Traveler of The Month: Rema’s Bermudan Life!

BERMUDA.  Aside from the infamous “Triangle” that comes after this place’s name, what else do you know about Bermuda?

In fact, rephrase that.  What SHOULD you know about Bermuda?

Well, that’s the goal here — to answer that and more.  Much, much MOOORE!

But first, let’s get to know our “tour guide” in Bermuda and our family friend — September’s featured traveler, Rema!

She has been to the Philippines (of course!), Australia, the U.S., Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, the U.K., China (Hong Kong and Macau), and of course, Bermuda!  So how did all of this traveling started for Rema?  When did she “catch” the so-called travel bug?  “Well, since I was a kid, I’ve always referred to myself as ’gala,‘ ‘layas,‘ or ‘makati ang paa’ — all of which means that I love to be always on the go and not stay in the house.  I have this ‘up for anything’ attitude and ‘anywhere the road takes me’ kind of view in life.  While still living in the Philippines, I’ve already had my fair share of travels within the country and I went to Australia to visit my family before starting my ‘career journey’ to Bermuda.  One of my deepest desires is to really travel and as they say, the rest is history.”

And in Rema‘s “life history,” Bermuda now occupies several chapters — if not an entire book — in her story.  She shared,  “I’ve been living and working in Bermuda for five years now.  Wow!  Even I can’t believe it everytime I say it.  Time really flies fast when you’re having fun.  Most, if not all of the expats here, will tell you that they’ve come to Bermuda for only two years and found themselves staying longer.  In my opinion though,  Bermuda’s not for everyone.  If you’re a city boy or girl, it may be difficult to adjust to the lifestyle — but luckily, I’m a country girl.  Born and raised in Bulacan, I’m a ‘probinsyana’ through and through — so Bermuda’s so right up my alley.  The ‘Rock,’ as we call it, has about 64,000 people — both expats and locals included.  Pretty small, no?  But people here know how to make use of their time and resources.  From the various summer activities to house parties during the winter, there is something to do in Bermuda after all.

“Being on this side of the world, I can’t help but take advantage of traveling.”

Life in Bermuda

Let’s start with the basics first.  So what should we know about Bermuda?  Rema answered, “Bermuda is a British territory in the North Atlantic Ocean (yes, our money has the Queen’s face on it).  The main businesses of the island are Offshore Finance/Investments and Tourism.  The island has pink sand beaches (thanks to pink algae) and aquamarine waters.  The island looks like a wide horse shoe and we only have East and West sides.  Also, the island doesn’t have cities or suburbs.  What we have are parishes — and there are nine of them.

“We drive on the left side of the road and there are only two lanes, thus the small cars and mopeds.  One household is allowed to have only one car to limit road traffic.  The main kinds of transportation are mopeds/scooters, cars, and buses.  And of course, I drive a moped for that’s what it means to truly experience Bermuda!

“There are also a lot of churches and different religions.  There are six catholic churches in Bermuda so when we do our visita iglesia during Easter, we’re always one church short — doesn’t stop us from pushing through with it, though.  The various churches have a lot of volunteer activities for the poor.  One that I’m actively involved with is the Soup run by The Salvation Army.”

As for food?  Rema declared that “Bermuda’s famous foods are codfish, fish chowder, and potatoes.  The island has mixed cuisine: American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Jamaican, and just about anything with just two or three restaurants for each kind.”

Now let’s go to the fun part: the tourist sites!  Rema said, “Since Bermuda is mainly a tourist attraction, everywhere’s a must-see.   By living there for five years, I think I’ve been to almost all of them.”  Having read that, here are some of her recommended tourist destinations:

Beaches
“Some of the famous beaches are Horseshoe beach and Elbow beach.  These are located on the west side of the island, while I live on the east side (since there’s less traffic).  There are beaches here and there, and people have their own favorites.”

Horseshoe beach

Lighthouses
“There are two lighthouses on the island, each on the east and west sides.  I love Gibbs Lighthouse, which is on the west side, as it gives me a more aerial view of Bermuda whenever I climb the top.”

Gibbs Lighthouse

Dockyard and St. George’s
“Dockyard’s on the west side.  From the name itself, it used to be Britain’s largest naval base outside the U.K.  During summer, cruise ships dock there and people take the ferry to go to the town and do some sightseeing.  On the other hand, St. George’s is on the east side.  It used to be the city of Bermuda.  But until now, it still boasts of a lot of tourist destinations such as shops, restaurants, forts, and beaches too.”

Top- Dockyard; Bottom- St. George’s

The Swizzle Inn
“This is the island’s famous pub and restaurant, and of course there are only two branches.  You guessed it right — one on each side.  This is a favorite among locals and expats alike — open seven days a week.  And during the summer season, it even offers live bands at night.  The famous drinks in Bermuda are called Rum Swizzle and Dark and Storm.  All very yummy!  Bermuda’s very famous for its rum — gold, black, white — name it, Bermuda’s got it!”

Other “Happy Hour” Destinations
“Bermudians and expats love their happy hours!  During summer time, when the clock strikes five, people will come running to the Fairmont Hamilton Princess (one of Bermuda’s largest hotels) for happy hour.  This lasts until 9PM, then people either get dinner or go straight to Lemon Tree for more ‘happy hour’ until 12 midnight.

