Hello and Goodbye, India

I know I'm lucky.  I got the most amazing fiance that a girl could have, my remaining family member is well(dad passed away of cancer last December, few days before Christmas) aside from me who is suffering from TB, I will be cleared in the next two weeks though plus I can still do the thing I'm most passionate about, travelling.  I have a lot of things to be thankful for.

Luke and I embarked on our final holiday or honeymoon as I call it in India.  I was a bit nervous about this trip because I'll be meeting his relatives on his mum's side of the family.  They are well-off although I don't think Luke will want me to write about them being rich.  Growing up surrounded by relatives who are devoted to telenovelas, I had a horrible perception on how they will react towards me but thankfully I was wrong.  :)

Our first 3 days were spent in Delhi.  We stayed overnight at her cousin's apartment that looked more like a building to me.  Not wanting to sound inosente o mangyanin,  they had a touch screen lift on their house, their walls are covered in painting resembling an exhibit and all the rooms in the house have an ensuite bathroom and a small walk-in closet.  Luke also commented that our flat in Reading is as big as their living and dining area.  That's not an apartment to me.  :P  All the riches aside, they were humble, down to earth people.  Totally changed the idea of rich people on my mind.  I'm glad I met them and I was more talkative this time.  :P  In Delhi, we went to Qutub Minar, Red Fort and India Gate.  We shopped at Cottage Industries, I wanna take the whole place home and Janpath.  I love walking but I realise Luke doesn't enjoy walking aimlessly.  :P

Thank God he wore his jeans!  It feels spring in New Delhi.

From Delhi, we went to Agra where Taj Mahal is.  The trip, of course, won't be complete without my usual craziness.  We arrived in Agra in the morning but we didn't leave until 3PM for Taj Mahal.  It was all because I wanted to start planning the wedding with Luke.  This was wayyyy before we decided to have a civil wedding this year then church next year.  Both weddings will happen in the UK to avoid family drama.  :P

You can't tell that we fought here.  We had the camera mode on.  Kidding aside, we finally patched things up.  I can't get annoyed with him for a long period of time.  

Everyone was commenting how photoshopped we looked.  Well, this was the best one from the bunch.  We had to try from different angles, different time and different people.  Thank you white lady for taking a good photo of us.  This will definitely go to the family album.

We left Agra the next day for Bhopal. It was the longest train ride of my life.  I was comfortable but the toilet is horrible.  It was stainless steel.  I hate my skin touching accidentally on the steel.  It was cold and I felt dirty.  No exaggeration.  On top of that, I had to go several times. Curse you Indian curry!  Hehehe.

Bhopal is Auntie Truli's residence.  Auntie Truli is Carol's, Luke's mum's older sister.  In short, Luke's aunt.  Luke loved me so much.  Luke wanted to go to an animal reserve but I wanted to go to Goa so he completely changed his plans.  Thank you babu!  

In Bhopal, I saw a white tiger for the first time and cave paintings hundreds of years old.

Auntie was supposed to go with us in Bhimbetka but left Luke and I alone when she found out that we were in a long distance relationship.  The drive from the entrance from the actual cave paintings was very reminiscent of Karratha according to Luke.  

I purchased my first sari in Bhopal too, thanks to Auntie's haggling skills.  Auntie also showed me how to wear a sari.  It was 7 meters long and you have to wrap it around yourself.  Auntie Truli wears hers everyday without any difficulty.   Luke bought his traditional relaxing clothes aka kurta.  Wait til I get to the UK for photos. :)

We flew to Goa from Bhopal.  I was disappointed at first of Goa because the sand isn't what I'm used to.  I like my white sand.  Hehehe.  I realised that it's not about the whiteness of the sand but who you shared the experience with. GAY!  We went around Goa by motorbike.  At the end of the day, I had my usual we don't have photos together enough drama, we got lost looking for the suggested tour from the book only to stumble the street the minute we decided to give up, had a fantastic KFC meal that made me crave the whole trip and burnt Luke's ass.  He was a trooper, he drove again the next day cause I wanted him to show me around.  I'm a bit self-centered sometimes.

I thought Luke loved tanning himself.  He told me that he liked going in the beach but staying in the shade.  We had to share one big umbrella between us in Goa so we switched when I felt the need to.  Hahaha!  

The Arabian Sea's waves are strong.  We played in the waves until I hit my face and right arm in the sand.  It worried Luke so we left and stayed in our sunbeds.  Hehehe.

This photo was taken whilst ordering dinner at Noodle Republic.  

Me:  Do you want Tom Yum?

