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Paris – Checked! In Paris, France is where you can find some of the most famous landmarks
and icons of any European city. Here are some: 
Eiffel Tower If you think of this lovely place, a landmark that instantly pops in your mind is the
Eiffel Tower (or Tour Eiffel in French), named after its designer/ engineer
Gustave Eiffel. This was built to commemorate the centenary of the
French revolution This well-known monument has become the global icon of
France and is one of the most unique structures in the world.  Arc De Triomphe
Another spot that I have been to is the Arc De Triomphe,
which was built by Napoleon to honor the magnificence of Imperial France.  Notre Dame De Paris Also, the much older Notre Dame De Paris is one of the most famous
and oldest landmarks in France and considered one of the premium examples of
gothic architecture. The name Notre Dame ïs the French translation of Öur Lady”. There are more to see in Paris like Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, Sainte Chapelle,
Musee du Louvre, etc. and these would be my destinations as I visit France next time. Paris, see you again!!
Pre-fligh: I am going to Dublin, Ireland for 4 days and temperature there is as cold as 4 degrees celcius so I should be again ready for this almost freezing temperature as my body cannot really stay longer in cold weather. Post-Flight: Ireland - the home of the popular Irish bands, The Corrs, and West Life, and the famous beer brand - Guinness.  Knowing that it is barely possible to see those Irish bands, just to be in their home country made me excited, which I can say, "So, this is where The Corrs and Westlife live?" And the Guiness Beer? I will tell you more about it later. First, read further for the happennings... First day-
We arrived in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, at past 7am but unlike in other places where sun shines at this time, Dublin was still dark. In the bus to the hotel, I observed that everyone fell asleep due to tiredness from the long and tiring 8.26-flight time to this city. The Pinoy Mafia (Khaye, Karen & I) with an Indian collegue Priyanka decided to see the city after lunch as we needed to re-energize ourselves. As advised by the hotel receptionist, we took the Dublin Sight Seeing Bus Tour (valued at 15 Euros) which drives within Dublin for almost 2 hours. This enables tourists to take a glimpse of Dublin, afterwhich, tourist can get-off at bus points of their choice. We took the seats at the upper deck of the bus only to find out that this would make us disconcerting. Although the weather in Dublin was not that cold as expected, however, it was a windy day then which somehow added to our discomfort. Nevertheless, we just enjoyed the bus ride and continued to take pictures of this medieval city. This city is considered to be the best capital city and most content country in Europe. However, during our bus ride, I was looking for spot, a place which identifies Dublin, an icon easily recognized as Ireland's vista, which is comparable to Opera House of Sydney, Eiffel Tower of Paris, Petronas Tower of Kuala Lumpur, etc., but to find nothing but structures, statues and the likes which are very common in European countries. Maybe, the Spire of Dublin, located in the Irish capital, rising (at 393 feet) like a huge, pin-like monument, can be considered as one, which the local people claim as Ireland's Eiffel Tower. But this piece of steel is just like a flag pole in the center of the city, which is at par from other unique icons of the world. After the tour, we went to Londis, a convinient store, to buy something to eat during the night, though we had light meal at the mall prior to buying some souvenirs (ofcourse fridge magnets are there, and also bought added some Guiness chocolates and glass tumblers). Karen bought 2 cans of Guiness Beer, the extremely popular beer among Irish and is the best-selling alcoholic drink of all time in Ireland, where Guinness & Co. makes almost €2 billion annually. This dark-colored beer tastes bitter than the usual beers in the UAE such as Heineken, Bitburger and Amstel Light, etc. and maybe, its flaked and roasted taste made the Guinness Beer distinct and unique. Second Day- Khaye (our Cabin Manager) and I again went out to take some pictures. We went back to the park and its nearby shopping district. This lady, just like me, loves to take pictures so whatever or wherever she feels like getting my photographs, my camera just needs to always be ready. All we did that day was just to take pictures here and there. So if you can realize, my photos in Dublin are at par many than the rest of my picture post, and that is through the courtesy of Khaye.
Our second day ended 5 hours prior to wake-up time as we took lunch at Khaye's room.
