Our Story Part 1

While twitter is the most popular social media platform to voice out whatever one has in his/her mind, I've decided to do it here. My friends follow me on twitter and I don't want them to see this side of me that is so stupid and dramatic.

So here is our story:
After a heartbreaking incident that has wrecked me for weeks and has made me lose a few close friends in the process, then several days after the incident, the guy I was dating told me that he will pursue someone else, Ive decided to give online dating a try. I created a tinder account. While I've met a lot of guys, there is this guy who stood out among the rest. I hesitated at first if I should swipe right because he doesnt look like my type at all. But since he looked like he is well travelled and he actually exerted an effort in writing his bio, I swiped right. That was also the same day I wanted to delete my tinder account as it has already bored me. So, it was untypical of me to send a message first then that same night, asked for his number. I did that so we can still keep touch after I delete my tinder account. I enjoyed every exchanges with him. We didnt run out of things to talk about. He was so thoughtful and warm and nice. I badly wanted us to go out immediately. Unfortunately, he already had plans and I have classes in the evenings. He told me that he wont be free until next weekend, which was 10 days from that day. Then, that same day(day after we matched), he said he will be going to St. Jude in the morning of the next day so he can meet me after the mass. He said he will be free by 10 AM. Since I am not a morning person, a date as early as 10AM is a problem. But hey, I wanted to meet him as soon as there is a chance, so I agreed.

Then came that day when we met. He messaged me at 8:45AM that he is already done with mass. It means 1hour earlier than planned. Since I ddnt want him to wait, I got ready immediately. Believe me,e gready to meet somebody youre interested in for the first time, while youre hungover, is a challenge. Thanlfully, by 9:15, I was all set. I was wearing my then favorite white shirt with my orange shorts. My face was bare and not a single trace of make up can be seen. My hair was lightly damp but I prefer looking plain that have a person wait for me for a long time. I met him in front of a bank close to my apartment. I told myself "aaaah, this guy is someone I will not have feelings for. He is not my type." Little did I know that this guy who I thought I would not get attached to back in Day 1, would make me cry a lot of times.

How I've Moved On After A Heartbreak Due to Cheating

At the Police District to apply for my Residence Permit

When I moved to Norway during the start of spring when the country is still very damp and gray, with snows that lasts for an hour but melts almost immediately, I immediately felt uncomfortably lonely and sad. I wanted to come back home after just a few days! A filipino friend who has been living there for more than a year told me that she felt that too and that there is something about the norwegian air that gives this certain level of sadness. This guy and his adorable 2 year old made things tolerable for me. They became my home, my sanctuary.

Things were running smooth and I was starting to gain momentum at work and even around the area as I met new friends and I got involved in different activities. All of a sudden, things changed.

He became friends with a woman who introduced herself to him when he was shopping in Sweden. I trusted him. I trusted her. After a few weeks, they started seeing each other behind my back. He started lying to me, he started making excuses for the several times he had to cancel on me. Then, his friend told me he saw him being intimate with this woman and then a couple of hours after that, he posted a photo of them together. I called his phone and he had the girl answer. That is how the relationship ended. Just. Like. That. They ddnt finish with that. Because days after that incident, they were sending me photos of them together almost everyday. It shattered me. They ruined me. I ddnt know where to start, what to do. But I had to live and move forward. How did I manage?

1. I told the story to friends. I told at least 12 people my story because telling the heartbreak over and over can get exhausting but it makes one get better. I ddnt limit it to a few people because if I told the story over and over to only a few people, they'd get fed up.

2. I drank almost everyday. My room felt very lonely and I had difficulty getting a decent sleep(3hrs everyday isnt decent) so 1-2bottles of wine every night helped a lot

3. I came back home here in PH. No better way to handle things than be close to people who matter

4. I continued with the drinking despite being home because it does help with sleep and it gives a temporary relief from feeling like your heart is being squeezed so roughly because of the breakup)

5. I stopped following him on different social media. 2 months after that, when I saw a pic of them together, it did not affect me that much. This one I think is the most effective way to move on.

