Backlog

I don't like backlogs. There have been so many stories I wanted to tell, and haven't. Unfortunately 2013 wasn't a very nice year for me. So many downs versus ups. You could say that everything took a beating; my health, my heart especially my wallet.

But hey, it's 2014 (it's been 2014 for 3 months now, hehe) and I finally find the time to sit down and update my millions of readers as to what's been going on! I'm kidding, I don't have millions of readers, I probably don't have a single one anymore. But I'm giving an update anyway, because like I said, backlogs stress me out, so this is for my own sanity. 
So... to make long stories short, a quick run through of the significant events of the past year: 

First of all, early last year my youngest sister Monique moved to the island too. 

Fresh out of the airport!

Back when she had her pale, pasty, city girl complexion :P

***

Then Arnaud and I went on our first out-of-the-country trip together.

We went to Thailand and were there in time for the Songkran Festival.

We went to Bangkok, met up with my old friends and had a REALLY good cup of coffee. 

We took a sleeper train to Chiang Mai. :)

We had a nice and scenic Songkran in Pai

and a huge and wild one in Chiang Mai

Then Arnaud flew back to France and I to Manila.

***

Monique and I got Dengue Fever.

We had to go to Antique and spend a few days in the hospital.

And I had to move out of my pretty yet mosquito-infested kubo.

Monique and I moved in together to a new place.

A few weeks later, we got robbed.
My laptop, camera, phone, our Ipods, wallet and bags

were taken while we were asleep.

I start over.
And become even more grateful for the love of my family and friends.


***


Arnaud returned and things felt a bit better. :)
We decided to move in together.❤

We went as Waldo and Wenda for Halloween.
(Our mermaid friend, Pauline "finds" us)

I went home to spend Christmas with my crazy family. 

My dad gave me a new camera. ❤

Back in the island, we had an awesome New Year's Eve party until sunrise.

I turned a year older and celebrated with a kiddie party.
photo from renegadeloverrr

***

Arnaud flew back to France. Monique got darker and I moved a couple of times to my present single studio again. Phew! There, no more backlogs! Although, I feel that the Thailand trip deserves a post of it's own.

For now, we'll see where this blog goes. I admit it's hard to find its relevance with the existence of Facebook and Instagram BUT, I like telling stories, and nothing beats blogging for that. :)

No Limits

A travel magazine asked me to do a short essay about my life in Boracay or why I chose to move and stay here. I must admit I had a pretty hard time. I was asked to write 400 words yet the story I wanted to tell left me rambling on for... (drumroll please!) 1,025 words - and more, because I was only halfway through.

It made me realize that I had so much to say and so much to share. The stuff I originally planned to put on this blog, the everyday magic as well as the daily comedies. I am so bad at math that I've been telling people I've been here for almost 3 years. Because of the article I was forced to check and realized I will be celebrating 4 years on the island this September. 4 years! That's like my whole high school life, or college degree. You know how many stories and anecdotes 4 years hold?!! But, how time flies. In school terms, 4 years would mean a graduation, a completion, a moving on.

But I'm not done, yet. I've learned a lot but I'm still in love with the island. No matter how many tears, injuries, hassles and inconveniences living here has caused me, it's all part of the adventure. And at the end of the day, all the "not-so-good" is always overpowered by all the love and blessings and good vibes this island gives.

That's why right now I am happy. So happy I want to explode! There are so many great things going on: big and interesting clients, our postcard project on the go, I'm back to my Watsu training plus a couple more BIG things in the works. Then, there is LOVE. That alone is enough to make me burst out the door and sing and high-five and hug people along the way. But I won't, because it scares them. (I meant the bursting out the door.) :P 

Does love attract good things or do good things attract love? Maybe it's both. It should be! All I know is: I'm swimming in a sea of good vibes and blessings, his belief in me inspires me and makes me feel good, and everyday I am given more and more reasons to feel... well, super good!

See? Rambling. 

In the end, I totally rewrote my article (at the last minute, as usual). Still a bit over the word limit pero pwede nang lumusot and with a prayer sent it out to the editor (a distinguished and mutli-awarded writer and poet) who I was trying so hard  not to disappoint.  I asked for feedback, ready for criticism and revisions but this is what he said:

"Saktong sakto iyong mga padala mo. Mga ganito kaganda sana parati naming mailimbag."
 

Okay, now I burst out the door. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! 

P.S. The article, photos and illustrations I made comes out in September. I will post it once it's on newsstands. :) 

Excuse Me While I Learn to Teleport

and so it begins…

that kind of relationship that people define by the physical space between a couple. BUT, I decided I don't want to use THAT term here. 

