It's not just a bed and breakfast Part 1

Dang.

I’ll be leaving for Kuala Lumpur in 20 freeeeaaaking days.

Traveling has been a passion of mine since, forever. That is, if my wallet permits me to indulge in this.

Marami-rami na rin ako napuntahan locally. Ayos na rin dahil bago ako lalabas ng bansa para lumamyerda eh nalibot ko na ang Pilipinas. Sa katunayan ngayong taon palang ako nagkakaron ng passport. Inabot pa namin ng kapatid ko yung pagaapply sa lumang passport. Kaya ang kulay ng pasaporte namin pang-third-world country parin.

Being the backpacker that I am, I’ve been ready for this trip since February.

ACCOMMODATION : Tune Hotel, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Medan Tuanku, KL

Budget hotel ito. Tigda-dalawang libo lang ang babayaran namin nung kasama ko kasi walang almusal, walang airport transfers, walang twalya, walang aircon, walang TV, walang toiletries. Pero may banyo na kung pagbabasehan natin ang mga litrato sa website, malinis. Pwede kainan! Yun naman ang mahalaga sa akin. Sana ensuite talaga ang banyo dahil mahirap naman pumila sa paggamit ng banyo sa mga dormitoryo na pinauupahan.

The hotel is also located in the Chow Kit area. Parang Ermita daw yun ng Pilipinas. Nakita ko nga sa YouTube, may mga babaeng nagaabang ng customer sa kalye.

AIRLINE : Cebu Pacific Piso Fares is the way to go. Ayan, kakahanap-kakahanap namin ng mura, alas dos kami dadating sa KL. Which means paying for additional days in the hotel and double rate in airport transfers kasi madaling araw na. Kung tutuusin, hassle din. Next time magpa-PAL nalang kami.

THINGS TO BRING :

One travelpack

Unbeknownst to many, travelpacks are measured in liters. The ideal weight is 55 liters and should have a hipbelt and an internal frame inside the pack para balanse ka pag naglalakad. Talian niyo ng malaking ribbon yung bag niyo na mabilis mapansin ang kulay like neon pink o neon green so you won’t miss it among the piles and piles of dark colored luggage chaka dun sa conveyor belt ng baggage claim.

One smaller backpack

This is your carryon luggage. Pack one pair of underpants, a change of shirt, a handkerchief, toothbrush and toothpaste, your entertainment item (libro, PSP, MP3 player o Rubix cube kung ikaw yung taong mahilig sa mga larong sabugan ng utak). Bakit may underpants at shirt? Mahirap na, 85% ang chansa na mawala yang travelpack niyo in international flights. At least, may pamalit kang damit and you have a toothbrush so while you’re waiting for your luggage to turn up, you won’t have to put up with the unpleasantness of your teeth feeling all furry.

Kapag nakarating na kayo sa pupuntahan niyo and you’re ready to go sightseeing, your carryon will be transformed into your daypack.

Money belt

This should be worn inside your shirt around the waist. Dapat kasya ang passport, ticket, credit cards, photocopies ng travel documents (insurance, itinerary, etc.), chaka the bulk of your money. Logically, the things that should be placed in the money belt should not be bulky and should be items you don’t need to access every 20 minutes.

2 pairs of light long pants and 1 shorts

There are pants that are styled to have detachable zippered lengths para pwede maging shorts. Sa Malaysia kasi, maraming mosque na pwede pasukin and people are not allowed to go inside if they’re wearing shorts, short skirts and the like.

4 Shirts (2 ordinary shirts, 1 long sleeves, 1 micro-fleece jacket)

Pantulog ang isang shirt, panlakad ang isa. Yung long sleeves may be used to achieve the modesty factor (meaning yung mga lugar na kailangan eh balot na balot ka like mosques). Yung jacket pwede rin sweater, yung ordinary sweaters na nabibili sa SM. It’s advisable to wear long sleeved tops kahit sa mainit na lugar kayo pupunta kasi the more heat your body releases, the more you’ll sweat. Mas mabilis kayo madedehydrate. It’s actually quite cool to the skin.

Toothbrush and toothpaste

One hiking sandals to pack, Crocs to wear

Walking tour lang naman ang ipupunta ko dun kaya it’s better to bring flat, comfortable footwear.

