Vacation to Cebu, why not?

How much do I have to put-up of trying to re-assure myself that I do not miss home?

I am actually planning to have a vacation to the Philippines. Sad to say, I need to find a good schedule and a nice timing for that. Somehow, I still am connected with my friends from the Philippines. In fact, yesterday, a friend of mine from Cebu has arrived in SG to work.... Is Singapore the new land of milk and honey?

Well lots and lots of "pasalubong" - translated as gifts, from Olga will be about to go to my belly. She has some sort a bit of flu though but not the media hyped swine flu.

Another great thing was, my best friend MJ had a card for me and a pooch stuff. A great smile was painted on my face while reading it :) Grrrr I need to fly to Cebu now! Hehehehe.

Speaking of swine flu, I heard from a friend that in the Philippines, the infection has gone high but then there's not even one reported fatality, which is a good thing. I have never heard of any fatality here in SG as well but based on the news yesterday, three newly reported cases where because of local transmission of the virus.

Hoping the vaccine is on its way. Hoping that my sooner vacation to Cebu will be realized. I have to really save and save more thus, I'll have to start growing money-trees.

My Schengen Visa to France has been approved

Monday, June 15, I went to the French embassy to submit my passport. I brought with me the summary of my insurance policy which was what they wanted from me. The one I have submitted the first time I went there did not contain the complete information they needed. It was a quick processing as it took me just 30 - 45 minutes. I took a bus and I went home directly instead of going to the office as it was 11:30 when I got near Buona Vista. When I arrived at the office, I told my PL what happened.

Wednesday, June 17, I went back to the French embassy to get my visa. I arrived there around 9:20 as I again took a bus. The first time I went there was I rode a cab. I was a bit sweaty because I had to walk 300 meters or more from the bus stop going to the embassy itself. Anyway, I arrived just on time and I got my queue number. The visa section was not crowded and my queue number is one. So when the officer saw me, she then called me and I just gave her my claim slip and then she gave me my passport. There it was, the Schengen visa pasted on a page of my passport. It's validity is 3 months.

Everything just came flowing in my head. There was literally traffic jam in my head. I was like riding the bus and don't exactly know what to feel, how to say it, how to react. I was excited, afraid, a bit numb and clueless. When I arrived home, since same thing, I did not go to the office immediately, I opened the television just to make sense of the world. I then watched the news about the AH1N1 pandemic then this nuclear threat from Korea and this election frenzy in Iran. At that moment, I was a bit relieved.

I went to the office and simply told my PL that the visa is ready and approved. He then prepared some things that I needed for the trip. I also studied some slides and some technical papers.

Actually, I still don't know. The business trip to France is really so big for me. I should be thankful right? And yes I am but, I feel that it's too much. How I wish it were a vacation and I should rejoice it all the more, but it's work. Since I don't know what to really do because aside from the fact that there are other reasons why (real reasons and speculative ones), I decided to go to church yesterday to have enlightenment and guidance from the Great Divine.

Swine Flu is in Singapore

As I have said, it is not impossible for Singapore to have this virus. Singapore is one of the centers of commerce in Asia and thus lots and lots of peoples are coming in and out of this tiny country.

The first case was reported today, from which a Singaporean student who had a vacation of some sort from New York. Here's the thing, the student did not have any fever upon arriving at the airport but when the student had some flu symptoms, that was the time the student went to a doctor and recommended the student to be admitted to Singapore's center of disease control (I don't know what's the complete name of the medical center though). It was confirmed and verified that the student came positive of the swine flu.

This is a bit alarming because Singapore could sometimes be crowded. The authorities are doing their best to contain the spread but who knows? The victim might have spread the virus already. The authorities were able to track the other passengers from the plane but what about the officers in the immigration who would check the passports? What if that student rode a taxi and has infected the driver and that driver would in a way infect the next passengers. What if the victim went to a public transportation like the MRT or bus prior to checking a medical doctor?

