POSTCARDS FROM TALICUD ISLAND

Photos via Kristine Acharon

Back in our good old college days (naks, old? one month palang graduate! haha), we'd consume our long breaktime planning and daydreaming of an escapade somewhere far away in GenSan. We've been on several trips to the beach but we were really eyeing Davao and Samal to explore together.

So a week after graduation, we had our college-ender weekend getaway trip. It was four years in the making and weeks of allowance saving. We kind of pulled all the stops to make the trip happen because as we all know, life will be different after graduation. Just like now, PAT is already in Dubai living and carving out her own PATH. Uy, wordplay. Haha. Para di sad. :)

Anyhoo, the said getaway weekend was spent enjoying a Friday night in downtown Davao and an overnight stay at Isla Reta Resort, Talicud Island, Samal (pictured above).

I'm quite lost how to elaborate my sharing so here's a laundry list instead.

  

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR TRIP:

• I STEPPED ON A SEA-URCHIN! (PISS, PISS, PISS)

We were just about to start night swimming when I felt something thorny on my left foot. I thought it was just a sharp shell but when I felt hairlike strands piercing through my foot and was starting to get painful, I just knew that I stepped on a fuggin sea urchin ("tuyom" in vernacular).

Good thing my friend Melvin was gracious enough to give his pee (in a bottle) to partly remedy the situation while my other friends begged for more pee. (This sounds funny. haha). Luckily, there was a father who "donated" his pee (still in a bottle) since his own child also stepped on a sea urchin earlier that day. Thank heavens for kind people and warm piss. Haha.

• THE EUREKA MOMENT! (Or more likely THE "IT'S JUST A LUMINISCENT ALGAE, YOU IDIOTS") Haha

Pardon the awkward poses, but here's a photo of us discovering something so amazing....NOT. We were strolling at the shoreline when (not totally sure if it's) Kent spotted something blue and neon-ish thingy on the sand.We first thought it was just a shell (too much shell assuming) but when we touched it, it was "stretchy". Gaah, I don't know how to describe its physicality in an accurate manner but it was amazing! It's like neon powder or something.

So we were all giddy and excited since we thought we stumbled into something magical. We even started conjuring up our own amazing theories. But then turned out, those amazing things were only luminiscent algae or specifically Bioluminiscent algae something whatever. Thanks to Melvin who knows his Biology lessons well and enlightened us.

Not that biolumiscent algae aren't amazing. We were just thinking of something more magical than scientific. Like, a mermaid's poop or kryptonite? Haha.

Truly, ignorance is bliss. </3

• LYING AT THE SAND AND JUST STARING  AT THE STARRY SKY <3

Due to my "tuyom" incident, we stopped our night swimming early. Since we can't swim at the sea, we tried swimming at the sand instead. Hahaha. Joke. Seriously though, Pat, Kim, Kent and I spent the rest of the night at the shoreline. We lied at the sand and calmly watched the sky full of stars. The sound of the waves were so calming. We lay there and just forget the world. Chos. Hashtag pricelessmoments. We  loved every second of it that we almost slept on the shore! Kung wala lang high tide.

• WE ARE THE CHEAPSKATES

Since we were on a tight budget and there were other things to prioritize (food, accommodation, Starr Bar?), we had to scrimp on some things like the transportation. We had to get from point A to point B the cheapest way we can. TAXI was NEVER an option! Hahaha. 

The various modes of transportation we took were the jeep, padyak, tricycle (in the wee hours of the night and in the middle of downtown Davao!) and the yacht ferry boat (which stopped in the middle of the sea when we were on our way back to the city!).

It was tiring but also fun going through all the hassles just to push through with our plans. If there's a WILL (and WHEEL), there's always a WAY. :)

 

And to end this....

DREAM ON. Hahaha.

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COME HAIR

Photos from a quick Sunday morning pool with my cousin a few weeks ago.

If you happen to notice in the first photo, I got my hair cut short and had it "repaired" (i.e rebond). Oh no! Andyan na si crush! Hahaha. I must admit that I kind of miss my old, long, thick and wavy hair. I miss the feeling of waking up in the morning and my messy hair is all over my face and then I get to smell that no-shampoo-for-two-days salty kind of scent it emits. Hmmmm! I even miss my nasty habit of plucking out dead hair or cutting out horrible split-ends. No joke.

Also, while I'm now enjoying this new straighter and thinner hair of mine, I must suffer the consequence of not allowing my hair to get wet with chlorine-filled pools or even the seawater for a year. Which kind of sucks because I really like swimming and floating and the beach. Sigh. See? The things we sacrifice for vanity. 

Needless to say, I didn't really enjoy the water and the pool pictured above. I was just knee-dipping while looking at my cousin with jealousy as she enjoyed the pool all to herself. Sad.

But all in all, I'm quite contented with the result. It's high-time to welcome change because frankly, if I look at my previous photos nothing really much have changed - at least in physical terms - about me. (Not even my freakin' height!) And wait till you see my graduation pic! I had a fuggin stray hair untucked behind my ear. :(

Speaking of graduation, I CAN'T WAIT! It's only a few days away. But I'll save all my mushy musings about that in another post.

So that's it. 

I don't even know how one can relate the photos above with my writing content. Lol.

