Sunday, June 30, 2019

Random . June 2019




One trip lineup for this month and I'll back on saving up. 

When his answered crushed me but I also understand it too. 060219

Tears won't stop. All I thought we are done with this. 

"We can't stop chaos" - Sebastian NCIS NOLA S05E22

Baguio with college friends and I'm enjoying this very chill trip. 

I really enjoyed Baguio and LA Union. / Now back to reality. 

Busy week! I can't even process my thoughts.

My anxiety is so close at its peak. 

Usually, ours are quality over quantity. Yours will always be quantity over quality. So don't compare.

What was that high school reunion dream all about. 

Don't even try to argue, you don't like that reality check. 

Why so much travel dream? I'm currently on break from all the travel. So why this now? Where to next? 

Good Girls was recommended to me by a friend when we were in Baguio and I'm already done with it.

Finally. He's done with ojt. Or not? Hay. 

Why do people tell story in public places via phone call. I love eavesdropping it's one of my past time. Hahaha 

Beach is still on my dream and that Makai bowls are haunting me. Why. I want to go back. 

Don't use someone's baby picture as your profile picture most especially if your account is not wholesome. 

I almost snap earlier. Never thought such action can make me pissed off. 

It's hard to think about yourself when you have to think of others first. 

I'm already anxious let's not add more before I decide to hibernate. 

Is it safe to say now that you will never move on from anything? Does it also include your own actions? 

Why do you have to say that specific to my face 

Maybe it's easier to live in a fairytale. 

In just a month, I was able to watch bunch of TV shows. Finished NCIS NOLA and a friend recommend Good Girls, I was able to catch up on the last two season of Once Upon A Time, was able to watch the latest season of Black Mirror. Finally, got some time to watch The Society and The Umbrella Academy. Still got to watch the latest season The Blacklist and NCIS. 

Did a quick photo shoot since it's been a while since the last and my lashes are cute and my faded hair will be cut so why not. 

So far my shortest hair to ‎date

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 6

Day 6 - May 8, 2019

Since the weather is very unpredictable, I told Gem the night before that if it's raining and Taipei 101 will not be in full show, we will not go to try Elephant mountain. If we can see the full 101 then we will go to Elephant mountain. We alighted at the Xiangshan Station and we are thankful that Taipei 101 wasn't shy that day. Although there's still clouds sometimes but it was just passing and it makes photos and few videos amazing. 

Since we are already there and 101 is visible and it wasn't raining, we search for the trail of Elephant mountain. Just when you exit the station, there's already a park. I love parks to be honest and I'm so jealous we don't have much in here. 

On our 5th day and the blister on my feet is growing. It was very challenging during walks. Thankful that Gem always wait for me but taking pictures are usually one reason why I walk slow. Haha. I'm still not prepared on the long walks during travels (lesson learned as always). Though it was also raining so I don't want to slip while walking (another reason why I walk slow). Lol

After Batu Caves, I thought I can conquer everything but I was wrong. Elephant mountain killed me. I was slow because it was slippery for sure and my legs plus blisters are dying. Hahaha. We didn't went up to where the stones are but I did on the first platform where you can take photos. Stayed there for a while to catch up on my breath and for my heart rate to be normal before going back down. I told Gem that I'll wait for her if ever she wanted to go along but she didn't since she wasn't prepared for an emergency hike. Hehe. 



Taipei 101 was beautiful up there and my photos are shit. Hahaha. 

I'm not sure how many steps I did there but if you think you can't do it then don't do it but if I can with no practice and have blisters on feet then you can do it but not advisable for the elders. Hehe. 

After Elephant mountain we went back to Ximen for lunch and a very last minute shopping. We went back to our hotel by 5pm then left at 6pm. 

Even with so many pasalubong and our hands are full, we were still able to travel from our hotel to the Taipei Main Station up to the airport with a breeze and not thinking if we will get wet from the rain or anyone that will be bumping us or whatever negative it can happen while walking with so much. I love their transportation system. 

We stayed at the food court ate some heavy dinner, returned the WiFi device then waited for our check-in counters to be open and of course on boarding. Our flight was before 2am but we were delayed for 30 minutes to 1 hour. By that time we just wanted to be on the plane and sleep. 

