Insensitive X 等你下课

Last night I was reading some articles on Chinese media and in between, was listening to Jann Arden's "Insensitive" and 周杰伦's "等你下课". I have heard both songs many times, "Insensitive" maybe n the radio, and "Waiting for You" at the height of my obsession with Jay Chou's albums a few years after graduating from college. In Bicol, while having dinner in a bar restaurant, a band with sexy singers sang "Insensitive" and it never left my mind since. Now, I know many songs but I unfortunately do not know the titles, but it should happen that while eating a bowl of roast duck noodles on Wednesday night, this song was playing and I took note of the chorus' lyrics then searched for the song upon arriving at my flat. And voila, I put the song on loop in preparation for some karaoke night. Tonight actually, J invited me out to karaoke with his friends but the meetup was at 6:30PM and I only read his message at past 6PM so I said no. It could have been the perfect moment to sing this song. 

So remembering Jay Chou again, I searched for one of his earlier works which is 等你下课. And damn it, watching the animated video as well as the live version broke my heart to pieces. I ended up crying so hard late at night. I can very well imagine the pain of being unnoticed by someone you like, even after all the efforts you have exerted to win his/her attention, and even affection. I came to reflect on what happened in Sagada in 2017 when a doctor  who was part of the volunteer team found it incredible that I regarded boys as uncaring. He just came from a breakup which I knew nothing of, and the reason was that his ex did not put in much effort in the relationship, or so he complains. Oh well, as I would always say, we only hear his side of the story. He might be doing something that pisses the girl off and I should know because once a girl no longer cares, it only means that the guy messed up. Then again, that's just  in my opinion because I'm the kind of person who loves fully and if I like a person I would go to great lengths to do things for him/her (applicable to friends also!). 

And it got me thinking of the many things I have already done for J this early. Relationship experts always caution girls to feign indifference and let men chase after them I've broken all the rules before and it indeed ended in tragedy, with me feeling resentful for allowing myself to be used by an evil person who uses people instead of caring and cherishing them. In the end, after he finally broke off with me for real after graduating, I resolved never to go back. Months later, he had the guts to message me and ask if he could use my credit card to make a phone purchase. I was dumb-founded to find a real living person who is so full of himself and so entitled still to my resources even after all the things that he did to me. But shortly after, I laughed it off as something so pathetic. There is no chance that I will go back to the hell I survived. I even unfriended all his family members on Facebook but not without having the decency to tell his youngest sister that I needed to do it for my peace of mind. She asked if her brother and I had a fight. I have expected that he didn't say a word to them but I gracefully told her that whatever happened is between the two of us and I asked that both our privacy be respected (I felt like a showbiz personality saying that. LOL.) Anyway, it felt good that despite me wanting to bitch out on him, I chose the high road and I think that was the time I knew that I have finally achieved sweet nirvana when I thought that moving on was impossible. 

Sometimes I get paranoid and imagine what if all men are like that, what if J turns out to be like him? I am already starting to like him and have started to express my emotions slowly and so does he but he never says anything along the lines of "I like you". He  would instead comment that I always look beautiful in our photos, which he takes using his phone coz his camera is way better than mine. He is always the perfect gentleman and I hope it's not just because of upbringing but more so because he's having feelings for me, too. But then I stopped asking too many questions after he threw back the same question I asked on NYE. I liked him more when he came over and spent Chinese New Year at home because I invited him for dinner. I cooked chicken dumpling soup and asam pedas. My sister also cooked that night and her lohanchay was good, thank God! J brought peanut butter ice cream which we didn't get to eat until today because it was too soft. So anyway, he already met my mom and my two sisters. It was a good thing my father was out that night as he is a very difficult person.

白髮魔女傳之明月天國 (2014)

My most favorite in all of the movies I watched in the airplane during my Mexico adventure was The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom. As someone who believes she comes from the moon, this is a good choice. But imagine my surprise when the story was something I can very much relate to. Part of the reason why I chose this is because I was captivated by the female lead's beauty. I would learn later on from ny aunt in HK that the actress Fan Bingbing is very popular, and that she plays the role of Wu Zetian of the TV series of the same name which I occasionally watch with my mom.

This wuxia romance tells the story of an ill-fated love affair between a witch and a recently appointed head of a martial arts school. The two initially try to kill each other when Zhuo Yihang discovers a forbidden sutra carved on the rocks near the falls. This sutra is taught to Jade Rakshasha, the female leader of outlaws, by her female master. All throughout her life she lives believing that love is a poison. Her master is killed because of love, because of betrayal.

It should happen however that the two fall in love and learn to trust each other. But to complicate things, they are caught in a war as power struggle runs rampant in the court following the death of the emperor. Yihang is to clear his name after bein framed for this. Likewise, Rakshasha is framed for killing Yihang's grandfather, her beloved's only living relative.

