Calaidescope World

Dog Day Afternoon

posted by Calai @ 8:11 AM 0 comments

Ratatouille

I just saw Pixar's Ratatouille. It's cute, but it's gross. I mean, there are rats in the kitchen! Hello?!

posted by Calai @ 12:42 AM 0 comments

Happy Girl, New Boy Toy

Meet Lucas, my Panasonic Lumix TZ3. Yes, I'm a traitor. I've gone digital. Somewhat. I haven't completely given up on Lucius, my Papa's old Nikon F2. I haven't replaced him with a digital SLR...yet. I just gave him a little brother (i.e., finally gotten a decent second camera that's not disposable!). Lucius is much faster and more "responsive" than Lucas; and he's a lot easier to control in an artistic sense (less buttons and all that). Fatherhood was right when he said the slowness of digital cameras would frustrate me, but he was spot on in recommending a Lumix over a Coolpix. What I really like about Lucas are the 28mm-280mm Leica lens in a very small package, the instant gratification of seeing what I took, and that I can delete my bad shots. What worries me, though, is his Intelligent ISO technology. Baka mabobo ako! And yeah, I never thought I'd make myself my own test subject either. I think compact cameras make complete narcissists of their owners.

I haven't fully explored what Lucas can do yet even if I spent all night reading through the instruction manual (and to think I thought I would finally get some sleep after finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). However, I've posted some family pictures that I took with Lucas this morning on my private family album on Multiply. I like this paparazzi shot of the Teapot who kept posing for me during our family reunion meeting. Yup, that's her heavily lined hand. Apo nga ni Mad.

And yes, I name my favorite inanimate objects after men. Cars (Fred, Tank, George, Gamby, Luke), cameras,.... Thank God my toys come with instructions and that they can't break my heart!

Coming soon: new office-issued "There's a thing in my pocket...". Yippee! Boyfriend nalang! Hahaha!

posted by Calai @ 1:19 PM 0 comments

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It is finished. I can finally sleep. When I awake, we may all discuss. Goodnight, my fellow potheads! ;)

posted by Calai @ 10:58 PM 0 comments

I Won't Friend You Anymore

...if you reveal what happens in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seriously.

I'm waiting for Bianca to finish reading her copy. My seatmate Marife is on the last 4 chapters. Gabby and Rosabel are done (they haven't slept!). My officemate Rosette is done. I'm sure Tanya and Miggy are finished reading it, too. Roman, have you gotten your copy yet?

I must stay offline. I'm dying here....

posted by Calai @ 8:45 AM 2 comments

Chasing Vincent

Don't you just hate getting hooked on a series? You just NEED to see it. You can't wait. You have to know what happens next, how it ends. Six Feet Under. Carnivale. Heroes. House, MD. Rome (shouldn't we all know how this turned out?). Sorpanos (I read about the ending online by accident).

If you know me well enough, you will understand why I prefer HBO's Entourage many times over Sex and The City. It's almost like how my sisters and I enjoy Seinfeld so much more than Friends. I still haven't figured out which of my best buds fit the main characters Vince, E, Drama or Turtle, but they're all there. Sometimes they're Ari, Lloyd and Shauna. Or I'm Ari, Lloyd and Shauna...combined! And yes, Adrian Grenier (who plays rising star Vincent Chase) is a very pretty boy; although Ari's assistant Lloyd is my favorite character.

Basically, Entourage is about the Hollywood misadventures of an actor, his brother (a bit of a has been), and his friends from Queens. And that's putting it mildly. One often wonders if the other guys could ever score without Vince and his adoring fans (watching Johnny Drama and Turtle chasing skirts chasing Vince is always funny). Then you have Vince's agent Ari (he gets all the good lines and Jeremy Piven plays the role perfectly), you have Lloyd (he's so not the token gay Asian administrative assistant), and all the cameos. Fun, mindless stuff, but surprisingly witty at times.

posted by Calai @ 9:01 AM 0 comments

Germany Sued For Holocaust

According to this article on CNN, children of Holocaust survivors are asking the German government to shoulder expenses for their psychiatric care because "many still live with an irrational fear of starvation and incapacitating bouts of depression". I don't mean to sound insensitive (I truly empathize with victims of war), but if that is the case, shouldn't the Japanese be allowed to go after the United States (maybe even the United Kingdom and Canada for their involvement) for bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Perhaps survivors of the Rape of Nanking should sue the Japanese? Et cetera, et cetera.

That's all.

posted by Calai @ 8:03 AM 0 comments

My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life (1994) will be re-released on DVD this October with new features and bonuses. Good Lord, I have all 19 episodes on VHS (which my stepmom and I taped when re-runs were aired on MTV) plus the soundtrack album on CD. [In my best Valley Girl accent] It was like you know the predecessor to Before Sunrise or something and a lot of us could like totally relate and like re-live High School and everything just watching. It's the only role that Claire Danes played where I thought she was perfect for the part.

