First Site Visit

The title says it all. I actually went to site today. (Woohoo!) Mun Kit was nice enough to have me come with him (or he just needed an extra pair of hands, hehe). We went to Lucky Plaza -- a place I've frequented twice or thrice a month for my supply of phone cards, but I will be looking at a different light from now on.

It was surreal doing site because it reminded me of school paltes that I took down the type of stalls there were at the front, plotting of the tree locations, the benches, the lampposts, etc. Mun Kit forgot to bring measuring instruments so I relied on the tile sizes, as usual.

Afterwards Mun Kit felt like having a drink (he's a coffee addict) so we walked to a mall a couple of blocks away. He offered to get me a drink. Although I refused he bought me an Orangina. (Don't read anythign behind this. He's just really nice and he's attached.)

Some form of bonding but there were those awkward silent moments. But at least time out of work! I'm looking forward to this project. Hope my enthusiasm promises not-so-boring work.

Worthless Entry

I have four hours left of office hours today and I have absolutely nothing to do. Mun Kit told me they're still waiting for the as-built plans of Lucky Plaza so we could start. So I guess I'll end up just drafting again for the first part of the project, scanning the existing drawings.

Darn. But hope it improves in the long run. I could go to the office library and check some books. I could hang out at the pantry and read the newspapers. But I would be seen. I wish I could just surf the net but my desk is too visible for that.Well I could also just continue staring into space, pretending to work.

I mean, I've already gone to Ash (our team director) for more work and he's given me Lucky Plaza. Asking him again would be totally asking for it. I can't risk asking for too much work when it's just a few days till vacation. I don't want to make the days longer than they should be.

Darn, I've only wasted seven minutes writing this worthless blog entry. Good luck to me. But looking on the bright side at least I'm assure dof going home early today again.

New Project!

Woohoo! I've been assigned to a new project. It's the renovation of one of the malls along Orchard road -- Lucky Plaza. FYI, it's the hangout of Filipinos especially Sundays. I don't know how that came about. As in I saw this book on Singapore sights and stuff and it actually mentioned that Lucky Plaza is a hangout of Filipina maids. Hahahaha. It's also where I buy my phone cards (which are pretty cheap -- 4 pesos per minute. not ad eh?) and my sudden cravings (where I bought my champorado last year)

So anyways, back to the project. the idea is to open up the mall to the street since the government is promoting more activity along Orchard Road. So think what Megamall did with the Megastrip and even the Greenbelt 3 Starbucks area.

So I can't wait! I don't know yet Mun Kit will have me do. I truly hope I won't get stuck just being a draftsman for this project. But so far my experience with Mun Kit is that he allows you to design too. Problem with him is that he doesn't take time to pass on knowledge. Like if he revises your design he won't really say why. You'll just learn when the changes have been made. But it's a whole lot better than being stuck in a rut just drafting all day!

Long Weekend

We just had a three-day weekend. What a big difference one less working day makes. FYI, last Friday was Hari Raya Haji. Apparently it celebrates the incident with Abraham and Isaac and the offering of the ram. I'm no Bible expert. But basically that's what the Muslims are celebrating.

Good thing Ingrid and Marnie thought of going to JB (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) Friday. If not, I would have just gone to the mall again. I'mgetting tired of the malls here already. They could be quite convenient but a diversion is great.

So what's in JB? Another mall. Hahhaha. I guess the idea that you can find something cheaper is greater. Pizza Hut and other fastfood chains are cheaper too (and cheaper as in half the price). We ate at this Portuguese Chicken place that had yummy chicken and yummy egg tarts. I was such a pig, hehe.

I wasn't able to buy any clothing item (since I compared everything to Philippine prices, knowing I'll be going home). So I ended up just buying pasalubong stuff -- food items I've bought in Malacca that my family liked. I tell you, my luggage will be filled with food items, except for some clothes for my nephew Lio. That kid is finishing up my money :P I've been controlling myself from buying every cute polo that's on sale.

So that's my first JB trip. It was fine. Will come back again since it's very easy to go. Just the hassle of going through immigration and all. But at least it's more stamps in my passport ;)

And yes, I spent Saturday and Sunday in the mall. Saturday in Suntec since I wanted to check the sales. But I ended up just buying more pasalubong and nothing for myself. Same for Sunday. Spent it again in Orchard since I had to go to the embassy for my exit pass.

Today Architect Recto visited us. Tisha was in a meeting so it was only three of us -- Ingrid, Charles and I -- who were able to meet him. A bit awkward, actually. We invited him for dinner but thankfully he had other appointments. And at least I was able to see him now so I would have to visit him when I go home.

