You Made Me Live Again

There I was again, doing another side trip activity last Chinese New Year Holiday and that is recording my voice while singing *LOL*.  As you may know, music is one of my passion but I'm not just really sure whether music loves me hehehe. I know I am not a pro but I just love doing this voice recording because at one hand, it releases some stress mentally and emotionally . I could get myself into throwing out my hidden emotions and hopes through singing.On the second hand, what else can I do during spare time living just by myself in this foreign land? And so, I just think that aside from reading novels and watching YouTube movies, singing at the same time recording it getting my iPhone and iPad collaborate with each other sounded perfectly fun.

Well again, I have no intention to hurt your ears and I felt that this blog site of mine is like my diary slash scrapbook where I can technically put important details of my day-to-day experiences.And so, I couldn't miss posting my recordings here. Hope you understand.

OK, here's hoping that you will like it though. This time around, I am singing an English song which I also love. I remember I sung this one way back 1994 at a Sister Convent near my parents house. It's called "You Made Me Live Again" By Janet Basco.

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2012

Hooray!!! I think it will be a wonderful year ahead as 2012 is year of a Water Dragon. Zodiac interpretation says Dragons are mystical creatures that brings energy and strength. And each believes and hopes that the energy will be showered to everybody throughout the year. As traditionally done, first lunar day in the calendar is declared as holiday in so many countries particularly in Asia, so many can really enjoy the Chinese New Year celebration and witness different practices and traditions when embracing this wonderful day.

Today, I took the liberty of visiting Chinatown here in SG, I have been hearing so much about it and I was really seeking time to actually visit the place and can take a glimpse of the prehistoric backgrounds of the SG roots. When I reached there, I studied every building from color to architectures including symbols and calligraphy. And apparently it simply made me astonished as it seems that the ambiance really took me to the past letting me feel the ethnic neighborhood of distinctly Chinese cultural elements. Although it was drizzling but that won't stop lots of people from taking pictures and buying souvenirs from gift shops. Every corner there's extinctions of Chinatown Heritage Centre mostly located at the top part of the building as below it, they have added amusement for item souvenir shops and restaurants. The sight seeing made me thirsty. But my eye was being caught by that Thailand's icy coconut juice display and I deliberately tried it. And yeah, such a refreshing. It was an amusing day indeed!

Well definitely I can never leave there without bringing picture souvenirs with me and so from time to time there's flashing of my digital camera finding perfect angles of capturing. It really gave me thoughts of acquiring a DSLR camera. Hmmm, I'll just see I can still allocate budget for that besides, photography is so much fun and it's also an interesting way of expressing one's innermost desire and interest. We'll see. Anyway, below are some of the pictures that I have. But I just couldn't paste everything here so I just came up with some like of a page setup so that I can make you see different captures without occupying much space in my blog page..

So here's hoping that I was able to cite my experience here perfectly as I am actually imagining myself now hugging my pillow and retiring my mind to slumber land. I just don't want to wait for the next day to blog my tour earlier as I don't want to escape the feeling of amusement when blogging the whole experience. Well anyway, if you happen to visit SG, don't forget to put Chinatown on your tour list.


Goodnight!

From Wikipedia: Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Singapore
 

• Pagoda Street takes its name from the Sri Mariamman Temple. During the 1850s and 1880s, the street was one of the centres of slave traffic. It also had its share of coolie quarters and opium smoking dens. One of the traders was Kwong Hup Yuen who, it is thought, occupied No. 37, and after whom Pagoda Street is often referred to today. 

Xin Nian Kuai Le, Gong Xi Fa Cai !!!

Happy New Year 2012 to all our Chinese Friend. It's year of the water dragon. And I'm wishing everybody health and prosperity. Wow, I'm so glad to put something here in my blog at the stroke of 12:01 Chinese New Year, all the way here in SG. Xin Nian Kuai Le, Gong Xi Fa Cai !!! (Happy New Year, Wishing All prosperity in the coming year!!).

I had a dinner earlier with my Chinese flat owner. I'm so glad I was able to spend my dinner with them on Chinese New Year Eve. I'm so thankful with their kindness and friendship. Wishing them happiness,health, and prosperity!!!

Cheers!!!

Morning Rush..

My morning feels like my usual routine here in SG. First alarm at 5:30am, second alarm at 5:40am. And sometimes after that second alarm, instead of getting up will try to steal another 5 minutes to allow the new mood to sink in to my senses from dreamy land to reality. Like always, after getting up first thing highly important is the hygiene routine and then followed by selecting clothes to wear, matching color of my light make up, hair do's as I don’t want to look the same everyday, and making my room neat before I leave. I don’t want to leave negative impression particularly to the owner of the flat where I'm staying here. Just totally girl thing huh.

Since my work place has recently just transferred to a different site, I need to ride first a MRT and I have got to alight at a Bus Interchange where I need to take my second mode of transportation before finally reaching my office. After alighting and swiping my electronic card to exit the train station, I need to walk again to reach the queue lane for the specific Bus number which I need to ride. Going there is a bit painful. Well not physically but mentally and sometimes emotionally. As my morning aura is always being squeeze by different scents, different sights of rushing and panicking as almost all directions, different angels there's people. In my head, I always think there's really an advantage if you are physically fit because you can actually compete especially in a place full of people catching each other's time. I am not annoyed with it nevertheless because here, time is always running. And you can't afford a simple walk while your opponent is running like a horse. When I finally reached the queue lane of my bus, I am feeling that sweat starting to wash my forehead's fresh aura and I can hear myself panting, heart beat throbbing fast. While waiting for the bus, that's the time I let myself settle a bit and allow to retune myself back to that very fresh aura I had after I woke up. Is good thing I can actually have my seat in the bus and could listen to some music in my iPhone. Lately, I listen to Owl City's new album "All Things Bright And Beautiful" on repeat. I just love so much how optimistic the messages of each song have and how it actually influenced my aura.

