Boom Badoom Boom Bass

# 1 Seek out the beauty in everything and everyone! Time to think positive (again). I am now convinced that wherever you are, you will find something beautiful and worth sharing about – which I know applies to people as well. I need to make extra effort to see the good in everyone. Nothing is simply black or white and it’s all a matter of perspective.

# 2 Not care what people think or say about me. Exception if these people are friends or family who actually know me and care what happens to me. Cheesy sounding and super cliche but well I have to keep it in mind always. How many times have I been prevented from doing something because I might get stabbed (figuratively and literally hoho) when I did something which was perfectly harmless and only concerns myself? The goal is to lessen that. It could be the last year, you know (hopefully not), so why bother thinking about insignificant things? In the words of Joe in Princess Diaries, “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.”. More importantly, in the words of Bon Jovi, “It’s my life. It’s now or never. I ain’t gonna live forever. I just wanna live while I’m alive. It’s my life. My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said, I did it my way. I just wanna live while I’m alive ’cause it’s my life.” Powerful words, right there.

# 3 Be less pusong bato. So a lot of people know/think I have a heart of a rock (but I cry in seconds). I don’t know why. There are certain things I hate being/appearing emotional about, especially stuff that don’t directly concern me. I could be very selfish when I think it’s reasonable. But then I realized the value of sympathizing more, mostly when I watched 100 Days to Heaven and saw how alike I am with the lead and sided with her often in her ‘misdeeds’ (funny but true), so yes, time to change. Just because something is correct objectively (or legally in the show’s case), doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. I need to be more giving of myself, less materialistic and be a lot more sensitive. This is going to be a challenging year. Haha.

And of course, the mini-resolutions:

a) Drink more water. I’ve improved a lot in 2011 already, especially since it was one of my resolutions last year; but I need to be more consistent. I realized I drink a lot already when I’m at home but not when I’m in school. So, time to drink a lot of water all the time.

b) Maximize my planner. I always buy planners with many lines and many little boxes for Things-to-Do, etc. but I never really get to write much in them. This year I bought a simpler planner but I hope I still get to actually write the things before they happen.

c) Continue to blog. My goal this year (although the upcoming semester is known to be the hardest evaah) is to write one post a week, or at least one every two weeks. I’m really liking wordpress which  hopefully is enough incentive to continue blogging here.

d) Read the newspaper and world map. I’ve finally realized these two are obligatory.

2011 has been one of the best years ever. It was full of blessings, dreams coming true and moments of pure bliss. Let’s go 2012, I know it keeps getting better and better. (Already thinking positive and it’s not yet 2012, you go Timmy!)

Hong Kong National Day, Tsim Sha Tsui. October 1, 2011. Blindly following a huge crowd resembling a mass migration and climbing over metal barricades to get the perfect view while wearing skirt and wedges led me, Melissa and Kathleen to witness a breathtaking fireworks display: really big colorful circles radiating from dots in the night sky.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! MAY IT BE FILLED WITH LOVE AND PEACE! Carpe diem!

I’ve done it before, I can do it again.

East met East

Chinese Calligraphy Workshop (Global Cafe). October 4, 2011. The international office organizes “Global Cafe’s” every other week where we get to do some interesting things and get to meet interesting people. My favorite one is definitely this calligraphy workshop because I’ve always wanted to try it out. I originally had calligraphy as one of my subjects until I found out the Arts Campus was four train stations away and it was at 8:30 in the morning. But still, God is good, I at least got to try it out here. And well, I sucked. Honestly. Haha. Veronique (from Beijing) gave and wrote me a Chinese name, which I’m holding up with her above, which means love China. (True that.)

Chinese Dumpling Wrapping Competition. October 26, 2011. One of the activities during the International Festival was a dumpling making competition! We had a Global Cafe before that taught us how to make them (though I missed most of it and only caught up to the eating part). We made awesomely shaped dumplings, as you can see. And, we made choco-banana dumplings. Yes, you read that right. We had mashed bananas and nutella inside those dumplings. What is innovation? Hoho. We sold our dumplings to the judges as “East meets West”. We didn’t win because the other teams had fancy presentation skilzz and the meat probably tasted better, but still, we love each other! Points for teamwork!

