This is really a long overdue post, and now I’m outside the momentum of sharing all the specifics during our first ever international trip as a family (Tatay was with us in spirit <3 HEHE) for Mama’s 50th birthday celebration, that’s why I’m posting this very photo-heavy blog post!! Haha.

DAY 1 (25 September 2015)

 Upon arrival at the airport, we of course took a lot of photos and selfies, being the tourists that we were. HAHAHA. Upon seeing HK's, I therefore conclude that the Philippine airport definitely sucks at being an airport! Hahaha anyways.. We immediately purchased our octopus cards, and headed to the bus station. We rode the A21 bus going to our airbnb, which was I think 10 stations away from the landing strip.

We booked an airbnb family room which costed more or less Php10k good for 4days and 3nights! I believed this was a pretty good deal, given the decent room we got. It was not that spacious, but big enough for the four of us to fit into. The location of the building was also strategic since it's located along Nathan Road, specifically in Alhambra, which is adjacent to MTR trains and even the Sneaker Street (which was my brothers' kind of Disneyland).


After settling our luggage and other stuff, we quickly strolled around the streets of Nathan Road. Funny thing was, we had our first meal in HK at Mcdonald's! It was so funny that Mcdo became our safe haven because it has the most decent internet connection. HAHA



Our first day came by quick since we arrived at Hong Kong at almost 8pm. Before booking our tickets, I thought I still have work in the morning that's why I opted for a night trip. But the 25th of September eventually became a holiday last year so it was not my wisest decision. HAHA Anywayzz

DAY 2 (26 September 2015)

 For our 2nd day, we were up early to maximize our technically 1st day of mosey. We went to Ngong Ping to check out the Tian Tan Buddha, shopped at Citygate Outlets and strolled around Victoria Park the whole day. It was a day full of walking and getting lost around the city! Haha!


We really loved the MTR stations because they were very tourist-friendly. Those were also waaaay better than the Philippines'! Every time I entered the train stations, I always wondered when will the Philippines ever have a very systematic transportation system like that of HK's. Oh well...


Strolling around Ngong Ping was no joke! Good thing I pre-purchased our cable car tickets online, so we were exempted of the hassle on queuing along the ticket booth.




Even before reaching the stairway towards the Tian Tan Buddha, we were all dead-tired and dehydrated from all the walking and due to the scorching heat!! Good thing we brought water and light snacks with us.




I forgot how many steps we took just to reach the peak! The view from the top was nice tho, however, be sure that you're fit to walk towards the Buddha. Slow down your pace if ever you feel dizzy and tired. I got a bit nervous when my Mama started to complain in the middle of walking. I thought she was gonna collapse.


But then she still managed to do the "Pabebe wave" upon reaching the top! Haha! We stayed for quite a while at the top to rest and cool down. Cold beverages were available upstairs so our thirst was immediately quenched!

When we got down, we passed by numerous temples, took photos, enjoyed the view, and went back to the cable car station to finally go to the Citygate outlets and do some window shopping. HAHA


View from the cable car!



Mama got so happy to see my Tatay's name in one of the bakeries near the MTR station. Hehe, Cute <3

We then headed to Causeway Bay and Victoria Park since I heard there will be a dragon dance show at the latter. Apparently, September 27 is the Mid-Autumn Festival, which explains why there were chinese lamps all over the place!




We didn't got the chance to watch the dragon dance tho!! My brothers were so famished they cannot wait for the program to start. So instead, we strolled around Victoria Park to look for a decent place to eat.




Meanwhile in one of the streets.... HAHA
It was a bit difficult to find a place where we can have dinner in peace. Not all restaurants were tourist-friendly i.e. no english translations of the menu, and the locals were a bit snob. Good thing we found this restaurant (think it was La Nang? Not sure.) I really loved what I ordered!! I was in a no-rice diet that time so it was a bit hard for me to satisfy all my pansit cravings, but my order was topnotch!! No enough photos of the food tho, we were all so so famished!


