intransitmind

[intransitmind]

El Nido, Palawan - Into Paradise

It was a gloomy thursday afternoon, my usual routine and a cup of coffee sitting on my office table while I hum waiting for the clock to strike at 5:30PM. Exactly 5:30PM, there are two significant incident that will take place - (1) The end of my office week, as I stand up and collected my things, I dashed towards the exit and the (2) start of my 5 long days adventure (Into Paradise). As I walk along hordes of zombies (what we all are, working in the corporate world), put my earphones on, got lost in the transition of rhythm, while Ultralife by Oh Wonder, started playing as my background music. 

Arriving home, I waited for the rest of my family to settle down and wait for our flight. Which will take off at 5:45AM. Forgotten how exhausted I was.

Tid bit of background:

I belong to a big family, scattered across the world, waiting for this once in a lifetime family reunion. And voila, El Nido happened.

Onto our adventure 

Day One:

Upon arriving at Puerto Prinsesa International Airport (ETA: 7:00AM) , my cousin’s husband ushered us all inside his van, (FYI: we are 16, all in all, plus our luggage). If you ask me how is this possible, my good friend, I am not the one to speak. We pursued the longest of journey, exhaustion is eating me, and so I slept the whole ride en route to my other relative’s place, which is located in Calategas, Palawan. (Fact: Calategas is a two hour drive from Puerto Prinsesa).

After settling down at my relative’s place, we enjoyed our whole afternoon at Estrella Falls,  I have visited the falls three years ago and instead of pulling out my swimwear, I, feel asleep while sitting on our cottage table. In the aftermath, my mom decided to visit the nearest hot spring and so another hour of journey ensued. I indulged myself into the hot spring and ahhh, what a time to be alive. 

Day Two:

Not much is to be said about the second day of our trip. The rest of the gang drove back to Puerto Prinsesa come morning to catch our scheduled island hopping in Honda Bay. We were late. (That is not a good story to tell) But we still proceeded with our tour. I, once again, journeyed the islands 3 years ago. And so I took photos and watched as my whole family enjoyed the blistering heat of the sun and the waves of the ocean. 

Starfish Island, Honda Bay, Palawan

Day Three: 

Five hours of our journey going to El Nido ensued. And my heart was never the same since then. 

Upon arriving at our hotel and leaving our luggage, we went to Nacpan Beach. 

Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan

I was particularly fond of this beach due to it’s white sand, the harmony bar in the middle of the sea and the dogs. Yes, you have read it right, there are dogs, loads of them. 

Day Four: 

Island hopping, in this section of the day, let the photos speak to your imagination.

Big Lagoon  

Shimizu Island 

Secret Lagoon

There you have it, the definition of paradise. Whole set of islands seated together, waiting to be discovered but hoping not to be ruined and vandalized. Ladies & gentlemen, the treasure of the Philippines. 

Day Five

The last leg of our journey. The whole clan drove back to the city. Adults bought souvenirs and pasalubong, ate our lunch and headed straight to the airport. 

At 4:00PM we left Puerto Prinsesa. And I was never the same since then. Fire inside me, a determined one, wanted to shout at all the illegal loggers who were tarnishing the beauty of Palawan and part of me knows that I can only write what my small voice can’t shout. But I am glad, knowing that preservation is better than deterioration and lost cause. 

I may not have captured all the beautiful islands of El Nido, but through my fierce writing, I am hoping to receive nods of agreements and support. Suffice to say, we only have one big home. 

[intransitmind]

Naive 

As I lay down here, listening to your heartbeat. My mind wandered way beyond our make believe fortress and brought me to places I have never been. 

 I woke up in Paris, thinking that it is a place to be. A place where men knelt down and ask the hand of their one true love. Or so they thought. Afloat the top of Eiffel tower, I see people, dreaming. Loving. Hoping. Giving up. But then I see this one light. And this light, put forth hope into my soul. This light is begging to be discovered. Enclosed in it’s clutching hands, a promise. A promise of happiness. I stoop down, stared and close my eyes, as I pray and flew back into your loving arms. I was dreaming again. 