Back in Manila by 5am. 
Hello Manila air, traffic and reality. 


My Photographs: Taiwan

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 5

Day 5 - May 7, 2019



First order of the day, Chiang Kai-Chek. The closest train station on us was a yellow line which is Daqiaotou Station. 15 minutes walk from where we stayed. Next time will book early and the one that's near a train station.

We loved how convenient the train transportation in Taiwan. Plus points the non-vandalized signs. So we transferred from Yellow line to Green line and exited on 5. Welcome to Chiang Kai-Shek. I really wasn't able to check this out good thing Gem mentioned it. It was still drizzling that day thanks to our trusted parka we don't need umbrella or raincoat. Still a cloudy day and that's not a happy pill for my photographer self but we adjusted on the weather. 

I wasn't sure if we did visit the right day but we are just right on time with less people. We went up and without knowing anything about it, thankful that there's also a museum below it and we patiently check it out. I was amazed with all of it. 

The original plan was to visit the closest museums too so we wanted to go to their National Taiwan Museum. Gem sometimes don't have patience on directions so I'm on it most of the time. Hehe. She wanted to visit Peace Park and the museum was on Peace Park and it was also the NTU Hospital Station. We should really read more tips on blogs it was easy to go from one point to another. We didn't enter the museum for some reason but we just wanted eat. 

We haven't had lunch yet so the plan is go to Ximen and buy foods and add more pasalubong before our last day tomorrow. BTW, from Chiang Kai-Chek to Peace Park and to Ximen, we just walked. 

We order some food for take out so we can go back to our hotel.

Since we started a bit early, we rest for a while and decided to go back on Shilin by train since Gem think that it was cheaper in there than in Ximen. We enjoyed Shilin for the last time but I badly need to pee and we are badly craving for some good food too specifically, Xiao Long Bao but we can't find one. We settled on some sushi again from Jiantan station. 

When we get back in our hotel, we eat dinner and we pack. 



My Photographs: Taiwan

Monday, June 10, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 4

Day 4 - May 6, 2019


I wanted to try Yangmingshan park because I saw it was beautiful up there but the weather wasn't cooperating. It was raining that day and it was very cold in the mountains. We were just wearing shorts. Lol after one trail that we didn't even finish, we decided to go back to the bus station and go back to the city. Yangmingshan is beautiful but maybe next time. There wasn't a very clear direction too on how to get from one point to another. All I thought was it was easy but it was a huge park and each site was far from each other. We get a glimpse of the sulfur valley but wasn't able to get closer. The bus route was also confusing. 



We hop on the bus to Taipei Main Station then we had lunch first then roam around the station since it's huge and have some shops at the basement. We don't have plans anymore since museums are closed on Monday and it was raining but we decided to check Taipei 101 for the first time. The original plan was to get up 101 if it was sunny but it was raining and we can't even see the top of the building. So even we were already there we let go the idea of Elephant mountain too since it was raining and we might not see the whole Taipei 101 if we go there. After checking around 101 we just went back to our hotel. 

Rest for hours we went out by almost 10pm since we wanted to try another night market which was Ningxia night market. Not much on it compare to other night market so we decided to check another which was Yansan Night Market. I wasn't sure if night market are closed or less food on Monday too or it was just really raining that's why there's not much on the street. Though we bought some sushi on the street and end up on the choices of 7/11 and Milk Tea. 


My Photographs: Taiwan

Sunday, June 09, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 3

Day 3 - May 5, 2019


The day that I really fell in love with Taiwan. 

Woke up by almost 11am and we went out by 2pm. We just decided to walk from our hotel to Ximen since it was Ate Joy and Rai's last day and we will meet them by 5pm at Ximen to ate at Modern Toilet. We walked but on a different part of the city. We decided to give Dadocheng Wharf a visit because it was just right on the of our hotel and we never checkedit. How come they had this kind of place and we don't. I loved it but I feel sorry too for myself and of course to Gem because we can clearly try ubike but yours truly can't bike. Lol so we just walk. It would be very easy to roam around if only I know how to bike. 

So we just walked and discovered some places and foods that's basically hidden and we end up on some park at the city. A park where dogs can run freely and for the humans to interact with others or just breathe some fresh air. Huhu. Why don't we have parks. 

