coffee break

disclaimer: this post was created on the plane, drunk.

The buzz word in the financial circle is recession. Unless you’ve lived under a rock during the last quarter of ’08, you’d know by now that Uncle Sam is pretty much in deep shit. And like everything else USA, it cascaded to the whole word; everyone is now in the same deep shit. Pardon my French but the analogy/expression nails it. My company, having been born and bred in obama’s backyard, had implemented strict cost saving measures that would make Scrooge look like the most giving person. Tough times, tough measures, tough love, tough luck. That warrants a post of its own should I decide not to be in the ‘boat’ (sorry, private joke).

Fast forward to now, lulling the time at the nwa lounge together with every Joe, Mate, lad and Papichullos. I noticed that half of the room is filled with Juans, your regular farm plowing Juan less the carabao. One trendy Juan was carrying the 2009 s/s men’s Gucci tote, although not in croc, still pricey (I know, I was eyeing that bag for myself), clad in last season’s Prada loafers and Dolce jeans. First reaction, color scheme is off, too dark; needs a touch of color. 2nd realization, wtf! Am I in an alternate/parallel universe? What recession? People have the money to fly business and first class, Not just anyone, Juans, cost cutting my ass. Though I feel that the airline did some cut backs as well, crappy food less snacks. The nwa lounge in Detroit airport is now a paid club, to hell if you paid hard earned, top dollars for your plane fare. Everyone is indeed feeling the crunch, should have flown SG.

Unlike those rica Juans, I am in denial. I feel the recession chasing my fanny, breathing down my neck, so I run faster and faster, deny more and more. Fuck recession, I’ma kick its nuts off. My company will try to weather this financial instability (who are we kidding, it’s a crisis) through whatever means necessary, even how unpopular. I’ll cut back on Starbucks and shoes, that should get me through this mess, crossing fingers. One bag every 6 months, and no more expensive trips, no more fine dinning. Goodbye Dunhill tote, goodbye Prada slip-on, goodbye good ol’ times. That’s my share, anything more is plain unacceptable. Why would I compromise my life for bad choices of not even even my leader (see, in denial!). No prisoners!

On a side note, as all nwa flights, we passed by Japan via Nagoya to change plane. I am flying a code share flight to Detroit, means it’s 2 flights folded to one, Delta and NW. It’s packed! They really mean lowering cost. Been mistaken as Japanese, Korean and Chinese again, but I’m used to it by now. Sometimes I even play along using my rusty and broken Nihongo. And I resent the kids beside me, they’re flying business while I have to slave for months to afford this flight. They don’t even know the difference of patte and liver spread. Darn spoiled brats. I’ll settle with Moet & Chandon, now let see those kids have a sip of that!

t has been an interesting vacation to say the least. i don’t have pictures to show, i did bring my ever so high-tech camera but i decided not to do the clicky, touristy thing. one is that it’s so tacky asking people to take pictures of you with the mountain ranges and the beach as background, and second, all i want is to be burnt to a crisp, sizzling in my own oil mixed with hawaiian tropic tan enhancer while reading the 2 books i brought with me. call me crazy, but holidays are better spent doing practically nothing and not worrying where is the perfect spot for that perfect souvenir photo.

ecluded by the hillside over looking karon beach, it’s one of the most breathtaking places i’ve been to. it’s a little bit remote, i have to take the limousine service if i want to go to the town proper or the beach even; that racked up the bill as it cost 400baht, 1 way. i think i billed more than 6,000baht just for going around the island. but what the heck, it’s about my holiday and i check my brain and calculator out in manila. it’s the perfect spot to chill out after your long day at the city proper shopping, ogling at hot boys and basking in the sun. the villa reminded me of china’s hanging monastery as it is built against the hill, melding with the abundance of greens and trees. it’s like a villa have grown on the side of the hill or something to that effect. and it’s the perfect weather there; sunny and bright. i was sweating just walking along patong beach in my trunks and caftan. there along the thousands of tourist and locals alike, i rested and bathe on the sun’s rays along the shores of patong beach. behind me is the shrine remembering the tsunami. life’s short, tsunami area or not, i will tan. at least if there’s a tsunami, i will die lying on an antique daybed with a tan.

lightly, just slight tanned as it is difficult for me to; i blame my genes for that. in any case, i love it! i really, really do love my color. although phuket locals have that golden bronze color that i am dying to have, i have to settle for what works for me. and it already stings when i put on clothes.

