TRAVEL DIARY: HK-MACAU AWESOMENESS, OUR 6-DAY ADVENTURE EXTRAORDINAIRE

Top to Bottom: L-R Mongkok at Night, the HK Icon (the name escapes me), the bears at 1881 Heritage, Earl & me at TST Promenade, Us again at Victoria Harbour, Fireworks at Disneyland

After years of stalling due to the senseless blunder of me not having a “Gender” in my birth documents – I finally got myself a passport and after days of odd squabbling with Earl as to where and when, we settled for a 6 day HK-Macau trip in the Spring of 2013.  

Hongkong is heaven for a first-time-out-of-the-country traveler like me. What first got me when we landed (which was about 6pm) were the tremendously stunning views of the skyscrapers that were just starting to light up for the night. I fell in love with the city at first sight. I know I’m gonna go somewhere else in the world and not have this much fascination as I have for HK – kind of like how I felt about other beaches if they weren’t Boracay.  That and so much more. 

Now, who wouldn't fall in love with such a sight?

We stayed at Casa Hotel, a 4-star hotel along Nathan Road that thanks to Ms. Sharon to whom I am enormously indebted to, just cause she insisted we stayed there instead of Imperial or Kimberly over at the TST area.  She was so right about Casa - it had amazing amenities and the best breakfast service not to mention the fact that it’s prettily situated right smack in the middle of HK action and with a bus stop right in front of the hotel. The kicker – we were given a room at the topmost floor of the hotel with stellar views of upscale HK and the Victoria Harbour, how awesome! (thank You Lord!) 

Casa Hotel taken from the other side of the road :)

Once we got settled at our hotel, I couldn’t change fast enough to take in the HK sights so I scrambled into my shorts & long sleeved shirt combo (super nipis at that) and went out to hit the streets. As soon as I stepped out of the hotel doors, people were literally STARING at me & that’s when I realized my big big mistake – I was walking out under a 10degrees Celsius weather and a very windy one at that wearing the wrong kind of clothes - I felt like a lame sick joke I wanted to run back at my hotel room, bundle myself up and crawl under the sheets but always the spunky woman that I am, I narrowed my shoulders, put on a brave face and walked the entire Temple Street all the while clinging to my very amused husband. That was when I spotted that perfect, thick, red, eye-candy of a coat which I bought without a lot of inner struggling. It’s not like I wasn’t prepared for the cold, I just wasn’t expecting it to feel that way – I was living in a tropical country for 35 long years for crying out loud! And besides I have the perfect excuse to shop, so I can still afford to smile :)

That's what I wore our first night, what a complete idiot!

That's the red coat, nice noh?

Our second day was by far the best, or rather the 2^nd best next to shopping, er maybe the first and then shopping the next best – oh well, I’m getting all confused now, let’s just say the Disneyland Experience and the HK Shopping experience tied on the top spot of my long list. Whatever. Why and how, I am so gonna expound on my next blog entry (I think I’ve said so much here already, but then again with me, no words will ever be too much haha) Suffice it to say that these are two reasons I’m gonna go back there, and fast. This was the same day we hopped on a tour bus to Stanley, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village+Jumbo Floating Restaurant and an outlet store that sells a whole lotta Chinese food that Michelle is sure gonna like since it’s free for tasting. Yum! And then we hopped on the same bus to Disneyland this time. First major blunder: Frank our Tour Guide left our Disney entry passes at our hotel we had to pay AGAIN (he gave us a refund so it’s all good) Although it almost ruined my sunshiny mood coz I was worried I wasn’t gonna get ANY Mickey keepsake coz Earl opted to eat at the Corner Café where we were served a meal of chicken and RICE (a first after 2 days, thank God) for a total bill of  HKD303 or roughly Php1,600.00. Talk about being expensive. Serves me right for craving GOOD OLD RICE that I can’t easily stumble upon around HK. But why I wasn’t gonna trade my time at Disney for anything else, I’m gonna tell you in my next blog entry.

  

Aberdeen Fishing Village & Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Repulse Bay

Central HK

Real Chinese Food Outlet, sampling their goods (Mich, it's REALLY for free)

Disneyland :)

Flights of Fancy

Because the street market, malls and almost all establishments close at about midnight (unbelievable right?) we most certainly have a lot of time for SHOPPING – and precisely the reason why at the end of every day in HK, I can’t anymore feel my feet due to endless walking! I love what I see on the streets when we take walks. The colorful neon lights, Chinese street food that tastes even better than it looks, the lively entertainment right smack in the middle of the road, HK street fashion which I tell you is insanely fantabulous and the many tourists from all parts of the world converging in touristy places with eager smiles and faces alight with wonder. I am so stoked to be a tourist in this part of the world. 

