2012 Adventures

Just late last year, I had my first international trip in Hong Kong. It was National Day and the Chinese celebrates it with 25-minutes land and air fireworks by the pier. Craning and staring at the endless barrage of sparklers, I had on this goofy grin with eyes beaming like there's no tomorrow. It was then that I realized: I live to travel. I can't imagine doing anything else with the rest of my life. So I decided to up the ante and booked 2 international and 2 local trips for 2012. Little did I know that I will fly away more than 5 times.

Coron (2/3 of Bucket List #9)
Taiwan (cherry blossoms, need I say more?)
Guangzhou (my first business trip.. I've prayed for this and God gave it 4 times)
Shenzhen (stopover to Window of the World)
Hong Kong (my first border crossing back to shopping country)
Huangpu (my first on-site inside the warehouse plant)
Bacolod (Masskara festival)
Thailand (Bucket List #4 because I can't wait another year of not seeing Yi Peng)
Laos (a nice surprise because I never expected crossing the border)

The year started with a lot of frustrations and disappointments which gladly cascaded into a series of beautiful surprises. This what I live for and I will continue being penniless to see the world.

Reactions:

Tough Guys Act Tough

It really gets on my nerves when guys can't accept a rock band releasing a perfectly good slow song. They would whine about the band changing for the worse and calling them "cheeseballs" when in fact, they (secretly) like Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition. It's like their defense mechanism to act all macho and disregard anything with a cello/violin.



Coheed and Cambria's The Afterman is an amazing single off their new album though admittedly not the normal heavy sound. But everything is still the old vibe with the catchy guitar riffs and well thought of lyrics linked to Amory Wars. The tempo just took down a notch. There's nothing wrong with being soft once in a while.

Reactions:

Brokeback

Whoever thought of the Globe slogan "Go Lang ng Go" must be a part of the rich kids of Instagram. Unless you're one of them, it's not safe to adhere to such mantra. My yes-es amounted to plane tickets of 3-4 local towns and 3-4 countries and I'm pretty sure this will take a toll on me soon - on unattended gatherings, on blocked fashion websites and cheap thrills, on increased work-from-home days, on stressful plead to project manager to move timings and so on.

Reality hasn't given me the big slap yet, but there's a pit in my stomach that keeps on telling me that I just can't do it all next time - at least not at the same year. I need to drill this down my head for my future wanderlust: "Ticket buying is dangerous to your wealth. Book wisely."

Reactions:

Gibson and Enid's Infinite Playlist

After finishing the film Ang Nawawala (What Isn't There), I had a few questions and some nit-picks here and there. Nevertheless, it was a great coming-of-age story about heartbreak and finally resolving "what isn't there". The film was a visual ride from the Christmas-decored streets of Manila and all too familiar college places such as Route 196 and Cubao X. Here are the Top 10 scenes that are just beautiful (most of which had clips in the trailer):

1. Sharing Twin Popsies and toasting with it seems to be banal but in the film, it's nostalgic and sweet. It makes me want to ask someone to 7-11 and grab a Twin Popsies as well.

2. Challenging someone with a better band that they find at a record store. For any music fan, this is the best way to get to know someone - through music choices.

3. Dedicating a song during a romantic moment that isn't slow music. It was upbeat and definitely old. It was a jolly song that felt like it came from AM radio. It was a surprising tempo and you just had to dance with it.

4. Two persons wearing different headphones but sharing the same song they played at the exact moment.

5. Exchanging a wind tunnel. I'm not a smoker so I was not familiar with this one until now. It's basically puffing smoke and transferring to someone. I think it's a cooler version of a nose graze.

6. A mother that cannot tell which is which from her twin sons. Forgiveable enough, but not when it was needed the most.

7. Holding up a phone on a live band so that the one you're calling can hear it. I had the same experience when I missed going to the Eraserheads reunion concert. Hearing the background noises of your caller (especially if it's music) really makes you feel like you're just right there.

8. Group of friends air drumming to Minsan by Eraserheads when it got played in a food shop.

9. The mere appearance of Bogs Jugo.

10. Sharing a cigarette with a dead twin brother. This, for me, is the best scene of the film. It begs to be watched rather than explained.

Reactions:

Tony, Le S2

As much as I love gadgets, I have never been one to keep in trend with the phone market. I'm good with whatever can do call and text. You see, I have never even owned a brand new cellphone. All I've owned were hand-me-downs from my family. And I met the Samsung Galaxy series:

It was love at first sight. And because I was in love, he's mine now. Presenting Tony, the Galaxy S2:

My first brand new phone and I can say it's worth the wait. Seth finally has a playmate with matching Hello Kitty outfits.

Reactions:

Flightless Bird

I think it's time for me to create a slow dance mix. The songs are piling up. Most recent from the list is 'Angels', the single from The xx's new album. It has a slower pace compared to their usual tracks but the classic xx drum machine and synths are still there. However as mentioned, it's slower and definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Usually, this is tagged as a song to help you fall asleep. I believe though there's a huge difference between sleeping and dreaming. This is the kind of song that makes you close your eyes and dream of endless possibilities.

