Carmela's Diary: Weekend Trip to Bacolod :)

The story of this trip is quite funny if you ask me. I wasn't really suppose to come but one of our friends had to cancel so I just got her ticket instead. So all of a sudden I'm en route to Bacolod for the Masskara Festival. :) Oh, and the timing couldn't get any better also, since I just got my new camera a few days before the trip!!! And before you continue, I must say that this would be a lengthy one!

October 19

It was quite a hectic day! My sister and I weren't able to pack anything the night before since we were preparing for her school's Halloween Jamboree. Our flight was at 7pm and our friends have decided to meet up at 4pm in Katipunan. The jamboree finished at around 1pm (good thing the place was just 5 minutes away from our house) we rushed home and had to pack really fast since we have to leave by 3:30pm. Phew. So I literally just dumped all of my clothes in my bag, bahala na anong istura ko sa Bacolod. I ended up having too many extra clothes! Then finally we got to meet up with our friends and we we're shortly on our way to the airport! 

Upon our arrival in Bacolod we were met by Kris' tita and we're treated to dinner. Yes. We had our first Inasal dinner in Bacolod. Then we went to the house to settle down, let Royce finish her paper and freshen up a bit for the night!

Royce being Royce, said we should hang-out at Dugout for the night, since her friends would be there and off we went but for some reason, her friends weren't able to come anymore. So we just finished our drinks and went home. It was too long a day to even have the energy to party elsewhere. 

October 20

Since Yma and I are going home 1 day earlier than the rest of the girls, we decided to go around the city this day. We were off to Mambukal Falls which was an hour drive from the city. But before heading straight to Mambukal, we first went to the market to buy some lunch. We were also able to buy some snacks for us like Lumpia, Ringbee, Nips and Knicknacks. And ofcourse we need to have our ice cream fix. Crunch for Kam, Yma and Royce and my ultimate favorite Orange Twin Pops for me! 

This isn't the first time I went to Mambukal and this place really reminds me of Eco Park here in Quezon City. So we settled first, had a quick lunch before we decided to explore the place even more. 

After lunch we decided to go and see the 7 falls that this place was famous for. It was quite a trek actually. And it was quite a long one too just to get to the first fall. The things is though, when we were about to go to the third one, the rain started pouring really hard and it was too dangerous to continue so that's about the most that we could see. Since it started raining, I couldn't take pictures with my cam, good thing though is that my sister and Royce had waterproof cameras, so yes, no one could stop us from taking pictures, not even the rain. 

Afterwards, we had to tidy ourselves and go home immediately since we were trying to catch the electric masskara float parade. We also stopped by the new municipal office of Bacolod to have our picture taken. After this day, I realized 2 things. 1. Longchamp is really waterproof! Swear none of our things were wet after that dreadful rain and 2 I'm the clumsiest person I know. I manage to get myself a scratch despite being extra careful. 

I got cut with one of the rocks going down. It was a short one but it was really deep!!!
Thankfully I always have bandaids with me

Then we were off to the street party! We all decided to wear neon/ loud colors not only for the roofdeck party but also since we're going to the Masskara Festival, one of the most colorful festivals in our country. First time ever in my life that I've experience this kind of mobbing and walking, and I really mean endlessly walking and waiting! It was fun though but really super tiring and of course we just had to squeeze in a quick visit to Calea and fulfill our sweet tooth craving! I could really eat here all day, everyday! 

After we had our share of Calea cakes we went back waiting for the electric masskara parade, which for me was a tad bit disappointing, maybe because it wasn't exactly what I was expecting especially having to wait for around 10 minutes just to wait for the next float. Also by the time the floats approach our side of the street they're tired already and we couldn't exactly feel the festive mood but aside from that it was all good.

So here's when the mobbing started. As Royce did her thing in McDo and while we waited for her outside, Kiefer asked us to meet him in the Sun booth which was a few blocks away, and that's why we get mobbed, pushed and stepped by everyone else just to get to him. Once we got there it was endless kulitan but good thing though was it wasn't as hot and we were able to seat! YES. Finally. Also we were able to force him to join us at the Roofdeck Party at L'Fisher.

We were once again mobbed looking for Royce's friends since we're gonna be with them for the night. At about this time, the lolas, Kris and Yma decided to go home, yes at 11:30ish. But we just went on with our plans anyway. We partied at L'Fisher, walked the stretch of Lacson even ate Balut, passed by Dug-out, got lost going home. Phew. It was such a long and tiring day, indeed. 

October 21

We started this day with a mass, had a quick rest and off we go to buy pasalubong. To our surprise we even caught the assembly of the street dancers and the parade for the day, so we took this opportunity to have our pictures taken with them, with their colorful and really creative costumes before heading to our next destination. Oh, this must be said that the lazy me, forgot to charge my camera thus I wasn't able to take as many pictures as I wanted to during this afternoon. :(

We really planned to visit The Ruins right before going to the airport since it was on the way. This must be said though, The Ruins is one of the most picturesque place I've ever been to. (And when I say picturesque, I mean, its still pretty even if you use different brands and kinds of camera!) I also heard they serve good food, but we were short with time and we weren't able to eat in their cafe, but since its worth a return trip to, maybe we could eat while waiting for the sunset (which is the best time to go to this place by the way) next time. I spared some of my battery for the moment I'll be seeing this place so I was still able to snap a few shots before my camera battery died on me. Please forgive the vanity in this set though. 

