Welcome To My Apartment

Since there's no way that I and Kuya Ogie can stay in one room because of many personal reasons, I have searched for my own place the next day I arrived here in Pattaya. Nana was very pro-active to help me out. She was the one who guided me around since I'm just new in the place. I have nothing so much against about Kuya Ogie but our world are very much different that it would be difficult for us to be together in one room.

Anyways, after hours of walking and asking around, and looking at different apartments, it seemed that there's no apartment fit for me. I am considering a lot of things kasi, and yes, I'm very particular of those. I don't mind being picky. Siyempre hahanap na rin ako nang own place ko, I have to find the one that will suit me. I look for convenience, security, proximity, cleanliness, design and price. Those are the things I consider. And that's in order. You see, price is really not the top priority. I'm just new to the place. I consider the first two as most important for me.

We decided to just go back to their apartment and will try again later in a different area naman. So we took a motorcyke (that's how they call the motorcycle bike here) and went back. But while on our way, I saw an apartment that caught my attention. We called the number and the owner answered immediately. When we told him that we're downstairs, in just a few minutes, he showed up. He then introduced himself as Mr. Gagan. An indian guy who owns the apartment (Richie Rich Suites) and has a filipina girlfriend. He was pleasant, accommodating and seemed to be nice. Dun pa lang, good vibes na.

Habang paakyat kami ni Nana, we were crossing fingers na sana eto na ang tamang apartment. But both of us were having good vibes na. And when he showed unit 303, we were just embraced by the room. It was pleasant. Maganda yung vibes. Maaliwalas. The building and the apartment is barely new. I liked the set up, the furnitures, the design, the color. The place is in downtown Pattaya, near to everything, to 7-eleven and Family Mart, computer and laundry shops, food stalls and drug store, etc. I liked it in an instant. It was a "this is it" moment!

The apartment is a 10-15 minute walk to my cousins' apartment. The entrance to the apartment is secured. You need to have a security key to enter to the building. It's also not in front of the main road, less crowd and very safe. My budget for the apartment is around 4,000B and maximum is 5,000B. You can find an apartment for that price naman but the catch is, don't expect too much nga lang, if you know what I mean. The apartment costs more than my budget. But I didn't mind na. It's the place that I need to start my life here.

Contract was signed then, I paid the first month rent and I just need to give him a security deposit of 5,000B which I will get when I move out. Electric bill is not included and water bill would cost around 200B/month, same price for the wi-fi service. The apartment includes the complete bed set, air-con, flatscreen TV, cable, refrigerator, hot and cold shower, curtains and cabinets. It has a balcony. The bathroom is spacious. The lighting system is cool. You can have the regular lighting or the blue lights, both in the bedroom and in the bathroom.

No wonder for more than two weeks already, I was able to maintain the cleanliness of it kasi nakaka-inspire siyang linisin. Here in Pattaya, included na talaga ang bed, TV, ref, aircon sa rented apartments. Labanan na lang nang interior design at location. Nagkalat dito ang apartments that can be rented for daily or monthly since this place is flocked by foreigners. Kaya di uso dito ang one year contract or something.

So far, I am enjoying my stay here. To anyone who will visit me here, you are most welcome to my apartment. May mga naka book na nga this coming October and November. Hehe. Pero unang dadalhin ko siyempre dito si hubbee. I want to prepare everything for him. Gusto ko comfortable uli ang living ni hubbee pag nagsama uli kami. Kasi for now, he's not in a very comfortable place where he lives kaya somehow, nakaka guilty na naka swerte ako nang magandang place dito while he's there, tinitiis ang buhay sa bahay nang bestfriend niya. Konting tiis na lang hubbee...

So let me tour you around. May tour talaga? LOL

Once you enter the building, para kang nasa spa. The smell, the dim light and the paintings on the wall. Ganun yung feel. Pang good vibes lang...

This is what you will see once you enter the door of my apartment...