Reactions:

I Feel So

When you've reached the extent of what you feel, the venting stops and you just remain speechless as you throw the white flag. I think this song pretty much sums every morsel of what stoicism must be.



Life is madness. All I can do is stare at what it does to me.

Reactions:

All I Want For Christmas

..aside from plane tickets are cameras!

Wish #1: I wish I have a trusty underwater camera.
Being in love with travel, it's such a shame if I can't document the awesomeness underwater as well. After weighing my options between Nikon AW100 (too pricey) and Sony TX10 (cracks easily), my ultimate wish would be an Olympus Tough TG-810. It also has panoramic features! I've always wanted to take an image where one half is land and the other's water.

Wish #2: I wish my photos have a dreamy, old-school feel.
Clear photos are nice and all. But when I'm having random moments with friends, I want photos to have a nostalgic feel whether it's via saturation or grainy quality. Thus the year-old dream of owning a Digital Harinezumi is revived. Plus points since it's really small so you won't look jeje taking pictures inside the mall. But the best thing is that it's digital, given that I never wanted to develop a relationship with film.. until Wish #3.

Wish #3: I wish I can take artsy photos.
Actually, Harinezumi can already cover this wish or maybe even just Instagram. But for some reason, I'm deeply infatuated with Sprocket Rocket. It's the combination of panorama, sprockets and just being overly exposed. I can't believe I'm saying this but: I can't wait to buy this and 35mm film.

Reactions:

Sethela

Seth, my prehistoric Touch (1st Gen 8GB), finally broke down on me. I haven't been the perfect owner either since (a) I let it just fall around without any casing and (b) I leave it around in direct tropical sunlight which causes overheats. The last straw was when I took it to a shoreline and it suddenly rained. Oops.

Since I can't live without music, I didn't wait for the new gen in September. Local radio is unbearable. I can't stand one more "Kadyot lang!" or a kid wincing "WIN REYDIYO!" five times. So I finally bought the latest gen from my friend JM's Torque Gadget Online Shop for almost less than 2k in retail price.

Here are sexy pictures of Seth 2.0: Ipod Touch 4th Gen 32GB / Php 12,500.00:

Reactions:

Evening Sun

For my second mix, it's inspired by roadtrip excitement - from seating on the backseat and waking up your friend since you're "Almost There", finding "Young Love" on the beach but not knowing his/her name and ending with a peaceful journey back "Home". I had a better range of genres since the recipient, Rhochella, appreciates some indie. I took the liberty and injected indie (pop, folk, rock), alternative, garage rock.

As for the album art, my friends and I do this water hair flip thing whenever we swim. I thought it was perfect cover art since Rhochella's graceful doing it. I actually had second thoughts since I have never drawn still mid-air water. But I'm glad I tried since it actually looks okay. And as a side note, font title was copied from Cobra Starship. :|

1 Almost There - Opus Orange
2 Girl Just Want To Have Fun - Starfucker
3 Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
4 Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
5 Big Sur - The Thrills
6 Chandeliers - Summer Fiction
7 Eyes As Candles - Passion Pit
8 All Nothing - The Good China
9 Young Love - Mystery Jets
10 Daylight - Matt and Kim
11 Heaven's On Fire - The Radio Dept.
12 You Only Live Once - The Strokes
13 Lisztomania - Phoenix
14 Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Reactions:

Blue Valentine

After watching Blue Valentine, I wasn't sure if it was great or just okay. Mainly because I can't pinpoint how and when Dean and Cindy lost their love. I could have easily cried buckets if they pounded on an idea that can make a heart break. After giving it much thought, it was probably the point of the film - there's no specific scene or instance in one's life wherein you know love's gone. Love can slowly die in the course of everyday life. You get used to what you once thought was adorable and when infatuation clears up you realize that you never really liked it. Of course, it's not just that; it also tackles questions about growing up, spouse responsibilities etc. That's just how I can put it simply especially since I wouldn't know how a dying (or burning) love feels like.


There's a scene that left a big imprint on me which was Cindy asking her grandma how love feels like wherein her grandma said she hasn't found it. That grandma probably found it only in the beginning of their relationship. And so Cindy posed the question, "How can you trust your feelings if they can just disappear like that?"

I love that the movie is the cold, brutal truth - it's refreshing. Overall, great anti-love drama and plus points since Grizzly Bear scored it.

Reactions:

Reasons To Sing

I thought it was one of those things I say I'll do but actually won't. Surprisingly, I actually finished my very first mixtape! Since the recipient, Chin, is a girly girl who likes acoustic, the indie sound is chirpy, sunny and inspired. In a nutshell, I want her to have reasons to sing when she hears the songs thus the album title.

1 Because I Do - Pearl and The Puppets
2 Fresh Feeling - The Eels
3 Ask - The Smiths
4 Reasons To Sing - The Crash
5 Oregon Girl - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
6 I Feel It All - Feist
7 Make Me Smile - Pearl and The Puppets
8 Babygirl - Anthony Green
9 The Violet Hour - Sea Wolf
10 Paint The Silence - South
11 Big Jumps - Emiliana Torrini
12 Long Haul - Voxtrot
13 The Everglow - Mae

Reactions: