Selamat Berpuasa

a filipino by birth and malaysian sabahan by heart
jadi, i join my abangs, kakas, adiks,
and everyone else in my second home

a happy ramadhan!

Only Php 3800 6996 Roundtrip to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on Cebu Pacific

its summer and vacation time very soon!
what better way to celebrate it than go on trip to sabah, malaysia.

i just checked online, and currently cebu pacific's MLA-KOTA KINABALU-MLA ticket
for the month of may to 1st week of july is ONLY 3800PESOS Php 6996 (as of March 13) round trip with tax.
since its a promo limited slots as per the airline.

i can help with the accommodation and booking your activities in kota kinabalu,
through trusted tour operators and backpacker lodges.
we also have options for hotels if you would like.

you may be interested...

· to see mt. kinabalu, which is southeast asia’s highest peak
· experience the thrill of white water rafting in either kiulu or padas river
· see the probosis monkey and firelflies on our garama rivercruise
· you can also explore the culture of the kadazan-dusun, badjao, murut and other sabahan tribes through their handicrafts, food and wine
· you can even get away for a nature safari in the Kinabatangan River
· a new secluded beach and diving resort has also recently been opened in mantanani kecil island

this will be your malaysian escapade, your memories!
and sabah being gifted with its beaches, mountains, forests and rivers
will definitely have something in store for you, your friends and even your family!

let me help you make your summer route of fun.
travelling is my passion. i’d be happy to share my own experiences and pictures.
you reach me at +639172085317
or email me at mhayrondael@yahoo.com

i would also appreciate if you can also refer me to friends that might be interested.
thanks!! happy travelling!

things have been changing...rather changed!

old trees are being uprooted
and new ones may be planted soon
so many changes in my backyard
i am afraid i may not recognize it
when I go home

it's his last day in the company today
after today, there will other events
that will change what i called home.

part of me accepts, and part is sad
sad because changes bring a phase of unknown.
you are part of the picture when i speak of "home"
and by tomorrow
i have to get used to some people not being where they usually are
that by the time I do get there some guys may be on a different raft.

i hold on to the assurance that despite the movement
that it's not about the company, but rather the relationship
that the friendship is what's important.

we may move on to other places, jobs or get married
but that does not change that we are friends.

n said that we will not know
what will happen tomorrow or a week from now
what's been happening the past couple of weeks
is giving the statement its truth.

jangan kamu lupa! we will keep in touch!

Temporary Separation Night

Location:
Upperstar Cafe & Santana Karaoke Bar
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

4 July 2008

they organized something for me
to make sure i felt the love
cause we were going to be separated
for a couple of months

people from RB came
well except for the bosses
and most importantly those i call family
they were all there!

this why i love my kk family!!

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these entries i first wrote back in 2008
in my multiply albums.
i wanted to have everything in one place
so I am reposting them in my blog.

Trading In their Pirate Sandals

Location:
bb cafe + cocoon + razz mah tazz
kota kinabalu, sabah, malaysia

11 June 2008

it was the last night of annelis and ann aka the holland girls
so i was able to get the 3 padas musketeers together plus snoop
first time i saw the sungai pirates wearing shoes and a matching party outfit
they even took time to spritz on some perfume!!
am popogi lang ha!
ehehehehe

and that made it a great formula for a going away night out!!!

______________
this post was written may 08
i had to transfer it from the other site.
must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.

What a Traveller Does After a Month

Location:
- Labuan, Malaysia
- BSB, Brunei
- BB Cafe, Cocoon and R&B Pub in Kota Kinabalu

10 June 2008

you are usually given a month to stay in sabah. but since i am having such a blast i decided to extend it for yet another month. so mary and myself went on a day trip to labuan and brunei and get our passports chopped and extended!

when we got to serasa (brunei), we found a man that was willing to drive us to BSB (capital city of brunei) so we can get some gambar-gambar (photos). that was such a risk since we only had an hour and a half till the return ferry to labuan. we almost missed the ferry. but naturally, mary and i just laughed it off!

it was supposed to be overnight in labuan but how can you turn down a chance to ride on a bot laju (speed boat) to get to yet another place calle menumbong and have an adventure on how to get back to kk.

thanks to kuys we had someone to pick us up in kk bus stop
so we got a little earlier than expected
i even got to party with lies, anna, mette and dani!

i had so fun with these 2 girls from holland
met them in cocoon last week
and while i was having dinner with kak mary
they called to go out dancing
i was in the mood so i went!

we covered 3 places in one night
plus kuya ikan was there so i felt pretty safe to party on
we trying to get the girls to believe
that kuya ikan was my brother
they wouldnt believe though because he was darker
it gave us a good laugh.

so much dancing for the night i was beat!











___________________
this post was written june 08
i had to transfer it from my other site.
must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.

What Kept Me Busy in Sabah

Location: Sabah, Malaysia

- Gaya Island & Teluk Malohom

- Pukak Town and Kiulu River

- Salut Restaurant

- Nexus Karambunai Resort

JUNE 5 - 7, 2008
Entrepreneur's Organization Malaysia Chapter Retreat

42 people from Kuala Lumpur
came to Sabah for "an outing"
23 adults, 18 children and 1 baby

because of this i have learned to speak melayu a bit
gone to the island on a private speedboat
went from vacation mode
to a stressed life
but i totally loved the experience
it was definitely a dream come true

with this experience
i have also been blessed
to have people in my life
that without
would have made me jump off
the tallest building in Sabah

you know who you all are.
giving me "i am so proud of my anak" speech
each time i leave to go to the "office."
those that willing to drive me around to get supplies.
those that were willing to translate for me
when I can no longer faham.
or simply giving me an sms at the end of the day
to remind why I was doing this.
i love you more than you probably know.

and also to one man that took a risk
thank you "boss o" for this opportunity
to you i am forever grateful

___________________________

this post was written june 08

i had to transfer it from my other site.

must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.

