Japan 2014: Counting Stars

スターズオンアイス!!!

Today's the day! Right after checking-in at City Hotel Lonestar, the front desk staff handed me the coveted package I've been waiting for since February - my Stars on Ice Japan tickets! It wasn't easy for a non-Japanese speaker like me to get them and I have this post to prove it. But nothing's impossible for a determined fangirl. Haha So yay, I will finally get to see my Romeo on Ice in a few hours!! Cue: “'Cause I~I'm seeing youuuuu ohhhhh~” to the tune of Des'ree's Kissing You (R+J 1.0) lol #kalandiansajapan

Dream come true!

After a quick lunch at Mos Burger, Nee-chan and I walked all the way to Yoyogi First Gymnasium. Sure, the venue was pretty close but the entrance was all the way across from where we were. Still, it was quite easy to spot since there were a lot of people making their way over there. As in exodus levels! The gym's capacity is 13k+ and it looked like a sold out show. Before anything else, I searched for the souvenir program booth. All signs were in Japanese except for one which had BACK NUMBER (yes, in caps!) written on it. Nee-chan and I wondered what it was but the Yuzu fangirl in me thought, “Uy that's the band Yuzu was listening to before his FS program in Sochi. Are they selling albums here?” only to find out that BACK NUMBER = back issues. Haha Assumera kasi!

My Stars on Ice goodies

After getting a copy of the souvenir program (¥2,000!!!), we went along with the crowd to the entrance. There were no clear queues so I just let the people around me guide me through the doors which was surprisingly chaotic and organized at the same time. Chaotic because there were just too many people around you and yet organized in a way because there was absolutely no pushing. Everyone had their personal spaces all to themselves. Weird, I know, but it works. As we entered the doors, they handed us glow sticks which we were instructed to use during the finale of the first act. The amount of people got even more overwhelming once we were inside the gymnasium - it felt like standing in the middle of Shibuya Crossing during rush hour. Despite that, we were able to spot a Free WiFi sign on a vendo machine so we decided to queue up as well to get the code or something. But as I looked around the venue, I saw the familiar Ice Rink Sendai sign so I left Nee-chan in the queue and went to buy some merch. The key rings and skating gloves were already sold out (BOOOO!!) so I bought an Irene mobile accessory and some Yuzu* candies instead. The merch don't come cheap but it's for a good cause so that makes it worth it. #excuses Also, proud moment for me because I did it all by myself (and all in Japanese!) without my ever reliable translator. Hihi After returning to the vendo machine and getting our drinks, we found out that the wifi is indeed free (kulit ng lahi e haha) and there's no need to buy anything. Hahaha Badtrep!! Madami lang pala talagang nauuhaw. =))))

Look at all those pretty lights! And pretty boys? Haha
Photo credit: Maia Shibutani

The show started on time and as the lights dimmed, the crowd quieted down as we waited with anticipation. As the first skater stepped onto the ice, the sound of the blades touching the ice sent chills down my spine. I still can't believe how lucky I am to be here. The show opened with the cast skating to "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?" Watching the skaters perform live is a whole different experience from watching them on Youtube. They just draw you in and it's a magical feeling. My eyes can't help but search for that one person though. Hihi Spoiler alert: He wasn't part of the opening number. Haha #kalandiansajapan

Being among the Japanese fans is another experience in itself. I've never seen such a responsive crowd. No, they're not rowdy nor hysterical. They don't even sing along. But you can hear the ooh's, ahh's and gasps all throughout the show. They just stay seated while ceaselessly clapping along to the music. My hands were actually aching by trying to keep up with them. By the end of a performance, the applause becomes deafening. You'll even see some fans giving a standing ovation but they'll sit right back once the lights dim in preparation for the next skater. Throwing of flowers and gifts may be prohibited but the sound of applause totally makes up for it.

