Tick Tock

Mid-way through March and this image keeps whizzing through my brain. In exactly 3-months, life as I know it will change radically. Whether it's a smaller degree of radical-ness or the big whopping dose of exciting, its definitely going to be different...and I'm feeling a bit of the choke.

The impending changes have given me the benefit of a shift in perspective. Now I'm appreciating all that I have. Sunday lounging by the pool. Crossing the street to buy groceries or browse at the bookstore. My lovely gold Nissan with the free petrol. A little extra cash to buy those RM70 Esprit jeans from the Queen's Park Factory Outlet like I did yesterday. Those are just what I'll miss with that small change that will definitely happen.

What about the bigger change? There will be more than just the above to miss. Looking back at what I've written on this blog in the last 3 years, I realized that I spent more time blogging about my travels than the things I appreciate about the city that has become my second home. Plus there's so much more left to do. I'm just waiting for the signal to start doing them now.

But as one of my friends said over dinner the other night, why wait for the signal? Just do everything now! He's right...time to putting together that list of things I want to do, and checking them off one by one.

Photo courtesy of: http://blogs.ubc.ca/missionfitpossible/

My First Winter

A few days ago I returned from my first "real" winter experience in Norway. "Real" to distinguish it from my first snowfall which I caught last November while walking from the shuttle to an airplane about to take off from Budapest, where I stood on the airplane runway trying to catch snowflakes on my face like a crazy promdi fool. This time it was the end of February in Scandinavia, with miles and miles of snow. I had to suit up everyt ime I left the cozy warm indoors and I never felt I was wearing enough. My Zara sale coat performed quite well with a wool inner layer, but I think I'll be buying one of those puffy down-filled waterproof jackets with the fur trim sometime in the future.

In fairness, walking in the snowy outdoors was not as bad as I imagined. I thought that a tropical girl such as myself would freeze and keel over soon as I hit the outdoors but I was walking every day much like the other Norwegians (some of whom were jogging in - 2 degrees Celcius!). My face and hands got numb after awhile, and everyone kept telling me I was lucky to be experiencing such a mild bout of weather (the week before it was - 15 C), but then I thought, hey I can handle this!

That seems like a good sign.

The Dhaka Guide (Part 2 of 2)

When I started writing this post last year, fresh from my Bangladesh stint, I had so much ambition for it. I wanted to turn it into my office's definitive guide to staying in Dhaka. But time and life got in the way and I seem to have lost some of my travel guide photos, so I can only remember bits and pieces. However, I hope I have remembered the best parts.

A photographer friend commented that it must be amazing to take a camera to the streets of Dhaka and I agree the sights and sounds can be colorful and unique to document but for some reason I was always uncomfortable taking photos in the streets. Either I felt I would draw too much attention, or I didn't feel right pointing my slightly expensive camera at scenes of poverty. Its really unusual to be in Bangladesh, to be part of extremes and end up belonging to the upper half while many are at the lower end. People there have gotten used to it and I assume if I stay there longer I would be used to it too. However, the contrast is still stark for a "guest" such as myself.

That being said, I'd like to get back to best parts of sightseeing in Dhaka, besides its crazy streets, there are also some moments of its history:

Lalbagh Fort in Old Dhaka, an incomplete palace of the Mughal era, which contains a mosque and the tomb of the Mughal princess Bibi Pari.


Ahsan Manzil (The Pink Palace) in Old Dhaka, another landmark of the Mughal age situated at the Buriganga river. Here you can imagine the glory days of Bangladesh when both local and foreign royalty plied the palace halls. Not much is left though, in this place which is now a museum, and it makes you wonder how much was taken away over the years.


The Parliament Building in Dhaka, with an unusually futuristic design.


The best sightseeing trip I made was to Sonargaon, the old Bengal capital. A 2 hour drive out of the city, although its only 40 kms away, showing you how heavy the traffic situation can be. Stepping into Sonargoan is a refreshing gulp of fresh air, not only pertaining to the wonderfully green surroundings, but also to the seemingly cheerful, laid back people that occupy it.

Had they been better preserved, these ruins would have made it to the World Heritage Site list.
I still think they are beautiful though.

Happy tuktuk driver.

Colorful painted rickshaws.

The tip of an abandoned Hindi temple.

The Hindi temple ruins remind me so much of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Sonargaon folk museum

Lost iron art.

Beautiful and friendly children by the old mosque.

After I left Sonargaon I realized I have a Buddha Bar track on my iPod with the same name. I found a video for it on the web, and yes, it is apt to remember the spirit of the place.

Milestone

Although my travels took me far and wide in 2009, the best piece of the past year had to do with home. That is, my new home in an up-and-coming area south of Manila.

It was truly a family effort...Mom brilliantly selected this location and maneuvered me into taking it over a cheaper house in Pasig that probably ended underwater after the Ondoy floods last September. My sister pitched in a big chunk into getting the family moved in by November. And last Christmas was our FIRST Christmas in our own little piece of the earth. It may be missing cabinets, curtains, gardens and so much more but its a wonderful work in progress. It will entail some sacrifice, but I think its all worth it.

I'm so very blessed because I've been feeling that a list of wishes I submitted to the universe is getting answered one by one in the most amazing and surprising ways. Yes there's a bit of a crunch in some aspects but I'm less worried these days. I know everything will work out for the better.