Cheap Drunk

24 09 2009

Remember those high school days when you use to cut class and go to a friend’s house and buy a bottle of gin, mixed it with pomelo juice, and then drink just to have fun?

High school days – the best days of my life.

If only this has been released 15 years ago, or 10…it’s 6PHP per sachet. One sachet = 1 shot glass. Great for cheap drunks!

Only in the Philippines can they think of something super like this.

ginebra

gin in a sachet





Happy Feet

20 09 2009

After a few months of walking like a penguin…

IMG_5418

My good friend, Kala, has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. I’m very happy for her and her hubby. My bf dreamed of having a baby girl after seeing a pic of her baby.

And I am dreaming of vampires, fairies, and shapeshifters… and happy feet.

IMG_5423





I ♥ NY

13 09 2009

the-statue-of-liberty2

empire-state15





Clocks

6 09 2009

Here’s an old fashioned way to tell time…complete with daylight saving, months, and zodiac signs – Aries on the leftmost.

It’s 11AM during the summer when I took this photo.

clock





Bye Bye Summer

4 09 2009

“Am I sad because it’s raining? Or is it raining because I am sad?” These are words I got from a friend some years back. The rain falls nonstop. The sun sets at 8PM these days. In a few months, it will be setting at 5PM.

Anyway, I spent 10 great days of vacation touring France with my cousin. We did not go to the south because we only had 10 days of driving and exploring. Well, all in all, we drove 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles ++). I am proud.

First, I went to Paris to get them (cousin and hubby) at the airport. It was a jungle out there. The air smelled of vinegar and body odor. I was overwhelmed. I got used to living in Alsace too much, wherein the air is clean and the trains are air conditioned. Anyway, it was fun though. We climbed the Eiffel Tower (by stairs) but just until the 1st floor. My cousin complained of tired feet -blame it on those pretty expensive shoes.

Of course, my favorite area in Paris is still the Notre Dame area and the Invalides.

Paris

I guess 2 nights in Paris was enough. We went off to Amboise to see some chateaus. Honestly, going into dead people’s castles and looking at their antique furniture bore me to tears. Except maybe dungeons.

Loire Valley Castles

Amboise (Loire Valley Castles)

We headed off to Saint Lo, Normandy the day after. I made a mistake of booking a hotel near the highway. Freaking Lunotel – wherein the shower gets flooded and you just feel like Jack in the Box. It was a joke, but still – that’s what happens when you prolong making a booking during summer. I gotta admit, it was pretty funny. I slept in worse hotels before, but for my cousin who was used to 5-star hotels and comfort, I held back a giggle or two when I saw her reaction. Classic.

But anyway, it was all worth it. Mont Saint Michel was legendary.

Expensive but all good. I had the most expensive (little) lobster I’ve ever had and I was still hungry after.

Going up Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint Michel

Inside Mont Saint Michel

The next day, we headed to Arromanches, wherein this time, we stayed at the hotel Normandie for the second time in less than a year. It looked like a Norman house and you can hear the waves of the beach at night. It was a good way to sleep.

We made a D-day tour and even went to Deauville and Trouville once again.

Pegasus Bridge, Normandy

Omaha Beach

Cheesy in Normandy

Next stop was Reims, Champagne. What can I say? When you’re in Champagne, drink?

Champagne at 10AM

Champagne vineyards

Reims Cathedral

Last stop was of course, Alsace. But we stopped by Verdun first and I saw the most amazing photo exhibit by Jacques Grison. The title of the exhibit was 30,000 Jours Plus Tard.  It was so awesome, you have to be there to see it.

Verdun, Lorraine

Our vacation ended with Strasbourg. Saw the Strasbourg Cathedral at night. It looked  it was on fire!

Strasbourg Cathedral on fire