I wonder if there's a dress code for tomorrow's Rapture.

Woohoo! I'm on the Lap Giraffe Waitlist

Yep! Won't be long until I get my very own tiny giraffe.

Photo from the PLG site

For more photos and videos, visit the Petite Lap Giraffe page. If you want to be on the waitlist, click here. 

The Chicago Bulls Are Back!!!

I have not watched an NBA game since the Bulls won their 2nd 3-peat in 1998. These were the guys who made it interesting for me (plus their awesome bench in Kerr, Kukoc, Wennington, Brown, Buechler).

                                     

After watching the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, I think it's time to come out of the woodwork.
Thanks to these guys.

        

           

        

It's Official

I'm engaged. Yup, you read it right. I officially got engaged on Friday the 13th. Would've posted this yesterday but as you all know, Blogger was down.

Warning: Objects may be larger than they appear  :)

So that's my new bling. Simple, classic design just like I want it. 

If you're looking for a trust-worthy and reasonably-priced jeweler in Metro Manila, contact Meicel Jewelry. They're quite popular in almost all of the blogs and wedding forums (fora if you need to be picky) that I visited. I'm one satisfied customer. 

Coron 3D/2N Package

I have not been to Coron. That's why this promo seems so tempting.

Explore Coron, Palawan for only P13,500. This deal is inclusive of the following:

-Roundtrip airfare for 2 with Zest Air
-3D/2N stay in a Superior Room at Darayonan Lodge
-Daily breakfast
-Roundtrip airport transfer

Booking must be done within 30 days upon purchasing the coupon. For travel from June 15 to February 29, 2012.

Price is already inclusive of service charge and VAT.
For more details and great deals, visit eBay Kuponan.

When In Amsterdam...

take a canal cruise.

Straightest area of the canal. You can see right through to the 4th bridge.

walk along the Red Light District.

No photos of the girls can be taken unless you want trouble.

visit the Flower Market.

visit the Anne Frank House.

Really blurry shot of the AF door

The Anne Frank House from afar

kill time at the Sex Museum.

wander inside the Hemp Museum.

rent a bike...

Bikes everywhere!

...and go sightseeing.

Royal Palace on Dam Square

Madame Tussaud's

Munttoren Tower on Muntplein Square

An old castle-looking building turned into a restaurant

Church by the Flower Market

watch out for the train.

The train passes right in front of our hotel on Raadhuisstraat

admire the cute little canal houses and boathouses.

Canal house with nice pink windows

One of the many boathouses along the canal

hang out at a coffeeshop.

The Bulldog is a popular hotel and cafe among tourists

Abraxas is a popular coffee shop among locals

people watch while having an Amstel.

and do what the locals do.

See what the guy has in his left hand? :P

Midweek Angst

Everyone's going out-of-town or somewhere else...except me. Haven't gone anywhere since November. Boo.

Thinking of Bali

I want to go back. It's been almost two years since I traveled there. Didn't do much but party for a week, take surfing lessons and attend the awesome wedding of a good friend.

Legian Beach
Photo courtesy of  Gab G.

We took a PAL flight to Jakarta and then an Air Asia flight to Denpasar since there's no direct flight to Bali from Manila. Do not make the mistake of arriving at the JAK International airport around midnight as it's not a very nice airport. When we arrived, everything was closed except for the McDonald's right at the airport's exit and some money changers. No lounge, no nothing. No tourist desk where you can inquire on how to go to the domestic airport for your flight to Denpasar (Bali). You will be at the mercy of the cab drivers, a lot of which, will give you a ridiculous price for a short ride to the domestic airport. There is a shuttle bus but it doesn't operate round the clock. A friend paid around 60,000-70,000 IDR which is still a bit too much considering that it's only a few minutes away.

View of the pool from our room

Finally arrived in Bali and proceeded to our hotel. For a couple of nights, we stayed at the All Seasons Legian which is a nice, modern hotel. After breakfast, our next order of business was to find a money changer. Money changers are a dime a dozen in Bali. You just have to be careful where you go to. Look for one that doesn't have hidden charges (tax?) and one that won't cheat you. I chose one that offered higher exchange rates than the one a couple of stalls down and I got ripped off. 50 SGD worth. Never make the mistake of putting your money on the table. Count it first in front of the person before you give it to him/her. Never look away. Apparently, a lot of people have been scammed this way.

Anyway, despite all things mentioned, I still had a rocking time in Bali. I took an introductory course at the Quiksilver surf school. It costs USD40, includes board and rash guard rental and lasts around 2 hours. Successfully stood on the dang board after a million wipe outs and gallons of water swallowed.

Wiped out right after this photo was taken

Good-sized waves

Also did a bar crawl with friends, who like me, arrived in Bali a few days before the wedding. Most of the bars we went to were located in Kuta which is the most happening area in Bali. This is also where you'll find the Bali Bombing Monument which was built to commemorate the 202 people who died in the 2002 bombing.

Bali Bombing Monument

Bintang Beer of Indonesia
Photo courtesy of Gab G.

Last but not the least, took part in the lovely wedding of a friend..

Friend's wedding in Seminyak

Good times.