When I turned 25!

I was looking forward to doing something extra special on my 25^th birthday as heck.. I’M 25!! Though that’s more of an excuse really, I just really wanted to celebrate and have a good time with the people I most love. So I gathered my family and friends for a round of binge-eating, booze, basketball and a plain break from whichever we needed to take a break from. Here's a peek at how blessed I am..

First batch of friends for dinner arrives! That's (L-R) Ray, Riza, Patty & Demi. 

College represent! Thank you friends for the cake <3 They sure know how to feed my sweet tooth. 

This is when the fun starts. 

Photobomb Demi!!! 

Out at 2am. That's (L-R) Raph, Robi, Lawrence, Me, Mek and Bea. My biking/ frisbee/cooking/backflipping/ whatever-silly-thing-you-wana-do-with-your-boyfriend-but-oops-you-dont-have-one kind of friends. 

On the day itself, my bud Jayson came all the way from Laguna. We watched the UAAP Ateneo vs UST Finals Game 2. Ateneo might have won but I'm still a true blooded Thomasian. Black Gold Black White! Thanks for taking that extra mile for me bud! Greatly appreciated, alam mo yan! 

Mek dragged invited me to a meditation class in Fully Booked, High Street afterwards. Found something new to work on! Picture lotus position, hands on lap while chanting ommmmm. 

The day after, I still get a birthday cake from my Edlink family. Oh how I love my job and the people I work with <3 

And even a surprise date with a 1/2 of my favorite couple, Gale. Though of course the thoughts of the true conspirator were there too. Haha Panalo ka Mr. Mercs! These 2 have always made me feel like I'm part of their relationship. Ako na ang legal na third wheel! Haha Thank you for the love. I love the both of you to bits!

We attended my niece's birthday party over the weekend so nakibirthday na rin ako. Sinong magkamukha?? SINO???

Dami mong chicks Jollibee!

Spa party with the family care of Ate Gie afterwards! All of us got a Swedish Massage and Ear candling. Sigh, makes me feel relaxed just thinking of it. Asian Massage caters their services 24/7. You can go to one of their very many branches or call them for home service if you're too lazy to go out ;) Pls do check them out! http://www.asianmassageph.com/index.php 

And to top it all off, I went home to this. A surprise gift from the most special man in my life. Can I just assume that this is who I am to him - Princess Bubblegum of Adventure Time. Love you Ced!

With all the love surrounding me, I must say I'm one lucky girl. Its quite overwhelming to be given 25 wonderful years of life (and counting) that I can only hope and do something to pay it forward. <3

Hello there, Kota Kinabalu

I have been overly excited to write about my recent trip to Malaysia since I got back. It was my first out-of-the-country trip plus I was with friends and the best-est sister in the whole wide world (may bayad ‘to). But before you get your expectations high, this isn't a post that reviews the places/services. I just intended to share how our trip went. I'm not very good in travel blogging too so I ended up making a photo blog post for this. I didn't include a lot of details but if you need it, you can just message me :). So here goes..

That's Harold, me and Denice. On our way to Kota Kinabalu. No plane is ever quiet with us in it. 

We were picked up in the airport by this lovely couple who helped us get our way around the city. 

the heaven-sent Ray and Maylyn Pang.

Poring Hot Springs and Canopy Walk

it was a rough ride, I got all dizzy and felt like throwing up. This is what true friends do at your back when you're not feeling well. hahahaha 

But these stir fried noodles and pineapple with plum salt got me feeling A-OK! 

Saw this Upside-down house on our way! Uh-MAZ-ing!

On our way! 

Look at what was on top! A 10-storey high hanging bridge that's over 3 decades old. 

Can you just imagine how it creaks? 

You can almost hear me cursing at my friends every time it moves. Hahaha Den: “Sorry, im so heavy!!” We crossed 5 bridges!! :D

Tired afterwards!

And what better way to end that tiring walk than.... tataaaaah! dipping your feet in the hot springs! Brrrrrr

Hot Springs Area

Kinabalu Park

Mehhh. Not my kind of tour. Pictures and blah. I’d rather we climb that freakin’ mountain, Mt. Kinabalu! Btw, its freezing cold here. Summer na summer pa naman ang peg namin! 

Steamboat at QQ Cafe

On the day of Mek's arrival, we went to an eat-all-you-can place.This costs 25RM - that's P350 lang!! cheap but crazy yummy!! Including bottomless iced teassss (that’s a plural ‘cos they have a variety! Apple, mango, kiwi, milk tea, etc.) and soft-served ice cream!! 

Never had that much shrimp in one night! Just looking at this photo makes me miss this place :( THE HAPPY TUMMY PLACE!! 

FLOATING MOSQUE 

We were so full we had to walk around afterwards! Visited the Floating Mosque. 

Mek and Me!! Beautiful.... Mosque!haha

Wasn't able to take a good photo of the floating Mosque 'cos it was dark so I grabbed this from http://www.cruisemeet.co.uk/virtual-tour/asia-and-orient/kota-kinabalu/ instead.  

