 | | Aug 6, 2005 |
LEARN. APPRECIATE. DANCE DANCE DANCE
life is waiting.  | Borneo | Jan 14, '12 9:37 AM
for everyone |
|  | Trip of the Month : September 2011
Kota Kinbabalu (formerly known as Jessleton) is the capital of Sabah state , East Malaysia. Home to Mount Kinabalu, it is also the largest urban center in Sabah and a major tourist atttraction/gateway for those visiting Borneo.
The city's population today is a mixture of many different races and ethnicities. The city consists of mainly Bruneian Malay, Kadazan-Dusun, Rungus, Murut, Chinese and Bajaus. They speak English. Some speak Tagalog. They also put macaroni in halo-halo (which I found most interesting).
I did not climb Mount Kinabalu because I wasn't travelling with a mountaineer but I did promise myself to fly back here and reach that beautiful peak sometime in the future.
Instead, we gorged on spicy grilled squid, fish and chicken wings; walked above the forest canpoy; saw the world's biggest flower; went to the beach and back again and simply enjoyed 4 days of no plans (I guess it didn't hurt that I looked like a local and figured out how to count in the local dialect).
Wait for me Mt Kinabalu. Next time you are mine. |
| | Trip of the Month (number 2!) August 2011 - Caramoan
Out of town trips with Karen and/or Marvin ALWAYS end up feeling like they were made for Reality TV. Probably because none of us really plan for the trips and we only have a general idea of where we want to go (no hows like - how to get there, how long it'll take and how much it'll cost). It's pure adventure.
Case in point - One weekend in 2011, Marvin decides to go to Bicol. We agree. He gathers his chosen travelmates, books a van and leads us straight to 4 days of chaos.
We prayed for good weather so the sea would let us cross to Caramoan -> a place made popular by the TV series Survivor. After docking, we went straight to the beach and booked a smaller boat to take us around the islands. Incredibly fine sand, crystal water and beautiful limestone crags surrounded us that day. Immersed in wonder, we never expected that we would actually feel like castaways that night (unprepared for an overnight stay, we had no change of clothes - not even towels, no plans of where to eat/sleep and we knew no one in town). But by the pure hospitality of the those we met along the way, we made it through the night.
Before the sun was up the next morning, we were at the port, waiting for our charter boat to bring us back to real life.
After a delicious bowl of locomoco at the wakeboard camp, we headed home.
Good times and delicious weekend memories :)
I wonder where we will end up next. |
| | Its tradition.
Everything we needed to learn (about alcohol), we learned in highschool.
The secret to keeping your reputation intact after a wild party night: Never speak of it after you gain consciousness. It's supposed to be over. And make sure you own the camera so you can delete your own photos and use everyone else's for blackmail. |
| | TOTM August 2011
Blogged about the trip over at http://janeandthegypsies.blogspot.com/
High point: Great food, great fun and great stories to tell
Hmm point: Business trip = not too much tourist spots in check (though we did cover the basics)
Low point: Broken luggage care of Cebu Pacific. (You will never touch my bags ever again. ever.) |
| | We originally wanted to go with the Travel theme for Rapha's birthday party but when he showed an interest for balls and games, we opted for Sports instead.
Funny story, while we were setting up the decorations for the party and Rapha was there providing cuteness, he would repeatedly ignore the balls/toys and go for the microphone and the sound system that were laying around waiting for someone to set them up. The little boy even went as fas as trying to turn the thing on. Nagkamali yata kami ng theme - he obviously wants to be a Rockstar! haha :D
I've set up two parties in this house and twice, it has rained. (I think it's fate) But still, twice it turned out be super fun and fabulous :) |
| | Trip of the month July 2011 : Hogwarts!♥
A treat for kids and parents alike, guests were transported from Diagon Alley, through Platform 3/4 and into the Great Hall where the celebration was in full blast.
And what would the Hogwarts experience be without robes, wands and the beloved sorting hat? I had a blast sitting the kids down and watching their faces as the sorting hat proudly announced their "house" (okay, so it roared Gryffindor every single time but no one really pointed that out - they were too busy practicing their wand tricks and pretending to cast spells).
