The Bali Vacation

Bali, Indonesia
April 2010

Spent 5 days in Bali with the husband and the baby, before flying back to Manila via Singapore:

• Sanur
  
• Kuta
  
• Ubud

Back Story
April was a personally tiring month for me, but Bali was one of those places that I wanted to go to and where I haven't been to yet. So when the opportunity came up, I said 'yes' to Bali and a quick stopover in Singapore (because I also wanted to visit friends).

I had to work with limited budget (mine), and limited cheap flight schedules. We rode a smorgasboard of budget airlines -- Tigerairways to Singapore, Airasia to Denpasar (Bali), and then Jetstar back to Singapore. It was a whirlwind of late night flights that you probably shouldn't put a toddler through, but hey, we survived!

No major tantrum issues (she's normally a patient kid, even through long car rides and flights), except for the Jetstar flight back to Singapore, when Zoe didn't want to sit on her own chair at once. The flight attendant came to our area and said the kid had to sit on her own chair. Bok said, "ok, she will in a while", intending to sweet talk Zoe into sitting. The flight attendant said, "now sir" in a taray tone. Kainis, sarap saksakin! I mean, it's not like Zoe was a noisy brat who was disturbing everybody (I think), but demanding the kid to sit now at that very instant when she expressly said she didn't want to was inviting the kid to a major tantrum. So she cried loudly. Another flight attendant came and bribed Zoe with 2 pieces of chocolate. She sat on her own chair after, sniffling and eating chocolate. Although it was good the other flight attendant managed to subdue Zoe with chocolates, I didn't particularly like bribery as a method of discipline. Whatever. By that time, I was slightly burned out as well.


Back to Happy Thoughts
Ok, so Bali has several areas you can opt to go to. We spent 3 nights in the Sanur area and another night in the Ubud area. Most people go to Kuta where the bars are. All of the travels were done on a leisurely pace. We only visited 2 major temples, because one of my companions does not like visiting temples. =) There was also this grand plan to rent a bike and bike around Ubud, but someone developed a mild case of vertigo and plans didn't push through.

Already forgot the names of the restos we ate at (sorry!), but all of them were great. At Sanur, we stayed at the Puri Mango Guest House. At $35, the rate included tax and breakfast. There was a mini-pool too. The rooms had a slightly old-ish style -- big wooden bed frame, big wooden cabinets, the type of decor that reminded me of "Blusang Itim" or "Bahay ni Lola". It wasn't really creepy though. The room was clean and spacious, and yes, it was value for money at $35 with breakfast.

Bok liked Ubud better. We stayed at Tegal Sari, where our room cost RP330,000 a night including tax. The room was spacious and more modern. It looked like a 5-star hotel room! There was a veranda that opened up to a view of really green rice fields. Reservations had to be paid in advance though. After the conversion, credit card surcharge (1.8%) and tax, the room costs PHP1700 a night. Not bad, and so worth it since Bok really really liked the room. Tegal Sari is maybe a 15-30 minute walk from the Ubud downtown center, although there's a free hotel shuttle to downtown.

The Singapore Zoo Experience

April 2010

While planning this Singapore trip, I was mulling over whether to visit Universal Studios or the Singapore Zoo. After getting a reply from Twitter (the Zoo!), and realizing that:
a) the zoo was cheaper
b) Bok hadn't been to the zoo yet either, and
c) a 2 year old will definitely enjoy a zoo more, right?

It was decided. The zoo it is.

We started the day late (what's new), and took a cab to Singapore Zoo (because it was late, the weather was hot and humid and we couldn't find the bus stop. doh!).

While we were queueing to buy tickets, a woman approached us and told us we can enter the zoo for free. Ako naman, huh, thinking it was some kind of scam, or I had to buy something first. Hehe. Good thing we trusted her. It turns out they were our angels! We got in for free because she had a card good for 4 people, and they were only 2. Yey! (Kids under 3 get in for free)

Zoe really liked the zoo. Even if she was asleep when we entered the zoo, when she woke up, hyper na! That evening, she was even slightly sleep talking and saying "aaahhh, dyan pala galing yung mga animals". On our way back, she kept saying, "balik tayo zoo ha!"

