Going Gaga Over Hunger Games

And here's the result of the mania-----our Effie Trinket inspired nail art. LUV! :)

Mine is the one with the SUPER crooked right pointing finger, which I so lovingly call as my "writer's finger"! hahaha :) Isn't it whimsical, bubbly, and if I may say a little bit "crazy", just like Trinket's character in the novel/movie?

Hello Summer!

I have a special request to you, Mr. Sunny-Sunshine. No matter how much I love summers, please don't be so harsh this year. Can you play it mellow this time, huh?

*These yellow blossoms surprised us one day while passing by one of the sleepy streets of Lampang. Their blossoming, signifies the start of a hot and humid (frown in here) summer. 

Traipsing the Highways from the NORTH to the SOUTH (Never mind that it's 4 months late! *wink*)

These photos are four months late, alright.

So that means I was way too lazy to put entries in here for about four months (imagine that?!). But since I'm determined to shoo away the lazy bug (yahooo!!!), with this entry, I'm promising myself to put in extra effort to push myself to write and share something positive in here everyday.

Okay, back to the story behind these photos. Mid-November of last year, I together with the Mathayom students and teachers in our English program classes traveled for about 13 hours from the north to the south of Thailand to have the yearly English camp in the Ratchaburi Province.

Ever the bubbly (narcissistic) girl when it comes to photo opportunities, even the super looong travel and the fact that my butt is screaming for surrender for having worked too much at being sat upon, not to mention that I must have definitely looked like the definition of what "rumpled" is, didn't dampen my spirits to keep on snapping the shutter of my camera.

Lunch Stop-over on the Way to Ratchaburi

This Japanese-inspired restaurant is also like a pasalubong center and I tasted one of the best cassava kanum (thai word for desert) in here!

Landah Orchid Resort

This place houses some of the rarest tropical orchids. We got to stay here for the night, in one of their chalet-inspired cottages.

Oh no! The pixie-sized me is overshadowed. I'm actually there. Look, on the top! On the top! A little on the top!

Whatcha think of my headdress au naturale?

Who says camp advisers couldn't goof around?

Scenery Vintage Farm


Since my role in this trip is a  teacher (ahem!), the projection of a no-nonsense aura is a must. But the way that I uttered my "ohhhh's" and "ahhhhhh's" at this place ended my disguise and exposed the fact that I would always be an 8-year old at heart. This is a Swiss-inspired farm with lots and lots of open space. Had it not been for the impressionable teens under my care, I would have rented one of the Victorian era flowing gowns in their thrift shop and took a lot of photos while milking some sheep. I'll reserve that for next time, you bet! :)

Ban Hom Tian Candle Factory

The fact that we were able to make our own scented candles and bring home one as a souvenir was SUPER cool!

Beungchawark Aquarium


It was not just the fishes that amazed me nor the run-away nemo mascot. The crocodiles and the fact that only a thin wire mesh separates us sent me into an adrenaline rush and put my OA/OC imagination into full gear!

Amphawa Floating Market


Finally, one of my "to do" is finally crossed out in my bucket list. I was able to go marketing in Thailand while riding on a tinie-tiny boat. And the "tawaran" portion while buying some trinkets and stuff was so much fun! Plus, the chance to see the fireflies on a secluded area of the floating market was a BONUS (*wink*)! :)

And finally, one of the things that I LOVE about Thailand which makes me feel that somehow, I'm a bit closer to home is its beautiful sunrises and sunsets. ;D

Feb 14, 2012 (1st) Letter

Hey buddy!

I am starting a tradition today.

I have a series of letters yet to be given to you but I never wrote one exactly on Valentine's day. So, I'm writing this one in a big hope that one day, I'm going to be able to hand it to you to compensate for all the random occasions and festivities just like today, even  including the ordinary days when we weren't aware yet of our presence in each other's lives.

No matter how I settle my mind to the fact that this day isn't exactly such a big deal and for all the years of experience of doing nothing out of the ordinary on this particular day, once I see all the hustle and bustle around the moment I step outside including all the fuss about flowers and chocolates, that's the time that would make me realize that no amount of time or mental orientation could prepare me for that little pang of green-eyed wariness.

Okay, I admit it. I woke up today orienting myself that I'll be bringing my own sunshine anywhere I go despite the fact that I'm yet about to go through this day out of the context of a romantic relationship. But the incurable romantic in me had half-expectantly wished that I'll get a surprise of flowers or a note on my table right after every class that I went through today.

