Surviving Hong Kong

Travelling alone, it seems, is best for my "luck". When travelling with companions, I would encounter problems with my documents, clothes, direction, etc. Going to Hong Kong alone, my trips (both to and fro) were smooth sailing.

Day 1.

Was scared I would get detained at immigrations because of bad health. Earlier on, I had caught the colds and was on medication. MDC was even hesitant to issue a medical clearance.

I was early at the airport, prepared for any eventuality. I cleared my bags of any liquids, gels and stuff that would make me even remotely suspicious. I said my rosary and stayed as quiet as possible, even if I seemed snubbish to the rest of the HK-bound Filipinas.

I arrived safe and sound at HKIA. First order was to give Tita Mary, my sis' mother-in-law, a call. She wasn't home. And I learned the hard way that the pay phone doesn't give change.

Took the Airport Express trying not to look stupid. Ha ha ha. Almost managed it, except that I made the wrong turn...Heehee. Being alone in a strange land made overcome my shyness. I was asking for directions here and there, and people did seem really accommodating. I got into the hotel shuttle and was brought to the hotel. The ride was quiet - I was the only passenger. They were a stickler for punctuality and when they say the bus would leave at 12:30, it would leave at that exact time.

Lan Kwai Fong Hotel. Okay. So my credit card was denied...what could I expect? I paid in cash for the 3 nights stay, plus a thousand in deposit. Hmm, checked my purse, I still had enough to get decent food and stuff for the rest of my stay.

The Hotel room was surprisingly small for a costly hotel. It had a bathtub, though. HURRAH!!!! Darn, I did not bring any bath salts or foam. I unpacked, checked my schedule, opened the envelope BIS left for me, and went to look for a phone.

I managed to find IFC mall by just getting lost with the crowd. Hahaha. I was happy it would only take me a few minutes to walk to IFC, where the workshop would be held, from the hotel.

Here's a tip for the travellers wanting to use the payphone: Get plenty of coins. I must have spent 10 HKD trying to contact Tita Mary. Three times, she could not hear me even if I was literally making a spectacle of myself, screaming in such a busy place.

Back to the hotel, I decided to risk additional room charges and made the call, with my tummy begging for some food, and my feet some rest. I had bought some bottled water and cookies at Watsons so I could get some coins for the phone. After calling Tita, I soaked myself in hot water and prayed I would not fall asleep and be drown. I was probably so anxious about the workshop that I can't even manage to relax, even with the complimentary bath salts, hot water and bath tub. What I had planned to be an hour long soak turned to a 15 minute tumbling and turning and 5 minute rinse. Sigh. I am not enjoying this. So far, I have yet to feel the exhiliration of being the official bank rep to a seminar.

Tita Mary arrived a few minutes later, having gotten lost. Apparently, there are two Lan Kwai Fong Hotels in the area...okay, I'm not going into details about that...what I do know is that every poor miserable soul looking for my hotel got lost. THAT is probably why they offer free shuttle pick-up from the HK station.

Tita and I took the tram going to ISH, and I was early for the meet-up. I took my sweet time freshening up (uh, working up the nerves to go to the lobby and meet the rest) at the ladies' room (which is like, almost bigger than my hotel room).

The first participant I met was Chitrani, from Sri Lanka. I knew she looked familiar (well, with that Sari, she would!) because she was also staying at LKF. A round of introductions by Candy...There's Chia from Singapore, Aree from Thailand, Steven from the BIS and Mr. Oh from Korea.

---more tomorrow ---------

Nervous Wreck

I'm having palpitation. As usual, the 15th of the month is one of the busiest days for the webteam, so there's a frantic rush to answer phone calls, check mails, prepare press releases, lay-out tables, upload and check pages. To add to today's load were messages from Weng and Meks re our summer get-away, which we've been planning for ages and vowed to really do this year.

After lunch, I was really sleepy, so I brewed some Batangas coffee. Instent perk-me-up! Not only that, I'm having a nervous breakdown, I think. Well, the coffee was the aggravator...