he joy of traveling, is not just experiencing new places, new taste, but also meeting new people. up in the hill where i stayed are some oz and a finish guy. we casually nod and smile at each other up the hill. but one night, unexpectedly, i saw them at paradise soi in patong having a drink. me already buzzed with infinite bottles of beer and liquor, took lead and entertained. yes, i am a loose person when drunk, that is no secret. i would say we hit it off. one thing i like with ozzies is that i share their humor, and it does help that they are like me, struggling to speak thai. it’s magical when you meet people and you connect immediately. i love that about traveling, the unexpectedness of what could happen. it was sunday evening, across b.b. boy bar, 5 drunken foreigners sat, ogled and drunk themselves silly. michelle, an ozzie, had this crush on one of the half naked boys parading in front of b.b. the drunk me got up, striked a conversation with tui, and got him to sit with us. everyone was stunned, i guess, but at the end of the night all 5 of us went home with tui. we gave tui and michelle privacy at the pool, while the rest of us stayed at the villa’s bar, with a pitcher of mojito. after 6-7 glasses, we were having such a good time that we didn’t noticed the sun was up. decided to jump to the pool, fully clothed…

n a different note, i have finally joined the band wagon. i’m on facebook.

inally, a republican  who hated the war on iraq. senator hagel who once supported mccain for his presidency had aired his opposition with the war on the middle east breaking away from mccain’s. he also scrutinizes palin’s lack of foreign policy credential. i mean, for crying out loud, i got a passport at age 8 and i am not aspiring holding a government office. now the lady is cramming up. good luck with that. read story here.

much needed r&r.

can’t wait! see you next week, now signing off.

listening to:
Jagged Little Pills – Alanis Morisette: Head Over Feet

my body clock is still whacked up,waking up at the crack of dawn and sleeping as early as high noon. this is the part of traveling i really, really hate, jet lag. hopefully i’ll get over this before i go back to the office…

this specific travel is my most harassing one, i even don’t want to wish it upon my worst enemy. let’s start at the very morning going to the airport. we’ve been up all night packing and eating. we ordered chinese takeout for the last time that can feed a group of 6, for the 3 of us. we figured that over stuffing our stomach will keep us awake. sad to say it didn’t work and i fell asleep around 4 in the morning when i went back to  my apartment to finish up. jen called around 7. i was done, that i know, so i quickly showered and met them up at jen’s. this is me, 1 big luggage that can fit 2 small person side by side, a big duffle bag, a 55cm keepall bag, 2 laptop bags and my gucci tote; that many. i’m planning to check in my big luggage and duffle bag, hand carry the keepall, laptop bag and my gucci tote. i’ve asked ‘special friend’ if he could carry the other laptop bag for me, which he did. exactly 8,  we went down to the waiting cabs to the airport, some 25 miles. more than half way, i called up jen if ‘special friend’ did bring my laptop bag since i haven’t seen it while we were putting all the luggage in the trunk. we pulled up on i-75 to check and true enough, it’s not there. even worse, it’s my office laptop. my personal laptop is insured so i really don’t care much if it get lost, but my office laptop is something i guard with my life. i decided that i’ll go back, jen and ‘special friend’ to wait for me at the airport. went back to jen’s apartment, and the laptop’s there, at the couch. so after us$95 of cab fare, i-75 morning rush and 1 hour 15 minutes of rushing around, i finally got to the airport.

i’ve always been the techno geek as well as control freak. every trip, i make sure that i check in early using the online check in service, and i get to pick my seat. though it doesn’t matter really since i have upgraded my way back to business class. just when i was but all smile, by big luggage is overstuffed by 25 pounds. i really don’t want to go to another hassle of transferring some stuff to my duffle so i’ve asked how for the excess. but the thing is, with all the money in the world, 70 lbs is the limit each luggage. me, in the center of the check in counter, open luggage, transferring stuff from 1 to another. after an embarrassing moment, i was able to check in my bags. no amount of money, not even business class will ever move that cute guy’s stance with the 70 lbs limit.

as we were making though our gate, we need to clear the security. a series of frisking, x-ray and metal detector. not to mention the quarantine booth that will puff some high pressure air, goodbye well made hair. x-ray revealed that in a dash to take off the excess 25 lbs from my other luggage, i absent mindedly transferred my toiletry bag to my vuitton hand carry. when the tsa (transport security administration) called me for the bag inspection, it sank to me that i have some liquid items there from the other luggage. i have the option to throw those away (3 perfumes, 2 shower gels and a shaving cream) but how can i depart from my trusted perfumes? so the tsa personnel escorted me to the checkin luggage and, hopefully, they haven’t sent my other luggage to the conveyor belt. but i was so wrong. still harassed from the situation, i agreed to checkin my vuitton an pay they excess baggage. i am paying them to ruin my vuitton. good thing that i have my bag’s bag (yes, these are the type of  bags that have their own bags). so i wrapped mr. murakami cherry  keepall and have a big fragile sticker on side. looking back, i could have separated with my freaking perfumes which makes more sense.

so after all of this, i am left with my gucci tote and my laptop which even though is much lighter and comfortable, feels bare and naked. i have worked around my wardrobe with the keepall strapped on my shoulders and my tote in one hand.

listening to:
Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood: Before He Cheats