Drifting Wood

Overcast this afternoon while I lay on my bed trying to comprehend how it has been more than a year since my last blog entry.

I was controlled by enigmatic dark clouds that drew me under miasma infection that has me stagnated. No words for me to say. No action taken for problems that I don't even know exists.

Many countries had been visited. Either alone, with a friend or two or with my family included. Perhaps that kept me going for a bit. Though it was an escape for the dent that has been afflicted in my soul.

Silence and time both bring me closer to realisation. Coupled with healing and acceptance. Is it time to move on?

A bundle of joy has slowly been nurturing me through these tumultuous times. My frenchie Rodrigo has been the best thing given to me. He takes away the sorrow. It gave me a purpose to fill the void. 

Perhaps I'm ready to take on the next chapter again. Try to rebuild broken remnants of chaotic siege that has befallen unto me. Another set of sorrow is yet to materialise. I know it will inflict solitude but life must go on.

The choices we make as well as the path we embark upon. It is a mystery yet we consciously assent to unknown yearning. Perhaps we take the fall to crawl and slowly learn to stand on a much stronger footing. Life is a driftwood. Sturdy, weakens. Passing many obstacles yet may remain strong depending on its character and how it deals with adversities.

Glacier Ice Hike

A moment in the deep south of Argentina has brought me to Perito Moreno in Patagonia. One of the South American trip highlights.

I started to cull my destination with last minute destinations I would forego. I am happy I let Patagonia untouched.

The moment I land in El Calafate, I knew I was in to an adventure like no other. The cold freezing climate kissed my cheeks and welcomed me warmly to the uniqueness of Patagonia.

We began an early journey via coach to the port where we will take a cruise to the foot of ice Kingdom that is known as one of the largest glaciers after Antarctica. It was massive endless array of glaciers that welcomed the group as it silently waves back to us to appreciate nature's Best kept secret.

The guide has divided us between Spanish or English speaking groups. I was with French group as majority of tourists have Spanish as their native tongue. And surprisingly no one from USA or UK so it's just me and two lovely french girls. Our guide was literally Messi look-a-like. Or perhaps my brain and eyesight has frosted.

We were given ice braces for our shoes together with walking poles and helmet for the ice hike. Before long we learned how to hike up like prisoners in Les Miserables opening act. We marched our way up the mountain. The steps began to change from frosted ice to pure blocks of ice. When we reached the summit. The view was phenomenal. Various hues of blue can be seen deep within the glaciers. It tells how long the ice were frozen. There multiple thunder roars heard from afar. It is a phenomena of ice calving, which occurs s lot as climate globally is changing. It was a good few hours of hiking and to celebrate it we did a vodka toast with some Argentina chocolate to conclude the hike.

We went to viewing deck to see the many angles of Perito Moreno. There was like a huge cave when I zoomed my camera. I'm sure either a Yeti or White Walker lives there. Or the Night King himself.

The key takeaways from this trip is that money can be earned, saved and buy us material things. But in my age where I started to develop few knee or foot problems. I was lucky to have seen it in the prime of my life (sort of). It would be foolish for me to save money and decide to do it and too old to have done these activities. Travel does bring us to a special place that is stored in our memory coupled with how we discern some miniscule navigation that ultimately brings us to something that may bring us back to that nostalgia. We create memories worth that are priceless moments.

Peruvian Magic

When I think of travelling to Peru. I quickly think of Machu Picchu, Alpacas and the best cuisine in the world.

After spending a little more than a week, I validated the notions I had and more. Lima is filled with unique experiences from the depth of their catholic faith and traditions they hold dear. To the zeast of bring soul in their food. In fact, just by observing the locals go on their festivities - I am at awe with the way they live their lives.

I have drawn many emotions along this journey - from pain, frustration and the feeling of desolate lost hope. To triumph, redemption and realisations. It is not all glam and glitz you see in instagtam posts. You have to earn it especiallt the Inca Trail. From getting it booked in advance to actually experiencing first hand the ups and downs of the journey literally and figuratively.

Emoticons

Remembering this moment that I have felt a rush of emotions from anticipation, anxiety, happiness, excitement, frustration, despair, loneliness, solitude, renewed hope, nothingness, tough exterior. Confidence. Back to my normal self.

I have been around many cities in the past 2.5 weeks that hardened my heart. Travelling solo you build wall around you. And now that I felt vulnerable. It was risky and I was left fragile.

All was not lost. Lessons were learned. I evolve. I live to get a better version of myself.

