I find myself drawn to shoes lately. Is it a coming of age thing? A woman thing? Flats, mules, sandals, wedgies, strappy, slingbacks. Pink, blue, checkered black and white, peach, white, black, mocha. Putting these words together is a cacophony but sounds like harmony to me. Carefully flanking them next to each other is done like a ritual. I have three pairs under my desk (don't ask me why), driving and cross-trainers in the car, and some at home. It is not a lot, but i treat them with predilection, you can almost see me whisper "My precioussss...."
I guess as a woman matures and tries to explore her personality and along with it her sexuality, shoes become a form of self-expression. I feel pretty today, I'm a strappy sandal. My hair is a mess, my cold's making me teary-eyed, how about a pointy heel that will scare bad vibes away? Casual is never just casual anymore as one has to look carefully put without looking overly made up.
If they say you can tell a man by their watch and shoes, you can most certainly tell a woman's personality by the shoes she wears.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Latebloomers
Consuelo has just finished a creative writing course, and is starting on her French language course soon. I'm not quite sure if she has completed a dancing class, after the make-up (serious!) classs she took in Singapore. I enjoyed the poem she wrote which Tweetums published in PhilStar. Totally surprising for an IT project manager.
I bumped into Ime at the derma last Saturday. We were supposed to see each other for a nightcap, but I had an invite to a karaoke at the Red Box in Greenbelt. These days Ime is busy with work that is quite fulfilling her. I hope she gets that black belt (go girlfriend, make Yoy proud!).
These are my girlfriends. We belong to the same club of free spirits. Once a month (we hope!) we get together to enjoy a massage, a parlor day, a good dinner or coffee. Gee, we should do more stuff girls. The most enjoyable ones were overnight sessions at Ime's place. Once, I brought a massage therapist along, and they were laughing at me. But guess what? We finished at 2 AM and both of them wanted to get my therapist to do them on weekends! Too bad Glenda is now into selling DVDs. I miss those days =(.
Another time was when we decided that a night out to be seen is best, and boy did we see a lot of people. Greenbelt 3 is the place, and we saw friends from Fujitsu, from college (who made first eye contact with Bernard???!), from Singapore and some other people it was unbelievable. That was the night that we saw John who took this picture of us. John died almost a year after from liver cirrhosis. We didn't know he was sick, and apparently he didn't know it either, til his last days. John was one of our favorite guys in FCCP. Too soon, he went too soon.
Once we went to a BMW event and got drunk with wine and laughter. Robert spoils us. Most often though, it is the dinner which highlights our gatherings. We hope though that Roblao, Charmz, Maan,Grace,Yoy and Sony could join us more often. Do I have news to share? Need a lift, Ime? Or is it time for a haircut again Cie? It's that time of the month, you know!
O Hisashi Buri Desu Ne!
My fondest days are my Japan days. I just love this country and its people. Some became my friends for life. There is Kenji, a colleague who also became my guide to Tokyo, the Kishida family from Nagano who knocked on our apatoo door by mistake, but ended up inviting us (Cielo and I) for tea. There is Kaoru who showed me what a wonderful life it is to have dogs as part of the family.
One who stoods out though, is not even a Japanese, but a French native who holds an Australian passport but has lived for more than 15 years in Japan. He has a perpetually curious mind that can be infectious. Alas, you'd wish it stays with you, but that trait has been developed his entire life. I asked him ," What happened? Why are you here in Japan? And what is that bit about Australia, and your country, why leave it?" I must admit it was a question posed by a young person, a bit tactless but nonetheless appreciated for its sincerity.
He was amused, and told me how at 16, he packed his bags from France, circled the world and ended up in Australia. I asked more questions. " At 16, I have been taking care of my sick mother and brother, one after the other. After my mother died, and my brother got settled someplace, I was so exhausted at such a young age, I decided to find my own space. I packed my bag, and with a little money, went around the world. I have even been to the Philippines, in places you've probably never been to (he was right at that time). Anyway, I ended up in Australia and started teaching there. That is also where I earned my doctorate degree. I got invited to teach in Japan and decided to stay. And here I am."
"Why Japan?" ,
" It is convenient; the country has four seasons. It is beautiful here, people are kind, and especially kind to old people." Over sashimi, coffee, tea, Half and Half beers, I heard stories of old Europe, where engineers do not get paid in old Croatia for months so they had to work elsewhere, of crazy "road trips" ending up in Switzerland, of Yakuza men, Filipinas in Tokyo, and how hard it is for gaijins to own a restaurant in Tokyo.
