Life's a Beach and then what?

A beach bum who doesn't know how to swim... That phrase perfectly describes me.

About two weeks ago, Yahoo PH posted an article about the top 7 must-visit beaches in the Philippines. The beach lover in me couldn't just sit there and stare at the article. I hurriedly clicked the link, browsed at each entry, and prided myself for getting 5 out of 7.

Quite a feat as most of my friends would say. I nearly planned to get 6 out of 7 before the year ends. So when the opportunity of spending summer in one of the islands in Cebu came knocking at my doorstep, I didn't know I was truly in for a big surprise.

Well thanks to my blog friend Gnetch (ahemmm!) for bitching me out to Camotes Island hahaha!

The truth is, I've been to most islands in Cebu but never to Camotes. Blame it on the crazy "big waves" stories I've heard. This time there's no turning back. I gotta check out myself why so many people are raving about the "sweet potato" island.

We took the ferry on a Sunday and spent the next two hours on not so comfortable seats. Actually, I am used to travel in far more inconvenient mode, but a group of prattlers and a lady who doesn't know how to keep her voice low made the situation so inconvenient. Good thing I have a bunch of Wooga games on my phone or I would have thrown them a bone.

So after a few rounds of Diamond dash and attempts to solve the 4 pics 1 word puzzle, we arrived at the port of Consuelo. The turquoise water, the laid-back vibe and friendly people greeted us as we disembarked from the boat.

approaching the port of Consuelo

melancholic

kids enjoying their time diving

 We're supposed to stay at Santiago Bay Garden and Resort but they're fully booked so we just stayed at a nearby resort. We had lunch at Pito's Sutukil and had a taste of their famous SUTUKIL at very affordable price. (Sutukil is a moniker for Sugba (Grill), Tuwa (fish stew) & Kilaw / Kilawin (raw fish drenched in vinegar). The rest of the afternoon was spent whiling around and swimming.

Infinity pool at Santiago Bay Gardens

White Beach --- just like Boracay it has a wide shallow area. You have to walk farther before you get chest-deep. But Boracay sands are still the finest (in my opinion).

the cozy public beach where everyone gets to enjoy the white sand

 

The rhyme that goes Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

Santiago Bay Gardens

Bungalow rooms at Santiago Resort

Coming right up: A taste of Camotes' best kept secrets all for a day! Lake Danao, Timubo Cave and Bakhaw Beach!

To All Those Who Keep On Asking When I'm Gonna Tie The Freaking Knot...? READ THIS!!!

That probably is the lengthiest title I've ever come up with. But, what the hell?!

I'm sure you already have an idea what this rant post is all about.

When I went home for my mother's birthday last month, I was overwhelmed to see my cousins, aunts and uncles from my mother's side. I don't see them that often coz I don't go home that much. And whenever I do, I don't spend most of my time with them.

But, "Overwhelmed" turned into "hmmm-i-don't-like-this-type-of-conversation-so-everyone-please-stop-it-before-i-go-haywire-and-kill-you-off".

Coz you know what? They were all asking me - each one of them - the bazillion dollar question : When am I going to get married?

Other similar questions include:
>>>Why are you still single? Is there something wrong with you? - Honestly, I can hear them even in their silence. I've acquired Edward Cullen's mind-hearing ability just so you know!
>>Are you married already?

And the worst question?

>>>Do you have children?

Aryt, lemme get this straight... I know I'm not in my best shape right now but it doesn't mean I've had bore kids with this body. Will you please stop stereotyping?

First, I took it as a joke. Then as a compliment (them showing concern for my well-being - ehem!). Until it became a nuisance, a disgusting version of "how are you?", annoying, extremely downright unbecoming, and I couldn't help but mumble what is wrong with you people?

I get pissed off and insulted when people keep on asking that stupid question again and again and again like getting married is ALL THAT MATTERS.

If being married is the next best thing to internet, no one would have ever invented divorce.

