Monday, August 31, 2009
The Tale of the Hotel Key Cards, Bow!
So okay I’m no stranger to using hotel’s key card of course. Although at times I remember before when I have to repeatedly insert that thing on the door in order to open my room. But that’s pretty fine right? It all happens to us once or twice.
The hotel we stayed at last week has this security feature wherein you have to “swipe” your hotel key card first in the lift before you will be able to press the number of your destination. Brilliant right?? Guests or outsiders can’t just loiter around.
When Ade (my colleague from Indonesia) told me that he’s staying a floor above mine, which is the tenth floor, I decided to drop by his room first then we’ll meet the rest of the guys downstairs at the lobby for dinner.
But that hotel thingamajig just won’t bloody work on 10th floor. I kept on swiping and swiping but it just won’t work. Of course the usual thing to do is try to press other numbers available that is why I landed down to the 6th. Hmm, weird! Was there something wrong in the way I swipe the card or something?? So once again I tried to press up and hoped that another elevator among the three would open. Unfortunately an American couple on the lift joined me so I can only try the 10th once. Else they’ll think I don’t really have an access to the hotel. When it didn’t work again, I pressed for my room’s floor and went up.
Fine, I give up. I was just strolling back to my room and was already about to open the door when I noticed another elevator from the far end of the hotel, which is from the looks of it, is not meant for visitor’s use. I pushed open the door that separates the area from the hotel rooms and pressed the up button. It was then and there that I concluded: my rational thinking has just deserted me!!!
First of all, 10th floor is just a bloody floor away from mine. If there’s really an urgent issue to talk with Ade about something, I can just use the stairs instead right?? I mean, they promote that for healthy living right? They say its good for the heart. But it’s late. I was set for my first day embarrassment in that hotel. Shucks!
Everything happened so quickly. One minute I was just pressing that bloody number 10 on the lift and the next thing I know I was being transported down to what seemed like a basement. When I looked up, the display was showing a B2 when it opened. Since someone is about to use the lift, I had to step out in order to act cool and make it look like “yeah I just landed fine in my destination you know” when I noticed that I was entering a..…erm…..an employee operations room area. Now I understand the strange look the man outside the lift was giving me.
Oh no, the moment someone sees me without an ID or something, they might think I’m some secret spy, a terrorist or something else (though of course I don’t look like a terrorist but you know what with the recent events or something). I retraced my steps back to the lift and pressed up once again only to find out that the lift hasn’t gone up yet and the same man was still there inside when it opened. He asked,
“Can I help you?”
And at that point I can’t find the strength anymore to explain to him what’s going on with my card or something. I told him my room is on the 9th floor. Gosh, it’s so embarrassing.
Later that night I found out thru the bellboy, that not everyone gets access to the 10th floor. I’m not sure if it’s a special suite or something, I don't care anymore! I just want to forget what happened! He directed me to the reception and had my card updated after validating that one of company’s bookings is in that floor!
All I can say is, BLOODY TENTH FLOOR!!!!
I wish everything ended right there. But came Saturday, my last day of stay, I decided to do a late checkout when I arrived 11:15 AM from Chio Chu Kang coz I slept over in Joy’s place. Upon arrival, I inquired on the rates and learned that it’s quite affordable.
On the way up, I was still thinking if less than 45 mins would be enough for me to shower and pack my things. OF COURSE, NO!! Actually, I can. But since my flight is late in the afternoon, I might not have time to do a very important thing for the day: WORK-OUT! Once inside my room, I changed to my swimwear and dashed to the 3rd floor. Oh, FOR THE LOVE OF SWIMMING!!!
Wow, the pool looked so inviting. I was determined to swim for an hour. And yes I did. Just imagining the calories burned out from those strokes makes me feel good. The sun was hammering down on me but I didn’t care one bit. I continued working out only occasionally I would stop when some guys would join in the pool coz I didn’t want them making small talks to me and learning that I’m a Filipina, they might mistook me for something. And another reason is that I feel so intimidated because they might be good swimmer or something, I always get conscious. :P
Come 12:30 PM, I pulled out from the water. Dried myself for just a bit then went to the lift. OH GOD, NOT AGAIN! Only this time, all floors are not working in my card!! I remember the late checkout; I’m doing this for the first time in my life. But could I have informed the reception first or something????? If there’s one thing I learned from the other day, it is about DO NOT EXPERIMENT, JUST SIMPLY ASK!! But it’s too late, the phone that could connect me to the receptionist is inside the recreation area and a door that requires a hotel key card insert is blocking me to it!! Great!