The story gets a bit confusing as Yihang is suddenly betrothed to the eunuch's daughter. Here is one ofthe most dramatic scenes. Rakshasha storms their chamber and demands the truth. Yihang tells her to leave him alone. Feeling betrayed, Rakshasha leaves but is seen by the guards who beat her up. Weak from heartbreak she is not her usual self and is almost killed had Yihang not interferred. Before that, she transforms into a white haired witch. 

Yihang realizes his mistake and seeks to cure Rakshasha. But by then everything becomes chaotic as the erstwhile impenetrable Lunar Kingdom falls into the hands of an ambitious general through cunning and deceit. The two lovers get imprisoned but both now know who the real enemy is. To save Yihang and what remains of Lunar Kingdom, Rakshasha chants the forbidden sutra to transform into a powerful witch. She breaks her chains and that of Yihang and the two fight the evil general. The expense paid by Rakshasha is that a part of her memory is lost so she knows neither friend nor foe.

In the end, as she falls down with Yihang following suit, she regains her memories, those sweet memories of Yihang giving her another name, and that time they slept together. And I was left crying hard. Dammit.

Story-wise, this movie needs much revision. It doesn't seem like a complete story and it would have been better if this were made in TV series instead. Lots of shortcuts thus the many unanswered questions. Like, what's the background of the soldier who infiltrated the outlaws but changed his mind later on when he sees how cruel the military he is serving is. However, this movie invests in many cheesy moments and nice fighting scenes, my fave of which is the first time the two lovers met.

And nice theme song... Except for some reason I do not know why I find the ending funny. Must be the poor choice of Cantopop music or maybe because the falling scene seems like something lifted from Final Fantasy.. Anyway I don't know and can't quite pinpoint what's wrong but it certainly doesn't hold together.

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I share the same view that love is a poison. It's an inconvenient abstraction with not much practical use. It makes one happy albeit for a short period of time. But it can cause great distraction [and therefore destruction]. Love wounds, but it also heals, certainly the world's biggest paradox.

青天の霹靂 (2014)

The idiomatic expression "bolt from the blue" means something that unexpectedly happens which causes much impact in one's life. It is also the English title of a Japanese comedy drama movie which tells the story of a man who is experiencing an existential crisis for working as a magician when what he wants is to be a musician. He blames his father for his misfortunes, seeing his father as a coldhearted, irresponsible person. One day, during a flash of lightning after learning of his father's death, he wakes up in a different time period. He has gone back to the time when his parents were still young and bears witness to the events that lead to his birth.

I had great fun watching this. The first part of the movie was funny and well, a favorite singer-actress plays the role of the younger version of Haruo's mother---- Shibasaki Kou. Haruo meets both the younger version of his parents and attempts to help them out. While doing so he learns that his father's seemingly cold behavior towards him was meant to protect him.

You see, Haruo's mother died when she gave birth to him. Instead of telling this to the young Haruo, he was brought up believing that his good for nothing father was so bad that her mother left him. This was meant to protect him from self-blame. Needless to say I cried a river of tears at the end of the film. It was so touching, a wonderfully made film, to say the least.

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This is one of the many films I got to watch while onboard the plane in my Mexico adventure. :)

Hot Road (2014)

Hot Road is one of the many movies I watched while inside the plane on my Mexico adventure. I almost didn't watch it because it seems like a pretty boring movie, but I trusted my guts because no Japanese movie has ever disappointed me and I know I am bound to pick up a lesson or two on juvenile romance.

Kazuki has always felt unwanted and has a strained relationship with her mom because of the latter's boyfriend. For this she rebels and becomes acquainted with a new girl in school named Eri who is connected to a biker gang called The Nights. Perhaps for her courage in repelling Haruyama early on, the young man who would eventually become the leader of the gang falls for her.

One day Eri invites Kazuki to go out with college boys who turn out to have evil intentions for the two girls. The two are able to get out of the car and run away from the boys but not without much trauma. It was the first time that Kazuki calls Haruyama for help as she remains in hiding until Haruyama finds and comforts her. That part of the movie was where I thought that this movie could be based on some shoujo manga. [Because shoujo manga almost always have this kind of plot that it's really botibg to read them but I still do from time to time to learn a thing or two about girl-boy relationships.]

When it finally becomes clear that the two have feelings for each othet, they care for each other and encourage each other to be better persons. Gradually Kazuki learns of her father, it was actually her mom's boyfriend who is her real father but due to complicated issues it was covered up. [I cried when flashbacks of sunflowers were shown, the only thing that Kazuki remembers of her dad who used to take her out as a kid.] Haruyama for his part, after getting his revenge from a rival gang, goes back to a normal life to ensure a safe and happy future for Kazuki.

It was a young, reckless love, but something that really changef lives. It changed Kazuki who, before meeting Haruyama, has never cared for anyone so much. It changed Haruyama who used to see the life of a gangster as his only option. Together they overcame the challenges with support and love.

