MY TRAVEL BUCKETLIST

I guess I have grown tired of making yearly resolutions already…since I never get to accomplish most of them anyway. So this year, I decided to just make my very own TRAVEL WISH LIST OR A BUCKET LIST, so to speak. But this does not mean that I intend to accomplish all the travelling I want for 2014, oh no, I don’t think I have the budget for that. It would, in fact, go beyond 2014 since we all know how expensive it is to travel and it would be lucky for me if I get to strike off two places in my list every year. But then again I also realize that I am not getting any younger and so I have listed down the places I want to visit before I am too old and gray to enjoy anymore travelling. Next time maybe I will come up with another list of the ‘daredevil’ things I want to do before I am fifty…hehehe but for the meantime here’s the list:


1. I consider myself a beach/water person but surprisingly the first place on my list is a mountain – the Banaue Rice Terraces. It is already considered a World Heritage Site so all the more reason why we must go and visit and gaze in wonder at the magnificence that the early Igorots have made in the countryside of Banaue and Ifugao. I had hoped to do this maybe next year, when the weather is cool and hopefully take along the older ones with us even if the trip requires a bit of trekking. Anyway, they can always stay at the hotel because even there they can gaze at the magnificence of the terraces in the comfort of their own rooms. Relatedly, I also want to include in this item the town of Sagada in Mt. Province. Though I know visiting both places in one swoop would be far-fetched, I still want to take a peek at the famous Sagada hanging coffins someday, even if it will be a different trip altogether.


2. Next place I want to visit, or maybe rather re-visit is Coron, Palawan. I had been there before way back in 200? But only with the hubby with the FAS for their teambuilding and the utter serenity and beauty of the lakes just made me want to go back again and again and take my kids with me, of course. But this would entail a lot of money as the island hopping tours are even higher than that of Puerto Princesa so I guess we all need to pool resources on this in order to make this dream happen.


3. The third place is one I consider close to my heart – the place of my dad’s birthplace and one place (aside from Baguio) that I frequented as a teenager – Cebu. There is another reason why I want to take my family there, so that they would be able to immerse themselves in the Visayan culture and way of life and get to know the people I have found dear and whom I consider my second family there. Besides, the beaches there are just divine and the food too! I just wish that when the time comes, I can have Mike there with us, as our tour guide to show us around.


4. The fourth place I want to go to (again!) is Davao. I have been there (I think) in 2008 but that was a working visit so I never really got to savor everything that Davao had to offer and so if there was one province that I want to take my kids in Mindanao region – Davao is it! I intend to take them to see the Philippine Eagle and maybe, if possible, have a peek at the majestic Mount Apo, our country’s highest mountain.


5. The fifth place on my list is one I have not yet been to but the place just beckons to me with its clear blue-green waters and like the fish that I am…I just seem to have no choice but be hypnotized by its awesome beauty – the Caramoan Islands of Bicol. I know the place had already achieved international recognition after being featured (not just once) in the Survivor series but I still hope it remains pristine as it is and not as commercialized and crowded (like Boracay)


6. The next is a place the family and I have actually been to when the kids were still young, way back in 2005 (I think) but at the time the kids were still small (Keith was 10 and Kaye was just three years old)…so I think they do not truly appreciate then the rich heritage that Ilocos had to offer. On that future trip, I intend to take them to as far up as Pagudpud (like we also did the last time) and take in as many local sites as possible including another World Heritage site Vigan, the historical city known for its Calle Crisologo, Paoay church, the Malacanang of the North, Batac, former Pres. Marcos burial/tomb, and new ones we weren’t able to visit like Chavit’s Baluarte, among others.


7. Another place that I want to visit is Batanes…although I know this would cause quite a considerable dent in the pocket since the airfares alone is not something to scoff at (10K each person, last I heard). But still, the place is breathtaking (in photos at least) and one that I also wish to bring my family to if not just to savor the sights but also the taste of its rich cuisine.


8. Another place on my bucket list is Romblon, yup that place of marble fame although that is not exactly all they are famous for – they have marvelous beaches and amazing caves…definitely a place I would want to visit. I just wish they would address the security concerns of the place because I heard that tourists who go there are not exactly satisfied with the brand of hospitality that they receive.


