My dream airplanes

Some of us wanted to travel abroad using airplanes while some are quite scared because of the turbulence and other risks but for me despite the risk, if we really want to enjoy our travel we have to be prepared for us to set aside your fears.

We will choose an airline that values our safety and comfort.

So for me, here are my top 4 dream list of Airlines.

1. Philippine Airlines because I am a Filipino. It is the pride of Filipinos when it comes to Aviation. It is the default.

2. Emirates - I think it offers the best and the luxury & comfort just like Bateel dates, wrap in a golden ribbon & packaging.

Emirates, also reminds me of Arsenal Football team. It is like Arsenal is Emirates or vice versa.
3. Ethihad, it is another airline that offers luxury type of service. It reminds me of Manchester City Football team. Ethihad is MC.
4. Virgin Atlantic - I want Diamond girl.

Virgin Atlantic is like the plane of the Entrepreneurs & people that can think outside the box. If Philippine Airlines is the Love bus, Virgin Atlantic is the Diamond girl.

For now, these are my top 4 favourite however I do believe that there are other airlines that can do exceptional service and once we take that airplane that's the time we appreciate the things that they offer and also for our safe journeys we have to be responsible by following the airline's rules of travel and if we have concerns we have to address it in a proper way.

Paying respect to the Manga illustrator's creative authority

 

Boruto in its new character designs

If you are a Boruto fan, you are definitely aware of another new Boruto manga known as Boruto Two Blue Vortex and fans are so excited the new character designs for the manga.

There was a thread on Twitter/X that says Kishimoto draws better than Ikemoto or vice versa. It is understandable that we have preferences when it comes to art styles however the argument about who is the better illustrator is unnecessary. It seems that some fans make a discussion from this for entertainment which it creates some unhealthy conversations on some fans.

Why did I say that? Because on one of the sources that I read Kishimoto actually let Ikemoto take in charge when it comes to illustrations and that means he have that respect to Ikemoto in terms of artistic expression through the art style. He has given Ikemoto the creative authority and I think whatever Ikemoto put on the table we must accept it and have an open mind. We come for entertainment and those artists are providing it for us.

So as fans, while some of us take criticism of Ikemoto's art style I do feel that we need to understand the purpose why artist drew them that way for example Sarada in this Two Vortex manga, she may look like a prostitute as being seen by some fans but in Japan some teenagers dress like that and they tend to experiment on their style so Sarada's style is no big deal and on the story her role is not about prostitute but a normal teenager that understands what Boruto have gone through and her journey as a hokage for Konoha.

We set aside what are our own impressions about Sarada and follow the artist's creative authority so in that way we get the full appreciation of the story.

What can we learn from Chinese Historical dramas on the Imperial Harem culture?

 

Both historical dramas are from Liu Lianzi (Photo not mine)

There are two Chinese Historical Dramas that I got hooked to watch. First is the Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and the second one is the Empresses in the Palace and these dramas are based from the novel created by Liu Lianzi. Although these dramas have different characters or some of them may appear on the sequel for example Zhen Huan, she is the main protagonist on the Empresses in the Palace as a Consort but on Ruyi's Royal Love, she is the Empress Dowager however both novels speaks for only one thing the condition of the ladies inside the harem.

Living in the harem may seem to be a good prospect in a way that it help elevate the status of your family clan or even a chance for you to become an empress or a consort of a higher rank or your son to be a prince or the next emperor but not everyone have received a good blessings because if you are the person who is unfavored or loss favour by the emperor you will be degraded by everyone around you.

In ancient China, to preserve the ruling Imperial dynasty, the palace opens its doors to welcome the ladies with a good family background to enter the Imperial harem and their purpose is to produce an heir for the emperor however doing it is not easy because you have to gain favour from the emperor and keep him happy and also you need to consider getting favours from the empress & empress dowager for you to survive in the harem.

The empress is considered as the mother of the nation and she also maintains the peace and harmony in the harem however despite of her efforts, there are still consorts and concubines that are envious and scheming. The empress and others can be your friend or foe, this makes the Forbidden city/Imperial palace a not so good place to live.

Eventhough with these kind of living conditions, it is not impossible to live in peace and quiet life in the harem. The issues going on in the harem, it is not that much different to the current issues that we are dealing with the workplace or on other aspects of our modern lives so with that, what can we learn from watching or even reading about the life of women in the harem?

Upon watching these dramas there are things that we need to look at. Imagine that you are inside the harem, how do you do things differently?

Before we even enter the harem, know the pros and cons of it and if this is something that aligns with your values and your priorities, study what are the good behaviors & understand the rules and from there you will get the proper mindset and readiness to face challenges or pleasant things in. There are some concubines and consorts who only cares for money, power and prestige but that would backfire them in the future. So, if you don't want any trouble in the harem, it would be good to let your intentions known that you are only seeking peace, you only act what is necessary and you wish no ill or competition to others but rather put love and compassion as your purpose.

