Nature-tripping.

Whenever I wish to take a respite from all the absurdities of the real world, all I do is read my old posts again. It lets me travel back to the good 'ol times, bringing back all the thrills, the spine-tingling chills, and the churning jumble of emotion I felt in between! I love how it floods me with positive thoughts after, it helps me get through life's sucker punches.

To add to my gazillion of wonderful experiences immortalized here in my blog, I'm going to feature a place where one could find solitude and commune with nature. They call this place La Mesa Eco Park, and it's located right by the La Mesa Watershed in East Fairview. We came in at a time when people are still enjoying their vacation in the most far-flung provinces so the journey then was a breeze. No traffic whatsoever, it only took us an hour to get there.

It doesn't get greener anywhere else in the city than this place.

Pondahan (whatever that means) is the place where your get your tickets to ride a boat.

La Mesa Eco Park is a true haven for the outdoorsy and the nature-lovin people. There's a wide variety of activities you could do there like wall-climbing, zip lining, biking and stuff. You could even play a game of paintball if you come in groups. But among the activities you could do there, I find the boating experience the most enthralling.

Around lunchtime, we chose a grassy spot under the shade of a tree to lay our mat, and ate the yummy treats we brought from home. Most people choose to stay on the picnic grounds where huts provide a more comfortable place to rest



Just by looking at the the clear blue sky, you could feel a sense of peace and tranquility permeating the air.

The place in all it's tropical splendor, gives visitors a new appreciation for nature.

Be sure not to miss the hiking trail while you're there. Nothing beats the lulling sound of the trees swaying from the wind, with birds chirping and butterflies fluttering to cap off your simple-yet-amazing nature-tripping escapade.

Of One Childish Rendezvous.

I know I haven't been writing posts about Korea lately (might as well change my blog description for that matter^^). But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Korea at all, and for sure, I'm gonna be posting more about it later. For now, expect to read a couple of entries about the places I visited around here. Well, they are all pretty interesting and deserve to have a space here in my blog.

***

Imagine a whole year of looming deadlines, cram-jam time, sudden mishaps, and being around stress-inducing obnoxious people. All the negative vibe that comes with it could really take a toll on any baby-faced and wrinkle-free soul. That's why holidays were created, and it's there for a reason. It's not supposed to just come and go, I say we should all make the most out of it (I'm still very much in the holiday spirit, expect it to sizzle down right after the 'Three Kings' is over ^^;). It would be utterly nice if we could take a mini-break from reality and sort of immerse in the positivity it brings. I know a place to go where you could do just that.

I treated my whole family for a day at Manila Ocean Park. Ok I know it's cheesy and childish, and a trip to an Oceanarium isn't really an ideal thing to do. But my family enjoy doing this sort of thing you know, like visiting a place where we could all feel like a child again.

I've been to an Oceanarium thrice before. My first time was in Hong Kong Ocean Park a few years back and it was the most memorable. Manila Ocean Park was my fourth visit to a place with the same theme so I thought I've seen it all. But it also feels different this time because I was with my family. I felt their excitement as they ogle at different marine creatures they haven't seen before. What amused me the most were the mermaids who swam ever so gracefully, in sync with the 'Disney-ish' kind of music.

And she's my favorite.. She's the prettiest of them all. Look how she gamely poses for the camera, and how photogenic she is even underwater.

Here are some of the things you could see at the Park; amazing multi-colored corals that seem to glow.

Some giant clams..

And odd-looking fishes worthy to be featured on National Geographic.

Giant turtles lurking in every corner...

And huge stingrays that swam with the mermaids. Something tells me they shouldn't do so, it's stupid I know but it reminds me of Steve Irwin's death.. It's probably a different kind of stingray that killed him. Nobody wants to put those pretty mermaids in danger right?

Here's how the rest of the Ocean Park looks like at night.

We ended the night with an all-you-can-eat feast at our favorite buffet restaurant. It's amazing how the night stretches on. There were just too many things to talk about, too many jokes to laugh at, and too many fond memories to look back. We only realized it's time to go when the staff started turning off the lights!