To end this blog, here are some pictures of Dublin City.       - - - Dad, our Father, I know that saying thank you is not enough for all these blessings. My gratitude to you, Lord, our Father, for the wonderful things that I and my family is having right now. Thank you, Lord, Father.
 | Plus 1 | Jan 24, '08 4:41 AM
for everyone |
 Three (3) days to my flight to Ireland, a day after finishing my standby schedule, I headed to Abu Dhabi taxi stand and took a 2-hour bus ride to Dubai. I was much relieved that I would be spending my birthday on my days off.
There was no definite plan for my birthday but Arnold and I just decided to go clubbing. On the night prior to 22nd of January, as recommended by our friend Barry, we went to Jules Bar in the Le Royal Meridien. This bar is a Mexican lounge and restaurant, which is open every day for both lunch and dinner. It was a Monday night at Jules Bar and it so happened that it was a Filipino night so we were priviledged not to pay the entrance fee of 40 Dirhams or almost 500 Pesos. So, what more can I say about this bar? Jules, a lively bar located in Garhoud, Dubai is a venue, with a truly eclectic crowd, to find if you are looking for a little enjoynment and ecstasy. A Filipino live band plays everynight except Saturday (as posted outside the bar), with the emphasis on entertainment rather than musical endeavour, and the constant crowd participation, elaborate dance routines give the bar a camp of night-out feel. Requests of songs is gladly accommodated by the performers. I am looking forward to visiting this bar again. I just love the bands perform. These were what happened during that night - decent dinner, a few botlles of beer, hanged out and enjoyed the crowd, listened to live performances by Filipino bands (they were really great out there), and had a perfect time with Arnold. Pictures below were glimpses of that night.   J
U L E S =)
 On our way back to AUH, we had quite a number of VVIP and VIP in our flight and 1 of those was His Excellency, the President of Iceland, Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. All the crew were happy because we were able to give, as always, an excellent service to these people. Pictures below were taken during my Heathrow trip last December 2007 with my friend Ann . Having only 20 Pounds, we took the crew bus service to Hounslow where London's National Railway could take us to Central London. Ann and I just went around the area for a little shopping, afterwards, bought an all-day rail pass at Hounslow station and took a 30-minute tuberide to Westminster. The temperature then was almost freezing (which was at 2 degrees celcius), nevertheless, Asian people like us, who are not used to this kind of weather, could not embrace the cold breeze of London. We only spent almost 5 hours wandering at Central London because our winter clothes were not enough to protect us from this unbearable cold. See pictures and know a little things about them (source: Wikipedia).   Cock Tower (pictures above): Big Ben  Big Ben forms part of the Houses of Parliament (pictures above).  British Airway's London Eye We headed back to Hounslow to catch the bus service to the hotel, unfortunately, we missed it so we just took it as an opportunity to experience a bus ride to get back to Park Inn.
Despite the high standard of living in London, I would always want to do this sector, not to mention the nice and well-mannered passengers, because there are alot of things to see in this city like London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, etc. Hopefully, next time, when I get to do this sector again, I can be with someone I love. Soon, maybe? Who knows? In God's time...
