The Experience

This entire story was brought to you by my iPhone's photo album.

For this *instalment, I will take you back even earlier--Welcome to 2016 and the time I was avidly shooting in film! I just turned one year in Singapore then and already had a good set of colleagues-turned-friends. This post is a lot less dramatic and is pretty chill on the word count. I will go ahead and let you enjoy the photos. And yes, even the film photos are already all uploaded here in the Draft. I just never clicked on the Publish button. Admittedly, I think I was supposed to caption the photos but didn't get to it. Now I don't know what I wanted to write there so I will keep it as is.

*I say instalment but I dropped all three posts on the same day because my EQ is asking not to be worked out today. I don't care about optimal posting time anymore, especially since the stats say my readership is more global than ever. Also, I need to do these now so this series can see the light of day! 

Let this be the time to learn riding a bike (*coughs* Jopaw) and time to see things through.


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Note: All photos taken using my Pentax Spotmatic and expired Kodak Gold 200 film

Pulau Ubin, when translated from Malay, means 'Granite Island.' It is an island off the Northeast coast of Singapore. Unlike the glitzy and glamorous Singapore portrayed in the book Crazy Rich Asians, this island is home to conserved wildlife and is largely free from urban development. Read more about it here.

The following was written right after my Europe trip. I never got to publish it because of the many life-changing events that happened right after I landed. Since then, I have been detained for questioning by the Immigration twice, had my work visa application rejected twice, finished a Project as an SAP ABAP Developer, got extended in the Project, and finally--I also changed careers. What a wild ride! 

The entirety of this post was written during my flight back to Singapore on June 3, 2017. I chose not to edit it to retain the hyped post-travel tone. 

A short back story: I got stranded in Brittany (Northwest France) and ended up losing my 2 days supposedly of traveling to the South of France.

Instead of cramming in what would be a tiring train ride, I decided to stay again in Paris. So basically I had to scrap my original plans of celebrity-watching during the Cannes Festival. It sounds absurd now, but that was my plan and I was super excited for it.

Anyway life must go on. I remembered a conversation with my friend Jam Sisante about her wanting to watch the cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge but for lack of time, she couldn't.

In contrast, I suddenly had a lot of time so I tried my luck to see if the Moulin Rouge still had tickets available. There were! I went alone and got tipsy really quick--who knew the ticket included not one free glass of champagne, BUT AN ENTIRE BOTTLE all for myself.

/endofbackstory

You know those short moments when watching in a theatre and they dim the lights to allow a change in cast/costume/scene? It's called a transition. It's also called a time to reflect on life and how amazing of a time I was having, and a time to quickly jot down stuff because I had no one to gasp and be in awe with. 

This post is about using that transition moment to quickly type in my thoughts while watching the show. Since they are very strict in photo-taking, allow me to share that uncensored, colorful cabaret experience with screencaps from my Notepad. (Note: It's in Taglish because my mind thinks in Taglish, most especially when drunk)









And now, for some actual informative details for those who got to this post from Google, who may not care about my commentary, if you can even call it that! :))

Ticket Booking
I booked the tickets thru the Moulin Rouge website. I just rechecked it now and they seemed to have upgraded the website into a modern-looking user interface. It's a lot easier to navigate. You can book your tickets at this link: https://www.moulinrouge.fr/reservations

Ticket Price
The prices will vary depending on the timing and the day of the week.There's a 7pm, 9pm and 11pm slot. Weekdays and later slots seem to be much cheaper. I got my ticket on a Monday, for the 11pm show and it cost me a 115 euros.
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(Read: I didn't know it came with a bottle of champagne, hence the very welcome surprise. Sulit!)

Things To Note
I only got a reservation PDF. When I got to the theatre, I had to proceed to the Reservations booth to exchange my reservation into a real ticket for entrance. They required me to forward my reservation email to reservation@moulinrouge.fr before they could print out the ticket.

If you don't have mobile data, they have a wifi you can connect to. If you don't/won't have your smartphone with you, bring a printout of the reservation.

Location or Point de Rendez Vous
MOULIN ROUGE
82 Boulevard de Clichy - Place Blanche
75018 Paris

Metro 2 - Station Blanche

Final Tips
1. Go a bit earlier and walk around Montmarte. The Basilica of Sacre-Coeur is just nearby.
2. There will be a lot of shady guys because it is a famous tourist spot, so always be alert.
3. Enjoy the champagne!

My last trip to the Philippines was already last week ago and I have so much I want to write about if my time permits. While it's hard to decide which day/topic to do first, I decided to just go with it chronologically. In this post, you'll see Day 0 of my Manila trip. More specifically, my inadvertent discovery of another backpacker hostel, just a street corner away from my usual home hostel in Makati, Junctions Hostel.

I learned this at the worst way possible--I arrived in Makati at an ungodly hour, only to find out that my booking with Z Hostel apparently did not push through, If it was my usual luck, it would have been easy for me to just book right there and then but they were fully booked.

You see, I was booked for three nights at an Airbnb. Thing was, since I was arriving at the wee hours of the morning, I didn't want to pay for an extra night at full price, when I can just sleep through the morning for a fraction of the price at my go-to luxury hostel before checking in at my Airbnb. At the time, it seemed like a solid plan to me.