I can't remember the exact order of performances so here's the official list from TV Tokyo:

And here are the highlights for me:

• Nobu was the first solo skater and it was my first time to see him skate. He was so serious! Totally different from his personality off-ice.
• Seeing Akko on the ice made me teary-eyed. How lucky am I to see her skate after her retirement from competitive skating? I will surely miss her elegance on ice.
• I love Javi but I was kind of disappointed that he didn't skate to "Aerobics Class" which is my favorite program of his. :( His SP was fantastic though and he looks really good in person.
• The Shib Sibs' "Michael Jackson medley" was so fun to watch. I love their vlogs but I also love the way they skate.
• Kana!!! I love how she skates super fast which is unusual for a girl. She fell during one of her jumps but her performance was nonetheless entertaining.
• Tatsuki!!! I was surprised that he was the next skater because his silhouette was so slim. His jumps were beautiful and I held my breath as he took off for each one. Amazing skater.
• Seeing Shizuka skate made me realize why Yuzu looked up to her so much. Her Ina Bauer is flawless! The best one I've seen so far. Yes, even better than Yuzu's. *goosies*
• The all-boys "The Walker" number is hands down my favorite from the first act where we get to use our glow sticks as the words “みなさんもご参加下さい” (Everyone, please participate) flashed on the big screen. Define organized fangirling! The entire gymnasium was lit up like it was filled with fireflies. So pretty! Oh and the prod number included lifts and guess who was the lucky liftee?? JAVI!!! Haha It was too funny!
• There was a 25-minute break which I initially thought was pretty long but it turns out, it was just right as the queue for the restroom was also excruciatingly long. MRT levels!! So we spent the entire break queuing up then running like mad to make it in time for the second act.
• The second act opened with Shizuka introducing Team Japan. She gave a little speech about how we all have problems that we are going through and how we can conquer them all as long as we stand together as one. ♥
• Then Team Japan came out to skate to Fukuyama Masaharu's latest single "Kazoku ni Naroyo" (Let's Become a Family). If it's not obvious enough, I love Team Japan! Their rapport truly shines through which made the performance really moving. I especially love how Yuzu stood in front of our section most of the time. Hihi Meant to be! ♥
• Jeffrey's rendition of OneRepublic's "Counting Stars" was really fun and I couldn't help but sing along. His energy on the ice is really something. I can totally picture him skating to "Parisienne Walkways" which he choreographed for Yuzu.
• I'm not used to hearing "Romeo and Juliet"** without seeing Yuzu on the ice. But since it was being performed by Qing Pang and Jian Tong (Sochi Pair Bronze Medalists) it only made sense for a pair to use it for skate music. I've liked them ever since I saw them skate to "I Dreamed a Dream" in the Sochi Gala. I found myself standing by the end of their performance. So amazing!
• Surprisingly, I really liked PChan's program. The way he utilizes his entire body when he skates is truly exceptional. No wonder he's a favorite even among his fellow skaters. I also felt that his choice of music was on point with what he's currently going through as a skater.
• MAO-CHAN!!! It was amazing to see her skate in person. Without any pressure to win, her confidence was at an all-time high and you can really tell how much she enjoys skating which resulted to a flawless performance.
• HANYU YUZURU-SENSHU!!! Aaa the moment I've been waiting for is finally here! Tatsuki introduced him as the gold medalist who loves Pooh-san and who is, of course, a genius skater. Yuzu skated to "Hana ni Nare" and surprisingly, I didn't cry…a lot! Haha As usual, Yuzu sang along (I did too) and maybe he got caught in the moment (yet again) because he failed to land his opening quad. :( Seeing him fall in person was even more heartbreaking but knowing Yuzu, he recovered quickly and skated the rest of his program flawlessly. Ah his axel is just perfect~! And the Ina Bauer? Dramatic as ever. A dream come true indeed! The only thing missing is Sashida Fumiya himself.

