Hongkong Trip – Day 1

Arriving at Hong Kong International Airport armed with nothing but print out articles and leaflets from the airport, we started our adventure on Lantau Island. I departed Singapore past midnight and joined with my wife at Manila for the 8am trip to Hong Kong.

Of course we want a smooth travel as possible. We aren’t on a tour package so we have to minimize any possible glitches on our itinerary while maximizing our exposure to as much of Hong Kong and adjacent places. While I plan our trip, Deanna does well in taking pictures. It’s good that she was able to hold the camera as I was very conscientious on plotting our schedule. And for that, we did a record of around 800 pictures in 5 days! No wonder she can take pictures like a pro now.

Lantau Island. We took a bus from the airport to Tung Chung MTR Station. Ngong Ping Cable Car is under repair so we took a bus to reach Ngong Ping. The twisty road was an experience. You’ll see most of Lantau’s mountainous view, reservoir and the breath taking sight of South China Sea. More than half of the traveled time of course was enjoyed by my wife sleeping. She has this special skill of dozing seconds after she closed her eyes ^^.

We feel a bit tired that we have missed our breakfast. Roaming around the airport with our backpack on is quit draining. Back in the Philippines, Boarding gates of domestic flights is just a minute walk from the check in counter. NAIA Terminal requires a rather extended walking time from check-in, to immigration and to boarding gates. At Singapore Changi Airport, you have to use a travelator to hasten the travel time. In Hong Kong, Automated People Mover at 62km/h, provides fast transportation from check-in area to gates. Probably, maybe the next generation airport will use planes to transport people within the terminal.

The bronze Buddha is hundred of steps up from where we are. Hungry and tired, we decided to check the Po Lin Monastery first as it was in the ground level. We’ve taken a sumptuous meal at a vegetarian restaurant to energize ourselves. It’s a very good overture to Chinese vegetarian meal and is really worth a visit. After wandering a while inside the Monastery and checking various statues inside, we proceeded to scale the steps of the largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world.

The Tian Tan Buddha sits on a three-platform lotus altar and can be reached by climbing 268 steps up. We manage to have some fun so as to encourage ourselves into reaching the top. Good thing is, the meal we have just taken, fueled us up.

Circling the lotus gives a grand view of the Lantau peak (Hong Kong’s 2^nd highest peak) and the view of the mist touching it, confers an inner peace. It reminds me of my own Zion, bringing you closer to the presence of the mighty Creator.

Tired of the climb, we resisted the temptation of not visiting the Ngong Ping Village. There were free shuttles to the village but we opted to stroll towards the themed village. Traditional Chinese architectural design was clearly demonstrated in shops and cultural structures within the 15,000 square meter site.

There are not a lot of people during our visit, probably because it was Monday. After being shoved by exhaustion and the urge of maximizing our time, we decided to go down using another route.

At late afternoon, we reached Mui Wo. We are supposed to stay at silvermine beach hotel and have a visit on the cave and the waterfalls, but it seems my wife is not that keen spending a night by the winking seashore of silvermine beach, and the cave and waterfalls weren’t enchanting enough to convince her either. Proof of which, we haven’t taken a picture at Mui Wo. L

Half an hour later we reached the pier of Hong Kong Island after taking a fast craft from Mui Wo. It is our first glimpse of the Hong Kong Island and her forest of tall buildings. In an hour, we proceed to the ferry terminal going to Macau and have a short snack break before boarding the craft. Of course, with miss camera girl around, we haven’t missed snapping out a few shots at the ferry harbor and our first MacDonald’s Hong Kong snack.

Macau. It’s raining hard when we reached Macau. The tourist information kiosk wasn’t that helpful either. Signs are in Chinese and Portuguese. Hotel agents at the port are quite obsessed in selling splurge hotel room for us. We manage to call one of the mid-range hotels listed on my travel kit, and luckily enough (or the other way around) we found a deal of cheaper room accommodation. Instructions given weren’t that clear, probably due to accent barrier (?) and the pressure on us to find a room is killing me. Taking a bus from the Macau pier and surveying the streets for any similar or close sounded street names to that hotel (and in the midst of rain), we decided to take a walk and scout for any hotel so as to rest our very tired bodies. We ended up on a budget hotel. Only then we remembered we haven’t taken our dinner yet. A chummy fast food meal was the signature meal for the night. With a lot of kababayans scattered around (on what we later found out to be the Largo do Senado), brings a smile to our face as we exchanged greetings and good wishes before taking up our meal in our room.

