Lost Data

My external hard disk just recently died on me. I lost a lot of files but most of the important ones I've backed up to CD prior to backing up to that hard disk. The CDs were the source of most data in that hard drive. So am fine with that.

However, all the photos I have from March to Sept. of 2006 are now lost. No CD back up there. Waaaah!! Most of them were photos from work, with the project/team I was on. And the time I spent on that employed period was among the better experiences I had, plus the friends I gathered along the way, were just simply valuable.... *sigh*. My office venue at the time was also the best location I've ever worked in so far. Arrrghhh! This incident really sucks!! Grrrr!!

That's like 6 months worth of recorded memories of my life history lost. Uggh! Demmit! Might have to arrange to get copies from one of my friends from work at that time who might have stored copies of her own. Gah. Hi J! *waves* lol!

Good thing I still have copies of the 2006 photos worth around 3.5 gb big since I haven't backed those up to another storage medium yet either. The backed up ones were in the said external hard drive. Am just really glad I hadn't thought to delete those 2006 photos from my other computer, its primary storage location.

Lesson learned: always back up data to CD/DVD/whathaveyou, and not just to an external hard drive that lasts 1 - 3 years on average (in my case, less than 2 years). So remember: Have data + storage media, won't wait and will back up.

And that's that. Waaah!

You Might Just Regret Getting an iPhone

Here's the phone that just might bitchily slap Apple's iPhone. Lol!

Sony Ericsson C905 or Shiho

Sony Ericsson's Cybershot 8.1 mp phone.. with some bells and whistles: auto focus, face recognition, a new feature called Smart Contrast, image stabilization, BestPic, red-eye reduction, xenon flash as well as photoflash for both photos and videos. It’s got a video stabilizer feature as well. You can geo-tag your photos with the built-in GPS. Not bad.

To be released later this year. Read all about it here.

I for one am certainly very very curious about it. And might make it my next mobile phone purchase instead of an iPhone. Hehe!

*photo from the Unofficial Sony Ericsson blog

Currently Reading....

I'm currently reading this book:
Rite of Passage: Tales of Backpacking 'Round Europe, edited by Lisa Johnson for Lonely Planet Publications.

It's light reading but it brings back memories of my first backpacking trip on the same continent for almost two months. The first story alone, is set in Granada, which ranks among the most memorable and top 3 favorite places I visited thus far. That was really nice reading, if only for the fact that it brought back really good memories of my exploring old Granada: its Albaicin district with its cobblestoned roads and whitewashed walls, the Plaza Nueva, the Plaza Sta. Ana, the Alhambra, etc... and even the Spanish gent who approached me, made small talk and asked me out to coffee at a nearby cafe (which I declined 'cause I had other plans... Lol!).

The following passage in particular, for the chapter titled "Waking up to Winter", by one of the contributors -- John Morgan -- resonates so much with my sentiments on the matter:

"I'm breathing with a light and free feeling.
It's a feeling of release and independence as
I begin my European journey.
Backpacking somehow sets me apart from everyone.
Even in this airport.
True, people here are traveling, but
they each have things to do, deadlines to meet,
itineraries to follow, specific things to see.
Not me.
I'm different.
I have everywhere to go and anything to see.
My destination is culture and
knowledge and experience."

And it really felt that way each time I leave one city to go to the next and I'm on the train or bus to that destination. Or whenever I start the first day of exploration of each city I went to.

Spain was really cool: going on the road to the not-so-cosmopolitan areas... seeing small Andalucian towns and homes at day or night as the bus passes by; seeing the Alhambra and the flora surrounding it lit up and perched on its hill in the evening even from afar; seeing from on the road farms and stone farmhouses in the dark with a full moon for their backdrop; or the Mediterranean with the unforgettable sight of pastel-colored hue of the ocean and waves with white crests rolling towards the shore and the road of pretty homes on the way to Barcelona from Granada. A credit card advert puts words and cost to some items or experiences as priceless. But no amount of advert or words or pictures would justify seeing, hearing, and experiencing all these. It's really nicer to travel on the road rather than by air, when you have time. Hehe! I love road trips and train trips! :D

I read the book after I've been to Europe more than once. And thus made me appreciaate the book more. Maybe if one reads it before going to their first trip to Europe, they'd appreciate the trip more. :)

*Image above from Amazon.com

Travel Bug vs Priorities

My travel bug's itching again!

And a bank has just issued me another credit card to replace an old one that has to do with earning miles. This time this new card earns me twice more mileage points for whichever applicable air miles service (out of at least 5..?) I want to use them for. Ack! And it covers insurance for lost/late luggage, among other things.

I'm not sure yet if I am happy about it or not.
The pro: you get more mileage points for future travel.

The con: you get more tempted to want to travel or spend to earn the mileage points even when you have other priorities. It's a con 'cause we aren't getting any younger after all, I'm not Paris Hilton, and there are some priorities that are more important to spend a huge amount of money on. I don't want to grow old regretting not having secured my future more as early as I was capable of it. hehe!

