oh, provençal!

I had a shoot last Saturday, and normally, working on a weekend would instantly bum me out, especially since I was just recuperating from a bad case of the sniffles. But the shoot proved to be a respite from the city stress. Plus, since Francis now has Saturday work again because of his new project, leaving the comforts of home on that day didn't seem to be a bad idea (versus being stuck at home, alone).

Arriving at the location meant instant stress-relief. Consider this view: 

I had this urge to just run up those hills and soak up the sun (this lass didn't have any basking-under-the-sun summer, so...). And the charm of the place is just so wonderful!  Francis and I could spend the weekend there, shut off from any social network connection, and everything will still be perfectly all right.

Apparently, I am already itching to get a break. That Hanoi trip can't come any sooner!

P.S.
A pleasant surprise after the shoot: a spur-of-the-moment date with le hubby, who drove all the way to Nuvali from work just to pick me up. *giggles*

a repose in the mountains is a beautiful idea

I never had the opportunity to visit Baguio--not even once--last year. I terribly miss it.

Usually, the opportunity comes in perfect timing, say after a very stressful week from work (more often than not, that's the reason). This time around, the timing again is perfect, but not because work stress is killing me.

Francis has a three-day seminar he has to attend in Baguio, which is a great excuse to tag along. It's actually more than great. With our house in Taytay almost catching fire for the second time around, my ectopic pregnancy and the emergency operation I had to undergo, and now, someone dear is not in, um, good shape (which is such an understatement), I have reasons to believe that Baguio is heaven-sent; it's like God had just patted my back, saying, "After all the crazy things you've been through, I'm giving you this opportunity to find repose. You deserve it, my child."

And so here I am, two weeks and a couple of days before I go up the mountains, so stoked that I've actually drawn up a mental list of what clothes to wear even before the trip was confirmed. Now all I have to do is plan where to go and what to do while the hubby is busy with the seminar. I've already imagined myself sitting at the veranda of Oh My Gulay resto/Vocas gallery one nippy afternoon, with a perfectly brewed cup of coffee beside a plate of tasty eggplant parmigiana on a wooden table, as I pour over a good book. I can pass my time there as I wait for Francis' seminar to finish. We can just cap off the night at Cafe by the Ruins for some dessert and hushed conversations.

Whatever I plan to do and wherever I decide to go, I'm sure I'll enjoy my alone time taking in the city's beauty while I let it soothe my soul. The prospect of exploring Baguio alone--first time for me--makes this trip more exciting. Baguio shall be mine and I shall be Baguio's for 3 days. I shall surrender myself to the cold as it gives me the repose I so badly need.

my name is Shain Chain

Hello there, Shain Chain!

Yesterday at Starbucks in Tagaytay, I got a a brand new name for meself: Shain Chain, also spelled as Shean Chai.

With our orders in hand, Francis amusedly told me that the barista had a very difficult time pronouncing my name. I thought, "How can that be? What's so hard about pronouncing 'sunshine'?" Then I foudn out as soon as our cups landed on the table: On mine was written "Shain Chain". And as if one new name isn't enough, on Francis' Java Chip cup read "Shean Chai". I can only imagine how puzzling it was for the poor barista to pronounce those two names! Hahahah! Now where's Dao Ming Si?





Anyway, I was so excited about last Saturday because for the first time ever, I went on an out-of-town trip ALONE, commuting. Ever since Francis was assigned to Cavite (since his first assignment there last year), he had been nagging me about not visiting him there. Bad me. So this time around, I resolved to give him a visit, never mind the 4 grueling hours of trip it entails, and the possibility that I'd get lost. But good thing I did not. I may not be that good in directions, but I'm thankful I have a good memory when it comes to landmarks.

Having left home at around 8:30, I finally got to Cavite whole at around 12:30. And because Trece is such a "happening" town, we ended up having lunch at Jollibee. Now don't get me wrong: comparing the old Trece (last year) with what/how it looks now, there really are good improvements. When last year there were just 7-11,Chowking and Jollibee for dining options, now there's Red Ribbon. The once bare road is now busy with tiangges. I'm sure the place will be on it's way to more developments soon.

After lunch, we headed to Tagaytay, which is another first: it was our first time to go there commuting. Good thing there are airconditioned buses faring the road to Tagaytay.

