Jinan Temples, Shandong Province

It was a long time since I wrote, well, because we traveled a very long road before we arrived at Jinan, Shandong Province. The travel was about 3 to 4 hours so we sat in the bus enjoying the beautiful scenery of China.

The Journey

I was like traveling in a cloud of dreams, the bus was running fast, the sky was blue with occasional cirrus clouds passing us by, the green fields with small houses in the middle was soothing to look at (reminded me of my home province in Nueva Ecija, where my Uncle has this small hut in the middle of his rice field and we had to pass through a narrow road to get there).

Many of my friends from the Seminar were sleeping, but me? I cannot sleep, I could not, I said to myself that I cannot let this moment pass me by. It might take a long time again before I get to experience these few splendid hours of my life. So I made every second count, I was constantly looking outside the window, feeding my eyes with all the beautiful pictures to put in the memory bank of my mind.

I was also singing with my friend, Tassanai, from Thailand. She brought her mp3 player and we were listening to Thai music, and American songs too. She introduced me to the pingpong song which was sung by Julio Iglesias, Jr. It was a nice and lively song, perfect for the time. We shared earphones, but later she was also sleeping like the rest from our bus. So I took off my earphones and began listening to the music in my surroundings.

Tassanai and Me during one of our bus tours around Qingdao City

I could hear the motor from the bus, some of my friends talking, the sound of the wheels running through the road, and sometimes the bus TV would turn on and off. It was peaceful, with some occasional music playing in the background. After passing some houses, I would see some disciplined trees and think how they got so straight. Then I would think of my friends from the other bus and how they must be also sleeping. I tried to memorize everything I saw so that I could keep it with me as long as I could. There are some things that not even the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art cameras cannot take. The eyes are still the best camera, and they could hold pictures longer, even for a lifetime.


Sometime, I was hoping that the bus ride would be longer, and sometime I hoped that we would arrive soon because my body was becoming stiff from sitting for 4 hours. Those four hours of travel to Jinan happened more than three months ago. So many things have happened by then and I am glad I did not sleep during the journey.

My camera took about 1,000 photos during my entire stay in China, but the pictures taken by my mind totaled to more than 10 million images. I can sleep anytime I want and because I did not sleep during that four hours, I have many things to dream of and many places and wonderful, timeless moments to go back to. I hope to see you there.

Cheers to a wonderful and fulfilled life.

On the Road to Jinan and Qufu

These are some of the pictures I took inside Bus Number 2 on our way to Jinan and Qufu. The whole experience was unforgettable. Everything was beautiful, the blue sky, green trees, the wonderful weather, the countryside environment... everything just made me feel at peace with nature.

I sat in the bus with my friend Tassanai and I could not remember if she was sleeping or awake but we listened to Thai music and lots of jokes during the trip. I was also sending sms to some of my friends from the Bus Number 1.

Everything is beautiful here and all I could say was a big and mouthful "WoW!" I did not sleep through out the trip because I did not want to miss the scenery. I was also watching for the disciplined trees which were carefully lined up in a straight line one after the other.

The memory of this trip will definitely last a lifetime...

Qingdao Beach

This is one of my favorite pictures taken in Qingdao Bay. That's me in the middle, Tassanai's in the left, and Maya is in the right. I can still remember what I felt when this picture was taken. Amidst all the turmoil and chaos happening in the world, there is still a place where everything, and everyone is beautiful.

This is our first time in the beach. I remember, I think it was on the 3rd or 4th night, Tassanai and I went out at night to go find the beach. We walked and walked non-stop until we came upon a highway. We realized that we were far from the beach so we went back. The next day, we asked some help from our friends and realized that if we just walked farther enough the night before, we would have reached the beach! Anyway, the excitement of trying to find it was what made the experience worthwhile.

I feel very lucky in this picture, with the beautiful view of Qingdao, and with gorgeous ladies at my side, what more can you ask for?

Moments in the Island

These pictures were taken during our tour in the Small Qingdao (Green) Island. I can't remember the Chinese name of that small island but it is just 5 minutes away from Qingdao mainland. We took a ferry ride and were treated to 5 minutes of genuine artistic, picturesque view of .... the people's backs. You see, there were so many people in the ferry that they blocked our good view of the sea and sky, so we just managed to look at their backs and their colorful t-shirts. Hmmph! Hehehe.

