Let's Be A Kid Again at Port of Lost Wonder

The day before our family swimming escapade, my husband and I toured my "very impressed with Singapore" brother around Sentosa Island right after we were through with Sea Aquarium. After a long and tiring along the island, we ended up resting somewhere on Palawan Beach. For the nth time that we were here on the island, it was our first time to be in this part of Sentosa. We rested for a while watching some happy Indian family playing rugby at the shore. We also saw Port of Lost Wonder and it was 'inviting' us to try it and have a dip. So we 'accepted' the invitation and came back the next day, a Sunday, a family day! Hohoo!!! While we were swimming, my brother spent his entire day at Universal Studios alone. We purposely did not accompany him at USS because we've been there thrice! 

We parted ways outside USS, wasted no time and headed immediately to POLW located at Palawan Beach. Tired to walk, we rode the Sentosa Express and in a few minutes, we alighted at the last station, the Beach Station. We walked a few meters and we finally reached our destination. 

It's swimming time! 

This felt like a teaser. Meaning, we were so near with our family adventure!

CURIO EXCHANGE

Adventure started here. We paid S$15 only for our son's admission while ours were free! Yes FREE! Cool, right?! 

Paid the admission fee and we were given a Port Pass. Curio coins are to be picked-up here. 

What are Curio Coins? 

These are like a "currency" in which they can "buy activities" that are taking place all day in POLW. The pass helps to track of completed activities. The more you participated in the activities, the more you reap rewards.  

Photo Credit: www.sweetmemoirs.com

This I will keep as a souvenir. My son's 1st Port Pass! :) 

Port of Lost Wonder

Just by looking at it made me want to swim pronto! I was really excited for my son. I know how he loves water so much! Dominating the entire pool is this humongous pirate ship. I can see my son had a blast with this family-friendly, first ever kids' club by the sea here in Sentosa particularly on Palawan Beach! I personally love the pool and the totality of the whole resort itself. It is perfect for your little darlings. They have crews that keep a lookout for the kids. It is safe to run too, as the floor is rough (don't know what it's called) and you won't get slide easily. You know kids are always on the run, literally. 

I was really happy because it was only the three of us. My husband is an Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW) in Singapore and spending more time with him is so precious for me and my son.

 I guard my son first while my husband had to do his part first, taking pictures! Hahaha! And then he ordered delicious foods for us and later joined us in the pool.

#mamaJackieSelfie (Didn't noticed the garbage bin beside me.) 

Felt like raining, son?

The crew approached us here. This was not allowed. No climbing up on this basin-like thing. Opppssss! 

The water was cold at the beginning but was long gone once we were used to it. 

Let's not stop yet, papa! Put me down! hehehe

One of the rules: Babies/Toddlers MUST wear diaper. 

Up for a slide. 

Their turn (slide).

Palawan Beach (outside POLW).

Port Belly

Hungry? Fret not. Port Belly serves yummy foods such as what we ordered below which were my son's favorites. By the way, outside foods are not allowed inside. 

Photo Credit to the owner.

All for the three of us. And we didn't finished everything. Not because it was not yummy. But because it was more than for two and a half bellies. 

We were not able to participate in other activities as swimming alone made up our day. Swimming was our way of bonding and making up for lost time. We felt like a kid again. We swam, dived, glided, played with our son and it was so exciting! Relieving life at its finest. I am so thankful for having a child because we get to relive life again, seeing the world again through his very eyes. I am forever grateful to God for that. My son (us too) was overjoyed by it. I'm sure most kids did. 

Thanks for reading! 

xoxo,

jackie

An OFW's Wife Emotional Breakdown (Again!)

The day before yesterday, I tried so hard not to cry but I failed. Tears just started to flow minutes before my husband's scheduled time to leave to the airport. I stayed in the room, busied my mind & swiping up and up my iPhone (Facebooking but the mind was far, far away). The room opened (time to leave) and saw my husband. Seeing him made me even cry harder. I can feel a big lump in my throat, I can barely speak. If only I could only stop time to pass. I am not yet ready to see him leaving us again. It gets worse every time I saw my son. I pity him so much especially now that he developed a special bond with his father. And then my husband asked? "Why did you cry?" I can't apparently speak, but my mind was quick to respond, "You don't know why?" Such an insensitive jerk! Lol! 

After quite, just quite regaining my composure, I said, "We'll just stay here." And then I started crying again. Damn! My husband went outside of the room, went back after a few minutes, hugged and kissed me, and told me that we will just stay home. His brother will drive him to the airport instead. Such a relief for me! I don't have to endure the pain of seeing him leave, much more seeing him entering the arrival hall of the airport. He locked the door while I sobbed inconsolably. My son was playing his tablet along his older cousins, clueless of what's happening around. I thank his cousins who took over and played with my son so I can freely have my crying moment. 

When I was young and single, I told  myself not to marry a seaman. They only get to spend a little time with their respective families after months or even years of working abroad. But I am married to an engineer not a seaman, why I am on the same boat as the wives of the seamen? I should have told myself before to not also marry an OFW. 

What is an OFW?

