Mt. Maculot [Trek Experience]

Our Group

My first hike is at Mt. Maculot located at Cuenca in Batangas Province, Philippines. 

So how was my climb there? At first it was so tiring but the view is worth it! 

Number 1 rule when you’re about to climb: always prepare your body by doing a 1 hour jog (at most) a week before the climb. 

At our Campsite

That’s what I failed to do so climbing turns really hard for me, I’m just glad one of my groupmates help me on this. Going back, we did a lot of rest so it took us almost 4 hours to get on the campsite, it was almost dark and the weather is not that good – a slight rain – we find  good place to build our tent and make some food. Good thing some of my groupmates are a pro on this (they have the proper tools and equipment). They cooked Sinigang for dinner (I am not a good cook, I don’t even know how to cook actually so I let them do the cooking) and finish our fill. There is a small store at the campsite, funny right? I don’t expect a store at the top of the mountain. Ha-ha! We bought water there then get back on our tent since it’s so cold outside. I even have a jacket inside a sweater (just how cold is that?) and I still feel so freezing cold! We did a small chit-chat and some of my groupmates had their “small drink” – on of their best way to get their body heat. It was about midnight they called it a night. 

On our way to Summit

The next day we decided to hike at the summit of Mt. Maculot, it was a long rocky walk and climb plus the strong blow of wind but we still manage to get there safe. I could say that it was one of the amazing view I saw! Plus the excitement you get when you’re there and the adrenaline rush! The fresh air, the beautiful sight and the strong gust of wind – the experience I would really want to feel over and over again. We get back to our camp and get some food and pack our things. 

Rule number 2 of Climbing: always take your trash with you. 

At the Summit

That’s what we did and before I forgot all the campers there will always greet you like you were their comrade, helped you and even have some information exchange like what’s the best way to get there or a good mountain to hike for beginners. After saying our goodbyes, we finally went down, travelling down was easy, it took us almost 2 hours since we took some rest to enjoy the view. The rest of the travel was smooth and amazing. When we arrive at the foot of the mountain, we took a quick bath then get ready for home.

I could say that my experience climbing Mt. Maculot is definitely worth it! And the feels it makes me feel is something I will always look for, because climbing is an activity that would really make you feel…alive.

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Hubangon, Asturias, Cebu [Travels]

On our way to Cebu!

It is my first time travelling to Cebu and meet my mom’s relative. I am very much excited for this travel that I literally couldn’t sleep at all. It took almost an hour travelling from Manila to Cebu and the view above is so worth it! So first things first, when we arrived at the Mactan Airport, we met my Aunt and my cousin then off we go to Ayala Cebu Mall. I never thought I would find Ayala here in Cebu. Ha-ha! Going back, we drop our things to the baggage counter and look for a place to eat. It was around 6pm, almost dinner time and we’re so hungry so we ended up at the first place we see – KFC (it feels heaven smelling chicken when you’re so hungry). After eating, we did some small necessary shopping like soap, shampoo etc. then claim our baggage and off to the van area which is just outside the Ayala Mall. We look for Asturias destination (120 pesos per head) and is a 1 hour travel from Cebu City to Asturias (this is via Transcentral Road). I spend my 1 hour looking at the remarkable view outside, it was so dark that the city light look like a stars. The wind is so cold and you can even see the fog forming out of it. 

Creek or 'Sapa'

We drop off at the national road to visit our cousins and from there we ride the habal-habal (a motor ride and they call it habal-habal wherein it is a 4 person per motorcycle ride including the driver). The ride from Asturias to Hubangon is totally dark and is perfect for those who love star gazing while on a habal-habal ride. The landscape – although I couldn’t see it well – was amazing, the air was so fresh, the sounds of the trees dancing, the cold breeze brushing on my face, and the sounds of gushing water coming from the creek, all of it feels heaven! We arrive at our grandparent’s house around midnight and decided to give it ourselves a much needed rest before exploring. It was so cold there that you won't need any electric fan or air con to sleep.

