Baguio Trip 2015

This vacation was organized by myself a few months ago. Since October was filled with surprises, I intuitively anticipated that this vacation wouldn't go as planned. We learned about the impending typhoon from the news reports we saw and heard the day before. However, that didn't hinder us from moving north. 

Of course, Baguio trip won’t be complete without visiting the ever famous Lion Head. Hahaha. I have something to confess and please don’t hate me – I call it Godzilla Head.

 

Photo: My IG 

Time check 08:00am -- The weather’s still perfect! We had our breakfast at one of the famous stops  - “Chocolate de Batirol” in Camp John Hay. When we get there, the place isn't crowded, but people are starting to trickle in. I'm a great admirer of everything vintage/old thus this is really a place for me. The setting is so Filipino, it seems like you're eating in your own garden (exactly like my lola's).  I’m a huge fan of anything vintage/old so this is really a place for me. The resto is surrounded by huge pine trees and different fruit bearing trees. The air is fresh and crisp.

 

I love the color! 

After a hearty breakfast, we went to Mines View and dressed like locals there for just 20 PHP each. Took several photos together and lotsa selfies of course. Half an hour later, we went to The Mansion and walk like those in movies at the Wright Park.  We’ve spent half of the day roaming around and taking photos. 

We opted to check into our hotel around midday when it started to drizzle and the wind started to grow chilly. We got a really good deal in Agoda, where the cost of the 1^st night’s free. The room’s just enough for us, not that big like we usually book, but this is just fine. We’ve bought lots of junk foods and chocolates in SM Baguio.

We spent the entire afternoon in our room. The rain is now relentless and the wind started to howl. We didn’t go out that afternoon due to the bad weather condition. We’ve cancelled our itinerary and decided to watch some flick and nibble on the food we bought.

The weather is still awful in the morning. Actually, things are becoming worse. Even so, we get ready and go to church. Although we attended the English service, the Ilocano service is still going on because it is still too early. And yes, I don’t understand a thing. :) 

We heard a loud siren during the service—it was the city alarm! When we overheard the whispers, I immediately realized something was wrong—bad weather with siren? Ugh. It gave me the willies. Possible landslides could occur as a result of the extreme weather. 

I checked my schedule after lunch and saw that we were meant to visit Dinosaur Island after which we were supposed to head to the Café in the Sky by early afternoon. We chose not to travel to any of the above locations despite Mitsu (our car) braving the inclement weather due to the dense fog, strong winds, and heavy rain. Due to the poor visibility caused by the weather, we came dangerously close to two accidents. We decided to lunch at the Café near the Ruins, but regrettably it was closed. In the end, we had dinner at the Ketchup Community. There are a few local and foreign visitors enjoying the food and their Benguet coffee.

By 2:00 PM, we had returned to the hotel, where we spent the rest of the day eating, resting, and watching movies while drinking beer. This isn't the vacation we've planned and dreamed of, but we surely had a great time together. 

Monday arrived, and the weather has become worse! The power went out, which left me without a hot shower and other things. When we went downstairs to eat breakfast, we noticed that some pine trees had fallen across the street. We planned to leave Baguio by lunchtime, so I started packing our things.

In case we can't return to the property, I've looked into alternative lodging options in and around Baguio as a backup. The other day was far better than that one. We have to go back and reroute because we can hardly see the street due to the trees in the way. We had to travel two hours to get out of the area. I was anxious the entire trip because I've seen mudslides and landslides. That was genuinely frightening! I was on the verge of crying, but I didn't want him to see me cry. Given how challenging it is to drive in the torrential rain and wind while avoiding mudslides, I know he is also terrified. With God's help, we were able to safely exit the city.

We were without any pasalubong or other souvenirs because all the shops were closed. We didn't consider purchasing any on the first day because we were certain we could still get those over the weekend, but we were completely mistaken. We returned home empty-handed but relieved that we were safe.

This may not be the best vacation, but a very memorable one.

xx

Ash

Hau`oli la Ho'omana'o (how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-na-o)

October 2 marked our 1 year of our wonderful yet exigent relationship. A year of away-bati slash tampuhan and that don’t-you-ever-text-me-today-or-else. Hahahaha! With those tampuhan days and kaartehan,  my 365 days with my boyfriend is still savored with much gusto, ‘twas a blissful year, still. 

His father was admitted to a hospital about a week before our anniversary. Till three days before our anniversary, I was unaware that he had secretly reserved a room at the Canyon Cove. His father is still in the ICU, so I urged him to postpone.

