Of assholes and stupid men

I'm writing this with fury as one that provoked Krakatau centuries ago. My friend's boyfriend of 3 years was found to be in Taiwan (My friend is Hongkongnese and is here in Jakarta) which should be ok had he not been rumored with this Taiwanese girl he met at a conference in Singapore. Without informing my friend on his whereabouts, at that. Imagine a beautiful, smart, interesting lady, who deserves nothing but a guy who would treat her as such, made to feel like she was some dumb, hopeless, desperate woman with a ticking biological clock (which is crap, by the way). Then girl mails boy and boy mails back counter-acting the story. Saying it was just rumors and he is in Taiwan to find himself because he feels lost career-wise. Career-wise (sarcastic for the naive)?? Taiwan?? Now, a half-brained girl can put the puzzle together, can't she? I'm not saying to accuse nor to judge and call him names but what I'm driving at is: THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL DEFINITELY MAKE YOU THINK, no matter how naive or brainless you are.

A day in advertising & some thoughts

I love my job at Lowe, despite the erratic (yes, erratic not erotic as my very dear friend teases me quite often!) working hours, the deprived weekends, the DEADlines and the tedious shootings.. I am very much happy doing what I do. And I guess, this in itself, is already a big blessing when you think of half the workforce out there staring at the clock from 8 am hoping it would plummet right around to 5 pm and end a torturous day in a hell of an office (literally). Passion in what one does for a living is a great, significant factor in having lived a good life. Most of our conscious hours are spent in whatever we do that earns us some support to meet daily needs(and wants.. hehe!). Tell this to someone who toils thru a job he loathes and you'd get dagger looks hurled at you staright to where it hurts. My views are rather overly idealistic to most who have experiend for themselves the cruelty of this world but I'd always respond with.. "I can be idealistic as hell (or heaven?) as long as I don't have mouths to feed." This might sound insensitive, I am aware, but to each her own. I am not writing this to shout to the world that I have a great job, eat your heart out you unfortunate creatures. But rather I want to share to my friends (or people who got to visit this blog accidentally, thank you!) that "idealism" is not only a privilege of a few. It is for everyone as suffering through a hated job is not imposed on anyone. We will always have a CHOICE. Yes, your next meal might be dependent on this indescribable agony but it does not need to go on. Work until you have enough saved to last you a good deal of time while you find something for you. Explore possibilities even as you toil thru the day, the internet has bestowed upon us endless possibilities (job sites on-line, etc.) that we can tap from everywhere. You can't just resign to fate because it can twist and turn leaving you battered.. take control and MAKE things happen. This might be vague and I can't give a step-by-step procedure but perhaps just this: Remind yourself that you DESERVE a good lfe. *This is for my friends Dimple and Niqui. I believe in you and all the great things you can be.

Sisterless Cer

My sister left at 6 am this morning, after about a month and a half in Indonesia. I guess they are right when they said that having dear ones visit you when you live plane rides away from home is good to ease whatever homesickness you feel is a FALLACY. It just leaves you with a false sense of hope that this would last longer than a few weeks.. that perhaps getting used to having someone around when you get up from bed will offer some permanence. The weeks will end and it is temporary. Sad but true. My sis and I are very different in a lot of ways and we've had our share of the famous "sisterly riot" years but we grew up to be how sisters should, great friends who can't bail out on you when things get tough. We are great. Spending time in Bali reminded me of the reasons why I would jump off Mt. Everest for her.. would jump off anyway but it's good to be reminded why. Love you, Manang.

Temples, temples, temples.

I think they call Bali "The City of Gods" not because of its prestine beaches nor for the amazing waves that lure surfers from all over the world but rather because it is home to countless dwellings of the gods. Temples, temples, temples. Bali is full of them. From over a cliff to in the middle of a lake, these picturesque pieces of architecture are all over the island and one or more is surely a part of every traveller's (I refuse to use the word "tourist") itinerary. My sister and I went to around 4 of them and though they looked the same to me.. the places where each is situated can't be more different. The views are just amazing that you have to visit each of these Balinese pride. We went to Bedugul, Tanah Lot (the most photographed of them all) and Uluwatu (where the monkeys are notorious.. Tonette lost her shades to an old monkey! She was advised not to bring it in but oh well, my sister can be stubborn). I have enclosed photos of the temples. Tanah Lot was during sunset, it is most beautiful at this time of the day (and most crowded, too). But my favorite is Bedugul, see for yourself why.
Bedugul Temple: simply breathtaking.  
Tanah Lot: sunset beyond words. 
Uluwatu: atop a cliff in clear, blue waters. 

BALI with Tonette!

Serenity of Bali shores.  Is Indonesia in Bali? No, sweetie, Bali is a minute (and divine) island in the vast archepelago of Indonesia. This is a common joke among travellers since the latter seems to leave the former in oblivion. Well, I guess I know why. Me and my sis found out for ourselves.. the fun way. We were there 2 weeks ago. Bali-- "The Land of the Gods" as it is known. Perhaps this has a lot of truth in it despite the fact that commercialization has sunk it's mighty teeth in the shores of this amazing island. We spent 4 days in Bali (and it's one of the biggest mistakes a visitor to this paradise can make, NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME.. stay a week at least) and despite the fact that people come here for the sand and the sun, we only spent half a day in the beach! This is because there are literally A THOUSAND AND ONE things (and a thousand and one ways to spend your hard-earned money, too) to do there. And this is what puts Bali high and mighty on the world map. I'd say the Philippines have far more nicer beaches than those I've seen in Bali but it's the culture that makes this island exceptional. Balinese architectures... from magnificent temples on a cliff to gargoyle-looking statues outside humble, Balinese homes to this small offering of biscuits and flowers that you see outside stores in Kuta Square to the Barong and Kecak fire dances.. it can't cease to amaze how all these have been kept burning. Yes, the culture strongly holds despite the fact that half the people you meet while walking the streets of Kuta are blond & blue-eyed.

Naughty night and good(?) girls

Team bonding at Putri Duyung: there's me.. after welcome drinks and some..  

My surrogate family

I always heard people say that when you're in distant shores, out of your comfort zone, you'd find special people around you who will give you the gift of family. People you'd meet who'd eventually be your shelter when homesickness storms in without notice; when the phrase "no matter where you are, we're still under the same vast, blue sky" is a big, fat lie; all the ugly, lonely moments that everyone away from home experiences at times, you'd realize that FRIENDS you meet along the way are your only refuge. I know because yes, been there, cried hard and found her. Stephanie is this very special girl from Hongkong who mananges to keep me sane when I'm terribly homesick. She's my family (along with Benny, Yohan, Chris and the whole gang) away from home. Wacky but family, nevertheless. We won't always be in the same country because home isn't the same place but Steph and I will exchange kids for cultural immersion someday... :)
Stephanie, moi and a cone of straciatella.