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LINKS I LOVE

How to not suck in making a Powerpoint. Awesome visuals guaranteed.

"A picture is worth a thousand words." These photos clearly justify. Got a bit teary eyed.
  

MANIX ABRERA of KikoMachine Komix! This is a 2011 blog post but I only happened upon it now. I like the interview part and his creative space is so clean. Asteeg! ;)


Awesome self-portraits. A better form of selfie.


 An honest to goodness post about PROCRASTINATION.


A must-read for a cheapskate. 101 Ways To Save Money


Something I'd like to try! I've got spare watercolors from my Art Appreciation class.

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2013 BOOK INVENTORY

Last year, I sort of measured my 2012 with this year recap post. 

Now, 2013 wasn't really THAT eventful for me in the sense that I haven't been anywhere new or nothing really THAT significant happened. It was an "okay" year. Life revolved mainly and comfortably around friends and family and time was spent shuttling between Gensan and Davao. There were little adventures here and there and in case I need some refreshing of those mini-adventures, there's always the Archive button of this blog.

So I came up instead with this "Book Inventory" post, in which I try to share to you an accurate list of books I've read last year. I must say that 2013 happily got me back to reading. 

Anddd, I may be a book lover but firstly, I'm a CHEAPSKATE! So I have to give a big shout out to my friends who lent me their books, free of charge. Haha. God bless awesome friends with awesome books. :)

THE LIST:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (borrowed from the university library)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (borrowed from Angela)

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D Salinger (borrowed from Melvin)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (Bought at NBS only for Php 99!)

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (borrowed from Kezia)

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (borrowed from Toni)

Looking for Alaska by John Green (borrowed from Toni)

Field Guide to Happiness for Women by Barbara Kipfer (borrowed from Ate Stacy)

How To Be Good by Nick Hornby (a Booksale find)

Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella (borrowed from Kezia)

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella (borrowed form Kezia)

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (borrowed both from Pat)

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell (borrowed both from Pat)

 Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle (Kris Kringle gift from Kent)

 

That's the full list of books I've really finished reading. There were a lot of attempts to read more, mostly books loaned out from the library, but I hate paying for fines so I return them with only half of them read. Sad.

But anyway, there will be more time for reading this year. At the moment, I've already finished reading Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (a present from my highschool BFF). I'm trying to speed-read Man Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray (borrowed from Irish) because it will be passed around my blockmates. Plus! I have in my hands Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett which I borrowed from a dear friend. Hopefully, it'll be my first ever Neil Gaiman read (plus a Terry Pratchett at that).

I wish for more awesome books to read.

And I mean not Tax and Law books for school! Haha. Joke. :)

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GRATITUDE ENTRY

It's an accurate thing to say that I'm the type of person who gets overwhelmed easily. The holidays and beginning of the year have been nothing short of overwhelming (for my standards) both in a crazy and good way. The first week of the year has been eventful to say at least. Now, I'm thankful  that I got back somehow my literary bearings and a clear mind ready for some catharsis.

I've been meaning to write an obligatory year-end post but decided to write a Gratitude Entry instead. Rather than recounting the events of the year that was, I guess it's more rewarding to list down things I am truly grateful for. I quote:

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” (William Arthur Ward)

Looking back at 2013, I am most grateful for the ties and relationships I've established. 

I'm forever grateful for the people around me. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful that my brother and sister are trying to become the best persons they can be. I am grateful for my Mom who is always our source of self-less love and care. I am grateful my siblings were both home for Christmas and when New Year came, we were all enveloped in a tight bear hug in each other's arms.

And when I say family, I also mean my extended loved ones. I am thankful for my loving aunts and uncles who never cease to be there for us no matter what. I am thankful for their generosity, patience and never-ending understanding.

I am thankful for my friends. 

I can be at my most natural and real self whenever I'm with them and best part, there's no judging. They see right through me and I see right through them. Whenever I need to hear a loving compliment or a constructive criticism, they are always there to say it to me for my own sake. I'm thankful that at most times, I don't have to explain myself and yet they "get" me. I am thankful for their time, listening ears and endless tolerance to my annoying-ness and korny-ness.

I am thankful people still find in their hearts to forgive a lame person like me. Despite my excuses, shortcomings, and even disappointing them, I'm still a recipient of their understanding.

 

I am thankful for all the struggles. If it weren't for it, I wouldn't have a new-found courage. Life truly rewards you through difficulties.

I am thankful for all the little presents I got for Christmas. I don't mean to sound materialistic but it warms the heart to be a recipient of someone else's thoughtfulness.

I am thankful that I am down to my (hopefully) last three months of college. The possibilities will be endless soon and I'm surely anticipating!

I am thankful for optimism. It pedals you to move forward and hope for a better year.

I am thankful for angels. I know they are there and they really look after us.

I am thankful for good books and awesome authors.They make life worth living.

I am grateful I got to buy a new pen, highlighter and colorful file organizers. It's always humbling to find happiness in the little things.

I am thankful I've got this blog, a personal space for me to write and share.

I am grateful that I can be creature capable of consoling and comforting. Nothing matters more in life than being there for someone in times of need.

I am grateful for life and what it has given me.

Most importantly, I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO GOD, the BIG-GUY up there who is responsible and the source for all of these wonderful people and things. His love is truly self-less and boundless. :)

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