dyakarta

JAKARTA…

While other tourists are checking outThailand, there we are in a place far-fetched from being a tourist destination. Chos. Not really naman, hindi lang talaga sikat ang Jakarta for being a city to go to. Or so I thought.

So I told my boss that I’ll be leaving forJakarta on CNY and his question: “whyJakarta?”

Well, I told him, I just want to see whatJakarta has to offer me and my group of friends. Then I met with a friend over coffee and she learned that I’ll be going there and she told me, “ingat ka, pinapatay mga intsik dun”.

Gosh! Having heard these comments made me think of backing out. I can’t die ‘cause I’m too young, much less, I can’t die just because I look Chinese.

Anyway, so go pa rin ang mga bebot. Sometimes remarks are just words entwined to form a doubt as to known plans, yan tuloy, it creates panic, fear and uneasiness but I hold on to my forever mantra, “how will I know if I won’t try?” so then, lumapag nga sa paliparang pandaigdig ng Dyajarta,Indonesia.

Jakarta is a big city. It’s like Manila. We booked a hotel near a shopping centre and the moment we arrived, we strode off to have a sumptuous lunch. Yun pala, yung complex is like palengke, so many street foods and pabentang kung anu-ano. It was challenging. Amidst the heat and the number of people in the alley, we found a decent place to eat… A&W.

On a high noon, we looked around and later decided to rest back sa hotel so we have enough energy for the night at the central plaza. Yung central plaza is located In the heart of the City. Eto yung, mala- Makati. The buildings are high-rise, the hotels are renowned but my gosh, from point A to point B, it takes a lot of time… TRAFFIC!

What I dislike, heat, it’s very hot inJakarta. Thank God, di naman nagkakamigraine or else, the trip has been a hell for me. I dislike their currency, andaming zeroes, ang hirap mag compute and of course, when you take a cab, no such thing as exact fare. Imagine, if the meter hits 12600 and you give the driver 13000, no change na yun. And I thought sa drivers lang yun applicable (just like in manila) but when I was in the airport, I bought a bottle of water, I gave her about 4000, e dapat may sukli akong 500. wala talaga. Super uso lang yung keep the change even if you didn’t say it.

And worst of all, only few of them can speak English. Mala-charade at twister lang, lahat ata ng veins ko nagagamit sa tuwing makikipag usap ako. Directions are not so easy to fathom, I felt like I was talking greek and yet he keeps on answering me in russian.  Now tell me, paano ba sasabihin or ipaapaunderstand na you want chicken in breast part?

But wag ka, The best thing about Jakarta is its people. They’re pretty much like Filipinos. Yun bang, yumuyuko, timid and coy. There’s so much to in common to our natives and theirs. Setting aside, ang pagtapon ng basura sa canals at pagvandalize sa mga poste, di nga, andaming similarities.

And perhaps, best of all, I like the fact na kahit alam mong di kayo nagkakaintindihan in language, someone giving you directions is still trying to explain to you how you can go to your desired place. And no matter how you looked uninterested in talking, a cab driver will initiate a talk. It makes you feel warm. It makes you feel as though you aren’t dealing with robots. What I loved is how I was able to be attached to the reality than merely facebooking and making my presence known virtually.

Amidst the locality and the roughness in view of jakarta, I loved it. I love how diverse it is and how on both ends, Jakarta was able to consolidate their culture to the modernity of the world.

Jakarta done! Bangkok, you’re next! (I wish!

bitch

Be a Bitch.

Don’t get me wrong but bitch is construed as a female power. Someone who is capable to hold herself in times of anger, sadness, loneliness and even fear is called a bitch.

She is someone who exudes confidence, an aura of sophistication, silent but eminent. She is someone who is not easy to break, someone who maintains composure despite provocations of losing her top. She is a woman of the world and a guy (no matter how she liked him) is one of the slices of her pie.

Oops, I don’t know if I defined the “bitch” that the book “why men love bitches” was referring to. But that’s how I saw her, one thing’s for sure, a “bitch” is someone who is strong and confident.

She may not have the gorgeous looks or a bod-to-die-for but she is within herself, a looker and a hooker. Someone you’ll be interested to meet with, someone you’ll crave to be with.

To be honest, I feel as though, there are some qualities that the “bitch” and I have in common. Being emotional is never my cup of tea, being opinionated is. Being in circles of friends rather than being a doormat is also evident in me. Having activities of sorts and not merely focus on a thing is also present, so as being independent and adventurous.

