helping Marn

Oopsies, I was supposed to post this yesterday. This is Wednesday's.

MAD:
Helping Marnie bring a mirror to her apartment.

ROD:
I am not an emotional person. Sure, I have feelings and what not, but I don't really react to what's happening around me that second. It takes me time to process and then after some time period I am either ecstatic, pissed, satisfied, annoyed, etc about that moment. And usually, I am also annoyed with myself that I didn't react appropriately. How can I get more in touch with my emotions? And feelings? Hmm...I mean if it something HUGE I definitely do feel pain and happiness, but sometimes when I feel like I should be feeling something, I just don't right away. Anyways, who is to say what I am supposed to feel and when, right? Just that sometimes I wish I could have said something, but that moment has passed and now it is too late. Ever get that feeling? Since I have such a delayed reaction, I am still going to start telling people what I felt even if it is so much time later...BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! yehahahah ok. let's do that.

me in 3 words.

MAD:
I am also spending the night at my friend Marnie and her girlfriend, Becky's place.
We played a little game!
1. I described myself in 3 words.
2. What I thought what others thought of me.
3. They each said what they think of me.

I wish I played that game before my interview. It sure made me feel awesome! yehahaha
My first second round interview in over a year. Yay! Made it to round 2! Whoop!

ROD:
No matter how many interviews I have had and no matter how well I think I am well qualified, I still get nervous. I am a bit rusty in the interview and self-boasting skills. I need to take my own advice and get out of my head. I sometimes think too much....perhaps, you may say over think. I need to find some better relaxation techniques...maybe I do need to meditate more. Any suggestions?

miami memorial day weekend

I was in Miami from Friday and I just got back today, Memorial Day 2013!
Due to lack of posting abilities, I was unable to update ya'll on my Meaningful Action of the Day (MAD) and my Realization Of the Day (ROD).

I jotted them down and I bring them to you today!

FRIDAY (05/24)
MAD:
Flying to Miami with friends!

ROD: 
It's all in your attitude. It was quite the trek to get to the airport. It was my first attempt at taking public transportation to La Guardia airport. It should have only taken an hour, but because of the mix of rain and Memorial Day Weekend it took me a little over 2 hours. I wasn't sure if I was going to make my flight!

It was rainy. I had no umbrella. There was ridiculous amounts of traffic. The bus was crowded. I met a man from Tennessee. His flight was cancelled the day before and he was hoping to get on a flight today. Now, he had a great attitude! He was a chatter box and told us all sorts of stories about his experiences in New York. He kept smiling and continued to chit chat with all of us around him. He said, "New Yorkers are nice! And sure I met a few crazies, but they are everywhere'...yehahaha, so true!

SATURDAY (05/25)
MAD:
Swimming in the ocean.

ROD: 
Time outs are okay. Work isn't the only thing that should give value and meaning to my life. Sure, yes yes I know what matters is friends and family. The connections that you build with people. The experiences you have and share with others. Sometimes, you lose sight of that. I lose sight of that all the time. I have to remind myself that my value is not based on that pay check that arrives every 2 weeks. What I liked most about my previous job was the people I met. Definitely met some inspiring people who are really taking charge!

SUNDAY (05/26)
MAD:
Eating Haitian food! The restaurant was painted with all sorts of murals and art! It was festive!!!

ROD:
Places can transport you. What I mean by that is that a place and space can transport you to a  whole level of feeling. Ok, that sounds bizarre also...Hmm, basically, I can walk around somewhere and know that I am in Miami, but at the same time feel like I am in Nice or the Philippines. There were small resemblances, but it really elevated me to feel like I was truly on vacation. That I was on some island or some far destination. Yet, I was still in the States! This just made me realize how much more of the States that I do need to visit. Maine! New Mexico! Colorado!  MUST GO!


MONDAY (05/27)
MAD:
Taking a nap. When your body is tired, embrace it! AND SLEEP!!!!

ROD:
I need to stop eating just to eat. And, I need to buy more kale. I made a lot of kale chips today. It was because I am stressed prepping for an interview tomorrow. When I am stressed, I want to eat. I don't buy snacks because I would end up eating the whole bag. I did have kale though. And I made those into chips! yehahah a healthier alternative. Still, must learn self control!! Will work on that.

doctor doctor!

