Bearing three hour classes at night after work, I managed to endure three sessions per week with minimal absences for my first semester as a budding future techno manager. naks. If there is one thing I enjoyed hearing all over, it’s when Dr. Roger starts his nightly rhetoric with “The problem with the Philippines…” Never fails to incite my attention.
And so the most timely splurge I’ve ever had coincided with my Hongkong break away. In a span of four days, I was able to experience first hand the embodiment of three TM classes in full color, courtesy of the Chinese.
A little less than two weeks before all deadlines, I was skipping several hours of sleep to ramp up my production of papers. A lesson learned the hardest of ways, I was considering foregoing either my trip or ridding to hell one of my subjects. Fortunately, two sleepless nights paved off, and I saved myself the horror of sending my final derivable hundreds of miles away while worked on a plane. This couldn’t be possible without the help of Cassie. Told my group mates to picture me days before the deadline, bent on the shuttle, during break hours with my new netbook, cramming. All I ever wanted was to really enjoy my trip and I’ve never felt that determination since wishing I should have to ace my math 17 exams. It was all the same. Years before, I’d be sleeping with all those arbitrary equations stuck in my eyes the night after an exam. A night before the deadline, I was talking in my mind all the time as the remnants of talking to my computer while writing reaction papers for days was hard to shrug off.
Wished the new model came sooner though. =( Cassie’s a Copper Aspire One with the 160GB hard drive model. At the back of the chassis is a sim card slot, for the future model with 3g capability enabled. Asked Complink where I bought her and they informed me they don’t know if it’s possible to upgrade mine, as with PC Options’. Nevertheless, even if I was just forced to buy Cassie, I would have paid more – Marginal Utility at work.
October 22, 2008
The first sign that proved my unpreparedness was the fact that hours before leaving my house for my 4 day vacation, I realized my camera charger wasn’t with me. I just assumed everything was in place, and as I haven’t used my charger for a while, I forgot that I had it snuck in my office drawer. I had to request Abby and Levs that we leave an hour and a half earlier than the 4AM schedule to get to my office for my charger. I was doing the finishing remarks on my last paper by 9PM and started packing after. I knew that I have to forego any form of sleep. Bought Cassie though. I just had to be assured I could offload my pictures every night.
October 23, 2008
Passed by the office at about 4AM to get my charger. We were at the airport a little before 5AM for our 8AM flight. NAIA Terminal 3’s a waste. It’s empty and for a newly opened terminal, several parts are already begging for repairs. Yes it was mostly spotless clean, just like what one would expect from an untouched building. People were scant.
We weren’t allowed in till about 515AM and bearing the grumps whom I would’ve spit on their faces if I just could, we were waiting at the gate before 6AM. It was then all wait till boarding and leaving for Hong Kong. Oh Cebu Pacific… This wouldn’t be all possible without you. Must resist not mentioning Ggggook…
I may have travelled a great many parts of my multitudinuously populated islands but It’s my first time abroad. And frankly, I really wanted to forget this first day. Let’s just say that we made a lot of mistakes and I was cranky all day and night. Anyhow, it was the most memorable, I admit. We rode the expensive Airport Express then made the mistake of going for forex that was 20% higher just because we were all too tired to go for somewhere else. Being new we weren’t all that ashamed to be doing this most of the time:
We also rode the Peak Tram all the way to Victoria Peak. Up 500 meters high, I was eyeing for that EA spot where RB got his Crysis jacket but was dismayed to see a Spore themed arena already splattered all over the place. We spent a few more minutes then decided to go down the peak by foot. For tourists wanting to exploit every minute spent at a distant land, this was the most stupid but exciting thing we ever did.
Took us two hours and we got back at our place terribly tired. That night too, I told Abby and Levs I would be the one to plan our trip for the next days whether they liked it or not =p
October 24, 2008
Day 2 was all about Disneyland. We also decided to pour all we had and exchange it at Wing Hoi, the forex house offering the best rates. I was reluctant at first when Abby said we would have to spend the whole day at Disneyland but after we left, I realized it wasn’t even enough. We arrived a few minutes after opening and left at 10PM, spending 11 full hours inside. That didn’t even allow us to go through all the rides, plays and attractions.
To our dismay, it was very asinine to not read and the Time Guide everyone of us had. We missed several shows and rides because of that. Nevertheless, a very colorful Disneyland and a blessed sunny day helped me churn out very pretty snaps. Everything was merry and glowing around the place. I cranked out more than 500 clicks on the fireworks display alone – which sadly severely underwhelmed me, no thanks to the World Pyro Competition held back at my country. Mabel would beg to disagree though. It was a chilling experience for her to see the fireworks “with people of all races awed and amazed.”
Of Dimsum, Noodles and the Whatnot
Speaking of food, had I been in charge, we would’ve tried eating at different restos all the time. However, it was always Mcdo and KFC for us which wasn’t really that bad – I enjoyed their menus more than their local counterparts at home, even if priced at two and a half times. I ate this unhealthy Chicken wing meal at McDonalds three times.