🙂‍↔️😌🥹😐😑🫥😶😶‍🌫️🥴😵😵‍💫🧐😕🫤🥹🫣😊😉🤗🙃🙂

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I wasn't sure why I felt so disengaged. Was I just jet-lagged? No appetite at all. Anxiety kicks in. And I just slept as I painstakingly trying to ignore what I am going through (not that I know exactly). I woke up few minutes before midnight. And gathered my remaining ounce of inspiration. I prepared my bags for tomorrow's flight.

Maybe I am not cut out anymore to this travel style. Ageing does seek a more sophisticated but relaxed travel. I think that was the main reason I was feeling disengaged from my reality.

I have to remind that the focus is Myself! Everything else doesn't matter. Noise. Distraction.

And I hop to my uber. See you soon Cusco.

Ode to Dolores the Witch

Never had I ever experienced the harshest person in my professional history. After the longest internal deliberation I evoke the natural flow of universe's energy to take the revenge for the unfair disposition I had experience recently. I vow not take action but let karma take back what is due to me. Someday the wheels will turn and the circle back to what is just. 

2024 +1

Year passed and this was the year all my plans come to fruition. Been years in the making. It has been a hard cross to bear. I am getting by day by day. A year to transition to something unknown.

All I know is I am walking blindfolded with torch in my hand. Using my senses to guide me through a place I should be. 

+1 would be a hopeful time. Yearning for something purposeful. I will find my Ikigai.

Unsent letter #2

We had a chance. I knew I might have cause the misunderstanding. But I did try to make it work. Harsh words were said that can never be taken back. I got bruised. I surely will learn to be better. Unfortunately you clearly deserve someone better. I will move on and so do you. If our paths crossed someday I hope there will be no more regrets. And we had moved on. I can say that I am not ready for this and have to tackle my personal battles first with myself.

Building blocks of time

The scarcity of time is apparent and the only way to conserve is to use it wisely. Often times we do get waste and inefficiencies along the way. It is in our very nature to redesign and constantly change to achieve optimum flow. 

Yet again, I had to rebuild and configure what works to better myself.

Ikigai is a new concept I have to master. It takes time but I have to be resilient.

Colliding Rocks

Just 4 weeks past and I can can almost sense mixed feelings of anxiety, hope and confusion yet there is an ultimate goal that I am sure of. The cause and effect of situations are right in front of me. This is yet a challenge I have to problem solve. I need to be resilient and content with small things. 

World Tour 2023 commences

My journey started quite anxious, scared and stressed. The days leading to my flight were focused on encapsulating my 30-day journey in 15kg worth of luggage. To add the work-related predicaments I had to handover to my team. Ouch!

Then the big day came. Still coupled with doubts and uncertainties if I can survive the first day of the journey. No business class this time. But if Batman have utility belt, I do have my golden nuggets. 

The first issue was seeing the TRS fully packed and it is indeed mission impossible to claim my ZFold5. That went to the drain too quick. For some reason I was thinking of having lunch at Maccas but the inner diva in me led the way to emerald road to the House. Looks posh but really little substance imho. 

Then the ulimate predicament happens! I was anxiously waiing to board when I noticed boarding was already late. I am seeing the cabin crew still waiting. And the PA came through that the aircraft was late to arrive in Sydney. And each second turns minutes and before I know it, it turned into an hour delay.

Just to back track a bit... I rebooked this leg so I can arrive Cairo earlier. Also I did want to fly to Qatar. At what price though? The riskiest connection ever. For one the outbound is Scoot, which is known for not really meeting the perfection I needed for this connection. Secondly, the connection is on another carrier with no interline agreement with each other. So the risk is there. I just didnt see it. 

Long story short, I was fidgeting althroughout my flight. And the 30mb internet provided by Scoot was all consumed plotting the perfect strategy to get a glimmer of hope to make it to my connection at Changi.

Touchdown SIN at 1953 with 7 minutes left before check-in counter closes. I ran and it was the longest snake road to Transfer C. Then the queue was horrific as there was a bottleneck served by 2 to 3 staff looking after 10 airlines. As the clock is ticking I was tempted to overtake the queue. But my nobility conquered the temptation. I waited patiently. Then the ground staff I shall call CN initially asked me why I did not exit immigration. I know i was in trouble. I said this is due to the massive delay with Scoot and that i have no luggage to check in. Crossing my fingers and using my inner charm, i managed to get her to issue the boarding pass as a special exception but only after I promised it woild never happen again.

To present, i made it to my flight and i can already say that QR seems to deliver being at the top of the class along with SIA.

The key to achieving this is the power of human strength and never giving up until all options were exhausted

It takes a good strategy to able to draw up a tactic, which  has now proven my limitless pursuit to mindfulness.

