A Malatean Day

It has been awhile since the last time I “documented” my bonding sessions with friends, so thank God for my Saturday last April 27 because it was definitely one for the books — or this blog for that matter! Haha!

It all started at lunch time when I attended the graduation party of my high school friend Talitha and her sister Jenina. From being our valedictorian in high school to now graduating from med school, Talitha is someone we’re really proud of!

Of course what made the celebration even more exciting was the attendance of our other high school friends and one of our favorite teachers — all while filling ourselves with sumptuous Chinese food from Hong Kong Chef Restaurant! Yuuum!

Look at these “MD” cakes!

with our favorite Physics teacher in high school, Sir Hermano (who we call Daddy!)

Batch 2005 FTW! Hahaha!

After that, Abby, Chona, Dexter, and I had a “spontaneous” trip to The Podium and it was such a milestone for me because…

a) it was my first time to drive along EDSA without any of my sisters! I’ve been driving since 2008, but I’ve always dreaded driving along EDSA. Whenever I had to do so, I made sure that I was always with one of my sisters… kaya big deal talaga ‘to, friends! BIG DEAL talaga, ‘to! But I’m glad that I was able to share it with yoouuu! HA HA HA

b) it was my first time to go to The Podium! Like seriously! I’m NOT an “Ortigas” person, you know?! And since it was my first time, I really didn’t know how to go there… so imaginin niyo nalang ang kaba ko while driving along EDSA! Thank God we arrived there safely! Heehee.

Once there, we also saw our other high school classmates Jez and Reg.

Reg, Dex, Abby, yours truly, and Chona (Jez, we have to take our picture next time! Haha!)

We stayed there for at least four hours — or at least I did because Paul finally arrived and we were off to another place…

…my Idol Tinah‘s new “home!”

The very “sweet” WELCOME! ♥

we call each other “idol” for a reason… it’s a long story! hahaha!

Tinah‘s also my high school schoolmate but she’s one batch higher than me. We reconnected a few years ago… which all started because of our “interest” in running.  Speaking of which… Although it’s not yet obvious right now, I’m planning to train for a run this coming May — and hopefully get back in shape, too! Wahahahaha!

Seriously though, I’m training for this:

I’m doing this because Malate Catholic Church has always been very dear to me — and not just because Malate Catholic School (or MCS, where I spent my elementary and yes, HIGH SCHOOL days!) is a parochial school of the aforementioned church. I’ve been a MALATEAN all my life in every sense of the word. I studied at MCS, lived and continues to live in Malate, and it’ll always be part of my personal history.

On the other hand, Malate Catholic Church IS part of our history. It was built in the 1500s (during the Spanish period), survived World Wars, but most of all, it was, is, and will always be a place where Catholics can go to and talk to Him.

So yes, whether or not you’re a Malatean, I’m inviting you all to join the Run for Restoration on May 26, 2013! For more details, click HERE.

♥♥♥

Anyway, you can see that if there was a “theme” for this day, it’d be HIGH SCHOOL! My entire Saturday was filled with nostalgia, laughter, food, and of course, FRIENDSSS. Eight years may have passed since we all left our beloved Alma Mater and went on to our own separate journeys, but I’m glad that we still get to do this NOW. Wherever life takes us — Pasay, Ortigas, Japan, or Canada (literal pala daw!) — one thing remains: there was, is, and will always be a school by the church of Malate… that in return produced the “Malateans” we are today.

Staycation Destinations

The heat we’ve been experiencing these days is truly undeniable and suddenly, all we can think about is it’s already summer! Like seriously, has it really been three months since the last time I heard “Jingle Bells” and marveled at colorful, twinkling lights? Oh well. Time flies sooo fast, indeed. And apparently, this post is three months overdue too! Hahaha!

It’s a good thing though that whether it’s Christmas, summer, or just about any holiday you can think of, these hotels in the metro definitely define what a “staycation” ought to be.

FAIRMONT MAKATI

My family and I spent Christmas 2012 at Fairmont Makati — the newest addition to the number of properties the hotel chain owns around the world, located in the middle of the country’s business and shopping district: Makati (duh!). =))

Of course the Fairmont brand is already known for its world-class customer service but aside from that, the hotel also boasts of its “Pillow Menu” wherein guests can opt to request for additional pillows that are made of different materials, as well as give different sleep benefits — free of charge. I think that’s a signature of the hotel chain because the “Pillow Menu” was also one of the things I enjoyed when we stayed at Fairmont Singapore a few years back.

Anyway, the other things I loved about Fairmont Makati were their Willow Stream Spa, Fairmont Gold Lounge, and of course, Cafe Macaron! I swear, I’m a French Macaron addict and only three brands have passed my “taste” so far: TWG, Chez Karine, and Cafe Macaron. So trust me when I say that the ones served at Fairmont Makati’s Cafe Macaron are a must-try! Wahahahaha!

French Macarons at Cafe Macaron!!!

LIKE and SHARE Fairmont Makati’s Facebook page HERE.

RAFFLES MAKATI

And then just a tumbling away from Fairmont (you know what I mean!) is Raffles Makati. Actually, this is both a residential area and a luxury hotel. Most of the floors are allotted to the former (so those are off-limits unless you know someone who owns a unit), and just a few floors for the latter. But of course, the hotel experience Raffles Makati gives also makes you feel like a unit owner — even their suites (yes, there are no “rooms”) are designed as if you’re staying in your own personal space… even for just a couple of days!

