Travel Gourmande

The Rose Red City of Petra was the highlight of our company incentive trip to Jordan. It wasn't just because of its title, being one of the 7 wonders of the world. It was the experience of journeying through massive rocks that catapulted me back to the History of Architecture class in college.

The influence of Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Architecture carved on the rocks was astonishing. It was a 3-hour hike under scorching heat, as we found temporary relief under the shade of huge mounds of ancient sculpted rocks.

240 km south of Amman

Dramatic Entrance to the City, through the Siq

Al Khazneh, The Treasury at Petra

Gateway to the Treasury

Inside the Treasury

Our Group Photo

Great Temple, Petra

Royal Tombs

The memory that stood out that I had of Petra was when a heavy colleague rode a donkey during our descent on the rocky slopes. I remember the screaming donkey who constantly complained about the weight on its back along the way.

Visas

At the time of organizing this trip, we had our HR and Admin. take care of our visas in Dubai. Since it was an organized group tour, the application for Jordanian Tourist Visas was easy.

Do Filipinos need visas in Jordan? Yes. This can be done through Jordan Consulate in Manila.

Requirements as follows:

Valid Philippine Passport (not less than 6 months validity)
Photocopy of Philippine Passport (bio page and pages with immigration stamps)
1 Visa Application form, completed and signed (this can be obtained at the Jordan Consulate in Manila)
Two (2) recent Passport Size Photographs
Confirmed Return Air Ticket (Manila to Amman, Return to Manila). Stopovers in Israel will cause a delay in your application
Copy of Hotel Reservation
Proof of Financial Support (Bank Documents)
Non-refundable Visa Application Processing Fee.

Contact Consulate General of Jordan in Manila for Visa Inquiries

Address: Room 315, 3/F Sitio Grande Building

409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros

Manila 1002, Philippines

Tel: +63 2 310 5160

Fax: +63 2 5434181

Email: jordanconsulatemanila@gmail.com

michaelaang@yahoo.com

Office Hours: 9:00 - 17:00

*The above information is subject to change. Please contact the Consulate for updates.

What to Wear

It is hot especially during the summer months of June to September. Wear lightweight fabric like cotton or linen.

Hats and sunglasses. Lots of sun protection. The air is often dry, so bring moisturizer.

Be modest. Revealing shoulders, legs, and cleavage is frowned upon. To avoid awkward and unwanted reactions, wear capri pants. You can wear tank tops but bring scarves to cover your arms when needed. Linen shirts and cardigans for cold evenings.

Lots of desert walking along sandy paths, comfy shoes, flip flops, and sandals.

Love & light,

Arni

Amazing City of Jerash

Credit: Iain Blake

Climbing a spiral staircase.

I was inspired to write this after a dream of climbing a spiral staircase in 2012. We all have our own definitions of success. I suppose here's mine which I wrote 5 years ago.

"I realized something recently, if the path we choose is not according to what life has destined for us, whatever success others perceive there is, we will never feel it's a success. We will always crave for more and it will lead to self sabotage and turmoil. Each of us has our own ladder to climb. It could be straight, narrow, wide and steep. With each step, we discover something new. We learn a lesson, a unique virtue about ourselves that will help us climb the next one. Sometimes, we fall and slip. Yet the greatest ones are those who rise again and continue the journey.

My journey is exactly like this one. A spiral staircase that has enough space for others to climb with me. I try to inject my inner creativity with each step. It has a railing that I can always hold on to when I'm about to slip. Just like the spiral staircase, I am unable to see straight ahead, where I'm supposed to go. I always have to adjust and re-position myself in order to take the next step.

I think the worst thing that could ever happen is if we find ourselves climbing the wrong ladder. If ever we do, life has its way of showing us a landing to connect to the right one.

Yet some of us due to impatience are tempted to take the elevator as an easy way out to buy some time. Later realizing that the first track to the top will land us to the same position where we were at, sometimes sending us back to the basement.

Success is not measured by fame, money, the size of our house, the number of countries we have been to and all the tangible material things money can buy. Don't get me wrong, it's good to have them but they're mostly perks. Along the way, if we are attached to pursuing these things alone, we get sidetracked by what we are here for.

Success to me is living life the way God designed me to do. If you don't believe in God, let's say--by doing what gives me passion and purpose, by sharing with others what life has given me, may it be my time, talent, or resources. That life is not all about me. I am merely playing my role in a big picture.

I still have a long way to go. I'll let you know if I ever get there. I wish we all do reach the top of our stairs. For those who have, a big heartfelt congratulations to you."