I could stand here ‘til some hotel staffs see and help me out right? But eventually it would all lead to going straight to the reception to update my card. So, again applying the learning on the first day, I tottered down the staircase. And it was bloody late when I remembered: I. AM. IN. MY. SWIMSUIT! Yay! Yay! Yay! If it’s any consolation, I was wearing my jogging pants as a cover-up. (You see it works as my PJs too!) But what the heck??? My hair’s wet, I’m in a swimsuit (tube type) and I’m going to the hotel’s reception! JUST BLOODY GREAT TO END MY STAY HERE!
Reaching the ground, I surveyed the lobby and to my enormous relief there was not much people in it. It's already past 12 and most of the people have checked out earlier. My plan was to:
a) Smile a breezy hello to the receptionist. You know, just play it cool and stay natural as though VIP persons do this.
b) Inform of my extended checkout and have my hotel key card updated.
c) Leave the reception very, very swiftly.
d) Do not in under any circumstances look to the people around.
The plan took about 30 seconds max and after that I was back to the lift marveling at the size of my stupidity! God, what a fiasco!
And this just totally makes that bloody hotel so memorable for me. Yay!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ways to Wear
Look # 3: This one I must credit to Shaina Magdayao when I saw her once in Pinoy Bingo. Looks really chic. :)
Tank top, Mango; Black vest, Loft; Shoes, PrP
Look # 4: Cue taken from Blake Lively and Kate Bosworth.
Corset-like top, Mango; Quilted chain bag, CnK; Black pumps, CnK
And some playing around pics:
And when I said in my FB shoutout that I'm always like this during check-in "Oh no, don't hit 20. Pur-lease don't hit 20.", it pretty much just translates to Yes-I've-just-consumed-my-shopping-leeway-for-the-next-coming-months-I'm-not-going-to-shop-in-SG-and-whew!-I'm-not-coming-back-with-an-excess-baggage! LOL!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
It Happened Again!
What happened was I WAS ALMOST NOT ADMITTED. AGAIN!!! Tsk! Er, hello? Arriving at the airport 50 mins before your flight???? I’m such a pasaway! You’d think that having experienced this before would give you the confidence that they will let you in. But NO! When the guy said, “Sorry Ma’am we can’t let you in.”, I had flashbacks of what happened in Incheon airport about 2 years ago when I checked-in 15 mins before my flight. Scary! I argued that I already checked-in online and that I already reserved a seat but it turns out, they’re still pretty strict about the 1 hour arrival before your flight for internet check-in. :P But when the other girl made a call again, yes they did allow me to board and I was hoping that same as before they would upgrade me to first class, but no such luck! :P :P :P
Howell. The silent prayer before I entered the airport really helped. Whew! That was again a close shave! What I learned was that having been haunted by insomnia and wide awake at 4 AM on a Sunday morning, I really didn’t have to squeeze in a little hair trim, a manicure and a pedicure and videoke (but this was done while my nails are being done in our home, I just thought I’m going to miss singing while I’m away haha! :P) when you already woke up around 9 AM and your flight is just six and a half hour away!!! What was I thinking going to SG to meet a boyfriend???? Hahaha!!! And look at the repercussions. One of my nail’s coats was already damaged when I was hurrying up to close my trolley and as for my hair, well yeah it looked fab yesterday but now is giving me a hard time styling up in the morning coz it flies away in the ends. Phhhbbbbttttt!!! So much for vanity!!!!
Okay enough of that. I would just like to mention about the videoke coz I discovered something in our machine and I’m so excited about it that’s why I was testing it before I left, I’m going to make it a mini project of mine come September!!!! Weeeee!!!!! But I’m going to keep hush hush for now!! Weeee!!!! =)
I really enjoyed my flight because of some realizations. Not because of the service, food or anything although SQ will always be a best experience, but because of what I saw while on board. Since we’re talking about music, I was so much delighted to see Gaga’s concert being shown on one channel. I realized that all the wanting for loud accessories or screaming statements that I mentioned in my last post aren’t inspired by no other person but HER! She’s slowly becoming my icon! Yay! Haha!
Lately also, I am loving this girl Taylor Swift and I’ve been hunting for her videos in Youtube. I’m dazzled by her beauty and character. So while I was watching Hannah Montana aboard, I was so happy to see her cameo role. :) And I can’t believe that I’m going to say this, but I love Hannah Montana! Yikes!