LIKE and SHARE Raffles Makati’s Facebook page HERE.

SEDA BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY (BGC)

If our Christmas was spent in Makati, our New Year 2013 was celebrated at Bonifacio Global City — at Seda Hotel to be exact!

Before you even wonder why name a hotel “Seda,” well it’s actually the Filipino equivalent of “silk.” And according to the management, silk is “a lustrous yet strong fabric that perfectly represents our commitment to providing a seamless accommodation experience.” At least now you know!

Located in the middle of Bonifacio High Street, Market! Market!, and Serendra (just imagine what a perfect location this is!), the BGC branch is only one of the Seda Hotels located all over the country; the others are in Cagayan de Oro (Centrio), Davao (Abreeza), and Laguna (Nuvali) — although this one’s still under construction.

LIKE and SHARE Seda Hotels’ Facebook page HERE.

♥♥♥

So the next time you plan to take a staycation, remember these three words: Fairmont. Raffles. Seda.

Now off you go and may you all have a blast this summer (or any staycation-worthy event for that matter!).

xoxo,
Mika

Featured Traveler: Jeremiah’s Syrian Escapade

Aahhh, Syria. It made headlines in 2011 NO thanks to the uprisings that happened, which eventually led to a civil war. But of course, there will always be pros and cons in everything — especially when it comes to traveling. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised to know that Syria CAN actually be a travel destination, too!

Just take my featured traveler Jeremiah as an example.

Jeremiah at Ma’loula, Syria

But of course, just like my other featured travelers, I first asked Jeremiah how his love for traveling started. This is what he said: “I’m not really sure when, but I’m certain that I love traveling — domestic, international, or just about anywhere in the metro. My mother always tells me that I’m the kind of person who can’t stay put in one place. I always find myself walking and roaming around, but not necessarily getting ‘lost.’ I love discovering new things and searching for things that I don’t know. For me kasi, the best way to understand other cultures is to experience them. So what I always do is make sure that I experience things from a local’s point of view.

“When I was a kid, it was really my dream to ride an airplane. Seriously, it was such a big dream that time kaya feel na feel ko talaga dati whenever we welcomed our balikbayan relatives at the airport — it felt like airplanes were just a few feet away from me. When I started working, that’s when all my ‘travel dreams’ came true one by one.”

And CAME TRUE, they did! He further shared, “The first country I’ve visited was China. We went to Xi’an to participate in the National Model United Nations (NMUN). This was the first time that NMUN went outside the United States — it was less expensive kaya ako sumama.

“Then when I started working for the (Philippine) government, a lot of travel opportunities opened for me — but not just travel as leisure, but as a member/representative of the Philippine government to official meetings of international importance because these are our commitments. So far, I’ve been to the Syrian Arab Republic, the UAE, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and Russia.

“But then again, I love traveling because I love the Philippines. Sometimes it’s hard to represent the Philippine flag kasi ‘pag nandoon ka na, hindi ka naman tatawagin base sa pangalan mo. You’ll be addressed based on the country you represent. It’s hard, but it’s also fulfilling.”

The Syrian Escapade

Jeremiah‘s Syrian escapade wasn’t really something he expected, but it turned out to be one of his memorable trips. He admitted, “My trip to Syria is one of the best things that happened to me. Going to a country like Syria is a very rare opportunity. It didn’t really enter my mind that I’d be able to go there because for me, Syria isn’t really any traveler’s first choice of country to go to — especially if it’s for a vacation or tourism purposes. That’s why the things that are currently happening there really sadden me, though I went to Syria before all that even began. Of course, I’m praying that the civil war will end soon because Syria is one of the cradles of civilizations and its culture is something that the whole world must be able to experience.

“I went to Damascus [the capital of Syria] at the age of 19 and I was still just three months at my work. It was really a challenge for me but at the same time, I was very excited because I knew that I was doing something I could be proud of.”

We’ve all heard it: work hard… and play harder. But in the case of Jeremiah, he definitely knew how to work hard AND travel harder! He remembered, “After attending to our official business, I got the chance to roam around Syria. We went to the Grand Mosque of Damascus or the Umayyad Mosque. If you’re fond of learning about the history of Islam, you’ll be overwhelmed while in Damascus. According to Wikipedia, after the Arab conquest of Damascus, the mosque was built on the site of a Christian Basilica dedicated to John the Baptist — who is also honored as a prophet by the Muslims. I took a photo of the shrine, believed to be where the head of John the Baptist lies. This mosque is also considered one of the holiest places in Islam. The Umayyad Mosque holds great significance to Shia and traditional Sunni Muslims as this was the destination of the family of Muhammad, who walked there from Baghdad. Moreover, the place where the head of Husayn (the grandson of Mohammad) was kept can be found there. Ito palang yung napupuntahan ko nun pero sobrang fulfilled na’ko kaagad kasi Damascus is really important in the history of Islam.

