Abandoned with reason?
"Can we request for help for our constituent who is being neglected by his family?" were the words a barangay kagawad expressed when she came in the office.
Out of curiosity I asked what the problem was and she explained the following:
there was this senior citizen who was a former OFW from Saudi Arabia
He and his wife was able to establish two houses. However, due to some reasons the couple separated long time ago
He is staying in one of their houses together with the eldest son
He is not being supported by his family anymore.., when they cook at the other house, they give some food to the eldest child but not to the father..,
The senior citizen cooks 1 cup of rice and puts salt to have some flavor since he doesn't have a viand (that breaks my heart)
He used to come to your office asking for medical assistance (I haven't met him yet since I am just transferred months ago to that office)
Another case of a senior citizen:
A daughter asked helped from the barangay to ask their father's partner to leave their residence.
We have talked to the Senior Citizen (SC) and she doesn't want to leave the house. She expressed that the person who asked for her to stay in that house should be the one to ask her to leave.
During the talk with the SC, she expressed that she owns a school in their province. However, she has no contact number of any family member to give.
She says that her children are all professionals and living outside the city. But cannot give an exact address about their whereabouts.
The barangay kagawad tried to contact jer children but there was no update if they will come and get her.
Sometime last month, the barangay kagawad expressed that she was found dead in her place.., the barangay has coordinated with yhe proper agencies and her family..,
Another senior citizen:
A barangay kagawad came to the office asking for help regarding their constituent who is a senior citizen and is currently admitted at the hospital and has no where to go upon discharge.
The senior has no family in the barangay.
The senior has no permanent residence in the city.
The barangay has been tasked to try to locate the family.
I don't know why other people can abandon or neglect a family member...,
I don't know why they can manage not to look after a family member...,
I don't know why other people tend to forget the sacrifices done by their family members...,
I don't know why a mistake commited by a person would break a family..,
I don't know why second chance is not an option to resolve conflicts...,
I don't know why..., I cannot fully understand why?
THey may have a big reason behind.., but still, why?
_____________________
All photos are downloaded from unsplash.com
Lesson or Test?
"In the classroom, we are given lessons to prepare us for the exam/ test..., but reality gives us tests to learn from it". I remembered our pastor sharing those words which she wrote in her notebook after my sharing .
What do we need then..? Do we need a lesson..? Or do we need a test..?
This Covid thing has been a test to some of us..., As I have shared, we are trying to contact and call COVID Confirmed Patients and here are some bits of some conversations...,
Conversation with a patient's wife
Me: what does he (referring to the patient) do to ease boredom?
Wife: he is a spiritual leader, that's why he takes time reading the bible and studying it and taking notes.
Sana all....
As what is said in Joshua 1:8, hope I can also do it... hope I can meditate on the book of the Law day and night..,
The husband has been using his time properly getting to know more about God...
Conversation with a 41 year old business owner
Me: How are you doing sir?
Businessman: I am feeling better compared to the previous days where I experienced anxiety disorder. That resulted to me having a hard time sleeping. But for the past three days, I was able to sleep properly.
Me: that's good to hear sir
Business: yes, I was advised by my Doctor to take my isolation as my time to rest and regain my strength. Time for time-out in my business. The doctor also told me that I am already blessed I have survived the 1st week of my isolation where I did fell ill. I am now trying my best to regain my strength.
For some, they may experience couple of symptoms that made it hard for them. As what his doctor told him, this are just trials in our life which we can surpass. And we have a great healer ☝, so why feel down...,
Conversation with a Korean (Since he doesn't know how to speak in Tagalog, I have tried my best to communicate in English 😥)
Me: (my introductory phrase of introducing myself and the reason of the call)
Him: You are the 4th person who called me asking how am I doing. I already told them I am fine and my partner is fine. I don't have symptoms.
Me: (didn't know how to anwer back) That's good to know then sir. Maybe the previous calls you have received are the contact tracers, barangay officials and health workers. Our office is tasked to call and ask if we can be of help po sir.
Him: No, I'm fine. I'm ok..,
Me: if that's the case sir, thank you for your time then. I'll end this call then not to disturb you anymore.
Writing it is easier compared to the time I'm trying my best to explain everything to him..., All I can do is laugh remembering how I did stammer suring that time.. hahahaha
There are some who are independent enough who can take care of themselves on their own.
Conversation with a Mother
Me: (my introductory phrase)
The mother: I am feeling down, I think it's depression.
Me: what do you think is the reason for that?
The mother: It's ok if I am the only one who turned positive with Covid,but my son was also a confirmed case. Have you heard cases of children who survived this?
Me: Yes ma'am I have this call where a mother shared that all her children also turned positive. But all have recovered already.
The mother: Hopefully we can also overcome this. It's hard for me being a solo parent and we don't have other family here in the city
Me: (tried my best to make her feel better)
Mother's love is really commendable. Parents would usually say "let me take the sickness and make my child feel better". This mother's emotional state was tested.
Conversation with a single with dependents (as how he answered when asked about his civil status)
Him: My concern is that I cannot got to work, I cannot earn to support my children.
Me: how about other family members who can support you for the meantime?
Him: My parents are vendors at the province but does not sell regularly.
Me: How about the mother of your children? (The curious me asked...)
Him: I have no idea where she is.
Me: Why not try to contact her and ask for help, for the sake of the children.
Him: No need, she left our children that easy which means she has no plan of looking after them.
Me: what if she has reasons behind before. What if she can now support them?
Him: No ma'am. I don't want to contact her. I don't want to communicate to her. We might fell inlove with each other again. (Followed be a laugh)..,
They say love is sweeter the 2nd time around. Why not give chances to other people. Since I did not have the complete info as to their separation, I did not dig into it anymore.
At times, we need lessons to prepare us for the test..., and at times, we need tests to teach us lessons.., either way, what's important is we learned something from it.
We just have to stay strong and be hopefull that whatever tests that comes into our life, we can still overcome it.., we can overcome it with the help of others (Almighty God, family, friends, acquaintances or even strangers)..,
Will always be thankful to my sponsors
All imagaes from Unsplash
As always Stay Healthy and Stay Safe..., not for our own but for our loved ones 😊
Dear Ex
Dear ex,
It's been 5 years..., 5 years when you told me you that you are sorry "Sorry for being the worst person I have met"
I just want to say:
Thank you
Thank you for the love and care
Thank you for not being a gentleman.
Thank you for not opening your car door for me. Thank you for not carrying my bag. Thank you for not being protective enough. Thank you for not doing things that made me get used to it. At least, I did not look nor miss such actions.
Thank you for letting me realize that I can lean on someone (at times)
Thank you for driving me from here to there
For fetching me from the office and driving me home through car or motor. I know you are in to buy and sell of cars, hence, thank you for letting me experience riding different cars. Thank you for the free rides. At least I was able to save transportation expenses during those times.