Right side when you enter is the spacious bathroom that has a sliding door while on the left side is the cabinet...

This is my very big bed. Masaya na nga ako sa single bed pero ganito talaga ang standard bed size sa mga apartments dito. Sayang kasi sa space. Oh well. Hehe.

These are some of the things you will see inside my apartment. The electric fan, the clock, the home theater, I purchased it separately sa murang presyo lang. Mura talaga gamit dito...

Here's the balcony and the view outside when you're there. Diyan ko din pinapatuyo ang mga nilalabhan ko...

So there, that's my home here in Pattaya. The first thing I settled before anything else. Inunti unti ko habang makumpleto ko yung mga importanteng pangangailangan ko sa bahay. My place of dwelling is very important to me.

So thank you for coming and hope to see you again? LOL!

Lighthouse

I'm getting emotional at this moment. It's been a week since I arrived here in Pattaya. Everything is all okay naman. I'm getting the hang of it na. I got settled to my own apartment. Met new freinds already, some are filipinos too. I'm familiarizing places and streets na rin. Nakakapag-explore na rin ako mag-isa despite the language barrier. It seems that so far, things are getting good.

Tumambay ako ngayon sa balcony. Umuulan. Malamig. Tahimik na ang kapaligiran. Na-miss ko bigla si hubbee. Naiiyak ako everytime I miss him. But tonight I broke down. I heard a music video of Leon Jackson kasi sa TV. The title of the song is Lighthouse. It's a soft, mellow and beautiful song which matched my mood. Tears kept falling. This is the hard part of this journey. When you suddenly miss the one you love. You miss his face. His voice. The touch of his hand. His smile. Everything.

I prayed to God. I talked to Him. I just stared at the sky. I know He can hear me. I asked Him to keep hubbee safe always. That whatever we are going through, we'll make it. A lot of long distance relationship didn't work. But this one, I'm fighting for it. Same with the hopes that he's doing the same. It's hard. But I know, this is just part of the story. Someday, I know we'll be together again.

While taking this journey, I know hubbee will be my lighthouse. He will be there to guide me. His heart will remain to be my shelter. Listen to the song and feel the heart of the melody and be touched by it the way it did to me...

First Day In Thailand Part III

When it was time to leave, nagfreshen up lang ako at nag-ayos nang kaunti. Sa balcony nang apartment nila, totoo nga ang tsismis na ang katapat na establishment is a hotel with a gym at pool. What's special about the place? Russian men and women just go naked when they swim. Gusto nilang mag sun bathing nang naked. Ang gaganda nang mga russian girls. Sexy. The apartment is heaven for straight guys. Haha! Hubad kung hubad lang mga girls. Buyangyang kung buyangyang. Topless or full naked.

So we left the apartment, Jomar picked us up again and dropped us at Central Festival Mall, just in front of the Pattaya Beach and where Hilton Hotel is located. Di pa rin ako nalayo sa "Festival Mall". Haha. Maganda at malaki yung mall. I suddenly felt I belong to the place agad. Haha. Dahil lang sa ganda nang mall. I can't recall how many floors. Puro sale pa. Shopping paradise!!!

We just strolled around, inikot ikot lang nila ako at pinatakam sa magagandang damit at sapatos na mura. Hay! Kailangan magpigil. Ayokong magsplurge sa unang araw ko. Haha! Mga next day. LOL. Then we had milk tea at Wawa Cha. Nakakatakam ang mga pictures kaya na-attract kami. I had boba green tea latte. Sarap!!!

Then they brought me to see the overlooking Pattaya beach. Ganda! Sarap tumambay dun at magrelax relax lang. 

We decided to visit my Tita Fely, my cousins' mom, sa Jomtien. Sumakay kami nang Baht Bus, their public transportation. Ang nakakaaliw sa sasakyan na ito, may area talaga siya for sabit. Aliw! At sumabit talaga ako. So you can see the view and our way to Jomtien. Sa Pilipinas, nahihiya ako sumabit sa jeep, dito, walang hiya hiya. Saya kaya! 10 Baht ang pamasahe per person which you will give pagkababa mo. May buzzer pa pag bababa ka.

