Being an avid Postcrosser, I'm really into stamps, letter writing and sending mail the old school way. Just recently, I found out Singapore had a museum dedicated to the oldest and the most awesome hobby of philately. That and the fact they had an exhibit on The Adventures of Tintin.
I realize I haven't traveled around that much in my own country, but hopefully I'd be able to remedy that, if schedule and budget permits. *crossses fingers*
Having resolved to travel more this year, I joined Kat, along with some new-found friends from CouchSurfing Manila, to walk around Binondo, Chinatown last Monday for the Chinese New Year celebration. Binondo holds a special place in my childhood memories. My folks used to have an office at the BPI building where my siblings and I usually go after school. Binondo has changed in many ways, but there were still some areas that reminded me a lot of my childhood.
You know what they say about plans not materializing if you think about it too much. But since it was the long weekend, a couple of my co-workers and I boarded the next bus to Lucena in Quezon province for an overnight shindig. The trip felt like it went on forever. I guess if it were not for the company of friends (and the Pawn of Prophecy audio book in my iPod), I'd have probably died of boredom. We stayed at my co-worker's family residence in Lucban, arriving past 1am. It was raining when we got there and for the first time since the unbearable Manila heat, I felt the biting cold reminiscent of Christmas. I fell asleep the minute my head touched the pillow.
Thanks to a voucher discount, I was able to go to Corregidor with a couple of friends a few weeks ago. Needless to say, in all my wishlist of places to go to, this little island was probably not in the top list. I was just expecting the usual artifacts as seen in pictures, but I was totally not prepared with what I saw and experienced.
If there was one thing I did mostly while I was in Singapore last Holy Week, it was about stuffing my face senseless with food. I probably committed a grave offense to the Catholic faith by not fasting on a holy occasion, but that trip may as well be my last opportunity to go there, so I hope the dude upstairs will let this pass.
A word of advice for the adventurous gourmand: You should pack garterized shorts or pants because you're most likely to gain several pounds. It's so easy to look for a particular food or cuisine in SG, unlike in good 'ol Pinas where you have to traverse seven mountains and swim the deepest ocean to satisfy your craving. When you've got great food within reach, it's very likely that you're going to be gaining calories instead of burning them.
That just about sums up my very first impression when I landed in Changi Airport last week. This was my second trip abroad and needless to say, it was probably the best experience I ever had.
My first travel shindig this year! It's been so long since I last packed my bags and slept in someplace different. I think the last time was when I went to Zambales to Kat's place with Fris and Lorna and it's been like forever. As in.
I've been reading some stuff online as well as asking friends for good places to visit there and it's been an overload of information. I'd like to try everything and go everywhere, but I don't want to overplan. I like being surprised by the places I visit, and hopefully, I make the most out of the number of days over there with the sister. I freaking deserve this holiday. Damn straight.
Wow. I can’t believe another year has ended. Everything feels so surreal as if the entire 365 days has just whizzed by. 2010 may not be too spectacular, but I consider myself to be blessed ten times over because I’m still in one piece and my loved ones are still with me.
I’ve been trying to remember what were some of the memorable stuff that happened to me this year (it’s not that much, so it’s not going to be a long list); I’d like to be grateful for a lot things, and you know it’s always a good thing to look back and be thankful and hope for good things to come. So here’s the list in no particular order:
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