Pre-New Year Musings

I won’t be writing any year ender post in here due to lack of time. I am scheduled to leave for Singapore on Jan. 1 (that’s tomorrow!!!) and from there, head to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (popularly known as Saigon) then to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia then back to Manila on Jan. 8, 2010. Yes, I am welcoming the coming new year in three different countries with one of my bestfriends, Jem. Peter will be left behind because of work, another reason that I should really take this trip coz I’ve been wanting to do an Asian trip either alone or with Jem who’s possibly the most carefree person I know. She is not into social networks and any of the O.C. stuff that  I do.  She thinks it’s a waste of time and she’d rather be up and about doing something more concrete and actionable which I admire coz I sometimes feel that way too. She works hard, parties harder and travels the hardest. From Phoenix, Arizona, she got transfered to Utah and she’s loving it. That’s her life and I sometimes envy her. She’s always on the go! In fact, as soon as she finished booking our flights to these three Asian countries, she was already inviting me to go with her to Laos and Burma some time soon. Oh my!!! What a free spirited girl!

Anyway, suffice it to say that 2009, in spite of everything, has been a year of both fun and introspection for me.  I say FUN coz I did things that made me happy (applied for a new job, quit that job, went back to doing online work, set up the Vita Pluys biz, did acting stints, cooked on TV, created new blogs, partied a lot, attended blog events, etc.) and I say INTROSPECTION coz there were many moments when I  just wanted to be left alone so I can reflect about my life, my decisions, my purpose. If you want to go into further details, feel free to just browse my sidebar and go back to the previous months filled with travels, adventures, endings & beginnings, love, wishes, thoughts and other great things. Do check out my other blogs too.

Moreover, for this post, I want to welcome 2010 with open arms. I am letting go of my fears , anxiety, guilt and fully embracing the great purpose that the universe has in store for me. I will continue doing the things I love to do and  hopefully become a better person along the way. In fact, Jem is a gift from God. Doing an Asian backpacking trip is one of those scary things I wanted to do for so long but never really got around to doing. I love to travel, yes. I am the Sexy Nomad after all. But I’ve also been so caught up in my own comfort zone that if I have a choice, I always choose to be comfortable. This time around, I need to pack light (I used to pack weeks in advance so I can plan my getup and accessories… no time to do that now), I need to learn how to sleep in airports if the need arises, we will be booking in the most affordable hostels, I have to learn how to make new friends right on the spot, I need to let go of my O.C. tendencies since this is a very impulsive decision and we didn’t have enough time to plan our exact itinerary. I know it will be fun, but I must admit, it’s still kinda scary.

I gave it much thought and told Peter about my hesitations. But like the best hubby that he is, he told me to just go. He knows that this trip will do me good;  it will open my world to new insights; and it will signify how the rest of the year will be for me — more carefree, less worries, detached from material things, more  attuned to my divinity, more abundant, filled with  love,  pouring with great blessings and bliss. ^_^  Now, I really have no excuse. On a more serious note, Jem told me that without suffering, there is no gratitude. And feeling grateful for everything that I have is what I need to keep doing. Jem, after all is not just an expert backpacker but she’s a very spiritual person too. I know we’d be having one of the best times of our lives and this trip will be a turning point for me.

Anyhoo, I also just want to share on this post  the latest happenings in my life before I go. I’d be brief since I still have to  take care of other things before I pack for my trip which is scheduled less than 30 hours as of this writing.
(more…)

Enjoying the Rest of Cagbalete Island

This is a continuation of my previous Cagbalete Island blog posts. Please refer to the links below for prior details about this trip:

A Sneak Peek: Cagbalete Island

How to Go to Cagbalete Island

Island Life at Cagbalete

  ~~~oOo~~~

Peter and the girls were drinking until dawn the previous night. Naturally, I was the only one who woke up at dusk  to catch this beautiful sunrise. At times like this, I wish time would just stop so I can be at that very moment for as long as it takes. The sky was so majestic, the moon’s crescent was still smiling down on me and the horizon was displaying colorful hues of the waking sun.  It was so pretty.

Have I told you that Mr. Pansacola, the resort’s owner, let us transfer to a bigger hut since it was just us and another couple who was being accommodated at that time? Yup, he did! But we didn’t pay extra anymore. This hut was supposed to cost us Php3,000 per night. But we only paid Php1,500. Moreover, the dining area where we hung out was just outside this big hut. More convenient for us. Thanks, Mr. Pansacola! ^_^ 

Since breakfast wasn’t ready yet and there was nobody else awake at that time, I decided to spend some time with Paolo Coelho’s book, The Winner Stands Alone.

At around 8:00 am, people started waking up in time for our BIG BREAKFAST! Whoopbee!!! We had tuyo, eggs, beef steak, fried rice, bananas and coffee.

 By the time we finished eating, the water started subsiding… more sand appeared…the wind stopped whistling… the sea was so still and clear…

 Time to frolic for more camwhoring!!!!

“My life is like a stroll on the beach…as near to the edge as I can go.”
–Thoreau

 “I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.”
–Anonymous

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.”

-Jill Davis

(more…)

The Island Life at Cagbalete

This is a continuation of my previous Cagbalete Island blog posts. Please refer to the links below for prior details about this trip:

How to Go to Cagbalete Island

A Sneak Peek: Cagbalete Island