“Lemon Tree is a small cafe that is next to a park.  During happy hour, they open a portion of the park for everyone.  When the clock strikes 12, people in Bermuda still continue to party…  Next possible destinations could be Pickled Onion, Cairo, or Cosmopolitan — all are nightclubs with plenty of drinking and dancing.

“Pickled Onion or what we call PO, closes at 2AM, while the other two close at 3AM.  After that, it’s time to go home…  except of course when people still go crazy and have pool parties, or just go to a random beach for a swim.  I’ve to say that it’s a really good cure for hangovers!  When winter comes, we still do happy hour but not as extensive as how we do it during summer time — especially since it can be really quite cold in a subtropical island like Bermuda.”

Top- happy hour; Bottom- Lemon Tree

♥♥♥

But after traveling around (and living in) Bermuda, where else does Rema plan to go to?  She admitted, “I’ve always wanted to go to Greece!  I honestly don’t know why.  There’s something with the white houses overlooking the water (not that I haven’t seen enough in Bermuda) that interests me.

“And guess what?  Next week, I’ll be traveling again.  A friend of mine is getting married in Ireland and because I want to take advantage of my visa, I will travel to Europe once again.  I won’t just be in Ireland, I’ll also visit Germany (Cologne) and Spain (Ibiza) and yes…  Greece!  I’ll be there for a week to visit Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini!  I can’t wait!”

Well, Rema deserves it!  After all, traveling FOR HER is this: “Traveling and meeting new people open your eyes to the world.  It is indeed big and it is indeed worth experiencing.  For those of us who have traveled, the experience is beyond explanation; the lessons you’ll learn will be a part of your life forever.  You’ll meet people from all walks of life — some you will envy, and some you will pity.  But mostly you’ll just be grateful for where you are, who you are, and who you want to be.

“I became less materialistic.  Some of my friends might argue but I believe that even though I still want a lot of things, they don’t really matter that much anymore.  I realized that there is something more important than material things,  and you’ll just learn how to let go of them.  I’d rather travel than have a brand new pair of shoes or clothes.  Life’s short, so live it well.  There are too many places to see, too many lessons to be learned.”

Speaking of lessons learned, seasoned travelers always have one or two (or more) that they get to impart to other travelers.  As for Rema, here are hers — or what most of us know as TRAVEL TIPS!  “Grab a map and go!  Nothing’s stopping you.  I like planning things, and I’m proud to say that more often than not, I follow them (I also think this holds true for traveling!).  If I plan a trip one or two years from now, I’ll do it.  Some people might change their minds, reevaluate their plans, but me?  I’ll definitely push through with it.  There’s something about being on the other side of the world that makes me push myself to do things I’ve always wanted to do (that I couldn’t do before).  So yeah, I just grab a map and go.

“Follow your dreams and do what you want.  Each of us has only one life to live, so live it with no regrets.“

Well, I couldn’t agree more!

Thanks, Ate Rema! Looking forward to traveling with you SOON! -Mika xx

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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.

Doesn’t Really Feel Like It :)

I know it’s still too early to tell where my “chosen” career will take me, but I’m glad to share with you that I don’t regret fighting for it and eventually experiencing it full-time.

To tell you the truth, my aptitude test in high school actually “advised” me to take Communication Arts (or those related to it) in college.  But since I was still a clueless 15-year-old back then, I ignored the test result and decided to take a different “route,” listening to others’ opinions about where they saw my personality fit.  Hence, my never-ending “defense” during job interviews that ask me why I’m applying in print media (yes, the chosen career path) when my background deals with Foreign Service/International Relations and History.

But hey, that’s already water under the bridge.  And please, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying that I regret taking up Consular and Diplomatic Affairs in college and History in graduate school.  NOT AT ALL.  If anything, I’m still thankful that I was given the chance to “pursue” those courses because I learned A LOT of other things, albeit very different, from them.  Besides, I met some of the best and interesting people during those years (hello, college and graduate school friends!!!).  But I guess when you’re really passionate about something, nothing can ever stop you — not even degrees and diplomas.

So in between finishing articles/blog entries/writeups, perfecting my copy-editing skills, commuting my way to events, interviewing celebrities, assisting in photo shoots, and most of all, meeting deadlines, I feel lucky that I still get to smile at the end of every work day.  Sure, it still gets stressful at times, especially when my multitasking skills are put to the test (meet deadline this, meet deadline that), but you know, no job is really easy — not even the ones you’re starting to fall in love with.  I didn’t say that my current work is easy peasy.  In fact, it’s actually a combination of stress and happiness.  Hahaha!  Why?  Because the good thing about it is there are different tasks at hand, so there’s really no room for boredom.  One day I’m working on an article, the next day I’m on my way to a hotel or mall to do something that’s still work-related.  Everyday’s a new day.  Calling it “the daily grind” isn’t really the right way to describe it.

I’m not saying, though, that this is already the career I see myself doing for the rest of my life.  Like I said, it’s still a bit early to tell where this’ll take me. And the rest of my life?  Pressure much!!!  All I know is that if you’re reading this and you’re someone who’s still in high school and still have yet to decide on what you want to do in life, I say think about it really, really, really hard.  And when you’re ready to make a decision, make sure that that’s what you’re really passionate about.  ”Passionate” in the sense that it’s something you’ll still enjoy doing even for free!  But if you think that you’re like me — someone who realized what she wanted to do “later” in her college life — well, being another cautionary tale isn’t as bad as you think.

