When in Rome.....

Rome
The day started off normal enough..we all got up early to go do some touristy stuff with the rest of the contikians.

First on the agenda was to visit the Roman Forum followed by the Colloseum.
We arrived at the forum excited and eager to see what the Roman civilization might have been like.  I won't ellaborate much on the ruins because frankly I wasn't paying much attention. LOL. While the place looked absolutely amazing, if the tour guide hadn't been there it would have looked like just a pile of old rocks randomly scattered around, with a bit of structural buildings here and there. OK. I'm not doing the Roman forum any justice soI should shut up about it now and leave that to the history buffs.Hehe. 

As we exited the forum through some overgrown hedges we came upon the Colloseum in all its glory. I was awe struck of its sheer size and how it managed to withstand the test of time, considering the brunt of the earthquake it took.

We made our way inside together with our tour guide.  Again, I didn't pay attention to her as I took in my surroundings, because come on, the colloseum is practically synonymous with gladiators i.e. Russell Crowe...or was it Gerard Butler so what else is there to know?  Very ignorant of me yes but whatever.  Anyways, we spent a bit of time exploring the colloseum and taking pictures. Once we made our way out of the colloseum we were hounded by hairy middle-aged men in gladiator costumes pulling us in to get a picture taken with them.   Nissy and I ended up doing it and they demanded for 10euros for the pic! yeah in your dreams dudes! i handed them 2 euros and Nissy unfortunately forked out 5!

The Vatican

We then made our way into the State of Vatican city - the smallest country in the world within the city of Rome, where we came upon St Peter's Square.  We walked into the massive beautiful St Peters Basilica which houses the famous reinassance art by Michelangelo - La Pieta.  Our next destination took us to the Vatican museum which led us to the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. I was absolutely mesmerized and couldn't stop gaping at the mavelous work of art before me.  Each painting and carvings were intricately designed and it was just absolutely stunning.  I really was gobsmacked.  Photos were an absolutely no no but I managed to take in some sneaky shots.  There were swiss guards everywhere and we had to very quiet. Everytime the place got a bit too noisy the swiss guards would call out a "Shhh!" and a hush would engulf the whole chapel.  It was quite remarkable and this would go on and on.

Day 2 in Ho Chi Minh - Orientation day

Today was orientation day where Andy, our co-ordinator, gave us a briefing on the program, our placements, the rules and regulations of living in the Peace House - sexy time was specifically h ighlighted - LOL as well as the Vietnamese customs. The presentation was really good despite the laptop dying every 5 minutes! 
Afterwards we had an intense 2.5 hours of Vietnamese lesson. It was hillarious and ridiculously hard! By the end of trying to correctly pronounce words but failing misserably, half of us were barely paying attention and the heat wasn't exactly doing anyone any favours.  During our break, we decided to ditch the Vietnamese lessons altogether and Jane, Beth (collectively known as the Americans) & I left to get a massage.
The massage was simply amazing and unbelievably cheap!  I chose the relaxing massage with lava stones where hot stones were used to massage my body.  At first I was so close to slapping the masseuse for trying to burn me but once the stones cooled down on my skin, it felt so invirogating and the heat really did wonders for my sore muscles. Only down side to it was the lady went crazy massaging my butt and I had to forceably hold my fart in! The masseuse also massaged my pressure points n tugged my hair which was bizarre but strangely soothing. All for a measly $5!
Once our massages were done, we ventured out for some ice cream.  We came upon a fancy looking coffee shop which actually sold gourmet ice-cream! I chose the coconut flavoured one which they served in a coconut shell. It was delicious and very refreshing! We then headed out to the co-op (supermarket) and grabbed some drinks to take back home. Gosh, I am currently on my bed writing this up and am sweating like a pig! It is disgustingly hot and muggy here.  I can't stand it! Oh how I miss winter back home!

Day 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

So I have made it to Vietnam! Finally! It only takes 8hrs by direct flight to get here but since I was on a budget airline it took a whole freaking day! To be blatantly honest it was rather depressing seeing the city of ho chi minh, perhaps because I have yet to see the beautiful and majestic side if it! As soon as I stepped out of the airport I was greeted by hot muggy air. I spotted the lady from the program holding a sign of my name so I made a beeline for her. Turns out I was on the same flight as one of the volunteers and she was going to be one of my roomies! I met the rest of the volunteers once we got to our peace house which would be my destination for the next 7 days.  The majority of the volunteers were from the uk with the exception of frenchy but close enough! Everyone seems so lovely but I ended up speaking to frenchy the most. Turns out we are both doing the same course! He was also there to teach English which wAs beyond me considering I struggled to understand him thanks to his ridiculously sexy accent. Sadly I couldn't say the same for the rest of him but I'm a total sucker for French accent regardless how attractive or unattractive they are. Anyways, accommodation wise, while I was definitely not expecting the shang-rila, I definitely was not expecting a prison toilet for a toilet! The bathroom, which is shared among everybody happens to be in r room which isn't that bad but when the bathroom happens to only have half a wall there is definitely an issue there! We have two bunk beds in r room so if u were occupying the top bunk, a little lean forward and holy golly you'll be able to see someone's ass on the toilet bowl! Not only will people be able to see you chucking a lovely but it'll be on audio as well! I really have no idea how I'll be able to cope with this for a week.  Let's see how long I can hold off from going to the toilet....