Slightly defeated and extremely tired, I went outside Z trying to calm myself down, while partly blaming myself. I wouldn't have to go through so much trouble had I not been stingy.

I was furiously Googling for possible accommodations when a barangay tanod (village patrol) tricycle passed me by. They were asking where I was trying to go, and if I wanted them to accompany me. I was very, very tired so I told them if they would be so kind to drop me off at the nearest hostel they know of. They said, "Oh there's one down the road! We'll take you there!"


Okay, that was a long, drawn-out intro but I felt the need to share that with you. You have no idea how "saved" I felt when I quickly checked-in to a female dorm and got myself on a bed, a plush and comfortable one at that. I went to bed as soon as I got my affairs in order. (Read: Affairs, as in selfies/videos etc hahalol)


The Amenities
I've had my fair share of staying in backpacking hostels, and I got to say this hostel is one of the typical "hip" hostels that you stay at when you're going to spend the entire day wandering around. It will have everything you'll ever need, but don't expect 5-star service and amenities. Service-wise, the staff was very accommodating, and made sure all my needs were addressed. Special mention to the receptionist, Ms. Aiza for letting me use their kitchen freezer, but that's a story for another day.

It's the first time I have seen Rule #4 explicitly written out, and good that it is. It has always been my pet peeve when roommates hook up and have no disregard to other people in the room with them. People are trying to sleep!


There is a common area where the dining tables are. There is free wifi but always feel free to interact with people here. There's this unwritten traveler rule that makes people a lot more receptive to human interactions. As someone who has mostly been introverted, even just this aspect of traveling amps up the experience.


They serve no-fuss food here, but take note that they won't be in their normal Philippine prices. You can place your order from the Truck, which is just right beside the Reception. It looks like a mobile cart and will be hard to miss. They serve food until 10pm, or until after the chef closes shop.


I got the adobo for P150. Relatively an okay price for me, but when there are carinderias (local eateries) right outside the hostel, where you can get a more authentic street Pinoy scene at a fifth of the price, it can be an interesting decision to make. Without a question though, the food would taste good and guaranteed to be clean.


Still at the common area, there's a cocoon/garden where you can lounge around. Right in front of it is a Pinoy pool table (Note: It looks like this) and beside it is a TV room where you can watch whatever's showing that night, and the desktop computers you can use at your convenience.


They also have a self-service kitchen. The rule is CLAYGO: Clean As You Go, and I have seen all the guests were following this.

On the right side is a common toilet and the laundry area.

Speaking of common toilets, I was roomed at the second level, and it had three operational, communal bathrooms. Usually it gets very tricky to use the toilet and the showers since there's a lot of rooms to share it with, but that has never been the case during my stay. For some reason, I think the people there were waking up a lot later than usual, and so there was no rush hour at the showers in the morning.


For the ladies, you'll be pleased to know there are not just one, but THREE hair blowers available to blowdry your hair. I didn't use it, but I liked the idea of them being there in case I needed it.

The Cost
So there goes our short tour of Junctions. I took as many photos as I can but I didn't really stay there too long to see any more good or bad things. I paid P795 for a bed a the Ladies Dorm, and I must say it was money well-spent even for just my short time there.

If you want a place that's a bit more hip and rugged, I recommend this place as another hostel you can stay at if you're in Makati City, Metro Manila.

Makati Junctions Hostel
Annex Matheus bldg. General Luna St. cor., Don Pedro
Makati, 1210 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 501 6575

Penang was so chill that I didn't feel like taking my GoPro out of my bag. At one point, I stopped bringing it with me altogether because I said I won't make a travel video anymore. But here I am at an ungodly hour, trying to stitch something up so I won't feel as bad for the unfortunate stuff that happened during that weekend. (e.g., me getting sick, my film roll snapping in-cam, etc)

In Singapore, where time and distance is very essential, my utilization of free hours was really put to a test--For sleepovers, I usually bring with me a set of fresh clothes and underwear, the smaller they are, the better. This enables me to head straight to work the next day without having to carry so many things with me. For flashpacking travels, I usually pack everything within 30 minutes before going to the office, along with my backpack, so I can go to the airport right after clocking out.

I live in the northern-central part of Singapore and going back and forth to Ang Mo Kio was not an efficient (nor cheap) option. As amazing as the public transportation system they have here, if you want to get somewhere at a fraction of the time it takes to commute, you really have to pay for it. Literally, too. (Read: Taking a taxi or an Uber will cost roughly 10 times more than if you commute via bus/train, but slashes more than half of your travel time.)

At age 28, I can finally say I have mastered a system when it comes to sleepovers and flashpacking trips. For this post, I'm sharing with you that one item that I never leave without: the mini pot. (No, not that kind of pot! *smirks*)

I consider myself to be really low maintenance, and with that, I don't put a lot of products on me. These are all I'll ever need to look presentable in the office the next day. Or so I think. And for travels, I use all of them, save for the foundation. I like it there though, just in case I might need it.