         As I got back from my Muscat, Oman flight at 2:00 a.m., I felt that falling asleep might take time (as my body was feeling so recharged, maybe due to the vitamins I normally drink in the A/C) so I just fixed my laundry, which eventually made me wait for 2 hours to finish it, cooked dinner as I was really starving and prepared my suitcase for my Manila (MNL) trip. My MNL flight was originally rostered for Dhaka, Bangladesh with 24-hour layover but I was asked to do MNL sector instead. Doing MNL flight is better than DAC, though going to latter would only take 4 hours as compared to the first which doubles the flight time, because it would be another opportunity to serve my fellowmen who have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to be away from their families just to make a decent living for their loved ones. Anyway, this article was a bit delayed as I posted in advance the pictures of my Sydney trip as the photos are so nice to just be kept in my outbox. Arriving at Four Season Hotel in Sydney in the morning after flight time of 14 hours, though each crew was given 4-hour rest in the A/C as policy only allows us to work in the sky for a maximum of 9 hours, made us quenched to immediately go to our room and find refuge under the comfy sheets of our bed. My Pinay colleague Daisy and I settled to see Sydney after lunch and as time hit its deadline; however, neither she nor I was awake. I got up from bed when it was almost 2:00 p.m., freshened-up myself and changed to my casual get-up. I did not anymore ring Daisy as I know she has be wanting to sleep a longer time, not to mention that she was not able to sleep during our given A/C rest. I first went to the concierge and asked for directions going to Opera House and Cotton-On (clothing shop where you can get cheap clothes made of 100% cotton). Equipped with a map given by the Aussie lady and some points from and to my wanted directions, I hit the road with 45 Australian Dollar in my pocket. Finding Sydney Opera House was effortless as it was a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Prior to taking pictures of this iconic vista, the crowd’s attention, including mine, was caught by this young lady who makes a living by performing in the area of The Rock. And guess what she does? She bends and twists herself to fit inside a 16-inch (in diameter) fiber glass box. It was an amazing show which I used to just see on television. Check her performance here. Month of December in Sydney is summer and I was advised by Summer, my batch mate/ colleague, to best wear light clothes. Walking further within The Rock area under the strong ray of sun (causing my skin to mildly burn) and witnessing this Australian icon up-close was just worth the effort. The Sydney Opera House, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, I must say, is one of the world’s most unique 20th century buildings, because it proves to be not only a remarkable architectural and engineering icon, as tourists would not miss seeing this, but as well as one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. From The Rock area, on the right is the Opera House while on the other side is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. So, what does this icon have to say? Carrying rail, vehicular and pedestrian, it is said to be the main way to cross Sydney Harbour. The theatrical water vista of the bridge is yet another icon of Australia. Coathanger, as locally nicknamed because of its arch-shaped design, is the widest long-span bridge in the world and also considered the 4th longest spanning-arch bridge in the world. Looking at it up-close made me remember what my colleague told me that availing its footpath tour would cause like 500 – 700 Australian Dollars. I just do not know if she was telling the truth but if she was, and if I have the money, it may be worth trying it. The next day, I went to the shopping district to buy some cheap clothes but to end up buying nothing for everything was very luxurious; my allowance could only afford food and some simple memorabilia. As first-timer in this city, to discover and witness its beauty would be more than enough and maybe, next time, if time permits it, to see and experience a show in the Opera House maybe a treat. Salamat po, Dad, for this trip!
From the Suvarnabhumi International Airport...
... to Radisson Hotel...
… to Suan Lum...
Bangkok's newest night market is just east of Lumpini Park. After 4 hours of rest, the group decided to have dinner together. In the cab going to the new subway was terribly traffic so we eventually ended walking till we reached the nearest station. Suan Lum has many of the same Thai trinkets and souvenirs which you will find in other of Bangkok's markets, but here, the covered walkways made it different from the rest. It looks like the typical tiangge-an shops in the Philippines which houses few bars, restaurants and a huge covered food court with live bands. You can also find some shops which offer a very cheap massage ranging from 150 - 300 Bahts depending on your choice of therapy. Well worth a wander.Next day, shopping galore at MBK Center, Platinum Fashion Mall & Pratunum Complex ...
Shopping here, there, everywhere..
MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong or Mabunkrong, is an enormous shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. This 8 – storey mall was used to be one of the biggest malls in Asia when it was first founded in 1985. It is particularly well known for its many vendors of mobile phones and other electronics, as well as furniture, food and clothes. The Platinum Fashion Mall specializes in fashion clothes and accessories, be it retail or wholesale. The clothes shops operate on the principle that buying 1 piece is a retail sale and warrants retail price, but buying 3 pieces or more is wholesale and you get the wholesale price which is cheaper. An example of pricing structure is the shirts that I bought for a retail price of 250 Bahts. Since I bought 3 pieces, I got it for wholesale price of 500 Bahts.
Opposite of this mall is the Pratunum Complex which is, just like Platinum, sells very cheap items when you go wholesale. You can also find electronic items like camera, PSP, cellphones, etc. which are way cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (AUH). A proof was when this Thai colleague advised me that she bought her PSP, including the 4GB memory duo, unlimited games, and accessories, in Pratunum for almost only 8,000 Bahts (or 799 Dirhams) as compared in AUH which sells PSP for 799 Dirhams which includes only 1 game.