We ended the day with a warm shower and retiring to sleep.

literally bruised

Nagising akong makulimlim ang paligid.. sabagay ganito naman lagi sa sulok na ito ng islang tinirhan ko, maulan. Kadalasan, sa kwarto lng ako. buong araw.. hanggang madatnan ng gabi, hanggang madatnan ng umaga ulit. Pero kadalasan, sa gitna ng gabi nasa kalye ako.. nagpapadyak-padyak sa 2 months old bicycle ko.. Weird? kasi sa gabi alang tao, wala akong masasagasaan if ever… at siyempre, walang makakakita pag tumumbling man ako hehehe…. sa araw naman, i usually use my bike going to MRT station or Bus station instead of using the bus, kasi nga, sayang din naman yung P20 pesos per trip… pag maipon yun, aba’y may kalakihan din yun… so yun yung routine ko… eto pa pala isa, pag pumunta ng swimming pool.. pag pakiramdam ko kinakalawang na mga buto-buto ko, i go to the pool.

So yesterday after lunch, katatapos lng din ng ulan, i prepared my gear. nakapack na yung goggle, pambanlaw and secret hehehe… (pang-asar lng po)

Eto na, diretso na tayo sa pag dive ko sa daan. For what reason na pumagilid ako at sumemplang sa butas ng drainage sa gilid ng daan(Read: indi marunong mag bike). Hehehe… syempre sabay tayo, bawi ng porma… nakasunod kasi sa akin ay ale na nakapayong na naka bike, o di ba diyahe? hehehe i was bruised on my hand at anssaakiitt ng kamay ko huhuhu… gusto ko nga umiyak right there and then e.. try lng kung kakayanin… pero tiningnan ko muna yung ale kung tatawa sa stunts ko.. syempre, dalawa lng kami, so nahiya siguro hehehe.. di siya tumawa.. tuloy-tuloy lng siya.. ewan ko kung tumawa siya pagdating sa dulo… ako, ayun tulak ang bike pauwi waahhuhuhuhu.. sakit pa rin…

Syempre ayun nasabon ng nanay at ng misis heheehe… pero sakit pa rin….

But in some ways, am happy.. i feel like a child again, bruised from play at sumbong sa nanay, of course i don’t know no matter how i tried, alang luha na lumabas…hehehe sayang… important element pa naman ang iyak, di ba? Masarap masaktan, natututo kang mag-alala ng mga tao, ng nakaraan, ng pagkatao mo. You will realize that
pain respects no person. And all people are equal when it comes to pain. I wash my hand with soap and water and later with rubbing alcohol, things i will never do nung bata ako. But this time, i have to validate my claim that i conquered my fear and so i did the same.

Night came, sked ko sa work. I have to go. Zero OT kami ngayon, sa dami ng liabilities ko, kailangan mag tiis… Ang hirap, both hands kasi ang affected. Ansakit. So you can imagine pano ako nag suot ng bunny suit ko, at paano ako bumukas ng pinto. I feel so helpless yet have enough strength para magawa yung mga bagay na yun, in the midst of pain. Mahirap, kasi mag isa lng ako. I can hardly read and reply an sms. pati sa drinking fountain, i have to push it with both hands at di kaya ng isa lng.

Masarap. I pray and pray for the Lord to heal my hands. Masarap maglambing sa Panginoon. Masarap masaktan at tumawag sa Panginoon. Weird? probably. But there are relationships that can’t be appreciated by anyone except by the persons involved.

Fabrica

Why i posted Fabrica for my hometown when it is not a town, rather a small (now) village in the city of Sagay, north of Negros Occidental, Philippines?

