going to italy to learn english...

consul: you're going to italy as a student?
lady: yes
consul: what will you be studying there?
lady: english
consul: but you can speak----- *sigh* let me get this straight you are going to italy to learn english?
lady: yes
consul: why do you need to go to italy to learn english when you are already in the english-speaking country? what's the difference between learning english here and italy?
lady: i want to immerse myself in the italian culture so that when i come back here i would be able to teach the immigrants.
consul: i'm sorry, we can't approve your italian student visa. you're an american citizen, you can stay in Italy without a visa for 90 days.
lady: but i need to stay there for 186 days
consul: well, if you want to stay longer to learn "more english" just come back here in the US after your initial 90 days in Italy and just fly back to Italy for another 90 days.....



i will deny her of a visa too if i was the consul.... that's a load of crap that lady is trying to pull off there... she could have just said "i'm going to italy to learn how to speak italian fluently" or "I'm going to Italy to learn how to cook Italian dishes" , that might be more plausible, sheesh...but, what do i know....none of my business..... i just thought that conversation is funny......you're in America and you're going to Italy to learn English, uh, for real?

Grand Canyon Plus Plus for as low as $313.00

Thanksgiving Trip 2010

(Nov 25 - Nov 27)

I already have 5 people joining but we can still accomodate a few more.

Flight Suggestion:
ETA in Phoenix: Between 3:00 - 5:00 PM on November 25 (Thu)
ETD from Phoenix : 4:00 PM onwards on November 28 (Sun)

Nov 25 (Thu): Meetup in Phoenix
	Participants should arrive in Phoenix between 3:00 - 4:00 pm.
	Pick-up rental car. Stay in Phoenix.
Nov 26 (Fri): Early drive to Grand Canyon
	4.5 hours scenic drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon
	See Grand Canyon for the whole day. Description: A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size; 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. Sunset at Hopi Point. No visit to Grand Canyon is complete unless we stayed for the sunset show. The whole canyon gets a reddish color and the show of color-light-shadows that the canyon is revealing in front of your eyes is just amazing. No pictures and no words can describe the beauty of the sunsets here! So don't forget to pack your tripod.
Nov 27 (Sat): Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell Cruise
	Sunrise at Powell Point. Wake up really early for the sunrise view of the Grand Canyon Then leave for Page, preferrably around 6:00 am in time for the 9:00 Photography Antelope Tour
	Drive 3 hours to Page. Description: Antelope Canyon is at once one of the most breathtaking and tranquil places on earth. Gently carved from the Navajo sandstone over the course of countless millenniums, the slot canyons are majestic and narrow passages, just enough space for a small group to walk the sandy floor - and for the occasional shafts of sunlight to shine down from above. Watch this video and get mesmerized: Antelope Canyon
	If you can't get enough of Page and we still have time to spare, how about taking a boat tour at the Lake Powell? Descrption: Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made lake in the United States. Cruising Lake Powell is like touring a huge sculpture park that will dramatically inspire all of your senses and is surrounded by the startling beauty of colorful rock canyon walls, rose colored sandy beaches and a night sky brilliant with shimmering stars. This breathtaking landscape extends from Page Arizona into southern Utah. For more info see: http://www.arizona-leisure.com/lake-powell-page-arizona.html
Nov 28 (Sun): Drive back to Phoenix to catch your flight.

$685.00	if traveling solo
$410.00	if 2 people travelling together
$318.33	if 3 people travelling together
plus airfare to and from Phoenix

What's Included:
- Hotel (Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Page)
- Car Rental (does NOT include insurance)
- Gas
- Tours (Grand Canyon, Photography Antelope Tour, Cruise at Lake Powell)

** Deposit of $50 per person is needed to reserve your slot. I need this to reserve your accomodation.
** Deposit is non-refundable.


Send all your inquiries to: traveholics.united@gmail.com

Ultimate Grand Canyon Tour Plus Plus for as low as $313.00

Thanksgiving Trip 2010

(Nov 25 - Nov 27)

I already have 5 people joining but we can still accomodate a few more.

