Monthly Archives: December 2011

Dec 24 2011

And this is it…it’s Christmas!

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EDITED POST:

Here’s wishing you all the best …Happy Holidays!!!

 

I santa myself! Isn’t it cool?! huh’ :D

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I didn’t do  anything special on Christmas just because I couldn’t think of anything more fun to do on this occasion. I bet all the guests  had an awesome time in the resorts but that’s another story. Anyway friends kept on sending me messages via text before the clock struck 12 midnight of the 24th, they want me to visit them at their houses as they’ve prepared some Filipino dishes. Still I wasn’t that excited as I was too lazy to get up from bed (hooked with playing “words with friends”) but at 9pm I freshened & dressed up and finally gave in to one of the invitations.

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At a friend’s house. Look at the wonders of photoshop! We got a crispy “Lechon” on the table lol!

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It was just a quick visit (was at this house for around 30 minutes only) as another friend has been calling we need to catch the dhoni to Hulhule Hotel before 11pm. I was so sorry that I had to leave early but very glad to have a few bites of “Embotido” & would want to eat more of the yummy spaghetti but….

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…and there in the hotel the silence bored me. You see it’s supposed to be Christmas (magnonoche buena) but I wonder where the expats are. There were only a few tables filled with customers. The bar seats were unoccupied.

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Two cool customers (a Japanese lady tried on Santa’s outfit) lol!

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I was really surprised. I have spent at least 02 Christmases in this hotel but it was never this dull. My last Christmas celebration here was possibly 2007 (others were in resorts & previous apartments) so how would I know if this has been going on like this since my last visit. Maybe nobody went because I was there! lol!

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But this made me happy (kivs walang tao sa Hulhule Hotel)…introducing my fave…drayaaaan!!! Salmon Teriyaki!!!

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We didn’t stay up late in the hotel. I stuffed myself (of Salmon Teriyaki & the all time favorite to order “Buffalo Wings” by everyone) and had a half glass of Bacardi Coke. Unbelievable how low my alcohol tolerance now! I just couldn’t finish one glass of it. But I am happy. It’s really good my body is resisting alcohol now, lol! In the morning, the Christmas day I called another friend and told her I wanted to catch & take a photo of the first sunset of the year. So off we went to Traders Hotels.

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This is the best place to capture the view of Male’s jetty area (Azur’s Rooftop) This place also gives me that feeling “I am of out Male” whenever I am there. You know as if I am in another place. So this place is good sometimes when I feel like escaping the feeling of too much Male’ feel. What??! Did I say what?! Whatever! Lol! Basta un na un! lol!

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another Salmon for me (di naman sa ako’y naglilihi ha?!) lol!

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and yahhooO! I captured my first glimpse of Sunset for this year. I took this from the left side of Azur (but this photo I have edited via Real Camera & Instagram apps)

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So that’s how I celebrated my Christmas. What about you? X :)

Dec 14 2011

The Golden Temple

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This sight seeing specifically at this place is truly memorable experience for me.

I mean we didn’t really have this in the itinerary for the day. It’s one of those moments where you decided to just go ora mismo! In short, we didn’t research about the place and from the sight seeing pamplet that my friend was holding on that day, it says it’s one of the places we should visit at this area in Kunming..so your guess was right!

We went and well I didn’t know that it’s located up the hill. I lose count on how many steps we took but definitely it left me breathless to go up and just couldn’t be happier to find a waiting/resting shade after passing like 3 or 4 sets of 15-20 or more steps stairs. As I was catching my breath (obviously haven’t been exercising for ages) and while while resting I thought our “climbing session” is almost finished and that we’ll just walk a few minutes only to find out that we still have a lot climbing to do..but only if you wouldn’t take this ride.

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All I could remember was that the sleds ride (or cable car?!) was on a promo when we were there but I forgot the price, nyay!