This is really harsh. I think we need not to get overly paranoid. But I think I am a bit paranoid. I had my friend from the Philippines purchased some masks for me when I purchased at Guardian and they did not have stocks already. Instead of being so paranoid (I need to help convince myself), we need to be more informed. According to the write-up lately, the virus is not that deadly if detected early. Another way would be to avoid too crowded places. Oh my burning of cash would be lessen which can be a good thing also. Take lots and lots of immuno-boosters like fruits and vegetables and some supplements. That should help up a bit but still, we can never tell.

Actually my home country which is the Philippines had it's reported and confirmed case last week and good thing the girl who came from California was quarantined immediately after arriving to one of the busiest international airport in the country.

The authorities are doing their best and hope the public would cooperate as well, so no worries. And next month, a potent vaccine will be available to the public and by that time, the viral infection would be curbed and ultimately put to a stop. Hopefully, it will.

For reference you may guys want to visit this site: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20090527/tap-062-singapore-confirms-case-h1n1-231650b.html

Swine Flu in Japan - What about my vacation?

It's too harsh ... really bad out there.

I have wanted to visit Japan this coming July and will begin to process my Japan visa. Right now, with the spread of Swine flu virus in Japan, I am totally backing out my plan.

Last weekend, there was like less than five confirmed cases of infection for which they are Japanese citizens who came from California, USA. They ware immediately quarantined and were given the extensive medical attention. But then, out of nowhere, a high school student was infected at Kobe I believe and from there, the virus has spread. This kid has not had any travels to any country so the only cause might be that someone infected him. Since the virus' symptoms would surface on the second or third day, then he could have transmitted the disease. Right now, in the yahoo news the infection has skyrocketed to 178 and all of which are confirmed cases. Sigh....

I think I will have to postpone my vacation to Japan. It is so bad of a timing. In fact, my friend who will be with me has booked her ticket already. Well good for me, I have not booked my ticket yet as I would like to get a visa first, next week as planned by the both of us.

When I asked her about the trip, she told me that she is still going to Japan this July. Well, it was her decision but I advised her that she should not visit Kobe or Osaka - where the infection right now is; because the plan that we had was like we're going to go to Osaka, Nagasaki, and Tokyo. Tokyo is fine but it's very populous I mean one infection can spread sporadically and chances are, it will spread there eventually. Though the Japanese central government has taken measures but we can't really control everything.

Anyway, it was a bit sad to tell my friend that I won't be going. I really love to see Japan live and raw with all its exquisite culinary, arts, advanced megalopolis in terms of technology and most of all its culture. Sigh again:)

Japan won't go away so I think I will be having future trips there at the right time.

Fried Kway Teow and Cactus in Holland Village

Instead of worrying much of the swine flu which ultimately be coming soon, because, I've seen on TV that it's in Malaysia already, I just want to appreciate other things life has to offer. My friend and I decided to eat out at a hawker in Holland village here in Singapore. Well, it's another Fried Kway Teow gastronomical feast. The "fried kway teow" has this flat rice noodles which I don't know what's the name exactly, some abalone, green mussel meat, and bean sprouts. The food was prepared with a bit of spiciness and was served hot. It really is a good foody trip, at least for me and my friend.

After we ate, we went checking some magazines on the other side of Holland and read around stuff. Good thing the uncle standing by was not hot tempered with us trying to seemingly sabbotage his business.

Since Jason had to buy some groceries and toiletries, we went to Guardian, a well known pharmacy. We then proceeded to Cold Storage and Jason bought some tissue wraps, a loaf of sliced high fiber wheat bread and other goods. While he was like busy buying stuff that he needed for the next days, I was also checking my way the store's display comparing prices at Fair Price. I ended up tired and looked for Jason and he was like near the counter already.

While waiting, I saw this display of potted plants and what caught my attention was this really cute cacti. I don't know but I like their green spiny but not dangerous pins around its round head. They are just cute in my eyes so I took a photo of it using my SE W705.

Jason finished all of his purchases so then, we walked our way home to our flat.

I am going to the Changi Airport

Later, I will be going to the airport to fetch a friend arriving from the Philippines. I asked my friend to bring some face masks and told him that Singapore is in Orange Alert which is the highest alert level. But right now, there has been no confirmed or reported case here in Singapore. It's better safe than sorry so I decided to buy some fruits just to boost my immune system, at the nearest grocery in our block. I then went to Guardian, a pharmacy beside the grocery, and was trying to check where can I buy some masks. When I saw two people at the counter, the older woman asked the attendant in her a bit loud voice, about face masks. The attendant told her that they have none already. Geezzzzzzz that sucked. The older woman asked if when will they have some stocks and the attendant replied she did not know. So, I just walked out of the store thinking where can I buy some masks. As I have said, I am going to the airport but it's going to be later so I will have time to look for masks.

