END OF AUGUST BREAK

It's the last day of August Break 2014. While it's summer in other parts of the world, it's the sun who is taking a break here in the Philippines. Days are usually started and capped off with rain showers, and classes have just begun for others. So I'm sneaking in some photos from our Boracay trip last month for a dose of summer break and island feel.

I'm also taking a break from work next week to sweep off rolls of film in the streets of Hong Kong haha! I have read things about how bounty Hong Kong is with film stores so I am heavily worried for my budget. I only know about Dot-Well so far, any more tips? :)

You can view my 31 days of August from my Instagram link above :) Happy end of the weekend and of August to you!

BANGKOK FAVORITES

Seriously August, where did you go? It's kind of crazy to realize that there are only seven days left before we jump into the next month, and a few blinks more we're probably going around greeting each other Merry Christmas. Nuts.

There are a lot places and sights I wanted to share and talk about lately, I just can't find the voice to write it because sloth. Anyway, here are some of my personal favorite photos taken around Bangkok last January (wayyy long overdue!).

Happy end of the weekend to all! (Except for me, because it's National Heroes Day tomorrow hee)

DERAILED

An MRT train recently got derailed on its way to Taft, Manila, the route I ride in every day from the office. A lot of issues has been raised since then, which reminds me of a famous quote from Enrique Penalosa, Mayor of Bogota in Colombia: 

"An advanced city is not a place where poor move about in cars, rather it's where even the rich use public transportation."

Photos are from BTS in Thailand.

CAFE BRETON

During my 10-minute walk from the bus stop to our office building, I get to pass by Cafe Breton every morning. Each time I see a glimpse of this French-inspired coffee shop, I wonder how lovely it would be to sit inside and be served with those pretty porcelain china (or whatever is the proper term for those). I always tell myself, "one of these days."

And that one day came, gladly, right before my scheduled interview for a post-grad application. The pressure was getting into my head at this moment obviously, but the company and ambiance relaxed my uneasy nerves somehow. Their mango crepe has the perfect combination of light, tangy and delicious! Although their coffee was not served as hot as expected, I would not think twice on trying them again, one of these days :)

I did not make the cut, by the way.

Prior to the interview (and exam), I had a year to think about applying first. For a year it became this dark cloud hovering my sanity, and was one of those would I/should I things I had to decide for myself. I ridiculously spent months thinking and questioning my ability to commit into something I was so unsure of. Anyway, the bottom line is, I had to know. And I will not ever know if I never try.

I've tried, and although failed, I cannot explain the wave of relief this has brought me. I may or may not try again in the future. For now I rest my head on the thought that, failure cannot humiliate someone who has tried.

Happy end of the weekend to you :)

PERSISTENT | GREENS

These are from roll 2 of the 3 rolls I've mentioned in the last post. Got a bit of luck on this one, though they're very grainy. 

PERSISTENT

I got a message from my office mate Ivan one day offering a few rolls of film which, as he said, have been resurrected from the burrows of their home while they were cleaning. I immediately felt excited of course, thinking my occasional posting of photos on Facebook must have tipped him off that I'm still using film. He handed me three rolls the next day, and I have probably got lightheaded from the excitement of receiving free stuff that I totally forgot to ask how the film were stored.

I have no problem using expired film; 90% of the photos on this space came from ones with 1 up to 3 years expiration. So one beautiful weekend, I ended up in Laguna for a nice, unwinding road trip. Also got a chance to circle U.P. Los Baños, and enjoyed getting lost on the way to the destination.

It was one of those trips that came out of nowhere, sort of unplanned, but ended up to be nothing short of great times. Imagine my disappointment when the film scans came back from the lab with almost all dark and grainy frames. It completely slipped off my mind that I was shooting with a very expired roll, and most probably one that was not properly stored. It took me some time to see and appreciate that there are still a few persistent colors which got picked up despite the darkness. Important moments stood still :)

I remember Katie posting some of her photos from a very expired roll too, which produced a more interesting rainbow tones because why else, she's Katie. And awesome. Enough said (Hi Katie!) :D You can check them out here.

MANILA SKY

What I lack in words, I make up for high dosage of skies. 

EYE IN THE SKY

Time to reverse the Sky in the Eye.

LIFE AFTER FILM

1. Have been able to finally watch Her. I don't follow Joaquin Phoenix's career, but I thought he was out of his body on his character as Theodore, a guy who fell in love with his OS (yes, as in Operating System) voiced by Scarlett Johansson. I would totally jump on this idea of bonding with your operating system if ever this materializes in a not so distant future. I liked the motif of this movie, but what I loved more is the soundtrack. Wow. I did not know Arcade Fire is that good. Their track Song on the Beach so closely reminded me of the theme song of that great old movie Somewhere In Time (with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour). Ahhh. Love. it. One question in mind though, what's with the high-waist pants in the future? Haha.
2. Currently reading Eleanor & Park (!). Currently falling in love too. Rainbow Rowell is sprinkling her spell on me again. It's not impossible to see me on the bus reading, and casually snorting once in a while. Rainbow is currently writing the screenplay, btw and fyi. I really like her humor!
3. My Lolo crush tweeted me!! I have this thing for profane men who can carry it so well, and with charm, then pairs with a wicked smart brain. My attraction really does follow a pattern: Jason Bateman (my future husband), Mo Twister (logical and realistic), this guy (from neverland) and this guy (from faraway) (them who must not be named). All curses with class. F-ing S of a B.
4. Still a month before my list of TV series comes back from season break. Been watching second half of Grey's Anatomy S5 during commute on my way home because Arizona Robbins. Ultimate woman crush!
5. For the nth time, I killed and resurrected my Twitter and Instagram accounts again. My friends hate me for this. I hate me for it too. Hahaha.
6. Adulthood kicked in. Funded my long-term investment at last! :) Which also means I am broke now.
7. We're only a month away from the next trip. It has taken its shape, thank God. I think this is the most stressed I've got in any of my trips, to think that I took a tour package when I've never had troubles with my DIY ones. There was a long exchange of emails, negotiation and even asking for favors.
8. Speaking of trips, I booked another one before the year ends! No Christmas break leaves for me, but I'm excited to go back to this place and be mesmerized again :) Yay for travels!
9. Kimi is celebrating her 2nd birthday today! :) :) She may not be the best-trained pet (haha) but definitely the sweetest (and the derp-iest too :D) Happy birthday to the one who loves me most :p

IN HEAVEN

"Practice kindness all day to everybody and you will realize you're already in heaven."