A Time To Reflect.

I sometimes can't believe how time seems to fly, and how everything seems to pass in a blur. In a whiff 2009 has ended, and now I'm hanging a crisp, new calendar with hopes that the new year would be as equally colorful, if not better.

'Colorful' is the best way to describe the past year. I commemorated important milestones, reunited with long-lost friends, patched things up with my family, rekindled old hobbies, and welcomed monumental changes that permeated every aspect of my life.

And as for my greatest passion that is travelling, 2009 has indeed took me for a spin and it was one hell of a ride! I was able to visit so many good places, saw myriad of beautiful sights, and got to experience things I could only dream of as a kid. It's so nice to look back and relive all the fun and bittersweet memories of the 178 posts I made that year.

This year I dream of doing more things in life - to visit more places, to meet more people, and to achieve more things that'll make me proud. 2010 is gonna be a great year, and wherever it takes me, I'm sure I'll always be pleasantly surprised.

Fresh From The Holiday Hiatus.

The two most important holidays of the year has just ended, and I'm absolutely elated to have celebrated it with 3 of my strongest passions: family, friends, and food!

This year, our family wanted to do something we haven't done for Christmas. We agreed to skip the standard Noche Buena Dinner at home, and instead, we all stayed in a family suite at Astoria Plaza. I was in charge of the hotel, and getting a room on Christmas Eve proved to be a very difficult task!

The room's motif of white and blue is a refreshing take on the classic wallpapered and heavy curtained rooms we're all familiar of. The floor-to-ceiling glass that gives a good view of the sprawling city was a plus I didn't expect, and it's awfully pretty especially at night.




So we're all gathered in this cute little spot away from home, and the only thing missing is the food right? Well, to complete the whole Christmas experience, Mom packed some Buko Salad, Leche Flan, and her signature Roast Beef in disposable plastic containers. Sis came with her Pesto Pasta and Grilled Prawns. Both tasted awful, but I commend her effort ^^. While waiting for midnight, we watched "Romeo and Juliet", then we exchanged gifts and greeted each other "Merry Christmas". I recieved a chocolate body scrub gift that smells good enough to eat! The next day, we all went to hit the Buffet for some nice, familiar comfort food. Look, they even got Kimchi!

For New Years Eve, I went to Eastwood City with two of my best buds for the 2010 countdown. We came 20 minutes early, and it was already jampacked with people. We were far from the stage so we didn't get to see the performers, but we had the best view of the whole place with the lights and everything. When the countdown began, people were in a state of frenzy, jumping and shouting and laughing altogether! The amazing fireworks generated even more shrieks and 'wows' from the crowd. It was unbelievable having to jumpstart the New Year like that. I didn't get a video of my own, but I found one from rachellelorene on Youtube. Do click it to get a glimpse of the kick ass New Year celebration.

Holidays like these are indeed the perfect time to bond with the people you love the most. I've learned that being around them is enough to restore the energy I need to face all the stress and hardships of the coming year. And sometimes it pays to think out of the box and do things outside tradition. It can be super fun as long as you're with the people that matter the most. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays as much as I did!

Just Frayin'.

If there's one band I could listen to over and over for the next hundred years (without the consequences of suffering a brain damage), it has got to be "The Fray". This four-man rock band has the most amazing vocals! They're like a breath of fresh air, like cold water post marathon, or pizza after fasting for days. And I would need a stronger word than 'addicted' to articulately describe how much I'm into them.

I absolutely adore all of their songs, but these 5 are my favorites:


*Never Say Never


*Look After You


*How To Save A Life


*You Found Me


*Over My Head

40 Grilling Questions.

1. What are you wearing right now?
* Sweatpants and a gray shirt.

2. What colour are your eyes?
* Light brown similar to toffee.

3. Where would you like to vacation?
* Prague or somewhere in Caribbean.

4. Ever been in an accident?
* Twice.. I broke my leg and suffered a concussion as a result.

5. What would you change about yourself if you could?
* I'm very impulsive so I wanna have a bit of self-control.

6. What is one thing in your life you would do over or differently?
* When I was 17, I got a tattoo and I regretted it so much. I just wish I had been a little less crazy back then.

