Saturday, December 3, 2011

Must Try: Majid's Persian Kabab in Davao City

I still couldn't find the time to post stuff about that trip to Davao so I will just post a few things when I can. I've been juggling a lot of things lately and I've been very busy. For real.


I remember reading the plane's magazine about the things you have to see in Davao. We' re only there for a couple of days and our schedule's been really hectic. I was reading something about a really yummy kabab at Majid's that is a must-try when in Davao.

So can you imagine how wide my smile is when I saw this:

It's the Kabab House that I read in the magazine


We arrived there 30 minutes prior to their closing time and found out that they were close the next day! 

I am such a huge fan of Cholo kebab and the last time I had a really good one was years ago! I'm happy that I got the chance to eat Kabab while strolling the streets of Davao City on our first night. 

Sorry for the crappy photos, I do not have a decent camera during that night.

Davao was good, but I was not swept off my feet as hard a Cebu. Thank God for Pearl Farm, which I will be creating a separate entry for sometime soon.



Friday, December 2, 2011

Hollywood Forever Cemetery peg

This post is way too late because I had forgotten that it's been sitting on my drafts folder for several weeks.

If you google "Hollywood Forever Cemetery" images, you'll find this:
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Last All Saints Day, the memorial park we went to has the same peg:




I thought they're going to show scary movies at the cemetery but they showed "Rio" and "Thor". By past 9pm they had fireworks display.


I'm wondering what they'll be showing next year.

Hmmmnnn....





Thursday, December 1, 2011

I will Taylor Swift You

You know how Taylor Swift is popular for writing songs based on her love life?

And who can ever forget that famous song "Dear John" about John Mayer?

And for those of you who knew about my old blog, that I write about the selected "award-winning" men that I have gone out with?

Guess what baby? Since you're googling me a lot, I guess I have to be fair that I should warn you.

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A friend told me today that perhaps my past relationship stories are meant to be told as warning for friends. I appreciate how my ranting and regrets appeared to be some kind of crazy wisdom that I share with my friends.

You have been warned baby. I will Taylor Swift you.

I don't care if you Kanye West me, because I will fuckin' Chris Brown you.

Both of you.




Happy Birth-month Blog!

I just recently came back from a vacation only to find my self needing a vacation from my vacation. Since I no longer have time to book a trip, I went ahead and booked my self  the most sure way to transport my self from all the stress in my "reality".

The spa that I go to has this "Close to Heaven" package  I told my self before that I will only get that package only when I feel that the time is right. Because I can't take pictures while getting things done, I just borrowed photos from the internet.

The Package includes:

A Foot Spa
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A Body Scrub
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A body bleaching session ( This is what it looks like, all white but only on the body and not on the face). Couldn't find a similar one on the internet.

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And a full body hard massage
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And yesterday, I bid November 2011 goodbye by spending literally half of the day just getting scrubbed off my old self (read: skin). I was so happy to know that my favorite therapist is finally back after 3 months of out of town vacation and I had my self my much needed hard massage that I've been lusting for, for quite sometime now.


And because I spent almost the entire day at the spa, they gave me a freebie treat to have hair hot oil treatment. My Kuya waited for me in the spa for more than four hours! ( I love having an older brother! Haha!) But hey he got some fancy treat at the spa as well.

Still trying to rummage through the several pictures from my birthday vacay but will try to find time before the year ends.

Yes,before the year ends.

It's December now! Can you believe it? This blog is officially a year old! I only remembered that it has been year just as I was typing "before the year ends".

Happy Birthday month Blog! I can't believe you have more than 21,200 page views in one year!

Thank you and Good Vibes everyone!

Cheers! <3




Tuesday, November 29, 2011

SNS tends to prevent us from living the actual moment



My Kuya has always been telling me since last year that too much of the internet is bad for you. Last year I also learned that majority of people use SNS (Social Networking Sites) as venues and as a subconcious creation of their own reality where love stories are perfect, where happiness is being announced, where everyone supports one another and it also have some major disadvantage such as cyberbullying and online bashing.

I’ve been addicted to these SNS and I learned that when I feel sad, I open SNS to see what is out there.  Last semester, during my gathering of literature for my Thesis for graduate school,  studies show that those who spend a ridiculous amount of time logging in on SNS such as facebook, having the need to constantly update their status like it’s fast becoming an online diary are those people with low self-esteem. It occurs mostly on teenagers and young adults.
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When I learned about this, I started going out more and seeing more of my friends so most of the time I do my catch up face to face, and not “screen-to-screen” or in facebook language “wall-to-wall”. And really I am thankful that I get to actually talk to real persons, laugh with them instead of typing the awkward “LOL”.

