A Floating Bookstore, A Dose of Carbon Dioxide, And A Whole Lot of Fun!!!
Weird title? Heehee. But yeah. Even though this is already considered a “late” post, let me tell you first about my Manila adventure with my two friends Mark and Maica, one fine (spontaneous) day…
(photo courtesy of my friend Mark)
Last week, we went to the heart of Manila with the hope of having a one-of-a-kind bookstore experience: the MV Logos Hope. As self-proclaimed bookworms, the three of us traveled all the way from Makati just to have our hands on very rare, but cheap finds! 
But lo and behold, it seemed that we lacked in the “research” department because when we finally arrived at the gate, we were told that the ship’s closed on Mondays! On MONDAYS!!! And we went there on a Monday. Fuuudge. 
Since we didn’t want to “waste” one whole trip (not to mention “excitement”), we decided to go to the Manila Ocean Park instead.
And that’s when ALL THE FUN started!!!
MANILA OCEAN PARK
It was already my second time to go there and honestly, I didn’t even think that I’d be back when I went there the first time! Oh well. I guess this spontaneous “excursion” was another proof that it doesn’t matter WHERE you are… what matters is WHO you’re with! Ahem!
Plus, it was nice to see Maica HAPPY after finally seeing penguins in the flesh! Trust me, you don’t know how much she loves ‘em!!! 
Maica and her beloved penguins!!!
As for me, I kind of “penguined” out when it was my turn to feed them… that’s why I could only get as close to a penguin like THIS:
penguin hugs, anyone? HA HA HA
Good thing there was also another attraction to SMILE about inside the Trails to Antarctica part of the Park: SNOW VILLAGE!!!
Traveling to Antarctica is a dream of mine too, ya know? 
Ready for some snow...
...and MORE "FAKE" SNOW!
After that, we decided to try a five-minute 4D movie (thanks to my insistence!) located at the mall outside the Park.
But wait, there’s more…
Once at the lobby, I suddenly saw a familiar “sight” — Mr. Carlos Celdran of Walk This Way fame!
—
ME: Carlos Celdran!
CARLOS CELDRAN: Hi, how are you?
ME: *smiling like an idiot* =))
—
I swear, I’ve been planning to go to one of Mr. Celdran‘s Manila tours since time immemorial, that’s why seeing him in person even before availing of his tour spelled only one word: STARSTRUCK! Hahaha!
I plan to FINALLY avail of his tour THIS YEAR and of course by that time, I promise to have my picture taken with him already. Don’t worry… knowing me, you’ll read all about THAT on THIS beloved blog of miiine! *more hahahas*
Lastly (for that Monday), I realized that with happiness comes PANIC MODE! On the way home while on the jeep, I witnessed my very first “snatch” encounter! I don’t want to rehash the details anymore, but I was ThisClose to being the victim! I’m just really relieved that it wasn’t me, but still sad for THAT lady… 
Overall, it was truly one OMG moment for me!
Nakakalokang OMG MOMENT talaga that it made me avoid public transportation for a week!!! I’m starting to get back to my usual “commuting ways,” but Mayor Lim, do something about THIS for the sake of my fellow Manileños, Taft Avenue, and the City of Manila in general! Please and thank you.
—
Moving on…
The following day (Tuesday), we finally stepped foot on the MV Logos Hope (we’re so full of HOPE, no?) with our other friends Angela and Jen.
...some of the places the MV Logos Hope has been to. "Some" being the operative word!
Inside the MV Logos Hope were BOOKS (duh), a cafe, and hundreds of volunteers! Actually, volunteering for the ship is NOW part of my bucket list! So when it gets back to our shores, I’ll definitely apply! Hehehe.
...couldn't really decide what to buy, so may the heavens help our credit card! =))
a cafe inside a ship - reminds me of our cruise trip! Not bad. Not bad AT ALL. 
And there you have it! After all that’s been said and done, I realized that no amount of carbon dioxide (sad but true) can stop me from exploring the streets of my beloved Manila!