Thank you for dealing with my mood swings
I'm a moody person and I appreciated how you dealt with it (through offering something sweet).
Thank you for the jokes and funny stories you shared
It's your charm that attracted me. As you have said, I'm really not into physical appearance.
Thank you for the sweet moments shared together, for making my heart flutter...
Thank you for the gifts
I still have the pink hoody and still using it once in a while and the shoes gave up just a few months ago. Yes, I was able to take care of those items for that long. It's just you who did not choose to stay longer.
Sorry for the stuffed toy, it was sold already. Not because it reminds me of you, but just because of the need to declutter things not being used. Since you gave it to me, took a picture of it and returned back to its bag 😊. At least someone out there is appreciating it now.
Thank you for the coffee dates.
Thank you for choosing coffee shops/ restaurants that are not common/ more private. At least no one has seen us dining out together alone. And thank you for treating me most of the time...
Thank you for not having a picture of us together.
At least I have nothing to delete or to be reminded of. And there will be no posts or memories of us that Facebook might remind us of every year.
Thank you for making me feel I'm beautiful despite of my shape and height...,
Thank you for motivating me to continue with my post-grad studies (unfortunately still not able to finish it.., not because of the separation, but because of my laziness)
Thank you for keeping our relationship to ourselves. For not announcing to anyone that we are into a relationship.
For not telling other people about it. At least, I don't have to explain to others why we broke up.
Thank you for not telling me personally that you wanted to end the relationship.
Thank you for just sending messages and telling me things are not working for us through text. At least, you did not see how I reacted. At least I did not see your face and would not have the last image of you giving the bad news.
Thank you for not telling me the real reason for breaking up.
Thank you for not telling me you went back to her. Thank you for not telling me you preferred to be with her rather than with me. At least I did not blame the other girl.
Thank you for leaving and making me realize that I need to work on my self-improvement.
I'm Sorry
I'm sorry that I was never enough...
I'm sorry for being clingy...
I'm sorry if I did try to persuade you not to end the relationship for a couple of days...
With what happened
At least I was able to say to myself:
It's OK...,
If you are hurting right now, please bear with it.
Trust that one day you will be ok. One day you can only laug remembering this.
The only way to remove the pain is to go through it and move forward.
Soon I can say:
Why it did not work with anybody else..
____________________
It might be late, but I still want to acknowledge and thank the following:
@ARTicLEE
@Bloghound
@Momentswithmatti
@bbyblacksheep
@Marinov
@TheRandomRewarder
___________________
I just saw a short video about exes, that made me write this...,
If you have read my previous article entitled Have you Found Yourself (https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/have-you-found-yourself-543b12ee), thank you for taking the time to read it..., But please know that I am referring to a different person in this article 😊..., and no, I did not have a lot of exes...
Lessons learned from COVID patients
*"Hello po.., Good morning/ afternoon po Ma'am/ Sir, dolor po ito sa ---- tinatawagan at kinakamusta lang po namin mga Covid patients po natin"* (Hello, good morning ma'am/ sir, this is dolor from ---- , we are just calling you being a Covid patient to know how are you doing?)
This is how I usually start my call to COVID confirmed patients. Yes, it has been an additional task for us to call them, to know their situation, and possibly address their needs/ concerns.
With the number of patients I have called, here are some lessons learned from them:
Having a hobby is a must
Have a hobby that does not require outdoor equipment. Being admitted to an isolation facility is super boring since you have to spend mornings to evenings for 14 days in the four corners of the provided room.
A patient once joked: *"Hindi ako mamamatay sa COVID, pero mamamatay ako dahil sa walang ginagawa"* (I will not die from Covid, but might die from boredom).
At least, the city was able to install an internet connection at the isolation facilities for the patients to have pastime browsing the internet. However, not all are enjoying screen time most of the time.
A Senior Citizen shared that he uses his isolation time meditating on the word of God. How amazing he is. (How I wish I can also do it).
Get in touch with your family members
I know this is not the right time to get cheesy and that with your family, but why not use this opportunity to re-connect with your family (in case there are some issues).
A patient shared that he still manages to communicate with his family, asking how they are, and still being a father to them even while he is separated for the meantime.
Our families also serve as our source of hope and motivation to get better.
Ask for help when needed
Yes, we need to learn how to be independent, but at times like this, we need to ask for help from other people specifically our family, relatives, and friends.
The old phrase "no one is an island" is very true..., We definitely need help in this situation.
A patient told me: "Ma'am, nakakahiya po pero baka maari po akong makisuyo?" That's not a problem to us since it's our job to help.
Have a list of emergency numbers (offices and relatives you can call for help)
I had this call answered by the patients' son about the need to transfer his father to a hospital located in another province since hospitals in the city are almost full. The son was able to keep a list of emergency numbers in their home that made it easy for him to coordinate things. Thinking about it, if he doesn't have a copy of the contact number, how would he be able to help his father..?
Always be positive
Positive outlook in life and not in the RT-PCR test. We might not like what happened, but there is still hope and that we can overcome this.
Always have a supply of foods
Yes, it's a must to have a stock of ready to eat foods at home, not for boring days, but for emergency purposes..,
One of the concerns we usually receive if the patient is brought to the isolation facility is the worry towards their family members left at home with no food supply.
*Though it is part of our duty to provide families on quarantine with food assistance. But what if we don't have any more supply?
Stay healthy
Boost your immune system.., not to undergo the hassle of being isolated.
This article might have bored you, but the works of the following are much better.., check them out
While writing this, I remember our office has not implemented Alternative Work Arrangements since the onset of the pandemic. At first, I felt bad and got annoyed with the head of the office. But during the past days, while there are already officemates inflicted with the virus and some officemates are undergoing quarantine. This resulted in not having someone man the unit offices, while some are being closed. For the continuity of service, some staff is being pulled out to augment at other units (just like what happened to me last week).
This made me think how hard it is for our head of office to deal with the situation. To decide to approve alternative work arrangements such as work from home. Our office cannot be closed because of the need to provide social services, especially at this moment. Literally, "mapipilayan ang office"...
________________
Stay Healthy and Stay Safe..., not for our own but for our loved ones 😊
Have you found yourself?
I wanted to know.
I wanted to ask him.
Have you found yourself...?
Sometime in 2017, out of the blue, I received a chat from an acquaintance asking for help in processing his Pag-ibig membership application. I'm not an employee of Pag-ibig office but didn't question why he asked for my help. Just told myself that maybe I'm the only one whom he knows is living in the city. I replied to him with the things he needed to prepare for his needed application based on what I searched on google.
While exchanging messages, I remembered I also have something to process at Pag-ibig and that he is not familiar with some places in the city. That friendly me suggested to accompany him in submitting his documents. ( I also wanted to meet him and return the favor of accompanying him in an unfamiliar place like what he did before when we are in their place). We both checked our schedules and during those times, my day-off is scheduled every Wednesday and Sunday. However, he has a different schedule of day-off, but he was able to coordinate and have some changes in his schedule for the week in order for him to be available on a Wednesday.