I remember how he came to my rescue on one sad day. He has touched my heart, and rekindled my spirit. I stood, like many heroines in a movie (Before Sunrise? Lost in Translation?) at the train station with him holding my hand telling me it is going to be all right. Before we went our separate ways, he kissed my hand.
I left Tokyo shortly after that.
Photo taken by Christian Cheneux.
Miguel
His high-pitch scream was heard throughout the house when I arrived. I called him out and that was his response. He was running towards me and calls me by my name, Armi (silent r). There are no words to decribe the joy I feel. All stress and worries are gone as I ask him to give me a kiss and a tight embrace. Doe-eyed and anxious, he could hardly wait for me to open my bag and give out my pasalubong. I have none, so instead I ask him, "Sinong may gusto ng ice cream, taas ang kamay!" His 2 hands shoot up and he almost jumps with joy. More laughter follows from his lolo and lola whose grin we laugh about, as mama has one more week before her new set of teeth is ready.
I remember how my sister told me she was pregnant. Recently married, and her husband off to the middle east, she took a pregnancy test and came out of the restroom to look for me. She told me,"I'm pregnant." Tears followed. I asked her why she's crying, to which she said, "Ang bilis. Akala ko after one year pa.." "I thought you were crying with joy," I chided as tears were already forming in my eyes as well (if you know me, you can almost tell that will happen). "Kasama na yun..," she said. From that day on, gone were the days when we'd poke each other on the bed until I fall off (I always fall off), nor the days when she'd pull the blanket from me and kick me (I'd kick her too, of course!). Memories flashed as I remember the days we'd fight and my mother would intervene. I'm still guilty of the peklat I gave her on the face because of sabunutan incidents when we were young. Those days were followed with love. Nothing but love. She is after all, my only sister, and her kids are going to be fabulous.
She gave birth on the dot, after only an hour and a half of labor time, and her son looked exactly like the close up shot taken by her ob-gyne on her 6th month. Round-eyed, big-nosed and healthy. I remember I worried about them staying with us and how that is going to interrupt my sleep (how selfish!), and boy was I wrong. Miguel interrupted my every waking hour. He changed his grandparent's lives too. Miguel is the first grandchild from both sides, and we'd borrow him a lot. Papa is his number one fan, though. And he loves his lolo as well. He'd change his nappies, feed him at 2 AM, cook for him, jog with him, put him to sleep, insert his Barney CD even if there's OTB on channel 71. After all, he'd ask his lolo repeatedly," Asan Barney, Lolo?"
I gave my Purefoods-signed basketball to him as a present, and boy, how he loved the sound of that. Ball is among his first words, I think. He thought everything round is a ball, and would drop it and assume it'd bounce. Calamansi, orange, Chinese therapeutic massagers, eggs. He loved the sound of the bounce, and is drawn to basketball courts. When asked where his baby sister Ysa is, though,he'd say,"office". That's where his mommy (mayee to him) is, so he just repeats what he hears. Ysa is a beautiful baby girl, already wanting to go out at 8 months, wanting to do everything in advance. She has huge eyes that are so pretty you'd cry. I know she'd make men cry one day. Haha, especially her father's.
How time flies. One of these days I will have children of my own, and I hope to give them as much love as I can. And of course, they will be fabulous too!
I remember how my sister told me she was pregnant. Recently married, and her husband off to the middle east, she took a pregnancy test and came out of the restroom to look for me. She told me,"I'm pregnant." Tears followed. I asked her why she's crying, to which she said, "Ang bilis. Akala ko after one year pa.." "I thought you were crying with joy," I chided as tears were already forming in my eyes as well (if you know me, you can almost tell that will happen). "Kasama na yun..," she said. From that day on, gone were the days when we'd poke each other on the bed until I fall off (I always fall off), nor the days when she'd pull the blanket from me and kick me (I'd kick her too, of course!). Memories flashed as I remember the days we'd fight and my mother would intervene. I'm still guilty of the peklat I gave her on the face because of sabunutan incidents when we were young. Those days were followed with love. Nothing but love. She is after all, my only sister, and her kids are going to be fabulous.