Unsent Letter

Sorry if the pain endured for so long

Seeing you happy now makes me smile

I couldn't give what you deserve

I hope you could ever forgive me for leaving

We have the right love in a wrong time

Brief as it is, I consider it moments of love

It did not last long but you cannot say I lied

I gave my heart but too scared to risk it further

Maybe one day I would be understood

But for now, I have forgiven myself.

Hoping you do too?

Jiro

Think about that challenge you have dared yourself to do but really too afraid to try. Taking risk depends on your appetite to fail and feel ashamed. Looking to what you might gain had you gamble that chance. Maybe you will be better of. Regrets haunt you and always think what could have been. 

Try to be brave and take the road less travelled path. Maybe you will be blessed. Change for the better. 

V2.0 is Jiro. The second son. This is me.

null

Stale. Nothing moves. The motion stopped and I do wonder when will it leap. Acceleration is a dream. But where is the destination? Perhaps that is the question.

Titanium, I am Not

When I think that I am mighty and indestructible. Too much confidence, wisdom and strong. That was just all in my mind.

Realised that I am vulnerable and the icy and wiser exterior is left shaken and now fragile.

But isnt life meant to be lived with imperfection so we learn. I thought I needed some dash of humility and drizzle of compassion. Patience is indeed a virtue. And life of shrinks are super though. That's why they get paid a lot. 

Anyway so much drama over the course of few days. This reached a sensational high. Now, I pray and hope we all learn from the last few days and live the rest of the year wiser.

#N/A!

It felt like a huge excel error when I was about to enter MNL airport last 1st Jan. For one, the security doesnt seem to be crowded. Soon as I step inside, felt like I was in a different world altogether. Crowded and highly dense airport. No one is queueing the check-in counters. That's odd!

I need to know what the heck is happening. I zigzagged the chaotic mass while I dragged my three heavy luggages. Yes, that was a very challenging feat. Spoke to the ground staff and learnt that there is a power outage in the control tower. And the best part, no one knows when it would be resolved.

My instinct tells me to call back my brother and get the luggages back to the car. At least I can think without any baggages. And there was this tiny paper I got from the staff telling me to contact the ticketing office. And after calling them, the automated response was that it is NY and no one is working. Why am I not surprised? While waiting for my brother, I thought how hard would it be to make an official announcement outside so it won't be such a chaos. The airport decision makers should have acted quicked to manage the angry customers. At least for someone like me who has Biz Flexi ticket, I can just go away and come back another day. Right? 

Again, crisis management is really something that PHL aviation should improve on. Remember circa 2017, PAL never again. Was stucked for 2-3 days and it was horrendous.

Anyway, so my brother picked me up and signed to my Teams so I can call SG office. Within few minutes was able to secure a weekend flight. 

Best resolution. Time with Family. Time to visit my condo. ME time in BGC. And of course, some secrets were unfold. But my lips are sealed.

2022 Keeps on Giving

The last few years was coupled with lots of negativity and anxiety. Partly Covid-19 is to blame. The world has changed and people responded with its own defence mechanism. Then 2022 came. So much hope that the pandemic is nearing its end. I was blessed with being able to travel multiple times this year.

I was in Manila in the beginning of January and again, I will be here to celebrate 2023 with my family. I count myself as lucky both with my work who are supportive that they introduced coflex arrangements. In short, they allow us to work any where in the world for 30 days. Ain' that generous?

I did go to Manila again in April/May and again in September. This time to celebrate my grand celebration in Baguio. Grand being I have my relatives too who helped me celebrate this special milestone. I went to New Zealand in October which was refreshing. Seeing the breathtaking views in Queenstown.

Finally, again back in Manila to celebrate my mum's birthday. Then off to Europe for my Winter Wonderland adventure. Lucky to have seen the northern lights, Santa Claus, huskies and the reindeers. Even had safaris to bond with them. I survived the nasty weather in the arctic. Was able to come home safe and sound by Christmas eve with my family.

All in all it was a blessed year for me and I continuously thank God for this bountiful blessings and I hope it continues not only for me but for the rest of my family, relatives and friends. Just keep the faith, stay focused and know your priorities. And lady luck will come unexpectedly.

White Christmas recap

The first few countries I visited was not really snowing. But nevertheless Christmas is in the air and it was cold. Well, except for Portugal. It was wet weather and after I left they did suffer more rain and flooding. So my hearts go the Portuguese good hearted souls. May they be safe and happy in whatever provisions they have for Christmas eve.