I’ve grown up on this memorable place where once the cosmopolitan  area in the visayas and is the biggest barrio in the Philippines. Known internationally since the early 1900s up to the year 1976 as the site of the largest lumber company and sawmill in the world, the Insular Lumber Company (ILCO), owned by the Americans, it produces hardwood lumber and has its exports to the U.S., Australia, and to many countries in the world, bringing dollars to the Philippine economy.

In the early 1950s and 1960s, it is among of the most developed barrio in terms of infrastructure, water system, electricity and lighting facilities of which majority of Philippine barrios don’t have.

From 1910 to 1976, it boasts two large movie houses, a cockpit arena, number of medical clinics, drugstores and two private secondary schools (the Holy Trinity Academy run by Augustinian nuns, and the Faraon Institute from which i and my siblings graduated), which is a symbol of progress then.

During the ’50s to 70s, Fabrica was also the commercial and industrial  center of the province of Negros Occidental and the Visayas. Many Chinese businessmen had invested and put up stores in Fabrica especially on the opposite of the steel bridge constructed by the Americans traversing the national highway, crossing the big and navigable Himoga-an river system now called Brgy. Paraiso – named by Bible-believing christians as their sanctuary after planting a Church  which was later washed out by flood.

Now, they called the place a ghost town. All the magnificent constructions during those glorious time are buried under mud and bushes. You have to go through thick bushes to discover the huge foundation of the hospital, huge water tanks were now used as a foundation of one house. Road bricks were dogged out. The place has been literally stripped of its beauty and grandeur. Something that can be kept only in memory… a memory.

things that then was…

October 14, am at home, sitting in front of my laptop, with fingers aching to strike the keys and mind that is empty to command a word.

My mind keep on running round the corner of my thought, flashing are the memories of old friends, places and things that touched my life in one way or another… people i learned from and peope who hopefully learned from me.

Also comes are the thoughts of things that i thought, matters to me but seems aren’t(?).

…life… death, how sure is it and how fast is coming over to people  i love and probably to me.

enjoying life… regretting to live. the irony of living is that, while you enjoy life, your frustrations boils it down to a halt – making it senseless and worthless.

i missed my music in cassette tapes, i have 2-3boxes of cassette tapes at home of which i don’t know if still in good condition or… flowered with fungus already those serves as my vitamins since college days until before i leave manila. it sustained me, accompanied me, painted my life in loneliness. It’s with those music that i came to enjoy life in my solitary refuge.

i missed the things i called mine, Desktop, guitar, keyboard, cd-radio, books – all gone, separated from me. got new toys though but nothing compares with the memories i spent with them.

i missed the old, dull hill i used to spend my time with. the old hill that heared all my sentiments and expression of joy and amazement. It’s tranquility is something unique to itself and is so hard to find this days.

i missed traveling on rocky roads, evading muds crossing rivers by jumping through the big rocks, the scent of greenfields under the sun, the music of silence at the country side, the view of fireflies – creating a natural christmas tree during the cold season of december.

i missed the time when all you have to be concerned with through the week is rice, fish, vegetables on weekdays and chicken or pork on sundays. when you only have to gather drywoods in the backyard for your mom to cook lunch and dinner. when those veges are just a pick away and chicken is something you’ll run after around your place.

i missed playing with kids at my age using only a stick or a piece of stone. When we have throw at each other mud and roll ourselves in the itchy grass, when we have to hunt wild fruits and spiders in the wee hour of the night.

i missed the time when the moon is still bright and stars covers the night. when the morning rays of the sun is so beautiful and warm. When you have to be quick in checking out the dew at early morn as it will not stay that long.

i don’t know what is growing fast in here.. was it me? or the time?

Life then, is so simple, carefree, worth enjoying and worth celebrating.

