Travel Mishaps 101: NZ Immigration on Alleged Violation of Biosecurity Act 1993

Inception of my travel mishaps series . Let’s start the ball rolling.

I admit, from time to time, I am still guilty of adopting Machiavellian ethics: The end justifies the means.

Pagdating kasi sa usapin ng trabaho ayaw kong nagpapanggap pero hindi naman tatanggapin ang rason kung sasabihin ang totoo. Kaya nung nakaraang Sabado sa kalagitnaang ng pagpupulong kinailangan kong tumakas sa tulong ng isang kasabwat na kaibigan. Hindi ko na elaborate kung ano ginawa ko . Pero kailangan kong umalis para dumalo sa ilang personal na obligasyon. Ito nga ay ang libreng seminar tungkol sa migrasyon sa New Zealand. Bagama’t hapon na ko nakabalik at wala akong ma-irason sa pagsita sa akin ng aking pinuno, sabay tikom bibig na parang napipi, malakas ang kabog ng dibdib, nandun ang takot, eto yung mga pagkakataon kailangan talaga kapalan ng mukha. By sharing this, I am not encouraging to influence in any negative way nor am I trying to prove anything or saying that my ways are right and the other is wrong.

Yes, in spite of my unpleasant experience at the immigration. I still find New Zealand an ideal place to live and to settle down. I attended the free seminar to seek first and foremost if my unresolved case could affect if I push through with the plans.

In this specific post, I wish to share with you dear readers about my unfortunate experience at the NZ immigration. I don’t mean to incite any anger or rage or whatever. It is my hope that others would learn something from what had happen to me so that, you, my fellow travelers would not have to encounter unnecessary travel mishaps. Especially, for women explorers who are traveling alone. To minimize mishaps (if not totally prevented) for a more enjoyable travel.

Diving with Butanding :)

UPDATE & Additional Info: Thanks for the email feedback and enquiries. For swimming with the whale sharks, foreigners are charge Php1000 for a close encounter with the Butandings, diving for 3o minutes that includes the boat rental, snorkel and fins. While for Filipinos, we pay half of what they charge from the foreigners. Others find it unfair yeah but that’s what they have as per their Local Ordinance. For other tourist sites in the area, there’s a nearby falls, renting a tricycle (tuktuk) would cost around Php50 and I think 5-6 people can accommodate. In the neighboring towns on the way back to Cebu city proper, there are beautiful old churches that you could visit. There’s a mountain in Oslob but I don’t think it’s wise to go for trek if there’s no local guide to go with you.

By the way, before you go swimming with the whale shark, they give 5 – 10 minutes briefing on what and what not to do during the encounter with these lovely creatures. Have a great time  and enjoy!!!

This piece is for my Vietnamese friends who are visiting Cebu very soon. Apologies for late posting!

I have visited Cebu mainly to  take my mother for a small treat on her birthday. At the same time meet former Cebu based colleagues/ friends. Another is to revisit the community we have resettled that was once displaced during the construction of dam/ reservoir in Carcar,

At Home In Tioman :)

It’s amazing how traveling allows us to see the world externally. But the most subtle it does is how it keeps changing me internally as a person. For the better always, I hope –Mafsoulechoes 101

Sometimes, perhaps, all we need is an abrupt change of environment to feel better. At the further east is my quiet sanctuary. Where I can slow down and let time pass on its own. Thanks to Vesak Day that falls on Friday!

I left my flat with a heavy heart and arrived at my extended home (Pulau Tioman) with a warmhearted welcome. I really thought no one knows me at this village. But I was surprise when I was walking at the narrow side road of Air Batang and the locals started to ask me why I didn’t return for so long. I just smile and nod at them.

I did nothing except to sleep at the hammock near the beach, read a bit, sleep, read again and sleep. It can’t get better than this when you have a friend who sponsors you for free snorkeling gears. So although, I plan to take my diving lesson in Palawan, I wish to plug B&J Diving Centre (www.divetioman.com) because a good friend of mine who grows to love living in an island in exchange of the luxurious life in Finland is on the third season now thriving wonderfully in Tioman.

And while plunging myself in the world of marine organisms, I can’t help but wonder whether fishes sleep at night or don’t they ever get tired of swimming all their life? Why don’t they fly or live in the land? Do they ever get stress? I know these seem stupid questions. I thought as humans we all have roles to play. Sometimes we get tired of it but the only way is to go on. Because that is what is most logical and what is expected from us by the society.

The Road

Traveling has not only become part of my lifestyle. Whenever I am emotionally troubled the unknown road has been my constant companion. That leads me to path of many unexpected surprises. You meet all kinds of people. Because when you travel all the roads become one. You share the same dreams, aspirations, life goals, you cry for the same reasons and laugh for the simple things that life brings you.

 Cascais coastal walk

Caldera, Oia

Narrow streets of Las Ramblas

#mafsoulechoes101

 

Frognerparken, Oblation, Election and a Haircut ;-)

Which amongst them, you can relate?

=Vigiland Sculptures in Frognerparken=

Singapore Off The Beaten Path: Trek to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Finally, one of of those bucket list in my Singapore Off The Beaten Path: A Trek to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is considered to be the largest dipterocarp forest in the island of Singapore. Nature Reserve refers to a tract of land managed to preserve its flora and fauna and physical features. While the species of this type of forest are mainly from Southeast Asia of Dipterocarpaceae family, genus Dipterocarpus which consists of tall hardwood tropical trees with 2-winged fruits. Dipterocarps are mainly source of good quality timber, resins and aromatic oils. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve declared as Asean Heritage Park on 18 October 2011.

Fellow Trekkers in this journey of life as Kae puts it…

At A Crossroads

May mga panahon na mas makabubuting ilahad ang saloobin sa sariling wika upang hindi maunawaan ng kinauukulan. Bagama’t may google translation, napagtanto kong hindi naman tumpak ang pagsasalin ng kahulugan .

Magandang pagkakataton din itong mahulma pa ang kasanayan sa aking kinagisnang linggwahe. Ang akin lamang intensyon na sa paglalahad ay maisaproseso ang kasalukuyan kong pinagdadaanan at maaring pagkatapos ng paghihibla nito ay maunawaan ko at maging maliwanag ang mga bagay bagay.