A year older...

Every year, I succumb to the idea of celebrating this. But for the most part, I do like to celebrate my life. After all there are just so much to be thankful for...even when the most part of the year was kind of difficult at times. I just look at the bright side. Period.

I thought getting older would be dreadful. But at 31, I can say, I'm loving it. I have never been this happy, strong, contented, and wise than any other years of my life. And I'm embracing every bits and tiny moments of it.

Of course, it was no easy way to get here. The struggle was unbearable at times, but I am most definitely not giving up. There is so much to life that I'm so looking forward to...

In the meantime, I am happy and thankful for all of the things that came my way. And those were enough reasons to celebrate and give thanks and be awesome!

My only wish and prayer is that, everyone will always find the means to treasure themselves and realize that the happiness that comes our way, is a self effort and a much needed strength and hope from that one celestial power. In my case, I call HIM---GOD.

Cheers to all the wonderful things and the bitter-sweet challenges that I may encounter in more years to come. Love and kisses to all! mwah!

Dr. Seuss said...

Slowly going back to blogging…

May you all be inspired today…and ALWAYS!

Just like me. Have good day, everyone! J

CRI (China Radio International) Interview

My life is not that interesting. But I do like how life's surprises is somehow passing my way every now and then. Again, 2013 is MY year! haha

So one good example is this...I was asked for an interview for the China Radio International--Filipino Channel. #levelingup :D With this interview, I shared a lot about my favorite social website: Couchsurfing and traveling.

I hope you can check out the link...and maybe give a comment? ;-) If there's anything I learned from this interview...I can't believe my Tagalog is deep and good! haha (I always thought I suck at that department!)

Anyway, if there's anything I wanted to tell you all...you should really go out of your comfort zone and see what the world is like out there. Really.

Stay safe and happy travels, my luvs!

CLICK TO LISTEN

Hello, 2013!

I definitely started this year with a BANG!
A surprising one at that.
I believe this is my best year yet. ;)

And as my mantra goes this year...(thank you, Miranda Kerr for posting this on Instagram!)

I feel like all the stars and my spiritual friend talked and lined up just for me in all aspects of my life:

family,

Technology has made everything convenient these days.
But I still wonder that if we live in the old days, would we ever miss our special people?

 friends,

Find friends who are as crazy and can tolerate your craziness
and support you all the way! 

For they will just shut up and wait for that perfect time to grill you
about your choice of man! :P

career, 

This was the big and pleasant surprise: teaching them how to teach!

Thankfully, they're not too hard to manage like my kiddos.
But I do miss being with my kiddos. Sigh.  

and health.

I'm alarmingly thinner than before.
I swear, I've been eating!

This year, I'd like to put on some weight.
By eating a plate like this!

But still have abs like them!  haha #abspiration

I'm already grateful for everything. And this year, I'm more being mindful to be the best that I can be, to do the things that I love and what really inspires me. Just like the tide and the sun...go wherever, but never forget who you are and where you came from. 

A perfect reminder from a friend.

And well, sometimes, I find inspiration from random places and things just to keep myself grounded and motivated.

peg for a life long project!

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#iheartyouall

Good(!) bye, 2012!

In a few hours (or more), my side of the world is kicking off 2013.

This is my entry about 2012. For me, it's all about a year to be #GRATEFUL. So much has happened, personally and spiritually, and I am still completely in awe of how little surprises of LIFE can bring such big joy, and amazing lessons to go by.

Here's my year-ender recap, so to speak...^-^

Familia Ventanilla came back  for their second visit in the country. This was more special because it was their first time to experience the winter season, so much so in Beijing where cold temperatures are underrated! As my parents where asked by my cousins when they went home after, "How was Beijing?" They both replied without hesitation,"We will never come back again in that cold. We like the hot, sunny days here. Thankyouverymuch!" haha

Photo op at the airport! They landed at midnight when the whole Chinese community in China are welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

Red lanterns = Chinese New Year festivities!

