China Chronicles Day 1 (Part II)

We finally made it to Nanjing Road where our hotel, Park Hotel was located. We simply brought our luggage up, freshened up a bit and decided to go out and start walking. Since the afternoon was basically free for us, we had hoped to make some headway into our shopping. So, Jackie, Jane, Diane, Ricky and I went out.

Nanjing Road is a 5 KM thoroughfare that houses a lot of stores, malls, restaurants and other commercial and tourist attractions in Shanghai. Now, the cold is getting to me; it’s still 9 degrees maybe even colder than that. I was thinking about a steaming cup of Starbucks house blend or the Caramel Macchiato but then again, it would have to wait. By the way, there are several Starbucks outlets there….Ricky & I seem to have a homing device when it comes to Starbucks…


along nanjing road

We were looking for the tiangges but we couldn’t find that particular area they went to last year so we just decided to walk along Nanjing Rd. KFC and McDonalds are very popular here, Pizza Hut is considered fine dining and Haagen Dazs is THE ice cream parlor here. We were probably more than halfway when we turned around and walked back towards Park Hotel. On our way back we finally went inside a mall, the name of which I forget. Then, we went into Shanghai’s No. 1 Department Store (that’s the name of the store), which is very much like our SM here. We made our way to the Lower Ground Floor and saw a bakeshop very similar to Bread Talk - Surprise. We bought some bread, pastries and two mango crepes.

We decided to have a snack since we were very hungry and assumed that dinner wouldn’t be for another hour or so. We decided to check out Pizza Hut. The interiors looked nice and it wasn’t the usual look of Pizza Hut outlets in Manila. Their menu had more than one kind of salad, pasta and coffee. They expanded the menu to cater to the needs of locals. While waiting for our Seafood Pasta and coffee (odd combination don’t you think?) we ate the mango crepe we bought from Surprise. And Surprise! It was good! Masarap sya! The crepe was light and almost melted in your mouth, the cream filling delectable not heavy and the mango slices perfectly ripe for an over-all dessert delight! Mmmmmm… The pizza came and the coffee was served so, kanya-kanyang kain muna…



where's the pizza?

Afterwards, we showed up at the hotel, waited for T-O-N-Y and went off to dinner then the Acrobat Show. The weather like they said was unpredictable and by the time we were at the Hall for the Acrobat Show, it was raining making it so much colder than it was in the afternoon.

I planned to sleep through the show but the first part were the contortionists so, I was pretty much glued to seat, wide-eyed, mouth open and awed at how the girls (they seemed so young) could get their bodies to do those seemingly impossible positions! Wow! There were 5 of them, all equally flexible hehehe. I could just imagine how they train everyday just to be able to do those poses. Other parts were the young lads juggling hats, cloth balancing, seat balancing, acrobatic roller-skating, plate balancing and the finale, the iron ball. That was one of my favorite parts. Onstage there’s this huge iron ball. Then a motorcycle comes on stage, goes into the ball and just goes around, up and down the ball. Then, another motor joins him and so on and so forth until there are 5 of them inside the iron ball! It’s amazing how they could all fit in, run around the ball, sometimes in the same direction and sometimes not and manage to keep a safe distance from one another? No motorcycles stalled or died they were all up and running! Ang galing! May konting stunts pa nga!


wheels in the ball


After the show it was back to the hotel to pack again for a two-day stay on an island. During my stay in Shanghai, the cold weather made it impossible for me to take a bath in the morning so I take a bath at night and just take a shower in the morning. I thank God for water heaters….

Morning call for Wednesday: 4:00 a.m. *sigh*

China Chronicles Day 1

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Day 1 – Departure from Manila
(Colored and italicized parts were actual notes i scribbled in my palm pilot...)

We left Gotcha early Monday night and slept over at my SIL’s house since we would be leaving for the airport very early on Tuesday, March 22. We were up and about at 2:30 a.m.. Ricky & I had to take turns using the bathroom and I made some last minute packing. By 4:30 a.m., the four of us -Jackie (my SIL), William (Jackie’s husband), Ricky and I were on our way to the airport.