Today:

1. Finally got my red passport. Hong Kong is a reality, and the only way it'll get cancelled is if Storm Signal No. 8 visits HK.
2. Got a notice that I am to lead in the singing of the national anthem on Monday. Cough, cough, cough...ugh, I'm coming down with a sore throat (which, unfortunately, I cannot afford now with HK next week)
3. Haven't seen my compre results yet. Grades available since yesterday, but I'm putting it off until tomorrow, since we'll be going there to pay graduation fees et. al. anyways. My other classmates got theirs, already, and are comparing grades. I'm just thankful I passed.
4. Will miss dancing at the Youth LSS again this end-March. Simplty cannot attend practices.
5. Still have no clear schedule for HK. Being the OC me, I've made a tentative schedule of my flight sched, what time I'll arrive in HK, the hotel, what time I'll take a bath, leave for ISH etc. Somewhere there, I have to jot down what time, where and how I'll meet my sister's mother-in-law. With no clear plans, my schedule's going to go haywire. I've never been late for anything, and I'm not planning to have the FIRST on official business on a foreign land.
6. No clear idea of what clothes I need to bring. All I know is I need wear business attire and smart casual. Need to buy a pantsuit. And a belt. And food. Gawd, how am I to survive five days alone in HK when I can't even look after myself?

Please text me

One thing I love about my K800i is the unlimited Message Inbox capacity. I had to say goodbye to my old K700i because after two years, it got a bug wherein Inbox capacity was reduced from 90+ to 50 to 15. I had to reset it every month, or as needed, just so I can save more messages, that I won't eventually be able to salvage when resetting time comes.

And so, I hoard every cute, funny and forward-worthy SMS I receive. Even SMS from MFXD. And even nonsense, hi-how-are-you text messages from boylets...Every now and then, I'd enroll in UNLIMTX, scroll down my Inbox and forward like crazy so I can delete the SMS (which has served it purpose by then).

Lately, there must have been about over a hundred SMS in my Inbox. I'd delete and delete, but some UNLI maniac would just fill it up again, and I've been very lazy lately to go pay if forward. I contemplated on deleting a lot of the old stuff, and with eyes shut, managed to erase some "memorable, *kilig*-inducing" messages. I hovered constantly between Delete Message "Yes" and "No".

Last night, Fate decided I must be decisive. Let go.

It a fit of sleepiness, while watching Pinoy soaps and trying to stay in semi-concsiousness, I scanned through my messages, forwarding stuff to old friends. I decided to empty my Sent Items, had second thoughts when my clumsy fingers seem to miss keys.

And behold. I didn't realize until an hour ago, that I deleted my INBOX. Yes, my beloved treasure chest of messages from friends old and new. Cheesy, cliche and mushy ideals translated to almost unreadable texts. Jokes on marital bliss (that kept me ever evasive of it), courtship, love and life in general. And the text messages informing me of my last prepaid credit loading, my Olay notice, etc. etc. etc. It was like losing a diary...

So now, my Inbox holds a scant five messages. I checked and found my Sent Items brimming with twenty. Huhuhu. Only pride is stopping me from texting my friends..."Please text me!". Ha! Ha! Ha!

Please text me.

This week...

What the entire BSP is busy with these past few days: The 2007 Sportsfest.

What I'm busy with: My first ever company-sponsored foreign travel...To Hong Kong on 21 March 2007!

I didn't know it would be this toxic. All, bureaucracy! My travel advisory took one whole month before it was signed.

Now I'm waiting for confirmation on my hotel before I can proceed with applying for cash advance.

What I'm worried about: Reservations need a credit card. My credit card limit is like....too embarrassing to mention. And it's mighty late to be applying for an increase.

Anyways, life's a bore...

I miss him already

When i think of him
so far away
and i close my eyes
there comes to mind
an image

of a book
in a room void of life
and the wind
turns the pages
as it wails

its agony
sings in tune
with the fluttering of
the empty pages

yes
when i think of him
so far away
and have not even begun
to miss him yet

my heart is the wind
that turns the pages
of my life
empty except
for its silence