She gave birth on the dot, after only an hour and a half of labor time, and her son looked exactly like the close up shot taken by her ob-gyne on her 6th month. Round-eyed, big-nosed and healthy. I remember I worried about them staying with us and how that is going to interrupt my sleep (how selfish!), and boy was I wrong. Miguel interrupted my every waking hour. He changed his grandparent's lives too. Miguel is the first grandchild from both sides, and we'd borrow him a lot. Papa is his number one fan, though. And he loves his lolo as well. He'd change his nappies, feed him at 2 AM, cook for him, jog with him, put him to sleep, insert his Barney CD even if there's OTB on channel 71. After all, he'd ask his lolo repeatedly," Asan Barney, Lolo?"
I gave my Purefoods-signed basketball to him as a present, and boy, how he loved the sound of that. Ball is among his first words, I think. He thought everything round is a ball, and would drop it and assume it'd bounce. Calamansi, orange, Chinese therapeutic massagers, eggs. He loved the sound of the bounce, and is drawn to basketball courts. When asked where his baby sister Ysa is, though,he'd say,"office". That's where his mommy (mayee to him) is, so he just repeats what he hears. Ysa is a beautiful baby girl, already wanting to go out at 8 months, wanting to do everything in advance. She has huge eyes that are so pretty you'd cry. I know she'd make men cry one day. Haha, especially her father's.
How time flies. One of these days I will have children of my own, and I hope to give them as much love as I can. And of course, they will be fabulous too!
Hydrangeas
They start blooming early June, but they come in full bloom in the months of July and August, summer months in Kamakura, Japan. An hour and a half from Tokyo, it is a world away, more reflective of the old Japan in the Edo period than the bustling city that Tokyo is. For one, there are no young people on the streets of Hase, there are more oji-saan and obaa-san than the high school students in short skirts.
There are busloads of tourists this first Saturday ofJune, a perfect weather for walking and sightseeing. It was sunny, but spring is still in the air, bringing soft gusts of wind, not too cold, and not hot. One can walk for hours without perspiring, and still enjoy what the local community has to offer- special rice crispies cooked before your eyes, wasabe ice cream. A good lunch would be the traditional rice bento or soba or udon set (buckwheat noodles).
Hydrangea is a flowering bush, native to Asia, and they come in pink, blue or white. What makes Hase special is they have this garden tendered for over hundreds of years and maintained up to now, so one can enjoy the clusters of flowers in different colors. One follows a path,a walkway that traces one group of hydrangeas from another, and to the top - a buddha temple, a view of the sea and neighboring town, a museum, and a restaurant overlooking the sights. Don't miss Kamakura on your visit to Japan.
With the Hunks
What's wrong with this picture? Azure skies, calm seas, perfect moment. But wait, to me the perfect beach moment would be if I could have that shot in a 2-piece swimsuit. Just one shot. Ok, maybe if I had the body, one shot would not be enough. Clearly, if I had the body, I wouldn't mind posing with Diet and worrying if my arms are indeed bigger than his.
Alas, after diet pills, Oprah's Make that Connection book, and at least 2 gymn memberships (I always commit to the gym but never last for more than one month), I am almost resigned to the idea that I'll never wear that maillot swimsuit, or again wear dresses. The operative word there is almost. According to gurus, the only real way to lose weight is to exercise and eat a balanced diet. The only problem with diet is that as one gets older, the metabolism slows down, and you can't eat as much as you used to, otherwise, food all go to their favorite places- love handles and all. So, the secret must be in the exercise. I have a problem with exercise, I can't do it without a gym buddy. It's late if after work, and too early if in the morning. These are my current excuses, but I know I have to face that if I really want to lose weight. Without doing anything at the age of 26, I can still lose weight. Without doing anything at 30, I gain weight. Heck, I gain weight just thinking of food. Half a cup of rice, and fish and vegetables for lunch, and I gain weight. I know i also have to give up chocolates, at least lower the intake (now it's only when my cravings come, right before menstruation), but boy, what a discipline this is going to require. I've never had any problem being on time since elementary, being disciplined by the nuns in high school (daily and every weekend choir practice), studying at Eng'g throughout college, working my ass off at work, but still, my boyfriend thinks I'm lazy. I lay like a vegetable at home on weekends. I feel more relaxed at home on weekends, play with the kids, watch DVD, sleep, have the afternoons and night for socializing. I lack exercise. Maybe I should get a dog. (I should be taking care of Louie's beagle if only we had a space for Cranberry's cage..) I'm thinking of enrolling for a badminton class. That is going to be my birthday action plan-take up sports. And believe me, it 's going to take a lot of work. Will keep you posted. But if anybody asks what my wish is (it's to go to Singapore), but that's another blog..
