Rurouni Kenshin Movie (Live-Action)

Before my obsession with bands, there was anime. Rurouni Kenshin (RK) is definitely one of my all-time favorites. It's probably one of the longest running anime shows back then but I still watched the English version on Studio 23 and the Japanese version on AXN. I didn't bother watching the Tagalized version on ABS-CBN though because I found it corny as a child. Yup, my kaartehan goes way back. :))

Believe it or not, I used to register my name as Sera Himura in all my online accounts and used a Samurai X-themed password back when I didn't care about internet security at all. I even have copies of the OVAs (Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal and Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection) and the movie in VCD format. Fangirl much? Wait til you see my collectibles. HAHAHA /facepalm

As expected, I was ecstatic when I heard the news that RK was going to have a live-action movie adaptation so imagine my excitement when I found out that it's going to be shown in Philippine cinemas. Oh my anime fangirl heart~! ♥ We immediately purchased tickets for the first screening schedule on the first day when we found out (accidentally) that SM Cinemas were selling tickets in advance. It only made sense to see it as soon as it hits the cinemas.

So on December 5th, Erin and I went to SM North Edsa Cinema 1 to finally see the film. We were greeted by a long line of people that goes all the way to the Fruitas stand. Or even past it. I'm not sure because I couldn't see the end of it. To put it, the line was so long, it felt like we're queuing for an Eiga Sai film. >.< Nee-chan, Bryle and Mabel were already inside the cinema while Erin and I were still contemplating if we should fall in line or just wait for the end of the line since we have reserved seats so there's nothing to worry about. Thanks to Mabel's literally glowing face (because of her Note II haha), we found our seats easily.

I was holding my breath as the film started. I haven't watched the anime in years so I was both excited and nervous at the same time. The film started with Kenshin killing off people as Hitokiri Battousai while Saito tries to catch him. And as the new age dawned, Kenshin left his dark past and became the sakabatou*-carrying, happy-go-lucky wanderer we all know and love. It was so good seeing his "oro" face again!

I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it yet so I won't go into details just that it covers the first few episodes of the anime and even a little bit of the prequel OVA (Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal). Seeing the characters show up on the screen one by one sent shivers down my spine. Props to the stylists and costume designers. You can easily tell who the characters are just by looking at them. I especially love how the audience reacted upon seeing Sano for the first time. Everyone cheered like they've seen a long lost friend or something. He's perfect as Sano. I only wished he was a little bit taller and more lanky. Also, when Kenshin finally puts on his signature maroon hakamashita paired with white hakama, everyone was filled with nostalgia. And when it got to the fight scenes, OHMYKAMI-SAMA! The choreography was flawless! Everything was perfectly executed without looking fake. And just like in the anime, they brought in hilarious moments during unexpected times to lighten up the mood. Yup, that's the RK I know alright.

For some reason, I expected the film to be around an hour and a half long but it lasted for more than two hours. I didn't know if I wanted it to end already or just go on forever. SM Cinemas are cramped so my legs get pretty uncomfortable when I'm seated for a long time. But it was sure worth it. It was so good, everyone clapped at the end. As we went out of the cinema, I was reminded how much love I have for RK. I still dislike Kaoru though. So it's not just the anime version that I find annoying. Haha Some things never change, I guess.

When we got home, the first thing I did was to search for my Rurouni Kenshin: Premium Collection CD. I remember trying to convince mom to buy it for me because I couldn't save up for it fast enough. I looked at the CD inlay and tried to recall all the ending themes but Karly beat me to it. Haha Giving up, I gave it a listen and surprisingly found myself singing along. I still know the lyrics by heart even though I can hardly understand most of it. Which reminded me of the lack of memorable OST the movie had which was quite disappointing. But aside from that, it was perfect.

*reverse-blade sword

R&R at Balay Indang

On every special occasion, we try to go somewhere new as a family - be it a new resort, new show or just a new restaurant. So to celebrate Ate's birthday, we started looking for a resort away from the city. As a law student, she's been spending most of her time cooped up in her room studying so a getaway would be the perfect gift on her birthday. Luckily, Balay Indang responded to our inquiry pretty quick even on a short notice. We have no idea what to expect aside from the fact that we're paying Php 2,500 per head for an overnight stay which includes 5 meals (lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, breakfast and morning snack). Not bad!

So on November 2, we woke up at 4 AM and left for Balay Indang around 5:30 AM. Driving through the streets of Manila is a breeze during this time of the year since almost everyone's away in the provinces to visit the graves of their departed loved ones. Well, except us. Before we know it, we were already near Tagaytay at only 6:30 AM!

Big breakfast at Bag of Beans

We decided to stop by Bag of Beans for a hearty breakfast. The entire place is filled with the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread. Sure, it's enticing to look at the variety of breads displayed on the counters but we're all suckers for a great view so we headed straight to the patio where we can marvel at Taal Volcano's beauty all we want. Definitely worth waking up early to.

I'm dreaming of a white (and pink) Christmas...