I wonder...if I watch My So-Called Life now, will I be Angela Chase all over again? I found some of the more memorable lines from the series. I just can't find that one conversation from the Self-Esteem episode where Angela asked her mom if she was embarrassed to be her mother. That really got me back then. Remember when we felt like this? Or do some of us still feel like this? (Oh no!)

*****

Teacher: So how would you describe Anne Frank?
Angela: Lucky.
Teacher: Is that supposed to be funny, Angela? How on earth could you make a statement like that? Hmm? Anne Frank perished in a concentration camp. Anne Frank is a tragic figure. How could Anne Frank be lucky?
Angela: I don't know. Because she was trapped in an attic for three years with this guy she really liked?

It had become the focus of everything. It was all I could feel, all I could think about. It blotted out the rest of my face, the rest of my life. Like the zit had become the truth about me.

Rickie: Kyle was probably her Popular Jock phase. Now she's probably moving into her Awkward But Sensitive Guy phase.
Brian: So, you're saying I'm like someone's phase?
Rickie: Hey. I wish I was.

I'm just really, like, low. I'll just find any excuse to touch him.

The worst feeling is suddenly realizing that you don't measure up. And that in the past, when you thought you did, you were a fool.

Brian: Here, do you want to... borrow my sweater?
Angela: Thanks.
Brian: Just don't sweat into it or anything.

What I like dread is when people who know you in completely different ways end up in the same area. You have to develop this like combination you on the spot.

Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we all hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while and admit the truth -that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually beautiful. Possibly even me.

People are always saying you should be yourself, like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster. Like you know what it is even. But every so often I'll have like a moment where just being myself in my life right where I am is like enough.

If only there were a button somewhere that I could push. To force me to stop talking.

posted by Calai @ 7:30 PM 0 comments

Before Blogger, There Was Email: Amazing Thailand Part 2

This was my last World Update from Bangkok (4 months worth of kwento). As I was re-reading this, I realised that most of the friends I made back then and the people I met through them are among my closest friends now. It really does take me a while to completely open up to people, huh? (hindi pa halata). But it's so cool how we're all still in touch despite the time and distance....

-----Original Message-----
From: Carla S. Vargas
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 12:49 PM
To: Anna Liza Flores; Harry Velasco; Cynthia Ortiz; Joey Mapa; Jolyn Suarez; Alexandra Olivares; Sheila Marie Fleta; Sidney Catipon; Misha Canas; John Eric Ramos; Jerome Arcebal; Eduardo Miguel Juliano; Rey Laguda; Malou Abada; Grace Nava; Tanya Reyes; Sobee Duenas; Ricky Pagdanganan; Nanette Dumol; Krissie Millan; Fred Tan; Ariel Dominguez; Dondi Grande; Yeyette Raymundo; Marge Hukom; Mon Espago; Cha Estomata; Joy Silva; Liza Alba; M Moncada; Joy Del Rosario
Subject: World Update - May to August 2001 (4WW)

AGAIN, READ ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF NON-BILLABLE TIME ON YOUR HANDS. AND THIS ONE'S REALLY LONG.

Allow me to get a little sentimental as I write this final Thailand update during my last week in Bangkok. [dramatic pause] Ok, enough. Here are the last of my amazing adventures in the Land of Smiles.

SURVIVOR - THAILAND (THE CONCLUSION)
EPISODE 4: AYUTTHAYA
This city was the second capital of Thailand & is only an hour or so away from Bangkok by land. Angela & I took one of the many van tours with a group of tourists (oh, yes, we distinguish ourselves from tourists, although we don't quite fancy ourselves Bangkokians either). Our tour guide was a Thai version of Jar-Jar Binks & we wanted him to die! Give me Ewoks anytime!

First stop was Bang-Pa In & a visit to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s Summer Palace. It's more Chinese & European than Thai (very few furnishings & exterior designs were uniquely Thai). Apparently, Rama V was fascinated by all things European (read as "modern"). We then got on a river boat that took us to the center of Ayutthaya via the Chao Phraya River (Thai version of the Nile). Ayutthaya is basically a city of ruins (with some "newer" temples & Buddha statues) where structures of old temples remain scattered throughout. You can tour the city on foot or take an elephant ride. I opted to walk (no more elephant rides for me after Chiang Mai, right Jerome?).

If any of you decide to spend some time in Bangkok on holiday, a visit to Ayutthaya is worth the trip (oh, uh, well, next to the Chatuchak weekend market. Hahaha). It's a chance to see old Thailand & learn more about its history & culture. Scores of photo ops, too! (remember the pictures I scanned?) I used up 3 rolls of film! Angela highly suggests you take the more expensive route, though. 1,800 Baht gets you on the Mandarin Oriental Hotel tour that takes you to Ayutthaya by boat (with a supposedly fantastic buffet lunch) in the morning & back by bus mid-afternoon.