My New York Moment
I've never been to New York but after watching Sex in the City seasons 1-6, I can cite several reasons why they say it's a city like no other. Aside from the numerous museums, shops, restaurants and other places of interests that NY has, going to Central Park can be so...fashionable. Donning a summer dress (Miranda), or shorts with belt bag and a coral blue spaghetti top (Carrie) while drinking lemonade and talking about men, Central Park is as much a place to be seen as a New York way of life.
I found myself in my New York park moment, the closest Manila can have, last year. It's a small but well-kept park-Jaime Velasquez Park, I believe, is its official name, located along Alfaro corner Leviste Street in Salcedo Village, Makati. It's in front of Starbucks along Alfaro, and on its three sides are residential condos and business centers. It is near at least two call centers and three 7-Elevens. I was there one Saturday evening last year with my guy sorting out relationship issues. We took our coffee and tea from Starbucks, plopped along one of the washout-finished benches and watched the people pass by. There were Japanese women strolling with their babies, women in shorts jogging, old couples walking , yayas with their wards, and couples like us talking or just spending their Saturdays off not at the mall. It was a serious talk- I was asking for a reconciliation, but note how I seemed to remember the scenes.
I also remember that the park was well-lit, there was no need for a security guard as the park emits a sense of nature, harmony and serenity. Hedgerows are well-kept, no thrash or garbage littered on the walkways. I was on an agenda that night, but I kept a mental note of another agenda: to visit the park at daytime, and taste their famous bar-b-que.
After Friday gimmicks in Makati, my friends Cielo, Ime and I would return to Alfaro Place at around 2 AM, chat, sleep then wake up at 9 AM,shower and head our separate ways. Cielo is off to her Docent Class at the Ayala Museum, Ime to her Industrial Psychology teaching class at UST, and I to my wonderful bed/derma/whatever is scheduled that day. But before we go, we cross the street to the park. On my first visit to the park where the parking area is converted to a Saturday flea market, I was overwhelmed by the sight. A mixture of traditional Filipino food sold in several stalls is its main offer. Kesong puti, Cebu lechon, Aling Nene's bar-b-q, fresh Chinese lumpia, puto, suman, kutsinta, organic vegetables and fruits, grilled seafoods, bacon pao, bonsai, native hats and bags, hot choco, flavored teas and coffee, fresh fruit shakes, pastries, pasta, you name it, they have it. A cacophony of sounds on a Saturday morning combined with a leisure walk, taking in the surroundings is not a sensory overload but is rather a delightful experience. There are no offensive smells or loud heckling. The stall owners encourage you to taste their products.
What You'll Hear:"This suman is made from herbs in Dumaguete. It's naturally sweet, taste it."
What You'll Sometimes Hear: " I want mine vegetarian lumpia. No sugar!!!! More vegetables!!!!"
POP on the product: Aklan-made, Guimaras mangoes, gourmet coffee
The Crowd: Armida Sigueon-Reyna shopping alone, that exercise lady (not Tina Juan) in full aerobics attire, Caucasian and Japanese couples, Makati's old rich couples, Chrissy of Nestle, a Caucasian woman carrying a bayong-ful of goodies, Preview's Pauline Juan with kid and yaya in tow (she was uber fashionable in green short shorts and a printed blouse, sans makeup), Celine Lopez in short shorts, a bright yellow top (sleeveless of course), and a scarf on her head, and with a guy (of course).
On my first visit, I've rounded the small parking lot twice and noted that in 2 hours, 7 whole Cebu lechons were sold at P300/kilo. Talk about a fast-moving item! My last visit was during the previous weekend. By 11:30, after rounding up the usuals, I'm in my car, driving to my Fashion Beat CD, munching on my bacon pao and glancing lovingly at my fresh Chinese lumpia, which I'm saving for lunch.
I found myself in my New York park moment, the closest Manila can have, last year. It's a small but well-kept park-Jaime Velasquez Park, I believe, is its official name, located along Alfaro corner Leviste Street in Salcedo Village, Makati. It's in front of Starbucks along Alfaro, and on its three sides are residential condos and business centers. It is near at least two call centers and three 7-Elevens. I was there one Saturday evening last year with my guy sorting out relationship issues. We took our coffee and tea from Starbucks, plopped along one of the washout-finished benches and watched the people pass by. There were Japanese women strolling with their babies, women in shorts jogging, old couples walking , yayas with their wards, and couples like us talking or just spending their Saturdays off not at the mall. It was a serious talk- I was asking for a reconciliation, but note how I seemed to remember the scenes.
