Recuperating from a 3-day sickness

I admit that it’s a general rule once you are outside your country “Bawal Magkasakit”.. in fact even I was in my home country, I often times heard this statement. Because being sick is very expensive. Reality bites. From the medicines, fruits, and the days you will be on leave and not be able to go to work…

Though bad but still good having a sick in your country is you know that there will be someone to take good care of you. Not unlike being away from your home. It’s the most difficult situation one can experience if you will be sick.. As what I experienced last week. Too bad that I was bed-laid for 3 consecutive days, just imagine the scenario, can’t get up just to cook for my own food. I can’t go out of my room to buy for some medicines and fruits.. who else can do this for me but no one except for my own SELF.. I need to even if I can’t. As if you are helpless and want to give up, but you thought that you’ll end up as a loser. Being brave and being strong is entirely different. I may not be brave in nature, but I show a lot of strength I need to survive and cope up on this situation. Having the motivation and will to surpass these trials, and believing in my self that there will be a clear sky ahead of this dilemma. Days have passed, and now I am fully charged and brought back again the energy in me.

It will be my 7th week tomorrow here in Rio after coming back from pinas.. Time to enjoy again the beach of Copacabana at its best..

Life @ 26 and Belo Horizonte experience…

09/27-09/28/2008

2 years in a row celebrating my birthday far away from home is really a no joke.. You might say that I should get used to it, but it’s really a different feeling not celebrating it in your home together with your loved ones and dearest friends.

But as I always said, happiness is always a choice. There are so many ways to become happy amidst the situation you are in now. And I think I am right to decide that I should be happy on my very special day..

Traveling by bus for almost 7 hours going to Belo Horizonte from Rio de Janeiro is really tiring if you think of it. But traveling with a reason makes the long travel worthy.

I decided to celebrate my birthday in the state of Minais Girais in the City of Belo Horizonte, there is no regret that I made the right decision. Belo Horizonte is really an amazing city. Below is the itinerary we had during our stay in Belo Horizonte:

09/26/2008 11:30pm – Departure @ Rodoviaria, Rio de Janeiro

09/27/2008 6:30am – Arrival @ Rodoviaria, Belo Horizonte
09/27/2008 9am – Igreja 09/27/2008 10am – Mineirao Stadium
09/27/2008 11am – Zoological
09/27/2008 1pm – Lunch @ Mangabeiras, courtesy of tukayo (despedida party)
09/27/2008 4pm – Praca do Papa
09/27/2008 6pm – Alta Vila tower
09/27/2008 9pm – Hard rock shopping, dinner, and party

09/28/2008 12MN – Velvet Disco Bar
09/28/2008 10am – Free Market
09/28/2008 11am – carnival and boat rides @ Centro Park
09/28/2008 1pm – Lunch
09/28/2008 6pm – Mass
09/28/2008 11pm – Departure @ Rodoviaria, Belo Horizonte

09/29/2008 6am – Arrival @ Rodoviaria, Rio de Janerio..

Though schedules are too hectic, but we managed to do all of these activities. As of this writing (09/29 4pm) I still have not enough rest. Tired but I can I say I’m happy celebrating my 26th year here on Earth :)

Sharing some photos below:

The cast..
one of my fave shot ;)
overlooking the city of Belo Horizonte
Hard Rock Belo Horizonte, Brasil
Alta Vila Tower

Making Risky Decisions..

As of this writing, I may be too drunk or just being bored in my room.. Not a too typical Saturday for me staying the whole day in my room.. I might be too tired from a long stressed week in the office doing the thing that I haven’t done before in my career life..

This is how my blog entry will flow…

Having an “Oplan: Alis Belem” as my motivation during the first 3 months of my stay here in Brazil makes my worth staying here in Brazil that I know there is somewhere a better place for me to work with.. And that “oplan” makes it a reality, by moving from Belem to Sao Paulo and Nokia to Ericsson after 3 months…

And here the story goes.. a plan with don’t have concrete views on what life will gonna be ahead is like driving in a road at night with no headlights, like a blind that doesn’t see the real colors, and a depth that doesn’t hear the whole story.. Life has been too rapid for me.. making tough decisions that doesn’t consider what the consequences might be ahead..

