berlin on my mind

Wishing I was in Berlin right now.

i keep comin' back to manila

Thanks to a speaking engagement at a conference in May, I had the chance to fly back home to Manila for free. The conference was held in Subic, and just my luck, my parents were going to the beach house that same weekend I was in town.

Being the awesome parents that they are, my parents made sure they were in Subic just in time for my turn to speak on stage. They watched and cheered on as I got on stage and nervously delivered my presentation to 100 or so people.

After the conference, we then made our way to the beach and spent a lovely weekend at El Paradiso with family friends that I haven't seen in ages.

epic march

It sure was. Who would've thought a month can turn your life around. It certainly was the case for March. Why?

Epic Germany: Frankfurt - Berlin - Trier - Bacharach - Frankfurt
It was truly a trip made of pure awesomeness. First long haul flight. First time out of Asia. First trip to Europe. First Doner Kebab. First currywurst... You get the idea. The whole time I was there, I had this goofy smile on my face and kept telling D to pinch me cos I can't believe I'm in Europe. It has always been a dream of mine to go, and when I turned 29 last year I told myself I'll make it happen before I turn 30.

 It's ok. I still love Berlin

 A walk along the Berlin Wall

 Soaking up the sun at Sanssouci Palace

 Climbing the walls of Porta Nigra

 Gorgeous Trier

Quaint little town of Bacharach 

And as if the trip in itself wasn't awesome enough, D and I received the most awesome (and I know I've been overusing the word awesome here but what the hell) news three days before leaving for Germany. Can you guess what it is? Here's a clue.

Baby Burckhardt coming out October 2012

D and I are over the moon. We said we were going to try this year but didn't think it would happen this soon. But we are overjoyed, just the same.

Funny story on how we found out: My mom was visiting and on her last day, she saw me making love to my toilet bowl so early in the morning. Upon sight of this, she immediately clapped her hands and jumped for joy. Perplexed by this behavior, I told her I must've eaten bad shrimp or something. She insisted I take a pregnancy test and wouldn't lay off it the whole day. I gave in and got a pregnancy test. We went home after a day of last-minute shopping and I took the test. And whaddayaknow, two lines! I was so excited and shocked and I-dunno-what, I broke the news to D on Whatsapp.

I know what you're thinking. Who does this? Ah well. It was joyous day nonethess.

A truly blessed month. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The next few months will be interesting, to say the least. I'll keep you posted!

beachin' good time

Weekend getaway at Koh Samet, Thailand

January 2012

sick for the big sun

Bangkok's gloomy weather these past few days has been weighing me down. I'm in dire need of a weekend getaway. Just like that spur-of-the-moment weekend getaway to Hua Hin last month with one of my BFFs.

made in India

Some great finds from my India trip.

new fave ring

comfy Khussa flats

 

arm party

ear ornaments

the perfectly imperfect wooden box

Definitely need to go back to get me some more. 

the week that was and the week that will be

The weekend. Finally. The past week felt like the longest week evarrr. I got home yesterday and crashed into bed. I woke up at 1 am and realized that my Friday makeup was still on and the taste of what I had for dinner still lingered in my mouth. I got up to do my business in the bathroom and felt too awake to go back to sleep. I started packing and finished past 2 am. 

I'm planning to take it easy today. And by easy I mean, re-packing my already packed luggage at 6 am. Did I mention that my flight is not until Sunday morning? 

I leave for a week-long business trip to India tomorrow. My first time. I'm excited and anxious. Excited to be in a new destination. Anxious for what will most likely be stressful, long-working days. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that it won't be all work and no play. 

I'm off to start my "easy day" now. No, for realz this time. I plan to get a 2-hour massage and get my nails done did. Pictures of India when I get back.

  

Indian Rupees!

Taken on the day I changed my Thai Baht to Indian Rupees.

when in penang...

Guess what? I'm in Penang again. Staying in the same hotel, eating in the same Indian restaurant, and still locking myself in a hotel room with a big bag of Skittles. Oh and still reading White Teeth (Sadly, I don't read much these days. Internet TV has amused me way, way too much. I love hulu and Netflix! Ok, ok. where was I?)

Yes. Old habits die hard.

But before you call me a complete bore, I did venture out earlier today to grab a bite (and then walk off what I ate) and stumbled upon this.

Who in their right mind won't enter this place?

Well, I'm glad I did because I got to sample every piece of chocolate they have, and coffee too! I'm a sucker for free tasting.

I really liked the tiramisu and almond milk chocolates, the chestnut milk chocolates, the mint and dark chocolate (still mad at myself for not getting a pack), and the chili dark chocolate, though with a kick, wasn't bad at all. But really, who am I kidding? It's chocolate! Sadly, no pictures of the chocolates because well, I was busy tasting all of them. Ha!

Anyway, I was dead set on getting a pack of the mint and dark chocolate but somehow ended up with a box of assorted chocolates and a pack of peppermint flavor white coffee.

Excited to try the peppermint flavor white coffee. The chocolates? I'm not sure. It's hard to be excited over something that can cause a lot of damage to your waistline. Tss.

seeing red

I just got back from a week-long business trip to Beijing, China. Luckily for me, it was not all work and no play. I actually got to go sightseeing. Here are some pictures from my trip.