Cheers to being 20

Now that I am finally 20 I can finally say the line "that was so last year." After a hell of a crazy year full of ups and downs I am so happy I am no longer 19. Being 19 was one of the best years of my life so far, even though I made so many stupid mistakes and got to experience so many new things it was such an eventful year.

I definitely feel like I grew up and I really made the most of being a teen. I spent the year rushing things saying "yes" to everything, making bad choices, making stupid mistakes but I finally made it through the year. I am so glad to finally have my teen years end and I am ready to just keep on going, to keep on learning and to experience new things.

After that year I realized I need to learn to say no, I need to slow down and I need to let things just fall into place and let things come to me with a little effort of course.

Here are a few pictures to highlight my year:

First time to drink at Taft, meeting new people and being exposed to a new culture 

First time to be at a cafe alone, eating my favourite, cupcakes! And reading my favourite magazine Cosmopolitan 

First time to finally get to attend Close Up Forever Summer 

Drinking at home before I left for England for the summer

Spent the weekend as soon as I arrived in London with my cousin, food food food 

First time to taste Vodka Gold  

First time to try shisha at Camden town 

First time to visit Wales 

Had dinner for the first time at Covent Garden

Had a picnic with my cousin and decided to make a daisy chain afters years and years 

Another first to visit a different kind of bar, Ice Bar

My closest friend sleeping over after not seeing her for two years I missed her so so much 

Saw all my friends visit Cremes I just had to go when I was in London 

Ate at Zizi, I used to eat here with my sister every time we would visit our mum at work 

Went to Kingston and saw this for my first time 

The closest I've ever been to my favourite building at Liverpool street 

Visited Greece and saw this lovely view 

My love for postcards, Greece was amazing!

                                        #throwback #summer #greece #london #manila

Day 5: Five Places You Want To Visit

1. New York
My dream ultimate destination, I want to either work or study here. Anyone who knows me knows it is my dream to go to New York.

2. Italy
Italy has always seemed like a great place to go to! I want to go to Rome and Florence. I want to go here for the food! I will just eat, eat and eat if ever I do get to go to Italy.

3. France
Well obviously, PARIS! Two words: Gossip Girl.

4. Spain
The beaches! I want to visit the beaches and also I studied Spanish throughout the whole of high school and i am currently taking it up so I think I need to go to Spain to at least make use of what I've learned.

5. Canada
My closest friend is from Canada plus I have a friend already living there and I've heard how the people are nice and how safe it is. So I definitely want to see  Canada for myself one day.

#blog #challenge

Scotland Again and Again

I love Scotland! After the many times that I have been there I can never get enough of it. I absolutely love the city, no matter where I am in the world; full of life and tall buildings and lights. Edinburgh has the most amazing view, with all the pretty trees and nature. The buildings are different from the office buildings and skyscraper buildings you get in your average city. Edinburgh is full of castles and unique buildings, with ancient designs.

The weather however is different to the British weather, I much prefer it actually. Even though the sun is out you still get a cold breeze which is refreshing at first. I prefer this to the weather in the Philippines where it is hot and humid all at the same time.

Staying over night in Edinburgh was not enough, although there is not much to do apart from visit castles and enjoy the scenery. There is a tour bus and the best bit for me is shopping, though this time I didn't actually get to go shopping.

The castle that we visited (I forgot the name), was boring the second time around and I was able to realize that I prefer the Tower of London or the palaces in London. The castle was open and big where it is all separated so you would have to go from building to building. We didn't have a tour guide instead we used the audio guides to help us, half the time I wasn't really listening. I wouldn't go back there again but it was very interesting and exciting to be able to roam around the castle.

Intramuros

About a week ago me and my friends made a trip to Intramuros. We went there to volunteer for Red Cross. We had a project in one of our classes, Social Teachings of The Church. We had to do something or anything to raise money for the Yolanda victims. We spent three hours sorting out clothes and then packing them. We did two sets of clothes each for a mum, dad, daughter, son etc. Some worked in pairs others on their own. It was extremely hot and it drained the energy out of all of us. But it was a great experience to be able to help out even though it was tiring, I knew that I helped out all I could. But obviously still not enough. I didn't want to complain because I knew that there are more people suffering and going through worse than what I was experiencing.

Before this however we had 1 hour to spare and I wanted to see Intramuros. I've been there before but I just don't remember so I decided to look around.

