A few sights from the wilderness of Mindoro

These are the very few photos I managed to take while on that Immersion trip. Most were from the second market day wherein we had to take a two hour jeep ride to get back to the city.

The random things you find in the dark.

A cow.

Only one jeep travels to the city per day. How much do you want to go to school?

The jeep just cruised along as it crossed dirt roads, water, mud, and rocks.

My muddy zebra boots.

Leaving the mountain to buy supplies.

Sufficiently Immersed, I am.

Home, finally and just took a good long bath. 

The past week I've: braved the wilderness, formed a tribe, lived without the internet, eaten only food we cooked, walked an hour on a dirt road to take a bath, decided that spiders and bugs are not so scary, guarded our stuff from unexpected thieves, pitched a tent, been the most tired I've ever been in my life, did number 2 in a Chowking, woken up in the middle of the night to rain water dripping on my head, sang so much songs in a span of a few days to battle the boredom the loss of technology brings, substituted Mirinda and buko juice for water, and walked around in the dark. 

I was cut, bruised, beaten, hungry, thirsty and deprived.

I live. I am invincible.

Goodbye Manila!

Today I leave Manila to embark on a journey to the vast unknown. No lines of technology to tie me to anything, except the burning need, and urge to come back.

See you in seven days.

I miss Manila already.

Zebra Print Rain Boots: Just what I needed.

I was walking round the house, trying to get a feel of my Immersion Trip garb when I decided to take photos of my newest buy.

Say hello to these Zebra printed babies.

My sister and I had always wanted rain boots. She wanted them because she lived in Dapitan and I, well, I just wanted them. A few months ago, the sister got herself a pair from SM (she needed them for the flooded streets of Manila, I didn't since I was safe and dry in Alabang). They didn't offer decent looking boots with cute prints in ladies sizes so she ended up getting the biggest size from their kiddie boots collection.

I was at SM yesterday yesterday (still piling up on supplies for the immersion trip) and we figured boots could be very useful. I made a beeline for the kids section and was very disappointed upon the realization that even their biggest size wouldn't fit me.

"D*mn it, I'm gonna get myself boots today!", I screamed in my head (exagg ha). And, we did! I found these booties in the Ladies' shoe section. They finally have them in bigger sizes! These are from a brand named Jessica and they sell for PHP 499. Perfect!

Even the dogs loved them. They wanted to make friends.

Like I said, I was in my "Immersion trip" costume (and my favorite pambahay shirt, note the holes on the sleeves).

Maybeline Clear Smooth 8 in 1 BB Cream

My friend Cheddar always picks on my make up (Hahahaha! I kid). Upon her suggestion, I decided to try Maybeline's BB Cream.

Check it out. It's your moisturizer, sunscreen an foundation, all in one. I love the fact that it has SPF 26. Most people don't realize but you always have to have sunblock on, especially on the face area. The sun can cause wrinkles (? not sure, but I know it's something bad so just do it.)

I promised myself I'd never post a "before make up" photo on my blog, but where'e the fun in that? I settled for half a face of no make up.

<-----Before


                                          After ----->

This is just Maybeline lipgloss and the

BB cream.

Not bad for PHP 250, even got it 20% off because of their usual product sale.

 Thanks, Shreddar. Cool find.

My Spankin' New Headlamp.

If you didn't already know, I'll be in Mindoro for a whole week starting Friday for our school Immersion. Really don't want to talk about how I feel about it, it's not that I don't like the outdoors, I just don't like not having the net, or electricity, or running water. For a week. In a tent. In the cold. Without my doggies.

Ahhh. A few deep breaths later and a lot of sucking it up, I finally found the heart to go shopping for supplies.

And I just might have found something that would make the Immersion trip worthwhile. Say hello to.....

 Isn't it just the coolest, most ingenious thing ever? The first time I ever saw a head lamp was when my photographer friend Tim had his on after a shoot that left us at dawn in Batangas. I know his cost more since I think it was a top of the line version that allowed you to see miles ahead in the dark (I may be exaggerating) but yeah. I've wanted one since then.

I got mine at ACE Hardware for PHP 248.75 with a free battery. Aside from the adjustable garter strap, it has a clip on the back. Bingo!

 This thing is so cool,  I've been walking around my room with the lights off.

DIY: Tie Dye Nails

Finally decided to post a tutorial on the Tie Dye Nails I tried a while back. It's cute but I wasn't really satisfied with the results I got. This technique needs a little practice to get good results. Will try it again soon, though.

Derelict: DIY Periodic Table Pouch

A few weeks back, the sister and I decided to clean our rooms. Among the piles and piles of paper and books and dozens of rulers, she also found a pile of maps and periodic tables.

Sooooo. What can we do with these?

Armed with a sleepless night ahead of me and some fancy tape, I set to work.

 Measured around my journal, folded and cut to size.

Keep folding until you get an envelope shape and tape everything like crazy.

Voila!

Sooooo. I was very obviously bored. 

Wee Nam Kee at Ayala Triangle Gardens

One of our family favorites: Hainanese chicken rice. Wee Nam Kee has become a restaurant staple. Originally from Singapore, this place is known for it's authentic Singaporean chicken rice. We usually frequent the branch at Ayala Triangle Gardens, which turns out to be their first international branch.

Large Roast Chicken (PHP 888) One large order consists of two of these plates. One has the choice between steamed and roasted chicken.

Pork Asado (PHP 220) Not really a favorite of mine, but it's good too. 

HK Fried Noodles This dish is a highlight. Brian's favorite. He's such a noodle boy.

Pork Asado, Kang kong with Sambal (PHP 199), HK Fried Noodles, and a cup of Hainanese Chicken Rice (PHP 40) I love that Kang Kong dish! I love my vegetables.

Hoisin/Soy sauce (?) , Chili sauce, and the Ginger sauce Not really sure if that's Hoisin or Soy sauce since I never touch it. I usually have my chicken with the ginger and chili sauce. 

A view of the restaurant from where we sat.

Wee Nam Kee
Ayala Triangle Gardens
02 8468924
WeeNamKeePH Facebook page

18: Thoughts.

We give up too much or too little, but never what we ought to give. At some point you find yourself making a decision. "Is it worth it?", you ask. But then you come back to a point in your life where you said: "Anything is worth it", and if you can be that sure in the midst of the chaos and the drunken haze, how could you have been wrong?

Tell me I'm not wrong.