Philippines 2013

Hi.

I have so many overdue posts, it's not even funny. I've been so busy with school and work (and sleeping) that it has just completely taken over my life, and I barely have time to catch up on my Youtube subscriptions, much less update my blog.

So the next few posts are gonna be scrapbook posts from a month ago. I apologize.

One day, I saw an ad for TigerAirways on the side of Youtube, and I spontaneously decided to book a trip to the Philippines. It was all done in 20 minutes, and it was one of the best spontaneous decision I've made in my life.

So I contacted my cousin and we made plans for each of the seven days I was spending in the Philippines within one hour. She had just graduated from college and wasn't working yet, so it was great that I got to hang out with her for a whole week! She was my closest cousin back when I lived in the Philippines, and we were practically sisters growing up. She could also drive and had a car to herself, so it was pretty sweet that I had a personal chauffer again!

Besides going to malls and sight-seeing, we spent quite a lot of time just chilling at cafés. Mildred had a long list of cafés she wanted to bring me to, but unfortunately, we didn't have enough time. My favourite is still Holly's Coffee though. Amazingly chill vibe, and their peppermint mocha Hollycino is to die for.

I love cafés in the Philippines cause everyone is just so amazingly nice! I went to Starbucks twice while I was there, and by my second visit, the barista already knew my name and had stroke up a conversation! And the visits were a couple of days apart, mind you. I went to Holly's Coffee twice too, and the barista was incredibly hilarious. He was doing tricks with a cup, and accidentally dropped it. He gave me the "you didn't see that" look and winked at me as I tried not to burst out laughing. We talked for awhile after that while I waited for my cousin. Damn, I love cafés in the Philippines.

I spent most of my days there hanging out with family. We chilled at my aunt's place (our old house), where the kids forced me to treat them ice cream, my aunt made kwek kwek (deep-fried battered boiled quail eggs. Yeah, that's a thing), and we laughed about some local child actor whose hair made him resemble a rooster.

On another day, we went swimming at my grandma's clubhouse and it was so nostalgic. We used to go there a lot as kids, and Mildred and I would annoy the older ones, but on this trip, we were "the older ones" which was weird. We ended up chicken fighting in the pool and it was super hilarious. My baby cousins kept calling out for me cause I was the only one tolerating their shit and bringing them around the pool. Smart buggers.

I have a flight booked back to the Philippines again in August! I don't have anything planned yet, but I'm sure it'll be as bomb as usual. I CANNOT WAIT.

I hope you're all having a lovely time with your family!

Good afternoon.