fun + forum

Had fun in our DT forum today. So many people attended yet only few faces are familiar to me.

I had so much fun playing the african drum "djembe". Though my hands hurt afterwards, it worth it. The guide was so lively he reminded me of Lisi coz of his coolness.

Though most of them volunteered for this, I was lucky enough to get nominated by Leon. Hmmm... How could I ever thank him for giving me a chance to experience this? I even asked myself if I do really deserve his trust wtf.

Anyway, I didn't stay long for the cocktail reception and realized too late that I missed the bus. I asked Julio to give me Prishy's number os I can go home with her if ever she's about to go home. Then I decided to wait in the staff entrance when I saw Mazen and to my luck, he was about to go home and he have a car today. So lucky me.

Currently chatting with Silvester and now I so wanted to go to Turkey. I didn't come along with his trip coz many people are saying that it's way too cold right now there and I might not enjoy it. Well, they have a point there. I'm not used in too much cold so I may end up sick and in bad mood. Besides, I prefer to see the beauty of Turkey during summer period. 

Since Jackie gave me a travel journal as a birthday gift, I promised myself that it will be filled with good memories. If I went to five countries in 2012, I will travel more in 2013 - inshallah.

I'm such a late bloomer. It's already in the middle of December when I suddenly felt this urge of having Christmas spirit. You think it's still okay to buy decors for my room? Haay, seriously that will be a waste of time and money.

One thing I so wanted to do, is to go home. Whether for real or vacation, am not sure.

Somebody told me long ago that if am no longer happy doing what am currently doing, I should stop it. Hmmm.... Am thinking if it's a good idea to be jobless in the beginning of new year. I think it will be a bad luck or bad beginning.

Anyway, I need to clean up my own mess first. Another sigh.

Tomorrow I need to do the performance review with Shamli. Ampf! I hate to do it coz am still not that confident to do it. I think am too lousy to conduct such things. What should I ask him? What should I tell him? What should I advise him if me myself was having such great mess in my work.

Dear December, why you no good to me this year? :( :( :(

Btw, last saturday I decided to buy a weighing scale only to end up buying so many things impulsively. Bought a new shoes (it will be my fifth black shoes for office use). And I decided to throw those shoes that I will no longer use, that is if I will not be lazy to move.

Even bought some things for my box. My box! Goodness, I almost forgot to fill it up. Now I think I have to since I already got some stuff. 

Gab was funny coz he ended up crying when I went home coz he wants to come with me. Thiiiiiis kiddo!

My mood to cook is back again. I tried to cook kaldereta last weekend and it's yummy but needs more touch ups. So I decided to cook it again, that is if I will be able to go to Spinneys to buy some pork spareribs.

Waaaaa... I just remember, I still don't have my Christmas outfit. What should I do?

all i want for christmas

Last night I took a walk in the snow
Couples holding hands, places to go
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa can you hear me?

I signed my letter that I sealed with a kiss
I sent it off, and it just said this:
I know exactly what I want this year
Santa can you hear me?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me, someone to hold
Maybe, baby
He'll be all my own in a big red bow

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
and all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here
Santa, that's my only wish this year

Oh yeah...yeah

Christmas eve, I just can't sleep
Would I be wrong in taking a peek?
Cuz I heard that you're coming to town
Santa can you hear me?

I really hope that you're on your way
With something special for me in your sleigh
Oh please make my wish come true
Santa can you hear me?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me, someone to hold
Maybe, baby
We'll be all alone, under the mistletoe

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here
Santa, that's my only wish this year

I hope my letter reaches you in time (oh yeah)
Bring me a love I can call all mine (oh yeah)
Cuz I have been so good this year (oh)
I can't be alone under the mistletoe...
He's all I want in a big red bow

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Tell me my true love is near
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here (oh yeah)
Santa, that's my only wish this year

Ahh...Oh Santa, can you hear me, oh, oh Santa
Well he's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here (oh yeah)
Santa that's my only wish this year


Hmmm.... Dear Santa, have I been a very very bad this year?  (sniff sniff)

I was about to write my Christmas wishes only to realize that it might be a total waste of time. Things were not going on a way I wanted it to be.