My kuya told me about the wedding he recently attended and during the reception, the new couple rushed to get their laptop, updating their status from “engaged” to “married”.  Is that really what facebook has done to us? There is this unimaginable need and urge to update your facebook status, during your own wedding? Can’t it wait?

 It’s...your...wedding! It’s your moment?! Why the need to log in on facebook and let the whole world know you just got hitched when you can enjoy the moment and feeling of a newly wed? 

I vowed to make sure that my life off the cyberspace is more “happenin” . I admit I am more of a twitter addict because I get ideas and news from the site and it helps me get through writer’s block. But honey, I really have to blog because this is therapy for me. But thank God for Blogspot’s feature, scheduled publishing, that I can assign which date a certain post will be published... and I can go live my life off the internet while blogspot will do the publishing for me. 



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Blowing out Birthday Candles


If I can remember correctly, it was one summer night of this year when I was supposed to go jogging with my friend but I was late so I opted to jog around the UP oval alone  at night with the rest of the joggers who seemed to be doing their own thing.

If I can remember correctly I was listening to my ipod, Lady Gaga on full blast repeat mode, but my mind is some place else. Though I wrote before that I don’t jog, I brisk walk, that night, not only I jogged but I ran, and I ran like my joints are going to disconnect, like my bones are going to break.

I ran like I am running after my life, running after something that I’ve always wanted and just when I was about to make that turn, the lamp post’s light went out and I stopped running, I got my hands on my knees, I stopped to catch my breath and I started to cry.

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Lord, I'm still like a kid who still believe in birthdays and birthday wishes. And I thank you for my second year that I do not have those birthday blues.  

And though probably by the time this post is published I'm probably out celebrating with my loved ones, that same thing that I asked for during one summer night that I held on to my knees to catch my breath, it’s still the same thing that’s on my mind as I blow out my birthday candles.

And I’m holding on to my faith that you will give me what I wished for because when time comes, I know I really have deserved it.  Plus, I just have this feeling that it’s already on it’s way. There maybe a delay but it’s already on it’s way and all this waiting will be all worth it... and when it comes, I’ll make sure to show my gratitude. 


Thank you Lord and Thank you Universe! <3

Peace & Love,
K




Saturday, November 26, 2011

28 things I learned before my birthday

I've been updating this list in preparation for the auto-publishing feature of blogspot. I've been trying to list down the top 28 lessons I learned but out of so many (and so private) so I just chose the ones that I always remember the most.


I really ransacked my brain for this and chose the 28 memorable lessons that I learned. As much as I would like to share the details to make it more "understandable"... we'll, I'd still like to keep my privacy.


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 (1)Everyone comes with their own manual.
Just because someone got married at 25 it doesn’t mean we would all be going down the same road. And just because a certain “formula” worked for others, it doesn’t mean it will work for me. While it's tacky to steal someone else's thunder/spotlight, if it's not for you, it will never be yours. I had someone who traced my footsteps but it never worked for them because it's not really who they are.

(2)I am a lucky recipient of “Pay it Forward”.
I will be forever thankful that I’ve been a recipient of Pay it Forward so therefore I will vow to do the same. Every favor that I’ll get I’ll pay it forward to three or more people.

(3)Forgiveness is actually letting yourself off the hook.
It took me a while to understand what this is about until I was told that if I don’t forgive someone, I will still be connected to that same person. And in order for me to be disconnected, I forgave someone/people (who is not even asking for forgiveness)  not to let the person off the hook, but just so that the person will no longer be connected to me. Sometimes you need to be the bigger person to make a grand gesture to fix things and be mature enough to make those decision not because you want to get involved with each other again but to separate peacefully.

(4)Be kind because you don’t know if the other person is fighting a harder battle.
I had this bad feeling towards a person who talked behind my back but little did I know that she was fighting a huge and harder battle compared to my own.

(5)There are not only financially, but emotionally abusive people.
When they wanted someone to listen, you gave your ear. When they got your ear, they want your whole head. When they got your head, they asked for your hand, and when you gave your hand, they still requested for your arm. It’s like until they get your upper limbs (and who knows).  Whatever you do, it’s not enough. I had to put a stop to being emotionally abused. I was told I get emotionally attached and involved with my friends' lives that there are times that I've been in the ring with them fighting with them in their battle. I got abused because in the long run, these people will not see which point is enough. I have accepted that there are givers and there are takers. 

