An Elegant Nerd

Sunday evening 22nd of July, arrived at Manila around 6 PM. Was feeling not good with the weather, get a bad turbulence during the not-really-enjoy flight, plane was shaking and people were worrying. When the wheel of airplane touched down the land, I breathed calmly, and felt blessed. Heavy rain made the flight is not seamlessly in the air, then my friends worried my flight the day after because there was a typhoon they said. As I have said before, Metro Manila has issue on flood several days before I was there, some accesses were blocked due to flood is getting higher, people cannot cross the way.

Changing SIM card is the best option to get my mobility higher, since I need to access mostly are Google Maps to know my direction, at least where to go home.



For introduction, my office is located on the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). First time I saw buildings and roads, my brain recalls another big city with a very wide road and humanize pedestrian, walkable and clean! I thought it was like Singapore, dinner place is near by, food anywhere. I have stayed on Fort Palm Spring, condo in the heart of BGC. Anyway, Manila city is quite far, has no specific plan to go there, that travels around 3 hours commute, they said. Since Manila is hoary, not really interested to go there.



See how is it look like around my condo. Clean and warm! You can take a look with google street below!



Kindly check this video to see, yet feel a dynamic modern ambiance with a very enjoyable streets.

Sightseeing isn't a good option on Day 1, I enjoy the weather and food, was actually checking the TV program but look nineties, not interested. Having a shower and enjoy the warm water is the best thing to do while rain becomes heavier. I didn't plan anything to spend the night in a club or drinking a lot, since you know that I am, hmmm thinking to have a beer? not really. As I have heard from the Grabtaxi driver that night club is near by, wasn't really making me any happier. Since, meditating under the warm shower is still my best option. *As always, prefer to have a bath-up time or shower time rather than dancing with a glass of beer, in the dark hours, with blinking-all-the-time lamp on the club, never been there and not interested. Preparing tomorrow morning, I hope I can sleep well!

What I am thinking about is the smell, when I was on the elevator on my condo, dog's smell is a bit stinky and uncomfortable. People in the condo are familiar with pet inside apartment, seems has different regulation in ID. Wasn't smell so good, really.


In the first morning, in everywhere when I am outside my town, having breakfast 2 chocolate croissants and a cup of hot chocolate, will become a morning routines, at Seven Eleven stores. Don't hesitate to send me a slice of chocolate cake or brought me a cup of hot chocolate, dear Fellas, then you'll win my heart that nothing makes me happier than that. Seeing around with tall building, the sun warmth seems welcoming my first day of work.

Condition was different, motorcycle is less and car is more. 

Five hundred meters walking, I arrived at my office and go to the office at 4th floor, waiting for 5 minutes then meet the HR guy. I said I am from ID and wanna work together with Central team, surprisingly Central team stayed on different floor. Was guided by Julius to go to another floor, then first time open the door, Eli hugged me! They are screaming to see me in person. Eli is our mommy in the IT team, introducing them one by one and I connect the dots, mean connecting their familiar name into their faces, it was easy to bond, in the last 3 months I was working with them only on skype, doing meeting, presentation on skype and haven't met in person. Seeing their faces, helps me to deep reading their characters. They are very welcome!

Anyway, around 3 developers who saw me waiting on the front office this morning, they guess I am going to do an interview. lol. They didn't notice that I am not Filipino, as I was saying that facial similarity between Indo and Filipino isn't debatable, almost people said that very similar.

Finally God, I meet my team!

Central team is team that handle several countries, not only IT but like Performance Marketing, SEO, etc. We usually called local team to another team who only handle specific country, and Central team is only in Manila since Berlin has handed over the task to Manila.

First day in the office, we talked a lot about our conditions and boundaries, then we have a lunch in Halal Food. Actually I am not going to tell them what my religion is, started conversation on dietary meal or food boundaries that I am able to eat or limitation for me. As we know that Kislay is Indian and cannot eat beef. I always put in my mind that everywhere I stand, I must adjust my self to the world I am in. Impossible to change the world to adjust what I want, so this principle was broken when they know that I am a Muslim. Popular and remarkable cuisine in Philippines is Pork. Therefore, letting them know nothing about my religion and dietary boundaries making them easier to serve me, actually. But Kislay understands me well, mentioning Indonesia big populous is Muslim and I mentioned only able to eat Chicken, was doing extra implicitly not telling them my religion.

My feel is getting better and better, working like me that I can say I am remotely and the one and the only person that separated with my team, and finally work with them in person. Super happy can deliver anything completely with a very good understanding of context. Because, I was a bit hard to follow them in conference call sometimes bad internet connection, I lost them in context. Directly in person coordination was Superb! I talked a lot, as usual actually before I lost their conversation while internet connection getting bad.

I liked a lot working with them. To be honest, Filipinos are aware the importance of english and making english as second language, most of their english proficiency are excellent! Excellent in speaking and no dialect or accent, so I am perfectly understand what they are saying. Until today, I had a lot of foreigner friends coming from a lot of countries, and Filipinos are one of the clearest english proficiency with high point understandably I have ever met, second rank after US people. That's what I like a lot from them. Super good! This should be implemented in Indonesia, even I have asked them why Filipinos are very fluent in English, they answered because every year started elementary school, there is always english class. Hmmm, Indonesia has it too, but very small percentage of Indonesian speaks english very well. Seems there is a mistake on how english taught in our school.