If I may say so, today’s world has been more “encouraging.”  As The Holstee Manifesto put it, “if you don’t like your job, quit.“  Just make sure that you have a back-up plan.  I’m not encouraging you to be unemployed — trust me, it sucked, sucks, and will forever suck.  Anyway, we know of doctors being business practitioners, lawyers being novelists (chick lit at that!), even corporate executives being professional bloggers.  So there’s really NO EXCUSE to let go of what you want to be doing — as opposed to what you should be doing!  Take me as an example (but whether you see it as something good or bad is completely up to you!  Haha!).  I should be working for the government or an embassy, and yet I’ve always wanted to be in print media — so here I am, finally part of an editorial team.  Heehee.

Of course I’m still open to practicing my default fields, but for now I’m just enjoying my chosen field.  I may still have a looong waaay to gooo but at the end of the day, what’s important is I feel like I’m in the right place.  So when work doesn’t really feel like “work” anymore, alam naaa!  Try your very best to hold on to it and be better at it Every. Waking. Day.

Because when that happens, that’s when stress will be finally replaced by BLISS.  And for us who need to work to live, work to feel self-worth, or just WORK in the broadest sense of the word, shouldn’t that be more than enough?

“Live your dream and share your passion.” -The Holstee Manifesto

Hotties from Faraway Lands! (Vol. 3)

You’ve seen the title.  THIS is already a third attempt to compile a list of not just “the most this, the most that” kind of men, but a combination of everything: talent, looks, fortune, brawn, and the most important of all — brains!  Combine them all and I believe that’s the true definition of “HOT!”  (Sorry, Paris.)

Of course, these are just some of the popular ones.  So for those who make the cut IN REAL LIFE, cheer up!  And of course, keep it up!  Hahaha!

But yeah, I gotta start naming names sooner or later, so here are they are:

THE HOTTIES FROM FARAWAY LANDS

#10 Dominic Lau
(Faraway Land of Origin: Hong Kong/The United Kingdom)

This British-Chinese VJ-slash-model-slash-host’s love for music can be traced back to his university years.  After all, he graduated with a degree in Commercial Music from the University of Westminster in London!  Currently,  you can catch him on E! News Asia as he delivers the latest AND hottest celebrity news straight from your TV screens.  No doubt he’s dubbed as Asia’s “Ryan Seacrest.”  Idol-worthy, indeed.

#9 Nick Simmons
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United States)

I came to know of his existence thanks to his family’s reality show: Gene Simmons Family Jewels.  Having said that, YES, he’s the son of Gene Simmons (from the rock band Kiss).  But aside from having a famous rock star father, Nick‘s famous in his own right too!  He graduated with a degree in English Literature from Pitzer College in California and according to Wikipedia, he’s “a comic book writer, musician, and voice over actor.”  Yeah, well, you should’ve heard him sing during his parents’ wedding on their reality show.  The guy CAN sing!  Heck, hearing him talk is already music to my ears!  Last but not least, he’s funny!  Now, now.  You can never go wrong with humor, can you?

#8 Oli Pettigrew
(Faraway Land of Origin: Hong Kong/The United Kingdom)

He may be born in Hong Kong, but he’s currently residing in Singapore.  You might’ve spotted him at some high-profile events, but I first set eyes on this British model/host on AXN’s Sony Style.  Of course, he also holds a degree in Corporate Communication — with honors!  And if that’s not enough, I believe you can still catch him on Cash Cab Asia (not to mention listen to his adorable British accent!)

#7 Matthew Atkinson
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United States)

The “small screen” may be his current specialty, but I don’t doubt that he has what it takes to be the lead on a “bigger” screen someday.  But while we’re still waiting for that to happen, watch him on Jane by Design.  Trust me, you won’t be able to get enough of that smile AND those dimples!

#6 Ryan Lochte
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United States)

Fresh from the 2012 London Olympics!  Aside from graduating with a degree in Sport Management from the University of Florida, this Olympian already has several medals to his name!  And even though the swimming portion of the current Olympics will soon end, this Olympian’s not yet done collecting ‘em!  Talk about a “gold” rush!  Haha!

#5 Colin Egglesfield
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United States)

Tom Cruise?  Naaah!  There’s more to Colin than just being an actor and former model.  He actually hold’s a pre-med course from the University of Iowa and paying for med school was the only reason why he got into modeling in the first place (at least that’s what Wikipedia says!  Hahaha!).  Not to worry, though.  He may have given up his dream of being a doctor, but he sure played one very hot lawyer in the movie Something Borrowed!  How’s that for a career change?!

#4 Matt Bomer
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United States)

Let’s drop the bomb right away: he’s gay.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’ve to admit that I was surprised when I first found out!  But moving on, he still earns a spot in this list because aside from graduating with a degree in Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University, he and his partner also father three sons (through a surrogate).  Now that’s what you call BOMER diggity!

#3 Harry Styles
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United Kingdom)

British?  Check.  Hot body?  Are you blind?  Of course, check!  Killer smile?  Check.  Music career?  Big check AND cheques!  There’s definitely only ONE DIRECTION for this lad to go to: SUCCESS!  And yes, that’s check!  check!!  check!!!

