Heart Yngrid's Blog, page 22
September 30, 2012
Ni Hao, Macao!
Macao/Macau, China! Before I went here I did not know anything about this place, honestly and I wasn't expecting anything grand there. But I was wrong. Macau was fab! Okay, let me start the story:
Ferry ticket to Macau
The first trip was 8:00am and we were determined to catch the first trip kaso medyo na-late kami ng 10 minutes. Medyo naligaw kami papunta sa China Ferry Terminal. We just traveled on foot along the Harbour City. We caught the second trip which is 30 minutes later lang naman from the first one.
This was actually my first time to ride a ferry. And because of lack of sleep, I got nauseous that I actually grabbed this vomit bag from the front seat but thank heavens I didn't get to use it.
Pero 30 minutes din akong parang zombie na parang hinahalukay ng mga maligno ang sikmura.
It wasn't fun at all! My first ferry ride was a disaster. When we got off the ferry finally, feeling ko I just escaped from hell. But the ferry was clean and organized, it's just that nauseous feeling during the trip that I despised.
Thank heavens the ferry ride ordeal was over. Hehe.
And Macau welcomed us
As we went outside the Macau ferry terminal, we were greeted by a lot of tourist guides. Most of them were Filipinos, actually. At ang kukulit nila. Meron dung isang ale na ansarap pektusan sa sobra kakulitan. hehe. Pero ganun siguro talaga. They have to earn money. Anyway, we didn't avail of their service coz we intend to explore Macau by ourselves. What amused me in Macau was the fact that they have a lot of shuttle buses roaming around the city. And you can ride these buses for FREE. Yes. Macau offers free transportation! Isn't it cool? They will drop you off to certain landmark places like hotels and casino. So, basically, strolling in Macau is very cheap!!! And their tourists spots do not collect entrance fees! Cool, right? Para sa mga kuripot na layas na tulad ko? lol.
We had breakfast at a Noodle House and visited Fisherman's Wharf later then we rode the shuttle bus to The Venetian. Oh, by the way, their shuttle buses were so clean like HK's. So nice!
At the Fisherman's Wharf
With Ate Agnes
And then we'd reached The Venetian--the place inspired by Venice, Italy. This is where Boys Over Flower (Korean Drama) shoot some of the scenes for their Macau trip! Very cool!!! Imagine, nakaapak na ako sa place na pinuntahan ni Lee Min Ho my oppa!? The place was so awesome. The clouds above looked real. I strolled along alone feeling nasa Venice. There were a lot of signature shops scattered along the hall. Ang saya!
This is the spot where Jan Di and Jun Pyo talked
We rode the bus again and went to City Of Dreams. They have theater shows and stuff like Bubble Show, Vquarium, Dragon Treasure etc. We skipped the viewing coz they might take a lot of our time so proceeded to the next destination.
City Of Dreams
Their Almond Cookies are addictive
Senado Square was the coolest! Imagine, isang spot sandamukal ang destinations! And the best thing is everything is free! You just have to walk and walk and there's tourist spot in every corner. San Ma Lo street were filled with food booths that sell Beef Jerky and Dimsum. Souvenir shops were also scattered along the street. Mabubusog ka na sa tanawin, mabubusog ka pa sa food and souvenirs. Foods were not that expensive but the souvenir items were expensive especially the bags.
You won't get lost with these very stylish road signs
Ruins of St. Paul Cathedral
Amongst all the spots that I'd seen, this one is my favorite. Ruins of St. Paul looked so beautiful! I have penchant with ruins. Hihingalin ka sa pag-akyat tapos biglang pagpasok mo walang walls! haha. Sa harap lang pala may nakatayong structure. Kaya nga ruins! hehe.
Romantic statue below the ruins
We were so exhausted from the all day walk so we decided to make the Grand Lisboa our last stop. This hotel was amazing! Excellent architecture!
Outside the Grand Lisboa
What I love about Macau: Free transportation. The Venetian. Senado Square. St. Paul Ruins. Almond Cookies.
What I don't like about Macau: Grumpy people (especially that sour-faced salesman who sells Almond Cookies). Ferry terminal's verrrry dirty comfort room.
Will I consider returning? YES! I would like to stay here for two nights in my return.
April 19, 2012
My Hong Kong Escapade.
I should have blogged about this last year but due to my busy schedule (as if!) and extreme laziness (that's more convincing, yeah), I had to put off making kuwento about my trip to HK and Macau.
To start my kuwento, I was not a travel person because I am so kuripot. I prefer buying things that I can use for years rather than going to a place and stay there for just a few days. Praktikal lang. But yes, like most people, I dreamed of traveling around the world and explore the beauty of different countries and learn about their cultures. But I am not rich. So, I didn't really fuss about not being able to travel abroad, especially when I haven't tried to explore my own country yet. And so, I told myself, "No, Ayi, you won't get to travel to HK. Never. mangarap ka na lang, libre pa."
So, I was extremely surprised that the time would actually come that I got to travel to HK. And not only there, I even had a peek of Macau! Akalain mo yun! And so my real kuwento starts here...
At the NAIA. Camwhoring while waiting for our flight.
September 25, 2011, I was all giddy, I only had an hour of sleep! Tired from the booksigning the day before, yet I had enough energy to stay awake because I was totally excited. Together with Ate Agnes, Vic, Ate Chai and Ate Mitch, we boarded a Cebu Pacific flight to HK at 8am. We arrived at the HK Airport at 10am. The first thing that came out of my mouth was "Ni Hao, Hong Kong!" I was just so happy I finally set foot on another country. Yey! I told myself, "Bye for now, Pinas! Yes! Nakalayas din ako sa 'yo sa wakas!" Haha, don't get me wrong. I love my country. Nakakasawa lang. It's about time that I see slit-eyed people everywhere I look nang wala ako sa Ongpin.
HK AIRPORT. Picture muna before going to the hotel.
Food na treat ng HK readers namin. Thanks, guys!
So, the HK airport was very neat and huge. We were fetched by one of our readers who works in HK. We took the bus to Tsim Sha Tsui or simply called TST (kung ayaw mo ng tongue-twister). The bus' code was A21. In HK, they have codes for buses going to different places. Kung sa Pinas, may placards para makita yung destination ng bus, dun wala. Only bus codes. And they do not have "kundoktor". They are very hi-tech. You can pay using an "Octopus Card" which you only tap on the surface of a sensor thingy or if you do not have that card, you can pay in bills. You just have to drop it in a metal box that spins every time you drop money. Very neat and organized ang sistema nila no? My first HK bus ride (with 2nd floor) was like riding a carousel for the first time. Ganoon kasaya! Sobrang ingay ko sa bus coz I couldn't help my kilig as I watched the view outside the bus window. Wow, HK looked very nice! Para lang akong si Inday na first time nakapunta sa Maynila sa kakatingala sa mga buildings. LOL. My heart was filled with so much anticipation. Wapakels kahit hindi namin alam paano kami gagala sa place na yun nang walang tour guide. We were glad anyway that some people offered us help. Thanks to Glenda and especially to Grace for the help and food na rin coz they treated us for lunch at a Japanese resto where we were able to meet some readers who work there. So from booksigning yesterday, para na rin kaming nagbooksigning ulit this day. But it was fun.
Cosmic Guest House. I won't come back here. Promise.
We checked in at Cosmic Guest House that cost us 1,540HKD (8,740php) for two rooms (1 for 4 people and 1 for 2). Praktikal kami, we did not want to shell out money for a luxurious hotel stay since tutulugan lang naman coz basically, we went there not to sleep, we went there to make gala until we drop! Cosmic! I do NOT recommend this hostel. Their rooms were not very clean and they have unfriendly staff (actually, I think, yung nasa front desk nila, yun din yung owner). Akalain mo, minalditahan pa ako ng tsekwa!
Strolling along the streets of TST.
Here's the scenario: Yung electric outlets kasi nila, triple yung hole. As in lahat! Come on! So, I asked the woman at the front desk if they have adapters so we could use the outlets and man, she did not provide it for free! She charged me 3HKD for an adapter! Kalorki! At mind you, nakuha pa akong pagsabihan. Sabi ba naman "You have to be prepared when you visit HK!" in maldita tone. Ay, Ka-imbyernadet sembrano si Ateh! Muntik ko nang makarate. Buti na lang matanda kundi pinatulan ko talaga. At ipinagpilitan pa na sa Pinas daw, 110 volts ang electric outlets. Hello, sino bang Pinoy sa atin, teh? Diba ako? So, if you're a budget traveler who's planning to go to HK and you're searching for a decent hostel, please do not be misled by their professional-looking websites. Do not pick hostels that are located at Mirador Mansion because the building was a mess, not a mansion. We definitely regret booking in this hostel. But it's okay. Cowgirls naman kami. Masaya pa rin!
Disney Train. Ang lakas maka-Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Back to the story: After eating lunch with some readers, they led us to Disneyland! Yey! We purchased "Octopus Card" for 150HKD that we could use to practically anywhere--from transportation to shopping! How cool is that! We took the subway. Bow ako sa subway nila! Sobrang linis and hi-tech! They called it MTR. We had an MTR map that at first we found complicated, but later on, na-gets na din namin. I love their subway so much! So chuchalin! :D Especially the train from Sunny Bay to Disneyland with window panes that have Mickey Mouse' head's shape. The train was totally cute!
SUBWAY. The orange line moves from one circle to another as the train moves to each station.
And as we reached the HK Disneyland Resort, I had quick reminiscence (syempre kailangan mag-drama ng konti). I recalled when I was just a kid, I've always dreamed of going to Disneyland but I always told myself I won't ever get there. So, when I finally saw the Disney castle, my heart fluttered like crazy. I told myself "This is a dream come true! I am not a kid anymore but there would always be this kid in me who longs for things like this."(Tsarlot! nag-nosebleed pa ako sa POV ko!)
We were able to get Disneyland ticket for 320HKD (1,760php) and Ocean Park Ticket for 250HKD (1,375php) at The World Wide Plaza (where PHR readers in HK buy our books). So, as we stepped inside the Disneyland, we were welcomed by a familiar sight. Old American style pala ang HK Disneyland, nai-associate ko siya sa Enchanted Kingdom. So, this is where EK got their architectural design. (I'm clueless about how the other Disneylands look though). The Disney Castle was awesome! I suddenly imagined I was a princess and my prince was there... waiting to be kissed... ay, palaka!
