Davao Birthday Weekend: [Day One] The City Tour

I spent my birthday weekend in Davao together with my cousins and my mom’s relatives as well. We were such a big group that we had to be divided into two: The Juniors (us!) and the Seniors (our mom and aunts).  We were originally going after Pearl Farm resort but it’s expensive to stay for 2 nights there. So we just decided to explore Davao City during Day 1 and spend my actual birthday in Pearl Farm for the second day and go to the remaining tourist spots of Davao on our last day.

I was texting my friends who live and those who’s been in Davao for any tips on where to go.  We had a van rented to take us around the place and luckily we were able to tour the city, hassle-free.

Note: The photos chosen in this post is to capture what it is like to be there. I hope it did serve its purpose, so no, there's no HD pictures and tourist-catalogue-type shots.

We were able to go to the recommended places such as:

1. Malagos

A Nature Park where you can find the Philippine Eagle.

My sister’s glad that we went to this place because you cannot just find this super huge eagle in Manila Zoo.

Tip: Entrance Fee is Php 55.00

2. Outland Adventure

Those who will try zipline will only get to pay. I’ve already tried zipline in Tagaytay with my friends and my sister already tried the zipline in Bohol so we just watched our cousin and aunt try the zipline, so we passed up on this one.

Tip: Price of zipline is Php 500.00 ( I think, I’m not sure about the price. You don’t have an option to go just one way because there’s no other way to go back than through the cables again.)

3. Crocodile Farm

By it’s name, you can tell it houses a lot of crocodile from the small ones to the really big ones before the biggest crocodile, Lolong, was found.

I don’t really like reptiles (even the small turtles make me icky). They had crocodile show and some animal show to entertain the kids. My cousins and I were just really busy walking around the park looking at crocodiles.

On the other side of the crocodile farm, there’s firedance show and some native muslim stuff that they sell as souvenirs.

Tip: Entrance Fee is Php 150.00

4. Jack's Ridge

I keep on getting  recommendations saying – you have to go Jack’s Ridge.

Jack’s Ridge is an overlooking area of Davao City where you can see almost everything. Restaurants are strategically located in the area. I don’t know if this is the highest peak of Davao but the planes that passes by are really low, I feel like we’re in Paranaque City. Haha!

Tip: No entrance fee.

I never really thought that Davao is really so big that majority of our time was spent on the road.  We spent the entire day in Pearl Farm the next day, which will be my next post because I believe it deserves an entire entry of it's own.

Upcoming post:

• Davao Birthday Weekend [Day Two] My Birthday at Pearl Farm Resort
• Davao Birthday Weekend [Day Three] Eden Park and Some Last MinuteShopping

The Sudden Death Advice

Way back then, I remember it was right after shift and I looked like shit.

My former boss came up to me at the nearby bar and asked me how am I doin? He saw me bawling few hours ago right before my shift started, talking to someone (my bff on speed dial) until some random male stranger handed over a tissue to wipe my tears off.

Yes, it was in public. Never had the chance to look at the face of the guy to say thanks.

And I don't think I still have the nerve to do that.

Source

I did not answer whatever question he had, but I think he got it. I just answered his question with another question:

What's the easiest way to deal with or get over a break up? 

Because I've had boyfriends before and this is not even my first serious relationship, but man, this thing has taken a toll on me. I never had to deal with personal problems at work but this was something else. I know how ridiculous this whole relationship was but for the first time, I actually believed in something. He was always telling me to hold on and keep the faith... and I fuckin' did and gotten my hopes up and then BAM!

So what's really the fastest way to deal with a break up? He said:

" Treat it like... Sudden Death lang." 

I thought it was radical. And way easier said than done. This person, although he appeared to be intangible is what I have considered the greatest love of my life... and I am in my mid-twenties. So it's not like some stupid puppy love shit. I felt it was real, because it was unconditional and I need not to be monitored because for once I was willing to be taken over. And it did.

It has taken a toll on me.

Later, it made sense. The Sudden Death Advice.

Who can compete with death nga naman? I can think of a hundred and one ways to make his life miserable, and spend every single day plotting revenge, but when the person dies, it's game over.

This is probably the most radical break up advice that I got and was able to only digest it now. So Imma send him some light and prayer, because it's game over.

May this battle rest in peace and this is without bitterness. At all.

It's Game Over.

Tacsiyapo Videos featuring Franco, @laiahdear and @yeyeahye

Tacsiyapo: The Franco Jamias Version from Ara Kristine on Vimeo.

Tacsiyapo: The Aya Montesur Version from Ara Kristine on Vimeo.

Tacsiyapo: The Yeye Urtola Version from Ara Kristine on Vimeo.

