Archives for October 2013

Binge Eating at Vikings

October 28, 2013

I always say that it’s such a waste for me to go to buffets. Though I love food with all my heart, I do have my limits! I tend to eat all the time but only small servings. However, once I’m presented with the chance (for free!) to attend buffets, saying no is out of the question. Of course I’d love to go. Of course I’d love to be surrounded by tons and tons of food that I love and even those I don’t know of.

So when my department at work’s given the chance to eat at Vikings, I was so excited! I’ve wanted to try Vikings for the longest time, but it’s usually full! Apparently you have to book two weeks in advanced. Also, I have no money.

It was a really nice experience. I couldn’t count the number of plates I consumed. I also tried tons of food for the first time! But I still gravitated more towards those that I’ve known and loved since forever. I will always say yes to sushi and steak and shrimps and lobters and bread. But caviar and blue cheese are some of the things that I don’t mind to be missing from my daily meals.

The desserts were amazing. I got to try about five flavors of ice cream. Hehehe. We were just about to leave when I noticed that there were new ice cream flavors, and I just had to try the dark chocolate! It turned out to be my favorite among those I tried! Heehee. I loved the cakes, too! Surprisingly, I didn’t eat too much pastries because of the ice cream! One of my many regrets for the night.

I certainly enjoyed my dinner with the best officemates ever. But I still somehow feel like I didn’t make the most out of it. Huhuhu. Buffets and I don’t really much. I stick way too much on what’s familiar, and I think my taste is too Filipino for my own good. I have trouble appreciating cuisines that are supposedly good. Oh well. I’ll just stick to my usual Filipino buffet.

With all this said, my next buffet goal is the one in Spiral Manila. That’s something that’s way more expensive (huhu) than Vikings and has more food selections, too. Wish me luck, guys.

Vikings: Luxury-Buffet Restaurant

Bldg B, By The Bay, Seaside Blvd. SM Mall of Asia Complex
1234 Pasay City, Philippines
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
846-3888, 846-4888, 846-5888 and 0917-565-3888

Gloomy Day in Halong Bay

October 14, 2013

For our second day in Vietnam, we went to Halong Bay! It wasn’t part of the plan because it’s supposedly very far, but the travel agency gave us a really good discount. Besides, it’s apparently the number one destination in Vietnam, said the travel agent. It’d be a pity to pass up the chance.

Apparently, it is also veeeeery far from Hanoi. And when I say far, I mean four hours to and fro Halong Bay! Yes, we were on the road for a total of 8 hours that day, and my butt seriously hurt. REALLY HURT. But you know, it was worth it. Thank you dear travel agent from convincing us to take the Halong Bay package.

Jinky and I were part of a tour that’s entirely Japanese. Seriously though, we’re the only Filipinos and the rest were Japanese! Our tour guides was also separate from theirs. So it was weird that Jinky and I had a separate tour guide. It somehow felt like we should have paid more. Felt so exclusive! Hehe.

It was drizzling when we reached Halong, so I was a bit afraid of what we’re about do. After all, we would ride a boat, a big one but it’s still a boat. I don’t know how to swim! It’s just really lucky that it really didn’t pour. It was gloomy the entire time but not that nauseating enough to be crazy to be out in the sea.

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Million People March, Makati

October 5, 2013

The second Million People March took place yesterday in Makati, the business district of the metro. My work’s just a couple of blocks away from the gathering center, and it’ll be foolish to skip it. I failed to attend the first one in Luneta, and there was no way I’d miss yesterday’s protest.

Before I went to college, my relatives and high school classmates thought I’d definitely be joining rallies since I tend to be outspoken and don’t care much about authorities. After all, I enrolled in UPLB so there was no way I’d escape being an activist. But I graduated from UPLB without joining a single rally. It’s not because I’m apathetic (okay, maybe a little), but sometimes, it’s just hard for me to understand why they were protesting at all. It won’t feel good to be part of a protest if I only know very little about the issue. And I tried to know, but I rarely get answers.

That’s also the reason why I don’t talk much about politics. There are so many things I don’t understand, and to give my opinion is like embarrassing myself. One must not talk about things one doesn’t understand.

When the news of the pork barrel scam exploded, I was enraged along with everyone else. I’m part of the working middle-class who gets more than 10% deducted from my salary. Of course I am enraged. Of course I want to be one with the people. I want corruption to stop, and I want those who abuse their power and steal from the country to stop what they’re doing and pay for their crimes.

