Regatta Leg 3

PYROS Men's Team,
December 10, 2006
Manila Bay

No Day But Today

I should tell you...I should tell you...

there is no future
there is no past
i live this moment
as my last

there's only us
there's only this
forget regret
or life is yours to miss

no other road
no other way

no day but today

The fire is out anyway...
....no day but today

Isang Sanaysay Tungkol sa Tsina

One thing I just realized -- tamad na ako mag-blog.

Tamad na naman, hehe. Pagalitan ako ni Bok nito eh. Tamad, tamad, puro na lang tamad. Tamad magluto, tamad maglaba, tamad lumabas, tamad mag shopping, tamad kumain. Hmmm, yung last one, di ata ako tinatamad gawin yun =)

So heto yung katamaran ko...magli-link na lang ako ng blog ng iba. Hehe.

Nag train kami ng mga kasama ko mula Hongkong hanggang Shanghai, Xitang, Xian at Beijing. Sira ulo ba kami, kamo? Hindi naman. Ayon sa kalkulasyon ng kasama kong si Lala, halos 79 na oras kami nasa loob ng tren. Tatlong araw at tatlong oras ng paglalakbay sa tren na malinis at efficient.

Nakakagulat nga, at medyo nakakalungkot din. Kasi heto na naman ako at ire-relate sa Pilipinas ang estado ng mga railway sa China. Kung yun lang ang basehan, naku, kaysaya maging komunista. Malinis at efficient ang railways nila, mula Hongkong hanggang Tibet hanggang Europa kayang ilakbay. Samantalang yung mula Maynila hanggang Bikol, di natin ma-maintain. Tsk tsk. Pati nga mga normal na bahay, yung hindi naman mukhang mayaman, ay may mga solar energy panels. Nakaka-impress!

Sige, ibalik na natin sa masasayang usapan.

So mula Hongkong, nag-tren kami patungong Shanghai. Overnight ang byahe sa tren, at masarap naman ang tulog ko dun. Pagdating sa Shanghai, malamig. Naglakad kami papuntang subway station, at nag subway patungo sa titirhan naming hostel. Naligaw pa kami, dahil malayo rin pala ang lalakarin mula subway hanggang hostel. Pero maganda yung hostel. May hot water. At may view sa roofdeck!

Susunod na kabanata...Xitang...

TODA and Manila Spirits

Some pics from Day 1 of the Manila Spirits 2006 Tournament.

This was a "how not to spend PHP 1500" lesson for me -- miss two games on the first day, and not attend the whole second day of the 2-day tournament. Grabe, nasulit ko talaga, haha. Anyway, during the last few minutes of our Day 1 games, when the team whipped out the offence and defense star lineup, I finally took out the camera and took some pics.

Jumping JC before a point

Jumping for the disc

And Jo gets the point!

Pics taken during the TODA vs. Monster game. For more info about the Manila Spirits Tournament 2006, click here. For more info about TODA, click here. More pics at Multiply.

Manila Spirits 2006

Some pictures from Manila Spirits 2006, held November 25-26, 2006 at the Alabang Country Club.

Syempre tamad akong mag picture, at nilabas ko lang yung camera nung last few minutes ng last game namin nung Saturday. And syempre din wala rin ako nung Sunday. Hay. O basta, ito mga pictures na nakuha ko. =)

The Great Wall Hike

A 4-hour hike from Jinshanling to the Simatai section of the Great Wall of China. This is a 12km hike along sections of the Great Wall.
** November 12, 2006
** the outskirts of Beijing, China

PYROS Medical Mission

Start:	Dec 16, '06 07:00a
End:	Dec 16, '06 12:00p
Location:	Manila Bay area, City of Manila

Philippine Youth Rowing Society

Medical and Dental Mission and gift giving

The Philippine Youth Rowing Society (PYROS) will be conducting a medical mission and gift giving activity on December 16, Saturday, at the Manila Bay area. Target recipients are poor families living in the area. Donations and other help will be greatly appreciated. Last year's medical mission pictures at the Team Pyros Multiply Site.

For donations or inquiries, you can contact any PYROS member, or drop me a note.

Merry Christmas!

