My Maroon Luggage (Part 1)

So blogging is not new to me.

I've had this one since before - probably right at the start when very few people were blogging. Unlike the numerous bloggers in cyberspace today, I didn't pursue mine.
I opted to go to the road more frequently travelled, I pursued a stable and traditional career.
This actually explains why this blog is seeing such a big gap between the last post in 2014, and to this one in the middle of 2019.

What has happened since then?

A lot.

Seeing as I started this post more on career and the choices I have made in that area, I'll continue moving in this direction and leave the rest of how my life has changed in a different post, on a different day.

So yes, I have pursued the career I have started since my last blog post. Hospitality. The dynamic world of hotels and event planning, and I've not ever had a chance for a change of a career in between. I've stayed on with the current company for at least 3 more years since then, before that day that you could say was a pivotal moment in my career. And no, it was nothing big, it didn't even happen at work. In fact, it was just one of those weekends.

I was out with a girlfriend who was shopping for luggage she could take for her upcoming trip, and I just happened to tag along. We came across this corner store at the mall selling luggage, and were so amused by how engaging the salesperson attending to us was. In fact, he was so good that his selling, plus my friend's prodding of us getting identical luggage, was all it took for me to weaken my resolve and exit that store with a brand new maroon luggage in tow.

I had no out of country trips planned, I had no out of town trips planned. Heck, for the next few months, I really didn't have anything planned. So buying a piece of luggage at this point really was not a proud moment for me. It was one of those impulsive buys that you regret even right after you've made the purchase.
I remember that day so well, remembering driving home with my shiny new bag, and thinking of all the things my mom would very well say to me if she saw this purchase. I made sure to keep the luggage packed and hidden in my room, so no one would be the wiser and I would be the only one feeling silly about this decision.

Immediately the week following, I was told my papers for a trip to train for work in Hong Kong had been approved, and I would be leaving in the next few days. Since this had been an ongoing discussion and application for almost a year now, it had really not crossed my mind that this was happening any time soon - hence my statement above that I really had no plans as of the moment.

So I made it to the training and went back. I learned so much from that experience, met new people, gained new insights, and thought nothing much of it and went back to the daily grind.

In between, traffic was becoming so horrible to drive back and forth from work, that I started renting a small room in the weekdays so I could save on the daily travel time, and only go home on weekends  or days off to refresh and see my family.

For someone who has stayed in the same house with my parents my whole life, this was a big step for me. I was a paranoid girl who was always imagining violent people and non-existent monsters who may be waiting to pounce on me in this little room where I was all alone. I spent many sleepless nights at the start of that experience with the lights on, and my phone clutching my phone with people  on speed dial in case of any kind of emergency.

Actually, looking back, that small step out of home was a very crucial move I had to make to prepare myself for the next few years in my life.

So I met this person in my short stint in Hong Kong.
A very positive person who was a mentor in every way. The only time we actually ever got to bond was a short lunch in the middle of a busy day, as he talked about his career and how he has jumped from one place to another. In the ears of one who was so far from that point in her career, he made it sound so great and so easy, and something I would grab the chance at. If my maroon luggage was a pivotal purchase, he was actually my life's pivotal person. He wasted no time in recommending me to his peers as he had both ears out in the market and knew what and where there was need.

To avoid making this post too long to be readable, he was the main reason why in a matter of 2 months, I was in the airport clutching a one-way ticket to Abu Dhabi to start work there the following week. I said goodbye to my home, to family and friends, to my comfort zone and everything I had ever known in my life. I was scared but excited, anxious but optimistic.

I contemplated about it while having that final Cebuano dinner at the airport. How everything in life comes together for where you eventually go. Not knowing if this is the right decision, and definitely not knowing if this is the road you're supposed to take, if this is where you are supposed to be. I guess at the end of the day, you will have to work to make it work. This string of thought was in my mind, as I said goodbye to the people who had come to see me off. As I waved goodbye, teary-eyed and hopeful, with my maroon luggage in tow.

Continue soon.

Maple

Had lunch with the ladies earlier today at Maple. We had to do a quick one for lunch, because Pershen couldn't do dinner as she had to pack for her Osaka trip.

It was basically a celebration of the year that was, and the year that will be. These girls are my office support system. Although the work we are involved in comprises a whole lot of individual struggles, it is really just refreshing to be able to have lunch and relate to each other's frustrations and successes when we have the time to catch up :)

Photobomber Pershen

"The Lunching Ladies"

Here's the food we had, dessert was especially awesome!

Artsy shot of Persh :D

 Till the next lunch ladies! :)

Randomness

Currently finding it a bit hard to doze off and sleep, so I ended up checking my mail in my room, and wandered off to my blogspot account. I wanted to blog about something meaningful and deep, but ended up about the random things in my room that somehow make me happy. Weird, I know. It's just what insomnia does to me @_@

1. Camouflage Mouse

I love the colors and the pattern of my mouse <3 div="">

2. Ikea Desk Clock

Got this from the couple of a wedding I organized before, along with a lot of other goodies they gave me.