9. Up next on my list is the mystical island of Siquijor, nope it is not because of the proliferation of ‘ghostly spirits’ that I want to go there…partly lang siguro but the main reason is that Ateng (my father’s kasambahay) hails from that place and she had long been inviting us to visit her house which is just a stone’s throw away from the beach…how is that for being cool! Huh! Maybe we just might take her up on that invitation someday!


10. Lastly, of course, I also want to visit someday the overhyped beaches of Boracay. But not during summer…maybe when the place is not teeming with crowded tourists. I hate it already when a place becomes so commercialized that going there becomes a nightmare and totally un-enjoyable…so yes I still will go to Boracay but not to party like most tourists do…but to enjoy the fine white sands and explore the pristine beaches and fun activities that the place had to offer.

Ok so that’s it for now… I guess I’ll just add/update the list as more places crop up. After all, our country is made up of 7,100+ beautiful islands to explore. Next time, I’ll probably make another list of foreign destinations naman…

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Well, I did not really fall off… I just uhmmm got waylaid so to speak. I am talking about my biking here… I can’t anymore recall when it was exactly that I stopped but I think it was sometime last year (around October or November) when my hand started to hurt and I can’t tolerate the pain any longer while lifting the dumbbells that I use while biking. Then, the hand just naturally healed itself at around December but by that time, I figured holiday festivities are already just around the corner and so I shunned the bike and all other forms of exercise altogether (so I’ll have no reason to keep me from pigging out during the holidays hehehe!) And so as part of my new year’s resolution to get back on track with my diet and exercise, I decided to ‘get back on the saddle’ again…the saddle of my stationary bike, that is… at first, I found it a bit difficult and was already breathing heavily after just ten minutes and so I decided to just take things slow and biked for only twenty minutes. After all, today is just my first time to bike for the year after more than two months of no exercise whatsoever…well, I am just glad that I am getting back to exercising once again. Maybe next month, I can find the time and the companions to go jogging again… or maybe even zumba…I need to just take it one day at a time…I can do this!!!

Starting the year right with the General Motors diet

This year, I have all the intention to truly truly go on a real diet and for a start I have chosen the General Motors Diet that my sister sent me thru email about six months ago but have not found the opportunity to follow. Why the GM diet? Well, it’s the one I have on hand and would not really require much effort and research so GO! GO! GO! Besides, it seemed quite simple to do and does not require much cooking (just the soup) But why not the South beach diet which I had used to lose the unwanted pounds after my last CS pregnancy in 2002? Well, I have tried my best to replicate what I had done the last time I followed the SB diet in 2002-2003 but it seems no matter how hard I try, I just can’t lose weight using that anymore (even if I have shunned carbs altogether!) It seems the SB diet has reached a plateau for me and so it is not as effective as it once was. Maybe…just maybe the GM diet would work…I am keeping my fingers crossed! Here’s a list of things that may be eaten on the GM diet…

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS...AGAIN!