Don't get me wrong. I dreamt of walking down the aisle one day. But if it's not for me, then I'm not gonna cry and lock myself in solitude just because of some people's notion that being single is pathetic! Being married is both a choice and a decision. The same logic applies if I wanted to stay single for now. Being married is not a measure of how you fared in life, in your career, in your journey. But being single can get me to most places, even to the promotion ladder. Being married is not the be all and end all of being a woman. But I believe being single is. Because you do things for your self, you get things done all by your self, you feel happy and contented with your self. And most of all, you can be happy and live your own life with your self.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having someone in your life. But surely there is something WRONG with people who think that a woman like me should join the marriage bandwagon because that is the rightful thing to do.

Oh crap! This is the 21st century...

From which era are you?

And hey! I'm not totally single. I'm with someone. And were totally happy even without the paper.

A dose of adventure with colleagues

The adrenalin junkie in me kicked in (after a long time) last weekend when my colleagues and I decided to swung by a place in the North of Cebu for some dose of adventure. Our wandering feet got us to Esoy Hotspring, a secluded resort in the hilly suburb of Catmon. Just an hour ride from the city, we were treated to a quiet retreat topped with a dip on a hot spring.

Dip in the hotspring.

The truth is, we were wondering if we were dipping in an "authentic" hot spring. From what we know, hot spring exists if there is an active volcano near the area. But we were surprised. Celso, the owner of the resort told us that the heat came from a natural source. He began to explain it - scientifically, and i was just standing there in awe trying to absorb everything he said. :) Aryt... next time, no skipping of science classes.

Braving my way through the hanging bridge

Just as we were about to go trekking, the rain suddenly poured. Yes, in the middle of summer! And the crystal waters in the creek turned into not-so-crystal-anymore. Frustrating. But... It didn't stop us. Indeed we got our heart's content. We crossed the hanging bridge, climbed the rugged boulders, swam the creek while thinking if I'll ever get out alive. I'm not a swimmer. I don't know a single thing about swimming. Thanks to the life vest though and to my colleague who tirelessly tugged me out to the shallow part.

after the rain

Before the rain

 

On our way back to the resort we met a bunch of local TV crew taping for an episode of their morning show. Two days later, we saw our faces on TV hahahaha! Great deal!

It was an awesome treat for all of us. The fun, the laughter, the experience, the dose of adventure we had is worth repeating.

I would gladly do this again.

Seriously, me? No blogging since 2013???

I decided to pay a visit on my blog today. And... guest what? I realized I didn't blog for the last five months. Not even a single entry for this year.

Wait, did I just make a New Year's Resolution for blogging more often? Forget it. Resolutions are made to fool yourself that you'll do things you wanna do but the truth is you will absolutely forget about it.

Anyway, two weeks ago I attended a wedding. A beach wedding. My dream wedding actually, which I wasn't the bride. It was the most beautiful wedding I've ever witnessed. I'll try to post some pictures soon - but I'm afraid I didn't take a single pic because I was so stressed overwhelmed that day.

Did I mention I was the wedding coordinator? I didn't? Yeah, there's no way you guys would know because I totally abandoned this blog.

So yeah... the groom, who was a good friend of my boss, who became a good friend of mine too - asked me to help him sort things out for the wedding starting from the hotel accommodation of the entire 42 guests, to the charter plane that will take us all to the island, the pastor, the flower arrangement, venue set-up and decoration, food and entertainment, give-aways and all the hassles you could think of that contributed much to the stress I was in to.

Ten months of planning and hard work plus 300+++ e-mails from the groom. Way to go!
He lives in London and we were just e-mailing the whole planning thing until he arrived a week before the big day. Great!


But I was even surprised when I learned I pulled it off. That was my first time to organize such a big and important event. I was not into wedding planning and stuff ever! But I could say I did a very good job.

Now I have a fallback career haha!

Escaping BTD (And because travel doesn't have to be expensive)

**** This is an oooooverdue post BECAUSE (I'm not going to make up an excuse here) I  AM LAZY.


BTD or Boredom To Death as what I call it.

Two weeks ago I was chillin' with my housemate when our conversation started turning towards how life can be so boring sometimes. How work can be soooooo consuming that it steals your personal time, makes you forget how to have fun and meet new people and friends (which, if you constantly do will eventually take you to the path of living alone for the rest of your darn life. Read : Becoming a spinster).

Of course that is not the way to go.

Absolutely not.

And so I realized I've been missing on something lately. I miss doing the very thing I love most about life...

TRAVEL.