Mongkok :)

Macau was next on our list. While I enjoyed and was enthralled by the whole Portuguese vibe, I wasn’t in love with the place as I was with HK. Well maybe because I didn’t get to stay long enough to saturate my senses with everything there was to love about the place. I loved the fact that there were more Filipinos in my 9-hour stay in Macau more than I met in my 5 days in HK – or maybe I got to interact with more of them in Macau because they are just all over the place. It feels like Pinas in Macau, actually.  I’d have to say Senado Square is something else though. I can just sit down in one of their colorful benches for hours on end without really minding. It’s a great place to chill out and be blank ;) Our Macau adventure found us teaming up with 2 other Pinoys from Leyte  - Norman and Joseph who were as fun-loving as Earl and I were and we instantly hit it off. We went around a lot of tourist areas, took photos in the Casinos and laughed and bumped our way around practically every nook and corner of their City square.

Sao Paolo, Macau :)

Macau still :)

Ocean Park was next on the list. Three things – Cable Car, Panda Sighting & Thrill Mountain. Everything was grand. Heck, everything was remarkably gooooood – especially the stunning views of the Repulse Bay. We took it all in & tried all the rides I felt will not end up with me killed because honestly, with Ocean Park, once is enough – for me at least.

Ocean Park, Giant Aquarium

Giant Panda Adventure

Our 4^th day was supposedly a free day – so we took our sweet time waking up late, staying at the breakfast table a tad longer than usual, swayed hands and not rush while we walked the streets and finally, did my next favorite activity to reading, SHOP. HK is a shopping mecca. Funny how people queue up outside the Louis Vuitton flagship store like they’re selling lottery tickets. Apparently that’s cause they allow only 20 people at a time. Amused, Earl and I joked around how these people are such freaking mad at money they’re throwing it away to 100K bags. (Bitter much kay di ka afford?) Hahaha I can’t ever be hypocritical about them. If I have that much moolah, I would have been one of those lining up – or not J Cause to be honest, if I have that much money, I’d travel the world and be satisfied with just a normal ordinary kind of bag hehehe. After almost 8 hours of straight walking, we sat by the TST Promenade and like literally forgot about the time. We were there while the sun was still up until the pretty little lights over at Victoria Harbour came alive causing a visual spectacle of the HK Skyline that is believe me, too breathtaking to pass up. Earl “Mr.Shutterbug” Cabahit just quite plainly ignored me while taking pictures of the awesome views. I don’t mind, as long as he’s happy doing his thing, I’m content watching on the sidelines.

Clock Tower, HK Museum of Art

Jackie Chan's Star

1881 Heritage House

TST Promenade

Believe me when I say that on our last day, I basically went over the moon. My husband, the no-frills-I’ll-wear-whatever-is-in-my-closet-no-need-for-new-clothes baby gave me the shock of my life when he went overboard and shopped like crazy at H&M! His bill literally tripled mine!! THAT.IS.AN.AWESOME.FIRST. I wish he were like that all the time – I was grinning from ear to ear and I honestly didn’t mind that we would have been charged excess baggage just to see him shop till there wasn’t any bill left in his wallet hahahaha. I didn’t even have to force him. I just went yeah that looks good on you and nope, the other color looks better all the freakin’ time. I told him after if you’re like that only when we’re here then we would have to come more often.

H&M

I couldn’t thank the Lord enough for this trip – His able and generous hand is sooo obvious in every single detail of that insanely fantastic vacation.  He has been generous in making it as fun, orderly and so out-of-this-world cool as only a Father like Him is capable of giving. The travels Earl and I took are always something we cherish – being the sentimental couple that we are. It affords us a lot of “alone” time as a couple, and we relish the simple walks we take around the city holding hands like giddy teenagers who fell in love the first time. Yep, we’re soooo mushy that way (or I am, lest I be thrown dagger looks later when he reads this haha, like he won’t admit it but he’s mushier than me hahaha) and we sure as heaven loved every minute of it. As for HK, I promise you I’ll be back real soon (*this I am saying hands clasped, eyes closed, knees bent and breathing a silent and intent prayer to my Big Daddy up there). I can’t shake the thought of this city out of my mind even if I wanted to, at least not for the next few weeks, I think. 

"My travels and rest, You mark O Lord -Psalm 139"

Jesus, my Best Friend - this trip was an awesome blessing. I love you.   