Anyway, I still believe in Santa.

picture problem

Unfortunately, I still have the same problems with regards to uploading pictures. Too bad, just when I have so many pictures to upload.

I currently don't hold any credit cards as I vow to myself not to own one #nocontrolovercreditcard as I suffered a lot when I still have back in Manila.

So the only card I own is my debit card which I don't want to use as much as possible on online purchases coz if worst things may happen like card hacking, it will be impossible to recover the amount lost in my account (not to mention my monthly salary was being credited in the same debit card).

So for now, I think my posts will nothing but just plain text  -___-

Had a long video chat with Joan yesterday and one thing is for sure, I do miss this gal big time. Can't wait to see her again and go travel with her around the world ^___^

....

...

..

.

Here's the deal, somebody was asking somebody to confirm some suspicions / rumors about me. My reaction was "what?!?". Wtf!

I'm quite surprised coz I never thought she will do such thing. Anyway, she used to be nice to me so I'll let this pass by. I will no longer comment about that, nor confirm things as I don't need to explain myself to other people, whatever they may think about me.

I'm a hypocrite, maybe yes maybe no.

I'm a wrecker, maybe yes maybe no.

I'm a slut, maybe yes maybe no.

I'm a shitty person, maybe yes maybe no.

You can say or comment whatever you wanted to me, the hell I care.

After all, it's my life.

december it is

Can't believe it's already December! 24 more days to go and it's Christmas time. Too bad my December vacation was not approved so most likely I will celebrate my Christmas here in Dubai again. -___-

So starting today, I will only play Christmas songs. No more SNSD songs nor pop songs. Must download good Christmas songs to my phone nao!

But seriously, can't feel the Christmas spirit here. Maybe coz I'm in an Arabic country where they don't celebrate Christmas. The only consolation during this period was that the temperature changes, much more cooler than last month. 

This will be my fourth Christmas away from my family. The thought of it gives me a little bit of loneliness and the feeling of being apart and far away from them.

Coz I remember back in Philippines, this is the most celebrated season of the year. You can feel the festive mood everywhere. Trees, buildings and streets were adorned with colorful lights that's so nice to watch at night.

And Simbang Gabi will start on 16th of December. They say if you were able to complete all the masses from 16-25 of December, your wish will come true. But you have to wake up very early in return just to attend this mass.

Perks of Christmas? Of course, gifts! Christmas parties everywhere, and in every party there will be an exchange gift so the whole month is nothing but exchanging or giving gifts to one another.

Awww... Now I so miss my home, my family. I hope next year I will be able to celebrate it with them.

Btw, I can't upload pictures in my Sri Lanka trip post anymore as my picassa album is already full and needs to be upgraded. Haayz, do I really need to pay to upgrade it so I can continue to post pics?  

back again

I'm back - back to my sentiments.

This evening was one of the most fucked up moments in the office. I knew one day this will happen but I never thought the feeling could be like this.

So now I will be a cleaner and a treasure hunter. Yeah right. Do the shitty part.

I admit I was never been perfect in my work but when I used to handle that, I never faced so much problems like this. They might think am just covering up myself but what the hell! Everything's fine because am putting so much effort and time on it. Playing smart when you're against the odds. While she didn't and now this.

Now who's paying the price?

Feels like I will be trap into this mess for quite sometime. I don't want to handle it anymore but they already decided about it. Anyway, who's more qualified to do it than me? Damn it! 

And am just starting to fix my own mess. I want to cry.

It really ruins my day and my coming weekend.

Feels so shitty I want to take a rest.

misfortune 101

Have you ever experience having a cancelled flight? I think a lot of people already did but I just had mine last night at Colombo (my trip will be in a separate post). And I can say, it was horrible!