I also remember that the park was well-lit, there was no need for a security guard as the park emits a sense of nature, harmony and serenity. Hedgerows are well-kept, no thrash or garbage littered on the walkways. I was on an agenda that night, but I kept a mental note of another agenda: to visit the park at daytime, and taste their famous bar-b-que.
After Friday gimmicks in Makati, my friends Cielo, Ime and I would return to Alfaro Place at around 2 AM, chat, sleep then wake up at 9 AM,shower and head our separate ways. Cielo is off to her Docent Class at the Ayala Museum, Ime to her Industrial Psychology teaching class at UST, and I to my wonderful bed/derma/whatever is scheduled that day. But before we go, we cross the street to the park. On my first visit to the park where the parking area is converted to a Saturday flea market, I was overwhelmed by the sight. A mixture of traditional Filipino food sold in several stalls is its main offer. Kesong puti, Cebu lechon, Aling Nene's bar-b-q, fresh Chinese lumpia, puto, suman, kutsinta, organic vegetables and fruits, grilled seafoods, bacon pao, bonsai, native hats and bags, hot choco, flavored teas and coffee, fresh fruit shakes, pastries, pasta, you name it, they have it. A cacophony of sounds on a Saturday morning combined with a leisure walk, taking in the surroundings is not a sensory overload but is rather a delightful experience. There are no offensive smells or loud heckling. The stall owners encourage you to taste their products.
What You'll Hear:"This suman is made from herbs in Dumaguete. It's naturally sweet, taste it."
What You'll Sometimes Hear: " I want mine vegetarian lumpia. No sugar!!!! More vegetables!!!!"
POP on the product: Aklan-made, Guimaras mangoes, gourmet coffee
The Crowd: Armida Sigueon-Reyna shopping alone, that exercise lady (not Tina Juan) in full aerobics attire, Caucasian and Japanese couples, Makati's old rich couples, Chrissy of Nestle, a Caucasian woman carrying a bayong-ful of goodies, Preview's Pauline Juan with kid and yaya in tow (she was uber fashionable in green short shorts and a printed blouse, sans makeup), Celine Lopez in short shorts, a bright yellow top (sleeveless of course), and a scarf on her head, and with a guy (of course).
On my first visit, I've rounded the small parking lot twice and noted that in 2 hours, 7 whole Cebu lechons were sold at P300/kilo. Talk about a fast-moving item! My last visit was during the previous weekend. By 11:30, after rounding up the usuals, I'm in my car, driving to my Fashion Beat CD, munching on my bacon pao and glancing lovingly at my fresh Chinese lumpia, which I'm saving for lunch.
Tiger Airways
My birthday wish came true, all thanks to Tiger Airways. Flying to Singapore via Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark, the fare is absolutely, almost ridiculously cheap and people always ask,"What's the catch?".
A 2-way ticket to SG cost me SG$154.96 (that's only P5.5K). That's during their August promo rate, and booking is made through the internet. All you have to know is your passport number and a credit card number, and that's it. However, one needs to know some minor logistics.
1. How to get to Clark if you're not driving there: Philtranco has a booth outside Megamall A which is unmanned but has the daily pick-up schedule. I checked my schedule a day before my flight. My plane leaves at 7:35PM and the Philtranco has 3 schedules for a Tuesday flight, the last one leaves Pasay terminal at 3PM and is at Megamall by 3:30 PM. This is just in front of Megamall, along the side of the parking beside Podium. By 3:30 PM a queue has formed. I guess was asking too much when I hoped the bus would be there by 3:30 PM. It arrived 4PM.
2. Reservation of bus tickets: No need. Just be at Megamall, and you can pay inside the bus. There are no helpers inside the bus, you lift your own suitcase and the driver hauls it up. Then you take your seat, which brings me to the next point..
3. Don't bring a lot of baggage if you're travelling alone. The maximum load per person is at 15kg. There's not a lot of lugging around with your suitcase, though. The Clark airport terminal is actually very small, typical of a provincial terminal.