3. Frames around my room

At first these were all hung up on my walls, but because I couldn't find a heavy duty hook that I could hang them on to without destroying the wood, they kept falling down. After the nth time they fell, and several pesos worth of hooks and tape - I gave up and leaned them along the wall.

4. Plant on wood

This plant was one of the smallest item in the decor area of the Department Store. It was easy to miss, especially because of its muted colors - which is why it caught my attention.

I love how this looks on my dark wooden dresser.

5. Travel Wall

I started this wall this year, with my favorite shots from my travels. I have to add in new travels from this year. Hoping I can fill out the entire wall #futureTravels :)

6. Loudbasstard

The newest addition to my room. My parents got this as a thank you gift for being sponsors in my cousin's wedding. Got it instead :)

7. Headboard

Not only does it house my favorite books, on top are actually some of my favorite photos over the years.

8. Trinket Corner

Bought it as soon as I saw it. And it was on sale too :)

9. Letter L

Seen by my friend in one event he attended. He apparently got the letters he could find, and gave it to the people he could remember whose names started with it. I got letter L. It holds my books in place too :)

ZZZZzzzzzz....... 0_o

Accidentally Taipei 2014

There was a failed attempt at Taiwan sometime in September. Right when we were about to file for our visas, our schedules went haywire because of a lot of things happening at work, and we had to cancel our trip. What was good about what happened were that:

1) We got a refund for our tickets, because there was a typhoon on the date when we were supposed to travel,
2) We didn't apply for our visas yet at  that time, and
3) I eventually was able to go to Taiwan in November  (happy dance)

I kid you not when I say that this trip was totally unexpected. Because I still had a lot of my leaves for the year left over, I filed for a week-long leave, which just meant that I had no groups for that period. Less than a week prior that scheduled leave though, the GM wanted someone from our end to head on to our Taipei property to check out the bridal fair that was happening there.

Because we always try and do what the GM wants, I was asked if I was willing to cancel my leave and TRY and apply for a visa on such short notice. What made it perfect was that I still had all my un-filed requirements for that supposed September trip intact. Within the day I was able to drive down to the agency who accepted my documents and worked on my visa.

This Taipei visa actually has a back story. I was scheduled to receive my passport with the approved visa the day before my departure. Because my document was among the last few to be approved for that day, the Travel Agency who worked with me told me that they would send my visa, airport to airport, the first flight out on the day of.

Because of apparent miscommunication, and they ended up thinking I was leaving on a late flight, they sent my visa aboard the 5J 553 expected to arrive in Cebu at 1135AM (not counting delays). With a 1:50PM flight departure, unable to do a web check-in because of system error, and with almost 30 kilos of luggage - I went on a thrilling race against time around the airport just to be able to get my passport, check in my luggage, and barely enough time to breathe deeply before the airline announced that it was time for boarding :-\

Apart from all of that, let me welcome you to Taipei, Taiwan!

Here's my room that I was staying in for the duration of my trip. This is my first time in Taipei, and my first time in this sister property of our Hotel group. TPE was just recently renovated, and all the amenities and facilities were really top notch!

 

True to this Hotel brand, bed and pillows were AMAZING - as always

 

Beautiful view of Taipei 101 from the hotel rooftop

Hotel facade

All dressed up for work :)

TPE's talented in house florists came up with this creation

This library was actually the supposed "mansion" of F4 star Dao Ming Xu for the show! :)

Taipei has beautiful patches of landscaping amidst all the concrete

Saw my friend Hana who was my schoolmate before when we were taking up Engineering.
She is pursuing doctorate studies in Taiwan for Civil Engineering

Right before the changing of the guards at the Chiang Kai Sek Memorial Hall

Went to the very tip of Taipei, where this very long suspension bridge was waiting situated,
with a picturesque lake right below it

Another capture of the beauty of this memorial hall

 

With new friends, soaking up the Taiwanese culture in the Taiwan National Museum
via a virtual audio tour

Giant burners where the Taiwanese made offerings to their deceased ancestors,
These were littered all over the place

My swuna (or grandson) by generation, Alchris, was my very helpful tour guide throughout this trip.
Alchris is studying in the same school as Hana, and is also now taking up a doctorate in Chemical Engineering :)

Bikes litter the shoreline



Another aspect worth mentioning about Taiwan is their food! Of all the places I've been to, I do LOVE Taipei street food the best. Everywhere you go they have these stalls selling the best street food I've ever tasted. I even love the fruits, the candied nuts, the weird delicacies and the crazy fruit mixes.

Here's me conquering stinky tofu, eating their famous braised beef, the more-than-footlong sausage, and the amapalaya shake everyone dared me to drink! :D



 

 

I admittedly had so much fun trying to use the little Taiwanese I know, grabbing breakfast anywhere alone, exploring the food and places in Taiwan. But on my last day there, I was actually touched to receive flowers from a colleague, and a thank you letter from the Front Office Manager of the hotel. Funny how even when I know and actually do these things for others, I still end up appreciating it being done to me in return :)

 

 

 

 

I will definitely be back, Taipei! :)