It's been a year since the last time I hit the road. And by that I mean take a REAL trip. Suddenly I miss the beach, the sand, the sun (In this rainy season), the sea breeze, the crashing waves, the tranquility of the ocean, the kind of peace you find in a strange place...

Then it was instant.When I told my housemate that I wanna go some place quite where I can spend some time in the beach, she insisted that we go to Argao, in the Southern part of Cebu.

I've always prided myself as a planner. I never went on with my life without a plan, and which I always have a backup just in case the universe conspires against me.It was liberating when I immediately said "Yes" to her suggestion.

Not wasting any time we packed a few things, swung by a convenience store to buy water and some junkies, head off the bus station and jumped on the first bus to Argao.

Two hours later we found ourselves standing in front of the centuries old church of St. Michael, the Patron Saint of Argao.

St. Michael Church

The church was surrounded by equally old building that have weathered the test of times.

The old municipal building

my roomate sitting on a lonely bench fronting the old chapel

an entry leading to the beach

Talk about how the universe loves to ruin the "unplanned plan", it rained so heavy that we were almost soaking wet and shivering from cold. The good thing? We don't have a place to stay yet. The bad thing? We have to start looking for one before the wind dry us out in our clothes!

We found a comfortable place to stay at a very, very affordable rate at Luisa's Place.And the best of all our cabana is sitting on a beach front. How lovely!

view from our cabana just before sunrise

a fisherman sailing into the sunrise

the morning coffee ritual by the shore

this is how I see tranquility

  

A walk to remember :))))

By mid-day, we went to visit the Riverstone Castle. This midieval-inspired castle was designed by a Belgian architect and built in the early 2000.

I tried to pull out the "Free Parking" signage to not ruin my photo but it's just so heavy.

so this is me at the main door

the castle's facade and the two Armour guards

Rapunzel, Rapunzel... I can't climb up with your hair so short :))

the cozy restaurant

Let me in! Let me in!

the creepy wine cellar. I swear I had goosebumps here

wine cellar

I took a lot of photos but of course I can't place them all here.

So. If you like, visit my facebook page and.... just kidding!

Until my next spontaneous adventure! :)

Road to MBA

It was not so long ago when I found myself sitting on the four corners of the room along with other 19 hopeful MBA students. The four corners became my haven and, whether I like it or not, the-place-to-be every Saturday for the next 16 months of my humdrum life.


It was exciting but sometimes boring. Could be sometimes easy but most of the time difficult while cracking your brains, strapping you down in the chair for the next three solid hours. It was fun, tedious, creative, informative, self-sacrificing, nerve-wracking, sleep-depriving and humbling experience for me.

That's how I would describe it.

But of course that doesn't include how stressful it was when we took the comprehensive exam for two days and the oral revalida that would make me shrink in jittery at the mere sight of the five panelists. The best part is, we all emerged in the "torture chamber" smiling and joyous with the result.

The last part of the journey? Applying for graduation.

I can finally say that sleepless nights are finally over. It was tough but the end of the road is just as sweet... And I'm looking forward to the crisp smell of my diploma. :)

Almost there

Thirteen months ago, I went up for a challenge. A decision I never thought I'd make myself into. Oh guys, nothing serious. I'm just talking about my decision to take up masters program.

Back then I never thought of going to school anytime soon. But when opportunity presented itself, I took a stab at it not knowing how far it will take me.

It was fun. Well, as it is always in  learning. But there was always this difficult times. Those times when I really wanted to turn my back and give up. Many times I asked myself why do I have to do this? I already have a job. I've got a promising career. This is not really necessary...

During the course of the program I learned so many things I didn't know all along. These learning did not come from textbook, but from my classmates, my colleagues who were generous enough to share what they have learned. The weekly interactions, group discussion and case studies paved the way for unfounded realization.

It is alright to be contented. But it's better not to be complacent. The corporate world is a chaotic, unstable, fast-changing place to dwell in. It is best to be armed and stay ahead of competition.

True enough sleepless can be over too. The last semester for the program will end next week. That means I'm all done with class presentations and powerpoints. Huh!

I could almost smell my diploma and the toga... But wait, the biggest challenge is yet to come - passing the comprehensive exam and revalida. This could be the toughest one. So books, internet, journals.. get ready!!! I'm digging on you one last time.