Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu

Three weeks ago I attended this Hawaii Info night for work at the Swissotel down at Pitt Street Mall. It was such an interesting night where they had a whole lot of information on Hawaii and its islands. There were about twenty or so properties and tourism bodies presented on that night. One particular island which the presenters talked about was Oahu. This island interested me because of the nice beaches, atmosphere, and fun activities that was available all in that island. Really there are so many reasons why visit Kahuku, Oahu is well worth your holiday. There are a few really nice places to visit in Oahu. If I were to choose just one area to visit I would choose Turtle Bay Resort. Turtle Bay resort is only forty five minutes from Honolulu, and offers a world class amazing resort where each guest can choose from a range of activities and appreciate fantastic views of the ocean. Located in one of the nicest cove on the north shore is Hale Kai Villa. About the Hale Kai Villa at Turtle Bay, view is everything. Do you want to know something trivial about the Turtle Bay resort? This is the location where Lost, the tv series is filmed at. And everyone knows how amazing the scenes are based on that show! I guess I am such a fan, both of the tv show and the island!

JIMMY SOMMERS The Now

"The Now" that's the song title I’m listening to now… So soothing to listen to. Sometimes I have a thing for music that even when the lyrics are not as appealing if I like the beat to it, I just listen. Having said that though, this jazzy tune caught my attention cause of both the beat and lyrics…. First time to hear this one, and I am beginning to be a fan of him. I should search him up later! Have you heard him yet? It helps that he's quite hunky too! :) He sort of reminds me of Rufus Humphrey, from Gossip Girl! Don't you think so?

Getting my driver's license

I’ve been meaning to get my driver’s license for NSW for the past five years, but I’ve only started seriously thinking about it again the past few months. I’ve organized so many tours while my family was with me, and all the time I had to just rely on tour companies to do their job. And, yes it was a job well done. But after a while you feel you’d want to be able to take yourself around, drive on your own, at your own time to each place that you want to visit. Not be limited to taking the coach to a set itinerary. I still have my Philippine license but since I am a permanent resident here now I cannot use that to drive here. I’m thinking that it would be beneficial for me as well should I decide to look for Car Hire Spain or New Zealand. Really, I should be putting to practice my driving skills so that I’d be ready to just hop on a rented car, or eventually purchase my own car!

Salute to nurses

I'm not quite sure if there is such a thing as world nurse's day, but I think one of the best nurses around anywhere is a Filipino/Filipina. I've seen them care for the elderly (even my own elders back home) as well as young kids in the E.R., and care for those who've just given birth. I've got a few real good friends and relatives who are nurses as well and they just do an absolute amazing job!! I cannot imagine the extent of their job, which offers not only emotional support to those who are ill, but really provide sincere assistance with meds, emergencies, etc! They have tons of real life stories that are interesting, happy, sad, trivial, weird and sometimes plain gross (well to normal professionals like me), just because we don't deal with this on a daily basis, we sometimes think different of mundane silly things but to nurses these are real life scenarios which they do take seriously all the time.

Really, Filipinos are just a nurturing and caring bunch in so much that Pinoy nurses are recruited worldwide, and they do a real good job at nursing others.

I've just been sent this link, and thought I'd pass this link on to whoever would be interested in working in NSW. It's a government site, but of course use your own discretion at all times. Click on: NSW Department of Health. I think they're taking employment applications for 2009, and the application period is from June 25 to August 11, 2008.

Spread the word and who knows the rest of the world would be gentle carers like us as well :)

That split second situation you can get into

Don’t you sometimes find yourself in an awkward moment even for that split second when you bump to someone in a corner, when two persons who didn’t see each other just cross paths unintentionally? Well, this has happened to me quite a few times at work. We’ve just moved offices and our current workspace has got four blind spots which could use a few convex mirrors. This would avoid embarrassment and address occupational health and safety concerns as well. Maybe I should advise our operations building manager of this on monday when I do ‘bump’ into her.

An Award: Arte y Pico

Val, thanks for this award :)

Now there are some rules, I need to pick five other blogs to get this award..

For those of you receiving the Award, here are the rules:

1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

http://arteypico.blogspot.com/

Make sure you visit the link above.