Public Market

The next morning, that’s when we explore. The water from the bathroom is coming directly from the spring. It feels so different from the city water, it makes your skin feel tight and lighter and you feel revitalizing. I love the water there! And it coldness, it won’t freeze you! (I miss it already!). Just a small walk from our grandparent’s house, you’ll see a very clean creek, it is so clean that it makes you want to sit, put your feet on it and listen to the birds chirping, wind and trees (what a very peaceful way to relax). You couldn’t see any houses nearby and all you could see was a landscape with cows, goat, trees and grass. There’s no signal in there because it is literally at the mountain! No TV's, no internet just radio for news – perfect for those who wants to soul search, feel the nature or just wanted to relax, think and get away from fast-phase world of the city. A perfect run-away paradise for me. After a bit of chit-chat, introduction and breakfast, my mom decided to tour us around and introduce us to some natives there. The walk from the market took almost an hour but every walk is worth it because of its remarkable view. You couldn’t even feel the sun heat there! The market is like what I see on a farm game, most people there sell their crops and do some trades from the city product. We just bought banana-Q there then went on a walk onto mom’s elementary school. Mom said that the place change since the government – I think – are making some progress to make the place a rural province. After our short tour, I, my sister and our cousin’s took some walk at the creek to locate the falls but apparently we failed to locate it – instead we saw a very clean spring and we immediately took a dip! The water is cold but again it won’t freeze you! 

Spring Water!

The next day, my uncle tour us on each land and farm owned by our grandparent’s. I couldn’t believe at how big each land my grandparents own (we’re talking about hectares here!) We went to the farm which is actually at the top of the mountain and we even plant a banana tree there! It was so exhausting and exciting at the same time that I feel so giddy even though I’m tired from all the planting activity. I went around quite a bit to look at the view above and harvest some of the ripe crops we could see. 

Back in the house, we gave the crops and my uncle killed a chicken for our dinner – a native chicken. I am amaze that most of the animal there are not tied up except the cows, goats and pigs. It was my first time eating a home cooked native chicken, it taste similar to tinola but looks different. They don’t have stoves there so they cook by burning some woods etc. just imagine an old way of cooking without stoves. 

Finished Planting my Banana Tree

The same thing continues as days pass by. The time there move slowly unlike the fast-phase movement of the city. Everything about there seems so new for a city girl but definitely worth the travel and experience. A place I definitely would want to go back. My story doesn’t sum up all the beauty my eyes saw while travelling there. I just hope you reading this will decide to go there and see for yourself how beautiful the nature is when it is left untouched. Hubangon, Asturias Cebu is absolutely one of the many places you would like to add to your list to reconnect with nature and experience the province life.

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Usui Takumi [Character Review]

Usui Takumi

Character review time! I tried to pull an all-nighter shift re-watching Kaichou wa Maid no Sama and still, it nevel fails to make me feel kilig all over again especially Usui Takumi, so while watching I did some character analysis on him and observe his character all throughout the episode.

Usui Takumi, he is a 17 years old high school student of Seika High School, respected by most boys at school, popular though he doesn’t care about it and he does not seems to enjoy the attentions he gain. He seems uninterested about everything and everyone, he also keeps on rejecting girls blatantly until Ayuzawa Misaki turns his world upside down. Typical story for most shoujo type of anime but this is one of the best so far. 

Usui Being Protective of Misaki

On the first few episodes, I could say that Usui has taken notice of Misaki not because of her beauty but because maybe she’s the only girl who does not paid him so much attention and praises. She only notice him when she reject girls and then that's it. His interest seems to level up when he realize that Misaki is not the type who depends on anyone but rather take all the problems to herself which I guess Usui finds interesting. After he found out that the Student Council President is working as a maid, knows the reason behind it and why she have to lie about her part time job, that’s when he start to keeps on observing her, figuring her out and looking out for her. 

Usui hugging Misaki

Usui is a very great observer, he knows that Misaki is not the type who accept direct help so as much as possible with all the help he could offer, he make it to the point that it will look like some accidental help or just a passerby who happens to be on the site. He even know what she’s up to and what she's about to do. His observation upon her has taken to a different level as the story progress, he began to feel possessive, jealousy and very protective towards Misaki in which he admit. It is also shown that he is in fact knowledgeable about almost everything – a prodigy. Other than jealousy, possessiveness etc., Usui is also very thoughtful of Misaki to the point of kissing another guy and enduring Misaki being so dense (after his sudden confession) just to not make her feel confused and out of focus. He is also an attention seeker towards Misaki that he’ll annoy her to death just to have her attention only for himself. Despite noticing that his own world actually revolve around Misaki to the point I actually think he has no friend – which I think is true – and despite being a snob, he is actually good at getting along with Misaki’s co-worker, friends and family (not the kind that he’ll actually treat them as friends but the kind that he’ll take notice, nod and a good communicator). He also give Misaki's advice on how to treat the boys fairly since Misaki is always in favor of girls.

