One of our many "First Times"!

We've always planned to go somewhere we've never been before. Puerto galera came into our minds that summer (April 2008). I did an extensive (hehe) research on how to get there, where to stay, what to bring, and how much budget is needed to survive. That was April 26, 2008, after work, we went straight to Buendia to ride a bus going to Batangas Pier. Of course, wAe didn't forget to eat our breakfast at Jollibee(which is obviously one of our fav fast food chains). The ride to Batangas Pier is okay. I was just so excited to get there 'coz I've never ridden on boat before. When we arrived at the Pier, we were like some famous Hollywood celebrities. We were welcomed by men who offered to help us to carry our luggages. They were so warm and all. When we entered the pier, that was when you'll know why. They all tried to pull us to their designated booths for the boat tickets. It was so hard to decide where to fall in line. My partner decided to get the tickets from one of the booths. Then we had to pay some more fees (I think those are for environmental fee and another one I forgot already). Finally saw the boats and I was so thrilled! We took pictures as soon as we were seated.

I got dizzy the minute the boat started moving (or sailing, or whatever you call it). I decided to just sleep throughout the ride. But I was awaken by the excited whispers and giggles of the other passengers. The view was great! We were in the middle of the ocean and the water was so clear. I even imagined seeing a really big fishtail (was all along thinking it might be a mermaid. wahahaha). Then, I saw the shoreline. You could see the people, the restaurants and hotels lining the beach front, the other boats waiting for passengers, and more people.

When we stepped down from the boat, that was when we realized, we didn't even have a booked reservation. My Gosh! Where are we gonna stay? My bag was so heavy I was so tired when I reached the restaurants and hotels. We took lunch at one of the nearest dinner. Wow! Was I so hungry? After eating, we still couldn't find any available rooms to stay. We were told by one of the locals that since it was a Friday, we would really have a hard time to find a hotel. We ended up booking at Hollywood Palm Beach Hotel and Resorts. It was near the main road so I thought that it was okay. But for 10,000 pesos for a night? That was outrageous! But we didn't have any choice so we stayed. After resting for a while, we went out to the beach. We ate at another dinner and decided on getting a tattoo. I got a butterfly tattoo and my partner liked the cross design. We were running like crazy after that because it rained so hard we were afraid that our tattoos might fade (they're henna tattoos, that's why). Then just decided to sleep and wake up early.

Early morning, we set out for the beach. The water was cool and clear. Paddling here and waddling there until we got tired. Stayed at the shore and took more pictures. Ate hamburgers and drank fruit shakes until we're full. Then went back to the hotel for siesta.

Before the sun sets, we went to the beach again and enjoyed the water, music and the laughter of the people around us. Everyone was really having the best of their times! The sunset was spectacular! I still can't get over the picture in my mind. It was starving day. We went and got some grilled meat and went back to the hotel to have dinner and to drink. Was a happy night with lots of laughter, emo moments and beer.

The day that we're both not excited about. It as time to go back to reality. Goodbye clear water! Goodbye fresh air! Till we meet again...

Here are more of our photos:

***Ruthy***

**Our First Escape**

Going out of town during college days was very exciting..you'll have the most wonderful and memorable time of some sort.. I'm sure that you also felt the urgency to ask money from your parents telling them that you have a project, a field trip, or if you can join your friends out of town. If they tell you that you can't, then you'll make all the excuses in the world for them to say YES and give you the money for it.

Well oh well, Me and Ruth made all the excuses we can just to escape in the real world but we had money of our own to set our first out of town..

It was week before sem break as far as I could remember. We chose to go to a place that we first visited with our friends so that we'll not get lost.We familiarized ourselves with every corners, streets and highways the bus would possibly pass but the most important thing that we considered was our budget..We always make sure that we have emergency money in our pockets just in case something inevitable would happen to us.

This is the 1st ever resort we went together..Our first escape in the realms.