I choose the following sites: (I would choose more if I could!Hehe!)

Jane, Sheng, Mariuca, Cathy, Pinaywife

And then there was One

After a while you get used to being alone, but when you've just come out of a noisy bunch it is a bit hard to deal with silence.

I am home alone again. Back to peaceful living. My own mess to clean, own food to cook, own dishes to wash, own snack to take to work, etc.

It was nice having my family around for a (seemingly long) while but it's nice to be able to move again without having the restrictions of living with parents. (Technically this would have been my house, but of course parents always rule your life no matter what.)

A few days before they left I was already conditioning myself that they won't be with me in a little while. I've noticed that that was my way of detaching myself to people who I know won't stay. That things were temporary for that moment. After about 5 years of shuttling to and from Manila, leaving friends and loved ones behind I am a bit of an experienced little lady who knows how to cope. I guess no one really becomes a Pro at this because goodbyes are never easy. I am just glad that things are steady again. Nothing too exciting, but just calm days ahead. I know that in a few months I will see them again, so I guess that's why I know how to cope. C'est La Vie.

Online beauty contest

I think within each and every one of us (whether you are a boy or girl does not matter) at some point in our lives thought about or pondered about the way we looked. Now, with the online revolution it is easy to join the Look of the year beauty contest which is in search of a young, beautiful model or models from all over the world wide web. I would probably pass on the details of this competition to my younger counterparts out there! Surely winning that 10000 USD would be something!
http://www.lookoftheyear.com

It's actually Mauritius here I come!

Contrary to my previous post title, I am not going to Italy right now. It will be Mauritius (hopefully) when I get my visa organised! A few days ago I was told by my colleague that I got the slot for the Mauritius famil (short for familiarisation tour- which travel agents go on, to see a place). Although the catch is that it will be for departure on June 10! For 6 nights of luxury on the paradise island of Mauritius (as celebrities would call it a heaven getaway or a romantic escape).
I will be lodging my visa (I am still holding my Philippine passport) tomorrow at the Mauritius High Commission in Canberra. Normally the processing can take up to four weeks so I may just be able to make it. I hope.

For those who may not be familiar, Mauritius is an island destination located in the Indian Ocean, usually considered part of Africa. From Sydney it can take up to about 12 hours flying time to reach the island. Dominant languages are English and French. I've read that they do have one of the most endangered shorelines in the world, and one of the best beaches in the world as well. Their cuisine is a mix of : French, Indian, Creole, Dutch and Arab. What that is like, well I have yet to find out and experience. Another thing I found out is that apparently the island sends out a Caribbean Vibe with the culture, food, people and beach environment. (Have a look at the nice nice photos of the island).

I've seen the itinerary and in the six nights that we'd be spending on the island, we'd be billeted into four different hotels/resorts ( Constance Belle Mare Plage, The Residence, Legends, Tamassa). Before I get too excited about this, I guess I have to get my visa! :) Wish me luck. Meanwhile I will savour doiing my research.

Italy here I come!

As I've been constantly writing about my love for internet hotel websites, I've stumbled upon one site which is based and operates in Italy. At www.freereservation.com one can look up different properties to find the best Hotel Venice, Hotel Florence, or even Hotel Naples. The website offers different accommodation types such as: bed and breakfasts, hotel types or even the apartment type which caters to families travelling on a budget (or not). I've noticed that the website can even be viewed in other languages such as Italian, French, Spanish or German. Having that facility is very handy for travellers who speak a language other than English.

One thing to note here is that the website's search engine allows for real time booking availability and details. And in completing the forms and the booking process one can be assured that at all times the sensitive information keyed in are secure. Topping this one off, is the main thing that the website can offer which is : great value for money to be used on accommoation in Italy. This will come in quite handy for me again next year, when hopefuly I get to travel around the world! One can never know too much good accomodation websites!

In Between Work and Sleep I play a few Games

Once in a while I get these technology bursts in me, where I find myself engrossed in computer or mac games. Although the stage doesn't last that long (around 3 weeks at the most) I think I may be interested to try out either neptune's secret for mac or jewel match for mac. I find games with storylines quite a challenge, or the ones which make one alert and makes full use of one's senses. So far I have yet to find time to do this mode of entertainment again!