2012 In Pictures

The year Mayans predicted as the end of the world is the year I took big leaps in every aspect of my life. I partly believe in what they call, "the end of the world," because as it was, the year have been a complete struggle with ending and leaving behind what is unnecessary as I boldly took a step into the new beginning.

I always made a habit to look back at what has happened in the previous year because it helps me more focused on my goals and aspirations in the coming year. It makes me feel a lot more thankful, blessed, and ever determined to be what I want to become.

So, here are the highlights of my year:

MY FIRST ACQUIRED PROPERTY

On this parcel of land, the house that I've ever dreamed of since I was young will be built here. It will be an abode which will be filled with people I love, celebrations, laughters, and will be a witness of all the things and dreams that have yet to be.

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

Finally got a new member in the family! And yes, you will realize that in our world today, families come in different faces! Our Singaporean Malchi (Maltese Chihuahua), Xiao Bai brings so much colour in our everyday lives. We always find it hard to book for overseas travels, because we have a baby that will be left behind. (Talk about how expensive dog hotels are in this country.) That is what you call, responsible parenthood.

"IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES" ADVOCATE

What is more patriotic than bringing your boss-turned-out-to-be-your-close-friend to your native land? What is more humbling than trusting her own life to you? It has been a week of eating good food, seeing beautiful places, and experiencing how enchanting the Philippines is. She couldn't get enough of how beautiful it is, she asked me again if I could tour her around the Southern part since we mostly covered the Northern part. In a heartbeat, of course, I said yes! I have become even more proud of being a Filipino.

NOMADIC ADVENTURES

It has also been a year of good travels. Went strawberry picking in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Ran vigorously on the streets of Saigon. Went inside one of the Cu Chi tunnels. Saw the overwhelming Bangui Windmills. Strolled along Calle Crisologo at night. Revisited the majestic Mines View Park in Baguio. Surfed in the gigantic waves of San Juan, La Union. Universe, more of these please for this year?

WHAT I LOVE

What is more fulfilling than doing the things you love? Sewing. Crocheting. Crafts. Gardening. Baking. Cooking. I've never been this grateful to the Universe for giving me a creative mind and an ever powerful pair of hands. These are the things that make me look forward to every weekends. And from the moment I opened the door for making all these, it's just pure immeasurable bliss. I am blessed too that J has ever been so supportive of the things I love doing. She gave me gifts that kept on giving -- sewing machine and an oven. Since then, I have started giving people personalized gifts on their birthdays, and even last Christmas! Aside from that, I commissioned projects such as quilted blankets, dresses, and hair accessories. I opened my online shop, FRESH! before the holidays and I was able to accommodate more than fifty orders for friends and friends of friends as gifts. I've been baking cupcakes and even made and designed birthday cupcakes for my favorite boss! I've finally decided to experience my first ever garage sale which I sold not only my crafts but also pre-loved clothes. Honestly, it's not the monetary amount that I get from all these that makes me fulfilled. It's actually doing what I love and making people happy because of what I do. And I think, it's more than enough.

30 Before Thirty

What a better way to welcome the year with an even braver heart to embrace change and growth.

This year, I will be turning into an age most people are dreading to face. And yet, here I am, even more convinced than ever that this is going to be a great adventure!

This is my own take on the 30 things I want to achieve before reaching the big 3-0!

With crossed fingers and a gleam in my heart, let's do this, 2013!

Adult Talk

When your parents finally include you in the decision-making process, then maybe they have already regarded you as a grown-up.

So one afternoon, my sisters with my dad drove to the "retiring house." When my sisters and I saw it, dad immediately asked, "okay ba?" (Is it okay?)

I am seeing boisterous laughters and happy, happy conversations in this place. After all, it doesn't feel like a retiring house, but a family's house. We will surely create new memories here, together.

I can't wait to live here too.

Gastronomic Escape: Nando's

It was the only weekend I have before my short trip to Manila and my suitcase still have nothing inside yet. Headed to Johor Bahru for some shopping for my family but ended up eating at Nando's.

We usually come to JB to eat steak at Stonegrill but we were very experimental and we wanted to add a new favorite on our list. When we saw Nando's, we were already attracted by the ambience, very-well presented marketing materials, and yes, good copy. Did I say I am so much enticed with something that is very well written and presented? The power of advertising really works for me, even if I've been breathing it all my life.

Nando's is a Portuguese restaurant which is a home to their flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. You can choose your chicken from herbs and lime, to mild, to hot, to extra hot! Their sidekicks are all looking good! We had three sides: Peri-peri chips, Mediterranean rice, and coleslaw. Their sauces range from your normal tomato ketchup to their very own garlic peri-peri, hot peri-peri, and extra hot peri-peri.

As I type this, I'm still thinking of how good it was. Definitely coming back! What diet? :P

Interiors

Interiors

Good advertising makes a lot of difference!

Sauce all you can!