 

When I saw this I told my friend to pay for her ticket ride and I will wait at the waiting shed till she finishes the tour, lol!  I am afraid of heights and definitely I can’t go up riding especially with one seat belt for two passengers! I have never tried roller coaster rides (I remembered when I was young there used to be a ferris wheel in our home town during fiestas, tried it once and after that ride I don’t want to try it again ever!), arrgh! the thought of riding makes my heart skipped. However my friend convinced me hard enough after like 15 minutes (along with two Singaporean tourists who were with their parents who also assured me it will be alright and safe) I gave in with full of nervousness actually and at the same time trying to calm myself by telling I’ll just close my eyes the moment the sleds is going up. Pak! Sometimes you have to face your fears…Imagine it took us like 5 minutes only to go up, lol! I couldn’t thank enough my friend for having the patience to convince me on riding the sleds. That was pretty awesome experience I must say, lol!

 

…. just as we stepped out from the gate of the sleds terminal there we saw a Camel! I can’t believe seeing this Camel at the top of the mountain?! Nice to see this creature but I felt sad he looked ill!

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there were few food stalls and few more steps to go up again…

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…and after that gate and those stairs only to find out you’ll have to take few more steps again! Not so good for someone like me who hasn’t been doing exercise for ages plus the truth that I am ageing….haruuuy!

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The moment we entered the gate I was like “this is really beautiful!” but hmpt! There’s stairs again! Yes it was cold but this was making we sweat inside, lol!

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…many “heavenly gates” to cross but this was the last!

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Inside the Golden Temple (was not sure if camera was allowed because in one temple we were asked to keep our camera but in this area nobody stopped us so we took photos somehow)

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Finally we reached the top of Largest Copper Temple in China (well according to some tourists who were there) and that it’s history started during the Ming Dynasty (sounds familiar right? Well at least to me I remember this name way back high school days). Honestly, I don’t have much information about this place and wished we had a tour guide the time we went there who could have informed us details of the place. When I came back here I tried to do a little research for my knowledge and this is the only site where I found a long explanation of the place. Well at least by now I could tell something about it. The point here is that I learned something about myself (to not limit myself with thoughts I assumed I can only do…and that sometimes I have to go beyond and face my fears, never say no until you tried and know how it really is!). X

P.S

A quote from William Faulker says “We have to start teaching ourselves not to be afraid” Dapat gajud…can’t agree more to this! :-)

 

Dec 11 2011

My Christmas Wishlist

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All I ever wanted was to go home but this seem impossible for now to do. Although I have a ticket to BKK (which I could easily purchase a ticket via online from BKK to Pinas) I don’t think I could fly due to the reason that I need to renew my visa before its expiry date next month. The process would take a long time unlike before hence I was advised from the office to have it processed now.

Being the obedient employee that I am (nakikatawa ako, lol!) and as much I really would love to go home and distribute my “pamasko” to my nieces, nephews, siblings, my mom and relatives I decided not to go home. Besides I only have a few days leave to spend with them (and that the expenses for the ticket won’t get maximized ..and I should think about it well especially that I don’t just harvest money here).

So anyway aside from the health and happiness of my family and relatives which actually tops my Christmas List…what I really would like to have materially on Christmas are below. I hope my relatives and friends out there are having the kind heart to send me one of these, lol!

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1) Any of these two perfumes Love Chloe or Lacoste For Women (photo credits to Fragrantica)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2) I want to have another Longchamp Bag but with a Long Handle (doesn’t matter if it’s the classic one or Eiffel series or the new designed bag – photo credits to longchampsaler)

 

 

3) A basket full of Philippines goodies (nips, chocnut, cloud 9, goya chocolates, Max brownies, Stork candies, Goldlilocks Polvoron, Dried Mangoes from Cebu, and etc) and also all the instant food/recipe mix from Philippines (La Paz Batchoy Noodles, Mama Sita’s Beef Caldereta, Palabok Mix, Panggisa Mix etc).