It was a day of real good fun with the best people to plan a party with :) |
| | Trip of the Month (number 2! yea!) : June 2011
After years of want, I finally got the chance to step back into dizzying world of train rides and talking toilets.
I felt right at home :) |
| | Trip of the month (number 1) : June 2011
Potipot remains to be our go-to beach for quick trips out of Manila. This trip was a remake of our January TOTM but with more food, more tents (with poles!) and more friends to share the spectacular view with. (And it makes up for the pseudo TOTM I had last May. AND wala nang shark. haha!)
I don't know how many times I have been to zambales but is a fabulous place that gives me something beautiful to photograph every singe time I visit. This time, the clouds caught my eye.
I finally had coffee shop giant tacos again. Their coffee may suck but their tacos always make our stomachs very happy :D |
| Pinatubo | Jul 10, '11 1:52 AM
for everyone |
| | Trip of the month : March 2011
Steep rock inclines, sandstorms and crater swimming.
I wish I could have gone to Pinatubo before the are around the crater lake was turned into a park (with a huge cross and soda for sale) and when the water was still a vivid blue. Still, it was an exciting, educational experience. Not too shabby for the office's first unofficial out of town trip.
I'm coming back when the water is less sulfuric and taking in the beauty of the volcano all over again <3
PS. Masarap yung barbecue nung manang na nagiihaw sa labas nung spa-town. At panalo ang videoke machine nila. sulit. |
| | Trip Of The Month April 2011
Tarak Ridge 1006 MASL (ridge), 1130 MASL (peak)
Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles Bataan
*Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days, 5-6 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3
[*from http://www.pinoymountaineer.com]
This was the first climb+camp combo for the year's TOTM calendar (jan, feb and march were all either beach or day trips) and it was awesomesauce.
We hit the road pretty early and majority of us (me included) were comatose through the holiday NLEX traffic. Got a little lost but eventually found Barangay Alas-asin and asked about hikers registration while snacking on chocolate popsicles from the friendly sari-sari store along the highway. Loaded up on carbs (SINANGAAAAAAG♥) before we started up the trail at 11 am.
It was a good thing the trail had a lot of tree cover because we reached the halfway point only after 3 or so hours (and numerous breaks). We decided to set up camp around the papaya river (with all the other happy campers) and go for a morning assault to the peak the next day. We toyed with the idea of going for the peak after lunch but it was a collective decision that we go for a nap instead (because awesome meals make you sleepy).
We were roused the next morning by the sound of snapping branches, projectile fruits and other campers calling for evacuation. Buti nalang hindi sumakto sa tent. After breakfast, we went for the second part of the trail - treading through vines, roots and low branches to reach the peak. I love these kinds of trails - they make me feel the earth and feel one with the earth.
We ran into a couple of groups (4 yr old girl FTW! and our friends from the previous campsite socials "nagpapahinga ka pala, amazona?") before the treetops gave way to beautiful blue, open skies. I wish we could have camped there but we weren't prepared for another night (wala na kaming alak! lol). So we took in as much of it was we could (cool wind, amazing view, energizing sunlight) before making our way down to the river to lunch, break camp and run (literally - mahirap mauna kay sonny. panic!) to the finish.
Good job guys :) saan tayo sa May? |
| | Trip of the month: February 2011
Got lucky with one of Cebu Pacific's web promotions and headed down south for the amazingly low price of php 300 (booked a year in advance but that's how you get things cheap!) YEA!
Next to nothing airfare left us with enough cash to spend nights in better-than-backpacker places, eat a lot of GOOD food (pizza. ostrich. more pizza. cute gelato in a cafe that made us feel like we were back in the tourist capital of cambodia. mmmmm PASTEL), and max out on nature trips.
Skin dive for giant clams, navigate white water and wild river currents, ZORB, take a dip under a beautiful waterfall, go see a sunken cemetery, relax at a hot spring then get refreshed at a cold pool or just spend a lazy morning eating sea urchins of a white sand beach. Choose your own adventure. Better yet, do it all.