What's in My Mini Pots

1. Milcu deodorant powder - Yup, I bring along a pot of Milcu deodorant powder with me all the time. Not to be underestimated, this product can last in Singapore humidity!

2. Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation - (will get back to you with the exact shade, but I'm an NC42 in MAC) My foundation pot either has this or NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona, the former for when I just came from a beach trip, and the latter for when my skin is tad bit lighter or when it's too humid.

3. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream - Taking into account how the weather is here in Singapore, this is the best moisturizer that works for me so far. I love it.

4. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula lotion - Lotion is something that if I forego, all hell breaks loose AKA my long-time problems with eczema will start to resurface.    

Aaand that's it. I have four pots that if I have with me, I will feel okay going to the next day straight from wherever.


Where I Buy 'Em

I used to buy my pots from Sephora where it costs SGD 2/pot. But I noticed whenever I'll take it on a flight, it would get cracks that must be from the pressure while up in the air. This caused me to buy another set. Then the same thing happened, to my dismay. It's just 2 dollars but multiply them by four, it totals to SGD 8 every time I need to replace them.

Then one day, I was walking from the neighborhood public market and saw one of those one-dollar stores that sell anything under the sun. I saw they had a packet of 20 mini pots, same as the pots pictured above, and it only costed SGD 1.50 for the whole pack. FOR THE WHOLE PACK--> caps for emphasis. "What a steal!", I thought! Two flights after, they still haven't cracked and that felt good.


Bonus 

1. Etude House eyeliner - My current go-to liner because I ran out of my favorite liner. This is my first felt tip liquid liner and I like how I can apply the thinnest line and be happy with it because it looks natural.

2. Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil - Honestly, I just bought this because I wanted to try other brands and because the Ate from Sephora was overly eager when she was sampling it on me. The one I always use for special events is the Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow.

3. the Balm time Balm - Current undereye concealer I've been using. I don't know a lot about makeup but this seemed okay.

PHUKET, THAILAND-- Before May 2016, this is what Surin Beach looked like. As per what I heard from the locals and patrons of this beach, it painted me a picture of a beachfront that's similar to Boracay, where the hippest bars, restaurants, and clubs are lined up along the shoreline. Take your pick, choose where you want to spend your hard-earned cash for expensive food and cocktails.

How To Get There
Like my recent trip to Bangkok, I never got to learn how to commute in public vehicles such as buses or their version of jeepneys/multicabs. Partly because I couldn't find one that plies the same route, but mostly because of the convenience that Uber/Grab brings. Of course, you can always take a taxi too, but it will be priced a little bit more.

Surin Beach is located at the western part of Phuket, and conveniently in the middle of hotel clusters along the beach. The main highway you'll go through is the 4025. Just enter "Surin Beach" on your app, or tell the taxi driver and he would know. Coming from the east coast and at a 19-km ride, the fare was around 300 Baht.    

(Note: Uber was discontinued in Phuket. Use Grab instead.)

When I got there, the picture in my head was such a huge contrast to what I saw. There were no rooted buildings, no loud electronic music, and no fancy restaurants. It wasn't Boracay-like at all. It was Nacpan beach, but with a lot more people who are just there to bask under the sun.


Straight from the paved road onto the sand, I saw a couple getting their prenuptial photoshoot at the far left, some surfers catching the waves, and ladies getting their massage on makeshift massage mats for cheap. (Well, relatively cheap that is. Phuket is expensive!) Right away, I got approached by a local named Om. He offered to rent out one of his beach mats at 100 Baht for the whole day. He also held a cardboard with reasonably priced beverages written on it. With a good English he said, "I'll be walking around here. If you need a drink, please buy from me."

Om saying that was like a trigger. He then continued to tell the story of how he and a lot more people, who were once employed as staff for the now defunct establishments, now don't have jobs. And although the beach is considerably much more beautiful now, he's very concerned about how he'll feed his family of four. The guy has two kids to think about. He then explained that the Thai government wanted to return the beach to its original, virgin state, and there was nothing they could do. The establishments, including the popular Catch Beach Club, were all torn down on the last two weeks of April 2016.


As much as I empathized with him, walking on that beach even with the glaring sun was very therapeutic. It was nice hearing just the sound of the waves, and people, mostly kids, laughing as they played in the water. If you'll ask me to choose, I'd pick an undeveloped beach over a party beach any time.

One important thing to remember would be to BYOB (Bring Your Own Baon). There won't be any restaurants, but there will be mobile stores and people peddling drinks. Since I didn't come prepared, I had to be creative with my nourishment for the day. I eventually bought a total of two coconuts and one local beer from Om, bought a corn from a BBQ stand at the roadside, and lucked out on a chicken noodle soup cart. Weird food combination for the beach, but I really couldn't be choosy at that point.

Food Expenses
Coconut x 2                 = 120
Beer x 1                        = 70
Grilled Corn x 1           = 20
Chicken Noodle Soup = 50          
                                       260 Baht

Depending on how you see it, the food situation there would be something you'd either be pissed off, or be glad about. I choose the latter. (Plus again, 260 Baht for lunch and snacks is already relatively cheap for Phuket.)