7. What would your 3 wishes be ?
* Just one.. a long and healthy life for my family.

8. What is one thing you do that you know is bad but won't stop?
* Occasional smoking. I wish I could permanently stop.

9. If you had a power what would it be ?
* Mind-reading. I could have everything I want with that power.

10. Favorite fast food place?
* Taco Bell.

11. Favorite cartoon if you still watch them?
* Simpson.

12. All time best book
* The Alchemist - Paul Coelho.

13. Whats the most outrageous thing you thought about doing?
* Coloring my hair blond.

14. Do you like your name?
* Yes, I couldn't think of another name that'll suit me.

15. What age would you like to be right now?
* Teens.. Everything's so easy and simple back then.

16. How many best friends do you have?
* Two.

17. What's your favorite color and why?
* Pink and Black. Cause it's both flirty and mysterious.

18. Do You Like To Go Shopping?
* No.

19. Are you into sports?
* No, but I do try.

20. What's your favorite hobby?
* I wanna say cleaning the house but it doesn't really count as a hobby, so I'm just gonna say reading books and doing my nails.

21. What do you do when you are mad?
* I'm usually quiet because I'd like to remain polite.

22. What word do you catch yourself saying a lot?
* Like, kinda.

23. Summer Or Winter?
* Winter.. hands down.

24. Are You Nice To Everyone?
* I'm generally a nice person.

25. Do you like swimming?
* Hate it.

26. What country would you like to go to?
* New Zealand.

27. What kind of ice cream do you like most?
* Anything from Coldstone.

28. Do you play video games?
* A lot.

29. What do you do for fun?
* I travel or hang out with my friends.

30. Do you like going outdoors?
* Yes.

31. Do you like rainy days?
* Yes, as long as it stops after two or three hours.

32. Do you have a favorite restaurant?
* Yes.. Il Mare.

33. Were you a difficult child?
* Yes.. I had a lot of issues and unnecessary angst when I was younger.

34. What's your best childhood memory?
* When I was 14 and I rode the jet-ski for the first time. It felt incredible.

35.What/Who makes you happy?
* Lots of things, even little things make me happy.

36. Do you cry a lot?
* Yes. I'm Judy Tear Jerky.

37. Explain yourself in one word.
* kooky~

38. What song are you listening to right now?
* Wait It Out - Imogen Heap.

39. What's your idea of a perfect date?
* A nice dinner, champagne, and the sweetest good night kiss.

40. With the opposite sex, which do you prefer? Looks, wit or sense of humor?
* Looks.. ^^;

Crossroads... The Countdown Begins.

Sis broke the news today about her coming departure to Australia. It's official. She and her husband are leaving in two months, and seeing their one-way tickets to Australia made me realize the true enormity of the situation, our separation that is. Mom is scheduled to follow a few months after that. This marks a complete psychic shift in me, and it triggered a sense that time is running out.

For the longest time, I was up in the air about my family's imminent migration to Australia, still wary whether it is the rightful path we should all take, and still unsure if all the processes would yield to what we were all yearning for. I've been busy juggling so many things; taking on responsibilities my late father had left us, my pursuit of higher education, living my personal life, and love in between all of that. The fact that I've been busy and everything remained a conundrum somewhat shielded me from the pain of the coming separation. I can't even begin to imagine a life without the people I love the most, and the whole situation is hard to absorb, even absurdly painful, but it's happening nonetheless.

I had my reasons for choosing to stay behind. Partly because our finances couldn't cover all the migration fees and the cost for everyone to start a new life all at once. I do have other reasons, bigger reasons actually. But I choose not to write it here because I feel it rightfully deserves to be written in a different post. For now, let's just say I wasn't ready to give EVERYTHING up.

