Ma' Rosa -

During out 3rd Anniversary, we decided to go on a food trip in Little Tokyo. Since neither of us have been there, we were quite excited about it (because we love Japanese food!).

The first restaurant we went to was Seryna. It’s a restaurant just outside one of the gates of Little Tokyo. At first, I thought it was just a casual restaurant, but when we got there, people were being asked if they had reservations and the place was packed! We decide to wait because we rarely eat in fancy restaurants. The place was dark, but cosy. The interior design was so different that I kept looking at the ceiling while waiting for our food. It was also my first time trying shashimi (although I wouldn’t want to again since I’m not a big fan of it). Seryna’s prices are expensive so we didn’t order much, but we plan to go back to try the other dishes.

After Seryna, we went for Takoyaki at Hana! We’re big fans of the Japanese snack so we were really looking forward to it. The Takoyaki in Little Tokyo was fat and filled with squid! It was solid in the inside, as it is on the outside. It was cooked inside and out, not like the imitation Takoyaki we usually buy in malls. It was pricey at P120/6 pieces, but they were worth it.

We also got to try the Kakigori in Hana. In the menu, they usually serve only one flavor, but we chose to mix up the flavors, which thankfully, they allowed.

Since it was a holiday when we went there, other restaurants were closed so we weren’t able to try everything. Maybe next time.

Writing has always been a source of relief for me. I usually prefer writing my problems than talking to someone about it. That is why I never go a day without writing something in my planner. 

Earlier this year, I was hospitalized due to stage one dengue. I was scared because it was my first time encountering this disease. My parents, who aren’t here with me in Manila, were terrified. My paternal grandmother died of malaria when I was 10 years old and she was the first grandparent whose funeral I witnessed, so it was very understandable for my parents to feel that way. But who am I kidding? Anyone would be terrified to encounter such a disease. 

Besides dengue, I also discovered that I had fatty liver. For someone who doesn’t smoke or drink as much as myself, it would seem unbelievable to have fatty liver (thankfully, my liver became normal again). Somehow, my stay of about 6 years here in Manila was the cause of the fatty liver. For someone who came from the province, the food I discovered here in Manila was unlimited - Unlimited choices of fast food! Back in Iloilo, my mother would always cook dishes that has vegetables in it and she would rarely cook fried food. Eating fried food at home back in high school would be a treat. So when people have been telling me that I’ve gotten fat, I would get depressed. I know it’s a small thing to even get depressed at (because people would say love yourself and accept yourself), but it’s a topic I’ve been sensitive about this year. I have been called ugly because of my weight gain (I will not mention who) and I would see myself in the mirror and secretly agree with that person. It’s not a good feeling.

Recently though, I have made a promise to myself to start eating healthy even if it costs a bit more than fast food. This first week of eating healthy food (though I cheated a bit) was a struggle. I’ve stopped eating processed food, I’ve stopped drinking 3-in-1 coffee (I vowed to only drink brewed coffee once in a while - I love coffee), I’ve been drinking green tea everyday and eating at least one fruit everyday. I don’t mind spending a lot for healthy food just as long as I don’t go back to the hospital because of fatty liver. I hate hospitals. Hospitals depress me. Medicines are crazy expensive too.

Baler has always been on my travel bucket list for a long time. I dreamed of going to all the places that I’ve heard and researched about. Thankfully, I was able to do that this March, 2015.

ERMITA HILL

Day 1:

First up on our itinerary was to visit Ermita Hill, which was a 5 minute walk away from where we were staying. The story of the hill was that in 1735, a tsunami hit the town, leaving a few survivors, including the 7 families having a picnic on the hill.

Today, the top of the hill is now built to a religious shrine as a gratitude for the families who escaped. It is also the perfect place for sightseeing, overlooking the town of Baler.

BALER CATHOLIC CHURCH

DOÑA AURORA HOUSE

MUSEO DE BALER

It was an amazing feeling to be in a museum again. I always loved museums. The portraits I’m looking at below are of artists in the production field that inspire us through their movies.

BALER HANGING BRIDGE

I love bridges. I love the feeling of hanging up there and hanging on for my dear life. It’s thrilling.

DIGUISIT FALLS

Day 2:

DIGUISIT BEACH 

After visiting Diguisit beach, we had our lunch at the Bay’s Inn. I gotta say, their Battered Buttered Chicken is to die for. I highly recommend it.

BALETE TREE

The Balete tree in Maria Aurora is also known as the “Millenium Tree”. Standing for about 600 years old, it is said to be the largest Balete tree in Asia. What’s cool about it is that you get to go inside and climb around. But if you’re claustrophobic, don’t go in.

