Raggedy Albie

Karma Personified

I quite imagine this boy had it coming no? Now I can't wait to watch their mothers bring down hell on each other.  In the end, I'm pretty sure Raggedy Andi and Albie will get back together. Pinoy showbiz: It's More Fun in the Philippines.

Royal Rumble

WWE CAST OF CHARACTERS:

Mon Tulfo aka Mick Foley
Raymart Santiago aka Triple H
Claudine Barretto aka Stephanie Mcmahon
Guy in Pink aka Vince Mcmahon

LOL.

A Public Affair

Do you know, that amidst a sea of shoppers, stores, and really horrible traffic in Greenhills, lies an oasis that seems truly heaven sent? On the second level of The Promenade, the quaint (even in such a location) Cafe Publico stands fairly unnoticed- I say this with conviction because Epok completely walked past it. This is a good thing though, because it is able to maintain this kind of cool ambiance and artsy vibe. 

"Welcome Rug"

Check!

A tile mosaic "rug" welcomes you in, where immediately you feel like you've been whisked into an authentic parisian patisserie.  I seriously looked around for macarons, berets and french speaking people.  Instead, my eyes were treated to a wonderful array of mouth-watering gelato flavors (free tasting too!). 

The "Sophia Loren" is a combo of Pistachio and Strawberry flavors

I tried the vanilla (of course), thai tea (very unusual tasting), and some others but eventually went for "toothpaste," which tasted like mint and bubblegum. Y-U-M! I can honestly gobble this up by the bucket.  Pretty affordable too- one huge scoop for 105 pesos leaves my pockets dent-free.  Another big plus is that they also carry coffee, some sandwiches and a few cake desserts- ALL of which i vow to try next time. 

 

 All mine!

 Surely, I am to carry on with this affair. Bon Apetit!

Inter-SUCK-tion

If this isn't the (insert superlative adjective here) thing you've seen, I seriously want to know what is.

Oh Laaawd.  Where do I even begin? That this billboard was seemingly "strategically placed" at one of the busiest intersections between two cities (Dagupan and Calasiao)? That there is a full grown man, who looks completely naked and is eating a watermelon, promoting an unknown single from an equally unknown album? Or that this man is apparently nicknamed "Dr. G" which may imply that he belongs to the same profession as me? You decide.

Whatever THIS is about, one thing's for sure: seems like it's more fun in Pangasinan after all.

(Sorry for the blurriness, I was laughing too hard I couldn't take a more decent photo)

A "Lauper" Can Never Change its Spots

Granted I'm not an avid Cyndi Lauper fan so I wouldn't really know if she's still "that good." Thankfully though, I have it on good authority (aka cyndinatic Karen) that SHE STILL IS. I mean, she was awesome. And I'm speaking as a non-fan here. If you're anything like me, I bet you never realized how many hit songs she's had. Right? Right.

my ticket, courtesy of my loving batchmate and good friend

Miss Lauper started the show with a rousing rendition of "She-Bop" and immediately everyone was on their feet.  Then, being the pro that she is, she climbs down the stage to sing and dance with us right away.  Shoving, flashes, a bit of disorder ensue.  She perseveres. But when the second song starts, she stops the band and scolds the crowd:  "I want to sing and dance with you guys but you gotta stop pulling me! And what's with those cameras in my face?!" Gotta lover her- she's her own crowd control machine. Did I say awesome already?!

mayhem

Fun Fact: Cyndi had a blues album (albums?).  She sang three or four blues-ey songs from those- not really familiar but enjoyed nonetheless. She's awesome.

"I can do this in my sleep"

she played a couple of instruments

Towards the end, as if she couldn't get any more awesome-r, she flawlessly performed famous songs from her discography: "Money Changes Everything," "Change of Heart," "Shine," "Time After Time," and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," to name a few.  The crowd, already supercharged and singing along, became even more enthusiastic (rowdy?) when she came down from the stage and went around greeting everyone. All this while singing "true to record" renditions of her hits. Forgive me, but AWE-SOME.