Our flight from Mihin Lanka was scheduled to leave at 10:40pm. Once onboard the plane, we heard the announcement that the take off will be a little bit delayed due to some late group of people that was still on the transfer bus. So after an hour or so, the plane started it's pre take off run. But just before it was about to take off the ground, we heard this freaking sound and the plane cannot fly. All of us got worried because it's not a joke. What if something went wrong and the plane just crashed after it's take off? The captain was not being helpful with his excuse and he just mumbled something incoherent. People started screaming and shouting and getting hysterical - especially those people who have their kids with them. So after minutes and minutes of waiting without any advice given, we suddenly realize that people were started getting out of the plane. Of course we just went with the flow of the people.

Turned out we were led back to the airport and was given a transit ticket and was advised to wait somewhere in the corner of the airport. It was so annoying and really frustrating coz it was like we were waiting for nothing. Crews and staffs of Mihin Lanka were not telling us anything. No updates. We were just there, waiting. It took us hours and hours. And people are getting hysterical coz some have connecting flights and most wanted to go home - I am one of those who really wanted to go home as I need to report back to work.

After three hours or so, we were finally advised that flight was cancelled, they cannot provide a new flight for us and scheduled us for the next day flight. We were so tired (coz we stroll around Colombo for the whole day) and hungry. And I'm so worried coz I needed to get back and work for 31 as it's the last day of the month and it's the most crucial day. When they announced that we needed to stay for the night and wait for the next flight, my mind went berserk coz I know my manager will kill me. So after we had our snack and while waiting for the bus going to the resort/hotel where we are going to stay, I dropped a short email to Nabil coz my phone's already drained. 

Even the waiting period for the bus took forever and so disorganized. The families, old persons and ladies were left and boarded last on the bus while those single guys went ahead first - which is pretty annoying.

We reached the hotel around 4:30am and I'm really dead tired. We woke around 9:00am and someone knocked on our room advising us that the bus going to the airport is already downstair! So we hurriedly went down and ushered to the bus. 

At the airport, we have to wait for four hours to finally get boarded on the plane. We're really hungry and tired and I still have this uneasiness during take off. I kinda passed out during the flight coz of lack of sleep and the stress we felt. I woke up when I smelled the food they are serving. Guess this is the first time I finished the in-flight meal without leaving anything on my tray.

All I can is, I had a very bad experience with Mihin Lanka and will never try to fly with them again. Staffs were not helpful, not organized and don't have any backup plan during cases like this and not even giving updates what was happening during this period. The only moment I can give a thumbs up is during the landing coz the pilot did it well, we didn't feel any bumpy experience. But the rest of the experience, it was awful. Sorry Mihin Lanka, you will now be on the bottom of my airlines list and I'll never try to fly with you unless necessary.

So that's it for now, I need to sleep coz tomorrow I will be in a battlefield. :(

i want to go home

I was thinking what to do and where to go during the long weekend when an idea hits me - why not go home?

I originally planned to go to Doha but due to the limited time that I have to obtain a visa, I decided not to go. Such a waste as I really wanted to visit Joan. But I realized it was impossible.

Then I hastily searched every airline I know only to find out ticket prices were too expensive for my own liking. So I decided to hunt possible places to go to locally. Only to find out that no discount on hotels were available due to Eid. What a bummer!

But I honestly wanted to spend my precious vacation back home. If only I could.

I feel so lazy to day to move. In the morning I planned to do my nails but now I changed my mind.

I find it amusing to watch the "The Vampire Diaries" marathon translated in Arabic.

Currently listening:

We can't play this game anymore, but
Can we still be friends?
Things just can't go on like before, but
Can we still be friends?

We had something to learn
Now it's time for the wheel to turn
Things are said one by one
Before you know it's all gone

Let's admit we made a mistake, but
Can we still be friends?
Heartbreak's never easy to take, but
Can we still be friends?

It's a strange sad affair
Sometimes seems like we just don't care
Don't waste time feeling hurt
We've been through hell together

La la la la, la la la la
Can we still be friends?
Can we still get together sometime?

We awoke from our dream
Things are not always what they seem
Memories linger on
It's like a sweet sad old song

...

I so gonna hate the coming two weeks... If only I didn't overspend...

sleepless night

Time check, 2:30am. Goodness, I dunno what's happening to me. I don't feel sleepy but I really wanted to sleep. I keep on yawning but my body doesn't want to sleep. Uh ohh... I'm in this moment again.

