Happy Holidays! 2015

 

Holidays in the Philippines. We may be incomplete in numbers but not in spirit. You know, it somehow feels strange that my lola is gone. At times I feel like she's just around watching over us. Well of course seeing someone physically is  different but you know what I mean?

Man if it's hard for me, it sure is harder for my mom. The night of my arrival, my mom told me that she just put these lights up for me to feel the spirit of Christmas but if I weren't here, she wouldn't have done this. My feels. 

But you know, with or without these lights, even without lola, I can feel it deep in my core (Christmas spirit). I know that she wanted me to come home this season so having fulfilled that, even if I can't see her, like, emotionally, I'm okay. Of course there are time when I feel like breaking down but you know, generally, I am okay. It turned out that this post got nothing to do with Holidays but anyways, gotta let my feelings out. And again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ;)

December 25, 2015, for the first time in forever, we went to the church without lola. It was an odd feeling but you know, not bringing it up and reflecting kind of makes it easier by a whole lot. I personally prayed for peace of mind. For us not to dwell on things that will make us weep.

I would love to see this tree at night. 

It was my second mass since I got back from Japan and I was really stoked and happy that I get to attend this ceremony again. Just to put it on record, I didn't attend mass for the whole duration that I was in Japan. I know I should fulfill my duty wherever I am but you know, I'll probably start you with "I will go if I feel like listening to the homily and not be physically inside the church and have my mind somewhere else." So there's that. 

I always tell everyone how beautiful our churches are. Like, it's a work of art. With every details and all that stuff. They're just really pretty to look at. If  I can, I want to go to as many churches as possible. Ciao!

Everyday Cheers! Milk Tea

I have tried the teas here before and I remember liking it and their SMORES. For some reason, we didn't order it the first time I revisited. 

Us three. 

Bestfriend and I ordered Dark Chocolate Rock Salt and Cheese whilst the cousin ordered that in the middle. 

Cheese flavored French Fries. 

Also one of the reasons I liked it here is that it used be a pretty place. It turned out high school students ruined it. Like, everything is vandalized and all that. 

I hope they would renovate and be stricter about this issue though. If I see someone, susumbong ko talaga. Haha forever kontra bida. 

The second time I revisited, I went with my bestfriend and two sisters. 

The forever magka-away sisters. 
 

Smores! Here's the catch though! Before, there used to be a solid piece of Hershey's Bar inside the smores but now, they just blessed it with chocolate sauce. With that being said, it's not as good as it was before. Please bring back the previous recipe kahit add it to the cost nalang. I hate it when restos settle for something lesser just to keep up their price. Some people have to understand that some people are willing to pay for the prize. Ciao! 

UST #PaskuhanForever

I always look forward to Paskuhan. I wasn't able to go last year so I was looking forward to attending this one. And I'm still debating whether I enjoyed or not. Okay maybe I'm being too harsh. Just gotta say I did. 

UST MAIN BUILDING at its best. That time, they invited peeps from Panasonic and they planned to turn the Main Building in some sort of a projector and so we waited for like 20 minutes or show before the "show". 

SQUAD GOALS

Kudos to us for actually being extra patient and accomplishing everything. 

This is when they were just calibrating the projectors. It was actually already really pretty that time. We weren't in the best position to appreciate the show fully but it was awesome nonetheless.

Basically the show was about the Nativity. Then the spirit of giving and all that. 

Can I just say that after this projection thing, there was some sort of a stampede. I don't really get some people who "attend" Paskuhan but don't really bother watching any of it. Like, people who just stay in the CAR PARK LANE. Yup! 7 years, same problem. And yes, that caused the stampede. Which leads me to my second point.

SMILING THROUGH THE CROWD

Different events, different venues. So much hassle. Basically, we needed to move from the Main Building to the Practice Gym, to the Grandstand, then back to the gym again. Why? I get that it's muddy and all that but that's not the point! Two years ago, the same thing happened and we survived the muddy grandstand. Sort of. Also, to top it all off, it was raining that time so moving around was made more difficult. HASSLE. HASSLE. 

BAYMAX THOUGH

This post is becoming more of a rant but you know, please understand that this is what's on my mind. 

But you know, I still kept my cool. Kind of. Hahaha. I was actually a little bit worried because it rained hard during the fireworks so I thought they're gonna stop the presentation at some point but nah. 

UST Paskuhan Fireworks 2015

The fireworks was predictably awesome but lacked in music. I was expecting a pyromusical but should have went to a different place if I wanted that perfected so yeah. I still think the other years' display were better. Anyways, after the fireworks, we went back to the gym and our initial position, the front, was already occupied. We barely can see the stage at this time. Meh. 