4 pairs of underwear

Kaunti no? See the next item.

Laundry powder

Mas maigi pang maglaba kesa magdala ng maraming gamit. Yung mga shirts at pants pwede din labhan nalang. Sa CR ng hotel pwede gawin ang paglalaba.


String or floss

Sampayan yan ng nilabhan mo. I prefer the floss though, coz it’s stronger. The string, however, is a lot cheaper and can be acquired in your packed sewing kit.

Batteries

For the alarm clock, watch, etc.

Battery chargers

Rectangular blade plugs with a 240 voltage and 50 Hertz are used in Malaysia. Look in your chargers and see if they’re compatible with the voltage and frequency. More often than not, ang mga electrical equipment ng Pilipinas ay pwedeng gamitin sa Malaysia dahil 220V at 40H tayo.

MP3 player and celphone, alarm clock

Swiss Army Knife

Don’t to forget to put this in your check-in luggage because this is a potential weapon and may be confiscated if customs officials see this in your carryon. Sayang ang Swiss knife. Although this may not be brought at all, i find the bottle opener and the blade essential so I might need it.

Sarong

Normal towels get smelly very easily, mahirap matuyo, and use up far too much valuable backpack space. I use a sarong instead. Or, magdala nalang kayo ng bimpo (face towel).

Baseball cap

To keep you cooler and prevent sunstroke.

Flash disk / memory cards

Many hotels have Internet Cafes already. You can upload your camera pictures to flickr or multiply or your travel blog so as not to run out of disk space.

Video camera

Handkerchief

This is practical for drying your hands after washing them in restaurants or public toilets. Ang ginawa ko naman dati nang sobrang init sa Mt. Banahaw, binasa ko yung buong panyo ko sa ilog. Tinali ko sa leeg ko tapos nagbigti ako. Charot! It has a refreshingly cooling effect on your whole body.

OTC Medicine

Diarrhea, migraine, and if you can get some in Mercury, water-purifying tablets. This will all go into your first-aid kit.

Photocopies of travel insurance, passport, ticket and other documents

Leave one set at home in case of theft, another set with you on the move, scan them and email them to someone back home, and have one set in your daypack. The original copies should live in your money belt.

Notebook / journal and pens

For the pensive, writer traveler, these are ideal. Yung mga biglaan sulpot ng inspirasyon sa mga nakikita mong bagong bagay sa ibang bansa ay nararapat lang na isulat sa notebook. Pens are ideal for filling out immigration forms or other paperwork you might encounter while you’re on the move.

Sewing Kit

Para sa mga pundilyong mapupunit.

Wet ones

Good for cleaning yourself up on buses and trains, and for wiping hands before eating.

It's time to try defying gravity

I knew this was going to happen. Sana lang hinanda ko rin ang sarili ko kasi sa totoo lang, I’m overwhelmed with all that’s happening to me.

If you’re a regular reader of my weblog, you’d know that I’m in a quarter-life crisis. Not that I’m making excuses for all of the life bloopers I have that I could ask for royalties for them, but I think it’s quite acceptable for me to feel this. Sa edad kong ito at sa mga nararamdaman kong kalituhan sa buhay, alam kong di naman ako nagiisa.

Nakakatakot lang. I’m turning 30 in four years, and yet wala pa akong nararating.

Aminado naman ako sa lahat ng kapalpakan ko sa buhay. Wala namang kailangan isisi at ituro kundi ako lang naman. Life is what we make it ika nga ng isang kanta. Pero nakakanerbyos parin. Ang paniniwala ko nalang, lahat ng bagay na pinagdedesisyunan ko ay nararapat lang na panagutan ko. Tulad ng pagayaw ko sa trabaho ko ngayon. Alam kong di ko naman kaya ang trabaho, eh, bakit ko pa ipipilit? I can’t even begin to explain that I’m not a person who delivers mediocre work and continuing in this job will only make me feel a lot worse because I’m accepting mediocrity in my system. Ako na mismo ang umayaw bago pa ako masesante dahil sa mali-maling trabaho.

So ano na?

