Feed My Vanity

After days of walking around with glassy eyes and messy hair, I was finally able to push through with my business trip to London. It sounds very glamorous to do so, more so because I was there for a luxury cruise, but I’m telling you it’s hard to feel glamorous when you’re jetlagged and you’re frantically shepherding people right and left, and yeah, my flight was delayed for three hours. The sheep was without a shepherdess for three hours. Not a pretty picture.

But it doesn’t take away the fact that I was there on a summer solstice so the Powers that be has made it possible for me to tour London at 9PM while I’m wired with coffee and the sun’s still up. Yes, the sun was still up at that time.

Since I don’t think I can make one megapost on my London sojourn. I will have to break it down in several parts.

Anyway, after a three-hour delayed flight, and being told off “Your room is not ready yet” at 2PM at Sheraton Skyline, which happens to be far from the action. Never stay near London Heathrow, it will take you an hour and a half to get to the generic tourist sights.

Starving and sporting eye bags, we were told that the nearest restaurants consists of a McDonald’s and a quaint pub serving fish and chips. Of course we wanted the latter, but the pub was so quaint, we couldn’t find it. So McDonald’s it is. Here’s my favorite shot of the burger, it is not very London-y, but it is pretty.

Not me on the background, but love the photo.

McDonald’s London has very healthy selections, with pita breads and healthy whatevers and the burgers are bigger than what we are used to here. Also, I love the fact that my companion was asked after ordering a soda “gas or without gas?” hahaha. I guess what the guy meant was if we wanted it carbonated, maybe, educate me.

After freshening up and almost a whole day of zero sleep, we hauled ourselves to Picadilly which happened to be a bus and a train ride away.  The train was London Underground, which reminded me of LRT but charming. It happens to slow down in the middle of the ride once in a while, and if you find yourself confused, better check how many train routes go through in one rail.

Another thing I love about London Underground are the posters! The Brits seem to love plays, books, and movies and this is prominently displayed in the staircases and hallways etc. Sorry no pic, I was too busy keeping my wits together (no excuse I know). Anyway,  just take my word for it. Here’s me at the train, also not London-y, please just watch out for future entries.

The exchange rate is P67.00 to a pound. One way tickets in the train is 4 pounds. Do the math. So don’t ever lose your ticket like I did because that will cost you another 4 pounds. However, if you know it’s going to be a commute-filled day, you can purchase the one day pass for 7 pounds. Not only can you use the pass the whole day, you can also use this in the buses. Neat right?

Anyway, that’s all for now. Have a lovely week.

Half of the Philippine blogosphere has probably already sang praises for Forever 21, except for me. I remember when it first opened, people, especially my gay friends, would tell me YOU SHOULD GO THERE, with a “you-better-go-there-or-else” glint in their eyes.

Well, I’m happy to report I don’t live near Ortigas and my wallet was spared for a few months, until recently when we had to meet up some friends in Megamall.

Oh me, oh my, oh if there was a heaven for people like me who can rarely afford Zara, let alone designer brands, FOREVER 21 it is! It is too easy to say I love Forever 21, but mostly I love the brand for not turning up their noses to wallets like mine.

I recently went on a business trip in London. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds mind you but I will tell you about it in my next post. After London I went straight to Hong Kong for a short vacation. Again, not as glam as it sounds, I was jetlagged and spent the first day sleeping through the day. Also, it was raining buckets which accounted zero pics of me there as I gratefully traversed flea markets in crocs, cut-off shorts, and tees.

Going back, I remember that I went to a couple of wholesale stores and bangketas in HK and saw similar accessories sold by Forever 21 and other high-end stores in the Philippines. Dangling leafy (which I noticed is a trend on its way out) earrings sold for HK$15 (roughly P105). Necklaces and rings that I’ve seen in Multiply stores for P500 to P1000 is only HK$10 (P70.00)! AS IN. Some of the accessories I saw were exact replicas of what I’ve seen in online stores so beware.