I’ve got the moves like Jagger.

Just Go with It

Shenzhen and Guangzhou Trip Back Stories a) That red carpet is seriously everywhere. Dong says it’s the same carpet they have in his house (he’s Chinese but grew up in Austria), we saw the same carpet in the elevator and later on in Beijing as well. b) Streets of Shenzhen c) Bar hopping until we found a place without an entrance fee. The bar was pretty cool, we were the only ones actually dancing at first, so we eventually took the stage. Haha. d) Taking the train to Guangzhou and then to our friends’ apartment. Funny story # 1: So it was a last minute twist in our non-existent plan that we stay with our friends. Aside from the fact that their apartment was really nice, spacious and clean (and free!), we found out that night that our trip buddies booked the hostel in Guangzhou for the wrong night. The hostel was full but the hostel owner was generous enough to offer his house to them for free. He also advised them where to go and what to do in Guangzhou. They said he’s a pretty cool guy. I guess we were all pretty lucky that night. e) the dumpling restaurant near our friends’ apartment. It was so cheap and I really loved it. I hope I get to eat those again someday (I really loved them, just saying). f) Before sleeping, Bernice and Kevin toured us outside their apartment which happened to be just right next to the Pearl River. We stared at the river while comparing experiences we had so far. Then we walked on these stones on the floor which was supposed to be really soothing but it hurt my feet instead.  They said, it’s a bad sign if you get hurt on these things. Hohnoes. g) We toured a bit in their university, National Sun Yat-Sen University. I liked their campus because it had plenty of trees and you got everything inside it. h) Guangzhou train single journey ticket. It’s cool that it looks like a coin. Swipe to enter then drop in the slot to exit. i) Street performers near Shamian Island j) hotpot lunch in front of the church. It was a hotpot weekend since we ate the same in Shenzhen as well but this one was way cheaper and the food tasted great k) Taking the train back to Shenzhen (where we can take the Hong Kong MTR) Funny story # 2: We missed the last train leaving for Shenzhen that Sunday night, so we had no choice but to stay an extra night with our friends (Seriously, we owe them big time). There was a taxi who offered us a ride to Shenzhen for a pretty high price so we said no. Later, we found ourselves in the middle of a group of angry drivers with their vans behind them. The taxi driver went out of the cab and talked to these angry drivers while the other angry drivers opened our trunk. Apparently, there was a misunderstanding. We didn’t want to take the special ride to Shenzhen and supposedly the taxi driver had to pay these angry drivers something. It was very, um, disturbing at that time but of course now, I can just look back and laugh at it. Well, what can I say, I guess this weekend really did turn out to be an adventure. Definitely one to remember!

“In the end, I’ve come to believe in something I call “The Physics of the Quest.” A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you’re brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.” -Eat Pray Love (I love this book and I wrote about it before. I love it.)

Rainbow Lights

Pearl River Cruise, Shamian Island, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China. October 16, 2011. Third day of our weekend adventure. How great is it to have friends scattered all over the world during JTA semester? Awesooome. We met up with Bernice, Kevin and Giselle in Guangzhou! Again, thank you friends, for showing us around! The ferry gave us a wonderful view of the river and the surrounding buildings. We ended up on Shamian Island which is a pretty place where many prenuptial shoots were taking place. Supposedly, it’s modeled after European buildings and streets. The place was cute with the colors and the old-looking buildings. It reminded me of my little dollhouses that together formed a village before. We walked to the Cathedral after where our friends went to hear Mass. The cathedral was beautiful and very strict. I had to wear a scarf over my dress and a wrap-around skirt because I was too exposed apparently. Haha. Then at night, we went to the Canton Tower which again was really pretty with the colorful changing lights. Inside the tower, there were museums and some restaurants. The view from the top was incredible and the skyline at night was perfect. Guangzhou is a beautiful city and I really thought we would be coming back there in December but my finals schedule didn’t agree. Haha. But still, I hope to get back there someday, I know there’s more to be seen. Yaay, hopes and dreams.