We also saw some elders who are on their wheelchair. 

We walked back in Ximen after just sitting on the park for a while. It was already 4pm but it feels like 8am, tbh. 



Ximen for the nth time to try Modern Toilet. Food presentation is good, food was okay and it was all hype. 

After that we decided to find another night market which was Huaxi also called as Snake Alley. We just walked from Ximending and Google Map was very useful with directions. We also find a great deal with "pasalubong" that we decided to buy already and then it rained. So we already went home since we still have plans for the next day. 


My Photographs: Taiwan

Saturday, June 08, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 2

Day 2 - May 4, 2019

Northern Tour with Klook. (Yehliu Geopark, Jioufen and Shifen) 

Ate Joy suggested this trip and book with Bus A which leave the meet up location by 8:30am. Unfortunately this tour is not just one bus so we are set in two different groups but that's okay and mostly who booked the trip was all Filipino. Haha Just to start with the 1hr drive from Ximen to Yehliu, the mountain that was so green its just, wow. 

Our tour guide was Mr. Cheng and he was so nice. First was Yehliu Geopark, and I already purchased entrance ticket to it via Klook too. I'm not sure with other group tours but Mr. Cheng just give us ample time to roam around the area though the Geopark is huge, one hour is not enough and the weather wasn't that cooperating since it was about to rain. People lied when they say it was hot, It was freaking cold and it was by the ocean! Well I also think that we are lucky that we experience a colder weather than what we have in Manila. 19 to 22 degrees are better than 29 to 34! 

Yehliu Geopark was so nice to photograph but with lots of tourists, it's hard to capture nice photos but I hope I took a nice ones. The ocean on the other hand is very beautiful and makes me want to swim. Lol the crashing waves was so inviting. 

Even we are on a different bus with Ate Joy and Rai we were able to meet there and took some group photos. 



Next was Jiufen. Ahh why is it hard to go back in there? Or maybe I just thought that it was hard? Lol but it was too far. I love that place and they say it was cheaper there. I wish we were able to shop but how can you blame us? It was just our 2nd day and I'm not yet thinking of shopping. Hehe. 

We ate on a Japanese / Vietnamese / Chinese restaurant and we had one of the best Xiao Long Bao and Spring Rolls. The view was mesmerizing with all the green mountain. 

We also ate a cheesy shrimp on a stick and a huge-bite-size squid that was so chewy and really huge for a bite-size street food. It was yummy but we also had just our heavy lunch. I really love Taiwan and their never ending street foods. 

Next was Shifen. 

Our first stop was the Waterfalls then the Lanterns. 

I haven't seen a real waterfalls in so long and I'm happy we did see it. Lol at Gem's photo that look like the one framed up on houses. Hahaha. It was really nice and cold too. I wish we can swim though. 

We didn't want to fly Lanterns for some reason. Gem don't want because it just went down and it's bad for mother nature. While I on the other hand, watch a video about the fallen sky lanterns. One group collects the fallen lanterns on mountain or on the other side of it and they said that it was for your wishes to be granted. On the same video they interviewed someone and said "You lit up and fly the lanterns for the gods to hear your wishes but if it falls, it never reached the gods". 

So we didn't do it and just enjoyed watching other people fly their lanterns and somehow just watch some to go down. It was a tradition as tourists go there but a no for us. 

Then it was time to go back to Ximen. 

It was 6pm and we are all tired so we went to our own hotels first then we decided to meet up at Shilin Night Market by 7pm or 8pm.


We did ate some Mushroom, window shopped and ate some pepper pork buns. I also tried Tiger Sugar and I will tell you, it's hyped in Manila. Lol. I tried some Milk Tea that was not popular and they even tasted better. We took home some foods that night because we decided to take our third day as a chill one. 


My Photographs: Taiwan

Friday, June 07, 2019

Taiwan 2019 . Day 1

One day last year Gem asked me if I want to travel locally or in a foreign country. After being in Singapore and Malaysia last 2016, Gem and I wasn't able to travel internationally again. Taiwan was currently on the top of my list since it's visa-free for Filipino for one year. 

