Dusit Resort, Hua Hin (Wellness Summit)

Left Manila last sunday, Aug 20 for Bangkok to attend a pre-summit Study Tour. Motored to Hua Hin yesterday after lunch which is a three hour trip.

It was worth the trip when we reached the main venue, Dusit Resort as you can see the breathtaking scene from the photo above.

At the airport once again.....

I still have not finished all my planned posts in my travel blog, which is supposed to narrate my last trip to europe, US and Davao, here I am again at the PAL Centennial international airport waiting for my flight to Bangkok.

This time it will be for a study tour and Wellness Summit.

I never realized that this year will be my most 'travelling' year both locally and overseas :)

I love to travel of course. Its a passion. Sometimes though it gets to you when you have to contend with all the airport security, packing the right stuff depending on the security alert, trying to play catch up with pending stuff you left back home etc.

I called up the PAL office a few days ago to ask what I should watch for in my baggage, what not to bring etc. They said that everything is the same unless you are bound for the US.

Well ha ha, wrong. The xray detected my perfume so off it had to go to my checked-in luggage.

Good thing they found out prior to check in. I will scream if they ask me to leave my very precious Annick Goutal scent - its not toilette, but parfum, ergo trop cher!

I hardly slept for I arrived late last night after hearing an anticipated mass at don bosco, rushing to the parlor for my much delayed finger and toes polish, foot spa and hot oil. When I reached home had to finish packing and giving last minute instructions to the household.

In other words I slept past 3am and just had a couple of winks then had to wake up! My ex boss will fetch me in bangkok and he said he could bring somewhere I fancy such as the supermarket? Well at this point I think all I want to do is sleep before the welcome cocktails this evening.

On the way to Paris

I was supposed to leave the house 430pm for the airport but got to leave already 5pm. My flight was at 8:05pm but I was anticipating traffic.

When I got inside the airport, check in was a breeze. For a while was worried with the two baggages I checked in as suggested by my travel agent since I will be proceeding to the US after europe.

Had to pass through a couple of xrays and what amused me was I had to take off my shoes! Apparently my shoes had metal like most of the people in line. I was wondering why in my recent past trips I never had to then I remembered I just used my rubber flat shoes then while now I wore my high heeled shoes.

I went straight to the Cathay Pacific lounge and guess who I met? Fr Nebres! He was going to honkong to attend the anniversary of Metro Pacific upon the invitation of Manny Pangilinan.

I found the Cathay lounge super 'tipid'. No ref! I was looking for the ref for cold drinks, and they said it was only in first class!

Long ago, first and business class were together in one place. Much later they separated but the accomodations in the business class lounge were still very comfortable and more than ample. I have a feeling though that this dearth is only in the manila airport.

When we boarded, I was suprised that Fr Nebres was my seatmate. Apparently the seat assigned to him was the front row center but the family in front wanted to all be together. When I stood up to go to the toilet, I found out the seat of father was given to the filipina nanny of a swiss family. Sosyal!

Father and I had a good chat though. I mentioned to him that sonme women alumni were discussing a possible Ignatian way tour for next year. He told me about the route and the places important to St Ignatius and since I will be going to Paris not to fail to visit the Church of St Ignatius.

Of course I followed as he suggested and you can see the photos in My Travel Blog.

I had to change planes in honkong so waited a good hour and half. Just had time to check out some shops, go to the lounge which was really cool! Dimsum, noodle bar (which just closed when I arrived), etc Checked and sent an impt email since I got a call from Mon Jarencio about our batch account not knowing I was out of the country.

CDG in France isnt really an ideal airport. Many find the architecture weird. Immigration, baggage claim, and customs was fast since it was very early morning (We arrived 630am). Took a cab to my hotel - Hotel Gotty opera, near the Opera Garnier of course! Cost as usual around 50 euros or a bit less.

All the rest of my trip will be discussed in my travel blog.

Induction of the new PICS Board

The induction of the new board of PICS was held last May 17, 2006 at the Zobel Room of Makati Sports Club. Keynote speaker was the new CICT Commissioner, Secretary Ramon P. Sales, a former colleague in BPI.

It was a teribly stressful day for me as I came straight from the airport from Cebu having attended the wake of a dear friend. I instructed our helper to just put my clothes for that evening in my car so when the driver fetches me I can proceed to my condo to change. I had to finish writing my speech when I arrived, change, proceed to an internet cafe to print it then rushed to the venue.

Below are some of the photos taken by a really good photographer commissioned by the Inquirer Publications where Edna is connected with.

The General Membership meeting was sponsored by Yahoo Philippines, Intel Phils, Innove Communications and Hewlett Packard.

The new officers are as follows:

Mary Anne D. Tolentino - President

Ramon Lizardo - Vice-President

Winthrop Yu - VP Treasurer

Mike Abundo - VP Emerging Technologies

Erick Kalugdan - VP Projects

Edna Belleza - Corporate Secretary