Flyback Recap

My two-week vacation in Manila is legendary! I didn’t realize what I was missing until I was back home spending time with family and friends, isn’t that weird? Maybe I was too preoccupied (entertained perhaps) by the many things happening in ATL that it was only when I was back that I realized just how much I miss everyone!

Let me give you the highlights:

I was so happy to see my ever-kulit teammates, officemates and my friends! I was also looking forward to my Serenitea welcome drink c/o Joyce! (Thanks a bunch!). I also had the opportunity to have dinner with the former lunchmates crowd! It was a fun-filled night! I super miss the old times when we were all together almost every day – fun times! 

 

Rendezbooze with my elementary friends: Arianne, Jana, Jazz, Iyah and Ayianne! It’s really good to see them all! We went to Centris to play Laser Tag (super fun and tiring!) – ate dinner at Dencio’s on ABS-CBN compound – then off to a videoke party at Music 21! Amazing Lady Gaga performance by Arianne; the ‘Patrick’ moments are the funniest; it’s also my 1^st time to pull an all-nighter gimik; and surprisingly, I didn’t drink too much booze (maybe because I know I still have a very long day ahead!). It was really good to see and catch up with everyone – particularly with Arianne and Jana who we haven’t seen for a very long time! Aside from them giving me hard time (traumatic) when I was leaving in the morning, everything went great!

Laser Tag @ Centris

Videoke Night

Went home from the Rendezbooze with friends, took a bath, and off to Makati to watch HP7 with Joyce and Ge! Here I am sleepless but was able to get there early to eat lunch before going to the movies WHILE someone overslept and didn’t make it to the movie at all! You know who you are. Haha Then off to Tagaytay where I doze off when we hit SLEX. Woke up when we were in Tagaytay already. It was Ge’s brilliant idea to hangout at Cliff House so I was able to try the famous mochi ice cream! Yummy! Spent the rest of the afternoon just talking and eating and laughing. Good times! Next stop, Leslie’s for dinner! Wohoo! Oh wait – there’s more! After dinner, we went back to Manila to party at Republiq! It was a blast! Jam and I have been waiting for this since our NY Trip last June – so yeah, we danced the night away!

I also had the chance to spend the day with my college friends (Tina, Jane, Loreen, Rhye, Raunche, Tin and Venn!) who I don’t see often and together. It took a lot FB Messages and constant reminder to make this possible. I was so happy to see them all together! Can’t remember the last time it happened, probably it was way back college days pa! Thank you friends for making all the effort to be there! 

It was the most tiring two weeks to-date, but it was all worth it! I think being away from home makes me appreciate all the time I spend with all the people I care about and all the little (crazy) things that we do.

The many faces of New York City

Every street, every avenue and every corner is different - that makes it more exciting because you’ll never know what’s coming! Each part of New York City looks different from each other. And it’s amazing that amidst all the skyscrapers and shops are churches – with intricate details that are so fascinating.  

You will also see people from all walks of life by just walking the streets of New York or by staying in one place and people-watch. Oh I super love people-watching! There’s diversity of people in here – Asian, Russian, Indian, Middle-Eastern, British, English, Irish, European and  American of course.

There’s one particular group that caught my attention – the people wearing black. At first I thought they are Jewish (I know it ended with ‘ish’ because I’ve seen this kind of people in TV - so much from watching Sex and the City and Grey’s Anatomy) but upon asking my friend Dario who happens to be a New Yorker, I found out that they are Amish. (I almost got it right, almost!) According to Wikipedia, Amish are known for simple living, plain dressing and reluctant to adapt to the many conveniences of modern technology. Most of them don’t ride the subways as Dario says, so in a city as modern as New York - I’m not sure how they live base on their beliefs if they are reluctant to adapt to technology. Interesting don't you think?

Most importantly, New York is the home of Fashionistas! Oh goodness, they are everywhere! The streets of New York are overflowing with model look-a-likes! Both men and women dress to impress (a lot!). Most of the ladies are wearing skirts/dresses, tailored pants with coats and I could see a lot of European inspired outfits in here too! It’s like the covers in the magazines are strutting their way on the streets of New York! Hahaha I’m all so fascinated by these women,  hello obvious?!

Feels like all men here are metrosexual, because they dress too nicely here than regular man in other places - even the older men are fashionistas! They are so chic! I could only stare so much; I was too shy to take a picture of this old man sitting in front of me, he has a coat (which he took off while eating), a light purple long-sleeve shirt with a matching neck tie in plum, he’s also wearing suspenders where he clips his tie (on the shoulder area) to avoid getting stained. I might have been watching him from the moment he walked in and out of the pizza place!