I can't believe it's just 12 days till I'll be home again! I really think it's best for me to go home. And I heard there's Bird's Flu in Bangkok. And I heard Tish and Ingrid are really set on spending more than intended for the trip cause of the bonus. So good thing again. So I'll make the most of the short vacation. It will come really quick since I still have errands to do -- pasalubongs to buy, some Chinese New Year get-togethers, and last minute work for the Canyon Woods design. And hopefully I'll be able to get home early from work everyday since working overtime definitely lengthens the week. Which reminds me, I'll be cheating next week. Although I've gone to the embassy I'll be taking time off one afternoon to be able to get home early, supposedly to go to the embassy ;)

Woohoo! There's no place like home!

Tired.

I purposely left work early today. It's tiring being in someone's beck and call. Well it's tiring being someone's draftsman, period. Yesterday, after half an hour of not doing anything, staring at my office PC monitor blankly and sometimes secretly checking my mail or surfing the net, and fifteen minutes (!) till the end of office hours, I was told I would have to stay a bit late to do some revisions for the project I'm helping with. Take note: HELPING WITH. I came at the later stages of the project so all I do is draft and draft and draft. I don't even think sometimes. And it doesn't help that the office air-conditioning seems to be negative celsius.

And I miss YM. Darn it, they resurrected the old rule of no instant messengers and supposedly no internet surfing during office hours. That's why I feel more stressed now since I've always used YM as my stress-reliever. And as if this rule actually helped improve our server speed. It was insanely slow today.

Okay, so it was a not-so-good day today. I wasn't feeling so well. I had a migraine. I was craving for junk food.

The only thing that made me smile was thinking of what I'll do back home next month.

But I'm making up for it this evening. Since I was able to get home early (hope they didn't look for me when I left. I purposely avoided new tasks) I'm able to relax with my MP3s and my canyon woods design (it's work but at least it's my own). And thank goodness I was able to catch some wi-fi internert connection. It's been a while since I was able to connect into someone else's connection.

Aaaahhhh... I know I'm babbling and talking about nonsense stuff. Still recuperating from the stress from the past days. God help me.

Will Be Home Again!

It's final more or less! I've decided to come home for the Chinese New Year break. That's nine days, including my flight dates. I know it isn't much but it would surely be great to be home again! Factors that made me decide on it:

1. I have to finalize the plans for the house I'm designing for my brother-in-law in Canyon Woods. They plan on having it constructed starting this summer so I have to finalize stuff with him.
2. Money isn't an issue anymore (in terms of the flight expense) cuz I unexpectedly receive a salary bonus! Woohoo! The only issue I was reluctant to spend for the flight going home was that it was never part of my two-year budget.
3. I don't have any other practical choice. The only other place I want to go to for that break is Bangkok. I have no one to go with. As for Tish and Ingrid, they suddenly want to go somewhere more expensive (since I've always been firm on my 500-dollar budget) since we got a bonus. Also, I think I need a break from Singapore-related people.
4. I have to see my pamangkin again!
5. I have to help my dad with this long overdue mini business venture.

There are other small issues. But the bottomline is, I'll be home again and be surrounded by people I love! Woohoo! During that period I will go out with my cousins, my friends, visit the dentist, go to the grocery, shop, have my DVD marathons, get more Korean movies from my sister, go back to dial-up internet (haha), eat lots and lots (and make up for it the following months, heheheh) , try out the cheap fondue set I bought during my Christmas vacation (really cheap! less than 300 pesos! I wonder how long it will last...), and look for the VCD of Because of You :P I also shall visit Arch. Recto. I have to think of a decent pasalubong for him :)

And oh yeah, my parents have no idea I'm coming home. Heheheheh. Major surprise. Only my oldest sister knows since she and my brother-in-law will be picking me up at the airport.

Well, I've already gotten over my homesickness spell. I guess knowing I'll be coming home again helped. Getting my groove back helped too -- going to Orchard and borrowing a few books from the National Library. So I could handle it.

Anyways, I can't wait till Feb 5!

I'll Let Fate Decide

Tish has brought up going to Bangkok during the Chinese New Year again. I told her the possibility of me going home for that week. But if they decide to go to Bangkok, I'll drop going to home.

I have until next Friday to confirm my flight booking for Manila. If no plans will be made by then I'll be going home.

But I'm welcoming the idea of going to Bangkok with them.

So I'll just wait and see.

Depression?

I've already booked a flight for Chinese New Year. To go home. I have until the 21st if I will confirm it. Maybe it's just a product of post-Christmas depression. I still have other chances of visit places like Bangkok and Vietnam anyway, when I could find good travelmates. My sister suggested we go to Hong Kong next year to visit Disneyland. That would be ideal.

I was even able to spend the weekend without any intention of going to the mall. I just had to pass by since Ingrid insisted we get a get for Dan, who just got married. So Saturday I only left in the evening. But the whole morning I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to go to the mall. I just bummed around in my room.

I spent Sunday with Haydee, Joel and the kids. They're my family here in Singapore. It doesn't help that Haydee and the kids will be coming back to Manila on April.

I know I should just get my groove back. I was okay already last year. I just have to get used to being on my own again. Sometimes I wonder though that if I go home again I'll have a problem adjusting again when I come back here.

