AsianNomad

God, I Miss the Philippines!

2010-10-01T04:48:00.000+08:00

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - It's 10:30 PM here in Stockholm and the outdoor thermometer reads 2 degrees Celsius. Back home, the fridge won't even register that temperature. Around me, everyone is sleeping. When the sun sets, Stockholm sleeps. Although there may be a couple of choices for nightlife, it would be too far from the city to visit. Besides, wearing high heels and mini skirts in this weather is not the smartest thing you can do, is it?

After what seems to be the longest one month of my life, I can't help but think about how much I miss the Philippines. The heat may be intolerable at times but at least we've got airconditioner to keep us cool. When you're walking outside here in Stockholm, the weather literally bites. It's not even winter yet.

My country sure has its quirks but nothing beats home-cooked meals in a plate of warm rice on a sweltering summer night. Sure, we cook Filipino dishes here but it does not have the same heart as the ones back home.

I miss how accessible transportation is in the Philippines and how I need not wait for a bus that comes every thirty minutes, enough time to make me freeze.
I miss how I can wear a pair of shorts and a shirt instead of three layers of clothing.
I miss how I hang out with my friends every weekend talking about endless sensible and nonsense stuff.
I miss having Chase and Missy with me, patiently wagging their tails in anticipation.
I miss how I could walk around and see familiar faces, the same black hair, brown eyes, and Asian skin.
I miss understanding what people are talking about and actually enjoy conversing in my native tongue.
I miss the polluted, littered streets of Manila and the fish ball carts and dirty ice cream.
I miss my family.
I miss my boyfriend.

Sure, Stockholm is definitely ten levels higher from my motherland in terms of development and how people are more disciplined and successful, but success is not everything in this world. There is also happiness. No wonder Sweden is in the top 20 of the world's most suicidal countries, and the Philippines ranks near 100.

God, I miss the Philippines!

Non-Travel: Saving a Life is Not That Hard

2010-07-30T02:46:00.000+08:00

Not a lot of people actually know this (or notice) but I have had debates with suicide more than once in my life. No, not once did it occur to me to take my own life because of heart problems; I'm tougher than that. Ha! But through all those times, what saved me were encouraging words from the people dearest to me, those who actually took time to find out if I am feeling all right, braving Signal No. 3 storms to drive for an hour and have beer with me.

However, not everyone who has dealt with a demon in their subconscious are actually lucky enough to overcome them. I know at least a handful of people who have succumbed to suicide, leaving all their loved ones heartbroken. In fact, there are even families who commit suicide together! While we cannot really save each life that tries to slip into the graves, we can at least catch one before it hits the ground.

These simple thoughts and actions actually saved me during my most pressing times:

If only Teddy talked, we might have been able
to help.

ASK

You will never know how a person feels if you fail to ask. Just the simple thought of asking "How are you today?" is enough for a person to realize that someone cares about how he is feeling. In the website GivesMeHope.com, you will see hundreds and hundreds of entries where a simple question overcame the demon inside of them.

SMILE

The people closest to me know that the first thing I look for in a person is his smile. How sincere does he smile when he looks at me? Is it real or is it just for courtesy? A smile is more than just exercising your facial muscles. A smile should come straight from the heart, with so much gusto that your cheeks will hurt. A genuine, sincere smile will radiate to your eyes and your eyes will send sparks all over when you look deep into the eyes of a person in need. It is like lighting a candle in the middle of the night in a deserted place where someone is lost - your smile is their spark of hope.

TALK

It might not be about what is bothering a person exactly but a meaningful conversation, whether about the weather, pots and pans, travel, or whatever, shows a person that you trust him enough that you are letting him into your life. Now, letting you into his would not be as difficult. Try to engage him in a conversation and end it with a simple "I really enjoyed our conversation. I hope we can do that again soon." This way, the person knows that there is something to look forward to.