Anyway, HK Disneyland was LOVE! But I didn't love the weather that day. Umaambon-ambon, umuulan-ulan. Lakas makapanira ng pag-accomplish ko sa "childhood dream" ko. But I noticed, everywhere I look, lahat ng rides, pambata! So, ayun, we didn't try the kiddie rides at baka mapagkamalan pa kaming retarded (though I was tempted to try one :P). But we did try a few not-so-kiddie ones. Favorite ko yung Jungle Cruise saka Philhar Magic. We visited the Disney store where everything was expensive! And strolled along the parks and ate choco waffles and octopus snack in the food booth (I’m really not sure what exactly we were eating).
I <3 HK Disneyland!
Due to the bad weather, di namin nalibot ang buong Disneyland, plus all my companions were exhausted (maybe because of lack of sleep). But I was surprisingly energetic even if I only had an hour of sleep! I was so sad I didn’t get the chance to ride the Space Mountain (rollercoaster inside a big hump). Wala kasi akong kasama kasi takot sila. Sobrang sayang, though. I just promised to myself that when I come back there, iyang Space Mountain na iyan ang unang-unang sasakyan ko!
The Disney Castle
We watched the parade, took pictures with Goofy and waited for the main event—fireworks display! And wow, the fireworks and the castle’s display of lights with music from Disney blew me away! It was one of the most amazing sights I’ve seen in my life so far! While watching, it brought back the memories of my childhood (only the ones that I remember because I have a typical case of childhood amnesia) and it almost brought me to tears. That moment was magical. It warmed my heart. I was really thankful I had the chance to witness that spectacular sight in this lifetime. Akala ko ako lang ang nag-moment ng ganun. Aba, sila din pala! Mga emo! LOL. Napunta lang sa HK, nagsi-EMO-han na! But no, maybe that was really the effect to everyone who watches the fireworks display—you will feel nostalgic. Anyway, as we went back to the guest house, we were all happy na. Nawala ‘yong frustrations dahil sa bad weather and exhaustion due to lack of sleep.
Jungle River Cruise
Pagbalik sa guest house, lahat palakda. Ako, dilat na dilat. I took a shower pa nang madaling araw, had a two-hour sleep and when I woke up at 6am, they were all still asleep, I took a shower again and waited for them to wake up. Pagkagising nila, nagulat sila kasi gising pa ako at may towel sa ulo. Sabi nila isa akong aswang. LOL. Ganyan talaga ako pag giddy at sobrang saya. Wapakels kahit walang tulog.
At Mickey's Philhar Magic
DAY 2 was our Macau sidetrip. Skip ko chika dito kasi I will make separate entry for this. Doon tayo sa part ng day na ito na bumalik na kami from Macau to TST. And so we were walking down the most chuchaling street sa TST where LV, Gucci, Prada are naglipana—Harbour City! Nagpanggap akong sosyalera since naka-LV bag naman ako. So, ayun window shopping kami. As in literal na window shopping kasi hanggang windows lang kami ng mga luxury shops. LOL.
May hinahanap na store si Ate Mitch at Vic, so we were dragged along. Pero biglang nagkaroon ng isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari na nagpahiwalay sa aming landas… (cue in teleserye background music) Bigla kami na lang ni Ate Chai ang magkasama! Kaya kumain na lang kami ng dumpling sa sidewalk! Yey! Sarap ng dumplings nilang kulay green. Di ko lang ma-gets bakit wala silang paper plate, like yung ginagamit sa kikiam, fishballs sa Pinas. Naisip ko tuloy, “Hmp! Buti pa sa Pinas, may paper plate! Take me back to my country!” Chos lang!
Holding hands with Goofy. Ayieee!
After namin lumafang ng dimsum, we decided to go back to the guest house to see if they’re there pero wala so I dragged Ate Chai to go gala galore along TST! Para kaming naglaro ng Dora, Dora, Dora, the explorer ni Ate Chai hihi! We had to find the way to The Avenue Of Stars, Clock Tower and Star Ferry, minus the backpack (sagot ko na ang bangs! LOL). We were hoping we could catch the Symphony Of Lights at 8pm.
Nagkandaligaw-ligaw kami. I know, I have the poorest sense of direction. Sorry, Ate Chai, for dragging you into this mess. So, nag-lapse na ang 8pm pero di pa namin natutunton ang isa man sa hinahanap namin. Nakakatawa lang kasi yung mga tsekwa na napagtanungan namin, di nila alam yung Symphony of Lights Stars Avenue??? I mean, hello? Do they live there? Come on! Naubos na ang baon kong English, wala pa rin kaming napapala. Parang gusto na naming maglupasay ni Ate Chai sa kalsada sa frustration. But good thing, di naman kami humantong sa ganong tagpo! We’d managed to find the way towards the Star Ferry through the street signs. Dapat pala diniretso na lang namin ang Nathan Road!
Chochalera sa Harbour City
The first thing we saw was the Clock Tower. So, camwhoring galore kami ni At Chai (o ako lang yata LOL). You know what they say that you’d only get to know someone well when you two get together alone? Thanks to this experience, nalaman ko na talented writer si Ate Chai pero wala siyang talent sa photography! LOL. Ate Chai, peace! You know, I love you! You’re the kindest person for me and your kindness often makes me feel like I’m a devil. :P After my pictorial at the clock, we went up the deck. Ansarap lang ng hangin sa deck, at sobrang ganda ng overlooking—the Symphony of Lights, minus the moving lights, if you get what I mean. A young Chinese couple asked me something in Chinese language which of course I didn’t understand. Then they came back to me and told me “Please take picture,” and handed me their camera. And so I did… take picture of myself. Bakit ba, eh wala naman silang sinabi na sila ang kukuhanan ko! Chos! Yes, I did take their picture together. Naiinggit naman ako nang slight. Ang sweet kasi nila. Naalala ko tuloy ang nakaraan namin ni Dao Ming Si noong kinakantahan pa niya ako ng Wo Shi Zhanda Zhanda Zhanda Wo Ai Ni. TSARLOTS!
Clock Tower and Avenue of StarsI dragged Ate Chai inside a wide building with movie posters outside. And we found out that it was the Stars Avenue. Too bad the museum was closed. But we were able to get inside and again camwhored! After that we sat at the bench outside. Nagyaya na si Ate Chai na bumalik sa guest house. “Ayaw ko pa, Ate Chai!” in a malditang batang makulit tone. Hehe. Because Ate Chai was so kind, she didn’t press. Pinagbigyan niya ang bata… bata-isip.
At the Star Ferry deck overlooking the Symphony Of Lights
Avenue of Stars exhibit hall
Hanggang sa wakas, magsawa na ako sa kakagalugad sa place, we finally headed back to the guest house. Naabutan namin sila na nasa dreamla-la-land na. The moment I stepped inside our room, I suddenly felt extremely tired that I thought I might pass out in the next minute. Two days with no sleep at all and very tired from all the walking… and yet di pa rin ako nakatulog nang maayos. My nose was clogged, I felt dizzy, my whole body ached and I’ve no strength at all. I was a mess. Took Alaxan FR for my body pain. I was worried for tomorrow. Baka hindi na ako makasama sa Ocean Park at maratay lang ako sa kama habang sila nag-e-enjoy :( Super pray na lang ako kay Lord na sana bigyan niya ako ng strength for tomorrow. I barely slept at all. And it was a miracle that when I woke up the next morning, I felt okay. The miracle of prayers!!! (And Manny Pacquiao for vouching for Alaxan FR.)
Energy drink or Aphrodisiac? LOL
And to help me gain extra strength, I took a bottle of this energy drink I bought from 7-11 that resembled the bottle of Lipovitan-- LIBOGEN. The brand name cracked me up! They should put a note on the label that says: For Filipino buyers, please take note that this product is NOT aphrodisiac! LOL. Takot ako kasi sabi ni Ate Agnes, baka pag ininom ko yan, bigla na lang lahat ng lalaking makasalubong ko, ang tingin ko nakahubad! Hehe. On a serious note, the energy drink with a scandalous name helped me gain energy that I need for my gala galore. Thanks, LIBOGEN! :P ILY! (L means Love, just to clarify.)
HK Ocean Park spells awesomeness
HK Ocean Park was awesome!!! Before I went here, I was told by someone that HK OP was a lot more funner than the Disneyland. And she was right. OP is the amusement park for all ages! They have too many exciting rides and attractions! Di ito malilibot ng isang buong araw lang. If you're planning to go here, you must allocate 2 days for this place, or maybe 3! We rode the Sky Fair (a huge hot-air baloon-like ride and the Rapids. I saw a lot of Panda! They're so cute!!! We watched the dolphin and sea lion show at the Ocean Theater. We entered the Grand Aquarium and the Sea Jelly Spectacular. And the most exciting ride was the Cable Car ride! LOL. The view below was spectacular kaso nabingi ako sa kakatili ni Ate Agnes. Haha! Para siyang nakasakay sa roller coaster na may sampung loop! Sobrang taas kasi ng cable car.
We had to leave at 4pm because we had to go to The Peak Tower and Sky Terrace 360. We took a bus at humilata sa second floor. Wala naman kasing ibang nakasakay. Ang bongga talaga ng buses nila. Dalawang LED TV pa ang nasa itaas sa magkabilang side. Pwede namang isa lang. Naalala ko tuloy yung buses sa Pinas… hay ayoko na nga, nade-deflate na ang nationalistic spirit ko LOL. The view below as we ascend to the Peak was beautiful as the sun sets.
The Peak Tower
Imbes na sa Peak Tower, sa Peak Galleria kami napadpad and we had to rush to find the Peak Tower so we could watch the Symphony of Lights from the Sky Terrace above the tower. The view was beautiful from up above the tower. Medyo disappointed lang ako sa Symphony of Lights. Di naman ganun ka-spectacular. But well, the night view and the fresh air up there were good enough.
At the Sky Terrace. I don't know exactly what this big heart was about.
View of the Symphony Of Lights above the Peak Tower
Next and last destination: Ladies Market in Mongkok where you can make “tawad-tawad” and make pahabol to the tindera until they agree to your price. Iyon ang tip, if you’ll go here, wag ka agad pumayag sa presyong sasabihin nila, turn your back for a second and they’ll call you and ask you “How much you?” I was tempted to ask back “You buying me? Me is expensive! You do not afford!” LOL. Yes, I know, wrong GRAMMING siya. hehe. I have a lot of that also, so I won’t be a grammar nazi, it’s okay :P Ladies’ Market is like the Divisoria of HK. You’ll find cool, cheap items there for pasalubong.
Walking down the Mongkok street
Singit lang: Sa Peak Galleria nga pala, we dined in at Mc Donalds. I was surprised by the size of their big mac na big talaga, ng fries in big sleeve at coke in big cup for only 18HKD (99php)! Sa Pinas kasi maliit lang ang big mac, maliit pa ang fries and drinks, you would have to add a few bucks to upsize the last two items. Hmmm… naisip ko ang ripoff naman ng Philippine franchise ng McDo. Hayyy….
