Thank you, 2012

It's almost the end of yet another amazing year. Looking back to the last 11 months, I am more than happy to see I've changed a lot. My lifestyle, my preferences and my outlook, they all gone matured. Just like in all the past years I have learned a lot from this one. I feel like a mother more and more each day. Amber is growing exactly how I prayed she'd be - happy, smart and so adorable. I woudn't trade this life for anything-- anything in the world. It may not be all candies and rainbows sure, but at the end of the day, I still have with me the people I care much about and that is enough to cross me over to the next day. And the next year.

If 2011 felt like a shower of opportunities that tested my limits, strength and faith I say 2012 went on bathing me with realizations to dream the right dream and finally have attainable goals. It may still be a bit blurry but I know where I'm heading. It's still bumpy but heck, it'll be one hell of a ride and I'm excited. Career wise, 2012 I owe you big. I landed a job that I can be proud of, made new friends, learned new things and got promoted in less than a year! Amazing, right? I may all be whiny and ranty about how stressful work is but really if I just slow down and take a look at it, it's pretty damn nice, all those achivements in less than year, right? It's really something I am thankful for. Family wise? We're finally seeing the same horizon. Or atleast that's what I want to believe? Haha kk no drama here. I just wish we get through 2013 alive and still together so the year after it would all be ours to take. Other than those two aspects, I practically have nothing else except some random tweet exchanges with my friends and 2 of my closest. I miss having those people around. Seriously.

On the lighter note though, I remember I made a list of Strict To Dos for 2012 and I wanted to check on them. So before the fireworks crack, I want to see by the detail how 2012 has been to me based on this list I imposed on my self. Let's see:

1.Discover a new cuisine, or eat something you've never tried before.

This is a little safe and a bit non daring but I should say HAKAW. I am not really into chinese nor japanese foods much so I thought I'd die tasting only one variety of dumpling all my life and that is shomai (and I reamin loyal to Hen Lin). But when my officemate bought a dozen of hakaw one random lunch time, I had the urge to taste it, only because the smell is divineeee. And behold! foodgasm in an instant! Yummmmmehmummmmmeh! Now I'm craving pffft!

Image from the net

2. Make a new friend

Having a job earns you not just a living but friendship as well.

Such curayzee people

Christmas Dinner at Gram's: we are getting bigger and bigger and bigger!

3. Shut off your phone for one weekend.

I did! Well it wasn't entirely shut off cause I was using it for music but the point is, there were no distractions at all cause there's no signal to begn with! This was last March when Jay and I went to Anawangin Cove in Zambales.

4. Finish at least three books you can add to your collection

The Hunger Games Trilogy pa lang ok na. Haha, but that addition to the list are Looking For Alaska, Thriteen Reasons Why, and my new favorite, The Fault in Our Stars.

5. Visit at least three beaches I have never been to

Hmm this is tricky. I've had two beach travels this year and they are both island hopping. Does that count per island I've stepped on?Hihi. One is Anawangin Cove, and the other is Coron, Palawan. Too bad could make Pagudpod count this year. Guess hafta see this summer :)

But uhmmmm. Of all the 22 items I have highlighted here, I've only accomplished 5. What does that make me? Huhu. I guess that makes me realize how work has eaten all my time and left little for these things that makes me happy. This again leads me to this. I better start doing something about this dilemma. All the rest that are still pending, let me carry all of you over to 2013. I swear and I pleadge that 2014 won't get to see the light of day if I haven't accomplished every single one of you yet. Haha Kidding! Joke lang po.

In a nutshell, 2012 you have made me productive at work and made me realize what I really want in life. And that is a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Amber have been and will always be my top priority and I sworn to give her the best and that's me starting by investing quality time with her. Maybe if I can move nearer my work I'll have more time to spend at home helping my mom with Amber and bond with them at the same time instead of always being worn off at the end of every single work day. Maybe then I'll be less irritable and agitated. Maybe then I'll have time to give in to movie dates with my team or join that watercolor workshop I've been meaning to, or do some nail art, or create a new piece of DIY accessories for me and Amber. Or I can finally start that long overdue business with my close friend. The possibilities are endless and it all leads to a happy me and happy life :)). If 2012 landed me a job, 2013 perhaps you can land me and Amber a new home? Pretty please? :)) Anyway, I hope your year has been as colorful as mine and may your coming year be another one hella great year for new learning, new adventures, and new set of friends to lighten the challenges you're sure to face.

