The 23rd

As time passes and interests wanes, this is the result yet again. I find it difficult to keep my attention span focused on things I want and enjoy doing...be it writing, drawing or gaming.

Sigh. But one must try and try again I suppose. So here we are, having a go, and to accommodate a special post, I shall dedicate it to my 23rd year of age! Yes, this December 17th 2012, yours truly, has turned 23. I had a spectacular series of fortunate events which is as follows:

• December 14th 2012 - An amazing opening of gifts brought in by none other than Naj, who has given me a Gurren Lagann figure to add to my collection, 3 extra large shirts and other goodies! Not forgetting Nada, who put in a really heart felt note with a dinar. Heh. 
• December 15th 2012 - Rested during the day, did a speech at night, followed by an expensive dinner at Meat Co. Fancy meat was had, along with good conversation into the night. Exemplary food. Love the mash. 
• December 16th 2012 - Breakfast at Fudds, and went to my rented Chalet in Al Dar. The island may not be much, but it is something. The Chalet was beautiful, comfy and romantic. Oh how would I have loved to stay overnight and snuggle cuddle the night away...Boo. The day was filled with rain, so we tended to get wet alot. Much the same can be said for the boat ride back to the mainland...rain hurts at that speed. Joined the surprise party for Farrell. Fun.
• December 17th 2012 - Morning shopping with Mom at BCC. She bought be a fancy polo from Giordiano. Orange too. Went to the pet store, mom fell in love with cats (at least kitties). Followed by lunch at Shada (difficult to choose, family is picky over what to eat, whine if its too expensive, whine if its too cheap).

So all in all, a great series of events. Appreciated very greatly the call from Rob and Faisal from the Philippines, made me feel I didn't miss out as much. Though...it did kind of remind me of how lonely I can get. It peeved me to attend a surprise party when mine was just hours away, but to each their own I suppose. 

After those series of days, I'd like to say I'm exhausted and find it difficult to creep back into the work mood. It's just not there at the moment. Finding out not being to take any small bit of your leave so you can take a breather is not helping (though yes, they agreed to pay me my leave, but what's money over relaxation?) 

Now what? Happy Birthday to myself, and see you in a year!

Pent Up Words

Seeing that I haven't posted in a while, I suppose it's appropriate enough to try and have a long enough post to keep this blog happy. Many things have transpired since August 30. Lot of work had come through, project after project with no remorse. It came to the point of working daily 10-11 hour shifts, which never bothered me (a tempting workaholic). Thankfully, despite the stress, I don't think I'd have it any other. I'm glad of the support my staff and boss give, despite the company's overall management treatment.

Friends are all wonderful. As the months bear down to the year end, it pains me to know a best friend of mine will leave the country for Italy. But the memories will stay, as I do my best to keep them remembered. The gradual return of an old friend has been wonderful and a great addition to the roster. Others sadly have soured over the months, though highly in my opinion, to be in its course. A friend with an awful temper who has a grudge with said best friend who is beyond reason. Another who in belief, thinks I'm hateful towards due to a misunderstanding between us. That same friend who seems to always want others to compromise but hides away from it when the time comes. Funny enough, I don't hold a grudges for things like that. Just a simple forgive and reconcile will do. But like I said earlier, it ran its course.

Love is booming and growing. I like the fact that things now don't ever seem stagnant and feels like blissful clockwork. There has been talks of engagement which I hope to take on soon next year if I can rack up courage and a plan to support it! But hey, confirming and reassuring now would ruin the future's surprise right?

So with that, I close the night as I'm tired and wanting of sleep. Maybe I'll go on detail tomorrow about the events that happened in between, to chronicle my memories so they'll never be forgotten.

Philippines Day 14, August 30th 2012

With the final night of my vacation here to the Philippines, the night beckons and the excitement of being back home brings near. The day was not lost. I started from SM Megamall in Manduluyong and took a taxi all the way to Makati's Greenbelt Complex. As soon as I stepped out of the taxi, I was flabbergasted. It was so unlike what I've visited in my two week stay (mind you, I have visited Philippines many times before, but I like taking things anew). Lush greenery, scenic sculptures and proper landscaping has made it into an amazing sight to the eyes. It's as luxurious in the only way Makati can offer. The restaurants choices are diverse , enough to sooth your taste and thirst for the different, while the shops are high class and watering to any devout fashion follower. It had given me what I was looking for in my vacation. That need to feel pampered and see Manila's finest. The photos of this little trip will soon be followed. 