Luke:  Hmm, no.

Me:  Fuckkkkk!

Luke:  Actually, I'm gonna have Tom Yum.

Me:  Are you sure?

Luke made fun of this scene the whole trip.  He had an exaggerated version of this story.

From Goa, we flew to Jaipur.  Our trip to Jaipur was amazing!  Mr.Khan, Aunt Truli's supplier/ friend arranged a driver for us to take us everywhere in the city.  He was such a head shaker.  You know, the stereo typical Indian who shakes their heads constantly.  Well, he surpassed my Indian head shaking expectations.  LOL!  He had difficulty speaking English which was a bit of struggle for me and Luke.  

In Jaipur we went to Hawa Mahal , the building that I wanted to visit initially because I was intrigued with the honey combe design, Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort and Chowki Dhani.  Chowki Dhani offers you a taste of India.  You will be treated to Rajasthani food, you can have your photo taken in costume, ride an elephant or camel which Luke and I mostly did.  It was such a joy experiencing all this with my bestfriend and lover.  I have to avoid this gay route on my blog.  Hahaha!

Thank you for the fantastic holiday babu!  We'll definitely be together this year.  I love you!  xxx

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Party Til We Dropped

I do go on holidays quite a lot but I have never been on a proper holiday with Lorraine and Ruzelle.  When I say proper, I mean, no boyfriends, out of town, no wet blanket.  I am usually the wet blanket as I rarely drink plus of course there's my tb case.  Hehe.

Ruzelle arrived on Thursday, I arrived on Friday and Lorraine arrived on Saturday.  

Friday.  Ruzelle and her siblings took me out for drinks.  We went to Epic then to Summer Place.  Nothing blog worthy happened.

Saturday.  We went to Club Summer Place as usual.  We had a bucket of beer then head off to Juice Bar after midnight.  Our trip coincided with Juice Bar's 7th Anniversary.  Drinks were sold for 7 pesos per plastic cup.  We tried Blue Margarita.  It had horrible effect on both Lorraine and Ruzelle and I couldn't stop dancing.  Hahaha!  Lorraine went blank for a bit.  Before we left the bar, this happened:

CASE 1

2 guys approached us.  I was still in my normal coherent condition.  

SPO4 Tan:  Sorry, anak yan ng mayor.  Then SPO4 Tan introduced himself.  We shook hands.  LOL!

The mayor's son asked for Lorraine's number.

Lorraine declined at first but said, sige.  Then added, di ko alam pano gumamit nito, iphone ako!  Dictated someone's number.

Anak ng Mayor:  Di mo yata number to e.  

Lorraine repeated the number again.  I told SPO4 Tan to take his companion.  

CASE 2

Ruzelle went missing.  She said she was only gonna go to the toilet.  When she didn't return after 5 minutes, I went paranoid.  But thankfully, it was only a case of pagkakasalisi.

Sunday.  It was Kuya Ji and Jamie's wedding.  After the reception, most of the bagets went to Club Summer Place for the after party but the trip wasn't as prolific as the previous nights.  To top it off, there are lots of retirees.  Hahaha!  We went to Juice Bar but the scene was too relaxed.  We decided to check Paraw but it's too hip-hop for us so we decided to head to our accommodation.  I went to bed at 2:30AM but everyone else stayed til 7:30AM.  

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Marikina Day Trip

I phoned work today and was told that I don't have to go to work.  My boss moved my day off from Weds to Monday.  Nice huh?  It feels like I went on a long holiday.  I was planning to visit the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite but unfortunately, the Shrine is closed for viewing on Mondays.  My second option was Pan de Amerika in Katipunan but Ruzelle hate it so much I had to put off the plans for now.  Marikina Shoe Museum came to mind, I did a little research and off I went.

 Marikina Shoe Museum

Marikina Shoe Museum(Museo ng Sapatos) housed 300 of the shoes generously donated by the former first lady Imelda Marcos.  She had shoes from Ungaro, Christian Dior, Chanel, Charles Jourdan, Rustan's Lady and I'm assuming her made to order shoes.  One thing in common though, they're very classic in design and colourful.  I actually saw Imelda years ago shopping in Glorietta for shoes.  I was on the same boutique as her, a filo brand.  I remember her trying on one sandals and buying the same style in 5 different colours.  Very Imeldific.  :)

Here's how I got to Marikina Shoe Museum:

I got off at Santolan LRT Station, took a jeep to Ligaya and another jeep to Marikina.  Take a trike to Marikina Shoe Museum.  It's across the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish.  Most trike driver's don't know the place so just say OLA. :)

The bike lane only makes me wanna live in the city.  They have pedestrian crossing everywhere too.