Who is he..?
You might be wondering, who is this guy I'm referring to. I met him during our field practice (on-the-job training) wherein I together with three classmates were assigned to a Municipality we haven't been to before. Since we have to stay in the place for more than 5 months we have rented a room near the Municipal Hall. The owner of the house where we stayed manages a mini store and snack place. It was where I met this guy. Let's call him "Tj" for this article. He usually spends time in the snack place sharing stories with the owner who is also his grandmother. And I think you know what happened next 😁
You can check also the works of the following:
Pag-ibig days
Going back to the Pag-ibig application. That was the first time we met each other since I finished my field practice and that was years ago. Although we are friends on Facebook, but have not updated each other for a couple of years.
We were able to accomplish the processing and continued updating each other's lives over a cup of coffee. Since that day, we did have regular communication until he courted me for a couple of weeks. (*You might say I'm too excited to have a boyfriend, why did I agree to be his girlfriend that short time. Maybe because I have already developed a feeling towards him when I first met him before or maybe because of my "katangahan" (stupidity) or maybe because no one is courting me at that time*). While being together, we found out we did actually have mutual feelings for each other before, but no one had the courage to express it.
"Ng dahil sa pag-ibig nakahanap ng pag-ibig". I remembered him saying those words before.
He is staying and working in a nearby Municipality. He also doesn't have a regular work schedule that makes it hard for us to meet daily or weekly. We just go out when we have the same schedule of free time. That has never been a big deal for me especially that it takes time to travel from his place to mine. While writing this, I just realized it was always him exerting the effort of visiting me. Why did I not also at least visited him once..?
As to how sweet two people are in their first months of being in a relationship, it was also the same for us. Memories of being together were created. After a couple of months, things happened. I am used to him not replying immediately because of his work and addiction to games but still tries his best to send a message before and after his work. However, daily updating turned from once a week to twice a month. Until I received a message. Can't exactly remember the words but the idea of breaking up because he wants to find himself first, he doesn't want to be a burden..., Learning from my past relationship I did what he asked for. (*You might think I may have not loved him that made me let go that easy*). The social worker in me wanted to know what is really wrong and how can we fix it as I have told him. But if he is not happy, he is not already enjoying being with me, then why hold on. (*That was not an easy decision actually*).
I did share this with a guy friend, but according to his instinct, Tj might have someone else, which made him leave me. The innocent me actually didn't believe in that. *(It is because I got to know him, and found out he really does not still know what he really wanted to do or accomplish. Or I am just justifying?)*
Did you find it?
This happened a long time ago, why am I writing it now?
I was scrolling Facebook yesterday when I saw his name commenting on a post, that made me stalk his FB Account. He is usually online, but Facebook isn't his thing. I saw some of his tagged posts and remembered him, remembered those happy moments with him, and remembered the reason why he left.
I wanted to send him a message, and ask:
Did you find yourself..? Did it make you feel better about yourself..? Are you now ready to be in a relationship, or are you already in a relationship..?
Those questions I'm dying to ask, but I think I don’t have the courage to ask.., hence, will have those questions remain unanswered.
September 20, 2021 (Written after stalking his Facebook account)
When Sweetness Left My Body
Yes, the sweetness in me seems to have disappeared. I have noticed it these previous days.
What happened?
One of the additional tasks of our office is to conduct "Kamustahan" (knowing the situation and addressing the needs or concerns) and sometimes does counseling to COVID-19 positive patients in the City. Since we cannot do a face-to-face interview, we have to contact them through phone calls. Calling them is already a challenge for me knowing that I have to talk for a couple of minutes to a stranger. Hence, most of my calls are direct to the point.
I did have a conversation with one of the contact tracers last Thursday about a patient's concern. Though I started the convo through messenger chat (since it's the only contact I have, because I intentionally looked for his name in FB 😂 after meeting him personally). Well if it's for the sake of the client/ patient, "kapal ng mukha".
I think Mr. Contact tracer has a lot to explain at that time that's why he asked for my number and suggested to call. (NO, this is not a love story, though that would be great, in case ... hahaha)
After him explaining everything through call, I thanked him for clarifying things and he ended it with "thank you din po ma'am and keep safe po always". (Awww, how sweet).
After that call, it made me realize:
How we end calls would leave an impact on the receiver.
I actually felt better after hearing those words. Telling someone to take care is just a simple phrase since we may not know the impact it gives to the receiver.
Why can't I do such anymore.., Most of the time, when calling COVID-19 patients I usually end the call by thanking them for their time. When I'm in the mood, I usually include "pagaling po sila" which is seldom and kinda forced in such a way.., I think I still talk with respect though, but in terms of sweetness, I'm having a hard time.
I think I'm not like this before. I would often hear my friends say before that I'm too sweet, that my soon-to-be boyfriend would be lucky to have me since I'm a sweet talker. An ex also asked me before, why am I too sweet?
What happened then..? Did I spent all the sweetness on my exes...? Did it left my body as I grew older...? Or it disappeared because it was not being utilized..?
Am I not taking enough sweet foods..? 😂🤣 But I have a sweet tooth.
What to do then..?
Images are from Unsplash.com
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor ( the little life wanderer)
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time
*This article might have bored you, but promise the works of the following are worth reading:
Travel Tips to Thailand
The whole Thailand trip has been fulfilling for the three of us. We did not book for a tour guide or joined a group tour because we wanted to do it on our own. And we thank the Lord for guiding us and keeping us safe 🙏
**Tips in traveling to Thailand (based on our experience of someone who has itchy feet):**
**Pack light** if you wish to go from one province to another. You might want to leave that excess baggage (those negative thoughts, those things that weigh you down, those things you actually don't need or those things that are useless)
* take note: Lighter bags are easier to carry/ transport when you go around. Just be sure to have extra space for *"pasalubong"* (souvenirs).
**Get out of your comfort zone** and don't forget to try/ explore new things. Just like when you did your best to be noticed by your crush 😅
Hope you can also check the works of the following amazing people
**Don't forget your camera or phone** (including power bank or extra battery) since Thailand has a lot of views to offer. You might want to document those happy moments. Those moments when you can say you can still smile and have fun despite his/ her absence.
**Don't forget your OOTD** (Outfit of the day). Nothing wrong with being camera-ready... *Sayang naman yung view, kung hindi natin papantayan* (It's a pity for the view, if we don't match it)
**Tuktuk is your last option**; the best way to immerse yourself is to walk and walk and walk. Who knows you might bump into your Mr./ ms. Right? You can also try different types of transportation such as songthaew (just like a jeep), taxi, motorcycle taxi, bus (regular, aircon, double-decker), van, boat, and Skytrain.