Jealous Usui

One of the traits I like about Usui is his respect towards Misaki and her competitiveness. He takes her challenge head on, not to prove himself but to show respect on her as an individual and as the only woman who can keep up on him. I like how he support Misaki on almost everything (he just can’t say no towards Misaki) and how he showed that he opposed in his own way.

Usui Kissing Misaki

For me, I think Usui is a type of boyfriend who wouldn’t make you feel suffocated as long as no boys would go take a move towards her girl. He’ll let you do what you needs to do, give you advices, enough space and support you on almost everything. So overall Usui Takumi is one hell of a guy that most girls would wish to be their boyfriend. Ha-ha! But sorry girls, Usui is mi–errr I mean Misaki's Usui. 

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Mom's Birthday Celebration...

Butao Ramen

Mom’s Birthday Celebration for her 54th birthday is not an extravagant one. We had plans a week before her birthday but not all went well according to plan. Who would expect such happenings a day before her birthday right? It was a family matter and not one I should share with. So yeah going back, we still manage to celebrate her birthday. A simple night out dinner at Ramen Nagi in Mall of Asia because that’s her birthday wish and she actually want to try ramen because of Maine Mendoza – my mom’s a big fan. We ordered Butao King or King Butao? I couldn’t remember the exact name but it has something to do with butao. They served a big bowl of it and mom ordered Japanese rice too and another menu with pork on top but it’s a rice meal (I’m not good at remembering names). The ramen was delicious, the pork was so tender and yummy and the noodles – the noodles are cooked in a well done manner. I enjoyed the Ramen that I finished first even though they served me last. Ha-ha! I also ate the one with pork toppings (I still couldn’t remember the name) and I like it but I just ate one spoon of it since mom only ordered one and I only ask for a taste *sniff*.

lots of alcapone, JCO

After that we decided to shop and walk just to digest our food because we’re so full! Then ordered a half dozen (take out) at J.CO – mom loves the doughnut there. Alcapone is their best seller but I like the one with chocolate crunch toppings. 

Birthday Girl

To my mom: I know you didn’t enjoy your birthday since you didn’t have the chance to visit the chuch and thank God for another blessed year you had but still Happy Birthday and I know God knows the reason why. So my message uhm, thank you for everything. I always say this to you and will repeat it again: You, guiding me is what makes me who I am today. I am not me without you being there so thank you mama! I will always keep in mind all the sacrifices you made for us. You are my main motivations to strive harder in life, to give you a better life you deserve. I love you always. 

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Bride of the Water God [Review]

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Date aired: Jul 3, 2017 to Aug 22, 2017
Status: Completed
No. of Episodes: 16
Online Stream: Bride of the Water God



Summary:
Villagers suffer through a prolonged drought. The god of water Ha Baek can allow the rain if a young woman is sacrificed to him as his bride. For the villagers, So Ah decides to become Ha Baek's bride. She finally meets Ha Baek, but he is totally different from what she expected.

Review:
Okay, so I finish the whole series and that last part made me cry. T.T not because of their love story but because of the undying connection of the parent’s to their children. The part when Yoon So-Ah (Shin Se-Kyung) found out that she was save because ……………….If you haven’t watch it then you should *cries a lot*.

Underwater Scene

Enough of my crying moment. The whole series was good. I rate it good because it lacks of something. Bride of the Water God has a lots of potentials but apparently I guess they cut the budget for the series since I heard it’s not a big hit in Korea (why? Their acting was superb!). Also the special effect on the water scene and the underwater scene? What happen? It looks too obvious and why don’t they have lots of godly power effects and action? I was getting so hyped seeing the water dragon on the first few episode and then that’s it? They started an amazing production and then plop at the end. No consistency – one thing they lack.