Time After Time

"Medyas ni Juana"

 

Finally, for an encore, she did "True Colors". Of course. Everyone sang along. Naturally. And then to everyone's surprise, she indulged us with an encore to the encore- a heartfelt rendition of "La Vie en Rose."Perfect. C'est la vie!

True Colors

All in all, Cyndi Lauper didn't get to fill the big dome, but the show felt successful.  After all, the girls (and guys) who wanted to have fun, DID. Consider me a true convert.

true performer

thanks Cyndi, you were brilliant!

VERSUS

Ever wonder who would win in an epic battle between: Calvin and Christopher Robin? What about between their respective awesome-r imaginary friends: Hobbes and Pooh? Finally, how about pair versus pair? 

Calvin seems to be the more nefarious fellow, but then again "still waters run deep." Hobbes may be A tiger, but he IS lazy.  Plus the hundred-acre wood taught us that some tigers are just...well, bouncy.  Pooh, on the other hand, shows us time and again that nobody can come between him and his honey.  That is until he gets stuck in a hole.  Both pairs exude undeniable chemistry but while Calvin and Hobbes are endlessly at odds with each other, Christopher Robin and Pooh are infinitely lovey-dovey. 

Who would you place your bets on?

vs.

images c/o http://www.geeksaresexy.net

awesomeness c/o http://thechedda.com

Bonne Nuit.

May we all dream of Paris.

The Chronicles of Riddikulus (sports edition)

The Strange, Bizarre, and Inconceivable

(photos c/o owners)

Seems like hilarity occurs in EVERY sport...

soccer

basketball

rugby (?)

volleyball

baseball

mixed martial arts

...and lest we forget: bullfighting.

OLE!

The Air Up There

Impromptu trips always give me a sense of "Joie de Vivre." Last Saturday, it was to the Philippine summer capital- Baguio (pronounced as: Bay-gee-yo within ze gang). Trip-takers: 3. Namely: Epok the reluctant chauffeur, Lanie the "I'm-better-than-a-personal GPS" navigator, and yours truly the innocent (read: idiot) passenger. Yey, let the "vivre-ing" begin.

First Stop: Breakfast. Hill Station Tapas Bar and Restaurant (Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio) http://hillstationbaguio.com

Got the longganisa set breakfast, seems like it's their specialty. Question: How is longganisa different and better in Baguio? Answer (c/o Epok): Ganito din ang lasa ng longganisa sa Binalonan! (Apparently, it's not). Nevertheless, I thought it was sumptuous. Ambiance: John Mayer-y (He's ALL they play).

Second Stop: Shopping. SM Baguio (Luneta Hill Drive, Baguio City)

Immediately, I make a beeline towards the home furnishing department (my room re-do will be tackled in a separate, maybe longer, maybe shorter post). Buys: 1 Anti-slip bath mat, 1 pair of pale yellow pillowcases. Look on my face when I get the credit card bill: NOT priceless (in fact: affordable). After that, a number of forgettable beauty shops, clothing stores, tech sellers. Malls get old quick. Finally, we give up.

Ooh, funky glasses!

Third Stop: Sight Seeing (Session Road, Baguio City)

"heaven on earth"

We had a couple of goals in mind- find the new Starbucks, and get our (okay, MY) grubby hands on some Vizco's  strawberry shortcake. Goals obtained and then some! Check out those K-fashionistas! Better yet, those K-fashionvictims! Hilar. We head back giggling. Les Bon Temps.

Fourth Stop: Convergys/Technohub (Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

First reaction- WHOA! (In Epok tone: Bago to?!)

Second Reaction- WHAT! lalakarin natin YOOOON?! (probably a 300 meter walk) *grumble, grumble*

Third Reaction- Gutom na ako, ULIT. *rumble, rumble*

Tried the steak burrito at Army Navy Burger Burrito, dared epok to try the triple patty Bully Boy Burger but he was chicken (cue canned laughter). Overall Impact: meh.

should have been named "Epok Burger"

Fifth Stop: The Commissary/The Manor Hotel (Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

"sighT of relief"

As in most trips, my tummy starts acting up. Slight panic. To tell, or not to tell? Finally, Lanie suggests a quick detour to The Manor Hotel. Inside, I see signs regarding "proper attire." I wonder if these apply in the restrooms as well? I look down at my Tory Burch Revas- sigh of relief. Finally, feeling "pooped," we decided to head back home. 