Naniniwala ako na ang taong 2007 ay hindi nagging maganda para sakin. Ang dami kong utang sa nanay ko, nawalan ako ng trabaho, halos mawala ang buong bag ko nang maiwan ko ito sa rehearsal (pero I admit na katangahan ito at hindi kamalasan), at gumawa ako ng plano na mag-tour sa Malaysia nang hindi nag-ipon. Kasalanan ko rin talaga kung bakit nagpapang-abot ang mga kapalpakan ko sa buhay. Pero sa lahat ng mga plano kong napurnada isa lang ang planong nakatatak sa utak ko at pinipilit kong abutin lalo na sa ngayon: ang mangibang bansa. Siguro naman panahon na para ako naman ang tumulong sa pamilya ko. My father never stopped being an OFW ever since he and my mother started a family. I want to help out, lalo nang alam kong pagod na rin ang tatay ko mag-abroad. I have plans of applying to New Zealand and I believe that I have a pretty good chance of making it but I need the one thing that makes the world go round.

Pera.

Saan naman ako kukuha nito? Eh sa October 31, wala na naman akong trabaho. May mapagkukunan ako tulad nung mga raket ko sa events at sa teatro, pero hindi sapat ang mga ito. I need PHP300,000 para madirediretcho ko ang plano kong pagalis at isa lang ang nakikita kong solusyon dito:

Call center.

I have nothing against the business of call centers. In fact, nakakabilib nga sila. Tumagal ka daw ba ng walong oras mahigit ng alas dos ng madaling araw kung kelan ang normal na takbo ng buhay ng tao ng ganitong oras ay maghilik na. Hindi yata madali yun. Kaya lang kasi para sa akin, walang growth dito. Walang growth professionally, intellectually, at growth sa karera ng isang tao. Pero financial growth, aba, meron. Puhunanin mo lang ang laway, antok, at haba ng pisi mo sa trabahong ito, mabubuhay ka talaga.

Alam kong kakainin ko ang sinabi ko dati na “Ang pagko-call center, last resort nalang. Kung wala na talaga akong mapasukan, dun ako babagsak.” Alam ko na may mga ibang trabaho na mas nararapat sakin, kung saan makikita ko ang growth na kinakailangan ng iba’t-ibang aspeto ng buhay ko. Pero kailan pa? Kailangan ko ng pera sa lalong madaling panahon. And there’s no better day than today. Kaya nga ba nagsisimula na akong magapply.

I asked advice from my different sets of friends. This is what they have to say:

Japs (GDC berks) – “Girl, maghanap ka pa ng iba. Wag ka muna magcall center. Meron pa diyan.”

Oyie (Wansa krung) – “Alam mo kung pera lang naman talaga ang iisipin mo, susuportahan kita diyan sa pagko-call center. Dahil naisip ko na rin gawin yan para lang maka-ipon.”

Jojo (GR tropa) – “Wag na. Mababagot ka. Paulit-ulit ang ginagawa mo, di naman din ganon kataas ang sweldo.”

Mary Ann (GR tropa) – “Walang asenso diyan, noh.”

Netnet (Wansa krung) – “Oo ok na yan kasi madaling makapasok at pwede ka maging Team Leader agad. Pero maghanap ka pa rin ng ibang work.”

Mea (Soul sistah) – “Kung ang plano mo talaga ay mag-ipon, panindigan mo yan. Kung magaapply ka sa call center, kumilos ka na. Pero at the end of the day, ikaw pa rin ang masusunod. Wag ka makinig sa iba. Sarili mo lang.”

Alam ko na sa mga susunod na mga araw, maraming pagbabago sa buhay ko—my lifestyle, my attitude towards work and towards money, my relationships with other people. Alam kong mas magiging responsable akong tao. Dati kasi alam kong may kapalpakan man akong gawin, may sasalo sa aking matatag na pundasyon. Ito na siguro yung oras na mararamdaman mong wala kang choice kundi tumalon para suungin ang buhay. My journey through life begins now by treading the unbeaten path. Panahon na para ihakbang ko ang tinatawag na “Leap of faith.” It’ll be scary that’s for sure. But I know that I have my friends and family around, and of course, si Papa Jesus who never left me alone. Come to think of it, I’m actually looking forward to it.

My sister’s right. This is my life and it’s me who should take charge. It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap.