My Brother got Second honors in Med School!

Shameless shout-out.

 I'm a proud, boastful sister, I know that & I kind of don't care. You see, he's 34, stopped schooling for 10 years & where he is housed now that he is studying is not necessarily how you'd describe the best of conditions. That & the fact that he had to endure being painfully separated from his two charming kids & deal with a major relationship problem while in Cebu to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor is in my opinion, quite a remarkable feat. So imagine my glee when I learned he bagged 50 dollars for placing 2nd honors in medical school! It just makes all these ordeal seem worthwhile. It just affirms how I feel that he is really called to this vocation. God surely saw he has major doubts about bagging this dream at 34 & He must have delighted in assuring him that He's with him through this journey unto completion.

And to Him who caused all good things to happen be glory & dominion forever, Amen.

Simple Things

These days, I'm relishing so much the simple joys the Lord is blessing me.....like catching my favorite song being played on the radio, worshipping with the multitudes during Sto. Nino novena masses, scoring a lovely dress in a thrift store somewhere, savoring the smell of a paperback when I enter a bookstore, chancing upon a lovely Robsten photo (this is lame, I know haha - but look at me not caring), dreaming about HK- Macau (oh sweet days, pls move fast!), and then lately, thoughts of my feet getting buried in the sand (I can almost dance writing this)

So much happy thoughts.

No room for negativity.

Praise the Lord

BEST memories of 2012

I know I have taken an unusually long break from blogging, updating my journals & anything Sugar & Spice. The past days have been like a blur – blame it to my 12 year old self & her crazy indulgence to a silly addiction with some fictional characters that believe me, is really too embarrassing to even mention here – so yeah, that really is just my 12-year old self breaking free, like I said. I’m putting her behind so I can finally get back to blogging & what better way to end this year than write about some magical, awesome moments of 2012.

Moving on, let me share with you some remarkable moments of my 2012 that I am so grateful to God for. Here goes my long list:

1.        BORACAY VACAY, February 2012

Boracay is my go-to vacation haven whenever I crave for some real, mind blowing rest & relaxation. I come here annually & this year was great because we had Nika, a first-timer, for company. Add to that, the hotel we stayed at was incredibly amazing! Earl & I had a blast! Plus lots of girl bonding with my sissie Gang & Nika too ;)

2.       MOM’S CEBU BIRTHDAY, May 2012

Since settling in Cebu, I don’t get to see my family as often as I want to. So the few times I see them during the year is special for me. Mom spent her birthday in Cebu, so Earl & I brought her & my pamangkins to a hotel to celebrate. Of course we had a ball! Maxine & Axel are rowdy little kids but they’re also all sorts of cuteness & rainbows & I’m pretty crazy about them. So yeah, this definitely makes the list.

3.       MY BIRTHDAY, May 2012

My A-Team (HR fam) & company staged a birthday surprise that had me confused whether I should be ecstatic or disappointed (ahahahahaha). But really, they do get an A for effort. The fact that they were able to gather every single one of my loved ones for a late night soiree was awesome. And by the way, we had a REPEAT the next day, at our home this time, just the way I wished it to be J Oh by the way, did I say that the Clock & the Mag-Card were some of my best loved gifts of all time? (and of course you know that my language of love is receiving gifts, so you can just imagine)  I know it was painstakingly done & I am floored that you monumentally captured what I like, so thank you guys – Mich Gracie Shey Tin Sai, i super duper love you guys!

4.       MANILA-TAGAYTAY-EK TRIP, August 2012

What else is there to say that I haven’t already in my previous blog post about this trip? Well, probably that Mich & Yana are such great travel buddies – just thinking about them & the fun we had together makes my feet deliciously itch for another adventure! That is why we are heading for BORA this summer – and Palawan soon....and Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, New York, Italy next. (Cmon’, nothing wrong in dreaming )

5.       LEAP OF FAITH, August 2012

Around this time, I finally mustered the courage to decide on a big change & I can’t forget how liberating it felt once I did. There’s a lot to jump into but no, I will wait. Let me just say I delight in breathing in the future. Bring it on 2013!! (Sorry I have to kind of be vague here cause I can’t really reveal some things yet & honestly, the future is yet to be shaped by the Lord anyway. I don’t actually dwell there but whatever that is, I AM CERTAIN OF GOD’S HAND, so yeah, I really am excited ;)

6.       SUGAR AND SPICE APPAREL, September 2012

Suffice it to say that even I was surprised that my online store actually happened. I mean it’s not like I haven’t dreamt of owning a Boutique one day but honestly, this was not part of my plans for 2012. This really had me as in literally awed, like jaw-dropping- eye-widening-head-shaking awed – because I never imagined I’d go into business (hahahaha, although I don’t really see it that way, believe me. I’m just happy being around clothes & seeing people getting all dolled up) But the Lord, good, mighty & kind that He is, opened a BIG door, moved stones, rained provisions & finally, one fine September day, we launched.

