08-08-08

It happens once in a blue moon, twelve times in a century. So we are so lucky when it happens. We should mark our calendar for this. Only few people experience this moment. Well, what makes it special, anyway?

For the world, it is important for there was an international event on this day where majority of the nations participated. And for China, it is even more important for it hosted the said event, the Olympic games, where they got almost all the golds and eventually lead them to get the highest achievement in the event. They were the champions. So, does the date matters? Does it give meaning to them? For them, eight (8) is a lucky number. So does it explain?

Anyway, where were you on this very day? Could you still remember? As for me, it was kinda special and a mix feelings. I was so excited for I was going home for the first time on this day. I was in two countries during this moment. Kinda peculiar, right? But it was. My flight to the Philippines was 9:15 in the evening on this day and we arrived in the Philippine airport at around 12 midnight or more. I am not so sure of the exact time for what I was feeling was excitement and exhilaration. Though we didn’t land yet, but i am sure that we were already in the border of the Philippines before it turns 12 midnight.

So, what is your 08-08-08 story? Is this date significant for you?

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http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com

…FuNnY, sTrAnGe AnD eXcItInG mOmEnTs

After around 30 minutes past four in the afternoon, we successfully arrived in Beijing. I was so thankful we had a safe journey. Hurray! I exclaimed in my mind. I ultimately set my footprints in Beijing. We happily got off the train and started moving out.

Next was to search for the bus number we had in mind, through our search through the net, to get to the desired hostel we wanted to stay, during the days we would spend there. There were a lot of people outside the station waiting for the buses to arrive, for just directly outside the station is the bus stop. We peeped around to know whether our bus would pass that way. Too happy to know it’s one of them. We waited ‘till it arrived. People were like wild animals competing to pass through the bus’s door to find a comfortable seat. We didn’t involved ourselves at first, but we would be waiting for a long time if we won’t, so we also did on the fourth bus, at least not that much people as that of the first three.

After that funny moment was that, the problem where to get off, ‘coz we don’t know how to say it in Chinese, the one mentioned in the net. We ask someone, but couldn’t understand English. We just let it go. After a while, we saw subway symbol, so we got off the bus stop after. It was really so funny. No more problem ‘coz the direction in the subway is pretty clear enough to be understood.

We were thinking it's over, yet we were wrong. To look for the place was even harder. It’s mentioned it’s just near exit C, yet we roamed around but still we couldn’t find, we were bringing our luggage then.

I searched the place alone and let my friend stay at one side. I walked here and there, yet I didn’t find the place still. I met a family man calling a taxi as I searched for it, he was speaking Tagalog to his two children, meaning they’re Filipinos. We chatted for a short while ‘coz they were in a hurry. Then, I continued my search. We were almost at the point of discouragement when I came back. It was almost night time. I said, I would go on the other side. I was so exhausted finding the place. As I went forward, I saw a hostel, not the one we were looking for, I went in and asked, good they speak English. So I went back and got my friend who was also tired of waiting. We were done at around 8:00 or so in the evening, more than 4 hours looking for the place. That’s the problem of language barrier.

Have you experienced some? Well, funny, right? But only if you are patience enough, you can succeed this situation. Thanks for the patience of my friend and my unending efforts. So, friends, never give up and keep on striving. Good luck to our daily endeavors.

note: you can also visit me here;

http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com/
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com/

…eAsT LaKe & mUsEuM

My friend tried hard to roam me around the city on my first day. We had a hectic schedule that time. While we were eating our lunch, her colleague, Rudy, a Chinese teacher, phoned that she’s already ready to go to the other district, where the east lake and museum are found. They planned it in advance. So, we hastily go to the place where they have set to meet.

With the weather so hot, we were walking along the way to the dock where we could take a ferry boat to the other side of the Yangtze river. It was really freaking hot that time. The situation even got worsen when we were kinda lost in going there, it was her second time going to the place. Her colleague was already calling up asking where we were, ‘coz it took us quite a long time. At long last we were able to arrive at the place.

We took the ferry for about 10 – 15 minutes, then by bus to the east lake. I was really fascinated by the grandness of the said lake. The scenery is so serene and beautiful. In fact, there were around five couples having their pictorials around the lake, wearing their bridal attire. We encircled the lake and took lots of wonderful photos.

Later that afternoon, we went to the museums, history and arts museums. Structurally speaking, they really are very magnificent. They look like pyramids of Egypt, really beautiful. We toured around the museum for like an hour or more. We felt very tired of from our day activities. So we left without even seeing the entire displays inside.