Food in Delta Airlines

I am a fan of airline food. For some reason, everything tastes good when you're miles up high.

Because I worry about not having enough money while in Mexico, I kept the bread and pretzels and peanuts for later consumption. The bread served me well when I was too tired to venture outside for dinner. Actually I was so into Mexican TV shows that the whole time I was in my hotel room, I just watched telenovelas. Never mind that I didn't know the whole story because I only got to watch a few episodes.

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Used my phone cam to take photos of these because I was so into watching movies inside the plane I found taking out my cam too bothersome. LOL

The Last Emperor (1987)

Boarding Korean Airlines has been fun for me. They have a nice albeit few selection of movies both new and classic ones. One of these is the 1987 film The Last Emperor by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. The movie poster was familiar though I cannot recall where I saw it. I did remember visiting a museum in Xiamen back in 2008 where I first took an interest in Pu Yi. Last night, on our flight back to Manila, I chose that almost three-hour film and it doesn't disappoint.

The Last Emperor is a biographic film on the tragic life of Pu Yi who mostly lived his life in prison. The film opens with a grown Pu Yi being detained by the Russians. He tried to kill himself but was not not successful. Then came flashbacks of his life.

As an infant he was called to the Forbidden Palace after the death of the emperor. Empress Dowager Cixi proclaimed him as new emperor right then and there just before her own death. He was very pampered, with attendants around him ready to do his bidding. The people around him all assured him that he will be emperor forever. He was allowed to do everything he wished except to step outside the palace. The first time he questioned his power was when his brother visited him in the palace and told him that he is not the emperor, that the one who truly rules is the president who rides in a car. From then on, the young Pu Yi has a strong admiration for anything western, more so under the tutelage of a Scotsman named Reginald Johnston who later authored Twilight in the Forbidden City.

His first sorrow is perhaps having lost his wet nurse, his only friend inside a cold huge palace filled with rules. He chased after the carriage where his wet nurse was. When told he was already at an age where he no longer needs a wet nurse, he replied, "She's not a wet nurse. She's my butterfly." This scene is replicated later on in the film when his wife the Empress Wanrong leaves him in a car and he runs after the car but is unsuccessful.

Seemingly obsessed with being an emperor and unable to accept that he is merely a puppet, he agreed to collaborate with the Japanese and for a short period of time, ruled as puppet emperor of Manchuria which was in reality under Japanese control. It was there where his life crumbles away when he ignores his wife Wanrong who then gave birth to an illegitimate child. Her lover was the chauffeur. Her child was killed after birth by the Japanese.

When Japan announced surrender, Wanrong eventually returns a very changed person due to her addiction to opium. She spits at the Japanese, for whom she showed only contempt even before Pu Yi accepted their offer to rule over Manchuria.

Later on, Pu Yi undergoes the reeducation program under Communist rule where he begins to fend for his own. He later learns of the damage wrought by the Japanese especially in Nanking. Driven by guilt and feeling responsible for the sufferings of his country, he desires to just live in peace. He is eventually granted pardon and lives now as a gardener.

One day while in the streets, he witnesses a parade of "traitors" to the Communist cause. He sees the prison commander, his only friend in the reeducation program, and tries to persuade the soldiers that the man is good and does not deserve punishment, but in vain. Years later, he visits the Forbidden Palace as a tourist and climbs up the throne. A boy stops him and he says he used to be the emperor. Unbelieving, the boy asks him to produce an evidence and Pu Yi gets the wooden cricket house from under the throne. He received this as a gift on his coronation day.

The film ends showing tourists flocking to the Forbidden Palace, now no longer the home of the monarchs but an artifact of dynastic Imperial China.

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Watching this movie and seeing Pu Yi's struggles due to his status change from emperor to a commoner, I cannot help but think of the many little emperors in China today what with the sudden increase in number of the nouveau riche. Ill-mannered and self-centered, they will one day be at the helms of Chinese companies. It cannot be denied that China is a global power and its role in global affairs will be of importance. It is however very scary to see that the future leaders are those used to being spoiled and pampered. I wonder where the world is headed to?

Korean Airlines

For someone who's used to travelling on a budget, I cringe whenever I hear about expensive plane tickets when budget carriers are already in existence which allow even ordinary (and poor, like me) people to realize their dreams of travelling to different parts of the world. That has been one big on-going project of mine and I'm taking baby steps towards realizing it. Hopefully I get to travel to at least one new country each year. For the love of travel and of knowing new things, God knows how hard I work! But it would be even greater if I could have someone to sponsor my trips. LOL

Who would have thought that this year I would have the chance to get inside a more posh aircraft aside from that of Cebu Pacific. This year I had second thoughts about joining a tour in Korea because for one, tours do not allow one to really engage in a place in a meaningful way. All one does is hop inside the tour bus, go down, have your pics taken, go home and post pics on FB but there is no real depth to that experience. It is shallow, uninteresting, and definitely not for me who am fond of walking long distances.