So after the tawarans and tanungan ng how much you, we took the subway back to guest house. We were all exhausted but all happy. We’ve survived making gala to HK even without a tour guide! For us, that was quite an achievement.
Kinabukasan, babay na sa HK. We could have stayed longer pero may pasok pa sa trabaho yung iba sa amin. Even if we had a few mishaps, like sa guest house na nakuha namin at sa mga nawalang pera… masaya pa rin! My first trip abroad had been so fun!
Pinaka-memorable moment ko siguro ‘yong kuwentahan galore namin sa bayarin habang nasa loob kami ng isa sa mga rooms na kinuha namin. Unfortunately, we are all good at words (since we’re all writers and editor. Ate Mitch was asleep so wapakels siya sa bilangan) and not at numbers. Nagsama-sama ang mga row 4 sa Math! Hayjusko! Inabot kami ng isang oras mahigit bago namin nakuha ang tamang kuwenta. Muntik na akong tumalon sa labas ng bintana dahil gusto ko nang takasan ang kuwentahan at nakakaloka na. Muntik nang bumangon sa hukay si Archimedes at pagkukutusan kaming lahat! :P
I would definitely go back to HK and I promise my next time would be a blast!
PS: Nasabat ang aking lotion at unused sunblock spray sa HK airport nung pauwi na kami. Hindi nga ako nagbayad sa check in baggage, nawalan naman ako ng 700 pesos worth of personal items.
PSS: Three days of almost no sleep at all in HK! I was amazed I was still alive when I got home!
Special thanks to Maan Beltran for providing us our itinerary. :)
My Macau escapades on my next post! :D
To start my kuwento, I was not a travel person because I am so kuripot. I prefer buying things that I can use for years rather than going to a place and stay there for just a few days. Praktikal lang. But yes, like most people, I dreamed of traveling around the world and explore the beauty of different countries and learn about their cultures. But I am not rich. So, I didn't really fuss about not being able to travel abroad, especially when I haven't tried to explore my own country yet. And so, I told myself, "No, Ayi, you won't get to travel to HK. Never. mangarap ka na lang, libre pa."
So, I was extremely surprised that the time would actually come that I got to travel to HK. And not only there, I even had a peek of Macau! Akalain mo yun! And so my real kuwento starts here...
At the NAIA. Camwhoring while waiting for our flight.
September 25, 2011, I was all giddy, I only had an hour of sleep! Tired from the booksigning the day before, yet I had enough energy to stay awake because I was totally excited. Together with Ate Agnes, Vic, Ate Chai and Ate Mitch, we boarded a Cebu Pacific flight to HK at 8am. We arrived at the HK Airport at 10am. The first thing that came out of my mouth was "Ni Hao, Hong Kong!" I was just so happy I finally set foot on another country. Yey! I told myself, "Bye for now, Pinas! Yes! Nakalayas din ako sa 'yo sa wakas!" Haha, don't get me wrong. I love my country. Nakakasawa lang. It's about time that I see slit-eyed people everywhere I look nang wala ako sa Ongpin.
HK AIRPORT. Picture muna before going to the hotel.
Food na treat ng HK readers namin. Thanks, guys!
So, the HK airport was very neat and huge. We were fetched by one of our readers who works in HK. We took the bus to Tsim Sha Tsui or simply called TST (kung ayaw mo ng tongue-twister). The bus' code was A21. In HK, they have codes for buses going to different places. Kung sa Pinas, may placards para makita yung destination ng bus, dun wala. Only bus codes. And they do not have "kundoktor". They are very hi-tech. You can pay using an "Octopus Card" which you only tap on the surface of a sensor thingy or if you do not have that card, you can pay in bills. You just have to drop it in a metal box that spins every time you drop money. Very neat and organized ang sistema nila no? My first HK bus ride (with 2nd floor) was like riding a carousel for the first time. Ganoon kasaya! Sobrang ingay ko sa bus coz I couldn't help my kilig as I watched the view outside the bus window. Wow, HK looked very nice! Para lang akong si Inday na first time nakapunta sa Maynila sa kakatingala sa mga buildings. LOL. My heart was filled with so much anticipation. Wapakels kahit hindi namin alam paano kami gagala sa place na yun nang walang tour guide. We were glad anyway that some people offered us help. Thanks to Glenda and especially to Grace for the help and food na rin coz they treated us for lunch at a Japanese resto where we were able to meet some readers who work there. So from booksigning yesterday, para na rin kaming nagbooksigning ulit this day. But it was fun.
Cosmic Guest House. I won't come back here. Promise.
We checked in at Cosmic Guest House that cost us 1,540HKD (8,740php) for two rooms (1 for 4 people and 1 for 2). Praktikal kami, we did not want to shell out money for a luxurious hotel stay since tutulugan lang naman coz basically, we went there not to sleep, we went there to make gala until we drop! Cosmic! I do NOT recommend this hostel. Their rooms were not very clean and they have unfriendly staff (actually, I think, yung nasa front desk nila, yun din yung owner). Akalain mo, minalditahan pa ako ng tsekwa!
Strolling along the streets of TST.
Here's the scenario: Yung electric outlets kasi nila, triple yung hole. As in lahat! Come on! So, I asked the woman at the front desk if they have adapters so we could use the outlets and man, she did not provide it for free! She charged me 3HKD for an adapter! Kalorki! At mind you, nakuha pa akong pagsabihan. Sabi ba naman "You have to be prepared when you visit HK!" in maldita tone. Ay, Ka-imbyernadet sembrano si Ateh! Muntik ko nang makarate. Buti na lang matanda kundi pinatulan ko talaga. At ipinagpilitan pa na sa Pinas daw, 110 volts ang electric outlets. Hello, sino bang Pinoy sa atin, teh? Diba ako? So, if you're a budget traveler who's planning to go to HK and you're searching for a decent hostel, please do not be misled by their professional-looking websites. Do not pick hostels that are located at Mirador Mansion because the building was a mess, not a mansion. We definitely regret booking in this hostel. But it's okay. Cowgirls naman kami. Masaya pa rin!
Disney Train. Ang lakas maka-Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Back to the story: After eating lunch with some readers, they led us to Disneyland! Yey! We purchased "Octopus Card" for 150HKD that we could use to practically anywhere--from transportation to shopping! How cool is that! We took the subway. Bow ako sa subway nila! Sobrang linis and hi-tech! They called it MTR. We had an MTR map that at first we found complicated, but later on, na-gets na din namin. I love their subway so much! So chuchalin! :D Especially the train from Sunny Bay to Disneyland with window panes that have Mickey Mouse' head's shape. The train was totally cute!
SUBWAY. The orange line moves from one circle to another as the train moves to each station.
And as we reached the HK Disneyland Resort, I had quick reminiscence (syempre kailangan mag-drama ng konti). I recalled when I was just a kid, I've always dreamed of going to Disneyland but I always told myself I won't ever get there. So, when I finally saw the Disney castle, my heart fluttered like crazy. I told myself "This is a dream come true! I am not a kid anymore but there would always be this kid in me who longs for things like this."(Tsarlot! nag-nosebleed pa ako sa POV ko!)
We were able to get Disneyland ticket for 320HKD (1,760php) and Ocean Park Ticket for 250HKD (1,375php) at The World Wide Plaza (where PHR readers in HK buy our books). So, as we stepped inside the Disneyland, we were welcomed by a familiar sight. Old American style pala ang HK Disneyland, nai-associate ko siya sa Enchanted Kingdom. So, this is where EK got their architectural design. (I'm clueless about how the other Disneylands look though). The Disney Castle was awesome! I suddenly imagined I was a princess and my prince was there... waiting to be kissed... ay, palaka!
Anyway, HK Disneyland was LOVE! But I didn't love the weather that day. Umaambon-ambon, umuulan-ulan. Lakas makapanira ng pag-accomplish ko sa "childhood dream" ko. But I noticed, everywhere I look, lahat ng rides, pambata! So, ayun, we didn't try the kiddie rides at baka mapagkamalan pa kaming retarded (though I was tempted to try one :P). But we did try a few not-so-kiddie ones. Favorite ko yung Jungle Cruise saka Philhar Magic. We visited the Disney store where everything was expensive! And strolled along the parks and ate choco waffles and octopus snack in the food booth (I’m really not sure what exactly we were eating). 
I <3 HK Disneyland!
Due to the bad weather, di namin nalibot ang buong Disneyland, plus all my companions were exhausted (maybe because of lack of sleep). But I was surprisingly energetic even if I only had an hour of sleep! I was so sad I didn’t get the chance to ride the Space Mountain (rollercoaster inside a big hump). Wala kasi akong kasama kasi takot sila. Sobrang sayang, though. I just promised to myself that when I come back there, iyang Space Mountain na iyan ang unang-unang sasakyan ko!
The Disney Castle
We watched the parade, took pictures with Goofy and waited for the main event—fireworks display! And wow, the fireworks and the castle’s display of lights with music from Disney blew me away! It was one of the most amazing sights I’ve seen in my life so far! While watching, it brought back the memories of my childhood (only the ones that I remember because I have a typical case of childhood amnesia) and it almost brought me to tears. That moment was magical. It warmed my heart. I was really thankful I had the chance to witness that spectacular sight in this lifetime. Akala ko ako lang ang nag-moment ng ganun. Aba, sila din pala! Mga emo! LOL. Napunta lang sa HK, nagsi-EMO-han na! But no, maybe that was really the effect to everyone who watches the fireworks display—you will feel nostalgic. Anyway, as we went back to the guest house, we were all happy na. Nawala ‘yong frustrations dahil sa bad weather and exhaustion due to lack of sleep.
Jungle River Cruise
Pagbalik sa guest house, lahat palakda. Ako, dilat na dilat. I took a shower pa nang madaling araw, had a two-hour sleep and when I woke up at 6am, they were all still asleep, I took a shower again and waited for them to wake up. Pagkagising nila, nagulat sila kasi gising pa ako at may towel sa ulo. Sabi nila isa akong aswang. LOL. Ganyan talaga ako pag giddy at sobrang saya. Wapakels kahit walang tulog.
At Mickey's Philhar Magic
DAY 2 was our Macau sidetrip. Skip ko chika dito kasi I will make separate entry for this. Doon tayo sa part ng day na ito na bumalik na kami from Macau to TST. And so we were walking down the most chuchaling street sa TST where LV, Gucci, Prada are naglipana—Harbour City! Nagpanggap akong sosyalera since naka-LV bag naman ako. So, ayun window shopping kami. As in literal na window shopping kasi hanggang windows lang kami ng mga luxury shops. LOL.
