Bangkok Blog

January Journalized

As I type this Dad is ranting behind me the wrongness of blogging (and other non-business related actvities, like sleeping half my Sunday away) and how he doesn't like lecuturing a 30-something man about how to run his life, but if he doesn't do it, who will? Yes, Pa.  The course of the rest of my life hinges on my getting 7+ hours sleep on Sundays.

JAN. 10:  A long delayed gift-exchage between moi and Eileen at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (that's a really clunky name to blog about) in Trinoma, our default hangout (w/c is convenient since more or less near my place and hers).  Months back I didn't let on that she correctly guessed what her gift was, but then again the pages of Wizard magazine I used the wrap the gift in (nor my habit of giving my friends comics) wouldn't have kept the mystery going, either.

 Jan. 21: What I like more than getting friends from different sides of my life together is seeing them hit it off.  Eileen and Lola.  Lola and The Contessa.  Eileen and Dee.  Lola and Dee.  The Contessa and Dee.  My LaSalle circle(s) bumping curves w/ my Beijinoy circle.  Tonight after Lola, The Contessa and I had dinner at the otherwise mediocre Uncle Cheffy's we met w/ Dee's group at Rue Bourbon, where I had my first taste of their house-brewed caramel-laced beer.

Boracay Blog Revisited

I booked a trip to Boracay for the final weekend of January at what I thought was Y's request for the company of her past companions last time she was there, and this time instead of 4 days she was staying for 2 weeks.  The Contessa and I were the only ones able to comply.  It seems 2012 was my year for second chances (more on that next time).

Diving in headfirst, hopeful and w/o all the facts, late information was relayed to me by The Contessa who had flown in earlier: Y had company, a German man almost twice her age whom she met online.

What the hell? Became What the hell.  Plane and hotel's already paid for.  I'd just drown my semi-sorrows by bringing the Xtreamer and some movies/TV shows w/ me, if need be.

On the other had I had a chance to meet other people aside from the missed fling from Shanghai and her photogenically-challenged Deutschebag friend.  There were the adorable Korean girls who stayed the same hotel The Contessa and I were booked in -- Island Nook -- and its manager Trondz.  Marco the Italian real estate developer (and The Contessa's good friend).

I also went paddle boarding, but mostly on my knees as it was a bitch-and-a-half trying to stay standing.  Y went kite boarding, w/c would have seriously put a crimp on my male ego had I cared about such things.

As an addendum, a week after I'd gotten back from Bora I got a call from The Contessa, basically telling me Y doesn't like Deutschebag at all.  Always looking out for me, this one.  That's why we tight.

"Beneath the Ocean, Beneath the Ocean..."

Mesmerized by Nemo

To say Lola was excited to check out Manila Ocean Park yesterday w/ the free tickets she got was the understatement of the end-year.  It was also my first time to visit, and in my mind I (correctly) presumed that almost every other aquarium display I've seen in other countries have been superior in look, feel and fishes.

And Before I Forget...

Yes, it's snowing inside my house.  Xmas Miracle!

10 Thoughts on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Saw this at the SM North EDSA IMAX theater on what I'd like to call a date, but the sickly combination of cough, cold and sore throat made it hard for me to concentrate afterwards (imagine trying to hold a conversation and preventing snot from dripping out of your nose at the same time). SPOILERS.

November Notes

Nov. 5: This was at the Penguin Gallery and Cafe in Malate.  It has three things going against it: 1)P150 Door charge, 2)No conspicuous signage, and 3) Barely enough art pieces to count as a gallery.  On the other hand it was the first time I've seen a didgeridoo being played live, and to a dance beat, as the man blowing on it was also doing musical mixes on his laptop.

No real occasion, by the way.  When I arrived Kes and Sue were there and we all waited for the literally fashionably late Dee (this pic doesn't do her top justice) to show.  Later on we joined Dee's friend Dirk upstairs for beers.  Place seems to be the preferred hangout of foreigners and pseudo-Bohemians.

Pinatulog Niya Ako: 5 Thoughts on Pina

Watched it w/ Lola over during a weekend screening organized by Cinemanila at Market! Market! Normally my movie reviews would be presented in 10 points, but I couldn't muster the same enthusiasm I did before I saw the film.  Note to cinema security: Not being allowed to record a movie is not the same as not being allowed to bring a camera into the theater.  Had I brought a pack of cigarettes would you have taken those even if I wasn't smoking at the time?

Ryan Cruz's Version of The Proposal

Ryan Cruz gives his girlfriend Kitin Flores her best movie date ever.