Despite that, I said yes. Not out of love for my father whom I think would need my assistance since the last time he went on a trip with his friends he was sent to the hospital. I'm not the world's most dutiful daughter. My reason is more on the selfish side, this is an opportunity to go to Korea. If I were to wait for my friends to I wonder at what age I will be able to go there. At least the tour would be like a survey for me, if I liked the place, if there are places worthy of visit (i.e. Museums, historical places, big temples), then I'd definitely go back. I'm pretty sure there are many historical places like palaces and these are quite popular in their historical dramas.

Very roomy interiors with 9 seats per row instead of the usual 6

Entertainment consisting of music, movies, books, and even games

I had chicken instead of beef bibimbap but used my dad's leftover chili paste

Anyway, the plane craft was really nice. It was the first time I got inside a big one so pardon my post about it. I was awed at how they took into consideration a passenger's need to kill time with their all in one console. They even had classical music!

Excited, I opted to watch a Spanish comedy film entitled Ochos apellidos. It is about a man from Seville who fell in love with a girl from the Basque region. They met in Seville and after a one night stand, the man pursued the girl all the way to the Basque and pretended to be of that region. He had to to get the girl since the Basque is a fiercely separatist region. It's witty and funny and I honestly enjoyed it because of many comedic elements although I'm not really into romcoms. I guess I'm more interested in knowing more about the culture of the Basque region more than anything else. 

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This is the first time I blogged while away on a trip. Will have to do this more often to prevent backlogs. 

Batanes 05122014 Day 5

Day 5 in Batanes was spent waking up early in the morning to have a nice long morning walk to Shanedel Inn to have breakfast. I picked the place because it is near Basco Cathedral and my target destination, the NCIP, where I was hoping to buy books and/or gather more information about Batanes.

longganisa, sunny side egg, garlic rice, and tomatoes + a cup of Milo (P170) 

Since I came there too early, I decided to stay and just enjoy the nice vew. I watched planes take off, ships coming and going, while eating my simple breakfast. At 7:45AM I walked to NCIP.

Although I failed in my mission to procure materials for the Wiki project, I was still glad to have come to NCIP office. It houses artifacts and cultural items and I think these will be put on display in the National Museum branch they are planning to put up in Batan Island.

Then off to the airport to reunite with my buddy who had already checked in ahead of me. As I stepped out of the tricycle, I heard a couple talking about buying garlic. Without hesitation I asked them to buy an extra bunch for me as well. (Talk about befriending strangers before going home!)

I successfully got my garlic in Manila, happy to have these spices. I was already thinking of things to cook on my way home. Flight was delayed so I was not able to drop by UST to meet a friend and discuss about our respective projects. Was so tired from the heat and from lack of sleep so I napped upon reaching home.

Batanes Day 1
Batanes Day 2
Batanes Day 3
Batanes Day 4

Bohol 02262014 Day 1

So finally I'm in the mood to write about my Bohol experience. An officemate and I traveled to the land of Chocolate Hills on the last week of February this year and were back in Manila by the first of March. The three and a half journey was not only an opportunity to see how resilient Boholanos are in response to the high magnitude quake they suffered and the subsequent typhoon that really wreaked havoc in Visayas.

Of all the trips, this one was a challenge for me in terms of fixing our itinerary. I was not able to go on full research beforehand and had limited knowledge of the ferry system. We initially had plans to go to Siquijor but that didn't push through because we found ourselves doing a lot in Bohol and Panglao and less than 4 days was such a bad idea. On the bright side, this gave us more than one reason to go back.

aerial view of the famous Chocolate Hills showing cracks after the quake late last year

When I went to Boracay via Kalibo with my sisters in late January, the weather was cool so I was not expecting Bohol to be hot and always sunny though I really was thankful that nights were cool. My officemate and I greatly enjoyed that one chilly night we were out late and we enjoyed looking up at the star studded night sky while on the habal-habal.

We went straight to Nisa Travellers Inn in Bohol upon arrival and after resting for a while, we went to Loay. Along the way, we passed by houses destroyed by the quake. We arrived in Loay at close to 11AM so after seeing the church, we decided to avail the river cruise with buffet lunch.

The Loay river cruise was a welcome cool respite from the super hot noon. A guitarist played well-loved songs while singing and he even sang a Chinese song! The buffet was quite a spread and I loved the fried chicken only it's too covered with batter and they look big but in fact they're just bony pieces pieced together. Despite this, I loved it.

We went to Albuquerque to see the unusual salt-making tradition they have which involves the use of coconuts to harvest salt. This was after seeing the town church. I learned of this from a foreign scholar who's into salt-making while in Angkor Wat earlier this year. I couldn't believe a foreigner knew much more about Bohol than I do so I made sure to allot time for it in this trip but unfortunately, salt-making was not in season at the time of our visit and neither was I able to buy this special salt. Locals told me they prefer the ordinary one since it's cheaper. I just hope this tradition does not die out.

