Hey, nhr, look who I saw in Australia.

( I was a little bit surprised he went to Spain. )

( I saw Tim Cahill!!! )

- As usual the WiFi here at NAIA 2 is not working. I bought my Smart Bro with me just in case.
- We arrived waaay early than scheduled. We were supposed to check in at 6:00 AM but we are now but on board at 5:00 AM. They have new immigration cards where you only have to put in your name, date of flight, flight number and signature. None of those annoying fields such as "Address Abroad" or "Traveling On Package Tour?".
- We queued up luckily to a pretty nice guy at the check-in counter. The guy beside him was almost cross with one of the passengers. The annoying thing about getting in early is that they give you the crappy seats. But I was able to charm (or so I thought) our way to really good seats. Man, was my politeness level up to the hilt!
- I am so pleased with how I packed my stuff.
- I don't want this trip to end!!! I can't wait to burn some serious money shopping on Westfield. Or somewhere! I need a new wallet!!!

( I love my HP Mini. Cause it allows me to do this! )

I was only in Bangkok for a few hours. Sobrang bitin.

( I didn't get to say Sawasdee kah enough!!! )

I'm posting photos that I took with my phone camera first since they don't have any coherence.

( Kim Possible au Cambodge )

In Cambodia, the unofficial currency is the US dollar. If you're going to Cambodia, better bring US dollars in small denominations (preferably in 1's). While they give you change in US dollars, there are times when they don't have enough for change so they'll make up the rest of it in riels which is practically worthless in some shops.

Street vendors (only some) accept riels though. You can get a refreshing glass of sugar cane juice (sorry, didn't get to take a photo) for 2,000 riels ($0.25).

( Hello, lady...!!!! )

Tintin is famous in Cambodia. But in true French fashion (Cambodia was a protectorate of France from 1863 to 1953), the locals would pronounce it as "Taun-Taun".


I got a shirt, but what I really wanted was to take home one of these artworks of TinTin. Unfortunately, I didn't think it would fit in my suitcase.

I'm off to the airport in 2 hours. My flight leaves at 13:50 BKK so I really need to get going. But I'm still sitting here, without a shirt on (TMI????) and writing. Listening to Gary Jules and such...

I really don't want to leave Bangkok just yet. :( There's someting addictive about this place. The food, the shopping (not that I've done any since I arrived late last night and malls are closed), the people - it's a great country.

P.S. Have newfound appreciation of Thailand after coming from Cambodia. I know it's OTT - but I think you'll know what I mean if you have been to Cambodia and back to Thailand. The difference between the two countries is vast. Siem Reap was lovely, but I prefer Bangkok.

It's 5:34 PM here in Cambodia (6:34 PM in Manila). Didn't bother to change my watch since it's just an hour difference anyway.

So many fails and loves in this trip. I'll elaborate later. US $1 per 15 min of internet! Murder!!!

I still have an hour to kill before my flight leaves for Bangkok. I can't wait to get to Thailand - I need a bath. I checked out at 12 PM at the hotel but my airport transfer wasn't until 4:30 PM so I went swimming instead which wasn't a complete fail since I got to hang out with 2 English boys (one's a West Ham fan with a tattoo of the logo at his back - can you tell he's a footie fan?). The fail there was there was no shower room so whatever smell I have on me is the chlorine from the pool. How do you like to smell me now!

Goodbye, Siem Reap!

P.S. To anyone who's reading this, if you have plans of visiting the Angkor Wat, do it now while you're still young.

Excuse me while I write in bullets.

- I'm at the airport already.
- At least the WiFi at NAIA2 (flying via PAL) is not failing right now. Still, I bought my SmartBro prepaid modem with me.
- It's unbelievably hot in the airport. I don't think the A/C is on. It's so annoying. I should have worn shorts.
- I left the office at 6 am. My cousin wouldn't wake up even after numerous doorbell's. Actually, the doorbell broke because of my excessive use. A neighbour had to jump on the roof to wake her up. This makes me want to move out so bad because of the inconvenience I apparently cost.
- I decided in not travelling light so I brought my suitcase with me. I was originally planning to backpack it but looking at the amount of clothes I was piling in for 4 days (I haven't mastered packing - it's a skill I have to go to a seminar for.) I decided to just screw it and bring out the big bag - I'm not flying EconoLight anyway.
- So now I'm stuck with my laptop bag and my hand carry and I really just want to have a small bag with me while waiting for flights... hu hu hu hu... NEXT TIME! (It's like a contest see, and I always lose. It's like Kim 0 - Heavy baggagerie 100000)
- I am fighting the urge of heading over to the Burberry section of the duty free here at the airport and buying a bag out of impulse - this is one trip I don't have a nice bag with me to use.
- I wasn't even supposed to bring a laptop. But I was caught by the lazy bug at the office and just surfed about the Dark Lord Screamanova (sshhh - it's not really allowed to browse non-work related sites!) and told myself I'll just work at the hotel later.
- Yeah - I keep telling myself that and I always end up not doing it... only this time, I have a call on Tuesday which I have to prepare for and the woman that I have a call with is a total witch so I have to put my genius on.
- Shet. I am sitting at the rear part of the plane. Hate it. At least I get to eat on board.
I want to take photos but I'm too tired. This is one downside to travelling on your own - you don't have anyone to document it for you or to urge you to take a photo. That - and I'm just really a lazy person so there.
- I have Don't Stop Believin' (Glee version) in my head - major LSS. At least it's not Adam's Tracks of My Tears!!!

