Restrictions

Due to the restrictions I applied to some of my entries here under privileged group, please add me in your dashboards: larrybored@yahoo.com. I've already added some of the people linked in my sidebar but failed to do so with the others, I don't know but there's a bit of error and can't find them after hitting search. To ease me with the tedious task, please add me if you have the time. It's not that I'm really posting steamy entries, just that there are "delicate" things that I posted in my previous entries that might be read by some. You'll figure it out as soon as you're added and given access to the privileged group. Thanks.

More Photos from HK

I'm posting more photos from HK. These are mainly from Disneyland, Ocean Park, Peak Tower, Victoria Harbour (see symphony of lights taking place nightly @8, amazing skyline and lights show!) and some streets in HK. Will just edit this posting for text narratives soon. A bit tired to write now. These thumbnails are all stored in my flickr account so when you click anyone of these photos, it will be redirected to my flickr for higher resolution photos.

My Poetic Rain Affair

I'm writing this in a starbucks tissue paper while waiting for the pouring of rain to stop. Being in a tropical country blessed by abundant rains, I never seem to get quite enough of it. It can ruin any person's day, even mine, but the welcoming cool and sound of rain gives me a feeling of ease and comfort.

I don't mind getting wet or stepping into a puddle. All I know is that rain provides me with pompous cataclysmic energy. I bid summer well. Finally, off with the intense heat! I don't know how I was able to endure my immersion in Middle East last year, but I'm glad to be back with the rains. Goodbye 40+ deg celcius heat! Goodbye sandstorms! Wonder when will I say goodbye to struggles and sufferings, though?!

In the meantime, I welcome the rainy season (even typhoons!) with much optimism, that despite its parallel image of gloom, it nourishes the flow of life and signifies abundance. In another light, I was able to read a poem while browsing one of my favourite blogs (thanks again Jack Rensimer for posting it!) that is truly inspiring. I am never really that fond of peotries but this one made my day.  I would like to repost it here and intends to read it everyday just to make a jumpstart in my usually dragging day.

IF by Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Macau, Hong Kong Experience

What originally was planned as a travel to seek for opportunities in Macau turned out to be one of the ultimate vacation tours I’ve had. The intention my friend and I had in mind when we booked a ticket last February was to see for ourselves if Macau is a good place to work with if there’s any opportunities for us there. His dad is working in Macau and at the same time maintains a flat in Hong Kong as he also holds a residence card there, reason why I didn’t take a second thought for this tour, being cheapskate and all. Several weeks after Harold and I bought the tickets, the rest of his family decided to go to Macau as well. As time passed, since we booked it 3 months in advance, the excitement for job hunt in Macau waned. I didn’t realize that this plan had turned out to be a vacation for Harold and his family until we were at the airport going to Macau with his mom and 2 siblings anticipating to meet their dad - I almost wanted to back out, but hey, I was also with his grandparents when we went to Roxas, Iloilo and Boracay more than a year ago, so going with his family on vacation wasn’t something new. Sure is a great thing to have a best bud who trust you with his family!

I thought it would’ve been much exciting if I was with some few other friends, but being with my friend and his family was more than enough since they made me feel welcome and part of their family. I was at the convenience of being taken cared of by a foster family during that holiday tour. My friend's dad is well versed both in Macau and Hong Kong, reason why during our visit, he made sure we were able to maximize our stay and went to sought-out places in Macau and HK. It was a blast! I’ve never been to so much overwhelming places in a week’s time until this vacation.

Macau: The city was quite small but it’s a tidy urbanised place. We went to the Fisherman’s wharf and ruins of Saint Paul. The ruins of St. Paul have been burnt by fire sometime ago except the façade which have withstood the test of fire and time. The government has done a great deal by leaving it as it is and for making it a tourist destination instead of restoring it that would’ve only categorize it as plain church. Casinos and hotels are everywhere with prancing lights all over! It was a nifty tour. What’s fascinating about Macau is its blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures. Every Chinese signage has Portuguese translations. The architectural design of establishments has Portuguese influences. The weather was cooler than ours considering that we went there on a summer. Harold and I had a few urban adventures too roaming some parts of the city without knowing where to go. We’ve discovered a place that sells macau specialty (food) which is nothing near the Chinese taste. During our last night, I went with my friend’s parents to the casino – crown plaza’s 6-star hotel was newly opened! Well, I lost a few HK$ bucks (HK$ are circulated in Macau and it is advised to use the currency in the city if you’re planning to visit HK as well), but it was fun! The casino is not even close to what we have here.

HongKong (Big Buddha): Taking a ferry boat from Macau to HK will only take you around an hour travel time and will roughly cost HK$150 one-way. The terminals in both cities were much cleaner than our very own NAIA, and it’s not even an airport! Upon arrival in HK, we went directly to the MTR – a subway rail system conveniently linking the city (Kowloon, Hongkong island and the new territory) to other transportation systems and stations –airport, KCR (another railway system), bus stands, and of course the ferry station where we arrived. The subway is a convenient and efficient way to go around the city – however, complicated it might seem as a first timer. The MTR took us to the Sky Rail station (Sky Rail costs around HK$50 one-way) a cable car mode of transpo that have taken us to the Big Buddha. I think Big Buddha is a destination for the Chinese pilgrims. According to harold’s dad some Chinese walk along a pathway on the way to Big Buddha which we could see from above that trails the cable car line. And it was a whopping 30minute ride passing several mountains! Pinching Harold to take his attention to something down below, he suddenly exclaimed, ‘O, bat nanlalamig ka?!’ Although acting coolly, my hands weren’t cooperating to show my fear of height with sweat and cold.

Have to go for now. Up ahead: Disney, Ocean Park, Peak Tower, Symphony of lights experience.

*This isn't in relation to the travel, but last night I was able to finish reading the entire book in one sitting of mitch albom's for one more day and I had made a lot of realizations from the book. hmmm

Back to Reality

After satiating my wanderlust, finally got home from Macau(3days) and HongKong(3days). Will hear from me more about it in my future entries. As for now, back to reality!

Morning Fury

I was on my usual morning way to the office when I heard the people's ranting through chico and del's the morning rush in MonsterRX93.1 regarding how these election candidates are causing chaos over edsa on both bounds with their convoy/motorcade (on a rush hour, at that). Well, well, well… This is the reason why all these vehicles are passing through c-5 inconviently causing traffic to my route, as well. The nerves with those imbecile donkeys! Traffic has become a bitter way of life, but come on people, do you really have to aggravate it?! Aren't those overspent money on your baloney adverts and what-have-you not enough for your exposure?

I wonder who these personalities are… On the second thought, I've grown this apathy way back reason why I'm not exercising my right to suffrage. So now I'm halting this passivity and campaign against these dimwits! Do you have any idea who these people are? Let me know and please don't cast a vote for them. What do you expect from these idiots when even prior to having won the elections have all the guts to show their real sloppy faces.

As chico had it in the show addressing all the angry listeners:

Inhale… *good thoughts*

Exhale…  *bad thoughts*

Long pause… *Ok, I'm still pissed!*

Exactly echoed to a lot of us, pissed and furious!

Mead Read for the Head

Below are some of my all-time Favourite Books. It was much more easier with friendster blog to posts these in the sidebar by pinging Amazon.com and just a matter of getting the ISBN. But hey, this domain is much better so I can do with posting them instead in the entry.

Will post some other time all the other books i've read. Mostly from Paolo Coelho, All of Dan Brown's Books, and Mitch Albom. Following are two of the current books I just bought which I still have to read.

Images copied from amazon.com