Next up was Python Sanctum but unfortunately, Prony the python had died due to an illness. According to the caretaker, the pet python died in place of its master. It seemed like they believe in some kind of magic wherein the pet animal would sacrifice itself in order for its master to get cured from a certain illness. Now who says only furry animals are cute?

We then proceeded to Baclayon to see the church and the museum. Baclayon church is one of the most famous churches in Bohol due to its age primarily and also for its museum which houses religious relics, furniture, statues, and even glass items (imagine how excited I was at this discovery! I just hope they let me access their glass collection for my future research).

Near Baclayon church is a small stand which sells refreshing juices. I had the honor of having their wonderful watermelon mint shake for only P50! Take note, they use real mint leaves! While drinking I couldn't help but think of the furry friendly animals in Redwall.

Before we went back to our hotel, we dropped by Dauis to see the church there and to enjoy the sunset. Note: The place is simple yet beautiful. I'm adding it to my list of venue for my pre-nuptial photos LOL.

Dauis late in the afternoon

Before we head back to our hotel, we had early dinner at Alfonso Pizzeria. We had Margherita pizza (P170) and Sicily (P200), both delicious. Would love to go back there again. And I'd like to try the trattoria near it since the owner who is a foreigner boasts of their authentic dishes though at that time we were in a hurry.

Bohol Day 2
Bohol Day 3
Bohol Day 4

February

Today is the first day of March. I just came back from Bohol, tired and sleepy but just the same, eager to blog about this trip which I took with an officemate with whom I wasn't really that close but we do exchange jokes and pleasantries when we see each other. However, I'm feeling a bit lazy and can't seem to find in my heart to organize the photos I took, much less to edit them and create collages.

So here I am blogging about February instead. January was well spent travelling and attending lectures related to archaeology. In February, the focus is travel again. The last day of January saw me being absent at home for Chinese New Year and then succeeding days were spent in Catanauan where I was a visiting volunteer. It was my first time to excavate a burial amidst the sands so I made sure to be extra careful and just use wooden sticks. I so miss volunteering in the field full time but I'm afraid I might be fired if I would request for leave of absence for a month. Besides, I need money badly to fund my travel plans so I still don't see myself quitting my job at this point.

took a photo of this wonderful view of clouds being reflected in Caliraya Lake in Laguna while on the road

Last month, aside from Catanauan, I finally was able to climb Mt. Pulag. The trek was okay because of the gentle slope but the FREEZING cold is something that one must really prepare for. My friend and I didn't prepare for the climb physically but we did finish it. Unfortunately, we saw no sunrise nor sea of clouds so I'm thinking of joining another Mt. Pulag climb and won't stop until I see the famed sunrise and sea of clouds with my own eyes.

view upon descent, near parking lot

Also, my trip to Bohol is my second time to go to Visayas  (like what I've said above... I'm getting repetitive, maybe I should just sleep...) Anyway, we didn't go to the usual tourist spots like the famous Chocolate Hills, but just went to visit the churches destroyed by a very strong earthquake late last year. That, and also the beaches since Visayas really have the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines (I think... I can't be sure of this but of all the places I've been to, Palawan and Visayas seem like paradise and perfect for snorkeling.) It was heartbreaking to see some of the churches in their present pulverized state. On the brighter side, I got to explore one cave in Panglao--- the Hinagdanan Cave where one can swim in its cool waters.

aerial view of Bohol, taken form plane

My trip to Bohol allowed me to get on the motorbike. No, I didn't drive (I don't anyway...). But still, since it was my first time to ride as a motorbike passenger, it was very wonderful. I love the speed, the wind, even the noon time sun that scorches everything and burning my skin in the process. At night when the temperature has dropped down significantly, we still hopped on the habal-habal and looked up at the sky full of stars. After the ride, we couldn't help but think how ugly Metro Manila is for its polluted atmosphere thus preventing stargazers from doing what they love most.

So in the coming days I will be posting about my Catanauan trip, my Mt. Pulag experience, and of course, Bohol.

And because of my many travels, I have finally amassed many travel must-haves. I finally bought a four-season tent which can house two persons. I have bought a new compass, a pair of aqua shoes, more carabiners, and a stainless bowl (for camping). Now I can definitely go camping and just eat processed food in tetra packs (ugh! I hate those, really, but if camping I will have no choice.) That is, unless I will be able to buy cooking utensils for camping. I also need to buy outdoor clothes.

Plans for March include going extra thrifty again to prepare for another trip and also to allot some of my money to my savings. (Japan will be a reality soon...) Aside from travelling, I would also like to keep my promise to my sisters to clean our room. 

Kalibo-Boracay 0123272014

This is a lengthy post so places/ activities of interest are in red font for easy scanning for those who stumbled on this humble blog looking for things to do in Boracay or Kalibo.