As posted inside the MV Logos Hope,
"Life is a journey. We're all going somewhere, but where are we going?"
My answer? Might as well go somewhere you’ll always keep coming back to (THAT song was right after all)…
…and for me, that’ll always be my hometown: MANILA. ♥
Something *NEW* (The Lady’s 2012 Blog Project)
In my year-ender post, I mentioned that I’m working on a special project for THIS blog of mine. And I’m happy to say that d-day has come to finally reveal it (meganon?!)
On my sidebar, you can see “The World” as one of my categories. And yeah, I’ll be adding a subcategory called “SPECIAL FEATURE: The Travelers” — which is kind of self-explanatory. Obviously, I’ll be featuring one traveler per month, but they won’t just be any travelers. For the first half of 2012, my goal is to cover EVERY CONTINENT. Which brings us to…
Six Continents in Six Months
To satisfy MY and YOUR “wanderlust,” I’ve contacted some of the people I know who’ve been to each continent to share their very own stories (thanks much to some of my friends who already agreed to do this project with me!) So if you’re itching to travel but still haven’t quite reached your “travel fund” goal yet, then all you have to do is sit back, relax, and READ MY BLOG! Of course I expect you to enjoy, too, along the way!
So that’s six months, six continents: South America in January. North America in February. Oceania (or Australia) in March. Europe in April. Asia in May. Africa in June. After that, let’s see what happens…
So check back every 12th of the month. Wala lang… Kasi 6+6 = 12 — 2012! Haha, sabaaaw! But yeah, EVERY 12TH OF THE MONTH. Starting this January 12, 2012… See ya!
In the meantime, you can check out my very own “travel history” here. (Oy don’t expect much! I, myself, am a “budding traveler!” Hahaha!)
—
AND OH! Since it’s the New Year and all that — wherein “cleaning” is one of the infamous resolutions — I decided to do my own “cleaning!” I’m such a major bookworm that my room is already FULL of books — both read and unread. I can actually “earn” from them if I ever decide to have a “rent-a-book” business (haha!) or sell them for a fraction of their costs. But no, I have a better idea! Instead of making a profit out of them, I’ve decided to give them away for FREE! Don’t worry, they’re all in GOOD CONDITION. And yeah, I prefer to call them PRE-LOVED instead of secondhand! Think The Lady’s Pre-Loved Books! Mwahahahahaha!
And since our theme is TRAVELING, I scoured my entire book collection for some travel-themed ones! Hence one of my favorite book series, Students Across the Seven Seas (S.A.S.S.)
“Students Across the Seven Seas is a novel series published by Penguin. There is no set author for the series. The books center around a fictional Study Abroad program which shares its name with the series title…”
I’ll be giving away TWO BOOKS to ONE WINNER:
Now and Zen by Linda Gerber
(set in Japan)
and
When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee
(set in Ireland)
To join, simply send me your answer to this question (in one sentence, please):
“What is your DREAM DESTINATION and WHY?”
Send your answers to mikhaelageorgette@gmail.com (I repeat, only one sentence) on or before January 14, 2012 (Saturday). The winner will be notified directly via e-mail.
[CONTEST CLOSED]
Bon voyage, mi amigos!!! (Oha, I just used both French and Spanish in ONE SENTENCE! Hahaha! )
P.S: Don’t forget to come back on January 12, 2012 (Thursday) to read all about my very first featured traveler! Ciao!!!
The “Apple” of My Eye
As mentioned in my previous post, here it is! My own separate blog entry about Hottie from A Faraway Land #4 AND the “Apple” of my eye these days: Reed Paul Smith Powell Jobs or simply Reed.
Oh I don’t know! I don’t really have a particular “goal” with this post… What I DO know is I just want to GUSH about Reed! After all, this is my personal blog = my personal space to write anything and everything I want — including my crazy antics and lovelorn moments! Chos! Hahaha!
