HABEMUS PAPAM

ANNUNCIO VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM....HABEMUS PAPAM!


Aren't I lucky to have witnesses three Popes in my 32 years of existence in this world?


Pope John Paul II(Karol Josef Wojtyla), he was a Polish who reigned as Pope From 1978 up to his death in 2005. He was the second longest serving Pope in history and for me was one of the most loved Popes.

His death on April 2, 2005 was then followed by the selection of a new Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger)  a German cardinal who was elected pope on April 19, 2005 in a papal conclave.His papalcy ended last February 28, 2013 for which he had resigned from his post citing "a lack of strength mind and body" due to his advanced age. As Pope Emeritus, he will retain the title POPE and will continue to dress in the papal  color of white.

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is the 266th and the current Pope as to this writing. A native of Buenos Aires,  Argentina is the first Jesuit and first from the Americas to be elected Pope. He was elected on the second day of the conclave.Being a Jesuit priest, he chose the name Francis from St. Francis Xavier.

We can never tell how long this new Pope will reign, all we have to pray is that God will guide him in his endeavors and enlighten his heart to serve well to all people regardless of what beliefs they have.

HAPPY FEET

I need a breather, I need space, I need adventure, in short I need V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N. I've been stuck in the desert for more than 8 months now and my feet are getting itchy to get out of this place and be with my love ones. But I still have to endure another two months to be with them. This two months is getting faster than I expected, the last time I checked its march 1 now its already March 13 and by the time I finish my duty its already the 14th. It's barely half a month and first quarter is finished.

Rumors are spreading fast about my upcoming exit in the desert. I haven't confirmed it yet but seems that the walls have ears  and sounds travels faster than the bullet train that they can hear what we are talking about in the flat. Even people whom I don't talk too that much seems to get a little information about my upcoming masalama. O well, in time you'll all know. But for know I can't divulge the exact plans. All I am after at this moment is going home, vacation, travels and lots of love, love, love.

Three months from now I'll be with my love. After 11 months of being separated, I'll be with him again. That despite all those unending rants, weekly tantrums and exchange of banters we have hanged on and kept the plans going. This was one tough relationship, I should say. I got so hurt and so traumatized but still we push through. This wasn't an easy thing but with God's providence we have stood still and hopefully win this battle.

As I seat here, browsing the net for things to do on our upcoming escapade, I suddenly recalled our adventures together while travelling.

Our first out of the country trip together was in Malacca, Malaysia. It was one short trip outside of Singapore, a real breather for us, after years of being separated. A lot of misadventures and happy memories happened in this trip. Who couldn't forget how we got lost looking for our bus in the Malaysian border  after doing our immigration duties. It was one hell of an experience trying to figure out which way to go and hurrying up not to be left by the bus enroute Malacca. God gracious we were able to catch up or else we will be left behind.

                                 Tang Bee Swee Clock Tower

Located in Dutch Square Malacca Town Center. This is a favorite  trickshaw pick up point.

                       

This if formerly called The Dutch Reformed Church which was built in 1753. Christ Church Melaka (Anglican Church) was consecrated by Bishop Daniel Wilson  of Calcutta on August

25, 1838.

It was one fast trip, I guess we  stayed longer in the bus travelling to and fro than actually staying and exploring Malacca. It was quite "bitin", so definitely we will go back to see this UNESCO Heritage site again, hopefully soon.

Last year we went our way back to Malaysia to let our happy feet once again find it's ways. It was Kuala Lumpur this time. To reach it from Singapore, you are left with to options, either you travel by land which can either take you hours or by plane that will take you in less than an hour. We chose the latter for a more convenient and to maximize our two day stay. 

Off we went to KL. It was raining hard in Singapore and I was quite afraid to fly but thanks heaven  we landed in KLIA-LCCT  on time and without any problem. 

Getting out of immigration was a breeze coz you don't need to fill out embarkation cards anymore. And I was lucky enough that the Immigration Officer assigned to me was quite lenient and just ask when will I go back to Sg, to which I answered "tomorrow afternoon sir", then my passport was stamped and off I go. 

From the airport one has to take the bus or the fastest way the KLIA express, a train that will take you to KL proper. We were so excited to explore the city so we chose the train ride going and indeed it was one fast and comfortable ride.