Just across Marikina Shoe Museum is the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish.

The Marikenos are very magalang and helpful.  I enjoyed my short tour of the city.


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Joanna and Ynan's Wedding

I just woke up from a long sleep and is well rested now.  :)  Yesterday, I woke up at 4AM to attend my friend's wedding at 3PM in Gumaca, Quezon.  Remember when I said, I won't travel again to attend a wedding.  I ATE MY WORDS.  The travel time is longer than the last.  It took at least 5 hours each way.  I love my friend and it can't be helped.  Surprisingly, my boss gave me the Saturday off and I didn't attend work today.  :P

Joanna and Ynan has been together since Uni.  I can't exactly remember when, maybe 2004 when they started dating.  I was with Joanna when he was courting her til she made the announcement that they were dating, through her long distance and now marriage.  It's like things come in full circle.  Their relationship is a smooth sailing one I tell you.  I can't remember seeing Joanna cry because of him.  Sure she was sad when he went to Japan for work but that's about it.  I am happy seeing both of them tie the knot.   Joanna was a very pretty and payat bride!  Ang liit ng braso sobra.  I feel like a boxingera!  She lied about not being able to lose weight.  :P

 Minutes before the ceremony started.

The long isle.

I think the church was 425 years old.  I love love the fascade.

They feed each other with cake, drank a glass of wine each and threw doves.

Her wedding was traditional. People pinned money on their first, second and third dance.

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Antipolo Day Trip

I know, it's only been weeks since I last went on an out of town trip but I'm itching to go out again.  I had enough of Manila, I had enough of shopping centers.  I want something different, go somewhere which I haven't been or revisit a place that I've been.  I just wanna be away...

It was very easy to convince Divine to go on a trip.  I told her my plans and when I wanna go and off we went to Antipolo.  

Crescent Moon Cafe:

I don't know where I found this cafe.  I am assuming that I came across this place whilst looking for review on Moon Garden.  I read lots of positive reviews and I was curious about their pottery sold by the kilos.  To put it lightly, I was disappointed with my whole experience.  Lunch is served from 12-2PM, my friend and I arrived at half past(with confirmed booking) and when we walked in into the cafe, everyone looked at us.  We were uncomfortable from the minute we walked in.  We can't find our seats either no scratch that, there weren't any reserved table for us.  The waiter had to borrow seats from neighbouring table.  Although the staffs were very nice, our whole Crescent Moon Cafe experienced was ruined.  Divine and I can't wait to get away from the place.

Two must do things at Crescent Moon Cafe - Eat Suman With Mango and Feed the Fishes.  I screamed the first time the fish touched my hand.  :P

BTW, going to Crescent Moon Cafe by commuting is difficult.  Most of the tricycle drivers that we asked have not heard of the place.  It is handy to bring a printed map or get yourself familiar with the landmarks.  It only cost 40PHP from Antipolo Church to Crescent Moon.  

Callos Spa and Resort:

I had a bad feeling when I asked the driver to take us to Callos Spa and he don't know where it is.  My rationale is, if the place isn't famous then it must not be good.  I was right.  We were supposed to get the affordable massage but Thank God we changed our mind to an hour combination massage instead.  We saved an hour and 250PHP.  My friend and I were completely ripped off.  We were given a 40 minute mediocre massage.  Our attendants left, started chatting and only went back when they heard Divine and I laughing and told us that our time's up.  I can't believe that they had the nerve to gave us their tip envelops.  Divine told me that her massage was so bad she felt like she was gonna die.  Mine's very bitin and minadali. I will not trust the power of DSLR from now on.  :P

 The power of DSLR.  It makes everything pretty.  :P

Antipolo Cathedral:

Going to Antipolo by commuting is easy and cheap.  From North, take the MRT to Cubao and change to LRT to Santolan.  From Santolan LRT take the FX or Jeep to Antipolo Cathedral.  Both ways costed less than 100PHP.


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Moon Garden Tagaytay

I don't know where I got this idea of accommodation hoping.  I didn't realise how stressful and tiring it was until Luke and I actually did it.  I wanted to take Luke to Tagaytay since his last visit.  Tagaytay is the nearest holiday destination from Manila.  You can do a day trip but I had enough of Manila and I wanted to go on a short hols so I dragged him with me.  :P

From T House, Luke and I stopped over at Picnic Grove.  He was disappointed.  The only thing he liked about the place was the view.  I will say this over and over, I hope they hire people to look after the place.  It's falling apart.  They have half demolished accommodations.  Why the hell people would leave things undone?  Isang taon na yun.  It was there when I visited last year.  The weather made it look worse too.