4. Bring at least P2200: 300 for the Philtranco bus ride (one way), P350 for the terminal fee and P1620 for the travel tax.
5. Megamall to Clark: It is just a 1.5 hour ride and you have more than an hour before boarding the plane. That is more than enough time, actually. (I had time to read my 110 unread email messages and respond to some, and text messages were sent).
6. The plane: It's an airbus 320, similar to PAL's domestic plane going to Aklan. 5 seats per row. It's your usual commercial plane except for the following:
a. Seats are smaller
b. No pillow, headset, barf bag, in-flight magazine, newspaper, welcome drink or food, no kumot, no TV or radio
c. Light meals are offerred on board like chicken sandwiches (SG$5-7), instant noodles ($2), wine, orange juice ($5), Coke or 7-Up, Toblerone ($2) etc. They also offer Duty Free items like wine, perfume, liquor, jewelries, the usual stuff.
7. Food: Food is not allowed on the plane. It used to be allowed but Pinoys bring Chickenjoy, well...that was the end of it. There is a small cafeteria inside the Clark terminal and they sell Coke products, mineral water, sandwiches and around 4 SKUs of URC chips.
8. The flight: I don't know if it was the guy beside me, the vegetarian Napster on my left, or the fire-resistant kumot I miss but it wasn't as comfortable as my PAL economy flights. The weather was really awful too so we all felt the turbulence. At one point my left temple was cringing in pain, it was the pressure. However, that was not as bad as the 22-seater, turbo-propelled plane I took on my way to Palawan. But that one wasn't bad either- I counted 39 islands and a rainbow (but again, that's another blog).
So, as for my rating, on a scale of 1-5, I'd like to quote Lester-"8 stars", because a personal greeting is always better for that someone special, even if that someone special was late in picking me up. Thanks Tiger Airways, for making travel junkies like me afford a trip to another foreign land. My goal is only to reach one new place each year, thanks to you, I'll be able to visit Malaysia next time.
A 2-way ticket to SG cost me SG$154.96 (that's only P5.5K). That's during their August promo rate, and booking is made through the internet. All you have to know is your passport number and a credit card number, and that's it. However, one needs to know some minor logistics.
1. How to get to Clark if you're not driving there: Philtranco has a booth outside Megamall A which is unmanned but has the daily pick-up schedule. I checked my schedule a day before my flight. My plane leaves at 7:35PM and the Philtranco has 3 schedules for a Tuesday flight, the last one leaves Pasay terminal at 3PM and is at Megamall by 3:30 PM. This is just in front of Megamall, along the side of the parking beside Podium. By 3:30 PM a queue has formed. I guess was asking too much when I hoped the bus would be there by 3:30 PM. It arrived 4PM.
2. Reservation of bus tickets: No need. Just be at Megamall, and you can pay inside the bus. There are no helpers inside the bus, you lift your own suitcase and the driver hauls it up. Then you take your seat, which brings me to the next point..
3. Don't bring a lot of baggage if you're travelling alone. The maximum load per person is at 15kg. There's not a lot of lugging around with your suitcase, though. The Clark airport terminal is actually very small, typical of a provincial terminal.
4. Bring at least P2200: 300 for the Philtranco bus ride (one way), P350 for the terminal fee and P1620 for the travel tax.
5. Megamall to Clark: It is just a 1.5 hour ride and you have more than an hour before boarding the plane. That is more than enough time, actually. (I had time to read my 110 unread email messages and respond to some, and text messages were sent).
6. The plane: It's an airbus 320, similar to PAL's domestic plane going to Aklan. 5 seats per row. It's your usual commercial plane except for the following:
a. Seats are smaller
b. No pillow, headset, barf bag, in-flight magazine, newspaper, welcome drink or food, no kumot, no TV or radio
c. Light meals are offerred on board like chicken sandwiches (SG$5-7), instant noodles ($2), wine, orange juice ($5), Coke or 7-Up, Toblerone ($2) etc. They also offer Duty Free items like wine, perfume, liquor, jewelries, the usual stuff.
7. Food: Food is not allowed on the plane. It used to be allowed but Pinoys bring Chickenjoy, well...that was the end of it. There is a small cafeteria inside the Clark terminal and they sell Coke products, mineral water, sandwiches and around 4 SKUs of URC chips.