Clockwise: 5th gen iPod Touch, iPhone 5 OR Samsung Galaxy S III, Panasonic Lumix LX7

Girls usually want new make-up, clothes, shoes and jewelry for Christmas. Well, not me. I want them chic gadgets instead - where techie meets girly! Absolutely perfect for the women of this generation. Oh moolah, come to momma!

New Addiction: Orion Yegam Cheese

Orion Yegam Cheese and some other flavor

We've been munching on these cheese biscuits almost everyday during our South Korea trip. So yummy and so addictive! I regret not hoarding boxes of these to bring home as omiyage. Booo~! I wonder if Korean groceries have these. Hmm...

Fangirl

“Never underestimate a girl’s love for her favorite band. Never think even for a minute, that she won’t defend them to her death. Because it’s not just the music that makes that band her favorite. It’s the guys, the gals. It’s the fans. People whom of which she has interacted with thanks to the band. That band might [have] saved her life, or just made her smile everyday. That band has never broke her heart and has yet to leave her. No wonder she finds such joy in her music.”

- Alex Gaskarth, All Time Low

Madayaw Davao: Countryside Tour

We woke up early to make the most out of our last day in Davao. As foodies, we searched for breakfast nooks around the city last night. We haven't even finished dinner yet and we were already talking about breakfast. Typical us.

We settled for Taps which is known as the Breakfast Capital of Davao. Luckily, there's one pretty close to our inn. We ordered Tapsilog (duh), Tocilog, Bangsilog, and even a combination of other silogs. I think they have everything you can pair up with silog. The food was okay. Nothing special whatsoever. [ Side note: We ate the macarons we bought from Lachi's last night for dessert. I must say, my favorite was the orange-y chocolatey one which reminded me of Chokies. Soooo nostalgic! ]

After breakfast, we met up with today's driver, Kuya Jimber. Not sure about the spelling but it kind of sounded like that. First stop: Philippine Eagle Center. It was a pretty long drive from the city but it was worth it. Some of the girls slept all the way through while Faye and I sang our hearts out. Even Kuya Jimber couldn't help but belt out a few notes.

The Philippine Eagle Center

Upon arriving at Philippine Eagle Center, we paid the Php 50 entrance fee and started looking around. Honestly, I didn't expect much from this place except to see a few Philippine Eagles from afar. But boy, was I wrong. Not only did we see eagles from afar, we got to see them up close too! And even out of their cages thanks to Kuya Europe (K.E. from now on just because it's easier to type). Yes, you read it right. We found Europe in Davao. Haha

Ariel's 26th at Nomnomnom: Happy Food

My cousin Ariel has a weird way of scheduling trips from Palawan to Manila. He flies all the way to Manila to get haircuts, buy his favorite scent, eat some Krispy Kreme, or get on another plane bound for Coron because it's "cheaper." I don't mind though because he never fails to buy us baked goodies from Baker's Hill every time he comes to visit. But this time, it's different. He came to celebrate his 26th birthday with us!

The birthday boy at Nomnomnom: Happy Food

Aaaand that leaves me in charge of finding the perfect restaurant. Again. As a foodie, I usually don't mind. But this was quite a challenge. You see, Ariel's a vegetarian and obviously, there aren't a lot of vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the QC area. There's Pino/Pipino which we love but we wanted to try something new. Thanks to the internet, I found an interesting restaurant which serves vegan/vegetarian-friendly dishes - Nomnomnom: Happy Food. The SC girls and I have been wanting to try this restaurant out too so I recommended it to the fam and as usual, they just agreed.

The birthday boy and his guests

We arrived around 8PM so there were only 2 tables occupied aside from ours and it looked like they were almost finished with their meals so it felt like we booked the entire place. Pretty cool. The restaurant has a homey/canteen vibe to it. Not bad. I especially love their rainbow wall that says "Something good always happens."

Something good always happens.

See, what did I tell ya? Hihi

For starters, we ordered their Fried Ravioli (stuffed with cheesy Kangkong and mushroom). It didn't taste like Kangkong at all which is good news for us non-vegetarians. The dip complemented the crispness and cheesiness of the dish. We also ordered Nachos just in case but it turns out, we didn't need a fallback after all. For drinks, we ordered pitchers of Dalandan Juice and Strawberry Iced Tea which didn't taste like powder so it's good. For the main dishes, we ordered Nuggets Mo? (veggie nuggets with chili sauce), Crispy Tofu Skin (crispy tofu with shiitake mushroom sauce and nori rice), The Good Sisig (crispy fried tofu with green chili and onions), Lime Chicken with Alfredo Sauce (chicken breast marinated in lime and Rosemary drizzled with Alfredo sauce served with spring onion rice), Chicken Pops Rice Craters (chicken lollipops with pizza sauce served over buttered rice), Enchilada (filled with Kangkong, cream and cheese), and Pizza Margherita.

Clockwise: Fried Ravioli, Nuggets Mo?, Crispy Tofu Skin, Enchilada, The Good Sisig, Lime and Chicken Alfredo

L-R: Strawberry Iced Tea, Chicken Pops Rice Crater, Pizza Margherita

Over all, the food was tasty even though they were tagged as healthy. I was looking forward to dessert though but they didn't have any that night. Boooo~! :( So naturally, we just took pictures of the place instead before heading off to search for a dessert place.

