Parted to Meet Again

[Thunderstorm outside.  Sound of KLIA express train passing by]

He entered our door, and then told me "Mahal, andito na yung van.  Samahan mo ko sa baba.  Dala ka ng payong."  I was expecting that moment, and been practising this scenario in my mind many weeks beforehand.  All efforts proved useless. 

I entered my room to retrieve a gigantic umbrella that was a freebie from our purchase of Canon Ixus75 a week ago.  He bought it for this particular travel to CZ.

Returning to the front door, I looked into his eyes and needless to say, he hugged me tight.  My eyes are welling up for the 4th time tonight.

"Alis na kami," he whispered softly while his arms are still around me.  I could only utter 'Uhm' in between soft sobs and deep intakes of air.  And then we kissed.

We then started for the door, and went downstairs to meet his colleagues who were residing at the unit in the ground floor.  One by one they took their luggages into the van parked just at the end of the walkway.  I helped him on the way to the vehicle, him holding the duffel bag and me the umbrella.  Why does it need to rain on such a sad time like this?

We walked back to the patio to get his final luggage, and told him "Hindi na ako sasama ha. Dito na lang ako."  He was starting to walk towards the pathway but stopped to get back to where I was standing.  "Hindi ka na sasama?"

"Oo, kaya mo na yan."

"Sige… Bye na mahal.  Hug mo naman ako," he said while his one arm is already around me.  I am crying again.  Smiling, I gave him one more kiss on his cheek, "Ingat kayo ha. Love you.."

"Love you.."

We had our final kiss.  It was fierce but gentle, and it lingered for quite a while.  I felt goosebumps at the back of my neck, as if I could feel every single strand of our emotions intertwine and wrap around the both of us.  I just wanted time to stop.

We parted.  I started to climb back to our unit and rushed to the terrace overlooking the road going out the complex.  I waited for their van to pass by to oversee them going out.  I am a complete tearjerk at this moment.

Damn I hate goodbyes

That Singapore Trip.

Blogging this while in my room in Philippines, killing time off.  I ain’t got no out-of-town on the duration of my vacation, simply because I got no company. Poor me.. It’s ok though.. I still have the Singapore hangover with me so I could live with it for a few more weeks.

Yes, everything went perfectly well that weekend.  No doubt about that.  As my SO would say, it was our happiest weekend ever for 2007.  I couldn’t agree more.  

Here are some highlights:
 

The Transport

Five-hour ride to SG was surprisingly comfortable — thanks to the bus.  It was a double-decker bus – economic class at the upper deck and business class in the lower.  Mind, it was better than my seat in CebuPacific haha!  What’s more, the busline is providing breakfast or dinner meals (depends on your trip schedule). 

The trip to SG has a total of 3 stops - toilet stop, Malaysian immigration stop, and Singapore immigration stop.  From the Malaysian immigration at Johor Bahru, we then cross this long bridge that separates Singapore from mainland Malaysia Peninsula and near its end is an arc with a digital display with a message welcoming travellers to Singapore.  Their immigration is right at the end of the bridge.

The Hotel

We picked our accommodation in near random, and thank goodness it turned out to be fabulous!  It is located at the heart of Clark Quay — SG’s very own parteeeh district.  Also, right underneath it is the Clark Quay MRT station, and it is just beside a brand new shopping center called Central Mall.  Its location is so strategic that I am sure to book there on my next visit!  And their buffet breakfast is to-die-for.. catering almost everything you could possibly imagine for your morning meal.. sarap talaga!

The Sentosa Visit

Barely a couple of hours upon our arrival we are already on board the train going to Harbour Front, where the cable car to Sentosa is stationed.  Unlike the cable car going to Genting Highlands where we are crossing the forest hills of Bukit Tinggi for 20 minutes, this one is a 5-minute ride that will cross the sea to get to the Sentosa Island.  While on board, one will see a vast number of cargo boats going in and out of their ports.