By the way, I am on a temporary hiatus now, (mostly due to my crazy schedule) but I promise to be back with bolder, more fierce pieces next launching!

7.       www.iamsugarandspice.blogspot.com

About the same time that Sugar & Spice Apparel was launched, I finally started my blog. Originally intentioned as a Style Diary, and essentially to let the fabulous Sugar & Spice customer peek into my journey as a Style Junkie & also have them view behind-the-scenes of each of our Collection’s photo shoot – I reasoned it’s practical that I make it my online Faith Journal as well. I maintain several at home, I’ve been journaling ever since I can remember and since I can’t rid myself of technology this time, might as well write about my faith walk here J. God I love my blog. I don’t even care that nobody’s reading it – with the exception of my paid friends (now I’m really laughing here), but it really does feel mighty special to be moving on from just wanting to do it for a loooooong time & finally getting around to doing it. 

8.       ARGAO

I’m in love with this town. I’m loving that it’s just an hour and a half drive & I love that most accommodations offer breathtaking beach views. Well, frankly – Oslob still tops my list. But since Salay’s no longer there & I have to find a place where Earl & I could get away (we do this all the time – we’re such beach people, that’s why) - Argao certainly fits the bill. We frequented this town this year & pleased to find out that there are plenty of things to discover about Argao that makes every visit special.

9.       Elim EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE 2012, Pray (October 2012)

I came to EC12 crammed with great expectations. I came home spilling over. I only missed one conference since I started with my Catholic community, that was the conference last year but already it felt like I drifted so far I am beyond mending. But trust the Lord to stage the finest of surprises.

That particular trip to Manila was different. Those who know me would get the shock of their lives to see I brought only a backpack for the trip & filled only a third of the bag. Travelling light is STRANGE to me – but I had a different agenda for this particular trip – P-R-A-Y. And  boy, did I pray. Just me & Earl being there for the conference is already a prayer in itself. The act of the will to squeeze in the time despite the demands of work, business & family & deciding to invest in what matters most for us is prayer.   It was also a pilgrimage of sorts. It felt like I journeyed back to a place of revelation. And just like that, the Lord has shed light on so many questions I have been carrying for long. I know extraordinary grace has been dispensed because then I came back to that place in time where I worry about nothing. I carry a simple truth in my heart coming home – I love the Lord and the Lord loves me. I seek for nothing more.

 

1  Azkals vs. Singapore Lions Face Off,  November 2012

I.have.got.no.words.for.this. I’ll be crazy if this doesn’t make the list. I mean, really, the energy was something else! It was craaaazyyyy!!!! I remember sweating like mad, dancing, hollering, jumping with the crowd for the entire 90-minute duration of the game even when we were seated right in front! We managed to stay for yet another hour to soak in the fun! You can just imagine what happens in the World Cup. And yeah, seeing Phil & James up close was also something else. The whole experience is INTENSE I’m just rearing to do it again! ( And Baby, I get it love, it really is so much fun hahaha)

11. This isn’t supposed to be happening

But it did. The latter part of the year found me digging my head into books that have turned into big movie franchises. Of course, Twilight was so 2008, but I just went back to reading all four books 4 times!!!! Talk about being obsessed! The reason mainly being that I got to read the Fifty Shades trilogy, got interested with the character of Christian Grey & after awhile shifted to despising him for not being like Edward whose love for Bella was super & so self-sacrificing. So I went back to reading the books & the rest is history. I mean, you who have read it know how vicarious the experience is. Good thing Peach lent me her Hunger Games Trilogy - that certainly afforded me a break from anything Twilight, which I loved, really – but then I got wound up with Robsten & it was sort of mad from then on. (You know what I mean Sheylou bebe)

12.  Spending Christmas with my Family

Like I said earlier, I always hold dear & precious every single time I am able to spend with my family, so again, this should make the list. True, I dread the long hours of travel (especially on the boat, at night – no plane yet directly from Cebu to Masbate & vice versa, paging Cebu Pac!) but it’s all worth it. I lose all manner of stress, anxiety, all sense of not being secure - once I’m home. It’s a safe haven for me – somewhere I don’t have to worry about bills to pay, food to eat, challenges to overcome at work etc etc etc. I am fed to overflowing, lavished with love & attention, I get to play (and at times fight – i’m such a baby) with my pamangkins & marvel at the rate they’re growing. One of my favorite things to do is just be around Max & Axl – they really are perpetually happy little somethings. Zach, Beb & Zya are growing up fast too – and they’re great kids whom I love dearly. It’s also heart warming to bump into old friends & be amazed at how different, and by that I mean good-different, things are. By the way, I’m proud to say Aroroy now has a Department Store hahahahaha. Sunod ana mall najud, why not chocnot?

