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! :)