CH143: Ritz, Rise, Etc

Such a wonderful Christmas spending it with a special someone. Well, spending Christmas with your family and friends is special, but to be able to celebrate with just someone close to your heart is a totally different experience.

As was mentioned in the previous entry CH142: Merry ChRITZmas, CP and I checked in to the Ritz Carlton Singapore to have a stay-cation. It was a very wonderful experience. I am not going into the details of it, but to say the least, we were stuffed. More so when we had our Christmas lunch buffet in Marina Bay Sand's Rise.

Exchange of presents was also super fun! Since we were celebrating two different traditions, we had two gift openings. One for Christmas eve and the other on Christmas brunch.

I wanted to tone down my splurge on gift buying considering the damage the US vacation has wrought on my savings. But, it was hard to get out of the gift giving spirit. I got CP a bluetooth speaker for his pad, a new watch he can use casually and both looking chic enough for work as well as a quirky bookcase looking clock.

CP on the other hand gave me a new Armani belt, an iPad Mini and a case for the ipad.

PS: As was said in the previous post, we checked in under the pretense that it was our 3rd year anniversary when it was just our 3rd month. And it backfired in some way. Aside from getting a whole bottle of Moet, a box of chocolate and a very exquisite chocolate cake, we also got a certificate printed out by the staff of the Ritz. To say the least it was very special and thoughtful for the staff to do what they did - except for the fact that we were called Mr. and Mrs. P. hahaha

Pictures!

CH142: Merry ChRITZmas

Christmas is arriving soon here in lah-lah land.
I am surprised every time Christmas comes as soon it will be the new year ushering itself in. Time really flies. Last year I was celebrating the holidays in New Zealand, and here I am now in Singapore coming from a month long stay in the US with my family...and soon, I will have been 2 years here in Singapore!

I couldn't go home this Christmas knowing I don't have enough leave and any more unpaid leaves will not be approved by my manager. So, to make up for it, CP has proposed a couple of weeks back to go on a stay-cation. Since we both don't have enough leaves, will be checking in late - around 4-5pm today.

Initially, we were planning to book for the Fullerton - but it was pricier since the only rooms they had available were club rooms. So, after calling around, we decided to get rooms at the Ritz Carlton instead (Mandarin @ Millenia Walk took forever to send out its quotation). And, for Christmas lunch, we will be heading off to Marina Bay Sands Rise for their Christmas Lunch!

Lots of firsts!
xoxo

Update:
Just checked in to the Ritz under a pretense that its CP and I's 3rd year anniversary when its just our 3rd monthsary.

[Random] Christmas Plans + Cooking

The bad side of using up all my leaves and using unpaid ones to go away to the US for 1 month is that I won't have any choice but to stay here in Singapore over the holidays. The good thing about it though is that CP used up all his as well recently. So, now we're planning on having a "staycation" here in Singapore! Still not sure about where we'll be staying at - but most likely in one of the hotels around the Marina Bay Reservoir...

There's also the question of where we will be having our Christmas lunch in. There are a lot of good and interesting ones here in Singapore in the hotels, but like I told CP, there is no way ever (not yet maybe) I will pay for 280SGD for a course lunch or a degustation style lunch. Not when i know how many people are going hungry - it's such an extravagance which is highly unnecessary!

Also, speaking of food, last night, I was able to cook my first meal ever! Well a decent one I mean - not like frying a hotdog or an egg or something. I grilled up a cordon bleu and put it on top of a tossed salad with ranch dressing. Yummy! Well it was. And now I'm excited to search up what to cook up next to share with CP...

CP and I are thinking of maybe trying to do this weekly or maybe fortnightly. Would be good to learn how to cook and make my own version of Filipino dishes. CP cooked up salmon and tossed up a salad as well the other day. So, it's like a cooking challenge maybe? Good fun and such a fulfilling experience to be able to finally say I cooked something.

CH141: Sky Dive

I don't think I've written enough of the experiences I've had in the US...
CH137: Moving Silences
CH136: New York
CH134: US Vacay Update
CH133: Life in Pictures - LA Vacay Part 1

For a month long stay, I don't think 4 entries is really enough. So, here's another one. :-) An edited video from when I went skydiving! The whole video is also uploaded in my youtube account specifically meant to host these kinds of thrill adventure videos.

