I just had a sunny and idyllic holiday in Palawan. I’m always game for salt and sea, whether it’s in a resort or somewhere quiet. A few years ago, we ditched our hotel to camp with a friendly bedouin for three days at a beach. We caught our food and slept under the stars. This time, however, we weren’t so rugged — we holidayed at El Nido Resorts, which is a collection of islands (“el nido” means “the nest”). We stayed at Miniloc Island, which has its own coral reef and plenty of doting staff. Guests are really spoiled at El Nido — everything is taken care of (private bangkas to take you island hopping, little faucets to wash the sand off your feet before you enter your cottage, a bag of snorkeling gear for every group, etc). The pampering, coupled with the beautiful pearls of the Orient that make up the islands of Palawan, completes a lovely escape from Manila.
Last weekend, I swapped skyscrapers for palm trees and flew to Boracay for sunbathing, Baileys shakes, henna tattoos, rain dancing, and all-around good times. I’m a 21st century mermaid who prefers coral treasures, secluded shores and lonely islands, but Boracay’s a different kind of romance. My parents went there for their honey moon 23 years ago and the island was so undeveloped, they had to bring canned food. Now, Boracay’s a party destination and popular for both sides of its white shore: wind surfing, kiteboarding, restaurants/bars that cater to all four corners of the world and sea-salted nightlife. It’s not really a place to escape civilization; it’s a place to have fun with friends and other people.
My friend, Addi, has a new and stylish blog. You should have a look-see!
One thing to be really excited about Baguio is finding the right places to eat. You’re only staying there for a short while, so might as well make it interesting. Café Sabel, to me and my friends, was definitely a pleasant little surprise.
I just got home from a trip to Way Up North with ze gang: Nikki, Elle, Addi, Mai, TJ, Justin, and MJ. We were there to dip our toes into the famed climate of Baguio, to chubscout the local cuisine, to sniff around the evening ukay ukay, and to abuse Nikki’s amazing iPhone fisheye lens (all such photos here are hers). It was a chill and relaxing beginning to my Great Summer of Funemployment.
In my family, we sacrifice animals to appease the wild god Pan and to ensure a good harvest. In their honor, the good deity raises flowers in their image at the ground where they were slain.
I’m obviously kidding. I have no idea what this thing is but it’s growing in my tita’s backyard and it has fiercer and more luxurious hair than I do. That is a cactus with sass.
A poem on travel and scraped knees and innocent birds.
Travel
When I was in the fifth grade, my hippie parents tucked me and my brother into a sedan and we went on a mad and wonderful road trip across America. I stood on a spot where four state boundaries meet and you can stand in all four at the same time. I bought a dreamcatcher from a Navajo lady and leaned into the gaping Grand Canyon. We cracked open lobsters in Maine, wondered how the Empire State Building could have seemed so tall back then, squinted in the sunlight across Texan plains, stained our hands red while cherry-picking in California, and ate steak and marveled at fearless/foolish gamblers in Vegas. When we were driving in Utah, a fog descended for miles around and we could barely see past the windshield, so we had to drive extra slowly to avoid missing our turn. I wondered if it was like wading through heaven.
Today was a 100% perfect day, no kidding. I had a lovely and artsy night with friends, family, and my fellow awardees. I even worked up the courage to get the President and Vice President of the Loyola Schools and the Dean of Humanities to do a wacky pose with me! I’ll write a longer blog post about what happened after I sneak photos from everyone’s Facebook accounts and after I let the glittery buzz settle down, but there you have it, a perfect day. Thank you so much to everyone who came and thank you to all my new friends for making me feel like an honorary ID major! :) You’re all amazing!
I have a ton of photos and words of praise for my electric Valentines night at the Fuerza Bruta Premiere and you should visit my blog to find out more. (Hint: it was KALEIDOSCOPIC)
