To do or not

National Geographic is sponsoring a fun run on April 10 and it has 3k category.  I wanted to join but it is happening on a Sunday and I would like to be in Pangasinan that day. I missed a lot of church services for 3 months and would like make it up. There is always next time.

Another thing is, I am itching to visit another country again. Bali Indonesia is beckoning me.  I should travel with a buddy so I can enjoy the water sports and hiking. My dilemma is no one is available to travel with me. People always think that you have to got lots of money in order to see other parts of the world. Of course, you do need money in order to travel but I travel cheap.  Guess, they haven't heard of budget airlines and hostels or budget hotels. I do activities which suit my budget.

Hachiko: A story of true friendship

It is often said that a man's true bestfriend is a dog. Am not a dog lover but I don't hate them either. I  watched the movie Hachiko: A dog's story. The story moved me to tears.  It was about loyalty and love.

The story revolves around a dog named Hachiko who unconditionally loved his master.  It was a routine for the dog to walk his buddy to the train station when he goes to work and he wait for his arrival from work at the train station every afternoon.  The master died suddenly of heart attack.  The dog keeps going back to the train station to wait for his buddy to come home.  Hachiko waited for his buddy until his death.  He waited for nine years.

Exploring Pulau Ubin

Note: am supposed to write about this visit to Pulau Ubin while I was in SG but I could not put together the words to describe the place and the experience/fun we had.

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Singapore is just like Makati City or Ortigas Center (in Philippines) but a bigger and better commercial place.  Malling and visiting theme parks like Sentosa have lost its attraction to me since it was my second time to visit Singapore. I wanted to see the other side of Singapore sans the sky rise buildings and MRT. 

During my first trip to the country someone gave me a touristy brochure of Singapore.  It listed Pulau Ubin as a must-see. I asked my friends to check out the area but they were not interested because I told them that the attractions are biking, Durian farm, prawn farm and Malay resto. The girls didn't want to come with me. They said we can see these things in Philippines. Hence, I did not get to visit Pulau Ubin and Geylang in February 2010.

On my second trip, I finally got to visit Pulau Ubin.  The brochure did not give enough info about the activities that can be done in the island. I found out there are lots of things you can do in the island. Aside from biking, you can also hike, snorkel, kayak and do camping there.  It is the last kampung  (village) in Singapore. There are restaurants that offer fresh seafoods and Malay cuisine.


A refreshing view greets you as soon as you step into the island.  Lush greenery and sea breeze.  Taking a stroll to explore the island is de-stressing.  If your not up for long walk, rent a bike. Rates start at $10. We rode the bike for 2 hours and explore half of the island. We had a very good weather when we got to the island, the sun was up but it was a bit cloudy. It was a perfect day trip for us.

My sunblock melted because of the heat.  Was tired from walking and pedalling (though am just a back rider ;0) but I had real fun. I love the simple pleasures in life like biking and taking a walk.

Can't put enough words but the pictures can tell a story.  I collated the photos and made a video out of it.

How to get there.  Take a bus going to Changi Village and take a bumboat from there.  It takes 10-15 minutes to reach the island. Bumboat costs $2 per head.

I met someone I knew long ago...

"I met someone I knew long ago, fell in love with her all over again. She's not perfect but it's not from lack of effort. I even now find her attractive from the outside and I never did before. She is...ME!"

I stumbled on to this quote long time back and saw it again in Veron's email signature.  When I look at myself in the mirror I honestly admit I am not perfect but I love what I see on the mirror.  I know I am not a head-turner but I am a "heart-turner." Beauty is not just skin-deep so they say and my standard of beauty is not the one espoused by media.The imperfections on my face compliment each part and as a whole it is a beauty to behold.  ;)

I believe that before other people can appreciate your beauty, you should appreciate and love yourself first. You can't freely appreciate or love other people when you don't have enough of it for yourself.  I know someone who doesn't like herself wholly. Every time she faces the mirror, I always hear negative comments. She is so sensitive about jokes of other people or when they start talking about her because she has not accepted her flaws. Wanted to talk to her about acceptance and appreciation of herself but she is not matured enough to take it and may even take it against me. An older friend said that you can assess a person's maturity when he/she is able to laugh at herself/himself.