The funny/annoying/freaky part was, upon alighting from the bus, there were these tricycle drivers offering us their services (they'll tour you around the place for a price, of course) left and right. However, there was this annoyingly insistent driver who first blocked our way that we had to skirt close beside his trike in order to pass the road. He kept on following us and stopping to block our way. After 3 more irritating tries, I could already feel the anger rising to the surface. I had but to blurt out "Kuya hindi nga e! Ang kulit mo!" (We said no! Stop being persistent!). We thought that ought to make him stop. WRONG! He still kept on hounding us. By this time, I was already freaked out. So in order to lose him, we stopped by 7-11 to buy a bottle of mineral water, hoping that by the time we step out of the store, annoying driver has already gone to bug other people. WRONG AGAIN! He was still there, bent on persuading us. Unfortunately for him, a jeep came along and we hurriedly got in. That dude really scared me!


Anyway, we just chose to hang out in Starbucks for a couple of hours. had we not eaten lunch, we would've given in to our craving for The Boutique. I was already imagining their generous serving of this seafood dish swimming in heavenly delicious white soup (I forgot the name). Even while waiting for a bus to Manila, Francis can't help but pine for The Boutique. Wah!

Next time we hit Tagaytay, we'll definitely visit The Boutique again. And we'll make sure to bring a car so we can make a longer stay. (Francis, on the other hand, upon discovering how easy it is to commute from Trece Martires to Tagaytay, announced gleefully that he'll come back whenever he feels bored. He can only have so much of Jollibee/Chowking/Red Ribbon.)

(More cam-whoring here.)

baguio's going to pick me up again

Baguio, Feb 08: with Archie, Cindy, Mems, and Mari-an.
Taken by Francis

I find it a blessing that whenever I'm feeling down in the dumps, a trip to my fave place comes around—be it for work or for leisure (of course I wish it were always for leisure). And as mababaw as I may seem, I find myself feeling all excited about another trip to Baguio this weekend (for work, yes).

It must be the cool air or the pine trees or the notion that Baguio is in itself this very quaint little town where everyone knows everyone and you can do or wear (layering and boots and coats and mufflers are so cool) just about anything and no one would stare at you like you’re some strange person. I may be wrong (I’ve read in a dismayed friend’s blog that Baguio has changed), but I’d like to think that I’m going back to a place I fell in love with. It’s good to not be too familiar with it because that way, I don’t have to stare at the ugly face of Baguio (oh yes, there is Panagbenga. Now I understand why Mari-an detests stepping out of her house and into the festival’s riot). Maybe because every time I go there, I feel a happy familiarity, a sense of belonging, a sense of I-can-grow-old-here feeling. Add the fact that that’s where I said “yes” to Francis’ proposal.

It’s funny because my assignment in Baguio only requires an overnight stay. Yet I still look forward to it and feel as if that short stay would do me a lot of good. I can actually imagine myself there already: after the shoot, me and my colleagues-turned-friends would hit a place where we can relax and have a nice afternoon snack, then probably head to Tam-Awan to catch the glorious Baguio sunset. Evening might be spent at some cozy place with good food—50’s Diner or Little John’s maybe. And as we all decide to call it a night, we’d still end up yakking the night away in our room, all comfy in our PJs. The morning would be a wonderful mix of damp air, cool breeze and soft drizzle, best spent having a hearty breakfast at Café by the Ruins (Cindy and I would definitely drag the gang there). I would be ordering their divine French toast. The rest of the day would probably be spent loitering around Baguio and being the usual noisy bunch of tourists. Then we’d all be sad to be going back to Manila by early afternoon. I know I’d be really sad, but happy at the same time because I might have found another reason to go back. Hopefully, when that time comes, Francis would be missing Baguio so much he’d talk me into taking a week-long vacation leave just so we could go back.

Oh dear. Evidently, I’m getting all worked up here. Just thinking of how cool and damp and drizzling Baguio is at this time of the year gets me all giddy. Perhaps this is God’s way of rewarding me after days of feeling terribly miserable.

I really can’t wait for Friday. Yay!

photos are up!

Yipeee!

Just saw the multiply account of Tivona Beach Resort owned by Ms. Trina Belamide. Nice to see that Ms. Trina posted most of my photos there!

Thanks a lot, Ms. Trina! (And thanks again, Chad!)

Here's another Tivona site. I do hope they upload my photos there, too!

(Tivona Beach Resort is in Laiya, Batangas.)

boo hoo!

Image from www.concierge.com

These places are pretty interesting. I think I wanna drop by Easter Island and say hello to the moai there.