February 2010 - Hong Kong

I told you we will come back...and we did.

We just so love Hong Kong. I don't know why but this place is just so warm to us. My partner lived in HK for 2 years during her elementary years because her Mom was offered a VP Position in a prestigious company. But after they went back to Manila, they never came back until we first went in 2009.

The people are so nice, the weather I love, the shopping district, the lively place even in the wee hours of the morning! It's just a total package. Wanted to migrate and find a work in HK but then it's not easy. Given the chance, we would have probably migrated.

December 2009 - Half Marathon

That's my sister and that's her SCSM 2009 Half-marathon medal... I am proud of her.

The addiction started out as a need when she had a seizure while driving home along the South Superhighway. She was driving alone but managed to go to the shoulder lane to stop the car. Thereafter, she went thru a series of tests and no one can determine what went wrong. It was a suspected multiple sclerosis and later on results showed it was negative.

Her only remedy was to start conditioning herself and be healthy. Now, she's unbelievably addicted to it!!! :) You can see her crying in one of the pictures but she still ran for SCSM 2010! :P

September 2009 - Ondoy

Exactly a week after we went back from our trip to Manila, the super typhoon "Ondoy" (its local name) came & destroyed a big part of greater Manila.

The picture here shows how the destructive it was. The house is impossibly livable (if there is such a phrase).

We were supposed to do a Community Service to Cambodia, teach English to the kids. We decided to cancel last minute --we would rather go back home and help whatever we can for the family of my partner. My family is a-ok, thank God. We live in the Southern part of Manila and the typhoon made a big hit in the Northern part. I didn't tell them I went back home so I that I can spend the rest of my stay with my partner's family.

My family knows about my partner & I; me being gay --but they don't openly agree & I know somehow, somewhere they are still wishing that I get to have a 'normal' life with a husband & a kid.

September 2009 - WoW Philippines

Spent my compliance leave in my home country. There are a lot of things I miss in Manila, but likewise there are a lot of things I've gotten used to in my new home that I am sure I will miss later on when we decide to migrate to Canada.

My 10-day leave was spent with my family & friends. Days flew so fast that it felt like I only spent hours in Manila.

My eldest sister was on her chemo therapy fighting against Stage 3C Breast Cancer. :( It was sad but we had high hopes of winning the battle.

Highlights of the trip are as follows:

CEBU-BOHOL TRIP WITH FAMILY

Facts that you may be interested to know:

(Source: Bohol Philippines)

1. Chocolate Hills -- 1268 hills in 30-50 meters high; the hills are covered with grass during wet season and turns chocolate brown when it's dry season. Up to this day, geologists have not reached consensus on how they were formed
2. Baclayon Church -- one of the oldest church in the Philippines
3. Tarsier -- is very peculiar small animal. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men's hand.
4. Man-Made Mahogany Forest -- a 2 km stretch of densely "planted" Mahogany trees
5. Loboc River -- a natural emerald-green river

Shangri-La, Mactan Cebu

Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/cebu/mactanresort

I would always want to go back to this place...always. It's pricey, but hell worth it!

CATICLAN, BORACAY ISLAND

And this is our first and only love.

The finest white beach sand I will ever see (probably) in the whole world. I'm a beach bum and if I just have the time and money to go to ALL the beaches in the world --I would. But I am thankful enough, that this small island is in my hometown. I pity those who haven't been here because they haven't seen the best.

My partner and I stayed at Discovery Shores, Boracay as part of our birthday celebration --partied the rest of our stay; fully utilized the hotel's amenities and hotel room...it was just perfect and completely unforgettable!

"You're all I need and everything is perfect"

To: my Honey

June 2009 -- Macau and Hong Kong Trip

The Rocks Hotel, Fisherman's Wharf, Macau

I surprised my honey to celebrate our 3.5 years anniversary. She didn't know which hotel we will be staying at in Macau, until we reached and we were just so happy to have found this haven!

This was when we started our love for Hong Kong. We promised to come back.

April 2009 - Krabi and Phi Phi Island

2 years ago, my partner and I went to Krabi, Thailand and Phi Phi Island, Thailand.

This is so far, the best sunset I've seen.

Look at the mix of colors:

Believe it or not (or I guess the professionals would know) these are unedited pictures for the simple reason that I don't know how to use any editing tools/software for photos. The basics that I know are cropping, softening, those that you see under Picasa 3 Editing options. :)

The next picture was taken at Krabi's port where we were waiting for our speed boat for the Island tour.

This was at the top of Phi Phi Island's Viewpoint. Took us 2hours to get to the top... This is their destination in case Tsunami strikes again (in remembering 2004 Thailand/Indonesia/Maldives Tsunami).

The view is just breath-taking and jaw-dropping!

Backtracking

I'll backtrack to 2009 and post the highlights of my (and partner's) year.

Revival of the Blogger

I suddenly had the urge to create another blog --my third blogspot..and...I've lost count together with the other web hosts. I don't know why I can never get to be as dedicated as my honey is in writing her journal every year, every day! That's her current journal it always has to be sponsored by Starbucks (you can only get it from Starbucks Philippines during Christmas Season).

Here I am today and I am just as excited in starting this blog (again)...good thing I found my old posts (2009) stored in the same Gmail ID.

A lot has changed with Blogger, which is cool and really interesting to play with.

I've been blogging on and off for the past 6 years, and this time around I hope (and try my best) to update this as time goes by. I always forget how nice it is to read back your blog & it gives you that smile on your face; it gives you the feeling back then; whether good or bad.