31 January 2009

Sweet Friendships

This weekend I got some visits (does that make sense?) from some wonderful friends in MC who came alllllll the way just to see me and spend time withe me! So no more words just pictures from today and 1 from yesterday of me with family and friends...Bayu this is especially for you and what you've missed! =P...next time nalang.


Let's start off with my trimmed hair and beautiful Sonya! This was on Friday.


We arrived at Church: Mother and Daughters


Pheap is not short =)


I was so happy to see these people's faces.


I love this pic of us pretty girlz...hehehe.


Phanit serenading to Rochael...always the sweet couple.


Shane also came for lunch. Here he is looking at the wedding album.


These two again.


*Sigh I'm a pretty married lady...muahaha.

Kong Xi Fa Cai


The two again...flirting and dancing hahahha.


Friends Forever and ever and ever.....Always with the happy faces even when we grow old =D

Weeeeeeeeeee!

It feels so good to wake up late (later) on Saturday.

Normally I can wake up around 9.30 because I go to SML and that starts at 10.45.

Going to church here, I am just another member with no duties.

On the other hand, when I go back to my new life, I need to wake up at 7 to prepare fro breakfast (No Mommy to cook and put food on the table), prepare the dish for lunch and all the other stuff a girl takes to prepare to go to church.

We need to leave by 9 because church is way not close by to home (It's not walking distance like it is here in BKK =P ). Fortunately, we use taxi and get there around 9.30 where I am the P.W. and all the duties begin.

Yes, It's so good to be back ( I'm sure you've heard me saying that a gazillion times since arriving).

Tomorrow night I send my parents off to The Philippines and on Wednesday morning I'm back in Bayu's arms...hehehhe...not to mention back to my ZERO social life...but THAT'S another blog post.

30 January 2009

Hurrah, Hooray

Richmond taught me how to fold a T-shirt in 2 steps instead of the usual 6 I do when folding laundry at home!!

Thank you!! It works it will save me a lot of energy.

*tip : this method is really good for big shirts like the one's Bayu, RJ, my Dad, Richmond, or maybe your Dad wears =)

A Gray Cloud Looms Over This Sunny Day

My only grandparent I have left, my grandma, just passed away sometime last night.

We got a phone call at exactly 6am and now my sister and I are checking out the price of air tickets to Manila for my Mom.

My grandma has been in hospital this whole month unable to sleep or eat. Her body was weak but her mind was clear. She had asked for her children and about her husband (My grandpa who passed away 1 year and 3 months ago.)

She was in great pain...but, she's resting now. No more pain for her...

29 January 2009

Please Be Careful!

I washed the dishes on Tuesday and Yesterday I wanted to wash the dishes but I got sleepy and went back to sleep (this was around 10 or 11 am at home in BKK).

So I heard our helper, P'Bang, come in and start washing. Suddenly she rushed upstairs and and showed me her hand. There was a really deep cut and blood was gushing out.

She told me that she was washing the glass and apparently she didn't see that there was a crack in it and while soaping the mouth of the glass it broke and she cut herself.

She called her husband and he brought her to the hospital where they injected her in 4 places around the wound on her hand so it wouldn't hurt when they stitched it up. She had 3 or 4 stitches.

When she left I finished off the rest of the dishes and I had to wipe the blood off the wall and floor. If I were afraid of blood and cut flesh I would've fainted when she showed me the wound. I guess it was good I was still blur blur from sleep.

So people...please observe your glass before washing it. If it has a crack...THROW IT AWAY...before it hurts you or someone else.

28 January 2009

Happiiieee

I'm happy to be back....surrounded by Thai food....surrounded by Thai-speaking people...

Breathing in the polluted air....people j-walking...buses and cars with no road manners...

non-airconditioned buses zigzagging and racing other buses....

Happy to meet up with friends and spend usual and funny times with family....

*sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Fun, fun, fun...shop shop shop...cheap cheap cheap....eat eat eat

The Reclining Buddha

27 January 2009

After the Happily-Ever-After Moment

It's so true when the old folks say that a wedding is not the end (like the end of the movies) but the beginning.

Hey, married life is great! You should try it (haha) when you feel it's your time.

Of course there is the "reality" side to it all and that's what this post is about.

Most couples, after getting married, have to deal with getting used to being newly married. That's 1 important aspect. You don't only think about yourself, you share and make decisions together, you live together, you are your own (new) family, etc., etc.

For me I have to get used to that plus #2 I also have to get used to a new country, a new culture, a new job, a new house, new food, new places, new malls, new routes to remember, etc., etc.

Then, #3, I'm also new at being a P.W. (Pastor's Wife). I don't want to be labeled as that, but that is one thing I can't escape and even though I don't want to be seen as just the P.W. that's how others who don't know me before I was a P.W. see me. Their all telling me that P.W.s gotts do this and do that. *phew*... I promised myself though that even if I have a new label I will not lose my identity. This is actually the most "New" difficult aspect I have to adjust with.

Being a P.W. is practically another "new" job, it's a new phase, and it's like another culture for me. I'm actually going through P.W. culture shock! I wonder if I'm the first person to ever come up with this term. Kool eh? Haha.