When we got there, the lines were a bit long and for our flight, PR 338, there were only two or three counters open for the baggage check-in. Jane (Jackie’s SIL) and Diane (Jane’s SIL) caught up with us there. We went thru immigration and waited a bit before boarding. The plane left Manila skies at 7:40 a.m. The trip was about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

We stashed our thick jackets in one bag and checked it in since it was hot in Manila & on board the plane. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any connecting hallway (is that what they call it?) from the plane to the terminal so we alighted from the plane, walked a short distance and rode the service bus from the tarmac to the terminal. Poor Ricky, he only had a short-sleeved shirt on so once we claimed our baggage, everyone took out their jackets. Wow! The cold weather was a welcome change from the stifling heat in Manila, or so I thought…wait until the next few hours …

It’s 10:47 a.m .- we’ve finally collected our bags and we’re waiting for our tour guide. The weather is 9 degrees and boy, it’s been quite some time since I’ve been in weather as nippy as this!

It was past 11 a.m. when we finally located our tour guide T-O-N-Y. We left Pu Dong Int’l Airport, rode a bus and began our journey towards Shanghai.

The first thing I noticed was that China is really big, huge, vast and did I say Big? On the bus T-O-N-Y shifted into tour guide mode and was explaining what was on our right or on our left while giving us facts about Shanghai. Across Pu Dong Int’l airport, he said that they were building a 2nd terminal. All I could say was wow! The 2nd terminal would probably be another huge terminal; maybe 2 or 3 NAIAs in it. Yup, that big.

Looking back, I realize that I should’ve whipped out my camera to take a pic of the place. Anyway…I was completely lost on the names; Tony sort of loses the l’s in words so sometimes, he spells it out hence T-O-N-Y - that’s how he introduced himself. “my name is Tony, T-O-N-Y…” when I ask ricky where the tour guide is, I always say, “nasan si T-O-N-Y?” babaw ko, but I was amused.

The highway (see? Can’t remember the highway’s name…) we were moving along was 7 lanes wide with no bumps, no sudden potholes and no MMDA vehicles feigning road repair. The ride was smooth and I noticed that there were signs everywhere. It wouldn’t be difficult to get around because there was always a sign to tell you where to get off or where you’re headed.

While we were on the road, here are some things T-O-N-Y shared with us:

* Magnolias are the flower of shanghai
* Land of about 100 sq. m. = 1.5 M Yen
* Our Driver was Mr. Wu

He was going on and on but I slowly zoned out and began seeing the surroundings on my own. Cars on the road: I saw mazdas, accords, Hyundai models and a lot of VW’s the models of which I don’t see in manila. There are a lot of VWs, the taxis are VW sedans – Santana and a couple of buicks. The latter you would see a lot of because China produces about 250,000 Buicks a year.

Upon arriving in Shanghai (city proper), I immediately noticed that the outermost lane is dedicated for bikes, scooters, motorcycles and anything that has 2 wheels. Amazing… you see women, men, teenagers riding bikes, scooters in suits, skirts, boots, heels, sneakers and vehicle drivers respect that bike lane… here, you rarely see bikes or motorcycles running along edsa. Another thing I noticed is the transportation system. It amazes me no end. There are the highways, the roads, the bike lane, the elevated rings, the bridges, the subway, the train; I mean, they have developed a transport system that works. They have buses, taxis and even cable buses. No rusty or depleted buses running along the highways. The bus itself is clean; the seat covers aren’t tattered or covered with graffiti. The islands are well kept, manicured like the front lawns of the rich and famous if I may say so…a mixture of trees, bushes, flowers adorn the islands of the roads in Shanghai.

Also, there are also barricades or short fences that somehow serve as a demarcation line for buses plying on a certain route. And drivers respect these things on the road they don’t knock them down just because they’re in the way. So unlike the Pinoy drivers who think the road should follow their driving. It’s like driving through Subic or Clark. In the whole of Shanghai not just one part.