**Be prepared to pay entrance fees** since not all tourists spots can be explored freely. Such beautiful places are worth the entrance fees though.
If you don't have good eyesight like us, **don't forget your corrective lenses**. Mine got lost during our first night in Bangkok (out of my irresponsibility).
**Prepare an itinerary**... though being simultaneous is fun, but if you go to another country, it's better to be prepared. *Mahirap na, baka mapunta ka ulit sa maling tao, I mean sa maling lugar* (It's hard, you might end up in the wrong person again, I mean in the wrong place)*.*..
**Hotel is your last option too**, try some Airbnb or booking.com or Agoda... You have a lot of options, just be sure to read reviews and check the ratings. *Huwag magpapadala sa pictures lang, baka filtered pala yan gaya ng profile pic nung ex or crush mo (*Don't just rely on the photos, you might get deceived like what's in his/ her profile picture which is filtered)...
~ this is also important to ensure you have a place to stay and you can prepare the needed amount for your stay. Mahirap na magstay sa piling nya kung hindi ka naman na pinapahalagahan.
**Prepare to always use google translate, Google Maps and Grab** if you don't have a tour guide. *Alam kong ayaw mo ng malabong kausap gaya ng ex mo, kaya download mo nalang google translate baka magkaintindihan pa kayo (*I know you don't want a vague conversation like your ex, so just download google translate so you might understand each other)...
**Learn some Thai words** ..., we were able to talk to a teacher who explained that English is not common to some because they don't have the opportunity to practice the English language in their place. Unlike here in the Philippines where we have an "English only" policy in schools
~ try to interact and get to know and learn from them just like how you did your best to get close to your crush...
The cost of living is not expensive but be sure to **prepare enough cash**.., For our 9 days stay in Thailand, our pocket money of Php 15,000.00 each was not enough (excluding airfare and some accommodations). Because we traveled a lot from one place to another.
*Mahal ba kamo..? Ok lng, worth it naman. Kaysa sa gumastos ka sa kanya pero hindi pala sya worth it pag-aksayahan* (You might say it's expensive, but it's ok since it is very worth it, unlike spending money on your man or girl who doesn't see your worth)...
**Live like the locals**; eat where they eat (like the marketplace and the streets) if you want to experience life in Thai. *Huwag mag-inarte, sya nga natiis mo ng matagal, bakit hindi mo subukan magtry ng iba (*Don't be nitpicky, you were able to endure him/ her for a long time, why don't you try something else)...
And lastly, **bring a lot of smiles**, remember that you are in Asia and smile is the continental language.
Very last, **don't forget to have fun and enjoy**. Remember, you traveled to be able to forget him/ her (joke)... why waste time when you will not enjoy it.
Author's note: some tips were solicited from my friends (Kristine and Princess). Here are some of the videos they have also uploaded you might want to watch:
https://youtu.be/vl9WfL7itbQ
https://youtu.be/6ENw_y9IDvk
In case you haven't read the previous articles, here they are:
Bangkok, Thailand **https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/amazing-new-year-countdown-in-thailand-2020-645278fa**
Chiang Rai, Thailand **https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/chills-like-home-chiang-rai-thailand-e5f96b5a**
Chiang Mai, Thailand **https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/recharging-batteries-at-chiang-mai-d33cf03d**
Nakhon Sawan, Thailand **https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/discovering-the-heavenly-city-nakhonsawan-06b641b4**
Ayutthaya, Thailand https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/historical-ayutthaya-d2487d4c
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor ( the little life wanderer)
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time
Historical Ayutthaya, 🇹🇭
January 6-7, 2020
Sunset or sunrise?
They are both amazing and Ayutthaya can offer you an aesthetic sunset. We were not able to see it during our 1st night of stay since we arrived at Ayutthaya past 9PM already and did rest at the Brickhouse.
Perks of traveling and staying in different place (dorm, homestays) we got to hear the stories of the owners and workers...,
This time, we did not take an early walk around. Enjoyed some coffee outside and talked about life (just kidding, talked about where to go). After some time, we asked the owner of the Brickhouse for some recommendations in going around. He showed us the map of Ayutthaya and the places where we could possibly go. He then contacted his friend who is a tuk-tuk driver who has helped us in going around. We did the city tour in the morning and the boat ride in the afternoon. Unfortunately, was not able to go to the floating market since it closes at 6:00 PM.
1st stop: **Wat Phra Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relics)**
This is one of the most photographed spots in Ayutthaya. Why not? It is comprised of a large stone Buddha headset in a colossal and deep-rooted tree. The unclear reason how the head became locked in its present location makes it more interesting. Accordingly, the Wat Mahathat was also the residence of the Supreme Patriarch or the leader of the Thai Buddhist monks.
2nd stop: Wat Ratchaburana (Temple of Royal Restoration)
Wat Ratchaburana can be located near Wat Phra Mahathat. It was built in 1424 by King Borom Ratchthirat II as a memorial to his two elder brothers (who have killed each other) during a fight for the vacant throne of Ayutthaya.
3rd stop: **Wat Panan Choeng (Golden Buddha)**
Wat Panan Choeng is a Buddhist temple on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The gigantic golden buddha figure is 19 meters high and 14 meters wide. The effigy is one of the oldest, largest, and most worshipped statues in Thailand. Legends claimed that it wept tears when the Burmese burnt Ayutthaya down in 1767.
BREAK TIME
Before going to the next stop, our tuk-tuk driver made a stop in a small stall. He introduced us to this flat pancake (I am not sure how they call it)..., but while the driver is demonstrating how to eat it, his instruction goes:
"You get one (pancake) and put "suka" then roll it".
Yes it's what we have heard "suka" which I confidently repeated. In the Filipino dialect when we say suka, we refer to vinegar.
But when we tasted it, it tastes sweet that made us realize what he is saying is sugar 🤣😂
4th stop: **Ayutthaya Historical Park**
History says it all. The place is one of the must-sees for history buffs and admirers of archeology. The park incorporated the zone designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is comprised of 67 stunning temples and ruins. It's such a beautiful view.
After the land tour, we did have visited again different temples by boat and ended it with the sunset. (Cannot already name the different temples 😂). Truly, God's works are amazing and wonderful.
While we were at Nakhon Sawan, we tried to bottle feed fishes; while in Ayutthaya, we have tried to feed them. You can also feed birds if you want to.
Ayutthaya has a lot more to offer. The ruins tell the story of the different places. As one of the tourist has expressed "everything is a WOW".
For the 2nd day in Ayutthaya, we did not take any more tours. Just relaxed and prepared to go to Bangkok where we spent another night before travelling back to the Philippines.
Most of the details/ specifications of the different places are copied from google to ensure I have written the correct information..