The Ummayad Mosque

believed to be where St. Paul walked

“The following day, we visited a number of souks (markets) and historical landmarks around the city, especially the churches. I also had the opportunity to visit the monument of Saladin. As most of us know, Saladin is a very historic figure with a chivalrous heart. He led the Muslim opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levan. And if my readings are correct, he was able to form his sultanate in some parts of North Africa and Syria.

at a souk

in front of a statue of Saladin

“We also went to the House of St. Ananias in Damascus and we attended a mass in a church where St. Paul was baptized by St. Ananias himself. We also went to two churches in the middle of a desert (I believed this is somewhere near the borders of Syria and Iraq): the Church of Saint Bacchus and Saint Takla in Ma’loula. This is outside Damascus and the travel time was approximately one hour and a half. Ma’loula is an ancient and predominantly Christian village in Syria. And according to Wikipedia again, it is situated at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters. Most of the inhabitants there have preserved their spoken language — Aramaic, also known as the language spoken by Jesus Christ. It’s a different feeling to hear the language believed to be used by Jesus. Iba talaga. When we attended a mass, the priest even gave us different religious artifacts and blessed us afterwards.

beside a statue that shows St. Ananias baptizing St. Paul

at the Ma’loula village

where the head of St. John the Baptist lies

at St. Ananias Church

inside the church of St. Takla

outdoor shots of the church of St. Takla

with the Aramaic priest

“As for the food, ang hinahanap-hanap ko talaga ay yung mga lamb chops, kebab, baklava, and hummus. Anything Mediterranean is really okay for me. Yung handmade ice cream din pala nila na sobrang dami ng pistachios sa isa sa mga souks nila dun. Even though the weather was cold when I went there, I still kept on eating ice cream because of its different taste that I can’t fully explain.

“Overall, Damascus is very beautiful. With its rich history, culture, and status of being considered one of the oldest inhabited ancient cities, Damascus is a place for people who love history and have the passion to study West Asia. The architecture is magnificent — as if you were brought back to the old civilization with very unique and distinct cultural manifestations.”

Now that we’ve established the fact that traveling is a big part of Jeremiah‘s life, what makes it still interesting for him? He answered, “Traveling for me is still the best way to understand cultures and know the significance of one’s existence. You can read all the books you like about a particular place, but it’s way different when you actually experience how it feels like to be there. Just like any other thing, you need to experience it before you can fully comprehend it. Your love for traveling is something innate, thus it comes from within and it can’t develop overnight. Traveling isn’t something that you should envy. It’s your passion and thirst for knowledge — to search for a deeper understanding of one’s self, life, and culture.

“Furthermore, traveling taught me a number of realizations. Considering the fact that traveling is very expensive especially abroad, I’m fortunate that the profession that I chose to be in has the provision for traveling. Traveling taught me independence and the ability to recognize the diversity of the world and its people. It also made me understand that we’re living in a cosmopolitan sphere where borders are in one way or another irrelevant.”

Having said that, what are his future travel plans? Jeremiah said, “My dream destination is Maldives. However, I’m still hoping that I can visit the following countries someday: Nepal, Bhutan, North Korea, Ukraine, and Argentina.”

Lastly, he leaves us all with these travel tips: “Research on the history of the place. Experience culture through food (particularly street food). And as they say, EAT WHERE THE LOCALS EAT. But most importantly, don’t be afraid to get lost.”

An escapade-worthy answer, indeed!

—
You can also check out my other featured travelers HERE.

Jobless, Moneyless, but Still Full of Looove!

Last week, I got into a fight. So let’s skip the “love” part first. Haha!

It wasn’t really a physical fight, more like a “war of the words” with a person who has no purpose in life whatsoever. Excuse the negative comment at this point because he didn’t have the right to insult me. Yes, it’s a “he.” An old male person who has totally lost my respect and who I decided to completely write off of my life forever. I’ll call him D.O.M. — stands for Deranged Old Man! Period.

What happened? In the first place, we’re not close. At all. I don’t give a damn about him and his life and I don’t talk to him — so you can say that he has no right to comment about me and lecture me about what I should do with my life. He’s not my parent, he didn’t raise me, heck like I said, I avoid having conversations with him because doing so would just be a complete waste of my time. Besides, at his age, the life he’s living isn’t really something worth emulating so maybe he should comment about his own life first and the way he should live it. So when he called me something offensive behind my back (at least he thought I didn’t hear him), he totally crossed the line. All those years of trying to ignore him all boiled down into one bloody exchange of words. Swearwords included. Damn. Call me someone who stooped down to “his” level, but whatever. Minsan, nangyayari talaga yun sa buhay. #GalitNaGalitLang talaga ang naging peg ko.

Who he is and what he said that ticked me off, I will not disclose to you anymore. What I’m willing to tell you is what he commented on: my unemployment once again.

Yes, I’m unemployed once again. But before you judge me (like what D.O.M. did!), at least know the story first.

D.O.M. thought that I’m not good enough, that I couldn’t keep a job because of lack of skills or whatnot, and that I’m not destined for any greatness in this life — WITHOUT knowing anything about what really happened. All he knew was that I was at home that day. All he was, is, and will forever be = one judgmental person.

Well EXCUSE ME, I know what I’m capable of and I know how to make the most out of my skills — I’m just unlucky these days career-wise, that’s all.

The truth: our team got laid off. Hence my career-hunt AGAIN for the past few days. Wish me luck!

You see, we can’t really get EVERYTHING we want. I want a writing job (bonus if it pays well!), along Ayala Avenue, with normal office hours AND a team composed of great people.

Guess what? I got all that and more in my latest job. For the first time, I even found myself calling it a long-term “career” and not just another day job because I loved everything about it so much, I already saw myself working there for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, God has other plans for me and my teammates. So after working there for years and months (them); 17 days (me), we all had to say goodbye to our beloved company and to each other. #LongStoryMadeShort #StillCoping :’(

So yeah. Right now, I’m JOBLESS, I’m MONEYLESS, but I can still feel luuurve all around me. (And it’s not just because Valentine’s Day is around the corner! Hahaha!)

