Shutter shy

Abstract

2009-12-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

Dai has been egging me to post something new to my blog. It's been quite a while since my last post. Been busy at work and jobhunting (hehe). So here's my experiment with a votive candle, candle holder, and long exposure. It's a bit weird, though.

Shuttershy is Staying Put.. For Now

2009-11-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, unfortunately, my plans won't work out. I was so looking forward to a very long weekend in Singapore. But then again, maybe the universe is conspiring against me this week (Paulo Coelho, is that you?).

No, I won't let this ruin my mood. It's just a temporary setback and a blessing in disguise. Now at least I get to really prepare for that trip. And some other trips (haha, dream big sister).

Tips for Women Travelling Solo

2009-11-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

Just read this online. I'm reposting it here. Hope it helps not just me but all of us.

Eight Safety Tips for Women Traveling Alone
By: Vibrant Nation (View Profile)

Beth Whitman, author of Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, has been traveling alone for over twenty years, and shares her wealth of information through her Web site and workshops. Here are eight safety tips she’s learned along her journeys:

1. Make sure that you’re confident. You don’t have to be a martial arts expert, but if you look confident you’re less likely to attract trouble. A thief will target someone who looks insecure. Get your confidence level up by going out on your own for short trips.

2. Be aware of your surroundings. Realize there is potential danger but trust people. If someone invites you to their home, really act on your gut instincts. Use your sixth sense to determine if you’re going to share a meal with someone or turn down the offer.

3. Carry cable locks to lock your luggage if you’re traveling by train or bus.

4. Carry an over-the-shoulder bag that has a slash-proof protection so someone can’t break into your bag and steal your wallet.

5. Carry a rubber door stop. It’s lightweight and can be purchased at any hardware store. Slip that underneath the door to prevent anyone--even hotel staff--from opening the door.

6. Ensure that the desk clerk doesn’t say your room number aloud. You don’t want anyone knowing exactly what room you’re staying in.

7. Leave the Do Not Disturb sign on the door so that it looks occupied and is less likely to be broken into. It may mean that your room isn’t cleaned as often, but may save you from someone with bad intentions.

8. Slip a piece of folded up paper or tape in the door when you leave. If it’s disturbed when you come back, you may want to ask hotel staff to accompany you into your room.

By Beth Whitman, author of Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo for VibrantNation

First published September 2009

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Note: Sorry I couldn't post the pic that came with the article.

Flickr

2009-11-18T16:34:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Tell Me I'm Not Crazy

2009-11-18T16:24:00.001-08:00

I just want to celebrate my birthday anywhere but here. So I'm planning (kinda last minute) to take a long weekend off in Singapore. I have a visa but no plane ticket yet and no hotel booking. And my planned departure? Monday evening. How's that for insane! Haha! Oh well, better insane than depressed.

Picture Time

2009-11-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

Taken in Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur. Used my trusty Nikon.

Hindi Ako Mapakali

2008-08-15T09:38:00.001-07:00

Hindi ako mapakali. Gusto kong may makausap. Gusto kong may makarinig sa mga panggulo sa utak ko. Hindi ako humihingi ng simpatya o awa o anuman. Gusto ko lang ilabas yung mga panggulong yun. Nagbabakasakali kasi na gumaaan-gaan naman ang pakiramdam ko pag may nasabihan akong iba. Nagmumukha na kasi akong baliw sa kakakausap sa alaga ko. Siguro pag may ibang nakakita sa kin, malamang ganon nga ang iisipin. Ang hirap nga naman sa mga panahong ito na maghanap ng kaibigan, or at the least, yung taong makakaintindi sa yo. Walang hidden agenda, walang bullshit, at definitely walang kaplastikan. Hindi ko alam kung masyado lang akong idealistic when it comes to the concept of friendship. Sa ngayon, ang liit-liit na ng mundo ko. I'm trying my best to stay positive despite of my lack of real friends. Iniisip ko na lang, makakahanap din ako ng makakapalagayan ko ng loob.

Tutal, wala naman makakabasa nito kundi ako lang din, dito ko na lang ilalabas lahat ng sama ng loob ko these past few days. Medyo madami nga lang. Sana pagkatapos nito, gumaan na rin ang pakiramdam ko.

1. Inimbitahan akong mananghalian ng mga dati kong kasama sa trabaho. Hindi ko na sila nakikita ng madalas kasi nalipat ako ng department. Sabi ni ate edna, kumain daw sila ni ate chu kahapon at nakalimutan nila akong yayain. Noong una, hindi ko naisip na lagi naman nilang ginagawa yun e (palibhasa, delayed gumana ang utak ko). So eto na, lumabas na kami. Sila lang naman dalawa ang magkausap, bihira lang ako isali. Ok na rin kasi hindi ko naman kung sino at ano yung mga pinag-uusapan nila. Oo nga pala, plain old gossip ang usapan. Hanggang sa kinumusta ako tungkol sa nireto sa akin ng kaopisina ni ate chu. Tinanong kung anong pangalan, kung ilang taon na, etc. E di sinabi ko lahat. Na yung nireto nila sa akin, 40+ year-old single dad. Byudo. Nagulat sila kasi buong akala nila e full-pledged binata. Yun din daw kasi ang sinabi ni ate sally, yung may kakilala dun sa so-called binata. Nung tinanong nila kung kumusta na ba, nagtatawagan pa ba kami, hindi na lang ako sumagot. Kunwari busy ako sa pagkain ko. Ayokong mag-comment kasi alam kong mami-misconstrue lang kung ano man ang sasabihin ko. So there, natapos ang lunch. Nagsibalikan kami sa mga opisina namin and I've never heard from them since then. Paningit: I've nothing against single dads looking for love. Tao lang tayong lahat. Pero ang kinaiinis ko lang e yung inaccuracy ng information nila. Buti na lang e no holds barred naman kung kausap yung lalaking yun. He laid his cards on the table ika nga. At isa pang kinaiinis ko e yung pag-imbita nila sa akin mag-lunch para lang tanungin yun. Chismis lang pala habol nila, sana tinanong na lang sa akin ng derecho. Pinahirapan pa ako maglakad ng napakalayo sa init ng araw. Hindi biro ang init dito sa Saudi. Tska sana, nilibre na rin nila ako.

