US Trip 2011 | 3rd stop: New York City

I LOVE YOU NEW YORK! That was what I've been screaming inside my head when I landed at JFK Airport. Think this... I just landed and I'm still at the airport and I'm mentally screaming with excitement and I'm 45 minutes away from Manhattan, that's how excited I was.

I remember writing down "dream destinations" in my notebook and on top of that list was NYC. I even taped a cutout photo of Time Square and wrote down "walking down the streets of NYC". And 2 years after it happened. I really was walking down the streets of NYC for 5 days :) Magic notebook perhaps? ha! I wish! 

NYC is expensive and I've decided to get my accommodations through AirBnB.com, (if you're traveling on a budget checkout that website). I rented a room in Upper East Side for less than USD100. It's a four-storey walk up building located along Lexington Ave cor 62nd Street and the apartment I'm staying at is on the 3rd floor. I thought this way I could really experience how it feels like living in NYC. And what's more important is location location location. 

I only know one person in NYC, one of my closest friend, Happy (or Happeeee! that's how we normally greet each other haha). It was nice seeing her again after 3 years. She is a jewelry designer as well. And through her I got to meet and hang out with the great jewelry designers from Harry Winston & Alexis Bittar. 

Laysho Friendships: Jeandy's 31st

It was July 2002 when I met Jeandy at PAC (a fashion export company). I joined PAC two months ahead of her. I'm in design and she's in marketing communications. First time I saw her she was all dressed up like she's working at some fashion magazine but truly PAC is like a factory/warehouse building. I knew at that moment she has great style and of course I knew too that we'll get along very well. And indeed she's one of my greatest friends ever... BFFs. Fast forward to now (Sept 20, 2012), that's 10 yrs and 2 months after, our friendship has come a long way. I've seen her laugh and cry. I've also seen her laugh so hard and cry like there's no tomorrow. I've seen her stumble, then got up and moved on. And greatest of all I've seen her fall in love, marry the love of her life, become a great wife, and a great mother. Today marks her 31st birthday and this small post I dedicate to her. Happy Birthday Jeandy! Wishing you continuous happiness and all the best in life. Mwah! Much love! Nagkatigulang na ka (traslation: you're getting old) And by the way please return my kamagong necklace, thank you... :P (I'm such a nice friend right? LOL) 

Here are some photos of our fun & crazy adventures together...

during her wedding day (and the days when we were skinny) 

US Trip 2011 | 2nd stop: San Francisco, CA

Second stop was San Francisco! Spent my first Thanksgiving with my other BFF Kathleen and her family and her husband's family (it was one big family gathering). It was also my first time to see her 3-month old baby boy, Nicolas and of course I was so happy to see my adorable 6-year old goddaughter Nina beans! I last saw her when she was still 1 yr old, 5 years has gone by & now I feel so old. Before all the celebration fuzz we spent a day touring around San Francisco. 

US Trip 2011 | 1st stop: Los Angeles, CA

Again... a year long overdue post. Here are some bits and pieces of my US trip last November 2011. First stop was LA LA land! Los Angeles, CA!

I survived a grueling and suuuuper delayed 17-hr flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Manila (don't forget the 8-hr layover in Manila & 2 hrs delayed, that's 27 hours total!). I really have to stressed out the worst thing about traveling and that is ugly airports. I don't mind long layovers as long as the airport is nice. Sorry to say this but like what other travelers say out there though Philippines is a nice country the airports totally suck. I wish the government can work out something on it. 

So anyways I arrived LA around 10pm and lucky enough I got a hot-goodlooking immigration officer to screen me (and such a flirt too, said I was beautiful, well thank you :P LOL). I couldn't express how I felt finally stepping foot on US soil but that then was overcome by hunger. So onto IN-n-Out! And the rest of the adventure you can see below :)

A year old forgotten post: October News

I was going through the draft posts that I made since I started this blog and I've noticed that there's one post that I've forgotten to publish online. Well I've kinda written it almost a year back (October 2011) but apologies for the year long delay (like someone's following or reading my blog... Not! LOL... well except may be for my BFF Jeandy). So here goes that post...

I never thought that October would bring such great surprises (good news to be exact... actually I've been waiting for it... the answer, the result, the decision).

At the start of the year I've never thought of planning a major (I mean really major, which involves my entire savings) trip. The year started really good that on the very first day of the year 2011 good things started to happen. From meeting a great guy on new years (sadly it only lasted for a few months, but still), to having a great time with the family (this really is a big deal 'coz the last time we were all together was during my mom's funeral in 1999), to getting a promotion few months after, to making my dad happy on his 73rd birthday, to getting a raise $! I've been blessed!

Middle of the year it dawned to me... I was talking to my friend in the US. We've been friends since high school and she's pregnant with her 2nd child and she's due on August. While talking and updating each other with what's happening I got the idea why not visit them in US. It's just a thought at first because visa wise, with my citizenship and all, that would leave me a 50/50 chance of approval. But I said to myself... heck yeah what's the worst thing that could happen anyway, at least I tried, right? So I've decided on November 2011. Though I don't have enough time to save up for this trip but still I was positive that I can get through the $$$ constraints.

October 18, 2011 came, the much awaited schedule has arrived, my US visa interview. I've never felt this nervous before, hands-shaking-palm-sweating nervous. I was praying so hard that I'd be interviewed by a nice person and my prayer was answered (thank you God). All the high tensed nerves calmed down a bit and I was smiling :) Five minutes after I've finally heard the words that I have been anticipating to hear come out from her mouth... "VISA APPROVED"! 

After hearing those beautiful words I right away called up my Dad and told him of the great news, he after all was helping me pray that I'll get the visa (thanks Daddy for the prayers). And then the whole of my FB friends knew of the good news next :)

I'm not that religious or anything but I constantly pray and thank Him. So blessed!