Funny how fate can counter your plans with something wonderful. I never thought of going to Boracay because I thought of it as an overrated beach too much commercial activities that I wouldn't be able to find a peaceful place when in need of solitude. Last December though I won a two-night stay in Jony's Resort in Boracay and was congratulated much by my officemates. Being a budget traveler, I didn't know much about posh resorts and hotels since I only care about the cheapest lodgings in my target destinations. A quick research of Jony's Resort sold me to the idea of visiting Boracay. Shortly after, I was already asking my sisters when they would be comfortable to travel and by December 10, I had already booked our flights to Kalibo. Before 2013 ended I had already drafted our 3D4N itinerary and even arranged for our accommodation at Kalibo. Talk about getting excited.

Day 0
We left Manila late in the afternoon and arrived at Kalibo at around 7PM. My sisters spied a Chinese restaurant near the airport so we took out one seafood noodles (P180) and went straight to Center Parkway Pension House along Osmeña Avenue. Fan room for three costs just P750, though toilet is not private. It's a good thing we visited after the Ati-Atihan Festival and so there were not many tourists at that time.

Day 1
My sisters and I woke up before the breaking of dawn and went out of the hotel at 6AM. We spent a considerable amount of time in Pastrana Park after seeing the Aklan Freedom Shrine. While my sisters were busy taking pictures at Pastrana Park, I went inside Kalibo Cathedral just as mass was just about to start. Luckily mass was said in English although the sermon was a mix of English and Akalanon. After mass, we looked for a place to eat since Museo It Akean was not yet open at that time. My sisters had Special La Paz Batchoy while I had Chicken Arroz Caldo with egg.

Having filled our bellies, we looked around Museo It Akean. The first floor displays cultural items ranging from baskets to weapons to glass bottles and masks. At the time of visit, a temporary exhibition of embossed metal art known as Repujado by Liza Ann Acevedo-Ilagan was in place. (Repujar is a Spanish verb meaning to work on a metal using a hammer. In English, it means "to emboss" or "to work in relief".) The second floor was mostly of religious articles, with a special place for Cardinal Jaime Sin (1928-2005) since the cardinal was born in New Washington, Aklan, definitely one of the province's celebrities primarily for his role in the People Power Revolution which called for the descent of Marcos from power and again in the 2001 EDSA Revolution which put Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power after the eruption of the jueteng scandal concerning then President Joseph Estrada. Aklan costumes and furniture also figure on the second floor as well as well-crafted dolls in colorful costumes.

There's a lot to learn in the museum, but the text-heavy displays can eat up one's time. One can see how Aklan and Kalibo got its name and how the feast of Ati-Atihan came to be a significant feast in the province. Also something of interest is the 19 Martyrs of Aklan, which if I remember is never present in history textbooks when I was in elementary and in highschool. It was in Aklan where the first and only Katipunan chapter outside of Luzon was organized. The 19 martyrs' death by execution for attempted rebellion sparked more uprisings against the abusive Spanish authorities.

We headed to Bakhawan Eco-park and Research Centre, a man-made mangrove area, where we enjoyed the fresh air while walking on bamboo bridges. I had a hard time walking on the bridge because of my fear of heights but I was able to join my sisters at the end where we got a very nice view of the Sibuyan Sea.We also watched how the tamilok are harvested and got to taste these wood worms. The taste is clean except when you get to the wood inside the worm so the trick is to remove the dark parts.

We had lunch at RML Manokan Haus. The oysters were BIG and only for P60 per order. Aside from that, we had roasted chicken wings, and grilled squid. Then off to our hotel to pack our things for Boracay. We boarded an AC Ceres bus to Caticlan Port (fare is P107) and travel time was 2 hours. At the port, one has to pay for the terminal and environmental fees amounting to P200 per person in addition to the P25 ferry fare.

Room for three. 1 twin bed and 1 single bed. I took the single bed and my sisters shared the other one.

We arrived in Boracay at around 3PM and checked in at Jony's Resort. My sisters loved the room where we stayed so I'm already happy with that. (I'm really not into fancy resorts or hotels, you see.) We spent some time in the beach since it was already about to get dark. A tour staff offered sunset parawsailing just as the sky turned orange so we took it and spent some 30 minutes out in the sea on a paraw at sunset. By the time we got back to the beach, the sun was already scattering its last orange rays for the day. Definitely a beauty! So it was then that I understood why Boracay is so popular. It's got the finest white sand I've ever seen and it's got a beautiful sunset. And so I promised myself I will be back soon.

Lady in white looking far into the sea reminded me of Penelope, faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer's epic Odyssey

We had dinner at Smoke Restaurant in D Mall and then shopped for quite some time. My sisters took a long time so I explored the immediate area and also tried Aria's gelato. I had Calamansi flavor and Stracciatella, both wonderfully delicious. Then off to Budget Mart to buy groceries, mainly a gallon of water, cup noodles, bread, and cheese.