Love for writing

About six months ago, I was writing a draft post entitled, “The Question I Still Haven’t Found The Answer To.” At that time, I think I was referring to what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I kind of wrote that there will come a point in your life when money won’t be a major factor anymore. There will come a point in your life when PURPOSE will be what you’ll finally seek for. I’m not saying that I don’t need money because I do. I really do. Heck, who doesn’t? I don’t think even Bill Gates will ever say that he doesn’t need it. Because he will, maybe for his business and not his personal life, but he needs and will always need money.

The point is, I’m just more drawn to another thing these days: PURPOSE. The kind I’d be willing to be paid less than expected because I know that I’m doing something worthwhile. I found that purpose in WRITING.

I admit, I may not be the best writer in the world, but I know that it’s something I believe I’m good at and enjoy doing both at the same time!

So I can say that I’ve Already Found The Answer to The Question. I now know that I want to write, write, write, for the rest of my life. The only follow-up question is WHERE???

Now, that, I still haven’t found the answer to yet again. So help me God! Wahahahaha!

Love from my family

I’ve already said once, twice, for the nth time that my sisters are truly my biggest IDOLS and INSPIRATIONS. And that when all else fails (i.e. experience retrenchment), I’ll ALWAYS have THEM! And that — THAT is something no one, as in NO ONE, can ever take away from me! True THEN; true NOW. Click HERE and HERE. Haha!

Love FOR and FROM Paul

Just because I’m experiencing bliss in my love life, my work life should suffer? Ganun-ganun nalang, Universe?! Well, I refuse to give in to that whole you-can’t-always-get-what-you-want thing in this department. I want HAPPINESS in both my love life and my work life!

And so far, everything’s getting better and better everyday just because Paul‘s always there by my side. So thanks, hon! I love you!!! :*

♥♥♥

Aahhh. Blogging truly is still “therapy” to me. Imagine, I’ve been trying to control all my emotions this past week and writing has been my answer. It truly never fails me.

When I decided to create this post, I didn’t really have a main point (so I apologize for the ramblings!). All I wanted to achieve was feel a little better and unload myself of this “excess baggage” I’ve been carrying lately. I say, mission accomplished! Thank God for WordPress!

But most of all, thank God for LOVE. ♥

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 24,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

The Amazing 2012*

*superheroes bit by eight-legged creatures not included!

It’s that time of the year again — a time for year-ender posts (at least for bloggers!). It was exactly a year ago (December 29, 2011) when I posted my first year-ender on this blog, and I just realized that the universe heard my plea. When I said that I wanted to be “amazed” this year (inspired by the movie New Year’s Eve), I think I got more than what I asked for!

Last year, I wrote this:

“This coming year, I also dare ALL OF US to be AMAZED!!! I don’t know… be amazed by EATING. TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS. PRAYING. TRAVELING. LOVING. WRITING. Actually, ANYTHING. As long as you get to have your own interpretation of the word “AMAZING,” do it! Just. be. amazed!”

Eating, taking photographs (hello, Instagram!), and praying are already givens. They’re practically part of my everyday life, so I’d like to focus on the remaining three: traveling, loving, and writing.

Let’s start with TRAVELING.

During the first half of the year, the travel bug was at work in my life because that was the time I decided to TRAVEL just because I could! Hahaha! I don’t know what happened, but I just suddenly found myself traveling to Brunei in January, Bohol and Cebu in April, Vietnam and Cambodia in May, and Hong Kong (for the nth time!) in June.

I have a feeling that it’ll be a long time before I can do THIS again, so I’m grateful that I was given the chance to do so in 2012.

Aside from my own travels, I also launched my 2012 blog project (yehesss, “launch” talaga!) wherein I featured “people like you and me — who just happen to have ‘wanderlust’ as their middle names” every month. To know what I’m talking about, CLICK HERE. Haha! So to my featured travelers this 2012 — Minnie, Danica, Pia, my sisters, Cara, Joanna, Carol, Anthony, Arlene, Gian, Rema, Madel, Bianca, George and Angelo — I want to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! for sharing your travel stories and making my blog project a success! It was as if we also went to the places you’ve been to through your words and pictures. I love and thank you all!!!

This 2013, I’ll still feature travelers but it won’t be a monthly thing anymore. However, I still hope that you’ll read and enjoy them as much as you did when I was still doing it every month. Heehee.

Let’s move on to WRITING.

This is the part where I talk about my “chosen career” (as opposed to the “default” one). @_@

2012 has been a roller coaster ride for me career-wise. In May, I decided to leave my first full-time job after working there for two years and nine months. Three months after that, I landed my next job wherein I was finally able to pursue my passion for writing. But I believe that God has a better plan for me, so that “next job” lasted for only three months. I’m still thankful, though, that I was given that “experience” because I did learn a thing or two from it. In fact, I’d like to share with you my favorite “assignment” during my short stint there: FOOD REVIEWS!!!

(excerpts from “Family-friendly Restaurants”
found inside BC Magazine Philippines’ November 2012 issue)

Mom & Tina’s, Comida China de Manila, and Aria Cucina Italiana

my favorite work “assignment”: Jamba Juice

This 2013, I still hope to pursue this “chosen career” of mine, BUT I’m hoping that I’ll also have the luck to be given the chance to pursue my “default” one. Take a hint, my dream job! (Universe, are you listening again? Hehehe.)