Before, it cost us 500php for a night. One room with queen size bed with AC and private T&B. The place is nice and peaceful, people are friendly and accomodating, food is cheap, you can ask them to cook food for you. T'was mid of 2004 when we got there.There's also Videoke open for all You just have to bring lots of 5 peso-coins. Travel time would be approximately 2-3hrs normally. You can take a bus from EDSA Rotonda and drop off at city proper then ride a jeepney going to Villa Dominga.

**Picture posted above looks like Villa Dominga Resort is now renovated. It looks better than before, feels like wanna come back there. I still have their calling card with signature at the back of it for discount. :) I hope it would still be honored. :)

So there you have it! I would recommend this place for family outings, barkada trip and everybody else who wants solitude and quietness with your love ones.

Need you now

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reachin' for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

Another shot of whiskey can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

woah woaaah.

Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothin' at all

It's a quarter after one I'm all alone and I need you now

And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

I just need you now (wait)

Ooo, baby, I need you now

♥♥♥Ruthy♥♥♥

Rizal Park and CCP Grounds

If you want to go somewhere quiet and historic with a little money in your pocket, you might want to consider going to these two places:


CCP Main



Rizal Park (Luneta)

You'll often see me and Pearl at Baywalk in Roxas Blvd during our college days. But if we're not there, we're just at one of these places. Why? Because it's cheap! No entrance fees nor menus with sky-rocketing prices! We would sometimes go there to jog, dance with the aerobics people, have picnics, ride bikes, eat all the street food we see, and just be ourselves.

I would also like to add that I love Rizal park more when I was a kid than when me and Pearl went there. I'm not sure if it's me but I can no longer see the true beauty of the place. =(

But I still love CCP grounds. The fresh morning breeze and the cold night wind added to the joy of being with the crowd on that place.

I hope we could still both find time to visit CCP again.

♥♥♥Ruthy♥♥♥

Mr. sun in the bay..

We are both music lovers (is that right baby?);p I love acoustics and I guess she love it too.. still during college days, I performed as a solo guitarist/"songer" in Beer Garden in Puerta del Parian few steps from our school..

Beer Garden


(i dont know the people above but this is the only pix i could grab from the net :c )

Loving acoustics, we searched for a place where we can chill out, watch the sunset, breath some fresh air, be away from the school crowd andpeople that we know then, listen to the strings of guitars,watch the band play and request our favorite songs, eat things that we haven't tried yet and drink some beer just for us to be able to sleep when we separate ways and go home.. Finally, we found a place..a place what we exactly want and that was in Panay Kalipay open Bar and Restaurant,Baywalk, Manila..

Baywalk





Panay Kalipay







We hang out here everytime we get our allowance in school (ehem, we are both student assistants in our school!). There was this one time that Alamid performed in Panay Kalipay. I couldn't help myself imagine performing with them on stage but I was too shy to ask them that. So, Ruth wrote something in a piece of tissue and gave it to the waiter. I thought it was just a simple request to play a song she wanted to hear but damn! It was not! She wrote down there, "Can I jam with you? - pearl" I felt butterflies in my stomach at that time and felt that I'm melting. In shallow confindence, I went up the stage and grab the guitar and started playing "I'll Be" by Edwin Mcain.

You dont need much money to go to the bay, U can go there and unwind with just penny in your pocket,you can buy food in 7-11 beside Malate Church,sit beside the break water,smoke your lungs out and wait until the "Mr. Sun" is set. When the sun is finally set, that means bands are ready to play and entertain people chillin out and even people who is just passing by.

The joy of being with your love one is not always having lots of money to spend, its how you cherish each moment beside each other. :)

FYI: Baywalk bars are no longer existing since Manila Mayor Lito Atienza lost in 2004 local elections,but you can still hang out at resto and bar in Sea side @ MOA. It has same concept but Baywalk is still the best :) Baywalk along Roxas Blvd. are good in the morning and when the sun is set to jog,walk and breathe some fresh air.