Dried Fruits

Dried Fruit Vendor at Xian's Beiyuan Men Islamic Street (Xian, China)

In truth, I have never really seen this much dried fruit before. Dried apricots, dried cherry tomatoes, dried prunes, dried everything! They even had dried mangoes, which I didn't taste because I still believe Manila's mangoes are the best (home pride syempre!). The dried fruits I did taste were sweet. We even bought some dried cherry tomatoes to munch on. Yum!

Xitang - China's Water Town

Xitang is billed as China's version of Venice.

Similar to Suzhou, where waterways and canals are the distinguishing areas of interest, Xitang has waterways and canals that are very picture and painting-friendly. Consequently, a lot of artists thrive in the area. The narrow cobblestoned passageways are perfect for photo opportunities. When we were there, there were magazine photoshoots and even a newly wed couple having their picture taken on the bridge.

There are many local Chinese tourists here, and most of the houses on the canal-way have been converted into guesthouses, complete with the Chinese courtyard of course. The most famouse Western tourist is probably Tom Cruise -- he shot the finals scenes of MI3 in Xitang. There are framed pictures of him in the houses here.

One advice when going to Xitang -- make sure someone knows Chinese. Hardly anyone here speaks English.

Xitang is one hour away from Shanghai. From Shanghai, board a train going to Jiashan. At Jiashan, board a mini bus going to Xitang.

Which Way?

The journey started out with hope, and ended with the tale of the Harvard MBA and the fisherman. In our version, like the tale, the fisherman wins hands down. Why live to work when your end goal really is to sustain a relaxed life, taking siestas and enjoying drinks with friends?

So which way is the right way? Then again, the advantage of being older is realizing that there really is no right way, and it is up to your convictions to stand by your own decisions about your own life.

And the truth is, most of the time, I do enjoy what I'm doing.

It's just a struggle sometimes to fit that in with everyone's expectations, especially in a world that will judge you based on your so-called achievements. The joy of being proud of your work is tempered with the realization that sometimes those things do not matter, and oftentimes "talk" and "politics" will get you anywhere, faster. In my experience, nice guys finish last, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be nice. My end goal is not to finish first anyway. It's to finish with dignity. And to do it. My own way.

Shanghai in 2 days

A road trip to Shanghai and other parts of China
November 5 - 14, 2006
** lala, cath, jao, raycee, sym **

Akustrek 2006!

Tonight was UTREK's Akustrek Night -- a night when mountaineers and UTREK friends gather to drink beer and listen to acoustic (and non-acoustic) bands perform. And maybe even 'jam' themselves.

This year, Akustrek was held at One Sports Bar somewhere in Cubao -- #6 F. Castillo Street to be exact, near the Hi-Top Supermarket on Aurora Blvd. Bok and I arrived at a little past 9. By then, 2 bands had already performed their respective sets. There were some food and pica pica included with the ticket -- lumpiang shanghai, tasty fried chicken and pancit. 1 beer was included in the entrance ticket -- we eventually ordered some more. After a while, "Anonymous G" performed their set. The bassist of Anonymous G is one of the UTREK member's brothers. I liked their original songs (sort of punk rock), but Bok was bored. "Yun din kinanta nila last year eh," he said. Hehe, of course, di ko naaalala. There were also some games, hosted by the lovely Ms. Emily and Vangie. For more pictures, click here.

Discovery of the day: To be called a "sports bar", all you had to have were billiard tables. Wow.

Akustrek 2006

United Trekker's Club (UTREK)
November 4, 2006
One Sports Bar, F. Castillo Street near corner Aurora Blvd, Cubao

More pictures at Eric's site (http://ericdgrover.multiply.com/photos/album/43)

Another View

"Yet for me the first great joy of traveling is simply the luxury of leaving all my beliefs and certainties at home, and seeing everything I thought I knew in a different light, and from a crooked angle."

-- Pico Iyer, "Why We Travel"

Companion piece: Lala's Blog

Grrr of the Day

NAKAKAINIS ANG GLOBELINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johari Window

I remember the "Johari Window" concept from my elementary religion class. It's said to be useful in understanding a person's interpersonal relationships. The Johari Window is similar to a cross-type window pane, with four little windows (imagine a giant square divided into four):

1. Aspect known to to self and to other people (something everybody knows)
2. Aspect known only by yourself (your secrets)
3. Aspect known only by others (your blind spot)
4. Aspect not known by anyone including yourself (uh....top secret???)