And to end this post, let’s talk about LOVING.

I don’t know how to start this without being cheesy and mushy. Alam naaa!

Okay, this is a continuation of what I wrote on my year-ender post last 2011:

PAUL, huh? ♥

I wrote THAT in December 2011. And even though I didn’t really meet Zac Efron in person this year, I still got to have my very own Paul — who I met nine months after telling the world that I wanted to be amazed!

(pagbigyan na ang cheesiness at mushiness! Wahahahaha!)

I love you, hon!!! ♥

Mika and Paul

So yeah. Universe, excellent job! Consider me MORE THAN amazed!

I, thank you. ♥♥♥

—

This coming new year, I hope that I’ll continue to be GRATEFUL and AMAZED.

I wish the same things for ALL OF YOU.

Happy 2013, my dear friends!!!

xoxo,
Mikhaela Georgette

Travelers of The Month: THE WORLD Through The Lens of George And Angelo

“Save the best for last,” they say.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing here as I conclude my 2012 (travel) blog project — by featuring two of the most well-traveled people in the country I can think of: George and Angelo.

No specific country or place will be highlighted in this post because as you’ve seen in the title, THE WORLD itself is the focus.  From Africa to North America, Europe to Asia, my featured travelers surely went and will go there!

Best of all, the photos you’ll see in this post were ALL taken by themselves.  And despite not being professional photographers, I definitely had a hard time choosing which photos to include here not just because of the number of albums (they’ve been to A LOT of places!), but because of the endless great shots that truly captured each and every place they’ve traveled to.

So I’ll stop rambling now and share with you what George has to say about TRAVELING…  and why it’s always better when he’s with his “better half,” Angelo.

Angelo and George in Borobudur, Indonesia

“I never counted the countries I visited; even if I would, I would’ve already lost count.  I just remember places and faces and even if I revisit, something novel will emerge or I will simply make it happen,” George answered when I asked him about the number of countries he’s been to.  And it’s true.  If you counted the countries he has traveled to, you would’ve lost count too!

But like most people, George‘s first take on traveling happened in the country.  He shared, “I first ventured out of Manila when I was four or five years old (1981 or 1982); we went to see Mayon Volcano.  It was a great experience just to leave but then one had to endure long hours of land travel and as a child, I never looked forward to this.  I can’t remember if I successfully articulated in my consciousness that passion for travel; what I know is just that I was glad that we left and that I went to a place that I’ve never seen before.”

It wasn’t until a few years later when he found himself traveling to Japan — his first international destination.  “I first ventured out of the country when I was 9.  It was a dream come true because I grew up being fascinated by Japanese pop culture and anime.  Godzilla, Voltes V, and Daimos amongst many Japanese cultural artifacts have become indelible memories.  Tokyo Disneyland was so surreal.”

A young George in Tokyo, Japan (top) and Taipei, Taiwan (bottom) both in 1987

And thanks to those childhood memories, Japan — as it turns out — is now one of George‘s favorite countries to visit.

That AND Spain.  When I asked him about his favorite countries, this is what he said: “Spain and Japan are the foremost countries that come to mind.  The diversity of experiences and cultural depth have always inspired me and my soul mate [Angelo].  I’m not so sure if it’s the historical/cultural connection but I guess it all boils down to what I learn regardless of repeat visits.

“I’m just drawn to the rich art scene in Madrid, while Barcelona breaks the boundaries of art.  Think of Gaudi and one will just want to stay.  On the other hand, Valencia has exquisite and modern architecture (Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences).  Spanish food (eating authentic paella should not be dismissed), markets, and the warmth of the Spanish people are always worth looking forward to.

(photos by Angelo Lacanlale and George Binay)

Clockwise from top left- Cordoba, Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia, La Alhambra, Madrid, and Garden of Alhambra

Clockwise from top left- Peñiscola, Parque Guell, Streets of Granada, Valencia, Zaragoza, and Toledo

“On the other hand, the paradox of the modern and the traditional core is the contradiction that defines Japan.  For me and Angelo, Japan has become an annual journey.  I don’t even know where to start.  I guess the historic monuments of Ancient Kyoto so much so that it’s named UNESCO World Heritage City; it’s only second to Rome.  We also make it a point to go to Japan not just to welcome the new year but to spoil ourselves with all the fukubukuro (mystery bags) in all our favorite Japanese stores and signature labels.  With such significant discounts, we shopped like hoarders to our hearts content.  Never mind overspending in this time of the year.  The food — need I say more?  The precision/attention to detail in all aspects such as gift wrapping makes Japan what it is.  More importantly, the civility and strict order that defines Japanese society are truly remarkable and exceptional.”

(photos by Angelo Lacanlale and George Binay)

O-torii

Clockwise from top left- Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima, Shinkansen, and Okunuin

Top- Arashiyama; Bottom- authentic Japanese food

As a seasoned traveler, those two countries must be really special to stand out among the number of countries they’ve visited…  and still counting.  Having said that, how does “traveling” still affect them?  George admitted, “Traveling is empowerment and a liberating activity that must be experienced; imagination becomes a reality and it is essential precisely because it’s education.  It removes you from your shell of ignorance.  My work and ministry as an academic have been largely enriched by this.  Creativity, innovation, and inspiration at work and my relations with other people have largely been nurtured by my travels.”

More thoughts on traveling: “There are times that you have to venture on your own (business trips) but the better half and I have always valued shared experiences and yes, we discuss the lessons that we’ve learned simultaneously as we discover the people, places, and the cultures we experience.”