After meeting up with my cousin, we shifted to our dinner reservations at Village Tavern in High Bonifacio Street Central. Our irate taxi driver had scammed us into taking us somewhere else by 'mistake' and raised our taxi fees to a hefty amount. The unexpected long taxi drive had gotten my motion sickness into overdrive and drove me to a painful nausea. But that all came away as we closed in our destination. It was beautiful, outright lavish and spectacular. It was Greenbelt's grandness merged into a whole locale. The entire area had the vibe of modern luxury and did not disappoint with every walking step. Even Starbucks was over the par, with a very cordial and funny employee named Derrick who when upon taking my name, I mentioned my name as 'K' to avoid confusion of my real name. He had then smiled and asked if it was short for Kale, Kate, or Katie, and when telling him my real name, he apologized and thank me for making it easier for him. Hah! 

Upon reaching Village Tavern, it was 'class' written all over it. The waitresses were clad in red and very courteous as they should be. When seated, we were rounded with other food bloggers (my cousin is one of them, we were invited to do food tasting and reviews, I was just a plus one invite). It was awkward at first, being out of place and especially when the food came around with everyone grabbing their high end cameras and dishing out photos when all I wanted was to eat the food. Everyone was amazing to say at the table. Well cultured and educated, fun and talkative, and well known lovers of food. From Teddy, to Spanky, to Mitsy and even the head Chef Josh Boutwood (who at only 25, is strapping and amazing with his food). The food on the other hand, was on an equal level. Down right damn amazing. I started off with some blackened shrimp which tasted simply divine. Followed by the pork sliders, flat bread pizzas, crispy chicken tacos and the cowboy burger. Every step in the course was tasty, appealing and jaw dropping wow. There was an interesting mix of black beans mix which was mixed with chocolate. It was odd at first, but it really does go well together. Then came the deserts, which involved St. Bard's Cake, carrot cake, banana crepes and a double decker cheese cake. All I can say, is that we were stuffed to our limits. And let's not forget what was drunk, haha, signature cocktails of snowberry cooler (champagne based) and mojito. Both were strong, and well flavored, unlike most that was around Manila. I would really like to give a more in depth review of the food, but that, after careful decision will be included in my new blog, dedicated to food reviews. Haha, guess they got to me. 

So all in all, it was a great nice. Lavish, fun, and extravagant. Just how I like my Philippines!

Philippines Day 11, August 27 2012

Today, I traveled to Manila's bargain shopping haven, Divisoryia. An enormous place containing a multitude of shopping complexes and street vendors to make it into one shopping hell extravaganza. Since today was apparently a holiday, it was jam packed. The streets and alleys were filled with whatever Manila could throw at it. It was if the paths were the veins, and us, the blood. It's an impressive sight. Though as much of a shopping showcase as it turns out to be, honestly, it really favors the female sex. For every 10 shops, you get one for the male individual. With me being a picky shopper, you can imagine what my feelings were (I managed to score a pair of shoes after 4-5 hours of searching). All in all, a great experience if ever in the Philippines.

But you know what? There was a recent controversy made by the director of the Bourne Legacy film, Tony Gilroy about his choice of filming in Manila. Apparently the choice was made because Manila was "so colorful and ugly and gritty, raw and stinky and crowded" It had made the news. People grew mad of the statement, showing the strong Filipino pride and patriotism. Others stated that it was just one aspect and should not be labelled as a whole. In my opinion...I think it does ring true. It's a fact that Filipinos should not hide because its so blatantly out there. Walk out the streets and you see the fine contrast of rich and the poor. Drive on the roads and you'll see unpainted patches of buildings, highway pillars, columns all in that plain drab grey. It's depressing. See the squatter areas, and how their homes are compared to the ever rising condos that are constantly built. Walk in Divisoryia and smell a whole combination of smells hitting you at once, be it fruits, sweat, piss or who knows what else. Ride the jeepneys and taxis and see how its pieced together, barely finding something that's kept on tip-top condition. As you read this, maybe you'll flare up and say that I'm over-exaggerating, or whatever words that can be associated with it. But honestly, that is what Philippines is. Despite the poverty, and stark contrasts to poverty and many other things, we LIVE on. We show our colors and show our ingenuity in making due with what we have. No matter how people are impoverished, we keep a smile and find a way, to live for the sake of living. That's why its more fun in the Philippines. It's because we strive to enjoy life, despite the drawbacks.