(6)Do not count your eggs...yet.
I have seen two major events this year who counted their eggs too early (one is Boxer Marquez).  I think we all know what went on that road. I was deeply humbled by what I have seen.

(7)It’s the lifestyle that you live.
I figured out that changing lifestyles is doable. I changed my lifestyle from taking cabs to walking, from heels to flipflops and flats. From going out to staying in, from bars to intimate house parties. I am making less of what I used to make before but I've never been happier.

(8)There are really, genuinely good people.
At first, I really cannot believe this one. You just have to know where to look. And in order for you to have really good friends, you have to be one. And it is never too late to make new friends. I am very thankful for these good people who have kept me grounded.

(9)Misery loves company.
This sounds like a cliche but those who appear to be too available and too visibly close for comfort are actually the ones in need (of attention).

(10) The truth will always come out. True colors will eventually show.
This is actually one of the most important highlight that I've learned hardly a week before my birthday. I learned that I do not have bad judgment and that I am only human. But the biggest surprise I got was someone finally felt exactly what it is like to walk in my shoes and see things from where I am standing.

(11)Humility.
I have such high respect for those successful people who remain humble. I am inspired to keep my self grounded.

(12)Be careful whose advice you buy.
I have not really found role model for me, but I just take advice from wise people that I look up to. I do get unsolicited advice, and I have admit, I did ask for advice from unreliable sources just to hear and see what they have to say, but at the end of the day, I have learned to listen to those who really "brought it". While I don't really have a role model, I have a model for "Don't".

(13)Weed out toxic people. (in my case, Emotional Vampires)
How do you really determine these “toxic people”. When they suck the energy& positivity out of you. Almost.Every.Single.Time. (Sometimes without them knowing it) I rummaged through my list and slowly weeded out some. I did not really burn bridges but regardless of how short or how long you’ve been together, there are some people in our lives that even though it seems painful, you really have to let go and you know you will not regret it. It’s better to cut things now than be strung along with all the negativity, drama and mishap all for the sake of consideration of the amount of time invested through the years. There are some people/friends who are worth letting go. People not only change, they also get tired. Friendship, is also a relationship. It takes a lot of work. Like any other relationship, they tend to break up as well. Someone once told me that you will know who your true friends are by the time you reach 30 and you will be surprised to see that they are only a handful. Friendship also needs an upgrade. You need to grow up and mature together, even the petty things that tests your friendship should no longer be in the same line with the petty things you fought about years ago.

(14)Being polite will get you what you want.
I have not been known for being the polite person but when I was told about this and unconsciously have incorporated this in my personality...it did work. Being polite have changed the way I am treated from jeepney drivers down to the big bosses. Sometimes it's really the way you ask.

(15)Keep a positivity Diary.
I’m not exactly known for being positive and optimistic but once I got hold of being optimistic, I vowed to never let it go. Everyday I keep a diary where I list everything that I am thankful of for that day and it works.

(16)It always appear that the grass is greener on the other side.
But little did we know what really goes on with the entire garden. The ultimate competition is not really who is skinnier, wealthier, prettier but it's whoever finds his/her genuine passion and happiness.

(17)Just because someone are frank, tactless and likes to tell the truth, it doesn’t mean they can handle their own truth.
And I learned this the hard way. Not all people can appreciate honesty and sometimes it is better to just wait for them to figure it out and find it out for themselves. Even if it means allowing them to look stupid. Also you have to accept that there are some people, no matter how you explain in the most logical and simple way, they will never figure it out for themselves

(18)Quarter-life crisis.
I wish someone could’ve told me that there is a thing called Quarter-life crisis. It’s the phase in your mid-twenties where you feel trapped with what you want to do with your life and long to go back to school. You feel like everyone is moving on except you and you start to hate your job, etc. I cannot offer an advice how to get out of it, because I just got out of the phase and starting all over again. Quarter-life crisis is a crucial stage, but if you have felt this in your mid twenties and you don't have mouths to feed, consider yourself lucky. Quarter-life crisis, when seen in a positive perspective, is actually a breather to take time off and figure out who you and what you really want.

(19)I am in love with the idea of being in love.
I love being in love but it doesn’t always mean that I am in love. I feel genuinely happy to those who got hitched, engaged, just got into a relationship because I admire their guts on taking such risk.