The World

all photos by Angelo Lacanlale and George Binay

Bandar Seri Begawan

Vienna

sampling authentic Japanese food

Brussels

Vancouver

Notre Dame

Shanghai

Eiffel Tower

Ayutthaya

Penang

The Great Wall of China

Clark Quay

Vatican Museum

Zagreb

Prague

London

Chateau de Versailles

Delphi

Budapest

Taj Mahal

Borobudur

Gyeongbok Palace

Montenegro

Marrakech

Auschwitz

Bangkok

Trojan Horse

Stonehenge

Starbucks mugs (personal collection)

Seeing those shots, it makes you wonder, “What’s next for these two?”  Well George said, “Nepal.  Simply because I haven’t been there.  You always want to visit an unchartered territory.  The unfamiliar excites me.”  In fact, he recently posted this on Facebook,

“Thanks to National Geographic, Gelo and I will welcome 2013 on a spiritual note which is inspired by Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism and by the grandeur of the Himalayan peaks — most notably, Mt. Everest.  A lifelong dream that will finally become a reality.”

National Geographic?  Mt. Everest?  A dream turned into a reality?  By the looks of it, there’s no doubt that 2013 will be another great travel year for these two!  As George put it, “I look forward to equally interesting journeys next year.”  And so do we!

Lastly, George leaves us with one, but very useful travel tip: “Research, research, and more research so you will welcome, appreciate, and enjoy the unique absurdities that will come your way.  Just go and be modern-day global nomads.”

♥♥♥

Once again, I’d like to say thanks to Sir George (and his partner, Angelo) for sharing with us their travel adventures.  It’s truly an honor!

As for all of you, it has been a wonderful year sharing with you the different travel stories of “people like you and me — who just happen to have ‘wanderlust’ as their middle names!!! ”  May all of us embark on interesting journeys this coming 2013 as well!

To repeat what George advised,

“Just go and be modern-day global nomads.”

The Lady’s 2012 Blog Project…  signing off.

Happy New Year in advance, everyone!!!

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This post is brought to you by The Lady’s 2012 Blog Project.

You can also check out my other featured travelers HERE.

I Missed You, WordPress!

Can I just say that I miss blogging?

AS IN.

When I started my (travel) blog project for this year, my aim was to make sure that I post at least one blog entry per month.  And since September, I think that has been the case!  So thanks to my featured travelers for making this blog still “active.”  Haha!

So it’s already December, huh?  Honestly, I’m not even sure if I can still complete my blog project even though I have one month left!  But yeah, a lot of things have happened in the past few months.  Some are “bloggable,” some are not.  And for the things that belong to the latter, let’s keep them that way.  *insert evil laugh here*

But to make the long story short, I’m currently in search of finding the right “career” for me.  Yes, I’m unemployed once again.  It has been that way for more than two weeks now, actually.  So please pray for my “work” life.

As for my love life, well…

Well, I think it’s about time to say THANK YOU to all those who “prayed” for it.  Wahahahaha!  But seriously, if there’s one thing I learned this year, it’s that good things come to those who wait…  and in UNEXPECTED ways.  Who knew that I’d meet my boyfriend this year?  WHO KNEW?!?!  (Hindi niyo ‘man lang ako sinabihan!  Hahaha!)

Kidding aside, I think it’s about time that I introduce to all of you my boyfriend, Paul. ♥

Paul and Mika ♥♥♥

As for our “love story,” can we just reserve the mushiness for February?  I’m just glad that my Christmas 2012 won’t be as “cold” as I expected it to be!  THE LADY IS IN… love.  Definitely.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, everyone!  Enjoy the rest of your December!!!

Traveler of The Month: Bianca Loves The Maldive Islands!

No man’s an island, indeed.  So when you plan to have your very own getaway to an island like Maldives, make sure that you’ve got your friends with you!

Or better yet, the love of your life — as is the case with my featured traveler for the month of November: Bianca. ♥

Born and raised in Zamboanga City, and eventually transferred to Manila when she was 16 for college, “traveling” always had a special place in Bianca‘s heart.  She said, “As a kid, my mom made sure my brother and I were both ‘exposed’ to life outside of Zamboanga.  Traveling for me is, as my mom said, an exposure.  It widens my horizons to other kinds of history, cultures, places, people, etc.  I also consider traveling as a therapy and sometimes, an escape.  When I feel that pressure and stress are already getting the worst of me, I just want to pack my bags and take a break!”

So far, she has been to at least eight countries.  Bianca shared, “The first place outside the country I’ve been to was Hong Kong.  Then eventually, I was able to travel to Malaysia, Thailand, China, South Korea, Maldives, the USA, and Singapore.  Hong Kong and Thailand are my usual travel destinations — I’ve been to these two places for as much as I can remember.

“When I travel, I don’t limit myself to the country’s capital city.  In Thailand, I’ve been to Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chang Mai.  In the US, my mom and I went around California (L.A. and San Francisco), Florida (Orlando and Jacksonville), New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.  I’ve lived in Beijing, China for nine months.  While in Beijing, I made side trips to Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, Xi An, Luo Yang, Shao Lin Si, Hang Zhou, Su Zhou, Nan Jing, Xiamen, and Shi Shi.”

