What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas...

...well, nothing "happend" in vegas that I don't want to share with everyone. I went here twice in 2004. I'm not much into casinos so we went shopping and watched some shows. Of course, we didn't forget to watch our country's very own. My main man, super balladeer and great friend, Martin Nievera at the Golden Nugget. Watching him made me well up a bit. I'm just so proud of him.

My memorable meal was at the top of the Stratosphere. Damn...we were so high! And it was turning a whole 360degrees too. That's the highest place I've ever eaten. Well, aside from when I'm on a plane. Our attending waiter was Filipino so he took good care of us :)

Some pics:

Enjoying the Dancing Fountains at The Bellagio...





Strolling at The Venetian...



I love you, Vegas! :)

Meeting the Family

On our U.S. trip in 2004, we passes by the Alamo at night so I don't have a darn pic infront of it :(

But one very significant event happened in San Antonio. I met my hana's big family who migrated there years ago and settled in this historical city. And just in time for his grandmother's (abuelita) birthday!

And that I have a picture of (see pic above). Which in my opinion, is a far more important Kodak moment than standing infront of the Alamo. :)

Second Childhood

...this I experienced during my first visit to California Adventure Theme Park in 2001. I went to the States for work, leaving my daughter behind in Manila. I promised her that the next time I go, I will take her with me. And that is why I didn't go to Disneyland just yet.

We finally went back in 2004. We were so excited, we wanted to go on all the rides! We were there sooooo early and left real late!

We also went to...

Disneyland:


Universal Studios:



We stayed in L.A. for like a whole month. But my all time favorite place in sunny California is Fremont. It's just so homey! If I was to settle down in the U.S., I would definitely live in Fremont. :)

Sing, Sing...Singapore!

*The Philippine Ultimate Frisbee Team*

We went here in 2003 for the annual Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It was our country's second time to join. We placed second to the last. hahaha! It's all good. We had lots of fun. We went shopping, ate at Newton Circus (love the hainanaese chicken!)saw the night zoo and partied with some "showbiz" singaporean friends. :)


*the frisbee registration party at Raffles Hotel*



*loving the food at Newton Circle*



*at the airport, on our way back to Manila :(*

One Big Shopping Mall...

...that’s what Hong Kong is for me. There are friggin’ stores everywhere my shopaholic self could hardly keep up! I stayed here for 2 weeks in 2001 with some of my co-dancers for FREE coz we danced back-up for a well-known Hong Kong singer here (sorry, forgot her name).

Other than that, all we did was… eat, sleep, shop, eat, shop sleep and shop!

I wanna go back with my boy-friend and daughter and go to the newly-opened Disneyland and to shop some more. Note to self: Bring more money :)


*couldn't find anything more scenic but this. haha!*


*Twinkle, me and Joyce...taking a pictorial break after a long walk in some park*


*Twinkle, Geo, des, Joyce and me...after a long day of ceasless shopping, we surrender our flip flops by the subway*

Washington D.C.

*attending the senate hearing at the Capitol. haha!*



*knock, knock! Is anybody home? Bill? Are you there?*


*by the huge Lincoln statue at Lincoln Memorial*


*Jenny!!! This is the Reflecting Pool. Remember the pool that Forest Gump and Jenny ran into? Oh and the one at the back is not a huge toothpick. That's the Washington Memorial*"


My trip to D.C. in 2001 was such a learning experience. I was so fascinated with American history it actually crossed my mind to gain more knowledge of it.

We stayed with our co-dancer, Agus, who recently migrated there. And as an added bonus, her backyard was the whole Smithsonian Institute! So we (me and my other co-dancers, Mapet and Christine) just walked going to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the to the Air and Space Museum.

Also very near were all the other must-see places like the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol.

Paris, the City of Love

It really is. And I was lucky enough to tour this city for FREE! A selected few from our dance group were sent here by the Philippine Tourism peeps.

I was able to shop at the flee market of Covent Garden, have merienda at the Champs Elysees with the spectacular view of the Arc de Triomphe , see the Mona Lisa and numerous other breath-taking art pieces at the Musee du Louvre, and have a serving of haagen-dazs ice cream under the Eiffel Tower!

*The Glass Pyramid at the Louvre*


*The Eiffel Tower*

*The Arc de Triomphe*


My memories…

1. this is where i learned to drink and appreciate red wine (my poison).