Karma might they say but it is exactly the same with the principle of Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.. I might not be aware of what life will be taking me through after taking decisions I’ve done.. Maybe this is really me, I am really a RISK TAKER!!!

During 1st week of stay in my new environment, there is something in me that is different, there is a feeling of being “not-thrusting-myself”.. first time in my life that I’ve felt giving up.. there is always a worry what will happen every hour of the morning I wake up.. there is always WHAT IF’S.. what if I will not meet their expectation because I’m a newbie with this kind of career.. what if I cannot perform the function that I should do.. what if I have run out of resources that I need to do to perform such tasks.. what if.. what if… ***sigh…

As time goes by, I just proved to myself that these are only WHAT IF’s… plans without actions is forever be a plan.. and having a visions that soon you will be able to make it by striving harder and making it through, I confidently say, it will be POSSIBLE!!

A month passed maybe too tiring for me, but I am happy to say I was able to surpassed most of the challenges, and little by little I know I will overcome it through…

As they say, success is sweeter if you’ve done it on the hard way.. and making such risky decision makes it more challenging and add colors in my life..

I chose my decision.. I chose my life.. It’s probably encrypted in my palm.. It’s probably my destiny..

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I am just expressing my thoughts.. Life has been too good for me to be true.. These are all the blessings I need to ponder, and make it grower and richer..

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See you Rio next week… atleast I have another week to be waited for…

during idle moments...

We know that during idle moments in our life we can think freely and plan what we want in our life.. This the best time to relax, cheer-up, and pamper ourselves for the luxury of not doing anything but managed to become happy and contented... There are so many idle moments in our life that can be useful without knowing it.. I was so inspired to write a blog for this during idle moments when my friend send me an email article regarding Don't Complain by Bo Sanchez..

There was one time when Bo was falling in line in the airport, and a guy next to him was very angry because of the long queue, and that guy asked Bo if he is not irritated for the long lines, Bo replied to him with a smile and say "you have a choice to be happy or miserable.." and Bo said that he is happy and he chose to be happy.. He just simply said, I was able to read my favorite book, to plan for next 50 years of my life, and to pray because of the long queues. For that moment, my time is not wasted..

So true.. It has a great impact with what I am experiencing right now, to think that I have all the time in the world I need to read my favorite book, to plan for the next 50 years of my life, and to pray and thank Him for the blessings I have.. Realization took place right in time and perfect for me to understand why there is an "idle mode" in our life.. I can be happy or be miserable... The choice is mine to make.. Ofcourse who among us will choose to live life in misery.. I will absolutely choose to live life happy..
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Special mention to Ylena for sending this wonderful article to me :) Muito Obrigado!!!

Photo Gallery during long weekend @ RJ -- Cristo Redentor

Photo Gallery during long weekend @ RJ -- Pao de Acucar

Photo Gallery during long weekend @ RJ -- Barra da Tijuca Praia

Long weekend getaway in Rio de Janeiro

April 18-21, 2008 - - I will not be surprised why Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, witnessing the breathtaking view of the whole city of Rio de Janeiro at the top of Cristo Redentor and Pao de Acucar, you cannot ask for more.. (for more pics, you can visit my multiply account: http://www.ronaldbalinas.multiply.com/).. Below are some pics taken during the long weekend trip at Rio de Janerio:

Cristo Redentor

Pao de Acucar

Barra da Tijuca Praia

Below is the itinerary we have done during the long weekend:

April 18 (Friday night) - The House gimmick

April 19 (Saturday AM) - Cristo Redentor Tour

April 19 (Saturday PM) - Copacabana tour and shopping at night market

April 19-20 (Saturday x Sunday) - Drinking session at Diether's house..

