Backpacking inaguration: Singapore

I have always wanted to see a live football match. So when the opportunity arrived to watch Liverpool in Singapore. I just grabbed that chance even if I wanted to see Manchester United so badly in Kuala Lumpur instead. Some friends invited me to go with them instead. Everything seems so exciting until one of them backed out. The other one wanted his own room, so I decided to stay in a hostel for the first time ever.
So what does this mean exactly? It's all about trying to travel backpacker way. So of course my back hurts from all the stuff I was carrying. I'm really bad at packing light. It also was the first time that I have to stay in a room with nine other people of most of them were guys. Some of them sleeping naked is both a good and a bad thing. It was my first to use a common bathroom with guys. Good thing the Inn Crowd bathrooms were really clean. Everyone thought I was weird though because I shower twice a day.It was great to meet a lot of people all over the world though. The friends Chinese Computer Geniuses figured out the Wifi for me. The Germans always make it a point to say hello when they see you. The cute French Guys were well...cute. the Australian was really friendly and shared some travel tips along with a mug of beer at a crazy Indian bar.

As for the game, it was a good game by Liverpool and Torres was like a god on the pitch except that some nasty Singaporean kept pulling at my bag whenever I get up to celebrate a goal. So my conclusion is, Singapore is a good place to visit even if expensive, just don't watch a football match as some of them were killjoys.

Lost in Beijing

It's been a while since I wrote about anything new I tried or any new place I visited. So I'll guess I have to catch up with one place I visited this year, Beijing China.

It all started last May when PAL had these crazy promos on their international fares. I was asking my friend Jane about Australia visa requirements and found out it will be too expensive for me still. I asked her instead to go to Macau but ended up joining her and her sisters and their friends to Beijing.

It's the farthest from home that I have been to. When we got there, I was quite disappointed that we did not land in the newest airport that was shaped like a dragon. Although I didn't feel too down since the view of China was already amazing from the plane. We sort of got lost in the subway trying to get to the hotel and it's quite a challenge asking for directions since not so many people speak English. After what felt like ages we got to Beijing Oriental Culture Hotel. During this trip I found one way that you can save on hotel rates. Check http://www.agoda.com/ for the lowest rates. After a really heavy Chinese lunch in our area, we headed to the Forbidden City. I didn't expect that the walk was really far. The said it was built that way so that energy flows into the Forbidden City based on yin yang. I guess they never thought that it also requires energy to get to the gate from Tienanmen Square. We ended up not being able to get inside since it was almost closing time.
We then visited the Egg, the cultural center in Beijing. The architecture was amazing and since it was sunset when we got there, our pictures looked fantastic as well.
The next day we were on a tour bus to see The Great Wall. It was quite a challenge to listen to the tour guide with his heavy accent although he was a good tour guide. We visited the Ming Tombs where we learned more Chinese customs during the Ming Dynasty.

We finally got to the Badaling Section of the Great Wall sometime after lunch. There were really a lot of people in this part of the wall and it was really crowded. I didn't really care since what mattered was being on the wall. Although a friend told me afterward that when they went to Beijing they went to a different section farther from Badaling.
We visited the Olympic park on our last day. The architecture of the Bird's nest stadium was just amazing. I wasn't able to get in though. I found the Water Cube quite cute as well. It would have been more beautiful at night when both stadiums are lighted up. I got a bit excited also when we saw the athletes residences and where my football idols stayed.
On our last night, we headed to 1949 near Sanlitun for dinner. We were not aware that the Peking Duck was by reservation so we ended up having hand pulled noodles. It was really good even if I'm not a fan of noodles. We stayed in their bar after dinner. I ordered their Mojito and it was one of the best I had. I saw how they made it from scratch and saw how fresh were all the ingredients as well. If given the chance to go back to Beijing, I would definitely visit this place again.
Overall, Beijing is an amazing place to visit. Their structures were a wonder, food is great and shopping...excellent. Just make sure you have visuals for the taxi drivers though so they would know where to take you. Have a map ready, point where you are going, if that is not enough, have images ready in your ipod or digital camera or better yet, have the names of the places you are going to written in Mandarin. This place is a must-see.

Of being trapped

I usually wonder what its like to do something that you love to do or be in a place where you can be who you really are and not be under the radar at all times if something goes wrong. I know those things can happen but when and where can I find that possibility?

It's hard to live a life where you hate what you do and you can't say what you really want to say otherwise it will be used against you. Who says we are living in a free country?

I just hope that I can finally escape and be who I really am. For now, I have to live with my mask on, with barriers all around me or else they will all start destroying me again. I'll just let my guard down when I find it safe.

The Poor man's Boracay

As I was growing up in Iloilo, there were two white sand beaches that were known during the summer (of course there were more eventually and most of my childhood were spent in Villa beach). They usually said that if you have the means or the money, once can always travel to Aklan to the island of Boracay. Of course Boracay was totally different then than it is now. There were barely resorts, electricity and water. But I would have to say that it was the best of Boracay that I have seen.

If you're in Iloilo and you can manage to go to Boracay, there was always Guimaras. This is where you can find the best mangoes (dried mangos are better compared to those of Cebu), Balaan Bukid (where you can go on a pilgrimage during Holy week and which I never did) and white sand beaches. Some Ilonggos would call it the poor man's Boracay since it is the best alternative. Although now Guimaras is starting to have it's own reputation.

