Ibyang
Ibyang

Charmed Life of a Mrs

Wanderlust

Sabi nila, isulat mo ang mga pangarap mo para mas maging totoo ito sa’yo. Ang sabi ko naman, why not, chocnut???

I have always believed in making lists. When I make a list and look at it, it becomes more real to me. And when it becomes real to me, I begin to plan my way around it.

Two years ago, I started studying places I want to go to and I’ve finally come up with a list of countries that I hope to explore:

ASIA
Cambodia, China (Beijing), China (Shenzhen), China (Hongkong), Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam

EUROPE
Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland

NORTH AMERICA
United States of America, Canada

SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil

CARRIBEAN
Jamaica

MIDDLE EAST
United Arab Emirates, Israel

AFRICA
Egypt, Namibia

PACIFIC
Australia, Fiji, New Zealand

Oh ha? Per continent pa yan ha? Ilan kaya talaga ang mapupuntahan ko dyan? At ilan naman kaya ang mapupuntahan kong lugar na hindi kasali sa list ko?

So far, eto palang ang napupuntahan ko:
Philippines, Australia, China (Hongkong), China (Shenzhen)

That’s 4 out of 31 places…27 more to go.

I don’t plan to go to all, wishful thinking lang naman. But I want to go to at least half of the countries that I listed above. Keeping fingers crossed! Life is full of endless possibilities so we’ll never really know what’s going to happen next…my dreams of travel might really come true someday.

WHY? WHY? WHY?
I want to travel because I want to learn more of the world. I want to learn of other people’s cultures, way of life, religion and cuisine. The keyword is LEARN.

I want to travel because I want to capture photos that tell a story. And thru these photos, I want to share how beautiful the world is.

I want to travel because I want to meet different kinds of people and learn from them and their experiences.

TRAVEL AS PART OF OUR LIFE
Chris and I have talked about putting premium on travel as we grow old together and as part of parenting our future kids. Since we were able to experience an itsy-bitsy slice of the world, we are hoping that our kids would have the same learning we’ve acquired like having a bigger perspective in life, thinking more of others and not only of oneself, being insightful and independent, becoming tough but never losing the compassion for others and valuing experience more than wealth.

As the sole treasurer of our household, I have decided that it is important to have a travel fund for (1) emergency reasons [we have friends and relatives abroad and it would be nice if we can visit them especially when they need us] and (2) for recreation and learning of the whole family.

AND IF I CAN’T TRAVEL, NOTHING CAN STOP ME FROM LEARNING
That’s why I have started a collection of The Lonely Planet Guide Books.

That’s why I always always always look at the World Map.

That’s why I’m interested knowing about what’s happening around the world.

That’s why I like reading people’s blogs from other countries.

And with that, let me end by sharing one of my credos in life:

Writer’s Notes:

This entry took the longest to finish and get published. It took me awhile to finalize my list based on research on the net, books and family’s/friends’ recommendations.

All quotes used are my favorite travel quotes which made a positive impact on me and my life.

All photos are from The Lonely Planet website. Photos 1-4: Burj Al Arab (Dubai), Ivan the Great Bell Tower (Russia), Fushimi Inari Shrine (Japan) and Mt Mayon (Philippines).

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Exactly A Month From Now…

  • may kaagaw na ako sa computer
  • may mang-aasar/mangungulit/mangpi-pikon/mang-iinis na sa akin
  • may tatawag na akin ng “sungit” parati
  • may kalaro na ako ng pusoy dos, unggoy-unggoyan, at “nanay-tatay-gusto-ko-tinapay”
  • may libreng back massage na ako all the time
  • may katabi na akong matulog
  • i will be preparing everything for two
  • mayroon na uli akong travel and food buddy
  • may magjo-joke na ng mga corny jokes para lang matawa ako
  • may official photographer na uli akong karay-karay
  • mayroon na uli akong mayayakap araw-araw aside from Patrick (my little cuzin)

Exactly a month from now, magiging hard-core Wifeski na uli ako .

and the countdown begins!!!!!

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Sunshine Cards

I got this warak-warak package today….a package I never thought I’d ever see in this lifetime.

It probably got lost somewhere and for some miraculous reason, it still landed down under.

The husband told me he sent this package in January for our anniversary and my birthday.

Just last weekend, I remembered us talking about this package and I told him I’d probably not receive it anymore.

This package really made me laugh today…a great surprise in my craziest week ever.

So what’s inside the package? 2 greeting cards–one for our anniversary and another for my birthday–and the calendar he made for the company he’s working for in Dubai (it was made by him).

Like every card Husband had given me, he always seemed to choose very funny or creative ones or both!!!

On the envelope of this card, it read:

To Ibyang, My Ex-girlfriend, kasi wife na.

it’s soooo cute!!!! the bear really looks like Chris when he smiles hahahaha.

According to him, meant daw na bilhin nya itong card na’to kasi may word daw na Babe hehehe, para daw talaga ito sa birthday ko…kaya siningit nya yung pangalan ko in between “irresistable” and “babe”.

At may bago akong pet name: Ibyangski, my Wifeski –sinulat ni Husband sa envelope ng birthday card ko. 🙂 So dapat ba tawagin ko rin syang Husbandski? hehehehe.

*sigh* Late or not, I don’t care…I’m grateful these cards arrived just in time to make me laugh and make me feel better now that I’m experiencing one of my “living on the edge” moments (meaning I’m really really busy and there seem to be a lot of loose ends I’m trying to work out at the moment). Napawi talaga ang pagod ko dahil dito sa mga aliw na cards na ito (salamat husband!).

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Do You Believe In Signs?