Getting to our hotel wasn't that easy at first but we found our way in their MTR and monorails. 

Petronas Towers was our actually our only legit itinerary in KL. So off we explored the maze, I mean the trains going to the Petronas. 

       I came, I saw, I conquered!

     My travel buddy, my friend, my biggest critic, my fiance and my partner for life.



This year our happy feet are all set to step on another land, off we go to Batam, Indonesia. I so excited to explore the world again with my love. This will be our third travel together out of the country. Three months from now happy feet will again  explore and hopefully won't get lost.

Honeybee I am so looking forward to this trip,our pre-anniversary adventure. It's not only the travelling that I am getting too hyped about, it's the time I will be spending with you away from all the prying eyes of people.

I pray that together we will explore the world more in coming years, together with our future mini "us.

One Over Rated Day of the Year

       I find V-day as an over rated day. Why do we tend to sensationalize this day when in fact it should be celebrated everyday. Why do we have to wait for this day in order for us to show our love to our partners? Can't we not give red roses spontaneously on any day? Why do we have to do it on this day? 

       I am not sourgraping 'coz I am in love and been in love for years. But still I am not fond of celebrating this day even way before. I find it to be too much for a day. I'd rather appreciate a simple token given on random days than receiving it on this day. It's the thought that really counts especially if it took me by surprise. 

     I am not against individuals who go for lavish and all out on this day. If you can and you have the means to do so, then go for it. It's just my opinion. 

      But all I am saying is that, I will be more than happy with simple things done on ordinary days with the one I love. This are the things that forever will be in my memories as I grow old, more of if I will forever spend it with my love. 

         

         

  To nourish and keep the love burning I'd rather have it in ways others may find too cornball but hey, isn't it what love is at it's finest when you tend to be cheesy and not so demanding on what your partner can offer? 

Just my simple thoughts on how to keep the spark burning. Simple yet full of love.

1. Merely  gazing into each other's eyes in silence and love sparks  instantly.
2. Taking time together in 'not-so romantic"yet memorable dates
3. Walking side by side knowing that someone is beside you as you journey with life
4. Kissing you every chances he gets, is the sweetest of all kisses
5. Looking forward to grow old together
6. Knowing that you'll have all the comfort, love and contentment in each others presence
7. Looking at him and your heart smile a genuine, happy and contented smile that makes the corners of your mouth  and brings twinkle to your eyes.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

While sitting and talking to my habibi who is on the other side of this planet I started bugging him on any idea on my next blog post. And all he answered me is none. I couldn't think of any topic to write nor is he. But when he went to sleep I got so many things running in my thought bubble so, maybe this could be my daily dose of rants for today.

Random thought #1

VACATION - it's barely three months more to go before having my annual well deserved vacation and super looking forward to this day. So many things will be settled on. A lot of preparations and argumentations for the coming year. A lot of places to go and people to meet. Gastronomic feast fit for my humungous appetite. And the best of all is seeing my habibi again and be  wrapped in his loving arms again. I am looking forward to our travels together, our food expeditions and simple laugh trips over simple matters. I can feel the Singaporean breeze from where I am seating right now and I wish time will fly fast so that May will come and off I go to my favorite city in the whole world  and be embraced in the arms of my dearest love.

Random thought #2

SHOPPING GALORE - just went to the mall yesterday and it's kingdom wide final reduction sale. And our itchy fingers are all gripping our  wallets and refusing to spend too much. But what can you probably do if the one you are eyeing on is far 50-80% reduced from its original price? I on my part didn't think twice and grab the piece of bag I so wanted to buy 2 months ago but the price was way too much from my budget. But now it's so cheap that i can even buy three bags of that kind , lol! But i just bought one though, three pieces are too much  for me to have. 

Random thought #3

NEW PHONE - Everyone in the flat is crazily raving their latest gadget on hand. I wanna grab a new one too, but because of my frugality ( take note: I AM AN ILOCANO) , which explains why  I still couldn't afford to buy one for myself. Seeing them garb into the latest mobile trend make me ponder how they can so afford something for themselves  and after that complains to me that they are broke and will later on borrow some money from me. Sometimes I want to scold them for such  impulsive buys yet I couldn't  say so. They maybe temporarily happy with their purchases but at the end of the day it's my wallet who is far more happier than theirs, lol!

