Greetings! (part 11)
Posted by special_child at 05:15 PM on April 6, 2007 as a favorite post.
Blogger's Note: I only posted this today, here in Muscat. But I finished the entry before I boarded the plane towards here.
It actually took me another flight out of Manila just to construct a new entry. 
Was it too lazy of me? Geez. Anyways... Sawasdee! I'm now here at the newly-constructed Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and if you're well-informed in your travel trivia you should know where I'm at. If not, then maybe the greeting will give it. I'm in Bangkok!
Well actually, now that I'm creating this entry, we're about to leave. But we had an almost-two-day stay in Thailand's capital. And it was really a refreshing time! Unfortunately, it was only refreshing in terms of adding new experience to your belt. It was sweltering hot there! Since we had to abuse time (it's just less than 48 hours), we toured the city at noontime and in the afternoon, thereby making us feel rather uncomfortable. Right now, I can notice my skin color change from not-so-dark to dark. But what's more problematic is that my camera's batteries were not working when we arrived! How annoying. Good thing before we left yesterday, I got new batteries.
I honestly believe that when going to Thailand, you'd just want to see the elephants and Phuket. I don't even know one particular tourist spot in Bangkok (no offense to the Bangkokians who might come across this entry). But after those two days, it was nice to see that Bangkok has some hidden jewels up her sleeve that surprised me as I went by her streets.
It's a good thing to have mom's cousin tour us around (mostly because it's all-expense paid). Not only was she the perfect hostess, she was also a good tour guide. Add to that a nonchalant talk about all our relatives back in Marinduque, and you've got yourself a mini-reunion. Together with one of her nieces, she went out of her way to give us a Bangkok experience we'd never forget.
Top Ten Realizations: Bangkok Style
10. Buddhism is the major religion. So you'd see a lot of temples blending in with newly-constructed buildings.
9. Because of number 10, there are a lot of monks roaming around the city. Public transportation around Bangkok would even offer spaces for them.
8. There are a lot of ways to go around Bangkok, and I believe I've tried them all. I'm referring to public transportation, which includes: taxis, buses, boats, the SkyTrain, the MRT, and the tuk-tuk.
7. Thailand's king looks like Fidel Ramos (actually, this is my mom's cousin's idea).
6. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the largest airport under one roof. Well, it felt huge to me.
5. Just like in Singapore, there are a lot of tourists lingering around! A lot of Caucasians, Asians, even Blacks! But unlike in Singapore, you can easily distinguish the locals in Bangkok.
4. There's an additional note to number 5. The difficulty here lies in distinguishing Thai people from Filipinos.
3. The staple tree (and I mean staple in the sense that it's used almost everywhere - parks, sidestreets, even major tourist attractions) in Bangkok is the tamarind tree. Hooray for Knorr and Maggi.
2. They have a weekend market that is SO vast, even locals get lost in its "labyrinthine alleys". Unfortunately, I was able to see it from the window of a bus.
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. You don't actually feel the difference of the baht from the peso, since they have close values.
I'll look forward to spending my next week in Muscat. And oh, we're boarding! 
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud 
P.S. See you in my next entry!
Currently enjoying "Tell Him", performed by Haley Scarnato.
Currently deciphering e-mail.
Currently checking Koreans and Indians in a Muscat Internet cafe.
Currently feeling booooored.
Greetings! (part 12)
Posted by special_child at 12:18 PM on April 9, 2007 as a favorite post.
Salaam alaykum!
Yes, it's my first time to be in the Middle East. And I'm in Muscat! If you are part of the majority who do not know where it is, Muscat is the capital city of Oman, one of the oldest and most conservative Muslim countries in the Middle East. Mind you, it was also part of The Amazing Race 9, where the city got a lot of positive comments from the racers themselves.
So what am I doing in this place? Well, for starters, my aunt has been working here even before I started my schooling. So that's almost two decades, and it's the first time she invited us (me and my mom) over. And since I got the advantage of a five-day weekend (this is the first time we're taking a vacation on Holy Week - forgive me, Lord), I urged my aunt to let us spend it here. The stopover in Bangkok is a plus, actually.
