I heart Sonya
[UPDATE, 09/28/2007 8:54 AM]: It's that time of the month (first day today). Bawal nga ba magpa-spa kapag red flag? Huhuhu! T_T----
"Tucked in the rolling hills of Tagaytay,
Sonya's Garden is a peaceful, relaxing place, just exactly what
burnt-out yuppies in Manila need." -- from
PinoyTravelBlog... so I'll probably come back this Saturday! Sonya day tour + spa! Weeheee! I'm excited! ^_^
(I am sooo tired. Me wants SPA!!!)
Labels: break, favorites, vacation
House Blues - Part II
For those who enjoyed
House Blues... I'm sure you'll enjoy these old posts too:
Haaay, I miss my cousins so much. Things have changed a lot since they migrated to California a year ago. Before, we enjoy their
kabululan, but now we're amazed at how "Americanish" they've become in a span of few months. Snippets of our video calls during the past few months:
Kei: Eyon, di ka na ba nagpupu sa shorts?
Aaron: Hindi na po.
Kei: Wow, very good! =D
Aaron: Kasi po, dito po, kapag po pupupu ang sasabihin: "I wanna poo", kapag po wiwiwi ang sasabihin po: "I wanna pee"
(cute! ^_^)---
Background: One of my cousins (in the Philippines) distorting her face in front of the Webcam, and getting other people's fingers to pick her nose
Andrea (now 9 years old): Ewww, groooossssss, disgustiiiiing!
Haaay, I miss their kabululan. Sana hindi na lang lumalaki ang mga kids =P.
At sana, di na lang din sila umalis =( Oh well, they're better off now in California. =)
Labels: family, funny stuff, wala lang
Boracay Getaway
Finally, I was able to upload our pictures in Boracay. Tagal na, i know, pero at least habol pa din. =P Our Boracay getaway was really really fun, not just because a big portion of the expense was subsidized by the company, but also because I and my companions really really "gelled" together.
This getaway means a lot of firsts for me -- first time to ride a plane, first time in Boracay, and first TCP (team celebration program, sa mga hindi taga-Smart -- team building).
First plane ride. I was lucky to have been given a window seat. =)
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Dagat ng Boracay vs. Dagat ng Manila
First-timers in Boracay - (L-R) Eliska, me and Mommy Evelyn!
First TCP din for Eliska and me.
I went there with some of my officemates. Our department was divided into 2 batches, I joined the first batch because I want to be with a smaller group and because I wanted to do a favor for an officemate who can't join the 2nd batch. I was never wrong with that decision. Since we were a small group (around 20 persons), the group was more manageable, one person can easily relate with everyone else, it is easier to come up with decisions since we there are only a few options, and chance of bonding with everyone in the group is higher. =) I had the chance to mingle with officemates that I rarely interface with at work and I realized that some officemates whom I thought were "maarte" are also "kikays". And one more thing that I like is that we had a lot of semi-professional photographers in the group (a total of 4 guys equipped with SLR cams)!
The ladies...
...and the gents (yung 1 cameraman, nauna sa hotel =P)Everyone in the group was 'game', which made the vacation more enjoyable. First water activity was Paraw-sailing, it was really really fun! ^_^ Sobrang relaxing kasi you're riding a boat na hangin lang ang nagpapa-andar, tapos may net na naka-spread sa magkabilang 'wing' ng bangka. Nung pabalik na kami sa shore, lumusong kami sa dagat habang umaandar yung boat. When we got to the shore, narealize namin na kami yung group na pinaka-nagtagal sa paraw, at kami lang ang lumusong sa tubig. Haha! We really had a blast! =D
Boracay Paraws. =)
First-half of our second day in Boracay is for island-hopping! The whole island hopping experience was arranged by the hotel. We went to Crocodile island and Puka beach. The Sugar-like sand of Boracay is amazing! The crystal clear water was splendid! The snorkling gears allowed us to see and touch (although bawal yata) the colorful fishes in Croc island. Unfortunately, the corals in the island are already dead.
Crocodile island (named after the croc-head shaped rock in the middle of the island)
Puka Beach (or Pucca beach?) -- this is my favorite! ^_^
Second half of the second day was for Parasailing. Para sa akin, ito yung best activity namin. My experience was extra special dahil inabutan kami ng sunset while we were suspended in the air. Saya! ^_^ View from the top was really magnificent! =D
Third day was free-day. Each of us had our own activities -- some went shopping for pasalubong while the others ran to the beach for their last dip.
Mommy Evelyn and I, looking for accessories.
Eliska and Mommy Evelyn -- enjoying the beach!