Cousins and sibs ♥

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Oopsie. Sorry Jots, I had to crop your hair off simply because you're too tall. :p

After our mini photo op, we were all ready to go. As in we had our bags in hand when I felt something was not right. Yep, we haven't paid for dinner yet! We forgot to bill out just because we skipped dessert. Oopsie. Muntik na!

With the official photographer this time.

Oh and we asked one of the servers if their "happy food" is similar to Cambodia's happy pizza*. He said they used to serve "happy food" but they no longer have a supplier so they had no choice but to take it off the menu. Aww sayang? Haha

Last hurrah!

A birthday dinner wouldn't be complete without a sweet ending so we headed to Afters Espresso & Desserts for cakes and gelatos. Funny how this lady was all smiles upon seeing us. I thought she was just extra friendly and accommodating. It turns out, she and mom know each other from Tai Chi class. Surprise surprise! She owns the place and she was gracious enough to let us try a couple of their gelatos. We ordered   7 cups of gelato and a slice of Reese's cheesecake. Perfect ending to cap off our Sunday night!

Gelato flavors: Cotton candy, Salted caramel, Cookies 'n cream, Mint chocolate chip, Stracciatella, and plain old Chocolate

Oh and thanks to Ariel, I got patron and lowerbox invites to see Lee Min Ho in November! Weeee~♥

*Happy pizza is just like a regular pizza but has a thin layer of weed sprinkled beneath layers of mozzarella cheese. You can even choose your preferred level of "happy-ness" from mildly happy to extremely happy.

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Nomnomnom Happy FoodTomas MoratoG/F GYY Bldg, 1 Tomas Morato AveKristong Hari, Quezon City(02) 502-2919
Afters Espresso & DessertsQuezon CityLansbergh Place, 20 Tomas Morato Ave cor Scout Castor StSouth Triangle, Quezon City(02) 791-8789

For Future Reference: 20 Yummiest Cakes

Photo from Estrel's website

Ever had trouble searching for the perfect cake to order for a special occasion? Or if you have a sweet tooth like me, you're probably googling cakes just because you feel like it, right? Okay, maybe that's just me. :|

Anyway, I just want to share this old article from INQUIRER.net I came across with that lists 20 of the yummiest home-made cakes in the metro. It seems legit since our favorite go-to cake, Estrel's Caramel Cakes, made it to the list!

6. Caramel Cake 
Come-on: To lust for, this melting, light chiffon cake under a blanket of glossy caramel is charmingly adorned with butter cream flowers in lovely colors. Makes for a pretty centerpiece. 
Cost: P550 for an 8-inch round cake with caramel filling and P500 without filling. Order two days in advance. 
Creator: Estrel's
Call: 3722965 or 3717938. Address: 54 Scout Tobias St. corner Scout Limbaga. Bgy. Laging Handa, Q.C. 

Thanks to 20 yummiest (privately baked) cakes - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos, I now have 19 new cakes to try!

My Best Friend's Wedding

Sabaw photos of the bridesmaid and the bride.

I just attended my best friend's wedding last night. Not in real life though but only in my dreams. Thank God!

I know I should've woken up happy, but I didn't. Not because of the man she's going to marry.* But because I did a terrible job as a bridesmaid. :(

The dream started with me waiting at SM's tricycle terminal. Daddy picked me up to drive me to the airport for a special event. I didn't know then that I was going to end up at my best friend's wedding but I woke up early anyway as I was clearly excited for something.

I was pretty confident I came to the airport earlier than I should but when I reached the departure area, I found out that my flight was moved to an earlier schedule. 6 AM! I was sure flustered as hell. I was definitely off to a bad start. >.<

Then the scene changed to my best friend talking with Tats in a beautiful garden. For some reason, they began practicing a dance number while talking about how late I was. Again.

While they were taking a break at what looked like an attic converted into a room, a guy suddenly stood up and walked to the balcony where he found me curled up in a ball. Hulog ng langit ang peg? The guy picked me up and brought me into the room and announced my arrival as if it's the most natural thing to do. Of course, it gets even weirder.

Next thing I know, I was dressed in a dark purple bridesmaid gown looking through my best friend's wedding souvenirs with a quizzical look on my face. At this point, I already know that my best friend was getting married. She was proudly telling me that her Tita picked out the wedding souvenirs herself which I strongly disliked. Yes, maldita pa rin even in my dreams. You can't blame my reaction though. She had incenses that smell weird as wedding giveaways! How could a BFF let that happen?? :((

Frustrated, I walked out of the room and decided to check on the reception instead. The place looked like a cross between a church and a lecture hall. But what was more shocking was that people were already lining up for the food when the wedding hasn't even started yet! QUE HORROR! I was furious and I was about to tell the servers to stop what they're doing when as I moved closer, I spotted daddy among the servers. HAHAHA Recognizing me, he began preparing all my favorites for me. I still can't believe what was happening but I gladly took the food he was giving me anyway. HAHA To make things even worse, the food started to run out while the guests just kept on pouring in!

15 years of friendship and counting!