TOUCH

I love hugging people. Whenever I meet someone I know, I automatically extend my hand to at least give a half-hug. I believe that with the simple contact from your skin to theirs, millions of cells react to each other and indicate that someone really is here, physically, in real life. You may not always know that a person is on the verge of taking his life but as soon as you see a glint of sadness in someone's eyes, make contact. Touch their hand, drape your arm around their shoulders, hug! This shows the person that you are there, tangible, touchable, and real.

UNDERSTAND

Now, the most important thing that you can do to any person wanting to commit suicide is to understand. No, you should not tell them that what they are about to do is NOT what you expected. Instead, make them feel that you totally understand how they are feeling and why they want to end their lives. BUT, show them that there are other ways to survive whatever it is that they are feeling. Empathize with the person and show him your genuine concern over the situation. I know that at this point, you just want to scream profanities because of concern but that is not the smartest thing to do. Remember that a suicidal person is like a cracked glass, one pressure hard enough will make it fall into pieces. You would want to patch that crack instead of putting pressure on it.

It is not always easy to find out when a person would want to commit suicide because majority of the people that talk about wanting to commit suicide are the ones strong enough to overcome it. The problem relies on the minority that would refuse to show any sign that they are broken inside, and at the slightest point of vulnerability, they just snap.

Suicide is a choice, but not a good one at that. We can all help save one life by these means as long as we practice them in every single person that we care about. You might not know it consciously, but you might be able to save a life before you even realize.

7107 Islands: Bagnet, Pakbet, and Sudden Death

2010-07-29T01:23:00.005+08:00

When someone asks me what I want to do for the weekend, I only have one thing to answer: EAT! Street food, hole-in-the-wall diners, posh restaurants, whatever! As long as it is good food, I am game! So when we scored good airfare from Manila to Laoag via Cebu Pacific, you already know what I am thinking of. Yuuuuuuuuuum.

Sapsapuriket

When we arrived in Vigan at 10:00 PM, we were devastated to find out that NO restaurants were open at that time. Even the restaurant of our hotel was about to close. However, sensing the extreme hunger we were feeling, the hospitable staff of Grandpa's Inn opened their kitchen to us.

And boy, we were so glad that they did! Kusina Felicitas, one of Grandpa's Inn's restaurants, offered us heartwarming dishes of authentic Ilocano cuisine. Thus, we never even tried other restaurants during our overnight stay there!

Here is a list of everything we devoured for dinner, breakfast, and lunch (in that order) in Kusina Felicitas:

Sapsapuriket
My partner does not like eating Tinola, a really good clear soup with chicken as the primary ingredient. I, on the other hand, adore Tinola so when I saw the words "hot and spicy Tinola-like dish" on the menu, it was a go - despite numerous complaints from him. At P140 ($3), the serving is good enough for two. Although the soup base is not as spicy as I want it too, it is definitely worth more than it is priced. I love how citrus-y it tasted without being overpowering. I love how tender the chicken meat is and how the vegetables were still crunchy.

Bagnet

Who would not go into an Ilocano restaurant and forget about Bagnet? Bagnet is the meat of pork, fried, dried, and fried again to make it crispy yet moist and tender. It has thin strips of fat in between layers of meat which melt in your mouth right after that crunch.

Bagnet is best paired with bagoong (shrimp paste), onions, and tomatoes. At P160 ($3.5), the serving was not that big. My partner gobbled up three quarters of the plate and I was left with two chops, I think. But they were hell good!

TapSilLog
In the Philippines, when a hotel says that breakfast is included, it would most likely be a SiLog meal. SiLog means SInangag and itLOG, or fried rice and egg. Tap, in this case, means tapa, a type of beef jerky boiled in vinegar, sugar, lots of garlic, pepper and some soy sauce. Unless it states that American breakfast is available, this would most likely be your choice. While I had Tapsilog, my partner had Longsilog. In this case, Long stands for Longganiza, ground pork seasoned with salt, sugar, vinegar, pepper, and lots of garlic. Wash it down with fresh fruit juice early in the morning and you have enough energy to last a long time.