The heart has its reasons, which reason cannot know.

Close Enough

Window of the World, Shenzhen, China. October 15, 2011. Sorry for the photodump but I just wanted to feature the place well and these pictures don’t even cover half of what could be seen in the park. In fact, I (with Kathleen, Dong and Bernie) didn’t even get to see the whole place. Such a shame we didn’t have enough time to go through every sight there. But still, as Bernie would put it, we had a blast! Haha. The place is called Window of the World for a reason. It’s filled with many many replicas of tourist spots found across the globe. There were miniature temples and palaces as well as life-sized replicas of famous gardens and buildings. There was a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower as well as a skating+snowboarding+skiing place made to experience the alps. There were also the pyramids and the windmills of Holland…and much much more. I know I sound like a home shopping commercial now but I do think the place lived up to its name. It gave me a taste of the wonder I would feel if I do get to go to these places. It does let people peek into what the world has to offer. And for that, this place is definitely one of my favorites. Unexpected trips really do turn out to be the best ones. And so, world, I’m ready to be amazed even more. Bring it.

The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page. – St. Augustine of Hippo

On Being Back

The Prodigal Daughter Returns. I am back, friends and countrymen! I arrived in Manila on the first few hours of the 23rd. After more than an hour of delay and two offers of HK$800 if I boarded a later flight (which we both declined), I finally reached home (which is not really that far away considering it’s a 1.5 hour flight). My mom kept asking me if it feels surreal that I’m back and the truth is, I wasn’t exactly sure. Well, until I read what my friend Bernie posted in facebook, “Feels like I never left Austria!” I realized I felt exactly the same way. It’s really quite strange though. After talking to my parents for around an hour in the living room, I went up our stairs, switched on the lights in the stairs, switched off the dining room light then went on straight up (I am the only one who does this at home because I don’t like moving in a dark place even though I know it by heart). I brushed my teeth, fixed my pillows and teddy bears, locked my door, turned on my speaker then lied down to sleep. This is my routine every night and it’s amazing how naturally I did them again without thinking. I know I’ve only been away for four months but it was four months I dropped these routines! It made me think maybe I’m such a walking schedule of events that the only thing that kept me from doing these routines was simply that I couldn’t. I didn’t have the same stairs, the same lights and the same speakers in my dorm. I know I am not the most spontaneous person on Earth (I’m really rarely spontaneous) but still, this was pretty strange for me – unexpected, really.

And so the next day, I found myself alone at home because everyone in my family was working already. (A first!) I spent the day figuring out how to work the digibox on our TV and again, despite these changes, it didn’t feel like I spent the past four months in another place in another country. It felt like one of those lazy days I have during long breaks. We went to attend Mass in Gesu, which I always look forward to during Christmas, and again, I felt like I’ve been attending Simbang Gabi in this place since the beginning. I suddenly felt as if my Hong Kong memories were years ago, when in fact, I was just there a few hours ago. And I didn’t know what to think about that, which is why I was so relieved when I saw that Bernie felt the same way.

Sneezing and Escalators. However, we spent the day of Christmas Eve in a mall because my mom and uncle were getting their phones and while we were waiting in the store, I sneezed. Aside from the fact that I am frequently sneezing again (I stopped sneezing when I was in HK), my first impulse was to say “Gesundheit!” and “A tes souhaits!” And finally, the hit I’ve been expecting since I got back, landed on my face, figuratively. I was finally convinced, yes Timmy, your exchange semester has just ended and it is still very fresh in your mind. I will miss saying these phrases and even more, the people I said it to. The second and third hit involved the escalators. When we were going down to eat, my brother and uncle went to the right escalator as I was walking to the left one. Again, I realized I’ve gotten used to the way escalators are in most of the malls in HK. And it really made me laugh. I think I spent at least half of my stay there getting used to the way the escalators were there and here I was, unthinkingly moving to the left: HK style. Haha. And so, when I finally stepped on the escalator, I stepped on the left side and again unaware, moved to the right. I was talking to my brother there and I couldn’t figure out why I was so uneasy. Then I realized it was because he was on the left and did not ‘Keep Right’. I laughed again and explained to my brother why. And then again, in my head, yes I’m back and yes you have lived in another country long enough to care about keeping right.