Delayed

Had I known I was going to end up travelling by myself in the end I would never have flown with Jetstar! 24 hours later in what otherwise would have only been a 7 hour direct flight I am an hour away from my destination for the next 7 days - Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam.  In case you haven't guessed I am currently in Singapore on a 15 hour lay-over.  The flight here didn't go without its hiccups as we had to endure a 2 hour delay due to mechanical issues! Trust Jetstar to be delayed!
I think, by now, it is safe to say that I know Singapore airport from the back of my hand!

Anyways, the reason why I am heading to Vietnam is to holiday for a "good cause", as others have dubbed "volunteerism."  For one week, I will be volunteering to teach english in schools that are less privileged.  This was originally meant to be a "three-woman"  trip but ended up down to just being me!  One had an entirely good reason -she was only contracting and risked losing her job.  Suffice to say, she was very apologetic and offered to re-pay me with any inconvienced caused! It was settled over a drink! LOL Admittedly, I too was thinking of pulling out but then I had an epiphany so decided to go through with it.  I really don't know what to expect but I guess we will just have to find out!

Attack of the Easter Bunny & the "killer" photos

Thursday 

It’s really “Friday”! : )  I finally received my snapfish in the mail which cost me a whopping $70 (I say “whopping” because it is merely a picture book that I put together of my friends & I at the beach).   I realised I printed off too many pictures of solely just myself….. Boss looked at it…. totally forgot that, not only did I have quite a few too many pics of me, myself & I but a lot of them were of me doing silly poses in a bikini.  I shouldn’t have shown it to her! How embarrassing!

Stayed back at work with TK for a bit, calmed her down before her date.  I then met up with HL & DV at 333 together with my picture book. Downed a few glasses of wine and forgot all about the book….. left 45 minutes later (book-less) and met up with AE & CC at Captain Cook Spanish restaurant. More wine…sangria…a huge pitcher between the 3 of us.  Cheered to the upcoming 5 day “weekend” and other random stuff (which ended up coming true).  Old white haired waiter tickled my foot which was sticking out under the table.  More flirting from old waiter, didn’t help that AE egged him on.  Stumbled out of the restaurant an hour later and decided to head to bungalow 8 to meet up with AE’s workmates.  Met two randoms on the way who gave us easter eggs.  Reached destination a short while later. More drinks, this time it’s vodka…. And the rest is history.

Friday

 The greatest hangover.  In and out of consciousness.  I committed a cardinal sin.  Ate meat… took solace in the fact that at least I had white instead of red meat.  

Saturday

Found a book by James Rollins which I had yet to read! Score! Watched “Cargo” with my bro later on in the evening, we did nothing but lambast the whole movie.  Much later on that evening, I met up with AE, CC & BE at MB for tea and chocolate.

Sunday

Easter show fail! Ended up heading straight to Canberra. Attended church service at the Cathedral.  It  was beautiful.  I asked for forgiveness for consuming meat on Good Friday.  Had a feast that night.  MmMM caldereta…oh how I’ve missed filo food! Watched Shake, rattle & roll 12 with CC1. KO’d halfway through the movie.  Fought with CC1 & CC2 over the futon. I won! Hah! had the bed all to myself. Awoke to ED’s rendition of “My heart will go on…” at about 3am in the morning.  Too exhausted to get up and tell them to quiet it down, and quite surprisingly it was sort of soothing…fell back to slumber…

Monday

Shopping! Followed by late lunch at Gus’ Café.  Their warm chicken salad & chilli seafood carbonara is to die for! Dispute over the bill.  SC couldn’t understand how she had to fork out $25 for just two coffees.  Reason – half didn’t pay and plus the 10% public holz surcharge. Finally settled the bill after much debate and recalculating.  Took just 10minutes with gossiping in between.  Party at the C residence that night.  Drinks, Karaoke & a delayed Easter egg hunt with family & friends.  Overall, a good, enjoyable & memorable night.

