physically & mentally tired

a few hours ago, we just got back from our stormy company outing @ White Rock Beach & Resort in Subic. While White Rock can boast of being tagged as an A-1 beach resort throughout the years, i can't help but notice that their services standard have declined a bit. Basing on my first time visit to the resort and without knowing that it is regarded as a sosy place, i can easily tell that it isn't that "5-star" anymore. setting the typhoon aside, (1) front desk personnel seem to lack ability to attend (with a smile) to numerous customers. i mean numerous since i've never seen too many delegates in front of the front desk transacting businesses at the same time. then, (2) my scheduled body massage was late for half an hour which forced me to end the session halfway since i will be left by our team in going back to Manila. luge, tsk, tsk.... another thing, (3) the used plates and cups in the back foyer of our room wasn't taken out and cleaned up and until we left earlier, they were still there! then, (4) their bathroom tub is flooding. and with the rain (or typhoon), (5) water from the outside penetrates some rooms (our bosses were the victims in our group) and rainwater come out of the floor from they-don't-know-where... jaraaann!!! ceiling is dry.. must be the walls. then (6) from our rooms going to the main lobby and reception hall (and food hall), floodwater is ankle-level! you're not even on shore yet. last on my rant list about this classy beach resort, (7) electric power goes on & off for like a hundred times during our one day-one night stay. ok, that may be beyond their control but here's another last minute rant: (8) our cable TV can be compared to a FREE TV. lots of channels missing / no signal, and when you ever get to catch one, it's as blurry as the Pasig River. we didn't enjoy the TV while on bed.

some good things to account for are the following:

1. we had a good KTV session
2. we had the best activity in the pool: 2 sets of basketball (pool) games (unfortunately no cameras were able to record it due to the rain)
3. we had a good volleyball set of games and rematch
4. i had (at least) my body massaged
5. some enjoyed the beach while it was storming
6. some had enjoyed playing table tennis against each other
7. FREE FOOD!

and about the Ocean Adventure, it's a so-so experience for me since i've already witnessed how they do it in Sea World. i really do not want to compare but its a good thing to know that we in the Philippines also give our share of care to the marine world.


(one of the few stunts made by the marine creatures with thier trainors, Ocean Adventure)

and these photos show how stormy a summer outing can be:





(more photos here.)

while on vacation, i was thinking about three things: (1) the lot buyer of my sister & brother-in-laws lot property seems to be backing out. this will mean misunderstanding from them and us + the stubbornness of the agent will be bugging me for i don't-know-until-when; (2) one officemate is committing career suicide; and (3) i am affected with the news i learned this morning about the murder in RCBC-Laguna. i have expressed my take on the issue through one to two-liner posts via twitter.