But even before she studied and lived in China, all this “love” for traveling started when Bianca actually celebrated her debut.  “I was 18 when I chose a vacation to the USA over a grand 18th birthday party celebration in a five-star hotel with 200 guests,” she admitted.  “After graduation from college, my love for traveling grew even more.  I loved the idea of spending time with my girl friends in strange lands, where no one knew us — and where we didn’t give a care in the world that someone might recognize us!”

From Maldives, With Love

Bianca and her husband got married last 11/11/11 (nice date, huh?) and chose to have their honeymoon in the Maldive Islands.  “I initially wanted to go to Europe since I’ve never been there,” Bianca mentioned.  ”But then my mom said that Europe isn’t a honeymoon destination, but a shopping destination!  So, nahuli ako ba’t gusto kong mag-Europe — not for honeymoon, but for shopping!”

Her three-day honeymoon trip with her husband happened at Irufushi Island, but started in Male.  “As soon as we landed in Male, I immediately felt like a VIP!  Someone was there to meet us, who then took care of our luggage and walked us to our car — which transported us to the Hilton Irufushi Resort’s waiting area,” Bianca said.  “And waiting area for what?  Well it’s the waiting area for our sea plane!  When we got to the reception area, the assistant handed us cold towels and welcome drinks with fresh flowers as decoration, and offered complimentary massages.  There, you’ll find a wide assortment of healthy snacks, Evian bottled water (you can get as much as you want!), sodas, wines, and a whole lot more!

“You need a sea plane to get to your island, and riding one was truly an unforgettable experience for me!  When we got to the island, a butler approached us and introduced himself to us!  And for a second I thought, ‘Why would we need a butler?’  We’re on a honeymoon!

“The beach literally blew my breath away!  It was so quiet and peaceful — and of course, clean!  Our villa was no exception!  We had our ‘personal’ cabana and beach front as well.  ’Personal’ in the sense that no one else could stay in that respective area which was reserved specifically for us!”

♥♥♥

Having had the time of her life (with the love of her life, nonetheless!) in Maldives, what advice can she give to those planning to have the same kind of trip?  Bianca advised, “Some people are more adventurous and don’t prefer to make prior arrangements.  I’m different, I want everything set to the last minute because I don’t want to waste time when I’m abroad thinking of what to do or where to go to.

“Making prior research about your destination can be very helpful.  By doing this, you’ll know more about the must-see places!

“Bring a lot of CASH!  You’re already abroad, so might as well make the most out of it!  When you’ve got cash, you can do anything and buy anything!

“Unless you’re going on a honeymoon (where a hotel room MUST be the highlight of the trip), you might wanna check out boutique hotels rather than the more expensive ones.  You’ll be out all day shopping or sightseeing, and the only time you can go back to your hotel room is when you wanna sleep or take a bath!

“Last but not the least, keep on dreaming!  You might just get to your dream destination someday!”

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This post is brought to you by The Lady’s 2012 Blog Project.

You can also check out my other featured travelers HERE.

Traveler of The Month: Madel’s “U.K. Calling”

“Traveling is one big, interactive, history lesson.  It opens my mind.  It removes biases and misconceptions against places and people.  And surprisingly, it also makes me appreciate my own country and people,” my featured traveler for this month said.

And since it’s October — my birthday month (ehem!) — what better way is there to celebrate it than talk about one of my loves: THE UNITED KINGDOM!!! =))

That’s why it’s truly a privilege to introduce to you this month’s featured traveler because she didn’t just “travel” around the U.K. — she actually experienced living the English life! *inggit*  So my dear readers, meet my friend (and fellow Lasallian!) Madel and read carefully…  because I guarantee you, this is “one big, interactive, history lesson” about the U.K. that you wouldn’t want to miss!

Madel at Baker Street

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As always, the first question I ask my featured travelers is about the time they first caught the travel bug.  And in Madel‘s case, this was how it went: “I started to appreciate traveling at a very young age.  Before my seventh birthday, my dad brought me (and my mom) to the U.S. where I really enjoyed myself.  We visited a lot of places that were very enjoyable to young children — Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World — to name a few.  So as a young girl, that experience gave me an idea that traveling brings you to wonderful, ‘magical’ places.

“However, my awareness and deeper appreciation for traveling actually started when we toured Europe in 2002.  At that time, I was still in high school and we just finished taking up world history.  The tour allowed me to relate the beautiful sites I saw through the history lessons I learned.  With this, my appreciation for traveling definitely deepened.”

And “deepened” it did!  Madel has already been to at least 15 countries (including the Philippines).  “At around seven years old (1993), my parents and I traveled to the U.S.  My next trip was at the end of my first year in high school (2001) at Assumption, where I got to visit Japan as an exchange student and traveled alongside with seven other students and two teachers.  This trip was a special experience because I got to live with a Japanese host family and be fully immersed in the Japanese culture and traditions.  Exactly a year after this trip, we went to Europe (2002).  We joined a tour organized by Trafalgar Tours.  It started in London, England, and continued by bus to Belgium, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and France.  We then ended our trip by visiting some of our relatives in the Netherlands.  In the summer of 2007, we visited Australia and passed by Singapore before going home.  From 2011 to 2012, I studied in the United Kingdom.  During my year abroad, I also traveled a bit, touring Spain and Portugal for a week.”

Top left- Stonehenge (England); Top right- Barcelona, Spain; Bottom left- Lisbon, Portugal; Bottom right- Edinburgh, Scotland

London Calling?