Kiulu River
Our first take on white water rafting! We were lucky 'cos it was raining and that made the rafting more challenging. We all agreed for our raft to capsize! Naaaks, tapang! Though I almost got my fingers broken from it. We also tried body rafting! And it hurt a lot! haha There were huge rocks underneath that'll really hit your body. Nevertheless, it was all fun! 

Listening very well to our boatman. We didn't wana die yet!! They kept on scaring us that there were crocodiles in the river - vegetarian ones. O_O

In the starting point. Look at how silly our boatman is. 

After 10-15 mins, we had a stopover to try body rafting ;)

Jumpshot!

Kuya Chinese boy was there to help us. (Music: We found love in a hopeless place) 

Okay so this is how body rafting sort of looks like. I'm close to doing it right!haha 

Acting na Acting hahahaha!

We had time to enjoy the water too! Look, ang HOT na HOT na si Harold! (er, okay, by his definition of hotness ;) 

My tiny booboo. Its so tiny, its jinarte! haha But really, I couldnt move my finger for some time and it was purple :( okay enough arte much.  

And we were done. All I could think of was I WANT MOOOORE!! 

Smile pa rin kahit palong-palo ang pagod levels!

And we even got certificates to put in our curriculum vitae afterwards! Kiddin'. 

 COFFEE HILLS

Exhausted yet we just had to drop by for a while. You can not be in Sabah and not try their coffee. It's heavenly!

THAI RESTAURANT
Yes, we still have energy for these that night!

Fish with mango = A MUST TRY!!

GRAFFITI

Bring out the ghetto poses!

THE PALACE HOTEL

Where Ray works. Very very nice place!

What can I say, girls will be girls! Vanity shot!

MARI MARI CULTURAL VILLAGE

We had the whole morning to spend right before we fly back to Manila. Instead of resting and just shopping, Mek and I figured our money will be better spent on tours.. for experience. 'Cos that for us is invaluable. (This is why you don't have pasalubong. hahaha) Ray recommended this tour since he thinks its the best among the others. Mek and I totally agreed to that. It was interactive and very educational - but not the type that'll make you fall asleep. Basta, look through the photos :)

Ray filled our hungry tummies with this gigantic siopao! 

Mek as the chief of our group had to be briefed by our tour guide - if we all want to go home in one piece. Oh no, headhunters!

Rice wine making. Those are all rice that they preserve for some time and turn into rice wine for special occasions. 

My cooking skills were put to test!! There were 4 countries in our group, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Philippines! I was our country’s bet! Naks, itaas ang bandera!!And I was given thumbs up for this!! :D

Round 2 rice wine!

How can we resist??

That's honey. We also tried this. 

Sorry for the ugly photo but these people taught us how to make fire using bamboo. 

He showed us a vest that he made. 

Coconut bread! Definitely making this at home! YUM!

Pandan Ginger Tea. I'm never a fan of tea but this one's really good! 

This sort of makes me feel like I'm housewife material HAHA

The house of Badjaos. The richest among the 5 tribes - they're known for trading. 

Mek negotiationg with the Chief of the headhunters tribe so he wouldn't cut our heads off :S I literally screamed here. Got so scared! IKR hahaha Oh that's a sign of acceptance/welcome.

And when we were allowed to pass by, this witch doctor gave us blessings :) 

Mek trying one of the weapons of the olden times. 

Kuya was sweet enough to give us Henna

some bad ass-ery

Look at their stairs! How innovative

Who's more chief material??

Yeeees?

I feel bad we weren't able to take photos of the trampoline that's made out of bamboo (they use it to reach for the prizes in pabitin on celebrations) and their makeshift cigarette. Besides the low quality photos, it got quite hot eventually so we focused on keeping ourselves cool. Temperature maladjustment problems. 

At the end, native dancers were waiting for us. Definitely enjoyed the show!

Bamboo dance. Their own version of Tinikling. 

  

But way better was we get to join them too. Pakitaan na ng skills 'to! Trust me, theirs was faster!

Slow clap while swaying head from left to right!

Photo op! 

Had a wonderful time! Photo right before we left. 

So there goes our 6-day trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. I'm not one that's really good at using flowery words to describe the trip or the place for that matter but this was something we truly have enjoyed and was worth our time. Mek and I swore to go on trips like this at least once a year afterwards - especially when she's in France already. :((( My friends witnessed how Mek and I fought throughout the trip yet at the end we'd always get it over with. And I figured that's one of the secrets in our very close bond.. When we fight, we fight really hard. But after it, we get on with our lives together and accept our differences. Sheez, we learn sooo much from each other through that! We never hold grudges 'cos we say EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that we want to say. - even at times that it might hurt us. We can go from being the worst of enemies and the best of friends yet we will forever be sisters - the type that people can always be envious about. ;)

*Photos c/o Mek Yambao, Denice Liamzon, & Gracie Jimenez.