While waiting for Tita, kumain muna kami sa Food Corner, merienda, tapat lang nang Jomtien beach. This beach has less crowd compare sa Pattaya beach. Ang sarap nang hangin, para kang dinuduyan. We ordered pizza, pasta tsaka may pinatikim sila sa akin na spicy thai food. Di ko kinaya. Di talaga ako mahilig sa spicy. Tapos bumili na ako nang sim card ko. DTAC is the provider. Nana helped me get a BB service.

Nang dumating na si tita, konting kamustahan, then we went back to the apartment kasama siya. Doon na kami tumambay. Maya maya, nagkayayaan mag badminton. Wow! Active lifestyle agad. Haha. At di naman masyado hectic ang first day ko. LOL. After an hour of game sa Diamond Badminton, sobrang natagtag katawan ko, pati na rin siguro mga fats ko, pagdating sa house, bagsak na agad.

 

That's how my first day in Thailand went. Sulit na sulit lang di ba. Haha!

First Day In Thailand Part II

 

Paglapag nang eroplano sa Suvarnabhumi International Airport sa Bangkok, anong saya at ligaya sa puso ko. Haha! Kasi nakarating ako nang ligtas. Okay, so time for the fun part na, exploring a new airport. I always get thrilled when I'm inside an airport. Feeling ko nasa movie ako or may amazing race na kasali ako. Ganun. So I found my way going to the immigration section for my exit. As always, I just followed the arrows and my gut feel.

Pagdating sa immigration section, parang may pila sa concert ni Lady Gaga. Andaming tao. Sabay sabay din siguro nagsidating mga flights from everywhere kaya nagdagsaan ang mga foreign visitors. Buti na lang natatandaan ko yung ibang mukha nang kasama ko sa flight ko. I felt I was at the right line. Nakaka-aliw ang pila, parang united colors of benneton. Lahat nang lahi, lahat nang kulay, lahat nang amoy, lahat nang itsura. May mga bel-ami looking boys din. Awww! Haha.

After that long fucking line, akala ko magkaka-aberya na naman ako sa Immigration pero good thing wala. Ang bilis lang. Pagka-tatak, deretso na sa pagkuha nang bagahe ko. Then I thought of having my money in my wallet exchanged na since andun na din. Sobrang gutom na kasi ako. Baka may makainan ako. Then paglabas nang airport, ayun na, di ko na alam kung saan ko hahagilapin ang cousin ko na susundo sa akin. Wala pa naman kaming form of communication. So ikot ikot, lakad lakad hanggang nagkita na kami.

I met Jomar, my cousin's friend na may dalang sasakyan na maghahatid sa amin sa Pattaya. Kasama nang cousin ko yung older brother niya na kasama niya nung umuwi sila. Dito na din siya magwo-work. We left the airport and stopped at McDonalds along the highway to grab some snacks. Gutom na rin pala sila. After, a quick munch at yosi nila, we left. Ang haba nang highway na yun. Dere-deretso na siya from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya. Almost 2 hours ang byahe.

I was welcomed by Nana sa apartment nila kung saan kami bumaba. Winarm welcome din ako nang aso nila na si Bobo. So cute! Right next to their apartment is the room where I will stay together with Kuya Ogie, the older brother of Nano. The area is actually like in the Philippines lang. Same weather, same skin color of locals, except yung language na nakasulat everywhere na di mo maintindihan at napakadaming foreigners.

 

After lunch, I had a little rest. Dahil off ni Nano nang thursday kaya tinaon ko din yung flight ko on that day, mamamasyal daw kami. Kaya bago umalis, nagpahinga lang saglit. The next things that happened on my first day in Thailand in the next entry...