8. The flight: I don't know if it was the guy beside me, the vegetarian Napster on my left, or the fire-resistant kumot I miss but it wasn't as comfortable as my PAL economy flights. The weather was really awful too so we all felt the turbulence. At one point my left temple was cringing in pain, it was the pressure. However, that was not as bad as the 22-seater, turbo-propelled plane I took on my way to Palawan. But that one wasn't bad either- I counted 39 islands and a rainbow (but again, that's another blog).
So, as for my rating, on a scale of 1-5, I'd like to quote Lester-"8 stars", because a personal greeting is always better for that someone special, even if that someone special was late in picking me up. Thanks Tiger Airways, for making travel junkies like me afford a trip to another foreign land. My goal is only to reach one new place each year, thanks to you, I'll be able to visit Malaysia next time.
STUDIO 34
I am obsessed about the tiny space that is going to be mine in a few months’ time. It’s a 34 sq meter loft studio which made me bankrupt for the past 3 years. I decided to put my money here instead of putting all of it on suits, shoes, bags, pretty blouses and more of those (I shop in cycles). Books and magazines are essentials. DVDs and CDs I indulge in when I have extra money. I pay a lot more for derma than for make-up. Spa is a luxury, massage I need. I stopped being the gadget girl years ago when I went back to Manila and sold my Fuji Finepix, webcam and headsets just before MP3s came along in 2000. Before I reveal too much of my pathways to self-fulfillment (that’s not all I spend my salary on- I support a lot of err….causes), let me get back to my studio 34.
You’d either hate it or love it. I can’t decide yet. I said I want a home with a view of the expansive sky. Alas, this comes at a price I can’t afford. It’s either a rat’s cage or a singles pad-my license to an independent life. That’s the way I see it, and more often than not, it’s the former, rather than the latter. Why live alone when at home there’s always a good meal waiting, freshly made bed and ironed clothes? I wrack my brain on how to furnish the unit to make it liveable. For my future interior designer, I am putting together a list of things that may or may not be mandatory requirements for my condo unit (or rat’s cage, I still can’t decide).
1.Layout, lighting, color, tonality and style- As we are constrained with a 22 sq. meter living and dining area and a 12 sq.meter bedroom loft, space is an issue, so we want to create the illusion of space.
a.Personally, there is nothing more relaxing than the soft muted tones of beige, brown, tan, soft lights and an aromatherapy scent to greet one after a hard day’s work. I want the room to be relaxing, more than anything.
b.If I can have all these and yet achieve a spacious feel to the unit, I’d be happy, but I’m willing to negotiate->A spot to read a good book, a small table to have coffee on a Sunday morning while reading the paper, and oh yes, a couch to rest my tired feet on.
c.I want the room to have as much of the sun as it can, to make it airy, clean and light as much as it is relaxing.
d.Japinoy is actually the style I’d like to keep. I lived in Japan for over a year and I loved their craftsmanship, clean, simple lines in furniture, and I know this can be mixed with our own Filipino designs.
e.I love wood. But I know wood is difficult to maintain, and I don’t know a lot about wood. I do know there are lots of different wood finishing that can be mixed and matched, sand-washed or polished. I want wood finishing or wood interspersed inside the unit.
2.Furniture & Fixture- I have listed some of the units I currently have or thinking of buying for the unit.
This is the 39 sq m unit, which is the only unit that can hold a sofa set.My unit can only hold either one of the following- a foyer receiving table, bookshelf (think of Carrie Bradshaw’s, only a third of that one though) or a customized built-in L-shaped couch.
a.Bookshelf- think of the foyer displayed at the Ayala studio unit at Greenbelt. I am thinking of doing without a couch or sofa and just have the bookshelf upon entering the door. This way I have all my books, CDs, DVDs, Bulol pieces, Baguio knick knacks and Japanese pottery organized.
b.Bed made of kamagong or molave. Teak if I can afford it but it would cost me 2 months salary. Note: The loft bedroom is open- haven’t decided whether to keep it open or use wooden sliding panels (ok, will keep it open initially because of budget constraints)
c. Sidetable on both sides complete with bedside hanging or mounted reading lamps. Maybe our Lonely Planet cabinet can be the bedside table. Only this came with a bamboo “carpet” shipped from Boracay.
d. A couch that can sit two people or at least enough for me to lie on and put my feet up while reading. If not a couch, a fabulous chair (Budji Layug if I can afford it, but it may cost more than my bed)
e. Would native blinds be right for the unit?
f. A small table which can be the buffet table on sleepover nights, but is mainly a dining table for two (made of wood of course)
g. Lamp- I have a Noguchi Japanese paper Akari. This may be used somewhere in the house or a lamp designed locally by an artist/ design house
3.Electronics:
a.This poses a problem, as there is not much space. I do not watch a lot of TV, but I watch movies on my DVD.
b.I’ve decided that I don’t want TV in the bedroom. But if space is the issue, I may be willing to have the TV set in the bedroom. Or decide not have the TV at all.