And so as I notice new stores along Katipunan and inside Trinoma plus new houses built in our subdivision, my brother’s new shoes, and my mom’s increased work things, I realize that I have indeed been gone for quite a while but not long enough to make anything even the slightest bit alien to me. Well maybe there’s no time period long enough to make home alien to anyone who lived there. Maybe that’s how home works. I wouldn’t know, four months is the longest I’ve been away and before that the longest I’ve gone was a week (when I was in Singapore). I have bits and pieces of Hong Kong flashbacks when I hear some songs or when someone talks about the MRT here or simple things like the escalator scenario; but on top of all those, it is a relief to be waking up from my own bed, watching shows in a language I can understand and using a bathroom I completely trust. (Long story, I have a thing for bathrooms.) After three days of being back and one day after Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, I can confidently say: There really is no place like home.

On other things, I will try and write about everything I want to about Hong Kong. There are many many things I still want to share and of course I now need to edit my short description on my sidebar since I’m not an exchange student anymore (huhu). I know I will miss HK more in the coming days and months but I know it’s just a few hours away and there’s always the hope of coming back there soon. Til then, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

We fell in love in a hopeless place.

Deck the Halls

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Share the love and spread the joy!

Hong Kong Disneyland. December 2, 2011. Good times in front of the Christmas tree. At the same time I just want to say let’s try and help the typhoon victims. Tis the season of giving.

Make-Believe Reality

Hong Kong Disneyland, Sunny Bay. December 2, 2011. Spent Kathleen’s 19th Birthday in Hong Kong Disneyland. This is my first Disneyland experience ever and I know people criticize this particular park because it’s so small compared to others. But that day was awesome, and I’m posting this ahead of others I should share purely because I want to share the awesomeness. Haha. Well, basically we rode rides (funny sounding), watched shows and the parade, took tons of pictures, smiled and laughed a lot. The day was filled with rainbows and butterflies and magic. Seriously. So, I shall share my favorite parts which made me feel like I’m living a fairytale. (Corny, toink, pagbigyan.)

Orchestra at Main Street, USA. Just a few seconds after entering the park and reading the sign “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy”, I hear orchestra music and they’re playing the Pirates of the Carribean theme song. The orchestra was from a high school in Singapore and I assume they were invited to play. It was pretty awesome and it gave me goosebumps. I’ve always liked intense classical music and that was pretty intense for me. I kept saying in my head (and at times out loud), “Something’s coming now!!! Some turn of events has happened and it’s just about to get exciting”. Haha, nerdy. Well, it definitely placed my expectations in the right place. That day was just about to get exciting and… magical.

Space Mountain, Tomorrowland. So, I have never been the bravest one in any group. Sad to say. ) I usually skipped out on Jungle  Log Jam and Space Shuttle in EK. And yes yes I know Space Mountain is still not a rollercoaster and is probably not scary for most people. But yes, I was pretty scared both times we rode it but the lights were awesome. What’s even more awesome is my sweet sweet Melissa suddenly had this monstrous voice (I call it her exorcist voice) because she was as terrified as me. At least, I’m proud to say my screams, though lasting throughout the whole ride, resembled my voice and did not turn into some scary-ass sound. Haha.

Flights of Fantasy Parade, Main Street, USA. I knew there were parades and mascots and everything in Disneyland but I would’ve never guessed I would be standing with one leg on a lamp post with the other leg kneeling on a trash can just to see the show. I’m not trying to be cheesy but Disneyland really does bring out the child in you. I was happy, more of, ecstatic when I saw the mascots and the other performers in costume with the Disney songs I’ve always loved. I guess you never really outgrow these things. Plus, the floats were really awesome with the trampolines and the waving princesses and everything.