Where will you go today? |
| | Kasalang Bene at Issa ♥
February 12 2011
The Transfiguration Chapel (Caleruega)
Sonya's Garden
Team GerryMobile converged at Mcdo Qave the morning of the wedding and departed 10am on a leisurely pace to Tagaytay. The whole drive was filled with endless chattering, singing along the radio and wondering what to have for lunch.
Like the usual tagaytay tourist groups, we headed for Leslie's (just because I didn't know the turn point to get to mahogany market) for the standard bulalo and veggies. Yum. Thanks Mrs Sugiyama for making the meal so much cheaper. (Hindi pa yun ang reception mo ha! Pero we work for food. haha)
We arrived at the church a little early so we had enough time to walk around, take lots of photos and talk to the officiating priest about the couple to be wed. I was consciously trying to prevent myself from switching to "coordinator" mode and freaking out about the wind, the time, the church door and all the other little things. I was there to enjoy the beautiful wedding of 2 amazing people. AND I was seated in between KAPS friends and TK orgmates.
My world is so wonderful :)
There have only been a few weddings where I was fully aware of what the priest was saying and this wedding has been one of them. And Bene-sempai's personal vows cued some tears.
The great times continued at Sonya's garden with dinner, dancing, cake and ume-shu :) Unfortunately, team gerrymobile had to make a quick escape.
The ride home was equally unforgettable. Ghost stories along tagaytay's dimly lit roads are epic.
Congratulations Bene and Rais sempai!!
Thanks for inviting me, it was beautiful :)
Sa semptember ulit! Tintin sempai, you're next. |
| | 一期一会。
You have taught me so much in so little time.
As I continue down my chosen path, in my mind there is only gratefulness.
and in my heart, only love.
I'll be sure to make you proud. See you soon :) |
| | Trip of the month: January 2011
We started the 2011 TOTM Calendar right: spending a weekend with good friends, good food and an amazing view.
Potipot never fails ♥
(kahit na tumaas nanaman ang overnight fee, walang poles ang tent namin, muntik kaming maubusan ng gas, at nakagat si bo ng SHARK, it was a weekend of unforgettable awesomeness! share a drink, win a friend!) |
| | Screaming, jumping around and watching the neighborhood fireworks at midnight left us sleeping till noon on on the first day of 2011. Then we all got up and went to see the flying kids of the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus at the Araneta coliseum (straight from the beijing olympics!).
The show started pretty late but we were easily entertained by the kung fu panda staring contest (awesomeness!!) and the kid sitting behind us who called every girl in a tutu a princess. then she started laughing at the acrobats because they were wearing body suits that looked like birthday suits. hehe :D
if you were to run away and join the circus,
would you join the CHINESE circus? 0.o
|
| | Huling hirit ng kain club for the year 2010.
For our Christmas 2010 dinner, we hit the Lugang Cafe - a new restaurant that started operations in late November. This restaurant in greenhills is a franchise of the chain found in Shanghai, China (Bellagio Management Group). Marvin was a little guilty for choosing a chinese restaurant when my flight to hk was only a few hours away but I thought it was a fitting introduction to the gastronomical delights that were waiting for me that week.
We had a fourth kain clubber this time, in the person of catota!! She had only recently chosen to reveal to us that she was in the Philippines and she was promptly invited and screamed at the whole evening. We love you catota!
We were there before opening time (nakatambay pa nga yung mga chef sa labas) but we were still on the waiting list when we finally got inside. Anyway, they own a big space so we didn't have to wait that long (and we were enjoying the interiors as we waited). We chose our dinner based on the size of that particular food item on the menu, and we did not go wrong.
It was a really nice meal (SARAP!) in a really nice setting. Nahiya lang akong picturan yung giant wooden door nila sa entrance (but I bet sanay na yung guard sa mga nagphophoto-op dun. haha).
