Solo: The Spirit of Java--Day 1

My plane arrived in Jakarta around 1:00 pm and the connecting flight to Solo was not until at 4:35 pm with Garuda Indonesia. Immigration and custom was a breeze. Visa on arrival was required and good for 30 days for $25 USD. After that, I went to exchange some money even though I know it was not the best way to go about, since the airport money changers usually have a lower rate compared to those in the city, but it was necessary at the time since I didnt have enough cash at hand to pay for taxi etc.

I also bought a local mobile number to communicate with friends and fam in Indo during my trip. They charged pretty high too (almost Rp 90.000), but then again..I got it at the airport..so although I felt like being ripped off, there weren't that many options.

Trip to Indonesia: The Tale of 4 Cities

Ahh feels good to be back..
I know it has been a while and I know there is a HUGE gap between my last post and this one. =(
Yes..guilty as charged..I've been slacking off. haha oh well..at least now I'm back. and here it is..as promised, the long-overdue story of my trip! I have been seriously considering of making this blog sort of a travel blog since I have done quite a bit of travelings these past 2 years or so. I can honestly say that I've fully embraced the idea of going to more places in the future and I found out that I genuinely love to travel!! ..not promising anything yet, but let's just see.. ;)

Now, this time it's going to be my recent vacation to Indo back in January. Then after, I will do a post on my Europe vacation =) so without further ado, here's the executive summary of the trip. Enjoy!

Prelude & Excuse

So...it has been a while. I am back in the states now and in blogging too. FYI, I did go on that trip to Indo earlier this year.

and yes...I know, I said I would post updates following my journey in Indo last month, which I never did =( and I was so hype about wanting to share the experience here too. But, even until now I found it so difficult to even start writing about it. It's not that I am backing out on what I've promised before, but more like I'm still not quite ready. It was too great of an experience that having to re-live it again, I'm afraid, would only leave me with a heartache when everything comes to an end. =(

However, a promise is a promise and I refuse to revoke my own words. With that said, I have determined to get those postings published sooner than later. Gosh it's going to be exciting!! I have many pics and stories to share..so just  you wait. Until then..enjoy life!

Here's a sneak peak:

Ushering the New Year

Happy New Year 2012!!

May this year be filled with opportunities, advancements in many areas of life and blessings from God.

It has been a while. I realized I didn't post anything for the whole month of December. It really is true that the holiday can be overwhelming and hectic. Nevertheless, I had a great holiday last year. Spent with family and dear friends, in a modest, simplest way, nothing too extravagant. Then again, the value of Christmas for the longest time -if not still happening- has been diminished to the shallow meaning of celebration glossed over with gifts and parties. So, I think it was good to actually skip all that once in a while and traded it with something much more meaningful.

Relatives from Indo actually came visiting for a few weeks. I was playing tour guide, sort of, during their time here..lol. They went back home earlier this month with a promise to switch up the role of tour guide for when I go back home at the end of this month. Speaking of which, I am excited beyond words. I still can't believe January is here. Time flew by rather fast this past couple months. As far as preparation, I think I'm in a pretty good shape, just need to figure out what to pack and finalizing itineraries and gathering up documents and stuff. 

It's less than a week..I better start counting down...and pack of course..lol

Stay tune and may you start your own journey in this New Year with faith, hope, and positive attitude!

Cheers!

Eat, Pray, and....Shop? Pt. 2

Arggghhh..sorry for the delay in posting this, got lazy busy for the past few days. So now that it's weekend, everything kind of winds down a bit, finally I got a chance to post the second part of my Thanksgiving weekend recap =)

That Saturday my family and I went to Lancaster. Main reasons going there were to see the Sight & Sound Theater production "Miracle of Christmas" and the infamous smorgasbord buffet --yumminess =p, but we got there early so we went to Tanger outlet and spent couple hours there before heading to the show which started at 4:15pm.

The venue was beautiful! huge...parking lot..very well organized, unlike *cough..cough Old Navy..cough experience..

Eat, Pray, and....Shop? Pt. 1

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for?

We often hear that question being repeatedly asked during Thanksgiving Holiday. For me personally, Thanksgiving serves as a reminder for me not to take anything for granted. Not only tangible stuff but even intangible ones we ought to be grateful for, like quality moments with your loved ones, forgiveness, love, etc.

So, this past Thanksgiving weekend was a really fun one for me. Of course, like many other people in the US, I had a very nice dinner with my family and by that I meant both of my immediate and extended "family". So on Thursday my fam and I went to Thanksgiving service at church and like they always do year after year, we had a sumptuous meal set up at the end of the service.

Wedding Trailer

yes. i am currently obsessed with wedding video trailers, SDE (Same Day Edit), and stuff. there are so many creative and talented videographers out there and i particularly like those from asia and australia. they are soooo goood. haha.  i know its so random, but just by watching all these videos-eventhough these couples are strangers to me, i was touched by the way the videographers captured their moments, their emotions, and their stories. its so heartwarming.

among all videos i've come across so far, these two videos are currently my 1st and 2nd most favorite. the people over at Mayad Studios of the Philippines are responsible for creating such masterpieces. all credits belong to them. coincidentally (or maybe not), they were both taken at Bvlgari resorts, Bali. such a beautiful place for a destination wedding. these videos really show the breathtaking and gorgeous scenery from one dreamy and exotic island. i was really left in awe after watching them. go ahead and see it for yourself. i dare you not to be left speechless.