Usually what's of interest is the "blind spot" area -- things that other people know about you which you don't know about. Sure, we shouldn't really care what other people think, but...wouldn't it be nice to know what other people think about you? Plus, you can better understand how to improve yourself so you can better relate to others.

So please...help me fill out my Johari Window as well! Hehe. Click this link. Thanks!

2006 Dragonboat Regatta, 2nd Leg

2nd Leg Regatta

Some scenes from the second leg of the Dragonboat Regatta held last October 15 at Manila Bay. For the Men's Category, the Bicol Boys (Camarines Sur) beat the PNP team. For the Women's Category, PNP was the winner, with Aqua Fortis finishing a very close second.

I didn't get to catch the PYROS boys though. Bok and I came late, and we only caught the finals of the men's category. Some more pictures here: click this, or you can click on the picture above for an enlarged version of the montage.

Commercial Muna

If I had time and money, I would join this....

12 Days Asian Mystique in Vietnam and Cambodia

Air Miles Management Corporation brings you the first Travel Photo Workshop with renowned international travel photographer, Mr. George Tapan, as the certified conductor of the photo workshop. Amateur and professional photographers and hobbyist are invited to experience 12 days of a fun learning experience and discover the mystical magic of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Experience and explore Vietnam and Cambodia from 21 October to 01 November 2006, and bring home beautiful images. Workshop tour package includes round-trip airfare, airport transfers, hotel accommodation and a lot more.

For bookings, rates and inquiries, you may call: Air Miles Management Corp. at (632) 899-4834 and (632) 897-6556 Or email at: airmiles@surfshop.net.ph

***got the ad from a Mabuhay Miles email....

Raise The Roof

Workmen repair our ceiling...hindi pa entirely tapos though...

My Kind, from My Fair Maladies

I bought the book a long time ago (well, not so long ago), but before I got married and had to scrimp on every penny (hindi naman ako bitter???). Well in short, I bought the book and there it rested on the bookshelf, untouched until the day of the typhoon when we became refugees from our own home. Well, sosyal na refugees naman kami, kasi naka-tambay kami sa ChowKing at Jollibee habang nagbabasa ng kung ano-ano pampalipas ng oras.

So, in short, this is a terrible intro to a poem I read from the collection of essays called "My Fair Maladies", subtitled "Funny Essays and Poems on Various Ailments and Afflictions", edited by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, and published in 2005.

It's a book filled with essays and poems by different authors describing their ailments in a funny light. One of the poems there (the last paragraph made me chuckle deep deep inside)

My Kind
by Ralph Semino Galan

I have no oven large enough,
Dear Sylvia, to roast
my head like a lamb for dinner.

Not a brand-new car parked
in a garage, Dear Anne,
to etherize my soul.

Nor stones heavy with sin,
Dear Virginia, and a river deep
as forgetting to drown myself in.

Nor do I live in a building,
high like the bluest
of skies, Dearest Maningning.

Sisters in rhyme, in crime,
how then shall I make my quick
and extraordinary exit?

Or shall I kill myself slowly
with beer and cigarettes,
bit by bit?

Forces of Nature

Typhoon Milenyo (international name Xangsane), dropped by Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon last Thursday, leaving behind fallen billboards, overturned trucks, uprooted trees, and almost a hundred people dead and thousands more displaced from their homes.


Our ceiling during the typhoon:

..with every strong gust of wind, the ceiling heaved and hoed and we honestly thought the whole building was gonna cave in. Well, it turns out it was only the ceiling of some of the units in our building...some architectural defect that the management was supposedly going to sue the contractor for...but of course during the height of the typhoon that was not exactly a comforting thought.


Our ceiling after the typhoon:

...some workers came in to strip the plyboard off the ceiling, so now it's bare and we have the whole "industrial" look going on. We still don't know when exactly they're going to fix the ceiling..."we'll schedule it," management keeps telling us...hopefully it will be before the next big typhoon...


And To Yet Another Force of Nature...
...it came and it went. I am still confused, bewildered by how sudden it came and went, but to everything there has to be a reason. The reason is out there, somewhere. I have no choice now but to say good bye.