6. Be with friends you can do activities with. If it's drinking, then cool. If it's going on foodtrips, even better.

During the times my heart was crushing while he was happy, did I hate him? Honestly, no. I was very hurt but I ddnt hate him. Or maybe I just cant remember any instance when my hate towards him manifested. What I can remember is that, I ddnt want to be friends with him because I was hurting and I thought I would never be friends with him because of what he did.

A year after the break up, he communicated with me. They're still together and they're even engaged! While before, I wanted them to not work out as they both cheated on their partners to be together, that time, I was genuinely happy for them.

During the first month after the breakup, things were difficult and very painful but when I looked back a year after, I was surprised that I was able to go through such a rough time. If he wants to be with me, would I take him back? Definitely not. And I am sure of that because he did tell me he wanted me back, twice. First was the day I got back here in PH, from Norway. And the second time was when he got in touch a year after. But I told him that we should just be friends although honestly a part of me wanted him back. But here we are now, better off as friends 😊

My 2015

2015 has been a great year and, looking at the things I’ve been through, all the things I experienced and all the people I met, it has been a wonderful ride. This year started with a trip to Shanghai, then Shanghai to Zurich, the city where I lived for a year.

On Adjustments

View from my window

Switzerland is very different from the Philippines.  The country is well organized, everyone is disciplined, the meals needed getting used to because it is a totally big shift from having rice every meal to bread, pasta, salad, cheese and lots of other things, the activities that can be done are activities not typically done in the Philippines and a whole lot of other things. First week in and I badly wanted to go back home already. The snow was not of big help in my early adjustment days as well! For days, I walk around the city alone with no friend I can go out with for coffee or no friend to share experiences with. Thankfully, on my third week, I went to language classes and there, I met a fellow Filipino who’s also learning the language. She introduced me to other Filipinos who live in Zurich. Living in Zurich became a lot easier since then as I have friends I can visit on weekends and they were also more than generous enough to give me tips on how to fully enjoy my stay. What delighted me so much as well was the thought of finally having Filipino meals on weekends!  On my second month in the country, I got a hold of things already. I got comfortable with public transpos and I was even able to travel to Milan and Venice on my second month! I also got used to the food—pancake  or bread with butter and honey or jam, yogurt, muesli with fruits for breakfast, pan-fried meat with mashed vegetables or pasta for lunch, fruits and chocolates or pastries or anything sinful and tea for zveri and any meat with salad or stir fried veggies, wine, and ice cream for dinner. I also got used to saying “gruezi” to any person I see. The first few weeks are the most difficult but after a while, what I considered as very different, became normal and comfortable to me.

On Friendships

With my friends at Pilatus in Luzern

I met friends who I’m sure are friends for a lifetime. I met them during travels, some just in the neighborhood and some are fellow Filipinos who are from the same region as I am here in the Philippines who also introduced me to other Filipinos who are from the south. My fondest memories I have are shared with my Filipino friends I spent most of weekends with. We had lots of sleepovers and we also did some trips together. Most of them opted to stay and try their luck in other European countries, some also came back but I am sure that in time, our paths will cross again. For now, we’re good with getting in touch through Facebook and Whatsapp.

On Travels

At the Parliament House in Budapest

I’ve been saving for a Eurotrip since I started working but I didn’t fully expect that 2015 is the year I’d be able to fulfill that goal. I was able to visit the cities I only read about in books and hear of from friends. Probably half of my savings when I was still working in the Philippines, went to traveling and I guess same is true during my stay in Switzerland. During my travels, I have also noticed that although the countries are in the same continent, there are lots of things that make each country and city very distinct from the others. Travellers may say that one year is more than enough to go to countries in Europe as every country can be easily reached by bus or train but I was not able to travel up north due to time and budget constraints. I was only able to travel around Eastern and Central Europe. Maybe this means I should really go back to Europe because I have yet to see Belgium, Amsterdam, Sweden and Norway!