We finished shopping at the end of mall hours, hired a taxi to get back to the hotel and we discovered from the cab driver that in Thailand, letter "R" is pronounced as "L." Now we understand why they didn't understand "Radission" because it should be pronounced as "Laddison."
Our day didn't stop there, as we arrived in the hotel, Abby and I heaped to the nearby massage center - a way to end a long and tiring day. For this wonderful and enjoyable experience, gratitude would always be to our Father, as well as to the people He used as instruments to make this dream a reality.
Dad, thanks alot for all these blessings.
Bangkok, see you again.
 I am so much delayed in posting my flight adventures. It has been for several weeks or almost 2 months since I posted my last trip. I could not help but to just put them in my outbox folder, bound to be either posted in my Multiply or just to sleep there for ages. Anyway, I am having my 2 day off, a post-rest from Sydney flight, and I just don't know if I could find time to post that adventure that soon because I am due to do other flight blog before that...
The pictures on my left were taken in Leela Hotel in Mumbay (formerly known as Bombay), India. We only had 8 hour - rest in Bombay so there was nothing much to do there really but to enjoy the hotel. I asked my Indian colleague for some nice places to see in Mumbay but she said that they are way far from the hotel. Moreover, it was obviously not advisable to visit them due to limited time. Nevertheless, I changed to my casual get-up and still went to see what Mumbay looks like. I first visited the hotel atrium and checked what I could buy for souvenirs. They were quite expensive so I decided to just look for one outside the hotel. 
There was nothing to be found within hotel vicinity. I spent 2 hours wandering in this strange place and as I went through my voyage, it was quite disappointing and a bit depressing to witness what pictures on the net were telling. There were so much differences. Well, what could you expect in a most populous city in the world, where even HIV/ AIDS is not known for some people. I might just be saying this, perhaps, because I have not seen the inner beauty within this city. I have to find time in the future to compensate this experience. 
As I arrived back to the hotel, I bought some momento from the atrium shops - fridge magnets and silver bracelets. Two (2) hours to wake-up time, I settled onto sleeping to re-energize my body for the 4 hour flight going back to Abu Dhabi.
To end this blog article, here are some pictures of Mumbay.   
November 20 - 21, 2007 This was my 2nd KL flight and I would not mind doing this sector again and again. Kuala Lumpur is a destination where every crew would want to come back, not just because the Petronas Tower is nearby the hotel but Traders Hotel is a crew's haven for rest and relaxation. With a very comfortable bed, complimentary buffet breakfast, sky bar and a lap pool overlooking Petronas are more than enough reasons to just stay and wander in Traders.  With colleagues who were just doing this sector for the first time, going around the city would still be a choice. Andrew, Milen (both my batch mates) and I went to Bukit Bintang to have dinner. It was almost midnight when Andrew wanted to have a massage so we went looking for an average class one around the area. A foot reflexology for 30 Ringgits seemed to heal every aching muscles in our body. It was such a relief.
 The Next day, complimentary buffet breakfast recharged our starving stomach with energy to keep us up for the whole day. Afterwhich, the hotel complimentary shuttle service brought us to Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) to have a look of the Petronas Towers. We wanted to go to the sky bridge in Petronas but the free ticket being issued then was already for 5:30 pm trip. Andrew just went back to the hotel while Milen and I decided to go inside the KLCC mall. I started to just accompany Milen in her shopping but eventually made me to also shop for some cheap watches in Vincci.  Back in the hotel, Milen and I went to the sky bar, where the lap pool is just beside it, to have a glimpse of the overlooking sight of Kuala Lumpur. It was 3 hours to wake-up time when we decided to make it a day and went to our rooms to sleep and rest for the departing flight going back to AUH home base. I hope to make this sector once again, and I claim, in our Father's name, doing KL flight next month. Dad, thank you for making this dream of mine come true. Praise You.