Happy New Year, cheers! :))

Bisou,

Raine xx

Christmas 2012

Doing a quick post because it's been so hard these days to find alone time to blog.

From my family to yours, a heartfelt season's greetings. :))

Ciao!

Bisou,
Rainee

Rainbow

Haven't been on the loop since November and that's entirely because work has eaten my social and cyber life once again. *Applause*

Kidding and negativity aside, how have y'all been? It's almost Christmas! It's just hours away and here I am infront of my TP working. Hurray! Hahah kkk, tucking the bitterness away. Oh well, I'm not really that sad since I'm working at home, the perks of having TP.

Anyway, work isn't all about stress and sulking. Some days we are colorful and ready for the camera. Just like last Wednesday, 19 December. Apparently the company (Team initiated) sends out Holiday greetings to the client and IBM counterparts across the globe with pictures! Hence my panic last Monday. We were opting for a Mafia Theme and that was decided only that day while the shoot would be the day after the next. To my relief, it was changed to casual rainbow colors and luckily I picked red.

So let me share them to you:  :)

Nice shot of Eastwood Park: Photo credit to my Officemate :D

Not much of a Rainbow color, eh? I knoooow. But that shall do. -_-''''

Ciao for now! :)

Have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones! :))

Bisou,
Rainee

Coron, Palawan: November 2012

Cheers!

Been out and about for the last couple of weeks hence the MIA status here. It feels like it's summer doesn't it? Looks like Ber-breeze hadn't come yet, or will it? I don't think I have the right to complain since November have been another beach month for me this year. This month is blessed with great whether for Island hopping and beachin' lulz. Last November 15, my friends and I went to one of the best Islands I have ever been to: Coron Island, Palawan. This place is indeed enchanting.

I've plotted my leave for this getaway since June! Hahah Excited much lang. Well, not really because we plot our leaves annually for the whole year. Since November is our Anniversary month, this place plus great company is just a perfect celebration.

Andrei, Camilia, Jay, Aldrin and Dianne: HS friends 

We arrived at Busuanga at past 9 in the morning, 30 minutes ahead of ETA. Served lunch and had siesta before the day 1 tour began. First stop: Mt. Tapyas with its 720 step! Kaloka. Unang stop paguran agad. I strongly think this should never be the first stop cause we all had body aches the rest of the trip! huhu I was never a fan of walkathon nor trekking of all sorts. But oh well, the view from the top is definitely worth it. 

 Perfect timing cause it's sunset yaay! The view of Coron Island from up there is breathtaking. Definitely worth the 720 steps. And another 720 going down. Haaaay my legs were trembling the hole trip down! We all wished they put some zipline in there. Oh well. We head to Maquinit hotspring after. Too bad we don't have pictures there. Hung out for some time and head home for dinner! After that tiring trip to Mt. Tapyas, rough, dark road trip to Maquinit and a sumptuous dinner, who would still think of a night life? We're all dead tired calling it a night. 

Day 2 is for snorkeling and  island hopping. This also the first time Dianne's gonna try her Sony under water camera. One thing I noticed about this trip is that people of Coron are so nice. Our guide and boatmen are educated enough to be better with their livelihood. They take time to tell us our itinerary for the whole day, the dos and don'ts and possible dangers we may encounter (which btw doubled the fear in most of us!haha). Of all the island hopping I've had in the past, I am impressed by these guys especially by kuya Charlie! Haha

First stop: Twin peak for snorkeling. I was scared at first because I am uncomfortable with corals and holes underwater. You know, something might just appear from no where and bite me, or grab me. Hahaha paranoid lang masyado. 