Am feeling anxious for something I don't know. I'm in this stage again that I no longer enjoy doing my job. And it sucks. I want to resign. :(

I don't want to stay at home alone but I don't want t go out either. I didn't made any plans for weekend coz I know how impulsive I can be.

Staring unknowingly on that direction, memories flooded in my mind again. At one moment in my life, I became so happy. But at the same time, I became so extremely depressed. I lose my old self. I lose me. I lose every dignity and respect in myself that I build up for the past 28 years. And the funny thing, I'm still feeling this extremes within myself. Like yin yang.

I need diversion coz it's affecting me in every way. It's like life had been slowly sucking out of me. Like there's a miasma of negativity around me. And people are beginning to distance themselves away from me. I told myself it's okay but honestly, it bothers me. Big time.

Currently listening to Nina's "Renditions of the Soul"

You came along

At the wrong place, at the wrong time
Or was it me

this week

Last monday, we finally moved to our new office. And we packed and carried all those stuffs that made my whole body ache. We're the first section of finance to move, so it's a little bit creepy and lonely at the same time.

Good thing was that I was able to choose a good place for my work station. But kinda distracting coz now we are kinda required to greet every single person who passes by which is soooo distracting. Did I just say distracting twice? Haaay... I honestly cannot concentrate much.

And copier/scanner is still not working. Printing directly from opera is not working, IT is being an asshole not to finish setting up my computer. And they haven't opened the link to the sales drive. 

And am having a total fit over the phone as every calls were being transferred to my extension for reason I don't know. It's like am being a telephone operator, wtf!

And Shamli's adding up to my headache. He keeps on asking the same questions over and over again. And it's driving me mad. 

And I started my day having a bad mood. 

And worst was that I want to kill Karlyn for being a total bitch. This is what I don't understand. Instead of helping your own kabayan, it's the other way around. So if that's how she likes it to be, be prepared for a bitchy me. I will not help them anymore. She was not like this before. But now she changed, eversince she got promoted, wtf. Anyway, I'll just forget about her as she really ruined my afternoon.

Another thing was this card for Sohail. Nabil ask me to buy yesterday only to find out this morning that they don't like the card that I bought and insisted on replacing it with a big one, wtf. Next time I'll never ever do anything like that. And imagine that was what greeted you in the morning? I have to go back and walk in the mall early in the morning in heels, and to my luck my feet were hurting. 

Am just glad I had a proper lunch as I went to Al Badia with Richard and Ivan. Only problem is I don't know if we can go there everyday. How I wish we can coz I so loathed eating in IC cafeteria.

Btw, got two camels in a row. One is brown (all of the ladies in the office have) which I placed on my table and the other one is a violet camel with an Intercontinental Hotel logo on the back. 

and I had to ask Erlyn to move back coz she will be included in the picture

Speaking of Sohail, it's his last working day today and in the afternoon, he visits us in the office and gave some souvenirs. I got some old, wrecked swan but I still do appreciate it. You know me, I treasure small things no matter what they are as long as they were given to me.

And I was about to buy a friends forever mug from Hallmark only to find out that the price of one mug is AED55.00! Jesus Christ, it's too expensive for a mug.

And tomorrow is the last day of the week. I feel glad that I can now sleep longer during weekend as my body's still haven't adjusted. I still keep on waking up 6:30am as I got used to it.

Hope to finish all my pending work and have a nice weekend.

weekend

I went to Abu Dhabi to spend my weekend there. It feels goods to be reunited with my friends as I missed having them. Have nice food and good chat, haay, what could I ask for a weekend.

Since a lot of my friends and former officemates transferred to RC, being there was like I'm still one of them. Like it's the old times. They talk about people and things that I know and I can relate to. I was in that certain point that I almost regret my decision of declining the offer I had to join this team. Everytime they share their wonderful moments, there's something inside me telling that I should've been included there, but I chose not to. And it makes me think if I really did make the right decision - which I know the answer should be yes.

