under the bright blue sky

Staring blankly at the bright blue sky from this Ayala building, I can't help but think that I want to be somewhere else. Under the vastness of this bright blue sky, I am thinking, why am I here in this place?

Of course, I know the answer. It has always been that practical answer. Still, there are times when you envy people who have that dream job, or at least a job that they enjoy. The truth is I shouldn't be complaining at all. I have a relaxed environment at work, accommodating bosses who aren't around to watch you all the time, and relatively good compensation. In fact, I am lucky to be here. I am not even a doctor.

Then again, from time to time, one couldn't help but daydream of a better life or a more satisfying way of living. I dream of becoming a lawyer. I wonder how it feels to be the boss of yourself and to really be out in the world talking to people. I wonder how it is to have control of your time and be there with your family in all the occasions, regardless of time in the day. I wonder if it really is self-fulfilling to actually help people.

For now, I am only hoping of having enough time to study. It is not as if I can take gmat prep test or review classes for my everyday recitations. And I do not want just to pass; I want to learn, to be good at this profession. If my luck turns to the good side, maybe in a few years, I'll be standing in the place where I want to be under the bright blue sky.

Up, Down, Twist, and Turn!

And just like that, I had the time of my life!

Seeing the theme park from the outside already sent my heart racing. There were just so many roller coasters, and big ones at that! For someone who dreams of flying, fast and huge roller coasters may be the second best! Nothing beats tempting gravity!

Some of the photos taken from the parking:

Cameras aren't allowed when you're riding because of the high probability that it might fall. So here are few of the pictures I took of the parts of the coasters. It's difficult to take a shot of the each whole ride because of its huge size. And now the twists and turn:

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The wonderful thing is that every ride presents a different experience, sometimes with feet hanging, or a standing position, or a squat-like position, etc. There's just a wide grin on my face after every ride. Some people just scream from start to end, and you can fill they're thrill! At times though, even if I wanted to, I just couldn't scream. The rides took all the air from my lungs! :)

There are rides other than roller coasters, and they're equally entertaining. I exhausted all my energy and tirelessly went to all the max (they are categorized according to intensity) ride I could take. My feet were tired, the walking and running were natural fat burners, but my energy level and excitement maintained its peak throughout the day!

I tried moving my hands and feet while this was rotating, and I couldn't.
I was pinned to the ride. Nice!

My favorite rides were Tatsu:

3,602 feet of blazing track. 62 miles per hour. 263 feet in plunges. Ready to take on Tatsu? Aboard the wings of Tatsu, you'll fly at speeds in excess of 62 mph through deep plunges, huge spirals and sharp dives that send you flying through the Park's mountainous terrain. This gives you the sensation of flight.

and X2:

Unlike traditional coasters where trains only parallel the track, X2 sends riders screaming around its 3,600-foot maze of steel track aboard massive wing-shaped trains where the seats extend off of the track to the sides of the vehicle, allowing them to independently rotate you head over heels, forward and backward creating a one-of-a-kind "don't know what to expect next" sensation. X2 launches the extreme thrills of X into a new dimension with the addition of a light experience that changes with every ride.

Last two photos from the web

My Magic Mountain

Probably the best time I had in the States is at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The park perfectly summarized the Six Flags experience in a few words: Massive monster coasters. Awesome adventure rides. Fun family attractions.

I have always loved the thrill of super fast roller coasters, I love it so much, it probably would have qualified as a death wish (kidding!). But this theme park is not just roller coasters (roller coasters on another post), but also a place for the kids and family. The place is huge, with 260 acres of world-class roller coasters and over 100 rides, games and attractions. If you're not the "riding" type, looking and walking around would entertain you, not to mention it being a weight loss formula. This is Warner's answer to Disneyland, and frankly, I love this place more.

Our new friends!



The price for every game is reasonable, though it's a bit addicting.
Note: It looks easy, but it's damn hard to win!