Then I woke up. And I'm thankful I did before it got even worse. It was definitely a bridesmaid's nightmare! Or rather, a bride's nightmare? Whatever it was, I swear I won't let it happen in real life. Jona Myrrh, I promise I will do my best as a bridesmaid and  I won't let your wedding turn into a disaster!

*Heck, I didn't even see him last night. Sayang!

Madayaw Davao: Sunburn

Off to Samal Island!

A trip to Davao wouldn't be complete without dropping by Samal Island. As beach lovers, we dedicated an entire day for that. We even woke up at 5 AM just so we can make the most out of our beach trip. This time, Kuya Jovan was our driver. To get to Samal Island, you have to ride a barge that takes you from the city to the island, similar to the RORO - only smaller. I think the entire ride lasted for only 15-20 minutes, we didn't even have to get out of the van except to take pictures.

Madayaw Davao: Kadayawan and More

I've been wanting to go to Davao ever since I had my first taste of Mangosteen. It's love at first taste I tell you. Thanks to Tiger Airways' seat sale, my dream of visiting Davao during Kadayawan Festival came true!

Getting There

Kadayawan, here we come!

I woke up at 2 AM to get ready for our 5:30 AM flight. Oh the things I do for travel! It's my first time to fly via SEAir* and it's been a while since my last domestic flight so I wanted to get to the airport early. We arrived at Manila Domestic Airport (aka NAIA Terminal 4) around 3:30 AM. After checking in our toiletries and paying for the terminal fee**, we proceeded to the departure area. I still find it funny whenever they ask sandals and flip-flops to be removed and placed on the scanner. I guess not much has changed with the domestic airport but this time, their WiFi was actually working! Yay!

It's more fun in the Philippines!

The flight was delayed for a few minutes but we didn't mind because our plane was so cute! It has "It's more fun in the Philippines" printed across its body. I even overheard one REALLY loud passenger say that our flight was only the second flight ever of Tiger Airways via SEAir. I don't know if that's true but it's pretty cool.

In fairness, we still arrived in Davao on time. We were greeted by flowers and TV reporters upon arrival at Davao Internaional Airport. Or rather, our plane was greeted by flowers and TV reporters. Haha I don't know if it's part of the Kadayawan celebration or because it was one of the first flights of our plane. From then on, I had a feeling this trip will be unforgettable. And that actually marked the start of the special treatments we received during our entire stay. ;)

Spot the tourists

While walking towards the baggage claim area, we heard gong-like sounds and it made us sprint towards the lobby where a cultural performance was waiting for us. We were already amused by this and it's not even the main event yet! This was enough to put us in a festive mood and get even more excited for the float parade.

All I want for Christmas is the new iPod Touch*

Photo by REUTERS

So the new iPhone 5 was quite disappointing but have you seen the 5th Gen iPod Touch yet? Definitely looks promising!

Photos from Apple

Us girls went crazy over its super cute new look! We even picked out the colors we wanted already: pink for me, blue for Faye, green for Jeng, white for Erin and black for Mabel. Okay, only Jeng, Faye and I picked out the colors for ourselves then assigned the remaining ones to Erin and Mabel. True friends fo lyfe! Hihi [ EDIT: New color assignments! Pink for me, blue for Faye, green for Jeng, red for Erin, black for Mabel, and white for Vanie. ;) ]

Next thing I did? Convert $399 (for the 64GB version) to Philippines Pesos, of course! At roughly Php16k, it's alright I guess. I can't wait for Black Friday though! If someone from the office is going to the US in time for Black Friday, then it's meant to be. Otherwise, we'll just have to turn to our favorite Kimstore. ;)

*or a Samsung Galaxy S3 :p

My uncle, the fortune teller

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Have you ever had your future told? I was never interested in fortune-telling because I believe in focusing on the present and living life one day at a time. But last night, I had my future told. By my own uncle!

It happened as we were chit-chatting after dinner. They reminisced about how fast time flies, how we were once kids and now we're all grown up. They asked how old I am now and inquired about my love life, of course. Relatives seem to be always curious about your love life don't they? Upon hearing that I don't have a boyfriend, my uncle started giving me tips in dating - how I should open up and show everyone what a beautiful flower I am. Awkwarddd. But I laughed it off. He told me that Geminis tend to keep things to themselves. They know a lot but won't show it. Also, they're very giving that people tend to take advantage of them. Then he gave me a lecture on how to discern true friends among the many friends I have. You see, my uncle just never runs out of stories and knowledge to share.

He even offered to tell my fortune for fun and asked to look at my hands. I was hesitant because he just ate hundreds of shellfish for dinner! Haha Noticing my hesitation, he washed his hands clean before looking at mine. While he was away, I quickly asked my auntie how legit my uncle's fortune-telling is. Turns out, it's in their blood. His mother used to be the most famous fortune teller in Badio, Aklan. I'm still skeptical but I gave it a go.

After looking at my hands for a while, here are some of the things he told me:

#1 Financial freedom. As I grow up, I won't rely on my parents' inheritance but instead, work hard to earn my own money.