2. Pauwi ang mga magulang ko. I decided to stay because I'm not financially prepared. May scholar kasi ako, tapos nagbabayad pa ako ng credit card bills. Gusto ko sana man lang e mabawasan ng kalahati yung debt ko. Siguro people would perceive me as matigas kasi manganganak pa naman yung kapatid ko. Isa pa yun, pero ayoko nang pag-usapan. Ang problema? Tinatrato pa rin akong baby. Although they have a point. Gusto ko kasing tumira dito, gusto nila sa hospital. Mas safe nga naman doon, pero I'm just not in a mood to mingle. Problema pa, yung sasabayan ko sana, uuwi naman ng Pilipinas. Gusto ko sanang mag-hire na lang ng driver, ayaw naman nila. Hay.

3. Tumatanda na ako sa lugar na to. Gusto ko nang lumipat. Kahit saan, wag lang dito sa Middle East. Maiba naman ng view. Maiba naman ng simoy ng hangin. Amoy anghit kasi dito e.

4. Yung amo ko. Sobrang TAKLESA with a capital T-A-K-L-E-S-A. Iniintindi ko na lang kasi wala naman talaga syang leadership potential.

5. Yung mga katrabaho ko. Kapwa pinoy pa man din. Special mention sila... wag na lang.

6. Yung negativity ko. Gusto kong baguhin talaga. Sabi nila nasa mindset lang yan. Ewan ko pero nagta-try naman ako. Kulang pa siguro sa effort.

Tama na nga muna, mamamalancha pa ako. Hay, work na naman bukas. When will this dreary cycle end? I hope it's soon.

*****

My cousin has a big tumor in her brain. Somehow, all this petty issues of mine amount to nothing compared to what she's going through. Lord, kung kukunin nyo na sya, Your will be done. Pero kung hindi pa nya oras, sana naman po tulungan nyo sya at ang pamilya nyang makalampas sa pagsubok na ito. Amen. Good night.

Bangungot

2008-08-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ayokong matulog.
Dahit sa pagtulog doon lumalabas ang mga kinakatakutan ko. Doon gumuguho ang mga pader na araw-araw kong tinatayo sa paligid ko. Doon lumalabas ang hinanakit, ang pagkamuhi sa sarili. Doon lumalabas ang totoo.

Ayokong matulog.
Kasi sa tuwing nananaginip ako, nakakatakot. Doon ko kasi nakikita, o kung minamalas pa, nararamdaman, ang mga gusto ko na lang sanang kalimutan.

Mga kaibigan na hindi hindi pala tunay. O baka naman iniisip ko lang.

Ang dami ko kasing insecurities.

Kagaya kanina. Nagising ako bigla dahil sa pagkahol ng alaga ko. Nagising ako sa isang panaginip na napakasama. Nasa resort ako kasama ang akala kong kaibigan ko. I’ve never felt that she was really close to me, that she was really my friend. This memory is one of the many that I just really want to bury in the deep recesses of my mind. Kung pwede lang, sana matanggal na sa utak ko. Doon kasi lumabas ang katotoohanan. Na sobra akong maalaga sa kaibigan. Pero despite that, wala pa rin akong kaibigan. I never had a close friend. This I have questioned time and again. What is wrong with me? Hindi ko na idedtalye ang panaginip (o bangungot) ko. To sum it up, I was hurt because despite everything I do, the envy is there. Yes, I’m envious of my friend. She has a lot of friends, she is always the life of the party. Everyone likes her. Has a crush on her. Loves her. Treasures her as a friend. She has a good life. I’m just the poor sidekick. Just in one dream, I’ve felt a lack of validation on so many levels. Masakit sa ulo. Masakit sa kalooban.

Hindi lang envy ang lumalabas tuwing nananaginip ako. Maraming emosyon, puro masama. Malamang puro totoo, pero ayoko lang aminin. Ayoko pang harapin.

Ayoko nang mag-isip.

Naalimpungatan kasi. At hindi pa nakakapag-almusal. Mahal na kasi ang pandesal at kape.

Sa panahon ngayon, di ko na alam kung ano ang mas masama. Yung mga multo sa panaginip o yung multong nakikita ko sa araw-araw.

Mike Tess

2008-05-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Mike Tess Mike Tess Tess Mike

I've always wondered who they were when I was a kid. You see, the sound guy checks the speaker system and mic before mass starts. I didn't know it back then. At first I thought he was paging choir members so that mass could begin. It was only a few Sundays later that I "deciphered" it as mic test.

So goes with this blog. I'm new to it. Let me have a soundcheck.

Mike Tess Mike Tess Tess Mike

Thank you for your patience.