Do you know what really sucks?! It is when you want to ask that one simple question BUT your heart is way too scared of the answer… *sigh*

After more than four months of staying here in this country, I finally had a weekend getaway!

Debbie and I itemized the places the we will be going on specific days since she only had 3 days and 3 nights (Friday to Sunday) to stay here. We squeezed all the things that we need to do but we made sure that we would not be compromising the quality of adventure that we will have.

First Stop: Shopping Galore!

Since I only have a half-day leave, we have scheduled this one on the first day on a Friday. It was already late in the afternoon when we arrived at Sim Lim, the famous electronics mall here in SG. She wanted to buy a laptop so we went from one store to another just to compare the prices and look for the best offer that we could get. After canvassing, we decided to buy an Acer Brand Laptop through a Pinoy agent. We bought it at SGD1,258.00 with so many freebies. Astig! Also, I bought a 120 HDD SATA for myself. Hehehe. It was a good deal indeed. In addition, we went to Marina Square to have a dinner at the food court overlooking the famous Esplanade. We ordered a Korean food with sugar cane juice since I wanted something refreshing but it was so sweet so I didn’t appreciate the taste. After that, we went to Starbucks for coffee. Haay, kakamiss tumambay at magkape sa starbucks. Mahal kasi dito kaya hindi ko na s’ya afford. Hehehe

Second Stop: Jurong Bird Park

On the second day of our adventure, we first went to Jurong Bird Park. This is a park where thousands of birds are located belonging to different species. At the entrance of the park, we had a glimpse of a penguin – their cage is something like that in the movie Happy Feet. Hehe. After that we ride a Tram so that we can roam around the 20-hectare park. There we so many kinds of birds that can be seen. Though most of these birds are new to me, there are also birds that are quite familiar to me since I also have visited the Avilon zoo in the Philippines before. After riding the Tram, we went back to those specific birds that have caught our attention while we were in the Tram. After taking picture for those wonderful creatures, we are already tired so we decided to go back and proceed to our next destination but something caught our attention – a Waterfalls!!! Astig!! And to think this is a man-made waterfall!! It’s our first time to see one. Hehehe!

Third Stop: Snow City

After having lunch, we went straight to the Snow City. Yes, it’s a snow in a tropical – hot and humid country like Singapore. This is a must see tourist spot especially for those like us who haven’t experience seeing a snow or want learn about snow – it is definitely a ‘winter getaway!’ Astig talaga! Debbie and I stayed there for an hour playing. Hehehe. This is the best part of our adventure for the day.

4^th Stop: Singapore Science Park

This was not originally included in our plan but since it’s still early and it’s located besides the snow city building so we went there to take a look. At first we thought we just pass by this park and then go straight to our next destination but after 10 minutes of walking around this park, we found ourselves amazed with science projects that were put up there. The science theories that I have learned in high school are explained through actual application. Since Debbie and I are both Electronics and Communications Engineers, we are really amazed on how they put up the parabolic dish on a certain distance facing each other where in two people can clearly communicate. The simple theory was – the sound signal that feedback to the other dish will be received in the other end in exactly the same manner. It is a wireless communication without any electronic technology involve! Simple pero Astig! Anyway, students that will visit this park will definitely understand better what they are taught in school. I hope one day, the Philippines will have something like this.

5^th Stop: Night Safari

Debbie loves cats so going to the Night Safari where Leopard and different kinds of cats are located is a must for us to visit. This zoo opens only at night starting at 7:30 pm and closes at midnight. On our way there, we got lost due my negligence because I didn’t research properly on how to get there. I’ve called some of our friends here just to ask them for help on how to get to our destination. Luckily, we arrived at the place passed 9 o’clock. I bought two tickets and then proceeded to the Tram. We have the option of watching the safari’s show but we opted to walk through the trail and have a closer encounter with the animals especially the Leopard. Flash camera was not allowed so we don’t have a clear picture of the animals that we’ve seen kaya ayan kami na lang ang nagpapicture.. Also, Halloween is already around the corner by the time we visited the zoo that’s why their theme is something creepy. hehehe

6^th Stop: Sentosa

“Save the best for last” as the saying goes and so we did. We have planned to go Sentosa Island on the last stop of our adventure. We opted for the package tour this time which composes of the following tourist spots: Merlion, Carlsberg Tower, Images of Singapore, Skyride, Luge and Cable Car.