Flight Suggestion:
ETA in Phoenix: Between 3:00 - 5:00 PM on November 25 (Thu)
ETD from Phoenix : 4:00 PM onwards on November 28 (Sun)

Nov 25 (Thu): Meetup in Phoenix
	Participants should arrive in Phoenix between 3:00 - 4:00 pm.
	Pick-up rental car. Stay in Phoenix.
Nov 26 (Fri): Early drive to Grand Canyon
	4.5 hours scenic drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon
	See Grand Canyon for the whole day. Description: A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size; 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. Sunset at Hopi Point. No visit to Grand Canyon is complete unless we stayed for the sunset show. The whole canyon gets a reddish color and the show of color-light-shadows that the canyon is revealing in front of your eyes is just amazing. No pictures and no words can describe the beauty of the sunsets here! So don't forget to pack your tripod.
Nov 27 (Sat): Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell Cruise
	Sunrise at Powell Point. Wake up really early for the sunrise view of the Grand Canyon Then leave for Page, preferrably around 6:00 am in time for the 9:00 Photography Antelope Tour
	Drive 3 hours to Page. Description: Antelope Canyon is at once one of the most breathtaking and tranquil places on earth. Gently carved from the Navajo sandstone over the course of countless millenniums, the slot canyons are majestic and narrow passages, just enough space for a small group to walk the sandy floor - and for the occasional shafts of sunlight to shine down from above. Watch this video and get mesmerized: Antelope Canyon
	If you can't get enough of Page and we still have time to spare, how about taking a boat tour at the Lake Powell? Descrption: Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made lake in the United States. Cruising Lake Powell is like touring a huge sculpture park that will dramatically inspire all of your senses and is surrounded by the startling beauty of colorful rock canyon walls, rose colored sandy beaches and a night sky brilliant with shimmering stars. This breathtaking landscape extends from Page Arizona into southern Utah. For more info see: http://www.arizona-leisure.com/lake-powell-page-arizona.html
Nov 28 (Sun): Drive back to Phoenix to catch your flight.

$685.00	if traveling solo
$410.00	if 2 people travelling together
$318.33	if 3 people travelling together
plus airfare to and from Phoenix

What's Included:
- Hotel (Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Page)
- Car Rental (does NOT include insurance)
- Gas
- Tours (Grand Canyon, Photography Antelope Tour, Cruise at Lake Powell

** Deposit of $50 per person is needed to reserve your slot. I need this to reserve your accomodation.

** Deposit is non-refundable.

Send all your inquiries to: traveholics.united@gmail.com

life is much much bearable ...

life is much much bearable when you have someone to share it with....

it's september 2010...

it's been a year....

actually, kinda more than a year, if you count the "unofficials"....

i still don't know how to explain the situation to my friends because i don't trust some of them would understand........ my friends are a tough crowd and i can't bear the thought of them saying "not so nice words" about us..... either in our face or behind our backs...... and some of them are just natural curmudgeon, who always say bad stuff about people...... you know who they are.....

until then, my life would remain private..... and don't you dare ask me about this.... if you ask me anything all the more i'll keep things from you......

yes, you do share some private stuff about yourself or stuff about your friends to me but that doesn't mean i should return the favor....... if you're not comfortable to share any of those private stuff then please don't, i will understand....... but don't share private stuff just so i'll be obliged to share mine, that's not how it goes, i'm sorry......no offense, but i just like "announcing" stuff at my own pace......

oh, and yeah..... i still need friends.... not because i'm not alone now that would mean you can't invite me to events/gimicks anymore..... that's the other reason why i don't want to admit "it"..... my friends would just assume i'm "busy" all the time and they won't invite me to anything anymore...... i still have lots of time to be with my friends, to tell you the truth..... and i miss my friends...... just please don't put me on the spot and ask about private stuff...... i'm sure you don't want to be put on the spot too......

..and i'll say it again...

why do some people keep saying "everything happens for a reason"? isn't that a lame excuse for not owning up to your actions? or for being too proud to accept defeat?

everything does NOT happen for a reason because nothing is predestined..u are what u've become as a result of the decisions you made in the past..what happened happened as a consequence of your action and NOT because everything happens for a reason..

you have no right...

don't be so quick to judge...

unless you've been in that person's shoes you have no right to tell that person what he/she should do or not do.... what he/she should feel or not feel.....

From Inception to Deception with Q & A

 

someone pointed out that i missed to mention the important "points" so i had to modify this entry....

note: this entry will and might upset you.... you've been warned...

=========================================================

a note for myself
to remind me to always remain humble
and to never hold grudges
blog maia, regulai maia

