xmas 08

i will be celebrating holidays with my family in the province. amidst global crisis and personal turmoil i will enjoy this christmas together with my family and my old friends.  i will be seeing less of them this time since some of them will move to a different country and so am i (crossing my fingers). hopefully we won't forget each other wherever we are. i don't want to be sentimental. just preparing myself to what the future may bring. 

this year i must say is one heck of a roller coaster ride. i've been to lots of places locally and outside the country. i've got new friends and lost some. earned some money and spend most. moved on and now trying to move on again (whatever that means). i might not have completed my goals according to plan but hey there is another year to come. i am not losing hope yet. there's plenty of time to plan again for a new set of goals. hopefully this time, its for real.

to all of you out there happy holidays. 

all i want for christmas is..

my grown-up christmas list includes:    dyaraaaaan

and i learned all the details here. yes i know in times of crisis like this i need to save save and save. and then what? bring all the money i saved to my grave? just kidding. i don't know yet if i'm getting this one but one day (when i'm depressed and everything seems to be shitty) yes i'm gonna get this one without hesitation. but for now i will just lust about it.

but of course its just a thing. all i really want for christmas is.... YOU 

have a very merry christmas everyone :)

awakening

i was surfing the net just this moment when something struck me. for the last months i am trying to change my lifestyle and trying to be thrifty as possible so that i could save more money. i am planning on working abroad. i actually have no concrete plan (as usual) but hopefully this coming year i would be able to push it through (cross my fingers). as i was saying, i was trying to have some change in me but i have not set any definite goals. i have no priorities set yet. i just want to become like this or that. so right now while typing this entry i am checking as well other sites that have some good advices on setting your priorities and achieving your goals (without suffering hehehe). okay this should be a serious one really as i am not getting any younger.  i just hope that i could give more time to them instead to the temptations coming from all directions distracting me every now and then.

music: boyce avenue

tired of listening to your favorite artists? seldom i hear a new flavor of sound. okay i might not have the best ear for a good music but when i heard this group/band called boyce avenue , it was like, hey they are awesome. who are these guys? then i checked their vids in youtube. and you should as well and see for yourself what i'm talking about. i like their version of realize(colbie caillat) and 4 minutes(madonna). i have yet to listen to the whole album. 

i wish i could watch them perform live but 3rd world is far from the land of honey and  milk. maybe if they go on world tour and find a time to schedule a concert here in the phillies. and i wanna watch them for free. :) 

RAM upgrade Part 3

Okay so i am done inserting the module into its exact slot. i boot up the mac, sign the cross and cross my fingers.

well the boot up was fine but my time and date settings went back as far as 1969. that's easy to change. i tried my internet but no i have no connection. the wifi signal icon on the top panel was missing so definitely the airport card was not seated correctly. i opened again the mac and fitted the card until it snug perfectly. powered on and there it is. checking my current memory now shows 1.25 GB. thanks god. i am not that stupid as i thought. :)

well i have to test the loading time of each application and see if upgrading my RAM is the solution. will blog again soon. i have to go buy some foods now.

RAM upgrade Part 2

so here's the memory module i bought from softbox.  it was delivered to me although the delivery boy kind of got lost. i bought a set of screwdrivers as well. 

strontium brand ddr333 pc2700 RAM. this is a singaporean brand based on the manual

this is a 49.50Php screwdrivers set from Handyman store

i was inserting the module to the slot. according to the instruction it had to be 30 degrees slanted. well i tried any angles until i finally managed to get the module in.

