So Much To Enjoy . . . So Little Time

This tourism ad is so true. We don't want to go back home yet. 10 days is not enough to explore Ho Chi Minh City alone, not to mention its surrounding cities and the country's capital itself. It would surely be very interesting to see Hanoi. The Husband said it is more traditional and conservative.

I wish we could have at least another week here. The Little One and I came to love the place in spite of the dust, pollution, extreme heat and ignorance of those people on the bikes. We are good now on dodging the scooters. I got ripped off a few times. Even though I am always mistaken as a local, once I conversed in English, the price goes up. But I have learned how to bargain around. I'll talk more about the City on my succeeding posts.

Kaiden and I got 1 more day to go. We are just having a rest at the moment before going out and bracing the heat again. Just making the most of the time we have left.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend . . . we are!


Gorgeously . . .

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How To Train Your Dragon

The Little One and I watched How To Train Your Dragon in 3D last Saturday.

The movie was very nice and entertaining. I actually enjoyed watching it than Alice In Wonderland. I was impressed how observant Kaiden was. He noticed that the dragon's iris would change when he was scared/mad and happy. He loved the movie as well. I got him a popcorn and soda combo that comes with some giveaway about the movie. He built the cardboard dragon by himself and played with it all throughout our stay at the mall.

The Boy enjoyed the movie so much that he wanted to see it again the following day. Felt sluggish last Sunday and just stayed home. Got tired the previous day. After the movie, we wandered around the mall then saw a friend. Went to their place and stayed there the whole afternoon. Then we attended a kid's party almost 2 hours late! It was embarrassing but I lost track of time. We got home quite late. I must be getting old to be worn out just by that day's activities; when I used to ran around everywhere before and never get tired! Oh well.

Hope you guys had a good weekend!


Gorgeously . . .

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Hard Rock Cafe

I want to think of happy thoughts so I am doing this post . . .

Before the Husband went away 10 weeks ago, we spent the day at Surfer's Paradise; after staying there for 4 days, just a week before. I love it there because most of the flagship stores are at the Gold Coast and not in the Brisbane CBD. We shopped ourselves silly! B just wanted the 3 of us to have a grand treat since we will be apart for a long time. And shopping is one neat way to bond! LOL!

We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. We go to the Gold Coast all the time but we just don't get to dine at Hard Rock, even though its location will stare at you right at Surfer's Paradise's main street along Cavill Avenue. As B and I were deciding where to eat, The Little One asked why we never go to the place where the giant guitar is. So we thought, 'Why not try Hard Rock?'

The Hard Rock shop

The place is nice and tame, compared to Manila and Dubai's Hard Rock. It is more family-oriented; probably because it is in the middle of Surfer's Paradise which is a main tourist area.

These were what we had:

And some pics of us . . .

Gorgeously . . .

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Dinner At Fely J's

This post is still from our 2nd trip to the Philippines last year.

Whenever we go home, my family always make it a point to dine out and spend time together the night before we fly back. Sort of a 'see us off' dinner.

We went to Fely J's in Greenbelt 5 and had these:

My family must be sick of having Filipino dishes whenever we're in town. I don't have it back here and they love me, so they let me. Hahaha! Nothing beats the customary comfort food, especially when you're in your home country.

Another 'must have' when the family is complete . . . a photo-op!

I love this shot of my Little Prince and my folks!

My parents' pride and joy next to Kaiden!

With my equally gorgeous sisters!

Our family pic minus B

The Little One and I miss them so much! If only we can be there in 1 blink!

Gorgeously . . .

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Alice In Wonderland

We watched Alice in Wonderland 3D last weekend. I took the Little One together with 2 other kids. They were so excited having their 3D glasses with them as we walked into the cinema with soda and popcorn in hand.

I personally got bored with the movie. Don't get me wrong, it is a delightful kid's show, just not for me. I do love Johnny Depp so I stayed till the end. He is so good looking in whatever role he portray.

The kids enjoyed the movie and vowed to watch the coming 3D movies like How To Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3 and Shrek 4.

Then we all spent the day in the mall just hanging around and did a bit of shopping for the kids. It was good to finally have a day out with other people, not just Kaiden and me. And I get to be like a kid again being with 3 youngsters!

Gorgeously . . .

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Manila Ocean Park

I should have done this post a long, long time ago, but just could not find enough time to do it. Things came up till I have forgotten about it. Good thing I was cleaning out photo files and saw pics from our 2nd Manila trip last year.


We went to Manila's Ocean Park on a very rainy Friday of 17Jul, our 2nd week there. The Student don't have a class, the Nurse finished her night duty at 0600H, forced the Office Girl to take the day off but let Mum go to work till noon and picked her up. And as you know, Dad is retired.

We went and see the Mermaid Show first.

It was nothing special but the Little Boy liked it. The Nurse and I were teasing the Office Girl to quit her job and try being a performing mermaid because she can do better than those ladies. Just kidding! I know carrying an act like that take some hard work. And I saw how the children and even some adults enjoyed watching a mermaid dance in the water!

Anyways, there was a dry mermaid ready for photo ops so we lined up.

Then we went on inside.

We had fun with these glow in the dark cubes!