This Year I Blew Out My Candles in Sabah

Location: Trekkers Lodge and Hunters, Sabah, Malaysia

30 May 2008

The plan was to cook, get everyone together, wait for the guides to get back from the rivers, makan (eat) together and just drink the night away in a karaoke!

The result was a night of eating alot of food! Some arak (alak ba), beer and kahlua mixed with icecream. There was a silly attitude in the air that kept everyone on a laughing high all night. After the makan...we went down to Hunters to sing and dance the night away. There was even the lucky surprise of our table winning the grand prize of an airasia ticket for KK-Clark-KK!!! What a way to end the night!!

A big hug and kiss will go to the employee of the year...my kak (elder sister) MARY for putting everything together. From the shopping, to the cooking, the calls and the sms in between Padas and Kiulu reservations. She just made sure that this day would be superduperextrastrenghtandacheery on top fantabulous for me. What did I do to deserve such a thing I do not know.

But equal to that for my Itay Joel for opening up Trekkers Lodge (despite making him a bit uncomfortable) and the fried chicken wings. To Francine, my adopted niece, for being the official photographer of the night (she's only eight but she did a great job this album are mostly her photos). To the Riverbug Family for my bday cake. For Titz and Roger that made the best halal lumpia ever....yes nalang oi! To Kuya Alex for the shopping coupon, the kahlua and just keeping it alive at Hunters. To Mami Lydia for that delicious Javanese delicacy that I seem to always forget what it's called. To Boy & Jess for running to Milimewa, the icecream and cooking the grabe-sarap-kakaiba-tuna-spaghetti. To my Kuya Mors, for being lambing-ed to buy ice and drinks. To the Sungai Pirates for the minum (drinks) and just simply being there. To my new big bro Kuya Dennis for that really beautiful song you wrote, its not everyday that people write a song for me and despite the laughter it was something that really made my day. And to the rest of the people that took time to make it what it was, you presence was the best gift I could ask for!

There were people that couldnt make it because of work, some went to Mantanani and some I just forgot to sms (sorry snoop, kuya petty and K)!

To those that couldnt be there for any reason....this is for you...*grins*

__________________
this post was written may 08
i had to transfer it from the other site.
must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.

Padas Rafting with a Dollop of Wine

Location:
Tenom, Sungai Padas and Beaufort
Sabah, Malaysia

24 May 2008

it was supposed to be a familiarization trip for other agents in KK but they backed out. since i might be a bit busy the next few days i decided to go on with the trip.
i did not regret that decision!

though this is my 3rd time to brave this raging river,
the experience was still different.
this time i was thrown off the raft
and was stuck under the boat.
i didnt panic and remembered the safety briefing
that i should trace my way to the outside.
but not seeing where I was,
worried my guide so he jumped in for me
thank you for looking out for me N.

also i was able to swim to the end point
with Razali shouting that I had to swim to the right
where a hand caught me followed by a voice
that said "careful langga, rocks"
sweet kan? he he he

after the ever yummy bbq lunch of kambing,
there was an extra mile of rafting to meet the speedboat
but the boat wasn't there...
so we were stranded in a Murut village with a storm brewing.
and when the rains did come,
just like those younger years
i went to dance and play in it.

leave it to the guides to think ahead,
they bought local rice wine to keep us warm
and when the wine kicked in...
we realized that Nrey can do magic
and that rubber bands can hurt real bad when you play with them.

when the boat came the rain was still pouring,
but more wine kept us warm
and after another bottle
the guides started singing any song they could remember
including I Will Survive - The Malay Version!
DVD wasnt able to make a video backup though
so no proof!!! dang it!

all it took was...
a lone raft with a mix of characters in them
1 late speedboat and rice wine
2 safety kayaks taking video and photos and
3 funny guides that made the best decision to buy rice wine

and it did not stop there...for the day's cherry on the top...

getting louis & achu at upperstar,
4 rounds of Tiger Beer and uniting the Padas Musketeers
which led to balls & sausage conversations
plus knowing the difference between macho & cute!!!
and finding out what it was like when everyone can just be themselves
as they say here in KK... sakiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!

__________________
this post was written may 08
i had to transfer it from the other site.
must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.

Experiencing a Cultural Woodstock

Location: KDCA, Penumpang, Sabah, Malaysia

PESTA KAAMATAN: Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is a unique celebration of Kadazandusun society. It’s a celebration to honour the Rice Spirit – Bambaazon or Bambarayon and giving thanks for yet another bountiful year. The festival begins on the first of May at many district levels. The rites and customs of the Pesta Kaamatan is a tribal practice of Kadazandusun and also Murut peoples.

Excerpt from:Sabah, Culture
------------------------------------------------------------------
31 May 2008

Since May 31st was a holiday I decided to join Mami Lydia in checking out the Pesta Kaamatan Celebration in Penampang. I brought Francine along with me so she can also experience it. They was a drizzle that day. Rain being nourishment for farming made the celebration even more authentic.

It was like a cultural woodstock where the people can go from one type of tribal house to another and sample the local cuisine and best of all the local wine!! By the end of the day you indeed will have such a high spirit that you can just mix in with the crowd that has been drinking since the day before.

Another thing that I noticed was the similarity between the local Sabahan tribes and those from the Philippines. Having grandparents that always reminded me to be proud of my Minadanao roots no matter what, it was nice being with other people proud of theirs!

this post was written may 08
i had to transfer it from the other site.
must.keep.things.in.just.one.place.