So, nothing exactly happened according to what I was day-dreaming or more appropriately, hallucinating about. So the day passed just like any typical day---I went to school wearing red, had my classes and made an extra effort to introduce more activities, let the kids make their valentine notes on heart-shaped papers, had stretching on the nearby train station right after class, and feasted on steak and salad with a good dose of stomach-wrenching laughter with new found friends. That would give you an idea of how boring a person I am, but since I know that you love me to the point of seeing beyond what I project, I believe that you will tell me squarely in the eyes, "I know better."

So, spud (Any other terms of endearment wouldn't suit me, trust me with that! :D), how exactly are you spending your valentine today?

I wouldn't mind if you are spending it romantically with somebody whom you deem as special in your life. It would also be okay if at this point of your life, you may still have some doubts about love and would even cringe at the idea of being bounded by it. Those possibilities, I can definitely accept, because I know for a fact that the moment our lives will intertwine, all our past beliefs and fears including all our doubts will be overshadowed by the certainty of our love.

But you know what I exactly know in my heart at the moment? I believe that despite the fact that you are still unaware of my existence, you woke up today praying that hopefully, I am existing somewhere.

I want you to know at this exact moment that you are reading this that your prayer was not put in vain. And the moment that I am writing this, I am thanking God in advance for giving exactly just the perfect man to love me unconditionally and whom I'll love back faithfully.

Yes, I have been waiting for you but my wait isn't a passive one. It's more like a preparation for me to become more of a woman that I ought to be. So everyday, I fight the battles that need to be fought, chase dreams that may seem to be elusive at first, share my sunshine to hundreds of young people, love my family and friends as much as I can, and renew my faith in love and everything that it encompasses. I'm sorry to tell you and I know that you would recognize this the moment that you see me, that although I may look frail and naive, I am definitely not a princess-in-waiting or a damsel-in-distress.

In my past letters, I have put some specific traits of what I believe that you possess. But looking back, I realize that they were more of a specification of what you ought to be. So, I'm leaving all the specifications up to God for He knows just exactly the right person who would complement me as an individual. All I know is that you are a kind but driven person and you have this deep relationship with God and with your family. All the rest, is up to Him. So at this point, please know that I am loving you, with your flaws and all.

I am definitely far from perfect and you would know that the moment you would get to know me. However, my flaws and awkwardness would even endear me to you instead. I am absentminded and scatterbrained most of the time but you would see somebody who thinks outside the box and who goes the opposite way when everyone else is following the crowd. I might seemingly appear as passive and not exactly having a domineering personality but you see it as a great manifestation of strength for you believe that it takes courage to be calm and peaceful when it's easy to burst out and rattle everyone with your raging emotions. I may appear distant and uncaring, but you know that everything is just a front and you have that unnerving sense of patience to break away the fortress one piece at a time 'till you see my heart which brims with warmth and hope. I am a clumsy bear when it comes to romantic situations that you perfectly know that I wouldn't even try to flirt with you if I had the chance, but my awkwardness is totally seducing you, that you would even at times wonder why your heart hasn't bled out all over your chest yet (Hah! :) You have to top that statement!).

You see that girl who walks a little bit faster than the normal pace of walking and at times, totally oblivious of the people around her? That would most probably be me. And the moment you recognize that it's me, please have the patience to make me realize that knowing you is worth my time (for I am poor in recognizing these kinds of stuffs).

Do you notice in movies that when the girl meets the eyes of the boy, there's this instant spark and they know instantly that they're meant for each other? That would most probably never happen to me, so please take the patience to linger for awhile and make me recognize that you are the person from my prayers.

And I spud, I assure you, is just exactly the girl from your prayers. :)

In Case that You Never Keep Tabs of These Things, I'm Reminding You of Them Now! :)

You seem to have always been one of the strongest ones among us that sometimes, while you're busy facilitating things for others, it seems that you never need anything or anyone to lean on. 

But we know better. 

So on this day, here are some of the things that I would remind you about how AWESOME a person you are! 

• You are always being open-minded when listening about our life-dilemmas,you are tolerant of our craziness,and very patient on us for being drama queens as friends.

• You are a silent but a very reliable post to lean on. 

• You're like the (not so) big sister that I never got.

• You may not be aware of this but I've learned some of the biggest lessons of humility from you.

• You seem to be so strong amidst everything that life throws on you. How do you do that?

And since it's your birthday, here is my list of wishes for you:

• ...that GOD will shower you with so much blessing that you will never know what to do with them.