The whole of Sentosa trip consumed our afternoon up to almost 9 in the evening.. Of course not missing Carlsberg Sky Tower, Dolphin Lagoon, Underwater World, Siloso Beach and Merlion Walk.  It was a Saturday and the park was pretty busy with so many people.  Heck, one herd of them visitors are students from Philippines, loud pack they are.  We took the cable car return trip as soon as we’re done on our souvenir shopping… Dying to get our first decent meal at the mall and planning our next stop for the night.

The Hooters Parteeeh

My original plan is to visit Night Safari after Sentosa… but was changed due to the fact that the zoo apparently was a long trip from the city.  We are too tired from our walks around Sentosa that we decided to drop the plan and instead take the very short walk from our hotel to the saturday night crowd gathering at the bars lined along Clark Quay.  Also, that weekend marked the end of their celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival adding lanterns and masquerade displays in the riverside making the party more lively.  Wasn’t our visit so timely? What a coincidence hehe!

Upon entering the party district… we saw people of all ages, races and graces getting drunk, jabbering with each other.. just having pure fun.  It was like a typical Friday night at Greenbelt in Makati… only livelier and crowdier and louder.  It was just the kind of crowd that we need to be in after all those months of none-nightlife in Malaysia. Wee!

While at a loss on which bar to try, we opted to go around the whole area first and have a good look at what each of them has to offer.  At one end there was this Reverse Bungy station where quite a crowd was building up to watch those who were brave enough to try.  I really think it is much scarier than a conventional Bungy Jump.. Then turning a certain street there was high-end party going on… did not dare enter though.  The crowd looked too hardcore for us.  On the other end there was a midnight market selling accessories, clothes, bags… you name it.  I managed to buy a couple of items with good discounts.

What can I say?  Jun got starstrucked with the girls at Hooters so we zeroed everything else out.  And so were in the Hooters’ happy hour.  I have to admit I got a bit starstrucked myself haha!  Them girls are really fit to work there (read: SEXY!).  And the food was great, not minding the cholesterol..

The Encounter

Close-encounter is more likely haha!  Right there in Clark Quay, at the short bridge near Merchant Hotel,  was our super biggie boss and his then fiance strolling just like us.  Wasn’t he supposed to be in Prague??  Or in KL??  Argh!?!  It’s a very small world!

The River Tour

The next morning, right after bfast, we wasted no time and took a quick tour of Singapore River to Marina Bay.  That was around 10:30 in the morning and we are in the mood for more sight-seeing… 

The breeze in the Marina Bay was just perfect, and not far from the Merlion Fountain we could see the Singapore Flyer towering (I don’t think it is open for public yet though).  The 40-minute, 12SGD tour per head was worth it!

The Shopping Spree

The rest of the afternoon was spent roaming along Orchard Road.  We stumbled upon a sale of Birkenstocks and had myself a new pair, powder blue this time.  I also bought a pair of silver slip-ons from Charles and Keith.  Yes, I shoe-shopped in SG!  But they are on sale!!  No guilt feeling hehe..

We stayed close to the mall where our bus will pick us up en route to KL.  Slept the whole trip back..

Next Stop: Singapura

September 8, 2005.  I toured the main business district of Singapore with my then team lead in the previous company I worked for.  I have not had the chance to see the city closely.. like go to Sentosa, Orchard Road, Night Safari and the likes.  Now, after two years, if everything goes well, in two weeks I will have the chance to revisit the city.  IF, everything goes well..

I am praying for it (",). 

Janda Baik Adventure

 Last Tuesday our team had an offsite teambuilding at the highlands of Bukit Tinggi, where the famous Genting Highlands is also located.  The morning activity was held at Colmar Tropicale, a French-inspired resort hotel.  It was weird to have an offsite on a weekday, but later on we learned that it was our team's first anniv that day thus the reason they set the event on that date.  Wee!  Belated happy birthday to B2Bi CC!

The morning activity went fine.. and then prepared for the outdoor activity later on the afternoon.  Last March, when we attended our first all-hands, the outdoor activity they organized was raft-building (and a race in the sea while on it).  It was a first for me, and it's great… Now on our second all-hands, they organized a river tubing activity.  It is like a semi white-water rafting, but the raft is a rubber tire, which they call 'tubes'. 

