Posting photos from my weekend Shibuya, Tokyo. I loved these shots because - I looked excited to see the popular tourist spots on the weekend. Spell LOVE! :)
I am still sharing my trip to Japan. I have tons of photos that I haven't share and choose the best one to share. Hirap Besh!You can read about my trip in Japan here. I shared some tips too. :D
I deactivated my personal Facebook profile to focus on some things that I have to do. Looks like I am liking it for almost two weeks now. I joined a Mountain Hiking activity last weekend to Mt. Ulap and it was a great adventure. I want more, but maybe after two months. You'll see the updates on my Instagram and Facebook page.
Details:
Scarf & Sweater: Uniqlo | Skirt: Penshoppe | Shoes: New Balance | Bag: Burberry | Coat: Ligh in the box
Whenever I travel I didn't just "go" to a place and stay there just for the sake of "staying" and "being" there. As much as we are falling in love to these lovely places that we visit and wish that we are living there we can't because we have to leave the place and we only bring the memories with us when we leave. As much as possible, I love living as a local to the places domestic or international.
When we say live we spell "home". Thank goodness for Airbnb.com! I am enjoying living in other places for two years now and believe me I am really liking it. When I was in Cebu I always look for my home in Manila live like I own the place. I always feel at home.
When I was in Singapore, I had a chance to experience how to live there and believe me I learned a lot and had fun even though I was juggling between personal life and work there. I stayed in a condominium in Farrer Road for a month. I will suppose to booked a place in Thailand when I was there for two weeks, but my friend offered a place to stay, but believe me I checked the available units in the same building where my friend lives and geeez! there are available rooms to stay. :)
In Tokyo, I found a private room to stay and in Shinjuku! Screaming because it was really an awesome gem to find. I had a great experience in a hostel in Osaka, but I still want my "own space" where I don't need to mind other people sleeping while me playing my favorite happy songs in Spotify.
So here guys! I would like to share you my home for few days in Tokyo.
Private Room in Shinjuku
I arrived at noon time and I was tired dealing with Google Maps and pulling my luggage to find the place. I was awake since 3AM that day because I came from Osaka. Imagine my travel time: bus ride to Kansai Airport - an hour flight to Narita - an hour and a half train to Shinjuku and more than an hour looking for the place. I paid 1000 YEN for me to check in early because the room will be available at 4PM and I needed to rest because I will meet my friends at night. Guys, It was Friday night.
This is the photo I took when I arrived from my Tour in Mt. Fuji
On my way home from I was thinking where to eat alone that I don't have to deal with the crowd, then I passed by this store and looks like for to-go food!
I ordered Pork Tonkatsu. I had a hard time what to order because there was no English menu and only photos, but hey, Uncle help me out.
After I ate my dinner, I tried my new scarf I bought in Uniqlo and a sweater because I was running out of clothes and the weather was cold.
This is why I need my own space.
In the morning, I was ready to check out, but I am waiting for my friend Yvonne from Narita because we will go around Tokyo for a mini tour. YAY!
But I was thinking how can I enjoy the hot coffee if my room is warm? So I decided to went out.
Lovely weather!
Don't worry guys, this is only 6th floor and not 28th floor. :D
Don't get fooled, but It was so cold outside. I was just enjoying it.
I have no idea where to go around Tokyo. I loved the chill vibe in this place. Except at night, feels like there's something wrong like in a Japanese horror film. HAHAHA
Good thing I brought my leather sandals from Topshop. Whew! I knew I can't wear this around, but atleast I have something to wear in the common area.
Now I am ready to go out and explore the cities in Tokyo!
Next on my blog. :)
Now finally my secret is out! You can now try to book your first Airbnb experience. You will have a discount when you book your accommodation when you sign up using this link:
Making big decisions made the changes for me this year. As I will look back starting January I can say that I tried to do new adventures with friends, family or alone. I don't want to post a drama here because, like I always say that whatever shit happens, I always look at the bright side and thinking that there are reasons why it happened and I don't dwell on negativity instead I go for solutions and how to get over it and move on with my life. #LifeGoesOnandOnandOn
Who would have thought that dad and mom will see each other after 21 years? We are not requesting or rushing them to go back together, but seeing them both in our home makes us feel complete. 2016 is definitely a year of changes for me, to my friends and to my family!
Thank you to my parents for not bringing up the past in the present and just be together for us being happy.
Meet New People
We all have wanted to keep our friends forever, but as you grow, you have to meet and deal with new people and you'll realize that we have a small world. I started that joining Cebu Booze Cruise. Some of them are my friends online only few of them I met to hang out after. I'm still happy to know them.
