Tadaaahh

It's been a long timeeeeee...

Eight months and counting in this diverse country of UAE yet there are lots of things I need to learn and money I need to earn (pun itended). I am starting to get used on my zero social life here. I know, I know, it must be weird for Tweet not to have lot of friends here but as time goes by, our perspective also changed. I've realized I don't really need much friends especially those who are not worthy of our precious time. Our housemates and colleagues at work were sufficient for me. *wink*

Still, I need to find new job because money here is insufficient :'(

22

I'm still alive and kicking! Thank God!. It has been almost four months since my last blog post. I miss you guys more than you miss me, I am still crazy. Amidst of the overwhelming distance from home, culture shock, timezone, depression/ isolation, I am happy to say that I'm getting better each day in the sunny and sandy Abu Dhabi.

Life here has never been easy, like any other expats stories, you will feel the ups and downs of living far from home. I still can't deny that I don't miss home. Every day I wake up is a struggle to face another day, go to work, think about my loved ones back home. But as time pass by, It will all get better.

And as much as I want to deny it, I don't feel like turning 22 tomorrow. Yeah, advance happy birthday to me! Another year would be added to my incredible insanely life and as I look back, a lot happened on my 21st year. Cliche as it may sounds, I would still be dreaming of being Forever 21.

And yesterday was my last day off. Starting tomorrow, I won't be getting a rest day until 2nd week of August though I'm fine to have two half days in a week. Since Youssef, our team leader will be on leave, we don't have a choice. I just hope everything would be fine. :)

Happy Birthday, Tweet! I hope you will be able to know what you really want and do it bravely. Everything will be fine, just trust yourself and do your best. Inshallah!

Feels

This is the first time I cried after setting foot here in the sandpit. I can't put into words the hardships and frustrations living overseas. Finding a job is the hardest especially if you have no gulf experience yet. I miss my friends who were just a tricycle ride away whenever I felt like crying. But I am already here, ngayon pa ba ko susuko kung kelan nandito na ko. Ughh

What time is it where you are?

It's been five days since I arrived here in the sandpit, the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are great cities. There are so many things to look forward to but I guess nothing beats home. I am already missing my family and friends back in Manila and It was really frustrating not to be there physically. I hate the time difference, up to this time I haven't changed my phone, clock and wrist watch time yet, still Manila time. But hey I am beyond thankful to have relatives here in Abu Dhabi, we have TFC, filipino foodies, filipino tenants, crazy beautiful you and Pandesal lol. The only difference was that my mom and brother and friends are not here. And Jolibee is not here. 

There are still many kwentos I'd like to tell, many pictures I wanna share, videocalls I want to make happen but fuck the -4 time difference. I miss being madaldal, I can't be madaldal here, well except with my little cousin. But I seriously want to make new friends about my age here. We will be shopping, bar hoping, eating, jogging, swimming, etc. Huhuhu. Anyway, friends can wait but job can't especially If you are just a holding a visit visa. So the past four days, all I did was to look for a job online, passed resume, tour, eat, chat, look again for a job. I didn't have conditioner and lotion for days, arghh! There are endless opportunities here in UAE, Wag ka lang mapili sa umpisa. And guess what? I will be having my first job interview later for a travel agency near our flat. I don't know how did they get my CV, maybe my CV wandered just like her owner and knocked at their door lol. I'm sorry I don't have anyone to tall jokes with. Ohh blogging has never felt this fulfilling. Thank you.

Flipped

Upon reading my previous posts, I've realized na puro pagkukweto ng happenings sa life ko nakasulat dito, seldom do I write my opinions, thoughts and sentiments. It's just that I'm not comfy writing on public. But hey, that could change. Time to flip that coin, after all, this is a blog. ^^

Self reminder: you're still young and you're not supposed to have your whole life figured out yet. don't stress. everything will work out. (Just saw this from twitter hihi)

Letters to Juliet. Thoughts?

Eh?

0225
Weeks from now, I'll gonna leave the country in search for greener pasture, would there be really one? It's funny how I've always wanted this to happen. This is the plan since college yet I'm scared to face it. Would I get a good job, meet friends or send money at home? Ughhh I don't know. I don't really know what would happen next, I've always felt unmotivated, sad, lazy these days.

