Salamat po, Mang Joseph...

We meet strangers along our journey in life …and without them even meaning to …they somehow change our lives.

Simple gestures
Kind words
Sincere intentions

We might not even get to meet them again, but their impact in our lives is enduring …memories of our short encounter with them will forever be etched in our hearts and minds.

What’s left for us to do is say a little prayer of gratitude that no matter how momentary it was, they became parts of our lives …and in return try to pay it forward and be that stranger to somebody else as well…

Mang Joseph - Pagugpud Tour Guide

27 months and still going...

Happy 27th monthsary baby...

I can't imagine living my life without you. Bespren kita eh! Life is so much fun and meaningful when you're around. I love you soo much!

flowers from my hubby



Dinner at Paseo Uno

Someday...

Someday when me and my hubby are already filthy rich, we vow to have this in our bathroom!

Updates

Pardon the late updates. I actually have a lot of draft posts that I haven't really finished yet. Anyway, I decided to separate a blog devoted mostly to travel related posts. It's still under construction but you can find more pictures of my Pagudpud trip there.

Here is a list of my new blogs:
jeng's photo blog
jeng's travel blog
jeng's food blog

They're still underconstruction but I have initial posts already. Got lotsa stuff planned to upload to those sites so check 'em up when you have time, ayt?

Link me up and don't forget to leave comments ha!

Happy feet

It's soooo freakin HOT!!!!!

Yesterday registered the hottest temperature for the year.

I decided to get myself a haircut... (nuthin too drastic as usual) and foot spa + pedicure as well.

I never really got good feet ...it's usually dry and calloused so a foot spa is such a good treat for my feet!

Footspa (with free pedicure) for Php199 at Reyes Haircutters

What's inside you?

I dunno how I actually got to this uhmm... freaky site.

It's about this certain detoxification program wherein you'll poop stuff you'll never expect to exist inside of you.

Visit the site for more details:
http://www.drnatura.com/

Too bad it's only available in US Canada and other European countries. I would've probably tried it.

Back to reality

I arrived last Sunday from my trip to Pagudpod. Good thing my hubby fetched me from the terminal and helped me carry my bags and 2 boxes worth of souvenir shells.

My mom also left for Vigan last Friday so my bro and 2 dogs are the only ones left at the house.
Oh boy! When we got home the house was a terrible mess! Definitely NOT a nice thing to see after a tiring bus trip. The sofa and floor was full of dog hair and stuff that the Sammie chewed … the sink was full of dirty dishes …the stove was full of dirty pans ….aaargh!!! My positive aura from my trip was definitely tested! I just wanted to lie down and rest but I just couldn’t stand the mess so I had to do some cleaning up first.

That’s when it finally set in… I’m back to reality…

I'm back!!!

I have sooo much kwento!!! ...don't even know where to start.

My soul searching trip was actually just planned the previous saturday after having a talk with my hubby and deciding to finally go for it. I had the whole sunday to research places... make reservations ...prepare stuff to bring ...etc etc.

I left monday night and just got back this sunday morning. I was supposed to go to Pagudpud - Laoag - Vigan but I ended up staying in Pagudpud the whole time! Here are some of the reasons why:

Nature at its finest...

Super clean and clear water...

Sunset worth waiting for everyday...

I had the rest that I've been wanting to take ...was able to ponder on a lot of things ...plan things that I wanna do with my life ...as well as make new friends along the way! The almost 12 hours bus trip was definitely worth it!

I'll be posting more details and pictures of my trip. I have like more than 400 pictures to go through to decide which ones to post!!!

Life is beautiful...

Start of my journey...

For quite some time already I have been feeling that certain urge to go on a break and go on a soul searching trip ...but I've kept on putting it off due to numerous reasons (...lack of time ...lack of funds ...and sometimes jz being too lazy to actually plan for it)

I want to unclutter my life ...clear my mind ...rest my soul ...and revitalize myself.