Filipinos became aware that there is such a place when disaster struck in 2006 because of an oil spill off the coast of this Island, thus damaging the beaches, reservoirs and fish supply of Guimaras, Iloilo ang Negros. I am glad to see it slowly recovering.

I brought my office friends to Guimaras where they got several kilos of mangoes and attested that it was really different and better tasting compared to the other mangoes in the Philippines. We went to Alubihod beach and rented a boat to take us around the area. They said not to swim in Alubihod beach as there were so many people. We followed their advice and they indeed were telling the truth and I would say, they were quite good tour guides although I hope they could be more confident with their Tagalog for my friends.

They first took us to the Pawikan sanctuary which I didn't know existed. A Pawikan is a kind of turtle and they have been identified as endangered species which I'm guessing people like to eat their meat. Here you can hold them and take pictures. They would take care of the Pawikans and then release them eventually. I also got to see the Puffer fish for the first time and it was quite amazing that they are not dying above water.

We then went to Ave Maria Island and we felt that it was our own private beach. The sand was white and soft and there were nice rock formations around. There were some corals as well and you could snorkle. We spent most of our time here and this was where we got our nice tans or should I say sunburn as we did not expect the weather to cooperate.

We then went inside a cave and also saw Baras beach. The blue waters just made me thankful that it was no longer black or has oil films in them.

I only spent less than PHP 250 for this beach trip and I would have to say that it was the cheapest. So how does one get to this part of Guimaras? Take a pump boat in Ortiz in Iloilo City, its somewhere behind Ateneo de Iloilo (Santa Maria Catholic School). Once you get to Jordan Wharf in Guimaras, get a multicab or a jeepney going to Alubihod beach. You can ask them to get mangoes on the way to the beach. This is a must and green mangoes at the beach with grilled food is the best.

Raining Yellow

Some would say I'm one hell of an idiot since I slept through history happening. I would be a hypocrite if I would say that I am not moved at all of the passing of former president Corazon Aquino.

I was only thankful that I was able to get out of Makati by 10am but I slept through the entire broadcast of her casket passing through Ayala Avenue raining with Yellow confetti and imagining her passing Ninoy's statue..well gave me goosebumps.

I grew up seeing Cory as the only Philippine president and was quite surprised that there was a next election. I remember seeing my baby pictures wearing a Cory t-shirt and my mom tells me that they brought me to Plaza Libertad in Iloilo to celebrate the victory of the EDSA revolution.

If not for both Ninoy and Cory, I would have grown up to see a different Philippines and it saddens me somehow that what they did is starting not to make sense because everywhere you go, you see corruption in the country. I just hope that somehow, her passing will call for all the current politicians to stop all their non-sense of being power hungry and just simply care for their country.

I guess I would say thank you to Cory and for all her contributions. They will always be remembered. I just hope that she continues to pray in heaven that this country could finally have the truest sense of freedom that she fought for.

Kristal and Suren

It's my first time to shoot a pre-nup and a bit of the wedding. It was an honor as well to do it for my friend Kristal who just married Suren last sunday June 28. I've never seen Kristal ao happy and I'm glad she is. Here's a part of my gift to you friend after a year of my disappearing act. Hope you like it and congratulations to you both.

Preparing for the wedding

Putting on her veil

Wedding Details

Moments during the wedding

Pre-nup Pictures

Breakfast Haven

A family trip to Tagaytay was one thing I did not expect. Despite the lack of sleep, I did not fail to convince my parents that we eat at Breakfast at Antonio's.

If you think you're going back to the nice white house with the beautiful view of Taal volcano, think again. They have actually transferred to the old Antonio's but nevertheless, one could not be disappointed.

We were greeted by a nice sunny weather, cool Tagaytay air and very hospitable staff. The furnishings were not disappointing as well.

We ordered salad with pears in white truffle vinegrette. The greens were fresh and crunchy. The candied walnuts gave just the right amount of sweetness. The pears were sweet. I love the nutty kick of the arugula as well. But the truffle oil in the dressing was what made my day.

I ordered the spanish chorizo fritata and was craving for it for a long time. The eggs were fluffy, the spiciness of the chorizo also made it a very good morning. The cheese made a good binder of the different tastes and textures of the dish.

My Dad got the corned beef and he is an avid fan of corned beef as I can remember. He barely talked as he ate. I was able to taste it. the beef was really tender and tasty.

My baby sister got the Eggs Florentine. It looks so good. I'll order it on my next visit.

My other sister got the 4 cheese omelette...really good too. I lack words to describe it.

I forgot the name of what my mom ordered. It was beef on top of thinly layered potatoes. The beef was really tasty too.

Our guests got the Recado longganisa, they said it was really delicious too.

It's just not the food though that I enjoy at Breakfast at Antonio's but it was the dinning experience. The chef even greeted us, turns out his wife was my mom's student in AC. The staff was very friendly and the service was fast. They seemed to make sure you get served right away. The ambiance was just lovely...perfect for a nice family brunch.

I would definitely go back especially they gave us a gift certificate. Even with no GC though, I would definitely have another Antonio's experience.