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.

I have another long weekend coming up with August 20 declared as a special non-working holiday. I will definitely make sure this time that I’m going to do something on the weekend and not waste the holiday like the last time.

I need to have new photos for Flickr. I have a good opportunity to shoot this weekend as we will be having a trek in Argao. Just what I need. I just remembered I need to buy a waterproof bag for my camera. If I can’t find before Saturday then I might have to bring my point&shoot camera. I can’t risk bringing my 400D without any good waterproof protection.

I’m not feeling well today. I think I’m having dyspepsia again as I’m having nasuea and I’ve got an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I’ve abused myself the past few days not eating at the right time and feeling so stressed out with all the work load I have. Adding to that I also have some personal issues to deal with.

Just one more week to go and I’m off to Kota Kinabalu. After 8 months of waiting it’s finally drawing near. I’m definitely very excited. I’m hoping and praying that everything’s going to work out as planned.

This is what I’ve been waiting for the whole year. This is going to be my 1st out of the country trip and not only that we’re set to climb Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia at 4,095 m.

It’s a Birthday treat for myself – something I truly deserve. Initially I wanted to conquer Mt. Kinabalu to make a point to someone. That motivation is still there but more than that I want to climb Mt. Kinabalu for myself. It’s kinda fitting that I’ll be climbing the day after my 27th birthday.

One more week to go and we’re off to Bacolod City for the Masskara festival. I’m definitely very excited about it. It’s been 4 months since I’ve last travelled outside of Cebu and it’s been over a month since I’ve been out of town. The last time I went out for a trip was when we accompanied Jan’s family to Kawasan last month.

I haven’t taken any shots lately too. I’m itching to shoot again. I hope the weather’s going to be just fine next weekend. This is just going to be my 2nd Masskara Festival and the last time I witness it was still last 1999 during the MFPI mid-year Fed Climb which was held in Negros Occidental during the Masskara week. I look forward shooting lots of pictures during the festivities.

Another thing why I’m looking forward for the trip is that my friends in the office will be coming along. Maal, Sherill, Xenia and Ces will be joining me for this trip. Most of the time when I visit Bacolod I’m usually on my own so this is going to be something different.

This is the 3rd time I’ll be visiting Bacolod City for this year and my last travel outside of Cebu was also Bacolod last June. I hope that my upcoming visit will finally give me the closure that I’ve always wanted. This is the main reason why I’m coming to visit the place again this month. The Masskara festival is only a bonus for me…something to keep me pre-occupied and entertained during my stay in Bacolod.

I hope I’ll finally get the answers to my questions so I can finally move on…

Yes, it’s finally October! September was a difficult and unfortunate month for me. I didn’t really do much the past month and getting amoebiasis was such a pain for me.

I’m glad October is finally here and I’ve got things to look forward to. I’ve got a series of activities lined up. I’m looking forward checking the Masskara festival again together with my officemates. Then a week after the Masskara it’s going to be the Mid year Fed climb in Mt. Apo. I’m not sure yet if I can go but I’m really hoping and praying i’ll be able to go. I’de like to make this as my preparatory climb before our Mt. Kinabalu climb on November. Then the week after Mt. Apo, Chai’s team will be going to Bohol and I’m also hoping I’de be able to go. Then the weekend after Bohol I’m off to Kota Kinabalu.

The next few weeks is going to be jampacked for me but i’m not complaining. I think the next few weeks is going to pretty exciting for me. This is what I want. Travel after travel…adventure after adventure, fun after fun.

I feel bored doing the same old routine everyday – reading emails, monitoring calls checking if agents have answered the customers correctly. After our Moalboal outing and team-building in Pinamungahan I haven’t really done much lately and I really feel bored.

Last night I went to Abellena to jog after almost 2 months of not jogging. While going to Abellana I thought what I have done lately and I realized it’s been all work for me the past few weeks and I think I’m getting tired looking at the same 4 corners of our office. My world has been revolving around home, office and then around the vicinity of Lahug, Ayala and SM. I really need to go out this weekend or do some physical activity.

Kinabalu National Park

I met with May earlier today at Ayala mall to talk about our planned climb in Mt. Kinabalu. I had already booked Laban Rata and Mesilau last May for supposedly this month’s climb but we had to cancel it as Jeovy still had problems with her lost passport. June was our best chance to climb Kinabalu as the airfare at Air Asia was very cheap at that time. We moved it back to August to give time Jeovy to process her passport. Jeovy has now got her passport but now the problem is that May can’t make it on August as she’s got a scheduled training and can’t file a vacation leave. She’s asking if we can move it back to September or next year.

I checked Air Asia’s website and the fares for September is much expensive compared to July or August flight schedules.

It makes me sad and a li’l depressed thinking that we might not push through with the climb this year. I’m definitely all set to go no matter what it takes. This is one of things I’m really looking forward this year and I really hate getting disappointed.

I don’t mind if I don’t get to buy a new DSLR camera this year as long as I get to climb Mt. Kinabalu this year. I dunno I hope I’ll get to talk to Jeovy soon so we can sort and plan this out again.