I’m a hater of Miley Cyrus ever since I saw her provocative shots on the web. Do I even have to voice out that they’re not totally inappropriate for her age?? Anyways, there was just something about her character in the movie that made me (well not totally change my mind) but doubt if I was really misjudging her. Not that having a good impression of me about her would change the world, haha! Well let’s just say that I finally understood why a lot of kids and adults like her. There’s just something about Hannah Montana that would make you love her. Enough even for big people in Hollywood to defend her topless shots for a magazine!
Sorry if you were expecting some profound realizations. :P
So yeah, everything’s good here. Especially hearing the news that there’s already a schedule of return here in the next months. :) And I’m loving my room. I can live in a hotel like this forever! :P
Friday, August 21, 2009
Holiday!
How? By getting some work done, extra time in the gym and rest. Uugh!! Still feels like an ordinary day huh? I wish something extraordinary happens later so as to differentiate this from any other normal day. :P
The last holiday I remember feeling weird coz there were less people on the streets and in the tube (yess, sosy term lang for the trains :P). Then later that day it occurred to me that most of the people during holidays spend it with their families at home whereas I, on the other hand, who'd spent the previous days boring a hole into my chair and my hands tied to the keyboard at home, go out on a holiday for a different environment. :P
Early this week I bumped into an ex of a friend in the gym. And I was like chatting up with him on two separate sessions like he and my friend broke up on good terms!! Goodness, what’s happening with me???? How about some female solidarity here KC? I know, I know. But in my defense, I did not initiate the conversations. He was even trying to make a formal introduction (with a handshake!!!) as though saying “Let’s forget what happened, shall we?” It was also my first time to encounter an ex of a friend, so I tried to be polite. But probably next time, I’ll just try to avoid him. Shame, with his shorter hair he was looking cuter from the last time I saw him. Haha! But of course, trust me to know the rules. ;-)So, yup that’s me with my new shoes on the left. ;)
And I really really wanna see movie below. So sad it will be shown next week here while I'm away. :(
Lately, I find myself getting attracted to elaborate accessories! Like right now, I'm lusting after that very HUGE headband I saw at the shop the other day! And I wonder, how can I carry it?? Hahaha!!! I mean with just those necklace worn the other day, a gay from across the street was shouting to me "Pa-shonesta, pashonesta!!!" HAHAHA!!! I think he wants my pink necklace! LOL!
I can't understand myself as well. Methinks deep inside I have this desire to be flamboyant as Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdez. Yay! Haha! :D And this boutique Accessorize is so much helping me act the part. :P
Last blah, I already thought of what to say to those who are interested in what I do so as to avoid more questions. Yesterday, I was interviewed by some staffs from a bank as to what I do. I'm not sure what piqued their curiosity but they're just probably trying to be friendly. So, with me again trying to be polite, answered their blow by blow questions as though I was on a press conference. Next time for people like them who doesn't have anything to do with my work, I'll probably say that I'm a.........(oh gosh, I hope it's really true, haha!)........
freelance writer!!! Weeeee!!! Ala Carrie Bradshaw. :P This will stop the endless questions. Brilliant! Haha!
After a recap of what's gotten into me & my brain this week, I don't think my mind's working properly. Watchutink? Haha! :D
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
SG Preview: Touch of Colors
4 days before my flight and I haven't fully decided yet on my ensemble for the whole week. :P But I'm thinking a touch of color would do for the theme. Yay! So talagang my theme?? Hahaha!!
(a) Gucci bag - not GH! :P Probably the only item of haute couture I'll ever own a single stitch of! Haha! :D
(b) Kashieca Pearl Necklace - set against an LBD for an Audrey Hepburn feel. :P
(c) Mustard yellow top from Bayo - very formal and businesslike.
(d) PrP gladiator shoes - she just plainly have to come with me to SG! Hahaha!
(e) Dorothy Perkins belt - coz I'm repeating a favorite ensemble with that which was already posted here before.
