A long-overdue thank you to the stranger in Bandung:
Dear Stranger in Orange,
I want to thank you for saving me from a disastrous first attempt at food photography. I was about to check out of the guesthouse then, debating whether to spend my last three hours in Jalan Progo photographing the cosy cafe downstairs or analysing what went wrong with my photos the day before. I chose the latter. I ordered nasi goreng, brought the DSLR out and tried my best to capture the delicious Indonesian food before me. Without luck. My photos could not capture the brown fried rice and the chicken satay looked like it was drowning in gravy in my photo. I finished my cafe late and still couldn't figure out what's wrong.
You and your friend just checked in that morning, and your friend thought I was Indonesian (no surprises there). She talked to me in Bahasa, and I gave the most puzzled look I have and told her that I'm not from Indonesia. She asked me how long have I been a photographer, and I told her that it was my first time. She offered help - your expertise apparently. I passed her my camera, which she then passed to you, and she left the two of us to discuss how to take good photos. In the limited English you knew, you told me about the aperture, the shutter speed, and some other DSLR jargon I couldn't remember. You adjusted my DSLR's settings. And when your friend told you that it was time to go, you instructed me to get my phone and took a photo of the setting you've used.
I said my sincerest thanks; you smiled, you said goodbye and wished me luck.
And after our encounter, I remember my Film 110 professor's word: "You have to believe in the goodness of people." Indeed.
***
As of this writing, my food story was out. I managed to take a good photo that escaped the tools of Photoshop. Thank you Mr Stranger, I hope I could master photography, and I will make sure to pay it forward.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Being busy, the symptoms
You know everyone in the office is busy when...
- An editor has an unread message count of 1,600 emails. I hope I'm joking
- Someone bought new copies of magazines two weeks ago and they are still inside the paper bag from the store, with the cling wrap still on. Who has the time for some light reading?
- Usual lunch buddies decide to eat chicken rice while answering emails
- You go for lunch and eat Japanese food, have a nice capuccino, buy snacks for tea time. Do anything that could let you savour every minute of being away from your Mac
- Everyone is passing you layouts, and your deadline is always "tomorrow". Or worse, "later"
- There is a shortage of shortbread and chips in the pantry - stress eating is always our salvation
- The phone keeps ringing. Yes, PR people chasing for RSVPs for press events
- You keep on forgetting to send physical copies of magazines to previous contributors
- Your editorial director is going back and forth to different desks to remind all of you of things
- Your client service manager is cc-ing you in everything. Even the thank you emails
- You miss your monthly biking session. How could you. Even your exercise bike session. Nooo
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Why not planning your travels is best
Don't get lured by seat sales. Avoid them all together. But then change your mind a month after. Be guilty that your travel visa is expiring soon and you won't pay S$150 anew to get another one, which, at most, could only last for a year.
If it seems the travel gods are not on your side, just book seats. Book regardless of the price. Book your tickets after you and your girlfriends get tired of just planning. Be guilty that there's your brokenhearted friend who wanted to escape the world (after you've mentioned that "Escape through travel works" line from The Beach) and you have to help her escape from the shackles of her broken heart. Your visa is expiring soon, so might as well use it again, right?
But be at peace with your choices. Yes, your travel plans tangled with your budget. You have promises to fulfill, places to see, the world to discover. Charge it to experience. Just go out there to see the world, you might surprise yourself. As always.
If it seems the travel gods are not on your side, just book seats. Book regardless of the price. Book your tickets after you and your girlfriends get tired of just planning. Be guilty that there's your brokenhearted friend who wanted to escape the world (after you've mentioned that "Escape through travel works" line from The Beach) and you have to help her escape from the shackles of her broken heart. Your visa is expiring soon, so might as well use it again, right?
But be at peace with your choices. Yes, your travel plans tangled with your budget. You have promises to fulfill, places to see, the world to discover. Charge it to experience. Just go out there to see the world, you might surprise yourself. As always.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Back to business
Deadlines looming, body still longing for a proper weekend and still catching up on 100+ emails for work, here I am on a Monday night trying to tie the ends of an article I have started writing on the plane yesterday night. The problem with being a writer is that old-school friend called mental block, and try as I might to shoo it away, it comes back, again and again. My self-imposed deadline for this piece is tomorrow morning, so I could move on to another article due on Thursday, so eventually I could do the four-page article about Indonesia due next issue. I would just rely on the power of my super sweet brownies from Bandung (sugar rush, come to me), OC-ness to produce a decent article, and my writing groove always (without fail!) starting at midnight. I guess my Cinderella Sleeper mode has become Midnight Writing Stint at Duxton Hill. Or maybe my body is still confused? Maybe it still thinks I'm still an hour behind Singapore, which explains the late sleep and 60-minute-late food cravings.
My typing fingers are not as quick as my deadlines.
My typing fingers are not as quick as my deadlines.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Keep calm, carry on, kaya yan
Spent Saturday reading Travel+Leisure and epicure back issues while enjoying Raspberry, Cranberry, Strawberry Tea (which seriously tastes like warm grape juice) with Eng Bee Tin Ube-Pastillas hopia, so here I am overwhelmed by all the research, planning and emails I have to do before my solo travel writing trip to Java (this time, it's officially for work). Tomorrow will be for my monthly biking at East Coast so I would probably be too tired by the time I get home. Monday is for DSLR crash course. Tuesday would be for packing. So in the words of a friend, the best thing to do is: just go there, walk into the shops/restaurants, ask for an interview and take photos.
Spontaneity is fine for travels, but maybe not for travel writing? We'll see.
I hope it's as simple as it sounds. Fingers crossed my quintessential Southeast Asian look help me this time.
Spontaneity is fine for travels, but maybe not for travel writing? We'll see.
I hope it's as simple as it sounds. Fingers crossed my quintessential Southeast Asian look help me this time.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Bday, VDay and the beauty in small things
I need to remember. Remember some beautiful things last week that reminded me I will be okay. Quoting Joshua Radin, for the first time in such a long, long time, I know I'll be okay.
The easy feeling of being with Chinese friends (who speak a few words of English) in a two-day trip to Indonesia. That even though there are awkward moments when they could not understand my English, and there are times that they could not translate what they want to say into coherent sentences, somehow we managed to understand each other.
The easy feeling of being with Chinese friends (who speak a few words of English) in a two-day trip to Indonesia. That even though there are awkward moments when they could not understand my English, and there are times that they could not translate what they want to say into coherent sentences, somehow we managed to understand each other.
