Monday, February 27, 2012

In which I am reminded to get a driver's license

I like cars. Although it's not obvious because 1. I don't have a driver's license, 2. I don't have a car, 3. I don't even know much about cars and 4. I'm too kuripot to buy a car any time soon and to pay for gas and whatnots. So I guess this "liking" for cars is mostly just appreciation.

Last Saturday, it was super hot and humid but I pulled myself together to go to UP Gears and Pinion's event: RevUp (a carshow).

UP GPs is an organization of BS Mechanical Engineering students in UP Diliman. Did I ever mention that when I decided to shift out of BS Industrial Engineering, I was actually choosing between BS Civil Engineering and BS Mechanical Engineering? But I guess erecting buildings lured me more than creating machines.

However, had I decided to shift into BS ME, I probably would have applied as a member of UP GPs (weh hahaha). Why not, I like this annual event they're holding (plus I have AME orgmates there too)! This is actually the third time I went to their car show just to appreciate sexy cars.


Cool yo.

Union Jack!

I couldn't take a photo of the whole car because there was little space!






Is it just me or is it really weird to put "John 3:16" on this car used for drag racing?

I didn't stick around much because it was too hot, I was sweating so much. T_T Next year again, I guess. :)

And this reminds me that I need to get a driver's license. I'm 22 years old already.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Skyline

I just came back from an overnight workshop in Antipolo.

It's work but we had some free time during lunch and in the evening.

View at the venue's veranda was very fitting as the workshop was kind of about buildings in Metro Manila.

Daylight.

Dusk

Night

I wore [wedge] heels for two days and my feet aren't dead. Achievement because I'm not used to heels (not even wedges). Then again it was a workshop so I was mostly sitting down while listening to presentations and discussions.


I have lots of work to do. They just won't stop! At this rate, I'll be busy with teaching or studying or research until... next year probably. This academic life. No to stress!


At this rate, I wonder if I'll ever get a boyfriend. 

I'm kidding, of course!! I'm not in a hurry just yet. :))

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Happy Valentine's Day

It's a great thing that, in the recent years, Valentine's Day has become very forgiving to single people. Heh, going bitter/emo over being single during Valentine's Day is overrated now!

My initial Valentine's Day plan was to buy pizza and ice cream for family dinner. That's what my family always does, after all: dine at home. However, my dad went to Davao for a fieldwork and my mom had somewhere to go so I was free to make other plans.

I actually planned to buy chocolates for my single friends but I wasn't able to do so because it was raining so hard last Monday afternoon.

Thankfully, Kuya Steve invited Tantan and I to dinner at Technohub. We also managed to drag Sir Romeo. Singles date, yes! (At least, whenever someone asked me "Do you have a date later?" I got to say "Yes." LOL.)


First, Kuya Steve trolled Tantan and I by giving us Lala chocolate (that chocolate that costs ~Php10, LOL). I was like "Wow, Lala." But eventually, he gave us dark Toblerone chocolate, which I love. Yay thanks Kuya Steve! ^_^


We went to Red Kimono.



We ordered a sushi platter. The menu says it's good for 8 to 10 people but the four of us just downed it. 8 to 10 people? Yeah right. :)) The sushi was good though!


We also had unagidon (unagi means eel), which was very tasty. We also had curry tonkatsu (pork cutlet), which I think is a great because I love curry and the classic ebi (shrimp) tempura. Of course I wasn't able to take a photo because we were SUPER hungry by the time our food arrived.

I'd say Red Kimono has really good food but I also think that it's a bit too pricey (then again, I didn't pay the bill). Nevertheless, it's still great to try other restaurants.

While going home, I realized that it was actually my first time to dine out on Valentine's Day!

Next time, however, if and when I get a boyfriend, I'll just whip up some nice dinner for him (hopefully I'll have time). Either that or just dine out on another night that's not necessarily Feb14. All restaurants in Technohub yesterday were full of people and our order came really slow (can't blame the restaurant though). Also, commuting last night was a hassle because of the volume of people.