Simple Pleasures - Kiteflying

Find joy in simple activities like kite-flying.  The last time I experienced kite-flying was when I was 7 or 8 years old. Glad I met people like Eric who loves simple pleasures like this.  We were using Eric's kite.

We're putting the stick and tying the nylon cord to the kite.

Nope, the kite isn't up yet. Was releasing the cord to extend it longer.

still doing the same thing here.

Ryan is whistling to steer the wind towards our direction.

Green, green grassy field.

The cord got tangled up.

We're fixing the cord and the kite

Waving the kite.  Fly, fly away!

Yahoo! am making a little success in flying the kite.

Come on, fly higher!  Reach the sky for me.

Oops, it's going down.

Still holding on.

Argh! The wind is not blowing harder.  The kite is going down.

Guess, I have to head back to the apartment. Will try some other time.

Gone to obscurity

I googled my name to check if this blog appears but unfortunately only my account in Facebook, LinkedIn, WAYN, Wikipedia appear in the results. My old blog used to be part of search result when I typed my name.

Apparently, my name is no longer unique and the title of my blog is neither.  When I entered "Katie Writes" as search key, it displayed a dozen of blogs.  How do I put my blog displayed in search engines? I want to make sure that when I typed my full name, my blog appears in the search result.

Political instability in the Middle East. Earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. Flash floods in Australia. Economic crisis.

The whole world is in chaos but it is a glorious time for the Wife of Christ (believers).  This is the time we witness prophecies coming to pass and it is the time of manifestation.  I am so glad that I quit my job and am not busy looking at the computer at work or I will be missing a lot of things and won't even know the current events.

I just finished listening to a recorded preaching. Can't understand completely but I have faith in Him that He will make me understand His message of the hour. Too much focus with work has made me out of focus of His word.  :(  When am in the church, my mind wanders in the production floor and I keep checking my mobile phone for updates from the CCOD team. Now that I am out of job I hope my attention to the preacher breaking the word will be undivided. Six days are spent for work and other things. Just one day in a week is for the Lord and it should be 101% Lord's day. Work-Life balance will be my mantra. :)

It's nice to listen to FM music once in a while.  I gave in to my sense of hearing today and danced to upbeat music while fixing my clothes and stacking them to a suitcase.  If other people would see me, they would think I have gone crazy.  I don't care though what other people would think, they can laugh at me with my awkward movement because am dancing with two right feet. :) If I were not dancing, I was singing my heart out with 90's music. It felt good to do things you want to do and without thinking what other people would say.

I have two big luggages and a small one full of clothes.  I am not done packing up and I don't know where to put the other stuff like bags, souvenirs from previous travels and gifts from friends. The big question now is where will I deposit these things when I give up my apartment.  I don't have a permanent address.  This apartment in Dau that am renting now is what I call my home but I have to give it up soon if I can't find work in Clark. I am uncertain where will I live next.

Leaving on an airplane

It's 7:30pm in SG and am at the airport lounge waiting to board the plane.  My adventure in SG ends today; I am going back to Clark tonight.

Looking back, my stay here was wonderful.  I made new friends, toured SG, gained more weight, learned new things and started to live healthy. No regrets in coming to SG though my main purpose was not fulfilled. Happiness is a choice. If you chose to dwell on negativity then the world will appear bleak to you.  Have been out of job for quite a long time and was really bored most of the time but I took the opportunity to be closer to God and learn new things like Photoshop and social media.

Word of the day: Apathetic

Apathetic.  The word is an adjective and it means "having or showing little or no emotion at all."

I received a bad news today but I don't feel sad about it.  I am not also happy. It means my state can be described as apathetic.

Wordweaving

*Even with poetry, I get blessed merely from reading. I collated the FB posts of the wife of Christ.*

Beginning

I'm beginning to understand
that in silence I am drawn to You,
that my unanswered questions
may cause me to seek You more,
know You more, trust You more.

I'm beginning to grasp
the significance of pain in my life,
that my heartache
may cause me to understand
Your children more,
love them more, support them more.

I'm beginning to develop eyes
to see Your unnoticed blessings
that sustain me and cause me to
acknowledge You more,
speak with You more, honor You more.
I'm beginning to end with You.

- Lisa Gaytan

One Small Light

Light is wisdom and learning.
Light is warmth and shelter.
Light is love and compassion.
Light comes from You.