The strange feeling of eating charcoal barbeque in a Chinese restaurant I could not even pronounce the name of. That even though I welcomed my 25th year in the company of the Chinese friends mentioned above, and at times I vaguely understand their Mandarin, I know -- through their zhu ni sheng ri kuai le greetings -- that they wish me the best (expressed through passing mutton satay and fried banana sticks onto my plate). Language is important, but true concerns matter more.
That strange feeling of reaching 25, and not being afraid. That reaching my mid-20s is not an excuse to not do things, but the more reason to do things. Eww, there goes my pseudo philosophical analysis. Or not. All I'm trying to say is that on 13 February 2012, there's a sweeping sense of calm and assurance in me, that yes I'm 25 and I know I'm probably close to really being an 'adult'. That the big responsibility this entails do not scare me now. It's exciting to be old enough to know what I want, and go for those things. Regardless of how heartbreaking or how difficult dreams could be.
The overwhelming feeling of knowing that someone out there, aside from my family, really cares for me more than I had imagined possible. That grateful and overwhelming feeling of receiving flowers on Valentine's Day and being scared yet happy, of being excited of what's next, of simply knowing that someone out there is wearing his heart on his sleeve, for me. And that beyond the kilig comes the concern and care, and all the beautiful possibilities. That overwhelming realisation that he's always been there all this time, and I don't know what took me so long to notice, or rather, why in the world was I paying attention to the wrong one all this time. But that from here on, I know what to do.
That nostalgia of knowing that probably months ago, all these things above are not even possible. Maybe because of immaturity, of being insensitive and dense, or just preoccupied with the wrong things.
I'm 25, and this is the time to get dreams fulfilled.
That strange feeling of reaching 25, and not being afraid. That reaching my mid-20s is not an excuse to not do things, but the more reason to do things. Eww, there goes my pseudo philosophical analysis. Or not. All I'm trying to say is that on 13 February 2012, there's a sweeping sense of calm and assurance in me, that yes I'm 25 and I know I'm probably close to really being an 'adult'. That the big responsibility this entails do not scare me now. It's exciting to be old enough to know what I want, and go for those things. Regardless of how heartbreaking or how difficult dreams could be.
The overwhelming feeling of knowing that someone out there, aside from my family, really cares for me more than I had imagined possible. That grateful and overwhelming feeling of receiving flowers on Valentine's Day and being scared yet happy, of being excited of what's next, of simply knowing that someone out there is wearing his heart on his sleeve, for me. And that beyond the kilig comes the concern and care, and all the beautiful possibilities. That overwhelming realisation that he's always been there all this time, and I don't know what took me so long to notice, or rather, why in the world was I paying attention to the wrong one all this time. But that from here on, I know what to do.
That nostalgia of knowing that probably months ago, all these things above are not even possible. Maybe because of immaturity, of being insensitive and dense, or just preoccupied with the wrong things.
I'm 25, and this is the time to get dreams fulfilled.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Career talks
Just the fourth day of the Dragon Year and strangely, I've never encountered anyone who talks about shallow things such as fashion trends, lucky colours and what's-new-with-you-this-year-questions. Very good. Since Monday, all I talk about with friends are things that matter: career, continuing education, yeah a shift in priorities. I'm getting mature after all. We are all getting mature.
Between munching on oranges (the free ones given away with the ang paos), my roommie, Carmela, and I are in a serious discussion about taking up some master's degrees overseas. And I know that when we plan things like this, it's going to materialise in months. Just like what happened when we said we wanted to travel to Australia and Thailand last year! Talk about focus. But this time, there are lots of saving up to do, several sacrifices (less travel this year) and some tests.
Between aiming for strikes and spares, Alan and I also discussed some seminars and workshops last Tuesday. "Why not do that in Singapore?" he asked after we cheered on Cathy in her mission for three consecutive bowling strikes. "I need to do it somewhere else," I said.
Somewhere else. Ah, the weight of these words. I love Singapore to bits, it's just that I need to do some things, somewhere.
Between munching on oranges (the free ones given away with the ang paos), my roommie, Carmela, and I are in a serious discussion about taking up some master's degrees overseas. And I know that when we plan things like this, it's going to materialise in months. Just like what happened when we said we wanted to travel to Australia and Thailand last year! Talk about focus. But this time, there are lots of saving up to do, several sacrifices (less travel this year) and some tests.
Between aiming for strikes and spares, Alan and I also discussed some seminars and workshops last Tuesday. "Why not do that in Singapore?" he asked after we cheered on Cathy in her mission for three consecutive bowling strikes. "I need to do it somewhere else," I said.
Somewhere else. Ah, the weight of these words. I love Singapore to bits, it's just that I need to do some things, somewhere.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Ambition 2012
I realised that for me to be able to make some things possible, I need to write them down and constantly remind myself to do all of them.
So after the awesomeness of 2011, let's get more ambitious this year!
12 goals for 2012
1. Travel more and far! Go to one Asian country (beyond SEA), one Philippine destination (not counting Manila and Southern Luzon) and one country outside Asia. Come back to Chiang Mai to see the sky lanterns, you've postponed this trip for sooo many years and it should be about time to fulfill it. The world is big, go see what's beyond the border.
2. Be braver at work. Face your problems, be vigilant, be patient, know when to say yes and no. Own up to your mistakes, or better, avoid mistakes all together. Write full features. Don't settle for one-pagers. Go out there, observe and write about what you've seen. Go for enrichment courses, learn what you can.
3 Come home mid-year and spend Christmas at home. I know you want to see the world, but take time to visit your hometown and your family. It's always worth it.
4. Take up swimming lessons. No excuses. Do it.
5. Make your birthday memorable. Purchase your return tickets to some place and buy a Polaroid camera. If you're going to make memories, better snap and print on the spot. You can easily forget them when they're hidden in your hard drives and stored somewhere.
6. Eat healthy. Lessen soda intake and drink more juices. Sweets are fine, just don't overindulge. Be active, cycle at the parks more often. Sleep for 7-8 hours daily.
7. Fall in love. Don't settle for someone lesser than expectations, but don't set too high a standard. Be considerate, be appreciative and don't assume.
8. Improve your Mandarin. You've already overcome the initial difficulty of tones and pronunciation, now it's time to take it a notch higher: learn how to write.
9. Volunteer. Do something meaningful.
10. Say hello to the kitchen more than you've done in the past. Brush up on your cooking skills. Should be beyond pasta recipes!
11. Call home often, keep in touch with friends, send random emails of hellos. Constantly meet up with friends in Singapore.