The highlight really was the snow! Growing up in the Philippines we never experienced very low temperature so it was something that surprised and made me nervous when I saw -24c in the forecastm but all is well. It is about layering and having the mindset. Love the wilderness and the stay in the igloo. Also did light up the woods for the Sauna, that is an accomplishment. And the highligh of Ivalo is the ice water dip for about 10-15 seconds. It was exhilaratingly good. 

Then the huskies and meeting Santa is the highlight for Rovaniemi. The reindeers, not so much haha. I did miss couple of activities like ice hotel and sculptures. And going to frozen falls. But it has been well compensated with the Aurora Borealis sighting. It was jaw droppingly beautiful. Pictures cannot express the feeling of finally seeing this elusive phenomenon. I was thankful and I can say that that event is the mic drop of this journey.

Copenhagen and Stockholm are both good cities but nothing to write home about. Besides the fact that it is expensive, in my opinion I was expecting more. Maybe I should have stayed much longer and my opinion can change. Remember how I hated NYC initiallym after 2 weeks, I bought the i heart NY tee. 

Tallinn and Krakow are both charming. Love the thick snow and the old city that transforms you back to the past. It has a character that grows on you and makes you love these cities.

I saved all this to my memory bank and take it as one of the most memorable travels I had.

3 wishes

Maybe I am already exhausted but I did forget my LV scarf at Hilton KRK airport. I realised this when I was boarding LH bus to the aircraft. Then, mentally I did put 3 wishes I needed to happen before I leave EU.

First Wish: for LV scarf to be found by the housekeeping and Hilton reply back to my email to me and they have an option to send it to me in AU at my expense. Wish granted.

Second Wish: for my global blue tax form to be dropped in a mailbox. This against the advice I got from LH FA saying I lost my chance. I should have done so in KRK. But KRK was saying I dont need to. I cant risk not getting those hard earned refund. So after the long walk and train shuttle I arrived in dreamland T2 and saw the holy grail. I dropped it!

Third Wish: was to be avle to credit my EY flight to VA so I can meet my status credit requirement to renew Gold status for another year (subject to 4 VA sectors in 2023). And yes, was able to do so with EY counter with no queue. 

All my three wishes were granted. But dark clouds rolledby as soon as I see a very very long queue at security. Christmas is indeed here. Many passengers. Less counters due to many of the ground staff I would think are now passengers on the way to their homes for Christmas. So there you go. FRA is literally a hell for me who got used to smooth check-in and breezy security. To be fair I got priority access to security but not on ticket check and immigration. Oh yeah, speaking of immigration. The german officer was looking for my inward stamp. I thought i was in trouble then I remembered there was no one at CDG when I entered EU. So it was an automated machine with no physical stamp. So there you go! I think there was an unconscious bias because I dont look caucasian so he thought I should have a stamp. Otherwise whatelse would it be? That he is stupid? Lol. Either way it is bad on him.

Right now I am just waiting to board EY flight to AUH and not looking forward to the dreadful 7hours layover. So I downloaded few movies. Hopefully, my clock ticks quicker this time.

Snooze and snooze

My bed time was scheduled around 7pm just because of waking up early for this tax refund. The issue with claiming bulky items is that you had to get the custom stamp prior to check-in. What makes it complicated is that my flight leaves KRK 6am. So it means I had to get my tax form stamped earliest as possible. I woke up 2am just for this but the custom officer is still sleeping. So went back to the hotel dragging my huge luggage back to my hotel and also attempted to sleep.

After an hour, I got ready and decided to checkout from the hotel. This has proven the McGuiver in me and was able to transform my many bags and consolidate it into 3 checked in luggage and 1 carry-on. From 6 bags. Wondering why I have so many luggages? I am too. I dont know what I bought really. Maybe lots of souvenirs, basic shopping and my many bulky winter clothes.

Arriving at custom office, it is still closed. So I tried 2 things. One is ring the bell. No response. Then I rang their call centre and the lady on the line probably woke up the officer. He is a bit old and was super slow in processing my refund. Took him 20 minutes as he scrutinizes my documents. Then, finally when all is done. I got the stamps. I proceeded to the ICE refund company who offer services to get the refund back to my card. For some reasons, she said I don't need to give back the documents back to the merchant. Im dumbfounded and still skeptic that if I dont follow the rules, I might not get the refund. So will try luck in looking for a mailbox from Frankfurt my last stopover as I leave EU zone. 

Ps, i realised you always have to look back and triple check before you leave. I left my beloved LV scarf at Hilton Krakow airport. Hope they find it and I can get them to mail it to me back in Oz.