasama ng mga bakawan!
Tapos na ang Season 1. Ano kaya ang darating sa Season 2?
Abangan!
*indicative of how I lost count of how many mangrove forests I've seen and visited in the past 10 years
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Dawn magic
I woke up today at 4am, and I relived why I love waking up at daybreak.
Sky's pitch black, and everything is still. It's stormy in south Thailand now, but waking up in the stillness gave me that feeling of being in a cocoon.
I like waking up before everyone else because it lets me be with myself. I remember thinking this morning, "This is bliss." My creativity and concentration is at its finest before the first hint of sunlight, and I feel I can do anything.
Pag kasi gising na lahat ng tao, nakakaasar na magtrabaho.
In the stillness, I can think. In the quiet, I can concentrate. There is a hum of well-being, and I feel all is right with the world. I can write, I can think straight, I can hear my heart speak what it truly wants to do--and that is doing what it wants without being disturbed or interrupted.
Pero pagsikat ng araw, at paggising ng mga kapitbahay, wala na. Magulo ang mga tao e; andaming demands sa oras. Their very presence rattles me.
Pag may araw na, the magic is gone. Pakiramdam ko laging may nakamasid; hindi ako mapalagay. Hindi ako makakilos ng gusto ko. Laging pigil-hininga. Constrained. I dread the day kasi naiisip ko, "emails na naman; people na naman; computer na naman!"
This should not be the case. Hindi ako dapat mabuhay ng ganito. Kailangang may magbago.
But in the meantime, I am glad to just have relived that moment of peace and calm. Happy ako to feel like I used to when I still woke up before daybreak. I should do it more often.
Maybe one day, when I get my own place with a view of the sea.
Sky's pitch black, and everything is still. It's stormy in south Thailand now, but waking up in the stillness gave me that feeling of being in a cocoon.
I like waking up before everyone else because it lets me be with myself. I remember thinking this morning, "This is bliss." My creativity and concentration is at its finest before the first hint of sunlight, and I feel I can do anything.
Pag kasi gising na lahat ng tao, nakakaasar na magtrabaho.
In the stillness, I can think. In the quiet, I can concentrate. There is a hum of well-being, and I feel all is right with the world. I can write, I can think straight, I can hear my heart speak what it truly wants to do--and that is doing what it wants without being disturbed or interrupted.
Pero pagsikat ng araw, at paggising ng mga kapitbahay, wala na. Magulo ang mga tao e; andaming demands sa oras. Their very presence rattles me.
Pag may araw na, the magic is gone. Pakiramdam ko laging may nakamasid; hindi ako mapalagay. Hindi ako makakilos ng gusto ko. Laging pigil-hininga. Constrained. I dread the day kasi naiisip ko, "emails na naman; people na naman; computer na naman!"
This should not be the case. Hindi ako dapat mabuhay ng ganito. Kailangang may magbago.
But in the meantime, I am glad to just have relived that moment of peace and calm. Happy ako to feel like I used to when I still woke up before daybreak. I should do it more often.
Maybe one day, when I get my own place with a view of the sea.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Post-prawn fried rice moments (Ode to Nay Juliet of LaCo 93)
Mahirap palang maging masaya.
Kapag pala pinili mo ang landas ng Pagiging Masaya, dudumugin ka ng mga tao ("Hayup!"), bagay, at pangyayari na pilit maglalayo sa'yo sa landas na pinili mo.
Trust me. I know.
Today was a long day, and as much as I am tempted to say that today is the "longest, hardest day" of my life, I won't label today as such. Because honestly, I've had worse. Particularly on certain days during my 24th, 26th, and 28th years. Now, I'm no numerologist or superstition fanatic--but I'm starting to believe that my even-number years are my most unbearable ones. Anyway, I'm digressing.
Back to today. I've never felt so drained and so spent, and so emotionally distraught. Today I have encountered the most combative, abrasive, and condescending moments I have ever received in my professional career. Thank goodness I have a great God who reminds me about what is truly important. And, I am fortunate to have a sense of humor ("I am Jack Sparrow!"), and a dedicated quest to follow the path of happiness.
Simple lang ang gusto ko. Ayoko ng drama, ayoko ng mga mala-divang eksena. Ang gusto ko, umuwi ng bahay pagkatapos ng trabaho, at hindi mag-isip ng tungkol sa trabaho. Gusto ko, walang homework. Ayoko ring magkaroon ng kulubot sa mukha; lalong ayoko ng puting buhok bago ako tumanda!
Hindi worth it ang maglaan ng halos kalahati ng buhay ko sa isang trabaho na ikamamatay ko.
Kaya nga pinili kong maging masaya. Pinipili ko ito araw-araw, kahit mahirap, kahit nakakaloka. Kahit pa isipan ng iba na ako'y medyo kakaiba. Pinipili kong maging masaya.
Pero, mind you, mahirap maging masaya.
NB: Masaya in Filipino means "Happy". Maging masaya means "to be happy". Mahirap means "difficult". When I was having a hard time growing up as an adolescent, and happiness seemed so far away, my favorite freshman high school teacher would always end her Reflectionaire (personal journal) notes with "Be happy!" She always told me this long after I left high school. Love you Nay Juliet...I miss your guiding presence so much! As I pass through this most difficult time, I remember you, and how you kept telling us to "Wag yung pangit ang tingnan, wag yung kulang" (Don't dwell on the ugly, don't dwell on the loss). Nay, thank you so much for giving me the foundation to be strong. God bless you. Be happy!