#2 Love life. There is a 99% chance of me marrying someone not from the Philippines. He may be of a different race or half Filipino or a Filipino born abroad. And we'll meet overseas. By chance. No wonder I travel a lot! Haha But somehow, I've had this feeling for a long time that I won't meet my one true love in this country. I'm just surprised my uncle knew about it! Also, he mentioned that this person won't be someone I've met in the past but someone I have yet to meet. Sounds pretty exciting, eh?

#3 Money management. One look at my right hand and my uncle knew how much of a gastador I am to which mom and dad quickly agreed. He says it's easy for me to spend or give money away because I'm a giver, not a receiver. If you think about it, I do love spending money on myself as much as I love spending on other people. On the flip side, the more I give, the more God will shower me with blessings as I help other people.* And to my defense, my spending is always reasonable. My uncle's words, not mine! :)) A look at my left hand and he told me that my future husband will be a gastador as well. Patay tayo dyan! Nevertheless, we'll manage to save up. He even advised me to let my fingernails grow (if I could) until my pinky reaches the line on my ring finger so as to lessen my spending.

#4 Health. I will live a pretty healthy life but he advised me to take special care of my stomach or abdomen. Ow. How did he know about my abdominal pains thanks to dysmenorrhea?? According to him, Geminis tend to have difficulty in giving birth so he advised me to do squats to strengthen my pelvic bone. He also advised me to eat on time and avoid skipping meals. And that I should lessen my consumption of sweets and watch what I eat because I will tend to eat and eat once I give birth. Ayayay!

#5 Compatibility. There are two kinds of Pisces - one that goes with the flow and one that goes against it. I should steer away from Pisces that tend to go with the flow because he's sure to be under-the-saya if I did end up with one and I wouldn't want that. Sagittarius are great companions for Geminis because they are jolly people but they hate restrictions. They won't like it if you ask them where they've been or why they came home late. They're just in it for the fun times. Now, those born in April are natural breadwinners. They'll do everything for you - be it housework or earning for the family. They'd love you unconditionally and will take really good care of you. The downside? They tend to get really jealous and would want you only for themselves. Not really good for a Gemini who doesn't want to be tied down.

#6 Marriage. I will have one and only one marriage. I won't get divorced or be widowed early. Glad to know my future hubby and I will grow old together. On top of that, I'll get married around the age of 30 or 31. Good enough for me.

#7 Children. I'll have two. Well, I want three but having more than two will be difficult for me. My husband may want more but two will be ideal. And these children will be from my bloodline, not my husband's. My uncle liked that since that means my future kids will be intellectuals. Haha

He then proceeded to lecture me to look for someone who will love my parents as much as I love them and for me to love my future in-laws. If they don't like me at first, I should do everything to get closer to them. Also, this guy I'm going to end up with will try to get in bed with me before marriage. Nakakaloka! He reminded me to always follow my head over my heart and I should save it after marriage. My auntie teased him about how old-fashioned he was. Haha That talk should be awkward but it wasn't. I just laughed it off. Again. He says he can tell me more but he'll leave the rest to me but he kept on going and asked to look at my right foot. According to him, the house or building I'll purchase, which will be my future family's home, will be overseas as well. Pang-Ms. International pala ang peg ko! But he added that wherever it will be will be both my husband and I's choice.

Sure, I don't believe in fortune-telling but it was fun. All the things he mentioned are likely to happen anyway. My auntie reminded me that I shouldn't let my uncle's predictions lead my life though. I should still be open to meeting guys even if they're pure-bred Filipinos or born in the Philippines. Haha

All this talk about the future definitely made my night. No wonder, I still haven't met Mr. Right. I guess I have yet to visit his hometown, eh? :))

With that, let me leave you with one of my favorite verses from the Bible:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

See, no need to worry about the future. My God has it all figured out for me. He's got my back. Always.

*Mom and dad raised us on this principle that we may always be grateful to God and helpful to those in need.

Para para paradise

That definitely played in my head as I walked out of our hotel room and was greeted by the beauty of Boracay at 6:30AM. Who wakes up that early at the beach? Well, my folks, auntie and Kuya Caloy did so I had no choice but to roll out of bed as well.

Good morning, Boracay!

After availing our free breakfast, Daddy, Kuya Caloy and I set off to walk around the beach. I've been to Boracay multiple times* (around 20 I guess?) but it's beauty never fails to put me in awe each and every time. It may not be as beautiful as ever but it's still breathtaking nevertheless. Definitely instagram-worthy! And you won't even need to apply a filter to make it dramatic.

I took off my flip-flops and walked barefoot by the shore. Ahh~ the familiar fine sand felt great on my bare feet. I sure missed this! I've been to a lot of beaches but nothing compares to Boracay's fine white sand that remains cool even in the sweltering heat of the Philippine weather. These are the moments that make me extra thankful for God's amazing creations.

We walked on the beach front from Station 1 to Station 3. Then walked on the commercial side from Station 3 back to Station 1. If I did this as my daily exercise, I wouldn't mind sweating so much.

