I have not been updating my Flickr these past few weeks.  I am just too tired that I don’t feel like going online after work. I just the check BlackBerry for new emails and if there’s something I need to check on my computer I turn on my laptop very briefly then go to sleep.

I also feel like I don’t have any interesting photos to post this Christmas season since I haven’t taken any pictures lately.

It’s christmas season but I don’t feel like celebrating yet due to all the pressures at work. I wish I get some breathing room soon…

Rough Riders, Photo by wantet.

A day after I arrived here in Cebu I traveled to Bantayan island together with my younger sister and my mom. It was around 8:15am when my brother-in-law drove us to SM City Mall to ride a V-Hire going to Hagnaya port however there was no van available going to Hagnaya. We took a cab and proceeded to the North Bus Terminal to a ride a bus instead. We boarded a Rough Riders bus but had to wait for 30 minutes before we left the bus terminal.

Buses plying to Northern and Northwest Cebu are now mostly non-airconditioned buses. I was quite surprised that despite being non-airconditioned, the bus fare drastically increased. I remember March of last year we took a non-airconditioned bus going Maya, Daan Bantayan and the fare was below PhP70. Hagnaya is nearer compared to Maya and the fare now is Php110.

The day started out beautifully with the sun shining brightly filled with blue skies.  It was great to be out on the road again.  Traveling always brings me joy. The journey took more than 3 hours passing by Mandaue city, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao city then Carmen wherein we have a short stopover before continuing our journey to Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon, Bogo City and finally San Remigio.

We arrived in Hagnaya port past 12 noon. I was shocked to find out that the barge fare was only PhP50 for Island shipping and Super Shuttle Ferry was even giving out free rides to Sta. Fe. I’m not sure if the reduction of prices or the giving of free rides has something to do that it was an off-peak season.  I thought it was great though as the fare for a non-airconditioned bus was already expensive.

The boat trip took an hour an thirty minutes. Around 3:30pm we finally docked at Sta. Fe port.

Less than 28 hours from now I’ll be flying back home. I am trying to contain my excitement until the moment my work is done tomorrow. I have to keep my concentration as I certainly don’t wanna screw up anything before I leave for my long vacation. I’m crossing my fingers everything is going to be fine.

Oh yes, it’s finally October! I can’t help counting the days I’m going to have my vacation and go home. It’s been a little over 7 months since I left home and there’s certainly a lot of things I miss. I am trying to control my excitement and telling myself to concentrate with the task at hand before I start celebrating. Just 2 more weekends and I’ll be seeing my family and my beloved city, Cebu.

Needing sunshine, photo by wantet.

Today is definitely not my day! Nothing was going right at all. I’ve never felt so bad as this. It leaves me wondering what’s wrong with me why I’m getting these unlucky cases. I am trying to tell myself there will be better days ahead and I just have to hang on tough.

I can’t wait for October to come. I can’t wait to be home. I can’t wait to taste my mom’s home cooking again and I am definitely craving for lechon. I am missing my favorite Cebu beaches as well too - Bantayan, Malapascua and Moalboal. I can just imagine myself lying in a hammock enjoying the view of the white sand beach. It would be so nice to have a time to just forget about all the work. A moment of unhurried life.

I got to join my first run here in Singapore last August 24.  I would not have found about it if not for my fellow USC-Mountaineer, Kentoy, telling me about the run.  I wanted to join the Nike+Human Race 10K but as early as July the registration was already closed. It seems that a lot of people  of people here in Singapore like to join marathons and races.

I had no idea how my first run in Singapore would turn out as I don’t run regularly. I was a bit worried that I would be left behind so I decided to just register for the 10K non-competitive run which was also much cheaper.

The run started at the Esplanade bridge just right in front of the Merlion Park at 7:30am heading to Collyer Quay, Marina Boulevard, ECP, Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Rochor Exit, Fountain of Wealth, Temasek Avenue, Republic Boulevard, Raffles Avenue, Connaught Drive, St Andrews Road and ending at the Padang.