Oh well so much for that, going back to my notes…

Now we’re crossing Lupu Bridge the newest bridge built in Shanghai and we’re on our way to Old Shanghai. Below the bridge is the HuangPu River, considered the Mother River in China. They call Old Shanghai, a building forest because there are so many buildings.

i'm back!!!!!

hello everyone! belated happy easter! how was your holy week?

well, i'm back from the holy week holiday as everyone is and i'm back from china! yup, you read it right china. i spent holy week there with ricky, my SIL jackie and her husband william and jane (william's sister) and diane, jane's SIL. the six of us were part of a group of 14; we joined a group tour.

well, it was very, very exciting as i've never been to china and all i can say is it's BIG! Big, big, big... before my trip there, i knew it was big, a country having the world's largest population of over a billion people couldn't be a small country but once i was there, man oh man, i knew it was huge.

i'll be blogging about our stay there but please forgive me because i need to attend to gotcha first and of course the pictures need to be developed and/or uploaded...i promise, there's a lot for me to share with you...

i do too!

the brides (in our younger years...)



february 28 is an important date in the family because it's mommy's birthday! but starting this year, it's doubly important because ate lou and dan (bayaw!!!) got married on the 28th.

unfortunately, ricky and i weren't there during the civil ceremony. we really wish we were...

ate lou and dan, we wish you all the best, stay in love, be happy and be together, forever. congratulations! (when are our nieces & nephews coming?)

the 34th in review

wow, i'm still a bit sick but i owe you guys a lot of posts so let's get it rolling! here's that survey i was talking about. (thank you very much pazette!)

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done? opened a business and got married!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions and will you make more for next year? i cannot remember if i made any resolutions. actually i don't think i have in a long time. i'll try to come up with some this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? nope. unfortunately the exact opposite happened, our good friend giselle lost her baby.

4. Did anyone close to you die? someone close to the family did, our nana maria...

5. What countries did you visit? hmmm haven't been "out" for a loooonnnngggg time. i hope things will change this year

6. What would you like to have in 2005 (35th year) that you lacked in 2004 (34th year)? patience (tons of it), good health & spiritual guidance

7. What date/s from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory? december 30 - when ricky and i got married

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? i'd have to say opening the store and preparing for our wedding simultaneously. whew! i even shed a few pounds because of that.

9. What was your biggest failure? failure...let me see...that would probably be quitting my job in the early part of 2004. i really don't know what went wrong. i guess i just wasn't cut out for that job. what makes it even more painful is that a lot of people actually thought i was well-suited for the position and that in a couple of months or years i'd be a top honcho.

10. Did you suffer an illness or injury? thank god nothing serious but i haven't gotten rid of my colds, rashes (allergies) and asthma...

11. What was the best thing you bought? i can't think of anything...

12. Where did most of your money go? i have absolutely no idea!

13. What did you get really, really excited about? opening the store and our wedding

14. What song will always remind you of 2004? i'd have to say minsan lang kitang iibigin (ariel rivera) which was my bridal march

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder? happier definitely!
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner but gaining it all back since i have been eating a lot
iii. Richer or poorer? hmmm i'd like to think richer, but not in the monetary sense

16. What do you wish you'd done more? i wish i blogged, danced, wrote and helped others more

17. What do you wish you'd done less of? procrastinating and worrying

18. How did you spend Christmas? i was with ricky's family for noche buena, alone at the apt after midnight then christmas day was at the store.

19. Did you fall in love in 2004? hell yeah! i got married!

20. How many one-night stands? none...

21. What was your favorite TV program? i got hooked on the amazing race especially when they came here. of course there are, my all-time faves, will & grace and oprah. i didn't have access to cable then; but now that i do, hopefully if i come across this survey again, i'll have more answers next year

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? hmmm, nope

23. What was the best book you read this year? oh gosh not one but, i'd have to say the dan brown novels

24. What was your greatest musical discovery? musical? to tell you the truth, nothing. if i may tweak the question a bit, my greatest "online" discovery was BLOGGING (it's so darn addictive!)

25. What do you want to get in 2005? unlike #6, i'm turning this into my mini wishlist (tangibles): 1.) a laptop 2.) i'm in dire need of either a hair straightening/rebonding session or hair color. i've too many "white hair" 3.) a new cellphone 4.) it wouldn't hurt to wish for a car (i must admit, this is impossible, nevertheless...) alright? well, i'll update this list as the days pass

26. What was your favorite film of this year? can i say filmS? Kill Bill 1, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo (forgive me but were all of these shown in '04?)

27. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? nothing special, was here at the store and just had dinner with ricky... i turned 35...

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? let me think about this one and see if i can tell you....

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004? everything and anything casual, jeans, shirts, sandals, tennis shoes...

30. Who/what kept you sane? ricky, he always does

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? angelina jolie, the F.R.I.E.N.D.S trio (jennifer, courtney and lisa) and locally, kris aquino (not really fancy, but i am intrigued by this woman's life!)