So Ah - Habaek - Hoo-Ye - Moo-ra - Bi Ryum

Habaek hugs So Ah

With regards to the actors and actresses (I promised not to be bias on this one) Nam Joo Hyuk portraying Ha Baek suits him though I feel the awkwardness on his chemistry with Shin Se-Kyung, tbh they don’t have that kind of chemistry that will make you feel kilig. Shin Se-Kyung is a good actress though I haven’t watch any of her series before botwg. Her acting skills on the finale sums it up but like I said I don’t feel the chemistry between the two leading stars. Regarding the second lead star (and I must say I might have a second star lead syndrome again!) Gong Myung and Krystal Jung got superb rates for me for their acting skills and they look cute together! I love how Gond Myung portray Bi-Ryum from playful to serious gods when playtime is over. Lols. And Krystal Jung, such a beauty and sophistication. Her role fits on her so well (I like her role the most tbh). Lastly Lim Ju-hwan. He is one of the most superb actor here. His acting skills on portraying his role as a halfie – half human, half god – was superb! And he almost trick me there, I thought he’s the evil one! Overall the rest of the star did an amazing job portraying their role so kudos for that. *yay*

Drama - Manhwa

Regarding the story line. I don’t understand why they call it Bride of the Water God when Yoon So-Ah was not a bride at all but a servant? I have read the manhwa and I thought this series was like the reincarnation of Ha Baek and So-Ah in the modern world wherein Ha Baek lost his memory and later on will remember Yoon So-Ah from the past. So I was kinda disappointed to know that it has NO connection on the manhwa at all and that it just had the plot or maybe the character’s name (since like I said, I didn’t find the connection in the manga). I also notice that the phase on this series is so fast like Ha Baek falls in love with So-Ah in the 4th episode. In the ending, I think its rush but they done it so well so it doesn’t look so rush at all.  

Overall, Bride of the Water God is a good series to watch. It just looks boring because the leading stars has no chemistry so we were like watching a series with no feels – except for the finale (I cried a bucket there T.T). And if you read the manhwa version of this, you should not put your hopes up, this is so different from the manga so don’t expect. So if you’re into Romance-Fantasy with slight heavy drama Korean Series and a BIG FAN of Nam Joo Hyuk this one suits you. 

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Having a Busy Weekend? (Lei's Update)

Yep that was me few days ago. I was polishing my blog and studying some codes from scratch and viola *drum roll* I made it!

So what else to do Lei? I have lots of reading and watching to do so I could create a reviews. I actually watch Bride of the Water God today but I couldn't create a review from just one episode, well, I think - actually I can, I just don't want to start k-drama review of BOTWG on episode 15 because that would seem incomplete. Maybe I'll do a review about it when the whole series is done. Meanwhile here's what I look like today.

Not a total sight to look at, good thing my glasses hide my eyebags well. I don't even have the time to fix my hair.

So how was it for you? How did you spend your weekend? I hope you spend it more productively or entertaining somehow.

Now for some books to read Lei, your 6 books behind as per your goodreads.

Laters!





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If There's A Word Stronger Than Love

How did we meet? 

One day, a butterfly flew like a petal and made a small flutter. 

How did we meet and end up here? 

The corner of the street where we exchanged our love in spring. 

It was a sudden miracle. 

We slowly held hands as we walked down the street together. 

The dandelions beneath the telephone pole swayed brightly. 

How did we manage to walk past all those times together? 

Were we able to reach love because we walked past such lovable moments? 

I came to believe that there’s no such thing as coincidence in love. 

In order to make two people fall in love with each other, 

I believe the universe calculates even the smallest of happenings 

including the wing stroke of a butterfly. 

An inevitable miracle. 

I didn’t want to think that we met by a mere coincidence. 

So the only thing I can do is to do my best to love you.
At the moment, I am passing through your love.


From the Korean Drama "Bride of the Water God"

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How To Love An Alpha Girl‬

‪An alpha female is strong as hell. She has a great group of friends, has self confidence, knows what she wants and goes after it with no hesitation. She is fierce and doesn’t want to be tamed.

‪Don’t try to change her. Don’t try to turn her into something she is not. She was not made to sink and to bend. She was made to swim and fly. She was made to shine so brightly. So don’t even attempt to dim her blinding light.