Sis isn't just family bound by blood, shared genes, and striking resemblance. She's also my best friend, and the one who knows me inside out. Although she's younger, her insights is equivalent to a phalanx of psychologists combined. We've been through a lot together. And honestly I don't think I can get through all that without her. She has been there through all my stupidity and tear jerking episodes, comforting me with her sarcasms which at times get under my skin. She's the most grounded person I've ever known. Always crediting luck instead of savoring the accolades she got from First Grade to Graduation. And when my father died and so much financial uncertainty is in the air, she wrestled with the responsibility of taking care of it all, especially during my absence.

To show how thankful I am for everything, I'm giving her a sending-away present. I can't really decide between these two: a scrapbook I'm gonna make using her old and new pictures or Escada Sentiment - her favorite fragrance. Whatever it is that I choose, I hope she'll like it, and remind her that she is loved and will be greatly missed.

At Incheon Airport.

When you visit Korea, the exciting experience begins as you cross the threshold of the porthole, and the sight of Incheon International Airport in all it's intricacy is the first thing that'll greet you. It is bound to leave it's mark on any jet-settin', travelholic soul. Unlike it's many quintessential counterparts, Incheon Airport's design sensibility evokes an air of ease and comfort - a feeling you don't normally get in a place that receives and discharges thousands of passengers daily.

The dominance of glass and dome-shaped ceiling are simply impossible to disregard. It's sheer space and dimension floored me the first time. But more than that, it's how modern and well-organized that gave the lasting impression. This airport is no stranger to fame - ranking 1st and 2nd in Best Airport Category by the Airports Council International.

I've only been to 5 countries in total, so my experiences with airports are still very limited. But amongst all I've seen, I'd say Incheon Airport is the best when it comes to service and modern facilities. I read from Wiki that this place has many unique luxury features such as golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, and casinos. I don't have the money to splurge so I haven't gotten even remotely close to trying those out, so it still is a mystery to me if such things really exist there. But the other facilities like cultural museum, observatory deck, gardens, lounges, shops, and restaurants are there to 'wow' us all. The airport is located on Yeongjong Island West of Incheon. Looking at the view by the bridge at sunset and the city's skyline at night will top off your amazing airport journey!

And if after everything I said you're still not convinced, just read my old "Christmas Day" post, and you'll know why I love this place so much!


Here are some pics taken at the airport.

Skin Care Tips For Trouble Skin.

I had a long and tedious bout with acne before, so I experimented a lot with skin care products hoping to find some that might actually work. It's exceptionally hard since Korea is like the skin care capital of the world, where every street is spruced up with shops selling so many product that promises ageless beauty, clear skin, and perfect complexion all at your fingertips. Well mostly, those are just empty motherhood statements, and they really don't get the job done. Then I found Neutrogena, and it was love at first use. After years of searching, I'm so glad to have found a product that actually works for my troubled skin and zapped those zits away. I've been using this product for more than two years now.



I'm particularly happy with how it works on my face. But given that it goes head-to-head with sleepless nights, alcohol-infused night outs, or a peanut butter and jelly binge, it might still need some serious reinforcement. And by reinforcement I don't mean some fancy product that costs an arm an a leg, but a sure fire zit-zappin' concoction that surely helps keep those nasty breakouts at bay. I tried-and-tested everything and it works wonders so I'm sharing it with everyone.


*Green Tea Splash

Mix one cup of green tea, two aspirin tablets, and ten drops of tea tree oil until thoroughly incorporated. After washing your face, apply this mixture with a cotton ball. It will have a soothing, cooling effect that your skin will love!

*Soothing Baking Soda Paste

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and just enough water to make a paste. Apply to your face and let sit until dry. Rinse it with warm water and cloth. Your face should feel smooth and soft. Baking soda will help neutralize the PH level of your skin and help your pores resist acne.

*Whipped Mask

Eggs contain vitamins and nutrients that help heal and regenerate. Try whipping up egg whites until frothy and apply as a mask.

All In The Family.

My mom's the latest addition to the ever growing cult of Twilight followers. Could you imagine at her age, she's into those four books tinged with the hallmarks of first love and high school mush, swooning over Edward Cullen's immortal hotness? I'm used to dealing with her post-menopausal insanity spells that happen from time to time, but I'm telling you, I never saw this one coming.