EPISODE 5: KOH SAMET
.starring Charlie's Angels (all of whom are Lucy Liu), otherwise known as the Power Puff Girls (all of whom are Buttercup). Definitely the best beach I've been to in this country. It's a mini-Boracay: fine white sand, a bar strip, lots of space. Cheena, Angela & I got on a 3-hour bus ride from Bangkok to the pier & took a 30-minute ferry to the small island (someone failed to mention that there was a shorter, faster "express" bus trip). I really liked the area we stayed in (it was nameless. All we knew was that it was behind the Samet Villas) -- it wasn't too far from the clubs & bars, yet it was nice & quiet. Our room had only 5 things in it: a king sized mattress, 2 pillows & thin blanket. All of them were on the floor. The bathroom was even more sparse (I need to demonstrate how to "use" its "facitilites." Can't put it down in writing). All that for 300 Baht a night. Pretty decent, actually, & hey, we were PRETENDING to be backpackers, so we couldn't really complain.

If any of you are planning a short, cheap beach trip near Bangkok, Koh Samet is definitely the place to go. Highly recommended. Not too many tourists, lots of locals.

EPISODE 6: SUKHOTHAI
This amazing city was the first capital of Thailand & is 5 hours away from Bangkok by car. At the last minute, Angela, Cheena & I decided to take a chance & travel overnight (we didn't drive ourselves. We had Angela's company car & driver with us) & we chose to stay at the River View Hotel thinking how charming it would be to look out & see the water. I don't know what Thais think rivers should look like, but it wasn't a river. It was a canal! (Oh yes, the Canal View Hotel!) But it was only 20 minutes away from the Sukhothai National Park where the temple ruins are just spectacular! (another 3 rolls of film) We were lucky to have a car & driver as the park was rather large with many scattered temples & statues (some on top of hills that took 20 minutes to climb!). Most tourists rent bicycles & just bike under the hot sun from temple to temple. Obviously, we stopped pretending to be backpackers at this point. & apparently, it was our Thai driver's first time there as well & he seemed to enjoy the tour. We didn't do a packaged tour, but relied heavily on our travel guide books (the Eyewitness Guide to Thailand & the Moon Guide are very highly recommended. Much more interesting & informative than the Lonely Planet publication).

On the evening of our park tour, we discovered it was the Sukhothai Food Festival, so we enjoyed sampling different types of Thai food from the central plains region.

We also went to 2 temples & a small museum in the city of Phitsanulok which is an hour outside Sukhothai on the way back to Bangkok. Very charming & the temples were full of activity.

For those who have never been, I highly suggest you take the time to visit Sukhothai. It is wonderful & it just gives you a sense of that Thai pride. If you plan to visit Thailand & stay for quite some time, do try to book 2 days in Sukhothai (perhaps en route to Chiang Mai in the north). You won't regret it. Definitely one of my favorites.

EPISODE 7: FAMILY ADVENTURE
My birthday was not as happy as I had wanted it to be bec. although my Mom & Bianca were here, Alia didn't make it. So it was.bitin. We did the usual touristy things like visit the Grand Palace & Wat Po (unfortunately, Cherry wasn't able to join us). But we also went to places that are normally not on every tourist's agenda - the Vimanmek Teakwood Mansion & the Jim Thompson House (museum). Both are amazing works of achitecture & interior design. Vimanmek was one of the homes of Rama V & is still used by the present King for state visits & other diplomatic events. Our tour guide was so good (we learned much about the history & culture of Thailand) & we were joined by 3 Brits, one of whom had visited Thailand many times in the past & had gone on several tours. She added to the information shared by our guide & definitely helped enhance the tour & our understanding of Thai culture. Vimanmek was built in European style (Victorian, if I'm not mistaken), is made entirely of golden teakwood & is held together by wooden pegs (no nails).

In my opinion, the Jim Thompson House is a must-see in Bangkok. It was built in traditional Thai style also out of teakwood (dark). Jim Thompson was an American peace corps officer who arrived in Thailand after WWII. He was an architect & an artist who collected various Thai antiques & furnishings & eventually set up a Thai silk shop that put Thailand on the world shopping map. If I remember right, he disappeared in Cambodia in the 60s. We also had a very good tour guide, although some of her actions are best demonstrated than put in writing (you may opt to ask my Mom & Bianca about it. Quite funny).

& of course, what is a weekend in Bangkok without passing by Pat Pong & a trip to my mecca, Chatuchak (no point in stopping Cherry there!)?

Total weekend: another 3 rolls of film.

Survivor update: Voted out: Jemen - 3 month assignment with ActMedia's Bangkok office ended mid-July. Cheena - finally took her vacation leave in Manila.

EPISODE 7: PATTAYA BEACH
Here we go again, convoying to a popular local & tourist destination (the last such trip was to Cha-Am & Hua Hin in April?). Car #1 - Michelle, Mike, Pinar (she's Turkish) & moi. Car #2 - Coco, Philips (not Philip. He's plural. Probably to match his multiple personalities), Tuan (Vietnamese who grew up in Australia) & Darry (can I just tell you, it was the first time I heard he was from Tawi-Tawi. Siyempre, kinulit ko siyang magsalita ng Tausug). Car #3 - Joey (he hates convoys). The mission: my despedida.

Pattaya is Pat Pong by the sea. Daming pok-pok! Everywhere we went, there were massage parlors that offered "physical massage" (is there any other kind of massage?). There was a bar & restaurant called "All Cock & Pussy" & a go-go bar named "Spicy Girls." I also couldn't get over a big, bright yellow sign that read "Body Fiercing." Wala yata akong ginawa kundi manlait (just ask Rey about Philips & Darry). But Beach Road was ok; it was like a combination of Venice Beach & Newport Beach in Southern California, but more run down & messy (imagine a pristine residential beach area with cool, trendy clubs & restaurants suddenly overrun by dirty old men & spring chickens). The beach is nothing great (I was quite disappointed). We went to a really cool bar called Hopf which has its own microbrewery. Great beer. Ok band.

What we couldn't get over was our trip to nearby Coral Island where we were charged an arm & a leg for a seafood lunch. 800 Baht per kilo of fish (I can't even remember what kind of fish it was) & the woman who ran the place insisted that it was a 3 kilo fish. Our entire budget was suddenly thrown into the sea! Total rip-off.

Mike, Michelle & I spent Sunday morning on a par 27 9-hole golf course (the green fee was so cheap - 180 Baht). Don't ask about our scores. All we can say is that it was a funny (not just "fun") game. We were quite hilarious, actually, & being beginners, Michelle & I had our fair share of embarrassing moments. We thought Mike was encouraging us with his "Nice shot!" remarks until we noticed he said it every other shot. Faker.

Survivor update: Voted out: Angela - 5 month assignment with Unilever's Bangkok operations ended late July. Suddenly, Cape House was quiet & lonely. Off to Rene & Eliene's apartment for free food!

EPISODE 8: SISTER ACT
Alia finally came over & spent a couple of days wherein we did a sort of backpackers' tour of Bangkok. On her first day, we took a packaged tour with Mannito & Julius (friends from Manila who were here on business) that included a boat ride on the Chao Phraya river with a stop over at the Temple of Dawn. Bec. Alia had a handycam & Mannito is the spitting image of a Japanese tourist, we did our own version of "O, Tokyo!" I did the Thai part. We'll show you when I go home.

We also went out for shopping & drinks on Khao San Road - it's a backpackers' Malate with small clubs, bars, guest houses, & artists on the street. Very Bohemian. Alia had her hair corn-braided (2 hours of waiting!) while Mannito & I got henna tattoos (of course, I got another dragon!).

Saturday morning was spent in Chatuchak (where else?) where Alia just went wild. I don't remember her ever shopping that way (I don't think Alia's ever really gone shopping). In the afternoon, we made complete fools of ourselves by taking several photos along my street, Soi Lang Suan. We only spent an hour in Pat Pong (one hour bec. of the traffic!). It was pretty cool, though, bec. Alia held her handicam at her side & just kept it on. She didn't look into the viewfinder or the screen & didn't aim the lens in any particular direction. So the result was a kind of expose video about the Pat Pong night life.

It was a very well-documented trip. Basically, I took care of all the stills & Alia did all the moving shots.

EPIOSODE 9: THE END OF THE STAR WARS SAGA

Monday, the 13th was a holiday in Thailand since Sunday was the Queen's birthday & is also their Mothers' Day celebration. Here I am, still in a bit of pain from my Monday afternoon badminton game with Mike, Malou & Rene (just throw me in the water next time) & suffering from the flu. We're gearing up for another one of our sports days this Saturday - another round of doubles badminton & a couple of buckets at the driving range infront of Rene & Eliene's apartment building. Xandra, I can join you na for badminton at Rizal Memorial! Monday's game was funny, though, bec. I really got into the game (never thought I'd be serious about badminton) & it was when I realized how different I've been around my friends here compared to Manila. Mike & Rene have been helping me improve my badminton & golf; & at one point in the badminton game, I became very frustrated when I missed a shot. Rene called it "a rare display of emotion." I must say, that was a surprising remark. Am I not an emotional being whose mood swings go by the moon? & Rey, remember when you were here & joined us for dinner & said I was anti-social in Manila? Mike & Darry believed you! & when Mike said I was mabait, it was bec. only Angela & Cheena have seen me mataray. Alangan mo namang I've changed?! Could it be that it really takes a while before I'm truly comfortable with new people?