The #ScrapPork protest yesterday was the first protest I joined, because it’s one that I understand. I got a little confused though because I didn’t particularly think that the people would also be calling for PNoy’s resignation and his alleged involvement in it. I know he’s not a saint and I’m pretty sure he’s not always threading a “daang matuwid.” But I don’t exactly want him to step down. Because if he did, Binay would definitely step up and that poses graver threats to the country. I must also not that it was ironic how all that the even took place right in front of Ninoy’s statue.

Overall, joining the rally was a pretty good experience, even a bit hypnotizing. It was also an eye-opener. I may be complaining about the amount they deduct from my salary that goes straight to the pockets of politician, but I realized that they take more from the laborers who work everyday, with very little rest, to just receive a meager salary. And for the first time, I start to understand how some of my college schoolmates attend rallies about issues not entirely related to them, but they still seemed so passionate about it. Because you see, some sectors really need help from other sectors in making sure their concerns reach the right ears.

I don’t have the heart of an activist. Sometimes, I just don’t care, and sometimes, I try to comprehend but simply couldn’t. Right now, I can’t think of a valid solution to the current crisis the country is facing. To say that every corrupt officials should step down is like saying that 90% of the current government officials must resign. What will remain then? Who will run this country?

There’s a feeling of hopelessness that I’m pretty sure occurs in every Filipino from time to time (or all the time, of course). But there are those who are still hopeful, and sometimes, I still am. However, I am realistic, and I’m pretty sure that if our government will truly be clean, it will take a few more generations before that happens.

The Lake Monster

October 3, 2013

I had this delusion that anyone can be a fashion blogger. But of course, I realized that apparently, it’s only something that someone who’s dedicated to fashion and to looking good everyday can do. I am obviously neither. I do like dressing up but not to the extent that I do it everyday On most days, I just want to throw on a baggy sweater or a loose blouse and call it my OOTD.

Posing also isn’t my strongest suit. I can neither pose like a normal person nor a model, so how in the world would I even manage to be a fashion blogger? My now defunct fashion blog, The Sloppy Mess, proves that I’m just an average citizen who has more misses than hits when it comes to dressing up. Though posing is something that I do comically, I still enjoy doing it. Obviously.

Besides, 75% of my clothes are either thrifted or bought from Divisoria or St. Francis or just some random stall. It will be awkward to label my clothings “No brand” all the effin’ time! Like the one I’m wearing in the photos. The shirt and skirt have no brand, while the shoes are Keds. 90% of my photos would be labeled as such if I ever decide to be a full-fledged fashion blogger (which will never happen now!).

In Hanoi, we saw tons of people having a photo shoot. Jinky and I decided to have a go at it and here are the resulting photos. They’re no fashion blog-material. But I enjoyed it, and isn’t that what matters?

My friend once asked me why I act so stupidly when posing in the camera. Well, it’s because no one will take me seriously if I pose decently. Because I am a wacky person, and wacky poses are the only thing I know how to do. The ‘V’ is also ever-present in my photos. I’m a fangirl and I always make sure it shows. Haha.

It’s not like I’m aspiring to be a model, so why would I even try to pose like one?

Fashion is still something that continuously baffles me. Though I have to say that my fashion sense have tremendously improved over the years, I’m still far from being stylish. I’m not exactly someone you’d call well-dressed. I’m just glad, however, that my sister no longer cringes when she sees what I’m wearing. She used to do it a lot back in college. Hehe.

Deciding what to wear isn’t exactly easy for me. I wasn’t (and sometimes still not) very comfortable with my body type, and even know, I blame my boobs for limiting my fashion choices.

Once upon in high school, I abhor having boobs and resorted to wearing baggy clothes. I desperately try to hide them by slouching which developed into a bad posture. I go for loose clothing so I could hide my curves.

But I have far, far removed myself from that stage. Though I still don’t dare wear anything that shows cleavage, I no longer deliberately hide what I have. I still don’t wear tight-fitting clothes, but I no longer stupidly hide my curves. Most of the styles I want to try are still mismatched with my body type. But hey, I have learned to embrace the clothes that can supposedly flatter my figure.

I still have insecurities, and there are days when I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin. But I think it’s normal and not just because I’m a girl. I don’t have to feel pretty everyday, and I also don’t have to dress up to feel like a woman. I welcome good hair days with arms wide open, and curse the pimples that decide to appear on special occasions.

I’m not exactly sure what I’m trying to say with this post, and I’m quite at a lost on how to end it. So I’ll just leave it as is, okay. └（★ｏ★）┐