It has been a long long long time since I posted here. So many things to say and looking back I have been blogging for almost 20 years now. Time indeed has passed by too quickly.
Well, at this stage. I reckon its about time to say something and I don't have any excuse not to. Given the COVID-19 pandemic has vastly changed our lifestyle - I have been given time to pause and reflect. As I often phrase it: "Analysing ME".
Day-in, day-out. I count the days til I can travel again. I squeeze my budget to meet ends so I can afford to spend on my passion. Travel. Aviation. Premium. But given the current scenario, it impedes such plan for how long I don't know. Maybe someday when I reach like 50 countries or travelled all possible permutation and combination of airline mile accruals and redemption - I would then start my own Vlog. Anyway, I digress but the point I was making is that I haven't been traveling for awhile and I am getting quite anxious. Travel advisory for AU is saying that all borders are still shut. News and opinions are all saying that it is not quite possible in 2020. Unless, domestic. Or possibly, NZ. Though I am still hopeful. I wanted this blog to document my journey including unintended misadventures. Not that I want to highlight that but sometimes mishaps are key in learning. Yes, you heard it from me first.
Working from home since mid-March this year, is both good and bad. Good cos I can wake up 8.59 still wearing my pyjamas and messy hair. No one can see me. Its just my mind and fingers typing away on a spreadsheet. Zoom, Skype and Teams are my best friends in interacting in this new normal world we live in. Few weeks back, we can't even go out not wearing masks and paranoia was just crazy hell. Each time I get back home, I had to wash my hands incessantly. As we lockdown is slowly easing, I had the best brekkie I ever tasted. I bought a slider and a coffee at Birkenhead point. First time shops reopened after the strict lockdown. I was so eager to see people. Immensely filed with joy when I saw my friends. So I am super looking forward to seeing my family back in PH soon. But I don't think this will happen any time soon...
I started walking and walking thinking I am doing this somewhere in Greece or rekindling my endless stroll as I got lost when I was in Seville. Of course, I had to tap back to my memory bank and listen to music I played at that time. Yes, music can be a portal back in time. All the while, I was doing the 10,000 steps challenge from work. And proud to say I am currently #1. Also, I got introduced to Qantas' Wellbeing app where every step you make is a mile earned. Not literally but QF miles wise, I mean. Now I have like almost a 1,000 QF points in less than a week. That's an achievement right?
I also got so hooked up in watching so many historic TV shows, from the Tudors of UK to Catherine Great of Russia. And also Mary Queen of Scotts to the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. It is both educating and entertaining. Of course this was during the mid-phase of COVID-19 lockdown. I realised that I gained and gained weight. Too much Netflix and Netflix (the Ben & Jerry's ice cream). And then out of curiosity I wore my work clothes and they don't fit! Far out, I was leaning towards obesity. Not just over-weight. Major red flag! So I decided to use dust off my yoga mat. Purchase a stationary bike. Ignore the Doritos and Cadbury's for a while. TBH, I want to throw them but they are still food. I never throw food. Anyone reading, you shouldn't throw food, don't buy it if you can't finish it. Each ingredient from the food you eat has been due to hard labour of farmers and local producers. So think twice before buying. Also save $ in times like this. Rather than buy in bulk. Buy only what you need. If you buy as frequently, then you walk more. More steps. More Miles LOL :p
So, I also got to cook a lot. Tried every possible dish I can make. But at the end I still rely on my premixed cooking powder or the old trusted pasta sauce. Or in times of extreme laziness, yeah I do resort to the instant MeeGoreng.
It's half way before the calendar year ends. I am still hopeful that vaccine will be found hopefully in the first quarter of 2021. I hope that we can totally find a solution to this crisis. I am hearing at the time of writing this entry - that the vaccine may not prevent the virus but it can weaken it that it will not cause major sickness and eventual death. But I leave it to science to find a way out of this. And one day, I will bring my shiny luggage. Check-in and enjoy the fresh cabin air to a new horizon and continue in my journey to see the world.