In case you haven't read the other parts of the Thailand trip, just click the link below:
Bangkok, Thailand
**https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/amazing-new-year-countdown-in-thailand-2020-645278fa**
Chiang Rai, Thailand
**https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/chills-like-home-chiang-rai-thailand-e5f96b5a**
Chiang Mai, Thailand
**https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/recharging-batteries-at-chiang-mai-d33cf03d**
Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/discovering-the-heavenly-city-nakhonsawan-06b641b4
This is the last part of the Thailand trip.
Everthing has an end, time to go back home..
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor ( the little life wanderer)
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time
-Hope you can also check the works of the following amazing people:
Discovering the Heavenly City (Nakhonsawan) 🇹🇭
January 4-5, 2020
Sawatdee ka 🙏
That was another long trip - more than 7 hours bus ride from Chiang Mai to Nakhonsawan. Maybe the other passengers in the bus were distracted because of our noise/ laughters. Specially when our friend chose to eat Durian flavored ice cream during the bus stop 😅
We checked-in immediately at the P. A. Ville Hotel upon arrival. After leaving our big bags, we already went outside to look for a place to have dinner. Since it's already getting dark, we asked for Google Maps help again. https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/p.a.ville%20hotel/entity/CgsIkcni35fV3uLrARAB?g2lb=2502405%2C2502548%2C4208993%2C4254308%2C4258168%2C4260007%2C4274032%2C4276710%2C4289969%2C4299259%2C4301054%2C4305595%2C4308216%2C4308227%2C4314846%2C4315873%2C4317915%2C4324293%2C4326405%2C4328159%2C4329288%2C4330862%2C4333267%2C4270859%2C4284970%2C4292955%2C4316256&hl=en&gl=ph&un=1&q=p.a.ville%20hotel&rp=EJHJ4t-X1d7i6wE4AkAASAE&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwiT_LD35PPmAhXQ7WEKHWMZBykQ65QEKAB6BAgLEAM&hrf=IgNQSFAqFgoHCOQPEAEYExIHCOQPEAEYFBgBKAA
The Sawan Park was just a walk away from the hotel and out of our hunger, we did have some streetfoods before going to the Bon Bon Karaoke & Restaurant. It was my first time entering a restaurant with a playing area for kids. This was a great idea though (Child friendly). https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNTzymWEXfrgDgZEQ_0VGMFzVeZOCg%3A1578480926756&ei=HrUVXuPbLZjW-Qags564AQ&q=bon+bon+restaurant+nakhon+sawan&oq=bon+bon+restaurant+nak&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.1.1.33i160j33i22i29i30l5.9473.17442..18813...0.0..0.395.7008.0j24j9j2......0....1.........35i39j0j0i22i30j0i10j0i20i263j46i273j0i273j46.k4ozVESPUiI#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:,rc_ludocids:14787765074761941181,rc_q:Bon%2520Bon%2520Karaoke%2520%2526%2520Restaurant,ru_q:Bon%2520Bon%2520Karaoke%2520%2526%2520Restaurant
Early morning walk in a beautiful place was very amazing, specially the sunset. The paradise park is really a paradise. No doubt the city is named a heavenly city. This place could be my "tambayan" if I stay here. The view and the peaceful vibe is so relaxing.
After a couple of hours enjoying the view and having breakfast on the street, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for the days itinerary.
We met my hometown friends here (Blacio and Blescil Joy) who have accompanied us for the whole day. It's a relief where you can share stories and asks questions using your own dialect.
We started the day attending Sunday Service in a Christian church here at Nakhonsawan. The service is in thai dialect, but church members are very thoughtful and translated the message to us. That was definitely a great message "Knowing God". We were also invited for lunch after the service. We met other Filipinos while we were having our lunch and found out they are enjoying their stay here working as a teacher. It was a very memorable 1st Sunday of the year 2020.
To be able to go around the place with no hassle, our friend contacted a grab driver who agreed to be our service for the rest of the day. We were thankful with the female driver for taking care of us.
We planned to go at the Nakhonsawan Tower to see the beauty of the place from above. However, it is under renovation. We proceeded then in the temple nearby (Wat Khiriwong).
Our grab driver did not only drove us to the different places, took some pictures of us but also served as our tour guide (so overwhelming).
Our next destination was the View of Pasan, the memorial building for the origin of Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.
The weather is too hot, but it did not stop us in taking lot of pictures because of the picturesque view. The structure was also amazing. Credits to Blacio for most of the photos.
Ms. Grab driver did even lend us umbrellas
After enjoying the view, we moved on at the Bueng Boraphet which is a very wide place with different attractions such as sheep farm, aquarium, crocodile show and others.
We ended our visit in the place after the Crocodile Show. At the end of the show, I am not sure how to react, will I be glad on how the man did it or will I feel bad for the crocodiles? We all have different perspectives though.
My friend asked, what made us decide to visit Nakhonsawan with the thought that it's not a usual place for tourists.
1st of all- to cut the long trip of going back to Bangkok (12 hours is too long)
2nd - to experience more local life in a place not greatly visited by tourists
And last, to meet them also 😉
It's a great place, but as they say, everything has an end. By 5PM we have to travel again going now to Ayutthaya (last destination before going back home). The day was absolutely amazing, specially having friends around.
In case you haven't read the other parts of the Thailand trip, you can check on it:
Bangkok, Thailand
https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/amazing-new-year-countdown-in-thailand-2020-645278fa
Chiang Rai, Thailand
https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/chills-like-home-chiang-rai-thailand-e5f96b5a
Chiang Mai, Thailand
https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/recharging-batteries-at-chiang-mai-d33cf03d
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor ( the little life wanderer)
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time
-Hope you can also check the works of the following amazing people:
Recharging batteries at Chiang Mai
January 3-4, 2020
A city that is firmly Thai in atmosphere and attitude - Chiang Mai.
After tiring yet fun rides, we have reached the former seat of Lanna Kingdom (Chiang Mai). Checked- in at the Dutch Cosy Home, being managed by Mr. Harry (Dutch) and his wife (Thai). The name itself says how homy the place is. https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/dutch%20cosy%20home/entity/CgsI8KL6ib3nj82tARAB?g2lb=2502405%2C2502548%2C4208993%2C4254308%2C4258168%2C4260007%2C4274032%2C4276710%2C4289969%2C4299259%2C4301054%2C4305595%2C4308216%2C4308227%2C4314846%2C4315873%2C4317915%2C4324293%2C4326405%2C4328159%2C4329288%2C4330862%2C4333267%2C4270859%2C4284970%2C4292955%2C4316256&hl=en&gl=th&un=1&q=dutch%20cosy%20home&rp=EPCi-om954_NrQE4AkAASAE&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwjQ8r2x3PLmAhWwyzgGHY25CJYQ65QEKAB6BAgLEAM&hrf=IgNUSEIqFgoHCOQPEAIYARIHCOQPEAIYAhgBKAA
We did have dinner in that place and enjoyed the Thai cuisine. We were very lucky that our food was prepared by the wife who also teaches cooking classes. One of the must-try foods when in Chiang Mai is the Khao Soi (Egg Noodle Curry) which is super delicious. The food is so inviting that we forgot to take pictures 🤣.