I felt a sense of wonder as I looked around the tree. I couldn’t help it. Being inside a 600 year old tree just got me really fascinated on it’s history. The tangled branches were so beautiful that I couldn’t help but take photos of them.

DIMATUBO FALLS

Also known as the Mother Falls. The trek there takes about 30 minutes. We went through bridges and also rapid streams before reaching our destination.

What I loved about the falls was that we were able to swim there. But what I didn’t like was how freezing the water was. Although we got used to it in the end.

Everything the beautiful. The view, the clear water, the company. I couldn’t have asked for another way to end our Day 2 Baler tour.

BONFIRE NIGHT

Smores, chips, drinks and bonfire under the stars. It was a peaceful night.

SABANG BEACH

Day 3:

So, we dedicated day 3 to surfing and chilling by the beach. Mainly because our bodies ached from the trek to the falls.

Surfing was what I was most looking forward to. After all, Baler is the surfing capital of the Philippines! It was my first time surfing, so we had a trainer to teach us (for an hour) on how to get up our boards. Surprisingly, I was able to ride the waves a few times. I was convinced by a friend that surfing was hard and that I would be tired after 30 minutes. Yes, it was hard. But honestly, I thought an hour wasn’t enough. It wasn’t getting easier per round and I wanted to surf the whole afternoon!

I felt that three days weren’t enough to enjoy the whole of Baler. There were many places that I wanted to visit but because of the distance from where we were staying, it couldn’t be done with time constraint.

It’s also been a while since I made a video diary (mainly of my travels and randoms trips). The last I made was a year ago. I have to say that I’m proud of myself for pushing to take videos during our Baler trip. Although, while editing the video, I felt the clips weren’t enough. Or maybe that’s just me, as a video editor. But it is enough to show that we enjoyed ourselves. On to the next 2015 adventure!

Foodsnaps!

I wanted my first adventure of the year to be about art (as was last year’s first at Angono, Rizal) and one museum I haven’t visited was the Pinto Art Museum, located in Antipolo, Rizal. My boyfriend, Drix, and I were greeted by a wooden door after we entered the gate entrance. It might be nothing to some, but I have a thing for wooden doors.

After the wooden door, we were already greeted by these sculptures.

Entrance fee at Pinto is P150 for regular visitors and P120 for senior citizens and P75 for students with valid ID.

The chapel

There was a meditation garden on the left side of the chapel that was dedicated to the love of Jose Rizal and Leonor Rivera. And in this garden was a desk with a glass cupboard filled with undelivered letters in which visitors are to write to the people they have loved and lost (funnily there was a “move on!” note at the bottom of the instruction note). I thought the whole tragic idea was beautiful.

Some of the sculptures at Pinto.

Took quick snap shots of these couples.

More artworks!

Pinto Cafe

We didn’t bring any food at Pinto so we decided to try the cafe there. It wasn’t the best move since their prices were high and their servings little for our appetite. We ended up ordering the least expensive dish: a plate of carbonara for P295. It was delicious though. Take note of the 10% service charge.

The Rooftop

I believe the “We are the kids that your parents warned you about” is the most photographed artwork in the museum. Mainly because we’re living in a generation full of that embodies the meaning of this artwork. Deep, bro.

The Architecture

I was especially captured and awed by Pinto’s architecture and how beautiful the place looks. I also couldn’t pick which art or which part of the place was my favorite because everything was equally amazing.

I couldn’t take a photo of this yard below without anyone in the frame since Pinto is quite famous for photo/video shoots. Also, we went there on a Sunday, which, as expected, has a lot of visitors.

A Cat Story

Short story: there was this one sweet cat that I took a shot of and when we sat on the chairs behind it, it jumped on my boyfriend’s lap and instinctively, he patted it. Was the sweetest thing I saw.

There were some places in which I haven’t fully explored. And I kinda regretted that. Which is why I vowed to come back fully prepared!

Self-timers Are Your Best Friend

We took a break from walking up and down the stairs.

Light!

Oh, the light! It was beautiful! I loved how it gave the place a sense of character.

Photo Story

Since I loved the light so much, I wanted to take individual photos of my boyfriend and I in this corner we found. Turns out, it was a great idea for our cover photos. We also wanted to create a story between our two photos. That when you place it side by side (or up and down in this matter), you would see that the other is missing by each other’s side. Sort of a cheesy thing for us to do, but all for the love of photography. And hey! You won’t get the shot if you’re not willing to pose.

Pinto is an amazing place to spend an afternoon at. I’ll be coming back to this place with my friends next time. It definitely took a spot at my “special places list”. Maybe one day, I might go alone if I feel like it. I loved it at Pinto and it was worth the 2-hour commute from Manila.

Pinto Art Museum’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinto-Art-Museum/