Okay…here we go again…it’s that time of the year when we HAVE to make promises that we must do for the year and hope against hope that we get to fulfill it one way or the other. I know, it truly is an exercise in futility but I guess I am the type of person who just has to do it because even if I didn’t get to accomplish it all…at least the intention was there right? In fact, my new year’s resolutions do not really change from year to year and yet I still persist in writing them down… I guess, what I need to do first is check out the list I did last year and do the ones I failed to do. Let’s see …the first item on last year’s list was travelling – but I wasn’t able to accomplish this because of budgetary constraints (the usual!). Still no air travel for us but one new thing we did was visit some places/nearby provinces like Tagaytay and Bataan with the entire Bahaypare clan…pretty neat huh! These are places we had been frequenting already as a family and as part of office outings but the hubby’s relatives had not been there yet and so we endeavored to take them there even if just on a picnic or a swimming trip and boy…oh boy did they enjoy the bonding/get-together. This year, we hope to visit more nearby places with them (but this time we want to have a smaller more intimate group so that we could use more decent forms of transportation) maybe Subic or Quezon…I am still not planning on any air travel for my family but maybe this year we could push through with my long-overdue trip to Sagada/Banaue/Bontoc. I just need to work out the schedule and the budget, of course! Next item on last year’s list had something to do with cooking, baking to be more specific and despite my best intentions I am afraid I truly failed on this one since I did not get to bake anything at all last year! Well, I am writing this resolution once again this year and this time I hope to accomplish this na talaga! Of course, I would continue with my ‘baon’ experiments since the kids so gamely and willingly partake of my attempts to imitate the superb cooking prowess of my fave online chefs/cooks. The third item is watching more films and reading more books and I guess given the hectic schedule that I have (especially on weekends) I have been able to accomplish more or less what I had intended to do. This year, I intend to continue watching more movies, especially the ones I have downloaded but still haven’t found the time to watch. Furthermore, on our scheduled weekends at home (and without impending exams for the kids!), I want to make it a regular movie/bonding time for the family – complete with popcorn, chips and fizzy drinks! Also, with regards to reading, I want to finish those books that I have already downloaded on my tab and also buy some ‘real’ books this time…I know, I know my bookcase is already full but I intend to do some redecorating too so that I could get the hubby to do a bookcase for the room naman! (hehehe) I guess I also want to do more ‘girlfriend activities’ and regain connections with my old friends. I know I missed out on a great opportunity when I failed to attend the Stella Maris Batch 87 Silver Jubillee reunion…but that’s ok I may still find the time and the opportunity this year. Same thing goes with family…I hope to spend more time and be with them more often – like my parents, especially Mama whom I only get to see thrice a year – on Mother’s day, on her birthday, and for our Christmas get-together. I guess we should visit her more often and maybe push through with that planned trip out of town so I could spend more time with her. Last on my 2012 list is to strengthen my (also our family’s) relationship with God…I know I have been remiss in this aspect and in fact, it may be the great contributing factor why my son wanted to become a born-again Christian…in fact, he already asked my permission but I said no…I allowed him to attend masses but I refuse to allow him to be baptized as a born-again. I was thinking kasi na he may just be influenced by his high school friends (and now I learned even the girl he courts is a born-again Christian) and so I want him to take his time to decide if being a born-again is the right decision for him. Maybe, if he finishes college and he still wants to become one then I will acquiesce. Truly, it doesn’t really matter to me whether you’re INC (Ditse and her kids belong to this religious sect), born-again, or a Catholic…what’s important is that you worship one true God and do everything for His greater glory. Okay, so now that’s five items that are carry-overs from last year’s list. But here are some more things I hope to do in 2013: 1. Redecorate the bedroom – well, I am already quite satisfied with the way the hubby put in some tiles and more cabinets for our bedroom but I still want to do more – maybe buy new sheets and pillows or even paint the bedroom a cool blue color just to get that fresh but cozy look. 2. Buy that hanging kitchen cabinet I have long been hankering the hubby to make – it seems he does not want to make me one so I guess I’ll just have to buy one that’s already ready-made and just have him affix/attach it to the wall. 3. The reason why I wanted to buy new kitchen cabinets is because I want to buy new glass diningware (like Luminarc or Correll) and silver cutlery for guests who come to visit or even for our own use on special occasions. 4. Next item I want to do is to have the living room finally tiled – well, after thirteen years living in San Jose it is high time that we finally have our floors done right. We had initially planned to change the tiles when we moved in (because we both didn’t want the original cream vinyl tiles the house had) but then thirteen years later…we still haven’t done it. Maybe this year, if money and time permits we’d be able to get this done. 5. Lastly, since we also have a new house being constructed at BP… I also intend to spend some money and decorate our ‘rest house’ in the way we wanted. I know we only spend two weekends there but at least, during those times that we are home, we spend it in the comfort and relaxation of a place we could call our own. 6. More date nights with the hubby…I know I planned to do this every year but there isn’t always the time or the money to do so… maybe it doesn’t have to be expensive even a Burger King or Tokyo-tokyo dinner for the two of us will have to do. What matters is that we spend some quality time alone together! I know… I know…all these things that I want require a lot of money and a lot of patience and considering the fact that we are already up to our necks in loans just to have the house constructed, it would be a very serious problem for me to find the money to finance all that I want to do for this year…well, I guess I’ll just try to find a way… Here’s to a happier and more fulfilling 2013 for all of us!!!

HOPEFULLY A HAPPIER 2012!

Okay, okay so I promised myself not to make a regular list of resolutions for 2012 pretty much like the way I did last year since I would be turning 40 then and I’d want to take each day as it comes and not be hounded by a list I would find hard to complete. So let me track back a bit and see what I was able to accomplish last year??? Well, so far judging by the entries of this blog I have been able to do 20+ Kitchen misadventure articles, around 15 movie reviews, only 1 book review, about 5 articles only that dealt on travel and places (which meant I did not get to travel as much as I wanted this year, and no air travel pa!)