But then, this time, my travel bug is like urging me to go somewhere south of the equator and farther than Disney but where the topography would be similar to Tibet/Himalayas, and my foreign language lessons would come in handy. Ahehe!

a travel must-have: my sturdy backpack on the seat next to me,
covered by my sweater and rested upon with my left arm
photo taken with a phone camera (another item bought for
travel and blog reasons) on a bus trip to Lisboa, Portugal from Spain

However, -- and this is where the priorities bit start kicking in -- the cost of living has gone way up almost everywhere. Gas, food, utilities, etc. The UN has just announced that the increased food prices would stay that way for some time or at least a decade. And yes, I sometimes reel at the cost of my fuel bill that the thought of finding work closer to home has crossed my mind, even though I love where I'm at right now. Bummer!

It used to be really easy to just save money so I can travel and take photos. Some people buy gadgets, expensive shoes/clothes/bags, cars, etc. with their hard-earned money. But for me, I prefer to use them for travel or experience and photography so I'm clueless about how one pair of Havaianas sandals differ from another (I don't own any overhyped Havaianas either. I find it rather sad to see how some locals here would actually line up and buy them on sale. What's up with that? I don't really get it.)

I guess it's really a matter of priorities. Sure I like bags, clothes, etc too. But I prefer to see and experience new things more than get something which I don't really need or already have and that still works. My more costly expenses have something to do with travel too (bags, shoes/sandals, and camera stuff), and not because I wanna be some hot fashionista (see photo above). Lol!

I travel on budget. I stay in hostels, avoid fancy restos, sometimes eat on the way since I'd also be pressed for time and not get to do much shopping... would rather explore and take photos first than shop. The last bit sucks somewhat 'cause I wasn't able to buy some items I would have liked for my house since I was backpacking across several countries/cities and it would have been difficult to lug them breakables with me and just my backpacks...(plates, Murano glass products, Lladro figurines.. huhu!). I know better now for next time. I wouldn't pass up the chance and find every way possible to be able to bring those items back home. 'Cause that was the only major reason why I didn't buy them. *Sigh*

So yeah, the increased cost of living had me worried. I thought I should rein in my travel bug. But it's always there, and is a part of me.

So, I guess I'll just have to really prioritise and plan on saving for the things that really matter more (for long term security) than using my money for travelling, until such time that I'm able to get those plans out of the way and I'm free to just save up so I can travel again... starting next year at least, if my 'south of the equator' plan pushes through late this year. Lol! :D We'll see how that goes... things change. Hehe!

Walang Magawa? :P

Then create a slide online.... ahehe!

That's a slide of my pics wherever I went. I =). I got bored at home, sick. Wssn't well so I wasn't able to go to work. But in the evening as I got better I had nothing else to do and found this site and decided to put some photos up here.

Glad I got to use Christophe Maé's music for this slide. I like that song. hehe! And I've put this slide in my profile page in my multiply site.

I also created another slide for the front page of my multiply site but that's another story.

Might remove this post someday though, as I'm still not comfy showing all photos of me for posterity. :P

Metro de Madrid Ad ft Filipinos

A friend in Madrid, N, just recently sent a youtube link to a Metro de Madrid (Madrid subway company) ad that featured Filipinos. The dialogue was in Tagalog, and Spanish subtitle is used since it's played in Spain. I Like-y!! See a snapshot of the ad below.


Despite the seeming pandering to stereotypical notions of the Philippines, it still somehow well-represented the culture. I liked the language they used, the choice of words, the dignity, etc...

Seeing the ad made me miss Madrid/Spain though, especially when I heard the voice-over guy speaking in Spanish. :( Brought back memories. 'Cause it reminded me of the TV commercials there, as well as, of course, almost everything else I heard while in Spain that really brought home the fact that I was in Spain. Waaaa!

The ad also reminded me of the good things about the Philippines. For once here's a nice representation of the country/culture without the unpleasant distraction of Western pop culture imbibed into it as it is imitated in local media.

Also, Filipinos don't have a bad rep in Spain. At least I didn't get that impression while I was there. They are all hard-working and honest and friendly.

Kudos to McCann Erickson and of course, to Metro de Madrid. I love Spain! :D

You can find another youtube video of its longer and somehow funnier version when you go to the link above. Thanks N, for sharing the link... =)

The Tudors

I'm currently watching the first few episodes of the first season of The Tudors by Showtime.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a good actor, but I still think he is miscast for the role of Henry VIII. He doesn't look anything like someone like Henry VIII. Lol! Just does not seem as convincing while he tries to act the part. Too young.. and slender. haha!

The actor who should have played Henry VIII should have been Steven Waddington methinks. Always liked this actor in his role as Duncan in Michael Mann's the Last of the Mohicans when I was a kid, and saw him again too in Tim Burton's Legend of Sleepy Hollow (that was really nice, seeing him acting again).

And in the Tudors, Steven plays the Duke of Buckingham (he's the one in the extreme right in the photo above courtesy of imdb.com). The Duke was caught plotting to assassinate Henry 'cause the Duke of Buckingham was supposed to have been the rightful king if Henry had not won the battle of Agincourt in France.