Speaking of sweating, we saw children in PE uniforms playing by the beach. Pretty odd, right? I thought they were cutting classes but since there were too many of them, that's kind of impossible so we asked one of them what they're doing at the beach at 7AM. It turns out, they were playing beach volleyball and beach soccer for their PE class. Antaray! Imagine having your PE class by the beach. At Boracay Station 1 pa ha! If that was the case, I wouldn't have to go to the library or join the varsity team just to skip PE. I'm so jelly!!

Crystal clear waters.

I went straight to the water as soon as we got back to our hotel's beach front. Ohmygod the water was as clear and as refreshing as I remember! I've always loved Boracay because of it's beach that's perfect for swimming. The water's so calm, you'd think you're in a huge swimming pool. It's kind of sad though how some tourists are after Boracay's night life now rather than the beautiful beach. I would never get that.

Boats for island hopping lined the beach of Station 1.

The weather was perfect. It wasn't too hot or too gloomy. Before we know it, we've been in the water for over 3 hours! We started swimming before 8AM and was shocked when we learned from one of the boatmen it was already 10:30AM! Great. I didn't even put on sunblock. But the weather was so nice, we couldn't pass it up. We stayed in the water until it started raining a little past 11.

After washing ourselves off, I went with daddy back to D'Mall to buy him new flip-flops because his Havs gave out after our morning walk. The funny thing is, he didn't even wear it while walking! He only wore it upon arriving at the hotel then one of the straps broke. Haha

The only souvenir I got from Boracay.

On our way to D'Mall, we passed by Starbucks again and I decided to give in to my shopping urges. I bought a Boracay tumbler just because it's unusual. How often do you see a Starbucks Tumbler made after an island (or a famous beach) and not a capital city? I couldn't help but order an Iced Chai Tea Latte for myself when the friendly barista asked if I've tried the blended version. Of course, I haven't because I'm not a fan of frappes but curiosity got the best of me and he managed to convince me to try it. Boy, I'm glad I did. It was delish! Aside from the guilt the whipped cream brings, it was satisfying. Oh and if you're wondering, daddy was barefoot the whole time! This is probably the only Starbucks in the country where you can go in without a shirt nor shoes but still get service. You don't even have to be sexy and know it. :p

After buying daddy some cheap flip-flops, we went looking for the famous Jonah's Fruit Shake stand. We didn't find it though so we just went straight to the hotel for lunch. I ordered choco banana shake while all of them ordered sodas. Ahh~ it's definitely as good as I remember. Since the food was taking a while, dad asked me to buy fries from Potato Corner. I ordered Cheese & Chilli BBQ Giga  fries and we finished the bucket even before the food arrived.

We were stuffed by the end of lunch, we were so ready to go home. This is my most relaxing trip to Boracay to date. No island hopping, snorkeling, banana boat, nor partying. No touristy activity whatsoever, just plain swimming and relaxation by the beach.**

Boracay was my first love and will always be my favorite. Sure, it has become crowded and commercialized over the years. But still, nothing compares to its sky, sand and sea. I just wish more people realize this and feel the need to preserve its beauty. It doesn't matter how many times you've been here, you'll definitely keep on coming back.

Fun fact: Never in my whole life have I paid for the tourist rate nor environmental fee because I know enough Aklanon to get me through the check points and prove my residency. :)

Travel dates: September 7 - 8, 2012
Accommodation: Royal Park Hotel (We got the room good for 4 persons for only Php 3.5k/night thanks to daddy's amazing PR skills. With free breakfast and no additional person charge even though there were five of us.)
Photo credits: Autumn - my trusty iPod touch so pardon the low resolution.

*My first trip to Boracay was when I was 4 years old, even before tourists started calling it Bora for short. Since then, our family has been going almost every year. Lucky that my parents have Aklan as their hometown so a trip to Boracay is just like visiting relatives. Only it's more fun, of course.

**Take note that we went to Boracay after my Lola Melba's interment. We definitely needed time to unwind and relax. The last time I was here was after Lolo Ricoy's burial. I hope this doesn't become family tradition or something.

Lost in Translation: Google Maps Edition

I love being a tourist but I also love feeling like a local whenever I go on trips so I do tons of research beforehand. My itinerary would always end up looking something like this:

OC freak

Of course, itineraries don't always get followed but I try! They only serve as guides so I don't overstay and lose track of time in a certain place. If you noticed, I always include directions (sometimes even pictures) whenever I create an itinerary because I'm terrible at reading maps and street signs. Being the OC freak that I am, I wanted to see if I could easily follow the directions I put in so I tried finding my way to our hanok stay* guesthouse via Google Maps. After a lot of wrong turns, I finally found the right place. Yay!

Friends House

I kept on looking for the Arim Stationery store (one of the landmarks the guesthouse gave us) only to find out their sign's written in Hangul! No wonder I couldn't find it easily. Good thing, I took time to try and learn how to read and write in Hangul. See, I take my research seriously. Haha

Arim Stationery

*Hanok Stay refers to staying in a traditional Korean house. It is a good opportunity to experience traditional Korean lifestyle and culture. - Korea Tourism Organization

TGIPF

Thank God it's payday Friday!