4th month in SG

parang kelan lng… eto na.. hindi ka na daw baguhan.. kaya wala ng
dahilan para magkamali-mali reports mo.. o di kaya, ndi comprehensive
analysis mo hehehe… sabagay, 3 months ka ba namang night shift na
tanging kasama mo sa work ay mabait at mayroong “inquisitive
mind”(super pala tanong) na auntie(yan tawag nila dito sa kung sa atin
ay tita).. minsan, sa hirap mag english dito parang gusto mong sumigaw
sa lab.. di mo alam kung gusto mo siyang sigawan o gusto mo lng talaga
isigaw yung hirap ng loob mo. kasi pag sinabi mong process as ‘prases’
magdamagan kayong magka what?-watan.. kasi ang tamang bigkas pala daw
ay ‘prowses’..hehehe sabi ng boss ko, british culture daw kasi sila
kaya yung grammar, british english, at ako naman daw american culture
yung previous work ko.. .eeiw…. really? o sadyang slow lng ako? kung
ang tagalog ay mahilig sa “e” sa dulo, sila mahilig sa “lah” o basta
may “h” hehehe.. tulad ng lagi kong naririnig, “Anjo, don’t leave me
lah!” *eherm* kaya pag di mo dinagdagan yan sa dulo, manalangin ka na
na sana, wag magtanong o kaya di narinig..hehehe…

Last week, i stumbled on the topic about clinical depression sa net,
and wow!! all symptoms are positive sa akin hehehe.. yung suicidal na
tuliro na ewan… buti na lng na counter ko hehehe..after doing 12-hr
night shift last thu mrng, dumiretso ako sa “revenge of the sith” at
9:30am.. dont worry guys, nasa tamang pag-iisip na ulit ako. one good
thing is, mababait din naman “ata” sila.. kasi tulad ngayon, dami kong
uwing chocolate at marsh mallow tsaka yung dalawang bote na intsik
nakasulat (sana masarap ) na di ko alam.. so far, di muna ako
complain… observe muna hehehe…

yung parang pansit na ewan(P32.00), yun ang common breakfast nila.
sarap na sarap sila diyan lalo’t may chili sauce. minsan breakfast ako
sa mcdo, chili sauce lng available sa french fries, nagsisi tuloy ako
bakit nagpasanay ako sa catsup sa pinas hehehe…libre kape dito..
brewed pa… sabi ko baliktad ata… yung instant coffe pa ang mahal
dito… since yoko ma adik sa kape, ayan… malamig na gatas na lng
ako lagi (libre e )

then HDB flats naman yung common na tirahan dito.. parang tenement
style.. yun yung bldg across sa pic sa baba. then, yung pic sa gilid
ng bus stop (landscaped, may bulaklak), yun lng gawa ko hehehe…
hopefully makagala na rin me… sensiya na, ala akong pic kasi ala
akong taga kuha hehehe…

as i’ve said, no cash sa train at bus. lahat naca-card, automated…(sabagay pede mag cash kaso mas mahal) di dito
naiintindihan ang CR, toilet tawag nila.. yung elevator, lift..
(british nga) tapos na kwento ko na ba na dalawa yung toilet set nila?
yung isa yung common na toilet bowl sa atin.. yung isa naka squat ka
hehehe… may kasamang hose with free flowing water hahahha… but
then, yan prefer ko **GROSS** i-attach ko nga sana pic e hehehe…

miss you guys! hope you’re all doin’ well.

8th Day sa SG

This past few days was really boring tho’ adventurous.
Naabutan pa ng chinese new year yung S-PASS Card ko,
so friday, the 11th ko pa makuha, then sa monday pa
daw actual start ko and that is, a 2-day orientation
pa.

Thanks for the responses nga pala. Kahit papano,
naging entertainers din yung mga mails niyo. hehehe..

My medical exam was okey and clear. Yung pila sa MOM
is only to get a Q(queue) number then upo ka lng at
tatawagin ka to pass the required docs. Of course, mga
sanlibo ulit na bayaran. After that, bibigyan ka ng
mapa para pumunta sa kabilang ibayo for finger
printing and photo.  I was walking with my map wide
open and counting my steps under the sun ng biglang
may sumigaw sa akin na lumalapit ng mabilis. He has
some wires on his ears and dress neatly. Kinabahan ako
at mukhang secret service ang dating niya. He’s
pointing at me. I want to run but i can’t, nakupo..
Changi prison na ata landing ko. I scan the place
where am in, baka kako nasa gitna ako ng daan at
na-jaywalking o di kaya nasa restricted area wahehe…
Hiniritan ko na lng agad ng tanong pampatanggal ng
kaba. (Whew! iba pala talaga maging foreigner,
everything is a wonder of beauty and fear!), "Hi, I
think am lost. Can you help me locate this place?"
sabay turo dun sa map. hekhekhek… ang hirap talaga
kabahan sa ilalim ng napaka-init na araw. Buti na lng
at mukhang gusto naman niyang tumulong. He showed
the way and i did say a lot of thank you’s, para
kunyari mabait ako…hehehe.. Well, i end up sitting
at the park for an hour listening music thru my fon
habang nagtatanggal ng init sa maghapong paikot-ikot.
kakapagod na kakatawa.