If this was not history, I'd say, Steve/the Duke was planning to attack J. Rhys Meyers/Henry for the role: "I should be the king! King of England!" haha! After all, he's English, and J. is actually Irish. And seems better suited to the role of Henry. Tsk! hehe! Plus he has a bigger build and seems more mature in bearing than the latter and it would have been more accurately reminiscent of Henry VIII. Too bad he only guests in the show and dies in the second episode.

In this show, I like four actors so far:

• Sean Pertwee (the ambassador who was assassinated by the French in Italy in the first episode; dang! another good actor who's not part of the regular ensemble),

• Steven Waddington,

• Jeremy Northam (playing Thomas More of that Utopia book), and

• Maria Doyle Kennedy as Queen Catherine.

Other key cast members look really young for the characters (i.e. Ann and Mary Boleyn, the other guys at court, etc..). One thinks that maybe this show was targetting younger audiences (oddly reminds me of Gossip Girl) hence the choice of casting J. Rhys Meyers as King Henry. Very sad.

But still entertains. That's Henry VIII after all...

Another Trip

Off to a tiny city state for an almost week-long break. If you consider it a break. Already packed a backpack of clothes.

There's not much culturally or historically significant site that's worth going to there. And it has never been one of my target destinations, but I'll be there 'cause:

• a friend thought I should join her as she goes back to her old place of work to get her reference letter from her old boss for her UK post-grad app,
  
• round trip air fare is unbelievably cheap, and
  
• got a place to stay: my friend's place
• nice addition to the collection of stamps in my passport. cute decoration. lol.
  
• new place means new photo opps ;)
  

So it's just like spending about as much money as when we go out of town/Manila to another island/beach.

I'll just take photos and visit their very important zoo. And take photos of the animals there too. And hopefully get to see a polar bear there.

Apart from hanging out with buddies, other to dos for this trip:

• check out the IKEA store there
• find a new pair or two of Teva flip flops to replace my one and only old pair of Tevas
• go to a photo/camera store to get a lens adapter for my Olympus (stores in Manila don't carry any for Olympus apparently, and it sucks knowing so)
• go to Sanrio stores there and get stuff I might like with Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Bad Badtz Maru... probably something for my desk or car
• probably see the Raffles Hotel, Clark Quay, shophouses in Chinatown, etc. Any place worth taking photos of. I'm thinking night scenes might be better and more distinct.
• get my meals from street hawkers
  

I'm just disappointed that they don't have H&M yet there. A bit surprising actually. As they have Zara, Mango, etc. And Hong Kong has all 3 (I'd be totally shocked if Hong Kong didn't have H&M). I like H&M. Always left H&M stores in Europe with several items of clothing. 'Cause they can be here today but gone tomorrow. They have cheap throwaway clothes that are fashionable. And I'm not exactly a shopaholic/clotheshorse so H&M suited me fine when getting new clothes/wardrobe overseas instead for lack of time/interest back here/home. It's cheaper than Espirt or Zara but yeah you probably won't wear it again next year or so.

So, maybe I'd like the place enough to move and work there. Who knows. We shall see.. Hehe!

Should I or Shouldn't I?

But I already have! hihi! I just created a new account with Vox. So essentially, I just gave myself another headache since Vox does not cross-post with Blogger or Multiply. Hmmmm..

See a screenshot of my Vox site below (with its third template design in 2 weeks..., ignore the Mac interface at the bottom and top) with Firefox:

But I couldn't resist Vox's many different kinds of templates/themes which get updated with new ones. Argh! And I've since begun organizing my Vox site and hoping that yeah, eventually, I think, I might just continue my blogs there, instead of here. I can't find other interesting design templates here in Blogger anymore. And I'm getting tired of my current Blogger theme. :(

Vox also has communities. But unlike Multiply, has less control re privacy.

Sigh. If only I have more time, I hope to migrate all the posts I created here to Vox.

My Pets, January 2008

Took some photos of my pets Rainey and Whitey this weekend.. to test using the Olympus E510 DSLR camera I just got from the U.S.


Rainey is the small hairy Shih Tzu, and Whitey is the -- what else -- white mixed breed dog (siberian husky, poodle, cocker spaniel, and street dog mix). hehe!


That's Rainey complaining that she couldn't play with Whitey while she's tied up to the bamboo bench. hehe!

I brought out Rainey to the front of the house, but tied both her and Whitey away from each other. Rainey stays at the back of the house and Whitey stays at the front. But during the day, we take Rainey out front but within careful distance from Whitey.

Whitey is our male pet dog who's just about ready to do you know what to Rainey and we can't have him siring weird-looking puppies with Rainey. So we're very careful with them when they're in the same vicinity. Lol!



Seems the camera works just fine. Cool!