Pinakbet

My mom told me to never miss the chance to order Pakbet when I am up north basically because vegetables here are almost always fresh. And she is right. Pinakbet is basically a variety of vegetables, usually string beans, eggplant, squash, and bitter melon. The trick to good Pinakbet is to use good quality shrimp paste while you saute the garlic and onions. I love how the vegetables are still fresh to the taste without tasting under cooked or raw. The flavors are fantastic especially since it was served warm. The dish set us back P90 ($2) but the serving was definitely big, good enough for two to three persons.

Okilas Dinardaraan
Dinardaraan is the Ilocano term for Dinuguan, a thick soup with pig's blood. Now, before you scowl, I have to tell you that I really do not eat Dinuguan because it scares me - thick, black sauce with morsels of meat that I cannot identify. But Okilas Dinardaraan is different. Okilas, I suppose, is pork crackling or chicharon. The pork crackling was served with a dip of Dinardaraan, a thickened, reduced version of the original dish. I was wary to try it at first but one bite and I knew it was love. <3 This dish cost us P90 ($2).

Yes, we were two happy tummies and I would gladly endure an 8-hour bus trip (if there are no cheap flights) just to sink my teeth into these dishes once more... the Bagnet especially.

7107 Islands: Vigan

2010-07-27T13:17:00.002+08:00

If you have lived in the Philippines long enough and have been interested in local history, then you have probably heard about Vigan. A province in the northern part of the Philippines, Vigan mirrors civilization from years ago, when the Spaniards decided that it would be nifty cool to colonize the Filipinos.

Calle Crisologo, Vigan

Cobble stones, Spanish-designed houses, and horse-draw carriages are abundant in Vigan. But what will really draw you in... is the food.

WHERE WE WENT:

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

HOW WE GOT THERE:

1-hour flight to Laoag Airport, jeepney ride to Laoag City Center, 2 hour bus ride to Vigan

WHERE WE STAYED:

Grandpa's Inn - P1,680 ($25) for a room with A/C, double bed, hot and cold shower.

While everything they said would be there were there (TV, towels, hot and cold shower), I don't think that the price is right for the rooms. Upon check-in, we were ushered to a second floor unit which looked charming. It's not grand and the hinges need updating, but it was comfortable enough with its brick walls and thick curtains. However, the A/C was not working so we transferred to a first floor unit which, while everything worked perfectly, was a little too small than what we expected. The bathrooms are SMALL and there is little space to move around and for that price, we have seen better accommodations elsewhere.

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AROUND VIGAN: Horse-drawn carriage or Kalesa (P200/$5 per hour)

ITINERARY

- Bell Church

- Hidden Garden

- Baluarte

Owned by Chavit Singson, this is a zoo-like complex where free range animals are everywhere. Camels, sheep, and a variety of birds. Tigers are also showcased, except they are in cages.

- Ancestral Houses (I can't remember the name of the ancestral house that we visited)

-Pagburnayan
Pottery village of Vigan

Total Cost of Travel:
Airfare: P1250 Round Trip Laoag-Manila-Laoag
Bus to Vigan: P125
Overnight Accommodation: P840 (P1,680 for 2 pax)
Food: P1,000
Tour: P250 (2.5 hours Kalesa ride = P500 for 2 pax)
P 200 (donations to various tourist attractions)
TOTAL= P2,665 ($55) for an overnight stay

NOW... for the food!

Travel Memories from Years Ago

2010-07-25T18:54:00.004+08:00

Copenhagen, Denmark

I have been places.

Not a lot, that's for sure but I have turned the pages of my book and has been able to write down a city here and there. Now, I am not rich at all and I would not think twice about trading everything to go and see the world. But, I don't have all that much. Thanks to rich relatives, I was able to see some parts of the world without spending a dime.

These places that I have been to are from years ago... was it ten years? I am not even sure how they look like now or if they still have that charm I remember from back then.

**All photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons except for Gotland (from bingeby.com)**

STOCKHOLM

Stockholm's skyline

I called Stockholm my home for three months and I was lucky enough to visit during Spring, where the flowers are starting to bloom and snow drops ever so slightly.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, which sits in between Norway and Finland. My first step on Swedish land was not very exciting, as I almost froze wearing nothing but a tank top and jeans on a -1C weather.

I was amazed at how clean the country was. Everywhere I look, it was just green green green!

Stockholm is where I saw my first midnight sun shining brightly at 12 midnight. I walked along cobble streets, soaking in all the views of modern, yet historical buildings.

GOTLAND

Facade of the historical architecture

While Gotland is still a part of Sweden, I had to take note of it separately basically because it is a separate island all together. Not a usual occurence in Europe, unlike here in the Philippines where there are more than 7,000 islands comprising one country.

If you love history, then Gotland is the place to be in Sweden. All around the island are viking villages, historical architectures, But that does not mean that the island will leave you with nothing to do. Come on, you are in the Baltic Sea are... so yes, there are other things you can do. Although the beach is not as pretty as that in Mexico and the waters are not as calm, there's no way you will not enjoy a good book with the cool breeze. I can't exactly remember how we got from Stockholm to Gotland, though.

HELSINKI
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and during one weekend when we had nothing to do, my parents decided to hop on a weekend cruise to Helsinki. I can't really remember how long we were on board (after all, I was a lot younger and casinos, bars, and duty free shops on board were very, very enticing). What I clearly remember, though, was how we only spent about five hours in Helsinki, just enough for lunch and, of course, a sinful chocolate shake from Fazer, a Finnish chocolate brand.

Move over Starbucks, Fazer is the shiz.

Helsinki skyline

COPENHAGEN

Now, this is a date I cannot remember. It was April 15 when we landed in Copenhagen and it was my birthday. I don't know if it is because of Spring but there were flowers EVERYWHERE I looked. All colors, shapes, sizes, lining the sidewalks. Awesome.

BILLUND

From Copenhagen, we flew to Billund, a province of Denmark. What is in there? LEGOLAND. Cities recreated in Lego. Buildings, roads, vehicles, airplanes! The tallest bulding, if I remember correctly, was the height of my waist. And the size of Lego blocks? The normal ones. Imagine building, re-building, and maintaining them every single day! There was even a zoo, with animals built from Lego! However, the sites were just too childish for me and the rides (yes, it's more like Disneyworld) were not very exciting, either.

Gee, it has been a LOOOOONG time since I went out of the country. I really hope my relatives would get to read this, and treat me to an African safari!

Idyllic Boracay

2010-07-24T22:28:00.004+08:00

Somewhere around 300 or so kilometers south of Manila, there is an island known for its beauty the world over. Boracay Island - just the mere mention of the word elicits oohs and aahs. While it is true that Boracay Island is not really the most heavenly place I have been to yet, it is by far the one that will fulfill everything you would hope for in a vacation.

Pinacolada, anyone?

Boracay Island is located in Western Visayas, in the province of Aklan. Back in the 70's, there were little to no tourists in this haven, totally untouched by civilization and its beauty was appreciated only by the locals. However, as the world started to go hungry for hidden gems, Boracay was found.

While the chunk of tourists in Boracay Island are mostly Filipinos, it is highly popular to foreign tourists as well. Even celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were rumored to be spotted playing with rented jet skis. I can't blame them because although Boracay has increased in popularity throughout the years, the crowd would not compare to that of Cancun. Here, you can leave your children playing along the shore, and you need not worry about naked men walking along the beach or couples having their fill of beach loving.

Looking at these pictures, memories of lying down on sun loungers with a cold pineapple shake by my side suddenly rush in. I need my vacation fix. Now.

My Thoughts on Inception

2010-07-24T15:25:00.004+08:00

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

There have been A LOT of speculations on what really happened in the movie, Inception. By far, this is one of the best Leonardo di Caprio films, standing really close to Blood Diamond. I got to give credit to the guy for actually reading the scripts before signing the contract. He is now one of my most favorite actors, except I did not like him as Jack.

To those who have not watched the movie yet, DO NOT READ. This is full of spoilers, I swear.

So there are a couple of endings that could have really happened in the movie and I took time to actually dissect each of them.