--- 0O0 ---
I'm finally going to take that long overdue trip.

I'm taking the plunge.

No more excuses.

In a few hours I will be going on a 1-week trip alone.


--- 0O0 ---

This is probably one of the most significant and memorable moment of my life...

Thank you beh for supporting and encouraging me to take this trip. I would've loved for you to join me but we both know that this is something I have to do alone...

Thanks mom for allowing me and trusting me to take this trip alone. Thank you for simply understanding and not asking too many questions why I'm taking this trip...

--- 0O0 ---
In a few hours I'll be leaving for my journey ...and I'm starting it with this prayer:

God, take and receive my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and will,
All that I am and have He has given me

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference

Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it

Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to his will
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy in the next. AMEN

Tagaytay Trip

I love going to Tagaytay! It's a place I can easily retreat to since it's not that far and the scenic view of Taal Volcano somehow gives me a certain feeling of peace.

Last weekend I had to go there to meet up a supplier, get quotations, do ocular, and make downpayment. Since it's a weekend my hubby was able to come along with me. I get to spend quality time with him and at the same time get to accomplish the errands that I have to do.

We couldn't quite decide where we would have our lunch. It was a choice between RSM and Josephine's. The bus was already at Tagaytay and we still haven't arrived at a decision. We decided to pass by Our Lady Of Lourdes (where faye and herbie are going to wed) for the meantime to vie more time before deciding where to eat.


Our Lady of Lourdes
It's a really nice church for weddings. The bride can have her dramatic entrance - with the close door effect before her entrance and the just-right length for her to walk towards the altar. It also gives the bride a chance to have that overview photo from the 2nd floor during her entrance (which photographers really like taking).

Photo c/o Ariel Javelosa

We took time to say our prayers and admire the church. There was actually a wedding going on so we made usi muna. I could just imagine how Faye's wedding would be...specially when it's her turn to make that march towards the altar...awwww... bridal entrances almost always gives me teary eyes.

And finally we decided to head to Josephine's for lunch. Good thing he also prefers the place since I have other reasons for going there besides having lunch.




Flowers of May

Flowers of May is one of the most popular flowershop in Tagaytay. Their main branch is actually in Teacher's Village but knowing the fact that Tagaytay is one of the most popular destination spots for weddings they just have to open up a branch there. Good thing since couples getting married in Tagaytay would be able to avoid that additional out-of-town fee suppliers usually charge (which usually ranges from 2k-5k!).

On a not so busy day you'd probably miss their shop since there aren't really flowers displayed. But on days when they have scheduled weddings (sometimes even having 8 weddings in a day!) ...oh boy! flower arrangements are just like everywhere ...even taking up their parking space...which was how it looked like when we got there.

She first accompanied us to Flowers of May's resthouse which faye and herbie are interested to rent out where they can prepare for their wedding and where their family could stay as well. There was actually a couple renting it out at that time and I was able to interview the groom who was all dressed up already for their wedding. He was just booming with high recommendations for the place. It was very budget-friendly. The house is great - having 3 rooms plus an attic which can accomodate around 15 people. The house is fully equipped and cooking is allowed. It has a very nice garden with a picture-friendly gazebo. It even has a small basketball court at the opposite side of the house.

Flowers of May Resthouse

Directions going to the resthouse: from Crossing Mendez turn right at the road where there's a sign going to Antonio's. Just a few meters ahead you'll see Country Homes IV at your right. Enter the village. Turn left then turn right. The resthouse is the 3rd house. You'll actually see the white gazebo from outside the gate.

Nice well-kept garden

Gazebo --> very nice for picture taking purposes

We then headed back to their shop to do some recalculations for the flowers for the wedding. Maam Rose is easy to talk to. She can adjust the quotations depending on the preference of flowers as well as the couple's budget. And I think it helped that we booked the resthouse also that's why we got a pretty good discount for the flowers.