   

          I am not acting so boastful, all I am telling is why go with the flow if you can't keep up with their lifestyle? It's you who will suffer because of what you chose to fit in. Maybe in time I'll have the phone I ever so wanted and so deserved at the very right time.  

Random thought #4

MY 4 STUD E-RING - I wore this yesterday at shopping, and it amazed my friends how sparkling it looks, specially at night when the lights at the mall were at it's brightest. They we're so jealous by this rounded band on my finger and non  stop teases me about how beautiful it is on my finger. They were so into my  ring, that they got so wishful thinkers  if anybody will ever give them one. well, I do hope that one day they too will find their own prince who will love them eternally.

 I was one proud owner of this ring. 

Thanks habibi! I so love the bling on my finger. 

Paranoia

Gising pa ang buong kabahayan ng mga Damadi kaya eto ako ipagpapatuloy ko ang pagtipa at pagbuo ng aking ikalawang blog sa araw na ito. Hindi lang kasi ako ang may problema sa pagtulog, halos lahat na yata kami ay may ganitong problema sa inaraw araw. Kaya naman para masulit ang aking pagpupuyat mas mabuti nalang  na ibaling ko sa pagbuo ng sentimyento ko sa araw na ito at nang madagdagan na naman ang  laman ng aking talahuluganan (malalim ba masyado? diary lang yan, hahaha!) 

Habang abala ang mga Damadi girls sa pagluluto ng pancake, 2:30 ng madaling araw yan ha! Ako naman ay nakaupo sa aking mumunting kama at abala sa pagbuo ng isusulat ko. 

Ano nga ba ang aking paksa na naman? 

Katatapos ko pala basahin ang blog ng isang pinoy blogger na nasa Lion City ( my fave city in the whole world!!!). Napag alaman ko sa kanyang blog na sa kanyang pagrerenew ng working pass nya nagkaproblema at na downgrade daw sya, pero ang mas masaklap pa bigla nalang sya binitawan ng kumpanya nya kaya ngayon ay isa syang jobless na mamayang Pilipino sa bayan ng chicken rice. 

OMG! Bigla tuloy ako napaisip sa aking balak na paglipat sa Merlion capital. Makakahanap kaya ako ng trabaho? Ano kaya ang magiging kapalaran ko sa aking pagsabak sa pulitika? Joke! what i mean is, makakahanap kaya ako ng trabaho kung sakali man na ako'y magtangkang makipagsapalaran?

Ayoko magpaka nega kasi andyan naman ang aking pinakamamahal na handang sumuporta sa akin sa aking paglipat. Pero bigla lang kasi ako napaisip habang binabasa ko ang blog na yun. "what if" .

Gaya nga ng sagot ni Sophie sa sulat ni Claire

Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet 

Hindi nga ba tama naman si Sophie sa kanyang sulat? Kailangan lang na magkaroon ng lakas ng loob para sundan ang ninanais ng iyong puso. Dahil kung gusto may paraan kung ayaw madaming dahilan. 

Blogging time!!!!

It's been quite a while that I forgot I do have a blog. I've been in a long hibernation and I finally got the urge to write again. I was just too hyped and so caught in the feeling that finally I am engaged and now it's finally sinking into my systems all the things that I am suppose to do.

First,  i want to make a recap of what had happened to my daily grind since the last time that I tap the keyboard and wrote something about my life.

Last post was October, when i was so insomniac that i wanna cry and so desperately planning to pop a pill to give me some hours of early snoozing, yet I am so afraid of medicines involving sedations. What if I will not wake or something might happened to my breathing. Taking into thorough consideration that I am far from my family gets me too scared to try even just one, 'coz no one will help me if something happens due to my self- medication adventure.

Actually up this day I still have difficulty getting sleep but I think I'm getting used to it. Maybe all I really need is a vacation in  the Lion City as habibi mentioned before. Coz only when he's beside me that I get to sleep so deep and rest well enough. Hmmm , don't worry honey that's on the top of my travel list, to stay beside you on my vacation and hopefully forever. ( kilig much!) To haters, walang basagan ng trip, blog ko ito!