• ...that you'll find that one great love that we're (secretly) hoping for and I pray that God will give you the grace to recognize it when it comes. And as an afterthought, I hope that person will fall in love with you so much, he'll never see anything else straightly. hahahaha! But then, again, that's scary so ignore that afterthought.

• ...that no matter where life will lead us to go, that you may always find your way back home---back to your family and to your old friends (That's us of course! You have no choice on that!).

We're getting older, but years definitely don't count unless you are a cheese.

HAPPY BDAY CHAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

---a big hug and a great love from Thailand, Au :)

This Will Be My Year! :)

Okay, I've stopped making new year's resolutions for what seems like forever.

Remember those elementary and high school days during the first class for the new year? The moment your teacher asks you to get a piece of intermediate paper, a switch on your holiday-freezed brain seems to click, involuntarily making you mentally rambling about your new year's resolution, making sure it will be written in a different style just in case this teacher was also your teacher last year and the year before that. It all boils down to your little secret which is, you've been making and using this resolutions in your informal theme (and formal theme for that matter) for as long as you can remember.

And imagine writing those resolutions for 8 times in your 8 subjects for the day. New year's resolution in PE class and Algebra, hello?

Let's all admit it. New year's resolutions are WAY TOO BORING! Imagine including in your list not to eat junk foods for the whole year or studying more everyday. That's not a fun way to live life for a rangy kid!

So, the moment when a very few of my brain cells whose sole work was to think of new year's resolutions every year decided to give up on me, I didn't have the heart to call them back to life. So I made a plead to myself that I have seen the last resolution list in my entire life.

So, here's to another year of fulfilling my bucket list instead. And God help me, I hope that this bucket will be empty once the water dragon is out to rest.

By God's grace, I am claiming that this year (and the rest there is) will be my year!

BUCKET LIST 2012:
1. Save extra money for Fiesta mass sponsorship on April

2. Save specific amount of money every month to have a "fatter" bank account

3. Submit for Palanca by March

4. Have my passport stamped with Germany visa for vacation on May

5. Have a jump shot in the Great Wall

6. Have a family member take a vacation here by December

7. Give pamahaw and buy  bouquet for Flores :)

8. Fall in love, this time with no inhibitions....(So help me God! )

9. Check WEST post availability

My Christmas THANK YOU List for 2011

Dear Jesus,.

Let me take this time not to ask or wish anything from You but to say THANK YOU for the countless blessings that You have showered and You keep on showering upon us.

Yes, I still have that long list of wishes and dreams that are carefully kept... just so in case. But the opportunities and the experiences that you carefully chose to be on the road that I am traipsing on have taught me that "dreams and wishes mean work". So, I am setting aside that list and I am making a different one instead, one that brings all Your glory back to You, by reminding You of how generous and loving You are.

In a world that is too much in need of Your grace, I won't mind if the stockings will be left empty or there will be no gifts to unfold on Christmas morning because I know that with Your continued guidance, we can always get by. :)


CHRISTMAS 2011 WISH THANK YOU LIST

1. THANK YOU for my family
     -Yes, we are not the perfect family, the ones which are considered as the "Hallmark" types. In fact, ours is a family of loud, eccentric, moody, and volatile people who are most of the time acting on spur-of-the-moment emotions. But what I can always count on is that I have these people who knows me inside out but loves me anyway. So, I'm trying my best to love them back, BIG TIME.

2. THANK YOU for my GYPSIES
    -Forgive the too possessive "my" but I couldn't find of a more apt word to use to suggest of my total attachment with these crazy but adorable set of people. These are the people who remind me that sometimes, family is not a set of people you are born into. Because of them, I have a big and rowdy extended family.

3. THANK YOU for a set of girl friends
     -.....who understands my fears and doubts about nothing else in particular. Who knows that I haven't had a lot of "firsts" yet but who doesn't stare at me as if I'm a mutant. Because of them, growing up and growing old doesn't seem to be a scary idea.

4. THANK YOU for giving me the strength and willpower to stick to my beliefs and morale whenever I am asked to make a choice
   
5. THANK YOU for the opportunity to heal and eventually move on

6. THANK YOU for the chances to make a difference

7. THANK YOU for the fortitude to bear the pain of leaving home (I'm 23 years old but there are moments when I curl up and cry out for my mother)

8. THANK YOU for the people who bear with my absent-mindedness and shortcomings

9. THANK YOU for allowing me to grow at my own pace

10. THANK YOU for making me patient enough to wait

But above all Jesus, THANK YOU for allowing me to love and be loved in return.

THANK YOU JESUS, FOR LIFE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :)

----Au :)