My Latest Baguio Adventure

Posted on September 30, 2007 at 3:58 pm | 13 Comments
Filed under Daily Dose

Last week, I was in Baguio with my family. We went there because of my uncle and aunt who came back here in the Philippines after six or seven long years stay at USA1. We stayed there for exactly 24 hours. Hmm… did I enjoy the trip? No, why? It was raining there last week. That was why we can’t go to Burnham Park or even Camp John Hay.

The place where we stayed for the night was big, it was a nice place. Since we can’t go to a park we decided to eat in the place we stayed in.

BBQ

In the afternoon of Saturday, we went to — um, I’ve already forget how you call that place — somewhere in Baguio to buy pasalubong2. There, I saw the unusual taho vendors3. They also have the strawberry flavored taho but I still haven’t tried it yet.

Then, we went to Baguio Cathedral to hear mass.

Baguio Cathedral

And we also went to the air-con-less SM City Baguio.

SM City Baguio

I tried to look for a good book at National Book Store there, but I haven’t seen any interesting fiction. Actually, I was disappointed, they have fewer titles available there. But I have seen a copy of “Water For Elephants”. So if you live in Baguio and you are looking for a good book, I suggest you buy it. And speaking of books, I have finished “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby last Tuesday. I didn’t enjoy the book. Now, I’m reading Khaled Hosseini’s latest book, “A Thousand Splendid Suns.”

The next day, Sunday, I didn’t join my parents to go to the market. I only told them to buy me strawberries. And look at this:

Strawberry

That’s the biggest strawberry that I have ever seen… and ate! And then, we ate lunch in the villa because it was still raining. And that’s all.

It’s not an interesting trip. Oh, I have heard that we’ll be going there again this coming October. I just hope when we will go there again, it will not rain.

*****

I’ve recently updated my WordPress installation to 2.3. There might be some bugs lurking around. If you have seen one, please report them. By next week, I’ll sit my final exams. Wish me luck. Ah, I can’t wait for the sem-break!

  1. But they’re now back in Texas [↩]
  2. gift [↩]
  3. Here in Pampanga, you will only see taho vendors during the morning, and not in the afternoon. [↩]

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Another Story About Books

Posted on September 19, 2007 at 8:17 pm | 12 Comments
Filed under Amazing Adventures • Bulky Books

Every time I bring a new book in school, my blockmates would always ask me what I am doing. Can’t they see? I’m reading? Isn’t obvious? And then, they would ask me what is the title of the book that I am reading. Finally, they would comment that they’re not fond of reading (as if I care). I’ve heard those lines for the nth time! Seriously, I’m getting tired of hearing those lines all over again and again.

I want to ask them if they would mind if they will mind their own business, but that will sound very rude so I don’t ask them.

What I want to point out is that you don’t disturb someone who is reading, just to say that you don’t like reading or anything for this matter. Well, unless there is a life threatening situation. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but you get the point, ‘ayt? I don’t like being disturbed especially if I’m so engrossed with the book; my concentration is being lost. And mind you, it is rude.

*****

I’m already on the fourth book my uncle gave me. The first one “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen was good, I like it. I’ve already wrote a draft of my review of the book but I still have to type it (now, I’m wondering where I put my draft), The second was Mark Haddon’s “A Spot of Bother”. I did not like it much but nevertheless, the story of George was still somehow captivating. Like Haddon’s first book — “The Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” — the protagonist has mental problems. I’ve also finished “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. It is really a good book (and I encourage you to read it also) and I think it is the best book I have read this year so far. The reviews of the book don’t lie! It’s indeed a haunting book!

When I was choosing which book I wanted my uncle to buy me, I was not really considering “The Kite Runner” because of the author being an Afghan1. But I was in short of one title, and I can’t find something interesting else so I chose it. And now, I found out that Amir and Hassan’s story was really captivating and riveting.