And it was time for me and Yma to leave. While waiting for our plane we just played Monopoly Deal Millionaire, good thing the plane was semi on time unlike the previous flight and we were once again bound for reality, aka, Manila!

And that was it, some kind of weekend huh? So long Bacolod! It has been a great weekend! 'Til next time! 

This makes me wonder where our next destination would be? 

PS. Sorry for the other pictures who are on landscape instead of portrait. I have no idea how to rotate it once uploaded here. I also got other pictures from my friends too! :) Sorry if its a lengthy one, but hey, its full of pictures anyway! :)

I pride myself as a good friend but now looking at how things are, I don't think I am that type of person anymore. I don't know how it is to be a friend anymore. I don't know where that person is even. Now all I know that there's just one thing I really am good at, I'm good at distancing myself from the world I used to really enjoy. 

Sometimes, I feel that I sabotaged myself. I went the easy route. Settling for what was there, instead of going for what I want. Now, its too late, indeed, good things come not to those who wait, but those who make ways to get it. 

Its amazing how practically everything makes their mark on ourselves, no matter how long (or short) we've spent with it. Its the happiness that we associate with it that makes it even more special. I guess, that's how we all try to live our lives by, by emotions. Referencing emotions and people like they're mere objects. Places and things like they hold the key to our emotions. We gain access through our memories by these emotions. Our emotions which sometimes blinds us from the reality of things.

I almost always catch myself thinking if I should finally fold, and give up my dreams of having the on the one thing that I really want. I feel that this situation of mine is bordering stubbornness and well yes, following my heart and my happiness. Then I go back to the premise that the "bigger the sacrifice, the greater happiness" but at this point will this pain eventually be worth it? Will it be what I hoped for or am I in for more emotional damage. Life is sometimes frustrating and disappointing but one must never give up the fight. I will not give up, until I have nothing else to do, but that.

"Hindi lang ako nagsasalita, kasi wala naman akong importante sasabihin"
-Gibson, Ang Nawawala, 2012

There should be more "Ang Nawawala" movies produced. Simple plot but presented in the most interesting way with depth and emotion, real emotion. I fell in love with how simple this movie and yet so stunningly amazing it is. Reality at its finest. Oh, how I love, indies.

On Watching the US Open

Good things really never come easy, just watching the US Open Mens Final 2012, you know that they'd have to work for every point in every game in every set to finally win this one. Novak Djokovic on side, Andy Murray on the other. You know your in for a good match with these two. There may have been spectacular rallies, and there have been really bad ones, and there have been aces here and there. By watching the match, any person would also feel the emotional rollercoaster of emotion that came along with it. The momentum shift, the bad returns, the really good winners. You'd want them both to win just for fighting hard for this match; the first set alone was 87 minutes long! Bloody hell it was intense. But despite leading 2-0 and going down on the next two rounds, Andy came up with the victory. Breaking the drought in British tennis and proving to himself and tennis followers that he could be big and win a grand slam title.

Congrats on your first Grand Slam title, Andy! Its a long time coming.

If there's one thing I gained from watching this close to 5 hour match, its this-- work hard on your dream and when your stars align perfectly, the right moment comes, and you tell yourself, all the wait-- the loses, the frustrations, the doubts and the almost theres, were all worth it. Finally you have in your hands what you've always hoped for. So go ahead Andy and give yourself a tap on the back and get some more.

I don't think I can ever call you my friend anymore, no matter how much I miss (talking to) you.

Its funny that some of us are afraid of opening up to people who we know would always question our decisions. Its like we can only accept ideas that would make our egos feel good. But a healthy conversation, divulging both the good and the bad, would open up doors to more realizations and it results to a better decision in the end. Lets not be stubborn in dealing with different aspects in our lives.

Observe. Read. Listen. Learn. Write.
I remember my professor once said: "You should know a little about a lot of things than learning all things about one thing."

Defy the stereotypes of the society.
Shock the world with how good you really are.
Shock yourself with how good you are.
Then once you've done that go back to the corner of your room;
Re-evaluate yourself and prepare to shock the world even more.

"Okay. Good-bye, Claudia," he says softly. "Be well."
"You, too," I say, feeling unbelievably empty inside. I can't ever remember feeling this lonesome. As I hang up, I tell myself to memorize the ache in my chest just in case I ever get any more bright ideas to get in touch with Ben. I don't want to be reminded of what I no longer have.

-Baby Proof, Emily Giffin

I've been alone for so long that I forgot how it is to be around people until tonight. 

Life is what you make it. Its all about your perception in life. Be happy and grateful for what you have, pray for the things that didn't quite get right. One's outlook in life is vital in living it.