I began 2012 resigned to the fact that it’s gonna be brighter. 2011 had been heartbreaking in plenty of ways to me. It was a season of purification, dark corners, pain, confusion & helplessness....it was one cold winter. I had hope for 2012, because I thought the worst was over. I was right.  I had no idea the Lord was brewing grand surprises for me J Needless to say, 2012 has been amazing for me, all due to God’s mercy, provision & love. The heartaches were over, I won’t even go there because I find no trace of the same in my heart. There were nerve wracking moments too – but on hindsight, and knowing how it is now, I shouldn’t have sweat it out really – cause it was really just a matter of surrender. And then there was plenty of trying, dull, frustrating moments in between. There were friends who came & some who went. Some just went out of radar. Still, plenty stayed & for good reason – because they were really people sent by the Lord to journey with me & will be with me in the long haul (my Tuesday group, I mean you)(And Sissie, my Soulmate, you too). I am blessed to be forming new friendships with some people I hardly exchange sensible conversations before, it’s incredibly astounding. 

So now I bid 2012 adieu....

and I'm gloriously breathing in 2013. And I don’t know about you, but I am thrilled with new beginnings – God specializes in creating brand newness in everyone’s life. And my fearless forecast for my 2013 (according to my new year’s message) is tadadadadadada, Peace, Restoration & Grace Abundant in all areas of my life! Bring it on!!!! Thank You Lord!

The Day we Shot in the Rain

After days of being content in our own little bubble – him, watching A LOT of TV and me finally finding time to indulge in my favourite pastime, reading that is, we drove out to the South with some good friends to soak up some sun, relax, binge, laugh & just be away from all things mental. Of course, we were there to shoot for Sugar & Spice Apparel’s Work Wear Collection.  We were blessed to have the entire place by our own this time. We came by this incredibly charming little place when we went to Argao for Nika’s Despidida Party. Ate Mercy, the kindly caretaker of this place spoiled us to the hilt I felt like Baluarte is actually my very own vacation place (got to come back soon!)

Of course, by this time I should probably sound annoying for repeatedly thanking my lovely little sissies Nikapye & Sasabelle, plus my equally dashing bud June Vincent (who himself could pass for a mowdel! Haha). These guys have been putting up with me through all these chaos including the long travel for the location (well, especially the long travel) and having to put up with the harsh sun & the pouring rain all within seconds from each other. And of course, how could anything be possible if not for my Handsome Baby Love who wouldn’t complain even when he carries all my stuff, takes all the photos & chauffeured us willingly even with an empty stomach. I love you forever baby!

Broken shoes, mosquito bites & hard torrential rains aside – we had a blast! So, like in my previous posts, i’ll let the photos do the talking. And do watch out for the new collection – office dressing need not be boring, really.

Set up, set-up

    Earl, Sasa & June in some serious action

    Pretty Girls Rock

    That's our room

Jump Shot in our fave spot in Baluarte

    The Team behind SAS :)

There's no greater joy, Lord

I've been really distracted these days. Things that are entirely new to me come barging & it feels like I don't even have the strength to process, much less fight it out of my system. Fight, eh? Yeah, coz I'm not sure whether this is leading me somewhere or if it is even good for me. I'm probably just over-thinking things right now. Any way it goes, I know the answer rests on the Seat of all Wisdom. I hear Him now even in the song played out over the radio. "There's no greater joy, Lord than being with You. There goes the answer.

Bad Weather Dressing

This gorgeous leather jacket has been hanging in my closet for a while now & though I'm in love with it I just can't find the perfect time to don it.

Enter Ofel. Rainy days are not my thing. Much more STORMY days! There's something about the rains, brooding skies & howling winds that get me down. Of course I dread the devastation that follows - O Lord please spare our country.

On a lighter note, work is not suspended & if this time isn't perfect to take this leather jacket out for a stroll, then I don't know when :) Guess bad weather is not so bad afterall :-)