With that said, I love Forever 21 not just because the boyfriend said that I looked like a kid set loose in ToyLand when I saw their store, but also because at the back of my mind I know they’re not ripping me off. Here’s two of my purchases.

floral cuff bracelet (P558), silver necklace with rose pendant (248)

Yes, I was in a flowery mood at that time.

It’s just P806 combined! It ain’t cheap, but it’s not ridiculously expensive also. 

For me that amount represents more than value for your money. It’s “I’m not ripping you off, I just need enough profit and enough to pay the rent, here ya go, Enjoy”. I’ve been in the habit of buying expensive accessories from time to time. In other stores, both would’ve cost twice, and even thrice as much ON SALE.

Til’ then, here’s a parting shot.

one of the many chica ladies in London

The fashion in London is amazing! Most people look like as if they just stepped off the runway (the towering height of the Brits helped a lot). My boss said “Maski mukhang janitor naka-LV” (Even people who look like janitors are wearing LV).

For a parting quote, here’s something to slap DOM’s with whenever they say “Age is just a number” while a gullible “Daisy” hangs on to their wrinkly arm.

“Age is just a number, but there’s still a difference.”  

Amen to that! Cheers!

Because this is in danger of looking like an advertorial I want to point out it’s not. I wish it was because that would mean I have money, but I don’t. Money just comes out of my wallet on the rare days I want to enjoy the finer things in life such as Marriott Hotel Manila’s Sunday Champagne Brunch!

I mean come on, an international buffet and free-flowing, I repeat FREE-FLOWING champagne and sparkling wines… how can I say no to that?

Anyway, I’m gonna get myself one of those portable broadband thingies, except I can’t decide between Smart and Sun. Which is better? the point being so that I can post more on a regular basis now without being under the mercy of cafes who are too cheap to provide free wi-fi when their coffee alone is enough for a cab ride home.

That’s it for now, I just had to share this because if mytastebuds weren’t so picky with liquor (it prefers expensive, we have a term for that in the Philippines KAPAL NG MUKHA. The gravity of the pinoy term is much heavier, but I guess if you translate it into english in the context of this post, it means you want something you can’t even afford), I would probably be in a downward spiral. Who knew that my minutiae salary had it’s blessings?

Till my next post meh dears, I hope the broadband thingie won’t cost much. Have a great weekend! If you can’t be good, be safe, if you can’t be good, and you can’t be safe, have fun along the way!

I know, I’ve been one b-a-a-a-d blogger. Haven’t posted anything in nearly two months (!).

Anyhoo, I know that my previous post was a bit gloomy. I blame them hormones. thankfully, there’s work, and lots of travel to keep me busy. One of which was an event held at our famed island (If you’re not Filipino and you’re reading this, do visit the place I’m about to mention)…

…Boracay.

Boracay sunset @ White Beach

Sucks though because it was a bit rainy and windy when I was there.  Although, I did get to go just to have dinner, similar to my El Nido, Palawan sojourn. Hahaha.

I found myself at the island for the Flavors of Spain; this is Fuego Hotels & Properties’ annual celebration of Spanish cuisine. It was the perfect setting, luxurious surroundings, powdery sand, wine in hand… bliss… AND one of the reasons it was held in Boracay was to launch Fuego’s newest addition to their roster of luxury properties, the 7Stones Boracay Suites.

I love hotels, really, they are my natural habitat. It’s like you get to start over again, even for a trivial while. But what I like best about 7Stones was not my condolike room (fab! fab!):

The living room

my bedroom

7Stones Boracay Suites

…what I liked best was its location. The party place in Boracay is definitely White Beach. Yes, White Beach may be nicer because the beach area is bigger and the sand is powder-perfect; but Bulabog Beach, where 7stones is located has its own charm due to the sense of isolation it gives. Kiteboarders frequent the place since it’s less populated than White Beach and they can zoom around to their heart’s content.

Bulabog Beach

See the kites of kiteboarders billowing lazily in the distance?

kiteboarding gear

Anyway, that’s all for today. For more information on 7Stones, visit http://www.7stonesboracay.com/ .

Here’s a parting shot:

Squid ink tempura! yummy! (calamari in the background )