It's a carrot world out there.

Can't resist the kryptonite =)

Our day ended with this funnel cake, with strawberry toppings!

Business As Usual

A day after typhoon Bashang hit Manila, I went to work. I was lucky to have water, when some neighborhoods in our area lost both water supply and electricity. I only lost electricity and celphone signal.

Our company here in the Philippines is composed of a small group of people, more than half of whom last Wednesday were absent. Water supply was the primary reason, and one was because a neighbor's roof fell on theirs. Makati was a quiet place. And there were still traces of the storm that just passed. The city was powered only by generators, and the underpass was devoid of light, at least the makukulit people insisting on orienting you to something or to some apidexin scam were not there, though because the underpass was so dark, even at daytime, I feared for thieves or others who would take advantage.

Despite of these power failures and the mess that the storm left, I found it fascinating that Makati was business as usual. Probably, this area had correct planning and sufficient securities and measures in case of natural disasters, and well, probably, they'd be ready for anything. I hope the whole country is as well.

The Famous Stars I've Met

At least the shapes of their hands and feet.

After Beverly Hills, we proceeded to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They said it looks better at night. The street was full of lights, and there were many people. Some were tourists, some were locals, some were offering tours, and some were distributing pamphlets of body building supplement reviews or city tours.

I saw those family in Springfield that I love a lot and that duck friend of Mickey Mouse...

and some great actors...

and I was happy to see that this young actor was already in the same area among those big US stars... did he magically make his way there?

We missed the world premiere of Iron Man 2 earlier that evening (as if I can go!), but I felt somehow excited that Tony Sparks and Pepper Potts were just there, though I only got to see the crew packing up.

Anyway, as it was tiring day, we treated ourselves to a sumptuous Japanese dinner...

itadakimasu!

Strolling in Beverly Hills

Since I was in California, my friend said he'd take me to see Beverly Hills. He said, laughingly, that we'd go there to take pictures. Of course, we couldn't afford to buy things there, unless I want to buy a dress worth my month's salary. :)

There are gadgets stores that sell iPad (first time I saw it!) and tm-t88iv, sports outlet, fabulous bag stores, and expensive restos. And as expected, the high-class boutiques are there. Here are some of the pictures I took in Beverly Hills without me haha:

expensive shops are lined in this street



fancy restaurants along this lane



We entered the huge Nike store and a whole corner dedicated to Pacquiao's merchandise! Nice!





first time I saw brand-new Ferraris (other than my toys!)

And my friend said that this drive is the place for the rich and the famous:

Rodeo Drive

like a practical joke

I have the heaviest school schedule on Thursdays. My class is straight from 530 to 930 pm. I have two minor subjects and one minor subject that feels like a major one also. Also, the present dean and the past dean are two of my professors. They're both very good, but of course, they have high expectations!

I was on deck (meaning I might be called on recitations) on the two major subjects. However, I find Negotiable Instruments Law hard to digest (all about checks and promissory notes), and it puts a lot of stress on me, evident by my aggravated need for hair loss cure and pimple treatment. Anyway, the whole day was spent studying that subject. Of course, I wasn't able to read anything on the other two, Sales and Public Corporations.

So Dean Sundiang of Nego was the first class. I was preparing myself to be called. I thought to myself, I prepared for this, so maybe somehow I can answer his questions. What do you know? I wasn't called. Dean Jara (present dean), the professor of Sales, however, called me. I was on recitation for like, forever (30 minutes actually). He asks the most thought-provoking questions that it's hard even if you read the book. What more if you hadn't? Well, my whole recitation was based on guesses and last-minute readings, and it's a good thing he was somehow guiding me to the answers, though I'm not sure if I got his hints correctly. haha.

When I sat down, I could only shake my head and laugh of how ironic the day I was. I prepared for one subject, I wasn't called. I never read a thing in the other, I was called. It was like a practical joke. Lesson of the story: read all or read none at all. ;)