My vacation this year has turned to be a complete waste. I flew out from Doha March 5 and arrived the 6th in Manila. March 9, I went to my scheduled balik manggawa OEC in Ortigas and metup for lunch with my best friend. 11th, went out with my family to the mall for lunch and grocery. I also was able to visit the dentist. The 13th I got a call from LGU Cavite advising me to do 14 day self quarantine, the call was a bit late as I had been out but sure, I will obey what ever they say. Before the 14 day self quarantine even finish, PRD announced March 14 for a 2 weeks lock down and after that even extended for an enhanced quarantine until the 30th of April. 

Today date is 15/04/20. I had been inside the house since the 13th of May. I have not set foot out of our gate. I cannot go out of the subdivision as only my mom has quarantine pass. 

How I keep sane? 

1. I watched movies / series on Netflix. Or afternoon downloaded movies with my family. 

2. I sing via Wesing App.

3. I do yoga - not religiously. Just when I feel like it. 

4. I do intermittent fasting. I only eat from 8 am to 2pm window. 

I still have 2 more weeks and we will see how this will be.

I really hope that this COVID goes - and CHINA be made to pay for all this mess. 

Its only supposed to be a 17 day vacation. Now marks my month long stay in the Philippines due to Covid19 pandemic. This has been the longest one month of my life. Unable to step out, I just try to keep my self busy and sane. 

My colleagues says I am lucky to have been in manila with my family in this trying times - paid. But for most who knows me, I am a working bee. I need to be able to move around and do things. And this pandemic has made it really hard. Not only for me but for the entire mankind.

Cant wait for this pest to leave earth so we can all move on with our normal lives. 

Let me sing for you

Hello blog, its been a while. I am almost a year now in Qatar and I am a bit lost. So many things has happened. So many things but then again it has brought me to the "now", season of loneliness hence I am writing now to bent out again. Take the load off my restless heart, body and mind.

I feel like I had been working so hard and I cant help but feel so tired. I do not have a social life here. And when indeed I get to go out, fucked up things happen which empties my little self confidence and makes me realize how useless my very existence is. 

Knowing how forgetful I am, I have to blog this as a journey reminder.

Late 2017 I saw a post for Station Master in Workabroad website but its for "male" only so I didnt bother, until a Dubai Metro colleague buzzed me to send an application as she did also.

March 21- Message from Cyril to report to office for evaluation
March 23-10am Numerical reasoning test and english language test
June 1-Message from Cyril to report June 10 for final interview with employer
June 5- Message received that it as postponed till further notice
Oct 20-Interview with employer and exam 6:30am to 6:45pm
Nov 12-Perfect gift, contract signing
Jan 1, 2018 - Flight. Manila-Malaysia-Sri Lanka-Doha

Its always the little things that turns me off. At start its always perfect. Then you start complaining about little things. This little things gets you so stressed out. And this little things comes filing off. Until the time that you explode as you just cant take it anymore.

Being nice is not enough. Being passive can help but it can kill you at the same time.

This is where my obsessive-compulsive disorder comes to place. I am not one to yield when I am right.
And I want this little things to go away because I know I am noticing them for something. I am not making them up.  

I fell in love the first time I saw a tragus pierce but I may not have thought enough about getting one and just dive right into it. Went to the mall and had to go about a couple of proper jewellery stores and 3 stalls, they all dont do tragus piercing. They just do the usual lobe gun pierces. Came across one that does tragus but they do it manually instead. Went with it and here we are. I love it but downside is I cannot use the headset for music on my right ear no more :(

Lord please give me a sign. If its not happening then so be it. I cant help but expect when there is a comma and not a period. I am not good in letting go of a good dream so please give me a sign. Im going nuts.

Bored so I went online to find me somewhere to go and I found this group organised by ESCAPE under Solo Traveler Budgetarian on Facebook.