My Almost-Diving Trip

One rainy day we decided to go to Dumaguete, the "land of the gentle people", as they call it. We had our itinerary -- the first day would be the city tour (Siliman U!); the next day we'd go diving at Apo Island Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful dive sites around; the third day we'd go dolphin and whale watching at nearby Bais City; and the last day we'll just laze around.

Well, you know what happens to well-laid plans ... they either get done or they don't, and something else about mice and men. So here are some pictures of Apo Island, where we snorkled. Well to be fair, the snorkeling grounds had beautiful corals and big fishes, that will entrance you and make you forget that you are swimming against the big waves of the rainy season. But still...since I wouldn't be diving again till next year, maybe I should've gone ahead and dived. :)

In any case, we had fun viewing the beautiful corals, and the fun is what matters sometimes.

More pictures about Dumaguete on the next post.

Kicking and Screaming

I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that phase
Even your emotions had an echo
And so much space...

-- Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"

I must be losing my mind. Which isn't healthy. Really. And I can let you know more details but I guess in the end it really is not interesting. Nothing matters much, and the truth is, I am afraid of being depressed and not being strong enough for the things that don't and do matter. It's such a pathetically weak response that I want to bonk my head and knock some sense into me. Someone should be looking out for me, damnit. Argg!

But maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably...

Storm's Farewell

Storm singing one of my favorite songs on Rockstar Supernova's Week 10 Elimination Show -- Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"

Videoke

I walked around my good intentions
and found that there were none...

Just when you thought it was all over...well it's never done. It never ends, and maybe it's the predictability of something always going wrong that lends the whole effort a sheen of fatalistic desperation.

Sometimes I see the sunshine peeking out from above those pesky gray rain clouds, and hope surges within. The operative word here is "sometimes". Because right now I am so tired, and I don't really care anymore if you don't look up from your safe coccoon and notice how I'm slowly drifting away. Because maybe you can't see that. Because maybe you already know all about desperation and not going anywhere despite your best efforts. And you know that all this crying out is useless, to paraphrase that slow acoustic Googoo Dolls song.

"And I wonder where these dreams go
When the world gets in your way
Whats the point in all this screaming
No one's listening anyway..."

-- Googoo Dolls, "Acoustic # 3"

The world will always be the same. And I do so need to change.

If I don't make it
Know that I've loved you all along
Just like sunny days that we ignore
because we're all dumb & jaded...

-- Our Lady Peace, "4 AM"

Comic Strip of the Day

Boring Humdrum Day

Yes, no, maybe
I don't know
Can you repeat the question?

You're not the boss of me now
You're not the boss of me now
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big...

- "Boss of Me", They Might Be Giants

Batanes and Other Destinations

One of my friends from our hiking club attended a summer photography workshop, which included a trip to the Batanes Islands, one of my dream destinations. So kahit sa photos man lang, I hope to imbibe the essence of Batanes. Haha. Catch their Batanes photo exhibit at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall this weekend.

Time For A Change

Something dark and dreary to match the mood. Orange is just too bright and sunny, the sweetness and optimism just silences me into accepting the status quo and admitting that maybe I am the weird one here and everything is really fine and dandy in this world.

It's time for a freaking change.

"Who put the weight of the world on my shoulders?
Who put the lies in the truth that you sold us?"
-- Oasis

Bones

Guess which popular animal this set of bones belongs to? Clue: it's biiig.

Fat Michael's

I first overheard of the restaurant from a group of acquaintances that I got together with.

"Your family owns Fat Michael's?" asked one of them.

"Yes," replied the person being grilled. And then expressions of "Oh you have great food", "We ate there last week", "You were featured on F", "You have nice menus, who did them?", "Don't you have a branch in Tagaytay?" went on. And clueless me thought, darn I'm not updated on the latest quaint dining places!

And charmingly odd it is. The place has character, despite some of the negative comments I've read so far. It has a funky homey interior that reminds me of Malate and art. You can read the books and magazines on display while waiting for your order. The restaurant is located at Bangkal in Makati, near the second hand clothing stores, and is the starting point for Carlos Celdran's ukay-ukay walking tour.