I meant to post this as soon as it got in but decided to sleep - or at least tried to. I have such a hard time sleeping lately and it didn't help that my parents kept ringing me up asking random questions.

I thought they were delivering it at home in Gapan because that's what I indicated on my application form so I was quite surprised they sent it to San Roque.

( I am off to the land Down Under )

toyomansi, I'm getting you your Penshoppe Oceane! May ipapadala ka pa ba?

...Putnam County Spelling Bee

I met Joel Trinidad yesterday!!! I told him that we "met" last year and made a complete knob out of myself because I told him he was hot and he was like, "Oh, that was you?". I know he doesn't remember me - but I thought it was cool of him to go with the flow.

Aiza Seguerra was one of the 2 celebrity spellers last Saturday which was a bit of a let down since I was half-expecting Lea to do a repeat but also relieved that it WAS her and Raya Mananquil - I was afraid it would be Gretchen Barretto since I saw her sashaying her stuff prior to the show. (Her lips are so not real!!!) It was quite hard to take my eyes off of her mainly because:

a) She was quite stunning
b) Her maid was holding a PRADA leather bag that I can only imagine to be in the 2,000 US area - and she uses it as a water holder
c) I keep thinking how the hell does she keep up with that lifestyle of hers when if I'm not mistaken, she and her boyfriend, Tony Boy Cojuangco, have broken up?

It was a fun night. I had not seen Sheryl for the longest time so seeing her again was really nice. We had dinner at Next Door because the show ended pretty late and I wasn't up for taking a chance to check the restaurants in Greenbelt since I was already getting pretty sleepy. I went home in the afternoon already since I got stuck in a crisis call that lasted 14 hours. In that 14 hours that I sat there with the headset stuck on my head I was able to book my flight to Bangkok/Siem Reap. Quite impulsive, but to a fault, I am pretty grateful that it happened since I've been meaning to go to the Angkor Wat ever since the Tomb Raider film came out.

I finally decided on a hotel today as well. It's a pretty decent hotel called Somadevi - I was torn between City River and Tara Angkor Hotel at first since Paolo and Gen stayed at the City River Hotel and the Tara Angkor looked really pretty on their website. But the tour guide that I e-mailed recommended Somadevi and the Agoda rates were much cheaper so I booked it on Agoda instead. Plus I used my US 50.00 discount so I only really ended up paying US 54.00 for my hotel. Yay!!!

Off to bed. Got to sleep. Off to work tomorrow. SWAT duty during the whole week - a blessing in disguise since I wouldn't be tempted to go somewhere. Just hoping there are no long SWAT's. :(

Guess who's going to Cambodia....














I did it. I finally did it!!!

If you're like me, you Google till you die of Googling for information that you need. Unfortunately, this information is nowhere on the internet so I'm posting it here.

This time last year, we were supposed to have gone to Seoul for a 4 day trip if not only for that disastrous trip to the Korean Embassy under the ill-advisement of our trusty travel agent telling us that the documents we'd need to give there are the same as the documents we prepared for our US visa. Lo and behold when we got there, they were asking for bank certificates which we didn't have because those are deemed to be worthless by the US Embassy since they are easily produced.

For once and for all, here are the requirements to get a tourist visa for Korea if you already have an existing visa for Japan, US, Australia or New Zealand:

1. Employment certificate
2. Bank certificate
3. Photocopy of your ITR
4. Passport (should be good for at least 6 more months)
5. Photocopy of the first page of your passport
6. One passport sized picture (believe me, it's better that you get this done at Pacific Star - they know the proper size)
7. Application form (download it from http://embassy_philippines.mofat.go.kr)

If you are a business owner, replace #1 with business's registration form from DTI together with the Mayor's permit.

I hope that settles it.

Calling them up was a good idea. So I'm posting that information as well:

Korean Embassy (Philippines)
10th Floor, Pacific Star Building, Makati Avenue, Makati City, Manila, Philippines, 1226
Phone: +632-811-6139

My public service is done. Just about to send one final e-mail to my VP and I'm going home.

This is torturing me like you have no idea.

Sigh. Now, I want it even more.

More photos from Thailand. :)

Did you know that my last meal in Thailand only cost me 50 baht? I had 3 different ulam and it came with Coke already? Sarap niya. Grabe. I miss the food!!!