And to my family and friends who are so damn dear to me. Most of them don't know this yet, I'm afraid of their reactions yes? It's better that way. I want to start new. I don't know if I'll start new. Well, this is my CHOICE. Might as well deal with it.

Endings are just beginnings

What happened last Monday is a proof that nothing is consistent in this world. PALex had a massive layover of around 190 ground staffs and that includes me. I can't say that I'm not affected since I'm about to resign this summer too. But 190 in just a day??? Seriously what is wrong with Lucio Tan lately? Good thing most of us are still young and we can still look for another job but It's not the job nor the salary I'm going to miss..It's my colleagues, friends, roomies whom I treated as bestfriends for the past nine months, We never had a proper goodbye to everyone since we're not required to report for work the next day. On the bright side, I was able to get free three international flights (2 roundtrip tickets for Dubai and one Hongkong) and 10 domestic flights. Thanks to my instincts, I was able to file it before the layoff. And I'm thinking maybe..maybe this is a sign that I need to go overseas to work. I talked with my mom and titas and they've been pushing me to use my ticket and go to Dubai ASAP. So I am processing my Visa now... So see you Dubai this March?

Excursion at Bacolod 2014

My first free-of-charge ticket goes to Bacolod! Even if we just stayed less than 24 hours in the city and some of its nearby town, we pretty much did everything in our bucket list. Together with my PAL colleagues, Vianca and Mel, we explored the Negros Occidental's capital, Bacolod City!

11252014

We took the first flight so the chance of being bumped off would likely be lessen (Glad we made it). Around 0400 we board the aircraft and before I can say Chicken Inasal, the plan took off. Since it's too early to travel, we pretty much slept on board after nibbling our biscuits and drinking our tea. After an hour, we landed smoothly on Bacolod Silay Airport. Thanks to the pilot and crew aboard PR 2913, we arrived safe.

Got a window seat!

I quickly called Tito Albert to fetch us at the airport. Tito Albert is my mom's good friend and when I told him we'll be going to Bacolod, he eagerly offered to tour us. What a relief! While waiting at the airport, I can't help but wonder the tall sugar canes outside. Tito Albert welcomed us with warm smile and asked how was our flight.

We headed at the Capitol where Tito works. The structure reminds me of UST buildings, just replace the fountain of knowledge with an infinity pool like fountain.

Since it's Tuesday weekday, the Capitol was quite busy working so did Tito Albert. He told us he had work to do but he will catch up on lunch so he let us borrowed his car! What adds to that, he let his friend, Kuya Badong, drove us everywhere we want. We were so grateful we felt giddy lol.

Vianca, Me and Mel wanted to have a groufie in the infinity pool like fountain 

BCD excursionists!

With Kuya Badong :)

Our first destination: Campuestohan Park

Dubbed as the town's mini- Tagaytay, Campuestohan Highland Resort is located between the mountain ranges of Bacolod and Talisay City. It's a perfect summer getaway if you're looking for a budget and family friendly destination. You can take photos with super heroes, disney characters, basketball and hollywood stars. My favorite was the biggest gorilla I've seen!

The main reason I add this place to our bucket list is because of Sky Biking. Yes you read it right, Sky biking up in the air! For only Php100 per person you can conquer your fears by cycling in the air. I was so confident that I can make it but upon riding the bike, I almost want to cry. It took us half an hour to bike to the other side. I thought I need to balance myself since It's been a while since I've rode a bike again but hell no, you don't need to balance yourself, just need to pedal/peddle it and swoosh, you're cycling in the air! That was the scariest 10 minutes of my life so far. We were very proud of ourselves for doing such thing lol.

Before 12 noon, we left Campoestuhan with big smiles on our face and headed to the city proper where Tito Albert was waiting for lunch. What's for lunch? The ever famous Bacolod Chicken Inasal in Manokan Country. I was surprised on how big the chicken was-- and the taste? It's heaven! I've requested to have some pasalubong for my friends and family in Manila. We went to Bongbongs Pasalubong and bought my favorite piaya, barquilos, tart and butterscotch. I saw La Consolacion Bacolod so I took pictures too.