April 20 (Sunday AM) - Pao de Acucar Tour

April 20 (Sunday PM) - Jonelle's bday celebration with bottomless caipirinha, tequila, vodka and beers..

April 21 (Monday AM) - Barra da Tijuca Praia

April 21 (Monday PM) - Swimming at Transamerica Pool

*Notice that there is no wasted moments during these long weekend holiday, that's why as of writing, I feel very exhausted and sleepy.. hehehehe ;)

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The most expensive coffee in my entire life...

Who would have thought that me and joya will re-unite in one of the most admired city in the world and having together a sip of coffee and a puff of cigar on the top of Pao de Acucar with the breath taking view of the whole city of Rio de Janeiro?! These are all real..

Having a cup of coffee on top of Pao de Acucar is really the most expensive coffee in my entire life.. Though we just ordered only a Capuccino Nescafe worth R$ 2.50 (Php 62.50).. Why make's it expensive? It's because of the view.. You need to ride 2-sets of cable car to reach the top of Pao de Acucar and need to pay R$35 (Php 875) that's make it expensive.. though expensive, but it is a must see in Rio de Janeiro.. the scenery is awesome.. though it's only a cheap nescafe coffee that we are sipping on top of the hill, but its the feeling that having a sip of coffee with my best friends in Globe Telecom and being reunited once more and doing the same old things were doing during the GT years...

One month.. and counting..

April 03, 2008 - My first month ("um mes" in portuguese) here in Brazil..

Who can say that staying in a world that no one will understand you because of the language barrier, you will be able to live and survive in this kind of place?! Hmmm.. I will be one of the "few"...

Though its very tough to live in a place that no one understands you, and no one to talk to, but voila! I was able to survived for 1 month.. and still counting..

Being in this place is really a no joke.. You need to learn to survive.. It's not anymore a place that survival is very easy to achieve, here survival is a struggle. Bring out all your talent and acting skills once you are in a place that no one understands you.. I remember those times during my college days were we used to play "charades" wherein someone will guess what your trying to tell by acting or body movements.. Funny might it seems, but I did not realized during that time that these skills I learned will help me to convey what I want to tell and to comprehend to everyone here in Brazil.. LOL..

From Vanuatu to Brazil, its not an easy adjustment for my part.. from small place to a big place.. from a quiet to a noisy place.. from a few to many people surrounding me.. Life here is very different.. They say "the more, the merrier".. For me here, its not applicable.. I still prefer a small group that is intact rather than a big group but scattered :(

I still dont know what will happen to me here in months time.. Hope I can learn much Portuguese words so that I can get along with the locals here.. More to come, my manager is now calling me.. I am just blogging while predicting in Net Act Planner coz it takes time to do the prediction.. hehehe.. Tchau!

i was here...

Who will thought that I will go and reach places?! I was once a student dreaming of travelling beautiful places in the Philippines and I did.. Using the saved allowances I have from my parents I was able to have vacations during my college days in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Mindoro, and Pampanga. I have frequently visited these places coz these are the affordable ones and these will be coming in my own pocket.

When I had my job in Globe Telecom, the places I visited grew up in a wider scale. I was able to visit places that I thought I cannot visit when I was a student. Mastering the areas in North Luzon like Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Sagada, Baguio, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte. In South Luzon, I already visited Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Bicol, and Sorsogon. In Visayas region, I've been already in Palawan, Bacolod, Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique and Aklan.

I thought I will just be satisfied to see the wonders of the Philippines. But giving the opportunity to soar high in my career, I was able to reach outside my boundaries.

Working with pleasure is such a blessing for us to have, you will go and see places that are free and the same time you are enjoying.. Visiting some of the counties I've been like in Australia, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Dubai, and Brazil is really an amazing part of my life. I was just blessed to be in these places and explore the wonders they have. Though times maybe lonely but just to think of it that very few are given the opportunity to go outside of our boundaries, and the least that I can do is to enjoy what I have right now with no regrets.

