Sri Lanka
In no time, I was heading to one of the South Asian countries -- Sri Lanka. This official travel overtook my bucketlist of the year -- a travel to South Asia which would commence in April 2019.
My employer, FreeBalance Inc called for an APAC Regional Planning Workshop on February 8-10 in Colombo City. I was lucky to be part of the Regional Project Management Advisory Services.
Since I was an official business, so the accommodation was expensive;
billeted at Hilton Hotel. The location was strategic that my early
morning walks brought me to several tourist destinations within the city.
Timor Leste
I was suddenly assigned to Dili City in Timor Leste for 2 weeks, from August 3-16. Since capacity building is part of the Sustainability Services we served to the country, I went there to deliver the baseline assessment.
There is no direct flight from Manila to Dili, so I took a connecting flight at Bali, Indonesia. I have never been to this side of Asia, so it was exciting. The overnight at Bali even was exciting.
I arrived in the morning of August 4. I met all my international colleagues over lunch, then we played cricket the whole afternoon. It was my first time in Dili, and my first time to play cricket.
On my second day (August 5) here, I jogged on this Sunday morning and found all these in Dili City Center: the seaside is a walking distance, most landmarks are located along the shore, most embassies and government offices are adjacent to each other, the city proper is small, was able to locate the Tais Market, and commuting is easy here.
Then my whole first week was focused on assessment preparations. I collaborated with the local team to package the materials.
That following weekend, on August 10, I had a Saturday morning tour that made me climbed the peak of the Cristo Rei statue... Thanks to my new friend, Sartaj, for being my driver and guide today!
Then in the afternoon, Team Manager Jay went with me to one of the white beaches in the country, near the city center, the so-called Dolok Oan Beach. This beach is adjacent to the Cristo Rei area. I was prepared to take a dip that time but the tide was so low.
August 11 was my last Sunday in the city so I visited their Cathedral. I attended a high mass, celebrated by a Bishop and attended by all religious groups, nuns, priests, and seminarians. The centuries of being influenced by the Portuguese, Catholic Christianity has become as Timorese religion.
Curious about another Beach area in Liquica, Timor Leste, Jay and I both are first-timers went to check on the Caimeo Beach Resort. We dined there for lunch and went back to the apartment before sundown.
About an hour ride to grab a lunch, the Black Rock Restaurant within the Ciameo Beach Resort is nothing spectacular. It was not worth visiting just for a meal, you know. It is a place for families and friends to dip in the water or picnic on the ground. The roads were super dusty, so windy and thus there was rough seas during our visit.
I went back to business in those weekdays, conducted all activities with the government, and headed home that weekend after.
Indonesia
Before year 2019 comes to an end, I got an official travel to Jakarta City with some colleagues. It was a week-long series of meetings with development partner-agencies, from November 15 through 22. It was a deep dive in the Indonesian market, searching for business opportunities.
Got a luxurious accommodation and has experienced Hotel Borobudur. My mornings before the set meetings were spent jogging at the Liberation Monument and MONAS, then swimming at the hotel's pool.
Two weeks later, I was back to attend a pre-bid conference, representing my employer, FreeBalance.
I stayed at the same hotel for another 3 nights (December 3-6).
In no time, I was heading to one of the South Asian countries -- Sri Lanka. This official travel overtook my bucketlist of the year -- a travel to South Asia which would commence in April 2019.
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| Tuktuk and Kingsbury Hotel roundabout |
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| Old Parliamentary Building |
My employer, FreeBalance Inc called for an APAC Regional Planning Workshop on February 8-10 in Colombo City. I was lucky to be part of the Regional Project Management Advisory Services.
 |
| Galle Face Beach |
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| Celebrating Valentines Day in Hilton Hotel lobby |
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| Nightout at the Ce La Vi Bar atop Kingsbury Hotel |
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| Old Buildings with Portuguese architecture |
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| Lotus Tower |
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| Beira Lake |
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| Seema Malaka |
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| Gangaramaya Temple |
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| Sambodhi Chaithya |
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| Old Lighthouse |
Timor Leste
I was suddenly assigned to Dili City in Timor Leste for 2 weeks, from August 3-16. Since capacity building is part of the Sustainability Services we served to the country, I went there to deliver the baseline assessment.
 |
| At the airport |
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| The Youth Monument |
I arrived in the morning of August 4. I met all my international colleagues over lunch, then we played cricket the whole afternoon. It was my first time in Dili, and my first time to play cricket.
 |
| The Lighthouse |
On my second day (August 5) here, I jogged on this Sunday morning and found all these in Dili City Center: the seaside is a walking distance, most landmarks are located along the shore, most embassies and government offices are adjacent to each other, the city proper is small, was able to locate the Tais Market, and commuting is easy here.
Then my whole first week was focused on assessment preparations. I collaborated with the local team to package the materials.
 |
| At the Ministry of Finance |
 |
| With the FreeBalance Timor Team |
That following weekend, on August 10, I had a Saturday morning tour that made me climbed the peak of the Cristo Rei statue... Thanks to my new friend, Sartaj, for being my driver and guide today!
 |
| Me and Sartaj at Cristo Rei |
Then in the afternoon, Team Manager Jay went with me to one of the white beaches in the country, near the city center, the so-called Dolok Oan Beach. This beach is adjacent to the Cristo Rei area. I was prepared to take a dip that time but the tide was so low.
 |
| At Dolok Oan Beach with PM Jay |
August 11 was my last Sunday in the city so I visited their Cathedral. I attended a high mass, celebrated by a Bishop and attended by all religious groups, nuns, priests, and seminarians. The centuries of being influenced by the Portuguese, Catholic Christianity has become as Timorese religion.
 |
| The Immaculate Conception Cathedral |
Curious about another Beach area in Liquica, Timor Leste, Jay and I both are first-timers went to check on the Caimeo Beach Resort. We dined there for lunch and went back to the apartment before sundown.
 |
| At Caimeo Beach Resort |
About an hour ride to grab a lunch, the Black Rock Restaurant within the Ciameo Beach Resort is nothing spectacular. It was not worth visiting just for a meal, you know. It is a place for families and friends to dip in the water or picnic on the ground. The roads were super dusty, so windy and thus there was rough seas during our visit.
 |
| The only souvenir I found worthy |
I went back to business in those weekdays, conducted all activities with the government, and headed home that weekend after.
Indonesia
 |
| At the Hotel Borobudur Garden |
Before year 2019 comes to an end, I got an official travel to Jakarta City with some colleagues. It was a week-long series of meetings with development partner-agencies, from November 15 through 22. It was a deep dive in the Indonesian market, searching for business opportunities.
 |
| Hotel's facade |
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| Hotel's swimming pool |
Got a luxurious accommodation and has experienced Hotel Borobudur. My mornings before the set meetings were spent jogging at the Liberation Monument and MONAS, then swimming at the hotel's pool.
 |
| At the Liberation Monument |
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| At the MONAS |
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| At one huge roundabout |
Two weeks later, I was back to attend a pre-bid conference, representing my employer, FreeBalance.
I stayed at the same hotel for another 3 nights (December 3-6).
 |
| The Catholic Cathedral (walking distance from the hotel) |
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| The National Mosque (walking distance from the hotel) |
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