RAM upgrade Part 1

i needed to upgrade my RAM. most of the time when i am running multiple applications everything seems to slow down and the waiting time is really frustrating. checking my current version, it shows 256MB. I am not that techie type but i can go around and check what i need. based on apple's site my ram is ddr333 pc2700 sodimm. ok whatever that means. checking the philmug site, some sellers' price for 1G is 3500Php. Holy cow! Anyway i tried to look in tipidpc and saw that pcgilmore store has one. so i went to the store in gilmore st only to find out that it was already out of stock. i was fooled. i called the day before just to be sure but what the heck.

i tried tipidpc again hoping i could find a seller. there was one but he seems not too eager to sell his merchandise for some reason. i let the day pass. last night before i went to sleep i checked again tipidpc and saw a new ad. i texted the contact but heared no reply this morning. i called them and they said the item is available and ready for delivery but they did not get my text last night. i closed the deal and now i have the module. yey... let's see if i can pull this off.

movie: Bolt

Toni and I watch Bolt last sunda in eastwood cinema. compared to madagascar 2 i like bolt better. maybe there was a bolt in me. i used to think that i am strong and everything will fall into place in a snap of my finger but the real world isn't like what i've thought. i need to integrate my make-believe world to the real world and find myself in the middle of these and see if i would meet "my person". 

there's a lot of  "mittens" out there who are hungry to eat you alive while showing your weakness but suddenly becomes meek when you show them your stronger and caught them off-guard. taking advantage of the situation for your own good is better than being taken advantage of leaving you a prey and a loser. but becoming friends with them and living in harmony is the best option. i guess. 

project: my picturebook

its been 9 months since i have planned on starting/creating my own picture book for my travels but for some reasons i have not started a single page of it yet. its the only reason i bought my mac and procrastination eaten me up since then that until now i have nothing except my mac (and some postings in multiply, on this blog and friendster). 

ok i lied. i actually created one but i am not satisfied since the creative part in me is/was missing. i could only show the cover of the album for the mean time which might be replaced in the future once i get myself back from the dark side.

ps

i need to buy a good printer and a glossy magazine type paper in the bookstore plus i need to upgrade my ram. don't ask why.

book: child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

this is Tom Rob Smith's first novel and it was a sure hit in the bookstores. his style of writing is really fresh and fast-paced. 

the story revolves around the serial killing of children in russia during stalin era. here the protagonist, Leo, finds out the killing is related to each other and started to chase the killer even after being demoted from his high-ranking post in the government. deceptions, truths and lies, breath-taking chase, merciless killings and tortures filled the book. you can't put the book down until the last page i assure you. i really enjoyed reading this book and i could say this one is worthy of your money. 

this book will be made into movie soon and will be directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Black Hawk Down) to be shown in 2010.

     

travel blog: Camiguin Part 2

Camiguin is an island in the south that boasts some nature's wonders. People are warm and they live a simple life. I guess crime rate is low in that province. Foods were great. And my favorite Pastel was even made there. I don't know this fact. I thought it was made in CdO.

 

Mantigue Island, Katibawasan Falls, Sunken Cemetery

Hot Spring, by the Bay

some local foods in Camiguin

Pastel by VjAndep

You may buy Pastel for pasalubong in their retail outlet which is by far cheaper than those sold in the pier or in CdO. However they have an outlet in CdO which sells the same price in Camiguin.

Like Palawan, Camiguin is a good place to visit. Far from the pollution and noise of the city. Here you can enjoy the simple and quiet life you long for after a month of stressful work. And by travelling locally we are helping our countrymen earn some money. We pay for their services and buy their (local) products how cheap or expensive they may be.

travel blog: Camiguin Part 1 Lanzones Festival

People in Camiguin were celebrating their Lanzones Festival when we went there. I actually do not know that there was a feast at that time so i guess our visit there was some sort of a timing. I took some snap shots of the dancers who competed for the street dancing competition. it was a colorful event. but after watching 8 or so groups my interest gone weary and we proceeded to Mantigue island for some snorkling. The irony of the festival is that there was a scarcity of lanzones in the island and that we were able to buy the fruit in Misamis.

freeze me

i wish i could ask my brain to stop from thinking even for a minute.