Meaningful Action of the Day (MAD):

this week has been a lot of back to backs.

and today was no different.

i got a physical.

and then i got my eyes checked.

i was able to schedule these last minute appointments before my insurance runs out!

even got some prescription ray bans coming in 2 weeks.

don't worry, getting my teeth checked on tuesday! yayyy

now, that's being productive!

my bed awaits!

Realization Of the Day (ROD):
out of all the doctors i go to regularly,
i am most nervous to see the opthamologist.
why?
i feel like i am taking a test.
and i want to get every single question right! yehahah
the other doctors i kind of just go in and tell them what's wrong or in pain.
and they do their thang.
with the eye guy, i need to report back those letters! yehahah

street art.

Meaningful Action of the Day (MAD):
i love street art.
and i have mad respect for those who do it.
and for all those who make art into their living.
it's inspirational and part of me wishes i could do it myself.
not street art per se, but some sort of creative living!
i went over to bushwick earlier today to see my friend, brett, do his thang!

Realization Of the Day (ROD):
words do matter.
you may not think mentioning a random website can impact a person's life.
it can.
you may not think a hi and hello can change a person.
it can.
no matter how seemingly small you think your action is,
it has the power to shift and change people. and yourself!
when we see and realize what kind of impact we can make or have made,
it's a lovely gift and we are lucky to see those results.
most of the time, we never know.
so, i like to remind myself to keep on going and try to create ripples of smiles and laughter.

drag queen bingo!

Meaningful Action of the Day (MAD):

DRAG. QUEEN. BINGO.

nuff said.

And, after keeping mindful of my MAD (Meaningful Action of the Day)
I started coming up with epiphany after epiphany...yehahah
ok, well maybe not thaat grand, but I did come to realize some new things about me!
And now, we have the Realization Of the Day or ROD! yehahaha

Realization Of the Day (ROD):
I have a new pet peeve.
When strangers walk at the same pace as me and there is plenty of room not to,
please either walk ahead or behind.
And when I speed up, that doesn't mean you should too!

eating 2 lunches.

Meaningful Action of the Day (MAD):
i ate back to back today.
was it worth it? oh yes.
clinton st. baking company maine blueberry pancakes with maple butter is a dream come true.
best pancakes i have ever had in my life.

before this delightful treat i had a glorious burger from prune.
i feel like this burger is underrated.
i had my doubts because it came on an english muffin,
but it had me at first bite!

i just got laid off, now what?

I was laid off last week on Wednesday.

Day 0 - State of Shock
I had a feeling there was going to be lay offs, but I just didn't think I was going to be a part of it. Admittedly, I wasn't completely satisfied or fulfilled with my job, but it was good enough. I was getting paid well and I finally felt comfortable with what I was doing.
It was sad. It sucked. Yet, I was okay with it.

Day 1 - I am worried.
I was not worried that I wouldn't be able to find a job. I was worried about what I was going to do next.
I still need to weigh my options and I need some time to settle before I figure out what I am going to do next.
I do not want to make any rash decisions. So, I am going to soak in my emotions and see how the week plays out.

Day 2 - This is exciting!
Yay, I have options! Instead of seeing these options as a goliath of a decision, I'm taking it as time to explore! Trying to take this worry cloud and change it to excitement! See what I really want to do next and what makes me happy.
Being in my upper 20s, I don't want to just jump into anything. I am giving myself the freedom to relax and choose my next step. I feel so mature...yehahahah

I've decided that everyday til I find a job or am in my next move, I am going to post what I did that day that was meaningful.

Meaningful Action of the Day:
I finally visited my friend Mark's place in Brooklyn (whoop, Crown Heights!). He has lived there for a little over a year and I haven't seen it. I know, I know....BAD FRIEND! yehahaa
It's super cutesy with baby blue painting and great details off the Nostrand 3 stop.
Plus, I got to check out and eat at Gloria's. Oxtail with callaloo and mac&cheese on top of rice w/ beans...SOOOOOOOOOooOoOOooOO yummy!! Must visit again! Gloria's and Mark's that is!!! yehahahah

you got some seoul.

korea. korea. korea. how do i describe thee.

party. party. party.

yehahaha

5 words: food. party. drinks. spas. games.

Food 

Janet took the lead and ordered up the food for us.

We ordered a ton of fish and fresh seafood and feasted.

I will remember Korea for the cheap eats.

Food and drinks are so cheap.

It would cost $25 - $30 to be completely drunk and full! WHAT A STEAL!!!

Party

And we went out. We went out a lot.

We went out every night to the wee hours 

and partied the only way TTN knows how.

This was at Boys  Noize. Ahh yes, the cube!

This may have been the night of Polar Bear shots (SO GOOD), 

me wearing a cool bow, and making a grand entrance 

via cart. yehahahah

YES!

Drinks

Ok, maybe this order should be reversed.

We drink and we drank plenty.

Drinking is cheap out and about!

A bottle of soju is something ridiculous like $2

a bottle a 7/11. Don't mind if I do.

We mainly drank at bars. No need to pre-party.

That's me at the wine buffet.

Yes, I said it. Wine buffet.

Yippeee!

Spas

So, I don't have a photo of us at the spa.

Didn't want the camera to fog up.

Biking in Gyeongju.

They are wonderful and what a steal.

I think it was something like $15 for as long as our heart desired.

And they are clean and beautiful.

Yes, loved it.

We had one crazy night where we snuck into the hotel spa in Busan.

We snuck in through the stairs and used the spa in all it's glory.

To make a long story short, 

Janet and I got caught underneath the lounging chairs.

How did we fit, who knows?

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

That was us biking around in Gyeongju. It's so pretty there! Rent bikes and explore this cute town!!!!

The palaces, the history, oh so much to learn!

Of course, not everyone were as fabulous as Janet and I are on a bike, so everyone else went tandem. yehahaah. So much fun!!!! A lot of people go when the cherry blossoms are blooming. I saw a photo and it looks magical.

Games

I love carnival games. LOVE THEM.

And Korea loves them too. 

There are carnival games all over the place.

And we played. I wish the States had them 

everywhere you went.

Nothing like drinking and winning!

Culture and Tourism

We also spent a of time touring all the different neighborhoods.

Itaewon. Hyewa. Myeondong. Insadong. Hongdae. Gangnam.

And a bunch of other places. Luckily,  my friend, Janet, was living there 

and she speaks Korean. It made it a lot easier to get around. 

I didn't have to think much where I was, but was able to just follow the crowd.

We also made it to the DMZ. Learned a lot!

It's crazy to think about. To live next to  another country where you have to prepare in case of invasion.

It definitely opened my eyes.

It was my first time to spend an extended amount of time in a more developed Asian country. I was in Taiwan, but only for a day.

Hoping Japan is in the near horizon!

no big deal.just a quarter life crisis.

Manu, Amazon, Peru

When I think about a moment when I was happy and I mean truly truly happy...I always thinks back to a moment when I was at the beach, diving, hiking, on a river, or anywhere in nature really. It's a time when I thought of nothing. Where nothing could bother me and nothing ever did bother me. I appreciated it for what it was. I thought of nothing else, but what was in front of me. I saw what only was that. And that was that.

And now, I have a 9 - 5 job. What I look forward to are the weekends when I could just sleep, rest, and hang out. Why? Shouldn't life be more than just weekends and bottled experiences?

Life is constantly around me, but I do not see it for what it is.

This is not to say that a 9 - 5 job is the sole reason for my discontent. It's really any piece of my life where I do not accept things for what they are.

I love traveling, but even then there were moments where I wanted to use my brain more and establish some sort of routine.

So, what to do? What to do? I feel like it's a big conundrum. Can someone just solve this for me?

yehahaha. 2013 here I come. I am creating my To Do List. My Goals. My Passion Projects. And doing things that make me happy and comprise each piece of me.

Yippeee!

the daily grind

That's right folks. I am in New York.

I made the move from the beaches of California to the rivers of Manhattan in July 2011.

I've lived here for a year and a half. Yet, it feels like I just got here last week.

I've survived 2 abnormal hurricanes that hit Manhattan. Roamed the streets of New York unemployed. Worked at a non-profit and I am now at a start up. 

i left my heart in seville.

Have you ever been to a place where the moment you stepped foot, the moment you laid your eyes on the city that a piece of you was already there? I know sounds a bit dramatic, but those that have felt that know what I am talking about.

Seville, Seville, Seville in just a few moments it took my breath away.

I don't know why exactly. Perhaps the huge sidewalks, the tiny allies, the cafes, the trams, the cleanliness, the architecture, the Flamenco. It is hard to explain except the fact it was just magical.

To the right is the Flamenco show. There is a nightly performance for free! Hip hip!

The streets of Seville. So gorgeous! And even prettier in person! I was walking very, very, very early in the morning hence no one was there...

Plaza de Espana. This place has such gorgeous detail and tiles! To the right is art that lines the wall of the building. So pretty!

In Granada, you have to go to the Alhambra and in Seville, you must go to the Real Alcazar.

They both have the Islamic/Moorish influences, but in terms of which one is better than the other, I leave that for you to decide. Best word of advice: Bring your student id! Major discounts!!

Well, in all honesty...this is as much as I am willing to say.

I think the Alhambra is in such an awe inspiring location that you cannot help, but to be impressed. It is so vast and atop a hill. You have sweeping views and the mountains definitely help.

The Real Alcazar has such fine details and in such great condition. I cannot get over the designs.

And the gardens! It was definitely orange season when I was around. Fruitful trees make it all the better! So many pretty gardens in Seville to enjoy and relax.

The streets of Seville are also very cute. So many great nooks and crannies to get lost in.

I love the paint, the ground, oh gosh I think I am in love.

Are you a Berber?

I took a train from Asilah to Fes and I end up meeting a man on the train who owned one of the two tanneries in Fes. I wanted to stay at a hostel, but he recommended I stay

at a guesthouse. BEST DECISION EVER. I stayed in a traditional Moroccan house that is hundreds of years old in the medina.

I walk up the stairs and enter into the great hall. Really high ceilings! UUhhMAZING!

I highly recommend you stay at:

Dar el Ouedghiri

49, Oude Souafine, Akibt Sbaa, Douh, Fez Medina

email: Dar_lalafatima@hotmail.com

I ate some delicious Moroccan food. A savory chicken pastry!Some of the best food in Fes is made out of her kitchen.

That's the doorway into my room. Beautiful, right?

From there, one of the tannery workers picked me up from the guesthouse and wandered in the 40,000 plus streets of Fes.

Crazy, right?! I definitely would have gotten loswithout Touhammi. Well, my bodyguard really. yehahaha

I love getting lost in there.

To the left is a photo of Ahmed who I met on the train. He really took care of me and showed me around Fes (well, got Touhammi to do it).

Ahmed says I bring him luck. A bunch of Japanese came right after me and bought a bunch of goodies.

I left with a customized leather jacket, sandals, wallets, keychains, and a chair. Ya, I may have gotten overboard a bit.

That's a view from above the tannery. Cool!

And of course I had to look at some rugs! So beautiful! Gosh, everything is beautiful in Morocco.

Alas, my time in Morocco had to come to an end and I had to go back to Spain. Woe is me...yehahaha. Next stop, Seville!

And about the title of the post "Are you a Berber?" I got asked that so many times! I guess Berbers really know how to bargain. Plus, I guess I kind of look like a Berber. I didn't believe it until they showed me photos of famous Berber singers. Funny!

Rewind

Let me take you back to the beginning when I first started the journey into Morocco...

I am quite the lucky girl. I wouldn't really recommend a woman to travel on her own in Morocco especially if she didn't know French or Arabic. But I did. Yes, I did. Let me remind you. I traveled on my own throughout South America, Eastern Europe, and New Zealand. In an Islamic country, a female on her own is slightly different. I didn't join some grand tour, but I took all local buses, trains, taxis, and walked a long ways. And if you do travel on your own, plan it out! PLAN!

It just is a bit different being the only female in a bus. Or wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt and feeling that I still wasn't clothed enough. When I traveled in Egypt with my fellow female friend, there were so many other tourists there that I never felt like I what I was wearing was inappropriate or that I was out of place. (Well, except for maybe on instance, but that is a whole other story on its own).

I traveled from Algeciras, Spain to Ceuta (Spanish territory that borders Morocco) to then catch a bus to Tangier which takes about 45 min to an hour. If you travel from Algeciras to Morocco, make sure the ferry actually goes to the port in Tangier and not to Ceuta. Even though the bus is free to get to Tangier, it is just annoying and confusing. The bus drops you off in a roundabout. I was disoriented and did not know where anything was. The bus station is only on the other side of one of the roundabout streets. It literally is a 20 second taxi ride. Walk it! And try to ask the locals for directions. Or just check every street (there are only 4) and it should not be too far from the roundabout. It is small and a yellow building. I was tricked that it was further and I ended up taking a taxi. Lame.

Anyways, I was headed to Chefchaouen which I hear is a beautiful city with only white and blue buildings nestled in the Rif Mountains. I had my ticket ready to go, but the bus did not leave until about an hour and a half later. I got to the bus station around 4pm. I took the 2pm ferry and Morocco is an hour behind Spain. So, the whole journey from Algeciras to Tangier took about 3 hours. A lot longer than expected!

Back to the story...So, I met this 45-50 year old and 28 year old Moroccan men who were heading to Asilah. I wouldn't arrive in Chefchaouen until about 9:30-10:00 which is well into the night. I didn't have a place booked and I didn't have a map so I was even unsure about my game plan. I was convinced and worth the risk so I decided to go along.

asilah, asilah, asilah.

Surprise Morocco is GREEN! G-R-E-E-N. I know I was literally across Spain, but when I thought of Morocco I saw deserts and brown and sand! Lots and lots of sand! But no, Asilah was green as ever. It is a small beach town known for a music festival and Paradise Beach. Ahh yes, it was magical.

After Tangier, Asilah was a relief.

I stayed in a guesthouse in the middle of all this greenery. It is about 10 minute cab ride from town. Once you veer off the main road and hit the dirt road, you are getting closer. With only the moonlight to guide me and the sheep to pass my way, the experience was surreal.

All Moroccan cities have a medina which means "city." Asilah has a small medina and easily navigable. I did not get so lost. It was easy to get in and out of it. Asilah is an artist's town and there was so much street art. Such a charming town! And the medina was oh so CLEAN!!!

And after seeing some of the Moroccan goodies and crafts, I wanted more. And I was ready for the big city life! Off to Fes!

tapas and beer

Nothing beats Granada's cheap eats and drinks. For every beer, you get free tapas, say whaaaat?!! SO GOOD. A beer is about 2 Euros and with just about 10 Euros you could probably have a slight buzz and a full belly.

Having only been to Barcelona, I didn't really know what to expect from Grenada. It is a bigger city than what I thought it was going to be. It definitely has such an interesting blend of European and Arabic architecture and influence.

MUST SEE: The Alhambra. It is a beautiful fortress that rests in the hills of Granada.

You must also go to the view points at night and take some pretty photos. I suggest to get your ticket online to avoid the line and that way you know the time you are allowed into the palace.

I am now obsessed with Arabic doors. They are so beautiful!! My future home will definitely have some of them.

I roamed around the Albaycin which is the Arabic quarter and Serramonte which is the Gypsy quarter.

I seriously got lost wandering around the Albaycin. The streets are so confusing, small, and at times claustrophobic.

I felt like I was in a maze. An action movie can definitely be shot here!! I was so intrigued by the Arabic influences of Granada that I had to go to Morocco. Next up, Tawny in Moroccco.

The New Girl

So, since I last left off I was doing a bunch of recaps of my trips and also writing a little bit about the Philippines. And now, this girl is in New York!

I am on a mission to live and find a job here by any means necessary! yehahaha Once I land the job, I will be heading out of the country for a week or so before. Everybody, think happy thoughts that I get a job soon so that I could blog more about the randomness of being abroad.