32. What political issue stirred you the most? fortunately, i'm apolitical but maybe the pork barrel? or maybe fpj's decision to run? or the fact that we've been named one of the most corrupt nations in the world (or is it the asia-pacific region?)?

33. Who do you miss? my family (we are scattered around the world...) and tess, who migrated to canada

34. Who was the best new person you met? best NEW person? it's difficult to choose but, i must say that this year i've appreciated my friends more. we're about 6 (just us girls, 9 if you count the hubbies too) in our clique and we went through a lot last year. our wedding, one of us migrating to canada, one of us losing a baby, one of us getting an out-of-the-country assignment (then upon returning to the phils., an out-of-town assignment) and a lot more. but our friendship has grown STRONGER and we all treasure each other a lot...

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004: in the quest for our own happiness, we may hurt others; these people could even be those who are closest to your heart. never lose sight of what you feel so strongly about and wish to attain, we have only one life and it should be lived the way you see fit.

ahhhhh-choo!!!

hello everyone damn! i've been sick since monday, got a nasty cold, slight fever (monday & tuesday) and coughing fits so my posts have been put off. but, i was able to add a ticker that counts down to the 1st Babuy Anniversary! so much has happened since my birthday and i've got a couple of drafts to publish so bear with me for a couple more days and you'll be able to view more than just my lovely pose (don't i look cute? aw c'mon...)

let's blow out the candles!

My Fave Pic


a couple of years ago, i unearthed my "baby pics" and showed them to ricky. out of all the pics, he singled out this pic. for the next few weeks, he got a kick out of asking me to "mimic" this pose; i'd oblige and he'd laugh... i told him na isa sa favorite baby pics ko yan and he says, oo nga, ako din...

actually, i'm posting this because in about 8 hours, i'm officially 35 years old. GEEZ!!!! i'm so ancient! but i believe that our age is just a couple of numbers and i really don't feel like i'm 35 except when i look at myself in the mirror long and hard and see those faint wrinkles. buti na lang daw at bungisngis ako and "smiling face" at least i look like i'm in my late 20's...

as the virginia slims ad goes, "you've come a long way baby..." looking back, i sure have. i consider my birthday the real New Year and this is the time when i try to be introspective about me, my life and hopeful about where i'm going...

i hope to post a "questionnaire" about what happened in the past year... now if only i could find it.... a manifestation of old age, no doubt....

Tag, I'm IT!

I've been tagged by Dang :)

Random 10:
1. Love Moves in Mysterious Ways (Julia Fordham)
2. Step in the Name of Love (R. Kelly)
3. My Friend (Groove Armada)
4. What You Won't Do for Love (Go West)
5. Lately (Workshy)
6. Dancing in the Moonlight (Toploader)
7. When I Met You (Apo Hiking Society)
8. Crazy in Love (Beyonce)
9. The Way You Look Tonight (Tony Bennett)
10. Get the Party Started (Pink)

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer? 567 MB

2. The last CD you bought is: "Songs from Home" - Lea Salonga

3. What is the last song you listened to before this message: J. Lo's "Get Right"

4. Write down five songs you listen to a lot or mean a lot to you:

1. Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin - Ariel Rivera (my bridal march)
2. Love Moves in Mysterious Ways -Julia Fordham (sums up what happened between ricky & me)
3. Don't Know What to Do - Ric Segreto (reminds me of our McDo days...)
4. Get Right - J. Lo ('la lang, I love listening to dance music...)
5. Step in the Name of Love - R. Kelly (I love listening to this; makes me wanna dance all day and night :))

5. Who are you gonna pass this stick to? (3 persons and why)

jaymee - anong nasa iPod mo? jenny - panggulo... :) n!ce - panggulo din ;P

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the Year of the Wood Rooster will be a good one for all of us! To find out what's in store for you, check out this article I found on Yehey! by Merlina Merton.

in my element (thanks nyree ...)

Your Element Is Air

You dislike conflict, and you've been able to rise above the angst of the world. And when things don't go your way, you know they'll blow over quickly. Easygoing, you tend to find joy from the simple things in life. You roll with the punches, and as a result, your life is light and cheerful. You find it easy to adapt to most situations, and you're an open person. With you, what you see is what you get... and people love that!

What's Your Element?