After dinner, we headed back to Nathan and did a bit of strolling at Sneaker Street. The prices of the shoes in HK were really way cheaper than the Philippines'! I wanted to buy one but I cannot seem to find the perfect pair. I just helped out my brother in choosing pasalubong for his girlfriend.





Only when the vendors were already packing their stuff did we realize it was almost 11 pm! That's when we also finally felt our feet aching from all the walking we did the whole day. So we headed back to our bnb and called it a daaaay.

 DAY 3 (27 September 2015)

 It's my Mama's birthday!!!! Which also means, it's Disneyland day!!!! I was so excited that I was the one who got up early! But before heading to HKDL, we quickly dropped by Citygate Outlets again since my brother wanted to buy (FINALLY) the shoes he saw yesterday (my brother has this trait that he's very wise(?) in buying stuff for himself!!! He canvasses from different stores for several times before he could finally decide which one and where to buy!! Are all men like that???) Anywayz..

Can you see our excited faces? HAHA
Quick breakfast at Subway

After all the vanity and shopping shizz, we're finally going to DISNEYLAND!!! The train to Disneyland was so cute! I regretted not checking in at the Disneyland Hotel even for just a night! Next time, I'll definitely stay there!!!


We spent the rest of the day in Disneyland so the next part would definitely be filled of group photos and selfies!
















I can't share all my favorite photos from our HKDL experience here since this post would be super long. But I hope I'm able to show how happy I was during this day! HAHA

DAY 4 (28 September 2015)

 It's our last day in Hong Kong!!! Since we only had a limited time, we chose not to go to other amusement parks but instead utilized all that was left from our octopus cards. We went to other places the train may lead us. My bad, I already forgot the name of the area. But we ate our breakfast at Yoshinoya and did some shopping at Sassa! Think we panicked buying perfumes from Sassa. HAHAHA I also got to buy a new luggage priced at HDK200 only!!!

My not so happy meal at Yoshinoya!

View from our BNB
Our four-day stay in HK was a bit short and we wanted to extend! We just promised that we'll be back soon and we're gonna visit other places we weren't able to spend time in.

I always love night flights because of this <3
And before I finally end this post, here are some tips if you're planning to visit HK:

  1. Wait for promo fares to save up on plane ticket costs. I was a bit impatient upon booking our tickets for this trip, and I thought a 4K-worth of plane fare per head was a pretty cheap deal. My friends said I should have waited for the upcoming sale since tickets can be as cheap as 2K per head!
  2. Book tickets online. I booked our HKDL and Ngong Ping tickets at KLOOK. This does not only enable you to save money (since tickets are cheaper here) but also it could allow you to save time on queuing on the ticket booths.
  3. Book an airbnb. As I have mentioned previously, it was Mid-Autumn Festival when we arrived at HK, hence hotels are fully-booked. Fortunately, booking on AIRBNB is as easy as booking on hotels! You can learn more about this on their website! :)
  4. Check weather forecasts. Before packing our stuff, I first checked the weather forecasts for our specific travel dates. This is beneficial since I knew what kinds of clothes to pack. For this instance, the forecast was sunny all throughout our visit so we mainly brought clothes with light fabrics.
  5. Comfort >>>> Fashion. When travelling, always always wear the most comfortable outfits! Opt for sneakers instead of doll shoes or complicated sandals especially if you know you're gonna stroll a lot!
  6. Always bring maps. Maps are available at the airport so make sure you grab them! These are very useful especially when looking for the trains and other landmarks.
  7. Do your research! Do this not only to know the must-visit places but also to know what kinds of food you should try out, especially if you're a foodie! 
  8. Travel with your best buds/family. I always find it hard to travel with other people who are not that close to me. So make sure you're travelling with the right people for you to make most out of your vacation!
  9. Bring lots of energy and enthusiasm! Need I say more? :)

xx

Faye

It's been a while since I last posted an entry! Things just got real at work and I lost some motivation to write and chose to sleep more HAHAHA But all thanks to Camie's blog, I was motivated again! I got inspired with all her Europe travel posts and vlog/s. So I'll try to finish all my drafts from last year (HK trip, food trips, etc) and will start off by sharing how I spent my birthday weekend this year! Yeheeey!

