Travel is Universal

When I got back to NJ from SC, OMG, I had to pack another set of clothes for Orlando, FL!!! Such a hectic, hectic life. My aunts and I were off to Universal Studios in Orlando the next day. I would've absolutely loved this heady rush of traveling all over the US if I wasn't being an Eeyore the whole time. It's time to get my Tigger back!!!

And I was a kid again. Minus the worries and the pain and the memories of mistakes committed that would stay with me like a gaping wound.

Travel is good for the troubled spirit.

City Walk with Aunt Vinia

with Aunt Vita, the champion hula-hooper

Yeah, right! Like I would ride this thing.

Between a Lake and a Hard Place

I am such a slowpoke. I woke up very early the next day to iron my hair (yup, I'm vain like that!) and ended up having to tie it in a very unattractive ponytail since Camille was there early and they were ready to leave for Chimney Rock, North Carolina.

Lunch at Larkin's by the Lake with my uncle, 2 cousins and my cousin's fiance, Mike. Great, great seafood. But nothing beats the view here. It's not called Lake Lure for nothing.

Chimney Rock, brother of Chris

This is Uncle Vince, who looks and acts so much like my dad and Vinnie at the back. Taken inside the cave going up Chimney Rock.

I hate any sort of climbing. I climb subway steps, get into 49th and Broadway and I'm energized in a way no mountain ever could. Pardon me but I'm a city girl through and through.

View of Lake Lure atop Chimney Rock, Vinnie never smiles...

View of the opera box from Chimney Rock

View of Chimney Rock from the opera box

Oh, Stewie!

I haven't seen my uncle in 20 years and it's the first time I've met my cousin Vinnie, who's 12 and as sweet as can be. We'd watch the Family Guy and some other crap on TV and that's our bonding moment. We love Stewie and I like Vinnie with his "Are you rich? Do you have computers in the Philippines?" questions. He said that in the most innocent, unprejudiced, lovable way.

Camille, his sister, is almost the same age as me so she gets why I don't talk much nowadays. I felt like this sick, cancerous person being taken care off til she takes in her final breath. My parents are worried sick about me and they rub it off on people.

We were off to Atlanta, Georgia the next day for the Aquarium and the World of Coke.

Yep, it's that shitty shirt again! I feel so poor... but I love this shirt.

And now, for some comic relief. Meet boxer Jake Tuli!!! My uncle and I were both laughing but the two kids didn't know what it meant.

On the Road

So, I was on my way to Greenville, South Carolina. I was dreading it and looking forward to it. I brought along On the Road by Jack Kerouac as some sort of a security thing. I've been crying the whole day again. Up until about an hour before I left for Newark International. That was the lowest low I've felt since I've gotten here.

I mean, I don't get it. Just a few days ago, a Fil-Am dude (so Pinoy-looking) was compelled to walk over to me (so Pinay-looking) to introduce himself at some retail store. And contrary to what my Boston friend thinks, I was dressed appropriately. That should be more than enough to boost my ego. Wrong.

I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future. -- Jack really had me there.

Such a lonely, small airport they got in Greenville. It didn't help that I got there at about 2340H and my uncle and cousins must've been scared out of their wits I might have gone straight back to Manila.

South of Houston

It was the day before I left NJ to go to South Carolina. I figured I'd do SoHo that day as I'd never actually walked thru that little part of Manhattan before.

There was Anthropologie, a boutique with tops and dresses and bed, bath and beyond. I tried to look for a top within my budget of $30-35. Dream on. Asa pa.

There was Longchamp, Kate Spade, Lacoste, Anya Hindmarch. And I was wearing a flighty little black and white graphic dress with flip flops!

I had to stop and sit for a while on a bench beside a basketball court to have my lunch of Sabrett hotdog. Then another hotdog after an hour.

I love the cobbled streets, like the ones in Intramuros.

Suck It Up and Get a Move On!!!

Whoever said the failure of my marriage was all my fault? Whoever gave me the right to blame myself all the time? Why do I get to decide who's wrong here? I have to stop taking all the blame. It's bringing me down while he's moving on up and couldn't care less about me.

I want to go back to him. Forgive him when he hasn't even asked for forgiveness.

If you like settling for less, this is your chance. A good friend just told me off. This strikes me so bad, it's actually good for me.

So where was I? I was in NY, then Boston, then off to DC with Kaye. I've been to DC before and I didn't like it. Too damn boring and uhhh... political-looking. Kaye just needed some company so I went.

It seems that we only got see two landmarks there. Oh well, we also passed by the Pentagon but how the hell can we say for sure if it is really shaped that way? I knew we should've rented a chopper.

The White House. Eto na yun? Bat ang liit? Hahaha, sure ka eto na yun? Hindi yata, teka doorbell tayo.

Must've used this shirt like 100 times during the entire trip.

The Capitol foreground with manong in blue shirt

The Capitol, with trees for aesthetics

The Capitol with Kaye

The Capitol and me, the speck

The Lost City

On one of the weekends, I went to Atlantic City (thank goodness for the outlets!!! I don't care much for the casinos) with my aunt. We took a bus for the 2-hour drive to AC. The place was kinda depressing or was it just me?

Pardon the oversized outfit, I hate it. Lost a lot of weight since the storm...

Fave spot by the coast

Serendipity

One of my favorite days in NY was the time I had snacks in Serendipity 3 (E 60th St., between 2nd & 3rd Aves) with my aunt. I had just come from Times Square, where I'd been greatly disappointed I didn't get to watch Mamma Mia that day. Coz I was late for the matinee, of course, and I didn't wanna watch it standing up.

I got off the N train on 59th & Lexington from 49th St. and went to meet my aunt in Bloomingdale's. Gee wheez, there's some serious shopping to be done just about anywhere in NY, whether uptown, downtown or midtown. That was the first time I met Foley + Corinna and you never forget your first time.

Just across Bloomingdale's is Dylan's Candy Bar. I don't like candies much but this is a visual feast.

I look so pale and sick here. Just goes to show that I don't look good all the time, hahaha.



We got there before the rush hour (4pm-onwards, no kidding). The wait time can take as long as 3 hours. What?!














I ordered some pasta and of course, the frrrozen hot chocolate. Sharing is advised, it's huge!


Their second floor ceiling is perfect for any mood board. Quaint interiors.

Which Way to Broadway?

I am so gay. I loved Mamma Mia! I got to see it with, who else, myself. And I was clapping and crying and dancing and laughing along with the rest of the crowd after the show. I miss my mom. I wish I could've seen this with her.

I love musicals, period. I got to watch three Broadway shows, Mamma Mia, Legally Blond and Wicked.

Snaps! The Legally Blond stage at the Palace Theatre. Saw the matinee with my friend Kaye, who was visiting from London. Yeah, yeah, we're the international jet set. Taking pictures were prohibited but... it was too pretty.

Wicked! The Gershwin Theatre with my two aunts, I got there with 5 minutes to spare coz I've been crying again. My aunts were ready to skin me alive. It got a little boring in the middle, wish they did skin me alive.