The cast skated to "Don't Stop Believin'" to close the show and it was wonderful. During the encore, I witnessed a Yuzu x Javi moment as Javi brushed Yuzu's head when he came up to his side. I nearly died from too much kilig. ♥♥♥

Lastly, the cast skated around the rink to greet fans and on the last lap, Yuzu stayed behind to show off/try and land his quad loop…which he failed to do so. Hahaha The crowd gasped as he struggled to tuck his feet in which resulted to him just jumping in the air with his legs spread out. Haha The crowd laughed along with him as he realized his mistake which was just too cute!!! *u* Not to be discouraged though, he skated one more lap in preparation for another attempt. This time, he was able to take off with his legs tucked in but failed to land it. Seeing him fall on the ice again (and closer this time) was even more heartbreaking than the first time. </3 I hope he masters his quads soon in time for the next season.

The cast bowed once more as they thanked the crowd and left everyone wanting more. We left the stadium with exclamations of “Subarashi~!” (How wonderful~!) all around us. And indeed, it was a wonderful experience. I promised myself that I would do everything I can to be able to watch Worlds 2015 in Beijing. I just can't wait to see Yuzu skate again! <3


*Yuzu = lemon
**And now I can't stop listening to Josh Groban's Un Giorno Per Noi. Sooooooo good!!! :(((((

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), and Sera
Travel date: April 13, 2013 [Day 5]

Bohstun

So I'm going back to Boston in four days time. I'm not too psyched about the 19-hour flight but hey, I'll probably sleep my way through it or blog about my recent Japan (2.0) trip if my eyelids stay up long enough. Oh and I'm not too excited about being away for two months and missing Ate's law school graduation either but still, I have nothing but thanksgiving for the outpouring of blessings. At least I have the weekend trips to look forward to. Not to mention Memorial Day (SALE!!!!), and the experience I'd gain from this business trip. Three different trips in a month? CRAAAAZY! But thank You, Lord, for keeping me safe and sane.

I'm OC and I know it.

Oh Google Drive, what will I do without you?

Nothing excites me like planning for a trip. Sure, it can get pretty stressful at times but planning ahead always pays off in the end. Not only can you get early bird discounts on hotels, but the web is also brimming with discount coupons to some tourist attractions! Some discounts are even exclusive for foreigners. *I feel special hihi* And by booking in advance, you lessen the expenses during your actual trip so you don't have feel too bad about it. So far, so good. All that's left to do is to is exchange some PHP to USD, and pack my things then I'm all set. 5 DAYS TO GO!!! Oh Japan, how I've missed you badly! I can't wait to get back to your lovely spring breeze, mouth-watering food, kawaii-filled streets, crazy railroad system, and the beautiful sakura trees of course. :((

Skwala Lumpoor* in Kuala Lumpur

Around an hour into the bus ride, we found ourselves getting off at the border to go through Singapore's immigration and customs, and then on to Malaysia. I was amazed at how physically close the two countries were. When we got to Malaysia's immigration, Karly got through with ease but an officer saw my cousin's passport and announced to the entire room that those with Philippine passports should line up at a specific counter. WHATTHEACTUALFRACK? It was clearly discrimination right there but I let it go because I know that there are a$$holes in this world. It didn't end right there though. The officer actually asked my cousin how much money she has or is planning to spend in Malaysia. ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME?! Don't you have a form for that? I have visas from three different OECD countries and never in my entire traveling life have I been asked such ridiculous questions. It was really infuriating especially since I wasn't even that excited to visit Malaysia. If it wasn't part of ASEAN, I probably wouldn't even bother. Good job, immigration officers. You're doing your part in promoting your country's tourism. If this is what you mean by "Truly Asia," I am disgusted and insulted as an Asian. I wish the government would refrain from letting rude people work for them because they're not doing their country's image any good. And that goes out to all countries. Not just Malaysia nor the Philippines.