Why do I find this a "culture shock"? Well, here's a short list...

  • I'm all of a sudden scrutinized (people are telling I'm dressing appropriately for a P.W.).
  • I'm expected to know how to sing and play the piano and teach.
  • I'm suddenly known to the whole church! I was introduced on stage!
  • So many people come and greet me. I mean growing up in BIC nobody cares to know who I am!
  • I need to stay for potlucks every Saturday and contribute a dish as well (that was something my mom , ahem, older people were in charge of doing!).
  • I'm asked to teach the Junior Class, Primary Class, and the Cradle Roll.
  • I'm suddenly friends with the young and old.
  • Since there are many activities after potluck I stay in church until evening..sometimes until night.
  • I need to wake up eaaarrrrllllyyyy to get to church on time.
  • I need to sit near the front rows during main service as opposed to me sitting near the back my whole life.
  • I'm suddenly asked join all sorts of afternoon activites.
  • I'm joining cell groups in the middle of the week! (miracle!)

To be more specific...
  • I've been joining a Wednesday night Cell group.
  • I will be joining and being one of the leaders for the Youth cell group on Wednesdays and Fridays.
  • I go on visitations with Bayu on random days of the week.
  • First Sabbath of February I'm telling the Children's story.
  • For the month of February I will teaching the Junior Class.
  • On the month of April I'm booked to teach the Cradle Roll Class.
  • I'm going to be one of the leaders for Adventurer starting this February.
  • I am one of the leaders of the youth AY.
  • I assist Bayu on his duty for the Pathfinder, Adventurer, Filipino and Young Adult Ministry.
  • I join the youth choir.

If and when I have my own job that's like working 6 out of 7 days a week!

Haha. Okay don't get me wrong. I'm NOT complaining. I'm NOT unhappy. It is just a big change in my "spiritual" activities compared to my dormant one I've had practically my whole life. My dad has always been pushing my sister and I to be more "active" in church. Who would've thought it would happen when I'm already married! Muahahaha...life and where it takes you.

My Current Status

I currently have no official "place" I belong to.

I no longer have a visa here in Thailand. I am only on a tourist pass. After living in this only place I've known and coming to love it so much..I still don't and will never officially belong.

Isn't it so cruel? I'm born in Thailand, I grew up here and I've never lived in the Philippines even though both my parents are Filipinos. I speak, read, write and understand Thai but not Tagalog. This country is my home...and yet I am considered a foreigner, a stranger.

Yes, I have a home in Singapore but I haven't gotten my dependent pass or a work permit yet so I had to exit (that's why i'm back here in BKK) because visitors are only permitted to stay for 1 month.

The lame part is also that I am holding a Filipino passport and the Singaporean Immigration, and if I had gone to the Malaysian border, are always suspicious that I'm a prostitute or that I'm doing some fishy stuff in Singapore. 3 times, and I'm absolutely expecting the 4th time when when I go back next week, they brought me aside and interrogated me...Why are you here? Who are you staying with? How long are you staying? How much money do you have on you? What's the name and number of the person you're staying with? They also took my thumb prints...

That was when I was entering Singapore...Then, when I was exiting Singapore, they brought me aside and interrogated me again... When did you arrive? Where are you going next? Do you know you can only stay in Thailand for 3 months at the most? Where are you going after Thailand Philippines or back to Singapore? And then they ask again..When did you arrive here? What did you do here? Are you coming back again?

I mean do you know how it feels to be brought aside in the interrogation room and be questioned as if you are doing something wrong when actually you are not..you're just trying to live a life? Do I have to tell them my life's plan? Ha, it can be quite a stressful situation. I mean sure I understand they're just doing their job and there are alot of people to be suspicious about but..everytime? It 's stressful. Well, I know I'm not doing anything wrong and I have nothing to hide so..yeah...just letting off some steam.

See, If Thailand had just given us Citizenship (there's no such thing as "green" card and that's another story) I wouldn't have to go through all that ...It's just because I hold a Filipino passport and I'm "traveling" around that I get scrutinized. I don't know about other nationalities but I know as a fact that in many, many places around the world look down on Filipinos because there are so many of them anywhere you go! Hahhaaha.

It Worked!

Have you ever tried to plan a surprise but it never ended up the way you planned? Maybe somehow the plan was discovered or when it does happen the person you wanted to surprise was like " Oh I kinda had a clue because you all were acting so suspicious"...

Well, I planned to surprise my parents...and it worked! Hahha they were totally clueless about it and to see their facial expressions as hazel put it was "priceless".

Yep, I'm back!!! It's only for a week but I'm back here in Bangkok, Thailand, Sukhumvit 71 Soi Pridi Banomyong 37!!!!!!! I'm back I"m back I'm back I'm back!

I remember when I picked Ellen, my cousin, on the weekend of my wedding it was her first time to be back in 2years after living in Thailand her whole life. She was so happy and excited she couldn't sleep all night! I know exactly how she felt and went through the exact same thing. I got home around midnight and I was excited to be back I could've screeched and danced around the soi. Well, instead I lay awake in bed until I could hear the birds chirping and I kinda fell into a half sleep.