Standing right outside the Tianjin Church

In March, I turned 3-0. They often said, it's a big milestone in one's life, and I believed so. More so, I felt I needed a BIG change so I literally chopped off my longggg hair into a pixie cut. It was both scary and liberating! And I'm very much thankful that I did. ;) As Coco Chanel once quoted, "If a woman cuts her hair, she's about to change her life." I'm changing, that far, I know of. ;)

Blowing the 3-0 candles as a validation of that given age. ^-^

Summer is an exciting part of my life, as well as my housemates', because this year marked another year of meeting traveling nomads. We welcomed into our new and humble abode, some amazing and inspiring Couchsurfers in the planet-- Stejhan & Maya from Croatia, Marie Antonia & Hong Duc from Germany, Marthe & Marie from Holland, and Jack from Italy. People like them are our constant inspirations that one day, we, ourselves can afford and embrace the challenge of touring the world on our own. And the most amazing thing out of this experience is gaining friends and gathering awesome travel adventure stories where no Lonely Planet Guide could ever give! www.couchsurfing.com

When I think of Croatia, I'm always reminded of their football team's uniform...more like the hat I'm wearing here.

These German girls are our favorite this year!

In as much as I wanted to say that 2012 is all happy and nice, I can't. ;) There were personal battles of insecurity, self worth, and judging my own judgements. Fortunately, as I've become matured, and experience has brought me back to my core, I knew when I needed to stand up and collect myself once again. So 2012 was also about self-reconnecting and moving forward and pushing myself to the edge of my own fears.

So my own solution to those problems?! Take a break. Go home. Find my inner peace in a secluded island. Enroll in an Open Water Dive Course. Stay disconnected from the people who caused my heartbreak. And make crazy adventures that will let me forget that awful things happened.  

It was the most liberating, most rewarding, and most peaceful feeling I have ever felt so far. Nowadays, I consider myself, B-E-S-T because I did them. ;)

Dinah and Malapascua certainly make a good pair! ^-^

This has been the most amazing feeling and the best place to be...being 12 feet underwater!

I found my sense of adventure in this homecoming. Good thing, my sister seems to agree with me!

Going home, means being with family. And I'm trying my best to provide my parents the kind of life they truly deserve in their old life now, well, minus the I-should-be-married-by-now-and-give-them-grandchildren-they-always-wanted-to-see-while-they're-both-alive. ;) In making up for that very obvious absence, I took them to a family trip in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros. And I'm very much grateful that at the age of 65 and 72, they can still kick someone's butt, so to speak.

My family loves to share interesting talks over finished foods and empty bottles of sodas.

Ventanilla Familia in Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Bohol's Marimar is such a charm and a delight to us.

Another thing I'm so grateful for--are my awesome and lovely friends! It is wonderful to note that despite our distances and different lives, we can all sit down, talk, and laugh to yesteryears, present, and forthcoming future. I am truly thankful to have found these people who shares, understands, and tolerates my own kind of weirdness and craziness. I could not ask for anything more from "my people". They are simply SUPERB!

Cydel and moi in our favorite spot since college.

It's great to escape our crazy city lives!

We can't help but to grin because a 5 year old boy is taking this picture of us!

My colleagues for life are my bestest girlfriends!

As I look back to all those memories, my heart is always filled with so much joy. I could only hope and wish that the coming 2013 will bring as much as what 2012 has brought and even more. Then again, none of this has ever been possible without the one person in my life who has helped me through my ups and downs, and who has brought so much hope in my time of despair. And my prayer is that, you too, shall embrace HIM into your lives, for nothing is ever impossible with God.

And of course, find the people you are most thankful for... ;)

Happiest 2013, to y'all!

12-12-12

This will not happen again, in my lifetime, so I might as well document it with a picture of me in a Panda hat.

The National Stadium of Beijing also known as the Bird's Nest 

was constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. 

Construction cost: $423 million

Designed by: Ai Weiwei

Seating capacity: 80, 000 

(91, 000 on 2008 Olympics)

Post Olympics...

Beijing's new tourist attraction, 

drawing 20,000-30,000 people a day(!) with 50RMB entrance fee. 