By conservative, it doesn't mean that you aren't allowed to practice your own religion. Conservative in Oman means still living as before... kinda traditional. It's not everytime that you see women in the streets (Muslim women, I mean; Filipino women are part of the crowd here), much more to see them with their faces unveiled. The buildings are ancient, finished in Arabic architecture. It's a sultanate (as I commented in Thailand, we're transferring from one monarchy to another), meaning they have a sultan as leader. And if you are the urban type of person, then you'll find this place ultra-boring and desolate.
But lo and behold! Even though some skirmishes occurred (best left to ourselves ), I still enjoyed my seven-day stay here. I got to visit some awesome places and experienced the life out here. Special thanks to my aunt for covering us in this not-so-hidden oasis. More tidbits to see in my Top Ten List.
Top Ten Realizations: Muscat Style
10. When in Muscat, befriend Masafi.
9. As any Middle East country, Oman has hot times as well. It is advised to go here during the cool seasons, or else you have to tolerate the almost-forty weather.
8. Public transportation out here is a mess, especially getting taxis. Taxis are usually common, in a sense that if there are seats to fill and you are not "engaged", then you'd usually find the taxi driver finding other passengers. If you master the taxis and the baisa buses, then you're a pretty good commuter.
7. In relation to number 8, taxi drivers here would usually juice your money out of you. It might be even worse than the Philippines. My advise? Haggle. And learn some Arabic words.
6. Food is oh so cheap. You'd find it everywhere. But for those of you who don't like the taste of Arabic and Indian food, there's always McDo and KFC around.
5. The standard currency (the Rial Omani) is one of the highest around the world. Current exchange rate: RO1 = USD2.75 (imagine that!).
4. NO TAX! Splurge on designer brands. Hehe. But dining in would cost you about 5% in "dining in tourist tax".
3. Almost 80% of the population here is... Indian. Yes, Indian. An even greater percentage of the workforce is. And they're getting the benefits of living in a place where gas is cheap and taxes are virtually wiped off. (Kiran, if you're reading this, we have to talk!)
2. There are a lot of interesting places to see in Oman, but these places are rather far from each other. So plan ahead and group together the places you want to see.
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. Expect the places to be like ghost towns on Friday mornings and daily at 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M. It's something about namaz.
Even if the airport and the way of living is primitive, it definitely is a stay to remember. So for you travellers out there, come and visit this one-of-a-kind place!
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. Now is the time to enjoy Bangkok for one more day... and go back to Manila... and work... and... *drops dead*
Currently enjoying hustle and bustle of Suvarnabhumi.
Currently deciphering Thai signs.
Currently checking an upcoming movie shoot at the airport.
Currently feeling ready to get out of here.
Greetings! (part 13)
Posted by special_child at 11:43 AM on April 22, 2007 as a favorite post.
Selamat datang!
This is a new travelling experience for me, since this is the first time I've been sent by the company on a business trip. It's something about the new role I got, which is to work with its reimbursement system. And because I've been given the knowledge to work, install, and train people about the scanners needed for the reimbursement system, IBM flew me off to... Malaysia!
The first time I (oh, and my mom joined me tsk tsk tsk...) arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I could say that it is a very clean and green system. Funny thing that it was also featured in a recent Amazing Race: All Stars episode, just like Muscat.
Now, I'm here at the airport, again waiting for boarding. After seven days, I'm about to go home again... and it seems that every country I visit leaves a mark, and more experience as I go along the way. I am about to make a Top Ten List, but...
Blogger's Note: I would have to postpone my Top Ten List on Kuala Lumpur, because the plane is now ready for boarding.
See ya back in Manila!
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. I hope I've upheld the requirements given to me... or else...
Currently enjoying people's chatter.
Currently deciphering my e-mail.
Currently checking the Aerotrain @ KLIA.
Currently feeling tiiiiiiiiiiiiired.