 Too bad Dianne's underwater camera got busted. The best snorkeling site is still on the 3rd day. 

 You noticed we're always in a bunch? haha we're that scaredycat. Next stop is the twin lagoon where the water  is surprisingly warm!

That's the outside actually. We have to swim under a rock formation to get to the lagoon and since we don't have waterproof camera anymore, we don't have picture of the place. Our guide explained why the water is warm but I was too busy appreciating the place that I didn't get too pay attention well. Hahah. Excuses.

We had lunch at Banol Beach. It's my first time to try the seaweed and uhmm it's alright. It's slimy like okra. Didn't like it much, but the huge fish and inihaw na liempo? Plus the view? Winner.  

 Next stop? Kayangan Lake and the Iconic Coron view.

Last stop is Siete Pecados where we dread to see a lion fish. I don't particularly liked this place because it's shallow. Meaning you may get to step on the corals including sea urchins, Lion fish (if there's any) and other underwater creatures that are not safe for human contact. I didn't have an aqua shoes so I was hesitant to go down. But I don't want to miss anything so I jumped in, trying my hardest not to set foot on anything and praying hard I don't get stung by anything poisonous. Siete Pecados is a marine protected sanctuary and I saw why. Lotsa marine creatures can be found there and it's amazing to see them upclose.

Such a loooooong, amazing day! Since the first night we kept on planning for a night out but day 1 was so tiring we ended up on the sheets. So for the second night we head out after dinner and had an overpriced malabsaw na halo-halo with fruit cocktails (120+ for the small one!) and some barbecues for them. 

Day 3 is less tiring but equally captivating. I lost track of the names of the places we went to so I'm relying on the photos.

CYC Beach where Andrei got scratched from corals?

We headed for the ship wreck and it was scary- for me. Haha, it doesn't look like a ship anymore because of the things that grow on it. Again, no photos. Some were deleted from Cam's camera and I'm still waiting for those to get recovered. Andun yung epic jumshots ih. hehe.

91 Beach for lunch (which we misheard as 'Tiny one beach' lololol).

And one of the best views I have ever seen, underwater! Coral Garden!

Even from the surface you can see the fishes and the corals, that's how clear the water is! And one more reason why I liked this is because it's actually deep. You won't get scared that you might get scratched from the corals nor get stung by some sea urchin or whatever. If we only have an underwater camera I'll have proofs. But then again it's already in my memory :). A completely different world down there. Kudos.

Last stop is Baraccuda lake. You can see what's underneath unlike in twin lagoon and Kayangan lake. Huge stones underwater, it's creepy cause you might actually think something might appear from those black spaces in between those stones and pull you down. Sorry minsan exaggerated lang talaga imaginations ko. Again, the view is enthralling. Sabi nga ni Andrei parang sa Jurassic park lang yung feel. 

It was our last stop before we go back to Manila the next morning so I guess someone wanted to say goodbye. Just when almost everyone got off the lake and it's just three of us left on the water, Jay saw a sea snake a few meters from where we were! Kaloka nag panic kami! I was so scared I wanted to disappear. Good thing the snake swam downwards and we were able to get off safe. Whew. Thank gaaaahd. 

As I've said day 3 wasn't that tiring. We head back early to have some random snaps around the Luwalhati Park. Coron is beyond charming. There's just so much to do and so much to see! This place is so rich. Our guide was telling us which part of the island is rich on which mineral and it's overwhelming how blessed this place is. From under the soil to underwater they are indeed wealthy. I wish those in mining industry would realize what natural beauty they are destroying in exchange of money. 

This place is one hell of a paradise. Breathtaking views and nice people, two thumbs up Coron!

Para sa hndi matuloy tuloy na inom dahil sa sakit ng katawan. 43php Tanduay Ice. 

It would be hard to top this one so we have to do some research as to where to head next. I have one in mind, actually saving it for one occasion I dream to get real soon. See you next time, Coron!

Photo credits to Camilia, Dianne and Jay :) Thank you!