* diane veloso blanco

Google images.

2012-02-05T23:37:00.000+08:00

Type out how you feel on google images and click search.

Set me free.

2012-01-29T02:29:00.003+08:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, it seems as though this year's travel plans are going to be postponed. :( Nonetheless, I still fully intend on seeing the places we were supposed to visit one way or another- if not this year then next. If not in one long trip, then in several short ones.

But just so the Universe knows what I want, this is my ideal route:

*none of these photos are mine. I lifted them off google images and no longer have the actual sources. Google the places and you'll find them :)

Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand from Manila.

I'd like to see those pingpong shows and lady-boys everyone who has been there keeps talking about.

From Bangkok, head on over to Phuket and chill on the beach. These were the islands where that movie The Beach (starring Leonardo DiCaprio) was filmed.

While we're there, I'd like to take a boat over to the nearby islands of Koh Phiphi and

Koh Phangan and experience a full on Full Moon Party.

From Phuket, head on back to Bangkok and board a bus to Chiang Mai.

I'm not sure exactly what to look for in Chiang Mai although I heard its in places like these, the ones that aren't too too tourist-y yet, that you'll really experience true Asian culture. Won't know til I actually get to go.

From Chiang Mai, take a bus down to Chiang Rai, and somehow get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Laos. (I read somewhere that you can go by speedboat/slow boat down the Mekong River. Sounds kinda yucky.)

Now this place I've heard so much about. Most backpackers who go through Indochina have naught but praises for Luang Prabang, and Laos in general. Apparently its a great nature trip, and lots of Asian culture to err... absorb. Those monks walking in a straight line at the break of dawn is a common occurrence in images of Asian culture, and apparently in places like Laos and Cambodia that culture is still very much alive.

From Luang Prabang, we can head on over to Vientianne, the capital of Laos, and from there go off to Hanoi, Vietnam.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we visited Vietnam for our "Freedom 2011" trip but we stayed in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) and boarded a bus to Mui Ne. Both places are in the southern part of Vietnam. Hanoi is way up north, and apparently quite different.

While we're there, I'd really like to get a glimpse of Halong Bay. That's the photo on the postcards from Vietnam, thus the curiosity.

From Hanoi we can take a bus all the way to Saigon and stop at all the places along the way like Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and of course, Mui Ne.

Maybe this time we'll actually have a look at the tourist-y sights in Saigon. Haha. Maybe. Or we can re-visit the awesome bars/clubs we went to the last time. Oh yeah, side story. My friends and I were drawn to this small hole-in-the-wall bar because of the music. We had zero intention of dropping by since it seemed a bit shady, but the music was just too irresistible. We ended up staying a good 3 hours-ish in that bar til we finally decided to leave and check out the other bars on our list. We figured we wanted a photo with the bad since, well, they were so good. Imagine our surprise when they turned out to be Filipino!!! Proud moment. Seriously.

I've digressed.

From Saigon we would take the bus to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and have a taste of their famous Happy Pizza. From Phnom Penh we can head on over to Kep or Kampot and check out the temples.

From Kampot/Kep, we can take a bus up to Battambang and see even more old temples, and from there, head on over to Siem Reap to see the famous Angkor Wat. This would probably be one of the highlights of the trip. Of all the places mentioned, its Laos and Cambodia that I would really like to spend more time in because of the rich culture.

Siem Reap will be the last stop for this trip, and thus ends the adventure.

You may be wondering why I'm so interested in these old temples and "Asian culture". I live in the Philippines, which, in theory, should be Asian. Unfortunately over 300 years of colonization (first by the Spanish, then by the Japanese and then by the Americans) made us, well, westernized. Even the habal-habal drivers and cigarette vendors speak English and sometimes you find yourself wondering about your Asian roots.

MUI NE.

2012-01-08T02:11:00.000+08:00

A few more shots from Mui Ne.

Vietnam 2011

2012

2012-01-07T22:08:00.000+08:00

Looking forward to our 2012 freedom adventures.

Unfortunately there seems to be some hitch in the plans, but fingers crossed that it will all just fall into place. :D

Dancing Sun

2011-12-22T02:08:00.001+08:00

Quite happy with this new architect's work. :D

Cham Tower, Mui Ne

2011-07-17T22:38:00.001+08:00

Cham Tower, Mui Ne

MUI NE.

2011-07-02T01:16:00.000+08:00

Our relaxed beach trip turned into a backpacking trip. lol. I'm not complaining, Mui Ne was WICKED AWESOME! <3 It deserves a much longer post, but this is all I have the energy for right now. :)

claro que la vida es mejor con mis amigas.