Day 2
We were supposed to get up at 6AM to catch the sunrise but failed because the time on my phone adjusted to the correct one automatically. (It previously was an hour and a third advanced.) We immediately went down for our ATV/ Buggy ride and Trick Art Museum visit in Dreamland.

We came back to the resort just in time for our island-hopping tour, for me the highlight of this whole trip. We snorkeled near an island (forgot the name but it sounds like Calicoan...) but I was disappointed because fish was rarely seen probably because of the cold weather. Then we proceeded to Crystal Cove where I greatly enjoyed my long solitary trek on the island. The turquoise waters crashing against the rocks as seen from above were a sight to behold, not to mention the refreshingly cool breeze, a certain break from Manila's polluted air. Then off to Crocodile Island where we had our buffet lunch. Then to another island where fish was seen relatively more than in the first island though in my experience, nothing can compare to what I've seen in Honda Bay tour which I did last year. (No pics though because I have yet to buy an underwater camera.) Too bad we weren't able to go to Puka Beach due to the rough waves. My sisters wouldn't want to go far from the hotel so I didn't bother to raise the topic and just made a mental note to go there when I go back to Boracay.

We went back to D Mall for dinner and our chosen restaurant was I Love BBQ Kitchen. Food was amazing and servings are big but service needs improvement.

Had my first ever Swedish full body massage in Boracay but it was not a wise thing to do because my body hurt like hell the following days although at that time I was so relaxed I fell asleep in the massage parlor.

Day 3
My sisters and I got up late so we left the resort late in the morning but we were able to get to Kalibo at 1PM. We checked in again at Center Parkway Pension House since it was already convenient, and left for New Washinton to visit the Sampaguita Gardens where we had our late lunch soon afterwards. Multicab fare from Kalibo town is P15 per person.

Because of Typhoon Yolanda, there was not much to see in Sampaguita Gardens. A percentage was damaged but renovations are taking place. Still, it's nice to walk around see curios everywhere. The collection of Precious Moments dolls should not be missed.

Since we still have much time left, we hired a tricycle to take us to two churches, one farther away from Sampaguita Gardens (Pink Sisters Convent) and one just in front of the town plaza in New Washington (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church). What makes the Pink Sisters Convent Chapel special is that the large side windows are made of stained glass of the 12 disciples. Across New Washington Church is a plaza with a statue of Cardinal Sin.

We headed back to Kalibo via multicab and went to Gaisano Mall to buy pasalubong and to have dinner at Ted's. Happy to see a Booksale branch there where I saw a copy of Paul Auster's "Moon Palace", that compelling existential novel which inspired me to write about my field experience three years ago.

Lights out early because of our 5AM flight the next day.

Day 4
Got up at 3AM and did quick preparations. We were at the airport at 3:45AM, still sleepy. Headed straight to the office whereas my sisters headed for home.

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This took me two days to compose because I was having laptop problems mainly because Google Chrome kept on hanging and freezing. Problem solved when I uninstalled and reinstalled it. And I almost panicked because my laptop is less than a year old under my care.

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I would like to thank the staff of Jony's Resort, most especially to Ms. Khaye, for their warm welcome and for our wonderful stay there. I will surely be back. 

Vietnam 0301042013

If there is a Southeast Asian country I know very little of, it is Vietnam. Prior to the trip, all I knew of the country is that people wear a conical hat, and that it has an agrarian economy.  As for its history, all I knew was related to the US-Vietnam War.

Days before our trip to Ho Chih Minh, I scoured the internet for Vietnamese songs, hoping to learn a bit of the language. It proved to be a difficult task, since the language has many vowel combinations, to say nothing of the accents. Although utterly discouraged, I discovered some good Vietnamese pop songs.  The first song I listened to was White Noise’s Kết Thúc (To Kill a Love), a rock ballad which encouraged me to explore more of their music.

Some three days before the trip, my friend and I were doing research on what to do in HCMC. Late last year we booked a flight without any plans; we thought of exploring on our own. It all changed probably thanks to the scary thought of getting lost in a foreign country with no means to go back home, as what frequently happens in movies. I did research on budget hotels and decided to stay at dorm-type inns. It doesn’t matter where we stay, as long as it is convenient to commute to and from the airport, as long as it is cheap and clean, as long as it is near museums and parks.

On February 28, right after work, my friend and I met at Magallanes MRT station and took a cab to NAIA Terminal 3. Once inside, we talked about our itinerary. We arrived there early and while waiting for boarding time, planned our day 1 schedule. During the flight, we took our much-needed sleep after winning netbook sleeves from Cebu Pacific for correctly answering trivia questions. (During my Hong Kong trip last February I also won two bagtags.)

One funny incident left us laughing at our stupidity. Before we boarded the plane, already past the boarding time, we saw some French running to our assigned gate. We laughed at them wondering what if they missed their flight. It turned out WE almost missed our flight had my friend not checked the time. We ran like crazy, like the French we laughed at just minutes ago. It turned out we hanged out near the wrong gate! Inside the plane, we burst out laughing, telling ourselves what an adventure it was! And so I learned an important lesson: Always wait at the correct gate.