May hinahanap na store si Ate Mitch at Vic, so we were dragged along. Pero biglang nagkaroon ng isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari na nagpahiwalay sa aming landas… (cue in teleserye background music) Bigla kami na lang ni Ate Chai ang magkasama! Kaya kumain na lang kami ng dumpling sa sidewalk! Yey! Sarap ng dumplings nilang kulay green. Di ko lang ma-gets bakit wala silang paper plate, like yung ginagamit sa kikiam, fishballs sa Pinas. Naisip ko tuloy, “Hmp! Buti pa sa Pinas, may paper plate! Take me back to my country!” Chos lang!
Holding hands with Goofy. Ayieee!
After namin lumafang ng dimsum, we decided to go back to the guest house to see if they’re there pero wala so I dragged Ate Chai to go gala galore along TST! Para kaming naglaro ng Dora, Dora, Dora, the explorer ni Ate Chai hihi! We had to find the way to The Avenue Of Stars, Clock Tower and Star Ferry, minus the backpack (sagot ko na ang bangs! LOL). We were hoping we could catch the Symphony Of Lights at 8pm.
Nagkandaligaw-ligaw kami. I know, I have the poorest sense of direction. Sorry, Ate Chai, for dragging you into this mess. So, nag-lapse na ang 8pm pero di pa namin natutunton ang isa man sa hinahanap namin. Nakakatawa lang kasi yung mga tsekwa na napagtanungan namin, di nila alam yung Symphony of Lights Stars Avenue??? I mean, hello? Do they live there? Come on! Naubos na ang baon kong English, wala pa rin kaming napapala. Parang gusto na naming maglupasay ni Ate Chai sa kalsada sa frustration. But good thing, di naman kami humantong sa ganong tagpo! We’d managed to find the way towards the Star Ferry through the street signs. Dapat pala diniretso na lang namin ang Nathan Road!
Chochalera sa Harbour City
The first thing we saw was the Clock Tower. So, camwhoring galore kami ni At Chai (o ako lang yata LOL). You know what they say that you’d only get to know someone well when you two get together alone? Thanks to this experience, nalaman ko na talented writer si Ate Chai pero wala siyang talent sa photography! LOL. Ate Chai, peace! You know, I love you! You’re the kindest person for me and your kindness often makes me feel like I’m a devil. :P After my pictorial at the clock, we went up the deck. Ansarap lang ng hangin sa deck, at sobrang ganda ng overlooking—the Symphony of Lights, minus the moving lights, if you get what I mean. A young Chinese couple asked me something in Chinese language which of course I didn’t understand. Then they came back to me and told me “Please take picture,” and handed me their camera. And so I did… take picture of myself. Bakit ba, eh wala naman silang sinabi na sila ang kukuhanan ko! Chos! Yes, I did take their picture together. Naiinggit naman ako nang slight. Ang sweet kasi nila. Naalala ko tuloy ang nakaraan namin ni Dao Ming Si noong kinakantahan pa niya ako ng Wo Shi Zhanda Zhanda Zhanda Wo Ai Ni. TSARLOTS!
Clock Tower and Avenue of StarsI dragged Ate Chai inside a wide building with movie posters outside. And we found out that it was the Stars Avenue. Too bad the museum was closed. But we were able to get inside and again camwhored! After that we sat at the bench outside. Nagyaya na si Ate Chai na bumalik sa guest house. “Ayaw ko pa, Ate Chai!” in a malditang batang makulit tone. Hehe. Because Ate Chai was so kind, she didn’t press. Pinagbigyan niya ang bata… bata-isip.
At the Star Ferry deck overlooking the Symphony Of Lights
Avenue of Stars exhibit hall
Hanggang sa wakas, magsawa na ako sa kakagalugad sa place, we finally headed back to the guest house. Naabutan namin sila na nasa dreamla-la-land na. The moment I stepped inside our room, I suddenly felt extremely tired that I thought I might pass out in the next minute. Two days with no sleep at all and very tired from all the walking… and yet di pa rin ako nakatulog nang maayos. My nose was clogged, I felt dizzy, my whole body ached and I’ve no strength at all. I was a mess. Took Alaxan FR for my body pain. I was worried for tomorrow. Baka hindi na ako makasama sa Ocean Park at maratay lang ako sa kama habang sila nag-e-enjoy :( Super pray na lang ako kay Lord na sana bigyan niya ako ng strength for tomorrow. I barely slept at all. And it was a miracle that when I woke up the next morning, I felt okay. The miracle of prayers!!! (And Manny Pacquiao for vouching for Alaxan FR.)
Energy drink or Aphrodisiac? LOL
And to help me gain extra strength, I took a bottle of this energy drink I bought from 7-11 that resembled the bottle of Lipovitan-- LIBOGEN. The brand name cracked me up! They should put a note on the label that says: For Filipino buyers, please take note that this product is NOT aphrodisiac! LOL. Takot ako kasi sabi ni Ate Agnes, baka pag ininom ko yan, bigla na lang lahat ng lalaking makasalubong ko, ang tingin ko nakahubad! Hehe. On a serious note, the energy drink with a scandalous name helped me gain energy that I need for my gala galore. Thanks, LIBOGEN! :P ILY! (L means Love, just to clarify.)
HK Ocean Park spells awesomeness
HK Ocean Park was awesome!!! Before I went here, I was told by someone that HK OP was a lot more funner than the Disneyland. And she was right. OP is the amusement park for all ages! They have too many exciting rides and attractions! Di ito malilibot ng isang buong araw lang. If you're planning to go here, you must allocate 2 days for this place, or maybe 3! We rode the Sky Fair (a huge hot-air baloon-like ride and the Rapids. I saw a lot of Panda! They're so cute!!! We watched the dolphin and sea lion show at the Ocean Theater. We entered the Grand Aquarium and the Sea Jelly Spectacular. And the most exciting ride was the Cable Car ride! LOL. The view below was spectacular kaso nabingi ako sa kakatili ni Ate Agnes. Haha! Para siyang nakasakay sa roller coaster na may sampung loop! Sobrang taas kasi ng cable car.
We had to leave at 4pm because we had to go to The Peak Tower and Sky Terrace 360. We took a bus at humilata sa second floor. Wala naman kasing ibang nakasakay. Ang bongga talaga ng buses nila. Dalawang LED TV pa ang nasa itaas sa magkabilang side. Pwede namang isa lang. Naalala ko tuloy yung buses sa Pinas… hay ayoko na nga, nade-deflate na ang nationalistic spirit ko LOL. The view below as we ascend to the Peak was beautiful as the sun sets.
The Peak Tower
Imbes na sa Peak Tower, sa Peak Galleria kami napadpad and we had to rush to find the Peak Tower so we could watch the Symphony of Lights from the Sky Terrace above the tower. The view was beautiful from up above the tower. Medyo disappointed lang ako sa Symphony of Lights. Di naman ganun ka-spectacular. But well, the night view and the fresh air up there were good enough.
At the Sky Terrace. I don't know exactly what this big heart was about.
View of the Symphony Of Lights above the Peak Tower
Next and last destination: Ladies Market in Mongkok where you can make “tawad-tawad” and make pahabol to the tindera until they agree to your price. Iyon ang tip, if you’ll go here, wag ka agad pumayag sa presyong sasabihin nila, turn your back for a second and they’ll call you and ask you “How much you?” I was tempted to ask back “You buying me? Me is expensive! You do not afford!” LOL. Yes, I know, wrong GRAMMING siya. hehe. I have a lot of that also, so I won’t be a grammar nazi, it’s okay :P Ladies’ Market is like the Divisoria of HK. You’ll find cool, cheap items there for pasalubong.
Walking down the Mongkok street
Singit lang: Sa Peak Galleria nga pala, we dined in at Mc Donalds. I was surprised by the size of their big mac na big talaga, ng fries in big sleeve at coke in big cup for only 18HKD (99php)! Sa Pinas kasi maliit lang ang big mac, maliit pa ang fries and drinks, you would have to add a few bucks to upsize the last two items. Hmmm… naisip ko ang ripoff naman ng Philippine franchise ng McDo. Hayyy….
So after the tawarans and tanungan ng how much you, we took the subway back to guest house. We were all exhausted but all happy. We’ve survived making gala to HK even without a tour guide! For us, that was quite an achievement.
Kinabukasan, babay na sa HK. We could have stayed longer pero may pasok pa sa trabaho yung iba sa amin. Even if we had a few mishaps, like sa guest house na nakuha namin at sa mga nawalang pera… masaya pa rin! My first trip abroad had been so fun!
Pinaka-memorable moment ko siguro ‘yong kuwentahan galore namin sa bayarin habang nasa loob kami ng isa sa mga rooms na kinuha namin. Unfortunately, we are all good at words (since we’re all writers and editor. Ate Mitch was asleep so wapakels siya sa bilangan) and not at numbers. Nagsama-sama ang mga row 4 sa Math! Hayjusko! Inabot kami ng isang oras mahigit bago namin nakuha ang tamang kuwenta. Muntik na akong tumalon sa labas ng bintana dahil gusto ko nang takasan ang kuwentahan at nakakaloka na. Muntik nang bumangon sa hukay si Archimedes at pagkukutusan kaming lahat! :P
I would definitely go back to HK and I promise my next time would be a blast!
PS: Nasabat ang aking lotion at unused sunblock spray sa HK airport nung pauwi na kami. Hindi nga ako nagbayad sa check in baggage, nawalan naman ako ng 700 pesos worth of personal items.
PSS: Three days of almost no sleep at all in HK! I was amazed I was still alive when I got home!
Special thanks to Maan Beltran for providing us our itinerary. :)
My Macau escapades on my next post! :D
April 16, 2012
Sing-A-Long With Ayi
Whenever I'm bored, I just simply sing and my mood starts to perk up. That's how I love my own voice. LOL. I mean, who would love your own voice but you?
I really love singing even if I am not really that good. Tell you what, when I was in grade school, I was a member of a church choir. One time, when our song leader was absent, I was the one who had relieved her for the solo part of the opening song "Papuri Sa Diyos". (Maybe they just didn't have a choice that time) The line went like this-- "Ikaw na nag-aalis ng mga kasalanan ng sanlibutan... maawa ka... maawa ka sa amin... blah blah blah..." And that was, I think, my defining moment as a singer. (Feel na feel!) And then after that, our song leader NEVER tried to commit absences again. LOL!
Okay, I'm not that bad for a singer. In fact, I even sang in front of the class when I was in high school (makapal pa talaga fez ko nun!). And they told me I was good. And I believed them because I was uto-uto hihi. Okay, enough of making fun of myself. I really can sing! (Now, I am ready to admit it wholeheartedly :D) I could pull off belting out Sarah Geronimo's songs and mimic different artists' voices. I was good. Yes, I believed I was good. WAS.