Oh well, moving on to the better parts of our Malaysia trip. I'm glad we decided to travel to KL at night. We were greeted by the magnificent view of the Petronas Twin Towers. We were taking pictures even while we're on the bus. So when the bus came to a halt, we decided to go straight to the majestic towers instead of our hostel. It looked so beautiful at night, we just had to take a closer look and take more pictures. Yup, even with luggage in tow!

The Petronas Twin Towers look even more magnificent at night.

We left our luggage in a seemingly secure place, visible to where we're standing while taking pictures. I don't think anyone would even attempt to take them as it would be too difficult to carry it around without being noticed.

Singapura Take 2

The first time I was in Singapore, I didn't think I'd be back any time soon. Or ever. For me, it's worth visiting only once. It's a small country after all and if you're after the cultural experience rather than shopping for signature brands, there's not really much to do. As I'm not one to travel just to go shopping abroad, I wasn't really planning on visiting it again.

Dinner with Nee-chan and Karly @ Yellow Cab, NAIA Terminal 3

But guess who's back in less than a year? Both Nee-chan and Karly haven't been to SG yet so we decided to make it the first stop in our South-East Asia (SEA) adventure. Don't get me wrong, Singapore is a beautiful and extremely clean country. But there's only one thing that can make me want to come back again and again in a certain place. Food. And from the last time I was there, it didn't really leave a lasting impression on me. I went home barely craving for anything from Singapore. I don't think Reese's White Peanut Butter Cups and flavored Yakult count as authentic Singaporean cuisine, right?

SK 2012: Ah chuketta~!

South Korea is definitely one of those places you'll never get tired of coming back to. Free visa, promo fares, cheap accommodation, convenient public transport, beautiful tourist destinations, tasty local food, shopping paradise, and really helpful locals. What more can you ask for? Probably a longer stay, that's what!

Photo credits: PleasureTripping.com, Skyscanner, Google, SheKnowsCanada

Our last day in Seoul was all a blur after we started packing our stuff. It was so hard trying to fit all of our clothes AND purchases in our luggage. Honestly, our room looked more like a WWF ring rather than an all girls room. We were all trying to lock down our suitcases by sitting on top of them or just hugging them tight until they give up and finally choke close down. It was so exhausting, I literally passed out while packing. In my defense, I don't over-pack. But I do over-buy and I try to fit everything in one luggage. Thanks to compressor bags, I can fit 30kgs worth of stuff into a 20-25kgs luggage. >:)

On our way back from Mr. Pizza, Faye and I had this crazy idea to skip going to bed and just stay awake until our red-eye flight back to Manila. We wanted to go around Hongdae one last time and get our pictures taken at Psy's billboard. Obviously, that didn't happen. Haha I couldn't even remember lying down. Or even putting one sock on. The next thing I know, Vanie was shaking me to get up. She was already dressed in her outdoor clothes so that woke me up pretty well.

It turns out, I fell asleep while organizing stuff in my handbag. Thankfully, I managed to finish all my check-in luggage. I actually put on a sock to get ready for our mini adventure. Unfortunately, I passed out before I even put on my other sock! HAHA We were so bangag at 4:30 AM, we all had boo-boo's of our own. But as a true friend, I wouldn't disclose the other girls' Oops! moments here. Just know that I wasn't alone in my kasabawan. Hihi

So I woke up in a semi-trance and just started shoving everything onto my handbag and put my other sock on, my boots, and my coat. I was out the door with all my things when I realized we were actually leaving Seoul. :(

And as if the feeling's mutual, we were greeted by Seoul's bitter cold weather as we walked out the door. It was so cold, it's like the wind is telling us to just stay indoors. We had to leave though whether we like it or not. So after fitting all our stuff in the call-van, we said our goodbyes to Mr. Choi. And we were off to the airport!