It's not that I no longer have friends here, but it's different. Now am starting to do things alone whereas before I always do things with someone. Maybe it's me that I haven't gotten myself to open up with other people or people just see me as the "unfriendly" one. I think Niko's the only one who dares to sit in the same table in the cafeteria with me.

I think I had this tendency to create my own cliche and this is the first time that I was left behind. And I couldn't get over it. And honestly, it's freaking me out.

I hate to be alone although there are moments that I like to have my "me" moment. Right now, I don't have a any girlfriend nearby I can talk to whenever am in my weird moments. And it's very hard to share it with guys coz they don't understand it. They just call me drama queen instead.

Anyway, back to my weekend, had great Thai/Chinese/Mongolian dinner at Royal Orchid in Hilton Hotel. Had my fave tom yum and it's delicious. Also had grilled tenderloin beefs which is surprisingly soft. Then sticky rice with ripe mango as dessert, yums!

Then we had tea break at Columbiana where I accidentally sitted facing a decapitating building that makes me feel anxious for some reason. Weirdness strikes me.

Then when I went home today, Jane called me to visit her flat coz she's going to give something to me. She gave these puffs she love to cook plus a nail care set which surprises me. I'm so touch I want to cry, wtf. She's always nice to me I feel blessed. 

If only I knew she will give me this puffs, I should've not bought those arabic bread coz for sure they will just reach their expiration date without being eaten. Poor poor arabic breads -___-

Anyway, I'm gonna go now as I need to finish eating so I can sleep early, inshallah.

 

newfound hobby

Recently I had this urge to cook. Being the moody me, I always have this sudden urges to do something then after sometime, it will pass by.

It all started when I'm browsing some videos in youtube that I ended up watching some cooking tutorial about tom yum goong. Tom yum goong is my favorite Thai dish. Am so super inlove with it although it's too spicy to me, I don't care. Just like kimchi and kimchi soup that's too spicy for me but I do still eat them  -___-

So the next day, went to the supermarket to buy all the ingredients I needed. Tried to follow the instructions on how to cook tom yum goong in the video and asked some people to eat with. Turned out they didn't appreciate my cooking :(  But for me, taste almost fine. Haaay, you know that sometimes I can be so sensitive with simple things. So when I feel like people don't appreciate what I do or me, I tend to do things for my own instead and never bother to share it anymore. I know I know, it's one of my baddest trait but I prefer to do things for myself than to other people who will not appreciate it.

I did the creamy one coz I love the sweet chilli taste

Then yesterday I cooked my own version of Filipino style spaghetti.

I only put minced pork as I don't have any hotdogs 

Then I realized I wanted to eat chips with salsa. Since I got traumatized ordering stuffs for delivery (only for veggies and other fresh products), I went to the supermarket in the evening. I got really annoyed to the supermarket staff as I was asking where is cilantro (it's so confusing for me to distinguish cilantro, parsley and coriander to each other) and he looks at me stupidly only to find out after a long long minute of staring back to me blankly that he doesn't know also. Ammpf! Anyway, I end up buying coriander in the end.

Also bought a new knife coz I need a really sharp knife for cutting. Since it's new, it's too sharp I end up cutting my own finger. Bloody knife!

Blood keeps oozing out of my finger and I had to put band aid on it and had to struggle cutting the ingredients. But this didn't lower my spirit. Turned out fine but it's not what I wanted the cut to turn out. Anyway, I was so surprised when I taste it coz it taste so fresh! Well, I thought that they are only exaggerating in the videos when they said that their cooking taste so fresh. But last night, it proved that I was wrong. I almost cried wtf after tasting my own version of pico de gallo. I did another version of salsa long ago where I grill the ingredients (coz that's how I saw it on the mexican video) and taste was fine but this one I like better.