La Consolacion Bacolod :)

Chicken Inasal.. Namit gid!

Tito Albert went back to work while we went to Mambukal Resort. It's siesta time, we fell asleep inside the car and by the time we reached Mambukal, Kuya Badong did wake us up. We're still sleepy walking along the big stones of Mambukal when a tour guide offered us to accompany to 7th falls. And so our dizziness went away! The Resort lies 1,200 feet above sea level and serves as a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. We had a hard time trekking since the trails are so slim and steep, there were big stones everywhere. We reached 5 falls in a row. It's my first time to see a falls so I quickly fall in love with the place. Upon going back to the downtown, we met locals in a quaint town. Kids smile brightly on us. No wonder Bacolod is known as The City of Smiles. 

Carefree ^^

Kuya Badong was waiting in the car when we arrived, he was shocked as we share our stories on how we trekked the mountain up until the 5th falls. My legs were very sore and my running shoes' sole got broken. But overall, It was a fulfilling moment for us for climbing such a steep trail. Kudos to Vianca and Mel too!

We had Batchoy during merienda with Tito Albert. If my memory serves me right, that was the first time I ate a legit Batchoy. I only knew Batchoy thru cup noodles so I'm quite happy that I'd be able to taste a real one. 

We went to Gun Club Bacolod where Tito Albert is a member. He told us that we're the first outsiders he brought there, such a sweetie tito! I thought we'd just watch him shooting but he put a box full of bala in the table. We'll gonna learn to shoot. I was so excited I've never placed a finger on a gun before. We had four rounds to shoot different aims. I excelled in the third round, I shot all the aim in a row. 

It's 1800/6pm already I can't believe how time flies so fast so we headed to the famous The Ruins also in Talisay City. 

Amidst the tall sugarcanes and awestruck tourists, a historic mansion stood still. Welcome to The Ruins!

The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson

(1865-1948) and was home to his unmarried children with his first wife, Maria Braga Lacson (+1911), a Portuguese from Macau.The mansion met its sad fate in the early part of World War II when the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters in the Philippines, burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters.

Today, it is a favorite location for prenup and shoots. Such a beautiful structure and interesting history like Taj Mahal.

The Ruins

It's already dark when we headed to our last destination before reaching the aiport. Bacolod is like Manila at night, there's SM, Robinsons, tall buildings like in Makati, call centers, bars and restaurants. There is one particular highway that resemble Quezon Ave so much. 

Our last stop: Calea Dessert Shop

You shall not leave Bacolod without tasting their premium pastries. What are sugarcanes for? I bought the famous international chocolate cake. I would have loved to buy more but my budget won't allow me. 

Kuya Badong and Tito Albert dropped us at the airport. Words were not enough to express our deepest gratitude for them. Without them, that tour could have been different. I suddenly became thankful of my job perks, I can go back to the beautiful city anytime I want so instead of being sad, I was happy and positive to plan my next trip there probably with mom and Sub. 

We board the aircraft of PR 2910 heading back to Manila!

Thanks to the big heart of Bacolod locals, I had so much fun in my first FOC.

Thanks to Vianca and Mel for being efficient buddies, walang arte- arte

Thanks to mommy for letting me go there lol

Thanks PAL for letting me visit Bacolod for free

Thank you, Bacolod and See you soon! <3

*Will update pictures soon

**Be ready cause I'll bring you to the most northern part of the country, Batanes Islands!

Danke, 2014!

I might a bit too late for a year ender post but it's better late than never.


2014 is yet the most fruitful year I've had. Presented our thesis in Thailand, graduated with Latin honor, land a job right away after graduation in a company I've never thought I would be joining that early, celebrated post birthday celebration with my relatives at Boracay, became a regular employee and enjoyed the incentives to travel around the country, met people whom I'll truly treasure and became more independent since I live with colleagues far from home.





This post won't do any justice on how happy, blessed and lucky I have been. Thank you Lord, you never failed me.This year I'm open for more adventures and challenges in my career. More travel (domestic and international) this year and I hope I will be lucky to land a job abroad (Buhay OFW na ba?) You know what is best for me Dear Lord. Try me, 2015 :)