Below was the itinerary:


I ️ Dingalan marker
White Beach
Mountain View Deck - Batanes of the east
Lighthouse/Lamao Cave
Suah Rock Formation (depends on waves)
Tidal pool
Tanawan Falls

12:30MN Assembly Time Greenfields Mcdo
01:00AM Departure Time
05:30 AM Estimated Time of Arrival at Dingalan Feeder Port
06:00 AM Boat ride to White Beach
06:30 AM Trek to Mountain view/Batanes view
08:00 AM Trek down to White Beach
08:30 AM Trek to Lighthouse/Boat ride to Snorkel Area
09:30 AM Snorkelling, Tidal Pool and Rock Formation
11:30 AM Boat ride to White Beach
12:30 PM Boodle fight at White Beach
02:30 PM Boat ride to Feeder Port
02:45 PM Trek to Tanawan Falls
03:00 PM Swimming at Tanawan Falls and tidy up
04:15 PM Trek down to Van
04:30 PM I LOVE DINGALAN photo ops
04:45 PM ETD to Manila
10:00 PM ETA in Manila


Love the place. Enjoyed much. At first, being that I am the only solo traveller amongst the group, medyo nagkakahiyaan pa but as the day went, nakahanap na din ng makakausap at kabonding.  Photos were amazing though the weather wasnt.

PHOTOS 

I do not need to understand everything. I just need to accept the fact that this is a complicated world we live in. Trying to understand and wrap my head around everything just gets me tired and crazy. So I am letting it go.  Que sera sera. So help me God.

I love you Maxx. You will always have a place in my heart. I am surrounded by things that reminds me of you. Lots of them. I am sorry. I hope I could have done much for you. Mommy loves you and misses you so much. So much.

Grieving. How many times do I need to see my loved ones die slowly, helplessly before my eyes. Where is God? Please help Maxx.

There are no words to say how I feel right now. Sobrang sama ng loob ko sa nangyayari kay Maxx. Di ko yata kakayanin to. This brings out old wounds that I thought turned to scars over the years. Sobra sobrang lungkot, galit, hinanakit. I dont want this. Let me die instead of those that I love. My heart was broken into pieces 2006. Pieces are now being pulverised. I cant stand this anymore. Please Lord Please, let him live please. I beg you. Let him live please.

Family short trip to Taiwan

My sister was generous enough to bring the whole family to Taiwan for a short vacation. I didnt want to go at first but I'm glad I did. Taiwan isnt really a country you would hear if given a chance to visit neighbor countries but it surprised me of how beautiful and progressive this tiny country is. Totally smittened by Taiwan specially their train system. Coming from a previous station master, it WOWed me.

See Pictures

Left Manila March 10,  here is a copy of our itinerary made tediously by my lovely sister.

TRIP TO TAIPEI, TAIWAN
10-15 March 2018

Date	Time	Destination/Activity	Details
Day 1 Mar. 11	2:05 am - 4:00 am (approx.) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport 2:05 am (arrival)	Taiwan Youth Hostel B1, No.11, Qingdao W. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 100, Taiwan Tel: 02-2361-3000 Location: 1. After getting off the bus, please find M3 (yellow sign)→take the escalator→go out from M8. 2. You will see (convenience store) and the  police station at your left side, please turn left after seeing the police station and TYH will be at your left side. 3. If you arrive here during 00:45-5:50, please follow the BLUE route instead since MRT system will not be in operation during that time. (1) Take Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819 to Taipei Main Station and walk for 5 mins (2) Take CitiAir Bus 1961 to Taipei Main Station and walk for 20 secs MRT: Leave at MRT Taipei Main Station exit 8 and walk for 1 min (please see the map)
	4:00 am - 4:30 am 4:30 am - 6:00 am 6:00 am – 9:00 am 9:00 am – 11:00 am 11:00 am – 12:00 nn 12:00 nn – 1:00 pm 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm 4:00 pm onwards	Check in at the hostel Settle down/Breakfast Rest/sleep Prepare for afternoon tour Buy/load EasyCard at 711 Taipei 101 Lunch at Din Tai Fung (inside Taipei 101 mall) Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall National Palace Museum Back to Taipei Main Station Early dinner at nearby resto/fast food of hostel	Metro Taipei fare: https://english.metro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=46A82F0C116392CB&s=6792451B411431CA Taipei 101: Take the MRT red line to Xiangshan Station and alight at Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. About 14 minute(s). Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall: Take the MRT to Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall station (Red Line 2 or Green Line 3). About 10 minute(s). National Palace Museum: Take the MRT to Shilin station (Red Line – 2) and then take Bus R30 to the National Palace Museum. About 14 minute(s) train. From Shilin MRT station, head out exit 1 to Zhongzheng Rd and catch R30 (red 30). About 15 minute(s) bus. Shilin Station to Taipei Main Station Station is about 11 mintues.

