Staying Fit

I must say how difficult it is to stay fit and healthy these days. With all the (in)conveniences of our modern society, we've become slaves of those read-to-eat foods. A few years back, I tried to lose weight and I was triumphant in doing so. The problem was and still remains a problem is maintaning it. I avoided eating fast food, candies, drank no concentrated drinks exercised more. I even tried Yoga which I truly enjoyed.

Now, I see myself doing the same routine. More fruits and vegetables, less red meat, more water and regular exercise. As I struggle repeating the same routine, I thought of diverting my attention and energy to taking more photos each day. Yesterday's victim was our kitchen. Unfortunately, the photos I took don't look appetizing at all. I promise that in the coming days, I'd be posting something for our eyes to feast on.

Today's Concept: Green

It's been long since I last updated my blog site. Nothing has changed. I had too many thoughts that I failed to blog them down. They were in my head and all I could do was tweet them. I saw several photos online that kept me awake this morning. It was a gallery of the 17 beautiful images with shallow depth of field. http://digital-photography-school.com/17-beautiful-images-with-shallow-depth-of-field


It was an awe to see such great photos that people are so willing to share. As soon as I finished my ten-minute daily exercise routine, I grabbed Laura (my lovely digital SLR) and started shooting. Potted plants in various sizes immediately caught my attention. Each picture has its own story. Open your minds and let them unveil the mystery.


Please feel free to critique my shots. I'd surely love to hear your comments so I'd be able to take better photos for you.

How Daily Movie Marathons Changed My Life

For the last couple of days, I've been having meltdowns, terrible meltdowns. I've been thinking, worrying about things that I shouldn't be thinking nor worrying about.


I've been wishing for my old self back. Been searching for inspiration that might, somewhat, give me the energy and drive I used to have.


Until today, a few hours before I decided to write this blog, I saw the movie "Julie and Julia". I fell asleep while watching it, but not because it was boring. I was just sleepy since I get up very early in the morning everyday of my life. The movie made me realize what I was lacking.


Years have passed and now that I'm 21. Yes, I am 21. Some may think I'm still young, but I feel like I'm older than my age. Maybe because I'm just merely trying to survive and not really living my life. Anyways, the movie made me realize how much I like working on things and end up not finishing what I started. Just like this blog site. I was very excited when I posted my first blog, the second and it lasted until...until I can't fully remember anymore. That's how I am and I'm determined to change it.


Just last month, I was able to fulfill one of my wildest dreams. I wanted to go backpacking with a friend somewhere in Southeast Asia and I did. Finally, a plan was made into a reality! From then on I told myself that if I only believe that I can't just plan, everything is POSSIBLE. I no longer just plan, I set my eyes on the things I want to do while I still have the energy to sustain me and the more I think about it, the more I get driven. I've never felt like this before and I want to share it to everybody how blissful this feeling is.


I turned off my media player so I could concentrate on this blog and it worked out quite nice. I want to offer this blog to my ever loving friends and parents, who never failed to give me compliments, telling me how nice my works are and how crazy I think most of the time. They give me constructive criticisms too and I'm learning from it. I'm just so blessed to have them in my life. Oh! I also would like to express my deepest gratitude to the freedom I have now. Without it, I would never be able to do movie marathons each day. I would never be able to realize what I was lacking. I would never learn what I've been missing all these years. I would never even be able to write this blog without that FREEDOM.

Backpacking Adventure in Cambodia and Vietnam

I was captivated by the Angkor temples, swept away by the Apsara dancers, overwhelmed by the number of noodles and vegetable meals I had in both countries, saddened by the sight of The Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng, fell in love with the warmth of the people in Cambodia and Vietnam and many other unforgettable experiences I would surely treasure forever. Despite the long bus rides and extreme heat of the sun, I never heard myself complain. Everything felt new. It was dream-like. And so I'd like to share with all of you the short, but fun-filled trip I had through a detailed list below.

Day 1

• Flight to Ho Chi Minh City. (May 14)
  
• Arrived in Vietnam at around 12pm. (May 15)
  
• Went to Tita Lani's apartment to get some rest before a long bus trip to Phnom Penh.
• Left Tita Lani's apartment at 6am.
• A 5-hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai (Vietnamese border).
• At around 1:30pm, our bus finally arrived in Phnom Penh.
• Ate our first Cambodian lunch at a local diner.
• Transferred to another bus to Siem Reap.
• Arrived in Siem Reap at 8:30pm.
  
  
  

Day 2

• Woke up early to witness the sun rise in Angkor Wat.
  
• After visiting five temples, our tuktuk driver brought us to the Khmer Family Restaurant for lunch.
• After a half-day tour in Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, we went back to the guesthouse to get some rest.
  
• I woke up at around 8pm and went straight to the Night Market.
• Ate a traditional Khmer BBQ near Pub Street.
• Finally, went shopping for some souvenirs.

Day 3

• Mailed the post cards.
  
• Went straight to the Angkor National Museum.
• Had lunch at KFC Siem Reap and desserts at LucKafe.
  
• Went shopping again and watched a free Apsara performance at the Temple Balcony.
• Oh! I tried Anchor beer (local Cambodian beer)
  

Day 4

• Left Siem Reap at 6:30am.
• Took a bus ride with some locals.
  
• Arrived in Phnom Penh at 1:30pm.
  
• Rented a tuktuk and went straight to The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng.
• Bought fried noodles from a local street vendor.
  
• Did another stroll in the city.
  
• Tried QQ's Milk tea. I opted for a safer choice, a lemonade.^^
  

Day 5

• Visited the Royal Palace and the Russian market.
  
• Left Phnom Penh at around 1:30pm.
  
• Arrived in Saigon at 7:30pm.
• Went straight to Tita Lani's apartment for dinner.
  

Day 6

• Went to see the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning.
  
• Ate pho(Vietnamese rice noodles) for the first time.
  
• Went on a city tour: War Remnants Museum, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace.
  
• Met Tita Lani and Tita Anna for dinner at Kita Coffee in Vincom Center.
  
• Had desserts at Highlands Coffee while chatting with Arianne.
  

Day 7

• Dropped by the Opera House.
  
• Went shopping at Ben Tahn Market, Saigon Center, Saigon Square and Saigon Tax.
  
• Had a late lunch with Tita Lani at a Vietnamese restaurant.
  
• Went back home to start packing.
• Had our last dinner in Vietnam: BBQ Pork Ribs from Al Fresco.
  

Day 8

• Flew back to Manila at 1:00am.

Rock-a-bye Baby: Mother's Day Special

"Mom as the Cradle of Warmth and Light in the Darkness."

"Mom as the One who Shades my Life in Multicolor."

"Mom that though the bough breaks, she'd make sure I won't fall."

I believe everyday is a mother's day. It should be since they work every single day for the family. Imagine this, everybody's at the office working as she does all the housework all by herself. That's definitely hard work than sitting on your swivel chair, staring at your computer monitor for hours. I salute all mothers in the world for all the hard work they do for their family. As a simple present, I took some photos to express my thoughts that are beyond words.