Mr. Harry has a contact on most of the tours and cooking classes, and he even gives discounts on whatever you choose. We did chose the Micky Elephant Family, wherein Mr. Micky itself served as our driver and guide. It's a half-day tour only because we plan to stroll around the city for the afternoon.
Let's go girly first at the Orchids and Butterfly sanctuary before visiting the elephants. The place is filled with plants specially flowers and different kinds of butterflies.
It was an amazing interaction with the elephant and the view around is also amazing. We did not do the riding elephant thing and limited our interaction time with Didi, not to stress her more. Some activities such as trekking to the waterfalls, water rafting, ATV rides, and others can also be done around.
We were able to get back at the Dutch Cosy Home past 3 pm already. Took some rest, washed up and went around.
Such places can be explored through walking where you can discover a lot of street foods and different stalls/ shopping areas. GPS/ Google Maps has helped us a lot though. We searched for a restaurant and followed the way; however, the sound of a playing guitar from different establishment lured us that resulted in us dining at the Kangsadan Bar & Restaurant. Who doesn't want to listen to acoustic songs? https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNRE4-C50BpUJYinP-YhSEszTEEqNw%3A1578443006247&ei=_iAVXoTgDvSLmgfQlZnIDQ&q=kangsadan+bar+%26+restaurant&oq=Kangsada&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.1.4.0l8.170249.171452..173794...1.1..0.189.1337.0j8......0....1.......8..0i71j35i362i39j46i362i39j0i273j46i67j46j0i131j46i273j0i131i67j46i131i67j46i273i275j0i131i273j0i67j46i131i67i275j46i131j46i67i275j46i10j0i10.pQDnkZavn8A#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:,rc_ludocids:3874900208833859629,rc_q:Kangsadan%2520Bar%2520%2526%2520Restaurant,ru_q:Kangsadan%2520Bar%2520%2526%2520Restaurant
We ordered a lot for dinner but were not able to finish everything (not because it's not delicious but because it is just a lot for the 3 of us). Sadly, the time slot for the guy singing country songs is already up, but he informed us that another singer will be coming.
Since the night is still long, we did wait for the next singer while enjoying our food. Great day to meet Mr. Will Phromphichai, one of the local singers in the place. He even played some of our requests including Thai songs. He didn't have a choice since we were the customers left at that time. Undeniably enjoyed jamming with him. https://instagram.com/willphromphichai?igshid=1e0g63bvwyht9
We went back to Dutch Home after Mr. Will's performance. Recharged for the night and woke up for an early stroll the next day. Enjoyed the early walk around the market while looking for coffee to bring home. We decided to go around the place again before leaving the place.
It's hard to say goodbye, but we need to hit the road again to our next destination (Nakhon Sawan); hence, left Chiang Mai with a lot of memories to bring home. Two days and one night was not enough though to explore the place..,
Short story with Mr. Will
As shared, I lost my eyeglasses when we're in Bangkok. I don’t know if it's his voice that attracted me or his physical features 🤣, I even told my friends he's handsome from where I am sitting. After his singing, we asked for his IG account. Fast forward to having coffee at the Dutch Cosy Home, he approved our request. At that time we looked into his IG account and found out something. The friend expressed that he is the Thai Version of Empoy in the Philippines (if you know him 😅). The moral of the story, always wear your eyeglasses 😅.., We are still friends on FB and IG though...
In case you haven't read the other parts of the Thailand trip, you can check on it:
Bangkok, Thailand https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/amazing-new-year-countdown-in-thailand-2020-645278fa
Chiang Rai, Thailand https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/chills-like-home-chiang-rai-thailand-e5f96b5a
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time
-Hope you can also check the works of the following amazing people:
September Stress No More
For the past 5 years, September has been an exciting yet stressful month for me. It was because of the observance of the Family Month Celebration every September. One of the highlights of the observance was the Mass Wedding Celebration. Yes, the Local Government Unit through our office sponsors an annual Mass Wedding Celebration. Every year, a total of 40 to 60 couples agree to legalize their wedding.
Conducting a simple program is kinda stressful, how much more a wedding celebration participated by city officials and witnessed by a lot of people. I was employed in this office in the year 2014 and was still 23 years old at that time. In the year 2015, there have been movements in the office and I was one of those who was assigned in the Programs Division who are in charge of the city-wide celebrations. Being the new focal person on family welfare concerns, the mass wedding ceremony is my concern. From preparation to the ceremony proper to packing-up was tasked to me. Imagine the stress and fun it gave me.
I just can't imagine how someone not in a relationship became a wedding event coordinator 🤣😂🤣
Preparation
The preparation was the most stressful thing. From the announcement of the mass wedding ceremony, entertaining queries about the event, checking of wedding requirements of the couples, typing of Marriage License, confirmation of solemnizing officer and witnesses/ sponsors, preparation of wedding invitations and program flow, physical set-up and decoration of the venue.
Perks of being in charge, I got the chance to choose the motif color. Here are the colors since I started:
2015 - Blue
2016 - Orange
2017 - Ethnic
2018 - Yellow
2019 - Green
2020 - *no gatherings
What's my basis for choosing the color? That depends on what color the available materials are 🤣. In the year 2016, it was purely based on the available color of cartolina and special paper and what color was not yet used. Though I searched if the color fits a wedding and found out it's not just a common color for a wedding.
Preparation includes the stringent checking of requirements. We don't want to be the reason why the marriage can be declared null and void by not checking the papers properly.
From the wedding invitation to planning the physical set-up, we have to check and prepare everything. My creativity sometimes works when doing wedding invitations (for the couples, sponsors, and other invited guests). Doing things is not a problem, but the thrill is, either you have to use what is available or buy things on your own and don't expect it to be reimbursed.
Physical Setup was not a big deal when the venue was at the Convention Center, minor decorations are just needed. But the excitement raised when the available venue was a covered court. This was the time help was requested. Ideas and suggestions were consolidated.
During
During ceremonies, most staff in our office were present. They were tasked to have the Marriage Certificates properly signed by the couple, sponsors, and the solemnizing officer. Some were assigned to take photos, assist the sponsors and the like.
I remembered in 2017, during the ceremony, the City Mayor observed the sitting arrangement of the couples was not properly arranged (grooms were seated on the left side while the bride's seat was on the right side, but it should not be the case). After the ceremony, I received negative words regarding that matter from our boss and officemates. Officemates who were in charge of the arrangement of couples, officemates who observed and realized things but chose not to act. (At that time, I did really felt bad, I wanted to hide in the restroom and burst out my frustration, but chose to be silent and proceeded as if nothing happened).
After
After every event, I wanted to hide myself, because I don’t want to get scolded or I don't want to hear errors or mistakes I have done or things I was not able to accomplish.