Even before Madel decided to pursue her graduate studies in the U.K., she already toured England (e.g. Stonehenge and Lake District) and Scotland (Edinburgh).  But when she finally became an official student at the University of York, that’s when she got the chance to visit more places in the U.K. with some of her friends: from England (Oxford, Sheffield, London, Bristol, Brighton, Leeds, and Manchester) to Wales (Cardiff)!

Left- Brighton; Top right- Manchester; Center right- Cardiff; Bottom right- Sheffield

Oxford University

So what will Madel miss the most about the U.K.?  Well, here are some of them:

London
“It’s the place to be!  Honestly, I really wanted to study in the U.K. after seeing London in 2002.  It’s very beautiful and full of history.  Also, you’ll never be bored in London because there are so many palaces, parks, gardens, museums, and shopping places to go to.”

Left top to bottom- SHERLOCKed at 221B Baker Street; Right- Big Ben at the back

Top- Buckingham Palaca; Bottom- with the British Royal Family (at Madame Tussauds London that is! Haha!)

Hogwarts!!! (a.k.a. Harry Potter Studios in Leavesden)

Yes, the same one from THAT movie!

London 2012
“I was so lucky to have been in England during the Olympics.  I remember that I used to watch the Olympics not even dreaming that I’d be able to watch it ‘live’ someday because I knew it was impossible.  However, by some lucky twist of fate, I studied in England in the exact year the Olympics was in town.  Although I wasn’t able to watch the opening ceremonies live (that would’ve been a dream!), I did watch a semi-finals football game in the historic Old Trafford in Manchester.  Although the competing teams were from Egypt and Japan, my friends and I happily cheered on our chosen teams — with flags and banners to match.”

York
“This is the beautiful city where I lived in for one year.  It’s very scenic because of its medieval history.  There are walls surrounding the city.  There’s also a beautiful York Minster that’s the focal point of this city.  Unlike London, York’s still predominantly British.  And because of this, I had some first-hand experience of how it is to really live amongst the British.  What I discovered is that the British are very courteous and friendly.  People always say ‘Thank you!’ to bus drivers before leaving the bus.  Also, when you walk into any of York’s street shops, store keepers greet you and sometimes, even engage in a good conversation with you.  Also, the locals often call you ‘love’ (for example they’d say, ‘Hi, Love!’ or ‘Thanks, Love!’) — which I find very endearing.”

Left and center right- Christmas in York; Top right- Cliffords Tower; Bottom right- York

Castle Howard

York Minster

The University of York
“I feel really lucky to have studied here.  Originally, I hadn’t planned on going to this University.  But by some lucky twist of fate, I landed a spot here.  The University of York is amongst the top 10 Universities in the U.K. and top 100 in the world.  This is despite the fact that it has only been in existence for less than 50 years.  Recently, it has also received the top place in the ranking of the youngest universities in the U.K.  Our professors are also amongst the best scholars in the country.

“Our University’s also very modern and beautiful.  It has one of the biggest man-made lakes in Europe.  It’s also famous for its ducks and swans — which walk freely on the university grounds.  Truly, it was inspiring to study in a campus as excellent and beautiful as this!”

Sweets and Pastries
“England’s well-known for its sweets and pastries shops!  Inside you’ll find traditional candies like toffee and mints, as well as traditional pies, cookies, and cupcakes.  I love them because I have a sweet tooth.  But to be honest, some find these things too sweet.”

♥♥♥

Now that you’ve learned a thing or two about the U.K. thanks to Madel‘s own personal experience, “what are her travel tips,” you may ask?  Well, she shared, “For people who are very interested in seeing the world, I suggest that you consider joining tours rather than going around a city on your own.  These are the reasons why:

“First, joining tours allows you to see many places in one go.  Our tour of Europe is the perfect example!  In as little as two weeks, we visited seven countries!  Although we had a strict schedule to follow, the tour brought us to all the key places with enough time to go around, take pictures, and buy souvenirs.

“Second, joining tours will save you a lot of time, headache, and even money.  I know that there’s a misconception that tours are very expensive.  But on the contrary, tour companies usually have more efficient ways of going around cities (using their buses).  They also have good arrangements with their partner hotels — which are usually the luxury hotels in the area (they probably get the rooms at a much cheaper rate because they buy in bulk).  Hence, you’ll not have to worry about hotel bookings, understanding public transportation, and not knowing how to speak the local language.

“Third, tours mean tour guides!  And honestly, nothing beats the knowledge of these locals!  Apart from knowing the history of their place by heart, they usually also have funny anecdotes and stories about the place or tourists who have visited the site.  This is one of the things which I enjoy the most.  It also makes me remember a place even more.  And last but not the least, joining tour groups gives you the chance to meet really nice people (of different nationalities).  They can even end up as your lifelong friends as you share many wonderful experiences and photos together!”

A Scottish tour guide

I actually agree on that!  I, personally, prefer booking tours for hassle-free travels!  Hahaha!  But enough about me…  after 15 countries, where does Madel plan to go to next?  “To be honest, my next dream destination would be somewhere in the Philippines.  I actually envy people who have seen so much of our country.  I’d love to go to the underground river in Palawan.  I’d love to have my picture taken beside the Chocolate Hills.  I’d also love to visit Batanes where life seems so simple and peaceful!  There’s so much to experience in our own country!  That’s what I plan to do this coming year.

“Although if there’s a place outside of the Philippines that I’m eyeing now, it’s China.  I’ve made many Chinese friends back in York and I’d love to visit them in their country.”

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This post is brought to you by The Lady’s 2012 Blog Project.

You can also check out my other featured travelers HERE.