2011-06-19T20:02:00.002+08:00

50 Cents from 5 different currencies.

Each time I arrive from a trip, I dump all the cash from the wallet I brought into this one wallet I leave at home. It now contains currencies from the few places I've been to -- Spanish Euros, Macau Patacas, Hongkong Dollars, Singapore Dollars and Chinese Reminbis, aside from a few pesos. :)

In 2 weeks I'll be adding Vietnamese Dongs to that wallet. :) So excited!

a break-in

2011-04-22T21:49:00.001+08:00

couple weeks back someone broke into the offices in the building where i work.

they didn't take anything from my office, i think they were looking for money but they broke my door and messed up my desk. :|

poverty. tss. that's the philippines for you.

31st floor

2011-04-22T21:46:00.001+08:00

2011-04-11T23:28:00.000+08:00

alas ocho quince cada dia.

la hora que siempre esperare.

... tus ojos y tu sonrisa son bastante para hacerme un buen dia.

2011-04-10T15:50:00.003+08:00

somebody save me

my baby made a babyyy!!!!!

2011-04-04T01:07:00.000+08:00

Dad and I traveled over 3.5 hours to meet this little guy!

Kennith, my "little brother", (my cousin actually) and his girlfriend just had a baby, and they just had him baptized. So meet my nephew, Andros Schmirnov! :)

2011-03-31T01:01:00.003+08:00

2011-03-31T00:50:00.003+08:00

2011-03-27T22:51:00.002+08:00

yummmm

2011-03-27T22:41:00.001+08:00

Speaking of breaking diets, Daddy arrived from Manila and WUHOOOOO he brought me donuts!!!!! One entire dozen!!! Should've taken photos sooner, but then again I started eating on the way home from picking him up from the airport. haha!

jamon y quezo

2011-03-27T22:29:00.002+08:00

Kyna and I went to Taproom two Saturdays ago. Last Saturday we were there again, and this time Katy joined us! My throat still hurts from all that laughing! haha! Love ya girls!

Di vs. Printer round 2

2011-03-21T20:31:00.000+08:00

And this time the printer won. :|

BY THE WAY!

2011-03-18T01:18:00.001+08:00

I can't believe I haven't posted anything here since the New Year!! Not counting the eulogy thingy.

January is a terrible time to be in Cebu. For me, at least. For everyone else January is just plain awesome. Basically beginning Christmas until the 3rd Sunday of January, Cebu is on holiday mode. Which is really difficult when you're depending on a lot of government agencies to beat specific deadlines. I cannot even begin to describe the frustration of being an assistant-les boss/child-of-owner/unpaid slave trying to put things together while everyone else is on holiday mode............

Another story for another time.

Sometime mid-January I just ripped up my to-do list and did nothing. Soon after the "festivities" fizzled out, we experienced a death in the family (see 2 posts ago!) and since Lolo Cari had no immediate family and the clan still insisted on a traditional nine-day wake, Dad and I spent practically every single night of those nine days at the funeral parlor. Yes, we still do the traditional vigil. Unfortunately the clan also has a huge aversion towards gambling, so what was there to do all night except eat?

Around the same time I decided to just give up on those deadlines, I also allowed myself to end my 2-month gym hiatus. Boxing again! Whupdedooo!

February flew by rather quickly. I spent Valentines Day (yes, my 23rd year of being single!) at my tita's mom's 90th birthday party at Casino Espanol. I had an awesome time. They had a band play old music, had slide shows of really old photos, a stand-up comedy act, and tribute performances from her children and grandchild. MamAnun (the celebrant) is a real inspiration. And with a life story like hers, she deserves a celebration like that on her 90th year. :)

Erika's birthday was also in February. She had a quiet dinner party with close friends at Abaca in Mactan, and Beerpong (Patron pong, actually) after-party at Joker's Arms in Mandaue.

I've also been reading again! I just finished Bronte's Wuthering Heights and am now about to start with Jane Austen's Persuasion.

What else? I think that's pretty much that for the first 3 months of the year. I hope I don't abandon this blog again.

Spoiled brat has a new toy.

2011-03-18T00:34:00.001+08:00

I've been wanting an iPhone since I first played Cut the Rope and Angry Birds around December last year. Recently my friend got one and I got to play with this Lomo app. After that I was sold. I couldn't NOT have the iPhone. Finally my dad gave in (yes, I won again!!!) and whupdedooooo I am now an iPhone user!!! These are a few (FEW?!?!) of the photos I took using 4 or 5 different Lomography applications. I still want an actual Lomo camera, although I'm not 100% sure (if I were, I'd have bought one already, hee hee), but for now this will do. I think with the amount of photos I intend on taking with this, this will still come out cheaper than buying film and printing. BWAHAHA.

THANKS DAD!

A funeral.

2011-01-29T14:02:00.001+08:00

Good morning everyone. Thank you for being with us here today as we say goodbye to our beloved Lolo Cari.