On Relationships

I arrived in Switzerland with a broken heart. I considered an opportunity to leave the country because I wanted to get out for a while and mend my broken heart. Friends can attest to this. One even advised that I should not enter into a relationship whilst in the country because the reason why I went to the country in the first place might be the reason I’d leave—heartbreak. I started going out on dates around the last week of May. Things were getting smoothly with someone but I felt like there is something missing, that our personalities don’t fit. Probably I have not completely moved on from my previous relationship or probably because we are from completely different cultures. I was used to a guy who would constantly communicate with me, who’s just one message away and who can prioritize me and his work at the same time. Had I realized that maybe he’s just too busy and that when it comes to work, he has to put his concentration fully at the task he has at hand before anything else, had I been more understanding, it would have worked out. I learned lots of things the longer I stay and I can say that it when I have finally absorbed the culture in Switzerland, it contributed to the great relationship I have with my boyfriend.

On what is next

Before I left Switzerland, I was already scared on what the future will be for me. No job to go back to and law school won’t start until June. To put it simply, basically, as soon as I left Switzerland, I delved into the unknown and honestly, it scared me so much. My family thinks that at this stage, I should already have a great career, good savings, be in a long term relationship, have a long term plan and financially secure but none of those are anywhere within reach. Currently, I am looking at universities where I can pursue further studies and thankfully, my parents are very supportive of it. Europe is a viable option but Australia is much more ideal because of the closer proximity to home and they also have excellent universities that best fit my criteria options-wise. As I go through this year one second at I time, I will savor the moment and finally jump into another abyss and hopefully, it would work well just as it has worked well last year when I took that big leap to Switzerland.

From Bayombong to Zurich

It's been a while since I last posted and it's due to a lot of reasons. My reasons may be very shallow but hey, they are still acceptable. ;)

Last October, I decided to delve into the unknown. I pulled out all my academic records from law school, used a huge chunk of my savings(and my parents' money), resigned from work and decided to come here in Switzerland for a chance of a lifetime. I thought my parents would stop me and tell me that the idea of coming here is insane but, to my surprise, they were very supportive about it. Although hesitant at first, since I have taken the first step, I continued on with the process. 

Now, here I am, enjoying life in the country I've dreamt of visiting since I was a child. I don't know if I can survive long with the high standard of living, different culture and different language but, I can wholeheartedly say, I am glad I am here. 

Three weeks and counting as of the writing of this post and, so far, things are fantastic. :)

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Night Bazaar

Starting at 6PM and ends at 12MN, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is definitely a must visit for tourists when they visit the wonderful Chiang Mai. With fancy lights, beautiful souvenirs, bags, t-shirts, gift items, tea, Thai clothes, thai food and massage areas, one would really enjoy his/her visit.

It will take you a lot of time to go around and look for stuff and personally, I think six hours is not enough to see all the displays. It will be very tiring to walk around for hours but, there are many massage stalls around the area if you feel like taking a break for a while.  

When we entered the "gate"(picture below), we were surprised by the many stalls inside. There are also restaurants that offer a wide variety of selection, bars, and street foods aside from the usual products they sell. Since the food they serve in the restaurants inside the Market are expensive, we went to McDonald's instead before we continued with our shopping.

The picture above is the area where they sell the products at a more affordable price. Same products as the ones being sold at the front area but they sell it cheaper at that area. Of course, you still need a little charm so that you can haggle well with the vendors. :)

 A lot of tourist were buying this(I think this is fried ice cream) so I also tried. They sell different flavors but this one is what enticed me the most. It costs around 80-90 baht each :)

I'm not usually taking pictures of the stalls but I took a picture of this stall because I appreciate how intricate the details are in their products. I didn't buy one though since I'm a practical girl. I only buy a product if I'll be using it someday. :D


Night Market thingy
1. Haggle. A friend told me that you start the haggle at half the price the seller told you.
2. If you're on a budget, it's better to eat at McDonald's which is around 50meters away or any stall that sell street food around if you're looking for an authentic thai dish.
3. Some close at around 12MN but some stalls close at as early as 11. I guess it is better to do all your  shopping before 11PM.
4. Try thai massage. It's only 180baht per hour. Totally worth it!

2014 Chunkster Challenge

This the third time I have attempted this challenge and this year its a little more relaxed, not that I minded having a bit of a nudge for this challenge, but sometimes its nice to take a bit more of a relaxed approach.  That being said, I am a person that needs goals, so I am going to state the chunksters that I wish to read.