But… hear this out, I am not a BITCH. I am still the NICE girl that the book referred about. Someone who’ll go nuts not to receive an SMS, someone who always says sorry, someone who always make time for someone, someone who considers the other’s schedule and the likes, the list could go on and on.

The challenge, as the book suggests is not about getting men’s attention, rather, making him stay.

Here’s what I think, having this idea of being a BITCH and commanding authority in a relationship is, of course, VERY IDEAL. Of course, I can emulate what a “BITCH” is. Perhaps, I can try everyday to work it out for myself.

The recipe is easy because I have some of it in me. However, I do not think the guys in the book are the same as the guys I meet every waking day of my life. Factors, including but not limited to, STATISTICS, PROXIMITY and TIME play important roles.

Guys, they don’t want to make an effort, at least I am saying this out from my experiences. If they think that a girl is demanding too much time to woe or requiring pretty much of an effort to be courted, the first stage of creating a possible relationship is in itself, debunked.

It’s simple logic, how can someone go all the way for you when along the way, there are so many fishes in the sea? To be able to catch you with a fishing rod, when his net already caught a handful of fish? Why strive more when he can have the moose deer ready for his taking?

Love… they say, can move mountains and stretch oceans after oceans. But then again, who am I to even discuss this?

Anyway, I'd like to think that these books are merely for entertainment and should have been labeled as
"don't do this at home"!

Who am I, just a nice girl, becoming a bitch to testify my point. hehe

same same

And I’ve got not one but FOUR message notifications in my FB. Checking, I found it was from a good friend.

She said “Hey Pre! How are you?”

Second message: “I’m just a bit low, I’m depressed. My heart aches, I hate that guy”

Third message: “He led me on. It hurts. I feel like crying every time.”

Fourth message: “the worst part is I’ve completely fallen for him, it’s so painful, I want to cry now but I can’t, my family’s here. I need someone to talk to.”

then came my reply “Hey you! I’m okay, like you, I’m sorting things out for myself. Talk to me, what happened? Is he the same guy you were talking about last week?”

She said, “Yeah, same guy, the guy who told me promises. You know what, I saw his picture with another girl, seemed to be so happy, the girl even liked the picture. That girl!”

Well well well, oh well… Back in my memory lane, I was the same girl who reacted that way, over a boy I liked. I felt so bad that I never talked to him then a friend told me, “Itanong mo kung sino, hindi yung para kang girlfriend na nakatingin sa labas ng bintana” Like seriously?!?

Selos… it’s a very strong emotion. Kinakain nya pati buto, parang bacteria lang na pumapasok at nagkoconsume ng buong sistema. What is the cure for jealousy? Kung alam ko lang, e matagal ko nang tinungga at nang matapos ang mga unnecessary paghihirap.

It’s just hard to open you mouth and ask. Sabi nila, “don’t ask if you’re not ready to take the answer.” So there, I found my peace in not asking anything. Though within me, I knew na there was something special about the picture. My instincts answered for me and I couldn’t dare confirm it through the devil’s mouth. Mahirap pala yung ganun, yung aasa ka na magiging faithful sayo, holding on to his words of affections and sweet little nothings, but in the end, dip ala napapanindigan. Masakit isipin that you’ve invested your time and energy even In thinking about him.

So I told my friend, “Are you sure? I-sure mo muna, bago ka magreact nang ganyan, why? ‘cause maybe your wasting your time overthinking sa kung anung merely nakikita mo. If yes, then please do yourself a favour and get away from that guy. He doesn’t deserve a person as special as you are. That monster!”

She said “you know, di madali.”

I said, “I know. I feel for you. Been there and is STILL there.”

She replied, “huh? Really? Who? How? Why?”

I said, “Just like you, I was promised. I thought it was special but then I thought wrong kaya wag ka nang umasa pa. I’m getting over it. The best way I can”

She said, “really? HAHAHAHA! Feels good to know it’s just not me.”

Hay kaloka, sa lahat ba ng mga kamalasan sa usaping pampuso kailangan talaga involved ang LOLA mo? But I’m thinking of it as a different perspective, at least naman, someone out there is inspired by my misfortunes in love. Kahit naman, failure nalang yung contribution ko to make someone’s day better and to lessen her pain, sige na nga!