#2 Chris Hemsworth
(Faraway Land of Origin: Australia)

There are simply no words for this man.  How can you not include the god of thunder in this list?  Well, that’s just it.  You cannot not include him!  And since we’re already used to seeing those rock hard abs and bulky arms of his, I’ll leave you with this picture.  After all, it’s not everyday that you get to see an Avenger holding his real-life baby!  *all THORgether now*  Awwww!

…and of course, THE HOTTEST of ‘em all:

#1 Benedict Cumberbatch
(Faraway Land of Origin: The United Kingdom)

“Stop boring me and think.  It’s the new sexy.”  The famous character he plays once said on his equally famous TV show.  And I agree.  Brainy, indeed, is the new sexy!  A drama graduate at the University of Manchester, he further trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.  And judging from his interviews, the guy’s not just intelligent and talented, I can say that he has tact and respect for women, is a gentleman, and knows how to keep fit too!

Oh yeah, consider me SHERLOCKed.

And there you go!  Don’t worry if your “hottie” of choice wasn’t included here.  There’s always room for Vol. 4, you know?

The end.

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You can also check these out:
Vol. 1
Vol. 2

Traveler of The Month: Gian’s Greek, Russian, And Turkish Routes

Yes, you’ve read that right!  GREECE, RUSSIA, and TURKEY are this month’s featured travel destinations!

As for the featured traveler, well, I can assure you that he’s 100% Filipino (just in case you misread the title and thought of the last word’s homophone “roots” instead of what it actually is!  But then again, maybe that’s just me!  Hahaha!)

So I’ll cut to the chase and finally present to you August’s Traveler of The Month, who also happens to be my childhood friend — Gian.

Gian at Giza, Egypt

But first thing’s first!  What does my featured traveler think of TRAVELING itself?  Well, he said, “I think of it as education outside the classroom.  Traveling is a learning process.

“First, I get to know myself more especially when I’m confronted with different situations.  It brings out the street-smart in me.

“Second, it provides me the opportunity to see what I’ve read in history books.  As a matter of fact, I just travel to see historical sites.  Every time I see a site or landmark, I just can’t help but be amazed with it.

“Third, it enhances my social skills as I interact with people from all walks of life.  I enjoy talking to locals because it shatters my stereotypes and impressions.  It allows me to have a deeper understanding of who they are — their culture, opinions, disappointments, dreams, and aspirations.”

Very well said for this soon-to-be attorney!  Traveling, indeed, is a big part of Gian‘s life (aside from law school, of course!).  Proof?  So far, he’s been privileged to visit the following countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, France, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, China (Hong Kong and Macau), Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand.  But he’s not just any traveler!  Last May, he and some of his friends participated in the International Labour Organization’s Youth Employment Forum, wherein they were awarded by the Director-General of ILO himself, and was of course held at — you guessed it right — Switzerland!  In fact, that didn’t even have anything to do with law school.  They simply did it because they are passionate advocates of youth empowerment!

So yeah, you can say that he’s a traveler with a cause!

awarded by Juan Somavia, the current Director-General of ILO

And just like anything, there’s always a beginning — even when it comes to traveling!  So when exactly did the travel bug “bite” Gian?  He admitted, “I started traveling just recently.  It was three years ago when my family decided to go to Hong Kong and see Disneyland.  Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, that trip didn’t push through and that made me quite disappointed.  So when we went back to Qatar, I thought of a wonderful idea: to visit the neighboring countries in the Middle East.  And eureka!  I found out that Egypt’s only a three-hour flight away from Doha, and I thought that visiting that place was a perfect time to revive my childhood curiosity about history — and that’s pretty much the beginning of my travel escapades.”

The Routes

GREECE

at a marketplace in Athens

Gian traveled to Greece with his whole family (a.k.a. his mom, dad, and younger sister).  He shared, “It seemed like they hired me as their tour guide.  I explained the history of almost everything we saw.

“Traveling with them was very comforting especially during nighttime when we got the chance to have long conversations.  But the downside with this is it’s also difficult to travel as a group because I have to think of my mom and little sister since they can’t walk as much as I do — which makes it difficult to visit everything we plan.

“We went to Athens and visited the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Agora (where Socrates used to hang out!), Temple of Dionysius, Roman Agora, and the Greek Parliament (where we saw the changing of the guards in their funny uniforms).”

Top- Parthenon; Bottom left- Agora (Socrates’ hangout); Bottom right- Temple of Dionysius

Left- Greek Parliament; Top right- changing of the guards; Bottom right- authentic Greek sculptures displayed in the subway

Unforgettable moment in Greece: “When I saw the Acropolis in Greece, my reaction was unexplainable and I almost cried when I first set my foot on it.  The word ‘fascinated’ is an understatement.  I felt like I was back to the era of Greek civilization!”

RUSSIA

at St. Basil’s Cathedral with his dad

In Russia (and Turkey), Gian was with his dad.  “We’ve been partners and backpacking buddies since our Cairo trip.  My dad has been an OFW for almost 20 years and we seldom had quality time with each other.  So this trip was also to catch up for the lost years of my childhood.

“We went to Moscow and went to these places: the Kremlin, the Red Square, the tomb of Lenin, St. Basil‘s Cathedral, and some other Russian Orthodox cathedrals and parks.”

