Our First & LAST Elephant Ride

Thailand Journal 04

The supposed to be number one must do in Thailand, our first & LAST elephant ride experience... 

Despite the disappointments from the tour operator and taxi driver, we couldn't hide our excitement on this new experience... 

at the tree top

 It was on our bucket list, of course, to sit atop the world's largest terrestrial mamal...

until we were finally seated.

WHEN GOD CALLS YOU

Most of the time, when we are at the most comfortable moment of our lives... God will suddenly instruct us to stand up from that lazy boy couch and asks us to step out from that cozy place. 

When you can see the beautiful life ahead of you and all your dreams seems coming true...  He will make you realize that these things aren't the one that really matters. 

For quite some time now, God has been asking me to move out from my comfort zone. Admittedly, I am hesitant. I tried to make excuses, and I mean really good excuses... but when He calls you, I believe we can only delay but we can never say no. 

It's been years of constant struggle, the burden is there. I know there is something else that He wants me to do, however, I have many lousy reasons not to respond... 

PISA: The Square of Miracles

EUROPE JOURNAL 7 

A region in Central Italy, Tuscany is known for its landscapes, tradition, history and artistic legacy. It is regarded as the birthplace of Renaissance. 

View from the train

Leaning Tower of Pisa, being one of the Wonders of the World, was of course on our list of places to visit when in Italy.

Road to 35: Treasures Unfold

As the number of our years increased, number of people in our lives decreases...

I remember celebrating my birthday, full house... from friends, colleagues, high school and college classmates, friends of friends and friends of friends of friends. 

Those were the days when strangers come over not to celebrate but to drink with other friends. When you just walk with bottle beer, checking on each group of people if they were enjoying... Party normally ends the following day. 

As I think of it... yes, indeed those were the happy days.

And as I try to recall one or two of my "happy birthday celebration" and try remember the different faces who were there; it seems that most of them were just part of my past. Very few are still on my present...

People come and go. That is something that I learned from my mentor while I was still in broadcasting network. 

But through the years, I learned that: 

You can choose the people who will stay in your life and those that you will let go... 

Being friends is not about being together everyday; even if you talk to a certain people daily, it doesn't mean that you are friends... and not talking or chatting everyday doesn't means you were no longer friends. 

No time nor distance can separate real friends. 

Bathroom Diaries: Yosi

Last Thursday, I was able to have a chat with a new colleague...
It started with a normal hi, hello and getting to know you conversation; and since we were both not busy as it is almost end of day, our conversations leads from one topic to another, until we noticed bunch of people at the smoking area.

Then I asked her if she smokes; she said no. Good! Then she threw the same question on me. I said I used to... but I quit... few years ago.

She was surprised... then she asked me how I did it.
She told me that her dad is also a chain smoker and she hope that he can stop too...

Venezia

EUROPE JOURNAL 06

Who doesn't know where Venice is... or should I ask, who doesn't want to visit Venice? 

Venizia (Venice) is a city in nortthestern Italy, composed of 117 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. 

It is one of the most interesting places in the world. 

From Milan, we traveled for almost 3 hours via Trenitalia to reach Venizia Santa Lucia train station. 

Below is the first photo I took as my feet stepped on Venice.

View in front of Venzia Santa Lucia station | Church of SAN SIMEON PICCOLO AKA  SANTI SIMEONE E GUIDA

A Short Trip to Wurzburg, Germany

Europe Journal 05

A city in the region of Franconia, Northen Bavaria, Germany and is located on the Main River, the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia.

Our visit to Wurzburg was unplanned; we missed our train to Stuttgart after our short visit to the Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Germany's Fairy Tale Dream Town.

Our misfortune was turned into an exciting adventure; we arrived late night at the Wurzburg Hauptbahnhof and went straight to the nearest hostel.

The next day was another unforgettable moment of our Europe escapade...

And we found ourselves walking in this city along the Main River.

CHANGE spells F-O-C-U-S

Today, moving forward, I will be posting less of my photos here in KALI Blogs. Rather, this page will be more of my testimonials, sharing God's Words and devotional studies.

Reasons? I am just putting things in perspective; to be able to focus more on what needs to be done. Lately, I wasted so many time thinking that I do not have time to do this... not a day passed without me attempting to write something here...

But I failed because there are many things that I wanted to share, I lost focus on what is Urgent and Important... 

Onwards and Upwards

Hello 2015!

I am looking forward to the bestest year ever...

I have my first-7-days reasons why:

01 Jan is FAMILY | This is the best place anyone can be... when we are with family.

After 7 years, I was able to celebrate New Year at home with all the "rounded" fruits on the table, colorful fireworks, loud firecrackers and a happy noisy extended family.

Ludwigsburg Palace and The Fairy Tale Garden

Europe Journal 03

It was our last day at Stuttgart when we visited Ludwigsburg Palace. It is a historical building in the city of Ludwigsburg which is just 12 km north of Stuttgart center.