Before everything else, food is great. The kesong puti cheese sticks are good, so are the pastas, pizzas and the java chicken I tasted. The iced tea is brewed. The service is ok, as long as you don't expect much, and as long as you make a reservation. Let me remind you, please make a reservation. The second time I went there, it was a Saturday afternoon, and though only one other table was occupied in the restaurant, they asked us "Did you make a reservation?", in the haughty tones that are calculated to instill fear in you.

According to my new friend whose family owns the resto, Fat Michael's started out as a canteen that primarily catered to employees of the nearby Intel office. Since her mother didn't want to cook normal canteen food, it became a sort-of Italian restaurant. It's a family business that was named after her brother Michael, who is no longer fat and who also doesn't cook for Fat Michael's anymore. They do admit that their customer service might not be top-notch -- I guess that's the effect when you have to cook the same food day in and day out. But then again, that's the catch when you open a resto. :) Last summer they had a trial opening of a branch in Tagaytay, which they opened only during the summer season. They'll wait for next summer to decide if they'll still reopen that branch.

In any case, don't let that stop you from trying out their food. The cheese sticks are really yummy, and their pizzas are topped with kesong puti as well. Consistently good food. For more resto reviews about Fat Michael's (and more pictures), check out clickthecity and Anton's blog.

---------------------
Fat Michael's is located at 115-A Rodriguez Ave., cor. Gen. Lacuña Street, Bangkal, Makati. If you're driving, it's near South Super Highway, just turn right near Makati Apartelle/3M. It's also a short walk away from the Magallanes MRT station. And remember, don't forget to make a reservation at 632.843.1953.

Grrr...

You Should Weigh 160

If you weigh less than this, you either have a fast metabolism or are about to gain weight. If you weigh more than this, you may be losing a few pounds soon!

How Much Do You Weigh?

Waiting

Buko King

He guards the Tigbao hanging bridge at the town of Loboc in Bohol.

Or rather, he sits by the foot of the bridge and will husk a coconut with his teeth for a "donation". Apparently, he's also almost famous, with home videos taken by tourists posted at Google, and mentioned several times by several people travelling in Bohol. His teeth must be a dentist's dream! Haha.

Meet Buko King. (As made famous by a noontime show's segment on weird pinoy talents)

First, he'll tap the coconut on the floor...

The he tears the husk to pieces with his bare teeth...

a happy Buko King

Bohol, Part II

Other Bohol pictures at my and jao's fotopic sites.

O diba parang bored na bored yung tarsier? Tapos ito pa, picture from jao. Diba ang cute cute nila? Hehe.

O, napaka-articulate ng post ko. Nakakainis. Ano ba ang mga gusto kong sabihin? Marami.

• Ulan ng ulan ngayon sa Manila.
• Nag-dive kami sa bohol, sa may Balicasag Island
• Nag-stay kami sa may Alona Beach, kung saan pino at maputi ang buhangin. Tumira kami sa Bohol Diver's Lodge, na 800 pesos bawat gabi ang isang standard room
• Walang murang pagkain sa Alona Beach. Wala. W-A-L-A. Maliban na lang siguro sa 20-pesos na BBQ. E binebenta nga ng 150 pesos yung bote ng gin dun sa sari sari store na malayo na sa beach front eh.
• Nag-Bohol din pala ako last year. At July din ha. Hanapin nyo na lang dito yung mga interesting things to see in Bohol.
• Last year, nag-PALakbayan kami, yung promo ng Philippine Airlines na package na ang airfare at accommodations. Ngayon, nag-Cebu Pacific promo kami, lumalabas na 3K para sa roundtrip airfare. Idagdag ang 1K na binayad namin tig-isa para sa apat na gabing accommodation, at panalo diba!
• Syempre hwag lang bibilangin ang mga ginastos sa pagkain, sa paglibot libot, at sa pag-dive. Haha
• Magba-bike at ATV sana kami para ilibot ang Panglao Island, ngunit nagkulang ang mga mountain bike na available. Note to self: matuto mag-motorbike. O magsama ng marunong mag-motorbike.
• Syempre di ako makatiis. Ito yung itinerary namin nung nandun kami:
  

  Day 1: Plane arrives. Look for place to stay. You can opt to stay at Tagbilaran City itself (there are many accommodations in the city), or you can stay at any of the resorts in Panglao Island. There are numerous beaches in the island, we opted to stay at the Alona Beach area. If you have more time maybe you can stay at Balicasag or Pamilican Islands. For honeymooners, Panglao Island Nature Resort on the other side of Panglao Island would be perfect. And for party people, you can look into Bohol Beach Club, among others.