Top left- Alexander Garden; Bottom left- Cathedral of Christ the Savior; Right- at Kremlin with his dad

Left- GUM Department Store (where billionaires shop); Right- “M:I 4″ lang ang peg!

But it might surprise you to know that he almost didn’t go to Russia!  Gian remembered, “At first, I was hesitant to go to Moscow because of my impression of Russians — as depicted by Hollywood movies.  But alas, Russians were very helpful to us even though most of them couldn’t even utter an English word.  My trip to Moscow was very challenging as a backpacker.  If it hadn’t been for the Russian words and phrases that I brought with me, we wouldn’t have survived.  Everything was written in Cyrillic, so I was decoding almost every letter of the street signs just to look for our accommodation.

“Also, the food in Russia was very expensive.  One memorable experience I had in Moscow was when I asked for ketchup (in sachet) at McDonald’s and the lady charged me 24 rubles (or about 32 pesos!).”

TURKEY

the Blue Mosque in the background

“Turkey is a melting pot of cultures — this is where the EAST meets the WEST.  And the food was to die for!  A gastronomic experience at a very cheap price!  My fine dining experience in Manila is just as good as what I ate while walking in Istanbul.  The Turks are absolutely known for their prowess in their cuisine!

at Topkapi Palace

“In Turkey, we visited the Hagia Sophia (one of the 7 wonders of the Medieval World), the Blue Mosque (part of the 7 wonders of the Muslim World according to Nat Geo), Topkapi Palace (where the Sultan kept his concubines), Dolmabahce Palace (the former seat of the Ottoman Empire), and then we had a cruise at the Bosphorous strait — the body of water connecting Asia and Europe.

at Dolmabahce Palace

“Moreover, Turkish people are very nice, friendly, and GOOD-LOOKING!  They have a tourist police who managed to help us with everything we needed to roam around the city.  Istanbul is a fantastic place to visit.  I can say that it’s on the top of my list.  I was overly fascinated with the beauty of all the mosques and the ruins of the Ottoman Empire.”

Left and Bottom right- inside the Hagia Sophia; Top right- the Blue Mosque at night

Now that you’ve seen Greece, Russia, and Turkey through the personal experience of my friend Gian, what kinds of travel tips does he have in store for all of you?  Well, here goes…

Prepare by at least learning the language.  “When you are knowledgeable about their language, locals appreciate the effort and they become extra kind to you.”

Read about the city you’re planning to visit.  “It adds flavor to the experience when you know something about the country.  It can be about food, history, culture, or even politics — but try to be sensitive at all times.”

Know the routes.  “The best way to visit a city is through public transportation.  Get an online copy of the metro station maps.  Know where the bus stops are and how much money you have to allocate for transportation.”

Don’t keep your money in one wallet.  “You should put some of your money in hidden pockets.  Traveling won’t always be a perfect experience.  Beware of pickpockets and don’t be an easy prey by acting like a local.  Also, always bring photocopies of your passport and visa/s in case the originals get lost.  Don’t forget the contact number of your embassy for emergency purposes.”

Be adventurous.  “Stay out of your comfort zones.  If there’s something you can try in a particular country, try it as long as it’s legal.  Enjoy the food.  Visit the sites that they are known for.”

Maximize your time.  “Plan your trip very well.  Research where you can stay and eat at very cheap prices.  You can always have fun by not spending too much.”

Be an ambassador of goodwill.  “I’m always mistaken as Thai, Malaysian, Japanese, or Chinese but I always tell them that I’m Filipino.  Always be proud to be one.  Tell them good things about our country.  Be genuinely nice and friendly to everyone because foreigners will remember you not just as an Asian, but as a Filipino.”

Love, love, love that last tip!  And I’m sure Gian will always put that tip to use as he pursues his other travel plans.  “I plan to visit Madrid (for another competition), Paris, and Vienna within the year.  This December, I might also avail of the visa exemption granted to permanent residents of Qatar to Georgia (a former member of the USSR).

“But overall, my dream is to go to the Hague, Netherlands (legal capital of the word) and eventually take my masters of law degree there through a scholarship.  The thought of becoming a scholar someday thrills me!  I just can’t wait to live there and go to other European cities that I still haven’t visited yet.”

Whew, right?  Well, best of luck to you, Gian!  And we also wish you more HAPPY TRAVELS to come!!!

P.S: You can help send Gian and his partner to Madrid and support their advocacy by voting for them!  You can do so by clicking this link.

Their entry is this: THE 1K PROJECT: Entry from the Philippines

Thank you!!!

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

You can also check out my other featured travelers HERE.

For Some Reason, I Found Myself Listening to THESE

“Call Me Maybe”
by Carly Rae Jepsen

“Payphone”
by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa

And for some reason, they both have something to do with A PHONE.  Hahaha!

On a serious note, it got me thinking why these songs are hits…  And I guess just like every song, it’s because people can relate to their lyrics.  Not to mention, groove to their melodies!

But let’s start with “Payphone.“  How exactly can people relate to it?  Okay, the music video’s out of the question.  The whole concept of it and its relation to the song are still a mystery to me!  This version is actually better, in my opinion:

But anyway, if you’re going to ask me, the part that really got my attention was this:

“If happy ever after did exist, I would still be holding you like this.  And all those fairytales are full of s*it; one more f*cking love song, I’ll be sick…  I’m at a payphone.”