Well, I keep on contemplating now what would be my next move after here. So much in my head and I felt that it's getting harder for me to actually make up the final plan or shall I just leave it to my instincts and gut feelings. I just wish I can still provide and I can still make use of my skills. Yes I like programming but I felt that the 12 years of doing it is enough and maybe it is time to impart the knowledge to others. Anyway I still have few more months here. I just need to enjoy the remaining of my stay here in SG. And oh, it's Chinese New Year very soon. It will be my first time to actually experience the celebration here as last year I went back to my hometown. I am pretty sure it will be very interesting. Pictures. Definitely!!!

Filling up my imagination...

Hi. I am yearning to add something here in my blog space and was really trying to find time for that. But my weekend was totally consumed with something else and well, I can't really put down the book I was reading now. Actually although I have started last December reading "Halo" by Alexandra Adornetto, I wasn't able to finish reading it yet as I went back home to my hometown and forgot to bring it with me. I was halfway of the book when I left it at my room and now is my chance to continue it. The story was actually getting interesting so I couldn't put it down last weekend. As usual, I do love the impossible love story. And the story of an angel falling inlove with a human is just so captivating. As my interest of the story is overwhelming my imagination, I have already started reading the book 2 of "Halo" earlier during lunch time. Book title is "Hades". I have searched in the internet and I have found out that it has a final book called 'Heaven" and same as "Fallen" series, I need to wait again for the final book to be out in the bookstore. For the case of "Heaven", it will be out this coming August 2012, if I'm not mistaken. But can actually do a pre-ordering now in Amazon. Anyways, that would be Ok. The recent books which I have purchased from amazon.com last December is actually there on queue. So that would keep my imagination busy for awhile while waiting for some books to be available.

Well, It's Monday now and the day is almost over. Gladly I had a good night sleep last night and my body is cooperating with me today as its first day of work for the week. I am just thinking while putting my gaze on the codes that I'm doing now, how I wish things are just as simple as running and laughing in the rain. Just like childhood days wherein you worry nothing but only to pass your grades. But anyway, life is not as easy as that. We need to move on, we need to always find ways as there are people whom so dear to you depending on you so much. And you just can't abandon their dreams. Their dreams feel like my dreams also. I am preparing myself now for another challenge as my task here will soon end and I have chosen to be with my love ones this time. I am just so glad as it feels that I have fulfilled the reason why I have grabbed the offer working overseas. Proper planning, discipline, and faith really did help me well. I just hope that I can still continue to provide for them. With God’s guidance, I know I will.

These are the books I have recently bought from amazon.com. Can't wait to start reading these.

Finally I have you, You had me at display ^_^

Yessssss! Ipad2 you’re mine now, a gift for myself. I have been eyeing to have this since that day it came out from Apple but priorities will have to come first. And finally, I got it now. Some of my officemates told me that the experience will still be same like using an iPhone but I would say they're entirely wrong. Well iPhone is nice but having an iPad is so awesome. It feels more convenient to me browsing, editing some documents, editing pictures, watching movies, and a lot more. I have bought from Apple store some notable applications like Knowtilus Pro and Photo Frames. Knowtilus Pro is a very convenient tool drafting documents because it has features wherein you can actually browse in the internet some topic you want at the same time drafting a text file. It's actually on promo now so I got it for $0.99. I have also installed lots of Free iPad Applications like Skitch, Pic Collage, Flex Player, and a lot more. For games, well I like the Smurfs for iPad. Almost same as playing Farmville in Facebook but the most fun in playing Smurfs Town is you can actually see all the smurfs character doing all the necessary chores like planting, chopping woods, building smurfs houses, and many more. And they are all so cute to look at. I'm just so glad I finally have my awesome iPad2. Hooray !!!!

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

Last December 17, 2011, I went back to my hometown to spend my Christmas and New Year with my love ones. Such a very heart breaking events when I entered the city's vicinity, I have found out that while I was in the plane, storm "Sendong" (Washi) paid a visit to my hometown and gave horrific aftermath as many lives were taken when the flood level arises surpasses even a two story houses. Fortunately, we were spared as the storm only touches certain but many areas in my city. Many families lost relatives, shelter, homes, everything before Christmas Eve. It tears up everyone’s heart to see father and mother lost their children and children lost their parents. Certain villages were wipe out leaving only marks of aftermath. Houses turned into pieces, cars anywhere and worst, floating dead bodies. It’s like Cagayan de Oro City became a basin. Waters and lumbers from mountains were all coming down. The flood level risen up very, very fast washing away the city's vulnerable areas specially those near the Cagayan de Oro river. One island we call it "Isla de Oro" was totally wipe out in the picture. I couldn't imagine the children and adults leaving there. What did they do to succumb such horrific tragedy. So sad as many people were asleep, defenseless. Many were trapped, many were electrified

The "Sendong" (Washi) tragedy also serves as an eye opener, a reminder that we should always take good care of the nature around us. The once very green mountains now very vulnerable to landslide because of the many illegal businesses. There's illegal logging, mining and many others. Hope this will stop. Hope people will realize that life is valuable more than anything. Now "Kagay-anons", as we call ourselves will try to move on after such a terrible events. We should always value life and always give thanks to the Lord because every day is a blessing.

Now, I’m back to my work routine here in SG. Soon my work contract ends and I am hoping that things will go smoothly. Praying always for good health and safety of my family. Despite of everything, in my heart I still want to live there. I love my city where I have grown up. “Kagay-anons” will remain friendly and cheerful despite of all. We will continue to move on and Cagayan de Oro City will still be known as “The City OF Golden Friendship”.

Happy New Year to All!