ANYWAY…
Forgive me if this seems like a “crazy” post. Heehee. Honestly, I’m not EXACTLY sure when and why my “interest” in the “Prince of APPLE” has started, but thanks to my stalking ”research” skills, here are some fun facts about him:
He’s the only son of the late Steve Jobs (Reed has one older half-sister and two younger sisters).
He attended Crystal Springs Uplands School. Check out this video.
He currently attends Stanford University. AND he’s part of the Fencing Team! Astig!!!
He wants to be an Oncologist — and find a cure for the disease that took his father’s life.
He was born in September 1991. Therefore, he’s TWO YEARS younger than me. Kaloka lang!
He lives in Palo Alto, California…
…and I live in Manila, Philippines!
Haaay. So much for dreaming!!!
Lastly, mahirap maghanap ng “information” tungkol sa kanya… lalo na pictures — at halos lahat ng available, nagamit ko na yata dito sa blog ko! Haha! Kaya peeps, that’s all for now!
Hay naku. Basta ipagdasal niyo nalang na magkatuluyan kami kasi ‘pag nagkataon, baka isa kayo sa mga kaibigan kong bibigyan namin ni Reed ng libreng Apple products! I’ll call it THE APPLE BUNDLE, which includes an iPod Touch tenth generation, an iPad 10, an iPhone 10S, and a Macbook Sky! — ano daw? MacBook Sky?! Ampf! Wala na yatang mas co-corny pa sa’kin! Desperate times call for desperate CORNY measures, you know?! Baliw-baliwan lang! Wahahahaha!
Oh well papel. Too bad for me, he doesn’t even know I exist. :’(
As Marie Digby put it, “it’s in the stars that girls like ME and boys like HIM were never meant to be.”
Awww! Heartbreak, much? </3
—
*PLUG*
If you still haven’t gotten a copy of THIS, then I suggest you grab one NOW!
(Or at least RESERVE a copy because the last time I checked, it’s already SOLD-OUT!)
Steve Jobs‘
AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY
”I’m going to be in meetings 24/7 for probably two days and I want you to be in every single one because you’ll learn more in those two days than you would in two years at business school,” he told him. ”You’re going to be in the room with the best people in the world making really tough decisions and get to see how the sausage is made.” -Steve Jobs to his son Reed ♥
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Book review COMING SOON!
Of Caffeine Fixes and *Fangirl-ing Moments*
Last Monday, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed… well, the right kind of wrong — I think! Why? Because while I was on my way to get my caffeine fix for the day, I was suddenly interrupted by two angels straight from Brazil and Japan respectively!!! Hahaha!
Okay, fine. I’m talking about Brapanese actors-slash-models Akihiro Sato and Fabio Ide. *squeal*
AKO NA... ako na ang na-sandwich sa gitna ng dalawang Brazilian-Japanese models! Hahaha!
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t really get starstruck that much (except if you’re Kate Middleton!) Simply put that way back in college, my school was a “breeding ground” for celebrities (teka, kasama ba’ko sa mga yun? SYEMPRE HINDI! Hahaha!) Anyway, I’m already used to seeing them because they were everywhere: classrooms, the cafeteria, hallways, libraries, parking lots, even restrooms! Besides, tao rin lang naman sila TULAD KO at TULAD MO! So what’s the BIG DEAL, right?
Yeah, I thought so too.
On that fateful Monday, I realized that there is a “deal” in fangirl-ing. It may not be “big,” but it’s still a DEAL nonetheless.
The deal is that fangirl-ing is FUN. Yes, I repeat: F-U-N.
FUNgirl-ing. Pwedeee!
Why “fun”? Simply because I was with my friends… and when you’re with your friends, you know that ANYTHING can happen! And when I say “anything,” kalokohan is included! Kalokohan. that. spells. FUN!