Ryan's Movie House Proposal to Kitin

10 Thoughts on In Time

al·le·go·ry  (l-gôr, -gr)

n. pl. al·le·go·ries

a. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.

b. A story, picture, or play employing such representation. (e.g. replace any mention of time or units of time in the movie In Time with money.

Coronimation

Halloween Night w/ Lola & The Rafaels

Taken from a table at Krispy Kreme at Bonifacio Global City.

Adding animated pix/gif to blog instructions found here.

September Summaries

Sept. 3: This is my second cousin John's youngest daughter Althea celebrating her 1st birthday at Choi Garden. It's only my 2nd time to eat there, and the first/last time was also for a kid's party.

Chef's Table: A Brief Anniversary Party Foodie Tour

Without the restaurant in context this
 might be mistaken for a book cover.

My stock knowledge of Chef Bruce was limited to knowing he has a TV show on the Asian Food Channel (Tablescapes: Life on a Plate w/ Angel Aquino).  It was from Ana G. that I learned he had his own restaurant at the Infinity Tower in BGC, Chef's Table, and embarrassingly enough it was from a banner outside that restaurant did I learn that his last name was Lim.

Ana G. invited me to attend the 1st Anniversary party of Chef's Table, so this was my chance to partake of complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres served ina high-end restaurant.  Other attendees included Fernds, shiny-skinned host Lucas Raven, Phoemela Baranda, Rovilson Fernandez and the cast of 99.5RT's The Disenchanted Kingdom.
Below is a gallery of said cocktails and hors d'oeuvres not to be found on the menu, so if you weren't there last Friday you really missed out.

Stomptastic

For as long as I could remember I loved doing percussion, even before I knew the word existed*.  From beatboxing to strumming my fingers to tapping my pencil or drumming on my desk.  My taste for aesthetic sounds lay not in tunes from strings nor the striking of keys, but the tap of wood and/or plastic.  I was also fascinated by tap-dancing, because it sounded cool and looked easy.  You didn't need to be accompanied by outside music, lug around tape/CD players or looked crazy if you were only hearing the song in your head, because w/ tap-dancing you literally made the beat up as you went along.  Watching Sammy Davis Junior or Gregory Hines in action was mesmerizing.

10 Thoughts on Real Steel

What: Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo & EvangelineLily
Who with: Lola
When: Oct. 16, 9:30pm
Where: Greenhills Theater Cinema 2, 2nd Row
Why: Birthday treat

*SPOILERS*

August Appendices

Aug. 24: Legazpi Boy Fernand held a birthday pool party at his apartment building in Asia Tower.  The scenario reminded me of when I held my birthday there several years back: relaxed atmosphere, way too much food, and no-one used the swimming pool.  Lookes like the Speedo trunks I wore were staying dry.  Familiar faces in attendance inlcuded CB, Ana G., Rosanna (whom I met w/ Aryn Cristobal at C.B.'s pool party where the pool was actually used, by the way) and Carlos Joaquin, who was still working w/ (or for ) Engelbert.  I was even more surprised when Fernds had to leave his own party early because he had to go to Pampanga.  I just took that as my cue to exit as well.

When It Sings, It S'pores (Part 3)

Bug-eyed in the Subway.

Aug. 21, 2011: Lola and I checked out of the hostel in the morning, but our flight to Manila for 1:30AM the next day, so we asked them to hold on to our bags (for an additional S$2 each) while we spent our Last Day out and about.  Seeing as we missed our chance to watch The Lion King we opted to check out real animals at the Singapore Zoo.

When It Sings, It S'pores (Part 2)

Aug. 20, 2011:  Busy day today, with lots of walking done.

After Lola and I waited for our consumed breakfast of Nestlé cereal and white bread to do its job (i.e. act as "nature's brooms") we headed out for Suntec to attend the Toy, Games and Comicon.  The venue almost felt like overkill to me, as if RCBC Plaza in Makati decided to host our Manila Comicon instead of the usual soulless venues like SM Megatrade Hall.  We got in pretty easily as next to no-one queued at the Internet Booking line.

When It Sings, It S'pores (Part 1)

Pagoda Street, Chinatown, where Lola bought a cheesecloth umbrella.

Aug. 19, 2011: This is being typed on the netbook provided by the good folks of Beary Nice Hostel, located on Smith Street in Chinatown... in Singapore.

Probably should have mentioned that first.  Am here w/ Lola to attend the Singapore Toy Games and Comics Convention, and for me to meet up w/ some friends along the way.  Failed tonight on the latter, but more on that later.