1st: Early + Chloe

Early and Chloe from Mayad Studios on Vimeo.


2nd: Isaac + Angel


Angel and Isaac from Mayad Studios on Vimeo.

Making a Comeback

Oh wow..what can i say..its been a year. wait, actually its been 2 years since i blogged. i know2, i said i was gonna do this seriously, but for one and many other reasons, i failed to follow up on my commitment.

so, just to kinda summarize the gap between my last posting and this one, i spent the year of 2010 dealing with projects, internship, trying to finish up my school, and work. 2010 for me was quite a roller coaster, one of the highlights of the year was definitely my first ever Europe trip! im gonna do a separate post on that later.

and.  .I finally graduated this year!

Gravity

i'm glad that gravity still exists. no..its not that gravity..thats not the one im talking about here. gravity here is the only power that could keep me grounded when i started floating with no clear direction. or when i seemed to forget where i belong and what my true purpose is in this world.

Believe it or not,doing the same thing over and over again (like going thru your daily routines) could eventually lead you to become unfazed and oblivious to things surrounding you..  like you no longer appreciate small things in your life.....but right at this very moment i feel the gravity displaying its power. I suddenly realize things that ive become ignorant of before. now everything comes back to me one by one and they've played before me like a slideshow in a loop.

i understand know.. i do..

and it's all thanks to you the master of the universe

yo quiero a ti, que hace el sol a bailar.

Happy 21st! Congrats..You are legal now!

Yeap..that's right! I am turning 21. Where the heck did all those years go? Anyway..I didn't have any special celebration. Just like any other birthday I may not remember what I did for my birthday a year or even a month from now..haha.. well, maybe i will but in case that happens at least i still have this note to remind me.

So of course I had to work on my bday. But the people at work were so nice..my manager bought me dinner and my co-workers gave me a little surprise cake and stuff (thanks Ms.Jacqui, Mark, Sineth, n everyone else). A guest who's in for an extended stay who sorta already became friends with us even bought me a bday card..aww what a great feeling when someone appreciates you and thinks of you. Then after work, my co-worker Mark insisted that we should grab a drink over at Tazia just to make it 'official'. Of course, what a 21st bday without a drink, right? well I don't actually believe or care about that..since I'm not much of drinker anyway (I get that 'asian glow' everytime..smh) but..i thought why not just for the fun of it. At Tazia, we ended up sitting at the bar with the guest who gave me the bday card earlier and we chatted about random stuff and the hit and miss about the hotel. fun time had by all. Mark and I did not stay very long cause we both were tired already and it was kind of already late, so we bid farewell to that guest and since he is leaving the next day, we exchanged emails.

I got home safe and sound. ...dizzy and glowing.

Thanks Dad for blessing me throughout my 21 years journey! without You I wouldn't be here today.

Random thoughts, work update

Lately I've been feeling tired..I don't know if that is even the right word to describe it, but it's almost like I'm going bipolar or something haha. I feel like my mood has been up and down for no specific reason.

My friend at work, the other day suggested that I should consider to run away for a day..to just anywhere, without telling anyone..and just come back after with a lot of pictures..Sounds like a cool idea, does it not?..well actually I've thought about doing so before, but I doubt that I ever will. I mean, come on..having time for yourself may be great but not telling anyone where you're going and just disappear like that ..is kind of dangerous. I think there should be at least one person who should know about your whereabout..just in case something happens. ya know i'm sayin?

sigh..oh. i have a new supervisor at work.. she seemed good. she knows what she's doing and i think the place will change for the better...i hope so. it also means that i have to go thru yet another adaptation, getting out of the comfort zone and bla bla bla..
but if it's for the better..why not, right?

thank you daddy for sticking with me thru whatever..You are the BOMB! =)

Currently listening to...

i have been listening to swift's u belong with me a lot...by that i mean repeatedly..like crazy..i dunno..its a catchy, perfect vid clip, and lyric that a lot of girls can relate to..what more can i ask from a song..=p

Harry Potter 6

Eh, so last night I went to watch HP 6 with my sissy. I thought it was okay, it could've been better. There were some moments that just fell flat, when they could've been more arousing, epic, and grand. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it and look forward to the final movie.


PS: A shout out to Daddy-G who once again never failed to show His mercy and love! Thanks Dad, with You I'll always be safe, made righteous, encouraged, strengthened, empowered, and whole again.

I can do all things thru Him who strengthened me... <3

Hello Worlds

my very first attempt to blog seriously.. uhmm..so yea of course the first entry should be titled and sound something like this, eh? anyway...welcome..im gonna give myself a pat on the back for stepping into a new commitment. u know i've repeatedly failed to stick to blogging. but this time..i think i have much deeper perspective and motivation behind it..so yep. well done, chica..well done...