i will stop dreaming for a while. i'd stop feeling happy, bored, angry. just nothing. i feel like i am exhausted. its like i want to shutdown just right now. even big computers stop processing while in the middle of system maintenance right? i hope i could too. no don't try to imitate me. try to think of your own trip in life bro.

access forbidden

pang-ilan na ba to sa mga ginawa kong blog. hindi ko na mabilang. pano lagi na lang naba-block ng mis ang mga blog sites. ha ha ha. ang galing nila no. no offense. trabaho lang. for sure ilang days o week lang block na to. pero bago mangyari yun magbablog muna ako kahit saglit lang. kahit ngayon lang. kahit ngayong week lang.

travel: my next destination is.....

just barely 2 days and gagolero will be flying coach again. i made a poem for this island. i know my writing skills suck and i write like a 5 grader but what can i do? so here it goes.



out of fire i was born
my beauty then was known
all the people wants to see me
travelling by land by air and by sea



i am an island in the south
my beauty was passed on by word of mouth
with springs and white beaches and waterfalls
city life will surely be forgettable



come and visit me for a short stay
and i will make your worries away


gagolero/oct 21 2008/7:00pm


PS


i have yet to experience the horror stories of those who went flying with Cebu Pacific via Terminal 3.

pictionary

i tried to play with my ixus800is but since i can't find a subject i decided to shoot some things in my room.

    

before you enter the hellzone here's what is gonna greet you: restricted area. for no reason is the room restricted. but anyone can come inside anyway.

the patient's bed. why patient? i don't know. everything is white. from the bedcovers to the pillowcase. only some stripes of purple on the blanket but who cares?

small cabinet holds some boxes. you don't wanna know other stuff in it.

i pretend sometimes that i know how to play it. let's start rockin.

naruto in the middle of the buddha face and a "piggy bank".

coins sometimes called money. he he he he

kon, mr. bean, dreamcatcher and donaldduck keyring. on the wall of fame.

lights anyone? planning to start lung cancer? be my guest.

baguio silver.

shoes?

wanna smell nice?

mp3 player? yes and no.

where i save my hidden files. yes. i don't have pc nor laptop. poor me.

let's plan ahead.

minsan

minsan kelangang mag-isip ng mga bagay na pwedeng gawin kahit hindi ganun kaimportante para lang may magawa. para lang may konting direksiyon. something to look forward to. kahit hindi ganun kalaki ang impak sa ekonomiya o sa kabuhayan ng iba. kahit hindi makatulong na makaahon sa kahirapan ng buhay ng ibang tao. basta makakabuti para sa iyong sarili. basta hindi makakasama sa iyong sariling katawan at pagkatao, sa kapaligiran, sa buhay ng ibang tao.

minsan ito ang katwiran ko sa buhay. minsan okay ito. pero hindi naman aplikabol palagi lalo na sa mature na mga sitwasyon. pero okay lang, okay na ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. ayoko rin naman ng masyadong kumplikadong buhay.

ikaw gusto mo?

i love my guitar

  

  

this is my two year old guitar which i play only whenever i feel like playing. maybe that is why until now i am not good at it. hmmm

my gifts just arrived

i remember i posted some of my material wish list months ago. i just received my RL Silver today delivered by kuya bong. thanks to him. i also got my Samsung YP S2 months back but its just now i got the chance to share it with you guys. actually i can't think of particular topic today so might as well blog about it. here's some pics to share.

here's the cousins of my RL:

and the extended families: 

note (this was taken before my room was painted bloody f--ckin red) :)

i am not into scents really. but who wants to smell bad? 