October 2^nd came. I was super excited. Why? It’s my 1^st anniversary ever!  I mean, I never, ever celebrated anniversaries before. And of course, happy that we made it. Yey! Funny thing though, we had a little argument that day. Glad my bf didn't add fuel to the fire. Hahaha :)

He picked me up at the office and drove to Makati Ave.  I have no idea where we are headed, but I have confidence that he will take me someplace I will enjoy and appreciate. Ta-dah! Hello there Buddha Bar!

The place’s cozy that creates a light and smooth feeling. It will put you in a state of Zen. The place is absolutely gorg! 

We had a stupid fight, as I mentioned earlier, so I wasn't exactly in the mood when I entered this gorgeous haven. However, as soon as I saw the setting and realized how happy he wanted me to be, everything changed. I was so overjoyed when he brought my lovely bouquet of flowers! :))

Knowing that my boyfriend had tried so hard to make the night special, I decided to be reasonable and just enjoy the evening.  I cant let go of this chance to make him feel loved on this very special day.   

The friendly staff made us feel comfortable and provided us their best seller. They served full, tasty food! The spicy grilled chicken with turmeric rice was what my boyfriend ordered, while I chose Tiger Prawns. The serving size is enormous, and the meal is really scrumptious. As a free anniversary gift, their chef also gave us dessert.

We capped the night with a glass of Majestic and Hearts of Darkness—ah! Cocktails. Hahaha. We cant shell out too much money on drinks. Their wine's too expensive. :)  We left this lavish bar with a happy heart and smiling stomach and a box of cheesecake on my right hand. Hahaha.  You wont regret visiting this place. Their service is top notch.  And oh, by the way, their washroom/powder room is a thumbs up! 

In addition to this tummy filling treats, we also got a raffle coupon where we can get a chance to drive a brand new Range Rover Evoque! Crossing my fingers. whoooops!

Happy Anniversary 

*Coupon/s will be given if you consume worth of 3000php on ala carte meals.

xx

Ash

Exploring Bicolandia

**Disclaimer: This is waaaaay too over due. Forgive me for not posting this real time. This was just sitting in my drafts since April.

My weekend has exponentially changed when we visited the Bicol region. Even though we had this trip planned for more than a month, a lot of things happened at the last minute. I almost didn't make it because I have a severe pain in my lower right abdomen, but I'm still grateful that I'm okay and that I was able to travel with my friends to Bicolandia. Some of the folks couldn't come because of personal reasons and my boyfriend couldn't go because his leave application was denied. Since I've wanted to visit Bicol since I was in elementary school, I'd say that going on this trip is a fulfillment of a dream.

April 24, 2015.

Call time in Caltex Pasong Tamo is at 5 o'clock, and I was waiting for my friend's pals to arrive. We chose to drive to Bicol at around 7 o'clock. I would say that the drive was really long because it took more than 8 hours. We were overjoyed to see the "welcome to Bicolandia" arc in the highway and hoped that the actual beauty of the region will soon be revealed.  Little did we realize that getting there would take a few more hours. Due to the sporadic coverage, we don't have a GPS or Waze, but we can estimate how close or how far we are from our meeting spot thanks to the Jollibee signage. Oops, I forgot to mention that we planned to meet in Jollibee Daet because some of my friend's friends were taking the bus. We arrived in Daet by cockcrow, and the second batch soon followed. Great memories, new friends, and travel buddies.

There is no need to worry about this trip because my friend's friend already arranged an arrangement - a Calaguas tour package - before that day. We enjoyed the most delicious breakfast while staying at Serge's (Dexter's agent). Who could possibly turn down the mouthwatering giant crabs and extra-large tiger prawns in butter and garlic sauce, together with the sweet and flaming red watermelon? Ahhh! That's a good way to start our day. 

By 9am, we had arrived at the port in Vinzon, waited for other local tourists, and then we were on our way to Calaguas!

At Vinzon's Port

Look at the blue ocean and that fine white sand! Who wouldnt want to see this beauty anyway? 

Lunch time with Patrick Star :)

Our Tent :)

Splash in a flash! 

We have witnessed God's magnificent, almost phantasmagorical, creation. The pristine cyan sea, the Calaguas group of Islands' white, fine sand, the fresh scent of the greens, the grandeur and natural beauty of the Mayon Volcano, even the reminiscence-inducing Cagsawa Ruins, and the joyful expressions on the faces of the people we met. All of this 600+ kilometer travel is worth it.  I've made some new pals that have made this journey even more extraordinary.

