caffeine dreams

I suddenly looked back to a time x years ago when I was still jobless (by choice) and had decided that it was time to earn my own money...I gave myself a deadline in finding a 'normal' corporate job. I dont know why, when there really was no pressure anywhere. I think I just wanted to make sure that I do end up with a job, someway, somehow.

I decided that if I didn't find a job I wanted to keep by September of that year, I would sign up and become a Starbucks Barista. I had thought that that was the perfect job for me at the time...fun, different and always oozing with the lovely smell of coffee.

I should've just gone ahead and applied for a Barista job. Because the job I found was, well, relatively stress free, paying decently, but just not rewarding enough. I spent 5 months doing that first job, and though I found it okay, I couldnt stay much longer. And, as if someone had realized I was itching to do something else, my current job found me. If I had known that they would be the ones looking for me and not the other way around, I would have spent that first 5 months of being part of the workforce loading up on my caffeine fix.

But all is well that turns well. I am where I want to be. I just can't help but think that I could've been that coffee expert I've always wanted to be if I just went ahead and did it.

I really am back home

I spent my weekend holed up in Bulacan with the rest of the family.

As with any other weekend trips to Bulacan, the kids just had to take a dip in their inflatable pool. I was the designated yaya, and tempting as it was to jump in and join them, I didnt really have my inflatable pool outfit with me...so I had to content myself with watching, and making sure the one and two year olds don't drown.

Here are photos of the kids:

Top Right to left: Bea, Ally and Sam

Bottom Right to left: Carl, Paul and inaanak LJ

Cyprus: pre departure blues part 2

Today was my last chance to go shopping... and to visit the shops in Nicosia in order to bid them farewell (they're ALL closed on Sundays!!).

What's a girl who leaves the following day to do? Shop. Without direction or without looking for anything in particular. Just something I won't find in at home for half the price.

On my "almost-bought" list:

1. Red handbag made of genuine leather...worth CYP 50! No thanks.
2. Beige suede boots...Allan was eyeing it more than I was though :p
3. Green chunky sandals...yes, green! not my typical shoe color, but when I tried them on with my jeans, they worked really well for me. They didnt have it in my size though...and they were on sale!!! *Sob*
4. Brown linen blouse from Zara...think the typical bohemian/hippie ones I wear. But then, they were too pricey I think.
5. Beige handbag from Lab. Saw it weeks back and it was on sale today...but I just wasn't convinced that I should get them. When in doubt, do not buy.

So..I ended up with new pajamas and (drumroll) a brown coat from Zara!!! Wooohooo!! I need to be somewhere cold again soon! :p

Today was also my last chance to have Greek coffee, metrio style. Finally.

Ena Metrio

Come dinner time, we went back to Xefoto where there was authentic Cypriot live music (which we couldnt understand but was pleasant enough to the ear). We stayed at the same table where we were since it was near the fireplace for warmth and Allan's further attempts to capture it on photo.
















Fireplace behind me

I suppose we could have had dinner at a neighboring restaurant that also had a fireplace...but after seeing the sign outside...I had doubts that we'd be able to have our dinner in peace...

Ice cold beer and what??

what a delightful way to go...

This Turkish Delight will be the death of me...
buti nalang din pala uuwi na ko.

Cyprus: pre departure blues part 1

I am calling this 'part 1'...I don't know if that means there will be a 'part 2' but just in case...

My laptop says its 449 PM...surprisingly, the sun's still up. If it were as it was when I first got here, it would be dark by now. Its that transitional period in countries with several, varying seasons...its no longer is quite winter anymore, but neithe is it spring yet...Changing seasons, changing hours of sunlight, changing temperatures throughout the day.

Its been more than 2 months since I first stepped foot in Cyprus. As with any of my other travels, things will never be the same again. I will never hear about nor have Mediterrenean food without remembering how it really was to actually be in the Mediterrenean, having their food, having their Halloumi and feta and village salad. When I hear of people who incessantly speak of Cyprus as being sunny throughout the year, I may be able to get a word in edgewise and say, that no, they do have winter season, and that their winter IS winter...at least to tropical country dwellers like me.

I will never hear the word Kalimera again and not claim that I've heard that before. When they bring up Cyprus, I won't stop and ask where in the world Cyprus is.

Because I know. Because I've been there. Because I am still here.

On Sunday I will leave Cyprus. Will I be able to return in the future? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows, really? All I know is that I can cross out one more country off of my list. I will leave and take with me everything I've learned about myself, my country, this country and life and people in general -- little things, trivial things mostly. And when I leave, I will be looking forward to my next trip and my own little piece of adventure.

For now, I am posting this, because you said you liked it.

Okay enough with all that fuss....on to more Cypriot stuff.

It is my last week in Cyprus and my last full weekend (this past weekend that is) was spent in Nicosia. As we've been sightseeing a lot over the past month or so, I havent really had that much time to go around and do some serious shopping...not that I plan to spend that much anyway....but I still wanted to go shopping.