Sky diving is always on my bucket list and as much as I would like to do it before I turn 30 few years from now, I said "yes" to the outdoor adventures that I never thought would be fun!
I don't want to try this activity ever because I don't know how to swim and I don't think I can do the jump, but hey! Thank you for showing me what is YOLO how to enjoy life and do what you can do while you're still young.
Get Out of my Comfort Zone
I grew up in Manila like I always say whenever someone heard me speaking in Tagalog. BUT moving there was really one of my hardest decisions this year because 1) It's Manila 2) Cebu is my comfort zone.
Work and Live in Singapore
Last April, I decided to move there and accepted a job. After a few weeks, I was sent over to Singapore to work with the team. Things went pretty well, but you know you can't please everyone. Know where and when you stand is still one of the traits to do - respect whatever culture and traditional method they are doing. The good side of this experience is that I was able to hang out my friends who are working there. So yay!
Thank you for the time, dinner, lunch, coffee, treats and stories you shared. You are all hospitable and very welcoming that I felt at home.
So I went back to Cebu for a month. I am back to being a freelancer and not worrying about finishing the project in Singapore. While in Cebu, I attended some events to catch up with my blogger friends and also went back to some routine such as Muay Thai, Jogging and Yoga that I missed when I was in Manila
Cebu Muay Thai
Friendship
So happy to spend year-end with my loves! As time goes by our friendship grows and more mature. I can't wait to bond with them whenever we can as long as we are still single. hahaha :D
Thank you childhood friends for understanding whenever we have small arguements, looking forward for more memories with you.
Shelly, Jonah, Cathryn and Jewel
Thank you for unexpected sisters-bonding friendship we have and making time to meet me whenever I'm in Cebu.
Crisch and Gracia
YES to Spontaneous Bookings for Great Adventures
Boracay Island
I accepted the fact that I will travel less this year. So when friends said yes to Boracay Island adventure. I was really excited because we knew that we want this trip ever since!
Neil, Hendrix, Jewel, Rod, Cybil, Issa and Jenesa
Thank you for making this dream outing come true. For saying "yes" to my invite to have a trip to Boracay. This is one for the books.
Thailand
One thing I hate being working from home - You don't have a social life. That ended in booking flights to Thailand! :) Wahoo! Since I am a freelancer, I went there for two weeks. I've been lucky to have friends living in Thailand for so long and took care of me while I was there.
Thank you friends for making my trip unforgettable in Thailand.
Another spontaneous trip. I was invited by Nabi to come with her to Buscalan to meet APO Whang OD. I was not excited for the trip because of the weather, but ended great because I finally met her! I also gained new friends for keeps because I am finally back in Manila to work in a new start-up company.
Thank you Nabi for the inviting me though at first I was not that excited for the trip, but it ended awesome! I loved it.
Japan
And in the end. All I learned was how to be strong alone.
The highlight of my year is traveling to Japan! I booked my tickets as early as January 30, 2016 with my cousin, but he had to cancel his trip for some personal reasons. That was actually making me sad because I thought I will not go there alone. I processed my visa a month before my trip and not even planning for my itinerary. I was happy that some of my friends living in Japan pushed me so hard to get up my ass and plan my itinerary in Japan. Three days before my flight, I did all the bookings for domestic flights to accommodations and tour.
Thank you friends living in Japan for making me feel that I am not alone in this trip.
with Ryan in Kyoto
Yvonne in Narita
with Joel in Asakusa
with Rustan in Shinjuku
I can say that I will definitely go back there this 2017. :)
Hong Kong
Are we all love to have a friend that booked your tickets without your permission? My friend included me on her trip with her relatives to Hong Kong and Shenzhen China! I was like "hey, I don't think I have a budget because I will be back from my Japan trip" She said "that's fine. Just join us!" I am so thankful to be back in the city after two years! So many changes, but the feeling homey is still there. I wish I could stay there longer, just like my other international trips. Overall, it was great to travel again with Ate Jo after a long time.
Mong Kok
Shenzhen, China
Thank you Ate Jo and Sir Isaac for this unexpected trip to Hong Kong I am so happy to be part of your trip. Cheers!
Great way to end the year of 2016 travels!
Best Blogs in the Philippines Award 2016!
How do you define success? There is no definition of success, but whenever I received recognition or an award I always take it that I am on the right track doing what I enjoy and love. Blogging is fun! Check my previous blog awards here.
I was able to share my knowledge and tips to all aspiring young people who would like to start their blog. I'm glad that I was given a chance to do this. It was an amazing experience.
Thank you everyone for the appreciation of my works and to recognizing my humble photo blog. This motivates me to enjoy more and share more adventures in my blog.
Thank you 2016 you are now a year full of memories.