I shall be back :D |
| | Trip of the month: december 2010
An instant decision and a midnight flight landed me in Hong Kong a couple of days after Christmas. The main reason was to meet with betty - my smapxsmap watching, gyoza making, orange bike riding, kyoto neighbor/photographer. They were going to be in hongkong for the holidays and I had promised that I would come over if they were ever in Asia. And since it was my first time in HK, I had to do a little sight-seeing and some major shopping.
I stayed at the chungking mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui which was so ghetto but cheap, super accessible and filled with interesting characters. It also made me watch chungking express all over again. I only spent a couple of hours in my room anyway because I was out walking all the time. HK is so tourist friendly that all you need is a map and an octopus card (pure genius) to get around. I loved the color coded MTR stations and the 375ml tetra-packs of soymilk (which were sooo yummy and were also very, very cute).
Four full days were not enough for me to cover the sights I wanted to see, shop at the malls that I wanted to conquer and eat all the food I could stomach (xiao long bao, you had me at hello). I will definitely be back.
Most memorable line of the 4 days: "TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT!" haha :D
PS My flight got delayed and I almost didn't make it home in time for the new year. I saw manila's fireworks from the plane and thought that we would have to spend a while in the car (to stay safe). But my mom floored it and we got home in a record 30 minutes. Then things went boom boom boom. Happy 2011!! :D |
| | For our december dinner out, we chose to splurge :D
and because of the season, we exchanged gifts (worth 50 pesos!). ok so I forgot that we were going to have the organized gift exchange so I gave out a promissory note (a cute one! lol) for the next time we were all going to meet. Panalo ang flourless chocolate cake at chicharon bulaklak. Thanks for the gift maica (and eula! it fits! lol)
Life is great :D |
| | (2010 Christmas photo series part 2)
For the second year in a row (achievement talaga ito), I participated in the entertainment portion of the Christmas program at the office. The leche plan group prepped everyone for the main event: the breakdancing prowess of "joel and the crispy lechons". (For some reason, the group names always end up to be food related.) That was fun. Then the band took the stage for more singing and hand waving while the rest of us had drink after drink.
We made a lot of noise during the one game and descended upon the buffet tables before the most awaited portion of the program - B-I-N-G-O :D
After all the food was demolished, the balloons popped and all the prizes given away, it was time to go. It was when I was sharing a beer with santa claus that I looked around and realized I was the only "guest" left.
oops. I think all the dancing left me high :D
then we hit the power plant mall (and hidalgo place) for an extended christmas gathering of the "young ones" for our section. loved the snowmen, the fake gifts under the christmas tree and the happy feeling of christmas. isa pa ulit sa january! :D |
| | (2010 Christmas photos series part 1)
we took our EBC christmas party theme t to a vote and "ugly betty" won with flying (mismatched) colors :D
we actually just talked about being as baduy as possible but after ransacking my closet and being at such a loss (hirap pala! haha), I googled "baduy" for inspiration and ended up with photos of an Indonesian mountain tribe. fail =P
then I searched for ugly betty photos and studied her basic style formula before giving my costume another try.
I brought the vintage frames we found in my lola's bulacan house and prepared to fully document the comedy that we were all about to experience. Yup, we spent the whole night laughing at ourselves. Hindi na kailangan ng games, raffle at special numbers. We just sat around the table, ate some good food and laughed till we cried.
Nakatatak na sa ala-ala ko ang party pearls at sequins ni Mariel at and bulldog shoes ni Maye (plus the make-up! winner!). Kayo ang tunay na wagi!
Good times. Good times :)
Merry Christmas EBC ♥
PS Ms Eda, may video yung lapdance mo.
PPS Ms mariel, wag kang tatawa. may video din yung jumping shot ninyo :D |
 | Guestbook | |
 | miss you bibeh ko, text me 09333017778 |
 | uy jane, pwde malaman yung itinerary niyo sa pico de loro? pupunta kasi kami dun sa june. we want to know kung anong mga ginawa niyo dun.hehe. thanks! |
 | jane! penge details ng pico de loro! nagbabalak kami nila ed ng climb dun! |
 |  thanks for visiting our page! |
 | oi musta! Paramdam ka naman! |
| |