(20)Too much of Social Networking Sites can sometimes be bad for you.
Studies show (and yes I read and studied them) that the majority of those who spends too much time on social networking sites have low self-esteem and cases of depression. Social Networking sites give people a chance to create their own reality that’s why love stories are perfect, everyone supports a fighter, the weak suddenly has something to say and cyberbullying accumulates.  So if you are feeling depressed, step away from the computer and go to a real person. It’s never a good idea to wash your dirty laundry online.

(21)What is bound to happen will happen.
You can actually end up upsetting someone or getting upset by someone even without any effort your part, without lifting a finger! It may be in a form of phone call or a surprise visit. If you’re bound to have a fall out, there might be some delay but it will definitely happen. If you're bound to be together, no year or 12 years can really set you apart.

(22)Accept that even the most treasured people in your life can be ungrateful for everything you have ever done for them
One flaw can blow up a huge mess, disregarding everything that you have ever done for them with and without their knowledge. I learned to make emotional space and allowance for these incidents and learned to detach myself from getting upset. Acceptance really do the wonders because it can take a huge load of disappointment of your shoulders. We never lose by giving, we lose by holding back. If you have so much to give, consider yourself lucky.

(23)“Hindi Hagip ng Utak”
Means there are educated people without common courtesy, good judgment and common sense, despite their good background. It’s a matter of how they were brought up and what they believe is right. Some people don't know what is inappropriate given a certain scenario. 

(24)Time is the master.
Not only time heals all wounds, but you can be with the perfect person at this very moment but when you're not ready...you are not ready. If it’s not yet time, it will not happen.

(25)Satisfy your intellectual self.
Because when you do, everything else is mundane. You don’t really need that much gadget, that much shoes, that much make up and so on. You don’t really need to be seen in this place... and so on.

(26)I made peace with my self and found balance.
This year I have seen a what I call "so beautiful and so sad". I used to be so insecure about myself before but this sounds very cliche-y, once I have accepted my self and embraced my limitations, I found peace. 

(27)The Law of Attraction.
Visualize what you want and you will get it. When I was 20 years old, I envisioned my self in a corporate world, attending meetings with the big bosses, shopping for shoes, living a fabulous social life and having my own apartment and living alone then pursuing graduate school. And I did and had all that by the time I am 26.

(28)You always have the option.
I have the option to open Pandora’s Box or Not. With one click I could get upset...or not. It is always important to always decide today what you want to happen. I want to be happy, I will have a good day, and by declaring this before the day starts, the Universe will work it’s way around with what you want and you will have a good day like what you ordered. And it did work for me.

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My 2010 year was all about doing a life-over haul. I was wondering what I did with my life this year and I asked a close friend of mine and she said:

What you did, it is called cleansing.

And I did, from my closet, to my eating habits and vices... and down to friends. I have to go put back my running shoes on because there are more roads to come.





Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanking on Thanksgiving





I honestly have stopped (not really a hundred percent though) thinking about the things that I do not have, but instead I have (almost always) keep on ticking my list of the things (and people) that I am thankful for. Such as:

  • Waking up from a comfortable bed.
  • My inay making me breakfast regardless if it’s just bread and butter toast.
  • My parents taking me to work, my tatay taking me to school on weekends.
  • I spend the entire day working but no one bugs me and my boss let’s me do my own thing.
  • I have flexible working schedule that allows me to accommodate work and graduate school...and sometimes lunch and coffee dates with friends.
  • I go home at night and tell my mom about my day.
  • I get a welcome woof from our dogs Gucci, and I feed Drake his food.
  • I have more time interacting with people than catching up via internet.
  • My life is more active off the cyberspace (though I really love to write/blog almost very often because it has always been something that I’ve been passionate about).
  • I have friends who have kept me grounded. I have specific persons on speed dial (when I want a self-esteem boost, someone to laugh with, someone to talk to about growing up, etc.)
  • I go home at night with my family, safe and sound.
  • I can see, hear, touch, taste, eat, smell and my body is still complete.
  • I lie in my bed after a warm bath and still have the chance to read a book.
  • I fall asleep without knowing.
  • I wake up to my inay’s voice the very next day.


And that’s just to name a few.

I have not exactly been an optimistic and positive person all my life but it surely feels nice not be so friggin’ negative all the time.

Yes, I am literally counting all my blessings. And Lord, I know I don’t always to talk to you that much but I know you know how completely grateful I am for everything you’ve given me and for never forsaking me no matter how difficult I’ve been.