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These are 2 of the eating places there,

But we had dinner at Gerry's Grill on the ground floor.

. . . and our peachy family photo sessions!

That was such a fun and amazing day being with the people that I treasure so much! We are one crazy happy family; and doing this post is making me want to go home to be with them!


Gorgeously . . .

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My 1st And 2nd Time

. . . to meet such fine and respectable bloggers!

On my short stint at Manila 2 months ago, I made sure to see some of my blogging friends; and Ate Lena is surely on top of the list because I have met her before and became a really good friend. I contacted Ate Beng of Beyond My Quiet Zone; Ate Liza of A Simple Life, Mom's Check Nyo, Mommy's Little Corner; another Ate Lisa of In My Kitchen, My Online Journal; and Kap Marie of Vanidosa.Marie.

Ate Lena as always, was available. Ate Beng and Kap Marie responded as well, and we exchanged mobile numbers. Ate Liza was busy, while the other Ate Lisa was at Pangasinan. I, being the link of the 3, asked them each when they will be available and where they prefer to meet up. Ate Beng was so polite to agree at anytime and at any place, considering she lives in the far North.

I set-up the meeting on a Friday, 18th of December at Mall of Asia around lunch time. Sadly, Kap Marie could not make it because she's got a party to attend to that afternoon. So it's just Ate Lena, Ate Beng and me.

As the Little One and I were on the way there, I got a text from Ate Lena that she'll be a few minutes late because her GrandSon Ethan was sick. She said she just could not say 'NO' to me. "Wow, ang lakas ko kay Ate Lena!"

Kaiden and I went around the mall and got him some toys. Ate Beng texted that she's already there, so we walked to where she was. We were on the phone talking as I saw a tall lady walking towards me. I didn't thought Ate Beng was that tall. She said I was pretty, bigla tuloy akong nahiya! Hahaha! I get coy when being praised.

Anyways, we headed towards TGIF where Ate Lena and Ethan were waiting. When we got there, I introduced the 2 lovely ladies to each other and Ate Lena acquainted Ethan with Kaiden.

As the gorgeous adults started talking . . .

The cute little rascals began playing. They got along pretty well. Ethan is so nice as I know he was being patient with my Little One's kakulitan! Kaiden kept on hugging him and giving him kisses! He even want to take Ethan with us! I tried, but Ethan doesn't want; he said he wants to stay with his Mum (Ate Lena).

While we were talking, we got entertainment on the side, as the crew performs a dance number everytime 'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas was being played.

Ate Lena, Ate Beng and I talked about our respective lives, other bloggers, celebrities and even politics. Ate Lena was the one who's got connections everywhere! And like last time, time ran out and we have to go our separate ways.

I am so glad to have met Ate Beng (my 1st) and Ate Lena (my 2nd). Another reason to come home to, to catch up form where we left off.

Thank you ladies! I had such a wonderful time! Till my next trip!

P.S.
Thanks again Ate Beng, for your pretty gift! Bawi ako sa pasalubong ko next time!


Gorgeously . . .

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Meeting With An Admirable Blogger

This post should have been done about 7 months ago; but I just got busy.

Anyway, there's quite a few bloggers out there that I can easily relate to and somehow have been my constant cyber friends. One of them is the author of And Life Goes On and Manna From Heaven. I call her Ate LENA.

I admire how she manages everything in her day-to-day life. She is a devoted GrandMa, a doting Mother, a good and very understanding Wife, a fine architect, surely a true and reliable Friend and one smart Blogger!

We met up on my last week in Manila, during my 2nd visit last year. We were suppose to meet earlier but I got prior commitments, then she flew to HongKong for a few days. We finally got to see one another on a sunny and humid Wednesday (22Jul) morning at Mall of Asia. Of course I took the Little One with me.

Ate Lena is lovely and younger in person! Her weight loss made her look young for her age. If I may say, that is one example of growing old gracefully! As we started talking, my Son drifted away and got interested with this:

I haven't been on that particular area of the mall so I do not have an idea what that thing was. Ate Lena gave Kaiden a coin to slide in it. Oh, the Boy did liked it and asked for some more coins. So while they were at it, I snapped a shot. We stayed there for a few minutes then we walked along.




We were about to have lunch when my Son saw the inflatable slides at the open-air entertainment hall. We just let him play there while we had coffee and more than an hour long chit-chat. Talking to her was like talking to a long lost special friend! We could talk for hours and hours if only we have all the time in the world and I don't have an impatient child in tow!

I think we have talked about everything! We have only just met but we opened up about our personal lives, it was like talking to an old friend. Good to know too that Ate Lena is a close mate of my childhood crush back in Fort Bonifacio! Hearing her tell stories about him made me feel like a giggling high school student!

She soon had to go. Kaiden and I stayed a bit longer till I thought of getting his hair done so we traveled back to Makati and went to Rustan's for his hair cut. I so wish we had more time to be together. Feels like we had a lot of catching up to do. And I sure am meeting her again on my next trip home, which I did!

Of course we would not let that first meeting end without photos! We actually asked the mall's security and cleaning aid to take the snaps for us!

Gorgeously . . .

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