Of course picture taking to the max kami.. hehehe. Ayan let the pictures speaks for themselves.

In-and-Out-of-the-Merlion-Shrine

@ Carlsberg Tower

Skyride + Cable Car + Luge

@ Sentosa Beach

So far this is my longest and happiest weekend here in SG and I’m looking forward for more.

P.S. Debs, I cant’ thank you enough, it wouldn’t be this fun if you weren’t around *wink*. Hope you have enjoyed our weekend getaway as much as I did.

B-Day Treat

On my xxvii birthday I found myself treating with something new. Well, I have two gifts to myself this time. The first one is a wristwatch – a rectangular watch with a leather strap. I like it since I can wear it in formal office attire. The second one is my new favorite perfume – issey miyake. I love this one. Now, I’m broke! Hahaha.

Since all my lunch buddies are almost pinoys, we went to a seafood restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I really like seafood. I believed everyone enjoyed our lunch during that time. After office hours, I texted my friends here in SG so that I can treat them on a pinoy restaurant at Lucky Plaza (a place where Filipino converge especially weekends) during dinner. I missed pinoy food, so we ate until our stomach is full. Now, I’m totally broke! hahaha. Anyway, it’s okay to treat and share the blessings that you have.  

On the other hand, I received so many birthday greetings during my birthday. And it came from the different continent. Yahooo! Most of them came from pinas of course. To all those who greeted me on my birthday – thank you very much. You don’t know how much you made my day so great. Hehehe. 

“Nasaan ka na? Nakita kita kagabi pero hindi kita nakilala.”

“Huh? Ako ba kinakausap mo?”

“Oo ikaw nga.”

“Ah sorry ha, hindi ko napansin eh.”

“Ang ganda mo pala.”

“Ganyan naman kayong mga lalake eh, magaling mambola. Pa’no mo nalaman na ako?”

“Hindi ko alam. Nararamdaman ko lang na ikaw.”

“Hindi ba malabo ‘yon? Paano kung hindi naman pala ako.”

“Mahirap maipaliwanag eh, malakas lang ang paniniwala kong ikaw ‘yon. Basta hihintayin kita. Nandito lang ako lagi.”

“Narinig ko na yan dati, may sinabihan ka na yan noh?”

“‘Wag ka naman ganyan, nahihirapan na nga ako eh.”

“Sige. Pero paano kung kilala mo pala ako tapos magugulat ka na lang na ako pala ‘yon?”

“Iniisip ko rin ‘yon, kung ganun man sana marealize kong ikaw nga ‘yon.”

“Eh paano kung hindi ako darating?”

“Sana naman huwag, malulungkot ako at hindi magiging kumpleto pagkataon.”

“Ang seryoso mo naman. ‘Wag ka mag-alala darating ako sa tamang panahon.”

“Maghihintay ako pangako. Sige madaling araw na matutulog na ako – sana dalawin mo ako ulet kahit sa panaginip lang.”

Ever since I started working I always aim to save something for my future’s sake. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that successful. Needless to say that my best wasn’t good enough. Well, I might argue that it’s because I am the breadwinner in my family or the compensation that I’m receiving wasn’t big at all. But if I did that, I’m just fooling myself.

The way I saved before can just be explain in one statement. That is, Total Income less Total Expenses equals Savings. To express it mathematically,

Savings = Total Income – Total Expenses

Having this belief in mind, I always ended saving nothing and sometimes even worse – my expenses are higher than my total income.

It’s time to get serious in saving I told myself once. I have a little knowledge in accounting since we have one subject like this when I was still in college. With that, I reevaluated the way I was saving at the same time I did a little chat with my friend who is good in financial management. She recommended some specific books to read but sad to say I haven’t read any of those until now. However, I have learned some ideas from her on how I can save. After a few months, I can now say I am wiser in saving as compared before.

I was awaken by a cold wind that was striking my body in the wee hours this morning. As my half conscious mind realized what is happening, I grabbed the remote control and immediately switch off my fan. I then covered myself with a cotton blanket. But as I tried to go back to sleep I started to tremble. At first I thought it was only normal since the climate is quite cold. Unfortunately I trembled even more, I cannot control myself from shaking in the coldness that I’m feeling. I am only wearing a sando so I tried to rub my hands just to generate heat but it has no effect at all. I cannot get up to get some extra clothes because my whole body was shivering. I started to feel scared considering that I don’t have anyone to run to. My housemate are not pinoys and it’s proven that they don’t care even you die in front of them makes my situation even worst. I put my palm on feel my forehead to know my body temperature and I instantly told myself that I have a high fever.