It's only been month that I've been gone but according to my dad it felt like a year. Still, coming back here everything is and feels the same as if I've never left! Hahha.

It feels good to be back home here in Thailand...But of course I miss Bayu who's alone at home in Singapore ; )

18 January 2009

Singlish

We finally did the needed house cleaning.

Bayu and I were craving for steam boat ("MK") so we went to Vivocity.

Ended up eating at some Japanese resto.

We bought our fav Starbucks signature hot chocolate and hung out at the pier.

Went grocery shopping. I really enjoy going grocery shopping with Bayu! Hehehe.

Accomplishment: I know how to iron guys pants!

Hated chore: Folding clothes!!!

Fav. book to read while doing business in the toilet: An Essential Guide to Singlish. (It's a very funny book! ...)

For example...

Wah Liao! = Wow! Exclamation of disbelief. Sometimes used in jest. " Wah liao! So big durian I never saw before!"

Wah, so ex one, meh? = My, that's very expensive! Or, that's a ripoff! "$50? Wah, so ex one, meh?

Which festival is on at the moment? = Where got festival?

What are you looking at? = See what, see what?

I'm on a budget = Where got money lah?

I understand = Oh, lai dat ah!

I can't make it = Cannoh make-ee.

What are you plans? = So how?


17 January 2009

20

I counted the days I've been here in Singapore.

20 long days.

Seems like it's been forever.

My next question is...

Will the next 20 days be happier days or downer days?

According to Bayu that's up to me =)

13 January 2009

Last Sunday


This is Saturday before going to church.


The next day we send our parents off at 5 pm. Waiting for a taxi.


Checking-in. I was like Ooh that's how you spell ferry!

After our goodbyes we hang out at Vivo city. It is the mall at the harbour and also connects to Sentosa. It's really close to our place so it is officially our "The Mall" at home in BKK the closes mall to our house was The Mall Ram and it became like our 2nd home.



Obviously, Starbucks.


Indo food at Food Republic. Halfway through our meal we realized there was puke under the table...of course that ruined our apetite.


So we ate ice cream instead.

Orchard n' Woodlands



First outing with our parents. First stop Thai Embassy! hahah kid tueng Mueang Thai!!


Avocado Shake...As usual Bayu pressed the button before time and I didn't want to take the pic a 2nd time.


Walking down orchard road. After the shake there was the red bean ice cream!


Arriving at woodlands through MRT.

Waiting for the bus. We're on our way to an Indian resto which is close to Pr. Chan's house where we're supposed to go for a regular wednesday night Bible study. So eat...then Bible study.


Milo Dinosaur, Milo King Kong, Milo Trex, Milo Godzilla!!...For realz.




Cheese and onion naan...mmmmmmmm...so goooooood.

mini-update: I'm getting used to the area. I think I can travel around my self...I'm having lots of house keeping to do and asides from that just munching on snacks, eating, reading, watching tv, going out when Bayu's done with work.....Missing Thailand...But enjoying life here as you can see =)


Sentosasasasa


We had Bayu's mom cook and cook and cook for us while she was here. There's our clothes hanging from the ceiling...hehehe.



We had Bayu's mom cook and cook and cook for us while she was here. There's our clothes hanging from the ceiling...hehehe.

We took the "sky train" to Sentosa. The station is at Vivocity mall.




At the train...


In the train...

In Sentosa....









The songs of the sea show. It's really cool and nice. Of course my battery ran out during the best part. I don't mind seeing it again!

07 January 2009

Home (Tonnes of Picts)

Here are some pictures of our simple home in Singapore. Nothing fancy but I'm getting used to this place, and I'm happy to have a place to rest my head and to call home. Now I can walk around the house without the lights on and I won't bump into anything. It's still kinda bare but I hope to go to IKEA sometime soon!

You guys...I'm so happy to be blogging again!

First of all, I'm so happy Bayu's mom is here to cook for us! This was breakfast today.

When you step in the door this is what you see. After the Arch is the kitchen and after the wooden chair after the blue sofa on the right there are our 2 bedrooms.


This is the living room but a view from the arch before the kitchen.
(Yes our door is green in color!!)


This is the guest room and Bayu's work room.


Across the work room is our bedroom.


This is the toilet connected to our bedroom.

This is the view of our bedroom from the toilet door.


You've seen our kitchen. Bayu's dad is cutting Bayu's hair!


More of hair-cutting and kitchen.


View from our kitchen window.


Our sink. The water filters were a gift from Pr. Mark Chan.


Washing machine! You can see how we hang clothes by scrolling up to the picture of the view from our kitchen window. You can see poles at the side of the buildings with clothes on them.
Just above the kitchen sink we have to long poles stretched across the ceiling where we also hang clothes there to dry.


At the right corner of our kitchen, near our window is the shower room. I stuck some Lilo and Stich stickers.


This is our bathtub...kidding!...it's our squatting toilet!!!

Okay, that's the house tour! I bet you still can't picture the exact lay out. You'll just have to drop by our simple household. You're always welcome!

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