Since we had time (and wons) to spare, Faye and I went shopping while the others had breakfast at Lotteria. Funny how we kept coming back to the counter with more and more stuff until we've used up all our T-money and wons. When we're done, we went back to Lotteria to have breakfast and eat some of the lovely cupcakes Karen gave us. :)

And then it was time to finally board the plane. Sure, leaving Seoul made me sad. But the good news is, I slept all throughout the flight so it wasn't so bad.

When I got home, I realized I got a lot of Kim Soo Hyun stuff. And most of them were freebies. 8D Apparently, he's really hot in SK right now. His standees are everywhere! How I wish I could have seen the real thing though.

Lots and lots of service!

Oh and I also brought home a lot of service as Koreans like to call it which is basically the same as freebies. They're mostly free samples of beauty products.

You know you've had a great time when your map ends up looking like this. Seoul, once again you've been too nice! I'll see you soon, promise. Hopefully, in spring. :)

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.

Loooong Weekend

Upon hearing the good news yesterday, we excitedly searched for candidate destinations and talked about them over lunch. Sure, Quezon City Day falling on a weekend was a downer but God indeed has better plans for us. Hello, 4-day weekend! Obviously, we didn't want to pass up this chance to go on vacation without having to file vacation leaves. But with a tight budget in mind (because of our South Korea trip in November), it was quite challenging to plan our little getaway.

Sagad sa Sagada: I survived!

Breakfast at Salt and Pepper

On the way back from Echo Valley, we couldn't decide if we should have breakfast at Masferre or stick to our itinerary and eat at Salt and Pepper.  After asking Kuya Gareth's (Kuya G from here on out just because it's easier to type) opinion, we opted for Salt and Pepper since it was near the SaGGAs office and we could settle our dues while waiting for our food.

Erin and I shared our food once again and this time, we had Mushroom and Cheese Omelet with an additional side order of Toast and Honey.  Plus, Hot Chocolate for me (not Mountain this time).  Our other friends ordered Tapsilog and Longsilog.  While waiting for our food, we played with the restaurant's puppy, Lucky.  He's so friendly, he reminded me of Kero-chan.  He kept on licking my hands and made me rub his belly.  Too cute!  But I had to stop petting him before my Hygienix runs out.

Kuya G dropped by with Kuya Kirky and told us that they have something for us.  We were all excited and joked that it was sweet of them to give us Kuya Kirky. HAHA   The real surprise?  Certificates for everyone!  We joked about receiving certificates during our spelunking adventure but I never thought they'd take it seriously.  All the activities we accomplished we're checked and it was even signed by all our tour guides.  Aww how sweet!  We had a little graduation/awarding ceremony and that kind of made it official.  We survived Sagada!

First row: At Salt and Pepper where our awarding ceremony was held.  Chos!  Second row: The proud graduates and Lucky, the fluffy and friendly dog.  Third row: Mayee and her new found love, Kuya Kevin.  Vanie and Mabel with their certificates.

Back to Salt and Pepper.  The food was delish!  The price range is between Php 100-150.  Unlike other restaurants in Sagada though, their servings are good for one.  Their honey was exceptionally good so we decided to order another batch of Toast and Honey.  And when that was still not enough, we bought bottles of their honey for us to take home.  Only for Php 150!

Sagad sa Sagada: Cloudy with a chance of sunrise

Before sunrise at Kiltepan Peak

What better way to start our last day in Sagada than waking up at 4 AM, right?  Surprisingly, we managed to drag ourselves out of bed and got ready in under 30 minutes while still half-asleep (I left the room without a jacket on while Vanie with her Havs on instead of her trusty Tribu sandals HAHA #bangag) all with the hope of catching the breathtaking sunrise at Kiltepan Peak.  Ansabe ng sakit ng katawan that we got from two days full of extreme activities??  As the boys put it, "Bakit kailangan pa mag-sunrise, araw-araw naman sumisikat ang araw?"  Sarap lang batukan, di ba?  Even with the boys' lack of enthusiasm, all the girls (except Rach) were still up for it and as expected, so is Kuya Gareth (Kuya G from now on, ok?).  He greeted us with an energetic and a bit loud "Good morning!!!" when he picked us up from Bagalima to which I responded with a weak smile and a nod.  I doubt if he even saw that but hey, that's the best I could do at 4:30 in the morning!