I do. Not because I’m a hopeless romantic (because I’m not), but I simply believe that signs come from someone up there who conspires with the whole universe to make things happen. And more often than not, before whatever ultimate thing happens, there are signs that lead you to it.

For the past eight months and 18 days, I have been looking for signs (and maybe answers) as to when my husband and I will be together and as to what we have to prepare so that we can be together. As far as I know, we have done every little and big thing that needs to be done. Everytime some idea comes up, we’d always ask “Baka we need to do this first bago tayo magsama?”. And we’d do it as we have always been proactive about things. At the same time, I thought our ideas were signs from the universe.

When February crept in, another idea came up to me and I told Chris “For months, all we ever get ready for is your coming here but now I think we also need to be ready to wait some more.” That was my moment of ultimate let go and surrender.

Last Thursday, as mentioned on my previous entry, I was tricked into going out on Vday. For some reason I found a sign during my dinner with my friends. We were seated at Table #20 (when we were ushered in, I immediately said, “Ara, anniv namin Chris”) and while Ara and I were talking about Chris’ visa application I noticed a spectrum of colorful light on our table—a rainbow!

I saw the sign!!!!

It was a sign and I felt it. I really felt very happy seeing that rainbow shining on our table. And before our dinner ended, I uttered the words to my friends “Thank you Lord, you haven’t given it yet, but I know you will give it soon.”

The following day at work, I had this innate sense that I have to get things organized because I’m going to be on leave soon. I felt that certain urge to get as much stuff done coz I have a feeling that a big change will happen.

Friday morning, there was another sign. My Australian Citizenship exam got moved to an earlier date. Original date was March 27, too long a wait and might interfere with our travel plans. Good thing my friend Chloe emailed me telling me to call Citizenship Office ASAP coz apparently there are slots for March 1. And I did call and guess what? I got moved to March 1!!!! Yay!

Friday night, I told Chris the good news. Since feel ko na talaga na malapit na kaming magkita, nag-discuss na kami ng list of itineraries namin. Before we hung up, I told Chris “Malapit na tayong magkita” (We will see each other soon). At ang effect eh parang nagpo-prophesized ako hahaha.

At 5:56pm today, Chris called. Ganito ang dialogue:

C: Are you online?
I: No, why?
C: May email akong pinadala sayo, open mo.
I: Okay, eto na…nag-online na ako…ano ba to? Shyet! Good news ba to?
C: Basta buksan mo dali.
I: Shyet, kinakabahan naman ako. (Pag kinakabahan ako I seem to say “sheyt” a lot!)

…after a few minutes, when I opened Chris’ email, the sweetest eight-letter word I’ve ever read:

APPROVED!

Oh ha?????? Buti na lang malakas ang pakiramdam ko!!!! Buti na lang, my mind and heart were able to see the signs!

I cried tears of joy when I read the email. The happiness and excitement was overwhelming. When I told my relatives about the good news, I was still teary-eyed. When I called my parents, I was fighting the tears, naiiyak pa rin ako after an hour and a half.

Finally, finally, FINALLY my husband’s coming home.

Thank you:

  • Kay God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mama Mary, Papa Joseph, Sta. Clara, St. Jude, Lord of Pardon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Manaog—yes, silang lahat dinasalan naming mag-asawa at ng mga nanay namin.
  • Our Parents and Relatives – for their prayers and support at sa walang sawang pakikinig sa mga “waiting” dilemmas namin.
  • Our Friends–you know who you are: sa paga-analyze kung ano na ang ginagawa ng immigration sa papers ni Chris, sa pakikinig sa mga emote ko, for praying for us, for cheering on us and for simply being there for us—kayo ang mga cheerleaders ko!
  • Our Online Buddies: we never thought we’d have so much support from special people whom we’ve only met thru the blogosphere, thank you for your sincerity and words of encouragement.

What Now?

The focus is for Chris to make a graceful exit from work and for me to just get our travel plans and his coming here firmed up. No final dates yet on when we will see each other (we’ll be working on it in the coming days) but we’re looking at possibly reuniting four to six weeks from now.

If you turn it over to the Universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered to you. This is where magic and miracles happen.

– Dr. Joe Vitale (The Secret)

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Vday Thoughts

I honestly didn’t know it was Vday today until last night. I was tricked into going out tonight by Ara (naisahan mo ako dun ha? :)) when she invited me to dinner saying “Let’s have dinner on Thursday” and I said “Sure”. All she said was Thursday. And I didn’t care about dates in the calendar as long as I know I’m free. I’m a bit hesitant when it comes to celebrating Vday, it’s not my thing, plus I don’t like the crowd in the restaurants–just too many people. But anyway, too late to back-out plus I thought, “Why not?”

And so we had a very nice, quiet dinner at Cafe Bello in Burwood. Chloe also joined in and it was all fun to be hanging out with my girlfriends on Hearts Day.

This was a first for me–to go out on Vday in Sydney and the verdict: *sigh* Vday is sooooo boring here. Parang hindi Vday kasi walang masyadong Valentine decors ang mga malls and restaurants, it’s so dull. Compared to the Phils, walang-wala ang Aussie pagdating sa mga celebrations na ganito. The good side of it though is that, at least occassions like these are not so commercialized here, it’s like you have the choice to celebrate Vday or not coz there’s not much pressure from the media that you have to spend and treat your loved one to a nice dinner or expensive gift.

All I can say is, Vday is a good day to make your loved ones know that you love them, no need for expensive gifts–it’s always the thought that counts. And if you don’t have a special someone, remember that Vday is for everyone–from your family to friends. There shouldn’t be any reason to be lonely today just because you’re unattached. Love comes in different forms and ways, love is all around you if you would only see it with your heart.

Hope you had a lovely hearts day today and may you make everyday a Vday for your loved ones.

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