Hermés Silky Pop Bag

One of those nice to haves...

the Hermés silky pop bag

a reusable shopping bag: ideal for errand/mall shopping
(but not grocery for me... I don't think so.. 'cept for toiletries maybe.. hehe!)

folds and zips into this neat little leather packet which
you can bring anywhere with you, ain't that just cool?


in another design

I think it's a cute tote for when travelling, and yes, shopping, especially since I haven't seen any fake one of this around. Hence, no other clones toting the same style bag as you. hehe! Sometimes, I wish I had Paris Hilton's budget. Haha! This little thingie costs more than the latest Olympus DSLR E510 camera I just recently bought. Waaah! Better off buying jewelry I guess. I better luck next time.. *Sigh*

candle light

candle light
Originally uploaded by smintFreak

photo of one of the candles on the tabletop at my birthday party at home outdoors tonight.

I like how the light, color, and shadows came out.

Shot in macro mode using my Canon Powershot camera.

YM/Skype Statuses

Just wanna share some statuses I've encountered or put in in instant messaging (yahoo or skype):


"Energizer Bunny arrested and charged with battery"
- a friend's from the UK, funniest one I've come across so far..


"Life's a b_ _ _ _. Fill in the blanks..."
- mine when I was in one of my bad moods, and didn't want to really announce such to the whole world (i.e. people in my contact list who are sensitive to such pronouncements and might make all sorts of speculations..). I still like to keep my privacy. hehe!


"I don't even know my bloody blood type"
- mine.. taken from a line quoted by one of the characters in the Lost TV series... I thought it was quite witty.


"El Infierno es vivir dia a dia sin saber la razon de tu existencia"
- friend in Spain.... who loves to party... must be in a bad mood... hehe!


""Who has a friend, has a treasure. Quien tiene un amigo, tiene un tesoro."
- Spanish buddy in China


""zzzzzzzzzzz..."
- former colleague now based in the Netherlands

Too Many Links

"....wearing metaphorical friendship bracelets on the earnest Facebook, the punky MySpace, the careerist LinkedIn and the suddenly very Asian Friendster...As if that wasn't enough friendship for you, some of you have also asked me to be friends on the nerdy Twitter, the dorky-élitist Doostang and the Eurotrashy hi5."

I just read a rather amusing Time magazine essay by Joel Stein that I so relate to called "You are Not My Friend". It's about this outcrop of several networking sites online and having friends you would consider more acquaintances than friends.

All I can say is: I get similar invites too.. but I've opted not to sign on those additional ones. Maintaining one, two or three is a bit of a headache already and I don't see why I should add any more if it means more time online basically putting on the same information about me. Ack! hehe!

Blogging here is an exercise in itself already. And as I've stated in a previous blog entry, time, sadly has become a real luxury for 'lil 'ol office worker (read: me). Some things/activities are more important than having to maintain several sites with essentially the same info or set of friends.. ;-)

Now where's that DVD I need to finish watching? Time to go..

Some Nice to Haves...

1. this digital SLR camera with image stabiliser that's also light and small enough for travel

2. a CD of Christophe Maé's Mon Paradis album

3. stereo system in my room that's linked to and will play my archive of mp3s - need to research on this.. is there such a one by Bang and Olufsen? haha! Or will I end up with an ipod (noooo!! I hope not)?

4. three different pieces of furniture - one for my room, 2 outside my room

5. a new Macbook - but then again maybe not... as long as my current one still works fine.

6. a new mobile phone
- something as cute as the Sony Ericsson Z610i but with higher camera
resolution for those times when it's just easier and faster all around to whip it
(instead of a comparatively bulkier DSLR) out of my bag for shots/opportunities
needing faster response times

7. a new bigger bag
- but I just bought a leather messenger one that costs about as much as a Lacoste
shirt but which I can't bring to the office 'cause it's not that bulky enough for
all the stuff I bring to work; especially once I get the DSLR cam. :( *sigh*. It
looks great though, and I guess best suited for when going shopping. hehe!

- again I have to research on this one... am picky with bags but I prefer to spend
more on bags than on clothes. I usually end up looking for and buying a decent
bag/s more than for clothing when overseas (and so far, Italy wins for design and
functionality. haha!).

So Many Things to Do, So Little Time

So many things to do, so little time.

I think that's my motto right now. By this time of the year, I'd typically avoid commitments which can be postponed to next year. i.e., signing up for 3-month weekend classes for whatever subject.

Why? It's just a rather busy time with all those Christmas activities and traffc and events around the city. And me not being a mall or clothes-shopping enthusiast, I only go shopping when I absolutely have to, so when I do go, I end up making an errand out of it and ticking things off a checklist and end up with a lot of purchases 'cause I know it'd be a while yet before I'll be going back. hehe!

Lately, time for myself has become a luxury to me but I may have to restart thinking about staying home on Sundays if I need to get more things done.. arrghh! So I've signed up for driving lessons (on weekend mornings) out of necessity, to get that out of the way, and be a licensed one by next year. More about it on another blog entry maybe.

This month alone, I have two sets of relatives visiting from overseas (Hong Kong, and the U.S.). Then I think next month, I'll have two friends doing the same (from the U.S., and Australia). So I've been dining out more in the past few weekends. But enjoying it. :)

Maybe next year or the year after that, I should be the one doing the same - visiting friends/family overseas! haha! :P Which would mean I'd have to work myself to the bone and get my leaves in one go for that break. Hmmm!