During 4 days working, I have lunch in different places. Lunch decision were always pulling energy to spend, going around, checking one by one things that we seem friendly-taste for me. One day we found Indonesian cuisine and tried to order something wait, hmmmm I don't remember what I have ordered, seems different taste of course. Once opportunity I have a dinner by myself, I land my decision on took away a set of McD meal as the safest option.



I am easy to find meal while hungry, I grabbed snacks from Family Mart, Thanks God serving this mini market around.

On the third day, I said that I want to have lunch of Filipino food, then they bring me to a restaurant. Looking into menu, less than 10% of the menus are not-consisting Pork. I chose one menu without Pork on description. So as a picture, Filipino's cuisine or meals are mostly a combination between 2 meat, it is not only consisted 1 meat on the plate. Usually, combination between Pork and Beef, or Beef and Lamb, or Chicken and Beef, etc. At that time I ordered chicken gluten rice or porridge with salted egg and fried tofu with ****. First time it served on a plate, Ono, Kislay and Jona have looked into each other. Not really sure what are they thinking. My expectation is slow down, was expecting chicken salted egg but not, it was like boiled egg and very salty tastes. Not regret, but it was not disgusted so, I am good with that. Not throw up, at least.


On the way walking to office, Jona asked me a question where I have been in Manila, since I have no idea and have no plan, She offered me to walk with her to the SM Aura Mall. I am not really interested into Mall, but she convince me to go SM Aura Mall through Bonifacio High Street. Anyway, imagine this street is long street with shopping centre around, I bet 11 12 to Ciwalk Bandung, with non-comparable weather and tall building around. Prominence Brands, walking-friendly-street with restaurant around, looks so metropols. And of course, costly.



Run through the street on 30 minutes, was that far, right? then finally land to SM Aura Mall to have a dinner. Nothing special, comparable with Senayan City mall. It's time to have Dinner! then we found Thailand restaurant! The food is yummy, yet I didn't take the picture but we are ordering Thai Chicken, and seafood mixed vegetables.


Nine thirty Manila time, we were walking back to our own home on foot, I was asking her to take her bus near Mall but she decided to walk me into near my condo, she was worrying if I'll get lost :| . Unfortunately before Jona has entered into Busway, then was raining so heavy, and she ran onto the nearest Bus stop station. I am running out of the rain, already 200 meters in front to get my condo lobby. I was always asking her condition when she was going home, since she needs to travel more than 30 minutes commuting.

Skipping our four days daily office activities, presentation, arguing, buying Indomie on afternoon daily working hours, grab Starbucks every single time we passed by. Coffee is a lyf. Starbucks is a lyf. And Jolibee jokes :( No clue about this one, got answered on the last hour in Manila.

Been ages not to write what happens in my life in this place. My First Business Trip Experience would be exciting for me personally, experiencing to work outside my comfort seat. Superb travel! I am heading to Manila all alone. Different time between Jakarta and Manila is only 1 hour, it shouldn't make me feel so jetlag.

Working in the start up company is choice, I'd love to explore and give more impact on my life. Currently I am working in the start up company that opens their market not only in Indonesia, but in several countries in Asia. I am working as a Product (Information Technology) guy, coordinating with my Boss that based in Bangkok, and my IT team is in Manila. So please imagine that I am the one and the only IT person in my company, then my presence in my office is not really affecting to any other people otherwise to give suggested solution on their Businesses.

Working with my team that based in Manila, and I am based in Jakarta, is a bit arduous. Skyping all the time, contacting one by one person involved on the project. In Manila, I'll meet in person to all my team for the first time, after all of online argue, discussions, and meetings. Just get a breath, "Finally, I will meet them in person, will have a better bonding one another".

July, Twenty second morning at 7 AM, I booked online taxi to go to Airport. It took less than 1 hour travels, and yes, I arrived at the wrong Terminal as usual. I was thinking that Airasia is on Terminal 2 but it was in Terminal 3 for International flight. Then, reaching out the skytrain to move. Waiting around 3 hours is a good time to finish the delayed presentation preparation and PRD, since presentation would flood me a week, then we'll have a move to Team building event at the end of the week.

Informed to have a same flight with my CEO was a bit hmmmm, and yes, she was sitting behind me in the airplane. All good, she is 28 years old with big determination and high positivity aura, and Indianese. During the flight, what stupidity comes is I didn't bring any book to read. To have almost 5 hours in sky, nothing to be done, I should bring a book. But, the weather was becoming less friendlier, shaking is very often, and the turbulence almost made me feel so stomachache. The rain was so heavy, been updated that a couple days ago, several area are flooded in Manila. Walking with her to get out of the Airport, buying SIM card together with her and say goodbye while finding a taxi. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is less fancier than Soetta, old building with crowdy and less structured. The facial was similar, surprisingly I couldn't differentiate between Indonesian and Phillipino.



I ordered Grabtaxi to Apartment (Fort Palm Spring Residence), while the heaviness of rain, a person came to me crossing the road, leaving his car in the next road by staying the engine on. My bad, not knowing where is the pick up point. But been instructed to go to Bay 14, and already sat on that Bay. The feature to send picture on Grab App is helping me out, nothing I can say and they got it. Should be released in Grab ID as well, think so.


"Are you Taufik, sir?", I said yes and he helped me crossing the road with my luggage.

Introducing from Indonesia, he mention Widodo as a President in Indonesia, most of my Phillipino's friends are saying Widodo than Joko Widodo or Jokowi. I told him that Widodo is lovable person, being loved by society. Either Duterte, when I caught Duterte on news, the perception is going to be