Survivor update: Will be voted out in the next few months: Carla - 9 month assignment ends today. Mike - will be transferred to Daimler-Benz's head office in Berlin this October. Coco - assignment with ActMedia ends in December. Michelle - 4 year assignment with Unilever Thai has finally come to a close & will move to NY in April. Rene, Eliene & AG - Rene (the geologist who knows more than just rocks) will be assigned to Shell's operations in Aberdeen early next year. The others will still be here for the next year or so. The ultimates urvivor: Malou (facilitator for the Franklin Covey Group -- as in the 7 Habits of HIghly Effective People). She's a resident alient (not an expat) & has been living here for 4 years. That's how much she loves Thailand.

Looking back, it all seems so transient.. Sad. I will definitely miss Bangkok, the life I had outside work & the friends I made. I've become so at home here. Many say that travelling & being away from home enriches a person in ways not easily imagined. I have no regrets about the time I spent here (thank you Watson Wyatt). I have memories the essence of which cannot be fully captured in writing even if my words are accompanied by pictures. Although I am just DYING to go home, I truly had an amazing time here & I hope that if any of you ever visit or work in Thailand, you will have as much fun (or more!) as I did.

Goodbye Chatuchak. Goodbye Skytrain. Goodbye spicy catfish salad. Goodbye Thai iced tea. Hello free text messaging!!!

Hasta luego, amigos!


Carly

posted by Calai @ 12:28 PM 0 comments

Before Blogger, There Was Email: Amazing Thailand Part 1

Before Cynthia and Gabby turned me on to blogging, I would keep in touch with my friends and family around the world through a monthly mass email with the heading "World Update". I was cleaning up my email and found this from when I was based in Thailand in 2001 (posted in all its unedited glory. This is the WW and friends of WW version). I don't know, someone out there might want to know what Thailand is like....

-----Original Message-----
From: Carla S. Vargas
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 7:11 PM
To: Anna Liza Flores; Harry Velasco; Cynthia Ortiz; Joey Mapa; Jolyn Suarez; Alexandra Olivares; Sheila Marie Fleta; Sidney Catipon; Misha Canas; Eduardo Miguel Juliano; Rey Laguda; Malou Abada; Grace Nava; Tanya Reyes; Sobee Duenas; Ricky Pagdanganan; Nanette Dumol; Krissie Millan; Fred Tan; Ariel Dominguez; Dondi Grande; Yeyette Raymundo; Marge Hukom; Mon Espago; Cha Estomata; Joy Silva; Liza Alba; M Moncada
Cc: John Eric Ramos; Jerome Arcebal
Subject: World Update - March/April 2001 (4WW)

READ ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE *LOTS* OF NON-BILLABLE TIME ON YOUR HANDS!!!

DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRESENTS LONELY PLANET - THAILAND
Actually, we ought to change that title to "Travellers." & this week, we will take you on a journey through Amazing Thailand.

WEATHER REPORT
My officemate Joe (my non-English speaking version of Harry) told me there are only 3 seasons in Thailand: hot, hotter & hottest. When I first arrived last November, it was just HOT (30 degrees Celsius. Hot lang pala yan. & they call it "winter"). It got HOTTER sometime in late February. It is now HOTTEST (today's high is 37 degrees & I've been told it can reach 40). It will be HOTTEST until August. Then the rain comes in & temperature is HOTTER, then it will be HOT again in October. Baka pag-uwi ko sa Pinas, giginawin ako.

SURVIVOR SERIES
EPISODE 1:
Car #1: Rene & Eliene Villafuerte with their 11 month old daughter Angelica & yaya Barba. Rene is a geologist for Shell. Eliene is a happy housewife. Car#2: Mike Marquez (Financial Controller for Daimler-Benz), Cheena dela Cruz (Regional Brand Manager of Walls Ice Cream), myself & an inflated plastic turtle. We drove 3 hours south of Bangkok (like going to Batangas without traffic & with much better roads) to a beach town popular among the Thais called Cha-Am. We also visited the next beach town, Hua Hin (more popular among tourists).

There was hardly anyone at Cha-Am (off-season?). Pangit ng beach, dumi ng tubig (kaya pala walang tao), tapos may konting nangangabayo (think White Castle whisky) . Tingin ko, parang siyang maduming Matuod (mas maganda ang beach sa Matuod). Napaka-unromantic ng experience ko -- I decided to lie down on the sand & soak in the morning sun & I was starting to fall asleep when a horse decided to stop behind me & take a crap. But Cha-Am is a good place to hide out in when you want to escape the city, & seriously, it was such a relief to get away! It's very quiet, isolated, & the condo we stayed in (beach house ng Shell) had a nice pool & good facilities. Tapos nag-ihaw pa si Rene ng liempo (super sarap!). Joey, that's where I was when you called me about your regularization (part one of my "Congratulations!" to you. Yeehee!).