And because of Hosseini’s style in writing, I bough his latest book, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” last Friday2. I’m now reading “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby. It’s about four people who wanted to end their life and they all met in the building where they were supposed to jump.

*****

Last Sunday, we went to Subic to visit the beach. There were only few people swimming that day and the sun was behind the dancing clouds. After we ate lunch, I decided not to swim anymore, the sea was very salty that you can even smell how salty the sea is! I looked for a secluded place near the shoreline where you can hear the waves smashing. There, I continued reading “The Kite Runner,” I was on page 110 when suddenly, tears started to flow from my eyes. I was glad that no one saw me crying.

Okay, I should stop talking about that. But before I’ll end this entry, I want to tell you all that after two years, we are going to Baguio once again this Saturday! Yahoo!

  1. I’m not being a racist, okay? It’s just that most of the authors of the books that I’ve already read are either American or British. [↩]
  2. Which cost me almost 500 pesos. [↩]

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Falling Books

Posted on September 10, 2007 at 4:47 pm | 10 Comments
Filed under Bulky Books • Daily Dose

As I have told you in my previous post, I didn’t have the time to surf the internet during the weekend. It was only on the night of yesterday I was able to surf the internet again. But I was very tired so after checking this and that, I already went to bed.

Last Friday, we went to NAIA1 to fetch my uncle and aunt. We waited for about two freaking hours before we finally saw them. And God, the traffic was horrible even though there were loads of guards and traffic aids there.

Well, at least, I’ve got now the books I’ve told my uncle to buy for me. Great!

Latest Installment

From the top of the stack of books is “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, and then, we have Don Piper’s “90 Minutes in Heaven”1, “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby, “A Spot of Bother” by Mark Haddon2, and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini.

I’m currently reading “Water for Elephants” and I’m about to finish it. What? Sixty pages left, I guess. Since I have a test tomorrow, I hope I can finish it today so I can start with a new one.

I also got a book light. It’s a device that you put on top of the page you’re reading and it will illuminate it. Cool isn’t it? Everyone who have seen my book light were so amazed. You can read more about it in this site.

Oh well, bye for now. I want to finish the book of Sara Gruen today. :rawr:

I’ll leave comments in your blogs some other time!

  1. My uncle didn’t find Adelin Yen Mah’s “Falling Leaves” so he bought it instead. [↩]
  2. Finally! I’ve got a copy of this book! [↩]

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Tired.

Posted on September 6, 2007 at 6:50 pm | 2 Comments
Filed under Daily Dose • School Sabotage

Last week was a very long week to me because of my midterm exams. But that’s not all, last Monday, we still had two examinations. And even our exams were over, we were not yet allowed to breath freely because we had so many things to do.

I was only able to take a very nice sleep again yesterday even though I was not yet allowed to because of a test we had today in one of my major subjects. Today, I can have another good sleep even though tomorrow will be the second part of our midterm exam in English. Unlike my blockmates, I’ve memorized the poems I chose (Robert Frost’s “The Road not Taken”1 and an excerpt from “The Libation Bearers”2 by Aeschylus) days ago before our midterm exams started so I don’t have to worry about it too much.

Tomorrow will be the first death anniversary of my grandfather. Likewise, my uncle and aunt will arrive tomorrow from USA. That means, we’ll go to the airport3. So there are only slim chances that I will be able to go online tomorrow. During the weekend, I will not be at home because of the death anniversary of my grandfather. Actually, the rites will still be on Saturday, we have to wait for our relatives and everybody has work or have to go to school tomorrow.

Ah, even though I have plenty of free time, it’s still limited. Time is gold. I have to go now. I need to pack my things for school and for the succeeding days, my notebook included.

Bowling class again tomorrow! Oh no! I’m sure by Saturday, my body will be aching again. Oh, I’ll just read your blogs during the weekend!

  1. My favorite poem. [↩]
  2. It was used as an epigraph in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows [↩]
  3. Care to meet me there? Lol! [↩]

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