I edited the video because i found it a bit tacky that i should be interviewed early on. I also found the voice of the man taking the video a bit annoying. I also  found that I didn't like them putting like a 1 minute ad of Skydive San Diego in a video I paid for. They should have provided a discount given they put that video plug in!

I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did the experience. It was completely and utterly surreal and beyond words. But, like I said in my facebook album with the pictures, bungy involves more courage to overcome your fear of heights. Skydive is more about whether or not you have the money to go through with the experience - as you only need to have faith that the instructor and everything else will not fail. More trust than conquering a fear....unless of course you have a fear of trusting other people.

And because I mentioned bungy, I remembered I shared the videos and pictures from last year!
Pictures - ch55-bungyyyy
Video - ch55-2-bungy-video

CH140: Glass House

Excerpts:

[...]

Some dirty laundry has to be brought to light in order for it to be aired out and actually worked on. It may be so that some people may say you are not deserving of me, but right now, for me, it doesn't matter what they say, what matters is what I believe and that is I love you. it's only natural and right to be ashamed by your actions and behaviour. that means your human enough to feel guilt. that means you're feeling sorry for what you did and that's a good point to start moving forward.

[...]


they are also the same friends who encouraged me to have "fun" while I was away in the US because you need not know according to them. They are 3 of my friends not representative of all of my friends, but you take your friend's advice with a grain of salt. What's important is that in the decision we make, we decide for ourselves and not let other people severely influence the decision - because if it was an influenced decision - that may result in regret. One thing you should know with Filipinos is how we are easy to forgive and forget. So, they won't think of you as that somebody who's not deserving of me, they think of you now as somebody I am fighting for and love.

If I will be out there having fun, I will lose track that what I really want and need is love - so no, i beg to differ. I've had my share of fun before I met you and it didnt feel as real as what we have and share. I felt hollow. I felt weak that the only thing I would go out there for is s*x. I didnt want to be disillusioned anymore on how it was easy for me to get s*x - because that disillusionment can cause a slip and put myself at risk.

if love was this easy, then everybody would have their happily ever after.
i believe you can change for the better.

[...]

CH139: THailand

I haven't unpacked or sorted the souvenir stuff I should be giving to friends. I have been mostly e

I haven't even been a week from landing from the US, but I spent the last weekend in Thailand with CP. (ch138-swept-away). It wasn't my first time in this region of Thailand. The first time I went to Krabi was last year around August. That time I stayed in Rayleigh. So in our trip, we did things that I didnt get to do or see the first time I went.

I really need to get my stuff from the US sorted out. I haven't even been able to upload pictures of my trip to New York. Since I arrived, almost everyday was spent with CP. Not a complain though. Not at all :-).

On our trip we did the following:

-Island hopping tour via Speedboat of the islands mostly around Phi Phi

-Snorkeling (was my first time to snorkel without wearing a lifevest! :-))

-Sightseeing (islands where we didnt get out of the boat)

-Kayak half day tour

Effort panorama picture of Maya island (where they shot The Beach). Effort because it was hard to capture given the number of people moving and screwing up the panoramic pic.

Slightly More Pictures!

CH138: Swept Away

It feels weird to be typing this entry in the room I'm actually paying for to live in. Quite frankly, tonight will be the first night since I got back that I can actually get to sleep in my own place. Since I arrived last Monday, around 330 am SGT. I've been swept away.

CP pulled a prank on me during my stopover in Narita. I was supposed to have a call with CP to use up the top up I put in the prepaid SIM I bought.

CP: "Just in cinema now [...] as rainy here, seeing twilight again...will nip out for toilet in bit :) [...] xxx"
Me: "That's too bad your friend won't be able to see universal...pft twilight. Okay, tell me when to call. [...] xoxo"

After 40 minutes.

Me: "Nevermind :-/ I'm boarding now. Enjoy the movie. xoxo"
CP: "Ah baby, I'm so sorry...[...] xxxx"

I was of course fuming/disappointed as I boarded the plane. I was even sulking during the first hour or two. I calmed down when they served drinks and I got myself a Riesling. Immersing myself in the very extensive in-flight entertainment of Singapore Airlines did help...and a Chardonnay to go with my meal next.

Fast Forward:
As I walked to head straight to the taxi queue after I got my bags, someone to my left started waving at me. And my initial reaction was "WUT? Wait. Ah, is this happening?"