Note: you can also check me out here.
http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com

…LiU’aN eMbRaCeD mE tWiCe

Liu’an is one of the most promising cities of Anhui Province, where Jean, my best friend and ultimate partner here, is residing and at the same time teaching as of the moment. Such a gorgeous and benevolent fellow! Thanks for knowing her. I’ve been to this city twice before and I can truly say, it’s also a fantastic and progressive city, one must not forget to visit to.

My first visit was with Mary, another Filipino teacher here. That was National Holiday, after we arrived from our 3-day tour in Huangshan. We roamed around the city, to its resplendent park, highly developed one, surrounded by water, ate in a great restaurant, went shopping and bought some souvenirs. I stayed there overnight. The following day, I went back to my place. T’was indeed a corking experience. I enjoyed a lot with my best friends. We perfectly had a howling time together.

Last Christmas was the second. Their company organized a speech contest and, of course, headed by Jean. They invited me to be one of their foreign judges. Since we were not working that time, I absolutely said yes after confirming everything that I could have a 3-day holiday. There were eight judges during the contest, four of which are Chinese and the others are foreigners. I did enjoy the event. I’ve learned a lot. I was totally amused by the performances of the students. I greatly saluted Jean for such a successful event, for a job well done. The company actually booked a hotel for the foreign judges, but we didn’t stayed there for we also had to celebrate Christmas with some other Filipinos and other foreign friends in Hefei, who were waiting for us. So, we left after a wonderful dinner.

I heartily thanked Jean for such a wondrous experience I’ve had as well as to her supportive boss, Searching, a Singaporean, my earnest thanks to all of you for the trust and for giving me the chance to go through such a great event. I didn’t experience being a judge of a speech contest in the Philippines. So I really felt elated and honored. Once again, thanks for everything.

…wInTeR

Many of my Chinese students kept asking me why is my favorite season winter, where in fact, it’s not experienced in the Philippines. They couldn’t apprehend my thoughts why I do like it ‘coz many of them don’t like it for it’s definitely cold. Not yet satisfied, they asked follow up questions like, “Have you experienced snow before? Have you seen a real snow? And many more.

It is indeed resplendent, I told them. Mountains are capped by snow, the lake’s water is frozen, the trees, flowers and grasses seem dead and everything is white. What a stunning scene!, I added. I only saw all these on movies but lately I personally experienced it, play with it, such a wondrous moment.

Though it’s bloody cold, but it’s my pleasure to first experience it. As long as you completely covered yourself with hat, scarf, tights or thermal wear, around two to three sweaters, a pair of gloves and a coat, you won’t feel such a cold. I could hardly imagine I had such an experience. I thought it’s impossible for me to see a real snow.

Frankly speaking, when I was a kid, I thought snow wasn’t real, that it was just on movies, a mere camera trick, that it’s just a product of imagination. But recently I realized I was wrong. Snow is perfectly real. Sounds funny but true.

A lot of students told me I am a little lucky because the snow here in our place lasted for more than a month this year. They added, it used to last for only two or three days for many years because we are a little south. According to the news, there was a snow storm around China and it happened half a century ago. I just gladly replied, nature wants me to have a superb experience with it. But I was also kinda worried because the prices of basic commodities dramatically grew up due to the difficulty to transport them. Many of the travelers even were stranded at various bus and trains stations because of the said phenomenon.

I myself had a terrible moment during the snow storm. From my place to the capital of the province, it only takes two and a half hours by bus. But that time, it took us almost twelve (12) hours. We left 9:40 am (the first trip because they said, they are still clearing the road from the snow) and we arrived there at 9:30 pm. I was extremely hungry. I had no lunch and dinner, and I took my breakfast at around 6:20 am, hoping to catch the first bus at 6:40. T’was indeed an awful journey ever in my entire life, sitting down for almost 12 hours on the bus. T’was also a peak season for the travelers because the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year at that time was approaching. On the other hand, we were just lucky to arrive there safely which is the most important, no matter what.

But as for me, winter is still the best season. What about you, what is your favorite season? Why?

…SpRiNg FeStIvAl

What did you do last Spring Festival or Chinese New Year? Did you celebrate? Did you travel? Or just stay at home. Or where did you go? Who do you celebrate with? Was it great? What did you prepare?

Spring Festival is Chinese’s most important festival as Christmas for most of the western countries. On this day, they prepared a great dinner with all members of the family together. They usually eat dumplings. Children receive money from their folks and parents. They prepared for this event for several days. They usually clean their houses and wash all their dirty clothes, that they are clean to meet the new year. It’s one of their practices on this marvelous event.

