PH says thank you world!

Filipinos are sweet people. And it flashes brilliantly when we express our gratitude.

Just like these series of billboards installed all around the world to thank the countries who have shared their expertise and resources in the relief and recovery efforts after the devastation of the massive typhoon Haiyan (local Yolanda) in early November of 2013.

Get the chance to take a look at this sweetness.  You can find them in the following locations:

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany

Another angle of the billboard in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan

Another angle of the billboard in Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan

Picadilly Circus, London, United Kingdom

Galerie Lafayette, Paris, France

Times Square, New York City, USA

Times Square, New York, USA

Yonge-Dungas Square, Toronto, Canada

Yonge-Dungas Square, Toronto, Canada

Corner William street - Darlinghurst Road, Sydney, Australia

Photo credit to the twitter account of Department of Tourism Sec. Mon Jimenez.

And for the sweetness overload, here's a video of a heartfelt gratitude as a bonus:

Packing Like A Pro

Find it difficult to fit in everything in a small bag? Packing things is a stressful job and just like your job it needs scientific procedure. Travelers know it best.

Optimize your time, avoid stress. Pack like a pro! 

Here is how:

This video is particularly helpful to girls who carry a lot of stuffs yet find it difficult to put them together.

Thank you Bagus Hariadi Wonoasmoro for tagging me this link in Facebook!

Snowy Germany. Late, but better than never.

It may sound funny or a bit odd but after the first snowfall sometime in early December of 2013, this is the only time that snow have fallen again from the skies of Leipzig and other cities in Germany. When I was here in 2009, snowfall perfectly took place on the 1st of December. But this time, it is very late. Very very late in fact.

While the Germans like it, foreign students from several parts of the world especially those coming from the tropical countries wished in anticipation that snowfall will happen very soon. Especially during Christmas time where snow completes the yuletide season. But to our dismay it did not happen. It did in Egypt though. Now that sounds more strange. Can you imagine Egypt having snow? Unbelievable. And in the United States, it was snowing more than cats and dogs. Blame it to climate change!

more stories here: http://nexttriptourism.com/snow-egypt-2013/

Anyway, those anticipating for the snow was finally granted their wishes. Going home from a German lesson, i found this sight of parked cars near our place a lovely shot so immediately took a shot.

Parked cars in Tarostrasse capped with snow

Snow in Leipzig, Germany

This is the place where most of the students in the University of Leipzig resides, including me. While it appears very urban in this photo, this area is actually very simple and humble. And I was amazed how my old and low-tech Nokia C2 turned this into something classy. The pixelation is of course an issue but all in all, the phone did more than justice to the view. Now, I will reconsider my plan to buy a smartphone or a digital camera. :D

Snow in Taro

And... as I just signed a contract this morning extending my stay in my occupied room, I think i did the right decision not to transfer somewhere. It just looked perfect. Isn't it?

I'm Back. Again?

After a long hiatus, I think I would be back. With a sweet revenge! ;)

Revenge because... 

1. my page rank downgraded from 3 to 1. No enough traffic?! (You are challenging my use of time google.)
2. my english writing skills need polishing once again. Practice makes perfect, right? (But nobody is perfect, so why practice?)
3. im back to Europe. How is that? (Who cares?) You. Because you are the prospect beneficiary of this resuscitated blog.

And because Im back in Europe, I will give breath to this blog with an air of good thoughts. Good news specifically to those who wants to be in my shoes. (Note to self: why do you think they want to be in your shoes?)

First, because I think it would be interesting for some to learn that I am not an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) in the foreign land. "Does it make sense?", you might ask. Okay, earning from working abroad makes sense. Plain and simple. But it makes sense even better when you are in a foreign land not to work but to enrich yourself with knowledge. Isn't it pretty interesting? Brain gain instead of brain drain.

Second, because Europe is Europe. Who would not want to be in Europe? Everyone dreams of Europe where Paris, London, Rome, Vienna, Barcelona, and others are within reach.

Third, because this is my second scholarship. Yes, all expense paid trip with a cost of living allowance. Courtesy of the generous Federal Government of Germany. A huge blessing of opportunity, right? It can be yours, too. Remember, I made it twice so why can't you? Impossible dream nowadays isn't exactly impossible.

What do you think? Does my return make sense now?

I'm back! (for a moment)

Whew! It has been more than a year since my last post.

I would love to be back in blogging but i dunno how to start, err, I am scared to start. The number of places to blog about and the travel experiences i wanted to share got piled up that it become enormous and now i dont know where to start. Yeah, right, the hardest part is where to start.

Anyway, even if I'm not sure if somebody still happens to pass by this blog, I just feel the urge of bringing back this blog to life. Only for now. And as a credit for being able to post at least a short blog, I am rewarding myself a spot with my favorite photo of all time...