Alam niyo na… yung mga pa-simpleng sulyap… tapos ‘pag ready ka nang magpa-picture, aatras bigla. Pagka-atras, biglang tawanan! At hindi lang basta-basta tawanan — MALAKAS NA MALAKAS NA TAWANAN! Oh diba, other than LAUGHTER, what else can you use to measure FUN best?! WAHAHAHAHA!
Pagbigyan niyo na kami… kasi naman, bibili ka nga lang sana ng kape, bigla nalang may sasalubong sa’yong Akihiro at Fabio! At higit sa lahat, nalibre pa yung kape mo! Whew. Oh well papel. That’s one of the perks of working in the country’s “business district” AND in one of the business district’s awesome-est buildings! CHOS
But anyway, let’s go back to fangirl-ing. I swear if I hadn’t been with my friends, I WOULDN’T have given in to my inner fangirl-self…
…but I swear if I hadn’t given in to my inner fangirl-self, I would’ve REGRETTED it too — BIG TIME! Miss the opportunity to pose beside two freakin’ hawt guyysss? No way, man! Kaya friendsss, THAAANKS! Fangirl-ing wouldn’t be complete without you!
That’s right. FUNgirl-ing won’t be the same without thy FRIENDS.
After all, encounters like this can make you truly think that there are “MANY FISH” in the sea…
Akihiro OR Fabio? ♥♥♥
…so don’t go sulking over one “fish” — real or not! Wahahahaha!
Lastly, being a fangirl isn’t limited to being a fan of “guys!” It can just simply mean that you’re A FAN. Period.
Let me share with you my other “fangirl” moments:
with Robi Domingo
with Josef Elizalde
with celebrity sisters, Megan and Lauren Young
Just a friendly reminder though:
It’s okay to give in to your fangirl-selves every once in awhile… but sooner or later, be sure to SNAP OUT OF IT! Besides, just like anything else (yes, caffeine included), “too much” is bad.
Yes people, too much fangirl-ing is dangerous to your health!!! So best to do it moderately.
But you can make an EXCEPTION from time to time, too! Heehee.
—
And since we’re already on the topic of being a fangirl, I’m encouraging YOU all to grab a copy of the newest book of Candy Magazine‘s Assistant Lifestyle Editor, Marla Miniano:
with Ms. Marla
Fangirl is available wherever Candy Magazine is sold.
Fangirl is Ms. Marla‘s FIFTH NOVEL. Amazing, isn’t she? Anyway, I’m already done reading it and I give it a rating of: ♥♥♥♥♥
So grab a copy now and sympathize with Summer (the protagonist) as she experiences the wonderful world of FUNgirl-ing!
The end.
Gotta Love Books! ♥
Today, I went to the 32nd Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center.
The SMX Convention Center
I looove books! Be it fiction or nonfiction, I can say that I can read both! But then again, who doesn’t love books, RIGHT? Well if you don’t, I recommend that you start doing so NOW! It’s never too late to get interested in them and attend book fairs here and there! Heehee. Anyway, this is my second time to attend the Manila International Book Fair, and I plan to keep this as some sort of a yearly “tradition.” And this year, I went with my childhood friend Meeko with only three “goals” in mind:
First, have my Before Ever After (read my blog entry about it here) copy signed by the author (Samantha Sotto) herself PLUS attend the book discussion that came after it. CHECK and CHECK!
Book Signing
"To Mika, follow the chickens!" ♥
Meeko, yours truly, and Samantha Sotto
Book Discussion
Next, buy a copy of The Dukan Diet by Dr. Pierre Dukan! (F.Y.I: this is the pre-wedding diet of Kate Middleton! Haha!) = CHECK! But as to whether or not it’s effective FOR ME, then I guess we’ll just have to WAIT and SEE!
Of course, I bought other books as well, but having done what I really came there for was really satisfying! As my friend Meeko said, “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”
Meeko and Mika!
Can’t wait for the 33rd Manila International Book Fair!!!
Admit it, we just GOTTA. LOVE. BOOKS!!!
♥♥♥