I do not own a painting yet, maybe for the meantime photographs will do. Whew, this is too much work, just thinking about it. I need a professional. If you know of a good interior designer who is willing to work with my rat’s cage and constraints mentioned above, please get in touch with me.
You’d either hate it or love it. I can’t decide yet. I said I want a home with a view of the expansive sky. Alas, this comes at a price I can’t afford. It’s either a rat’s cage or a singles pad-my license to an independent life. That’s the way I see it, and more often than not, it’s the former, rather than the latter. Why live alone when at home there’s always a good meal waiting, freshly made bed and ironed clothes? I wrack my brain on how to furnish the unit to make it liveable. For my future interior designer, I am putting together a list of things that may or may not be mandatory requirements for my condo unit (or rat’s cage, I still can’t decide).
1.Layout, lighting, color, tonality and style- As we are constrained with a 22 sq. meter living and dining area and a 12 sq.meter bedroom loft, space is an issue, so we want to create the illusion of space.
a.Personally, there is nothing more relaxing than the soft muted tones of beige, brown, tan, soft lights and an aromatherapy scent to greet one after a hard day’s work. I want the room to be relaxing, more than anything.
b.If I can have all these and yet achieve a spacious feel to the unit, I’d be happy, but I’m willing to negotiate->A spot to read a good book, a small table to have coffee on a Sunday morning while reading the paper, and oh yes, a couch to rest my tired feet on.
c.I want the room to have as much of the sun as it can, to make it airy, clean and light as much as it is relaxing.
d.Japinoy is actually the style I’d like to keep. I lived in Japan for over a year and I loved their craftsmanship, clean, simple lines in furniture, and I know this can be mixed with our own Filipino designs.
e.I love wood. But I know wood is difficult to maintain, and I don’t know a lot about wood. I do know there are lots of different wood finishing that can be mixed and matched, sand-washed or polished. I want wood finishing or wood interspersed inside the unit.
2.Furniture & Fixture- I have listed some of the units I currently have or thinking of buying for the unit.
This is the 39 sq m unit, which is the only unit that can hold a sofa set.My unit can only hold either one of the following- a foyer receiving table, bookshelf (think of Carrie Bradshaw’s, only a third of that one though) or a customized built-in L-shaped couch.
a.Bookshelf- think of the foyer displayed at the Ayala studio unit at Greenbelt. I am thinking of doing without a couch or sofa and just have the bookshelf upon entering the door. This way I have all my books, CDs, DVDs, Bulol pieces, Baguio knick knacks and Japanese pottery organized.
b.Bed made of kamagong or molave. Teak if I can afford it but it would cost me 2 months salary. Note: The loft bedroom is open- haven’t decided whether to keep it open or use wooden sliding panels (ok, will keep it open initially because of budget constraints)
c. Sidetable on both sides complete with bedside hanging or mounted reading lamps. Maybe our Lonely Planet cabinet can be the bedside table. Only this came with a bamboo “carpet” shipped from Boracay.
d. A couch that can sit two people or at least enough for me to lie on and put my feet up while reading. If not a couch, a fabulous chair (Budji Layug if I can afford it, but it may cost more than my bed)
e. Would native blinds be right for the unit?
f. A small table which can be the buffet table on sleepover nights, but is mainly a dining table for two (made of wood of course)
g. Lamp- I have a Noguchi Japanese paper Akari. This may be used somewhere in the house or a lamp designed locally by an artist/ design house
3.Electronics:
a.This poses a problem, as there is not much space. I do not watch a lot of TV, but I watch movies on my DVD.
b.I’ve decided that I don’t want TV in the bedroom. But if space is the issue, I may be willing to have the TV set in the bedroom. Or decide not have the TV at all.
I do not own a painting yet, maybe for the meantime photographs will do. Whew, this is too much work, just thinking about it. I need a professional. If you know of a good interior designer who is willing to work with my rat’s cage and constraints mentioned above, please get in touch with me.
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