As kids growing up in Leyte, one thing we looked forward to every year was visiting Cebu. So several times a year we came to visit, each time we stayed with Lolo Cari and Lola Cering in Mandaue. Inevitably "Cebu" came to mean Lolo Cari and Lola Cering for us. I can still remember the countless trips to SM and Ayala with Lolo and Lola. How they took care of our needs and even our wants as we stayed with them each year. They truly were the epitome of generosity, not just towards us but also towards all the other cousins and relatives who could always turn to them in times of need.

Eventually we grew up, they grew older and weaker. Lola Cering passed away, one by one we moved here and Cebu became our home. We also became caught up with our own lives. But Lolo Cari was still there - our lolo in Mandaue. We became so used to that fact. Some people become staple parts of our lives, a staple. A fact. And we think they'll be there forever, because they HAVE been there since forever. But time passes quickly. Before we know it, they're gone, and all we will have left are the wonderful memories.

And so I end this with a call especially to those in my generation, the grandchildren, my cousins. And even more so to those who still have their grandparents - make every moment count. Make as many good memories as you can so that later on in your life you can look back on those memories with fondness. Make them feel loved so that later on there will be no regrets.

Again, thank you to everyone who have put their efforts into making everything go smoothly - the uncles, the aunties, titos, titas, the cousins; also to Edna, Maristelle and Ramos and their family who were there by his side until his very last breath and who made the last years of Lolo's life comfortable. To the officiating priests, thank you, and to everyone here with us today, thank you.

I was half-drunk at 2am writing this. My dad was so happy with the message. It's just unfortunate that my sleeping brain and nerves and emotions made me say it so fast that I'm not sure whether they understood me. Oh well.

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

src

Let's go, 2011!!! BRING IT ON!!! hahaha!

As always, could see all the fireworks display of the nearby hotels from our balcony. AWESOME.

Happy New Year, folks!

new shoes

2010-12-30T13:52:00.002+08:00

So my flip flops broke while I was walking at the mall. I know, embarrassing. There was a nearby shoe store tho and I ended up with these. :)

merry christmas

2010-12-24T15:36:00.000+08:00

trying to feel the christmas spirit amidst all the stress that work has brought and continues to bring. regardless, merry christmas, folks!

sometimes putting growing up on pause is good.

2010-11-15T01:26:00.001+08:00

So there I was at a developer's symposium on financing with my dad. Dressed up in my grown-up suit and high heels. Unfortunately the speakers were not as informative as I had hoped and thus... the retard in me came out. BWAHAHA!

ink malfunction

2010-11-13T22:38:00.001+08:00

I bought a new canon pixma printer and immediately brought it to this shop to have continuous ink installed. By doing that, I lost the warranty. So imagine how panic-stricken I was when it suddenly stopped printing!

Tried to fix it myself but to no avail. Called the service guy and turns out all I had to do was hold down the reset button. WHEW!

ranch + taproom

2010-11-12T00:27:00.001+08:00

yeah, so my friend Kyna and I turned a year older this week, and we decided to "celebrate" together. ahaha!

great night, girls!

and so we attempted at recreating..

2010-11-11T23:41:00.001+08:00

ahaha! Ken changed the most.

empty spaces. what are we living for.

2010-10-26T23:59:00.001+08:00

src

abandoned faces, I guess we know the score.

On and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for?

Inside my heart is breaking,

my make-up may be flaking.

But my smile still stays on.

src

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.
Another heartache - another failed romance.
On and on...
Does anybody know what we are living for?

src

My make-up may be flaking...
But my smile, still, stays on!

src

I'll top the bill

I'll overkill

I've got to find the will to carry on with the show.

src

THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

And the show will go on.

err well...

2010-10-26T23:36:00.000+08:00

src

I guess the plus side of being stressed and sick is odd weight-loss! Shouldn't speak too soon, I might stuff my face when things get better, but the past couple of days (or weeks), I've noticed a major change in my eating habits. Weird. Still, I'm not complaining.

Mauritania

2010-10-12T01:57:00.001+08:00

src

A place where fat is beautiful and a huge ass and ankles makes you hot hot hottt! ahaha.

Watching Oprah reruns and they were discussing different notions of beauty. What's up.

People always leave.

2010-10-11T19:08:00.003+08:00

src

from One Tree Hill. Too true.

New glasses!!!

2010-09-30T02:26:00.000+08:00

I still love those red frames, tho I've been wearing them for about 4-5 years now.

Passed by an optical shop at the mall earlier and bought contacts. While waiting, I looked through all their frames. I couldn't pick just one, but I ended up with this pair for now. Maybe in a month or two I'll get another. :)

So random...

2010-09-27T14:51:00.003+08:00

Some random photos from my last trip to Tacloban :)

yes, i pray.