And it wasn’t just the “happy ever after” and “fairytales” that made me press the replay button again and again, it’s the way it was written — in second conditional (excuse the grammarzilla in me) and with straight-to-the-point-no-excuses swearwords!  It’s as if the writer really tried to express both the LOVE and PAIN he/she felt, feels, and will feel!  And for me, he/she succeeded in doing that exactly.

As for “Call Me, Maybe,“ how do people relate to it?  Hmm…  To make it easier, let’s make the question how do I relate to it?  Hahaha!

Well, I’ll let you in on a secret: Ms. Jepsen‘s hit song is actually one of my fantasies when I travel!  You know, go to a foreign place, spot that kind of guy, approach him, give him my number even though we both know it’s craaazy, but then what’s done’s done, so the ball’s already in his court and it’s up to him whether or not he’ll do the next move.  Call me.  But maybe.  Tapos ang kanta!

That.  And well, the song’s truly catchy!  Even YOU can’t deny that!  Mwahahahahaha!

And there goes another rambling from yours truly. =))  To end this, I just want to say that I also found myself WATCHING these.  Enjoy!!!

my fellow Lasallians‘ take on “Call Me, Maybe”

ANIMO!

Alex G‘s sweet rendition of “Payphone”

I wish she stuck with the original swearwords, though.
Instead of changing them to “it” and “stupid” respectively…  If you know what I mean!

That Kind of Love

Signs that Mika Chiong is in love: she keeps staring at that person’s name and number on her cell phone; she then starts writing a novella based on her current situation; she doesn’t mind whether or not he’s British (haha!), all that matters is he is who he is!  And worst, she starts rhyming.

“Not Necessarily Love”
by Mika Chiong

I never thought I’d meet a guy like you,
Someone so friendly and hated by few.
In fact, rephrase that;
You’re not hated ’cause you’re nearly perfect,
And your presence makes other people elated!

I’ve always liked you, like most girls do;
But it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever be your boo.
Oh yes, we’re friends, if you can even consider that;
Things just get complicated when I start to get sad.

Sad in the sense that here I go again;
I don’t think I can survive another case of unrequited love.
I once fell in love, and all I felt was pain;
This has to stop for it’s starting to make me laugh!

My thoughts are kind of hazy but
When I think of the words “I love you,”
I start to act like crazy!
How can I be sure that I already “love” you,
When I haven’t even heard you say that “four-letter” word
Even to a few?

On the other hand, this ain’t just a crush;
And before I fall hard and feel like
Some sort of trash,
I want to say thanks for making me feel
This kind of “love” rush.

All this time I just
Needed a little inspiration;
Not necessarily love, but enough to
Make me write this whole presentation!

This is bad.  Really, really bad.  Not to mention, downright PATHETIC.  Yes, I’m calling myself pathetic.  Just this once.  But I’m pathetic, nonetheless.

Now you know I really got it bad!  Hahaha!

So when exactly did I realize that my “love” for him was finally being preceded by the preposition “in”?  That moment I saw THAT picture.

More importantly, to whom am I “in love” with?  Asa kayo!  Syempre hindi ko sasabihin noh!  FOR NOW.

And last question, why am I blogging about it?  Well, it’s like what I said before.  Sometimes, I just can’t keep my thoughts to myself.  And blogging serves as my outlet when that happens.  It makes me more connected to and reflect more on my feelings, you know?  So here I am.

Here I am attempting to feel more connected to and reflect more on “the love” I’m feeling right now.  And there’s no better way to do that than talk about it.

But you know, I once talked about love.  Not that I’m an expert on it, but I did talk about it.  Once.

Just saying.

So what exactly did I say?  Well, I said that love indeed comes from all sorts of things and from different people from all walks of life.  It may be love in the form of friendship which is a feeling that puts me on high, and it can also be love for family which in my opinion, is one of the greatest gifts God ever trusted upon me.  Speaking of God, there’s also a form of love which I dedicate solely to Him.  If you love Him, then there’s no need to further explain.  You should already know how it feels because I know I DO.  And last, but definitely not the least, is love in the form of a relationship with the opposite sex (or the same sex for others).  For me, this is the most complicated form of L-O-V-E.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s just my opinion.  Why complicated?  Because if it’s love NOT returned, it’s like a venom ready to kill you slowly.  You may not feel the hurt from time to time but when it reaches your heart at some point, you’ll be dead right then and there!  There was a time when I felt like giving up already.  ”Was” being the operative word.  What I did was to just try to look on the bright side.  If I fight the venom, then I’ll still be able to live my life and start a new one.  That’s when the other forms of love enter.  They’re like the anti-venom for all of my miseries.  If one didn’t work out the way I hoped it would, all I have to do is tilt my head back on the other side.

It’s also like playing tennis.  It’s either you hit the ball with a forehand or a backhand, either way, if your ball’s OUT, at least you know you have both of your hands to do it all over again and score a point.  But then again, for tennis players, LOVE MEANS NOTHING (at least during a rally).  I researched the term and I found out that it was derived from the French word l’oeuf, the egg, symbolizing nothing.

Then it made me wonder…  is love really nothing if it goes only one-way?  I once said it’s not.  It’s not nothing!  As Andy Roddick put it after losing a match to Roger Federer, “It was frustrating, it was miserable, it sucked.  But besides that, it was fine.”  And just like how my previous unrequited love felt, yeah it sucked, but in the end, it was all worth the pain!