Front row seats, baby!

It was still dark outside as we made our way to Kiltepan Peak.  The air was chilly and perfect for sleeping in but after eating several pieces of mini mamons, I got my energy back.  When we got to the site, there were some people hanging out and having breakfast around a bonfire.  It seemed like a cool place to set up camp.  A few people were also already gathered by the viewing area but luckily, our tour guide knows his way through and led us to a free spot which I think is the best spot since we got front row seats to catch the sunrise.  We were literally sitting on the ledge of a rock.  I even overheard some tourist say, "Di ba delikado na dyan?" but after 3 days of being with our guides, I've learned to trust them.  Ngayon pa ba ako magdo-doubt?  After all, I owe them my life.

Sagad sa Sagada: The Climb

Sagada Challenge #2: Pongas Waterfalls

It might seem impossible to wake up at 6:30 AM after yesterday's spelunking adventure but surprisingly, all of us were able to get out of bed in time to grab some power breakfast at Yoghurt House.  Actually, I was up by 4 AM thanks to our neighbor whom I overheard talking loudly about how late it already was and how it was almost 7 AM. =.=  That woke me up pretty well.  Siya na ang late at 4 AM!

Power breakfast at Yoghurt House.  Sinong naka-racerback & board shorts at 7AM?  Blame it on the Hot Mountain Chocolate!

Due to the huge servings in Sagada, Erin and I decided to share our food.  We ordered one of their bestsellers, Hiker's Delight, which consists of a banana-filled crepe, toast, eggs and yoghurt with strawberries.  Some of them tried the Mountain Tea while I tried the Hot Mountain Chocolate.  Hiker's Delight was indeed delightful and really filling!  The Hot Mountain Chocolate drink, however, was bit of a downer.  At least for me.  I took a couple of sips and that was it.  That was enough to make me take my cardigan off!  They weren't kidding when they said it was extra hot.  Gumuguhit e, parang may alcohol!

Surprisingly, my favorite among our orders was Mabel's Tuna and Cheese Omelet.  It was soooooo good!  I wanted to finish the whole plate if I wasn't already full and if Mabel wasn't looking at me so threateningly.  Tip #14: Load up on carbs before doing any activity in Sagada.  You'll need it.

Sagad sa Sagada: All about facing your fears

Afraid of the dark?  Yep.  Terrified of heights?  Oh, yeah.  Claustrophobic?  You have no idea.  OC?  Definitely.  Control freak?  Absolutely.  So why in the world did I even sign up for cave connection?  Well, I'd like to believe my love for traveling and thirst for adventure are greater than my fears.  Or I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy and a certified kaladkarin.  Go lang ng go!

Caving vs Spelunking.  According to Kuya Gareth (Kuya G from now on just because it's easier to type) aka our resident Kuya Kim, both terms refer to exploring caves but the difference is: caving is done by professionals while spelunking is more like a hobby which is done by amateurs.  Like us.

Sagada Challenge #1: Cave Connection (Lumiang and Sumaging Caves)

May the odds be ever in our favor!  Fun fact: Several coffins have lizards engraved on them which symbolize long life and good fortune.

For cave connection, the starting point would be at Lumiang Cave and the exit point will be at Sumaging Cave.  The whole activity usually takes 4-6 hours depending on how many times you stop for photo ops.  Chos!  Seriously though, photo ops did take a lot of our time.  The usual ratio of guides to spelunkers is 1:4.  Since there are 12 of us in the group, I expected us to have 3-4 guides.  We were all surprised when we had 6 guides with us so that's 1:2.