2010-09-17T17:19:00.001+08:00

src

Although I am trying to unlearn everything that has been forced upon me by over 12 years of Catholic education, I do pray. I believe all gods (Catholic, Islamic, Hindu, etc) are one and the same, and so I pray to the Higher Being(s) or to the Universe, or whatever forces there are that govern over our existence.

With all my heart I am thankful for the mindset I have been blessed with this year. For the answers I gave to questions asked of me that actually answered questions that were in my heart for so long.

I am thankful for the reminders, very neatly placed all around me.

I am thankful for the serendipitous events that led to my understanding of things I thought were very confusing.

I am thankful for the strength, wisdom and discernment.

I am thankful that despite all the challenges we went through, things fell into place without us "getting our hands dirty" with bad deals.

I am thankful that we were blessed with the patience to just wait.

If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

:(

2010-09-14T02:24:00.000+08:00

Dr. Tejido on the far right.

Dr. Tejido (Ph.D.'87, retired faculty member of the Theology Department of the Ateneo de Manila University) joined our Creator on 12 September 2010.

The wake is at the Arlington Memorial Chapels.
Interment will be on September 16 at the Paraiso Memorial Park.

-ADMU Office of University Development & Alumni
Relations

I remember getting my first Theo 131 paper back. There was no grade, instead there was a note that said "please see me." My heart was pounding as I knocked on his door. I thought I had failed. Turns out he only wanted to ask me how I was. He said he felt the emotion behind my paper and wanted to speak to me.

I had written about my parents' separation.

That was the only Theology class I actually paid attention to, and I'd have to say, I live by a lot of the things he taught. Needless to say, he touched my life and changed my outlook. For that, I am eternally grateful. I'll never forget you sir!

photos from once upon a time...

2010-09-08T02:10:00.000+08:00

Somehow I found myself looking at old photos from that Spain trip. Feels like a whole lifetime has passed but really it's only been a little over 2 years. Espana, I'll be back someday!!!

just cause we're older doesn't mean we have to be all grown up

2010-09-08T01:54:00.000+08:00

With two of my favorite people! The first few photos were taken last week while I was in Manila, and the last photo was taken in 2006 or 2007. See, not much has changed. We're still the same idiots we were years ago, just a little older. haha! I miss you girls so so much! See you again soon!

if you're happy and you know it.

2010-09-02T23:19:00.002+08:00

I'm back, folks, after almost 2 weeks of being away, and I daresay this was a much needed break from reality. I've got a lot to be happy about, but mostly I'm feeling great about being able to be there for a few people, see some of the people I miss the most happy, reconnect with old ties, meet new people, and get a little of my old self back. I don't know if I'll write about them in days to come, but I'm just really happy now. :)

* photo by Viva Gonzalez

Bantayan Island

2010-07-19T12:34:00.001+08:00

Photo by Sanndra Orosa

Panglao

2010-07-18T22:20:00.003+08:00

Vigan wasn't the only trip Sanndra and I took this summer. We also went on a random one-day spontaneous trip to Panglao, Bohol. Bohol is an island about 2 hours away from Cebu by Supercat. We arrivied at Tagbilaran and took a rental car to Panglao (which is another island, connected to Tagbilaran by a bridge).

We stayed at this place called Cherry's At Home which is a 10 minute walk away from the beach. Not bad for 1,000 Php per night. I got a henna tattoo, went island hopping and dolphin watching. Panglao is really nice, although it's got nothing on Bantayan Island! I was disappointed with the food in Balicasag Island, the food in the main island is a bit expensive, and the place is really commercialized. But it was alright. =)

Photos by Sanndra Orosa

Skywalk

2010-07-18T22:12:00.001+08:00

Culb Ultima's Sky Walk is becoming an attraction here in Cebu. Last April my Tita asked me to take her guest from Bacolod to go Sky Walk. Kinda scary but not that THAT bad. Who wants to go? I want to go again! lol.

Club Ultima is near Fuente Osmena, Cebu City. You all should go check that out!

Vigan

2010-07-07T00:26:00.003+08:00

Last June Sanndra, Mm and I took a trip up north to Laoag, Ilocos Norte, and Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Vigan is up there on my list of favorite places in the Philippines. We went there about 12 years ago and I just fell in love with the place. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to go to Spain so bad -- Vigan survived the Spanish-American and Japanese-American war virtually unscathed, so the place (or at least one part of the place) is almost exactly the way it was during the Spanish occupation. If Vigan can be THAT nice, how much more Spain, aye?

These are a few of the photos Sanndra took.

Photos by Sanndra Orosa

House interiors

2010-07-03T23:52:00.002+08:00

One buyer had the interiors of his house fixed up. They picked one of our packages for house interiors - improvement on the stairs, vinyl tiles, wall painting, ceiling, window frame painting, etc.