But before I state which ones I am going to attempt to finish this year, here are a few rules:

• Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest. 
• Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone can join.
• You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.
• Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster.

You can find more information here: http://chunksterchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/12/2014-chunkster-challenge-sign-ups.html

Remember that the book has to be 450 pages or more and can be adult or YA, just not a graphic novel.

BELOW are the books I attempt to read:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Hornet Flight by Ken Follet

and 10 more books. Most of my books are not at least 450 pages and I've already read the books with more than 450 pages so I guess I have to start looking for books I'll read soon. :)

This is my first time to join this so I'm really excited! This challenge will definitely revive the bookworm in me :)

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Starbucks

A self-confessed coffee addict and a loyal Starbucks customer, my eyes sparkled like how a kid's eyes sparkle when they see a shop full of chocolates when I saw a Starbucks sign while walking one Saturday morning.

This Starbucks is located conveniently. It is also near the second-hand bookstores so, after buying books, it's really nice to relax and sip some coffee and read the book you just bought. :) This Starbucks is three-storeys so there's enough space for a lot of people

With 500baht left in my wallet after purchasing Brida by Coelho, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes and a Grisham book, I decided to give myself a treat after a long walk and a long book search.

What I appreciate the most is that it has a great ambiance for a person who would like to just read or write or study because it is not that crowded.

The Devil and Miss Prym

second floor of Starbucks. I was alone.

I read around 40-50 pages of the book and I stayed for a while before I left. I love how friendly the staff are and how helpful they are on whatever things you need.

Although there is also a Starbucks near Le Meridien where our conference was held, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar where I was at every night, and Rux Thai Guest House where I stayed, I still chose this because of it's ambiance. The one near the night bazaar is not that spacious and is always crowded.

Desserts at Sage, Baguio City

Sage is a new restaurant in Baguio. Up for trying something new, I said yes to my friend when she said we should have our desserts there after our lunch.

When we arrived at the place, I was stunned because I never expected such a relaxing place in the middle of Military cut-off. We were greeted warmly by one of the staff. We took our seats and we seated there comfortably until the staff gave us their menu and their "service water" or complimentary drink or whatever they call it. One thing I have to say, who needs flavored drink/soft drinks/cocktails if the restaurant would serve you this:

service water

We placed our order, waited for a few minutes, told each other stories then our food was served.

Before we had desserts, we shared a salad first.

 Their salad is really good. It's crunchy and really sumptuous. It's my first time to have a salad with pomelo and I was not really thrilled at first but when I tasted it, I loved it. The juicyness of the pomelo adds flavor to the salad. I just didn't like the cucumber because I am not really a cucumber lover so perhaps next time I'll ask them to not add cucumber on my salad. hehe

Smores Cake

I baked smores brownies before and it became one of my favorites so when we were there, it is what I ordered. To be honest, I didn't like it because the cake is not that moist and is actually not that soft either. It tastes okay but for people who likes moist/chewy/sweet/fluffy, this is not the cake I'd recommend.

I love using lemons for cakes and pastries because the sourness of the lemon is just enough for sweet, yummy treats. My friend ordered this and she was generous enough to share this with me. I loved it because you can still taste the essence of the lemon and still get the sweetness you want from having a cake. The icing complements the cake as well. The cake tastes really great!

The plating is great and the it really looked delicious. We tasted it and we were not disappointed. This is by far, their best cake(out of all the 5 I tasted) for me. nuff said :)

green mango sorbet

Since my friend wanted to try their sorbet, we got one. There are different flavor available like watermelon, melon, and I forgot the others but we chose this one.

Several things I have to say about this sorbet, it's for sharing, it's delicious, it's all natural and you can really see it, it's affordable and it's something you'll always want to have whenever you go to Sage so yes, I had that the second time and third time I went there :)

Overall, Sage became one of the restaurants I love to go to whenever I am in Baguio. The ambiance is nice, the staff are very accommodating, pleasant and friendly, the food is great and the prices are reasonable :)

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Boracay 2013 Day 3: Jonah's Fruitshake and Ariel's Point

We woke up early on the third day because we wanted to roam around the island and buy some stuff for our friends back home. We also had to look for a pharmacy because my hand was inflamed and my friend is aching all over because of the water activities we did the day before.