 With Taal Lake on the background.

 Before heading to Moon Garden, I took Luke to Olivarez Plaza.  I was expecting more food shops but instead I found small boutiques.  I am not interested in shopping any longer.  I still haven't sold all my clothes on ebay.

I've been interested to visit Moon Garden since my cousin Ruzelle went with her boyfriend.  I'm all about shabby and rustic.  Luke had a bad feeling about rustic.  He thinks that the place will not be up to his standards but he was wrong.  It was better than T House in my opinion.  The room was very very spacious, the toilet is massive too and we had a very nice view of the garden.  For 2990 plus free breakfast, I think it's good value for money.  

Our view whilst having a meal in our room.  Very very lovely.

Went home knackered that day.  I am back at work again.  :(

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T House Tagaytay

When my aunt died, I decided that I am prioritising family over work.  I can't afford to miss any more of my family get together and activities.  I can't work for a company who wouldn't let me go on Christmas Hols just because their establishment is open and needs people.  Hindi makatarungan.  This work is not for me.

I was stressing prior to Luke's arrival.  Although I said the statement above, skipping work is not something that I do.  I can't remember missing school just because I like it.  I can't ask work for 2 days off cause going on hols is not allowed during this period.  I told you, di makatarungan. This is why I don't bother asking.  I'd rather not call work for 2 days and accept whatever disciplinary sanction they are gonna give me than explain the situation to them.  They won't understand.  My absence will affect the groups productivity.

It was a struggle to go to Tagaytay.  First, the driver can't find the bus station and he kept on insisting that we go to a different bus station.  When we finally did, he dropped us to the wrong station.  Second, we were on storm signal number 1 that day.  I hate my feet getting wet and I was turning into a bitch again.  :P

T House Tagaytay is very easy to find.  We took the first tricycle that we saw and asked them to drop us off to T House.  The check in went smoothly.  I was a little disappointed with the room size.  I felt a little claustrophobic.  They only have the basics - toilet, shower, bed, cable TV, A/C, telephone.  No wardrobe, just a rack in the toilet where you can hang clothes.  No safe to put your valuables.  The room smelt of mint though.  It was very nice.  Basic toiletries were provided too(shampoo, soap and toothbrush).  The best thing about the place was the food.  I recommend the turon.  :)

Despite the little disappointments that I wrote, Luke and I enjoyed our stay in T House.  

Luke made the bed really small.  He is 6 feet tall.

Banana Spring Roll.  It was so good we wanted to order it for breakfast.

Ina ng Laging Saklolo Church.

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Roundtrip - Manila - Nueva Ecija - Tarlac - Nueva Ecija then Manila

I almost gave up on this trip.  I didn't realise that I had horrible diarrhea that day.  Let's just say that I stood up and stopped the bus to do number 2 on the side of the highway.  If that's not bad enough, I had to do it again after 5 minutes of finishing then again after another 5 minutes.  I will never pretend to have food poisoning just to skip work again.  

My family expected Luke and I to arrive lunch time.  JR informed me that they are actually planning to cook for us.  Thank God they didn't as we arrived a little after 3PM and went straight to Isdaan in Tarlac.  I've seen the photos, I've seen the reviews and I wanted to go myself and check out the place.  I wasn't disappointed.  It reminded me of my trip in the floating market in Thailand.  I was very much relaxed and had an enjoyable meal.  I hope they had a nice time too.

We arrived at Nueva Ecija at 9PM.  It was late.  We expected the oldies to be in bed but they weren't.  I told Luke jokingly that he had to do the filo rights of passage - chopping woods, fetching water, the works.  I just love seeing his reactions to anything stupid that I say.  Oh life's little pleasure(at the expense of Luke).  :P  I expected Nomeng to be talkative but she weren't.  She said she was speechless.  Granny on the other hand asked all the basic questions.  When I say basic I mean, "what's your name?", "how old are you?", "where are you from?" - I am not even kidding.  It was funny.  Luke's visit had her worked up.  Humukay talaga ng Ingles si Lola.  I was making fun of her but she told me that at least she is trying.  She asked Luke if he can speak tagalog.  He said, a little.  He said Oo, Hindi, Bakla.  We all laughed when he said it.  Can't remember teaching him that.  LOL!!!  We were knackered when we got in Manila.  I went to work the next day.

Group Photo.  We had to ask Ate to take this.

This is how much Luke loves me.  :P

Meet the Lolas.

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