Anyway, when we arrived in the island, we were dumbfounded. Everything was so nice, the majestic view of nature and architecture there was really a sight to see. I have a picture here of Mutty from Malawi and we were checking out my camera and the pictures I have taken. Mutty is inspecting the camera and I said he could buy it. (I asked Mutty to buy the camera for 100 RMB but he refused, hehehe). Mutty told me that he worked in a Pasetto in Malawi (hey, Mutty can you email me if the spelling of Pasetto is wrong okay? or you can comment here).

The other picture I had here was with Maya from Indonesia, here she is enjoying her ice cream. Maya is a very good conversationalist. We often exchange views about life, religion, and intellectual property. She is also a good listener. But a conversation would be nicer if you had ice cream especially in a hot and sunny day. I finished my ice cream earlier because it was hot in the island and we had to walk long roads. But it was fun and the spectacular scenery quenched our thirst and fatigue. This island is memorable because I had meaningful conversations here with friends from the seminar.

I hope these memories will help us keep our friendship stronger and stronger. To all the IP seminar participants, fei chang gan xie (thank you very much).

Bravery

Terozita (with her I-dont-care-if-the-plane-will-leave" look), with Amelia and Tassanai during picture taking

It has been about ten days already since we last set foot on the wonderful city Qingdao. Going back to the office for me was very hard because my shoes felt heavy, it was like they were a hundred pounds each, not only because I had to bring all the gifts for my officemates, but also because the experience and memory of Qingdao was still very clear in my mind.

One of the experiences I could not forget was when we left Qingdao and went to Hong Kong for my connecting flight to Manila. I was fortunate to have with me as my companion, Ms. Terozita Uitime from Samoa. Just like what I wrote in my previous blog, we did not sit beside each other in the flight from Qingdao to Hong Kong because of problems with flight information.

QINGDAO AIRPORT
While still in Qingdao Airport, Terozita, Me, Mr. Edward, and Mr. Paul, had to wait in line for the longest time because the airport staff could not seem to find Terozita's flight details. Terozita said that the same thing happened to her in her flight to Qingdao. We were the only ones left in the line and they were already announcing that boarding for our flight to Hong Kong was beginning. Terozita was very calm and she did not panic. You know, that's what I like about Terozita, her "I-don't-care-if-the-plane-will-leave" attitude. It made me feel more relaxed knowing that she was there.

We were discussing about the luggage and I said that I will get my luggage, not in Hong Kong, but in Manila, Philippines, my final destination. Terozita said that she will get luggage in Hong Kong because she will have to wait for seven hours there before her flight to New Zealand. After learning that, I felt a kind of twitch in my stomach, knowing that something might not turn out good.

We finally got our plane tickets! "Yahoo!", I told myself and we started running towards the entrance to the departure area. But, of course, we cannot leave without saying our goodbyes to our dearest friends Mr. Edward and Mr. Paul! So we embraced each other really hard and I really did not want to let go of Mr. Edward and Mr. Paul because they have been more than friends, they were like our big brothers in Qingdao.

We finally said our goodbyes, and made our way to the entrance and through the X-ray machines and the inspection area. But you know, Terozita went back to the entrance area even though Mr. Paul and Mr. Edward was waving her to go back because she cannot go through the X-ray again, the airport officials might get mad! But she went back anyway just to say good bye and for Mr. Edward to tell Mr. Wan good bye also. We were still waving and waving even if we were already far from each other until we could not see each other anymore.

HONG KONG AIRPORT
When we arrived in Hong Kong, I accompanied Terozita to the exit area for her to get her luggage outside. I learned that she had to go outside to get her luggage. Since there was a long queue, I went with Terozita in the line. We saw some people answering this small sheet of paper and we learned it was for immigration purposes so I volunteered to go get the forms. There were so many people but I managed to squeeze out to get the forms. When I went back to the line, I noticed that the forms which I got already had names and signatures on it! Oh no! So Terozita took it upon herself to get the new forms (without names) and I stayed in the line. But then, an airport official announced something about there being another line where the passengers can go. Everyone seem to have went to the other line because the next thing I knew, there were only a few people left.