PS: i am sicked today. i already took one bioflu, tuseran forte, solmux and salbutamol. see pic below. 

i got fever, runny nose and cough. i woke up this morning with a dry throat and i can't hardly eat but a glutton like me can devour any food regardless of my body condition so there. i have a party to attend tomorrow. my office-mates who resigned are throwing a party. so i hope my condition will be better when the beers are served and the mic is passed. videoke time!!!!

pissed on politics

saw some news on TV this morning. in this third world country 3 fugitives who escaped their prison cell was shot to death. i don't know what they were thinking. what they would do if in case they escaped scathe-free. well they died. so they can't do anything now. good riddance? nabawasan ang masasamang tao/elementong gumagala sa lipunan pero ang masasamang tao na nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, nananamantala sa kanilang estado at posisyon ay buhay pa rin.  sweet life.

actually i do not care about them. but i can't help it. one way or another i might be affected by these acts. may mga tao sigurong ayaw lang magbago. na mas masarap sa pakiramdam nila kapag may kapangyarihan silang magpasunod sa mga maliliit na tao. mga taong walang kalaban-laban. mga taong nawalan na rin ng pag-asa sa buhay. nabubuhay na lang sa karampot na kinikita. parang mga hayop na naghahalukay ng makakain sa mga tambak ng basura. ironic kase may opinyon ako tungkol dito pero wala akong ginagawa para makatulong. naiinis ako sa mga pulitiko na magaling manloko ng mga taong mahihina. madaling mapagsamantalahan. ano ba ang gagawin nila sa napakaraming kayamanan na iipunin nila sa mundong ito? hindi naman nila kayang i-enjoy lahat ng milyones na nakukurakot nila di ba? madami naman sigurong bagay na pwedeng mapuntahan ang mga kayamanan nilang gustong angkinin. pwede namang itulong sa mga taong maysakit, i-improve ang mga ospital, mga pangunahing lansangan, magbukas ng bagong trabaho, etc etc. subalit hindi nila naiisip yun.

ewan ko ba. ganito naman ata kahit sa ibang bansa. kung ayaw niyong magbago bahala kayo. tatamaan din kayo ng ligaw na bala. o kaya ipapapatay din naman kayo ng mga kaaway niyo. kita kita na lang tayo sa impyerno.

naiinis lang ako kaya ako ganito ngayon pero ayokong mapunta sa impyerno. sila na lang.

travel blog: hongkong revisited

day one

i woke up early. about 2:00 am since i need to fetch toni from her place. err. i mean i need to be at her place so that her dad could give us a ride to NAIA. i arrived at her place in cainta about 3am and waited for about 15 minutes since she just got out of shower.

we arrived at the airport about 4:30am. we got our boarding passs about 5am already.

the plane left at exactly 7am and arrived at hongkong international airport by 9am. we got out of the airport at around 11am due to a long queue at the immigration counter. we took the airport express and rode the bus to marco polo prince. we did some unpacking and some rest. i got my own bed with 4 pillows. god i love to sleep already but i don't want to waste the time sleeping.

 around 1pm we roamed the hotel ground until we found crystal jade resto. we need to wait since we are seven in the group. lunch was quite good though i only had some chinese soup and i forgot what they call it dimsum.

we took some walk in the afternoon and look for money changer. the current rate is US$1 = HK$7.01 but luckily we found one that is much better. he gave us $7.7. that was a catch. i shelled out US$200 for the day. we took the MTR to go to mongkok to do some shopping. i am not familiar with the train system in hk but if you know how to read you'll get by. we purchased the octupus card for $150 which is good until it has value left (i guess $100) an you can refund the remaining amount including $50. we took the tsuen wan line from tsim sha tsui to yau me tei then change train on kwunteng line from yau me tei to mongkok. so basically the lines going back is just the same.