12. Save, save, save. Don't neglect the opportunity to prepare for the future!
It's time to be braver, wiser and better. Cheers to another great year and to dear friends and family, let's make these things happen together :D
So after the awesomeness of 2011, let's get more ambitious this year!
12 goals for 2012
1. Travel more and far! Go to one Asian country (beyond SEA), one Philippine destination (not counting Manila and Southern Luzon) and one country outside Asia. Come back to Chiang Mai to see the sky lanterns, you've postponed this trip for sooo many years and it should be about time to fulfill it. The world is big, go see what's beyond the border.
2. Be braver at work. Face your problems, be vigilant, be patient, know when to say yes and no. Own up to your mistakes, or better, avoid mistakes all together. Write full features. Don't settle for one-pagers. Go out there, observe and write about what you've seen. Go for enrichment courses, learn what you can.
3 Come home mid-year and spend Christmas at home. I know you want to see the world, but take time to visit your hometown and your family. It's always worth it.
4. Take up swimming lessons. No excuses. Do it.
5. Make your birthday memorable. Purchase your return tickets to some place and buy a Polaroid camera. If you're going to make memories, better snap and print on the spot. You can easily forget them when they're hidden in your hard drives and stored somewhere.
6. Eat healthy. Lessen soda intake and drink more juices. Sweets are fine, just don't overindulge. Be active, cycle at the parks more often. Sleep for 7-8 hours daily.
7. Fall in love. Don't settle for someone lesser than expectations, but don't set too high a standard. Be considerate, be appreciative and don't assume.
8. Improve your Mandarin. You've already overcome the initial difficulty of tones and pronunciation, now it's time to take it a notch higher: learn how to write.
9. Volunteer. Do something meaningful.
10. Say hello to the kitchen more than you've done in the past. Brush up on your cooking skills. Should be beyond pasta recipes!
11. Call home often, keep in touch with friends, send random emails of hellos. Constantly meet up with friends in Singapore.
12. Save, save, save. Don't neglect the opportunity to prepare for the future!
It's time to be braver, wiser and better. Cheers to another great year and to dear friends and family, let's make these things happen together :D
Saturday, January 07, 2012
I asked for 11 things, I got so much more
Now's the time to be thankful. I wasn't able to post a status report on 31 December 2011 as promised, but I haven't forgotten. I listed down 11 things I had hoped will come true, be achieved and find their way to me this year here, and as we welcome 2012, I'd like to look back at 2011 and say thanks, smile and appreciate all the good things that have been showered on me in this awesome year.
1. Travel to three countries in Asia (preferably Indonesia, Thailand and China) and go back to Sagada.
2011 is for wanderlust fulfilled. Passport stamps aplenty! Though I wasn't able to go to China and Sagada (eventually ending the Sagada-every-2-years cycle that started in 2007), I am still thankful for the the places I had never imagined I will reach this year. I went to Bali, Indonesia in March; come back home in June; Western Australia and Melbourne in September; Chiang Mai, Thailand in November and went back home for the holidays in December. Big thanks to the semi-free tickets (I only needed to pay taxes) from our office lucky draw that allowed me to come to Thailand and hop from Davao to Cebu!
Locally, I have done my fair share of being a tourist in Singapura. Went to Jurong Bird Park (free tickets from Ate Hazel!), rode the Singapore Flyer (free tickets from the office!), came back to the Universal Studios (media pass yay! ) and visited St. John's Island.
Due to my travels this year, I had gone below the equator for the first time in my life, gone skiing and sandboarding, fell from a raft on Class 3 rapids, travelled solo, met backpackers, been to Changi Airport many times and just gone out there in the world. The travel gods are really nice to me this year!
2. Stop my corporate detour and find my way back to journalism.
Check! It may not be the hardcore journalism I had studied for, but being in custom publishing is a small step closer to journalism. At least, I'm standing in the midst of the sad brutality of the corporate world and the creative freedom of magazine writing. It may not be the best of both worlds, but I'm thriving career-wise.
3. Celebrate my birthday with a pint of Ben & Jerry's plus a big pack of potato chips without worrying about how unhealthy this combo is.
I deviated from the plan. My birthday started with Skype with dear friends and reading emails from my family and SMSs from friends. Munched fast food for lunch, asked Ate Joy to cook her version of hokkien mee for me and went all the way to East Coast Park with friends and cycled till sundown.
4. Study Mandarin regularly and by the end of the year, I should be able to converse fluently with someone who doesn't speak a word of English.
Sadly, my vocabulary is still limited to a few sentences. During the first part of the year, I'm still dedicated to it. But my dear lao shi got a boyfriend and Tin and I are too shy to ask her to teach us regularly anymore. We don't want to steal her precious time with Tony, so I'll rely on podcasts for now. :)
5. Drink more green tea and less coffee.
I'm a writer, caffeine helps me string words and meet deadlines, so I couldn't ditch coffee. But yes, I drank too much green tea this year and one friend even commented that it may be the reason why I'm thin.
6. Wake up early on weekends and go on food trips in Singapore. Go to Church every Sunday.
Oops, not really. I have tried to become a morning person to no avail. My guilty pleasure is still sleeping in till 10am on weekends so my Saturdays usually meant long brunches at home, cleaning the room and going to the mall in the afternoon to buy groceries. As for the other two goals, yes I have gone to several food trips this year, both in Singapore and overseas. But I still haven't gone back to my regular Sunday mass habit *insert apologetic puppy dog eyes here*
7. Call home often. Send random SMS to old friends, keep in touch with them.
Finally bought a Philippine roaming SIM! And since sometimes I was lazy to reply via email or Facebook chats, I have sent too many global SMSs this year. A SingTel billing officer even encouraged me to avail of their promo, something to the tune of 100 global messages a month for only 3 Sing dollars (which equates to about 72 Sing dollars saved each year!) See, my telco provider is even encouraging me to send more and more messages to friends in the Philippines! Yay!
8. Volunteer. It doesn't matter where and how, just do it.
I've done this only once this year, and I should really really do more of it in 2012.
9. Save, save, save. For my 2012 Big Travel Plan and for my future.
To be honest, my last-minute trips have been tough on my bank account. Not to mention I have moved to a new flat in August and all the expenses related to it messed up my budget. My trip to Australia prevented me from saving wisely, and if I had learned something in 2011, that is to be very very careful in computations (and being nice to myself especially when it comes to budgets). My debit card greatly helped me to be financially responsible, and I'm still veering away from using credit cards to I could feel the crunch every time I purchase something.
My Big Travel Plan was supposed to be the London Olympics 2012, but with airfare to Europe still too expensive for me, I'm adjusting my trips to somewhere geographically closer and financially more feasible. :)
10. Fall in love.
But this is actually beyond my control (Universe, are you listening?)