At the end, it was great. Not my favorite out of the 7 Paskuhans that I've witnessed but you know, it doesn't have to be the same all the time anyways. Ciao!

Take me Home <3

Selfie. 

It was actually my first time to go to the airport alone. Let alone going to another country alone. But for some reason, I wasn't nervous. Anyways, my itinerary that time was Sagamihara-Machida-Narita. All about 2 hours and 30 minutes away from home. I planned to take the first train but I was like, too early. So I took the next train. Then when I was down the entrance of my mansion, I felt like my face was too hot (it's winter) so I thought I wasn't able to turn off the heater so I went back up again. At this point I really don't have any time to spare so I rushed my way to the station. I was able to make it on time but then when I tapped my SUICA CARD, it  turned out I don't have enough credits remaining so quickly, I asked the lady to load the card and she said I have to do it alone. Clearly, no time left for me. I missed the train so I really have to do everything quickly when I arrive at MACHIDA. Or else, I'll miss my bus. It was a very tiring moment because of time limits and stuff but everything else was peaceful. 

I still arrived at Narita International Airport an hour early so still no problem. I checked-in online so no problem really but I wanted to like do everything quickly for me to able to roam around and eat and do last minute shopping. The lady at the station was really nice because you know, when I checked-in online, I wasn't able to select a seat and she was really nice enough to offer and said there are window and aisle seats still available. So I chose window. 

I thought I'd eat a light meal but other restaurants are kind of full that time so I went to eat chicken curry set meal instead. 

Chicken Katsu Curry 

After eating, I went to the passport control, bought some stuff, then I still have like 45 minutes to spare so I went to the charging station and charged my phone. Slowly walked to my boarding window then waited a little more. My arrival time is like 3:55 in the arbo. I slept the whole flight and will occasionally wake up and check the time, right? I woke up at around 4:10 and we're still up in the air. It was very windy that time and we were warned that we'll be landing but the captain decided to delay the landing or something I don't know. I think we landed at around 5:00 pm. 

With the family! The flight was actually an hour late but you know as long as you get along with your family at the end of the day, it's alright I guess. 

I didn't tell anyone but a friend but I actually really planned to eat at Jollibee first when I arrive but I guess momma really knows best. So yeah, ciao! :) 

EXPLORING Takasaki

Takasaki has been one of my favorite cities to visit recently. It`s not much but going here kind of gives me a peace of mind of some sort.

When we were in Yokohama, I saw this double deck-ish kind of train compartment and it was my first time seeing one so I was like, what the heck is this? And Bry explained that it is a GREEN CAR and it is where passengers can somehow ride (for a cost) to avoid the hassle of standing and/or crowded trip. I initially thought it's only for airports and stuff. 

As a rule, you have to tap your SUICA CARD right  away or else the attendant would have to ask you to pay in cash. What happened to us is that we didn't have a loaded card so cash it was. The fee actually depends on your destination and I remember ours was like 1000 yen plus each so yeah it`s kind of pricey but I can imagine how convenient this gimmick would be for late commuters or like PWD.

The smell of poultry. I haven`t even thought of that when I first exited the station but Bry kind of pointed it out. It was bothersome the first few times but I guess it grew on me and I don`t mind it much now. 

Very subtle station. 

It`s one of Gunma`s major station and with Shinkansen connections all over, I can see why. The station is actually quite big and quite lots of stalls to visit and there are actually quite a lot of local souvenir shops so awesome. 

I have actually been here for maybe like 8 times or more but I still haven`t got in the building at the back. Although I should have. But I don`t know when I`ll be back here. 

It was September when I first visited so it`s like a transition to fall but the trees there were kind of ahead the season so I was like, must take pictures!

As mentioned, they actually are somehow an agricultural city of some sort so they did have quite a lot of rice fields and stuff. The first time I visited, this is how it looked like. 

Couple of visits after, they turned yellow. Am I the only one amazed how nature works? 

Totally out of the plan but there`s actually a park nearby and obstacle courses and it`s totally not the ideal activity considering the time but it turned out to be a great idea. 

When we visited, I remember this day being the day the moon turn BLOOD RED but I guess not in ASIA but we did get quite an awesome view that night with the stars surrounding and shining from above.

Then this happened. 

Harvest season!

I saw how it happened. I feel like a proud momma. Hahahaha 

Even this is nice to look at. Like, you can see that Japan is not only about Tokyo. 

Fall.

Inside the train.

On the difference note, you`ll be amazed on how vintagey the trains are there. Some modern and some are like this and I`m not even complaining. It`s awesome as it is. It`s like Japan way back when. I suggest you do visit Gunma. Ciao!