Exploring

Since the last update, I have been up and around the Philippines. I actually have a flight to catch in an hour so this is going to be short. Below is a list of the places and what I have been up to in Manila. I will update with a full description of each.

1. Vigan 04/28 - 05/01: The only preserved colonial Spanish town in the Philippines.

2. Sofitel Moonlit 3k run 05/07: Night run that included buffet and free flowing San Mig.

3. Pacquiao fight 05/08: He won.

4. Bohol 05/09 - 05/12: Tourist spot. Chocolate Hills, Diving, and Tarsiers!

5. Banaue/Sagada 05/12 - 05/15: Famous for the Rice Terraces.

And now going to Coron from 05/16 - 05/20 for diving! diving! diving!

There is not enough travel information about the Philippines. So, I will try to recollect everything I did the past week for information.

Culture Shock

Well, not really culture shock, but some things that I do not think I can or will get used to and some other things that I just lovelove.

1. If a guy answers the phone when I call the lobby, he usually says "bodyguard" or "guard." I chuckle to myself every time.

2. Not cleaning up after myself after eating at a fast food restaurant. I have to consciously remind myself.

3. Gravy and rice. So good. Now, why isn't gravy a condiment in the States? Well, at least not in California! We need to keep up with the times.

4. Hiring a driver, maid, assistant, or what have you makes everything so convenient. Granted it is not that cheap, but definitely affordable!

5. Dampa. Buy seafood or whatever you want at the market and go up the stairs to have it cooked fresh for you anyway you like it.

6. Polite people, but not so polite drivers. Filipinos are ultra nice when it comes to everything else besides driving.

7. I always feel awkward when I come back late at night. The guards say "Morning, mam!" I am usually drunk at that point and feel like a child coming home late.

8. Garlic fried rice should be available everywhere. The States again needs to catch on!

9. Turkey does not exist here. :( Or quite difficult to find.

That is all for now. I have to write down when I think of it because I am drawing a blank.

Masinloc, Zambales

My dad is from a small town about 4 hours north of Manila. During Holy Week, everything in Manila shuts down on Thursday and Good Friday. My cousin, my nephew, their katulong (helper), and me all headed to our parents’ town for the week to see some family and to relax at the beach.

Day 1 (Tuesday 09/19)

We leave Manila at 5 am to avoid as much traffic as possible. We stop at Subic for some gas and Chow King. We finally get to my aunt’s house in Matalvis around 11. Matalvis is in the mountains and just outside the city proper. She has an amazing house with a view of all the islands and the town. I can’t get over the view! Look to the right. We go to Palauig later in the day for some beach time. The water was so warm and the tide was so low. It seemed like we could walk for ages.

Day 2 (Wednesday)

We wake up around 8am and have breakfast at the Bahay Kubo (nipa hut) because there is more of a breeze. We wait for the katulongs (helpers) to finish making our lunch. We then head to Potipo’t Island with our cousin’s girlfriend. We park the car at Potipo’t Gateway and take a boat to the island. The island was featured in the Miss Universe. The water and white sand is all gorgeous there, but their needs to be better maintenance of the island. There was too much litter! :(

Day 3 (Thursday)

My cousins and I all take the bangka (Philippine wooden boat) to Bakala which is a house in the middle of the ocean. You have to get the mayor’s permission to go the house. It is all worth it. The view is ridiculous and the water is at most waist deep during high tide. There was some counselor there who had a jet ski and all of his little kronies were making unnecessary noises, shouts, and screams whenever their drove it. The counselor heard us speak English and “Welcomed us to his town.” We told him our last name and asked his. It started with the letter “E” which means that we are probably related. Before we left, we got some sea urchin and opened it there. Yummy! Uni is way overpriced anyway. Iprefer the ocean to mouth method.

Day 4 (Friday)

We go with my guy cousin to go to the sabong (cock fighting). This was so exciting! It was like some secret language the way they make bets. We turned our 200 pesos to 1,500 pesos! Yippee!!! It is really a fight to the death though. We were one of the few women. I can see how it can be addicting.

Day 5 (Saturday)

We head back to the city and said goodbye to the slow, relaxing, clean air lifestyle.