Then I have some more stuff I need to buy for the house, my room, home entertainment, the kitchen, my pets, the list goes on...

Le Roi Soleil

Currently listening to some songs off the soundtrack of this French musical called Le Roi Soleil. Seems like a musical romantic/comedy of sorts re Louis XIV of France..
It's quite good methinks... especially Ça Marche with Christophe Mae (can't believe his voice.. hehe!). Sounds fun... La Vie Passe sounds good too. That was the first song I heard while I was listening to French radio over the Internet, not knowing it's from a musical until I downloaded its mp3 and saw 2 videos of their performances over youtube. Check it out..

Should get a CD of this musical.. Hmmm! Better yet, I should have gone see it when I was in Paris since the musical has ended its run last July. Dang! There went that chance.. hehe!

So now its soundtrack is on my playlist.. as well as some other French pop music (MC Solaar, Blankass, Koxie, Laurent Voulzy).. I have a cd of Pascal Obispo from long ago, bought in Canada... like that one too..

Hallow's Eve Break

Currently on a one week break from work, inadvertently. Was supposed to be at work for 2 days out of the 5 (the other 3 being public holidays). But stomach started acting up. That's what happens when you've got friends/relatives over from overseas (Hong Kong to be more precise) and you go out to dinner and drinks with them and family... and it's not even a hangover! grrr! It was a nice evening at the Fort Strip though...

But attended a Hallow's eve dinner hosted by a very good old friend at a small hotel restaurant near Casa Armas in Malate... The restaurant evoked scenes of an old Parisian bistro.. with the red leather chair against the dark wood-panelled walls, art nouveau motif on the walls, lighting, and ceilings, and black and white diamond floor tiles in a small setting with more hush (though we certainly made all the noise and laughter with both interesting and irreverent wit and conversation) and intimacy to hold a private dinner party with friends... unlike the usual places you find in the central commercial/business district... none of the loud bits you hear in restaurants in the commercial area.

Sometimes you need to take a break from those. I guess you can't really top Malate for genuine character. Strange how I remembered Malate when I was out with friends in Madrid, and in Princengracht in Amsterdam, and in Montmartre in Paris... made the the time spent in those places even more memorable if I may say so. Manila girl 'to! hehe!

I missed this place. Despite the hurly burly of Manila.. that's old Manila for you mixing with the new. hehe! The 12 of us exchanged stories and laughter over wine, great food, tarot card reading with a tarot card reader, candle fortunes, and some halloween lollipops of orange and violet color.

Hallow's eve is supposed to be new year's eve in the pagan calendar.. Learned that from them last night. Interesting.. Hence my friend hosted the dinner-cum-birthday party to welcome the new year and leave old baggage behind. Capped the night over at Cafe Adriatico a block away.. another old haunt, revisited. :)

Am glad I made it a point not to miss it. After some 1-2 months of having to beg off at the last minute from several invites (to 3 despedidas for two workmates leaving/resigning, and another for a German colleague who was our guide in Germany who was going back to Germany, + a beach trip over one weekend with the same German colleague, etc.) 'cause of work, am feeling a bit deprived, and this is indeed welcome and opportune. You can't just skip a an old friend's invite to celebrate her birthday and enjoy new and old company. And you can't come without a gift either.. hehe! Both are just not done. Old friend + new ones over an interesting dinner = great evening and experience. Should do this more often. :P

Current Cube

My desk at work, where I spent the afternoon today... me poor soul! :(

My Moo Cards..

Arrived via Royal Mail... Had photos from my Philippines Flickr account printed on them. =)

Buying Something One Hasn't Even Seen

Finally bought a car. And I haven't even seen it before I bought it. I don't know if that means I don't have time, or it's just that I need one and as long as it fits my idea of what I wanted to buy, it's fine. Hihi! Am not really a car person; am clueless about them 60% of the time. I only know about their manufacturers but not the difference of one model from another. My dad took care of checking it out for me instead. And I asked a trusted colleague as well about it since they know more about cars than I do.

What does my idea of a car I want to buy include? Well, it means I'd like an Audi basically, or a Range Rover. hahaha! I wish! Although that would be "bugbog-sarado" in Manila. I might just feel bad about using it here 'cause rest assured, it would really suffer a lot from the wear and tear of Metro Manila roads-driving. No flashy Beemers or other cars for me then. But since that's quite a stretch, the real idea (outside of an Audi or an SUV), is a sedan that's big enough that you won't be a tad bit embarrassed to drive one on the highway or to formal occasions (Sigh.. the pressures of an urban life...). So no sub-compact cars for me. I think they'd be too small, especially on those occasions when you have guests from Western countries with a larger anthropometric scale than your average Southeast Asian. And none that would have me indebted to pay for it every month for the next 3 years at least. Not wise, methinks. I hate to have debts to pay for years on end unless it's a mortgage on property maybe.