Nevertheless, it was a really great day and I'm glad I got to celebrate Valentine's Day! Thank you Kuya Steve, Tantan and Sir Romeo! 

I don't have a boyfriend and yet I went out on a date and even got chocolates on Valentine's Day, that's not bad at all!

Hmm, I still wish I was able to distribute chocolates and/or flowers to my single friends. It's been a busy week month and I'll continue being busy until March (maybe even April).

Maybe I'll buy ice cream when Dad arrives from Davao. :)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Kyoto, Japan in my Seat

How do you go to places without leaving your seat? You read of course!

Last October 2011, I got my hands into a book that I really wanted to read: Geisha of Gion. It's the autobiography of a geisha, Mineko Iwasaki (whom Arthur Golden acknowledged at the end of his book: Memoirs of a Geisha). Come to think of it, it's my first time to read an autobiography!


Memoirs was able to bring me (or at least my consciousness) to Gion in Kyoto but there's still a difference between reading fiction and reading an autobiography. To be honest, during the short time I was reading Geisha of Gion (it's a short book after all), I really felt like I was in Gion in Kyoto.

Gion Shirakawa (photo from japan-guide.com)


Kyoto is one of my dream destinations. If I were given the chance to go to just one place in Japan, I'd really like go to Kyoto where traditional Japanese culture is preserved. 

My only setback is that the book was written by a geisha and not by a writer by profession (it's an autobiography after all). There are a few things I couldn't quite understand because of sentence construction. A lot of times, I'd jumble up the people because I couldn't decipher who the author was referring to. I guess it could use a lot more editing. But in any case, it's a good read if you'd like to know more about a geisha's life and what goes inside her mind.

I'm dying to see Fushimi Inari Shrine...

the torii gates to Fushimi Inari shrine (photo from japan-guide.com)

...to stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese-style inns) even just for one or two nights...

ryokans are expensive X___X (photo from japan-guide.com)

...to bathe in an onsen (hot spring)...

public onsen (photo from japan-guide.com)


...to attend a matsuri (festival) wearing a yukata...

Gion Matsuri (photo from japan-guide.com)


 ...and of course to see and take a photo with a real geiko or a maiko.

(photo from japan-guide.com)

Someday. Definitely someday. :)

Saturday, February 11, 2012

That Day in February

It's that time of the year again, huh?

I'm not one to talk about relationships. I've only been in one short-lived relationship and in one non-relationship, which doesn't count at all.

Oh I won't be such a hypocrite to say that I'm never bothered by the singleness. I am, sometimes. Especially during this time of the year.

However, I don't think anyone can really say that it's better to be single or that it's better to be in a relationship (especially at this age) as each has its own advantages.

Usually, the advantage of being single is the freedom. No matter what you say, a relationship will take some (if not a lot) of your time. On the other hand, the advantage of being in a relationship is that you have someone to share everything with. And no matter what you say, there's a certain form of happiness in having someone by your side (aside from friends and family).

***

Here's my advice to myself (and to anyone who needs it): 

At some point in your life, you will find that person so just make the most of singleness for now!

Go to places you want to go. Go someplace distant. Study someplace distant. Work someplace distant if you want to (be sure to return and serve your country... but that's another story). At some point in your life, you might not want to go anymore because you don't want to leave a certain person behind.

Let loose. Learn many different things. Enrich yourself. Meditate. Pray. Use your time to do ALL the things you want to do (just make sure it's legal)! You might even meet that person along the way.

Take time to enjoy your own company. Take time to enjoy the company of your friends. Take time to enjoy the company of your family. Spoil your parents. At some point in your life, there'll be one more person to compete with your mega-busy schedule.

Love yourself. It's a must for when that time comes.

***

So while I'm still waiting, I will enjoy everything singleness has to offer. And when the time and that person arrives, I won't have any regrets because I've already enjoyed singleness and hopefully, I'll be ready to take on a relationship.

***

I have Valentines Day plans too! That is to eat chocolate or cake or choco chip mint ice cream or just anything I want! Who wants to come food tripping with me in UP? :3 (Hopefully we won't have any meetings on Valentines Day.)