1. The totem stops turning, tumbles down, and Cobb is in reality

Why I do not believe:
When Cobb left his children, they were playing outside and were really young. Cobb said the he has not seen his children for quite some time so returning to them, exactly at the age they were when he left, is somehow impossible.

Why I believe:
So, Cobb can project people in his dreams. However, if you would notice, those that Cobb can actually TALK TO are not his projections. They are the ones with him to la-la land as well. They are real people and they had some sort of rendezvous in dreamland. Therefore, it might be possible that Cobb actually is alive and well because Grandpa was there to meet him at the airport... unless, of course, Grandpa was also with him in his sleep.

2. Cobb remains in limbo

Why I do not believe:
Actually, being in limbo is the most plausible ending for the movie. In limbo, he can create anything. He can project that he actually saw his children, he can project that he has returned to the US, scot-free. He can project anything he wants to. However, wouldn't it be perfect if he projected that Mal was with them so it all ends well? If he did, though, it would give the whole point of leaving an ambiguous ending away. I'm leaning towards this conclusion more than anything, still.

Why I believe:
Because it is the easiest to believe. And it may be possible that Cobb is already tired of running after his dreams and his children so being with them, whether in reality or in his dreams, was his refuge.

3. The whole movie, from start to finish, is merely a dream (Cobb in limbo)

Why I do not believe:
If it really was a dream all along, why would Cobb need to get someone to do the architecture for him when he can manipulate everything? Also, if they were in limbo all along, how come Mal was only able to penetrate his dreams on the 4th level? Shouldn't she be there every step of the way, from start to finish? She should always be with Cobb... except, of course, if Mal is still alive and well and can only reunite with Cobb when she drifts to sleep.

Why I believe:
See, if you are in a dream, you would do everything it takes to make it a pleasurable one. Not something that involves bloodshed, death, and loss. However, when Mal committed suicide to go back to the real world, it could be possible that they really are in a dream, with Mal wanting to face reality while Cobb running away from it. If Mal really was dead, how would it be possible to actually interact with her in such a way that Cobb is interacting with Arthur, or Saito, or anyone in his dream for that matter? The movie said that it is possible to hold on to memories, but it does not state that you can create new memories by manipulating a person by projecting her into your dreams and making her interact. Therefore, it is possible that Mal is very much alive and Cobb is still in dreamland, wherein Mal appears in Cobb's dream only when SHE sleeps in the real world.

There is this observation that perplexes me, though:

In the third level (the snow area), Cobb, Mal, Fischer, Ariadne went into another dream level, while Saito was left in the third level, bleeding. Fischer and Ariadne were able to get the kick so they were able to go back to a couple dream levels back and actually survived in the scenario where the van fell from the bridge. Left now are, Cobb, Mal and Saito. In the next scene, Cobb and Saito face each other again. Just the two of them. Where is Mal? She did not die from her last rendezvous with Cobb. She went unconscious (which made her go into another dream level) in the snow scene. But she did not die. Meaning, if Mal is still alive and Cobb is the one in limbo, then she has returned to the real world. Therefore, no Mal in the scene with Saito and Cobb... only the two of them who did not feel the kick (Saito because he died in the snow level and Cobb because he chose not to feel the kick and eventually drowned in the supposedly first dream level).

Dang, Inception, why do you have to be such a brain-fcuker????

Almost there

2010-07-21T09:08:00.001+08:00

It's 9 AM. In 2 hours, I will be having my interview with the Swiss Embassy again.

I am all jittery and there are butterflies in my stomach basically because I feel like soon, something will go wrong again.

Let's hope not. Wish me luck!

Me at the Pancake House Cafeteria waiting for time

Schengen Requirements: What You Need to Have to Get a Schengen Visa

2010-07-20T16:28:00.001+08:00

A couple of years back, some countries in the European Union decided that it would be a rad idea to come up with a uniform Visa that will allow tourists to travel each country without having to apply for visas individually. And the idea did work because tourism skyrocketed in the countries that are a part of the agreement. This agreement led to the birth of a Schengen Visa, and having one means you can stop by Paris for coffee, visit Italy for some wine, and tour around Legoland in Denmark, without having any problems whatsoever with immigration.