Because a couple of years ago, when I started to have acid reflux, it wrecked my voice box. So, now I am not just a frustrated singer, but an ultra-mega frustrated one for that matter. I can still sing, but I couldn't belt out huge songs anymore :( and my voice tone isn't as good as before. Now, you know why I kept making fun of myself. Because I couldn't sing anymore like the way I used to then.
But it's okay. At least once in my life, I had good voice. Now, I use my voice whenever I am bored and I want to perk myself up. So, this night, I was extremely bored and I decided to record my singing using my cellphone and my lappy wherein I played the karaoke version of the song in youtube and there I sang. Hihi... yes, I will stream the result of my boredom here. Just please do not exercise violence, please do not kill me after listening to this. Please be nice, remember you are in my blog. Thanks a bunch! :)
Price Tag by Jessie J, my messed-up version...
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. I hope your eardrums are still intact. Thank you so much for listening to my music. I hope you get my album, available at the junkshops near you. LOL.
I really love singing even if I am not really that good. Tell you what, when I was in grade school, I was a member of a church choir. One time, when our song leader was absent, I was the one who had relieved her for the solo part of the opening song "Papuri Sa Diyos". (Maybe they just didn't have a choice that time) The line went like this-- "Ikaw na nag-aalis ng mga kasalanan ng sanlibutan... maawa ka... maawa ka sa amin... blah blah blah..." And that was, I think, my defining moment as a singer. (Feel na feel!) And then after that, our song leader NEVER tried to commit absences again. LOL!
Okay, I'm not that bad for a singer. In fact, I even sang in front of the class when I was in high school (makapal pa talaga fez ko nun!). And they told me I was good. And I believed them because I was uto-uto hihi. Okay, enough of making fun of myself. I really can sing! (Now, I am ready to admit it wholeheartedly :D) I could pull off belting out Sarah Geronimo's songs and mimic different artists' voices. I was good. Yes, I believed I was good. WAS.
Because a couple of years ago, when I started to have acid reflux, it wrecked my voice box. So, now I am not just a frustrated singer, but an ultra-mega frustrated one for that matter. I can still sing, but I couldn't belt out huge songs anymore :( and my voice tone isn't as good as before. Now, you know why I kept making fun of myself. Because I couldn't sing anymore like the way I used to then.
But it's okay. At least once in my life, I had good voice. Now, I use my voice whenever I am bored and I want to perk myself up. So, this night, I was extremely bored and I decided to record my singing using my cellphone and my lappy wherein I played the karaoke version of the song in youtube and there I sang. Hihi... yes, I will stream the result of my boredom here. Just please do not exercise violence, please do not kill me after listening to this. Please be nice, remember you are in my blog. Thanks a bunch! :)
Price Tag by Jessie J, my messed-up version...
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. I hope your eardrums are still intact. Thank you so much for listening to my music. I hope you get my album, available at the junkshops near you. LOL.
April 9, 2012
Famous?
Famous? *clears throat. Romance novel readers more likely know me but I don't think I am famous enough though. Let's just say, I am, well, "semi-mini-famous". So with that being said, hindi ako yung tipong pagkakaguluhan kapag gumala sa mall. Hindi ako yung tipong may lalapit sa akin habang naglalakad ako sa kung saan para magpa-picture. Kaya nga naloka ako nang bongga noong booksigning namin sa SM Dasmarinas.
First scenario: I arrived late at the venue. Naabutan ko marami nang fans na nakapila sa harap ng table. As I stepped towards the venue, may sumalubong sa aking group of girls. They asked excitedly, "Kayo po ba si Heart Yngrid?" When I said "Oo", they started yelling like crazy. Then they started taking pictures of me with them. At kinailangan pa akong hilahin ng isang phr staff para mapakawalan nila ako sa sobrang tuwa nila. I was amused.
Second scenario: I was about to go home na. I went down the escalator when these two girls from the next escalator called my attention. Paakyat sila at pababa ako. Kaya kinailangan pa nilang bumaba uli para ma-meet ako sa ibaba. They were all giddy. Nagpa-picture pa sila at nagpa-autograph. Yung isa pa nga, nagpa-autograhh sa likod ng wallet niya. And when I left, they even stalked me out the mall! OMG. Celebrity ang peg? LOL.
During our booksigning in Cebu, two readers of mine actually CRIED when they saw me! I remember someone cried to me also in SM Taytay signing. I mean... wow? They cried because they were just too happy to see me? Really???
Tell you what, I never imagined I'd experience these kind of things. I am just a regular girl (a weird one, but still regular). I'm reserved and anti-social. I do not like attention that much. So, I did not really wish to be famous or to be "semi-mini-famous" :D So, this whole thing being known as a novelist still freaks me out sometimes. Receiving compliments and messages from people I do not even know and being called "idol" and meeting people during every booksigning who looked really happy to see me in person still makes me ask myself "Really? Do they really like me that much?"
But those things I can still handle. Pero 'yong nangyari sa SM Dasma booksigning, it totally freaked me out. I hope I don't experience that again 'cause I feel so awkward with scenarios like that. Kaya nga hindi ako nag-artista kasi ayoko ng ganoong mga eksena! LOL. Seriously, I just wish I could handle being someone (almost) famous. :)
*I've written 3/4 of this post last year and seated in my drafts folder for a year yet it's just now that I finished it. Sipag ko no? :)
April 8, 2012
I'm Back!
I'm back with a new template I snatched from somewhere else. Hehe. See the credits on the extreme bottom of this page. I'd love to create my own template had I have a lot of time! Anyway, yes, I'm back. I'd been away for so long (dito lang naman sa blogger) but I'm here again and ready to share my nonsense again. This is actually my first post for this year. Imagine! Ganoon ka-busy... sa kalokohan at katamaran! hehe. Anyway, yes, I'm back. But I'd have to go again. Sakit na ulo ko, eh. I want to sleep, for crying out loud it's already 5:30 in the morning! I'll be back tomorrow or later to post something here. Here are some of the things I want to share:
1. My trip to Hong Kong last Sept 2011.
2. My trip to Iloilo-Guimaras last November.
3. My trip to Anawangin, Zambales just last month.
4. My birthday last month at Kawit, Cavite
and a lot lot more....
So, see you later, beauty rest muna ako. By the way, welcome back to myself :))
1. My trip to Hong Kong last Sept 2011.
2. My trip to Iloilo-Guimaras last November.
3. My trip to Anawangin, Zambales just last month.
4. My birthday last month at Kawit, Cavite
and a lot lot more....
So, see you later, beauty rest muna ako. By the way, welcome back to myself :))
December 7, 2011
Cebu!
I and my two other co-writers were sent to Cebu City last July 20 for PHR booksigning. Syempre excited kami! I haven't been to Cebu. Even though we went there only for work, masaya na din 'coz we three got to bond with each other and were able to meet our Cebuano readers. Sa NAIA pa lang, kulitan na ang Dirty Beat Gang (tawag namin sa grupo naming puntang Cebu with 4 PHR staff dahil lahat kami rinding-rindi sa theme song ng booksigning namin na kanta ng Black eyed Peas). I love this group kasi lahat mababait at kwela. Kami lang mga pasaway! hehe.
Cebu Airport
We checked in at a Japanese hotel. Booksigning namin is 21-24. So when we arrived on 20, we had a few time to spend on gala along Cebu City. I, Sofia and Sonia first went to SM Cebu City where we were able to meet a few readers and one of them became our instant tour guide sa konting gala namin along the city. Kumain kami ng famous lechon Cebu which is really salty and oily pero masarap! Then we went to Sto. Nino Church. Pero bago kami nakarating doon, naligaw muna kami ng mabongga! Naligaw kami sa avenida, quiapo at divisoria! hahahaha! There's some places there that really resembled Avenida, Quiapo and Divisoria. I and Sonia had fun ranting and joking about the place. Then we saw two Caucasians walking, I told her "Kapag may foreigner, ibig sabihin tourist spot yun!" Kaya yun! Tourist spot na din ang Avenida, Qiuapo, Divisoria ng Cebu! Kaya nag-sightseeing din ako. So beautiful! hehehe.. And then after the long stroll along the putikan, we'd reached the famous church in Cebu...
Magellan's Cross
Sto. Nino Church
There's a little bakeshop at the corner of the church where we bought some Cebu delicacies. It was raining kaya tinamad na kami maglilibot. Kaya pumunta na lang kami sa Danggitan. Needless to say, masangsang sa danggitan. Nung inamoy ko 'yong dried mango na binili ko, amoy-danggit. Nung inamoy ko 'yung Otap, amoy-danggit din. So, nagsawa na ako sa kakaamoy kasi iisa lang ang amoy ng lahat ng paninda dun. I was able to buy a kilo of danggit and a kilo of dried pusit (and I love dried pusit!!) Tip lang: kung balak n'yo magpunta sa danggitan ng Cebu, 'wag kayong bibili sa unahan. Go walk inside the market. The more looban, the cheaper the price! Then as we got taxi to take us to our hotel, abah! para kaming naholdap ng mga binatilyong nagtatawag ng taxi dahil ayaw nila kaming tantanan, they wanted us to give them money in exchange of the taxi they hailed for us. And we called them the Danggit Boys! Nung nakabalik na kami sa hotel at inamoy ang aming mga sarili, iisa lang ang amoy naming tatlo: Amoy.... Danggit! Dang danggit! Anlakas ng kapit! Napaligo tuloy kami. Buti na lang may bath tub!Kuwentuhan galore kami habang hinihintay ang aming free body scrub and free body massage. First time ko magpapa-body scrub so I was kinda excited and scared at the same time. Nung nasa body scrub room na kami, naloka ako nung nakita ko yung disposable panty! Transparent!!! Pinag-panty pa kami!! Sana wala na lang? I told the ateng nangsa-scrub na i-dim ang lights 'cause I don't like my body to be exposed like that hahaha! Arty!!! Bakit ba! I'm shy! Hehehe. Traumatic. Yun ang masasabi ko sa first experience ko sa pagpapa-body scrub. Pano ba naman, na-expose na at nalamas na ng kung sino ang katawan ko, para pa akong pinutakti ng langgam ang legs ko sa sakit habang ini-iscrub at nakabalot ako sa plastic. Yun pala kasi naman, kaka-shave ko lang ng legs! Masama pala yun! Buti na lang, di naman nag-mark yung trauma na dinanas ng legs ko. So, keri na lang. Charge it to experience na lang :) Pero never na akong magpapa-body scrub ever!!! hahahaha. We weren't able to get the free body massage because of lack of time. So we decided to get it done tomorrow na lang.