Oh, how I miss the days when I was this happy to receive my paycheck. And yes, I got my first paycheck in cash four years ago! Haha As new hires, our ATM accounts were still being processed during that time. I was so happy back then thinking how much more I'll make in the future. I don't know what happened. Well, wanderlust happened but I have no regrets. Sure, I want a fatter paycheck but I'm still thankful that I have a job that provides for my needs (more like wants, really). I guess nothing beats the thrill of receiving your first hard-earned paycheck after all.

Photo credit: summer bliss // - my old Multiply page haha define ancient!

The Filipino Spirit is Waterproof

This photo (and several others) have been going around in social media sites. Sure, liking or sharing flood-related stuff help get the word out and lift our spirits up at the same time. But wouldn't it be much better if we can actually do something to help others out?

These past few weeks have been hard on us Filipinos. And the past three days have been unbelievably crazy. But it's times like these that bring out the heroes in all of us. If you're one of those people lucky enough to be safe and sound in the comfort of your own home, why not help out others who are not as lucky as you are? As my parents always remind me, it's better to help than to be in the receiving end. The fact that you have something to give is already something to be thankful for. Add to that the fact that you'll be able to change lives no matter how small your contribution may seem.

But not all of us have time or are fit enough to be out there doing rescue work. So here's some good news to those who can't go out but would like to extend help to flood victims. With just a few clicks and a few pesos, you can do your part in helping our brothers and sisters (and pets) in need. Several organizations have put up websites that accept donations online and I've listed some of them below. Just click on the links to get started. Happy helping!

The Philippine Red Cross

Hope in a Bottle

PAWS: Because pets need saving too

Annebisyosa: SEA Edition

I have a love/hate relationship with seat sales. Every time I receive notifications, I get excited and nervous at the same time. Seat sales may be the answers to a wanderlust's prayers but they're also the quickest way to drain one's savings. Either way, I just couldn't resist especially when the timing is right. I even have a Cebu Pacific Citibank card* to prove it. In my defense, I didn't apply for it on my own. Citibank offered it to me and I guess there's no harm in trying it. Hoho

Last January, Cebu Pacific had a 50% off promo on all international flights and the travel dates included the month of April. Seat sales are hard to come by during peak season so I wanted to take the opportunity and book us flights that instant. But the question is, where to?

Japan and South Korea would be the perfect destinations in April as it is the month for cherry blossoms to bloom and it's a lovely sight to see. But I've already been to Japan during Spring and I've already booked a flight to Seoul this Fall. I wanted a new destination.

Summer in Thailand sounds pretty good and I've never been there so I guess it's finally time to go. Plus, I've been craving for Nestea's Thai Milk Tea for the longest time! We could spend the entire Holy Week with our cousins, nieces and nephews over there. After all, our cousins have been persistent in inviting us over ever since they moved to Bangkok about seven years ago. And this time, we might actually be there just in time for Songkran* - it's definitely the perfect time to go!

Thanks to Google, I learned that Holy Week falls on April 5-8, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9 and Songkran on April 13-15. Holy crap. 10 days worth of vacation?? Why not! But 10 days seem a bit long, why limit ourselves to just Thailand? Right then and there, Nee-chan and I started dreaming up our most ambitious adventure to date - a cross-country trip across Southeast Asia! As Filipinos, it's pretty convenient since we don't need a visa to visit SEA countries. Yay for ASEAN!

So I booked me and my sibs one-way tickets to Singapore and return tickets to Manila. From Bangkok. Crazy? Not really. When you put two OC freaks together, nothing is impossible.

Booked. Manila to Singapore and Bangkok to Manila

Our initial game plan? Board a plane from Manila to Singapore. Stay in Singapore for 2 days. Take a bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Stay in Kuala Lumpur for a day. Board a train from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap. Stay in Siem Reap overnight. Take a bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok. Leave luggage at Kuya Kenneth's. Board a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Stay in Chiang Mai for 3 days. Board a train from Chiang Mai back to Bangkok. Stay in Bangkok for 3 days just in time for Songkran. Fly back to Manila. Whew, now that's definitely easier said than done.

Initial travel plan: Manila, Philippines > Singapore, Singapore > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Siem Reap, Cambodia > Chiang Mai, Thailand > Bangkok, Thailand > Manila, Philippines

The final game plan? Board a plane from Manila to Singapore. Stay in Singapore for 2 days. Take a bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Stay in Kuala Lumpur for 2 nights. Board a plane from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap. Stay in Siem Reap overnight. Take a bus from Siem Reap to border. Take a van from border to Bangkok. Stay in Bangkok for a day. Go on a day trip in Pattaya. Stay in Bangkok for 3 more days just in time for Songkran. Fly back to Manila.

Final travel plan: Manila, Philippines > Singapore, Singapore > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Siem Reap, Cambodia > Bangkok, Thailand > Pattaya, Thailand > Bangkok, Thailand > Manila, Philippines

Chiang Mai was crossed off our list because the train was already fully-booked due to Songkran. :( It couldn't be helped so I guess that should be saved for my next Thailand trip along with Phuket or Koh Samet.