This year I chose to spend my 22nd birthday in Zambales with my college BFFs! Good thing they're cool with the idea. I was even shocked when my head count reached 20! I almost doubted that it'll be going to be my birthday celebration, and instead it will become a reunion. Lelz.
PLANNING THE WEEKEND GETAWAY
This is definitely the hardest part in every trip, the planning process. Besides our different schedules, budget is a huge impact on where we could eventually go. Initially we opted to go to Cagbalete, Quezon however one of our friends, Mara, who lives in Zambales and is currently a novice (not sure of the term) in a monastery was out for vacation and wanted to join us, especially that her birthday's a day after mine! :)) So yeah, Zambales it is!

We know for a fact that Zambales is one of the many places getting featured in various web articles which showcases unspoiled beaches near Manila for a cheap cost. Thanks to the numerous blog posts available in the internet, finding a travel agency did not become a problem! We found Kuya Alan's contact number in this website, made some arrangements and got the overnight package for only P1,450 each, ALL-IN (except food). We thought this was a pretty decent deal and we want to avoid all the hassle so we immediately took his offer. Spoiler alert: it was worth it!
ZAMBALES ADVENTURE
Day 0 (15 January 2016)
Since we will be picked up at 4:00 AM in Cubao on the 16th, most of us decided that we should all meet the night before the trip and check-in at a cheap hostel/motel near the meet up place. We checked-in at Winter Hotel in Cubao at almost 12 midnight (since we're sooo many, and waiting for each other to arrive at the meeting place took us almost 3 hours to complete). Good thing the "hotel" have a three-hour stay rate so we of course chose that. We just basically checked-in for the sake of having a "decent" place to wash up and take short naps; not bad considering we got the family room good for 3 people for only P140 each! So after that quick three hours, we're off to our meeting place--McDonald's in Cubao. HAHA

While waiting at the lobby of Winter Hotel :)
Day 1 (16 January 2016)
It was amazing that all 20 of us were complete before 4AM. The not so amazing thing was our drivers were late! They arrived at past 5AM!! But I'm happy that my friends are so chill despite the tardiness. So anyway, the trip must go on!
A nice view in Subic stopover. Forgot the name of the place but it was a nice garden!
From Manila to Zambales, we were expecting to have a maximum 5 hours travel time. We had some stop overs--in Subic for some wiwi break; and San Marcelino Market to buy our food good for two days-- and still reached Zambales by 11AM, right on schedule!

We immediately rode a boat off to Capones island, Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves! Originally we were also set to drop by Camara island but since the water was too shallow that time, we headed to Capones island.
Our group was always split to two! Haha!
The more fun group! Charz! The biggies pala! :)))

The Capones Island is known to house the Capones Lighthouse but due to the time constraints, we were not able to go up to the lighthouse! The others were also too tired and lazy to climb up the hill, so we just opted to take photos in the island.



I wondered why the sands were black only to find some bits of charcoal with it! Maybe it was from the sea.. I better make a research on that!

Blogger na ba ako? Charz! :))

The rocks were so picturesque we spent almost half an hour taking photos! HAHAHA. The boatmen gave us only 30 minutes to explore the island but I think we exceeded the time limit. We got overjoyed with the nice view, can you blame us? :)

So after Capones, we proceeded to Anawangin Cove. It took us approximately 20 minutes to reach this next destination. Honestly, not much has to be seen. The locals told us there's a nice river not far from Anawangin's beach front; took us only 5 minutes to go there only to find a dry land! But don't be mistaken, Anawangin's not bad either. It is one of the known camping islands in Zambales and a good place to stargaze!