1st Day Of Booksigning At Metro Gaisano ColonFirst day of booksigning was super fun! Medyo kabado pa kami dahil first time na sa flatporm ginanap ang booksigning. Tapos nag-worry pa kami na baka konti lang ang pumunta pero nung nag-start na, hala! Dinumog kami! There's this one girl who even cried when she saw me. Naiyak siya sa kagandahan ko! Chos! Na-overwhelmed daw siya when she saw me 'cause she admires my work so much. Nakaka-touch lang! I was able to meet my Cebuano readers. Sobra saya ko talaga! Sobrang babait nila and I could really feel the warmth and love. And because of the success of our first day, we were so excited to do the second day!
That night, our publisher was able to take us to the Waterfront Hotel where we availed of their eat-all-you-can. For only 600 pesos, you get to eat everything there! Sobra sarap lahat ng food!
The Dessert Buffet
Buffet Table - Waterfront Hotel Mactan
Well, because I was excited to taste everything there for experience, kumuha ako ng every piece of everything. Including beans! And I didn't know why the hell I did that. hehe. Look! Ang dami kong takaw!
I've never eaten that many in my entire life! Hahaha! After we ate there, we rushed towards the Plantation Bay. Grabe ang ganda doon. Pero how I wished nagpunta kami doon in daytime.
We rode the tour cart and were toured by a staff na nagpa-nosebleed sa 'kin. "Come on! How dare you English me so fast, I'm not in a hurry, you know?" LOL :D So, ayun, in short, wala akong na-grasp sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Sana lang may subtitle siya. We sat on a gazebo-like resto para mag-kape. Chucal lang. sa Plantation Bay pa raw nag-kape. But I ordered mango shake.
And mind you, ha, 'yung waitress, ang slang-slang! Again, nosebleed hehe. After that, we rushed back to Mactan airport where we dropped bossing kasi uuwi na siya sa Manila. Hay, if he had stayed longer, malamang marami kaming mapuntahan sa Cebu. Sayang. But anyway, I was happy na rin nakagala ng konti. Someday, I'll go back to Cebu and it's not going to be because of work. Gusto ko magbakasyon ala-chuchalin sa Plantation Bay. :) On our way back to the hotel, we passed by the Crown Regency Hotel. Ang ganda lang.
2nd Day of Booksigning at National Bookstore SM City Cebu.
I really love my dress this day. Super fun din ang National Bookstore signing namin! I was really happy to have met the Heartsters in Cebu. Naka-bonding ko rin nang saglit si Maan Beltran--writer din ng PHR na nakatira sa Cebu. I remembered someone from the crowd told me-- "You're so hot." HUH???? hahahaha. Oo, I'm hot. Hot-headed.
And after the signing, we went to Cabalen to eat. Eat all you can na naman!!! Yung nakakaloka dito is 'yong nakalagay na signage sa table. "Strictly No Leftovers" So, natakot naman ako. We wondered kung anong mangyayari sa amin pag may leftover kami. Naisip agad namin, pagbabayarin kami kapag may tira. Kako, Patay!!! Super dami kong kinuha!
Dahil sa takot na magbayad, inubos ko yan lahat! UNBELIEVABLE, yes. I still couldn't believe I actually finished that off. Aftermath niyan, BONDAT! hahaha. We were about to get the body massage we passed up yesterday but I missed it again dahil sa sobrang kinain ko. Baka sukahan ko 'yung therapist. Naiwan kami ni Sonia sa hotel. While the others went to the spa, kami nagtsismisan na lang at nag-wifi.
3rd Day of Booksigning at Metro Gaisano Ayala.
Bago pa kami nagpunta sa venue, tinakasan muna namin si Portia~~~~! (Portia was our road manager and we are the bratinella alaga kasi madami kaming demands. We're making fun of her name. Para kasing puwedeng substitute sa cuss word. i.e Portiang buhay to! Portiang gala! NamPortia naman oh! LOL). So, ayun tumakas kami para sumimpleng bili ng pasalubong sa Shamrock!
And then we came to Ayala Gaisano. Ito ang pinakasosyal na venue. We had our hair and makeup done at a salon there tapos salang agad. Sobra dami pa rin ng dumating. I received a lot of gifts this day. At meron na namang umiyak dahil sa kagandahan ko! hahaha. She said sobrang idol nya daw ako kaya na-overwhelmed siya. And mind you, isa siyang "Englisher" (napulot ko sa vocabulary ni Melai Cantiveros). So, habang tumutulo ang mga luha niya, tumutulo rin ang dugo ko sa ilong. Charot lang! hahaha! Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit nila ako iniiyakan. I remember, sa SM taytay din may umiyak sa kin. Mukha ba akong telenovela?? Madrama ba ang pagmumukha ko? LOL.
Anyway, after this kumain kami sa Kenny Rogers. As usual, ang dami ko na namang pinagkakain. After eating, Sonia and I had to rush to back to the hotel for our body massage.
Hindi ko first time na magpa-massage. Pero first time ko magpa-massage sa bakla! Pero keri lang. Sister naman yan. I didn't like the massage. Para lang akong hinahaplos ni Ateh. Mas brusko pa ako sa kanya.
The next day, babay na sa Cebu :( Naiwan sina Sonia and Sofia coz they had a trip to Bohol. Kasama dapat ako dun pero I had to go home na for my lola's funeral.
Overall, the experience I had in Cebu was super fun! I was happy na naka-bonding ko sina Sonia and Sofia. And I met all my readers in Cebu. I want to go back! Thanks so much Cebu for the love and support! I heart you! :)
Cebu Airport
We checked in at a Japanese hotel. Booksigning namin is 21-24. So when we arrived on 20, we had a few time to spend on gala along Cebu City. I, Sofia and Sonia first went to SM Cebu City where we were able to meet a few readers and one of them became our instant tour guide sa konting gala namin along the city. Kumain kami ng famous lechon Cebu which is really salty and oily pero masarap! Then we went to Sto. Nino Church. Pero bago kami nakarating doon, naligaw muna kami ng mabongga! Naligaw kami sa avenida, quiapo at divisoria! hahahaha! There's some places there that really resembled Avenida, Quiapo and Divisoria. I and Sonia had fun ranting and joking about the place. Then we saw two Caucasians walking, I told her "Kapag may foreigner, ibig sabihin tourist spot yun!" Kaya yun! Tourist spot na din ang Avenida, Qiuapo, Divisoria ng Cebu! Kaya nag-sightseeing din ako. So beautiful! hehehe.. And then after the long stroll along the putikan, we'd reached the famous church in Cebu...
Magellan's Cross
Sto. Nino Church
There's a little bakeshop at the corner of the church where we bought some Cebu delicacies. It was raining kaya tinamad na kami maglilibot. Kaya pumunta na lang kami sa Danggitan. Needless to say, masangsang sa danggitan. Nung inamoy ko 'yong dried mango na binili ko, amoy-danggit. Nung inamoy ko 'yung Otap, amoy-danggit din. So, nagsawa na ako sa kakaamoy kasi iisa lang ang amoy ng lahat ng paninda dun. I was able to buy a kilo of danggit and a kilo of dried pusit (and I love dried pusit!!) Tip lang: kung balak n'yo magpunta sa danggitan ng Cebu, 'wag kayong bibili sa unahan. Go walk inside the market. The more looban, the cheaper the price! Then as we got taxi to take us to our hotel, abah! para kaming naholdap ng mga binatilyong nagtatawag ng taxi dahil ayaw nila kaming tantanan, they wanted us to give them money in exchange of the taxi they hailed for us. And we called them the Danggit Boys! Nung nakabalik na kami sa hotel at inamoy ang aming mga sarili, iisa lang ang amoy naming tatlo: Amoy.... Danggit! Dang danggit! Anlakas ng kapit! Napaligo tuloy kami. Buti na lang may bath tub!Kuwentuhan galore kami habang hinihintay ang aming free body scrub and free body massage. First time ko magpapa-body scrub so I was kinda excited and scared at the same time. Nung nasa body scrub room na kami, naloka ako nung nakita ko yung disposable panty! Transparent!!! Pinag-panty pa kami!! Sana wala na lang? I told the ateng nangsa-scrub na i-dim ang lights 'cause I don't like my body to be exposed like that hahaha! Arty!!! Bakit ba! I'm shy! Hehehe. Traumatic. Yun ang masasabi ko sa first experience ko sa pagpapa-body scrub. Pano ba naman, na-expose na at nalamas na ng kung sino ang katawan ko, para pa akong pinutakti ng langgam ang legs ko sa sakit habang ini-iscrub at nakabalot ako sa plastic. Yun pala kasi naman, kaka-shave ko lang ng legs! Masama pala yun! Buti na lang, di naman nag-mark yung trauma na dinanas ng legs ko. So, keri na lang. Charge it to experience na lang :) Pero never na akong magpapa-body scrub ever!!! hahahaha. We weren't able to get the free body massage because of lack of time. So we decided to get it done tomorrow na lang.
1st Day Of Booksigning At Metro Gaisano ColonFirst day of booksigning was super fun! Medyo kabado pa kami dahil first time na sa flatporm ginanap ang booksigning. Tapos nag-worry pa kami na baka konti lang ang pumunta pero nung nag-start na, hala! Dinumog kami! There's this one girl who even cried when she saw me. Naiyak siya sa kagandahan ko! Chos! Na-overwhelmed daw siya when she saw me 'cause she admires my work so much. Nakaka-touch lang! I was able to meet my Cebuano readers. Sobra saya ko talaga! Sobrang babait nila and I could really feel the warmth and love. And because of the success of our first day, we were so excited to do the second day!
That night, our publisher was able to take us to the Waterfront Hotel where we availed of their eat-all-you-can. For only 600 pesos, you get to eat everything there! Sobra sarap lahat ng food!
The Dessert Buffet
Buffet Table - Waterfront Hotel Mactan
Well, because I was excited to taste everything there for experience, kumuha ako ng every piece of everything. Including beans! And I didn't know why the hell I did that. hehe. Look! Ang dami kong takaw!
I've never eaten that many in my entire life! Hahaha! After we ate there, we rushed towards the Plantation Bay. Grabe ang ganda doon. Pero how I wished nagpunta kami doon in daytime.
We rode the tour cart and were toured by a staff na nagpa-nosebleed sa 'kin. "Come on! How dare you English me so fast, I'm not in a hurry, you know?" LOL :D So, ayun, in short, wala akong na-grasp sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Sana lang may subtitle siya. We sat on a gazebo-like resto para mag-kape. Chucal lang. sa Plantation Bay pa raw nag-kape. But I ordered mango shake.