For the past 2 ceremonies, I didn't hear anything from our bosses after the ceremony. I did not get scolded. I don't know if I was able to achieve their expectations or they just don't want to waste their time pointing out what I missed.
I felt bad for not hearing anything. There was no "thank you" or "you did great" from our bosses (that still made me want to cry).
It's just funny how preparation took time and days and the program took only more than 3 hours. After the program, when the couples exited, most of the staff also are already out. If there are no interns during those times, I can count through my fingers those people/ co-workers who would stay and help in packing up everything.
Still, one thing I love the most is when the couples go out with smiles on their faces.
Stress no more
Yes, no more September stress for me. Early this year, there has been a movement of staff that happened in the office. I was so happy being transferred. Transferred to a different unit and some job functions were also transferred. I am not anymore in charge of city-wide celebrations. I will miss those preparations that always keep me awake.
But that doesn't mean I won't be of help to the in-charge this year. Actually, I'm already being requested to do something for the mass wedding this year.
Excited about how the office will conduct it this year.
---------------------------
*Hi!*
*I'm Dolor*
*- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘*
*- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉*
---------------------------
You might also want to check articles written by my generous sponsors.
Chills like home - Chiang Rai, Thailand
Sawatdee ka 🙏
In case you were not able to read the 1st part of this Thailand travel you can check the following link: https://read.cash/@dLifeWanderer/amazing-new-year-countdown-in-thailand-2020-645278fa
January 2, 2020
It was definitely a long trip. It is because the drive took more than 12 hours. The double-decker bus (Budsarakham Tour - VIP bus) from Bangkok to Chiang Rai was comfortable though. We booked the night trip not only for lesser accommodation but definitely to have more time exploring the place. We arrived at the bus station somewhat past 6 AM (Thailand time) and were welcomed by the cold breeze. (Winter season, but no snow as described by the local). It chills undeniably like home (Baguio City) compared to Bangkok. Those were the moments you want to enjoy drinking coffee, wear a jacket and/ or scarf, and just feel the cold breeze touching your skin while the sun is not yet out.
1st destination: Wat Rong Khun - White Temple
Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple that stands out through the white color and the use of pieces of glass in the plaster, sparkling in the sun. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom and the Dhamma, the Buddhist teachings. The ticket at the same time shows what else can be seen inside and their locations.
The place was very stunning, with the color and details everywhere. It's also a place that attracts a lot of visitors (Thai and foreigners). I think this place will also be greatly appreciated by people who love arts and details.
2nd destination: Baan Dam Museum (Black House)
In thai "Baan" means house or home and "Dam" means black. It's also an interesting place to visit. Black House is said to be a contemporary artwork museum comprised of artist Thawan Dunchanee's lives work. They show his assortment of artwork, sculptures, wooden carvings, and furniture created by him, and collected from around the world.
3rd destination: Wat Huay Pla Kung - Big Buddha
Since we have a limited time to stay in Chiang Rai, we just went around the place but did not climb inside the Pagoda nor the temple😂. There are free rides though going up and down the Pagoda.
4th destination: Union of Hill Tribe Villages
Union hill tribe villages were established since 20 years ago in Nanglae District, not very far from Chiang Rai city. It is where 5 hill tribe villages with more than 200 villagers living in, which are Akha tribe, Iu Mien (Yao) Tribe, Lahu (Muser) Tribe, Palong (Big earring) tribe, and Long Neck (Karen) tribe. (Source: Asia Tour Advisor)
The most common and known as the Long Neck (Karen) Tribe was unique. You can encounter their women wearing stacked brass rings on their necks & sell handmade crafts.
Visiting the village was the last stop of our itinerary for the day, though Chiang Rai has a lot more to offer (Blue Temple, Golden Triangle, and more). The direct bus going from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai was already fully booked when we inquired; hence, we have to take a cutting trip. Started from the Minibus that dropped us to Makajhan, then rode Songthaew (Jeep) bound to Chiang Mai. (Upcoming article on what happened at Chiang Mai will be coming next)
P. S.
we did look for a place to freshen up before wandering 🤣😂🤣
pictures are taken by either the three of us (dolor, kits, ces) while for the others we requested random people to take pictures. Selfies and groufies with the locals were not posted here since we did not ask for their permission if we can post them.
we were able to manage our time since we have rented a Songthaew for the day
There are entrance fees in every destination.
---------------------------
*Hi!*
*I'm Dolor*
*- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘*
*- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉*
---------------------------
You might also want to check articles written by my generous sponsors.
Weekend Well Spent
(A pre-pandemic story)
February 15-16, 2020
Weekend well spent.., from late night travel, early call time, late night sleep, different rides from here to there, to long hours of walk, to see and explore God's wonderful creations. Exhaustion was not that felt because of the unending story telling packed with laughter as well as additional English lessons.
That was the summary of a weekend which I enjoyed so much..,
For two days, was given the opportunity to discover a beautiful creation at the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora.
I was very thankful for my bestfriend for inviting me in their "hike for a cause" . Hiking is not my deal, but maybe because it was for a cause aside from other reasons that I was not able to travel during my birthday and because of the exhaustion from work, I immeduately agreed to join. I have no idea who I am going with as long as my bestfriend is present, then it's not a problem 😁.
February 14, 2020
Yes, it was the valentines day and it was a Friday, but since I'm not in a relationship, it's just a normal working day. Hence, after office hours, I rushed at the bus terminal to catch up with the scheduled trip. This means I did already have my backpack with me since the morning 😅.
I remembered a myday post in my Facebook account during that night with a caption that says: "dahil wala naman ako ka-date, alis nalang ako" (and since I have no date, I will just go) ..,
I travelled as early as Friday to be able to catch with the scheduled call time at 5 AM of February 15 at Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. I was the only one coming from Baguio while the others are from Nueva Ecija and most of them will be arriving from Manila. I arrived at Cabanatuan City somewhat past 12 AM of Feb. 15. Asked a friend if I can stay in their place for the night rather than paying for a room which she willingly agreed. She also fetched me from the City to their Municipality and drove me the next day back to Cabanatuan even if it's too early.
February 15, 2020
The call time was set too early to be able to reach our destination before lunch. I was able to meet the group at the said time but the earliest transportation available was at 6AM.
Riding from Cabanatuan to Gabaldon through public van. I already forgot what place that is where we registered and started with the long walk (more than 3 hours) going up to Mt. Sawing Balete.
This climb taught me to be strong enough to take care of myself and be open if things get tough
"Each fresh peak ascended teaches something"
After descending from Mt. Sawi and short rest, we commuted immediately going to Dingalan, Aurora known as the Batanes of the North. After some time, some of the members of the group took boat ride going to the land since they have to go back to Manila. From the 12, only 5 of us stayed at the island for a night.