Tuesday

Headache. At least I wasn’t alone in suffering the morning after. Watched an old filo film on TFC. Packed up to head back to Sydney.  Not enough room in the car so MC dropped me off at the bus station in the arvo. Arrived back in a cold, dreary & rainy Sydney.  Out of the blue (more like “dark night”) It suddenly occurred to me that I had left my picture book at the bar 5 nights ago….Holy shit ! ! !

Ignorance is Bliss!

Yesterday I opened pandora's box and now consequently suffering from it. 

Yes the above pic depicts exactly how I'm feeling right now... I've certainly unleashed the little devils in me...greed, jealousy and anger... at the unfairness of it all!

I wish I hadn't uncovered the secret!

Do Asians all look alike?

A stranger asked me the other day what my background was. I told him to guess. He went through all the countries in the Asian continent and managed to leave out the Philippines. This got me thinking, are we that obscured from the rest of the world? LOL

After naming endless Asian countries from the south east to the north he finally gave up. I answered matter-of-factly "I'm Filo…you know from the Philippines." He gave me a puzzled look and said I didn't look it. Ok, I get that quite often but just always shrugged it off. This time I actually questioned it. The stranger eyed me for a moment and responsed with a "I would never have guessed...you look different...." (Funny, I thought all asians  "look alike"). He then asked me if I could still speak my native language. I told him I could speak tagalog fluently but that I struggle when it comes to reading and writing. This seemed to baffle him as he said, if I was fluent in speaking, I should be able to read and write just as fluently. Hmm….clearly this guy has never heard of dyslexia. However, as I made my long journey home on the train, the stranger's statement got me pondering that perhaps I really could read and write, albeit at a beginners level (possibly even mediocre), in tagalog. I mean, I always assumed I couldn't but that was because I haven't actually tried! If tagalog karaoke constitutes as "reading" well I'm certainly off to a good start!  So....just to prove a point..I will write about "the commute to work this morning" in non other than tagalog....

                                              * * * * *

Kanina umaga madimi talaga mainet na ulo na tao. Mayron matanda na babae na umupo sa katabi ko.  Grabe ang lakas talaga nang perfume nya na Chanel No.5 alam ko kasi dati ako nag trabaho sa perfume shop.  Tapos nag basa sha, den bigla na lang nya sinara yung book nya, tinangal nang glasses nya tapos tuminging sa babae sa katabi nya sa isang side na naka headphones, tapos sinabi nya na ibaba daw yung volume kasi malakas.... hinde nakineg yung babae.  Tapos yung matanda nagalet tapos nag nudge sha sa babe naka headphones.  Nagalet yung babae naka headphones tapos sinabi na wag daw sha mag elbow sa kanya.  Sinabi naman nang matanda na dapat daw turn down yung volume nya kasi maingay. Sabi naman nang headphone lady na dapat hindi daw sha mag take nang public transport. Sabi naman ni matanda na rude daw sha tapos sabi naman nang headphones lady na sha daw yung rude kase sha yung nag elbow. Tapos nag sigawan lang sila.  Tawa nalang kami nang lalake sa harap ko. LOL.  Tapos yung nag die down na yung drama nang katabi ko....sa kabila naman.  Yung nag stop yung train sa isang station tumayo yung indian sa other katabi ko.  Tapos nag turn around sha kasi male pala yung stop...tapos may isang tao na nag push sha kanya kasi nasa way sha, kawawa naman yung indian bumalik sa seat nya tapos natulog or kunyari lang. Hehe. Mamaya mayron naman isang babae nag try magusap sa katabi nya na lalake. Tiningan lang sha tapos ignore sha.  LOL. Yup, talagang try hard ako para hindi tumawa malakas.  SIguro highlight yung isang mataba na mataba na babae nag board sa train.  Mukang galet talaga.  Nag stomp sha nag feet nya papunta sa seats parang nagdabog. THen sabi nya "Excuse me!" malakis tapos nag flip yung seat para mag face sa kabila talagang smash nya.  Nag bang sha tapos nag upo na malakas then parang may usok lumalabas sa ears nya.....

Oh the joys of public transport! I guess that's what makes the journey to and fro work just a tad bit interesting and bearable.  It certainly takes the boredom out of the 40minute journey! On a serious note though, commuters really need to chill out and relax! As Rodney King famously once said "Can we all get along?!" I mean sure, we can blame City (dubbed Shitty by the majority) Rail for the poor service...always late, non-airconditioned, packed to capacity trains....but at the end of the day we all just have to suck it up and deal with it!

Anyways, to get back to the main topic of this blog.  Well, it's quite apparent really. I can actually write in tagalog... :)