My sister's a big fan, and her addiction conveniently brushed off to my mom's pysche, and now she too is an addict. And unlike me who inconspicuously waited for about a week post the opening date of New Moon, she scrambled to the theaters on the first day itself, and after which she was thrilled to give everyone a blow-by-blow account of what transpired in the movie, paying special attention to Edward's Cullen's shirtless glory at the end part.

She called this noon asking where she could get a copy of New Moon so she can watch it again at home. Well, I don't have any idea where to get it (not till it's out on DVD in a couple of months), but I can't get over the fact that at age 57 she's 'jonesing' for a teeny-bopperish Edward Cullen fix!

BITTEN!

I watched New Moon today, and after an excruciating and haphazardly dangerous week of waiting, I could finally tell myself that it's over with. As agonizing as it sounds, I purposely waited for a week after opening cause I expected it wouldn't be packed wall to wall anymore. But guess what?! Those multitude of Twilight fans (who are barely in their puberty) came in wicked digits, and it was nothing short of a pandemonium out there! You could even consider us lucky for getting a seat.

I can't really say that I was satisfied with the movie cause you know the thing about sequels, and also I'm not really a big fan of Chris Weitz. I know he could do better (or was the budget too small?). Good thing the movie has it's strengths (no matter how small it is), and although it's not enough to veil all the flaws, it kept us glued to our seats and refrained us from storming our way out and demanding a refund.

The only thing I love about the movie is seeing Edward in all his shirtless glory, nevermind Jacob.. I can't get over the fact that he has to wear platform shoes to look taller. There's also this kiss between Edward and Bella. I got to say it's wicked! Passionate yet gentle, almost "churchy" but also intense. Acting-wise I like the old Edward better when he was more highschool-ish, relaxed and upbeat. The movie may have called for a more serious type, but he came off a little too stiff. He totally needs to work on that or the next two movies would be a flop (but then again maybe not). Ok.. Why am I so darn hard to please?

Sleepless in Suwon.

Although I love our city and all superfluities it brings, at times it really gets under my skin. I don't need a nagging boss to pump up my stress level to the hilt. Just picture this; crowded subways, rowdy uniform-clad students packing every square inch of the streets, drunk men acting like retards, and a neighbor who loves to play the piano until the wee hours of the morning (and waking up in the middle of the night hearing his rendition of Nocturne scares the crap out of me!). It doesn't help that there's always a new building being constructed/renovated and hearing earsplitting jack hammer noises all day long is part of the deal. These are the things that I have to deal with every single day, and let me tell you a daily dose of that could really make any sane person crazy in the literal sense of the word.

Whenever I'm stressed out, I would always ask Chris to go with me for a late night walk. During one of those therapeutic walks, we went to Ajou University. I spent a good three months studying in this institution. All of my classes were held in the afternoon and I was dead curious how the University grounds look at night. It didn't disappoint though. It looks even better with the moon, the stars, and all the cute little lamp posts. I sort of gave Chris a tour, and showed him the usual spots where my Norwegian friend and I usually hang out. When we got tired, we went to the picnic ground and stayed inside a gazebo to rest and soak up the scene. I grew hungry so Chris called our favorite Chicken place (it's on his speed dial ^^) and ordered a box of fried chicken and beer. We enjoyed the accidental picnic so much that we lost track of time, and before we knew it, it was already 2 am! We spent another hour taking pictures before heading home.

What's a better way to seal a romantic evening than take photos that'll forever remind you how perfect the night had been...

Wishing for more unexpected dates and romantic evenings like this one. :-)

Top 5.

I've never been enormously tactful, but I do feel my bitchin' jag on the previous post was a little too much. It's just a humiliating tendency when I'm hurt, so my apologies to those who found it repulsive.

In these times, when there isn't much to smile about, I could really use a (massive) dose of laughter. But since I'm presently surrounded with people who refutes sense of humor (must be from watching that doomsday movie, I heard it's kind of shocking and depressing), I'm just holding on to music to keep me sane till the 'storm' wears off.