They rented a cottage where we spent the night. I am literally a joiner, everything was prepared by the group, all I have to do is join them enjoy the day 😁
February 16, 2020
We woke up early again just to climb. When they told us to bring water, but brought my coffee instead 😂. I can't function properly without having coffee yet.
Roam around the island for couple of hours before traveling to the common Tanawan Falls.
We did have our lunch along the way before going back to Cabanatuan where we parted ways. They went back to Manila while I came back to Baguio. It was already dark when I reached home. Tired physically but recharged emotionally.
#FirstClimb #PostBirthdayCeleb #appreciatinggodscreation #ClimbForACause #TravelDiaries
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉
This was my last travel before the onset of the pandemic. How about you, where did you go before lockdown..?
Galang-gala na yan?
"Sabay kami" (We will go with you) were the words we (me and Jacob) are telling a friend (Angelica) while we are having our coffee last Friday (August 27). That moment we checked our schedules and found out we are both available for a couple of days then immediately planned for the travel. "Galang-gala lang" (our feets are itching for a travel.., wanted to travel the soonest possible).
From Saturday to Sunday we already started talking about the possible trip. But there was no itinerary/ plan on where to roam around until when and the like. We just wanted to go on a trip without any plan. Hence, when Angelica informed us that her older brother is going to fetch her, we rushed our decision if we're going to go with them or not. Practicality sake, we joined them that made us quickly pack our things and met them.
Evening of Sunday at exactly 9:45 pm we left Baguio and reached Quezon, Nueva Ecija almost 2 in the morning. It was not a smooth travel just like before because of the checkpoints along the way.
Perks of having friends outside the city
We didn't spend any peso for our accommodation and transportation (except for going home) since we slept at a friends house. Our first night was spent at Quezon while the second night was spent at Talavera. Different municipalities that are far from each other. Was thankful for our friends and their families who accomodated us warmly. They also ferried us going to and from different places and ensured our stomachs are full. Their hospitality is worth commending which made me realize I don’t know how to take care of visitors.
Was it worth it?
Definitely, it was a worth it travel despite of the long rides. Yes long rides from Baguio to Nueva Ecija and going around different municipalities/ city. Though because of the distance of their tourist spots and limited time, just went around where we can go 😊. Aside from the road trips, the sharing of stories and laughter made it more exciting. Including the guidance of God in every step of the way.
Where to go in Ecija?
There are a lot of nature trips at the different municipalities such as Minalungao National Park, Pantabangan Dam, Mt. Sawi, Tanawan and the like. It's better to plan ahead of time where to go not to waste time deciding and waiting. But being simultaneous is still fun though 🙃.
---------------------------
Hi!
I'm Dolor
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉
It's a VAW day
A Day in the Life of a Social Worker
"Kung ako lang po, gusto ko maayos pa namin, para lamang sa mga bata" (For me, I wanted this to be fixed, for the sake of the children)
Those were the words of the husband when asked if they still wanted to save their relationship. After some time of listening to each other's side, at least there is still hope that their relationship will be restored. I felt bad though when the wife expressed that she is already tired and feels threatened every time she sees her husband drunk. But still, we don't want children to grow with only one parent raising them. We all want children to have a complete family, a family that loves and respects each other; hence, intervention for
VAW - refers to Violence Against Women
Morning
The moment I turned on my computer when I arrived at the office, a police officer came referring a client who was physically abused by her husband. Since my companions are not yet in, I have entertained them. The client is not residing under my area of jurisdiction. Still, did an initial interview with the client and gave her time to rest while waiting for my co-social worker to endorse her case.
After endorsing, I already went to the barangay where we have scheduled dialogue. The dialogue was between a couple who did have a fight and misunderstanding. I am thankful for the presence of the punong barangay and kagawad who assisted me during the dialogue.
I'm not a new social worker, but this was the only time I was exposed to handling different cases since for the previous years I have been dealing with coordination, paperwork including reports and statistics, conducting city-wide activities, and the like. The need for me to ask for help or rescue from my officemates.
Lunch
The time I came back to the office, our officemate was also having a dialogue with another VAW case.
While we are having our lunch break, distressing about our morning clients, our two companions were also sharing their experiences of being a VAW victim.
Afternoon
I was invited to talk about Gender Sensitivity and Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) in one barangay. Emphasis of my discussion focused on the salient features of the RA 9262 or the Anti-violence Against Women and their Children.
Today's really about Violence Against Women. How I wish such day won't happen again... How I wish women will not be coming reporting that they experienced abuse from their partner... How I wish there will be no violence against women and their children happening.., but for now, all we can do is wish at the same time be an advocate women empowerment and gender equity in our own simple ways...
Lead Image: Yellow tote bag. This has been my to go bag when I go on field which usually contains files, ballpen, umbrella, wallet, tissue and alcohol. This is easier to carry while walking up and down the road, streets and steps.
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Hi!
I'm Dolor
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences, and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉
Amazing New Year Countdown in Thailand 2020
(Throwback)
I don’t know why, but Thailand has always been one of the places I wanted to visit. I’m not sure if it is because I have been watching some Thai television soap opera/ series (which titles I don’t even remember), or because of the rich culture, or I just wanted something to brag. But after a couple of days, I have found out how beautiful, interesting, amazing and expressive this country is. A lot of my first times even happened in this country.
All glory and thanksgiving to the Lord God for the opportunity to discover some parts of Thailand, even for a couple of days (8 nights, 9 days to be exact) and doing it together with great friends.
December 31, 2019
#1 first time: traveling outside the country
Arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok and took a bus going to Khaosan Road, the traveler hub of South East Asia. Enjoyed the lunch at the Macaroni Club and proceeded to The Mixx Hostel for check-in. Left our big bags and went around. Yes, we have stayed in a dormitory type room with male room mates (1 bed each person though), but nothing bad happened.
#2 first time: sleeping in a backpackers dormitory with strangers yet friendly roommates
Since we have a spare time (whole afternoon), we did saunter around the stretch of Khaosan Road, bumped into foreigners (some are even holding bottle of beer), passed through different stalls, restaurants and bars, tried some foods, and ended up in a place with an ongoing program.
Without knowing what's going on, we followed the line of people entering the road with an ongoing program. It was the Chang Khaosan Countdown.
#3 first time: partying (for more than 2 hours) during the new year’s countdown far from home
It was such a great experience (or just because it was my first time joining such). The countdown was full of Thai performances, games, music and fun. We may not be able to understand everything the emcees are saying (luckily, the girl emcee speaks in english most of the time), still the fun and excitement is there.
There's no fireworks since it's a crowded area, but the confetti and smoke effect together with the delighted vibes of the great crowd from different countries made the countdown astonishing.
It has been a new experience for me..,
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Hi!
I'm Dolor
- not a writer nor a blogger just a life wanderer who wanted to share travels, experiences and learnings 😘
- hope you can join me wandering next time 😉
@dLifeWanderer