It was really great for me ‘coz we had more than a month vacation. So I traveled around to meet some of my friends. My first stop was in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province where I stayed for a night. Then I moved to Chuzhou the next day, still a city of Anhui, where my colleague in another branch is residing, a Filipino. I stayed there most of my time. We supposed to go to Guangzhou, but because of the snow storm, we decided to stay. Days after, we went to Nanjing in another province, Jiangsu Province. It used to be the capital of China. We roamed around there by subway for the entire day. Then we went back to Chuzhou in the evening by train. My friend toured me around the city. I also met a lot of friends there. I even plan to go back there soon.

My first Spring Festival in China was really great. We also had a big dinner. Our fellow Filipinos prepared a big banquet. There were 8 Filipinos that time, all teachers and a Chinese, my friend’s colleague. I ate a lot for they served Filipino dishes which I missed for so long. We perfectly had a fantastic dinner together.

Then one day, we went boating in Chuzhou’s South Lake. We had a lot of fun. We preferred to rent a manual one that we could have a race. Everybody enjoyed the activity. Then we went to sauna, massage parlor and shopping. T’was really a perfect moment.

I somehow forgot my problems that time. Completely funny. I stayed there for almost three (3) weeks. Then I went back to Hefei again. We also had different celebration with some Filipino friends there. I could really say, Spring Festival is one of my best memories in China. What about you, do you have one?

…ToMb SwEePiNg DaY

Tomorrow, April 4th, it’s a holiday here in China because it’s tomb sweeping day. On this day, Chinese people visit and clean the graveyards of their folks. They spent most of their time of the day there and offer them fresh and beautiful bouquets of flowers. Cemeteries are filled with thousands of people on this very day.

In line with this, we have an additional day off. It’s another rest day for all workers in China. But in our case, we have plenty of classes in the weekends, in fact, we are going to have our English corners tomorrow late afternoon until evening, so our boss set today as our off, in exchange for tomorrow. Well, not bad at all.

I am wondering how to celebrate this. I don’t know how to spend my another one day of rest because I haven’t prepared an activity, for I just knew this yesterday. Well, I am just going to do my routines during my regular off. Do some exercises early in the morning, then take my breakfast, do laundry, clean the house, watch movies, sleep (actually most of my time is spent sleeping), do grocery, watch movies again and sleep. But sometimes, in addition to that, I go to park and enjoy its beauty, the flowers, trees, landscapes, lake and children playing. That’s how I usually spend my off. Somehow, I am going to do the same today. Rarely, I visit the riverside park, Changjiang river or commonly known as Yangtze river, just hiking along.

Well, what about you people, how do you spend your holidays? Your day off? Do you usually make plans in advance? Do you do the same thing every now and then? Or do you do various activities? Whatever they may be, enjoy your holidays.

I just hope you spend your holidays marvelously and enjoy them. Learn from me, we need to refresh ourselves after a heavy work. Have a good holiday and take care always. Have a wonderful day to all of us and as always, I say, everything happens for a reason. More powers to all of us.

…HuAnGsHaN – tHe MoSt BeAuTiFuL mOuNtAiN iN cHiNa

Nature is eversince very beautiful. It existed for thousands of years, but its grandeur is still very eminent that no human creation can surpass. Its beauty is unending and never fading. It was, it is, and it will still be the same in the future. It is worth nurturing and taking care of.

Last year, when China celebrated its National Holiday (on the first week of October), people from different walks of life wandered around and visit some famous sites to celebrate the week of no work, including myself and some other friends. We visited Huangshan – the most beautiful mountain in China. We spent three (3) days there starting from September 29th until October 1st. It’s a four (4) hours away by bus from my place. But before reaching the mountain, our agent toured us to a nearby town which was built during the Qing Dynasty. Then, we continued to our destination. We stayed in a hotel at the foot of the mountain.

I’ve heard so much about this mountain long before from my students. But I just want to experience and witness how splendid the beauty of the mountain. I want to see it through my naked eyes.

Early the next morning, we hurriedly ate our breakfast to catch the sunrise on top. There I saw such a crowd going to the mountain.

Cable cars are also one of the highlights of the mountain. Since it is very steep, we decided to ride the cable car and perfect, because we were six (6) together and a cable car can only accommodate six people. Surprisingly, we saw its fabulous beauty as the cable car went up passing through gorgeous natural landscapes and a little spring approximately 1000 meters right down our cable car. About ten (10) minutes later, we reached the endpoint of the cable car, halfway to the top. We had to climb through slippery stairs because it was so foggy. We saw the sun once in a while and I extremely appreciate the color of the mountain, because it turns yellow once reflected by sunrays. That’s how beautiful the mountain is. They said it has different colors in different seasons. We spent our whole day climbing up and down from them and each has its own beauty to attract people.