Ended up with a U.S. car that belonged to my uncle and it's not so bad. They hardly seemed to use it it's like new, especially when they have several other vehicles and just bought another one. It's cool. So I quickly decided to snap it up without seeing it first after learning about it and how much they are selling it to me compared with if I bought another car from a dealer with my budget (which would limit me to an older model that isn't as nice as the one my uncle sold to me, from an owner I don't know). Better that I bought it from someone I know who used to own it, than a dealer I don't know ('cept maybe if it were an Audi. Freak. haha!). This one I got is still considered a new car, for the price of an old one. Hence me getting it fast without seeing it first (but having my dad check it out and my colleagues' feedback). It's a steal basically. Lucky me. Hihi!

I've finally had enough of commuting home from work in cramped environs with the rest of the rat race at the central business district. And in a city of about 12m, that's one formidable rat race, with a thin veneer of civility when it comes to lining up, paying the fare, and taking seats. And when I say thin, it's really thin enough to make you want to live in non-urban areas with kinder people after years of such environment, or maybe to another country that's less populated. And in cramped environs, one is forced to, like, slouch when seated along with the others. And I can already imagine what that's doing to my back for the long term especially when I already have a back problem from carrying a laptop for work, and being seated for more or less 8 hours each workday at work. It really sucks. Apart from feeling dead tired from work with a headache to boot, having to commute in such conditions adds to the stress. I have to get to the public transport terminal first after a bus or jeepney ride and some walking. It takes about an hour and a half to arrive home after I leave the office when I take public transport. And I haven't been able to hack it in the past few months that I've ended up having to have an additional day off from work on some weeks and wishing we're allowed to work from home once each week at most maybe. I guess the office location is one of the reasons as well, since it's not in a central location. It sucks.

I suppose this says a lot about quality of life in Manila. I mean, if there is any at all. hihi! I don't know how to drive yet. I grew up having a family driver/chauffeur to bring us to and back to school among other places until I started working, when I decided it would be easier to take public transport and free up the car use to other family members who drive or need the car/driver (am the only one among my siblings who doesn't drive). So while I have yet to learn to drive, my dad will be the one driving me to/from work. And I'll see if I'll bring it myself once I know how. I think I prefer that I'll be picked up from work instead of me driving home, 'cause I'll be tired and can't drive with a headache in the evening in the streets of Metro Manila and along EDSA or the highway. I'll probably just drive it to work for practice after the driving lessons, then hand it back to my dad to bring home and pick me up later after work. *Sigh*

Okay enough about these boring bits.. Maybe soon I'd be ranting over owning a car. hehe!

Updates

That's the pattern of the rug in my room (above). I love running my feet on it when entering my room upon arriving home from work. And it's sort of a stress relief seeing it too.

On a side note, I took out a senior consultant/boss/colleague/guest from our UK office last Saturday (we just started a UK project), and met up with Norwegian colleague/senior consultant and his family too. We went on a day trip with a teammate (who brought the car, Norwegians have their own) and his girlfriend. Saw the sights, and had dinner afterwards at a nice and quiet restaurant with a great view from above of a lake with a volcano while the afternoon turned into evening. Cool. =)

However,

it made me seriously think about getting my own car. For when there's a guest and for those times when I wanna go out of town anytime. Argh! Maybe it's about time. But would not be driving it to work except maybe for practice since I don't know how to drive though our family driver tried to teach me long ago. Prefer that I be picked up from work instead of me bringing the car. I'd be too tired to drive going home.

Been putting off buying a car for so long 'cause it seemed that taking public transport is easier than me having to drive. But in the end, it seems, it's better as long as I am picked up from work. Shortens the travel time. Plus I won't be so dead-tired each time I arrive home from work. And my cousin/uncle is selling one of their cars, of a U.S. brand. So maybe I'd get that instead of buying a brand new one. *Sigh* We'll see.

Knick-knacks

ref magnets from everywhere

I got quite bored today. I finally started on the photo album of the photos of my Spain trip in 2005 and took photos of:

• the ref magnets on our freezer door in the kitchen (see above).
• the little bookshelf behind the door (when it opens) in my room with some snow globes I bought in Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain (see below).

little bookshelf in my room with snow globes from Europe

Finally

Finally, I was able to buy myself a copy of a CD of Sergio Mendes' album Arara. It's not anymore out in the market. Bought it second hand on Amazon.com. And it's like it's new and barely used. No scratches not even on the jewel case. Cool! It has Brazilian/jazz music instead of American mainstream pop. I remember playing this several times back in high school. And been looking for it eversince.

Sunday Musings

Nothing much new lately. And I won't even start about work. That's guaranteed to either bore or irritate you. And I'd rather keep work-related stories private if I can help it. Whether or not am happy with it or people at work. hehe!

The only thing that stands out lately is that it seems all my friends have been leaving the country one by one. Even some cousins. To the US, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia. That's just this year alone. I'm sad 'cause it'd be a while before I may see them again. Will miss them.

Am alone at home. With just the pet dogs Whitey and Rainey for company (but Whitey's at the garage, and Rainey's out in the living room). It's so quiet, the Sunday sort of quiet without anyone else in the house.