  Day 2: Tagbilaran City tour. Hire a car or van and visit Hinagdanan Cave (on Panglao Island), Blood Compact Site (in the city), Baclayon Church (and museum) and the Chocolate Hills. Have buffet lunch on the Loboc River Cruise, and then go ahead and take a picture of the tarsiers kept near the Loboc Church. On the way towards Chocolate Hills, stop by the Man Made Forest in Bilar town. Take a picture of the different churches of the different towns you'll pass through. Pass by the Hanging Bridge. If you have more time, visit Prony the giant python at Alburqueque. Prony eats only virgin pigs. Most of the sites have "by donation" entrance fees.
  

  Day 3: Whale watching (if possible). Unfortunately the rainy months bring upon strong waves which for some reason the whales shy away from. In other words, there are very few whale or dolphin sightings during this time. So go diving instead. Balicasag Island has beautiful dive sites. And if you can't dive? Go snorkelling.

  Day 4: Swim. Eat. Bum Around. Go to Tagbilaran City to visit the malls and do pasalubong shopping. We went to the Island Mall where we spent the afternoon. Actually we planned to go biking around Panglao Island to visit the different beaches, but that didn't pan out. So went shopping instead. Bus fare from Panglao Island to Tagbilaran is 20 pesos. From Alona Beach, just head out towards Rona's Corner Store. Mini-buses and jeeps usually pass this way. It will be a bit of a long and bumpy ride however.
  

  Day 5: Eat hearty breakfast. Pack stuff. Head home.

Si Cutie

Hindi ko pa naaayos yung ibang pics, pero gusto ko na i-share ito. Hehe. Galing ni Cutie!

Everyone's at Starbucks

It's a Friday night...gimmick night ika nga.

Well, there I was texting someone (anyone!) who I thought could possibly drop by in a Makati bar on a Friday night. First I text my frisbee teammates (though I rarely play frisbee these days). The reply? "D2 kami Starbucks Rockwell. Sunod kayo". Oh fine. Kaya ko nga sila tinext para pumunta sa bar eh. And then I receive another text from another friend: "I'm in Starbucks --branch-- with --insert name here--".

What? Is everyone my age in Starbucks these days?

P.S. -- Hello Lala & Beng! Wala lang...di ko na kayo na meet dito sa Manila. Good luck, God bless and see you girls soon! (I hope) ;-)

The Adventurer's Handbook

When it rains, it pours. Meaning, sometimes, you get what you need just when you need it. So to spread a bit of goodwill, I'd like to share one of the fun books I've read, with the hope that you'll enjoy it as much as I have.


The Adventurer's Handbook
by Mick Conefrey
published March 2006

This was one of those "impulse" buy books...those books you don't really look for, and don't really plan on buying.

At that time, I was in a bookstore looking for a slim light-weight book to buy so I can kill time while waiting for a flight. But as I was browsing through the bookstore, I came across this book and got intrigued by the title. Surely, it would be one of those boring self-help books ("life lessons" nga). But the magic word ("adventure") was there, so I gingerly took the book from the shelf and browsed through the pages.

The book is a collection of different anecdotes and stories from the glory days of Exploration. As Amazon.com describes the book, it is "a powerful punch of self-help, how-to, popular history, and humor....Mick Conefrey takes a new look at the larger-than-life tales of many famous American and European adventurers." The descriptions of the adventures are funny (and factual), there is tongue-in-cheek humor there, plus real life lessons on forming teams and planning ahead. What caught my attention then was the section on the difficulties that women explorers then encountered with regards to attire...how difficult would it be to hike up Everest in a skirt? There are numerous other anecdotes about explorations to the Antarctic, the numerous failed Everest expeditions, expeditions through the Sahara and the Australian desert. These are funny, insightful, and bite-sized stories that you can read and come back to again and again.

Surviving on Coffee

...or what to do with $500...