I was actually very disappointed with our current contractor and was on the verge of firing him when he did this. So I guess this means he stays. Not bad for SOCIALIZED HOUSING in the Philippines, aye?

A house like this will cost you about 3,000 Php per month under PAG-IBIG financing. For more info, email me at blancodi@yahoo.com

Photos were taken by Jovy Beltran

Cositas

2010-07-03T01:13:00.000+08:00

The cutest salt and pepper shaker set, and a pocket watch that just reminds me of Captain Hook!!! I found these little thingies while walking around Tsim Sia Tsuy in Hong Kong last January.

Aww!

2010-07-03T01:01:00.000+08:00

My brother Alex is often grumpy, yet other times he's so so sweet.

I know this is really late, but on Valentine's Day earlier this year, he arrived home carrying a boquet of roses for mom. Now isn't that something? =)

Just because.

2010-07-02T01:22:00.000+08:00

I like this particular photo, even if it looks a bit messy.

Taken by my friend Sanndra on our trip to Bantayan Island last March.

Boating trip around Mactan

2010-07-01T01:58:00.001+08:00

Maybe I'll post more photos of that boating trip soon. But then again, it's not up to me since I'd need permission from the people on the photos. So uhh. yeah.

Random Photos

2010-07-01T01:22:00.000+08:00

I hardly post photos with myself in them. lol. This was just some random hang out with Lizza and Erika (I see them about once a year). They had both arrived from China and they each had a new camera! We decided to take them for sort of test runs, hence the cam whoring.

Photos were taken using two different cameras. Erika's was a digital lomo camera (I know! Not so common), and Lizza's was a Canon point and shoot, I forgot the model. Post-processed a bit (okay, a lot with some) using i.Photo.

Plain White T's

2010-06-30T23:31:00.002+08:00

I swear each time I hear that song...

Took the photo in Ateneo, when I went for a walk with my friend Viva last February

Tinderbox

2010-06-13T03:39:00.001+08:00

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

2010-06-13T02:52:00.000+08:00

I wish I knew how to take photos of fireworks, but no, that won't do it justice.

I cried both times. HAHA! Retard much.

Cosas

2010-06-13T02:30:00.000+08:00

Some Disneyland Photos =)

2010-06-13T02:28:00.003+08:00

I spent my 21st birthday in Disneyland over a year ago, and last January I just had to go back!

I'll NEVER be too old for this. =)

City of Dreams, Macau

2010-06-11T23:02:00.002+08:00

Around Hong Kong

2010-06-10T23:40:00.000+08:00

SORRYYY!!!

2010-06-10T02:31:00.000+08:00

OH NO I've been neglecting my blog! Summer has been crazy, and, well, I've been lazy.

But I have more time now, and with two upcoming trips being cancelled and work going lull, I should be able to edit photos and post. Currently transferring photos from my old laptop to my Mac. Once FTPs are done, I'll go on editing the photos and posting. I promise to finish posting about that Hong Kong - Macau trip ASAP! And then post about all the little trips I took this summer. Whee!!!

Como va tu verano?

Around the Venetian

2010-02-25T23:45:00.000+08:00

Photos from around The Venetian Hotel in Macau. =)

Macau 2010

2010-02-25T23:43:00.000+08:00

We took a walk around Macau in the area where all the casinos are. =)

Handpainted Ceiling!

2010-02-02T12:45:00.000+08:00

at The Venetian, Macau

The Suite Life

2010-02-02T02:58:00.000+08:00

of di and alex. lol.

Suite 30-060. Our awesome awesome awesome suite at The Venetian.

Admit it, you are SO jealous right now! JK!

Morton's. YUM.

2010-02-02T01:44:00.000+08:00

Definitely one of, if not THE best meal I had the entire trip!!! Thanks so much Tito Jiji and Tita Dayon Naces for the treat! Tito Jiji cooks all the dessert and the mini burgers at Morton's at the Venetian. I also got to meet the Singaporean executive chef. How awesome is that!!!

Macau 2010

2010-02-02T01:03:00.001+08:00

Splash of Chinese culture, especially with Chinese New Year right around the corner, but bits and pieces of the old Portuguese peeking out. Macau is just awesome!

I'm posting photos backwards. We were in Macau on the last day of our trip.

Oh hello!!

2010-01-26T14:45:00.001+08:00

via

Boy oh boy this year is promising to be a rather busy one, and I haven't been posting as religiously as I had promised myself!

I'll post photos and updates soon, cause in a few hours Alex, mom and I are leaving for HK again!!! I'm so excited!