What’s more, there was a noticeable increase of entries that pertains to health – i.e. starting to jog again, joining a fun run, kidney stone screening, bone scanning, having an APE. Well, I guess that is understandable and comes with aging! Then, it was only during the latter part of the year (because of the bonuses!) that we were able to buy some gadgets and techy stuff like the 32-inch LCD TV and Kit’s Samsung Galaxy Y phone (where we bought 2 because he lost the first one after only two weeks!) There was also a proliferation of entries regarding our new diversions / pets – the bunnies that gave birth to a total of three sets of kits for the entire year! Imagine that if we were able to sell the said kits, we would’ve been able to recover most of our investments but as it is we only gave the bunnies away as presents. Well, that’s OK they were given to relatives and friends anyway.

So I guess, what do I need to do this upcoming 2012??? I guess I need to do more traveling – one aspect I have sincerely neglected in the last year. Our travels last year were mostly due to office outings – at Bolinao, Pangasinan, FAS outing @ Calatagan, Batangas and Tagaytay, CMS outing @ Bataan and lastly our family outing during the Holy Week at Taal, Batangas – all within Luzon and can be traveled within two to three hours by car. What’s more, we have not traveled as a family since 2010, (our last was at Bohol with Myk and Inang) and so I guess I truly need to save up some money this year so we could do some traveling and our first destination – Baguio or even Sagada!

Next, though I was able to be more adventurous last year with the more than 20 dishes I whipped up for the kids baon, I admit I tended to shy away from baking and making desserts. So this year I guess I need to make more desserts and start baking again. I also hope to watch more films and read more books! Lastly, though I don’t really believe that 2012 will truly herald the end of the world, I still intend to establish a stronger relationship with my God! And also I want to do a Bucket List of things I want to accomplish before the world ends. So here’s good luck to me and hopefully the year 2012 shall be a happier one for all of us!!!

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011

Started the year by looking back at my previous year's resolutions and realized something really really bad --- I HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED EVEN HALF OF THEM! Oh dear, so I guess my very first resolution for the year 2011 will be - TO STOP MAKING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS ALTOGETHER SINCE I NEVER GET TO KEEP THEM ANYWAY!!!

SO there...I guess I'll just take each day as it comes...enjoy every moment...and live life to the fullest...after all I am turning forty this year (ugh!) so I might as well start living my life the way I want - no daily schedules... nothing at all to hold me back from enjoying each moment as if it were my last... nope I'm not waxing nostalgic here because I feel my life is about to end (hope not!) But rather I just want to set my mind free to wander and explore the numerous experiences out there that I still have not tried--- so here's hoping that the new year would bring me more exciting places to visit; more exotic restaurants/food to taste; more people to meet and bond with (both old and new friends)and a whole lot of new experiences to savor!!!

MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR 2010



It's the time of the year once again and everyone seems to be busy dishing out their new year's resolutions so here are some of mine which I hope to really accomplish before the year 2010 ends...


1) return to writing - in my diaries, in scrapbooks and most especially my blog (which I have been neglecting lately!)

2) watch old movies...in DVDs since I can't afford to watch movies anymore inside real moviehouses...and there are no more free movie passes! Might as well take advantage of the pirated DVDs that are proliferating all over the metropolis...

3) continue reading e-books...again this is due to the fact that the price of books have skyrocketed and since there isn't really anymore space in my bookshelf I would have to contend myself with just e-books since it is mostly free and widely available over the internet!

4) tutor kids more often...even if it isn't exam week so we won't have a difficult time catching up on their many readings come examination time...maybe we'd have a better chance at getting a real medal this year and not like her Grade 1's "Best in Writing Award" even if she made it as Top 1 of their class for two consecutive grading periods...I guess they really have different standards for kids belonging to the 'cream' section.

5) continue upgrading/renovating the kitchen especially the cabinets which last year's budget was not able to cover...I just hope I'd have the money for it

6) SAVE...SAVE...SAVE...I know, I know this is difficult to do especially if we have travel plans like the Bohol trip in February and the Malaysia - Singapore trip in July - but I hope I would be able to do this because it truly is difficult not to have a fallback/savings account when some emergency happens...

7) go on more dates - with the hubby! maybe we'd celebrate our 10th and 15th year anniversary in June and September respectively someplace special...but again this would all still depend if there's MONEY for it!

8) DIET! DIET! DIET! - I know this has been a resolution I have made countless times already but I am still putting it down...maybe this year I would be able to do it!