We are to race along a 1-kilometer stretch of the Janda Baik river, thank goodness the water that day is perfect — not so fast and not so deep. Before going to the actual stretch of the race, one of the facilitators, Bryan, gave each one of us a minute or two of hands-on training with the tubes.  It was during that hands-on when I started getting nervous, watching my teammates on it while I'm waiting for my turn.  The training site of the river was shallow, but the water was fast enough to drag us.  Good thing my tube did not get to the critical area.  I earned a bit of confidence. 

So off went our team (there are 5 teams of 10 people each) to the actual stretch.  We rode on a 4×4 provided by the facilitators, and arrived at the start of the race after several minutes.  Armed with lifevests, helmet, and paddles, we took our tubes and lined to the river bank.. Us being the terrified first-timers, we really haven't thought of any strategy on how to get to the finish line fast, but just to survive the waters and get back to the hotel alive for the French dinner later haha! 

Well, it turned out fantastic actually.  I was able to balance well in my tube, battle some rocks on the way and pass through the rapids just fine.  There was a certain moment when I got stuck in a mild rock, but got myself freed some seconds later,  great paddling that was!

River tubing at Janda Baik  

Our team turned out fast after all — 2nd place to the race.  Oh di ba, wala pang effort yan! haha!  It felt really good… enjoying the rapids and trying to avoid the rocks on the way.  It is something that I would want to do again – maybe next time I could handle a much stronger current!

The vacation grandeur that was…

After 48 years!!  Finally, I got my good share of Krispy Kremes!! Wee!! Thanks to my friends who visited me here..  They stayed at our place for a week, up to Malaysia's celebration of 50th Independence Day last 31st of August.  It was a week full of activities making it perfect timing for their coming here.

    We spent my birthday devouring Kuala Lumpur, morning til night.  First stop was Petronas, naturally.  But due to my lack of preparation (and ignorance) we cannot climb to skyway because they are closed every Monday!  haha!  So we just went around KLCC… attempting to enter Aquaria but changed minds.  Then off we went to Eye on Malaysia, MY's version of Britain's London Eye.  And then.. where else but to Bukit Bintang, to shop for souvenirs and stuffs.  I was so exhausted when we reach home!  But happy of course! (",)

Thanks to all who remembered and greeted me on my 24th year of existence, as I look forward to what life has in store for me.. sigh. Lapit na ng scary age ko..

I think i'm missing some of them here but I sure am thankful for each and every greeting!  Mwaah!

Jun. Leandro. Rica. Ate Rueth. Aubrey. Sim. Carlo. Lola.  Angelica.  Tita Lei.  Tita lil. Deth. Ate Mai. Ate Armie.  Malyn. Joane. Cousin  Anna. Bespren Solance. Gracey. Ate Cathy. Sir Poli.  Russell. Tunz. Nelle. Yayey. Ivan.  Richard. Bianca. Ate Lee. Angelito. Li-anne. Ni-an. Spink. Joy. Jez. Ate Wems. Aimee. Alfin. Bong. Frank. Dana. Kris. Belo. cousin Joyce. Dreb. Renee. Precy. Dards. Elgene. M1. Jenny. Elaine. Ate Keks. Ninong Mike. Guna. Big Boss KT. Ms. Gina. Ms. Ana. Gerlyn

BTW, my CORE friends got me (aside from the KKs) a scrapbook! Thanks to SIM, who spearheaded the making that took him months.. and ate rueth who financed the whole thing hehe!  Ang ganda nya grabe naiiyak pa rin ako pag nababasa ko.  Thanks guys so much!

My housemates here got me a couple of red wine and a pair of pajamas!  The pajamas are my personal request from them since yes — i don't have any haha!   I only wear comfy boxers and shirts when i sleep  and that's it.

BTW, here is what Jun got me for my birthday present.. really really luv it!  May pang-jogging na ako hihi.  Terno pa kami.  He wanted a Nike Free for me too, since he got a pair and I don't.  So there he brought me to a Nike store and had me pick my choice of color.

nike free 7.0

I didn't expect my birthday to be this good, and I'm so damn thankful… Looking forward to my trip next month to Manila.