As I said before, the best thing about New York is that there's always something interesting, something different to look at. And everyone came from somewhere else, everybody feels at home instantly. And I think that is one of the main reason that everybody loves New York City – because it makes you feel at home!

"One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years." -Thomas Wolfe

Some Parts of Impossible Dreams Do Come True

New York can be anything you want it to be. It’s why countless people have pinned their dreams on the place, thrown caution to the wind and shown up on its doorstep.

It’s why visitors keep streaming in from all corners of the globe, grasping at their silver-screen visions – and finding them – but discovering plenty more on the way. If you are willing to approach New York with a combination of organization and openness, you’ll be met with some staggering and unexpected rewards!

The best thing about New York is that there's always something interesting, something different to look at. Enough with the chitchat and on to the photos.

Duffy Square/Times Square

View from Battery Park

Flat Iron Bldg

Times Square

Chrysler Bldg

when travelling far away from home, it's always nice to bring along an old friend from the neighborhood...

I heart NYC!

In New York, concrete jungle were dreams are made of, oh

There's nothing you can't do, now you're in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new 

Big lights will inspire you, let's hear it for New York New York New York!

I was finally able to fulfill one of my biggest dream - to go to New York City! It was an awesome experience especially since I have my best friend as my travel buddy. More blog posts and photos to come. 
 

I heart NYC! I did had the time of my life!

 

Finally!

I’m feeling peachy today! It’s because I was finally able to get my eager hands on my latest baby – Panasonic Lumix LX5. Can I just add that this is the craziest purchase I’ve ever had - probably next to my Iphone 4. Also, this is my first major online purchase from Amazon. It’s kinda addicting to buy stuff from Amazon because there are so many good stuff haha. I just hate the fact of waiting for your stuff to be delivered at your doorstep. That’s the reason why I don’t really like shopping online because I’d prefer to go to the mall to get it (more reasons to go to the Mall right?). 

Anyway, I’ve been eyeing for this camera for quite awhile. I was actually considering buying the LX3 over my DSLR a couple of years back. But then I decided to buy the DSLR, which was great at that time until very recently. Long story short, I become lazy to bring my DSLR every time I go out so I decided to buy something smaller in size but with great performance. I left my old P&S camera back home and now I realized that I can't function without a P&S camera. I was stucked with Burq alone and it was not a good thing particularly when I travel. *excuses*

I’m so excited to use this camera! Although, I am still having trouble with the menu since I’ve always been a Canon Girl. But I’ll get the hang of it soon, I hope! I love the vintage look of this camera; it reminds me of our old green camera way back in the ‘80s. My mom thought so too. Although she said she preferred the black version of the LX5, but since it is my camera not hers, I prefer the white version. Why? Because! I think is super chic!

Everyone, I want you to meet George!

Sporty Sunday

The last time I watched a live basketball game was way back freshman year in College. It was those time when all you wanted was to skip PE to watch movies or go to the mall. And the only way to skip PE was to go watch those NCAA Games. Hahaha – happy crazy times indeed! Trivia: it was during those crazy times that I got my nickname changed from Angie to Anjie. Don’t bother asking because I won’t tell how I got it changed. Hahaha. 

Anyways, I went to a WNBA game in Philips Arena with Clara and Dominique. Dominique is into Basketball that’s why her mom, Clara, decided to take her to the opening game of the Atlanta Dream game tagging me along with them. If you know me well, I’m not really into basketball but I decided to join them since I was bored that day. It was a good game and surprisingly, I enjoyed it! It was partially because I get to watch it the American way - with a cup of beer in hand! Yes, after half-a-year of being alcohol-free I was finally able to fill my stomach with alcohol. 

That's Dominique, Clara and myself enjoying the game. Surprisingly, GAS SOUTH was a sponsor.

After the game, we decided to eat out and we went down south of the city to try this seafood restaurant Clara have been raving about forever – Spondivits. The oysters were amazing! And the bucket of crab legs are too much for us – our server kinda fooled us into ordering it. So we were all surprised when we saw the amount of food on the table. It was sumptuous meal – I love the butter/garlic dip for the crab legs/shrimp. We all went home stuffed and happy with a box out takeout meal. Hahaha.

Spondivits. Amazing oysters. Dominique with a bunch of crab legs.