Five years later

Reading this again, I still believe in the same things.

However, climbing the wrong ladder isn't the worst thing.

In fact, over the years, I have met a handful of people who will not hesitate to step on others to get to their illusion of success. I truly believe that's the worst thing.

They would lie their way, back stab, burn bridges, kill relationships and will lose their own integrity in the process. For them, nothing is ever enough. Sadly, some would even demolish other people's staircases to feel they're the best because their misplaced hearts couldn't take seeing others succeed. They feel they are the center of the universe.

In reality, all these titles and possessions can never be taken to the grave. One might feel he's leaving a legacy behind, to be written in books or perhaps to be associated with something as a first. The truth is, no one really remembers these later except, perhaps, for a small line on wikipedia.

I was talking to a friend about this. We're not perfect, but living life as honestly as much as possible, we could leave this world peacefully.

Yet, we all know deep in our hearts that the best legacy we can ever leave behind is to do something to enrich another person or help each other be better. To use our talents, money and possessions for the goodness of this world.

I believe it is possible to achieve success doing it the right way.

The end will never justify the means. And I pity those who think it's a dog eat dog world. For someone to think that, must have had a really messed up childhood.

So I'll change that last sentence of what I wrote 5 years ago.

" I wish we all do reach the top of our stairs. For those who managed to climb with good hearts and pure intentions while being a light to others, enabling others to achieve their dreams, climbing the stairs together in harmony, a big heartfelt congratulations to you."

Otherwise, it's always miserable to be at the top, alone.

"And once the storm is over,

you won't remember how

you made it through,

How you managed to survive,

You won't even be sure,

whether the storm is really over.

But one thing is for certain.

When you come out of the storm,

you won't be the same person who walked in.

That's what this storm is all about."

This too shall pass.

I've had so many highs and lows in my life. It still amazes me how I was able to walk through them unscathed. Exhausting, though. I feel like a boxer sometimes, receiving blows, one after the other.

I was talking to an old friend about my past recently and she had no idea. She told me she had a different perspective of me. That my life to her seemed perfect.

I have always kept everything in, the entire time. Please don't get me wrong, it was never meant to mislead people. I grew up revealing my struggles only to a few. I suppose I have learned to suffer in silence most of my life. If I were to describe it, I have always relied on my family for support and God as my ultimate therapist and companion.

I remember when my father passed away, I was broken in pieces. Yet, I chose to continue and push forward. Life went on. I went to my classes like nothing happened. I submitted my projects on time and after my evening classes, I went straight to the funeral and stayed there all night. I was early for class the next morning. None of my classmates knew what was going on. Sometimes, it's easier to be productive than deal with the pain by putting them into words.

Slowly as I grew up, I've learned to verbalize and share my concerns with others, but I still worry of being seen as a downer and being an inconvenience by involving them with my troubles. However, trust that if I ever do share, it means I am already at the end of my rope.

This too shall pass.

This short line is so powerful, don't you think?

Life is ever changing.

No struggle is permanent.

Our scars make us beautiful.

Love & light,

Arni

48 days without blogging. 16 days without facebook and counting.

Today marks the day we finally get our own home internet connection. Yes, you read that correctly. Our home. After 2 years of nomadic life, I can finally fill up the blank address page in a raffle coupon without hesitation.

My absence online though was a result of a roller coaster of emotions.

The Anxiety of House Hunting

It took us more than 2 months searching for the right apartment. Satisfying extremely high standards with a limited budget can be quite a challenge. The first three-bedroom house we saw felt like 'the one.'

It was a dangled carrot that dimmed any possibility for other prospective apartments to compete with. However, the property owner took an extremely long time to sign the contract, despite giving us a verbal agreement that she accepts our contract draft. With lots of postponed meetings, delayed or unanswered texts and phone calls, the whole waiting game took a month. Only to be told later that 'the house' was sold.

Anxiety, tears, and depression took over. I had no idea searching for an apartment can be such a minefield. It was so far from my experiences looking for an apartment in Dubai even during the peak of its economic reign. In the Middle East, as long as I have my check book with me, I can sign the contract, close the deal that same day and move in whenever the apartment is ready for occupancy.

Desperation opened our eyes to other possibilities. We visited more houses after that until we came across a two-bedroom single detached home that was under construction in the middle of a rice field. All of us felt good when we checked the house and we knew that was it.

We saw about 19 houses in total.

Fiesta

The House and the Fiesta

We were invited by the house's lovely owner and her beautiful family to celebrate Argao's fiesta with them. During this period, we got to know them a lot more.