Wouldn't mind waking up to this!
The camp set-up in Anawangin
After exploring a bit of Anawangin, we then headed to our last destination, Nagsasa Cove, which was also our camping site. It took us 45 mins to reach the island, but it's worth the bumpy boat ride! In my opinion, I liked Nagsasa better than Anawangin since it's not as crowded as the latter. I can't imagine the hassle of queuing for the bathrooms if I was in Anawangin (more of that later)!

Upon arrival, we immediately setup our tents provided by Kuya Alan's agency, and also ignited the fire pits for our (super) late lunch!


Of course, we cooked hotdogs first because we're all famished! We have no time for complicated dishes in that state of hunger! Lelz.

Planning our first (technically) activity for the day!
Before the trip, I read other blogs saying that Nagsasa Falls is a must-see while you're in the cove so that's my first activity proposal to my friends. Unfortunately, the locals who were also our tour guides disagreed with the plan since it was nearly 4PM, and we need good 2-3 hours to trek and savor the place, so we decided to do that early next day.

Alternatively, the locals suggested we can hike the hill called Mt. Bira-bira just within the beach area. (The beach in Nagsasa was called Pamimi Beach, FYI.) All along we thought it's called Nagsasa Beach! Haha! A kid (?) served as our tour guide upon climbing Mt. Bira-bira. Eventhough we know that it's a bit overpriced considering the very easy trail, we paid him P60 each since we know the cove's tourism is their only source of income.

Overlooking Nagsasa Cove
Fantastic view behind meeee <3
It was a pretty easy trail if you would ask a beginner like me. There was a defined trail and I can say it was easy since we're all talking and laughing out loud while climbing up the hill.

Amazing how everything in the island are picture-worthy!
After the quick hike, we took a dip on the sea and waited for the sun to set. Waiting for the sunset is always on my list during my beach trips (I know I'm not the only one on this)! There's just something about the sunset that's so calming and so serene.

Darkness filled the place as soon as the sun set. Since we're on a camping trip, we thought we've prepared enough flashlights but we forgot the most important thing--candles and heavy-duty emergency lights. We were so envious with the other hut which is fully-equipped of lights and all. Good thing there's a store nearby which sells candles (but way too overpriced). Also, we set up a bonfire while cooking our dinner.


Another important thing to know about this trip is that there were only 4 cubicles in the area where you can take a shower or do your thing (poop/pee, ofc). It was the hardest part for me since I'm very critical with bathrooms! But I've prepared myself for these kind of stuff. I just didn't expect that even the toilets have no power supply at night (HAHA stupid me, thinking of a power shortage exception). So anyway, glad that I survived despite the long queue and limited bathroom space.

 The best thing happened to me after this shower mayhem, tho! My friends prepared a surprise for me!!! They bought cake (I think from the wet market we've been to) and sparkling candles! Aren't they sweeet? <3

After the touching surprise, we had our sumptuous dinner thanks to our cooks! I also suggest that you bring guys with you in case planning for a camping trip. They're great help upon setting up of bonfires and carrying heavy stuff. Not that I'm stereotypical or something, just plain practical. HAHA

After dinner, we circled upon the bonfire and did fun games. Dares and challenges were done; deepest secrets were revealed! I now testify that more exciting things happen late at night (with a little influence of booze) HAHAHAHA #SecretsShallStayInZambalesForever

I brought light sticks with me for the Jan-Feb celebrants! Yay for well-wishes!
Day 2 (17 January 2016)
Despite the jam-packed first day, I still managed to wake up early in the morning since we're all planning to trek the Nagsasa Falls. We first prepared breakfast while the others were sleeping. Again, an easy meal sponsored by CDO! HAHAHA You guys must try this once it's out in the market--CDO Premium Sausage! #ShamelessPlug


When the sun was out and everyone was up, we all prepared and headed to Nagsasa Falls. We paid P1200 for the tour guide and entrance (but there were no entrance booths or something. Anyhoo..)