One of the conversations that stood out this year was the one I had with Ate Hazel and Ate Jing at Jurong Bird Park. Ate Jing told me not to look for "the one" because "he will just come when you least expect him to appear".
Yeah, someone did come along. (Or to be specific, two guys came along, the other one I sort of "dismissed", to use April's word, so we could save our good friendship) Then the first guy left, with promises of keeping in touch and coming back. He's still not in Singapore as of this writing, so I guess this goal's still in my 2012 list :)
11. Celebrate Fiesta, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day at home in Batangas! :D
I wasn't able to celebrate Fiesta in the Philippines, but I'm soo glad I was home for the holidays!
There you go, my thanks would not be enough for the awesomeness of this year. I'm really glad with how the year turned out for me. It started with a new job, new hair and new hopes. 2011 then ended on a high note, albeit some problems at work, but I am grateful for everything it has brought me. Thanks for my family for being so supportive and for dear friends who never fail to cheer me up and keep in touch. I am ready for 2012, and I hope it could rival 2011 for its awesomeness.
1. Travel to three countries in Asia (preferably Indonesia, Thailand and China) and go back to Sagada.
2011 is for wanderlust fulfilled. Passport stamps aplenty! Though I wasn't able to go to China and Sagada (eventually ending the Sagada-every-2-years cycle that started in 2007), I am still thankful for the the places I had never imagined I will reach this year. I went to Bali, Indonesia in March; come back home in June; Western Australia and Melbourne in September; Chiang Mai, Thailand in November and went back home for the holidays in December. Big thanks to the semi-free tickets (I only needed to pay taxes) from our office lucky draw that allowed me to come to Thailand and hop from Davao to Cebu!
Locally, I have done my fair share of being a tourist in Singapura. Went to Jurong Bird Park (free tickets from Ate Hazel!), rode the Singapore Flyer (free tickets from the office!), came back to the Universal Studios (media pass yay! ) and visited St. John's Island.
Due to my travels this year, I had gone below the equator for the first time in my life, gone skiing and sandboarding, fell from a raft on Class 3 rapids, travelled solo, met backpackers, been to Changi Airport many times and just gone out there in the world. The travel gods are really nice to me this year!
2. Stop my corporate detour and find my way back to journalism.
Check! It may not be the hardcore journalism I had studied for, but being in custom publishing is a small step closer to journalism. At least, I'm standing in the midst of the sad brutality of the corporate world and the creative freedom of magazine writing. It may not be the best of both worlds, but I'm thriving career-wise.
3. Celebrate my birthday with a pint of Ben & Jerry's plus a big pack of potato chips without worrying about how unhealthy this combo is.
I deviated from the plan. My birthday started with Skype with dear friends and reading emails from my family and SMSs from friends. Munched fast food for lunch, asked Ate Joy to cook her version of hokkien mee for me and went all the way to East Coast Park with friends and cycled till sundown.
4. Study Mandarin regularly and by the end of the year, I should be able to converse fluently with someone who doesn't speak a word of English.
Sadly, my vocabulary is still limited to a few sentences. During the first part of the year, I'm still dedicated to it. But my dear lao shi got a boyfriend and Tin and I are too shy to ask her to teach us regularly anymore. We don't want to steal her precious time with Tony, so I'll rely on podcasts for now. :)
5. Drink more green tea and less coffee.
I'm a writer, caffeine helps me string words and meet deadlines, so I couldn't ditch coffee. But yes, I drank too much green tea this year and one friend even commented that it may be the reason why I'm thin.
6. Wake up early on weekends and go on food trips in Singapore. Go to Church every Sunday.
Oops, not really. I have tried to become a morning person to no avail. My guilty pleasure is still sleeping in till 10am on weekends so my Saturdays usually meant long brunches at home, cleaning the room and going to the mall in the afternoon to buy groceries. As for the other two goals, yes I have gone to several food trips this year, both in Singapore and overseas. But I still haven't gone back to my regular Sunday mass habit *insert apologetic puppy dog eyes here*
7. Call home often. Send random SMS to old friends, keep in touch with them.
Finally bought a Philippine roaming SIM! And since sometimes I was lazy to reply via email or Facebook chats, I have sent too many global SMSs this year. A SingTel billing officer even encouraged me to avail of their promo, something to the tune of 100 global messages a month for only 3 Sing dollars (which equates to about 72 Sing dollars saved each year!) See, my telco provider is even encouraging me to send more and more messages to friends in the Philippines! Yay!
8. Volunteer. It doesn't matter where and how, just do it.
I've done this only once this year, and I should really really do more of it in 2012.
9. Save, save, save. For my 2012 Big Travel Plan and for my future.
To be honest, my last-minute trips have been tough on my bank account. Not to mention I have moved to a new flat in August and all the expenses related to it messed up my budget. My trip to Australia prevented me from saving wisely, and if I had learned something in 2011, that is to be very very careful in computations (and being nice to myself especially when it comes to budgets). My debit card greatly helped me to be financially responsible, and I'm still veering away from using credit cards to I could feel the crunch every time I purchase something.
My Big Travel Plan was supposed to be the London Olympics 2012, but with airfare to Europe still too expensive for me, I'm adjusting my trips to somewhere geographically closer and financially more feasible. :)
10. Fall in love.
But this is actually beyond my control (Universe, are you listening?)
One of the conversations that stood out this year was the one I had with Ate Hazel and Ate Jing at Jurong Bird Park. Ate Jing told me not to look for "the one" because "he will just come when you least expect him to appear".
Yeah, someone did come along. (Or to be specific, two guys came along, the other one I sort of "dismissed", to use April's word, so we could save our good friendship) Then the first guy left, with promises of keeping in touch and coming back. He's still not in Singapore as of this writing, so I guess this goal's still in my 2012 list :)
11. Celebrate Fiesta, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day at home in Batangas! :D
I wasn't able to celebrate Fiesta in the Philippines, but I'm soo glad I was home for the holidays!
There you go, my thanks would not be enough for the awesomeness of this year. I'm really glad with how the year turned out for me. It started with a new job, new hair and new hopes. 2011 then ended on a high note, albeit some problems at work, but I am grateful for everything it has brought me. Thanks for my family for being so supportive and for dear friends who never fail to cheer me up and keep in touch. I am ready for 2012, and I hope it could rival 2011 for its awesomeness.
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Solo November
Thanks to my friend Jerick for letting me wax poetic about the highlight of my November.