Why don't you just eat it Part 2

I now present to you the second chapter of the best restaurants in the city.

Wai Ying
Benavides St., Binondo

CUISINE TYPE : Chinese
RESTAURANT HOURS : 10am-2am, everyday
PRICE RANGE : $
CROWD : Dito ka makakakita ng mga totoong miyembro ng Chinese
community, yuppies in the area
PARKING : Street parking. Mas maigi pang maglakad.
PAYMENT MODES : Cash
TRY THE FOLLOWING: White Chicken (steamed chicken served with ginger sauce)
Peking Duck (roasted duck served with Peking sauce)
Beef Noodle
Pork Siomai

Le Ching Tea House
Greenhills Shopping Center

CUISINE TYPE : Chinese
RESTAURANT HOURS : 10am-9pm, everyday
PRICE RANGE : $
CROWD : Yuppies, families
PARKING : Mall parking
PAYMENT MODES : Cash
TRY THE FOLLOWING: Spareribs Rice (steamed spareribs with rice)
Wanton Noodle Soup

For authentic Chinese food, dito lang kayo pupunta sa dalawang restaurants na ‘to. Pati yung ambience alam na alam mong nasa loob ka ng Chinese restaurant. Wai Ying is one of the best places to go to in Binondo while Le Ching is a great shift from the urbanities of the Greenhills area. Sa sobrang mura dito, kahit mag-tig-isang dimsum pa kayo ayos lang.

------ooo------

Bubba Gump
Greenbelt 3

CUISINE TYPE : American
RESTAURANT HOURS : 12nn – 12mn, everyday
PRICE RANGE : $$ - $$$
CROWD : Yuppies, families, dating couples
PARKING : Mall parking
PAYMENT MODES : Cash, Card
TRY THE FOLLOWING : Forrest’s Bucket-o-trash (shrimp, breaded fish fillet, squid,
fries, and different kinds of dip))
Shrimp and Artichokes

Like Friday’s, the walls of Bubba Gump is a visual fiesta of American culture. The only difference is, it’s inspired by the movie Forrest Gump. From the menu to the table décor, it all connects to the movie.

------ooooo------

Myrna’s Bulalo
Tomas Morato, Quezon City

CUISINE TYPE : Filipino
RESTAURANT HOURS : 12nn – 12am, everyday
PRICE RANGE : $
CROWD : Yuppies, celebrities from the nearby TV networks
PARKING : In front of the restaurant
PAYMENT MODES : Cash
TRY THE FOLLOWING : Bulalo
Green Salad
Chicharon Bulaklak

Lutong-bahay talaga rito, specialties ni Mommy Myrna ang makakain mo dito, and I should know dahil kaibigan ko si Reggie na anak niya. Expect to have hot bulalo soup right after ordering. Aside from the best food ever, you can entertain yourself reading the autographed plates donned on the walls. Wag kayong kakain ng tanghalian kung plano niyo kumain ng hapunan sa Myrna’s dahil matutukso kayong orderin lahat. Siguruhin niyo lang na umorder kayo ng bottomless pineapple juice para ma-neutralize yung mga sebong siguradong mamumuo sa mga ugat niyo. But just the same, this is the best bulalo I’ve tasted.

This is great for parody

It never fails.

Every time I go to government offices it’s always been painfully amusing.

WHERE : LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE, Mandaluyong City Hall
NATURE OF VISIT : To redeem my confiscated license. I drove through a red light in a school zone.

It had been 23 days after the confiscation of my license and I was sweating through the eyebrows. Akala ko kakasuhan na ako ng LTO dahil nabasa ko dun sa ticket na kapag di mo nakuha yung lisensya mo after 15 days, appropriate charges will be filed against me.

Walang masyadong tao dun sa opisina. May mga tao sa labas na naghihintay tawagin, sa loob may mga upuan na pinaghihintayan din. Nilagay ko yung tiket ko sa counter at naupo.

Napansin ko may banner sa may Releasing. May malaking “SERVICE WITH A SMILE J” kang mababasa. Pero kung oobserbahan mo ang mga tao dun, para silang may naaamoy na mabaho tuwing may papasok sa pintuan. Ang susungit nila sa lahat. Nakakaawa na nga yung iba dahil sinisinghalan talaga nila. Para bang kapag ni-release nila ang lisensya mo, utang na loob mo sa kanila. Eh lintek, babayaran mo naman ang penalty mo.