Happiness!

Being Healthy for the Kids

Ewan McGregor on giving up alcohol years ago:

"What kind of regret would I have had to tell my children or my wife that I was dying because of something I could have done something about? I didn't want to be that kind of man."

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/03/30/10/ewan-mcgregors-alcohol-alarm

Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler

While "rushing" home today, I thought I wanted to buy a good book for myself. As I entered the mall (to go to the MRT station), a Booksale branch caught my eye. "Maybe I could buy a book I could read during the Holy Week," I thought.

Well, I didn't buy anything for me. But I did spend precious minutes contemplating whether or not to buy Zoe another book (I didn't). And I did end up buying B his own book, Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler: A Zen Guide for New Dads, by C.W. Nevious. It's a collection of short, funny essays about being a father. There's truth in those essays, which also makes them insightful. And, they're not just for fathers.

Here's an excerpt:

The Mighty Virtue of a Daughter and a Dad

Deep in the secret depths of their silent hearts, some fathers are the
tiniest bit disappointed when the learn the new baby will be a girl.

This is an epic error. For starters, girls play sports now. A lot. And
these aren't bunt-and-giggle games either. Elbows are thrown, knees are skinned,
and trash is talked.

But that's not really the point. Explaining the mysterious, powerful bond
between dads and daughters takes a lifetime. Why is it that you two can speak
without saying a word? Or can sense each other's moods? Does her mom complain
that you sometimes let her get away with murder?

Um...maybe. Is that a problem?

A daughter will unexpectedly give you a hug. Or sit with you and watch your
favorite classic movie on TV.

In fact, you are likely to find that your daughter is a nearly perfect
companion. She likes and understands you. Which is why, when she goes on a date,
you may find your heart taking an unexpected lurch. Remember when you secretly
wished she was a boy? This is payback.

Terminate the Exterminator!

Termicon Pest Control Services, located at Lot 2 Blk 14 Augsburg St, Mercedes Village, Cainta Rizal -- you suck! Honor your committment. Be a responsible company. Right now, you're acting like a fly-by-night operator.


Is there any recourse for decent and honest Filipinos who wish to report such fly-by-night companies? I've checked the site of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, but I'm not sure if there's a venue there to air our complaint.


The Story

Termicon, through their agent Randy Velasco, came to our house last July 2009 to do the termite treatment. We paid the full amount (probably our mistake), and was promised 4 quarterly check-ups, starting October 2009.

We've called the numbers they listed in the paper given to us. It's been several months after already, and Termicon still has not done any follow-up checks. We've called their phone number several times and were always given the run-around. Either there's no secretary, they'll call us back. There's no paper, they'll call us back. There's no schedule, they'll call us back. Eventually, today, 8 months later, one of their people comes to our house to explain that our record does not exist in their company, that the agent who did the treatment probably pocketed the money and did not enter it into their records. They didn't even offer an alternate solution to us! As a good service company, they should have offered an alternate solution, we'll do follow-up checks or you can talk to our manager, we'll reprimand Randy Velasco, we'll file cases against him, etc. But no, wala talaga. Nakakainis. Parang, they're in cahoots.

The person who came to our house, Mark Falcone, even asked us if Randy presented an ID when he came. When we asked for Mark's ID, he had none! None! Nada! Wala man lang calling card. He just wrote his name on a piece of paper because we asked him to.


My Conclusion -- We've Been Screwed!

So to the owner of Termicon Pest Control services, you're either a real con man, or your employees are screwing you big time.

And us unsuspecting customers, we're helpless! Can government help us? Can the taxes we pay guarantee that we'll be offered protection from these con people? I highly doubt it. But I do pray to God that the day will come that government will do it's duty.