The next point we need to consider is always humble even if you are promoted in a higher rank. there are some ladies in the harem once being favored by the emperor and received promotion, they become arrogant and belittle those people who serve them or other ladies from the lower or even higher rank. Use your rank to help others in a positive way and help them make a difference and not to cause trouble to yourself and others.

Gossips/rumors can be entertaining but always try your best not to listen nor get involved in any of it. We may get important information by it however we have to investigate it if this is being true, find the facts and where this person coming from. Go to people in the harem that has a pure, simple and have positive outlook. Better see people on a deeper level and look for the big picture of things for a better understanding of the situation.

There are times that there are people who will misunderstand you for whatever you are doing. To deal with it you simply let them be, always be kind to them whatever they treat you, be objective and have good intentions especially when gaining favors with the Emperor, Empress & the Empress dowager & those people from your level and lower rank. There are always circumstances that would flesh out the real truth and if you have good intentions, you will be cleared on any accusations and scheming because you have a pure heart and people whom you get close and acquainted will tell.

The Philippine Rice Porridge is underrated.

A delicious sample of Rice Porridge in my neighborhood for only 20 Philippine Pesos

 

Every Asian countries have their own variations of Rice Porridge and they are more into savory flavours while the European or Western ones may have their Porridge bland either with milk, honey or fruits and thicker in consistency however not all people enjoys Rice porridge and they prefer soups and other hot and heavy dishes. Rice Porridge is considered as a poor or sick mans food just like eating soups however it may look like that but some people don't see the benefits.

Rice Porridge is accessible because if you have rice at your home, you can cook porridge anytime and as you put simple condiments, vegetables or meat then you are good to go!

How to use Astrology, Horoscopes and Tarot readings to our own advantage?

 As the year 2023 ends, we begin to think what is coming next for us and we hope that 2024 brings us a lot of excitement and opportunities. From there, we become curious of what is going to happened so we take a sneak peak in Astrology, Horoscopes and Tarot readings to see if our lives would be lucky enough for 2024. There are some who wants to discover what lies ahead but there are others who are unconvinced and refused to join this activity.

Now, it makes us wonder why there are some who declined to join. For them, astrology, tarot and other esoteric readings shouldn't be taken seriously because this is something that is against their faith, their practices and even science. This also leads us to a point where our destiny is not determined by clairvoyant abilities of a fortune teller, tarot readers and astrologers but through the quality of our efforts, hard work and strong faith to God and all of these must go hand in hand for us to have a prosperous life that we wanted.

Another interesting example is on one of the online posts that I have read, it says that after 72 hours, you have millions in your bank account. It may seem exaggerated by those who are skeptical but to those who are believers of the unknown, spirituality, astrology and into esoteric pathways this serves as a manifestation. True that this might not resonate or might not be immediately happened to their bank account but for some reason it gives them the energy and direction to do whatever goals and dreams that they want to manifest.

No matter how we try to hide Astrology or other Esoteric approaches, we have to accept that there are some things in life that remains a mystery and unexplained. There is this law of the universe that somewhat attracts use to do something and also have the feeling of we are a part of a whole.
Since the olden days Astrologers studies the position of the planets and stars and they observed that there is a pattern of the planets and stars movements that affects on how we do things and from their observations they either warn people to avoid bad things from happening or to bring good news which makes people either threatened or make false beliefs that a good luck will come but they don't make any effort to attract it.

One of the great examples is the Mercury retrograde period. During this period, it is suggested that people shouldn't make big decisions and final conclusions otherwise your plan might get delayed or cancelled so the best way to take advantage on this Mercury retrograde is to slow down, reflect and resume your big plans on a later date.

To use effectively these kinds of readings, we have to see it as form of insight and if we are somewhat of a risk taker, we are aware of what would the possible consequences and make contingency plans to keep us moving with positivity than be scared and don't do anything. It is like reading between the lines.

North Korea is a good place to stay if....

 

I've been watching some North Korean documentary videos and cuisine and travel vlogs on the net out of my curiosity on their lifestyles especially what they are now. There are lots of travel vlogs around the world that showcase a lot of culture from different countries and luckily North Korea has one however due to their current political state there are some restrictions of what to say and do which tourists have to comply. For as long as it doesn't offend the NK government and the people there then you are good.

Some people who travelled or have seen video footage of the current lifestyle of North Koreans may say that life in North Korea is like living backwards, dull or have been stuck however every time I have seen some videos of people in Pyongyang, they seem to live a decent lifestyle but we do not know what goes behind the scenes and even on other places in North Korea.