My friend Maku and I did a short vlog introductory to this adventure! Check out the video literally filled with laughter and nonsense. I think you can also pick a trivia or two HAHAHA

The way up to the falls was not that easy. The trail was steep, you would pass by a rocky lake, etc. But everything's worthwhile with your friends! It was also satisfying since when we reached the end of the trail, almost all of us jumped off the falls! What a happy experience! I can't narrate everything but to summarize it, it took us almost 4-5 hrs back and forth HAHAHA You judge the difficulty level!
Groufie while we were still energized and excited! HAHA
Passed by this awesome scenery! <3
Nearly theeere
HOLA NAGSASA FALLS!
Yes, anong problema ko? HAHAHA
Going baaack
I think the real challenge was going back to the campsite from the falls. We almost have zero energy left after all the jumping, shouting, laughing and walking! But without this adventure, our weekend getaway won't be the same!

We reached the campsite at noon time, perfect time for us to cook our lunch while others took baths and pack up stuff. The boatmen fetched us relatively early since they have new set of 'travellers' by 2PM.

Last boat ride!
We got back to Manila by 8PM, considering we had a quick stopover at S&R Subic for a merienda/ pantawid-gutom before dinner!

****
Individually, I think we spent less than P2000 for this trip! I never knew this amount could lead us somewhere!

To sum up my whole experience, I'm happy to have spent my birthday weekend away from civilization, and closer to nature and good friends. Celebrating simple and low-key is my new birthday peg! HAHA CHARZ! Looking forward to future adventures and moreeee! #22
Wanting to feel this kind of happiness, ASAP!!

I've been MIA for a while now since life happened. You know, life... So anyway, I don't know if it's my hormones talking but I feel bad about how my life's going on lately. I feel stressed with simple things that should not bother me. I feel sad knowing that there are issues I cannot solve, and are getting worse than I expected.
Every morning I tell myself that my day should be good. But this time, even how many times I tell myself to 'have a good day', I always fail. So today, I promised myself that OCTOBER 14 BETTER BE NOT LIKE THE OTHERS. I decided to try to see the good in everything; and that I'll try to solve all these issues I'm going through. Let me go through my so-called 'issues'

Being catcalled.

The bad: Catcalling is an act of whistling/ shouting/ or commenting of a sexual nature to a woman (or maybe men) passing by. This happens to me a lot. Not that I'm proud of it; I actually hate these instances. Whenever I'm getting catcalled, I don't actually feel good of myself but rather scared. Praises, greetings or whistles (that you know have other and deeper intentions) like these are actually not flattering. It makes me be conscious of how I look like, do I look like a whore? is my skirt to short? do my pants look fitted? is my bra showing? And it feels bad. It's also scary because what if he drags me somewhere? is he a rapist? they're so mean. And I can't even easily share it to anyone because obviously they're just going to make a joke out of it "wow, ikinaganda mo yan!"
The good: I can now share these issues with my friends because it's an impending concern; they too are experiencing it!! (not really a good thing tho, hehe) There are also a lot of rants and posts in the social media about this issue. I'm glad that finally someone spoke up about this matter. I can now also confide this to my brothers and tell them they should not do it to other girls, too. Think they listened to me! So a while ago, on my way to the office, when my usual cat-callers 'meow-ed', I just thought that at least, someone's wishing me a good day by saying "Hi ganda, ingat ka ha" and "Good morning, Ms. Ganda, kelan mo ba ako papansinin?"

 On a lighter note,  check THIS funny video from Buzzfeed. HAHA

Unexpected trial.