Missing Thailand, one dish at a time

Today, I got my first taste of authentic Mango and Sticky Rice (Kanin Club) - as in the native delicacy and not the Blizzard version.  Pathetic, I know.  But in my defense, I rarely eat kakanin so no need to be judgmental.

Kanin Club's Mango and Sticky Rice

Kanin Club's version has macapuno and chocnut bits sprinkled on top of it.  Ahh heavenly~!  Perfect for me and my sweet tooth.  It made me miss Thailand though where my love for this wonderful pair started.

Sagad sa Sagada: Let the (mis)adventures begin!

En route to Sagada

A lot can happen during lunch and merienda breaks.  Our Sagada adventure started out as nothing but wishful thinking during one lunch time chismisan.  In less than two months, we made it happen just in time for our batch's 4th anniversary.

The breathtaking view you get to enjoy if you take the Benguet route.  Unfortunately, I was asleep most of the time.

Travel buddies: Erin (organizer), Mabel, Vanie, Mayee, Faye, Tuns, Jeng (oganizer), Arvin, Rach, Eric and Meg

ETD from Cubao (via Victory Liner): 9:00 PM (tickets cost Php 450)
ETA in Baguio: 3:00 AM
ETD from Baguio (via Lizardo Bus): 6:00 AM (tickets cost Php 220)
ETA in Sagada: 11:00 AM

One might think that 12 hours on the road is crazy but I'm up for it - I've had worse.  The latest being the 8-hour ride turned 12+ hours from Cambodia to Thailand on a hot summer day.  At least our destination this time has cooler temperature so sleeping won't be a problem for me as I usually sleep my way through long trips be it by land, sea or air.  All I need are my trusty travel pillow, sleep mask, earphones and an iPod, and I'm good to go.

Since all of us are first-timers in Sagada, we decided to take the Benguet route instead of Bontoc.  The view is said to be breathtaking plus there will be a stop over in Baguio so we'll have time to take a breather before heading to Sagada.

Another beginning

Travel blogs fascinate me.  The way bloggers sum up their travel experiences into a post and select a handful of favorites from thousands of photos amaze me.  From reading travel blogs, I discover new places to explore, exciting dishes to try, life lessons to learn, and tips I can use on my next adventure.  Not only do they make me excited for my upcoming trips, they also encourage me to go on more ambitious ones.  These blogs inspire me to become not just a better traveler, but a better person as well.

So last week, as I was doing research on Begnas* (I seriously need a cure for my Sagada hangover, I know), I found new travel blogs to follow and fell in love with their posts and pictures.  I excitedly shared these blogs with my friends over merienda and their reaction was something I didn't expect.

Friends: Hey, why don't you start your own travel blog?  You've been to a lot of places already, I'd love to read about your adventures!  Sure, you tweet or instagram a couple things but a blog might be better.  *Cue: hilarious blog name suggestions*

Me: Ehhh I can't do that!  I would just get depressed from reminiscing my previous travels wishing I was back there and not here blogging away.  Plus, I can't even take good photos.  Heck, I can't even upload photos (which I didn't even take) on time!  I'm too lazy!  Masipag lang ako mag-comment.

 Friends: Yun nga e!

And that got me thinking.  As I've learned from traveling, you can't say you can't do it unless you've given it a try.  So why don't I give blogging another try?  I won't guarantee this to be purely a travel blog but it'll be the main focus for sure.  After all, traveling is possibly my greatest love.  Plus, I can't even squeeze in all my stories in my teeny, tiny Filed organizer. HAHA

So, come join me in another adventure? ;)



*A cultural festival celebrated 3 times a year (where Igorots dress up in their traditional clothes complete with accessories and weapons).  Each celebration is based on the agricultural calendar of the I-sagadas (Sagadians).  Lucky are the tourists who get to experience this festival as there are no exact dates.  The dates are only made known at least 2-4 days before the festival.  - SaGGAs