Hua Hin is very touristy & it reeks of horse shit bec. of the horse rentals on the beach - like Wright Park by the Sea. Daming tao (medyo nakaka-clausterphobic). We visited the Hotel Sofitel & it's absolutely gorgeous- grand Victorian style, manicured gardens, nice set-up (one of Thailand's first hotels). An expensive, yet highly recommended resort. Will show you pictures when I go home in May (papasok ako sa 7 para guluhin kayo. I actually miss the office).

SWIMMING LESSONS
Armed with a professional mahjong set & a copy of Lonely Planet - China (to distinguish the Chinese numbers on the cards), our Cha-Am travellers swam the hours away on a coffee table. All of us were beginners except Cheena (if we catch the gambling bug, we all know who to blame) & if you give us a few more weeks, singko-singko na ang laro. Harry, Joey, Cynthia, by the time my Bangkok assignment ends, I'll probably be able to join you at Cherry's.

EPISODE 2:
6 April 2001, past midnight: Jeric & Jerome arrive. I have friends! YAHOO!!!!

Sometime around 7 AM: Cheena, meet my boys. Boys, meet Cheena. You have no idea how happy I was to be able to spend time with REAL FRIENDS (ask Tanya nalang about the peer pressure I'm under here. Ibang klase, nakakatawa. Me? Prayer meeting? Stop laughing!). Together we discovered why it was going to take 11 hours to get from Bangkok to the northern city of Chiang Mai: ang bagal ng train! Kailangan pa yatang itulak. Tumigil pa ang driver, bumamba at may kinausap. Hindi kami naka-pigil sa train station 'nun. Nawawala yata. Siyempre, reading material ko sa train job descriptions. Haha! At least naka-tulog ako :-)

Base camp was the Rama Guesthouse in Chiang Mai. It's not a first class hotel, but highly recommended for budget travellers & everyone there was very nice, very helpful. We met a guy from McKinsey (cute sana pero mukhang hindi naliligo) who was wearing a Human Capital Group shirt (not Watson Wyatt's). Pagkatapos mag-check-in, siyempre, shopping agad sa night market. Tried a northern Thai beer called Chang (I think Singha is better). The next day, Jame, the Managing Director of the Rama Guesthouse & owner of Jame & John (?) Tours (most popular tour operator in Chiang Mai), took us further north to Chiang Rai & we made it as far as the Burmese border (we've got pictures under a sign that says "The Northernmost Point of Thailand" to prove it). I can't remember the names of the other cities we visited, but we went to an Opium Museum & we stopped at the Golden Triangle where we looked over the borders of Thailand, Myanmar & Laos. We also went to a jewelry factory, the type kung saan magwawala si Cherry. Then we visited the long neck village (or what Jerome calls the Land of Audrey Hepburn) where women of this particular Burmese tribe start wearing heavy gold chokers at age 6 & they can wear up to 32 chokers! They can only take them off for 2 hours in a year to clean them (their necks are so stretched, they need the chokers to support their heads). If I'm not mistaken, Jeric & Jerome have copies of these pictures.

The last day of our very short trip to Chiang Mai (parang the train rides were longer) was spent in a national park where we took an elephant ride (the elephant that Jerome & I were on wanted to go his own way, si "Master of Me". Kung saan-saan siya dumadaan), sat around a beautiful waterfall, then got on a bamboo raft. We also visited some sort of factory outlet where hand-painted umbrellas & fans are made. We were victimized by early Songkran revelers (Songkran being the Thai New Year & is celebrated like the Fiesta ni San Juan) who eagerly threw water into the back of the pick up where we sat. 3 monks threw buckets full or water at us & we were drenched! Pati nung nag-rafting kami, tinatapunan kami ng tubig.

14 hours on an overnight train to Bangkok. A visit to the Bangkok office. Mirienda with Corinne (Chuck had pneumonia!). & instead of spending the day exploring Bangkok's temples, we visited the gods of shopping. It is so rare to see men shop the way Jeric & Jerome did. & Nike must be very happy with their earnings on our purchases. Well, Jeric's purchases :-) Joey, Jolyn, Migs, Tans, Sobs -- laugh trip yung shirt ko, it says "Goddess."

EPISODE 3:
Holy Week. Krabi, Southern Thailand. Jump station to limestone cliffs & islands scattered on the sea. Ok siya. Instead of Visita Iglesia, we went on Visita Isla.

Railay Beach. Forget the east coast, the west coast of the island is cleaner & has more action. Especially for boys on the lookout for topless women: it's the place to be. The water? Warm & full of jellyfish. Stings & allergies galore. Plus a couple shagging not too far away from us (our entertainment for the day).