  ~~~oOo~~~

Like I’ve mentioned before, we arrived at Cagbalete island in the afternoon. After enjoying our lunch, all that was left for us to do was to start enjoying the beach. That’s what we came here for after all. 

Aahhhh… c’est la vie avec mon amour!

Us girls immediately got busy taking tons of photos… camwhoring galore!  

“Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.”
– Michelle Held

 “I am you; you are ME. You are the waves; I am the ocean. Know this and be free, be divine.”
–Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 “The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”
–Isak Dinesen

This photo here is what I call a “Baboo Win!” ^_^ We were trying to set Daena’s camera to get a photo of us three. We didn’t know that Peter was just there behind us all along. ^_^

(more…)

Trip to IKEA Home Furnishing

This is the last part of my  Singapore travelogue last Oct. 23-25, 2009. For prior details on this trip, please click the links below:

Singapore Arrival

Food Tripping at Tiong Bahru

Little India

Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards

    Bonding with the Boys @ Clarke Quay

Visiting Royal Selangor at Singapore

Up, Up and Away @ Singapore Flyer

Singapore City Tour (Maxwell, URA, Chinatown)

Mint Museum of Toys

Visiting Makansutra, Esplanade & Merlion

~~~oOo~~~

Kate suggested that we go to IKEA Home Furnishing together with Jane to check out some stuff. I always hear this store being mentioned by friends and acquaintances and their reviews were always good. I figured, I love furniture and house stuff. I may not be able to buy them but it always makes me feel good to see beautiful things for the house. They inspire me to make my home more cozy and comfortable too. ^_^ 

Since it was our last day in Singapore and we have nothing better to do, I went with the girls. I woke up late (again!) coz I was just so tired from all the back-to-back tours. Anyway, it was good that I saw them by the bus station near the Link Hotel. It was just a short ride going to the MRT station and there was no traffic at all.

Their MRT station was clean and big. It definitely felt foreign to me. They also have these MRT card vendo machines where you can insert money, press the button of your desired location then it will eject an MRT card for you and change (if any).

 We went down near the Tampines Mall where Kate said the bus that will take us to IKEA Home Furnishing store is located. This bus follows a schedule and it’s for free. Since this seems to be the only ride available going there, we looked for its station and waited for the bus. 

 We almost seemed lost. Thanks to Kate, she was able to find the right location. Then off we went to IKEA! 

 Unlike any other warehouse I have been to, IKEA is a lot bigger and offers a lot more stuff! My heart was beating so fast thinking that if I couldn’t control myself, I might just go on a buying spree c/o my Platinum Visa! ^_^

  Trying to control myself, I bought a hotdog sandwich. It’s harder to control my buying impulses when I’m hungry, you know. ^_^

(more…)

Visiting Makansutra, Esplanade and Merlion

This is a continuation of my  Singapore travelogue last Oct. 23-25, 2009. For prior details on this trip, please click the links below:

Singapore Arrival

Food Tripping at Tiong Bahru

Little India

Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards

    Bonding with the Boys @ Clarke Quay

Visiting Royal Selangor at Singapore

Up, Up and Away @ Singapore Flyer

Singapore City Tour (Maxwell, URA, Chinatown)

Mint Museum of Toys

~~~oOo~~~

 After visiting Mint, our tour guide gave us a choice to visit Orchard Road or head directly to Link Hotel so we can rest. At first, I was one of those who raised their hands to signify intent of being dropped off at Orchard Road for some major shopping.  As we were nearing the drop off site, I started feeling so tired that I decided not to go anymore. Instead, I let the bus driver bring me to the hotel so I can rest. I was actually  already feeling a bit feverish  since I haven’t been sleeping since Oct. 22. Thank God I brought a couple of Vita Plus sachets with me and it helped me feel a lot better. I took a nap from 5-7pm. Afterwards, I dressed up and met with my blogger friends for dinner. 

We went to Makansutra Gluttons Bay where they say the food is great and not so expensive. 

 True enough, I was able to order one chili crab for only S$12. At last! 

Wala lang… nagpapa-cute lang! LOL! (L-R: Me, Ivy, Jane, Jonel and ES)

(more…)