On my bus ride back home to the condo, a multitude of thoughts ran across my mind on how to better lives just a little bit. These of course, are not well thought out and not fool proof, but hey, a man can dream right?

• Employ and ensure a stricter clean up system, make it a whole nation drive rather than keep it to the corporate areas. Laws to implement them, like how Davao does it time to time. Educate on it.
• Paint. Honestly, Filipinos are colorful. Let our surroundings be so. Leave no place with that drab gray. It's depressing.
• Set higher standards for many things, like transportation and god heavens, public toilets, be it in malls, restaurants (please keep them stocked, or have appropriate alternatives). 

Ah, well these are just ramblings of a bored man. Maybe they ring true, and I'd like to think and wish that these words would build into something great for the Philippines. But one can dream right?

That's my Filipino patriotism right there. 

Information Processing?

Another not so uneventful night here in the Philippines. As expected, since living in with the family and not friends has hindered my ability to go out and enjoy the nightlife. That, and living here where I am currently, is so devoid of any interesting nightspots. If there were, doubt it'd be safe. I'll try my hand at tomorrow, to sleep over a cousin's place to enjoy a good one or two night fun I suppose. It's all in the fates. Only upside to  having failed that path, is the obvious savings from a huge expenditure, as my now-in-the-Philippines cousin is seeing the hard life and has no money to splurge along side with me (i.e. no share in the expenses).

So having a night in again, I'm reduced to browsing the online virtual world as is normal in my every day life. Though, the constant boredom that I am currently under, has forced me to look up my entire normal feeds of  Facebook, Twitter, IGN, Cracked, 9gag and my other usual haunts. It's a sad pity that I exhaust all that and can't find more to bide my time. I'm always constantly in need for odd tidbits of information, be it relevant to my likes or not, just in order to store and update my cultural know-how or whatever one calls it. It's an asset. To be constantly updated, able to associate or de-associate yourself (if you know what I mean). But the bad side, it's an addiction. Now that I've exhausted my feeds of any new info, I'm in dire need of something of interest to read up on. Nothing finding any, would leave to state of slight depression and dissatisfaction. Go figure.

So what do I do to rid myself of this? Blog it. What else is there to do?

Philippines Day 7, August 23 2012

Today was a very much unproductive day. Poor brother had fallen sick to some bad case of the flu (I suppose, doctor's still analyzing a sample of his blood for an appropriate diagnosis) so most of the day was stayed in at home. The day before was an interesting sort, commuted myself alone to get to SM Megamall to meet an old friend, Reniel Tengco, which was a blast. Talked over at Starbucks and went over to Metrowalk for dinner and drinks. All that we talked about was general people we used to meet, the problems we had, and all that sort. All in all, the dinner cost 1,700 Pesos which is around BD 17. This included, 6 beers, a pitcher of cocktail called Last Gas, 3 courses of food. Not bad right?

So the current day, like mentioned, was unproductive. Sat around, watched Battleship, which was a so and so film. Went over to this place called Ever Gotesco, which is a crappy shopping complex compared to most I've been to, but I did manage to buy some nice things for my car!

So what's in store for tonight? Maybe more posts, gaming or whatever that comes across! So see you till then!

Philippine Bread?

Having breakfast at home in the Philippines is a blast. Why? The bread's so soft and surprisingly, long lasting. I wonder how they make it so, and if its actually healthy enough to eat. I'm no health freak, but after tasting what you can have in Bahrain, you've honestly got to question it right?