We drove back home on Monday and I crawled into bed feeling exhausted in the best, most satisfying way.  When you live days to the fullest and find yourself happy-tired as the sun goes down, there's nothing better. There just isn't.

xx
Ash

of numbers and letters

Birthdays can be a witty thing. A very amusing, enthralling thing.

Isn't it a strange representation of time? Such a significant but also somewhat futile start to a new chapter.

I had planned to have a dinner buffet somewhere in Makati or BGC for my birthday, but the night before, I saw a Facebook post about the "Top 10 restaurants with great interior design." So I went through the page and one caught my eye- Memory Lane. Yes, I must admit that I have admired Jolina since I was in elementary school, seriously! Having said that, I asked that we celebrate my birthday in Tagaytay instead. I'm glad he agreed to scrap the original plan. Yey! We left the house around midday and drove to Tagaytay;  Yey! We left the house mid day and drove to Tagaytay, I’m as giddy as a kid and jumpy as a puppet. Hahahaha! 

The first stop is Memory Lane. It was a cozy spot away from the hustle and bustle of the Metro. If you like vintage items, this is the place to be. The interior is exactly as described in the Facebook post. A very quiet place where you can completely relax and unwind. However, the food is far too expensive for me. I had Memory Lane's Special Iced Tea and Garden Salad, while he chose the Aligue pasta and Oreo Smoothie. Anyway, if you find it interesting, go check it out and possibly leave a review.

We went to the Ayala Mall after lunch to get some food (again) while deciding where to go next. So, after taking a few selfies, we decided to visit the Puzzle Mansion. The entrance fee is 100php/person. It was a truly unforgettable experience. Pinoys can do wonders, really as it was  in Guinness World Record "world's largest collection of jig-saw puzzle. You’ll see different types of jigsaw puzzles and all of these were made by one person – Gina Gil-Lacuna. 

Half past five, we've set our feet to the famous Bag of Beans , because coffee and cheesecake shouldnt be out of the list!

The place is cozy and will give you a warm feeling- a feeling of belongingness. Family, couples, yuppies, and even a few foreigners fill the place with smiles and good cheer.  

I ordered blueberry cheesecake and  a hot caramel Macchiato, while my boyfriend had his favorite chocolate mouse and frappe. While waiting for our food, he went back to the car park and brought me his gift-  a Pandora bracelet! Lucky girl. Hehehe. I excitedly tried the bracelet and oh btw, I love the  “Eiffel tower” charm on it. Thank you! :)

I have the happiest heart that day. There’s a lot of things to be thankful for. I am blessed to have a wonderful family and crazy friends.

I am no longer a child, but I still bring all the optimism, hope, and inquisitiveness that comes with being young. I am an adult, but only just. I am both this and that, neither this nor that, and despite all of my responsibilities, I am still granted the occasional bad decision.  Let's face it, I'm more or less nuts about finding patterns in letter and numbers. Hahaha.

Anyway, it was a happy birthday. God's goodness and love have completely overwhelmed me. Thank you for all of your birthday wishes via Facebook and text messages, and yes, for the overseas call at 12 a.m. just to wish me a happy birthday! 

Cheers!

xx

Ash

My FAT self

It’s been a while since I visited this blog, so I am sorry if I haven’t updated this lately. Well, I’m not sure if I have a reader/follower, so whatever.  I've noticed that I have a number of blog posts sitting in my drafts – Calaguas Summer Escapade, Boracay Experience, Love advice, diet and exercise etc.  And speaking of diet and exercise, I guess I got to start with the latter.

I’ve been wanting to write something about my love-hate relationship with food and how my weight gained terrifically, but I always end up clearing off the drafts. So today, I decided to totally share what I think and feel about my almost-michelin-like body. Yes, I am fat and I’m not loving it. My normal weight is between 49-53kgs. Last November 2014, my weight soared awfully high to 57kg and as of this writing, it went up to 60-freakin-kgs! Yes, I know, how did I let this happen to me, to my body? I don’t have anything against fat or chubby people. This is all about me- my feelings because it’s a day after day challenge for me to look for a dress, a blouse, a simple shirt, a pants or shorts, sigh! Everything seems to be too small for me. I’ve been trying to go on a  diet- not eating rice for a week, just bread and fruits which I believe is really helpful, but every weekend, I can’t say no to rice and pork or any meats served on our dining table. I can’t resist the temptation. The more I tried not to say yes to those yummy food, the more I crave in. *Sigh. I lack discipline. I exercise ONLY if I want to. Pilates really helps, but I got too lazy and busy, alright, just plain lazy! I am really frustrated that I am this big now.