Help me force back the dark.
Help me spread learning and loving,
home and hope.

Let Your Light shine through me
to brighten the world's dark corners.

- Sue Bradford Edwards

Pulse of the Generations

We raise our faces to You.
You who has sustained
countless generations;
with the steadiness of Your love,
with the strength of Your wisdom.
You are the blood that unites us.
You are the pulse that revives us.
You are where we begin,
where we end,
where we are.

I look to You
with soul-bursting gratitude
for the blessing of family
and the gift of Your Presence
within and around us.

-sis Margaret Taylor

The Language of Love

Thanks be to You
for semi-colons,
for m-dashes, ellipses, and commas.
Glory be in the languages of Earth,
in Morse code and Braille,
in Swahili and Portuguese.
You made us social beings,
then gave us the gift that binds,
that brings us together
in conversation, chatter, exclamation.
Joy comes from communication,
as does peace.
Help us to use our words wisely and well.

- Lori Strawn

Faith Focused

Help me to build upon the faith
that you've grown in me,
and to use it as an example
and a testament to You.
Teach me that I can overcome,
or at least endure, through it all.

- Mary Boscaino

Whatever May Come

I’m getting the idea
You know what the heck You’re doing.

You made me funny, fickle,
sometimes feral,
but You know I always
find my way back to center.

You gave me the quirks I possess,
like a penchant for pointless puns;
a black thumb unable to sustain even a ficus,
and a heart as wide as the sky.

Measuring myself against others who aren’t me
is like saying I don’t trust You.
My greatest idiosyncrasy
is that I’ve never met You,
but trust You with my life and all I hold dear.
Walk together with me, whatever may come.


- Ruth Williams

Amazed

This is my day
of unlimited chances.
A day of uncommon favor
and unending blessings.

When Your favor
and blessings overtake me,
my change will come.
I am ready and prepared
to receive my portion.
It ís my turn to prosper.

I don't fear today,
for fear tolerated
is favor unsure.

I experience Your goodness.
I have unleashed my faith
and I am amazed.

This is my day
of miracles.
I receive it! I receive it!

- Brenda Scott

Another Photo-op Day

I was out the whole day with my housemates exploring Sentosa and Marina bay promenade. I have visited these places several times but I never got tired of going to these places again. Simple pleasures comes from capturing the smiles in pictures and giving in to gastronomic desires.  It was fun figuring out new poses and angles. I got tired from freezing my smile as Eric tries to configure the right lighting, angle and exposure. Am not a natural model. I am camera shy. My poses were pretty simple and I just flashed my white teeth and crinkle my eyes. ;)

We had fun in riding the Luge and Skyride. As expected, I arrived last in the finish line. The thrill in riding the luge is to let it glide down freely but for fear of tumbling down I always slow down whenever there is U-turn.  I keep pushing back the steer.  In the middle of the trail, my skirt was blown up by the wind and was raised mid-thigh. Eric took a snap of me with skirt up showing my legs. "Nice legs," one guy commented. "Well, thank you Mister," I replied in my mind.

Lesson learned: let go of fear and just have fun.

After the luge ride, it was time to see Sentosa aboard a skyride. My fear was evident with my shaking hands.  We rode the skyride by batch.  I was with Ryan and Kaye. I took our pictures while we were on top and my hands were shaking. Ryan was laughing at me.

Can't get enough of taking pictures, we went to Marina bay promenade after Sentosa. The building and the night lights provided a picturesque backdrop. The best time to visit the place is at night time to capture the drama of lights.  We also had fun watching the fireworks display sponsored by MBS.

I was tired from walking and standing up for a long period but it was an amazing day for me.

Postscript: Thanks to Eric Bondoc (the guy wearing cap)  for taking my snaps and never gets tired of doing it. :))

Forlorn.  This is what best describes me now. 
I am counting the days of my stay here in SG. I am going back to Clark on Tuesday next week (March 8). Kinda sad thinking that my option of getting work is in Manila only.  I hate the city and the madness it brings to people.  It's polluted, unsafe walking at night or day alone, and it's traffic all the time! The other thing that makes me sad now is that I am going back to working at night if I chose to apply in contact center and earn more.

I like living in SG really eventhough I have a hard time understanding Singlish. I pray a job will find me in SG and will just go back on Tuesday to get more stuff not to go home for good.