Even during that time I was still confused on whether I needed to go out in the luggage area and if the airport officials would allow me to go out. I could not leave Terozita because we did not have the time to even exchange calling cards. I felt that I needed to ask around if I could still go out. So I told Terozita that I needed to check with my airline Cathay Pacific if I could go out in the meantime. When I found the booth of Cathay Pacific, they said I could no longer go out and I would need to stay inside the airport.

I got my plane ticket and immediately went back to Terozita to tell her the bad news. But what I saw struck me like lightning. Terozita was already outside and she was debating with the guard that she needed to go back just for a few minutes. The guard was insisting she cannot go back anymore because of airport regulations and for security purposes.

She saw me and made a body language like asking if I can still go out. I sadly told her that I could not go out because I already had a plane ticket.

Terozita was still debating with the guard that she would just go in a few minutes. And without any warning, she went back to the exit area, even if the guard was already shouting, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" She just went back in to say goodbye to me and gave me the warmest hug in my life. How can anyone forget that experience!

When the guard saw us, he immediately stopped yelling and started smiling and scratching his head. Then Terozita went back outside. I looked at her as she walked farther and farther, until I lost her in the thick, bustling crowd, and then... I felt alone, by myself.

It was like the feeling of a child in his first day in kindergarten school, without parents, relatives, or friends.

I promised Terozita that I would email her as soon as I can and that I would write something about our sudden separation in Hong Kong.

It has been ten days already but everything is still so vivid. I will never forget that day when I learned what real friendship is, and how lucky I am to have such a brave friend. Thanks Terozita, I will definitely see you soon in the near future.

Tea Farm

Are you still wondering how all those delicious Chinese tea are being picked and processed? Well, these two gorgeous ladies are responsible for it. Maya (Indonesia) and Sandra (East Timor) are happily picking carefully the best tea bud that will make your tea experience as pleasurable as possible. They have to carefully pick the youngest and newly opened bud because the older and bigger leaves will be rejected. It is indeed a difficult task but from what I see from this picture, I think tea picking is indeed fun and exciting.

So, everyone, when we drink our next cup of tea, remember to drink it with care and gusto, because those tea leaves were picked by the softest and most delicate hands of Maya and Sandra. (I tried to pick tea leaves too but most of them were rejected because the leaves were already big and old. Well, let's leave it to the ladies then.)

Cheers to a wonderful and exciting tea cup experience!

Halloween Costume Party

My daughter, Kate Francine, in Chinese costume

Barely a day after arriving from Qingdao, China, I attended my daughter's costume party for halloween. I thought that the event was quite early since halloween would not happen until next week. Nevertheless, I was happy because, by coincidence, I bought Kate a Chinese costume during one of my trips in an island in Qingdao. Kate was hesitant to wear it at first, she said "Dada that is not a costume, that is a pajama for sleeping." I think she got her inquisitive mind from her father.

I assured her that, while it may be used as pajamas, it may also be used as costume for her school party. She wore it finally and she looked good even if I say so myself. Good genes I think. I took her to school and did not see her until after the costume party was over. One of her classmates came out and said that Kate was in the clinic being given vaccination shots. So I went to the clinic knowing very well that Kate does not like injections of whatever kind be it for vaccines or whatever. I was speeding to the clinic when I saw her come out with tears in her eyes saying "Dada nagpa-injection ako, " (Dada I was given an injection). She was not happy, she had band-aid in her right shoulder. I took her home to rest and gave her some medicines to fight the pain.

It has been barely three days since we left that beautiful, memorable city of Qingdao. Many have gone back in their old lives, re-integrating into the society they left about a month ago, when they first came to China with high hopes and ideals of improving the IP system of the world.

Though the seminar is over, the friendship will continue to flourish especially for those who have found true friends and shared wonderful moments with them in Qingdao. I will continue writing on this blog as long as I can, as long as my powers can allow me to, because I know somewhere, somehow, I will see my friends once again, maybe not in Qingdao but in their own countries or in the Philippines.

Let's keep the faith and friendship burning! Maya many thanks for the comments.