Second day: the Phi Phi Islands tour. We were on a boat filled mostly with white people (are we in Europe?). Stopped over at Koh Phi Phi Don for lunch, walked around a bit, then off to beautiful Koh Phi Phi Ley. & a few minutes later, there it was: Maya Bay. Also known as Leonardo di Caprio's "The Beach." We saw it. We took a picture. Our boat docked off the coast. We snorkeled in its waters with a hundred other people (a bottle green sea filled with orange life jackets & rented neon green snorkel sets). I attempted to swim 700 meters to the shore. Never got close enough to even set foot on it. Allergy Central. Apart from the algae, we were stung by something we couldn't see, like hundreds of baby jellyfish. It would've been the best Thai beach we went to if only we were actually on it. Bitin. In the evening, we had dinner near the pier & had the best fried oysters.

Third day: the most touristy experience in our lives. WARNING: If you ever visit Southern Thailand, do NOT, under any circumstance, even think about taking the James Bond Island Tour. Napaka-walang kwenta. I never even saw Roger Moore in "The Man with the Golden Gun." It's a small smelly island filled with tourists. We were also taken to see various limestone formations & caves with "vewy byoooteefool istalactahyt & istalagmhayt." Unfortunately, we could only see so much limestone islands & caves. If you want to see breath-taking stalactite & stalagmite formations & gorgeous limestone mountains, visit St. Andrew's National Park in Palawan & go to the Underground River (lahat nasa Pilipinas, mas maganda pa!). We also visited some national park with waterfalls, but the water was muddy. Sabi nga ni Jerome, sana man lang may scientific explanation kung bakit ganoon ang itsura ng tubig pero wala. The trees & some of the pools were nice, though. Pero parang wala kaming ginawa nung araw na yun kundi manlait :-) The highlight of the tour was a stopover for lunch at a Muslim fishing village & Jerome being blessed by a Buddhist monk at a cave temple.

13 April 2001. To Catholics, it's Good Friday. For the superstitious, Friday the 13th. But for the Thais, it's the official start of the Songkran Festival. It's a water-fight on a national scale & celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm. It's supposed to symbolize the cleansing of the soul. Siguro madudumi talaga ang mga budhi ng tao dito dahil walang awa sila magtapon o magbuhos ng tubig- pati mga naka-motor binabasa (600+ accidents were reported in Bangkok alone at the end of the festival last Monday). & there were pick-up trucks with buckets of water & people throwing it everywhere. Our 30 minute walk around the city center turned into a futile attempt to keep dry. We hung out at the Eighty-nine Cafe (don't know why it's called that. Like why is that club Orange called seventy-eight orange?) & joined locals & foreigners chasing every dry person with buckets of ice water. As one writer said, afficionados of the wet t-shirt contest will have a field day.

When we got back to Bangkok & the guys left for Manila (nung biglang lumaki ang apartment ko at tumahimik. Sniff, drama), I had to carefully walk around Bangkok to avoid getting wet. People strategically stationed themselves at the steps leading to the Skytrain throwing water at passengers. Even at the mall, people would throw water as one would walk through the entrance. Wild.

ANIMAL PLANET
Ikamamatay ko ang mga unggoy ng Asya! We went to some golden temple by a mountain & it was filled with monkeys! & the jellyfish here are the biggest I've ever seen. The little ones (medyo clear kaya hindi kita agad) sting as well, but are not poisonous. Gave us a hell of an allergy, though.

WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED TODAY?
When translated to English, "Bangkok" means "City of Angels." WP-1800 has greater mobile phone coverage than AIS-GSM at a cheaper rate (20% less). Banana Boat Sunblock is better than Coppertone (Tanya, what's Avon Sun-So-Soft?). & it is a NOT SO LONELY PLANET after all. My Mom was right when she said the beaches we had in the Philippines were the best. Thailand's beaches are over-rated, but the shopping is great :-) They are worth visiting for the fun, for the experience, but not for the beach itself. Wala pa ring tatalo sa Bohol (there's no turning back after Balicasag). Meanwhile, Songkran is loads of fun & if I could afford it, I'd like to spend every Holy Week in Thailand :-) If any of you have the chance, go for it! Hanggang Agosto nalang ako dito, so take advantage of free accomodations in Bangkok :-) Para sa mga single guys, yung isang kabarkada ko dito 23 years old na Atenistang taga-Unilever ay "open for dating" at kahawig ni Zhang Ziyi (girl from "Crouching Tiger"). Set up ko kayo (sabay kami uuwi). Sorry girls, no boys for us -- puede ba, dalawang klase lang ang Thai na lalake: ang pangit at ang sinusuwerte. Kaya gimmick nalang.

And that is all this month from sunny Thailand, the Land of Smiles. Alam niyo naman, basta huwag lang natin pag-usapan ang trabaho kong character-building, ANG SARAP DITO! :-)

Ciao! (or as our associates in Jakarta spell it, CHAO!)