It was past midnight when we got to Ho Chih Minh airport. Instead of hailing a cab to take us to the city center, we decided to spend the wee hours of the morning at the airport and slept on the benches overlooking the well-lit city below. Cool breeze turned into chilly wind after a few hours, rousing us from sleep and prodding us to put on our jackets.

At 6:30am we took the bus to ben Thanh Market. From there, we began our exploration. We only had a tourist map in hand in search of Pham Ngu Lao Street which is reputed to have backpackers’ lodges and cheap hotels. On the way, with stomachs grumbling, we paid heed to street food and had a bowl of pho bo each to give us strength for walking in case we get lost.

We were assisted by a cute young man who works at the Japanese embassy. Since we do not know Vietnamese and were armed with English only, we had a hard time talking to the vendor who did not understand English. This young man, named Ngsii (if I got the spelling right), was like a knight in shining armor to us two damsels in distress. And we both agreed that he is cute.

Pho bo (beef noodles) sold in the streets near Ben Thanh Market, 30,000 VND

While in search of a cheap hotel, we met another cute young man named Han Tu. He’s a friendly fellow we near Bui Vien Street. He told us where cheap inns can be found, certainly a godsend. We then found Thai Nhi Hotel which charges 12 USD a night for a room on the 4^th floor. That’s 6 USD per person and so we took the offer. The room has a small TV with cable, a fridge, and clean bathroom. Beds and pillows are not as comfy but it’s definitely better than sleeping on hard benches in the open. The owners are a bit friendly, so unlike the reviews in TripAdvisor and Travelfish I read when I got back to Manila. But maybe I can owe that to the fact that the owner’s sister works at Taiwan and I look like Chinese and almost spoke to her in Mandarin. And I am glad I read the reviews after the trip, otherwise we wouldn’t want to stay there, cheap it may be.

Day 1 of our Vietnam trip was spent exploring the streets in District 1 and visiting museums, parks, coffee shops, and bookshops. We were unfortunate to have encountered a scammer bicycle rickshaw who demanded that my friend and I pay 1,000,000 VND each for 2 hours’ service. We were shocked because initially they asked for only 15,000 VND. I guess at the onset we should have had our suspicions. In fact, I found the initial rate unusually low so I kept on asking if it’s really 15,000 VND and the driver repeatedly said yes. We should have known that something was amiss right then and there.

Beware of bicycle rickshaw scammers like this one. I interviewed  legit ones and they wear white uniforms.

What we visited/ saw:

1. War Remnants Museum (15,000 VND)

2. Zoo and Botanical Gardens (8,000 VND)

3. History Museum (15,000 VND, pay extra 32,000 VND to be able to take pictures inside)

4. Museum of Ho Chih Minh Campaign (15,000 VND)

5. Notre Dame Cathedral (we attended mass in Vietnamese)

6. Saigon Central Post Office (free)

7. Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre (150,000 VND)

Day 2 was the day we toured the Mekong River. We booked the tour from the agency just across our hotel. I think it’s the cheapest in the area. We randomly asked around and it was the cheapest we found at just USD 8. After the tour, we shopped at Ben Thanh market and Saigon Square.

A woman paddling for tourists in the Mekong River.

Day 3 we did the Cu Chi Tunnel tour which we booked at the same travel agency as the Mekong River Tour. It was amazing how they created the complex tunnel system which reflects the tenacity of the human spirit to defend themselves from foreign aggression. We experienced just 100 meters of this more than 200 km system and yet we were easily exhausted. It is hard to imagine how the Vietnamese people were able to live underground for years. And for this, I developed a great deal of respect for them.

Before the tunnel tour, visitors will have to listen to an interesting lecture of the system

After the Cu Chi Tunnel tour, we asked to be dropped at the Reunification Palace. Inside the four-storied French-styled palace are conserved rooms, halls, and  even vintage items like telephones, kitchen equipment, etc. 

Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất), also known as Independence Palace 

For the food we tried, please click HERE.

Detailed blog entries to follow. :)

At present, I am reading more on the history of Vietnam.

Airplanes

And so I got my first airplane ride this year last Valentine's Day. There's always the feeling of excitement when one sees land from up above. It reminds me of aerial surveys I only get to read about in archaeology books. It has always been a dream to actually experience doing aerial survey, I am sure to have adrenaline rush and to have my heart pounding fast since honestly, I am a bit of an acrophobic.

There's always a peaceful feeling sweeping over one so preoccupied with many things when one sees clouds of different forms. There's always that feeling of becoming a god, who sees everything from above. There's always that feeling of lightness, as if one is finally free from gravity. And there's always that overwhelming feeling of being a bit tad lucky to be able to witness these wonderful things.