So Saturday was my shopping day. And since Cypriot stores close hella early on Saturdays and remain closed on Sundays...we were up early on Saturday morning. And then Tita Eva called...would we like to go to the other side? Damn right we would!

The Other Side

This of course, refers to the non-Government controlled area. Nicosia (and the rest of Cyprus) is divided into the Cypriot side, and the Northern Republic of Cyprus which is Turkish Territory. For those who do not know, Turkey attempted to occupy Cyprus occured in the 70s. To this day, Cypriots speak of the other side as if crossing over means acquiring the plague. UN forces guard the boundaries and No Man's Land lies in between the two parts.

And we crossed that border, went through No Man's Land, saw ruins of old houses and passed by what used to be a Cypriot hotel turned UN quarters in order to get to the Turkish side. And the reason we crossed? Shopping!!! At the risk of sounding like I have no respect for the Cypriot complaint against the invasion... crossing over was one of the most exciting things I've done so far.

Once on the other side, people spoke a different language, words were written differently and, well, the men were different. I'll save that story for some other time....but bottom line, we went through the shops and found cheap cheap cheap signature clothes. Who bought what and what was bought? Lets just say, that the men outnumbered the women hands down.

Lazy Sunday

Being in a different territory the entire Saturday morning meant that shops were closed when we got back to the Cypriot side. That was the end of our shopping weekend. We had a day and a half in an entire city that was mostly closed.

So we decided to walk and shoot. Allan had Buddy while I took charge of his Ixus 50. It was refreshing to have a camera that fits in my pocket....but I have to admit...it didn't feel right. Like I was missing an arm or a leg.

Photos I took:

Having Mini Meze for Brunch

A Coke in any Language Tastes Just as Good

More of Blue and Beige? Cream? whatever.

Not quite the Pimp Hat he's looking for

I'm loving mirrors and wide angle lenses...they're best for self portraits

Look into my (Turkish Evil) Eye


You know you're on an overseas assignment when you're served Evian and you don't really worry about the price.

reaffirm

I may have blog visitors today who have one question in mind...
the answer to that is...

Hell, yes :)

snow on the mountains!

After two weeks of visiting archaelogical ruins, I was ready to see something new. Not that I was tired of seeing piles of rocks and remains of mosaics....in fact, I loved those places. I love anything and everything that speaks of past civilizations. I may not be knowledgeable about the goings on hundreds or millions of years ago, but knowing that there were humans who lived life differently then, but possibly went through similar daily struggles fascinates me. And the fact that I too, am human, makes me feel as though I have an affinity with them.

But, back to Troodos. The Troodos mountains are the popular camping and picnic venue in Cyprus during the summer, when those who can't stand the heat long for cooler climate. In winter however, the highest peak in Cyprus, Mount Olympus, is the site of their biggest (and maybe only?) Ski Resort. Depending on how cold the year's winter is, the resort opens several skiing sites. This year, it doesnt seem like there's much snow...judging from what we saw, I can't imagine anyone skiing in those mountains.



But there was snow. And Allan had his first snow encounter, while I stayed a bit further away...fearing I might slip and fall and hurt Buddy in the process. We drove up to the Troodos town center, where apparently, most Cypriots and tourists were. We've been wondering for days where everyone is....since we walk around main cities on weekends without seeing that much of a crowd. Maybe everyone drives up to the mountains on weekends....

When in Cyprus, do as the Cypriots do. So we stayed in the mountains, making Platres our jump off point. Once there though, there wasnt much to do but explore...and we found a nature trail which was supposed to lead us to waterfalls. Having come from a Tropical country though, where natural trails are abundant and waterfalls tend to be breathtaking....I was not impressed. Plus, it was getting dark and getting way too cold to be outside.

The following day, we went to the Town of Kakkopetria....nearer Nicosia and much further below Mount Olympus. Again, the town center was filled with tourists, but there really nothing much to see...except for Orange trees, Lemon trees, an empty church. There also was a particularly interesting site which we thought was of significance after seeing tourists make their way towards it....on closer inspection though...it was nothing, but a big piece of rock.

What perhaps was the best part of the weekend was driving to and from the mountains. I think I've written before that I love the landscape and the sights while driving on the motorways. Hills, peaks, valleys, plains....nature at its best.

my first valentine!

...sort of.

Reception informed me yesterday that I have received a postcard. I knew who it was from, I was expecting it and the whole 'valentine' thing is a joke....but it still felt nice to actually receive something via snail mail. Something other than bills for a change.

Thanks! Expect something from Cyprus soon :)

PS SHE isn't really an admirer, okay? Or at least I dont think so... :p

Went up the mountains this past weekend...there are photos to share and stories to tell...but right now, I'm loving this.