On winter, it is used as a snow theme park. 

So what did you do today?

Where did you go?

Halloween 2012

Disclaimer: If you're homophobic, don't read! :P

It has been a tradition each year, when me and my Filipinos dress up and have lots of fun while remembering our loved ones who passed away, over some sticky rice dishes. #PaellaValenciana is the bomb!

Filipino tradition in Beijing

*Free plugging: My lovely shoes are proudly made in the Philippines under the brand Muniz! 
Check out their site for more fabulous shoes! ;)

This year, out of random planning, our three Bekis (gay language for "gay") entertained us with the Beki version of Miss Universe...

Miss Venezuela, Miss Italy, Miss Costa Rica donning their DIY-under-5-minutes-improvised gowns!

More like...Halloween Bekis 2012!  So Lookah! Lookah! the video for some doze of laughtrip! ;))

Bohol!

If I have one word to describe Bohol, it would be: peaceful.

Since I came all the way to Malapascua, and went back to Cebu, and took a ferry boat from there to Bohol, it took me almost 24 hours of time travel. The Southwest monsoon was not cooperating with me, so I was stuck in Cebu Port for over five hours!

Cebu Port

While waiting, I indulge myself to some chicken bbq and puso!

Cebu to Bohol by fast ferry is one hour and a half, for Php520。There are a few fast ferries that goes there and vice versa. Click here for schedules. 

Waiting for the big boat for five hours!!! Phew!

 My family on the other hand flew from Iloilo to Cebu, spent a night there and took the ferry boat to Bohol in the morning. They were in Panglao before afternoon strike. While I got to Panglao at midnight!

The best thing about Bohol is you can visit ALL the tourist attractions in one day. Every vans or cars for rent exactly know where and when to start the tour if you’ll book them. For this trip, I have entrusted my dear sister to do all the planning and bookings. After all, this was her second visit.

Since there are seven of us, budgeting this trip was very important. And we also considered the fact that we are travelling with three very “moody” senior citizens! Haha Well, honestly, that only goes out to my mother. :P Good thing, Senior Citizen Cards present a 20% discount on fares, foods, and entrance fees. So that alone was a big save.

We stayed in Panglao for this trip, which is thirty minutes away from Tagbilaran City. We got a family cottage in Casanova Garden for Php800/night. We took two rooms for the seven of us. If I have only known the conditions in Casanova (a far cry from the pictures), I would have to chose Bohol Bee Farm, having read great reviews about the place. A friend also suggested another place, but this one near Tagbilaran City which he genuinely like, Nut Huts. Click the word for lists of accommodations in Bohol and Panglao.

At least they have a pool?!

It’s a pity on my part that I never really got to explore the “hidden gems” that this place has to offer. How I wish I stayed longer so I could have learned how to drive a motorcycle (that every tourist seem to enjoy), try out diving (Fun and Sun recommended a nice dive shop), wandering & getting lost around (this is one place in the Philippines that it’s VERY safe to do it), and swimming all day long (I came a day late so I have to keep up with my family’s itinerary). Next time, for sure! ;)

I’m greatly impressed as to how Boholanos promote and help their tourism system. Everyone helps out. Everyone is friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Expat tourists seem to be at home in this island. This is quite visible, especially in Panglao where most resorts and lodging houses were Swiss, German, French, and American named (or owned). It is indeed a nice place to be both a tourist and a local. Saludo ako sa inyo, Boholanos!

Anyway, here's what we did/see in chronological order. ;)

~~Sagbayan Peak~~

~~The Chocolate Hills~~

~~The Butterfly Garden~~

~~We skipped the Loboc River Restaurant cruise for some home-cooked dishes in Bohol!~~

~~Mahogany man-made forest in Bilar~~

~~Tarsier viewing in Loboc~~

~~Bamboo hanging bridge in Sevilla~~

~~Zipline adventure in Danao~~

~~Prony, the python viewing~~ 

~~Baclayon Church~~

~~Anda Beach~~

*For more things to do and see in Bohol, click here.

I definitely LOVE Bohol!!!