I had so much fun! =) I can't wait to go to Boracay again with friends and Niknik naman. =) I'm sure, it will be double the fun! =)
One of the *many* group pics. =)
Complete pics
here.
Labels: break, happy, vacation
House Blues...
Reymart
(pinsan ko, 7 years old): Ate Kei, bakit walang pasok bukas? Gusto ko nga pumasok eh.
Kei: Kasi, Araw ng Kagitingan
Reymart: Ano yung Araw ng Kagitingan?
Kei: Hmmm, araw ng mga heroes
Reymart: Aaah, araw nina superman?
----------
Setting: birthday ni Bethel (bunso kong kapatid)Kei: Ate, ano regalo mo kay Bethel?
Ate Jhem
(panganay kong kapatid): earrings, e ikaw?
Kei: katerno nung ibibigay mo =)
Ate Jhem: ano, bracelet? necklace?
Kei: hindi... tenga! =P
----------
Bethel: Ate Kei, sinuot mo ba yung tube ko na black?
Kei: ay hindi, spaghetti na black yung suot ko nung isang araw.
Andrea
(pinsan ko, 8 years old): Huh? Meron bang spaghetti na kulay black???
=P
Labels: family, funny stuff, wala lang
Weirdness -- laos na meme
This post is long overdue, but I think it's fun so I'm still doing it anyway. I was tagged by
Mark and
Sarah, months months ago. Now that I'm reviving this meme, I'm not tagging anyone anymore
dahil masyado nang laos parang mang-damay pa ng iba. :P
----
Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
- Before I go to sleep, I pull the bottom corner of my bedsheet, exposing the semi-rough, semi-smooth texture of the mattress. Can't sleep without doing this. =P
- Those who know me too well know that I am still awake as long as I'm still rubbing my feet with my mattress. I was not aware of this, until my college housemate pointed it out to me. Months after, my mother noticed it too and she said that I probably got the habit from her. =P
- Whenever we order chicken meal at any fast food chain, I always mix gravy and ketchup. Nikki says it's weird, but I say it's yum yum! :D (after all, I know other people who love the mixture just as I do! =P)
- Peanut butter + strawberry jam = the best spread for my bread! :D Yeah, weird mixture again, but believe me, it's delicious (especially Skippy's regular peanut butter and magnolia strawberry jam! ^_^). Since my grandmother introduced this to us a few years ago, my ate and I can't eat peanut butter on bread alone or strawberry jam on bread alone. (hinahanap-hanap ang nag-aagaw na lasa ng tamis at alat! Haha! =P)
- I can't eat oatmeal. I have tried so many times because of the health benefits but I just can't tolerate the taste and texture. Sorry Mr.Quaker, but you make me want to throw up!
- Sobrang lakas ng kiliti ko sa batok. Sa sobrang lakas, madalas, nakikiliti ako sa sarili kong buhok! #-o (pero nag-iimprove na ako ngayon. :P)
Labels: meme, wala lang
so lovin'
I love it that I'm now staying in Makati.
- I can get more rest and more sleep.
- I now have more time for after-work recreation like badminton, gym and movies
- I can wake up a few minutes before my work shift and still not be late (but I have to rush of course :P)
- I get more exercise by walking to apartment from office (and vice versa)
- I am finally free from the hassle of everyday traffic/pollution/noise. Commuting from Cavite to Manila during rush hour is a very stressful activity, mind you.
... best of all, now that I'm away from home every weekdays, I appreciate my family more (and I think, they appreciate me more, too! Ü)
- Now, they have more reason to tell me that they miss me. Now they have more reason to ask how I am doing. I have more reasons to tell them that too! Ü
- Whenever I go home during weekends, I get this feeling that every meal with my family is special (whether it be daing, itlog na pula, or special kare-kare). Home-made foods are still the best! ^_^
- Before I go home, I make sure that I have pasalubong for my cousins (and recently, for my grown-up sisters too!). MEIJI chocolates are their favorites! :D
- When I am home, I am very eager to listen to their stories and news, however trivial the item may be. Unlike before that whenever I come home every night, my mind and body seems so tired to pay attention to their stories (before I stayed in Makati, all I can do when I go home is to lay my back in the sofa, take a nap, and wait til my father wakes me up come midnight).
- Now, I am NOT the grumpy me that tends to yell at my sister or cousin when I'm being asked about something. Yeah, I used to be like that before, when I'm already so tired of commuting and so stressed out with work.
To adjust financially so I can shoulder the cost of living in Makati is very difficult, but those above are good enough reasons to say that my moving in to Makati has done more good than harm for me as an employee and most importantly as a member of my wonderful family! ^_^
Labels: back, happy, thankful