Anyway, when I scoured the net, there's already a confirmed case in Korea and Hong Kong. Click the link here to read further. Then I realized, I have team mates who went to Hong Kong for vacation and they will be back by Tuesday I think. Hope they will be safe. Hope they won't be infected and in the process spread the virus.

I think we need to take lots of doses of vitamin C and other immuno boosters. There's no vaccine yet so everyone should be careful.

Last thing, I hope I can get a mask or rather, masks and I mean the earliest time possible. Ciao!

No Naruto but I have colds

I am a regular of Naruto Manga and I am always eager to visit this site http://www.onemanga.com/Naruto/ every Friday. Yesterday, when I arrived home I hurried to my laptop and got connected online and checked for the latest Naruto episode but there's none. Sigh :) It would have been an interesting feat as Naruto faces the true Pain. I think Naruto would not kill Pain. Waaahhhh! It bored me for like hours so I browsed facebook for hours too, and played some games.

Speaking of games, I am right now addicted to Sudoku in my SE W705. When I knew about Sudoku like ages ago, it did not interest me but then playing it in a mobile is different because I can do it faster. The categories are easy, average, difficult and evil. I tried easy then difficult and I was able to solve most of them but the evil one is really evil. Like last tuesday, I was on a bus ride and was playing Sudoku - evil category; I got so challenged and frustrated at the same time as I was down to the last four or five squares which ofcourse I couldn't solve. I stopped at this food stall to order "fries and fish" and while waiting I was still playing. After the order, I went to our flat which was just a walking distance and still found myself playing Sudoku while walking my way. Upon crossing the street and going to the building's elevator, I was still playing Sudoku. When I arrived in our flat, I stopped just to change prepare my fries and fish, but on the act of eating already, I couldn't help myself and so I grabbed my mobile and continues playing Sudoku. I did not bother to change clothes after dinner and I found myself still playing. It has to stop since I was so trapped already so I let the mobile solve it. If I have other time I will try the evil category again.

Anyhow, I have colds today. I slept like 4AM already today and woke up 11 AM. I think I need to change this sleeping habit which is a bad one. I had bought grapes and four oranges. To help ease these colds, I ate the four oranges after I had breakfast and drank carrot juice. I need for juices and I don't have anything left in our fridge. I think I'll go out later to buy one just to have this colds go away. I did not go to Mexico or met someone from Mexico but I don't know so this is not Swine flu I guess. I think I'll get a bed rest to feel better.

Swine Flu: what's next, dog flu?

A new flu virus strain which has evolved to infect swines, is believed to have caused 100 deaths or more already in Mexico. Scary right? Yes it is really really scary. In fact, it has spread already to the USA with 20 reported cases. Canada had joined the bandwagon and so with some countries in Europe.

Good thing, this virus hasn't arrived in Singapore. Sigh of relief that is.

When I came to the office, there was a travel advisory already in the company, stating that all travels to and from Mexico will have to be approved by some guys in the higher echelon. In fact it's actually a travel ban because video conferencing has to be used in lieu of the travel.

I've also watched on TV, that imported pork is banned. Some countries are banning tourist coming from the affected countries. My dear Philippines has not imposed any travel ban but health officials were in maximum alert. I don't know if I should be happy with it or not.

I'm still wondering, why at this economic crisis, this flu came out. Maybe some underground organization is doing this and all they wanted is create more fear - a form of terrorism? Or an insane, bile scientist is doing this all just for fun. Or some pharmaceutical company doing research and made a big mistake of spreading the virus from its highly secured lab. Some thought provoking questions I have but I greatly hope we'll get this over with I mean I'm planning to travel to another country and it will be postponed or something because of this new strain of the flu virus.

I think the next animals in line would be dogs, so it's going to be called dog flu or canine flu - God forbids.