(f) MNG sunnies - for catching some precious sleep in the plane. :P
(g) Maldita laptop bag - because it's become a tradition (for lack of better term coz it's actually "accidental") to have a new laptop bag when I travel to SG. And this would mean a total of 6 already. :P
Anyway, hope everything will be finalized in the next 2 days coz I keep on changing my mind about things. :P Weird, some people they do shopping on the country they're going to but as it happens it's not applicable to me, and let's not forget Wil - who's arriving on my same date of return. Weeeeeee!!! I'm so excited on my gifts from Canada: new camera and shoes!! Haha!! And besides, going back to the point, the Singapore sale is over! Blech! XD Well I heard there's a new mall in Orchard named ION with the title competing as "the mall of all malls" so I hope I'll have the time to check it out. :)
Haven't had time to post lately. You all know what work's like days before travel, be it personal or business. :P :P :P
Saturday, August 15, 2009
C2 and THE HANGOVER
And now, Joy usually tags us along for her Rockwell tickets. :P As selfish as it may sound but like Josh to uncle Ninoy, “ Please don’t get married.” Hahaha!!! Or more like “Please don’t get in a relationship yet.” Joke. Lavyah Joy, hope things will get better one day. :)
Anyways, Joy & I were in for a real nice food trip yesterday. Cathy, with her expertise on anything when it comes to good food, picked C2 (Classic Cuisine) yesterday for dinner. Obviously, it was my first time to try the restaurant. All I can say is when Cathy gives a treat, it’s sure to be enjoyable. :D
I came in late. (* roll eyes*). Haha!! But she sure picked up the best Filipino dishes they offer. There were 3 dishes already served when I arrived: Seared Tilapia in Coconut Emulsion, Crispy Kare-Kare and the Tinolang Binakol. (Uhmm, be careful in pronouncing. :P)
THEY. WERE. ALL. YUMMY!! Food trip indeed! Forgot I’m on a diet. :P You will simply love the creamy coconut sauce of the Tilapia. As for the crispy kare-kare, it’s my first time to try the crispy pork in a kare-kare sauce. And the bagoong, hmmm yummy!!!! :D Lastly, I was never a big fan of Tinola but it was different with ginger-coconut soup (they used coconut in the tinola soup, clever!!). Two things are decided: (1) couz Wil, we must try this again when you come home :P We’ll go for Indian, Filipino and Italian, okay? And (2) I need extra effort in the gym for the next day. HAHAHA!!!
And when we reserved seats for originally planned G.I.Joe quite late already and only front row seats were the only ones available, it turned out we were really in for a laugh trip. Hahaha!! We watched The Hangover instead and it was just too hilarious, you should see it!! :D
Wala lang, maiba lang. You've already seen the poster of the movie right? He's just so gwapo lang in the movie. Hahaha!!!
Great food, funny movie = good friday!! :D
Thursday, August 13, 2009
GAGA!!!
Okay, let me explain. Remember the cancelled Palawan trip?? As a good friend, I really really feel guilty for letting down Mike coz he was soooo anticipating the getaway. It’s just that there were some important stuffs at work which I can’t leave behind. Despite my efforts, the HK-Macau trip had already risked my performance and I don’t want it to happen again. Having said that, Mike and I still need some making up from someone. I think we both deserve it. And I’m not talking about settling anything financially. (-, -)
Mike & I both agreed to meet up around 6 PM. Concert starts at 8 and I told him we should be earlier reminiscent of my last free seating tickets at Araneta Coliseum circa 2000 for the Westlife concert with Intan!! Yes I was a Westlife fanatic then. Then, being the operative word already after hearing about Mark Feehily’s “out-ing”. What a shame! That was one memorable concert!! Ohmigosh, you just simply have to hear the story! :D
Although my friend Intan & I were still early for the concert, we found the queue for the free seating too long that it seems like it’s already encircled the whole dome!! Seriously! So what we did was “squeeze” ourselves near the entrance just when they’re already letting the audience in. Right after, I found myself being the recipient of the violent attacks of grandmothers and mothers who probably went there 5 hours or more earlier for the show! Lordy, I was never a rule-breaker all my life! But my love for Westlife pressed me to become one. As the mob was being let in, some of them were yelling at me, pulling my hair (seriously!), reporting me to the guards that I cut into the line as if I was a criminal and did something against the law. But they can’t do anything about it, can they? Haha! Eventually Intan & I made it safely inside and got for us a nice view of the stage. :P Memorable isn't it? :P
One astonishing fact here is that I was early (haha!) and I observed that there were no queues. They already let in the crowd. Mike came from a day shift so he was understandably late. One thing you’ll love about Mike are his repartees. He came from a wake before his shift, so complaining about his headache:
“Grabe wala pa akong tulog." Pause for effect, "Sabagay, mabuti naman yun kesa naman sa walang gising!” LOLs!
And when the concert wass over,
“Hay naku. Sigurado wala kang makukuhang taxi dito. I’m pretty, I’m sure.” Hahaha!!
Anyways, why am I already talking about the end of the concert!! I haven’t told you yet how marvelous Gaga is! Just like her lyrics in acoustic Poker Face, she’s marvelous, so marvelous, so marvelous!!! It would be so nice to see her up close but I got the ticket quite late already as my original companion was in a shilly-shally at first until eventually she withdrew. She sang most of her songs in, as always, electrifying performances. And of course, the outfits just never disappoint! Mostly observed were strong shoulders and volumes as seen below (if you could still see anything that is :P).