I am very sleepy, thus the title. Hindi ba obvious? Gusto ko ng kape pero tinatamad ako magtimpla. Plus kelangan ko pa tuloy maghugas ng baso, dahil wala na akong iinuman. I am also a bit broke, and I can think of many uses for $500:

1. bayaran ang amex bill
2. upgrade my pc!
3. buy a new cellphone unit!
4. upgrade the car stereo!
5. save it

Haha. So there. That's why I love me. Ang labo ko rin minsan. In the meantime, excuse me while I go wash the dishes first.

Alaena's First

Alaena Guela's First Birthday Party...it was a cool luau party for Jasper & Jinky's beautiful baby girl. After the kids (the real ones) had their fun, the old kids had fun too.

Mocorro Tan Wedding

In Fervent Prayer

***Mocorro-Tan Nuptial photos here***

It was a solemn wedding and the church was packed full with friends and relatives of the couple. Nuestra Senora de Gracia church in Guadalupe (near Loyola Memorial) is a beautiful stone church that evokes images of old history...I have no idea how old the church is, but the stained glass windows and old stone structure lends to that effect. It's a fairly narrow church, with only two columns of pews as compared to the usual three or four columns found in most big churches. On this rainy Sunday, the lives of my former officemate Dennis Mocorro and his girlfriend Cindy Tan were united as one.

Reception followed at the New World Hotel in Makati...lots of good food and desserts. Hehe. Also saw some common friends from UTREK who are members of SOLV. The couple will eventually be going back to Singapore to build their new lives there. God bless!

When In Montalban

visit venue92 bar
** drinks, food, bands, stand-up comedians

Venue92 is located near Roosevelt Highschool in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal. From Cubao, take an FX going to Montalban and ask the driver to drop you off at the "highway" (The landmark would be a Mercury Drug store on the right side, and a BPI Family Bank across the street.) Then take a tricycle and tell the driver to drop you off at "venue92". If they tell you they do not know, then tell them "sa roosevelt high school". Venue is located at the corner.

Thoughts

Tired.

Island Spa

Last Christmas, I won a complimentary full body massage at Island Spa. Six months after, I finally took the time to try out the facilities at this spa that UTREK's Judy manages.

First impression: What?? A spa in the floor below IO KTV? Isn't this where the old Don Henrico's resto was? I had visited IO KTV many times and totally ignored this space, for some weird reason dismissing it as something meant for Japanese tourists.

But it turns out the facilities here are really nice. There are individual rooms and rooms for couples, all nicely decorated, private, and complete with a flat screen TV in each room. They serve complimentary ginger tea before and after your massage, and wet floor facilities (shower, sauna) are included in the full body massage package. All this for the fairly reasonable price of 550 pesos (for the full body massage). On a separate occasion, we also tried the foot massage, and it was the best -- just perfect after a hard day of hiking or walking around the metro. There's also a mini cafe where you can wait, and lately, a hair salon.

So if you're on the lookout for a spa around the Makati area, try out Island Spa in Jupiter.

** ISLAND SPA is open daily from 1230pm-1230am, and located at the 2nd flr, Jupiter Place bldg., 136 Jupiter St., Bel Air, Makati. Tel# 8991234; 7518296.

Outrigger Dive

Outrigger Resort, Anilao, Batangas
June 11 - 12, 2006

Travelogue - Macau HK

Some travel memories stick with you. Like stepping out into the wide open spaces of Utah with fellow wide-eyed travellers, or drinking cold 5-peso beer with backpackers in Hanoi, or hiking in Sagada, diving in Coron and my very first trip to Boracay.

Two weeks ago we went wreck diving in Subic, and all I can say is, diving through the holes and windows of ship wrecks is the closest thing I have felt to flying. Sure, I felt like a dog doing tricks and jumping through hoops, and swimming 90 feet below sea level is hardly what you can call the closest thing to flying, but I really felt like I was floating out there. And for 750 pesos a dive, the experience was well worth it.

So when I have to remind myself why I am currently living beyond my means, this is what I hold on to. The promise of a life well lived. The lure of living in the moment, of seizing every opportunity, of not being a slave to what society dictates should be the priority. The fulfillment of having done the best that I can, in the way that I wanted to. In simpler words, what the heck, I tried to be happy.