Remember this post? http://keamistry.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloweekend-at-isdaan-resto-fun-park.html I finally learned how to post videos from vimeo. For my friends Pre-Christmas year ender we went again to Isdaan on a Lunch time to experience Tacsiyapo! As I've said in my previous post:

Tacsiyapo, means “Nakakainis”– you buy a plate/glass/mugs( with prices like Php 15, 18, 60, 240) and even a working TV set (Php 1,800) so you can throw it against the wall to release your anger). Caution: Cursing or using Vulgar words are not allowed that’s why you need to shout “Tacsiyapo”. I think for 2012 I will be making an effort to capture videos instead of photos. Get ready friends!

And finally we did it! I've been so busy that I have so many blog drafts but work (and my life off cyber space) comes in first. So I guess I will deal with the catching up when I finally have the time. Have a great weekend! :)

Top 5 intangible things I want to have starting this Christmas

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While everyone seems to be busy making their Christmas lists, I have five important things I want to have permanently starting this Christmas (If only it can be bought by money) : 

1.      Self-control

I wish I could have more of these. I never realized how powerful self-control is until I tried it out of emergency.

2.      Detachment

I tend to be too hard on myself when things don’t go the way I planned.  I want to be able to bounce back easily.  I don’t like to get my self emotionally involved to things, commitments and even unworthy people.

3.      Forgiveness

I want to learn how to forgive easily because I want to “release” people as soon as possible. I want to be able to forgive easily because I don’t want walking around with a heavy heart.  I don’t like people that I haven’t forgiven taking space in my brain.

4.      Selective Memory Loss

I’ve recently acquired how this is being done and did a pretty good job. I just wish I know what are the specific steps that I did to make it happen.  I lost some “lose-worthy” memory that it seems like it never happened at all, but I lost some good ones as well.

5.      Patience

This is probably the hardest thing out of the rest of this list. I’m not exactly known for being Ms. Patient and I tend to really calculate time and schedule. I really want to be patient starting this year and it appears like my life’s next challenge after the quarter-life crisis is to...wait.

Oh if only these things were tangible...

So busy that I can't get anything done

Seriously.

Ever since December hit the town I've been putting loads in my plate not to mention saying YES to almost every invite.

I seriously can't get anything done unless I cram. ( Hello there @yeyeahye, I'm  a certified UPian now.)

Despite my being busy and all, I've been really having a good night sleep.

I've got drafts lined up but I can't seem to have the time to really sit on it and blog. I've been taking my life seriously and really living it so most of the time I am off cyberspace.

And I don't use my mobile phone that much anymore. So rare that I think I want a pager, but I doubt if people still remember using a pager.

I never really thought that I'd get to say this but yeah, IGNORANCE can sometime be a BLISS.


<3

To Travel

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

Saint Augustine

I did not get the window seat when I took this photo but it surely feels nice knowing that you're bound to your next destination.

I tweeted before that I woke up one morning feeling so old but for the first time in my life, I feel like my heart is going to be at the right place this time.

I still feel that way, a week later.

Like everything finally made sense.

I know I don't recuperate as fast as the others and I seem to have my own phase but I am getting everything now.

I've been wearing classes to get clear vision since 2007 but I've never seen my perspective as clear as this. Especially about you and me.

So I will travel. Not because I am running away from you because I chose to let go, let my self off the hook and because our chapter is done and I've got the rest of the chapters to read.

So I will travel.

Because this book is not about you, it's about me.

Planned Change

That birthday trip did open up a few things to me and I realized that:

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Some things that I picked up from class last weekend:

• Different people, different reaction to change
• For any change, adjustments will have to be made

The Myths:

• All people are resistant to change.
• All change brings improvement.
• Change is always expected and it doesn't always come from chance.
• Change always brings hardships.
• Change can happen overnight.

I was scribbling notes while in class, nodding, agreeing and reflecting on some things my Professor shared... but little did she know I was relating it to the hardest thing to understand. Ever. 

LOVE.

Damn. I can really work my way into understanding Algebra and Statistics but I always flunk when it comes to that subject. 

So therefore today, I am taking a step to plan this change because just like what I have answered in last weekend's pop quiz:

Real change can be brought about by perfect timing (maturity) and space. 

Oh Time. Why do you always seem to be so hard on me? 

Thank you @yeyeahye for Amapola

I got an early Christmas gift from my friend Yeye:

I think at one point I might have seen Amapola's house! 

 I've read the first line of the book and I already knew why she thinks I must have a copy!

Love you Ye! I have this really good feeling that I'm going to love this book and thank you for giving my my first Tagalog Book!