Shameless sharing starts here.
Shameless sharing starts here.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
wanted: spontaneous self
Ten days into my solo trip and I have nothing concrete planned. Pending ticket confirmation, no accommodation reserved, no response from adventure tour operator, no list of markets/restaurants/temples/museums to check out. Spontaneity come to me!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sembreak Pasabog
I spoke too soon. In this post, I've said:
As for October, it may not compete with September in terms of travel-related happiness, but things are looking up (and I hope this translates to me going up my usual summer spot one degree north of the equator. My fingers are crossed!)
October is competing with September travel-wise: Last week, we had a lucky draw in the office and I won two return tickets to any Asian destination (well, to be accurate: secondary cities in Asia)! And the good news is that I am allowed to use the two return tickets to two different destinations. Hurrah! The only condition that comes with the prize: All tickets must be consumed by 31 December 2011. Travel euphoria! Then panic over visa issues. Then calculations.
It took me a few days before finally deciding where to go. I have requested for my first pair of tickets to be used up north, then one pair will be for Christmas. Thank you travel gods, you really love me this year!
As for October, it may not compete with September in terms of travel-related happiness, but things are looking up (and I hope this translates to me going up my usual summer spot one degree north of the equator. My fingers are crossed!)
October is competing with September travel-wise: Last week, we had a lucky draw in the office and I won two return tickets to any Asian destination (well, to be accurate: secondary cities in Asia)! And the good news is that I am allowed to use the two return tickets to two different destinations. Hurrah! The only condition that comes with the prize: All tickets must be consumed by 31 December 2011. Travel euphoria! Then panic over visa issues. Then calculations.
It took me a few days before finally deciding where to go. I have requested for my first pair of tickets to be used up north, then one pair will be for Christmas. Thank you travel gods, you really love me this year!
Monday, October 03, 2011
Septembrrr
My OC tendencies wavered a bit this month. I don't have a bedside table anymore, hence no calendar to list down the must-dos, must-sees, must-meet for the month. My phone's calendar isn't much help either because I feel that must-do lists are better written down than typed.
Like August, I'm writing something based on what I dredged up from my memory. September's my Australian wanderlust month filled with: sand in my soles (sandboarding in Lancelin, Western Australia), melting snow on my ski boots (Mt Buller, Victoria), crispy winds damping my face (Fremantle), tasting bland coffee (that roadhouse in Cervantes), never-ending Nando's paella, freezing wind biting my skin (Melbourne airport at 4.50am, 6 degrees C). You get the picture. It was an amazing experience to get down beyond my usual sunshine spot one degree north of the equator.
The week after Aussie was filled with work and pigging out and staying at home enjoying my view. I don't know how many times I have had said that I looooove my citylights view up my new flat. I haven't fully appreciated the appeal of stunning views of the city skyline until I am perched atop my Pinnacle apartment and staring at it every single night. I'm even looking at the glittering Singapore CBD while typing this very sentence! I'm rubbing it in, I'm sorry. I should stop.
It feels as if September will always be equated with Australia. Nothing much exciting happened after that. My work is piling up, which is very good as I know I won't go unemployed anytime soon. I'm still in contact with my ex-colleagues, though sadly, I won't be there to witness the uber-fun Nerf Wars they have once in a few weeks (which I am aware of every single fight, thanks to Whatsapp). I ended the month with a dinner with ex-colleagues in Chinatown. In the pasty shop/cafe where I usually buy my blueberry crumble and banana bread when I feel very very stressed. What a coincidence.
As for October, it may not compete with September in terms of travel-related happiness, but things are looking up (and I hope this translates to going up my usual summer spot one degree north of the equator. My fingers are crossed!) Its first day comes with delicious offering: tinolang manok for lunch, Chinese lessons over McDo fries, a tall mug of Tiger at Tras St after Indian dinner, and a blueberry muffin at Tom n Toms. October will surely be a feast.
Like August, I'm writing something based on what I dredged up from my memory. September's my Australian wanderlust month filled with: sand in my soles (sandboarding in Lancelin, Western Australia), melting snow on my ski boots (Mt Buller, Victoria), crispy winds damping my face (Fremantle), tasting bland coffee (that roadhouse in Cervantes), never-ending Nando's paella, freezing wind biting my skin (Melbourne airport at 4.50am, 6 degrees C). You get the picture. It was an amazing experience to get down beyond my usual sunshine spot one degree north of the equator.
The week after Aussie was filled with work and pigging out and staying at home enjoying my view. I don't know how many times I have had said that I looooove my citylights view up my new flat. I haven't fully appreciated the appeal of stunning views of the city skyline until I am perched atop my Pinnacle apartment and staring at it every single night. I'm even looking at the glittering Singapore CBD while typing this very sentence! I'm rubbing it in, I'm sorry. I should stop.
It feels as if September will always be equated with Australia. Nothing much exciting happened after that. My work is piling up, which is very good as I know I won't go unemployed anytime soon. I'm still in contact with my ex-colleagues, though sadly, I won't be there to witness the uber-fun Nerf Wars they have once in a few weeks (which I am aware of every single fight, thanks to Whatsapp). I ended the month with a dinner with ex-colleagues in Chinatown. In the pasty shop/cafe where I usually buy my blueberry crumble and banana bread when I feel very very stressed. What a coincidence.
As for October, it may not compete with September in terms of travel-related happiness, but things are looking up (and I hope this translates to going up my usual summer spot one degree north of the equator. My fingers are crossed!) Its first day comes with delicious offering: tinolang manok for lunch, Chinese lessons over McDo fries, a tall mug of Tiger at Tras St after Indian dinner, and a blueberry muffin at Tom n Toms. October will surely be a feast.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
tiny slices of happiness
Wearing a rich green dress with moss green scarf and suddenly raining and realising I have a red umbrella which makes me a walking Christmas poinsettia specimen; green tea, freshly sliced watermelon, salad and wholemeal bread with cheese; finally finishing a poem I've been trying to tie the ends of since three days ago; writing groove at midnight; signing off a magazine and sending to print tomorrow; new travel plans involving a white sand beach in Backpacker Heaven; and oh, tomorrow is Friday. Yeah, happiness in its many colours and form, edible or otherwise.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
down under
'Where are you from?' is not easy to answer anymore. During my recent trip to Aussie, different people have asked me that and though I am so sure of the answers at first, replies tend to be long.
David, from the backpackers' inn in Perth:
So where are you from?
We're from Manila, but we actually came from Singapore today.
Dev, a Cambodian IT professional based in France who were with us during the tour of Western Australia:
Where are you from?