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace is one of the largest Baroque buildings in Europe to survive in its original condition.

The First Big Four

No, this is not about Daniel, Jane, Mariz or Vickie...
More so not about Kuya who is leading the Pinoy Big Brother house.

This is about the first Big Four converts of Jesus' public ministry, that can be found in John 1:32-51.

Few weeks back, I was able to share the same message as I was given the opportunity to share the Word of God in Faith Hope and Love Assembly church in Angat, Bulacan, Philippines. This is an excerpt...

The story started the following day after John the Baptist was introduced in the Book of John. He was standing with 2 of his disciples when Jesus arrived.

36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

And right there and then, they followed Jesus...

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Germany's Fairy Tale Dream Town

Europe Journal 02.

I first heard Rothenburg ob der Tauber from my brother after his visit and he mentioned that Rothenburg appeared on several fantasy films including Pinocchio. Since I grew up watching Pinocchio and other Disney movies (80's), it seemed like another Disneyland  to me.I want to see those places where my childhood days were mostly spent...

* Rothenburg ob der Tauber  is a town on the Romantic Road in Bavaria, Germany, about halfway in between Frankfurt and Munich. It is known for its medieval center (Altstadt), seemingly untouched by the passage of time, encircled by the undamaged 14th century town wall. It means, in German, "Red fortress above the Tauber". This is so because the town is located on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River.

I visited Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber almost a year ago as part of my 3 weeks Europe tour, which I will also share with you on my next posts...

This is actually 2nd to the last city that I visited from that journey, I initially posted my teaser when I fell for Eiffel; but since Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber is my first choice, let me begin my Europe Photo Journal from this wonderful adventure...

From Stuttgart, where we stayed with my loving grand mother, we travel via train to Rothenburg; it was about 3-4 hours if I remember it right...

Bathroom Diaries: Buntis

My colleague will be a mom again, for the second time. Her first will turn 2 on October. We are not close but we know each other good enough. 

So she announced that the 2nd baby is on its way; and I congratulated her gladly. As expected, she teased me asking when can I have mine. I told her that I can't conceive alone :)

Celebrate Life

Today, I am celebrating my 34th.

Probably, I am stepping at the half stage of my life... more or less... maybe. 

My FB account was flooded with greetings from family and relatives, friends, former classmates, church family, acquaintance and career connections.

Yes, even in people, there are categories, and that is the reality; as time passes by, I realized that there are different level of relationship for every people that surrounds us

As we grow more mature, our friends became less in numbers. Others became not just friends but family to us; they are those few who stayed all throughout... while others left when things get rough. As the saying goes, I'd rather have one true friend than hundred fake ones. 

Maldives Journal: Exploring Indian Ocean

I know my post on The Maafushi Adventure was not enough...
Well, that was just a glimpse of what the paradise on earth looks like.

2 out of our 4 days stay, we were literally floating the middle of Indian Ocean.

Maldives Journal: The Maafushi Adventure

Maldives is 'A dream destination'. I have always put that on my wish list... & for years, it just remained there, until this April.

Tourist don't know where they've been; travelers don't know where they're going. - Paul Theroux

This Maldives adventure wasn't planned at all. A friend jokingly asked for it and I said yes immediately. After a week of checking promotions, browsing some reviews and "computing" for budget, we sat one afternoon for 3 hours to search for flights and accommodation and finally do the bookings.It was spontaneous. We are group of four, with different interest. Initially, as everyone else would imagine, we wanted to go to an exclusive island resort...

(Image from Google)

A paradise in the middle of Indian Ocean, just how we all imagined. The same way that it remains an imagination if we look at it this way.

Urgent and Important

We've seen this on seminars and workshops. For me, I am not so sure how many times I heard this on company training, but yes, this urgent - important diagram is indeed urgent and important to share.

I consider last March as one of my busiest month, ever. The week of our church anniversary landed on the same week of a regional campaign. The celebration was successful but not the campaign; just as I shared at my Stand Firm story...

Stand Firm

Last week, our church celebrated its 16th year of standing firm in faith, united in doing the mission of God. It was victorious. The program runs smoothly, the message was very clear on the presentations, the Word of God was delivered with great impact by the guest pastor, and more importantly, many visitors took the step of faith and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Indeed, our labor is not in vain.

And as expected, the enemy will work double time to destruct us. We cannot expect them to simply sit and watch us as we celebrate.

Bathroom Diaries

Yesterday, I had a really interesting bathroom conversations with different people; its not new, but its refreshing...  

"I'm soooo done with this. How can people be so inconsiderate?" - My colleague suddenly burst out her emotions while we were in the toilet to freshen up before the start of day... I looked at her and ask: What happened?

I Wish I Don't Have To Go To Work

I admit, those words came out from my mouth this morning; just as the other mornings, especially these days that bed-weather makes waking up a bit harder...

The gloomy light, the morning breeze and the cold water.... brrrr. My bed screams "come back to meee!"

Who's not guilty?