November is my birth month and I turned a year older again.(gosh!) This happens to be the birth month of a lot of my INSANities, (this is how we,  me and my cousins call ourselves). So a lot of celebrations this month. I was able to celebrate my birthday quite simple yet so memorable. My few close friends here in Saudi prepared a BBQ party by our mini garden. it maybe so simple yet i was overwhelmed by their gesture.Sorry, no clear pictures to post and we were too busy barbequeing and chit chatting about a lot of things including future plans that rarely did we took  pictures of the party. And pardon also, coz my flatmates  aren't camwhores so this explains the lack of pictures of my birthday.

December breeze isn't that felt on my side of the planet yet I was so excited and still happy 'coz its December and it's Christmas. Despite being far from my family and that I couldn't spend the Holidays again with them for the third consecutive year I was happy that I got to spend it with real good friends whom I share my everyday worries and happiness here in the desert. After a very exhausting duty we took  time to go to the rooftop of our flat and feasted on  chicken bbq ( pork isn't allowed here), hotdogs cakes,pastas, salad and  other gastronomic stuffs just to feel the Christmas spirit.  

And to make it more like "Pasko sa Pinas" we had our share of exchange gifts too, which to my happiness I was given a bag I really wanted to buy during our shopping explorations for Christmas gifts. I love so much the bag jen gave me and I'm so excited to use it on my upcoming vacation. (thanks jen!)

January, gosh its 2013!!!

I couldn't believe it myself that its a new year already and soon i'll be passing my vacation papers and voila! vacation galore! Nothing happened much in this month, all I remember is that i went to the mall and hoarded a lot of things to place in my cargo boxes ( read it plural, that's the way I send balikbayan boxes inplural form, i thinking it's running 3 boxes to send. lol!) 

February, Love month

Habibi once told me he doesn't have a V-date this year. Well honey, its been 6 years that you didn't have me for a date don't you? Unless you had dates during the past Vdays. LOL! Six Valentines passed and we haven't spend one single Vday together right? Let's pray this be the last Vday we are apart. (Woot!!!! someone is smiling at this right now, yihee!)

Couldn't go to March 'coz love month isn't finish yet, and who knows a maybe more good things may still happen this month. As the saying goes " The night is still young".

love, love, love!!!!

Insomnia attack

Lately I've been  a lil bit insomniac, something that is keeping me so hot headed lately at work. Sometimes i ponder if was it because these people around are really to be blamed or was it because of my limited  hour of sleep that's making me easily irritated? I am really trying my very best to sleep but i guess my bed wasn;t so inviting at all. I couldn't blame others for this coz I think they are behaving so well for me to get my well deserve end of the day hibernation. Then what could be causing my insomnia attacks?

I just want to get a good sleep at the right time of the day, not on the hours that i am at work or i should be doing other things. I wanna enjoy morning routines instead of sleeping because my bed seems to be attracting my back at those hours of the day. My night should be on snozzing and not having wide awake eyes until the dusk of dawn cracks.

Happy Feet

A bit lost in nowhere so keep hanging on til i can grasp more time and be back in my little blogging world.

 Wishes and prayers  

I wanna explore more, be a traveler rather than a tourist

I'm no longer a lonely traveler for I have found someone who will hold my hand as I explore life. 

Someone who will not hesitate to  join me in all my weird travelentures and escapades, someone to share the beauty of living.

Someone more than willing to accept and love all that I am.

Let us continue travelling and finding more things about us.

Getting lost is never this fun if you are beside me, contradicting every decision and following my track . 

Let's get lost again and find out how patiently we can be make it through despite and inspite all the wrong train codes and missed stations.

But above all, lets get lost and drown ourselves with love, basically this is what it's all about isn't it?

Why don't we try getting lost and let our happy feet trek down the streets of China, stumbling down the Great Wall of China or try running on the crazy streets of Ho Chi Minh, get sun kissed in the beaches of Bali or let's do temple marathon in Cambodia?

The bottom line is, wherever we may go, what matters is you are beside me and together we can conquer the world in no time.