Mayon 2006

2010-01-12T21:22:00.001+08:00

In 2006 my dad and I had gone on an 18 or so hour roadtrip from Tacloban to Manila. At some point we were too tired and it was too dark to drive so we stayed overnight at a hotel. The next morning we opened the windows et voila, Mayon. Awesome!

New found fave!!!

2010-01-12T17:23:00.000+08:00

I found this ring at the Christmas Bazaar in IT park when Mom, Alex and I went for a walk. I've been loving it since and have been wearing it everywhere!!! Problem is, the silver part was painted and its starting to change color. =( Oh well.

Red Kimono

2010-01-12T15:59:00.000+08:00

I wasn't able to take photos of the Uni Sushi and the California Maki, but those look the same everywhere. =)

Old photos.

2010-01-10T15:23:00.000+08:00

Bea, Ken and I before we were introduced to alcohol and the harsh things in life.

Sometimes I just wish things could be back to the way they once were. =)

Forgotten photos.

2010-01-10T00:29:00.001+08:00

These are photos that I took during our Singapore trip in March 2009. I can't believe I forgot all about them!! Edited light, contrast and color using iPhoto. I'm loving my new Mac!!! =)

What's that? A Mac?

2010-01-05T03:22:00.001+08:00

I HAVE A NEW TOY!

Yet again. Daddy got me a new toy. My "Christmas Present!!!". Whooot!

So it's 3 :15 am now and I should get some sleep. I feel really silly using Photobooth for the first time. Yipeeeee!!!

So that's one thing off my I WANT list!!!

What applications do you reckon I should download? For now all I have is the OSX recent software and iLife. No files even! Haha!

Diane's Playground!

2010-01-04T03:09:00.004+08:00

Same site, better name!

I hope no one gets lost on their way to my new address =)

via

caterpillar!

2010-01-01T12:52:00.000+08:00

via

I just discovered tumblr.

2010-01-01T12:45:00.000+08:00

via

Yes, I know I'm late, but what the hey. It's awesome.

hit me up!

http://dianesplayground.tumblr.com

Happy new year!!!

2010-01-01T01:24:00.000+08:00

src

The best part about living right smack in the middle of the city is that you get to watch the fireworks display of all the surrounding hotels and business centers in the comfort of your own 'balcony'.

Sure, we have no space for lighting our own firecrackers, like we did at the farm years ago, but firecrackers scare the crap out of me anyway.(My hand almost got burned off 4 years ago.)

Mom and I had a great time watching the fireworks and figuring out where they came from.

Happy New Year everyone! Have you all listed down your new years' resolutions?

Dreaming like a Real Estate Developer dreams

2009-12-29T16:17:00.000+08:00

Before 2010 ends this area will be covered by houses. This thought EXCITES me especially since I saw this area covered with rice paddies not too too long ago. Pretty soon over 150 families will be moving in to this lot. Our products are sort of like the "starter homes" in the SIMS -- they're small and very very affordable for starting-out families. That thought always makes me grin like an idiot.

Of course when the families get bigger and start earning more, they eventually move out of the village, but they rent their houses out and we can watch yet another family begin and grow.

We've been making small villages like these for the past +/- 15 years and it's great that some of the kids of our first buyers are now new buyers for the new villages!

I love my job, can you tell?

Polar bear hugs!

2009-12-29T16:07:00.003+08:00

src

I miss Alex S. and Lizza G.! I remember watching a soccer match from way way way up on those cheap seats and it was raining and really really cooold and the three of us were huddled under one umbrella. That was funny.

Flower. Again.

2009-12-29T04:42:00.000+08:00

Christmas Village

2009-12-29T04:36:00.001+08:00

The hotel Christmas village was HUGE!!!! Each house was sponsored, too and proceeds were donated to charity, just like the ornaments on the tree. My fave would have to be the one with Santa flying! Whee!

Hotel Christmas =)

2009-12-29T04:33:00.000+08:00

Our cramped condo doesn't give us much space for our stuff, let alone for Christmas decorations, that's why I haven't felt at all festive throughout the season. I WAS, however, really looking forward to spending Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day at Marco Polo. It was SUPER worth it.

These are a few of the decors in their lobby. They had a huge Christmas tree that went all the way to the ceiling. Each ornament on the tree was sponsored by someone and the money given would be donated to charity (notice the little card thingies?).

They also had a faux fireplace. That's red light, a small fan and a red piece of cloth. AWESOME! They had toys on top and around the "fireplace" too! There was a Christmas village which I'll post about in a separate entry.

Then of course there's the ice sculpture which they placed next to the tree a little before the Christmas Eve buffet started, which was also really worth the Php 1,500 we paid.

Hotel Christmas doesn't beat the old Holiday traditions we had when we were at our old home and also at the farm (I'll write about these traditions another time, promise!). Face it, good childhood memories can never be replaced. But having this after the mess we had the past 3 or 4 (or was it 5?) years is very very welcome.