Carly/CW

posted by Calai @ 12:04 PM 0 comments

Oops! Kimi did it again!

Oh man, what cruel joke is the Universe playing on me? Kimi, how could I have doubted you? HOW?!!! See you in Nurburgring (cue music: baby come back....).

posted by Calai @ 10:36 AM 0 comments

Bring The Police to Manila!

I have just read and signed the online petition "Bring The Police to Manila!" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petitionservice, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/police08/

posted by Calai @ 8:55 AM 0 comments

Happy Birthday to Me

It's a shameless post, I know. But I don't care. It's my day. I'm celebrating the nth anniversary of my 25th year, so I decided to make a wish list. Wish lang naman, eh. Hindi na kasi bright sunny day. It's been a nice, lazy, sleep in/re-read the Harry Potter series/watch sports television and CSI re-runs/go online day. I live by Ate Vi's famous words, "You can never can tell."

For my future adventures:
Eagle Creek Switchback MAX ES 25 (sienna) or Explorer LT (sienna)

Moleskine notebook (oops! Scratch that. Thanks Jay I., Toersche and Dingbat! I love them!)

Panasonic TZ2 (black) or DMC-FX30 (black) and Alia gets to play with it first.

An 80GB iPod (but please give it to Gabby first. He'll pass it to me. Long story).

Nikon D70 or D80 plus Nikkor 18mm to 200mm lens and a Domke J-1 bag (Ballistic nylon) or DF-2 Original Bag (olive). If God sends these my way before August, Vince gets to test the lens first, otherwise, Andaya gets to fool around with the whole kit first.

The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Just because:
To win the lotto, explore the world for a year, write about it and get published. I haven't given on up on my dream to become a travel photographer/writer or the next Thirsty Traveler host.

I'm serious about the Horse Head pillow, I kid you not! I really want it!

A full scholarship to the Philippine School of Interior Design. I'm being realistic here. I don't have the Math skills to be an Architect, so becoming an Interior Designer is the next best thing.

All 300 soldiers from "300" in uniform ;)

Liposuction or mesotherapy for me AND for Max!

A Wii party (paging Benjor! Benjor!).

Tickets to Stardust.

posted by Calai @ 3:21 PM 3 comments

Princess Leia and Optimus Prime Go on a Date

Not! But we did check out progressive rock band Evenstar Project's gig at Mag:net Cafe on the Fort Bonifacio High Street last night (pictures and videos to follow) and it was soooo cool! We missed the first band, but got there in time for Eternal Now (they played this fantastic overture, and they were "tight"; very technical) and Lucille (they're like a young Wolfgang/Juan dela Cruz from Las Pinas. They don't have their own sound yet, but they fit a genre and they were just awesome!). Man Tan, Patricio, you should have joined us! Galing! Jay, congratulations! Wild, pare! Rakenrol!!!

Hear and read more about Evenstar Project here and here. See you at their next Mag:net gig in August. Enjoy!'

P.S. Ang ganda talaga ng Serendra! But riddle me this, Batman: what idiot designed the Shops at Serendra? I mean, you've got Block 1 and 2 next to each other, right, and then it's Block 5. Block 3 is across Block 5. After Block 5 is Block 8. What the hell? I need to go back to Maxi Toy Lab (I want that Darth Vader standee!), Speedo and Nike Park, though. Coolness!
P.S.2. Gab..."play that funky music, white boy!" We're so mean. That's why we're friends. O, Sa Guijo next week, ha.

posted by Calai @ 2:51 PM 0 comments

Stormtrooper Groove

Pam, this is something Dexter might do. Laugh trip!

Link

posted by Calai @ 3:08 AM 0 comments

Wow

"This is for every life story" - Brian Cajulis

Link

posted by Calai @ 4:06 PM 0 comments

Back in Red

Dear Kimi,

You did it!

Go on. I dare you to prove me wrong about Hamilton. I don't know how long this will last, but I do know this: I miss you. See you at Silverstone.

XXOO


Photo c/o http://www.f1-pics.com

posted by Calai @ 10:31 AM 0 comments

Happiness is more than what meets the eye

I waited for this movie for over a year! I was in a cast, surfing the internet, following almost every trivial post and blogged about it then. And you have no idea how much I love my company now - free movie tickets! Woohoo!

I finally saw Transformers last Friday and OH MY GOD it was so damn cool, I almost peed in my pants! An-an even texted me close to midnight just to say how much she and Jay enjoyed it. You don't need me to convince you to go see it. And to see it again and again and again (I won't be watching it a second time anytime soon, though). If you have nothing better to do, you can check out my review on Multiply (others have much better ones, though, like this guy) or head over to Ain't It Cool News for these fan boy rants. I'm waiting for Cyn and Gabby to post their reviews. Roman, we must discuss!

Up next, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

posted by Calai @ 9:09 AM 2 comments