in mongkok there's a lot of shops to choose from. if you are looking for gadgets like mobile phones of any brands and models, digital cameras, high-end tv, portable video players, watches, shirts, pants, shorts, cosmetics, antiques etc. you name it they have it.. that is if you know where to find what you are looking for.there are lots of sasa stores in every corners and turns  as well as watsons, bonjour and i don't know the others. my feet are already aching what the hell. its gonna be years again before i could visit the place so i just ignored the pain and keep on walking, window shopping and did some buying. i got myself a hummer edt for $210. its quite cheaper compared to the price in the phils. i also bought some cream for my eyebag and mini edt for pasalubong. i think this mini edts are freebies for the perfs that you are gonna buy but since i cannot buy all my friends perfs the same size that i got for myself i just bought some for them. i was not lucky enough to find a shirt for myself coz its hard to choose specially if there is to choose from so i decided to just look around. we went back to the hotel around 7pm and had our dinner at xxx. food there was cheap and not that good really. we were planning to have the cruise but unfortunately it was raining that night so we just stayed in the hotel. toni wants to go outside to do some late shopping so we strolled kowloon god knows what street was that but i remember that street coz we went there in '04 when we first went there. anyway bossini and giordano had a sale that day/night so i was able to buy myself a shirt and a walking shorts. we got like 10% discount. went back to bed around 11pm.

   

  

day two

woke up early.our IT for the day is hk island. we took mtr to get to admiralty. we are supposed to explore the island but we have no solid plans so we took a cab instead and went to a temple in hollywood rd. toni's cuz tried a fortune teller for a $100 i guess to know the future. whatever. bought some ref magnet then we went to the tram for a peak ride. the ticket we got covered the tram ride and the visit to m. taussaud wax museum. we had our lunch there as well and in the afternoon when everyone is so tired of walking we planned on going back to the hotel since it was raining already. instead we went to times square and sogo for further shopping. and for some reason it did not end there. we went back to mongkok to buy mobile phones. they bough like 5 or 6 units. cellphones is cheaper there buy 1500-2000 pesos.. really. since it was still raining hard that day we decided to have our dinner there. looking for a place to eat was hard since it was also raining hard and its already dark though the place was full of lights. we saw one familiar place- kfc. afterwards we went to walk of the stars in kowloon. it was there we learned that the cruise is operating even when its raining. how stupid were we. anyway, we just watched the symphony of lights and headed back to the hotel.

   

  

day 3

we checked-out early in marco polo and took a cab to hollywood disney hotel. after checking-in and having our breakfast in the hotel we went to disneyland. it was raining that morning so its  sort of difficult and uncomfortable to roam around and explore the whole theme park. the first location that will greet you is the main street. like the old american street. walking further will lead you to tomorrowland, fantasyland and pirateland. i love the golden mickeys show and the festival of lion king. i like as well the jungle cruise and many adventures of winnie the pooh. i hate the space mountain ride though. i am not a fan of this kind of ride for some reason. i don't like speed and the feeling of being dragged and that feeling in your stomach when the ride is going down at a speed. i hate that. stitch encounter is quite fun though coz raymond was the prisoner number ?? i forgot the number. i bought some merchandise mostly pasalubong for my family in main street. all the stores i noticed sell the same stuff. we had our dinner at main street corner cafe. the waitress there was so accomodating and even warned us that the fireworks was to begin in 5 minutes so we need to hurry finish our fod and pay. the  spectacle of lights was a sight to behold.i never saw one in enchanted kingdom so i cannot make any comparison. we went to disney hotel quite satisfied and tired at the same time. as if the night is not over, toni decided to do some night walk around the hotel. there is really nothing to see since its about 10pm.

  

  

  

  

day 4

that day we went to ngong ping 360, had a cable car ride and walked god knows how many steps was that to the giant buddha. it was raining that day again but that did not drench our spirit. it was our last day anyway.  the cable ride was 30 mins long passing the sea and mountains in lantau. the ticket we got was good for the cable car ride, walk with buddha, and monkey's tale. tian tan buddha or the giant buddha was a sight to behold from afar as you can see from my pics in my previous entry.

  

 

overall this experience was really amazing. one place with lots of sights, delicious food, disciplined citizens, and shopping stores. i did not enjoy this much the first time i came here. maybe i learned or experienced something new. next stop... i don't know yet. need to save again for the next adventure.