She agreed and when we met on the first week of January, we booked our ticket. Our ticket with Air Asia was around 6,500php each. Gem is super busy and I don't want to jinx this Taiwan trip so I wasn't planning on something. Ryan was in Taiwan so he said we will meet up when he's free (unfortunately he wasn't free when we were there. Let's just meet when you get home!). 

We booked our hotel only a month before our travel date and that cost us 13,200 for 5 nights. 

Our flight back was at 1am but we check out early that day so basically we are homeless for a day before going back to the airport. Fortunately we can leave our things at the hotel lobby while we do our last day in Taipei and before going to the airport. 

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Prior on traveling, Gem said she will fix our itinerary but as busy as her, I force myself to do it just like how I did with Jakarta. I read reviews and know where to go. 

Gem's sister will also be in Taiwan for a couple of days and we also spend time together. Ate Joy suggested that we do a tour with Klook on the Saturday so we will be able to do it together. Booked that and without plans I also booked a WiFi with Klook so even we don't have concrete plans, we have the Internet. Also booked the train ticket from Airport to Taipei Main Station (roundtrip) so we will not think about it anymore. 

I also chose an arrival time of morning so we will see the view and not during night time where you don't know where to go. It's also easier since check-in time is usually after lunch. 

First Day - May 3, 2019



Told Gem to meet me at the airport at 3am so that we will not rush on checking-in and we have plenty of time for lining up on paying travel tax and no rushing at the immigration. Well, we didn't spend much time there and we already pass the security and we have all the time while we wait for our boarding time. 

Surprisingly, our flight with Air Asia was on time. 

It was just longer at the immigration in Taiwan since it was like three or more flights arrived at the same time. 

After immigration, I look for the booth where I will pick up our WiFi that I booked. And good thing there's a food court at the airport, we stayed there for a while, find heavy meal and get the first order of milk tea. Lol 

Looked for the booth where to get the round trip mrt ticket and we are all set for the train to the city. 

We make a turn to Taipei City Mall and we are welcomed by a whole floor dedicated to geeks (comic related stores, claw machines, ps4 games, anything for the geeks). Good thing I'm not that kind of geek but I know some so somehow I get excited for them. Lol. 

We decided to take an exit and not knowing where to go, we went out and started to rely on Google Maps on our location going to our hotel. Thankful for Froi who was supposed to be also in Taiwan but went home few weeks before our travel dates and we also weren't able to meet and he's one more reason why we decided Taiwan, together with Ryan. Anyway, thankful for Froi for being our online guide. 

After that exit we made another turn and we end up being in a random small park. I was hesitant to walk to our hotel because I have a backpack and a luggage and I don't want to just walk but surprisingly, the weather is way better than the Philippines also their sidewalks are good. Huhuhu 

I was able to walk with 2 bags without sweating. Huhu. Setting aside that we already want some rest on a decent bed, we did find our hotel just by walking. 

I fail on searching the weather since all I bought was shorts and no pants. Lol it was playing with 19-20 degrees all stay and with random rain showers. Hehe. 

Checking in was fun. Hehe. It was just a metal door with pass code and a telephone. The instruction was call the specific number then she will let you know the door pass code and she will meet you at the reception area. Gave our key card to our room and we are all set. Omg our room!!! Ahhh we loved that place with a mini bathtub!!! I wish I was able to used it often but I'm fragile and hot bath are sending me too much vibe. Though I did a hot bath one night and it wasn't that good. 

We will have dinner with Ate Joy and Ate Rai that we have to meet them at 6pm. We decided to walk and look for some convenient store for us to stock some water and some instant noodles and we walked on this street full of herb store and some dried fruits/food just on the store front. We found a convenient store and upon paying, I just remembered one of Ryan's story before that you have to pay if you don't have your own plastic or eco bag. Good thing we just bought 4 items so we basically hold it while we walk back to our hotel. Mom insisted me to bring an eco bag and good thing I did, it was very useful on our whole trip. 

We are not yet that familiar with the transportation so we just rely on taxi for that moment. We met Ate Joy and Rai at Ximending since their hotel is located there. Roam around Ximending, ate at a local eatery, bought milk tea, ate fruits and since we are a bit familiar with our own way to our hotel, we walked that night from Ximending to our hotel. It was windy and cold, I didn't mind walking much with such weather. 

Early night since we have a tour the next day. 


My Photographs: Taiwan