I can’t enjoy going to the beach because I feel like the swimsuit doesn’t fit me well or better say, the swimsuit doesn't look good on me. I felt bad seeing other ladies on their bikini walking pompously at the beach, flaunting their sexy flawless body while I am on my swimsuit, covered with shorts and crocheted blouse and wrapped with a shawl. Can you imagine that? I was covering my fat self because I am ashamed how fat I am and scared that people will boo me in their minds. I know I know, I shouldn’t hate my body. I should have taken good care of myself if I want to feel better. But please, please don’t blame me that I am feeling this way. I just really felt frustrated about this ugh body! And yes, I only have few pants left – yes, I do have a lot of jeans but I can only wear 2 of them. Hear that? 2 of out 12 jeans? I don’t want to buy new not because I am being so frugal, but I want to challenge myself that I can still wear those jeans.  

So, I am giving myself 3-4 months to lose weight. And my goal? That’s 53kgs again. Yes, that may sound too unreal but, that’s a challenge that I need to face. Whatever the result is, I’ll be happy. So, cheers to a sexier and healthier me! *crossing my fat fingers.

Xoxo

Ash

Experiencing Laiya

Summer is here—the bluest sky, most people's bikini-ready bodies (except mine), the flowers in full bloom, the scorching heat of the sun, that mouth-watering water melon and mangoes, who wouldn't love summer and the postcard-perfect beaches? Summer means reunions, get-aways with family and friends, more time with the kids, and, of course, F-U-N.

We went to Batangas last Saturday (Black Saturday). It was like a bolt from the blue escape. We were singing 90's Overdrive on the way to Batangas! 

It was a three-hour drive, and when I saw the hotel from afar, I was truly awestruck by its grandeur. I was expecting a simple beach resort, but this one is awe inspiring. The expansive entrance to the Estrellas de Mendoza resort and hotel welcomed us. I was the happiest kid that day, as we sat under the huge umbrella near the infinity pool while waiting for our check-in time. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and the setting is perfect for a romantic getaway or family gatherings. This is an idyllic abode for a summer romance, I’d say. I prefer less-crowded beaches/resorts because I want to enjoy the tranquility of the location and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Beautiful!

View from our Room

We had dinner on the beach, and I chose grilled liempo and baby back ribs. The food is excellent, and the setting is ideal – I can feel the chilly wind with its salty sea breeze; that night was truly romantic. After dinner, we went for a walk along the beach and decided to lie on the sand like in the romantic movies, hahaha—but there were no stars that night, but there were fireworks.

We set our alarm for 05:30am the next morning so that we could go to the beach and possibly collect some shells. Unfortunately, there aren't any.  So we just grabbed our camera and took some pics and videos instead. 

We decided to eat breakfast around 8 a.m., which was already included in our reservation. I got watermelon and other fruits (except pineapple), an egg, fried rice, tocino, tapa, congee, and a lot more.  

We checked out around 2pm, and he told me he wanted Lomi. I had no idea he had already googled the famous lomi house in Batangas. I'm not a lomi/pancit fan, but we wanted to try it, so we went to Liam's Lomi Haus. We ordered lechon and lomi pancit guisado. The place is simple, but the pancit and lomi are delicious; we even ordered pancit sa bilao as a pasalubong.

Lomi :)

It was one of the happiest days of my life-- no stress.

 

** You can visit their website for rates and more info. http://estrellasdemendoza.wix.com/estrellasdemendoza

xoxo
Ash

of love and waiting

If you can love the wrong one so much, just imagine how much you can love the right one. - unknown

xoxo
Ash

This is how I will love you

If it is love, it cannot be simple or ordinary-

Come to me with everything.

Let me feel your hurting bones, and see your weary eyes.

Share me your grief and sorrow

Give me your qualms and worries.

Tell me about all the times you have felt pain paralyzing you entirely.

Give me yourself without any masks or any filters.

Allow me to kiss your scars, and caress your wounds.

I will be your blood to your veins,

The sunset of your summers and the sunrise of your mornings.

Give me your depth and strength and I promise; I will drown in it.

I will be the shore to your wild waves.

Tell me things that you hardly even tell yourself.

I will love you passionately until you fall in love with yourself and with me.

And then I will love you some more.

Though I haven’t met you yet,

Someday, somewhere, our paths will cross

And yes I will love you dearly with all my might.

Xx

Ash