Thinking Thoughts_v13.02

Well, I accidentally deleted my first Thinking Thoughts post v13.01... :(

Let me start my Thoughts v13.02 by sharing what I have learned in life recently. As what most people say, "the more you give - the more you receive".

Well not really in a way that I am expecting something in return, I just realized lately that I am more blessed than others because I have stable jobs, stable income resources, and stable way of living. I can at least eat three times a day, have the capacity to rent an apartment away from home, and buy the things I need and sometimes want. :)

The idea of giving a part of what I have came into my mind last week. I considerably have a lot in life but do others have enough in life to survive a day? Last year I joined a Non-Government Organization (NGO), Diksyonaryo Atbp. / Project Dictionary, which constantly aims to provide and supply books and dictionaries to schools in remote areas of the Philippines.

How was I able to join the organization? It was a Saturday and I'm just in my apartment watching TV. I tuned in to GMA News TV Channel and the program being shown was a documentary created by GMA reporter, Lia Manalac-del Castillo. Besides being a TV reporter, she also spearheaded the Diksyonaryo Atbp group. It started as her birthday wish years ago, and it has now grown into a big group sharing the same purpose which is to help provide books for education.

I was touched by her documentary. Yes, I felt the need to help. I searched the NGO's website and signed up as a volunteer. And there I started sharing their purpose.

This year, the group has a lot of activities lined-up for book donations and student's "sponsorship". I decided to donate PHP 400 which will be used to purchase 5 Adarna story books (worth PHP 80 each), and will plan to further give PHP 1,500 to sponsor an elementary student from Benguet for a field trip in Manila this June 7 - 9. I don't mind the amount I donated and will donate, it was the unexplainable feeling of happiness and satisfaction afterwards that was definitely the most rewarding.

BENGUET Kids last year

We do not have all the time in the world. Wake Up, and Think of your purpose in life.

What do you think is lacking in your life? Or perhaps, what's a good thing to do in life? If you share the same sentiments with me, share the same purpose with Diksyonaryo Atbp. You can help students grow their minds with more knowledge through educational books.

Sign up and stand up with your purpose to Raise Literacy, One Child at a Time!

Visit Diksyonaryo Atbp. for more details about volunteering: http://diksyonaryoatbp.com/get-involved/

Or you may visit the facebook page for more reference: https://www.facebook.com/Projectdictionary

.: GODSpeed travelers! :.

Bangkok, Thailand's Krung Thep

TRAVEL DATES: February 14 - 15, 2013

Travel Budget: USD 180

My first international backpacking experience happened in Bangkok, Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia afterwards. Mixed feelings encapsulated me again because this was my first travel for this year 2013 and yes, my travel adventure started outside the Philippines!

Backpack + Laptop + Camera Bag

I departed NAIA Terminal 3 from Manila, Philippines at 6:30AM (PHL Time) through Cebu Pacific Air carrier and arrived Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at 8:45AM (THA Time). It was roughly a three-hour plane ride which I enjoyed a lot...sleeping!

Arriving Bangkok's Airport, I was instantly amazed with it's structural facade and how the airport itself was constructed. It was a huge airport. One of the nicest things about their airport was that they have the "Airport Rail Link" which connected it directly to central Bangkok. How I wish Philippines' government should have thought of this too. :)

Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced as "Suvarnabhum" only) 

Bangkok, or Krung Thep for locals, was a city central filled with various cultural races. It was like a salad bowl of every country in every continent of the world. It had made the city more vibrant with a lot of choices to offer. It's too premature to say that I fell in love with Bangkok right there and then but YES, it was a place worthy of such credit.

I've visited a lot of what Bangkok has to offer, from the city's Temples or locally known as "Wat", to Ayutthaya's historical ruins. I never missed the chance to taste what authentic Thai foods are, such as Tom Yum at Pad Thai. I've learned new Thai words which are commonly used for greetings like the "Sawasdee Ka" and "Khop Khun Khap".

              Tom Yum                            Thai Family in the Train 

         Tuk-Tuk                 Bangkok Wat Pho

I've noticed though that Bangkok men are more accommodating than their women. It's a bit weird because in the Philippines, women are more accommodating and always wearing a smile on their faces. Well, maybe because of language and cultural differences that's why their women are kinda assertive and frequently spoke fast.

 Food Vendors in Pratunam Area

Every country has it's positives and negatives and for me, Bangkok knew how to manage these. I'd love going back to this place, hopefully with some knowledge already about Thai Language. Well I admit, it's hard to communicate with them using English.

I remembered when we ate at a restaurant in Khao San Road, I asked where the nearest drugstore is because my head was aching. The waiter replied to me, "Drug Story, Sir?". I did my charade thingy explaining what I'm feeling but at the end of the day, we did not understand each other.

Ticketing Entrance at Ayutthaya with Thai words!

Well, I took this as a learning experience and nothing against Thai waiters. They are very accommodating and will surely attend to your needs at their best. Just be sure to wear your smiling face all the time, speak English slowly, and bring enough money, Thai Baht, because their foods and beers are deliciously addictive!

Bangkok Traffic at 9AM

We stayed at Pratunam Pavilion Hotel during my 2-night stay in Bangkok. The hotel is strategically located in the heart of Pratunam, Bangkok's business center. The hotel rate per night was USD 44 and it was a very good deal because the room was very clean and spacious! Check out their updated room rates from here: www.agoda.com.

Pratunam Pavilion Map

More resources about Thailand:

• Bangkok Food
• Bangkok Transportation
• Bangkok City and Temples