9) Continue to exercise - by brisk walking with Joey and Art at UP Oval or even with my exercise videos at home!

10) Pamper myself more - have the long overdue rebond session (my last was 2007 pa e); have foot spas, facials and more massages with the hubby to relax and ease the tensions away...

11) make inventory of my clothes, books, DVDs and clear some clutter in the bedroom - throw away what's not necessary and keep just the important stuff!

12) finally, since this is already a very long list ...PRAY and GO TO CHURCH MORE OFTEN - to thank God for all the blessings I have been given last year and for the many more blessing yet to come!

New Year resolution

I know, I know it’s another late post but please bear with me… I’m still not a hundred percent back in writing mode--- I guess this writer’s block (if you may call it that) is a bit more complicated to cure and even quite harder to simply ignore… I guess that should also explain why I do not find the need to write a whole bunch of promises for the year…which I never really get to keep anyway. In fact, this piece’s title should be self-explanatory – there is only one promise to myself which I intend to make – just one… and that is to not push myself to do something that I don’t intend to finish; not to bite any more than I could chew --- just take each day as it comes… maybe I can write in this blog everyday…maybe once a week…maybe once in a month… It doesn’t really matter – what matters is that I find the time and the inclination to write – without any pressure from me or anyone else…

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

I guess everyone has to go through with this... some may think it as a very tedious chore that tradition dictates everyone to do at the start of the year but end up not fulfilling, so they tend to stop doing it altogether. But for me, even if I don't really manage to accomplish all the resolutions that I have made, I guess it helps that I somehow set some goals for myself otherwise I would end up not striving for anything at all... so here goes...

Resolution No. 1 - DIET! DIET! DIET! I've tried doing this [albeit half-heartedly] for the entire year last year but instead of losing weight, I ended up gaining 10 pounds!!! So this year, I intend to really stick to my diet - eat food only in moderation (less rice! no sweets!), drink lots of water and try to put in some exercise, especially during the weekends. I also intend to let my 11-year old son join me in this crusade since he weighs as much as I do (130 lbs) and he's only 11 and not even five feet tall!!!

Resolution No. 2 - Go to mass every Sunday - Last year, I admit to have been a little complacent in my relationship with the Lord thinking that He'll always be there no matter what. But I guess I need to prioritize HIM more in my life especially now that I have so much to be thankful for...

Resolution No. 3 - BLOG more often. Last year was the year I started blogging and admittedly with all the things going on in my life - I guess, I took my writing for granted so now I vow that never again will I let this happen! I hope to be able to blog at least once a week... (especially now that I am allowed to bring the laptop home)

Resolution No. 4 - Spend more quality time with the kids and the hubby (I guess I've been neglecting him, too). If last year was the time I vowed to cook more delicious meals for them more often, this time I still intend to continue that (thanks to sassy! and other new cooking sites I discovered) and also take them out more often - even if for simple picnics at the park or trips to the zoo. This month, I promised to bring them to the science centrum at the Mall of Asia - that would be a good start!

Resolution No. 5 - I need to find a second job... well there are so many things that I have planned to do this year - maybe a trip to Cebu, with a sidetrip to Bohol during the May fiesta or to enter my kids in some English tutorial lessons or ballet - and I can't do all of these without any money so I really need a part-time job, maybe tutoring Koreans through the net - anything at all! Just so I would be able to fulfill all these dreams.

Resolution No. 6 - I also want to refurbish or finish the renovation of our kitchen. You see, last 2005, we had our kitchen extended but our funds ran out and we never really got around to do the finishing touches like the cabinets, tiles and even painting of the walls. We just made do with it coz anyway, we're able to use it as it is. So I guess more money is needed to finally make my dream kitchen become a reality.

Resolution No. 7 - If I can't yet find a second job, I guess I need to rejuvenate my chocolate candy or cookie business so I can earn even a little money on the side and at the same time make sure that I provide healthy snacks for my kids. I hope they would shun junk foods and only eat the baked goodies that I make so they'd remain healthy and fit.

Resolution No. 8 - Continue scrap booking! I know some may think that with the advent of blogging, scrap booking will be a thing of the past but this is not really necessarily so. So I guess I need to dig up my scissors, my colored paper and glue and start scrapping those memories away!

I guess that's just about it... these eight resolutions are already quite hard for me to muster but I'll try to add some more when I think up something new. Wish me luck!!!