Because this is also the kind of relationship that makes every sent message so valuable. The kind of relationship that makes every call so dear (and by that I also mean expensive!). The kind of relationship that makes you stay up wayyy past your bed time just to hear about someone's day - and you wouldn't end yours any other way. The kind of relationship where typed words carry the comfort, tenderness and love that a touch, kiss and embrace brings. And so reading them makes your heart swell and fills you up with so much happiness that your lips stretch into the biggest smile. It's the kind of relationship where I cherish every moment that I hear his voice and see his face, I cherish it so much that I attempt to preserve it with a command+shift+3. 

That is how I would rather define this, this exciting, beautiful thing. Not by the gap, not by the distance. Anyway, I was never good at geography, and right now, it doesn't mean a thing to me. :)

Up, Up and Away!

We made it! We've wrapped up our trip up north and boy do we have a lot of stories to tell. But we don't want to bore anyone with thick photo albums of half a month's worth of travel so we decided to make a video instead.

It was so much fun, I can't put it into words. All I can say is I love these guys to bits and traveling the north definitely wouldn't have been the same without them. When you're not traveling alone, good company is almost as important as the places you visit. You will see what I mean. Super good vibes.

 Enjoy! (P.S. Watch it with the highest quality setting.)

I will post the sketches I made once I am done (too many things to draw!!!)

:-D

Way Up High

So I'm up north of Luzon. We thought leaving the island for a while to explore other places would be nice. Let me show you some details of our trip so far. (Mama if you're reading this, please don't panic.)

The Plan

Okay, so we don't really have a plan. Just a few places in mind that we want to see. Banaue, Batad, Sagada, Baler, La Union, Vigan and anything interesting in between. 

Companions

I know what you're thinking: "Ohmygod, you better get a guide." "Your trip looks like it's going to be fun." I think so too. ;-)

First Aid Kit

If you're going on an adventure, it good to have one. In our case, we have - one.

It's a cure-all! For headaches, nausea, fever and flu, bug bites, unhappiness... etc.

Attitude

 Rakenrol! Because we're travelers... and because it's totally necessary when your budget is:

Budget

Yeah! Hahaha!

Motivation

Like what they said in the movie UP, "Adventure is out there!"

The photo above is the view of Banaue town. Yup, we made it here, so it looks like things are going well according to "plan."

:-D

Doodles: Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival

Sometimes photos aren't enough to tell ALL the stories, especially when you are so in the moment that you forget to take the camera out. In my case, doodles fill in the gaps. :)

The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival in Puerto Galera, Mindoro was a memorable and awesome time for me. It was an experience of many firsts: riding the roro, out of town music festival, camping and a lot more. :) Sharing some of those moments here. 

 

 

 

 

  

Despite a whole album on FB, putting a collage of my fave photos in anyway. :)

 

You Creature, You

French pet names are classic. Only the French can make calling someone "my flea" or "my duck" sound sweet. I decided to have fun with some of them for Vday (because I think Valentine's day should be fun, not cheesy). The boy liked it :) Hope you do too. And, I hope you had a blast celebrating the loves of your life. :)

525, 600 Minutes

(This entry was written in January. Sorry for the late post. :P)

One year. 365 days. 525,600 minutes.

It's amazing how things can change dramatically in just one year. If someone had told me a year ago that in just 365 days, I wouldn't be in the same relationship, that I wouldn't be in the same house, that the shy French boy I invited over for my birthday dinner will be the one I spend my next birthday with… I wouldn't have believed it.

But the universe is awesome in that way. It rocks and flips and spins you around and you get dizzy and angry and confused but before you know it, you are right where you're supposed to be.

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights in cups of coffee.

This is why I like keeping a blog as well as an "offline" journal. It helps me keep track of the changes, gives me something to reflect on and it almost always amuses me to death when I revisit it. Somewhere between routine or seemingly ordinary entries like "afternoon coffee" or "dinner with the girls" a year comes together as one spectacular bundle of sunsets, nights out, and incredible island living. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you
measure a year in the life?

Yes a year packs a lot. Some friends will not be friends anymore, complete strangers become dear friends, big problems won't be a big deal after all, wounds will heal and plans can change.

How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.

January has been a month of learning. I have spent it getting to know a new person, a new language, new friends, new projects, new recipes and even a new sport! And yes, I am loving each and everyone of them.

It has been a steady, dreamy, busy, funny and happy month. And folks, that's just the first 31 days. :)

How has your year changed? 

Photos: 1. hearts for my kubo from good friend Dencio 2&3. full moon birthday night with friends, 4. greeting the sunrise on my birthday, 5. me and my birthday date on a ferris wheel, 6. one of the yummy things he makes for me 7. the notebook where I write my french word/phrase of the day 8&9. playing in Nabaoy river 10. croque monsieur 11. work space 12&13. behind the scenes of our 1983 beach shoot 14. with Bacs on Bolabog beach

and for those who don't know the italicized lines are lyrics of the song 525 600 minutes, from the musical Rent. :)