Hong Kong 2016 Travel Experience

I was supposed to do a detailed itinerary blogpost on this, cause I spent weeks fixing that and wanted to share it with everyone. But because 1.)  I'm lazy and 2.) I'm sick (2 days sick leave to kick off the year, what a start!), I'll be leaving this video instead.

My first attempt at videoing. Not really ~vlogging~ but just videoing the experience.

Hope everyone had a great 2016!

Hong Kong with the family

November 28 to December 3, 2016

Scraps of feelings

Like in tv shows that we watch a lot of episodes in my life are just fillers. Arcs that are irrelevant to the whole point of my plot, nothing more than time that must be wasted spent to fill the 24 hour day waiting to be lived.

I go to the office pantry and wash my mug to prepare some tea. I go to Dumaguete to swim with the pawikan and just lay on the hot, white sand. I go to Tagaytay for the birthday salubong of one of my friends. I wait for the elevator while i eat my Mcdo caramel sundae, carrying another paper bag where my apple pie waits to be enjoyed a few moments later.

I enjoy the smell of an officemate's coffee while I stare at my Excel. I drive 110kph when the limit is 100. I finally find my go-to moisturizer after going through 4 branches. And then I later on find out it has been completely discontinued. I eat chicken-spaghetti for 11pm dinner at the airport after another fly-in fly-out work day. I thank God because I am safe.

I think about love and how it saves the world. I think about butterflies in my stomach and when I'll get to feel it again - for the right person. I think about happiness and what it means. 

I mean, what is happiness for you?

I think about my plot, which of my episodes matter and don't. Then I wonder who's to say that my tea preparation is an irrelevant episode. Or that me eating sundae and apple pie before my actual lunch is an arc that needs no mention.

Who am I to say that my most mundane activities are fillers, if I don't really know my plot. I take pleasure in not knowing, although admittedly there is relief in knowing some other things. I'm happy I know I have my bed, I have my desk at work, I have my red notebook, red card holder, and red mug. Until when, I don't know, but as for now, I am sure.

I thank God for the things that I am sure of. I thank God for a lot. I sometimes feel selfish asking for some things when there is constant reminder in the streets, media, internet - that life hasn't been fair for many. What did I do to deserve more than what others are having?

I hope 2016 brings to everyone the love that they deserve. Everyone deserves true happiness, whether through love, career, family, advocacy - to each his own.

Because if you're not happy, what's the point?

Cebu - Bohol!

These are just a few photos from last August's Cebu-Bohol trip with friends. It was a packed 5-day itinerary where we spent a day and a half in Bohol, and the rest exploring Cebu. We were able to visit Oslob down south, and Bantayan Islands up north (where I got stung by a Jellyfish!!! Haha but still the beach is love!). I would say that all the places we visited are highlight-worthy. The two provinces are rich with spots that we could just explore leisurely if only we had more time and money!

My favorite of my entire stay though, was when I finally met my sponsored child from World Vision, Shane. Her birthday's in August so I knew that it would be the perfect time to meet and celebrate! Seeing and finally getting to talk to her and her family was such a beautiful humbling experience. She and her family was shy, especially that they're not very fluent in Filipino, but their smiles and gratitude was more than enough to let me know that they appreciate the visit and everything else. Hopefully I can visit back for her graduation, especially because not only is she a pretty kid, but she's also top of her class! That's my girl!

Hoping to explore more of Pinas!

Kaleidoscope of summer

From the chill, easy, arsty and [dare i say] hipster-ish resort, to the most beautiful beach sunset that i have ever seen so far (photos below are NOT filtered!), this trip to the Circle Hostel at Zambales has got to be the perfect getaway to cap off my summer month of May. Such a palette of colors in one weekend!

Changing imprints

Bet you when I say the word Baler, the first thing that comes to most people's mind is surfing. Yes? Yes? Since I haven't been to the place, I usually think of 2 things: surfing, and Anne Curtis' movie. Yep. I wasn't able to see that but I remember it creating a buzz (i think because Anne Curtis won an award for her performance?), so those two are what stuck with the place name.

Last May, however, I finally got to go to the province of Aurora! One of our friends is from Baler so we stayed at his place, cooked our own food and made our own itinerary. We drove (my friend, i mean) for about 8 hours and the roads felt endless! What kept us from going crazy over the long trip though were the beautiful sights! Trees, lakes, mountains, all picturesque. In my head I really wanted to stop and take photos after every few kilometers but the idea of ze friends killing me for prolonging the trip the drive turned tiring at one point sooooo nope.

We didn't surf! (I hear gasps!) 'Tis my group of friends that like beach bumming (yey!) more than the adventures of surfing, so we were all for white sand over the waves of Sabang - the more popular surf beach of Baler. Our friend then decided to bring us to Dicasalarin Cove for our white sand beach fix, which is probably now my all-time favorite beach! It's secluded (there were just 2 other small groups besides us, so we practically had the beach to ourselves), has fine sand, clear waters, and was just overall a perfect place to relax!

We also went to Ditumabo Falls, also known as the Mother Falls. We trekked a few kilometers before reaching the cold cold cooold waters of the falls. There were a lot of people when we went there, most probably because we went late in the afternoon. I'm guessing the best time would be before sunrise, although that may mean even colder water. Hmm, i think that would still be a good gamble; nothing beats being alone with nature. I imagine hearing just the sound of the falls and witnessing the break of dawn. Okay I think I want to do that the next time I go back! The trek was some needed exercise for my pretty much sedentary lifestyle too, so yey for that!

We stopped by Sabang beach also for some food trip, and to just absorb the active vibe of this beach and the people -- very un-Dicasalarin Cove where everything feels slow. Both are good though, fit for whatever side of mood you're in! Hopefully I get to gather enough courage and energy (and well, interest haha) to try out surfing next time! 

I'm in love with this province and I'm really hoping I can go back to Dicasalarin Cove. My memory box of Baler now is that it's crazy fun and beautiful especially that I spent it with awezam friends. It may change by the next time I go back, but for now, Baler's my ultimate beach bum place.

Here are plenty of photos because choosing favorites is impossible! Enjoy!

P.S. 2 of our friends do not want their faces on any social media for this trip, including this blog (even though our circle doesn't read this anyway!), so not anybody else from the group made it in this lot of shots neither! Prepare for just my solos everywhere hahaha! Demmet people shouldn't hide from friends/parents trips that are this far! Lulz.