And I don't feel like going out because it's just too hot. And have been getting fewer friends to go out of town with since they are or have been leaving the country one by one. I should be next! hehe!

A uni in the UK wants me to send some documents for a post-grad degree. Not yet sure if I should take them up on that. Since London seems like a theme park, and not as safe as I'd like. Am not a big city girl maybe. :P Always enjoyed the smaller cities more in Europe.

rapeseed field in Germany, shot from a
train window. They use rapeseed for biofuels.

Stuff I miss in Europe:
1. the parks
2. the big trees
3. the walks in weather that won't make you perspire like mad
4. countryside scenes - i.e., little church and spire suddenly sticking out of a small community of homes you can see over the fields that a train whizzes you past.. I don't know what to say. It's very European. And quaint.

Visual DNA

Here's something quite creative that I found on the web, my visual DNA.

Based on the photos I chose for each category they presented, turns out that:

1. I have an Easy Rider mood.
2. For fun, I am an escape artist.
3. For habit, am a new wave puritan.
4. And for love, am a love bug.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

New Web Presence

I just created a new web presence for me, at multiply.com.

I am thinking that it's one of those web things that would help me consolidate my blogs, and photos, etc. in one site, online. And make it easier for me to share my online photo albums with friends and family. But it won't replace my blogging here in this site. This is still my primary blog site, for now. hehe!

I named my new web presence at multiply.com centelleo. It's Spanish for twinkle. ;) Check it out.

Raine

Our new pet Raine...


Sometimes called Rainey, she's a 3-month-old female shitzhu puppy. That's her, resting between my slippered feet, and standing on her hind legs (upper images), on the floor, and between my feet (lower images). Cute furball. haha!

Painting

And what might this be?

Guess....

Above is a photo of the cubicle doors inside the ladies' room of the Rijks Museum branch at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.

They depict a print/s of Rembrandt's largest painting that is showcased in the main Rijks Museum in Amsterdam: the Nightwatch. I like that museum. =)

Duh!

four 2-euro coins, matchsticks, and 500 Philippine pesos

At the time the photo was taken last April, with the exchange rates back then, 8 Euros = Php 500.00. Niiiice!! Kaloka!!! haha!

These Shoes were Made for Walking...

my beat up Teva sandals in Germany

...more like these sandals were made for walkng.. ;)

My Teva sandals in fact. It's been to everywhere with me. I used it during my trips to Europe, among others. And it never fails to keep my feet from hurting at the end of a long day of exploring, whether it be during trips, to the beach, or at the malls.

It's lightweight, dries easily, designed for river/streams and stones really. Didn't hurt as much at all when I walk over cobblestoned streets and alleys in Europe. Easy to pack too! And can double as slippers I use in hotel bathrooms, and my hotel rooms.

Bought them in 2005, and costs about 20 USD more or less, or Php 1000.00++. And it's still kicking! hihi! 3 years old now...

See my pics wearing them everywhere...:

Click on an image to enlarge.

Signs...

You know things have changed when you get recruiters knocking on your door offering you IT jobs (Oracle ERP, and Java/J2EE) to apply to since 2-3 years ago and up to now in:

• the Netherlands
• the UK
• Belgium
  
• Singapore
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Luxembourg
• the US
• Italy
  
• Nice, France and
  
• Australia

So indeed walls have broken down. Maybe these recruiters think I'm based in Europe (for the European ones), I don't know. And am left thinking.... and hoping that you don't have a boss who might feel threatened by you/your skills... :P

France Elections

The French presidential elections... Who do you think will win?

Took the following photos down at Butte Montmartre in Paris, at the foot of the steps going up Sacre Couer...

ad campaigns for French presidential race

ad campaign for French presidential candidate Segolene Royal at Montmartre

Crystal in Cologne

Went to Cologne on a weekend last March... And took this photo by the shop window of the Swarovski store there.

Oops! Who's that reflected on the glass? Hihi! :P

Saw these little flower thingies long ago online and thought them cute. The ones I like cost about 42 Euros each. Was nice to see them for real in Cologne, and Paris, and Bremen, and... But still didn't buy one. haha!

If in Amsterdam they still turn up this weekend, maybe it's really telling me something. Lol!

Getting Ready + Lonely Planet

In less than a week's time, I'll be away for a few months.

I've already bought what seemed to be the last remaining copy of Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring at Fully Booked at Rockwell. I made a reservation of it over the phone, while none can now be seen in their Lonely Planet bookshelves when I dropped by to pick up my copy. Whew! 'Cause Powerbooks, National Bookstore, Bibliarch and A Different Bookstore don't carry this title. And since I've used the same guide last 2005 (my friend's copy, in Madrid...) and it saved my ass when I arrived before sunrise in the south of France (but that's another story), I still preferred to get its latest edition for my trip this time, instead of its counterparts by Rough Guide or Let's Go.