We looked around but no store was open as we were too early. We then walked around D' Mall instead. We enjoyed our morning walk there because it was only us two in the place. 

at D'Mall, looking at that Pharmacy that is still not open

We then had breakfast at McDonald's. The food there are at least around P10 higher than the "real" price so there's no McSaver Meal and that broke our heart. haha

Since our trip to Ariel's Point is at 10:30, we went back to our hotel after our breakfast and after buying some meds. We rested for a while, prepared our stuff and we went to Jonah's Fruitshake and Snackbar. Our friend recommended the place because he said they served the best fruitshake he has ever had. I though he's just exaggerating but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. :)

my mango avocado shake

We then walked to Ariel's Place(the meeting place) and waited for the time(and the boat that will take us to Ariel's point.

the baller and our "ID" pass

The travel to Ariel's Point was roughly 30-45minutes. Quite long but thankfully, with the high energy of everyone in the boat and the overflowing drinks, the trip didn't feel very long.

yes. I was wearing a skirt!haha

watching the ones already jumping/diving

We had buffet lunch, overflowing drinks(softdrinks, beer, water, vodka, rhum and rhum coke) and banana cue for dessert. The thing I loved so much during that trip to Ariel's Point aside from the sumptuous food and the drinks are the people we went there with. They're all very friendly and energetic and very supportive to the people who are scared of jumping(and I'm one of them).

after standing at the cliff for 30minutes, I finally jumped! weehaa!

that 15m board!will try that next time I go back :)

We left Ariel's Point right after I jumped. That jump I just did was a last minute one, actually.haha!

We got back to Boracay at 5 in the afternoon. Tired, exhausted and sore, we didn't join the pub crawl anymore. We just had dinner when we woke up at 9 in the evening and slept after we had dinner.

Realizations:

-cliff diving(or in my case,jumping) is fun. I realized that right after my jump. Since my jump was the last, I was not able to do it again. The next time I go there, I'll jump to my heart's content

-Traveling with a friend who is not the type of person who mingles with other people hinders me from establishing connection and friendship with other people. So there will no longer be a next travel for me and Dex. ;)

Boracay 2013 Day 2- The Fun Activities in Boracay

At 5:45 in the morning, my friend and I left our hotel for a morning leisurely walk near the beach and to the grotto as some of the locals there suggested. They said that it is better to go there early in the morning so that we can appreciate the beauty of the place because visiting it at around 7AM is not really that good already because there will be a lot of people.

that long, challenging road to Station 1.

early morning view :)

the grotto

After that long walk, we decided to take the main road route because the water current was strong. We had breakfast at Andok's, stayed there and planned what to do for the day before we went back to our hotel to pick our stuff.

We contacted the person who was offering a package of different activities in the island. We told him the things we want to do then he told us how much it would cost us for the different activities. We met him in front of Starbucks then he led us to the place where they do the water activities. We took a tricycle and we paid him P50.

We did the Flying Fish first. 

after our first fall

that third round. faster, crazier, scarier.haha

 Although during my first fall, I honestly thought I was going to die because I don't know how to swim but,it was actually fun. We held on for dear life because we didn't want to fall again but I guess, sometimes, it's the aim of the guys on the speedboat to really make us fall. hehe

After the Flyfish, we went to the Station for the helmet diving. Sad thing though that we were not able to get the CD of our pictures underwater and at the boat while preparing because we immediately left for our next activity.

When we left the helmet diving station, we went to the lake to wait for the shuttle ride that would bring us to the ATV/buggy ride. We originally opted for the ATV ride but my friend got scared so he said we should take the buggy and I drive. As the kind, loving friend that I am, I said yes. haha!

buggy! :)

I'm such an excellent driver ;)

 There's this option of taking gazillion steps to the main view where you'll truly see the beauty of Boracay from the top but, since we were already tired because of the Flying Fish and the Helmet Diving, we opted not to go.

the breathtaking view :)

After the three activities, we went back to Station 1 and walked all the way to Station 2 as we looked for a place where we could have lunch

after the water activities, we're darker, hungrier and happier :)

It was around 4PM when we got back to our hotel. We took a bath, slept and woke up for dinner and some fun fun night. :)

with his singapore sling, my zombie and our emptied plate of tempura :)

Realizations:

-I discovered that I am not that fit. Just those water activities made me really tired.