And mind you, ha, 'yung waitress, ang slang-slang! Again, nosebleed hehe. After that, we rushed back to Mactan airport where we dropped bossing kasi uuwi na siya sa Manila. Hay, if he had stayed longer, malamang marami kaming mapuntahan sa Cebu. Sayang. But anyway, I was happy na rin nakagala ng konti. Someday, I'll go back to Cebu and it's not going to be because of work. Gusto ko magbakasyon ala-chuchalin sa Plantation Bay. :) On our way back to the hotel, we passed by the Crown Regency Hotel. Ang ganda lang.
2nd Day of Booksigning at National Bookstore SM City Cebu.
I really love my dress this day. Super fun din ang National Bookstore signing namin! I was really happy to have met the Heartsters in Cebu. Naka-bonding ko rin nang saglit si Maan Beltran--writer din ng PHR na nakatira sa Cebu. I remembered someone from the crowd told me-- "You're so hot." HUH???? hahahaha. Oo, I'm hot. Hot-headed.
And after the signing, we went to Cabalen to eat. Eat all you can na naman!!! Yung nakakaloka dito is 'yong nakalagay na signage sa table. "Strictly No Leftovers" So, natakot naman ako. We wondered kung anong mangyayari sa amin pag may leftover kami. Naisip agad namin, pagbabayarin kami kapag may tira. Kako, Patay!!! Super dami kong kinuha!
Dahil sa takot na magbayad, inubos ko yan lahat! UNBELIEVABLE, yes. I still couldn't believe I actually finished that off. Aftermath niyan, BONDAT! hahaha. We were about to get the body massage we passed up yesterday but I missed it again dahil sa sobrang kinain ko. Baka sukahan ko 'yung therapist. Naiwan kami ni Sonia sa hotel. While the others went to the spa, kami nagtsismisan na lang at nag-wifi.
3rd Day of Booksigning at Metro Gaisano Ayala.
Bago pa kami nagpunta sa venue, tinakasan muna namin si Portia~~~~! (Portia was our road manager and we are the bratinella alaga kasi madami kaming demands. We're making fun of her name. Para kasing puwedeng substitute sa cuss word. i.e Portiang buhay to! Portiang gala! NamPortia naman oh! LOL). So, ayun tumakas kami para sumimpleng bili ng pasalubong sa Shamrock!
And then we came to Ayala Gaisano. Ito ang pinakasosyal na venue. We had our hair and makeup done at a salon there tapos salang agad. Sobra dami pa rin ng dumating. I received a lot of gifts this day. At meron na namang umiyak dahil sa kagandahan ko! hahaha. She said sobrang idol nya daw ako kaya na-overwhelmed siya. And mind you, isa siyang "Englisher" (napulot ko sa vocabulary ni Melai Cantiveros). So, habang tumutulo ang mga luha niya, tumutulo rin ang dugo ko sa ilong. Charot lang! hahaha! Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit nila ako iniiyakan. I remember, sa SM taytay din may umiyak sa kin. Mukha ba akong telenovela?? Madrama ba ang pagmumukha ko? LOL.
Anyway, after this kumain kami sa Kenny Rogers. As usual, ang dami ko na namang pinagkakain. After eating, Sonia and I had to rush to back to the hotel for our body massage.
Hindi ko first time na magpa-massage. Pero first time ko magpa-massage sa bakla! Pero keri lang. Sister naman yan. I didn't like the massage. Para lang akong hinahaplos ni Ateh. Mas brusko pa ako sa kanya.
The next day, babay na sa Cebu :( Naiwan sina Sonia and Sofia coz they had a trip to Bohol. Kasama dapat ako dun pero I had to go home na for my lola's funeral.
Overall, the experience I had in Cebu was super fun! I was happy na naka-bonding ko sina Sonia and Sofia. And I met all my readers in Cebu. I want to go back! Thanks so much Cebu for the love and support! I heart you! :)
September 3, 2011
Hidden Valley Springs
We went to Hidden Valley Springs in Laguna for a brainstorming session last June, 2011. (Now ko lang na-post) Para akong nabaldog sa tindi ng hagupit sa ulo ko ng refresher/brainstorming. Kalorkey. Naubos ata ang braincells ko. Anyway, the place is nice naman. Kaka-relax. Tapos nung naggala kami, nabawasan ako ng 1 pound at naligo ako sa pawis sa init. But it was a nice experience. Di ko lang akalain na ganoon kalayo yung lalakbayin, naka-torn jeans pa ko! Hiking pala yun kala ko dyan-dyan lang. Mali ang dresscode ko. Konti lang pics na pinost ko. Tinatamad ako :D
Sadako Paroon
Habang naglalakbay kami ni Sonia Francesca papunta sa Hidden Falls, nakakita kami ng balon. Dahil wala akong tulog, napagtripan ko i-impersonate si Sadako. But Sadako with bangs and red nail polish na nakasuot ng astig na rockstar duds--graffiti shirt & torn jeans. Hehe..
Super Duper Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls. Narating namin ito after 48 years dahil sa sobrang hidden. Sa haba ng nilakbay namin, nirayuma kaming apat. Pero worth it naman kasi maganda sya sa personal. Bad trip lang kasi malayo. Di malapitan. But it's cool! At least, di na sya hidden ngayon dahil nakita na namin :D
Giant Tree
Hindi ako duwende. Talaga lang higante yung puno sa likod ko. That's the tallest, biggest tree I've ever seen! Astig talaga! Medyo creepy lang para kasing manlalamon sa laki.
Lunch Hut
Dito kami nagla-lunch. Noong una naming lunch, marami kaming nakasabay na Koreano. Kumakanta pa sila ng sojo song hehehe. Ewan ko kung anong kanta 'yon, syempre diba di naman ako Koreana? Hello? Tapos nagkakalampag sila sa tables nila. Ewan ko kung anong klaseng trip nila. Bad trip lang walang kasing guguwapo nila Lee Dong Wook or Lee Min Ho sa kanila.:D
Nag-iinarte lang sa bridge. Overlooking yung hidden pool kung saan nag-night swimming kami nang bongga!
Hidden Pool
Natural Pool. Ganda sya sa daylight. Umuusok sa night time. Bonding/relaxing time namin pagkatapos ng makasunog braincells na brainstorming/refresher. May picture ako na naka-2 piece dito. Itatago ko na lang baka maging sex symbol pa ko bigla hehe..
Naloloka Pose
May nag-comment sa FB, para daw isang eksena sa Koreanovela. Kako, yes naman, tapos yung bida e retarded. hehe. I love the pathway. nakaka-relax yung view. Sarap magtatalon at gumulong-gulong kung di lang talaga mahahalatang retarded.:D
Massage gazebo? whatever. Basta cute dito. Sa balcony katabi overlooking sa ibaba yung soda pool. Pwede manilip don. Sana lang merong kasilip-silip. Wala yata akong nakitang may abs sa mga lumalangoy :D
Seksi Star... hehe
Scandal ko. May nip slip kasi. Kaya may star. Natawa lang ako nung napansin ko. hehe hehe hehe hehe hehe... 
Sadako Paroon
Habang naglalakbay kami ni Sonia Francesca papunta sa Hidden Falls, nakakita kami ng balon. Dahil wala akong tulog, napagtripan ko i-impersonate si Sadako. But Sadako with bangs and red nail polish na nakasuot ng astig na rockstar duds--graffiti shirt & torn jeans. Hehe..Super Duper Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls. Narating namin ito after 48 years dahil sa sobrang hidden. Sa haba ng nilakbay namin, nirayuma kaming apat. Pero worth it naman kasi maganda sya sa personal. Bad trip lang kasi malayo. Di malapitan. But it's cool! At least, di na sya hidden ngayon dahil nakita na namin :DGiant Tree
Hindi ako duwende. Talaga lang higante yung puno sa likod ko. That's the tallest, biggest tree I've ever seen! Astig talaga! Medyo creepy lang para kasing manlalamon sa laki.Lunch Hut
Dito kami nagla-lunch. Noong una naming lunch, marami kaming nakasabay na Koreano. Kumakanta pa sila ng sojo song hehehe. Ewan ko kung anong kanta 'yon, syempre diba di naman ako Koreana? Hello? Tapos nagkakalampag sila sa tables nila. Ewan ko kung anong klaseng trip nila. Bad trip lang walang kasing guguwapo nila Lee Dong Wook or Lee Min Ho sa kanila.:D
Nag-iinarte lang sa bridge. Overlooking yung hidden pool kung saan nag-night swimming kami nang bongga!Hidden Pool
Natural Pool. Ganda sya sa daylight. Umuusok sa night time. Bonding/relaxing time namin pagkatapos ng makasunog braincells na brainstorming/refresher. May picture ako na naka-2 piece dito. Itatago ko na lang baka maging sex symbol pa ko bigla hehe..Naloloka Pose
May nag-comment sa FB, para daw isang eksena sa Koreanovela. Kako, yes naman, tapos yung bida e retarded. hehe. I love the pathway. nakaka-relax yung view. Sarap magtatalon at gumulong-gulong kung di lang talaga mahahalatang retarded.:D
Massage gazebo? whatever. Basta cute dito. Sa balcony katabi overlooking sa ibaba yung soda pool. Pwede manilip don. Sana lang merong kasilip-silip. Wala yata akong nakitang may abs sa mga lumalangoy :DSeksi Star... hehe
Scandal ko. May nip slip kasi. Kaya may star. Natawa lang ako nung napansin ko. hehe hehe hehe hehe hehe...
Where Is The Heart?
This figure shows how men and women indeed differ anatomically. Notice that the heart of the woman is perfectly situated on her chest. While the heart of the man is comfortably located in his pants. Now I know why men are like that. LOL!Finally! May sagot na ang matagal nang tanong sa isip ko. Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung bakit pag nagmahal ang babae all-out at totoo. Pero most of the guys, they didn't even seem to know what love means. They just say it but they don't mean it--unwittingly or not. Anatomical imbalance... or error? Lord, please explain this mess. LOL!
What is Love? For someone who has written more that seventy novels about love and romance, I still struggle every time I was asked that question. Maybe may gender classification din ang definition ng Love.
My Definition Of Love
From a female point of view (and for someone who was born with a heart on her chest), Love is a strong word. The term shouldn't be used on the first sight, on the first date or the second ones as well. Love shouldn't be mistaken with "crush", "attraction" or most especially "sexual desire". you need to get to know the person deeply to realize you are in love. 'Cause when you love, you love everything about that person. Not just the looks, not just the personality, not only the good sides of that person, but the totality. That's why Love is a process. Love requires time to grow. Most people would thought they are in love but they are most of the times wrong. They would eventually notice it when it fades away so fast. Love is lasting.