Now, the question is: is the current one still worth the pain?  I’d like to think so.  Besides, aren’t there sayings that say (how redundant) “no pain, no gain” and “all’s fair in love and war”?  Ha!  Now it’s really confirmed that I got it “worse” since I’m already quoting random shizz.  Wahahahaha!

Oh well papel.  If all else fails, this experience can always make me “stronger.”  Why not?

And I’ll always have Snape to take inspiration from!  (If you didn’t get what I just said, you obviously didn’t read or watch the last installment of Harry Potter!  So READ and WATCH IT!!!)

The “saint” of all unrequited love-rs! =))

Ay nako, tama na nga ang rambling.

Sa totoo lang, ito lang naman yun eh.  Or in English, it all comes down to this:

“Without the fear of how it might end…  I guess I’m ready to love again.”

Tamaaa!  Unrequited or not, choosy or easy, I’m ready to love again.  So universe, bring it on!  Let the love begiiin.  Paaak!

With love, love, luuurve,
Mika

BLUE and REDssssss

The celebration happened a week ago, but the actual birthday happens this week!  Having said that, I just want to say HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend/featured traveler/fellow blogger CAROL!!!

Happy Birthday, C! ♥

But aside from that, one of the things that made that day blog-worthy was how we all looked like with our blue-and-red ensemble! =))

See?  How can you not “document” a day like that?  Hahaha!

And oh!  If you’re wondering WHERE this took place, it was at Diamond Hotel’s Corniche restaurant:

“…Corniche offers an exceptional breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet spread and an extensive all-day a la carte menu.  The buffet selection is composed of Asian, Western, Japanese, salad, and dessert stations, all meticulously prepared by culinary experts.  Featuring signature cakes and pastries for dining and take-out orders is a cake shop at the Corniche entrance.”

dessert > Mika!

That’s pretty much it.  I just had to make this quick and simple.  So again…

Happy Birthday, Carol!
May you enjoy your day (even though I know you have exams in law school!)

We love you.
I love you.

I still wish we had videoke, though. Haha, PEACE!!!

xoxo, M.

Still COOKin’ in 2012!

“I’m sorry if it took us awhile to go back.”  He said during that night.  Or something like that.

Well, apology accepted!  After all, we’ve waited three years to see him again!  (By “we,” I’m referring to me, my Ate Fai, and the rest of his loyal followers since his Idol days!)

So who exactly am I talking about?  Why, David Cook, of course!

The guy sure owns several guitars, which he used during his concert!

It’s true, it did take him awhile to come back to Manila because when he first played for his Filipino fans, I still haven’t found my first full-time job, my sister just got married, and he shared the stage with his runner-up, David Archuleta!  In fact, I documented that epic concert in my previous blog, which you can check out by clicking HERE.

Whether it’s 2009 or 2012…

…my sister and I are definitely COOKistas! Haha!

Indeed, a lot of things have happened since 2009.  And now that we’re in 2012, these happened: I just resigned from my first full-time job, my niece is about to turn three years old soon, and David Cook (DC) finally decided to have a concert of his own!  But one thing remains: my undying love for his angelic-yet-powerful rock voice!

And speaking of his “angelic-yet-powerful rock voice,” have you gotten yourself a copy of his latest album This Loud Morning?

Well if you still haven’t, I suggest you go get one as soon as you can and turn to tracks like “Right Here, With You,“ “Fade Into Me,“ and “4 Letter Word.“  Why?  Wala lang, those are my favorite tracks kasi!  Eh nagbabakasakali lang na pareho tayo ng taste in music!  Wahahahaha!

But seriously, DC‘s voice never fails to put a smile on my face!  If only I could describe his voice by using an adjective that is used to describe looks, “gwapo” would be the appropriate one!  Oh wait!  I did describe his voice like that once, twice, or thrice.  Whenever I listen to his songs, bigla nalang ako mapapasabi ng “ang gwapo talaga ng boses niya!”  Hahaha!

I guess you just really can’t deny “talent” when you “hear” one! ♥

Always a David Cook fan, Mika

Of Beautiful Weddings, Family Reunions, and Sunset Limitations

The last time (also my first time) I was in Bohol was just last April.  I was with two of my college friends, we got left by our original flight to Cebu, our flight from Manila to Tagbilaran was delayed for two hours, and to top it all off, our luggage went to Cebu instead of Bohol — so go figure.  In fact, I wrote a very looong blog entry about it.  Hahaha!

And then last Friday, I was supposed to go to Bohol again for my cousin Brian‘s wedding…  I booked a flight with another cousin, Charlene, with her husband Ryan.

Thanks again, Ate Cha and Kuya Ry!!!

So we arrived at the airport before lunch since our flight WAS SUPPOSED TO BE at 2PM.  But then again, it got delayed for two hours…  and then it eventually got cancelled.  CANCELLED!!!  To think that my first trip to Bohol was already jinxed!  How malas could I be?

The Sunset Limitation Experience

The reason why our flight got cancelled was because of LIMITED SUNSET.  Tagbilaran’s runway isn’t equipped with lights and whatnot needed for a plane to land — hence, it’s not fit for night arrivals!  Okay, understood.  But as to why our flight got delayed in the first place, that still remains a mystery!  Kaloka diba?!