Pero in fairness, mabait sila sa akin. I even expected to explain myself to their director or whoever about why it took me so long to get my license pero pinagbayad lang ako ng limang daan. Ewan ko kung bakit. Siguro dahil mataba ako.

WHERE : NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Pasig City Hall
NATURE OF VISIT : To file for an authenticated birth certificate

The NSO in the Pasig City Hall is located at the annex. In fairness, di ka maliligaw dahil may mga signs sa building leading you to the different offices. Di nakakalito.

Ang nakakalito, pagdating mo mismo sa NSO. You’ll see signs all over the place. Signs, signs, signs. Napakaraming signs. Wala naming maitulong.

Pero kung ang paguusapan eh ang pagfafile mo ng mga iba’t ibang klase ng certificate, di ka maguguluhan. Birth, Marriage, Death Registries are properly marked kaya tanga nalang ang magpapa-rehistro ng kapanganakan sa Death records.

Tulad ng sa LTO, ang susungit pa rin ng mga tao. Chaka matatanda na. Eh ang sakin naman, wala naman dahilan para magsungit bakit ka magsusungit? Akala ko pa naman mababait sila dahil yung sandamakmak nilang mga kartolinang may nakasulat na “Step 1 Step 2,” lahat yun iba-ibang kulay at mantakin mo, puro neon colors. Para bang ang saya saya ng buhay para sa kanila.

WHERE : DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MAIN
NATURE OF VISIT : To apply for a passport

We sought the help of a travel agency for this. Buti nalang, kasi pagdating naming dun, napakahaba ng pila.

Ganon pala kapag may kasama kang travel agent. Mabilis lang. Dadaan ka sa eskinita, tapos andun ka na sa verification signature thumb marking chennelyn.

Natural, parang dun sa mga nakaraang sangay ng gobyerno, ang aasim parin ng mga tao dito. Chaka kung matatanda na ang nasa NSO, ay, ibahin mo ang nasa DFA. Mga inugatan na. At, nakow, mas masusungit.

Kung bagong dating ka, uupo ka sa third row. Kung ubos na ang nasa second row na mga taong naghihintay, anong gagawin mo? Diba sa normal na pila tatayo kayong lahat ng nasa pangatlong bench para lumipat sa pangalawang upuan? Palatandaan yun na umaandar ang pila niyo. Kaya lang dito sa DFA hindi ka gagalaw kung makita mong umandar na yung mga nauuna sayo. Ginawa naming yun ng kapatid ko. Puta binulyawan pa kami.

“SINO NAGSABI SA INYONG TUMAYO KAYO DIYAN SA UPUAN NIYO?!”

Madam! Easy!

I actually look forward to going to government offices. I don’t mind the long queues. It’s a mirthful experience in itself: people-watching, “accidentally” eavesdropping on amusing conversations. You’ll be surprised at how business in government offices mirror and draw a caricature of our lives that is distinctly Filipino.

Nakakalungkot makita na sa tatlong opisinang napuntahan ko, wala akong nakitang mga ka-edad ko na empleyado. Tantya ko, lahat ng mga nandun nasa minimum of 10 years of service na. Pero nakakabilib din na magkaron ka ng drive para pagtiyagaan ang isang trabahong nababansagan kang corrupt at napapairal ng prinsipyo ng red tape. Palagay ko, bayani rin silang matatawag.

Sa tingin ko, naghahanap lang ng inspirasyon sina Mister and Miss Government Worker. Di mo rin sila masisi. Nakakainis din naman talaga kung sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Poong Maykapal eh haharap ka sa mga taong naka-sando / naka-tsinelas / di pa nakakapag-toothbras / amoy sopa, eh talaga namang magiinit ang ulo mo. Nakakatawa kasi ang ibang mga kababayan natin. GOVERNMENT OFFICE ang pupuntahan natin. Ang mga taong naroroon, nagbibigay ng serbisyo sa atin. The least we could do is dress appropriately and give them that kind of respect.

Pero yung mga opisyal at mga empleyado na kurakot? Putangina. Baka duraan ko pa sila.