Problemizing Over Chinese New Year

Here's the thing. The office has an annual shutdown on the week of Chinese New Year. That's 9 days of break. Right now I have two options:

1. Wait for Joyce's response if she can go to Bangkok. I know I should take advantage of going abroad while I am still here since it's cheaper to get to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand from here. I've never been to Bangkok. But will the tsunami and all, maybe Joyce will not be allowed (I'm assuming) or maybe the country will still be grieving or something.

2. Go home. I know I just got back. But comparing my previous trips to Bintan and Malacca there's nothing like going home. I enjoy trips best when I am with my family or old friends. Whenever we go to outings I always wish I had my family or friends to experience it with me.

Okay, advantages and disadvantages. Cost-wise, I guess they'll be the same. The round-trip ticket to Manila is 520 dollars. I'm waiting for this budget airlines to come up with flights to Manila though. (I could get tickets almost half the price there) For Bangkok, the ticket will be around 200 to 300 dollars. Plus shopping money. I'm assuming they would cost around the same.

Both Tish and Ingrid are thinking of going home too. I guess I can just wait for Joyce's response to help me decide.

Any suggestions?

Home for the Holidays

So I survived going home for the holidays. I’ve been warned that first holidays at home would be the hardest, and it was hard – the anticipation of going home after months of being on your own, and the hardest was leaving again. But life goes on. I think I could handle it.

So what did I achieve with going home?

1. I finally saw my first nephew. Lio is the most adorable thing. It was great that my sister and her family decided to sleep over a few times while I was there. Basically the whole vacation was spent mostly with my family.

2. I watched 3 Korean movies – the Classic (a must-see!), Oh! Happy Day, and He Was Cool – plus, A Cinderella Story (Chad Michael Murray is so hot!), The Notebook, Harold and Kumar (still doesn’t beat Road Trip), and Raising Helen.

3. I reunited myself with cable TV (I so miss etc) and I was able to watch the last episode of Sex and the City. I felt for Carrie when she enjoyed the sights of Paris and the shopping but was lonely :(
I went to the malls I missed the most – Megamall, Galleria and Greenhills. I also visited for the first time Market! Market! and Robinsons Pioneer.

4. I met up with friends (turns out of them – let’s call her Selya, hahahah – is no longer single. So woohoo! Hope her luck in love will rub off on me)

5. I've gone to Duty Free for the first time. And it was the first time I've been called an OFW (waaaahhhhh...) Duty Free isn't so great. It's just like Shopwise or Cost U Less. Their Palm corned beef was pretty cheap though.

6. I went to the New Year Countdown celebration at The Fort for the first time. Good thing my parents agreed to go there, since they've always imagined it to be jam-packed when actually it wasn't. The fireworks were great (30 minutes!) I think we'll be going there again next year.

So now it’s 2005. Back to Singapore. It was really hard going back. But Kingsley assured me a year is very quick in Singapore (as a Singaporean cab driver once told me) This is because as of now my next trip back home would be on the second week of December. But I’m still waiting for this budget airline to start flying to Manila. If that happens I could consider going home during long weekends or even during Chinese New Year this February.

Yesterday, a day after I get back from Manila, I went back to work. I was greeted with a pile of goodies on my desk. It turns out it’s been office tradition that the items in the gift hampers from the suppliers get distributed among the staff. I ended up with a Raffles Hotel desk calendar, two boxes of jelly candies, a packet of peanuts, and a box of crackers.

Oh yeah, I was also greeted with a note from our IT guy letting me know I shouldn’t go online since my anti-virus software isn’t working. But I couldn’t help it. The “Clear History” tool has been my best friend for the past two days. Hahahhaa.

And yesterday, there’s a new guy in the office. He’s in the other team. And he isn’t bad looking. Think Chinese version of TJ Manotoc. I don’t know if you can imagine. But he’s pretty tall. I heard he’s from NUS too.

But I took yesterday afternoon off, since the doctor gave me medical leave for the afternoon. My cough and cold were pretty bad. So funny I went back to work just to take medical leave. Hehhe.

So I don’t know if my year started right or what. But nevertheless, here are a few new year resolutions:

I’ll minimize my intake of carbs.
I’ll set up my room according to feng shui and hopefully get good luck in my love life.
I’ll save more money so I could sign up for unlimited internet and hopefully sign up or TFC online :P

But there are a few things I'm looking forward to for this year:

1. Won Bin is coming to town! In case you don't know him he's Andrew in Endless Love 1 and he was part of Taegukgi (Brotherhood of War). He's coming July. So woohoo!

2. My parents will come visit me. (It's still a secret. They don't know yet, hehe.) Around my birthday. Partly selfish of me since I don't want to be alone during my birthday. Hopefully my sister and her family will come too.

3. The chance of meeting someone. Who knows right? Every year you always have that hope.

Hope it being the year of the rooster it would be good for me (since I am born in the year of the rooster too). Happy new year to all!