First Stop.. The Wall..

I would like to start this journey of ours to the very first road we've took back in our college days..The Wall of Intramuros

We both took our bachelor degree in Lyceum of the Philippines (now Lyceum of the Philippines University) located inside the wall passing thru Puerta del Parian.


LYCEVM OF THE PHILIPPINES


Puerta del Parian

It is still fresh in my memory how the rocky road of Intramuros looks like. During summer time, it will be extremely hot and when heavy rain falls, you couldn't just pass by Puerta del Parian without stepping on the "improvised stone bridge" for your shoes not to be soak in the flood.

When the sun is almost set, the true beauty of wall comes out..very romantic and this is how it looks like..



We love to walk from the ramp going up to the wall infront of our alma matter passing thru the Baluarte's infront of Mapua, PLM until we reach WOW Philippines..





There are days that we just want to hang out; to sit beside each other; and to spend precious time to get to know each other. Now, let me take you to our first hiding place where we expressed our thoughts and feelings; argued about little and silly things; cried and laughed, dreamed about something; talked anything under the sun; watched how the golf players hit the ball and one more thing..that was to play "Find the Sign". This game exhibited how far can you see the things around you that your opponent must point out to you that she/he did see what you just described. :-)

This is our hiding place..where everything between us has begun.



(picture above is the entry point before getting inside the picture below)



Let's take little steps going to where we at now.. stand by for more.

♀♀pearl♀♀

You're in!

I am not surprised when Pearl told me that she is one of the top five that was shortlisted for the TM position she applied for. Why? Because I know her capabilities and what she can further do for the success of the company she works with. I would sometimes complain because she would spend extra time at work to train a newbie, to work on something that another person failed to wrap up and just doing an extra mile for the company. I remembered the day before she would be interviewed for the position, we were having a "role play" for us to check if she will be saying the right things at the right time. She was a little bit worried because most of the applicants are tenured employees. I remembered telling her that she can use that point to her advantage. That she could tell the company that, yes, it is a fact that she is new (she is with the company for about 4 months now), but she have shown great talent by being a very fast learner and that she was even able to share that knowledge to 2 colleagues she actually trained. Most of the clients are always very confident that the job is done flawlessly if Pearl handled them.

I am so proud of her. We already talked that whatever happens, even if she will not be chosen as the team manager, it is still a great fulfillment to be at the top 5 list.

Way to go baby! You know you got it in you. You just have to always believe in yourself and act on it. Congratulations!


♥♥♥Ruthy♥♥♥

P.S.

This post may not be one of our travels to places or such but we also consider our work as one of our paths through life. :-)

...the voyage has begun...

I agree with my partner (see post below). The city noise, stress from work, problems of the family and almost everything that would force a person to escape, these are the reasons we have begun to love travelling. From the nearest town from Manila to the highlands of Sagada, we'd go anywhere to take those precious time to savor the fresh air we've been missing.

We'll try to go back as far as the first time we've travelled alone (meaning the two of us alone). We'll try to remember each and every step of our way to those beautiful places we've loved and cherished. I hope you'll enjoy walking with us through the memory lane.

Til our next post folks!

♥♥♥Ruthy♥♥♥

heating up the engine.. - réchauffer le moteur.

Going elsewhere is what everyone would like to do specially when we are caught up in the middle of chaos..stressed and burned out.. trying to escape the the real world and grabbing all the possible time that you can get even if it is only a day just to breathe and be still in the quietness of mother nature.. away from city noises and away from anyone else..

Today,I will start to heat up the engine and begin our journey as me and my partner will tell you the Tattoed Memoirs of our escapades, places that we've been to and will be going to, roads we've walked on and will walk along, the food we've eaten and will taste; people we've met and will meet;the time we've spent and will be spending for the rest of our lives.

Join us as we travel and discover other places we've never been to and together we will be sharing our thoughts and opionions to those places just for you and everyone else.

♀♀pearl♀♀