Well, at this stage. I reckon its about time to say something and I don't have any excuse not to. Given the COVID-19 pandemic has vastly changed our lifestyle - I have been given time to pause and reflect. As I often phrase it: "Analysing ME".
Day-in, day-out. I count the days til I can travel again. I squeeze my budget to meet ends so I can afford to spend on my passion. Travel. Aviation. Premium. But given the current scenario, it impedes such plan for how long I don't know. Maybe someday when I reach like 50 countries or travelled all possible permutation and combination of airline mile accruals and redemption - I would then start my own Vlog. Anyway, I digress but the point I was making is that I haven't been traveling for awhile and I am getting quite anxious. Travel advisory for AU is saying that all borders are still shut. News and opinions are all saying that it is not quite possible in 2020. Unless, domestic. Or possibly, NZ. Though I am still hopeful. I wanted this blog to document my journey including unintended misadventures. Not that I want to highlight that but sometimes mishaps are key in learning. Yes, you heard it from me first.
Working from home since mid-March this year, is both good and bad. Good cos I can wake up 8.59 still wearing my pyjamas and messy hair. No one can see me. Its just my mind and fingers typing away on a spreadsheet. Zoom, Skype and Teams are my best friends in interacting in this new normal world we live in. Few weeks back, we can't even go out not wearing masks and paranoia was just crazy hell. Each time I get back home, I had to wash my hands incessantly. As we lockdown is slowly easing, I had the best brekkie I ever tasted. I bought a slider and a coffee at Birkenhead point. First time shops reopened after the strict lockdown. I was so eager to see people. Immensely filed with joy when I saw my friends. So I am super looking forward to seeing my family back in PH soon. But I don't think this will happen any time soon...
I started walking and walking thinking I am doing this somewhere in Greece or rekindling my endless stroll as I got lost when I was in Seville. Of course, I had to tap back to my memory bank and listen to music I played at that time. Yes, music can be a portal back in time. All the while, I was doing the 10,000 steps challenge from work. And proud to say I am currently #1. Also, I got introduced to Qantas' Wellbeing app where every step you make is a mile earned. Not literally but QF miles wise, I mean. Now I have like almost a 1,000 QF points in less than a week. That's an achievement right?
I also got so hooked up in watching so many historic TV shows, from the Tudors of UK to Catherine Great of Russia. And also Mary Queen of Scotts to the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. It is both educating and entertaining. Of course this was during the mid-phase of COVID-19 lockdown. I realised that I gained and gained weight. Too much Netflix and Netflix (the Ben & Jerry's ice cream). And then out of curiosity I wore my work clothes and they don't fit! Far out, I was leaning towards obesity. Not just over-weight. Major red flag! So I decided to use dust off my yoga mat. Purchase a stationary bike. Ignore the Doritos and Cadbury's for a while. TBH, I want to throw them but they are still food. I never throw food. Anyone reading, you shouldn't throw food, don't buy it if you can't finish it. Each ingredient from the food you eat has been due to hard labour of farmers and local producers. So think twice before buying. Also save $ in times like this. Rather than buy in bulk. Buy only what you need. If you buy as frequently, then you walk more. More steps. More Miles LOL :p
So, I also got to cook a lot. Tried every possible dish I can make. But at the end I still rely on my premixed cooking powder or the old trusted pasta sauce. Or in times of extreme laziness, yeah I do resort to the instant MeeGoreng.
It's half way before the calendar year ends. I am still hopeful that vaccine will be found hopefully in the first quarter of 2021. I hope that we can totally find a solution to this crisis. I am hearing at the time of writing this entry - that the vaccine may not prevent the virus but it can weaken it that it will not cause major sickness and eventual death. But I leave it to science to find a way out of this. And one day, I will bring my shiny luggage. Check-in and enjoy the fresh cabin air to a new horizon and continue in my journey to see the world.