So how did we manage to do all that? Through task delegation. I booked everything that can be done online and planned everything for our SG-KL trip while Nee-chan took care of everything Thailand-related. And what about Karly? Since he doesn't have enough experience in planning, we decided to assign the Cambodia leg of our trip to serve as his training without sacrificing our trip. As the date of our trip came closer, our travel party became bigger. From just us siblings, our cousins Gwen and Sha tagged along. And dad also met up with us in Cambodia. But that's another story worthy of another blog post.

Stay tuned for our SEA (mis)adventures in upcoming blog posts. This trip was truly an eye-opener and I can't wait to go on more ambitious ones! :)

*With the Cebu Pacific Citibank card, you get seat sale notifications in advance plus you earn CEB points whenever you use your card which you can use to book your next flights.

**Traditional New Year's Day celebration in Thailand.

Hallyu

Don't come close! But don't go far...

A few days ago, I started watching The Moon That Embraces The Sun (해를 품은 달) because of Kim Soo Hyun. I've never been a fan of historical dramas in general but I'm hoping this one will change my views. Being my first sageuk* ever, it's not that bad. It's quite good actually. The costumes are beautiful and the production is amazingly well done.

I didn't like the young protagonists at first but they grow on you. I've especially grown to like the young Prince Yang Myung who lives a care-free life even though he has a tragic story to tell. He and his friends (Yeom and Woon) look super cute together as well.

L-R: (Illegitimate) Prince Yang Myung, Crown Prince Hwon, Top Literary Scholar Yeom, Top Military Scholar Woon. F4 ang peg?

The Queen Mother is obviously the antagonist in this drama and I know I should resent her for meddling, but I found myself amused by the way she speaks in metaphors all the time. The head of the Personnel Ministry and his daughter, however, really gets under my skin. Talk about having kontrabida faces! And just like any other K-drama, this one has a complicated love story as well.

Royal love triangle, anyone?

After reading the plot, I couldn't wait for the young Yeon Woo to die so the kids can grow up! But as the story progresses, I found myself enjoying the performance of these young actors. Their acting is pretty convincing and they look so cute together! I was heartbroken for the two suns (princes) when they heard the news that Yeon Woo passed away due to a mystical illness. :(

Young Lee Hwon mourning the death of young Yeon Woo.

After watching five episodes, Kim Soo Hyun is still nowhere to be found. Well, at least not until the next episode's preview! Booooo~ I still have to wait for episode 6 to finish downloading before I see Joseon's fictitious king. :((

See you soon, my king!

So for the time being, I guess I should continue watching City Hunter (시티헌터) starring Lee Min Ho. I remembered I still haven't finished watching this drama thanks to the young Prince Yang Myung who was played by a different and younger actor named Lee Min Ho! That's a bit confusing, right?

Lee Min Ho in City Hunter

I don't know if it's the weather or the lack of new episodes from my favorite shows but it looks like I've been bitten by the hallyu** bug. Not that I'm complaining.

* Korean historical drama
**Also known as the Korean wave or the significant increase in popularity of Korean entertainment and culture.

Dreaming~ ♥

Kim Soo Hyun ( 김수현 )

Rainy weekend + intermittent internet connection = series marathon. Just as the rain was heavily pouring outside, I was crying my eyes out thanks to this man. I can't believe I spent the entire weekend watching Dream High (technically, I have the TV turned on for the Olympics while I was watching Dream High on my laptop). I have shallow tears so as much as possible, I try to steer away from tearjerkers but I got hooked with this k-drama so much, I just had to know what happens in the end. Stat!

Jin Guk ( 진궄 ), Hye Mi ( 혜미 ), Sam Dong ( 삼동 )

I was rooting for the cool guy, Jin Guk, the whole time but towards the end, I eventually fell for Sam Dong. Who would've thought I'd fall for the country bumpkin? Well, he turned out to be quite a man. He sings, dances and acts really well. He's at par with his co-stars whenever they perform to think that he's the only actor in the main cast while the rest are all singers in real life. And those eyes! Aaaahh so expressive! I end up crying every time he does. :(

Initially, I found Sam Dong's character hilarious but he can also be a bit overprotective and annoying sometimes. His love and dedication to Hye Mi is really admirable though. Before I knew it, I wanted him and Hye Mi to end up together! If you know me, it's pretty rare for me to cheer for the female lead so I was really devastated with the open-ended finale. Why do they have to cut it when things are finally going well!!! Ugh. It was so frustrating. Paasa e. Now I can't move on! >.< Oh, well. At least I have a new Korean crush to stalk in November. HAHA

New crush = new wallie

See, this is why I shouldn't be watching dramas during that time of the month when my emotions are extra high. Here, have a clip of Sam Dong singing Dreaming* while battling Tinnitus. I was crying so much, I could hardly breathe during this scene. Kala mo kasali sa drama kung makahagulgol e. :))

Now downloading: The Moon That Embraces The Sun for more of Kim Soo Hyun ♥

*This has a Japanese version btw which I loooove! At least I can understand most of the lyrics. Hee~ ♥ Click here to watch Kim Soo Hyun in the studio. So cute when he struggles in pronouncing "michi." Haha