 The bad: Last month, my uncle had stroke and was on a critical condition. He was admitted in the ICU for more than a week, undergone brain surgery because 70% of his brain's already covered with blood clot, and majority of the clot was not removed during the operation due to some complications. His ability to speak and walk was affected, and the right part of his body cannot function and feel. We're also bombarded with almost a million on hospital fees. This, by far, is the most challenging thing that happened to our family after the death of my father in 2008.
The good: God really provides. We were so lucky that we have the resources to pay for the bills, however this affected a huge chunk of the whole family's savings. But then again, my lola always tells us that money can be easily earned with hardwork but the life of our tito isn't. Also, this trial brought our families closer than ever. My Tito's already out of the hospital since last week, and we're taking turns on watching over him. He's quickly recovering as per his therapist, and we can see that he's really working hard for his immediate recovery. With continued prayers and therapy, he'll be regaining his strength and abilities in due time!

Friendships and conflicts.

 The bad: I've been enduring these 'friendship issues' for quite some time now. I tried to be neutral, to not choose sides, but it's really hard when you know both sides of the story. You see both their rights and wrongs, and it's quite harder to manage. You really can see a person's true identity when you're all faced with certain circumstances. And I feel bad that now, tho I tried not to have my bias, I'm getting distant from my middle position, from my uncommitted judgment. I want to regain my stand, to not choose sides, but it's hard when you really can't see the other's point. And I'm the type of person who's usually ignorant of other people's issues. I often don't interfere as long as I'm not involved, especially if it will just cause bigger trouble. But this matter is really really concerning. I don't want to be in a place where there are factions and a lot of backstabbing.
The good: I'm starting to unwelcome all the gossips that I'm hearing. I'm rejecting the intriguing stories, which may all be true, but will just cause me another dismay. I'm also planning on talking to this 'other party' so as to end this ridiculous war. I hope I can do this within the week and may we both have open minds!

These issues may not be a biggie for others, but for someone like me who's emotionally weak (chos) I'm really losing a peaceful sleep (and for others who personally know me, they know how I love to sleep HAHA); maybe that's why God's not granting me a boyfriend yet because He thinks I still cannot manage the pain. HAHAHA So anyway, if you're reading this, please have a good day! Because good days are rare as you 'adult' :( :)

Just last month, Pixar released an awesome movie entitled Inside Out. At first I thought the movie would be the typical Pixar film that would melt our hearts, turn everything into life lessons, affect us in different ways, and eventually forget the story as if it didn't touch our lives; but it was more than that! Well, Pixar's Pixar! We'll never know what they're up to! And kudos to them, they again messed up with our minds (and my life, actually)! Through the movie, not only did I realize that there's really so much going on in our/my subconscious (although the human emotions and brain action were well-taught on our sciences subjects way back elementary and high school, but who would even remember all of that? lels); it also made me reflect and ask the questions what my personality islands were and what were crashing/ had crushed/ were prone to crashing; what are my core memories; who probably is the lead emotion in my mind; and basically my whole life was bothered! Up to now, I think I'm not sure what are the answers to each of my questions, and I'm still thinking about it. I just felt sad that at my age (well, 21's not that old and is still the period of self-discovery), I'm still having no hint on who I really am/ what I'm really good at.

So I've decided to use the movie's characters Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear and Anger as headings of my monthly life updates, instead of just merely enumerating the things that happened to me the past month. By this, I would know what are the usual emotions I'm feeling! :)

Joy
I'm happy and excited for our HK trip three weeks from now! I've not yet polished our itinerary but who cares! I know our trip's gonna be fun, especially that we'll be celebrating my mom's 50th birthday there!

Sadness
Last September 6 was my father's birthday. He would have been 50 too! I'm sad that he's not with us as we celebrate his birthday, but I know he's already peaceful wherever he may be. I'm just bummed that he's not visiting me in my dreams anymore (that I remember of), unlike the previous years where he does occasional visits and we bond just like how we used to. I miss that kind of feeling when I know I had a good sleep because of him!

Disgust
This category is not limited to me feeling all icky or disgusted about something. This also includes some events that I'm turned-off at, and even disappointments I've encountered. And the disappointing event I'm talking about was during my interview at a known corporation in Manila. I was upset that it didn't turn out as expected. Since it's a known corporation, I thought it would have more distinct goals.. Just to summarize my experience, I think this opportunity is not for me, and they should define more what they want their prospect employees would eventually do. So anywaaay...