Before you even apply for a Schengen Visa, you need to know what are the countries included in the Schengen agreement. For a complete list of Schengen union countries, follow this link and find out if your destination is included.

If it is, then you should be ready with all your requirements. The list of requirements for a Schengen visa includes:

1. A travel insurance
The Schengen Union is very strict about this. You need to have a travel insurance that allows CASHLESS SETTLEMENTS and you need to be covered for at least 50,000 Euros. In pesos, that is 2.5 million and various companies such as Blue Cross are accepted. However, I find that purchasing a travel insurance online such as from www.axa-schengen.com is a lot cheaper and the process only takes about a minute.

2. Financial documents
You need not be super rich to be granted a Schengen visa. You only need to be able to have a budget of at least $50/30 Euros for each day you are staying in a Schengen country. You can show them a bank account or latest 3 months billing statement of your credit card.

3. Rootedness
This is something that cannot be seen in a single sheet of paper. You need to show as much proof as possible that you are coming back home after your trip. Employment certificate with approved Leave of Absence and your latests Income Tax Return is required if you are employed. Other documents may be submitted such as domestic bookings in the future, after your travel date.

4. Host Documents
If you have a host, then it's a lot easier to get a Schengen Visa. Ask your host for an invitation letter (formal) that includes details such as the host's name and full address, your name, full address, birthday, and relationship. It would also help if the host would provide an employment certificate together with IDs.

5. Booking Certificate
Now, a booking certificate does not mean that you should already purchase the ticket even before the decision is out. NEVER do that. Instead, a booking certificate is basically a printout of your flight reservations. A tip, though, KLM charges a fee for booking certificate ($100 but is fully deductible from the total amount when you purchase although it is non-refundable) while Qatar Airways does not. So, even if you're flying KLM, it would be ideal to make reservations with Qatar Airways so you need not shell out anything. Some embassies also require that you pay for your hotel reservations in advance before they even give out a decision if you do not have a host. That's a good thing because most likely, your application will be approved.

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact the numbers in the websites of the corresponding agencies.

Good luck and see you in Europe!

Rendezvous with the Swiss Embassy

2010-07-20T15:53:00.004+08:00

Last week, I went to the Swiss Embassy for my scheduled interview. As you all know, it is very hard to secure appointments with the embassy at the time most convenient to you. Without any questions asked, you will be given your appointment date... and you have to be there. I called the last week of June and got an appointment for July 13 at 10:30 AM, which was okay since I'm planning on leaving for Sweden by August 8th.

For those wondering why I have my appointment with the Swiss Embassy when I am going to Sweden, well, there is no Swedish Embassy here in Manila and Swiss Embassy handles all consular affairs for Sweden.

I got to the Swiss Embassy at 8 AM and the embassy does not open until 8:30. I went to McDonald's and got myself pancakes since I didn't really feel like eating when I left the house.

So 8:30, I waited in line outside the embassy, making sure that I had all the documents needed for the nth time. When I got in, I checked my documents again. All good.

It took about an hour and a half before I was called to Window Number 2, which was not really a window and more of like a room. I was confident because I had all the documents with me that it would be easy paneasy.
So while Ms. Window Number 2 was checking on my documents, I was feeling a little queasy and felt like something just ain't right. And I am right.

So, my documents are complete. My host's documents arrived on time. However, the invitation letter from my host is not what they are looking for. See. when you apply for a visa in the Swedish Embassy, your host needs to fill out an invitation form... and that is exactly what my host did.

Except that it was not what the Swiss Embassy was looking for.

Nope, they don't want that form. They wanted something that resembles a formal letter. So basically, all the contents of the form are correct, my host just needs to incorporate it into a formal letter.

Because of that, I was rescheduled. No way I could give it in an hour or 2. I needed to wait for more than a week to have my papers processed yet again.

So, tomorrow is the day. Swiss Embassy and I will meet once again. I do hope everything pans out well.
For those of you interested in applying for a Swedish Visa, follow this link to the requirements for a Schengen Visa.

Wish me luck!