CH137: Moving Silences

Pat Stiers - Sixteen Waterfalls of Dreams,Memories and Sentiment

Shower:
I can't recall the last time I teared up and cried in the shower. Well, who would really note that down to remember? In the silence of the empty house that once was filled with the boisterous noise and running feet of my nephew, I contemplate what the month long vacation has been like.

In the silence of the empty house, I find myself alone. Later tonight as of this writing, we'll be sending my mum off. Last night was my brother and his family. Tomorrow it will be me. It sucks to be the last to go. :-/


Drive to airport:
With the sound of the wheels rolling through the highway pavement, the background noise of my sister and mum's chatter, I sit wondering. Welling up for reasons I cannot fathom yet. This must be how it feels to be sad. Not the usual sad, but separation sad.

The reality that I miss my family and will miss them so much when I get back only looms. Perhaps the isolation and distance in Singapore has made me numb and ignorant of this sadness. Perhaps it only feels sad because of the goodbye to occur and has occurred.

In the ambient noise of the car wheeling along the highway, I sit silent, pondering, silently weeping.

Airport:
Earlier before leaving for the airport, I confessed to my mum about CP. And, she told my sister about what I told her when I went to the toilet. So now my sister knows, and she's being persistent in seeing CP's picture and Im just being adamant - no - about it. Or maybe...

Well the cat is out of the bag, the silence needs to be broken.

I showed my sister CP's picture. And she questioned me like how my mum did. Awkward questions but positively reinforcing with support and encouragement.

It feels like some load has been taken off. As I take my baby steps to grow accustomed to this new acceptance, I realize, in certain things, breaking the silence is necessary. In order to move forward, the silence has to be broken - the voice need not be stifled.

Acceptance does not thrive in silence - isolation does. Equality does not thrive in silence - discrimination does.

Love does not thrive in silence.

CH136: New York

New York has just jumped first place as my favorite city. Definitely better than Vegas. Definitely much better than Singapore.

Upon arriving in JFK airport, I've been welcomed with open arms. I didn't feel disconcerted nor lost. Without having to research how to go about, with only my hostel's address at hand, I was able to find my way.

The air is electrifying. Aside from the timezone difference with LA by 3 hours, its the atmosphere, the energy of the city pumping through my veins. I've fallen in love with New York. But I love someone more now to actually go and explore the idea of working in New York. Who knows, maybe down the line with the two of us?

There's so many things to see and absorb! My five days is surely not enough. My exploration has mostly been cultural and sights. No club hopping or getting wasted. For one thing, I'm alone and I'm being responsible. Maybe with CP if and when we go...

New York...new York...I love how its such a modern city, but mixes in so well with the antiquated (architecture, etc) and the dirt and the grime (in subway, and streets) provide the place with character. It's not like Singapore that feels squeaky clean it almost feels manufactured.

CH135: Kilig

Kilig is what I felt when I received a message like this after a Skype chat session with CP -

"Love you so [tipzstamatic], you make me so happy...thank you for being in my life..

"You are the best boyfriend ever...love having nice carefree chats with you..

"Love you XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

Cheese. But I like cheese.
It's been hard for both of us given the distance and time Im away for vacation. But, we've been keeping strong for each other. As a friend told me, there should be trust. A deeper and stronger trust in each other. Missing the other person is hard, but were both looking beyond the now. As we both acknowledge, the time I will be away will be minute compared to the forever we both look forward to with each other.

CH134: US Vacay Update

CH133: Life in Pictures: LA Vacay Part 1

SQ Airbus A380 - HSBC walkways

 

 in flight entertainment 1

family guy + white wine

appreciating some sun set before arriving in japan

having some gin tonic with my meal

bus/tram to terminal

wide expansive road (runway)

vintage car by the highway

fast food at citadel outlet mall

a wall that reminded me of CP

new sunnies from oakley c/o mom because i left my sunnies in SG

watching tv on my sis'60 in smart tv

good morning LA - off to fetch bro, sil and nephew

some photo op

my adorable nephew and his new camera

went around westfield mall

my nephew opposite me eating at a buffet

jollibee takeout

off to see the hollywood sign

drove through the gym where manny pacquiao trains

Saw the hollywood walk of fame

The chinese theatre (is this where some red carpet events are held)

harry potter cast

The road to hollywood