Fear
My contract here in my present organization is about to end. Although my renewal's already ensured, I'm still looking for new job opportunities which offer a regular position. I'm eyeing this another agency for a while now, and I'll be sending my application within the week, but I'm scared on all the possibilities on this application. If I get in, I would be really glad for the new opportunity but at the same time scared of leaving the agency I initially loved and got comfortable with. But if I won't be fortunate to get the job, it would also be disappointing and I'll be back to square-one. I don't know what to feel right now!! But I'll follow my gut feel and send in my application, just for a back up plan. It's better to have an option than none!

Anger
Fortunately, I haven't felt any anger or hatred lately.. I never wish to feel such, tho! I know anger's a heavy emotion and I'm not the kind of person who can handle it well! Please ignore my previous statement! Got stranded in the office due to heavy floods and intense traffic! Grabe talaga, even got late the day after since I can't book any taxi/car! Manila traffic's getting more unbearable... Hope this be resolved as soon as possible!



August is considered as the "ghost month" because it is the seventh month in Chinese lunar calendar. Traditional Chinese folks believe that this month is unlucky especially in terms of traveling, on investments, and businesses. No wonder sales and promos of different establishments fall during this month! Although considered the ghost month, I don't believe August will bring lesser luck!! It'sjust half-way through the month and I feel like I'm becoming more blessed! <3

1. Not my own luck but my friend's. After more than a decade, my childhood friend, Dedeth, will finally see and be with her parents in the states!!! I feel so happy that she'll finally fulfill her American dreams, study abroad, and catch up with her parents at the same time!! She had a #dethpedida more than a week ago, and instead of feeling sad that we won't be able to see her for at least 5 years, we all felt happy and proud for her! I think she's not just lucky but indeed blessed! Hooray for reunions! We'll definitely miss her because she brings sunshine to our group, but we know we can still see each other again soon! :)
Epic #dethpedida! I think everyone got drunk! HAHA
2. For the first time, I was able to watch an actual shoot of a TV show! I was one of the audiences in Chef Boy Logro's cooking show, Idol sa Kusina. Our episode will be aired on 23 August, and I think I'll always appear in the background! Haha. At first I was not included in the list of audiences from our company, but thanks to Sir Al, he gave me his slot!! HAHA


 Update:
I did appear frequently on the background! HAHA It was awkward watching my awkward self trying to smile all the time HAHA Nakakahiya :)) But I had the most supportive friends and relatives ever!! Kala mo ako guest eh! hahaha. :D


3. For almost a month now, I've been on my no-rice diet. I'm getting used to it, and thank God I'm not craving for rice! But I think I've been eating too much sweets HAHA Anyway, I noticed that some of my pants fit kinda loose, as well as some of my shirts. Based on my record, I've lost 2.5kg in three weeks! But it doesn't physically show yet, of course. And I don't want to feel confident about it! The more confident I get upon this weight loss, the less stricter I can get in terms of my diet. So, I'll just continue this habit, more frequent zumba sessions after office, and less lounging during weekends! My progress may be slow, but I can get there!!!! (Side chika: I was happy when our masseuse noticed that I'm losing weight! She even asked if I got sick. HAHA)

4. Experienced yet another first time and 'lucky' moment when I had a staycation in Taal Vista Tagaytay! Already blogged about this experience, check it out here! HEHE

5. I'm really saving up for our family's incoming HK trip. I'm thinking of other means of having extra money, and I thought of selling my old, pre-loved clothes! My mama and I have been doing this at least once a year, and spend the earned money in buying school supplies or necessities of my cousins Carla and Noreen. But this time, I'm the one in need so the proceeds will go to our HK shopping money! HAHA. So, I created an IG account where I'll sell my pre-loved and brand new clothes/ other stuff. Check it out!! :)
Will be selling some of the YS flats I bought (as featured in one of my previous posts) since my mom doesn't approve of the design; thinks these may be too age-inappropriate for her and my tita's. Should've bought the larger sizes for me instead!!! choz. BILI NA GUYS!!