I snapped pictures of everything we ate for four days. What I just regret was missing the chance to eat street food, the way I enjoy doing always at the streets of UP and Manila. Abby hated Chinese food but for our first night, we ventured into one and we all ate unsavory noodles which we all wouldn’t admit. At Disneyland, we ate at River View Cafe. Food was expensive and tasteless. Save yourself the shame and disgust and avoid that resto at all cost.
October 25, 2008
By the third day, my two friends had hard times getting up early in the morning. Two straight days of incessant and tiring walks were taking a toll, and I also had to indulge on my trusty Biogesic. The third would be the most busy for us, as we planned to do everything we haven’t done yet on one single day.
We planned to go to Macau and have breakfast to be back by noon and pass by two shopping districts. However, we were a little late and got to Macau only by 1PM. The ride through jetfoil ferry was worthy of commend, but it was too uncomfortable for Abby who was puking all the way. Levs started getting head aches too while I stood for the most of the way watching the sea.
Our two hour stay at Macau was most unforgettable. Everything was cheaper, and even if we just passed by Fishermans’ Wharf to eat, it was all worth it. Next time, we’d have more time to scour the place.
After a quick brunch buffet, we headed quickly to the ferry terminal to get back to Hong Kong. This time, the one hour ride was hell. There were parts were it felt like being at Anchors Away for minutes – the ferry was rocking up and down several feet high even I felt like my guts were being left up.
We got back at Hong Kong by 5PM and raced to get to Stanley which closes at 630PM to do our first round of shopping. I promised my father I’d bring him back neckties from Stanley. We had to forego our plans to shop at Citysuper and the mall I already forgot because we took too long to get to Macau. By the time the shops at Stanley had started closing, Abby and Levs still haven’t bought anything for themselves yet. I assured them we’d do our last shopping at the Ladies Market back at our place.
We snuck in an unplanned destination in our Itinerary. There was a bus at Stanley that took us to Tsim Tsa Tsui and at 8PM, we were just in time for the light show display at the Avenue of the Stars. A little overhyped, but it’s a must for tourists visiting the mainland.
We got back to Mong Kok to do last minute shopping as we had to leave early the next day for the Philippines. Abby and Levs requested that we rested for a while before we commence our final activity.
First thing we did was find RC Outfitters – that hidden outdoor shop to find a tent for Ana and a stove for Sir Norms. The place was as gritty as an Asian horror movie. Levs and Abby then proceeded to buy on their own while I looked for Leah to ask her come with me so we could buy presents for our office mates back home. Again, we were dismayed to have been caught with closing of stalls and it was all too ironic. We stayed at Mong Kok and were all unable to exploit that opportuinity to shop around. Our guidebooks stated that shops close at 12PM but that really meant 30-15mins earlier than stated. I was also unable to buy even a polarizer for my cam from the ubiquitous camera shops around.
By the time we got back and before packing before sleeping, I realized I had a lot of unused HK dollars. I’ve also unrealized buys still unscratched from my list I made from my friends’ requests. I guess we should have stayed for a week. I gave Leah the money I have left before sleeping. Here’s our only shot together we had during our last night, taken at a little past midnight:
October 26, 2008
We checked out early in the morning and headed to wait for the A21 bus. I was fidgety on my Ingrid’s shutter and wanted to snap every little thing I see before we head back home. We were early at Terminal 1 but we were actually late. It was our last chance to buy at the airport and time was something we didn’t have. We were able to buy a few goodies before racing all the way to unfucking believable Gate 64 were Cebu Pacific was currently docked. The lady at the Cebu Pacific counter wasn’t kidding when she said it would take us 30 minutes on foot to reach the gate. What the hell’s wrong with our country anyway? Hong Kong was able to build one gigantic terminal and the place’s even filled to the brim with tourists everywhere.
We got to the gate where the sign was already reading: “Final Call.”
The plane to Manila wasn’t full this time, so I moved every now and then from one seat to another taking shots of the most mundane of items. Here’s the two, dizzy and my Cassie as I was loading pics during the flight.
A few hours later, we were back home. =(
Realizations
I’ve always wanted to learn something new everyday but never would I realize how a whole MTM semester would affect one short vacation overseas. It was a sore realization thinking of how Posada’s country would have been if industrialization had only taken over. I’d never understand why everyone would never admit that the we as a race is all too lazy and proud.
Why is it that everywhere in the country, the attention to detail in almost everything isn’t just there as those everywhere else overseas – sans poorer African nations maybe. That’s just the tip. I wonder how further we can go on sinking. I don’t even want to start berating our government especially under the current administration.
There were lots of Filipinos in Hong Kong and while it was comforting to hear people talking in Tagalog at times, it was annoying to still hear them blurted in traditional Bisaya accents, as most of the Pinays there are DHs.
It took two weeks for me to post this. I just don’t have much time these days, especially with all the meter deposit refund work at day. Tomorrow (Nov 10) and for the day next I’ll be staying at MMLDC to find out if I have any worthy career left in me at my company. hehe.
Toll
More than two thousand snapshots and thirty minutes of video footage. Pics here: http://flickr.com/photos/roxj/sets/72157608586932524/
25 thousand pesos
2 Unpaid leaves =(
1 priceless adventure =)