One thing to note is the way the entrance and exits were not just your ordinary walking in and out just like in most concerts. There were mini clips shown in between sets like how there was this curtain at first with her photo below, with me quipping “That Pamela Anderson?” LOLs! :P Trust only Lady Gaga to do those embellishments in her concert!
It was amazing how some went an extraordinary mile in dressing up as Gaga. There were some sporting platinum blonde wigs, strong shoulders, fishnets, headbands, etc! (Gay, most of them. :P) It would be so fun to play-up Gaga but I’m loving my printed jumpsuits so I just went for them. Yun naman eh, segue! Wehehe. :P
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Ma'am, May I??
Just got home from Lady Gaga's concert!!!!! :D Tell you all about it next time?? * winks * -> *forty winks *. Hehe. Nyt nyt. :P
Monday, August 10, 2009
Lights, Camera, Aaaaaaaaacction!!!!
Oh right, I forgot where. Uhmmm in (ok, at this point I resist the urge to recoil inwardly) “Dear Friend.” Err, you know, that show in Channel 7 that stars uhmm Jolina & Marvin! There, I said it. Whew! Haha!! Well I’m very much aware how you all know that I’m “not a fan” of that network “Not a fan”??????? That’s sooooo the understatement of the year! Hahaha!! Okay, okay, okay. But now is not the time to be such an INGRATE! Hehe. :P
“Pinakita na siya?” I asked as I open the door of the toilet.
“OO. Yung pangalan niya introducing Lemuel Pelayo.” My Tita replied.
If it’s not my Tita, I would’ve rolled my eyes as though I’m missing half of my life if I didn’t see that opening credit. Haha!! But then again, that’s my aunt who we all love dearly. :P Good thing, I didn’t have to soak my hair too much with the hair conditioner coz Lem already cued us on where his scenes would be. It was the 2nd setting about 2-3 mins after the show started. And he’s going to have an encounter with ---Jean Garcia!
He plays Charles – brother of Jean Garcia in the story. This is like really WOW coz you can just imagine for starters like him, it’s not everyone that gets a chance to act with Madam Klaudia! She’s a very good actress. That’s why I can still remember him texting me during the shoot how he was very nervous coz they’re going to embrace each other! Hahaha!!! I tried to suppress a giggle when he was already delivering his lines. Haha!! All I can say is my brother can act naturally when it comes to comic scenes but drama is different. Be the judge and see for yourself coz they still have heavy episodes in the continuation next week! Hahaha!!! :))
Saturday, August 08, 2009
???
- Ever since my last post, I’m getting addicted to editing photos again.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Negative
Today was a very much needed holiday. I'm so grateful! Early gym, a little pampering and ...............shopping. I found the perfect speakers for my pink laptop!!!! It's nice when you have ample time to tour the mall aside from those clothing boutiques you normally go to!! :D HERE. It costs a fortune! I need a financier or wait 'til it goes on SALE! LOLs! :D
LA LA LA........... :P :P :PSee you soon..
XoXo
Monday, August 03, 2009
Emba 4 '09
O diba parang nsa abroad lang? Hahaha!! According to Bri: "KC, para kang New Yorker sa suot mo!" LOLs! :DApart from Koreans (???), the place is teeming with teenagers!! Kinda made me feel out of place. When I saw someone whom I used to work with before, he explained that 's okay. He said just think that these guys splurge on their parent's money while we spend our own. Ooookkay, point taken. But still I can't shake off the feeling that you have to let go of this guy dancing next to you (even if he's too cute for words!) coz you're too old for meeting new people in this kind of place. It was just easy you know, you just have to flash back your most winsome smile. But no. It's not appropriate anymore. I take back the "too old" words, let's just say it's immature. But what the heck? I STILL LOVE TO DANCE! :P
Tell me one positive thing about going in this place: celebrity spotting! LOLs! But surely, meeting Jake C twice in a month could mean "something" right?? It could trigger those convo in the likes of "You know what it's funny I keep on bumping to you for the last weeks...." in the future. Hahaha!! Yeah KC, DREAM ON!! :P :P :P
P.S. Can somebody tell this girl to stop dieting coz she's turning anorexic! LOLs! And btw, looking at pic below, I think I can rock a "volumized" shoulder length hair. Watchuthink couz Wil??? :D