Of course, travel is best experienced with someone. Sweet dreams are made of these, memories and shared dreams. Over the weekend, we boarded a Tiger Airways flight to Macau. It was my second time to go to Macau this year. The first time though, will always be special. This time around, I arrived in Macau and met up with my friends (Jao and Wacks) who were there a day before me. We were supposed to meet at the Fisherman's Wharf area...and so from the airport I boarded the airport bus without even knowing for sure if the bus would be passing through Fisherman's Wharf! More than 30 minutes into the bus ride, I was praying "Please God, let it pass near Fisherman's Wharf". And guess what, next thing I knew the next stop was Fisherman's Wharf. Talk about coincidences and blessings!

In Macau we stayed at Auguster's Lodge near Casino Lisboa and Senado Square. The owner's wife was Filipina, and though the bathroom was common, the bedrooms were clean and well maintained. During the next few days we travelled via ferry to Hongkong and visited Disneyland, Ocean Park and several other HK tourist spots. In Hongkong, we stayed at the relatively cheap Joy Guesthouse in the Sham Shui Po area. At HK$ 225 each night for three people, it was relatively a bargain (as compared to HK$ 450 in the Causeway Bay area). The place was clean and had its own toilet in the room, although the rooms were smallish, similar to most Hongkong guesthouses. There was also a slighty suspicious chicken-poop smell sometimes, but after a few minutes the aircon masks the smell (either that or your nose will get used to it).

Back in Macau we spent a lot of time snapping pictures at the Macau Tower. We contemplated whether or not to do the SkyWalk (where you can walk on the edge of the tower), but the couple we saw doing the SkyWalk were a bit bored. The SkyJump though was out of our budget already.

We also spent some time getting lost in the bus. It turns out the buses have a different route going to one place, and another route when doing the reverse trip.

During our last night we gave in and ate a hearty dinner at one of the Portuguese restaurants at Taipa Village, ordering curry crabs, baked mussels and fried rice.

Macau-HK photos at my Multiply site.

Looking back, it was a miracle we survived such a hectic IT. Imagine, going to Lantau Island in the morning to view the biggest Buddha (which we didn't get to see because of the super thick fog), and then spending the whole afternoon in Ocean Park, having dinner at the Causeway Bay area, then going via Star Ferry to the Tsim Sha Tsui area and walking around the Avenue of Stars. Our first day in Hongkong was no different...upon arriving at HK after lunch, we were greeted by rain, rain and more rain. Finally we were able to board the bus towards Sham Shui Po, then we walked and finally arrived at the hostel. Leaving our bags there, we proceeded to Disneyland, spent the afternoon til early evening there, catching the fireworks and going straight to the night markets afterwards. And then onwards to Lan Kwai Fong to sample the expat nightlife. Since it was "expat" nightlife, of course the prices were expensive. We ended up buying beer at 7-11 and hanging out like the jologs we were. We did almost everything listed in our IT, except for Victoria Peak (too foggy), and Coloane Island tour (lack of time).

On the plane ride back to Manila, there were dragonboat rowers from Manila Dragons on the flight. They just came in from a competition in Guangzhou, and were bringing with them their dark blue Nike sponsored jackets and winner trophies.

Which reminds me...I haven't rowed in a looong while either. And with me spending another late night, I doubt I'll be able to wake up early later to row.

Oh well, there's always next time.

Macau - Taipa and Senado Square

Midnight Thoughts

Man, I am tired. Just juggling the math in my head makes me want to give up and throw in the towel.

Time passes quickly...too quick sometimes.

But we survive...we have to anyway. As Pico Iyer mentions in the only piece I have read so far, Manila has a "wistful desperation". And maybe I am wistful...and bordering on desperate.

But we make do. And we try to live in the moment....because otherwise, we'd go crazy and write a blog post at 1 in the morning.

So...I am thankful for every blessing that I have.

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves...

Abroad, we are wonderfully free of caste and job and standing...And precisely because we are clarified in this way, and freed of inessential labels, we have the opportunity to come into contact with more essential parts of ourselves

And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed.

That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.

"Why We Travel", by Pico Iyer

HK Ocean Park

Hongkong and the Walk of Fame

Macau Tower