I found songs from really great bands. Some of them old and some are still new, but they're all great and talented. I'd like to share my top 5 favorite song of the moment. I copied and pasted the links, so do check it.

*Placebo - "Running Up That Hill"

For the longest time, I've been looking for bands like Placebo that are not too mainstream-y. I also love how they experiement with different instruments so their songs differ from one another.

*Thom Yorke of Radioheads - "True Love Waits"
I'm not particularly a fan of Radioheads, I only know a couple of their songs. But frontman Thom Yorke in my opinion, is really awesome. I super love this song.

*Death Cab For A Cutie - "Transatlanticism"
This band captivates me. Their songs are exactly my kind of lullabye.

*Landon Pigg - "Can't Let Go"
For someone so new, I didn't know a song could be this catchy. This guy's teeth bothers me though... It makes me feel like running to my dentist.

*Bowling For Soup - "When We Die"
I don't like the band. I only listen to this song and skip the rest. I didn't know a guy with painted nails could be this annoying... watch the video to know what I'm talking about. :p

*Jimmy Eat World - "Kill"
Another ear candy from one of my favorite bands. It's so easy to listen to these guys. They make me crave for macaroons and hot chocolate whenever I listen to their songs.

Tale of the Snoop.

I have not been spared of the slings and arrows of 'friendship-gone-sour', and this is making me feel really depressed. To make the matter worse, wranglings with this certain "frienemy" opened more cans of worms which alluded to even more problems and bigger implications. This backstabbing, only-a-mother-could-love gossipmonger loves to fabricate stuff in her free time, and be a pain in everyone's ass. I hate to be affected this much, but because of her, everything that I do now feels unremittingly tedious and difficult. I'm actually toying with the idea of sending her a shirt that says "I'm the biggest bitch there is", and it comes with a bag of chopped up pig's tongue. But knowing how much of a sleaze and barely literate person that she is, she's probably gonna wear that shirt loud and proud. I don't know what she's gonna do with the pig's tongue though.

She annoys me to the hilt, and I couldn't stop thinking about all the harrowing and vile things I wish I had said to her. This is the kind of person who does not deserve an ounce of respect. I'm so done with her pretenses and backstabbing innuendos. It's my fervent wish that she would just vanish, the world would be better off without her anyway. I'm generally a nice person, but this b*tch used up my 10 year supply of patience, making me the exact opposite of my old, modern-day-Pollyana' self...

Wonders of the South.

Busan is a densely populated metropolis located in the Southern part of Korea. Even if you're not a cyberspace addict, I'm sure you've probably heard about this bustling city by now. Thanks to it's myriad of beautiful scenic spots, swanky tourist accommodations, ostentatiously-built shopping districts, and a jumping nightlife, Busan came to be known as the “Summer Capital” of the country.

Hewed to the image of an excursionist who refuses to miss out on all the fun, we decided to visit this city one weekend (propitiously timed to coincide with my birthday) and explore what everyone's been raving about. The journey to get there was anything but pleasant; spurred by long hours of driving (6 hours or so and that’s in a good day), passing through abysmal dizzying tunnels, and traffic so heavy it almost gave me an aneurysm.

One could always opt to ride a plane instead to considerably cut the traveling time, but the drive, as agonizing as it sounds, is one hell of an experience. When you finally set foot, get ready to be amused, bewildered, and dazzled to the core. Busan is a place like no other, the vibrant energy that surrounds the city is so abundant it’s contagious. This city has a lot to offer, all built to impress even the most flamboyant tourist craving for an action-packed adventure. But the thing that I love the most about it is the people. To put it simply, the cross section of people you encounter there is just so diverse, so unique and inspiring, you couldn’t help but be influenced.

Busan in a sprawling city that best represents everything that is fresh, carefree, and liberating. Amongst all the places there that I could feature, I've chosen three that visually narrate the essence of the city.

First is Taejongdae, a natural park auspiciously named after the 29th King of Silla Dynasty. High above the rocky beach and overlooking the deep iridescent horizon reflected by the sea, there lies the famous light house and observatory. On a good weather, the coast of Japan can be seen from it's viewing deck.