( trigger happy! )

It's 7:30 AM in Bangkok - and Drew's still sleeping. I've been awake for the past hour or so because I needed to get online - I had emails coming in on my Blackberry that I wanted to check. I don't like the fact though that the VPN doesn't work around here. I have stable internet connection courtesy of the place but when I connect to the VPN the internet connection stops. :(

I had a great time in Ayutthaya yesterday - but it was so hot there my energy was drained from the 8 hour excursion. That - and the 20 minute elephant ride which made my legs numb halfway through!!!

I arrived in Bangkok around 3 PM BKK time quite hungry because the lunch that came with the trip wasn't that good. I could have gone to Central or to Siam Paragon to eat but was too lazy to do so. So I just walked down Lang Suan to check what the street food vendors had to offer. In the end I came home with 60 baht worth of street food - from barbecue to hot dog to black jelly.

My flight leaves at 2 PM Bangkok time - that means I should be up and about by 11 AM so that I can get to the airport by 12 PM. I still don't know how to pack my stuff in since I got that other suitcase. I hope I don't regret buying it. If all else fails, I'll just leave my other suitcase here - that way I have another excuse to come back, perhaps?

Off to work tonight. Damn - I got so much catching up to do.

( Thailand, I'll see you soon! )

At least for now. How do you like that, bitches???

nhr!!! Dee!!! I got your SMS this morning - but I was too drunk to reply. ^_^ Talk to you soon, sweetie!!!

It's 9 AM here in Bangkok. I've been awake for an hour or so. My iPod is not working - so that really pissed off my morning. As in literally, I can't use it. It makes these static noises when I plug my earphone on it - any idea what that could be? And more importantly, can it still be repaired???

I reckon though that's the least of my worries at the moment - I looked at my bank account awhile ago and I can't believe how much I've spent on this trip already!!! Damn that Zara!!! But seriously, when you think about it, when you're my size, you just grab at the chance. The joy that you get when you're a plus size girl of finding clothes that fit you in a store that don't really cater to the likes of you is sometimes priceless.

I don't even regret buying yet another suitcase. I got a green American Tourister suitcase for only 2975 baht (around 4,155 PHP) - and it has those 4x4 wheels so it's easy to lug. I'll just worry about how I'm going to bring it home on Tuesday. :-s

DJ Station last night was meeeh. The most interesting part was meeting this guy from New Zealand and even he was boring. Drew said that I was getting old. Normally I'd be pissed to hear that but now that didn't even bother me because I know it's true. I'm so over the whole going out bit.

Or maybe I just was not in the mood? When you think about it, I haven't had sleep yet. I was a the office at around 1 am on Saturday, then went straight to the airport at 7:30 AM. Flight left at 10:30 AM and since my beloved iPod left me hot and bothered during the flight, I couldn't sleep - or could it be because I was seated at the rear end of the plane? After taking a bath here in Drew's house we went to Central to go shopping and got back home pretty late. We did a lot of walking too - the only time we took a cab yesterday during the whole shopping bit was when we went home at 7 pm.

Had din din at this French restaurant (will get the name later and brighterlater I thought of you when I was downing all those food) and then didn't kip at all until this morning when we got home from Silom.

-----

Okay. This is really embarassing. Drew is now awake (9:23 AM BKK time) - told him that I saw im smiling and laughing while he was sleeping.

Then he told me the reason why he was smiling was because he had heard me talking in my sleep.

Shet.

Wa poise.

Sa couch ako matutulog mamaya!!!!!!!

And so it begins.

Arrived in Bangkok in one piece. The whole EconoLight thing of PAL - thinking about it - definitely had its disadvantages. I had probably the worst flight in history sitting between two American guys who were actually travelling together. I asked them if they'd want to sit beside each other but they were like "meh" so the whole time I was sandwiched between two beer smelling blokes whom I had no interest in chatting up.

If they were gay I'd probably be with them by now but whatever.

Can I tell you smelling that airplane food was also pure agony???

I haven't had any sleep hence the incoherent of this entry.

About to go out with the LOML - but to be honest - I'd rather kip. But what's the point of going to BKK when you don't even go out, right?!?!?!!

Btw - already went over budget set for self on day one. I was rather surprised Zara here at Zen carried clothes my size - that was unexpected. Then I saw a store that sells plus size clothing - got 2 pairs of jeans, a cardigan and a pair of swimming shorts. All for the price of 1300 BHT. Not bad, considering I'd pay close to 10,000 PHP for that amount of clothes back home in the Philippines. But alas, as always, no control. Sigh. When will I ever learn?!?!?!

Off to Silom now. I can't believe Day 1 is almost over.

Btw part 2 - Drew's place is so nice. I can live here forever.

You know you're too affected by the things that you watch when the first person that came to your mind right after your friend gushed about a very good looking Mexican he just met the night before was Tony Plana as Ignacio Suarez.





By the way, the wi-fi at NAIA is totally not working. I'm using my using my WeRoam as we speak - but at least the signal from here is pretty fast.

Excitement's over. I'm at the airport already. That's just really the most exciting part for me to be honest. The whole going to the airport bit.