Since then our fate turned around. I suppose good things come to those who wait. It is true that we can do anything, but we can't have everything.

House Blessing Preps

Health Challenges

In between while waiting for the house's interior to be completed, we had to go back briefly to Manila to take care of our furniture and personal effects to be shipped, while dealing with some health issues.

I went to see a urologist and after undergoing an ultrasound, I was told that I have an 8mm kidney stone blocking my ureter. Surprisingly, I wasn't in any major pain. According to my urologist normally in this scenario, he would admit me for a ureteroscopy already, but I begged him if we could go down the medication route and rule out non-invasive procedures that would land me in a hospital bed.

I went through two weeks of drinking 2-3 liters of water per day, taking the prescribed meds, and downing pure lemon juice with olive oil. By the time I got back to Cebu, I had my second ultrasound and my stone is gone. Thank God, you have no idea how relieved I was!

Shipment

We have consulted several moving companies for shipping items from Manila to Cebu but either we got a really high quotation or we never got any response. My old schoolmate, Madz Uy who works in the shipping industry recommended Big-ger Freight Solutions Inc.

I remember my first phone call to schedule the ocular inspection with Ronald Arkoncel, Vice President for Sales & Marketing for the shipping company, already gave me a good feeling. Our succeeding correspondences were even more impressive. Ronald is such a gem! They were fast in responding and they were flexible in accommodating last minute requests. We were notified as soon as the 20 feet container reached the port of Cebu and we were constantly updated on the movement of the trucks on the date of delivery. All of our boxes arrived and not a single item was broken.

Moving is usually stressful, but working with Big-ger Freight Solutions' professional and efficient team made our move easy, fun and definitely stress free.

Contact: Ronald Arkoncel
Big-ger Freight Solutions
Address: Room 302 HHC Building, Victoria Street corner Basco Street, Intramuros, Manila
Telephone: +63 2 5468912 / +63 2 5277417
Email: rca_214@yahoo.com
Website: http://big-gersolutions.com/

Unpacking

Opening each of our boxes felt like opening Christmas presents. I finally found my french coffee press and my favorite mug. I was reunited with my old comfy bed and my piano.

108 boxes. Now we are down to 35 boxes that are looking for storage.

View beyond our backyard fence. Awesome farming job guys!

Insects Smorgasbord

Being in the middle of a rice field means more insects. We hired Mapecon's pest control services to exterminate all fliers and creepy crawlies including post construction termite control. The pest control is a yearly contract with services done every 3 months. It made a difference as we see dead insects sometimes even ants, around the house every day, but the centipedes and spiders seem much tougher. Armed with a can of insect killer, I deal with centipedes and spiders I can find on a daily basis.

Our unexpected house guest who slept in our front yard all day.

Unwanted Alarm Clock

We were also surprised to gain an unwanted alarm clock. A neighbor plays loud dance music through big speakers echoing across the field at 5 am everyday. It's so strong that our glass windows vibrate.

One morning, we were woken up by blaring old 80s tunes. The lack of sleep sent us to a moment of assertiveness. My husband went several doors down to ask nicely if our neighbor could lower the sound down a bit. He was busy chopping wood with a machete, while listening to his Ipod plugged in gigantic speakers. He obliged, however. Since then, he played his music in reasonable decibels.

Guess what? It turned out 30 minutes later that there was another neighbor responsible for playing loud music at 5 am. We realized this later based on the different choice of music. The dance tunes continue to wake us up daily, perhaps until we assertively request for our neighbor to adjust the volume down. For now we are grateful that evenings are peaceful and it seems everyone is in bed by 9pm.

Facebook Purge and Withdrawal

It has been 16 days since I abstained from checking facebook's news feed. The first few days were torture! Whenever I needed a social media fix, I turned to Instagram instead. Anyway, I'm still connected to friends and family on messenger since not everyone is on viber.

I was inspired by a friend who completely disconnected from everything online except for her browser and viber. I know, for a blogger, that's very close to social media suicide but I gave the FB abstinence at least a try.

Verdict:

It was liberating. The growing political articles being shared are just too much for me and despite unfollowing friends who are too radical in advocating their political stance, my news feed was rapidly becoming too chaotic. It was overpowering the positive and entertaining posts that a couple of friends were sharing.

The facebook silence is something I am enjoying right now. Away from the news that is beyond my control and away from opinions that I can never change. I am going to continue this FB fasting with a slight exception of sharing this blog post on the Travel Gourmande facebook page.

It's absolutely wonderful being able to write again.

How have you been?

What's life like in your part of the world?

Love & light,

Arni