I only made a small (not really small as the bowl was quite big) portion for myself

Suddenly realized that my cupboard was now filled with so many condiments I couldn't believe it is really my own cupboard. Before, my cupboard was always filled with canned goods, cup noodles and junk foods such as chips and chips, ahehe. Now, I had assorted oils - from sesame to oilve oil, some Thai condiments, some spices, pasta, sauces, and of course canned goods. Honestly, I'm not sure if having a personal fridge in my room has it's advantage or disadvantage as I keep now veggies in the crisper - had tomatoes, gingers - regular and galangal, carrots, onions, lemon grass, capsicum, limes and coriander. Turned out I bought so many portions coz I don't know how many I will use that they are now in the fridge. The fridge in the kitchen is a sharing one and already full of their veggies I don't want to add up mine. Also have ice cream and more chocolates and sodas.

Today am planning to cook garlic buttered shrimp. I already prepared my ingredients last night. Cleaned the shrimps where they stung my fingers :(   I rewatched the tutorial video and I hope I could manage to cook it well. ^__^

I think am gaining weight coz for the last week I've been eating a lot of junkfoods before I go to sleep. Am eating ice cream and a big bag of chips coz I can't sleep if I didn't eat them. And this is not good. Recently, I don't know which one is good or bad, drinking alcohol to make me sleep or eating junk foods to make me sleep. Wtf!

Since I made little promise to myself that I will avoid drinking, I diverted my attention to food and cooking. When am cooking, my mind becomes busy am forgetting other things. And I always looked forward for the food that I know will match my tastebuds. I love sweet food and I can't find any sweet dishes outside coz they taste different. With me cooking my own food, I can adjust it to my own liking. And coz of this, am feeling happy. Doesn't matter if am the only one who's eating my cooking, as long as I feel happy eating it alone, I don't mind. ^___^ 

georgia day 3 & 4

Sorry for being a lazy gal and I just now had the time to upload our day 3 and 4 pictures trip on Georgia.

Day 3, we went to Kazbegi mountain for the whole day. And it's freakin' tiring to hike all the way to top.

group picture!

beautiful castle

this is actually our first stop before going to Kazbegi; forgot the name of the place

view on the other side

ladies pic

I like this pic coz I look slim in here. You know that I hate to edit coz am too lazy to do it so it makes me too happy when pictures of me are coming good ^_^

 going underground

 found this doggie but he only allowed me to pet him coz Niko was holding him, wtf! thiiiis Georgian dogs!

we stop for a little while to refresh

this creepy yellow looking stones have water that is rich in iron so we ran for it and drink it

I don't remember what's so funny that makes us all laugh

these hats were made from sheep that's so stinky after this picture we immediately returned it 

love this green green mountain

am actually on the cliff

now we're starting to walk up to the top of the mountain

our destination

we finally arrived in this orthodox church

there are still some little snow left on the top of the mountain

see the village below?

Niko photobombing our pic

clouds were oozing out on the mountains it looks like smoke

with a Malaysian guy we met on the top of the mountain

 I'm clinging to Niko's bag like a monkey coz I don't trust my own feet to walk on my own :( #clumsy

dinner at some local restaurant after a very tiring day. couldn't count how many shots of chacha I had but felt like I didn't drink at all

And that's how our day three ends.

Day four is just a tour around Tbilisi with Niko's sisters, Tiko and Mancho:

 after taking photos on the escalator, we heard some announcement that was later on translated by our Georgian guides saying no picture takng on escalators, haha....

trying their metro

we walked and had pictures under the freakin' heat of midday. 

had our lunch at some local resto and the girls thought we want beer and ordered them instead of bottled fizzy drink that liked flavoured "pears"  -___-

 

we took cable car to get to mother of Georgia. She's in kinda high place

 mother of Georgia

I was calling this dog but I think he's too tired or exhausted to get up due to extreme heat

 dead tree it is!

 found a black kitty and he's so nice I want to take him home :(

 our last pic on this bridge

After this, we went to the ice cream shop to refresh then head back to the hotel. I ask every single one of them to go with me to the pool coz I want to take a dip but nobody went with me -___-  They went out to take more pictures while Blesie stayed in their room as she's not feeling well. Pool is too deep for me I can't dare to try to swim so I stayed on the sides.

And that's summarizes our whole trip to Georgia. I went home more dark skinned than before. But I've got many sweet memories, like Niko's favorite toast ^___^