For some reason, I find their simple life appealing, and I do feel that North Korea is a nice place to stay for Introverts and for those who practice Minimalism and frugal lifestyle. North Korea is also known as the Hermit country in which they are not aware of the corruptions and the flaws that we are experiencing from the different types of government that we are in. 

If North Korea is free from its current political status and achieves its reunification with South Korea or they become an independent nation of their own, we do hope that they would learn and adapt the positive qualities that they will acquire from the South and other countries that would fit into their current needs not merely adapting it because of the trend as they retain and enhance the existing positive qualities they have as a country especially that simple way of living. They are on the process of rebuilding themselves once it happens. 

True that all the countries around the world have benefited from the technological and other advancements but as a country that starts a new beginning, balance and the ability to discern what is important or not are crucial. We have seen lots of flaws of these advancements and we do hope that countries that would help North Korea rebuild but doesn't repeat the same mistakes that we encounter from these advancements. North Korea has great potential of becoming a better nation once they know how to play their cards well. 

Dealing with negative comments and people on Social Media or even outside of it.

When someone gave us, negative comments do not equate it with negativity by learning how to regulate your emotions and see things on a bigger picture.

There is this saying that you cannot please people around you. No matter what you say or do that is well meant, there would some people who are going to misunderstand you or get skeptical at your motives or even think of trying to pull you down.

We may try to fight back and explain ourselves to those people who misunderstood us but for some situations instead the issue gets being clear, things turn against us that you are the one who ends up as an offender than the one who bash you. While others cannot see a healthy criticism or feedback, they easily offended but what they don't see is this one can appear hurtful but if you see it for a different light, it brings you more growth to succeed.

It is a human nature that we react on certain things and think that the other person who provide us negative comments attacks us personally than to think deeper, reflect and see it as an insight.

To deal with these negative comments, we have to consider these points.

First is, these people saw what they have seen from the outside never seen your whole story, this is why whatever they say take it is a grain of salt and don't be affected. People have different perception of things, and it is easy to judge, form assumptions and dive to misunderstandings than to go deeper to the situation and think carefully. However, if you see that you are truly at fault then apologize.

When you are angry as you see those harsh comments, be silent and think carefully and let days pass before you even reply or better if none at all and ignore. You don't owe them an explanation especially no matter how you explain things to them, they want to hear what is pleasing to them.

Second is think if what they say would benefit you in the long run by simply seeing it on a different light. Be calm, open and receptive and don't see these statements as a way to attack you in person but it is an opportunity for you to learn what people like or don't like and also identify yours as well and make necessary actions that suits you, understanding yourself and your boundaries.

For those who are working towards a goal, never listen to naysayers or people who drain your energy. Believe on yourself and your capabilities and continue working towards it.

You focus on self-care, self-improvement and self-betterment, your priorities and what you want to achieve. When you give focus to these it gives you direction and you are not easily influenced and pressure by others.

Avoid gossips and be affected by it. If people are acting behind your back and makes gossips through comments or other means do not join them. Joining would be a waste of your time and energy, and you may also hurt the other person who is the subject of gossip. Gossips can be entertaining but it destroys relationships. There are other things that are matter instead of listening to it. Seek for the truth of the situation by communicating to the person concern or if not, time and events will always tell the truth. Be mindful with our relationships with others, be kind & compassionate and always seek for quality. and substance.

When we receive harsh comments, it is natural that we also received lots of rejections especially to those people who have different values and mindsets. To deal with these rejections, we need to be self-compassionate.

By practicing self-compassion despite of the flaws we have, we also discover our strengths as a person and become resilient and continue to move forward. Although we have family, friends and support people that can protect and defend us, but the inner work will always come from within. If you want to change your situation, it will always start from you. Not all the time they are always there and from there we need to be strong. Those rejections would also determine whose people are meant for you and acts at the best of your interest. It is time to weed out people who don't elevate us to the higher purpose. Remove yourself from toxic people.

We also try to understand where these people are coming from because there are times people are behaving that way because they feel insecure about themselves. It is also hard for them to accept a different perspective of things while others are dealing stress, and they don't have the right emotions and communication skills to deal with it. We need to see the bigger picture as we also being aware of the details, use it on the right way. There are some people through time realize their fault and make an apology.

All in all, in dealing with these negative comments and feedback whether you are the commenter or receiver, we need to have the strong sense of self. Before we even speak and act, we can also apply the "Four Way Test" of the Rotary club.

- Is it the Truth?

- Is it fair to all concerned?

- Will it build good will and better friendships?

- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

When you are currently into this situation, I hope that this article would help you deal with this predicament. Thank you for reading.