Kapag pala pinili mo ang landas ng Pagiging Masaya, dudumugin ka ng mga tao ("Hayup!"), bagay, at pangyayari na pilit maglalayo sa'yo sa landas na pinili mo.
Trust me. I know.
Today was a long day, and as much as I am tempted to say that today is the "longest, hardest day" of my life, I won't label today as such. Because honestly, I've had worse. Particularly on certain days during my 24th, 26th, and 28th years. Now, I'm no numerologist or superstition fanatic--but I'm starting to believe that my even-number years are my most unbearable ones. Anyway, I'm digressing.
Back to today. I've never felt so drained and so spent, and so emotionally distraught. Today I have encountered the most combative, abrasive, and condescending moments I have ever received in my professional career. Thank goodness I have a great God who reminds me about what is truly important. And, I am fortunate to have a sense of humor ("I am Jack Sparrow!"), and a dedicated quest to follow the path of happiness.
Simple lang ang gusto ko. Ayoko ng drama, ayoko ng mga mala-divang eksena. Ang gusto ko, umuwi ng bahay pagkatapos ng trabaho, at hindi mag-isip ng tungkol sa trabaho. Gusto ko, walang homework. Ayoko ring magkaroon ng kulubot sa mukha; lalong ayoko ng puting buhok bago ako tumanda!
Hindi worth it ang maglaan ng halos kalahati ng buhay ko sa isang trabaho na ikamamatay ko.
Kaya nga pinili kong maging masaya. Pinipili ko ito araw-araw, kahit mahirap, kahit nakakaloka. Kahit pa isipan ng iba na ako'y medyo kakaiba. Pinipili kong maging masaya.
Pero, mind you, mahirap maging masaya.
NB: Masaya in Filipino means "Happy". Maging masaya means "to be happy". Mahirap means "difficult". When I was having a hard time growing up as an adolescent, and happiness seemed so far away, my favorite freshman high school teacher would always end her Reflectionaire (personal journal) notes with "Be happy!" She always told me this long after I left high school. Love you Nay Juliet...I miss your guiding presence so much! As I pass through this most difficult time, I remember you, and how you kept telling us to "Wag yung pangit ang tingnan, wag yung kulang" (Don't dwell on the ugly, don't dwell on the loss). Nay, thank you so much for giving me the foundation to be strong. God bless you. Be happy!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Attending adult kindy
I just discovered that the fitness club is the adult form of kindergarten.
I recently availed of my office's staff development program and signed up for group exercises in the local health club. I like the whole routine of one hour after work, running and walking on the treadmill or doing regular stretches. I even tried Zumba! and discovered my inner diva (makes me miss my bakla days back home!) Today, I joined a circuit training class called 'Lose It!'. I thought it was a serious cardio-aerobics class, but to my surprise, it was playtime with grown-ups.
"Okay! Welcome to Lose It! Today, we run! Run! Jog! March! That's right, lift your feet! Yey!"
We were three full grown people, and we were jumping, hopping, skipping and running. We even tossed light purple balls around. It seemed like foolish, childlike play time during recess, but wow! What a work out!
I relished the idea that grown ups get to be kids again in posh fitness clubs, and I already signed up for the next class.
I recently availed of my office's staff development program and signed up for group exercises in the local health club. I like the whole routine of one hour after work, running and walking on the treadmill or doing regular stretches. I even tried Zumba! and discovered my inner diva (makes me miss my bakla days back home!) Today, I joined a circuit training class called 'Lose It!'. I thought it was a serious cardio-aerobics class, but to my surprise, it was playtime with grown-ups.
"Okay! Welcome to Lose It! Today, we run! Run! Jog! March! That's right, lift your feet! Yey!"
We were three full grown people, and we were jumping, hopping, skipping and running. We even tossed light purple balls around. It seemed like foolish, childlike play time during recess, but wow! What a work out!
I relished the idea that grown ups get to be kids again in posh fitness clubs, and I already signed up for the next class.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Befriending my Computer, Part 2
I have made peace with my computer.
A little more than a fortnight later, I managed to navigate the little black beast. I even learned how to use Mind Maps (another software I used to abhor), but because the application allowed me to map the entire structure of my computer drive (hallelujah!), I appreciated its use.
Now, the saga continues. System requirements: reboot!
Postscript: thanks to Paul Staincliffe of AgResearch for pointing me in the right direction, and Ian Witten of Web Dragons lore (aka University of Waikato's Computer Science Department) for providing the context of digital library management. Of course, to mon cheri Philippe, for letting me befriend my computer in the most painless way possible.
A little more than a fortnight later, I managed to navigate the little black beast. I even learned how to use Mind Maps (another software I used to abhor), but because the application allowed me to map the entire structure of my computer drive (hallelujah!), I appreciated its use.
Now, the saga continues. System requirements: reboot!
Postscript: thanks to Paul Staincliffe of AgResearch for pointing me in the right direction, and Ian Witten of Web Dragons lore (aka University of Waikato's Computer Science Department) for providing the context of digital library management. Of course, to mon cheri Philippe, for letting me befriend my computer in the most painless way possible.
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