Corregidor Island 2012

I have flown dozens of times. I have been on bumpy roads and numerous boat rides on rivers and seas.

But I had never been so nauseous until our trip to Corregidor Island. Some of the tourists were late and the captain tried to compensate by racing through big waves.

As a result, half of the passengers were throwing up or could not even sit up. I was in the toilet most of the time puking air and I counted the minutes that was left until we reached shore.

And when we did, I wanted to go back to Manila on a plane. Thank goodness the way back was way slower so nobody really threw up.

Anyway, the island is still beautiful and the forests unchanged. Macaques and eagles are still roaming around. Nature is slowly reclaiming the ruins as the government hesitate to invest some money on tourism.

Steven and I felt that we should stay the night next time. The rainforest seemed to have more stories to tell than the tour guide.

Last of the Baguio Photos

Mine's View Park

taken from the balcony of the rented house

taken from the balcony of the rented house

another balcony view

 

houses surrounding China Town

taken from the centre of Baguio City

More thoughts on Baguio

I had been wanting to visit Baguio City because tourists consider it as one of the best vacation spots in the country. I grew up in Manila, moved to Thailand and then to Australia and it was only a few weeks ago that I was able to visit this popular city.

My entire family packed their bags, hired a van, cooked a lot of food and endured the six-hour drive to the summer capital of the Philippines. Along the way, we saw waterfalls left and right. The green mountains were covered by clouds.

Upon seeing the city itself, I was deeply disappointed because it reminded me of the ugliness of Manila. It was crowded and polluted. The landscape was littered with houses and apartments. The traffic made my ears ring and my nose sneeze.

Fortunately, we were with someone who used to live there. She was also able to speak the local dialect and ask for directions. We went to a hot springs resort that only locals know about. The pool water was hot enough to cook an egg and looking up, we could see green mounntain peaks and the blue sky looking at us.

All of us loved the vacation. It provided us a ten-degree lower than in Manila relief. It also gave us a chance to have a great experience together and that is hard to do when Steven and I are living overseas. I really hope we will share another experience like this very soon.

inside the van

Lion's Head

taken from the rented house

keeps me warm

checking Adelaide news

pointing at the clouds

suffering before seeing the statue of Mary

taken at a souvenir shop

China Town

Lovely with her strawberry ice cream

my father with a butter fly

passengers at Burnham Park

rowing at Burnham Park

another passenger

Steven at Mine's View Park

the gang at Mine's View Park

Worst Airport in the World

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 has been dubbed as the worst airport in the world and I have to agree. Here is a photo taken of myself while waiting for my check in. 

Airport authorities do not like people who come early so I have to wait near the entrance. There are not enough seats so we had to try to be comfortable on the hard cold floor.

Yes, this airport deserves all the bad rep that you are hearing.

Modern Family in Baguio

I have visited my family in Manila recently and to catch up on lost time, my sister arranged a trip to Baguio. We hired a vehicle, packed food to feed an army and took some pills to avoid motion sickness.

I will give you more details of the trip but I just want to show right now a portrait of a modern family. We have two same-sex couples, opposite-sex couples and a child that is bound to have a childhood with respect and acceptance.

I am really proud of my family.

Little India in Singapore

Singapore is a fantastic city to visit because of many reasons. It is very tourist-friendly. A tourist can get off a plane, go through immigration and get a cab in ten minutes.

It is very multi-cultural. Filipinos, Chinese, South Asians, Europeans and so many other people actually live together. You can even see them on mainstream TV!

This year, I decided that we stay in Little India where I pigged out on cheap South Asian cuisine. I still tried some Chinese food as I really did not want to be as big as the Indian sex workers lurking in dark streets.

Steven tried out a little Indian food. He did not want to risk eating the same food as the locals so most of his meals were on the European side of the Singaporean mix.

breakfast

lunch

Horrible Winter

This South Australian ad is really disgusting. I usually look away everytime this is on TV. There are other disgusting SA ads down there as the government is far from hesitant in offending its audience.

 

I do not have the flu but I have a really bad cold. It is bad news because I am still a casual worker and I have to directly deal with people everyday. 

I guess I just have to make sure that I wash my hands more often than before.

I think god made a mistake when he created winter because people are less productive, moody and my damn clothes take a long time to dry.

First Winter Shots

I have not taken landscape shots for quite a while. It has been getting colder and colder here in Australia and winter has just started.

Steven and I braved the bitter winter wind and went to a popular jetty on Henley Beach. Despite it being the weekend, there were not that many people around because it was just too cold. There were a few photographers though who were trying to do the same thing: long exposure shots.

So here are mine. I really like the 3D effect of the steady jetty amidst the moving clouds and water.

Child Games

I made a big purchase earlier today. I bought a PlayStation 3 console and I was really ecstatic.

For the past several weeks, we have been buying games left and right though (well, mostly me). I have chosen game franchises that I adored when I was still in Manila: Silent Hill, Tekken and Tomb Raider. Steven has Gran Turismo 5 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

I spend most days by myself because of Steven's new job in the transport industry so these games will keep me company. It is winter and it is dark so I am sure I will feel that I have company with these games.

New Haircut

Yes, I got really irritated with my hair so I have decided to change it. Steven thinks I look gayer and I guess that is a compliment.

Unruly Locks

I have been trying to grow my curly hair again and I think I am losing my patience.  With some styling agent, it looks good but I am not sure my hair is thick enough for it to look dramatic. Without any styling agent, it just looks like an old grotty mop.

I think I am going to have a hair cut soon but I am not going to get rid of it all the way. I want to look more current and try a new hairstyle.

Changes

Life is boring without changes. They keep me on my toes and make sure that I am alert.

I have not been active taking photos. Light has been perfect here in Australia as the winter solstice approaches but sometimes I use the coldness as an excuse not to venture out with my camera.

I am finding more time to exercise though as I am left alone in our unit. Steven has started driving buses again (he used to drive buses before he met me) so that means he has to work until everyone in Adelaide has gone home from work. It is good because at least, I will be bikini-ready when summer comes.

I wish my creative juices would come out. I need an inspiration!

Pork Curry from the North-West

Steven has started with his new job driving buses and I think he is the happiest since I have known him. I am so proud that he is doing what he loves to do.

This dish is one of his first lunches. It stinks like old briefs but I love it!

Chicken with Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots

Vietnamese Grilled Pepper-crusted Chicken Breast

Steven's lunch today. It tasted as delicious as it looks here.

Looks good but doesn't really taste better

This Thai Tofu in Tamarind Sauce was Steven's lunch last Thursday (5 April). The texture of the fried tofu was great but I was a bit heavy-handed with the tamarind sauce so it was a little bit too sour. If I had put more sugar then it would have turned in to a candy.

Blasting my ears

A package arrived today from Amazon UK. I have been wanting to buy these blu ray discs (Hurt Locker and HBO's The Pacific) for a few years and I am so happy that I was able to place that order.

I am sure my speakers will get a good workout in the next few weeks as these two titles are popular for their sound effects. I do not think we will have termite problems.

Thank you, Steven, for allowing me to splurge!

Should I Dive In?

I love photography. I have spent a lot of money on my equipment and I am always seen carrying my pink camera in social settings and even at work.

I love cooking. I feel very relaxed and excited while doing it. I have several cookbooks and feel happy seeing, smelling and tasting food as they leap from the pages into my wok.

But I am not sure if I should combine the two. Last Friday, I was in a hurry to prepare Steven's lunch because I also had to go to work. Here is the result:

Thai Spicy Mince Pork