Love is acceptance. When you think you are able to accept his/her imperfections and you think you can accept his/her totality as a person. Love is patient, enduring. The idea that you believe you can sacrifice for that person and endure the pain just to shield him/her from pain. A person who is in love doesn't only show love through the physical way, but also he/she gives moral, spiritual and emotional support and strength. Love is faithful and loyal. If you are already in love with someone, you wouldn't fall in love again with another one at the same time. Love means exclusivity.
For a romance writer like me who has been in love and hurt a number of times already, I think I have a point here. LOL.
Now, Love on the male point of view.... no comment! Hahaha! Here are my alibis: I am not a man. I haven't completely mastered the male psyche yet. I don't know utterly how the heart in their groin works. I don't want to be called "sexist" if I say anything bad about their definition of love.
But well, I know how they operate. But still, I am just a prey to their dangerous fangs, like most women. Men just simply own this world. No matter how feminists fight for their ideology. Men have the greater advantage over a lot things in this world (Bitter ako, teh? lol)...That is called reality.
So, that's just about it. The term Love is just too misused now-a-days, it sucks!
I hope that one of these days, I'd learn that not all men have that nasty definition of love. I hope sooner or later, someone--from the male species--proves me that the picture above is wrong :D
May 23, 2011
Single But Not Available.
My high school classmates are cooking up a reunion. I am thinking of what to say had they ask me why I am still single...
A. "I have a love jinx, guys eh. I always fall in love with the wrong man, or in wrong circumstances and wrong time. This isn't my fault, really."
B. "I am super choosy. I'm looking for a perfect guy. A guy with six-pack abs and gorgeous car. A one-woman man who will love me forever and we will live happily ever after. I couldn't find anyone perfect. That's why I'm still unmarried."
C. "I have to confess... I am a Philophobe. Falling in love gives me uncontrollable physical manifestations of fear. Prozac and Valium are expensive so I might as well avoid love."
D. "I'm a classic man-hater. Men are dangerous animals in disguise. They are evil. I want to kill them." (with matching sneer and gritting the teeth)
E. "Well... I am Androphobic. Men are my greatest fear. Terrorists, bandits, assassins, goons, thieves were mostly male. Rapists are male. You see, they do evil things. They are scary. How could I entrust my life to a man?"
F. "I don't think I could cope up with the hassles of being tied down. I want to live a hassle-free life. I don't think I could handle being a wife and a mother. They are big responsibilities. I am too fragile and childish, you know."
G. "Being single is fun. I LOVE BEING SINGLE! I want to have it tattooed on my forehead."
H. "I have suitors, I just don't like all of them."
I. "I am malaxophobic!!! I find kissing and sex repulsive! Yuck!"
J. "I'm still waiting for Josh Harnett to woo me. Yes, I believe he is the one for me. He just have to realize that. I could wait forever, you know."
K. "No one can cope up with my insane head case!"
L. "I think men just want to have free unlimited sex that's why they enter relationships or get married. Well, I am not a willing socket for their shameless sexual need."
M. "I have galiophobia. I fear pain. I don't want to get hurt again so I avoid men. I believe that men are the ultimate source of pain of women."
N. "I am a sexist. I believe that women are better creatures than men. And therefore, I don't need a man in my life. I can definitely live without them."
O. "My worth is so over the top I don't think there's one normal human being who could be right enough for me. My likes are for gods. Greek gods, to be exact. Unfortunately, they're just mythical figures. So, I have no choice but to stay single for no one could reach my supreme being."
P. "I don't believe in love. Love is not real. It's only in the movies. It's just a fantasy, an illusion created by cheesy fools."
Q. "I am a closet lesbo. By the way, Jessica Alba is hot."
R. "I am thinking of being a nun and practice chastity."
S. "I hate commitments. I just like playing around with men. I love the variety so I couldn't stick to one man. Therefore, I don't want to get married."
T. "Divorce and annulment cases are in freaking high rate these days. What's the use of getting married when you know you're going to sign on that black and white document soon and have a hard time with the splitting of conjugal assets?"
U. "I am so busy creating love stories of non-existent people that I've forgotten about my own love life. Oh, wait... I think I just thought of a nice plot."
V. "I am just not in a hurry. Are you? Then, go ahead. Go away!"
W. "My middle name is freedom.. If I remain single, I can do anything I want and go wherever I want. No one will stop and restrict me. I own my life. Isn't that amazing?"
X. "What?? What did you say? I can't hear you. I have ear infection. I couldn't hear right, I'm sorry. I couldn't hear your question."
Y. "Hey, wait. I have to make a phone call. This is very, very important." *calls my friend and tells her something 'important' and she begins calling me names because she has no idea what I'm talking about*
Z. "I think I have to go to the restroom. Excuse me."
Some of the options above are true. LOL. Can you guess what they are??? XD
A. "I have a love jinx, guys eh. I always fall in love with the wrong man, or in wrong circumstances and wrong time. This isn't my fault, really."
B. "I am super choosy. I'm looking for a perfect guy. A guy with six-pack abs and gorgeous car. A one-woman man who will love me forever and we will live happily ever after. I couldn't find anyone perfect. That's why I'm still unmarried."
C. "I have to confess... I am a Philophobe. Falling in love gives me uncontrollable physical manifestations of fear. Prozac and Valium are expensive so I might as well avoid love."
D. "I'm a classic man-hater. Men are dangerous animals in disguise. They are evil. I want to kill them." (with matching sneer and gritting the teeth)
E. "Well... I am Androphobic. Men are my greatest fear. Terrorists, bandits, assassins, goons, thieves were mostly male. Rapists are male. You see, they do evil things. They are scary. How could I entrust my life to a man?"
F. "I don't think I could cope up with the hassles of being tied down. I want to live a hassle-free life. I don't think I could handle being a wife and a mother. They are big responsibilities. I am too fragile and childish, you know."
G. "Being single is fun. I LOVE BEING SINGLE! I want to have it tattooed on my forehead."
H. "I have suitors, I just don't like all of them."
I. "I am malaxophobic!!! I find kissing and sex repulsive! Yuck!"
J. "I'm still waiting for Josh Harnett to woo me. Yes, I believe he is the one for me. He just have to realize that. I could wait forever, you know."
K. "No one can cope up with my insane head case!"
L. "I think men just want to have free unlimited sex that's why they enter relationships or get married. Well, I am not a willing socket for their shameless sexual need."
M. "I have galiophobia. I fear pain. I don't want to get hurt again so I avoid men. I believe that men are the ultimate source of pain of women."
N. "I am a sexist. I believe that women are better creatures than men. And therefore, I don't need a man in my life. I can definitely live without them."
O. "My worth is so over the top I don't think there's one normal human being who could be right enough for me. My likes are for gods. Greek gods, to be exact. Unfortunately, they're just mythical figures. So, I have no choice but to stay single for no one could reach my supreme being."
P. "I don't believe in love. Love is not real. It's only in the movies. It's just a fantasy, an illusion created by cheesy fools."
Q. "I am a closet lesbo. By the way, Jessica Alba is hot."
R. "I am thinking of being a nun and practice chastity."
S. "I hate commitments. I just like playing around with men. I love the variety so I couldn't stick to one man. Therefore, I don't want to get married."
T. "Divorce and annulment cases are in freaking high rate these days. What's the use of getting married when you know you're going to sign on that black and white document soon and have a hard time with the splitting of conjugal assets?"
U. "I am so busy creating love stories of non-existent people that I've forgotten about my own love life. Oh, wait... I think I just thought of a nice plot."
V. "I am just not in a hurry. Are you? Then, go ahead. Go away!"
W. "My middle name is freedom.. If I remain single, I can do anything I want and go wherever I want. No one will stop and restrict me. I own my life. Isn't that amazing?"
X. "What?? What did you say? I can't hear you. I have ear infection. I couldn't hear right, I'm sorry. I couldn't hear your question."
Y. "Hey, wait. I have to make a phone call. This is very, very important." *calls my friend and tells her something 'important' and she begins calling me names because she has no idea what I'm talking about*
Z. "I think I have to go to the restroom. Excuse me."
Some of the options above are true. LOL. Can you guess what they are??? XD
Sketch-er.
Yes. I do sketch. And even myself was surprised to find out I could draw. I realized I could draw when I was in college. One of our subjects required us to draw. I learned about the grid method, the copying technique and the "kiskis-daliri method" (smudging) which is my favorite part in sketching. I did not know I have talent in drawing. When I was young, I used to doddle. I guess, every kid learns to draw. But I did not draw like semi-professionally like those talented kids who could actually draw. Perhaps if I did not take that subject in drawing, I wouldn't have discovered I have a mojo in drawing all along.
I sketch faces. I am too lazy to sketch complicated images like garden full of flowers or the sky. (So, if your face looks complicated, I guess I want to skip sketching yours... :D )
The first image I drew after I learned the method of sketching was my face. And it was a success. (Thank God I have less-complicated face.) Yet unfortunately, my walang-magawa nephew, ruined it. Sayang. Next, I drew my niece Nicole. When I sketched my mom's face, my uncle (who could draw also) tried to "fix" it to his standards but ended up messing it up. I also drew my friend's face and gave it to her on her birthday. So, the only piece I have in my care is my niece's. But since it's old, it has stains already. I was too lazy to do my 5th sketch so it took me about 8-9 years before I started drawing again.
I sketched my face again. (Thank God it still is less-complicated after ten years lol) And this is what I got---
I know it's not perfectly copied. And I got lazy with the stripes & the sleeves so I improvised. My sketch was not as good as then. But at least I still have the little knack in drawing.
This is my niece Nicole.. I drew this last 2000:
I guess I have to do a lot of practice. But I'm glad I haven't lost one of my talents. (Yes... *nods slowly*... I am multitalented. LOL) XD
I sketch faces. I am too lazy to sketch complicated images like garden full of flowers or the sky. (So, if your face looks complicated, I guess I want to skip sketching yours... :D )
The first image I drew after I learned the method of sketching was my face. And it was a success. (Thank God I have less-complicated face.) Yet unfortunately, my walang-magawa nephew, ruined it. Sayang. Next, I drew my niece Nicole. When I sketched my mom's face, my uncle (who could draw also) tried to "fix" it to his standards but ended up messing it up. I also drew my friend's face and gave it to her on her birthday. So, the only piece I have in my care is my niece's. But since it's old, it has stains already. I was too lazy to do my 5th sketch so it took me about 8-9 years before I started drawing again.
I sketched my face again. (Thank God it still is less-complicated after ten years lol) And this is what I got---
I know it's not perfectly copied. And I got lazy with the stripes & the sleeves so I improvised. My sketch was not as good as then. But at least I still have the little knack in drawing.
This is my niece Nicole.. I drew this last 2000:
I guess I have to do a lot of practice. But I'm glad I haven't lost one of my talents. (Yes... *nods slowly*... I am multitalented. LOL) XD