An Overseas Filipino is a person of Filipino origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies to Filipinos who are both abroad indefinitely as citizens or permanent residents of a different country, and to those Filipino citizens abroad for a limited, definite period, such as on a work contract or a student. It can also include seamen and others who work outside the Philippines but are not residents, either permanent or temporary, of another country. (Source: Wikipedia)

Sentiments... 

When my husband will return home for a short vacation, I am in heaven. But when he'll depart again, I am at my lowest. It felt like I became a "widow" again and again.

When I was pregnant, he was only there when I delivered our son. But now that our son is two years old and four months, I give credit to myself for taking care of my son alone from infancy until now. It's difficult if your other half is thousands miles away working hard for our future. The good thing is that, I have my family and my in-laws to back me up. My husband may not be present, but because you have your family, they became your anchor when you feel like you are about to drown. 

That feeling when you need someone to talk to, or feel like eating out, need someone help you with the household chores, take care of the baby, but he was out of reach because of our circumstance. It was just one of the feelings an OFW wife will endure. 

Having an OFW husband entails a lot of commitment, understanding, patience and most of all, LOVE. It's not easy being far away from each other, especially that we have a son. There were nights that you will really miss your partner or regrets that he was not able to witness the milestones of our son. But anyhow, I really thank that communication nowadays is not as hard as before. All of my son's milestones, big or small, were all communicated well with my husband through an iPhone app, Viber. Or if we want to talk face to face, we will use Skype. And some other social media like Facebook or Instagram. 

We may be well taken care of, live a comfortable life, buy things that we want, drive car, eat the foods that we want to eat, travel in and outside of the country, etc. But the sacrifices at stake is so high. So high that I am willing to work again so long as he will work right here with us. But then again, I hope it's just that easy. Life in the Philippines is so hard. My husband's salary in Singapore is way too high compared here. Considering also the bills and loans that we are still paying. 

Sometimes, I daydream. Daydreaming that one day, money will not be a problem anymore so that we will be together every day for good. But life is not a bed of roses. Sacrifice first before glory. I wish that one day, I will no longer experience the pain of being left behind again and again. Life is too short. I hope one day, we will be together every single day as a family. So long as there is God out there who will guide us, I know that we can manage to keep the marriage alive despite the distance. 

Thanks for reading! 

xoxo,

jackie

A Beautiful Family Celebration

Days ago, before the double celebration (74th birthday celebration of my mother-in-law and 53rd wedding anniversary), we were informed that it will be an overnight celebration at the beach. So I needed to have everything prepared for me and my little boy as well as other stuff needed while we were there. And having a toddler with me, all the stuff that he needed was all packed. From milk, milk bottles, foods, beach essentials, clothes, his favorite pillows, etc.  

The planned day one jump-off should be after lunch, but since others had important engagements (it was a Friday), we decided to go ahead of the group so as to enjoy the much anticipated sunset. So we left past 2PM, and headed to my sister-in-law's best friend at Alabel, Sarangani Province to fetch her. 

After everything (foods, importantly) was tucked inside our SUV car, we headed straight to our destination. We reserved a duplex units for the whole family. It was one of the best unit in the resort. Cozy, clean and very spacious that kids can run back and forth without hitting a thing. 

Time not wasted once we were at the beach. My son who loves swimming wasted no time too.  

Here are the snapshots while waiting for the sunset. 

Warming up. 

Mother and son.

Because kids just wanna have fun. 

Whale, shark and dolphin joined the fun too. 

Mimicking and feeling the famed Ice Bucket Challenge.

The SUNSET

Awesome beauty of mother nature. 

At NIGHT

We were complete already by this time. We ate our dinner and solemnly celebrated mom-in-law's (one day advance) birthday with the sounds of the chirping birds, insects and the soothing beach waves as our music. It was so raw and peaceful. No distractions, only pure talk. 

We had bonfire too which spiced up our mood for conversation. 

Still had energy for these.

My son didn't care about what's happening.
All he cared was to fill the pail with sand, unload it, and fill it up again. 

Day 2, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 

Happy birthday mom! We all love you! xoxo

My son's catch. Wow!

53 years of love. 

You know what guys, something scary yet funny at around noon of this day. While still enjoying the beach, my cousin-in-law hurriedly told us to pack up our things cause we were leaving right at that very moment. And then he started getting my son's toys and carried him on his arms. "Why?" I asked. "There is a tsunami alert in Indonesia and in a nearby town Kiamba, he said." I panicked and without batting an eyelash, headed straight to our room and packed everything up. We all did. And if I am not mistaken, it only took us around 10 to 15 minutes to pack up. I dressed up my son and myself without taking a bath using the fresh water. We had sand all over our body but I didn't care. What I cared was to just get everything done and leave pronto! 

******

http://www.onenewspage.com/n/World/750q0svxk/Indonesia-Earthquake-Triggers-Tsunami-Warning.htm

Some Visuals

Aerial View / Photo Credit: pinoydiytraveler.wordpress.com

Photo Credit: Allan Barredo

Photo Credit: philippinehospitality.blogspot.com


Thanks for reading!
xoxo,
jackie