Goodbye

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I just came back to Laos from Vietnam last Thursday night and I am again leaving for Cambodia tomorrow. Real tight sched. I'm lucky it's sunny today, the clothes I washed earlier will surely dry.

I never thought I'll say this, but being away from home is finally biting me. Maybe because I hardly stay in one place. And it is quite tiring building relationships then having to say goodbye a week after.

Also, there were some stuff happening recently from the people around me that both scares and saddens me. It is hard being yourself when you are constantly being judged for the things you do. It is harder when everything you do is negatively taken by another person. And probably what's hardest is, having that negative thing about you spread to other people like a daily newspaper subscription. I dread gossips.

I only take people as they are. But now, I hate that I have to be wary around everyone and choose the people I trust.

Now, I miss my family and two true friends. /wrist

Don't mess with my things. Or I'll.. Or I'll.

I could not sleep last night. My roommate informed me that she found my pink notebook on her laptop bag, which means that the laptop bag I was using was now being used by someone else. It also means that my other things, documents and flash drive, are placed somewhere I do not know. I swore to God I wanted to fly all the way to Laos just to look for my things.

Of all the things I cannot tolerate, it’s meddling with my things. It is one thing my mom and I also argue about. She hates messy, I live with mess. I know I am one of those unorganized people, but no matter how messy my things are, I know where to find my things. It just sucks big time when people interfere with my own view of order.

I knew it. I really really knew it. A voice inside my head was whispering that I should bring that laptop bag to Vietnam. But I didn't! Now, I have again proven that I should listen to that little Cyrene inside of me. Ffffff.

The first thing I will do when I arrive in Vientiane on the 26^th is throw a fit. Kidding. I will find my suspect and torture him/her to death. Kidding. I will… of course, pray silently that my things are still to be found. So help me God.

This. Is. Hot.

Things fall apart

This is the first time I went to a church in three whole months. I wasn't a Catholic, but my heart was seemingly shouting that it needed some kind of refuge. I went there, but I did not know what to do. People were kneeling in front of the altar, doing the sign of the cross, but these were not the faith that I grew up to.

What if the gods were all up there in heaven? A random thought, I know. I know I'm supposed to think that my God is the only God there is, but I cannot help but think that perhaps other people's faith may be true, too. What if we are all correct in our faith?

I am not doubting my faith, I am just respecting other people's beliefs. A novel I read, "Things Fall Apart", made a huge impact on me. Basically, the story was about how the Africans were stripped off of their "natural faith" when the Europeans came and introduced Christianity. It's just hypocritical that those who spread Christianity were also the ones who turned them into slaves.

Today, I saw many Vietnamese coming to the Catholic Church to pray and worship. I should be happy that somehow they were introduced to the Christian faith, but I also cannot help but feel that they were the Africans in the novel mentioned.

Okay, I am not making any sense.

I'm a little bit of crazy
I'm a little bit of a fool
I'm a little bit of lonely
I'm a little bit of all

Oh I need a cure
Just a little bit of you.

I told you it's a snack.

So a Chinese woman was entering the US through San Francisco. The man in customs asked her, "Have you got any food in there?" She said she haven't got any to which the man replied, "You Chinese are all the same, saying you haven't got any food but when we open your luggage, all we can see is food."

Coincidentally, the next person in line was an old Chinese woman. Again, the man asked, "Have you got any food there, Ma'am?" The old lady said, "No, just snack." Much to the man's annoyance, he exclaimed, "I just asked you if there's food in there!" Much more annoyed, the Chinese woman said, "Yes there is no food, just SNACK!" So there was no option left but to open the woman's luggage. Inside was a jar that took the man aback.

"I told you it's a snack!" the woman said with much pleasure on her face, walking away with her jar and her snake inside.

Tee hee. :D

Two days ago, I had lunch with a Singaporean (the anecdote above is her experience), a Canadian, three Vietnamese, and a Bicolana. It fascinates me how we all speak English and yet still misunderstand each other.

Today, while listening to the conversation of my two German companions, I could not help but imagine myself playing The Sims. Their accent sounded a lot like how the Sims talk.

I've always wondered how I sounded to someone else's ear. While walking one night on the streets of Phnom Penh, two Filipinos approached the group I'm with and asked if we got to Cambodia through the Piso promo of Cebu Pacific. For what reason only God knows. Anyways, one guy asked if I were Bisaya because according to him, I have this twang when I speak. But actually, I am pure-blooded Tagalog. My way of speaking is as sharp as a kitchen knife, thank you.