Luckily, our airline that time was Philippine Airlines (PAL).  So to turn our kamalasan into something good, our cancelled flight was exchanged for a new flight the following day — with a free overnight stay and buffet dinner at Diamond Hotel to boot!  Malas ba?  Well, hindi pala!!!  Wahahahaha!

It was then that Ate Cha, Kuya Ry, and I met the bride’s friends: Minnie and her husband Dao, and of course my roomie that night, Ate She!

my shared hotel room with Ate She

And since most of us are part of the bridal entourage (Ate She was in fact the Matron of Honor!), just imagine if we all didn’t make it to Bohol in time!  Whew.

making the most of our buffet dinner at Diamond Hotel – courtesy of PAL!

Magrereklamo pa ba kami?  Even the transfers to the hotel and back to the airport were shouldered by the airline.  So really, THANKS PAL!!!

Meet My Relatives

Of course, with weddings come family reunions!  ’Nuff said.

at the beach reception ♥

The Sanvictores Family

(photobooth photos courtesy of Artline)

with my young cousin from Sacramento, California – Katrina

The Sanvictoreses

with the California Girl again! Heehee.

Miss Bridesmaid and The Newlyweds

This wedding was actually my fourth time to be a bridesmaid.  The first time was waaay back in high school (I think!) and I don’t even have a picture of that!  But after that, I made sure to document every dress I wore — just in case I collect 27 Dresses and be my very own Katherine Heigl!  Chos!

“Always the bridesmaid, never the bride!” (Patay tayo diyan! HA HA HA)

Anyway, back to the real reason why I was in Bohol in the first place!  Of course, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLYWEDS!!!

Michelle and Brian ♥♥♥ (photo courtesy of Artline)

I wish I took more photos!  But I was so caught up with all the happenings, so I’ll just rely on my relatives’ pictures when they finally upload them!  Haha!  But overall, I say Bri and Mich‘s wedding was a blast!  And that whole sky lantern thing at the end?  Totally epic!  As Katrina put it, “It’s just like the movie Tangled!”

Again, Bri and Mich…  Congratulations!

(photo courtesy of Artline)

May you live happily ever after! ♥

Care for Some MORE (Milk) Tea… And Other Drinks?

More than a year ago, I wrote the “prequel” to this blog entry.  But you know, once a milk tea drinker, always a milk tea drinker (except of course if you’re lactose intolerant, but you get what I mean!).  So here I am, more than a year after, sharing with you the milk tea places and other drinks I’ve tried that I haven’t included in the prequel (which by the way, you can read by clicking HERE).

I do have a disclaimer, though.  The pictures I used in this entry are entirely borrowed from Google, so I don’t take any credit for “taking” them (no pun intended).  After all, I just wanted to show you the brands’ trademarked cups or whatever.  What I do take credit for is my recommended drinks.  I can assure you that EVERY DRINK I mention here has been tried and tested by moi.  So let’s make this short and simple again, shall we?  Here are my recommendations:

1. Bubbatealicious
Try their Royal Milk Tea

2. Bubble Tea
Try their Strawberry Milk Tea

3. Cebu Pacific’s In-flight Milk Tea
You can only choose from two flavors, original or taro,
but both taste good!

4. Jamba Juice
Try their Strawberries Wild

5. Gong Cha
Try their Earl Grey Milk Tea

6. Happy Lemon
Try their Matcha with Adzuki Bean Mousse Spin

7. Moon Leaf
Try their Wintermelon Milk Tea

8. Pao Pao Xiao Chi
Try their Green Tea with Rock Salt and Cheese

9. Tea Farm
Try their Caramel Milk Tea

Bonus:
Homemade Milk Tea!!!

I usually use Twinings‘ English Breakfast Tea (which is the exact same tea that Queen Elizabeth II drinks, by the way — so this is definitely recommended!  Haha!), any fresh milk available in our fridge, plus some sugar and ice.

Those are basically my “ingredients” and the “recipe” would actually depend on YOUR taste, so you can just adjust it to your liking.  But here’s mine:

Step 1: I add hot water in my mug (which is about 16 fl oz) until it looks already half full.

This is the mug I use. So if you have the same one, then my recipe will be more accurate for you! Hahaha!

Step 2: I then leave 1 tea bag of Twinings‘ English Breakfast Tea in my mug to steep.  Wait for around 2-5 minutes, depending on how strong you want the tea flavor to be.

Step 3: Of course I remove the tea bag from the mug!  But if you’ve already done that, add 5 tablespoons of milk or depending on how creamy you want your milk tea to taste.  Stir.

Step 4: Now this is the tricky part — the sugar level.  I usually put 2 teaspoons of sugar, but this will again depend on your preferred sweetness level.  More stirring.

Step 5: I put lots and lots of ice!  Hey, I just happen to love iced milk tea!  But this is entirely OPTIONAL — you can always have hot/warm milk tea!

The last step: KEEP CALM and DRINK UP!!!

And that’s it!  But just remember, TO EACH HIS OWN.  So please don’t blame me if you don’t like the things I mentioned in this post!  Okay?  Great!

♥♥♥

If you have other milk tea recommendations,
don’t hesitate to sound off in the comments section below!