Tuesday, June 20, 2006

maayong pagdating sa bohol!

Just came from Panglao in Bohol with the family. Maganda pala dun! The beach at the resort was so clear that you could walk maybe fifty to a hundred meters and still have the water below your neck. I really enjoyed the trip to Chocolate Hills and the old churches, as well as meeting a few tarsiers along the way. Truth is, I was terrified of those little gremlins.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Bohol is a gorgeous place. WOW Philippines talaga!



Tuesday, June 13, 2006

our lady of chartres heritage site

Over the weekend I went with my graduate school class to the heritage site of Our Lady of Chartres in Tanay, Rizal. What a picturesque place! The building looked exactly like the village presbytery in Levesville-la-Chenard, a small town in the Beauce region of France where the sisters first begun their mission. I have such newfound respect for the religious life because of these sisters.

Can you believe this windmill actually works?
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

All of us with the fluid statues that symbolize the sisters' mission. Sr. Flor, one of our teachers, is on the leftmost. She is an amazing person. I am in complete awe of her intelligence, wisdom, insight, and total commitment to the Lord.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

I will miss all of you guys and our Saturdays together!



Sunday, June 11, 2006

ni hao, wo jiao muffin

April 28 to May 2, 2006.
I flew to Hong Kong to transit to Shenzhen, China. We were to attend an EARCOS seminar on Korean students in Shekou International School. Ate Clarisse, Cria and myself flew via Cebu Pacific on the 440pm flight. They were delayed... hence their "95% on time" slogan (what a surprise). This is us waiting.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

We were booked in Cruise Inn, a ship-slash-hotel supposedly docked in the Sea World area. It sounded interesting and being the adventurous creatures we were, we booked two rooms for us three. To be honest I was only skeptical about it being on sea. I thought it meant we would be swaying to the motions of the ocean 24/7 but thank god, it was really just parked on pavement surrounded by two feet of water. Hay salamat.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The night we arrived. Good thing our location was the sort of Eastwood-y type so there were lots of Western restaurants to choose from.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

After the seminar we also made our way down to Windows of the World, the must-see theme park in the area featuring miniature replicas of all the little must-see's in the world. I so unexpectedly found myself in St. Peter's Square once again.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


And Patty, guess what? I finally stepped foot on the Palace of Versailles!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Not the real one though, haha. At least I got to see what it would have looked like had we actually gone on that tour we were so forced to shell out for.

Out shopping.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Our head teachers, Shane and Sandi, over a drink at California Grill.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Oh and can I just say, my former chinovela obsession has popped up in the most unexpected places. Never did I know I could actually speak enough Mandarin for them to understand me. Don't underestimate the power of xie xie ni! Okay guys, tsai chien! (Goodbye!)