I had never seen so many runners in my entire life. I read somewhere that there was a total of 70,00 runners who joined the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run. During the entire run I had to look out for other runners as I had to run side-by-side with other runners and there were runners that just popped out of nowhere.

The exciting part of the run was running across Benjamin Sheares Bridge and passing by the Singapore Flyer. I was able to run straight for 7Km but exhaustion got the better of me when I got half-way in Republic Avenue.  A blister on my right foot didn’t also help my situation. From that point I alternated walking and running until I arrived in Esplanade where I started to run all the way to the finish line.

I kinda regret I didn’t sign up for the competitive 10K run as I would have gotten a finisher’s medal  and  a personalized finisher’s certificate instead of just getting a non-personalized finisher’s certificate and it’s the same distance that I had run. Anyway, important thing is that I did enjoy the run and I am looking forward for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this coming December.

It’s been a little over than 5 months since I moved here in Singapore and it’s been 3 months since I started working with my current job. Time flies indeed!

It’s been months since I last updated my blog.  A lot of things has happened since I came here that I’m not sure where even to begin. Looking back to what I have been through and what I have experienced the past few months, I feel so fortunate and blessed.

It was not an easy decision resigning from my previous job, leaving home and risking going here in Singapore without having any assurance of finding a job. People close to me know that I’m a risk taker and I do not mind trying even if the odd doesn’t seem very favorable if it’s something that I really want. For me, it’s better to fail than to regret for not having tried.

My passion for traveling, climbing and photography has fueled my drive to reach new heights and to explore what this world has to offer. Coming here to Singapore is only the first step of fulfilling my other plans and adventures.  It’s still a long way but I am just trying to tell myself to take it one day at a time and try to enjoy each day.

I am not sure if I can make it to Rinjani this year. In as much as I would like to make the climb this year it seems very unlikely given the time table I have. I still have to do a lot of research and I need to find someone who is willing to do the climb with me. I am just crossing my fingers the climb will be happening soon.

It’s certainly been awhile since I last blogged. This is my first post since I arrive here in Singapore late February. Although I have not really done much since I got here except look for work and stay in the flat for most part of the day, I have limited internet connection which is the reason why I have not updated my blog nor my flickr as often as I wanted to.

A lot of things has happened the past 6 and half weeks that I’m not even sure where to begin with. I’ve received some bad news from home which really took a lot of me. Around 1am of March 27 I received a call from my brother-in-law. I already had a bad feeling when I received the call because it was quite odd for him to call me that late. My brother-in-law passed the phone to my mother and she then informed me that my father suffered a stroke and they are bringing him to the hospital.

I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night thinking about what’s happening back home. It was supposed to be a big day for me as I was scheduled to have an interview with RIM at 10am that morning. My concentration was broken and instead worry occupied my thoughts. I did get on with the interview and survived it but I thought I could have done much better if i had my concentration.

It’s definitely not easy being far away and knowing that a family member is sick or suffering. I would say it’s an acid test for me. My father was discharged from the hospital last week and he will be needing therapy as his right side has been paralyzed. I am hoping and praying for his fast recovery.

It’s been a long time since my last post. I did try to blog after Sinulog however I wasn’t able to publish it so this is officially my 1st post for 2008.

Anyway, a lot of things has happened the past 3 or 4 months that I’m not even sure where to begin. The past few months work has really taken a lot from me well now, I’ve finally got the time. It kinda feels weird though to have so much time in my hands. It’s something I’m no longer used to.

The next few weeks is going to be a real test for me. I am embarking on a new journey. I don’t know what lies ahead of me but I won’t know unless I try. I’m just hoping and praying everything will be fine for me.

I am looking forward traveling again though. After almost a year, I’ll be back in Singapore again which is quite exciting! Compared to last year’s travel, I’m much more anxious now with all the uncertainties. Last year, traveling was just for pure fun but this time my future is at stake which is not easy.