This is a snapshot I took while at the Grand Palace Compound, Bangkok, Thailand last December, 2010. At my back is the Grand Palace Library. It was a very, very fine, elegant, unique and imposing structure that has the capacity to inspire awestruck admiration from crowds of tourists visiting there from all over the world.

Pity that tourists aren’t allowed to go inside and see its inner grandeur. But just as well, since the place may easily become thrashed because of disrespectful tourists who doesn’t care much for the places they visit – only the fact that they were able to see and take pictures of it.

This is not such a great shot, but it’s a sort-of “fish-eye” photo that I simply gotta try because I envy some of my great photographer friends who manage to take “fish-eye” shots of things awesomely.

within the Philippines
1. Batanes – take a glimpse of the rolling hills, the stone houses, the stormy beach shores, and the fascinating Ivatan culture
2. Banaue – see the man-made magnificence of the Banaue Rice Terraces, be able to sleep amidst the terraces, experience Ifugao culture
3. Baler, Aurora – swim on the shores of Baler
4. La Union (last time I went there was 2003!) – visit Uncle Matty and learn
5. Corregidor – visit the Historical ruins
6. some islands of Quezon – beach, beach, beach
7. Pagsanjan Falls – Kayak in the falls
8. Catanduanes – the only Bicol province I have not yet been to
9. Calaguas, Cam Norte – experience the virgin beach
10. CWC, Cam Sur – try wakeboarding
11. Bohol – see the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier, swim with dolphins at Panglao
12. El Nido, Palawan – experience its rugged beauty
13. Camiguin – see the sunken cemetery
14. Davao – see Mt. Apo
15. Cagayan de Oro (the first and only time I went there was 1998!) – go white water rafting

Abroad:
1. Egypt – pyramids, history, culture!
2. return to Siem Reap, Cambodia – see the Angkor Wat again
3. Hanoi, Vietnam – go on a Halong Bay cruise and see the monuments of Ho Chi Minh
4. Laos – idyllic Temples
5. India – experience its unique, old-world culture
6. Hongkong and Macau – go to Disneyland! see the Historical sites
7. Beijing and Shenzen – walk through the Great Wall, see the Forbidden Kingdom and visit the monuments of Mao Zedong
8. New Zealand – be able to experience Winter in July and Summer in December
9. Greece – see the ancient structures, experience its wonderful culture
10.Netherlands – meet with Joma Sison, see the tulip fields
11. Canada – experience endless snow and cold. see the ice sculptures
12. Turkey – experience the varied culture of this border country

As of now, actually being able to go to these places may seem unlikely. Pero libre naman mangarap diba? Anyway, who knows what God has in store for us? Before, I also wove such dreams that I thought were impossible – but God granted them, proving to me that nothing is impossible for Him.

I hold steadfastly in this belief.

The Mayor along with other selected Department Heads in the municipality had gone on a week sojourn to Taipei, Taiwan to attend an international conference. There he met the Dharma Master and came across the Tzu Chi Foundation. He got books by Dharma Master for he saw it’s valuable contents. Lucky me, I was the one he chose to lend one of her books to, for reading, sharing, gaining knowledge and embodying the Dharma Master’s teachings.

For now, I’ve just skimmed through Still Thoughts Vol. II but I am quite taken with its overall simplicity of words that’s overflowing with life lessons and baser truths. I am determined to go through it slowly and absorb its valuable lessons bit by bit. I hope to make the contents of this book gel along with my principles in life.

from Patty Laurel’s blog

1. You get up at 5:00AM, decide to head to the beach and along the way, you witness this awesome view:

2. It takes you just a hop, skip and a jump to get to your destination. Bacacay is the town with the longest shoreline in Albay, after all. Beaches abound and Coron-Coron Beach is one of the most accessible of all.

3. You get to experience the invigorating early morning sunrise

4. You go right into the water and let your cares float away in the sea

5. You take random pictures of early beach bums like you.

6. You suddenly get the idea that taking jump shots on shore is fun.

7. You have the love of your life with you

8. Yes, he jumps too.

9. And then, you both suddenly get the idea that you can do this almost every Sunday for the rest of your lives. Because after all, the beach with the therapeutic fine, black sand is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Bow.