2. i was shocked to learn that they pay for catsup at their McDonalds and a measley cheeseburger meal would cost you about 200pesos!
3. we were so tired of having steak and gourmet meals all the time which promted us to hunt down the nearest (and only) chinese restaurant near our hotel.
4. i learned that if you eat al fresco, they actually charge you more. Reason being…ambiance baby!
5. was surprised to find out that the mona lisa wasn’t as big as i had expected.

The reason I want to go back to this beautiful city is because I want to see everything again. But this time, with the love of my life. It ain’t quite the city of love if you ain’t got someone to canoodle with, right?

See more progress on: Paris

I Went to London to Visit the Queen

...but saw someone else instead. Believe it or not, when I went to Buckingham Palace (in 1995), I saw Prince Charles! With my Sharp video cam in hand I filmed a luxury car making it's way out the palace gates. I jokingly narrated, "...And that is Prince Charles coming out of his palace." To my complete and utter surprise, it WAS Prince Charles sitting comfortably at the back of the vehicle. I had to rewind the tape and see it again, just to make sure. A bunch of other tourists squeezed in to get a look-see too. And I was right. Now, ain't I the lucky one :)


*I look so tiny infront of the palace gates*

Stonehendge, U.K.

*Stonehenge, april 1995*

It was such a surreal experience! To be actually standing beside this famous rock formation was beyond words.

At first I was like, “Ok so its just like a bunch of arranged stones. What’s the big deal?” But after learning a bit of it’s history, feeling the tranquil vibe of the whole area and the mere fact that I once just saw these rocks on pictures and on national geographic mags was enough to make me understand it’s beauty.

See more progress on: United Kingdom

GENEVA!!!

*crossing the not-so-busy street. In tights, no less!*

This was the first city we went to during our 1995 Europe tour for Philippine Tourism. I remember when we went shopping; some of the stores were closed in the afternoon. They said that it's a pretty normal occurrence for stores to open late and to close early depending on the storeowner. You know, they just open and close when they feel like it. Whoa! Maybe because this country is so rich, the can afford to do so.

Another thing this peaceful city is rich in is CHEESE! We went to a cheese factory and I've never had such a wide array of cheese (with wine, of course)! Yummy! And naturally, I attempted to bring some back home to Manila. Only, my whole bag reeked of cheese when I opened it. Not such a great idea. haha!

Most Memorable..

In 1993, I stayed in South Euclid, Ohio for 6 whole months and on Oct. 16 I gave birth to my daughter in Deaconess Hospital in Cleveland.

I love this place because it’s so peaceful. Perfect place to raise a family with low-cost of living to boot!

New Jersey = Family

*that's me in the blue sweatshirt with cousins Bernard, Mark, Audris and Richard*

Majority of my family (my mom’s side) used to live here. All 4 sisters of my mom and her only brother. It was my Tita Elaine’s wedding then and I remember having the time of my life! My memories of New Jersey…

1. my first time to eat dinuguan.
2. learning to do the L.A. walk from my aunts and grandma.
3. 1 week of shopping c/o my numerous relatives.
4. hanging out with my cousins.
5. experiencing my aunt’s beautiful wedding.
6. being too young to got to Atlantic City.

See more progress on: New Jersey

The Big Apple

*a butt-ugly pic of me at 17 yrs. old by the Statue of Liberty*

1991 was the very first time I went to this magnificent city. It tops my list of favorite destinations. I was fresh out of high school and was with relatives that had no appreciation for theatre whatsoever. So when I went back the second time (2001), it was musicals galore for me. I went to see Fosse, Contact and Crazy for You. I wish I had more money and time to watch them all though. I can’t wait to go back. I’m getting all giddy just thinking about it!

See more progress on: New York City

Ding Dong!

I saw the Liberty bell when we went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia in 2001. My Tita Elaine and I just drove from New Jersey. No pic, unfortunately. :(

Oh Tokyo!

*That would be me in crumby shorts and rubber shoes*
My very first trip out of the country was in 1985. At that time, the father-in-law of my aunt was the Philippines’ Ambassador to Japan so we were very fortunate to get a free stay at THE Ambassador’s mansion, no less.

Hightlight of the trip:
My very first Disneyland was in Tokyo. It was weird hearing Snow White speak in Japanese, but who the hell cares? It’s Disneyland!

I definitely want to go back for the experience, the food, the sites and of course, the shopping!
This would be definitely be a nice grades school graduation gift for my daughter who is the ultimate Anime freak.

See more progress on: Tokyo