Day 2 - Paris

On my 2nd day in Paris I passed by the CS activity "Picnic du Jour", a daily Picnic activity hosted by Rodney. Too bad I was set to leave for Bremen that evening so I had to leave early. I guess I missed the rest of the CS folks. I hope to meet them when I pass by Paris in July.

Day 1 - Paris

Do you know where're going to ?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?

This song was playing on my mind as I was taking the metro in Paris. It felt surreal. Yesterday I was just dodging the jeepneys in the busy highways of Manila and right now I am smack in a city that speaks a foreign language.

This is what I love about traveling. It reminds you that No, you were never the center of the universe. Out here if you ask a random person on the train, he would never have any idea of your hometown. It's as if your home, the whole place you've known as your universe while you were growing up, the people you've come to know, never existed. It's kinda scary if you think of it.

I have this crazy habit of analyzing people boarding the train and imagining the thoughts running through their minds. What were they thinking? Some might be thinking of what train connection to take. Some might wonder when he's going to have the balls to quit his job. Another might just be pondering on what Starbucks variant to order this time.

Or if someone is in his more profound moments, he'd probably be thinking like what I'm thinking right now, what is effing point in all of this?

So many questions. I guess I will have just to keep on asking for now.

Lost and Found

I know I have posted this picture before but I am reposting it again because I find it rather timely. I first saw this sign when I was in Vienna last year and ever since I was haunted by it.

Right now I am heeding the signs. I have quit my job and am taking this European backpacking adventure. I am at a loss right now because the reason why I quit my job was rather devastating. It's like I'm picking up the pieces of my broken self.

I must admit that I am lost right now. It's scary because I don't have any assurance that I will have a job waiting for me back home.

But hopefully after emptying my purse (almost) and starting a new life, I will soon find myself.

Sometimes one has to get lost in order to be found.

The journey begins...

The Tarzan Principle

In my previous job transfers I have always been guided by the Tarzan Principle.

It is a simple rule yet very useful.

The principle goes... "Never let go of the vine, unless you have a new vine to hold on to. Otherwise you'll fall".

Today, for the first time in my career I am violating that principle.

I am letting go of the vine, of my comfort zone, of my security with nothing definite to hold on to.

I am just relying on faith and conviction and unwavering commitment to one's values.
It's a bold leap into the unknown.
A venture unto unchartered territories
It's a bit scary but I know in my heart that it would be for the best.

Right now I am just relying on the wisdom of Mark Twain..

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 

The Trigger

Strip a man of his wealth and he is still a man. Strip him of his principles and he is nothing.

In 5 days time I will no longer be part of DKS. A lot of my friends are thinking I will be transferring to a new job. But the harsh truth is I have no definite job to transfer yet.

It's a leap of faith, a jump into the unknown. I honestly don't know where I'll be in 60 days time.
It's both scary and exciting at the same time.

I have joined DKS before because my priorities were financial in nature.
I am leaving it soon because I refuse to accept a system that has violated my principles and my values.

Some would say my decision is impractical, even foolish.

But there are times when one must fight for what he believes in.

In the end, it's the values not his wealth that defines a man.

Reminiscing 2009

I realized today while browsing through my pictures that it has been 3 years since I went to Coron Palawan with my former housemates in KnL. How time flies.

In a lot of ways 2009 is a banner year for me for travels. I have been to Japan 4 times that year to support the EHS program of our site. I went to Beijing to do an audit. It was also in 2009 where we had the Shanghai Total Solar Eclipse expedition. And then there's the Pinatubo trek, the Laguna de Bay Road Trip, the Coron outing and the Cebu-Bohol gimmick with GE officemates.

I miss those times. I will have to exert more effort to focus on my travel adventures for this year especially that I'm leaving DB soon.

Heeding the Signs

Sometimes right when you least expect it life offers you a nudge, a hint, a challenge towards a new direction. Life respects your free will but leads you to the path to enlightenment. There is no other way but to heed the signs. =)

Sign in a Vienna train platform