Within the family, we celebrate Papa’s birthday during May 3 since Lola said May 3 is really the day Papa was born. However, due to glitches in his birth registration, it turned out that Papa’s birthday became May 18. This year, he celebrated his 65th birthday, consequently he officially retired as Senior Clerk III and HRMO designate of the LGU Bacacay. It had been a fruitful 24 years and Papa deserves a pleasant rest from work and pressure. I hope that I can reach or even exceed Papa’s years of government service.

The bunso of the family, Cayin celebrated her 21st birthday last May 4.

And…my two best friends:

Bessy Dhen

and

bes Rey a.k.a Superman

celebrated their birthdays last May 19.

Any wonder why I love the month of May?!

1. Sleepwalk
2. Comes the Blind Fury
3. Brainchild
4. The Unloved
5. Perfect Nightmare
6. In the Dark of the Night

I haven’t been really disappointed by a John Saul book yet, though some of the chapters of the stories have a tendency to become overdrawn with elaborate narrations that reduces its fright and surprise factor.

Two of us riding nowhere, spending someone’s hard earned pay
You and me Sunday driving, not arriving, on our way back home
We’re going home….

You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches on ahead…

And I won’t ever forget that topsy-turvy-crazy-bumpy-fun-disorienting-thrilling 30-second ride that is ZORBING.

You can see for yourselves, why.

YES. That’s me and MB. You heard our shrieks? That’s us all right. I do delcare that Zorbing remains as the longest, bumpiest, topsy turviest, most thrilling and disorienting 30 seconds of my life! You have to try it to believe it!

Maybe I won’t every experience riding that Zorb ball again. But if you ask me what compelled us to go inside and strap ourselves inside to be rolled into crazy wild oblivion, the only answer I can give you is that — we dared it, we triumphed and we had fun!

Creatinine – 1072, meaning too high again since normal levels are only 50-150. Last month it was only 775. But the doctor says that it’s not surprising for me to have high creatinine since after all we all know that my kidneys are barely functioning. That’s the reason I must not miss my dialysis

Hemoglobin – 77, meaning too low again since the normal level is 120. The doctor told me to have my iron serum checked so that they can ascertain how best to treat this problem. If my iron serum is low, then any amount of epoeitin alpha injectibles won’t do me any good. I also realized that I need to make sure to consistently take my vitmain which is mainly Iberet Follic.

Because of this, next dialysis I will undergo another blood transfusion. This worries me so because I have fears concerning skin discoloration as result of transfusions.

But then, I hold on to the thought of worrying not and lifting up my burden and cares to the Lord and all will be well. Siya na ang bahala.

So, I continue to concentrate on keeping myself fit and making sure I avoid foods that are not advisable for me and avoiding too much liquid intake. Meanwhile, I go to work on a bike (just as planned) – pictures of me and my purple bike coming soon!, I resolve to take my vitamins and meds regularly, and I resolve to always and always forgive and forget. I know that there are many people who were not happy with my being hired as Registration Officer in the LGU (perhaps because they also covet my position, just plain jealous or bitter) but I resolve never to dwell on those people. I’d only be wasting time and energy worrying and thinking about them and what they think about me and my father.

Lately, I’ve been having my usual attacks of restlessness and longing to go tramping about travelling. However, it’s not feasible nor possible as of now. I am slowly learning to accept that I won’t be able to have much time for traveling and tramping about just like before. I have my new job to think about. I need to build up the proper integrity to make sure that my bosses would learn to trust me. I also need to make up time because I will continuously be absent every Tuesday for Dialysis Sessions. Saturday will definitely be another work day as well as Dialysis session day.

Anyway, I rather think that is is an entirely new adventure and challenge – just like traveling wherein I learn and explore new places and culture, now, I am learning new skills and culture and exploring the work ethics and culture of the people I work with. It’s an entirely different experience – learning to deal with people! So, actually, there’s no need for me to get too bored and restless because I am in the midst of an adventure! An adventure of relationships with people – those I work with and our clients whom we serve!

Slowly, I accept the fact that there will be very limited time for traveling now. But there would be no end of excitement and challenge! And for that, I am thankful always.