‪Know that she does not need you. She does not need you to be happy or to feel fulfilled. But she loves you. She wants you. She chose you. And trust me, she had a lot of options.

‪So love her back.

‪Show up for her when you can tell that she needs you but won’t necessarily tell you. Show up when she is silent at night and you know something is bothering her. She is not made of steel even though she thinks she is. She is going to break sometimes. She is going to tear. She is going to crash.

‪Don’t you dare give up on her when she gives up on herself. Don’t turn your back on her. Yes, she doesn’t need you. But she will want you to be there. She will want you to show her that you give a damn. She will want you to show her that you won’t go anywhere. That you actually live up to your promises.

‪Don’t act like she’s your possession or prize. She is a human being. Treat her like one.

‪Know that she is a go getter. Know that she is a strong woman. She is resilient. She isn’t with you for fun, or for a fling. She is with you for the real deal. She is with you because she sees something good in you. She is with you because she sees a future. Because you are someone special. And she deserves something special. She deserves someone special.

‪She won’t take shit from you. She won’t take your crap, your games, or your nonsense. She is not going to put up with that. She knows her worth. She knows her heart and her soul and she knows that she deserves someone who can give her the world.

‪Be honest with her. Tell her how you feel. Don’t beat round the bush. Don’t hide from your feelings and from what your heart is telling you. Be a good man. Be a decent man and be a better man for her and for her future.

‪If you feel your feelings are fading don’t stick around. If you feel like your heart is slowly distancing itself from hers, leave. Don’t wait. Don’t lie to her. She is strong enough to handle your leaving. She is strong enough to handle your wreckage.

‪Oh and if you break her heart? She won’t ever take you back again. She won’t ever look at you in the same light. She won’t ever smile at you in the same way again. But she will move on. She will persevere. It’s what she’s good at. Surviving and growing and blooming.

‪She will survive without your love. Believe me, she will do more than just survive. She will do so much more. Without you. 

Written by Lauren Jarvis-Gibson

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The Truth About How To Fall Back In Love With Your Life

It starts with pain. A lot of pain. You have to fall out of love in order to fall back in it, unfortunately. Maybe it was a person, maybe it was a job, maybe it’s just yourself that you have forgotten how to love. Either way, these are the hardest of days to cope with. You’ll wake up and try to chant some mantra to yourself to get out of bed like “There’s nothing I can’t do.” Instead, you’ll get stuck on those first two words like a torturous internal loop until you cocoon yourself back into the covers and say you’ll try again later.

You’ll watch your old favorite movie, or read your old favorite book, or listen to your old favorite song. It’ll be the same but the pieces of life that happened in between the last time you watched/read/listened will make the experience completely different. You’ll marvel at how some things stay the same while others don’t and an ounce of clarity will seep into your mind that these things you are feeling now will not last forever. Maybe you’ll text an old friend you haven’t seen in a while and remember when your days were consumed by this friendship and closeness. You’ll appreciate the fact that you can stay in touch so easily with so many wonderful people and you might find no matter how lonely you feel, you really are not alone.

 

You’ll spend some time with your best friends and notice how beautiful they are when they’re laughing. You’ll realize how alive they make you feel when you’re happy and how gentle they are when you’re sad and you’ll just thank whatever higher power might exist that brought you together because you honestly cannot imagine going through life without them.

You might do something for someone else and catch the smallest glimpse of the amount of work, effort, patience, and understanding your parents/guardians must have gone through to raise you. You’ll realize there has been so much done for you that you don’t even realize or remember and it might make you think twice before deciding this life isn’t really worth living.

You’ll go outside, not because you have to, because you want to. You’ll see how much bigger this world is than you and your problems. You’ll listen to someone else’s problems and admire their strength. You’ll get inspired to dig deep and find your own strength.

One day, things will have supposed to hurt, but miraculously they won’t. Someone will pay you a compliment and for once you’ll focus on that instead of the criticism. You will meet new amazing people and realize that they too will only be here for a certain amount of time. You’ll stop trying to control your life and its path and just be present in the moment.

You’ll watch your old favorite movie, or read your old favorite book, or listen to your old favorite song. It’ll be just like the first time.

Written by Erin Cinney

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