I had a great time this season (contrary to next year when I was vomiting my gut out cause of the ulcer and alcohol). It was very chill. Mom and I did Christmas shopping really late, but we enjoyed walks around IT Park and Terraces, just the three of us, Mom, me and Alex (Richard is in Australia with Dad).

How was your Christmas?

Presents

2009-12-29T04:17:00.000+08:00

We found these little thingies in the mall. They're compact mirrors for the purse. We gave them out but I found them too too cute! I like the one with the lady that looks like a coin best. =)

Gingerbread!

2009-12-29T04:04:00.001+08:00

These things were given out as complimentary Christmas treats at Marco Polo. What a pleasant surprise. Mom and I were hungry. Can you tell? hahaha.

Christmas Lanterns

2009-12-29T04:01:00.001+08:00

The first one was from Marco Polo, by the buffet. The second, from the lobby of the building we live in.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

2009-12-29T03:51:00.001+08:00

So the hotel we stayed at had a Mr and Mrs Claus walk around. I pretended to be all grown up and shook their hands without running over and asking for a photo with them like all the other little kids did.

A little after they turned away I went WTH? and grabbed my camera. This is the only photo I got of Santa and Mrs Claus. Serves me right for pretending, aye?

Reminisce yet again.

2009-12-29T02:52:00.000+08:00

Saw this on my friend's facebook account. I MISS SPAIN!!! and coats. and cool weather.

This photo was taken by my friend Lizza Go in Salamanca 2008.

quasimodo-ish.

2009-12-21T17:58:00.000+08:00

Props to my dear brother Alex for taking care of me the whole time I was stuck at home.

Of course like every big brother, there has to be a lot of teasing involved.

He said I should stand outside and sing "Out there" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Bwahaha Chiyeahright.

But I DID take photos outside, and a few from the small balcony.

Toys!

2009-12-21T17:35:00.000+08:00

Also from when I was stuck at home. Toys lying around the house.

The first one came with a happy meal a few years back.

The matador was a souvenir from Spain.

The clock was my brother's ex-girlfriend's present from years ago. Or at least I think she gave him that.

Fridge.

2009-12-21T17:32:00.000+08:00

I was bored. Can you tell?

This was from when I was stuck at home with my ankle cast.

I've been living on Coke Zero these days. Not as good as the real thing but what the hey.

Then there are a few tomatoes that are starting to wrinkle up.

And my faveeee Belgian Chocolate. yum.

Disgusting but free!

2009-12-21T17:27:00.000+08:00

YEY FREEDOMMMM!!!

Sorry, I know this is uber disgusting,and also late.

But the cast came off 6 days ago and my ankle was and still is all bruised up. I still have a little trouble walking but there's very little pain left.

URL.

2009-12-15T14:20:00.000+08:00

So I'm thinking of changing my URL into something less... juvenile. I started blogging back in 2004 when I was in my freshman year in college. My first blog was on LJ and it talked of nothing but boys, school and homesickness. I was 16, what do you expect? I swear I get uber emotional every time I read it again. In 2005, I moved from LJ to Tabulas but that ALSO got swamped with drama and crap. I kept at it for a couple of years, though. However when my friends started using LJ, I felt the need to make an account so I could post and read their private entries. That's when I came up with "ayshkreempleesh" ("ice cream please" or "i scream please", however you want to read it). This was in 2006. In early 2007 I decided to use that blog, supposedly for poetry and whatnot, but it ended up as another sort of sounding board for all my rants.

Mid 2008, after graduating from University, I wanted yet another blog for my supposed "grown up" life. Without putting much thought into it, I went for "ayshkreempleeshon" as ayshkreempleesh on blogspot. But now that I'm all grow-ed up, (and hardly allowed to eat ice cream!!!) it just doesn't make sense anymore. Hence the dilemma of whether to change it or not. Whether I should hang on to the childish name or pick a grown up one.

What do you think?

(Jen dear, I need your opinion on this!!)

Art fart... THREE! =)

2009-12-08T04:55:00.001+08:00

I made this at Coffee Bean, in Terraces, Ayala. I know I looked really silly, smoking a cigarette and sipping coffee while drawing and coloring. HAHA. The first photo was taken using my camera phone, that's why it's crappy.

Closer look?

It's 3am.

2009-12-08T04:53:00.000+08:00

I'm still serving my sentence and I slept all day. So I was awake and bored.

I knew there was one lonely slice of cake left in the fridge.

And at some point I gave in.

Practice.

2009-12-08T04:42:00.002+08:00

Learning to sketch in color.

Disappointed.

2009-12-08T04:37:00.002+08:00

Practicing the perspective thingy. I'm not satisfied with it. =( Now I don't know what to do with it. I really want to color it but I might ruin it some more. Lol.