An American writer described Tagalog as "sing-song" while someone I know said it sounds "malambing." I hope it is the latter, because sometimes my ears kind of feel sore while listening to foreign sounds I do not understand.

Or maybe I just miss home. And Tagalog.

Pi Mai All Over Again! :)

I have never seen Lao people so alive and kicking. I always had the impression that they are very laid back that I could not imagine them partying all day on the streets. Sure the free party beside Mekong River ended at 7:30 PM but I could not blame them for doing so. Being wet all day, drunk with Beer Lao and occasional whiskey, I would also go straight to bed past seven.

Happy 3rd day of Pi Mai! :)

Free food and beer. And wine cooler. Hihi. I like.

Drumuh.

Drumuh part two. Haha.

With the beautiful Somsa.

My favorite kakulitans! :)

Sabaide Pi Mai! :)

Yesterday marked the start of almost a week-long New Year celebration here in Laos. It literally flooded water... With flowers, beer, food, and powder included.

Didn't know Cathy can sing

Love her more! :)

The Great Pakse Adventure Part 2

So, minutes ago, I said I'm going to sleep. I couldn't. So I give you part 2 of my Pakse trip! :)

The next day, we were set to travel again for more than an hour going to, guess what, another waterfall. The name of the waterfalls is Khone Pha Pheng. This time, I am quite sure. I searched it on Google. Hihi.

Presenting, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia!

I swear, the view was breathtaking. I've never seen such beauty my whole life. At the same time, I saw how the currents rush through, slapping the edgy and slippery rocks. While taking pictures, I also thought my life was at stake. Anyone who would fall to the waters would surely die. I was told that people can go rafting here, but I wouldn't even dare think about doing it.

Compared to the medium sized-waterfall in the previous post, it was really hot there in Khone Pha Pheng. Maybe it's the rocks. But I don't know the scientific explanation behind that.

The next site was the ruins of an old temple. I searched Google with keywords "old temple in Pakse" and it showed different names. So I don't know which one is correct. Anyways, I was told by a Lao colleague that the temple was built the same time as Angkor Wat.

Photocredits to the photographer in the temple. Hihi.

It was exhausting going up the steep steps of the temple but the experience was amazing. I am close to converting to Buddhism. Oh oh. My dad won't like reading this.

Don't tell my parents I prayed to Buddha, they might not let me go home. Hihi.

So there you have it, my Great Pakse Adventure! :)

The Great Pakse Adventure Part 1

A week after, I finally had the motivation to write about my great adventure at Pakse.

Pakse is a Southern city (not sure if city or district or whatevs) in Laos that is more than ten hours drive from Vientiane Capital. Me and my colleagues thought that Pakse is just another city in Laos--the normal rust-colored dust filled roads with slim trees and grasses all over. We were wrong. Pakse is my kind of place. It's a city in a forest. Or something like that.

We left VTE at around six in the morning--no breakfast, no shower, just us and the road. All we ever did was sleep, eat, sing, sleep, talk, then sleep some more. Photos of those sleeping were taken, but they were too hideous to be shown. Mine was the worst.

So, let me just jump over our first day at Pakse, minus the one day travel.

This is the I-forgot-what-its-called mini-waterfalls. Read along, and see more waterfalls!

It wasn't really a jaw-dropping site. In fact, I thought we weren't there yet when we arrived. But the area was really relaxing and comfy. The air was fresh and cool. Real taste of nature, must I say.

Next stop, we went to another waterfall. This trip was filled with waterfall sites.

I'm not sure if the name of this waterfall is Pusawan, but I'm betting on this rock that it is its name. 

It was a great view, but it's a long trek down to get the full view of this falls. My right knee injury relapsed, but it is worth it. I get to see a rainbow up close. Now that I said that, I didn't see any pot of gold at any ends of the rainbow. Sad face.

Yep, I was so tired that I cried. Jk. Drama. 

To end our day, we had dinner at a floating restaurant beside the Mekong river. The view of the city lights were amazing. Food was great, too. And yeah! I get to sing. 

Joke. They wouldn't let me even if I wanted to.

Ah, I'm so sleepy. I shall continue Day Two soon. 

Night night. :)

Slow down, you crazy child.

You're so ambitious for a juvenile.

But then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?