Two thighs, Peri-peri chips, Mediterranean rice, coleslaw and drink-all-you-can iced lemon tea FTW!

True! Gotta try it for yourself!

You can take home some of these sauces too!

We should have ordered another chicken instead. This chocolate cake is blah!

Nando's

City Square Mall

Lot MB-07, B1, Johor Bahru City Square (Jalan Wong Ah Fook), Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 80400

Changes

I called home last weekend, like most of OFWs usually do.

Mom told me that dad finally bought the house that they wanted to retire in. It was 250sqm big, with zen interiors, marble flooring, a nice garden, with a bath tub at the Master's T&B. The neighborhood is nice, and the subdivision is safe. Houses around the area are elegantly built.

I got so excited to finally see it. I was even telling mom that it is near the airport so whenever they pick me up, the travel time won't be too long. I can do my gardening. The kitchen will be just nice for my cooking and baking.

But after the phone call, I realized that it won't be OUR home. It will be THEIR home. Just for the two of them--the place they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Not with me. Not with my two other sisters.  I got a place in Caloocan, and might probably live there once I get tired of living in a foreign country. My sister got a condo in Mandaluyong and might live with my nephew since it will be near his school. My youngest sister might inherit the place in San Mateo which my mom and dad bought since we were young.

And that house, my childhood home who took care of me since I was born will soon be just a memory. It was that home which witnessed our growing years, our happy times and even sad ones. The laughters that echo in that little house will only be reminiscent of my younger years. I have yet to say goodbye to every nook of it. I am praying that I will have the privilege of seeing it for one more time.

Growing is tough. Accepting changes are tougher because it makes a person more attuned to reality.

Now that my sisters and I are all grown up, with different careers and responsibilities to take on, my mom and dad can finally think about themselves. After all these years of toiling for our good education and ample food on our table, they truly deserve a life that we took from them when they were still lovers.

It will take a lot of getting used to with these changes. Oh well. My parents are assured that they have my blessings. They can finally "settle down."

A Journey Inside

I never liked idle time. Whenever I am into one, I feel like I don't have purpose anymore, and I might as well die. So, I make sure I am doing something -- read a good book, browse through tutorials on how to properly sew a dress, or in this case, draw.

I have never held a pencil and a drawing book for the longest time. Whenever I do, I end up doodling and never finish an artwork. But yeah, my artworks are never finished. Even in my college years, whenever I see my finished paintings, I still dab a few strokes of my paintbrush. They are never finished even when everybody knows they are. It's always a work in progress.

Today, I bravely flipped a new page of my drawing book and started to draw myself. As far as I can remember, I've never tried drawing a self portrait. There's a kind of fear in me whenever I attempt to draw myself. But today, I wanted to conquer that fear. I drew myself.

During the whole drawing process, I learned to know myself more. Maybe it's true that whenever artists draw their self portraits, they are having a different kind of connection with themselves and they become more aware of their inner selves. I was able to succumb into that kind of feeling. I enjoyed every moment of it.

When you want to go into a journey, travel inside you. There are a multitude of things waiting to be explored and realized. It will surely be a memorable one.

I may have more of this kind of pilgrimage in the coming days. It feels good to know myself again.

Self Portrait

24 May 2012

A Sweet Weekend at Cameron Highlands

Even with my terribly busy schedule, I try to make time for myself to travel. Otherwise, I'd surely be feeling bad for not looking forward to anything at all.

I once closed a work-related deal with one of the group-buying sites in Singapore. It seems that their company is quite fine so I tried booking a travel deal which is relatively cheap.

So there, Cameron Highlands. It is located at the northern part of Malaysia, farther than Genting. It is quite relative to the Philippines' very own Baguio City. It's further up north, cold, with a very rich soil good for planting, thus, beautiful flowers that bloom all over, one of the biggest tea plantations, strawberries and lots of organic vegetables.

It's a 10-hour long coach ride from Singapore. Left Friday night, and reached Cameron Highlands the following morning. We went straight to the tour which includes visiting strawberry farms which allows strawberry picking, the awesome BOH tea plantation which we get to see the production of tea sold in the market with tea tasting in different flavors, Mount Brinchang, the highest peak of Cameron Highlands, 6666ft above sea level, flower and vegetable farms, watercress and open terraces plantations. Ended the day with  a buffet steam boat dinner, which serves organic and fresh vegetables together with fresh seafoods. It was truly the short break that I've always wanted, just enough to squeeze into my busy work schedule.

 Walking along the ginormous BOH tea plantation

Muddy nature trek

 

Picking my fresh broccoli to bring back home

Fresh lettuce which uses hydrophonic farming

 This is such a happy place for me! One punnet of strawberries to bring back home

(while another punnet is already inside my tummy just before we left the plantation)

Blooming

Dinner Time

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise

Enjoying my coffee overlooking the beautiful Cameron Highlands, basking in the very cold weather while writing love letters