-A glass(or a plastic cup of cocktail) is already good for me. Back in college, I can drink up to 5 glasses. An improvement! :D

-I just appreciated Boracay even more :)

Boracay 2013 Day 1

Last July, I went to Boracay with my dear college friend, Dexter.

Boracay isn't the place that I'd exactly want to go to here in the Philippines. I guess it's because it is more known for it being an island where most people go because of it's night life rather than it's magnificent beauty(and it's popular white sands).

Since I'd like to travel with my friend and that's the place he wanted to go to, I agreed. We had our travel booked 3 months earlier and thankfully, that time when we booked our flight, they're on sale. Our roundtrip was only P892. 

We left NAIA Terminal 4 at 6:50 in the morning. It was a 45-minute flight to Kalibo Airport. When we arrived at the airport, we saw a lot of information booth about Boracay and how to get there. We just walked straight to the exit and there we saw a lot of vans and some buses going to Boracay. We opted for the van ride because we were offered the front seat ^^

We paid 250 and that amount included the boat fare to the island. From the airport to Caticlan Jetty Port,it was roughly 1hr30min-2hours ride. 30 minutes of it is like the road going to Baguio, long and winding. ^^

At Jetty Port,we paid some fees first before they allowed us to go to our boat. When we reached the island, we took a tricycle to Frendz Resort(where we stayed) and we paid P100 for it.

inside the boat while reading the Boracay Guide booklet

We reached Frendz Resort at around noon.

The owner and their staff greeted us warmly and they even gave us welcome drinks. They also allowed us to go to our room even if the check-in should be at 2PM.

For an airconditioned room with two queen sized beds, a television, a balcony and a spacious and clean bathroom(with hot shower) for 1000/night, it's quite cheap. :)

inside our room

Since we didn't plan anything for this trip, we just went at the seaside, took a little dip then we went around. We walked from Station 1 to Station 3. Quite a long walk but it was fun walking around.

After that very long walk, we went back to our hotel and we took a nap. At 8 in the evening, we went out for dinner and we had a few drinks at OJ's Roast Bake and Grill. We enjoyed it there because of the live music and the fun atmosphere created by the customers.

at OJ's :)

Day 1! :)

Realizations:
-it really is better to plan a vacation ahead of time so that you know what you'll do once you're there. It saves time and energy. teehee!
-things in Boracay are pricey. Before you go to the island, buy the things you might need for the duration of your stay there(even snacks and water)
-Boracay is truly beautiful :)

Davao Trip: Governor's Ball @The Party Boat

Governor's Ball is the event in the Toastmasters District Convention that I really looked forward to aside from  the contests. We enjoyed the party as we roamed around the sea for 3 hours on board the Party Boat(my first time to do that!wee!)

The Party Boat

while we were waiting for our turn to get some food :)

 After some lovely chat with some of our fellow Toastmasters while having dinner, we walked around the boat and we enjoyed the view and the cool breeze.

we three are inseparable!(a pic with the incoming Division Governor)

some of the cocktail mixes available .We prefer them over beer! :)

The cocktails tasted like juice despite the big amount of alcohol they mixed it with so, we had lots of them. Thankfully we didn't get drunk when the night was over. :)

power of three!

a view from the top center of the boat.

Of course, a party is not a party if there's no music! They played songs that are perfect for the party and the singer we had at the party did really well in entertaining us. She's got a good voice and she's really good in dancing. Top of that, she's a great stand up comedian. Everyone laughed their hearts out in every line she utters!

dancing under the rain

While everyone's enjoying the party, it suddenly rained. Some got disappointed but, some loved that even more! When the guys went at the center and danced under the rain(picture above), the others saw how fun it was so they also joined! Sadly though I held back. I don't know why though. Maybe that was just me wanting and trying oh so hard to be "prim and proper". Because of that, I wasn't able to maximize the fun. 

A final picture as the party boat was already near the dock.

It was truly a wonderful night! :)