My daddy went to Vegas...

2009-12-08T04:35:00.000+08:00

And all I got was this lousy magnet key chain.

Okay fine I got more than just a key chain. I saw this on one of my tita's magnets and found it all too funny. My dad DID bring the key chain from Vegas, btw.

Have you met the lensbaby?

2009-12-06T15:44:00.000+08:00

I got the above photos from the Lensbaby website gallery. Boy oh boy oh boy. Me likey!

Seriously tho, it isn't until you get yourself an expensive camera and start taking shots and then dabble in post processing that you see the trend and realize what sort of photography you'd like to do. I saw these shots and had a major A-HAH! moment. I WANT THIS LENS!

Now I know those effects can be applied through editing programs like Picasa, Photoscape and Photoshop but wouldn't it be so cool to take snaps like these? Gawd. Had I known these were the kind of photos I would want to take, I would have gotten a Lomo camera instead of a DSLR. I'd probably have saved a couple hundred bucks.

Don't get me wrong, I still super duper love my Canon 1000d, but oooohh these shots are prettyyy.

Lessons from a broken ankle...

2009-12-03T03:03:00.001+08:00

Since I have nothing better to do, and two days of nothing but FarmVille, YoVille and Farm Town (not to mention looking at the page of about half my Facebook friends list) is driving me totally psycho, I decided to reflect on my punishment.

I have got to get off my (ever growing) ass. Seriously. I've been a lazy whale for the past couple of weeks only leaving the condo to take a short walk at the mall, and I usually end up at some coffee shop puffing on a cig and drinking some calorie-loaded, whipped-cream-topped drink. Work's been stagnant (and by stagnant I literally mean I hardly have to do ANYTHING) so I haven't bothered to visit the office and the site for the past few weeks. Having this cast on my ankle prevents me from going out. I wish I could go walk around and window shop, or run my bank errands and go to the office, but I'm stuck here. *cue Big Yellow Taxi* Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til it's gone.

Oompa Loompa Fat is SO NOT the way to go. There's a reason why I've never had a sprained ankle before -- I've never been this fat before! Fat makes you clumsy. I know that sounds really bad but unfortunately it's true. I've gained 35 pounds over the past 6 years and it is SO NOT funny. Some people insist I could still pass for normal at my height, so maybe it's not as much the weight gain as the lack of physical activity. A few months back I visited the University and walked from one school building to another and found myself out of breath. And to think I used to brisk walk from one end of the campus to another in the 10 minute span between classes. Testament to how completely out of shape I am right now. So yeah, I'm hitting the gym as soon as this ankle has healed.

Mom thinks the most important lesson I ought to learn from all this is patience. I'm a very impatient brat and I kick, scream, whine and complain like a 5 year old when I don't get my way. Now I find a heavy piece of crap attached to my leg. I can't even wear my jeans cause of this thing. It's annoying, itchy, heavy (I'm being a baby, it's not really heavy since it's made of fiber glass) and just plain irritating. And she's right. Now there's something I can do nothing about. No amount of tantrums and whining and complaining will make the sprained ankle go away so I have no choice but to deal with it.

The really unfortunate thing is that, after my ankle heals, I'm probably going to forget all these little lessons and go back to being the lazy, bratty whale I've been for a while now. Which is also why I'm writing it down here and uploading for all the world to see so I don't forget. And if by any chance my stubborn head CHOOSES to forget, I'll always have this as a reminder. =)

Remembering Holly.

2009-11-27T02:28:00.000+08:00

He's all right! Aren't you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's.

No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?

You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

I know you do, and that's just the trouble. It's the mistake you always made, Doc, trying to love a wild thing. You were always lugging home wild things. Once it was a hawk with a broken wing... and another time it was a full-grown wildcat with a broken leg. Remember?

You musn't give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get, until they're strong enough to run into the woods or fly into a tree. And then to a higher tree and then to the sky.

Holly Golightly, that is. Oh how I loved that movie. I watched it almost every night for an entire semester! <3

Sources:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R2_7wtcr16Y/R8MiKuuz

ZXI/AAAAAAAAAkc/mOZUCoDBPb0/s400/holly-golightly-muse.png

http://neoneocon.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/golightly.jpg

http://www.beautysnob.com/images/breakfast460.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/Zappanose/MoonRiver.jpg

http://kelly.postplatinum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Picture-1.png

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/quotes

Colors.

2009-11-16T00:21:00.001+08:00

Shutter happy en el jardin de mi tia. =)

Alex behind the cam.

2009-11-12T22:05:00.000+08:00

Asked my brother Alex to hold the camera. This was his first random shot. I forgot to put it on Auto before handing it over. Whups!