I'm from Manila.
Is it different from Malaysia?
Yes, it's in the Philippines.
So after this you're flying to Manila?
No, we're heading off to Melbourne. But we don't actually came from Manila before the trip, we're based in Singapore now.
And now I realised the British accent I tend to have in Singapore evaporates in foreign land. And winter clothes can mask my Southeast Asian origins:
The Australian shop assistant at the ski equipment rental place at the foot of Mt Buller:
Can you please pull your pants a little higher to it doesn't go into the ski boots?
(after pulling my pants up)
Oh, you're legs are tan, you've been travelling around, yeah?
(in my mind: I'm tan! I'm Southeast Asian!)
American lady outside the cafe near the toboggan area at Mt Buller:
(after hearing me speak to the shopkeeper)
Where are you from?
I'm from the Philippines.
How come you have an American accent?
Really?
Yeah, you have an American accent.
I normally speak like that.
Ski instructor
(after hearing me explain why I slid in the slopes during the lesson)
You from Australia?
Nope, I'm from Manila.
Really?
Yeah, why?
Your English is fanstastic. You sound Australian to me.
(those head-to-foot winter clothes hid my tan and suddenly, I can be mistaken for an Aussie!?)
David, from the backpackers' inn in Perth:
So where are you from?
We're from Manila, but we actually came from Singapore today.
Dev, a Cambodian IT professional based in France who were with us during the tour of Western Australia:
Where are you from?
I'm from Manila.
Is it different from Malaysia?
Yes, it's in the Philippines.
So after this you're flying to Manila?
No, we're heading off to Melbourne. But we don't actually came from Manila before the trip, we're based in Singapore now.
And now I realised the British accent I tend to have in Singapore evaporates in foreign land. And winter clothes can mask my Southeast Asian origins:
The Australian shop assistant at the ski equipment rental place at the foot of Mt Buller:
Can you please pull your pants a little higher to it doesn't go into the ski boots?
(after pulling my pants up)
Oh, you're legs are tan, you've been travelling around, yeah?
(in my mind: I'm tan! I'm Southeast Asian!)
American lady outside the cafe near the toboggan area at Mt Buller:
(after hearing me speak to the shopkeeper)
Where are you from?
I'm from the Philippines.
How come you have an American accent?
Really?
Yeah, you have an American accent.
I normally speak like that.
Ski instructor
(after hearing me explain why I slid in the slopes during the lesson)
You from Australia?
Nope, I'm from Manila.
Really?
Yeah, why?
Your English is fanstastic. You sound Australian to me.
(those head-to-foot winter clothes hid my tan and suddenly, I can be mistaken for an Aussie!?)
Thursday, September 01, 2011
august rush
And in the spirit of organic unity, the month flew and sped by and if I would sum it up without taking a glimpse of my bedside calendar or my phone, August comprises Aussie Visa, travel plans and lots of guidebooks, bookings here and there, waffles promo on Tuesdays, waiting for the green dot on Facebook beside your name, left-behind messages, being broke and travel-giddy, moving into a new flat, no pork diet due to Muslim landlords, city lights and morning sunshine courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows, Night Festival and the cute saxophonist and the Volvo blinking installation, Horrible Bosses company outing with my lovely bosses, haircut and why I'm not ready for a Basha-ish style excuse, leaving Spottiswoode Park, Chinatown lunches and pig-out weekends, bills and obligations and all the hopes of awesomeness for 2011, okay gotta go
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Ode to Mamay*
Half of this was written on 11 August 2010, and only a year later have I decided to publish it.
I'm fighting my tears while writing this. I had already shed a lot of tears since you passed away two years ago, and if you see me now, I bet you would tell me to stop crying for it would do me no good. I know I'm not doing myself a favour by writing this,really. I'm inflicting too much pain by doing so, but I don't care. Maybe, crying once in a while is healthy.Well. Maybe, I'm fooling myself.
Mamay, I just want to thank you for everything.
Thank you for teaching me, albeit indirectly, to be imaginative. Since Tatay is your only son, he got yours and Nanay's storytelling abilities. Nanay's stories are truthful; your stories sound fabricated. Nanay used to tell me stories about World War II, about the gory details of the Japanese occupation and how and why his father was beheaded. When I was a kid, I believed yours and Nanay's stories completely, especially your story about an aswang na baboy you saw with your naked eye. You also told me a story of General Miguel Malvar that seemed implausible: you asked me why Miguel Malvar was the last soldier who surrendered to the colonisers, and I told you that maybe Malvar must be really brave. You said he was not brave. You mentioned that your uncle had told you that General Miguel Malvar had anting-anting and he could teleport to the US while the war was raging in the Philippines. I told you it was impossible. You gave me your signature wide-eyed look, the one you do when you are excited (Mamay has Chinito features, that's why he tends to open his eyes a bit bigger when's he's narrating something really unbelievable), and said: Pano magiging imposible yun? Nung giyera, nawawala daw siya, tapos bigla siyang magpapakita tapos may dala siyang mansanas. Eh saan naman may puno ng mansanas sa Batangas noon? I still don't know whether this is true. Maybe anting-anting really existed before. I don't know. Your story about Malvar is too precious for me that I do not want to consult historical records that might confirm or crush your story.
Thank you for your genes. I got the tall genes from you, though you disagree with me on this. You told me I was tall because you threw me up in the air when the clock hit 12am on New Year's Eve when I was a kid. 'Hindi sa lahi yon, hinagis kasi kita noong Bagong Taon kaya ka tumangkad. Nakakatangkad 'yon'. I asked you if you also threw my siblings up in the air when they were kids. Oo, lalo na si Elsie (the tallest among us). Every holiday season, this topic would pop out and it has become a tradition at home every New Year's Eve to 'throw' the youngest kid up in the air. When you told Ate Mhee that you would like to 'throw' Marga on January 1 a few years ago, Marga was sleeping. And I clearly remember that around January in 2009, we had a conversation about this and you told me 'Tingnan mo si Marga, ang liit, kasi hindi ko inihagis yan kasi ayaw ni Emely. Si EJ, mukhang matangkad, kasi mana kay Elsie. And you reminded me again that you indeed threw Ate Elsie up. Ang kulit mo pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay and I believe I got my stubbornness from you.
Thank you for teaching me how to live a simple and frugal life. You were against malling, saying that you'd rather stay at home and watch TV because money should not be wasted by buying things that are not necessary.