November 16 - 19, 2007 Before the publication of the November roster, I claimed, in His name, to fly to Manila. Nevertheless, I did not have it for that month. However, our Father makes way to what we want to happen. Without the expected flight in my roster, Etihad suddenly changed some of my schedule just to give 2 consecutive Manila flights. It was indeed a blessing. Thank you very much, Dad! Your  works are amazing! My first come back was intentionally to surprise them and for the second one, what I did was to declare that I am going home so as to spend more time with my family. Instead of going home and sleep at my bed, I wanted them to come in my room in Mandarin to enjoy the luxury of hotel living, even for a short period of time. We did not anymore go out to mall coz it was just a week ago when we went to splurge into shopping. This time, we just had dinner in a fancy fast food which I missed alot - the humble Jollibee. The next day, time to go back to home base, and guess what? Our flight was delayed due to weather condition in Abu Dhabi, UAE (fog affected airport visibility). So my Manila layover was extended to almost 2 days. Isn’t it great? My Dad really works wonderful, that is why I always believe and trust everything to Him. Now for the month of December, I am having Manila flight and it is going to be on Christmas Day. Oh well, all I can say is thank You very much, Dad!
Manila – 10th – 12th November 2007. This schedule was supposedly my first operating flight to Sydney, Australia but since my license was not ready yet (same thing happened to some of my colleagues), our OCC put MNL to my roster. I was in the supermarket buying some stuff when the OCC notified me about the sudden change in my schedule. I almost jumped and shouted for joy when I heard that very exciting news. As soon as I get back to the hotel-accommodation, I immediately arranged everything I would need for this flight. Few hours before my pick-up time, I tried so hard to at least take a nap but to no avail due to excitement to go home. My mind just wandered of several things I might be doing in Manila.  In the plane with a Filipina galley operator and a Thai colleague on the forward cabin, everything turned out very fine. The rest of the crew were, as usual, very nice. As I worked with Tata (my Filipina galley operator), all I could wish for is for me to be as efficient as she is. I am and will be like her in terms of being cool yet very organized in handling the galley. She was not the type of a crew who would hurry you up to finish a task. Everything was perfect and she made work alot easier for me and Wunijuv (my Thai colleagues). I just witnessed how efficient Filipinos are and that is something to be proud of.
One thing more, I experienced for the first time resting in the bulk crew rest compartment (BCRC) because the captain allowed an hour rest for everyone since the flight took more than 8 hours (8.5 hours to be exact). As the plane kissed the ground at 3:30 pm, my heart started to pound very fast and I knew that in a few hours, I would finally reunite myself with my beloved family. When we reached Mandarin Hotel in Makati City (our layover hotel), I just dropped my luggage and immediately sorted the things I needed then headed home to Quezon City. Walking towards the door of our house, I equipped myself with my phone camera and switched it to video mode. I wanted to capture how astonished my parents were to my surprise come back but sorry to say, due to low lighting of the environment, my camera was not able to capture those wonderful expressions. Moments I would not forget as I stepped on to our house were: (1) As I whistled to catch the attention of my dog, Muymuy, he continuously barked and moaned a sound which seemed to me that he liked to be carried on my arms; (2) Mama hugged me tight and gave me a kiss on the cheek while Papa also hugged me and shagged my hair; and (3) My youngest brother, Jason, hugged me and said “I missed you, Kuya!” We went to the nearest mall from our house which is SM San Lazaro and had some shopping and dinner. With limited time, we hurried ourselves strolling every stalls and boutiques to buy the things they need and want. Despite the aching feet and muscles, I found refuge in the smile exhibited on their faces and it appeared to me that I was in a sanctuary where things were perfect and only asylum could be found. The next day, very early in the morning, my mother and I went to Hidalgo Street in Quapo to buy some DVDs. We bargained some collection of TV series and new movies. We also went to Quapo Church and said a prayer of gratitude. I also paid a visit to my friends and ex-colleagues at the Development Bank of the Philippines. As expected, everyone was surprised to my come back. HRM was then giving a despedida to some HRM retirees which was a perfect timing to also celebrate a despedida for me. Funny huh?! I only had an hour then from our pick-up time when we went back to my room in Mandarin Hotel. Nanay was already there with Jason waiting for us. Jason gave to me a notice note from the hotel saying that the pick-up time was moved to a later time. At least, I was able to still spend more time with Mama, Nanay and Jason.  As the wake-up call alarmed me, my soul uproared to sadness and wished that it could freeze time and spend longer time with my family. My heart and my soul could only do much but bid bye-bye. We had to part ways and continue living our lives million miles away from each other. And in these sacrifices, I claim, in His name, successes for my family, my beloved, and for myself. Bidding a bye-bye this time to my family is but a simple way of saying “I will be back soon.” Manila… Feel you again.