Next is Haedong Yonggungsa, a famous temple situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan. It's built in 1376, during Goryeo Dynasty. While most temples are built on mountains, this rare temple is built along the shore line, thus providing an awesome scenery of deep blue water and amazing rock formations jutting out into the sea. The sound of the waves and the chants of the monks evoke a very calming atmosphere.









And lastly, Haeundae Beach. During the hottest part of the summer, this beach turns into a virtual sea of bodies, packing every square foot of the fine sand. But with all the precarious mess and the earsplitting noises coming from the ungodly number of people (mostly intoxicated), I highly doubt one could drink a cup of coffee in peace. It makes a world of difference if you visit this place right after the summer vacation is over when you could better appreciate the fine sand, the clear blue sky, and the whole lively beach atmosphere.

Whenever the weather is bad, and visions of sunny beach and fine white sand occupy my thoughts, I immediately think about Busan. There's something about it that's so unforgettable. And to those who visited, it brings back an air of nostalgia, flooding you with wonderful memories that last a lifetime... I could only wish for a second visit.

Thinking Out Loud.

Have you ever had one of those mundane mornings and you find yourself on Facebook, stupidly ogling at pictures and reading statuses of your so-called 'friends'. You don't know what has gotten into your head, but your fingers started typing the name of a person you knew long ago, hoping to find some juicy details of how his life turned out to be. The thing is, this isn't your long lost friend, and not a person you knew from school or work, but an 'ex' whose memories you tried to push to the deepest, darkest pit of your temporal lobe. Your reason tells you not to click that search button, but you did anyway as silly curiosity got the best of you. And there it was, a tiny profile pic the size of your thumb glaring in front of you, and all the bitter memories came back like a tidal wave, swallowing and hurting you beyond comprehension, and you wish to hell that there is such thing as "undo" in real life...

Italian Night at Il Mare.

Present day living is dictated by dense urbanity, a landscape of high rise units and fast paced lifestyle. But the city life, no matter how good it sounds or how colorful Carrie Bradshaw cunningly puts it, could sometimes makes us feel like an embattled heroine in a crappy telenovela. Sure it would be nice if we could get whisked away to exotic places and take a breather, but we all know that rarely happens. So what do you do when the city life gets too tough? I say explore what the city has to offer, find interesting spots and plunge head long to it, millions of people didn't choose to live here for nothing. You don't have to always get away from the city to unwind, for all you know, the next adventure is literally right around the corner.

Say for example the case of Il Mare. We've been seeing this restaurant for years, but somehow, it never occurred to us to actually try it. One Saturday evening, for lack of better place to go, we decided to pay this restaurant a visit. "Il Mare" roughly translates as "the sea" in Italian, and unlike your quintessential restaurant hiding under the pretense of 'authentic Italian cuisine', Il Mare is way ahead of it's competition.

Outside, Il Mare looks no different from any other restaurant.

Inside, walls are adorned with paintings of famous Italian actors and panoramic view of the streets of Italy.

I love the casual, laid back vibe of the restaurant. The interiors hinted that young people frequent this place.

Light fixtures mounted on each table are muted and easy on the eyes. I particularly love it's design.

Dinner is their busiest time, so expect to wait a little for the food to arrive. These heavenly bread would keep you occupied while waiting.

It's always good to start off with a glass of wine, it gets the conversation flowing. Chris got a glass of "Villa M" Italian white wine, while I got myself their house wine.

I always thought good food is about balance of flavor, texture, and appearance. This Seafood Pasta in Cream Sauce, an Il Mare Special, has it all.

Their charming Pizza creation tastes divine! One bite and your hooked forever!



Because of it's classy and quaintly-decorated interiors, you'd think it's a snobbish, steeply-priced restaurant. You'll be surprised to know that everything is reasonably priced here. And with music so cleverly-chosen playing in the background, it creates a relaxing ambiance fit for a nice romantic meal.



I'm closing this entry with a phrase that best describes the experience you get at Il Mare: "It's love made edible."