At the hawker’s place, yeah.. alang tissue..grrr.. For
two times i asked for extra rice para dun sa 3-viand
meal ko, but it always ended up with 2 meals na tig-
tatatlo ang ulam…sabagay dalawa nga naman ang rice.
Ang hirap mag argue kasi naka-serve na.. yoko naman
makipag-away kaya kelangan kong ubusin yung dalawang
meal huhuhu… i attempted thrice.. dalawa yung
palpak, buti pa yung isa nakakuha ako ng isang cup of
rice at P15.00.hehehe.. 1995, isang kilong bigas na to
ah! the only good thing is, di ko sila kilala kaya ok
lng na magmukha akong gutom(e, sa gutom nga e)
nilalayo ko na lng yung isang plate sabay biglang
lipat sa plate ko pag ubos na, tapos ilalayo ulit yung
empty plate para kunyari iba may-ari hehehe… but
really, i won’t do that again!yoko na humingi ng extra
rice. 

Last thing, Napagkakamalan ako laging 18-year old
student… hrhrhrhr….

update sent to friends 07FEB2005

4th Day sa SG

Me here on my 4th, boring day. The environment, though

sizzlingly magnificent, is kinda unfriendly. Why?

Dalawang oras po akong nag-ikot ng nag-ikot sa SIEME's

st. (kung tama ang spelling), finding my way home. I'm

tired and hungry.. Ang Burger is P300.00 sews!!, and

drinks pinakamura P40, yun  yung tipong buko juice sa

tabi-tabi, e limang piso lang to diyan sa alabang e

hehehe... pinakamura sa turo-turo na isang hita ng

manok at kanin, P70.. bwehehehe... People are crazy.

You can't stop thinking who's right in front of you

and who's at your back, not only that they look

different, (black to white.. may yellow pa ata hehehe

siguro may sakit sa bato!), tapos sinkit to bilog ang

mata.. and yes, colored pa ang mga mata.. not only

they vary in their looks and dresses, pati kamo amoy

pabago-bago din.. Pag may pumasok na indiyan sa MRT,

hehehe papasimple na ako niyan sa kinda malayo kasi

kind sensitive smell ko e hrhrhrhr..

Kahapon napunta ako kina Ina (another tupvian and

amkor-nian) ang guess what.. sumakay ako ng bus at

nag-antay na nag antay na dumaan yung bus sa familiar

block na malapit sa place nila. Pero after an hour,

dinala lang ako ng bus pabalik sa station na tsaka pa

lang ako bumaba..  i don't know how much that cost me

sa e-z card ko kasi same place lang binabaan ko. (Yes,

yung bus nila parang naka MRT card na din, kinda lower

being ka pag nag-cash) hehehe...buti umikot lang yung

bus.. yung place pala nila nasa likod lang ng MRT

STATION, tok!.. nagiging slow na ata ako dito...

8pm here ay parang 6pm lang sa atin, so yung 8am...

kayo na mag-isip. Yung expressway walang bakod ng

katulad ng bakod natin.. people here assumes na hindi

dapat tumawid sa expressway.. exactly the opposite sa

atin no?

Everywhere is hanep sa landscape, i wonder where are

the police? yun pala may cam sa bawat corner ng

roads.. Another thing... wala akong makitang security

guard kahit sa MRT hehehe...

Well, personal obervation lang naman po to.  Mamya,

balik ako ng admiralty to check for my medical

results.. pag hapon na, bukas pa ako makakapunta ng

MOM. .so most likely.. di pa ako makakapasok this week

at wala din ako sasahurin. Good for me, libre place ko

at breakfast hehehe *kapal*

02FEB2005