 Kuala Lumpur – my first layover as a cabin crew of the Etihad Airways. Our flight going to KL, as many people fondly call it, was very fine. The guests were very nice and less demanding except for some who would spend KL time as a tourist. It took us almost 8 hours to reach KL and with slight turbulence due to coursed air flow in Asian mountains, made all of us to immediately find haven to sleep and rest. 
Our layover hotel – Traders Hotel, should I say was an excellent refuge to compensate for the long haul flight spent in the aircraft. Although my room does not have the magnificent view of the Petronas Towers, I found consolation from the room itself. The bed sheets, linen and mattresses were very comfortable. I had a huge LCD TV, mini-bar, lounge area and everything you would need from a 5-star hotel. In the bathroom, there were separate shower and bathtub equipped with Aigner amenities. I woke up pass 7pm and headed to the hotel resto for a buffet dinner with my colleagues. The resto offers a variety of dishes such as Japanese cuisine, pizza, pasta, Asian delicacies and many more. After the sumptuous dinner, we went to Petaling Street where the center of KL’s Chinatown is located. We arrived there almost 30 minutes past 10 pm and few stalls were  already closing. We rushed ourselves to stroll around the area to buy some cheap stuff. This place reminds me of Avenida Avenue in the Philippines where vendors spread their wares out on the street. However, Petaling’s high time is only after sunset as compared to Avenida where vendors seem to be awake all day and night. While it is possible to buy anything from jewelries and scented oils to bags and t-shirts, enjoying the night market is really a matter of just wandering about and enjoying its sight, sounds and energy. From Chinatown, then off we go to the tallest twin towers in the world – the Petronas Twin Towers. With a height of 1,453 feet, it has become the symbol of astounding growth that has taken place in Malaysia over the past years. Petronas at night is astonishing as it brightens the skyline of Kuala Lumpur. At daytime, it is very bold and harmonizes with the blue cloudy atmosphere. From the hotel, Petronas is just a short walk across the park. Nevertheless, Traders Hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service to Suria KLCC, a shopping mall beneath the towers.
 Few hours before we came back to home base, we went to Bukid Bintang area, where KL’s ultimate shopping and entertainment experience can be found. This is a shopping district where you can find mixed of cheap and expensive items. Bukid Bintang shall I say is the Greenhills (a shopping district in the Philippines) of KL. And from here where I found what I have been looking for which I thought I would find at Chinatown and Suria KLCC – the oil revitalizer for air purifier. I may have witnessed the beauty of Petronas but I know there are still some more lovely places to see in KL. However, due to limited time of layover, a “next time” is appropriate to visit and see them. For more pictures, click here. 
After 7 weeks of training, at last, we earned our wings and now ready to fly. The gold pin wing braced on our left chest symbolizes our readiness to encounter the sky. In our hearts we know coming across joy in each moment we clinch the passion, that for the time being, we are now one. 
The program started at 2:00 pm and I was surprised that as we walked and entered the graduation venue, it was the start of the ceremony. Facilitators and VIPs were clapping and welcomed us with their warmth smile. Some messages from the VIPs were addressed to propel some inspirations. From our training ground, we were turned over to in-flight management. An envelope (containing our cabin crew training certificate, proficiency card, Etihad wing and a CD copy of batch pictures) was given to us one by one as our names and countries were mentioned followed by a warmth congratulatory hands from the VIPs. After which, batch presentations followed and sure it was fun and everybody enjoyed. Post graduation This time, no more 5:30 am wake up alarms, no more snoozes, no more exams, etc.. Training days may be finished and this end is just the beginning of facing the lifestyle itself. Another chapter is unfolded as we face much more exciting and fun pictures of a cabin crew life – flying and seeing the world. |