I also bought my second Lonely Planet travel journal there as well. The first being what I used in 2005 while in Europe. I like this travel journal of theirs 'cause it's spiral-bound, just the right size, with a soft sort of leather cover (so the journal doesn't easily get dog-eared whenever I stuff it in my bag), has a world time converter, journey details form, etc.. The one I had last 2005 was used up. There was no blank page left by the time I got back home.

my Lonely Planet travel journal atop the table of my seat inside

the Eurostar TrenItalia train at Venice going to Rome, 2005. On top
of it is the remainder of the sandwich I had ordered from the Buffet
food court at the Venice railway station. It's the same sandwich I used
to feed the pigeons that pecked me at Piazza San Marco. haha!

Am glad I saw its latest edition at Fully Booked when I picked up the Europe on a Shoestring guide (especially since the other booksellers I mentioned above don't sell it). Though I wonder if I'll get to use this one up as this time around, I'm going to Europe for work, and can travel at weekends only.

Am gonna do my errand shopping tomorrow after work for this trip. I don't plan on going out this weekend except to go to North Park for lunch or dinner with my family. There's no North Park or wanton noodle soup with Hong Kong-style noodles where am going in Europe I think. hehe! I'll really miss it, hence North Park, the only decent Chinese restaurant near my residence. I expect there to be a lot of different kinds of potato dishes on the menu while in Europe. Huhu! :( I think I'll die! haha! :D

I'll be packing up on Sunday I guess. And hope not to reach up to 20 kg for the check in luggage weight 'cause I expect to be bringing more stuff back here. Which means I might be wearing jeans and runners on my departure since they're both the heaviest items to wear; and thus lighten the load of my check in luggage. *Sigh* I don't really enjoy wearing jeans that much. I actually have only 4 pairs of blue jeans. The latest one is 2 years old or more already. The Lonely Planet guide I bought is easily 2.5 lbs heavy, but I'll be stuffing that in my hand-carried backpack.

I'm also having second thoughts about bringing my Mac notebook. 'Cause am already bringing another laptop for work. Argh! If I don't bring my Mac, then it means I'll be doing some serious file transfers between the two notebooks. How tedious! I hope I don't forget to copy anything else that needs copying from my Mac to my work laptop. Waaa! Am gonna miss using my Mac. *Sigh*

To prepare for Germany, am meeting up with my German friend before I leave. Was supposed to meet today but we both got up very late, despite setting up our alarm clocks. Pasaway! hahaha! Well, I hope we make it on time next week.

While in Europe, am not sure yet if I can go jogging regularly, if at all. Or swim. Will know once am there. The hotel has a pool but it's gonna be creepy if I'll be swimming laps alone at night. Might just have to get used to it I guess.

Going Away and Packing To Do List

I need to do some packing this weekend. Before I leave for new places.

Am moving to a new place while going overseas for a work assignment for some months, and have lots of stuff to pack. Ack!! Books, knickknacks from my desk (which I still want to know where they are when I get back from overseas), CDs, DVDs, stuff on my desk, clothes, toiletries, accessories, bags, etc... Too much stuff! Huhu!

Am bringing my Mac with me overseas though. Even though I'd have another laptop for work. I couldn't leave it. And am not even an obssessive and overly proud Mac fan. Hmmm.. I am just used to working with this notebook a lot. All my stuff are there: photos, blogs, mp3s, finance matters, lists, etc.. Which also means I might have to buy a notebook sleeve for my Mac for protection even when inside the laptop sleeve of my North Face backpack. Duh.

Apart from the requisite cold-weather pieces of clothing, I need to have/bring the following books:
- Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring
- Lonely Planet France/Paris or
- Lonely Planet Germany
- The World is Flat v2.0 by Thomas Friedman (if I haven't finished reading it by the time I leave)
- Time magazine issue which I need to finish reading as well
- a fiction by Arturo Perez-Reverte

Also won't forget to bring the following gadgets:
- my nifty Canon digital camera
- my Sony Ericsson W800i mobile phone/camera/walkman
- my USB thumbdrive
- the chargers for my Mac, camera, and phone
- all the compactflash cards for my camera

Have to suspend my Time magazine subscription while away.

I don't think I'll be going out much while away. Only plan to visit maybe two to three cities of priority (in France, Germany and the Netherlands) and the rest depends on convenience, boredom level, or work schedule. If only the Schengen visa already applies to the Czech Republic, would have added Prague as well. Tsk! Oh well. As long as I get to visit at least two of my target cities, then am happy and good to go. haha! I can be a homebody for the rest of the weekends of my stay and just take photos of nearby places at work. I just wanna do some photography stuff, and eat healthy while away but also try local stuff (beer, wine, not so much cheese, that long French bread, etc. haha).

Since am packing stuff, the thought entered my mind that maybe next time, I'd be packing 'cause
am leaving my workplace. Not too happy about the thought of being just one among so many bees. Does not seem so interesting anymore. Would get routine too, or tiresome. it has certainly crossed my mind. So I guess eventually, I will shift work again; with something that's more broad and not limited to IT but still interesting. I already know what it is. Hehe! Just a long-term plan for now. Food for thought!