Month: February 2015

Touchdown, Yogyakarta!

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When I boarded my plane to Yogyakarta, I’d expected to spend the entire two-hour flight asleep. I’d never thought that I’d end up talking to a stranger for majority of that time and learn so much about his life story in the process, all because he’d offered to translate the custom declaration form for me! That encounter set the tone for the entirety of my trip—it was filled with apprehensions and lucky interventions, peppered with new experiences and discoveries, and blessed with happy encounters. Thanks to my friendly seatmate, I arrived in Yogyakarta knowing a lot more about Indonesia than I previously had, such as how they had more than 300 languages and even more dialects, how gudeg was the must-try dish in town (it involves chicken, tofu, jackfruit, and rice), and how I looked like a local from one of the cities up north. That last bit threw me off, but I discovered how true that was when everyone kept talking to me in Javanese and giving me surprised looks when I couldn’t understand them. After sailing past …

The Sandbox Collective Brings the Boy Back

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The Sandbox Collective hasn’t even been in Manila’s theater scene for a full year, yet it’s already gained a huge following. I know I fell in love with their production of Dani Girl, which I reviewed for Hitlist.PH and watched again in a different venue. I’m no theater expert, but I do know what I like—actors who give raw, believable performances, music that draws me completely into that world, and most importantly, material that’s compelling, meaningful, and real. From what I’ve seen so far, The Sandbox Collective does an excellent job delivering all three. If you’re looking for a cool way to spend your Saturday, why not head over to the Huseng Batute theater at the CCP and catch The Sandbox Collective’s final showing of The Boy in the Bathroom? It’s an off-Broadway musical that touches on themes such as parent-child relationships, unexpected love, and facing the unknown. It seems right up my alley, and I regret being unable to catch it this time around. You could still watch it though—and you should! Read on for more deets about …

Solo Sentiments: Conquering the challenge of traveling alone

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Whenever I tell someone that I want to travel on my own, I always get one of two reactions: an excited, “Me too!” or a scrunched-up expression followed by, “Why do you want to do that?” or some variation thereof. Maybe it’s the communal nature of Filipinos that makes this idea so alien to us. Whether we’re eating, exercising, or watching movies, we love being with our friends and family. I do enjoy traveling with other people, but I’ve wanted to try it solo for some time now. So that’s exactly what I did a week ago—despite my parents’ worries. Part of my reason for doing so was that I wanted to prove to other people that I could hack it on my own, no matter how sheltered and introverted and neurotic I am. But more than that, I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to escape my safe little box and test my mettle. And I didn’t want my fears to hold me back from living. I’m so glad I went ahead with it. My Yogyakarta trip was just …

Trekking and temple climbing in JOG

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It’s the end of my second day here in Yogyakarta, and I had a blast. Trekked up Setumbu Hill at 4:30am to see the sunrise over Borobudur. It was quite foggy and cloudy, but the view was nice all the same. The main attraction was Borobudur Temple itself. Check it out— If it’s not on your bucket list, it should be. This is simply mind-blowing. Angkor Wat was amazing, yes, but this is another kind of awesome that everyone should experience. Also saw Prambanan Temple— And I met some really cool people along the way too! Will share more of my experiences and photos when I get back to my laptop. Last day tomorrow. Why is it that time flies faster when you’re traveling? ‘Til next time!

Let’s go where?

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I know. My sketching skills—and sense of proportions—leave a lot to be desired. Now you know why I switched from interior design to writing. :)) This is my first attempt at the whole typography/lettering + sketching thing. I’m hoping that I’ll get better at this with practice. But back to the subject at hand. Did you get it? Do you know where I’m going? Here are three hints: 1) It’s in Asia, 2) That bell-looking thing in the middle of the “o” is a well-known structure, 3) The airport code is literally written right there. If you guessed Yogyakarta, you got it right! I’m going to Indonesia… With my backpack… And only my backpack. *wide eyes here* … I’ll keep you guys posted on my progress. Hopefully, the Wi-Fi at the hostel—yep, hostel—really works. If not, I’ll tell you all about my adventures in solo backpacking when I get back to Singapore. Borobudur, here I come! Have any of you been there? Do share some tips with me if you have! 🙂

These feet were made for wandering…

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Just a quick post to let you guys know that I’m still here…though not in the same “here” that I used to be. I’m in the Lion City, baby! By that, I mean Singapore. Until early tomorrow morning, anyway. I’ve been here a couple of times now, but I never run out of places to explore. Today, my sister and I had brunch at Pasarbella, walked the Ponggol Waterway up north (pictured above), then had early dinner at Joo Chiat/Katong in the East Coast. Most of my photos are still on my camera, but I just had to share some shots I got on my phone. If you’ve got podophobia (aka feet phobia. Yes, I looked it up!), better close this window now. Oops, you’ve probably already seen them. Sorry. :)) I’m such a sucker for patterns, and I discovered some darn lovely ones on the streets of Katong. Check them out below. (I apologize for my veiny feet, LOL.)   My feet and I’ll be wandering off to somewhere new tomorrow—and hopefully, we’ll be crossing some things off my …

6 destinations I’d love to spend Valentine’s Day in

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It’s that time of the year again when hearts and flowers and sentimental soundtracks abound. In celebration of the love month, I thought I’d write about my personal love affair—with traveling, that is. I usually feature places I’ve been to, but I’d like to try something different and talk about my dream destinations. These are the places that kindle my wanderlust and inspire me to work hard and save up. I’ve got a long, long travel bucket list, but I’ve trimmed it down to my top six. Continue reading to find out more about them! 1. Batanes, Philippines People call this our local Scotland or Marlboro Country, and for good reason. Rolling hills, crashing waves, fresh air, and uninterrupted space for days? Yes, please! Batanes is one of those places in the Philippines that has remained relatively untouched by commercialization, promising an idyllic, back-to-nature getaway. I can totally picture picnicking up there and channeling my inner Maria a la Sound of Music. 2. Barcelona, Spain One word: Gaudi. He’s left such a vibrant, unforgettable mark on this city …