Day 2 Mar. 12

6:26 am – 8:09 am 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Alishan Cherry Blossom tour (Klook) https://www.klook.com/activity/498-discover-alishan-mountain-kaohsiung/ THSR (Taipei Main Station) to Chiayi Chiayi to Taipei Main Station Dinner at a nearby resto/fast food of hostel

Itinerary: Pick up: 9am (select your preferred location at check out) Pass by Zhongpu Aboriginal meal at Longmei Tsou dance performance Alishan Forest Recreation Area Return drop off: 5 pm – 6 pm (OR stay overnight and continue with the Two-Day tour) Inclusive of: 8 hour local tribes and nature tour Transportation Tsou Dance Performance ticket Insurance Services of an Chinese-speaking guide Aboriginal lunch Mineral water Not Inclusive of: Alishan admission ticket By MRT:  Take Taipei MRT to Taipei Main Station (台北車站), HSR Taipei Station (台北高鐵站) is located on the underground floor. Taipei High Speed Rail (THSR) Timetable and fare search: https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/TimeTable/SearchResult

Day 3 Mar. 13	8:45 am – 5:30 pm 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 7:15 pm 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm 9:30 pm – 10:00 pm	Jiufen, Yehliu, and Shifen (Kkday) https://www.kkday.com/en-ph/product/2287 Lunch/snacks Shifen to Taipei Main Station Taipei Main Station to Jiantan Station Shilin Night Market/dinner Shilin/Jiantan to Main Station to hostel	Meeting Time: 8:45am Meeting Point: East Gate 1, Taipei Main Station Duration: ~8 hrs Returning Time: ~5:30pm  Returning Point: Taipei Main Station Vehicle Type: dependent on number of travelers  Guide Language: English Take Tamsui-Xinyi Line (to Beitou/ to Tamsui) from Taipei Main Station => Jiantan Station. About 9 minutes.
Day 4 Mar. 14	8:30 am – 9:00 am 9:00 am – 9:30 am 9:30 am – 11:30 am 11:30 am – 12 pm 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 7:03 pm 7:30 pm – 12:00 mid	Hostel to Taipei Zoo Zoo Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:00 p.m.) Leave for Maokong Gondola from Taipei Zoo station (crystal cabin) Walk around Maokong Village and try their food/tea Cable car back to Taipei Zoo (normal cabin) Lunch at Taipei Zoo Start Taipei Zoo tour Taipei Zoo to Ximen Station (Ximending) Ximending/Dinner Ximen Station to Taipei Main Station Rest/prepare for the airport	http://english.zoo.taipei.gov.tw/content.asp?Cuitem=1126771&mp=104032 Brown Line Take Bannan Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Taipei Main Station => Zhongxiao Fuxing Station => Transfer to Wenhu Line (to Taipei Zoo) => Taipei Zoo Station About 26 minute(s) Take Wenhu Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Taipei Zoo Station => Zhongxiao Fuxing Station => Transfer to Bannan Line (to Far Eastern Hospital/ to Dingpu) => Ximen Station About 29 minute(s) Take Bannan Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Ximen Station => Taipei Main Station Station. About 3 minutes.
Day 5 Mar. 15	12:00 mid – 1:00 am 4:00 AM	Hostel to airport Departure from Taipei to Manila	Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819

Ako na lang by Zia

Last year hence the long hair. wala lang magawa.

Last December I had my tooth extracted due to unbearable pain after the "pasta" fell off. Dental Focus in SM Molino took it off but quoted me an extremely high amount to have it replaced. Either flexible denture or bridge crown. Found one nearby this month at a reasonable price and here we go :