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Philippine Azkals: A once in a lifetime experience Part2

February 10, 2011

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Taking a picture behind the goal

Continued from yesterdays post on Watching the Suzuki Cup Philippines vs. Indonesia Semi-finals 2nd leg live. I want to add words to recount this crazy experience of taking pictures behind the pitch and waiting for the player to exit so we can convoy out with them, girls in cars beside the bus trying to get the players attention while smoking (Hmmmm… I wonder if that ever works with athletes? =P), and so much more!

But right now my eyes are closing so pictures will have to do. Sorry for any typos etc. it’s been a busy day so I’m knackered. Will add the words tomorrow! Goodnight to all ya Azkals Fans!

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Before the game ended we were ushed by security down the players tunnel
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live - players tunnel
Standing from here even if we lost I can’t help but still be in awe

Wish the entire Philippines falls in love with footy already so we can build stadiums as awe inspiring as this one! Watching the game with our fellow Filipinos and cheering against the might of Indonesia 90,000 strong is one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life – I just got goosebumps thinking about it!

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live

We wonder what the reaction would have been if they had lost. Would they still be clapping for us? We will not know but maybe in the near future when the Azkals face the Merah Putih again we will find out… I truly hope so!

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Being led through the tunnel to the bus parking

The security detail leading us through parts of the stadium that I’ve never seen before and we hurried off so we could be by the bus waiting for our players once they’re ready to leave.

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Parking area inside the Stadium. Now we have to wait for the players.
TD posing for a pic with Tito Ted. Check out the girl being carried off in a stretcher. Think she probably fainted from all the excitement? 
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
The police with their sticks
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Rob Gier’s dad taking a pic behind the goal with the Philippine flag
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Giveaway Car was displayed near the pitch
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
Gated parking for the players bus and media

The picture on the right is the site when the game just ended. So far it was all clear but as minutes passed it was packed with Indonesians waiting to catch sight of the players. It was only that red gate separating us from them.

Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
players bus
Philippines vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals 2nd Leg Live
players exiting. Phil Younghusband (far right)

When the players excited there were some with serious faces sad from the defeat, some who tried to smile as we Filipinos clapped for them and some who even clapped with us. We were just so proud of our team!

The crazy ride going back to the hotel – TRAFFIC!
Our friend H asking for a pic with Neil Etheridge for his wife (Awww!) 

We didn’t know the girl on the other side but everyone was just taking turns posing beside him and Neil (despite his sadness and disappointment on the loss) put his game face on and obliged the fans. (He was totally accosted by the Indonesian fans!) I didn’t even try to get another picture because I didn’t want to bother the players any more since they were super patient with me and I took so many pics with them already. (click here to see my pics with Neil, Phil, James, Aly, Anton, etc.!)

READ: Philippine Azkals: A once in a lifetime experience PART 1

4 Comments · jakarta to do, What's Happening

Comments

  1. Kaho says

    February 11, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    How cool that you’ve got to be on the back stage of the game! It’s so exciting! I hear you about eyes closing… I’ve been so sleepy at night, too… It’s challenging to manage the time for good sleep and blogging.

    Reply
  2. thediplomaticwife says

    February 12, 2011 at 3:11 AM

    It was very exciting indeed Kaho! Haha I wish I had the same problem but I’ve insomnia. I try to wake up earlier so that I am super tired at night!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Philippine Footy/Azkals ✪ A once in a lifetime experience – Part I « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    February 12, 2011 at 3:35 AM

    […] To be continued tomorrow… […]

    Reply
  2. DIPLO TRAVEL ✈ Lightweight binoculars | The Diplomatic Wife says:
    October 7, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    […] me to one someday? ;P  I can also use em for  concerts and would have been great to have when I watched the Azkals live in the Suzuki cup too! (1st & 2nd […]

    Reply

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Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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GOOD TO KNOW GUIDE

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HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport? We are very lucky th HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport?

We are very lucky that the Geneva Airport is very near because it is located 4 km northwest of the city centre. It takes us less than 15mins by car & is easier to get to than airports outside the city.

BUT also means that many of the Geneva residents suffer from AIRCRAFT NOISE POLLUTION. 

In some parts of Geneva, like Vernier, Meyrin, Bellevue, Versoix, etc will have the airplane pass on top of you or very near you. This is something to consider when you are MOVING TO GENEVA & looking for a home.

When we were in @bioparcgeneve recently, it felt like airplane after airplane was going overhead every few mins. The poor animals were screaming each time.

A  report by the European Environment Agency(EEA) in 2017 said that 12% or 73,500 Geneva residents have their hearing disturbed by aircraft noise. Probably the figures have risen with the natural increase population & travel?

“The EEA describes noise as a pervasive pollutant that directly affects the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Populations exposed to high noise levels can exhibit stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. All of these can contribute to premature mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that humans exposed to noise levels above 40 decibels at night experience adverse health effects.

Across Europe it is estimated that noise contributed to at least 900,000 additional cases of hypertension in 2011.” - @le_news_ch 

DID YOU KNOW that owners of homes affected by the noise can request for soundproofing to be paid for by GVA? 

Check if your home meets the conditions for FREE SOUNDPROOFING c/o Genève Aéroport here:

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Geneve-Aeroport/Questions-Reponses-FAQ/Bruit#

SAVE or SHARE this now with someone you know who might be moving to Geneva or is already suffering from aircraft #noisepollution. 

#UDWinGeneva #UDWgenevagoodtoknow #expatingeneva #diplofamily #expatlife #genevaswitzerland #expatingeneva #filipinoingeneva #pinoyingeneva #movingtogeneva #movingtoswitzerland #movingtogeneva #genevaexpats #switzerlandexpatlife #geneva #genevaswitzerland
MERCADONA HAUL Whenever we go to Spain, we love t MERCADONA HAUL

Whenever we go to Spain, we love to go to @mercadona. It might be small but has a good affordable selection. It’s my thrifty Spanish MIL’s favorite.