Thank you for telling me that it is important to watch the news to know what's happening. I admire you for religiously watching TV Patrol every single night. When I was still studying in QC, I would go home every weekend and one of the usual questions you would ask me was: 'Nakita mo ba ung balita noong isang araw...' and I would always admire you for remembering the 5Ws and 1H of the news you've heard.
Thank you for believing in me and my capacity for an independent life. When Kuya, Nanay and Ate Mhee were reluctant about me living abroad alone, you were one of the first who encouraged me to do so, you told me that it's a good decision to go out of the country. I followed your advice and two months after coming to Singapore in 2009, I took a flight to see you - and I found you smiling, inside a coffin. :(
We miss you Mamay, and wherever you are right now, I hope you're happy.
*Mamay = Batangueno term for Lolo
I'm fighting my tears while writing this. I had already shed a lot of tears since you passed away two years ago, and if you see me now, I bet you would tell me to stop crying for it would do me no good. I know I'm not doing myself a favour by writing this,really. I'm inflicting too much pain by doing so, but I don't care. Maybe, crying once in a while is healthy.Well. Maybe, I'm fooling myself.
Mamay, I just want to thank you for everything.
Thank you for teaching me, albeit indirectly, to be imaginative. Since Tatay is your only son, he got yours and Nanay's storytelling abilities. Nanay's stories are truthful; your stories sound fabricated. Nanay used to tell me stories about World War II, about the gory details of the Japanese occupation and how and why his father was beheaded. When I was a kid, I believed yours and Nanay's stories completely, especially your story about an aswang na baboy you saw with your naked eye. You also told me a story of General Miguel Malvar that seemed implausible: you asked me why Miguel Malvar was the last soldier who surrendered to the colonisers, and I told you that maybe Malvar must be really brave. You said he was not brave. You mentioned that your uncle had told you that General Miguel Malvar had anting-anting and he could teleport to the US while the war was raging in the Philippines. I told you it was impossible. You gave me your signature wide-eyed look, the one you do when you are excited (Mamay has Chinito features, that's why he tends to open his eyes a bit bigger when's he's narrating something really unbelievable), and said: Pano magiging imposible yun? Nung giyera, nawawala daw siya, tapos bigla siyang magpapakita tapos may dala siyang mansanas. Eh saan naman may puno ng mansanas sa Batangas noon? I still don't know whether this is true. Maybe anting-anting really existed before. I don't know. Your story about Malvar is too precious for me that I do not want to consult historical records that might confirm or crush your story.
Thank you for your genes. I got the tall genes from you, though you disagree with me on this. You told me I was tall because you threw me up in the air when the clock hit 12am on New Year's Eve when I was a kid. 'Hindi sa lahi yon, hinagis kasi kita noong Bagong Taon kaya ka tumangkad. Nakakatangkad 'yon'. I asked you if you also threw my siblings up in the air when they were kids. Oo, lalo na si Elsie (the tallest among us). Every holiday season, this topic would pop out and it has become a tradition at home every New Year's Eve to 'throw' the youngest kid up in the air. When you told Ate Mhee that you would like to 'throw' Marga on January 1 a few years ago, Marga was sleeping. And I clearly remember that around January in 2009, we had a conversation about this and you told me 'Tingnan mo si Marga, ang liit, kasi hindi ko inihagis yan kasi ayaw ni Emely. Si EJ, mukhang matangkad, kasi mana kay Elsie. And you reminded me again that you indeed threw Ate Elsie up. Ang kulit mo pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay and I believe I got my stubbornness from you.
Thank you for teaching me how to live a simple and frugal life. You were against malling, saying that you'd rather stay at home and watch TV because money should not be wasted by buying things that are not necessary.
Thank you for telling me that it is important to watch the news to know what's happening. I admire you for religiously watching TV Patrol every single night. When I was still studying in QC, I would go home every weekend and one of the usual questions you would ask me was: 'Nakita mo ba ung balita noong isang araw...' and I would always admire you for remembering the 5Ws and 1H of the news you've heard.
Thank you for believing in me and my capacity for an independent life. When Kuya, Nanay and Ate Mhee were reluctant about me living abroad alone, you were one of the first who encouraged me to do so, you told me that it's a good decision to go out of the country. I followed your advice and two months after coming to Singapore in 2009, I took a flight to see you - and I found you smiling, inside a coffin. :(
We miss you Mamay, and wherever you are right now, I hope you're happy.
*Mamay = Batangueno term for Lolo
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
June, July and wishes for the rest of Awesome 2011
June was made up of bowling sessions, movies and deadlines. My overdue 'newbie lunch' in the company was also finally arranged, which left me a hundred dollars poorer (but it was worth it, yummy Japanese lunch!). On the 5th, I woke up really really early and braved the rain to get my Exit Clearance from the Philippine Embassy (it does not help that the Embassy was located in a remote corner of Tanglin, inaccessible by bus or MRT). I had another turista experience at the Flyer, thanks to the free tickets from our office party. Dearest friends Jerick and Weisa also came to SG -- for different reasons but in the same week -- and we had a mini reunion and crazy conversations about Immigration officers and EnviSci days.
This month was also filled with anticipation for my one week break from work, and from everything else. As I have had only two days to transfer from my second job to the third, my break last June was one of the longest I had in the past year. It was what I had hoped for: a week of rest, staying at home, bonding with my parents and siblings; Filipino food trips; Batangas-Laguna-Alabang road trip with 'All the Single Ladies"/Maginhawa Girls; and LOL moments (thanks to the tale of the Nando's sauce) plus epic Chinese Checkers game with Thedd, Weisa, Jerick and Reuben (now known as Well-Regarded Friends, coined by Jerick).
As for July, it was full of promises, particularly of travel, of a love life (some friends would say 'finally Nelly') - two things I hope I would do more of and have, respectively, this year. You see, the travel part is pretty much settled as of this writing: my tickets for my September trip are booked, annual leave applied, Tourist Visa approved, accommodation settled and the only thing left is to pack my bags and fly. I can't say the same for the other thing. He has been around since the early part of the year and left for Manila in the middle of the month. Everything is uncertain: if he's coming back and when, if the Immigration Officers will be nice to him (we all know how notorious they are in Manila), if I'm willing to wait, if everything will turn out the way we hope it would be. As a friend commented: pa-suspense ang set-up nyo. So I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. Like what I normally say: abangan na lang natin ang susunod na kabanata.