 Yesterday, I was in Las Vegas, was observing people, my undying habit. I wasn’t judging but a mere third person in this one person spectacle. People below are portraying different persona. I sigh, wishing that they’d stop. Stop living behind their shadows and live their make believe life. But as I dim in the moon light, I saw one shine brighter. And this one celestial being, depicted something deeper. As he was entering a casino, I saw a deep sadness, it touched my heart and I was so afraid to be near it. I ran away, panting. And half way through coming back to your loving arms, a flashback, it was I who I saw. It was I. Back when I thought life was meaningless. I close my eyes. I was dreaming once more. Panic started to gush through my veins. It was I, I was a man in my old life. I was that man whose hopes where never seen. Whose dreams where never spoken of. 

And that reminded me… I need to wake up, back into your loving arms again. Back to where I belong.

[intransitmind]

Mt. Pinatubo (042817) What a gem. ✨

[intransitmind]

Before I get to start my post about the man in my life, let me tell you a small tidbit about us, it’s our 17th month today! Hooray! (technically, 10 months cause we were in a long distance relationship back in febraury until september 2016).

Now let me enumerate all the wonderful things my man has to offer, exclusively for me:

(1) This guy is my beacon of hope whenever I feel like I am in the darkest hour of my life. (PMS) (2) He encourages me to always give my 100% in every situation I’m in. (3) He loves to talk about what I feel whenever he senses that I’m in one of those “moods”. Plus he is understanding to the point that I am getting mad with him. (4) My man is interested in all the stuffs I am into. E.g. Harry Potter, watching classic movies, Pizza and every thing in between. Luckily for me, he digs what I like. (5) Apologizes whenever he makes a mistake. (6) Chores. Yup, he helps around the house. (7) Always planning to have a future with me. and (8) my favorite of all, he is a man of few words but goal oriented.

I am so proud of my guy. What people don’t know about him: introvert, 100%

Happy 17 months of love and butterflies in my belly, my Chan Man may we grow into terrible grown up adults. (In a good way, I hope).

[intransitmind]

My new found love + Netflix

“Today’s good mood is sponsored by coffee.”

     A post dedicated to my new lover: Coffee. I may have dodged caffeine for most of my life but now, it is clearly inevitable. Might as well conclude that I am happily in a relationship with it, 7x a week. 

Tell me a great place to binge watch a Netflix series than in a coffee shop surrounded by the aroma of freshly grounded coffee beans. 

Christian (my other half, I will talk more about him in my future posts) and I made plans to drink coffee after I decorated and we attended his cousin’s kiddie birthday party. (I was assigned the task of decorating their house suitable for a children’s party, and I was too enthusiastic and happy to incline).

Fast forward to 3 in the afternoon, we were walking around Rockwell, searching for a suitable place to spend our lazy Saturday afternoon. Lo and behold, we came across Single Origin. It was a cozy place for us and we chose a corner inside the coffee shop near the facade. 

We shared the table with another couple as well, for the first thirty minutes of our stay, and we both didn’t mind as the coffee shop was full packed when we entered. 

His - Salted Caramel Latte (influenced by his sisters).  Mine -  Crème Brulée  (the photo above).

After our shared afternoon, we basically decided to roam around Powerplant mall and head straight home for dinner. 

The Boyfriend in his serene form. My favorite subject. 

-

[intransitmind]

In Transit

I chose in transit mind as my username, because somehow I am better at generating my thoughts when I am traveling to a certain place. Probably most of you have the same situation, as I. And we are not to blame.

Why Now?

4 years ago, I have pledged myself to create a blog when I obtain a camera wherein I can facilitate the creativeness of my transit mind whenever I travel, but alas, responsibilities got the best of me and my real passion of writing was put to sleep due to my lack of ability to see through myself. And now, I am trying again. I do hope in my fragile heart that I can fulfill my (would be) readers their desires and entertain them with my writings and creativity. Most importantly, my own self.

In here I will post my previous gallivants in pursuit of defying throwback posts as I would love to share with you my story.