We were so lucky that we had a @mercadona right beside our hotel Marina Badalona. Very convenient.
Our favorite things to bring home are:

☕️ frozen porras (bigger than churros)

🐑 baby lamb chops (the only lamb I eat coz it’s not malangsa & all you need to do is fry till crispy in olive oil with S&P) it’s called Chuletas Cabrito but TD calls it lechal 

🐽 chicharon or crispy pork rinds

🥔 Homemade potato chips. The best potato chips for me are from Spain. I don’t know how it’s so much yummier! The olive oil???

🎣 canned Sardines & tuna for me and Yaya B

TIPS:

🧊 For frozen items, we usually ask the hotel before we buy if they can put it in their freezer until we fly.

✍️ I usually bring different sizes ZIPLOCK BAGS, MASKING TAPE & MARKER when we travel so we can put everything in, label with our name and room number.

📸 then I take a photo so we can just show it to the staff and they can easily find it in their freezer.

✈️ When it’s time to pack, I placed our beach towels around the frozen packages coz I know they will SWEAT & I don’t want our other things to get wet 💦 

What  grocery do you usually like to shop for when in Spain? Where do you buy them?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries #udwtraveltips #udwtraveltip #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW C FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW Calisthenics Park 

📍Chem. des Tuileries 140, 1293 Bellevue

After the lovely BIOPARC we headed across to this chill park with ample PARKING that had so many things for kids & anyone who wants to move & work out:

⚽️ The kids wanted to kick around a football so we borrowed a ball from @boxup.app (they also have pumps, 🏓, 🏐, 🏀, etc) just download the app & turn on your Bluetooth & follow instructions! Return after 3hrs.

👟 Outdoor gym - this was a huge hit with the kids

⚽️ football - this too!

🏀 basketball court

🏓 Ping-pong 

🏐 Beach volleyball court

🤸🏻 Monkey bars

🛝 small playground

Thanks for the wonderful afternoon guys @lidia_otilia_botezatu! 
How lucky are we to have these beautiful, clean open spaces. And the free rental gear is AMAZING! so convenient.

This is in Geneva, about 15mins drive from where we live.

SAVE THIS on your list of PARKS to visit!

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. It’s not as close as the bioparc but bring earplugs/earphones if you are sensitive.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
BIOPARC GENÈVE Yesterday was a holiday in Switze BIOPARC GENÈVE

Yesterday was a holiday in Switzerland (except for Geneva). It was raining & miserable so I wanted to take @diplobaby out for a few hours. Thankfully midafternoon it stopped raining.

We met with our friends @lidia_otilia_botezatu in @bioparcgeneve and had a lovely time in this volunteer run zoo.

TIPS💡

🆓 It’s free for families on your FIRST visit!

🦢 you walk inside animal enclosures so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty/stepping on poop. We wore boots & happy we did

🅿️ there’s parking inside on wood chips, if it’s full there’s another pavement parking (free up to 4hrs) across the roundabout 

🦔 Do not feed or touch the animals no matter how cute they are

🗺️ There are 2 routes (purple & blue) and 1-1.5hrs #diplshould be enough 

❎ Park closes at 4pm

SAVE THIS NOW if your looking for a fun & not too you can do in well und2hrs. It’s nice that you can go inside unlike most zoos so it’s quite unique.

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. @diplobaby who is super noise sensitive did not mind as much as I thought he would because he was so entertained by the animals.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
MARINA BADALONA HOTEL At first we were going to MARINA BADALONA HOTEL 

At first we were going to stay in the heart of Barcelona, where we stayed 8 years ago (I didn’t even know that @diplobaby was already in my tummy at 2 weeks old) but the “hotel” is now expensive with no amenities & small rooms. So TD found a hotel in #badalona - a 20min taxi ride from Barcelona city center - that was so fabulous & slightly less expensive.

SAVE THIS NOW for future trips to Barcelona

WHY I LOVED marinabadalona
🤍 All white interiors was so beautiful & calming
🤍 Gorgeous view of the Marina 
🤍 Everything was so aesthetic, even where you tap your card to enter the room
🤍 Massive bed
🤍 Electric curtains
🤍 Lots of closet space & hangers
🤍 2 TVs
🤍 Refrigerator
🤍 White/cream Nespresso & kettle
🤍 Architecture & interior design is sooooo me!
🤍 Small rooftop pool with unbelievable views (need to do a separate post)
🤍 5min walk to the beach
🤍 Gorg esplanade
🤍 Yummy restos beside
🤍 Mercadona right beside - so convenient!

FEW RECOS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
✌️ Loved the textured wall paper, but it’s difficult to keep clean inside the bathroom
✌️ The bathroom surface area was a bit small & our stuff kept falling off the sink
✌️ Not a single chair in the family room so when we had room service we had to eat standing
✌️ No salt & pepper with room service so we called to ask & were told we would be charged for them taking it up. After TD clarified that there was no S&P with our meal, they said they would bring it up. The person brought a small bowl of of salt & pepper combined. The salt was for DiploBaby’s salmon, but he can’t eat pepper, I wanted both for my pesto. Had to run down in my slippers & the resto staff were very apologetic coz who serves a mixed S&P ever? They gave me individually packaged ones which I really appreciated.
✌️ Since the hotel has a pool & is by the beach, I wish there was a place to hang & dry swim suits. Our suits & watershoes did not dry in the tub.

All in all the value we got from staying in this hotel was so high compared to a more expensive hotel in Barcelona. No hotel stay is perfect.

Now, would I stay there again? YES PLEASE! Would you?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries
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