Ale Vanuatu...

February 25, 2008 Port Vila, Vanuatu – this time I was tested once again.. saying goodbye has been always accompanied me every time I need to accept a new project.. this is the 2nd time that happened to me and it seems that it doesn’t made me a strong person. It’s very difficult to tell someone who has been very dear to you to say the word “goodbye”.. yet its one word but its very difficult to say.. it seems that the attachment and bonding you’ve had hinders to say that word and there is that magnet that attracts and its very hard to let go.. Telling my friends in Port Vila that I’m leaving in less than a week time, my remaining days seem to be a very long and tiring days.. There are many sleepless nights for me and always thinking that do I need to leave Vanuatu? Why should I? I am happy staying here.. no problems.. no hassle.. living life at its best.. so what’s the reason for me leaving Vanuatu?!

Maybe this is really me.. contentment is really hard to achieved.. one must not stop from dreaming.. hoping.. and imagining.. every success will not be sweet without any risk to take at all.. and this will be the risk I need to take.. leaving Vanuatu and going to other part of the world despite of the luxury I am getting in Vanuatu, makes this all very complicated and hard for me to decide but I MUST TO!!!

People do really come and go.. there is no PERMANENT in this world.. its either you leave or you being left..

But at the end of the day, you should not forget that once in your life you came across with the persons you’ve met along your journey and they have played a significant role in our lives. I will surely miss Vanuatu and all my friends there. They have been very good to me and consider as my 2nd home and 2nd family. As what they say with the tagline in Vanuatu: “OTHERS call it paradise, but WE call it home”…

Baguio Weekend....

Horsey-horsey...
walking walking...
doggie doggie...
same same...
meet the aborigenes... heheheh ;p

Really miss going to Baguio. During my college days when I was still in the student coucil, everytime that there will be a delegation from my school to attend council forum, I represent my school most of the time and it was usually held in Baguio. That's why I almost memorized the ins/outs of Baguio City.. So I decided to bring my family in Baguio when I went back home in the Philippines.. This is the 2nd time that I bring my family with me in an out of town escapade.. The 1st one is in Boracay.. I still have a lot of plans for them, hopefully next time I may bring them out of the country.. Why not??!! :D

3 months of silence...

pity me.. 3 months of not blogging?!? i cannot say i may too busy during those period, maybe not, maybe I am.. i don't remember what happened with the past 3 months?? too bad i haven't documented any of the moments spent during that period.. let me recapitulate some moments during the past 3 months (hopefully my memory will not betray me)...

The last blog entry I had was dated October 17, 2007.. I know during that time I was very bored.. nothing much happening unusual.. life is like a script for me during that time.. doing the usual things that makes life boring... grrrrrrrhhhh..

Somehow mood has been change starting November 2007. I heard that I will have a new Filipino officemate here with Digicel Vanuatu.. wheeww.. lucky me.. finally i can have my wantok (bislama term for friend) here in the office.. after staying of 11 months here in Vanuatu, then I will have now a collegue coming from my own country.. its really a sense of relief in my part..

During this month, we also celebrated the halloween party with the International Group here in Vanuatu.. and I also made my own version of halloween party in my flat.. Atleast somehow, there is an added spice in my life during my stay here.

December 2007.. Christmas should be in the air.. yes.. this is how I felt during that time.. I am too excited to go back home.. Prior in returning home, we attended the Christmas party celebration again with the International Group and had our own party as well in the office.. Finally, been here for 12 months, I visited the island I'm after for.. the Erakor Island... it's a great place.. really like the place.. this is the place where we held our party in the office...

December 14... whheeww.. the date that I've been waiting.. going back home for holidays!!!

I think I need to post another blog entry for this holiday I had in my home country and some stories while I was in Sydney for 3 days before going home :)