Tag Archives: new york

Making Use of My Train Trainings at New York Trains

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I can’t believe that I am now in New York.  All the tiring 20 hours of travelling by air I guess is all worth it.  My first day in New York was basically an orientation with my super friend Jhong on how to use the complicated subway.

smile... no worries...

smile… no worries…

But with my practical background of experience, I can proudly say that going around New York by myself via intricate subway would be an easy stroll in a park.  I attribute this easy learnings from two tenets.

First is my exposure to the equally complicated subways of Tokyo and Osaka.  I think navigating Japan trains is more challenging because the names of the stations are written in Japanese kanji, and if written in the English alphabet the names of these Japanese stations are really very hard to remember.  Japanese train station names looks and sounds like they are from another planet.

I was so channeling my Japanese-subway learnings  that it became so apparent because a couple times Japanese tourists thought I was Japanese and asked me in Nipponggo on how to go to certain points of New York.

Second, I am all but well trained and exposed to the Metro Manila congestion.  I am proud to say that I am ready to face the New York crowdedness because of my exposure to the Manila congested trains.  Nothing beats the crammed people-congested trains of Manila.  It’s hot, humid, jam-packed,smelly, hazardous and least to say, inefficient.

cheers...

cheers…

That is why on my second day in the State of New York, no thanks to the allergy attacks of my super friend (I guess this is due to stress upon realizing that I would be staying in his apartment for 2 weeks, hahaha!) I went on my own and easily navigated the New York subway from Woodside in Queens to the glorious Time Square in Manhattan and back.  It was supposed to be very easy but things got challenging when there were a couple of stations that were unpassable and were under maintenance, thus, the need to change lines and platforms.  But all went well, thanks to my Japanese and Manila train trainings.

Next adventure tomorrow would be the World Trade Center Memorial and the bucolic-like Chelsea Market…

Isi isi… madali lang pala…

Brewing Excitement on the Next 2015 Adventure

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One of the philosophies that I have long been observing is to maximize my existence and celebrate the gift of life no matter how simple life’s circumstances are.  I call it my “glorious ordinary”.

But this maximization and celebration of a simple life should not in any way impede on achieving my big dreams and ambitious aspirations.  No way would I “kick the bucket” and stop realizing my dreams or cease the fulfillment of my bucket list.

In the next couple of weeks, my “glorious ordinary” would have to temporarily be placed on halt because something big is about to happen to my life.  My next adventure would definitely be a fulfillment of one item in my very long and very ambitious bucket list… .

I am actually now excited and is already looking forward to my next adventure… Expect lots of posts about this journey.  For the meantime, here’s an Instagram post to announce where my next big adventure is going to be.

Sa Cubao lang ang peg…

Kick Cancer’s Ass

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Cancer (not the horoscope but the ailment) in which ever form, type, category or origin it is has gained the reputation of being a deadly and dreaded disease.  It has claimed a considerable percentage of the human population.  This disease is so deadly, it does not only attack the physical being, it also plagues the human emotion as well as drain a family’s bank account.  Cancer nowadays is so prevalent everybody seem to know someone who had or have it.

Because of this, people in groups – may it be a foundation, an organization or a company – has come up with noble and novel ideas on how to help those affected.  Case in point are the two ongoing projects situated at two ends of the planet.  Their strategies may vary but their aim is the same.  To kick cancer’s ass.

One is located in Manila, particularly the LJC Restaurants’ ‘Good to Dine’ promo.  It is a strategy that lets you donate to the needy yet at the same time let you enjoy a penchant palatal experience.  It is because for every ordered special dish included in the campaign, the patron gets to donate ten (10) pesos of his payment to the Philippine General Hospital’s Cancer Institute.

The campaign will run until the end of the year (2014) and the accumulated fund will be used to finance treatments of cancer patients.  So when you plan to dine in a restaurant, might as well settle for these restaurants and order for these items…

order na! (photo grabbed from ljc restaurants webpage)

order na!
(photo grabbed from ljc restaurants webpage)

The other is located in New York.  That is Hoda Kotb’s (host of The Today Show) direct-to-the-point fundraising and donation campaign. Usually quirky Hoda and her group tickle viewers’ sentiments and emotion by letting them watch and listen to a beautiful mashed up songs of two of pop superstars Sara Bareilles’ ‘Brave‘ and Cindy Lauper’s ‘True Colors‘.

Indeed, the song and the music video touches the heart.  It will make you realize that you haven’t seen what a true character of ‘brave’ is until you’ve seen kids kick cancer’s ass.

All proceeds of Hoda’s campaign will go to grants for pediatric cancer research via the American Cancer Society.  Click HERE if you wish to donate.

Kip dis gowing… Doneyt doneyt ang peg!