6. Recently received a job interview invitation from one of my dream companies!! Yay! I feel so blessed! <3 My college professor recommended me to her friend in that company, so I'll be having my interview on the 3rd of September!!! Just in time since my contract will *expire* by the end of September. Although I was planning to extend *here* until December so I can get Christmas perks and bonuses! HAHA But if this opportunity would be great, I'll forget about the bonus (bye Go Pro) and take this job!!! :))


And since this post is about all the luck I've gained this month, I'll be ending my post with a quote, "The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act." -Barbara Sher



Had a different Friday last week since I had a mini vacation in Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay! Thanks to my generous aunt and uncle, I tagged along with my Lola before she goes home to Batangas from her 3-week vacation/rest in Manila. So, yay!!

It was my first time to stay in Taal Vista, and I just loved everything there! Besides the perfect bed weather in Tagaytay, this hotel has a very homey ambiance! Too bad I wasn't able to swim or jog around the oval since it was raining that time. Anyways, all four of us just bummed and relaxed the whole day, the perfect "staycation."

Before heading to the hotel, we passed by Josephine's Restaurant for lunch. Everything was delicious, especially the Crispy Kangkong, I almost finished the whole basket! HAHA But I can redeem myself by telling you I'm currently in my no-rice diet, so the Kangkong served as my carb source! HAHAHA

Sumptuous lunch at Josephine's
As soon as we arrived at the hotel, I told my Lola not to touch anything since I'm gonna take photos for documentation first! Hahaha. She agreed, and even posed for the photos.

This is probably the before and after shot! HAHA
Restroom
Day and night mirror shots with the bathroom door and desk!
We stayed at connecting rooms, 320 & 321
For dinner, we dined at Taza Fresh Table located at Taal Vista's hotel grounds. Initially we thought Taza's just an ordinary cafe, but obviously we were wrong. It was a fine dining restaurant, offering international cuisines! They were also proud to tell us that they use only organic and fresh ingredients! It did not disappoint, and everything we ordered were perfect and delicious! We were also fortunate to have met the chef, Chef Jayme Natividad, who happens to be Ninang Sarah's Sister's friend. He even gave us complimentary pita bread and Spinach with Bacon Jam (the bacon's homemade!!) Check out Ms. Patty Laurel's blog post. Her photos justify more how nice the food and the place was! :)
What we had for dinner:
Pork Cheek Ravioli, Pita bread and Spinach with Bacon Jam, Moroccan Chicken and Hummus, Lobster Fetuccine, Pan-seared Chicken, and Spinach and Kale Soup (last two not in the photo).
There were also some funny convos during our dinner!
BTS 1:
Ninong Nani: Nay, gusto nyo 'yung pan-seared? (pertaining to the pan-seared chicken)
Lola: Ha? Ayoko na ng pansit!
BTS 2:
Me: I'll have Pork Cheek Ravioli..
Ninong Nani: What? You have enough cheeks already!

Evidently the puns and jokes were brought to you by my Ninong and Lola! It definitely runs in the (our) blood! lels

So the following day, we had our breakfast at Cafe Veranda for the complimentary buffet. Afterwards, we strolled around Taal Vista Hotel and checked out the view of the Taal Lake. Unfortunately, it was quite foggy and we were not able to see the lake clearly! My Lola and Ninong also didn't want to walk around since "mahamog" daw. HAHA!

I was still 'preparing' when this photo was taken! Haha! 
Don't mind the fog, the view's still perfect <3
  


I was happy that I got to rest for a bit in a different environment. The cold breeze in Tagaytay was definitely one of the main reasons why I love there. Hoping I could stay longer in Taal Vista next time! :)