Look on my dad's face after not seeing me all day: PRICELESS. 

Dog-gone tired.

Zzzz....

Let's Take A Solemn Minute

...to remember and pray for the victims of the 2011 Japan Earthquake. It has been 1 year ago today.

*Photo courtesy of http://www.buzzfeed.com

The Angkor (Non-)Adventurer

ADMITTEDLY, I wasn't really looking forward to this trip. And as usual, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. All I knew was... actually-NOTHING. When people asked (read: my friend Lanie who's been before), all that came to mind were single words and short phrases:

L: When are you guys leaving?

Me: Sometime in February?

L: Did you get a good deal for the plane fares?

Me: Uuuh... *looks at Epok*

L: How are you getting to Siem Reap?

Me: Siem Wha? (I thought we were going to Angkor Wat?)

L: How many days are you staying?

Me: Mmm... *shrug* (Thought bubble: NOT FEW ENOUGH!)

I didn't count the days, but THE DAY came anyway. *Sigh*

Day One: Travelled to Urdaneta, then to Tarlac, then to Clark, then to Bangkok, then to the Cambodian Border. So far the trip was meeting my expectations. NOT GOOD. At least my braids were holding up.

Day Two AM (Cambodian Border): Cabbie late! Typical? Epok fuming. Typical. Jang nagging. TYPICAL. Finally he shows up (or we get to him). Two hour drive to Siem REAP (Alam ko na, thanks to the immigration officer who gave me a heads up and wrote it on my arrival card).

Day Two Noon: Hotel Viroth's-FINALLY! Things looking up. Lovely Place. Lovely Khmer lunch. Everything "Viroth" seems to exude awesomeness. (note to self: google VIROTH definition) Then rest and a little bit of recreation. Can't help but think Epok was leaning in for "the kill." Slept in bated breath....

Day Three (Angkor Wat): Temple Walking...Posing...Running...Panting...Whining...PLEASE GOD, NOT ANOTHER ONE! Sabi ko na nga ba! Eventually, at the end of the afternoon, I finally got to ride an (abused?) elephant to the top of the hill where I climbed a million steps to the sunset watching deck. GOOD TIMES.

"Good Morning Cambodia!"

"Octopus Prime"

Co-tourists

Pre-brouhaha photo

Still with a skip in my step

Temple Running (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Ouch! (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

*Scowl* (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Are we done yet??? (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Poor Ellie...

Sunset...

...At last! (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Day Four (More Temples): Started the day not feeling my feet. Fortunately, got a tummy ache sometime near the final few temples. Hooray! Great excuse to cut the day short. Napped through the museum visit. This is the life. Final Khmer dinner (sad face), Night Market finds (happy face).

Here we go again... (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Caffeine (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

"De-caffed"

Shadows in the sun (photo c/o Jeffrey Co)

Belly treat!

Day Five (Hello Bangkok): Sawadeeka! Hello Cha Tu Chak, wonderful to meet you. Sad I had to leave you so soon.

Day Six: #itsmorefuninbinalonan

OVER ALL TRIP SUMMARY:

Travel Cost: 4/5 stars (So far, I have managed to pay for MOST of it)

Accommodation: 5/5 stars (My absolute favorite part of the trip, obvs)

Food: 5/5 stars (one word: DIVINE!)

In Travel Expenses: 3/5 stars (One US dollar for each canned soda or bottled H2O seems exorbitant)

Company: 1/5 stars (Because Epok is the ONLY person I enjoyed the trip with, neuroses and all!)

Hype: 4/5 stars (the temples WERE worth the pain, if only there weren't so many of them)

*Eventually I will have to come up with a more logical system of rating these trips. Albeit they are few and far between.

**Other outstanding photos c/o Nat and Jang

Nat- Cousin, fruit fiend

Jang- Cousin, premenopausal (?)

Epok- Erstwhile photographer and neurotic cousin extraordinaire

The "E" in action

OFF TO THE NEXT!