***
I would like to record everything awesome for 2011. I have tried blogging about what happens each month so I would read this next year and notice -- remember, actually --that I've done all this and that. I have never been entirely honest, though. Zeroing in on the awesome events masks the real things, especially the homesickness aspect. Believe me when I say that a part of me gets depressed every Friday night when I have to go home straight from the office. Those days when friends are either staying late at work, sick, meeting up with other friends or rushing to meet up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, whichever is applicable. Boo. I'm getting emotional already. Blame the love-life-cut-short for this drama. Wahaha. I'm off to face August, my guide books and the rest of Awesome 2011. And since today is the National Day, here's to hoping that this is another promising year for all us (insert clangs of Tiger beer mugs!).
This month was also filled with anticipation for my one week break from work, and from everything else. As I have had only two days to transfer from my second job to the third, my break last June was one of the longest I had in the past year. It was what I had hoped for: a week of rest, staying at home, bonding with my parents and siblings; Filipino food trips; Batangas-Laguna-Alabang road trip with 'All the Single Ladies"/Maginhawa Girls; and LOL moments (thanks to the tale of the Nando's sauce) plus epic Chinese Checkers game with Thedd, Weisa, Jerick and Reuben (now known as Well-Regarded Friends, coined by Jerick).
As for July, it was full of promises, particularly of travel, of a love life (some friends would say 'finally Nelly') - two things I hope I would do more of and have, respectively, this year. You see, the travel part is pretty much settled as of this writing: my tickets for my September trip are booked, annual leave applied, Tourist Visa approved, accommodation settled and the only thing left is to pack my bags and fly. I can't say the same for the other thing. He has been around since the early part of the year and left for Manila in the middle of the month. Everything is uncertain: if he's coming back and when, if the Immigration Officers will be nice to him (we all know how notorious they are in Manila), if I'm willing to wait, if everything will turn out the way we hope it would be. As a friend commented: pa-suspense ang set-up nyo. So I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. Like what I normally say: abangan na lang natin ang susunod na kabanata.
***
I would like to record everything awesome for 2011. I have tried blogging about what happens each month so I would read this next year and notice -- remember, actually --that I've done all this and that. I have never been entirely honest, though. Zeroing in on the awesome events masks the real things, especially the homesickness aspect. Believe me when I say that a part of me gets depressed every Friday night when I have to go home straight from the office. Those days when friends are either staying late at work, sick, meeting up with other friends or rushing to meet up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, whichever is applicable. Boo. I'm getting emotional already. Blame the love-life-cut-short for this drama. Wahaha. I'm off to face August, my guide books and the rest of Awesome 2011. And since today is the National Day, here's to hoping that this is another promising year for all us (insert clangs of Tiger beer mugs!).
Monday, July 11, 2011
Definitely May-be
A month full of uncertainties, shame and fear. Bad things come from the feedback form, as what I've said here. But for the sake of being happy in the future (when I gotta to read this and remember what I did in May 2011), I'll just put the perspective on the positive.
May started with waffles, Sentosa, Vivo City and lots of chika with Allen, Janina and Vivi. May 2 was spent at Jurong Swimming Complex in the morning, with the girls Melai, Melanie, Lorraine, Ate Jet and Ate Cecille. Forty minutes and one across-the-country-MRT ride later, I found myself in East Coast Park with Cre8-ers for some cycling.
The weekend after, I went to see my cousin Gloren for some Filipino food feast, videoke and birthday wishes for her son Ichigo. Went all the way to Punggol on an early Sunday morning for another first birthday bash, this time with my colleague Sri's son and hurried home for another videoke session, kwentuhan and another Filipino food feast as it was Kuya Andy's birthday.
Nothing much happened in May after these, but the lessons brought about by the feedback form will remain with me. I shall not be complacent with my skills, and in knowing this and in recognising my weaknesses, I know May has given me the boneshaker I needed in my professional standing. Way to go. Thank you, May.
May started with waffles, Sentosa, Vivo City and lots of chika with Allen, Janina and Vivi. May 2 was spent at Jurong Swimming Complex in the morning, with the girls Melai, Melanie, Lorraine, Ate Jet and Ate Cecille. Forty minutes and one across-the-country-MRT ride later, I found myself in East Coast Park with Cre8-ers for some cycling.
The weekend after, I went to see my cousin Gloren for some Filipino food feast, videoke and birthday wishes for her son Ichigo. Went all the way to Punggol on an early Sunday morning for another first birthday bash, this time with my colleague Sri's son and hurried home for another videoke session, kwentuhan and another Filipino food feast as it was Kuya Andy's birthday.
Nothing much happened in May after these, but the lessons brought about by the feedback form will remain with me. I shall not be complacent with my skills, and in knowing this and in recognising my weaknesses, I know May has given me the boneshaker I needed in my professional standing. Way to go. Thank you, May.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Another round of aimless thoughts
The language of Facebook diminishes our concept of friends. Of what is considered like-able and not. Blurring the private and the public. It exposes us to our friends, real or otherwise, and for some, it exposes them to their siblings and parents. It becomes an extension of the interactions in the real world, or compensates for lack of it. Though I admire how it connects long lost friends and aids long distance relationships, I wonder how deep the connection is. And how true it could be. Sometimes, it's easy to like something even if you don't mean to. It's easy to tag people in photos, even if it is too irrelevant to them (they're not even there at times). Facebook has become routine, and whether it's good or bad is up to how you see it.
Social networks are good, but we need to let them be just an extension of, not alternative to, the interactions we have in real life. Go out, meet friends. Have a beer or two, some coffee afterwards. Experience, hear, the sounds of HAHAHA and see for yourself how funny an LOL could be. Like a person based not on how witty he can be based on his presence in his Wall, but on how he talks and mingle and socialise in person. (Yes, I understand that some people are socially awkward, but does being cyber literate compensate for it?) Go out there watch a movie, catch a bus going to the beach. Hit the bookstores, eat in the market. Avoid the temptation of logging in into FB places. Drop your camera on the way out of the house. Log out of Facebook and experience the world beyond the Zuckerberg connection. As Tokio Hotel sings it: see the world behind your wall.
Social networks are good, but we need to let them be just an extension of, not alternative to, the interactions we have in real life. Go out, meet friends. Have a beer or two, some coffee afterwards. Experience, hear, the sounds of HAHAHA and see for yourself how funny an LOL could be. Like a person based not on how witty he can be based on his presence in his Wall, but on how he talks and mingle and socialise in person. (Yes, I understand that some people are socially awkward, but does being cyber literate compensate for it?) Go out there watch a movie, catch a bus going to the beach. Hit the bookstores, eat in the market. Avoid the temptation of logging in into FB places. Drop your camera on the way out of the house. Log out of Facebook and experience the world beyond the Zuckerberg connection. As Tokio Hotel sings it: see the world behind your wall.
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