After 15 minutes of shivering I managed to get up and obtain a sweater. I also tried to grasp a tablet of paracetamol. I attempted to go back to sleep but no to avail. From that moment I needed to decide if I will go work or not. As the sun rises, I called my team lead and informed him that I was sick and he granted me to take a leave. I went to the doctor in the early morning but my fever was now gone. He advises me to come back and see him if I have a fever again in the next 2 days. He then gave me a dozen tablet of paracetamol and recommends me to take a rest.

What makes me scared is the fact that I was well in the past few days and a sudden high fever is really scary. I even exercise regularly just to be fit and healthy. I really wish this is not dengue or something since this is one of the symptoms of having one. I hope it’s just me being paranoid so that this night will just be remembered as my coldest night (literally).

During my first week in this lion city, attending interviews as well as reviewing some java stuff kept my days busy. Then Friday came when I was alone in that common room I was renting. My mind was traveling back in the Philippines – my family and my close friends came into picture. Unconsciously, I missed them. I missed my country, my home. This is the second time in my life I felt this homesickness. The first was when I was in my dormitory during my first week in college. I thought I have overcome this feeling already because when I started working in Manila I never felt this way. Haaaay.

Literally, I really got sick the following day. I had a fever and my tonsillitis strikes again. This is the last thing I was expecting in my first week in this foreign land. I ended up calling my mom that just to lessen the loneliness I am feeling. 

Time flew very fast, I am now staying here in SG for two months. Sometimes I really feel lonely for being away from home. Just like this morning, there’s a little bit of sadness that struck me just by thinking that you have no one else to talk to especially when your housemates are not pinoys. *sigh*.  

If only I could be with them, if only I can support them, if only I could achieve my dreams that easily but I chose this path so I must endure every challenges that comes my way. Besides, a few months from now I can visit them once again. J

New theme, New entries and New Changes. I was actually planning of creating a new blogsite but I decided to stick with this old one. Besides, the stories that lies in here depicts my past. 

Welcome to my new world!

This will be my first entry after a long while. I am now considered as one of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who left our beloved country just to have a brighter future for my family and my future family. From now on I’ll be writing up my adventures as an OFW.

Everybody has his or her own story to write and as I write my own story many of which some was already happened before and some of which are currently happening as of this writing. To start with, I will be telling story on the experiences that I have encountered and currently encountering. So here it goes.

The Preparation

Two weeks before going to Singp’re, I seriously started applying on line. Fortunately, many companies called but most of them are agents. I had a quite number of interviews in that past two weeks. The experienced I got from those interviews somewhat gives me the idea of what should I still need to do to prepare. Needless to say, I really need to catch up and enhance my little knowledge on java programming.

While I was excited on the idea of leaving the country for the first time, I was also scared – I was pressured to be more exact. Pressured of what will people say, pressured on what should I offer to the companies that I will be applying at and pressured on the responsibility lying on my shoulder. This thought actually bothers me along the way but I trust Him that may His Will be done. Besides, I have my family as my inspiration in order for me to succeed and fulfill my dreams.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

At last! I said to myself my when I was already on the plane. By the way, Donita Rose was also on that plane so I had a great time admiring her. Hahaha! Ang ganda nya as in tsaka mabait kasi hindi siya suplada sa mga lumapit sa kanya. She looks like a Barbie Doll to me. Enough of the fantasy! Hehe!

I have know idea that xian has a meaning when I choose it as my pen name and eventually became the name of my blog  until last december when I went to this Good Earth restaurant at Greenbelt 3. Well, xian is exactly different from what I have depicted before. Hehehe..   

Anyway here what it means: 

“The Xian are beings who have gain immortality despite not being deities. They were said to live in the Kunlun Mountains, the location of the sacred peach garden where Xi Wang Mu, the Queen Mother of the West, grew the peaches of immortality which they eat to ensure eternal life.” 

For me,  xian is a camouflage of my true identity.

it’s been 10 years since the last time i posted my last entry, well obviously i’m back to blogging again. But this time i have decided to make some changes on the things i will be writing up..  although this blog will still be an outlet for my thoughts, feelings, etc.  i want to make it more lively, hehehe..  enough of the bitterness, it’s time to enjoy and go on with the flow of this crazy game called life..