The architecture really interested me and caught my attention. It looked as if you were in Spain, the influence was still there. The dorms were creepy at the same time I wanted to go inside. I could imagine how haunted all the dorms must be.

I also got to see where the old UST was, I wish it was still there. I also wanted to go inside Manila Cathedral but it was under construction. It looked so nice from the outside. This town must be haunted because of the history that runs through it. This made it more exciting. The town was amazing, I really enjoyed it.

I want to go back so that I can visit the Fort Santiago. It was even more fun with friends. I would definitely go back here. It's a place that has so much history and keeps it within its walls.

Letran 

Manila Cathedral 

Where UST was located 

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Davao City: First Day

One of the cities I always wanted to visit was Davao. I saw and heard many thing about the beaches in Davao. I was even told how it was expensive to stay at the beaches however during my stay at Davao my family and I decided to take a break from the beach and tour around the city instead. We did a city tour, visited a few parks, went for a swim and pushed our limits by trying our first ever river rafting.

It was a tiring but unforgettable holiday I have had in ages. I fell in love with Davao but not as much as I love Cebu. Davao was clean and fresh with "No Smoking" signs in every corner. If you are a smoker it may not be the place for you. However you will enjoy the unpolluted and fresh air due to a less populated area and no smoking in any areas.

Hagimit falls was one of the first places we visited. The water was clear and incredibly blue it was calling my name for a swim but sadly all we did was take pictures and admire the beauty of the water, each taking a fall due to the slippery parts of the rocks.

Other places we visited were the bat caves and Maxima Resort. I was shocked by the number or bats that were hanging inside the caves, we did not get to go inside but we just got to have a look at the habitats of these bats. It wasn't a pleasant site or a pleasant smell. I never imagined there to be that many bats.

We stopped for lunch, quickly going for a dip sadly the rules were "No lifevests, no swimming." The water was extremely deep but it was a bother to be swimming with a life vest, it was more like floating. The water was the perfect temperature for the weather so it was great to go for a dip. Around us were different activities such as jet skiing, slides and snorkling. We chose to just float around in the water. 

Maxima Resort is located at Samal Island, an island off Davao so we had to take a boar before reaching the Island. Maxima had an infinite swimming pool and slides. The infinite swimming pools was located at under the sun, it was just a small swimming pool. Then the slide were not as slippery as we expected it to be but it was long at the same time. After a few slides, we decided to rest before heading back home. 

Maxima Resort and the bat caves were all located on Samal Island. 

For those who appreciate London

Many people ask why I came to the Philippines but I can never really give them a straight answer, because I could say so much. There are tons of reasons some more important and more dominant than the others. But here's one reason. As I was looking at posts of celebrities or bloggers posting their vacation in London it kind of hit me.

Why is it when people to go to England on holiday I get jealous and they seem to have so much fun but when I'm there I feel like I live in a cave. When I go back I really need to do some exploring and appreciate London more.

I grew up in West London, but I never really enjoyed it there. I never really seemed to appreciate where I was born and brought up. London does seem like a really nice place. I did go there a few times (not enough). I remember I would go there if we had to tour family around or me and my friends would sneak off to go to Central London. I never really went there as often as I should of. I never really enjoyed or appreciate London as much as I should have.

When I go back I really want to explore London and really see what other people see. Maybe that's why i hate it there so much, maybe I need to just enjoy it.... and go out more. Here in the Philippines I do get to go around and explore and appreciate everything. But I guess you will never get to appreciate something unless you get to experience it.

England is home, my family are there my close friends are there and I was born and raised there. I was brainwashed to believe London was dangerous and I was never really shown the great parts of it. I just lived there. I went there but I never appreciated. I get jealous and annoyed of those who want to go there so badly. I don't know why maybe because they have pictures of going to all these places but I never really did appreciated London like others do.

I think when I go back I need to somehow go out more often and enjoy the city. I love the city but I never got to experience it like I should.

Kensington High Street, I don't remember what I did here but I'm guessing me and my friend were being adventurous at the time

M&M World before I left 

A trip to a famous park in London 

M&M World a trip with a group of friends before I left for the Philippines

Where I spent my Sweet Sixteen, Planet Hollywood

Above are pictures of the very few times I visited Central London. 

I think my final message is that I need to go out more to appreciate where I came from. I need to do what tourists do and try everything there is to try and do in Central London.