 

4) A Panasonic Lumix Camera (though this is soOo last year) I still want to have this…I like the design and the shots taken from this camera are pretty good. A friend of mine used to own one… had I known she’s selling it I could’ve been the camera owner by now.

 

5) …the last but not the least (since I couldn’t think of anything more, hehe’) I hope there is a place for me to celebrate Christmas aside from home (otherwise it won’t be different from normal days) so hopefully I’d find a resort where friends could accommodate me even for this day only. I wonder who’s going to adopt me during this time. Will there be a good samaritan?! Wish me luck! :-) X

 

 

Dec 10 2011

New Home Again

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So this is the reason why I was away for for awhile…

Packing all my stuff and more…why?! Simply because I moved to a new apartment again…I can’t imagine I moved for the fourth time this year and hoping this is the last (sana lang talaga sana…now I am occupying an apartment which is a property of my boss so that guarantees my permanent stay here don’t you think?) :-)

 

I need to send few of my things home (I’ve acquired lot of things …no wonder with my number of years being here)

So anyway this is how my new apartment looked like (photos are taken from my cheapang phone) and though it is smaller from my previous apartments I just love it and couldn’t be happier to be staying here. There’s a land line phone (which I think I won’t be using), there’s WIFI so I need to give up my dongle soon, there’s a terrace and all other basic things needed in a house are available, there’s an intercom and a card lock with security guards at the building so I am pretty much happy about it (safe place it is!).

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From all the apartments I’ve stayed in Male’, definitely I love the living area here the most (it comes up with relaxing chairs – same as the relaxing chairs at the spa, lol! and the 32′ inches flat TV comes up with awesome speakers)

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the dining area (I am quite sure the carpet looks familiar correct?)

 

the red themed kitchen (only thing is we don’t have an oven but it’s not a problem we’ll have a microwave oven soon, at least it’s still with a word oven, lol!)

 

and here’s a photo of my messy & tiny room (gone are the days with light brown colored bed linens I am into white these days)

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P.S

Wish me luck I am not moving anytime soon alright? :-) X


Dec 8 2011

Party in Bangkok

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One of the over due things to blog…

Whenever we travel it is always a must to party (I travel all the time with hyper active individuals which means our travel itinerary is normal being fully filled day and night! walang pahingahan bah lol!) but what makes it different partying this time was that we wanted to see and be in a local’s party scene (this by the way is really recommended to do …guess I need not explain why right?) and of course we made it happen (on a spur of the moment decision)!

BRICK BAR  in Khao San Road is the place where I wanna be for party. It wasn’t just observing how locals party and being with lots of them in one area… This is where I had my first experience dancing without slippers (no sand so I am not sure if it is understable, lol!), first experience ever where I danced on top of a chair (although it wasn’t as crazy in Bali – where my cousin and I danced in a cage, naykupo’ lol!) but this experience was just awesome letting loose of yourself in a foreign land where locals are friendly and joining you in this instance.

 

That’s me and my cousin in Bali 03yrs ago (told you we danced in a cage, lol!)

 

Yes I know you can really tell this was the photo I was talking about this year in Brick Bar (I know how heavy I am now’ Ouch, lol!)

 

So yeah In case you travel in this area and looking for a place where live music can really get you dancing…well include this in your itinerary and visit this bar. They have set of bands that render great songs (they’re all locals and they play Thai songs but I don’t mind… I like their music but for Chat I am sure he’d say “arang afamlicious didto!” lol!), also loved the crowd here (they know how to party…was so comfortable that I only think of my dance steps  lol!  the place was very safe). I can’t remember well how much money did we pay for the entrance fee but it was like 150baht with a complimentary drink I think. We came from malling that day and headed to this bar, good thing is that there is no dress code requirement so eventually we fit the place :-)

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Here are some photos we had during that fun fun night! Wondering when can we party hard like this again…by the way thank you so much to our lovely Thai hosts JJ, Katie & my Sissy Nanzy Panzy :-) X

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