I was totally amazed because there’s a hotel on top of the mountain, but it’s pretty expensive. When we stepped our feet on the highest portion, it felt so great knowing that we were about 2000 meters above sea level. Though very tiresome but it’s worth it. We rode another cable car as we went down at the other side of the mountains. As we reached our hotel, we were like logs lying on our bed after a short dinner because everyone is bloody tired from the whole day adventure.

On the third day, buying of souvenirs and traveling time going back to our respective places. Even if we slept soundly for about ten (10) hours, we still felt the fatigue brought about by the activity the day before. So we were also sleeping on our way.

Huangshan is indeed a great place to be visited. As Chinese people say, you won’t long of going to other famous mountains if you have visited Huangshan. Somewhat all the beauties of other mountains were put together in one place, and it is Huangshan. Waterfalls, springs, lake, natural landscapes, cable cars, restaurants, hotels, trees, all in one place. I absolutely had a well spent National Holiday.

So, everyone out there, if you have enough time, don’t miss to experience the magnificent Huangshan… And once again, thank you for your time and for passing by. Catch me up on my next blog. Have it in mind always, everything happens for a reason. Have a good time and take care always.

…JiUhUaShAn – ThE TeMpLe MoUnTaIn

As we often hear the quotation, “The only constant in this world is change,” we should try not to be stagnant, we should keep on keeping on. Since life is a journey, we should always attempt to keep on moving on. As for me, I don’t want to be stuck in one place. I always want to wander around and see the beauty that the world has to offer because it’s unfolding and welcoming us to reminisce its grandeur.

Eight months ago, I and some friends went to Jiuhuashan – a temple mountain. In fact, there are 99 temples and the montain is very famous especially to the followers and believers of Buddha. It was known since 719 AD during the Tang dynasty in China. We spent two (2) days on the mountain.

I just couldn’t imagine why we were having that experience without a meticlulous plan, no preparations at all. It’s just that a friend of us mentioned when we were eating at McDonalds that she and her student were going to that mountain the day after. We jokingly said we want to go with them. She immediately phoned her student to book for two (2) more people to the agency. We were just lucky that it was not peak season. So we went there early the next morning.

As we approached the mountain, we were shocked seeing the green and picturesque mountain on top. We landed at the middle of the mountain and put our things in the hotel where we stayed in. After lunch, we started climbing and visiting those temples that the mountain is known for. I highly appreciated how splendid the temples are. They are highly preserved and taken cared of by the monks who are living there. We went in and out from one temple to the other, and each has its beauty to present. They were built thousands of years ago. It was really a fascinating experience. We were very exhausted as we went down and proceeded to our hotel and restfully slept that night.

We were awaken by a hard knock at our door saying, “Please prepare because in few minutes, we are going at the back of the mountain.” We were surprised for we didn’t know our schedule. But actually, instructions and activities for the next day were given after our dinner but we were not there because we went out to buy some souvenirs. It was also our fault. We hurriedly prepared ourselves and took a shower hastily. Unfortunately, they had gone as we went out from the hotel. The guard told us that we can wait for the next bus. Anyway, there were many visible buses around.

As we were on the bus to the other side of the mountain, I was enjoying capturing pictures for it’s astonishingly magnificent, and clouds were just directly under the mountain. After reaching the endpoint for buses, we still had to walk for about 20 minutes to get to the cable car station. You could actually climb to the top with 1000 steps if you have that vigor to reach the topmost. We had a very great moment seeing the beauty of nature seen from the top.

There, as we wandered around, we saw the Phoenix tree – the

oldest pine tree in China. It was planted around 1400 years ago. I was overwhelmed with great joy watching and taking pictures with the tree. We didn’t want to leave the place for we are surrounded by nature, clean and green tress, fresh air, water, temples, cable cars, hotels and well-developed road system, such a comfortable life in there. We took another route to go back to our hotel for lunch. Then, we packed our things because we had to leave a short while after.

I can truly say that my two (2) days there were perfectly spent. Experiencing the glorious beauty of nature is such a wonderful page added to my short stay in this passing life. I just wish that all of us, dear friends, treasure every single minute of our lives. Brilliantly spend each day for tomorrow is another day. Once again, thanks a lot for passing by and remember, everything happens for a reason. Have a joyous day to all of us. Have a good time and more powers.