Festival of the Lion King, Theater in the Wild. I honestly wasn’t that excited to see the show. I wanted to just try out all the rides instead of watching shows which I thought were for kids. I imagined magicians and hosts saying “Hey kids, meet Simba” stuff like that. When I heard the ever famous Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba, however, I knew I was wrong. The show was awesome, it gave me goosebumps, brought me to a higher high and even made me tear up when I saw this girl dancing on ropes and everything while Can You Feel the Love Tonight? played. These people seriously know how to amaze crowds. Awesome awesome show.

The Golden Mickeys, Storybook Theater. We almost did not make the last showing because we lined up for a picture with Woody and Jessie. But thank God, we made it. So, the show started out in Chinese with subtitles projected beside the stage. I thought it was going to be like that the whole show. Mascots plus a host plus video clips projected on the screen. Once more, I’ve underestimated the show because suddenly different production numbers featuring the less “trademark” Disney shows came out. I loved everything except Mulan. We were expecting a lot from it because we all love it and watched it in the dorms together but it was just okay. I loved the production of Little Mermaid, the jellyfish were awesome and of course Ariel floating in the stage was awesome. It really looked like the sea. The finale was of course the best. It was Beauty and the Beast and the stage was exactly as I remembered it in my huge storybook before. Plus, the ‘transformation’ of the beast was awesome. It was so cheesy; and so perfect.

Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Fantasyland. I’ve always wanted to try a teacup ride. I always see it in movies but in EK, there’s none and that’s the only amusement park I’ve been to. So, I was so excited to try this one and I wanted to spin really fast. And we did. And it was awesome. The whole view was just trippy. With the lights swirling like crazy, everything else was darkness and in front of me I see Jihed getting crazier and crazier as we spun the cup. Awesome moments.

Ice and Fire, Main Street, USA. And so, after the teacups we just went back to Main Street to look at some souvenirs and to grab some food. As we went out the bakery, white stuff started coming out of the roofs of the stores. I just stared and said, “Ooooooh is it snooo-oow?” and our friends who are so used to it were just laughing at us. And yes it was snow, artificially made yes, but still snow. Haha. Those minutes were really priceless. I was already in this super high high and then show literally starts coming down from everywhere. It was night and really cold with colored lights illuminating everything in a dreamlike fashion. It was one of those moments I just had to pause and take everything in, this was awesome, this has been awesome and I can always just go back to this night and I know I will remember how I felt. This is how you create moments, again, respect Disney, respect. After getting over the snow (well not really, just a little bit), I went inside to buy a shirt then came out for the fireworks display. Melissa and I were separated from the rest, so we came out to the fireworks display with I’ll Make a Man Out of You playing in the background. And just as I thought, the night couldn’t get any more surreal, it did. This song is one of our favorite songs (Melissa, Jihed, Kathleen and mine) and we have been singing it throughout the day as we desperately tried to look for Mulan-themed stuff. We sang it in English and they sang it in French while people stared at us. We’re cool that way. Haha. I was freezing already this time so I just watched the whole show while hugging Melissa. Cheesy moment again, but, I would have never imagined myself watching a fireworks display with Mulan playing in the background and with snow on my head while hugging a French girl who has been so much more of a friend than I hoped for.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, these have been the highlights of my Hong Kong Disneyland experience. I don’t care if the Disneyland in Paris and the ones in the US are so much bigger and are so much ‘more worth it’ as people said, because as I had learned that day, it’s not about the rides or the size of the park – it’s about the people you’re with and the experience you get to share with them. Okay, maybe it’s also a little bit about Disney’s impeccable showmanship (hoho), but still. It was the perfect day with the most wonderful people in a magical place. It did seem like fantasy at times, but at least I know, even when it’s time to say goodbye, these people have been a part of my life and I will forever be thankful for being with them and this, along with the countless other memories we created, I know I will remember forever.

Note: Sorry for the extra cheese (even my title is extra cheesy), we started saying goodbye this week and everything has been very cheesy and sentimental. I love these people but I will write about that another time. 

(Comme un homme.) You must be swift as the coursing river…