2006	- 3 major "pasimuno" planned putting up the "thing". but needed 2 fillers. a corporation  needs atleast 5 people to be qualified as a corporation. so (2) brought her friend and (3) brought her friend.i didnt bring any (my mistake, i was outnumbered)
Dec 2006	- first project
Feb 2007	- (1)  left for US
May 2007	- official and legal and registered. (1) + (2) + (3) are all doing the "thing" part time, as previously planned and decided.
2007	- (2) quits day job/became full time. (1) + (3) still working  part-time for the "thing"
Mar 2008	- (3) quits day job/became full time. (1) still part-time
Oct 2008	- (1) booted out. reason: not in the same location as (2) & (3). can't do full time. need full time peeps coz things are getting hairy. suggestions: - suggestion: meeting before deciding anything. dont surprise attack coz its an unfair treatment. - suggestion: hire people if things are already getting too hairy so nobody needs to quit day jobs. - suggestion: make outline for clear delegation of tasks  for equal distribution - suggestion: AND always keep "people" in the loop about projects so task distribution is easier ... don't ignore (1)'s emails.... question: why follow ups/inquiries/balikbayan projects gets ignored. answer: plan of booting out is in progress
2010	- hired people (finally) -  (3)  is now in the US
	- question: (3) is now in the US  like (1).  will  (3) be booted out  why? answer: ofcourse not. politics. - question: but, but, the reason they kicked out (1) is because "she can't be physically there". that's not fair.  answer:  i'd like to think they were misguided by money. a nightmare that all honest business partners had to go through. - question: did (1) helped in the foundation? is  (1) the most well-travelled & well experienced in organizing/managing projects at that time. answer: yes and yes - question: when did (1) started organizing "projects"? answer: 2004 for pexersLibotPinas - question: did (1) at one point registered a travel agency? what happened? answer: yes, it's called traveholics network, that was back in 2004....makati denied me of a business permit because travel business is saturated in makati....i concentrated on making tour packages and organizing tours for free instead... - question: (1)'s credentials? answers: TLRC's how to set up your own "travel agency" and 2nd course on "airline booking, reservation, creating tour packages" - question: your contribution? answer: first niche market, set of clients, first set of contacts, first set logistics, tour packages, initial business strategy...basically the whole initial foundation...plus the actual business operation for two years... - question: so why booted out? answer: the "thing" is becoming famous, it's  up and running, it's  stable.  they got what  they needed from (1) so they don't have use for (1) anymore. oh. and (1) is in d US, they say (1) abandoned them. - question: abandoned? emails/chats/video conference don't count? answer: apparently, no. have to be physically there. - question: (2) & (3) changed their mindsand offered (1) 5% of the "thing", right? (1) should be thankful for that. answer: (1) felt insulted...imagine bill gates being kicked out from microsoft and they told him he can come back but they'll give him just 5% instead.... plus after all the "drama" that transpired, joining them again will be awkward. plus it would be suicide. - question: why do they have to remove (1)? cant they just have (1) + (2) + (3) + (4) plus 2 fillers? answer: good question. because too many people will have to share the pie? because (1) is in the US and they don't like it that (1) is getting both worlds (US & owning a business).  i dont know. - question: does (1) knows how much the "thing" is earning answer: no. never saw the books. never tried to because i trusted them. BIG mistake. they're, im sorry for lack of better word, scumbags. - question: did (1) get anything after 2 years as an owner? like buy out? salary? answer: none. nada. zilch. just heartaches. - question: you think they'll get mad when they see this? answer: yes. as far as they're concerned they did nothing wrong. for them, just telling someone by email that you just got the sack and they don't need you anymore without a warning, a meeting and voting is absolutely the correct and most humane thing to do.  and as far as they're concerned (1) is the bad guy because (1) shouldn't let anyone know about what happened and should never complain about their decision. plus it's bad publicity for them. but i like exercising my freedom of speech. so, im sorry travelfactor the world has to know. - question: bad publicity. so why does (1) still had to post this  answer: freedom of speech. blog maia, regulai maia. i'm sure "they" say things about (1) too. plus (1) is not mentioning names. - question: ur plan?  answer: no comment. i like to surprise people - question: does (1) hate 2 & 3?  answer: nah. just indifferent. - question: how about (4) & (5), does (1) hate them?  answer: it's mainly all (2) & (3)'s fault. im sure (4) didn't brain-washed them to kick (1) out. i hope. - question: "some" people say (1) talks a lot and "they'" are quiet.. .any comment? answer: "they" talk a lot about this too but they just hide it from (1)...(1) makes sure she's not backstabbing them by  making "posts"  viewable to not just some but everyone.... - question: and that you are bitter and over reacting.. answer: imagine yourself being betrayed by someone you trust then come back to me and tell me if i am indeed over reacting.... - question: what will (1) do if (1) sees (2) & (3) & (4) face to face? answer: smile and give them a friendly nod and continue walking.... i know how to be civil... but i cant never be friends with cheaters and backstabbers....

 

(1) = me
(2) = owner 2
(3) = owner 3
(4) = new owner
"thing" = travelfactor
first project = 1st surfvivor

antonia's line

i remember watching this when i was still in college and i remember this line that was forever etched on my mind...

"it's not true that time heals all wounds...time just softens the pain and blurs the memory..."

so. very. true.