Is it cold where you are? I can keep you warm if only you'd join me in here.

milestones

I think I may have forgotten to include some equally important entries or events...but this is more than enough...its my own tribute to my blog, a countdown of sorts but in no particular order

the first time

crashing and burning part 1
gray areas
Poetry - Yearn On (I'm loving this one again!!)

the temporary Melbourne migrants

crashing and burning part 2
first non-work work
ang mga diego
my wander list still stands...
on the verge of slipping back into the 'habit'
a definite first
the final straw
the SPL studio

happy third!

I gave a friend the link to this blog yesterday, and his first reaction was that wow, I've had this blog for three years already.

Yup. I've been blogging for that long. Wow indeed. It immediately inspired me to go back to some old entries. With every single entry I could almost feel the exact feeling I was feeling at that time...or at the very least, recall and have an impression of what it was.

Three years. I'm amazed that since I've started, I've been on four different work trips in two different continents, I've learned new things and re-learned them over and over again. I've dealt with recurring boredom and lack of inspiration, found the drive to be and held on to those that brought sparkle, lost them again when they proved to only be fleeting...

Three years. And some of my old entries still evoke something somehow...as if it were just the other week instead of two years ago.

I confess that since I've started I've become more and more restrained when posting. But I realized that it is only when I offer glimpses into my soul do I experience anything that significantly contributes to who I am and to the life I live. Almost every single memory that is of significance was during those times when I opted to go full on and face first. I may have crashed and I may have been burnt a couple of times...but that is exactly my recurring post-mortem credo...

crash and burn baby, its THE only way to go

resuscitate me.

and by the by...I've resurrected my pbase gallery.

photos from two weeks past are here and here.
from this week past, here and here.

another weekend gone by

The past weekend came and went faster than the anticipation for it. As before, we found ourselves on the road again...driving towards Paphos.

A Blessing or a Curse?

Allan must've done something to irk Aphrodite...while attempting to take photos of the foam surrounding her famed mythical birthplace, he was sprayed with splashes of water. Later on, when he stood near the shore (and for the life of me, I do not know why he came that close...must've been one of the Goddesses tricks..) he was faced head on with the knee-high waves of the Mediterrenean. Soaked from the knee down, all I could do at that instant was exclaim in surprise...I took a photo of him though, right before it hit. His blog shows all.

I know that people sometimes say that a bit of rainshower is a blessing from the Gods. A spray I can imagine can be that...but an attack of the waves? I think not. Aphrodite: 2, Allan: 0.

Mortals and Immortals

The Sanctuary of Aphrodite, if you ask me, does not pay enough tribute to such a famed immortal. It was smaller compared to Apollo Hylatis', and it made me wonder...do her followers then, pay tribute to the Goddess in some other way?

At Paphos, finally, our stop was the Tomb of the Kings. No, no king was ever buried there...there's an explanation somewhere...I wont point to it as I cant find it. Point is, they had underground burial tombs and caves...all preserved sans the bodies thank God. Funny though, how a place that once was the resting place for those that have passed on, can keep two living souls preoccupied. I was caught up with the view as always and with the pressure of taking photos that will capture everything I see, hear and feel....Allan, on the other hand, was literally shaking from the cold I think. He had, in a manner of speaking, cold feet (literally)...thanks fully to Aphrodite. Aphrodite: 3, Allan: 0.

But mortals that we are, we can only last the cold for so long...and such spots can only remain open for a certain period of time as well. So we went from the Tomb of the Kings to the Land of the Kings....the hotel right across the site. And the significance of the joke hit me way, way late. Relatively cheap accomodations, decent enough room and lots of space...it was good enough for the night. The following day meant driving to the Baths of Aphrodite. My companion had a feud to settle with her ladyship.

The perfect place to sit down

Up and late the following day, a caffeine-deprived me and a back-and-shoulder-pain suffering Allan found ourselves having breakfast close to noon just outside the Baths. Coffee was lovely and the view even more superb. The water was crystalline blue, pristinely clear, with soft winds making ripples of waves on the surface...it was enough to make me cry...but I didnt. I whined instead of why I was leaving soon...and plotted a scheme that can make me stay til Summer.

Before summer though, were the Baths. Such a small bath for such a popular goddess...waterfalls from cliff, with water that dont fall angrily nor trickle demurely...just a slow steady stream of several narrow water lines. Allan attempts to capture the water on photo and gets a bruise in the process. Aphrodite: 4, Allan: still 0.

I look around for a sign that said "Males are not allowed to take photos of Aphrodite's water" but found none. I suppose he really just didnt find favor in the goddess.

Near the entrance (or exit, depending on how you look at it) we find a small, man made stone house...and ponder about such things. Sitting on a pile of rocks, under the shade of a tree...with the mountain behind you, birds singing all around and the vast expanse of the sea, shore and surrounding hills just slightly below...it was hard to believe that it was time to head back to Nicosia. It was, along with the Kurion spot, the perfect place to sit down. It was "the shit".